Chapter 21: Never Again

Cloud's heart was racing as he stared at the closed door where Sephiroth had disappeared. He knew he had to turn around and face Zack. His hand pressed to his stomach, feeling calmer than he had earlier as he slowly inhaled and turned back to face the dark haired Alpha. The hurt he saw on his face was enough to make him flinch as he realized the way Sephiroth had kissed him good-bye.

He opened his mouth to respond, but realized he didn't have anything to say. "Zack," he managed, not realizing how much he had missed him. Cloud walked forward, not giving the other a chance to respond as he surged forward and wrapped his arms around his neck. He stood on his tip toes as he pulled the other into an embrace, knowing he was about two seconds away from being shoved across the room, but needing him anyways.

A quiet keening whine left his throat when he felt strong arms slowly wrap around him, causing him to clutch even tighter as emotion swelled through his gut and tears sprang to his eyes.

He was going to kill these hormones.

Zack's hands rubbed slowly up and down his back. "Spike, it's okay," he whispered into his ear as Cloud clung. "It's going to be okay."

How? How was it going to be okay? He was with Sephiroth now. They were going to have a baby. They were going to have to run from this horrible place, and what would happen to Zack? What would he think if they both left him? What else was he going to take away from the SOLDIER?

"I'm so sorry," he begged out his apologies, burying his face under Zack's chin. "This is all my fault. It's always my fault." He was feeling sorry for himself again. He was making this about him, when Zack was the one in trouble. Why was he like this? If Sephiroth saw him like this, he would be beyond hurt. He was probably sending Zack mixed signals, but he couldn't help himself.

"What are you apologizing for, Spike?" Zack questioned, kissing the top of his head. "Made this mess all myself."

Reno cleared his throat loudly from the kitchen, and Cloud looked over to see him with a raised eyebrow in question. "I thought you two weren't fucking anymore?"

Cloud flinched, pulling back from Zack's arms as his cheeks burned. "Reno, shut up," he hissed at his friend. "You don't always have to say everything you're thinking!"

The redhead rose up his hands in mock surrender. "Whoa kitten, don't hiss at me. You're the one kissing one of them and hugging the other. Is this like a thropple situation?" Reno asked mockingly, holding up a bag. "I have trash chips. Let's get drunk while we're waiting to die. Well...more drunk."

"You're being dramatic," Zack countered, and Cloud noticed the way he was grinning in amusement at his friend. "We will probably get in at least three more meals before they kill us."

"Both of you are just hilarious," Cloud murmured, rolling his eyes. "I wasn't aware our imminent demise was a subject of such amusement."

"If you can't laugh at yourself, you can't laugh at anything," Zack assured him, grin spreading across his face. "You have to admit. It is quite the story."

Cloud raised an eyebrow. "Our story? Suppose it would make for quite the tale...if you took out the horror aspect."

"That's what makes it interesting," Reno supplied, walking into the room and slamming the snacks down on the table. "Cloud, come take a shot with me."

The blond frowned at him, thinking about all of the reasons he shouldn't be drinking right now. "I told you, I can't."

"Why can't you?" Zack questioned, frown etched on his face as his eyes were fixed on Cloud's stomach.

Guilt overwhelmed him as he realized he hadn't talked to Zack since the train station. ...He probably still thought he lost the baby. "I don't feel well is all," he managed. It wasn't much of a lie. He had felt awful for the last couple of weeks. The only reprieve from the nausea had been when Sephiroth had been home...however fleeting that turned out to be.

Reno groaned in irritation, sinking down on the couch as he poured tequila and took a shot on his own. "You're no fun anymore." He rubbed the bridge of his nose, leaning back. "Fuck, I'm exhausted. Nothing like running from your future bosses to really wear you out."

"They're not going to blame you," Zack tried, but Cloud could hear the doubt in his tone. "This wasn't your fault." He put a hand up in consideration at that. "Well actually, it was your fault."

"I didn't make you punch him in the face, man," Reno pointed out, patting beside him as he motioned for Cloud. "Blondie, you look awful. Come sit."

Cloud frowned at that, wondering just what he must look like if Reno was showing concern. He moved over to the couch, sinking down next to his friend, looking up towards Zack whose eyes were fixed on him in concern. "I'm okay."

"Somehow I doubt that," Zack murmured, shaking his head. "We shouldn't have come here. I'm sorry."

"Did you think I wouldn't want to help you?" Cloud asked, frowning at the SOLDIER. "Where else should you have gone, Zack? Are we not important to each other anymore?" It was an unfair question, and he realized it by the way violet eyes narrowed when he spoke.

"I don't know Spike, are we important to each other?" Zack questioned, shaking his head as he forced the anger off his face. "You should go to bed like he told you to."

Frustration swelled inside of him at those words. As if he should just do everything Sephiroth told him. ...Everything Shinra told him. It was the same song, different chorus all over again. "I'm not a slave," he managed, blue eyes filled with anger as they stared each other down. "I'm not a pet."

"I never said you were," Zack replied. "But you don't go to your classes anymore. You don't leave this place. What am I supposed to think?"

Reno made a gagging noise next to him, and Cloud glanced over. "Listen, I can only handle so much angst." The Turk reached out, pressing his palm to Cloud's forehead. "You're clammy...and gross. Maybe you really should go to sleep?"

Cloud rubbed at his stomach as he frowned, swatting at Reno's hand. "The Both of your concern is really touching. I'll keep that in mind." He turned his eyes up towards Zack as he scooted back on the couch. "I know you won't believe this, but I'm doing this all for a reason." It had been to protect him. To keep him alive.

Of course, he wasn't so selfless. He wanted to be here as well...with Sephiroth. He felt safe here, despite the fact that Shinra was watching their every move. Despite the fact that they were planning to run. He felt safe with Sephiroth. Protected. Guarded.

Zack sighed, seeming to give up the fight as he moved over to the couch. He sank down next to him, reaching over as his hands wrapped around Cloud's waist, pulling him close and into another embrace. "I know Spike," he managed, and Cloud shuddered as hands dragged up his back and he inhaled the Alpha's scent. "I just don't want you to ever think you have to do anything you don't want to."

Cloud pulled back from the hug, but stayed close as he met those open and caring eyes. "What was he like?" Because he knew Zack. He knew this concern was brought about by guilt. This was about that other Omega.

The SOLDIER exhaled in exhaustion, leaning back on the couch cushion as he reached out to run his fingers through Cloud's spikes. "Not like you," he managed to get out with amusement. "I doubt he'd yell at me quite as often as you do."

"So what?" Reno asked. "Kadaj and Cloud were made by Shinra? That's fucked up."

Zack raised an eyebrow at the red head. "Thought you didn't care as long as it didn't involve you?"

Reno motioned around. "Think it kind of involves me now, wouldn't you say?"

Cloud forced himself to shift away from Zack's warmth, turning to look at Reno's annoyed face. "I'm sorry."

The Turk gave him a look of disgust, shoving his face away. "Why? Don't do that shit, man. You don't have anything to apologize about in this scenario, do you?" Reno sighed once again in annoyance. "I was so close this time, too. He even noticed me."

Zack laughed at that, shaking his head as his fingers pressed to his forehead in exhaustion. "Are you still on getting your dick sucked?"

"He would have done it!" Reno argued. "I had him just where I wanted him," he grinned slyly at the SOLDIER. "Besides, I was going to suck his dick. The devil's in the details and all that."

Cloud leaned his head back, staring up at the ceiling. "You think Rufus Shinra would be weirded out to know how many times you've masturbated to him?"

Reno scoffed at that. "Are you kidding? He'd be flattered."

"You're so weird," Cloud murmured, smiling over at the redhead.

The other laughed, before his face sobered slightly. "Sephiroth's not making you do anything, right?" Cloud's smile left as cold disgust filled him at the genuine concern in Reno's voice. "You know what I mean, Blondie. Like...you can say no."

Cloud shot up from the couch, gripping his stomach as a wave of nausea rushed through him as he turned accusing eyes on Reno and Zack. "What? You think he's raping me? You think I just can't seem to help myself?" He shook his head in disgusted anger. "How could you think that of your friend?" he hissed at Zack.

"My friend?" Zack questioned bitterly. "My 'friend' ruined my life."

"No," Cloud argued, shaking his head. "I did that. I brought you into all of this. I put you in danger." He pointed towards the door. "Sephiroth just went to help you because he cares about you. We both care about you."

Zack's face was pained as he stared up at him, hand running through his dark spikes. "I shouldn't have come here."

"Why not?" Cloud asked. "Did you think we wouldn't help you?"

"We…" Zack repeated. "Always we...Does that mark on your neck make you so close?" He bit his lip. "We were almost that close. Then he literally ripped you away from me, and our baby…" He stopped talking, sadness and disgust filling his tone.

"Baby?" Reno questioned with surprise. "As in...like...Cloud was…" His mouth dropped open slightly. "Is that why you can't drink and look so gross?" He sat forward on the couch, a shocked grin spreading across his face. "Holy shit, you're pregnant, Blondie?" He tilted his head. "Wait. That's a weird statement...you're a boy…"

Cloud couldn't concentrate on any of that, however, because a cold sense of dread had filled him as his eyes were locked on the ceiling where he knew the cameras were located. The cameras that had just heard Reno's statement. The cameras, he realized, that had also heard him tell Sephiroth earlier that he was carrying his child.

"Fuck," he managed, before running towards the bathroom. Nausea overwhelmed him as he collapsed near the toilet as vomit spewed from his mouth. How could they have not realized the slip? How could he have been so careless when he knew they were watching?

He was shaking as he wiped at his mouth, hearing Zack and Reno arguing outside of the room. Cloud looked into the mirror, acknowledging their worry as he was pale as a sheet, skin shiny almost with the sweat on his brow.

His mind was running a mile a minute with scenarios, trying to think of anything he could do to prevent the inevitable. Maybe they hadn't seen. It was almost 4:00 in the morning now. They may not always be watching. But with everything that had happened with Rufus down in the slums...did they know exactly where they were? What game was Hojo playing?

Cloud padded slowly back to the living room, seeing Zack and Reno's worried faces turn towards him. "We need to get Tseng." He had helped him cover it up before. He may even be able to help with the Rufus situation. "Reno, can you get him? We don't have a lot of time." Reno would know where Tseng was. Maybe he could convince him to help. Maybe they could still stop this before it blew up.

"Cloud, what's going on?" Zack asked calmly. "Talk to me, babe."

Fear coursed through him, as well as longing at the endearment and worry in Zack's tone. "They're always watching." He choked on how much to say, still feeling sick as he didn't want to make it worse. "We need Tseng," he repeated. "Please Reno...please?"

Reno nodded slowly, worry on his face as he could sense the tension in the room. "Sure. I'll go get him." He must look bad if even the Turk wasn't arguing with him. "Did I mess up?"

"Just go," Cloud managed, pain lashing through his gut.

Reno rushed passed, and when Cloud heard the door slam he turned towards Zack. He lunged forward, collapsing into his arms as he clung to him, lips pressed to his ear. "We can't let them find out about the baby," he whispered into the Alpha's ear as Zack stiffened. "They're watching all the time. I couldn't tell you...they were going to kill you."

Arms wrapped around him, and Zack exhaled as he buried his face into his neck. Cloud clung to him as the other inhaled the scent he knew had changed with the pregnancy. He knew Zack must realize it now too.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Zack whispered against his neck. "I would have protected you."

Cloud didn't answer, fingers clenching into the strong muscles of Zack's back as he let the Alpha's scent wash over him and calm him. "Tseng will fix it. I trust him."

For some strange reason, he did. He knew Tseng still hated him, but they were tied together in mutually assured destruction. That, and the fact that Tseng had saved his child. Sephiroth would be so disappointed in him when he got back. He brought yet another mess upon them, but he had a plan. They just needed to get the footage. They just needed to cover this up.

He pulled away from those strong arms, realizing they were finally alone as there was so much he wanted to say to him. Yet, he kept silent as he took a step back. "I'm going to try and get some sleep." If he stayed in those arms he would slip up. If he spoke to Zack he would tell him how much he missed him.

It was all so wrong.

He was broken.

Zack nodded slowly, eyes sparking along the ceiling now as well. "I'll wake you once one of them gets back."

"Zack?" Cloud asked softly, causing those eyes to once more be focused on him. How often were they focused on him? "I love you, you know that right?"

It hurt him by the way Zack flinched at the words, seeing sadness fill those eyes as he simply nodded. "You need sleep. I'll wake you as soon as I hear anything, I promise."

Cloud nodded, eyes downcast as the other hadn't said it back. Of course he hadn't. With everything that happened, how could he? How could Cloud be selfish enough to even ask him for that validation? How could he be like this as a person that he continued to hurt them both?

He crawled into bed, inhaling his mate's scent as exhaustion overwhelmed him. He knew he shouldn't sleep, but he wasn't going to be any good to anyone if he let the sickness from the baby overwhelm him.

Clinging to his pillow, Cloud let himself be calm as his body relaxed. He felt safe enough with Zack watching over him. He trusted Reno enough to know he would bring Tseng to fix this. ...He just needed a little sleep.

He was woken up by the sound of a gun cocking. Blue eyes flew open as a gun barrel was pressed up underneath his chin, and he was met with a grinning face. Cloud's heart was pounding as Rufus Shinra's face was right above his, shoving at his chest as panic set in. He realized the other was straddling him as he struggled to scoot away from the gun.

"Hi there," Rufus purred playfully, knees digging on either side of Cloud's hips as he smirked down at him. "My my, when I heard how they spoke of you, I must admit...I expected a bit more." The gun dragged up along his cheekbone, pressing to his temple. "Must be what's between your legs, eh?" The gun dragged down his shoulder, pressing to the edge of the comforter as he slowly dragged it down. "Or maybe...what's growing in your belly?"

"Where's Zack?" Cloud questioned, struggling to fight off sleep and fear as he tried not to give anything away on his face. If he panicked, this bastard would just take advantage of it.

"Waiting," Rufus assured him, gun dragging up his t-shirt to reveal his flat belly. "They let me come wake their princess. It was the least they could do for all of the trouble I'm about to get them out of."

"Sephiroth?" Cloud questioned, looking towards the closed door leading out to the apartment. "He's back?"

Rufus nodded his agreement. "He is. We were able to work something out...and then...you'll never guess what a little birdy told me?" he teased, gun pushing against his lower stomach. "I heard that you're carrying an Ancient. Something that can bring us back to the Promised Land."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Cloud spoke, eyes narrowed at the way the gun was pressed against him. "Get off me."

Rufus tilted his head at the demand, staring down almost boredly at him. Cloud noticed how his left cheekbone was still swollen despite whatever cure magic he had used. "I've fucked an Omega before. They're obedient, I guess. The lube is also nice, but I've never understood this project. Create a race of sex dolls? For what? The Alphas? The Alphas are our warriors. They should only think of killing."

"They're humans," Cloud argued, as this asshole talked about the people he cared about like they were nothing more than toys.

"Are they?" Rufus asked back. "Are you?"

"What are you going to do to us?" Cloud questioned, not letting himself dwell on that question. "Kill us?" Like hell he could with just a gun. Zack and Sephiroth would slice him to ribbons.

"Kill you?" Rufus questioned. "And why the hell would I do that? Zachary did me a favor you know...gave me leverage."

"Leverage?" Cloud asked obediently, looking up into those icy grey eyes.

Rufus hummed his agreement. "I have ambitions, you see. Ambitions that don't include waiting in the shadows forever."

"You're the Vice President of Shinra," Cloud pointed out. "I hardly think you're in the shadows."

"I wouldn't expect someone whose purpose in life is to breed to understand my dreams," Rufus replied, fingers twisting in Cloud's shirt. "Now, let's go."

Cloud grunted as he was yanked up on the bed and out of the room as Rufus held him against his chest and pressed the gun to his temple. Cloud struggled against the arms wrapped around him, looking up as they got back to the living room and saw two sets of eyes narrowed in at the treatment as Zack and Sephiroth stood near the kitchen.

Tseng stood towards the doorway, arms crossed over his chest and a frown on his face as he observed the situation. Why was he here? Had Reno found him? Cloud noticed his friend was absent in this fucked up come to Shiva meeting that they were apparently going to have.

"What did you do?" Cloud asked, betrayal in his tone as he stared at the Turk.

Tseng made a noise of disgust, eyes focusing in on him. "What I should have done weeks ago. I covered my ass." He motioned around to everyone in the room. "All of this is your doing, little trap. Do not mistake what happened between us on that station for any kind of sympathy towards you. I work for the President." He glanced over to Rufus. "And the Vice President."

Sephiroth glanced over at him, and Cloud recognized the cold mask present on his face. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Turk." He turned to Rufus next. "Get yours hands off him if you want this conversation to remain civil."

Cloud glanced back to see the way Rufus was grinning at his mate, before he was shoved forward and away from him. Cloud stumbled, turning back to glower at the blond prince of Shinra. "Don't touch me again."

Rufus laughed. "Easy to say when your protector forces my hands off you."

"What do you want?" Zack asked the man. "I was the one that hit you. Punish me and leave them alone."

Rufus let out an irritated sigh. "Do you think I'm petty enough to make such a big deal about getting sucker punched?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I admit, it was a good excuse, but as I told the knocked up bitch in the bedroom, this is about what's in his belly."

Growling filled the room from the two Alphas, and Cloud felt his knees begin to shake as the need to go to his mate was overwhelming. "Why is it just you?" he asked, hands crossing over his stomach. "Why am I not up in Hojo's lab?"

"Because they don't know, obviously," Rufus answered with distaste. He motioned to the some device set up on the counter. "That has the cameras currently running on a loop. We're safe to talk without any prying eyes or ears."

"Planning a coop?" Sephiroth questioned, lip curling as he shook his head. "I should have known."

"Zack provided such a unique opportunity," Rufus agreed, never denying the accusation. "You asked me for a favor, Tseng told me about the child. It wasn't hard to alter the footage in this room after that."

"You're all the same," Zack spoke. "You're just as corrupt and evil as Daddy, aren't you?"

Rufus sneered, face twisted in distaste. "My father is a brilliant man, but his ambitions have always been questionable. I know where I want to go with this company, and I know exactly how to get there."

"So what do you want?" Sephiroth questioned, ignoring the speech of the brat's ambitions. "Just spit it out so we can be done with this game."

"Always to the point," Rufus breathed fondly. "Kill him."

"What?" Cloud questioned, not understanding as he watched Sephiroth and Zack's eyes narrow.

"I don't care which one of you does it, but just get it done." He crossed his arms over his chest. "It can't come back to me."

"He's your father," Zack argued. "Does that not mean anything to you?"

"No," Rufus spoke. "It doesn't. Do it, and I won't tell Hojo about Cloud."

"You're asking us to kill the President of Shinra," Sephiroth pointed out. "Sweeten the deal."

"I suppose you're right," Rufus agreed. "The bargain was a little skewed." His eyes met the Alphas'. "When I'm President I'll let you leave here. You can take Cloud and live wherever you want to. If I need the child...I'll ask for it ahead of time."

"Fuck you," Cloud bit out. "You're not touching my child for any reason. You absolute piece of…"

"Cloud," Sephiroth barked, interrupting him as the tone in that voice made his mouth snap shut.

"What assurances do we have that you won't betray us?" Sephiroth questioned. "They'll hang all of us for this conspiracy."

"Probably," Rufus agreed. "But I would be in just as much trouble as you were if anyone ever found out. Besides, Shinra Headquarters is no place to raise a kid."

"So you'll just let them go?" Zack asked. "Just like that? The General of your army, and the kid you literally designed in a lab?" He sneered at the thought. "The bullshit is palpable."

"Could just kill you?" Rufus suggested. "You're both quite strong, but we have thousands of troops, and many more SOLDIERs. It could be done….but I wouldn't kill Cloud." Rufus smirked. "Him, I'd keep around. I'd want to first of course see what all the fuss was about...and then...well once he had the baby...maybe we could create one of our own."

"No," Cloud spoke, hate filling his tone. "Fuck you." He pointed to the door. "Tell them. Tell them I have a baby in me. I don't care. I'm not making them murder to keep me safe...and keep Shinra assholes in power."

"Cloud," Sephiroth warned again, and he shot a glare over at his mate who was trying to silence him.

"No," he argued. "You don't get to tell me to keep quiet and just go along with all of this. I'm done. Done with Shinra...done with feeling this way. I won't murder one party using me only to replace them with another." Cloud glared at the Vice President. "You're not going to kill anyone. How are you going to explain it to your father? I know what I'm worth, despite the way I'm treated."

"Kitten's got claws," Rufus assessed, tilting his head as he watched him. "You're not like the others at all, are you? That's very interesting."

"Get out of my apartment," Cloud bit out.

"Cloud," Zack spoke this time, voice not as harsh as Sephiroth's, but he had that same commanding tone. "We have to hear them out. It may be the only way."

"Murder's the only way?" Cloud questioned the Alpha. "You want to work with Rufus Shinra? Do his dirty work? Why?"

"You know why," Zack replied, frowning at him.

Sephiroth sighed, rubbing his temple. "We'll do it. Just get out. I have a headache, and this wasn't how I thought my night would turn out."

Rufus let out a laugh at that. "At least the Alphas see reason. Sephiroth, I would get your pet under control. We didn't give him to you for you to let him be quite so rebellious."

"I'm not his keeper," Sephiroth pointed out, but given the circumstances of their life that felt very much like a lie.

"You are," Rufus disagreed. "This only works if he agrees to behave. I'll leave when he acts like a good boy and tells me he's in for the plan."

"Fuck you," Cloud bit out, eyes narrowed in hate.

"That's the wrong answer," Rufus spoke, raising up his gun and firing without hesitation. A scream ripped through the air, and Cloud turned wide eyes as Sephiroth gripped at his shoulder. His eyes focused on the blood splattered along the wall behind them.

"What's wrong with you!?" Zack bit out, heading into the kitchen to grab for a rag as he handed it for Sephiroth to press to the wound.

"Impulsivity mostly," Rufus explained. "Or at least that's what all my therapists tell me." He pointed the gun at Zack next, and Cloud held his breath. "Now, you little Omega brat, be a good boy and agree to the plan, or I put a bullet in your ex-lover's chest."

"They could kill both of you," Cloud spoke, shaking with hate as he glared at Rufus and Tseng. "You're nothing. You're just scum with a title."

"Cloud," Sephiroth growled in pain and frustration. "Obey." He felt anger through their bond, and his knees threatened to collapse out from under him as the Alpha spoke to him in absolute command. His legs collapsed, coming to his knees in subjugation as he turned absolute hate filled eyes up towards his mate for doing this to him.

Rufus laughed, keeping the gun trained on Zack's chest as he walked over, hands running through blond spikes. "That's a good boy," he mocked him. "I know a doctor in the Omega program. I'll have him set up a place where you can birth the child safely. You did know that if you just ran off he'd die, right? He kind of looks like he's going to die anyways."

Cloud opened his mouth to respond, but the growl of pain and frustration that ripped through Sephiroth's chest at just the prospect kept him silent against his own will.

"What do we have beyond your word?" Sephiroth questioned. "I want something tangible."

"The video," Tseng spoke. "Every bit of this night was recorded." He reached up to his phone, and Cloud heard Sephiroth's beep in his pocket. He didn't reach for it, hand to busy putting pressure on his wound. "It's yours now. Rufus has just as much to lose with that recording."

"But so much more to gain with your cooperation," Rufus assured them, tilting the gun as he watched Zack. "You're being very compliant for someone that gets nothing out of this but his own life."

Zack sneered at the assumption. "I want him safe. That's all that matters."

Rufus frowned at the answer, looking around boredly. "No, it isn't. I want to assure your compliance, so I'll offer you Kadaj."

"Kadaj?" Zack questioned in appalled shock. "I don't want to be offered Omegas like they're a treat."

"Why?" Rufus questioned back curiously. "They are a treat...fucking them certainly is, but then you already knew that, right?" He looked down at Cloud. "Sephiroth certainly understands that. He took him from you. You ever ask yourself why Cloud was so quick to go along with it? You saw the display, right? Sephiroth put him on his knees where he belongs."

Cloud struggled to get up, and the same growling ripped through the apartment and his body refused to obey as Rufus laughed. Why would he do this? Why would he humiliate him like this in front of this bastard? Sephiroth had never been about taking his choices away.

...Besides the mating.

"I can give you this," Rufus pointed out, motioning to Cloud on his knees.

"This?" Zack questioned, looking over at Sephiroth in anger. "I would never want this."

Sephiroth turned to Zack slowly, and Cloud saw how his eyes were glowing that aqua green as his entire body was stiff with rage. "One more snide remark and I'll let him shoot you in the chest. It would certainly be doing me a favor."

"Don't want the competition?" Zack questioned, shaking his head as he looked between Rufus and Tseng. "Let me know my part. I'll do whatever to get him out of this hell hole." He glowered at Rufus. "You can keep your treats for someone else." Zack turned sad eyes towards him, opening his mouth to say something, but not able to as heat lit up Cloud's face in shame. "Call me when you're ready," he repeated instead, heading towards the door and letting it slam behind him.

Rufus hummed to himself, putting his gun away on his hip. "I kind of like him. He's got spunk. Maybe Kadaj doesn't fit him." Cloud glared down at the ground, nails digging into the floor as he spoke about them like they were part of a breeding program. "Sephiroth, always a pleasure. I'll let you know the date...and don't worry about the dead Turk. I cleaned up the mess."

Tseng stepped forward, and his wrist twisted as he cured Sephiroth's shoulder. "I'll leave the machine that scrambles the recording. Consider it a gift to be able to speak freely with your mate in your own home."

Cloud turned hate filled eyes up towards Sephiroth who was frowning down at him, and he was fully aware that his mate didn't want to hear what he had to say when he was able to speak freely. His eyes stayed locked with Sephiroth's as the other two left, hearing the door close behind them as he still couldn't get his limbs to let him move.

"Let me up," Cloud managed, rage in his voice as he shot every bit of anger he could through their bond.

"No," Sephiroth spoke, voice an icy anger. "I want you compliant for what I'm about to say to you."

Had he been in his right mind, he probably would have pissed himself at the anger emitting from the most dangerous creature in the world. As it was, it only caused him to get even angrier. "I don't want to hear anything you have to say. You fucking coward!"

Sephiroth walked over, crouching down in front of him as he grabbed his chin. "I'm the coward for having to once more clean up your mess? For having to dig your boyfriend out of a hole that didn't involve me? That makes me a coward?"

"Don't act so holy," Cloud bit out. "He's your friend."

"No," Sephiroth argued. "He's not my friend any longer. Do you not realize that? He's my competition." The hand on his jaw tightened as Cloud tried to yank his face away. "He's the one who when I leave my mate alone with him for ten minutes he confesses his love for him." Cloud flinched, causing Sephiroth's eyes to glow even brighter. "Yes, of course I saw. I was Rufus when he went over the footage of Reno saying you were pregnant. I watched the two of you all over each other. I was only surprised with the fact that you didn't invite him to our bed."

"I'm not a whore!" Cloud bit back, managing to tear his face away finally.

"No?" Sephiroth questioned. "You were designed to pleasure Alphas...so what exactly would you consider yourself then?"

"I hate you," Cloud bit out as he felt like he had been slapped.

"I'm sure you do," Sephiroth hissed. "But guess what, Precious? You're still mine. I'm going to kill the President of Shinra to pay for your safety, so tell me again how you're not a whore?"

Cloud felt the control weighing him down give, and he shot back onto his heels with a glare. "You bastard! Don't talk to me like that!"

"Don't tell me you love me, and then purr in another Alpha's ear all night," Sephiroth countered with, voice dark with jealousy. "You're not his."

"I'm not property!" Cloud yelled right back, not even recognizing Sephiroth as his eyes seemed almost slitted like a cat.

"Of course you are," Sephiroth murmured. "They gave you free will as an experiment, but you would have been just like the others if they hadn't messed with your head."

"How do you know about the others?" Cloud asked, voice surprised even in his rage.

"I know a lot now. I had to in order to keep you safe," Sephiroth countered. "This experiment with Zack is over...if I need to make you comply, I will."

"I fucking dare you," Cloud snapped. "If you want some submissive puppy, go find a different Omega!"

"You think I want you submissive?" Sephiroth questioned mockingly. "I want you to not cheat on me! Is that too much to ask of you!?"

"I didn't cheat on you," Cloud argued. "I didn't!"

"You would have!" Sephiroth yelled right back. "Zachary has far more control over himself than my own fucking mate!"

Cloud didn't back down from the ire, walking forward as he shoved Sephiroth's chest, temper only flaring more as it hardly even made him budge. "Don't you ever force me to submit again! In front of Zack no less!"

"You talk a big game, Cloud, but the truth of the matter is that you were the one that always came to me. You always wanted me to take you the way I did. You act like I can't smell when you're aroused. You act like I can't bury myself into your soul."

"I can't just turn my feelings off!" Cloud argued. "I can't just become an ice prince like you and go along with a murder plot!"

"I've killed people my entire life, do you honestly think finally getting to put a sword through Shinra would upset me in some way?" Sephiroth asked. "Rufus is doing us a favor. Why can't you see that?"

"Why can't 'you' see that we're giving up one master for another?" Cloud asked right back.

"I'm fully aware of the implications," Sephiroth pointed out. "I just wanted your trust when I was trying to handle things for us and the baby."

"Don't do it again," Cloud growled out a warning. "Swear it."

"Swear it?" Sephiroth asked, stepping forward. "Just who do you think you are exactly?"

"Your mate!" Cloud snapped. "Not your goddamn Omega!"

"They're one in the same," Sephiroth assured him, surging forward as he leaned down to grab Cloud around the waist, throwing him over his shoulder.

Cloud fought against him, kicking at him and clawing at that back. He kneed him in the chest as Sephiroth pushed through the bedroom door, throwing him so he bounced on the bed with a gasp.

Sephiroth was on him then, body pressing him down into the bed, and when Cloud opened his mouth to yell, he was met with his lips instead to quiet his protest. Their teeth clashed as Cloud angrily kissed back, rage mixing with arousal as Sephiroth grabbed both of the arms currently clawing down his back and slammed them above his head.

A tongue pushed into his mouth, forcing it against his own as he kissed him into compliance. Sephiroth kept hold of his hands with one arm, using the other to reach between their bodies and rip Cloud's boxers to shreds.

Their bodies slotted together, and Cloud moaned as he felt the full weight of Sephiroth's arousal press between his legs. Arousal spread through him at just the feel of his mate, feeling wetness seep in his ruined boxers as Sephiroth ripped them all the way off and threw them across their room.

Sephiroth worked down his zipper, pulling himself out as his second arm joined the first as he twisted Cloud's arms to get a better angle. Their kisses had turned longer, less aggressive as Cloud obediently spread his legs for the other, his own cock pressed up against his belly.

"I'm going to knot you," Sephiroth spoke as he pulled back. "After you ask for it."

Cloud glowered at the request, knowing why Sephiroth was insisting. "Why? Feeling guilty?"

"Ask," Sephiroth repeated. "Or you'll only get my tongue."

"Sephiroth," Cloud argued, shifting to raise his hips and drag the wetness against the large cock.

"Cloud," Sephiroth mocked back, pressing up against his entrance, and Cloud moaned as the head pressed easily inside the wet center that was reserved only for his mate. "Ask."

"Fuck me," Cloud complied, embarrassment and shame filling him as they had just been fighting.

"Knot you," Sephiroth corrected, and Cloud narrowed his eyes at his asshole mate.

"Knot me," Cloud complied through gritted teeth. "Alpha...knot m—" He was interrupted as Sephiroth pushed inside him to the hilt, sending pain and pleasure through his spine as he screamed out because of it.

His Alpha didn't relent to give him a chance to adjust, pulling out only to slam in again as the bed frame crashed against the wall. Hands on his wrists tightened as Sephiroth fucked him rough, hips pistoning between his legs.

Cloud fought against the hold, wanting to touch his Alpha as he raised up his legs to wrap around his waist. He pulled the other closer, moaning at the feel of him inside as Sephiroth laid their foreheads together, and Cloud felt that push against his consciousness.

He was too into the pleasure to fight as Sephiroth opened up their bond and dove into his mind. He felt a cascade of anger and pleasure wash through him as his mate's feelings became his own. Cloud threw his head back as the bed continued to slam into the wall, and he scraped up against Sephiroth's own mind to feel the pain and worry that was consuming his mate.

Jealousy. Hatred. Sorrow. Love. Anger. They all mixed together as Sephiroth kissed him again, and Cloud panted into the kiss as he felt his entrance expanding as his mate's knot pressed inside.

Cum began to fill him as Sephiroth pressed in deep, and Cloud's toes curled as he fought back losing control as he didn't want it to be over. Blue eyes met glowing aqua as his cock dripped precum all over his stomach. "Never...again...Never…" he managed, screaming as Sephiroth pressed up against his prostate.

"Never again," Sephiroth managed, complying to his mate's request to not be made submissive before his teeth sunk into the healing wound on his neck.

Cloud came so hard he whited out, losing his vision as his entrance convulsed in spasms. Sephiroth collapsed onto his chest, still swollen inside of him as he panted against his now bloody neck.

Sephiroth released Cloud's arms, and they immediately wrapped around the Alpha's shoulders, running his fingers through the silky hair. "I want the same," Sephiroth breathed into his neck, shifting as the knot shifted inside him and Cloud moaned at the connection.

"You want me to knot you?" Cloud asked teasingly, voice exhausted as he was lost in a haze of ecstasy at being filled with his mate's seed.

"Never again. Never again with Zack," he spoke. "I'll do what I have to in order to keep you Cloud, and you won't like it."

"Never again," Cloud complied, swallowing the lump in his throat as his chest tightened in pain.

"Swear it," Sephiroth pressed. "Swear to me it's over between you and him. No touching. No hugging. No more I love yous."

Cloud gasped as Sephiroth pulled out of him, lifting up his head to meet blue eyes. He knew he wanted an answer, just like he knew there was only one possible to give him. "I swear," he managed, hoping it wasn't a lie as his mate leaned down to press his lips against him. They had hell in front of them, and nothing was going to get any easier, but for now at least he could take comfort in Sephiroth's arms. For now he could convince himself that it might be alright.

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

A/N- Wellllllllll that chapter was a trip. It was very layered in complications, and hopefully it didn't get too crazy especially with that ending. They were just so angry at each other...and I couldn't resist. Also...I just love Rufus so much, I couldn't help making him a bigger part of the plot. Hope you enjoyed the longer chapter. Let me know what you think about the start of the insanity!