Archive of Our Own

It was a warm, sunny day. Too warm, in all honesty. It was the sort of day that, though the hour was young; the sun was blistering the moment it touched the skin. Cloud had already drank every last drop of that icy sustenance that now made the bottle in his hand dewy, and still he was hot. Standing on a rather mundane public sidewalk, the blonde man looked up at the building that stood before him. There were similar houses around it, though well spaced apart compared to a cookie cutter home tract. The lawns were mowed, the grass green, and yards respectably decorated, modestly one might say. It was the classic depiction of a suburban homestead, though the houses were historic in age. They were well cared for, but their designs were outdated by at least two centuries, with only the occasional remodel to be spotted on the quaint street.

Craning his head back to look upon the one in front of him, however, it was impossible to miss something very wrong. When Cloud had been told it was an old Georgian house from the 18th century, he’d immediately looked up images online, and indeed it matched what he’d come to expect. But, as the sun glared over the nearly three story square frame of the home, the issue that drew a furrow to his brow was that the right side of the ground floor had no windows. The stones themselves on that side of the house even looked different, brighter and less worn than the rest, screaming their far more recent placement. Typically, with the rounded bays on either side of the front door, there were windows. And on the left side, there were indeed beautiful windows fitted into the rounded structure, but for some reason, the windows on the right were absent.

“Cloud?” Cloud’s eyes looked at the brunette that smiled at him. Dressed in a business suit, a tight skirt and vest of pink to match over a white blouse, she was almost too cute, despite the professional design of the outfit.

“Sorry,” Cloud muttered as he again glanced at the oddity. In turn, the woman did as well and nodded before she glanced back at him.

“I promise there is a good reason for that,” she said, her bright green eyes lighting up in the reflection of the sun. With a nod, Cloud squeezed the handle of his rolling suitcase and resumed following the woman up to the steps of the manor. It wasn’t especially large really, just tall, and being a complete rectangle certainly maximized its space. Passed the columns supporting the overhanging porch, Aerith pulled out a set of keys and slid them easily into one of the double doors. Pressing down on the thumb latch, the suction from the around the door was audible before it pushed open and she stepped inside, ushering Cloud to hurry in with a wave of her hand. He hurried inside, the wheels of his suitcase clattering over the stoop before the door was quickly closed behind him and the blonde froze. It was dark, nearly pitch black. “Sorry, but we must be careful of sunlight,” Aerith explained before the dankness of the room was chased away with a low wattage light. Eyes struggling to adjust, Cloud looked toward his companion.

“Why?” he asked as Aerith smiled and walked past him and in between a set of columns lining the entry into a spacious center room where two couches sat facing one another with a fireplace on either side.

“I’ll explain. It’s directly related to your job, Cloud. Follow me,” Aerith said, the heels of her shoes on the hardwood floors echoing throughout the room with so much volume it was unnerving, like walking into a museum. Cloud followed, cringing somewhat when the wheels of his suitcase roared throughout the space before he decided to stop and slide his handlebar down, the snap of that also loud. With another grimace, Cloud picked up his suitcase and followed, eyes marveling at the dimly lit, tastefully decorated home, even if it seemed a bit bleak.

Cloud found himself turning left into a kitchen where Aerith stood at an island counter with her briefcase open on it. She smiled at him when he joined her and carefully set his luggage down to look at the papers she already had prepared.

“Now, we went over most things in the office last week, but there are a few additions that need to be addressed,” Aerith said and Cloud cocked an eyebrow.

“Wait, you’re throwing surprises at me now?” he asked incredulously. Aerith gave him an apologetic smile.

“They’re a surprise for me too. I thought I’d been told everything, but it turns out there was more that the family had to say,” Aerith explained and Cloud sighed, frustration stirring in his chest.

“He’s basically comatose, so what is there more to do but monitor him and his ivs?” Cloud asked.

“That’s what I thought. And the way they made it sound, it was going to be any day now. But, yesterday I got a call from them, telling me that they would need you for the long haul, provided you lasted long,” she said, and Cloud quirked a brow.

“Lasted long? What am I supposed to outlast? Boredom?” he asked and a small little giggle escaped Aerith.

“Or house chores,” she said, and Cloud rolled his eyes.

“I clean up all day, every day in the trauma ward. Can this really be worse? I’m going to wager this will be a lot more pleasant by comparison,” Cloud said and Aerith’s smile grew a little bigger.

“A comatose guy’s bedpan is going to be a cakewalk compared to what I usually get. So I doubt I’ll struggle,” Cloud said for emphasis and Aerith shook her head despite the smile still lodged on her face.

“Okay, back on track, Mr. Strife,” she said with a little shake of her head to emphasize the sudden formal address. “I was told two new things. Though I find it rather rude, even suspicious that the family decided to drop this right before you arrived,” she said as Cloud leaned on his elbows and glanced sideways at her.

“And did all the paperwork,” he added, and she nodded as she looked down at the notepad in front of her. She hadn’t even had it typed yet.

“The two new things they told me are actually rules. The first related to the window. Apparently Sephiroth is allergic to sunlight, and so he must never come into contact with it. Apparently when his family bought the home they had the windows associated with his room removed. For his safety,” Aerith explained and Cloud’s eyebrows shot up.

“I’ve uh, heard of that. But damn, really?” he asked and Aerith nodded before she looked at him with the most bizarre look on her face.

“The second rule is… honestly the one I’m most concerned about. I don’t know why they told me this, and insisted that it be followed. But,” Aerith said, her eyes locking with Cloud’s, her gaze imploring with a sense of direness to them, perhaps communicating with her eyes just how serious it had sounded coming from the family.

“At night you are to lock yourself in your room and never come out,” she said and Cloud withdrew from the kitchen island.

“You serious?” he asked and Aerith’s brows twisted in discontent that complimented the blonde’s surprise.

“Yes. They said you are to not leave your room. No matter what you hear,” she said and now Cloud swiveled his eyes around the room, wondering what on earth he had just stepped into.

“What? That’s ridiculous!” Cloud snapped, heart jumping in his chest in reaction to the unnatural condition.

“I know. I mean, it impedes your whole purpose here. But, they were adamant, and forced me to promise that I would make sure you understood,” Aerith said and Cloud released an exasperated sigh.

“What? Did I walk into a horror movie set and no one tell me?” Cloud asked and Aerith shrugged lightly in her own confusion.

“I really wish I knew why. If, for some reason down the line you decide you don’t want to do it anymore, you can just call me,” Aerith said and Cloud looked at the girl, remembering something suddenly.

“You wanted to talk to me about something before we left to come here. This was it, wasn’t it?” Cloud asked and Aerith nodded. A curse whispered past Cloud’s lips.

“But I told you to hold it,” Cloud groaned as he leaned his hands on the edge of the granite countertop.

“Do you want to cancel this?” she asked, and Cloud closed his eyes. Who the hell did stuff like this? It was terrible form. He sighed.

“No, I agreed and we did all that paperwork. And I told Tifa I could do it. I have to at least give it a try, even with all this,” Cloud said as he straightened up. “This is house is my proving ground. I gotta stick to my guns and finish what I started,” he added. Aerith smiled, relief clear in her face as she picked up her handwritten papers and put them into her briefcase.

“Okay, then. Want to formally meet your patient?” she asked, and Cloud nodded.

Aerith led the way out of the kitchen and through the center room, which Cloud judged to be the family room. And much to his dismay, he immediately noticed that besides the coffee table between two couches facing one another, there was no TV. Great. Quickly looking to Aerith’s back, Cloud followed after the brunette around the fireplace, where a closed door greeted them.

“Hey, where are his parents?” Cloud asked, lowering his voice now that they were so close, and Aerith looked over her shoulder after she grabbed the curved door handle.

“They’re out of the country right now. It was part of why they were so urgent in getting someone in here. They’ll be back in two weeks and plan on coming straight here,” she explained, and Cloud’s lips pursed in frustration. Of course.

The door cracked open, and all that spilled forth from the crevice was pure darkness and a low, steady hum. The smell of stale air mixed with antiseptic hit his nose and Cloud’s nose scrunched up. It’d clearly been cleaned recently, but there was an odor that hung heavy in the air. Perhaps the stench of coming death.

“If he was so bad off, why did they leave?” Cloud whispered and Aerith shrugged as she carefully pressed her body into the darkness, moving as if it were a physical substance with how slow and careful she walked. Cloud squinted into the room, trying to discern anything at all in the dark, but his attempts were fruitless until a low orange light filled the room, immediately centering his sight onto a large canopy bed by which a myriad of machines sat, alive and well.

Cloud’s jaw slackened as he stared. All dark browns and black were the bedding that spilled to the floor, and pure black were the curtains that clung to all four posts of the bed, completely obscuring the occupant within. Finally stepping in after Aerith, who closed the door behind him, Cloud looked over when he felt a tap on his shoulder. With a motion to be quiet, Aerith stepped over to the side of the bed. Cloud looked around the room, confirming that indeed, there was not a single window to be seen as the brunette gently grasped at the curtains of the bed, attempting to find some opening until finally a small seam split open. Both leaned forward, like curious children they peeped into the darkness within.

Cloud’s heart twisted sharply in his chest before a quivering sensation spread throughout the cavity and hit his spine. A ghoulish body lay flat, unmoving, and for a moment, Cloud wondered if it even drew breath. Emaciated and pale as alabaster, it looked like his charge hadn’t a drop of liquid life in his veins. Even the scant light that teased the features of that bony face showed what almost looked to be shriveled lips. Immediately Cloud pulled his head out of the canopy and looked at the machinery and examined the ivs. But everything seemed to be functioning properly, and his vitals, though far from average, were steady.

A powerful pressure snapped onto Cloud’s wrist and he nearly shouted when he caught sight of Aerith, looking painfully unwell. Her eyes, urgent and apologetic, met Cloud’s before she quickly walked back across the rugs that spilled over the wood floor until she opened the bedroom door and quickly exited. Heaving a breath to try to calm the tension in his heart, Cloud stepped up to the bedside again and peered inside the veil of darkness. Long stringy white hair spilled out in messy waves and knots around a pale face that Cloud finally noted with a little more light, looked a little purple.

Concern twisted his brow as he carefully stretched his fingers down to test for a pulse. Cloud hesitated, memories of the feeling of skin after death invading his psyche. No, he needed to check. Even if the machines insisted there was life within those bones, Cloud was having trouble doubting his eyes. But, as his fingers finally neared the side of a sunken cheek, a jerk beneath the man’s eyelids caught Cloud’s gaze. Eyes hidden behind bruised looking eyelids slid back and forth wildly, madly, and Cloud stared. By God, it seemed a corpse could dream. Pulling his fingers away, Cloud’s eyes drifted down the man’s body, covered in a thin blanket, which made it easy to see just how long and spindly that form was. The man was far more likened to a skeleton than a flesh and blood body. Cloud wondered how often he was moved at all aside from being bathed. With a grimace, he made sure the curtain fully enclosed the man in darkness and stepped away.

It was only when Cloud closed the bedroom door behind it and took in a breath of the fresh air of the house that he realized his shoulders were tense, and he heaved a loud sigh.

“He looks terrible. I can see why his family doesn’t think he has long left,” Aerith said quietly from one of the two couches in the living room, its backside toward the front door.

“You know, I’ve seen some gruesome wounds, I treated a guy that had severe burns all over his body. And watching him suffer through it, and not make it really tried my nerves for this job. But, something about just rotting like that,” Cloud said, not knowing exactly how to finish or express the depths of the disturbed feeling in his body.

“It’s peaceful sorrow. We see terrible things and expect bombastic responses most of the time. People howling in pain, shaking and crying; it’s awful to bear witness to. I used to struggle to make it through the day sometimes. But maybe their outlet gets to be ours too. But that… there’s nothing. Just pure agony with no outlet, no expression, Only sorrow,” Aerith said, her voice pained before she stood up and walked back over toward Cloud.

“Do you want to stop? We can find someone else, someone more experienced with a patient like this,” she said, and Cloud truly thought for a moment to accept such a kind offer.

“But, if I don’t, then who will? He’d be alone for potentially days. And his family left thinking they had someone with him,” Cloud said, his voice low and heavy.

“That’s what they probably wanted. Someone to be here with him, so he wouldn’t be alone when he expires. I’ve done it before, I can do it again,” Cloud said, steeling his voice as he stood straighter and looked down at Aerith, and a smile curved her lips.

“Okay. Just call me if anything at all happens, or if you need to unload,” she said and Cloud nodded, a handsome smile curving his lips.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After seeing Aerith out, Cloud took his suitcase upstairs where he found two bedrooms upstairs across a large loft with two surprising placed fireplaces, and took the last one on the right. Not interested in unpacking, he explored the two rooms by his bedroom and found a small library with a couple of desks and across from that room, a large storage closet. Beside the top of the stairs on the first floor was a small pull down ladder that led to a rather spacious attic that was largely empty aside from a few boxes and some large trunks covered in years of dust and spiderwebs. Not interested in meeting any spindly legged friends, Cloud explored the ground floor to find a rather beautiful, though sparsely decorated, dining room. Beside that was a music room with a piano and a few other mounted instruments, the violin catching Cloud’s attention for a moment.

Passing a square room with no doors that seemed to serve as more of a divider than anything else, he found a room with tables and chairs, but largely, it wasn’t even furnished. In fact, aside from the bedrooms and living room, the house felt more like a show house than a house a family lived in. With that thought, Cloud wondered if the family even lived with Sephiroth. Perhaps they had a series of nurses stay with him, or check up on him, and left him on his own all the time. The thought, however, was a sad one.

According to the chart Cloud had on him, Sephiroth was only 27, just a couple of years older than him, but he was so emaciated and sickly, he looked like he was decades older. It was always sad when a young person ended up in such a situation. According to his charts, there was no real concrete reason that was agreed upon for what was wrong. There were dozens of different diagnoses, and some of them seemed a bit of a stretch, but Cloud could only surmise that doctors were scratching their heads over the case. In the end, Sephiroth had been hooked up to a bunch of machines and made as comfortable as possible, as that seemed to be the only thing to do. It was depressing. Cloud had become a nurse to help people, but after being in the field for a few years, it was sometimes a hard pill to swallow, knowing that not everyone could be saved, and some could not even be helped.

Cloud almost decided to leave the house for a while, but as soon as he remembered the sweltering heat, he thought better of it. It was so quiet in the house, but at least the fans in the rooms worked, and by the time he was done exploring, every ceiling fan in the house was on. It didn’t exactly lower the temperature in the house, but it did make it more bearable. Sephiroth’s room, however, did seem marginally cooler, probably because of the lack of windows. No sun, no heat. Well, less of it.

Cloud explored the fridge to find it fully stocked and had to at least give the family that. It looked like they went on a shopping spree. Most of the food was recently bought from the dates on the frozen meats, so at least they were thoughtful for that. Finding pots and pans, Cloud filled the kitchen sink with lukewarm water and dropped a small steak in to thaw while he milled about the house some more. Bored, Cloud found himself in the library and began perusing books; anything to entertain him. If he wasn’t going to have a TV, then he needed to have something, and it looked like it was going to be books, though his phone would be a massive help.

After picking a book, Cloud finally put his clothes and other essentials away, and read for a bit. Around four o’clock, thoroughly hungry, he got out of bed and checked the steak to find it thaw enough. But, before doing that, he made a point to check in on his patient, and after examining the machines and checking his ivs, and peeking in to make sure nothing had changed, Cloud closed the door to the room of darkness behind him and made himself something to eat.

The potatoes were a good find in the basket hanging from the ceiling over the island counter, and he made quick work of dicing and boiling one while he cooked his steak and made some quick and dirty mashed potatoes. Settling in at the long dining table, Cloud found the silence growing more oppressive each time his fork and knife hit the plate, or when his spoon swiped the ceramic. Maybe there was a radio? If not, he could buy one, that should be relatively cheap. But then, thinking of it, he pulled out his phone, and selected a playlist to at least breath some life into the air. Soft rock music filled the air, echoing into the cavernous space of the house.

More furniture and decorations on the walls would go a long way into reducing the echo, but with the walls all barren aside from a clock or two, and scant furnishings even in the living area, the house was too empty, soulless even. It was truly was a basic, show-room-esque house, though it wasn’t entirely fair to show-rooms, at least they added accents. The couches were nice, black leather with a glass coffee table and a thick oval rug beneath them. The hardwood floors were polished to a shine, and the dining table was a handsome, rich ocher color.

The small round table by the window was pure white, and looked quite classy with its matching chairs, and the counter tops in the kitchen were real granite. Everything was expensive, high end, but there just wasn’t enough, almost like they were truly pretending to live there. In fact, with the two bedrooms Cloud had found, aside from Sephiroth’s, there didn’t seem to be a room for a family. The bedroom he chose was more like that of a hotel, like the rest of the home, minus wall art. The more Cloud thought about it, the more certain he was that Sephiroth alone dwelled within this house. The house itself was barren.

After eating, out of boredom, Cloud rummaged through the storage closet on the ground floor by the stairs and dusted and swept, but there wasn’t anything really to clean. The house was immaculate. To fight off a growing wave of frustration Cloud sat on the couch in the living area and watched some tv on his phone, but all too soon the battery dropped too low and he had to stop to charge it. Which left him at six o’clock. Which was perfect and imperfect. The sun was starting to dip behind the mountains, casting the sky in various oranges and reds. That rule, the peculiar one, echoed in his head. At night, he was to lock himself in his room and not come out no matter what.

Bizarre, truly. It was good that he had an attached bathroom, otherwise it was just going to be impossible to lock himself up all night, every night. With a sigh, Cloud checked on Sephiroth one last time, and seeing not much to do, and deciding against perhaps wiping him down as with the rest of the house, he was going to venture a guess Sephiroth had been cleaned before the family left, he doused the lights and went to his room. It was odd, though, to lock himself up at night. What exactly defined ‘night’. Was it when he decided to go to bed? Was it when the sun went down? For now, he’d take the literal interpretation.

Inside his room Cloud found something he hadn’t noticed, though he hadn’t looked before, which was that on his door there were a number of locks. There was a dead bolt, the standard lock on the thumb latch handle, and an incredibly thick and wide door bolt. It was excessively large and roughly six inches in length all together. Damn. Brows furrowed, Cloud slid the thick bolt across its channel and pushed it down into its nook, and turned toward his bed. Trapped. Like a rat. With a sigh, Cloud spotted his book and walked over toward it. Plugging his phone in to charge, he grabbed his book and flopped onto his back on the rather plain bed. It didn’t even have any posts or headboard, and crossed his ankles as he reclined against the wall.

~~~~~~~

A thump brought Cloud to attention, and he pulled his heavy eyes from his book. Blinking to wake himself and brush off the heaviness that had been threatening to pulled his eyes closed, Cloud looked toward his door. The rule reverberated through his skull. After a moment of hearing nothing, Cloud dropped his eyes back to his book, now more awake, and shifted on the bed. Moving now, he paused to grab his phone and check the battery and time. It was eight in the evening now, and the battery was fully charged. Unplugging it, Cloud set it back down and went back to his book. But paused when a thought entered his mind.

What if someone broke into the house? With such a ridiculous rule, he could neither investigate nor defend the home, especially Sephiroth, who was no doubt an easy victim. Though perhaps his deathly visage would be enough to dissuade any evil doing onto himself. But that didn’t mean it was impossible. With a sigh, Cloud refocused his eyes on the book. It had at least gotten somewhat interesting, though it was not at all his genre. He could use his phone, but Cloud wanted to save the battery for now.

A squeak brought Cloud to attention again. Blue eyes slid from one side of his room to the other before settling on his bedroom door. Low and long, the squeak came again, a loose floorboard bending just enough beneath a weighty burden. His brow creased. Cloud straightened up slightly and adjusted his ear in the direction of the door. No one could be out there. The thought of Sephiroth up was impossible, and Cloud dismissed it. The man’s body was so wasted there was no way it was him. He would not be able to sit up, let alone stand or even walk. The sound came again.

Creeeaak

Cloud’s heart thumped harder in his chest as he closed his book without care of his place and carefully put his socked feet to the floor. Tiptoeing towards the door, Cloud pressed his fingertips to the flat surface and then pressed his ear to the door. Heart thumping faster, Cloud took in a careful breath and swallowed. How could he be hearing that? On his first night, no less. If he were in an apartment, he could easily dismiss such a sound as neighbors, but there were no neighbors, no one on the other side of a wall, no one but Sephiroth. The creaking resumed, more regular now, very much likened to a steady, unhurried stride. Heart racing, Cloud backed slowly from the door and, with a quick thought, hit the light switch. Darkness plummeted down over him, and to Cloud’s utter horror, light filtered in from beneath the door. Tension shot through every muscle as Cloud nearly reached out to grab the handle before he remembered all the locks on the door, and once again, remembered the bizarre rule.

Remain in his bedroom no matter what he might hear.

Betrayal and suspicion raced through Cloud’s mind. The family knew about this. They had to have. Why else have such a bizarre rule in place? Cloud’s eyes snapped down to the light beneath the door, and a trill of pure terror shot through him when a shadow moved across the space, creating a moving black bar until it was gone. And a moment later, darkness nearly filled the entirely of the crack at his feet. Cloud stared, frozen in place for a long moment before he’d even realized his hand was sweating on the door handle, and it shook as he removed it. What on earth was going on here?

Distrust bloomed throughout Cloud’s mind as he carefully stepped from the door until he bumped his bed and carefully sat down. However, as he sat there, a horrible sensation rippled down his back, shooting down the balls of his feet. Exposed, vulnerable in the dark where he could not see. Horror movies by the dozens hit into his brain and Cloud’s breath hitched. No, it was not that, there were no monsters below his bed, no serial killer hiding in his closet, no menacing murderer at his second-floor window. Glancing backward toward where the curtain remained closed, Cloud swallowed. No. There was a logical explanation. It was why he’d been told to stay put.

Did the family have someone else that came into the home? Perhaps that was it. But, if so, why did he have to hide? It made no sense, but it was certainly far more logical than a ghost or evil doer. Maybe whoever visited at night, no doubt with a key, did not like socializing. Perhaps it was more for them than it was Cloud. But then he remembered the locks on the door. It still made no sense. Like there was just something missing to make perfect sense of it.

When no sound came again, Cloud decided to pull his covers back and lay down. The plopping sound of his book hitting the floor when he’d pulled the blanket up nearly made Cloud jump. He froze, eyes locked on the door. He waited; listened. Nothing. Heart hammering madly as sweat built up under his clothes, Cloud crouched down and felt around in the dark until he found the book and slid it away. Climbing in, Cloud laid stiffly on his side, eyes on the door, where he waited, and listened.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To stiffness and pain Cloud opened his eyes, confusion muddling his brain, unsure if he’d slept, or merely blinked his eyes. But, when they opened, his room was brighter with the light of the sun filtering in through the curtain at his bedside. Cloud sat up on his hip and twisted his body, finding his neck too stiff to turn as he glanced at the window. Indeed, it appeared to be morning. Feeling like he hadn’t slept at all, Cloud pulled his socked feet free from the bedding and sat up before he grabbed his phone and looked at the screen as a loud yawn forced his mouth to pop open. It was seven in the morning. Somehow, he had fallen asleep without knowing it. Cloud listened as he stood up, his mind clear of any meandering thoughts as he slowly unlocked his door and, after a moment of hesitation, opened it. Peering into the loft, with the light of dawn filtering in through the curtains, Cloud studied the dimness of the space. The couches facing the two fire places, and the banister that belonged to the stairs across the space to his right. Everything looked normal.

Heaving a sigh, Cloud quietly made his way across the loft and down the stairs, taking them slow while listening to them creak beneath his weight. And each time, he felt a twitch somewhere in his brain. It was these stairs, these were what he’d heard. Someone had been on the stairs last night. Down on the ground floor, Cloud turned the lights on and peered around the large space. Nothing, nothing unusual. He checked the front door, which was locked as it should be. Cloud methodically checked each room, and for good measure opened the curtains while he checked the windows, allowing the sunlight of the morning to soothe the aching exhaustion and prickling fear lingering from the night before. By the time Cloud found himself back in the living room, he was a mix of relieved and disturbed, for nothing appeared out of place. Well, aside from one last room.

Careful for noise, Cloud opened the door and stepped inside the darkness before turning the light on. It was the same as he’d seen it the day before. Walking up to the bed, Cloud found the small opening in the curtains and peeked inside. It smelled stronger of sweat now, indicating Sephiroth needed a wipe down, but other than that, he looked the same. Perhaps his hair was a little different, but most likely Cloud just didn’t remember it clearly. With a sigh of relief, Cloud checked the machines again, and took note of some bags low enough to change. He’d also need to check in on Sephiroth’s waste, but for now, Cloud wanted a shower and something to eat. That was a damn rough night.

After sealing the door to darkness, Cloud went straight back to his room and to his bathroom. Finally getting out of his day clothes and socks, he hopped into the shower, washed down, and in the mirror shaved his face. Satisfied as his hair began to classically stick out in all its wayward ways, Cloud pulled on a clean pair of clothes and hurried down for breakfast.

Finding some eggs and sausage, Cloud ate with the sound of something playing on his phone for comfort. As he chewed the savory sweet of the meat, his mind wandered back to his night. It had been frightening, off-putting enough, that a feeling of justified frustrated birthed itself within his chest. If there was some strange person entering the premises at night, the rule’s existence made sense, though perhaps a tad eerie, but they should have warned him along with the rule. An explanation would have helped greatly with such an encounter. Cloud’s brows furrowed in frustration as he stopped eating to grab his phone and pulled up his contacts, pressing for a familiar number.

“Hey, Aerith?” he greeted on the phone and listened briefly to her response.

“Well, it’s about the family. I was hoping to get their phone number,” Cloud explained, and whatever answer he heard on the phone made his brow tense.

“That’s ridiculous! They are asking for a service in my being here, and they really think they shouldn’t be called?” he growled, anger sharpening his eyes. Aerith said something more.

“Then you call them! Text them, something! There was someone in the house last night!” he hissed.

“Yeah. I heard them walking around,” Cloud explained before pausing briefly. “No, I know what I heard. And I saw their shadow under the door when I turned my bedroom light off. Someone was definitely in here. And I mean, okay, it makes that bizarre rule make sense,” he said before adding, “to a degree. But, why was there no explanation. They should have explained that someone else has keys!” he said, disgruntled even in the sharp jutting of his shoulders.

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault. This family is extremely… I don’t know how to put it. I can’t believe all this crap they pulled right before I arrive, and then not even bothering to explain some really vital stuff. But, I’d like to hear, to make certain, that indeed someone else is coming in. Because, I mean, that means someone broke in last night. But, everything’s fine, nothing seems missing, though it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot to steal, unless someone wants to make off with furniture,” Cloud grumbled.

“I would just really like an explanation,” he said and after a few moments of listening, he started nodding.

“Okay. You try that. Let me know what you find out, if you do find anything,” Cloud said, and after another brief nodding session, he hung up and put his phone down. After that, he ate his breakfast in silence. Washing his plate, and finishing the water in his glass, Cloud stretched a little and looked toward the bedroom door.

“Time to do my job,” Cloud said as he walked over and carefully slipped inside. Beneath the low lights of the room, Cloud found himself feeling the need to tiptoe, afraid to disturb the low hum of the machines that filled the silence. The room was incredibly empty. There were a couple of bedside tables made from a dark wood Cloud couldn’t identify, and a small desk with a chair. But there was nothing on anything, not even a clock. Going to the left side of the room, Cloud found two giant walk-in closets on either side of him, though the one on the right had been fitted with low tables. That was where he spotted what he’d been looking for. Towels, neatly folded and ready to be used, and a small plastic bucket. Grabbing it and filling it with warm water, Cloud threw a towel over each shoulder and returned to the main room. He stopped before the bed, staring at the black box that the canopy with its curtains made. It was more like a coffin than a bed, and in many ways, that was probably exactly what it would be. Of course, once the moment came, Sephiroth would be removed, but it would be where he died, and would be dead until he was moved.

The air was stuffy, and it made the skin between Cloud’s shoulder blades itchy as he finally stepped forward and rounded the bed. In some ways, it felt wrong to move the curtains, to disturb the setup, but he did have to clean his charge. There were no windows, so he didn’t need to worry about light, and with the bedroom door shut, Cloud knew Sephiroth was safe as he pulled one side of the bed’s curtains all the way open. A deathly pale, almost purplish face greeted Cloud once more, cheek bones sharp and lips shriveled, exposing some whites of teeth. He truly looked dead. Shaking himself of it, Cloud pulled the chair from the desk. Setting his bucket and towels down, Cloud leaned over the bed, where the smell grew stronger. Sweat, and something oddly sweet, like death, radiated, and the blonde’s stomach churned a little.

Carefully, Cloud slid the sheet from Sephiroth’s body, and a skeletal frame swathed in oversized black pajamas greet him. Touching them, Cloud felt the smooth finish of silk, expensive, and pointless for a man in such condition. But it matched everything else in the house. Carefully unbuttoning the shirt revealed a sunken chest and a full, sickly view of all the man’s ribs. Cloud grimaced a little. How could he be alive so thin? It was like something seen in times of war, or of tortured prisoners. Without a doubt, a body like this was one wracked with pain. Gently, Cloud lowered the sheet what he could and went for the pants, revealing gnarled hip bones and thighs that were mere bones and shriveled sinew. Cloud was certain then that this man would not be able to lift his leg even if he were to wake. Which definitely ruled out this man having been the cause of his terror the night before. His muscles were so wasted and shriveled.

Finished undressing Sephiroth, Cloud sat down and pressed one towel into the water. Wringing it, Cloud sat back up and carefully dabbed and wiped Sephiroth’s front down. More than once, his fingers would glaze the taut flesh, and each time a shiver run up his arm for how cool it felt. Was this man really alive? Yet, the machines said so. Ignoring such thoughts, Cloud continued his work until he came to the last stretch of his job. Though he winced to do so, he used both hands to roll the man onto his side.

“Sorry,” he whispered as he wiped down Sephiroth’s back, noting the bedsores on his back. His legs were next as Cloud made quick and gentle work, wanting to return his charge to a more comfortable position as soon as possible. And once Sephiroth was again seated on his back, clothes pulled up and buttoned, though Cloud wandered if there were any others he could change him into, he checked that deathly visage. Unlike before, where he’d seen signs of life behind those eyelids, Cloud now saw nothing. Leaning down until his ear neared those shriveled lips, Cloud waited to feel any sign of breath. Of course, the machine’s still hummed. His vitals were still indicating meager life, and yet still Cloud struggled to disbelieve his eyes. Cloud’s heart dropped into his stomach. He could feel nothing, not even the smallest of breath. Eyes widening, Cloud was about to touch Sephiroth’s cool neck to check for a pulse when something in the man’s face caught Cloud’s eye. Turning his head to stare directly at the silvery-hared man, Cloud watched.

Something had happened, though in the particularly dim area beneath the bed’s canopy it was hard to make out. Cloud’s eyes lingered on that hideous face, though it was easy to see that Sephiroth might have been quite handsome if not for his decay. A beep shocked through Cloud’s chest and he gasped, tearing himself up to jerk his eyes toward the machines beside him.

Standing up to examine them, Cloud noted everything looked as they had the last couple times he’d checked them. Had there been some activity? Bad or good? He cast his eyes down his side at the body on the bed. His fingers tingled with the desire to check for a pulse, but the machine itself clearly had indicated a spike in something, a fluctuation of some kind. How could the machine not have any record of it? Taking a deep breath and releasing it, Cloud shook his head slightly. He didn’t need to put his hands all over the man. The machines were clearly working. And so, Cloud adjusted Sephiroth’s pillow and brushed his fingers over his hair to smooth it down some before he grabbed the curtains.

“Rest well, Sephiroth,” he said and closed the two halves closed. Grabbing his soiled towels, Cloud dumped the water out and rinsed it with some soap found by the bathroom sink and took the towels with him to wash.

The main room of the house was incredibly bright by comparison when Cloud stepped into it, his eyes stinging for a brief moment as he squinted against the light of the sun. Once adjusted to the space outside of his patient’s room, Cloud set about finding ways to entertain himself. Between watching his phone and reading books, Cloud finally ventured outside to take a walk and explore the neighborhood. The block was in stark contrast to the house he was residing within. So many homes, though similar in design, were bright and just from his view on the sidewalk, looked full of life. Many had open windows that allowed onlookers to pry into their private spaces with their eyes alone. Some had people moving about them, one had children playing in the front yard. There were toys, gardens, and some with dogs. It was a rather happy, quaint little area.

After almost an hour and a half, Cloud found himself on the front porch of his temporary swelling once more. Raising up from the ground, it didn’t look anything like the others. Not because of the side of the house missing windows, it simply looked… eerie. It looked lonely, hollow, maybe even haunted. And for a moment, a small smile quirked Cloud’s lips. He wandered if the people in the area had this house pegged for such a thing. It wasn’t unusual for kids to pick out that one house to designate as the ‘haunted one’. Stepping up to the door and slipping inside, the dimness and hollow feeling of the house enveloped him. Yeah. This house was definitely unwelcoming, though it didn’t feel as if he were unwanted. The house simply felt… soulless. Like the man sleeping inside of it.

Checking Sephiroth’s ivs and changing a few, Cloud took note of something unexpected. Refuse. There were no bags for urine, and he’d found no catheter while wiping Sephiroth down. Even after fully examining both sides of the room, the right side housing a couple’s bathroom suite with a Jacuzzi, he found nothing useful. It was curious, there had to be some way to allow Sephiroth’s body to remove liquid waste when unable to move. Cloud hadn’t smelled any ammonia in the room either. He returned to the main part of the house, wondering if perhaps he hadn’t noticed anything because he hadn’t been looking. But to his surprise, there was nothing. A groan passed his lips. He was going to have to manually check and clean Sephiroth regularly without anything like that. And what of the mattress?! Who didn’t have such tools when caring for a bedridden person?! It was beyond bizarre, and absolutely neglectful!

Frustrated, Cloud made his way back to his charge’s room, brows drawn tight in anger. In fact, thinking about it, Sephiroth’s family had been nothing but callous in his regard. Not giving ample warning about sunlight, not explaining much of anything at all to be honest, including their nighttime visitor.

He had become a nurse for a reason, and having no help and so little care, as if they merely forgot until the last moment, really made Cloud’s jaw tense. Maybe the nightly visitor was the only help they ever got? Maybe that person was the only one who actually took care of Sephiroth? Perhaps this mysterious person needed more help, or was tired of taking on all the responsibility. Cloud carefully checked around the bedding, sniffing here and there. Smelling nothing wasn’t convincing. Cloud felt his heart flutter and cheeks flush a little as he pulled back the bsheet. He glanced back up toward Sephiroth’s face.

“Sorry. I’m just checking for something,” he said as he carefully spread the silver-headed man’s legs, just enough to press his hand in between the man’s thighs. It wasn’t exactly artful or the best method, but given what little he had to work with, and not wanting to move Sephiroth’s entire body again so soon, Cloud was just going to make do with a quick, and potentially literally, dirty method.

His hand brushed in between bony thighs and he flinched a little, heart jumping in his chest. It wasn’t the first time he’d touched the man’s intimate region, but for some reason embarrassment fluttered in his heart as Cloud touched the bedding and slid his hand up what he could until he was nearly underneath his charge’s butt. And to his relief and surprise, it was dry and smooth as silk sheets should be. Satisfied, Cloud slid his hand free and carefully moved the man’s legs back to the way they had been. “Again, sorry,” Cloud said as he looked up toward Sephiroth’s face. It was terrible, all of it.

“How often does anyone visit you?” he asked, and immediately regretted it. No, he should do nothing to disturb his patient. Not that he expected his charge to wake, he still didn’t want to impede his sorrowful solitude. A sick person needed to rest, even if it was all he would ever do since Cloud doubted a man in such a state would have a miraculous turnaround. With one last glance up at that horrific face, Cloud pulled the sheet up over Sephiroth’s prone form and closed the curtain.

“Rest well,” he whispered before he turned from the bed and carefully exited the bedroom. Out in the fresh air, Cloud decided to take a few moments to unwind and decompress before he decided to call Aerith again. Explaining the situation, which also perplexed Aerith. She also unfortunately had the bad news to deliver that she had received no answer from the family, and that she doubted she’d hear back from them on this either.

“Can you send me catheters and bags then, please? I can’t imagine he doesn’t need one. Those liquid IVs have got to filter out somewhere,” Cloud said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cloud was reclined in bed, ankles crossed with his eyes glued to his phone with sound hitting his eardrums through his earbuds. It was past dark and so, as instructed, he locked up his bedroom door, the dead bolt, and the door bolt were all locked. A part of Cloud thought to keep to keep an earbud out, to listen for the nocturnal visitor. But a part of him also wanted to avoid it, even if the idea of a stranger in the house distressed him. When the episode of what he’d been watching finished he closed the app he’d been using and pulled his earbuds out of his ears.

The time on his phone reading ten forty-six, Cloud sighed as he also noted the battery and plugged his phone in to charge. Changing into a pair of gray shorts and a white t-shirt, and with no socks on this time, Cloud crawled into bed and turned out his light. As he lay still, he thought about shunning the door entirely, but something in the back of his mind demanded he keep his senses on alert. And so, facing his bedroom door, Cloud stared through the darkness, watching, listening for anything at all. But, as the minutes ticked by his restless mind and sore body loosened with the need to relax and sleep.

THMP

Cloud’s eyes snapped open and every muscle tensed.

Rrrrrrk

Cloud’s heart jumped into his throat as he groped for his phone in the dark. Finding the sleek device, Cloud pulled it until the cable accidentally popped out and the screen flashed on, blinding him as it flooded his room with bright light. Squinting, Cloud noted the time. It was eleven forty-six. Exactly an hour had passed. Cloud set his phone down on the mattress, his breath shallow as he listened. Light flooded in from beneath the door, indicating that indeed, someone was on the loft. Tension wound through Cloud as heat bloomed across his skin. The mysterious visitor. Cloud tried to take a deeper breath, to calm himself, but found that some part of him was unwilling to so much as allow his chest to heave. Frozen, Cloud watched and listened as heavy footsteps moved across the space.

Who was that? Who was the family neglectful to mention? Or maybe… an unwelcome thought came to mind. Who had they hidden? The skin all over Cloud’s body prickled as he waited. For what, he wasn’t sure. Unwanted thoughts of doorknobs rattling and scratching on walls came to mind and his throat tightened. No, not a great time to think such things. There was a storage closet on the loft floor with a lot of different things. Maybe if it were some midnight caretaker, perhaps they were going to use that? But then, Cloud realized, if they did fetch something the night before, he hadn’t heard them take it back. Though, perhaps he’d slept through it, though the idea of it was doubtful.

Dmp dmp, dmp dmp, dmp dmp

Cloud nearly jackknifed out of bed considering how hard he jerked on the mattress. Eyes round as saucers and every muscled wound tighter than a band about to snap. The blonde’s breath caught in his chest, his throat closed shut. His eyes bore into the door handle, though he could only scarcely see it from the light that flooded the crack beneath… light that had been blocked by shadow.

Dmp dmp, dmp dmp, dmp dmp

It sounded like tapping. Cloud’s face twisted up in ghastly terror. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real. Why?

Dmp dmp, dmp dmp, dmp dmp

Cloud’s fingers gripped his blanket until his knuckles drained of blood.

Who was fucking with him? And why? Why?! Heat flushed Cloud’s face, sweat breaking out across his skin. Why couldn’t he leave his room at night? And even more, why did he have to lock his door? The only reason to lock a door was to keep something, or someone, out. Horror radiated through Cloud’s body as wetness seeped into the edges of his eyes. It was insane. Cloud thought perhaps to speak, to tell the person to go away, and his lips trembled, but the tension in his clenched jaw refused to allow him to speak.

Go away. Whoever the hell it was needed to go away! The tapping did not come again, and the pressure in Cloud’s chest reached his head as he stared down, hyper away of the shadow that blocked the light from beneath the door. It hadn’t moved for nearly a whole minute despite the silence.

Shhhhhhhhh

The sound of dragging, of nails dragging across the wall, or perhaps his door, sliced through the air, shrieking into the hot, tense silence of the room.

Chkchkchkchk

The thumb latch on the door cried out repetitiously with each downward plunge and Cloud finally did, by some power of will he hadn’t even known he had, jumped upright And just as he did so, the sound stopped. He was ready, Cloud's entire body roared with energy, muscles ready to pounce.

And then the floor creaked as the shadow vanished from the doorway, allowing light to once again spill across the floor at the door. And only moments later, the light went out. Sitting upright, Cloud stared wide-eyed at the door. All previous notions were now misgivings. Why hadn’t he realized it sooner? This was no midnight caretaker. Why had he thought so? It would make no sense to lock the door if the family trusted this person. Something was going on, something that Cloud did not like, or appreciate having no answers to. Putting his feet to the floor, Cloud sat on the edge of his bed and watched the door, wide awake and not willing to lie back down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morning saw Cloud in poor shape. He was exhausted, relieved only when the morning sun began to filter in through the curtains. Eyes heavy and dry, Cloud only started moving when it was decently bright, and opened his curtains. The house down the way looked nice, and the grass in between his window and it was lush and green. It was a beautiful morning. But he was too tired. Looking back toward his door, Cloud glowered as he walked over toward his bed, grabbed his bedding, and threw himself into it. It was daytime now. Two nights of poor to no sleep were going to hamper his ability to do anything. And so Cloud closed his eyes for a nap.

When Cloud next woke, it was almost noon. Tired and body feeling heavy, he pulled himself out of bed and unlocked his door. It was surreal, and he felt like he was still half asleep and drifting through a dream as he examined the house again, looking for anything out of place. But, like the day before, everything was exactly as it had been. Anger flared through the blonde. He needed answers, dammit. If not, he was going to leave this damn house. But, as soon as the thought came, he remembered his reason for being and stopped in front of Sephiroth’s door. If he left, Sephiroth would be without care. A curse rang through Cloud’s head as he opened the door and carefully made his way inside. And his heart nearly jumped out of his chest. That was not right. Not at all!

Cloud stared in horror of the sight before him. The black veil that surrounded Sephiroth’s bed was open, not just open, but looked as if it had been thrown open as one side was stretched out, caught on the machinery. Rushing over toward the bed, Cloud turned to Sephiroth, who lay still as he always had.

Turning toward the machines, Cloud carefully freed the drapery and moved it back into place before examining the machines. Everything was okay and functioning as it should, and he could see nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps he should ask Aerith for a manual on the machines. He could see history, Cloud knew, but he had no idea how. Cloud quickly examined the entirety of the room, and he found only one thing out of place. Or better, missing. Cloud looked around the desk area and bed, perplexed. The chair was gone.

Regret washed over Cloud as frustration warred for dominance. Last night, all he’d thought about was his own safety. He had completely neglected Sephiroth in his fear. Since everything had been normal the day before, Cloud had honestly thought his patient was in no danger, and while a missing chair and moved curtain didn’t exactly mean someone was threatening him, anxiety nipped at Cloud’s heart. That curtain was one more layer of protection against Sephiroth’s allergy to sunlight. True, there were no windows, and the door was shut, but the very ac of removing such an intentional wall of protection was threatening. Cloud parted the curtains and looked at his patient’s face, still horrendous, still sleeping.

“You wouldn’t be able to tell me what happened last night, would you?” Cloud asked softly before shaking his head.

“Sorry. That was uncalled for. I’ll make sure to be more careful in the future,” Cloud promised as he closed the curtain and examined the bedroom door. It was hard to see with how dim the room was, but it looked like, unlike his room with all its locks, Sephiroth’s door only had the doorknob lock. Carefully exiting the room and closing the door, he examined the other side, which, to his surprise, had a key lock. So… the door could be locked from inside, and unlocked or locked from the outside too. Like a front door lock. Odd. But he’d been given no keys. Which was a shame. He could provide better care for Sephiroth, given this midnight intruder, if he could lock his patient’s door.

Turning from the door and staring into the brighter section of the house, Cloud felt his skin prickling all over. Unnerved, upset, and rocked with indecision. A part of him wanted to leave the house, but he couldn’t. It would take too long to approve and get someone else in the house to take care of Sephiroth. So he had to do something himself. Cloud looked toward the front door and glared at it. He would find some way of keeping intruders out. Mortified by the thought that he’d actually thought the intruder could be someone helpful despite how little sense it made, he made his way to the kitchen to make something to eat. Dwelling on it would get him nowhere, action would. But, until action was needed, he had to take care of himself and perform his duties to Sephiroth.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Cloud stepped back from his handiwork, happy to test that the dining table chair was tight underneath the curled out bottom of the front door handle. It had been tricky due to the low height, but Cloud had been able to find some wedges at the hardware store on main street and packed them tightly beneath the back chair legs to hold it in place. Grabbing the door handle and yanking while holding down on the thumb latch rewarded him with no give. Great. He’d like to see someone come inside now. Since he’d been told nothing of visitors, despite the odd rule about locking himself up at night, Cloud decided he was going to move forward as if he were the only one supposed to be in the house, other than Sephiroth, of course.

For added measure, mostly to see if something somehow did happen, Cloud had gotten the random and perhaps bizarre idea to spray some silly string he found in the kid’s toy corner in the store, across the seam of the doorjamb. Smiling with perhaps misplaced accomplishment, Cloud saw to Sephiroth one last time, making sure to check the newly placed catheter and bag along with the ivs, before he made sure every window was locked, and climbed the stairs to his room where he locked himself up. Though, a tickle in the back of his mind urged him to perhaps, this time, ignore the rule. It made no sense. With the efforts he went through to block the front door, unless there was a ghost in the house- a thought which made him pause for a moment. No, he was alone. And he would be tonight for certain.

In bed and in his pajamas once again, Cloud played a game on his phone for a while until about ten in the evening. Noting no noise of any kind, and grinning in satisfaction, the blonde plugged his phone in to charge and rolled over with the thought that he would call the police in the morning. Turning out his light, Cloud cuddled up to his blanket and fluffed his pillow before relaxing.

Shhhhhrrrrrrr

Cloud roused, confused in his sleep addled haze as he lifted his head from his pillow.

Ssshhhhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Cloud tensed, eyes snapping open wide, and to his bedroom door. Heart jumping in his chest and his breath shallow, he listened. There was nothing, no sound at all. Perhaps he’d moved in bed, scratched his pillow. Groping in the dark for his phone, Cloud found it and turned it on, wincing when the bright light hit his face.

It was just past midnight. Frowning, Cloud put his phone down and carefully put his head on his pillow. Breath careful as he listened.

It couldn’t be. If someone was in the house, either they were getting in from somewhere else or... no. Impossible. Cloud had checked every room and corner. He was alone. Well, aside from Sephiroth. A chill prickled down the blonde’s back. Nope. Impossible. Sephiroth had not stirred even once, even when Cloud had inserted the lubricated catheter into his urethra. That man was long gone, mentally and physically. Though, he did still dream it seemed. Cloud’s fingers tightened their hold on his blanket. No way. Not possible. Taking in a deep breath and releasing it, Cloud reluctantly pulled himself from the warmth of his bedding and sat on the edge of his bed. No more sounds. They had been awful quiet, perhaps he’d imagined them from his sleep.

Cloud closed his eyes for a moment, debating. He was to lock his door and never leave no matter what he heard. But the rule was ridiculous. If he had to defend the house, or Sephiroth, he had to be able to leave his room at a moment’s notice. And in normal circumstances, as a live in nurse, he’d have tools to alert him to any emergency at any point day or night. It was his job to care for his patient.

Chest feeling stronger and spine straighter, Cloud stood up and walked up to his door, bare feet padding softly to the door. Cloud touched the bolt on the door, pausing only for a moment, perhaps out of some odd feeling of guilt, before he slid it slowly across the door until it was no longer blocking it. Slowly he turned the deadbolt, and then came the door handle lock with a click. Cloud swallowed. It was fine. The rule made no sense. And he had a job to do. Having woken to a strange noise, it was practically required he check on his patient.

Pushing down on the thumb latch, Cloud very cautiously opened the door. One inch, two inches, wincing when the hinges gave a growing whine of warning. His last chance to be honest and not break a rule, no matter how ridiculous. Usually rules existed for a reason, but sometimes they also just needed to be broken. Door open, Cloud stared into the dark loft and froze. He could do nothing. Cursing under his breath, he carefully, and quickly, as if something nipped at his heels, grabbed his phone. Almost knocking it off the table had him scrambling to silence any clatter as Cloud snatched it to his chest, the light flashing on as he did so. Relieved to have avoided a lot of noise, he turned the phone toward himself, its light flashing on bright in his face before he hit the flashlight button. Unplugging it from its long cord, Cloud turned toward the open door and stopped. Dumbfounded.

He wasn’t particularly fearful of the dark. It simply posed a danger as far as vision was concerned. But, staring into the pitch black void that filled in his doorway, he couldn’t help feeling his heart rate elevate. It was just a, still, very unfamiliar home, smells and sounds that he wasn’t used to. And obviously, there were no footsteps or lights turning on. And so Cloud turned his light toward the door and walked up to before he stepped out into the foyer, hearing with a cringe the wood lightly protest his weight. Walking around the two fireplaces with slow steps, Cloud froze. Heart jumping hard and fast in his chest, with eyes wide and body frozen solid, he stared.

Light.

Light flooded the stairs from below. Cloud’s brows furrowed as he shook himself from his alarmed stupor. He must have accidentally forgotten to turn the lights off. But a needle of caution had already pierced him, making his movements far too cautious and slow as he made it to the stairs and pressed his hand to the banister. It was fine; it happened. He’d simply turn the lights off and go back to bed. Slow in pace, Cloud crept down the stairs until he made it to the ground floor.

To his bafflement, however, the blonde paused when he reached the ground floor hallway the stairs led into and looked around the bright hall to the open door of the darkened half bath just to the left. It wasn’t just the hall that was lit up. As Cloud’s eyes slid forward, he noticed that the entire living room was lit up. Now that was a bit disconcerting. He couldn’t have forgotten to turn off that too, had he? Cloud eyed the light switch to the left side of the hall and slowly, with anxiety creeping up within him again, clung to the wall as he passed the small broom closet on his left. Touching the small piece of jutting wall that housed the hall light switch outside the living room, a dark shape caught Cloud’s eyes and his gaze zeroed in a black spot in left side of the large room. Right near Sephiroth’s door. Cloud’s heart felt about to burst in his chest as blood rushed in his ears and adrenaline seized his muscles.

No. No. No. No.

Cloud’s mouth went bone dry as an uncontrollable tremble assaulted his knees and shoulders. The black spot, no, it was a tall, bony pillar that stood straight. It was a body. A tall, lanky body with a smear of silvery-white down the center. Cloud’s jaw popped open, breath catching in his throat, pressure building up tight as he quivered in his hiding spot.

Sephiroth. Sephiroth. It was Sephiroth.

Standing, still as a statue with his back toward him. What? All thought left Cloud, mind bungled in disbelief. It was impossible, absolutely impossible. It had to be a nightmare. Fear shot up from Cloud’s stomach, twisting his insides as prickling fear filled his body, causing sweat to break out across his skin. His eyes darted toward the front door. It sat perfectly undisturbed, chair wedged beneath the handle, the bright pink of the silly string just visible on the door frame. Cloud’s eyes shot back toward Sephiroth, and the pressure in his throat hit a painful note when he saw movement, a head turning as shoulders shifted.

To remain locked inside his room no matter what, all night long.

No thought. Nothing entered Cloud’s mind as he twisted on his foot and bolted back toward the stairs, his feet stinging from their impact on the hardwood floor. The thunderous sound of footsteps, a roar of noise slamming into the air from behind him ripped a near squeal from Cloud’s lips when he tripped on the last step, his phone flying from his hands in his attempts to brace and push himself up. Not quite managing to fall, Cloud half scrambled, half sprinted across the foyer as the hard slap of heavy feet hit the air behind him, thundering closer than ever, until Cloud bolted into his room and slammed the door with all of his might. The walls shook as Cloud slammed himself against it, and the sound, the feeling of a body that slamming into it from the other side tore a yell from his lips. Panicked when the door pushed in a few millimeters, Cloud grit his teeth, feet sliding against the floor as he shoved it with all of his might.

The door slammed shut and Cloud crushed his finger, nearly screaming from the pain in his panic as he slammed the bolt across the door. Quickly after that, the deadbolt followed, and then the door handle lock. Cloud leapt from the door, chest heaving, water stinging his eyes, body drenched in sweat, and heart racing. And he stared with the eyes of a cornered animal at the door. There was no other sound, no vibration against the door after the initial slam and push. Cloud’s hands balled repeatedly into fists. He had been chased. He had been fucking chased! Wheezing for breath, Cloud remained in place, his mind still reeling from the entire encounter.

Shhhrrrrrrr

The sound from before returned, but so much louder, and Cloud felt a whimper catch in his throat. He knew what it was now. Nails, nails gliding across the wall, or this time, across his door. Horror bloomed hot through his chest as his mind began to piece the clues together.

The lights, the footsteps, the attempts to open his door the night before. It was all Sephiroth! How?! How was this possible?! The man was so emaciated, so sickly, so downright unresponsive. There was no way he could stand, let alone chase someone! The sound of feet creaking across the floorboards made Cloud tremble, but hopeful relief washed over him.

Good. Go away. He was going to get the fuck out of this house as soon as morning came.

When the footsteps grew distant, echoing down the stairs, Cloud finally, after a lingering moment, sat on the bed. Fuck. There was no way he was staying more than two minutes past sunrise.

Tmp, tmp tmp tmp

The footsteps came back and Cloud tensed as he jumped up, alert for a threat. Perhaps Sephiroth had returned with a tool of some sort. The sound of clattering at his door and sliding hit the air, and to Cloud’s horror, his phone slid through the crack under the door. He stared for a moment, its lit up screen catching his eye. With a quick bolt and snatch, Cloud grabbed his phone and jumped from the door. But something was stuck to it. Feeling the somewhat rough feeling of paper, Cloud looked at his phone and found stuck to it with tape was indeed paper. Scrawled in lettering that looked like it was written by a drunk, to Cloud’s utter shock, was a note.

I’m sorry, it said. Cloud felt like his eyes must have bulged from their sockets the way he stared, his heart jumping into his throat. There was more. Short sentences, and very to the point.

I didn’t mean to scare you. I haven’t seen anyone in years. I’m sick, and very weak. But at night, when it’s cooler, I feel better.

Cloud’s mind struggled to process what he was reading. It didn’t make sense. None of it did. Sephiroth was more than sick and weak. He was near death! There was simply no way this was possible, and no way the time of day made any difference to a person in the state Cloud had seen.

Shuffling at the door had Cloud’s eyes on it, at the crack where a slightly crumpled note slid through the crack. Wearily, Cloud picked up the full sized paper. The letters were bigger, taking up more space, still sloppy, but a little less hackneyed.

I can’t talk right now. So I tried to catch you when you ran. Bad idea. I’m sorry.

Cloud was having a hard time believing what he was reading, but the fact that Sephiroth was up and awake at all also was unbelievable.

Will you come out? I can’t talk, but I’d like to see you. I won’t be able to stay up as long tonight. I used up too much energy.

Cloud looked toward the door, at a loss. It was all completely insane. Unsure what to believe, Cloud just stood in place, staring at the door with the paper in his hands.

“You are Sephiroth, right?” Cloud asked, though he realized he wouldn’t get a live answer. But perhaps he’d get a written one.

“When I’ve been seeing you during the day, you’re totally unresponsive. And your body, I don’t understand how you can stand at all. And someone’s been taking care of you, right?” Cloud asked. A few moments later came another note with responses.

I am Sephiroth. It’s as you say. During the day I’m very weak. I can’t even open my eyes. Someone changes my ivs, but I’ve never seen them, and they never stay. I am so lonely. Please come out.

Cloud took a moment to breathe and collect his thoughts. It still was preposterous, but how could he doubt what he was clearly experiencing?

“Why did they tell me to stay in my room and never unlock the door. No matter what I hear?” Cloud asked. Another few moments later, a note came under the door again. It’s contents shocking.

Because my family hates me. They’re the ones who put me in this condition. They want me dead.

Cloud’s mind whirled at the words. What? That was… ridiculous, right? But then… it did seem like there was a lack of care being paid toward Sephiroth.

"Why?” Cloud asked.

Another note.

I’ve always been different from them. They always said I was difficult, and when I got sick, they were even more callous. I don’t know why they hate me so much. But I know, being in this condition is only because they barely tried. Many doctors, yes, but never pursuant of any actual treatments. They’ve left me to rot.

Cloud’s brows furrowed. He hadn’t actually got an answer. But then, maybe they didn’t want anyone talking to Sephiroth and hearing his story. But didn’t that also sound a tad cliché? Or Hollywood-esque?

“Still doesn’t explain the rule,” Cloud said. A moment later, another note came.

I don’t have an answer. I won’t hurt you. I just want to see you. Just once. Please. You can slam the door in my face. Just a couple of seconds. It’s been so long since I’ve seen someone. Please. I’m lonely.

Cloud frowned, heart twisting in his chest. He was being so insistent. And whatever the reason, it was sad to be locked up in that room all day and never being visited at night. As Cloud was assuming that all his care happened during the day. It still didn’t really add up. It was still unbelievable, but he couldn’t deny the text conversation he was having. Sephiroth was clearly awake, and lucid. Cloud turned toward the door and froze when the image of the man’s shriveled lips and purplish, pale face came to mind. Oh, God, did he want to see that? But would it not be cruel to avoid it for his own comfort? A man, if what he said was true, was suffering alone in silence. Cloud put the papers and his phone down on the bed and walked up to the door, where he stopped.

“I’m going to open the door. No sudden moves,” he said, and he heard a shift, perhaps of Sephiroth standing or stepping back. Cloud unlocked the door, hesitating at each lock. And only before he pressed his thumb to the latch, did he briefly think to reconsider. But he shook the notion away. No, he was here to help someone, be it in their bed or standing up. He’d become a nurse to help people. And Sephiroth was literally begging for help. Feeling warmth and strength in his chest, thinking on what it might be like to actually try to help Sephiroth, perhaps get him the help he actually needed, brightened Cloud’s mind as he pulled the door open.

A powerful force bowled over Cloud. Sensation erupted in his neck, like a needle ice cold as his body bent backward, the mystifying, powerful force shoving his head backward as his back bowed from the hard yank on his torso. Like knives digging into his arms, the coldness erupted into vicious, stabbing pain that lanced through Cloud’s neck and down his spine. His skin burned where nails pierced his flesh as hair fell around Cloud’s face and shoulder. Utter shock and confusion shorted out any thought, any inkling to fight as the sensation of pain burned through his veins, his heart palpitating in unnatural, frantic rhythms with each suck on his neck. And just as quickly as it hit, with vision blacking out, the pain numbed into an eerie feeling of nothingness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cloud woke in bed. Covers kicked from his body, his legs nearly off the bed. The blonde lifted his head, only to freeze and wince when pain shot through his neck. Wincing, he used his arms, tired and aching, to lift himself into an upright position. Touching his neck, Cloud grimaced from the severe stiffness of the muscles before he froze when his eyes settled on the fully open bedroom door. Cloud stared, mind stumbling to kick into gear and think. What? The bedroom door was wide open. Had he… left it open? With a gasp, Cloud remembered. Sephiroth standing, the chase, the notes. And then… the hug. Sephiroth had lunged like a madman the moment Cloud had opened the door and yanked on him, crushing their bodies together with such force he had actually hurt him. It was unbelievable how much strength those arms had, how much force Sephiroth’s head had collided with Cloud’s in probably the most needy embrace Cloud was certain to exist. Sephiroth backed off quickly when the blonde had squirmed and cried out in pain and almost threw him to the floor in his attempts to let go. The entire meeting was maddening, and truly bizarre.

Cloud examined his arms, and sure enough, there were small red welts where Sephiroth long, partially broken fingernails had dug into him he’d squeezed his arms so hard. Walking around his bed to the bathroom, Cloud examined his neck and winced. He had a massive bruise on his neck that was even a bit red, and his brow furrowed. Upon examining it, however, he saw no evidence of a break in the skin, the thought of which induced a shudder down his spine before he chuckled to himself. Right. It seemed like he’d dreamed Sephiroth was a vampire or something. Deciding on a quick shower, Cloud returned to his room and changed into a T-shirt for a hard rock band he liked and some jeans. His neck was incredibly stiff, and he had some mild sores on his arms, but otherwise, he was fine. Though, it would be nice to know what the hell was wrong with his throat.

Going downstairs, Cloud found everything exactly as he’d left it, including the lights off. The chair blocking the front door was in place, along with his, of course, undisturbed silly string. Embarrassed by his attempts now, Cloud removed the chair and cleaned off the door jamb before he had himself a quick breakfast. When finished, the blonde carefully pressed into the dim light of Sephiroth’s room.

It was so some stupefaction and momentary insanity that Cloud beheld the man in his bed, exactly as he had been every time he’d seen him. Still as a statue beneath his sheet, arms and legs straight, unmoving. Yet Sephiroth had definitely been up last night. As Cloud adjusted the sheets for something to do, and also taking a moment to bask in the humiliation of having used a catheter on the man, Cloud turned his eyes toward what he always waited last to look upon. It was quite sad, in all honesty. How he could look so horrible due to neglect. Though really, it also wasn’t entirely outside the bounds of probability.

Cloud’s brows furrowed, head angling slightly as he leaned forward more, squinting into the dimness of the canopy. Something was different. Sephiroth’s face, still so thin, so bony, so pallid. But it looked… a little better, a little less… sick. And his lips, still so thin and purplish, didn’t look quite so… shriveled. In fact, Sephiroth’s lips actually looked relaxed, completely covering his lips. Cloud glanced at the machines humming beside his patient. Every IV had been replaced, and the steady drips continued. Cloud looked back toward Sephiroth, befuddled. He actually looked like he was healthier, just a little less corpse-like. Still far from good or even handsome, but there were traces of a youthful shape and some returned elasticity to his skin. Cloud quirked a brow.

“Don’t know if you can hear me Sephiroth, but you actually,” Cloud paused to make sure he chose the right word, “look better. I’m surprised, it’s good though. Maybe we can do something to improve your quality of life,” he said. He waited a moment, wanting to see if there was some reaction, but when not even a twitch could be seen behind those eyelids, he stepped back and closed the curtain. Exiting the room, Cloud decided to go to the small hole in the wall health food store. He would do everything he could to care for Sephiroth. The man deserved that, at the very least.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Hello, welcome in!” Cloud was greeted when he entered the store. A smile curved his lips as he grabbed a hand basket and went straight for the supplement aisles. If Sephiroth were able to actually swallow anything down, perhaps he could get him to ingest something. As Cloud looked over the bottles and boxes, his mind wandered. Sephiroth had a nutritional iv, a little odd, since he was able to clearly get up and move at night. Why was it necessary? There had to be a severe deficiency somewhere for him to be approved for it. Thinking about it, Cloud wished he’d read more thoroughly through the man’s charts. It’d been so much it had been a bit daunting. Sephiroth was extremely anemic, but that was just one thing among many. Cloud read over the ingredients of one box, only to put down and pick up another. He squinted when the world tilted slightly, his heart fluttering suddenly as his knees felt to wobble just a little. Not nearly enough to move him, but enough to draw Cloud’s head up. Breath feeling a tad short, he pressed his fingers to his neck and checked his pulse for a moment. Racing.

Cloud frowned. Dehydrated? Perhaps his blood sugar was a little low. Taking a moment to wait for it to pass, Cloud resumed his shopping when he felt clear again and made his way to checkout, but not before grabbing a bar of chocolate. He wasn’t much of a sweets guy, but even without sugar in it, cocoa had a decent sugar count. Leaving the store, Cloud went straight back to the house and immediately rested with a full glass of water while he nibbled on the chocolate. Immediately his world buzzed with life and his brain felt alert, and Cloud looked around, alarmed. He hadn’t realized how bad he’d been. Damn. Feeling energy return to his body, Cloud finished off his chocolate and refilled his water glass as he took his products out of the bag and set them on the dining table before he added a paper with Sephiroth’s name on it. Just in case. Hopefully Sephiroth wouldn’t insist on waking him up all hours of the night.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Something cold was touching him. Cloud’s head shifted, fingers twitching but never moving when he felt it come again, a low, teasing glide down the front of his neck. Tension tightened his brow as Cloud turned his head, eyes not wanting to open, unwilling to welcome waking as the gliding touch returned. He grimaced, his hands finally raising to push something away, but missed and instead, his hands were grabbed. Cloud’s eyelids finally snapped open, and he stared up, his hands caught in a dreadfully pale hand, cool to the touch, as they were pressed to the hard bone of Sephiroth’s chest. Cloud stared, shocked, at the face above him. Green eyes bore into Cloud’s, and the two sat silent as the fingers of Sephiroth’s other hand stroked down the front of the blonde’s neck, his nails grazing over the sensitive flesh.

There was something about those eyes. The pupils were so narrow, and the green almost seemed to glow in the darkness of the room with only the filtering of the moonlight to illuminate the area. But despite the low light, Cloud felt his mouth dry. Sephiroth’s face, it had filled out, no longer sharp and sunken, his cheeks were smooth and no longer garishly sticking to his bones. Now they enhanced and complemented the shape of his face. Beautiful, high cheeks bones, a strong chin, though not overly so, an elven nose, and a pair of perfectly shaped lips. The high arches of his silvery brow complimented the fantastic proportions of his face, and as Sephiroth leaned forward, his hair fell forward in a smooth sweep, those eyes drawing the blonde in. They were so bright, so beautiful in the moonlight. It was criminal, the condition such a man had been in.

Cloud had never dated or been interested in men before, not that he was one to deny that there were certainly very attractive men in the world. But something about the visage leaning into his face, those eyes holding his own steadfast, without a flicker of loss in concentration, was enthralling. Cloud thought for a second to touch that face, even more beautiful than it had been in the daylight, but found himself unable to do so as his heart picked up a faster beat, his pulse pounding as Sephiroth’s face pressed in against his own. An expected thrill of excitement shot through Cloud, from the base of his skull down to the tips of his toes as blood pooled in his groin. Carnal lust bloomed through the blonde, catching him off guard as his lips tingled, wanting to experience the feeling of those lips touching his own.

And to Cloud’s utter amazement, the corners of Sephiroth’s lips curled into a circuitous smile whose meaning was lost on him. He swallowed, blood rushing in his ears when Sephiroth’s head pressed down so close he could see nothing, and reflexively closed his eyes. He tilted his head back, expectant, and his heart jolted as titillating butterflies erupted in mass and surged up his spine to infect his head, drowning Cloud is a rushing buzz of lust when cool, soft lips brushed against his own. Cloud’s upper body tensed, perhaps wanting to lean up, to press harder as his cock twitched to life against his thigh. Legs shifting beneath his blanket, Cloud was overcome, wanting to grab and hold, to pin against himself, but his hands, still pressed to Sephiroth’s chest, remained in place, immobile.

The pressure of lips met his own again, and Cloud’s brain sparked in joyous feeling. A kiss. Simple, but a kiss nonetheless. A sound crawled up from the back of the blonde’s throat, heat flushing his skin as he attempted to press up, his lips pressing against Sephiroth’s. But immediately, as if committing a sin, Sephiroth’s lips left and Cloud collapsed back onto his pillow. Brow twisted in dismay, Cloud stared up, wanting to speak, but finding his voice lost as Sephiroth's chin came into view and the pressure of his lips met the blonde’s forehead. Frustration unfurled within Cloud as a trail of kisses ran down the side of his head, on his temple, to his cheek, his chin, and then, as Cloud dared hope, toward his lips.

Sephiroth’s mouth detoured devilishly away, and Cloud groaned in discontent as he turned his head, allowing those lips to leave a trail to the side of his neck. Sephiroth leaned closer, releasing Cloud’s hands as his own pressed into the mattress on either side of the blonde’s head. Cloud’s heart jumped, eager when the swollen, sensitive spot in his neck was touched and an uncomfortable shock shot down his spine. In the back of his mind, something scratched, scrambled, desperate in some unfamiliar way. He was hurt, it was sensitive, it was important, it was vulnerable, in danger.

Ice cold bolted through Cloud’s neck and he gasped as Sephiroth’s left hand slid under Cloud’s neck and grabbed. The sudden feeling of ice was replaced by a searing blast of pain and the blonde’s mouth broke open, unhinged as his voice caught; stuck in his throat. Eyes wide, Cloud wailed silently from the shock before the sensation quickly dimmed, becoming numb and oddly warm. Neck cradled, Cloud relaxed onto his bed, head turned again to fully expose the side of his neck, Sephiroth’s lips attached in a brutal kiss.

Exhaustion suddenly swept over Cloud as his mind refocused and he nearly screamed. He remembered! How could he forget? That night at the door, Sephiroth had not merely embraced him. No! Horror shot through Cloud as the sensation struck up with clarity the memory of the night before. His neck, so swollen and sore, he had been bitten! Terror seized Cloud and his body moved to squirm, to shove, but the lips attached to his throat kept him pinned. Cloud’s head swam, his ears suddenly giving into a ring as memories played throughout his psyche. Dizzy. Low energy. Oh, God. Was this real? It couldn’t be! But it made sense, didn’t it? The word swam in a frenzy to the surface of his thoughts, breaking free into his mind with a crazed cry. No sunlight. To lock himself up at night no matter what he might hear. The sudden improvement of Sephiroth’s health. It all made sense, jiving perfectly with the cry of that name. That thing.

Vampire.

It couldn’t be real. He had to be in a nightmare. But the uncomfortable feeling, the pain, the way his vision swam and grew dizzy, the ringing of his ears, the sudden weakness in his body as Cloud sagged, heavy in bed, his breath labored. It was real. Water misted the blonde’s eyes. It was the only thing that made sense.

The uncomfortable burn, the pain of the suction against his neck, making his heart beat in unnatural rhythms stopped, and Cloud became boneless. A pale face emerged, striking, cat-like green eyes stared into Cloud’s. It was too dark to see clearly, but there was something smeared across the man’s lips. Cloud would have whimpered if his throat hadn’t felt so tight. Sephiroth leaned down again, and revulsion shot down the blonde’s spine.

“You are utterly perfect, Cloud,” the words, foreign against his ears, elicited spidering shudders across Cloud’s backside as the low, rumbling baritone of Sephiroth’s whisper hit his eardrum for the first time.

“We,” Sephiroth’s lips, still smeared with blood, touch the blonde’s earlobe, “will be good together. I can taste it, smell it,” Sephiroth proclaimed in an intimate tone that screamed promises of sensuality and pleasure. Of romance and oneness. Sephiroth tilted his head, long silvery hair falling against Cloud’s face as he nuzzled the blonde’s head gently. “It’s scary now, but what awaits you is bliss. Sweet serenity in a loving embrace,” Sephiroth whispered as lips placed a kiss to the side of Cloud’s cheek near his ear. More whispers tumbled into Cloud’s ear, promises of all things a human could want. Connection, purpose, love, even pleasure. Promises of eternal romance, of belonging and wholeness. And a loss of all those fears that drive man to the brink. Cloud’s mind swam, feeling inebriated as those lips pressed against his face once more, those lips now dry before Sephiroth finally leaned back and their eyes meet. There was still that tantalized smile curving dark lips as Sephiroth lifted one long finger and pressed it to his lips. When next he spoke, his voice was louder, more authoritative.

“Tomorrow you will rest. Do not get out of bed. No visitors, and no phone calls,” Sephiroth ordered and Cloud, unsure what to say or do in the situation, merely nodded. Sephiroth’s smile grew pleased, which seemed to make his eye glow brighter.

“Perfect. You will not suffer Cloud, I promise you. Be patient, sleep the day away. And I will return.” Cloud found himself nodding again.

“Now, get some rest. You need it,” Sephiroth ordered and Cloud gave the barest of a nod, suddenly so very tired. A gentle stroke of fingers through Cloud’s hair was all he felt as he closed his eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cloud woke to the unwelcome sensation of light hitting his eyelids. Rousing slow, his entire body tingled in exhaustion, muscles stiff and brain sluggish as his eyes struggled to fully open. So tired. A groan vibrated against the back of his throat as Cloud attempted to roll over before freezing when pain zapped the side of his neck. Movement torpid, the blonde managed to touch the side of his neck, muscles aching in weakness right before pain burned the side of his neck and Cloud reflexively, with the most energy he’d had up until that moment, yanked his hand back with a gasp. The pain spread wrathful up into his ear and down into his shoulder, causing his body to tense before the pain dulled into a deep throb. A moan of misery worked its way past Cloud’s lips as he pulled his blanket up over his shoulder and resettled, this time with more care for how he moved his head.

He was not getting up today. His mouth was dry and his throat was also sore on top of the pain in his neck. His whole body felt like it was made of lead, and his thoughts were swimming through ooze. Cloud closed his eyes, the exhausted hum in his brain immediately growing with a renewed wave of drowsiness. He’d have to check on Sephiroth at some point, make sure his patient was doing okay. But for now, he was not going anywhere. And with that, Cloud’s disoriented world was swallowed by darkness only to be awoken by the ring of his cellphone.

Blue eyes struggled to open, still ever so heavy. Looking at the lighting in the room suggested an afternoon hour. So he’d fallen asleep again. Cloud swallowed, wincing from the pain in his throat and the reawakening of the throb in his neck. It hadn’t felt like he’d fallen asleep. Cloud’s eyes drifted up to his phone, struggling to get a view with his lack of willingness to move his head. He stared, listening to it ring until finally the sound stopped. With a sigh, he relaxed on his side a gain.

No phone calls today. He needed to rest.

Cloud woke up again. This time to the sound of the doorbell. Frustration shot through him as he struggled to roll onto his back. Nope. He wasn’t getting out of bed. So no visitors. Cloud struggled to roll onto his other side, his neck warning him every step of the way, protesting his every move. But eventually, Cloud made it and re-situated the blanket before relaxing, ignoring the constant blare of the doorbell. Not a chance. No visitors.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cloud woke as soon as the temperature dropped. Immediately, he felt somewhat better, cooler, and less lethargic. However, weakness still clung to his body as he lay on his back in bed, having at some point rolled onto it. Cloud stilled. Right above him, eyes of amethyst stared down into his own, an eerie light coming from them that penetrated through the darkness of the night. Yes, it was nighttime. Sephiroth was up. The cat like slits of those eyes expanded somewhat, drinking in Cloud’s visage as one long, pale finger stroked the side of the blonde’s cheek.

“You did good, Cloud,” Sephiroth said, his voice a low, purring rumble. “You must be thirsty.” The words confused Cloud before he noticed, in the darkness of the room, in Sephiroth’s other hand, which sat in his lap, was a glass of water. It was an oddly funny thing, and a weak, intoxicated little chuckle passed the blonde’s lips.

“You’re taking care of me now,” Cloud said, his voice overly rough and deep as his face twinged in pain. Sephiroth leaned forward, the light of the moon catching the beautifully smooth and well-sculpted planes of his alabaster face.

“As I should. To return the favor,” Sephiroth said easily as the finger stroking Cloud’s cheek retracted, and a hand slid behind Cloud’s head. Pain erupted in the blonde’s throat when he was urged to lift his head while the cup moved over and pressed to his lips. It was too brutal, and Cloud almost wanted to shove the glass away so that he could lay his head back down, but he was so damn thirsty. Working through the renewed burn in his throat that made his right eye water, Cloud parted his lips and clumsily slurped up the water as the glass was tilted toward his teeth. After a few agonizing moments, a distressed, frustrated snarl started to snap from Cloud. Perhaps realizing what the sound signified, Sephiroth pulled the glass away and eased the blonde’s head back down.

“My apologies,” Sephiroth said as the glass was set onto the nightstand by Cloud’s phone, and not once did their eyes break contact.

Cloud stared, taking in the lines of Sephiroth's face. He was gorgeous, the perfectly shaped jawline, not overly square but defined, and those lips, once a source of visual discomfort, moved and curled in sensual ways that made Cloud’s heart flutter. Long eyelashes housed those mesmerizing eyes, full and thick, matching the color of that long, smooth silvery hair that fell forward over Sephiroth’s broad shoulders like streams of liquid silver. Compelled to stare and wait, Cloud wondered, obsessed over what would happen next as long fingers pressed into his pillow and Sephiroth leaned in so close he could feel the man’s breath against his face. There was something in the air, sultry and enticing as Sephiroth’s head tilted slightly, those alluring lips curling up in promising ways. He leaned in closer, so much so Cloud could see nothing but those beautiful, entrancing eyes, yet his lips tingled, desirous. He licked his lips and a soft chuckle fluttered softly from Sephiroth’s lips as he dipped his head down to the side and brushed his cheek against Cloud’s, nuzzling him as he did the night before. Cloud’s whole body lit up, skin prickling as heat flushed his groin and his heart erupted in his chest, fluttering wildly in anticipation.

To Cloud’s surprise, and utter delight, Sephiroth’s lips moved, his voice lilting softly against his ear, breath tickling along the edges in horrendous teasing tickles as he sang a song. It wasn’t a song Cloud knew, nor did he care as he took in a deep breath and slowly released it, excitement coursing through his blood in pure adulation. Though he knew not why for there was no reason to have any such expectation of anything that was happening, and yet Cloud melted into the mattress, completely enamored with the treatment as any coherent thought clawing at the back of his mind was drowned out by the lustful buzz that filled the space of his skull.

Something bizarre and truly marvelous was before him, a gorgeous man wanting to serenade him in such intimate ways. Never mind if the words carried double meanings, patterns which indicated intent other than to impress. Cloud’s fingers twitched as he shifted beneath his blanket, his briefs now tight and hot. Lips grazed the side of his cheek, trailed up across his forehead and then down his nose, low enough that Cloud’s lips trembled, aching to feel that cool, pliant texture of those pale purplish lips. Those wonderful lips.

Sephiroth’s lips indeed curled up even higher, the promise of pleasure in those bright eyes striking deep into the blonde’s heart before the pale man leaned in, and their lips met. Sparks erupted through Cloud when they met, torturous in how chaste the contact was, waking a hunger within him for more, for something far more carnal. A small chuckle escaped from Sephiroth before he kissed the blonde again and pulled back. Cloud very nearly voiced his displeasure before the pale man’s hand grabbed the blanket and pulled it away. Delight broke across the blonde’s face, emotions expressed like an open book that was normally kept shut tight.

Eagerness erupted through Cloud, his hands wanting to grab and possess, but he dared not move, as if compelled by some silent command as Sephiroth’s hand pressed to the blonde’s chest. Slowly, it slid down, dark fingernails scraping teasingly over anticipating flesh, and Cloud nearly shivered as those long fingers came to the top of his sleep shorts. His eyes searched for Sephiroth’s, wanting desperately for reassurance that the moment would not end in a tease, but found that the man’s eyes were focused entirely on his groin, which drew hot heat through his body as uncharacteristic embarrassment flooded his psyche.

Perhaps he wouldn’t be found appealing enough. Perhaps Sephiroth was reconsidering? Cloud pleaded not. Delirious in his wants, mind incomprehensible of any logic since the night before, his hands finally braved movement. But before he could touch the hand resting on his lower belly, long fingers curled into the hem of his shorts.

“Now, Cloud. Patience is a thing that must be mastered,” Sephiroth said, and though he said it, his hand pulled, and Cloud’s toes curled as he lifted his hips, aiding in the removal of the soft fabric before it was pulled down his slim thighs and off his feet before being tossed away. Cloud shifted, fully aware that his briefs hid none of his excitement, but at the same time not at all caring; only wanting. Wanting the beautiful man that sat on the edge of his bed in whatever way he could have him.

Sephiroth’s long fingers slid lower and pleasure pulsed hot through Cloud’s cock while the pale man traced the shape of his dick, tickling almost in the most torturous of teases as the needy pulses thumped stronger. Cloud’s hips twitched, wanting something more, and perhaps noticing his intentions, Sephiroth’s hand slid toward the gap of the blonde’s thighs before pressing the heel of his palm against the base of Cloud’s cock and slid up. Cloud hissed as he sucked in a needy breath through his teeth, hips urgently pressing up for friction as sparking shocks of molten pleasure shot through his balls to his cock, stoking the throbbing heat of pleasure coursing through his groin.

Yes. More. More.

Sephiroth stroked his hand over Cloud’s cock, massaging it beneath his briefs and a moan strangled out from the back of the blonde’s throat, sweat breaking out down his back as he rocked his hips up, seeking more.

“You are wonderful, Cloud,” Sephiroth purred as his fingers felt out the tip of the blonde’s cock and rubbed it through the fabric between his thumb and forefinger and Cloud gasped, hips jutting upward as a wet spot formed in his underwear. Sephiroth slid his hand higher, his other hand now coming forward as well to grab and slowly pull the tighter fitting briefs down, freeing Cloud’s cock before sliding the material down and was tossed aside. Cloud gasped in shock when Sephiroth grabbed his cock with his hand, the contrast of the hot, swollen flesh meeting with the coolness of the pale man’s hand ratcheting up the tension in the blonde as he thrust, a guttural sound of want breaking from the back of his throat.

A chuckle reverberated through the room as Sephiroth leaned forward on one hand and Cloud’s heart jolted as lust sparked white hot through his body, making the muscles in his body tremble when long silvery hair swept across his hips and a cool, wet mouth wrapped around the head of his cock. Cloud’s vision swam, the pain erupting in his neck forgotten as his head tilted back, hips seeking to push deeper into Sephiroth’s mouth.

And Sephiroth allowed it. The slide of Cloud’s cock over his tongue and deep into his throat. The blonde quivered as he slid in deep, whimpering from the over-stimulation and still desperately needy for more. The sudden tight clamp of Sephiroth’s mouth, the suck that pulled and squeezed as his hyper nerves, drew a strained gasp from the blonde. All thought ceased in the face of such ecstasy as pleasure bloomed throughout Cloud’s body when Sephiroth sucked him deep before sliding backward, tongue skilled as it worked against the turgid flesh in his mouth.

Cloud’s hips quivered, tortured and rapturous as he was swallowed again, loving every powerful push and pull, sucking tight across his cock as the boiling, shocking waves of pleasure rocked and forth through his body, making him hotter, twisting the proverbial tension cord tighter. He wasn’t going to last long, and Cloud couldn’t care, didn’t need to care as Sephiroth’s tongued the leaking slit at the top of his dick and the blonde’s body tensed, a sharp spike of pleasure driven straight through his body as the liquid heat in his groin erupted, spurting thick and heavy in the confident mouth that drank him down.

Cloud sagged onto the bed, breath hard and covered in sweat he hadn’t even realized had soaked into his skin and bedding. The room was oddly quiet, though it had probably not changed at all despite the screaming buzz of primal lust in his brain. The mattress shifted and Cloud looked down toward Sephiroth when the pale man crawled on top of the mattress and grabbed the blonde’s ankles. He looked up and their eyes met, and Cloud was horrified to see just how cool and collected Sephiroth was. Not a hair out of place, not any color to those pallid cheeks, nor even the slightest flush to those recently used lips, which curved up into a fanciful smile.

“You can’t be having all the fun, Cloud,” Sephiroth purred, and Cloud’s heart fluttered again, interest piqued despite having just been sated. Eager to experience more, he allowed Sephiroth to lift his ankles up over his broad shoulders before he pushed Cloud’s knees toward his chest. Folded and ass lifted up for easier access, Sephiroth allowed the blonde’s ass to rest on his knees while he slid something from his pants. The snap of a cap told Cloud everything he needed to know as he adjusted himself on his pillow, fighting with the renewed notice of pain in his neck as he did so.

A moment later, cold, slicked fingers pressed in between the globes of his ass and a spidering shudder broke across the flesh there as the fingers explored the area until the puckered ring of muscles was found. Cloud felt himself twitch there, unused to the feeling of something probing in such a place until the pressure of a sharp digit made itself known and Cloud gasped, the muscles of his lower belly jumping as the muscles were split open and the appendage slid inside.

Cloud sucked in a quick breath, feeling his insides squirm as the finger slid in deep before curling and rubbing, inducing a tickling warmth in his balls. Not long later a second finger, equally wet and cold, slid inside and Cloud shivered from the temperature difference as the fingers stroked and pressed, spreading and stretching him, pulling the muscles of his sphincter open in repeated motions.

“I think in the future we’ll enjoy this in great frequency,” Sephiroth said, a tone to his voice that indicated delight, as a third finger, to Cloud’s surprise, wormed its way in. He tried to lift his hips, to make it easier to spread wider, and whether Sephiroth understood his intentions or not, the pale man leaned forward, touching the blonde’s knees to his chest as his fingers thrust, rhythmic and fast, pumping into the muscles and a subtle moan broke from Cloud, somehow feeling a pleasurable tingle that caused blood to return to his twitching cock and heat his groin.

“Very good, Cloud,” Sephiroth purred as he withdrew his fingers and used his body to keep the blonde in place. A fiddle with the drawstrings of his satin pants followed by another snap of a lid resulted in a groan of pleasure from the pale man over him, and Cloud’s toes curled, heart hammering wildly in anticipation.

“You will cum for me, won’t you, Cloud?” Sephiroth asked, and the blonde shuddered, cock hardening against his belly with renewed throbs of want. He wanted to say he already had once, but Cloud’s words weren’t going to work, nothing did with the returning buzz in his head. All he wanted was to feel Sephiroth’s cock pressing inside of him, making that tickling twinge of pleasure a white hot rod of carnal bliss. It was enthralling, primal in the want to feel this beautiful man’s cock inside of him, filling him, taking ownership of his body. Yes, take him, take his body, even his soul, Cloud didn’t care. Sephiroth shifted, adjusted his balance before Cloud felt his the blunt pressure of a slick cock at his hole and took in a deep breath, heart rocketing in his chest when it forced the muscles to spread open with a forward push of exposed pale hips.

Cloud gasped, rocked by the sensation of stretching so wide despite the earlier preparation as the straining flesh pushing inside of him rubbed against the nerves of his sphincter, eliciting a series of sparking shocks that made his cock throb worse until that teasing tingle, that itch inside was finally scratched and a sound of surprise broke against the back of Cloud’s throat. His back tensed, hips attempting to jerk, though the grip of the pale man’s steady hands held him stationary. Intense heat bloomed through Cloud’s belly as his cock shot a small burst of pre-cum against his belly.

A number of things erupted in Cloud’s head. None of them pleasant or sensual, but entirely filthy with the bolt of pleasure that rammed up his spine. A rumbling groan of pleasure spilled from Sephiroth’s lips as his hips punched forward, slapping loudly against Cloud’s ass, and the blonde’s vision filled with sparks and the carnal buzz in his brain turned the dial up. So good, so euphoric, so pure, so ghastly was the pleasure that thrummed through Cloud, leaving him breathless in delight. Sephiroth’s hips pulled back and electrical impulses of white hot pleasure erupted again when the pale man’s cock rubbed against his prostate, and Cloud’s hips jerked, a breathless sound of pleasure breaking from his lips.

Oh, it felt so good.

Sephiroth’s hips returned, driving his cock back inside and a loud, desperate moan broke from Cloud’s lips as his fingers twisted into the sheets. Forward and back were the roll of Sephiroth’s hips, rubbing his cock back and forth into the blonde over that sweet spot that made Cloud writhe and whimper, his own dick twitching and throbbing desperately for release. It was awful, but oh so wonderful, so perfect Cloud cared for nothing else, wanted nothing else. Not food, no air, nothing but the delicious friction of Sephiroth’s engorged cock pumping into him, rubbing him so perfectly that he was nearly choking in his throes of pleasure.

Sephiroth’s thrusts sped up, hitting faster and harder against that unguarded bundle of nerves, and Cloud nearly cried, nearly screamed as the intense bolts of pleasure melded into a building pressure, a powerful torrent that overrode all else until that edge appeared, and all too soon, without even being able to glance at what lay before him, Cloud was driven off the edge mercilessly by Sephiroth.

Cloud’s back arched, a gasped cry of orgasm breaking from his throat when his throbbing cock, unable to withstand the torment, shot a hard, thick load over his chest and dribbled toward his belly. A low, undulating moan vibrated from the back of Sephiroth’s throat, the muscles of his body tensing as his hips smashed brutally against Cloud, a quiver hitting his broad shoulders as his head dipped back, silvery streams of hair pooling around him as his mouth parted, silent in his pleasure as his hips twitched once or twice, riding out the wave of orgasm as he came, cum filling the blonde’s quivering channel to the brim. If Cloud had been coherent, it would have been a breathtaking sight, but as it were, Cloud was swimming in a haze, unable to focus as his body hummed and quivered, dismayed and delighted all at once for the bliss that he’d just experienced.

Sephiroth’s head righted itself slowly, eyes sliding down to the body below him, boneless and at ease, before he lunged forward between pliant thighs. Cloud gasped, barely aware of any movement until after he’d felt the painful, ice cold shot in his neck that quickly reignited the fire through his nerves there. A shrill gasp tore from the blonde, cut short as it caught in his throat from that familiar suck that pulled at his senses and attacked his heart. Cloud gasped, his world spinning, his ears suddenly ringing louder than ever before. Panic and confusion shot through him like a bullet and a sob hit the back of his throat, betrayed by such pain after such wondrous pleasure. He attempted to squirm, but quickly found his arms sagging, suddenly at a loss for all energy. A roar of darkness filled Cloud’s senses, twisting and turning in his brain as he spiraled away, losing sense of self rapidly as he was yanked into nothingness.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The spare keys slid into the lock on the door and a pink painted fingernail pressed down on the thumb latch. There was a strong sound of suction as the front door cracked open, allowing scant sunlight from outside to sneak inside. Stepping into the reception, Aerith’s heels clicked on the hard wood as she closed the door behind her. The pretty brunette’s gaze drifted around the ceiling and walls, into the living room with its double fireplaces and toward the direction of the dining area. Her ears strained to hear signs of life, but eerily, it was deathly quiet. Heart beating harder against her rib cage, Aerith stepped forward, grimacing when the sound of her heels echoed cavernously in the house.

Gripping her purse tighter by its strap, she pressed on. She walked in through the dining room, to the kitchen and even into the other two rooms. But there was no sign of Cloud, no sound of him either. Worry grabbed hold of her, nails digging in deep as she stepped into the living room, her eyes traveling toward the patient’s room. Perhaps. Curious and hopeful, Aerith walked across the silent space and to the bedroom. Carefully, she cracked the door open and peeked inside, but other than the hum and steady beep of the machines, it was dark, and most likely empty aside from the patient. Deciding against potentially bothering a sickly man, Aerith closed the door and headed for the stairs. She’d only disturb Sephiroth if she had nowhere else to look.

Because Cloud had to be somewhere. It was eerie, bizarre. Cloud had not answered any of her phone calls. She’d made three. It was very unlike him. Her friend and co-worker could be a tad stand-off-ish, and a loner as well, but he never, ever completely fell off the grid. She had even visited the day before, but he had not answered the door. He should have at least texted her back by now, even if it was to gripe and say to leave him alone, and as always, say that he was fine. He knew her too well. Aerith took a deep breath and released it before she ascended the stairs, free hand on the rail as she climbed up toward the loft. Realizing she didn’t know which room Cloud had chosen, Aerith looked into the first room, but found it empty.

The second room she poked her head into nearly made her heart stop for a moment. As soon as the moment passed, Aerith’s heart jumped and twisted all throughout her chest as she burst into the room, uncaring for the loud clattering of her heels as she nearly ran into the edge of Cloud’s bed. It was impossible to miss, even in the dimness of the room.

He was so pale. And the fact that he had not roused at all. Aerith quickly moved to press her fingers to check for a pulse and nearly yanked her fingers back when she touched a swollen, scabbed area on the side of the blonde’s clammy neck. Shaking herself, Aerith pressed her fingers to check for a pulse, and her blood pressure shot up, panic storming in her eyes and twisting her face as she fumbled to get her purse open.

“Cloud! Wake up!” Aerith called as she dropped her purse onto her bed and poured out the contents to find her damn phone. Separating it from makeup, receipts, and whatever other garbage she’d accumulated, Aerith’s hands shook as the screen unlocked and she screamed for the assistant in her phone to call the specific number she cried for. A moment later someone came on and Aerith’s words flew from her lips in rapid, shaking urgency as she relayed basic information and the address she was at.

“An ambulance is on the way. Is he responsive at all?” the woman asked.

“No. And his pulse is… my God I can barely feel it. His skin is clammy and his temperature is very low,” Aerith set her phone down and snapped her fingers against Cloud’s ears. Still no response. “His breath is shallow,” she added. Using her fingernails to pinch the blonde’s earlobe, Aerith was again rewarded with not a single twitch. “No stimulant reaction either,” Aerith said as her eyes drifted toward Cloud’s neck, spotting that injury again. “He has a wound on his neck. It’s swollen and is scabbed over.” More information was shared, Aerith following along with what the dispatcher asked, though most of it was pointless as she quickly cycled through her training. After about ten minutes there was a knock on the door, and Aerith slipped out of her heels to run down the stairs and open the front door.

“He’s upstairs!” she said as she motioned the men in with their gurney. “We have to keep the doors and curtains closed. There is a sick man here who’s allergic to sunlight.” Aerith made sure to inform as everyone piled into the reception area and the door was closed behind them. Quickly the medics made their way up stairs to the room Aerith urgently lead him to. They’d barely ran a single test before the men’s attitude’s switched from intensely concerned to mirroring Aerith’s alarm. Cloud was quickly, with care paid to his neck and head, carried down stairs and strapped into the waiting gurney. Aerith grabbed her heels and followed suit after using her arm to slide all of her belongings messily into her bag.

“Take him to Nibel Hospital!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After being given various intravenous fluids and wheeled into intensive care, Aerith found herself waiting with fear gripping her heart. Cloud had no relatives to call, and there were no next of kin listed. It was purely a formality and an adherence to the rules that Aerith waited patiently in the lobby to be allowed to see him. It wasn’t with any surprise when the director of the hospital came into the lobby, her dark brown eyes immediately zeroing in on Aerith who stood up, hands finicky in their nervous adjustments of her clothing.

“Cloud is stable,” Tifa said and Aerith nodded, perhaps exaggerated in her repetition, before Tifa’s serious expression melted, revealing the worry and sympathy within as she pulled Aerith into a hug, which the brunette accepted gratefully. After a moment, the two parted, though Tifa’s hands remained steadfast, assuring on Aerith’s shoulders.

“I read the report, but I still don’t understand why Cloud is like that. Was there anything else to add?” Tifa asked, her long black hair falling over the white shoulder of her coat. Aerith shook her head.

“No! I saw no blood anywhere. The medics didn’t see any obvious injury or bruising,” Aerith’s voice cracked a little, overly emotional eyes dropping.

“Same confirmed here. There is no sign of any injury, other than that bug bite on his neck. We’re running a toxicology test, but that doesn’t necessarily explain his low blood count,” Tifa explained as she then slid her arm across Aerith’s shoulders while moving to her side, signaling the time to walk.

“Does it really appear that his blood is low?” Aerith asked.

“Yes. We’re transfusing now, he’s lost over 2,000 cc,” Tifa explained as they pressed through the double doors leading into the emergency room reception and down brightly lit halls.

“He was just lying in bed. Like he was asleep. I don’t get it,” Aerith said as they made turns.

“Well, he’s here now. And we’ll make sure he’s okay,” Tifa assured with a smile, and a small laugh broke from Aerith’s lips.

“I hope Cloud pulls through,” Aerith said and Tifa rubbed her friend’s back.

“He will. He’s resilient, always has been.” They came to a stop when they pressed through a set of double doors that opened into a hall of doorways.

“I can’t see Cloud yet,” Aerith said when she turned to face Tifa. The dark-haired woman gave a quizzical look toward her friend.

“Why not? Are you still-”

“It’s not that. This is purely professional. Cloud was in that bed for potentially days. Which means he hasn’t been taking care of his patient,” Aerith explained and Tifa’s brows hitched higher.

“Oh, that’s quite serious,” Tifa said, as if suddenly reminded of something vitally important.

“I peeked in on him, and the machines still sounded like they were operating. But I have no idea on his actual condition if Cloud was unable to care for him. So I want to head back, make sure he’s taken care of, and then I’ll come back,” Aerith explained and Tifa nodded before she heaved a sigh, one hand falling to her hip.

“Cloud was so sure he could do this,” Tifa said.

“It’s not Cloud’s fault!” Aerith blurted, and Tifa smiled.

“Oh, I know that. I was just thinking that it’s awful luck. His big move to advance his career in the direction he wanted to go in. And he ends up in the hospital, completely unable to perform his duties. Professionally, I think this will be just a small sting. But emotionally, this is going to hurt him for a while. We both know how Cloud gets when he feels like he failed someone,” Tifa explained.

Aerith’s eyes fell to her feet, a grimace to her features.

“I’m going to go check on the patient. I’ll be back in a little while.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once again, back within the dimness of the Georgian home, Aerith was plunged back into a world of silence. A hollowness seemed to pervade the home, where not even the tick of a clock could be heard, and the sound of her heels were deafening with each step. Taking a deep breath and releasing it, she went straight for the patient’s room. Carefully pressing herself into the darkness, Aerith flipped the light on, only mildly illuminating her world. Turning to face the bed, she hesitated. It was like a coffin, encased on all four sides by a thick black curtain. Carefully stepping toward the machines by the bed, Aerith’s brow twisted.

“What?” she muttered under her breath as she checked the readings on the screen. “That’s doesn’t make sense,” she said. All were good. Fantastic, actually. The patient hooked up these machines was the epitome of health. Excellent blood pressure, blood oxygen levels were normal, heart rate normal, and brainwaves were quite active. Not at all what she’d seen just days ago. Stupefied, Aerith turned toward the bed and carefully parted the curtains to peer inside.

And her heart stopped.

That was not the same man. Her hands tightened on the curtains, confused and somehow gripped by a strange sort of horror that didn’t mesh with her reality. Smooth, youthful skin stretched over a handsomely carved face. Lips that were perfectly plump and relaxed, no veins protruding from flesh, no sharp bony cheekbones and hollowed cheeks. No bruising, and the purplish look to his skin was all gone! In the place of the shriveled, decaying man she’d seen only days ago was a handsome, youthful man in his prime. Aerith’s heart quivered and twisted in an entirely unnatural way, drawing a wince to her features as her breath quickened with her pulse.

In just a few short days, Cloud was the one near death, while this man looked like he could wake at any moment and start his day. A horrible, icy cold shiver ran down Aerith’s spine. It was like this man had sucked the life from Cloud. Her mind hiccuped, heart jolting. Cloud was so very low in blood. Aerith’s breath caught as she stared into that pallid face, so peaceful and serene in front of her. She swallowed, her throat tight and dry. It was eerie, too eerie. But no. Aerith’s hands shook as she closed the curtain and stepped back, only then realizing she needed to breathe as she lightly gasped and rest her hands on her knees. She was sweating, pulse racing, and mind scrambling. It made no sense. None of it.

Then the word. The name that gave description to the situation, though she tried to push away, came to her mind. And it explained everything perfectly.

Vampire.

But they weren’t real! A groan of a mattress spring caught her ear and Aerith’s eyes snapped to the bed, unable to see anything through the curtains. Hair standing up all over her body and thoughts suddenly halted as she stared, every sense heightened and alert. A most primal instinct took control, fight or flight, the need for survival from a perceived threat before her. Aerith remained frozen, not flinching, barely breathing as she listened, waiting to hear it again. Almost a minute went by before she slowly, cautiously, with eyes trained on the bed, walked backward toward the door. It was ridiculous. She was a woman of medicine and science. While neither held the answers to all of life’s mysteries, they gave a solid base of understanding. And all things were rooted in nature. All things had a start in physical reality, in organic materials, cells that performed their functions to survive. There was no room for the walking dead.

But wasn’t there a theory among the certain circles that venerated such creatures that perhaps it was an infection, a virus, a disease? It was certainly an explanation rooted in nature, in the boundaries of reality. Of course, turning into bats or wolves, or mist, was out of the question. But still… a part of Aerith’s mind was stuck on it, not getting past it, growing more urgent with each second that ticked by, chanting the name like a siren warning.

Vampire. Vampire. Vampire.

Aerith’s hand touched the handle, fingers fumbling to find the thumb latch. She heard it again then, the groan of a mattress spring. Her pulse quickened even more, dizzying her as her breath became increasingly short and restricted. He couldn’t move. The man she saw days ago was unable to move, couldn’t even twitch, wasn’t even conscious. She was being irrational. There was nothing here. But how could she deny what she saw with her own eyes? And this fear, it had to come from somewhere, a primal instinct for self-preservation that awakened in the moments it was truly needed.

Finally her fingers, painfully at the odd angle, managed to push down on the thumb latch and Aerith pulled the door open, her entire body hot and sweaty, heart thumping through her very bones as she stepped back over the threshold, her side hitting the door. The sound drew a horrified gasp from her, startled by her own collision and Aerith shoved herself out and slammed the door behind her, the heels of her shoes stabbing sharp and poignant into the stagnant air as she ran across the hardwood floor and to the front door. In just a few seconds more, she was outside, jamming her key into the lock and stumbling back, nearly tripping down on the cement path leading up to the steps. Aerith rushed to her car and looked, staring at the side of the house with no windows.

Vampires can’t come out in the daylight. Damned creatures cannot stand in the light of the sun.

Throat tight and nearly in tears, Aerith struggled her keys into the door of her car before she tore it open and shoved herself inside, turned the car on with a hard turn of her keys, and peeled from the curb.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cloud woke drowsy and nauseous. Stomach churning and head swimming, he struggled to lift his head and look around. And to his surprise, after a second of focus, he realized he was not in his room. The bright lights, the white wash walls, and matching curtains, and the familiar smell of sterilization and cleanliness hit his nose. He was in a hospital. The beep of the machine beside him made Cloud’s heart jump and looked to his side, looking for Sephiroth. But he was alone, hooked up with multiple ivs. Aerith rose up then, from a chair in the far corner of the room, and Cloud’s eyes zeroed in on the girl. His brow lowered in anger.

“Cloud?” Aerith asked, attempting an uncomfortable smile. “I’m so glad you’re awake-”

“Why am I here?” Cloud asked, his voice rough and lacking the bluster he felt. Shock registered across Aerith’s face from where she stood at the end of his bed.

“Cloud, you almost died. You’re in really bad-”

“I asked why I am here?” Cloud asked again. Aerith froze, mouth closing.

“I want to go back,” Cloud said. Aerith stared, a look of unmuted concern dawning into horror filling her eyes.

“I have to take care of Sephiroth. I shouldn’t be here,” Cloud said. Aerith opened her mouth.

“Cloud, he’s fine-”

“He is my patient! Take me back!” Cloud’s voice broke out into a snarl, rage inflaming his heart. The beeper attached to him sounded the alarm when a sudden and vicious wave of dizziness struck and Cloud’s breath left him, his heart racing. He gagged, hands clutching at his chest through the hospital gown he wore. Nurses rushed in and Aerith retreated.

“No! Don’t!” Cloud snapped, the sound blaring into his ears, the bright lights stabbing into his eyes, the sounds, the hands, all stabbing into every sense he bore.

“He’s having a cardiac event!” came a shout, and Cloud snarled. He attempted to punch a man to his right, but his body was flailing too much in his attempts to breathe. “A respirator!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tmp, tmp, tmp. Tmp

There was a rapping somewhere, an echoing thump. Like nails on glass. Cloud roused with difficulty. His entire body felt heavy and half numb. Gaze blurred and not helped by the light smearing across his vision, he shifted on the bed. What had happened? The smell of the mask sealed over his face, hissing oxygen into his nose and mouth, reminded him of exactly what had happened. He was in the hospital. He’d been taken from the house. From Sephiroth. He needed to go back, but he felt so weak, so tired.

Tmp, tmp, tmp. Tmp

Cloud turned his head, his neck wound pleasantly numb from the agent applied to the bandage on it. The window. Innocent as it was, sat there with a curtain over it.

Tmp, tmp, tmp, tmp

He’d been so angry before. Thinking about it, Cloud felt a little ashamed. Aerith hadn’t done anything wrong. She must have found him unconscious, which was a shock. He’d always been healthy, so to be bad off suddenly was very strange.

Cloud

It was a quiet whisper that drew Cloud’s eyes back to the window. His pulse quickened a little as he struggled to sit upright. Succeeding at the cost of his equilibrium, Cloud looked toward the window again. Someone was calling on him. Why the window? Why not use the door?

Cloud

A shiver crawled down Cloud’s back as she grabbed at the rubber straps holding his oxygen mask in place and removed it. Setting it down, Cloud removed the needles and finger clamp from his hand. The machines went silent. His body felt incredibly weak and vulnerable, like a babe freshly learning to walk, as he put his feet to the floor.

Sephiroth?

A pulsing pinch at the base of his skull, a flutter in his heart, and a song in his blood, Cloud clumsily walked across the small square room. The only thing in his way was the curtain. Grabbing it and yanking it open, Cloud was greeted by a face pale as the moon.

Green eyes alight, glowing like some demonic entity, stared down at Cloud. Long silvery hair glistened in the moonlight, framing a handsome face. There was a breeze, catching the loose strands of hair, pulling them into the wind from where the body of black stood, hovering eerily high in the window.

Open the window

Cloud looked at the latch on the window and twisted it before struggling, and then finding himself needing to use his shoulder to shove it up. At a loss of breath over something so trivial, Cloud sank onto the window sill in front of Sephiroth, his eyes staring down at the street lights below. He was on an upper floor. At least three, it looked like. There was no tree, no lamppost, no ladder, nothing for which the man of darkness could have stood upon, as Cloud’s eyes trailed up until he found a pair of bare feet. An odd sight that, however, matched with the satin pajama bottoms Sephiroth still wore. He hadn’t changed his clothes at all. Cloud’s eyes traveled up the man’s impressively tall form until he came face to face with a pale hand. Large as it was, long, bony fingers stretched toward him with long black nails that looked a bit sharp. The hand touched Cloud’s chin, icy cold as it urged him to look up, and the blonde obeyed until Sephiroth’s head dipped down, and glowing, cat-like eyes met his own, barely inches apart. They were so close their noses could have touched, where he could have felt Sephiroth’s breath… though Cloud wasn’t entirely sure he could, but it was hard to tell in the wind.

“I’ve come for you, Cloud,” Sephiroth said, his words honeyed but dark and earthy. Cloud’s stomach fluttered and heat rushed through his body, momentarily dizzying him again. He sank into Sephiroth’s chest as the man’s long arms wrapped around him for support.

“You belong to me, Cloud,” Sephiroth whispered, lips sensually grazing the shell of the blonde’s ear, and a shudder ran down Cloud’s spine. And somehow, despite the weakness of his body, the racing pulse of his heart, he dared to feel warmth in his groin. Aroused and delighted, Cloud grabbed hold of Sephiroth’s shirt and lifted his face so that they could look upon one another again.

“No one’s ever come for me, before,” Cloud said, nearly breathless. A circuitous smile curved the pale man’s lips.

“Well I, have come. Come with me, join me. Together, we can be, forever,” Sephiroth proclaimed, poetically phrasing himself as he had when he’s sung his sweet words the night before. A deluded smile spread Cloud’s lips wide.

“I will,” Cloud said, and energy seemed to explode from Sephiroth. Perhaps it was pure delight, unadulterated joy, or perhaps some perversion of it, as he grabbed the hair at the back of Cloud’s head and pulled. Cloud gave in easily, allowing his head to fall back as the bandage over his throat was ripped off. Thankfully numb, Cloud closed his eyes when he felt the tingling pressure of Sephiroth’s fangs pierce deep into his throat.

“You are mine.”