Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Ashen Skies ❯ Chapter 22

"Ashen Skies"

Chapter 22

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

Warnings: Het (implied), Yaoi (graphic)

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

*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.*

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

 

Sephiroth got as much rest as he could while he waited for the medical teams to produce a solid diagnosis. When they brought Shalua in from the research area, he felt cold settle around his heart. Lazard had shared his case file on the woman and Sephiroth knew that her specialties were biological abnormalities and virus identification and treatment. If the doctors needed her input, it meant that something else was going on with Cloud, which they couldn't easily identify. Sephiroth knew what Hojo tried to do and he'd foolishly convinced himself that he'd failed. The lack of timely symptoms had Sephiroth thinking with relief that like Zack, Cloud was resistant to Hojo's "special" treatments. Now it appeared he might not be, after all.

 

The day after the Cosmo rescue, they still didn't have any word and Sephiroth made certain that Shalua was watched carefully in the moments that he wasn't able to do it himself. When noon came around, he left the blond's treatment room to have something to eat. It wouldn't do for him to weaken himself with hunger, even if he had no appetite. He took a seat alone at the end of one of the longer tables in the cafeteria, thankful that there weren't many people eating yet. He'd just begun to shovel his food into his mouth without really tasting it when someone sat down across from him.

 

Sephiroth cursed silently, in no mood for company. He looked up to see who it was and he relaxed a little when he recognized Angeal. The big man was the least invasive of Sephiroth's well-meaning friends and he wouldn't heckle if he sensed agitation.

 

"It's good to see you're taking care of yourself," Angeal murmured. That was as far as his comments went concerning his knowledge of how deeply Sephiroth really felt for Cloud. No teasing, no dwelling...just a simple statement. "I'm sure you aren't in the mood for company right now, so I'll make this brief. I'll do what I can to keep Zack and Genesis out of your hair but an update on Strife's condition would help."

 

Sephiroth smirked in spite of himself. At times, Angeal was like a babysitter for those two. Grateful for the intervention, he nodded. "Cloud is still sleeping. They've been keeping him sedated and on pain medications. It seems there's more to this than simple inflammation and they've called Shalua Rui in to give her aid. I don't trust that woman, yet."

 

"Your dislike of scientists is warranted," replied Angeal with a sympathetic look. "Sephiroth, if you'd like I can offer to help you keep an eye on things. You're just one man and you can't be at your Cloud's side constantly."

 

Sephiroth thought about that. Angeal was right, of course. He still needed to eat and sleep. "You're taking on rather a lot. Between helping me and parenting Genesis and Zack, you could end up exhausted."

 

Angeal shrugged. "I'll deal with the consequences later. I'd rather be worn down than allow another Hojo situation to come up."

 

Sephiroth nodded and graced the bigger man with a faint smile of gratitude as he forked up another bite. He was nearly finished eating when the inevitable pair of troublemakers came into the cafeteria and spotted him. Sephiroth mumbled around his last bite of food as Zack and Genesis crossed the cafeteria to his table. Angeal saw his annoyed look and he got up to intercept the pair, intending to ward them away. He wasn't fast enough, however.

 

"Hey Seph," Zack said, "So, any word on Cloudy yet?"

 

"They're still looking into it," explained Angeal in a hushed voice. "Don't pester him."

 

Zack matched Sephiroth's glower and he demonstrated a rare moment of anger. "Hey, you might be sleeping with the guy but he's my friend and I care about him. I've got as much right to see how he's doing as you do, Seph."

 

Genesis added his argument. "While I'm not as chummy with your canary as Zack, as an officer I have the right to know what we're dealing with. Strife is a good fighter. It's in our best interest to have him in the ranks."

 

Sephiroth was taken aback for a moment, but he quickly masked the surprise on his features. He nodded. "Fair enough. After lunch, you can all accompany me back to the medical ward and ask your own questions of the doctors."

 

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

 

Shalua didn't offer any protests when all four of the officers returned together to ask questions. If anything, she seemed pleased that they were all there. They stood outside Cloud's room and before any of them could begin asking questions, she spoke up.

 

"Professor Hojo did experiments on all of you, didn't he?" she asked softly.

 

Sephiroth exchanged wary looks with the others and nodded. "Unfortunately, yes."

 

Her good eye scanned each of them thoughtfully. "I've done some reading, with Lazard's permission. Studying Hojo's work has helped me gain a better understanding of what's going on around here."

 

"So you've named yourself his understudy?" Sephiroth guessed, narrowing his eyes.

 

Her expression became stony. "Hardly. That man did nothing worth perpetuating, even if he did have interesting ideas. It's his fault those people were taken and executed. It's his fault the planet is against us and it's his fault my sister is in the condition she's in. No, I've got no interest in furthering his work. Studying it puts a sour taste in my mouth but its necessary."

 

Her vehemently expressed dislike of Hojo bumped her up on Sephiroth's respect meter a little. The disgust on her face couldn't be fabricated, unless she was a superb actress. He gave her a respectful nod. "You seem to have a decent grasp of the truth, Miss Rui."

 

She calmed her expression and sighed. "I apologize for my outburst. As I said, I'd love nothing more than to destroy every one of Hojo's records, to prevent his work ever being carried out further. Unfortunately, he left behind a legacy with his work and I need to understand it to be of any use. Tell me, did his experiments have the same results with each of you?"

 

"No," answered Genesis. "Angeal and I began to deteriorate shortly after the changes took hold. Sephiroth didn't suffer the same condition and Zack...well, the puppy didn't cooperate at all."

 

She frowned, looking at Zack. "What do you mean, 'didn't cooperate'?"

 

Zack shrugged and grinned mischievously. "The cells Hojo injected me with never did anything. At least, I never grew a wing like these guys. I was a dud."

 

She stared at him. "So, you're immune to the cellular mixture?"

 

"Looks like it, yeah," Zack agreed. "Hojo was pissed. He called me a 'failure'. I guess he thought he was hurting my feelings but to tell you the truth, I was kind of relieved."

 

She blinked. "I...see." She turned her attention to Genesis and Angeal. "You said you were both deteriorating, but you look perfectly healthy to me."

 

"That's because we snatched Hollander and threatened to cut him into tiny pieces if he didn't help us," explained Genesis with a smirk in Angeal's direction. "With our kind motivation, the good professor discovered the proper formula to halt the deterioration."

 

Shalua checked the clipboard she held in her arms, flipping through pages. "Hollander...I recognize the name. He worked with Hojo on occasion, didn't he?"

 

"Yes. He's been deceased for months," Angeal supplied.

 

She sighed. "Of course. I suppose it's for the best but I feel like I'm working blindly." She looked at Sephiroth again. "General, I'll need one of you to volunteer for samples...preferably you, Angeal or Genesis."

 

Sephiroth's wariness abruptly returned. "And why is that, Miss Rui?"

 

She held his gaze and her expression became grim. "Because Sergeant Strife isn't suffering from a common case of inflammation. He's suffering from growing pains."

 

Sephiroth felt his heart stop for a moment and he was sure the color was draining from his face. "Growing pains. What sort of growing pains?" He had a terrible feeling he knew and by the grim looks Genesis and Angeal exchanged, they knew as well. Zack picked up on it too and of course, he was the first to put their fears into words.

 

"Cloud said it felt like a really bad charlie horse. Ma'am, is he growing a wing?"

 

She hesitated. "I think you should all see for yourselves. Come and look."

 

They followed behind her and Sephiroth felt his tension growing with each step. They gathered around the hospital bed, where Cloud lay on his stomach in a drug-induced sleep. Even under the influence of the sedatives, he groaned now and then. The sheet covered him up to his shoulders and Shalua pulled it down to reveal his back.

 

Sephiroth stared. Not one, but two wings appeared to be growing over each of Cloud's shoulder blades. The medics had cleaned it up but he guessed that they'd caused quite a bit of blood loss as they broke through the skin. He noticed that they'd hooked up a pint of blood and the slow, steady drip from the IV bag was counter-acting the blood loss. The stubby wings were damp, as though recently cleaned. The one on the left had white feathers and the one on the right had black ones.

 

"Oh, no," Zack whispered, shaking his head. He looked like he could cry. "I'm never going to call him 'chocobo' again."

 

Genesis sighed. "It appears he's becoming a checkered chocobo. I wonder if Hojo did manage to perfect his treatment. This is...different...from what we went through."

 

"Did it take so long with you guys?" Zack frowned. "And did it hurt you as much as its hurting Cloud?"

 

"No," answered Angeal with a grim shake of his head. "It was fast. The change happened before I knew what was going on. It hurt for a moment, but the pain ended quickly."

 

"Likewise," agreed Genesis softly.

 

Sephiroth nodded silently, his eyes still latched on the wing growth sprouting from his lover's back. He couldn't think of anything to say, couldn't do anything for Cloud. He'd never felt so helpless and it infuriated him. His rage grew and he slowly drew the covers back up, hiding the mutation from everyone's eyes.

 

"Let him rest." Sephiroth forced the words past a tight throat.

 

"The way they're growing," Genesis said carefully, "makes me think they might not be retractable, as ours are."

 

Sephiroth glanced at him, struggling against the urge to punch him in the face. Genesis' observation wasn't cold or rude. It was simply truthful. The only thing that stayed Sephiroth's hand was the faint sympathy he noticed in the aqua eyes as they looked down at Cloud. His emotions were getting in the way of his judgment. Sephiroth knew his feelings were unreasonable and attacking his old friend certainly wouldn't help his lover.

 

"You said you needed someone to volunteer for samples," Angeal murmured to Shalua. "What good would that do?"

 

"It's for comparative purposes," she explained. "Whatever Hojo did to Cloud Strife, he did to you as well. I need to compare cells in order to better understand it. I don't know if I can stop the process, but I can at least make it easier on him. There may be surgical options when it's complete. I won't know until I have more data."

 

"Then use me," offered Angeal without hesitation.

 

Sephiroth looked at the big man and he felt an uncommon rush of affection for him. Angeal was volunteering because he wanted to spare he and Genesis the experience of being poked and prodded, Sephiroth knew. The noble fool was always doing things like this. He and Zack were very similar in that way.

 

"No," Sephiroth murmured, shaking his head. "Hojo's work on Cloud was based on his experiments with me. He considered me his crowning achievement and he wanted to top that. Logically, he'd start where he left off. I'm the more likely candidate."

 

Angeal's dark blue eyes met Sephiroth's and his expression was grave. "Are you sure?"

 

Sephiroth nodded, looking down at his sedated lover. If it were anybody else, he doubted he'd suffer through the invasive procedures. "I'm sure."

 

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

 

Shalua could do nothing to halt the progress of the wing growth. She took blood and tissue samples from Sephiroth and after comparing them under the microscope, she deduced that Hojo had used a combination of methods on Cloud.

 

"I'm sorry General, but I may need samples from the others, too."

 

Sephiroth took it stoically. He nodded at the woman and got on the phone, ordering his fellow officers to meet up with him at the med ward. A short time later, the three of them were lined up before him in the hallway. Rather than offer them an explanation, he ordered them to present their wings.

 

Genesis had a puzzled frown on his face but he complied. "Well okay, but I don't see what this has to do with...ahh!"

 

Without warning, Sephiroth reached out and plucked a feather from him. Angeal quietly accepted the assault next and Zack looked completely puzzled.

 

"But, I don't have a wing, so...ouch!" He slapped a hand over his head as Sephiroth unceremoniously tugged a few strands of hair from it. "Dude, you could have warned me!"

 

"Apologies," Sephiroth murmured coolly as he placed the procured samples in a plastic bag. "Even without a wing, your DNA samples can help. It's more extensive than we thought and she needs further cells to analyze."

 

"If they can't stop it and they can't help him, then why is he still here?" Zack muttered. When Sephiroth paused and looked at him, he spread his hands. "I'm just saying, he's stable and he's not bleeding anymore. Until they have something solid, what's the point of keeping him here? I'm sure Cloud would feel more comfortable in his own bunk."

 

Sephiroth's anger cooled. Zack made an interesting point. "We'll see."

 

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

 

An hour later, Sephiroth was carrying Cloud out of the medical ward. He'd bundled him up in a thick winter blanket and he had several doses of pain medication on his person to administer to the blond. Shalua wasn't happy with his decision but she didn't argue with him. People moved aside respectfully as Sephiroth carried his lover through the corridors. Tifa saw him as he moved through the den area and she approached with a worried frown.

 

"Where are you taking him?" she demanded.

 

"To our dwelling," answered Sephiroth softly. He didn't even stop to think twice about calling it theirs, rather than his. Cloud groaned and he shifted him carefully, trying to make him more comfortable. "They can't stop this and he should be as comfortable as possible."

 

Tifa reached out and stroked wisps of Cloud's golden hair away from his sweating forehead. "You'll bring him back if something starts going wrong, won't you?"

 

"Of course," Sephiroth agreed with a nod. He'd waited to be sure there was no further blood loss before making the decision and the last thing he wanted to do was endanger his lover.

 

Tifa nodded and stepped aside, watching silently as Sephiroth resumed carrying his burden out of the den and to the main exit.

 

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

 

"What shall we read, Cloud?" Sephiroth browsed his bookshelf. "What about 'The History of Wutai?'"

 

Cloud's low moan of pain made Sephiroth frown. No, a history book probably wasn't what he needed, right now. Sephiroth's eyes settled on a worn copy of a book he hadn't picked up since childhood. A somber little smile curved his mouth as he reached for it. He pulled it free of the bookshelf and reclined on the bedding beside his lover, gently urging Cloud to lie against him. The compact, sweet frame he'd become so enamored with shuddered and Sephiroth stroked Cloud's arm soothingly as he opened the book.

 

"I had a nanny growing up," Sephiroth confessed, "and this is one of the stories she used to read to me when I was ill. It's called 'The King of Cats'. Perhaps a fairytale is more comforting for you, right now."

 

Sephiroth began to read the introduction to the book and Cloud settled down. He looked down at the blond head resting against his chest and he saw the azure eyes open sleepily. He stroked Cloud's hair and continued to read, pleased that he was listening and seemed to be comforted by the story.

 

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

 

"He shouldn't have taken off with him," Aerith fumed. "I might have been able to do something for him."

 

Zack shook his head and rubbed her arm soothingly. "You couldn't have done anything, sweetheart. This isn't a wound or an illness. Cloud's going through changes and I don't think even Cetra powers could help him, right now."

 

"But I could have tried," she objected. "Now my friend is hurting and I can't even...try..." to her horror, she began to cry. She tried to wave her husband away as he drew her into his embrace but Zack wouldn't comply. Aerith laid her head on his chest and wept softly in the privacy of their bunk, feeling like a failure.

 

"Aerith, you can't fix everything," Zack whispered. His lips brushed against her forehead tenderly and he stroked her back. "That's what you're always telling me, right?"

 

She sniffled and gave an uncertain chuckle, tilting her head back to look up at him. "Yeah, that's what I'm always telling you. I guess it's your turn to lecture me now."

 

"Terrible thought," he muttered, grinning. "A big kid like me makes a lousy teacher."

 

She giggled again, this time with more sincerity. "Oh, you have your moments, Zack Fair. You might act like a big kid most of the time but you always know just what to say."

 

He was blushing, which only made him more endearing to her. "Guess I'm just lucky."

 

She smiled and traced his freshly shaved jaw with a fingertip. "I think you're about to get luckier," she whispered. A distraction was just what they both needed, right now. She settled a leg between his thighs and she felt the way his body reacted to her saucy hint. She nibbled his earlobe and grinned when he sucked in a breath.

 

"Oh yeah, I'm getting real lucky," Zack agreed. He turned his head and kissed her eagerly.

 

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

 

Sephiroth kept Cloud medicated for the pain and he bathed his back and wings with cool water often. He kept a sharp eye out for signs of infection and spoke with the Shalua each day, keeping her updated on the progress. She seemed confident that the wings could be surgically amputated after they finished growing, if Cloud wished it.

 

"He'll need a surgeon to look at him, of course," she told Sephiroth. "I'm only making a guess based on the research I've done. Mr. Strife's condition is unique from yours. You were right about Hojo using your process as a base, but he combined methods from the work done on the others as well. It appears that he found a way to concentrate the Jenova cells into a more potent form, which is probably why Mr. Strife is growing two wings, rather than one."

 

Sephiroth turned to look at his companion, sleeping fitfully deeper in the cave. He spoke into the phone in a low voice. "Then it seems that Hojo's efforts to perfect his work may have succeeded."

 

"Possibly," she agreed. "He purposely designed the treatment so to keep the cells dormant in the beginning, I presume to avoid early detection. It may explain why his wing growth is so much slower than yours was."

 

"So that he could finish the treatment before anyone knew," finished Sephiroth with a scowl. He clenched his jaw and wished he'd been there to see the life fade from the man's eyes. "Thank you, Miss Rui. If there are any significant changes to Cloud's condition, I'll bring him back in."

 

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

 

It took three days for the growth process to complete. Three days of watching Cloud suffer, forcing him to eat and being utterly powerless to do more than comfort him. When the wings reached the same expanse as Sephiroth's, Cloud gave one final shudder and lay still. Sephiroth experienced a moment of shocking terror that the process had killed his lover, but he found his pulse strong and steady when he checked it. Almost as bewildering as the strength of his fear was the way his hand trembled as he pressed his fingers against Cloud's neck.

 

Sephiroth slowly withdrew his hand and closed it into a fist, forcing himself to calm down. "Cloud," he murmured when he'd regained control. He reached out and brushed the golden hair away from his eyes. "Can you hear me?"

 

The pale lashes fluttered and Cloud moaned faintly. He opened his eyes and looked up at Sephiroth. He was still influenced by the medication and he blinked groggily. "Sephiroth?" His voice was ragged from all of the groaning he'd been doing. "Thirsty."

 

"I'll get some water for you," assured Sephiroth. Now he had another surge of powerful emotions to deal with: relief. He got to his feet and moved toward tunnel leading out, where he had a canteen hanging on the wall. He checked it and brought it back to his companion, who was struggling to his hands and knees.

 

"My back feels...weird," complained the blond. "Is...something strapped to it?"

 

"No," answered Sephiroth. He frowned, wondering how Cloud was going to react when he realized he had wings. Sephiroth sat down beside him on the bedding and helped him to sit upright. It was awkward with the two sweeping wings getting in the way but they stretched out on their own to compensate. Sephiroth unscrewed the canteen and helped Cloud bring it to his lips. The blond drank thirstily, nearly choking himself in the process. When he drank his fill he nodded and Sephiroth put the lid back on and set the canteen aside.

 

Cloud frowned and shifted his shoulders. The medication seemed to be wearing off and his expression of confused suspicion grew with each moment. "I remember being in pain," he said slowly. "A lot of pain. They said it was some kind of shoulder injury? Is that why my back feels so weird?"

 

"It isn't a shoulder injury," Sephiroth explained carefully. "Cloud, you've endured some...changes. Hojo's meddling with you has finally produced symptoms."

 

The sapphire eyes widened and the youthful face paled. "What kind of symptoms? Am I...still human?"

 

"Yes," assured Sephiroth, but he said it too quickly and he frowned immediately afterwards.

 

"You're lying," Cloud accused.

 

Sephiroth shook his head. "No, I'm not lying. You are still human, Cloud. You're simply enhanced now, like myself and the other officers."

 

"I want a mirror," Cloud demanded.

 

"Nothing has changed," Sephiroth tried to explain, "you look the same as you did before."

 

"I need to see." The fear and anger on Cloud's face made it clear that reasoning with him wasn't an option until he could see for himself.

 

Sephiroth sighed and got up again, this time going to the crate that served as an end table. He picked up the cracked mirror he kept there next to his brush and carried it back to Cloud. The blond snatched it desperately and peered into it, searching his reflection for any visible changes.

 

"I'm still...me," he sighed. He caught sight of his right wing through the reflection and the look of relief on his face quickly changed into confusion. He looked at Sephiroth and blinked before looking into the mirror again. "Sephiroth, how did your wing get behind me?"

 

"It isn't my wing." Sephiroth did his best to keep his voice calm and soothing. "It's one of your wings, Cloud. The source of your back pain was their growth."

 

Cloud shook his head and dropped the mirror abruptly. "Nein, that can't be right." His eyes were stunned and he reached both hands up to pat his shoulders in disbelief. He touched one of the wings and yelped, then twisted in place to get a better look. His mouth worked as he stared at the expanse of his black wing over his shoulder before twisting to look at the white one.

 

"Listen to me," Sephiroth commanded, "this may not be permanent."

 

Cloud didn't seem to hear a word he said. He struggled to his feet and staggered, weakened from being bedridden and drugged. Sephiroth got up and caught him as he started to fall. He got a face full of feathers briefly as the right wing flapped impulsively. He held the blond close and looked into his eyes.

 

"Panicking won't help the situation," Sephiroth said sternly, putting all of his authority behind his tone. "Either you calm down and listen to what I have to say or I'll keep you tied up from head to toe until you do. Is that understood?"

 

The order seemed to shock some sense back into Cloud. His eyes glistened with unshed tears and he nodded. "Yes," he whispered.

 

Deciding it wasn't necessary to pull rank on him again unless he had a panic relapse, Sephiroth gentled his voice and softened his expression. "It may be possible to have your wings surgically removed. We won't know until they can give you a thorough examination but until we do, don't jump to any conclusions and try to stay calm."

 

Cloud nodded again. "So...I'm like you now?" He asked the question shyly, reminding Sephiroth of how bashful he was when they'd first met.

 

Sephiroth smiled a little. Their relationship had evolved more than he realized. "Yes. You're like me now except for the additional wing."

 

That appeared to make Cloud feel better. A hesitant, tremulous smile curved his lips. "Can I retract them, the way you and the others do?"

 

"I've got no idea," Sephiroth answered truthfully. He relaxed his hold on the blond a little and reached up with one hand to stroke his fluffy hair. "The process Hojo used to cause these changes consisted of the same core formulas but he purposely redesigned it to produce slower results. Your wings grew over a period of days, while ours grew immediately once the proper conditions triggered them."

 

Cloud's face fell. "So I could be permanently stuck with them? All the time?"

 

"As I said before, it may be possible to have them surgically removed if they aren't retractable," reminded Sephiroth. "When you've recovered your strength, you can begin trying to draw them in. For now, I want you to rest."

 

"All I've been doing is resting," Cloud argued in frustration. His tension was growing again.

 

"Resting under a medically induced stupor and having a solid night of natural sleep are very different things," Sephiroth countered. "In the morning, I'll take you to the medical ward and we can get started on finding out what options you have."

 

Cloud sighed dejectedly and he swayed on his feet a little with dizziness. Sephiroth eased him back down onto the bedding. The blond was obviously more tired than he let on. Once he was lying down again, his eyes started drifting shut immediately and he yawned.

 

"I'm going to go and get some food for us from the cafeteria," Sephiroth told him. "If I find out you've moved from that bed for any reason, your new wings will be the least of your worries."

 

Cloud winced, taking the warning to heart. "Yes, sir. But um...I'm going to have to pee soon."

 

Sephiroth smirked, unsurprised. "You can have a piss if you need to. That's it."

 

"What if I need a dump?"

 

Sephiroth paused. "Do you?"

 

"No, but I might later."

 

Sephiroth had to admire him. His attempt to tease a little indicated that Cloud was coping better than he feared he would. He really was stronger than he realized. "In that case, I'll carry you into the fortress to use a toilet. Is there anything else?"

 

Cloud's eyes drifted shut again and he shook his head. "I'll try to manage," he murmured before covering his mouth on a yawn.

 

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

 

Vincent approached Sephiroth as he was selecting his and Cloud's dinner from the food line. Sephiroth glanced at him sidelong and read the silent question in his gaze.

 

"He's awake now and more or less lucid," said the General. He scooped some soup into a wooden bowl for Cloud and covered it with a small plate.

 

Vincent nodded. "I trust you've informed the research team?"

 

"I intend to do that after I finish here," answered Sephiroth. "He hasn't been awake for long and I had to explain his situation to him."

 

"How is he dealing with it?"

 

"Surprisingly well, for the time being," Sephiroth felt another moment of pride. "I can only hope it wasn't the lingering influence of the pain medication talking when he calmed down."

 

"And you?" Vincent's ruby gaze was searching on him. "How are you coping with it?"

 

"I wish you'd given me a turn on Hojo before killing him." Sephiroth smirked coldly and his eyes flashed. "Aside from that, there's little I can do except wait."

 

"A sensible attitude," Vincent approved. Not one for extensive conversation, Vincent left it at that and bid Sephiroth good evening.

 

Sephiroth watched him go and he was thankful that Vincent's supportive efforts weren't awkward, dramatic or lengthy.

 

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

 

Cloud dutifully ate the bowl of potato soup brought to him and he managed to finish a piece of bread and a couple of bites of ham from Sephiroth's plate. Sephiroth finished the rest of the food and cleaned up the eating utensils before stacking them against the wall. He removed his body armor, coat and boots before lying down beside Cloud.

 

Cloud wiped his mouth self-consciously under Sephiroth's stare. "Did I get some on my face?"

 

"No, nothing like that." Sephiroth appeared uncomfortable, suddenly.

 

"You want to know how I feel," Cloud guessed, familiar with Sephiroth's covert ways of showing affection.

 

Sephiroth nodded. "Are you still in pain?"

 

"Only a slight ache around the base of the wings," Cloud assured him. "I don't want any more medicine."

 

"I won't push you to take any, if your pain has eased." Sephiroth hesitated, his eyes sweeping over Cloud from head to toe. "Anything else?"

 

"I don't know," Cloud said, lowering his eyes. "I need more time to figure out how I really feel. This is...scary. I'm trying to stay calm, but waking up with new limbs isn't like finding a pimple on my face."

 

Sephiroth snorted. "No, I suppose not."

 

Cloud raised his eyes again and a tiny smile graced his lips. "Sephiroth, did you read to me while I was out of it?"

 

It was Sephiroth's turn to look away. "Yes, I did."

 

Cloud was touched. He thought he'd only dreamt hearing Sephiroth's voice reading some kind of fairy tale to him. Even in his pain and confusion, he'd found it comforting. "Thank you."

 

Sephiroth nodded wordlessly and Cloud wriggled closer to him. "So if I'm stuck with these wings, will you teach me how to use them?"

 

He'd already tried lying on his back but it had felt so awkward and uncomfortable that he ended up turning onto his side. He really hoped that if they were permanent, he'd be able to retract them like the others' could. How he'd manage to dress himself from the waist up if he couldn't was just one problem to consider. He'd have to completely alter his fighting style or perhaps even learn an entirely new one.

 

"The others and I will do our best to instruct you," Sephiroth agreed. His eyes roved over Cloud's bare chest and his hand settled on his outer thigh.

 

Cloud rested his hand over Sephiroth's equally bare chest. The feel of the smooth skin and hard muscle beneath made his blood stir. He caressed the pectorals, tracing them with his fingertips in admiration. Sephiroth's eyes became hooded and smoky in response to the sensual touch. His lips parted and Cloud closed the distance between their mouths to kiss him. He grazed them first, teasingly. Sephiroth held still except for his hand, which was beginning to rub up and down Cloud's thigh. Cloud pressed his lips against Sephiroth's briefly before drawing back to delicately run his tongue over them.

 

Sephiroth responded with a deeper kiss, delving his tongue into Cloud's mouth with a low purr of desire. Cloud fondled a nipple to an erect state and he groaned into Sephiroth's mouth. At least he had proof that his sex drive wasn't damaged by the transformation. His groin was already uncomfortably stiff in his cargo pants. Sephiroth moved his lips away from Cloud's and started migrating down. Cloud gasped when the General's hand dropped over the bulge in his pants and massaged it. Sephiroth shushed him and paused to undo his pants. Cloud shut his eyes and sighed as Sephiroth finished unfastening his pants with swift efficiency and eased his erection out of them. Cloud started to return the favor but Sephiroth shook his head.

 

"Just relax, Cloud."

 

Cloud resumed stroking the chest and stomach he loved so much, not arguing with the man. He'd get his turn to treat his lover back, he knew. He groaned softly as Sephiroth lowered his mouth to his cock and started sucking him off. The suction was gentle at first and he stroked his tongue against the underside slowly. Cloud hesitantly ran his fingers through Sephiroth's long, silky hair and when he didn't object, he grew bolder. His wings drew in closer to his body as Sephiroth's skillful attentions made his tension grow. Sephiroth's head bobbed faster and he started sucking harder, drawing a moan of appreciation from Cloud's lips.

 

"S-Sephiroth," Cloud panted when he got closer to his peak. He threw his head back and shuddered as the other man's tongue swirled over the slit in the tip. The sensations reached a breaking point before long and ecstasy made Cloud shudder. He came down his lover's throat and squeezed his shoulders, emitting a final cry of pleasure. Gasping and sated, Cloud dropped his head to the pillows and stroked Sephiroth's hair gratefully. Sephiroth finished licking him clean and he tucked him gently back into his pants before relaxing next to him again.

 

Cloud scooted closer as the other man lay on his back and he kissed his shoulder before resting his head on his chest. He rubbed Sephiroth's stomach slowly, prepared to reciprocate the oral treatment. He started going down on him but Sephiroth stopped him again.

 

"You need your rest," reminded the silver warrior.

 

"I can rest afterwards," Cloud said.

 

Sephiroth favored him with a brief smile. "You can see to my needs tomorrow evening, Cloud. Making you come was satisfying enough for me, tonight."

 

Cloud wanted to argue but he was well and truly worn out, after that orgasm. He partially lay on top of the other man and shut his eyes. He felt Sephiroth's fingers comb the feathers of his left wing and the feeling was both pleasant and sensual. Cloud drifted off to sleep quickly. He woke up a few times during the night with bad dreams but Sephiroth quickly calmed him.

 

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

 

The next morning, Sephiroth carried Cloud back to the ground and accompanied him into the colony. With a little effort and creative use of Sephiroth's masamune, they were able to fit one of Cloud's sweaters on. Sephiroth cut slits into the back and helped him get the wings through them before zipping the garment up in the front. Cloud was extremely self-conscious as he walked beside his lover through the tunnels. Most of the Modeoheim residents were used to the sight of winged SOLDIER operatives by now, but the new arrivals from Cosmo Canyon stared at Cloud openly as he passed them. A cold, warning look from Sephiroth prompted them to quickly busy their eyes with something else.

 

The first friend Cloud ran into was Tifa. He and Sephiroth stopped to have a quick breakfast in the cafeteria and she was working the food line. She took a break and hurried over to him, scanning him with a mixture of amazement, concern and relief. When he assured her that she wouldn't accidentally hurt him with a hug, she embraced him. He answered her questions with Sephiroth's help and then sat down to eat. After breakfast, he and Sephiroth went to the medical ward and Cloud endured x-rays, having his blood drawn and having a feather plucked from each wing. They also gave him a standard physical to see how his general health was holding up. The prognosis was good, so the doctor didn't recommend any special restrictions to his diet or activity.

 

After spending the entire morning having tests done on him, Cloud looked for his other friends and he explained what was going on to each of them. The worry on their faces didn't make him feel any better and they all treated him with kid gloves, like he'd break down in a weeping fit any moment. Zack treated him like a kid that just found out his parents are splitting up. He kept ruffling his hair and asking him how he was holding up. He started calling him "Chocobo" at lunch but he stopped himself halfway through the word and looked so guilty, Cloud felt pity for him.

 

It was a trying day. Sephiroth had to shower with him because the wings got in the way and Cloud couldn't reach certain parts of his body to scrub them on his own. He accidentally smacked people with them in passing. He knocked things over with them in tight areas. Cloud quickly began to feel like an invalid and to top everything off, the feathers started molting as his stress levels rose. He caught Denzel following behind him on his way to dinner and the kid was picking up the feathers that drifted to the floor in Cloud's wake.

 

Depression began to weigh heavily on him and he was glad to return to the hidden den that night with Sephiroth. He lay quietly on the bedding and Sephiroth didn't try to initiate a sexual encounter.

 

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

 

The next day, Shalua had results.

 

"I've got good news and bad news," she said as Cloud and Sephiroth entered the examination room and shut the door.

 

"Give me the bad news first, please." Cloud heaved a sigh and braced himself.

 

She nodded. "The bad news is that attempting to surgically remove the wings isn't likely to work. They're supernatural in origin, like the General's and the others. We're almost certain they'd only grow back. If you're willing to risk going through that experience again, we could try anyway."

 

Cloud shuddered and Sephiroth tensed beside him. "I really don't want to do that again, but...they get in the way so much!"

 

"Which brings us to the good news," she said. "Your wings have the same fundamental properties as the other ones. You should be able to retract them."

 

Cloud felt his hopes rise. "Are you sure?"

 

"All evidence points to it," Shalua answered. "The difference between your samples and the samples we took from the others lies in the concentration of foreign cells in your body. Yours are more potent but they came from the same source. All you have to do is learn how the others retract their wings and with practice, there's every chance you'll be able to do it too."

 

The feeling of doom began to lift from Cloud's shoulders. "Thank you. That really is the best news I've heard since this started."

 

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

 

Sephiroth arranged for the others to meet up with he and Cloud in the bathhouse that afternoon, away from prying eyes. He was initially only going to have Angeal and Genesis come, so that they could help him teach Cloud how to control his wings. Upon reflection, he chose to bring Zack as well to give Cloud the extra encouragement and support he thought he needed.

 

"Well, I'm glad I was wrong about that," Genesis said when he found out the news about Cloud's wings.

 

"You still might be right," Cloud said gloomily. "She sounded pretty sure but there's still a chance it won't work. If it doesn't, I'm screwed."

 

"Come on, don't talk like that," Zack said encouragingly. "Hojo was trying to outdo himself with you, right? Why would he give you a pair of wings you can't control?"

 

"Because he was a dick," Cloud grumbled.

 

"True, but he was a perfectionist dick," Genesis said.

 

"The only way to find out is to try," Angeal said. "That's why we're all in here now."

 

Cloud sighed and allowed Sephiroth to help him out of his sweater. They thought it best that he start out without restrictive material to get in the way. When he stood bare-chested, he asked them what to do next.

 

"Am I supposed to flex something?"

 

"In a manner of speaking," confirmed Sephiroth. "Concentrate on drawing the wings in. Imagine them merging with your body."

 

Cloud tried. Nothing happened and Sephiroth ordered him to try again. Nearly a half hour later he still hadn't gotten any results and his mood rapidly plummeted.

 

"Try to imagine clenching and unclenching your hands," suggested Angeal. "That's how I first learned how to do it."

 

Cloud took his advice and again, nothing happened. They pressed him to keep trying, offering different ideas to help him focus his concentration better. Zack began to sound like a baseball coach after a while.

 

"I'm trying to get rid of my wings, not hit a home run!" Cloud finally snapped at his friend.

 

Zack winced. "Sorry, Cloud. I guess as the only guy here without a wing, I'm not much help."

 

Cloud was immediately contrite. "No, I'm sorry. You're just trying to help me and I shouldn't have chewed you out like that."

 

"Maybe you should just take a little break," suggested Zack with a forgiving smile. "The more worked up you get, the harder it's going to be to concentrate." He sat down on the cooler he'd brought in with him and he tapped the lid. "I brought some beer to celebrate when you get it right. Maybe we ought to kick back and have one now."

 

Cloud nodded in agreement and plopped down on the edge of one of the big hot tubs. He took the beer Zack handed to him without any real interest and twisted the lid off the bottle. Even Sephiroth accepted one and the five of them drank their beverages quietly, deep in thought. When they were finished, they didn't immediately start back up on the training. Genesis was blowing absently over the top of his beer bottle and he stuck his tongue into the opening. Suddenly he got a strange look on his face and he got to his feet, tugging his tongue out of the bottle as he stood up.

 

"I've got it," he announced. "Think of it like poking your tongue in and out."

 

"I beg pardon?" Sephiroth scoffed.

 

Genesis ignored him. "Just try it, Strife. Slide your tongue out slowly and then pull it back in, like this." He demonstrated, poking his tongue out between his lips before drawing it back in. He did it a few times before speaking again and the others stared in bemusement. "Now you try it."

 

"It's not going to work," criticized Angeal.

 

"That isn't what you said last night," Genesis shot back.

 

"Let me get this straight," Cloud said as he stood up, "you want me to stick my tongue in and out of my mouth?"

 

"That's right. Think about your wings and imagine them retracting as you pull your tongue in."

 

Cloud hesitated uncertainly, a little embarrassed as Genesis demonstrated again. "Okay, but nobody look at me while I'm doing it." He turned around to face away from them and began to do as Genesis instructed, feeling like a giant ass the entire time.

 

Cloud tried to concentrate but he kept imagining someone walking into the front of the bathhouse and seeing him standing there, poking his tongue out. He shook his head. "I...this doesn't feel right."

 

"Just don't worry about us and keep trying," urged Genesis. "Think of how easily your tongue moves in and out of your mouth. Imagine your wings doing the same."

 

"That actually makes a weird kind of sense," Zack murmured.

 

Cloud was forced to agree and he pushed himself to focus on the feeling of his tongue smoothly sliding in and out from between his lips. Each time he drew it back in he silently willed his wings to retract with the same ease. After several minutes, he was about to give up when he felt something shift. He almost stopped in surprise but Sephiroth warned him to keep his focus.

 

"I'll be damned, it's working," Zack whispered.

 

Hope blended with determination and Cloud put everything he had into it. He could feel the wings drawing back into his body and he broke into a sweat from the effort and the warm steam in the air. He didn't stop until he heard Angeal announce that the wings were gone. Cloud awkwardly reached behind to pat his back, feeling suspiciously for any sign of the appendages. A hand squeezed his shoulder and he looked up at Zack's grinning face.

 

"Way to go, Spike! You did it!"

 

He felt much lighter and Cloud turned around with a relieved smile. "Thanks, Lieutenant Rhapsodos."

 

"My pleasure," Genesis answered.

 

"So what made you think of the tongue example?" Zack asked.

 

Genesis shrugged. "I was fooling with my beer bottle and it reminded me of...something else." he glanced sidelong at Angeal and the larger man cleared his throat and looked away. "It seemed like a personally reasonable exercise to try."

 

Zack grimaced uncomfortably. "Yeah, I don't want to know the details about what you were reminded of, Gen."

 

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

 

Two days had passed since Cloud learned how to retract his wings and he'd been practicing diligently in the privacy of his and Sephiroth's den.

 

"So you have it under control now?"

 

Cloud turned at the sound of his lover's voice and he looked up at him as Sephiroth walked into the den. "I think so."

 

"Show me."

 

Cloud nodded and concentrated. After a moment, his wings dutifully emerged from his back. He was careful not to spread them and knock anything over. He heard a soft snort of laughter and he opened his eyes to give the taller man a puzzled look. "I know I'm not as fast with it as you are but I'm new at this," he said in a wounded tone.

 

"That isn't what amuses me," Sephiroth corrected. He was smirking softly at him. "Are you aware that you stuck your tongue out when you manifested them?"

 

Cloud's eyebrows knitted. "No, I didn't."

 

"You did. Retract the wings, now."

 

Cloud huffed and shut his eyes again to comply with the order. Sephiroth snorted again as the appendages went back in. Cloud looked at him suspiciously.

 

"You just did it again."

 

Cloud groaned. "Great. I've been trying so hard to get the hang of it, I didn't even realize I was still doing that."

 

"Just avoid doing it in front of Genesis until you've mastered it," suggested the General. "He might take it into his head to go into the business of compulsive behavior training."

 

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

 

Cloud's next challenge was learning to fly. Genesis assured him that it was a cinch, that he would just pick up on it naturally. As Cloud stood at the mouth of the den and looked down the mountainside, he had his doubts. Sephiroth stood beside him and Angeal and Genesis hovered nearby. On the ground, Cloud's friends had gathered to watch and cheer him on. He could hear Zack's voice floating up to him as the one-eyed Soldier cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted.

 

"You can do it, buddy! Just go for it!"

 

"Don't pressure him," Tifa's softer voice said, "he'll go when he's ready to!" She and Aerith both peered up with more concern than excitement. Reeve stood off to the left with Vincent and he had a pair of binoculars.

 

"I feel like a tightrope walker at the circus," Cloud gulped. He appreciated their support but the audience only made him more nervous.

 

"I'll be right beside you," Sephiroth murmured. "Angeal and Genesis are prepared to help if you get into trouble."

 

"But...it's such a long drop!" Cloud looked down again and felt dizzy.

 

"You've jumped out of helicopters from greater heights," Sephiroth reminded him.

 

"Yeah, like when my parachute wouldn't open." The memory didn't inspire confidence.

 

"And I caught you, didn't I?"

 

Cloud looked at his lover's somber expression. He knew Sephiroth wouldn't allow anything to happen to him but it was still hard to gather his courage for the leap.

 

"Oh, just push your baby bird out of the nest, Sephiroth," called Genesis. "We've been hovering out here for twenty minutes, now!"

 

Sephiroth raised his eyebrows and looked into Cloud's eyes. "Shall I take his suggestion, Cloud?"

 

Struck with a feeling of certainty that Sephiroth would go through with it if he procrastinated for much longer, Cloud muttered a curse under his breath and took a running leap. Several more swear words left his mouth in greater volume as he began flapping his wings frantically. He was literally all over the place and he heard Sephiroth shouting at him from somewhere behind him. Angeal closed in from the east and hollered for Cloud to stop flapping and glide. Cries of alarm from his friends watching below reached his ears and the terrified blond snapped both wings out.

 

He had them angled wrong. He was gliding but instead of maintaining his altitude, he was descending rapidly toward the ground. Someone caught his arm and he saw a mass of silver hair whipping in the wind out the corner of his eye.

 

"Calm down," Sephiroth instructed. He supported Cloud and kept a tight hold on his arm. "tilt your wings back."

 

Cloud did as he was told and he felt Sephiroth's wing brush against his as the General helped him level off. The alarming descent slowed and the two of them ascended a bit. Cloud thought his heart was going to come shooting out of his throat to land at the feet of his friends. He flew with his lover over their heads, with Angeal and Genesis flanking the two of them. They were heading for the bigger mountain range that housed the Modeoheim shelter. As the mountainside loomed closer and closer, Cloud had a horrifying mental image of himself and Sephiroth smacking into it like bugs on a windshield.

 

"Bank left," Sephiroth calmly instructed.

 

Bank left? The words had no meaning to Cloud. All of his thoughts were in Nibel and he couldn't comprehend the order. Sephiroth tried to steer him and Cloud unconsciously resisted. He wobbled in the air and began to lose control. Sephiroth's next comment made more sense.

 

"Fuck!"

 

"Aim for that snowdrift," Genesis shouted as Cloud and Sephiroth zoomed toward the ground.

 

Sephiroth growled with effort and pulled Cloud tight against him. "Just tuck your wings in," he grunted, "I'll bring us down."

 

The words somehow reached Cloud through the fog of terror and he did as he was told, clinging tightly to the other man as Sephiroth struggled to give them a soft landing. All Cloud could see was a blur of white as the ground rushed up to meet them. They plowed into the snow together, digging a deep groove into the bank Genesis pointed out. Sephiroth held him tightly against his chest even after they came to a stop. The General was breathing heavily and Cloud shivered with both cold and fear.

 

Cloud heard raised voices and the crunch of footsteps in the snow as his friends ran across the field toward them. Genesis landed a few feet away and Angel joined him. The big Soldier closed the distance first and helped Cloud and Sephiroth to their feet.

 

"Are either of you hurt?"

 

Cloud shook his head and looked up at Sephiroth with concern. Sephiroth's hair and face were damp from the snow sliding against it but he appeared unharmed.

 

"I'm sorry," Cloud apologized through stiff lips. "I froze up."

 

"I think," Sephiroth said carefully, "that we'll start off smaller and work our way up. You can practice taking off from the ground, first."

 

Genesis wasn't as gracious. "That was the epitome of suck, Strife."

 

"Ja, I know," sighed the blond.

 

Angeal patted him encouragingly on the arm. "You'll improve. It wasn't fair of us to start you out from such a height."

 

"The drop was rather extreme for a beginner," Sephiroth agreed. "Don't dwell on it."

 

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

 

-To be continued