Silmeria - Happy reading.
Disclaimer - I claim no rights to Final Fantasy VII
Chapter Eighteen: A Noble Introduction.
"Are you sure that this is appropriate? Staying with you?" Cloud set his luggage down on the floor, wincing at the thought of scratching the floor, but it seemed that it mattered little to Zack. He couldn't help but wince when the Sentinel all but dropped the case containing his blade to the floor with a solid thump. The clicking of the metal against the floor caused his lips to thin and his cheeks to warm. Not even a minute inside Zack's home and he was already damaging it. He really hoped the staff didn't mind him barging in. It looked like they already had enough trouble with Zack alone.
"Appropriate?" Zack repeated, eyebrow-raising in confusion at the question before a knowing look crossed his features. "Under normal circumstances, it would be extremely inappropriate, but this is an emergency and exceptions can be made. Besides, we won't be staying in the same room and with the staff a constant presence, we won't be alone." As if on cue, a middle-aged woman descended the stairs with a grace that reminded Cloud of his mother and Old Woman Alyssa.
"Lord Fair." the woman bowed deeply before rising and turning to Cloud with a small smile. "Is this him? Cloud Strife?"
"Yes." Zack motioned him forward, grinning when Cloud bowed his head in a silent greeting. "Serenity, this is Cloud, the Guide that I've been...courting." Zack's cheeks pinked at the weight of the words. As if he was realizing how serious the situation between him and Cloud was becoming and Cloud, in awe of the scene before him, was quick to turn his head to hide his smile.
"Ah." Serenity stared for a long moment before she reached up to muffle the soft chuckle that escaped her lips. "So, he was the one that Lady Aerith was speaking about a number of weeks ago." Serenity held her hand out, her green eyes softening at the flush that clung to Cloud's cheeks, a stark contrast to Zack's crimson red. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Cloud and welcome to Fair Manor."
"Thank you." Cloud took a full circle, taking in soft cream walls, the portraits lining them - the images of what could possibly be Zack's ancestors and former rulers of Midgar. The Grand Staircase leading up to innumerable rooms. He didn't want to think about the number of secret passages that had been crafted during Xavier's time as Alpha and how many of those passages still existed. Better yet, how many of them Zack had disposed of and improved upon.
"It's beautiful." Cloud breathed, awed that despite its grandeur, the Fair Manor was warm and welcoming, unlike the manor that shadowed over Nibelheim. "I thank you for having me."
"Of course." Zack sounded incredulous. "Of course we're more than happy to have you here, Cloud." Zack brushed against Cloud's back and pressed a hand on his shoulder. "It'll good to have the company other than my council members who feel obligated to keep my company."
Serenity coughed, a flush decorating her own cheeks at the mention of Sephiroth. "I am sure that Lord Sephiroth doesn't mind visiting you, Lord Fair. He just isn't the best at displaying his emotions."
"Ah." Zack murmured, leaning in close to brush his lips against Cloud's ears. "I forgot that Madam Serenity was a fan of Sephiroth and not her Alpha."
"Zachary." Serenity warned with a small hiss, the flush on her cheeks darker due to the anger and having been caught out. "Isn't it time to show Cloud to his suite? It's getting dark and close to dinnertime. I would like to get him settled so that he may eat and rest."
"Right." Zack murmured, the reality of the events causing a sour twist in his stomach. The thought that Cloud had to hide and put his life on hold left a bad taste in his mouth. The Guide shouldn't have to do this at all, but Zack had to be cautious and the fact that Weiss had been silent with information didn't help the situation. Apparently, Rosso had vanished the moment they hit the water and had killed two of Rufus' personal guards to escape and the fallout was far from pleasant. Weiss and his own party were escorted personally to the edge of Junon and told quite firmly to never return to Junon's shores unless they wanted a civil war on their hands. The two personal guards had been a Sentinel-Guide Pair, furthering the insult considering the awakening of Sentinel and Guides had been startlingly low in Rufus' territory. So, to lose an experienced pair who had been by Rufus' side since was a but a teenager was a serious blow to his guard.
No one had to mention the fact that the Sentinel had been Lazard Deusericus - Rufus' rumored half-brother and Junon's worst kept secret.
The whole thing was a political mess that Zack wanted nothing to do with it.
"Cloud." Zack began, his tone firm and gentle and it was enough for Cloud to give him his full and undivided attention. "I want you to know that while you're here, you will want for nothing. This manor is at your disposal as is the staff. Serenity has been assigned to attend to your every need and desire."
"You don't need to do that, Zack." Cloud protested, internally horrified at the thought of anyone waiting on him hand and foot. "I can take care of myself."
"I know and I'm a witness to it, but Rosso is dangerous and she's unstable and I doubt that Weiss knows her location. As confident as he claims to be with such information." Zack reached out, pressing his hand against Cloud's cheek. "I want you safe. Tifa wants you safe which is why she didn't put up a fuss about your stay."
In fact, Tifa said nothing towards the sudden move. The woman was dreadfully silent as she helped Cloud pack his clothing and his small sword for the indefinite stay. However, the only approval she showed was a tight hug and a press against his cheek. It was, surprisingly enough, approval in Cloud's eyes. It had been two hours and he missed Tifa dreadfully. He missed her voice and the sound of the bar below along with Jesse and Wedge's arguments. He missed Seventh Heaven and his little room. It was all of a sudden that Fair Manor was a little too big for him.
"Thank you." Cloud murmured, grinning in Zack's direction before turning to Serenity who had been silent during their interaction. "Where will I be staying?"
"The Emerald Room." Serenity responded, shooting Zack a sly look. "It was Lord Fair's Grandmother's room."
"Oh." Cloud flushed at the thought. Although he was positive that the scent of Zack's Grandmother has long faded, it was the fact that he was staying in an Alpha Guide's Personal Room and it didn't go unnoticed about the reason for Zack's choice. He supposed that if all went well, he needed to get used to using the Emerald Room to entertain guests and even when push came to shove, entertain Zack himself.
"I-I'm sure that the Emerald Room is lovely," Cloud whispered, firmly and resolutely keeping his eyes away from Zack. "Is it fine that I rest for a moment?"
"Of course." Zack placed a hand on the small of Cloud's back. "Right this way."
The Emerald Room was as it was dubbed, but instead of the rather harsh color burning his retinas, it was a mixture of mixture of soft creams, emerald, and white. The carpet felt soft against his feet as he placed his luggage next to the dressers that forced him to realize that he had little to next clothing compared to the former Alpha Guides. He reached out, moving his hands against the cherry wood and pulling out the dresser to find them empty but free of dust making his lips twists. How long, he wondered, was Zack prepared for him to stay?
"Do you like it?" Zack stood in the doorway with a small smile. "I remember staying the night with my Grandmother and Mother when I was a child." Zack stepped further in, peaking into the bathroom and feeling a rush of euphoria at the thought of Cloud relaxing the massive tub or taking a long, steamy shower-
"It's wonderful," Cloud responded, the creaking of the bed drawing Zack's attention back to the Guide who was spread about the silk emerald sheets having long stripped off his jacket, socks, and shoes leaving him barefoot and vulnerable to Zack's gaze. He opened his mouth to ask Cloud if he would like a moment alone - or if he could join-when Serenity swept in with a set of fresh towels and hygienic supplies.
"I just cleaned the bed." Serenity scolded. "And you just came in from the rain and the sleet with those rancid shoes and clothing-" Serenity huffed, shooting Zack a blank look. "I assume that you have paperwork to attend to, Lord Fair? Sephiroth has left you a rather thick stack that requires reading, highlighting, proofreading and signing."
"But-"
"It's okay." Cloud uttered his voice low due to his exhaustion. "You can come find me when you're done."
"Are you sure?" Zack asked, already heading towards the doorway. Serenity was right, after all. He did have a massive amount of paperwork waiting. "I can stay? Help you get settled?"
"It's okay." Cloud rolled around the bed, giving the perfect image of a cat stretching out for an afternoon nap in the sun. It would have been adorable hadn't Zack been so turned on. The Guide had no idea what a tempting image he made-
"Lord Fair?" Serenity murmured, tossing him an amused look. "Off with you now. I will take care of him and have him ready for dinner. You should be done with your paperwork by then?"
"Of course." Zack murmured, keeping his eyes on Cloud as he left the room. His senses urging-begging-to go back to the room and take and take and take. "Of course. I'll be back in time for dinner-"
Once Serenity was positive that Zack was out of earshot, she turned back to Cloud with a sharp smile reached across the bed and gave the firm bottom a sharp slap earning a squeak and a quick rollover.
"Serenity-"
"You have no problem with showing that fine bottom to an Alpha, but it must be cleaned before anything is done to it, eh?" Serenity pointed to the bathroom where the luxurious bathtub waited. "Come. You must bathe and I will explain to you what is going on with your situation."
"My-my situation?" Cloud whispered, rising and walking with the maid to the bathroom where she was quick to start the tub. "What do you mean?"
Serenity gave him a pitying look before turning off the water and turning on a switch next to it and from the vents above, a rush of air came down sending a shiver down his spine.
"A white noise generator." Serenity murmured, reaching for his hand and urging for him to undress. "We have a lot to talk about."
"Don't you think it's best if Zack tells me about this?" Cloud asked, sliding into the bath while Serenity had her back turned. "I mean, I don't want him to be angry-"
"Perish the thought." Serenity cut in smoothly, turning back around and handing him a towel and a bar of unscented soap. "I was Lady Seraphina's Advisor."
"Lady Seraphina," Cloud repeated the name tickling at the back of his mind. Where had he heard that name before? "Z-Zack's mother?"
"Correct." Serenity's green eyes softened at the thought of the former Alpha Guide. "In the beginning of Xavier's Days, he deemed it unnecessary to her inform her of important events and tactics so gave me the honor of finding it and relaying it to her."
"So," Cloud began, the puzzles pieces putting themselves together. "In lamens terms, you were a spy for Lady Seraphina and later Zack and AVALANCHE?"
Serenity gently placed the lid on the toilet down before taking a seat, her green eyes gleaming with amusement. "I was a spy for AVALANCHE. I was Lady Seraphina's Advisor. I was Zack's Guardian when he was a child. I was Lady Seraphina's Midwife. I have carried Zack with me since he was a but a babe. The thing about servants, Cloud, is that they meld into the shadows and emerge with different masks. I was what Zack and Seraphina needed me to be and I will treat you the same. However, know that my loyalty to Zack will always be at the forefront." Seraphina's hand slid into her apron pocket and Cloud sucked in a sharp breath when it emerged with a small, sharp knife. She cradled it in her hands and gave him a sharp smile and Cloud realized, quite foolishly, how naive he had been up until now. How easily he trusted and judging by Serenity purr of approval, she was all too aware of his thoughts.
"You must remember, sweetling." Serenity began, placing the knife back into her pocket with a smooth slide of her fingers. "Trust no one. Not in this political climate."
Cloud said nothing for a long moment before continuing to bathe. He stopped the soapy towel in his hand before looking up at Serenity who met his gaze with another small smile.
"Isn't it a lonely existence?" he remarked softly. "Not to trust anyone?"
"On the contrary, it's one of the reasons why I'm alive to see fifty-five." Serenity bolsters him a wild grin that he can't help but return. "A constant wariness in our world will do you good, Cloud as it does Zack."
"I find it hard to believe that Zack doesn't trust anyone." Cloud countered. "I mean, he seems so happy-go-lucky-"
"An act." Serenity cut in smoothly. "Zack has had a hard life and having Alpha Sentinel Xavier as a Grandfather made it no easier to bear. His parents were lost in the first stages of the rebellion: his Father by his Grandfather's hand and his Mother by suicide." Serenity lowered her head at the confession, her eyes pained. "That boy has had a hard lot and it's a blessing that he trusts another human being let alone another Guide."
"What do you mean?" Cloud urged, clutching the edge of the bathtub with a white-knuckle grip. "What happened between him and Guides?"
"Xavier." Serenity responded as if that was all it took to explain, but she continued, her tone somber. "Xavier's tactics were less than moral. He would take Zack and expose him to Guides who had no control over their empathy. No control over their shields, leaving Zack exposed to rather...harsh emotions. All of the anger, fear, sadness, arousal, happiness that people placed under a carefully constructed mask were unleashed and pressed against Zack's mind in a constant stream. The effort, of course, broke Zack's own mental shields and turned him catatonic on a number of occasions. If it had not been for Ifalna, Aerith's mother, Zack would have died or lost his senses to the becoming a Non."
Cloud froze before shuddering at the thought. A Non was a Sentinel who lost their senses to the point where one's sight was a mess of constant blurriness. The hearing was muffled. Taste and Smell were so dull that it mattered little if one ate or not. It was a terrifying thought and he heard more than one Sentinel took their lives due to becoming a Non. It wasn't pleasant and it was a death sentence. The thought of Zack becoming a Non forced another shudder down his spine. He wanted Zack. He wanted to see his Zack.
He wanted to see Zack's smile-no matter how fake. Fold himself into his strong embrace and breathe in his scent. It mattered not what Serenity said about Zack's carefully constructed mask. He wanted Zack and no one else.
"I'm done," Cloud whispered, rising from the tub and pulling the plug as Serenity hummed and fetched him a towel to enfolded himself in. It was enough to give Cloud a moment to breathe and realize that this had been a very calculated trap and that this Serenity was a woman to be reckoned with, but despite the fear and sweat that trickled down his spine at the thought of having his throat slit in the bathtub, he couldn't help but be impressed at the casualness of which Serenity set the trap. It definitely would have been less...messy.
Cloud swallowed again and smiled tightly when Serenity came into the bathroom again with a bundle of clothing. "I was just notified that dinner is ready. Please, get dressed and come down."
"Of course," Cloud responded, wanting to ask if the wine would be poisoned, but figured it wouldn't be in the best humor at the moment. Not with Rosso on the loose and Weiss taking less than stellar action to rectify the problem.
He knew he should have stayed with Tifa.