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
- 6
- 7
- 8
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…even more angst and a very agitated Kadaj. Syl, thank you for your wonderful review! I’m glad you are enjoying it! Can’t wait to see what you think of future happenings! :D
On with the story!
******
Chapter 7
Rufus paused just inside the kitchen, and had to grin at the sight of Reno losing a hand of poker to Kadaj. The redhead cursed colorfully as he tossed his cards onto the kitchen table and glared at the younger man.
“Damn it, Kadaj! Are you sure you’ve never played poker before?” Reno’s emerald eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“Never!” Kadaj exclaimed with wide eyes.
“He’s a fast learner, that’s all,” Rude said with a shrug. The Turk was leaning against the kitchen counter, nursing a mug of coffee, and looking extremely amused at Reno’s predicament. Rude glanced up and nodded at Rufus. “Boss.”
Reno glanced his direction and flashed him a grin. “Yo, Rufus.”
“Good evening.” Rufus moved into the room. “How old is the coffee?”
“Just made it fifteen minutes ago,” Rude said.
“Good.” Rufus went to the cupboard and retrieved a mug. He was hyper aware of Kadaj’s gaze on his back, but he ignored it for the moment. He poured himself a mug of coffee and took a few sips before he turned and leaned against the counter next to Rude. “How many hands did it take before you were beat?”
Reno snorted and crossed his arms. “Two.”
Rufus’s eyebrows twitched with amusement. He met Kadaj’s gaze, then and smiled at the younger man. “Impressive. Reno’s a damn good poker player.”
“It’s not that hard of a game,” Kadaj said. Rufus could tell his mind wasn’t on poker any longer, if it had ever been at all. There was a question in the green eyes that gazed at him now. Reno opened his mouth to say something, but Kadaj spoke before he could. “Where were you?”
“At the hospital,” Rufus answered honestly. “I went to visit a patient there.”
Reno’s expression became abruptly serious. “How was the patient?”
“It will take time, but he will eventually be fine,” Rufus said.
Reno made a disbelieving sound. “Right.”
“Who did you go see?” Kadaj asked.
Reno and Rude looked everywhere but at Kadaj. Rufus met the younger man’s gaze head on before he glanced at his bodyguards.
“It’s time for the two of you to go get some sleep,” Rufus said.
Rude frowned. “Sir, are you sure this is a good idea . . .”
“Penelope seems to think it is,” Rufus said.
“Well, there you have it,” Reno said. He stood and stretched before nodding his head towards the doorway. “Let’s go, partner. I’m sure the boss can handle it on his own . . .and you promised to make me dinner tonight.”
Rufus swallowed a smirk as he watched Rude blush slightly, but the man followed Reno out of the kitchen without a word. A moment later Rufus heard the apartment door open and then close.
“Who was the patient?” Kadaj asked again. “Why don’t you want to tell me?”
“Because it is going to upset you,” Rufus answered. He took another sip of coffee before setting the mug aside.
“Why would it upset me?”
Rufus answered the question with one of his own. “Kadaj, would you want to meet Sephiroth, if you could?”
Kadaj’s mouth snapped shut, and confusion chased across his features. “What does he have to do with this?”
“Please, answer the question,” Rufus said. “Would you want to meet him?”
“I . . .I don’t know,” Kadaj finally replied. “I hate him.”
Rufus smiled slightly and cocked his head to the side. “Do you, really?”
“Of course I do!” Kadaj snapped. “Why shouldn’t I? My whole life all everyone has done is compare me to him, and I can never quite measure up! Why shouldn’t I hate him?”
“He’s your brother,” Rufus said.
“My brother?” Kadaj frowned.
“Yes, Kadaj, genetically speaking, the man would be your brother. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?” Rufus crossed the distance between them and sat across the table from him.
“I . . .I . . .my brother?” Kadaj’s voice had gone soft as he pondered that thought.
“Kadaj, why does the mention of Sephiroth anger you so? Is it really because you feel inferior, or is it something else?” Rufus smiled slightly. “Do you know what Dr. Winterfell thinks? She thinks you are angry not because you hate Sephiroth, but rather because you never got to meet him.”
Kadaj frowned slightly. “She does?”
Rufus nodded. “And I think she might be right.”
“You do?” Kadaj shook his head, and his expression became bitter. “I guess we’ll never know, will we? He’s gone.”
“No, he’s not.”
Rufus watched as his words sunk in. Kadaj looked up at him slowly, his eyes wide.
“What did you say?” Kadaj whispered.
“He’s not gone,” Rufus said. “Sephiroth is very much alive, Kadaj. I spoke with him not more than two hours ago.”
*****
Kadaj stood so quickly that the chair toppled backwards and clattered to the kitchen floor. He ignored it and fled the kitchen. He headed straight for the picture window, and began immediately to pace the length of it. His hands crept upward and tangled in his hair. It couldn’t be true, could it? Sephiroth was dead. Cloud had killed him, hadn’t he? The Planet had laid him to rest for good, right?
But why would Rufus lie about this? he asked himself, and could not readily come up with a feasible answer. He tugged hard on his hair and focused on the pain it brought rather than the anxiety he was now feeling. It didn’t help, and Kadaj made a frustrated sound deep in his throat and tugged harder on his hair.
“Kadaj, stop.” Rufus’s voice was very close.
Kadaj turned to pace back the way he’d come, only to find his way blocked. He ran into Rufus, and the Shinra President reached up and locked his fingers around Kadaj’s slender wrists in a strong but gentle grip.
“Let me go,” Kadaj whispered harshly.
“No.”
“Please!” Kadaj felt Rufus’s grip grow stronger for a moment, and Kadaj made another frustrated sound before he uncurled his fingers and let his hair slide from between them. “Please . . .” His voice trailed off as Rufus moved his hands away from his hair until they were at his sides again.
“No more hurting yourself,” Rufus whispered. It was dark in the room--the only light came from the lights of Midgar far below them. Rufus’s face was light and shadow in the dim lighting, but Kadaj could see his eyes, for they glowed ever so faintly with Mako light.
Kadaj forgot about Sephiroth for a moment as he stared into those eyes. “Your eyes . . .”
Rufus’s smile was bitter. “Hojo’s influence with my father was strong. I was one of the first to receive Mako enhancement. My father swore it was for my own good, but after he saw the results of the first treatment, he told Hojo to find other lab rats. I don’t pretend that what I went through came even close to the horrors he visited upon his own son, but it was bad enough, that one time. Perhaps that is why I can forgive Sephiroth for his sins, because I had a taste of the hell he lived through, and it’s a very easy thing to imagine what years of such treatments would be like.”
Kadaj shivered, something in his memories stirring. “I know that hell,” Kadaj whispered. He gasped as the memories sharpened and became clear. Scientists in lab coats. Mako injections. Hojo’s cold countenance as he injected poison after poison into his system and idly noted the results on a clipboard he was carrying.
He didn’t even realize he was screaming until he felt Rufus’s arms lock around his shoulders. Rufus held him tightly and pressed his lips against Kadaj’s ear.
“Scream all you want,” Rufus murmured. “Whatever it takes for you to get through this, Kadaj. I’ve got your back, I won’t let you fall.”
Kadaj sobbed and buried his face in the crook between Rufus’s neck and shoulder. Kadaj wrapped his arms around the president’s waist and fisted his fingers in the material of his shirt and hung on for dear life as he began to weep in earnest. He was dimly aware of Rufus leading him away from the window and to the couch. Rufus sat and pulled the smaller man into his lap sideways and wrapped him in a fierce embrace.
It was sometime later when Kadaj finally took a deep, shuddering breath and lifted a shaking hand to wipe the tears from his eyes. His head rested against Rufus’s shoulder, and he wanted to go to sleep right there. It was warm in Rufus’ embrace, and Kadaj felt safer there than he’d ever felt before.
“Kadaj, do you want to meet Sephiroth?” Rufus whispered.
“Yes,” Kadaj whispered, and was surprised at how much he meant it. Maybe the doctor had been right. Maybe he was confused about his own feelings after all.
“Tomorrow, then,” Rufus whispered.
Kadaj didn’t reply, for he was already asleep.
*****
Rufus woke to the sound of his cell phone ringing. He groaned softly, trying to remember where he was, and why there was someone in his lap. The someone stirred, and then yawned before they lifted their head from Rufus’ shoulder and met his gaze. Kadaj looked at him blearily before he turned and reached for the cell phone on the coffee table. He handed it to Rufus, then promptly closed his eyes and rested his head against the president’s shoulder again, apparently not at all disturbed that he’d slept the evening in Rufus’ lap.
Well, that’s what you wanted, isn’t it? Rufus thought as he flipped the cell phone open and answered it.
“Rufus Shinra.”
“Rufus?” He recognized Maggie’s voice instantly.
“Maggie! Are you moving your things now?”
“I was thinking about it, yeah,” she said. “I’m sorry. . .did I wake you?”
“It’s okay,” Rufus said. “What time is it?” He couldn’t see for himself--the wrist he wore his watch on was attached to the hand wrapped around Kadaj’s waist.
“Just after 9:30 a.m.,” she replied.
“Do you mind if I bring company?” Rufus asked. “I don’t want to leave Kadaj here by himself.”
“Kadaj?” She sounded surprised. “He’s staying with you? I thought Cloud was going to take him in . . .”
“No,” Rufus said. “Not yet, anyway.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Maggie said. “Of course you can bring him. The more hands to help the better. I think we can get it in one car load . . .I just want to get in and out of there.”
“What’s the address?” Rufus asked. Maggie gave it to him. “Right. Give me an hour, and I’ll meet you there.”
“Okay. Thanks so much, Rufus! Bye!”
Rufus stared bemusedly at the phone before he shut it off and placed it on the couch beside them.
“Kadaj, it’s time to get up,” he murmured to the man in his lap. “I’ve got to be somewhere in an hour, and you’re going with me.”
Kadaj stirred, and then shifted so that he could look up at Rufus. Green eyes blinked slowly in the morning light, and then a slight smile curled the corners of Kadaj’s lips. A mischievous gleam was all the warning Rufus had before Kadaj closed the distance between them and meshed their lips together.
Rufus froze in shock. Too soon! a doubtful voice in his head said, but he ignored it. Penelope had been right about Kadaj. She’d seen this coming, and she’d been right to warn him about it. Rufus was grateful now, because he’d had time to think about it, so he was prepared. He knew what he wanted, even if it was happening sooner than he’d thought it would. He cupped a hand behind Kadaj’s head and took control of the kiss.
Kadaj moaned softly as their lips parted and the kiss grew deeper. The younger man all but melted into Rufus’ embrace as their tongues mated. Rufus groaned softly as he broke the kiss and hugged Kadaj close. Gods, he wished he had more time! But there were things that needed to be done, and he really did want to take Kadaj to meet Sephiroth.
“Did I do something wrong?” Kadaj murmured.
“No,” Rufus said with a breathless laugh. “No, you did nothing wrong.”
“Then why did you stop?” Kadaj asked. He tilted his head back so he could look Rufus in the eye. “I . . .I thought that maybe you . . .” might like it. The words hung unspoken in the air between them.
Rufus kissed him hard in an effort to erase the doubt from Kadaj’s expression.
“You thought right,” Rufus told him. He kissed Kadaj’s temple and then rested his cheek against it. “We should take it slow, though, don’t you think? You have a lot to work through, Kadaj. I don’t want to make it more difficult for you. Relationships aren’t easy.”
“Nothing in my life has ever been easy,” Kadaj replied.
“I know,” Rufus said. He swallowed the sudden lump in his throat and hugged Kadaj closer. “I promised a friend I would help her move some things today. Will you come with me? Afterwards, we can go to the hospital.”
“Then he really is alive,” Kadaj whispered. Rufus felt a slight tremor in the body he held.
“Yes,” Rufus replied. “Do you still want to meet him?”
“Only if you come with me.”
“I was planning on it,” Rufus said. He pressed his lips against Kadaj’s temple again. “I told you, Kadaj. I’ve got your back. I’ll never let you fall.” And I will never let anyone hurt you or your brother again, he vowed silently.
*****
TBC
- 6
- 7
- 8
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