#ffvii x reader

You’d admittedly done poorly, and he’d ended up knocking you onto your back in the end. But it wasn’t entirely your fault. One too many intimate dreams about Sephiroth last night had led you to being distracted by every little thing he did today. Curse him and his ethereal beauty. 

You get yourself onto your feet, putting your weapon away and getting some water. Sephiroth watches you, like a feline stalking its prey, with those cyan, slitted eyes of his. You shiver under his intense gaze, knowing he’s about to interrogate you- find the cause of your absent concentration during today’s spar.

“You’ve been rather unfocused today. It’s unlike you,” he states, his tone mostly flat, with a hint of concern as he crosses his arms in front of his chest.

“I couldn’t sleep last night,” you say, not daring to elaborate beyond that. “I’m sorry.”

“Hm. Insomnia? Perhaps you need a medical exam.”

“No- I don’t think that’s necessary,” you say too quickly, and he raises a thin silver eyebrow in response. Shit.

“How come?”

“Just… personal things,” you bite your lip, crushing under the pressure of knowing he’s going to find the truth. He always does.

Sephiroth then says your name, taking a step closer to you. “…maybe I can assist. I’d like to help in any way I can, as your friend.”

There’s a gleam in his eyes that tells you he’s figured you out, but he wants you to be the one to say it. A shuddered breath leaves you, and you find yourself looking at your boots. “I was dreaming of you,” you confess. 

“Ah, I see,” he hums, creeping ever so closer. “Do elaborate.”

“You… were in my room,” you start, not missing the way Sephiroth removes a glove before placing his hand on your shoulder. “-With me.”

“And what were we doing?” He asks, sliding his hand over and up your neck to cup your cheek. 

“We… were on my bed,” you shiver, breathing staggering as he rubbed his thumb over your lips. “I was… on top of you.” 

“Oh?” 

“A-and. You were kinda… using me,” the imagery of your dream floods back into your mind. Your cheeks burn with shame as you think about it. “Like- you were grabbing my hips and forcing me to ride you…”

Sephiroth doesn’t say anything more, but his eyes tell you he wants you to keep talking. 

“And then you made me get on my knees… and threw me onto the bed after finishing on my breasts,” your voice trembles as you keep speaking. He’s not doing anything besides holding your face in his palm, and yet you can feel yourself growing more desperate by the second, clenching around nothing from within your shorts. 

“Sounds like quite the dream,” Sephiroth then says, removing his hand from your face. Pathetically, you lean forward to chase his touch, and he chuckles in return.

“You really are desperate,” he smirks. “It’s no wonder you did terribly during practice today. Perhaps… you’re in need of a punishment for your shortcomings?” 

You almost whine. “Yes- please.”

“Then go clean yourself up, and meet me back in my bedroom,” he instructs, sliding his glove back on. He leans down, angling his face to speak directly against your ear. “Wear the pair you bought for me,” he adds in a hushed voice, referring to the lingerie you’d purchased months ago, back when you’d first started this whole arrangement with Sephiroth.

You nod, maybe a bit too eagerly, and grab your belongings before dashing off to the first class’ living quarters. Sephiroth follows behind you, but seems more outwardly relaxed, patient. You are entirely the opposite- a complete mess.

Once you’re in your bedroom, you shower with inhumane speed, but still ensure you’re nice and clean for Sephiroth. You know he hates having filth touch his bed. Then, you dry yourself off and open your underwear drawer, pulling out one of the very few lingerie sets you own. This one’s his favorite, it’s black with little silver bows, to mirror him. Sliding it on, you look yourself over in the bathroom mirror, adding some slight touch ups to your general appearance, and then leave for his room. 

You move quickly through the living space, not wanting anyone else to see you heading into Sephiroth’s bedroom in nothing but a lacy bra and panties. Not that anyone is around at this hour anyway.

When you enter, he’s sitting on his bed, back facing you. His long hair has been washed and brushed clean, and he’s wearing nothing but his regular pants and boots. He looks over his shoulder, and smiles at you. “You look lovely,” he says.

You blush under his complimentary words, knowing you’re edging closer and closer to the line of being in love rather than just being his friend that he also has semi-frequent sex with. But perhaps you are already in love. You wouldn’t dare to let anybody else see you like this, nor treat you this way.

He stands up and approaches you, reaching around and behind you to lock the door. His chest is inches from meeting your face, and you nearly pass out, his skin still glistening from the shower he’d just taken, the smell of him intoxicating and heavenly. “There,” he says, as the door’s lock clicks into place. 

He pulls away, and his expression grows serious for a moment. “Tell me what you want- it seems you want me to be rough, but I don’t wish to break any boundaries.”

You nervously swallow. “I…do want you to be rough. I don’t care if it leaves marks on me. I… I want to be your ragdoll,” you clarify, struggling to make eye contact with him, his delicious chest and abs being so close to your eye level. 

“My ragdoll…” he echoes. “Alright. But you know you can tell me to stop at any time.”

“I know,” you say, finally smiling and looking at him. “But I want it… I want to be thrown around and at your mercy.”

With that, he leads you to his bed, and sits against his pillows. You take note that he’s allowing his boots on his bed, and you’re left confused.

“Shoes on the bed?” You question, standing at his side.

“Figured it won’t matter,” he mutters. “I’ll need to clean the bedding once I’m done with you anyway.”

A shiver travels down your spine, cunt clenching within your panties.

“Get on my lap,” he commands, and you obey without hesitation. 

You plant yourself on his thighs, able to feel his length growing harder from within his pants. Sephiroth presses a hand to your exposed back, pushing you forward and against him. You can feel every one of his muscles against your softer stomach, your chests pushing into one another’s. You feel like you’re floating, the proximity to him having a horrible effect on you. And then he begins to speak, that velvety voice of his making your heart flutter.

“I suppose I’ll take directions from your dream,” he says, “but before you ride me, we need to get you warmed up, don’t we?” 

You nod, squeezing your eyes shut as he slides you over to have one thigh between your legs, and he flexes the muscles within it, pressing up against your clothed cunt. 

“Hump me,” he demands.

You grip his arms and slide your hips forward, biting your lip. He continues flexing his thigh, pushing it up into you. Sliding your hips back, and then forward again, you sigh heavily, wishing there wasn’t any fabric between your cunt and his skin. 

Luckily, he comes to your aid.

“Stop,” he says, pulling you up onto your knees. Without another word, he hooks his fingers under your panties and pulls them down, maneuvering you to completely pull them off of your body. Once they’re off, he brings them to his face, breathing in your lingering scent. 

“I’ll be keeping these for now,” he casually says, setting them on his nightstand. You wonder what he plans on doing with them this time. You know he likes to wrap them around his cock and jerk himself off when he’s feeling lonely, or he’ll sometimes do the same when he wants to torture you by making you watch without being touched. 

You’re pulled from your thoughts when he presses your now exposed cunt back to his thigh, and forces you to keep grinding against him. You hum at the contact, feeling yourself growing wetter by the second. You’re certain there will be a trail of your juices left on his thigh once you finish with this. 

“So wet already,” he teases, removing one hand from your hips to instead slide it under your bra, groping one of your breasts. “So desperate for me.”

“Yes,” you hiss as your clit catches on his muscles flexing. “I want you in me. I wanna ride you, Seph… please fuck me.”

“Ready so soon? Well I don’t think I want to move on just yet,” he disagrees, pulling his hand out from your bra and instead pulling it down so your left breast spills out from it. He leans you back, giving himself enough room to angle his head so that he can take your nipple into his lips, his tongue swirling around the hardened bud. 

You whine, looking down and watching as silver hair takes up your entire vision. Sephiroth sucks on your breast, gently pulling your nipple between his teeth to stimulate it further. 

His hand that isn’t occupied with rolling your hips pulls your other breast free and he palms it, squeezing the mound of flesh in his hand before tweaking your other nipple between his thumb and index finger. You melt in his hold, squeezing your hands tightly into fists as it quickly starts to become too much. If he doesn’t stop, you’ll cum. 

Perhaps he can feel your cunt contracting on his thigh, because he abruptly pulls away, his lips leaving your breast with a loud ‘pop’. Saliva coats your skin, trickling down to your stomach. There’s vague bite marks surrounding your nipple, and your other breast is red from how hard he’d been fondling it. 

“Now I think we can move on,” he says, pushing you further down his lap so that he has enough space to undo his belts and unzip his pants, pulling his hardened cock out. His length is as beautiful as ever, as pale as the rest of his body with the tip red and leaking in contrast. He’s so big, and you wonder if you’ll ever get used to having that monster buried in your cunt. It sits stiffly, nearly touching his abs from how hard it is. “Touch me.”

You carefully bring a hand to his member, touching your index and middle finger to his head, gently tracing around it with your fingertips. His cock twitches beneath your touch. “Good,” he praises, “now wrap your hand around it.”

You do as he asks, wrapping your hand around the length, before slowly, tortuously sliding it up and down, squeezing him within your hand. Sephiroth hums, a sign he’s pleased by your actions. “Faster.”

You begin to jerk him, but that doesn’t last very long, as he suddenly snatches your wrist into his hand, pulling you away. “Careful. Don’t make me cum right away.”

“But you’ve always been able to go for multiple rounds-“

“I know. But I don’t want to cum just yet. I need to get inside of you, first.” 

Without warning, he lifts you up and aligns his cock with your throbbing pussy, sliding himself into you as he lowers you back into his lap. You cry out, feeling his length splitting you apart. Fuck, it’s so, so big…. You’ll never be able to get used to the stretch of fitting him inside. 

Once he’s bottomed out, he digs his fingers into your hips, and drags you over his cock, not pulling it out at all, simply rutting it against your walls for now. You squirm as you can feel it nearly rubbing at your cervix, and Sephiroth chuckles. “No matter how much you writhe… you won’t be getting away from me.”

You moan at his words, and then he lifts you up, shoving you back down and interrupting your moan as you instead cry out. He continues this motion, pulling you up by your hips before slamming your body back down onto his cock, fucking you like you’re his personal little toy. You don’t even know what to do with yourself, your hands forming into fists as you bring them to your chest, letting your head fall back the more he drags you over his cock. He grunts, reaching one hand up to pull your bra out of the way, allowing your breasts to bounce with the motions of him fucking you, all while still using his left hand to lift you. He’s so fucking strong, it’s almost terrifying; how he can so easily maneuver you. 

When his right hand returns to your hip, the motions of him thrusting your body get faster, harder. You whine and babble as he hits so deep inside your cunt, feeling like you’re going to be bruised on the inside from this alone. How are you going to manage surviving the rest of your evening with him? Because if you’re meant to be following your dream, that means he still has to-

He groans, leaning forward and burying his face into your neck. His cock twitches inside of you as warm ropes of his cum shoot up into you, coating your insides white. Your cunt naturally squeezes his length, milking him. But you still want more. 

His mouth is open against your neck, hot breath fanning against your skin. After a moment though, he pulls you off of him, watching with intrigued eyes as his cum begins to seep out from your hole and into his lap. And then, before you know it, you’re on your knees between his legs as he sits at the edge of the bed.

His cock still stands erected, reddened and leaking, but ready for more. You’re eager to take him in your mouth, but are stopped by his next words:

“Clean up your mess,” he demands, referring to the pools of cum on his clothed thighs. You don’t question it, and immediately dip your head, letting your tongue drag along the smooth fabric of his pants. You lap up every droplet of his cum, swallowing it down and licking your lips once finished. He gazes down at you, satisfaction and lust apparent in his eyes, pleased with how willing to obey his every word you are. 

“Good girl,” he hums, putting one hand on the back of your head, digging his fingers into your hair and pulling you closer to his cock. It presses against your cheek, warm and still a little wet from being inside of you. “Now you can have it.”

You open your mouth wide, using your dominant hand to help guide his tip into your mouth. It tastes of his cum mixed with your own juices. You swipe your tongue along the center of his head and he shudders, his grip on your hair tightening enough to make your head begin to ache. But you don’t complain, unhinging your jaw and taking more and more of his length into your mouth. It’s a struggle to fit all of him, as he’s already poking at your throat and you can’t possibly fit another inch in. You hold the remainder of it in your hand, keeping the other one anchored on his thigh. And then, he starts to push and pull on your head, fucking your throat.

“Mmph-“

You try your hardest not to gag, but it’s so, so difficult. He’s too big, too thick. You whine as he slides over your tongue, tip pressing back into your throat. The whole time, he’s grunting above you, breathing heavy and loud as he observes. You try to look up at him from your position, and his eyes squeeze shut, thin eyebrows knitting together as he moans. It’s one of the prettiest noises you’ve ever heard from him- and you cannot help but to hum in response.

Your noises cause vibrations over his cock, and he abruptly jerks his hips up. You instantly gag, saliva spilling from your lips as you cough on him. He yanks your head back, freeing your mouth. 

“Careful,” he teases, and you want to bite back, tell him it’s his fault you nearly choked on his cock- but you say nothing, still coughing and struggling to breathe. 

Before he resumes having you suck him off, he momentarily releases your hair and undoes your bra, throwing it to the side. Now you’re completely nude- and he still has his pants and boots on. The imbalance only turns you on even further.

You go back to swallowing down his cock, squeezing the base of it and fondling his balls to try and encourage him to cum. Your pussy feels so empty, and you’re growing more impatient by the second, ready to have him pin you down and fuck you hard. 

His hand runs soothingly through your hair, and he leans back onto one of his arms, enjoying every second of this. But his pleasure heightens, as he once again starts to orgasm. He hastily pulls out of your mouth, pulling you up by your hair to get your chest level with his length. Angling his cock with his left hand, Sephiroth spills onto your breasts, a healthy amount of cum dripping down, running over the curves of your chest and eventually leaking down to your stomach. 

“You look beautiful like this,” he sighs, gazing intensely at you. “If only I could keep you covered in my seed all the time… wouldn’t that be a sight?” 

You swoon at his words, despite them being so dirty and defiling. You’re pulled from your thoughts though, as he stands and lifts you up, throwing you down face first into the bed. 

You land with an ‘oof’, feeling his cum smear between your skin and the bed sheets. He was certainly right about them needing to be cleaned after your activities. 

You can hear him removing his shoes and pants, and try to glance back at him. All you catch is a glimpse of pale skin and muscle moving towards you, silver hair swaying as he leans over and pushes your head into the mattress. You feel his large hands on you, running over your hips and thighs. You wiggle against him, trying to raise your ass a little- perhaps to entice him into getting inside of you faster. But you’re quickly met with a loud slap as his palm lands against your ass, and you immediately stop the teasing. 

“Such pathetic actions,” he remarks, “you truly are desperate to have me inside of you.” 

“Please, Seph,” you whine, feeling him kneel over you. 

He slides his hands into place around your hips, pulling you up to be flesh with him. His cock sits between your legs, poking against your soaking wet folds. You can feel it throb and twitch against you, and fuck, you’re just so ready to be stuffed full of it.

“Please what?” He asks, stroking his palm over your ass and thigh, tapping his fingertips against your hip with his other hand. The feeling is electrifying. Everything about him is making you feral, entirely addicted to him. You need to be his, forever. 

“Please put your cock in me,” you say, almost crying beneath him. “Make me yours, I want it- want you, I need you, fuck- I… I love you,” you cry, voice rising to a desperate, completely unhinged level. 

The motions of his hands come to a pause, and you wonder if you’ve gone and ruined everything. But then you hear him chuckle, and your heart swells. 

“Alright,” he hums, and his left hand leaves your hip, taking his cock into it instead. He prods the tip against your clit, and you squirm again- but not for long.

The head of his length pokes past your folds, dipping into your tight hole. As it pushes further in, you almost scream, his cock completely tearing you apart at this angle. You can’t handle how huge he is, how it completely stretches you to your limits, his entire body enveloping you. He slides his whole length inside your cunt, burying himself to the hilt. His fat balls press against your skin, his thighs and stomach covering every inch of your back side. He could easily crush you- and you’d welcome it.

A hand caresses your stomach, feeling against your soft skin to find the shape of his cock, prominent and nearly poking through you from the size difference. He pushes his finger tips and palm against you, and you whimper, the pressure becoming overwhelming. 

“I hope you’re ready,” he whispers against your neck, pressing a kiss along your spine as his long hair cascades around your body.

“Yes,” you choke, tears forming in your eyes as you can barely take the anticipation any longer. 

He straightens his back, and without any further warning, pulls back before snapping his hips against you, shoving his cock back inside. It almost hurts, but you need more. He does it again, and again, slowly building up to a faster and harsher pace. Soon, he’s fully slamming himself against your body, cock head bullying against your cervix. His balls slap against you, wet, lewd noises filling the air. It’s so nasty, yet so intimate. You never want this to end. You want to stay here, below him, in his arms forever.

“What would everyone think,” he panted, continuing to thrust into you, “if they saw you like this? Being claimed and defiled into a sobbing mess by me? One of Shinra’s first class SOLDIERs… turned into nothing but a crying whore?”

Your cunt clenches at his words. Sephiroth never says things like that, and certainly doesn’t swear. So for him to call you a whore? You nearly cum from that alone.

Tears spill down your cheeks as he keeps fucking you, thick cock sliding in and out of your gummy walls. “And what if I were to breed with you?” He asks, a humored tone to his velvety voice, “what would they think then, seeing your belly swollen with my child?”

You almost scream, voice muffled only by the sheets that you grip onto. The imagery of his words is sending you over the edge, your pussy spasming as you gush around him, creaming on his cock. 

“Good girl,” he smiles, watching as your juices spill out from between your bodies. “You like that, hm? The idea of me impregnating you?”

When you don’t answer, nothing but weak sobs leaving your lips, he pushes himself all the way in, briefly pausing to smack your ass again. “Answer me.”

“Yes!” You cry, lifting your head up with what little strength is left in you. “I do like that- Sephiroth, I… please… I wanna be yours…”

“How endearing,” he comments, bending over you and completely swallowing your frame under his. “Perhaps I’ll have to indulge in your fantasies, one day.”

Maybe if you weren’t so completely fucked out, you’d question his words and ponder if he was admitting to returning your quickly spiraling feelings; as this was certainly the first time he’d said anything like this during sex. But instead you moaned into his bedsheets, drool dribbling down your chin.

Without any warning whatsoever, Sephiroth grabs you firmly and flips you onto your back, then resumes pounding into your fluttering hole. “I want to see your face when I cum,” he says, placing his thumb on your clit. “My pretty girl…”

You arch below him, reaching your hands up to hold onto his forearms. He rubs quick and light circles into your clit, and you writhe, incoherently moaning his name. He can barely keep up with his relentless pace at this point, his thrusts becoming slow and sloppy. His face contorts into an expression of intense pleasure, his pretty lips parting as a soft whine escapes him. And finally, he begins to come undone again. As hot white ropes of his seed pump into you, he collapses onto your smaller frame, wrapping his arms around you and pressing his whole weight against you, suffocating you. His hips shake and stutter against yours, emptying everything he has into your cunt. You cum again, holding him tightly and whispering his name as you both begin to come to a gradual stop.

You pant in each other's arms, embracing one another with a tightness that can only mean neither of you want to let the other go. As he catches his breath, Sephiroth peppers light kisses against your head, and you do the same to his neck.

You both lay there, basking in the heat of each other’s spent bodies- silent and serene. You can feel his cock softening inside of you, your juices and his cum beginning to spill out, pooling on the bedsheets. 

After a moment, he whispers your name, voice husky. But his tone is entirely different, more sincere and meek. 

“Hm?” You blink, so exhausted you barely hear him.

“Did you mean it? When you said you loved me?”

You breathe in his scent, taking a few deep breaths before replying.

“…yes,” you confess. 

He rolls onto his back, pulling you on top of him as he does so. Sephiroth gazes into your eyes, a loving look replacing the one of intense lust from moments ago. He brings one hand to your face, holding it just like he’d done hours ago, and drags his thumb over your soft skin as he admits;

“I… I feel the same.”

warnings: 18+ mdni, BIG FYI/DISCLAIMER timeline of events canon divergent, like almost completely unrelated to original story, ambiguous unspecified timeline, in my world aerith has many adventures with everyone before the…incident, sexual content, cursing, munch!cloud, miscommunication, slight angst

pairings: cloud strife x reader

a/n: pls enjoy, it’s taken me a while to feel well enough/cognitive enough to write bc I’ve been so exhausted! My requests are still open and I am so excited to write for more of you!!

•

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Cloud isn’t a man of very many words. At least not for a while.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ under the right circumstances one could have him chatting up a storm.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Whether it be about combat, an interesting fact, or just something he’s taken an interest in; if someone brought it up-he would start gabbing away.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ around you, he would freeze up though. Every time without fail, he couldn’t find a word to say to you.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ it wasn’t like he was terribly awkward with women, either. As long as he felt a sense of camaraderie and trust; he had his ways of showing affection.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ with Tifa, he was shy smiles, submissive protests, quiet yet playful jabs (they were the picture perfect representation of natural chemistry)

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ with Aerith, he held her intimately close to voice his concerns, comforted her when he noticed she was in distress, they shared even quieter secrets

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ with Yuffie, they would bicker just like siblings, laugh and joke around a little at the best and worst of times, he would even give her a soft scolding here and there

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ with you, nothing almost every time. Not the slightest crack of a smile, he hardly ever initiated conversation with you, his responses to your questions would be clipped and tense (things often felt awkward)

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ It was hard, but you learned not to take it personally. You weren’t exactly the friendliest person alive, you could handle a cold shoulder. You were happy with the occasional word and passing on of orders

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ you just thought…because you were part of the same team, had the same friends, shared the same moments that maybe

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ just maybe

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ he’d open up to you at least a little bit, maybe even crack a little smile or snort

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ it’s not like you expected to be the best of buds, but you were comrades

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ spilled the same blood, fought for the same cause, his enemies were yours

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ sure you weren’t as skilled as the others. They mainly relied on you for your book smarts, sneaking around, a quick fix out of a tense situation

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ you weren’t much for fighting, and often relied on snakelike ways to make your escape for the sake of self preservation.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Everyone agreed that you’d just slow them down if you engaged in any close combat. Plus, they could more than handle themselves with all of their combined experience (and muscle), the safest thing for you would be to make a clean break.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ you thought maybe Cloud didn’t engage with you the way he did with the others because of buried resentment. Maybe he thought you weren’t useful, didn’t risk enough for the team or the planet.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ Thoughts of self doubt, as well as not being good enough for the team often filled your head. They kept you up at night, which in turn made you work harder than usual the next few days without fail.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ your exhaustion began to show on your face, a tepid expression that held drawn-in wrinkled brows, a worried and sore bottom lip, and tense defensive shoulders. Your glasses could hardly hide your dark circles.

⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚ you appeared so disheveled and unapproachable one day, the girls had to take you aside on a quiet weekend morning.

“Is everything alright?” Aerith began, she led you to a couch in the back of a cheap, shady motel room they’d rented for a few days on a particularly lengthy outing. Your absent gaze met her own worried one, and you huffed out an unamused chuckle.

“I just haven’t been getting very much sleep lately.” You admitted, yet you kept the fact that it was because of a particular blond to yourself. You really didn’t want to be so dramatic about everything, but the anxiety of it all had you completely on edge.

Earlier in the morning, you saw him high five the team, (which was already rare, coming from him) after defeating a rather difficult enemy. You’d even stepped in, worried about everyone, and threw some crates as a distraction. Despite your extra effort, rather than touch you, he nodded his head in your general direction. And that was that.

Sure, it warmed you inside that he actually acknowledged you for once. Yet as the day dragged on you couldn’t help but let the fact that he didn’t want to touch you eat you up inside. Perhaps you gave off an odd smell, so he didn’t want to come close? Maybe he wasn’t fond of how grimy you always became after your escapades. All in all, you just felt defeated more than anything.

Your secret crush on him didn’t make anything better. Every word he said, you held onto like a vice. Every look he’d afford someone else, you chased. Every time he ignored you, you internalized it.

With a heavy sigh you took your glasses off. Your fingers rubbed your eyes, and then your temples.

“I probably just need some time to myself.” The girls looked at you, then at each other. It was written all over your face that you were sulking because of Cloud.

“Is it Cloud?” Jessie prodded, sitting next to you and laying her hand on your shoulder. “Y’know, I wouldn’t take that stuff to heart. He’s a big softie, I’m sure he’ll come around.”

There was a frustrated red tint that bloomed across your cheeks, and you abruptly stood up. “To you all maybe! You’ve been saying that for months now! I don’t even know what I’m doing wrong. I know I’m not good at combat like you guys are, I know I don’t bring a lot to the table, but I’m trying for fuck’s sake! At this point, I’m just done with it. He can do or not do whatever he wants. It’s childish of me to even want something like attention from Cloud fucking Strife. I feel slimy just thinking about pouting over this bullshit, I’m not a child!” Steam practically shot out of your ears, your face reddened with embarrassment at your outburst. You hated the sympathetic looks they all gave you in unison, you hated the nods as if they understood you. But most of all you hated that you couldn’t let it go, even if you shouted from the rooftops that you were done with holding out hope for Cloud. With an exasperated sigh, mainly in defeat, you brought your glasses back to your face. Carefully slid them in place, then opened your mouth. “I need some air, I’ll be fine.” As you pushed past your concerned friends and out of the seedy motel room, you let your lungs fully take in the outside air.

The smell was less than inviting, but at least there was a beach not too far away. A gentle breeze welcomed you on your trek to the deserted sandy shoreline. It was cool, comforting, and calming for your complicated emotions. You wished the raging sea inside of your heart was still and peaceful like the salty water before you. The feeling of dread that followed you. The anxiety that held space in the back of your mind. The fear that you weren’t good enough for your team. You were sick of it all.

And damn it, you were sick of Cloud’s constant rejection. Whatever calm you briefly felt, the further you walked along the quiet shoreline, the angrier you became.

In a small fit of rage, you kicked a pebble to the side and into the water next to you. You came across a beautiful, pearlescent shell, and crouched down to pick it up. You examined it, gripped it tightly, and lifted your arm to throw it into the water next. As your trembling fingers clutched it in the air, you couldn’t bring yourself to do it.

It was so beautiful, a fantastical shimmering blue that reminded you of Cloud’s captivating eyes. With a heavy sigh, you sat down, fully and brought your knees close to your chest, but still held the conch in the air. You wanted to throw it so bad, you were so tempted to. You just couldn’t, though. Your bottom lip trembled, because at the end of the day.

You weren’t tired of him. You could never be.

“Hey.” A slightly hesitant yet monotone voice called out to you in the dark of the night.

Your arm froze in place before you could bring it back down to you. Your entire body tensed up, because of course you recognized who it was. A warm fluttering began to patter in the pit of your stomach. You willed the butterflies away as best as you could, but that didn’t stop the heat that rose to your cheeks in their place. Your heart rattled inside of its cage, in fear or excitement, you weren’t quite sure.

There was rustling behind you, a shift in the sand as he took sure steps towards you. He approached you with not an ounce of hesitation. If you would just look behind you then maybe you’d see the determination painted across his usual scowl. He didn’t wait for a response, or acknowledgement; he knew that you heard him.

You brought your arm down slowly, and clutched the pretty shell to your chest. Your heart listened to the sea trapped inside of the conch, as your ears listened to Cloud get closer and closer. He didn’t mind that you weren’t turning towards him, he knew that whatever was about to happen would be entirely up to his next actions.

“I uh,” he stood beside you finally, and lowered himself to sit on the cold patch of sand next to you. You didn’t dare to look at him, because this was the closest he’d ever brought himself to you, and you didn’t want to mess anything up in case you were dreaming. The wind blew, and you could smell something so undeniably him mixed in with the salt in the water before the both of you. “It’s cold out tonight. You didn’t bring a jacket.”

“I don’t get cold very easily.” You replied, kicking yourself for even entertaining whatever it is he was trying to do. There was a brief pause, like he was contemplating something, before you felt warmth drape over your shoulders. It was a small, soft blanket that he’d brought with him from the motel. You looked at him then, and instantly regretted it.

His eyes were captivating, so dazzling that all of your anger melted away as you got lost in them. The heavy emotion wasn’t replaced by anything, the only thing it made room for was the sadness and longing that already occupied that same space. Your lip wobbled then, he stared at it as it did, then opened his mouth again.

“I think you’re important to the team.” That took your by surprise, and you stared at him in bewilderment as he continued, “You’re valuable in a lot of ways, I’m not good with words; but I know you work your ass off to pull your own weight. I didn’t realize that I came off as a dick this whole time.”

“Did Aerith or Tifa say something-”

“No, I heard you. I came by, to talk to you, and I heard you yelling.”

“I was yelling? Oh, jeez.” You sighed and knocked your forehead onto your knees. “Cloud, forget I said any of that. I didn’t mean for you to hear it.”

“I’m glad I heard it. I don’t like that I made you feel like shit.” He wished he could take a picture of you, or a video, because when your head turned to face him as it rested against your knees; he swore he saw a million stars. Swore that entire galaxies had to be held inside of those big, brilliant orbs, they were breathtakingly beautiful. This was why he couldn’t be around you, he felt like such an idiot. Couldn’t find the right words to say to you. In that moment though, he knew he couldn’t run from you. “And uh, good job with that distraction…earlier.”

“What are you playing at, Strife? Why are you out here? Why are you talking to me?” The tremble in your voice, the way your eyes were glossy with unshed tears, he wanted to reach out to you. Comfort you in any way he could.

“I’m a cowardly bastard that thought if I kept you at a distance, I wouldn’t make a fool of myself. I was wrong, I’m sorry.”

“What does that even mean?!” You felt more than frustrated as you watched him try to explain himself, the only thing that kept you sane was the tide that occasionally splashed against your covered feet.

“It means that I don’t know how to act when you’re around.”

“But why?”

“Fuck if I know!” You’d never heard him raise his voice like that, it took you by momentary surprise. You blinked at him owlishly, as warmth pooled in your stomach once more. Rather than those same butterflies, they were replaced by ticklish tingling that made your thighs clench together.

“Cloud, use your words. What could I have possibly done, to make you want to avoid me? Why do you avoid me? Do I smell bad? Am I ugly? I didn’t think you were so vain-”

“You’re beautiful! You don’t smell bad! I don’t know what this feeling is, I just.” It’s his turn to sigh, rub his eyes, and then stare off into the open water. “I think you make me nervous.”

“I…make you nervous?” You laughed, in complete disbelief. “Cloud, that’s ridiculous. How could I possibly make you nervous?”

“You’re just gonna gloss over the fact that I think you’re beautiful?”

“Is that what makes you nervous?”

“It could be.”

“Tell me, Cloud. Be honest with me.” You set the shell that had been held tight against your chest onto the ground next to you, and placed your hands at your sides. The noise from the tide flowing in and out calmed you finally, which gave you the confidence to say what you said next. “Does the idea of touching me repulse you? Do you hate working with me? It’s not that you’ve been a dick to me, but your cold attitude hurts Cloud. I think I’d rather you tell me off, and actually be mean to me than ignore me for months on end.”

“Nothin’ about you grosses me out. I just, I freeze up when you’re around. Figured, if you didn’t have expectations, didn’t seem to care, then I might as well just keep doin’ what I’ve been doin’. I didn’t think you’d take it personally. I didn’t even think you’d notice.”

“That’s such bullshit Cloud, there has to be something else going on. There has to be more to it.”

You didn’t realize it, not until he opened his mouth to speak again, that you were gradually moving closer as moments passed between the two of you. Both of you seemed to tune out everything around you, the sound of the waves, the fact that you were alone on that beach. You especially seemed to forget that you were hopelessly in love with the cold man before you. You were alone, in a secluded spot, with your unrequited love, having an actual conversation with him. Heated words, at that. As if time started again at the realization, your heart began to beat faster.

“I uh,” there he went again, with that little bit of hesitation from earlier, and you couldn’t stop your hand. It practically had a mind of its own as you reached out towards him, and carefully rubbed his shoulder in encouragement. “I think I have…feelings? For you?”

Your breath caught in your throat as he admired it, yet you couldn’t quite believe those words as they tripped out of his unsure mouth. Yeah, right. It’s not like you wanted to laugh at him, but you couldn’t help the unamused little snort that left you, he was just so clearly confused.

“Cloud, you don’t have to lie to me.”

“I’m not lyin’. When have I ever lied to any o’ you.” He didn’t sound angry, there was a solemnity that clung to his voice. A sincerity that was just so Cloud. “I didn’t realize my feelings until Jessie pointed it out a couple days ago. That’s why I went to your room tonight, I wanted to talk about it. ‘M not used to this kind of thing, but I figured that I could at least talk to you about it.”

“And that’s when you heard me?”

“Yeah.”

“Cloud I,” you squeezed his shoulder then, and smiled at him warmly. The hurt inside of you was still there, but you hoped he could make it up to you now that he was realizing his feelings. “I don’t really know what to say. I’ve liked you for a while, but being ignored hurt me.”

“How can I make it up to you?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe start with giving me a high five?” You took your hand away from his shoulder, and held it in front of you. Your manicured fingers wiggled in place as you waited for him to follow through, but it was half-hearted in case he really didn’t want to touch you.

His lips quirked just a bit as he lightly tapped his palm against yours, and you decided then that you could afford to be a little bold. He took the small step towards the skinship you’d been craving, it’d be fine if you clasped your fingers together. Right? So you did; weaved your small hand into his larger one, and then admired it as if you couldn’t believe that he let you do that.

“You really like me?” You asked, unsure if you should even bring it up for fear of him taking it back.

“Yeah, definitely.”

“Why ‘definitely’, when you weren’t sure earlier?”

“Dunno, I just know now. I like holding your hand.”

“Wanna hug?” Rather than answer you, he pulled you closer by your clasped hands, until you were practically touching noses with him. He let go of you, just to snake his arms around your middle and pull you flush against him. It felt heavenly, his firm yet somehow still soft, warm body against yours. You didn’t hesitate to wrap your arms around him, place your knees on either side of his hips, and bury your head into the juncture between his neck and shoulder. You fit like puzzle pieces. He nuzzled his face into your hair, and you sighed in contentment.

It didn’t do much to take away the ache that’d been trapped inside of you for months now, but it was certainly beginning to at least heal your doubts. There were birds that circled the sky, they chirped as they danced around each other. The conch that you desperately wanted to throw into the water, laid forgotten nearby.

You drew yourself back, just to look into those pretty mako-infused baby blues. He was so pretty, would he let you kiss him?

Almost like he could read your mind, he drew his face closer to yours. Your breaths mingled, your noises brushed against each other, and you licked your lips in anticipation. Finally, as you closed your eyes simultaneously, your lips locked in a sweet kiss. It was a tiny peck, but you’d remember it forever. The way that sparks practically flew behind your eyes. The way your fingers carded through his soft unruly hair. The way you gasped just slightly like you still couldn’t believe what was happening as it was happening. It was almost too much at once. Still, you deepened the kiss, tilted your head to the side as you moved your lips against his.

It was supposed to be something small, at least that’s what you told yourself, but it quickly began to heat up with every passing moment in his arms. You felt glued to each other, if one of you moved away the other followed in that same direction. All of your pent up desire for him poured into that kiss. His confused and clumsily inexperienced nature drove you further and further together. Your chest was pressed into him, your hands traveled from his hair just to wrap themselves around his shoulders and hold him in place.

The sound of the mesmerizing water was drowned out by soft noises and heavy panting. Each time you drew yourself away for a breath, he’d bring you back in for another intense kiss after a beat. It was almost sickening, how addicted you were becoming to just the sensation of his lips on yours.

All good things must come to an end, though. Because just as his hands wandered from your waist, and began to nervously explore the inside of your shirt. Just the brush of his gloved fingertips on your tummy, nothing too crazy. There was then the sound of hurried footsteps approaching and hushed yet tense whispering voices that followed them. You broke up, not that you wanted to; but you couldn’t let anyone see you like this. Out of respect for him, out of your own pride, and just because you didn’t even fully know what had just happened. How could you possibly explain that to anyone?

Your reluctance to let him go had him pulling you back just to kiss you one more time. All of the heat that was once there had dwindled into just a faint warm brush of his lips. His forehead knocked against yours as a frustrated and reluctant sigh escaped your bruised lips. The two of you finally pulled away, and sat next to each other like you hadn’t been sucking the soul from each other’s mouths. Just in time for your gaggle of girls to find the two of you.

You with that pretty blue conch as you twiddled with it in your hands, knees pulled to your chest just as before. Him with his legs kicked out, one hand suspiciously close to you, the other picking at something in the sand as he looked down at it. An awkward cough that he really didn’t mean to do brought a hesitant, breathless laugh up from your ticklish stomach.

“W-what’s so funny?” Aerith asked, as she finally approached the both of you. Tifa, Jessie, and Yuffie followed suit as the curious girl carefully eyed your appearance. It was clear to her that there was a shift in the once tense air between you. That something had happened in the short twenty minutes they’d left you alone. Cloud’s hair was mussed up just the slightest bit, there was sand on your reddened knees, and you were suspiciously out of breath. Not enough for anyone else to notice, but she prided herself in being extremely observant. She kept whatever she found to herself, feeling like she’d struck gold and wanted to keep it a secret just a little longer.

“Nothing, Cloud told me a joke before you guys showed up.” You replied, your voice was airy and dreamy. Nothing like they’d ever heard in his presence. Since when did either of you talk to one another? Jessie snorted like she couldn’t believe it, Cloud was hardly a comic.

“I’d like to hear this ‘joke’. Must’ve been a good one if it got you out of the dumps.” Jessie teased, she settled herself beside you, and rested her head on your shoulder as she wrapped her arms around your frame. She peaked over at Cloud, who was quieter than usual. His own dreamlike state not lost on her, she just couldn’t quite put her finger on why he was like that.

“It ain’t as funny if I gotta tell it twice.”

Tifa spotted the blanket that Cloud had brought out for you, discarded a small ways away. Crumpled, covered in sand.

“It’s quite chilly out, now. Why don’t we all head back, and get some shut eye? We have a lot of ground to cover tomorrow, we should all rest while we can.” She suggested, easily brushing off whatever suspicions she had in favor of making sure all of you got some proper sleep. Especially after the hectic day they’d already had.

Aerith piped up, “Yeah, let’s head back, I have some snacks we can share before bed!”

Just like that was all anyone needed to hear to get moving, everyone got up, dusted themselves off, and made their way back to the motel for the night. Neither you nor Cloud uttered a word to each other, or even spared a passing glance. Content with how things ended.

•

Or at least you were content, until you were tossing and turning in your uncomfortable bed. Lying awake, staring up at the ceiling as Aerith slept soundly beside you, without a single care. You wanted to talk to Cloud, thoughts of the nights previous events painted itself when you’d close your eyes. Just as you’d think you were finally going to get some rest, you’d remember the feeling of your body firmly pressed against his. Your lips sealed yet moving fluidly together. What would it be like if your tongues intermingled? If he’d kept his slow ascent up your shirt? If you applied just the tiniest bit of friction down below?

Your tossing and turning caused Aerith to shift in her sleep, and she groggily blinked as she turned to face you.

“Can’t sleep?”

“That would appear to be the case.” you sounded guilty, even though you weren’t even sure of what.

“A certain bird-brain on your mind?”

“Uh-”

“Why don’t ya go talk to ‘im?” She took the chance to scoot closer to you, your eyes widened as she clasped her hands around yours. Although she’d already been whispering, she somehow made her voice even smaller. She sounded as if she was scheming something. “Y’know he has his own room.”

“Aerith!” You whisper shouted, horrified at what she could be implying. “I-I don’t think I should go talk to him. We’ve hardly spoken this whole time, what could I possibly have to say to him?”

“You could talk about what happened at the beach.”

“Nothing happened at the beach.”

“You’re a terrible liar.” She smiled at you, then shifted to take a quick look around the dark motel room. On the other bed; Tifa and Yuffie slept soundly, across from your bed; Jessie lightly snored away on the couch. Arm rested on her stomach, legs kicked up and across it. “You should sneak out before anyone else wakes up. I won’t snitch on you.” As if to prove her point, she mimed zipping her lips, locking them, and throwing away the key. “It’s about time you guys kissed and made up.”

“Do you think that’s a good idea? I don’t want to make things awkward.”

“They were awkward before, I’m sure they’ll be awkward after. But don’t you wanna try to understand each other? It’s better to live with a little heartbreak than to not have taken that chance at all, right?”

You stared at her, then. Beautiful, soft, kind emerald green eyes that were filled with an emotion you couldn’t quite place. Truthfully, you wanted to see Cloud. Being around him was addicting in a sense. Even if he didn’t spare you a passing glance, you kept going back for more. Kept doing things to get him to notice you. Had you even properly told him off for that? Had you even painted a proper picture of everything that you’d been feeling since the moment you met him?

“What if he regrets what…happened? He’s had time to think.”

“Well, do you regret it?”

“Of course not!” Your voice rose in pitch at that, which caused Jessie to groan and turn over. Her back was facing you, but that didn’t stop the hammering in your heart. Your wide eyes stunned into place as you waited for her body to relax and her breathing to run even again. What were you even trying to hide? Why would it matter if any of them woke up? You were an adult, why did you feel so ashamed of everything?

“Then, regardless of how he feels, I’m sure it’ll all work out.”

Those words calmed your nerves just the littlest bit but it was enough, and you nodded your head assuredly. You felt a slight determination, and you quietly hyped yourself up as you carefully got up and out of the room. Aerith quietly cheered for you as you left. Her whispered woo’s and go get him brought a smile to your face while you closed the door behind you a quiet don’t be out too late followed you outside.

His room number was 20, on the floor directly above where you were staying.

Before you walked up the steps, you hopped in place and shook your hands at your sides to get the nerves out. “You can do this. You’re a smart, capable, attractive person. You got this.” Right as you were about to take a step forward and up the steps, you heard movement behind you.

“What are you doing?” That same cool and collected voice from earlier called out to you.

“C-Cloud!” You whipped around in surprise, and mortification. Had he heard all of that?

“‘S late, what are you doing out here?”

“I was gonna come…see you.” You admitted, with your head bent low and your voice hushed.

“Why?” He took a step closer, then another when you didn’t answer right away. “Everything alright?”

“I just missed you.” Your eyes widened at your slip up, you’d meant to say, “I mean! I mean I wanted to talk, about some stuff.” He acted like he didn’t hear that first part, and brushed past you.

“Okay.” Cloud made a vague motion to follow him, flicking his hand in the direction he was going in. You followed him up the steps, your heart began to beat rapidly the closer you got to his room. He smelled like he’d just showered, and while you looked at his back, your eyes trailing slowly up his figure; you took notice of his dampened shirt. The little droplets in his hair.

“What were you doing out?”

“Needed some air.”

“You could get sick, coming out here with wet hair.”

“It’s hot in my room. Was only out here a couple o’ minutes.”

You finally reached his room, he fumbled with the beaten up keycard before scanning it and opening his door for you. His expression was scarily blank, his steps were evenly paced behind you. You didn’t know if this was such a good idea anymore, but it was too late to worry about all of that now. How could you go back when you were finally seated on the edge of his bed? Having an impromptu stare down with him. Neither of you looked away from the other, even as minutes stretched by and no one said a word.

It was time to put your big girl panties on.

“I’ve liked you, since the moment I laid eyes on you. And grew to like you even more the longer I spent time with you. Despite your lack of enthusiasm to be around me, my weak heart just couldn’t help itself.”

“Listen, I-” you held your hand up, and shook your head before he could say anything. You had to get some things out, he could say his piece later.

“I really really like you, and it really really hurts me that you treated me so coldly because you didn’t know how to deal with your mutual attraction. It’s honestly super fucked up, the fact that I had to see you be chummy with literally anyone else but me.” Your voice trembled as you tried to keep the same confidence you came in with moving. But it was so hard when he looked like a kicked puppy as you continued to speak. “My brain is a mess right now, I don’t know if I believe you when you say you have feelings for me. But I’ll take your word for it. I know we k-kissed, but anything can happen in the heat of the moment. It will take a little while for me to fully trust you.”

“I understand.” There was a pause between you, rather than uncomfortable you felt your nerves finally calming down. Cloud took that moment to move from his spot against the wall across from you and take up a seat next to you on the bed. His body was rigid when he took his gloves off his motions were borderline robotic. He turned his head to face you, his puppy-like eyes instantly melted your heart. “I meant what I said, but I’ll do what I can to prove myself.”

“It isn’t about proving anything, I just want us to establish a solid line of trust. I want us to work on our honesty, and communication. I have to be every bit as involved in all of this as you do. If you even want to try anything with me.”

“What exactly would we try?”

“I don’t know, Cloud.” You sighed and took your glasses off to rub at your eyes. You weren’t frustrated you were just so mentally exhausted at that point that, and you felt your body finally succumbing to that same exhaustion. “We could try being friends?”

“I dunno if I can be friends with you after making out like that.”

“So you want to be my boyfriend or something?”

“Would you want that?”

“Maybe eventually.”

“Well, what’s a step below boyfriend and a step above friend?”

“I’m not sure there’s a word for that. But I’d be fine with something like that if you are.”

Cloud took a moment to contemplate your response. He wasn’t weighing his options, he didn’t actually have to think too hard about what he wanted. This situation was just something he wasn’t used to. Sure he got hit on quite a lot, maybe he had a few people that he could’ve been interested in had his life went in a different direction. There were hardly opportunities to date when you lived as a full time merc and a part time ‘eco-terrorist’. He knew that he would be alright with whatever you wanted, even if things went unlabeled or unspecified for a while. It’s not like he was itching for commitment, he just wanted to try things out with you at least. He figured it’d be nice to get to know you. Learn your likes and dislikes.

“Alright, why don’t we just see where things go? Nothin’ crazy, no pressure.”

“No strings?”

“Let’s not get too crazy.” You cracked a smile at that, finally feeling the tension in your shoulders dissipate as you worked things out with him. He honestly seemed pretty enthusiastic about whatever arrangement you’d come up with, even with all of its ambiguity. “And about what happened on the beach.”

“Cloud-”

“Stuff like that doesn’t need to be a thing, I wouldn’t wanna make you uncomfortable or upset you.”

“What if…I want us to do more of that? What if I liked it?”

“Yeah?” He leaned in, curious about the growing heat in your cheeks. It gave you whiplash with how the air could shift at the drop of a hat between you two. One moment, you’re having a serious conversation, the next you’re leaning in close with bated breaths and a longing stare. Was this how it would always be with Cloud?

Your life consisted of being able to predict things. You prided yourself in how capable you were at gauging the situation and responding accordingly. You couldn’t count the number of times you’d pulled everyone out of a sticky situation within a few short moments. You relied on numbers, facts, and your vast knowledge to get you by.

Cloud on the other hand? He was not something you could read. You couldn’t predict his next move, ever. That’s partially why you admired him so much. He relied on pure instinct and determination. He was sure of his skills, knew his limitations, but didn’t let things stop him or slow him down. Above all, he was extremely kind. To a fault, even.

This Cloud, the one before you, you didn’t recognize him. The way he looked at you made warmth bloom throughout your body. He was so close, you weren’t used to him being within your proximity. You weren’t used to watching the mako swirl in his eyes. You could count the freckles that scattered across his cheeks. His breath fanned across your face as he got closer to you. You found yourself welcoming the way he caged you in as you leaned back against the motel mattress.

He climbed over you, his shoulders were catlike as he peered down at you with a curious glint in his eyes.

“Yeah. We can do that, it’s a good way to get to know each other.”

“If you say so.”

“Y’gonna kiss me, Strife?”

“If you ask nicely.”

Your brows wrinkled, a bratty little pout began to form on your lips. “You’ve got me fucked up if you think I’m gon-”

Your eyes widened by surprise when he took those same pouting lips into a hungry kiss. It was clumsy, your teeth knocked together, but you returned it just as fiercely. Tried to match whatever tempo he was thinking up on the spot. Your nimble fingers found their way into his soft hair and you tugged at it gently. Your nails teasingly scraped at his scalp and he made a noise in the back of his throat.

It was slightly strangled which caused your thighs to clench together. Was this really happening? Were you actually making out with Cloud Strife again? He so clearly enjoyed being on top of you. You could tell by the way his hands trailed your ticklish sides and his ears burned in desperation and desire.

You tapped his shoulder when you felt his gloved hands creep under your shirt and graze the soft skin of your tummy. He pulled away, just enough for your noses to still be touching and his eyes peered at yours curiously.

“Take those off.” You pointed at the gloves that were held guiltily under your top, and he wasted no time to chuck them off and throw them behind him. You smiled then pulled him down for another heated kiss, this one deeper and sloppier. A string of saliva kept you connected when you’d pull away for air just to reel the both of you back in for more.

Your head was spinning in that dark, quiet room. Quiet save for the heavy panting and occasional noise that bubbled itself up from your lips every so often. There was shuffling outside of your door, people came and went from the outside of the motel. You were both too stuck in your own world to recognize anything going on. The building could catch fire and neither of you would notice.

Instead, you focused on his surprisingly soft yet calloused hands as they smoothed over your bare breasts under your comfortable top. While one curiously explored your chest, the other trailed down to squeeze at your thigh. Just to slide its way under your knee and hike your leg over his hip. Your bodies stuck together, his pelvis met your own and you sucked in a sharp breath at the contact. Something that could’ve been considered sweet and intimate naturally evolved into dirty grinding.

Cloud hadn’t done anything like this before, but considering his military background he’d heard enough locker room and barracks speak to know what goes on. The intimacy between two partners, man and woman or what have you; he’d heard countless gruesome recounting. Heard all of the nasty details, the experimentation, just how good it could feel if you had the right partner.

Not that he was ever that curious about all of that.

Not until he had you under him. Would you let him touch you like that? Would you want to experience more with him? If he thought of it hard enough, he was sure he could picture how delicious your reaction would be if he took it further. The way your cheeks would heat up. Your brows would pinch together. Your breath would turn even more ragged, even more unkempt. What would you do if his hands snuck their way towards your warm slick center-

You clenched your thighs around his hips as you felt his fingers lightly trace your covered sensitivity. Had he realized what he was even doing? With reluctance you pulled yourself away, desperately needing to see his face. You needed to see what expression he was making, ask him if he knew what he was about to get himself into. (If he pressed all the right buttons, the answer would be you.)

Your eyes widened when you saw just how dazed he appeared, your trembling lips were desperate to pull him back in and kiss him senselessly. He just looked so handsome, making a face you’d never seen before.

“This alright?” He asked, breathless as he continued to tickle that special place and simultaneously grind himself against it. He was out of his mind, he didn’t know what he was saying, or even what he was doing, but he couldn’t stop the words as they spilled from his lips. “Want me t’ touch you here?”

“Do you want to touch me?”

He looked at you then like you’d grown two heads. There you were, lips bruised, hair a mess, legs now spread. There he was, kiss bitten, drooling, rock hard. “Don’t be fuckin’ dense. Y’ want it or not?”

“Cloud,” you leaned further back just to bring your legs flush against the mattress, “I want it. Make a mess o’ me.”

“You’re in for it.”

For all the experience he lacked, he made up for in enthusiasm. His hands squeezed your thighs as he sat back, wanting to get a good look at the way you were laid out. Feel you for himself in a way he’d only dreamt of for the past months of knowing you. They were soft, plush, thick in his hands and he didn’t have to look to know he was so obviously hard. He glanced down, you were so wet that the grey shorts you were wearing darkened at the center. Dampened with your only growing arousal, desire painted itself across your half-lidded expression.

“Can I kiss it?”

You blinked at him, taken aback with his forward request. He sure didn’t beat around the bush.

“Y-yeah. Go for it.” He pulled your shorts down, around your ankles, before he finally slid them off. You watched his every move, your breath hitched when he grabbed your hips to pull you over his bent legs. He bent you at an angle that wasn’t too awkward or uncomfortable. Just enough for him to lift you the way he needed to. Finally, he pushed your black (soaking) panties to the side, brought you up to his face, met you halfway; and kissed your weeping flower.

Cloud had never had a pussy in his face before. As he continued to plant light kisses with a sprinkle of some deeper ones against yours; he quickly realized he’d been missing out. You tasted sweet (you quietly thanked your morning self for having a big bowl of fruit for breakfast) and a little bitter. Your arousal was thick, slippery, and a string of it followed his mouth when he’d pull away. All in all you’d never been so turned on, you quite liked the way he looked between your thighs.

“C-Cloud, ‘nuff o’ that, quit teasing me. Lick it, please.” Your breathy tone made his hips stutter against nothing, his grip tightened around your legs where he held you up. Your heavy breathing gradually filled the room, and a desperate cry broke free from your throat when he indulged your request.

Tasting you fully, swiping the thick pad of his tongue flat against you? He about died and went to heaven. His movements were slow at first, tasting you with a newfound curiosity. The way he slowly and experimentally explored your precious area made your breathing turn ragged. Up and down, top to bottom, slowly and deliberately. You couldn’t tell if he had come up for air even once, but you weren’t about to interrupt him. He could handle himself. (Admittedly if he died right there it’d be the only way he wanted to go, suffocated by your delicious dripping pussy.)

He decided that he could pick up the pace, he was unsatisfied with the lack of noise that came from you. Although it wasn’t because he wasn’t doing a good job, because it felt amazing; you were just insecure in the moment. Had enough headspace to cover your mouth and control whatever noises that practically begged to come out. He wanted to change that, needed to hear you to know that he was doing well.

He lowered your body, took note of the way your chest heaved and your face was flushed a deep rouge. He wanted to see you come undone, didn’t want it to just feel good, needed it to be better for you. You looked at him in confusion, as you’d been getting worked up while the time ticked away in that small room. If he kept that pace up you were sure to cum in no time.

He tapped you, motioned with his hand for you to scoot up the bed. As you slid your body up the scratchy sheets, he took his shirt off, then his pants. His heavy clothes thudded against the floor as he threw them to the side, and you took that opportunity to toss your own shirt off. He had to stop his eyes from bulging out of their sockets when he realized what you’d done. He wasn’t prepared to see your bare chest on display.

You laid back again, legs spread, hair fanned out against the surprisingly soft pillow under your head. A picture of angelic beauty, now tangible beneath his wandering hands. Pliant as he began to work you up, nimble trained fingers that caressed your seething body with such care. A gentleness you weren’t prepared for.

His inexperience definitely shown through in the way he hesitantly and somewhat clumsily brushed his hands over your sensitive breasts. A soft and quiet noise finally made itself heard in the dark room. Music to his ears. Cloud noticed that your panties were still on. Even though you weren’t completely bare, it somehow made him more excited. You were desirable in every sense of the word. Cute, comfortable cheeky panties, soaking wet, he needed to kiss what they so diligently kept hidden.

“Cloud,” your voice was somewhat breathy and hushed, “please, keep going. Touch me more, feels good.”

“Alright.” He laid flat on his stomach, right between your legs. At an agonizingly slow pace he teased your panties off. It felt like an eternity had passed when he finally exposed you to the brisk air that filled the empty room. Cloud snaked his arms around your thighs, and then wasted no time getting right into it.

His nose bumped against you, you felt the grazing of his teeth. He clearly didn’t know exactly what he was doing, but he’d heard enough locker room chatter to have at least an idea. Cloud figured a good place to start would be where you were the wettest. Where your sweet syrup trickled out, his tongue snaked its way inside.

The sensation was odd, it wasn’t that it stung; but feeling such a foreign stretch from his tongue took a little getting used to. It felt good, caused little bumps to ripple through your body. Your heaving chest caught his attention once again, a pretty blush broke out across it. He reached up, gently teased one of your breasts, and you finally let out a high pitched mewl.

He paused, then applied a little more pressure, massaged it and then tweaked your nipple. When he noticed the way you squeezed your eyes shut and bit your lip, he switched to give the same attention to the other one. Your thighs quivered in place, as little noises continued to spill from your glossed lips. Tried as you might, as he quickened his pace against your dripping pussy; it felt too good and you couldn’t hold back your noises any longer.

“S-shit, ‘s good!” You slurred out, hardly registering the fact that your hands began to tug at his silky blond hair. They raked against his scalp, bringing his own noises out and against your sensitive arousal.

“Y’like it?”

“Fucking love it, don’t stop.” You mewled and your hips began to move with him. A gradual push and pull that never fully let him leave you aching for too long.

Cloud was always the type of man that preferred to lead with his actions, rather than words. He was more than happy to express his desire and affection for you, cushioned between your two lovely thighs. You smelled floral, like whatever soap or oils you used daily. Tasted sweet like the fruity confections you couldn’t help but indulge in whenever you’d pass by a bakery. You felt like velvety soft petals or the freshest pillowy pastry as you stayed wrapped around his head and mushed against his face. Pudding? Ice cream? A sweet doughy bun? He wracked his brain for what he could possibly compare you to, but it was just so distinct and unique that it could only be described as you. A flavor he wanted to monopolize as well as continue to explore.

He hoped he wasn’t being too rough with you, he knew he was holding onto you with a deathlike grip. Surely you’d be bruised around your thighs, it’d be disappointing that he couldn’t see you in a bikini for a while. You wouldn’t mind in the slightest, though. It was only a proper trade off for the best head you could possibly receive.

Cloud wasn’t too hasty, but he drank you in like he couldn’t get enough. He was parched as he lapped at you just as a cat would lap up some cream. A soft flattened tongue that explored every ridge or fold that it could. Even if it didn’t feel good in that particular area, you moaned just as loudly because gods he made it feel good somehow. Your mind made the phantom-like sensation into reality. Just the sight of him, alone. Curiously licking the juncture between your thigh and pussy. Making a noise like he’d just tasted something positively delectable. You were falling for him all over again.

Despite how enthusiastic he’d been, he hadn’t paid much attention to your clit. It throbbed and ached for his touch but you didn’t know how to ask him to kiss it more. You felt awkward, and a little embarrassed to make demands, even if he was the one that wanted to do this in the first place. You also felt an odd pressure to keep going with the flow, considering it was his first time doing something like this. You wanted him to thoroughly enjoy himself, and not worry too much about how good it was.

His tongue started from your dripping hole, licking up whatever he could in the moment. If he stayed right there, he wouldn’t cover much area. He knew that it would be frustrating for you if he focused too long on one thing. But he was just so addicted to the sweet honey that was provided on tap for him.

He begrudgingly dragged his tongue away, flat with the slightest pressure just the way you liked. Up to the nub he’d been curious about, but felt a little intimidated by. Whenever he’d run his tongue over it lightly, you’d tense up and tighten your grip on his hair. It was clearly sensitive, he wasn’t sure how much he could do to it without hurting you.

He gently ran his tongue over it, made sure there was enough saliva to cushion his tastebuds against it even more. Just as he knew you would, you scraped your nails against his scalp, gripped his hair, and squeezed your thighs around him.

“Fuck, that good?” He asked, heaving in breaths as he looked up at you. Captivating mako that swam inside of an oceanic blue gaze. The prettiest eyes you’d ever had the pleasure of being lost in. You moaned out loud when he kept eye contact with you, and descended upon that sensitive little button again. Slow, calculated licks just to gauge your reaction. You were blushing so furiously, hair mussed up, tears in your eyes as you watched him. It felt like your lower tummy was burning, if he kept it up you were sure to cum all over him.

“So good, feels so good. Don’t stop, Cloud, give it to me.” You breathed out, airy and high pitched as you whined and writhed beneath him. “That’s my spot, kiss it more.”

“Whatever you want.” He kissed your clit, licked it, sucked on it, then kissed it again. You rocked against his face as he lapped at it slowly. He took the hint, experimentally licked it faster and your hips stuttered.

“Ah! Yes!” You cried out, gripping the sheets and his hair at the same time. Your body seemed to vibrate in place, jolted upwards involuntarily. He had to apply a little bit of force behind the way he caged you in with his arms to hold you in place. Against his face, around his head; he refused to let you move so much as an inch.

Cloud was all spit, tongue, and thrashing head movements as he got more engrossed in the feeling of you and the gradual increase in pitch of your noises. It was euphoric, he didn’t even need to touch himself to feel like he was getting off. The sensation of you moving across his tongue, the visual stimulation, your god damn noises. He could cum just from eating you.

He was beside himself, hardly registered that you were even talking to him as he intensified his ministrations. Back and forth, up and down, faster and faster, it was so wet that the sounds of you gushing over his tongue filled the room more than your noises did. You couldn’t even think of your slumbering friends in the room just below the bed you were laid out on. Not as you continued to cry out for him.

“Cloud, yes!”

“Right there!”

“Oh shit, I’m sensitive there!”

“Oh!”

“Mmm-!”

“Ah!”

“Ngh, don’t stop!”

“Feels so good, fuck!”

Each thing that came prattling out of your drooling maw only spurred him on. Blond featherlike hair, bounced and swayed as his head moved against your dripping essence. Just when you could catch your breath, he would kiss your clit then flatten his tongue against it. A soft, pillowy pressure, so wet and slippery and your grip tightened in his hair. He moaned into you. Punctuated each noise you made with a fat smooch right where you were most sensitive. He just had to make out with that little nub. It was all tongue, with a little teeth, frantic movements that had you panting loudly.

“Good?”

“The best, ngh..”

Smooch.

“Right here?”

“Right there, yes, ah!”

Smooch.

“Want more?”

“Fuuuck yes, gimme more!”

Smooch.

He just loved hearing you speak, your voice sounded strained, hoarse, strangled even and his poor cock was drooling in his undergarments. Your lower half spoke even louder as more of your arousal trickled out of you. Cloud could practically gulp you down, he loudly slurped, groaned, smacked his lips. He didn’t want this to end.

“Cloud, hold on, ’s a lot!” You held his hair firm, tugged on it just a bit. It wasn’t like you wanted him to stop, your stomach was just tingling dangerously at that point. Your clit throbbed as his tongue continued to caress it.. “Ease up, ‘imma cum if you go that hard!” Your lilted whine only had him sucking and licking with added vigor. “S-seriously I’m gonna-!”

“Then cum, I won’t stop ‘til you tell me to.”

That bastard knew you couldn’t tell him to stop. Not when you’d done this much, gone this far. You were drunk on the feeling of him and he could see it clear as day.

He continued at that erratic pace, licking, rubbing, sucking. His lips hypnotized you as that burning knot began to tighten right in the pit of your tummy. The ghost of one of his fingers traced your entrance as his mouth stayed glued to your little button. He tapped, gently dipped inside, a silent question that you answered by shifting your hips. His finger was swallowed up, eagerly and hungrily. He moaned out, a sound that had your head thrown back, eyes squeezed shut. Pretty cries that left your mouth to fill the heady motel room.

Your insides were just so tight, with his finger he could tell so clearly. He throbbed in his briefs, gentle bobbing that had beads of pre trickle and bloom against the fabric. He wanted to feel you, but held himself firm. This wasn’t about him, what he really needed was for you to cum all over him.

Even though it started off as an experimental, in and out motion while he rubbed his tongue up and down, things very quickly intensified. Cloud sped up his movements, used his free hand to help you rock against his face and into his touch. It was too much, you felt you’d burst at any minute. His pace was a little uneven, movements a bit too hasty, he just needed you to cum.

“I’m gonna…ngh….” You squeezed your eyes shut again, closed your legs around him as much as you could. With your back arched into the most pretty crescent, he played your body like a finely-tuned instrument. Added a second finger, and in response you squeezed him even tighter. Cloud nodded his head in encouragement, backed off to watch his fingers disappear in and out. He drove them in hard, and when he suckled on your clit once more, it drove you over the edge. “Oh, Cloud, I’m cumming!”

“That’s it.” He let you ride out the waves of your pleasure on his face. Lovingly caressed the tips of his fingers against that spongey spot inside of you that had you seeing an even brighter white. The stimulation became a little too much, and you pressed his forehead away from you. Tapped his bicep until he let you go with a loud huff of air. He needed to catch his breath, finally allowed himself to collapse next to you in exhaustion. While the both of you breathed heavily, with flushed cheeks, starry eyes, and red lips; you reached out for his hand.

It was timid, as if you were nervous to touch him. Nervous to crave his touch and presence, even after all that had went on that entire evening. He snorted, squeezed your hand tightly, then brought it up to his mouth. He affectionately kissed your hand, then rested it between the both of you again.

“Cloud, I can touch you if you wan-”

“Next time. I’m good right now.” He grimaced, shifted in his spot, then turned his head to the side. But you saw it, the way his ears bloomed such a beautiful rouge. He didn’t want you to know that he definitely came in his briefs while he fingered you.

“I really don’t mind helpi-”

“I’m tellin’ you that you really don’t gotta worry ‘bout me.” You nodded, not wanting to be too pushy. If he was good, then you were good.

“That felt really nice.” You said after a couple of beats.

“Glad to hear it.”

“Y’sure that was your first time doing that?”

“Pretty sure.”

There was a brief pause. It wasn’t awkward, neither of you had the brain power for conversation after all that. Your breaths were still breathy and hoarse, sweat slicked your foreheads. You both stared at the ceiling, and Cloud squeezed your hand.

“Just to be clear,” he started, he shifted on his side to look at you, “I won’t do this stuff with anyone else.”

Your heart stuttered, “Why’s that?”

“I’m serious ‘bout you.”

You grinned, uncharacteristically bashful despite still laying bare beside him. You didn’t need to respond to him. Regardless of how things would turn out in the future, because you were sure there were things the both of you needed to work on; you felt like everything would be okay.

Cloud was known for being a kind man, a hard-ass at times sure, but he was not dishonest. He was incredibly loyal. Devoted to a fault. You had to believe him when he said he was interested in you.

Some more time passed in comfortable silence. You’d moved up the bed, he’d shed his sullied clothes and joined you under his covers. You were laid against his chest, still in disbelief over the fact that he’d just eaten you within an inch of your life. Right as you were about to reach up, you caressed his cheek to bring him into a kiss your phone loudly pinged.

You reached over to where it was discarded, the bright screen almost blinding you as you opened the message.

Aerith: Listen girl, I’m happy for you; but pls get some rest. We gotta be up in three hours. :P xoxo

•

your walls flutter, happy to receive such a heaping offering of cock, and you hear a low hum from behind you— emanating from the depths of your mentor’s chest, and realize that he’s sealed his couplet to keep the moan from surfacing. even without attempting to look over your bare shoulder at him, you knew the sound well, and the visage that typically accompanies it. a knitting of thin, grey brows, and the little wrinkle that forms between them when he feels you clamp down on him just right. a rolling back of his olive gaze, the vertical slits blown out with lust until the pupils nearly overtake the entire iris. a tightening of his jaw muscles, and a bulging of the vein on his neck, so easily shrouded by silver tresses.

“Still so far from orgasming, yet you tighten around my cock as if you’re already begging for cum.” you can practically hear the subtle curve of Sephiroth’s mouth as he teases you, yet doesn’t move an inch out of position. flat footed and relaxed, with his hands not clinging to your hips, but still and straight at his sides. “What’s the matter? Just can’t help yourself?”

“Nn-nn…” you answer, unashamed of your eager reply. it was impossible to deny it anyways, what with the way you milked him now.

“The second you get my cock inside you, you forget all about pleasing yourself, no? Only servicing me matters?”

you nod, but the tepid pace, only what you could muster whilst also struggling to balance, was also frustrating you. of course, taking him fully to the hilt was pleasurable— to feel your lower tummy bulging in the shape of his cock when your netherlips kiss his base— but this speed was not nearly enough to make you cum. what you really wanted; nay, what you really needed to find fulfillment was the harsh grip of Sephiroth’s hands on your hips, the strength and quickness with which he typically fucked you, and the dizzying sensation of being tossed about a raging storm of his desire.

he would give you none of that today.

“P-please, Sephiroth… fuck, I need—“ your breath is ragged, your words threatening to tie your tongue into knots as you struggle through the plea, “I need it!”

he knew already what you were asking for, but he doesn’t reach for your hips. he does, however, shift behind you, but only to cross his massive arms over his broad chest, and with a tilt of his head, he taunts you once more. “You lost, 2nd Class.” he mutters. perhaps Sephiroth, who was also enjoying the tightness of your warm cunt, wanted to give in to your request and plow you silly, but he was showing restraint. even as his hips twitched, begging to boost your rhythm by beating themselves against your ass, he remains stoic. “You know the rules.”

you did, much to your own loathing. sparring with Sephiroth in the training room had rules. one such rule being that the loser ( you, more often than not ) would get no reward for their poor form.

your interior flutters and spasms around his thick, veiny cock, and Sephiroth allows a sigh to slip through his tiers, a sound of approval. “I’m going to cum, you know.” his rumbling baritone drops to a whisper as he leans close, one hand freeing itself and careening around your lower belly. it plants itself there, fingertips barely flicking and rubbing at your engorged button to coax a helpless mewl from your lips, and encourage your innards to tighten around him still. your head droops forward, chin tucked to your breasts.

“F-fuck—“

Face as empty as a blind man's eyes, he obeyed. He had gone through this and more as long as he can remember, a bird bred to fly with a string connecting it to the cage. Skin pure porcelain, tinted with blood beneath, lively for someone considered to be a walking weapon; more than most ‘ordinary’ humans who didn’t see further than their noses allowed. You wiped the little space on where his shoulder and arm met with an alcohol soaked cotton, sterilizing it before hovering the syringe on it. For a second, you hesitated— the very same hand that held his back and wiped his face is now injecting poison through him. What use was in repeating love vows to an angel at night only to pluck its feathers at day? He was pure, too pure for you or anyone. Lily stepped on and tarnished cruelly for its crime: existing.

Swiftly, you pierced the needle in him to its shaft, dense muscle sinking. His arm was sculpted, pallid lamina coffining the lanes of shy blue veins along. It never felt like a body; more of a marble veiled with silk. fingers atop his upper arm for support, touching him alluded to dallying something too precious to be carelessly swung around— he's a first class soldier, anything but fragile, yet your eyes caught another shade of him that longed to be ordinary.

“There…” you whispered. He rolled his dark leather sleeve back down, not bothering to wait for you to bandage it.

The silence lurked, out of mutual exhaustion. The cord was cut short as he asked, voice a purl of water “Did he ask you to do this?”

Your hand halted, the used syringe still in your fist, hovering above the trash can. You licked your front teeth, zipping your lips inside before answering with a small “Yes.” You heard him let out a jagged breath, halfway between a chuckle and a glum “He always sends the things I cannot strike down.”

Hojo warned you for a reason. ‘Attachment clouds judgment.’, he had repeated. back when your head was filled with all those rose-colored glasses, you didn't see what wrong have you committed by being close to someone as Sephiroth— You didn't care if you got hurt, but your foot dug too deep in the trap: If you love him stay by his side, If you decide to leave he'll be thrown under the guillotine of Shinra and SOLDIER, this time abandoned by his sole ‘support system’— You. If you left he got hurt, If you stay you'll hurt him yourself. The illusion of choice in its most perfect tableau.

Maybe you've been the Cerberus² guarding his heel, maiming and nailing him to the cross till he ascended all the way up to paradise; far cry from this planet, Hojo, SOLDIER and you. where he could be human at last, loved in a way you couldn't offer.

​¹ : Originating from Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy, the Übermensch (translated as "Overman" or "Superman") is the goal of humanity: a being who creates their own values and rises above the "herd" morality of the masses.

“Yes, of course it is, Sephy,” you huff, lifting your chin in the vanity’s reflection. “If I kiss you at the banquet, I don’t want the lipstick looking horrible on you.”

A sigh slips past his lips as you reach for another tube. His arms cross, eyes shutting in silent surrender to your antics. He had to admit that being here, in the privacy of your shared quarters, was far more tolerable than the Shinra banquet ahead.

A mako green eye peeks open, catching a glimpse of how the lipstick is dragged across your plush lips. Sephiroth’s eyebrow twitches with disappointment that, once again, his lips were not the lucky target of your kisses. However, he’s grateful that you were too focused on applying the pink hue instead of noticing the pink that also dusted his cheeks.

Was it normal to be aroused at the sight of his significant other doing mundane things like applying makeup?

Faint was the methodical grunt that sounded from him, shutting his eye once more and pondering his unusual arousal…

You think he’s distracted and consider it a good time to kiss him once more, eager to test this new shade. But just as you close in, his hand suddenly cups your jaw, fingers firm, guiding you into his kiss before you can react.

“I like this shade,” Sephiroth mutters, cat-like eyes honing in on the shape of your lips, how soft they feel as he smears the paint with his thumb. 

“Sephy! You ruined it.”