Chapter 1

Sephiroth hated speeches. He also hated crowds of new recruits ogling him. Thus, Sephiroth despised introduction day for new SOLDIER hopefuls. He was currently stewing in his seat, praying to whatever powers that may be that there would be an accident. A fire. Anything to get out of this torture. The fat bastard on the podium refused to shut up and continued to ramble on about Shinra and its SOLDIERS. On his left, Genesis was winking at random cadets and flashing flirtatious smiles. On his right, Angeal was being a good SOLDIER First Class and listening to Shinra's inane speech. Zack was asleep on Angeal's other side.

Utterly bored, Sephiroth tuned out the pig and settled on observing the newest batch of cadets. His eyes were immediately drawn to a short blond with spiky hair. It was amazing, really, the way the proud spikes jutted out every direction possible. Clear blue eyes were fixed on the President in an attempt to pay attention. What puzzled Sephiroth was the darkness in the light blue eyes. /An interesting cadet/ he observed. The cadet's attention flickered to him momentarily before settling back on the President. There was no hint of hero worship in those eyes. /Definitely an interesting cadet/.

xxxxxx

A week passed before anything noteworthy happened. Ironically, the same mysterious cadet was involved. Sephiroth had been dragged by his irritatingly upbeat lieutenant to observe the new cadets' training. The class was being taught by a Third Class who was so happy to be teaching the recruits! Not. The SOLDIER was seemingly attempting to regurgitate his breakfast and failing; spewing taunts and orders to the pitiful cadets. They were running their daily seven mile "jog" at seven thirty in the morning and many cadets were panting and dragging their feet. What caught his eye was, once again, the blond cadet. He was running the torture fest like it was a pleasant stroll through the park. He finished before the rest of the class and wasn't even breathing hard.

His curiosity aroused, Sephiroth turned to his lieutenant. "Who is that cadet, Lieutenant Fair?" Zack turned to him with slight surprise. The sullen general had been fuming when Zack had forced him down here to watch the cadets. Now, he seemed almost interested in something. Turning back to the class, he picked out the cadet Sephiroth was asking about.

"Hey! That's Spiky!" Sephiroth turned to him in slight disbelief.

"His name is Spiky?" he asked. Zack laughed.

"That's just my nickname for him. His name's Cloud Strife. The one I've been telling you about. I met him on the first day and I think we really hit it off. Really cute, huh? He's a bit quiet but he's good kid. Top of the class. I managed to befriend him and found out he's really smart." Zack rambled. Genesis, who had also been subject to Zack's morning torture, turned his attention to the newly dubbed 'Cloud Strife'.

"Heh, impressive. Only a week through and he's already at the top. Of course, I'd rather have him at the bottom. I'm more of a seme, unless it's with Sephiroth." Genesis smirked. Sephiroth ignored the redhead, used to his perverted comments. Zack, however, turned to the Commander with a horrified expression.

"Don't you dare Genesis. Spike's only sixteen, not to mention he's my friend." Zack threatened. Genesis just laughed. Zack narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth. Whatever he was going to say was interrupted by Angeal's entrance.

"Why are you two fighting? And isn't it usually Sephiroth and Genesis going at it?" Angeal wondered as he strolled into the observation room. Sephiroth shrugged, his eyes back on the blond. Zack turned to Angeal, puppy pout in full effect.

"Genesis is being dirty, Angeal! And it's about my new friend, too!" Zack whined. Angeal sighed.

"Genesis, please keep your hands off Zack's cadet friend. You already have Sephiroth. And Sephiroth? What are you staring at?" Angeal asked. Sephiroth glanced at the Commander before answering.

"Zack's cadet friend," he answered simply. Angeal looked amused at Sephiroth's apparent curiosity about the blond but kept quiet. Of course, Genesis was more vocal. And physical. Sephiroth was his lover after all. Sneaking up behind the general, Genesis slid his arms around Sephiroth's waist.

"You know, we could have a threesome. I wouldn't mind having such a cute little thing join us and it's obvious you think he's just as hot as I do," Genesis purred. Sephiroth looked at Genesis with a stunned expression. Zack had the same on his face as well. Covering his ears, Zack turned to Angeal with his puppy pout back on his face.

"Angeal! Genesis is being dirty again! And Sephiroth's leering at my friend, too, now," he cried. Sephiroth coughed quietly and used his 'I will hurt you if you don't shut up' glare on Zack. The effect was ruined, however, by the small blush on his face. Genesis just smirked some more and went back to watching the cadet with Sephiroth. Angeal shook his head.

xxxxxx

Zack was waiting for the cadet class to end. He had promised to pick his friend up after class so that they could hang out together. When the cadets were dismissed, many rushed out the door. However, no Spiky. The teacher left the class with the throng of students, no doubt just as eager to get out of the classroom. Peering inside, Zack found his Chocobo surrounded by a little group of cadets, all much larger than him.

"Hey, Strife, you really think you're better than us huh? Just because you're a little smarter than the rest of us, you think you can ignore us? Huh?" To Zack's surprise, rather than rising to the bait, Cloud just stood there, watching the bully. Unnerved by Cloud's lack of response, the bullies decided to resort to violence.

The small blond twisted under bully number one's fist and proceeded to trip bully number two. The third came after Cloud from behind. Fortunately, Zack stepped in and grabbed the cadet's fist.

"Fancy seeing you here, Cloud." Zack joked. Cloud just shrugged and dusted himself off.

"Thanks, Zack." The bullies' eyes grew larger and all three gaped at the First.

"Zack? Zack Fair, the First Class lieutenant?" the leader asked, horrified. Zack just smiled dangerously. He turned to Cloud. "Hey, Cloud. What's the punishment for violence against another cadet? I forgot." Zack laughed. Cloud looked at Zack strangely, like he didn't get the joke but answered, nonetheless.

"I believe the proper punishment is bathroom duty, although the SOLDIER punishing the cadets may choose to assign a different form of punishment at his discretion." Cloud said it like he was reading from the textbook. No difference in tone, no emotion. He was always like this around other people. Sighing inwardly, Zack turned back to the bullies.

"Well, I guess toilet duty for a few weeks is enough for now. But I'm watching you three. Any more nonsense and I'll personally make sure you get booted." Shinra had recently created a zero tolerance theme. It was inspired by none other than, Zack and Kunsel, who had both been bullied as cadets: Zack, for being Angeal's student, and Kunsel, for being the weak runt of the litter. /Kunsel had been pretty small, now that I think about it. About Cloud's size/ Zack thought.

Zack turned to Cloud after the bullies fled. "Well? Let's go grab some dinner. I'm starving. You know Sephiroth wouldn't let my go out for lunch? Apparently, he doesn't trust me to come back to the office after. I guess it makes sense, though. I mean, seriously? Paperwork? Ugh gross." Cloud gave Zack a small smile and shook his head.

"I think Sephiroth has the right idea. I'm sure he doesn't want to suffer alone, so he's making you do it too. If you run, poor Sephiroth won't have anyone to take his anger out on." Cloud joked. The little smile warmed Zack's heart. Away from others, Zack found Cloud to be a pretty funny guy. He was a cute cadet but he had issues with people. Zack guessed bullies but Cloud refused to talk if Zack brought up the subject so he let it pass for now.

"Of course, we can't let Sephiroth get into one of his little PMsing moods, now can we? I mean it's not like we can let Sephiroth go batshit crazy and cut people down with Masamune just cuz he's in a bad mood, right?" Cloud just chuckled as the pair walked to Zack's apartment. Another thing Zack liked about Cloud: he wasn't a hero worshiper. When Zack had first mentioned one of his little escapades with Genesis, Cloud had just laughed a bit but made no sign of asking for more information about the Crimson Commander. Of course, this might have been another side effect of the bullying. After being spit on for so long, everyone started to look the same. Unreachable and unapproachable. Zack had found out Cloud had an emo streak; always belittling himself and thinking everyone was better. In fact, when Zack had first met the little Chocobo, the cadet had seemed to believe that he deserved all the abuse he got.

Over the course of a week, Cloud had gotten a little better under Zack's care. He was a bit more open with the lieutenant and laughed a bit, although he was still stoic with anyone else. Zack was hoping to get Cloud to meet his mentor and Sephiroth. Maybe it would help the cadet open up and get used to more people. It was a bonus that Cloud wasn't a fanboy. Meetings with Genesis, however, would be put off as long as possible. Zack didn't want his little Chocobo to be too traumatized after an encounter with the perverted redhead.

A/N: Yes, I'm going to repost all the chapters written by Hiding in a Dream. Who originally came up with the story. I'm adopting it.

I'm not nearly as good a writer as him/her but I'll try.

Pairings should remain the same.

If you want to put an opinion into where this should go (Not completely sure at the moment) then PM me. Please do so by Monday Dec. 3, 2012.

I'll consider your idea.

And yes, I did reword the original summary. Get over it.