Archive of Our Own

Zack could feel that somebody was watching him. 

It had been a long hike up the frigid Nibel Mountains, with seemingly no shortage of monsters standing in their way. From great green dragons to Nibel wolves mutated almost beyond recognition, the mountains were home to a variety of beasts. Sephiroth and Zack led their team while Tifa and Cloud trailed behind. While Zack had initially been skeptical that the 15-year-old in a cowgirl outfit that had no business being worn in such weather would be able to lead them up the mountain, she had proven herself to be a worthy tour guide. Tifa kept up with the SOLDIERs as best as could be expected for a civilian, and she knew when to stay out of the way during a battle, of which there were many.

While Sephiroth hadn’t shown any sign of fatigue, Zack was starting to feel a little worn down. Though SOLDIER enhancements provided protection from the cold, Zack was a jungle boy at heart. Trudging through the heavy snow with chilling winds whipping in his face was dampening his spirits.

And his pants, that were completely soaked through at his calves. Had it not occurred to anyone at Shinra to design a uniform that could withstand a bit of snow? 

Given the circumstances, Zack had little capacity to worry about… whatever was going on with Cloud.

Cloud had been acting strangely since they first boarded the transport to Nibelheim. He couldn’t meet Sephiroth’s eyes, and his voice quivered whenever he spoke to him. His motion sickness was worse than usual; Sephiroth insisted the driver pull the truck over so Cloud could get out to vomit. Zack understood the response Sephiroth garnered, he’d seen the way fangirls quite literally fainted in Sephiroth’s presence, but he hadn’t realized Cloud had it so bad. Zack had been prepared to tease Cloud about his infatuation the entire trip, but seeing it actually play out, Zack could only pity him. Cloud was not going to forgive himself if he continued making a fool out of himself in front of his hero. 

That wasn’t the extent of Cloud’s weird behavior, though. Once they approached the village, Cloud put his helmet on and requested he not be referred to by name. Zack knew Cloud wasn’t the biggest fan of some of the folks from Nibelheim, but he went to fairly extreme lengths to hide his return. He even put on a fake voice when talking to Tifa. Cloud seemed most concerned that Tifa would find out he was back, but Zack hadn’t the slightest clue why that would be. Cloud had never mentioned her before. 

It was Cloud that had been watching Zack from behind, of course. Whenever Zack turned around, he looked away in a hurry, giving away where his eyes had been facing underneath his helmet. 

Whatever was going on with Cloud, it was seriously distracting him from the mission. Once the trooper stumbled over a rock for the third time that day, Sephiroth turned his head to look at Zack.

“Is he always like this?” He asked, voice low enough that Cloud would not hear him. 

Fuck. Zack hoped Sephiroth wouldn’t notice, but his hope had been in vain. Being perceptive was a crucial skill for a military general.

“Like what?” Zack asked, deliberately playing dumb. He didn’t want to accidentally lower Sephiroth’s opinion of Cloud further by listing off the potential mistakes he could be referring to. 

“He has tripped over his own feet multiple times, and failed to shoot a Valron that was directly in front of him,” Sephiroth stated. He narrowed his eyes before he continued. “I recall you telling me he is rather skilled for his level of training. That influenced my decision to take him with us. I find myself curious as to what you see in him.” 

Zack winced. Sephiroth was clearly trying to be polite since Cloud was Zack’s friend, but it was obvious he was less than impressed with Cloud. 

Zack could not let Cloud embarrass himself on his first mission with Sephiroth.

“Nah, Cloudy’s normally great!” Zack whisper-exclaimed. “He saved my life back in Modeoheim. Shot a monster that snuck up behind me. I think he’s just a bit nervous, being back in his hometown and all. And he really looks up to you too, yah know. He probably wants to impress you and has gotten himself worked up over it.”

Sephiroth’s face changed in an almost-imperceptible way that Zack had come to recognize as a grimace.   

“Is he a fan?” Sephiroth asked, his tone making his thoughts about his fan base clear. 

“He is, but not like that, I swear!” Definitely like that. He’s obsessed.“ He just needs a bit of time to get used to being around you, and then he’ll treat you like anyone else.” Unlikely, given the hours-long transport hadn’t been enough time. “He’s not obsessed with you or anything. He just gets a little self-conscious at times, and it’s worse when it’s someone whose opinion he cares about.” 

Zack exhaled in relief once he finished talking. He’d never been good at lying.

Sephiroth made a noise of acknowledgment, then looked behind him warily. Cloud immediately jumped under the General’s gaze, then slid on the ice when he landed, barely managing to hold himself upright. Sephiroth sighed. Not good, Cloud! 

“C’mon man, take it as a compliment. No need to get worked up just because a kid’s got a crush on you.”

“I am not ‘worked up’ because of the infantryman’s ‘crush’, Zack. I am concerned about him becoming a liability,” Sephiroth said, facing forward now. The wind blew his hair in a way that made him look like he belonged on runways, not battlefields. Zack could hardly blame Cloud for liking him so much. 

It wasn’t an unreasonable statement. They’d already lost one infantryman on the way up, and Zack wouldn’t have let it go had it been Cloud.

“He’ll be fine. I’ll talk to him, and try to calm him down a bit. When there’s real danger, Cloud can handle just about anything. I promise.” 

“I find that hard to believe,” Sephiroth replied, shoving a fallen boulder off of the path with ease.

“It’s true! Plus he’s the nicest guy there is. You’ll change your mind about him by the end of the mission, I know it,” Zack paused as he thought back to the transport that morning. “Oh, and he’s cute too. Don’t think I didn’t see you looking when we were in the truck.”

“I was looking because I was concerned he was going to vomit on me.” 

Zack laughed gleefully, and shoved Sephiroth by the shoulder. “You are so full of shit!”

“He is not much to look at with the helmet on, at least.” 

“So you admit he’s cute without it, then? Come on, you’ve gotta get a kick out of a cute boy like that being completely infatuated with you.” 

“Zackary. Are you trying to set us up?” Sephiroth’s expression of confusion and concern was so amusing that Zack just had to giggle. That really wasn’t his intention. He'd just wanted to be able to tell Cloud that Sephiroth thinks he’s cute once they got back to Midgar. 

Cloud never would have believed him, though he would have blushed brightly at the thought.

“How old would this infantryman happen to be?” Sephiroth continued. 

Zack’s jaw dropped, and he stopped dead in his tracks. Shit. On the off chance he actually was interested, Zack wasn’t going to blow this for Cloud. Sephiroth had stopped walking too, awaiting his reply. 

“Um. He’s eighteen.”

“Bullshit,” Sephiroth said, rolling his eyes. Zack didn’t know Sephiroth even did such a thing. He probably learned it from Genesis. Sephiroth continued his trek up the mountain.

“He’s just short for his age!” Zack hissed. He rushed to catch back up to Sephiroth, but he slipped on a patch of ice, and fell into the snow. 

He heard Tifa and Cloud yelling from behind, asking if he was alright. Sephiroth, on the other hand, had appeared next to him, and was smirking.

“Serves you right for lying,” he said.

Since when was Sephiroth so petty? “Asshole,” Zack replied. He grabbed a pile of snow and chucked it at Sephiroth, who managed to melt all of it with a Firaga spell before it reached him. Zack threw his arms up in defeat, and both men laughed.

After Zack got himself back on his feet, he shot a glance behind him. Cloud was looking down towards the ground, dragging his feet through the snow and pouting not unlike a toddler. Cloud lifted his head towards him and it was like Zack could see through the clunky helmet on his head, to Cloud’s innocent blue eyes. To Cloud’s sad, innocent blue eyes.

There was no way Cloud heard Zack and Sephiroth’s earlier conversation, so what could that be about?

Zack felt a headache coming on…

-

Some time later, the group found themselves approaching a series of metal structures that led to the reactor. As Sephiroth and Tifa discussed the best path, Zack quickly pulled Cloud aside. He signaled to Sephiroth that they would return in a minute, then walked Cloud back down the path, far enough away that even enhanced ears wouldn’t be able to overhear.

“Cloud, you’ve gotta pull it together, man.” 

Cloud looked around, then pulled his helmet off. His blond hair was sticking up in every direction, and his cheeks were pink from the cold weather. 

“I know!” He cried, not even trying to deny it. 

“I don’t know why you’re stressed about Tifa figuring out who you are, but what I do know is you can’t keep freaking out over Sephiroth. I know you’re in love with-”

“I’m not in love with him,” Cloud insisted.

“You are, but anyway, he’s just a guy, Cloud! I know him pretty well by now. Yeah, he’s important to the company, but he’s not some god. He’s a good guy once you get to know him. You’re panicking so much that you’re making mistakes you never would, but there’s really nothing to worry about!”

“You think I’ve already blown my chance at making SOLDIER?” Cloud said, his tone defeated.

“What? No! Sephiroth is not that unreasonable, Cloud. You wouldn’t believe the kind of mistakes I’ve made in front of him before. But you have to give him some reason to believe you are capable enough to join SOLDIER. I know you have it in you, I’ve told him as much, but he won’t believe it until he sees it.”

Cloud took a deep breath. He looked even more anxious than before. Zack changed his strategy. 

“You know if he was this big scary guy you’re making him out to be, he wouldn’t put up with me at all. He’s gotta be pretty forgiving to deal with this,” Zack said, gesturing to himself. He knew Cloud would know what he meant; from constantly running late, to his messy reports, to his forgetfulness… 

Cloud laughed. “You’re right. Thanks for talking some sense into me.” 

“Let’s head back before we hold up the mission, yeah?” 

Cloud nodded and placed his helmet back on his head.

By the time they’d reached Sephiroth and Tifa, the pair had already decided which way to go. The plan was to take the shortest route, which involved heading through the old Shinra buildings carved in the side of the mountain, once used for reactor maintenance. Sephiroth warned them it was likely that monsters were now hiding out in the cavern-like structures, but Zack wasn’t quite expecting anything to the scale of the Materia Guardian.

The thing was nasty, with aqua-colored scales, spikes, patches of glowing hair, and some rather scary pinchers on its six limbs, each easily large enough to hold onto a person. Sephiroth ordered Cloud to stand back and defend Tifa, so Cloud headed back towards the exit with her.

So much for Cloud getting a chance to prove himself to Sephiroth. 

With Cloud watching from afar, Zack and Sephiroth teamed up to take down the beast. Zack’s excitement built up at the prospect of fighting something he’d never seen before. He said as much to Sephiroth, who, much like Angeal always had, called him a puppy in a teasing, yet friendly tone. 

The two worked together rather seamlessly to take down the monster. Zack was pretty damn proud of himself for not being grabbed even once. Zack shot a wink at Cloud as he slashed through one of the beast’s legs, sending it crashing down from the ceiling. Cloud and Tifa’s jaws were agape as Zack landed the finishing blow. 

Sephiroth must have been satisfied with the fight as well, because he’d praised Zack a few times throughout, and said “Nice work,” once the Guardian had faded away into the Lifestream. Such high praise was rare from Sephiroth, so Zack beamed in response.

Cloud, on the other hand, was not smiling. Tifa had started to walk back towards the Firsts, but Cloud was still leaning up against the wall, pouting much like he had before. 

Zack had enough. He needed to get to the bottom of this, and fast. He rushed across the room to Cloud, stopping just in front of him. 

“Cloud, you need to tell me what’s going on. This is the second time I’ve seen you upset, and now I’m getting concerned,” Zack spoke quietly enough that Tifa wouldn’t hear, but there was no hiding the conversation from Sephiroth.

“I’m fine," Cloud said. Upon seeing that Zack wasn't believing him, he continued. "Seriously, there's nothing going on! Let’s go. It’ll get too cold if we’re still outside by nightfall.” 

“It’s obviously not nothing. Come on Cloud, you can tell me anything! I’m really worried about you,” Zack pleased.

“No need to waste time worrying about me. Shouldn’t you be flirting with your boyfriend instead?” Cloud snapped.

“My what?” Zack said.

“Sephiroth has been flirting with you this whole time! You have something going on with him, don’t you? And you didn’t even tell me!” Cloud’s hands were balled into fists. His frustration was clear, even through the helmet.

“Woah, Cloud, slow down. Flirting? When?” 

“He called you a puppy,” Zack. I may be from the middle of nowhere, but I wasn’t born yesterday! Plus all of the compliments just now, and the teasing and laughing earlier too? I know Sephiroth doesn’t act like that with just anyone.” 

“My mentor used to call me puppy! Innocently! Spike, you’re reading this all wrong. Sephiroth and I are just friends, and barely friends at that. We’ve only started to get close recently. Why’s this got you so worked up anyway?”

“I…” Cloud looked down at the ground again. Suddenly, Zack figured out what this was all about.

“You’re jealous, aren’t you?” Zack said, barely able to contain his grin.

“No, that’s not-” Cloud’s face was burning red, from his cheeks all the way down to the sliver of his neck that was visible above his scarf. 

“Yes it is!” Zack was grinning from ear to ear now. “Don’t worry Cloudy,” Zack began, patting Cloud on his shoulder pauldron. “The man of your dreams is 100% single!”

“Zack, shut up!” Cloud exclaimed, shoving him away. “We’re continuing with the mission,” he growled. Zack had never seen Cloud so angry before, so he relented, ready to finish their journey up to the reactor. That is, until he noticed Sephiroth was fast approaching.

-

Sephiroth was just as surprised as Zack to find that Cloud had been jealous the whole time. Truthfully, Zack had been right. Sephiroth had taken interest in Cloud from the moment he first saw him in that transport vehicle, and was disappointed when Cloud’s ability had not lived up to his expectations. If Cloud’s attraction to him was what was holding back, well…

A good General should help his men perform at their best, of course. 

“Zack, go on ahead with Tifa. The infantryman and I will catch up in a moment,” Sephiroth ordered as he approached the pair. He smirked at Zack, hoping the SOLDIER would catch on to his intentions. Cloud snapped his head toward Sephiroth, shock written on his face.

Zack shot a knowing grin at Sephiroth, then scurried off. Tifa sprinted to catch up with him. Sephiroth watched them until they left, and once he was certain they were gone, he turned to face Cloud. He stalked towards Cloud, backing him up against the wall. He grabbed the boy’s helmet and pulled it straight off his head, tossing it to the side. Cloud whipped his head in the direction of the helmet, then back toward Sephiroth. Even with his shocked expression, the boy was absolutely gorgeous. Sephiroth should demand whoever decided the infantrymen should wear helmets be fired. 

“Strife, look at me,” He commanded. Cloud swallowed hard, but met Sephiroth’s eyes with his own. 

“Do you find that I am an inept General, Strife?” Sephiroth asked. 

Cloud blinked, then furrowed his eyebrows, clearly taken aback.

“I asked you a question, Strife,” Sephiroth stated, impatiently.

“Uh, no. No, sir. Of course not. Sir,” Cloud said, as he trembled in front of him. It looked as though the wall behind him was the only reason he was still upright. 

“A General that fails to notice an issue with his men would be one that is inept, correct?”

“Uh… I guess so, sir.” 

“Then it stands to reason, cadet, that I have noticed you have not been performing to your full potential today?”

The boy’s jaw dropped. Tears instantly welled up in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. 

“Cloud. I have seen how you have been staring at Zack all day, with jealousy in your eyes. It has been distracting you from the mission.”

“I-I’m, s-sorry, sir.” Cloud said, through sniffles. 

“No need for apologies,” Sephiroth said, gently this time. He wiped the tears from Cloud’s eyes. “I understand that you’re… distracted,” Sephiroth said, lowering his tone. “I could help you out with that, if you wish. I wouldn’t forgive myself if harm came to you on the mission because I distracted you.” As he spoke, Sephiroth trailed his hand down over Cloud’s chest and stomach, stopping just under his navel.

Cloud had frozen in place, eyes wide as saucers. Sephiroth could hear the boy’s heart rate speed up considerably. 

Perhaps he had gone too far with the boy? But no, after another moment had passed, Cloud was slowly nodding his head. 

“Talk to me, Cloud. I need to hear you say yes.” Sephiroth’s hand opened the belt over Cloud’s shirt, then slipped under the shirt, ghosting over the waistband of his pants.

Another moment had passed, then Cloud croaked out “Please,” so sweetly. 

Sephiroth was going to owe Zack for the rest of his life for putting this idea in his head. 

At Cloud’s pleading, Sephiroth moved his hand down to cup Cloud through his pants. The boy gasped, and bucked his hips forward. Sephiroth moved his other hand to Cloud’s face, pressing two of his fingers against Cloud’s lips.

“Suck,” he said simply. Cloud’s eyes widened further, but he nodded and opened his mouth, letting Sephiroth slip both gloved fingers past his lips.

“Make sure you get them really wet, because that is all you’ll be getting,” he added. 

Sephiroth watched with a smirk as fear washed over Cloud’s face. The boy began to suck on his fingers earnestly. I wonder if he thinks I intend to penetrate him using just saliva? Sephiroth mused. 

“What a good boy,” Sephiroth said, caressing Cloud’s jaw with his thumb. Even with all of the layers separating them, he felt Cloud’s cock jump in his hand.

“Don’t ruin your pants,” Sephiroth chided, just to see how the boy reacted. Cloud squirmed under him and whined around his fingers. The cadet really was pretty, and while it was clear he was inexperienced, those big eyes of his were absolutely entrancing. Something about that pure, awed expression made Sephiroth want to be a little bit mean to the boy. Better to spoil Cloud’s idealized image of him sooner than later.  

As he slowly got over his reservations, Cloud really got into it. He’d closed his eyes and started making little noises around Sephiroth’s fingers as he bucked his hips into Sephiroth’s hand, chasing the ounce of friction he could get through his uniform. Unable to resist himself any longer, Sephiroth jabbed his fingers into the back of the boy’s throat. Cloud instantly gagged, and Sephiroth was unable to hold back a moan as his throat convulsed around him. Cloud opened his eyes to glare, but between the blush and the drool running down his chin, he didn’t look remotely threatening. 

“Cute,” Sephiroth thought to himself. This was going to be fun. 

Now satisfied with the wetness of his glove, it was time for Sephiroth to reward Cloud for his efforts.

“I thought I told you not to ruin your pants,” Sephiroth said, gesturing to a clear wet spot on the front of Cloud. The boy looked worried as he glanced down at the mess he’d made, moving his hands forward to cover himself. Superior officers did tend to punish cadets if their uniforms were in less than perfect condition, but Sephiroth never found it worth his time to worry about a little stain here or there.  

“I suppose we have no choice but to get you out of them, then.” 

Cloud looked relieved but said nothing, instead silently lifting his shirt enough that Sephiroth could unzip his pants and pull them, along with his underwear, down to his thighs. Cloud shivered as the cold air hit his exposed erection.

“It’s not too cold, is it?” Sephiroth asked. 

“It’s not,” Cloud confirmed.

“No, of course not,” Sephiroth agreed. "You were raised here, surely a little cold weather is tolerable.” He ran his thumb over Cloud’s slit, through the wetness that was pooling there.

“Please,” Cloud said again. He rocked his hips forward, emphasizing his point.

“Please…?” Sephiroth asked, continuing to thumb the head of Cloud’s cock. He wanted to hear more of Cloud’s pretty voice. 

“Please, more,” He begged. Sephiroth took pity on the boy and wrapped his gloved hand, slick with Cloud’s spit, around Cloud’s erection. He started stroking him slowly at first, watching Cloud’s face for his reactions.

“Is the glove too much for you?” Sephiroth asked. Cloud shouted “No!” and shook his head so vigorously Sephiroth had to hold back a laugh. 

“You like the way my gloved hand feels around your cock, don’t you?” Sephiroth teased, stroking Cloud faster. “I bet you’ve imagined this late at night before.” Cloud slapped a hand over his mouth, attempting to hold back a moan.

“You don’t need to hold back with me, Cloud. Let me hear you.” Cloud obliged, moving his hand away from his mouth. When Sephiroth saw those pink lips once more, he suddenly realized he had not even kissed Cloud yet.

If this was the boy’s first time, which he assumed it was, he was doing this all in the wrong order.

Sephiroth quickly rectified that, using his free hand to grab back of Cloud’s head, pulling him forward to bring their lips together. Cloud moaned at the contact, allowing Sephiroth the opportunity to slip his tongue inside. Sephiroth tightened his grip around the boy’s cock and started stroking it faster, bringing him closer to completion. The boy was having a tough time keeping up with the kiss as Sephiroth continued touching him, but it was satisfying feeling Cloud losing control of his movements under him. Sephiroth broke away from the kiss and tugged Cloud’s green uniform scarf off of him. He latched onto Cloud’s neck, sucking hard onto the pale skin, and it was then that he heard Cloud cry out his name. Cloud’s cock pulsed in his hand, spilling onto his uniform and Sephiroth’s glove as Sephiroth marked him. Sephiroth stroked slowly through his orgasm, watching intently as Cloud’s breathing finally slowed and his eyes opened.

“Stunning,” Sephiroth said. Cloud shook his head and covered his face, insisting that wasn’t true at all. Belatedly realizing he was still exposed and clearly embarrassed by that fact, Cloud tugged his pants back on, zipping and buttoning them with shaky hands. He looked at Sephiroth as if he was unsure what to do next, but he quickly noticed the erection Sephiroth was now sporting, clearly visible through his leather pants. It greatly amused Sephiroth to see Cloud trying, and failing, not to stare.

“Do you want to learn how to use your mouth?” Sephiroth asked. He’d been eager to put his cock inside Cloud’s mouth ever since he felt Cloud’s throat around his fingers. 

Cloud blushed further, if that was possible.

“Can I really?” He asked. Fuck. Zack was right, he did “get a kick” out of having a cute boy practically worshiping him. 

“Of course,” Sephiroth responded. He opened the clasp on his jacket and opened both of his belts.

“But I’ve never…” Cloud said, his lips pushed forward in a slight pout. 

“That’s alright.” More than alright. He was getting a kick out of being Cloud’s first, too. “You can go slow,” he said. Cloud nodded and sank to his knees.

“Just tell me if I do something wrong, okay?” He asked, looking up at Sephiroth’s eyes. 

Sephiroth nodded in reply, not trusting himself to speak as he looked down at Cloud on his knees in front of him. He doubted Cloud would do anything wrong. Cloud undid Sephiroth’s pants and pulled them down, eyes widening in surprise as Sephiroth’s cock popped out and bumped his face. 

Underwear didn’t fit under tight leather pants.

“Woah,” Cloud marveled, almost certainly without realizing it, as he wrapped his hand around the base of Sephiroth’s cock. Sephiroth knew he was big, which could pose a problem if Cloud was too enthusiastic. 

Cloud started by licking over Sephiroth’s slit, eagerly lapping up his pre-cum. He continued to lick at the head, occasionally suckling at it. He closed his eyes to savor the taste, and judging by the way his cock was already hardening again in his pants, he was enjoying himself quite a bit.

Sephiroth supposed it was true that a teenage boy’s short refractory period rivaled that of a SOLDIER’s. 

Cloud opened his eyes and locked them with Sephiroth’s as he gave the head of his cock a particular hard suck. Sephiroth groaned, then called Cloud a tease.

Cloud pulled off and giggled, amused that he was able to drive Sephiroth crazy. He lifted Sephiroth’s cock, then ran his tongue from the base to the tip. Then he leaned back down, but instead of doing it again, he took one of Sephiroth’s balls into his mouth, sucking on it gently as he fondled the other with his hand. The sight of Sephiroth’s cock resting on Cloud’s face was absolutely filthy, and Sephiroth couldn’t stop staring. The boy looked bashful as he realized Sephiroth was watching, but he continued nonetheless. 

Where had this shy virgin from the mountains learned how to do this?

Eventually, Cloud stopped teasing Sephiroth and took Sephiroth’s cock into his mouth. He moved slowly at first, getting used to the feeling of it, but gradually increased his pace. As Sephiroth predicted, he got overzealous, going too far and choking around him. Sephiroth pulled back out slowly, and rubbed the top of Cloud’s head. 

“You do not have to go so far. Use your hand for what your mouth cannot reach. Don’t forget to breathe through your nose,” he advised.

“Got it,” Cloud said. He took a deep breath, then tried again. He went even slower this time, and stopped just short of halfway, wrapping his hand around the bottom half of Sephiroth’s cock. Sephiroth threaded his hand through Cloud’s hair, careful not to push Cloud’s head as the boy worked his cock. Cloud was a natural, matching the movements of his hand to his mouth, and pressing his tongue on the underside of Sephiroth’s cock in just the right way.

“Cloud,” Sephiroth moaned, throwing his head back. Cloud hummed around him, and Sephiroth found himself quickly hurtling towards the edge. 

“Cloud, I’m close,” he said, barely resisting the urge to fuck Cloud’s throat. Cloud looked up at him but didn’t make any effort to pull back. Sephiroth took that as assent, and immediately spilled into Cloud’s mouth. The boy managed to swallow most of it, and quickly lapped up the rest with his tongue once he pulled off. 

Cloud quickly hopped up to his feet, and looked past Sephiroth as he asked, “Was that okay?”

“Okay?” Sephiroth repeated as he tucked himself away. He huffed out a laugh. “Cloud, it was far better than ‘okay’. I find it hard to believe it was your first time doing that.”

“Seriously?” Cloud asked. He shifted his weight, looking torn between being embarrassed and being proud to hear that. 

Sephiroth didn’t need the confirmation, but he wasn’t going to pass up on one last opportunity to watch Cloud squirm, so he asked, “And how was I, earlier?” 

“Gaia,” Cloud said, looking away. “Do I even have to say it?”

“That good?” Sephiroth teased.

“I thought I was going to die,” Cloud said. “Like, seriously, I still feel like I’m going to open my eyes and find myself floating in the Lifestream.” 

Sephiroth smiled. “I’ll take that as a compliment, then.” He paused, remembering back to why this all happened in the first place. “Do you think you’ll be able to continue the mission without becoming distracted?”

“Uh… to be honest, I think I might be more distracted now,” Cloud replied. He glanced down at his pants, where the outline of his erection could be seen.

“I suppose I cannot be too surprised by that outcome,” Sephiroth said. “The reactor is not far now, though, so I ask that you try your best to stay alert for the remainder of the mission.”

“I will, sir,” Cloud responded, slipping back into his subordinate role. He walked across the room to pick up his helmet, placing it back on his head. Sephiroth found Cloud’s scarf and wiped it off before tying it around Cloud’s neck, covering the hickey he’d left there. He could have healed it with Materia, but he liked knowing that Cloud was marked by him.

Once Sephiroth and Cloud had tidied themselves up to the best of their ability, Sephiroth’s PHS vibrated in his pocket. Unsurprisingly, it was a message from Zack.

“we made it to the reactor. i think i found the issue and fixed it. this place is srsly giving me the creeps. theres a bunch of freaky monsters inside capsules. not like any reactor ive seen b4. i really dont want to hang around here any longer waiting 4 u so can we call this mission complete??? i wanna grab some food, mayb u and cloud can head back to the inn first? ;) ;) ;)”

It was Sephiroth’s responsibility to confirm the reactor was in working order, but looking at Cloud’s flushed cheeks, swollen lips, and the admiration in his eyes, there was no way he could turn down Zack’s offer.

“That was Zack. Looks like it's mission accomplished. What do you say we head back to the inn, just the two of us?” 

Sephiroth couldn’t have been more grateful to Zack as Cloud all but dragged him back down the mountain.