Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Price for a Memory ❯ Just a Dream? ( Chapter 16 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
16.

Cloud and Reno headed through the crowded streets of Midgar. Both decided to head back to the Barracks. Both also knew they were in deep shit for cutting class like that. To make it worse, they spent the best part of an hour ogling Zack and his girlfriend.

“So Spiky. Who do you think that chick was with Zack?”

“Dunno. Never heard him talking about her. He never talks about girls.”

“Man, he doesn’t know what he’s missing! I love girls!”

Cloud started to cringe as Reno talked fruitfully about a girl he has been eyeing up for weeks now. A girl called Jessie.

------

Sephiroth sat utterly confused in his office. Why had Hojo put his blood into that canister with R.1.K.U. on it?

Why was he hiding it from Sephiroth?

Why?

Why?

Why?

Sephiroth growled in frustration.

“It’s always fucking why!”

He decided to sneak back down to the lab at some point. However, he couldn’t get his head round it right now. He felt slightly woozy. He felt as though he had just been training for a week straight with no break.

His shoulder throbbed painfully as he stood up and walked over to his window. Sweat trickled down his brow as his legs turned to jelly below him.

He didn’t feel the corner of the desk ram into his side as he tumbled to the ground.

------

Sephiroth stood staring out at nothingness. Darkness surrounded him as he darted his eyes from right to left and back again.

“Where am I?”

He took a few steps forwards only to have the darkness erupt around him. Light rapidly sweeping in circles from every direction.

He could hear children’s laughter. He could see the ocean lapping onto a crystal beach. The warmth of the sun spread through his pale body.

Two blurs shot past him. One yellow and silver. The other being brown and red.

“Come back! You’re too fast!”

“Is that all you got?!”

Sephiroth watched as the smaller blur leapt on top of the taller blur. Both tumbled to the ground. He smiled as he watched the children play. Something he had never got to do as a child.

Both boys, aged about ten stood up and brushed themselves down.

The one with brown hair reminded him a bit of Cloud. That mad, crazy hair. Those sparkling blue eyes. That naïve smile.

However, the taller boy really caught his attention.

“He looks just like me.”

The boy stood tall for his young age with shoulder length gleaming silver hair and those piercing aquamarine eyes.

He watched as the boy resembling himself took the smaller boy’s hand and held it close.

Sephiroth couldn’t help but laugh as the silver haired boy then proceeded to push the brunette away so he fell onto the sand.

“Hey! Riku! That’s not fair you meanie!”

“What?! Riku?!”

Before Sephiroth could move. He felt as though his body was being sucked from the ground. Darkness flooded his senses once again. He felt like he was being pulled backwards through an endless void.

“No! Stop! I want to see!”

As he opened his eyes a hand seemed to reach out for him. Blond hair swayed about in the breezeless atmosphere. Cerulean eyes stared into his.

“Cloud?”

Sephiroth reached out and took the hand before him.

“Sephiroth….I….”

Aquamarine eyes shot open. Sephiroth almost leapt up from his position on the floor. Sweat ran down his face. His breaths shallow and panicked.

He put his hand to his face and rubbed the top of his nose, just between the eyes.

“What was that? That boy….Riku?”

A small knock at the door shook Sephiroth from his daze. Standing up, straightening his coat, fixing his dishevelled hair and shaking his head a few times, he plucked up the courage to speak.

“E-enter!”

The door crept open. Blond spikes peered round the crack of the door.

“I-I was sent to see you….I cut class….Sir….”

“Sit.”

Sephir oth watched as Cloud slunk through the room and almost deflated onto the seat in front of the desk.

“Why?”

Cloud snapped his head up.

“I was sent out for not listening again. I went into Midgar with Reno….I don’t know why.”

“I do. You can’t stop thinking about things can you?”

Cloud shook his head.

“Everything’s been bugging me. I can’t help thinking about what you and Zack told me.”

“Forget.”

“Pardon me Sir. I can’t forget.”

“Nothing good will come of this. Just forget.”

Cloud looked at Sephiroth with almost a disgusted look on his pretty face. He knew something wasn’t right with the silver haired male.

“Are you ok Sir?”

“I’m fine. Just tired. Look Cloud….”

Cloud looked on shocked as Sephiroth stood up, placed his hands on the desk and leaned towards him.

“Look….forget what I told you….please….”

Their lips sat millimetres apart. As Sephiroth spoke, they almost brushed off Cloud’s.

Cloud could feel Sephiroth’s hot breath touch his face. A pink blush spread across his cheeks. He bit his bottom lip slightly.

“Why must I forget what you told me?”

“I already told you. Nothing good will come out of delving into something which doesn’t concern us….please….”

Cloud noted that Sephiroth had said please twice. He decided not to push the silver haired male further.

“Fair enough General.”

“About your punishment. Report to your instructor. You will assist him with the tidy up after Cadet’s for the next fortnight. You may go now.”

As Cloud stood, he stole a glance at the older male. He knew his punishment had been very lenient. Heck, it wasn’t even a real punishment.

Slinking back out the door. Cloud let out the breath he didn’t know he had been holding. He could almost still feel those lips so tantalisingly close to his.

“You ok Spiky?”

“Fine Reno. I think you’re next.”

“Fuck….wish me luck.”

Cloud remained silent and watched the red head vanish into Sephiroth’s office. He touched his lips with his finger tips.

“So close….so far….”