Adult-FanFiction.org : Final Fantasy

The Path to Redemption	By : Nakkinomiko Category: Final Fantasy VII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1095 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don’t own Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters. SquareEnix does. I make no money from this…I just like to play with them.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Disclaimer: I don’t own Final Fantasy VII or any of its characters. SquareEnix does. I make no money from this…I just like to play with them.
A/N: Warnings for this chapter . . . WAFF, sap, and a plot-twisting rat. Heh. Kayla and Muci, thanks so much for your reviews. I really appreciate them!
We're about halfway through this story now. :)
*****
Chapter 12
It took Kadaj exactly 5 minutes to realize he was going to like dancing, and even less time to more or less master the basics of it all. He’d been on the dance floor for nearly an hour, and had no desire at all to stop. Reno had brought him a soda or two--it took him less than two seconds to figure out that he didn’t like alcohol--and it was enough to keep him energized enough to keep dancing.
“Having fun?” Reno asked, his lips so close to Kadaj’s ear that Kadaj could feel the warmth of his breath.
Kadaj smiled, leaned back into the older man a little, and nodded.
“Good,” Reno replied. He closed his eyes as the arms around his waist tightened for a minute in a brief hug before releasing him so that he could dance more freely.
So far, Reno had been his only dance partner for the evening. Kadaj was a little disappointed, but not completely. Kadaj was starting to realize that for all his brash exterior, Reno was actually a very sensitive and nice guy. It was fun hanging out with him, and Kadaj thought that he just might have found someone that he could be friends with. They’d even danced extremely close a few times, but it hadn’t made Kadaj feel anything like he had when he kissed Rufus. Instead, he’d felt a sort of safe contentment and a fondness for the man. It was nice.
And even though Rufus had yet to join him, the Shinra President was watching. He’d been true to his word and commandeered one of the private tables that were situated above the dance floor in the balcony, and he and Rude were both up there sipping drinks and watching them. Kadaj blushed a little as he glanced up in that general direction. He could almost feel Rufus’ gaze on his skin, and that did fire his blood a little, to know that the President was gazing at him so intently. It made him feel shy, and yet at the same time powerful, to know that he could so commandeer the man’s attention.
“Incoming,” Reno called at him.
Kadaj rolled his eyes and sidestepped as a man tried to grope him. This, too, had been a regular occurrence since his arrival at the bar, and Kadaj was starting to get seriously tired of it.
“Hands off,” Reno said bluntly. He slid between Kadaj and the man trying to get to him. “He’s not available, man. Just walk away.”
“What, he yours?” the man asked. The guy wasn’t unattractive, but there was something about the belligerent set of his jaw that sat wrong with Kadaj. “I could do both of you.”
Reno laughed and shook his head.
“You aren’t man enough to do me, much less the both of us,” Reno said, still laughing. “The kid might look fragile, but he could kick your ass, man. He’s kicked mine, and that’s saying a lot.”
Kadaj blushed a little as he realized that he really had taken Reno down for the count in the recent past. He’d almost forgotten that.
“This guy bothering you?” Rude seemed to materialize out of the crowd and scowled at the lecher. Rude had not dressed any differently than he normally did, so he was wearing his Turk-issue suit, and still had his sunglasses on. Apparently the lecher realized what the suit meant, because even in the dimly lit bar Kadaj could see that his skin had paled considerably, and he backed a step away from Reno.
“No, he was just leaving, partner,” Reno said with a smirk. His smirk became a little more evil as he added: “My suit’s at home.”
“Leaving,” the guy all but squeaked, and he disappeared into the gyrating crowd.
“Jeesh!” Reno exclaimed as the guy left. He looked at Kadaj and cracked a grin. “You’re extremely popular. We’re going to be beating them off all night!”
Kadaj inhaled with surprise when he felt warm arms wrap around his waist from behind. He was pulled up against a hard body and felt warm breath at the nape of his neck before a kiss was laid against his temple and a familiar voice said:
“Or I could just lay claim now and be done with it.” Rufus’ embrace tightened slightly as he began to move with the music, and Kadaj closed his eyes and let his body move along with him.
“It’s about time,” Reno said with a snort.
“I’m sorry,” Rufus murmured into Kadaj’s ear. “For all of my political training and the speeches I’ve given, dancing in front of people terrifies me. I had to get a drink into me before I could brave it. It’s always been like that.”
“It’s okay,” Kadaj managed to murmur. He made to turn, and Rufus loosened his embrace enough to allow the maneuver. Kadaj wrapped his arms around Rufus’s neck and molded himself against the Shinra President. Rufus splayed his hands in the small of Kadaj’s back and held him close as they moved to the beat.
“Do you have any idea how absolutely stunning you are?” Rufus breathed into his ear. “I can hardly blame them all for wanting you.” Any answer Kadaj might have made was lost in the kiss Rufus pressed to his lips. Kadaj was near dizzy with it by the time Rufus let him up for air.
Reno chuckled from where he was dancing with Rude. “I just saw three men turn and walk the other direction. I think they’ve got the message now, boss.”
“Good,” Rufus said. His voice was a low growl and his gaze was intense as he looked into Kadaj’s eyes.
Mine, those eyes seemed to say.
Kadaj found himself smiling in reply, and he returned the kiss lightly before he closed his eyes and gave himself over to the music and Rufus’s warm embrace.
*****
It was nearly three in the morning when they finally returned to the apartment. Rufus leaned against the elevator wall, a small smile on his face. Kadaj, who had danced for nearly four hours straight, was leaning heavily against his front. His arms were wrapped around Rufus’ waist and his forehead was resting against Rufus’ shoulder. The younger man was all but asleep on his feet.
“Good night, Boss,” Reno whispered when the elevator dinged to a halt on the floor just beneath the penthouse. “Give us a call when you need us tomorrow.”
“It won’t be before noon,” Rufus promised.
“Thanks,” Reno said. He flashed Rufus a grateful smile before following Rude out of the elevator.
Kadaj stirred in his arms as the elevator started to rise again. His silver head lifted slightly and he stared blearily about the small compartment.
“Where’s Rude and Reno?”
“Already off to their apartment,” Rufus murmured. He pressed a kiss to Kadaj’s forehead. The elevator dinged and opened. “And we’re almost to our own.”
“Good,” Kadaj said. He couldn’t quite stifle a yawn. “Sleepy.”
Rufus made an amused sound. “Yes, I see.” He led Kadaj from the elevator and to the door. It took him a short moment to key it open and then he kicked it closed behind them.
“Rufus . . .” Kadaj sounded hesitant. He turned to face Rufus. “I want . . . I mean . . . can I sleep with you tonight?”
Rufus smiled lightly and nodded. Kadaj’s expression was almost comically relieved.
“You’re not used to sleeping alone, are you?” Rufus asked. The insight had been sudden, but Rufus was certain he was right. “You slept on the couch the first night you were here because I was working on my paperwork out there, and last night you fell asleep with me on the couch again.”
“No, I’m not,” Kadaj admitted slowly. “For as long as I can remember my brothers and I shared sleeping quarters. And I used to have nightmares, although I could never remember what they were afterwards. They wouldn’t be so bad if either Loz or Yazoo slept with me--one of them always did.”
Rufus felt sorrow at the sudden anguish in Kadaj’s eyes. He was beginning to realize just how close the three brothers had been, and how much Loz and Yazoo’s deaths were affecting Kadaj.
“Kadaj, I’m sorry for your loss,” Rufus murmured. He reached out to catch the sudden tear that spilled from Kadaj’s left eye. He stepped forward and enfolded Kadaj in a tight embrace. Kadaj’s hands fisted in the silk of his shirt, and his shoulders shook with a suppressed sob.
“I miss them,” Kadaj managed. His voice was muffled against the silk of Rufus’s shirt.
“I know,” Rufus murmured. “I’m so sorry, Kadaj. I wish that just once I would have spoken up against my father. There was a time where I think the board might have backed me and tossed both him and Hojo out on their ears. I think you and your brothers might have only been twelve at the most . . . I might have saved you from the worst of your existences if only I had been less of a coward!”
“Hojo would have murdered you,” Kadaj replied. “You know he would have. And then where would the Planet be? You’re braver than you give yourself credit for, Rufus Shinra. What you are doing now is not an easy thing. You’ve taken your father’s sins onto your own shoulders and you are going to atone for every one of them. That’s your plan, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Rufus whispered harshly.
“Then you are no coward,” Kadaj said with no little conviction.
“None the less, I am sorry,” Rufus managed after a moment.
“I know.” Kadaj stifled another yawn.
“Bed, then,” Rufus murmured. He reluctantly released Kadaj and led him down the hall.
“I’ll be right there,” Kadaj murmured. He disappeared for a moment into his own room, and gave Rufus a shy smile when he returned. He held up a bundle of black silk. “Reno picked out pajamas for me while we were out shopping, too.”
“Of course he did,” Rufus said with a smirk.
Rufus politely looked elsewhere while Kadaj stripped out of his clothes and pulled on black silk pajama bottoms and a black t-shirt. By the time Kadaj had finished, Rufus had already done the same, except his pajama bottoms were ivory cotton and he wore no shirt. Kadaj all but froze when he turned and saw Rufus’ bare chest. His pupils dilated slightly as his eyes roved over Rufus’ broad shoulders and the well-defined muscles of his chest and abs.
“Kadaj, are you coming to bed?” Rufus asked softly. He tried hard not to smile as he watched a blush blossom on those fair cheeks. The urge to throw caution to the wind and attempt a seduction was very strong at that moment, but Rufus ruthlessly clamped down on the urge and pushed it aside. It would have disastrous consequences, he knew, and it wasn’t worth it. Any steps to further the relationship would have to be initiated by Kadaj, or it just wouldn’t go well. That thought was unbearable to Rufus, and he made the decision right then and there that he would take it all at Kadaj’s pace. The young man had become far too important to Rufus to risk any harm--emotional or physical--to come to him.
“Yeah,” Kadaj finally managed. He moved to the opposite side of the bed and got under the covers. His silver hair was a sharp contrast against the deep navy of the pillow cover, and it shone in the dim lighting of the room.
“Good night,” Rufus murmured as he turned off the bedside lamp and lay back. He made himself comfortable and then closed his eyes. Sleep was quick to tug on him, but before he gave himself over to it completely, he felt a tentative touch on his chest, and then Kadaj moved closer.
“Is it okay?” Kadaj asked quietly.
“Yes,” Rufus murmured sleepily. He shifted slightly and wrapped an arm around Kadaj’s shoulder and pulled him closer. Kadaj rested his head against Rufus’ shoulder and draped his left arm over Rufus’ chest and settled in. Rufus made a contented sound as he relaxed again. Kadaj was a warm, pleasant weight against him, and it felt right.
“G’night,” Kadaj murmured.
Moments later both men were fast asleep.
*****
The rat was hungry, and it was that hunger that drove it deep into one of the various dumps stationed on the outskirts of Midgar. There were several such dumps on the edges of the city. The only thing that kept them from being total eyesores was the tall walls that surrounded them. Most of the concrete-lined craters were reservoirs for all sorts of noxious toxins. They were a blight on Midgar, and rumors had it that Rufus Shinra had the cleanup of such dumps high on his list of priorities.
The rat, of course, didn’t care about any of that. Its little brain only thought of one thing--survival. And it was smart enough to know that when the trucks came, fresh pickings were in the offing. The trucks had come more than once that day, which was odd in itself. Even odder were the things they left behind. Old machines, examination tables, and lots and lots of glass containers. Test tubes, beakers, boiling flasks . . . the list was almost endless. The rat carefully picked its way through the endless piles of glass and metal, searching for anything that might serve as food.
It nosed around for nearly half an hour before it came upon something that was different from the rest. It was a sealed glass jar, and where all the other vessels had been empty, this one was not. Beady black eyes scrutinized the greenish yellow liquid and the tiny chunk of something that floated inside it. Food its little brain told it. Tiny claws scraped at the glass, and the rat gave a frustrated squeak as it realized it wouldn’t be able to get at it that way. It butted its tiny head against the jar, and it shifted slightly. It was positioned atop one of the old machines. The rat butted harder, and it shifted more towards the precarious edge it was situated on. One more push, and the jar tumbled over the edge. It rolled down a heap of trash, and then fell a good ten feet deeper into the pit. It hit something solid at the bottom, and the satisfying sound of glass shattering filled the air.
The rat scurried after it, easily traversing the maze of trash, until it found the shattered jar. The bit of something that had been floating in the sickly liquid was now free of its glass confines, and ripe for the taking. The rat rushed forward and eagerly sniffed at it. It was roughly cube shaped, and was the size of a small die, no more than a centimeter and a half cubed. But it was something, and that was all the rat cared about.
The small cube suddenly moved, almost pulsated, and then suddenly several dozen small tendrils shot out from it and wound themselves around the rat’s ears, throat and nose. The rat screeched in terror as those tendrils started to dig into its flesh, and the screech of terror turned into howls of pain as they penetrated and went deeper. Blood flowed freely from its eyes, and it fell over on its side as more and more of the cube seemed to flow into him, until there was none of it left on the ground. The rat twitched a few times before it went still, and a moment later, there was no trace of the tiny bit of something left.
It was silent for several moments, and then the rat took a rattling breath, and then another, and it slowly regained its feet. The rat’s frame shuddered, and if one had looked closely, they would have seen ripples move beneath its flesh, as if something were just below the surface moving. The once black eyes gleamed now with an eerie red glow, and it slowly started to climb its way out of the pit. It paused at the machine the jar had been resting on, and the red eyes seemed to read the words stenciled on the sides. Property of Shinra Bio Division.
It seemed almost as if the rat smiled before it turned now malevolent eyes towards the heart of Midgar.
*****
TBC
- 11
- 12
- 13
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Path to Redemption