Rufus woke as Cloud shifted in his sleep. He opened his eyes and saw Cloud blinking. "You ok?" Rufus asked him.
"Just woke up some place weird, that's all."
"Oh. Well, that's sort of strange from some one in SOLDIER..., who was in I mean."
"Well, it's not every day I wake up next to some one you know, unless Tifa or Aerith snuck into my bed."
Rufus chuckled. "Me neither. How do you feel?"
"Very rested."
"Good."
"They probably think I am dead."
"You looked like you needed a rest." He sighed.
Cloud chuckled. "Something the matter?"
"No."
"Hey, something I was wondering, am I the first person you've told this stuff to, ...What we discussed last night?"
"Yes, I never told anyone." He sighed. "I've never, not to anyone."
"Why me?"
"I find it strange. I don't know."
"I'm some rebel, who you don't know." He stretched as Rufus nodded.
"Did you dream?"
"If I did, I don't remember."
"I try not to dream. They are not pleasant when I do."
"When I dream they are disturbing, most of the time I don't remember them, but when I do I get a lil weirded out."
"Hmm." Rufus looked down at him. "That reminds me, why did you tell me what you did?"
"Hmm? Well, I suppose, I had to tell someone sooner or later."
"Why me? And, the same for me telling you."
"You're the first person whose actually sat down to talk to me."
"Really?"
"And actually listened."
"Even Tifa and Aeris do not talk to you?"
"Oh, they talk. They talk at me, about the future."
"Like what?"
"Aeris keeps talking about going on a date, I supposedly owe her one."
"Why do you owe her one?"
"She asked me to be her bodyguard, and offered payment as one date. What was I supposed to do? Let the Turks have her?"
"I suppose not." Rufus chuckled.
"I mean, I'm not that heartless."
"Sounds like she owes you something, not you owe her."
"I dunno, women are good at twisting things."
"Yes." Rufus sighed. "I have a problem with them too. When ever I go around in public, they swamp me."
"I have to beat them off with a stick."
Rufus chuckled. "Same here."
"What the heck do they see in me? I give myself the plainest clothes, the worst haircut, and they won't leave me alone!"
"You have a charm." Rufus grinned at him.
"Charm..." Rufus smirked.
"You have it."
"I guess I can't see my own though."
"I know."
"I look in the mirror and see a scrawny, pokey haired kid."
Rufus chuckled and reached over to touch Cloud's hair. "Why do you think you got bad hair?"
"I could put someone's eye out with it."
Rufus ran his fingers through Cloud's hair. "Maybe."
"I should slick it back and put on coke bottle glasses, that might keep them away."
Rufus chuckled. "No, you'll still have your charm." He took his hand away from Cloud's hair.
"I'll have to wear a bag for the rest of my life then."
"Still will not help."
"Ooh, it's that kind of charm, eh?"
Rufus eyed him. "Yep."
"Well, Sephiroth saw something in me, although, I've been told he's a playboy more or less."
"Yeah. For some reason all the women are drawn to me or him."
"Wonder how many beds he's crawled into."
"Hmm, I wonder."
"Lucky you, perhaps I can use you as a decoy. The women can bother you while I make my escape." Cloud smirked.
"Funny." Rufus rolled onto his side to study Cloud.
"That's sort of why I don't drink anymore you know, at least, not in bars."
"Afraid?"
"After getting smashed once, and waking up next to some broad." Cloud shuttered, and so did Rufus. "They just wait to pick you off when you're helpless."
"Well..."
"Vultures..."
"Helpless..." Rufus closed his eyes and rolled onto his back. "That reminds me of the President."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
"He was married, but slept around. He was also..., a pedophile."
"He deserved to be hated."
"No one hated him more then me."
Cloud propped himself up on one elbow. "Why didn't you try to get help?"
"I couldn't, he owned the world."
"No one, there wasn't anyone you trusted?"
"No, if I told." Rufus shuttered. "He came close to killing me that night I tried to run away. Cracked my skull open by tossing me down stone steps then beat me until I was unconscious." He heard Cloud wince and felt him muss his hair. "When I got older he tested my endurance."
"You shouldn't dwell in the past, no matter how painful."
"I don't, but the beatings were not the worst thing he did to me."
"You can tell me if you like."
Rufus opened his eyes and rolled over to look at Cloud. "He abused me in every way. Every way you can abuse a child. That's why no one can hate him more then me. I was his son." He closed his eyes again. He smiled as Cloud caressed his face. "I rarely think of the past."
"That's good."
"I'm so happy he's dead. I just wish I was the one who had killed him."
"So are a lot of people, but none are happier than you I bet."
"Unfortunately, everyone else would think I'm happy cause I now am President."
"I wouldn't want to be president you know."
"That reminds me..."
"Hmm?"
"I have to go to Junon. Well, in a few days."
"My, friends, are probably headed for Kalm. If they were even able to leave. They probably still waiting like little lost puppies. Why they look up to me as a leader I will never know."
"Your charm again. You are quite a charming young man." He rested his fingers on Cloud's cheek.
Cloud smiled. "I'm glad someone other than Tifa and Aeris think so."
Rufus grinned. "Well, they have to have taste. It's odd to find someone who has similar interests, and things such as having to beat women off with a stick." He traced his fingers down Cloud's cheek and chin.
Cloud looked at him. "Hmm, you're..."
Rufus blinked. "I'm..."
Cloud took Rufus's fingers and kissed them.
Rufus smiled. "You must have been very lonely, and you are tender."
"Very lonely."
"I've been very lonely inside."
"Perhaps we can ease each other's pain."
Rufus smiled. "I hope so. I've carried pain for my whole life."
"At least until this madness has ended, perhaps longer if we survive."
"Yes."
"I still have to stop Sephiroth. I can't help but feel it's my fault."
"I need to find him too. It has been so long since I saw him, ever since Professor Gast died, when I was 4." He sighed. "That's when the abuse started, right after he died." He paused. "Any way."
Cloud put his hand on Rufus's shoulder. "It must have been hell."
"Yeah." He ran his fingers across Cloud's cheek again. "It's so hard to find tenderness."
"Hmm, no one has ever?"
"No, what about you?"
"I've only been with one guy, for one night."
"Really?"
"Sephiroth, he totally changed my outlook on the world. I mean, I've been tempted."
"By?"
"Other men. None in particular."
"Hmm."
"No one in particular that is. Well, until now."
Rufus grinned.
"How many," asked Cloud, "Guys have you been with?"
Rufus looked at Cloud and sighed. "It might be hard to talk about."
"Was that a bad question to ask?"
"It's ok. How are you counting been with?"
"Hmm, how many have you had a relationship with?"
"Relationship, none really. Well, maybe one. It was not really serous, but I saw him a few times."
"You're just about even with me then?"
"Maybe, but," He sighed. "Cloud, have you ever been, ... taken advantage of? Other then that time you were drunk?"
"No."
"As I said, I was helpless as a child."
"He didn't?" Cloud turned pale.
Rufus noticed the change in Cloud's color. He began to gently caress his cheek.
Cloud looked at him. "He..., He forced you?"
Rufus bit his lip. He looked down a second, then back up at Cloud.
Cloud hugged him. "No wonder you hated him so much."
"Yes. The beatings I stopped caring about, even though I hated them, but, not the rest."
"But to be alone, through all of that?"
"Yes."
"Poor man." Cloud hugged him again, and Rufus hugged back. "I'm sorry if this is annoying you, but, knowing that makes me feel so..."
"It's ok."
"How did you survive it?"
"No one ever knew before. Survive, well, it was partially me thinking about killing him. And, there was this voice I heard from time to time, though I might have been going crazy. I first heard it when I was five. That was the last time I cried. I had been beaten and locked in the basement, alone in the darkness for days."
"And I thought my life was crappy."
"And I heard this female voice in my head. She said that she would not let me die. She told me to survive." He sighed. "And so I did."
Cloud kissed Rufus on the forehead. Rufus smiled and closed his eyes for a second. As he started to relax he moved his hand down to Cloud's neck. He started to rub his neck. Cloud smiled.
"What about your life?" Rufus asked him at last.
"Well, I grew up in Nibelheim, with Tifa. At the age of 14 I decided to leave and join SOLDIER. Between then and now, it's been a lot of fun."
"Fun?"
"Well, training, kissing ass to climb the ladder, you know."
"You have not had a bad life."
"Not in comparison to yours, except I've been dead for the past 5 years, according to the records."
Rufus chuckled. "You don't seem dead."
"Nope, pretty lively here."
"And, I don't want you to be dead."
"I'll probably end up that way though."
"Well, everyone dies. I just hope not for a long time."
"But not when they want to usually."
Rufus sighed. "Well," then he grinned, "At least some one we both know is dead."
"I didn't know him up close and personal like you did."
"You would not have wanted to. He was so cruel." He ran his fingers through Cloud's hair.
"Doesn't matter if you muss mine, it just bongs back into place."
Rufus chuckled. "I've never told anyone what I've told you."
"It's safe with me, I won't share it."
Rufus rubbed Cloud's neck some more. "Thanks."
"That feels good."
Rufus grinned and traced Cloud's neck with one finger.
"No one has ever thought me as affectionate before," Cloud told him, "You know, Tifa and Aerith, they think I'm a coldhearted bastard, but still go after me."
"Why do they think that? Hell, everyone thinks I'm just like my father."
"Cuz I ignore them, and am sort of obsessed with stopping Sephiroth."
"I understand."
"I can stop, though."
Rufus ran his finger up to Cloud's cheek. "Stop what?"
"Stop being obsessed for a while, if I have a reason."
Rufus smiled. "Maybe I can help you with that."
"I mean, some times it gets so bad, I forget to eat, don't sleep. Lately, it's been all right though. Blowing up that reactor made me feel like I was doing something."
Rufus traced his finger around Cloud's lips. "My father was a fool. The Mako reactors are killing the planet. Soon there will be nothing left, it's not worth it."
"You're gonna stop using Mako then?"
"I have to think of something else. My father was a fool. I, on the other hand, am rather brilliant. I was always told that by others."
"Cute too."
Rufus smiled. "Yeah." He caressed Cloud's cheek.
"It seems you're treatment hasn't stopped you from being gentle. You'd think you would want to hurt as sort of a revenge for what he did."
Rufus shook his head. "I've never liked that. If I hurt people, I would have lost. I would have turned into him." He shuttered. Cloud kissed him.
"You aren't anything like him from what I have learned from your stories."
"I know. I didn't want to be anything like him. Ok, so we both like speeches, but that's it."
Cloud smirked. He moved behind Rufus and began to gently massage his shoulders, working from his collarbone downwards.
Rufus sighed softly. "That feels good."
Cloud continues, moving his fingers in lazy circles. "One of the few things I learned from a woman. This is a good thing, ne?"
Rufus felt his body start to relax. "Yeah." He felt Cloud kiss the back of his neck. "You are very tender."
"You know, we shouldn't get too cozy. What if someone walked in?"
"No one will. No one is allowed in here, other then me now," Rufus grinned, "And anyone I let in."
"I'm glad you let me in, instead of killing me on the roof."
"I don't like to fight."
"You let me into your life too it seems."
"Yes."
"Your hair is messed up you know."
"Yeah, I'll fix it later. It's not like I have to go anywhere for a while, or want to go anywhere right now."
Cloud laughed softly and continued to massage his back.
Rufus closed his eyes. "You are very good at that."
"I'm just a novice."
"Still, I never had that before."
"The person I learned it from could make you melt in her hands."
"The again, I never let anyone behind me. Well, until now."
"Oh, does it make you feel uncomfortable?"
"Usually, but not at the moment for some reason." He smiled.
"If anything bothers you, tell me okay? It's been a long time since, well, you know."
"I know, but, it is not bothering me. Actually, it feels good."
Cloud nipped lightly at Rufus's neck, causing him to smile. "Hmm."
Rufus turned his head slightly. "Something wrong?"
Cloud moved back around to his front. They both smiled. "What to do, considering my first was, well, not really much to be said of."
"I know." He ran his hand down Cloud's side and kissed him.
"You seem like the type who likes to be in control." Cloud smiled.
"Yeah." He rubbed his side with his left hand and kisses him again.
"Mm, it's been so long since I've been touched in a way that makes me feel..."
Rufus smiled as Cloud blushed. "Nice color." Rufus told him, kissing his cheek gently.
"Mm, well, what am I supposed to turn when a hot guy is being this nice to me."
Rufus grinned. "That's nice." He kissed him deeply. He rubbed Cloud's side some more, still kissing him. Cloud rapped his arms around him and pulled him close. Rufus enjoyed feeling Cloud's warm body pressed against his. Moving his arms around him he started rubbing down his back.
"I never thought," Cloud told him, "I could be with anyone else, after..., but now I think I was wrong."
"Life is full of mystery."
"Anyone gonna be jealous?"
"No." He kissed Cloud some more as he continued to rub his back.
"Hmm, sleeping with the president. Is this gonna start any scandals?"
Rufus chuckled. "Did anyone start any scandals about the last one? He slept with anyone he wanted." He shuttered for a second, then kissed Cloud again to feel better.
"True." He nuzzled Rufus's neck.
He smiled and moved his hand lower. He heard Cloud purr. "You a cat Cloud?" Rufus grinned.
"Hmm, no." He licked Rufus's cheek.
"You purr, that's cute." He grinned, "And that too." He moved his hand down into the back of Cloud's pants. He kissed him passionately.
"You could get me to do anything right about now."
Rufus felt Cloud's body with his hands. He closed his eyes and kissed him some more. Cloud's hands began to wander along Rufus's body. He shivered lightly at Cloud's tender touch. He loved the feel of his warm body against his. He began moving Cloud's pants down.
Cloud whispered into Rufus's ear. "Just take em off, you know you want to."
Rufus licked his ear and pulled Cloud's pants down. His hot breath brushed his ear.
"Mm," Murmured Cloud, "If I weren't already turned on, I would be now."
He slipped Cloud's underwear off.
"Mm," continued Cloud, "Shall I strip you, or you prefer to wait?"
Rufus grinned. "Go ahead."
Cloud seemed to fight with the catch of Rufus's pants for a moment, then slid them down. He followed with his boxers. Rufus shivered in pleasure, feeling electrified with passion. He pulled Cloud to him, kissing him more passionately then before. Cloud rapped his arms around him. They locked lips and Rufus licked along his tongue. Cloud put his hand on the back of Rufus's head, pulling him more into the kiss.
Cloud's free hand roamed along Rufus's body. His body shivered with pleasure again. He moved his hand down to Cloud's thigh and began to rub the inside. A soft moan escaped Cloud's lips. Rufus smiled at the moan and moved his hand up and down Cloud's thigh. He kissed his neck. Cloud's hands moved around to his front and drew lazy circles around his belly button.
Rufus kept his hand on Cloud's inner thigh, rubbing gently. His other hand dropped back from Cloud's head and rubbed down his back. He licked his neck gently. Cloud moved his other hand down to join the one at Rufus's belly button, then moved them both down agonizingly slow.
Rufus closed his eyes and sighed softly in pleasure. He moved his hand around to the front of Cloud's thigh. He traced it up his thigh, slowly. He felt Cloud shutter and melt under his touch. He began to move his fingers further up Cloud's thigh and licked his neck gently.
Cloud moaned softly again, seeming to be completely enthralled by Rufus's touch. Rufus felt his body tingling from being pressed to Cloud's. His fingers traveled between Cloud's legs and caressed him softly. Cloud through his head back and gasped. Rufus held one arm around his back. He rubbed him gently with his other hand. Rufus kissed his mouth again, being very passionate.
"Mm." Cloud moaned. His hands felt all around Rufus's form.
"Mm." Rufus licked the inside of Cloud's mouth as his hand continued what it was doing. "Mm. Bet your friends would gasp if they knew what you were up too."
"Yes, sleeping with the enemy, but, you aren't my enemy, not now."
"I don't like enemies." Rufus kisses him some more, "I like other things."
"Well, you're more of an enemy now that you have me."
"More of?" Rufus chuckled.
"I know two girls who are going to be very disgusted. Perhaps even jealous."
"Jealous."
Cloud stroked his hands along Rufus's body. Rufus smiled and kept him close.
"Heck," continued Cloud, "They'll probably just die."
"Poor them."
"Am I really that charming?"
"Yes." He sucked on Cloud's lips. Cloud pinched him playfully. Rufus grinned.
"So what was it Rufus?"
"What was what?"
"What do you see in me?"
"I'm not sure. You are attractive and charming, but also, there is some thing else."
"So, shall I stay with you, or should I go off and get myself and others killed?"
"Don't get killed. Stay with me if you want." He kissed him some more.
"I would like to."
"We can get the others."
"And Sephiroth?"
"We must find him. I have to find him."
"I'll follow you to the ends of the earth."
Rufus smiled and rubbed his whole body against Cloud. Cloud got a look of pure bliss on his face. Rufus rapped his arms tightly around Cloud, moving him.
"I think, I'm happy for once." Cloud told him.
"Good."
"No, I know I am happy." Cloud smiled.
"I feel happy too. I rarely feel that."
"See, we've made each other happy."
"Yeah."
"Even though we were originally gonna kill each other on the roof."
"Well, I never wanted to kill, other then the one who was already dead when I got there"
"I don't think I could have though. You are too cute. I need a masculine version of beautiful to say what I wanna say."
"Yeah."
Cloud rapped his legs around Rufus. Rufus moaned with passion and pleasure he had not felt before. He held Cloud, entwining his tongue around his.
"Is love allowed in these hallowed halls?"
Rufus took him gently, but passionately. "Yeah." He breathed.
"Can I love you then?"
"All you want."
"Good." Kisses him deeply as he moves him.
"You don't need to love me, just be there."
"I want to learn to love, maybe my heart is not as dead as it seems."
"I hope so too." Rufus kissed his neck, breathing heavily as he passions him. He started to sweet. Cloud licked his nose. He smiled. Rufus moaned with pleasure as he moved Cloud, holding him with his arms.
"Mm," Moaned Cloud, "You're good, so good. I wish I had found you sooner."
"Mm, yeah. We've both been alone."
"I was saving myself."
Rufus continued what he was doing. "For Sephiroth?"
"Yes."
"I was..., not able to save..."
Cloud put a finger to Rufus's lips. "Shh."
Rufus smiled as he moved Cloud gently, but with great passion.
"If I died now," Cloud told him, "I would die a happy man."
"Yeah."
"But if I died, you would be alone."
"Yeah, that would be sad."
"Would you miss me?"
"Yes."
"Mm."
Rufus started to relax. He lay on his back and held Cloud to him. Cloud licked some of the sweat off of Rufus's chest.
"Mm," said Cloud, "Salty."
They both smiled. "I don't remember feeling this good before." Rufus told him.
"That's because I wasn't here." Cloud smirked.
Rufus grinned. "Yes, that is true."
"And he was alive, until yesterday. I think you got blessed. Two good things in one day."
"Yeah. Good luck for once."
Cloud snuggled against Rufus.
Rufus held him. "You seem very comfortable."
"Of course, who wouldn't be? Is there something I should be afraid of?"
"No, why?"
"Nothing."
Rufus smiled. He kissed Cloud and rubbed his arms.
"What's in Junon?" Cloud asked him.
"Well, boats, and a parade."
"Gonna sweep me under the rug for you, uh, inauguration?"
"You already heard my speech."
"True."
"Hmm."
"I'm just wondering if you're gonna sweep me under the rug for the press. Or, don't you care what the public thinks?"
"I don't care about the public. What I'm worried about is..."
"Hmm?"
"Someone..."
"Who?"
"Him. The one I was with for a while."
"Oh."
"Normally, it would not be a problem. He'll basically sleep with anyone, but I know he does not like you."
"Do I know him?"
"Yeah, you and your friends put him in the hospital."
"That red haired guy?"
"Yeah, Reno."
"He stalled us just long enough so we couldn't stop the plate from falling."
"Yeah."
"All those people."
"My father sent him there." He shook his head. "I would not have done that." He kissed Cloud's forehead.
"You think Reno'd try to hurt me?"
"Yeah."
"I trust you to keep me safe."
"Yeah." He kissed him again.
"And, I whipped him once."
"I know."
"Well, as long as he is hospitalized."
"Yeah, but he hates being hurt. He'll come after you. Reno loves to fight, and other things. Drink too."
"Personally he looked like a slob to me. Didn't even have his jacket buttoned."
"I know." Looked at him. "Cloud, are you tired, or do you want to get up?"
"Hmm." He looked over at his clothing and sighed. "I'm a wreck."
"Not to me."
Cloud sat up. "No, not cuz of anything you did, just cuz, well, I lived in the slums. You think I ever had a chance to find a good tailor or anything? Plus, I couldn't wear anything other then baggy stuff or I would need a crowbar to go outside."
"Hmm."
"I'm sure you know the feeling."
"Yeah." He sat up and placed his back against the backboard. Cloud picked his clothing out of the blankets and shook them out. Rufus smiled at Cloud and searched for his own clothing. He found his boxers and slipped them on.
The two of them dressed. Rufus got up and walked over to the mirror. He combed his hair back. Cloud joined him and mussed his hair back up. Rufus chuckled and rapped his free arm around Cloud.
"How do you feel?" Rufus asked him, kissing him on the cheek.
"I think I'm the happiest man alive. Wait, no. I know I am."
Rufus grinned and nuzzled Cloud's neck. He fixed his hair and kissed Cloud's cheek.
"Hmm." Asked Cloud, "So, what are we gonna do?"
Rufus shrugged and took Cloud's hand. He rubbed his exposed shoulder for a moment.
"Hmm," Said Cloud, "Up for something to eat?"
"Yeah, I'm starved."
"I worked up an appetite there, Heh heh."
"I'm going to get my coat." Then he smiled. "Yeah, me too."
"And gloat over the dead man?"
"Heh heh heh." He walked to the door. He walked out and waited for Cloud.
"Hmm, think he smells any?"
"He might." They walked up the stairs. He grinned when he saw that the body had been removed. Picking up his coat from the chair he slipped it back on.
"Hey, that's cheap." Said Cloud.
"No."
"I would redecorate."
"I told them to take the body out. And yes, I'm going to." He walked out onto the roof and looked at his chopper. Then he looked at Cloud. "What type of food do you eat?"
"Anything that I can get my hands on really. Hey, it comes from living in the slums."
Rufus chuckled. "I suppose."
"Didn't exactly have a menu down there."
"You've gone without food, haven't you?"
"Quite a few times."
"Which do you think is worse, starving when there is no food to eat, or starving cause no one is allowing you to eat?"
"When I was reported dead, well, I spent five years down there." Looks at Rufus. "I would think because no one is allowing you to eat."
Rufus nodded. "I'm not sure where to go."
"Why do you think I hooked up with Tifa and Avalanche in the first place? She owned a bar and had food. Plus, I was getting money from them."
Rufus grinned. "To bad that bar is now gone. My father was such a fool. He pushed people past their fear limit. What he did insured more rebels, not less."
"Did I mention I get motion sick?"
Rufus shook his head. "No. Hmm."
Cloud eyed the chopper dubiously. "I can live with it I think."
"Where to eat." Rufus bit his lip.
"Decisions, Decisions."
"I can't think of any place."
"There a cafeteria in the building? Or do you prefer not to mingle with the employees."
"The employees, they still think I'm like my father." He sighed.
"How about a bar then?"
"Hmm, Turks might be there."
"You drink enough and you can't even taste how bad the food is."
"They are always in the bars."
"You think we would be unlucky enough to stumble upon the one they are in?"
"Yeah. Turks are always around me. They are spies, everyone knows that."
"Unwelcome company."
"Yeah."
"I bet you my friends are eating charred whatever it was we just killed in the last battle."
Rufus chuckled. Cloud stretched and Rufus could hear his back crack.
"I haven't been this relaxed in a long time." Cloud told him. "Even just standing around I don't feel like I have to hack anything to bits."
"Well, we'll find some place to eat." Rufus smiled. He placed his hand on Cloud's shoulder. "You do want to come with me to Junon, right?"
"Yes."
Rufus smiled. "Good."
"Hmm, I could eat you, Hee hee."
Rufus rubbed Cloud's shoulder and grinned. Cloud nipped at his neck playfully.
"That would be nice." Rufus chuckled. Despite the cold roof he felt warmed by Cloud. They walked off together to find someplace to eat.