Hey all, so this is the first fanfic written on this site. I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own FFVII Square Enix do... Unfortunately.

I don't know to much about Final Fantasy, so if you have some pointers or hints I'd love to know them.

First Glimpse

Name: Cloud Strife

Age: 16

Eye Colour: Blue

Hair Colour: Blond

Birth Date: 21st April

Height: 5 foot, 3 inches

Weight 112lbs

Mother: Riely Strife

Father: Unknown

Siblings: None

Birthplace: Nibelheim

Security Notes: Small form, may be prone to being bullied, suffers from motion sickness.

The General of Shinra army yawned, setting yet another form aside and moving on to the next. He hated going through the piles of SOLDIER hopefuls, knowing half of them would just drop out within their first year. He didn't see why he had to bother with going through the new cadets, he had enough shit on his hands, like dealing with the ongoing war in Wutai, and dodging Hojo in between his lab visits. Not to mention catering to Shinra and looking after the whole goddamn army.

Sephiroth raised his head to look at the silent, silver clock above his door. He had had to purchase a new one, since the last one he had demolished due to its insistent ticking. It was half past eleven, by rights he should be back in his apartment, in bed and perhaps reading something non-work related. Sephiroth sighed heavily, his eyelids drooping. Damn paperwork. How he hated it. But he had to get it all done regardless, and sitting around sulking wasn't getting him anywhere. Forcing his mind to respond, Sephiroth forced his way through the last of the cadet forms, finally shucking them in the "Out" pile and retreating from his office.

Cadet Cloud Strife, SOLDIER hopeful, stood with the rest of the cadets in the briefing hall, listening to the president drone on and on about something or other, none of which he understood. His gaze wandered from the monotonous president to where three men sat side by side. Commander Raphsodos, Commander Hewley and General Sephiroth. His heart leapt as he watched the young, silver haired General. His heart yearned for him to notice him, but of course he wouldn't. There were hundreds of new recruits here, and he knew the great General would be used to mindless cadets and SOLDIERS alike swooning after him. But Cloud was different. He knew he was. He didn't like the General because of his power, or his stunning looks, although he was attracted to how stunning the man was. No, Cloud wanted to know the real Sephiroth. He remembered reading about him in the newspaper, seeing his pictures in magazines. Everyone always made him out to be a great hero. And he was, he truly was, but even now he could see more hidden underneath that stoic facade. He was sad, Cloud could tell, it was in his eyes, the most expressionate part of him. General Sephiroth was the reason he applied for SOLDIER. Well, part of the reason. Cloud pulled his attention back to the President and sighed heavily when he found him still talking. God help him.

Sephiroth sat between his two friends Angeal and Genesis, trying very hard not to yawn. He always hated President Shinras 'welcome' speeches. On his left side Genesis openly yawned, hand raised carelessly to cover his mouth. Sephiroth scowled slightly and leaned back as Angeal stretched over him to tell Genesis off for the fifth time. "For Gaias sake Genesis." He hissed "Sit still and stop yawning, you're making a scene." The red-headed commander scoffed in reply. "You're the one causing a scene... Leaning over Seph, he looks like you're raping him." Seph scowled as Angeal looked up at him then sat back. "Sorry Sephiroth." He said, unable to help the small smile flitting across his face. Sephiroth looked like someone had shat on his shoe. "No matter." Sephiroth growled, fixing his attention straight ahead. "Next time I shall be sitting on the end though." The hours dragged on until it was finally time for Sephiroth to step up and address the waiting cadets. With a blank face he stood and took the stage, letting his gaze sweep over the large group of cadets. "I have nothing to say to you." He said, "Half of you will be gone by this time next year. And until you prove yourselves I will treat you as such." Turning he stalked back to his seat, shoved Genesis into the middle chair and sat down on the edge, feigning oblivion to the Commanders sniggers. "Way to motivate them Seph." Genesis smirked, watching as the cadets shifted around edgily. "Whatever. I just want this to be over. I have a whole load of paperwork due."

"Keep running ladies! You stop you owe me an extra lap." Cloud gasped for breath as he forced his aching legs to keep running. They called this training? It was torture. By the time training was over he could barely stand, he didn't know how he was expected to make it through theory as well. But somehow he always did. It had been a month since he had started, a month. He had thought it would get better. He was wrong. It just got worse. Every day. Surely there was a point where everything would start getting easier. Dear Gaia, please. He hadn't even seen the General since he had delivered that gut wrenching speech at the start of term. Not that he expected to or anything. The General was a busy man... He was starting to realise that there was no way he would ever meet the general. He was only a grunt. A number at the best. What had he been thinking, being able to meet the General. He doubted such a thing would happen until he was at least SOLDIER. If he could make it that far of course. Some how he doubted it.

"Cadets."

Cloud looked up from his work to listen to their war history teacher.

"Tomorrow will be a big day for you all. You will be getting your first mako injections."
A wave of fear and anticipation swept over the cadets as their teacher continued. "You will all wait in your first period class and your tutor will take you to the labs. Good luck. Class dismissed.

Sephiroth closed his eyes and clenched his teeth against the pain. He almost didn't want to know what Hojo was pumping into his veins this time. It was enough with how much it hurt. Anxious chattering intruded his pain hazed thoughts and he opened his eyes, glaring at the door through which he knew the Cadets were waiting to have their first mako shots. Sephiroth stood and moved to the side, sitting on an uncomfortable chair and schooling his face into an expressionless mask. He was going to be watching the cadets have their mako shots, mainly because he couldn't leave the area until an hour after his shot, but partly because watching the cadets squirming in pain as they were administered mako might make the pain he was feeling easier to bear. He leaned back in his seat as the first cadet was lead in by the creepy scientist.

"G-General Sephiroth Sir!" The boy gave a startled salute and Sephiroth barely managed to contain from rolling his eyes.

"Sit."

The boy sat as Hojo commanded, eyes widening in fear as Hojo fastened the restraints and examined a syringe full of the thick, green, fluorescent liquid. He flicked the side a couple of times to get rid of any air bubbles then unceremoniously punched it into the cadets arm and depressed the plunger.

The boy screamed the second it entered his vein and thrashed against the restraints, trying to get free. Sephiroth sighed and studied his fingernails as ot went on until he looked up when the boy finally recovered, panting. Hojo undid the restraints and sent him of with a bored, "Send the next one in."

The next cadet came in, shaking in his standard issue boots.

"Sit." Hojo commanded and the whole scene was repeated.

Sephiroth leant back in the chair and checked his watch as the consistent stream of cadets went by. Fifteen minutes until he was free of this hell hole.

The next cadet came in, blue eyes wide and worried. He vaguely remembered him from the files he had read in the beginning of term. Strife? Was it?

The boy sat down hesitantly and watched with wide eyes as the professor fastened the restraints. The mako was ejected into his vein and the boy winced and hissed in pain. Sephiroth looked up with a frown, his expression echoed by Hojo as he turned back around and looked down at the boy then looked down at his clipboard and back at the cadet. "Interesting." He murmured, a spark gleaming in his eyes. He turned his head towards Sephiroth who raised an eyebrow, "The boy has a very high tolerance towards mako." He crossed to the other side of the room and turned back with a larger syringe, stepping towards the wide eyed cadet. Sephiroth jumped to his feet and put himself between Hojo and the terrified cadet. "That is a SOLDIER issue of mako." He said firmly, "I will not let you administer it unto one of my cadets." Hojo scowled at him, eyebrows drawing tight over his eyes. "Imagine the results it could produce, imagine the warrior I could make with him!" The cadet made a small sound of fear and if nothing else, that noise strengthened Sephiroths resolve. "No." He stated firmly, slit-pupiled eyes narrowing. "The most you will be allowed to do is double the dose. No more. Furthermore, considering your... interest in the boy I will attend each of his mako shots." Professor Hojo scowled in fury but if he wanted to do anything more to this cadet he would have to go through Shinra, which would be all to easy to do, but he knew the snivelling president wouldn't want to risk Sephiroth standing against him. "Fine." Hojo turned and pulled out another single dose of mako, stepping around Sephiroth and stabbing it into the blond haired cadets arm. The boy yelped then whimpered in pain as the mako was injected into him, biting his lip in an attempt to keep quiet. When he had recovered Hojo grudgingly undid the restraints. Giving the scientist a hard look, Sephiroth accompanied the cadet out.

"Th-thank you, Sir."

Cloud Strife looked up at his savior, eyes wide. "Th-thank you, Sir." The General looked down at him then pulled Cloud aside, nodding at his instructor. "Cadet Cloud Strife isn't it?" Clouds eyes almost bugged out of his head, his hero new his name! "Yes, Sir." He confirmed, general Sephiroth nodded. "If you are ever asked to go to the lab outside of your general mako shots I want you to refuse and come straight to me. I realise that this is a slight bit unorthodox but it is important that you watch yourself around Professor Hojo. He is dangerous, and would like nothing better than to turn you into another one of his pet projects. Do you understand me Cloud." Cloud nodded fearfully, blue eyes wide as he stared up into the startling glowing green above him.

"Good boy. Now I want you to take it easy for the rest of the day. It should not be difficult. All of your instructors will know that you have had your mako shots." Cloud nodded with a small smile. "Thank you, Sir." He said as Sephiroth turned and left.

"Sephiroth. Call me Sephiroth."

I hope you liked it, please Review... If you've gotten this far.