The past week in Shinra had been hell week for Cloud Strife. He was tired and sore and was rather sure that if he went through one more damned drill he would collapse. He sighed at this. He wanted so bad to be like Sephiroth. But these workouts his commanding officers forced him to do were killing him. He now respected Sephiroth even more than when he came here. The man had to be a powerhouse.

Cloud sighed. He had made one new friend, First Class SOLDIER, Zackary Fair. That said soldier was his only salvation. He oversaw the training and often let Cloud rest when he was about to collapse as had almost happened many times already during this week. He wanted to sleep. In the past 168 hours he maybe had gotten fifteen hours of sleep. He tripped over himself to finish his last lap for the night.

"Hey Cloud, are you hanging in there?" Zack asked goodnaturedly as he came up to his friend, clapping a hand on his back as Cloud was bent over slightly, grasping his knees and trying to catch his breath.

Cloud looked up at the other and gave a small nod. "Yeah, I'm still alive." He stated, wishing for a moment he wasn't. "And my leg is cramping, my head is pounding, it's hot as hell, and I don't even know how long I have needed to use the restroom.." Cloud stated with an irritated glance.

Zack grinned. "I know buddy, but don't worry. It gets a little better after this.. the rest of the month anyhow. The first week of every month will be like this. Just wait until they make you guys train with the Turk division."

"Don't you still have to train?" Cloud asked, giving Zack his best reproachful look.

Zack snorted. "No. When you hit first class you just get tested once in a while. So it is good to work out. I don't know Spikey, it will give you something to make as your goal." He smiled. "Well anyways, I have to go deliver this to the General. I will be back later if you want to go hang out."

Cloud blushed faintly. "Oh the General?" He asked, wondering how Zack was so lucky to be able to talk to him. "What's he like?" He asked suddenly.

Zack looked the other over curiously. "Like you would think he would be." He stated,walking off. Cloud wondered what he meant but didn't care to dwell on it, walking off to shower with the rest of his class. After showering he went to the cafeteria to grab some food.
~*~
Zack reached Sephiroth's room and he smiled. "Hey Seph. I have your file." He said, smiling at the other.

Sephiroth looked up from the papers strewn across his desk, putting his fingers to his temples and sighing. "Hm. Thank you Zackary," he said shortly, extending his hand to take yet more papers from the first rank Soldier. He turned back to his desk, assuming that Zack probably would not leave so quickly. He seemed to like making conversation, which kept Sephiroth from sorting all of those documents as quickly as he would have liked, but he wasn't completely adverse to company. Once in a while, it was tolerable. He picked up his pen and applied his signature to the document he had been reading when Zack came in and began reading another one, waiting for him to say something else.

Zack grinned at the other, having no intentions of leaving just yet. "So, Sephiorth, I think I know of someone you may just be interested in.." He said, sitting himself on Sephiroth's desk.

Sephiroth mechanically set down his pen, then turned his head and looked up flatly at Zack. "Is that so? What makes you think I would be interested in this person?" He wondered in slight annoyance as to why Zackary's ass was on the surface of his desk, but ignored it for the moment, more interested in what he had to say about this person.

"Just because I think you need him.." Zack said challengingly. "Tell me why you shouldn't?" He asked, patting his head.

"Need him for what, exactly, Zackary? Do I seem desperate to you?" Sephiroth leaned his head against his hand and stared pointedly at the man who still sat on his desk. He had been somewhat glad for the company before, but now that he could see that Zack was only trying to set him up, he wanted the company less.

"Weeeelllll.. yes. You may not notice it Seph but you need someone outside of me to talk to and love on. Admit it." He said, grinning. "When was the last time you got laid? Or the last time you were even intimate with anyone. When was the last time you let yourself go and just enjoyed life?" Zack interrogated, looking the other over.

"Zackary, I don't think you quite realize who you're talking to. I don't 'love on' people. More specifically, it wouldn't be at all intelligent for appearance's sake to be intimate with men." Sephiroth sighed. "But if it will make you shut up about it...show me who you mean to set me up with."

Zack practically giggled. If Sephiroth at least wanted to see the other that meant he was at least a little interested. He grabbed the general's hand and practically dragged him to the cafeteria balcony. He looked a moment and pointed Cloud out excitedly. "See him!?" He said, grinning. "Isn't he just so damned cute!?" He asked hyperly.

From down below Cloud was in an arm-wrestling match, laughing as he was almost losing. "Awe dammit! No fair!" He whined as he lost.

The other he was wrsetling with fell back in laughter, long bright red hair spreading about. "Damn yo! I thought you wanted to be a SOLDIER!?"

"I hope you're not expecting me to tell you I think he's cute. You're lucky the word cute came out of my mouth at all." Sephiroth looked at the blonde spikey head and furrowed his brow. Well, maybe he was...cute. But he had just lost points for losing an arm wrestling match to Reno. "What is his name?"

Zack huffed. "His name is Cloud. Cloud Strife." He said, grinning. "Awe come on Seph you know he is the most adorable thing ever!"

Cloud huffed at Reno. "You were making me laugh!" he protested. "RE-MATCH!"

Reno chuckled. "I don't know, I think you lost fair and square, yo..."

"Alright, fine, I give. You're right, he's cute. Now what?" The general crossed his arms in front of his chest. Zack was in charge of this whole operation, since he'd done this more than once and Sephiroth did not date. He continued to observe Cloud, taking note that he had blue eyes and that they went nicely with his blonde hair, which defied gravity. He also had fair skin, which was rather typical of his hair and eye color combination, but it was another feature that complimented his appearance.

Zack grinned. "HEY CLOUD!" He shouted from the blacony, "SAVE ME AND SEPH A SEAT." He grinned before turning to the general. "Now we go and have polite conversation."

Cloud blushed and looked at Reno. "Help.." He said simply, hoping the other would understand as he made room for the two.

"Help? And what would you need help with, Cloudy-boy?" Reno taunted. He looked up at the balcony before looking back at Cloud. "Oh, I see, yo. You're nervous because your beloved general is going to be joining us here...at this very table..." He laughed lightly.

Sephiroth rolled his eyes at Zack's behavior, but nonetheless complied and made his way down to where Cloud and Reno were sitting, walking in front of Zack instead of following him. He took the open seat next to the blonde, opting not to sit next to Reno. He remained silent, waiting for Zack to begin 'polite conversation'.

Cloud had to have turned Crimson, he tried his best to ignore that the General was right next to him. "Hello Zackary." He said, not sure how to address Sephiroth. "General." He said softly, nodding at the other before looking to Reno for help and shooting Zack a glare.

Zack grinned. "Hiya Cloud. Hey Reno.. so you boys want to go out or something later? Maybe to a bar or.. maybe just.. to go hang out somewhere? Maybe you know.. get out of the base scenery?" He asked them, grinning at Cloud especially.

Sephiroth nodded politely at Cloud, noticing that the soldier blushed as he sat next to him. Zack hadn't mentioned that Cloud was already this interested in him. He turned his attention to Zack, since he was talking, but offered little commentary.

Reno grinned at the mention of a bar, and couldn't resist the opportunity to make Cloud turn an even deeper shade of red. "I don't know about a bar, yo. I don't think Cloudy could hold his liquor too well. What if he did something...outrageous?" He turned to look between Sephiroth and Cloud, raising his eyebrows in suggestion when he looked specifically at the blonde boy.

Zack grinned and only nodded at Sephiroth before looking at Reno and Cloud. "Well, he will have to if he dosen't.. want to do anything that may be stupid. Or would it?"

Cloud coughed and stepped on Reno's foot before glaring at Zack. "I can hold my own, thank you very much!" He squeaked, being sure to not make eye contact with the general. He knew what Reno had meant.

The general smirked at the implications of this conversation, silently curious to see if this little blonde soldier would do something strange if he got drunk. He glanced at Cloud before looking at the other two and stating, "I think the bar sounds like a good idea."

Reno winced slightly at Cloud's attempted stealthy silencing method, but continued his taunting. "You hear that, Cloudy? I think that means you have to go to the bar. That sounded like an order from the general. You better be good, yo." He held back most of his laughter, trying to keep his face straight and serious.

Cloud huffed. "Is that an order sir?" He asked with a pout, looking up into the general's eyes, which he realized was a bad idea because he was starting to blush again, and starting to lean over to the other.

Zack grinned. "Hey, your forget that I can order you around too cause your only a cadet." He said happily. "And you are going."

"Yes, Cloud. It was an order..." Sephiroth smirked, amused as he noticed that Cloud was very slowly moving closer to him. Feeling a little less than his normal composure, Sephiroth decided to make the situation just a little bit worse. He leaned in toward Cloud just as much as the other was leaning. He had no intent of doing anything just yet, but it seemed like fun.

Reno saw the situation that was happening across the table and his grin turned into a wide smile and he was unable to reign in his laughter anymore, snorting before laughing loudly, intentionally breaking up the moment.

Cloud gave Reno a thankful look and stood from the table. "Right, well if we are going, then we should get ready."He said, finding it to be the perfect excuse to leave.

Zack laughed. "By all means, wear something.. cute." He said, laughing at the mortified look on Cloud's face as Cloud made another glance at the general before walking away. Zack turned to Reno. "Go help him." He said.

Sephiroth smiled, satisfied with himself for having flustered the poor boy. It was definitely going to be an interesting evening. He would have to thank Zack later for devising this plan.

"You got it, yo," Reno answered, following after Cloud with his hands shoved in his pockets. Cute clothes weren't exactly his specialty, but he could give it a shot. In any case, it would give him opportunity to amuse himself more.

Zack laughed. "Told you Seph. Come on, what do you think of him?" He asked, looking at the other quizzically.

Cloud was almost dying by the time he got in his room and slammed the door behind Reno. "I can't believe Zack!" He said, plopping onto his bed. "Now what!? What am I going to wear? What if Sephiroth thinks I am an idiot!?" He groaned and curled into a ball.

Sephiroth looked Zack and laced his hands together in front of his face, narrowing his eyes. "I think...that it's for me to know and for you to find out," he answered, smirking. Of course he thought Cloud was cute, now that much was certain. But he wasn't sure if he was attracted to him or if he just liked to amuse himself at the boy's expense. He had just met him after all.

The red-head struggled not to laugh at Cloud and all of his drama. "Calm down, Cloudy. No need to be a wreck over this. Besides, it's not that consequential if he thinks you're an idiot. That just makes you another soldier." He smiled. "Just wear something casual and try not to flip out if he starts a conversation with you or somethin', yo."

Zack smiled. "I think that you and he will like each other a little more than you are thinking." He said, putting his feet on the table. "Your his idol, and he has the biggest crush on you."

Cloud huffed. "I suppose." He groaned, sitting up."Alright, well. find something for me to wear so we can get this done with." He said, making sure his hair was still spiky, suddenly getting hyper and happier that he knew he was going to be spending time with the general. He also put on a very very light layer of candy flavored lipgloss.

"That I could see. But you didn't tell me that before we sat here. No matter, we shall see how this evening progresses." Sephiroth stood from the table and began walking back to his quarters. "Come, Zackary. You're going to help me find something to wear."

"Uhh...sure, okay." Reno scratched his head and walked to Cloud's closet. "I hope there's nothing embarrassing you don't want me to find..." he teased lightly. Looking through the boy's garments, he came out with a pair of boot-cut black pants and a white peasant-style shirt that laced up the front of the chest. "How about this? I think it's cute, yo." He held the clothes out to Cloud.

Zack grinned and ran after the general. "I think you should just wear something.. like a long sleved black shirt and some casual blue jeans.." He said, grinning. "And even pull that hair of yours back.."

Cloud smiled. "Yeah that will work." He said, stripping and putting the outfit on. It seemed to work well together. "Man, you have good taste in clothing." He said, happy with the outfit. He put on his dress shoes and smiled. "How do I look?"

Zack thought a moment. "Or.. we could just.. put you in a Green tanktop to match your eyes and some of your baggier black pants that you never wear.. and the reason I suggested your uniform is because Cloud loves the straps on it.."

"You look good. I don't think General Sephiroth will be able to resist that look, yo." Reno laughed. "Seriously though, I don't think you'll have anything to worry about. So don't get too nervous." He patted Cloud on the shoulder. "I'm gonna go change clothes, yo. I'll be back in a little bit."

"I'm not even going to ask what you mean by that, Zack. I like the idea of long sleeves and jeans. Thank you for that suggestion." Sephiroth threw open his closet door once they got to his room and selected his clothing. Without asking Zack to leave, he stripped out of his uniform and slipped into his casual clothes. Quickly, he tied up his hair, and then turned to Zack, his expression asking 'how do I look?'

Cloud nodded and smiled. "Thanks Reno." He said, leaving as well after grabbing his wallet to go find Zack. "Hey Zack?" He called when getting to his room, after not seeing him he merely leant against the door frame.

Zack grinned. "I think you look sexy." He said, going over to the general and grabbing a brush. "But your hair is just slightly a mess." He said, re-putting it up after it had been brushed."There, much better." He said, smiling. "Now let's go find Cloudy and Reno."

Reno changed into a light blue button-down shirt, but kept the plain black slacks of his uniform. He retied the ponytail he usually wore and then ran out of the room to find Cloud again. He wasn't in his room, so he guessed...Zack's room? And went there to find him waiting. "Zack's probably with Sephy, yo," he commented when he saw the blonde leaning against the door frame.

"Thank you..." Sephiroth answered, slightly confused as to how Zack had gotten away with brushing his hair without so much as a verbal protest, but followed him out of his room. He casually slid his thumbs through his belt loops as they walked, wondering where Reno and Cloud might be waiting.

"I don't know where Seph's room is." Cloud admitted, shrugging.

Zack grinned. "CLOUDY!!!!" He screeched, running over to the blond and hugging him. "Awe you look sooo cute!" He said, fawning over the boy. He hugged him. "Look what I did to seph.. " He whispered.

Cloud did look and Cloud blushed. "Oh.." He said, not sure what to say, once more looking to Reno for some form of help.

Zack grinned. "I am sooo driving.." He said, grabbing keys from inside his room."Come on guys!"

"Nice look, Sephy. Can't say I like it more than the leather though, yo," Reno commented nonchalantly. "Good job, Zack." He chuckled quietly at Cloud's blush, amused that the boy was so transparent.

Sephiroth smiled and also noticed the pink that stained the blonde boy's cheeks. "You look nice, Cloud," he acknowledged, no doubt earning himself a more flustered cadet, which made him laugh silently to himself. He nodded and then walked along behind Zack.

Cloud blushed more and clung to Reno. "Reno, I think I am going to die." He insisted, nodding. "I mean it."

Zack grinned and let them all in the car. "You guys need to buckle up too." He said, speeding off to the bar/club. He made them seat perfectly so Reno was up front with him and Cloud was in the back with Sephiroth.

Cloud did his best to look out the window, hating that the bar they were going to was still fifteen to twenty minutes away and he had to be tortured by sitting next to Sephiroth. Not that he minded... he just.. felt.. aroused a little.

Sephiroth smirked as he realized Zack had placed them in the car strategically. Should he make it worse for Cloud? No, he decided to hold back until they were closer to the bar. He would bet money that Reno was enjoying the seating arrangement as well, considering he seemed to like to torment Cloud.

Sephiroth's guess would have been right. Reno was sitting in the front seat, glancing once in a while at Zack and chuckling. He wondered how Cloud was fairing in the back seat with Sephiroth. And so he decided to bring this thought into the light. "So, Cloudy, are you gonna drink anything once we get to the bar?"

Cloud grinned. "Of course. You think I am going to let a little alcohol ruin me?" He asked, trying to seem like he knew what he was doing. He truly hadn't ever had alcohol.

Zack snorted. "Yeah okay, Cloud. You say this now.. just wait till later." He said, grinning. "So, when he is drunk and passed out who gets dibs on him?"

The temptation was too great to resist. He wanted to see how darkly Cloud would blush. Sephiroth cleared his throat and raised his hand in answer to Zack's question, hoping the pair up front would see him in the rear view mirror. His answer was meant to be a joke, but he may not have been entirely kidding.

"Cloudy, I don't think the alcohol will ruin you. Not at all. If anything, you'll loosen up, yo." Reno grinned and laughed. He noticed Sephiroth's raised hand. He couldn't see Cloud's face, but he imagined the expression was priceless.

Cloud had paled as he saw the other raise his hand he looked up into his eyes disbelieving before blushing darkly, mouth partially open. "Wha-" He couldn't speak at all.

Zack laughed hysterically as they were at a stoplight. "Yeah Cloud," He said, regaining his breath, "You need to lighten up." He laughed more. "Damn Seph, you're going to kill the boy."

Sephiroth actually laughed, though it wasn't for very long. "Relax Cloud, I was joking. That is, unless that's what you want." He ignored Zack's comment that he was going to end up killing the poor boy.

Reno laughed so hard he was crying, and he wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. "You better watch out, Cloudy. I think you might hurt in the morning if he got you, yo." He giggled again.

Cloud was almost in tears from embarassment. "You people suck." He stated simply, growling and looking out the window, unable to meet any of their gazes.

Zack laughed as they pulled into the club parking lot. "Well well. I call dibs on Reno as my date, Sorry Cloudy you and Seph are kind of stuck together." He grinned.

Cloud was mortified and shakily got out of the car. "This.. sucks.. and is not fair." He mumbled to himself.

Zack slipped his hand in Reno's arm. "Hey guys your not doing it right.. " He stepped over to Cloud and pulled him to Sephiroth, placing the cadet's arm so that it linked with Sephiroth's. "There ya go!" He grinned, patting Cloud's head.

Cloud squeaked and grinned nervously up at Sephiroth. "H-hi."

Reno shrugged and smiled. "Yeah, alright. I don't have a problem with being your date, yo," he commented on Zack's decision. He laughed again at Cloud's misfortune. It was understandable, though, that he would be so nervous around Sephiroth. The man was striking and intimidating.

"Hello yourself. You don't seem very thrilled to be my date, cadet. It couldn't be that you're afraid of me, could it?" Sephiroth teased Cloud, locking arms with him so that he could not run away, even though there was really nowhere to run.

Zack grinned. "Don't worry Reno it isn't like you haven't been my date before." He said, grinning. He looked back at Cloud and Sephiroth before having to hide his laughter. "We should torment him more often."

Cloud couldn't find the words to speak. "Well I.. I.. we.. umm.. no I am not afraid..just.." He gave up and looked at everything except Sephiroth, wishing suddenly to be by Zack. "I am so getting you back for this Zackary." He mumbled.

"Oh, I wasn't worried. Looking forward to it. It's too much fun to mess with him. Too easy, yo." Reno chuckled and looked at the couple behind them once more as they walked into the bar.

Sephiroth smiled. "You're so nervous. You can relax a little. I won't eat you. Would it help if I promised not to take advantage of you if you pass out?" He joked lightly, though he knew Cloud was too flustered to really take it lightly. Perhaps he would loosen up a little easier if he had some alcohol.

Zack nodded. "Yeah So.. I am going to leave Seph and Cloud alone for the little...ummnn.. question.. you dating anyone?"Zack asked. Cloud wasn't the only one he was trying to hook up.
He walked back over to Cloud. "Hey Cloud! I got your drinks!" He said, grinning and handing Cloud a flavored bit of coconut rum.

Cloud found this the perfect distraction to ignore Sephiroth's words even though he still blushed. He grabbed the drink from Zack. "Oh, it's good, what is it?"

Zack grinned. "Rum.."

"No, I'm not dating anyone right now. You wanna hook up with me or something?" Reno smiled as he answered. "I'd be glad to be your boyfriend, yo." He ordered a mixed drink for himself, vodka and blue Hawaiian punch, and sipped it slowly.

Sephiroth raised an eyebrow. "Rum? You're not starting him off easy, are you?" he whispered to Zack. He smirked. "Very smooth." With the drinks Zack was ordering for Cloud, it wouldn't take long for the blonde boy to get drunk. Sephiroth didn't feel much like getting drunk, so he ordered something light and a little on the girly side, a strawberry wine cooler.

Zack grinned. "thought you would never ask!"Zack said after shaking his head to Sephiroth and giving a sly wink. He captured Reno in a kiss. "Taht's more like it."

Cloud blushed at his friend's antics. "Oh my.." He was on his second drink now and was beginning to feel flush. "Hmmnn.. its warm in here."

"Hmm, this date is turning out pretty well. It isn't even the end of the night and I've already gotten a kiss, yo." Reno laughed and kissed Zack again, then took a drink of his liquor. "What are you drinking?" he asked, curiously.

Sephiroth smirked and looked at Cloud, still sipping the same first drink he had. "No it isn't. You might want to slow down a little. I'm sure you're already buzzed." Though he cautioned him, he didn't make any move to stop him from drinking. It was going to be interesting to see what he would do.

Zack grinned and kissed Reno again. "I know, right? I am just drinkin a beer.. getting a slow buzz."

Cloud giggled as the alcohol took hold of him. "Hmmnn I don't know. I feel fine." He said, smiling up at the general.

"Hah, yeah, I felt like drinking something hard. So, vodka, yo." Reno raised his glass in a gesture of cheers before finishing off what was left in the glass and ordering another of the same thing.

Sephiroth snorted. "I'm sure you do. You're looking a little flushed." He reached up and stroked the back of his fingers across Cloud's cheek. "You're warm."

Zack grinned. "I kind of feel like drinking something hard too.." He said, giving the other a wink. He ordered another beer watching Cloud. "He's blitzed.."

Cloud gigglied at the other's touch. "Hmmnn but so are you.. and it feels nice.." He said, clinging to the other.

Zack grinned. "I slipped him an aprhodisiac.."

"No kidding? You're pretty clever, yo." Reno laughed, also acknowledging Zack's innuendo with a smirk and raised eyebrows.

Sephiroth didn't know what to think with the blonde boy attached to him. Zack...he must have put something in his drink. He couldn't decide whether to be a gentleman and push Cloud away, saving him from embarrassment in the morning, or to accept his advances, give in. Would it really matter? It was obvious that Cloud wanted him in the first place, even before the alcohol.

Zack grinned. "Well.. I have hung around you since my being a cadet you know.." He said, the memories coming back to him. "Ah, those good ol days." He said, laughing.

Cloud giggled and nuzled the general. "Heyy I want another drink." He said with a pout, unsure how to actually order himself one.

"Hmmm...yeah. Nothin' beats being a Turk though. Lots of benefits, yo." Reno downed his second glass, feeling a definite buzz and a heat in his face.

"You're drunk and you've only had two. I don't want you to pass out on me. Then you'll be no fun." Sephiroth smiled, deciding to have his fun, getting very close to the soldier and breathing teasingly against his ear.

Zack grinned. "Yeah but we kick more ass.." He said, defending the SOLDIER pride.

Cloud blushed and groaned. "You know how long I have liked you?" He asked, leaning on the other.

"Eh, this is a date. Why the hell are we arguing about the military? We should be...getting to know each other, yo." Reno smirked, ordering yet another drink. Oh yeah, tonight he felt like getting smashed.

"Mm...I don't. Do tell," Sephiroth answered in a voice a little above a whisper. He hadn't had enough alcohol to be buzzed even, so he knew that his thought at the moment that Cloud really was cute was a coherent one.

Zack laughed. "Good point." He said, placing his arm about the other's waist. "So.. exactly how do you plan on getting to know me?"

Cloud giggled. "Since.. ohhh ever since I was about thirteen.. for quite some time now." He said, leaning against the other. "I have admired you since forever."

"How? Well, really we would have to have decent conversation. But that's pretty tough in a bar. Maybe we could ditch those two, go back to the compound, and get to know each other in your room, yo." Reno grinned, feeling more than a little buzzed. He wasn't slurring his words yet, so he was doing pretty good.

"I would have a better idea of 'ever since I was thirteen' if I knew how old you were now, Cloud. But we can save conversation for a bit later, if you would like. I believe I would get better information if you were sober." Sephiroth smiled and lightly stroked his finger along one side of Cloud's jaw.

"Yeah, but what if Seph can't drive Cloud back for some reason?" Zack asked, smiling at his red-haired lover.

"I'm.. I think seventeen... maybe nineteen.. ask Zacky-poo he knows me." Cloud said softly, nuzzling Sephiroth's fingers.

"Something tells me Sephy isn't drunk, yo. Why wouldn't he be able to drive, other than the fact that we're taking the car?" Reno grinned.

Sephiroth chuckled. Was he really so drunk he couldn't remember how old he was? It didn't matter. "I'll ask him later. Now is not the best time. So, how long would you like to sit here in the bar? Would you like to go somewhere else?"

Zack thought about the red-heads reasoning. "Oh, right. Well, true he is the general. Alright, let's go somewhere a bit more quiet."

Cloud giggled which was a very unlike thing for him to do. "I don't know how well I can walk, but there are booths around." He said, grabbing the general's hand and pulling him to said booth.

"Cool. So...where do you think we should go? Alot of places could be considered quiet, yo." Reno leaned close to Zack and ghosted a kiss against his neck.

Sephiroth was surprised, being tugged along by his hand, but settled into the booth on the opposite side from Cloud. He would have sat next to him, he supposed, but he liked being able to see who he was talking to. "So...this didn't go very far."

Zack shrugged and lead him out of the bar, to the car. "Well he may be good.. for now, these seats do fold down if we need them to." He said, kissing the fiery red-head.

"Uhm, I know. I am drunk and I am trying to make good decisions." Cloud said, grinning halfly.

"Oooo...that's cool. We don't even really have to ditch them. Though that was going to be the fun part, yo." Reno was glad that Zack was leading him because at this point, he couldn't quite walk straight.

Sephiroth chuckled. "I'd never suggest that you should drive in your state. This is fine." He gestured around them at the booth. He folded his hands in front of him on the table and looked at Cloud, waiting for him to say something else.

Zack thought a moment. "Well we kinda are in public. Let me get us somewhere a little more secluded." He said, sitting in the driver's seat and starting the engine. He wondered why the road seemed to merge with another road. "Holy shit... the road is like.. different."

Cloud sighed. "I know I am going to regret this when I become sober again, I just hope I don't remember this. But you have a nice ass. And I sometimes just want to grab your hair and fuck you senseles... umm yeah I kinda always liked you and you should abuse me..."

Reno blinked and shook his head as he looked out the windshield. "Wow...I know what you mean. You're drunk. You shouldn't drive, yo. How dark are these windows?" He lazily pointed at the window next to him.

Sephiroth sat back in his side of the booth, eyebrows raised and mouth slightly open. Needless to say, he was surprised. "My god, Cloud, that was quite a speech. I assume you're completely serious, in fact, since you're drunk, I think that those really are your true feelings. Tell me something, what do you wish me to do about this?"

Zack grinned. "But driving while intoxicated is fun!" He said, looking both ways blurrily before pulling out into the street, driving slowly. He was starting to laugh as the stoplight ahead wiggled.

Cloud shrugged. "Oh I don't know, fuck me silly? I fantasized about you punishing me more than once..." He said, happy that he was drunk. "Bend me over your desk in your office, make me scream obscenities..."

Reno might have been nervous if he wasn't drunk, or maybe not even. He started to giggle as the buildings crept by, all of them a little blurry and comical.

For a moment, Sephiroth mulled all of this over in his head. What Cloud was offering was extremely tempting. It would only be more tempting if he was sober at the moment. He wanted to be absolutely sure the blonde boy would remember an experience like that. He sighed and smiled. "If that's what you want..." He looked around the bar. Reno and Zack were gone. He rolled his eyes. "It will have to wait. They left."

Zack smiled and they finally came safely to the shinra national park...he parked and turned off the car, hungrily kissing the other again.

Cloud pouted. "Ohhh damn them. They are soo mean." He said, laying his head on the table, eyes sliding shut. Within seconds if no one woke him he would be passed out.

Reno kissed him back, moaning quietly against Zack's lips. He was too drunk to care how much noise he made. He slid his hands through Zack's hair and gripped it, using it as leverage to kiss him harder.

Sephiroth smirked as he watched the boy lay against the table. Should he wake him or let him pass out? Whether he was passed out or drunk and awake, he figured he'd probably have to carry the boy out of the bar anyway. He decided to let him go. All of the things he told him he would remember, whether Cloud did or not.

Zack moaned as well, clumsily kissing his turk companion, fumbling over the buttons on the shirt the other wore.

Cloud slid away into oblivion, his drunken mind letting him see fantasies of him and Sephiroth together.

Reno arched against Zack, which may or may not have helped him unbutton his shirt. His tongue slipped out of his mouth and traced along Zack's lower lip.

Sephiroth sighed and finally ordered a drink with alcohol in it, more than a wine cooler anyway, and sipped it boredly while he watched Cloud sleep. It was a little awkward to be stuck at the bar with a passed-out companion. Aw well.

Zack groaned and finally succeeded in unbuttoning the other's clothing and then slipping his hand down to finish the job on the other half. "Damn man its hot in here."

Cloud groaned in his drunken state, feeling slightly ill as he slept.

"Nah, that's just me, yo." Reno grinned and then sucked his lower lip into his mouth as he groaned.

Sephiroth felt...displaced. He decided to study Cloud as he slept, noting that seemingly nothing could dampen the spikes of his hair. Water, maybe? His skin was smooth and fair, and he seemed to have very faint freckles from his time in the sun. All in all, he was a very attractive young man.

Zack smirked and kissed the other hard as he could when they were both fully unclothed. "Oh yeah man.. scream for me Reno.." He said, btiing into the turk's neck lovingly.

Cloud woke suddenly. "OH MY GODS THE GIANT CHOCOBOS..." He silenced himself as he realized that a few people looked his way and that he was not being attacked by said creatures. As he looked up at Sephiroth he coughed nervously.

Reno moaned, almost dramatically loud, digging his fingernails into Zack's shoulders as he felt his teeth against his skin.

Sephiroth glared at the few people that had looked at Cloud when he awoke and then looked back at the blonde himself. "Having a nightmare?" he questioned.

Zack laughed against the other's skin, running his fingers along his chest. He slipped his hand down the other, stroking him lustily.

Cloud nodded. "Yeah, there was this giant chocobo.. and like.. it was.. woah.." He said, wide eyed.

Reno grinned, but made less of a production out of his noises after that, choosing to make them more genuine. If Zack wanted him to scream, he was going to have to work for it. He groaned a little as Zack touched him.

Sephiroth smirked. "That sounds...definitely disturbing. How are you feeling?" He was hoping Cloud wouldn't be feeling ill or anything from all the alcohol he had been fed.

Zack stroked Reno in all the ways that he himself liked, rougher in someplaces and ever so gentle in the next. He slipped his thumb over the tip, sucking the red-head's neck as he did so.

Cloud shrugged. "Tired, a little shaky.." He said, feeling warm as well. "And like it's over a hundred degrees in here..." He stood wobbily. "Can we go back to the compound now?"

Reno trembled and shook and moaned, arching against Zack, still digging his fingernails into the flesh of his shoulder.

"We can't go back to the compound until Zackary and Reno return. We can go outside, though, if you would like." Sephiroth slid out of the booth and offered his hand to Cloud, who would undoubtably would be dizzy when he stood up.

Zack let his hand trail down farther and let a finger press into the other. "Dammit.. I forgot lube.."

Cloud stood and almost fell over as the world seemed to spin around in pretty colors. He groaned. "Can't we get a cab or something? I think.. I am going to be sick." He said, stumbling over himself to get outside where he emptied his stomach onto the sidewalk.

"Doesn't matter...do it anyway...nnnn..." Reno couldn't even be bothered to add the 'yo' at the end of his sentence. He nudged against Zack's hand, encouraging him to continue.

Sephiroth spread a hand over his face and sighed, closing his eyes and waiting for Cloud to quit vomiting. "Alright, we can get a cab. I can only imagine what Zack and Reno must be doing right now anyway. It could be a while before they get back." He surveyed the street for a moment and noticed an approaching cab, hailing it as soon as he could. "Come along, Cloud. We'll go back to the compound now."

Zack grinned at this. "Oh looks like you can't talk much.. I wonder why.." He added another finger and pressed them in farther into the other, moving them to stretch him for the much larger item that would be soon following.

Cloud miserably leant on the general, still feeling woozy as he got in the car. "I hope I didn't get sick on you." He said, eyes closed in fever and clinging to the other. His head was pounding terribly.

Reno moaned, but not yet loudly, and narrowed his eyes to look at Zack, giving him one of his best sexy looks.

"You didn't. It's fine." Sephiroth draped his arm around Cloud, something that was a little uncharacteristic of him, and he was almost compelled to stroke Cloud's blonde hair. "Do you think you might be sick while we are in this cab? Or will you be fine until we get to the compound?"

Zack took said look to heart. "Awe your so cute baby." He said, removing his fingers and curling them around the other's shaft while he eased inside him.

Cloud shrugged. "I think I will be okay until we get back. Can I stay with you if I promise to not throw up on your carpet?"

The red-head winced, but then relaxed and sighed, moaning at the touch and then pushing against Zack slightly. He was eager and if he was lucky his senses might be dulled by the alcohol.

Sephiroth smiled at the dry humor and chuckled a little. "Of course you can stay with me. I wouldn't like you to stay by yourself while you're ill, anyway."

Zack began a slow rhythm in the other, groaning and moving slowly, doing what he could to stay focused and balanced enough to stroke the other in time with the thrusts.

Cloud smiled slightly before wincing again. "You wouldn't happen to have pain killers..?"

Reno moaned loudly and met Zack's thrusts, which made the strokes rougher as he moved against them.

"I do." Sephiroth opened the door to the cab as it stopped at the entrance to the Shinra compound, then walked around to the other side of the car and opened the door for Cloud.

Zack groaned and thrust harder and harder. He couldn't get enough of his sexy charge. He twirled his hands into the red-haired ponytail, tugging on it as he thrust faster into him.

Cloud almost fell out of the car as he got out, leaning heavily on the other. "Hmn, the world spins so pretty."

Reno's eyes watered as his hair was tugged, but he couldn't ignore the pleasure he felt as Zack thrust into him. He'd never had such rough sex before.

Sephiroth wrapped his arm around Cloud's waist to keep him steady as they walked into the building. "Cloud, do I need to carry you? Or are you able to walk to my room?"

Zack groaned, stroking the other tighter as he was almost nearing his completion. He didn't know why it was so fast, but he couldn't seem to stop himself.

"Carry me.." Cloud said, trying to not throw up again as he reached a nearby waste basket. That plan failed as he for the second time that night emptied his stomach before passing out on the floor.

The intensity was too much for Reno's drunk body to handle. It couldn't keep his stamina in check and he moaned loudly, half forming the sentence to tell Zack he was going to come. And just then, he did.

Sephiroth grimaced and sighed, looking at the K.O.'d cadet for a moment before picking him up, sliding his arms under his neck and knees, carrying him the rest of the way to his room. When they reached his room, he laid him down in his bed, hoping the boy wouldn't wake up somehow and vomit again.

Zack came hard inside the other, happy that he wasn't the only one that had been close. He pulled out afterwards and panted, trying to catch his breath. "Oh god...damn Reno.." Was all he could say, releasing the other's hair. "Sorry about your hair.."

Cloud only muffledly groaned as he was layed down, his head still pounding even in his passed out condition. "hurts.." He said bearly.

Reno panted and closed his eyes as he answered, "It's okay, yo..." He opened his eyes and grinned. "That was intense."

Sephiroth frowned and brushed some blonde locks from the boy's forehead. He wasn't sure what to do now. Cloud was in his bed. He didn't know really whether to sleep in the bed with him or to sleep on the couch.

Zack grinned as well. "I know right? I wonder if Cloud and Sephiroth are still at the bar?" He asked suddenly, having just remembered them.

Cloud turned over and clung to Sephiroth in his drunken sleep.

Reno chuckled. "I dunno, yo. Maybe we should go back and see if they need picked up?" He sat up and looked around for his clothes.

Sephiroth smirked, wondering to himself if Cloud would wake up tomorrow and panic, perhaps not remembering anything that had happened while he was drunk. Of course, he would have reason to panic if he woke up in the general's bed, wouldn't he?

Zack smiled. "Yeah. We can go get them." He said, dressing as well before climbing into the front of the car. It seemed he was much more sober as the streets no longer seemed to blend together. He drove them to the club and upon not seeing the general or Cloud he huffed. "Do you think that maybe they are at the base?"

Reno yawned as he sat in the passenger seat. "Yeah, I guess so. They probably got a cab or something. Guess that means we can just go back to the base too, yo." He looked out the window for a moment. "You think Sephy's gonna be mad at us for ditching him and Cloud?"

Zack shrugged. "I don't think so, he will probably thank us for it.." He said, wondering if Cloud had gotten it on with said general.


"Who knows? Cloud looked pretty drunk when we left, yo. You don't think we overdid it or something?" Reno laughed lightly and smiled. "So, who's staying with who tonight? Or are we going our separate ways?"

Zack smiled. "I don't mind you staying with me." He said, grinning. "Seriously."

Reno smiled back at him. "Sounds like a plan to me, yo. Man, I hope I don't have a killer headache in the morning..." He decided to prepare for the case in which he would.

Zack smiled. "Do you want me to stop at a gas station and get you some pain killers?" He asked, not wanting his lover to get sick.

Reno laughed. "I've got my own. Is it bad to say I drink alot? Haha, I'll just stop by my room and get some, yo. You gonna need any?"

"I don't think I will but yeah I think I will take some too just in case." Zack replied, nodding. They pulled into Shinra compound and Zack parked in the usual place. "Hey, I am going to go check and be sure that Seph and Cloud are here." He said, kissing the red-head before trotting up to the stairs that lead him to Sephiroth's floor.

Reno nodded to Zack before he left, kissed him back, and then walked off to his own room to search through his disorganized junk and try to find his pain-killers. He found them in the pocket of a pair of dirty pants that had been thrown on the floor, then he slipped the container in his pocket and walked to Zack's room to wait for him.

Zack knocked lightly on Sephiroth's door, waiting for the other to open it. He smiled and hope that he can Cloud had gotten further.

Sephiroth rolled out of bed, hoping not to disturb Cloud in his slumber. Opening the door, he narrowed his eyes as he saw Zack. "Oh, hello Zackary. I see you're back from your romp with Reno. And how was it?" He kept his voice quiet and calm.

"It was.. nice. Sorry we kind of left you guys, we weren't really thinking. So, how did it go with cloud?"

"I forgive you, considering the circumstances involved alcohol. And as for Cloud...he is sleeping. He has passed out and awoken twice, and vomitted twice. Nothing happened, other than that."

Zack blinked. "Man, maybe I shouldn't have started him out on rum."

Sephiroth sighed. "No, you probably shouldn't have. But I am sure he will forgive you. You two are close, correct? Besides, it helped loosen his tongue. He could end up being grateful that it allowed him to speak to me the way he did."

Zack was a little worried at this. "What all did he say, Seph?" He asked, wondering if Cloud maybe told him something rude or maybe he told him something about himself even. Who knew what the drunken people spoke?

"Oh, nothing so incriminating. He only confessed his undying...love?...for me. I'm not so sure love is the right word, but it will suffice for the moment. In any case, I feel that I must be returning to my room to get some rest myself, and to watch over Cloud, and make sure he doesn't vomit on my bed..." Sephiroth stepped back from the door with his hand on the edge of it as if to close it.

Zack blinked. "Alright, sleep well guys." He felt as though the general was angry with him, but he shrugged it off and went back to his room to see Reno. "I think he may be a bit angry with us, but not entirely so. I guess Cloud started confessing what may have been undying love for him or something." He said, sighing. "I don't ever do anything right, do I?"

"Wow, that was kind of sudden." Reno frowned. "I don't think that's true at all. You're a good person, Zack. Sephy's probably just mad 'cause we ditched him. I'm sure he'll be over it in the morning, yo." He offered a small smile to make Zack feel better, walking to him and kissing him on the cheek.

Sephiroth closed the door to his room and sighed. He really wasn't as annoyed with Zack as he had sounded. He sort of hoped he hadn't hurt him. But it was Zack, and he would probably bounce back easily. He returned to the bed and laid next to Cloud, not sleeping so deeply that he wouldn't be able to tell if the blonde boy stirred from his slumber.

Zack laughed. "Yeah, your probably right. he probably dosen't know what to do all laying next to the cutest little blonde in all of shinra." He teased the general without exactly teasing him before stripping to his boxers. "Well, let's go to bed."

Cloud woke sometime later in the night and gasped as he saw the general beside him. He wondered exactly how he got into bed, but when he realized he was still dressed and that nothing on him was out of place, nothing could have happened. He must have just gotten drunk and passed out. He hoped he hadn't said anything to the general, but from the little bit his foggy mind could handle he didn't think he had. He carefully eased his way out of bed and slipped on his shoes which he found by said bed before lightly turning the handle to sneak out the door.

Reno nodded in agreement and also stripped, joining Zack in bed and smiling. "See ya in the morning, yo." He kissed him lightly on the lips and closed his eyes.

Sephiroth smirked in the dark as he was awoken by Cloud's movement. "Where are you going, cadet?" His voice wasn't very loud, but it made Sephiroth sound wide awake and aware, and it seemed so much louder in the silence of his room.

Zack was already sleeping and missed the words of the other, but heard them subconciously, hugging the other close.

Cloud froze and he stood at attention. "Uh, General Sephiroth, I was.. going to go to my room. I didn't think you would want me taking up space on your bed.. I don't exactly know how I got there in the first place, but I think it be better I go to my own rooms now." He said in a rush, saluting and leaving the room as fast as he could, running down the hall to get to the elevator to get to his own rooms. He reached the elevator and pressed the down button. "Come on come on come on!" He said frantically, heart beating faster than it had in a while.

Sephiroth sat up in his bed, eyes widened and eyebrows raised in surprise. Had he really just run out on him? He could hardly believe it. Slowly, he climbed out of bed, and took his time in a separate elevator from the one Cloud took, knowing that he had the whole night to reach the young soldier's room. There was no way he was getting away with running from him.

Cloud had slammed his door shut and slid down against it.He was so embarassed and hoped that he hadn't angered the general by running away from him.He crawled into bed and closed his eyes, hoping that he could go to sleep.

In a few moments, the elevator had brought Sephiroth to the floor where Cloud's room was. He had a vague idea of where the blonde's room was, and he walked almost sleepily toward his destination. There was really no hurry. As he stepped in front of the door, he smirked and raised his fist to it, knocking a few times. "Cloud Strife, open your door."

Cloud's eyes bolted open and he stood immediately and opened the door. When he saw who it was he immediately slamed it again and locked it. "Uhhh sorry sir, trying to sleep here!"

"Cadet, I am going to pretend that you did not slam this door in the face of your General, provided you open it again, and allow me to speak to you." Sephiroth wasn't annoyed before. Now he was slightly irked.

Cloud was scared at the other's tone. He opened the door slightly and peered out of it nervously. "Hello." He refused to open the door completely.

Sephiroth cleared his throat somewhat dramatically. "That is not an open door, Cadet Strife." His eyes were cold and bright, though he had no malicious intent. It was merely a scare tactic. Really, he wanted to find out what had scared Cloud so much about being clothed and asleep in a bed that wasn't his after drinking rum.

Cloud paled and opened the door fully, standing at attention. A part of him wanted terribly to disobey the general. "Yes sir!?" He asked.

Sephiroth supressed a smirk. He walked forward swiftly, catching Cloud by the wrists and pinning him against the wall, holding his arms above his head, kicking the door shut as he did so. "Now tell me, Cloud, what has scared you so badly that you must run away from me?" He whispered these words, only an inch or so from Cloud's face.

Cloud could feel the slow heat of the blush creep into his cheeks. "I.. I don't know. I... I didn't want to wake you. I don't even remember getting into your bed so I got scared." He said, trying to wiggle out of the other's grip.

"You might as well stand still. I'm not letting you go until you're done being afraid of me for no reason. I want to make it clear to you that you did nothing wrong and you have nothing to be afraid of. I only want you to listen to me for a moment." He paused. "You got too drunk, vomitted twice, and passed out twice. The second time you passed out, I put you in my bed instead of leaving you on the floor. And that is all that happened."

Cloud blinked. "Oh." He was greatful and relaxed. "That's all?" He questioned, thankful that it meant he didn't say anything (so he thought). He was so much happier now and lost any fear he had for the bigger man. "Sorry I just... it's scary waking up to certain people." He said, almost saying instead 'next to the man you obsess over'.

Sephiroth smirked. He was satisfied with Cloud's answer, at least to a point. "Cloud, you're blushing." He smiled a little, realizing that it was a little unnecessary to have pushed him against the wall, but it was a little thrilling to do so. He leaned forward, breathing against Cloud's cheek and ear, closing his eyes and catching the scent of his hair, which smelled like the bar.

Cloud blushed darker and shivered."Seph?" he asked in confusion at the others motives.

"Yes, Cloud?" Sephiroth shifted his head back so that he could look straight into Cloud's blue eyes.

"Wha-what are you doing?" He asked, looking back into the other's eyes almost fearfully. He was excited surely that the other was so close, but if he didn't know any better he would say the otehr was comming onto him.

"Exactly what you wanted me to do when you were drunk." Sephiroth paused to smirk. "By all means, stop me if you feel that this is not what you want, but I do know that alcohol tells truths. The important thing is whether or not you are ready to accept such truths."

Cloud turned crimson. "Oh gods... what did I tell you?" He asked, resting his head on the other's chest. "Please tell me I didn't say too much.." He pleaded, clutching onto the other.

Sephiroth wondered for a moment if he should sugar-coat what he was about to tell the boy. He decided that that might be the best course of action. "You said quite enough. And some of your wording was quite explicit. You don't remember anything that you said?"

"No." Cloud said innocently, sighing. "I think I may have an idea though with the way you are acting." He was starting to get worried about exactly what it was he had said.

Sephiroth sighed and released the blonde boy from being pinned to the wall. "I assumed you would not remember anything." But some part of me sort of hoped you would he added in his head. "I am sorry, Cadet Strife. I shall leave you to sleep now, if that is what you wish." He stood and opened Cloud's door again, but hesitated, hoping Cloud would stop him.

Cloud gasped and looked to the other. "General! Wait! I.. thank you. For taking care of me." He said, looking at the ground. "Yeah I will go to sleep now." He said, thinking it would be better that way.

Sephiroth offered him a small smile, though there was really no emotion behind it, and nodded curtly as he left the room. He sighed as soon as he had closed the door, then shook his head and returned to his room. Well, he would have to thank Zack in the morning for finding someone that actually affected him.

Cloud was almost in tears that he had let the other go. He growled at himself and curled up into bed, already planning on refusing to go to training the next day. He needed to sleep in one day anyhow. He closed his eyes and drifted to an uneasy sleep.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The morning saw even Sephiroth unwilling to get out of bed. Though he assumed Zack would be in eventually to wake him, as he normally did, he decided to wait until he was there, rather than getting dressed and ready for the day. He had slept in his clothes that he had worn to the bar, and now his bed smelled faintly of smoke and alcohol. He sighed and rolled over onto his side, feeling frustration that carried over from the night before.

Reno still slept peacefully, curled next to Zack, very comfortable and not the least bit ready to face the day.

Zack groaned. "What time is it?" He asked aloud to himself. He stood up and looked at the clock. "Oh hell.. come on time to get up Reno. We have to be SOLDIERS today, our day off isn't till tomorrow." He kissed the red head and pulled on his robe, not bothering to do anything else. "I have to go get Seph up." He walked out and walked up to Sephiroth's room, robe half open and scratching at his head. "Hey Seph man.. time to get up.." He pushed the door open and went to waken the other man. Upon seeing the other's bed he sighed. "Can't you call off working today?" He asked, collapsing on his bed and yawning, urling up to sleep again.

Cloud continued on sleeping, being sure his door was locked the night before and tried to stay sleeping. He was going to report in sick today, and that would be about right considering he had a pounding headache, but was that the best reason? Proabably not.

Sephiroth sighed. "As much as I would love to do just that, Zackary, I'm afraid that would be highly irresponsible. And someone would probably start some childish rumor regarding the reason I called off work today. We'll all just have to survive until tomorrow." Grudgingly, he sat up and stretched his arms behind his head. He couldn't make it seem like anything had affected him. What would that do for his image? After all, he couldn't ignore that he had a specific image to uphold, and one of the characteristics was cold distance. "Zackary, get out of my room and go get dressed."

Reno groaned and sat up sleepily, sighing and scratching his messy bedhead. He just had to remind himself that tomorrow was the day off. Today was just another day. He left Zack's room to get ready for the day in his own room, deciding that a hot shower sounded nice, and gathered up his clothes to put on after said shower.

Zack looked at his general sadly. "Seph, no one will think anything." He sighed. "And where is Cloud?" He asked, realizing suddenly that said soldier wasn't there.

Cloud was finding it hard to stay in bed. He couldn't seem to sleep at all so he got up. He couldn't sleep because he felt that he had pushed the general away and he was suddenly very willfully determined to change that. He dressed quickly and went up to the general's room, knocking on the door.

Zack blinked as he heard said knock and opened the door in his robe. He froze when he saw it was Cloud.

Cloud flushed in anger as he saw the other. "Z-zack....why are you.." He didn't want to hear any excuses and almost growled as he slapped the other and stormed off.

Sephiroth, who had been in the midst of dressing, walked to the door without his shirt on, one eyebrow raised. "Was that Cloud?" He glanced to Zack and saw the red mark that was already fading from his cheek. "What just happened?"

Zack was confused as well but when he saw his state of dress and Seph's bed could be seen from the door his eyes widened. "He thinks we like slept together... he came here looking for you I think and when he saw me without my robe.."
He trailed off to let the other fill in the rest, feeling very stupid about now.

Cloud stormed back into his room, slammng the door shut and locking it, being sure the lock was jammed enough to where he was sure not even the general could get in behind the bared metal door.

Sephiroth slid his hand down his face and sighed, groaning in frustration before shoving past Zack and running to Cloud's room, forgetting that he was shirtless. Only when he reached the cadet's door did he notice he had come all that way in only a pair of leather pants and disheveled hair. This did not look good.

Zac sighed and narrowed his eyes, going to his own room to freshen up. "Hey Reno you in here?"

Cloud was angry enough that he was crying. He wanted so bad to hit something but didn't, instead he just laid on his bed, a few tears making it down his face. He couldn't believe Zack would betray him like that.

"I am now, yo," Reno answered, walking through the door right behind Zack. He had just finished taking a shower and getting dressed in his own room, and apparently had excellent timing.

Ignoring the fact that his argument probably wouldn't hold up, he sighed and knocked on Cloud's door. It was worth a shot, right? "Cloud...would you please open your door? I want to talk to you."

Zack laughed and turned around to hug the other. "So I think I fucked up Sephiroth's and Cloud's chances together.." He said solemnly, sighing.

Cloud growled. "Go away!" He shouted. Not in an over dramatic way, just an angry wanting to be left alone way.

Reno frowned. "That's a great way to start out your day, yo." He kissed Zack on the cheek. "Why do you say that?"

Sephiroth frowned. "I'm not going away. I'll talk to you through the door if I have to, and then this whole level can hear your troubles. I just want to talk to you...Will you let me in?"

Zack sighed. "Well he came up there looking for Seph and I answered the door like this.." He said, gesturing to his state of dress.

Cloud sighed and unbared the door, wrenching it open, glaring daggers at the general. "What?"He asked acidly through clenched teeth.

"Oh, okay, I get it. So he thinks you slept with Sephy. That's one hell of a mix-up, yo." Reno grinned, trying to make the situation lighter. Something made him think it wasn't working. "Look, don't you think Sephiroth will be able to work this out with Cloud?"

Sephiroth's eyes narrowed at Cloud's expression. He took a deep breath, trying to remind himself that Cloud was just being emotional, and he didn't quite understand who he was being insubordinate to. "I want you to know...I did not sleep with Zackary Fair." That wasn't much of an introduction, but he didn't have anything else to say just yet. And it was the truth, anyway.

Zack sighed but smiled. "You always make people feel better, Reno." He thought a moment. "Nah, its Seph, he fixes everything."

Cloud huffed. "Then why was he naked in your room. Well, preactically naked?" He asked, still eyeing the other suspiciously before he began to pale as he realized just who he was talking to.

Reno's smile widened. "Should we wait here to see how it turns out? Or should we go get breakfast?"

"He was there to give me my usual wake-up call, though it usually isn't necessary. I was sending him out of my room so that he could go get dressed just as you came to my door. Besides, if you want to know where Zackary was all night, ask Reno." Sephiroth remained calm, noticing the loss of color in Cloud's face as he spoke.

"Ohh breakfast!" He said as his stomach rumbled. The apetite of the SOLDIER that he was was starting to get ahold of him. "Let me get dressed." He said, stripping out of his robe and dressing into his uniform and then making sure his hair was the natural'Zack' style. "Alright, babe, let's go."

Cloud was humbled. "I am sorry sir." He said softly. He was too embarassed to explain himself. If it wasn't true the general would not have come all the way down to tell him so. He suddenly felt very insecure.

"Alright, yo." Reno stood and smiled, walking out of the room with Zack. "What should we get for breakfast? Anything sounds good to me..."

Sephiroth smiled ever so slightly. He hadn't meant to make Cloud feel bad. He only wanted him to know that he hadn't done anything with Zack. "There is nothing you have to apologize for, Cloud. The appearance of the situation was very different from the truth, and I can understand where your conclusion might have been drawn from." Tentatively, he leaned down and embraced the blonde boy.

"I wanna biscuit." Zack stated suddenly. "Like, bacon egg and cheese..." He said as he grabbed their seats at a table.

Cloud blushed and hugged the other tightly. "I just.." He whispered softly, hoping the other wouldn't hear him as he couldn't think of the right words to say.In his mind he knew them. Just want you to myself, i always have, even when I was younger. Wanted to be a great SOLDIER like you. Wanted to be you. I now just want to be with you.

"Hmmm...that sounds good. I think I'll have what you're having, yo." Reno sat opposite of Zack at the table so it would be easier to talk to him.

"Cloud...I'm not going to sleep with Zack. Or anyone, for that matter. I've...taken too much of an interest in you..." Sephiroth confessed in a whisper, feeling somewhat strange since he had never said words like that to anyone before.

Zack nodded and got them each a plate and some of the little milk cartons that Shinra provided. He grinned. "At least we get good food."

Cloud blushed darker. "But you don't even know me.." Cloud said softly, looking up at the other.

"Ah, thanks, yo." Reno smiled and began eating.

"You don't know me, and you like me. Am I not allowed the same freedom? Am I not allowed the chance to get to know you?" Sephiroth pulled away from their embrace, but rested his hands on Cloud's shoulders, keeping him at arms length. He didn't quite understand what was going on in his own head, and he wasn't used to thoughts just pouring out of his head. It was confusing.

Zack ate his biscuit after nodding to his lover. "So I don't have to actually train today, what do you get to do?"

Cloud blushed. "But, I am not even a first class yet. Why do you want to know me? I would be nothing to you. And, wouldn't that ruin your status and reputation?"

Reno looked off into space for a second, thinking, before replying. "I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing. I s'pose I could ask Rude or something. But I don't want to do whatever it is anyway, yo." He grinned. "It's not like I'm going to get fired or something. I'm here till death do us part, y'know?"

"I don't see why your status has to matter. And what kind of status or reputation would I have if I let things like that rule me? Don't you see? I'm trying to give you what you want, and you're letting doubts block this chance for you. For me, even." Sephiroth frowned slightly. "I want to tell you something that only Zackary knows...I...have never been romantically involved...with anyone."

Zack smiled. "Yeah, you should come and ditch with me today.. I was thinking about heading to the beach."

Cloud sighed. Was he really stupid enough to let this all go? He decided no. "Then.. let me be the first?" He asked lightly, hesitantly moving closer to the other.

"Well, since you twisted my arm...I guess I'll come to the beach with you today. I hope the water doesn't turn out to be cold, yo." Reno grinned.

Sephiroth almost felt like smiling. "Of course..." He barely breathed the words, then brought Cloud close to him quickly. He was considering kissing him when he realized they were standing in the doorway to Cloud's room, in plain view of anyone that might come down the hallway. Quickly, he pushed the blonde boy backwards into the room and shut the door. Then he smirked, and leaned down to kiss Cloud lightly on the lips.

Zack smiled. "If it is we'll get used to it, but come on, we kinda have to sneak out. Should we check and see if Seph wants to go?"

Cloud gasped with the thought that this was happening to him. He blushed and kissed the other back, blushing as he closed his eyes, wrapping his arms about the other's neck.

Reno smiled wide. "I dunno, yo. If we go looking for him to ask him, you think he'll be in his room...or Cloud's?"

Sephiroth felt compelled to deepen the kiss, placing his hands on the boy's hips and pulling him closer, practically picking him up with the height difference.

Zack grinned mischieviously. "Let's check Cloud's." He stated, rising and getting a sneaky smirk on his face as he led the other out of the caffeteria. When they reaced Cloud's room he was silent as he pressed his ear to the door. He wasn't hearing anything. "Hey, you try to listen.." He said to Reno in a smal whisper.

Cloud did his best to stop the moan from his lips but failed slightly. He didn't know what to think, the other was much intimidating, but he was also very good at kissing, and here the other had said that he hadn't been romantically involved.

Reno pressed his ear to the door and quickly slapped a hand over his mouth to suppress a laugh. He leaned away from the door and whispered quietly to Zack, "I think I just heard Cloud...and he wasn't talking, yo."

Sephiroth broke the kiss for a moment so that they could both catch their breath. But he only paused for just long enough before capturing Cloud's lips in another kiss, turning him and pushing his back against the wall of his room, deepening the kiss and making it searingly forceful.

Zack grinned. "Was he like.. moaning and stuff?" He asked, pressing his ear to the door again. Upon hearing a loud 'thud' against the wall he snickered. "Should we pick the lock and run in?"

Cloud groaned into the kiss, kissing the other back forcefully as well, not daring to believe this was all really happening. It couldn't be.. right? This was all some wonderful dream he would wake from.

Reno laughed silently. "Aw, that'd be too funny. Let's do it, yo." He was about to grab the handle to keep it from moving while they picked it, but then stopped. "What if it isn't even locked?" He tried to turn the handle silently, but no such luck. It really was locked. "You got somethin' to pick this with?"

"By the way Cloud, you are dismissed from all training for today..." Sephiroth breathed as he paused in their kissing, then began again with renewed strength. He had said that he had never been romantically involved with anyone, and while that was true, it did not mean he was inexperienced in what he was doing. He had just never been in a meaningful relationship before. One night stands and random stress-relief didn't really count as romance, after all.

Zack blinked and looked around before grinning. "I know where we cannn get something.." He ran down the hall and to the more public bathrooms, grabbing random hair pins from their more girly companion's lockers before he ran back. "Use this..."

Cloud nodded. "Oh... Sephiroth.." He groaned into the newest kiss, happy the other was without a shirt. The muscles beneath the man's skin turned him on more than he would of liked to admit and he couldn't seem to stop running his hands along them. "I want you."

"Oh, nice..." Reno took the hair pins, bending one of them until it was almost straight, then sticking the straight one and one that was intact into the lock on the door. He fiddled with it for a few moments before hearing a satisfying click. "Alright, we're in, yo."

Sephiroth suppressed a shiver at those words, and moved away only enough to remove the cadet's shirt from his body. He wanted skin-to-skin contact, more than just the boy's hands on his body. He wanted Cloud too, in a very real way.

Zack grinned and pushed the door open slightly, peeking in. His eyes widened at the sight. "Oh my.." He said under his breath, tapping on Reno's shoulder to get him to look.

Cloud immediately pressed against the older male, delighting much so in the feeling of the other against him. He groaned and began kissing the man's neck, dropping his hands down to the other's pants to remove them.

Reno's jaw dropped and he fought the urge to giggle like a school girl. The spectacle was amazing. He wasn't sure he had ever seen so much of Sephiroth in his life, and the same for Cloud. The beach trip might have to be delayed now.

Sephiroth failed to stop a gasp as he felt Cloud's hands moving lower, anticipating what he might do next. "Cloud..." he breathed.

Zack didn't know what to do either. He merely continued to stare, debating on whether or not to interrupt or take them out to the beach. He looked to his lover for help.

Cloud was suddenly not so brave and he also thought he heard someone in the room. He pulled away. "Seph. did you hear something?" He asked, pausing as he was working the other's zipper down.

Reno was just as lost as to what to do, but tensed as he heard Cloud's question. He swallowed nervously, afraid to move, for fear that either of the two would hear him.

Sephiroth narrowed his eyes. "I didn't, until you mentioned something." He glanced toward the door out of the corner of one of his eyes, and debated whether or not to call Zack and Reno on their spying attempt, or ignore it and continue with the activity he had started with Cloud.

Zack winced and stood perfectly still.

Cloud sighed. "Zack, Reno, come on guys....so not cool." He said, the only reason he allowed them to be noticed and found is because he didn't really think going so far with Seph so early in the relation was a good thing. He was still new to the general, and he felt it was a little too soon. He glanced up at Sephiroth apologeticaly. "Sorry Seph. It's stoo soon anyhow." He whispered, biting his lower lip and then showering the other with affection.

Zack grinned Sheepishly. "This isn't what it looks like, seriously. We just wanted you to go to the beach with us.."

Sephiroth smiled uncharacteristically gently, his good mood not about to be ruined by Zack and Reno. "That is fine, Cloud. I understand, and I agree." He kissed Cloud on the cheek and then zipped his pants back up the little bit they had been unzipped.

Reno grinned and agreed nervously. "Yeah..." He was waiting for Sephiroth to get angry and start yelling at them. Or worse, get angry and not yell at them. The latter was almost scarier.

Cloud blushed and hugged the other man, kissing his cheek. He wasn't about to not hug him or anything. He had come too far for that. "So what did you guys want?" He asked, turning on them with a glar but also an expression of thanks. Had they not come he would probably have been under Sephiroth. Not that he'd of minded, but he didn't want to so early.

Zack laughed nervously. "So you guys comming?"

Sephiroth smiled at Cloud, then looked at the other two, exasperated, and sighed. "To the beach...? I suppose I don't have a problem with that. Would you like to go, Cloud?" He looked back down at the blonde.

Reno's grin tightened and he didn't say anything, but still stood next to Zack, looking at Sephiroth and Cloud imploringly.

Cloud thought a moment before shrugging. "Sure, I haven't been there since the year before last, it would be refreshing to go again." He said, smiling.

Zack grinned. "Okay guys, meet us out in the compound exit in fifteen minutes, okay?" He said, dragging Reno back to his room with him.

Sephiroth nodded at them as they left, then looked at Cloud again. "Well...I'm going to go get things for the beach, then. I'll see you downstairs." He leaned down and kissed Cloud's lips before exiting the room with a smirk.

"Well, that went better than expected, yo..." Reno folded his hands behind his head as he and Zack walked. He wasn't exactly sure if he should bring anything to the beach with them besides himself and his swimming trunks.

Cloud had returned the other's kiss, grinning happily. He owed Zack and Reno everything. He smiled and got a pair of dark blue swim trunks to match his eyes and a frisbee in case they got bored before grabbing sunscreen and then putting on his uniform over said clothing to not be suspicious. He made it out to the exit and felt like a fool.

Zack nodded. "Yeah it did. I am glad they finally got out of their shells and found one another" Zack grabbed his Violet colored trunks, grinning as he decided to go out in only that and his sandals. "Damn, ain't I hot?" He questioned, wondering what the red haired man was going to wear.

Sephiroth was almost at a loss. He wasn't sure he even owned swimming trunks. Luckily, after rummaging around, he found a pair of dark red trunks, and tried them on to satisfy himself that they fit. He grabbed a black t-shirt and a pair of slim sunglasses, tying his hair back, putting it all together to complete the outfit. He glanced at himself in the mirror before heading down to the compound exit.

"Hell yeah." Reno grinned and kissed Zack quickly on the mouth. "I'll be back. Gotta get changed. I'll meet you downstairs, yo." He winked and left the room, running to his room and digging a pair of black swimming trunks out of his clothes. Black usually looked pretty good on him. He smiled at himself in the mirror, wearing his white button-down shirt and his trunks and no shoes, and then walked down to the exit.

Cloud blushed as he realized he was the only one in uniform. "You have to be kidding me." He mumbled before blushing as he saw Sephiroth. "Oh my.." He turned crimson at the looks of the other. He also blushed a little at even seeing Zackary. "The world hates me.." He said, not bothering to strip out of his uniform.

Zack smiled as he saw Reno. "Ohh hey now. I haven't actually got to get a good look at you.. nice.." He watted Reno's behind playfully. "What the hell, Cloud?" He asked his friend, raising an eyebrow.

"It's alright Cloud. You can change when we get to the beach. That just makes it a surprise." Sephiroth smirked as he looked at the blushing boy, imagining absently what he would look like, shirtless and under the sun.

Reno posed playfully and pretended to wince as Zack smacked him. He grinned and giggled as he saw that Cloud was still in uniform. "Everybody ready to go?"

Cloud smiled lightly and continued his blushing, getting into the car. He had to admit that he was very excited about going to the beach with them.

"I am driving again, Seph, you and Cloud get back seats." he said, kissing his lover before jumping into said car once Cloud was in.

Sephiroth couldn't help but glance at Cloud all the way to the beach, anticipating this event as if he were a child and it was his birthday.

Reno hopped into the front seat, across from Zack, enjoying the way the view became more scenic as they got closer to the beach. The beach was probably one of the few places near the compound that had yet to look sterile and industrialized.

Cloud grinned up at Sephiroth, unable to help himself as he realized that this was going to be a fun day. He waited for the car to stop and for Zack to let him out before stripping happily out of his unfiorm. "Hey guys, I brought a frisbee too."

Zack smiled. "Good thinking Spikey." He said, ruffling the younger male's spiked hair. He winked at Sephiroth. "You should take him in the water."

Sephiroth almost laughed. He hadn't been in a mood this good in a long time. He was happily satisfied with how Cloud looked in his swimwear, pulling his own t-shirt over his head and throwing it into the back seat of the car. He didn't need it on and he didn't want it to get wet. He'd have to put something on later, anyway.

Reno laughed and then ran off to jump into the water, gasping and exclaiming that it was colder than he had expected it to be, making the statement colorful with a couple of expletives. But then he laughed some more and yelled, "Hey, come on guys! The water's great, yo!"

Cloud smiled happily at the atmosphere. "The way you just yelled I think no!" He said, only to gasp in surprise and start flailing as Zack picked him up and ran and jumped into the water with Cloud secured in his grasp.

"WOOOOOOOO! COLD!!!!!!"Zack screamed before adjusting to it. He looked down at the angry blond in his grasp and let forth a string of powerful laughter. "Awe, Spikey, you look so cute when your angry."

Cloud gave him the finger and pushed away, swimming to adjust. He didn't realize how deep the water was and when he tried to reach a hard surface he about panicked. "You just had to pick the deepest part didn't you!?"

Sephiroth, who had entered the water at the same time as Zack and Cloud but had been less vocal about his opinion of the temperature of the water, swam up behind the floundering cadet and scooped him up. "Ride on my shoulders?" he suggested.

Reno began his water games by diving below the surface and grabbing one of Zack's legs. Of course, he had tried to be stealthy about it and hoped to take his lover by surprise. If he failed, he'd just break the surface and splash him with water.

Cloud clung to the other like a kitten who hated water, climbing up onto Sephiroth's shoulders. "Thanks, Seph." He said, nuzzling the other's hair.

Zack screamed almost girlishly and flailed about before noticing it was the red head that had ahold of him. He smirked and drug him up, beginning to tickle his sides. "Ohh how's that for sneaky!?"

"Of course, Cloud. Do you not like water?" Sephiroth questioned, looking over at Zack with widened eyes when he screamed, but smiling lightly when he saw that it was only Reno. He felt like a father at the beach with his three sons.

Reno laughed and tried to block the tickling with his hands. "Stop, stop! I'll drown, yo!" He ducked under the water again, and then came up and lunged at Zack, laughing, playfully trying to dunk him under the water. Suddenly, he noticed that Cloud was on Sephiroth's shoulders. "Hey...what do you say we play chicken?" He whispered into Zack's ear.

Cloud huffed. "I love water, just not deep water." He said, shooting a glare at Zackary. "And he deserved that."

Zack grinned. "Sure." He said, very much willing. "But let's see.. who goes first?"

"Ah, I see. So if we moved into more shallow water, you would be fine. Oh no..." Sephiroth looked toward Zack and Reno, who were obviously planning something. And they had stopped splashing and playing. That made them even more suspicious. "Cloud...you better hold on tight. They look like they're planning something..." He whispered.

Reno chuckled. "I dunno, yo. Can you pick me up?" Cloud would kill him if he knocked him off into deep water, but the entertainment value might well be worth it.

Cloud looked and paled. He clung tightly to Sephiroth, almost choking the other man. "Whatever you guys are planning you can stop now!" He said, glaring.

Zack grinned and lifted Reno on top of his shoulders. "yeah, let's get him!"

Sephiroth smirked. "I think I know what game they want to play. Let's move to shallower water in case we lose." He didn't want to take any chances in the case that Cloud might lose grip. As long as he didn't end up using his hair like a bridle as a last resort. Aw well. He'd have to trust Cloud to knock Reno's ass into the water.

Reno smiled, trying to stay balanced on Zack's shoulders. Cloud and Sephiroth clearly had an advantage with their size differences here. "Woohoo! Cloudy, you're going right back into the water, yo!" He shouted it like it was a battle cry.

Cloud huffed. He was very much starting to get the object of he game. "Oh gods...YOU WISH TURK! I am going to show you why SOLDIER owns you."

Zack struggled to keep steady. "Stop moving around so violently!" He said, walking closer to the other pair. Reno wasn't heavy, but the lanky red head was quite an shoulderfull.

Sephiroth laughed at Cloud's enthusiasm. He was glad the boy was light. It was easy to keep steady in the water while he was holding him. He wondered if the game could be lost if the person holding someone fell over in the water. Technically, the person on the shoulders would have fallen off, so he supposed it could be done. Well, if it looked like Cloud was going to lose the game, he could always trip Zack.

"Sorry. But it's chicken. I can't exactly stop moving, yo." Reno grinned, hanging onto Zack until they got close enough for him to begin pushing at Cloud.

Cloud laughed and grappled onto the red head's arms, reachign up under his arms and trying to tickle him. He saw earlier that said red head was very ticklish. He grinned.

Zack struggled, but was able to find more strength as he riskily regained his footing. "Be careful Reno..." He warned, planting his legs into the ground.

Sephiroth realized that it was harder to keep balance than he thought, but the way water made him feel weightless really helped. It would help more if Cloud was also under the water. But the game didn't work that way. He smirked and looked at Zack, who seemed to be having some trouble.

"Sorry, Zack..." Reno answered, laughing. He swung playfully at the blonde, trying to catch him off guard. It was harder than it looked, especially since he was tickling him. "Dammit, my one weakness, yo!"

Cloud easily dodged the other but found himself almost slipping. He steadied himself using Reno, leaning in close before he had another idea to dislodge the other. "Ohh you smell good.." He said with an out of character moan to distract the other before licking his finger and slipping it into Reno's ear. "WET WILLY!"

Zack errupted into laughter as he attempted to keep balance. He hadn't ever seen his friend out of his shell so well before, and the turn out was highly amusing.

Sephiroth smiled and almost shivered, even though the moan was fake. It was still a nice sound from Cloud. He chuckled as Reno fell for the trick, not laughing too hard. If he laughed too hard, he might lose his balance and compromise Cloud's balance along with it.

Reno almost slipped as Zack became unbalanced and began laughing. He cursed Cloud playfully for using the tactic that he used, though it made him laugh anyway. "Ugh, yuck!" He shook his head and used the closeness the tactic provided to put his hands on Cloud's shoulders and push him backwards. "You're using dirty tactics, yo!"

Cloud flailed about and almost fell back, regaining balance. "So, you wanted to play." He said, grinning. "Besides, your a turk, you should be used to that type of thing." He grinned and decided to resort back to the tikle attack, ticklign Reno's stomach.

Zack laughed and almost lost his footing, now basically pressed against the other couple. He looked up only to see Sephiroth's eyes. "Woah.. getting kinda hot in here.." He said, hoping to bewilder the general.

Sephiroth narrowed his eyes, looking down at Zack. "I agree. And I thought the water was cold earlier..." He wasn't going to fall for that. He'd been around Zack too many years for something like that to affect him.

Reno stuck his tongue out at Cloud, pushing against his shoulders again. He fought against his laughter, barely keeping his composure. He leaned forward more, trying to use more force against Cloud, but at the same time, pushed against the back of Zack's head.

Cloud did his best to push the other back, trying to tickle him at the same time, grunting as he fought his best to keep balance. "Oh my god you are waaayyy to presistant, give up already!" He laughed and grabbed the redhead's leg, squeezing a little just above his knee cap, he knew it worked on girls but wondered about guys.

As Reno pushed against Zack's head the second in command couldn't controll that his face was now extra close to Sephiroth's. "Well.. this reminds me of that one time when I was a cadet.." He said, trying to not blush. Not that he was further attracted to the general like he used to be, it was still kind of hot.

Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, fighting to keep his head where it had been, refusing to let Cloud push him even closer to Zack. "When you were a cadet? Hmmm...I don't think I was even the General yet. I think...I remember that...yes." He smirked at Zack. "Careful, don't let your flashbacks make you lose your balance..." Slyly, Sephiroth moved his lower body closer to Zack's without moving his shoulders or compromising Cloud.

Reno blew a raspberry at Cloud. "You'd better hope that doesn't work. I'd kick your boyfriend in the face, yo." He flexed the muscles in his legs, hoping that would help him defend against this new offense.

Cloud paled at that, hurting Sephiroth as the last thing he needed to do. He stopped his assault on the red-head's leg and sneakily grabbed his ponytail, untying it and grinning. "I got your hair thing!!!" He said, grabbing said item which inevitably moved him closer to Reno.

Zack blushed. He was completely pressed against Sephiroth. "Hey could you guys end this yet!?" He asked, shakily, feeling his knees start to buckle.

"Oh no...how terrible...now I have a loose rat tail, yo." Reno grinned sarcastically and continued his forward assault on Cloud, trying to topple him by pushing him off. He guessed that his leg strength was much more than it appeared, since he wasn't budging yet.

Sephiroth laughed inwardly, but outwardly agreed with Zack. "Yes, please, do hurry." Sephiroth decided to continue his assualt, this time coming up with a tactic that was sure to make Zack lose his balance. He moved one leg forward, which put it between Zack's. Whether the seduction tactic worked or not, forcing his leg between Zack's would force them apart, which could unbalance him.

Cloud laughed as he tried to push the red head as well, biting his shoulder lightly to see if it would maybe make him jump.

Zack bit back the moan, jumping in fright which made him fall back with Reno, both crashing into the water."OHH SHIIIIT!"

Sephiroth laughed in triumph, gently lifting Cloud off of his shoulders and lowering him into the more shallow water. "Well, look at that, we won." He smiled.

Reno didn't even have time to react before Zack pulled him into the water with him. He held his breath as they broke the surface, then smiled and laughed as he came back up. "Aw well, good game, yo. Nice job, Cloudy." He mock-saluted them both.

Cloud clung to Sephiroth. "What did you do to him?" He asked, nuzzling the larger man. He knew he wasn't the one to gain their victory.

Zack grinned sheepishly. "Sorry Reno.." He said, kissing the other. "We get a re-match next time!" He said, grinning.

Sephiroth smirked. "I just started using dirty tactics as well. I...made Zack lose his footing...with my leg." He hoped it wouldn't upset Cloud that he had done what he had done. It would be a shame if he screwed up their relationship so early.

"Apology accepted, yo." Reno kissed Zack back. He agreed that they needed rematch. "What did he do that made you lose your balance...?" he asked Zack quietly.

Cloud just laughed. "Well he deserved it. It wasn't like you were trying to pleasure him for pleasure." He said, laughing.

Zack smiled and kissed Reno again. "He placed his leg between my legs and started rubbing....I was affected to say the least." He wasn't afraid of telling this to Reno. Reno knew pefectly well how he used to feel and how he didn't feel the same about the general, but that didn't mean he wasn't still affected. And besides, th red head and Cloud had been getting off with one another anyhow.

Sephiroth smiled. "No, of course not. I'm..." He stopped himself before he said something uncharacteristic and silly. He was about to say, "I'm saving that for you," but that didn't sound right coming out of his mouth.

Reno just laughed as he kissed Zack back and replied, "That's screwed up. We're gonna have to use some underhanded tactics of our own when we have our re-match, yo." He grinned.

Cloud smiled and looked up at him curiously. "your what?" He asked, fidgeting with a long strand of Sephiroth's hair.

Zack giggled practially. "Oh like you on bottom this time?" He asked, poking the red head in the stomach.

Sephiroth frowned a little. "I was going to say something...but it sounded strange in my head. I wasn't sure it would sound right coming out of my mouth. I was going to say, 'I'm saving that for you.'" He smiled a little, knowing that Cloud wasn't the type to laugh at him for saying something a little strange.

Reno laughed. "Aren't I anyway?" He smiled mischeviously. "Just kidding. I'll have to see if I can actually pick you up, yo."

Cloud blushed at this. "Oh, well thank you then." he said, not looking the other in the eyes. He didn't meet his gaze because it made him embarrassed, but also hoping for things to come. He truly couldn't wait to get the other alone again, a good make-out session was needed.

Zack grinned. "Go ahead, give it a try."

Sephiroth noted that it was very adorable when Cloud blushed. It made him look almost feminine, which complimented his small stature, and off-set his physique, which was masculine. Part of him wished he hadn't said what he was really thinking because he didn't want to sound eager or lust-driven or something like that. It wasn't his style, even with people he didn't particularly care for.

Reno grinned and took a deep breath. He moved around to stand behind Zack and wrapped his arms around his waist. The water would affect his weight, naturally, and make him feel lighter. Nonetheless, he was still heavier than he looked - it was muscle weight - but he could pick him up.

Cloud smiled up at the other. "So, when do you think is the next time we can be alone together?" He asked quietly, moving closer to the general. "And I much like your hair like this.."

Zack climbed atop of the other. "Damn I feel like I am about to crush you, how are you holding out down there?" He asked, grinning.

"Thank you. I may wear it like this more often. And...we can be alone again whenever you like. For you, I have all the time in the world, and I can break almost any previously arranged event I wish." Sephiroth smiled sincerely. He had enough power, over most people anyway, that he didn't need to worry about anyone pressing him to do things that were 'more important.'

"Just fine...but I feel like my grip is slipping, yo..." Reno answered, holding Zack for a few seconds longer before lowering him back into the water again. "Might take some practice..."

Cloud blushed more at this. "So, I think I am so done swimming for now, want to lay in the sun with me?" He asked, grabbing abottle of sunlotion, putting it on generously.

Zack laughed and crushed the other in a tight hug. "I know I know.. you turks weren't built for strength." He ruffled the other's hair. "You hair looks cute like this by the way." He said, tugging at the downed ponytail.

"Yes, I would like to. Would you like help with that?" Sephiroth gestured toward the bottle, knowing that if he wanted any of the lotion on his back, he wouldn't be able to reach it himself.

Reno stuck his tongue out at Zack as he poked fun at the Turks, but then smiled as he complimented his hair. "You really think so? How long is it? I don't see it very often, yo." He laughed.

Cloud nodded, turning his back to the general. This in itself was a huge sign that he trusted the older man. "Thank you." He said, feeling like a blushing school boy.

Zack let his hand drift down the length of said ponytail. "It's too that nice ass of yours.." He said, grabbing for inference.

Sephiroth took the bottle in one hand and put an amount of lotion in his other hand, working the significantly cooler material into the pale-ish skin of his younger lover. Cloud's frame was compact and cute, and Sephiroth found that he liked touching him.

Reno jumped and made a girlish noise of surprise, laughing and smiling. "That's pretty long. I think I should cut it. It might get in the way, yo." He grinned impishly and kissed Zack briefly on the lips.

Cloud groaned at the hands, enjoying that he was being cared for, but he figured out that he didn't only need lotion, but maybe a good massage as his muscles seemed sore and tense. "Oh yeah... right there, a little harder.." he said in ecstasy.

"Maybe just like.. an inch or something. And it might get in the way.. then again it didn't the last time we .. had fun." He said, kissing the other back. "All this talk about.. extra activities is going to get this SOLDIER all riled up you know."

Sephiroth paused in his movement for only a moment, feeling a flutter in his heartbeat at Cloud's tone, then continued rubbing in the lotion and massaging. When he finished, he trailed his hands down Cloud's side and rested them around his waist, clasping them, leaning forward and whispering in his ear, "Just like that...?"

Reno chuckled. "An inch wouldn't even make a difference. I'll just leave it how it is. And...maybe I wanted to get you all riled up..." He smirked and raised his eyebrows suggestively. "We may have to end this beach trip early, yo."

Cloud felt himself grow heated and leaned back against the other, turning his face to kiss him. "Yes, just like that." he said, trying to ignore the way his heart was pounding at the other's words and touches. He didn't know how much longer he could keep to his, 'not do anything because it is too early' law. He tried to let the other be aware of this by the pleading look in his eye.

Zack looked over at Sephiroth and Cloud before laughing. "I think that might just be quite the idea.. they look like they need alone time too." He said, grabbing the red haired man close to him by he hips, kissing his neck. "Come on, let's all get..."

Sephiroth saw a look in Cloud's eyes that told him he needed to slow down, so he smiled and rested his head on the cadet's shoulder in a gesture of puppy love. "Alright, the beach isn't a good place to start something like that. Maybe another time."

Reno followed Zack's gaze and laughed, agreeing with him. Then he gasped and moaned a little breathily at Zack's display of foreplay. "Ah...yeah, I'm ready to leave now, yo..."

Cloud felt a mix of feelings but brightened up greatly as Zack came up to them from molesting Reno.

"Hey guys.. we think that it's hot enough with the sun out here and all.. and I think we should all go home and.. cool off." Zack said, giving a wink to Sephiroth. "What do you say?"

Cloud blinked, catching onto what the other was saying. It was certainly fine with him. "Sure." He said, smiling and kissing Sephiroth as he stood up.

Sephiroth nodded solemnly, but then smiled as Cloud kissed him. It was starting to bother him that he was so eager. It was so unlike him. There was something about Cloud that seemed to transform him utterly.

Reno followed a little behind Zack as he walked toward the group, almost feeling relieved as he heard Zack's suggestion. He thought he was going to pass out if he got all excited out there in the sun.

Cloud smiled at his lover. "Well then. We should.. go home." He said, walking to the car before stopping. "You know, we should probably do something to where I can get into your building without alot of trouble."

Zack grinned and grabbed his lover close to him and dragged him to the car by the collar practically. "Sooo you gonna strip for me when I get you in the room?"

"I'm sure that could be very easily arranged, Cloud. I'll see what I can do as soon as we get back." Sephiroth hadn't meant for his tone to sound so curt, but he was having trouble erasing all of the images in his head revolving around Cloud. He was getting very irritated with himself, and he was anticipating the next time he and the boy could be alone.

"You'll just have to wait and find out. It'll be a surprise, yo." Reno grinned. Of course, he really meant to say 'Yeah, you know I will. What else would you expect?', but decided it would be more fun to play it this way.

Cloud nodded, wondering if maybe he had done something wrong, the general's tone was clipped and strange to him. "Are you okay?" He asked.

Zack pouted, "Your soo mean to me!" He shouted playfully, putting the other into the car.

"Yes, of course." The general sighed. "I'm sorry, Cloud. I just have things on my mind. I don't mean to be rude to you. It's not your fault." Honestly, it was Cloud's fault, but it wasn't something he could rationally blame on him. That would be stupid and petty.

Reno stuck his tongue out and blew a raspberry at Zack, being childish and silly. "I'm not being mean. I'm trying to make it more suspenseful, yo."

Cloud huffed. "I don't believe you, but sure." he said, sad that the other wouldn't tell him what was on his mind. He got in the car anyhow and sighed, looking out the window.

Zack kissed the other teasingly and climbed into his car. "Time to go home!"

Sephiroth sighed. He would consider talking to Cloud about his thoughts when they got home. But it wasn't something he wanted to discuss in front of Zack and Reno, however well their relationship seemed to be progressing.

Soon after Zack started the car, Reno turned on the radio to break the awkward silence that was inside the vehicle. The music would help him ignore the tension between Cloud and Sephiroth, also.

Cloud didn't look at Sephiroth at all. "Hey guys, you want to stop for food or are we in a rush?"

Zack looked Reno over heatedly. "Rushed."

Sephiroth frowned as he felt a pang of guilt at his behavior. But still, he resolved that he would not mention the things in his head in front of Zack and Reno. They would never let him live it down. Well, Reno most assuredly wouldn't, but Zack might.

Reno looked at Zack with his eyebrows raised, then smiled. "Yeah, rushed, yo."

Cloud pouted. "Awee..." He looked to Sephiroth. "Can we get food after they leave?"

Zack stepped on the gas so that they would be there in record time. "Shinra comming right up!" He said, slamming the breaks as they reached the compound.

Sephiroth tried to smile gently at him. "Yes," he answered, making sure to make his voice less cold than it was a few moments ago.

Reno laughed, enjoying the speed, and the way he moved forward as they stopped, prevented from flying through the windshield by his seatbelt. "Whoo!" He concluded as he sat back in his seat. Immediately, he unbuckled his seat belt and opened his door.

Cloud smiled back at him and kissed him on the lips. "Good. I am starving. I didn't eat breakfast."

Zack hopped out of the car, leaving the door open for Sephiroth, immediately rushing to his lover and pulling him tight against him, kissing him as hard and passionately as he knew how. "Oh yeah Reno....bedroom, now." He said huskily.

Sephiroth smiled and nodded toward Cloud, taking him by the hand to lead him into the compound. "You know, if you come with me now, to my building, the guards are likely to recognize you the next time you come there. It would be easier than requiring you a pass, or anything of that sort." He was thinking out loud. "Of course, I have food there."

Reno shivered and leaned against Zack. "I am putty in your hands, yo."

Cloud thought a moment. It might prove to be a romantic thing. He nodded and smiled. "Of course. But if you wanted to have dinner with me all you had to do is ask." He said, kissing the other.

"Moldable putty?" He asked hopefully, pouting with his lower lip protruding just a little, eyebrows arched in question.

Sephiroth thought for a moment, then offered a very small smile. "Alright. Then I suppose I am asking you to have dinner with me. Dinner date in my quarters in fifteen minutes? We still need to change out of our clothes from the beach, after all."

Reno chuckled a little. "I didn't know there was any other kind. So, yeah, moldable, yo."

Cloud smiled and risked them being seen as he kissed the other chaste. "Okay be there in a moment, meet me back here." He said, running off to his room. Upon entering said room he changed into a pair of jeans and a dark blue tanktop that brought out his eyes. He slipped on simple black shoes and fixed his hair, washing his face from sunscreen. He frowned as he saw his skin was flushed from their outside time. He ignored it as it wasn't enough to look burnt and he ran back down, waiting for the other.

Zack grinned, lifting the redhead, carrying him to his rooms, opening the door clumsily and slamming it shut, letting the other drop onto the bed. He climbed atop of him and assaulted him with a hungry kiss.

Sephiroth decided to wear the same shirt that he had had on when they arrived at the beach, since he hadn't worn it outside of the car in the first place. He also brushed his hair, but put it back into a ponytail again. Cloud had said he liked his hair that way. He completed his considerably casual look with a pair of plain black slacks. Then he went back to meet Cloud. "Well, are you ready for dinner?"

Reno kissed him back as well as he could, leaning his body upward, against Zack's. A sort of sigh of a moan escaped into the kiss and he wrapped his arms around Zack's shoulders.

Cloud nodded, blushing a little. He slipped his hand into the other's and kissed his cheek. "More than ready." His stomach gave a tiny whine as though to prove his point.

Zack broke the kiss, leaving a hot and wet trail of kisses down the other's neck, biting as he slid his thigh against the other's groin, bringing it rubbing against him.

Sephiroth smirked as he heard the tell-take noise of hunger. "Alright. On the way to my room, why don't you tell me what you would like to eat. That way I can order it as soon as we get there." He squeezed Cloud's hand gently.

Reno tipped his head back and his lips parted, making his shallow breathing easier. A small sound issued from his throat at the friction Zack was creating.

Cloud pouted. "Awe I thought you were going to cook something?" He asked, poutiy looking up at the other as they walked.

Zack was getting impatient wih their swim gear, growling as he tugged Reno's trunks down, then his own, kissing his stomach as he did so.

Sephiroth's eyebrows raised and he looked down toward Cloud. "Well...I suppose I could. I didn't really think about cooking."

Reno shivered in anticipation and in pleasure, wriggling the rest of the way out of his trunks, relieved and yet excited when he could finally feel Zack's skin against his own.

"You said you would. Said it would give us a reason to stay in." He looked at the other strangely."Maybe the sun affected your memory." He said, frowning lightly.

Zack groaned, dipping his tongue into the red-head's navel. "So, top or bottom?" He questioned, looking up at the other.

"I'm sorry, Cloud. I think you must be right." Sephiroth shook his head a little. "Don't worry. I will cook for you." And in the time it took them to have their conversation, they were already in front of the door to the General's room.

Reno moaned quietly. "I think I like what's going on so far. I'm going to have to go with bottom, yo." He whispered his answer.

Cloud smiled. "Well, what's for supper?" He asked, kissing the other.

Zack grinned and licked the other's skin as he lowered. "You taste... like salt water." He said with a chuckle, licking the other's tip.

"Whatever you want. Tonight, you are in charge." Sephiroth smiled almost sweetly.

Reno might have laughed, but laughter was prevented by the hiss and quiet moan that came from his mouth instead.

Cloud pouted. "BUt I like you being in charge." he said in protest shrugging. "How about.. something.. frenchfries and.. maybe shrimp?"

Zack groaned as he took the other into his mouth once before reaching under his bed and grabbing lube. "You ready for me?"

"Okay. That's a wonderful choice." Sephiroth disappeared into the kitchen, gesturing that Cloud should sit on the couch and relax while he cooked.

Reno gave him a smoldering look. "Nnn...oh hell yeah..." He wantonly spread his legs in offering.

Cloud felt he was leaving the other alone, after a few minutes of sitting he went out to the kitchen and wrapped his arms about the general's waist, kissing his back.

Zack grinned, eyes burning in lust and love as he spread the gel onto his fingers, pressing two of them into his lover.

Sephiroth paused in the process of putting french fries into the oven. "Oh, well, hello Cloud. Did you get bored on the couch?"

Reno bit his lower lip, more in a theatrical than practical way, suppressing a moan which he wished to save for things better than fingers.

"Yes, I want to be out here with you." he kissed the other's back again and sat at the table. "I like your apartment. The last time I was in it I didn't really get to see much..."

Zack removed the apendages, placing himself at the entrance instead, kissing his lips harshly as he began to press into him.

Sephiroth turned his head and looked over his shoulder at Cloud. "Yes. I'm hoping you will be staying longer this time?" He smiled.

Reno returned the kiss clumsily, relaxing completely and letting another moan escape, this time into their kiss.

Cloud blushed and nodded. "Yes, the last times.. well.. you remember them I am sure.." He looked at the ceiling as though it had suddenly gotten interesting. "Seph, you never told me exactly what I said to you the other night.."

Zack groaned and kissed him deeper, beginning a slow rhythm as he thrust in and out of the other.

"What you said? Ah, well...there is quite a bit to tell." Sephiroth sighed. "Would you like to hear the overview version, or the explicit version?"

"Mmmmmnnnn..." Reno's moans increased in volume as Zack began his rhythm. He moved his hips to meet his thrusts.

Cloud blinked a couple of times, now he was really curious. "Well I guess the explicit.." He wouldn't have said anything too bad... right?

Zack thrust harder into the other. "Oh yeah, Reno!"

He paused and turned to face Cloud. "Well...to start...you said that I have a nice ass. You also said that you would like to grab my hair and fuck me senseless. Then you said that you wanted me to...I think it was, fuck you silly. And last you stated that you wanted me to bend you over a desk. Alcohol greatly liberates you, Cloud."

Cloud turned a darker shade of red with each statement. "Oh my ...dear Gaia, did I really say that?" He asked, looking up horrified at the other.

"Nnnn...god, Zack...yeah..." Reno dug his short fingernails into Zack's shoulders.

"Yes, you really said all of that. Does that explain some of my behavior as well?" Sephiroth smiled wryly.

Cloud grinned sheepishly. "Maybe.." He said, he knew he would do the same thing probably if the other had said that to him if he was in Sephiroth's position. "No more drinking for me."

Zack pounded into the other, kissing and biting his neck, stroking his length with his thrusts.

"It wasn't your fault. They gave you rum. Maybe if they had given you something lighter to start you off, you wouldn't have been so...straightforward. Anyway, are you ready to eat?" Their food had finished cooking while they were talking, and Sephiroth turned to take it out of the oven.

Reno became more vocal, tilting his head to the side to allow Zack access to his neck.

Cloud nodded, letting his embarassment ease away at the thought of food and another growl from his stomach. "Oh yeah.. need food.."

Zack bit extra hard on the other as he neared climax. He wasn't sure what it was about the redhead that made him so violent, but he didn't really care. He groaned and thrust harder as he began to near completion.

"Go sit on the couch. I'll bring your food to you." Sephiroth directed Cloud out to the living room, following quickly with two plates of food. "And here you are. Enjoy."

Reno's moans reached a fever pitch. "Oh gods, Zack, yes...!" His body moved in time with his lover's, feeling himself dangerously close to climax. "Nnn...ahhh...I'm going to...!"

Cloud smiled happily. "Thank you." He said shyly. He felt rather humbled suddenly.

"Oh... yeah.. RENO!" With a loud cry Zack came inside the red-head, groaning and clutching him tightly as he spilled inside. He panted, collapsing atop of the other.

Sephiroth sat next to him on the couch, eating slowly and politely. He wasn't quite hungry enough to eat all of the food on his plate. "How is it, Cloud?"

Reno closed his eyes and caught his breath, comfortable beneath his exhausted lover.

Cloud smiled and swallowed a mouthful. "It's delicious!" He said, taking another large bite, quite pelased with the food.

Zack sighed and cuddled him. "Oh man... that.. was needed."

"Thank you," Sephiroth answered, still eating slowly. "Perhaps I will cook for you more often. Something more challenging than this." He gestured to their plates.

Reno nodded with his eyes still closed. "Totally, yo..."

Cloud blushed. "I feel like a married couple.." He mumbled, grinning to himself.

Zack nuzzled him playfully. "I love you!"

Sephiroth chuckled a little. "I think it's a bit too early for that. I hope our sex life hasn't died before it even started. That would be a shame." He grinned.

Reno opened his eyes and laughed. "I love you, too, Zack."

Cloud blushed silghtly. "We don't even have one yet thank you much." He said slightly bitter. "I do hope that isn't going to be the most important thing to you."

Zack grinned and kissed the other, sucking his lower lip into his mouth playfully.

Sephiroth frowned. "Of course not. That isn't what I meant. I only said it because I have heard horror stories that the sex life of a couple dies after marriage. I know it can't be true for all marriages. Sex is not the most important thing to me, I promise you."

Reno kissed his lover back enthusiastically, giggling as he did so.

Cloud instantly eased. "Oh.. well yeah I guess I hear that alot too.. but don't worry if we get married I wont deprive you." He said, going back to his food with a slight smile.

Zack grinned, tickling the other's sides. "So, when you ever going to be on top? I think it might be hot..being topped by a turk and all.

Sephiroth smirked in response to Cloud's slight smile, silently berating himself for sounding like a jerk, and then having to cover for his comment like that. It was petty, and it sounded horrible. But he wasn't going to start brooding about it now. They were having a relatively nice evening.

Reno laughed, then grinned. "Oh yeah? You think your Soldier pride would let you be topped by a Turk? I must be too tempting for my own good, yo."

Cloud smiled and gathered their plates. "Well I can do these later.." He said, placing them by the sink. "What.. should we do?"

Zack grinned. "I hate to say it but yeah. SOLDIER owns your division."

"You don't have to do the dishes, Cloud. This is my room." Sephiroth smiled at him. "I don't know what to do. Anything you like. I'm not used to private social situations."

Reno laughed. "Alright, fine. You guys own my division, but I own you, yo." He stuck his tongue out playfully at Zack.

Cloud smiled. "I am still doing dishes, and well.. we could.. cuddle.."

Zack grinned. "I know and I love it!"

"Alright, I'm not going to argue. Cuddling sounds fine. Would you like to watch television while we...cuddle...or anything like that?" Sephiroth used a strange emphasis on the word 'cuddle'. It sounded strange from the mouth of someone like himself.

Reno grinned too. "That's good. The ownership is mutual, though, you know. You own me just as much as I own you, yo."

"Sure." Cloud said, wondering if the other even wanted to cuddle. He sighed as he realized this was going to take alot of work.

"Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way. So, when's the next party?" Zack asked, playing with strands of red from his lover.

Sephiroth smiled wryly. "I'm sorry. I sound very uninterested, don't I? I don't mean to sound like that. As long as it's with you, I'll cuddle." He paused. "And I won't say 'cuddle' in such an indignant tone." He smiled.

Reno smiled somewhat sleepily. "The next party is whenever you want it to be. I'm always open to the go to the bar, yo." He realized that made him sound like a horrible drunk, but he didn't really care.

Cloud smiled and kissed the other's cheek. "Believe me, it isn't so bad..."

Zack grinned. "Ohhh can we have weird car sex again?"

Sephiroth grinned slyly. "Oh, I don't know. Should I take your word for it? I think maybe I should try it out for myself, just to be sure it's not painful." He smiled, making sure to make it clear that he was only being sarcastic. He pulled Cloud into his lap and wrapped his arms around him.

Reno laughed. "I didn't think it was that weird, yo. But sure, why not?"

Cloud layed his head on his chest, finding it rather strange to be so close with the man he had obsessed over for so long. He inhaled his scent happily and twirled his fingers in his hair.

Zack smiled. "Well we can make it weird..."

Sephiroth closed his eyes, memorizing Cloud's weight against his body. It was comfortable to have Cloud this close to him. Cuddling was not painful and especially not indignant. He smirked.

Cloud nuzzled the other. "See? Cuddling isn't bad."

Sephiroth only answered with, "Mmhmm..." and smiled. It wasn't bad. It was actually something he thought he might like to do more often with Cloud.

Reno snorted and then laughed again. "Okay, sure. I'm not sure what you've got in mind, but I ain't scared, yo."

Cloud smiled and began nibbling the other's neck. He wasn't sure why because he knew that for most people and probably Sephiroth as well that it was a turn on, he supposed maybe he wanted to see how much controll the other man had.

Zack grinned. "Well. I haven't thought of anything yet. But when I do i am sooo keying you in..anything sexy you want to try?"

Sephiroth shivered and opened his eyes a fraction, looking through his eyelashes at Cloud, gauging his intent.

Reno shook his head. "You'll have to give me a little bit to start planning sexy things again. I mean, we did just get done with an incredibly sexy thing, anyway. It's kind of hard to think of anything else, yo."

Cloud nibbled the other a bit harder, suckling the skin here and there for a bit of variety.

"I know Reno.. that's why I said next time.." Zack said, kissing the other. "Hmn, so after the usual routiene tomorrow what do you want to do?"

Sephiroth closed his eyes again and tightened his jaw. Gathering the composure that he was losing, he commented, "I thought you wanted to cuddle, Cloud."

Thinking for a second, Reno shook his head again. "I have no idea, yo."

Cloud groaned. "I do.. but I am testing you in a way.." He said, breathing hotly against the other's neck. Secretly he wanted to be dominated by the other.

Zack grinned."Alright, let's go to sleep and we can think about it tomorrow."

Sephiroth shivered again. "If this continues, I think I may fail this test...Though, something makes me think that's what you want." He smirked and opened his eyes just enough to look at Cloud again.

Reno nodded. Sleep sounded good. "Okay, yo. I love you, Zack. Goodnight." He snuggled against him.

Cloud blushed at being found out. "Maybe.." He said, kissing the other.

Zack smiled and closed his eyes, slipping his hands into the red-head's hair before falling into sleep.

"Ah...so that's it. You're crafty, Cloud." Sephiroth smiled into their kiss before deepening it. He placed his hands on either side of Cloud's face, his fingers in his hair, adding force to his kiss.

Cloud kissed the other back, only pulling away when he needed air. "Crafty enough to be worthy of Shinra?" He asked, returning his kisses to the other's neck.

"For Shinra? I do hope you aren't doing this to advance through the ranks. But yes, crafty enough for Shinra." Sephiroth tipped his head back, brushing his hair behind him, leaving as much room as possible for Cloud to continue.

Cloud snorted. "No, if I wanted a promotion I would earn it..I just want you." He said, kissing the other's newly cleared skin.

Sephiroth shivered at the last part of Cloud's statement. "You should be sure you're ready for me when you say something like that." He directed Cloud's lips back to his own, kissing him slowly and gently.

Cloud blushed but kissed the other back, threading fingers into long silver hair. "Hmn, I think I do."

"Hmmm..." Sephiroth gently pushed Cloud backwards onto the couch, breaking their kiss for a moment. He picked up what Cloud had been doing moments earlier, applying little kisses and nips to his smaller lover's neck.

Cloud wrapped his legs about the other's back. "Oh Seph.." He mumbled, closing his eyes in pleasure.

Sephiroth began to wonder if there was any end to how many times Cloud could cause him small shivers this evening. Simply his voice, in the tone that he was using, was arousing. He moved up his neck and one side of his jaw, licking the shell of his ear with the tip of his tongue.

Cloud arched against the other, calling out. "Seph... that's mean.." He said, referring to the teasing.

"Even so, you like it..." He whispered into his ear. He kissed his way back down his jaw and neck again, moving his shirt, but not removing it, to kiss along his collarbone.

Cloud nodded his agreement to the statement, smiling very slightly as the other kissed him.

Sephiroth stopped suddenly, looking at Cloud with concern. "Are you absolutely sure you want where this is going? I don't want to force you to do something like this."

Cloud nodded after a moment of thinking.."Yes, just.. not quite all the way yet."

Sephiroth smiled slightly. "Alright." He kissed Cloud's lips once again, then removed his shirt to access more skin. "You'll have to tell me when I've gone too far, okay?"

Cloud nodded, not able to wait for the feeling of the other. "yes, please Seph..."

Sephiroth leaned down, strands of hair falling down on either side of his face, brushing against Cloud's skin. He kissed and nipped and licked his bare chest and stomach, stopping in certain places to give extra attention.

Cloud gasped as he was toyed with. He groaned in anticipation, wondering what all the other would do to him.

At Cloud's waist, he stopped and looked up at him. "Speak now or forever hold your peace..." The subject of his statement was serious, though the words were sort of a joke in that they were borrowed from the familiar marriage ceremony. He licked downward to the edge of Cloud's pants from his navel.

Cloud only blushed, unable to say anything as the skillful tongue of his lover drifted lower. "S-sephiroth.." he groaned, slipping his fingers into the other's hair.

Deftly, Sephiroth unbuttoned Cloud's pants and slid them lower. Teasingly, he breathed along his length, before experimentally licking once along his shaft.

Cloud gasped, eyes opening wide before shutting tightly, a soft moan comming forth from him. "Uhn! Seph!"

Sephiroth was more than delighted to hear that erotic sound come from Cloud's lips. He shivered as he continued his ministrations, taking first the tip into his mouth, and then as much as would fit.

Cloud was panting hotly as the other did this, enjoying much the pleasure it brought. "Yes.. Seph..."

"Mmmmnnn..." Sephiroth answered Cloud's calls, sucking and massaging with his tongue. By now he was certainly hard himself and he was becoming uncomfortable.

Cloud was so close already.. he couldn't believe this. The general.. his new boyfriend, his obsession was pleasuring him in this way. He groaned, wanting to feel so much more. "Seph, please." He begged, wanting the other inside him.

For a moment, Sephiroth released Cloud from his mouth. "What do you want me to do, Cloud...?" he asked, his voice husky and thick with lust.

"Make love to me." He whispered huskily, groaning with how much he wanted the other inside him.

Almost painfully slowly, Sephiroth shed his clothing. There really wasn't anything nearby that he could use to prepare Cloud, so he coated one finger at a time with saliva. He wanted his lover to last for him, so he did nothing else while he was preparing him. "I'm sorry if this is in any way uncomfortable, Cloud..." he whispered.

Cloud groaned and nodded. "Please." He said, prepared for the uncomfort.

Sephiroth leaned over Cloud, beginning to push in gently as he gauged his lover's face for pain. He assumed he might see some sort of expression of pain, but that could have been his ego talking.

Cloud hitched his breath as slight pain gripped him while the other pushed in. "Ow..." He ground out before relaxing enough to properly accept the other's actions.. and to think this wasn't even the real thing.

He kissed Cloud's lips tenderly to distract him, moving as slowly as he could, giving Cloud a little time to get used to it. "Are you alright?"

Cloud nodded, holding the other tightly as the pain ebbed away. "Yes.." He answered out, shivering and gasping within the other's grasp.

Sephiroth looked into Cloud's eyes, his expression almost smoldering, and then continued his actions slowly.

Cloud shivered and begged for the other to move along him faster, begged for him to take him all with one pleading look, almost on the verge of tears with the needing to be filled by the other

That look was all the encouragement Sephiroth needed, and he shivered and shook his head slightly, but not in any gesture of answer. He removed his fingers and began to push into Cloud with the same slow care as he had used before. He didn't want to hurt Cloud, even though he knew it was inevitable.

Cloud did have pain but it died slowly to pleasure, making him tighten his hips around the form of the other.

As soon as he was completely sheathed, Sephiroth paused, looking at Cloud. As was customary, he waited for a signal to continue. It was, after all, his body that he was invading.

Cloud looked up to him. "Please?" He begged, groaning.

With that, Sephiroth began to move, shivering with the tightness and heat of Cloud. His rhythm was steady to begin with, but he slowly began to speed up.

Cloud huffed in pleasure, moving with the other, hoping the other would move harder within him.

Without any instruction, Sephiroth moved harder and more quickly, his own breath coming short and shallow, a groan once in a while escaping his throat.