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[Fic] The Mission (24): Heavy Artillery
Title: Heavy Artillery
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
Characters: Angeal/Cloud, Genesis.
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 4653
The Mission: Prequel | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24
It was not Angeal’s way to sing in the kitchen or the shower or anywhere else but today he felt like humming. The kettle joined him. It was an old-fashioned thing that whistled. The pots on the stove bubbled away and Angeal flattered himself that the sounds of cooking masked his disjointed attempts at a tune.
He heard the door open and quickly cleared his throat. “Who is it?” he asked.
“It’s me,” Cloud called. “What are you cooking? It smells great!” Cloud stuck his head in the kitchen, obviously still struggling with his boots. “What is that?”
“It’s just a pot roast,” Angeal said, reaching for a knife. He kept his smile carefully hidden. Young men, always hungry.
Cloud kicked his feet free and nearly stumbled inside. “Can I have some?”
“Not yet,” Angeal chided softly. “It’s not done.”
Pert lips bent into a little pout. “Aww. When is it going to be ready?” Cloud did not have the same pleading puppy face Zack did. He was used to making straightforward requests and even demands. There would have been something terrifying about that earnest stare if it didn’t come from somebody so short.
“A few hours yet,” Angeal said, giving in to the urge to ruffle Cloud’s hair. Soft and stubborn, just like Zack’s. What were the odds? But Cloud looked so downcast that Angeal could not ponder long. “What’s the matter?”
“In a few hours Zack will get here,” Cloud said, eyes moving furtively to the door. “He’s a food vacuum!”
Angeal burst out laughing. “True enough. But don’t worry. It’s an extra big roast and I made plenty of side dishes to fill him up. I won’t let him starve the rest of us.”
“Promise?” Cloud looked so serious, Angeal was hard-pressed not to laugh some more.
“I promise, Cloud.” Angeal finally removed his hand from the boy’s hair. “Why don’t you have some cookies out of the jar in the meantime?”
Cloud turned his head to look at the jar, a huge, ceramic apple. Genesis had justified the purchase despite the tacky paint job by claiming that every home needed some kitsch. Cloud sighed and shook his head. “No, it’s okay. For something that smells like this, I’ll wait. I don’t want to spoil my appetite.”
Angeal silently commended Cloud’s self-control. Zack didn’t have it, though to be fair, with all the mako running in him, he didn’t need it either. “Are you sure? I made dinner rolls too.” Angeal waved at the cloth covered trays on the counter behind him.
Cloud’s eyes went wide. He stepped closer, taking a whiff of air beyond the oven. The scent of meat cooking in a broth of onions and red wine had masked the scent, but closer, he could detect the fragrance of fresh homemade bread. “Wow.”
“Grab some butter,” Angeal said. “Take the edge of your appetite. One roll won’t hurt.”
“Yeah.” Cloud’s eyes glazed over. “Wow.” He stumbled over to the counter and lifted the edge of the cloth. Beneath it, golden brown tops glossy from a basting of melted butter, lay perfect rolls, still warm. “Angeal, this is amazing.” Cloud chose the roll in the corner, holding it in both hands with pure reverence.
Angeal shrugged. “It’s just home cooking. I like doing it whenever there’s the time.”
“It’s… it’s….” Cloud was nearly speechless. He took a bite, eyes fluttering closed. The taste drew a moan from him that was full of longing for something that seemed so far away now.
Angeal looked away, clearing his throat. “Never seen anyone react to bread like that before.”
“It’s so good!” Cloud slowly opened his eyes, looking utterly transported. “I haven’t had bread this good since… I left home.” Cloud blinked down at the bitten roll, admitting to himself for the first time that maybe there was something to miss about the place.
“What, Gen and Seph never baked bread for you?” Angeal said, shaking his hands off in the sink before reaching for a towel.
“They tried,” Cloud said, wide eyes staring far into the distance. “Once.”
“I see.” Apparently Angeal had come back just in time. “So where is home again? Nibelheim, right?
“Yeah.” Cloud took another nibble, looking like some small, furry woodland creature nibbling at nuts.
Angeal reached for the potato masher. “I’ve never been there. What’s it like?”
“Cold.” Cloud took a seat and stared at the soft inside of the bread. “Lots of mountains. Long winters.” He looked down at the roll and tested its softness with his fingers. “My mother bakes bread for the week. Baking day’s the best in the winter. The whole house heats up from the oven and the smell of fresh bread is everywhere.”
Angeal could not take his eyes off Cloud’s face, away from that open longing. It was easy to see why someone would have to urge to spoil the boy. “You miss home?”
Cloud snapped back to reality. “Not so much. Your bread is great too.” He smiled up at Angeal and took another bite.
“Don’t you want some butter for that?” Angeal asked.
Cloud shook his head, munching happily. “No, it’s good as it is.”
“Shoot,” Angeal said, teasing. “I was hoping I could con you into getting the butter out for me.” He went to the fridge and pulled out the butter dish. “Oh, don’t worry,” he said, seeing Cloud’s stunned, sheepish expression. “It wasn’t an order, I was just being lazy.” He felt like humming again, but he wouldn’t with Cloud in the room.
Cloud chewed a big bite thoroughly and watched as Angeal gathered salt, pepper and sour cream to go with the butter. Angeal set a large basin against his hip and made his way to the table to work. Cloud peered into the basin when Angeal set it down. “Are you making mashed potatoes?” His voice had a quaver to it when he was excited.
“I certainly am.” Angeal wanted to ruffle Cloud’s hair again, but he wouldn’t with food in front of him. “How do you like yours?”
“With butter,” Cloud said. “You could have told me it was for potatoes. I’d definitely get you the butter for that.”
Angeal grinned. “You like them, huh? Just the butter?”
Cloud shrugged. “Nibelheim food isn’t very fancy. Not like what Gen does.”
Angeal snorted. “Let me guess, four kinds of cheese, crushed garlic and a whole bunch of herbs.”
“Yes!” Cloud nodded hard. “And wasabi, one time.”
Angeal winced. “How was that?”
“Green.”
Angeal winced again. “Well, you know Gen, always looking to experiment.”
“Mmhmm.” Cloud finished the last bite of his roll and sighed.
“You can have another, you know,” Angeal said, slicing thick pats of butter. “Get them while they’re hot.”
“No, I’ll wait,” Cloud said, his eyes firmly on the bowl. Angeal moved with the efficiency of long practice. He didn’t stop once to measure the way Sephiroth always did. The butter went in along with a spoon of sour cream and a pinch of salt. A quick twist of the pepper mill finished the job and Angeal went to work, pressing the potatoes into paste with no effort at all. Cloud’s eyes moved from the bowl, up Angeal’s bare, flexing arms. The man looked happy when he worked like this. Cloud ducked his head and smiled.
“You want it completely smooth or are lumps okay?” Angeal asked, never ceasing.
“I don’t mind a few lumps,” Cloud said.
“Good!” Angeal grinned. “I like to leave a few in to make Gen complain.” Cloud burst out laughing with him.
“You two got it all sorted out?” Cloud asked. From his smirk he clearly knew the answer.
“Yeah,” Angeal allowed, drifting over the memory of a shared, sweet night, and several more after it, of Genesis beneath him, breathless, welcoming and yielding. Angeal cleared his throat and blinked. “Everything okay with you too?”
“Yeah, he made it up to me,” Cloud said with a knowing, contented smile of his own.
“I saw,” Angeal said, trying to keep it below prying level. “That bubble bath and the foot massage thing.”
“Mmhmm.” Cloud did not blush but he look away. The smile grew. Angeal was well-acquainted with Genesis’s way of putting that smile on a face.
“Here,” he said, holding out a small spoon. “Taste it and tell me if we need more salt.” He got a spoon for himself and they both dug in together, carving twin furrows in the mash. They licked their spoons clean and tasted thoughtfully. “Well?” Angeal asked.
Cloud looked hopeful. “More butter?”
“I thought so.” Angeal carefully cut a wedge of butter from the end of the stick, then stood there debating with himself for a while.
“Angeal?” Cloud was concerned.
“What the hell,” Angeal said and dunked the bulk of the stick into the bowl, leaving the little wedge to fall over all by its lonesome. He got to work mashing it all in together while there was heat to help melt things through.
Cloud watched Angeal’s shoulders as he worked because the man’s arms were a blur. “Wow.”
“There,” Angeal said, whipping the potato masher out and grabbing clean spoons. “That should be good enough for anyone. Want to try it now?”
“Sure!” Cloud would have jumped onto the table for a taste this time. They filled their spoons together, trying to get as much as they could without looking greedy. Angeal was more than satisfied with the flavor. Sometimes a little indulgence was a good thing.
Cloud made a happy sigh. He looked transported. “That… is perfect.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
“But that little bit of butter looks lonely now,” Cloud said.
“Hmm.” Angeal made a swipe with the butter knife and set the rest of the butter on top. It immediately began to melt.
Cloud set his chin down on the table, giggling slightly. “Butter river goes down Potato Mountain.”
“What?”
“It’s just something my mother used to tell me when I was little.” Cloud leaned back, unable to meet Angeal’s eyes all of sudden. His face looked a little pink.
“Yours too, eh?” Angeal said, leaning over. “My mother used to decorate the mountain with little trees.” Cloud looked up. “Oh, yeah,” Angeal said. “To make me eat my cauliflower.”
Cloud smiled. It was bright and beautiful and before Angeal knew what he was doing, he had leaned over and kissed the boy’s forehead. He froze in place at the realization of what he had just done, still close enough to feel the warmth radiating from Cloud’s soft skin, and in that moment Cloud turned his head up and gave Angeal a kiss of his own.
Cloud’s lips were very soft, soft and moist, and he kissed like a little bird, with gentle, cautious motions. Angeal would have pulled away but a hand reached up to caress his cheek, holding him in place more effectively than a vice. Angeal returned Cloud’s delicate pecks with careful nibbles of his own. He couldn’t help himself. He did not want to.
Cloud tilted his head back. His fingers trailed along Angeal’s jaw in a silent invitation. Angeal followed, sliding out of his chair, seeking to part Cloud’s lips with his tongue. Cloud received Angeal’s attention willingly, with a perfect sigh. Angeal lost himself in the warmth. Cloud tasted of butter, which only made sense. Angeal chuckled against Cloud’s mouth.
“What?” Cloud asked, tilting his head aside. His spikes bobbed with the motion. He looked like curious cockatoo.
Angeal smiled. “You taste like butter,” he said.
“Oh.” Cloud shrugged. “So do you.” And he reached up to kiss Angeal again.
There was no holding back this time, no hesitant exploration. Angeal held Cloud’s head in one large hand, holding him in place. Cloud wrapped his arms around Angeal’s neck and melted against him. Cloud was small, so much smaller than anyone Angeal had had recently, and the feel of that slender body leaning against his sent an undue thrill down to Angeal’s toes. He straightened but Cloud did not let go.
“What is it?” Cloud asked, eyes fluttering open. Up close, his lips were lusciously kiss-reddened.
Angeal swallowed. “Is this okay?”
Cloud blinked. “Of course it is.” Angeal nodded once to himself, satisfied, then rose, pulling Cloud up out of his seat. He wrapped both arms around Cloud’s back, pulling the boy close. Cloud was as slender as he looked, but his body was becoming lean muscle. A firm youthful body was hard to ignore. Angeal hissed at the growing feel of confinement. That would not do. He hoisted Cloud upwards, pleased that Cloud’s legs wrapped reflexively around his hips for the journey. Angeal tightened his grip and made to leave.
“The roast!” Cloud cried.
“It’s fine,” Angeal said, nearly growling. “We have a few hours.”
“Okay.”
Angeal stumbled twice on the way to the bedroom but Cloud did not mind. They collapsed onto the bed together in a blur of hands. Angeal indulged in one more searing kiss before pulling away. He stood at the foot of the bed and stared down. Cloud lay there breathing heavily, wantonly spread for him, belt undone, clothing askew. Angeal’s eyes were drawn to the sliver of skin exposed beneath Cloud’s shirt.
Cloud shakily propped himself up on his elbows. “Angeal?” His voice was roughened and deeper than Angeal would have expected from someone his size. But then, looking at Cloud now, it was clear he wasn’t that young. There was length to his legs. There was definition to his face. There was heat in his eyes.
“I want to look at you,” Angeal heard himself say. “I want to see all of you.” Cloud reached up to unbutton his shirt. “No, don’t!” Angeal said. “Stay still. I want to look at you.” He leaned over, brushing Cloud’s hands away. “I’ll do it. Just lie back and let me.”
Cloud exhaled heavily, eyes sparkling. Angeal felt the telltale press of Cloud’s arousal against his thigh. “Shh,” he said, although Cloud made no sound. Angeal was careful not to put his full weight down, leaning to one side so he could caress Cloud with a free hand and take the time to slow himself down. Cloud was a pretty thing to look at from any angle. Up close he was a work of art.
His hair was soft, bright gold right down to the roots. It rebounded stubbornly under Angeal’s touch. His eyes were a bright shade of blue that would take well to mako’s glow. Right now, they were beautiful without, and they were trained on Angeal’s face, tracking his intent rather than his moves. “It’s okay, Cloud,” Angeal whispered, running a hand down Cloud’s face. “I won’t hurt you.”
“I know.”
Angeal pulled at Cloud’s shirt, working at the buttons one by one. The skin beneath was pale and very lightly freckled. Angeal ran his hand up and down Cloud’s chest and watched Cloud’s nipples tighten in the cool air. Angeal dragged a nail across one, drawing a hiss from Cloud. “You like that?” he asked. Cloud nodded. “Good,” Angeal said. “Tell me anytime you don’t.”
Cloud nodded again. “Banana and strawberry,” he said.
“Huh?” Angeal paused.
“My safewords,” Cloud said. “Banana and strawberry.”
Angeal puzzled out the combination and chuckled. Suddenly so much made sense. He leaned over and kissed Cloud’s chest, working his way down in a slow line. Cloud went limp on the sheets, content to let Angeal do as he pleased. Angeal took in the smile on Cloud’s face and dipped his tongue into Cloud’s navel. That drew a soft cry and Cloud’s body tensed. His lips parted so prettily when he cried out. Angeal licked at Cloud’s skin until the boy quivered beneath him.
He took his time with the pants, undoing the button so slowly that Cloud lifted his head to see what was taking so long. “Lie still,” Angeal instructed and Cloud let himself sink into the bedding again. He was good at taking orders here. Angeal could get used to that. He undid the zipper with maddening care, taking time to let each metallic click have its say. Cloud was whimpering by then and it was not hard to see why.
“Do you need me to touch you?” Angeal asked, brushing his fingers over Cloud’s clothed erection. Cloud nodded hard, almost beyond words with need. “I will,” Angeal said. He slid Cloud’s pants down and hooked fingers in the waistband of Cloud’s shorts. “I’ll take care of you, Cloud.” He pulled downwards and let Cloud’s cock spring free.
It was pulsing and perfectly proportioned. Angeal lowered his mouth to it, feeling Cloud’s eyes on him. He looked up, locked gazes and tilted his head to press a quick kiss to the side. Cloud groaned in frustration. His cock bobbed for more. Angeal licked the flavor of it off his lips and went lower, nuzzling Cloud’s balls.
“Mm, Gaia,” Cloud gasped. Angeal pulled away, not wanting to end things so soon. He was careful, mindful of his strength as he worked to pull Cloud completely free of clothing. Cloud was willing and pliant, but obedient as well, letting Angeal take care of him as instructed. Angeal set Cloud’s nude form back down on the sheets and ran his fingers from face to toes. Cloud quaked with a young man’s eagerness. He whimpered, but softly, making tiny noises in the back of his throat. Angeal wondered what it would take to bring them out in fullness.
He worked his way back up Cloud’s body with care, tracing the ancient lines of life’s flow on Cloud’s skin with lips and gentle fingers. He took his time to learn Cloud’s ways, the catch of his breath when teeth brushed against his ankle, how he pulled at the sheets when someone licked the backs of his knees, the way he threw his head back at the slightest breath on his inner thigh. Cloud spread himself willingly and waited for Angeal to move.
Angeal kissed his way along the curve of Cloud’s hip before turning to give the boy's cock the attention it badly needed. “What do you want, Cloud?” he whispered, letting his breath play over the head. “Tell me.” Cloud made a soft, lingering cry. Angeal held Cloud’s hips steady and kissed the tip of Cloud's cock, sliding his tongue against the slit. Cloud bucked in Angeal’s grasp, calling out with a wordless cry. “More?” Angeal asked. Cloud nodded hard.
Angeal prowled up Cloud’s body on hands and knees, bending low to tease Cloud’s chest. He was very aware of the whispered pleas. Angeal nipped at Cloud’s collarbone and buried his face against a pale throat. Cloud tilted his head back, baring himself in submission to Angeal’s mercy. Angeal ground his hips against Cloud’s leg, seeking control. He slid one arm under Cloud’s slender shoulders and bit fiercely at tender skin, seeking to mark this small trooper, to let everyone know he was claimed.
Cloud’s control slipped. He grabbed at Angeal’s hair, seeking something to work his fingers into. He did not pull Angeal away. Cloud’s mouth worked as he tried to gather enough breath for words. “More,” he said, voice breaking. “More!”
Angeal was in no mood to refuse. He sat back on his knees with Cloud’s legs splayed around him. “Toss me the lube,” he ordered, pulling off his shirt. Cloud stretched out as far as he could to grab the bottle from the nightstand. He looked back just as Angeal was unfastening his belts and froze, lube in hand. Angeal paused. “What is it?”
Cloud shook his head, utterly mute. Angeal took in Cloud’s stunned expression and the way Cloud’s eyes lingered over his body. Was it possible that this sweet piece of ass Angeal had been admiring from a distance for a while had also been admiring him in return? Angeal felt a surge of pride. And he hadn’t even taken his pants off yet.
He worked them off slowly, easing his shorts off his hips. The expression that crossed Cloud’s face when he saw what he was in for would later be counted among Angeal’s sweetest triumphs. Wordlessly, Cloud held the bottle of lube out. Angeal took it with a smile. He coated himself liberally and slicked the fingers of one hand. “I’ll take my time.”
He trailed slick fingers down Cloud’s erection, over and around the tightening sac to circle the opening below. One finger went in easily and Angeal worked it back and forth. Cloud breathed deeply, slow and steady, relaxing himself to receive Angeal. A second finger joined the first. Cloud took it easily, long used to such attention. Angeal added a third. Cloud groaned a little but not with pain. His heels dug into the mattress as he sought to bear himself down on Angeal’s hand. “Easy, easy,” Angeal coaxed, adding a fourth finger far sooner than he usually preferred. Cloud cried out and began to gasp.
Angeal was careful with the preparation, moving his fingers slowly in and out. Cloud was tight but he knew how to relax his body and he was clearly no stranger to being penetrated. Still, he was a slender young man and Angeal’s hands were large. Angeal slid his fingers in as far as they could go, wringing rough cries from Cloud. Angeal imagined what it would be like to complete the job, to curl his thumb in and fist Cloud properly, to feel the boy writhing around him. He was almost there with Zack. Angeal shook his head. Later, when there was time for discussion. Cloud’s cock was bouncing with every jerk of his hips and Angeal did not want to wait anymore.
He removed his hand and moved in, his cock slapping against Cloud’s thigh. Angeal kissed Cloud’s lips, moistening them with his tongue. He hovered over the boy, memorizing every detail of his face. Blue eyes blinked up at him, expectantly. “Are you ready?” Angeal asked. Cloud nodded. Angeal took in the sight of Cloud’s hands tugging at the sheets and the leather cuffs still attached to the headboard. “Uh, do you need me to tie you down or anything?”
Cloud laughed. “No,” he said. “I like it but I don’t need it.” He reached up with one hand to pull Angeal in for another kiss, and down with the other hand to guide Angeal in. Angeal arched his back as Cloud’s body enveloped him. He had to stop, catch his breath. Cloud was mercilessly tight around him, and very hot. Angeal calmed himself as much as he could stand and rocked his hips forward by degrees.
Cloud could not even scream, focussed entirely on the sensation of being stretched and thoroughly filled. His legs flailed helplessly before he regained the sense to wrap them around Angeal. His ankles locked against the small of Angeal’s back and that was all the encouragement the SOLDIER needed. Angeal wrapped his arms tight around Cloud’s body and began to move.
He was heavy on Cloud, his full weight bearing down, but they were both beyond caring. Angeal lost himself in a warm body, taking in everything that was different and new. It had been so long since he had taken a lover so much smaller than himself, but Cloud had weight to him, and sound and fire. His voice was rough in Angeal’s ear. His breath was hot on Angeal’s skin. Angeal pressed in harder, wanting to hear the slick sounds of their bodies joining. Cloud writhed against him, seeking pressure of his own. He wasn’t like Zack, not as big, nowhere as loud. He wasn’t a teenager seeking his first experience. Cloud had plenty experience of his own and wasn’t shy about using it.
Cloud twisted and clenched down in a way that left Angeal breathless. Angeal sped up in return, determined not to be outdone by some stripling youth with swivelling hips. Cloud called out his name, the sound forced out of him with each heavy thrust. “An… geal,” he cried.
“Yes,” Angeal growled. “Again!” He reached between them to give Cloud a hand, rearing up on his knees for a different angle. Cloud made a sharp cry, a writhing mass of helplessness beneath Angeal. “Come on,” Angeal coaxed, indulging the urge to dominate. “I want to see the look on your face, Cloud, the look when you come.”
Cloud opened his eyes, staring directly up at Angeal, familiar with the request. “That’s it,” Angeal said, smoothing hair away from Cloud’s face. “Come for me, Cloud. Let me see you.” Cloud bit his lips and tightened his legs. Angeal tightened his grip, giving Cloud the pressure he sought. Cloud’s breath hitched and his eyes fluttered. Angeal swore he could hear the boy’s heart pounding, running counterpoint with the racing thud of his own. He locked eyes with Cloud, opening himself to Cloud exactly as he was demanding himself. “Beautiful,” Angeal said. “Beautiful little chickabo.”
Cloud flushed from his chest up, arching backwards with eyes shut tight. Angeal felt Cloud tightening all around and the warm fluid splatter and smear between them. Cloud’s voice was lost. Angeal held him through it, held him and held onto him, because Angeal couldn’t hold on much longer.
It overtook Angeal with sudden ease. His body wracked as he emptied himself into Cloud with a final fevered thrust. The sound of his blood pulsing filled his ears and the world behind his closed eyes was mako bright.
He was still on Cloud when he came to. On him and in him. Cloud was limp beneath him, eyes half-closed, one hand tracing the curve of Angeal’s bicep. Angeal tried to lift himself off but he could not find the willpower. “Cloud?”
“Mmm?”
“Am I too heavy for you?”
“No,” Cloud breathed. “You’re good.”
Angeal lay listening to Cloud’s breathing for a while before deciding it was definitely time to get up. Cloud made a plaintive sound as their bodies parted, but he didn’t have the strength to move. Angeal fumbled for the wipes Genesis kept nearby for just such an occasion. “Here,” he said, trying to clean Cloud up. “We were messy.”
“Was good,” Cloud said, too tired to form full sentences. Angeal dabbed at him carefully, cleaning Cloud with care, taking a moment to admire his handiwork. Angeal cleaned up what he could of the spill thoroughly before easing Cloud’s legs closed and taking a stab at himself.
“What do you usually do?” he asked, “You know, afterwards.”
“Hmm?” Cloud rolled halfway over. “Sleep. Hug.”
Angeal smiled. “Fine with me.”
“You sure?” Cloud asked. “Don’t have to. I'm not Zack. Or Gen.”
“What, you think I wouldn’t want to cuddle with you, Cloud?” Angeal leaned over and kissed Cloud’s forehead. "I don't leave my lovers unsatisfied."
Cloud gave him a lazy, lopsided smiled. “Thought maybe you’d want to check the pot roast.”
“Oh, right!” Angeal spun around and stumbled out to the kitchen, completely naked.
Cloud sighed happily and closed his eyes. He was only vaguely aware of Angeal crawling back into bed with him, mumbling something about the oven timer. Warm arms went around him and there was a wonderfully broad chest to go with it. Plus the whole place smelled like food. This was comfort. Cloud fell asleep.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-
“Angeal,” Genesis called out, storming into the bedroom. “You left lumps in the mashed potatoes again! Why do you keep doing that? You know how I… like… it.” Genesis stood in the doorway and stared.
Angeal and Cloud lay together in bed, nude beneath the sheets, exchanging smiles and soft words, and exploring each other’s faces. They both turned when they realized Genesis was at the door, contentment plain on their faces.
“Hi, Gen,” Cloud said, wiggling his toes under the covers.
Genesis approached the bed, endlessly amused. “Well, Cloud,” he said, playfully fluffing a pillow. “I take it the soda can rule no longer applies.”
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
Characters: Angeal/Cloud, Genesis.
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 4653
The Mission: Prequel | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24
It was not Angeal’s way to sing in the kitchen or the shower or anywhere else but today he felt like humming. The kettle joined him. It was an old-fashioned thing that whistled. The pots on the stove bubbled away and Angeal flattered himself that the sounds of cooking masked his disjointed attempts at a tune.
He heard the door open and quickly cleared his throat. “Who is it?” he asked.
“It’s me,” Cloud called. “What are you cooking? It smells great!” Cloud stuck his head in the kitchen, obviously still struggling with his boots. “What is that?”
“It’s just a pot roast,” Angeal said, reaching for a knife. He kept his smile carefully hidden. Young men, always hungry.
Cloud kicked his feet free and nearly stumbled inside. “Can I have some?”
“Not yet,” Angeal chided softly. “It’s not done.”
Pert lips bent into a little pout. “Aww. When is it going to be ready?” Cloud did not have the same pleading puppy face Zack did. He was used to making straightforward requests and even demands. There would have been something terrifying about that earnest stare if it didn’t come from somebody so short.
“A few hours yet,” Angeal said, giving in to the urge to ruffle Cloud’s hair. Soft and stubborn, just like Zack’s. What were the odds? But Cloud looked so downcast that Angeal could not ponder long. “What’s the matter?”
“In a few hours Zack will get here,” Cloud said, eyes moving furtively to the door. “He’s a food vacuum!”
Angeal burst out laughing. “True enough. But don’t worry. It’s an extra big roast and I made plenty of side dishes to fill him up. I won’t let him starve the rest of us.”
“Promise?” Cloud looked so serious, Angeal was hard-pressed not to laugh some more.
“I promise, Cloud.” Angeal finally removed his hand from the boy’s hair. “Why don’t you have some cookies out of the jar in the meantime?”
Cloud turned his head to look at the jar, a huge, ceramic apple. Genesis had justified the purchase despite the tacky paint job by claiming that every home needed some kitsch. Cloud sighed and shook his head. “No, it’s okay. For something that smells like this, I’ll wait. I don’t want to spoil my appetite.”
Angeal silently commended Cloud’s self-control. Zack didn’t have it, though to be fair, with all the mako running in him, he didn’t need it either. “Are you sure? I made dinner rolls too.” Angeal waved at the cloth covered trays on the counter behind him.
Cloud’s eyes went wide. He stepped closer, taking a whiff of air beyond the oven. The scent of meat cooking in a broth of onions and red wine had masked the scent, but closer, he could detect the fragrance of fresh homemade bread. “Wow.”
“Grab some butter,” Angeal said. “Take the edge of your appetite. One roll won’t hurt.”
“Yeah.” Cloud’s eyes glazed over. “Wow.” He stumbled over to the counter and lifted the edge of the cloth. Beneath it, golden brown tops glossy from a basting of melted butter, lay perfect rolls, still warm. “Angeal, this is amazing.” Cloud chose the roll in the corner, holding it in both hands with pure reverence.
Angeal shrugged. “It’s just home cooking. I like doing it whenever there’s the time.”
“It’s… it’s….” Cloud was nearly speechless. He took a bite, eyes fluttering closed. The taste drew a moan from him that was full of longing for something that seemed so far away now.
Angeal looked away, clearing his throat. “Never seen anyone react to bread like that before.”
“It’s so good!” Cloud slowly opened his eyes, looking utterly transported. “I haven’t had bread this good since… I left home.” Cloud blinked down at the bitten roll, admitting to himself for the first time that maybe there was something to miss about the place.
“What, Gen and Seph never baked bread for you?” Angeal said, shaking his hands off in the sink before reaching for a towel.
“They tried,” Cloud said, wide eyes staring far into the distance. “Once.”
“I see.” Apparently Angeal had come back just in time. “So where is home again? Nibelheim, right?
“Yeah.” Cloud took another nibble, looking like some small, furry woodland creature nibbling at nuts.
Angeal reached for the potato masher. “I’ve never been there. What’s it like?”
“Cold.” Cloud took a seat and stared at the soft inside of the bread. “Lots of mountains. Long winters.” He looked down at the roll and tested its softness with his fingers. “My mother bakes bread for the week. Baking day’s the best in the winter. The whole house heats up from the oven and the smell of fresh bread is everywhere.”
Angeal could not take his eyes off Cloud’s face, away from that open longing. It was easy to see why someone would have to urge to spoil the boy. “You miss home?”
Cloud snapped back to reality. “Not so much. Your bread is great too.” He smiled up at Angeal and took another bite.
“Don’t you want some butter for that?” Angeal asked.
Cloud shook his head, munching happily. “No, it’s good as it is.”
“Shoot,” Angeal said, teasing. “I was hoping I could con you into getting the butter out for me.” He went to the fridge and pulled out the butter dish. “Oh, don’t worry,” he said, seeing Cloud’s stunned, sheepish expression. “It wasn’t an order, I was just being lazy.” He felt like humming again, but he wouldn’t with Cloud in the room.
Cloud chewed a big bite thoroughly and watched as Angeal gathered salt, pepper and sour cream to go with the butter. Angeal set a large basin against his hip and made his way to the table to work. Cloud peered into the basin when Angeal set it down. “Are you making mashed potatoes?” His voice had a quaver to it when he was excited.
“I certainly am.” Angeal wanted to ruffle Cloud’s hair again, but he wouldn’t with food in front of him. “How do you like yours?”
“With butter,” Cloud said. “You could have told me it was for potatoes. I’d definitely get you the butter for that.”
Angeal grinned. “You like them, huh? Just the butter?”
Cloud shrugged. “Nibelheim food isn’t very fancy. Not like what Gen does.”
Angeal snorted. “Let me guess, four kinds of cheese, crushed garlic and a whole bunch of herbs.”
“Yes!” Cloud nodded hard. “And wasabi, one time.”
Angeal winced. “How was that?”
“Green.”
Angeal winced again. “Well, you know Gen, always looking to experiment.”
“Mmhmm.” Cloud finished the last bite of his roll and sighed.
“You can have another, you know,” Angeal said, slicing thick pats of butter. “Get them while they’re hot.”
“No, I’ll wait,” Cloud said, his eyes firmly on the bowl. Angeal moved with the efficiency of long practice. He didn’t stop once to measure the way Sephiroth always did. The butter went in along with a spoon of sour cream and a pinch of salt. A quick twist of the pepper mill finished the job and Angeal went to work, pressing the potatoes into paste with no effort at all. Cloud’s eyes moved from the bowl, up Angeal’s bare, flexing arms. The man looked happy when he worked like this. Cloud ducked his head and smiled.
“You want it completely smooth or are lumps okay?” Angeal asked, never ceasing.
“I don’t mind a few lumps,” Cloud said.
“Good!” Angeal grinned. “I like to leave a few in to make Gen complain.” Cloud burst out laughing with him.
“You two got it all sorted out?” Cloud asked. From his smirk he clearly knew the answer.
“Yeah,” Angeal allowed, drifting over the memory of a shared, sweet night, and several more after it, of Genesis beneath him, breathless, welcoming and yielding. Angeal cleared his throat and blinked. “Everything okay with you too?”
“Yeah, he made it up to me,” Cloud said with a knowing, contented smile of his own.
“I saw,” Angeal said, trying to keep it below prying level. “That bubble bath and the foot massage thing.”
“Mmhmm.” Cloud did not blush but he look away. The smile grew. Angeal was well-acquainted with Genesis’s way of putting that smile on a face.
“Here,” he said, holding out a small spoon. “Taste it and tell me if we need more salt.” He got a spoon for himself and they both dug in together, carving twin furrows in the mash. They licked their spoons clean and tasted thoughtfully. “Well?” Angeal asked.
Cloud looked hopeful. “More butter?”
“I thought so.” Angeal carefully cut a wedge of butter from the end of the stick, then stood there debating with himself for a while.
“Angeal?” Cloud was concerned.
“What the hell,” Angeal said and dunked the bulk of the stick into the bowl, leaving the little wedge to fall over all by its lonesome. He got to work mashing it all in together while there was heat to help melt things through.
Cloud watched Angeal’s shoulders as he worked because the man’s arms were a blur. “Wow.”
“There,” Angeal said, whipping the potato masher out and grabbing clean spoons. “That should be good enough for anyone. Want to try it now?”
“Sure!” Cloud would have jumped onto the table for a taste this time. They filled their spoons together, trying to get as much as they could without looking greedy. Angeal was more than satisfied with the flavor. Sometimes a little indulgence was a good thing.
Cloud made a happy sigh. He looked transported. “That… is perfect.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
“But that little bit of butter looks lonely now,” Cloud said.
“Hmm.” Angeal made a swipe with the butter knife and set the rest of the butter on top. It immediately began to melt.
Cloud set his chin down on the table, giggling slightly. “Butter river goes down Potato Mountain.”
“What?”
“It’s just something my mother used to tell me when I was little.” Cloud leaned back, unable to meet Angeal’s eyes all of sudden. His face looked a little pink.
“Yours too, eh?” Angeal said, leaning over. “My mother used to decorate the mountain with little trees.” Cloud looked up. “Oh, yeah,” Angeal said. “To make me eat my cauliflower.”
Cloud smiled. It was bright and beautiful and before Angeal knew what he was doing, he had leaned over and kissed the boy’s forehead. He froze in place at the realization of what he had just done, still close enough to feel the warmth radiating from Cloud’s soft skin, and in that moment Cloud turned his head up and gave Angeal a kiss of his own.
Cloud’s lips were very soft, soft and moist, and he kissed like a little bird, with gentle, cautious motions. Angeal would have pulled away but a hand reached up to caress his cheek, holding him in place more effectively than a vice. Angeal returned Cloud’s delicate pecks with careful nibbles of his own. He couldn’t help himself. He did not want to.
Cloud tilted his head back. His fingers trailed along Angeal’s jaw in a silent invitation. Angeal followed, sliding out of his chair, seeking to part Cloud’s lips with his tongue. Cloud received Angeal’s attention willingly, with a perfect sigh. Angeal lost himself in the warmth. Cloud tasted of butter, which only made sense. Angeal chuckled against Cloud’s mouth.
“What?” Cloud asked, tilting his head aside. His spikes bobbed with the motion. He looked like curious cockatoo.
Angeal smiled. “You taste like butter,” he said.
“Oh.” Cloud shrugged. “So do you.” And he reached up to kiss Angeal again.
There was no holding back this time, no hesitant exploration. Angeal held Cloud’s head in one large hand, holding him in place. Cloud wrapped his arms around Angeal’s neck and melted against him. Cloud was small, so much smaller than anyone Angeal had had recently, and the feel of that slender body leaning against his sent an undue thrill down to Angeal’s toes. He straightened but Cloud did not let go.
“What is it?” Cloud asked, eyes fluttering open. Up close, his lips were lusciously kiss-reddened.
Angeal swallowed. “Is this okay?”
Cloud blinked. “Of course it is.” Angeal nodded once to himself, satisfied, then rose, pulling Cloud up out of his seat. He wrapped both arms around Cloud’s back, pulling the boy close. Cloud was as slender as he looked, but his body was becoming lean muscle. A firm youthful body was hard to ignore. Angeal hissed at the growing feel of confinement. That would not do. He hoisted Cloud upwards, pleased that Cloud’s legs wrapped reflexively around his hips for the journey. Angeal tightened his grip and made to leave.
“The roast!” Cloud cried.
“It’s fine,” Angeal said, nearly growling. “We have a few hours.”
“Okay.”
Angeal stumbled twice on the way to the bedroom but Cloud did not mind. They collapsed onto the bed together in a blur of hands. Angeal indulged in one more searing kiss before pulling away. He stood at the foot of the bed and stared down. Cloud lay there breathing heavily, wantonly spread for him, belt undone, clothing askew. Angeal’s eyes were drawn to the sliver of skin exposed beneath Cloud’s shirt.
Cloud shakily propped himself up on his elbows. “Angeal?” His voice was roughened and deeper than Angeal would have expected from someone his size. But then, looking at Cloud now, it was clear he wasn’t that young. There was length to his legs. There was definition to his face. There was heat in his eyes.
“I want to look at you,” Angeal heard himself say. “I want to see all of you.” Cloud reached up to unbutton his shirt. “No, don’t!” Angeal said. “Stay still. I want to look at you.” He leaned over, brushing Cloud’s hands away. “I’ll do it. Just lie back and let me.”
Cloud exhaled heavily, eyes sparkling. Angeal felt the telltale press of Cloud’s arousal against his thigh. “Shh,” he said, although Cloud made no sound. Angeal was careful not to put his full weight down, leaning to one side so he could caress Cloud with a free hand and take the time to slow himself down. Cloud was a pretty thing to look at from any angle. Up close he was a work of art.
His hair was soft, bright gold right down to the roots. It rebounded stubbornly under Angeal’s touch. His eyes were a bright shade of blue that would take well to mako’s glow. Right now, they were beautiful without, and they were trained on Angeal’s face, tracking his intent rather than his moves. “It’s okay, Cloud,” Angeal whispered, running a hand down Cloud’s face. “I won’t hurt you.”
“I know.”
Angeal pulled at Cloud’s shirt, working at the buttons one by one. The skin beneath was pale and very lightly freckled. Angeal ran his hand up and down Cloud’s chest and watched Cloud’s nipples tighten in the cool air. Angeal dragged a nail across one, drawing a hiss from Cloud. “You like that?” he asked. Cloud nodded. “Good,” Angeal said. “Tell me anytime you don’t.”
Cloud nodded again. “Banana and strawberry,” he said.
“Huh?” Angeal paused.
“My safewords,” Cloud said. “Banana and strawberry.”
Angeal puzzled out the combination and chuckled. Suddenly so much made sense. He leaned over and kissed Cloud’s chest, working his way down in a slow line. Cloud went limp on the sheets, content to let Angeal do as he pleased. Angeal took in the smile on Cloud’s face and dipped his tongue into Cloud’s navel. That drew a soft cry and Cloud’s body tensed. His lips parted so prettily when he cried out. Angeal licked at Cloud’s skin until the boy quivered beneath him.
He took his time with the pants, undoing the button so slowly that Cloud lifted his head to see what was taking so long. “Lie still,” Angeal instructed and Cloud let himself sink into the bedding again. He was good at taking orders here. Angeal could get used to that. He undid the zipper with maddening care, taking time to let each metallic click have its say. Cloud was whimpering by then and it was not hard to see why.
“Do you need me to touch you?” Angeal asked, brushing his fingers over Cloud’s clothed erection. Cloud nodded hard, almost beyond words with need. “I will,” Angeal said. He slid Cloud’s pants down and hooked fingers in the waistband of Cloud’s shorts. “I’ll take care of you, Cloud.” He pulled downwards and let Cloud’s cock spring free.
It was pulsing and perfectly proportioned. Angeal lowered his mouth to it, feeling Cloud’s eyes on him. He looked up, locked gazes and tilted his head to press a quick kiss to the side. Cloud groaned in frustration. His cock bobbed for more. Angeal licked the flavor of it off his lips and went lower, nuzzling Cloud’s balls.
“Mm, Gaia,” Cloud gasped. Angeal pulled away, not wanting to end things so soon. He was careful, mindful of his strength as he worked to pull Cloud completely free of clothing. Cloud was willing and pliant, but obedient as well, letting Angeal take care of him as instructed. Angeal set Cloud’s nude form back down on the sheets and ran his fingers from face to toes. Cloud quaked with a young man’s eagerness. He whimpered, but softly, making tiny noises in the back of his throat. Angeal wondered what it would take to bring them out in fullness.
He worked his way back up Cloud’s body with care, tracing the ancient lines of life’s flow on Cloud’s skin with lips and gentle fingers. He took his time to learn Cloud’s ways, the catch of his breath when teeth brushed against his ankle, how he pulled at the sheets when someone licked the backs of his knees, the way he threw his head back at the slightest breath on his inner thigh. Cloud spread himself willingly and waited for Angeal to move.
Angeal kissed his way along the curve of Cloud’s hip before turning to give the boy's cock the attention it badly needed. “What do you want, Cloud?” he whispered, letting his breath play over the head. “Tell me.” Cloud made a soft, lingering cry. Angeal held Cloud’s hips steady and kissed the tip of Cloud's cock, sliding his tongue against the slit. Cloud bucked in Angeal’s grasp, calling out with a wordless cry. “More?” Angeal asked. Cloud nodded hard.
Angeal prowled up Cloud’s body on hands and knees, bending low to tease Cloud’s chest. He was very aware of the whispered pleas. Angeal nipped at Cloud’s collarbone and buried his face against a pale throat. Cloud tilted his head back, baring himself in submission to Angeal’s mercy. Angeal ground his hips against Cloud’s leg, seeking control. He slid one arm under Cloud’s slender shoulders and bit fiercely at tender skin, seeking to mark this small trooper, to let everyone know he was claimed.
Cloud’s control slipped. He grabbed at Angeal’s hair, seeking something to work his fingers into. He did not pull Angeal away. Cloud’s mouth worked as he tried to gather enough breath for words. “More,” he said, voice breaking. “More!”
Angeal was in no mood to refuse. He sat back on his knees with Cloud’s legs splayed around him. “Toss me the lube,” he ordered, pulling off his shirt. Cloud stretched out as far as he could to grab the bottle from the nightstand. He looked back just as Angeal was unfastening his belts and froze, lube in hand. Angeal paused. “What is it?”
Cloud shook his head, utterly mute. Angeal took in Cloud’s stunned expression and the way Cloud’s eyes lingered over his body. Was it possible that this sweet piece of ass Angeal had been admiring from a distance for a while had also been admiring him in return? Angeal felt a surge of pride. And he hadn’t even taken his pants off yet.
He worked them off slowly, easing his shorts off his hips. The expression that crossed Cloud’s face when he saw what he was in for would later be counted among Angeal’s sweetest triumphs. Wordlessly, Cloud held the bottle of lube out. Angeal took it with a smile. He coated himself liberally and slicked the fingers of one hand. “I’ll take my time.”
He trailed slick fingers down Cloud’s erection, over and around the tightening sac to circle the opening below. One finger went in easily and Angeal worked it back and forth. Cloud breathed deeply, slow and steady, relaxing himself to receive Angeal. A second finger joined the first. Cloud took it easily, long used to such attention. Angeal added a third. Cloud groaned a little but not with pain. His heels dug into the mattress as he sought to bear himself down on Angeal’s hand. “Easy, easy,” Angeal coaxed, adding a fourth finger far sooner than he usually preferred. Cloud cried out and began to gasp.
Angeal was careful with the preparation, moving his fingers slowly in and out. Cloud was tight but he knew how to relax his body and he was clearly no stranger to being penetrated. Still, he was a slender young man and Angeal’s hands were large. Angeal slid his fingers in as far as they could go, wringing rough cries from Cloud. Angeal imagined what it would be like to complete the job, to curl his thumb in and fist Cloud properly, to feel the boy writhing around him. He was almost there with Zack. Angeal shook his head. Later, when there was time for discussion. Cloud’s cock was bouncing with every jerk of his hips and Angeal did not want to wait anymore.
He removed his hand and moved in, his cock slapping against Cloud’s thigh. Angeal kissed Cloud’s lips, moistening them with his tongue. He hovered over the boy, memorizing every detail of his face. Blue eyes blinked up at him, expectantly. “Are you ready?” Angeal asked. Cloud nodded. Angeal took in the sight of Cloud’s hands tugging at the sheets and the leather cuffs still attached to the headboard. “Uh, do you need me to tie you down or anything?”
Cloud laughed. “No,” he said. “I like it but I don’t need it.” He reached up with one hand to pull Angeal in for another kiss, and down with the other hand to guide Angeal in. Angeal arched his back as Cloud’s body enveloped him. He had to stop, catch his breath. Cloud was mercilessly tight around him, and very hot. Angeal calmed himself as much as he could stand and rocked his hips forward by degrees.
Cloud could not even scream, focussed entirely on the sensation of being stretched and thoroughly filled. His legs flailed helplessly before he regained the sense to wrap them around Angeal. His ankles locked against the small of Angeal’s back and that was all the encouragement the SOLDIER needed. Angeal wrapped his arms tight around Cloud’s body and began to move.
He was heavy on Cloud, his full weight bearing down, but they were both beyond caring. Angeal lost himself in a warm body, taking in everything that was different and new. It had been so long since he had taken a lover so much smaller than himself, but Cloud had weight to him, and sound and fire. His voice was rough in Angeal’s ear. His breath was hot on Angeal’s skin. Angeal pressed in harder, wanting to hear the slick sounds of their bodies joining. Cloud writhed against him, seeking pressure of his own. He wasn’t like Zack, not as big, nowhere as loud. He wasn’t a teenager seeking his first experience. Cloud had plenty experience of his own and wasn’t shy about using it.
Cloud twisted and clenched down in a way that left Angeal breathless. Angeal sped up in return, determined not to be outdone by some stripling youth with swivelling hips. Cloud called out his name, the sound forced out of him with each heavy thrust. “An… geal,” he cried.
“Yes,” Angeal growled. “Again!” He reached between them to give Cloud a hand, rearing up on his knees for a different angle. Cloud made a sharp cry, a writhing mass of helplessness beneath Angeal. “Come on,” Angeal coaxed, indulging the urge to dominate. “I want to see the look on your face, Cloud, the look when you come.”
Cloud opened his eyes, staring directly up at Angeal, familiar with the request. “That’s it,” Angeal said, smoothing hair away from Cloud’s face. “Come for me, Cloud. Let me see you.” Cloud bit his lips and tightened his legs. Angeal tightened his grip, giving Cloud the pressure he sought. Cloud’s breath hitched and his eyes fluttered. Angeal swore he could hear the boy’s heart pounding, running counterpoint with the racing thud of his own. He locked eyes with Cloud, opening himself to Cloud exactly as he was demanding himself. “Beautiful,” Angeal said. “Beautiful little chickabo.”
Cloud flushed from his chest up, arching backwards with eyes shut tight. Angeal felt Cloud tightening all around and the warm fluid splatter and smear between them. Cloud’s voice was lost. Angeal held him through it, held him and held onto him, because Angeal couldn’t hold on much longer.
It overtook Angeal with sudden ease. His body wracked as he emptied himself into Cloud with a final fevered thrust. The sound of his blood pulsing filled his ears and the world behind his closed eyes was mako bright.
He was still on Cloud when he came to. On him and in him. Cloud was limp beneath him, eyes half-closed, one hand tracing the curve of Angeal’s bicep. Angeal tried to lift himself off but he could not find the willpower. “Cloud?”
“Mmm?”
“Am I too heavy for you?”
“No,” Cloud breathed. “You’re good.”
Angeal lay listening to Cloud’s breathing for a while before deciding it was definitely time to get up. Cloud made a plaintive sound as their bodies parted, but he didn’t have the strength to move. Angeal fumbled for the wipes Genesis kept nearby for just such an occasion. “Here,” he said, trying to clean Cloud up. “We were messy.”
“Was good,” Cloud said, too tired to form full sentences. Angeal dabbed at him carefully, cleaning Cloud with care, taking a moment to admire his handiwork. Angeal cleaned up what he could of the spill thoroughly before easing Cloud’s legs closed and taking a stab at himself.
“What do you usually do?” he asked, “You know, afterwards.”
“Hmm?” Cloud rolled halfway over. “Sleep. Hug.”
Angeal smiled. “Fine with me.”
“You sure?” Cloud asked. “Don’t have to. I'm not Zack. Or Gen.”
“What, you think I wouldn’t want to cuddle with you, Cloud?” Angeal leaned over and kissed Cloud’s forehead. "I don't leave my lovers unsatisfied."
Cloud gave him a lazy, lopsided smiled. “Thought maybe you’d want to check the pot roast.”
“Oh, right!” Angeal spun around and stumbled out to the kitchen, completely naked.
Cloud sighed happily and closed his eyes. He was only vaguely aware of Angeal crawling back into bed with him, mumbling something about the oven timer. Warm arms went around him and there was a wonderfully broad chest to go with it. Plus the whole place smelled like food. This was comfort. Cloud fell asleep.
“Angeal,” Genesis called out, storming into the bedroom. “You left lumps in the mashed potatoes again! Why do you keep doing that? You know how I… like… it.” Genesis stood in the doorway and stared.
Angeal and Cloud lay together in bed, nude beneath the sheets, exchanging smiles and soft words, and exploring each other’s faces. They both turned when they realized Genesis was at the door, contentment plain on their faces.
“Hi, Gen,” Cloud said, wiggling his toes under the covers.
Genesis approached the bed, endlessly amused. “Well, Cloud,” he said, playfully fluffing a pillow. “I take it the soda can rule no longer applies.”