Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Ashen Skies ❯ Chapter 17

“Ashen Skies”

Chapter 17

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Warnings: Het (moderate. Beginning and end of the chapter.)

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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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"Aerith, if you see someone acting a little off, I want you to come straight to me." Zack held her hands and gazed into her eyes with uncommon soberness as he spoke.

 

They were sitting in bed together in the small bunk they shared, getting ready for bed. Aerith studied his handsome, troubled face and bit her lip, rubbing her thumbs over the larger hands that held hers. "You know I would anyhow," she assured him. "But you know Zack, you aren't around all the time."

 

"If I'm not around, then you go to Lazard. If he's not here, I've got a list of other military personnel I trust to take care of you, okay?" Zack lifted one of her hands to his lips and kissed it. "I'm serious, Aerith. I know you pick up on things more than most people and I want you to keep an extra sharp eye out. If you see someone acting even a little weird, you report it to someone. Don't stick around asking questions, just go."

 

Aerith frowned at him, worried about the stress she sensed. "But didn't you say they found the list of everyone Hojo hypnotized?"

 

Zack nodded. "Yeah and the people on that list are being watched. Still, until this is sorted out I want you to be extra careful and stay on your toes for weird behavior."

 

She gave him a crooked smirk. "Well you're acting pretty weird right now. Should I run?"

 

Zack didn't smile at her teasing tone and she sobered as he held her gaze and spoke again. "I'm serious, Aerith. Just humor me, okay? Maybe I'm being a little over-protective but after what happened with Hojo...the thought of someone hurting you or our kid...I can't-"

 

"Shh," Aerith soothed, pulling a hand free to place her fingers over his lips. He was afraid, she knew. It was scary to her as well and she supposed she couldn't blame him after Hojo nearly eviscerated her.

 

"I'm okay now. Our baby's okay too. I'll be careful and I promise I'll do as you ask. Just try not to worry so much, okay?" She pulled her fingers away from his lips to kiss him briefly. "You're trying to juggle too much and it isn't good for you. I worry about you to, you know."

 

He drew a deep breath and nodded, returning her light kisses and rubbing her arm. "I know I'm acting like a doofus," he murmured against her lips. "It's still too fresh for me not to freak out a little though."

 

"I understand," she assured him.

 

She placed her hands over his bare chest and moved her caressing lips away from his mouth and to his jaw, then his neck. She could feel the tension in his muscles and she slid her hands up and kneaded his shoulders, trying to soothe him. Feeling a different sort of tension herself, she thought she knew what he needed to relax and she smiled against the rough stubble on his jaw as she moved her lips over it and went for his earlobe. Aerith slipped her hands down over his chest again, feeling the powerful muscles under her palms. Her arousal increased and she gently pushed, urging him to lie down.

 

Zack got the message and amicably reclined as she wished, but he graced her with a soft, husky warning as he settled his hands on her waist and gazed up at her. "Careful, sweet thing. Don't get me too excited."

 

"Why not?" Aerith smiled at him and brushed her hair over one shoulder as she straddled his hips.

 

Zack's good eye flashed with lust and his gaze swept over her body with obvious admiration before settling on her legs. Her peach colored nightgown had ridden up as she straddled him, exposing her legs up to the hips. He stroked his calloused palms over her outer thighs and held her gaze.

 

"You've been through a lot," Zack whispered. "I don't want to jump you too soon."

 

"I'm okay," Aerith insisted, grinning with fond amusement at him. She didn't tease him, though. His chivalry was very sweet and it was part of what had drawn her to him so quickly in the first place. She leaned down and kissed him lingeringly, brushing her lips over his and combing her fingers through his spiky hair.

 

"Hojo tried to cut me, not rape me," she reminded him. "It was scary but it's over now and I'm not going to dwell on it."

 

Zack shifted beneath her and she could feel his hardness pressing against her between the layers of his sleep pants and her panties. He swallowed and slipped his hands under her gown, grazing her ribs and sides with his fingers. "You sure?"

 

"Don't be a goose," she teased, nibbling his ear. To prove she meant it, she dragged a hand down and slipped it under the waistline of his pants. His breath caught as she gripped his stiffened flesh and began to stroke the velvety length of it. "I want to."

 

Zack growled in his throat playfully and rolled, flipping her skillfully onto her back and easing his body on top of hers. She squeaked and giggled softly, consciously trying to keep her exclamation of surprise down so that others in the sleeping quarters wouldn't hear it. His mouth sought out hers and muffled her laughter. His tongue stroked her lips coaxingly and she parted them to allow access. Her hand was still down his pants and she brushed her thumb over the tip of his cock to find it slippery with a drop of viscous fluid, hinting that he was in a more advanced state of arousal than she'd thought. He shivered as she stroked the spot and he lifted his head to look at her.

 

"You're a little minx," Zack breathed with a smile. He flexed his hips and sighed again as she continued stroking him. "Mm, love it when you do that, Aerith."

 

She returned his smile and ignored the blush she felt in her cheeks. The lingering modesty of her former virginity might take a while to fade but she felt no shame in touching him or initiating lovemaking. She shivered a bit in reaction to the chill in the air and he noticed it. He allowed her to continue fondling him while he shifted and pulled the covers up over both of them. His kisses became more insistent and passionate as he lifted her gown over her head and bundled it in the corner of the bed. His hands stroked her body in all the right places, lingering just long enough on each area to pleasure and tease.

 

Aerith tugged at his sleep pants and he lifted his hips obligingly and helped her pull them down. Zack checked the privacy shade one last time to be sure there were no gaps and then he extinguished the little sconce hanging over the bed and lifted off of her to pull her panties off. His mouth traced a heated path from her throat to her chest and she gasped as his lips closed around one of her nipples and his tongue flicked over the tightened bud.

 

Restless with her growing need for him, Aerith stroked his length a little faster and groped his naked bottom encouragingly. He murmured a husky endearment and paused in his ministrations to reach down and still her fondling hand. He placed his larger one over it, silently urging her to guide him in. She did so with little hesitation, having grown more comfortable with doing it in the time they'd been married. Zack's patient encouragement paid off. Aerith knew the best way to position him and angle her pelvis now and he entered her smoothly and slowly.

 

She reached up with both hands to comb her fingers through his hair and she moaned softly as his length eased in, filling her deeply. Each time they had sex, there was less discomfort in the beginning. Her muscles throbbed around his hardness and she whispered his name, opening her eyes to look up at his shadowed face. His lips were parted and his brows were slightly furrowed as if in concentration. He was putting even less weight on her than he normally did and she slipped her fingers out of his hair and traced his face and mouth with them.

 

"I won't break," she whispered, smiling.

 

Zack smiled back but it was strained. "I know. That doesn't mean I shouldn't be careful, though." He eased out to the tip and then rocked forward again, sliding home at an angle that made her quiver inside and caused her breath to catch. His smile broadened and he lowered his mouth to hers for a soft, sensual kiss. "Feel good?"

 

She almost smacked him playfully. Of course, it felt good. It felt better than good and he knew it. He just liked to hear her say it, so she obliged him. "It feels wonderful," she sighed truthfully. She caressed his back with both hands and kissed his parted lips.

 

Zack commenced with his lovemaking, picking up a steady, deliberate rhythm. He balanced himself with one arm to keep his weight off of her and he caressed her body with his free hand. Their mouths met and parted and met again as they began to writhe against each other in the dark, both of them struggling to restrain their vocalization of their pleasure for the sake of modesty and their nearby neighbors. Aerith's whimpers and gasps mingled with Zack's faint groans and he altered his thrusting techniques now and then to maximize the sensations fro both of them. After quite a while, his motions increased in urgency and speed. He reared back to look at her with a pained expression on his face as he grunted her name and she felt him spasm inside of her. The warmth of his seed filling her was gratifying and she didn't mind that he'd reached his peak before she did.

 

Aerith stroked his hair as he lowered his head to her shoulder and buried his face against the crook of her neck. His breath was hot and uneven against her skin as he panted in release and his body trembled over hers. He murmured lovingly to her and kissed her neck between gasps. When he recovered he levered himself up on his elbows and gazed down at her with a thoughtful frown. She was about to ask him what was wrong when he lifted his hips enough to slip a hand down between their pelvises. Aerith jumped a little when his fingers sought out her clitoris and began to stroke it. He grinned and kissed her.

 

"You didn't think I'd let you go without a happy, did you?" Zack purred teasingly.

 

Aerith responded with an unsteady laugh that ended in a soft moan as his fingertips brushed against the most sensitive spot. His softening cock was still inside of her and the sensation of it amplified what he was doing with his fingers. Zack always took care of her needs...sometimes without even suggesting intercourse. She'd never had a sexually intimate experience with him yet that didn't result in an orgasm and she was always eager to return the favor. From some of the things she'd overheard, some other women weren't as lucky when it came to their partners.

 

"Too bad, I'm not sharing him," Aerith sighed, squirming with pleasure beneath Zack's hard body and skilled touch.

 

"Huh?" Zack gave her a puzzled smile.

 

"Nothing," answered the Cetra hastily, flushing with mortification as she realized she'd spoken out loud.

 

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

 

Reeve slept through the next day and until noon of the day after that. When he woke up, he saw Vincent sitting at his desk reading a book. He covered his mouth on a yawn and blinked his eyes groggily, disoriented completely.

 

"What time is it?" Reeve asked.

 

Vincent put the book down and turned in the chair to regard him. His crimson eyes were faintly relieved. "It's past lunch time."

 

"Oh." Reeve yawned again and struggled into a sitting position on the cot, letting the blanket fall into his lap. "Damn, I didn't mean to sleep in so late. I've got work to do."

 

"You've slept through a day and a half," informed Vincent. His pale features were carefully neutral but that spark of concern remained in his gaze.

 

Reeve's eyebrows went up. "Wow, that long? I'm more behind than I thought." He regarded the other man suspiciously. "Don't tell me you've been sitting here the whole time."

 

Vincent smiled faintly and shook his head. "I went out when needed and locked the door behind me so that nobody would disturb you. Lazard wished to speak with you but I told him it could wait."

 

Reeve scratched his beard and looked down at himself. To his surprise, he was clad in a pair of comfortable pajamas. Vincent must have dressed him in them while he was sleeping. "Thank you," he said sincerely.

 

He'd given Vincent his spare key so that he could come and go to his workshop whenever he liked. He was doubly glad he'd thought to do so now. He felt a bit slow-witted from the hard sleep and even though it put him a bit behind schedule in his work, he knew he'd needed the rest. He swung his legs over the side of the cot and stood up carefully while Vincent watched. When he felt no lingering weakness or dizziness, Reeve went to the storage closet hollowed out in the back of the stone room and searched for a change of clothes.

 

"I'm going to get cleaned up and have something to eat," he said over his shoulder to Vincent as he selected an outfit. "Have you put any more thought into talking to Sephiroth?"

 

Vincent hesitated for a moment and then nodded. "I have. I've decided to tell him, now that you're awake again and things have settled a bit."

 

Reeve inclined his head. "I think you're doing the right thing, Vincent. The sooner the air is cleared, the sooner you can both get used to it." He selected his outfit and turned around to face the gunman, studying him pensively. "Are you okay?"

 

"I might ask the same of you," Vincent answered softly.

 

Reeve approached him and set the bundle of folded clothes on the counter next to him. He looked into the troubled ruby eyes and reached out to place both hands on Vincent's shoulders. "You need to stop worrying about me. I'm tougher than I look."

 

"Yes," agreed Vincent, "but-"

 

Reeve interrupted him with a swift kiss, effectively cutting off his argument. "No 'buts', Vincent. I entered this contract with Chaos with full knowledge of what it entailed. I won't have you tearing yourself up with guilt over it, understand?"

 

"If he hurts you..."

 

"He won't," Reeve insisted.

 

Vincent sighed and gazed at him morosely. "How can you know that?"

 

"Because he has no reason to." Reeve smiled and patted Vincent's arm. "He has a willing source of spirit energy in me and harming me would be like throwing out a perfectly good steak dinner for the hell of it."

 

"So you're likening yourself to a steak dinner, are you?" Vincent's lips quirked with amusement. "Do you think you're so tasty?"

 

Reeve grinned back, relieved that the mood had lightened a bit. "I must be, if I've satisfied that appetite of his. You don't think I rank in the steak category?"

 

Vincent chuckled softly, giving him one of his rare, full smiles. "I suppose you could make the cut."

 

Pleased with the banter, Reeve brushed Vincent's long, dark locks off of his shoulders and gave him another kiss, this time allowing it to linger. Vincent responded to it favorably and for a moment, Reeve forgot his plans to shower and eat. He was sorely tempted to put it off until later but he remembered that his lover had more important things to do than get pounded by him. He reluctantly broke the kiss and pulled away, reaching for the clothes he'd set on the counter.

 

"Well, I've got a shower and lunch waiting for me and you have a son to speak with." Reeve studied the other man thoughtfully. "Do you know what you're going to say to him?"

 

"The truth," answered Vincent plainly.

 

Reeve expected no less of him and he nodded. He admired and respected Vincent's stoicism. Hojo robbed him of the woman he loved and the son he never knew he fathered. Reeve certainly didn't expect the two of them to break out in tears and hug each other like a holiday special, but he imagined it would bring both Vincent and Sephiroth closure to discuss the truth.

 

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Sephiroth wasn't easily found inside the underground network of tunnels and Vincent eventually came across Angeal and Genesis in the den. He asked them if they knew where Sephiroth was and Angeal informed him that he and Cloud were outside in the ruins. It came as no surprise to Vincent, really. Like himself, Sephiroth didn't like being around other people for long, with the exception of those he was close to.

 

He thanked the two soldiers and made his way outside, mentally reviewing how he planned to inform Sephiroth of the truth. He'd been rather cavalier when Reeve asked him how he was going to reveal the truth of Sephiroth's origins to him. It was more complicated than simply blurting out that he was his father and while Vincent wasn't one to practice long speeches, he thought Sephiroth deserved more than a curt announcement and a nod. He was still reeling over the revelation himself and he was completely unprepared for fatherhood...especially since he'd never had the chance to try and bond with Sephiroth.

 

When he stepped outside into the cold afternoon air, he peered around and narrowed his eyes against the harsh light of the sun. For once, the sky was clear of clouds and his eyes didn't appreciate the stab of the light reflected on the snow. He blinked, trying to orient himself to the painful glare. The security wall shut behind him with a grinding noise and Vincent walked away from the shelter entrance and into the ruins of Modeoheim. He searched with sharp eyes until he finally spotted Sephiroth outside the bathhouse with Cloud Strife. He guessed that the two of them had either just finished having a soak or were intending to go in for one.

 

Loathe to interrupt the private moment between lovers but unwilling to put the issue off any longer, Vincent walked up the broken pathway to the bathhouse. Cloud said something that made Sephiroth smile briefly and Vincent paused, feeling an ache at the sight. He felt so foolish to have not noticed the traits Sephiroth shared with him. A genuine smile from him was rare and usually inspired by close companions. Yes, in many ways Sephiroth was like him. Cloud noticed him approaching first and the blond's expression sobered into polite greeting as Vincent ascended the steps.

 

"Hallo, Mr. Valentine." Cloud gave him a nod. "If you're here for a soak, we've started the generator and the water should be warm enough soon."

 

"I'm not here for that, but thank you." Vincent looked to Sephiroth and gathered his courage. "I came to speak with Sephiroth...alone, if you don't mind."

 

Cloud exchanged a puzzled look with Sephiroth, but he didn't protest. "I'll give you some privacy," he offered.

 

Vincent gave him a thankful, respectful nod as he walked down the steps and away from the bathhouse entrance. Sephiroth gazed at him curiously as he approached and Vincent waited until Cloud was out of earshot before speaking.

 

"No need to worry. I didn't come due to an emergency situation." Vincent struggled with words as he looked at the tall, silver-haired warrior that was his son. "I came to speak with you on another matter."

 

"And what would that matter be, precisely?" Sephiroth tilted his head and regarded Vincent with slight suspicion.

 

There was no turning back now. Vincent leaned his back against one of the pillars and gave Sephiroth a level stare. "Hojo lied to you for your entire life. He wasn't your biological father."

 

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

 

Reeve spotted Lazard sitting with Barret and his daughter at one of the tables when he selected his lunch. Remembering that Vincent told him the director had tried to come and see him while he was out, he approached the table and politely asked if he could join them.

 

"Of course, Reeve," invited Lazard gracefully, gesturing to the empty chair across from him. "I was just bringing Commander Wallace up to speed on the situation here. I've been meaning to speak with you anyway."

 

Reeve took the invitation and placed his tray on the table before sitting down. As he sprinkled some salt and pepper over his green beans, he looked at the big, dark-skinned commander. "Have you gotten word on your people yet, Barret?"

 

"Yeah, Jessie and Wedge woke up yesterday but Biggs is still out. They told me he's stable though, so he should be all right. Too bad we couldn't bring 'em here with us but they were in pretty bad shape when we made it to Cosmo."

 

"We can arrange transportation for them when they recover," offered Reeve. "So, Lazard has been filling you in on our situation, has he?"

 

"Yeah, that's pretty messed up." Barret's chiseled features were grim and he patted Marlene on the shoulder in a fatherly gesture. "Makes me worry about my little girl."

 

"I'll be okay, Papa," Marlene said with youthful bravado. "If anybody tries to mess with me, I'll stomp on their foot and run to you."

 

The adults shared a smile of amusement and Reeve chuckled. "Not much frightens you, does it?"

 

She took a bite of her grilled cheese sandwich and shook her head. When she finished chewing and swallowing, she spoke up again. "Nope. I'm going to be big and strong, like my Papa."

 

"I have no doubt you will," Lazard said with a smile. "Not too big, I hope. So Reeve, where is Mr. Valentine?"

 

"He's gone outside to discuss something with Sephiroth," answered the engineer.

 

"I see. I wanted to share this information with both of you but I suppose you can fill him in when he returns. We've found all of Hojo's files listing who's been triggered. Unfortunately, two of them are First Class Soldiers."

 

Reeve paused with his fork full of beans halfway to his mouth. "Which ones?"

 

Lazard's blue-gray eyes were intense as he answered. "Genesis and Sephiroth."

 

Reeve lowered his fork. "That's bad. Are you sure the other officers aren't affected as well?"

 

"We're sure." Lazard nodded. "Hojo intended to manipulate Zack and Angeal too, but he never got the opportunity he needed. He ranted about that quite thoroughly in his journal."

 

"What suggestions did he implant in Sephiroth and Genesis?"

 

Lazard hesitated and glanced at Marlene. Reeve frowned with understanding. This discussion wasn't appropriate for a child to overhear.

 

Barret noticed the wary looks they gave his daughter. "Don't you worry about Marlene," he informed them. "I don't hide nothin' from her and she knows to keep things to herself."

 

Marlene nodded in agreement. "I won't say anything and like you said; I don't scare easy."

 

"Very well," Lazard said. He returned his attention to Reeve. "If he hears Sephiroth's name spoken backwards, Genesis attacks him. Hojo implanted the trigger as a failsafe, in case Sephiroth grew to be too problematic for him."

 

Reeve felt a shiver race up his spine. "And what's Sephiroth's implanted objective?"

 

"To kill his father," answered Lazard. "Evidently, Hojo isn't his biological sire and he wanted to make sure his true father never interfered with his work." Seeing the color drain from Reeve's face, he hastily added: "Don't worry. We have no idea who Sephiroth's biological father is yet and we'll likely have his trigger removed before we discover the information. We've already purged several of the lesser suggestions. Some are ingrained deeper than others however, so we need more time. Reeve? What's the matter?"

 

Reeve dropped his fork and stood up abruptly. Rather than answer the director, he circled around the table and grabbed him by the arm, urging him to get up. Lazard sputtered and rose from his seat, having little choice if he didn't want to topple over from the strength of Reeve's tugging. As soon as he stood up, Reeve grabbed him by the material of his blazer and started dragging him along with him, breaking into a run.

 

"Stay here, pumpkin," Barret ordered his daughter as he too got up and went to follow them.

 

"Reeve, what on Gaia are you doing?!" Lazard stumbled along after the seemingly crazed engineer.

 

"Don't ask questions," Reeve grunted, "just run!"

 

"I demand to know what this is about!"

 

Reeve didn't stop but he offered a brief explanation. "Vincent's Sephiroth's father! I found the file just before he killed Hojo. He's going to tell Sephiroth the truth now!"

 

"Oh hell," Lazard swore. "That's going to activate his trigger."

 

There was no need for Reeve to drag the director along now. Lazard ran of his own accord and his longer stride soon had him in the lead.

 

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

 

"I've been suspecting that, lately." Sephiroth admitted it with calm, detached interest. "The director hinted as much, but he wouldn't go into details. I suppose you know who my real father is?"

 

Vincent nodded slowly, keeping his eyes locked with the other man's. Sephiroth tilted his head and an expression of dawning comprehension began to bleed into his sculpted features. Though it likely wasn't necessary now, Vincent chose to say it out loud. "I am."

 

Whatever reaction Vincent expected, it wasn't for Sephiroth to reach for his masamune and stare at him with that odd, blank look in his eyes. He stopped leaning on the pillar and his body instinctively tensed. "Sephiroth, what are you doing?"

 

"What I...have to do," answered the general. His expression was troubled, as if he were fighting an inner battle with himself. He took a step toward Vincent and hesitated, swearing softly and shutting his eyes.

 

Vincent thought he understood what was happening and he hovered his hand over Cerberus, holstered at his hip. "He got to you," he said with certainty.

 

Sephiroth began to walk towards him and the light glinted on the blade of his sword. His eyes were open again and the pupils were dilated to ovals. "I have to."

 

Vincent shook his head and took a step back, reluctantly drawing his gun but refusing to take aim with it. It made perfect, macabre sense that Hojo would have planted a suggestion for Sephiroth to kill him if he ever found out he was his father. What the crazy bastard had evidently failed to calculate, however, was Sephiroth's mental fortitude. Most of the other victims of Hojo's manipulation reacted to their triggers without a fight but Sephiroth was clearly resisting.

 

"You're stronger than he realized," Vincent persuaded as he and Sephiroth began to circle one another. "You can fight his influence, Sephiroth."

 

The general hesitated again, shuddering visibly. His eyes narrowed and he shook his head. "You have to die."

 

Before Vincent could offer further persuasion, Sephiroth lunged at him with frightening speed. The masamune sang as it arched toward him, slicing the air. Vincent dove aside, rolling to avoid the hit and coming up on his feet. He had little time to recover before the blade slashed at him again. He threw himself backwards and he knew that the monstrous enhancements forced upon him were the only thing saving him from being cut into two pieces. He had no choice but to retaliate as one of the columns shivered and broke apart, cut through the middle by the narrowly avoided slash.

 

Vincent aimed to disarm, firing a couple of shots with practiced skill. Sephiroth deflected them and leaped through the air at him. There was nowhere to go except beneath the soldier and Vincent dove and rolled again, leaving Sephiroth to land behind him. Vincent felt the Chaos pushing against his constraints and he snarled and fought the demon.

 

~Leave it be. I'll handle this.~

 

~Don't be a fool,~ Chaos remonstrated, ~he means to kill you.~

 

Another presence stirred, awakened by the severity of the threat and Vincent's heightened emotions. Vincent hadn't felt the lupine presence for some time and it was oddly comforting, even though it was the worst time imaginable for this demon to wake up again.

 

~Hunt?~ The simple, growling inquiry was both eager and anxious. Canine instincts made this presence loyal and protective of Vincent.

 

~No, Galian. We don't hunt this one. We don't harm this one.~

 

Vincent avoided another attack and he coughed as another pillar fell, bringing up a cloud of dust. Chaos and Galian beast were both straining to come forward, the former out of a desire to keep his link to the world and the latter out of a desire to protect. Vincent pushed them back determinedly, knowing that if either of them gained control, Sephiroth could be killed or maimed...if the swordsman didn't kill them first. He admitted to himself that he was fighting as much for their protection as his son's.

 

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

 

Cloud heard the gunfire and he turned around swiftly with wide eyes to see Sephiroth and Vincent attacking each other. At first, he assumed they must be sparring but as he watched the scene unfold, he knew something was terribly wrong. He had no idea what provoked the encounter but there was nothing friendly about the way the two men were battling. In fact, he thought it looked like Vincent was on the defensive, trying to avoid hits from Sephiroth and aiming his shots away from vital organs. Sephiroth wasn't holding back. He went after Vincent like a demon, slashing and lunging as if the gunman were one of the WEAPONS the planet had set against humanity.

 

"Sephiroth, what are you doing?" Cloud hollered as he broke into a run and instinctively reached for the sword strapped to his back.

 

His first reaction was to protect his lover from Vincent but after observing the way it was going, he realized the aggressor was Sephiroth. He sprinted over the snowy ground hardly noticing how much faster he ran now that the Mako enhancements settled in. He didn't question his lack of fatigue as he charged up the steps and interposed his lover. His only goal was to intervene and stop the two of them from killing one another. Sephiroth's next swing came very close to hitting its target but Cloud cut in front of Vincent and blocked his lover's attack with his own sword. There was a clash of metal and Cloud's blade predictably shattered under the might of Sephiroth's masamune, but he'd successfully drawn Sephiroth's attention away from Vincent so he tossed the ruined weapon aside and spoke to the general.

 

"Sephiroth, stop! Why are you-"

 

Cloud's plea ended in a sharp gasp and a cry of pain as Sephiroth drove the masamune straight into the spot where his chest met his shoulder. The pain of the razor sharp metal piercing his flesh made Cloud forget all about trying to reason with him. Instead, he looked up into the wild, dilated eyes of his lover with an expression of agony and betrayal on his face.

 

"S-Sephiroth," Cloud gasped, "w-why?"

 

At that moment, sanity returned to Sephiroth. The wild look in his eyes vanished and he stared at Cloud with obvious shock and confusion. He shook his head, his silver hair stirring with the motion and he pulled the sword out of Cloud's body abruptly. Cloud sank to his knees and Sephiroth caught him in his arms, his lips parting to say something-perhaps an apology. Before he could speak, there was a sizzling sound and Sephiroth released Cloud and stiffened all over. His eyes went blank and he shook for a moment before toppling to the broken concrete on his face.

 

Cloud looked up to see Reeve Tuesti, Barret Wallace and Lazard Deusericus standing side by side a few feet away. Reeve held a device in his hand that had coiled wires snaking out from it and Cloud could see that they were connected to Sephiroth's back through a pair of pins. The engineer had tazered him. Reeve didn't offer any explanation; instead, he drew a gun from the confines of his coat and Cloud shouted in protest as he fired on Sephiroth without hesitation. To Cloud's relief, the projectile that struck his lover in the back of his shoulder wasn't a bullet, but a dart. It was a tranquilizer gun.

 

Lazard and Vincent hurried to Cloud's side while Reeve pulled the tazer pins out of Sephiroth's back and caught his breath.

 

"Just in time," Reeve panted. "I'm getting too old for this sort of thing."

 

"Need to exercise more, is all," Barret said. He went to Sephiroth and knelt to roll him over.

 

"What...happened?" Cloud asked, completely bewildered by the entire situation. He cried out as Vincent's fingers probed his wound and Lazard murmured soothingly to him.

 

"Easy," cautioned Lazard. "It doesn't seem like he pierced anything vital but we need to get you to a medic to be certain."

 

"He's bleeding heavily," Vincent murmured. "The strike may have hit an artery."

 

"Tell me what's happened," demanded Cloud, angry that they were ignoring him, "is Sephiroth going to be okay?"

 

"Sephiroth is going to be fine," Reeve assured him. "He's just sedated. Hojo implanted a trigger in him, as he did with you."

 

"I know all about that," Cloud grunted, "but what made it go off? Why did he attack Vincent?"

 

"Because Vincent is his biological father," explained Lazard. He helped Cloud to sit up and he gave Vincent an apologetic look. "If I'd known it was you, I would have told you about the conditions of his trigger sooner. It seems Hojo set it to go off if Sephiroth ever discovered the truth. His implanted objective is to kill you."

 

"Can it be reversed?" Vincent was amazingly calm, given the situation.

 

"Yes, in time," answered Reeve. "It could take repeated sessions but we can remove the trigger."

 

"Until then, Sephiroth will have to be placed in lock-up and heavily monitored," added Lazard.

 

Vincent nodded and looked down at his unconscious son. He reached out toward him, hovering his normal hand over the general's face hesitantly. In a brief, awkward gesture, he stroked the disheveled locks of hair aside that draped Sephiroth's face.

 

"I'll avoid seeing him until the process is complete," Vincent said softly. "My presence will only make it worse, until then."

 

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

 

Cosmo Canyon, later that night:

 

Tseng slept fitfully, caught somewhere between waking and sleep. It was an arranged marriage...a political union and nothing more. His wife shared his bunk at night for the sake of appearance but they were never intimate. Unfortunately for him, frustration was catching up to him and he found himself dreaming of asserting his husbandly rights and making this sham of a marriage into something real. He was no fool, however. He knew Yuffie only married him out of guilt and obligation and he'd done the same for similar reasons. Any attempted sexual union would likely result in sore balls again or a dueling match that could leave both him and his wife injured.

 

Tseng prided himself on being a gentleman. His career as a Turk had often required unpleasant actions in the past and he didn't shy away from assassination, but there was no reason he had to be crass because of it. He never laid a suggestive hand on Yuffie, after the first time he'd tried and ended up kneed in the groin for his efforts. The girl was infuriating anyhow, completely his polar opposite and the last woman he would have picked as a good spouse.

 

Still, his rebellious body and heart saw her with different eyes. His head told him that any meaningful relationship with the little brat was doomed, but his crotch had a different idea and his blasted heart skipped a beat every time she gave him one of those mischievous, dimpled smiles. He sighed as his imagination took over and visions of that slender body nude and writhing beneath him invaded his mind.

 

The half-waking dream felt very real to him and it took on a life of its own as he fell deeper into it. Tseng's breath caught slightly as the dream progressed to Yuffie sucking him off. Her lips were soft and tight around the girth of his sex, her mouth warm and inviting. The suction was just right as the talented little mouth moved up and down over his erection. He reached down to stroke her dark, shoulder-length hair encouragingly and he sighed with pleasure. The tight lips slid over his cock more rapidly in response and she made a purring sound in her throat. The vibrating sensation against his sensitive skin made Tseng groan softly.

 

A delicate but calloused hand cupped his balls and rolled them in the palm before squeezing them gently and rhythmically. Tseng began to pant softly and he broke into a sweat. His hands trembled in her hair and he murmured her name, hoping against hope that she wouldn't stop. Her other hand stroked his inner thighs one at a time, kneading the tense muscles like a kitten kneading a blanket. Tseng pulled his hands away from Yuffie's hair and clutched fistfuls of the sheets beneath him. He was close...so close.

 

As his climax approached, he woke up and opened his eyes. He nearly swore in frustration that the wet dream was ending before he could get release but to his shock, the wet, rhythmic suction on his cock was still there. Utterly confused, Tseng looked down the length of his body to see Yuffie's head bobbing steadily. His boxers were lying in a heap at the bottom corner of the bunk, leaving him entirely naked. He hardly cared about his state of undress...he had a little ninja sucking on his cock and he had no idea what to do.

 

"Yuffie," Tseng murmured huskily, wondering if she was even awake. Some people talked or walked in their sleep but he'd never before heard of anyone giving blowjobs in their sleep.

 

She didn't give any indication that she'd heard him and she kept going. Tseng started to call her name again but his peak struck him and all that came out was a grunt, followed by a low groan of pleasure. His head fell back against the pillows and he squeezed the material bundled in his hands desperately as he came down her throat. He shut his eyes and enjoyed the moment, even as he wondered what brought it about. The motions of her mouth slowed and stopped as his orgasm tapered off and his sated member slipped out of her mouth.

 

Tseng opened his eyes, prepared to say...something. He didn't know what. Again, he was struck speechless as Yuffie stretched out on top of him and looked down at him with a smug, satisfied expression on her pretty little face.

 

"So there," she whispered, reaching for a corner of the sheets to wipe her mouth off.

 

"'So there'...what?" Tseng replied, baffled. "Why did you...do that?"

 

Yuffie slapped him lightly on the chest. "Duh. Because I've decided to like you, dummy."

 

"I...see." Tseng felt an uncommon urge to laugh. Sometimes reality was stranger than dreams. "And you chose this method over telling me?"

 

"Hey, if you didn't like it-"

 

"I liked it," he interrupted hastily. Diplomacy was a requirement, when dealing with such a fickle woman. "I'm merely confused. What made you come to this decision of yours, Yuffie?"

 

She combed her fingers through his long, raven hair and shrugged. "Tifa said something to me that day she left to visit Modeoheim and it made sense. I don't remember exactly what she said but the gist of it was that if I like you enough to be worried about your safety, I should give it a shot. So that's what I decided to do. Got a problem with that?"

 

Tseng shook his head and a grin curved his lips unwillingly. "I'd have to be mad if I did. I quite enjoyed the way you've chosen to express your decision." He stroked her back and contemplated over whether he should attempt to lift the tank top she wore off of her. Deciding he should let her take the lead for now, he settled his hand on her rump, admiring the curve of it. Yuffie wasn't well-endowed in either the bust or bottom area but the shape of both more than made up for that. Her long, slender legs and pouty lips also added sex appeal to the young ninja and Tseng looked forward to exploring her body further.

 

"Since we've reached a truce, you should be aware that I intend to return the favor," he murmured, looking into her dark eyes with all sincerity.

 

"Well, that's a relief." Yuffie smirked at him. "If you weren't willing to give head too I think I'd change my mind."

 

Tseng reached up with his other hand and cupped the back of her head, drawing her lips down for a kiss despite her mild protests.

 

"Hey! You really want to kiss me after I just...you know?"

 

"Considering that I know exactly where your mouth has been and have no issues of self-loathing, yes." Tseng ended the response with a deep, passionate kiss that invoked a little moan of lust from the young woman.

 

Deciding that her responses were favorable enough to test further, Tseng rolled over and took her with him. He was cautious about it and he instinctively covered his groin with one hand as he positioned her beneath him. Yuffie laughed into his mouth and he pulled back to lift an inquisitive brow at her.

 

"Something amusing?"

 

Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him. "Yeah, you're totally scared of me."

 

"Nonsense," he scoffed.

 

"It's true! You think I'm going to knee your junk."

 

Tseng blinked. "I'd prefer that you not to refer to it as 'junk'. You've just finished sucking on it, after all."

 

"Oh, you're such a stick in the mud," griped Yuffie. "Fine. You're afraid I'll knee you in your Beautiful Man Jewels. Whatever."

 

Tseng was hard put to refrain from grinning. Pest or not, Yuffie was quite amusing at times. "Well then, let's see how you hold up to having attention lavished on your own 'junk', shall we?"

 

He didn't give her the opportunity to respond. He scooted down the length of her body and yanked her panties down around her ankles, making her blurt a little hoot of surprise. He left the garment hanging around her left ankle and he pushed her thighs apart to allow better access to said "junk".

 

"Whoa, hold it buster," Yuffie warned, pushing at his shoulders.

 

Tseng ignored her half-hearted attempt to thwart him, guessing she didn't really mean it since the comment wasn't followed up with a punch to the head or a kick in the face. He admired the folds of her labia for a moment and he was faintly surprised to find that she shaved around the spot. The patch of dark hair surrounding her feminine attributes was carefully groomed and sparse. He found it appealing. She hadn't shaved herself bald but she took care of what she left behind.

 

"I never imagined you to be so fastidious," Tseng complimented a moment before spreading the folds of her flesh with his thumbs to expose the pink pearl of her clit.

 

"Uh...well, I kind of figured we'd be getting it on soon so I...I...aaahhh!"

 

Tseng's tongue traced her entrance and the sensitive flesh around it, spoiling her explanation and making her shiver. Her hands grasped his shoulders and she parted her thighs further, urging him on. He greedily complied, of course. He flicked his tongue over the hardening nub above her entrance and swirled it. Her thighs clenched involuntarily and she rested the heels of her feet on his lower back, curling her toes. When he closed his lips around her clit and sucked lightly on it, her back arched and she whimpered.

 

He'd always been told he was good at cunnilingus by his partners but Tseng didn't allow his ego to rule him. He paid careful attention to Yuffie's reactions as he pleasured her, taking note of what actions seemed to invoke the best sensations. He dragged one hand up her inner thigh and tested between the feminine lips. When he found that she was slick, he eased a finger inside of her and sought out the smooth little patch of skin that signified her g-spot. As he searched for that and continued licking and sucking, he pushed her top up with his other hand to expose her pert, shapely little breasts. He glanced up and admired their shape before cupping one of them and fondling it. Her nipples were hard little pebbles and she squirmed fitfully as he teased them one at a time.

 

"Ahh..oh...you...you asshole," Yuffie moaned when Tseng found the spot he was looking for and pushed his middle finger in to aid the stroking of it.

 

He paused the motions of his mouth and smiled. "Surely, you don't mean that."

 

"I do so," she argued, even as she moaned and thrust her pelvis in silent demand. "Nice guys aren't this good!"

 

"Then be thankful that I'm not a 'nice guy'," Tseng countered smugly. He returned his attention to her clit and enjoyed the way her petite form shuddered and writhed.

 

After a few moments, Yuffie's breath started coming in quick, short pants and she whined to him, begging him not to stop. Tseng had no intention of stopping and when he felt her passage begin to clench around his penetrating fingers, he gave special attention to the area he was stroking inside of her. Yuffie's exclamation of release was loud enough for him to wish his arm was long enough to reach her mouth and muffle it, but their political status afforded them more privacy than others. If a few colonists down the tunnel heard his wife's cries, they would likely think nothing of it beyond a satisfied woman and a good marriage.

 

Yuffie trembled with her climax and when it finally ended, Tseng stopped his attentions and scooted up. He looked into her dazed eyes and brushed a sweat-dampened lock of hair away from her forehead. He lowered his mouth to hers for a kiss and leisurely caressed her bared breasts.

 

"Shall we consider the contract sealed, Yuffie?"

 

She smiled dreamily up at him and put her arms around his neck. "Hell yes."

 

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

 

-To be continued