Chapter Two: The Pianist's Lament
It wasn’t very often that Sephiroth felt the desire to interact with people other than those necessary. There was his youngest brother Kadaj, sixteen years old but forced to live with his brother due to the death of their parents. Even though Kadaj could get bratty at times and often tried the very last of his patience, Sephiroth spoke to him on a nearly daily basis, as was necessary.
Then there were Yazoo and Loz, Yazoo being the younger of the two middle siblings. Loz, who lived a couple hours away, he spoke with often enough to know the man was healthy and well, with a wife and son. Yazoo prattled to him enough for Sephiroth to learn how to tune the man out without getting reprimanded for not listening, as was necessary.
And Reno, he learned to talk to Reno to make sure his little Yazoo was being treated the right way by his darling of a boyfriend. Also, there were the occasional threats of death, castration, and/or disembowelment, as was necessary.
Genesis Rhapsodos, Angeal Hewley, and Vincent Valentine had all earned themselves the privilege of friendship, and therefore the blessing of his conversation, however brief it might be. But Sephiroth still considered them friends, and as such, found himself in their company as was necessary.
Then came along Cloud Strife, and Sephiroth suddenly found himself making excuses to talk to, see, or even simply be around the blond man, completely unnecessarily.
Hence, his current situation.
“Cloud,” he repeated as the pale blond simply stood there.
He blinked once, and then finally replied. “Sephiroth,” he said.
“I need to speak with you,” Sephiroth continued. He glanced behind Cloud, looking over Reno and Aerith in turn.
Cloud followed his gaze, nodding. “Alright,” he said.
Sephiroth promptly turned on his heel, leading Cloud over behind the piano, where they would have at least some modicum of privacy. “I was just speaking with the director,” he began, carefully gauging the other’s reaction.
Cloud stood with his arms crossed, staring nonchalantly at Sephiroth’s face. “Yes,” said Cloud.
Inwardly, Sephiroth cringed. For all his fair looks and soft, pretty hair, the blond was colder than a block of dry ice. It infuriated and aroused him at the same time. Sephiroth was not used to being denied the things and people he wanted.
“First, I would like to complement you on how well you played the allegro section today,” he said. “The director was impressed.”
All he received was a nod to show that Cloud was listening. The blond shifted from side to side and glanced over to where people were slowly leaving the theatre.
“Second, why were you late to practice today? You are usually very punctual,” Sephiroth said, trying to recapture Cloud’s attention. He also wished to know why he had been deprived for nearly two hours of his fair-haired muse.
The flautist blushed lightly, and Sephiroth held his hands firmly clasped behind his back. Much as he would have liked to, he did not think that physically assaulting the man was the correct way to garner his affections.
“I overslept,” said Cloud tonelessly, glancing to the side again. Sephiroth narrowed his eyes. This would not do at all…
“Thirdly, I would like to schedule a private practice between the two of us to fine tune the fugue duet,” he said sharply.
Cloud furrowed his brows, his eyes snapping to Sephiroth’s face. “What?”
Ah, now he had his attention. “Mr. Shinra thinks it would be beneficial if we practiced it together, away from the group,” Sephiroth continued. So what if Rufus hadn’t actually asked him to schedule a private rehearsal? Cloud would never find out about the lie, if he had his way, and he would have to chance to finally capture his unwilling prey.
The panicked look faded from Cloud’s eyes, to be replaced by the usual apathetic expression. “Oh,” he said, “I see. When?”
Sephiroth had been hoping for more of a reaction, but he knew how to take his victories where he could. “Do you mind if we practice later today? Around six o’ clock,” he asked.
Cloud shrugged. “Alright,” he said. “At the theatre?”
Sephiroth had a moment of internal panic, but quickly covered with a smooth lie. “No,” he said, “there is an event at the theatre tonight. We can practice at my apartment.” He hoped that Cloud would take the lie…
He did. “Okay,” agreed Cloud reluctantly. “Do you have a paper to write down your address on?”
Sephiroth didn’t want to seem like a stalker, but he already knew where Cloud lived, on the top floor of Seventh Heaven (an appropriate place, he thought himself, for his blond angel), and wouldn’t have minded picking Cloud up. He didn’t venture out to the place much, but his brother Yazoo did, following along with Reno whenever he went to visit the blond.
“Mr. Shinra told me you live on the top floor of Seventh Heaven, correct? I’ll come pick you up at six,” he lied again, hoping it didn’t come out as strange to Cloud.
He nodded absently. “Alright, I’ll see you then,” Cloud said, turning away to gather his instrument and music. Sephiroth sat on the piano bench and watched as he moved with lithe grace, like a panther sneaking through the night, full of hidden passion that only…
Oh, great, thought Sephiroth, now I’m waxing on poetic with my descriptions. He sighed, pulling down the lid over the piano keys, and leaving the theatre only after everyone else had gone.
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“Kadaj, I’m home,” he called out upon entering the expansive apartment. Sephiroth toed off his shoes at the front door, wondering mildly where his brother was. He very well couldn’t have the little demon causing chaos when Cloud came over.
“Kadaj,” he called out again, checking in the kitchen. No Kadaj.
Frowning, Sephiroth went to the boy’s room. He tried the doorknob, only to find it locked. “Kadaj,” he said threateningly, “if you do not open this door in the next five seconds, I will break both the door and your arm.”
Sephiroth counted slowly in his head, and surely enough, the door unlocked. He stepped inside, finding the petulant sixteen-year-old lounging on his bed, headphones haphazardly placed over his ears and blasting rock music. “Hello, brother,” he said spitefully.
“I’m having company over later,” said Sephiroth, ignoring the greeting. “I expect you to be polite, or else maintain your distance.”
“Can I go out with Reno and Yazoo?” Kadaj slipped his headphones off his ears, waiting hopefully for a positive reply.
Sephiroth sighed. The pair was a bad influence, but at least they would keep him safe. “Fine,” he said, “as long as you’re not interfering with me.”
Kadaj smirked. “What, you’ve finally managed to get a date? I probably could have gotten him in half the time,” he shouted as Sephiroth merely left the room.
The apartment itself really needed no fixing up; Sephiroth was a very orderly man by nature, and, luckily, Kadaj had picked up on that trait. He crossed the den to the other side of the apartment, where his music room was located, the one blissfully soundproof room in the space. A smile slipped onto his face as he entered the room and sat behind the baby grand.
As his fingers automatically splayed out over the keys, he was reminded of the night before, when he’d startled Cloud after his playing. He hadn’t meant to; in fact, he would have invited the blond to stay and listen, if he hadn’t run off so quickly.
Music started to fill the air as Sephiroth continued to wonder. What was it about Cloud that transfixed him so? Was it the immeasurably soft hair that just begged to have fingers run through it? Or was it the delicate yet strong features of his face that made him look like a precious china doll? The watery, crystal blue eyes haunted his dreams, his long, slender fingers ghosting over his skin a thousand times.
All Sephiroth knew was that he wanted—no, needed to have Cloud as his own. Ever since he first laid eyes on his bewitching countenance three weeks ago, he couldn’t get the man out of his head. Not only was he gorgeous, but he played the flute so beautifully, like faeries dancing in the rain.
Sephiroth paused in his playing. “Faeries in the rain,” he muttered derisively to himself. “I need to get laid.”
“You also need to go pick up said lay,” commented Kadaj, leaning casually against the door frame.
Sephiroth turned to the boy. “I thought I told you not to disturb me when I’m in here,” he said calmly with a hint of anger.
“I know,” said Kadaj airily, “but I figured since you apparently really need to get laid, you’d appreciate it if I told you it’s already five-twenty. What’s his name, by the way?”
Sephiroth glanced at his own watch to see that is was, indeed, only a few minutes away from five-thirty. “Cloud,” he said as he quickly brushed past Kadaj, grabbing his coat and shoes on the way, and disappeared out the front door.
“Cloud,” repeated Kadaj after he had left. “What a dumb name.
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He was about halfway to Seventh Heaven when his cell phone rang. Briefly, Sephiroth debated letting it ring itself to silence, but then considered that if one of the few people who actually had his number was bothering to call him, it must have been important. Grabbing the device from his pocket, he answered with a bored, “Hello?”
“Seph? Hey, it’s Genesis. Listen, me and Angeal are going out tonight, and we were wondering if you wanted to come,” he said, “you know, get your mind off that Cloud for a bit.”
Sephiroth chuckled. If only they knew… “I’m sorry, Genesis, I’m going to have to decline,” he said.
“What? Why? Come on, Seph, live a little,” the brunet complained. “I’m sure you have nothing better to do anyway.”
“Actually,” said Sephiroth slowly, a smile crossing his face.
He heard Genesis gasp. “No way,” he whispered. “You totally scored with Cloud!”
“Don’t get your hopes up that high, Gen,” said Sephiroth, frowning a little. Hopefully in the future, Genesis’ assumptions would be a reality. “I only managed to trick him into coming over to my apartment for an extra rehearsal. I’m on my way to pick him up right now.”
“Extra rehearsal, right,” scoffed Genesis. “He’s gonna be getting practice in something, that’s for sure.”
“Seriously, Gen,” said Sephiroth. “I’m still trying to get him to open up, remember? He barely even looks at me when I’m talking to him.”
Genesis snickered. “Oh, yeah,” he said through his laughs, “he’ll be opening up to you in no time.”
Sephiroth rolled his eyes as his friend broke into full-fledged laughter. “I’m hanging up, Genesis,” he said. “Give Angeal my regards.”
“Will do. Have fun, Sephy,” said Genesis before hanging up.
Sephiroth sighed and, having reached his destination, pulled into the parking lot of the bar. He turned the car off, sitting in the silence for a while. If only, he thought to himself. Then he checked the time and left his car, ready to put his plan into motion, only one thought in his head.
He really, really needed to get laid.
