The sun filtered softly through the curtains, casting a golden haze across the room. Everything felt quiet—still. The kind of stillness that only came from peace… and the man currently tangled around you like a weighted blanket.

Sephiroth wasn’t awake. Not fully, anyway.

You could feel the slow, even rhythm of his breathing, his face nuzzled into the crook of your neck. One of his arms was firmly wrapped around your waist, while the other was lazily draped across your hip, his long fingers twitching slightly as he dreamed.

You shifted just a little—and his grip instantly tightened.

“Where are you going?” he mumbled, voice low and thick with sleep, rougher than usual. His eyes were still closed, silver lashes resting gently against his cheeks.

“Nowhere,” you whispered, smiling as you turned your head slightly toward him. “Just getting comfortable.”

A soft, pleased sound rumbled from his chest—almost a purr, if Sephiroth ever made such a sound. You weren’t sure if it was the lack of sleep or the safety of the moment, but he was unusually cuddly today, his usual tension melted away in the comfort of your shared warmth.

“You smell nice,” he murmured.

You blinked. “Did the great General Sephiroth just say something cute?”

He groaned lightly and buried his face deeper into your neck. “Let me have this.”

You laughed softly, your fingers slipping into his silver hair, slowly brushing it away from his face. His hold on you didn’t ease, not even as he began to drift again, his breath warm against your skin.

“You always smell like lavender,” he mumbled, half-asleep. “That’s how I know I’m home.”

And with that, he was gone again, asleep in your arms, completely unguarded.

This—this—was a side no one else ever got. And gods, you wouldn’t trade it for anything