The mighty have fallen

“The mighty have fallen”
Part 11


Cloud grumbled as he was rudely dragged out of the comfort of sleep by the loud, continuous beeps of his phone alarm. Awareness returned and with it, the realization that his head was resting against a firm, naked chest. He opened his eyes and stared at the smooth expanse his cheek was pressed against, memories of yesterday making his body sing with joy. He would have stayed like that for as long as he could if he weren’t worried that the alarm would wake his companion. He blindly reached out for the nightstand and found the phone, bringing it before his eyes to turn off the alarm. Once the beeping stopped he dropped the phone on top of the covers and sighed, nuzzling Sephiroth’s chest.

He stayed like that for a little while and captured a lock of the other man’s silver hair, admiring its shine in the morning light. With a regretful sigh, he finally propped himself up on one arm and prepared to get out of bed and get himself woken up for his delivery trip. He paused to admire Sephiroth before getting out of bed and he nearly yelped in surprise to find the man’s emerald, slit-pupiled eyes open and watching him lazily.

“I thought you’d never wake up, Strife.” The general’s mouth was curved in a teasing smirk. “Now I know why you were so often late for morning drills. You could sleep through an earthquake, I imagine.”

Cloud grinned with self-depreciation and shrugged. “Sorry about that. How long was it going off before I woke up?”

“A good five minutes, at least.”

“Well, why didn’t you nudge me or something?” Cloud asked.

Sephiroth’s long fingers stroked the blonde’s shoulder, provoking a shiver of pleasure in his body. “You told me last night that you always set your alarm to give you a couple of hours time to wake, shower and eat before you get on the road. I didn’t see the harm in letting you be for a while.” The caressing hand traveled up his neck to his jaw, cupping and pulling gently in a silent demand.

Cloud complied and lowered his mouth to Sephiroth’s, parting his lips invitingly when the other man’s tongue languidly stroked them. Cloud already had morning wood and the leisurely, sensual kiss only served to make it worse. He didn’t say anything or make any moves to try and initiate more than a good morning kiss, understanding that Sephiroth’s desires weren’t as easily roused as his and not wanting him to think he expected a blow job or a hand job every time they kissed.

Sephiroth felt the blonde’s arousal against his thigh and he smiled against his lips, pausing the kiss to murmur: “Is that all you think about, Cloud?”

Cloud pulled away and blushed, regarding him with guilty blue eyes. “I’m a twenty-five year old man. You may as well ask if the sky is blue.”

Sephiroth laughed softly at that. “My mistake. I keep forgetting that little detail about other men. Don’t be embarrassed, Cloud.”

Suddenly, Cloud wasn’t embarrassed; he was enchanted. Sephiroth’s soft, deep laughter was something new to him. The most he was used to hearing from the man was a reserved chuckle here and there.

~I’ve never heard him laugh like that before. It’s…sexy.~

Compelled by appreciation and wonder, Cloud kissed him again with aching tenderness. “I want to hear you do that more often,” he whispered against his lips.

Sephiroth sobered and combed his fingers through the slighter man’s soft, feathered spikes. “It was just a laugh, Cloud. There’s no need to get emotional over it.”

“I know, but it’s the first time I’ve ever heard one from you. I liked it.”

Sephiroth traced his lips with his fingertips. “Then I suppose I’ll have to do it more often, won’t I?”

~*************************************~

After exchanging a few more unhurried kisses, Cloud got out of bed and selected a warm outfit comprised of black, reinforced leather pants and a burgundy turtleneck sweater. He told Sephiroth that he could go back to sleep if he wanted to (careful not to make the statement as an order so that he wouldn’t inadvertently force him) and then took his change of clothes with him to the bathroom. He heard Sephiroth laugh softly again as he sprinted over the cold floor as quickly as he could.

“It’s cold!” He said over his shoulder defensively before disappearing into the bathroom. Once inside, he grabbed the box of matches sitting on the shelf over the gas heater installed into the wall and carefully lit it up, shifting from foot to foot in the process. He hated cold mornings because his floors were all stone and wood. It made getting around barefoot an uncomfortable process. One of these days, he intended to put carpet down at least in some of the rooms.

Cloud twisted the “hot” shower tap on to let the water heat up while he undressed and he shivered as he removed his pj’s. How Sephiroth could sleep in only a pair of sweatpants without getting cold was a mystery to him. By the time he removed his bottoms, the spraying water was giving off steam. He turned the “cold” tap with one hand while testing the temperature gingerly with the other until the water temperature was to his liking, then stepped into the tub and pulled the curtain shut.

He thought about his current situation while he started on his hair and he knew he was grinning like a moron. In all the long years of secretly dreaming of what it would be like to be the general’s lover, he’d never imagined it would actually happen one day. It wasn’t quite what he’d fantasized about but even with certain limitations it was still more than he’d ever hoped for. He reached for the shampoo and squeezed a little into his hand, then proceeded to lather it through his hair.

Cloud paused when he heard the bathroom door open, his pulse picking up. “Sephiroth?”

In response, the shower curtain was pulled open and Cloud blinked water out of his eyes. “Oh,” he said breathlessly, his gaze traveling over Sephiroth’s naked body.

Sephiroth hesitated long enough to enjoy the view of Cloud’s wet, nude form. Yes, the blonde was definitely put together nicely. He smiled crookedly, taking note that the young man’s hair was wet and half-lathered. “It makes more sense to shower together and conserve water, wouldn’t you agree?”

Cloud’s throat worked as he swallowed and nodded. His groin, which had finally started to soften, pulled taut again as Sephiroth stepped into the tub behind him with animal grace and pulled the curtain closed again. “Look at what you’ve done,” Cloud complained when the other man pressed up against his back. He gasped when Sephiroth nibbled his ear.

“Mmm, have I caused some tension, Cloud?” The silver-haired man purred into his ear. “I’ll have to remedy that before we finish. For now, however…” He skimmed his fingers over Cloud’s ass, back and shoulders before pushing them into his soapy hair and massaging his scalp.

Cloud leaned against the taller man and closed his eyes, forgetting his momentary discomfort at the abrupt invasion of his privacy. “Feels good,” he murmured. Sephiroth’s strong fingers applied just the right amount of pressure as they worked the lather through his hair. It took Cloud a minute to comprehend him when he instructed him to turn around and lean his head back, but he did so and sighed as the warm water sprayed his scalp and Sephiroth’s fingers combed through the hair to work all of the shampoo out of it.

With that done, the silver-haired man moved on to Cloud’s body, soaping it up and massaging it along the way. The blond gasped when his companion’s fingers briefly teased his nipples erect and he looked up to find Sephiroth gazing at him with calm appreciation. Unfortunately, the taller man’s body wasn’t reacting to the intimate bathing the way Cloud’s was. His impressive shaft remained in repose even though his eyes were intense and sensual on him.

Sephiroth paused in the process of soaping Cloud’s torso, noticing the faint scar to the left of his belly button. He frowned and traced it with his fingers, knowing that it was there because of him. He had a similar scar given to him by the blonde, but that didn’t lessen the alien feeling of regret that pulsed in him. Seeing the curious look in the young man’s blue eyes, Sephiroth decided to move on to more…interesting…areas, before Cloud could start questioning his reaction to the old wound.

“Be still, Cloud,” Sephiroth chastised when the blonde yelped as he began to soap his genitals.

Cloud swallowed and tried to obey, amazed at how experienced the other man’s touch was despite his sexual disadvantages. “Sephiroth, that’s going to cause trouble,” he warned softly in a trembling voice.

Sephiroth smiled at him and turned him around in his arms. “I should hope so,” he murmured against Cloud’s ear as his soapy hand gripped his erection and stroked it.

~Wow, this is…this is so hot…I never dreamed I’d be in this position,~ Cloud thought dazedly as his companion steadily massaged his length, then did the same with his balls. He groaned softly and shifted with restless pleasure and lust, pushing back against Sephiroth’s hard contours instinctively. The taller man’s other hand was rubbing his ass slowly, working the soap over it and kissing his neck.

~He’s gonna make me cream myself if he keeps this up,~ Cloud thought distantly, breathing heavily with growing pleasure. Somewhere in his mind he wondered if Sephiroth was being so attentive and generous with giving him pleasure because he was trying to make up for the lack of intercourse, and the thought made Cloud feel a stab of guilt.

He was so distracted with growing thoughts of how unfair it was that he’d gotten so much sexual fulfillment so soon in the relationship when Sephiroth could get none, he didn’t realize where the other man’s hand was going on his backside. Cloud squeaked with sudden, shocked bewilderment as he felt one of Sephiroth’s fingers ease gently into the tight ring of his entrance.

“S-Seph,” Cloud grunted, surprise making him tense up.

“Relax, Cloud,” The general purred into his ear, briefly stopping his fondling of his groin to put an arm around his waist and hold him steady. “I can give you this much, at least.”

The quiet, gentle authority in Sephiroth’s voice eased Cloud’s tension and surprise. Resisting him or telling him to stop wasn’t even a consideration in his mind—he’d just been unprepared. He trembled and concentrated on relaxing, not fighting the intrusion of his companion’s penetrating finger. Sephiroth was evidently satisfied with his response, releasing his waist and resuming his massage of his erection.

Cloud turned his head and kissed Sephiroth on the mouth, panting softly as his finger slowly thrust in and out. He was surprised again when Sephiroth murmured: “Tell me if it’s uncomfortable, Cloud,” against his lips.

~He’s really good…I never would have thought the great Sephiroth would be this generous and considerate. I figured he’d be the kind of guy that would just take what he wanted and to hell with how it felt to the other person.~

Of course, he shouldn’t have been surprised by now, knowing that the only satisfaction Sephiroth got out of these encounters was a sense of prideful accomplishment. Cloud tensed momentarily as another finger joined the penetration, but his partner skillfully eased his body into it so that it wasn’t painful. Cloud began to move with the rhythmic thrusts, synchronizing his motions to increase the pleasure. He went still again and his blue eyes went wide as those fingers began to feel around inside of him, finding the lump of his prostate.

“Ahh…ah…that’s…it’s too much,” Cloud cried as Sephiroth pressed firmly against the spot and rubbed it in a circular motion. His cock bucked and the general squeezed the base of it to deny orgasm. The fingers inside of him stopped massaging his gland for a moment and Sephiroth’s lips brushed against his temple.

“Do you want me to stop, then?”

Cloud couldn’t think through the throbbing sensations in his tender parts. “I…I don’t know,” he panted in confusion. He was no virgin but he’d never been with anyone that focused on just massaging that spot the way Sephiroth was doing it. They’d always fingered him before intercourse just to prepare him and the only prostate stimulation he was used to getting was when his partner’s dick brushed against it during sex.

Sephiroth paid careful attention to Cloud’s voice and body language, knowing from his own experience that sometimes, anal penetration could be uncomfortable in the beginning. He didn’t know how prostate stimulation felt to a normal man but he remembered it feeling good enough in his case to distract from the stretching sensation. Experimentally, he rubbed the gland again, applying less pressure than before. Cloud shuddered in his arms and whimpered. Sephiroth smiled, convinced that the reaction was from pleasure and not discomfort.

“I think it’s safe to continue, Cloud.” He nibbled the blonde’s ear and resumed, releasing the base of his sex to stroke up to the tip and rub the glans. Cloud bucked against him and Sephiroth almost scolded him, but he realized that it was involuntary when the young man braced his hands against the tiled wall and moaned. Sephiroth tried different techniques, alternating between stroking the length of his erection and rubbing the tip, while at the same time he alternately fucked him with his fingers and paused to rub the gland inside.

Cloud bit his lip and his face flushed with rising pleasure. He could no longer concentrate on anything save remaining upright as Sephiroth brought him to the edge, only to deny him ultimate release. He was moaning incoherently after several minutes of the sweet torture, finding himself trapped by his companion’s hands and unable to control his instinctive humping. When he thrust forward, Sephiroth’s hand squeezed and stroked his cock to the base. When he rocked away, his big, long fingers pushed firmly into him. The pressure built again and Cloud raggedly begged his companion for release.

“Not yet, Cloud. Behave and I’ll consider it,” Sephiroth said huskily. “Kiss me now.”

Cloud had to remove his hands from the wall and lean back against the taller man’s body to comply with the demand, relinquishing his support and relying on Sephiroth to brace him. The general proved more than capable of shifting his weight to support Cloud against him and the blonde turned his head to give him the kiss he’d ordered. He moaned shakenly against Sephiroth’s mouth as the other man’s tongue slid in and caressed his. The kiss was slow and intense, branding Cloud’s mouth with the heat of possessive desire. He didn’t know how much longer he could stand it, with Sephiroth’s tongue dominating his and his hands steadily stroking, squeezing and pressing the most sensitive parts of his body.

“Please, Sephiroth…I’ll do anything you want if you’ll just…let me come!”

Satisfied with Cloud’s submissive responses, Sephiroth broke the kiss and licked the blonde’s lips with the tip of his tongue as he stroked his sex rapidly and rubbed his internal gland firmly. He smiled and nibbled the pretty, shapely lips as a loud, helpless moan burst from them. He reveled in the way Cloud’s body arched against him with the sudden tension of release and he looked down at the organ he held to watch it buck and spurt.

“Very beautiful, Cloud,” Sephiroth complimented as the young man panted against his lips and closed his eyes. “I enjoy seeing that expression on your face.” He eased his fingers out of the young man’s body and coaxed him forward to let the spray of the shower rinse the soap and sperm from his genitals. Cloud seemed dazed and Sephiroth chuckled. “Are you still in there, Strife?”

Cloud nodded and reached up and behind to put his arms around Sephiroth’s neck as he finished rinsing his body off. “How can you be so good at this, when…you know.”

Sephiroth was amused at Cloud’s naivety. “I told you before, my erectile dysfunction didn’t stop me from experimenting with intimacy. If anything I’d say it gave me cause to learn ways around it.”

“You sure as hell did,” Cloud sighed, shaking his head in amazement.

Sephiroth turned him around and gently rinsed his bottom, kissing him languidly as he did so. “There’s more to sex than drilling someone with your dick,” He murmured.

“You’ve proved that,” Cloud agreed, blushing.

Sephiroth smirked.

~*************************************~

It was a treat to return the favor and bathe Sephiroth’s body. Cloud took it as slowly as possible, wanting to enjoy the feel of his lover’s soap-slick skin against his hands for as long as he could. Having a weakness for Sephiroth’s chest, he couldn’t help himself and spent a few moments kissing and licking it after he’d rinsed the soap off. If Sephiroth didn’t remind him in a softly amused tone that the hot water wasn’t unlimited, Cloud might have spent all morning just worshipping his chest with his mouth.

“Sorry,” Cloud grumbled in embarrassment, biting his lip. In truth he wasn’t sorry but he realized he was acting like an obsessed sex addict.

He ended up with the same problem when his bathing brought him to the areas below Sephiroth’s waist. He had him turn around and pull his hair over his shoulder so that he could soap off his back and buttocks. Cloud’s sapphire eyes softened with admiration as he stared at his companion’s firm, toned ass. His groin hardened again and he groaned softly. Possessed with desire and curiosity, the blond sank to his knees in the tub while lathering the soap in his hands.

Sephiroth was relaxed and quite enjoying Cloud’s eager reciprocation. His calloused hands were skillful as they bathed his body and the soft, muttered comments of admiration he made without seeming to realize he was doing it were endearing. The silver-haired man closed his eyes and sighed with enjoyment as Cloud’s hands worked the soap into the skin on the back of his thighs, just below his buttocks. He smirked with puzzled amusement when he felt the blonde’s breath against his cheeks and he was about to tell Cloud that it wasn’t necessary for him to get on his knees to bathe that part, when a totally unexpected sensation made the general jump with surprise and swear.

Cloud’s little white teeth pinched Sephiroth’s right butt cheek, hard enough to sting.

~What in the everloving fuck?! Did Strife really just…bite me…on the ASS?~

For a moment Sephiroth was too shocked to do more than stare at the wall with his jaw hanging open and his eyes wide.

“Uh,” he heard Cloud say when the teeth withdrew.

“Just what in the hell was that, Strife?” Sephiroth twisted around to regard the blonde, schooling his features into a stoic mask of curiosity to hide the utter bewilderment he felt.

Cloud was crouched at his feet, looking up at him with wide blue eyes and a comical expression of confusion on his fair features. His wet hair framed his face appealingly and his pretty mouth struggled with words. “Er…it was…it was right there in my face…”

“Because you knelt down in front of it,” Sephiroth reasoned, his mouth twitching with the effort not to laugh.

“Well yeah, but…I mean…I wanted a closer look and…I don’t know…it was just too tempting. I mean have you ever seen your ass, Sephiroth?”

Sephiroth reached up with one hand to pinch his lips briefly to control a grin, then he coughed. “I can’t say that I’ve ever given it a good look, Cloud. Given your claims that it wields the power to compel the viewer to bite it, that’s probably a good thing. I can’t imagine I would have gotten much work done.”

Cloud burst into laughter and looked away. The mental image of Sephiroth gnawing on his own butt made him lose what was left of his composure. He regained control of himself with effort and looked up at the taller man again, who was still staring at him with an elegant brow lifted. “I’m sorry,” he said with a bashful grin. “I guess I lost my head. Here, why don’t you turn around and I’ll get your front, then we can move on to your hair.”

Sephiroth looked understandably wary. “You want me to present my genitals to your tender mercies after what you just did to my ass? Honestly Cloud, I’m not wildly in love with the possibility of becoming a eunuch in a more literal sense.”

Cloud laughed again and shook his head. “I promise, I won’t do anything like that.” When Sephiroth didn’t move, he sighed. “Come on Sephiroth, please trust me. I’ll be honest with you; I have fantasies about your cock and my mouth, but biting isn’t one of them. The only thing you’d risk feeling if I lost my head again would be my lips around your dick, okay?”

Sephiroth stared at the blonde, surprised by his raw honesty. Cloud was blushing but he was looking up at him earnestly. The silver warrior reached down and caressed his companion’s jaw with his fingertips, traveling the line of it to his ear. He brushed his thumb over the silver earring piercing Cloud’s left earlobe and examined the piece of jewelry as he considered it. The thought of those shapely lips around his cock was a pleasant one and he couldn’t imagine objecting to it if that were the result of Cloud losing his head again.

“Fine,” Sephiroth finally said. “If I feel teeth there’s going to be hell to pay, Cloud.”

“You won’t,” Cloud said with a chuckle. “I swear.”

Sephiroth turned around fully and allowed him to finish bathing his legs and genitals. Cloud somehow controlled himself, cursing his libido for making him horny again so soon after his lover had given him release. He didn’t want to seem selfish or demanding so he used all of his willpower to finish the task in a professional, if loving manner.

~I’m starting to wonder if I can even take it, if he’s ever able to get hard,~ Cloud thought as he washed and admired his companion’s groin. Some men didn’t grow much when they became erect but if Sephiroth did, he’d be hard to receive. ~It’ll take a LOT of lube if he ever gets a stiffy and he grows much bigger than he already is.~

The thought of taking Sephiroth inside of him made Cloud flush...not with embarrassment but with arousal. He grimaced down at his own perfectly reasonable sized erection, noting the precome beading on the tip of it ruefully. Wishing he had more control over his sex drive, Cloud rose to his feet and started on Sephiroth’s hair.

It took twice as much shampoo to wash Sephiroth’s thick, long mane than it took to wash his own, but Cloud enjoyed doing it almost as much as he’d enjoyed bathing his body. The hair was so silken between his fingers, especially after he added the conditioner. “It’s a good thing you bought this,” Cloud commented as he worked the creamy rinse into the other man’s hair. “I never need the stuff but with as much hair as you’ve got, it would be a nightmare to comb it out after a wash without it.”

“It can be a trial,” Sephiroth agreed. “I’ve thought about cutting it off.”

Cloud stopped abruptly and tugged a handful of the general’s hair without thinking. “Don’t ever even dream of it,” he said with authority that surprised them both. “Trimming the split ends is one thing but don’t you DARE cut it off.”

Sephiroth winced and turned his head to look at the blonde. “But how do you REALLY feel, Cloud?” he smirked. “By the way, that’s rather painful.”

Cloud released his hold with a mollified look. “Sorry. I just…really love your hair the way it is.” He returned his attention to working the conditioner through it, not looking at Sephiroth for fear that the man would see the love in his gaze.

“Clearly,” Sephiroth said dryly. “Don’t panic, though. I said I’ve thought about cutting it off, but I’ve never done it yet. It can be a pain in the ass to care for but it doesn’t get in the way as some might assume.”

“Good,” Cloud said, keeping his eyes fixed on the glossy hair he was working on.

He couldn’t see Sephiroth frown in puzzlement, nor could he know that the other man had detected the emotion he was trying to hide in his voice.

~********************************~

Cloud ended up pressed for time due to the abnormally long shower, but he had no regrets. He had a bowl of cereal and a glass of milk for breakfast and then he loaded the supplies of pharmacy medication he was delivering into Fenrir’s storage compartments.

“I should be back this afternoon,” Cloud said as Sephiroth watched with interest. “This stuff’s going to the farming community between here and the Mythril Mines. They don’t have a medicine supplier since the roads are so trashed, so I deliver what they need from the Kalm pharmacy every now and then.” He secured the goods carefully and shut the compartment, not looking at Sephiroth.

“Cloud, if you’re going to avoid looking directly at me after every sexual encounter we have, I may start to think you aren’t ready for this.”

Cloud looked up at him, parting his lips. “It isn’t that,” he said hastily.

Sephiroth crossed his arms over his chest. “Then, what is it? Enlighten me.”

Cloud swallowed and closed his eyes briefly, wondering if he had the strength to tell Sephiroth what was in his heart. What if it spooked him? “I…what I feel…it isn’t really logical. I’ve been fighting it since way before I agreed to this chip arrangement.”

Sephiroth stepped closer, his glittering eyes unwavering. “Go on.”

Cloud tried to look away but couldn’t. “I don’t think I’m ready to say it to you,” he admitted a little desperately. “Not yet. I still can’t understand it myself. All I can tell you right now is that I do want you and I do care for you.”

Sephiroth gave him a surprisingly gentle smile. “Are these other feelings you’ve hinted at but are afraid to say aloud good or bad, Cloud?”

“Good,” the blonde answered without hesitation. “But I have bad feelings about the good ones. I…I can’t do this right now, Sephiroth. I’m sorry. Just please try to be patient with me and don’t think I get quiet or nervous around you because I don’t want you. I’ll tell you right now, I’ve never wanted anyone in my life as much as I want you, so that’s never going to be a concern.”

Sephiroth listened quietly and thoughtfully, neither interrupting him nor asking questions. When Cloud’s speech was finished, the general bent his head to capture the blonde’s lips in a brief but intense kiss. “I can wait,” he murmured against the kiss-swollen lips when he finished plundering his mouth. Truthfully, Cloud had already revealed enough that Sephiroth could guess what the problem was. He stepped back and watched as Cloud got onto Fenrir with a dazed expression on his face. Without another word, the blonde put his goggles on, hit the button for the garage door and started the bike up. Sephiroth watched silently as Cloud drove away.

~Afraid I’ll run away screaming if you tell me you love me, Strife? Or is it your guilt for doing so that makes you so dramatic about it?~

Not that he couldn’t understand Cloud’s hesitation and confusion. Sephiroth had already fought his own inner demons for wanting the man that was his captor. He didn’t know if it was love yet, but he certainly liked the blonde and he definitely felt attraction for him. Strife was only guilty of feeling too much compassion for someone that didn’t deserve it. His participation in the enslavement of Sephiroth had been conducted for benevolent reasons. The apparent guilt he felt probably stemmed from caring about a man he should by all logic and reason despise.

With a sigh, Sephiroth went back into the house and started going through the monthly bills. As he calculated them and organized payments, he kept thinking of how ironic it was that he was again in a relationship with someone who was boyish and big-hearted. He deduced that he had some sort of innate weakness for that sort; possibly because of traits he’d never possessed himself.

~**********************************~

Early in the afternoon, someone came knocking on the front door. Sephiroth answered it to find a familiar young woman with long brown hair and dark brown eyes standing before him. Lockheart hadn’t changed much over the years, except for the wisdom in her dark eyes and the fire behind them as she looked up at him. He vaguely remembered her being present when he first arrived in Kalm, but he hadn’t seen her at all since he’d recovered.

“Is Cloud home?” She asked in a clipped tone. Here was one that still knew how to hold a grudge.

“He’s away on a delivery,” Sephiroth answered, noting the tension in her frame.

She swore beneath her breath and he tilted his head. “I trust it must be something important.”

She looked at him searchingly for a moment before answering. “A corrupted Mako geyser erupted near Midgar and caused a lot of damage. On top of that, it’s somehow attracted a lot of mutated animals from the surrounding plains and they’re roaming into the city and attacking people. They’re trying to evacuate the areas that people still live in but it’s slow because of all of the construction. It’s all over the news but I didn’t know if Cloud saw it yet and nobody’s able to reach him on the phone.”

“He’s probably got it switched off while he’s traveling,” Sephiroth reasoned. “He couldn’t hear it over the roar of that bike’s engine anyway. You can come inside and wait for him if you’d like. He should be back soon.”

He wasn’t surprised when she reacted to his invitation to come in with an expression of alarm. “You’re inviting me to come in and sit here alone with you?”

“Or stand,” Sephiroth shrugged. “Is something wrong with that?”

Tifa stared at the man and didn’t bother to hide the astonishment on her face. “Yes, there’s something wrong with that! You killed my father and burned my hometown! You cut me when I tried to stop you and you did the same to Zack and Cloud! Why in the world would you think I’d want to be alone and out of public view with someone like you?”

“Because you’re either going to have to put your feelings about me aside for a short time or get them out into the open and deal with them, Ms. Lockheart,” Sephiroth said with cold honesty. “I assume Cloud is going to want to help with this effort when he hears about it and I’m most likely going to be coming with. It will be much easier for you to work with me if you aren’t allowing resentment and anger to fog your judgment.”

Tifa tried to think of a rebuttal for that, but Sephiroth was right…damn him. She couldn’t live in fear of the man and she couldn’t concentrate on helping the people in Midgar if she was too preoccupied with seething over what he’d done. She knew that he would be a big help if he came along, having the tactical experience and power that he did. If nothing else, she trusted Cloud to have taken measures to keep Sephiroth from harming her or anyone else.

“Fine,” Tifa said, matching Sephiroth’s stare with her own. “Don’t mistake me for a pushover and don’t think I’m going to let my guard down.”

“I wouldn’t dream of either, Ms. Lockheart,” Sephiroth answered politely, standing aside for her to enter the house.

Tifa swallowed and walked through the doorway. Sephiroth closed it behind him as he followed her inside.

~********************************~

-To be continued