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[imjustaman]

Hello, this is Sephiroth. I am sorry I missed you. Please leave a message and I will get back to you promptly.

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[cloudsenior]

The council had provided an apartment to stay in, but not much else besides that, which meant if Cloud wanted to be able to keep afloat in this world, he was going to need a job. Maybe it was because he was in SOLDIER, maybe it was because he had done so much mercenary work in Midgar, but he couldn't settle on just one job. He sold himself out on the Starlink as a man for hire for anything, and it didn't take long for the requests to come flooding in. Part time help, just need someone strong for a day; he had to turn down the delivery jobs unfortunately, but getting himself a vehicle very quickly went to the top of his priority list.

That particular day found him helping out at a bookshop; the owner had just received in a large shipment, and he couldn't carry and shelve all the new books himself. It led to Cloud going back and forth from where the boxes were stacked outside to inside, unloading and carrying stacks and stacks of reading material until his arms burned from the weight. It was a good kind of exercise, and the patrons coming in were nice enough about the restock effort, so he didn't mind.

Something about the bell into the store ringing this latest time had him looking up from the stack he was carrying to one of the shelves, like some tiny voice in the back of his head was whispering for him to pay attention. He caught one glimmer of silver, before he abruptly about faced, staring at the bookshelf in front of him like it would suddenly turn into a door for him to escape out of. He still hadn't even processed his emotions over everything that happened the last week, and here he was, steamrolling into his life right away. Gaia help him.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth was enjoying shopping and exploring on this nice, overcast autumn day. Being a book fan, of course he was going to see what was available to read in this world.

The blond spikes were unmistakable. “Cloud?”

He hoped.

[cloudsenior]

Cloud hunched his shoulders at being immediately called out, a pink tint coming to his face. He took a breath, counted off to ten in his head, before shuffling around to face Sephiroth.

"...hey," he greeted him lamely, wishing he could get away with hiding behind the books he was carrying.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth smiled at him. “You’re working here?” It was hard to picture Cloud being that interested in books.

[cloudsenior]

"Just for today," he replied, shrugging his shoulders slightly, the book stack bobbing up slightly from the movement. "The owner got a huge restock shipment and needed extra help."

[imjustaman]

“Ah, I see.” That made more sense. “Well, don’t let me keep you.”

He looked at the books Cloud was holding, however, to see if anything sounded good.

[cloudsenior]

Cloud didn't even really pay attention to what he was carrying, which was why he was carrying titles like The Art of Kindness, Gals or Pals: Navigating Relationships, and The Introvert's Guide to Asking Out That Special Someone.

"Right, thanks," Cloud said quickly, hurrying off to get the books where they needed to go. If Sephiroth looked closely, he might be able to catch a red blot on the tips of Cloud's ears.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth looked a little embarrassed by some of those titles. He quickly retreated to look at Tolkien.

Soon he had a small stack of books to purchase. He wandered about the store to see if there was anything else good.

[cloudsenior]

Cloud had seemingly disappeared by then; at least, it looked like all the new books had been put away and the boxes from them cleaned up. But in Sephiroth's pursuit of something else to potentially read, he'd be able to find him easily, tucked away from immediate sight in what looked like an employee area of the store. He was leaning against the wall with a lost look on his face, and didn't seem to be paying attention to the store.

And really, who could blame Cloud right now? He still hadn't sorted out his feelings, not to mention he didn't know how to parse how his heart started racing when Sephiroth entered the store. Sure, it could've been a fight or flight response, and part of him wanted to convince himself it was. It didn't feel the same though; normally when Sephiroth showed up he was ready to fight him without a second thought, not try to hide.

And then there had been that whole belonging feeling when he had been carrying him close to his chest...

"Ugh..." he muttered under his breath, scratching at his head and mussing up his hair. Too much; it was too much to think about!

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth did see Cloud and went over in a bit of concern. “Cloud? Are you alright?”

[cloudsenior]

Perhaps it was because he was so wrapped up in his own head, perhaps Sephiroth was unintentionally being quiet as he approached. Either way, Cloud just about jumped out of his skin at the question, letting out the most embarrassing high pitched and loud squeak that ever came out of anyone's mouth. He immediately slapped his hands over his mouth, staring up at Sephiroth with wide eyes as his entire face turned bright pink.

[imjustaman]

Well, that just made Sephiroth more worried. “Cloud, what is the problem?! Are you ill?” He came closer.

[cloudsenior]

"I'm fine!" Cloud insisted, looking like he wanted to retreat only his legs betrayed him, keeping him rooted to the spot. "You... you just surprised me. That's all."

[imjustaman]

“I don’t believe I’ve ever surprised someone to that extent before,” Sephiroth said. “You act like I caught you with your hand in the cookie jar. Except there’s no cookie jar.”

[cloudsenior]

Cloud let out an awkward noise at that, staring up at Sephiroth. He was... close, he should be taking a step back, but he couldn't get his legs to move. Again, that fight or flight feeling was deep in his bones, but not quite feeling the same way it usually did.

"Cookie jar, hunh," he muttered, looking away as his face turned pink. He wondered if Sephiroth realized he was the cookie jar he was trying not to think about pilfering from? Shit, why did he even think of it like that?!

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth sighed. “If you’re sure nothing is wrong, I am going to purchase these books and likely leave.”

He didn’t know what else to do. Cloud was not talking. He had no idea what Cloud was thinking, and would be shocked if he did know.

His own feelings were also complicated. He loved Cloud, he wanted to be with Cloud, but in what way? The only close relationships he’d had were friendships. He didn’t think he had ever felt any sexual feelings for anyone, but he loved, truly, deeply, and he wanted to be loved in turn. He wanted a soulmate who wanted to be with him forever. But he doubted there would ever be any such thing for him. The only person who had never left him had been left by Sephiroth in his madness. And Cloud … he doubted Cloud could ever love him, in any way.

[cloudsenior]

How could Cloud even put to words what was actually wrong, when he himself didn't even know how to articulate it? His mouth worked, trying to say he didn't have to go, that yeah it was fine that he left, that he was a mess and it was all Sephiroth's fault for being so nice and staying those seven days to make sure he survived. None of that actually came out, to the point where Cloud clicked his mouth closed in sheer frustration.

A moment passed, before he hesitantly reached up, pulling off a glove with one hand and reaching out. His bare fingers brushed lightly against Sephiroth's exposed chest before he placed his palm flat against it, and that strange feeling overcame him almost immediately; that feeling like he was being made whole, like coming home after years away. He let out a soft breath at the feeling, eyes half lidded as he leaned forward, pressing his forehead just above where his hand rested.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth was moving to leave when Cloud acted, and then he went absolutely stiff, his mind blank. What was Cloud doing?! From anyone else he would pull back, probably snarl about sexual assault. But … Cloud didn’t mean anything wrong. He knew that. Cloud was desperately trying to tell him something deeply important, something he couldn’t get out any other way. When Cloud leaned forward, Sephiroth stared again.

“Cloud … do you … want to be with me?”

That was too impossible, too unreal. Cloud could never …

[cloudsenior]

Be with Sephiroth? The question muddled its way through his mind, caught up in the peaceful feeling that was washing over him. Being with Sephiroth meant he could keep having this feeling, right? It was... something precious, like all of his worries could just melt away as long as he could touch him like this. It was... like a re--

The door on the other side of the hall they were in suddenly opened, and Cloud sprang apart from Sephiroth like he had been hit by Firaga. The owner of the store came out then, thanking Cloud for his hard work and shaking his bare hand, transferring the payment for his help. Cloud nodded, before motioning over to Sephiroth, not daring to look at him.

"You, um... y-you have a customer," he mumbled, before quickly ducking around Sephiroth to get out of the store as fast as he could.

The empty feeling he was experiencing was just a coincidence.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth jumped too, and then snarled to himself, berating the person coming in at such a moment. He had to catch up with Cloud. He purchased the books, barely remembering to take back his locket that he stored stardust in (Sephiroth would never sparkle on his skin like a Twilight vampire. Never.), and ran out the door.

“Cloud!”

[cloudsenior]

Cloud had gotten a good fair distance from the bookstore in the time it took Sephiroth to check out. Still, calling after him got Cloud to stop, despite how much he wanted to keep running. He should keep running, before he embarrassed himself in public by doing... that again, like he was some kind of touch starved teenager.

...and no it didn't matter that he was a touch starved adult!

"Can we just forget that happened, please?" he asked once Sephiroth caught up to him.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth was touch-starved too. And while he didn’t want it from just anyone, it was different when it was someone he cared about.

“Why did it happen, Cloud?” he asked. “I feel I have a right to know. No one has ever … done that before.”

[cloudsenior]

"I don't know!" Cloud replied, trying not to sound distressed. He was not distressed. He was perfectly fine! See, he even managed to turn around and meet Sephiroth's eyes!

...damn did he want to touch him again.

Instead, he firmly pulled up on the glove he had crammed back on during his escape.

"When I touch you it... it feels nice, okay?" he finally bit out, managing to keep his voice down through some miracle.

[imjustaman]

… Well, now Sephiroth was completely red.

“Nice? Nice how?”

[cloudsenior]

Cloud wasn't fairing much better; he managed to hold Sephiroth's gaze for a moment more, before he had to turn away, folding his arms over his chest defensively.

"Nice like... like a part of me that was missing came back. Like being reunited with someone you hadn't seen in a long time, or coming home after years away..."

He trailed off, well and truly pink in the face now.