Chapter Text
“Wait seriously?” Zack says, his jaw on the floor. “You’ve never seen porn?”
Cloud flinches, his cheeks flushing a pretty shade of embarrassed red as he looks around at the bustling cafeteria. Thankfully, most everyone is too busy with their own rowdy conversations to pay attention to Zack's echoing voice. They’ve known each other for two whole years, but still Zack manages to surprise him with his lowered inhibitions.
“You have to rent that stuff, right?” Cloud asks, fighting through his embarrassment as Zack stares at him in what seems to be absolute shock and confusion. “Nibelheim only had one TV.”
A TV that was in Tifa’s livingroom, and Cloud obviously wasn't going to make the three day trek to the nearest town, rent one of the dvd’s marked eighteen plus with a fake id, and then play it on the TV in the house of the prettiest girl in Nibelheim. He would have died of mortification right there. He might die of mortification now if Zack doesn't shut up.
“Thats just sad, man.” Zack says, reaching across the table and their dinner trays to pat Cloud on the shoulder. Looking genuinely bummed out that Cloud had never seen any pornography. Cloud flushes, his face burning as bright as a tomato. He's never even had sex too, but he's not going to tell Zack that, he would really die right here. They’d have to write ‘died of embarrassment’ on his coffin and ship him back home to his ma.
He ducks down, trying to hide his flushed cheeks in the scarf of his trooper uniform, suddenly embarrassed by his own inexperience. Did Zack think he was a fumbling idiot? Well he was, but it felt embarrassing to admit that in front of him. Zack always talked about girls and stuff to the guys in the locker room, he probably had lots and lots of past experience. Cloud pretends he doesn't feel a little jealous. Of who he decides not to think too hard about.
“What is it like?” Cloud asks, lowering his voice so it can never be heard above the sounds of the loud conversations of the other occupants of the cafeteria.
Zack grins, face going a little goofy and his eyes a bit distant.
“Its the best, man.” He grins, leaning closer to Cloud as he continues. There's a slight devious twinkle in his eyes that makes something in Cloud’s stomach clench. Probably worry. “You know wha—”
“Zachary, your presence is required in my office.”
The voice echoes from a few feet behind him, smooth and deep and very recognizable. Cloud flinches feeling the tips of his ears flush as he picks at the tray of cheap cafeteria food in front of him with a sigh.
He doesn't turn around. Every time he makes eye contact with his idol he fucks up and makes a fool of himself. But who could blame him, really. Sephiroth is so cool, so tall and handsome and composed. Cloud had looked up to him ever since he had seen him as a young impressionable child, in the newspapers. He would never forget that brilliant silver hair, mako green eyes, porcelain skin and perfect features staring up at him from the glossy cover of the newest issue of Shinra Weekly. Zack must be so happy to get to work with him. If Cloud was in his place he would be overjoyed.
Zack does not in fact look happy. Instead he frowns in confusion, his eyes pulling away from Cloud to look directly over his left shoulder.
“Now?” He asks, a whine in his tone. He bites his lip, pulling at the pink skin over and over again. Cloud stares as he continues. “Why? Is it a mission?”
He hears a sigh of disapproval from behind him, and flinches on principle, even though that breath is not meant for him. Sephiroth hasn't even acknowledged his presence. Of course not, even though Zack had introduced them a few times before, a random trooper who hung onto Zack was not important enough to be on Sephiroth's radar. He was just a small blip among the thousands of other troopers that looked at General Sephiroth with awe and admiration.
The few times they had interacted Sephiroth had barely spoken to him, and just stared oddly at him, like he was a strange little bug. Or perhaps a threat to be neutralized. Cloud sighs, pushing around the chicken on his plate, the fork scratching against the shiny metal trays the cafeteria used.
“Your paperwork,” Sephiroth says, voice cool and quiet in the cacophony of noise behind them. “Its all wrong.”
The cafeteria is loud, but somehow Cloud can hear Sephiroth's voice even through the loud sounds of conversations and arguments and laughter.
“All of it?” Cloud asks, voice slightly shaky. He raises an eyebrow at Zack, across the table from him. “How did you even do that?”
There's a soft chuckle behind him, and Cloud feels a spike of pride at the fact that he just made Sephiroth laugh. The presence is closer now, perfuming heat all over the back of his thin trooper uniform.
“Truly, Cloud. We can only thank the goddess that he isn't a Turk.” Sephiroth says, his voice full of mirth. Cloud feels a pulse of heat race across his face, turning his cheeks an embarrassing shade of pink. Sephiroth said his name.
He can't help the smile that curls across his face at that. Zack pouts at him. The expression could probably fell a thousand of those women he was always trying to hit on. Good thing Cloud wasn't a woman, and Zack wasn't interested in him or he would be in real trouble.
“How could you betray me like this, Cloud.” Zack whines, glaring playfully in Cloud's direction. “Just when I was gonna do you a solid and rent you some porn.”
Cloud flushes the same color as the tasteless tomatoes that sit on top of a few pieces of wilted green lettuce that the cafeteria calls a salad. He covers his face with his hands, sinking as deep into the hard benches of the cafeteria as he can possibly go.
“Shut up,” He mutters, embarrassed to even be talking about this stuff in front of his idol. “You're the worst.”
“Nah, I'm the best friend you could ask for.” Zack grins, reaching across the table to ruffle Cloud's spiky head. The comforting touch sends more heat to his cheeks. “Dont worry! Won't be that way for long.”
“What are you gonna do?” Cloud asks, the ominous nature of that sentence scaring him a bit. His cheeks are burning as bright as a bonfire. Zack’s hand is still buried in his hair, only adding to the flush in his cheeks.
“Your hair's so soft, Cloudie.” He hums, tugging a bit at the spikes and not explaining anything about his prior sentence. Cloud wants to die. “Wait, if you haven't seen porn, does that mean you're still a—”
Sephiroth coughs behind him, clearing his throat. Cloud wants to sink into the metal bench and die. He might, with the fire that's currently burning its way across his cheeks and ears. Is it possible to explode? He’s heard of spontaneous human combustion before, how likely was that to happen to him right now.
His lack of a response is apparently as clear as any other. Zack’s hand stills in his hair, hot and heavy on his skull.
“Wait, really?” He asks, an odd look lodged in his blue green eyes. He coughs lightly, the heat of his stare burning right through Cloud's trooper uniform and incinerating him where he stands. “That's kinda hot, Spike. I bet girls’ll like that!”
“I don't think so,” Cloud says, shaking his head, willing the entire Shinra building to go up in flames.
“Sure they will!” Zack says, heat burning through his unusually unfocused eyes. “You're so cute, Spike. Don’t you think, Seph?”
Cloud doesn't know if he could turn more red than he already is. Sephiroth coughs behind him, clearing his throat.
“Inappropriate, Zackary.” He says, voice stiff. “Besides, I do worry that Trooper Strife is in danger of spontaneous human combustion if you don't stop talking.” He continues, kindly not correcting Zack’s pity compliment.
Cloud has never been more humiliated in his entire life. His idol knows he's an inexperienced loser who has never seen porn. Just great Zack, thanks.
“What about you, Seph?” Zack asks, thankfully pulling his hands out of Cloud's hair and mercifully leaving him to breath away the heat in his cheeks. He must look like a tomato by now.
“Are you asking if I am a virgin, Zachary?” Sephiroth asks, voice echoing behind Cloud. Any flush that had dissipated immediately returns with a vengeance, and Cloud can't help himself but to turn in Sephiroth's direction.
The man is closer than he had imagined, standing a foot and a half behind Cloud's seated body, hair pristine and eyebrows raised in disapproval. Cloud is suddenly very grateful those slit pupiled eyes are turned on Zack.
“No,” Zack mutters, laughing. “Im asking about Porn. You've got to have seen it, right?”
Sephiroth's eyes flick away from Zack and to Cloud, softening slightly. He even smiles just a bit when he notices Cloud looking at him. He probably feels pity for the poor trooper that's currently the color of a tomato with Zack's fingers still lingering in his hair. Cloud flushes again, and turns back towards Zack, who's smiling at him, that odd light still sitting in his eyes as he stares Cloud up and down.
God, why was everyone in the SOLDIER program so handsome? It was almost unnecessary. He's just grateful General’s Hewley and Rhapsodos aren't here too or he might combust on the spot. The mere aura of that many impressive soldiers that Cloud looked up to would have him blushing and stuttering like an idiot.
“I don't think that is an appropriate discussion to be having with—” Sephiroth says, clearing his throat. Zack rolls his eyes.
“Dont be silly dude, its totally fine.” He says, spearing a bit of dry chicken breast on his fork and gesturing it wildly through the air. “We’re friends right, so spill.”
Cloud turns back around, unable to keep his eyes away from the man behind him now that he's looking, although Zack's bright eyes are certainly doing a good job of rendering him mortifyingly red. God, why is he such a mess right now.
Sephiroth coughs again, his adams apple bobbing. Cloud follows the movement with his eyes, shamelessly lost in his idol's pristine features. Sephiroth is looking at Cloud again, and something hot burns in his slit pupils before he looks away again, a light flush of pink on the tips of his ears. It must be a trick of the light.
“What, don't tell me you haven't watched any either?” Zack laughs, spearing a sausage on his fork and shoving it in Cloud's face. Cloud leans forward, taking a bite before he realises what he's doing. A small bubble of silence envelopes their table as Cloud's lips close around the sausage speared on Zack’s fork. Something odd hovers in the air as he takes a big bite. The sausages are one of the better meats that the cafeteria serves but they always run out before he can get one. It's first come first serve, and even though all the cafeteria workers think he's just adorable, the bigger cadets always get to them before he can. Zack was lucky to have gotten some.
He smiles at Zack, the fork still hovering between them.
“Thanks,” He mutters, whipping his lips free of the leftover juices. The cafeteria sausages are pretty big, the length of his hand and about an inch thick, and in his eagerness Cloud had bitten off about half the sausage, leaving the other half hanging from Zack's fork and getting sauce all over his lips. Zack laughs as his eyes meet Clouds.
“Uh, no problem Sunshine.” He says, coughing slightly. That nickname makes Cloud smile a bit. He's lucky to have such a kind friend like Zack. The kind of friend his Ma had always wanted him to have. Someone who looked out for him when the older troopers were picking on him, who saved his favorite cafeteria sausages for him, and cuddled with him on his couch while they watched movies. It's more than he could have even hoped for out of his Shinra career, besides making it into SOLDIER of course. Zack's mako stained eyes burn, a shaky smile winding its way across his handsome face.
Sephiroth behind him clears his throat, shuffling slightly where he stands.
“This is a waste of time,” he mutters, clearing his throat again. “I’ll be sending the necessary paperwork to Angeal, I expect it to be corrected and on my desk by Wednesday Zack. Goodbye, Cloud.”
Cloud turns again with the rest of the sausage in his mouth, cheeks flushed at his name exiting those perfect lips. Sephiroth nods in his direction, swallowing hard enough that his addams apple bobs aggressively in his statuesque throat as he stares at Cloud's lips. His eyes burn, something unrecognizable floating in their depths. He almost looks hungry. Cloud frowns around the sausage, and then flushes. Sephiroth must be disgusted by his lack of manners, whey else would his eyes be glued to the sausage lodged in between Cloud's lips. He looks very angry too, his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes burning with fire. His lips part slightly, and there's a flash of pink tongue. Cloud flushes, quickly chewing and swallowing the rest of the sausage.
“You enjoy that, huh Cloud?” Zack asks him, his voice oddly husky. Cloud nods, frowning. Zack knows the sausages are the best meat in this godforsaken cafeteria, that's why he was kind enough to give Cloud one of them. The question seems a little unnecessary.
“Sausages are my favorite,” He mutters, poking sadly at the cubes of dry chicken breast on his own plate. “The ones from my village were the best. So big.”
Sephiroth chokes behind him, and stumbles back slightly. Cloud frowns, curious as to why he would respond in such a way to such a boring sentence. Maybe Sephiroth wasn't a fan of the sausages, maybe he ate his meals elsewhere. Come to think of it, Cloud had never seen him in the cafeteria with the other troopers and soldiers. General Hewley occasionally ate here, and even General Rhapsodos made an appearance occasionally to cheerfully recite loveless to anyone that would listen, but not Sephiroth.
“The paperwork, Zachary,” Sephiroth says, and then he's gone with a waft of rose and vanilla and a slightly unsteady gate.
His gorgeous hair sways behind him as he weaves around the tables of rowdy troopers and soldiers alike, a statuesque silver figure among the blurs of dark. Cloud stares after him, chewing contemplatively at the sausage. Zack coughs.
“So, when are you free?” he asks, swiping his fork from Cloud's fist and stabbing a piece of chicken. Cloud winces, the dry texture still lingering on his tongue as he picks at his food. The cafeteria food is very hit or miss. The sausages are amazing, while the chicken is disgusting. The sloppy joes they serve on Thursdays are to die for, while the meat pies on Sundays are actually inedible. It's just like a game of russian roulette but instead of risking a bullet Cloud just has to subject his poor tastebuds to a unique amount of flavors.
“Um, tomorrow night I think,” Cloud says, taking a bite of the salad. The tomatoes are completely tasteless. “Why?”
Zack smiles, big and bright and just a little bit threatening. Cloud's heart catches in his chest.
“Dont you worry your pretty little head about it.” Zack hums, pressing another sausage onto his plate with a stifled laugh.
Cloud is already worried.
…
The SOLDIER floor is blessedly empty when Cloud marches through the halls in his pajamas, and knocks firmly at Zack’s door. He wouldn't have known what to do if any of the other Firsts had seen him in his Chocobo print Pajama pants and worn cotton t-shirt. He’s been pretty close with Zack for a while, but not with the rest of his floormates. I mean, how could he be? They were friendly enough, and extended well meaning invitations that were very obviously just out of convenience, but they weren't close. Not like him and Zack, obviously. It was late, and most of the base was asleep. Cloud is supposed to be asleep as well, tucked into his cramped bunk with his squadmates.
But Zack had instructed him to come up to his room for a party. And against his bitter judgment Cloud had snuck quietly out of his shared room and booked it up here, to the floor that belonged to the First Class Soldiers. He would risk certain punishment or the embarrassment of the soldier Firsts seeing his worn pajamas to spend more time with his friend. Cloud winced at the thought of the dignified handsome Angeal nodding at him in an elevator and kindly not mentioning his thin frame and messy hair. Or General Rapsodos with his pretty features and expensive silk pajamas seeing him in his ratty chocobo print pajamas.
Carefully, Cloud twists the handle of Zack’s door, and it slides open smoothly, not a creak or whine in sight. Zack had told him to just go ahead right in, that he was running an errand and would be a few minutes late. Their conversation darts through his mind again, and Cloud hopes Zack isn't out buying the porn he had mentioned earlier. He shivers as he’s overcome with an impending sense of doom.
The familiar front entrance of Zack’s room greets him, the foyer scattered with several coats and two pairs of Zack’s tennis shoes, scattered across the floor. There is a pair of black boots, polished carefully and shining like the sun, neatly stacked right by the door. Cloud kicks off his own tennis shoes, bare feet landing on the cold wooden floor with a soft tap. He stands them carefully next to the black boots, and then presses farther into the familiar room.
The comforting sight of Zack’s empty living room welcomes him. There's a large hoodie tossed somewhat haphazardly over the back of the large black couch that faces the tv, and a cute picture of Zack with his parents smiles back at Cloud as he throws himself down on the couch, staring at the blank screen of the large tv in front of him. The SOLDIER rooms are so spacious and luxurious, not at all like the cramped room Cloud shared with ten other troopers. His squad was lucky they even got their own beds, Cloud knew some of the other squads had to share. He wrinkles his nose, the thought of sharing a tiny bunk with another smelly human makes him wince.
There's the soft sound of what sounds like a small sigh coming from behind him, but Cloud pays it no mind. It could have easily been a breeze rustling the curtains, or dashing across the half wilted flowers on the kitchen table. He leans forward, thumbing through the DVD’s laying haphazardly all across the coffee table in front of him, casually reading their titles. Some he's seen before, and some he's never heard of. They hung out here sometimes, cuddled up on the couch too close for Cloud's sanity and watched whatever dumb thing Zack wanted them to.
Maybe Zack wants to watch a movie.
A light cough sounds from behind him. Firm and soft but loud enough that Cloud can't mistake it for anything else. Cloud turns, spinning around on the couch so his chest is pressed against the cushions and his head is visible over the edge. Sephiroth is standing in the small archway that leads to Zack’s kitchen, blocking the table from view. Cloud blinks, slowly, carefully, trying to clear the image of his idol away. He must be more tired than he thought, if he's hallucinating Sephiroth standing a few feet away, clothed in a simple pair of grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt.
But no, the image doesn't dissipate. Cloud's idol is standing across from him, clothed in casual clothes and staring at him blankly. A faint line of confusion wrinkling the fair skin between his eyebrows. Cloud flushes, trying to hide his own childish pajamas behind the couch.
“Oh, uh, what are you doing here?” Cloud asks, and then belatedly adds, “Sir?”
Sephiroth blinks slowly, and then rounds the couch on measured feet, his hair flowing behind him like a magnificent silver curtain. Cloud wonders if it's as soft as it looks.
“Zach told me to come over immediately,” He hums, looking Cloud up and down. Cloud sinks into the couch and flushes, mortified about his Chocobo pj’s as the man continues. “He informed me it was an emergency. Tell me Cloud, do you happen to see an emergency?”
“Uh, no, sir.” Cloud says, shaking his head and looking around just in case. He doesn't really see anything that could be classified as an ‘emergency’ besides of course the fact that he's alone with his childhood sexual awakening. Sephiroth is still staring at him, looming over Cloud on the couch. He's so tall, and he manages to somehow look ethereal in his plain lounge wear. Cloud sinks into the soft couch, willing the ceiling to tumble down upon him as he recalls how silly he must look right now.
A fumbling virgin trooper dressed in silly pajamas. Sephiroth hums, settling down carefully on the couch, a foot away from Cloud, still scrunched up against the edge. A waft of vanilla and rose hits Cloud's nostrils, as Sephiroth's hair settles with him.
“Uh sir,” Cloud starts, biting his lip anxiously.
“No need to call me that,” Sephiroth says, voice echoing in the space between them. “Sephiroth is fine, Cloud.”
“Oh,” Cloud flushes, mortified by how his thoughts betray him, quickly informing him that Sephiroth's voice is very attractive. Just like the rest of him. He soldiers on, steadfastly ignoring the little space between them. “Right, well, I wanted to apologize.”
“About?” Sephiroth hums questioningly, staring down at Cloud, green eyes pinning him to his spot on the couch. Cloud almost can't believe he's here right now, having a conversation one on one with his first childhood crush.
“About Zack and his whole ‘porn’ conversation,” Cloud chuckles awkwardly, ignoring the flush in his cheeks as he continues. “You probably didn't wanna hear any of that.”
Sephiroth stares at him, face completely unreadable. Cloud looks away, tugging the skin of his button lip into his mouth and dragging it through his teeth.
“No need to apologize, Cloud.” He says, tilting his head sideways as his eyes once again scan Cloud from top to bottom. He pauses lightly on Cloud’s lips, watching the skin as it disappears between ivory teeth as he continues. “It is nothing to be ashamed of. I have never viewed pornography as well.”
“Really?” Cloud huffs awkwardly, a little laugh catching in his throat at the sheer absurdity of this whole conversation. Here he is, sitting beside Sephiroth and discussing their mutual lack of experience with porn. What was his life, truly.
Sephiroth nods, beside him, brushing that curtain of silver hair over his shoulder, a few shorter strands tickling his covered chest.
“I was not allowed to view such things growing up,” He hums, eyes mercifully turned away from Cloud as he continues. “They would corrupt the mind and pollute the flesh. Did they tell you this as well?”
Corrupt the mind and pollute the flesh? Sephiroth's parents sound rather unpleasant, and so conservative that even his country bumpkin mother would have raised several eyebrows. Cloud shakes his head.
“Oh, uh, I don't know my father. It was just my mother and I growing up.” Cloud replies, tugging awkwardly at the sleeve of his pajamas. “And I was too shy to bring that kind of thing up to her. Besides, we didn't have a TV.”
Sephiroth cocks an eyebrow, turning his slit pupilled eyes back on Cloud as he shifts against the pillow, awkward and silly next to the statuesque man. He looks on with what can only be described as honest confusion, almost wholesome in its openness.
“I’m from Nibelheim,” Cloud explains, tugging at a loose thread in his shirt. “Its a really small town, sir.”
“Just Sephiroth,” Sephiroth interjects, the tiniest little smile curving its way across his perfect lips. “There is a Mako Reactor there, yes?”
“Uh huh,” Cloud nods, wondering where the hell Zack is. “Most of the people there didn't have TVs until a couple years ago. My friend had one, but…”
He wasn't about to pull up to the TV in Tifa's living room with porn and watch it right there with her and her parents. Cloud trails off. The rest of the sentence going unfinished. Sephiroth cocks an eyebrow, tilting his head almost like a confused cat.
“I have heard many men in the army watch pornography together,” He says, pinning his intense eyes right on Cloud, trembling slightly like a leaf in the wind as he continues. “Did you and this friend partake in such activities?”
“With Tifa?” Cloud sputters, his cheeks burning with heat. “Oh god no, I couldn't, not with her…”
“Oh,” Sephiroth replies, staring at him with what almost looks like disappointment in his green eyes. “Your girlfriend then? I envy you, I was not permitted to have such relationships when I was your age.”
Cloud wonders if the flush across his cheeks could start a wildfire. What is his life right now? He coughs, clearing his throat as he rushes to correct Sephiroth lest he get the wrong idea. Why that matters, Cloud doesn't know. There's no reason his idol needs to know he's available. Not like he would want to date Cloud anyway.
“No, I've never dated anyone.” Cloud mutters, hoping the flush across his cheeks has calmed down. “Tifa and I are friends.”
It's a little more complicated than that, but Cloud doesn't feel like humiliating himself even more so he doesn't explain the isolation, the other village kids, the crush he used to have on Tifa, or his other childhood crush. The one sitting right beside him on Zack’s soft couch. Embarrassing memories of the Sephiroth poster that still hung in his childhood bedroom float through his mind.
“How nice,” Sephiroth hums, smiling at him lightly. “I don't have many friends. You should treasure the ones you have.”
Cloud blinks at him, finally turning his full attention on the man. He sits tall and slightly stiff beside him, curtains of silver pouring over his back and the couch cushions, and a slight, wistful smile curves across his face. And if Cloud squints real hard, if he shoves down his own preconceived misconceptions about the man in front of him, Sephiroth almost looks lonely. Cloud has always been just a little too impulsive for his own good. He was the cause of quite a few of his Ma’s wrinkles, with the number of times he had run off somewhere dangerous. And maybe that's what makes Cloud blurt out something stupid.
“We can be friends.” He says. Sephiroth turns, looking down at him on the other end of the couch and raising an eyebrow. He looks faintly surprised. Cloud flinches.
“Uh, im sorry sir, that was presumptuous of me—”
“Cute.” Sephiroth says. The words are more a breath of air than anything else, and it puffs through the air, shocking Cloud out of his spiraling apologies and backtracking.
“Sir?” Cloud asks, flush starting to burn down his neck now.
Sephiroth couldn't be talking about him, right! He must be mocking how cute it was for Cloud to dare to ask something like that of him. Sephiroth probably had tons of cool people lining up to be his friend, why would he choose Cloud out of all people. Some loser, virgin trooper wearing Choboco pajamas, who had never even watched porn and only had two real friends. One of which was currently in his hometown, waiting for him to become a soldier like he had promised. And the other who had spontaneously decided to disappear off the face of the planet like Houdini. Where the hell was Zack, anyway?
“Very well,” Sephiroth says, scooting a bit closer on the couch. There's a light twinkle in his eyes, like he wants to laugh. Probably at how silly Cloud must look. “From today on, we are friends.”
“Really?” Cloud croaks, confusion and embarrassment still flushing his face. Sephiroth smiles lightly, tilting his head.
“Do you not wish to be my friend, Cloud?” He asks, lips pushed out. Like a pout. The great General Sephiroth, war hero extraordinaire, is pouting at him. Cloud can't believe what's happening right now.
“I would really like to be your friend sir!” Cloud gets out, all in a rush. Sephiroth chuckles, the sound on a frequency that makes Cloud's hands shake with embarrassment.
“Thats wonderful,” He says, and then scootches across the few inches left between them. Cloud can feel the heat of his body, leaking off his large muscled thighs and arms. His breath hitches and he looks up, confused. Sephiroth tilts his head.
“Friends give hugs, yes?” He asks. “I suggest a hug to celebrate our new friendship.”
Cloud stares, jaw about to hit the floor. Sephiroth just pouts. Again. What is happening right now.
He's so shell shocked he doesn't even protest, just kinda leans in as warm hands grip his waist, tugging him along the couch with an ease that should not be attractive. Sephiroth pulls him in, angling his chest to their touch as his hands slide fully around Cloud, settling soft and large on his waist, completely encircling him. Cloud can't breathe. The scent of vanilla and rose and the salty smell of sweat envelopes him as Sephiroth's hands stroke up and down his back, gripping his waist and trailing down to tease over the waistline of his chocobo pajama pants. Cloud gulps, trembling lightly in his idol's arms.
Is he dreaming? It feels like he's dreaming. Or this is all an elaborate joke and any moment now Zack is going to pop out with a video camera and laugh at him.
You’re quite small,” Sephiroth hums, the sound rumbling from his chest to Cloud's own. Cloud flinches, flushing from where his face is currently pressed into the soft shoulder of Sephiroth's plain shirt.
“It's embarrassing,” he mutters into the fabric, flinching slightly as a hand grips his waist, almost possessively. “I work out every day, but I'm still so weak.”
He knows he's smaller than most of the other troopers, ok? He doesn't need his idol to point it out either. He works out with all the other troopers, more even, but he just hasn't grown for a couple years. There's not much he can do about his height.
“Its not a bad thing,” Sephiroth hums, hands stroking up and down Cloud's spine. “On the contrary. I find your stature very desirable.”
Cloud frowns, trying to tug away from the shoulder and look into Sephiroth's eyes but two iron hands on his waist immobilize him against his idol's chest. He finds it unlikely that Sephiroth would want to emulate his body, thin and short and toned, but lacking in the muscle mass that many of the other troopers had. Sephiroth is kind to reassure him. Cloud has never been held like this, like he's going to break if Sephiroth lets go.
“You don't have to lie,” Cloud mutters into his shoulder. Sephiroth doesn't reply, only humming lightly. The rumble passes from his chest into Cloud's body, making him tremble lightly. The hug is almost intimate, like all Sephiroth wants to do is meld their bodies together and just sit in each other's warmth.
He almost whimpers when Sephiroth finally lets him go, scooting a bit away on the couch. Just in time for the door to slam open, and Zack to come crashing into the room with a singular DVD clutched in one hand.
“Sorry I'm late guys, I had to sneak in through the second story window.” Zack says, tossing the empty dvd case on the coffee table with the others and bending down to search through one of the drawers under the TV. Cloud stares at the discarded dvd case, a flush working its way across his cheeks.
There are three naked women on the cover, a petite woman with a shirt blond pixie and a thin waist is in front, looking up at the camera with big blue eyes, the other women loom over her, a curvy dark skinned woman with yards and yards of curly hair, and a freckled woman with a blunt bob hitting her shoulders. They're all completely naked, and big letters barely cover their intimate bits.
Best of Courtney Minx, Anika Foxx and Cierra Wong. The BIGGEST compilation you can buy! 9 steamy movies, will these ladies EVER be SATISFIED!! Also featuring…
“What is this?” Sephiroth asks, eyes zeroed in on the same box that Cloud is staring at, a faint thrill of danger in his tone. Cloud yanks his eyes away from the explicit box art and stares at the white wall above Zack’s tv, wondering if it's too late to bolt.
“What does it look like?” Zack says, pulling his dvd player out of the drawer and closing it with a slam. “I picked up a porn dvd for you guys, you know, since you’ve never seen one before.”
Zack grins, sliding the dvd into the player and grabbing the tv remote, plopping next to Cloud on the couch. Cloud shifts, his body sliding a bit too far and hitting the warmth of Sephiroth's thigh. He's sandwiched between a disgruntled looking Sephiroth and Zack, who is watching as the dvd boots up, legs jumping up and down on his worn carpet. Three pictures pop up on the screen, the three women from the cover staring back at Cloud. They're all scantily dressed in some lacy type of underwear, and posing in various ways, white borders separating the screen in three. Cloud looks away, staring at the white wall again. The heat of two bodies on either side of him are so distracting.
“This is highly inappropriate,” Sephiroth says, stiff and tall next to Cloud. There's a faint flush on his ears, partially hidden by the curtains of silver. Cloud nods, turning to look at Zack with reproachful eyes, trying to convey as much as possible through his face. Zack just chuckles, throwing a heavy arm across his shoulders, the heat a brand on his body.
“Aw loosen up, man.” He hums, fiddling with the remote in his hand. “So, I grabbed a compilation cause I thought I'd let you guys decide which actress to go with.”
He gestures at the screen, at the three pretty scantily clad women blinking back at them, shameless. Cloud knows his face must be the color of General Rhapsodos’s red coat as he stares at the screen waiting for someone else to speak. When no one does, he manages to respond.
“Uh, whatever you guys want,” Cloud squeaks, clearing his throat. Zack chuckles, warm hand slapping his back.
“You don't have a type, Spike?” He asks, smiling just a bit too brightly for the time of night. “What about you, Seph.”
Sephiroth coughs, a clear flush on his ears. He’s still so stiff beside Cloud, but there's a little less tension in his back as he settles into the couch. He seems to have accepted the inevitability of this particular encounter, enough that he isn't storming out to report Cloud for being out after Curfew and Zack for whatever the hell this was.
“The blond,” Sephiroth says, gesturing at the short boyish blond with a cough. Zack laughs, fiddling with the remote and selecting her picture.
“Good choice man, Courtney’s my favorite too.” Zack says, as the next menu pops up, another image of the actress, Courtney, spread out atop a desk with garments so small they might as well be strings covering her intimate bits as he continues. “You curious?”
Sephiroth coughs, clearing his throat loudly.
“A bit,” He acquiesces, pressing just a bit closer to Cloud on the couch as he continues. “If Cloud is brave enough to view something new and different, I will bolster my own courage and dive in as well.”
Cloud flushes, ducking his head into the nonexistent scarf that would usually be around his neck, somehow missing his trooper uniform. Sephiroth thinks he's brave.
Zack’s hot hand winds into Cloud's hair, stroking over his head softly and sweetly, like how he does when they're watching a regular movie sometimes. The tv screen blinks back, listing three options on top of Coutney’s small breasts.
FIGHTERS Naughty Girl
A Married Woman's Secret
Mommy Issues
“So,” Zack says, tugging lightly at the strands of Cloud's hair, sending strange zings of heat through his body as he continues. “Which one you wanna watch?”
Cloud stares at the suspicious titles, suggestive enough that even he can tell exactly what kind of movies lie behind those titles. He blinks, trying to clear the embarrassment that's already burning his cheeks red and the ache that's starting to lodge in his gut. Not helped by the gentle hand tugging and stroking his hair. Zack seems to like playing with his hair. Ducking his head into his collar, Cloud clears his throat before he speaks.
“Have you seen any of these, Zack?” He asks, proud of how his voice isn't shaking too much, just a slight tremor on Zack’s name.
“Nope,” Zack replies, popping the p. He flicks through the titles, and little walls of text pop up beside each one.
FIGHTERS Naughty Girl- Courtney Minx stars as Claudine, a low ranking trooper working for Shinria Company. Follow her naughty adventures as she Seduces fighters, tangles with Turks, and maybe even—
“Zachary,” Sephiroth says, more anger creeping into his voice. Cloud shivers, even though that ire is not directed at him as he continues. “What is this?”
Zach chuckles somewhat nervously, and quickly flicks past that description. Other walls of text whizz past as he nervously flicks through each title at a breakneck speed. Cloud stares.
“That video description is a clear reference to Shinra,” Sephiroth exclaims, sounding righteously upset. “We should forward this movie to our law team immediately. Or perhaps the Turks.”
Zack laughs, pausing his button pressing to toss a little smile over Cloud's head. One of his hands is still lodged in Cloud's hair, tugging and stroking gently. It's making Cloud go a bit dumb.
“Well, see they didn't exactly say Shinra, so it's a free game,” Zack says, remote sitting like a bomb in his hand. The select sits firmly on SOLDERS naughty girl, the text block staring back at them. “And besides, I'm kinda afraid of what Tseng is gonna throw at me if I send this his way.”
“A strongly worded email, perhaps?” Sephiroth says, nodding even as righteous anger burns across his face. Zack laughs, clicking through the options again, busying his hands. Cloud can't believe what's happening.
“And anyway, we can't exactly get them in trouble unless they say Shinra,” Zack explains, biting back a grin. “And unless someone wants to watch it…”
Silence sinks around them, heavy and laden with promise. Cloud looks up, watching Sephiroth as the man keeps his eyes on the white text blinking at them. Finally he opens his mouth, voice deep in the silence.
“I suppose it is my duty, no, our duty, to make sure there is nothing nefarious in this video that is a threat to Shinra,” He says, clearing his throat dubiously and gesturing grandly with one hand. “Play the movie, Zachary.”
Zack obliges, clicking the movie with a stifled laugh.