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Love Makes a Difference	By : Nakkinomiko Category: Final Fantasy VII > Yaoi - Male/Male > Cloud/Sephiroth Views: 2327 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII and all its characters are owned by SquareEnix. They aren't mine, and I make no money from this fic.

Chapter List
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- 2
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: I started writing this story LONG before Crisis Core was released for PSP, so there’s no Angeal or Genesis in this fic, sorry! It’s also AU since I’ve got Cloud assisting the General with his anger issues. :D I have to put an OOC warning on this one, too, because I was feeling inordinately sappy when I started this one and it shows in spots! That being said, I had a ridiculous amount of fun writing this first chapter...
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Chapter 1
“Oh, man, you are sooo drunk!” A fit of giggles followed that exclamation.
“Takes one to know one,” came the mumbled reply. “How many did I have, anyway?”
“Lost count at seven.”
“Shit.” Cloud paused and leaned up against a brick wall. He wasn’t entirely sure where he was, but he thought he might be somewhere near the apartment complex that housed most of the SOLDIER officers. He thought he recognized the drugstore on the opposite corner, but couldn’t be certain. He couldn’t get his eyes to focus long enough on the lit sign to read the words.
His friend and now commanding officer, Zack, tugged him away from the wall and wrapped a supporting arm around his waist. “Come on, SOLDIER. I know a place we can crash for the night. You’ll never make it all the way back to the barracks in this state.”
“Where we going?” Cloud felt a moment of nausea. It seemed as if the buildings were spinning around him. He closed his eyes, and the sensation only worsened. He opened his eyes and groaned. If he survived the rest of the evening, he would certainly never touch a drink again.
“To a friend’s,” Zack replied. “Hang in there, kid, we’re almost there.”
“Great,” Cloud grumbled. “This isn’t as much fun as you promised it would be.”
“But it’s tradition,” Zack said with a chuckle. He sounded suspiciously sober. “When you make it into the first-class rank of SOLDIER, you get drunk. Everyone does it.”
Cloud snorted in disbelief. “Right. I’ll bet you’re going to try and tell me that even the General did it.”
“He did,” Zack said with a grin. “I was there, you know. Hell, I’m the one that got him drunk.”
Cloud tried to imagine the cool and collected General in a drunken state and just couldn’t manage it. He doubted he could have done it sober, much less as drunk as he was. “You’re so full of shit, Zack.”
“And you’re amazingly talkative when you’re drunk. I wasn’t even aware you had more than twenty words in your vocabulary.”
“Fuck you,” Cloud grumbled.
Zack’s brows arched slightly and his evil grin made Cloud groan.
“You offering, Spike? I thought you were saving yourself for the Gen . . .”
“I will kill you if you finish that sentence,” Cloud hissed. He could feel a blush that had nothing to do with the alcohol in his system warming his cheeks.
Zack laughed hard. “You’ve got it so bad, kid.”
“Whatever,” Cloud grumbled. “Like he’d even give me the time of day.”
Cloud missed the mischievous sparkle in his friend’s eye. “You never know unless you try, kid.”
“Right,” Cloud snorted.
“What? I’m serious, man! You’re a SOLDIER first-class now! You get to eat in the same mess as he does now, and use the same gym . . .”
“I do?” Cloud drew up short, and instantly regretted the quick movement. He moaned as the world started to spin again.
“Yeah, you do . . . And are you okay?”
Cloud nearly shook his head, and then thought better of it. “No. I drank too much, Zack. I think I’m going to be sick. Are we almost there?”
Cloud felt Zack’s arm wrap a little tighter around him, and he leaned against the larger man’s frame.
“Nearly there,” Zack told him.
Cloud concentrated on walking for the next few blocks, and by the time Zack pulled him into an apartment building and into an elevator, he was really starting to feel ill.
“Oh, man, you don’t look so good,” Zack said when the elevator came to a stop.
“Don’t feel so good,” Cloud managed. The sudden jerking motion of the elevator stopping nearly made him puke right there. He took a slow breath and managed to keep the contents of his stomach down.
“We’re almost there, man, hang on.”
Cloud looked at his feet and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. Zack stopped outside a door and raised a hand to knock.
“Hope whoever this is likes you a lot,” Cloud managed. “It’s late, Zack.”
“You let me worry about that,” Zack said with a chuckle.
“Mm.” Cloud closed his eyes as another wave of nausea hit him. “Zack, I can’t hold it much longer,” he moaned. He heard the door open, but didn’t bother opening his eyes. He was afraid that if he did the spinning sensation in his head would get a lot worse, and he was so close to losing it already.
“Hi,” Zack said, presumably in greeting to whoever answered the door. There was no audible answer, but whoever it was must have given Zack a look. “Aw, come on, man, don’t look at me like that! You know my apartment doesn’t have a couch. I can’t very well make him sleep on the floor!”
A put-upon sigh emanated from the doorway, but the door was opened wider, and Zack hauled Cloud into the apartment.
“Um, Zack, the bathroom would be real good about now,” Cloud managed. He moaned piteously as his stomach suddenly heaved. A second pair of hands took his other arm, and he found himself quickly escorted to the bathroom.
He went to his knees before the pristine white toilet and was instantly sick.
“Easy, kid,” Zack soothed.
Cloud moaned again as his stomach clenched painfully. Tears filled his eyes as a third heave all but crippled him. He felt a cool washcloth land on the nape of his neck, and another was pressed against his forehead. He heaved again, and this time a pair of hands supported his shoulders to keep him from collapsing on his side.
“Easy,” a second voice soothed. “It will pass in a moment. Zack, get a pair of pajama bottoms out of my room. They’re in the bottom drawer.
“Yes, sir.” The sound of boots on carpeting followed Zack’s reply.
Cloud gave a relieved sigh as his stomach finally calmed, and he slid to the floor. He closed his eyes and pressed his cheek against the cool tiles.
“Do you have a name, SOLDIER?”
Cloud made a positive sound.
“Well, are you going to share it with me, or do I have to guess?” came the amused reply.
“Cloud Strife, SOLDIER First-Class,” Cloud croaked.
“Ah, I understand now,” the liquid tenor replied. It was a nice voice . . .cool and yet soothing at the same time. “You’re one of the new graduates, yes?”
Cloud made another positive sound, and then moaned as his stomach started to spasm again. Strong hands hauled him upwards so that he could, once again, retch into the toilet.
“How’s he doing?” Zack’s voice asked.
“Learning his first lesson as a SOLDIER first class rather well, I would think,” came the amused, if not dry, reply.
“Oh? And what would that be?”
“Never go drinking with you.”
“Oh, very funny,” Zack retorted. “Ha, ha, ha.”
“Never again,” Cloud murmured as he slumped to the tiles again. “When does the room stop spinning?” He pressed his cheek to the cool tiles again.
“Oh, my, he really is drunk,” the second voice said.
Cloud nodded, and instantly regretted it.
“Here we go again,” Zack said as he lifted Cloud up again.
It was dry heaves this time, and Cloud’s eyes were leaking tears by the time he was allowed to sink to the tiles again. His throat was raw and his stomach was almost one continuous cramp.
“Go get him some water, Zack,” the smooth voice commanded. “He’s going to have one hell of a hangover if we allow him to get dehydrated.”
“Be right back.”
Cloud kept his eyes closed and concentrated on taking slow, measured breaths. He felt the hands remove the washcloths and then the sound of running water. One of the washcloths returned and gently scrubbed away the sweat and vomit from his face.
“I trust you’ll never do this again,” the cool tenor queried.
“Not if I can help it,” Cloud rasped.
“Well, if you’ve learned after only one incident, then you will have done far better than I,” came the reply. “I actually allowed him to do this to me twice before I got smart.”
Cloud heard Zack chuckle, and then someone was helping him sit up. A cool glass was pressed into his hand. “Drink this, kid.”
“Slowly,” the second voice chimed.
Cloud lifted the glass and took a few measured sips. He waited a moment, and then took another. He heaved a slow sigh of relief when his stomach didn’t rebel.
“I think I’m done,” Cloud murmured. He raised his head slowly and finally opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Zack’s blue eyes watching him.
“Feeling better?” Zack asked.
“I think so,” Cloud murmured.
“He’d feel better if you’d give him room to breathe,” the second voice said drolly.
Cloud craned his head to the side, and froze. He blinked slowly as he locked gazes with cool, green eyes. Once his alcohol muddled brain had ascertained that they were, by far, the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen, it started to notice other things. Things like the waterfall of silver blonde hair that shone like silk in the bathroom’s bright lighting, the finely muscled chest that said hair was partially hiding, or the way the black cotton pajama bottoms the man was wearing clung to his muscular legs in all the right places.
“Cloud?” Zack sounded nervous.
Cloud’s eyes narrowed sharply, and he turned his head slowly to look at Zack.
“I. Am. Going. To. Kill. You.”
“Heh. . .I kind of thought that might be your reaction.”
“What were you thinking?” Cloud hissed sharply.
“He wasn’t of course,” Sephiroth said, helpfully.
Cloud closed his eyes and groaned. He was in Sephiroth’s bathroom. He was in Sephiroth’s bathroom and had just thrown up in front of the man. Five times. He wondered what floor they were on, and if it were high enough for him to commit suicide.
“I hate you,” Cloud said.   “I really hate you.”
“Now, come on!” Zack protested. “It was the closest place I could think of!”
Sephiroth’s silver brow arched into his hairline. “Your apartment is right next door.”
“Yours was closer to the elevator,” Zack returned stubbornly. “Besides, like I said, I don’t have a couch!”
“Fine,” Sephiroth said. He pointed a long, elegant finger at Cloud. “He can stay.” The finger moved towards Zack. “You can walk your lazy ass next door to your own apartment.”
“Fine,” Zack huffed. He all but stomped out of the bathroom and on through the apartment.
It wasn’t until Cloud heard the front door slam shut that he realized the reality of his situation.
He was alone. With Sephiroth. How many times had he thrown up in front of the man? The man that had at first been his idol, and then his crush? Cloud sank back down to the bathroom tiles and silently wished for a huge earthquake to open up the earth and swallow him. Anything had to be better than the immense embarrassment he was now feeling.
I really am going to kill Zack, Cloud thought with an internal groan. If I live through this.
“Would it make you feel any better if I told you I don’t think any less of you for this?”
Cloud shook his head slightly, his embarrassment rendering him mute. He heard Sephiroth move, and then he felt the weight of the man’s hand on the back of his head. Cloud wondered if the General noticed the audible hitch in his breath.
“With all due respect, Sir, this isn’t exactly how I imagined my first time meeting you,” Cloud finally managed.
“No, I imagine not.” The hand stroked through Cloud’s hair once before it was removed. “Do you think you can support yourself long enough for a shower? My experience with such things has taught me that a hot shower almost always makes me feel better.”
Cloud thought about it for a moment, and then gave a slow nod. He heard Sephiroth move, and a moment later the soft sound of a towel being placed on the edge of the sink, along with a pair of black pajama bottoms.
“I’ll pile some blankets and a pillow on the couch for you,” Sephiroth said. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yes, Sir.”
He heard the whisper-soft sound of Sephiroth’s feet padding across the tiles, and then the door clicked shut behind him. Cloud lay on the tile for a few minutes, trying to calm his racing heart. He was in Sephiroth’s apartment. Gods, what had Zack gotten him into? What could his friend have been thinking?   What did the General think of him now?
Cloud managed to haul himself off the floor and started the shower. It took him a few minutes to peel himself out of his dirty clothes, but he finally managed, and only got nauseous once. He actually moaned audibly as the hot water washed over him. He let it soak into his hair, his eyes closed. The heat felt good, and Sephiroth had been right--he was starting to feel much better, if not exhausted. He scrubbed his hair good, but wasn’t feeling quite brave enough to borrow the General’s shampoo, so he settled for just getting it wet. He stepped out of the shower ten minutes later and quickly toweled himself dry. He did his level best to not think about the fact that the pajama bottoms he pulled on belonged to Sephiroth. He used his fingers to comb some order into his damp hair, and then mustered the courage to venture out of the bathroom.
The hallway was dark, and the room directly across from the bedroom had its door tightly shut. Cloud imagined that was Sephiroth’s room, and he moved silently past it and towards the light at the end of the hall. The light was thrown by a single lamp, and revealed a living room that was somehow disappointing in how ordinary it looked. There was a TV and VCR in one corner, the couch, and a single over-stuffed chair. The only extraordinary thing in the room was the seven-foot sword hanging on display over the couch.
Masamune, Cloud thought with no little awe. His fingers fairly itched to reach out and touch the hilt, but he didn’t dare. He settled for just staring at it for several moments before he remembered that he was supposed to be sleeping. The couch had been transformed into a cocoon of blankets, and the pillow Sephiroth had left was thick and soft. Cloud gave a sigh of relief as he lay down and tucked the covers in around himself. It felt almost heavenly to be lying down. His ribs hurt from all the heaving, and now that the room wasn’t spinning, it felt good to close his eyes. He had enough presence of mind to reach over his head and snap the light off before succumbing to sleep.
*****
Morning brought blinding sunshine and a pounding headache. Cloud groaned as he rolled over, and then cursed sharply as he landed on the floor.   He lay there for a moment, trying to remember where he was, and why it was his head felt like his brain was trying to hammer its way out of his skull. It took him nearly ten whole minutes to piece together the memories, and once he finally had the whole picture, he groaned again. Gods, he really was going to kill Zack!
“Are you alive?”
Cloud pressed his cheek against the carpet and pulled a blanket over his head. Perhaps, if he hid long enough, Sephiroth would forget all about him and he could sneak out later, unseen . . .
“I’m making coffee,” Sephiroth’s cool, almost emotionless voice informed him.
Cloud sighed and folded the blanket back so he could look up at the man standing over him. Sephiroth was still in his pajama bottoms, and had slipped a black t-shirt on over his bare chest. His silver hair was tied in a tail at the nape of his neck, and his expressive lips were curled in what might have been a smirk. Gods, even first thing in the morning the man was just this side of god-like!
“Coffee sounds good,” Cloud finally managed. His own voice ripped through his pounding head and made him wince.
“Water first, I think,” Sephiroth said, matter-of-factly. “And aspirin.”
“Yes, sir. Definitely aspirin,” Cloud said. He slowly sat up and braced himself against the couch. The room spun momentarily, and for one, panicked moment, the thought he was going to vomit again. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. The feeling, thankfully, passed.
“Do you need help getting to your feet?” Sephiroth called from the kitchen.
“No, sir.” Cloud carefully maneuvered himself to his feet. He shuffled to the kitchen and sat down at the small table there. A glass of water and two aspirin were placed in front of him, and Cloud took them without looking up. He drank the whole glass of water before setting the glass on the table. An elegant hand removed the glass and replaced it with a steaming cup of coffee.
“Cream? Sugar?”
“No, sir,” Cloud murmured. He reached for the mug and wrapped his fingers around the warm ceramic. He started slightly as a blanket was draped around his naked shoulders. He finally looked up then, and found Sephiroth smirking at him.
“Was cold looking at you,” Sephiroth said drolly. “Would you like some breakfast?”
“Please don’t trouble yourself . . .”
“Cloud.” Sephiroth’s voice was quiet, but the underlying tone of command was unmistakable.
Cloud snapped his mouth shut so fast his teeth clicked.   “Sir?”
“I don’t believe I asked for your opinion on whether or not making breakfast was trouble . . .I asked if you would like some breakfast,” Sephiroth said. “So, would you?”
“Yes, sir.”
Sephiroth smirked and stalked over to the refrigerator. “I’m afraid I don’t have much. Eggs, toast,” he paused to open the crisper drawer, “and bacon. I wasn’t expecting a guest this morning.”
Cloud felt himself blushing.
“Don’t trouble yourself over it,” Sephiroth said with a dismissive wave of his hand. “I blame the whole thing on Zack, and I will get my revenge.”
“Stand in line,” Cloud muttered.
Sephiroth made an amused sound. “I concede. Your revenge definitely takes priority. It was cruel, getting you so very drunk and then dumping you in your crush’s apartment for the night.”
Cloud realized, belatedly, that his long silence after that remark was damning. His cheeks were so flushed they felt like they were on fire, and he abruptly stood from the table.
“I should be going,” he said quietly.
“Would you give yourself to me, if I asked it of you this very moment?”
Cloud froze. He locked gazes with Sephiroth. The General’s expression was unreadable as he waited for Cloud’s answer.   Cloud thought about it for a moment, and decided that the best way to answer that question was honestly, even if it meant his career as a SOLDIER came to an early end.
“No, sir.”
“And why not?”
“I have my pride, sir,” Cloud said quietly. He allowed himself a smile. “And while it would be tempting, I . . . I couldn’t sleep with anyone if it didn’t mean something--not even you, sir.”
“Sit down,” Sephiroth said.
“Sir?”
Sephiroth smiled. Not the cold smirk Cloud had seen so far, but an honest-to-god smile that reached Sephiroth’s green eyes and made them sparkle.
“That’s an order, Strife,” Sephiroth shot back.
Cloud sat instantly.
Sephiroth turned and cracked two eggs into a skillet. “How do you like your eggs?”
“Scrambled,” Cloud managed.
“Butter on your toast?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Sephiroth.”
“Sir?”
Sephiroth looked away from the stove long enough to arch a pale brow at him. “My name is Sephiroth, not ‘sir.’ We’re not on base.”
“Yes, sir . . .er, Sephiroth.” Cloud felt himself blushing again. He’d never felt more awkward in his life! Cloud stared at the table top, feeling as if his world had tilted on end. A few moments later a plate filled with eggs, toast and bacon was placed in front of him. He gasped when pale fingers slid beneath his chin and tilted his head upwards. Sephiroth’s green eyes were speculative as they looked down at him, and after a moment he released his hold and slid into the chair opposite Cloud’s.
“I’m just a person,” Sephiroth said quietly. “I eat, sleep, and make mistakes just like everyone else. Truth be told, I’m not a very nice person. Zack has tried this before, you know.”
“This?”
“Playing matchmaker,” Sephiroth said. He buttered his toast and then slid the butter dish towards Cloud. “Although, you are the first that has shown any measure of self-respect. Really, it’s the only reason you’re still sitting here.”
“He’s done this before?”
Sephiroth snorted. “Yes, but you’re the first he’s brought up here drunk.”
“It’s the only way he could’ve gotten me here,” Cloud said with a sigh. He took a knife and buttered his own toast.
“Afraid of me, are you?”
Cloud looked up, startled. “Um, I wouldn’t call it afraid. . .” Not unless they were counting fear of rejection, and he didn’t think that Sephiroth was being that specific.
“Shy?”
Cloud looked away and took a bite of his toast, aware that his cheeks were burning again. He could feel Sephiroth’s eyes on him.
“I suppose so,” Cloud finally managed. He chanced a glance upwards, and Sephiroth was gazing at him, his expression thoughtful.
“So Zack figured you needed some liquid courage,” Sephiroth mused. He took a bite of toast.
Cloud picked up his fork and started to shovel scrambled eggs into his mouth. He concentrated on eating for a few minutes, rather than the growing awkwardness of the situation. He found himself wishing that he’d never told Zack about his wish to get to know Sephiroth better. Cloud hadn’t realized that Zack was so close to the General.
“How long have you and Zack been friends?” Cloud asked, suddenly curious.
“I met him in Academy,” Sephiroth said with a shrug. “Most people were afraid to talk to me, but Zack. . .”
“Yeah, I know,” Cloud said, and he gave a snort of laughter.
“I suppose you do,” Sephiroth said with a smirk. “He means well, really, even if his methods are sometimes less than ethical.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think I would have made First Class without his help,” Cloud confessed. “I didn’t have a lot of self-confidence when I first joined the army.”
“Where are you from?”
“Nibelheim. I lived there with my mother,” Cloud said with a shrug. “She didn’t have money to send me to college, so the only way for me to get an education and a decent job was to join SOLDIER.”
“There’s no shame in that,” Sephiroth said. “It’s an honest living.”
“I don’t think mom was overly happy, but she didn’t argue with me about it,” Cloud said. “I guess I can understand--my father died when I was very young, and I’m sure she’s afraid that something will happen to me.”
“All mothers worry about their sons,” Sephiroth said. There was something wistful in his tone that gave Cloud pause.
“And your mother?” Cloud asked, almost fearfully.
Cloud detected a moment of anguish on those angelic features before it was schooled away beneath a cool façade.
“She died shortly after I was born,” Sephiroth said quietly.
Shit. “I’m sorry,” Cloud said, because he didn’t know what else to say.
“Don’t be,” Sephiroth said. “It was a long time ago, and you certainly had nothing to do with it.” Sephiroth sighed and pushed his half-eaten plate away.
Cloud quickly finished his breakfast in the silence that followed. “I should be going,” he said when he’d finished. “I . . . Thank you, Sephiroth.” He stumbled over the name, not feeling comfortable with the familiarity.
“You’re welcome, Cloud,” Sephiroth said.
Cloud went to the bathroom and quickly changed back into his clothes. He carried his boots to the living room and sat in the chair to pull them on. He could feel Sephiroth’s eyes on him as he laced the boots and tied them.
“I’m sure I will see you around,” Sephiroth said.
“Yes, sir,” Cloud said. He was opening the door to leave when Sephiroth’s voice made him pause.
“Cloud?”
“Sir?”
“You’re a First Class SOLDIER now,” Sephiroth said. “The only reason I out-rank you is because I am the General. No one would care or question were you to join Zack and me for lunch later today.”
Cloud felt his stomach give an odd little flip. “What time do you eat lunch?” He managed after a moment.
“Noon. Will you be there?”
Cloud wouldn’t let himself believe that it was hope he heard in Sephiroth’s tone.
“Yes, sir.” And with that, he slipped away.
*****
TBC
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Love Makes a Difference