Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Innocence ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

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

Disclaimers : : I own none of the characters. Just the plot.

*word* -- happening (i.e. *crack*)

~*~ -- flashback

~#~ -- scene change

//word// -- thoughts

"word" -- speech

~word~ -- memory

Garnet Eyes

Innocence

Yawning, Cloud opened his eyes to a suitcase and jolted up in bed, looking warily around for his missing bedmate. Sephiroth, in a simple pair of sweatpants, was rummaging through one of his upper dresser drawers, tossing some objects on the bed by the open suitcase and shoving others haphazardly around the drawer. Cloud watched him curiously before grinning and silently maneuvering around in the bed to the position of a cat ready to spring. He waited until he was sure that Sephiroth couldn't catch his reflection in the mirror and jumped, grabbing the General around the waist and yanking backward.

Not prepared for the sudden change in balance, Sephiroth fell back and landed on his butt on the floor, Cloud right behind him. The blonde brought his arms across the General's chest and hugged him from behind, kissing the nape of his neck lightly.

"G'morning."

Sephiroth chuckled and moved to stand back up, turning around to see his sunshine sitting happily on the floor, hands propping him upright and head cocked up at him.

"Good morning to you, too, Cloud. I trust you slept well?"

"Not really. I didn't have a body to cuddle up to. I had to settle for the sheets, and those aren't warm like you."

"I'm sorry, Cloud. But I do have a job that requires late work."

The blonde shrugged, standing up and walking over to the bed, folding the clothes chaotically tossed onto it carefully into the suitcase.

"You're going on a mission. When should I expect you back?"

Sephiroth stopped sifting through his drawers and looked up, turning to face his blonde. Cloud was still arranging things in his suitcase and he had to smile.

"I don't know. . . I guess we can come back right after the mission is completed, but I thought we could maybe spend another day or so just relaxing before we came back. I thought you would enjoy it."

Cloud smiled, but didn't turn around.

"So I guess that means I'm going with."

"My guess is you're right."

"Anything I have to get ready, Commander?"

Sephiroth laughed at the tone Cloud's voice took for the last word and wrapped his arms around his shorter companion.

"Just know that it's a trip to Gongaga for a Mako leak. Be prepared to fight."

"Always."

Cloud stepped away from the General to get his duffle bag packed and Sephiroth raised one slender silver brow at that.

"You do realize that this could possibly be a very extended mission."

"And you know me; I didn't bring much of anything here and all of it was the essentials anyway. That's all I ever carry and you know it."

"I told you to get more things; I'm not trying to make you lose what you have, Cloud. You can get what you want; there's room for it."

"No need; I have what I want."

Sephiroth shook his head, but dropped the subject. He'd had this conversation often enough with his young love. The boy never listened; downright refused to even borrow money for new things and wouldn't even buy them when he had money to start with. He lived as if he would leave at any moment and regret nothing. It was always, of course, that nagging doubt in the back of Sephiroth's head that caused him to want Cloud to own more possessions. He really didn't care either way how much Cloud owned. Just his presence made all of the material things meaningless.

"You gonna finish packing?"

Sephiroth shook his head as if clearing a few cobwebs and glanced up at his love, who was grabbing his clothes to walk into the bathroom for a shower.

//No.// Sephiroth walked over to his suitcase, even if he didn't feel like finishing. But, it was Cloud's first mission and he should be happy for his young lover. What happened to all of his enthusiasm the night before? He was really ready to go on another mission-especially with Cloud. Now he didn't want to move? //Must be too sick of this place. I need a change.//

He looked toward the bathroom as the shower started and sighed. Too much to prepare for.

~#~

It had taken a week to get from SOLDIER headquarters to Costa del Sol, and the extra soldier had been tagging along like a child around Sephiroth constantly. For most of the trip over seas, the General had locked himself in his room to avoid that little pest, but he would come out to see his lover's katanas and join him often enough. Zax would join them as well, but the other soldier, a Madison Booth, would just watch them from the background. It was rather disconcerting to Cloud, who made several comments as to the odd looks the soldier was giving them, so Sephiroth was careful about how he acted around his blonde. He had caught a couple of those looks; they were somewhere between jealous and angry. Who they were directed to, he wasn't quite sure.

But Cloud was in good spirits after they touched land. They were actually two days ahead of schedule. Sephiroth himself wanted to continue on to Gongaga as quickly as possible, but Cloud had guiled him into staying in Costa del Sol for at least the rest of the day. He quickly discovered that it was because his little sunshine wanted to see the movie that was playing. Cloud had mentioned that show several times before, but Sephiroth didn't much care for going out. Now he didn't have much of an excuse, and he had already bent to staying in Costa del Sol for at least until tomorrow. Zax was off to no-one-knows-where and Madison wasn't anywhere to be seen. Not that they really made a difference. If Cloud had asked him to jump into the ocean and drown he would have.

It had come as a small shock to him at first when he realized that the blonde had him wrapped so tightly around his little finger, but he couldn't deny it and he knew he couldn't get out of it. Cloud didn't do anything to warrant mistrust; if he wanted Sephiroth to do something, he would likely just do it based on the fact that Cloud wasn't one to look for ways to hurt him and what he asked would probably end up helping them.

So, of course, Sephiroth consented to going to the movie.

He hadn't seen Cloud since he had agreed, but the blonde had been very excited about it and that was enough for him-lounging in their hotel room, taking random things out of the snack bar and flipping through the pointless TV channels. He really didn't want to see anything, but it was enough to keep his mind busy. Not that he really cared. The sun slowly moving across the sky was enough to keep him indoors and everything outside was a little too busy for him. He would have preferred a good book, but he couldn't get everything at once.

Cloud suddenly burst into the room, grinning, and turned to Sephiroth.

"Ready?"

"You seem fairly light-spirited, Cloud. Has the coast taken the fight out of you?"

His sunshine crossed his arms over his chest and fake-glared at him.

"You know I want to see this show."

"Yes, my darling, I know."

"So will you get up and come with me?"

Sephiroth switched off the TV and stood up with a languid stretch.

"Do you realize how much 3 oz. of cashews cost here?"

Cloud glanced over at the snack bar and shook his head.

"You raided the mini bar?"

"I was hungry."

"I'm guessing the amount you spent in that thing adds up to the amount it would have cost to go out to the most lavish restaurant here."

"Probably."

Cloud shook his head and smiled, turning for the door.

"C'mon."

Sephiroth smiled, leisurely following. He was in no hurry to go anywhere, and he was rather enjoying the little bundle of energy Cloud was being now that he really wanted something. His laidback usual form was almost perky and energetic as he practically skipped down to the front of the building. The General made his way slowly after, enjoying the vigor his sunshine was emanating. He reached the door out of the hotel long after the blonde had bounded out.

"Love, come on or we'll be late!"

Sephiroth laughed lightly as his blonde grabbed his arm, dragging him toward the movie theater.

"All right, love! I'll walk faster!"

Cloud smiled, quite a dazzling sight to the General, before linking the fingers of one hand with one of Sephiroth's and walking forward. Sephiroth smiled genuinely, walking hand-in-hand with his little blonde lover through the bustling streets where they became nothing more than just part of the crowd. It was turning out to be a rather pleasant day.

~#~

It was becoming dark out when they left the theater, and Sephiroth had to admit that the movie was not a bad one. Certainly better than "Loveless." Cloud looked out into the sky and laughed, taking on a sudden burst of speed that Sephiroth matched as he was pulled forward by the hand Cloud was firmly grasping. The blonde stopped at the edge of the sand and Sephiroth stopped with him, wrapping his arms around his little lover's waist. There was next to no one out now that the sun was going down, but that would change once it was gone completely under the horizon.

The General rested his chin on his sunshine's blonde crown and watched the sunset with him, feeling the lithe arms rest over his and lock together over his hands. With a reverent sigh, he squeezed his beloved as the sun slowly melted into the ocean, painting the most serene picture across the sky nature could make. A few minutes after the sun had set, they stayed at the edge of the sand in quiet embrace and watched the first few stars come out. Sephiroth realized he was smiling when he glanced down at his little blonde and saw his beautiful azure eyes looking up at him with calm admiration.

"You are beautiful when you smile, you know. When you really smile. Your entire face lights up. I think your eyes are prettiest when you're happy."

Sephiroth blushed just barely and cracked a grin at that.

"I don't do it much."

"I know; that's what makes it even more beautiful. You really smile for me. And I love it. It makes me special-no one else gets your entire face to light up but me, and I treasure that. You give me something you don't give anyone else. Love, you give me your happiness, and it just makes me feel better. I know I don't normally express myself, especially not like this, but I just wanted you to know how I feel. I want you to know that I love you."

Sephiroth smiled as warmth spread through him and hugged his little lover tightly, savoring the words he just heard before he let go and took a small step back. Jade eyes dropped to the ground and he coughed before his eyes shifted back up to look into azure.

"Shit. . . Cloud, I'm not nearly as eloquent with expressing this sort of thing. I could never come up with something so meaningful to say-not without thinking about it for hours. I. . . gods. . . you are so beautiful to me. I could care less the rest of the world is like; you're all that matters. I love you, Cloud. I know I've said it before, and I meant it every time, but I mean so much more than that. There's just no way to express what I feel for you, other than I never want you to leave my side."

The General stepped closer to his lover, entwining their hands together and looking directly into the eyes he so adored.

"I love you more than anything. I would gladly give you the world if I could, Cloud. I'd give you everything."

Cloud brought his love down in a strong embrace, resting cheek against cheek, before he turned his head and kissed Sephiroth's lips passionately. They stayed in loving embrace until the sounds of the nightlife brought them out of their moment and the kiss broke, but the fervor never left their eyes. A woman whistled at them and Cloud glared at her angrily; he didn't enjoy the interruption. Sephiroth let his head drop to his small lover's shoulder and he made a small chuckling noise.

Cloud wrapped his arms possessively around the General's waist and he could guess that the hookers were eyeing him up for the night. Not that he cared. They could, as Zax fondly put it, go fuck themselves. He was with his sunshine and they were being more than sappy and he loved it. Cloud didn't often express himself in, as he had put it before, 'mushy terms,' and when he said it, he wanted it to be meaningful. That had certainly been meaningful; Zax would probably have called it sappy enough to sweeten pure sugar. So what if he liked it that way? Maybe he enjoyed being romanced. Cloud was good at it when he felt it appropriate, and that was perhaps the only outlet in his life for emotions deeply hidden. He wanted his own knight in shining armor. He had his own knight in shining armor. He had Cloud.

"Koi, can we go to the room?"

"I think you can beat all of the woman around us, Cloud."

He realized his voice was muffled by the blonde's shoulder, but he was enjoying himself.

"Maybe so, but I don't like the way they look at you."

"I'm the head military officer of the most powerful corporation in the world, Cloud. What do you want them to look at me like?"

"Not at all."

With that, he surreptitiously pinched one of Sephiroth's nipples and the taller man gasped into his shoulder.

"No fair."

Cloud bent down next to the silver warrior's ear, making care to whisper sensually in a voice only they would hear, no other.

"Of course it is. Everything's fair as long as you can make it pleasurable."

Mentally, Sephiroth groaned. It had been nearly two weeks since they had been together on a physically intimate level, and his body was reacting to the stimulant it wanted. He growled low in his throat before he spoke, whispering just loud enough for his blonde to hear.

"If you're not careful, you may make life very uncomfortable for Zax and Booth."

"I'll risk it."

Sephiroth forced the moan back down his throat at the tone in his love's voice and wrapped his arms around the blonde's waist.

"Take me."

"Not here, love. Not tonight. Zax and Madison are in an adjacent room to ours. Later, my koi. Have patients."

Sephiroth growled in his throat, finally lifting his head from his love's shoulder to look him in the eyes.

"Do not torment me."

"I wouldn't dream of it, love. But we must be considerate of others. And Madison. . . something is not right about him. I don't want him anywhere near us when we make love."

"Fine. I want to go to bed at least."

Cloud smiled and leaned up to kiss the General's lips.

"I can do that."

~#~

Sephiroth curled down farther into the pillow his arms were wrapped around, feeling the familiar weight of his blonde asleep on his back. He was still very woozy, but he preferred to just lay and listen to the quiet breaths of his beloved in the morning, heating a small part of his back just where the blonde's cute, trim little mouth was. And he didn't feel like getting up, anyway. A sharp knock at his door brought him half into reality, but he was hoping that ignoring it would make it go away.

After a good pause, it came back sharper and Sephiroth buried his face in his pillow to suppress an irritated moan. He did not want to get up. The weight on his back moved and he groaned. He should have figured that if he didn't get up to get the door, his sunshine would. He felt his blonde smack his rear and grunted, grabbing the sheets and pulling them up to his neck. So he had slept naked; sue him if he didn't like a lot of fabric restraining his movement at night. Cloud usually wasn't much better.

"Who is it?"

Sephiroth groggily heard his lover speak and mumbled under his breath.

"Who cares?"

Cloud laughed lightly, rubbing the General's back lovingly through the sheets.

"Madison Booth, basics soldier Strife. Is the General up yet?"

Sephiroth managed to raise his arm to the door so he could extend his middle finger, but the rest of his body stayed face down on the bed. Cloud ran his fingers through spun silver strands and smiled.

"No."

"We are ready to leave when he is prepared. Inform him of such when he is up."

"I would love to, recruit."

Sephiroth smirked into his pillow when he heard that. Cloud despised hearing people below him attempt to command him, and he made a point of that whenever it occurred. A few quick steps left the door and Sephiroth picked himself up and sat back with his legs curled under him. Cloud smirked and kissed the General's bare shoulder, rubbing slender fingers over the pale back of his superior.

"Mph. . . I have to get up now, don't I?"

Two thin arms wrapped around the silver warrior's neck and he smiled as he felt a kiss to his temple.

"No, you don't. You should, but you don't have to."

Sephiroth grunted and turned to stand up, sliding off the single bed and walking over to his suitcase. All the rooms had only single beds, so he and Cloud had curled up extra tightly the night before. It also meant that there was only one bed that needed to be made. Well, let the hotel employees think what they would.

Rummaging through his things, he kept a sidelong glance at his blonde to watch him dress before they were both ready and walked to the door to their room. A quick kiss, and then they walked out as if there was nothing but a professional relationship between them.

~#~

After four days riding in the back of a military commissioned van, they were finally at Gongaga and Sephiroth was at the end of his rope. Booth had a knack for being where he wasn't wanted, so he couldn't even have a discussion with his lover much less a kiss. He just put on his long-practiced cold exterior and externally shrugged off everything, including Zax and Cloud. Neither of them seemed too upset, at least not more so than what it was like having Booth keeping a constant eye on all of them.

Right then the General was in his room in the inn at Gongaga, almost ready to hit his head against the wall in frustration. This recruit was more annoying than any single thing should be capable of being. As soon as they had come he had immediately asked to go to the reactor. It took a death glare on Sephiroth's part to get him to stop pressing and get settled in. It was nearly nightfall when they had reached the town; it was suicide to go straight from the van to the reactor in gray, nearly black, skies.

Zax said he was going to visit his parents, so Sephiroth gave him leave, and then he had watched Cloud leave to the edge of the town to practice his katana. What he would have given to follow the blonde, but Booth was probably right outside his door that very instant. Angry and bored out of his mind with the knowledge that Cloud was just outside his reach for the night, Sephiroth collapsed to his bed and closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep. There was nothing better to do.

~#~

A small amount of pressure on his back made Sephiroth start awake, head jerking from the pillow and jade eyes going wide as he immediately reached out for his sword. A small hand grasped his wrist before he reached the Masamune and he froze.

"That's not a nice way to greet your boyfriend, Seph. After all the hard work I put into getting into your room without being noticed, I'd think you'd appreciate it."

The General let out the breath he had been holding and let his head fall back to his pillow, covering his face.

"Cloud. . . you scared me."

"Well I couldn't very well go make noise to let you know I was coming. That would've ruined my chances of getting in without waking up a certain recruit. . ."

Sephiroth grinned and turned over, forcing Cloud to move so he stayed sitting upright. They looked into each other's eyes for a moment, drowning in jade and azure pools, before Cloud leaned down from his position on Sephiroth's stomach to lightly kiss the General's mouth. The silver warrior parted his lips as the kiss made contact and lightly teased at his lover's lips with his tongue, asking for entrance. The blonde's lips parted slowly to allow entry, drawing the General's tongue into his mouth to spar. Both sets of eyes closed as the kiss continued, enjoying the long-needed release in the silvery moonlit room. When the blonde pulled back, allowing them both the air that Sephiroth had forgotten he needed, he slid down to rest in the General's lap and brought himself down to lay on the silver warrior's firm chest.

"I missed being with you."

"I know, love. I know. I'm here now, but I can't stay all night. You know Madison is practically watching your every move. I just needed to spend some time with you, lover. Some time that we aren't acting like soldiers."

Sephiroth smiled slightly at the last comment, but then a tiny frown made its way to his face.

"You're not leaving right away, are you?"

Azure eyes glowed slightly with mirth and Cloud craned his neck to kiss Sephiroth's forehead.

"No, love. Not right away. We have some time together still. But I must get back to my room before dawn."

Sephiroth sighed, but then a smirk made its way to his features.

"Cliché love scene."

A small laugh bubbled up from Cloud's throat and he wriggled his arms completely around the General's chest and back.

"Maybe so, but I somehow doubt we are in any romance novel."

"We should be."

The blonde kissed Sephiroth's temple and curled down into his body.

"'Love of a SOLDIER.' Kinda catchy."

Sephiroth chuckled and brought his arms around his blonde before a thought came to mind.

"You said in Costa del Sol that we couldn't because they were right next to us. Zax is with his parents and Booth is in a separate building. Now, will you?"

Cloud sighed and sat up with a grin.

"If you insist, my love."

Sephiroth smiled and leaned up to kiss his blonde again, but Cloud kept his mouth just out of reach. Frustrated, Sephiroth bucked up and the blonde, who had been sitting on his hips, fell forward into the kiss. With a startled laugh, his sunshine wrapped his arms around his taller lover and kissed him adoringly before one hand ventured down to push the bed sheets out of the way. Feeling the cool air of the room on his skin, Sephiroth parted his legs to make room for his blonde lover. The blonde knelt between his thighs, but ignored his lower half entirely and moved to kiss his neck and chest. With an aggravated growl, Sephiroth bucked up and spread his legs wider. Cloud's hands began rubbing the inside of his thighs and the General attempted to move into the caress, wanting more, but his blonde was being a tease and pulled back to keep the touch light.

"Cloud!"

Sephiroth knew he was hissing, but he wanted his blonde and he wanted him now.

Cloud moved his hand over to the front of his pants and removed them slowly, keeping one hand kneading the flesh of Sephiroth's thigh. Moaning, the General closed his eyes and relaxed back onto the bed, lifting his hips in an attempt to get things moving faster. Cloud, however, wouldn't be hurried.

With calm, insistent kneading of both thighs again, he waited patiently until Sephiroth was quietly groaning almost constantly, his member standing straight and hard. The blonde knew precisely what to do to bring the General to the edge of insanity and hold him just at the rim without letting him dive.

Taking special care to press his entire body down as he went, Cloud slid slowly up Sephiroth's body to his head, and by then the General's eyes were wide and unseeing, entire being buzzing with the feel of his sunshine's warm body rubbing across his shaft. For several moments he stayed that way, totally enraptured in the ecstasy his partner was giving him, before he came back to the feeling of his lover kissing his jaw right by his ear.

"You ready for that promise, Seph?"

"Wh. . . what promise. . . ?"

Grabbing the pale shoulders of his superior, the blonde flipped them both, changing their positions. Sephiroth took a moment to understand before he blushed from more than just the heat of the moment.

"I. . . Cloud I don't have any. . ."

The blonde held up a small tube and the General took it, looking at it for a moment before an almost satirical expression came across his face.

"You were expecting something to come from tonight, I presume?"

"Perhaps."

The silver warrior grinned, leaning down to kiss his lover's forehead, eyelids, nose, and finally his mouth. After the kiss broke away, glowing emerald stared deeply into azure and watched so many forms of love run through their depths.

"Cloud. . . I apologize if I hurt you ahead of time. I. . . you know I've never done this before. . ."

Two slender fingers pressed to his lips before he could continue, and Sephiroth closed his mouth immediately.

"Love, I trust you."

Emerald eyes became slightly glassy, but no tears fell. He couldn't believe the love he had felt in his blonde's words. His smaller lover smiled warmly at him and parted his legs, forcing Sephiroth to reposition himself in between them. Swallowing hard, the silver warrior unscrewed the cap to the tube of lubricant Cloud had handed him and spread some on his fingers. He remembered well how his sunshine had touched him and what he had done; he just prayed that he would be able to imitate it well.

Carefully bringing his hand down, he moved his fingers to just outside of Cloud's entrance and moved his head down to kiss his love's lips. Watching his face vigilantly, the General began pushing one finger forward. His blonde gasped, but made no signs of physical discomfort. Still, Sephiroth was worried of what he might do and took to kissing a path down his lover's jaw and neck. After a while, Cloud began to move against one finger, so the General added a second. Seeing that his sunshine still wasn't showing any signs of pain, the silver warrior began to relax minutely. He scissored his fingers cautiously, trying to find a rhythm his blonde would enjoy while he carefully watched his lover's face for any signs of displeasure.

Suddenly, Cloud jerked up, grabbing the General's silver hair and yanking hard enough to hurt in order to force their mouths together. Sephiroth immediately froze, afraid he had hurt his sunshine; he waited until Cloud relaxed, letting go of his hair and falling back onto the bed, before warily looking up at his face.

"I didn't hurt you, did I?"

Azure eyes, darkened with passion, opened slowly to look up into concerned emerald and Cloud smiled lovingly.

"Not at all, love."

Confusion showing clearly in his eyes, Sephiroth looked down at his diminutive love carefully.

"Then. . . what. . . why did you just. . . ?"

The blonde grinned elfishly and brought a hand up through silver silk.

"I couldn't very well scream and let all of Gongaga know what we're doing, now could I?"

Sephiroth looked at his blonde curiously before emerald eyes lit mischievously.

"No, I suppose not."

With that, the silver warrior pushed back against the spot he had hit before, dropping his head and pressing their lips together so Cloud stayed quiet. That didn't, however, stop the blonde from moaning into his mouth or clawing at his back. Making sure to continue touching that spot in his blonde, the General added a third finger and drank in the low moans of his sunshine.

Soon enough, Cloud was bucking against his fingers and Sephiroth almost groaned into the kiss they were sharing, feeling his sunshine's thighs wrap around his hips. Pulling his fingers out slowly, the General pulled away from their kiss and positioned himself. Taking care to liberally lubricate himself first, Sephiroth held Cloud's hips steady and looked carefully up into azure, making certain it was still all right to continue. Seeing in the blonde's eyes nothing but love, the silver warrior slowly began to press forward, taking care to be gentle and straight so that it was as comfortable as possible.

When they were finally joined, Sephiroth seated perfectly inside his love, he could feel the tears on his cheeks and didn't care. Cloud felt wonderful. Heat flowed throughout the silver warrior's body and he bent down to kiss his lover's forehead. They stayed perfectly joined for only a moment before neither could take it and pulled apart. Moaning into each other's mouths, they pressed forward until they were reunited fully.

This was indeed very different from what Sephiroth was used to. So many new feelings; somehow all the same when with Cloud. His mind burned with the feeling of completeness he gained when with his sunshine so intimately. His vision was clouded with pure ecstasy and his body buzzed with each thrust. It was heaven.

All too soon, however, it ended. He couldn't stop himself from the climax he had felt from the very beginning and he pressed down hard into Cloud's mouth. Thrusting harshly in the end, he cried out into the blonde's mouth and braced himself over his little lover. He barely recognized that Cloud had ended just after he did, but he was still swarmed in his own bliss and soon the rest of the world was gone from his mind.

When he did return to himself, Sephiroth jolted warily. Cloud wasn't in the bed, and upon further inspection, he was almost completely dressed again.

"Cloud. . . ?"

His blonde looked over at him while fixing his shirt and smiled.

"I told you I can't stay, Sephiroth. I'd love to, but I have to leave before dawn. I don't even know when Madison wakes up to continue stalking you."

They both grinned at that, but the General quickly frowned again.

"I don't much enjoy this, Cloud. I want to be with you for the night, and not just for some physical release. I. . . it just cheapens the entire experience."

"I don't much enjoy it either, Seph. But until Madison is no longer a factor, I'm afraid it's either this or nothing. And, as much as I agree that it's cheapened by the fact that I can't stay, I'd rather have a taste of you than nothing at all."

Sephiroth sealed his lips thinly, angry all over again that Booth was getting in the way. He had wanted this mission to be something like a romantic getaway; most recruits wouldn't even be able to stand near the General for very long, let alone be a factor in his love affairs. Booth was perhaps the only recruit to ever single-handedly ruin an entire mission without even screwing up the assignment. Now the silver warrior was forced to have such an intimate moment ruined by the fact that a stupid, asinine recruit who took so much time in prying into every aspect of Sephiroth's life that he didn't want people in was probably going to check on him in the morning. Growling low in his throat, Sephiroth turned his head away as Cloud kissed his temple.

"I'm sorry, koi. I love you."

With that, he slipped out of the window and was gone. Frustration mounting, Sephiroth thrust his head into his pillow and punched the bed, imagining that it was Booth. He wanted to chop that little pest's head off now.

~#~

The morning did nothing for his mood, and the General actually got to the point of throwing a book at the bird that was incessantly chirping in his window. He didn't know if he hit the stupid bird or not, but it definitely shut up after that. Someone shouted on the ground level; the book obviously made it out the window and hit someone or almost hit them. Sighing, Sephiroth forced himself up and got dressed. He wanted this mission over. Growling in his growing frustration, he almost ripped his pants when putting them on. Life sucked.

Fully prepared to leave the room, he stepped out with the Masamune only to see that flaming idiot Booth standing outside just waiting for him. It took all his willpower not to slice that. . . that. . . he couldn't even find a word describing how much he loathed that recruit. Stalking past Booth, he hoped he was giving off the vibes he was feeling right then, and he hoped Booth would pick up on it for once. But, obviously, the little prick just followed behind him a couple steps behind the Masamune's edge. He didn't even want breakfast anymore; he just wanted to deal with the reactor and kill things. Things with the last name Booth especially.

Cloud and Zax came out of their buildings as Sephiroth stalked through town, following him with irritated glances between each other. What had Booth done now?

~#~

Three swords slashed through the beasts that threatened to enclose the reactor as the person inside dealt with the reactor problems. Sephiroth, Zax, and Cloud simultaneously brought their swords back and cast high level ice spells, Freeze, Ice 3, and Ice 2 respectively. Cloud had been adept at the use of materia from the beginning, having already in his possession Seal, Ice, and Lightning materias and recently bought a Time materia at the shop in Gongaga. He usually only had equipped one elemental and his Seal materia. Now, he had both his Ice and Seal, but also his new Time materia, which he used on Sephiroth as soon as he was able. Feeling the added adrenaline rush that Haste always brought on, Sephiroth smirked to himself as he rushed through an oncoming Kimara Bug, cleaving it in two. Casting another Freeze spell from his Contain materia, he rushed the Gagighandi that was heading toward him and sliced it clean through.

Zax soon felt the same adrenaline rush and brought down a Grand Horn. A Flower Prong loomed just over him, getting ready to attack him until Cloud's Ice 2 caught in and gave Zax time to finish it off. Panting, the brunette warrior looked over at the blonde with a small smile of thanks only to have to rebalance himself as a Heavy Tank came crashing toward them. Cloud cast Haste on himself and all three men prepared for it just as it reared for its attack, roaring loudly. They jumped to the side, but just then a group of Touch Mes hopped up into the ring of battle. The Heavy Tank rushed Sephiroth as three Touch Mes went for Zax and four went at Cloud. The last Touch Me jumped at Sephiroth as he blocked the Tank, making a solid impact on the small of his back and he gritted his teeth. Jumping back from the Tank, he dropped to his knee and grabbed his upper arm, feeling the chemical imbalance in his body.

The Heavy Tank charged him again, but Cloud rammed it from the side, blocking it. Three Touch Mes came at the blonde, and he made a clean arc through them before stopped and pulled something out of his items bag. He tossed it to Sephiroth, who grabbed it shakily as the chemicals began to take affect on his body and he slowly started to morph into a Touch Me himself. Drinking the Maiden's Kiss quickly countered the chemicals and Sephiroth stood up again, casting a Barrier over them all. Another Heavy Tank came up behind them, now both Tanks attacked Sephiroth as small hordes of Touch Mes came after everyone. Beginning to feel overwhelmed, Cloud cast a Sleepel-All combo that knocked out the Touch Mes. Right after the spell was complete, he ran at one of the Tanks, anger flaring.

It turned just in time to see Cloud jab his sword straight through its neck. Howling in agony, it bucked as the blonde twisted his sword inside the beast, knocking him away. As soon as he landed, Cloud took a running sweep through a horde of sleeping Touch Mes and killed them as Zax finished off the Tank and Sephiroth made his kill of the other. Casting a Fire 3-All, Zax finished off the last horde of Touch Mes. They were in the clear for the moment, and Cloud took the time to rub some potions over a few thin gashes; potions worked faster if applied on the spot when it wasn't a very deep wound. Zax fanned himself, grinning as he looked out at the forests in the distance. He hadn't been home in a long time and he had forgotten about how hot it got. Sephiroth took the moment to collect himself, closing his eyes to become in tune with his surroundings. A hand against the bare skin of his chest startled him, and he looked down to see Cloud rubbing a small amount of potion on a narrow gash running across his chest. A thin smile made its way to his lips and the General brought a gloved hand through his love's hair.

They stood in waiting until Booth finally came out of the reactor, looking pleased with himself.

"The reactor is fully functional and properly operational now, Sirs. We are done here."

Sneering to himself, Sephiroth refused to turn in response, letting either Cloud or Zax respond if they so chose. He wouldn't have said anything intelligent anyway, just a string of insults. Zax looked between Sephiroth and Cloud and shrugged. He doubted either would speak.

"Well, then let's head back."

The silver warrior and the blonde started out for Gongaga again and Zax smirked. He nodded his head for Booth to follow and then took the rear. All three swordsmen kept a hand on the hilt of their sheathed swords, warily moving through the forest. It was, however, a fairly uneventful trip back. Unfortunate as far as Sephiroth was concerned, because he would have enjoyed it if they had gotten into battle and Booth had managed to get out of their ring of protection and gotten himself killed. Of course, it would all be a mere accident, and Sephiroth would have been very upset about losing a man, but he somehow thought he'd get over it.

They reached town just as the sun was going down and went to their rooms to get cleaned up. Cloud had blown Sephiroth a kiss behind Madison's back before he turned into his room to take a shower and go to sleep, making the silver warrior smile softly. Booth glanced at him warily and Sephiroth growled, immediately losing his smile and gaining a rather grim frown. The General went to his room just imagining as many different ways to kill Booth as he could before he realized how violent he was being. He turned to calling Cloud on his PHS, and they talked for several hours on the phone. During that time, hey made plans to go out to dinner when they got to Costa del Sol-a fancy restaurant and Sephiroth would buy, of course. Maybe even spend a day on the beach before they went back. The regular troops were due tomorrow morning, and they would be enough to keep any creatures from the town. So Sephiroth went about planning a romantic day for him and his lover and hopefully a way to keep Booth out of it before he fell asleep for the night.

~*~

"Sephiroth. . . it's been a while. I would like to complete a checkup on you if that's alright."

Hesitantly, Sephiroth nodded and started toward the table Hojo had motioned him towards. He had left his sword at the door, as there were no weapons allowed in the labs, and sat gingerly on the steel table, legs dangling off the side. Hojo finished preparing a serum of sorts and walked over to his immediate project to administer it. The General took the time to look around the lab; it was larger than most of them. Three clear glass tubes ran up from the floor to the ceiling by the left wall and several cages of creatures were on the far right, but they were hidden in corners of their cages and only several glowing eyes proved that they were indeed there. The lab itself was almost pure white and silver, everything perfectly sterilized.

"Remove your clothes, Sephiroth. I told you I wanted a complete checkup."

Jade eyes glanced sideways at the professor before he warily began pulling articles of clothing off. Left with merely his boxers, he stared down at the white floor of the lab from his seat on the table, thoroughly aware of the fact that Hojo was looking him over. Rubbing his upper arm uncomfortably, he watched the scientist's feet as they came into view by the table.

"All of them, Sephiroth. Don't be difficult."

Grimacing, the General tentatively removed the last article of clothing and sat carefully on the steel, suddenly becoming acutely aware of how cold it was.

"Lay back."

Sephiroth hesitantly laid on the steel and forced himself not to flinch as those bony fingers started touching him again. He stayed flat on his back until the professor had his fill of the 'checkup' and stood back.

"In perfect health. Wonderful. Now, go over to the treatment cell and get in."

"But you just said-"

"Sephiroth. Dear boy, do as you're told."

"Yes, Sir."

He knew what the 'treatment cell' was, and he was sick just thinking about it. As a child, he had been in it enough to understand that he was always deathly ill after being in there. It was a Mako tank, and that's all there was to it. He was to be put in a Mako chamber and left there for anywhere from several hours to several days for all he knew. Hojo wanted him to absorb more of it, probably to test how much his adult form could handle.

Standing inside the glass tube in the center of the three he had seen earlier, he watched the door close and seal itself shut. Then green liquid started streaming down the glass and he could only stand there and watch as it slowly began filling the tank. Up to waist level he could already begin to feel the affects of it and he suddenly wondered how concentrated it was. It was a fleeting thought as the Mako began rushing in a lot faster and he was soon submerged in liquid green. Watching the lab through a green spectrum, Sephiroth soon felt the sharp cold overcome his body of the Mako and closed his eyes helplessly as his lungs filled with the green fluid. He looked warily out as he felt more than heard the tapping of a finger against his glass prison and saw Hojo looking him over disapprovingly.

"Dear boy, is this all you can take? You were stronger as a child. Maybe I shouldn't have discontinued your treatments. . . You still have quite a long time in there, though. I will be back to check on your progress."

With that, the scientist was gone and Sephiroth was left to his thoughts. From his vantage point, he could make out part of the information on the monitors and his eyes went wide. It was 17% concentration. The SOLDIER program only went up to 5% at the very highest and as a child they had never made it stronger than 9.7%. No wonder he started feeling it immediately. His coherence began to leave him and he started to curl himself into a ball. This was where it got painful.Spasms wracked his body and he repeatedly hit the glass as his body jerked around. He was helpless to stop the sharp spikes of pain piercing through every part of his body, closing his eyes and trying to retreat into himself to dull the hurt. In the back of his mind, he recognized that he would pass out from the Mako in a matter of seconds if the spasms didn't slow, and he welcomed the release when it came.