jessara40k (jessara40k) wrote in roads_diverged, @ 2008-04-05 10:17:00 |
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Entry tags: | final fantasy viii, jessara40k:cloud/sephiroth, theme 26: small town |
Final Fantasy VII; Sephiroth/Cloud; Theme 26 - Small Town "Small Town Prejudicies"
Title: Small Town Prejudices - Complete
Author: jessara40k
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Pairing: Sephiroth/Cloud
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Implied victimisation, implied slavery, light slash
Theme: 26 Small Town
Sephiroth smiled down at his sleeping lover and stroked Cloud’s hair before kissing him and getting out of bed. He wouldn’t be able to sleep, not yet, not after seeing the bruises left on Cloud’s body from his most recent encounter with Nibelheim’s bullies. He shut the bedroom door quietly, trying not to disturb Cloud and went to the gym he’d had constructed last year, throwing himself into the combat forms Hojo had taught him as a child.
He felt so helpless when it came to protecting Cloud. None of Nibelheim’s men so much as looked at Cloud when Sephiroth was with him, and Sephiroth only wished they’d try any of that ‘Outsider’ crap with him. He’d only asked Cloud to go to the police once, after Cloud had explained that they wouldn’t care, the same way the senators who’d sponsored Hojo hadn’t cared that he was just fifteen when they threw him into their black ops, he knew better than to ask again. And Cloud had refused to give him the names of his abusers, or Sephiroth would have dealt with them directly and terrorised them into keeping it quiet - he knew that outright killing or maiming them would be an overreaction, no matter how tempting he found the idea.
If he could do something about the authorities in this place he would, but all his contacts, at least the ones that had survived the whole ‘child soldier/living weapon’ scandal were military, and somehow he thought Cloud would have problems with him arranging for Nibelheim to be burned to the ground. He heard the door opening and immediately began easing back, shifting to some soft Tai Chi forms to cool down before turning to look at Cloud.
“When I woke up alone I knew you’d be down here.” And he hadn’t bothered doing more than wrapping the blanket around himself before coming down here to find him. Sephiroth had worked out enough of his frustration to muster a smile as he went over to wrap his arms around Cloud and start leading him back up to bed.
“I’m sorry you had to come looking for me, it’s just...you know I can’t stand seeing you hurt.” He was tempted to lift Cloud into his arms and actually carry him back to bed - all that freakish strength Hojo had given him had to be good for something, right? But then he wouldn’t have a hand free to open doors on the way there.
“I know. It’s a good thing I think it’s sweet that you’re so overprotective.” From Cloud’s smile he knew just what Sephiroth was thinking, and how much it embarrassed him when Cloud called him sweet - even in private.
“I just wish you’d let me take you away from this place.”
Cloud was already shaking his head as he replied. “I can’t leave my mother here on her own, and she won’t leave Dad’s grave. Besides, the money I give her for my board’s the only reason she can afford to pay the bills.” He spoke quickly, before Sephiroth could remind him why that shouldn’t be an issue. “I know you could pay her mortgage off for her, but she’d be hurt and a bit insulted. It was hard enough to get her agree to let me pay my board, and she doesn’t have any idea how much we actually spend on groceries on a monthly basis.” Because Cloud ordered everything over the internet, the way he’d taught Sephiroth to do when he’d complained about the lack of choice at the local store.
“I understand.” Pride could make people do stupid things, it was why he’d essentially been a slave of the US military for fifteen years, until Angeal had died. Cloud reached up and pulled Sephirtoh down to him for a kiss, breaking him from his dark memories, and Sephiroth returned the kiss, sinking down onto his bed with his lover in his arms.