Titanium Wolves

Title: Titanium Wolves
Author: Reichi
Rating: NC17
Pairing: Cloud/Kadaj
Comments: o_o I know I’ve got a lot of spelling errors. But I am typically too tired to use my spell check on Microsoft Word because I typically finish these chapters –really- late at night. So all I want to do is post it and go to bed. And since I’ve broken my scandisk, I’ve got to do it all in one sitting. So I am then so fed-up with it that I just want to get it out there. Ya know? I ran a check on this chapter though. Uhm… I was getting tired toward the end, so pardon if the characters are a teensy-bit out of character. @_@ I’ve got 3D animation class tonight, so I kind of hurried to punch this out before I had to go to class. So yeah.
Disclaimer: O_O ITS NOT MINE. FINAL FANTASY VII AND FINAL FANTASY VII: ADVENT CHILDREN DONT BELONG TO ME. NONE OF THIS IS MINE!!! NONE! I SWEAR! FFVII AND FFVII:AC BELONG TO SQUAREENIX. NOT MINE. ALL THEIRS. DISCLAIM DISCLAIM!! -passes out-






Chapter Four: What Ties Us?





“ Vincent. “ Murred the resident Turk, crooning over his paperwork. Tseng narrowed his deep eyes, practically –feeling – the shift in temperature when the cool ex-Turk stepped into the room from the shadows themselves, inclining his darkly maned head, collar characteristically high as it tended to be, when he was nervous.


“ Tseng. “ Vincent replied in very much the same manner, clearing his throat with a deep rumble like thunder, “ Working as always, I see. “


“ Naturally. “ Tseng rubbed between his eyebrows. For years, the ex-Turk suspected that the other Wutai required glasses, but Tseng would wave him off and ignore it. Despite the throbbing headache he got for each line, “ And you’re lurking as always. “


“ Of coarse. “ Vincent wandered closer to the desk, “ I’m a monster, that’s what we do. “


“ Then I suppose its you who’s been under my bed all these years? “ Tseng said, a slight purr to his voice.


“ That, and in your closet, and eating your socks. “ Vincent smirked beneath the collar.


“ So –that’s- where they all went. “ Tseng finished the line he was writing and sat back, the chair squeaking, “ Find out any new information? “


“ Not yet. “ Vincent towered over the desk, the candlelight reflecting in his eyes much more beautifully than Mako-powered lights ever could, and “There getting closer though; I can feel it.”


“ So can I. What do you propose we do? “


“ Brainstorm. “ Vincent begun pacing, the metal of his tipped golden shoes clicking against the floorboards. Tseng watched, and stood was well.


“ The SOLDIER reserves are lost. “ Tseng said, catching Vincent’s attention, “ From two years ago. They were filed in the ShinRa headquarters. I cant run a draft, and no one wants to join SOLDIER again at such short notice. “


“ Don’t you back anything up? “


“ There wasn’t any reason to then. “


“ Naïve as always, then. “ Vincent paused, his golden claw sinking into the black depths of the cloak unknowingly when Tseng came close to him, those dark eyes of his taking up the same air they had when referring to Reno and Rude.


“ Not naïve; ShinRa never planned ahead. They never thought there would be another Wutai attack, and they had all the SOLDIER’s, they needed for the time. “


“ They were wrong though. “


Tseng draw in a breathe through his nose, causing his eyebrows to come together, almost as though they were both reaching for the unknown dot in the center there, “ Not wrong; unprepared. “


“ As always. “ Vincent tilted his head up. Tseng was a few inches taller than him, casting a shadow upon Vincent’s much more slender form. It didn’t phase him though, “ What do you want, Tseng? “


“ You know what I want, Vincent. “ Tseng breathed, his long hands reaching for Vincent’s buckled collar. The ex-Turk was quick though, and in a blink of the eye on the other side of the room, undoing the straps himself with sharp jerks.


“ Is that all you think about? “ Vincent’s mouth was an unyielding solid line, curving downwards slightly. Tseng cleared his throat and straightened his tie out of habit.


“ Not typically. But whenever you’re around… “


“ Ah, I see now. “ Vincent countered when Tseng moved toward him again, circling around the desk, “ I tempt you, then? “


“ Of coarse. “ Tseng placed his palms flat on the desk, leaning onto it heavily as he watched Vincent and the way his hips slanted when he adjusted his keen footing, “ And I know you feel the same. “


“ Do I? “ Vincent took a step to the left, and Tseng followed, “ I don’t know about that, Tseng… you may be getting ahead of yourself. Like always. “


“ Hmph. “ Tseng spared a moment to crack his knuckles, then launched himself toward the Beast not far away. Vincent’s red eyes gleamed as he turned the tables easily; grabbing the Turks suit front and slamming him back against the wall, eliciting a soft groan.


“ You’ll never been quicker or stronger than me. When will you learn? “ Vincent brought his alluring mouth close to the other man’s, who had narrowed his eyes when he found the powerful grip kept him steadily in place.


“ I thought this time might be different. “ Tseng admitted, almost groaning out loud when Vincent leaned precariously close to him, and he could nearly feel the brush of his lips.


“ Hmph. “ Vincent tilted his head back again, enjoying the little sound of anger that Tseng made at his lack of mild warmth, “ How did we get off the subject of the Wutai anyway? “


“ I’m not very sure. “ Tseng said, staring blatantly at Vincent’s mouth “ But can we continue that later? “


“ Maybe. “ Vincent leaned in again, giving Tseng some sort of relief when he finally brushed his lips past the Turks, causing his eyes to flutter shut instantly.


“ Maybe? “ Tseng repeated, attempting to follow him when he pulled away, “ Come on, Vincent. “


The ex-Turk tilted his head a degree, causing deep locks of hair to tumble over one shoulder, expression unchanging, “… I suppose so. “


Tseng nearly purred when Vincent swept up and finally kissed him, releasing him so that he could curl his human hand in the Wutai’s silkier hair. Tseng quickly wrapped his arms underneath the cape and held the other close, almost groaning out loud.







Cloud stared at the floor and the lint underneath his bed, water still dripping from his clothes and rain still pouring outside, the only sound in the entire room. The sobs had died down long ago, when Kadaj, soaking wet and completely miserable and irrational, finally fell asleep in a heap on his bed, clutching half the box of tissues that Cloud had reluctantly given him.


Every now and then, a small shiver would roll through him like a wave on the ocean, followed softly by another gasping breathe and choke. Cloud counted the seconds between each one, shifting his head where it rested in his palm.


Tifa was gone when he came in; she must’ve already gone to sleep. He could Barret in the room underneath the bar, probably messing around with Cait Sith or something, but whatever it was had died down by now as well.


Clouds narrowed eyes, sore from a long day and remarkably weary, traveled the entire lean length of Kadaj’s beck for the hundredth time, and the Teen shivered for the hundredth time, even sneezing this time. Aw… damn it. Its not even like Cloud was going to fall asleep anytime soon anyway.


He stood and went around the bed, the direction that Kadaj had curled into, and hastily begun searching through the chest of drawers there. Dammit… all he had was some old pair of SOLDIER pants that he’d long ago retired and an equally old shirt; this one had a hole at the shoulder that, even though it was in a very non-obscuring spot, annoyed him to all ends for some reason and he tossed it in here. It hadn’t seen daylight since, and –smelled- that way as well.


Cloud then tiredly nudged Kadaj, tossing the clothes on top of his head and rousing the Teen from his light slumber, enticing a sharp, muffled sob from somewhere within the confines.


“ Put those on. “ Cloud said, finally taking the time to kick his shoes off, “ I am going to take a shower; I want you in those by the time I come out again. Or –I- will put them on you myself. “


Kadaj said absolutely nothing; simply turned his head a fraction, almost knocking the clothes right off his head and burying his face into the pillow. Cloud snapped his gloves off and frowned. Maybe he had been to brute, -again-. After all, he considered once he pulled off the second glove and begun unbuckling the Buster sheath, the Teen had been through –a lot- in the last couple weeks. Nothing though was as traumatic as this.


“ Listen… “ Cloud begun awkwardly, looking toward the ceiling as though the words were written there and knelt beside the bed, brushing his old clothes aside, that were now sporting moistened spots by Kadaj’s damp hair, “ I didn’t mean too… hey. Just listen for a second. “


No response. Cloud sighed and rested his chin on the beds edge, watching him with one eye opened, “ I didn’t mean to say it like that… come on. I’m just trying to help you. Are you even listening to me? “


Kadaj sniffed, making his slim shoulders shake. Still, there was nothing.


“ Hey. “ Cloud didn’t quite –feel- like using Kadaj’s name. It just… didn’t sound right yet. He wondered, vaguely, if a year of fighting would even make it correct. He reached out and touched the Teen’s shoulder, “ I’m –am- trying to help you… I don’t want you to get sick. “


Kadaj’s face finally emerged then; his eyes were all red and puffy, a shade that made his Mako-eyes brighter than ever, his nose looking fairly raw and cheeks blushed with sadness, silent tears still streaming down his cheeks. “ Brother. “


Cloud was taken aback for a moment, then he remembered, “ Yes, and I am trying to help. “


Kadaj used one of the voluminous pieces of tissue to blow his now, sounding rather stuffed up now, “ Do… do you promise? That, you wont leave me alone? “


“ … Of coarse not. “ The Blond slipped his hand away. This appeared to sate Kadaj in the slightest, and he accepted the clothes when Cloud presented them to him.


“ I’m taking a shower, okay? “ Cloud repeated, rising. Kadaj’s bright eyes followed him, like a small child about to be abandoned, “ Put those clothes on and you’ll feel much better. “


“ Alright. “ Kadaj whispered in his wake. Cloud had the unnerving sensation of those feline eyes following his every move, until the door finally blocked their intense stare. He leaned there tiredly for a moment, then reached about himself and yanked his old sweater off.


Emerging again less than ten minutes later, sporting only a pair of old gray pants that tied about his waist, Cloud hauled into the closet and pulled on something completely random; it just so happened to be yet –another- piece of SOLDIER clothing, a simple sweater. It was then, he noted with a measure of self-disgust, how much stuff he had dragged with him here.


Kadaj was laying in very much the same spot he was when Cloud had left the room. He was wearing the clothes Cloud had given him, apparently larger even at this angle, the leather suit hung over a hair by the dresser. A small pile of used tissues made a white mountain on the bed’s side, and grimacing, Cloud decided to leave that for the teen to clean he


He sat in the chair again, something he’d dragged off the street a while back, and slouched slowly. It was comfortable now that he had a couple of pillows stuff back there… the Blond cleared his throat once and watched the light silhouette in the growing darkness.


“ Hey. “ He murred, “ Are you asleep? “


No answer. Cloud ran a hand through his hair and sighed, finally, turning his head against one of the many pillows and falling into a light slumber.







Cloud awoke the next morning with a start.


And the very first thing he noticed was that he was –alone-. Rumbled, yet still made sheets were clear in his sight… Kadaj was gone. The door was wide open. Tifa’s voice flowing from the bar’s kitchen, Barrets deep rumble… he couldn’t hear what exactly they were saying, but it startled him enough to pulse him from the chair and send him flying down the steps.


“ … And then, in Wall Market yesterday—Cloud? “ Tifa looked up, absently stirring the pan of eggs.


“ Hey you, Blondie. “ Barret pointed at him with his automatic hand, his real one holding a larger-then-normal cup of coffee cup that almost looked like the entire pot, “ You’ve got explaining to do. “


“ W-what? “ Cloud paled instantly.


“ Yeah. You promised to help Tifa do chores yesterday, and you were gone all afternoon. Where the fuck did you go? “


Inwardly, Cloud almost face-faulted, “ I… I was talking to Vincent. “


“ It’s alright Barret, I already told you. “ Tifa was still cooking on autopilot, some of it spilling out over the edge and making the fire spark up for a moment, “ I told you that I got it all done in the morning, anyway. “


Barret blinked, and let his arm fall with a heavy clank that –almost- smashed the bar top in two, “ Yeah, well, he shouldn’t be a free-loader all the time. “


“ He’s not; he helps with the children. “


“ I don’t see him cleaning around –this- fucking place though. “


“ I don’t need him too. “


“ But he should. “


“ Wait. “ Cloud interrupted, “ Where is Marlene? “


The child nearly always clung to her adoptive father, Barret. Barret even had a special little figurative Tifa-tracker installed in her head so that she followed the Fighter around like a puppy dog. If all else failed, she always had Vincent to run to, whenever the ex-Turk decided to show up for his saucer of milk.


Barret blinked though, looking at Tifa, and then over the counter, “ Yeah… hey, where is she? “


Tifa sighed and turned around, placing a stern hand on her hip and practically chopping at the eggs, “ Marlene! Breakfast is almost done! “


There was a spare room by the bar doors. Her small voice called from there, echoing in the empty and unused space, “ I’m in the study playing with a new friend! “


Cloud had been lingering somewhere by the refrigerator, considering if he should venture into it and search around for some orange juice when his stomach suddenly turned. Barret was already rising though, fixing his pants and stretching.


“ Hold on! “ Cloud forgot which way the flapping waist-high doors flowed and almost snapped one off the wall. He stumbled out from there though, holding up a hand at the Gunner, “ I’ll go get her! “


“ Why are you acting so weird? “ Barret asked, raising an eyebrow at him. Cloud swallowed densely, “ I mean… your weird normally, but your –weirder- right now. “


“ I-I haven’t seen Marlene in a while. You know. “ Cloud attempted his –damnest- to not fidget under Barret impaling gaze. And he almost appeared to be protesting for a moment until Tifa dumped a hefty pile of fresh eggs onto a plate and practically threw it at him. It circled on the counter, finally resting just beside his coffee.


“ Hmph. “ Barret eyed the food, then slowly sat back down, ‘ Fine. Save me the trouble. “


“ Thanks. “ He mumbled, walking rather stiffly around the tables and unused chairs stacked upon them. He practically rounded on the room like an angry wolf, full expecting to see Kadaj doing –something- evil, and totally surprised when he –wasn’t-. The Teen was, rather, sitting on the floor with his long legs stretched out with Marlene prancing around him like a show pony, giggling every now and then when Kadaj playfully swipped at her, almost in slow motion.


“ Cloud! “ Marlene noticed him on her second lap around Kadaj and hurried over, her small hands grabbing his and pulling him over with surprising force, “ Come and play with us? “


Instead, the Blonds eyes were staring solidly at Kadaj. After last night, it was just plain –fucking weird to see him actually smiling. At least a little… “ What are you doing? “


“ What? “ Kadaj flipped a piece of silvery hair out of his face, the smile slowly fading back into oblivion, “ What is it? “


“ Why, Cloud? “ Marlene looked up at him, frowning. She couldn’t seem to draw the lines, “ Whats wrong with him? “


“ Nothing, Marlene. But Daddy wants you to have breakfast now, so go. “ Cloud said as kindly as he could, on the very verge of passing out from a panic attack, feeling his nerves practically tingling when he looked at Kadaj again, who was entirely oblivious.


“ Alright! “ She ran about him, her soft footsteps and Barrets praise from somewhere lost in the silence of the room. Kadaj was slowly getting up, clearing his throat as he did.


“ Never seen anyone having fun before, Traitor? “


“ Barret is going to blow you up if he finds you. “


“ Well pardon me for wondering where in dumb-fuck nowhere I was. “


“ I –could- have told me, if you just fucking woke me up. “


“ I was –trying-, but you muttered something incoherent. Something that sounded like ‘ A Chocobo’s just ate my sword ‘ and fucking turned away. “


Chocobo’s? He didn’t even remember dreaming about Chocobo’s. “ Well you should have tried a little harder. “


“ Fuck you. “


Electricity sparked between the two of them. Cloud was a bad morning person to begin with, and he wasn’t reasonable until –after- his second cup of coffee. And Kadaj was being anything BUT reasonable. The Teen only crossed his arms and stared down Cloud like a nasty cat.


“ Hey, Cloud! Hurry the fuck up—“


“ BARRET! “


“ … Excuse me, Marlene. “


Barrets heavy footfalls were echoing through the large cavity of the bar. Clouds jaw stiffened, and Kadaj’s menacing eyes narrowed with a sharpening pupil staring him down. The Gunner was getting closer, and it was making tiny hairs on the back of Clouds neck rise at the feel of his oncoming presence.


“ What the hell? “ Barret said once he was close enough, “ Marlene said there was some guy in here. “


Cloud almost jumped out of his skin and eyed Barrets reaction. The Gunner stopped dead in his tracks, his jaw falling open widely, rather annoyingly, for half a second. Then it snapped shut, and his mechanical hand clenched into a tight fist. In its current state, it was –less- deadly than normal, when it was launched into a fully-functional gun.


“ I thought he died. “ Barret snarled out of the side of his mouth. Cloud was relieved for a second.


“ He –did-. “


“ Then why the –fuck- is he standing in MY bar? “


“ I’m not sure. “


“ I’m standing right here, dumbfucks. “ Kadaj purred, edging his way toward the window, yet he –seemed- to not show intentions of leaping out of it. He simply turned his head so light pieces of downy and soft hair whipped against his neck and stared out.


“ Alright then, I’ll ask –you-. What the


–fuck- are you doing here? “ Barret asked. His temper-meter was going into the red-zone, Cloud could tell, by the way his voice wavered with the amount of control he used to keep himself from killing the Teen on the spot. Kadaj shrugged.


“ I don’t fucking know. “ Kadaj said, a graceful movement sending his eyes sweeping across Barret. Barret finally seemed to have lost his last nerve and clenched his jaw tightly, the muscle there popping out at a strange angle.


“ Get OUT! “ Barret thundered, his anger breaking like a dam. It flowed out all at once, his Gunner arm pointing at Kadaj accusingly, the panels that hid the Guns main parts flexing in and out almost like the natural movement of muscles; whoever made this had really put a lot of effort into it.


“ I’m Clouds guest. “ Kadaj retorted with his usual nasal tone, nodding toward the Blond, who looked as though he were ready to collapse upon the ground and lapse into a series of various attacks all at once, “ Blame him for me being here. He didn’t have to bring me back. “


The Gunner arm was now aiming at Cloud. The pupils of his blue eyes shrunk; its been a while since Barret aimed a weapon at him, “ YOU THEN! Both of you GET OUT! “


“ Barret! “ Tifa rounded the corner now. Cloud should have shriveled and died, because the look on her face mirrored what Barrets had been previously. Kadaj blinked at her, then looked out the window with a growing amount of dis-interest gathering around his form like pure energy.


“ What the… “


“ –Cloud- brought us a little –guest-. “ Barret seethed through his teeth, the Gun arm aimed at the ground, precariously close to his left foot, “ How do you –feel- about this, Tifa? “


The Fighters expression flexed between surprise to confussion, a slight crease forming between her brows when she looked at Cloud and opened her mouth, fully prepared to say –something-. That’s when the ex-SOLDIER placed his best pitiful expression on, and it softened her tone considerably.


“ Cloud. “ She said, drifting closer to him to speak more intimately. Kadaj watched, his eyes gleaming, “ What is he doing here? “


“ I don’t –know-. “ Cloud stressed those words, looking entirely hopeless and on the verge of –something- that wouldn’t be very good at all. His mouth curved downwards dramatically, “ He just appeared in the rain. “


“ Appeared? “ Tifa looked at the Teen again, who hit her with a startingly seething look, “ And… he was in here, playing with Marlene? “


“ Yeah. “ Cloud lowered his voice, but he knew Kadaj would hear him anyway. “ Listen… Trust me. Weird shit like this happens to me for a reason. He wont hurt anyone. “


Cloud placed a hand upon Tifa’s frail shoulder to further his point and his pleading, watching as her façade slowly begun to crumble away, dark does eyes scanning his features in search for some kind of a lie. Maybe a reason to say no and go with her woman’s intuition, back up Barret and toss them both out. But the winning move was when she looked at Kadaj, who completely ignored her, and sighed loudly.


“ Yeah… fine. Whatever. “ She said, pressing her palm to her forehead. “ Give me his sword though. I’m going to lock it up. “


Kadaj’s head snapped up, “ Souba? Fuck off. “


“ I’ll get it for you. “ Cloud gave Kadaj a –very- pointed look, sneering his lip a little bit and brushed past Barret. Into the main bar, past the counter and up the stairs, pretending to not hear Marlene when she asked him what was happening, and stormed into his bedroom.


-Fuck- Everything had just gone to hell. After trying to fucking –hard- in sneaking the Teen in the previous night, caring for him. Kadaj had to go and ruin it though, simply because he wanted to ‘get to know his surroundings’, as though he were some stray cat Cloud had dragged in the night before and left to fend for itself.


Maybe he –should- have left Kadaj there the night before.


He returned moments later with the Twin Blade in hand. Tifa took it, holding it as though she was holding the tail of a very diseased rat, and gave Kadaj a snappy look that said one thing, ‘ don’t you dare ‘.


“ If you stay here. “ She said from the threshold, “ Then you live by –my- rules. And those are to help clean and do errands. I’d sooner throw you out than give you a free ride. “


Kadaj sniffed and drifted away from the window, his sharpened pupils returning to their normal size in the easy light, “ Fine. As long as I don’t do grunt work. “


“ I’ll be sure to save the toilets for you. “ With a final smirk, she left the room, leaving Barret there to fume and glare between the two of them, practically hopping on the balls of his feet all the while.


“ Fucking bastards. Both of you. “ He muttered, turning around so quickly that he nearly fell over and into a weak chair, that instead creaked sorely when he used it for balance and wandered back into the main bar, leaving the two of them there in resounding silence.





To be Continued…