Adult-FanFiction.org : Final Fantasy

Responsive	By : jessara40k Category: Final Fantasy VII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 777 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Responsive
- 2-2
- 3-3
- 4-4
- 5-5
- 6-6
- 7-7
- 8-8
- 9-9
- 10-10
- 11-Note
- 4
- 5
- 6
They�d ended up in a gym twice the size of their usual one
for training the next day, and Cloud was probably the only cadet not
surprised that the SOLDIERs had turned up as ordered.

�What are they doing here?�

�They�re not really going to spar with us, are they?�

�We can�t face SOLDIERs like that.�

�Yeah, they�ll cripple us.�

�Silence!� It was pretty rare for Senior Instructor Wurts to
need to intervene himself, but apparently he felt that in this case the cadets
wouldn�t listen to anyone else. �You each have a SOLDIER assigned to spar with
you, and I don�t want to hear any complaints about it. There�s no reason for
them to know your names, so I want each of you to raise your hand when I call
out your name. Cadet Anders.� Cloud glanced over at Sephiroth, he was pretty
sure that he would end up with his usual sparring partner so he didn�t
really need to pay attention to the roll call. As a result he was surprised to
hear his name called out, and from the way Sephiroth reacted he hadn�t
expected it either. �Cadet Strife.�

Cloud�s attention was immediately drawn to the senior
instructor, but he was too shocked to actually put a hand up. He didn�t need
to, a SOLDIER 1st, the only one in the room was already making his way
towards him, an eager look on his face. Sephiroth...for a moment Cloud could
see a flash of anger in his eyes and he spun towards Senior Instructor Wurts,
anger in his eyes.

�What is the meaning of this? It is standard practice for
the mentor for a cadet class to spar with a single cadet whenever he is
available.� Sephiroth�s voice was coldly cutting, and the senior instructor
flinched at that. Cloud�s opponent introduced himself into the resounding
silence.

�I�m Lieutenant Colonel Moss. I�ll try not to do the sort of
damage I�ve heard the General does.� Cloud didn�t reply, instead he turned to
look at Instructor Trepes as he spoke up to Sephiroth.

�We think Strife could benefit from more experience training
against different opponents. He�s obviously exceptional since...� Cloud tuned
that out and turned his attention back to the SOLDIER 1st, he didn�t need to
hear the praise he knew the instructor was going to start with, since he knew
it wasn�t accurate.

�I don�t think the General will be very happy about this,
sir, in fact...� Cloud glanced over to where Sephiroth was glaring at
Instructor Trepes and Moss followed his gaze.

�Yeah, he looks pretty pissed. He must think you�re
something special if he�s willing to show this much emotion over being told he
won�t be sparring with you. By this point when he normally mentors a class the
cadet he�s been focusing on�s usually dropped out to get away from him, and
when that happens we�re expected to just sort of act like the normal instructors.�

�But I suppose if that doesn�t happen we�re supposed
to be working one on one only with the SOLDIER acting as mentor by now?
I...have an idea sir, if you don�t mind. We could suggest that we solve the
problem by doing the same thing we did yesterday, you and I working together
against the General, after we�ve sparred for an hour to get a handle on each
other�s style, and made plans for quarter of an hour. I know it�s awkward for
you, to work with someone so less able than you are, but...�

�SOLDIER 1sts need to know how to fight beside the less
powerful anyway, so it would be good practice for me as well. But do you think he
will agree?� Cloud could understand the lieutenant colonel�s worry, Sephiroth
was acting almost like a jealous lover at the thought of anyone but him
sparring with Cloud, and he had to find a way to distract anyone from realising
that.

�Well sir, when he critiqued my performance in private after
what started this whole thing he said that most people aren�t willing to spar
with him, so...�

�There�s a reason for that. Do you like having broken
bones?�

�He makes sure I get healed afterwards sir.� Cloud shrugged
one shoulder, looking at the SOLDIER expectantly. �Are you going to tell him
about our suggested compromise or are you coward enough to make me do it?� He
only realised he�d been a bit too informal after he�d finished speaking, but
Lieutenant Colonel Moss didn�t seem too angry about his insolence. In fact he
smiled at Cloud, looking almost admiring.

�He�ll probably react better if you suggest it to him, but
if you�d rather I do it?� Moss had a point, even if Cloud hated presuming upon
his relationship with Sephiroth, and at least he�d offered to speak to
the General himself, albeit reluctantly.

�I�ll do it then.� Sephiroth was still arguing with
Instructor Trepes, quietly, but vehemently when Cloud approached them. �Excuse
me, but we thought of a compromise.� The two men stopped arguing then, turning
to look at him instead.

�And what, precisely, is this compromise, Cadet Strife?�
Sephiroth sounded as cold as he always did in public, but Cloud had long since
got past being upset by that.

�I had an extra two hours training one on one over the past
three days, and I missed two hours training two on one, so we thought that I
could spend an hour sparring with the lieutenant colonel, to get some
experience with his style, then the two of us could face you together?�

�Very well. I shall return in an hour�s time. But understand
this instructor, if this happens again I will not be so accommodating.�
And with that Sephiroth turned to stalk off, coat billowing behind him. Cloud
half expected Instructor Trepes to protest, to remind him that he was still
supposed to be helping with the class, not stalking off to sulk, but he seemed
more relieved than anything else. Cloud knew better than to bother bringing
that up to him, since he wouldn�t really want the reminder, and it would spoil
the test he was sure Sephiroth was giving. He ran through his warm up kata
quickly while Moss did the same, then waited politely for him to say they could
start.

�We can�t spend the whole hour sparring, not if we�re going
to have time to plan how to face the General.� Cloud took the hint and attacked
at once, he didn�t have the reserves to fight a defensive battle and win, he knew
that, not against a SOLDIER of any class, let alone a SOLDIER 1st. Moss used a
huge axe rather than a sword, and Cloud wondered absently if that was why he�d
been chosen to spar with him, before he got too caught up in just holding his
own against the lieutenant colonel to think of anything beyond his next move.

�Enough.� Cloud would not collapse panting, but he
did find it hard to calm his breathing, Moss had pushed him harder than Zack
had in their spar, even harder than Sephiroth usually pushed him. �We
need to work on a strategy if we hope to avoid being injured.� Did Sephiroth�s
sparring partners usually end up injured then, rather than just defeated? That
would explain why almost no one was willing to spar with him, but he was sure
that the General was better at judging what a SOLDIER was capable of than he
was at judging what an unenhanced human was capable of, since SOLDIERs were a
bit closer to his level. �You�ve sparred with him more than I have, and more
recently, have you seen any weaknesses?�

�Only that he doesn�t really understand what precisely the
limits are for us normal humans. Either he overestimates us, which is why he�s
given me so many broken bones, or he underestimates us, such as when the
General assumed a lot of superficial cuts would hurt me enough and cause me
enough pain that I wouldn�t be able to move as quickly as usual, at least that�s
what I think.�

�That�s a common problem for us,� Moss probably meant
SOLDIERs, Cloud thought and his next words confirmed that. �and it gets worse
the longer it is since our first Mako treatment, we forget, but the General�s
pretty young.�

�As I understand it his first Mako treatment was in the
womb, so he wouldn�t know anything about human limitations, would he?� That was
a common enough piece of gossip, and it wouldn�t be suspicious for Cloud to
know that.

�No, he wouldn�t. But we can�t use that. There�s nothing
else?� When Cloud confirmed that there was no other weakness he could think of
Moss sighed and they began planning how to face Sephiroth. They ended up
setting a number of signals to tell one another what moves they were planning
to make, or what moves they should make, and they were still trying to
come up with something new when Sephiroth returned.

�Well, gentlemen, are you prepared?� He was treating this
almost as a formal duel, and Cloud had a moment to hope that this wasn�t a sign
that he was going to fight at anything approaching his true ability before Moss
attacked, and Cloud needed to focus on keeping up his share of fighting
Sephiroth.

�You did very well Cadet Strife. Not quite up to SOLDIER
standards, but far better than could be expected of a cadet and you have
improved more than I expected in the last two days. And your ability to work
with the cadet and planning were both impressive Lieutenant Colonel Moss. I
shall have to consider the matter.� Then he turned and walked away, leaving
Cloud and Lieutenant Colonel Moss behind.

�I can�t believe he was that complimentary. And I can�t
believe we lasted that long against him.� That sounded far more like something Cloud
would say than he�d expect to hear from a SOLDIER.

�I think he was consciously trying to finish our sparring
just now, I know he wasn�t fighting to his full ability before.�

�And so do I. Sparring with you was...interesting. I�ll
look forward to when you�ve made SOLDIER.�

o0()0o

�So, how�d the rest of your class react to having to spar
with SOLDIERs again?� Zack cornered Cloud as he came out of the canteen. Cloud
didn�t hesitate to scowl at him, he knew that Zack wasn�t going to just
let him go back to his extra training, and he�d thought that Zack would be
spending the evening with Sephiroth, not with him. Besides, the subject of his
classmates more than merited a scowl.

�Everyone else started panicking, I don�t see why, it isn�t
as if they hadn�t sparred with a SOLDIER before.� Cloud snorted contemptuously.
�I can�t believe they were so stupid and cowardly, Instructor Trepes shouted at
Sephiroth for hurting me more than he felt acceptable, did they really
think the instructors would let SOLDIERs cripple them? Odin�s Eye, it
isn�t as if there�s much that can cripple someone when you�ve got
Restore materia around, nothing short of nerve damage, and even some of that
can be fixed. It�s either an injury that can be healed quickly and easily or
death, nothing really in between.�

�It�s not like anyone would be careless enough to do the
sort of damage that can�t be fixed training cadets. And with nerve damage it
depends on how fast you get medical attention I guess, I know they can reattach
severed limbs if they get to you soon enough.� Zack was rubbing at his left
elbow, Cloud thought it had to be unconsciously, and he assumed that meant he�d
lost his left arm to his elbow at some point, although he wasn�t going to ask.
That would have been cruel, and besides he could probably find out another way,
if he wanted to.

�I�m not being fair, there were a few who didn�t panic, the
four who sparred with SOLDIERs yesterday I assume, and some others, it�s just
the ones I heard were all panicking. And they shouldn�t have, they all
heard Sephiroth say he was going to assign the SOLDIERs who came to
watch us to spar with us.�

�Yeah, I heard about that. I also heard about how he reacted
when he realised you were supposed to be sparring with someone else as well.�
Zack sounded as if he thought it was funny, and Cloud couldn�t help but
feel a little bit betrayed by that. �And Lieutenant Colonel Moss said you�d
come up with a compromise that kept Sephiroth happy without disrupting your
instructor�s plans too much.�

�It was simple enough, I just hope my instructors don�t keep
doing something that stupid, I got the impression they knew they were in the
wrong when they tried to arrange a different sparring partner for me without
Sephiroth�s approval.� He wasn�t sure what had given him that
impression, but Cloud was sure that Sephiroth wouldn�t have walked away from
his duty to Cloud�s class, even as a test the way he had today unless the
instructors had failed their duty somehow.

�Yes, they were. Since you�re the cadet he decided to focus
on you�re considered almost his apprentice, which means he should make the
decisions about who you train with in official training. That�s also why it was
permissible for him to teach you how to use a materia early.� Cloud blinked in
surprise at that.

�It never occurred to me that could be a problem.� Cloud
shrugged, he knew that Sephiroth had enough power in the company that no one
would cause problems about his choices of what to teach him.

�It wasn�t.� Zack sighed then, looking almost tired for some
reason. �Look, I know you want to get to do some more training, and Sephiroth
won�t be finished for another hour so I�ll make you a deal. I�ll spend an hour
sparring with you, see how much you�ve improved since last time, and then we�ll
go visit Sephiroth.�

�I don�t want to interrupt your time with him...� That was
why he�d decided to only visit his lover on the days he wouldn�t be training
with the General.

�And I don�t want him to resent me because I�m
keeping him from you.�

�Alright then.� And it would help for Cloud to have a
sparring partner for this. They made their way to one of the small gyms, with a
detour for Cloud to pick up his sword, and then they began sparring, with Zack
giving Cloud advice as he needed it. Sometimes Cloud found that Zack�s advice
was a hindrance even though they used similar weapons, because Zack was so much
larger and stronger than he was, larger being the more important factor, but it
still helped as well.

�We need to check if Sephiroth�s still in his office. He�s
given me permission to drag him away if he is.�

�It would be rude to just go to his quarters and wait for
him if he hasn�t got back yet, I know.� Even if Cloud had done that before it
had been when Sephiroth was expecting to see him there. Besides, it
wouldn�t help if Sephiroth had lost track of the time while he was doing his
paperwork - and for that to be his idea of convalescence made Cloud
shiver.

�You have a keycard to his quarters? How did that happen?�
Obviously Zack didn�t have a keycard to Sephiroth�s quarters, so Cloud
explained as they walked.

�Officially I �forgot� to return it after I did an errand
for him on my last leave day, buying two more of the jigsaw puzzles we do
together.� Cloud shrugged then. �But I thought it was normal to want to give
your lover access to your home.� Zack didn�t seem to be able to say anything
else after hearing that, and Cloud shrugged mentally, dismissing it. They didn�t
find Sephiroth in his office, to Zack�s slight disappointment - apparently he�d
been looking forward to dragging the General away from his work - so they made
their way to his quarters.

�Cloud, Zack.� Sephiroth smiled slightly, putting his book
down and making his way towards them, a slight question in his eyes when he
looked at Cloud. Cloud smiled back at him, ready to accept whatever greeting
Sephiroth wanted to give. Sephiroth lifted one hand, laying it on Cloud�s
cheek, and kissed him, hesitantly, but open mouthed at least, even if he didn�t
actually push his tongue into Cloud�s mouth. Cloud wrapped one arm around
Sephiroth�s shoulders as he returned the kiss hungrily, and let his other hand
slip between Sephiroth�s legs, and press at where he�d bitten Sephiroth�s right
thigh the night before, testing to see if he�d bothered to use a Cure on it.
From the way he moaned softly into Cloud�s mouth it was obvious that he hadn�t
and Cloud moved his hand to press against his lover�s growing arousal, until
Zack coughed.

�Err...would you two mind leaving things like that for when
you�re alone together? Or should I leave you alone now?� Cloud pulled away from
his lover, shaking his head, but he didn�t say anything.

�You don�t need to do that Zack. I...apologise if we made
you feel uncomfortable.�

�No, I�m sorry, I shouldn�t be telling you not to kiss
Cloud, it�s just...�

�It isn�t something you can share, is that it Zack?� Cloud
moved to pick up Sephiroth�s hairbrush as he spoke, then settled on the couch. �Come
here and let me brush your hair while you talk with Zack, will you Sephiroth?�
He made sure that it sounded like a request, and he hoped that Sephiroth would
realise that it was, but at least Zack didn�t seem to be bothered by his words,
or the way Sephiroth silently obeyed. Cloud didn�t bother to say anything as
Zack and Sephiroth talked, focusing on brushing his hair and taking in his
scent, mostly leather and steel, but with an odd, almost enthralling undertone
that Cloud had sometimes noticed when they were making love. Cloud didn�t know
if it was the association, or the scent itself that made him want to fuck his
lover right there and then, but he refused to do that to either of the two men
with him. So when he heard Zack mention his class that day he put the brush
aside and pulled away to lean against his lover�s chest instead of sitting
behind him.

�So, what have you decided to do about my instructors� idea
of having me spar against other people? You implied that you saw some merit in
it today.�

�You�d improved more this time than I�d expected as I said,
and I think it might have had something to do with having had other sparring
partners, but...I don�t want to give up the chance to keep sparring with you,
to see how you�re improving. It isn�t something I�ve had experience with
before.� Cloud could feel it as he shrugged, obviously uncomfortable with that particular
thought. �And then, I don�t often find people willing to spar against me, and
even if your partner�s been forced into it...it�s a rare treat for me to actually
have not one, but two people to spar against at the same time. And it comes a
bit closer to actually making me work for my victory.� Not that there was any
way for him to get a good challenge from anyone in sparring.

�And you didn�t like my compromise before, did you?�

�No, but I think it is necessary. You�ll be sparring against
your instructors in your next swordwork session, against one for half of it and
against two for the rest, and you�ll be dividing the time when I�m attending
the sessions similarly.� Cloud wasn�t sure what to say to that, he was sure
that he wasn�t worth the arguments Sephiroth was having over him, not as an
apprentice, but he didn�t have to say anything, since Zack did.

�Does that mean you�re going to stay away sulking until it�s
time for Cloud and whatever SOLDIER�s working with him to spar against you like
you did today? Or are you going to turn up and work with the rest of the class?�

�I wasn�t sulking.� Sephiroth sounded offended, and even
Cloud had to laugh, although he decided to explain swiftly.

�Sephiroth was testing Instructor Trepes, to see if he had
the balls to demand that Sephiroth stay and help while I was sparring with
Lieutenant Colonel Moss.�

�Right. You think I�d have the same sort of problems if I
asked to mentor a class?� Cloud blinked, he hadn�t realised that Zack hadn�t
mentored any classes, but it made sense considering how quickly he�d been
promoted, and that he doubted it was a duty for the higher ranking officers.

�You are a bit more approachable than the General
is....but it would make an interesting test...�

�Are the instructors intimidated by my rank, or by me you
mean. Just tell me when you want to try and I�ll arrange it for you Zack.�

o0()0o

Cloud glanced nervously into the bag with what he�d bought
to use with Sephiroth, his lover had asked to be blindfolded again more than
once, but Cloud hadn�t been able to get it right, even though he tried. Just
using one scarf hadn�t been enough to block Sephiroth�s sight totally, while
when he tried using more than one scarf, one folded as a pad and the other tied
around to hold it on the pad had usually slipped out, ruining the blindfold
totally. So he�d spent his morning looking for something that would work properly,
and a leather sleeping mask had seemed just about right - and he�d picked up a
leather collar and leash on impulse while he was in the shop. He couldn�t
seriously imagine Sephiroth wearing the collar, but he wanted to see how
he reacted to it, at least if Cloud had the courage to let his lover see them.

He couldn�t delay too long, not right in front of the door
to Sephiroth�s quarters, so he took a single steadying breath and opened the
door. Sephiroth put his hairbrush down immediately, and came to greet him with
a kiss. It was as tentative as Sephiroth always was in initiating
anything sexual, but that didn�t bother Cloud anymore, even though he
appreciated what a treasure the control Sephiroth gave over to him so willingly
was. When Cloud let him go Sephiroth stepped back, and looked down, gesturing
at the bag in his hand.

�Should I ask, Cloud?� His voice was quiet, and Cloud knew
that he wouldn�t press if he decided he didn�t want to explain.

�Sit down and I�ll show you.� Sephiroth held back until
Cloud was sitting, then he visibly hesitated, and Cloud knew he was thinking
about sitting on the floor at Cloud�s feet, the way he had once or twice
before, but he also had to be remembering the way Cloud had reacted to that,
either pulling his lover up to sit beside him or joining Sephiroth on the
floor. �Just do whatever you want.� Cloud sighed as Sephiroth immediately knelt
gracefully in front of him, hands folded in his lap, looking up from beneath
lowered lashes with a smile on his face. �I don�t really like it when you do
that, but...as long as it isn�t too often...� It was different when Sephiroth
knelt to Cloud because he felt he had to apologise, even if a normal lover
wouldn�t apologise that way, or to make it easy to give him a blow job.

�Thank you Cloud.� And that was kind of creepy, for his
lover to thank him for letting him kneel at Clouds feet...He pushed that
thought away and reached into the bag, pausing to ask a question before he
brought out the sleeping mask.

�Before I show you I want you to answer me honestly; have
the scarves I�ve been using to blindfold you been working for you properly?�

�N-no.� Sephiroth looked down at his hands, bowing his head
to hide the faint blush on his cheeks. �I didn�t want to say anything, and I
appreciate whatever you feel you can give me, but...�

�The scarves haven�t been working right, so I got this
instead.� He pulled the sleeping mask out and dropped it into Sephiroth�s lap. �I
said I had a friend who found he sometimes had trouble sleeping since he became
a SOLDIER, due to the improved vision, and I asked for advice, this was what
was suggested.� His lover looked unhappy at that, and Cloud knew why that had
to be. �Don�t worry, I said it was only when he was here in Midgar that he had
problems sleeping, that his difficulties were always about artificial light,
not natural light.�

�Thank you Cloud. I�d thought perhaps you didn�t like
blindfolding me.� Cloud hadn�t realised his dissatisfaction had shown when he�d
blindfolded Sephiroth.

�You look really sexy blindfolded, and it�s not like that�s
going to hurt you. I just wasn�t prepared the first time you asked, and then I
couldn�t do it right. Do you want to see what else I got?�

�If you wish to show me, then please.� Sephiroth finally
looked up at Cloud directly, and Cloud was sure that even without the Mako his
eyes would have been glowing from the love in them. He hesitated, because he
was pretty sure his lover would take the other things seriously, and either be
offended by them, or...

�Before I show you, let me tell you, I bought these on
impulse, if they bother you we don�t need to talk about them again.� And he
pulled the collar and leash out before his courage failed him. Sephiroth
gasped, but when Cloud looked at his face he could see how much the collar
pleased his lover.

�W-will you...put it on me, please?� That...was sick and
wrong, Cloud was sure of that. So why did it make him so hard? He pushed that
thought into the back of his mind, to think about later, not when
Sephiroth was looking at him with that strange fragility in his eyes, and asking
for something he wanted. Sephiroth would probably prefer it if Cloud made him
jump through a hoop or two first, so...

�Strip.� He made it an order, weird as it was, Sephiroth was
turned on when Cloud gave him orders, and again Sephiroth did that weird trick
where he stripped totally naked without once rising from his knees. �Shut your
eyes.� Cloud leaned forward to trace Sephiroth�s lips with his forefinger,
enjoying the faint tremors that ran through his body as he did so, and plucked
the sleeping mask out of Sephiroth�s hands to fasten it over his eyes. �Can you
see through that at all?�

�No Cloud, I cannot.� Sephiroth�s voice was slow, almost
languid with the arousal that was apparent between his legs. Cloud smiled at
that, and reached down to fasten the collar around Sephiroth�s throat, pausing
a moment to admire the look of the black leather against his pale skin and hair
before attaching the leash and standing, pulling Sephiroth to his feet with a
tug on the leash. He led his lover to the bedroom, moving slowly enough to
compensate for the blindfold, and taking hold of his arm to guide him through
the door. When they got to the bed Cloud helped Sephiroth onto it, guiding him
to lie face down and tying the leash to the headboard. Then he picked up the
massage oil, the one Sephiroth used to massage Cloud, not the one Cloud
used to prepare his lover, and began working on relieving some of the all too
obvious aches and tensions in his lover�s body. He knew that for some utterly stupid
reason it bothered Sephiroth when Cloud spent time focused on his body and
pleasure, so he was determined to train that out of him, especially since
Sephiroth seemed to want to be dominated. He kept working, ignoring his lover�s
quiet protests, and ordering him to silence, until Sephiroth finally relaxed,
giving a soft sigh of pleasure. Cloud leaned down to kiss the back of Sephiroth�s
neck, running his hand through the silver hair lying pooled by his head on the
pillow and whispered into his ear.

�Would you prefer it if I stayed mostly dressed, or if I was
naked?� Since Sephiroth had asked Cloud to fuck him while still mostly dressed
more than once Cloud had concluded that it was a kink of his, and had no
hesitation in indulging it, especially since it was so harmless. Sephiroth bit
his lip, obviously thinking about it. �I�ll be sleeping here tonight remember.�
The way he had the night before, and Cloud wanted to know how that would affect
Sephiroth�s decision, or even if it would.

�Then, undressed, please.� Cloud had tied the leash with
about a foot and a half of slack, now he untied it, and retied it to give his
lover nearly six feet of slack.

�Kneel up then, but be careful, you only have a limited amount
of slack.� Cloud shouldn�t have been surprised at the grace Sephiroth managed
in getting to his knees from lying on his stomach, even leashed and
blindfolded. He pulled his boots off quickly and moved to sit in front of his
lover. �Good. Now I want you to undress me.� Sephiroth reached forward, and
began undressing Cloud more than a little awkwardly by touch. That faint hint
of difficulty somehow made this more arousing than Sephiroth�s usual, albeit
unpractised, grace, and Cloud was hard and dripping precum by the time he was
naked. He pulled away, reluctantly, tempted to just have Sephiroth suck him and
then finger his lover until he climaxed, but that wasn�t what he�d planned. It
would probably be fun, but he wanted to be inside Sephiroth, and he was pretty
sure Sephiroth shared that desire. He didn�t bother with words, instead
pushing Sephiroth back down onto his belly and tying the leash off to limit his
movement, then lay down on top of him, pushing that fall of silver hair aside
to kiss the back of his lover�s neck, before kissing his way down Sephiroth�s
spine.

He picked up the oil he used to prepare Sephiroth, sliding
the first finger in easily enough by now and reaching up beneath his body to
tweak a nipple hard as a distraction. It felt a little different to the
way Sephiroth normally felt when he prepared him, and Cloud realised that was
because he hadn�t given his lover a chance to clean himself beforehand, but he
wasn�t going to stop for that, and he continued preparing Sephiroth, keeping up
with the teasing touches to every sensitive spot within his reach. The slow
foreplay and preparation helped him get his libido back under control, and
Cloud could take it slowly as he entered Sephiroth�s tight heat. He began to
bite the back of Sephiroth�s neck, knowing that would bring him to climax very
quickly. Cloud was tempted to take Sephiroth through to the bathroom and clean
him still blindfolded, but instead he unfastened the collar and pulled the
blindfold off.

�Go and take a shower, I�ll change the covers.�

�Thank you Cloud.� Sephiroth�s voice was quiet, but
satisfied as he responded.

o0()0o

Cloud was probably the only cadet who�d had advance warning
that they�d be starting on slotted materia and how to use them today, or at
least the only cadet who�d recognised the advanced warning they�d gotten when
Sephiroth had asked Senior Instructor Wurts which elemental materia he�d be starting
them on. Of course that was partly because he knew they were supposed to
learn how to use slotted materia in the last week of training, but no one had
listened when he mentioned that. And now the rest of the class were muttering
in surprise as they were led to a new room and each issued with a bracer that
had two linked slots and one unlinked slot for materia. This new room was more
like a target range than the gym they usually worked in, with wooden targets
carved into the shape of monsters.

�You lucky bastards will be working on using materia today.
We don�t expect you lot to be able to cast more than one spell, and you�re only
going to use a first level Fire materia, so you won�t get confused by having a
choice of spells.� Instructor Fury paused there, and waited as all the cadets
began whispering to each other about how exciting this was.

�I�m sorry Cloud, we should have listened to you when you
said we�d be doing this soon.� Alex was the unofficial leader amongst his
foursome, and the other three looked guiltily embarrassed as well. �Do you
think it will be hard?�

�Not for me, the General said that it took more skill to use
a materia unslotted than it did to use it slotted, and he taught me to use
Restore without slotting it first. But it might be hard for you, especially
since they won�t have time to talk you through it the way Sephiroth talk me
through casting a Cure on him.� Cloud didn�t think any of the cadets would get
more than five minutes to try and cast the spell.

�Can you give us any advice then?�

�The only advice I can think of is what Sephiroth told me,
focus on the materia, and reach out for it with your mind.�

�Shut up.� Cloud immediately turned his attention to
Instructor Trepes. �Put the bracer you were given on, if you hadn�t already.�
He paused to let everyone obey his instructions, including Cloud. �These
bracers make it easier to use materia, before ways to slot materia for use were
invented only a very few people could use them, and that only after long study.�
That couldn�t be true. Sephiroth had taught Cloud how to use a Restore
without slotting it in less than five minutes, and it had been easy.

�Sir, Strife said the General taught him how to use a
Restore without slotting it after he managed to cut the General.� Cloud wanted
to kill Michaels for that, he hadn�t wanted that to be brought
up, not after he�d realised how exceptional what he�d done was.

�How long did that take Cadet Michaels?� Instructor Trepes
sounded impatient, and almost angry as he questioned the other cadet.

�I don�t know sir, he was gone for four and a half hours,
but he said the General talked to him about the mistakes he�d made as well.�

�Cadet Strife, did the General teach you how to use all the
spells in the Restore, or just the Cure?�

�Just the Cure sir.� Not true, but if it made his
accomplishment seem less spectacular...

�Learning how to use a single spell from an unslotted
materia is comparatively simple, as opposed to learning how to use any materia,
even a completely new materia shortly after picking it up. And remember Cadet
Strife had the General to guide him through precisely how to cast the spell,
probably by linking with him, and it still took him hours to learn, but you�ll
all be able to cast the lowest level spell in any materia after five minutes of
instruction and practice. You won�t have the energy to cast more than one Fire
spell, except for Cadet Strife perhaps, since it takes more energy to use an
unslotted materia, than a slotted one, another reason we learned how to slot
materia.� And now the others were staring at him the way he�d been dreading, he�d
seen the isolation Sephiroth suffered under because of how much better he was
than everyone else, and now he was afraid he�d learn what that was like first
hand, perhaps not yet, or to the same extent, but...

�Sir, I think the General might have been supplying some of
the energy.� That lie would be believed with the way Instructor Trepes had
assumed Sephiroth had taught him, not accurate, and Cloud did wonder if
there was a reason Sephiroth had just talked him through it, but he could ask
that later, and no one needed to know the truth.

�We don�t have time for this.� Senior Instructor Wurts was
getting impatient it seemed. Not that Cloud minded, it worked to distract
everyone from his accomplishments after all. �Come forward when I call your
name out for your turn with the materia. Cadet Anders.� The brunet cadet moved
forward, looking uncomfortable, but still obedient, and the senior instructor
nodded to Instructor Trepes, letting him talk Anders through casting the
appropriate spell. He spoke quietly, almost soothingly, and only Anders could
hear him, but the cadet was nodding every so often, and eventually, towards the
end of his five minutes Instructor Trepes stepped back, giving him a clear line
of sight to the target.

�Go ahead and try to cast the spell now. You won�t have the
energy to try again today if you fail, but you�ve got six days to get it right.�
Cloud didn�t think that telling Anders that was the best way to reassure him,
since it implied that he was expected to fail, but he wasn�t the one doing the
teaching, and he didn�t know how to teach anyone how to use materia anyway. �And
tomorrow Instructor Fury will be working with you, so you�ll get another point
of view. And if that doesn�t work we�ll drag one of the SOLDIERs here to
show you.�

�Not the General sir?�

�No, one of the SOLDIERs he assigned to us as punishment
duty. Give it a try now.�

The fire that began around the target wasn�t very strong,
long lasting, or effective, leaving the target barely scorched, but Anders
collapsed and Instructor Trepes carried him over to one of the pallets set up
to one side of the room while Instructor Fury started teaching the next cadet.
By the time Cloud was called almost one in four cadets had collapsed under the
strain of trying to cast a proper Fire, with three who couldn�t even cast the
weakened version most cadets managed, and they�d only gone through five
targets, bringing out a fresh one for him. He had Instructor Fury to teach him,
and as the materia was handed to him Cloud reached out with his mind to sense
the power held inside it. There was only one clear level of power he could
sense, but there was a second level, almost clear, just coming into
focus, and more of the half sensed levels between those two.

�You won�t get anything out of it if you don�t fit it into
your bracer, the single slot.� Instructor Fury sounded impatient and Cloud
glanced at him as he obediently slotted the Fire materia, feeling the half
sensed levels apparently disappear, and the lower level of power snap into a
new, even greater clarity, feeling like a flare or a siren to his magic senses.
And now there was a clearly specified channel for his power to run through,
picking up amplification from the materia along the way, no wonder it
took less skill and energy to use a slotted materia. And if Sephiroth had
trained on how to use slotted materia first, especially if he couldn�t
sense the unstable power levels then of course he�d use the standard spells
even when he was using the materia unslotted.

Cloud listened to what Instructor Fury was saying, nothing
that he didn�t already know but it was polite to pay attention, and made the
appropriate responses, trying to work out how much or little energy he should
put into casting Fire. They were barely halfway through Cloud�s five minutes
when Instructor Fury stepped back to let him try his hand at casting Fire. He
shrugged mentally and let his energy flow into the predefined channel that was
the only available option, without even trying to control how much energy he
was using, just letting the materia take what it needed. But he did focus the
spell on the target, watching as it was consumed by the Fire spell he cast, and
keeping his magic senses focused on the materia, gasping as he
heard/saw/tasted/felt/smelt the second stable level form. He heard his gasp
echoed by most of the class, and Instructor Fury sounded approving as he
assessed Cloud�s performance.

�Impressive Cadet Strife. Do you need to rest?�

�No sir. But I think you might want to change materia, this
one just matured to second level.� Cloud refused to back down under the
instructor�s disbelieving look, instead pulling the materia from its slot and
holding it out for him to check himself. Instructor Fury snatched the
Fire materia from Cloud�s hand, slotting it himself, before cursing.

�The cadet�s right. Did anyone realise it was this close to
reaching second level?�

�It�s SOP to have the SOLDIER monitor check the materia for
this for a reason.� Instructor Trepes sounded exasperated as he took the
materia from Instructor Fury. �Normally you�d only get to work with a second
level materia on the fourth day of your training with materia, but this time
everyone who still needs to try gets to work with this second level Fire
materia. Just stick to the weaker spell, and you�ll be fine.�

�Cadet Sun.� The Wutaian cadet stepped forwards, listening
to Instructor Trepes as Instructor Fury guided Cloud over to the pallets, as he
made sure to look somewhat tired, staggering just a little as if he'd
underestimated how much the spell had taken out of him.

o0()0o
- 4
- 5
- 6
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

Responsive