Birds of Prey

Title: Birds of Prey
Author: Lchan
Rating: NC17
Pairing: Cloud/Kadaj
Comments: o_o Yay. I finally saw Advent Children. >> Damnit, that was depressing. I’m not changing my storyline though, because I like it being based off the poster. ;D This is my last ‘happy’ chapter though, just for warnings. >>;;… But there is finally some bootie being had! Damn, it took a reeeaaallly long time, didn’t it? Lmfao, they’ve finally stopped beating on each other long enough. Btw, thanks to everyone who has posted, and I’m sorry if I sounded a little… testy a couple of days ago. X3 I’m kinda like Kyo from Dir en Grey… very abrupt, short temper. Its easy to piss me off, and easier when I’m tired. [ P.s., >> if anyone would wanna do Yaoi roleplays based on Advent Children, I am all for it. ;D I haven’t in so long. >> I used to do a pretty mean Vincent. ] Anyway. Onto the story!





Chapter Eight: A Hearts Concluded Seduction.






Morning arose.


Beautiful, cascading rays stretched effortlessly across the sky, tainting the scattered clouds a sickly shade of bloody red, standing vividly against the early violet of the sky, the light twinkle of stars as they faded away. Fiends were cawing after a small Chocobo not far away, its pitiful ‘wark’ going unheard as it was picked up by the wind, drifting away.


Cloud prodded absently at the dying fire, the final embers flickering on and off every time the wind blew past it. Smoke from it had died down though; it wouldn’t but much longer until its welcoming heat disappeared as well. Cloud didn’t have any more Fire materia, and the further they traveled downwards, the colder it became at nights.


Not too far away, Kadaj buried deeper into the blankets Cloud had stolen from Cid’s place. Cloud watched him… he appeared young when he slept, much younger than in actuality, with a stern set to his mouth that made the illusion less believable, whenever the Blonds eyes were drawn down to it.


He stirred again and disappeared entirely under the blankets, a couple strands of silver hair poking out. Cloud blinked, and looked around routinely, snuffing the remainder of the fire and rising.


“ You. “ He said, nudging the pile, “ Get up. We need to start moving. “


A whine, “ Go away. “


“ Get up. “ Cloud repeated, go around and picking up his scattered belongings, packing everything back into Fenrir, “ Or else I’ll just drag you behind. “


Kadaj reappeared, shooting a nasty look at him. “ You wouldn’t dare. “


“ I’ve got rope. “ Cloud shut and latched everything up, even stealing away Kadaj’s blankets and stowing them away, “ Now come on. Rise and shine. We have to get moving. “


“ Fine, fine. “ The Teen rose from the ground silkily and stretched himself out with a heaving deep breathe, relaxing and rubbing his eyes next, “ Do you even know where we’re going? “


“ We could always go to Gongaga. “ Cloud said, pulling out the world map he had kept, “ I don’t think we’d be too welcome in Cosmo Canyon. At least, not as log as your with me. “


“ Whatever. “ Kadaj clambered onto Fenrir behind him, facing the back and leaning heavily against Cloud, “ Lets just hurry up. I need a shower. “


“ Shut up, you little brat. “ Cloud kick started Fenrir, its engine making an odd noise when he did and almost sounding like it would shut off again. Something in the back clankered, but Cloud could fix that once they made it to Gongaga. He only hoped it held up until then.


“ Something is smoking from the tail pipe. “ Kadaj commented boredly. He wavered back and forth as Cloud begun to move, rather lifelessly and tiredly resting his head to one side, “ Don’t tell me this thing is catching on fire now. “


“ Just shut up and enjoy the scenery. “ Cloud snorted and reeved the engine past twenty miles an hour, the potholes over the uneven ground slowly fading away when they picked up speed, almost driving as smoothly as gliding on air. One of the things Cloud liked about Fenrir.


“ Hmph. “ Kadaj had to hold onto the slight handrails on the underside of the passenger seat; despite having one installed, it was rather small, as though it was never really meant to hold a second passenger. It was comfortable for short times though, unless they trekked for hours on end, which was usually every day with Cloud. The Teen grimaced and moved about.


“ Can I drive? “


“ No. “


He sighed loudly, “ Do you have anything to read? “


“ No. “


“ Don’t you have anything here to do to pass the time? “


“ No. “ Cloud grinned a little bit when Kadaj made the sound oddly like a cat having its tail stepped on. The silvery head laid back against his shoulder boredly.


“ I don’t want to sleep. “ He said after a moment, “ Cant we stop by the next place we see to get something? “


“ Like what? “ A blank tone.


“ I dunno… reading material. Or… a game. Puzzles. Something like that. “ Kadaj shrugged, “ Its getting tiring, watching the stupid fucking ground roll by, day in and day out. “


“ Get used to it. “ Cloud murmured and shook his head, removing a piece of Blond hair that had gone into his eyes.


“ How did I know you would say that? “ Kadaj said, intensly bored and waggling one leg off the side of the bike, watching to see if the wind whizzing past them was strong enough to know it back. Yet his strength was superior.


“ Because you can read my mind, probably. “ Cloud huffed. Camso Canyon was a red smear in the distance of brilliant, warm and soothing colors, all melding together along the walls and craters there.


Kadaj narrowed his eyes slightly, accidentally kicking the tail pipe and making Cloud give him a sharp look, “ Are we going to stop anywhere? I’m hungry.. “


“ I’ll kick you off, and you can find something for yourself out here. “ Cloud said, eyebrow twitching. It was too early in the morning, for someone who hadn’t even slept all night, to be arguing. Cloud leaned against the handle bars tiredly.


“ But I’m not in the mood to be traveling like this… “


“ Then get off and walk. “


A snort, “ Why don’t you let me drive? “


“ Because you blew your bike up. “


“ .. Whatever. “ The teen crossed his arms stubbornly, grimacinga tad bit, “ When are we going to stop? ‘


“ We –wont- be stopping. So shut up. “


“ But I want to get something out from the side. “


“ Fuck you; this is a one-way ride. ‘


“ Don’t be such a hard ass this early. “


“ Quit arguing this early. Now shut the hell up. “


“ I don’t want too. “


“ Then I’ll make you. “


“ How? “


Fenrir skidded to a hault, uprooting some pieces of grass in the procress and sticking to the side. Loud did a three-sixty in the seat and gave his most angered expression to Kadaj, clawing his fingers before his face in silent anger. Kadaj simply stared at him blankly, inclining his head even, and blinked.


“ Shut. Up. “ Cloud ground out, “ I have a headache, and YOUR not making it –any- better. So PLEASE shut up, or I’;ll leave you here. Got that? “


“ Geez. Don’t flip out. “ Kadaj responded, clearing his throat and swiping at the beyond-filthy suit, “ I wasn’t meaning anything by it. “


“ Just don’t. Alright? Talk to me when we get to Gongaga. “


“ But I’ll get bored. “ He was actually –pouting- at him now, with a tiny glint in those feline eyes. Cloud twitced, grabbed him by the shoulders, and gripped there tightly. Kadaj’s first reaction was to flinch away from the touch, but Cloud held firmly, even if the Teens own hands had found the wound at his side and were pinching the skin dangerously close to it. He only growled and leaned in deeper.


“ Stop it. “ He snarled. It was like talking to a friggin stubborn cat. It was making Cloud angry in all kinds of ways, partially wanting to tear Kadaj apart from limb to limb, yet the other half held onto whatever shreds of emotion still flared at the very sight of him.


“ Let go of me, Strife. “


“ I want you to understand. “ Cloud continued though, “ I don’t –care- if you get bored. Everything outside of Midgar is fucking boring. Its been like that for years, and its not going to change. Unless you train Chocobo’s to dance, EVERYTHING out here is BORING. “


Kadaj twitched a finger in the slice, causing the Blond to cry out sharply and hold onto him tighter. He could feel the joints pivot when Kadaj struggled a little bit more.


“ I said let the fuck go of me! “


“ Ass, I’m trying to –tell- you something—Hey! Don’t do that! “


Kadaj leaned heavily onto one side in his struggle, and tipped Fenrir over with a metallic clunk. Little rustles of things flying around in the compartments mingled with the scratching metal, making Clouds head throb just a tad bit harder.


“ Let go of me. “ Kadaj said again, his hair fanning out in the most lovely and flattering way, long fingers nailed into his sore wound, making the slightest dribbles of blood to ooze out in agrravation. Cloud yelped again, and something inside of him finally snapped.


Risking his very life to save the brat, after months of fighting, dragging him all over the continents just so that Vincent wouldn’t catch up and blast his brains out, playing the hero. –Fucking- saying how he –fucking- loved him, and rejected every single time, bitterly transforming the motion into anything that wouldn’t hurt as much. And well, Fuck, it didn’t fucking work at all. It was still there, still nagging him, but this time it was unstoppable.


Cloud tightened his hold mightily and lifted himself over Kadaj, adreniline running through his veins preventing him from feeling any more of the pain just yet. Kadaj pushed hard at him, somehow trying to pull his legs out from underneath the heavy piece of machinery currently pinning them, making Fenrir scoot around on the ground.


Cloud quickly grabbed both of the Teens wrists and held them over his head and attacked his mouth savagely, with a feriouscity that he never knew himself to have. He knew he was intense, but not this –tandom- and wild, when th situation called for it. Like now. And kissing Kadaj just reminded him about how long he’d been waiting for the –feeling- again, the unxpeced rush coursing through him like Mako itself.


“ Kadaj wailed something, struggling with everything he had now, managing to knock Fenrir away and kicking at him. Cloud somehow managed to keep him down; like wreslting a crocodile, and continued his assault.


Eventually, the struggles died down, Clouds jaw rather sore by this point, but the compliantcy, for the most part, now beginning to show drove him forwards. He could have simply gotten tired, or given up entirely. Cloud wasn’t sure, but he doesn’t about to ask him about it.


Cloud wasted no time this time around. He used a spare piece of twine that always seemed to be in his pocket to tie the Teens hands above his head, securing them to a piece of root sticking up from a nearby, dead and rusty looking tree.


Cloud yanked the zipper down in the front with ease, only having it catch once or twice, but managing to pick the stray leather seams out of the way. Kadaj drew in a sharp breathe at this, and mildly begun to struggle once more.


Cloud abandoned the youths mouth when he finally reacted and bit him sharply, instead traveling down his long, lovely, swan-like neck and burying his face into the crook. Warm and musky, like it had been not long ago. He breathed in deeply and relished in te scent alone.


“ Stop it. “ The teen gasped, moving his body around underneath him, “ Let go of me right now, or I’ll kill you when I get free. “


“ I am already dead. “ Cloud looked up, soaking in the feel of not having to restrain himself from kissing the smooth skin there, closing his eyes for those spare moments with a deep sigh, “ I died two years go, with Sephiroth. He brought me down with him. Even before then, when he went crazy in the first place. “


“ How romantic. “ Kadaj hissed sarcastically and tried to twist away from the moist kisses, “ Let me go now. “


“ No! “ Cloud touched his forehead to the warm, breathing chest and sighed raggedly, tilting his head to press his cheek there, “ I’m tired of being alone! I’m tired of loving and having them all die. Loving someone, and having them ignore me completely. I’ve been alone for too long, and I need something to keep myself from –dying- on the inside. “


Kadaj stared at him, his normally pale lips a rather appealing shade of soft petal pink as he frowned heavily. Cloud had encircled his arms about the Teens waist, holding onto him tightly and tucking his face into where the leather wouldn’t quite open all the way, between there and skin, were the light of the day could not reach him.


Closing his hands into leather-bound fists, Kadaj managed to break the wrapped twin with a weak snap, letting it crash to the ground. Though free now, Kadaj seemed completely at a loss of what to do. Anything.. he surmised. Its not as though Mother was watching anymore. So, he settled his hands oddly at Clouds shoulders, for only a moment, and let them slip the length about him in a loose embrace.


Cloud choked a light sob and sniffed; he wouldn’t allow himself to cry. Not matter how long this had been awaited. The feel of those strong arms encircling him, even if out of pity, was something his dreams had been born of. He sighed deeply and closed his eyes, allowing himself to drift pleasantly, “ Thank you. “


Kadaj said nothing, staring up at the sky with the same blank, yet unique expression of contemplation.





“ Finally. “ Kadaj hissed when they crossed the boundries of Gongaga town, resting his chin on Clouds shoulder boredly, muscles tightening there as they crossed the townsfolk by. Naturally, they were giving him the strangest look, either from his resemblance to the great SOLDIER leader, or how odd his features were.


A couple of them shriveled away when Kadaj glared at them, “ Idiots.. “ He said slowly.


“ Don’t scare people. “ Cloud sighed and cantered the bike to a slow stop, shutting off the engine. The same something that kept clankering when he started it practically fell loose from the underside of Fenrir, making him dismount quickly and rush to the sight. Kadaj had to fight to keep it upright.

“ Damnit! “ Cloud rose, holding a random metal piece that leaked oil, “ Must have ran over too many fucking rocks. I cant drive Fenrir when its in this state. “ He set the piece down and looked for somewhere to wipe his gloves, “ Fuck. I’m going to need to spend all night fixing this. “


“ Isn’t there a mechanic anywhere that can fix it? “ Kadaj purred, watching Cloud calmly.


“ We need to get a room tonight; we cant stay outside. “ Cloud sighed finally and motioned with his hand for Kadaj to get off. When the Teen had slipped away from the seat, he took the handbars and begun leading it to the side of the Inn, leaning it there and using a old mat to cover it.


Kadaj followed him and sniffed arrogantly; the mat covered about half of Fenrir, and Cloud had, very cleverly, placed it right in the center. The wheels stuck out, as well as part of the seat and the underneath of it, which was steadily bleeding dark oil.


“ Yeah, no one’ll ever know its here. “ Kadaj snickered, making Cloud glanced at him sharply and ‘hmph’.


“ Yeah, well.. “ Cloud reached out and tugged on the mat a little bit more, “ It’s the best I can do right now. “


“ Whatever. “ Kadaj crossed his arms and lingered to the front again, allowing Cloud to mourn about Fenrir in private for a couple of minutes. When the Blond finally did emerge and follow Kadaj inside, who was asking the woman behind the desk all kinds of questions.


“ Kadaj. “ He said sharply. The Teen turned around and looked at him with a ‘what did I do? ‘ expression. But from the expression of the man, he seemed a little overly-pleased that Cloud had diverted his attention away.


“ What can I get you? “ The mans voice hitched toward the end.


“ Do you have any rooms available? “ Cloud asked, leaning against the high desk heavily and rubbing one eye. The man nodded quickly and begun to look through the reservation book.


“ One is, upstairs and four doors down on the right. Its er… rather small, if you wouldn’t mind. “ Cloud shrugged and dug his hand into his pocket, “ That’ll be 25 Gil for one night. “


“ Not a bad price. “ Cloud handed the correct Gil over, and the man nodded graciously, handing over the key to him, “ Come you, lets go. “


Walking up the stairs, Kadaj stopped once or twice when they creaked under the weight, scrunching up his nose a little and looking at Cloud suspiciously. The blond didn’t even pay attention, finding the appropiate room and pushing the door open.


“ Ugh! “ Kadaj held his nose immediately, recoiling a little bit, “ It smells like fucking ass in here. “


“ I guess that’s why no one got it. “ Cloud grabbed the Teen by his arm and dragged him into the room, kicking the door shut behind them. True, that it was small; there was one queen size bed and a rather large window, with the last red beams of sunset shinning through and making long shadows against the wall. There was an old, broken TV that wouldn’t work anyway, an a mat on the floor that looked rather crusty and uninviting. A mirror just big enough for Kadaj to stare at himself for hours, and the bathroom…


The bathroom was small, with –something- growing on the walls that was entirely inhuman. The shower at least looked remotely clean, at the very very least, but the toilet water was blackened with last of cleaning for what must have been months.


“ I guess that’s why it smells… “ Cloud said, smirking at the way the teen was pretending to gag in the corner.


“ Fucking nasty, Strife. “ He wiped at his mouth, “ Could you have found a larger shit hole if you tried? “


“ Is that a dare? “


“ … Whatever. “


“ I thought so. Just live with it. “


“ Its un-livable though. Fucking nasty as hell… “


“ Get used to it. “


Kadaj snorted and kicked his shoes off, gracefully avoiding the mat and laying flat on the bed, stretching out his long body wit a soft sigh, “ At least the bed doesn’t feel strange. “


“ You sure they’re no heads hidden under it? “ Cloud said, bending to undo the laces of his boots and knocking them toward the door. He was just too tired to even think about taking a shower, even though he’d begun to smell rather… potent. Its not like Kadaj was actually complaining about it just yet. The Teen made room for Cloud when he slipped onto the bed, the mattress shifting and making some kind of rickety sound when it did.


Kadaj shifted and rolled onto his side, , away from Cloud and curled his hand underneath his cheek, snorting softly, “ You know he’s going to kill me when he catches up, right? “


“ Vincent? “ Cloud raised his blond eyebrows, getting comfortable with a heavy sigh, “ Not if I can help it… I may be able to sway Vincent when he does… but until then, I want to keep moving. “


” Why? “ Kadaj askedsoftly, “ Why are we even running in the first place? It wont prevent him from getting me. Its futile, but you keep on trying. I’ve seen him fight before; he’s too quick, even for me. Way too strong and way too accurate, even more than Yazoo ever was… I read somewhere that he used to be a Turk. “


“ He was. “ Cloud confirmed, allowing his eyes to flow with the smooth shape of the Teens back clad in leather, “ But he’s still got a heart. I can talk to him. “


“ It wont work. “ Kadaj said simply, and he sounded completely fine with that. Indifferent; it almost didn’t seem to matter too much to him, “ I’ve been thinking about it all day, and I’ve come to erms with it. I do not regret anything. “


Cloud narrowed his eyes and leaned over the Teen. He was staring at the wall, green eyes glittering brightly, “ Then your going to give up so quickly? “


Those eyes flickered to him, “ Of coarse. If its fate, then there is nothing I can do to stop it. “


“ What if your wrong? “ Cloud leaned daringly close, and Kadaj either didn’t care or didn’t noticed. Close enough to plant a soft kiss onto the Teens smooth, pale cheek. Kadaj’s unblinking, well-focused eyes finally slid shut.


“ I am fairly sure. “ He rolled onto his back, those light and alluring eyes roaming about the Blonds face, with a tint of curiousity shinning in them, “ Do you doubt what I have already chosen for myself? “


“ Of coarse. “ Cloud braved enough will to ease a strong arm onto the other side, effectively leaning over the Youth and watching the way the slim pupil flexed, “ If I gave up that easily, then I would have stayed MP in SOLDIER. Probably even would have been one of you. That, or dead. “


“ Hmm. “ Kadaj blinked, then slid his eyes past Clouds face and toward the ceiling, “ I don’t know about that… But I have accepted what I believe regardlessly.”


“ You wont die.. I promise. “ Cloud whispered, almost desperately to make the Teen believe him. He even dared to seal the promise with a light kiss, one that flickered across the Teens lips like a bolt of lightning. His eyes narrowed in the slightest, yet there was no shine of rejection there.


“ Its pointless now, I suppose. “ Kadaj said, after Cloud kissed him again, lingering a little longer this time. The Teen even sighed pleasantly, “ Weakness or strength, it doesn’t matter very much anymore. Not with such a strong pursuer as your friend, then Turk. “


“ He’s my friend though. I may be able to talk him out of it. “ Cloud couldn’t shake the feeling of hopelessness, either. They’d reached Gongaga; practically at the very edge of the continent, and Vincent was quick and knowing. They could have even went all the way back to Midgar and passed, to the Sleeping Forest, and Vincent would have been on their tracks like a vulture. The feeling weighed on Clouds heart, because he knew the way Vincent thought; he was a do-gooder, as much as it seemed the opposite, and whatever he’d been told he would follow through with, because of his Turk tendencies. It was difficult to sway such a one-track mind.


And the only thing deadlier than Vincent himself was the horrible weapon he wielded; the Death Penalty. Reloadable, silenced, with a dead-on aim and light weight. The kickback was minumal, non-existant with Vincent, and even the butt of the gun could smash skulls, if the situation so called for it.


Cloud grimaced slightly and leaned forwards, eager to rid his mind of such morbid thoughts, and kissed the Teen again, long and lingering until he roused a response from the youth. First the smooth flex of his arms, moving absolutely no where in particular for no reason other than comfort, and opened his mouth a little.


Like a dance, he was following Clouds lead, who was suddenly remarkably surprised and relieved that his advances were being taken. At last. His heart fluttered the moment a gloved hand touched his hair and he practically melted into the touch, fumbling his hands together to remove the skin-tight gloves.


“ I don’t know whats come over me. “ Kadaj murmured when Cloud had pulled away, since the gloves were being rather difficult at the moment. One snapped off, and he tossed it to the ground. Kadaj watched lazily, “ I thought that I hated you for the longest time…I have no idea whats happened to me though. “


“ Perhaps no longer living under influances have let you just… feel more. “ Cloud tossed the second glove away, and hastily slid his fingers through the cool, soft white hair. He could almost hear the Teen purring at the touch, “ I thought you hated me, after the –second- time you stabbed me. “


“ Ah, that. “ He tilted his head, since Cloud had suddenly become very fascinated with his neck, “ That was revenge. Might I remind you that you threw a piece of glass at me? “


“ I didn’t mean too. “ Cloud pulled the zipper down a tad bit more, spreading the stubborn leather aside, “ Cid keeps all kinds of stuff in his house… I guess he collects it all. “


“ Charming. “ Kadaj stretched leisurely underneath Cloud when he ran across a sensitive spot, the clicks of the zipper being pulled down further sharpening his ears, “ What exactly are you going to do with me now, Strife? “


“ Hmm.. “ Cloud lightly bit a spot and looked up at him, his bright blue eyes having darkened to a deeper shade of colbalt, “ Whatever I please now, I suppose. “





To be Continued.


[ Bwahaha! Cliff hanger. >> It’ll be continued in another chapter. ]