"So, do you like it here at ShinRa HQ? What do you think so far?" A new acquaintance of Cloud's asked. The man was a SOLDIER 3rd Class and was helping him get fitted into his brand new infantryman uniform. There were so many perplexing bits and pieces to the outfit that another one's assistance was required. Since the SOLDIER knew how everything went and was supposed to fit, he walked the new recruit through the process with ease.
Cloud looked into the long mirror alongside the locker room wall, adjusting some of the armor. "I don't know. The building is certainly nice and flashy, but I'm not entirely sure about anything more just yet." The reply came apathetically and unenthused. "They don't start putting me to work until next week."
The other gave him a strange look through the mirror. "So, you don't mind…?"
"What?"
"All the fags… They seem to flock to the military. You know, 'cause the environment is all male. There are a lot of them too. ShinRa doesn't care what your sexual orientation is so long as you can fight. It's a pain for the straight guys though. We have to watch our ass, literally. I mean… they seem pretty okay till you're in the locker room or the showers. …Aren't they always checking you out and stuff?"
Cloud turned away from the mirror and faced the other male. "No…! I mean…. I wouldn't give myself that much credit." Though it was true Zack and Sephiroth had undoubtedly come on to him, he didn't think that the advances of two men counted as a significant amount.
"Ha! Well I guess if you aren't bothered by it, you'll make out okay." The SOLDIER 3rd Class plopped down on one of the long benches behind Cloud. Arms folded across his chest and a leg swung over one knee, he proceeded to prattle aimlessly. "You know Sephiroth is gay. He's out of the closet. The whole world knows now and it's like women love him even more for it. He's a hero and everyone has all this respect for him, but I don't know… I like him and all but it still gives me the creeps when I see him walking on the SOLDIER floor. I keep thinking 'that macho super human SOLDIER likes to take it in the ass?' It's a fucking disturbing image, you know?" He shook his head as if in pure loathing.
The blond, who had said nothing for a full minute before locking eyes onto the other, spoke in a low serious tone. "…Don't talk about him like that. You don't even know him."
"I know but for real… fudge packing is so seriously gross." He shrugged his shoulders, opposed to opening himself up to any other opinion or belief.
"There are some women out there who have anal sex... Are they so unacceptable to you too?" There was a touch of hostility in his voice. Cloud couldn't get himself under control no matter how much he was initially opposed to defying his superiors.
The homophobic man shot up from where he sat and glared back at the blond. "You know what? You're obviously in cahoots with all those faggots. I don't even know why I would waste my time talking to you." The man had no idea who he was accusing.
Cloud took it upon himself to enlighten the male of the true reality. "I'm engaged to my beautiful girlfriend. What do you know?"
The SOLDIER laughed derisively, not backing down from the fruitless argument. He was eager to get his point across, eager to flaunt his pride and ego. "I know your girl better watch out because her boyfriend has an appetite for cock!"
Maddened by the response, the man in lower rank took his superior's shirt in both his hands and yanked him close, his stare laced with venom. "Say that again, you piece of shit…. Say it again! I dare you!"
The SOLDIER 3rd didn't hold back. "You're a big flaming faggot cocksucker just like Sephiroth!" He shouted, spraying spit in the wake of his hateful, hysteric accusations.
In that moment, the worst possible SOLDIER made an appearance. Both their heads snapped in the direction of the strong presence the intruder possessed with fear and curiosity… Sephiroth was feet away, wiping his hands dry with a paper towel by the sink. It was unmistakable that the General had heard every bit of what had just been said, yet he smirked as if ignorant to the entire subject of the conversation.
After boldly issuing out such insults, the homophobe had gone completely pale in the face of the intended target of his foul language. "Tch..." Even so he wore a resentful glare.
Cloud was just letting the man out of his grasp when the older man's commanding voice spoke out to him.
"Go ahead, Cloud. I want to see how you discipline this insolent 3rd Class... You have my permission." The General said with a wide, ill-boding grin.
Instead of giving him what he really deserved, Cloud simply shoved the other into the bench behind him and glared down at the SOLDIER until the 3rd awkwardly collected himself up off the ground and made his way out of the locker room.
After artfully tossing his used towels into a trash bin, Sephiroth walked up to the merciful infantryman with a displeased expression. "You were too easy on him."
Cloud, on the other hand, already had his thoughts on another matter entirely. It was his first time seeing Sephiroth since he abandoned him and his friends at that club the night prior. "I'm…sorry about last night….. I shouldn't have walked out on you guys without letting you know that I left. I feel really…stupid." He looked down, unable to maintain eye contact comfortably for too long. "I think I freaked out, and NOT because it was a gay club, but because I knew I had no business there…."
Silver brows knitted together in slight exasperation. "Sounds like a contradiction."
"Huh?"
"You said you were freaked out because you had no business there… Was it that you had no business there because you were at a gay club surrounded by gay men? Would you have felt less out of place if we had been in a regular club?"
"….No." Realizing the slight error in his words, Cloud shifted his eyes to the ground. In the midst of feeling embarrassment for having said such a thing, he soon spoke words of redemption. "They don't have any clubs in Nibelheim… But I apologize if I offended you. That's not what I meant. I—"
Sephiroth soon cut him off, his voice as powerful and assertive as ever. "You could never offend me, Cloud. Don't apologize. You don't have to censor your speech to spare my feelings. I understand. You're not gay."
The engaged young man nodded. "Yeah… I'm…I'm not gay…." For some reason, Cloud lowered his head again as though he felt guilty. He could feel an unnatural taste on the tip of his tongue as he uttered those words. Only Sephiroth knew precisely why…
"…Would you like to come to my training class? It's tomorrow."
Naturally, the blond hesitated. "I don't know…I have to check with Tifa…" Cloud told him since he had obligations to his fiancé before basic training started and consumed all of his time. There was one other concern weighing heavily on his mind however, "Sephiroth… is…is it a gay training class?"
At first, the General's face lit up in amusement then it went completely dark. "No… It's for straight men. Straight men are the only ones who have a place in the military and the only ones who can fight. You can come unless you suddenly decided to be a homosexual. Then you're exempt. Homosexuals have no combat skills. But come as you are and you're welcome to showcase your heterosexual prowess."
Cloud felt his cheeks become warm in embarrassment after being blatantly made fun of. After all, Zack had so enthusiastically informed him that all the most powerful top ranking SOLDIERs were gay or had slept with a man at some point. It was ridiculous to say that any straight men set the bar for strength, skill and technique. The training class was most certainly meant for any and all sexual orientations.
The General crossed paths with the shamed blond before stopping and turning around. "By the way…you look adorable in the little uniform." Although having mocked him so harshly, Sephiroth was only teasing in the end.
The blond flushed red all the way up to his ears, but wore an irked frown all the same.
-.-.-.-
That afternoon, Cloud was sure to meet with his fiancé since that was the only time they could see each other that day. Tifa had to work long hours into the night and that left little time to spend together once she got off. They decided that in order to see one another at all they had to meet just as Cloud had gotten fitted into his uniform. Their plan was to meet on the second floor of the ShinRa lobby, before Tifa's shift started. There was a neat array of about five or six tables and chairs situated where Tifa sat in wait for her lover. Already she wore her professional uniform and shoes.
All of a sudden, she sprung up from her seat as she had seen someone she recognized drawing closer toward her. However, it was not her romantic partner….
When his uniform predicament was squared away, Cloud was free to leave the building. In fact, he was free for the rest of the week. Those were the days he planned to make up all lost time with Tifa. As he departed from the elevator and the doors rolled open to reveal the seating area of the lobby, he was presented with a most suspicious scene…. "Tifa…?" He drawled too low for her to pick up.
The women was in the arms of another man, a SOLDIER 1st Class, one she knew. It was someone Cloud knew as well, a man that he had pegged as one not to be trusted from the start.
Zack had his hands cradling delicately her narrow, slender hips, holding her close to his body. As if she were his own, he nestled his nose in the crook of her neck, sure to smash her voluptuous chest against his hard one. He wore a look of deep enjoyment, one that Cloud could clearly see and it boiled his blood to witness such a scene. There were various reasons why it was unacceptable. Even so, Tifa giggled and thrashed about as though she was pretending not to enjoy it.
"Stop it…" Unable to look away, Cloud had moved toward the pair unnoticed without even thinking and appeared before them in an instant.
Zack looked up from her huge set of breasts, subtly drawing himself away from her as if nothing had happened. "Oh hey there, Cloud!"
The blond answered only with an impulsive and ruthless fist square in the SOLDIER's cheek.
It wasn't enough to cause his superior's muscular body to topple, but he swayed and his vision blurred slightly.
Tifa gasped in a state of disbelief, holding her hands up to her mouth. "Zack, are you okay?"
The man who threw the punch glared at her for showing such compassion. "Stay out of this, Tifa…" Cloud seldom raised his voice, but he wanted to yell and fought his hardest not to reprimand the woman he normally treated like a delicate rose.
"Ugh…. I'm alright. Don't worry." Zack spoke cautiously, while feeling the side of his jaw and cheek, opening his mouth to test the bone. Since his body was bigger in size, pumped with mako, and well accustomed to taking blows, he reacted with slight indifference. "For a little guy, you sure can—"
Again, Cloud beat him against the side of his face. He didn't like the way his first reaction was. The initial hit hadn't seemed to hurt him enough….
"Cloud!" shouted Tifa.
After feeling more pain inflicted on the same spot, Zack kept silent that time, only landing his blue eyes on the blond, interested in what his reasons were for hitting him twice in a row.
"Aren't you supposed to be a faggot?" The enraged infantryman began his interrogation.
Tifa instead cut in, feeling sympathy for the stricken SOLDIER. "Cloud he's…" Little did she know, those blows were mere child's play for Zack.
"Don't give me that bisexual bullshit!" The vociferous projection sounded unusual carrying his deep tone. "You either choose one or the other. You can't have both! Didn't you just do it with a guy last night? Why are you all over her?" He gritted out bitterly, carry little for any passerby who overheard his words.
"Jesus, Cloud I was playing around. No need to throw a tantrum." Zack smoothed his right thumb over the bruising mark before looking at it to check for blood. His hand fell to his side.
Cloud struggled not to sock the man another time, simply for the insolent tone of his voice. He even hated the overly giddy sound of him talking. "Playing around? You faggots make me sick with your confusing labels and perverted lifestyles… You're just using labels to cover your own ass. You're a homo. I could tell for sure yesterday and the day we met. …I heard you last night...talking about how crazy you are about sex with men when the first chance you get, you turn around and become this bisexual character so you can grope and molest Tifa!"
"Cloud…" Zack said, stunned, brows lowering in exasperation at the embellished accusation.
"You were talking about dick like you would NEVER be able to give it up, like there's nothing better…yet here you are. There's no way you can like women just the same. Bisexuality is just a pitiful excuse to openly act like a pervert! Get away from her! I won't let you use Tifa to satisfy your greedy way of life…" He made his way over to Zack to shove him further from his fiancé.
Tifa took it upon herself get in the middle of the conversation and in the middle of the two men. It had gotten far enough. "Cloud, just stop it! You're blowing this whole thing out of proportion! It was just a harmless little embrace! We do this all the time."
"Yeah, well it stops here." His piercing azure eyes remained fixed on the other male even as he addressed his fiancé. "Get lost." When the SOLDIER didn't move on the command, he hurled another fist at him, only this time it was caught in Zack's grasp. Cloud took back his hand, feeling a bit of awkwardness at the parry.
"I guess I can't let my guard down around you." Fair concluded with a serious tone, one that wasn't suited for him. "Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. Tifa and I are good friends so I thought it was okay. It was nothing serious. She never told me I was making her uncomfortable so I thought it was okay to hang onto her. It's my fault. I should have considered her relationship with you…" After those honestly spoken words Zack, albeit pitifully, departed in low spirits. He genuinely hadn't meant any harm.
As soon as the other male was out of his sight, Cloud made his way over to the closest table and arched over, planting both his palms on its gloss finished surface, leaning all his weight on it as if exhausted. After the SOLDIER had walked away, even he had to wonder what he was truly so enraged about, why he got so heated up. Zack had simply been hugging the woman that was his close friend, not kissing her like when Sephiroth kissed him. They weren't having sex, like Cloud had fantasized doing with Sephiroth…
"…I can't believe you." Tifa's heels made a soft knocking sound when padding over to him, positioning herself at his side. "Was that really necessary?"
Cloud looked down, in disbelief at his own behavior. "I'm….sorry Tifa."
"What's going on with you? It almost feels like when we had the house warming and you were upset. I feel like I'm being left in the dark with you these days…" She placed a hand on his shoulder.
The blond felt something grow tight in his chest. A viciously anxious sensation worked over his entire being at that moment. "It's nothing. I just….I feel stressed and frustrated. Then I saw that and it pushed me over the edge."
His fiancé moved her soft hand lower to his back, soon moving it back and forth in a comforting, soothing motion.
"I don't know, Tifa… I just can't seem to get used to being around all the…these men who like other men. I can't wrap my head around it. I can't look at it without feeling beside myself. They're just so…" He wished to say infuriating, but his girlfriend might wonder why he had such intense negative emotions toward it. "And then I see one of them all over you… Don't you think they are so over the top and ridiculous? If they like guys so much, they should just keep their lifestyles to themselves so that everyone under the sun doesn't have to know who they like and go to bed with at night, so that no one can get repulsed and confused by their private choices."
The silent brunette took in his softening words and came to one conclusion. "I know what this is about."
"You do?" Cloud asked, looking up. He was panicking on the inside.
Tifa nodded. "This is about us not spending enough time together since we moved here. You probably feel alone right now, because you don't even have friends of your own. But even still, that's no excuse to take it out on my friends or their way of life."
Exhaling a deep sigh of relief, he replied, "I guess you're right. Sorry about that. I guess I have been feeling alone." Cloud stood up straight in front of the table and faced Tifa with a hopeless expression.
She returned his solemn look with one of sudden cheer and excitement. "That's why…." Tifa gave him an energetic, quick peck on the cheek. "I invited us to go wine tasting with a few straight friends of mine and their spouses. You know…enjoy good wine, get to know the city a little bit better, show each other off… It's been such a long time since we've gone out together. This will make up for us not being able to be together last night and tonight."
"Oh….when?" Cloud asked, immediately interested.
Tifa beamed in excitement. "Tomorrow evening."
"….I can't. I have that training class tomorrow." Cloud informed unusually fast. Even he was surprised at how instantaneous his response came.
She shrugged her shoulders. "So just tell Sephiroth you won't be able to make it. We haven't gone out together since we moved here and I need to have you all to myself as much as possible before you go off for training."
Cloud stuck to his resolved. "But I made a commitment."
"Then un-commit!" snapped Tifa, losing her patience.
Even still, Cloud reacted with fixed stubbornness. It was as if nothing could sway him. "If Sephiroth is going to be my General, I have to be in his good favor. I can't show him that I have the inability to follow through with a decision. I can't go back on my word. You know that, Tifa. And the class is only once a month. I need to get as much experience and training in as I can right now. This class is really important to me..."
When she realized how futile it was to get her lover to change his mind, she cast her big brown eyes to the ground in miserable silence. Normally, she got her way. It was simple to be able to get Cloud to go along with whatever she planned. Ever since she had known him as her lover, he had always been her easy to please and, in a sense, passive boyfriend. He was an easygoing guy whose primary goal was to make his girlfriend happy. But suddenly she wasn't able to sway him to do what she wanted. For a split second, Tifa had sensed something peculiar going on with him, but she ignored it as it was so small and short lived that the feeling hardly mattered. Tifa remained silent, merely brushing it off as insecurity and possessiveness. Perhaps she needed to cool off and let her fiancé have a life outside of her as well… Yes, she most certainly did.
Cloud could see in the way she held her lips that she was quite upset. Wanting nothing more than to put things to right, he said, "Tifa, do you really want me to cancel? I will if you need me to."
"No… go ahead. After all, it's not like wine tasting is that important. You should probably learn as much as you can from Sephiroth since he doesn't teach those classes often. I will just tell my friends that we won't be able to make it this time." Despite her doubts and slight feeling of rejection she smiled and encouraged him to follow through with his plans.
He was oblivious to her disinclination, although he had still felt bad about blowing off her wine tasting outing. "Okay, thank you Tifa. I will make it up to you."
"Hey Cloud…is there another reason why you want to go to this training class so badly?" Tifa asked, following the strong, precautious feeling of her intuition.
"No…why?
"Because you've never turned down any of the plans I've made before…"
Cloud too, thought his behavior was getting to be quite peculiar. Even he realized that he hadn't blown off plans until then, until Sephiroth…. Silently panicking, he fished for something in his head that rung close to the truth. He could never truly lie to Tifa. At least he believed that he couldn't… "I've just been so stressed out about joining the military so late in the game. I want to get promoted as quickly as possible to support you. It's just a burden that's been weighing on me, that's all. I love you, Tifa… I'm sorry about pushing you aside. No matter what, you're the one who really comes first. You're the reason why I am trying so hard."
-.-.-.-
The next day after the training class…
"I'm so glad I came. If I keep this up, I'll have no problem using a sword once I'm in 3rd. I don't know why they make you start out with rifles." Cloud went on, feeling rather good about himself and comfortable with his progress following the lessons he learned in the class.
Sephiroth was at his side as they walked from the training room on the SOLDIER floor. "It's a process, Cloud. That's how it works here. But I don't think you will have any problems making the transition. You're a natural."
"Maybe… It could have just been my sparring partner. He wasn't very tough at all... I barely broke a sweat." The new recruit was quick to downplay his own efforts, even a little.
"I noticed that. Tough or not, you certainly have high reserves of stamina. It's quite the turn on…" No matter what the other said, Sephiroth found something to praise Cloud for in light of his lack of experience and unflattering low self esteem.
Cloud looked over at the taller male, momentarily stunned. "You think so?"
"Yes. Just looking at you, I can tell you have a lot of potential. Once you start to train more and get some mako in you, you will bypass your peers and surprise even yourself."
"That really means a lot to me, coming from you…"
Their conversation had reached an intermission until they had both made it to the above ground parking garage where Cloud's motorcycle was. Setting eyes on the rugged transport the blond led him to, Sephiroth smoothed a gloved hand over the long seat, admiring its simplistic yet hulking design. "Very nice…" Ordinarily, he wouldn't have paid the vehicle any mind. Because the motorcycle belong to Cloud, it was worthy of praise.
Cloud grabbed his helmet and goggles on the right handlebar, readying to put them on once they had said their goodbyes. "It's nothing special. I know it comes in handy in the city though."
The silver haired man's eyes lingered on him for an extended period of time, causing Cloud to use this as a chance to mount the vehicle instead of staring back at the intimidating General. "Maybe next time you will spar with me." The man finally said.
The blond found one major flaw in the other's proposal. Sephiroth was the strongest and he himself had only just joined the military. A pro against someone with no experience seemed beyond unreasonable. "No way!" He answered back, feeling as though he was being mocked.
"Why not?" Sephiroth couldn't see how the offer was so unfair.
"Because…" That was simply the blond's answer, though vague. He didn't think it was necessary to go into the already obvious details.
Sephiroth wore that haughty smirk again. It was that smile that told him he would get what he wanted regardless of what Cloud said right then and there. "Well, I won't ever make you do anything you don't want to do." For whatever reason, it seemed like the General was prolonging their goodbyes, never taking his eyes away from him or initiating the farewell.
"….I guess this is goodnight." Cloud announced, finding that wrapping up the night was overdue.
"If you want it to be…" The General had another motive. There was a suggestive hint clinging to his deep voice and his facial features.
"Well, I certainly enjoyed myself this evening. I learned a lot. Thank you..." Unsure of what to do or say, Cloud looked down as he was known to do when in Sephiroth's presence.
There was meaning behind the silence on his end, reason to why he only remained staring and drawing ever closer. It was to give time for Cloud to watch, think then react to what he was offering him without having to use words. At times, words weren't as effect, sometimes worthless. And so he looked on at the blond, raising a single hand to brush through tamed blond tresses. "….I'm glad. I was hoping that next time it could be just the two of us." Due to his prior body language, his words held a hidden meaning. Or perhaps they would have held such a suggestive meaning regardless.
Feeling uncomfortably frozen in place, yet entranced by the man, Cloud found his body shrinking away, darting his eyes in the opposite direction of Sephiroth to break the powerful spell. "…I better get going."
As Cloud inserted his key, Sephiroth stood and watched as he revved up the smoking motorcycle. Soon, he leaned in to whisper so that he could hear him over the purring of the engine. "Have sweet dreams..."
-.-.-.-
Yuffie shoved a glass high up into the air, a light splash of chardonnay spilling onto the immaculate white cloth sheathing the table. By her wobbling hand, most likely due to her intoxicated state, she wiggled her wrist, her body swaying as she sent everyone seated around her a large and goofy grin. "To Tifa's fiancé FINALLY making it here to Midgar!" She crooned unevenly with a hiccup trailing her sentence. Her cheeks blushed a warm rose. Her own lover was nearby, a wutainese man mixed with another race, thought it both amusing and awkward to watch his immature girlfriend speak loudly in a high class restaurant. "Buttercup…." He addressed her gently, as was his demeanor. In this relationship, Yuffie was most certainly the more dominant one, as she ignored him and held her glass up higher. "Toast!"
The brunette whose fiancé Yuffie wanted to celebrate laughed, tickled at the younger woman's refreshing enthusiasm and held up her glass to lightly tap against hers. "To Cloud!"
Next, was the other man to raise his glass. "To Cloud." He sent the celebrated male a forthcoming welcoming grin.
Cloud simply looked at them awkwardly. It was all he could do to repress a smile from his indecisive lips. "It's not that big of a deal…" Even so, he knocked glasses with everyone in a celebratory toast. He then turned to Tifa, taking her hand in his.
"I'm so glad you're here. I've missed you so much." She spoke first, reading what had previously been implanted in his mind.
The blond lifted her weightless fingers and pressed his soft lips to the back of her hand. "I've missed you too, Tifa."
"Aw, aren't they so sweet together?" Squeaked Tifa's drunken best friend as she watched the couple lock lips next.
Yuffie's boyfriend smirked devilishly, "Yes, very."
"Okay, that's enough, let's get dessert…" Tifa quickly brought the dessert menu to her face, covering her flushed cheeks.
After a while of skimming through the brief selection of cakes, mousses and ice cream, a male waiter came to their table to check to see if they had determined their orders.
"Uh, how about I just get the ice cream? My girlfriend doesn't think I need all that rich mouse and cheese cake."
Yuffie slammed her drink down on the table. Luckily it was almost empty, otherwise it would have spilled tremendously. "That's right! You're getting fluffy." She patted her boyfriend on the tummy. The waiter only grinned, nodding agreeably.
All Tifa could do was giggle, rather than finish up with her order. She knew Cloud didn't like eating sweet things right after dinner, so she was the last to go. Her mirth settling down, she looked up at the waiter and saw something in the background worthy of mentioning to all who sat at the table. "Hey, look who it is!"
They all followed Tifa's line of sight… That's when it happened.
Cloud laid eyes on Sephiroth. Instantly, his excitement went down while the other's went up at the mere sight of the legendary General. His blue eyes merely widened in disbelief. How dare the man show his face in the same romantic fine dining restaurant he was treating Tifa and her friends to? How could he ruin and tarnish such sacred grounds, walk up and smile the way that he was…?
"Hello." The General spoke in his velvety voice, the one that irked Cloud so much and yet it enticed him in dark, animated ways. Sephiroth had some company in tow. The usual lot from SOLDIER and The ShinRa Electric Power Company. Of course after greeting them, Sephiroth went about his business with his friends, getting seated at a large booth and skimming over the menu.
Cloud's eyes followed him to the space he would feast, with a helpless and entranced look in his eyes. His complete attention was no longer ensnared by the woman he was to marry, or rather, it was impossible.
"Damn….Is it just me, or is the General getting sexier?" Yuffie blurted out carelessly. "He dun even seem like one of those girly gay guys you see around. You know, the ones that walk swinging their hips and raising the sound of their voice. He's just so…manly. Oh, other than the whole hair thing."
"Yuffie…" chided her embarrassed lover.
"What?"
"Sephiroth isn't like that with his hair is he?" Tifa looked absent mindedly at her fiancé, getting in on the conversation.
Cloud wore a blank expression before taking a much deserved, long swig of his merlot. "I have no idea."
"Well if he does….I think he gets tips from that cute wutainese guy over there with the long hair…" Yuffie looked over at Tseng with dreamy eyes.
"You think he's cute….?" Her boyfriend asked possessively.
"Cute, I didn't say I wanted to go to bed with him. I just said that he's…"
"Hm, well I like the one that looks like a rock star. If I would be with a guy, think he'd be my type…" He looked challengingly over to Yuffie, after speaking of Reno.
Cloud rolled his eyes at the harmless taunts that the two lovers tossed at one another out of intoxicated, meaningless banter. He honestly didn't think it was very funny, teasing your lover about cheating and with the same sex, it was ridiculous. Something like that wouldn't happen between straight people. Although, he may be trying to convince himself of that very fact…
After their dinner orders were made, Sephiroth got up and sauntered over towards the men's room, not looking back at Cloud or anyone.
Somehow, Cloud had taken this as an invitation to get up and pursue the man in there. After mulling it over for a brief amount of time and staring boldly into the back of the man's tall, sturdy figure, he got a dazed look in his eyes and looked to Tifa. "I need to use the bathroom." So he got up and marched crossly over to the other man, failing at catching up to him until they were both within the restroom.
"What are you doing here?" Cloud interrogated immediately upon arrival.
Sephiroth was getting ready to wash his hands and paused to face the irritated, irrational blond. "Same thing you are doing here, I imagine." He smirked arrogantly.
Cloud hated, despised and detested that arrogance…. "Well, I'm finding it very distracting."
"How is this for distracting?" The General simply said. Yet, no action was made on his part. A man was behind him, using a urinal. The moment he was done, the gentleman came within both their view to wash his hands. Only when this other person was through did Sephiroth push the blond against the sink counter with but the forceful grip of his hands and his hardening groin.
As he was rocked against, Cloud could only gasp and choke out strangled noises, confused ones, hesitant ones, shocked, pleased… Though finding the action thoroughly enjoyable, he drew away from the man, shoving against his broad shoulders. "Stop it…."
Strangely enough, the male stopped, though hesitantly.
"I have to go." concluded the blond.
And only then did Sephiroth let him out of his ferocious hold, smirking with a hint of mockery.
Like before, his mind and body were at odds with one another. His body was melting into the General's embrace, wanting nothing more than to remain close in wait, expectance of what was to happen next. That brain of his was telling him to pull away, think about his family, his one and only lover Tifa… Luckily his mind had won, and yet only momentarily… Perhaps it was because his fiancé was in such close proximity, despite the minute likelihood of her ever entering the men's restroom.
Cloud paused at the doorway, neck turning the slightest to address Sephiroth. With a low, quieted voice, he muttered. "Let's see each other again… When we both have more time."
-.-.-.-
In an empty penthouse apartment only one dwelled, a sole light emanating from a room with grey, glossy tiles, a walk in stone walled shower, a bowl sink on the counter; the bathroom. One man, tall with a build that teetered dangerously close to perfection, stood facing the wide mirror above the sink. Shirtless, his fingers were splayed across his chest, roaming the silken, hard flesh…
"I wonder how Cloud fucks her…" Sephiroth drawled, idly touching his hardened abdominal muscles. Though like the somewhat vane SOLDIER that he was, he was staring at himself, his naked body parts in narcissism, proud of the skin he resided in, the perfect vessel he called his own, his flawless outward appearance. Surely he was in awe of himself, but his mind was stuck on one particular human being.
"Is he fast and forceful…or slow and gentle…?" He continued in deep thought. A finger fondling his left nipple in the motions he described while picturing in his elaborate, intricate mind how Cloud pleased his female partner.
"Damn you….stringing me along like this. I've never been made to wait. For now, this will just have to suffice." He took that hand away to hold up the pasty pink toy on the counter space beside the sink. The dildo was then ran over with hot water. Sephiroth left it like that, under the mercy of the scorching water while he then began to stroke his hardened arousal.
"I've been waiting so long, but I'll wait for however much longer it takes…" By his own impatient hand was the neutral complexioned dildo then shoved up his behind.
Yooney: Hey you all! Let me know what you think. I love hearing from you! In the next chapter Cloud has a life altering experience….so stay tuned!