Entry tags:

fanfic, fic: the mission, seph/genesis/cloud, yaoi

Fic: Debriefing
Title: Debriefing
Series: FFVII: Crisis Core
Characters: Sephiroth/Genesis/Cloud
Rating: R
Word Count: 3756
Warnings: Angst
Summary: An assignment brings a new challenge to the trio.
The Mission: Battle Plans | Special Assignment | Deep Cover | Code Word | Prisoner of War | Suspicious Activity | Surveillance | Hazard Pay | Debriefing
Art: Hot Dinner | Alt Link: DeviantArt



It took some time for things to get entirely smoothed out. Cloud was not in the mood to jump back into their usual games right away. Then there was the issue of monitoring the schedules more closely to know when Angeal would be alone and worrying and seeking company. It didn't help that it was just one more interruption in a relationship that already involved the finicky schedules of two high-powered Generals and a cadet's rigid training.

Of necessity, they began taking it in turns to keep Angeal from tearing his hair out while the other enjoyed Cloud's company for the night. Assuming he was available. On occasion, a surprise assignment would take any of them away, changing all their plans.

Finally the time came that all three of them could have an uninterrupted night together. Angeal had been pacing for days but his puppy was due back by evening to keep him out of their hair. Cloud, too, had had an assignment but discreet inquiry had affirmed the squad's safety and Cloud had promised to sneak up through his circuitous back route as soon as he got back. He would be in their arms by nightfall and Sephiroth and Genesis had everything ready to meet him.

But then Cloud stumbled in the door, cold and wet and numb. He blinked at them and turned away, retreating into a shell and closing himself away. Sephiroth dropped the handcuffs. Genesis put aside the knives. They were at the door faster than Cloud could back away, scooping him up and taking him to the couch. Cloud whimpered and squirmed in their grip.

“Cloud, baby, talk to us. Are you okay?” Genesis whispered in his ear, cooing soft words meant to soothe the boy's distress. Sephiroth, self-conscious and awkward, settled for stroking Cloud's hair. He would have to trust Genesis to handle this one. Cloud upset was nothing new, but that was usually anger, and usually at them. Sephiroth stared at the door, replaying Cloud's entry.

Cloud's face had been blank, his shuffle automatic. He had seemed as shy and reticent as he had been in the first weeks of their careful courtship. There had been a shift to his expression when he had spotted them, a waking of sorts, then the little furrow to his brow that Sephiroth had learned meant pain. Sephiroth's hand faltered, fingers still threaded in damp yellow.

Genesis had succeeded in quieting Cloud some. The boy lay stilled, half in Genesis's lap and limply submitting to the General's care. Genesis met Sephiroth's eyes over the top of Cloud's hair. They would not yet air long-held secret fears.

“Did it rain, Cloud, on the way home?” Genesis asked, a master of voice modulation. He used his most calming, soothing tones. “How about a hot bath?” Cloud nodded weakly and Sephiroth approved. They let him stand and led him to the master bathroom.

They had a tub there, easily large enough for all and then some. Genesis sent Sephiroth off to fill it with a tilt of his head and set about carefully undressing Cloud. “You're shivering, baby. Let's get this off.” He reached for Cloud's shirt.

“I... I can do it,” Cloud said, making a weak attempt to bat Genesis's hands away. Sephiroth left the running taps to lend a hand.

“Let us, Cloud.” It was almost an order and Sephiroth instantly regretted it, but Cloud fell into line like a proper soldier, letting them unbutton and unbuckle at will.

They were careful and slow, Genesis keeping up a steady stream of poetic nothings as they peeled off layer after damp layer. They communicated in glances, in brushes of fingertips as they caressed Cloud's body. They were careful not to let him see the careful scrutiny.

There were no visible bruises, and as they stripped him more thoroughly, no evidence of injury of any sort. They both sighed in tentative relief.

Cloud was fragile, after all, by their reckoning, and too beautiful to go unnoticed for long. Despite Angeal's frenzied interruptions, they understood his concerns. They lifted Cloud easily into the tub. He hissed at the sudden heat of the water but soon settled in, looking a little calmer than before. He blinked up at them both with the wide-eyed innocence he was still capable of. “Aren't you coming in?”

Sephiroth and Genesis shared another glance. “I'll join you, chickabo,” Genesis said, undoing the straps of his harness. “Come on, why don't you tell me about the mission. Miserable, was it?”

“Yeah....” Cloud sank up to his chin in the water. “How come you didn't put any bubble stuff in here?”

“Oh, he wants bubbles, now.” Genesis rolled his eyes. “I've got your bubbles right here.” He hit the switch at the side that turned on the jets. Cloud squawked as the stream hit him, then gave a shy giggle, turning red.

Satisfied that Genesis had things under control, Sephiroth made a quiet exit. He himself excelled at interrogation, but this required a gentler hand. He could only hope that there was nothing terrible at the root of Cloud's sudden skittishness.

Sephiroth took the opportunity to put the toys away. He did not suppose there would be much use for the jumbo bottle of lube, and if Cloud had been mistreated in any way, handcuffs and spreader bars were definitely not in the cards tonight. The low-temperature candles had almost guttered out, a waste of the specialty brand Genesis favored because they smelled like apple and cinnamon, but the man could fuss later if he wished.

When the place was tidy and looking decidedly less sordid, Sephiroth went to the bathroom again and stopped at the door. There was splashing inside, and Cloud was laughing lightly, if not sounding quite like himself. Satisfied that there was nothing terribly wrong at the moment, Sephiroth wandered away, unsure of what to do with himself.

He sat on the couch for a long while, ears trained on the bathroom door. He could not make the words out too clearly above the sound of splashing water, but at least Cloud was starting to sound more cheerful. Genesis was good at that kind of thing, handling the real finicky emotional details. Sephiroth usually just felt his throat clam up and then everything came out as a barked demand as his voice fought its way out. He sighed.

Cloud might be hungry afterwards, he reasoned, so he went off to the fridge. With a watchful eye, Sephiroth carefully reheated the poached salmon Cloud had developed a taste for despite himself. He fixed a plate, with vegetables and a small salad, certain that something was lacking in the presentation but unable to say what it was.

He took it to the bedroom and waited, tapping lightly on the door to keep the other two from letting themselves go all wrinkly in the tub. Genesis emerged soon enough with a towel-wrapped Cloud in his arms. A small nod and a cautious smile let Sephiroth know that there'd been no physical evidence of harm.

Genesis rolled Cloud out onto the bed. “Nap time, little chickabo.” Cloud squawked again, playing his role, if not as heartily. He sat up, hugging his knees to his chest.

“Dinner first,” Sephiroth said, hoisting the plate like a diner waitress. “Don't pretend they feed you properly on assignments. We know what it's like.”

Cloud gave him a look that was shyer than any Sephiroth had seen from the boy recently. What had made him regress so? Sephiroth sat at the edge of the bed while Genesis flanked Cloud's other side. They set the bed tray on his lap, heedless of his nudity.

“Uh-uh,” Genesis scolded, tapping Cloud's hand as he reached for the fork. Cloud sighed and settled in, familiar enough by now with their occasional need to baby him. Genesis fed him carefully while Sephiroth wielded the napkin. Genesis kept up the steady stream of light chatter, keeping Cloud entertained enough while the boy ate.

Cloud smiled now and then, but it did not brighten his eyes. He laughed, but it was subdued. Despite his love for the salmon, he did not finish it. Sephiroth took the leftovers to the kitchen while Genesis eased Cloud up to brush his teeth.

“He seems okay,” Genesis said, sidling up near the kitchen sink. “I started a tickle fight to check him over and there are no marks on him.”

“He could have been Cured,” Sephiroth said, staring ahead at the backsplash.

“I'll use a Sense when he's asleep. It's not as good at detecting healed tissue as a medical exam, but it will have to do.”

Sephiroth shook his hands off over the sink and reached for a towel. “Gen, if anyone touched him...”

“I know.”

Cloud's voice sounded from the bedroom. “Genesis? Sephiroth?”

“We're coming, Cloud,” Genesis called, “you just get comfy.”

They walked in on Cloud as he was about to slide under the covers. He turned to them, looking regretful. “I feel awake now. I mean, I'm tired, but I don't know if I can sleep.”

“We'll help you, baby,” Genesis cooed, reaching into a drawer for the lube.

Cloud's face fell. “Um, Gen...”

Sephiroth stopped Genesis with a touch to the arm. “Not tonight, Cloud?”

Cloud ducked his head and shook it. Sephiroth felt Genesis's arm stiffen slightly. “It's okay, Cloud,” Genesis said with a feigned lightness. “I have something else.” He reached for his personal body lotion instead.

Cloud blushed a little and obediently lay on his stomach. It was hardly the first time Genesis had brought out his own personal stash for Cloud. Sephiroth would usually roll his eyes, leave them to their 'unnecessary fripperies' and go give his hair a good conditioner soak for the duration. This time he reached out his palm and let Genesis pour out a generous dollop.

The fresh scent of apples filled the room. There were underlying hints of honey and surprisingly, for Genesis, vanilla. Cloud couldn't pick them all out but he knew that he liked the overall effect. He sighed contentedly, tightening slightly as Sephiroth began to work on his back.

“Warm it in your hands first, Sephiroth,” Genesis scolded. “It's cold, you know.”

“Sorry, Cloud,” Sephiroth whispered. Cloud made a soft sound and went limp on the pillows, appearing to sink deeper into the mattress.

Together, Sephiroth and Genesis massaged the lotion into Cloud's skin, rubbing him down in firm, even strokes. Genesis worked carefully on Cloud's neck and shoulders, making expert circles with his thumbs. Sephiroth, needing to see for himself, directed his attention to Cloud's rear and legs, going over the area slowly until he was sure that there was no overt sign of harm.

Cloud sighed happily again, murmuring as he drifted closer to sleep. Sephiroth and Genesis rolled him over gently to work on his other side, to stroke his arms, to rub the skin softening cream onto Cloud's hands. He was gaining the calluses of a fighting man. Sephiroth kissed the little fingertips lightly.

It took only a few moments, once they were sure Cloud was asleep. Genesis's face was screwed up in concentration, but eventually relaxed. “I can't find anything,” he said, setting his materia bangle down. “Maybe this was just a difficult mission.”

“The details will be probably be filed tomorrow,” Sephiroth said. “We can know for sure.”

“Reports won't tell us everything, Sephiroth.”

“I know.” Sephiroth stroked Cloud's cheek, still baby-soft and barely downed. “Can you find out what's bothering him?”

“You know I'll do my best, Seph.” Genesis settled in next to Cloud, holding one of the boy's hands close to his own heart.

Sephiroth spent a long moment staring down at the little one before turning off the light.

***

Things were quiet around the apartment for a while. The Generals could find nothing suspicious in either the mission reports or Cloud's story of it. Genesis had not been able to root anything out though he admitted to harboring a suspicion that Cloud was hiding something. Sephiroth worried behind an impassive mask, forgoing Angeal's tendency to fret and pace, but chose to remain patient, trusting that the answer, if there was one, would come out in time.

Two weeks later, on a quiet afternoon, Cloud sneaked into the apartment to find Sephiroth there alone. Cloud searched around. “Where's Genesis?”

“Demonstration match,” Sephiroth answered, practicing on an onion in an attempt to distinguish a slice from a chop as defined by the incredible four-eyed man on the screen. “He'll be back later.”

“Oh.” Cloud rubbed his arm and edged towards the kitchen to get himself a soda. He sat some distance away from Sephiroth, eyes moving between the cutting board and the screen to see how Sephiroth was measuring up. The General had it down pat, always did when a blade was involved. It was the application of heat of that gave him trouble, though he was learning.

“You're getting better,” Cloud said, smiling a little into his soda can. Sephiroth gave him a small smile in return, never pausing. Cloud was blinking more than usual. Sephiroth had never expressly said it, but he loved the way Cloud looked when he did that, revealing something of the wide-eyed innocent that would not be removed. But Cloud wouldn't stop blinking.

“Are you okay, Cloud?”

The boy swallowed. “That onion's really fresh.”

“Oh.” Sephiroth stopped. “I could go get a leek,” he said, nodding at the screen. “He says they're like onions but milder.”

“It's okay,” Cloud said, sipping again. “What time is Genesis due back?”

Sephiroth held on to the disappointment, refused to let it show on his face. “Around six.” It was only to be expected. Cloud undoubtedly enjoyed their relationship, but he came to Sephiroth for force and firmness in love play. It was Genesis who whispered sweet words and made gentle caresses. When it came to the tender things, Sephiroth always followed Genesis's lead. No surprise now, if Cloud wanted a little comfort, he would want one over the other if he couldn't have them both.

Still, Sephiroth would not leave his little Cloud distressed. “He'll be here soon enough, Cloud. Why don't you get comfortable?”

Cloud shrugged. “I'm fine.”

“Are you?” The words came out before Sephiroth had even thought them through. He turned to face Cloud, hoping against hope that he didn't have his Interrogation Face on, or that if he did, Cloud would be accustomed enough to it to not quiver.

Cloud swallowed. “I'm okay.”

“Okay isn't good,” Sephiroth said, trying to keep his voice softer than it wanted to be. “How are you really, Cloud?”

Cloud broke then. Twin tears trailed down his face. “Shit,” he murmured, turning away to wipe his face. Sephiroth set his cutting board down and walked over to Cloud. There was no waiting for Genesis now. Sephiroth could only try his best.

“Cloud,” he said, reaching out to touch the boy's hair, “What's wrong? Tell me?”

Cloud turned slowly and leaned against Sephiroth's thigh, seeking touch. Sephiroth stroked blond hair, letting his fingers trail down to Cloud's neck. “Cloud,” he said, working hard to keep his voice steady, “you're not hurt, are you?”

Cloud shook his head. “I'm okay.”

Sephiroth swept low and scooped Cloud up, taking the boy over to the leather recliner in the corner and settling Cloud in his lap. “Tell me,” Sephiroth tried not to order, “tell me what's wrong, Cloud.”

Cloud swallowed visibly. “I love you.”

It was Sephiroth's turn to blink. They all three rarely said it in as many words but he was certain it was understood. “Is that a problem, Cloud?” he asked, willing his tongue not to stumble. “I love you too. We both do.”

“I know.” Cloud drew away, sitting up, but Sephiroth would not let him off. “It's just... the last mission.”

Sephiroth felt his chest tighten. He knew something had gone wrong.

“I met somebody,” Cloud said.

Sephiroth had to wait for that to sink in. “You... met... somebody.”

Cloud nodded, though he turned his face away. “Another SOLDIER. Sephiroth, nothing happened, I swear, nothing happened, really, you have to believe me.”

“I do, Cloud, I do.” Sephiroth grabbed Cloud tight around the waist. “But if nothing happened, why is this bothering you?”

Cloud's voice when high, nearly cracking. “Because I really liked him. He was nice to me, and really funny and it was so exciting being around him.” Cloud sniffled, fighting an onslaught of tears in earnest. “And during the mission he looked out for me like you and Genesis do here.”

Sephiroth felt like he was lost at sea. Cloud liked another? Liked another? What did that mean for them? “So, you want to be with him now?”

Cloud shuddered. “I don't know.” He curled in on himself, all the distress he had been holding on to rushing out of his soul. “Before it was just, you know, a daydream. I thought I'd forget about him when I got back to you. But I keep thinking about him.”

Sephiroth felt his heart drop like a stone. “Are you leaving us?”

“I don't want to.” Cloud dried his eyes on his sleeve. “I'm happy with you and you do so much for me and I don't want you thinking I'm ungrateful.”

“That has nothing to do with it, Cloud.” This, Sephiroth understood, having had it hammered into him by Genesis and Angeal some years before. “We do what we do for you because we want to, not because we expect any kind of payment. If you're not happy here we wouldn't be either.”

Cloud sighed, gathering himself. “I can't stop thinking about him, though, and I don't know why.”

Sephiroth stroked Cloud's back. “Fantasizing is hardly a crime.” Gaia, if Cloud only knew some of the things they were planning to do to him once he made SOLDIER and could withstand it all. If he was still theirs by then. “Tell me, is this SOLDIER handsome?”

Cloud choked on laughter. “Yeah, he looks pretty good.”

“And he takes care of you.”

“Well, yeah, but that was just on the mission. Not like he'd want to do it off the field.”

Sephiroth scoffed. Who wouldn't want to take care of pretty little Cloud anywhere they could get him? Cloud was so young, just as he himself had been at one time, when Angeal and Genesis had taken it upon themselves to teach him about his own desire. “You still wonder what it would be like.”

Cloud nodded. “It's stupid, I know, and it's so unfair when you two gave up so much for me.”

“Gave up?” What the hell had they given up?

“You know,” Cloud sniffled. “You two and the other General, Hewley, didn't you say you used to be together?”

“Angeal left us, chickabo, and even so, we told you it's probably not permanent in the long run. We gave up nothing.”

“You could have had anybody.”

“We didn't want anybody. We wanted you.”

Cloud's face crumpled. “And here I am, obsessing over somebody else.”

Sephiroth breathed deeply. The ache in his chest was already easing. “You haven't cheated, Cloud. You haven't betrayed us. You're young. It's natural to want to experiment.” So Genesis had told Sephiroth a long time ago, anyway. He had said something else too. “Monogamy isn't for everyone.”

Cloud coughed. “We're not monogamous.”

Sephiroth shrugged. “Well, maybe you want to expand your circle a little.”

Cloud sighed and leaned into Sephiroth's chest. “That's not fair. Not for you two.”

Sephiroth scoffed openly. “How is it not? We're old and crusty and ready to settle down. We've had our fun.” That won a chuckle from Cloud. “So, you want to pursue this young SOLDIER of yours?”

Cloud frowned. “I... I don't think I could. I mean, I like the idea of it, but I only just met him and I love you and besides, I wouldn't know the first thing about how to get him.”

Sephiroth rolled his eyes. Cloud knew plenty. Still, he was rather quiet before strangers and definitely more reserved outside of the bedroom. He was the type to be pursued rather than go hunting himself. Sephiroth nuzzled Cloud's wild spikes. “In any case, we can talk to Genesis about it and if you really want to sow some wild oats, I think it's only fair considering what we got up to ourselves. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with just daydreaming about it.”

Cloud drew away, looking skeptical. “You really wouldn't mind me sleeping with somebody else?”

“Oh, we'll be watching him like a hawk. If he so much as breathes at you wrong he's done for.”

Cloud smirked despite himself. “All the more reason to leave the poor guy alone.”

Sephiroth rubbed Cloud's cheek. “Is it okay now, then? You haven't cheated and there's nothing to worry about.”

Cloud swiveled on Sephiroth's lap and stared closely at him. “You really, really wouldn't have a problem with me... experimenting?”

Genesis had mentioned something about it once, how Cloud so eagerly drank up their attention, how deep-seated was his need to please, as if he feared their love would be taken away for the slightest infraction. It made him delightfully submissive in bed and it had taken months for his confidence to grow enough to make demands of his own. Still, like the core of innocence, that instinct to grasp at affection remained. Poor thing, to be so upset at the mere idea of wanting something on his own. “No, Cloud, love, we'll be here when you need us. We love you.”

Tears welled up in Cloud's eyes and Sephiroth wondered what he had said wrong. Then Cloud wrapped his arms around Sephiroth's neck and breathed heavily into the side of Sephiroth's neck. Sephiroth could only hold the boy's lean frame as it trembled. “I wish I could love you half as much.”

Sephiroth had nothing to say. Instead he rocked with Cloud, a slow, steady swaying motion that experience had taught him would soothe his little bird. Cloud's teeth on his throat told Sephiroth the boy had other ideas.

Genesis came in from his fight to find them moving skin to skin in a sensual dance on the chair. He pulled his gloves off to trail fingers up Cloud's bare leg, to brush Cloud's cheek, to trace Cloud's parted lips with his fingers. Sephiroth blinked at him in heavy-lidded approval. Genesis smiled.

“Welcome back, Cloud.”

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