Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Before You Know It ❯ Chapter 1

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

One Last Night




Title: Before You Know It.
Author: Knowing Shadows
Pairing: Cloud/Seph, funnily enough ^^;
Warnings: Um…yaoi, PWP LEMON * shakes her head in disbelief* anything else? Don't think so…
Summary: Set before Nibelheim. Cloud's 16th B-Day. (Let's just say the legal age is 16 in the FF7 world.) Cloud gets a special present ^_^ from everyone's favourite General.


"Happy Birthday!"

"Make a wish, Spike!"

"And don't make it include your boyfriend, Spike, because we /don't want to know/!"

"HEY!"

Half the group of SOLDIER trainees in the room burst out laughing, while the others just looked at each other. Their blond friend in the centre was turning red again, causing the laughing half to laugh even harder.

The half that stayed quiet didn't laugh because they had never seen Cloud Strife and his boyfriend together…okay, so the blond was their friend, but it was a bit incredulous if you knew just /who/ Cloud was supposedly seeing.

It was Cloud's 16th birthday and the blond's closer friends had decided to throw a big party for him. Zack, one of the recruits and Cloud's best friend, had just wheeled out the cake - a small but delicious looking thing Zack had managed to get into Shinra somehow - and Cloud was just about to blow out the candles when Zack had yelled out the boyfriend comment. The young trooper, his silly purple party hat half covering his eyes like a blindfold, looked ridiculous trying to cut a serious figure. To top it off, he was blushing furiously at Zack's insinuations.

Zack was doubled over laughing, making Cloud go even redder in embarrassment. After a while Cloud decided to ignore him and turned to the cake, the candles still burning brightly where they were stuck unceremoniously in the icing.

//I wish…I wish…//

Cloud grinned, a smile tainted slightly in sadness as his wish came to mind. He pushed the party hat up so it was resting just above his hairline, and leaned forward to blow out the candles as Zack, still trying to control his laughter, started up a raucous rendition of "Happy Birthday" which was sung - badly - as Cloud took a deep breath and blew out the candles in one go. The party hat slid back down over his eyes as his friends applauded him. Zack was sent into laughter again by the oversized hat and was staggering around behind the crowd gripping his sides. Cloud pushed the hat back up and managed to give him a half-reproachful look before he lost sight of the spiky-haired man. The crowd converged on him, patting him on the back and telling him the normal birthday things, though he did catch more than one "How does it feel to be legal, eh? Nudge nudge wink wink!"

Someone pressed play on the stereo and music started blaring out of the speakers - some rock band Cloud knew one of his friends was a massive fan of. The group dispersed from the tight knot around Cloud and dived for the drinks Zack had also managed to smuggle in. Zack tossed a bottle across the room and Cloud caught it deftly, glancing at the label quickly before giving the dark-haired recruit a semi-grateful smile - he'd asked for something non-alcoholic and he'd got it, but it didn't make him feel any better about being younger than most of the people here.

Cloud took a swig of his drink, glancing at the small pile of wrapped presents sitting on a little table nearby. He hadn't opened them yet, and wouldn't do so until he was back in the privacy of his room with his roommates. Plus, the guys had thrown a party for him! He was going to enjoy it before the officers decided they were all being too loud and came to spoil his evening.

He took another swig of his drink and put the bottle on a nearby table, hoping against hope that his silly hat wouldn't fall down again. But Zack had dared him to wear the stupid thing all night and he'd be damned if he backed out of a Zack-dare. Plus it was so easy…it just made him look like a prat, that's all.

"DUCK!"

Cloud immediately dropped down as a ball of some sort went sailing over his head across the room. He scrambled out of the way as the same ball bounced back the other way behind him. Why Scott and Matt were playing basketball in the dorm was anybody's guess.

Zack was letting everyone admire his new weapon. The Buster sword. Cloud eyed it with jealous. It was a massive blade, a two handed bringer of death. Well, Zack could handle it; after all, he had made First Class! Cloud should have known Zack would be successful. The man was built to fight. Cloud was far more slender and delicate looking; he wasn't quite built the way SOLDIERs were.

//"You're beautiful the way you are…"//

Cloud grinned at the murmur in his memory as he approached Zack, who was now posing by his sword and giving a talk on his hard journey through the ranks to First Class, managing to keep a straight face even though the others around him were in hysterics at his embellishments.

"…So there I am, stranded in the jungle, surrounded on all sides by creatures you've never seen, monstrous things with tentacles the length of - don't laugh Brett I'm being deadly serious - this room and they're just drooling over me - I mean who wouldn't? - to eat and going to attack me any second, and the General's just standing there and telling me to kill them with no weapon! So I think quickly, and I bravely dart to the side and rip a branch off this tree and swing it round…don't LAUGH!"

Zack glared at the short-haired Brett before giving a miffed snort - making Cloud chuckle - and getting back to his 'story'. "So then I /leap/ at this tentacle-monster-thingy-thing and shove this branch right through it's shoulder - well I think it was a shoulder, I'm not quite sure - and it lashes out at me angrily! Pissed as Hell, this thing was!" Zack pulled up his shirt to show a scar running across his stomach Cloud knew very well he had received on an early training mission to Costa Del Sol. "That's what it did to me! So I stab it again, right through the heart - again, I'm not quite sure about that - and it squeals and just collapses! And I turn round and give the others my patented Death Glare - just like this, see? - and they all scamper! And even the /General/ looked impressed, man!"

Cloud raised an eyebrow as Zack struck another pose, sticking his chest out proudly and putting his fists on his hips. The others are still laughing and Cloud joined in, grinning widely. Trust Zack.

Zack saw the shorter man out of the corner of his eye and turned round, dropping the pose immediately. "Oh, Cloud! You enjoying the party? I was just telling the guys the story of my proudest moment!"

"What, the one where you got nicked on the shoulder and scampered off in terror so Sephiroth had to take on /your/ little goblin for you?" Cloud asked, raising an eyebrow and watching as the three guys were sent into hysterical laughter again as Zack seemed to deflate.

"WHAT?!" Zack exclaimed. "It wasn't just an ordinary goblin! It was huge! And okay, so maybe it didn't have a tentacle, but it still packed a Hell of a punch and - STOP LAUGHING BRETT!"

Cloud chuckled again and just when he'd managed to embarrass Zack for once, his hat fell over his eyes again. Cloud pouted as he heard Zack laugh loudly and pointedly before pushing the hat back up again.

"Oh I am so going to enjoy watching you with that hat all evening!" Zack cried out. "It makes you look about twelve!"

Cloud glared at him, sorely tempted to tear off the offending party hat and throw it at Zack. He hated being reminded he looked younger than he was. Now he was 16, he was hoping he could have left that all behind.

//I don't want to look like a kid…especially with him…//

//"You think that matters to me? I love you, /nothing/ matters but that."//

Zack saw the flash of hurt in the blue eyes of his friend and was immediately ashamed. "I'm sorry, I know you don't like it…" He frowned slightly and drew Cloud to the side slightly, lowering his voice. Cloud knew what was coming before he even spoke.

"So…um…where is he, exactly? I thought he'd be here, considering it's your birthday and all…" Zack bit his lip. "You…you two didn't have a fight, did you?"

Cloud shook his head. "We didn't fight. He's just out on a mission, if you call escorting Rufus Shinra to Junon a mission. He'll be back in a few days."

//"Oh don't worry, I'll have a /very/ special present for you when I get back."//

"Couldn't he have postponed it or something?" Zack asked, brown eyes narrowing slightly in concern. "I mean, it /is/ your 16th birthday…couldn't he even make an effort for that? That's a bit low…"

Cloud blew a blond bang irritably out of his eyes. "Believe me, Zack, he couldn't take the time off."

Zack seemed to have heard something in the tone of Cloud's voice. His frown deepened. "He…he /is/ treating you alright, isn't he? I mean, he's not…"

Cloud laughed out loud. "Zack, wherever did you get /that/ idea? Of course he's treating me alright!"

//If only he knew /how/ well he's treating me…// Cloud grinned, remembering hot kisses against his throat, lips brushing sweetly against his own. He had dozens of memories like that. And Zack would never know…

//Good thing too. If he /did/ then I'd be very worried.//

"You just sounded a bit…what's the word…bitter?" Zack looked confused for a second before he decided that was the best word.

"He's been taking time off work anyhow to fit around my training so we can spend more time together…I should have known it would backfire so we couldn't be together /now/, that's all." Cloud grinned again. "I'm not too miffed, if he was here I'm sure we'd rather be alone…"

His words had the desired effect. Zack's eyes widened and he let out a sudden shriek, clapping his hands over his ears and running one lap around the bunks nearby yelling out, "TOO MANY DETAILS! TOO MANY DETAILS!"

Cloud leaned back against the bunks and laughed hard as Zack came to a stop again, giving him a dirty look before Cloud wiped the tears from his eyes and managed to look at Zack without cracking up again. "Hehe, I /knew/ you'd do that!"

Zack poked his tongue out at Cloud. "Just because I don't want to know the details of your sordid love life…"

Cloud grinned widely. "I didn't give details! Let's just say that General Sephiroth is everything you could imagine."

Zack mock-glared at him again. "Just 'cause you got shacked up with Mr Perfect himself, doesn't mean I want to hear! Oh my poor virgin ears! Leave them be!"

Cloud snickered. "Isn't it supposed to be 'my virgin eyes'?"

Zack blinked at Cloud and he shrugged. "Whatever!"

Cloud chuckled again, looking over when he heard someone call his name. One of the oldest guys, Harry, was waving him over. Cloud and Zack both went over, curious. Harry was holding an envelope in his hand. "Hey, Cloud, this just got delivered by one of the officers! And he didn't even say a word about the party!" He handed Cloud the cream envelope, the blond trooper's name written in elegant letters across it. A card. Cloud's eyes lit up as he recognised the handwriting.

//He sent me a card! Aw, that's so cute!//

Careful not to rip the paper, Cloud opened the envelope and pulled out the card. He grinned a little at the front of the card, the words "Happy 16th Birthday!" written there in big bold bubble writing while there was an almost childish picture of some people standing around a birthday cake at the bottom. Cloud vaguely noticed everyone was waiting for to know who it was from and /why/ the officer who delivered it had let them carry on with their noisy gathering.

Cloud opened the card. On the right side it read "To Cloud, 'Happy 16th Birthday, Have A Good One.' Sorry about the card, it was all I could find in the 5 seconds I had before Rufus started wailing again. I told the officers not to break up the party, it's all I can do for you while I'm in Junon. I'll be back sooner than expected. Hope you're having fun while I'm gone. Thinking of you always. Love, Sephiroth."

Zack, who had been reading over Cloud's shoulder, immediately started gagging and choking. Cloud ignored him, wallowing in the warm fuzzy glow he now had. He grinned. "Sephiroth told the officers not to disturb us."

Understandably that sent a wave of murmurs through the gathered crowd, and the card was taken quite willingly from Cloud's hands. Zack was still making loud gagging sounds over the utter sappiness of the words inside it and Cloud shot him his own dirty look to shut him up.

"You're just jealous."

"Am not!" Zack exclaimed.

"Are too!" Cloud stuck his tongue out at Zack, mirroring the SOLDIER's earlier actions. Zack did the same back.

"Oh yeah, of course I'm jealous. Of course I want sap that's sappy enough to give me a bloomin' sappy toothache! That'll do wonders for the General's image, you know," Zack added as an afterthought. He cocked his head. "Actually, you're lucky it's the General you've got, if he weren't so bloody scary and didn't carry round a seven foot sword his reputation would have been ruined by that card!"

Cloud snickered again. "Well it's a good thing he /does/ have a seven foot sword then isn't it?"

Zack gave him an odd look. "Did you purposefully put hentai in that comment or is it just me?"

Cloud sweatdropped. "Er…I think it's just you."

"Thought so." Zack nodded his head and reached out, swiftly pulling Cloud's silly hat down over his eyes again and darting off before Cloud could follow.

"HEY!"

Cloud pushed the hat back up and muttered under his breath, glaring at Zack across the room. "Bastard," he muttered.

"Hey, Cloud, where do you want to put the card?"

Cloud turned back to Harry, who was holding the card from Junon.

"Er…anywhere, I don't mind."

Harry shrugged. "Okay." He disappeared off with the card somewhere, leaving Cloud to try and glare at another of his friends as they assured him he had "scored".

He wanted Sephiroth to be here. His 16th birthday was important, wasn't it? Well it was to him, and in his little fantasy they'd be together, celebrating his birthday together. They wouldn't be on opposite sides of the continent.

//This birthday sucks already.//

Cloud was brought back from his moody thoughts by the sudden switch in music. Someone had changed it from the rock CD to a much more mellow CD. Someone dimmed the lights. Cloud bit his lip gently as he watched two or three couples move together to the music. He watched Shaun and Dave sadly. They were such a cute couple, and they'd been together forever, it seemed. Neither of them had to suddenly rush off on missions and leave the other hanging, did they?

Could his relationship with Sephiroth really work out? Sephiroth would be away a lot of the time, Cloud would be out training…once Cloud passed the training they'd see even less of each other…was it worth it? After all, what was the point in a relationship where they didn't see each other?

There was a light tap on his arm. Cloud looked over to find Zack watching him with concern in his bright brown eyes. "You alright?" he mouthed over the music.

Cloud nodded, grinning brightly. "Why?" he mouthed back.

Zack opened his mouth to speak but decided not to, so he grabbed Cloud by the wrist and dragged him out of the dorm, closing the door behind him. The music was dulled to a low throb behind them and Zack could now be heard. "I asked because I thought it might not be a nice thing to see happy couples when /your/ boyfriend's away."

Cloud shook his head. "Nah, I'm okay. You know what I said before about if he were here…"

"Stop right there, Mr. Sex Fiend," Zack told him. "There /are/ some things you keep to yourself, you know? Or at least don't go broadcast all round the Shinra." He grinned. "You sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine!" Cloud laughed. "Come on, let's go back to the party or we'll miss it! And I will /not/ mope around while Seph's gone."

"Good for you!" Zack clapped him on the back, grinning again now. His brown eyes were bright with mirth, the dulling glint of worry gone from their depths. "You sure you wanna go back in? Or stay out here for a bit? Fresh air and such?"

Cloud chuckled. "Yeah, it's nice out here." He leaned back against the door and stared along the corridor at the window at the far end, sighing softly. It was late, he could see the twinkling lights of Midgar stretching out below the tower through the window. What he wouldn't give to be out there now…

"Hey, didn't it say on the card that Seph'd be back sooner than you thought?" Zack suddenly asked, frowning in thought.

"Yeah, so?"

"Don't you think…nah, that's not right…forget I said anything."

Cloud gave Zack a funny look but didn't ask. He wasn't sure he wanted to know. They stood in silence for a while and then Zack spoke again. "We'd better go back in. They're probably wondering where we are!"

"Like they'd miss you, Zack!" Cloud retorted playfully, turning and opening the door, darting inside with a laugh as Zack blinked at him.

"Why you little - come back here!" Zack yelled, chasing Cloud through the door. "Come /back/ you little blond furball!"

Cloud laughed freely as he dashed across the room, weaving easily between the still dancing couples to the bunks. He'd lose Zack more easily there. Plus with the dimmed lights it'd be dark up the far end and even with Zack's eyesight he probably wouldn't be able to see him running through the shadows.

Cloud caught a flash of dark hair as he looked over to his left and grinned. Zack was /still/ chasing him but he was going in the wrong direction. Ha, this was too easy, and if he climbed up onto his bunk, the very top one in the far corner and mostly hidden by shadows itself, Zack would have even less chance of finding him and having a mock-wrestling match with him, which was what Cloud was sure would ensue if he was caught.

Cloud jumped onto the ladder leading up to his bed and scrambled up as noiselessly as he could, glancing over his shoulder to see if he could see Zack. He didn't get a chance to look, as suddenly two hands grabbed him by the arms and hauled him up onto the bunk effortlessly. "Woah!"

Cloud found himself lying on top of a warm body and was about to speak again when a hand clamped over his mouth. The hand that was still over his upper arm squeezed slightly and Cloud looked down to find the last person he expected lying beneath him.

//Hey, I think /this/ was what Zack was thinking of when he harped on about what it said in that card…//

Glowing green eyes conveyed the message to be quiet and his head turned as they both heard thudding footsteps below them - Zack.

"Cloud? Hey, where'd ya go?" Zack asked the empty air, looking round in the dark uselessly. Cloud could see the top of his head out of the corner of his eye. He didn't want to move in fear of Zack's sharp eyes catching the movement. He didn't dare breathe.

Zack put his fists on his hips like he had not hours earlier. "It's not funny, Cloud, where are you? If I'm talking to myself here I'm gonna kill you…"

He wandered off slowly, the two figures in Cloud's bunk letting out breath they didn't know they'd been holding in. Both blue and green pairs of eyes followed the back of the other SOLDIER's head. It was silent while they waited and made sure Zack had really gone. And even when they were quite sure, another few moments were spent in silence, trying to keep their breathing quiet as it seemed abnormally harsh in the still air.

The hand on Cloud's mouth was slowly moved, fingertips tracing lightly across his cheek, down below his ear and along the line of his throat. The long-fingered hand finally came to rest on Cloud's shoulder.

The man below him had flawless skin with delicate, elegant features. Thin lips were pursed together and the eyes glowed softly in the dark. The slender face with its high cheekbones was framed by silver hair falling around broad shoulders in waves. Instead of the battle uniform Cloud normally saw, the man was wearing nothing fancier than black trousers and shirt.

//…Sephiroth.//

One hand moved to the hat balancing precariously on Cloud's head, an eyebrow raised in question.

Cloud's blue eyes narrowed as he ignored the bemused expression on the General's face. "What are /you/ doing back so early?"

Sephiroth, whose green gaze had turned idly on the hand on Cloud's shoulder, looked back to the blond's face. His expression hardened slightly and the hand on Cloud's shoulder moved to the back of his neck, bringing Cloud's head down so they were inches apart. "I told you I'd be back before you knew it. Did I spoil any plans?" he asked softly, rubbing gentle circles in the soft blond hair at the nape of Cloud's neck. "I was hoping you'd be pleased to see me…"

Cloud snorted softly, feeling a little guilty that Sephiroth had misread the surprised tone in his voice. "Of course I am, silly," he admonished gently with a dazzling smile. He lowered his head as if to kiss Sephiroth's lips, but at the last second stretched his head up and kissed the tip of the General's nose.

"Tease," came the response, a hint of amusement lacing Sephiroth's voice and a trace of a smile on his lips.

Cloud chuckled under his breath, shifting so his arms were crossed on Sephiroth's chest and he could lean his chin on them to watch the older man. "Aren't I always?" he asked with an angelic smile, leaned his head to one side so his right cheek was pressed to the skin of his lower arm. "Why didn't you just come down to the party? Why /were/ you hiding in my bunk?"

"Parties make me uncomfortable," Sephiroth reminded him, green eyes glowing gently in the darkness. He was still rubbing circles on the skin at the back of Cloud's neck. Pressing down slightly, Sephiroth smiled when Cloud shivered, eyes fluttering closed for a moment in pleasure.

He smirked when Cloud glared at him. "Don't do that. And you didn't answer my second question, you staller."

"Oh but I know you like it when I stall."

Cloud rolled his eyes but couldn't help the flutter in his stomach at the husky edge to the silver-haired man's low voice. "What were you planning, Seph?" he asked, moving himself so he was lying further up Sephiroth's body again. Sephiroth's expression never changed, much to Cloud's annoyance. "Planning to ambush me, were you?"

"I was thinking nothing of the sort," Sephiroth muttered, green eyes narrowing slightly. Still rubbing circles, he pressed down again in just the right place. Cloud's head went back, exposing the smooth line of his throat as he let out a small squeak. Sephiroth smirked again, letting his other hand travel down to Cloud's waist, slowly untucking the shirt from Cloud's trousers. Cloud didn't even seem to notice as Sephiroth kept gently rubbing the blond's sensitive spot. He knew very well that if he kept this up much longer Cloud would probably start purring against him.

Sephiroth slid one hand gently under Cloud's shirt, laying it flat against the pale, smooth skin. Cloud shivered against him, a soft moan escaping his lips. Sephiroth smiled, contented with the fact that he was the only one who could have the short trooper melting like this.

Suddenly, Cloud's eyes flew open and he glared again, reaching up and pulling Sephiroth's hand away from his neck. Sephiroth raised an eyebrow as Cloud placed his palms flat against his chest and pushed himself up so he was sitting, the top of his spikes brushing the ceiling, and straddling Sephiroth's hips so the silver-haired man couldn't reach. He pulled a face at his lover. "That's not fair, you can't do that! I won't let you wheedle out of answering so easily."

"I know you won't, you're a stubborn ass," Sephiroth told him, gazing up from his position at the blue eyes in the darkness above him. He rested his hands on Cloud's thighs, ignoring the suspicious look the man sitting on him was sending his way. Sephiroth lightly ran his hands up and down the strong lines of Cloud's upper legs, easily feeling the nicely developed muscle beneath the loose trousers. Cloud watched him, head cocked to one side. Sephiroth was watching the trailing path of his fingertips, but he easily felt those thoughtful eyes on him.

Cloud moved on him. Sephiroth hissed when Cloud, who had then been sitting on his stomach, slid back and was now straddling his groin, quite deliberately pressing his weight down.

"Seph…"

Sephiroth looked up at the soft groan from his blond lover, seeing the half-lidded look on Cloud's face and knowing the teenager's body was reacting the same way it was making /his/ react. He tore his eyes from Cloud's face and looked over, seeing shadows dancing over the far wall of the dorm from the ongoing party. If this was going where he thought it was…

//Cloud's going to…Oh /God/ he wants me to…//

So swiftly Cloud didn't see it coming, Sephiroth reached up, grabbed him by the shoulders and brought him back down from his sitting position. Sephiroth buried his hands in Cloud's soft blond spikes as he pulled the other man's head down to his, pressing his lips to Cloud's. Cloud moaned, responding immediately as the man below gently slid his tongue into his mouth.

It was an unhurried, merely loving kiss. The kind they had shared often in the few months they had been together. Cloud had one hand gripping Sephiroth's upper arm, the other caressing the silver-haired man's cheek. His tongue met Sephiroth's. He tasted like warmth after a day in the snow. Vanilla and dew. Sephiroth made a tiny moaning sound, one hand travelling back down to slide under Cloud's shirt again.

Cloud moved his hips firmly against Sephiroth's as Sephiroth ran his fingers up and down Cloud's spine. Cloud's shirt had ridden up around his chest, exposing a strong, fair-skinned back and sides. Sephiroth tensed in pleasure as he felt the muscles in Cloud's thighs clench against him, Cloud beginning to rub his hips in small circles against Sephiroth. Down and forward, up and back…

They broke the kiss, panting lightly. Sephiroth lifted his hips just off the mattress to meet Cloud's as the younger man pushed himself back upright, hands on Sephiroth's stomach. Only a thin sliver of blue could be seen underneath his eyelashes as he gazed down at the older man, still moving against him. "Why…were…you…waiting…in…my…bed?" Every word was punctuated with the barest thrust of the blond's hips against the General's clothed arousal. Sephiroth met every one with his own, noting how Cloud's voice got more breathless towards the end of his question.

//He knows very well why I was here…he just wants me to say it out loud…//

"…Tease." Sephiroth moaned low in the back of his throat as his repeated word was met with another thrust, sharper this time. The same force was not used with the next movement. Sephiroth almost growled.

"Tell me," Cloud demanded, but his voice lacked conviction as he tried to hold back the moan in the back of his throat. He may have been teasing Sephiroth - quite successfully, he noticed with a flush of pride - but it wasn't any easier on /him/.

"Ugh…this is why I was waiting." Sephiroth's eyes locked with Cloud's for a split second. There was a whirr of movement and Cloud found himself lying on his back, staring up at Sephiroth, who was poised over him, pinning him down to the bed. "I wanted to do something…special…for your birthday…but…"

//Please don't let me be making a mistake…//

Cloud blinked large blue eyes up at him. Despite the fact he /had/ been teasing/seducing Sephiroth, he hadn't thought…hadn't thought that they might actually…

Sephiroth lowered his upper body down so he was chest to chest with Cloud. He captured those soft lips again, feeling Cloud arch his back ever so slightly up into him with a moan. Cloud tangled his slender fingers in Sephiroth's hair as he met the barrier of the General's body above him. A strangled cry was muffled by the older man's mouth on his as Sephiroth thrust forward into his groin.

Sephiroth pulled back, leaving Cloud panting beneath him. Sephiroth kissed his cheek, edging towards his ear. Cloud shuddered with a groan as Sephiroth reached his ear and affectionately nipped his earlobe. "Down boy," he murmured huskily in the blond's ear, making him shiver and gasp again as Sephiroth pressed his own covered erection against Cloud's.

"But…I don't want to rush you…if you're not ready or…you don't want to…" Sephiroth's soft whisper trailed off by Cloud's ear. He ran the tip of his tongue lightly over the earlobe, satisfied with the ragged breath he got from the responsive body pinned underneath his own.

"Oh God…" Cloud pulled Sephiroth's head back up so he could look the older man straight in the eye. There was something in Cloud's eyes, something vulnerable yet…

//…He wants this as much as I do.//

"I want this." Cloud spoke quietly, running his fingers through the soft locks of Sephiroth's silvery hair as he echoed the older man's thoughts. "I want you. I want to be with you. God, I /need/ to be with you…"

When Cloud pulled Sephiroth's head down, the silver-haired man was surprised with the force of his kiss. Not that he minded. Groaning, pleasure jolting through him at the contact, Sephiroth kissed him back just as passionately. He swore he wouldn't be rough, he wouldn't lose control, he wouldn't hurt Cloud. Cloud's first time would be special, he'd make sure of it.

Cloud certainly wasn't shy. His deft hands had slid out of Sephiroth's hair and had travelled down over his shoulders, working with frustratingly slow speed on the onyx buttons of Sephiroth's black shirt. It was a purposeful speed, of course. Cloud knew what he was doing. They'd been intimate to a degree. Sephiroth had always stopped them both if they'd threatened to go past heavy petting, mindful of Cloud's age and the fact Cloud probably wasn't comfortable enough in the relationship yet to go that far.

Cloud tilted his head back slightly, forcing Sephiroth to move, arching his body over the blond's, unless he wanted to break it. He shivered when Sephiroth growled against his mouth, the tip of his tongue sliding along Cloud's lower lip with tantalising slowness. Sephiroth breathed in deeply through his nose, smelling soap and rich earth. That slightly spicy scent that was everything and anything of Cloud.

Cloud's fingers brushed the skin of Sephiroth's chest as he worked on the buttons halfway down the shirt. He lifted one hand - leaving the other to unbutton the shirt - and slid it under the fabric, moving his palm up Sephiroth's chest, brushing against a nipple as it travelled further. By the time Cloud ran his hand lovingly over the smooth taut muscle of Sephiroth's shoulder, the buttons were all undone.

Sephiroth's lips left Cloud's just as the kiss was becoming more urgent. Cloud gasped in air, arching his head back further as Sephiroth began to press slow, sensual kisses down his throat, leaning his weight on his knees between Cloud's thighs so he could slip his hands between them to do something about /Cloud's/ shirt.

//His skin tastes so good…Gods this is really happening…//

//I'll give him a birthday he'll never forget.//

Cloud slowly pushed Sephiroth's shirt off of his shoulders, revelling in revealing the perfect skin of the older man inch by inch. The blond took a hitching breath when Sephiroth began concentrating on one sole spot on his throat, kissing and licking and suckling gently on the sensitive skin.

"Oh…feels good…" Cloud groaned, eyes closing as Sephiroth's hands left his shirt to allow his own to slip off. Within a second the buttons were being undone again, the trooper running slightly trembling hands down Sephiroth's flanks, edging towards his belted trousers. Sephiroth's shirt, thrown over the side of the bunk, fell to the floor below silently, a crumpled heap of dark fabric marking the white floor.

Sephiroth didn't seem to have heard Cloud's murmur of admitted pleasure, busy teasing a mark onto the pale skin beneath his lips. He /would/ mark Cloud, just to let anyone else know that they couldn't touch him, that he belonged to someone else, even if they didn't know who...

//Mine. /All/ mine.//

Deciding the attention would be enough to leave a /very/ visible bruise, Sephiroth gently kissed the skin there before whispering in Cloud's ear, voice filled with barely contained desire. "Arch up into me and hold it there. We need to get rid of your shirt." He smiled against Cloud's ear, deciding a little help wouldn't do any harm. Shifting his weight, he deliberately lifted his knee forward and rubbed his thigh against Cloud's erection, the added friction of the loose trouser fabric making Cloud cry out sharply as his hips bucked against Sephiroth, back arching just as Sephiroth hoped it would. Using his enhanced speed to its fullest, Cloud's shirt was gone and joining Sephiroth's on the floor by the time the blond's back made contact with the bed sheets again.

Sephiroth's belt was unbuckled and his trousers unfastened before the General knew it. Surprised by the speed of Cloud's actions, the blond panting deliciously close to his ear, breath hot and needy, Sephiroth lowered his head and began kissing down the centre of Cloud's chest, hands working on pulling Cloud's jogging bottoms down off his hips before he reached his lover's navel.

Cloud moaned loudly, completely forgetting the party still going on across the room. He gasped, painfully aroused, as Sephiroth's tongue flicked across a hard nipple. His fingers dug hard into Sephiroth's flesh. "Now who's the tease!" he exclaimed, unable to form more than a few coherent words as Sephiroth drew the flesh into his mouth and worked his tongue harder against it, sending waves of pleasure through Cloud's body.

//Don't let him stop…oh please don't let him stop.//

Sephiroth ignored him and, after a few moments, continued kissing his way down Cloud's body, dipping his tongue in Cloud's navel as he reached it - the blond biting his tongue as he struggled to keep back a loud cry - at the same time pushing everything - boxers and trousers - off Cloud's slender hips, releasing the younger man's hard-on. Cloud moaned, feeling the cool air against his heated skin as Sephiroth deftly yanked off boots, socks and the other clothing, tossing them over the side of the bunk without a second thought, hearing the boots hit the floor with a dull thud. Sephiroth sat back, hastily pulling off his own boots and socks and throwing them over the side. Wriggling out of his trousers, he kept them in the corner of the bunk, but Cloud didn't even notice, staring wide-eyed at all Sephiroth's naked glory.

//He's…he's…wow…//

Sephiroth was as perfect as you could ever imagine him to be, and then some. He was all smooth skin and flat planes. You could /see/ the power in his body without trying. Cloud's gaze travelled down his bare chest…

"Like what you see?" Sephiroth's voice was seductive to say the least, low and edged with need. His eyelids had dropped halfway, long lashes obscuring his eyes. He looked like a Greek God, cliched as it sounded in Cloud's ears, his long silver bangs hanging down over his face.

"Oh yes," Cloud murmured, suddenly shy as Sephiroth's gaze dropped from his face, travelling down his own naked body, taking in every curve and line and shadow of his form…

//Oh /FUCK/!!!//

Cloud's arm instantly moved, a violent action totally out of place with the situation, snatching the paper hat off his head and throwing it aside, thoroughly embarrassed, as he realised he hadn't removed it earlier.

//Nothing better than making myself look like a total WANKER before I lose my virginity with /HIM/.//

//Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck…//

He heard Sephiroth laugh and dared meet those green eyes with his blue ones. He'd thought that the moment, the spell they had both been under, would have been broken, but the passion in Sephiroth's expression hadn't lessened, only grown, and Cloud could only send a fervent prayer of thanks to the Higher Powers. He managed to stop himself from blushing too badly.

Sephiroth smirked at the younger man, crawling up the bed from his position by Cloud's ankles, trailing one hand up Cloud's leg as he went. His fingertips brushed the joint between hip and leg and the blond hissed involuntarily, shuddering at the sensation. Sephiroth knew /exactly/ where to touch him, what words to say…he knew how much teasing Cloud could take.

//And I'll be damned if he's not going to use them all to the limit tonight.//

Sephiroth was lying alongside him then, tangling one leg with his as he turned Cloud's face gently to pull him into another kiss. They somehow ended up with Sephiroth half-lying on Cloud, the deepening kiss becoming more and more passionate. Cloud ran his hands feverishly through Sephiroth's hair, loving the feel of the man's heated length rubbing against his thigh.

Sephiroth pulled away, gasping, and suddenly he was rummaging through the pockets of his trousers, pulling out a small tube and tossing the clothing away. He turned back to find Cloud staring at the lubricant. "Are you alright? If you don't want…"

Cloud's eyes snapped to Sephiroth's. "No, it's nothing, I wasn't thinking about stopping. I don't want to stop." He reached out and Sephiroth went to him. The kiss was gentle, loving this time. Assurances and caring.

Sephiroth didn't take his mouth from Cloud's as he smeared the clear substance over his fingers. He ran his tongue gently along Cloud's, trying to take his mind off the coming events. He could tell, however much Cloud tried to hide it, that he was nervous and anticipating a rough ride.

//I won't hurt him.//

Cloud spread his legs willingly. Sephiroth gently caressed the blond's inner thighs, smiling against Cloud's mouth as he shivered in pleasure. Working slowly nearer to his goal, he felt Cloud begin to relax under him.

//He's working so hard…for me. I love him. Oh god, I love him so much.//

Sephiroth kissed the corner of Cloud's mouth as he gently slid one slender finger into him.

//So tight…you really are working hard for this, aren't you, Cloud? I love you and I'm so proud of you.//

Cloud tensed at the sensation, eyes closing for a second before he forced himself to relax again. It felt strange, as he thought it would, but it felt…good. Sephiroth was watching him intently, looking for any sign that he'd caused the blond any pain. Cloud smiled, lifting his head to touch his lips to Sephiroth's again. The older man responded in kind, beginning to slide the finger inside the blond in and out, slowly at first. Cloud moaned in pleasure, arms sliding round Sephiroth's neck.

Sephiroth pushed a second finger inside his lover, stopping the kiss while he gauged Cloud's reaction. Cloud's eyelashes fluttered slightly. "Oh…" he breathed. Sephiroth slid his fingers in and out, pleased when Cloud moaned again, hands once more tangling in his hair.

"Are you okay?" Sephiroth whispered, gently stretching Cloud in preparation for taking /him/. The look on Cloud's face only made him harder, his need to be inside Cloud growing with every passing second, every moan and whimper from the compact little body beneath him.

"Oh…'m good…so good…" Cloud groaned, mouth open in a silent plea for more. Sephiroth himself groaned at the sight, leaning down and claiming Cloud's mouth again as he added a third finger. The lithe, pale body arched up in bliss at the sheer /feeling/ of it all. Cloud had never been touched…not like this…never so gently, never so lovingly…

Sephiroth adored affection from Cloud, even though he may never have said it. Cloud found Sephiroth lavishing the same attention on him twice as sweet.

Sephiroth's warm mouth was against his throat again, leaving Cloud to gasp at the sensation of three of his lover's fingers inside of him, rubbing inside of him.

//This feels so good…I want him in me, I want all of him…I want him to make love me.//

"Seph…"

Sephiroth looked up instantly from what he was doing, coming face to face with Cloud. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing…nothing at all…I just…I just want…want you to take me…" Cloud murmured, barely able to string the words together as the desire itself began to overwhelm him.

Sephiroth stared down at the man he loved, totally unprepared for the utter /need/ in Cloud's words. His hand was still moving, still stretching Cloud…but…

//He's really ready for this? He really wants me to do this? He really wants /me/?//

"…Seph!"

The tone of Cloud's voice was pleading. He really /did/ want this. Sephiroth withdrew his hand slowly, hearing Cloud's little whimper of protest at the loss.

//He wants /me/ to be his first.//

Sephiroth reached for the lubricant tube and squeezed some liberally onto his hands, then smoothed it over his aching shaft. Cloud was watching him, blue eyes glazed with passion. Sephiroth could see the hint of nervousness in the way his jaw was set, but he was determined to ease that by the time he was finished.

He moved until he was kneeling between Cloud's thighs, his and the blond's eyes locked together. Sephiroth leaned his body over Cloud's, hands either side of Cloud's shoulders, holding him up so he wouldn't crush him. He gazed deep into his lover's azure eyes, searching for anything there that told him he needed to stop before he went any further. His heart ached at the expression of love, adoration and trust in those eyes.

"Are you sure you're ready?" Sephiroth asked quietly, willing Cloud to tell him the truth.

Cloud nodded, lifting his hands to rest them on Sephiroth's broad shoulders. "I'm ready."

---------------------------------

Shaun was sure he'd heard a cry from this direction. He narrowed brown eyes in concentration, wandering aimlessly through the bunks, further and further from the party.

There. A quiet moan, and definitely not one of pain. Shaun followed the sound silently, padding through the shadows as he tried to figure out exactly who it could be.

//Cloud? He kinda disappeared from the party. And Zack said he was over here somewhere…//

Shaun's train of thought came to and end as he spotted the clothing sprawled across the floor. Two shirts, two pairs of trousers, underwear, socks, boots…and one of those outfits was /definitely/ Cloud's.

So that meant the other outfit belonged to…

"Are you sure you're ready?"

Shaun jumped at the soft voice. He looked up, instantly recognising who it was. He caught a flash of movement, a tiny glimpse of bare flesh, from the top bunk.

//…Sephiroth.//

"I'm ready."

Cloud's voice, trembling slightly towards the end.

Shaun, embarrassed at what he had inadvertently intruded on, padded back the way he'd come.

------------------------------------

A fine sheet of sweat covered the both of them, making bare skin glisten in the darkness. Almost chest to chest, the warmth of their bodies pressed together was almost all Sephiroth could think about as he eased his length slowly into Cloud. He was so tight, and the heat of him was pure heaven.

Cloud was doing his best to stay relaxed and keep his eyes open, but it was more difficult than he'd imagined. Sephiroth pushing into him was indescribable. It felt so good, but as more of Sephiroth's erection slid into him he found it harder and harder to relax around him.

Sephiroth's mouth was by his ear and he was breathing hard, as was Cloud. His eyes were closed, letting the pleasure wash over him. He felt Cloud force back a shudder of pain, felt Cloud force his muscles to relax. Sephiroth winced at the fact he was still hurting Cloud even a little bit. Breathing harsh and ragged, he turned his head so his lips were right against his lover's ear. "That's it, baby, we're almost there. You're doing great…"

Cloud nodded, unable to speak, torn between concentration and the easing pain. He slid trembling arms around Sephiroth's back, their skin slick with sweat. Cloud gasped quietly as he found Sephiroth seated perfectly inside him. Sephiroth groaned in the back of his throat.

"Are you okay?" Sephiroth whispered, still breathing harshly in the silence around them. He affectionately kissed Cloud's ear, soothing him.

"You feel good, Seph," Cloud breathed. "So very good…"

Sephiroth smiled. "Hmm…so do you…" Slowly, he withdrew a little from inside Cloud, and then thrust forward just as gently. Cloud's fingers dug into Sephiroth's skin as he thrust back, whimpering at the feel of his hot, hard length rubbing inside him. "That feel nice?" the older man asked.

"Gods yes!" Cloud exclaimed. "Please…don't stop!"

"I won't, don't worry…"

---------------------------------

Hard breathing, in unison, louder in their ears than the noise of the forgotten birthday party, of which the birthday boy was no longer a part. Breathing broken up by soft, low moans.

A joining of body, mind and soul both had longed for, surrounded by a warmth all their own. Tangled limbs and bodies moving in unison together. Deep, slow, purposeful thrusts, bringing them closer to the edge. Spiralling sensations of bliss, brought about by the other. Passion. Lust. Love.

So close, so very close…

----------------------------------

It was powerful, Sephiroth thought, much more powerful than he'd expected. He'd never had this connection, never felt like this with anyone before. /Never/ before Cloud.

His forehead was pressed to Cloud's, both pairs of eyes closed as they came closer and closer to climax. Cloud felt so right, surrounding him so completely, and moving so lovingly against him.

This connection with Cloud was breath-takingly beautiful. So very /very/ powerful…

He could barely imagine what it must be like for Cloud. Sephiroth had done this before, a few times, but they were nothing…nothing in comparison to this…

//His first time…if it's anything like what I'm feeling…//

Cloud took so much from little things. The tiniest show of affection could brighten his day more than anything. Sephiroth had learned that, one day when they'd been walking outside the Shinra tower. Side by side, yes, but there was nothing more than companionship in that…

//"Hold my hand?"//

The plain question had caught Sephiroth off guard at the time, but he'd taken the blond's hand, and the smile had never disappeared from his face for the entire day.

//What's separating this from just sex for him?//

//Hold my hand.//

So close…so very close…

Foreheads still pressed together, Cloud's eyes opened when he felt Sephiroth twine their fingers together, squeezing his hand fondly.

So close…

Cloud was panting beneath him, blue eyes darkened with passion. "Seph…I'm going to…"

"I know," Sephiroth whispered, never breaking or increasing his pace. So perfect, the two of them together like this. Making love. "I know."

//That's what this is. This is what the difference between sex and making love is…//

//…I've never made love to anyone before this.//

Very, very close…

"Happy Birthday, Cloud," Sephiroth murmured, eyes on his lover all the while. He could feel the first waves of orgasm just out of reach…just out of reach for both of them.

"I love you…I love you…so very much."

Feeling Cloud climax sent Sephiroth over the edge. He kissed Cloud hard, muffling both their cries as they rode out the heights they were brought to in that one moment. Cloud arched up hard and so did Sephiroth, bodies fitted to perfection as they came.

"I love…you too, Seph."

---------------------------------

Sephiroth was the first to recover, stroking Cloud's cheek gently as the blond trembled in his arms from the force of his orgasm.

//That was…incredible.//

Cloud opened hazy blue eyes and smiled, sated. Sephiroth smiled back, the expression on Cloud's face telling him it had indeed been as good for the blond as it had been for him.

"Thank you." Cloud's words were quiet, contented. "That was a wonderful birthday present."

Sephiroth grinned down at Cloud. "What makes you think that was your birthday present?"

Cloud frowned, not understanding.

Sephiroth chuckled and reached under the mattress, bringing out a spare bed sheet to clean themselves up with, and a small black box.

Cloud eyed the black box, still frowning. He took it from Sephiroth curiously and examined the box while Sephiroth gently wiped them both down.

"Can I open it?" Cloud asked.

Sephiroth laughed, stuffing the sheet back under the mattress to be taken for washing tomorrow. "Of course you can, love. It's not just there to sit and look at, you know."

Cloud opened the box with a soft click, and gaped. Sephiroth smiled a little self-consciously as Cloud regarded the content of the box.

A thin gold chain with a gold cross on it.

"Wow…" Cloud gasped, looking up and grabbing Sephiroth for a quick kiss. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Sephiroth chuckled, and awkwardly they managed to fasten it round Cloud's throat, by which time the blond was yawning and half-asleep.

"Mmm…stay?" Cloud asked sleepily, arms still limply round Sephiroth's neck.

Sephiroth settled down beside Cloud, pulling the covers over them both and smiling as Cloud nestled his head against his lover's shoulder.

"Always, love. Always."

---------------------------------

Zack woke with a groan the next morning, guessing it was early-midmorning. He rolled onto his back, glaring at the bottom of the bunk above his. Cloud was usually up by now, telling /him/ to get up. Well, he used to be, when Zack still bunked with them. He'd kinda passed out the night before.

Irritably, and with a hangover the size of a Goodyear blimp, he kicked the underside of the bunk. "Cloud, get up! It's time for you to wake /me/ up!"

A muffled groan met his shout.

"CLOUD! Goddamnit, get up right now!"

"Zack, what are you doing?"

Zack turned his head to find Cloud approaching him, dressed in nothing but black boxers that looked a little too big on him. He had a pile of clothing in his arms.

Zack frowned, confused. "Hey, Cloud, what are you doing here? Didn't you just groan at me when I kicked your bed?"

Cloud was frowning now. He tilted his head to one side. "No…"

"So who's that in your…" Zack eyes settled on the dark bruise on Cloud's neck, then went to the unfamiliar gold cross hanging round his neck, and finally came to rest on the oversized boxers.

"Oops."

Needless to say, Zack never kicked the underside of Cloud's bunk ever again.

------------------------------