Fic: After the World's End - Chapter 13
Title: After the World’s End
Chapter: 13/19
Author: xpaperplanex
Rating: NC-17 overall
Word Count: ~5100
Pairings: Sephiroth/Cloud
Genre: adventure, hurt/comfort, alpha/omega
Warnings: non-con
Chapter 1
Summary: Offered up as payment to an alpha for ridding the town of monsters, Cloud discovers that the outside world is vastly different than he expected, and that he could play a role in changing it.
Sephiroth never wanted to mate, preferring his independence as a SOLDIER that allows him to travel the world at his leisure. When he finds himself caring for a traumatized omega, however, his values start to shift.
***
Getting back to the cabin was an entirely different journey than the one they had taken to Midgar. The ship ride was pretty much the same, with the same noise, smells, and crowdedness. Cloud was more used to it, though, and it wasn't entirely because he had a mate now that he spent slightly less time hiding with the chocobos.
Once they passed Corel, however, things changed drastically. The chocobos could run easily through the snow, but every time he got down from Dancer, he was bogged down at least waist-deep in the stuff. He had always been cold in winter when he lived in Nibelheim, but he had never actually gone out in the snow. He was far more capable now, however, and even he was able to notice the difference it made.
Before he had been exhausted and sore by the end of each day, but now, even though it was a lot more difficult riding on his own and through the snow, he was able to help set up the camp and care for the chocobos every evening. Far more than the token efforts he had made at being useful before.
“Next time I have a choice between a tropical beach and a frozen cabin in the middle of nowhere,” he grumbled as he fought with the icy straps on Pippin’s pack saddle, “remind me to choose the beach.”
Sephiroth laughed while he started the fire. “And here I thought you were just romantic to the point of insanity.”
“Could well be.” He hauled the saddle off and dumped it with the others, then threw a thick blanket over the bird. “Good work today, Pippin. Sephiroth will get the fire going, and then you can have some nice warm mash.”
“You spoil them too much.”
“Maybe you don’t spoil them enough.” He brushed some snow off of Pippin’s face and scratched under his beak, then went to tend to the other two pack chocobos they had brought. The extra birds were necessary for all the supplies they had because it was winter, and they were also hauling a complicated assortment of poles and wires. The director of SOLDIER, an omega named Lazard, wanted Sephiroth to install some sort of antenna at the cabin so people staying there could contact them in Midgar.
Sephiroth often grumbled about how he spoiled the chocobos, but he never actually told him not to. Cloud also didn’t fail to notice how he kept their water warm by the fire and spent a few extra minutes making sure that they were settled comfortably before coming to bed.
“Is it too much for you?” Sephiroth asked as he curled around Cloud’s shivering body that night, warming him with his own body heat. “The cold?”
He shook his head, even as his teeth chattered loudly. “No. I mean, it’s cold, yeah, but it’s not too bad. I think I like travelling, even in winter, as long as I’ve got you to warm me up.” He wiggled a bit, then pressed his icy feet against Sephiroth’s legs. His mate hissed in displeasure, but didn’t pull away, and instead shifted so he could clamp them between his thighs.
“Good. We should get to the cabin by tomorrow afternoon, then I vote we stay until spring.”
“I’m glad it was summer when you found me.”
Sephiroth gave a loud sigh and kissed the top of his head. “You wouldn’t have survived the trip if it had been winter. I would have worked something else out.”
“I wouldn’t have?”
“Cloud …” Sephiroth squeezed him even closer and purred for a few minutes. “I said you were fine so you wouldn’t worry, but you were so unhealthy. Not just from the lack of nutrition, but you were touch-starved and …” He shook his head. “But you’re better now. So much better. And you’ll continue to get better.”
***
Sephiroth purred as they rode. He doubted that Cloud could even notice it through all his layers of winter clothes, but it didn’t matter. It was probably better that way, if he was being honest with himself. Cloud was busy looking at the scenery and chatting with the chocobos. There was no need to distract him from that. It wasn’t for Cloud’s sake that he was purring, after all.
He felt like a kid again: sitting in the hospital waiting room while his mother underwent more testing and treatments. He’d had a stuffed cactuar, and he would hug it and purr, trying to comfort himself. While logically he knew that Cloud was out of danger, saying out loud how bad it had been had him fighting to urge to curl up and cry, terrified of losing his mate. He was immensely grateful that Cloud had told him he didn’t want to try reversing his sterilization. Having natural children had never been something he’d placed much importance on, whereas having his mate healthy and safe had become paramount in his mind.
He did wonder if Cloud was beginning to pick up on his emotions and make conscious decisions about them. This was the first time he had asked to ride with Sephiroth the whole trip, obviously enjoying having his own mount. He had claimed it was because he was cold, but it was several degrees warmer today that it had been so far. If it had been on purpose, Sephiroth certainly appreciated the gesture, as well as the subtlety.
He chuckled to himself, thinking of how Rufus would occasionally barge into meetings, announcing to everyone that Tseng needed a hug, then proceed to sit in his lap while complaining about the time he was wasting. It had become more than an occasional thing as his pregnancy had progressed, and Sephiroth hadn't failed to see the relief in Tseng’s expression when he knew that his mate was well. He definitely understood it better now that he was mated himself, but the majority of SOLDIERs remained unmated, and he knew he’d be a laughing stock if Cloud pulled something like that with him.
There were no witnesses here, however, and he leaned down and kissed Cloud’s rosy cheek. “Thank you.”
Cloud tilted his head back and smiled up at him. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to let go of you just yet.”
“Good! I’m not moving over to a cold saddle when I’ve got a warm seat right here.”
He laughed and squeezed Cloud tightly. “We should get there soon. When we do, can you get a fire going in the stove in the cabin while I get the ‘bos settled? I promise I’ll make sure they’re comfortable and warm.”
“All right. As long as you promise.”
***
The cabin was surprisingly cozy in winter. The stove in the main room and fireplace in the bedroom kept it warm, and the root cellar had been fully stocked in the autumn, so their meals weren’t lacking at all. Sephiroth had been a bit skeptical of Cloud’s choice of destination at first, but the lazy days they spent cuddling in front of the fire, working on puzzles or playing games while sipping hot chocolate with no outside interruptions proved perfect for getting used to the mating bond and growing more comfortable with each other.
“I guess … you don’t need to scent mark me anymore, do you?”
Sephiroth looked up from his book to his mate, who was fidgeting nervously with the wooden chocobo he had insisted on bringing. He marked his spot and set the book aside. “I don’t need to, no. But would you like me to?”
Cloud glanced over at him, blushing shyly. “I liked it,” he whispered. “But … is it okay?”
“I liked it too.” Cloud had grown bolder in the weeks leading up to their mating, asking to be marked before he needed it and reciprocating touches, but that had stopped once they mated. Sephiroth had chalked it up first to the inconvenience the resulting mess would have been while they travelled, and then to him still being overwhelmed from the mating itself. He hadn’t considered that Cloud would think it wasn’t all right to continue as they had been now that it wasn’t technically necessary. “It’s perfectly okay if you still want to.”
“It is?”
“Of course it is. It’s something you’re comfortable with, and it makes both of us feel good, so why wouldn’t it be? Come here.” He held out his arms and Cloud set the chocobo aside, then curled up in them.
“I asked Reno, but he didn’t know if people still did it after they mate.”
Sephiroth stroked Cloud’s hair, then leaned down and kissed him gently. “It’s okay to want sex without a purpose. I know that needing to be scent marked makes a good excuse, but you don’t need an excuse to do something you want. I’m not going to push you, but going at your pace means that you have to accept that you have sexual needs and that it’s okay to fulfill them. If that means asking me to leave the room so you can masturbate-I know you brought your dildos-”
“Reno made me!”
“Good. So if you need privacy, or if you want me to scent mark you, or if you want to share some intimate touches while we cuddle, then you need to say so. Depriving yourself isn’t healthy.”
Cloud fell silent, resting his head on his chest with his eyes closed. “It’s scary,” he eventually said. “Just saying … it’s too embarrassing.”
Sephiroth closed his eyes as well and thought for a few moments. “Do you think you would feel comfortable saying no to me? If I initiated some intimacy, and you didn’t want it, would you be able to say no or push me away before you get scared? Or what if I just made some suggestions, instead of actually initiating?”
“Suggestions?”
“Mmm-hmm. For instance, I’m feeling a bit horny, as usual, and thinking about those dildos you brought got my imagination going. So I might say, ‘Cloud, do you want to play with one of your dildos together?’ And you could say, ‘nah, don’t feel like it,’ in which case I might decide to masturbate later, which I don’t mind doing at all. Or you could say ‘yes, that sounds like fun.’ Or maybe ask a question or make a suggestion of your own if you don’t like my idea and want to do something different.”
Cloud raised his head and stared at him with wide eyes. “Yes, that sounds like fun!”
He laughed and cupped Cloud’s chin, lifting it up so they could kiss. “Then let’s have some fun.”
Sephiroth took it slowly, as he always did, but it seemed to him that Cloud had probably been fighting his urges for a while now. It didn’t take long before their clothes were in a heap beside the couch, and they both looked over to the bedroom. He slipped his arm under Cloud’s ass and hoisted him up, carrying him over to the dresser where he was pretty sure the dildos were hidden.
“Which one do you want to play with?” he asked when he found the three boxes stashed between some sweaters.
“The-the one that vibrates.”
“Mmm, fancy. I like the colour of it. Matches your eyes.”
Cloud laughed and turned around to see. “I never noticed that.”
“Too busy having fun with it?” he teased as he sat on the bed and leaned against the headboard. He got Cloud turned around so he was leaning back against him, then turned the vibrator on at its lowest setting.
Cloud gave a soft moan as he ran the tip down his chest, then back up to circle his nipples. “I didn’t think to compare the colour of my sex toys to my eyes,” he protested mildly.
“I suppose that’s fair,” Sephiroth said as he kissed and nibbled at Cloud’s earlobe. “You probably don’t spend as much time thinking about how beautiful your eyes are as I do.”
Cloud’s legs shifted further and further apart as Sephiroth continued to tease him with the vibrator. When he slipped it between his legs and began to press it in, however, Cloud stiffened and shook his head. “No. No, I don’t want that.”
“Okay.” Sephiroth immediately pulled it out and turned it off. “Do you want to stop?”
He shook his head again and turned around to face him. “No, I …” He reached down and gave Sephiroth’s erection a gentle stroke. “I want you.”
The lust he had been holding back surged at those words, but he forced himself to maintain his control. “Are you sure?”
Cloud nodded and shifted forwards, straddling his lap. “Can I? Like this?”
“You can.” Sephiroth held Cloud steady as he raised himself up on his knees, then positioned his cock at his entrance. He couldn’t hold back his moan of satisfaction as his mate sank down onto him, enveloping him in his warmth. “You feel so good.”
Cloud hugged his shoulders tightly and his voice trembled slightly. “What do-how-”
“Try rolling your hips. Towards me, up just a tiny bit, and back. See if that feels nice.” Sephiroth placed his hands on Cloud’s slender hips and encouraged him to move in a gentle rocking motion. “That’s it. Just like that.”
Cloud learned quickly, and his movements grew more natural as he settled into the slow and steady rhythm that he always seemed to prefer. His breath came in short gasps and Sephiroth could feel his internal muscles twitching as his first peak rapidly approached. “Ah! It-I-”
Muscles clamped down on him as Cloud cried out, burying his face in his neck and hugging him like he was holding on for his life. When it passed, Cloud stilled and took several deep breaths.
“That’s hard work,” he commented.
Sephiroth couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you want to switch positions?” He was certain his mate wasn’t done yet. If that had been enough, he knew he would have come from it as well.
Cloud lifted his head up and nodded. “Can you-in that magazine-from behind?”
“I think that magazine was the best fucking thing I ever bought you.” Sephiroth kissed Cloud deeply as he lifted him off his lap, then placed him on his hands and knees on the bed. He got up on his knees behind him and stroked his back, letting him feel his erection pressed against his legs, but not putting it in yet. “Like this? Is it comfortable for you?”
Cloud gripped a pillow and nodded, craning his neck to look back at him. “Yes.” His eyes fluttered shut when Sephiroth pushed in and began to thrust gently. “Yes, yes, like that. I like it. I imagined-”
“What did you imagine?” His cock jerked eagerly at the thought of Cloud imagining them being together like this.
“I-I would be able to feel your hair on my back, and you’d hold me so carefully, and you’d say-you’d tell me-”
“What would I tell you? Would I tell you that it feels incredible being inside you?” Cloud nodded and squeezed his pillow tighter, working his hips to match Sephiroth’s movements as he picked up speed. Sephiroth leaned forwards to let his hair drape over Cloud’s back. “Would I tell you that I love you? And that you’re beautiful and perfect? That being your mate is better than I could have possibly imagined?”
“Yes,” Cloud hissed.
Sephiroth reached down and stroked Cloud’s erection, kissing between his shoulder blades and whispering in his ear until sweat was trickling down their bodies despite the frozen landscape outside. “Come for me, baby. You feel so good.”
Cloud bucked beneath him as he shot onto the blanket. His cries were muffled by the pillow. If they hadn’t been, Sephiroth was fairly certain that the chocobos would think they had been attacked. Sephiroth pulled out and flipped Cloud over. He spread his legs immediately, inviting Sephiroth back in, and wrapped them around his hips as he entered.
“It feels incredible inside you,” Sephiroth said between gasps for air. He slowed his thrusting again, letting Cloud feel his full length. “I love you. You’re beautiful, and you’re perfect, and being your mate is so much better than I could have possibly imagined.”
Cloud’s chest was heaving as well, but he managed to say, “I love-too.”
Sephiroth kept up the steady pace for as long as he could, not wanting it to ever end. But when Cloud’s moans grew desperate again, he couldn’t hold out any longer. He pulled Cloud into his arms and pressed his nose into his scent gland as ecstasy overwhelmed him and he released himself deep inside his mate.
“Do you want-” he gasped, struggling to get the words out. This was entirely the wrong order to be doing this in, but he had to ask before it was too late. “Me to scent mark?”
“No,” Cloud moaned. “Don’t stop.”
He groaned in relief and continued to rock his hips as Cloud quivered around him until he was completely soft. Only then did he allow himself to slip out. He collapsed beside Cloud and pulled him close. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Cloud’s voice was lazy and satisfied. “Saw stars.”
Sephiroth laughed, recalling his promise from when they agreed to mate.
“Better than in heat.”
“It was better for me too,” he said. “It’s better when you just want it and your body isn’t making you.”
Cloud nodded as he traced his finger over Sephiroth’s chest. “I think you were right. I wanted an excuse. Can my excuse be that I want it?”
“That’s the best excuse. It never gets old. And just so you know, I think you’re only afraid to say no in hypothetical situations.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that if people ask you what you’d do in a situation, you doubt yourself. But you didn’t hesitate to tell me no when you realized you didn’t want the vibrator. You told people no while you were dating. You spat in my face and screamed at me not to touch you when we met.”
Cloud stiffened. “I’m so sorry.”
“For what? That was so fucking brave of you, Cloud. You were terrified, but you did everything in your power to fight back, and that was damned impressive.”
“But I spat on you. And kicked you.”
“Got in a few good punches too. I deserved it. I didn’t have much in the way of options, but I intentionally let you believe that I was going to rape you. You have nothing to apologize for.”
Cloud gave a soft chuckle. “Well, I won’t do it again.”
“Oh good. It did hurt a rather lot. I won’t ever give you a reason to.”
Cloud yawned widely, but sat up and patted his shoulder. “Roll over.”
Curious, Sephiroth did so, and Cloud gathered up his hair. He felt him separate it into three sections, then begin to twist them together. “You can braid?”
“Umm, if watching you counts. I’ve never tried before though. It’ll probably be a mess.”
“I don’t braid it for fashion,” he said. Something about the gesture filled Sephiroth’s chest with warmth. It was a small thing, to be sure, but realizing that Cloud not only noticed how he braided his hair at night but also watched closely enough to try to learn how to do it for him made him feel so loved. He honestly did not care if it ended up a knotted mess in the morning as a result.
After a few false starts, Cloud got the braid worked to the end and reached for the hair tie that was on the bedside table. “Well, it was an attempt.”
“And it was very much appreciated.” Sephiroth rolled back over and wrapped his arms around Cloud when he lay down again. “Sleep well.”
“You too.” Cloud’s eyes drifted shut as soon as the blanket was tucked around him, and not even a minute later, he began purring softly.
The fire had burnt down to low coals, and Sephiroth was just drifting off with Cloud’s nude form still snuggled up in his arms when he heard something outside. He was instantly wide awake, and his arms tightened protectively as he listened carefully to what sounded like two or three chocobos walking, then he heard a male voice, though he couldn’t make out the words.
“Cloud.” He squeezed his mate’s shoulder and pressed his finger to his lips when he stirred. “Shh. There’s someone outside. Get your clothes on just in case while I go see what it is.”
Cloud nodded silently but looked scared.
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, and I’ll protect you, no matter what. I just don’t want you to be caught naked.” He kissed Cloud’s nose, then got out of bed and pulled on some pants while Cloud quickly found his clothes. “Stay here,” he whispered. “You’re safe.”
The people were definitely getting closer as he slipped into the dark kitchen and took Masamune off the weapon rack, unsheathing it silently.
“Shit, smoke. There’s someone here.”
“Good, that means it’ll be warm.”
Sephiroth frowned, feeling fairly sure he recognized the voices. He unbolted the door and pulled it open, then breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the approaching trio illuminated by moonlight reflecting off the snow.
“Everything’s fine, Cloud. You can go back to bed,” he shouted. “Fuck off, Genesis, I’m on my honeymoon.”
“Believe me, this wasn’t the plan.” His fellow SOLDIER dismounted his chocobo and began untying the ropes that attached what looked like a makeshift sled to the saddle. “Balls blue yet?”
“The state of my balls is none of your concern. What are you doing here?”
“Hey, Sephiroth. Sorry to disturb you, but mind if we stay the night?”
Sephiroth recognized the other two as Cid and Barret from the Turks, and he wondered what they were doing with Genesis. It didn’t seem like any of them actually cared what he answered, and Barret led the chocobos to the stable once they had finished untying the sled. He supposed he couldn’t actually turn them away. Lazard had given his permission for them to stay at the cabin, but it was still for anyone in Shinra to use when they needed it.
“We’ll leave it outside,” Genesis said quietly. “The cold … it’s better that way.”
“I’ll take the first shift,” Cid replied.
Sephiroth’s heart froze as they dragged the sled closer. Strapped to it was a human-sized wooden box. “Fuck …” he breathed, causing Genesis to glance up at him.
“Yeah, sorry. I was the closest unmated alpha, but it was too late by the time I got there.”
“Don’t tell Cloud,” was all he could bring himself to say.
***
There was definitely something going on. Sephiroth had come back to bed after a short while, telling him that it was just some people from Shinra who needed to stay the night. But when he lay down, he had hugged Cloud so tightly that he could barely breathe and purred nonstop until morning. He’d never seen Sephiroth so upset before.
Cloud didn’t know the two Turks who had arrived in the night, but he had gone on a few dates with Genesis, and he wasn’t acting like himself. He wondered briefly if he was angry because he had chosen Sephiroth, but didn’t really think that was it. He was friendly enough-all three of them were-but the conversation was strained and not even Sephiroth seemed willing to say more than a few words.
Even stranger was the fact that one of them was always outside. Cid wolfed down his breakfast, then went out so that Barret could come in and eat. He didn’t know what they were doing out there, but he wanted to find out. After finishing his own breakfast, Cloud waited until Sephiroth was busy in the kitchen and the others weren’t paying attention, then grabbed his coat and slipped outside.
He found Cid just around the corner of the cabin, sitting on a swept off bench and clutching a steaming thermos and a cigarette. If he had been judging by looks alone, he would have thought that both Cid and Barret were alphas. Cid was nearly as tall as Sephiroth, and he carried a spear that was as long as Masamune. Barret was even taller and solid muscle. He had lost an arm but replaced it with a gun that created bullets using the old materia technology that SOLDIERs sometimes used.
Cid glanced over at him, then went back to looking at a wooden box that they must have brought with them. “You ain’t supposed to be out here.”
“Why not?” Cloud asked.
“Because your alpha’s overprotective. Don’t take it personal. They all are. Can’t help themselves. Have a seat.” He held out the thermos when Cloud sat down next to him. “Tea?”
He took a sip and nearly spat it right back out. “That’s not tea!” he exclaimed, coughing.
Cid just chuckled softly and took the thermos back. “Whiskey makes it better.”
“Isn’t it a little early to be drinking?”
“Special occasion.”
Somehow he didn’t think it was a good special occasion. “Why’re you out here?”
Cid jerked his head at the box. “Don’t want him to be alone.”
“Him?” Cloud gulped and looked more closely at the box. “Is that …”
“Sorry,” the beta said quietly. “We tried. He didn’t die alone, at least.”
Cloud wasn’t sure how long he sat there, frozen, just staring at the box. No, not a box. A coffin. An omega’s coffin. After a while, he heard some talking around him, but he couldn’t pay attention to it. When he was scooped up into warm arms, he didn’t even think about it, just pressed his nose into Sephiroth’s mating bond and suddenly he was sobbing.
His chest was aching by the time he stopped crying, but his stethoscope was in his ears, and he was listening to the steady sound of his mate’s heartbeat. He didn’t move, but glanced around the room. Genesis’s sword and Cid’s spear were gone, as were the extra boots and coats by the door. They must have left, taking the omega with them.
“What was his name?” he asked hoarsely.
“Denzel.” Sephiroth wiped away some of his tears and handed him a tissue to blow his nose.
“What will happen to him?”
“He’ll be buried in Midgar. We have a cemetery there for omegas we couldn’t save.”
“Would you have brought me there?”
Sephiroth made a strange noise that sounded like it was half growl, half purr. “Yes,” he choked out.
He fell silent again, lost in his thoughts. He felt guilty. Why did he get to live while others died? Why did they have to die at all? Why did people get to treat them like their lives weren’t worth anything? “It’s not fair.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Why do we have to mate and alphas don’t?”
“For the same reason you have heats,” Sephiroth growled. “Because the monsters who made you didn’t want omegas to be able to refuse. You were just things to them. They wanted the strongest alphas to be able to breed with as many omegas as possible, but they couldn’t do that if the alphas also needed to mate. I know they called Meteor Fall a calamity, but personally, if it was intentional, I think whoever did it had the right idea. Shinra deserved to be destroyed.”
“I … I think so too.”
Sephiroth gave a big sigh and shifted down on the couch they were sitting on. There was a blanket sort of wrapped around him, and he straightened it out and tucked it up under his chin before kissing his forehead. “There’s a story-far more fiction than fact, I’m certain-but there’s a story that says that it was a SOLDIER who did it. He was the best SOLDIER they had made, and so naturally, Shinra wanted him to breed as much as possible. But he fell in love with an omega and let him reciprocate the mating bond. When the people in charge found out what he had done, they were furious. They had the omega killed, hoping it would negate the bond. Instead, it drove the SOLDIER insane, and he used an ancient power to summon a meteor to destroy the planet.
“He was stopped, of course, but it’s said that geostigma was his revenge from beyond the grave. And the reason why omegas didn’t get it was because he couldn’t bring himself to kill anyone who reminded him of his beloved mate.”
“But … if it had killed all the alphas, wouldn’t the omegas have died anyway? And wouldn’t a meteor falling on them kill them too?”
“And that’s where the story falls apart and why it’s best to stick to history books and science for facts, even if they’re not as romantic.”
Cloud felt himself smile. “I liked the story, though. Even if it doesn’t make sense.”
He lay quietly for a long time, thinking of how different things were now, and how far they still had to go. He thought of Reno-rescued by Vincent when he was just a baby from the people who were attempting to stone him and his mother to death. He thought of Denzel-cold in his coffin, but not alone anymore, and not forgotten. He thought of Cid and Barret-betas who had no reason to care, but had tried to save him anyway and were obviously grieving over the fact that they hadn’t. He thought of Genesis-willing to mate with a complete stranger to save his life. He thought of Sephiroth-luring monsters to a village so he could trick them into giving up their omega.
He thought of himself-lucky enough to have found a mate who loved and protected him. And he thought of all the other omegas out there who weren’t so lucky.
“Sephiroth, I want to help.”
“With what?”
“I want to be a Turk.”
“Okay. Tseng is in charge of hiring for the Turks, but if you’re willing to put the work in, I don’t see him refusing.”
“And I want to know how to protect myself so I can protect other people.”
Sephiroth just nodded. “Good. That’s a necessary part of being a Turk. You’d have formal training through them, but if you’d like, I can also train you.”
“With a sword?”
“That’s my specialty, but I can teach you the basics in other areas as well.”
He gave Sephiroth a tight squeeze. “I want to learn. I want to be somebody’s hero too.”
***
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A/N: There is a time skip after this chapter. Whee.
I hope everyone is safe and not going too stir crazy if you’re quarantined or able to be anti-social. Remember to change from your night pyjamas to your day pyjamas and brush your hair if it needs brushing. I’m doing well. I finished my replay of FF7 and now I’m sad. I hate it when games end. I will probably go back and see about killing Emerald and Ruby. I didn’t do it before because I didn’t want to be overpowered for the final fights. I was overpowered anyway. It was sad. Sorry, Sephiroth. You tried. In happier news, my spider friend, Chuck, turned out to be a Chuckette. She had babies and they’re sooo cute. I think I’ll move some of them outside when they’re a bit bigger though. Even I have a limit to how many room spiders I can tolerate.
I also wrote like 30,000 words of hot garbage that will never see the light of day. If anyone has any requests, prompts, ideas, etc. that they’d like me to write, I make no promises, but you never know. It would be nice to get some more writing done while I have the time.
Chapter: 13/19
Author: xpaperplanex
Rating: NC-17 overall
Word Count: ~5100
Pairings: Sephiroth/Cloud
Genre: adventure, hurt/comfort, alpha/omega
Warnings: non-con
Chapter 1
Summary: Offered up as payment to an alpha for ridding the town of monsters, Cloud discovers that the outside world is vastly different than he expected, and that he could play a role in changing it.
Sephiroth never wanted to mate, preferring his independence as a SOLDIER that allows him to travel the world at his leisure. When he finds himself caring for a traumatized omega, however, his values start to shift.
***
Getting back to the cabin was an entirely different journey than the one they had taken to Midgar. The ship ride was pretty much the same, with the same noise, smells, and crowdedness. Cloud was more used to it, though, and it wasn't entirely because he had a mate now that he spent slightly less time hiding with the chocobos.
Once they passed Corel, however, things changed drastically. The chocobos could run easily through the snow, but every time he got down from Dancer, he was bogged down at least waist-deep in the stuff. He had always been cold in winter when he lived in Nibelheim, but he had never actually gone out in the snow. He was far more capable now, however, and even he was able to notice the difference it made.
Before he had been exhausted and sore by the end of each day, but now, even though it was a lot more difficult riding on his own and through the snow, he was able to help set up the camp and care for the chocobos every evening. Far more than the token efforts he had made at being useful before.
“Next time I have a choice between a tropical beach and a frozen cabin in the middle of nowhere,” he grumbled as he fought with the icy straps on Pippin’s pack saddle, “remind me to choose the beach.”
Sephiroth laughed while he started the fire. “And here I thought you were just romantic to the point of insanity.”
“Could well be.” He hauled the saddle off and dumped it with the others, then threw a thick blanket over the bird. “Good work today, Pippin. Sephiroth will get the fire going, and then you can have some nice warm mash.”
“You spoil them too much.”
“Maybe you don’t spoil them enough.” He brushed some snow off of Pippin’s face and scratched under his beak, then went to tend to the other two pack chocobos they had brought. The extra birds were necessary for all the supplies they had because it was winter, and they were also hauling a complicated assortment of poles and wires. The director of SOLDIER, an omega named Lazard, wanted Sephiroth to install some sort of antenna at the cabin so people staying there could contact them in Midgar.
Sephiroth often grumbled about how he spoiled the chocobos, but he never actually told him not to. Cloud also didn’t fail to notice how he kept their water warm by the fire and spent a few extra minutes making sure that they were settled comfortably before coming to bed.
“Is it too much for you?” Sephiroth asked as he curled around Cloud’s shivering body that night, warming him with his own body heat. “The cold?”
He shook his head, even as his teeth chattered loudly. “No. I mean, it’s cold, yeah, but it’s not too bad. I think I like travelling, even in winter, as long as I’ve got you to warm me up.” He wiggled a bit, then pressed his icy feet against Sephiroth’s legs. His mate hissed in displeasure, but didn’t pull away, and instead shifted so he could clamp them between his thighs.
“Good. We should get to the cabin by tomorrow afternoon, then I vote we stay until spring.”
“I’m glad it was summer when you found me.”
Sephiroth gave a loud sigh and kissed the top of his head. “You wouldn’t have survived the trip if it had been winter. I would have worked something else out.”
“I wouldn’t have?”
“Cloud …” Sephiroth squeezed him even closer and purred for a few minutes. “I said you were fine so you wouldn’t worry, but you were so unhealthy. Not just from the lack of nutrition, but you were touch-starved and …” He shook his head. “But you’re better now. So much better. And you’ll continue to get better.”
***
Sephiroth purred as they rode. He doubted that Cloud could even notice it through all his layers of winter clothes, but it didn’t matter. It was probably better that way, if he was being honest with himself. Cloud was busy looking at the scenery and chatting with the chocobos. There was no need to distract him from that. It wasn’t for Cloud’s sake that he was purring, after all.
He felt like a kid again: sitting in the hospital waiting room while his mother underwent more testing and treatments. He’d had a stuffed cactuar, and he would hug it and purr, trying to comfort himself. While logically he knew that Cloud was out of danger, saying out loud how bad it had been had him fighting to urge to curl up and cry, terrified of losing his mate. He was immensely grateful that Cloud had told him he didn’t want to try reversing his sterilization. Having natural children had never been something he’d placed much importance on, whereas having his mate healthy and safe had become paramount in his mind.
He did wonder if Cloud was beginning to pick up on his emotions and make conscious decisions about them. This was the first time he had asked to ride with Sephiroth the whole trip, obviously enjoying having his own mount. He had claimed it was because he was cold, but it was several degrees warmer today that it had been so far. If it had been on purpose, Sephiroth certainly appreciated the gesture, as well as the subtlety.
He chuckled to himself, thinking of how Rufus would occasionally barge into meetings, announcing to everyone that Tseng needed a hug, then proceed to sit in his lap while complaining about the time he was wasting. It had become more than an occasional thing as his pregnancy had progressed, and Sephiroth hadn't failed to see the relief in Tseng’s expression when he knew that his mate was well. He definitely understood it better now that he was mated himself, but the majority of SOLDIERs remained unmated, and he knew he’d be a laughing stock if Cloud pulled something like that with him.
There were no witnesses here, however, and he leaned down and kissed Cloud’s rosy cheek. “Thank you.”
Cloud tilted his head back and smiled up at him. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to let go of you just yet.”
“Good! I’m not moving over to a cold saddle when I’ve got a warm seat right here.”
He laughed and squeezed Cloud tightly. “We should get there soon. When we do, can you get a fire going in the stove in the cabin while I get the ‘bos settled? I promise I’ll make sure they’re comfortable and warm.”
“All right. As long as you promise.”
***
The cabin was surprisingly cozy in winter. The stove in the main room and fireplace in the bedroom kept it warm, and the root cellar had been fully stocked in the autumn, so their meals weren’t lacking at all. Sephiroth had been a bit skeptical of Cloud’s choice of destination at first, but the lazy days they spent cuddling in front of the fire, working on puzzles or playing games while sipping hot chocolate with no outside interruptions proved perfect for getting used to the mating bond and growing more comfortable with each other.
“I guess … you don’t need to scent mark me anymore, do you?”
Sephiroth looked up from his book to his mate, who was fidgeting nervously with the wooden chocobo he had insisted on bringing. He marked his spot and set the book aside. “I don’t need to, no. But would you like me to?”
Cloud glanced over at him, blushing shyly. “I liked it,” he whispered. “But … is it okay?”
“I liked it too.” Cloud had grown bolder in the weeks leading up to their mating, asking to be marked before he needed it and reciprocating touches, but that had stopped once they mated. Sephiroth had chalked it up first to the inconvenience the resulting mess would have been while they travelled, and then to him still being overwhelmed from the mating itself. He hadn’t considered that Cloud would think it wasn’t all right to continue as they had been now that it wasn’t technically necessary. “It’s perfectly okay if you still want to.”
“It is?”
“Of course it is. It’s something you’re comfortable with, and it makes both of us feel good, so why wouldn’t it be? Come here.” He held out his arms and Cloud set the chocobo aside, then curled up in them.
“I asked Reno, but he didn’t know if people still did it after they mate.”
Sephiroth stroked Cloud’s hair, then leaned down and kissed him gently. “It’s okay to want sex without a purpose. I know that needing to be scent marked makes a good excuse, but you don’t need an excuse to do something you want. I’m not going to push you, but going at your pace means that you have to accept that you have sexual needs and that it’s okay to fulfill them. If that means asking me to leave the room so you can masturbate-I know you brought your dildos-”
“Reno made me!”
“Good. So if you need privacy, or if you want me to scent mark you, or if you want to share some intimate touches while we cuddle, then you need to say so. Depriving yourself isn’t healthy.”
Cloud fell silent, resting his head on his chest with his eyes closed. “It’s scary,” he eventually said. “Just saying … it’s too embarrassing.”
Sephiroth closed his eyes as well and thought for a few moments. “Do you think you would feel comfortable saying no to me? If I initiated some intimacy, and you didn’t want it, would you be able to say no or push me away before you get scared? Or what if I just made some suggestions, instead of actually initiating?”
“Suggestions?”
“Mmm-hmm. For instance, I’m feeling a bit horny, as usual, and thinking about those dildos you brought got my imagination going. So I might say, ‘Cloud, do you want to play with one of your dildos together?’ And you could say, ‘nah, don’t feel like it,’ in which case I might decide to masturbate later, which I don’t mind doing at all. Or you could say ‘yes, that sounds like fun.’ Or maybe ask a question or make a suggestion of your own if you don’t like my idea and want to do something different.”
Cloud raised his head and stared at him with wide eyes. “Yes, that sounds like fun!”
He laughed and cupped Cloud’s chin, lifting it up so they could kiss. “Then let’s have some fun.”
Sephiroth took it slowly, as he always did, but it seemed to him that Cloud had probably been fighting his urges for a while now. It didn’t take long before their clothes were in a heap beside the couch, and they both looked over to the bedroom. He slipped his arm under Cloud’s ass and hoisted him up, carrying him over to the dresser where he was pretty sure the dildos were hidden.
“Which one do you want to play with?” he asked when he found the three boxes stashed between some sweaters.
“The-the one that vibrates.”
“Mmm, fancy. I like the colour of it. Matches your eyes.”
Cloud laughed and turned around to see. “I never noticed that.”
“Too busy having fun with it?” he teased as he sat on the bed and leaned against the headboard. He got Cloud turned around so he was leaning back against him, then turned the vibrator on at its lowest setting.
Cloud gave a soft moan as he ran the tip down his chest, then back up to circle his nipples. “I didn’t think to compare the colour of my sex toys to my eyes,” he protested mildly.
“I suppose that’s fair,” Sephiroth said as he kissed and nibbled at Cloud’s earlobe. “You probably don’t spend as much time thinking about how beautiful your eyes are as I do.”
Cloud’s legs shifted further and further apart as Sephiroth continued to tease him with the vibrator. When he slipped it between his legs and began to press it in, however, Cloud stiffened and shook his head. “No. No, I don’t want that.”
“Okay.” Sephiroth immediately pulled it out and turned it off. “Do you want to stop?”
He shook his head again and turned around to face him. “No, I …” He reached down and gave Sephiroth’s erection a gentle stroke. “I want you.”
The lust he had been holding back surged at those words, but he forced himself to maintain his control. “Are you sure?”
Cloud nodded and shifted forwards, straddling his lap. “Can I? Like this?”
“You can.” Sephiroth held Cloud steady as he raised himself up on his knees, then positioned his cock at his entrance. He couldn’t hold back his moan of satisfaction as his mate sank down onto him, enveloping him in his warmth. “You feel so good.”
Cloud hugged his shoulders tightly and his voice trembled slightly. “What do-how-”
“Try rolling your hips. Towards me, up just a tiny bit, and back. See if that feels nice.” Sephiroth placed his hands on Cloud’s slender hips and encouraged him to move in a gentle rocking motion. “That’s it. Just like that.”
Cloud learned quickly, and his movements grew more natural as he settled into the slow and steady rhythm that he always seemed to prefer. His breath came in short gasps and Sephiroth could feel his internal muscles twitching as his first peak rapidly approached. “Ah! It-I-”
Muscles clamped down on him as Cloud cried out, burying his face in his neck and hugging him like he was holding on for his life. When it passed, Cloud stilled and took several deep breaths.
“That’s hard work,” he commented.
Sephiroth couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you want to switch positions?” He was certain his mate wasn’t done yet. If that had been enough, he knew he would have come from it as well.
Cloud lifted his head up and nodded. “Can you-in that magazine-from behind?”
“I think that magazine was the best fucking thing I ever bought you.” Sephiroth kissed Cloud deeply as he lifted him off his lap, then placed him on his hands and knees on the bed. He got up on his knees behind him and stroked his back, letting him feel his erection pressed against his legs, but not putting it in yet. “Like this? Is it comfortable for you?”
Cloud gripped a pillow and nodded, craning his neck to look back at him. “Yes.” His eyes fluttered shut when Sephiroth pushed in and began to thrust gently. “Yes, yes, like that. I like it. I imagined-”
“What did you imagine?” His cock jerked eagerly at the thought of Cloud imagining them being together like this.
“I-I would be able to feel your hair on my back, and you’d hold me so carefully, and you’d say-you’d tell me-”
“What would I tell you? Would I tell you that it feels incredible being inside you?” Cloud nodded and squeezed his pillow tighter, working his hips to match Sephiroth’s movements as he picked up speed. Sephiroth leaned forwards to let his hair drape over Cloud’s back. “Would I tell you that I love you? And that you’re beautiful and perfect? That being your mate is better than I could have possibly imagined?”
“Yes,” Cloud hissed.
Sephiroth reached down and stroked Cloud’s erection, kissing between his shoulder blades and whispering in his ear until sweat was trickling down their bodies despite the frozen landscape outside. “Come for me, baby. You feel so good.”
Cloud bucked beneath him as he shot onto the blanket. His cries were muffled by the pillow. If they hadn’t been, Sephiroth was fairly certain that the chocobos would think they had been attacked. Sephiroth pulled out and flipped Cloud over. He spread his legs immediately, inviting Sephiroth back in, and wrapped them around his hips as he entered.
“It feels incredible inside you,” Sephiroth said between gasps for air. He slowed his thrusting again, letting Cloud feel his full length. “I love you. You’re beautiful, and you’re perfect, and being your mate is so much better than I could have possibly imagined.”
Cloud’s chest was heaving as well, but he managed to say, “I love-too.”
Sephiroth kept up the steady pace for as long as he could, not wanting it to ever end. But when Cloud’s moans grew desperate again, he couldn’t hold out any longer. He pulled Cloud into his arms and pressed his nose into his scent gland as ecstasy overwhelmed him and he released himself deep inside his mate.
“Do you want-” he gasped, struggling to get the words out. This was entirely the wrong order to be doing this in, but he had to ask before it was too late. “Me to scent mark?”
“No,” Cloud moaned. “Don’t stop.”
He groaned in relief and continued to rock his hips as Cloud quivered around him until he was completely soft. Only then did he allow himself to slip out. He collapsed beside Cloud and pulled him close. “Are you okay?”
“Yes.” Cloud’s voice was lazy and satisfied. “Saw stars.”
Sephiroth laughed, recalling his promise from when they agreed to mate.
“Better than in heat.”
“It was better for me too,” he said. “It’s better when you just want it and your body isn’t making you.”
Cloud nodded as he traced his finger over Sephiroth’s chest. “I think you were right. I wanted an excuse. Can my excuse be that I want it?”
“That’s the best excuse. It never gets old. And just so you know, I think you’re only afraid to say no in hypothetical situations.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that if people ask you what you’d do in a situation, you doubt yourself. But you didn’t hesitate to tell me no when you realized you didn’t want the vibrator. You told people no while you were dating. You spat in my face and screamed at me not to touch you when we met.”
Cloud stiffened. “I’m so sorry.”
“For what? That was so fucking brave of you, Cloud. You were terrified, but you did everything in your power to fight back, and that was damned impressive.”
“But I spat on you. And kicked you.”
“Got in a few good punches too. I deserved it. I didn’t have much in the way of options, but I intentionally let you believe that I was going to rape you. You have nothing to apologize for.”
Cloud gave a soft chuckle. “Well, I won’t do it again.”
“Oh good. It did hurt a rather lot. I won’t ever give you a reason to.”
Cloud yawned widely, but sat up and patted his shoulder. “Roll over.”
Curious, Sephiroth did so, and Cloud gathered up his hair. He felt him separate it into three sections, then begin to twist them together. “You can braid?”
“Umm, if watching you counts. I’ve never tried before though. It’ll probably be a mess.”
“I don’t braid it for fashion,” he said. Something about the gesture filled Sephiroth’s chest with warmth. It was a small thing, to be sure, but realizing that Cloud not only noticed how he braided his hair at night but also watched closely enough to try to learn how to do it for him made him feel so loved. He honestly did not care if it ended up a knotted mess in the morning as a result.
After a few false starts, Cloud got the braid worked to the end and reached for the hair tie that was on the bedside table. “Well, it was an attempt.”
“And it was very much appreciated.” Sephiroth rolled back over and wrapped his arms around Cloud when he lay down again. “Sleep well.”
“You too.” Cloud’s eyes drifted shut as soon as the blanket was tucked around him, and not even a minute later, he began purring softly.
The fire had burnt down to low coals, and Sephiroth was just drifting off with Cloud’s nude form still snuggled up in his arms when he heard something outside. He was instantly wide awake, and his arms tightened protectively as he listened carefully to what sounded like two or three chocobos walking, then he heard a male voice, though he couldn’t make out the words.
“Cloud.” He squeezed his mate’s shoulder and pressed his finger to his lips when he stirred. “Shh. There’s someone outside. Get your clothes on just in case while I go see what it is.”
Cloud nodded silently but looked scared.
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about, and I’ll protect you, no matter what. I just don’t want you to be caught naked.” He kissed Cloud’s nose, then got out of bed and pulled on some pants while Cloud quickly found his clothes. “Stay here,” he whispered. “You’re safe.”
The people were definitely getting closer as he slipped into the dark kitchen and took Masamune off the weapon rack, unsheathing it silently.
“Shit, smoke. There’s someone here.”
“Good, that means it’ll be warm.”
Sephiroth frowned, feeling fairly sure he recognized the voices. He unbolted the door and pulled it open, then breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the approaching trio illuminated by moonlight reflecting off the snow.
“Everything’s fine, Cloud. You can go back to bed,” he shouted. “Fuck off, Genesis, I’m on my honeymoon.”
“Believe me, this wasn’t the plan.” His fellow SOLDIER dismounted his chocobo and began untying the ropes that attached what looked like a makeshift sled to the saddle. “Balls blue yet?”
“The state of my balls is none of your concern. What are you doing here?”
“Hey, Sephiroth. Sorry to disturb you, but mind if we stay the night?”
Sephiroth recognized the other two as Cid and Barret from the Turks, and he wondered what they were doing with Genesis. It didn’t seem like any of them actually cared what he answered, and Barret led the chocobos to the stable once they had finished untying the sled. He supposed he couldn’t actually turn them away. Lazard had given his permission for them to stay at the cabin, but it was still for anyone in Shinra to use when they needed it.
“We’ll leave it outside,” Genesis said quietly. “The cold … it’s better that way.”
“I’ll take the first shift,” Cid replied.
Sephiroth’s heart froze as they dragged the sled closer. Strapped to it was a human-sized wooden box. “Fuck …” he breathed, causing Genesis to glance up at him.
“Yeah, sorry. I was the closest unmated alpha, but it was too late by the time I got there.”
“Don’t tell Cloud,” was all he could bring himself to say.
***
There was definitely something going on. Sephiroth had come back to bed after a short while, telling him that it was just some people from Shinra who needed to stay the night. But when he lay down, he had hugged Cloud so tightly that he could barely breathe and purred nonstop until morning. He’d never seen Sephiroth so upset before.
Cloud didn’t know the two Turks who had arrived in the night, but he had gone on a few dates with Genesis, and he wasn’t acting like himself. He wondered briefly if he was angry because he had chosen Sephiroth, but didn’t really think that was it. He was friendly enough-all three of them were-but the conversation was strained and not even Sephiroth seemed willing to say more than a few words.
Even stranger was the fact that one of them was always outside. Cid wolfed down his breakfast, then went out so that Barret could come in and eat. He didn’t know what they were doing out there, but he wanted to find out. After finishing his own breakfast, Cloud waited until Sephiroth was busy in the kitchen and the others weren’t paying attention, then grabbed his coat and slipped outside.
He found Cid just around the corner of the cabin, sitting on a swept off bench and clutching a steaming thermos and a cigarette. If he had been judging by looks alone, he would have thought that both Cid and Barret were alphas. Cid was nearly as tall as Sephiroth, and he carried a spear that was as long as Masamune. Barret was even taller and solid muscle. He had lost an arm but replaced it with a gun that created bullets using the old materia technology that SOLDIERs sometimes used.
Cid glanced over at him, then went back to looking at a wooden box that they must have brought with them. “You ain’t supposed to be out here.”
“Why not?” Cloud asked.
“Because your alpha’s overprotective. Don’t take it personal. They all are. Can’t help themselves. Have a seat.” He held out the thermos when Cloud sat down next to him. “Tea?”
He took a sip and nearly spat it right back out. “That’s not tea!” he exclaimed, coughing.
Cid just chuckled softly and took the thermos back. “Whiskey makes it better.”
“Isn’t it a little early to be drinking?”
“Special occasion.”
Somehow he didn’t think it was a good special occasion. “Why’re you out here?”
Cid jerked his head at the box. “Don’t want him to be alone.”
“Him?” Cloud gulped and looked more closely at the box. “Is that …”
“Sorry,” the beta said quietly. “We tried. He didn’t die alone, at least.”
Cloud wasn’t sure how long he sat there, frozen, just staring at the box. No, not a box. A coffin. An omega’s coffin. After a while, he heard some talking around him, but he couldn’t pay attention to it. When he was scooped up into warm arms, he didn’t even think about it, just pressed his nose into Sephiroth’s mating bond and suddenly he was sobbing.
His chest was aching by the time he stopped crying, but his stethoscope was in his ears, and he was listening to the steady sound of his mate’s heartbeat. He didn’t move, but glanced around the room. Genesis’s sword and Cid’s spear were gone, as were the extra boots and coats by the door. They must have left, taking the omega with them.
“What was his name?” he asked hoarsely.
“Denzel.” Sephiroth wiped away some of his tears and handed him a tissue to blow his nose.
“What will happen to him?”
“He’ll be buried in Midgar. We have a cemetery there for omegas we couldn’t save.”
“Would you have brought me there?”
Sephiroth made a strange noise that sounded like it was half growl, half purr. “Yes,” he choked out.
He fell silent again, lost in his thoughts. He felt guilty. Why did he get to live while others died? Why did they have to die at all? Why did people get to treat them like their lives weren’t worth anything? “It’s not fair.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Why do we have to mate and alphas don’t?”
“For the same reason you have heats,” Sephiroth growled. “Because the monsters who made you didn’t want omegas to be able to refuse. You were just things to them. They wanted the strongest alphas to be able to breed with as many omegas as possible, but they couldn’t do that if the alphas also needed to mate. I know they called Meteor Fall a calamity, but personally, if it was intentional, I think whoever did it had the right idea. Shinra deserved to be destroyed.”
“I … I think so too.”
Sephiroth gave a big sigh and shifted down on the couch they were sitting on. There was a blanket sort of wrapped around him, and he straightened it out and tucked it up under his chin before kissing his forehead. “There’s a story-far more fiction than fact, I’m certain-but there’s a story that says that it was a SOLDIER who did it. He was the best SOLDIER they had made, and so naturally, Shinra wanted him to breed as much as possible. But he fell in love with an omega and let him reciprocate the mating bond. When the people in charge found out what he had done, they were furious. They had the omega killed, hoping it would negate the bond. Instead, it drove the SOLDIER insane, and he used an ancient power to summon a meteor to destroy the planet.
“He was stopped, of course, but it’s said that geostigma was his revenge from beyond the grave. And the reason why omegas didn’t get it was because he couldn’t bring himself to kill anyone who reminded him of his beloved mate.”
“But … if it had killed all the alphas, wouldn’t the omegas have died anyway? And wouldn’t a meteor falling on them kill them too?”
“And that’s where the story falls apart and why it’s best to stick to history books and science for facts, even if they’re not as romantic.”
Cloud felt himself smile. “I liked the story, though. Even if it doesn’t make sense.”
He lay quietly for a long time, thinking of how different things were now, and how far they still had to go. He thought of Reno-rescued by Vincent when he was just a baby from the people who were attempting to stone him and his mother to death. He thought of Denzel-cold in his coffin, but not alone anymore, and not forgotten. He thought of Cid and Barret-betas who had no reason to care, but had tried to save him anyway and were obviously grieving over the fact that they hadn’t. He thought of Genesis-willing to mate with a complete stranger to save his life. He thought of Sephiroth-luring monsters to a village so he could trick them into giving up their omega.
He thought of himself-lucky enough to have found a mate who loved and protected him. And he thought of all the other omegas out there who weren’t so lucky.
“Sephiroth, I want to help.”
“With what?”
“I want to be a Turk.”
“Okay. Tseng is in charge of hiring for the Turks, but if you’re willing to put the work in, I don’t see him refusing.”
“And I want to know how to protect myself so I can protect other people.”
Sephiroth just nodded. “Good. That’s a necessary part of being a Turk. You’d have formal training through them, but if you’d like, I can also train you.”
“With a sword?”
“That’s my specialty, but I can teach you the basics in other areas as well.”
He gave Sephiroth a tight squeeze. “I want to learn. I want to be somebody’s hero too.”
***
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A/N: There is a time skip after this chapter. Whee.
I hope everyone is safe and not going too stir crazy if you’re quarantined or able to be anti-social. Remember to change from your night pyjamas to your day pyjamas and brush your hair if it needs brushing. I’m doing well. I finished my replay of FF7 and now I’m sad. I hate it when games end. I will probably go back and see about killing Emerald and Ruby. I didn’t do it before because I didn’t want to be overpowered for the final fights. I was overpowered anyway. It was sad. Sorry, Sephiroth. You tried. In happier news, my spider friend, Chuck, turned out to be a Chuckette. She had babies and they’re sooo cute. I think I’ll move some of them outside when they’re a bit bigger though. Even I have a limit to how many room spiders I can tolerate.
I also wrote like 30,000 words of hot garbage that will never see the light of day. If anyone has any requests, prompts, ideas, etc. that they’d like me to write, I make no promises, but you never know. It would be nice to get some more writing done while I have the time.