Sephiroth knelt, waiting for Zack's replacement to arrive, hoping that his new master would be even half as kind as his last, even though he knew how unlikely that was. But even if he couldn't expect a kind master, he could hope for one, and he could handle it if he ended up belonging to one who wasn't kind, even a cruel master, so long as his new master wasn't an out and out sadist. Before Zack he could have coped, even with a sadist, he'd belonged to one right before he was given to Zack, but not now, not until he'd relearned how to deal with a master who was merely cruel.

"These are your quarters for the duration of your time here, and until Dr. Hollander is satisfied that your new enhancements are stable."

"Ah, right." A high, almost immature voice, but Sephiroth didn't quite dare to lift his eyes from the floor to make an assessment of his appearance, not until his new owner took notice of him. "Who's that? And what's he doing here?"

"He's called Sephiroth, and he belongs to you until Dr. Hollander decides to test out a new set of enhancements on a different SOLDIER candidate." Professor Hojo's resentment was clear in his voice, but Sephiroth was used to it by now, used to the knowledge that it was his failure that had given Dr. Hollander the coveted role as Head of the Science Department, and sentenced the professor to never achieving his ambitions, not when Dr. Hollander's two projects had been so successful.

"I...see. He can show me around my new quarters then, can't he?"

"Yes. He could." Professor Hojo's voice would probably sound angry to his new master, but Sephiroth could recognise the hidden pain at the boy's implied dismissal.

"I didn't mean to be rude, it's just I'm sure you've got a lot better things to do than guide me around. And it has to be a waste of your talents, sir."

"Dr. Hollander has made it clear he disagrees with you Strife, but I appreciate the consideration. Sephiroth's strong enough that you're not too likely to hurt him badly by mistake, but healing magic doesn't work too well on him, so keep that in mind."

"Right...I'll do that. Thank you for the warning." Although from the sound of Strife's voice he didn't understand the need for it - that was a good sign wasn't it? Zack had been just as puzzled by Professor Hojo's warning. They both walked towards the door, and Sephiroth could hear Cloud bidding farewell to the professor before closing the door and walking back towards him. He took the risk of looking up just enough to see Cloud's regulation boots as he came to a standstill in front of him - he couldn't glance any higher without moving his head, and he returned his gaze to the floor swiftly.

"Sephiroth? I...you don't have to kneel like that. You can get up now. And...look at me...please?" The hint of something almost like a plea in his new master's voice was disturbing, and Sephiroth pushed it from his mind as he looked up to meet the teen's eyes.

"I was taught not to look my masters in the eye until ordered to." And not to speak without specific permission. "I...how do you wish me to address you?" He half expected Cloud to hit him for his impudence, or for taking so long about obeying his first command, but he slowly rose to his feet, knowing that if Cloud was really angry he'd hit him while Sephiroth was off-balance.

"Just call me Cloud. That's my name."

"Ah...right. If that is your wish Cloud." He couldn't bring himself to keep looking at Cloud's eyes; there was something in them that confused and almost scared him, something similar to what he'd seen in Zack's eyes, only purer somehow. But it didn't matter that he let his gaze fall back to Cloud's chest, because Cloud had taken one glance at his breasts, and maybe lower, at his dick, and then averted his eyes, seeming to look almost anywhere else.

"Yes, yes it is. Why don't you go and put something on before you come back to show me around the apartment." It wasn't a question, not really, but Sephiroth appreciated being permitted to dress, rather than being kept naked the way some of his masters had liked him.

"Thank you Cloud." He left the room at once, not paying that much attention to the bra, pants and robe he pulled on, besides noting that they were all in the same colour, black. Every piece of clothing he 'owned' had been chosen to look good on him anyway, so it didn't matter, and he returned to stand in front of Cloud quickly enough that he didn't look at all impatient.

"Do you want me to show you around now Cloud?"

"Yes, please. How many rooms are there?"

"Just four." Sephiroth began walking over to the kitchen, opening the door before glancing back to confirm that Cloud was following him. "This is the kitchen, I...one of my duties is to cook for you, unless you tell me otherwise, but it is big enough to let both of us work in here if you wish." It was a bit over half the size of the main room they'd just come from, and Sephiroth didn't really want to spend too much time in such close quarters with his new master, not until he knew him better, but he didn't have the right to chase him out for any reason, not even if he was getting in the way. At least the kitchen was large enough that Cloud was only likely to get in his way deliberately, and so far he didn't seem inclined toward the sort of casual lechery even Zack had exhibited sometimes.

"Right. I don't have a clue how to cook though, not really. I take it we eat in the main room and I'm not supposed to have guests since there's only two chairs at the table?" It was a reasonable question, but Sephiroth knew he was staring at Cloud with widened eyes, and his master looked a bit confused by his surprise.

"Ah...not all of my masters have permitted me to eat with them, and one of my earlier masters wanted to be able to bring a woman back here sometimes." That had usually meant Sephiroth slept in the main room, on the couch, except when they'd decided to share him, or when he'd been locked away if he didn't manage to stay out of Rodrie's way.

"Well I want you to eat with me." Cloud made a quick, but thorough investigation of the room before returning to stand beside him. "Is the laundry done elsewhere then?"

"Yes." Genesis had been the only one who hadn't allowed him enough freedom to deal with that. "Have you seen enough in here?"

"Yeah, it's big enough that I can sit and talk to you while you're cooking if I want to. So, what next?" Cloud pushed the door open and held it for Sephiroth to go through, a courtesy he'd only had from Zack before.

"Do you want to glance into the toilet, or should I just tell you which door it is?" He'd keep the bedroom for last, in case Cloud wanted to use the bed when they'd finished the tour.

"It's not in the bathroom then?" Cloud looked at the three doors along the back of the main room as he spoke, surprise clear in his voice, one more sign that he came from a poor background, like most of the SOLDIERs Dr Hollander chose to work on.

"No Cloud, Although there is a sink there to wash your hands afterwards."

"Then no, I don't need to see it." Sephiroth changed his path to go the middle door of the three, rather than the last.

"Very well, it's the room furthest from the kitchen, and this is the bathroom." It was almost as big as the kitchen, and the bath was extremely luxurious, just the thing to help Dr Hollander's test subjects relax after a long day of testing and whatever else he did to them. And the separate shower was more than big enough for Sephiroth to share with his master, if he needed, or wanted, help washing himself, or if he wanted to have sex with him there. Sephiroth couldn't blame Cloud for the awed whistle he let out as he looked at the room, but he was pleased to see his gaze fix on the door through to the bedroom.

"This leads through to the bedroom then?"

"Yes Cloud." He didn't wait for Sephiroth to open the door for him, preferring to just walk through it and leave him to follow.

"Where do you sleep then?"

XOXOX

He'd started to wonder about that when Sephiroth had explained that the toilet was in a separate room from the bathroom, and even though the bedroom was big enough for two, almost as big as that entry room which seemed to act like a combination of living room, dining room and study, there was only one bed there. It was huge, two or three times the size of the beds in the barracks, so maybe Sephiroth expected to sleep there, with Cloud, and if he did he wouldn't refuse, but he didn't like that idea, not really.

"I...wherever you wish me to." Sephiroth hesitated, obviously torn and recognising that his answer wasn't enough for Cloud. "Do you wish to hear about what decisions my previous masters have made on that matter?"

"Yes please." It sounded like the best way to hear what options Cloud had available, and almost any alternative besides sharing a bed with this beautiful, androgynous creature would be welcome.

"My first master had me sleep on the floor, or in here." As he spoke Sephiroth moved to the opposite end of the room, opening what Cloud had assumed was an oddly sized cupboard to reveal a bed, set high above two ranks of drawers, about the same size as his mother's was back home. "My last master generally had me sleep in here or share his bed."

Sephiroth would probably be most comfortable sleeping in his own bed, and Cloud could handle sharing a room with him. Still...there was something about the way he'd phrased his last sentence and Cloud ran over it again in his mind, catching on a single word.

"Generally?"

"Sometimes when Za- my last master was angry at me he'd tell me to sleep on the couch in the main room. It was comfortable enough." Those last few words were added hastily, almost as a justification, and Sephiroth had been about to say something else, to use his last master's name perhaps, before changing his mind.

"Right. Should I ask about the name you were going to use?"

"Please don't. I'm not meant to talk about my previous masters except in general terms." Cloud guessed that made sense he wouldn't want Sephiroth telling other people too many details about him after all.

"I won't then. You can just sleep in your bed. Is there anything else I need to sort out today?" If there wasn't he'd see what there was to eat before unpacking the bags someone had left by the bed.

"Ah...two things, one that I need to show you, and a question I should ask, if you will permit it." Why was he asking for permission if it was something he needed to ask? Cloud was beginning to get the feeling that Sephiroth's last master was the only one who'd been anything like a nice person, and he really didn't like that idea.

"Just ask me. I'll try not to get mad at you if you ask me something I don't want to answer." He didn't like having to reassure Sephiroth like this, but the man was frighteningly submissive, almost broken in some ways - and he was back to looking at the floor instead of at Cloud. When had that happened? "And look at me please."

"I'm sorry Cloud. I didn't mean to forget." Wide, frightened eyes told Cloud he'd just destroyed any progress he'd managed to make in getting Sephiroth to feel safe around him.

"I know Sephiroth. I'm not angry, I know this is going to be a hard habit for you to break, but I will remind you when I catch you looking at the floor instead of at me." He hesitated before reaching out to rest a comforting hand on Sephiroth's shoulder, resisting the urge to pull back when he realised Sephiroth's trembling only increased, and waiting for him to relax before lifting his hand. "Now, you had something to ask me?"

"Yes Cloud. How do you wish me to dress?"

"Wear whatever you want, as long as it's decent." And it was kind of disturbing that Sephiroth seemed to need orders on what to wear. He just hoped that the man was capable of actually choosing what he wanted to wear - although he hadn't needed specific orders when Cloud had told him to put something on earlier.

"Thank you Cloud." Genuine relief there, mixed with a hint of uncertainty. "But...I was raised here; can you please define what you mean when you say decent?" He needed a definition of decent? Or was he just trying to avoid upsetting Cloud by making an assumption in case he was wrong?

"I want you covered from your waist down to your knees, except when you're in bed if you prefer to sleep naked." Cloud did, at least here in Midgar he preferred sleeping naked. "And wear something covering your breasts, not just a bra." Should he ask? It seemed as close as he was going to get to a good time to. "How come you've got breasts anyway? You don't have to answer if it's a sensitive subject, but if you're comfortable telling me about it..." He trailed off when he saw the look of confusion and disbelief in Sephiroth's eyes.

"My first master asked if there was a way I could be given breasts, so Dr Hollander used hormones and surgery to oblige him. And none of my subsequent masters have asked that the process be reversed."

"Would you want that?" It would save Cloud some embarrassment, but he remembered Professor Hojo's warning about healing magic not working on Sephiroth, and he wasn't cruel enough to put the man through the ordeal of surgery and natural healing to spare himself some embarrassment.

"I..." Sephiroth bit his lip and looked down, crossing his arms in front of his waist and shifting his weight about unhappily. Why was he so anxious?

When Cloud realised what the problem was he wanted to curse his own stupidity. Sephiroth was terrified of displeasing him, and the other man obviously had no idea what answer would please him, or anger him, and wanted to tailor his response to satisfy Cloud. He stepped a bit closer, raising Sephiroth's face with a hand on his cheek, trying to act at least a bit like Zack would, because he knew that he didn't have his friend's people skills, any more than he had Zack's self-confidence.

"Sephiroth, I want an honest answer. Your body was altered without your consent; I want to know if you'd see having those alterations reversed as just further mutilation, or as a restoration of how you should have been."

"I never thought it might be possible, but...it hurt the first time, Dr Hollander...he disapproves of me. Professor Hojo wanted to teach me enough that I could be useful in the labs, but Dr. Hollander forbade that when my first master took an interest in me. I don't think more surgery would work, not really, and if it did I'd be badly scarred." There was something Cloud was missing there, but it wasn't important, or rather it wasn't anything he needed to know, and Sephiroth had answered the main question; he didn't want to see if it was possible for his breasts to be removed.

"Right." Cloud let his hand drop to his side and stepped back to give Sephiroth a bit more space. "So, what was it you needed to show me?"

"Your keys." Sephiroth walked past him to the table beside his bed, opening the drawer to pull out a set of keys, at least a dozen if not more and turning to hand it to him.

"Why so many?" Cloud weighed the keys in his hand as he asked the question.

"There is a key for every room in the apartment, and for the apartment as a whole, and there are keys for various drawers and cabinets...and for my bed." The fear in Sephiroth's voice as he added those last four words kept Cloud from asking for more information, and he put the keys in his pocket for the moment.

"Right. Can you go and prepare a meal for the two of us while I unpack?"

"Of course Cloud. Is there anything in particular that you want, or anything I should avoid making?"

"Just do whatever's easiest. I've been eating army food for the past year or so after all."

XOXOX

Sephiroth had belonged to Cloud for a week now, and he was starting to feel uncomfortable. He didn't know why, except that Cloud hadn't taken him to bed yet, hadn't even given him any real orders, except for what to call him, and to try to look at him. That shouldn't have made him so uncomfortable, he should be grateful to belong to someone so generous and willing to allow him so much freedom, but...he didn't understand why Cloud hadn't bedded him, and he couldn't quite bring himself to believe that Cloud's kindness was real. He could tell that his master found him desirable, it was in the way Cloud looked at him, and it just didn't make sense to him that Cloud would refuse to indulge his desires. Zack certainly hadn't. He'd taken care to make sure Sephiroth enjoyed it when he was fucked, for the first time in his life, but he'd still taken advantage of his availability.

Zack had only waited a day before he took Sephiroth to bed. He'd asked him to confirm that Sephiroth was there for him to fuck, whenever he wanted, and once Sephiroth had done that Zack had told him to undress them both. After that Zack had kissed him, and laid him down on the bed before kissing his way down Sephiroth's body to take him into his mouth. It had been Sephiroth's first experience of receiving oral sex, and Zack had been so careful about preparing him during it that he hadn't even felt any pain.

Even when Zack had penetrated him it hadn't hurt that much, and Zack's hands and lips had distracted him. Then Zack had adjusted his angle somehow, and his vision had gone white with pleasure. Zack had almost always wanted him passive throughout, or directed him explicitly, and it had been wonderful, not to have to worry about what he should do to please his master...

"Sephiroth, is something wrong?"

His head snapped around, so that he could see his master, and Sephiroth knew his indrawn breath revealed his surprise. He couldn't quite believe he'd let himself get so distracted by his memories that he'd let his master's approach go unnoticed, but he couldn't deny it, and he couldn't hide his failure.

"Nothing master, I was just lost in a memory." And now he'd compounded his failure by disobeying the first standing order his master had given him. He knelt swiftly, shivering just a little. "Please, I beg pardon for my failure and wait punishment."

"Sephiroth, don't." Don't? He looked up, realising as he did that he'd disobeyed Cloud's other standing order by bowing his head. His master looked confused, and irritated, but not angry. "Stand up and tell me what you think you're apologising for."

"I wasn't paying attention, and I should have noticed you and greeted you as soon as you entered the room. And I didn't address you the way you instructed me to." Cloud hadn't hit him even once so far, and Sephiroth was grateful for that, so why did he suspect he'd be feeling better, more comfortable, if he had?

"If I need your attention I can get it easily enough, and I sort of expected you'd slip up about using my name at times." That didn't exactly make Sephiroth feel better, and he privately vowed not to forget again - even if he did suspect he'd break that vow all too soon.

"Yes Cloud. Thank you. Was there something you wanted me to do?" He didn't try to hide his eagerness at the thought that he might be allowed some sense of purpose again, that whatever Cloud wanted might make him feel less adrift.

"No. I was just concerned because you looked...distant. Do you want me to give you something to do?" Concern, nothing else that he could detect, had prompted the offer, and Sephiroth smiled gratefully.

"Please, if there's any way I can serve you, tell me. I've been getting bored with so little work to do." That was a safe enough comment and request, not as self-centred as his wish that Cloud would just take him and be done with it. He always spent the time between masters, what little there was of it, cleaning the apartment so thoroughly no trace of his previous master remained.

"You're used to having more work to do?"

"My previous masters arrived with more things than you did, and weren't as good about tidying up after themselves. And...they usually permitted me to read their books if I wasn't busy..."

"But I don't have any." Cloud didn't look offended anyway as he tilted his head to one side with a faint smile. "Do you think you would be qualified to suggest books that would help me learn what I need to become a good SOLDIER then?"

Sephiroth bit his lip lightly, considering his reply. He didn't want to promise something he couldn't deliver, but he wanted desperately to please Cloud, if only so that he would be less likely to grow angry with him. "I don't know. I can tell you which of the books I've read on tactics, or the use of materia, or any other subject you care to name, seemed best to me, in that they offered information in the most accessible way, and were understandable without a teacher to guide you through the material. But I don't know which of the books my previous masters allowed me to read were on subjects a good SOLDIER should know about, or even in many cases how well my masters have done as SOLDIERs." He knew that Genesis was the General of course, but he'd been destined for that ever since Sephiroth had proved unsuitable.

"Right then. I was going to do some swordwork this afternoon, since Professor Hojo said I wasn't going to be needed, but we'll go shopping instead. Go get some shoes and a coat on." Cloud went to the cupboard nearest the entrance as he spoke, pulling out his own coat. "You do have shoes and a coat, right?"

"Yes Cloud, Za-my last master sometimes liked taking me out with him on 'dates', but they aren't that practical, and I think I'd get a few stares if I went out wearing this." Sephiroth glanced down at what he was wearing, a simple white shirt - or blouse if he had to be precise - and close fitted black trousers, with a revealing bulge at the crotch. Zack had always insisted that he dress up as a woman on their 'dates' and he'd understood why after the first date, when people had stared at him and muttered about his hair and eyes, especially since his breasts were too big to hide.

"Go ahead then." Cloud waved him towards the bedroom and sat down on the couch to wait with a smile.

Sephiroth hurried to obey the implied order; his shirt would work well enough, but he stripped off his trousers and briefs before kneeling to dig out the dancer's belt that would work to hide his cock and the strappy sandals Zack had liked to see him wearing. He hated trying to walk in them, the four inch heels meant he could barely walk straight and made him feel completely helpless, but it wasn't as if he owned anything with less of a heel. Would Cloud allow him to wait until just before they left the building before he put them on?

Sephiroth shook his head as he reached for a long, full, black skirt, intended to disguise his lack of hips, he'd ask about waiting to put his sandals on, but now wasn't the time to think about that. He needed to wear some make-up to pass for a woman, and he quickly smeared dark red lipstick over his lips and used liquid eyeliner to 'accentuate his eyes' before draping his fur coat over one arm and picking up his sandals so he could return to his master.

"You're carrying your shoes?" Cloud sounded a bit amused, but a bit irritated as well.

"I don't need to wear them in the building, and they mess with my balance and slow me down, so I was hoping you'd let me wait until the last minute to put them on."

"You don't have anything more practical?" Despite the question Cloud was standing up and checking that he had his keys with him.

"No, my other shoes have even higher heels than these do." And he did know it wasn't acceptable for him to go outside barefoot - it was barely acceptable for him to leave the labs barefoot.

"Right, I'll hold your coat for you when you need to put your shoes on, and the first place we're going is a shoe store."

"Oh, thank you." He'd sort of been aware that the main purpose of this expedition was to give him something to do while Cloud was away and when he wasn't working, but Cloud's casual decision to see to his comfort first drove the point firmly home, firmly enough to be a shock. "But...I'm not certain what size these are, my last master had them specially made, I think."

"Doesn't matter. I can probably get an assistant to measure your feet for you." Cloud turned to lock the door behind them as he spoke, and grinned at Sephiroth before continuing. "And if there's no women's shoes that fit you I'd think we can find something that works from the men's shoes. Probably be more comfortable too - don't think I've seen many women wearing practical shoes here in Midgar. Not like back in Nibelheim."

"I've seen some men wearing low cut shoes that look as if they'd just slip on, and I'd think those would work."

"The ones that leave their socks showing, or skin at the ankles and a bit at the top of their feet if they aren't wearing socks? Not sure what they're called, but I think I know what you mean, and if that's what you'd like then that's what we'll look for." That wasn't the response he'd expected, and Sephiroth hesitated over what to say, even though he knew he should thank Cloud for his generosity in considering his desires at once, before he changed his mind.

"Thank you again Cloud. I...didn't mean to presume to tell you what to do, I just...thought you would want me to change into the shoes you buy me so that I wouldn't slow you down, and that sort of shoe seems like the men's style a woman would be most likely to wear."

Cloud waved his apology off almost angrily, and Sephiroth resisted the urge to flinch. "I told you, you can wear what you like, and I know I wouldn't want to try and walk in those things you're carrying."

It turned out the type of shoes Sephiroth had been thinking of were called loafers, and that was what he ended up getting, two pairs, both black, one a touch more ornate than the other. He'd had to resist the urge to laugh at the way Cloud acted at the store, feigning anger at his 'girlfriend's' choice of footwear, and how she'd almost hurt her ankle falling because of her sandals.

XOXOX

"Cloud?" Sephiroth's voice came hesitantly as Cloud put his bags down so he could open the door to the apartment, but he still smiled as he glanced back at the man.

"Yes?"

"Thank you for being so generous today."

"You're welcome." Cloud picked up the bags again, carrying them through into the main room as he spoke, letting Sephiroth close the door after himself. He was just grateful that Sephiroth was too naive to wonder where Cloud had gotten all the money he'd been spending today - he could never have afforded a spending spree like this one on his SOLDIER salary, and being Dr Hollander's experimental subject didn't pay much more. "We spent long enough finding the books you suggested that it would have been stupid and selfish of me to expect you to cook for us when we got back."

"It wasn't like the places Za-my last master took me when he wanted to show me off, but I think I enjoyed eating at that pub better because you weren't putting me on display." Sephiroth kept on slipping like that when he talked about his last master, and Cloud felt his eyes narrowing in speculation before he pushed it from his mind, leaving it as something to think about later.

"Well, most restaurants, even the ones where you can walk in without making an appointment, tend to object when you bring a load of shopping bags in with you. I'm glad you had a good time." He had the sneaking suspicion that good times were all too rare in Sephiroth's life, the way they had been in his own life back in Nibelheim.

"Yes, I did." Sephiroth had knelt to start unpacking the bags, and he glanced up now, brushing his hair back from his face in a very feminine gesture, made even more feminine by the way he licked his lower lip, still darkened by whatever he'd used before they left, even if it had faded a lot. "And I hope that you had a good time as well, or at least that it wasn't a hardship for you." That was almost sweet of Sephiroth...or more likely it was caution, the man was still scared of Cloud, and he couldn't exactly blame him, not when they didn't really know each other yet.

"No, it wasn't a hardship." Sephiroth had assumed that he'd be carrying most of the bags, but Cloud had been aware enough of what they looked like, a young man out with his girlfriend, that he'd only let Sephiroth start carrying things when he couldn't carry any more. But Sephiroth hadn't been any more interested in lingering in the shoe shop or going into any of the clothes stores they'd passed than he had been, and Cloud had found himself seeing Midgar afresh through Sephiroth's eyes, admiring the more spectacular buildings the way he had when he'd first arrived, after Rufus had contacted him.

"How do you want me to organise your books Cloud?" Sephiroth hadn't unpacked all of the books they'd bought, not yet, but there were two fairly high piles beside him.

"Don't bother, not tonight. Just put them on the bookshelf, you can organise them later, over the next month or so, when you've got the time."

"To keep me from getting bored again? Thank you for that Cloud. I suppose you'll tell me how to organise the books tomorrow then." Sephiroth seemed to take Cloud at his word, putting the books on the shelves without checking the titles.

"Yes. Here, let me help." Cloud picked up some of the books and moved forward to begin filling up the lowest shelf, at the other end from where Sephiroth was working.

"I...are you sure? You don't have to."

"I know that." Cloud rolled his eyes almost theatrically. "But this gets it done sooner, and I won't be able to relax with you working around me."

"Oh, then might I leave this to you, while I deal with the rest of it?" The puzzles and simple craft kits Cloud had bought him.

"Yes, go ahead." He wouldn't get all of the books done, but Cloud was determined to get the books Sephiroth had already taken out of the bags put away by the time he'd finished dealing with the puzzles and kits. He didn't quite manage that, but it didn't take too long for them to get all of the books onto the shelves and Cloud picked out the most basic book on small unit tactics that they'd bought.

"Would you mind if I went to change into something a bit more comfortable?"

"What?" Cloud blinked in confusion, until he remembered that Sephiroth had indirectly asked for permission to change into what he was wearing now. "Yes, go ahead. You don't need to ask permission for that."

"I wasn't sure, and...I noticed that you seemed to like how I look in this." He had? Cloud filed that little fact away for further consideration.

"I see. But I told you that you don't need to worry so much about being appealing to me. And it isn't as if that skirt's very practical, is it?"

"No, not really." There was a hint of sorrow in Sephiroth's smile as he left the room, and Cloud filed that away for later consideration before trying to concentrate on his book. But it wasn't a particularly interesting introduction to the subject, even if Sephiroth said it was a good one, explaining things simply without being condescending, and Cloud found himself watching Sephiroth as he returned to the room, wearing soft trousers and with his shirt unbuttoned to show a hint of cleavage.

Sephiroth came over and knelt at Cloud's feet, eyes cast down, and rested a hand on his knee. He could feel the way the man was trembling, and he wasn't sure why, but Cloud put the book to one side and took hold of that trembling hand in an attempt to calm him.

"What is it?"

"I really am grateful for how kind you've been today, I wasn't just saying that..."

"Hush!" Cloud rested his other hand on Sephiroth's head, resisting the urge to run it over his hair, or to cover those full lips. "Words are enough, you don't need to do more."

"Yes Cloud." But Sephiroth bit his lower lip, uncertainty in his eyes, and Cloud knew that he hadn't quite got through to him. Still there was nothing he could do about that, and he stopped touching Sephiroth and almost ostentatiously returned his attention to his book. He still monitored Sephiroth's behaviour, as surreptitiously as he'd learned to monitor the behaviour of everyone around him back in Nibelheim, and eventually Sephiroth stood and went to collect one of the small craft kits before coming back to sit by Cloud's feet.

Cloud made his way through the first two chapters of the book before he let himself be distracted into puzzling out the references Sephiroth kept on making to his last master. The warmth in his voice when he let things slip and almost used a name said that Sephiroth had liked his last master, but some of the things Sephiroth had said, or implied bothered Cloud.

Those shoes he'd been wearing at first, the ones his last master had given to him had made it hard for him to walk, and he'd said all the other shoes he owned had even higher heels, making him even more helpless when he was wearing them. And then Sephiroth had said he didn't like the 'dates' his last master had taken him out on, but it was possible that he'd simply never let his last owner know that they bothered him. But Cloud couldn't really think of an excuse for the fact that Sephiroth still found it hard to remember to look at him, telling him that even if whoever had owned him last had allowed Sephiroth to use his name he'd still demanded a lot more displays of submission than Cloud approved of.

Maybe there was a reason Sephiroth's last master had insisted on the displays of submission and Cloud just couldn't think of it, he certainly hoped so considering that he was beginning to suspect his friend Zack had been Sephiroth's last master. He didn't like the idea, but it made sense in some ways.

Sephiroth reminded Cloud a bit of that annoyingly helpless and dependant girl from the slums Zack had started dating, what was her name again? Earth, Eris, Aerie? Something like that and it didn't really matter, the similarities weren't that strong, it was mostly how dependent they both were and how Sephiroth acted like Cloud was the centre of the world. The more important reasons for Cloud's suspicions were that he'd never been invited to Zack's quarters, no one had that he'd seen; Zack was treated with a lot more respect than made sense for his rank and age, and he'd been promoted faster than he probably should have been.

And...when Cloud had admitted to failing the SOLDIER Exam Zack hadn't really seemed that surprised. He'd been sympathetic, and before he met Rufus Cloud might have believed it was just sympathy, but there'd been something behind Zack's sympathy, something almost pleased. Not to mention the way other SOLDIERs had looked at them together, as if something was wrong with Zack for having anything to do with Cloud, looks he hadn't seen any other SOLDIER get for hanging out with a mere trooper.

XOXOX