Chapter 47: Round We Go
Summary. Cloud and Genesis finally have a room to themselves… and time to enjoy it.
Content Warning: It starts getting graphic at: Cloud smiled at Genesis who laughed softly in response, "Anticipation is the enemy of suave." It stops at: Cloud held Genesis until their breathing evened out and the small shifts in position indicated their brains were coming back online. (See end notes for a brief synopsis.)
The first shop Cloud stopped at refused to rent him a bay and tried to convince him that he should pay them to do the work. The second place was a lot more easy-going. The middle-aged bearded guy behind the counter just shrugged and pulled out an insurance form for him to sign and asked for a deposit.
"Pete will give you the walk through," said the guy who wasn't Pete. "And he'll have to keep an eye on you – make sure you don't wreck the hydraulics, stuff like that." Cloud translated that to 'make sure you don't steal the tools' which was fair enough.
As Cloud presented ID and signed forms, he wondered if Not-Pete would still be so casual if he pulled out an emerald to pay for the rental?
Ten minutes later, he was driving the old truck over the pit in the garage floor. (No hydraulic press needed.) Pete (a thicker, balder version of Not-Pete) was waiting for them.
"That's an old one," Pete said. "I may have parts for it but no guarantee."
"S'okay," Cloud replied, shaking Pete's hand. "I brought my own."
Pete nodded and then gave them both a short lecture on shop safety and where to find stuff. He stopped Genesis from climbing back into the truck, (Pete was very firm and pointed the ex-SOLDIER to an uncomfortable looking stool in the corner.) Then the mechanic went back to the vehicle he was working on, and barely looked at them again.
Cloud didn't really need the tools, but what the shop gave him was a clean workspace – and safety gear. Once he had everything he'd need set out on the bench – and despite Genesis's mocking expression – Cloud put on the very unsexy eye protection before heading down into the pit. He congratulated himself on his foresight when clumped dirt showered down on him with every bolt he loosened.
It was dusty, dirty work that used more muscle than finesse, but applying oil and materia (cast at the bare minimum) helped things turn more easily and he eventually got the driveshaft off.
In the bright light over the workbench, Cloud cleaned and cleaned some more, and then assessed the part. It wasn't Shinra make, he realized, but a really good knock-off that had probably been machined under the plate in Sector 8 sometime in the last few years. It was in good enough condition that he could keep it for a while longer.
A radio was playing the twangy music Cloud associated with Chocobo Farm. It was catchy and he found his feet moving to the rhythm automatically. He looked over at Genesis to see the redhead reading the copy of Loveless he'd picked up in Costa del Sol.
"I see you dancing over there," Genesis said without looking up from the page. "It's delightful."
"Better wages than a bouncer," he explained shortly.
"More fun, as well." Genesis's amber gaze lifted to him and a smirk flirted around his lip. "Did you know that we had to take dancing lessons? Not just Sephiroth, Angeal and myself, but all the Firsts."
Cloud stared at him, waiting for the punchline.
"I assure you 'tis true," Genesis assured him. "In the early years, Old Man Shinra decided that dance lessons would be beneficial for SOLDIERs. Whether that benefit was to our physical coordination or in case we were forced to dance at a ball…? Well, we never had to put that to the test."
"You enjoyed it," Cloud guessed.
"I adored it," Genesis confirmed with a smile. "My companions, however, were less than enthusiastic. Angeal was terrible at it. He wasn't uncoordinated, just shy, and he was terrified that he'd hold his partner too tightly and break something. Sephiroth learned the moves quickly and he performed them efficiently and without style. He was probably afraid that he'd be punished if he didn't."
"Would he have been?" Cloud asked.
"Oh yes. Hojo was always eager to prove to Sephiroth that he would always be a science experiment and not a person." Genesis's smile turned sour. "The world is well rid of him." He lifted his book up as an obvious signal that the conversation was over, so Cloud went back to the part on his bench: more cleaning.
"Gonna hammer now," he warned when he was ready for that step.
Cloud managed to stay focused on what he was doing – the consequences of a mistake were too high – but it was a bit of a struggle. His thoughts kept drifting to after…. (Maybe they'd shower together? It was a good way to get to know each other's bodies. Or maybe they'd dance? See how they moved together…) Because of his lack of focus, it took another hour before he tightened the last bolt.
Genesis looked eagerly at him when he climbed out of the pit. "Finished?"
Cloud nodded as he went to clean the worst of the dirt and grease off his hands. Since Pete was between him and the Goop, Cloud thanked him and shook his hand (just as dirty as his own) on his way.
It was funny, he thought as he scrubbed at the grease around his nails. One of the reasons he'd been so anxious to leave Nibelheim was so he could have a 'prestigious' job. He'd hadn't actually known what that meant, but he'd known dirty fingernails weren't part of it. As a kid, he'd always had dirt (and other stuff) under his nails. Hunting, trapping, tending the garden and the chickens, cleaning the house – the only time his hands had been clean was making dinner and cleaning up after. Ten years later, he still had dirt under his nails, but now it didn't bother him. He worked with his hands and his hands got dirty. At least his conscience was clean.
Genesis was waiting in the passenger seat when Cloud climbed in the cab. "You are annoyingly slow," the redhead said, but he was smiling.
"The suspense is terrible," Cloud quoted. "I hope it lasts."
"You do read!" Genesis laughed. "Be still my heart."
"Shh," Cloud said. "You'll ruin my image."
It took ten minutes (far too long) for them to find a place with secure parking. (Cloud didn't want to spend time unloading the truck). Another twenty to park and register. (The clerk gave his dirt a judgemental look when he asked for a room, but she kept any comment to herself. Good enough.) Ten minutes to find their room. (The elevator was hydraulic and sloooow.)
Through it all, they didn't touch. They didn't speak. They barely looked at each other.
Once the door closed behind them Cloud dropped his pack, pushed Genesis up against the wall and kissed him. Kissed that mouth, kissed those lips – just kissed him until the urgency had settled and he could nibble instead of devour.
"Shower with me?" he asked, proud that he was only slightly out of breath.
"Oh, yes," Genesis whispered his response. "Plus, you do smell. I'm sorry but Eau d'Engine Oil doesn't do it for me."
Cloud gave the redhead a narrow look. "Yes, it does."
Genesis laughed. "It does when it's on you." He said it simply, just stating a fact. It made Cloud blush like he hadn't since working at the Honeybee.
To cover it up, Cloud tossed his bag down the short hall towards the bed. "Hopefully, you'll like the scent of hotel soap just as much."
"I am not using the hotel anything!" Genesis said in genuine horror. "Nasty, cheap stuff," he muttered as he dug a small bag out of his pack.
Cloud was already half naked, clothes left in a dirty pile by the door, by the time Genesis straightened up. "We will use mine."
He raised his eyebrows and gave the SOLDIER's clothes a chiding look. "Being picky makes you slow."
Genesis raised his hands in surrender. "My apologies. I was ensuring that we both will have a more pleasant bathing experience." He crossed over to the bathroom, placed his toiletry bag on the counter and only then started to undress. (First: remove the long jacket and hang it carefully in the closet. The disdainful sniff at Cloud's untidy pile was thrown in for free.)
It made Cloud smile inside. "Appreciate it," he said. "Don't care much but appreciate it."
Genesis's muttered, "Heathen" was without heat.
Cloud could feel the grit as a light film on his skin; couldn't wait to get it off. He pushed down his pants and his underpants in one efficient sweep. "Let you wash my hair," Cloud said in compromise. "And I'll wash yours."
"I will gladly wash your hair – and condition it as well," Genesis said with emphasis. "But I will wash my own hair."
"C'mon," Cloud argued straight-faced. "You just rub in the soap and give a good scrub, right?"
Cloud listened as Genesis muttered in outrage that was probably only half fake. He watched as Genesis stripped, placing his clothes in careful piles. He wondered what it was about him that went for picky, men who were image-conscious beauty queens? Cloud had never wanted to be pretty though he'd often been told that he was.
Maybe it was the people telling him that, or maybe it was the way they'd said it, that had turned him off the idea. Too often "pretty" equaled soft or submissive and Cloud had stopped being either of those the first time he made his own breakfast. (He'd been six, maybe younger.)
He decided his preference for prickly males was a question for later when Genesis slid into the bathroom next to him.
Cloud turned to take a good look. The former SOLDIER had put on some mass since they found him in Deepground and it looked good on him. Genesis would never have Zack's bulk, but he didn't need it. He had his own strength.
Cloud gave the water temperature a final check before stepping in. He held out his hand – one last chance to back out. Genesis didn't, of course.
"It's pretty small," Cloud warned him. "No handrails."
Genesis's eyebrows went up. "Are you worried that we might slip and fall if we get too energetic?"
Cloud shrugged, unapologetic. "Injury would break the mood."
"Darling, Cloud. Ever the pragmatist." It was said lightly, but Genesis turned serious when he looked at Cloud toe-to-top. "Your poor hair," he murmured. "It's practically grey with dirt."
And so, Cloud let Genesis wash his hair. The former SOLDIER ran careful fingers through the strands, making sure to lather everything up. Strong fingers massaged his scalp until Cloud wanted to purr. Gentle fingers turned his head into the water, until all the suds were rinsed away.
"Magnificent." Genesis did purr.
Cloud opened his eyes. "You're good at it."
"I have always been a hedonist," Genesis said with a smile.
Cloud had been letting his hands move around Genesis's body. Slow, firm strokes from hip to nipple, round to the shoulder blades and then down. He didn't want to tickle Genesis, but Cloud wanted the redhead to be aware of him. To anticipate the feel of Cloud's hands over his skin. He let his fingertips flow down a little farther, a shallow dip into the crease of Genesis's backside. The redhead's breath caught, and his fingers paused oh so slightly in Cloud's hair.
Cloud smiled.
"You are also a hedonist," Genesis said in accusation.
"Told you I like bathing together."
It wasn't a denial and Genesis knew it. "Rinse," he ordered fondly.
Genesis had brought in a bottle of expensive body wash. He also had a fancy scrubber thing, but only one. Cloud picked the old-fashioned washcloth.
The liquid soap had a nice citrus-y smell, brisk and clean. Maybe he should pay more attention to this stuff, he thought, but didn't say. Instead, he carefully ran the slightly rough cloth over Genesis's chest, from chin to belly button, while Genesis used his even rougher scrubber on Cloud's shoulders and upper back. There was no rush.
"You been with guys before?" Cloud asked.
"A couple times, in Wutai." Genesis nodded. "Mutual hand jobs essentially."
"Too quick to enjoy."
Genesis huffed out a laugh. "I enjoyed them well enough."
"Won't be quick today," Cloud promised, and Genesis smiled in anticipation. He asked about condoms and Genesis confirmed what Zack had told him: SOLDIERs were immune to all but a handful of the infections and diseases normal people had to watch out for.
"I'm clean," Cloud assured him, just in case. "At least, was last time I checked."
Genesis lifted an eyebrow. "Which was…?"
Cloud thought back. He'd gone to the Honeybee's doctor after returning to Midgar with Zack. A routine precaution. "Before all this, so almost three months," he replied with a disbelieving laugh. "How has it only been three months?"
"It seems like it's taken us forever to get here," Genesis replied pointedly.
They were standing close enough that their erections occasionally rubbed against thighs or stomach. "Behave, or the next bit will take even longer," Cloud threatened lightly. He enjoyed Genesis's unimpressed sniff that said there was no way they were stopping now.
Stopping, no. Taking his time? Absolutely!
When Cloud reached down to wash Genesis's thigh, his wrist 'accidentally' stroked over the tip before shifting to the side. Genesis flinched forward, giving a soft groan. So responsive…
They were both breathing harder, and it was great.
If they spent a lot less time washing their bodies than Genesis had spent on Cloud's hair, Cloud was okay with that.
The towels were decent, but Cloud's skin was so sensitive that every scrape of the cloth made him shiver.
The air in the hotel room was chilly, and Cloud's already hard nipples tightened to the edge of pain.
They stumbled to the bed, turning and swaying, trying to dry each other, grabbing kisses and small nips. They bumped into the doorway, into the wall, into the table.
It was ridiculous, and it was perfect.
Cloud smiled at Genesis who laughed softly in response, "Anticipation is the enemy of suave."
"Don't need to be suave to have good sex," Cloud said and tumbled them both onto the bed. He mostly missed, so they had to twist and shimmy to move across the bed to safety. Their naked bodies rubbed against each other, and for a moment, all Cloud wanted to do was rut into the curve of Genesis's hip. He kissed a muscled shoulder instead.
Then he bit it, lightly, testing.
He watched Genesis's reaction, and was relieved when the redhead moaned, and his eye lids fluttered closed. It meant he could nibble some more.
He stayed away from the tightened nubs of Genesis's nipples – at least directly. While moving from one arm to the other, he may have – accidentally – hit them with his cheek, or his hair might have fluttered over them a couple times. Accidentally.
"You taste so good," he murmured as he moved up the long line of Genesis's neck to right under the ear.
"Please, Cloud!" Genesis pleaded. Then he flung up a hand to cover his eyes. "Oh, Goddess! The fates are cruel; I have become a cliché."
"It's beautiful," Cloud reassured him. Then Cloud moved down. This time he stopped at the hard brown nubs, giving them careful attention, before continuing down: ribs, diaphragm, belly, the lightest hints of hair under the belly button. When he could feel the silky skin of Genesis's erection against his chin – when Genesis lifted and turned to bring his cock closer – Cloud turned to go down the other thigh.
"You swine," Genesis groaned.
"Will get there," Cloud promised. He gave the thick muscle in front of him a rough bite before rolling to the side. He'd tossed his bag next to the bed when they'd entered the room, and that foresight came in handy now. It was an easy reach to get the lube out of it. He put it on the bed within easy reach before rolling back. He made himself comfortable between Genesis's legs, letting his breath puff naturally over the sensitive area.
Genesis lifted up onto his elbows and looked down at Cloud. "Fucking finally!"
It made Cloud smirk proudly. "Made you swear," he pointed out.
"I'll swear more if you don't get a move on!"
So Cloud licked the sensitive spot where leg met hip. He nibbled on hard muscle under soft skin. He breathed, oh so lightly, on a cock so full it was nearly purple. Genesis swore, but he didn't jump or freak out when Cloud slid a finger into his ass.
Cloud slid the second one in at the same time he finally ("For fuck's sake, Cloud!") touched Genesis's erection. A long broad lick of his tongue from base to tip before he swallowed it.
Good thing he'd expected Genesis to thrust forward the way he did. Otherwise, Cloud would've been gagging. Instead, he settled in to enjoy it: the feel, the smell, the sounds Genesis made. It was a good distraction to cover Cloud forcing a third finger in. He swirled and licked with his tongue, and he swirled and scissored with his fingers. He took his time with this part. Without proper prep, anal sex could hurt a lot, and that wasn't what Cloud wanted for Genesis's first time.
The redhead's litany of curses and pleas was broken by gasps and moans. It was a background of noise that Cloud loved. He lifted himself off and looked up at Genesis's auburn eyes. The redhead's normally pale face was flushed, and he'd been biting his lips because they were dark and fuller than normal.
"Better'n a hand job," Cloud said just before he pressed on Genesis's prostate. The SOLDIER tightened all over, writhing in response to the touch. Cloud moved his fingers away, and Genesis relaxed. Cloud pressed again.
Genesis groaned. "By the Goddess! Please!"
Cloud obliged, pressing behind and swallowing in front so that Genesis was caught between the two sensations. He pressed firmly, but he sucked lightly. Then he switched, sucking hard and barely pressing, and he enjoyed every twist, every curse, every broken off moan…
Genesis slapped him on the head. As punishment for the violence, Cloud immediately pulled off. "No hitting," he ordered. Genesis's only response was 'bastard' repeated in an endless, tuneless loop, but he didn't hit Cloud again.
As a reward, Cloud stopped teasing him and fully focused on what he was doing. It was like sucking a lollipop, he thought, but with a flavour he liked.
"Stop smiling and focus!"
So Cloud did that too.
Between his mouth on Genesis's cock and his fingers in Genesis's ass, it took Cloud very little time to bring the SOLDIER to orgasm. He locked his legs around Cloud's shoulders, and clamped down, so all Cloud could do was hold still and ride it out.
"By the Goddess," Genesis sighed – several times, so Cloud was willing to assume that he'd enjoyed it.
When the redhead went boneless (and brainless) Cloud lifted himself up. "My turn now, okay?" He got a happy hum in agreement. Genesis protested limply when Cloud made him roll over onto his side, but he went. Cloud kept praising Genesis softly. Part of it was for sex, but it was also to let the SOLDIER know where he was, what he was doing. If Genesis was half as violent as Zack when startled, it was just a good idea…
Plus, Genesis liked it. When Cloud told him how beautiful he was, how responsive, how much Cloud had enjoyed sucking him off, the redhead smiled a small but smug smile.
"Fucking prima donna," Cloud said with his own satisfied smirk.
With lube in place, Cloud laid back down. He shifted Genesis's leg until he had access. He guided himself in, slowly pushing past the still tight outer rim. Then he stopped. Held himself there with just the tip inserted. Even thru the condom, Genesis was fucking warm!
Genesis shifted and it sent spikes of sensation up Cloud's spine. "Shhh," he soothed, rubbing whatever piece of skin his hand rested on. He kissed the knobs on Genesis's spine, and he breathed as he pushed farther in.
"Feels so good." It was his turn to moan as he rocked his hips gently.
Genesis's breath hitched and he shifted – just a quick jerk before stilling. His muscles clamped down on Cloud's cock. Tight.
Cloud stopped moving.
"Genesis?"
"It's alright," Genesis said, breathing quickly. "Just unexpected."
Cloud could appreciate that. He'd been on the receiving end a couple of times and had been weird until his body figured out how good it felt. Plus, it was no hardship to be patient. He kept his hips still and just used his hand and his lips to let Genesis know that they could take all the time they needed for this to feel good for both of them.
He kissed the scarring he could feel on Genesis's back and wondered if that was where the wing came out. Then he pushed that thought away as a mood breaker, but he kissed it again to say that he accepted this part of Genesis just as he'd accepted the snark and the prissy attitude.
This close to Genesis's babied skin, Cloud could admit that the man did smell and feel real nice. Even his pubic hair felt silky when Cloud ran his fingers through it. He repeated the motion, delving farther down and around, until Genesis's attention was on his filling penis and not on where Cloud's dick was.
Cloud pushed in. Genesis hissed in pain and froze up.
"Genesis," Cloud said, question and accusation.
"It's alright!" Genesis said through clenched teeth. "I just need to get used to it."
Cloud sighed, and pulled out as softly as he'd gone in.
Genesis reached back, grabbing at his hips. "You don't need to stop!"
Cloud caught his hand and lifted it to his lips. "Told you before, I don't like pain during sex."
Genesis rolled onto his back to glare up at Cloud. "It wasn't painful," he said firmly. "Just… uncomfortable."
"You didn't like it," Cloud pointed out, sucking gently on Genesis's slim, strong fingers. "And that's okay. Not everyone does."
"I can take it," Genesis insisted, as if his pain tolerance was a point of pride.
"Making you do something you don't enjoy…" Cloud shook his head. "It isn't physical pain, but it hurts just the same."
Genesis stared at him. And stared.
"What?"
"I'm glad you escaped from Shinra," the former SOLDIER said. "They would have ruined you."
The intensity of it made Cloud blush. " 'm pretty happy about it too," he said into Genesis's shoulder.
"I could, uh, return the favour?" the redhead offered. "Suck you until you orgasm."
Cloud shook his head. "Not a good idea considering where my cock's just been. S'alright though. We have options." He'd gone a little soft, but rubbing against Genesis's hip started to bring it back.
"Come here then," Genesis said firmly. "I would like to kiss you."
Since Cloud enjoyed kissing, he had no issue with following the command. He slid up Genesis's body, rubbing as much of it as possible, keeping the SOLDIER pinned down. While they kissed, he lazily rubbed his erection against Genesis, shifting his motion when he noticed Genesis's cock start to fill again.
It's all they did for a while, until Genesis pulled away. "Breathing – such a bother."
Cloud laughed. "Here," he said, shifting them to lay on their sides. He grabbed Genesis's hand and directed it down their bodies. He wrapped their hands around their cocks. "Hold on," and then he started thrusting.
"Ohh," Genesis sighed. "This I am familiar with." He tightened his hand just enough…
"Nice," Cloud groaned. "So nice." He let himself relax into the rhythm, lost himself in the feel. They both had callouses on their hands which added nice contrasting textures. And Genesis obviously did have experience holding two dicks since he neither lost his grip nor squeezed too tight. In fact, he had this little twisty thing that he did that was….
It didn't actually take long for sparks to run up Cloud's spine, tightening, tightening…
He held on, leaning forward to take Genesis's bottom lip in his teeth. "Come for me," he whispered, and when the SOLDIER obeyed, Cloud let himself go over as well. Messy – gloriously messy – but who cared?
He didn't release his grip until the skin on his cock was too sensitive for any kind of touch. He didn't roll off though, just let himself drop, nose buried just under Genesis's ear. "Fucking wonderful," he murmured in praise.
Cloud held Genesis until their breathing evened out and the small shifts in position indicated their brains were coming back online. He got up and got the washcloth from earlier. He ran the water until it was hot and cleaned himself up, before warming it up for Genesis.
When he returned to the bed, Genesis was just laying there, staring at the ceiling. His eyes were still a bit dazed and there was a smile in the corner of his lips, so Cloud didn't think the guy was regretting anything.
"Gonna clean you up a bit," he said to announce his return. "Then we can sleep."
"Or we could go again?" Genesis suggested.
"Could," Cloud agreed dryly. "If I was SOLDIER."
"Are you saying I wore you out?" He sounded delighted.
Cloud tossed the cloth over the side of the wastebasket. "I'm saying enhancements are cheating." He nudged the redhead over so he could pull the blankets over them. Now that he wasn't otherwise occupied, the room was kind of cold.
"I wore you out," Genesis crowed. "I am allowed to feel proud of this fact."
"Whatever," he replied intelligently and pulled the messy top blanket off and tossed it to the side. Genesis, of course, protested being forced to move. "You like to cuddle?" Cloud asked.
"I…"
"No cuddling?" Cloud carefully didn't look at him. Instead, he prodded the SOLDIER into crawling between the sheets. Maybe Genesis's mako-enhanced metabolism would pre-warm the sheets, Cloud hoped but didn't care. With two of them, the sheets would warm fast enough.
"We huddled together for warmth," Genesis answered pointedly. "But no. No romantic cuddling for Shinra's super soldiers."
"Takes practice," Cloud said. (And trust, which he didn't.) "Sometimes it's nice. Other times it's confining."
"You wish to cuddle?" Genesis said, eyebrow raised disdainfully and a light sneer in his voice.
Cloud ignored the tone. "Wanna be warm," he said simply. "Shift over."
It broke the redhead out of whatever defensive posture he'd been developing. "And people say I am the finnicky one."
"You are the finnicky one," Cloud replied, pulling the blankets up. He rolled closer to the SOLDIER, making room for himself on Genesis's shoulder, throwing a hand over his stomach and a leg over his thigh. Genesis lay stiff under him.
"Sleep for two hours then Round 2." Cloud determinedly shut his eyes and evened his breathing. Genesis didn't relax.
Cloud was just about to call off the experiment when Genesis finally shifted to make himself more comfortable. He wrapped his arms around Cloud, holding him – not tight – but firmly.
That was good. It was great. Cloud could let himself sleep now.
Before he went completely under, he felt Genesis laugh softly.
"Fair may be the most honourable man I've ever known, but you, Cloud Strife, might be the bravest."
Cloud didn't know what to think of that, and sleep was right there… so he let himself slide into the darkness. He'd think about it tomorrow.
-o00o-
They didn't wake up in two hours. In fact, they barely woke up at all; just enough for a lazy round of rutting and mutual hand jobs that didn't disappoint
"Who needs pills for sleep?' Genesis purred as he drifted back into oblivion.
Cloud, boneless and brainless, had to agree.
-o00o-
The next time Cloud woke up it was because of a different kind of cock. Turned out, the inn kept chickens in the field behind them. However, fresh eggs meant a fucking loud rooster crowing a challenge to the morning light.
"The country," Genesis groaned. "How adorable."
Cloud wondered if it was worth trying to go back to sleep. He kind of wanted to go back to sleep…
The cock crowed, loud and obnoxious. Cloud sighed in defeat.
He yawned, carefully covering his mouth so Genesis didn't get a nose-full of his stinky morning breath.
Another loud yodelling crow. "Asshole," he muttered. Beside him, Genesis chuckled.
No point in even trying to go back to sleep now, he decided. He rolled over, closer to Genesis who smelled really nice. Genesis also had really nice skin. Cloud appreciated it as he ran his hands up and over as much of it as he could easily reach.
Genesis flinched. "That tickles."
Cloud kissed an arm in apology. "Wanna do round three?"
"It is far too early to move."
"Don't worry," Cloud smiled. "I'll take care of it."
He slid down to take advantage of a body part that wouldn't notice Cloud's morning breath. Genesis surprised him by shifting and twisting until he could reciprocate. He was pretty good at it too. ("Being a former experiment has had one beneficial effect, I suppose."
A shared glass of water after to rinse and rehydrate, then they went back to sleep.
To hell with the rooster.
.o00o.
They met up with the others for a late breakfast – or maybe it was an early lunch. It was immediately obvious that he and Genesis had spent the morning much differently than Aerith and Tifa and Zack had. When the trio walked into the diner, Aerith had a long, pink, puffed coat, a thick scarf in a bright green, and a pair of fuzzy earmuffs (also green, but slightly darker). Tifa had on pants – actual pants that reached her ankles – as well as a tight, waist-length, insulated jacket and a knitted toque in shades of red.
Zack's purchase was a thick, wool cardigan. It was mustard yellow. The snowflakes, elk and bear were electric red. There were accents in bile green. It was hideous, but functional.
"Must you?" Genesis said, covering his eyes in a gesture of acute pain.
Zack grinned. "It's actually really warm," he said. "Perfect for crossing the mountains."
"We still need to get ours," Cloud said. "Already cold on a motorbike; winter's just going to make it worse."
"You don't already have a full set of insulated gear stashed away in the truck? I'm very disappointed," Genesis mocked.
"Wasn't going to buy them in Costa del Sol." He forced a casual shrug and ate more eggs to discourage questions.
Back in Junon, once they'd learned that they'd be going to Nibelheim, they'd all agreed (meaning Cloud had stared at them until they'd given up arguing), that it made more sense to buy cold weather gear in a town that actually experienced cold weather.
He pointed out that in Nibelheim, in the winter, temperatures higher than 10 below meant it was time to bring out the shorts. In Junon anything 10 above or less meant pulling on the down coats. Winter gear sold in Junon was more pretty than practical. Rocket Town didn't get as cold as Nibelheim, but it would still have better gear that Costa del Sol.
"Don't worry; we only saw one sweater like Zack's," Tifa reassured the redhead.
"Lots of red ones, though – sorry, crimson. You might like those better," Aerith piped in. Her smile was so bright and her eyes so wide that Cloud was sure she was teasing. Genesis's eyes narrowed suspiciously. Her smile got bigger.
"I'm sure I'll find something suitable," he said with a sniff.
While they ate, they discussed what to do: who should they talk to? How did they get in contact with them? Yes, this was 'Rocket Town', home of Shinra's failed space program, but the meteor was heading towards Terra, not trying to get off it.
Their server came by filling up coffee and taking away plates – in Zack's case, bringing a second breakfast of pancakes. During one of these passes, the discussion was starting to get heated (Aerith wanted to have the Turks clear their path at one of the factories. Zack thought it was a bad idea).
"You should talk to Captain Highwind," their server (Charz) commented, filling Cloud's coffee cup. "He used to be in charge of the space program here. He knows a lot."
"Highwind…" Genesis narrowed his eyes in thought. "Cid Highwind?"
Charz smiled. "Yeah, that's him. He's not with the program anymore, though. At least, not officially."
When asked, Charz even knew where to find Captain Cid Highwind. ("His place is next to the rocket. You know, the one he was supposed to fly into space?")
After getting more specific directions, Charz left with their empty plates, and the team looked at each other.
"It can't be that simple, can it?" Tifa asked.
It was Genesis who replied, "Why not?" He flipped a casual wrist. "However, you must keep in mind that this is only the first step. Once we reach the fine captain, will he speak with us? Will he understand the dilemma? Will he be able – or willing – to help us?"
Tifa stared at him. "So, you're saying that it isn't simple."
Genesis raised an eyebrow. "I am saying, we are merely at step one. Step Ones are usually simple."
Outside the diner, it had started to snow. The sidewalks had been cleared, but they were still a little slick. Cloud debated getting the hauler, but they wouldn't all fit. Maybe they should get a van instead? It would solve the issue of him and Genesis freezing on the bikes, but there was part of him that didn't want them dependent on just one vehicle.
They passed by three clothing shops, as they walked Cloud ignored Aerith teasing Genesis about the most outrageous of the outfits in the windows.
They could get a van as well as the hauler. Store the motorbikes here. Wasn't like they didn't have enough gil.
Once it started to snow and the sidewalks got even more slippery, Cloud became sure that motorbikes on snowy mountain roads was a bad idea. "We need to buy another truck," he announced.
Cloud managed to convince them that he was right, but instead of letting him take off and get it done, the others insisted it could wait until after they talked with Captain Highwind. Cloud wasn't sure why they wanted him there – he certainly didn't know anything about space or meteors – but it wasn't a big enough deal for Cloud to fuss about it.
Even with the slippery sidewalks and the clothing stores, it didn't take them long to leave the town's centre. The tipped rocket stayed visible through the lightly falling snow, so it easy enough to navigate towards it. Well, easy unless you were Aerith who insisted on spinning around as she tried to watch the snowflakes falling from the sky.
It was a nice distraction though.
They were going to Nibelheim.
Cloud sighed deeply, watching the fog of his breath dissipate – like he used to do when he was a kid, pretending he was a dragon.
He'd gone back to Nibelheim once. It was after he'd quit the Honeybee Inn, after he'd met up with Tifa in Sector 7. She'd told him what had happened, and he hadn't been able to process it. Not really.
He hadn't had a call or a letter from his ma since he'd left Nibelheim. He'd tried calling her after he'd come out of his coma, and it had rung, but she hadn't picked up. He'd thought it was because of her depression or her usual lack of concern for anyone but herself. But no, the town had burned down. Everyone had been murdered, including his ma. That's why she hadn't picked up his call or answered his letters.
He'd taken a delivery to the western continent the next day.
He'd gone expecting it to be a ghost town. He'd gone with flowers to say goodbye to the woman who'd birthed him. He'd gone to get some kind of closure in his messed-up relationship with his ma.
Nibelheim hadn't been a ruin.
He'd dropped of the package. Given the bouquet of flowers to the broad dark-haired woman who'd answered the door of his old house and who'd called herself by his mother's name. He'd told the woman that the flowers were a delivery from her son in Midgar – "bit late for your birthday but at least he remembered, right?"
The woman had looked surprised: her sons were still at home, she'd said. Both of them.
Cloud had made himself shrug; just an indifferent delivery guy who'd done what he'd been paid for. "I'll get the office to check the address when I get back," he'd said. He'd walked back to his bike and driven out of the village. He'd never been back.
Until now.
He'd managed to not really think about it, either. About how he felt about returning to the sham Shinra had built over his hometown, over his memories. He'd pushed it all to one side to think about later.
It was later, and he suddenly didn't feel ready.
"Cloud, buddy?" Zack's voice was quiet beside him; the others had pulled ahead. Tifa and Aerith had gone back to teasing Genesis with all the ugly winter gear they'd found.
"'m fine," Cloud said automatically.
"Yeah, sure," Zack laughed. "What's up?"
"Nibelheim."
Zack's expression immediately darkened. "Yeah. Fucking Nibelheim."
Cloud remembered that Zack had also seen fake Nibelheim. He'd escaped from a lab under the Shinra mansion. "Can we get away with burning down the mansion?" he asked.
Zack didn't laugh. They'd reached a part of town that hadn't cleared the sidewalks. Their footsteps crunched in the old, brittle snow. "Probably not," he replied eventually. "Might be worth it though."
"Maybe we can lure the next Jeniroth there," Cloud suggested. "A good fight could do a lot of damage to a place."
"You know, I think Sephiroth was born in that lab? Or maybe grown? I dunno." Zack shrugged.
"He told you that?"
Zack made a hmm sound. "Not exactly. But he said he'd been brought to Midgar, so it makes sense it was from the lab in Nibelheim – Hojo's second favourite lab."
"Not proof, though," Cloud pointed out. Zack acknowledged the point but looked sad doing it.
Cloud knew Zack wanted Sephiroth to be saveable, and yeah, it would make this so much easier if Shinra's Greatest WarriorTM could be talked into not being evil, but Cloud was leaning more towards Tifa's point of view that Sephiroth would have to die in order to save the world. He couldn't come out and say that to Zack, though.
"Aerith said a few good points to him in the Lifestream," is what he said instead. "Maybe they'll stick?"
Zack gave him an unimpressed look. "You don't believe that."
Cloud shrugged. "Don't have to believe something for it to be true."
Zack gave a short laugh. "That doesn't make any sense."
Cloud shrugged. "You don't believe you're a good person who deserves good things. Doesn't make it not true."
Politely, Cloud kept walking, and he didn't mention it again when Zack caught up with him. Cloud even let him change the subject. "So, Captain Highwind. I think I remember hearing about him." One day his friend would believe him. For now, it was enough that Zack was here.
They'd get through Nibelheim one way or another.
EN. Apparently, "The suspense is terrible. I hope it lasts," is an Oscar Wilde quote, but I know it from the original Willy Wonka movie. However, since I am far more familiar with movies than with car repair, I owe much thanks to various YouTube creators for showing me, not only how to fix a U-joint, but what it actually is.
Cloud/Genesis synopsis: Although willing, it turns out Genesis doesn't like anal sex, so Cloud stops because sex isn't fun for him if his partner doesn't enjoy it (or is in pain, which Genesis denied). They do something else instead and have just as much fun.