Birds of Prey

Title: Birds of Prey
Author: Reichi
Rating: NC17
Pairing: CloudxKadaj
Comments: Based off the AC poster with Cloud carrying Kadaj. Presumibly after the movie.
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and Final Fantasy VII are owned by Square Enix, so none of these characters or places belong to me. Okay? None of these are mine. Hear me yet? NOTHING HERE IS MINE!! -Points to SquareEnix- ITS ALL THEIRS NOT MINE



Chapter Two: Threatingly Pleasant






Three in the morning.


The most INHUMAN hour to be awake, by Clouds standards at least. No one except insomniacs, monsters and Tifa were awake at three in the morning, regardless of circumstances. Cloud himself was never awake at three, not even to wobble to the bathroom to take a piss, not even at SOLDIER camp. Not even when he was a babe did he whine at three in the morning.


But it just happened to be two-fifty six in the morning, when movement nearby caught his subconscious attention. Heightened skills from years of sleeping outdoors and rigorous training didn’t allow him to fall back asleep until he found the caught, and blearily opened his eyes.


The rare instance of the moon gleaming down from the dusty sky above was pouring its silvery rays down upon Gaea this evening, casting a haunting glow about the area. Another movement and a couple of small fiends ambled away from him, escaping the light cast from his smoldering eyes.


Only some fiends… Cloud turned his head away and eased his eyes shut again; stretching his arms up above his head and felt the cool bite of metal into his skin. He hadn’t removed any of his constrictive outfit before falling asleep, leaving him sore in a couple of places. Oh well, to late now.


And wouldn’t you know it? Seconds away from falling asleep, and a thought pounced upon him; Kadaj. Oh… damn. That’s right… tiredly, he peered over toward his left, to the empty space beside him where Kadaj had been just hours ago.


Within seconds, he was wide awake, but the well-made tip of one of the copied Buster swords was already aimed threateningly at his throat.


“Kadaj. “ Cloud accused, voice gruff from sleeping. “My Busters. What are you doing? “


Kadaj was still nude from the waist up, wrappings about his midsection making it difficult to breathe. This or the pain of his severe wound. He had trouble maintaining the weight of the Buster with one hand, as he would with the lighter Souba. Regardless, a glimmer flashed over his brightly shinning eyes.


“I am going to kill you. “ He said simply, casually almost.


Clouds heart was thundering, painfully in his chest, frozen on the spot, his own double slice at his side aching all of a sudden. It made him feel almost ill. It didn’t matter though… it appeared the immature mind of Kadaj had made a decision. The weight of the tip against his throat bore down more heavily which each passing breathe. Eyes locked.


“Then kill me. “ Cloud responded, reaching up a lightly quivering hand and taking the end in hand. Kadaj started a little bit, wanting to recoil, but Cloud kept the end placed firmly at his neck, right over the heavily pulsing vein, “ Kill me, because I saved your, and the worlds lives. “


“I could have made it out on my own, jerk. “ Kadaj hissed, emotions suddenly flaring up in his eyes. Suddenly, a lot clearer…it appeared the looming voice of Jenova had finally died away, after all this time. But that just meant Kadaj was acting upon his own accord.


“Then kill me, because I am the only one who cares about you. “ Cloud said, vision slipping in and out. Perhaps… his own wound had needed tending too… somewhere along the line… maybe.


Kadaj’s eyebrows rose slightly, and the Buster remained where it was. They were frozen in place for a couple more breathtaking seconds, and then Cloud closed his eyes, and let himself flop back onto the thinly spread, filthy mattress.


“H-hey! “ Kadaj’s voice rang through his head. Buster clanged onto the ground. “What the hell’s wrong with you? “


“A little cut. “ Cloud said heavily. It felt funny now, where the Souba had cut him… it made him suddenly warm and cold at the same time, “From earlier… wasn’t too bad though… “


“The Souba cut you? “ Kadaj’s voice had taken a note of worry. He fell onto his knees beside Cloud, looming over him, and beginning to savagely tear away at the bloodstain in the dark material. Cloud was beginning to feel increasingly heavy.


“Yeah. “ He answered, blinking once or twice, hard, “I didn’t think it was important though… “


“Idiot! “ Kadaj hissed, leaning close to inspect the wound. Clouds breathe caught in his gasping throat, feeling the cascade of warm breathing upon his bare skin, rolling across it like fog in the morning. Followed by a warm flex of fingers prancing across his stomach, where the teen had placed his hand absently, “If the Shadow Blade cut you, then you’ve been poisoned. “


“But… how? I’ve last more than a couple of hours… “


“It’s dormant until it finds a moment of weakness, and then attacks. Its dark magic, you jerk. What do you think it would do? “Kadaj glanced up at him, and begun searching in the small storage devices on his belt. He extracted a tall, slim silvery tube, “I only have one Antidote, and it takes three to cure it. “


Oh, damn. Clouds mind drifted for a moment, his eyes drifting shut for a moment, only to open and blink vapidly at the sky above.


“Check my medical pouch at Fenrir “ he suggested, eyes drifting shut and head falling limp to the side. Welcoming darkness swept over him, creating a light feel to his limbs that gave him the sensation of floating. Only the sharp sting of Kadaj’s hand was enough to draw him back into the world of the living.


“Stay awake! “ Kadaj snarled, “Unless you want to die. “


Cloud blinked at him, watching with a lingering stare at the leather-clad behind as Kadaj crouched and clawed through practically everything he kept in the side pouch, until he came across the same medical pouch from before. He then hurried back over, dropping it onto Clouds bare stomach and prying it open.


“Why do you throw garbage back in here? “ Kadaj grimaced, picking out the bandage wrappers he’d mindlessly tossed back in only a COUPLE of times. Cloud groaned deeply.


“Because I don’t believe in littering. Now hurry. “


“I’m looking. “ Kadaj dumped out a couple of Sifts and Eye Drops, yanking out a Remedy and looking at him curiously, with a certain glint in his eye.


“…We can try this. “


“Just keep looking. “


“ … Whatever. “Kadaj tossed it into the growing pile, digging around until he found another Antidote, and finally a third. By that time, Clouds eyes had closed again, mouth parted and bare gasps keeping his chest moving up and down unsteadily. With a fine sheen of moist sweat gathering over his exposed skin, chilling it where it lay in the cool night air.


“Come on, wake up, idiot. “ Kadaj tipped Clouds head up and eased the Antidote back until every last drop escaped the bottle, warm fingertips massaging the liquid down the blond’s throat. The second bottle slipped away as easily as the first did, but the third was a little tough.


Cloud had begun convulsing slightly, and Kadaj nearly shoved the entire vial down his throat to prevent any drops from escaping. Every bit was entirely essential… Kadaj tossed them away once Cloud had finished them all, and sat for the better part of an hour, with Clouds increasingly warm forehead beneath palm, poison attacking his system regardless. And Kadaj, for the first time in his life, surprised himself.


He actually… he really did care about someone. Despite the earlier… problem, not long ago. He had actually awoken with Cloud frighteningly close beside him. He could practically breathe in and catch a full gasp of the spicy, almost gentle cologne he wore, felt the warmth of his body. And to be honest, without the guidance of Mother, Kadaj hadn’t known what to do. His thundering heart frightened him, and he’d panicked. He was going to escape, but Cloud awoke and… and… he did what he’d been training to do for his entire life.


Only… the exact opposite actually happened. He saved the traitor, had his lovely golden head rested in his lap, fast asleep, almost dying of his Shadow Blade, and Kadaj was actually worried the idiot may not make it.


It just so happened to be enough to make him re-calculate his existence.






When Cloud awoke in the morning, it was to a blistering headache and chill coursing through his mildly damp body. The sun was beating down into his face for God knows how long, and the passing landscape tore at his sensitive eyes. He was well aware that he was seated on Fenrir even before his eyes opened, in a –very- uncomfortable, awkwardly squished position with one leg dangling precariously close to the passing ground. Like someone had only tossed him onto his bike like a sack of Chocobo feed.


The craters and bumps made his stomach flip, and he clutched the strong forearm just beneath his head.


“Stop the bike; I’m going to puke. “


“Gross Strife. “ Kadaj sniffed from above, easing the brake on a little bit too quickly for Clouds taste, and cantered in to a stop. Cloud quickly disengaged himself from the stale blanket he’d been wrapped in and stumbled on the ground, practically collapsing onto his hands and knee’s.


It felt worse now that the bike had stopped. The bile in his throat rose quickly, and expelled itself with a couple choking coughs from the ex-SOLDIER. Like many, rather disgusting things in life, Cloud forced it to be quick and neat by nature, rising with his knee’s shaking.


“Charming. I hope you’re finished now, because we’re on a schedule. “Kadaj said from somewhere behind him, over the gentle purr of Fernir’s engine.


“What do you mean? “ Cloud muttered, clearing his throat twice and giving Kadaj a shifty look. The youth just smirked a little bit, and patted the small expanse of seat before him, his rumpled sheet still there.


“The antidotes didn’t really work… it subdued the poison, but unless you want some permanent damage dealt, I suggest we get to Junon. “


Cloud grimaced and eased himself back onto the bike, “Why go all the way to Junon? Kalm isn’t that far away. “


“Because the quickest route there is through Neo-Midgar.I didn’t think you’d want to go that way. “ Kadaj busied himself with tucking the blanket, rather tightly, about Cloud again. Who scowled darkly at him?


“What’s up with this? “


“The poison weakens your immune system. “ The youth said simply, kicking the bike off and pressing the gas, rather quickly. Cloud watched the gages rising swiftly past Thirty miles an hour, falling steady somewhere around forty-something.


“Would you mind not being so brutal with Fenrir? “ Cloud said after a moment, his neck aching. He must have slept at a strange angle. Kadaj didn’t look down, but his lips corked upwards coyly.


“Fernir? You’ve named your bike? “


“Yeah. And I would like it if you handled her a little more gently. “


“Well, I don’t care much for women. “ Kadaj remarked, finally allowing Cloud a small side-glance with his glowing eyes, enough to catch the sinister glare Cloud had been aiming at for the past couple moments.


“What are you trying to imply by that? “


“Why, nothing at all. Why don’t you go back to sleep now? I enjoy driving in silence. “


“Whatever. “ Cloud sighed, letting he plop heavily against Kadaj and force his breathe out for a moment. When the youth recovered, he tucked at a corner of the blanket that wasn’t necessarily in need of it, “ Just be careful. “


“ I am. Don’t worry so much. “


Cloud snorted, and placidly watched the landscape rolling pass, alternating between the bright green fields that somehow managed to grow in the filthy atmosphere, and the dry, patchy earth that was expected of a planet like this. Ominious clouds were gathering in the distance, and were casually rolling over them, causing Kadaj to clutch him closer, for some reason.


Cloud sighed and tilted his head, straining a muscle from the night before to momentarily relax his cheek against the smooth skin of the youths shoulder.


“ Its going to rain. “ Cloud said, pointlessly.


“ I’m trying to hurry. “ Kadaj’s voice rang right into his ear, smoothly. He could feel the vibration of vocal cords right there, and pillowed his cheek in more, managing to catch a wiff of his musky scent.


“ How much further? “ Cloud asked, watching the sky above through small pieces of silvery hair, drifting into his range every now and then. Kadaj shrugged mildly.


“ I can see it in the distance, I think… not much longer. “


“ Do you have any Gil on you? “


Kadaj seemed surprised by the question, tilting his head a degree that allowed his smooth jaw line to press Clouds cheekbone, “ Of coarse not. ShinRa supplied us everything we needed… there was no use for Gil with us. “


“Damn… Well how did you expect to pay for more items? “


“ Well, I thought you might have something on you. “


“ I do. But I didn’t want to tap into it. “ Cloud closed his eyes, blocking the chilly gusts of wind picking up from the looming storm to scathe his eyes, “ I guess I’ll have to though. “


“ I’m sure it isn’t that large of a loss on your account. “ Kadaj murmured quietly.


The last few minutes to Junon was spent in silence, rousing Cloud when the smooth pavement of the city struck the tire with a noticeable difference from the uneven terrain. Prying only one brightly shining blue eye open, he grinned tiredly at the odd expression on the citizen’s faces, mostly aimed at Kadaj.


“ Do you have enough for a room? “ Kadaj asked him, stopping infront of the inn not far from the entrance of the town.


“ Probably. “ He reached out from the warm blanket and touched a button underneath the gages, a tiny glove compartment popping open with the jingle of Gil, “ I should. I’ll take half with me, and you take the other half to pay for the items. Got me? No side-trips. “


“ Right. “ Kadaj almost seemed reluctant in letting Cloud go, who wobbled on the spot for a moment, eyesight flashing with little dots polluting his vision, “ Leave the room door open for me. “


“ Just hurry. “ Cloud snagged a handful of Gil and shoved it into his pocket, noting that he had taken the blanket with him, and it was doing –very- little in actually keeping him warm now. He frowned, and turned unevenly to go inside.


It took a grand-total of fifteen minutes to Kadaj to push at the door hesitantly, closing the door behind him with a sharp snap that startled Cloud, from where he lay in a mass of varying blankets in the queen-sized bed. His head whipped over his shoulder, watching the Teen.


Kadaj scowled at nothing, really, clutching the items in a small, string-secured bag, which he set own on the bed and gave Cloud his very best miserable stare. It had begun raining outside, a point he vaguely registered when he’d collapsed onto the bed, and Kadaj looked thouroughly soaked through. Nude from the waist up, his torso was freckled with goose pimples, his leather outfit smelling strongly of a dead cow. His hair lay in a mop of silvery silk that covered his marvelous green eyes.


Overall, he looked like a wet kitten.


“ There’s your medicine. “ Kadaj said, perhaps a little bit too quickly. Cloud couldn’t help but notice him shivering.

“ Thanks. “ Cloud sat up, grabbing the bag and opening it with a soft rustle. A couple of Antidotes, and something odd Cloud had never seen before. He glanced questionably to the teen, who had lingered to the bathroom and was absently drying at his hair. “ Whats this? “


“ Under the table. “ Kadaj muttered quietly, staring at the deep red bottle in Clouds hand and combing his fingers through the fine silvery hair. “ It wont kill you, I swear. It’s a unique Antidote made to counter-act the effects of Souba. “


“ Why didn’t you have this on you in the first place. “ Cloud coughed roughly at the potent smell eminating from the bottle, took a deep breath and swallowed it in one gulp. It burned on the way down.


“ Because if someone were cut by the Souba, there is usually good reason why. “ Kadaj smirked at him eerily, reaching down to unlace his boots and kick them over by the door. Back to Cloud, he begun pulling the zipper further down.


“ What are you doing now? “ He asked, voice scratchy from the Antidote.


“ Taking it off. Whats it to you? “ The teen glanced at him, over his shoulder with his eyebrows raised.


“ What do you have under that? “


“ Nothing. “ Kadaj grinned, pleased at Clouds rather hollow expression at that. Just for kicks, he shoved the leather down past his hips and to mid-thigh, laughing out loud when Cloud expelled a startled sound and looked away.


“ Don’t flip out. I was only kidding. “ The youth snickered and pulled the rest of the suit off carefully, laying it over a chair to dry over-night. Cloud carefully glanced back with the corner of his eye, relieved to see that he had, indeed, worn some kind of glossy-looking, skin-tight pants scaling from just bellow the peaks to his hipbones to just above his knee.


“ Jerk “ Cloud countered, voice hardly above a whisper. Kadaj heard it, and flashed in a sharp look while easing himself under whatever covers Cloud hadn’t hog into a huge pile. Taking the cue, Cloud gathered the empty glass bottle and Antidotes, placing each back into the soppy sack and tossing it onto the nightstand.


“ Mind sharing the blankets? “ Kadaj asked with a cool tone, scratching the area just above the wrappings, slightly dirtier than the previous day. “ And don’t tell me your going to sleep with your shoes on. “


“ Clean freak? “ Cloud said, grudgedly getting up and watching with a sudden, silent flash of lightning as the teen untangled the sheets with a single pull and wrapped it about him, silvery hair slightly mussed already.


“ Maybe. “ The response was muffled. Cloud sat with a plop on the bed again to remove his shoes, and then, after a moments though, unbuckled the complicated leather piece that dangled all the way down to his left shoe. The belt secondly, and he was reduced to something not unlike his SOLDIER outfit from years ago. The sweater was new, naturally, but the pants he’d decided to keep out of sheer comfort.


Kadaj sniffed arrogantly, and eyed him over the rumpled sheets, “ You made the sheets smell like wet dog. “


“ Get used to it. “ Cloud said, laying down and stretching out, chills running up the entire length of his body when cool breezes managed their ways through the tiny cracks in the walls. He burrowed beneath the blankets, one of his bare feet brushing against Kadaj’s when he attempted to find a comfortable spot.


“ And why are you laying so close? “ He could feel the teen inch away from him. Cloud took the newly opened space and tossed his arm there.


“ So I don’t fall off the bed. “


“ Well why didn’t you get a room with two beds? “


“ Because it was double the Gil I had. That’s why. “ The blond yawned quietly and closed his eyes, the soft green not far away foretelling that the teen was staring at the wall. He was already drifting off though, “ Just go to sleep. “


“ Whatever. “



To be Continued...