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Another day, another battle. As their blades clashed, Sephiroth smirked, his eyes alight as they locked with Cloud’s.
“Alone today, Cloud? No friends to back you up this time?” he purred.
Cloud said nothing, just forced Sephiroth back before switching to dual wielding. Sephiroth landed and chuckled. They clashed again and again, both trying to overwhelm the other before Sephiroth spoke again.
“You are rather quiet today, Cloud. Usually you are a bit more talkative.” Sephiroth stated.
“Maybe I have nothing more to say to you.” Cloud said quietly, before he coughed into his hand.
Sephiroth waited until he was done. After all, they had all the time in the world to fight and he was still above attacking someone while they were coughing. Eventually, Cloud stopped coughing, balled his hand into a fist before he grabbed his blade again. Sephiroth noted there was a small bit of blood in the corner of his mouth.
“Pity. I do enjoy our conversations.” Sephiroth replied.
Cloud scuffed before he charged back in. They clashed again, but Sephiroth noticed Cloud’s attacks were weakened. His speed and strength both seemed to be fading. He even seemed to be panting and gasping for air. They separated again and once more, Cloud coughed into his hand. Slightly annoyed, but still patient, Sephiroth waited again until he was done. They clashed a few more times before Cloud stumbled back, coughing. A flash of red caught Sephiroth’s eye. He darted over and grabbed Cloud’s hand, looking down to see the glove was full of blood.
“What is this?” he demanded.
Cloud sighed deeply, only to lightly cough again, blood dripping from his lips.
“What does it look like?” Cloud ripped his hand away and took a step back.
“It looks like blood, but I know I haven’t landed a blow yet. So why?” Sephiroth demanded.
“I don’t have to tell you-” Cloud’s statement was cut short when he started to hack violently.
Cloud released his sword as his hand came up to cover his mouth. Cloud coughed harshly, his whole body shaking as he curled into himself. Sephiroth frowned, uncertain of what was happening when Cloud finally spat something into his hands. Something covered in blood, but still stood out against his gloves.
“Is that… a flower?” Sephiroth asked slowly.
“Seems so.” Cloud muttered.
Sephiroth tilted his head to the side.
“Did you… eat a flower recently?” Sephiroth asked.
Cloud shot him a dark look.
“Do I look like I would? And besides that, when is the last time you’ve even seen a flower like this?” Cloud snapped, holding it up.
Sephiroth looked down and raised an eyebrow.
“A moonflower. I only ever saw them in Wutai when I was stationed there. Known for only opening at night, hence the name.” Sephiroth stated.
“Yeah, well, I haven’t been to Wutai in years, but all of a sudden, I started hacking them up and now…” Cloud sighed and dropped the bloodied flower to the ground before he moved to pick up his fallen blades.
Sensing they weren’t going to fight anymore, he started putting his Fusion Blade back together to put it away.
“I fear you have more to worry about than that. They are rather poisonous.” Sephiroth stated.
“Oh. Goodie.” Cloud said dryly, as he put his sword back in its holster.
Sephiroth bent down and grabbed it, eying the flower that was already starting to close up.
“How long has this been happening?” Sephiroth asked, curiously.
Cloud paused before looking away.
“Since our last battle. Just started coughing them up one day and they won’t stop.” Cloud mumbled.
Sephiroth hummed as he studied the flower.
“You know, I read about a disease once in some medical journal Hojo had laying around. About a disease that was believed to exist at the time of the Ancients.” Sephiroth said simply.
“Okkk?” Cloud huffed.
“I fear the name escapes me, but it was a disease that revolved around unrequited love and flowers.” Sephiroth stated.
Cloud froze, his heart dropping into his stomach.
“That so…?” Cloud mumbled.
“Oh yes. If my memory is correct, you will continue to cough up these flowers until you either A. admit your feelings to the one you love or B. the flowers fill your lungs and clog your throat, ending in your death. Now, of course, even if you do admit your feelings to the one you love, it might not save you. If they reject you, it will kill you immediately. How tragic.” Sephiroth explained, still twirling the flower.
“Greattt so I’m dead either way.” Cloud mumbled before coughing again.
“Oh? You believe the one you love will reject you?” Sephiroth asked, curiously.
Cloud said nothing. Sephiroth hummed, but found himself a little annoyed. His rival might be killed… by flowers? By love? How disgusting. As if he could allow that to happen.
“Well, I cannot allow that to happen.” Sephiroth stated.
“Huh?” Cloud muttered.
“I refuse to let you die because of something as stupid and human as unrequited love. So we will simply have to fix that. Now, which of your little human pets is it?” Sephiroth demanded.
“Huh?!” Cloud flushed brightly.
“Come now. Which one? Tifa perhaps? Maybe that young Wutai girl?” Sephiroth asked, leaning closer.
Cloud turned his head away, refusing to meet his eyes. Sephiroth raised an eyebrow.
“I see, neither one of them. Hmm. Well, the Cetra is dead, so that removes her…” Sephiroth stated.
Cloud scowled, but stayed stubbornly silent.
“Perhaps I am looking at the wrong gender. Maybe the Turk gunslinger?” Sephiroth pressed.
Cloud again said nothing.
“No? Hm, perhaps you prefer someone more… rugged. The man with the gun arm maybe? I could see the appeal.” Sephiroth asked.
“Stop it.” Cloud huffed.
“I see. The pilot then. He is the only one left.” Sephiroth nodded.
“It’s not Cid!” Cloud hissed.
Sephiroth frowned and then raised an eyebrow.
“Please tell me you are not in love with that fire lion… dog… thing. Or the cat.” Sephiroth demanded.
“Ew! No! It’s no one on my team!” Cloud snapped angrily.
“Oh? Very well then. A Turk maybe? I have seen Reno giving you the eyes more than once. Though I was almost convinced Reno and Rude were a thing. Maybe Tseng? If it’s anyone out of the Turks, I would hope you’d pick Tseng.” Sephiroth continued.
“Oh, I am not fucking doing this. I am leaving!” Cloud hissed as he tried to storm off.
Key word being “tried”. Sephiroth grabbed his wrist and pulled him back. Cloud yelped as he was forcefully pulled into Sephiroth’s arms.
“I think not. As I said, I will not have you die simply because you can apparently save the world over a dozen times, but cannot confess your love to another human being. So who is it, puppet?” Sephiroth demanded, locking eyes with Cloud.
Cloud’s face was bright red as he tried to squirm away, refusing to meet Sephiroth’s gaze.
“It’s none of your fucking-” Cloud’s rant was cut off when he suddenly choked.
Cloud hacked and coughed, but it was clear he couldn’t get whatever it was out. He started to claw at his throat, his lips slowly turning blue.
“As amusing as it is to watch you slowly die like this, I still have questions.” Sephiroth stated, tilting Cloud’s head back.
With two fingers, he shoved them into Cloud’s mouth and down to the back of his throat. Carefully, he caught the flower between his two fingers and slowly pulled it out. Cloud choked as he managed to get the flower with the long stem attached to it out. Once it was cleared, Cloud gasped for breath, slumped against Sephiroth’s chest, as Sephiroth eyed the large blossom.
“It’s getting worse. That will not do. So stop being stubborn and tell me who it is.” Sephiroth demanded.
“F-F-Fuck… you!” Cloud hacked.
Sephiroth dropped the flower and forced Cloud’s face up.
“Now, since it’s not Reno, Rude or Tseng, I would hope you have better tastes than to get with Rufus Shinra.” Sephiroth said, side eyeing him.
“For the love of-! They aren’t in Shinra!” Cloud snapped.
Here, Sephiroth paused, because that really didn’t leave him a lot of people left then.
“I see. I have to admit, if I find out it’s some random person that has your heart, I might actually be disappointed.” Sephiroth stated.
That was the last straw.
“‘IT’S YOU, IDIOT!” Cloud yelled, only to freeze.
Sephiroth stared at him and Cloud swallowed hard, but at least the tickle in the back of his throat was gone. Sephiroth’s lip tilted upwards as he chuckled and he pulled Cloud even closer.
“My dear Cloud. How interesting. And you believe your Master doesn’t love you back?” Sephiroth asked.
Cloud huffed and shoved Sephiroth away.
“Because you don’t love me! You love the idea of me! That version of me that you have in your mind! Your mindless, hopeless puppet that can’t do anything for himself! So no! You could never love me, Sephiroth!” Cloud scowled.
Cloud moved away, only to stumble. His hands went up to his throat again. What had once been a tickle in the back of his throat was now a tearing. He could feel the flowers filling his lungs, his throat and his mouth. His eyes watered as he fell to his knees, unable to breath. Was this really it? Was this how he died? Cloud found himself being grabbed and pulled into Sephiroth’s arms.
“Oh, my dear Cloud.” Sephiroth muttered, cupping his cheek.
Cloud looked up at him and fucking hell, how could a man be so beautiful? Even now, Cloud’s heart beat quickened as Sephiroth held him. Sephiroth cradled him, their eyes locked and held.
“Of course, I love you. But you must understand, my Cloud. My love is not like your human love. Your human love is weak, easily broken and forgotten. My love? My love is neverending, overwhelming and unstoppable.” Sephiroth whispered.
Cloud choked a little. Sephiroth curled around him, pulling their faces close. Like they were the only two left in the whole world.
“My Cloud, my love has brought me back from the Lifestream over and over again. All for you. Because we are entwined. Because one cannot live without the other. This just proves what I have already known to be true. What you refused to see or admit to yourself. That you love me too. So let us not mince words and waste more time.” Sephiroth whispered before he pressed their lips together.
And just like that, Cloud could feel the flowers disappearing. For the first time, he felt like he could breathe without fighting for it. Cloud thought about pulling his lips away from Sephiroth’s, but honestly… Cloud kissed back, grabbing Sephiroth by the back of his neck and pulling him closer. Eventually, they did pull away and Sephiroth chuckled.
“I am pleased to see you have better tastes than I thought.” Sephiroth said.
Cloud gave him a bored look.
“I think I liked you better when you were quiet, kissing me.” Cloud mumbled.
Sephiroth chuckled before leaning in to kiss him again.