Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Alliance ❯ Chapter 23

“Alliance”

Chapter 23

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(Warning: Possible spoilers for all FF7 game/movie titles)

*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can't get enough of this world and the characters.*

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Rufus was still asleep when Tseng woke up. The Wutaian sat up and stretched, then gazed down at his slumbering lover with contemplative, dark eyes. Rufus was naked and sleeping above the covers on his stomach. The room was a comfortable temperature, thanks to the electric heater in the corner. Tseng ran his hand softly down Rufus's back, stroking the line of his spine and pausing when he reached the top of the other man's ass, where the tawny-furred tail sprouted. Tseng smiled a little in spite of himself as he carefully stroked the appendage. Other than the new tail and enhanced balance, Rufus seemed fine.

 

The president stirred a little in his sleep, murmuring against the pillow as Tseng stroked his tail. Wondering how it felt to Rufus, the Turk continued to stroke it with long, soothing motions. He hadn't gotten the opportunity to examine it yet, because when Rufus was awake he was very self-conscious and rather temperamental. The two of them hadn't been intimate since the transformation either and now Tseng entertained thoughts of instigating an encounter before they had to get out of bed and start the long, hard day.

 

A soft sigh escaped Rufus's parted lips as Tseng scratched the base of his tail gently. The raven-haired Turk did it again, watching his lover with fascination. A telling, faint flush spread over Rufus's sculpted cheekbones and he sighed again with obvious pleasure. His rear end lifted as if of its own accord and the tail lifted as well, in the manner of a common housecat getting a pleasurable scratch.

 

~Have I discovered a new erotic zone, Koibito?~

 

Tseng leaned over and brushed his lips over the shell of Rufus's ear. He settled his other hand on the blonde's rump and rubbed the smooth skin with possessive leisure. Another faint sound of pleasure escaped Rufus's lips and Tseng kissed them while he stroked and scratched the powerful tail. Gray eyes opened and focused on him. The dark lashes fluttered as Rufus blinked and became aware of what was being done to him. The president started reaching back with one hand to dislodge Tseng's stroking one from his tail, but the Wutaian caught his wrist and held it.

 

“Just relax, Koibito,” Tseng insisted. “You'll have to learn to adapt to this eventually. Part of that adaptation involves your love life.”

 

Rufus narrowed his eyes on him and opened his mouth to speak—probably to issue a warning or an order. What came out instead was a low purr of pleasure. The blonde looked bewildered and Tseng smiled at him.

 

“You enjoy this, don't you?” whispered the Turk. “There's no need to feel ashamed, Rufus.”

 

The blonde turned on his side a bit, revealing further proof of how the touch was affecting him. His cock was swollen and stiff. The Wutaian could empathize; he'd woken up with a morning erection and doing this to Rufus was only making him harden further. There were probably some further unexplored sexual benefits to this alteration and Tseng was growing increasingly compelled to discover them.

 

“Stop your playing,” Rufus breathed unsteadily, “we don't have time for this.” He'd stopped fighting Tseng's hold on his wrist, however…which meant his resolve was wavering.

 

Tseng released the blonde's wrist, both to check his watch and test him. Rufus didn't try to disengage his fondling hand and the Turk smiled subtly at his success. “We have more than an hour before our army will go back onto the field,” he announced as he looked down at the watch on his wrist. “That's plenty of time to enjoy one another for a bit.”

 

Rufus's flushed erection twitched a little and he licked his lips and closed his eyes. “I don't know what it could do to you if we exchange body fluids.” He kept his voice impressively steady.

 

“The scientists have already told us that the poison leaves the system within forty-eight hours, whether it changes the host or not,” Tseng reminded him. “If it worries you so much, I'll refrain from giving you oral pleasure but we have plenty of condoms to protect me when you take me.”

 

“You really aren't going to give up, are you?” Rufus murmured with annoyance. His breath caught after he finished the sentence and he purred again.

 

Tseng's lust burned brighter and he shook his head slowly. “I'm afraid not, Koibito. I want you and I intend to have you.” He eased himself down beside Rufus, not ceasing his caress of the tail. He laid his head on the pillow and reached down with his free hand to grasp Rufus's cock and stroke it. The blonde groaned softly, instinctively rocking into the touch. Tseng kissed him, gently at first and then with greater aggression as the feel of his body and the sound of his purrs and grunts excited him further.

 

Rufus returned the favor, stroking Tseng's erect cock with a skilled hand and making the Wutaian sigh. ~Well, if he insists on this and gets hurt as a result, it's his own fault.~

 

Rufus didn't truly believe his sperm could infect Tseng, but he wasn't certain of how he'd behave during sex, given the strange things he'd already caught himself doing. He was also uncertain of how Tseng felt about the tail, until now. He could only hope that Reno, Rude and Cloud would be as open-minded about it. Perhaps he could have the thing surgically removed before there was a pressing need to tell them about it.

 

Rufus slid closer to Tseng and rolled him onto his back, covering his body with his own as he did so. His appetite for sex was growing quickly and his self-consciousness faded as his desire grew. He hissed through his teeth as Tseng's scratching fingers once again hit a spot close to the base of his tail that sent a jolt of sensation not unlike prostate stimulation up his spine. The Wutaian took note of the reaction and continued to scratch the spot, making Rufus wriggle against him and groan.

 

They teased, kissed and fondled until Rufus decided it was time to move things along, before they ran out of time. Once he had applied a condom and prepared Tseng, he started to position the Turk on his stomach but Tseng insisted on riding him instead. The raven-haired man had ambitions of his own and he wanted to be in a position that would allow him to keep exploring the different effects he could get out of stroking Rufus's tail and exercise some control over their motions. Rufus was too aroused to question his desires and there was nothing out of the ordinary about Tseng's choice of positions.

 

Tseng straddled the president's thighs and guided him in, sinking down with slow, practiced ease. They both groaned with the sensation as Rufus was sheathed to the hilt in the Turk's body and Tseng began to rock against him. He put his arms around him and stroked his shoulders with one hand while dragging the other down his back. Rufus thought nothing of it until the other man's skilled, deft fingers began to pet and graze his tail, ruffling the fur just below where the base of it met his spine.

 

Rufus sucked in a sharp breath as that damnably erotic sensation zipped up his spine and through his body again. He thrust his hips upwards and a…sound…escaped through his clenched teeth. He didn't recognize it as his own voice or even human in timber and tone. It sounded like the feral, predatory growl of a feline that had just taken down prey or mounted a mate.

 

Tseng's swift gasp in response to the abrupt aggression was the only sign of surprise he allowed himself…at first. He'd expected a wild reaction to it, knowing that the spot triggered pleasurable sensations for Rufus and anticipating that coupled with penetration, it would have an interesting result. He didn't hesitate in his curious experimentation or break his rhythm, even though he felt a thrill of danger at the inhuman sound issuing from Rufus's throat.

 

The rolling shocks of Rufus's continued thrusts made concentration difficult for Tseng, but he was determined to explore this new development. His dark brows furrowed in response to almost painful pleasure as the blonde shoved home with uncanny accuracy each time. Before he knew it, Tseng was moaning throatily. While Rufus's gusto wasn't out of the ordinary, the precise angle of his thrusts was almost supernatural. Tseng wasn't generally one to express his pleasure in loud, vocal spurts like Reno but Rufus had a talent for bringing it out in him on a regular day. Now it was all the Wutaian could do to keep from hollering.

 

Rufus cupped Tseng's ass and guided the motions of his hips. His eyes were heavy-lidded and bright as they moved against one another. His movements became erratic as his pleasure grew and he panted a warning to Tseng that he was getting close. He started to reach down to squeeze himself, intending to hold off the orgasm so that he could last longer, but Tseng shook his head.

 

“Channel your energy,” Tseng instructed breathlessly.

 

“You know I've never succeeded at that,” Rufus argued in an unsteady voice.

 

“Just try, Koibito. It's all I ask,” Tseng murmured. He continued to stroke that sensitive place on Rufus's tail, making his entire body sing with awareness. There was something different about Rufus's heavy gasps and he was curious to see if these changes could enable the president to achieve a tantric state. Of course, they might end up starting their duties late as a result if it worked, but it wasn't as if their people didn't already know what to do.

 

Rufus would have been annoyed if he weren't distracted with sexual bliss. Tseng had been trying to teach him how to achieve tantric orgasm for years, ever since they first began sleeping together. The Wutaian insisted that someone with Rufus's discipline should be able to have several orgasms during an encounter before spilling himself and while he didn't exactly heckle him about it when he didn't succeed after the first year of training, he still encouraged him to try now and then. Rufus wanted to do it for him. He knew it would please his lover if he managed to pull it off and while he never said it out loud, Tseng's approval meant something to him.

 

~He may just have to accept that I'm not amongst the population of males that's put together for that sort of thing. It's not as though there's a high success rate. I still conduct daily meditations and I do try, but I'm afraid he's due for further disappointment.~

 

Tseng's deep kiss and the feel of his silken black hair brushing against his chest interrupted Rufus's thoughts. Damn it, he was going to come now and he was sure he couldn't avoid blowing his load. Being the tenacious man he was, he tried to concentrate on diffusing the throbbing pressure that was growing in his pelvis, so that it wasn't localized there. He might not succeed at it but he'd be damned if he wasn't going to try.

 

It started and Rufus's hands clamped down hard on Tseng's hips as he concentrated. His eyes opened a moment later and his breath expulsed in a shocked moan as he stared at Tseng with amazement. It was working. Somehow, the stimulation of that spot on his tail helped spread the orgasmic sensation throughout his body, rather than pooling it in his pelvic area. He felt his cock bucking inside of his lover but nothing came out of it. Rufus's vision blurred with pleasure and a shiver raced through him as he came from head to toe. It wasn't as intense as a regular climax because it was spread out, but even his scalp tingled with pleasure.

 

“Unbelievable,” the president panted, amazed that he'd finally done it, after all this time.

 

Tseng couldn't contain the proud, sensual smile that eased over his mouth as he stroked the blonde's hair and looked into his amazed eyes. He purred with pleasure as he felt the rigid flesh inside of him twitch.

 

“Well done, Koibito,” he congratulated breathlessly. “You see? All you needed was the proper stimulation.” He wondered if he could have achieved the same effect if he'd thought to stimulate Rufus's prostate during all of those other times they'd tried to make this happen.

 

“Hmmm, perhaps I should keep the tail after all,” gasped Rufus, only half-kidding. The enthralling sensations died down as the climax tapered off and he kissed his raven-haired lover and resumed his pelvic thrusting. Tseng's quiet moan of delight told him that the Wutaian had no objection to the idea.

 

“I rather like the tail,” Tseng sighed, tilting his head back with pleasure as the blonde's cock massaged him inside. “Reno is always comparing you to a cougar, after all. It suits you.”

 

“We'll see,” Rufus murmured evasively. He curled his fingers around Tseng's erection and began to stroke it as he nibbled the Turk's ear.

 

A few moment's later, Tseng arched his back and came in Rufus's hand. His enthusiastic moan was louder than usual and the president muffled his cry with a hard kiss while holding him tight against him with one arm. The Wutaian squeezed Rufus's tail reflexively, making the blonde smirk with amusement.

 

“You certainly seem attached to that thing,” Rufus purred as his lover fell weakly against him with bliss.

 

Tseng brushed his lips over the blonde's jaw and cheek in a sensual glide and he didn't dispute the observation. Rufus lasted for another ten minutes before he came again, but he didn't attempt to try his new trick the second time because they were going to have to get cleaned up and ready for another long day of battle and tactics. He groaned heavily and buried his face against Tseng's shoulder.

 

“I trust you'll be showing off your newly acquired skill to our kitsune soon?” Tseng guessed as he nuzzled Rufus's hair.

 

“Didn't we agree that sharing that little nugget with Reno would be a bad thing?” Rufus reminded him breathlessly. “I seem to recall your horror at the thought of him finding out that you could provide orgasm without ejaculation with your oral techniques. You feared he'd never let you sleep again.”

 

Tseng chuckled softly, remembering. “Yes, but it's up to you to decide if you want to share your own skills with him.”

 

“Don't you think he'd be a bit cross to find out I've kept this from him for so long?” Rufus asked with a dry smirk.

 

“Not at all,” Tseng shrugged. “You would be speaking the truth in saying that you've just learned how to do it. Just keep me out of it, please.”

 

Rufus snorted. “Coward.”

 

~**********************************~

 

Rude stood just outside of town on a snowy hill overlooking the field below. He was waiting for his partner to finish getting ready and silently contemplating the Deepground situation. Reno wasn't wrong; Genesis interested him. He knew better than to let that interest whittle away his common sense but now that the former First was no longer an enemy—at least, Rude didn't think he was—the bald Turk could appreciate his looks and the other little things about him that caught his interest.

 

He didn't mind his poetry because frankly, Rude was used to being around a long-winded redhead. He'd never told his partner that he actually found his chatter soothing, at times. He didn't mind his ambiguous allegiance or his enigmatic personality. As a member of the Department of Administrative Research, he was accustomed to dealing with fickle loyalties. Genesis' past crimes didn't particularly trouble him either. He'd done too many things himself that were considered morally reprehensible to pass judgment.

 

What did bother him was that he wasn't entirely sure just what he wanted to happen between himself and the mysterious swordsman—and he had no idea whether Genesis found him remotely attractive or not. He didn't deny that the man seemed comfortable around him but that wasn't tantamount to attraction.

 

Though he was distracted with his thoughts, Rude sensed another presence behind him. His first instinct was to draw his gun but he recognized the shape of the shadow cast on the snowy ground at his feet and he relaxed.

 

“Thinking deep thoughts?”

 

The Turk turned around to regard Genesis. The redhead stood with his single, black wing folded against his back and he watched Rude with eyes that weren't unlike Reno's in their aqua shade.

 

“You're a quiet one,” Genesis said conversationally. He nodded toward the town below. “Where is your partner? He's usually not far from your side.”

 

“He wakes up slow,” Rude answered. The morning sunlight faded as the winter clouds obscured it.

 

“So tell me,” Genesis murmured, “are they satisfied yet that I told them the truth?”

 

“I don't know yet,” Rude shrugged. “Maybe.”

 

“You don't know because they haven't decided, or because they haven't told you?” Genesis persisted as he crossed his arms over his chest.

 

Rude smirked. “Both.” He looked the other man over and he was thankful that his shades concealed his gaze. He'd gotten away with covertly eye-humping objects of his attraction many times before, thanks to the sunglasses. Genesis, however, narrowed his eyes at him and the Turk got the horrible feeling that he could somehow see through the shaded lenses. A rare blush began to surface under the skin of Rude's cheeks and he looked away and cleared his throat.

 

“You still haven't chosen a side.” The bald man's comment was more of a diversionary tactic than a question or accusation.

 

“Technically, I have,” corrected Genesis. “I've betrayed Weiss by providing your people with the means to deflect Deepground's biological attacks.”

 

“What changed, to make you go against him?” Rude inquired. “The Genesis I used to know wouldn't have had a problem with what he's trying to do.”

 

Genesis chuckled softly—a bitter, rueful sound. “The Genesis you once knew was forced to re-evaluate his life. Being rejected by one's goddess tends to make one question the wisdom of his actions.”

 

Rude didn't understand the explanation. “Your goddess?”

 

“Minerva.” Genesis nodded. “I went to her and she rejected me.”

 

“You mean the Planet,” Rude guessed.

 

“Call her what you will,” Genesis responded, un-offended. “We each see her our own way.”

 

Rude thought about this and nodded with agreement. Genesis studied him silently for a moment, taking in his chiseled features and strong form. The Turk was easy to talk to, unassuming and possessed a sense of cool control that the redhead found admirable. Even when his helicopter was spinning out of control and he couldn't be sure Genesis would carry him to safety, he'd remained calm. Some might have considered Rude to be lacking in personality because of his quiet nature, controlled facial expressions and monotone voice. Genesis found those traits fascinating, however.

 

“The quiet ones are the most interesting,” Genesis remarked out loud.

 

Rude kept his facial expression carefully neutral. “Interesting how?”

 

The other man smirked. “In many different ways.” He looked out over the fields, where the snow-smattered ground was stained with blood. “Weiss won't show his face in battle, you know. To capture him, you'll need to go to him.”

 

Rude lifted a brow. “Knowing where he is would help.”

 

Genesis looked at him sidelong. “I suppose it would. Let me think about it. This isn't easy for me.”

 

“So you and Weiss are…?” Rude let the implying question hang, uncomfortable with making such a personal inquiry and uncertain of how Genesis would react to being asked if he was gay.

 

“Brothers,” Genesis stated. “In all but blood. But that isn't what you meant, was it?” He tilted his head and smiled a little. “Weiss doesn't go that way.”

 

Rude mulled it over. ~But you do?~

 

The faint smile on the redhead's lips grew subtly, as if he could see the unasked question hidden behind Rude's shades and he was enjoying making him guess.

 

“Where did you vanish to?” Rude asked instead.

 

“I slept.” Genesis shrugged. “Granted, I slept a bit longer than I intended. I've missed out on other opportunities to redeem myself in the eyes of my goddess, but I'm here now.”

 

Rude shook his head and ran his hand over his smooth scalp with a grumble. Talking to Genesis was a little like trying to decipher encrypted code. He was sure the man made sense in his own head but even someone with Rude's patience was hard-put to make sense of his elusive answers.

 

“I see my explanation isn't satisfactory,” Genesis sighed. “We can talk again some other time. Try not to get yourself killed, in the meanwhile.”

 

Rude's eyebrows shot up again but the other man spread his wing and launched into the air before he could comment on the unexpected well wishing. The Turk caught a familiar flash of red out the corner of his eye and he understood suddenly why Genesis had taken off so abruptly. Reno was climbing the hill, swearing loudly as his foot got stuck in something concealed beneath the snow.

 

“What, did I interrupt a sonnet or something?” Reno muttered as he made his way to Rude. “Your bird-boy took off as soon as he saw me coming. Think he's scared of me?”

 

Rude shrugged. “Maybe he just didn't want the vocal competition.”

 

Reno punched him lightly in the arm. Unfortunately, Rude's the playful shove of retaliation was just a little too strong and Reno lost his balance and fell on his ass in the snow.

 

“Yo, did I touch a nerve?” Reno growled up at him with a glare.

 

Rude helped him back to his feet. “Sorry, Red. Didn't mean to push you that hard.”

 

“Nah, I was off-balance,” Reno said lightly, his anger immediately vanishing as Rude's apology mollified him. “These shoes ain't made for walking in the snow. So what did your fickle phoenix say to ya?”

 

“Nothing that made much sense,” Rude frowned. “Except he hinted that he knows where Weiss is holing up.”

 

Reno watched Genesis's form in the distance as it flew further and further away. “Think you should tell the boss men about that?”

 

“There's nothing to tell them,” Rude said. “He wouldn't tell me where he is. He said he'd `think about it'.”

 

Reno snorted. “He's either a fucking tease or he's blowing smoke up your ass. Careful, big guy…if he's a tease with info he's probably a cock-teaser, too.”

 

Rude chose not to comment on that.

 

~********************************~

 

“Sir, we've completed testing on the formula.”

 

Reeve looked up from the map that he and the others had gathered around. “And?” he said impatiently. Vincent subtly squeezed his hand beneath the table, silently bidding patience.

 

“Genesis was telling the truth,” explained the scientist. “None of the lab specimens have exhibited any symptoms from the gas exposure we subjected them to. There are some mild side effects to the vaccine, however. A few of the rats vomited some time after getting the injection.”

 

“A significant number?” Questioned Reeve. “We can't have half of our fighters puking on the field.”

 

“No sir,” answered the woman. “Only three of the twenty we tested on showed signs of nausea, and the symptoms faded after a few hours. So far it's been the only side effect we've seen.”

 

Reeve exchanged looks with Rufus, Cloud and the others. “Well, what do you all think? Should we start producing and distributing?”

 

“If a little queasiness is the only side effect, I don't see why not,” answered the president.

 

“Speak for yourself, bossman,” Reno said with a twist to his lips. “Once I start blowing chunks, I can't stop. I'll stick with the mask.”

 

“And if your mask slips?” Rufus pointed out coolly. “While I think a fox's tail and set of ears would look fabulous on you, are you willing to die or be reduced to a primitive state of mind?”

 

Reno's expression went through an interesting series of changes. At the mention of animal body parts, he looked confused. The possibility of death made him grimace and finally, the mention of behavioral changes caused an odd look of delight to brighten his face.

 

“I don't think the last part would be as fun as you think,” Cloud whispered into Reno's ear when he noticed the intrigued expression on his face. “Even with five of us you probably wouldn't get enough.” Reno would be like a fox in heat if he got a dose of the same symptoms that Zack had endured.

 

Reno sobered and he shrugged at Rufus. “Guess you're right, Sir. Don't know why you think the gas would make parts grow based on a guy's personality, though. I mean, Fair would have a bushy wolf's tail instead of a set of wings if that was the case, right?”

 

“Zackary was given controlled treatment,” reminded Tseng. “They had a particular goal in mind with him. The gas triggers mutations and behavioral disorders based on genetics and personality.”

 

Reno narrowed his eyes at Tseng suspiciously. He hadn't heard anyone on the research team say that about the gas and the Wutaian seemed to be in cahoots with Rufus to hide something from the rest of them. Rufus had been acting odd since the first day of combat and Reno wondered again what could have happened that the two of them were hiding.

 

“What's going on…Sir?” Reno demanded.

 

“What's `going on' is that one of my subordinates isn't cooperating with efforts to keep him safe,” Tseng said coolly, “and he's wasting time at this table when we should be concluding this meeting and joining our fighters on the battlefield.”

 

The silence in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Reno held Tseng's gaze for a moment later before looking away. “Sorry, boss,” the redhead muttered.

 

“So everybody's getting this shot?” Barret asked.

 

“It will take a while to immunize the entire army,” Vincent predicted. “I presume the research team will produce as much of it as they can, as quickly as they can and set up a rotation for our people to get their injections.”

 

“We'll go by roles,” Rufus said. “Those who are fighting in the front lines and the medical teams should be immunized first, as they're the first to be exposed to the gas weapons. Those fighting from the air and from a distance will be next and those in charge of communications will go last.”

 

“Wait a minute,” Zack said with a frown. “Which one am I? I kind of do my fighting in the air and on the front lines.”

 

“You'll be counted as a front-line fighter,” Rufus said. Reeve and Tseng nodded in agreement. “Considering most of your aerial tactics involve swooping in for quick melee attacks, it makes the most sense.”

 

“Great,” Zack said enthusiastically. His expression changed to wariness as he looked at the scientist. “Uh, this shot isn't going to make me wolf out again, is it? I mean, don't most vaccines work by putting a little of the disease in you to build up an immunity?”

 

“That's true of viral vaccinations,” she nodded, “but this isn't the same thing. It isn't a disease so much as a genetic enhancer that triggers cellular mutations, depending on the host's DNA makeup. The genetics determine whether you survive it and if you do, how it affects you.”

 

“So that's a `no', right?” Zack said.

 

“You'll be fine,” the scientist said with amusement.

 

“I hate shots,” Yuffie complained.

 

~*********************************~

 

-To be continued