Chapter Text
Last, But Not Least
Sephiroth idly stood before the foggy bathroom mirror adjacent to his bedroom. It was nearly half-past midnight by the time all the monotonous, repetitive training exercises had been complete. Exhausted as he was, he ensured he kept up with his appearance of a strict, rigid disciplinarian as he rounded up the last of the new recruits, sent them off to do one activity that was graded, and then headed back to his quarters when it was all finished with.
He was in dire need of a deep relaxation in the bath, and now that he finally was able to sequester himself in the welcoming confines of his room, he was going to exploit this advantage. He’d dedicated all his energy quite hard for years on working his way from top SOLDIER to General, and that title came with many privileges. Though he wasn’t exactly ‘pampered’ by any means, he was quite aware that as a General, and an alpha, to boot, he was revered by many and sought after for quite some time.
Only alphas had a chance to make it to SOLDIER, and he’d been competing with Genesis Rhapsodos for a prolonged period of time. This was his given right since birth, but as always, others wished to have the same power and benefits associated with it. He’d known Genesis and Angeal Hewley since they were playmates and quite early in their training, and while Angeal had been amicable and effervescent, Genesis was more aloof, taciturn and withdrawn. Subdued as he was in his teenage years, Genesis showed severe signs of aggression when he’d been tested first for the alpha genes.
Sephiroth had already scented that his friend was an alpha, and immediately after, he too had gone through the same tests conducted and organized by Professor Hojo and Dr. Hollander. Naturally, when it was all done, the results displayed the obvious.
Where Genesis triumphed in his status and gender, Sephiroth noticed that Angeal couldn’t care less about being an alpha. The frivolous raven-haired male had a whole basket of other issues and concerns, and usually, Sephiroth did as well. He’d been overwhelmed with his own training, tests, excursions, and reports due at the end of every month that he’d soon forgotten about an upcoming, highly crucial segment of the Shinra Electric Power Company’s program and regimen.
Unfortunately, unbeknownst to Sephiroth, he would soon receive a rather painful reminder that same evening.
He’d barely shrugged out of his thin night robes, when someone was pounding urgently and desperately on his door. Indomitable irritation swarmed over the silver-haired General, and he snarled as he tried ignoring whoever it was. That didn’t take him very far when the pounding persisted and seemed to be growing louder and louder. Whoever was there would rouse the entire floor, at this point, and all his neighbors.
With an inelegant snarl that bled vexation, Sephiroth tightened his robes about his muscular form, and he exited the steamy bathroom. The cool air of his chambers and hallways blasted around his feverish skin, but it infuriated his nerves rather than calmed or soothed himself. He’d been set on his bath for hours, and now, someone had seen to it that it wasn’t to happen…
Unlocking the door and practically tearing it off the hinges, he poked his head out into the hallway at whoever had been so brazen and bold to disturb him at this ungodly hour of the night.
When his eyes lowered marginally, he saw a mass of unruly golden hair, and then he’d been rudely pushed aside. The door banged against the wall as someone rushed in, leaving Sephiroth stunned as he gaped outside the threshold of the door.
Tearing through inside, a soft voice hissed thinly, “Please, hide me, hide me!”
Spinning around carefully, Sephiroth finally was able to see Shinra infantryman Cloud Strife pacing up and down in his private chambers. The youth looked highly disgruntled, disturbed, frightened, and wary of something. His face was sweaty, flushed, he was wringing his hands together, and his body posture revealed how uptight and nervous he was. Using his superior senses, Sephiroth practically heard Cloud’s heart slamming against his rib cage, and he inhaled and exhaled deeply. It was almost as though he’d been running from something…or someone…
Interesting.
Closing the door almost completely behind himself, Sephiroth strode over to his junior and glared mightily. “What gave you the right to come barging in my room uninvited, Cloud?” Tilting his head to one side as he scowled at the younger warrior, Sephiroth expounded swiftly, “These are my quarters, need I remind you, so you better provide a rational explanation for your erratic behavior, quickly.”
Knowing he had little time, Cloud rasped, “Please! I just need your help for a moment! I had nowhere else to go!”
Pointing behind himself at the door, Sephiroth growled in a warning, “Outside is the best place to go, and unless you—”
“Cloud? Cloud? Where’d you go?!”
They heard another familiar voice ringing out, sharply, and both Cloud and Sephiroth paused. Cloud’s eyes blew open and became as round as tiny plates. Lunging at Sephiroth, he whispered hotly in his ear, talking so quickly that the older male nearly missed his words the first time.
“Please! It’s Zack, and he’s been chasing me for a long time!” Shaking Sephiroth with potent energy and raw stamina Sephiroth hadn’t ever seen before from someone so young and inexperienced, the blond again howled, “Just t-tell him that you’re with me!”
Gaping, Sephiroth soon picked his jaw off the floor as he fired out harshly, “With you? I’ll do no such thing, you little—”
“Cloud? Hey! Found you!” The door squeaked open, and footsteps padded along the floor. Zack’s boots thumped on, and as soon as he found Cloud and Sephiroth standing closely together, he paused.
“Oh…” Face turning whiter than the snow, he awkwardly cringed, waved, and then bowed his head in homage to his General. “S-sir…Sephiroth…um…err…I uh…hi?”
This was unprecedented and an intolerable annoyance, at the very least. Unsure of what to do with the two younger males in his room, Sephiroth ignored Cloud’s fingers tightening in the lapels of his robe as he stood facing Zack.
Another alpha…
…Suddenly, he scented something quite luscious, sensual, and earthy…and it was right beside himself…he knew that scent…nature had kicked in, and as an alpha in his prime, he suddenly noticed what the special odor was wafting into his nostrils and slamming into his olfactory senses.
The scent of a young, ripe omega…
It was Cloud Strife!
Gazing back and forth between Cloud and Zack three times, Sephiroth quickly pieced it all together. Zack was no doubt pursuing Cloud, but this wasn’t acceptable. As their superior, Sephiroth assumed his own responsibility, and he moved away from Cloud as he glared at Zack in what he hoped was an authoritative manner.
Sadly, the other alpha wasn’t too intimidated by it. Instead, his mako-infused eyes trailed over Cloud’s body quite wantonly, making it highly obvious where his true interests lay.
Wanting to set him right and knock some sense into his thick head, Sephiroth cleared his throat and orated in a deep growl, “I believe Cloud here has rejected your advances, and I highly encourage you both to return to your rooms, otherwise, I’ll have to report you at once for inappropriate consort.”
Throwing his head back as he rolled his eyes and scoffed, Zack waved him off. “I think you forgot what’s going on around here, Sir…with all due respect.”
There was no ‘respect’ hinted in Zack Fair’s tone, but Sephiroth was more interested in what the second-class SOLDIER had meant by his words.
Inching closer to the shorter male, he softly inquired, “Whatever does this mean, now?” Knowing he sounded ignorant, he felt Cloud’s sigh before the blond had even breathed it out.
Staring blandly at him, Zack soon recovered from his bewildered state as he answered truthfully, “Everyone’s kinda reaching that age, Sir. I chose Cloud, but he’s—”
Holding up a hand and interrupting him, Sephiroth hissed, “Chose Cloud? What do you mean you chose Cloud?” Nodding back at the other male, he clarified succinctly, “The omega was rejecting your advances, SOLDIER. If you persist, that would be violation and assault, something which, need I remind you, most certainly can disqualify you from making it as a first-class SOLDIER.”
Hoping that would suffice, Sephiroth stepped back as he eyed Zack with much dominance.
Alpha pheromones ranked high to suffocating levels in the room. Though he didn’t wish to use his status to his advantage, Sephiroth wasn’t entirely above doing so. He knew through his personal one-on-one sessions with Zack and taking him under his wing that the youth wished to make it as a first-class SOLDIER one day. Perhaps if his position was threatened, he would cease and desist with this insipid, childish game.
Stroking his chin as he mulled over his thoughts, Zack took his time thinking before he voiced whatever was bouncing around in his head. Confidently, he stated, “Cloud’s going to be my mate, Sephiroth. By the end of tomorrow, all pairs must be reported to Professor Hojo…” With a coy grin that oozed sarcasm, he purred, “Don’t tell me you forgot that.”
…..
He most certainly had. For the first time in twenty-two years of his existence, Sephiroth had forgotten all about the Shinra Company’s elaborate breeding program. Now, he knew precisely why Cloud had barged into his room demanding they ‘stick together’ in front of Zack.
Face morphing into a pained one, Cloud pressed himself next to Sephiroth as he argued with Zack aggressively. “I said no, Zack! I already have someone!”
Tossing that aside with a laugh, Zack challenged, “Oh, really? Who, then?”
Nodding at Sephiroth and pressing himself by necessity even closer to the taller male, Cloud replied confidently, “General Sephiroth, dumbass.”
Again, Zack looked as though he was going to faint and be sick. Nearly swooning, he held onto the back of a chair as he regained his balance, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes. Cringing, he refused to accept it for a moment, and then chuckled nervously.
Sephiroth had yet to say a word. Statuesque, he allowed Cloud to loop an arm around his own, and the rest of Cloud’s words sounded muffled in his ears as he heard white noise and odd buzzing in his shocked state.
“Go away, Zack, else I swear I’ll kick your ass.”
Pointing at Cloud thickly with fire in his eyes, Zack minaciously snapped, “You’re bluffing, and I’m calling you out on your bullshit, Cloud. Tomorrow, we’ll see whether you’re lying or not.” Nearly stumbling over his own feet, in a few seconds, he’d made it to the door, and he flew out of the room.
When he was gone, Cloud released quite a relieved sigh. Releasing Sephiroth’s arm, he let out a tiny laugh as he brushed his bangs out of his eyes. “Thank Gaia that’s all over!” Saluting Sephiroth, then, he moved toward the door.
“Thanks for that, General, guess I’ll see ya around-gah!” He’d been abruptly yanked back by the middle of his dark sweater as Sephiroth bunched it up in a clenched fist.
Pulling Cloud right up against himself and holding onto him tightly, he scowled down into Cloud’s confused eyes with such intensity that the omega began shivering from it.
Snarling, Sephiroth trembled, on the brink of explosion. Still, he kept his voice gentle, soft, and quite composed.
“You’re not going anywhere just yet, Cloud…not until I’m finished with you.”