[Final Fantasy VII] Il Sogno Galleggiante Part One

[grownupneko]

Title: Il Sogno Galleggiante
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Sephiroth/Cloud, Zack/Cloud
Genre: Historical/Romance
Warning: Badly abused Italian, OCs, Assassin's Creed cameos, graphic sex and all that good stuff.
Chapter: 1/1
Comments: Conte Sephiroth holds extravagant parties in the floating world of Venice, however, this attracts all kinds of scoundrels, including a group of thieves led by Cloud Strife. Can Cloud resist the decadent nature of the Conte's lifestyle and remember his goal?


Il Sogno Galleggiate

I

The night was oppressively humid, and the many canals of Venice were lined with ladies fanning themselves in the heat. Their corseted bodies sweating just as badly as any paupers in the poor quarters. Cloud walked through them, relieving them of their purses as he stopped to flirt. It was easy game, and they would be distracted by his serious tone and false-shyness enough that he probably could have stolen their petticoats without them noticing.

It helped that he was dressed as a respectable gentleman. He was sweating under the wig he'd been forced to wear, but no one seemed to care. He applied a little more powder to his face in an attempt to look like he cared about his appearance before his eyes drifted to the boat that he was attempting to weave his way towards.

His target was the man on the boat. He had long silver hair tied back in a plait down his back and a mask covering the top half of his face. He sat on the throne in the centre of the boat, watching the party disinterestedly, his legs crossed and his chin in his hands. He was Conte Sephiroth, one of the most powerful men in Venice.

Cloud saw that Zack had managed to get himself distracted by the buffet already. Truly, the decadence of Venice rubbed off on Zack all too easily. He was happily being fed by the serving girl, swilling it down with more wine that Cloud had agreed he could have. The other's make-up was coming off, revealing his common tanned skin underneath. Cloud sighed and decided if Zack got found out he'd deny all knowledge of him.

“Oh, excuse me sir,” a girl said as she bumped into him. He bowed to her silently. She turned pink, her beautiful dark eyes obviously only just taking in his appearance. He noticed that she had rather large... assets... that were tightly bound into a corset. He also noticed that she wore the crest of an influential family on her kerchief, which was hanging in her hand where she'd been dabbing sweat from her chest.

“Cresenzo De Luca,” Cloud introduced himself with his rich man alias. The girl blushed.

“Signore, it is hardly appropriate for us to be introduced this way! I should have someone known to me do it!” she protested, fanning herself with bright eyes. Cloud nodded and bowed to her.

“I suggest you find a man who could introduce us in the proper manner than,” he suggested. The girl nodded and, as planned, her eyes turned to the boat where the important guests were. She began to walk, Cloud following behind her at such a way that it made it at least seem somewhat proper. He boarded the boat in time to hear her asking her father to introduce her to the 'charming signore who all the ladies were saying was a rich countryman'.

Cloud took his opportunity to check out the structure of the boat. It seemed pretty stable for all intents and purposes, but also it only had one way to get below deck meaning anything stolen would have to be done covertly and someone would need to check the entrance.

“Signore.”

He turned, seeing the girl's father flanked by his target. Both were wearing masks and Cloud felt suddenly underdressed without one. He bowed deeply.

“Sindaco Lockhart,” he said, addressing the mayor with the respect he deserved. The mayor seemed happy to be recognised and he offered his own jovial little wave. He was honestly a nice man, if a bit misguided at times.

“I am Cresenzo De Luca, from Florence,” he said straightening a little. “I had the fortune to bump into your daughter but propriety insisted that we should not be introduced by coincidence alone.”

“You have a sweet tongue, Signore De Luca,” the Mayor said, chuckling. The Conte said nothing, green eyes boring into Cloud's.

“I present Sindaco Lockhart's daughter, Signorina Tifa,” the Conte said, gesturing to the girl. Cloud kissed her hand but it was not the mayor's daughter that was making his pulse race. He was certain that this man knew of his plan, had seen though him straight away.

“And now we are proper,” the mayor said, cheerfully, putting his arm around his daughter's waist. “And we must leave. I believe the Conte had some business with Signore De Luca.”

Cloud began to panic, wondering what on earth the Conte could want to do with him. He tried to control his emotions, hoping that the other would think his sweating was just a reaction to the heat and not abject panic.

“Conte... I am not sure what you wish from me. I am hardly a man of notice within Venice,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady. The Conte said nothing for a long moment.

“The Signore Zachary has been drinking my best wine all night, and he has convinced one of my serving girls, a Signorina Aeris, to run away with him. I wish for him to leave my party and believe him to have come with you,” the Conte said, gazing onto the shore. Cloud sighed in relief. It was just Zack getting into trouble.

“He certainly has been the life of the party so far, Conte. I will put the word about that it would be best for someone to escort him back to the rooms he has rented,” he said. Sephiroth turned to him, jewelled mask gleaming in the torchlight.

“When you have done so, please return to my boat, Signore. It has been a while since I have had someone from outside Venice attend one of my parties,” the Conte said. Cloud just blinked stupidly. “And have someone get you a mask, Signore.”

*

Cloud found Zack shoving finger food into his mouth while talking to a pretty, but lower class, girl. He scowled and stomped over. Zack's eyes were slightly glazed over from alcohol and his mask had been pushed up from his face so it no longer hid the scar on his cheek.

“Ah, Cresenzo!” Zack said cheerfully, reaching out to pull Cloud towards him by the elbow. Cloud let himself be pulled, awkwardly bowing to the serving girl.

“Signore, the Conte wishes for you to retire for the night,” Cloud said, trying to maintain some distance between himself and Zack. The other probably didn't realise what a commotion he was creating after all, but Cloud needed to be above suspicion.

“But the party's just starting!” Zack said, trying to reach for more wine. Cloud took it from him before he could get it to his lips.

“No. You're leaving,” Cloud said firmly. He pulled Zack by the elbow away from the serving girl and towards a quieter part of the canal-side.

“Look, I'm so close to getting into that boat. I don't need you causing a scene. Go home and sober up, please,” Cloud shook him a bit on the final word to try to make him listen. Zack's eyes focused.

“Sure, sure... You want me to prepare stage two?” he asked. Cloud nodded, already going through things in his mind. Genesis would, no doubt, already have new identities prepared for them the moment they left the party, and Angeal was hovering around somewhere pretending to be a guard ready to help spirit Cloud away if things got bad.

“If things go well, I'll collect Angeal and Genesis and continue the plan,” Cloud said finally. “If not, we cut our losses and leave Venice for a while.”

Zack nodded and then reached into his pocket, taking out a compact of powder. He began to dab it onto Cloud's cheeks. “You're not keeping on top of your dandy image, Signore Capo,” Zack said mockingly. Cloud scowled. It had been a decision by them as a group to led Cloud become their leader and primary schemer, but Cloud detected that Zack wasn't really happy with it. Zack wanted to be the leader, wanted to be the hero, but as it was he was demoted to sidekick. He and Cloud had both joined the group at the same time, so it had smarted his pride even more.

It was probably what this miniature rebellion was about...

“It's a pretty elaborate plan...” Zack said, and Cloud could detect the concern in his voice. He sighed and glanced around them, making sure they weren't being overlooked. He then slid his gloved hand over Zack's cheek and leaned forward to kiss his forehead.

“I'll be fine Zack,” he promised, pulling away. Zack's eyes were warm again when Cloud pulled back.

“Make sure you are,” he said before he disappeared into the night. Cloud sighed, removing his wig to run his hands through the sweat soaked hair beneath. It was truly too hot...

He stared out across the water, watching the torchlight reflected in it, and remembered a time, years ago, when it had seemed he would never see another summer...

*

The Plague had been vicious. Cloud had sat, huddled in his house. His mother was sick. She... she barely looked human any more. Pustules had formed under her arms and when they burst she would cry out in pain. She didn't recognise him any more.

Cloud stayed in the bedroom with her, watching her ragged breathing and wild eyes. He had no where else to go. He was afraid to go downstairs, where the dead body of his father waited. The bloated corpse was terrifying and he didn't want to go near it. It's unseeing eyes made him think of the dead fish he sometimes brought home from the docks for his mother to fillet.

He heard a noise from downstairs and jumped. He automatically thought of thieves, but then reminded himself that no one would break into a house that had a cross painted on the door. He huddled into a smaller ball against the wall, hoping who ever it was would take away the body of his dead father.

He heard heavy bootprints on the stairs and then the door to the bedroom opened. The man stepped in. He was horrifying to Cloud's hunger-starved mind. He wore a long, black hooded cloak and his face was covered by a beaked mask that Cloud would later discover was called the Medico Della Peste, The Plague Doctor's Mask. He reeked of vinegar, a smell that Cloud could detect even over the stench of his mother's corpse.

“Ah, this one is as good as taken,” the man said, poking his mother's corpse with a long stick. She cried out as she was touched and Cloud twitched where he sat. That caused the man to turn to him, regarding him with thoughtful eyes.

“Take her down to the cart,” the man ordered, though he was watching Cloud. A few men, their mouths covered with cloth and their clothes filthy with the various bodily fluids of plague victims, moved to pick Cloud's mother up. He stared as they removed her body. Were they going to help her?

Cloud had only ever heard of the bodies of the dead being removed from the houses...

“You seem unaffected boy,” the man said and Cloud nodded slowly.

“Stand up... and remove your shirt,” the man ordered. Cloud did as he was told, removing his dirty shirt and sliding it up over his head. The doctor lifted his arms using the stick, leaning forward to see under Cloud's armpits to check for boils. Cloud remained still, even though the smell of vinegar grew stronger the closer the man got.

“You really don't have the Plague. I guess you are lucky. Come with me,” the doctor gestured for Cloud to leave the room. He took one look at his room, the sweat-soaked bed and the overflowing chamberpot, before he stepped down the stairs.

He paused at the door, unsure if he was allowed out. The doctor just walked out and then paused, waiting for him. He hung his head as he stepped from the door, feeling like he was betraying the law by leaving the plague-ridden house.

“There. Now, go stand with the others. Over there. Go on,” the doctor urged impatiently. Cloud looked up and saw a group of confused looking children all gathered, huddling against each other. He walked towards them, hesitantly joining their ranks.

“They're taking them to Poveglia...” A boy next to Cloud whispered. Cloud's eyes widened as he looked back at the cart, his mother groaning as they dumped her on top of the other plague ridden corpses.

My mother is still alive! He made to run towards the pit but the boy grabbed his arm.

“There's nothing you can do... They'll burn her... She was dead the moment she caught the Plague after all...” he said. Cloud struggled against him but didn't break free. The boy was older, stronger and in general better shape than Cloud.

“You should pray for her... And the man they brought out too... Your father? Yeah...”

Cloud turned to the boy, looking at him with large, tear-filled eyes. The boy was the traditionally dark complexion of the Italians, his dark hair and tanned skin marking him as one of the poorer people. He had bright blue eyes though, that were staring at Cloud in a concerned way.

“My name's Zack. What's yours...?”

Cloud didn't reply. In fact, Cloud wouldn't speak again until after his tenth summer. Looking back, Cloud realised how selfish and absorbed he had been. Zack had lost both of his parents that night as well, and two of the bloated corpses on that wagon had been the older boy's kin.

They'd followed it to the shores, where it was loaded onto a boat and sent to Poveglia. Later that night there was a large fire on the island and Cloud watched it with dead eyes and prayed with all his heart.

*

A woman came over to Cloud, clearly a servant from her dress, startling him from his remembrance of the past. In her hands was a box made from walnut, it's sides intricately carved with a carnival scene. She bobbed a curtsey and opened the lid.

“From the Conte, to help you fit in upon the barge, Signore,” she said. Cloud looked down at the mask and tried to suppress a shiver. The Medico Della Peste stared up at him with dead eyes. The mask didn't have the plain white of a true Plague Doctor's mask, but was instead painted with a burnished gold. In a lighter colour, circular glasses had been painted around the eyes.

“Do I have to wear this?” Cloud asked, trying to calm himself. “I do not wish to seem impolite, but this mask makes fun of that which should not be made fun of.”

The servant didn't seem to know what to reply to that. “The Conte requested this mask specifically,” she said finally. Cloud sighed and reached out to remove the mask from the box. The papier-mache face stared up at him and he slowly turned it around, raising it to his face and tying it with a ribbon.

“It suits you, Signore,” the servant said. Cloud was glad the mask could hide his wince as he stepped around her. He made his way to the barge, ignoring the other revellers. He climbed onto the boat and glanced around.

He was startled when a hand landed on his shoulder. He turned with a yell, his heel slipping on the deck and his arms wind milling as he tried to prevent the fall into the water. He was grateful when a strong hand caught him and pulled him back on balance.

“My apologies. I did not mean to startle you.”

Cloud blinked and realised that he recognised the voice. It was the Conte, although he had changed his mask from earlier and no longer wore the decorative wig. In fact, Cloud was tempted to believe that the long silver tresses the Conte now sported was his actual hair colour. He had not realised the Conte was so old.

“It's quite alright, Conte,” Cloud said, offering a small bow. The man's eyes glinted through the mask.

“Please, I changed into a new mask and outfit so that I might escape people knowing my identity. If you must refer to me at all, Signore, it must be as Sephiroth,” he said smoothly. Cloud had an inkling then what this was about. It seemed that this old man had a penchant for younger ones. He was more than willing to play along however, if it got him below deck to where Cloud knew there were treasures waiting.

“Then I must insist you call me Cloud in turn,” he replied, all false charm.

The Conte nodded and were it not for the mask, Cloud would have been sure he was smiling. He moved closer, ignoring the usual rules of personal space.

“Tell me, Sephiroth, are you a religious man?” he asked, tilting his head to the side. The Conte shook his head.

“If I were, I would condemn parties like this,” he said, gesturing to the antics of others on the barge and back on the shore. A woman was vomiting into the canal, her breasts had fallen out of her corset as she heaved. Nearby a man was quite happily pushing up the skirt of a woman that was almost certainly a prostitute.

“I suppose so. I come from a religious family, so it's quite the sight for me,” he said, lying through his teeth. Sephiroth's eyes looked fairly interested in that. Oh yes, Conte, I know your game. The more innocent the better in your eyes...

“I see. I had no idea Florence was so conservative,” Sephiroth said, stepping forward to steer Cloud towards the bow of the barge, away from the majority of the other members of the party.

“My parents are very strict Catholics,” Cloud said, pretending innocence as Sephiroth's hand moved from his elbow to the small of his back. “This is the first time I've been allowed to travel alone without a chaperone.”

He could almost see the shiver of anticipation in the Conte and fought the urge to smile. He leaned against the railing of the barge. Sephiroth placed a hand on either side of Cloud's body, and when he was this close, Cloud was suddenly struck with how big he truly was.

“Conte-” Cloud began, not having to feign being slightly breathless.

“Fire! Fire on the ship!” Someone screamed. Cloud blinked and his gaze was torn away from Sephiroth's masked face to see that some of the decorations had caught fire. Sephiroth stepped back immediately.

“I believe that will be the end of the party for tonight, but I am holding... a more private affair at my estate in a fortnight. Perhaps you would wish to attend?” he asked, glancing at Cloud and keeping an eye on the fire at the same time.

Cloud smirked beneath the mask. “Of course, Conte. It will be an honour to see you again.”

“Indeed,” Sephiroth replied and bowed. Cloud did so in return, feeling his mask slip a little. He held onto it.

“Good night Conte,” he said, watching as Sephiroth walked away to deal with the fire. He watched the flames for a moment before slipping off the barge and into the backstreets of Venice.

Oh, he and Zack would make sure it was a party that Sephiroth would never forget...

*

Cloud looked up at the Church of the Sacred Virgin Madonna with the sense of a mischievous child coming home. He had removed the Conte's mask, though it was still in his hand. Any normal Venetian would assume he was a reveller coming home from a party with a particularly sore conscience. He opened the door to the church, shivering as the cool air hit him.

“Your sins have been absolved. You can go in Peace my son,” Cloud heard a pompous voice saying from the confessional. He watched as a man stumbled out of the box, a mask still on his face and his red hair spilling down his back from under the hat. He bowed hurriedly to Cloud as he left, shutting the door behind him.

“Oh for god's sake, Cloud, it's about time. Quickly bolt it so I don't have to pretend to play priest again,” Zack's head stuck out of the priest's side of the confessional. Cloud grinned and bolted the door behind him, walking towards Zack.

“You know, the perfect blackmail material just walks into your hands,” Cloud said, leaning his hip against the wooden pew. Zack laughed.

“Yeah, now I just gotta figure out who that was. It was the usual. 'Forgive me, for I have had thoughts of sodomy' confession. Apparently whoever that was has a crush a mile wide on some friend of his,” Zack said, his grin as cheerful as ever. Cloud stepped forward, putting his arms around Zack's neck.

“Hm? Sounds familiar,” he said, his eyes slightly mischievous. Zack rolled his eyes.

“It's not my fault you were hiding in the confessional that day,” he pointed out. Cloud just leaned forward, kissing Zack on the lips.

*

That day had been one of the happiest moments in his life. He'd been hiding from Angeal after having pulled a rather elaborate prank involving making the statue of the Virgin Mary bleed from her eyes. The confessional had seemed the safest place as Tseng was supposed to be in there taking confessions.

Of course, Cloud knew that Tseng had crept out to see the local baker's daughter, driven by hormones like most teenage boys. He'd sat in there, listening to the chaos in the church as Angeal tried to convince the various worshippers that it wasn't an omen.

“Father?”

Cloud blinked, realising that someone was in the other booth. He vaguely recognised the voice but couldn't quite place it. He leaned back, putting on as adult a voice as he could. His voice was currently breaking, and he couldn't maintain his deeper 'man' voice for long periods of time without embarrassing squeaks, but it was better than talking like normal.

“I am here, my son,” he said, hoping that his voice didn't sound too strained. The person in the other side sighed in relief.

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned; it has been a month since my last confession,” the stranger said. Cloud waited in silence.

“I have been having thoughts about... about another man... I know that last time you gave me advice to forget him, Father, but I cannot. He fills my thoughts constantly and... I have seen him in this church. Something about his being an acolyte... I'm sorry, Father, you do not need to hear all the disgusting desires...”

Cloud's curiosity was piqued however. Did this guy have a crush on Tseng? Because if he did he was about to be disappointed. Although if it was Angeal, at least he'd stand a chance...

“He looks like an angel... I want to protect him... but I guess it's me he needs protecting from. I mean, he's still pretty much a child and I doubt he remembers me anyway. Or even if he does, he probably wouldn't want to become reacquainted...”

Cloud tried to see through the mesh but it was hard to see in the gloom. He caught a glimpse of tanned skin and tried to think of those in the surrounding area who were tanned that way.

“I... I think I'm in love with Cloud, Father. I'm sorry.”

Cloud couldn't help it, he let out a small squeak of surprise. The stranger in the other box seemed to realise he'd been tricked and the door banged open. Cloud managed to clamber out of his own side in time to see the retreating back of the tanner's son disappearing through the doors...

*

“I'm never going to let you forget that,” Cloud said, chuckling. Zack rolled his eyes.

“How was I supposed to know the difference between love and a petty crush? I was what, fourteen?” he pointed out. Cloud kissed him on the cheek.

“I'm not complaining. Even if it's immoral, we're happy enough with what we have, aren't we?” he asked, stepping back. Zack nodded, brushing Cloud's hair from his face.

“You've really got no shame. In a House of God as well...”

Cloud let go of Zack to give Angeal a bright smile. “Forgive me Father, I was just celebrating our latest scheme coming to fruition.”

Angeal nodded. Although he looked like an austere Man of God, he was in fact the head of their little band of thieves. His face was appropriately serious, and he had managed to fool the populace so far, but Cloud, Zack, Genesis and Tseng all knew the truth behind this place. It was a thief's hideout, and one that was so secret, that only the best thieves in Venice were taken into it.

Angeal had taught them many things. How to act with the gentry, how to speak Latin, how to pick pockets like the best, how to scam. Slowly they'd built up a repertoire of tricks that made them the best conmen in Italy.

“You managed to steal it then?” Angeal asked. Cloud shook his head, but maintained his grin.

“No, but I've got a date with the Conte in two weeks time,” he replied. Zack ruffled Cloud's hair and pretended to look hurt.

“Flirting with other men right in front of your one and only...” he said mournfully. Cloud rolled his eyes and began to unbutton the stuffy velvet jacket he was wearing.

“You think he'll have it then?” Angeal asked. Cloud shrugged.

“If he's like most men he'll fall asleep after and give me the chance to move around the mansion unheeded,” he pointed out. Of course, Signore Crecenzo De Luca would disappear into the ether after that, having been branded a thief. Cloud guessed he was lucky that the masquerades and the wigs of the gentry meant it was easy to disguise himself and create new persona.

“Your infidelity is always so moving,” Angeal dead panned. Cloud paused on the final button and looked at Zack. Their relationship wasn't exactly normal, and Zack had strayed on more than one occasion. They always ended up back together when things didn't work out though, and Cloud sometimes felt like he was the back-up plan. Zack seemed to fall in and out of love easily.

“Hey, Spike and I have got our own way of judging things like fidelity,” Zack said with a grin and Cloud returned to the final button, removing his jacket.

“Yeah, it doesn't count when it gets in the way of gold,” Angeal replied dryly.

---> Next Part