Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Family ❯ Executive Decision ( Chapter 6 )

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

Family
Pairings: Sephiroth/Cloud
Disclaimer: We do not own any characters of Final Fantasy. They are the property of Square Enix and Sony. we do not make any money from the writing of this story.
W A R N I N G: This is about male pregnancy (possibly) and male/male relationships. We are letting you know now what the relationships WILL contain. So, if you are AGAINST such pairings, please find something else more to your liking, you have been WARNED.

Flames will be ignored.

Special thanks to: Hikari Manganji, Shirou, 191026, Hikaru, Stephanie, Firehedgehog, and to those who have read and didn't review thank for reading thus far. We hope you enjoyed it.

oOoOoOo

Chapter 6: Executive Decision

Two months had passed since Hojo had been informed about the boy's condition, and he was still no closer to finding out the true sire of the boy's child. He had been convinced at first that the father was Zack, but now, after careful consideration, he wasn't so sure.

His ordered observation of Zack had proven inconclusive. This was a little annoying, especially seeing as how hard it had been to get Rufus to agree with it. Without telling him the reason why, Hojo had had to convince him it was necessary. Necessary yes but a pain in the ass all the same.

His spies reported that Zack never stayed in any one place for too long. His training schedule was just about as bad as Sephiroth's. And to top it all off, the only time he had contact with the boy was about once a week, and at least one weekend a month, which was usually in the company of the General.

They never spent any time alone together, and even when they were together, neither showed any outward signs of affection towards the other. Getting the positive evidence needed that Zack was the father was almost like looking for a needle in a vat filled with Mako—impossible.

In an addition to that, the 1st Class SOLDIER was usually seen in the company of a pretty brunette after his shift had ended if it wasn't too late, or on his off days.

On the bright side of things, the fetus was developing normally. The only dark cloud on the horizon however had happened last week; when Strife came to the lab complaining about being sick each morning, and for most of the day too sometimes, reporting that certain smells also made him nauseous.

Hojo was growing concerned about the boy's health. Strife was losing weight—too much weight in fact, and he really didn't know how to solve the problem. The boy needed to start gaining weight, and quickly… or else there was a slight possibility he might miscarry.

And that was not an option. It was vital for the fetus to live.

Having no other alterative, Hojo decided he had to go upstairs.

It was time to inform the president.

oOoOoOo

So far, things were progressing smoothly between Cloud and the General. However, the boy's recent illness was beginning to worry Sephiroth. It unnerved him, to see the boy becoming pale, to notice that he only picked at his food.

He tried to encourage him to eat, bringing him his favorite treats, but nothing seemed to awaken the boy's appetite. Never before had Sephiroth had to care for someone who was sick, he himself was rarely ill or injured, and it scared him that his love was not getting any better.

He thought of all the things that could be the source of Cloud's recent illness. The only thing that came to mind was the sudden stop in the Mako injections the boy had been receiving.

Hojo's actions weren't making any sense to him. The complete treatment took three years, providing that the one receiving the injections survived the initial dose, which Cloud had. So why would Hojo stop them so abruptly?

There was only one way to find out what the professor was doing.

Hacking into computers was not his specialty; Sephiroth would be the first to admit that. Stealth was… which was how it had been so simple to get in and out of Cloud's quarters without being detected. Neither he, nor his young lover, needed any more rumors going around about them again.

And, using his special ability for another purpose, Sephiroth was finding out some very interesting information.

oOoOoOo

“I am well aware of the situation, professor, which is why you should be expecting a new colleague by tomorrow to assist you with Cadet Strife's pregnancy.” The Presidents voice was stern. It held no room for argument.

Hojo remained quiet—for once.

“Have you identified the father?” This time, a touch of ridicule laced the voice.

“No,” Hojo replied through gritted teeth.

“I thought as much. Tseng!” Fingers snapped, and a door opened.

The tall leader of the Turks entered the office, dropping a thick manila folder on the president's desk. He stared down upon the professor like he was a bit of dirt beneath his shoe, making Hojo squirm uncomfortably. Then, without a word, he turned and went back out to his post by the door.

“I think, professor, that you will find the contents of this folder… of some interest.” Now there was mirth in the smooth voice.

Hojo cautiously picked up the file and extracted the contents.

Luckily, there was a chair behind him, or else he would have fallen to the floor.

Held in his trembling fingers were 8x10s of his test subject…..and General Sephiroth, in rather intimate positions of various degrees.

They had been snapped with their heads bent low towards one another…. Sephiroth had been photographed brushing something from the young boy's clothing, the boy gazing up at him…..and in yet another picture it almost looked as if the couple were holding hands.

Flipping through more of the photos, Hojo saw that Sephiroth was leading Cloud out of a restaurant or a club with an ungloved hand at the small of the boy's back. He skipped some photos and stopped to stare at them locked in a heated kiss. Were they in a… park?

This was definitely too much.

“It seems that the General took your advice to heart,” Rufus said, waiting for a reaction.

Hojo analyzed the pictures with a critical eye. There was more to the boy and Sephiroth's interactions, as if…

“I may have been too hasty,” the professor replied after some time. Sephiroth's expressions were too open with the boy and for someone to catch them on camera also meant that Sephiroth had let his guard down.

This was dangerous.

He was not going to let this foolish boy undo all his hard work. Sephiroth was his to control.

“I beg to differ, Hojo. Sephiroth's work performance has gone up tremendously. Even his written reports have been turned in on-time, with little or no complaint.”

“I cannot accept that Sephiroth is the father,” Hojo hissed.

“You can't accept it, or you won't accept it?” Rufus asked, smiling inwardly at the professor's angered face.

“Sephiroth's Mako levels are well beyond what is to be considered as normal. Anyone, including Strife, would die from the Mako poisoning upon completion of any type of sexual gratification,” Hojo argued heatedly.

“You have… what? Another two months until you can do DNA testing to be absolutely sure? This is a medical break through for you—not only did you acquire a suitable carrier, but he was impregnated by our prized stud! Now, shouldn't you be celebrating over that little triumph?” Rufus declared, with a smile upon his face.

He swiveled his chair around to face the window overlooking the military complex before speaking once more. “Cloud will need to be under constant observation, to make sure that nothing happens to him or the child. Therefore I have authorized for him to be moved.”

“You had no right-”

“I do what is in the best interest of my employees. If you want the child to live, and to ensure for Cloud to have more of Sephiroth's offspring in the future, I suggest you inform him of his condition and prepare him for the worse, should anything happen. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an important board meeting to attend to,” Rufus snapped, before leaving the room.

The irate professor was left alone in Rufus Shin-Ra's office, cursing the president for overstepping him.

oOoOoOo

The days following Hojo's appointment with the president were chaotic for the scientist. He still had not told the teen of his condition. This information was put on a back burner for now, as Hojo was heavily bogged down with meeting his new co-worker, Professor Gasuto Faremishu.

They had actually worked together twenty-seven years prior, but they'd had a falling out over Lucrecia Crescent and Vincent Valentine.

Gast, as he was more commonly known, quit the Jenova project, taking all his notes and discoveries with him.

What Hojo didn't quite understand, was why the man would come back after all this time. Rufus must have dangled something mighty tempting over his head to make him come. Otherwise Gast would have told the young executive to take a flying leap off the nearest cliff.

Well, whatever the reason was for Gast's return, Hojo was actually thankful to his jerk employer for it. But he would never admit that to anyone—not even under pain of death.

oOoOoOo

Monday started off like any other day for the General. Until Sephiroth was having his morning glass of orange juice, and someone knocked unexpectedly upon his door.

Dressed only in his leather pants and bare feet, his hair still bound up in a high knot, he opened the door to reveal Mr. Shin-Ra himself, and two of his bodyguards, Tseng and Elena. Sephiroth did nothing to hide the displeasure on his face. He didn't like to be disturbed when he was on his own leisure time.

The newcomers clearly saw the irritation on the General's otherwise expressionless visage, as he turned his back on them and returned to the kitchen, to finish whatever it was he was doing before they had interrupted him.

Sephiroth didn't say anything, just left them alone in his sitting room. He knew they had come here for a reason. The President would tell him what he wanted with him soon enough, but not before he took the time to get dressed.

Rufus sat down on one of the chairs in front of Sephiroth's desk, not disturbed in the least by the other man's departure, and waited patiently for his return.

And he didn't have to wait long.

Sephiroth re-entered the room radiating power, now that he was fully clothed in his customary black leather outfit, consisting of thigh-high belted boots and ankle length duster—complete with his white metallic pauldrons and gloves.

His knee-long silver hair now floated freely behind him.

The Turks, who were standing behind their boss, instantly stood on guard once the General stepped into the room. Although Sephiroth was not holding Masamune, they knew he was still dangerous.

They were only too well aware that the General possessed a power and strength akin to that of a god—something that no mere mortal man should have. But then, as they also knew, he was no ordinary man. They watched guardedly, as Sephiroth seated himself behind his desk, turning his half narrowed eyes towards the man that sat so comfortably before him.

“What do you want?” he asked, suspicion coloring his voice.

“To the point as always, Sephiroth,” Rufus remarked.

“I have neither the time nor the patience to deal with you first thing in the morning. So, if you will, say what you came here for…. and leave.”

Rufus took a deep breath. “I'm here because you will be having a roommate soon.” He paused when he felt a slight tremor go through the floor. He knew that bit of information would anger Sephiroth, but he continued on as if nothing had happened, knowing that the next piece of information would placate the General. “The reason is because I don't want this young man alone for long periods of time, in case something happens—

I want to ensure someone is with him.”

Sephiroth knew exactly who Rufus was talking about. Was Cloud in some kind of trouble?

“And you picked me, why?” he asked guardedly.

Not turning around, Rufus dismissed his guards, waiting until they had left the room before he continued. “I'm going to be honest with you,” he said, ignoring the snort Sephiroth issued. “I know of your relationship with young Strife…..And I also know it is more than what you would have us believe.”

Not receiving a reaction, Rufus ploughed on. “When was the last time Cloud ate a proper meal without being sick? Or when was the last time he didn't fall asleep on you?”

A silver delicate brow raised in question.

“Hojo has a hidden agenda I don't know about, involving Cloud. I want you to protect him, which is one of the reasons why the boy will be living with you,” Rufus honesty said.

Sephiroth noted the edge to Rufus' tone. “And the other reason is to let you know that Cloud will be back with the other cadets to complete his training.”

“Why?”

“Like I said, I don't want him hurt, and he needs to know how to protect himself at any rate.”

The president stood at the same time as Sephiroth. At the door, Rufus whispered in a soft voice, “I know what you think of me, Sephiroth, but you know that I'm not a monster—unlike Hojo! And if you care, or even… love, young Cloud…..Then you will do whatever is necessary to keep him safe.”

Rufus left a stunned General standing in the doorway, without even as much as a good-bye.

oOo TBC oOo

A/N: The plot thickens. So, Rufus has Cloud's best interests in mind. Does that even sound right? Don't know? Well, stay tuned for the next chapter.

Mitts & ArchNemesis

oOoOo Teaser for Chapter 7 oOoOo

Sephiroth was just thankful that Cloud was a male. He didn't need a child with his genes running around.