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[makostigma.livejournal.com]

Well, he'd been sorted. That meant that he'd finally gotten to leave the strange room he'd appeared in not so long ago. Which was good except that now Cloud had no idea where to go, or what he was supposed to do. He didn't know what being sorted into Hufflepuff meant or if he was supposed to go somewhere in search of it.

It didn't help matters that the only three people he knew at this place were nowhere to be seen. Somehow he and Zack had gotten separated and now Cloud had no idea where he was. The whole place with it's talking portraits and moving staircases was very confusing and he'd spent the better part of two hours wandering around. So of course he was now thoroughly lost.

Comments

[herlivinglegacy.livejournal.com]

It wasn't that Sephiroth didn't like Cloud, it was just that his puppet was oh so fun to toy with, and he was the only thing strong enough to oppose him in immediate vicinity. In Sephiroth's time at Hogwarts, Sephiroth had learnt things. Most importantly, he'd learnt thing from Zack.

"So, you're free," Sephiroth purred, behind Cloud. He was in his battle leather, minus coat, having been on the grounds working out.

[makostigma.livejournal.com]

Cloud felt his muscles tense as the voice from behind greeted him unexpectedly. Steeling himself, he turned to face Sephiroth unsure of how to react as of yet. His initial response to having the other in his general proximity was usually to go stiff and ready himself to either attack or 'get out the damn way' as Barrett put it.

However his earlier meeting with Seohiroth had confused him. It had seemed almost cordial, leaving Cloud at a loss as to where he stood now.

"Looks like."

[herlivinglegacy.livejournal.com]

"Where were you sorted?" he asked, silver eyebrows rising a little. He quite enjoyed making Cloud uncomfortable. It amused him that the boy went along with everything he said, believed it was true, if he played it just right.

[makostigma.livejournal.com]

"Hufflepuff", Cloud responded, feeling slightly embarrassed by the frilly sounding word. He tilted his head to look up at Sephiroth, expression wary.

"What do you want?"

[herlivinglegacy.livejournal.com]

"Hmm, loyalty," he said, wandering forward a little, circling Cloud.

"Do I need a reason to see how my favourite puppet is doing?" he asked, tilting his head and smiling. "I like you Cloud, you know that."

[makostigma.livejournal.com]

Oh that was a trigger word. Cloud looked annoyed as he tracked Sephiroth's movement.

"If that's true you might stop referring to me as a puppet. Those days are over."

[herlivinglegacy.livejournal.com]

"Are they?" he asked, amused. He clicked his tongue. "No, they're over when I say they're over."

[makostigma.livejournal.com]

"I don't think so." He frowned. Maybe Sephiroth hadn't changed as much as he thought. "You don't have any control over my life now. I've grown up."

[herlivinglegacy.livejournal.com]

Sephiroth had changed, he just didn't know any other way to act around Cloud, to show that he wasn't about to run away from Sephiroth now that he knew what he wanted from the other.

"More than anything, Cloud, I've noticed how you've grown." He reached out, pressed fingers to Cloud's shoulder.

[makostigma.livejournal.com]

He flinched, as if expecting a blow, but when it didn't come he raised his eyes again to meet Sephiroth's uncertainly. Zack seemed to trust him so that had to be worth something, didn't it? He didn't bother no to shrug the hand away, instead peering into Sephiroth's face, searching.

[herlivinglegacy.livejournal.com]

"Do you want me to hurt you, Cloud?" he asked, saying his name like a prayer. "You seem to be expecting it."

His fingertips travelled up to Cloud's collarbone, up his neck to his jaw, his cheek.

[makostigma.livejournal.com]

"Couldn't be because that's what happens every time we meet." He raised his chin along with the fingers, still cautious, but appraising. His hands twitched in anticipation, ready to grab his sword.

But the need to do so wasn't arising and he continued to stand there dumbly, with Sephiroth's fingers ghosting across his face. "What are you...?"

[herlivinglegacy.livejournal.com]

His thumb ran under Cloud's eyes, fingers cupping Cloud's cheek. He moved closer, tilting his head. "I only do so because you ask for it. Keeping me from my goals, standing in my way. When you're not in my way, like now, I'm free to pursue what I truly want. Aren't I?"

He chuckled lightly. "What am I doing?" He clicked his tongue, brushing his lips over Cloud's cheekbone, lips curving into a smile. "Surely you should be able to guess..."

[redunderwearman.livejournal.com]

"FSHOOSHOOSHOOOSHOOOSHOOOSHOO!" That noise could only mean one thing: Freakazoid was running around the halls with his hands over his head, making whoosing noises.

So caught up in his running, he didn't notice that the stairs he was planning to climb on had suddenly moved. He took two steps out into empty space, looked down, and shouted "WHOA!" when he fell, crash landing in front of Cloud.

"I meant to do that!"

[makostigma.livejournal.com]

"Did you really." Cloud cocked his head in amusement before reaching out a hand to help the strange little man up.

[redunderwearman.livejournal.com]

"Yep!" Freakazoid said, shooting up, and indeed there wasn't even a scratch on him, unless you count that his hair was split in half. But nothing a lick of his hand and a quick run through of his hair can't fix! And indeed it did.

[makostigma.livejournal.com]

He laughed, liking this strange person without fully understanding why. He just seemed eternally optimistic, something Cloud respected a good deal.

"Nice to meet you."

[redunderwearman.livejournal.com]

"I'm Freakazoid!" Freakazoid said, shaking Cloud's hand. "And you..." he looked up at Cloud's hair, "have better hair than I do!"

[makostigma.livejournal.com]

Oh that was the best thing he'd heard all day. He definitely liked this guy. "I'm Cloud."

[redunderwearman.livejournal.com]

"Cloud! Hey, let's go get snocones!" That was the best way to start a new friendship, over snocones. It worked for him and Cosgrove.

[makostigma.livejournal.com]

"Snocones?" He tilted his head, unsure what a snocone was. But the other seemed so excited, it didn't feel right to refuse, so Cloud nodded.

[redunderwearman.livejournal.com]

"Great! Let's go!" And before Cloud could even protest, Freakazoid grabbed Cloud by the hand and used his lightning speed to get them to the Great Hall quickly.

"Two snocones, please!" he said to the startled house elf.

[makostigma.livejournal.com]

Cloud staggered as they came to a stop, swaying a bit and clutching his stomach. He looked about as shocked at the houseelf who made quick to provide them with icy snacks.

"What... what was that?!"

[redunderwearman.livejournal.com]

"What? Oh. I'm fast," was what Freakazoid said. "Went from Washington DC to Tibet in fifteen seconds!"

[makostigma.livejournal.com]

"You're joking though, right?"