Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Ashen Skies ❯ Chapter 6

“Ashen Skies”

Chapter 6

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Warnings: Het (very mild), Yaoi (mild), drunken ooc-ness.

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*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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After overhearing the General's activities, Cloud tried not to let his discovery affect his behavior around Sephiroth. Three days passed and he did his best to stay focused on working on the militia transports to keep them in top shape. He was in the middle of welding a crack shut on the side of one of the hover vehicles when the subject of his thoughts walked into the cavernous garage and approached him.

 

“Cadet Strife.”

 

Cloud turned off the flame and lifted his protective visor when he heard his name called. Upon seeing who spoke it, he put his equipment down and saluted. “General, Sir.” He kept his eyes ahead, afraid that if he made eye contact with Sephiroth he'd somehow give something away.

 

“You've been promoted to Private,” Sephiroth informed him. “Which means that you'll be joining our forces on the field the next time we go out. You're adept with missile launchers and artillery, aren't you?”

 

“Yes Sir,” answered Cloud. “I've been practicing every day.”

 

“Good.” Sephiroth looked him up and down thoughtfully. “We'll start you out on ranged attack duty. Do you think you're ready for this?”

 

Cloud's first instinct was to say “of course”, but he revised his words carefully. “I'm ready to give it my best, Sir.”

 

Sephiroth nodded in approval. “Good answer. Be prepared to move out at short notice, Strife.” With that said, he turned on his heel and walked out of the garage.

 

Cloud relaxed his pose when the General was gone and a little smile of excitement found its way onto his lips. It was finally happening…he was moving up through the ranks. He thought about what Zack had told him about Professor Hojo being untrustworthy and his smile faded. It seemed they were being extra selective when it came to who got enhancements. He wondered if he'd ever be approved for Mako injections. While he appreciated the chance to go out on the field and fight with Zack and the other Soldiers, he wasn't going to be at their side. He was going to be stuck in the background, firing explosives and projectiles at the WEAPONS from a safer distance.

 

As frightening as the possibility of getting up-close and personal with one of the gigantic creatures was, Cloud wanted to be where the action was. He wanted to know he was making a difference and he wanted to use the weapon he was most proficient with to do it. He told himself that he needed to take it one day at a time. He'd get his chance some day and at least he could be a part of the fight now, instead of being left behind to help guard the fort. Cloud got back to work on the vehicle and reminded himself to be patient.

 

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

 

“Hey Aerith, I've got something great to show you.”

 

Aerith paused in her action of tailoring a new dress for herself and she smiled at Zack as he approached. Beside her, Alison sighed enviously as the handsome Soldier took Aerith's hands in his and smiled at her like she was the only woman in the world.

 

“I guess I can put this off until later,” Aerith said with a shrug. “What's this great thing you want to show me?”

 

“First, we need to get something you can use as a bathing suit,” Zack told her. He looked her up and down thoughtfully.

 

“A…a bathing suit?” Aerith was confused and it showed on her face. “I don't think the weather in this part of the world is fit for taking a swim, Zack.”

 

“Trust me,” he insisted with a wink. “You'll see. We're going into the town for this. Do you have anything you can use?”

 

She thought about it. “Well, I have a chemise I could use, I suppose.” The clothing article in question was long enough to cover her to the knees and it was dark in color, so she wouldn't have to worry about it going transparent on her and giving someone a show. “But Zack, I don't understand…where can we possibly swim at?”

 

He pressed a brief kiss on her mouth, making her blush and causing a few other civilians to whisper and chuckle. “Just come with me and I'll show you, okay?” He was gently pulling at her hands and urging her to come with him.

 

Doubtful but unable to deny him anything, Aerith went with him to the barracks and got her chemise and a pair of dark panties out of the trunk. Zack got a pair of boxer shorts out for himself, as well as a couple of towels. He put an arm around her and together they left the barracks and made their way to the shelter's exit. They spotted Cloud on their way through the den and he had smudges of grease and dirt on his face and arms.

 

“Hey Cloud, I've got a better alternative to a shower, for you,” Zack called out. “Grab some shorts and a towel and come with us!”

 

The blond gave Zack the same puzzled look Aerith had given him just a short while ago. “Shorts? Here?”

 

Zack shrugged, “Or a pair of boxers, if you've got some to spare.”

 

Cloud looked at the clothing articles that his two friends held in their arms and his expression turned to suspicion. “What's going on?”

 

Zack sighed. “We're having a pajama party outside.”

 

Cloud's brows furrowed. “Really?”

 

“No!” Zack laughed and slapped him lightly on the shoulder. “Just grab something you can use as swimmers and come with us, already.”

 

Cloud looked reluctant but he nodded. “Okay, I'll meet you back here in a couple of minutes.”

 

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

 

Zack took them to the Modeoheim bathhouse after Cloud fetched a pair of boxer shorts. There was no electricity for the overhead lighting but someone had installed kerosene sconces on the walls and the gray afternoon light slanted in from the many windows to provide luminance. Cloud and Aerith stopped in surprise when they heard the soothing bubbling sound and saw steam rising from the heated pools. At the far right corner of the tiled room, Reeve Tuesti sat soaking in one of the giant hot tubs and he was enjoying a cigar. He saw them come in and he waved.

 

“Let it never be said that engineers can't have fun,” Reeve called out in a friendly tone. “It took a while to get it all cleaned up and filled with clean water, but I got the pumps working this morning. You owe me gil, Zack.”

 

Zack chuckled and when his companions looked at him questioningly, he explained. “I made a bet with Reeve a couple of months ago that he wouldn't be able to get the bathhouse in working condition again. I found out a couple of hours ago that he proved me wrong.”

 

“How did you get the pumps running without using electricity?” Cloud asked.

 

“Steam power,” answered the engineer. “Come on in, the water's fine. When we're all finished pruning up, I can show you how to operate the pumps so you can all come in here and soak whenever you want…uh…when there aren't any WEAPONS nearby, of course.”

 

“Sounds great,” Zack agreed. “Come on guys, I'll show you the changing rooms.”

 

Cloud and Aerith followed gamely and within minutes, everyone was in their respective swimmers and sinking into the large tub already occupied by Reeve. Cloud hissed a little at the temperature but once he was submerged to his shoulders, he began to get used to the heat. Aerith demurely pressed her chemise down as it tried to float up when she lowered herself in. Zack solicitously held onto her right arm to help her balance until she was comfortably seated beside him.

 

“This feels sooo good,” Zack sighed, letting his head fall back against the lip of the tub. His side was still a little tight from the injury he'd sustained the other day and the heat felt good on it. “I don't ever want to leave. We should have grabbed a bottle of wine or something from the stores.”

 

Reeve smirked. “A little luxury never hurt anyone.” He blew a couple of smoke rings into the air and Aerith watched in fascination as they rose to the domed ceiling.

 

“How do you do that?” She asked.

 

“What, form the rings?” Reeve smiled at her. “It takes a bit of practice but it's not all that difficult. You just have to shape your lips right. Here, I'll show you again.” He blew another set of smoke rings into the air and Aerith clapped with innocent delight, inadvertently splashing Cloud a little.

 

“Can I try?”

 

“I…er…” Reeve fumbled uncomfortably under Zack's sudden glare. “I'm not sure smoking is a habit a sweet lady like you should be taking up, Aerith.”

 

“I'm an adult,” Aerith reminded all three of the men, who were suddenly giving her patronizing looks ranging from worried father to overprotective boyfriend to disapproving big brother.

 

“That doesn't make it a healthier thing to do,” Cloud pointed out.

 

“Well, Reeve's smoking and you're not lecturing him!”

 

Zack grimaced at Reeve as if to say: “Look what you've done! You're a bad influence.”

 

“They aren't lecturing me because they respect their elders,” Reeve excused with a chuckle. “But I get the hint. Here, I'll put it out.”

 

“Wait,” Aerith insisted. “Do it one more time before you put it out, please?”

 

The engineer smiled in amusement and acquiesced her request. He took one last puff and blew several more smoke rings into the air before putting his cigar out in the halved tin can he'd been using as an ashtray. When he was finished, he regarded his younger companions seriously for a moment. “Now remember, we don't need everyone in the colony knowing about this. I'm not trying to be stingy when I say we don't want crowds of people coming here for outings. If a WEAPON comes snooping around, we can't afford to have a big group of panicked civilians trampling one another to get back underground, understand?”

 

Zack and the others nodded. “Got it,” Zack said. “Mum's the word. I hate to keep a treat like this from other people but it's better than a bunch of folks getting stomped.” He remembered something important and he looked at Cloud. “Hey, has Sephiroth had a chance to talk to you, yet?”

 

Cloud nodded and smiled his quiet smile. “He talked to me while I was working on a rover. Looks like I'll be going out with the rest of you, the next time you go on a mission.”

 

Zack grinned and ruffled the blond's hair affectionately. “Congratulations, Private. Keep it up.”

 

He almost said that if he kept going at his rate, they might recruit him into the SOLDIER program but he didn't want to risk giving him false hope. Zack really did feel that Cloud would make a good Soldier and if he continued to excel in his skills, Lazard might give the nod for Mako enhancements. Since he couldn't see into the future, he thought it best to keep his thoughts to himself until he had reason to believe Cloud really had the chance he deserved.

 

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

 

When they'd had enough, they got out of the tub and Reeve showed them all how to operate the water pumps before he shut them down and everyone dried off and changed back into their regular clothing. Reeve parted ways with them when they returned to the fort and he reminded Zack over his shoulder that he owed him gil. Zack laughed and promised he'd get his money by morning. All three of them were feeling hungry so they went to the dining hall to have some dinner. Genesis and Angeal were already seated at a table, eating roast chicken and vegetables that the cooks had prepared. Zack and the others joined them after getting their own meals and Zack looked around curiously.

 

“Where's Sephiroth? He's been kind of scarce for the past few days.”

 

Genesis pulled the skin off of his chicken leg and shrugged. “Our falcon is spending a lot of time in his little nest…brooding, as usual.”

 

Zack glanced up automatically, imagining Sephiroth alone in that little cave at the top of the mountain. “I don't like it when he hides away in that hole of his.”

 

When Angeal gave him a meaningful look and nodded at Aerith and Cloud, Zack realized he probably shouldn't have said so much in front of them. Some things should remain between he and his fellow officers. Word didn't need to get out that Sephiroth and Genesis very nearly went on a rampage against ShinRa and the world, almost ten years ago. Zack was in the latter part of his teenaged years when it happened and though they weren't much older, Sephiroth, Genesis and Angeal were already First Class Soldiers.

 

“Is that all he does?” Cloud asked, his expressive blue eyes growing concerned. “He just sits in there by himself? Why is that so bad?”

 

“Um…you see Cloud, the cave's outside of the main community and if a WEAPON comes around it might find him there alone.”

 

“But you talked about it like it's up pretty high and hidden,” argued the blond. “Wouldn't he be safe up there?”

 

The three officers looked at one another in silent communication. Angeal was frowning in disapproval but both Cloud and Aerith were now too curious to let the matter drop. Genesis rolled his eyes at Zack and muttered: “You might as well tell your groupies, Zack. As long as they can keep it to themselves, I suppose it can't cause too much harm. Just make sure Sephiroth doesn't find out you aired his past to them or you could end up wearing your ass as a hat for the rest of your life.”

 

“I really don't think this is a good idea,” Angeal said sternly.

 

Genesis gestured toward Aerith and Cloud, sitting on either side of Zack. “Look at them. Do you really believe your puppy is going to be able to keep it a secret from them forever?”

 

Angeal sighed and regarded Cloud and Aerith levelly. “What we're about to tell you doesn't go any further than us, understood? In fact, we should move to a quieter area so that others can't overhear.”

 

Cloud and Aerith nodded in agreement, both of them looking quite curious.

 

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

 

“I guess my first question is how does Sephiroth get up to this nest you've mentioned?” Aerith said when they moved to a table in the far corner of the room. “Does he carry climbing equipment with him?”

 

“Oh, right,” Zack said, smacking himself on the forehead. “You guys haven't seen the wing.”

 

“Wing?” Cloud repeated with a frown. “You're kidding.”

 

“Oh, I beg to differ,” Genesis said. He stood up and Zack smirked. Genesis had mellowed somewhat over the years but he still enjoyed showing off now and then. As the others watched, the redhead pushed his wing out through the slit in the back of his jacket and spread it gracefully to give them a good look.

 

Aerith's mouth fell open and Cloud nearly fell out of his chair. Evidently, neither of them had thought to question why Genesis, Angeal and Sephiroth all had a slit in the back of their clothing, if they'd even noticed it. Other people across the room looked at the spectacle for a moment, but they'd been there long enough to get used to the one-winged Soldiers.

 

“D-do you all have a wing?” Cloud sputtered. He knew Mako enhancements resulted in superior strength, reflexes and senses but he never dreamed they would cause supernatural appendages to grow. “And how do you fly with only one?”

 

“Nope,” Zack said with a shake of his head. “I'm wingless. The only three bird boys we've got are Angeal, Genesis and Sephiroth. Hojo tried to give me a wing too but it didn't take. Uh, I'm not sure how they fly with just one wing, but they pull it off.”

 

“So it just…grew one day?” Aerith inquired. “And you can put it away whenever you want?” She couldn't think of a more scientific term for it and she blushed faintly.

 

“Yes, and yes,” Genesis answered with a nod. He demonstrated by retracting the raven wing with practiced ease and he took his seat beside his lover again. “Angeal's is white,” he said with a sidelong nod at the bigger man. “He just had to be different.”

 

Angeal smirked briefly at the subtle affection in Genesis' jibe. “The color is just a result of the methods they used, as I understand it.”

 

“So the four of you were part of a special experiment?” Cloud pressed.

 

“Hojo and Hollander did it,” Zack informed. “They had a rivalry going and I was the last one to get smacked with their experiments. They were basically working on the same thing but they used different techniques.” Zack scratched his head as he tried to think of how to explain it. He wasn't a science minded individual and to this day, he still had trouble explaining such things. “Guys, a little help, here?”

 

Genesis sighed but obliged him. “At the core, it was called the Jenova project. Professor Hollander established Project G in Banora, which is where Angeal and I grew up. Hojo set up his project in Nibelheim and he called it Project S. That's where Sephiroth was born and—“

 

“Wait,” Cloud interrupted with wide eyes. “Nibelheim? Sephiroth was born in Nibelheim?”

 

Genesis' aqua eyes flashed with annoyance but he shrugged and forgave the blond for the interruption. “That's right. Oh, that's where you're from, isn't it? Yes, Sephiroth was born in Nibelheim. Hojo convinced his wife to allow experimentation when Sephiroth was still a fetus in her womb…much the same as myself. Angeal wasn't naturally conceived like Sephiroth and I. He was implanted into his mother's womb.”

 

“Petri dish baby,” Zack added with a playful wink at the big man. When Angeal scowled at him, he cleared his throat and averted his eye. “So anyway, I'll bet your surprised to find out your hero's birthplace is the same as yours, Cloudy.”

 

“But why didn't I ever meet him, then?” Cloud asked. “I would have remembered someone like Sephiroth.” He clamped his mouth shut immediately and blushed as the others gave him looks ranging from sly to intrigued.

 

“Probably because Hojo snatched him out of his mother's arms and took him away to be studied shortly after he was born,” answered Genesis.

 

Cloud lacked the ability to hide his distress and the naked sympathy in his sapphire eyes. “He took him from his mother? His own wife? How could he do that to them both?”

 

Genesis shrugged. “Hojo suffers from a deplorable case of assholism. At any rate, all three of us grew up living a lie. Our parents kept the truth from us and when we were old enough to join the military, we were sent to Midgar to begin training. When we got our Mako infusions, Hollander and Hojo gave us a little something extra. One day Hollander finally told me the truth.” Genesis stopped and pressed his lips together grimly.

 

“You two continue,” Genesis suggested with a nod at Zack and Angeal. “I'm going to liberate a bottle of rum from the stores for us to drink.” He got up and walked away, leaving his companions to stare after him for a moment.

 

“He doesn't like to talk about what happened next,” Zack explained softly to Cloud and Aerith. “Gen-Gen went off the deep end when he found out about the experiments they on him, because Hollander told him he'd start deteriorating and die if they couldn't find a way to stop it. He was convinced that he was a monster and Hollander promised he'd find a way to cure him if he helped form an uprising against ShinRa.”

 

“Lazard was in on it too,” Angeal added. “He had a grudge against his father, for reasons I won't go into because it isn't my place to talk about it. The plan he formed with Hollander didn't work out the way they intended, though.”

 

“What stopped them?” Cloud asked.

 

“How did they cure Genesis' deterioration?” Aerith questioned.

 

“I found Genesis while Zack and I were on a mission in Wutai,” Angeal told them. “That was when I found out the truth about myself, too. Genesis had the files on all three of us and he showed them to me. He was out of his head and I tried to reason with him but he took off. That was when my wing first manifested and I went after him, but I was too late to stop him.” Angeal sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

 

“What happened?” Aerith asked softly, looking as though she dreaded the answer.

 

“He killed his parents,” Angeal finished flatly. “At the time, he thought they weren't his true parents and he blamed them for what was happening to him. I convinced him to lie low while I looked for Hollander and it wasn't until I captured him that we found out Genesis was mistaken about his parents. We made Hollander work on a cure for him until he finally found the solution and stopped the deterioration.”

 

Angeal looked up to see his lover returning with a bottle of rum and several shot glasses. “We came very close to losing him.”

 

Genesis closed the remaining distance set the shot glasses down on the table before unscrewing the bottle and pouring everyone a shot. “Is my least favorite part over with?” he muttered.

 

Angeal nodded and the redhead took his seat again and downed a shot. Zack took his cue and picked up where the big man left off. “While these two were in hiding trying to fix Genesis, I was making my way through the ranks and Seph kind of took over as my mentor for a while. He thought Jenova was his mother, thanks to Hojo's lies. See, Hojo thought Jenova was a Cetra but she was really this big bad alien thing that fell to the planet from outer space a really long time ago.”

 

Aerith tilted her head suddenly, as if hearing something far away. “A calamity from the skies,” she murmured. “It wiped out most of the Cetra.”

 

Genesis stopped in the middle of pouring another shot and he narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously. “How do you know that?”

 

Aerith shrugged and picked up her shot, making a face as she sniffed it. “I must have read it somewhere,” she said evasively.

 

Zack quickly downed his shot as Genesis' level stare on his girlfriend made him nervous. “So anyway,” he said after swallowing the liquor and grimacing, “Sephiroth grew up thinking this thing that Hojo called a Cetra was his real mother. Only, he didn't know Hojo thought it was a Cetra until he and I took a mission to Nibelheim to check out the reactor and we found this…thing…in one of the chambers. The name plate on its head said `Jenova' and Sephiroth started freaking out.”

 

“You guys were both in Nibelheim?” Cloud asked. “When did that happen?”

 

“Oh, I guess it was about nine years ago, give or take a few months,” answered Zack. “You would have been what…about fifteen?”

 

Cloud nodded. “I just can't believe I never even knew Soldiers were in town. I must have been too busy taking care of my mother.”

 

“Well, we didn't make a big stink about it,” Zack said. “Our job was to go in, find out how the Mako reactor was running and report back to Headquarters. After we found Jenova in there, Seph went into the ShinRa mansion and found a secret lab in the basement. He started reading through all the old documents and files and he kept going on about this Professor named Gast he remembered from his childhood. Something about the Ancients and answers about Sephiroth's origins…I couldn't keep up with what he was saying.”

 

Zack noticed that Aerith went pale and he looked at her with concern and squeezed her hand. “You okay? Is the rum too strong for you?”

 

She sipped gingerly at her shot and shook her head. “I'm fine,” she told him, though he could hear the tension in her voice. “I'm just…really into the story.”

 

Zack tried not to be overly concerned and he continued his account of the events. “Apparently Sephiroth thought this Gast dude could have told him more, but the guy was dead. Seph started getting more and more unhinged and he stayed in that damned basement and read everything he found in there. I tried to talk some sense into him but he made tracks for the reactor and when I found him he was totally off his rocker.”

 

Zack heaved a sigh and poured himself a fresh shot before continuing. “I really thought Sephiroth was going to go on a killing spree. I'd never seen him look like that, before. He was raving about his mother and `taking back the planet' and all sorts of things I didn't understand. I almost had to fight him but then Genesis and Angeal showed up. Gen was recovered and they came looking for Seph to tell him the truth.”

 

“So when you told him the truth, he calmed down?” Cloud asked the other two Soldiers.

 

“I wouldn't precisely say that,” Genesis said. He poured his third shot and held the glass up to study it in the dim light. “His fury and madness faded but depression took its place. The only thing that stopped him from killing Hojo was the fact that we still needed the twisted lunatic. I think that knowledge depressed him even more.” He brought the glass to his lips and swallowed the contents of it.

 

“When I told you Seph never smiles, I meant it,” Zack said to Cloud. “Not that he was Mr. Cheerful before, but when we got back from Nibelheim he was even more mute and withdrawn than ever. I didn't realize how bad it really was until I went to his quarters to check on him one day and found him getting ready to blow his brains out with a pistol.”

 

Cloud stared. “He…really tried to kill himself?”

 

“Yeah,” Zack sighed. “And let me tell you, trying to wrestle a gun away from a guy like Sephiroth is anything but easy. For a minute, I thought one of us would end up shot by accident in the struggle. After I got the gun away from him I convinced him the world is better off with him in it.”

 

“How did you do that?” Cloud asked. He swallowed his shot and poured another, shivering a little in the aftermath of the burn.

 

Zack looked at his two fellow officers with a puzzled expression on his face. “You know, I'm really not sure. I can't even remember everything I said to him. Do you guys know?”

 

“We weren't there, genius,” Genesis snorted. “Angeal and I had our hands full trying to restore order and keep Rufus and Lazard from killing one another, remember?”

 

“It doesn't matter,” Angeal said softly. He was the only one who hadn't touched his drink yet. “You've always had a way with people, Zack. Whatever you said to him made him reconsider and that's the most important thing.”

 

Zack lowered his eyes and turned his shot glass in his hand absently. “But now he's in that hole again. I know he hasn't tried to off himself since that one time but I really worry when he spends too much time up there.”

 

“I can check on him,” Angeal offered. “I'm sure he's only seeking solitude. You know how Sephiroth hates to be around people, sometimes.”

 

Zack relaxed a bit. “Thanks, man.”

 

Cloud and Aerith were both silent, each of them thinking deeply about everything they'd just heard.

 

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

 

Genesis was sauced by the time they left the dining hall and Cloud came down with a nasty case of the hiccups. Aerith had only drunk two shots but she was unsteady on her feet and Zack helped her to the bunk they shared and put her to bed. As promised, Angeal went out and flew up the side of the mountain, searching until he found the camouflaged entrance to Sephiroth's private little den.

 

“Sephiroth?” he called as he pulled aside the thick canvas and hides that covered the entrance to the den and kept the cold out. Angeal poked his head in and saw his comrade lying on the pallet of furs and blankets he'd made at the back of the den. Sephiroth had an oil lantern burning and he was reading a book on military history. The emerald cat eyes looked up at him as he ducked inside.

 

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Questioned Sephiroth.

 

“We've been worried about you,” Angeal admitted. “I just came to check on you.”

 

Sephiroth turned his attention back to his book and flipped a page. “I'm fine. You know I like my privacy, now and then.”

 

Angeal nodded. “We all know that. You've just been falling into familiar behavior patterns that concern us.” He retracted his wing and moved further into the cave, ducking to keep his head from hitting the roof. “If there's something bothering you, I hope you'll consider telling someone…before it drives you to—”

 

“Before it drives me to what?” interrupted Sephiroth in a low murmur. “Perform fellatio on the barrel of a gun again? Carve a smile into my throat?”

 

Hearing him talk about it with such sardonic amusement made Angeal's skin crawl. “You can't blame us for being concerned.”

 

Sephiroth sighed and bent one knee. “I'm going to be hearing about that bloody incident for the rest of my life from the three of you.”

 

“And we've got our burdens to bear too,” reminded Angeal calmly. “None of us have made it through the past decade without our scars, Sephiroth. I don't have Zack's social talent but I can tell something's bothering you.”

 

Sephiroth considered him silently for a moment and then he put the book down and watched the flame in the lantern. “I'm…troubled,” he admitted softly.

 

Angeal nodded and sank down on the cool stone floor, waiting for him to continue.

 

“I think I may have found a new obsession,” Sephiroth explained.

 

Angeal understood why that bothered him. Sephiroth could get incredibly fixated once he set his sights on something. Whether he was after answers, fighting an enemy or planning a mission strategy, he was wickedly tenacious. He didn't know what this new “obsession” of Sephiroth's was but he imagined it was something serious, to trouble him this much.

 

“Is this obsession distracting you to a dangerous level?” Asked the dark-haired Soldier.

 

“It could,” Sephiroth answered. “If I allow it to.”

 

“Then why not get it out of your system, whatever it is?” Suggested Angeal. The closest thing he'd every experienced to obsession in his life was his attraction to Genesis, before they explored their relationship further.

 

Sephiroth's pale brows drew down. “I don't think that would be a wise idea.”

 

“Would someone get hurt if you acted on it?” He was getting very curious, now.

 

“Possibly,” Sephiroth answered.

 

If Angeal were more like his lover or Zack, he would have flat-out asked Sephiroth if this obsession of his were a person. He'd never known the General to develop even a small crush on another human being before but he was still a man with needs. Being more reserved than the other two Soldier officers, Angeal chose to respect Sephiroth's privacy and not probe too deeply. If the man wanted to open up to him, he'd do it on his own.

 

“I'll leave you alone with your thoughts,” Angeal said after thinking for a moment. “Just remember, some `obsessions' aren't a bad thing. Goodnight.”

 

Sephiroth watched him go and once he was alone again, he thought of a pair of expressive blue eyes set in a youthful, masculine face. He put his book down and decided to divulge in his obsession a little, giving into further fantasies about Cloud Strife while his old friend flew away from his sanctuary.

 

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

 

Angeal found Genesis' side of their bunk empty and when the redhead didn't come to bed after several minutes, he got up and searched for him. He found him exactly where he'd left him in the dining hall and he shook his head. Genesis was face-planted on the table, with his hand curled around an empty shot glass and soft snores issuing from his mouth. He didn't often over-indulge like this but talking about the horrible events of the past always brought out the angst in him. He never admitted it aloud but Angeal knew that he suffered terrible guilt for killing his parents.

 

Angeal carefully removed the shot glass from his lover's gloved hand and reached out to shake his shoulder gently. Genesis stirred and mumbled something incoherent before lifting his head and peering up at him with bleary eyes.

 

“What am I shtill doing here?” Genesis slurred, swaying in his seat as he looked around in confusion.

 

“You must have passed out after the others went to bed,” guessed Angeal. “Come on, you need to sleep it off.”

 

The liquor made Genesis more agreeable than normal and he nodded and threw an arm around Angeal's neck as the bigger man helped him out of his seat. Angeal half-dragged his lover along with him out of the dining area and down the corridor to the barracks. Genesis' head flopped as if he could barely hold it up and Angeal almost offered to carry him until he remembered how vehemently the redhead protested the last time he'd tried. They made it safely into the barracks and Angeal got Genesis into bed and helped him change into his pajamas before changing into his own sleeper pants and joining him.

 

He wasn't really surprised when Genesis threw a leg across his thighs and started kissing his ear and caressing his chest. Even sloppy drunk, Gen was always ready for intimacy. “You should just try to get to sleep,” Angeal said courteously, “we can do this when you're feeling better.”

 

“I feel fine,” argued Genesis. He dragged his mouth down and started kissing his way lower on the larger man's body, steadily making his way south to the bulge in Angeal's pants that was steadily growing more impressive in size with each second. He paused just as he reached the navel and he looked up the length of Angeal's torso to gaze into his eyes. His features softened uncommonly and he licked his lips.

 

“What is it?” Angeal murmured, guessing his partner wanted to say something he thought was important. He stroked the disheveled auburn bangs out of Gen's eyes and waited for the answer.

 

“I just,” Genesis began awkwardly. “I don't shay it enough. *hic*”

 

Angeal was puzzled. “Say what enough?”

 

“Achtually, I…don't say it at all, do I?”

 

“I can't agree or disagree when I don't know what it is you never say, Gen.”

 

The redhead hesitated a moment longer before parting his lips and ending the mystery. “You know…the love thing.” He looked almost bashful as he said it…a rare thing, indeed.

 

Angeal knew it was mostly the liquor talking. Genesis would never act this way or speak this way while sober, even if it was true that he loved him. Knowing he probably wouldn't remember it in the morning, Angeal caressed his face and whispered his response. “I know, Gen. I feel the same.”

 

Genesis gave him a lopsided smile. “I'm…I'm going to show you…how much I mean it.” He began to rub Angeal's crotch and he gave him one last promising look before sliding his body down. He started tugging clumsily on Angeal's pants while he kissed his stomach below the navel.

 

“You don't have to do that,” Angeal protested, almost chuckling at the other man's uncharacteristically awkward efforts.

 

“What's the matter with these…pantsh?” Genesis groaned, fumbling with the drawstring. He sighed and lowered his head to Angeal's pelvis, resting his cheek against his hip as he tugged absently at the waistline.

 

“Nothing's wrong with the pants,” Angeal murmured, shaking with silent laughter. “You're just too drunk to work them.” He was just about to reach down and help when he heard a soft snore issue from his lover's mouth. Angeal shifted a little and peered down at Genesis' head, resting heavily against his pelvis. He was fast asleep again.

 

Angeal sighed and stroked his oblivious companion's hair fondly. At least he didn't vomit on him.

 

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

 

Cloud found it hard to sleep. He tossed and turned in his bunk and his thoughts remained on Sephiroth. He guessed that if there was trouble, he would have heard about it by now. He heard Angeal and Genesis come in and he guessed the big man would have raised an alarm if something were wrong. Still, he couldn't get Sephiroth off his mind and he grew irritated with himself as he entertained thoughts of climbing up there to that “nest” himself to check on the General.

 

~I don't think he'd appreciate the invasion. He'd probably toss me to my death, in fact.~

 

Cloud wasn't really so sure of that, though—not after that smile Sephiroth gave him when they spoke outside and not after what he'd overheard the other night. Sephiroth might take an entirely different kind of revenge on him for being so bold and the thought of that made Cloud flush with desire and squirm restlessly. If he weren't surrounded by other people, he might have considered shutting his privacy screen and easing his arousal. He thought of the sounds he'd heard coming from Sephiroth's bunk that night and it was a cruel reminder that even with the screen closed, he couldn't guarantee complete privacy from the other residents.

 

The possibility of someone hearing what he was up to was a sufficient deterrent and Cloud sighed miserably and tried to ignore his urges. He'd never had a serious relationship in his life and most of his romantic experiences revolved around stolen moments with other young men in the village that had an interest in him. He wondered what it would feel like to kiss Sephiroth and feel those powerful hands on his body. He wondered if the General would be gentle or rough in bed and the more he wondered about these things, the more frustrated he got.

 

When he finally couldn't stand it any longer, Cloud gave up on sleep and got out of bed to have a cold shower. It sufficiently chilled his libido and fixed his problem but he was shivering so badly when he returned to his bunk and lay down again that it took him an hour to finally fall asleep.

 

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

 

The next morning, Cloud realized what a stupid mistake it was to take a cold shower the night before. He woke up with a runny nose and by the time he finished breakfast and got ready to do his rounds for the day, he was sneezing regularly. A woman noticed the trouble he was having and she gave him a handkerchief to use. He thanked her softly and stubbornly got to work. By the time dinner came around he had a tight chest to go with the sneezing and runny nose. He declined the meal choice prepared in the dining hall and asked for a can of soup to warm up instead. He spotted Zack and Aerith but rather than sit next to them and expose them to the cold he was getting, he picked a table away from everyone else and forced himself to eat.

 

“Hey Cloud, why are you eating all the way over there?” Zack called. He and Aerith were both motioning to him invitingly. “Come sit with us!”

 

Cloud didn't want to shout out that he was sick, so he picked up his bowl of soup and his glass of orange juice and joined them, careful to sit as far away from them as he could. He was forced to reach hastily for the handkerchief given to him and turn his head as he felt another sneeze coming on.

 

“You're nose is red,” Aerith commented when Cloud finished muffling the sneeze and put his handkerchief away. “Cloud, are you sick?”

 

“I'b okay,” he said, sniffling. “It's just a little cold. Don't want you guys to catch it so don't get too close, okay?”

 

“Hmph…came on fast,” Zack observed with a frown of concern. “Your face is kind of flushed too, Spike. I think you need to take a few days off until it clears up.” He leaned toward Aerith and muttered: “I told him not to hang around outside for too long after dark.”

 

“I don't think that's what did it,” argued Cloud. Well, at least that wasn't the only thing that did it. The cold shower couldn't have helped. “I'll be okay.”

 

Aerith shook her head at him. “If you push yourself, you'll just get sicker.”

 

“It's just a little cold,” insisted Cloud. He coughed into his hand and ignored the worry on their faces. He couldn't let a common cold get in the way now, when he was doing so well proving his worth to SOLDIER.

 

They finished eating and Aerith told Cloud to just leave his dishes for her to clean up, insisting that he go lay down. He was going to argue with her but in truth, his head was beginning to throb. He almost called Cosmo Canyon to speak with Tifa before bed but he decided against it. Zack and Aerith lecturing him was enough. If Tifa heard how stuffy his nose was, he'd catch an earful from her, too.

 

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

 

The next morning didn't bring any relief for Cloud. The tightness in his chest was much worse and his throat felt raw. He groaned as soon as he sat up, assaulted by the throbbing in his face and skull, followed by a wave of dizziness. He felt hot and he slipped groggily into his uniform without putting on his jacket. His footsteps were clumsy as he left the barracks and he felt weirdly detached as he walked through the corridors toward the cafeteria. He had no appetite but he needed to keep his strength up.

 

He'd just stepped into the dining area when the speakers crackled on and Director Lazard made an announcement. “Attention, all SOLDIER and field personnel. Prepare to deploy. We have a target confirmed to the west.”

 

Cloud's heart pounded and he almost tripped over his own feet as he turned to hurry with the other military personnel that were hastily stopping what they were doing. He made it halfway down the tunnel leading to the garage when he was hit by a fresh wave of dizziness. He stopped and leaned against the wall, putting a hand to his head and breathing heavily to clear the black spots assaulting his vision. A strong hand gripped his upper left arm and he lifted his head to see Sephiroth staring down at him.

 

“General,” Cloud said as evenly as possible, “I'b on my way to deploybent, Sir.”

 

Sephiroth frowned, his emerald gaze studying Cloud's face intently. “Your eyes are too bright,” he said. “Your face is flushed, your voice is hoarse and a moment ago, you looked like you were about to pass out.”

 

“Just a cold,” Cloud excused, even though the dizziness was only getting worse.

 

Sephiroth tugged one of his gloves off and laid his naked palm flat against the blond's forehead. He held it there for a moment before pulling it away and shaking his head at Cloud sternly. “I'm afraid you'll have to sit this one out, Strife. You're running a fever and you can hardly stand up. Report to the medic ward immediately for examination and treatment.”

 

Cloud opened his mouth to protest but the General's eyes flashed and Sephiroth spoke again before he could so much as peep. “If you utter a single argument, I will personally drag you in there myself—in front of everyone. I won't have you collapsing on the field from a preventable ailment and putting yourself and the other men at risk. You'll have plenty of chances to fight when you're well enough.”

 

Cloud coughed before he could stop himself and he turned away abruptly and covered his mouth. He conceded with a nod since he couldn't catch his breath to speak. He felt like he was sinking and he realized it was because his legs were giving out beneath him. From the corner of his eye, he saw Genesis and Angeal passing by and the two of them stopped and looked at him curiously.

 

“He shouldn't be anywhere near the battlefield,” Angeal said with a frown.

 

Cloud drew a ragged breath and stubbornly straightened up, determined to at least get to the med ward on his own two feet. Unfortunately, the action cost him and he heard a buzzing sound in his ears as the world began to go black. Sephiroth caught him before he hit the floor.

 

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

 

Sephiroth gathered the unconscious blond into his arms much as he'd done when he first found him. “Get to the transports,” he ordered Angeal and Genesis. “I'll take Private Strife to the medical ward myself and join the convoy afterwards.”

 

The couple nodded and moved to obey. Sephiroth secured his hold on Cloud and carried him down the corridor, passing fellow Soldiers, militia and medics on the way. Zack and Aerith were embracing at the intersection, speaking in low voices to one another. They kissed and Zack said something to her that must have been a reassuring joke because she smiled a little. They parted ways and Aerith went down the corridor leading to the hydro gardens. The black-haired Soldier saw Sephiroth approaching with Cloud when he turned to leave and his immediate concern was evident.

 

“Cloudy? What the hell happened?”

 

Sephiroth kept walking at a brisk pace, forcing Zack to follow alongside him to hear his response. “He's running a fever. I'm going to drop him off at the medical ward.”

 

“I'll come with,” Zack said.

 

Sephiroth was about to order him to go with the others and leave him to handle it when Cloud stirred in his arms and squirmed fitfully. Instead of speaking to Zack, he turned his attention to the blond and cautioned him to be still. “Relax, Cloud. I wouldn't want to drop you.”

 

Beside him, Zack gave him a suspicious, thoughtful look. Sephiroth felt a flash of annoyance toward the other man, wondering if he'd given something away in his simple comment to the blond. Cloud looked dazed and a little embarrassed. He hesitantly put an arm around Sephiroth's neck to help balance out his weight and he offered no protest or argument. Sephiroth couldn't tell if it was because he knew better than to test his patience or if it was because he was feeling too terrible to try walking on his own. They made it to the medical ward and Sephiroth ordered a nurse to fetch someone to see to Cloud immediately. She gave a nervous little bow of respect and hurried away.

 

“Sorry you can't go out with us today, Chocobo-head,” Zack said to Cloud. “I know you were looking forward to it.”

 

Cloud tried to heave a sigh but it came out as a cough instead and he covered his mouth and turned his head away from Sephiroth. The General held him more firmly while the coughing fit ran its course. When Cloud could speak again he put on a casual front. “There's goig to be plenty of WEAPOND to fight after this. I just picked a lousy tibe to get sick.”

 

Zack grinned at the blond. “Heh…you're so stuffed up you can't even say your `n's' and `m's', pal. Do me a favor and listen to the doctors. Take it easy, so I don't have to worry about you.”

 

“I will,” agreed Cloud.

 

Both Sephiroth and Zack knew he was telling the truth—if for no other reason than his determination to start joining the fight. Professor Hojo came out of the back with the nurse that Sephiroth had sent to fetch a medic and the General scowled.

 

“What's this?” Sephiroth demanded softly. He was getting bloody tired of seeing his men stuck with Hojo as their caregiver.

 

“Most of the medics are joining you on the field today, my boy,” Hojo informed him. “The rest are busy. Flu season, you know.” He peered at Cloud with interest, taking note of his visible symptoms. “It appears we have another case, in fact.”

 

“Just a cold,” insisted Cloud.

 

Sephiroth experienced a brief moment of amusement, despite his misgivings about handing Cloud over to Hojo's care. The blond was certainly stubborn. “He passed out in the corridors and he's running a fever. See to it that he gets proper care, Professor.”

 

“Oh, have no doubt of that,” Hojo assured. “Bring him back and I'll begin.” He turned around and walked back into the narrow passage leading to the examination rooms.

 

Zack leaned closer to Sephiroth once Hojo was gone. “I don't like this,” he muttered.

 

Sephiroth narrowed his eyes at the spot where his hated father had been standing a moment ago. “Agreed.” It was one thing to allow Hojo to treat someone when one of them could be there to watch, but they had a mission to go on. Sephiroth turned to the nurse who had fetched Hojo. “You. Accompany us to the examination room and witness Professor Hojo's treatment of this man while we're away.”

 

She nodded. “Of course, General.”

 

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

 

-To be continued