Am not dead, just sewing frantically and hanging with friends and working a lot. However! I never forget about fic. I am like an elephant. A sexy one. Rawr. (Not that elephants say rawr.)

--

The autumn chill raised goosebumps on Cloud's arms, and the sudden shiver that overtook him reminded him briefly of another place, another time, before Keystone- a flurry of white, a wolf's howl, a harsh place where he lived with a woman, warm and caring, who would love him unconditionally. But that was a time long gone, and instead he found himself sitting in front of the gently crackling fire, in the company of the strongest man in the world.

Vincent had dragged the other SOLDIER off to teach him the art of hunting (and shouldn't he know what already, wondered Cloud. He could catch and butcher many small animals and even larger game, but Zack, who wasn't raised in the city, who was a deadly swordsman, couldn't?), which left Sephiroth as Cloud's only companion. However, he was at ease with the man's presence, as silent as the conversation might be. He leaned back so he could look up at the man sitting next to him. Somehow Zack had managed to maneuver the group so that Sephiroth and Cloud were sitting closer than they usually would sit, and Cloud thanked Zack silently for the opportunity to study the strong lines of the other's face. Sephiroth looked away from the landscape he had been idly staring at to meet Cloud's gaze inquisitively. Cloud nearly flicked his eyes away in embarrassment but coughed lightly instead, tense under Sephiroth's intense gaze.

"It-" Cloud said hesitantly, somehow unwilling to break the silence. "It's been nice, this whole thing. Travelling, the four of us. It's like an adventure." A shy smile flickered on his face.

"It's going to get dangerous, Cloud," Sephiroth told him seriously. "Are you okay with that?"

"I'm okay," Cloud smiled wider. "I'm okay, no matter how scary it gets."

Sephiroth looked down at him intently, and Cloud was suddenly hyper-aware of the warmth coming off the other man, the distance their knees rested from each other, the fact that the air he was breathing was being breathed in by Sephiroth. He felt his cheeks heat up.

"Are you?" Sephiroth asked.

"I-" Cloud hesitated before reaching out, meeting him half-way. Their mouths touched clumsily, a few hesitant kisses before tongues touched, sliding against each other in a way that was foreign to Cloud. He shuddered, clinging to the other man as Sephiroth pulled him closer, a hand dancing up his spine. Cloud reached a hand up to stroke against Sephiroth's luxurious hair, lowering his hands until they rested on the older man's shoulders.

After what seemed an eternity Sephiroth pulled away slightly, unwilling to let go of Cloud completely.

"I- I'm sorry, Cloud." Sephiroth said, and to Cloud's surprise he seemed embarrassed. "That was uncalled for,"

"No... uh, I liked it," Cloud admitted wryly, and taking sudden initiative leaned up for a second kiss, pressing his lips against Sephiroth's. After a few moments they again drew apart.

"Ah, I'm sorry Cloud- It's quite forward of me to initiate such a thing with you. As much as I desire a relationship with you, the age difference between us something that most people would consider quite unacceptable..."

"Huh?" Cloud said, completely confused.

"You're what... two thirds my age?"

Cloud looked at him even more confused. "In Keystone, a lot of men around the age of fifty had wives my age, or often younger,"

Sephiroth reeled back slightly, a look of disgust on his face. "Urgh!"

"I guess it is a tad nasty..." Cloud contemplated.

"So is it okay then, Cloud? You do not have any qualms about my physical age?"

"I want to be with you," Cloud smiled up at him. "I don't think you're old at all, anyway. ....Even if you do have silver hair," he stuck his tongue out at the man, and it took a lot of Sephiroth's willpower to not lean into the temptation but instead act indignant at Cloud's crack at him.

"It's silver! Silver!"

"Whatever, old man," Cloud snickered.

"Brat," Sephiroth growled playfully, seizing Cloud and reeling him in.

---

Zack grinned from his position half crouching and half sprawling behind the bushes. "D'aww, look at that, Vincey! My little boy!"

Vincent ignored him, glaring instead at Sephiroth's hand slowly but steadfastly inching toward Cloud's butt.

Zack's eyebrows raised as he saw what the older man was looking at. "Well, I guess your Cloudie's a little grown up, too."

"....Cloud has always been mature for his age," Vincent told him seriously, but they both meant he didn't mean in the sense that Cloud was currently exploring.

"Well, he seems like a very down-to-earth guy..... anyways, maybe we should come back later?"

"Indeed," Vincent replied, leading the way.

--

Their journey went on steadily, the beasts that were attacking them growing stronger by the day. Despite that, they still easily pushed through, and Cloud and Sephiroth managed to see each other in the quiet times when they made camp. In one such moment, Cloud leaned back after running his tongue over Sephiroth's teeth to repeat the motion with his finger.

"Those aren't normal teeth, Sephiroth," he remarked softly. He stroked down a particularly elongated canine, pressing his finger against the tapered tip. The sharp edge threatened to break his skin.

Sephiroth shuddered slightly. "Cloud, I'm...."

"Seph? I.... I love you, whatever you are."

"You love me."

Cloud didn't hesitate. "Yes,"

"... I think I love you too, Cloud."

He buried his face in Cloud's shoulder, sinking his fingers into the blonde's soft hair, taking in his warm scent.

"I'm a vampire, Cloud."

He felt the body in his arms nod minutely, but neither said anything.

The silence stretched on until Cloud finally said, "Would you be disturbed.... Seph...."

Sephiroth peered at him curiously.

"If I told you that I found that.... really sexy."

Sephiroth smiled into his shoulder.

"So, you knew already, I guess?"

"I already knew you were extra special, Seph," Cloud whispered.

Sephiroth didn't know he could smile that much, but just held on tight.

--

Lots of shameless fluff :P. It makes me feel happy! I hope that you guys enjoyed it, let me know if you did! Let me know if you didn't, and why!

Stuff happens next chapter! I was supposed to update before Christmas but then I had a lot of work! I hope everyone had a happy holidays! Sorry that I suck at updating! Exclamation exclamation exclamation mark! Happy new year, love always, Rafira. You can catch me on my lj like usual, under Rafira.