Shinra Academy

Summary: In a world where war is forbidden, Shinra disguises its military base as a high school. Only the strong can graduate. With a war boiling beneath it's innocent exterior, Cloud finds someone he wants more than graduation.

Chapter 1

It was eleven in the morning. Cloud tapped his foot nervously as he sat down in the auditorium, surrounded by a bunch of other people. He scratched the back of his head, a nervous habit he had.

"Ever considered cutting your hair?" Cloud looked over his shoulder, a dark haired man sitting behind him. Cloud frowned, touching his blonde spikes that stood straight up.

"No," he replied, not one to talk much. The man snickered, smacking Cloud on the back. Cloud grit his teeth, the slap way harder than it needed to be.

"Me and my boys will cut it for you. Fucking faggot." Cloud wanted to sigh. Not even five minutes in and he was already being targeted by bullies. He decided to move, but before he could another man plopped down next to him. His hair was not as spiked as Cloud's, but it was still spiked. His blue eyes were wide, drinking in all of the things around them.

"There are a lot of freshman this year," the man commented, Cloud raising an eyebrow in confusion and surprise.

"What year are you?" Cloud asked, the man looking at him with a wide grin.

"I'm a second year. I'm only here because I wanted to see the fresh meat. What year are you?" He asked, Cloud shaking his head a little, making his spikes dance.

"Just started," Cloud told him, the man raising an eyebrow.

"You sure? You're more reserved than most first years." Cloud took in the compliment with a frown, not sure how he should feel about that. He was reserved only to keep away bullies, but it never worked.

"I'm Zack." Cloud looked back to the man, his hand outstretched. Cloud was hesitant at first but eventually took his hand and shook it.

"Cloud."

"He's a faggot, you shouldn't touch him." Zack looked over his shoulder, the bullies from earlier snickering. Zack looked back to Cloud who had retreated back into his shell. Cloud could tell it clicked in his head, and he was prepared to be left there to their mercy. Instead Zack smiled.

"So am I. What's your problem with it?" The bully was shocked, not sure of how he should respond to it. Cloud looked to Zack, his eyes narrowing slightly. Nobody ever stood up for him.

"Come on guys, let's sit somewhere else." The bullies got up, walking away. Cloud untensed some, Zack swinging an arm over his shoulder. Cloud really hoped he wouldn't hit on him, and he could tell Zack knew his thoughts.

"I'm not really gay. It just makes me laugh when people are homophobic," Zack told him with a smile, Cloud smiling softly. They talked for a while before Zack got up to leave, telling Cloud to meet him outside so he could help him find his classes.

Cloud waved him goodbye, looking to the podium when a throat was cleared. All the noise in the room quieted.

A fat blonde haired man stood in front of a microphone, Cloud looking to the people sitting behind him. Nobody looked interesting so Cloud looked back to the fat man.

"My name is Shinra, I am the dean of this school. I have high hopes in all of you." Cloud rolled his eyes, thinking the dean would have been someone more young and skinny. The school was seen as the best high school in Midgar, and everybody wanted to got o it. Coming from Nibelheim, Cloud had hoped this school would be a little more exciting.

"Tell me, what are you kids studying?" Cloud put on his hoodie, sitting back and trying to make himself look smaller than he already was. Every other kid practically worshipped the man, answering with engineering, computer science, biological science, or war history and techniques. There were thousands more, but those were the most chosen. Cloud chose materia and sword technique, since he favored them most.

This high school was easy to get into, but hard to graduate from. Most people dropped out or committed suicide. That was how hard this school was. Cloud wasn't a big person, but he was quick and smarter than most. He earned the science fair award, and even taught most of his classes in elementary school.

He was a genius, but not that anybody cared in Nibelheim.

"Before I take my leave, I will have my teachers call up the students they believe will be at the top of the class." Cloud looked up at that, frowning in confusion. That was technically picking favorites, which was against most school policies.

Cloud looked down to the floor, the different teaches coming up and saying what they taught before announcing the student's name. The students went down to the podium, standing next to the teachers. Cloud was sure those students would receive special treatment, so decided he would avoid them.

"Zack Fair, materia and sword technique. Cloud Strife." Cloud looked up, not sure he heard that name right. He felt eyes land on him from the people who heard him and Zack speak. He stood up, his legs suddenly feeling heavy.

"What the fuck," he heard the bullies whisper, not looking up as he sped up his pace.

Cloud kept his eyes on the floor, his hoodie hiding his face. He went down the stairs, walking up the stairs to the podium. He walked over to Zack, keeping his eyes on the ground.

"Explain why, Zack," the dean offered, something he had been doing when the kids came up. Cloud sunk further into his shell, Zack putting a hand on his shoulder as he bellowed confidently,

"Cloud Strife is smaller than most, but his scores on the tests put him at the top of his class. He especially excelled in materia testing, which he scored a ninety nine percent on." There was a burst of murmurs in the room, some hateful some showing him praise. Cloud only sunk further into his shell.

"When tested on sword technique, he scored a remarkable a hundred percent." Cloud felt his cheeks burn, closing his eyes to try and escape this embarrassing moment. The murmurs became louder and some people even yelled out that was a lie and that he was a fraud. Cloud swallowed thickly, hiding further in his hoodie. With a raise of the dean's hand, the room became quiet.

"Good, welcome to the team Strife." Cloud heard footsteps before he saw a round belly in his purview vision, Cloud looking up to see the dean standing next to him. His hand was outstretched, the clammy flesh making Cloud cringe. He shook his hand anyway, the dean going onto the next teacher.

"Don't be afraid kid." Cloud looked up to Zack, the supposed second year really a teacher. Cloud sighed, tightening his hoodie.

"You could have warned me," Cloud said under his breath, Zack grinning before clapping Cloud on the back. Cloud really hated people doing that.

"You'll do good. I also saw your hand-to-hand combat test. You scored pretty high for someone your size," Zack whispered, Cloud shrugging as he rubbed his sore back.

"Getting bullied forces you to learn how to defend yourself." Zack's smile became more sympathetic, leaning a little bit closer.

"I used to get bullied to. I understand." Cloud looked up to him with a frown, in complete denial of that. Zack chuckled softly, pointing to the bullies in the crowd.

"How long would it take you to take them all down?" Zack asked, Cloud looking to the bullies more seriously. Compared to the men at Nibelheim, they were a lot smaller. Cloud shrugged, determining their strength by their arm growth and leg length.

"Six minutes if I try. Ten if I tried to run instead." Zack smirked, pulling off Cloud's hoodie and exposing his blonde spikes. He ruffled his hair, Cloud pushing his hand away and putting his hoodie back on. He took a step away, not in the mood to be embarrassed more than he already was.

"All student's on the podium, bow to your teachers." Cloud took a step back, facing Zack before bowing deeply in respect. They were forced to sit next to their teacher's as a younger looking man replaced the dean. Cloud kept his head down as he went over the orientation, closing his eyes as he tried to convince himself he wasn't there.

"Tell me, how do you know so much?" Zack asked, Cloud opening his eyes and looking to Zack. He shrugged, looking down to his hands.

"It just makes sense to me." Zack smirked, not satisfied with that answer.

"If I have two of the same materia and use both against an opponent, will they cancel each other?" Zack asked, Cloud frowning slightly.

"No. Materia cannot be canceled out because they hold different spirits. No materia has the same spirit, so they can therefore not be canceled out." Zack chuckled, Cloud looking up to him with a frown.

"How do you know materia has a spirit?" Zack asked, Cloud almost insulted by the question. It was plainly obvious.

"Summons. Summons are spirits, and therefore other materia are mimicked the same way. If that doesn't answer your question, you can tell they have spirits because each materia is activated by an emotion until you learn how to become one with it."

Zack looked to Cloud with a smile, Cloud looking back to his hands when he realized he probably insulted the man. He always knew more than his teacher's and that always got him in trouble.

"Good. This is the most I've been able to get you to talk." Cloud blushed, hiding his face further in his hoodie. The orientation ended soon enough and Cloud quickly got up to leave.

"Come on Cloud, come meet the other teachers." Cloud shook his head, his eyes on the floor. The high school gladly had dorms for students since most traveled from far away, and Cloud planned to go back to his dorm and sleep. He had experienced too much social stimulation in such a short time.

"If it's okay sir, I would like to return to my room." Cloud was plainly ignored, his arm grabbed as he was dragged to another room behind the podium. Teachers were introducing their chosen students, and Cloud wanted to escape. He was sure he was the lowest performing student here.

"You got lucky Zack, I wanted Cloud." Cloud looked up in confusion, a tall man standing in front of him. Cloud frowned, the man looking down to Cloud with a smile.

"We had to do a raffle to see who would get you. You are the most wanted here. But even so, this is my student, Randy." Cloud looked to the even taller man, his eyes a soft brown. His hair was a black mass held back by a rubber band, his face a visage of perfection. Cloud could see his muscles through his shirt, and Cloud had to look away before his stare became awkward.

Cloud felt very uncomfortable around him, his body sending him mixed signals of lust and fear. Cloud was actually gay, and Randy wasn't helping his predicament. Cloud took in a deep breath, releasing it with a sigh before speaking.

"Hi."

"Be more lively Cloud!" Zack told him cheerfully. Zack slapped his back hard enough to bruise, Cloud acting on instinct and punching his side. The room went silent. Cloud retreated into his shell, for sure he had passed a line. The tension was broke by Zack's laughter, the black haired man rubbing his side.

"I knew you had some bite to you!" The other teacher's laughed; patting Zack on the back and telling him he was a lucky man. Cloud felt like he was his date or something, turning away and moving silently through the crowd of people. Most people never realized he left when he did it, Cloud more stealthy than most people believed.

He exited through another door, not wanting to go to the podium. He entered into a hallway, walking as fast as he could towards the exit.

"Cloud!" Cloud stopped in his long strides, turning around to see Randy not far behind him. Cloud stopped, turning to face him. Randy stopped in front of him, giving him a dashing smile. Cloud swallowed thickly. His hormones weren't fair to him.

"Hey, I wanted to know. Are you into guys, Cloud?" Cloud pursed his lips, Randy quick to apologize.

"I'm sorry for being so blunt. If you want I can just leave," Randy rambled, Cloud scratching the back of his head.

"I am." Randy stopped rambling, looking down to Cloud in surprise. Cloud was blushing, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked down to the floor. Randy cleared his throat.

"Want to go on a date with me?" Cloud looked up in surprise, crossing his arms over his chest. Nobody ever found him attractive or acted like this to him.

"Why?" Cloud asked suspiciously, Randy shrugging as he scratched his neck.

"I think you're cute, and I want to get to know you." When he said cute, Cloud already knew his answer.

"No. And don't call me cute." Cloud turned around, Randy grabbing his arm and spinning him back around. Cloud pulled his arm free with little effort, taking a couple steps back with a frown. Randy saw his mistake and sighed heavily.

"I'm sorry, Cloud. I didn't mean to do that. Just one date, and if you don't like me I'll back down." Cloud relaxed his stance a bit, looking over Randy with cautious eyes.

"Fine."

Randy grinned, pumping his fist in the air. He stopped midway of his little dance, clearing his throat.

"Sorry, thanks for giving me a chance." Randy took a couple steps away, stopping and smacking his head.

"Sorry, can I get your number? I'll text you of the place and time." Cloud was hesitant but took his phone from his back pocket. Randy put in his number, calling himself. Cloud took back his phone, quickly walking away.

The first day and he already had a date. His mother would have been proud.

Author's note: New Story! I wanted to show Cloud in a different light, and so this story appeared.