Shallow End

Author: Shadow Cloud Strife Shadow Cloud

Title: Shallow End

Chapter: 1

Early Mornings

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(When this began)
I had nothing to say
And I get lost in the nothingness inside of me
(I was confused)
And I let it all out to find
That I'm not the only person with these things in mind.
(Inside of me.)
But all the vacancy the words revealed
Is the only real thing that I've got left to feel
(Nothing to lose)
Just stuck/hollow and alone
And the fault is my own, the fault is my own.
----Linkin Park - Somewhere I belong

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The room was completely silent as the blonde sat by the round table. A smiled curled at his lips. It was rather early, earlier then he'd normally get up. But a certain little boy and his crying awoken him from his slumber. There wasn't a noise in the house, even the little boy was asleep. Cloud had the baby pressed against his shoulder, holding him in close, safe arms. The only noise around as the clicking of the clock nearby. But even that seemed silent as Cloud sat and stared at the wall, patting the baby's back softly. He had just fed the boy and hoped that he'd sleep soon. Of course, Cloud wanted to sleep as well. He kissed his baby's cheek and stood from the chair. He trudged upstairs and down the hall into the boy's dark room. Cloud set the baby into his crib and smiled, pulling the blankets of his baby. He stepped back and admired the boy. "Sleep well, Jay," Cloud whispered. He walked to the door, halfway closing it behind him. He walked a slight way down the hall and into his own room. Sephiroth was sound asleep under the crimson comforter. Cloud had chosen their sheets, blankets, carpet, wall color, dresser, bed, and pillow cases. The blonde even somewhat decorated the room with pictures and a few of his own sketches. Indeed, Cloud was quite the artist. He eyed the silvery haired other a bit and smiled. Only last night were they tumbling about in bed and now the blonde was standing and watching him sleep. He seemed rather peaceful in this state. Cloud moved from the room and back down the hall. He stepped into the bathroom, turning on the bathtub and letting the water fill the tub. He undressed and stood in front of the mirror, turning to his side and eyeing himself. It wasn't a bad sight at all. Cloud smiled and then moved to the tub. He turned the water off and stepped into the tub, sitting down and relaxing against the edge of the tub. His cerulean eyes closed as he sank low into the water, only his head bobbed above the water. His arms placed on the sides of tub. His finger twitched as he opened an eye. The room was empty and silent. He smiled a bit, closing his eyes. There was a click noise but that seemed far away from him. He was unaware of another stepping into the bathroom. Cloud sighed, laying in the tub silently. The other man approached him silently and placed his hands upon Cloud's cheeks. The blonde's eyes flicked open and he quickly got up. "Ayah!" He squeaked out before noticing it was Sephiroth. The silvery haired man's lips had been pulled into a smirk. Cloud placed a hand upon his chest and panted. "Seph you scared me," Cloud said with a smile. Sephiroth eyed the boy a bit.

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright, dear."

"Alright, so why are you up so early? Bad dreams?"

"No, your son and his crying from being hungry."

"Ha ha, that's my boy."

Cloud smiled and nodded before sitting back down in the tub. Sephiroth tweaked a smile and left the room.

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It was a bit un-normal for his Cloud to be up so early. He was curious why. Normally Cloud would sleep in till seven or eight in the morning and then get up. Many thoughts flashed through his mind as to why Cloud was up so early. Did Cloud get upset for some reason? Did he not like the sex? Was Cloud disturbed by something? Sephiroth rubbed at his chin. Never before had he displeased Cloud. He's always pleased the boy in every way possible. But now? What was so different now then any other time? There was something going on with Cloud and he intended to find out. Sephiroth sat thoughtfully at his desk. His elbow propped on top of the desk, his head held up by his hand. He tapped his cheek with his fingers and sighed. This was really unlike Cloud. The silver haired man sat silently in his office. Still in deep thought about Cloud. He moved his hand quickly as his hit the desk. He stared at the pale flesh and long fingers. Sephiroth frowned and stood, stepping from his office and down the hall to the kitchen. He walked in and opened the refrigerator. The sun was rising now and the light illuminated the room. He opened the fridge, picking out a carton of eggs and setting it on the counter. He picked up a few other things from the cabinets and set them all on the counter. He had set a frying pan on the stove. Sephiroth was quite the cook. He cracked the eggs and poured the contents into the bowl. He eyed the kitchen a bit and began cooking the eggs. He grabbed the package of bread and set it upon the table. He placed bread slices into the toaster and hummed lightly as he cooked. Cloud came downstairs in a white tank top that fit perfectly against his frame and a pair of black pants. Sephiroth spotted the blonde and smiled. "Hello, darling." He called after Cloud who walked past the kitchen. He heard a Cloud call back to him. Sephiroth pulled out two plates from the cabinet and set them on the table, shuffling around for napkins and forks. He walked into the dining room attached to the back of the kitchen and set the table. "Cloudy-poo! Breakfast!" He called out. He heard the blonde's footsteps against the floor as the other walked in and sat at the table. Sephiroth sat down at the head of the table.

"Cloud, what's with you today? You got up early…"

"Nothing, I'm fine. I told you, love, it was Jay."

"Indeed."

There was an awkward silence afterwards as they both silently ate. Sephiroth picked up the dishes afterwards and walked into the kitchen. He began washing them and the placed them in the rack to dry.

----End Chapter One