As I said during my introduction of the story 'Amnesia' I want to develop this saga a little more to involve the characters lives and backgrounds. As a result this story once again has more emotion in it than physical affection.
This story carries on from a short time after Cloud's accident and focuses on how he and the others are dealing with his recovery. It felt wrong to have him heal perfectly and there be no problems and so I have written and rewritten this instalment more times than I care to admit. The end result is a little long and also involves an appearance from Genesis, who I have referred to as a General. I'm not sure if this is correct, as I can't find a reference to his rank on the crisis core resources I have available, but a few other stories I have read give him the title so I can only hope that it is acceptable.
Hopefully it is still as enjoyable as the other instalments and I will try to make the next one a little shorter and bring some more 'naughtiness' back into their lives.
Rated M - Because there is Yaoi and I still own nothing but the ideas.
Please remember to review. I like to hear what you think about how this saga is going.
(Also just for reference, if it isn't already obvious, 4WS = Four Way Split)
The healing process – Part 1
Zack smiled as he made his way towards the soldier apartments, his stride having a small skip, as each step took him closer to home.
"You appear to be in a good mood." Sephiroth noted happily, as they turned a corner and the apartment block came into view.
"And why wouldn't I be?" The soldier asked cheerfully, continuing without waiting for an answer. "Today was good, all my work is done and Cloud is waiting for us at home."
"I see." The general replied, his own smile growing a little brighter in understanding.
Zack glanced across at the man beside him and laughed warmly as he took in Sephiroth's appearance, noting the way he also appeared to be moving with a certain joyful bounce.
"He's doing really well in classes." Zack said happily, his eyes sparkling at the knowledge.
"Do not forget it has only been a few of weeks Zack."
"Yea, I know, but he's remembered most of it now and things are going back to normal."
"Then the doctor is happy with his progress?" The general enquired casually.
"Like you don't already know," Zack teased, fully aware of Sephiroth's silent tracking of Cloud's recovery.
The general sighed in mock exasperation at the soldier's playful comment, but smiled softly to show he was indeed aware of the report.
"Cloud will be pleased to know that the doctor has cleared him to return to full duties." He informed Zack, knowing that this fact had not been released to either soldier or cadet yet.
"Really, that's great." Zack all but cheered, as they entered the building.
"Yes, I believe he will be happy about it as well." Sephiroth commented as neutrally as possible and then laughed softly at the look he received.
"You know I meant for him," the soldier pointed out shaking his head. "He's been waiting to get back to a normal schedule for the past couple of weeks, ever since I stopped going to classes with him."
"How has it been?"
"Pretty good. I checked a couple of times and he seems to be doing ok. Some of the other cadet's are taking care of him so I tried to keep out of the way."
Sephiroth could hear the change of tone in Zack's voice and when he looked over at the soldier saw the tension across his shoulders.
"Why does this upset you?" He enquired curiously as they entered the lift.
"I know it shouldn't," the soldier admitted hesitantly. "I guess it's just that after all the trouble he had with them, I'm still nervous about the sudden change."
"Surely having more friends will benefit him?"
"Yea, it will," Zack agreed uncertainly.
"You are worried about their intentions," Sephiroth noted gently.
"Yea, in a way, I guess I am. You don't know what it was like for him in the beginning Seph, it was pretty rough."
"Then let us hope that this is the start of something new." Sephiroth said gently, as the lift doors slid open at their floor.
"Hey, there you are. I've been waiting here for like half an hour." Reno called, making both men look up in surprise.
"Why aren't you inside?" Zack asked a little confused, as the Turk rose to his feet from where he had been sitting on the floor.
"Forgot my key card," the red head admitted with a shrug.
"You could have knocked, Spiky would have let you in."
"I did knock." Reno replied, his eyes widening slightly at Zack's words.
It took all three men a second to absorb the information and then a slight panic took hold, the unspoken fears of what might have happened to their precious blonde filling their minds.
"Open the door." Sephiroth ordered, his voice tainted with worry as Zack fumbled desperately to get the key card out of his pocket.
"I'm doing it," the soldier growled back, his own voice filled with restrained fear.
The lock had barely beeped to allow them access, before the soldier had the door open and all three entered the apartment in a rush. Zack was in the lead and slid to a stop in the living room, the others almost colliding with him as they stopped dead in their tracks. A collective sigh of relief filled the air as each man let out the breath they had been holding, their fears disappearing along with the air from their bodies. The soldier smiled as he took in the sight and glanced over at the other two men behind him, who also seemed to be wearing similar masks of relief and amusement, now that they knew what had happened to their blonde.
There sitting at the dining table and stretched out over a small pile of textbooks, was the peaceful form of a cadet lost to a deep sleep. Cloud's left arm was stretched out across the table acting as a pillow for his head and Zack couldn't help but laugh softly when he saw the blonde's other hand. A pen still held tightly in his fingers, poised over the pad he was making notes on, as if he had fallen asleep while halfway through writing something. It was only when his eyes drifted to Cloud's pale face that the smile faded a little, the dark smudges around the cadet's eyes showing that he was exhausted.
"It appears he has been working too hard again." Sephiroth whispered, so as not to disturb Cloud's peaceful slumber.
"Yea, you're right." Zack replied also keeping his voice low. "I knew he was working to catch up, I just didn't realise how much he's been pushing himself."
"We should probably wake him, or at least move him to somewhere more comfortable." Reno suggested quietly.
Zack moved silently across the room until he was standing beside the table, his mind already trying to work out how he was going to pick Cloud up without waking him. He carefully removed the pen from the cadet's hand and laid it on the table before turning his attention back to the problem. Before he could move again Cloud stirred, his body shifting slightly on the table and a small groan escaping his lips. Zack froze on the spot, his heart beating frantically at the small sound of pain which Cloud had produced and the troubled frown which had now appeared on his brow.
"That doesn't look good." Reno commented with concern as Cloud shifted again, his body tensing in response to something in his dream.
Zack took a steadying breath as he lowered himself to crouch beside the cadet, at the same time carefully raising a hand to trace his fingers over the blonde's brow. The gently caresses across Cloud's delicate features seemed to ease whatever troubles the cadet was feeling and he physically relaxed into the touch.
"I wonder what he is dreaming about." Sephiroth mused, as he studied the blonde's changing expression.
"I'm wondering the same thing." Zack informed them evenly, his mind already considering the many different options.
"Don't go." Cloud breathed, catching them all by surprise.
"Go where?" Zack asked, before he realised that the cadet was still asleep.
"The mountains, don't go." Cloud replied, his body shifting and becoming tense once more.
"Who is going up the mountain Cloud?" Sephiroth asked calmly, as he moved forward to kneel beside Zack.
"Tifa, she's going, but it's too dangerous." The cadet replied, his face now screwing up as the worry in his voice found another way to express itself.
"Tifa?" Reno asked in confusion.
"Yea, he's mentioned her name a few times now." Zack informed them, watching as Cloud continued to struggle with something they couldn't see.
"He has talked about his home?" Sephiroth enquired curiously.
"No. I've only heard it mentioned when he's sleeping like this."
"And you didn't tell us!" Reno snapped, his sudden anger making him forget to keep his voice down.
Cloud's head snapped up instantly, his eye lids flicking open to reveal confused blue spheres that darted about in a dazed panic.
"Nice one red." Zack growled softly, giving Reno the glare he deserved.
"Sorry." The Turk replied, clearly frustrated by what had happened.
"Who? What? Where?" Cloud mumbled, as he continued to shake the sleep from his mind.
"Take it easy Spiky, it's just us." Zack reassured gently.
Zack couldn't help but smile as Cloud's face came round to focus on his own, as the blonde attempted to rube the sleep from his eyes with the back of his hand. The actions were nothing special yet made the soldier's heart fill with warmth, the simple movements making the cadet appear younger and somehow cuter in his sleepy state.
"What time is it?" Cloud asked, the words closely followed by a yawn which he tried to hide.
"Around seven, we got held up at the office."
"Oh." The cadet responded, as he stretched to relieve some of the knots which had developed in his body.
"You have slept in an uncomfortable position." Sephiroth noted casually.
"Yea, I guess it wasn't the best place." The blonde agreed with a small smile.
"You should have just chilled out on the sofa or on the bed."
"I wanted to get this done first." Cloud said, indicating the small pile of work and the textbooks on the table.
"Well I think you're done for the day." Zack responded quickly, already gathering the items up and moving them away before Cloud could continue.
"Zack, I need to do that." The cadet protested weakly, knowing it was futile to argue but still trying.
"What you need is a hot shower, something to eat and then to get your butt into bed." The soldier replied firmly, his eyes meeting with the blonde's to show he was serious.
"Fine." Cloud sighed in defeat, letting his body sprawl across the table once more.
"You can't shower like that." Zack pointed out as he began to make his way back over towards the cadet.
"Then how do you suggest I do it?" Cloud asked, his voice remaining casual but holding a hint of something else.
"Well for a start you need to get your cute little behind off that chair and into the bathroom." The soldier joked, ignoring the blonde's subtle tone.
"Then?" The cadet asked innocently, his eyes sparking with unspoken desire, as he tilted his body to see Zack better.
"Then you turn on the water and wash." Was the blunt reply, as Zack turned away.
Cloud blinked in confusion as the soldier walked past him and towards the kitchen, the words spoken not being ones he had expected. The cadet blushed furiously as the bewilderment turned into embarrassment. Before anyone could speak he was up and moving towards the bathroom, the door closing quickly behind him.
"What the hell was that?" Reno spat out, turning on the soldier as soon as the sound of water running could be heard.
"I don't know what you mean?" Zack replied trying to sound neutral and failing miserably.
"He just made you an offer and you threw it back in his face, that's what I mean." The Turk all but shouted now.
"It wasn't like that," the soldier protested weakly.
"Yes it was." Sephiroth interrupted before Reno could respond.
"I guess I missed it." Zack said, turning away to look in a cupboard behind him.
"You missed it?" The Turk choked in disbelief.
"You seem to be missing a lot lately." Sephiroth noted bluntly.
"I don't know what you mean?" Was the guarded reply.
"You have been avoiding things which he seems keen to reacquaint himself with." The general noted evenly.
"What?" Zack replied, actually a little confused this time.
"He's saying that Cloud wants to get physical and you're avoiding it." Reno stated, clearing up any misunderstanding instantly.
"I don't .." Zack began, his voice now rising defensively before Sephiroth cut it off.
"Enough!" He growled at both men. "In the bedroom now, I will not have Cloud walking out to find us arguing here."
The soldier and Turk glared at each other but did as they were instructed, moving towards the bedroom closely followed by the general who pushed the door closed behind him.
Inside the bathroom Cloud stood shaking slightly, his hand hovering over the door handle and his forehead resting against the hard surface in front of him. He had managed to get the shower going before realising there wasn't a towel in the room and groaned softly in frustration. While the idea of facing them all again was not pleasant, the cadet decided it was just easier to get it now then have to worry about it after he was soaking wet. Unfortunately Cloud had barely turned to open the door when he had heard Reno voice, the words deadened by the thick door but the tone clearly angry. Instinct had kicked in then, something from years of learning to be cautious, and he had stopped in his tracks. Other voices had quickly followed the Turk's and although he could not hear the words, Cloud could easily identify the emotions each voice held. Reno's was repressed anger, Zack's defensive frustration and then Sephiroth's calm but deathly stern annoyance.
The tightness in Cloud's chest was instantaneous, his breath hitching slightly as he realised they were fighting again. His hand slowly lowered onto the door handle as he heard them move into the bedroom, the place where they thought it was safe to argue with each other and he wouldn't hear. The cadet almost laughed at the idea, but it came out more of a choked sob as he found his body turning towards the wall beside him. They were treating him just like a child again, hiding their own fears and worries behind masks which occasionally slipped, trying to shield him from their fights about his situation. Just like a child he wasn't stupid and knew about these arguments, knew that they were becoming more frequent. The first one Cloud had witnessed had happened just over two weeks ago and had been nothing more than a bickering between Zack and Reno which hadn't seemed right. In truth he wouldn't have paid much attention to it, but Sephiroth had made a comment which made the cadet realise this wasn't the first time it had happened. After that he noticed it more and more, the tension rising and falling depending on their moods, their day at work and how Cloud himself was doing.
"Don't do it, you don't want to know." Cloud whispered to himself, willing his mind to block it out.
But just like a child he needed to know, drawn like a moth to a flame about to be burnt, needing to hear what they were saying about him. His body moved of its own accord flattening itself against the wall, his ear pressing firmly over the hard surface so that he could listen better. Cloud mentally sighed at their naivety for thinking hiding in the bedroom would make it better, if anything it made it worse. While the apartments themselves were divided by solid walls which kept sounds in or out, the walls within the structure were not that thick. With the bedroom being adjacent to the bathroom, the cadet could now here more than if the men had simply stayed in the living room. The words were still a little muffled, but now odd phrases or parts of sentences could be heard as the occupants of the room moved around.
The first tear ran down Cloud's cheek, the warm droplet making its silent escape to freedom. This wasn't what he wanted, this wasn't the relationship he remembered, these weren't the men he loved. The cadet's heart began to ache as he thought back to that first night when he had remembered them, knowing that it should have been the start of things returning back to normal. Instead it had become the start of something else, with all of them pulling away, their fear of rushing him making the relationship awkward. There had been no more intimate touches or caresses since then, only brief hugs or occasional chaste kiss to his head or cheek. Their physical feelings for him being withheld and only revealed through caring words and faint reassurances of affection. At first Cloud had accepted this, needing time himself to get used to being in their company again, but now it was only causing him pain. Their need to give him space turning into a feeling of distance between them and making him feel like the small insignificant cadet once more.
Tears became mixed with anger and the cadet forcefully pushed away from the wall, no longer wanting to hear them blaming each other for what was happening. Using the building rage within him Cloud opened the door and walked through the apartment, his pace never slowing or faltering as he passed the closed bedroom door. A second later and he was picking up his boots and leaving, the door closing almost soundlessly behind him, as he walked away from the lovers he no longer knew.
Sephiroth was the first to notice that something was wrong, his instincts kicking in at last and drawing him away from the verbal battle. He turned his attention towards the closed door and listened intently, trying to work out what had distracted him.
"Seph?" Zack asked, a little confused by the general's sudden silence and eerily still poise.
"Something is wrong." Sephiroth responded bluntly, as he began to move.
A second later and all three men were standing in the living room trying to identify what suddenly had them all feeling uneasy. The room was warm and slightly damp, the steam from the shower having escaped through the partially open bathroom door way.
"What the hell?" Reno questioned as he walked towards the room, where small billows of mist were becoming visible as they drifted into the larger room.
"Hey Spiky, you got it pretty hot in there, you ok?" Zack called pausing outside, his heart lurching when they got no reply.
Sephiroth was already opening the door before Zack could warn the cadet about their entry. He needn't have worried as the room was now empty, except for the white fog left as the only evidence of the cadet's presence in the room.
"Where is he?" Reno asked as the general moved to turn the water off.
"The spare bedroom." Zack suggested, already turning to check.
"He is not here." Sephiroth stated, his voice calm but the hint of worry within it being undeniable.
"What? How? No!" Zack spluttered, before rushing from the room.
"Zack man, Sephiroth's right, he's not here," Reno called, his voice catching up with the soldier as he emerged from the empty spare bedroom.
"Why did he ... I mean, he was showering so ...why..." Zack began, his voice breaking with emotion as he realised what had happened. "Oh Gaia, he heard us."
"How can you be sure?" Sephiroth enquired carefully.
"He heard us arguing and ran," the solder explained almost fearfully.
"If he heard us, why would he run? Why not just confront us about it?" Reno asked, now confused and also worried about the soldier's state.
"You guy's still don't get it." Zack replied through gritted teeth. "He's not like the Cloud you remember, he's more like the cadet I found and took under my wing at the start."
"He is more than that Zackary."
"No, he isn't. He's back to being unsure and nervous and ..."
"If he is then it's your damn over protectiveness that's put him there," Reno cut in.
"I'm trying to keep him safe," the soldier snapped back.
"From what, us?!" The Turk retorted angrily.
"Enough!" Sephiroth shouted, this time not holding back the tone or level of his voice.
"The fact still remains that Cloud is not here and he is clearly upset." He paused to glare at each man daring them to argue with him, but when silence reigned he continued evenly. "Zack I know you care deeply for Cloud, but you have been hindering him since he started to remember. He has indicated numerous times that he wishes to ... explore our physical relationship, yet each time you shut it down instantly."
"I ... I didn't realise ..." Zack began, his voice trembling as the truth of the general's words began to finally sink in.
"And you." Sephiroth said, turning on Reno. "Would it kill you to explain these things more tactfully?"
"I'm ... sorry." The Turk sighed, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his own conscience.
"Yea, I'm sorry too." Zack apologised after a minute, his body slumping down into the nearest sofa. "You guys were ... are right. I just didn't want to see him get hurt and that's what I've been doing all along."
"Even the best of intentions do not always prove fruitful."
"Huh?" Reno and Zack in unison.
"You are both doing what you think is best for Cloud, but in the end it has not helped him at all." The general explained patiently, as he lent against the wall.
"So what do we do now?" Reno asked.
"We leave him to cool off and then go find him." Zack informed them, his voice now weary.
"Why wait?"
"Because he's gonna be mad, hurt or both and that means he needs time to work it out of his system," the soldier explained. A quick glance at the other two revealed their confused expressions and he sighed heavily before continuing. "Like I said, you don't really remember the old Cloud before ... Anyway he had it pretty rough and he didn't have anyone to really talk, although I doubt he would have confided in them anyway, so he used to ..."
"Hang on," Reno cut in sharply. "I thought he had you to talk to, right?"
"It took me months to get him to open up Reno, and I mean months. He didn't trust anyone, especially if they were being nice to him."
"Why?"
"Gaia knows" Zack sighed heavily, rubbing his temples as a dull ache began in his head.
"Perhaps we should just let Zack explain." Sephiroth offered gently.
"Thanks." The soldier replied, with a small smile. "You guys got to know him after he had relaxed around me and we were ... well we were more than friends. The fact he took to Reno so well was pretty amazing, I guess it helped that he had a thing for you already." The soldier stopped to chuckle slightly as the Turk's face lit up.
"Really?" Reno asked cheerfully. "You guys never said ... Oh yea, sorry. Talk about it later." He mumbled as Sephiroth gave him a small glare.
"There's not much else I can tell you, that you don't already know now. I can tell you about my experiences of the hell he went through here but when it comes to Cloud's past I have about as much knowledge as you guys do, it's just something he avoids talking about."
"But it is clearly affecting him," the general noted evenly.
"Yea." The soldier agreed sadly. "He's not just tired because of the work and training, he's not sleeping right either."
"Explain?" Sephiroth ordered instantly, than winched at his own mistake before correcting it. "Please explain."
"He's having bad dreams, nightmares if you like. They disturb his sleep or keep him up completely."
"What are they about?"
"I'm not sure. Most of the time he's just tossing and turning until he wakes up in a panicked state. Sometimes he's calling out, but I don't have enough information to make sense of it."
"Let me guess, he never wants to talk about it," Reno noted in frustration.
"You got it," Zack confirmed for him. "It's why I haven't let him move back to the cadet dorms completely yet and why I've been so ... over protective."
"You should have told us," Sephiroth informed him coldly.
"I know, but Spiky didn't want a fuss being made and I was ... I was scared he was gonna shut me out if I told you guys."
"Uuuurrrrgggghhh" Reno groaned as he finally let his body collapse onto the sofa and ground the palms of his hands into his face. "This really suck's," he grumbled before looking up.
"I'm sorry." Zack whispered, his head bowed down and unable to look at them.
"We are all sorry for what has happened. You did what you thought was best and I understand your worry, but we cannot have secrets between us."
"I know, I hated keeping it from you but Cloud ..."
"Cloud hides too much."
"Kid needs to talk," Reno agreed, nodding slowly.
"We will give him an hour and then go and look for him." Sephiroth proposed calmly, relieved when the other two silently agreed.
They used the time wisely with Zack explaining more about Cloud's past as a cadet, the soldier trying to answer their numerous questions as honestly as possible. Both the general and Turk were saddened to know how much the blonde had suffered in the beginning and also expressed their annoyance at Cloud's stubborn nature for keeping it all to himself.
When the hour had finally passed they made their way out of the apartment, each very much aware of the lateness and the dark night which had settled outside.
"Where would he go?" Reno asked looking at the soldier questioningly.
"I guess the weight's room or gym if it's like this outside." Zack suggested, noting the wet weather and knowing that Cloud liked to work out when he needed to forget about everything else.
But the cadet was not in the weights room when they arrived, nor was he in the gym, study hall or library when they checked. By now they were all beginning to worry and decided to split up to cover more ground, however it would be several hours before they discovered the whereabouts of their missing blonde.
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Cloud was running, his body moving along the familiar track on auto pilot. At some point it had grown dark and begun to rain, the cold water falling as a light drizzle which would have been nothing if he had only been in it a short time. Instead he had ignored the changes taking place around him, allowing himself to escape into the repetitive task for hours. As a result his clothes now hung on him like wet rags, the combination of his own body sweat and the weather making the material sodden and cling to his lithe frame. His hair was also plastered to his head and face, the normally bouncy spikes flattened against his pale skin, the effect making him look even more drained. Cloud drew in a deep breath as his body began to falter again, as the burning in his legs re-announced itself. He didn't know how long he had been running and in truth he didn't care, simply happy that his mind was void of thought as he followed the path ahead of him.
It had been a while since he had needed to do this, since he had been driven to just run to clear his mind and forget. Zack had come into his life and made that part of his existence unnecessary, not by listening to his problems and sorting them out but by just being there. Cloud choked as he realised his mistake, that he had let his mind slip to the soldier again. He didn't want to think about them, about any of it, that was why he was here. A burst of anger had his weary body moving faster along the course, his aching legs barely functioning as they moved to carry his weight, once more forcing himself to ignore his thoughts. The track curved round and Cloud followed the bend easily without thinking, the path being travelled now as natural to him as breathing.
A few minutes later however and breathing was not coming naturally for the cadet anymore. He had been tired to start with and now his body was screaming at him to stop, begging that the punishment be ended before it was too late. Cloud stumbled and fell, his knees hitting the floor hard and causing him to bite back a small cry of pain. His body slumped forward as dizziness swam through his head, a wave of numbness washing against his mind threatening to consume him. But just like the tides of an ocean it receded and the cadet rose to his feet once again, pushing against the ground with fierce determination. He didn't want to stop, knew that if he did it would let his thoughts wander to places he didn't want to go. Cloud moved with a purpose, his mind wanting to escape, his body warning him that if he didn't chose to stop soon it would do it for him. The cadet smiled faintly as the world began to lose focus again and his legs began to give way beneath him. He didn't feel the floor as it rose to meet him, nor did he experience the bruising of the impact, his last thoughts being a reassurance of sorts. At least this way he wouldn't have to think about anything.
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Genesis couldn't believe that his first day back at the base in months had ended like this. He had planned on settling back into his apartment, giving a brief update and then going out and getting drunk. Instead he was kept forever in a pointless meeting, made to fill in countless reports and then been assigned to cover a duty shift. To top it all of it was about to rain again and he hated the rain, it always ruined his mood not to mention his hair. He grumbled then, muttering a few colourful curses about the soldiers who had been unable to make their patrol of this section and hoped that whatever ailment had affected them was truly painful. It was only as he was quickly passing the track, on his way back towards his apartment, that he spotted the flash of gold across the field and stopped. His enhanced vision quickly focused on the spot where he had seen the flicker of light trying to find it again. A gentle breeze stirred the bushes across the field and the golden light shone once more before disappearing from view. Curiosity was a weakness for the soldier and he very quickly found himself standing beside the bushes and looking down at the unconscious form of a young man. He guessed from the blonde's half uniform attire that he was a cadet, but as the shirt with rank and name were missing he had no idea who the boy could be.
"You're out a little late after curfew." He informed the unconscious cadet, before bending down and picking him up with ease.
Glancing down at the sodden and clearly exhausted body in his arms Genesis found himself debating over what would be the best course of action. The boy had obviously not planned on being out here this late or he would have dressed in more than a t-shirt and his uniform trousers and boots. Plus there was the fact that no sane person would want to be out here training in this weather unless they were trying to avoid something or someone else. In reality he should have taken the blonde to the infirmary and left him there to be cared for by the staff. But something about the vulnerability shown on the delicate face made him hesitate. Even unconscious it was clear that the blonde was suffering, his strained angelic features making him appear both young and exposed. If the cadet was taken to the infirmary it would make him more comfortable, but his curfew violation would be noted and it would only add to whatever troubles he already had. Genesis sighed as the decision was made for him, as the skies finally opened and the down pour of rain he had been hoping to avoid fell. His apartment was closer now and neither of them would benefit from remaining in their current state. Adjusting his hold on the cadet, so that it was more comfortable for both of them, the soldier began to move through the compound quickly, his original destination now in sight.
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"Did you find him?" Zack asked, his phone barely open against his ear as he answered it.
"No." Reno replied simply, his own hopes dashed with the soldier's question.
"Damn it Reno, where is he?"
"I don't know. I've looked everywhere man."
"What about Seph, have you heard from him?"
"I have not found him either." A cool voice spoke behind Zack, making the soldier cry out and spin round in surprise.
"Thanks, I didn't really need that ear anyway." The Turk complained from the other end of the phone.
"Don't do that," Zack gasped.
Sephiroth looked at the soldier in front of him, noting the way Zack now held a hand to his chest covering a frantically beating heart, and felt a twinge of worry for the raven haired man's health. It was obvious that Zack was distracted by their unsuccessful search, especially as it was interfering with his basic defensive instincts. The general knew he could be like a ghost if he chose to move without being heard, so he had been deliberately noisy as a warning for the soldier. Yet Zack had been so consumed by worry he had not heard a thing beyond his conversation with Reno.
"Hey talk to me!" Reno's voice cut in, before either could comment again.
"Sorry." Zack mumbled, bringing the phone back up to his ear.
"So?"The Turk asked a little frustrated.
"Seph's here and he's alone." The soldier replied flatly, there wasn't really any way to sugar coat the fact.
"Shit." Reno voiced, as a loud bang followed his comment.
"You ok?" Zack asked carefully, already sure he knew that Reno was fine and that something nearby the Turk was now in pieces.
"Yea, but they're gonna need a new door for this supply closet," he replied wearily, confirming Zack's suspicions.
"Where are you?"
"Just down from Sephiroth's office. I know, it was a stupid idea but I needed to check."
"No, it was a good idea, he could have gone there." Zack reassured, noting that Sephiroth was also nodding in agreement. "Seph agrees as well." He added, hoping to cheer the Turk up.
"You got this thing on speaker or is he listening in?"
"Listening in."
"Man, so cool, creepy, but cool."
"Yea, I get that." Zack agreed smiling faintly.
"So what now?" Reno asked, knowing that both would hear him.
"We should head back to Zack's apartment and see if he has returned." Sephiroth suggested.
"What about the cadet dorms, we could ..."
"No!" The general cut in firmly, making Zack fall silent and look up at him through narrowed eyes.
"Why?"
"It is already past curfew. If he has returned there then he is fine, but if he has not and we reveal him to be missing..."
Zack's body physically slumped back against the nearest wall and he slid to the floor, a hand coming up to hold his aching head before Sephiroth had even finished.
"I get it," he mumbled, before sighing heavily.
Just then the general's phone rang catching them both by surprise. Zack watched silently as Sephiroth quickly removed the device from his pocket and checked the display before answering it, stopping when he saw the name being displayed was that of a person he was trying to avoid. Sighing heavily he flipped the phone open and then shut again, effectively cutting off the caller on the other end.
"Who was that?" Zack asked, a little surprised by the generals actions.
"Genesis," was the sighed reply.
"Man, doesn't that guy give up?" The soldier asked shaking his head.
"Who gives up? What? Will one of you guys speak to me?" Reno demanded, starting to feel left out of the loop.
"Sorry. Genesis just called Seph again."
"Ain't he like in Wutai at the moment?"
"No. He got back today." The soldier said, not really caring for details.
"Ok, fine. Look I'm gonna head back to yours, I'll meet you there soon." Reno informed them both and hung up without waiting to hear more.
Zack flipped the phone shut and looked up at the general, who now appeared be just as lost as he felt.
"Come on, Reno's gonna meet us at mine." He informed Sephiroth, although he was pretty sure that part had also been heard like all the rest.
"I can't help but feel I am missing something obvious." Sephiroth commented as they began to walk.
"You're just not used to him doing this." Zack noted sadly.
"And you are?"
"No. I was, for a while, but it stopped happening. He ... he stopped hiding once he started trusting me."
"He is safe then?"
"Probably. I mean he's never done anything stupid before and if he is mad at me then he's most likely back in his dorm room."
"It is not just you he is upset with."
"Same difference." Zack sighed.
A second later and both men were leaving the building and running through the rain, both heading towards warmth and safety from the storm, both hopeful that Cloud would be at home waiting for them.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Genesis looked down at the phone in his hand and growled at the device. It wasn't like it was the phones fault, but seeing as the general was too busy to actually speak to him it would have to suffer instead. He considered throwing the small lump of metal and plastic down on the table, but stopped himself when his peripheral vision caught sight of the sleeping cadet now wrapped up in a large blanket on his sofa. He looked down at the phone again, once more considering who he could contact about this without getting himself or the boy into trouble. Sephiroth was obviously avoiding him and Angeal was on a mission, so that removed those options. He had even tried contacting Angeal's old student, the young soldier called Zack whom he had come to know. But that had been a dead end as well, the phone constantly in use each time he had tried the number in his contact list.
Sighing heavily the soldier quietly placed the phone on the table and moved over to kneel beside the blonde. He gently pulled the blanket back to expose more of the cadet's face and smiled softly at the tiny furrow in the boys' brow, most likely the result of a bad dream. This was something the grown man could sympathise with, although he would never admit such things to another soul, and he found himself wondering what could trouble someone so young.
"What are you dreaming about little one?" He whispered, running a hand over the pale skin of the cadet's forehead.
Almost instantly eye lids flew open and the bluest eyes in all of Gaia were blinking up at him in panic, the soft pink lips of the young blonde moving frantically even though a sound had yet to be heard escaping them.
"Do not fear me little one." He spoke calmly, moving back slowly to show he meant no harm. "You were hurt so I brought you here to be looked after."
"Where?" The cadet finally managed to ask.
Genesis smiled as he noted the young man quickly recovering from the shock, the boy puling himself together and trying to appear confident while still looking around nervously. He couldn't help but look in those eyes again and noted that there was something almost painful and haunted hidden within the depths of the glistening jewels. Almost as quickly as he had seen it the look was gone and the blue spheres continued to shine brightly, now showing the cadet's caution and weariness.
"My name is Genesis and this is my home," he informed the cadet kindly.
"Your home?"
"Yes, you were unconscious and soaked to the bone. I brought you here to dry you off and warm you up."
Cloud suddenly realised that he was no longer cold and wet, but instead warm and dry. His body wrapped in the comfort of a very thick, soft blanket. There was also something against his skin which felt different, the materials covering his frame being like silk and not the rough fabric of his normal clothes. Cloud pulled back the blanket to reveal that he was indeed wearing silk, the red material of a large pyjama set covering his smaller frame. The sleeves and trouser legs had been rolled up a little to fit him better, allowing his hands and feet to show through, but as the material was not designed for such actions they had already begun to unroll. This was not however the cadet's main concern. Instead he found himself looking up into the face of a man who had been able to strip and change him while he was unconscious, a man who he had never met before in his life. Cloud could feel his stomach clenching tightly as fear began to take over, his breath coming in small short gasps as his heart picked up its pace in his chest.
"You should calm down." Genesis said gently, not even needing his enhanced senses to see the boy's rising distress.
"I ... I should go." Cloud stammered, his words voicing an action which his body appeared unable to perform.
"As you wish, although it is still raining quite forcefully outside." Genesis informed the cadet carefully. "I will not stop you if you wish to leave, but I would advise against going now while the storm is building."
Cloud looked towards the covered window and debated how truthful the man was being. True it was dark outside, but surely that just meant it was night. As if understanding his thoughts the soldier rose and moved to the window, drawing back the blind to reveal the streams of water running soundlessly down the window pane.
"It is also well past curfew and you will no doubt get into trouble returning now."
"What ... What time is it?" Cloud asked hesitantly, watching as the blind was lowered once more to shield them from the night outside.
"A little after eleven."
"What?" Cloud gasped in disbelief. The feeling was quickly replaced by panic and guilt as he realised that the others would be worried about him. "Can I use your phone please?" He asked, noticing the slim object on the table.
"Of course." Genesis agreed, silently curious who the cadet would be calling at such an hour.
Cloud was on his feet in a second, the long trousers legs and sleeves rolling down completely covering his hands and feet. He grumbled silently as he yanked them back, quickly picking up the phone and typing in the number he knew by heart. Had the cadet waited a fraction of a second longer before putting the device to his ear, he would have seen Zack's name pop up in the caller display. Instead his eyes remained on the stranger across from him, watching the man cautiously for any sudden movements, his body tense and ready to run if necessary.
Zack rushed over to his phone as it began to ring, the small device vibrating against the table and moving away from his grasp. He swore softly as he was forced to reach over the table a second time to grab it, the small object suddenly moving out of his range on the next ring. He swore again when he saw the caller ID, but having better manors than the general answered it anyway.
"Hey Genesis, look man, now's not exactly a good time." He started looking across as the other two who were rolling their eyes and flopping back down onto the chairs. "I'm kinda busy with something and ..."
"Zack?" The soft hesitant voice cut in before he could continue.
"Cloud?" he gasped, the other two on their feet and moving towards him instantly. "Where are you? Why are you using Gen's phone? Are you all right? Cloud? Cloud?"
There was s soft click as the line went dead and Zack pulled the phone away from his ear to look at questioningly, as if it would be able to reveal why the cadet had just cut him off.
"What did he say?" Reno asked, looking at the stunned soldier.
"Nothing, he hung up."
"But it was him?"
"Yea."
"Then phone back you idiot," the Turk practically shouted.
Back in another apartment Genesis watched the blonde with interest, his head tilted to one side and a questioning look in his eyes as he studied the cadet. His curiosity about who the boy was phoning had been sated and was now replaced with the overwhelming desire to know why he had hung up on so quickly. He watched as the cadet stumbled back towards the sofa and sat back down, the whole time his hands playing nervously with the phone twisting it and turning it around unconsciously. The silence was suddenly broken by a shrill ring from the device and Genesis bit back a small laugh as the cadet jumped in response while letting out a small squeak of surprise. The phone also took the opportunity to jump at its own sound and leapt from the blonde's hands, bouncing twice on the carpet before coming to a stop.
Genesis observed the cadet's features as he stared at the phone, the boy clearly torn between needing to answer it but also not wanting to have to speak to the other person again. Sighing softly the soldier moved forward and picked up the phone, flipping it open to answer the call.
"Hello Zack." He said, before the younger soldier had a chance to speak .
"Gen ... I mean Genesis, hi, uuummm is Cloud there?"
"So that's his name." Genesis responded calmly.
"Ummm yea, blonde ki.. cadet, big blue eyes, kinda scrawn ... uuummm I mean ..."
"Yes, that would be the young man I have here with me." The older soldier replied, chuckling slightly.
"Oh thank Gaia. Is he ok? I mean ..."
"He is perfectly well."
"Can I ... can I speak to him?"
"Of course." Genesis replied, a second before he offered the phone to the cadet.
To his surprise Cloud shook his head and backed away, the desire to avoid the soldier clearly stronger now.
"I believe he is ... busy." Genesis offered, trying to be diplomatic.
"He's avoiding me, right?" Zack asked, his pained tone very obvious.
"Perhaps?" He replied softly, watching as the cadet kept his body at a distance while still straining to listen in.
"Should we ... I mean do you want me to come get him?"
"Let me check."
Genesis lowered the phone and covered the mouth piece with his hand, knowing it wouldn't do much good with a mako enhanced soldier listening at the other end, but it would look good for the cadet.
"Do you wish to ... be collected?" He asked hesitantly, suddenly unsure of the personal relationship these two might have.
A firm shake of the head was the response he had been expecting, the blonde clearly not willing to go with someone he wasn't ready to talk to yet.
"No, I believe it would be best if he stayed here." He informed the soldier, as neutrally as he could.
"Ok." The younger soldier breathed clearly disappointed. "Uuummm Gen?"
"Yes Zack." Genesis replied, ignoring the young soldiers abbreviated use of his name.
"Can you ... can you keep an eye on him for me. He ... there was an accident a few weeks back and he was hurt pretty bad."
Genesis went to reply, a question just reaching the tip of his tongue when Zack's voice quickly cut in.
"Don't ask, please. If he hears you ask he'll freak."
"Alright?"
"Look I can't explain now, just ... just watch him. He's ok, physically, but he's having ... bad dreams about stuff."
"That should be acceptable." Genesis replied evenly, noting the cadet's blue eyes darkening and becoming suspicious. "I will call back tomorrow to arrange a time for us to meet up."
The soldier quickly accepted the offer and both said their goodbyes before hanging up.
In Zack's apartment not much explanation was needed, the mako enhanced pair having been close enough to the phone to hear most of Genesis's words as well as the raven haired soldier's.
"At least he is safe." Sephiroth noted evenly.
"I wonder where Genesis found him." Reno asked thoughtfully.
"I am sure we will find out tomorrow, I only wish I had answered my phone sooner."
"You couldn't have known he had Cloud with him." Zack pointed out firmly.
"Perhaps, but I did feel I was missing something."
"Not that I don't care but I'm gonna crash and deal with this tomorrow." The Turk informed them, already stretching out on the sofa.
"You are sleeping there?" Sephiroth asked in surprise.
"I'll get soaked going back to mine in this weather."
"Why not the bedroom?" The general enquired, rephrasing his question a little better.
"I wasn't sure if ..." Reno began, his eyes glancing up at Zack before looking away again.
"You know I can't stay mad at you guys." The soldier offered by way of an apology.
"Then we should get some rest. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a long day," the general informed then evenly.
Genesis looked up at the cadet as he flipped the phone closed and smiled kindly. Almost instantly the blonde's face turned into a scowl and the blue eyes glowed with their own fierce intensity, one that would rival any mako enhancement.
"They told you." He growled softly, looking at the floor.
"They have mentioned something, but to be quite honest I have little interest." The soldier replied, already moving towards the kitchen.
"It was over a month ago." Cloud began, his need to defend himself beginning to take over.
"As I said, I do not really care." Genesis replied offhandedly. "Tea?"
Cloud looked up at the man and blinked several times in surprise, the soldier meeting his gaze with an open and honest expression.
"You really don't." Cloud whispered, his voice sounding somehow pleased and shocked at the same time.
"No. Now tea, yes something relaxing I think after that."
The apartment was more like Zack's than Sephiroth's so Cloud was able to watch as Genesis started the water boiling and rummaged around digging out cups and various supplies to make tea.
"You're lucky I was able to get some shopping done earlier, or we wouldn't even have this." The soldier noted without looking at the cadet.
"If it's too much trouble..." Cloud began, feeling a little self conscious now.
"No, it's no trouble. I felt like having one anyway."
A few minutes later and both sat comfortably on separate chairs drinking the warm soothing drink. Cloud was once again wrapped up in the blanket, snuggling into the warmth as the tea soothed the tension in his body. Even Genesis had thrown a comforter over his shoulders, the sounds of the storm now raging outside making him aware of a chill he shouldn't be feeling.
"So your name is Cloud." The soldier pointed out, breaking the silence which had settled between them.
"Yes, Sir." The cadet replied faintly.
Genesis smiled against the rim of his cup, the idea of being called sir by a cadet in an oversized pair pyjama's amusing him
"I appreciate the gesture Cloud, but please call me Genesis."
"But you're a soldier, you outrank me." The cadet protested, clearly surprised by the offer.
"Perhaps during the day, but we are both off duty right now so let's avoid formality."
"Ok." Cloud replied hesitantly.
"You seem nervous about something Cloud, what is it?"
"I'm ... it's nothing."
"It can't be nothing if it is bothering you."
"I just ... it's like I recognise you, but I can't place it."
"You do not know who I am?" Genesis asked in surprise.
"No. I ... the accident ... I forgot things. It's coming back, but ... there's still ... gaps."
"I see." The soldier replied, now very intrigued by the situation.
It was not often that he came across someone who didn't recognise him instantly and Genesis suddenly understood why the cadet had been so fearful. It wasn't that the blonde knew who he was and was afraid of getting into trouble, but that he had woken redressed in the home of a man he didn't know. Several questions raced through the soldiers mind at once, but he focused on one which was less intrusive to start with.
"How did you know I was a soldier if you did not recognise me?"
"You live in a soldier's apartment and ... you're body ... its ... like a soldier's and ..." Cloud stammered nervously
"And?." Genesis teased softly.
"Also your eyes ... have mako in them."
"Yes, they do." The soldier agreed, his voice sounding a little distant and causing a silence to fall between them.
"Sir, how do you know Zack? Are you friends?" Cloud asked cautiously, his recollection of the phone call making him wonder if this was why the man now seemed familiar to him.
"I have told you Cloud, call me Genesis." The auburn haired soldier scolded softly.
Cloud merle nodded in response and the soldier found himself wondering if the cadet would ever try to use his name as suggested. He smiled to show that he accepted the gesture and would not push the issue, then continued their conversation with another one of his own questions.
"Cloud, how do you know Zack?"
"Zack's my ... he's my ... friend."
"I see." Genesis replied, noting the strain in the cadet's voice. Clearly things were not as simple as that.
"May I ask why was the general was also present at your ... friend's apartment?"
Cloud practically choked on the small sip of tea he had just taken and coughed furiously trying to clear his airway again. Genesis rose and took the cup from the blonde's trembling hands, saving them both the trouble of clearing up any spillage by removing the danger. He then turned his attention back to the now gasping cadet and waited for an answer. When none came after a few minutes, even after Cloud had regained his breath, Genesis decided to try again.
"I was aware of Sephiroth, just as he was aware of me during that conversation." Genesis began evenly, never taking his eyes from the cadets. "The man likes to think he is unnoticeable, but when you grow up with someone you quickly learn to know things about them and the ability to notice their presence."
"I ... their ... friends" Cloud replied quickly, to stunned to notice the connection Genesis had just made between himself and the general.
"I see." The soldier repeated, letting the subject drop as he moved back to his chair.
Cloud watched silently, his body once again tense and waiting for trouble. When none came he slowly leant back against the sofa and drew his legs up against his chest, wrapping his arms around the bent knees in front of him and resting his chin on top of them. After a few minutes Genesis turned to face the cadet, his mouth opening to speak when he noticed the cautious look on the young face. The words died in his throat as the thought that this look was wrong for such a beautiful face, that such innocent eyes should not be tainted by something like fear.
"Have you ever heard of Loveless?" The soldier asked gently, keeping his voice low.
It was not a question Cloud had been expecting and while he was pleased with this, it took his confused mind a minute to process the question again. Finally his brain registered that he didn't know anything about this 'Loveless' that the man was speaking about and shook his head to silently communicate this fact.
"Would you like me to read some to you?" Genesis offered with a gentle smile.
Cloud nodded again, the idea of being told a story making his stomach flutter strangely. It was so much like a childish thing to do, to be comforted by a bedtime story. Yet this man offered it freely without any catches and had already been so caring that the cadet could hardly refuse such a small gesture of kindness. Cloud watched as Genesis fetched a book from his room and felt a small rush of excitement as the soldier took his place in the chair once more. It was only as he settled himself down against the sofa that the cadet realised there was a part of him that secretly wanted this, a small part of him which needed to be cared for like this right now. He listened as Genesis began to read, the man's voice speaking the words in a deep rich tone which made his body feel warm and safe. Soon the words began to blur together and the soothing voice continued to caress Cloud's mind as sleep drifted in and carried him away.
After a while Genesis stopped reading and looked over at the slumbering cadet smiling softly. The name hadn't meant much at first, the blonde simply being an interesting occurrence in his mundane day. But as he had read the tale he knew by heart, his mind had begun to locate the little bits of information he knew, the snippets of conversation with Angeal all starting to come together. This was Cloud, Angeal's puppies Cloud and apparently the generals Cloud as well. Genesis knew he didn't have much time before they would be sending him back out, that it was a matter of days rather than weeks before he would be redeployed again. But clearly there was something special about this boy, something which required further investigation before he left.
