Titanium Wolves

Title: Titanium Wolves
Author: Reichi
Pairing: Cloud/Kadaj, Reno/Yazoo, Tseng/Vincent
Rating: NC17
Comments: o_o Dude. I know. Took a while. ß Exhausted.
Disclaimer: ITS NOT MINE. NOT MINE. FINAL FANTASY SEVEN AND FINAL FANTASY SEVEN; ADVENT CHILDREN DOES NOT BELONG TO ME IN ANY WAY OR FORM. –NONE- OF THESE CHARACTERS ARE MINE. THEY ALL BELONG TO SQUARE ENIX. GOT ME? NOT MINE! DISCLAIM DISCLAIM!!~ -passes out -






Chapter Seven: Silence.




It was beyond a headache: it was pounding, consistant pain swelling in his temples and coursing a path all throughout the rest of his body. It hurt even to –breathe-, and it didn’t help at all that all the blood was rushing rapidly to his head. Making him feel drained… Reno opened his eyes slowly, blinking in dim light, eyebrows knitting together.


He was on a rooftop. Turk jacket and white undershirt, from where he’d been bandaged, were undone [ as they had been when he first awoke to Rude ] and flapping against his unbearably cold chest. His long ponytail was caught on something and the dim light from the streets was increasing the intensity of his headache.


All of it… was –extreme-. He rolled onto his side and emitted a low, soft sound. And caught the attention of Yazoo, who was leaning over the edge of the rooftop like a curious feline. Reno had the strange urge to push him.


“ Awake? “ Yazoo purred, turning. Reno stared blankly in the opposing direction as the crunch of boots in gravel approached. The sound deepened when the clone knelt beside him and slipping a hand underneath his head.


“ Where am I? “


“ You’ve been out all day. “ Yazoo fixed a strand piece of red hair. “ I was getting worried about you. “


“ Where am I? “ Reno asked again in a harsh hiss through his teeth. His eyes had become desperate; he was entirely in the hands of this man… he was being overpowered. Reno liked to be dominant. He liked the taste of power; hence the entirety of his place in the Turks. Under any circumstances, the redhead enjoyed to be completely in control.


This was uncomfortable.


- ReeeeaaaaaAAAAaaally – uncomfortable.


“ Sixth Sector. On the roof of a closed-down Item shop, ten minutes after sunset. “ Yazoo’s bright eyes flickered across his face, making him moderately uncomfortable, “ There is something happening down below. It appears that the Wutai are upset…. Anything else you would like to know? “


“ Wutai? “ Reno repeated weakly, entirely ignoring the snide comment and trying to sit up. Yazoo held him back easily with one hand, despite his mild struggles which did absolutely nothing for Reno’s deprived ego. It was already crushed though; damage done. Fuck, why not just be taken out by something else now, eh?, “ Wait a sec… the Wutai came into Midgar? “


“ And the Turks are –supposed- to be elite? “ Yazoo snorted a softly. Reno could have sworn he felt those fingertips massaging patterns into the back of his skull, and as annoying as Yazoo sometimes came off to be, it was remarkably pleasing, “ I would suppose they did. “


“ Did they leave? Are they still here? “ Reno asked, and allowed himself to be placed back onto the rough and ragged ground, staring up at the clone with a knot of stress hinting in the corner of his mouth, “ How many were there? “


“ Don’t worry about that. “ Yazoo actually bent at this point, pressing a soft kiss onto his forehead, “ Its nothing that concerns you. “


The wind kicked up a little bit. From the corner of his eye, Reno saw a soft red globe forming just above a couple of houses not far away, flames practically blossoming from no where and licking about the surface. Something like deep rumbles were coming from that direction, and it practically scared Reno out of his skin. Yazoo held onto him though, a couple pieces of white hair flickering across his pale, smooth features.


“ Summon Materia. “ He said softly, “ Must be using Ifrit. “


“ IFRIT!? “ Reno pulled at him, but Yazoo only tightened his grip until it was sparsely painful.


The globe erupted in a magma charge and the beast emerged, landing hard on a rooftop and roaring loudly, its large horns stabbing back as he bucked his head and sneered around, practically, molten eyes searching for his first victom.


“ Let me go! “ Reno pushed at Yazoo until the younger man released him, sending him back onto the rooftop and skidding along the gravel momentarily.


The Beast had caught sight of him though and smelled his weakness, licking its bare jaws and launching in that direction. Reno fumbled around his belt, searching frantically for the electro-rod, and shrieking when it wasn’t there. Rude must’ve had enough sense to remove it when he brought him in. Another overkill and Reno might not survive… he shriveled back against the wall, watching Yazoo simply withdraw the Velvet Nightmare, which looked like it had been shined to perfection after being dumped into the garbage, and shot into the creatures eye.


Ifrit roared and landed on the same roof as them, flames surging about him for a moment, the lava that had been pouring from the wound easing into a sealed wound an fading away in a matter of seconds. Yazoo lowered the gun a degree.


“ Elemental. “ Yazoo said. He shot an uncertain look toward Reno, “ I forgot. “


“ YOU FORGOT? “ Reno was ready to have a heart attack. Lifestream, here I come…


Ifrit was bounding in their direction. Yazoo fell onto his knee’s and curled himself about Reno with one arm tightly about his waist, the other aiming the gun at the beast and firing rapidly. Reno watched in horror, the younger mans jaw tightening as he braced himself for a mighty hit. Fuck, now we both might not make it.


A flash of red. And a pair of golden feet stabbed into the side of Ifrits grotesque head, eliciting a harsh snarl from him as the hit sent him spiraling over the edge of the building, along with whomever had smashed the things skull in.


Reno’s eyes were practically bugging out of his skull by this point. Yazoo was still clinging to him like a lifeline even when Reno peeked over the edge.


“ It’s the Turk. “ Yazoo hissed somewhere close to his left ear.


It was Vincent. Ifrit was chasing him instead, and the ex-Turk seemed rather keen on leading him away from the vast population of the city, into the far more barren Seventh Sector, firing round after round at the ferocious beast all the while.


“ They attacked us. “ Reno said, feeling rather sick. He hung his head over the edge just in case, “ The –fucking- Wutai attacked us. “


Yazoo was quiet for a moment, then picked Reno up rather quickly, “ Lets get out of here then. “


“ What?! “ People were screaming now. Something down below crashed, “ Put me the –fuck- down! I don’t want to go anywhere. “







The first droplets of blood that touched Souba ignited something.


A strange glint returned to Kadaj’s eyes, the likes of which had been vacant ever since his return. His pupils shrunk and hand tightened about the Twin Blade, holding it as though it were both something precious and something remarkably hated. The Teen merely stood there, hanging like a limp puppet when the Wutai soldier advanced on him and ran him through the end of his spear with a horrible cry.


Cloud felt crushed that very moment. Something inside of him would –die- along with Kadaj if he just let him… the Blond rushed the troops circling about himself and swung the Buster mightily, heaving it into three soldiers at once. Another swing or two, and one of them crumbled into the ground with an overkill.

“ Kadaj! “ Cloud shouted, more and more of them swarming about him until he lost sight of Kadaj; the Teens head had pivoted back and the Souba nearly looked ready to slip from his morbid grip.

Cloud felt the sharp end of a sword pierce him from behind and collapsed onto his knee, troops circling all about him like vultures. They were shockingly powerful. Cloud felt both sick and violently angry at the same time, shoving himself up and swiping at the most decorate troop of them all. As though mocking him he leapt back, another stacking from behind with another quick stab.


Something happened them. Five troops fell to the ground all at once, like a curtain of blood revealing the perfectly-normal form of Kadaj, shadow-blade practically drinking every droplet falling onto its surface. Cloud looked up, a multitude of sharp stabs and white-hot pain coursing through him and he fell rapidly in hit points, feeling gathering darkness blue his vision.


As Kadaj attack the remaining soldiers, Cloud noted when he fell onto his shoulder and fluttered his eyes, that Kadaj was smiling


Oh… -shit-


Somehow he stayed conscious though.


-Something- was keeping his eyes open. Something was making him violently ill in the way Kadaj didn’t show remorse. Killed sharply and efficantly until the last one fell into a multitude of bight spark onto the ground and rose toward the sky, leaving the battle ground empty spare for the puddles of blood here and there, the droplets staining the Teens leather suit.


Kadaj stood still when the last Overkill was reached, the smile broadening into a sneer, curling at the ground with bright green eyes staring where fresh blood soaked into the parched earth, slowly rising up and meeting the dazed blue eyes, the Blond struggling for breathe.


“ The rarest flower in Midgar. “ Kadaj breathed, voice notches above a whisper yet the wind carried his message. Cloud blinked, and thought he may pass out in the half-second of darkness.


“ W-what? “ Cloud gasped. Kadaj sauntered over to him and stabbing Souba into the ground, inches away. He spun on the spot and landed roughly on Clouds stomach, perched there and holding him down when the muscles in his arms flexed weakly. The teen cleared his throat and flicked his hair out of his face.


“ You and that –flower- girl thought you could change me. “ Kadaj smirked. There was something horrible about it, “ You were both –wrong-. I hate you all, and I always will. “


“ No o-one tried to cha-ange you. “ Cloud gasped sharply when Kadaj pressed his knee into a tender wound. The youth didn’t even budge at the growl of pain following, like thunder after the lightning. Kadaj’s eyes flashed and he gripped Cloud about the neck, sudden and hard, suffocating.


“ Liar! “ Kadaj snapped, “ I’m tired of being lied to! Do you know how much I hate it?! “


“ Fuck you. “ Cloud choked out and arched to attempt to throw the teen off of him. Kadaj remained where he was steadily, feeling like a million tons and blurring on the edges.


“ Fuck you , Strife. “ Kadaj giggled and leaned into his rapidly deepening face, blood rushing to his head like electricity. He was smiling wickedly now, -apparently- enjoying the sight of a suffering Cloud.


What the fuck… Cloud thought when Kadaj thumbs pressed against his adams apple and he thought it may break, This morning… this afternoon. He was so different then… normal. Why cant he just fucking stay normal?


Silence followed. Kadaj was holding back laughter and Cloud felt his eyes begin to roll, the pain in his body slowly drifting into a anti-body feeling. Cloud felt a prickle in his eyes, almost as though it was the –world- leaving him, and not the opposite way around. It was horrible. Utterly depressing.


“ Stop! “


There came a voice from above. Kadaj released him almost obeditantly, leaving Cloud to roll and gasp for mouthfuls of air. Kadaj stood with his eyes fixed on a shadowy figure not far away, dark hair fluttering. When Clouds eyes focused enough, he was surprised at who it was.


Tseng.


“ Go away. “ The Turk said, like dismissing a cat, “ Leave Midgar. Do not exculate the situation. “


Kadaj smirked, toying with a piece of his hair, “ The infamous Tseng. I thought you died. “


“ A lot of people thought I died. But you see, I cant. “ Tseng walked now, lingering closer to Kadaj in a professional and straight line, fixing the cuff of his jacket, “ I’ve got people to kill first. “


The Teen frowned for a moment, looking at Cloud. “ Like who? “


“ It’s a fairly long list, I doubt you’ve time to hear it all. “ Tseng, smoother than air reached into his jacket and removed his gun. It was long, black and sleek like his hair, so streamline that it almost blended perfectly into the rest of his arm. Kadaj hastily grabbed the Souba and stood above Cloud.


” Back off! “ Kadaj barked, “ This is my kill! “


Tseng frowned, a deeper one that his typical grimace, and cast Cloud a decent nod like a greeting, almost oblivious of the fact that he was breathing raggedly and bleeding across the filthy ground.


“ I have no interest in Cloud. “


“ Then what?! “


Tseng raised his gun and fired a single shot. It whizzed past Kadaj’s head, and for the first time in his entire life, the Teen was totally un-prepared for the assault. He stumbled backwards over the Blond and almost fell over backwards, the psychotic glint to his eye blending with panic. Tseng shot again and again, pausing to load his gun, Kadaj pressing further and further back until the dark-haired back stood above Cloud.


Cloud stared up at Tseng as he fired a last powerful blast that struck Kadaj in the knee and sent him sprawling, bleeding and dragging himself in the darkness, calling vaguely for his Mother.


“ Hmph. “ Tseng put his gun away and shook out his hand, looking down at Cloud, “ Been a while. “


“ Yeah. “ Cloud tightened his jaw and coughed shortly. He appeared distressed… regardlessly he stared up at the Turk with a remarkably defiant stare reminiscent of the old days, “ Bet your going to try and play hero. “


Tseng shrugged and stood, careful not to crease his suit and staring at the voluminous blood in great distaste, “ You can say something like that. “


Cloud tipped his head back against the ground when a shock of pain ran through him. It didn’t hurt –too- badly when this all happened, but it was fucking terrible now that he had relaxed and could –feel- the full effect, with Tseng staring at him and practically pinching the bridge of his regal nose in aggravation. As though he was wearing a pristine white and priceless suit and Cloud was covered in pitch-black motor oil and dangling between life and death.


Not far from it, actually… except the white-suit part.


“ Come on. Get up. “ Tseng extended a hand. It was dark and warm looking, but Cloud ignored it. Tseng frowned heavily, “ I know your stronger than this, Strife. Now get the –fuck- up right now. “


“ –Fuck- you. “ Cloud felt another wave of pain and another tick of HP being stolen away. It was sending little shocks through him, quivering him as he hung precariously over the edge of a overkill.


Sighing, Tseng reached into his breast pocket once more. Cloud watched, hardly caring if it was the gun he’d used seconds before and put it away when it was still practically steaming from the end. But he withdrew a small potion bottle instead and uncorked it smoothly, holding it to the Blonds stiff mouth.


Cloud didn’t complain.


The healing potion ran through him like his blood and restored him, only minimually. Enough to live. Enough to finally, and regrettably, take the fore-mentioned hand and use it to help himself to his feet, in a rather clumsy manner.


“ Bastard. “ Cloud whispered once he was steadily on his feet and secure enough that he could say this without having the Turk turn around and finish him off. His vision was still slurred about the edges, the wounds still slowly leaking blood, like they had been the past few minutes.


With a sneer, Tseng placed his broad hand on his shoulder.


“ Back to the Seventh Heaven. “ He said simply, swiftly.






Cloud woke with a horrible shock that rivaled the pain of Geostigma. It speared through him like a sharp bolt of lightning spreading from multipule places; the stab wounds from the previous battle that hadn’t healed entirely just yet, from the jostling, the beating he hardly even remembered. But none of it pained him worse than what was eminating from his sore and delicate heart, thundering painfully and choking him with every breathe.


All at once he opened his eyes, stared at the ceiling raggedly, then lurched over the side with the blankets absently being yanked away and hurled onto the ground. It burned his throat. He hadn’t vomited in –years-.


“ Shit. “ Cloud whispered, uncontrollable shivering as a cause of sickness overwhelming him. Vaguely, he heard someone hurrying up the stairs of the Seventh Heaven.


“ Cloud! “


Tifa stood in the doorway; the door had been knocked back and almost sent off its hinges. Instead though, it swayed back and forth precariously with a noisy squeak, as if tiding off the ripple anxiety in the Fighters features. Her dark, does eyes flickered to the floor, and the edge in her features wore off to pity.


“ Cloud… “ She repeated, kinder as she approached the bed, “Are you.. feeling any better? “


Clouds eyes tightened reflexively. Staring at his own retch threatened to make him ill again, so he sat back and wipped with mouth with a horrible tint of his mouth downwards. Instead of answering his life-long friend, Cloud tilted his head against the pillow, away from her in a childish manner. Ah… He could still –smell- the Teen here.


“ Go away. “


“ Don’t be stubborn. Now, I have medicine downstairs I can have Marlene fetch… “


“ I said go! “


“ Hush! “


Tifa’s fury could easily match and succeed his own. Cloud had known this for many years, so when the Fighter rolled him back over, uncaring of wounds in her own little flurry, he said absolutely –nothing-, because he knew Tifa would knock him into oblivion and back again without a second though.


“ Now. “ Her voice was well-kept, almost completely devoid of her previous anger, “ I have medicine downstairs that you –will- take, or I –will- make you. “


Tifa held a hand in the air when Cloud was just about to complain and smirked with the corner of her mouth, rising to her full stance and pivoting on the spot.


“ I will be back in a moment. “


With that, her heady pressense left the room in the wake of anger and chilling cold. The night air was casually billowing through the window, moving the curtains and making small goose pimples rise over his skin.


Cloud stared blankly at the ceiling, a flickering candle offering its light; Why? Why had Kadaj lapsed back into his old ways? Perhaps, he mused, the blood swallowed by the Shadow Blade had done something… he knew the blade was pure evil wielded into a solid item, one of the most difficult and timely tasks to complete.


Closing his eyes, he rolled over onto his side and buried his face into the forementioned pillow and practically clung to it as though it was human and breathed in the intoxicating scent lingering there, fading in his absense.


Thinking of the Teen sent new waves of pain billowing through him as widely as Vincents cloak had. He was practically gasping into the pillow by the time Tifa returned with a small vial and spoon, blinking rapidly to hold back tears. He’d been taught not to cry. He –wouldn’t- cry.


“ Here. “ Tifa touched his shoulder. Enough inclination to roll the blond over and sit up a tad bit. “ Take this. “


Cloud followed the directions reluctantly. It tasted and felt like sand rolling down his throat. He coughed once and sunk back into the sheets.


“ Where is Tseng? “


Tifa blinked once, her long lashes grabbing at a piece of hair dangling in her face, “ Tseng? That Turk? I didn’t seem him around here. “


“ But… He was. “ Clouds eyebrows came together a little, “ Maybe he’s that sneaky. “


“ Hmm. “ Tifa set the rest of the vile and spoon on the beside table and wandered over to the partially open window, pushing it down and latching it in one clean motion. The chill would take a while to fade, “ Yes, well. I don’t know about that. “


“ What about the Wutai? “


“ They left. “ Tifa’s voice became solemn. She tinkered with something by his desk, “ Sector Six is almost completely destroyed though… they did all that in hardly an hour. “


Cloud turned his head with a soft sigh and stared at the wall for a moment, “ Do you think they will come back? “


“ Of coarse. “


“ I see. “


Tifa wondered nearer toward the door and put out the window with a soft gush of breathe. She paused there in the doorframe and glanced over one frail shoulder back at him, her mouth pulling back a little bit in the darkness.


“ Sleep well. “ She said, in a would-be cheerful attitude. Cloud said absolutely nothing in response and instead wrapped his arm about the pillow a little tighter, shutting his eyes. The door clicked a couple of seconds later, and the Blond was finally left alone.


Somewhere near morning, when the sun was only beginning to create beautiful red streaks against the sky, the window broke open with a single clatter of glass against the wooden floor, and a dark figure wandered toward the bed and shirtless, sprawled figure spread across the flat surface. Easing into its oblivion with hardly a sound, disappearing beneath the sheets and silencing movement when a slightly tanned arm wrapped about it, out of pure nature.







- To be Continued…