Chapter 9: One Happy Family

Cloud ducked at the sword that came slicing towards his face, dodging to the side as he blocked behind his back. He couldn't believe how quick Zack was. He rolled out of the way of an overhead swing, scrambling across the blue training mat as he just barely got the wooden sword up to block another hit.

"Zack!" he cried, wincing as he scrambled across the mat. "Slow down...I can't…"

Zack didn't relent, just swinging faster as he tried to block the blows. "Your exam is in two weeks, Spike. Can't let up now."

It was true. He had his exam to qualify for Sephiroth's special training class. It was a class that everyone knew was a one way ticket into SOLDIER. Zack had been helping him. Zack had been helping him, and Cloud had been avoiding talking about what had happened in Sephiroth's apartment. He had been avoiding thinking about the keycard currently stuffed in his trunk.

Cloud scrambled across the floor, gasping as his sword was knocked out of his hands, the point of Zack's coming to his throat. Cloud frowned at the way the SOLDIER was grinning, reacting without thinking as he swung both of his legs, swiping Zack's out from underneath him.

The SOLDIER hit the mat with a grunt, dropping his sword. Cloud moved quickly as he pounced on his Alpha, knees pressed to either side of his chest as he slammed Zack's arms above his head. It was his turn to grin at his lover as the dark haired SOLDIER looked more than a little surprised. "I'm ready for the exam."

Zack arched a brow, seeming more than comfortable with lying underneath him. "Oh yeah?" he questioned in amusement. "Maybe I just let you win?"

Of that he had no doubt. He wasn't delusional in thinking he could have actually beat Zack in combat, but he knew he had at least taken him by surprise. "Maybe you just wanted to be pinned?" He leaned down, stretching his body over Zack's.

"Always ready and able to be pinned down by you." Cloud knew Zack could shrug him off in a second, but he seemed more than content as he entwined their fingers together. "I missed you, Spike."

Cloud's face brightened at that, melting as he leaned down to claim those lips. They were alone for the time being in the training hall. They hadn't been alone in over a week since Zack had just gotten back from a mission. He had found him here, and his first act wasn't to take him back up to his bedroom, but rather to swing a sword at his face. ...SOLDIER priorities he supposed.

Zack did roll them then as they kissed, but Cloud hardly noticed as he arched up towards his Alpha, moaning into his mouth. He had missed him so much. He had been feeling so guilty, and the keycard had been burning a hole in his trunk.

He let his legs fall open, that hard body pressing between them as he arched up against him. Cloud let his mouth fall open, tasting the SOLDIER on his tongue as he moaned in pleasure at the thought of what he had been missing.

"Zack," he managed to gasp into this kiss as one of the alpha's hands began to travel down his body, nails raking over his stomach as he broke off their kiss.

"It's so hard being away from you," Zack managed, before burying his face into his neck. He gasped at the way the other inhaled his scent, rutting against him as Cloud fought off the urge to push him away from that spot. "I kept thinking…" He shook his head, kissing at his pulse. "I kept thinking you were unprotected. That you would go back into heat, and I wouldn't be here."

Cloud frowned at that, knitting his eyebrows as he fought the urge to point out that Zack hadn't been there the first time either. "Do you know how often they come?" he questioned, not happy that they were no longer kissing as he drew Zack's eyes up to his. "Should I be worried?"

Dark eyebrows knitted as a hand carded through blond spikes. "I don't know, Spike. I wish I did. I wish I could do something other than react as this shit comes up."

"You could always ask," Cloud stiffened underneath Zack at the sound of the voice, pupils immediately contracting in fear as he glanced towards the door of the training room to see the greasy long haired scientist leaning against the frame.

Zack's hand went protectively to Cloud's hip at feeling the way his heart was pounding, but the blond couldn't focus on anything but those dark eyes locked on him, frowning at him in disappointment. "Professor Hojo," Zack said stiffly, slowly getting off of Cloud as he pulled them both to their feet.

"Lieutenant Fair," Hojo greeted back. "You know I do believe it isn't quite appropriate to be sprawled over the cadets in such a manner."

Cloud swallowed hard, pressing himself close behind Zack. He didn't want to get him in trouble, but he had no doubt that they were both in trouble at this point. Flashes of lying in a laboratory, of needles sticking into his skin, filled his head, and he gripped his temple as a headache began pounding through his skull.

"What business is it of the Shinra Science Division who I sprawl across?" Zack growled out as Cloud wrapped his arms around him. He glanced back in worry, but Cloud could do nothing but bury his face in his shoulder blades.

Cloud risked a glance around Zack's back to see those dark eyes still staring at him in disappointment. "Cloud. Let's go."

"Like hell!" Zack growled, and the vibrations that echoed through the SOLDIER's chest made his legs go shaky as he let out a whine.

"Your Alpha instincts are strong when it comes to him," Hojo observed. "Did you ever stop to ask yourself if you actually care about him?"

"What are you talking about?" Zack bit back, distaste laced in his normally jovial tone. "Of course I care about him."

"Oh I have no doubt you think as much," Hojo stated, an underlying mock in his tone. "He's designed to get under Alphas' skin."

"Stop it," Cloud bit out, nails digging into Zack's hips. Zack, for his part, didn't seem to notice. "I wasn't designed. Stop it!"

Hojo's shoulders shook with laughter at that. "Most days I have the willpower to play this little game Cloud, but you made me angry finding you the way I did."

Implying this had happened before. Implying he knew him much better than Cloud realized. "What did you do to my head?" he asked, voice distraught. Why couldn't he remember? Why did it feel like he was an experiment for this bastard to test? To play with? "Why can't I remember!?"

The scientist watched him calmly through his outburst, holding up his hand as he motioned to the door. "Let's go."

Zack growled again, the sound bouncing off the walls, and if Hojo had any sense of self preservation he would be aware of what kind of danger he was in. "Like hell," the SOLDIER snarled. "Take another step towards him and I'll tear you into pieces."

Hojo pressed the glasses up to his face, frowning in annoyance. "I'll be taking him. You're to report for debriefing with Lazard, or do you not remember how rank and orders work anymore, Lieutenant Fair?" He looked around towards Cloud. "Just listen for once. You don't want me to take it out on your boyfriend, do you?"

Cloud hated it. He hated the familiar way this man spoke to him. As if he were scolding his petulant child. As if he knew him. He pulled away from Zack, the other glancing behind his shoulder worriedly as he backed up on the training mat.

"Good boy," Hojo praised, causing another growl to rip through Zack's chest.

"Don't talk to him like he's a dog!" Zack snarled. "He's not going anywhere with you."

"Why?" Hojo questioned. "Because you're protecting him? You have no idea who he is, Lieutenant Fair. Now back down, and go report to Lazard. Cloud will be away for a few hours only this time."

"This time?" Zack hissed through clenched teeth, and Cloud felt a cold sweat sweep through him. He didn't want to go. He didn't want to see those white walls. ...He didn't want to forget again.

Hojo sighed, obviously through explaining as he pulled up a syringe. "Do you know what this is?" There was blue glowing liquid in the syringe, and Cloud's head pounded as he was sure he had seen it before.

"Why would I?" Zack bit back, distaste leaking off his tongue.

"Right? Why would you?" the scientist asked. "The last time I administered it to him you were too busy buried in as much sex as you could find, and running away instead of dealing with the cadet's pain."

"Fuck you," the SOLDIER snapped, and Cloud couldn't take his eyes off the liquid.

"I'm sure that was Cloud's sentiment exactly," Hojo murmured in amusement. "It stops the heat. A suppressant to keep the balance of this place, and to keep all the Alphas sane."

Zack shot a worried look back at him, and Cloud pulled back even further as he realized they had little choice in the matter. He didn't want to go through what he had before. That need. ...It was uncontrollable. He had made so many mistakes. He had made Zack hurt so much. "Spike, no…" the SOLDIER tried as he watched him pull away. "We'll figure it out."

"You won't," Hojo assured him. "He's not going to let you go through what you went through last time. If you knew him at all, you would realize that."

"And how do you know him?" Zack questioned, a dark threat in his tone.

Hojo rolled his eyes. "Now why would I tell you that?" he turned towards him. "Cloud, I'm done asking. Let's go."

The urge to obey was so strong that he knew Hojo had commanded a similar thing before. How many times? Who the hell was he to Hojo? Why couldn't he remember? "It's okay," he found himself saying, walking over to Zack as he placed a calming hand on his elbow. "It'll be okay. I'll come find you after he's done."

"Done with what?" Zack asked, pulling him close as those violet eyes were shining with worry. "I don't like this. I don't understand why he knows so much about it."

"It's alright," Cloud assured him. "I don't think he'll make me forget this time."

"This time?" Zack asked, turning hate filled eyes to the scientist. "If you hurt him I'll kill you."

"Killing me is above your paygrade, SOLIDER," Hojo assured. "Cloud, tell your boyfriend good-bye. I grow weary of his inadequacies."

Cloud eyed him warily, leaning forward and kissing the back of Zack's shoulder. "I'll be back tonight, alright?" he assured his lover. "I have to go."

Zack never took his eyes off Hojo, hate leaching through him as Cloud clung to him. "Why do you have to go? Why would you?" he questioned, tearing his eyes away to look down on him in worry.

"Because he knows how to listen," Hojo answered for him. "Cloud, now." The tone he used left no room for argument as Cloud tore himself away from Zack. Hojo raised an eyebrow in approval, staring at Zack's snarling form. "Go report to Lazard. Trust that I know how to fix him."

"I don't trust a single thing about you," Zack assured him, fists clenched at his side.

Hojo shrugged. "Nevertheless, he is coming with me." He motioned to Cloud. "Let's go."

Cloud couldn't bring himself to look back at the SOLDIER as he could feel his eyes beating into his back. Had he disappointed him? If nothing else he knew he had to be worried. Why was he listening to Hojo at all? Why did it feel like he was compelled to do so?

They were both silent as Cloud followed Hojo to the Shinra labs, stomach coiling in nervousness as he considered the fact that this felt so familiar. It felt like it had happened a hundred times before.

"Did you do this to me?" Cloud questioned as they entered the lab. "Did you do something to me, Professor?"

Hojo tilted his head back, shaking it slowly in exasperation. "I understand that this memory loss is of my own creation, but it can really be irritating sometimes."

The scientist reached out to him, and Cloud slapped the hand away with a glare. "Of your own making? Why? Why are you doing this to me? Why did you make me like this!?"

"Oh, I made you now?" Hojo questioned in amusement. "Is that what you think?" He pushed the glasses up his nose, rolling his eyes. "Go get on the table, Cloud. I need to do bloodwork to make sure you didn't screw this up beyond repair."

Cloud did as he was told, going to sit on the cold table as Hojo came over and grabbed his arm, stretching it out as he tied a tourniquet. He was frowning as a needle poked through his skin, Hojo hitting on the first mark like he had done it thousands of times before.

"What are you testing me for?" he asked the scientist, trying not to think about the last time he had had his blood drawn.

"STDs…" Hojo glanced up towards him. "Pregnancy."

"I'm a boy!" Cloud bit back immediately, blushing at just the thought.

"Not just a boy, eh?" Hojo questioned. "You're something more. I know what you found in Wutaii. I know you know what an Omega can do."

"There are no other Omegas, besides me," Cloud growled back.

Hojo rolled his eyes again, reaching out to ruffle his hair. "You're adorable when you're like this. Annoying, but adorable." He pulled out the syringe with the blue liquid. "Now, I'm going to give this to you, but there are some ground rules."

"You talk like you're my keeper," Cloud hissed out, not able to take his eyes off the syringe. "That keeps the heats away?"

Hojo nodded slowly. "But you know that already, don't you?" he questioned.

"I don't actually!" Cloud bit back. "You messed with my memories. Did you experiment on me? Did you make me some kind of breeding monster?"

The scientist sighed in disgust, before plunging the syringe in Cloud's neck as the other gasped. "I did nothing to you here besides what you asked me to. Remember that. Before we got here, why yes, I experimented on you. I made you the way you are...strong enough to control Alphas."

"Why?" Cloud questioned, trying to keep track of this rush of information as his stomach rolled and cramped with the drug. "Why do you want to control Alphas?"

The scientist frowned, disappointment etched into his skin as he held out a container with two white pills. "That's a stupid question."

Cloud glanced down at the pills. "What are they?"

"Preventatives from mako poisoning," Hojo answered easily, at the look of confusion that covered Cloud's face the professor gave a lecherous grin. "I assume you haven't been using protection?"

"You're disgusting!" Cloud bit back, but took the pills as Hojo handed him some water. "Are you going to hurt Zack?"

Hojo sighed at the question. "Zachary Fair. The irritating example and goodness in this universe. Of course you'd be drawn to him. Do you love him?"

He was taken aback by the question, holding his stomach as nausea swept through him. "Does it matter?"

"I asked, didn't I?" Hojo remarked.

"I do," Cloud answered slowly, worry taking over as he didn't like the familiarity with which the scientist spoke to him. "Don't hurt him."

Hojo sighed. "I'm not going to hurt your boyfriend, Cloud. I'm sure you'll manage that all on your own."

"I don't understand," Cloud tried, placing his hand over his mouth as bile rose up his throat. Hojo handed him a bucket right before he emptied the contents of his stomach.

Cloud flinched as another needle was stuck into his neck, hand reaching out to grasp it as he once more vomited. "Lay back. The sickness usually only lasts a few hours. You're not in heat yet, and so it should pass."

He felt sedated as he was pushed back, laying on the bed as his limbs felt like they weighed a hundred pounds. ...At least his stomach had relaxed for the time being. "Tell me the truth…" he managed, reaching out to grasp at the white lab coat as his eyes blurred.

"The truth?" Hojo questioned, not seeming to mind the hand fisted in his clothes. "You're with the wrong Alpha." Cloud knitted his eyebrows, about to respond to how wrong the scientist was when he succumbed to the drug, hand slipping down to fall along his side.

Cloud had woken up back in the training hall as if nothing had ever happened. He was laying on a mat in the corner, and he could still smell the vomit on his shirt and the sweat from training. His head was fuzzy, but he still remembered. Zack had to have been worried. He had to have been going out of his mind as it was almost sunrise.

What could he possibly think? Did he think he was a freak? Did he think he was a liar as Hojo was obviously familiar with what was happening to him? What was happening to him? How long had this been going on? Cloud tried to think back to before he had come to Shinra, and he couldn't remember. He couldn't even remember his mother's face.

Tears poured down his face as he swept the keycard across the lock, pushing into the apartment as he couldn't stop shaking. Cloud slipped off his shoes, feeling dirty as he headed down the hall. He felt like he was losing his sanity. He just wanted it to stop. He just wanted to know why he couldn't remember anything before PT drills and patrol.

Cloud wiped furiously at his face as he entered the bedroom, eyes open and vulnerable as he took in the body on the bed. He couldn't answer why he had come here. Why he hadn't gone home to Zack, but that didn't change the fact that he met Sephiroth's eyes as the other stared at him curiously. He bit his bottom lip, not able to speak his betrayal as he begged with his eyes, shuddering as Sephiroth slowly lifting up the blanket.

He moved forward without thinking, crawling up onto the bed and getting on top of Sephiroth, leaning in and claiming his lips before he could stop himself. His lips were trembling as he kissed the SOLDIER desperately, straddling his waist as his hands traveled over the revealed hard flesh.

His fingers fisted in the long silver hair, moaning at the taste of the Alpha as he pressed closer, desperate to feel anything but fear as he sobbed into his mouth. Pleasure exploded behind his vision as Sephiroth swept his tongue against his own, and he reveled in the taste.

Cloud pulled back long enough to strip the t-shirt over his spikes, throwing it across the room before he leaned down to kiss Sephiroth again. He needed his Alpha. He needed him to make it all better. He needed his mind to stop spinning with the fact that he couldn't remember anything beyond this place.

Sephiroth opened his mouth to speak, but Cloud pressed a palm over it before he could, shaking his head and begging him to understand as tears poured down his cheeks. Silver brows furrowed as worry covered the normally stoic face, and Cloud leaned down to pour his forgiveness onto those lips as his hand snaked down, moaning as he discovered that Sephiroth slept in the nude.

He watched Sephiroth as he wrapped his hand around that large cock, sliding his hand slowly up and down the burgeoning erection, and watching the aqua spread through his eyes as he hardened in his hand. He kept his other hand pressed to that mouth, panting as arousal swept through him and wetness leaked down his thighs.

The pungent scent of sex filled the room, and Sephiroth reacted with a growl, lunging forward as he tackled Cloud backwards. The blond moaned as his lips were claimed again, not hesitating in wrapping his arms around his neck as their tongues fought for dominance. All guilt was gone as he couldn't think of anything beyond his pleasure. He couldn't think of anything besides what his body was craving...who it was craving.

His nails trailed down Sephiroth's back as the other broke away from his mouth, kissing a trail down his neck as he focused in on the scent gland on his neck. Cloud gasped, releasing more of that scent into the air as he obeyed the hands arching up his hips. The SOLDIER slipped the pants down over his hips, throwing them across the room before Cloud yanked him back to his mouth.

Sephiroth was the strongest human on the planet, and yet he kissed him almost gently, lips revenant as they traced down his neck, biting at his clavicle as he carefully spread his legs. Strong hands traced along his thighs, before a finger pressed between his legs, Sephiroth covering up the pain as he bit at his shoulder.

Cloud leaked slick down onto that finger as pleasure shot up his spine, member hard against his stomach as a pearl of precum dripped slowly from it. The finger swirled inside of him, causing him to squirm as another pressed in alongside it. He gasped as those fingers stretched, being more than accommodating as he looked above him to see Sephiroth's eyes glowing in the darkness with the powers inside of him...with his instincts.

He moaned as those fingers opened him up, not knowing why Sephiroth was bothering as his body more than prepped itself. He'd open his mouth to tell him that too if he didn't think he would start bawling again with one word. Sephiroth hadn't asked any questions. He hadn't asked why he had come into his apartment. He had given him what he needed. He had taken care of him.

Sephiroth pulled his fingers out, using his free hand to hitch up his hips as he reached down to palm his cock. He looked questioningly down into Cloud's eyes, and he found himself nodding his approval as he reached up to pull the SOLDIER back down to his lips.

He pushed in inch by inch, taking it slow as they kissed as stars exploded behind his vision and his entire body thrummed with want. It felt so right. It felt like his body was meant for it as his own eyes began to glow a bright blue.

Cloud pulled him closer as Sephiroth took him slowly, pressing deep inside him as he cried out at the feeling of pleasure as he fell backwards onto the bed. The arms wrapped around Sephiroth's neck ensured the other followed as he began to slowly move inside him as they kissed.

Long hair cascaded around him, and he was surrounded in the Alpha's scent, filled with him as he rocked inside his spread legs. He pulled back as the cock pressed deep inside him, scraping against his prostate as he cried out and clenched around him.

Cloud kneaded his fingers in that perfect silk hair as Sephiroth rocked up against the gland, slick pouring down his legs as pleasure overwhelmed him. His eyes were wide as he met those glowing aqua ones, feeling the cock inside him begin to swell, and crying out at the overwhelming pain and pleasure as the knot pushed inside.

Sephiroth's eyes were wide and blown with confusion as he didn't seem to realize what was happening either as warmth began to flood Cloud's insides. His nails dug their way down Sephiroth's perfectly muscled back, cumming hard around that cock as his body began to spasm around the knot. He milked him as they kissed, and he was crying again with the pleasure of it before he could stop himself.

Aftershock tremors were still going through him twenty minutes later when Sephiroth finally pulled free. He seemed just as shocked as he felt as he rolled over onto his back. Cloud didn't want to be away from him, crawling over to lay against that strong chest, laying his spikes down as he panted after the exertion. An arm slowly came to wrap around his waist as Cloud panted, fingers tracing over abs as he finally stopped crying.

"Am I allowed to speak yet?" Sephiroth finally asked, leaning down as lips pressed into his hair.

Cloud nodded against his chest, tightening his grip on the other as he realized what would happen when he finally could respond.

"Are you going to tell me why you're so upset?" the SOLDIER asked, and Cloud shook his head against his skin. "May I hazard a guess then?" Cloud's nails dug into his stomach, hiding his face as he refused to answer. "Zack told me that Hojo had taken you. The only thing preventing me from storming his lab was that he asked me not to. He said you had gone willingly."

Cloud pulled up in a panic, eyes wide and worried. "Did you tell him?" his voice broke with the guilt he hadn't let himself feel. What had he done? Had he cheated on Zack? Had he…

"Sshhh…" Sephiroth breathed, cupping the back of his head. "Come here.." He pulled Cloud down to his mouth, parting his lips slightly as they lazily kissed until the panic melted away from his spine. "It's okay," he whispered into his mouth. "I didn't tell him anything." He kissed him tenderly. "Relax...you're trembling."

He did as he was told as they lazily kissed, mouth barely moving together, and yet somehow not able to part. His eyes were lidded when Sephiroth finally did pull away. "Are you going to tell me now?"

"Are you?" Sephiroth questioned, carding his long fingers through his sweaty spikes. "I've never done what we just did. I didn't know my body could do that."

Cloud smiled lazily, practically purring as he leaned into the way those fingers massaged his scalp. "Did I take your virginity then?"

He could practically feel Sephiroth rolling his eyes as he laid back against his chest. "Hardly. Though I must say...you definitely took my will to ever fuck a normal man again away."

A lazy smile lit up his face, not able to help himself as he looked up to meet those curious eyes. "Why General...that may in fact be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me."

Sephiroth actually smiled then, and Cloud thought it might be the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his life. "Are you going to stay the night?"

Cloud pressed his lips to his peck. "It's already morning," he murmured. "And I have to go before…"

"Before your boyfriend finds you?" Sephiroth questioned, the smile evaporating from his face.

He shook his head, eyes filling with tears once more as the guilt ate at him, and he didn't resist when Sephiroth pulled him back to his chest. "There's something wrong with me. I shouldn't be like this. I shouldn't want to be with you, but I do."

Sephiroth stiffened underneath him, and Cloud sat up fully knowing he had messed up. "I didn't mean it like that. I just…" He reached up to his neck, which was covered in bruises. "I would have let you. I won't even let Zack kiss me here, but I would have let you. What does that mean?"

"That you're a tease?" Sephiroth questioned, eyes hard and untrusting as he watched him. "What do you think that spot on your neck means, exactly?"

Mates. The thought entered his head within an instant. He didn't know how he knew it. He didn't know how he could possibly know when he couldn't even remember his own past, but he knew it. "That I would belong to someone."

"Oh believe me, Cloud," Sephiroth bit out. "You belong to someone."

"What would you have me do, exactly?" Cloud questioned, having heard the possession in that tone. "What should I do Sephiroth? Should I tell my best friend...the person I love...that since I saw his friend in an alley and he smelled me that I can't stop thinking about him?" he asked with a growl. "That I let him jack me off while he took blood samples? That I let him finger fuck me against his counter?"

"That you let him knot you?" Sephiroth added helpfully, sitting up as well as he got into his face. "That you came to him when you were bawling your eyes out when you could have come to him?"

"And why is that?" Cloud asked. "Can you explain it? Because I can't.." Cloud shook his head, letting his fear and insecurities pour out. "There's something wrong with me. I can't remember. I can't remember anything before coming here." He reached out, hands fisting in Sephiroth's hair as he crawled forward into his lap. "Why can't I remember?" He met those angry aqua eyes full on. "What did he do to me?"

Sephiroth sighed, relenting as he pulled Cloud close, fingers trailing comfortingly down his spine. "I want you to come with me. I don't want to leave you here alone with Hojo."

Cloud tilted his head in question. "Where are we going?"

"Nibelheim," he said slowly. "I think it'll have answers."

Blue eyes widened to saucers, trying to pull away, but Sephiroth held him close. "We can't. I don't…" Why was he so afraid? "What if we find something bad?"

"Then we find it together," Sephiroth assured him, voice soft and placating as he stroked down his spine. "We need to know, Cloud. It isn't just about you. Hojo is doing this for control."

"Could I control you?" Cloud asked, chest still slightly heaving.

"Would you try?" Sephiroth questioned, massaging along his hip bones.

"What about Zack?" Cloud asked. "We can't just leave and not tell him. I won't do that to him."

Sephiroth frowned at the statement. "We won't. Zachary is going to come with."

He knitted his eyebrows at that, anxiety spiking as he realized the implication of such a pairing. "One big happy family?" he asked mockingly.

He was pulled close, Sephiroth kissing the top of his head as Cloud reveled in the comfort. "Indeed…"

,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,

A.N- So that happened. I must say I was in the mood to write Cloud submissive after the new trailer. Anyone else dying of excitement for the Honey Bee Inn? Is it April yet? Hope you enjoyed it and it didn't give you too many questions. Thanks for reading and for the reviews! They keep me going :)