Author's Note: You all better love me. I'm losing my precious hours of sleep because I wrung this out for you guys! :D
Disclaimer: I do not any of the canon characters, the places, or anything to do with the FFVII universe, the only thing that is mine is the writing.
Waking up disoriented was becoming quite a normal occurrence for cloud, not to forget that he still abhorred it every single time that it happened. A soft growl spilled from his pale pink lips as he glanced over at the clock and could feel the first positive feeling going through him in the span of the past few days. His internal clock had seemed to kick into gear and he was up in time to actually make it to his classes. Sitting up, he also noticed happily that he wasn't in the slightest disoriented or tired. He felt quite strong to tell the truth and as he stood up, he found that every single bit of his strength had returned with some extra, even. He could feel the mako going through his veins, could feel the way it was infusing into his cells to make him more powerful, more… Just more. He had to admit, however that he wasn't too certain as to whether he liked the feeling or not, realizing that it reminded him of times that had not been this easy, this relaxed, not to mention this sane.
Doing a few experimental stretches to see whether or not things were actually looking up, he let out a soft, sated sigh before he located his clothing – which was oddly enough nicely folded on a chair – and walked over to them, pulling on the light blue trousers and making sure they fit just right on his hips, before he took the sleeveless turtleneck and pulled it over him, tucking it into his trousers before pulling up the suspenders on the trousers and putting on the wide belt. The gloves were in his back pocket, as was usual and he decided those could wait. After all, it would be odd to walk around their apartment in complete uniform, right?
In thought, one of his hands ghosted over his midriff, a soft frown pulling at his lips as he missed the weight of First Tsurugi's sheath, as well as the weight of the pauldron on his left shoulder. It felt simply wrong but it wasn't as if he could do anything about it. A soft sigh left his lips as he pulled on his boots, lacing them up with the care of a perfectionist before he deemed himself ready. Moving to the door, his hand was already on the handle, cool skin meeting smooth metal only for him to remember one crucial detail of the previous night. Sephiroth had kissed him.
Blue eyes widened and the man simply froze for a moment, his mind replaying the events, his senses all too happy to replay the smooth feel of those lips against his and the way it had sent his entire body into overdrive. He had never been too much of a sexual being, to have been perfectly honest, his childhood and the short trip to Nibelheim with Sephiroth and Zack having ensured that his teenage and early adult years had been anything but opportune for any kind of development on the sexual field. Then of course the trauma had pushed it back and he was quite hesitant to admit that he had never lost his virginity. It didn't matter all that much to him but it was still somewhat embarrassing to admit to anyone, not that anyone had ever asked. But that kiss with Sephiroth had awakened that long hidden desire and even now, his body was reminding him that it was most certainly interested of said attentions.
An annoyed hiss left him and he banged his forehead a bit louder than necessary against the door, a growl leaving his lips as he rolled his shoulders, focusing to clear his mind and will that annoyingly spontaneous erection away. He was coming to realize that his hormones would be the key issue when it came to him learning to be in this new time. He'd never been given the chance to actually work with his hormones and it seemed that the Planet had decided that he had shirked the duties of facing those pesky things for far too long and it seemed his hormones had risen up to the challenge.
Once he felt that he had calmed, he finally made his way out of the room, needing to get into the presence of other's just to keep his mind from racing as much as it did when he was alone. However the living room area was empty, the only thing that brought life to the room was the scent of coffee wafting from the kitchen and it made him feel somewhat curious as to why it would be so quiet if someone was awake. Walking over to the confusion, the one thing he hadn't expected was to find the General standing there shirtless in a pair of loose, black satin trousers that hung precariously low on those slender hips. Cloud's hormone-riddled mind was quite happy to make his eyes travel over the side view that he had as the man was reading something in the tablet computer, fingers idly flicking on the screen. When he looked up to look at the blonde, Cloud realized idly that he was wearing glasses and that added to the piercing quality of those bright green eyes.
"Good morning, Strife." Why did his voice have to be slightly husky, making it clear that he had just awoken as well? And why did he have to look at him like that? Never before had Cloud been as happy to be fully dressed than now, knowing that if he had had any fewer clothes on, he couldn't have resisted the urge to push up against him. And with those thoughts came a deep blush onto his pale cheeks, which in turn caused a very teasing grin to appear onto the General's lips.
"M-morning, sir," he muttered, hoping that his voice would have sounded at least a bit stronger. Without another word, the tall man poured him a cup of coffee, a brow rising slightly as he took a gamble, giving the cup to the blonde without adding anything to it.
"Thank you." Why did he have to get everything right and more to the point, why did he have to grin in that self-satisfied way that made him want to roll over and do whatever he asked? However, with the hot cup of coffee he had something to focus on and focus he did, right after slinking his way around the table so that there was the table between them. He needed space to think and Sephiroth realized it, the smirk on his lips turning even more devious. Did that man truly have to be able to read his emotions that clearly from his eyes? It seemed that in this life, they were quite a bit more in tune with each other.
A soft grumble left him, only for him to hiss as he managed to burn his tongue on the liquid and he simply let out a deep sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. Apparently his morning was determined to take a nosedive after the positive wake up he had had and that did not make him happy in the slightest. He wanted that happy feeling back.
"I take it you have class today, yes? What do you have first?" Came that voice from the other side of the kitchen.
"Uhm… yes. Apparently we're going to see just what kind of weapon every trainee has a knack for and then… then I think one of the Second Classes will have a field day yelling at us to run faster and do more push-ups," he muttered in response, his voice somewhat dry at the mentioning of the Seconds. After all, they would be drilled that very day and he knew it would be hell.
"Ah… I believe I will be there to supervise. See if there are any hopefuls for the mentorship program," he replied in turn, his eyes on the tablet however it was clear that his attention was mostly on the blonde in the kitchen.
"As in… getting trained underneath a higher class member?"
"Indeed. Mainly first's. Angeal's progress with Zack has been phenomenal and thus, Heidegger apparently thought it would be worth a try to find pairs that create a similar kind of dynamic."
A thoughtful nod was Sephiroth's only answer as Cloud thought it over, having to admit that Zack had become rather brilliant when it came to his abilities. Of course, his personality was also something that suited the whole idea and Cloud had to wonder if he would be a candidate. Then he wondered whether Zack had been bumped to First already or not, but he deemed that would have been an inappropriate question. After all, he doubted he should have known anything beyond knowing that the General would be there to oversee their practice.
Finally, silence settled over the kitchen, with the tall man concentrating on what Cloud could only presume were reports, whilst the teen concentrated on his coffee. It actually felt nice and for the first time, Cloud's warnings had been completely silenced and he didn't even feel in the slightest afraid of the imposing figure looming so close to him, but he decided that might have been because the man was shirtless and barefoot. Not that his body complained at all, his eyes particularly liking to steal quick glances at him. He tried to stop himself from looking but he simply couldn't, not with that pale skin practically begging him to look at it and he wanted to touch him. However, Cloud deemed that the kiss the previous night had been a mistake that the General had only used a very unorthodox method of getting him to calm down sufficiently for the Sleep to produce a proper slumber instead of a forced one. Yes. That must have been it.
Downing the last of his coffee, he stared at the bottom of it for a while, dreading the fact that he would have to go past the tall man to get to the sink, however he steeled himself. Walking over to the sink, he was careful not to touch the man even if he could feel those sharp eyes watching his every move, that attention centering on him yet again and as he rinsed the cup and turned around to walk away, there was that man, cornering him against the counter. Blue eyes widened as he looked up at him, looking very much like a deer caught in headlights as the man ever so slightly pushed him back, holding him in place as those green eyes watched him.
"If you wouldn't mind waiting for me to get dressed before you leave I would be quite grateful," the silver-haired man almost purred as he lowered his head slightly, smirking as Cloud's lips parted to let out a soft pant. After all, the blonde had a half-naked man almost pressed up against him. What was he supposed to do? Was he supposed to even think properly?
"I don't want to be late," he rushed out, looking up at the General with wide eyes, hoping that the sense of duty would get the man to end his assault and with the way a silver eyebrow rose and a very amused expression colored his face, it worked like a charm. Cloud almost let out a sigh of relief as he stepped back, even as his body was rebelling, telling him to grab him and pull him close, get him to kiss him again, simply to touch him and to make him forget all about everything like he had done before. In that moment, he was happy to have learned to control his own body as well as he had.
"Indeed. Give me a moment."
And with that, the man was gone and Cloud could slump right where he was, a soft gasp leaving him as he gave himself permission to relax, to finally stop feeling so damnedly timid like a shy school girl stuck with her largest crush. That wasn't a pleasant thought in the slightest and it made him growl softly, rubbing his temples even as he reached back to take his mug and drank a glass of cold water, just to settle his nerves. Oh, it would be hellish to be in an elevator with him again. To have him so close and for the first time, he almost wished other people would be on it, even if his motion sickness always seemed to get worse when there were a lot of people. The thought of motion sickness suddenly reminded him of the fact that he had not felt nauseous at all the last time he had used the elevator with Sephiroth and that was yet again, quite disconcerting.
What was happening to his mind? It seemed like the calm, collected swordsman was gone, replace by the erratic, bumbling idiot of a teenager and that did not appeal to Cloud in the slightest. A sigh left his lips as he pushed off of the counter to make his way to the living room, simply pacing, unknowingly starting to almost go through a few katas simply to pass time.
Apparently, it did not take Sephiroth all too long to get dressed, for he soon came out in the uniform of his, with Cloud feeling quite a bit tenser now that he was in full gear. He looked too much like the man that had betrayed him and wounded him, but it wasn't as if he could do anything about it other than bear it. Without saying a word, he made his way to the door and waited, almost feeling the amused aura of the man as he followed him, opening the door and letting them out into the corridor and then to the elevator. And yet again, they were in close proximity but this time, it was only the elevator; however it was enough to have him blushing deeply.
"Your file mentioned your hero worship concerning me. I would assume you would have asked me numerous questions by now, trainee."
The question caught the blonde off-guard and for a moment, he looked to be at a complete loss before he bit his lip. He had forgotten about that aspect of his teenage years. He hadn't remembered that Sephiroth had been the one reason for him to aspire to become SOLDIER and he had also been the one he had almost worshipped. He vaguely remembered a life-sized poster on his wall in Nibelheim and he couldn't help but shake his head with a dry laugh.
"That… Things have changed since then." For once, his tone was steady, telling the silver-haired man that he was in no mood to discuss it further and it almost surprised him when the General let it go with a nod of his head, saying nothing and yet again, they became silent.
The silence was broken by the 'ding' of the elevator as they arrived on the floor and Cloud made a move to get out of the metal box only to have himself halted by Sephiroth's hand on his shoulder.
"You do not have special privileges, Strife."
"I wouldn't dream of it, sir."
And with the hold loosened on his shoulder, Cloud almost stiffly move out of the lift and aimed his steps towards the gym. A lot of the trainees were already inside and he slipped in with a bunch of others, with them lining up. He could already feel a sense of serenity settling over him as he had to admit that this was getting into the territory that he knew. Especially when the Second Class that was drilling them ordered them into line and to start mimicking katas after him, he finally felt in control.
He didn't even realize the effortless ease with which he was flying through the katas, completing them with the teacher instead of copying him, nor did he notice the dark looks cast his way.