AN: This is a collection of drabbles I wrote for the myprettypuppet livejournal community. It's a Seph/Cloud community but occassionally branches into other pairings. The idea was thirteen fics. I basically made it a free for all and the first thirteen requests got a short drabble.

Title: Stuck

Word Count: 332

Pairing/Characters: Seph/Cloud (one-sided)

Summary: Cloud was going to kill Zack and Aeris

Requested by: timberwolf220

AN: I went for the traditional locked in a room. So sue me.

It was perhaps, useless to pound on a locked door but Cloud was going to try his damn best to get out. "I doubt that is going to do anything, Strife."

Cloud sighed, collapsing on the warm tiles of the bathing room. He was going to murder Zack and Aeris when he saw them again. He really should've seen it coming the moment twin smiles of evil appeared at his ranting about his lack of love life. In retrospect he should've moved halfway across the planet, changed his name, and lived out the rest of his life as a fisherman.

But he hadn't, so here he was trying his damn best not to look at General Sephiroth because nosebleeds were so very undignified. "I know, sir," he said to the floor, "But I have to do something."

"Zackary will let us out when he feels ready." It was nice to note that Sephiroth was not embarrassed at all by being locked inside the bathing room with a cadet while wearing only a towel. Not that he had anything to be embarrassed about, Cloud's mind piped up.

"I know, sir," Cloud repeated, "But I think he should know that I'm going to kill him when I get out."

Sephiroth's smile was icy. "Why do that when I can just swamp him under paperwork?" Cloud had to admit, that idea had more merit. With Sephiroth's superior position he could make Zack's life hell. "Meanwhile," Sephiroth continued, "I think you should continue to teach me how to play poker."

Cloud wanted to whimper. Teaching Sephiroth Poker involved looking at the man…no, not 'man'. God. "Strife?" There was more than a hint of an order in that voice and, despite being a whimpy little cadet, Cloud was not foolish enough to disobey Sephiroth.

"Yes, sir," he sighed, condemning himself to the torture of having to look upon Sephiroth without collapsing from loss of blood to his brain. He was soooo going to kill Zack and Aeris.

Title: Worth It

Word Count: 299

Pairing/Characters: Cloud/Seph

Summary: Cloud never even had to think about the answer.

Requested by: jessara40k

AN: Wangst Alert!

Was he worth it?

Tifa had asked that with confusion in her eyes. He had not been able to answer. That was not her question to ask. He stared at her with blank eyes until she went away, holding onto her torn pride. She never came back.

Was he worth it?

Vincent never asked that question. He knew that it was worth it all. Because he loved Him, though on a different level to Cloud, and would have done anything to wash away his sins. However, regardless of that guilt, he had only talked to Him a few times before slipping away from their lives. Perhaps it hurt him to look and see his old lover staring out of His eyes.

Was he worth it?

Aerith knew the answer before she even voiced the question. She never expected Cloud to do otherwise. When she had asked him what he wanted in return for saving the planet, she already knew. She had always known. But she never condemned. And for that Cloud would always love her.

Was he worth it?

Zack would have answered the same as Cloud. Except with a few profanities involved, because he was Zack and he never held back his emotions. He had been betrayed too but he could forgive because they had been friends…and because it was the evil, space bitch's fault. Cloud knows Zack is waiting for them in the Lifestream.

Am I worth it?

He had asked. And Cloud answered. Yes, you are worth all the pain. Yes, you are worth the wait. Yes, you are worth Hojo fucking around with my mind and body. Yes, you are worth it, because now you're mine. Because I own you heart, body, and soul. Because we can never be separated again.

You are worth everything.

Title: After Hojo

Word Count: 461

Pairing/Characters: Cloud/Seph-ish

Summary: The aftermath of a Hojo attack.

Requested by: jessara40k

AN: I tried, don't know if I succeeded though.

It was midnight when Sephiroth finally got back to his room.

Cloud was waiting.

"You're finally back," was all he said as he took off Sephiroth's gloves and coat. The taller man was too tired to make any sort of reply and he let himself be led to his bed.

Just like every other night when Sephiroth went to 'visit' Hojo, Cloud made Sephiroth lie down on the bed and began massaging the tense back. "I think we should pump Hojo full of prozac and put him in a room with a vladkoros on heat." And just like every other night Cloud never failed to come up with disturbing, and amusing, ways to torture Hojo. "Think about it. Hojo gets laid, the vladkoros gets laid, and then we can flood the room and drown the both of them."

"I'd feel sorry for the vladkoros," Sephiroth muttered.

"...yeah, so would I," Cloud admitted, climbing on to the bed and straddling Sephiroth's back. "Of course, instead of the vladkoros, we could use Heidigger. Then we'd be killing two birds with one stone, or one prozac to be more precise." The lithe fingers of the cadet began digging into Sephiroth's back, almost painfully. "Then if we add President Shinra to the mix we'd kill three birds."

"Tell me, Cloud," Sephiroth asked lazily, "Do you usually spend your spare time coming up with the most disturbing threesome that would never happen?"

"I'm a horny teenager who's not getting laid enough, what can I say?"

"You make it sound like you're not satisfied with me."

"Well," Cloud drawled, trailing a hand down Sephiroth's back, "Zack's looking pretty good to me right at the moment."

"Try that and I'd have to kill Zack."

Sephiroth could hear the smile in Cloud's voice as the hands dipped lower. "You won't kill me?"

"Why would I do that? Then I'd have no one to tie me up and have his way with me. I'm vengeful, not desperate for celibacy."

"Well, it seems that you'll have to celibate for a little while. No sex while you're recovering."

A grimace twisted Sephiroth's lips. "Fantastic. Not only does that man ruin my childhood, he also ruins my sex life."

"Eewww, no relating Hojo to our sex life please."

"Go to sleep, Cloud. You have a big day tomorrow."

Cloud shifted so he was lying beside Sephiroth rather than on top of him. "It's just the SOLDIERS prelim," he mocked, smoothing back the silver hair of his lover. "What could go wrong?"

Sephiroth smiled, amused with the way Cloud brushed off something so important. "Thank you," he whispered. He knew Cloud understood. Thank you for being here. Thank you for looking after me. Thank you for caring. Thank you for not leaving.

Title: Sky High

Word Count: 433

Pairing/Characters: Chaos/Cid

Summary: The closest Cid believes he can come to flying is standing on the prow of the Highwind, Chaos shows him otherwise.

Requested by: ladykareth

AN: I like the movie, not the song

Cid loves flying. He loves the Highwind and the Tiny Bronco. They gave him a freedom he had always dreamt of. He loves having the wind battering his body, washing him clean. He loves looking down and seeing the ground far below him. He loves flying. But he did not love flying when the only thing keeping him in the air is a crazy demon.

"ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE!?!" Cid is so very glad that no one else can see or hear him right now. He is clinging like a barnacle to the red-cloaked demon, his face as pale as snow.

A chuckle comes from the demon. "I thought you wanted to know what real flying was, captain."

"I told Vinnie that, not you!"

"How many times do I have to tell you? I am a part of Vicent, just as he is a part of me. Everything he hears, sees, tastes, and feels is mine to experience."

"Oh yeah? And what does he think of this?"

"He's laughing his head off."

"Fucking sadistic Turks."

"Stop worrying, I'm not going to drop you," a pause, "Until I do that is."

"I fucking hate you, you prick."

"That's not what you said last night. In fact you were very adamant in your approval of me. What was it? 'Oh sweet Jesus Christ, fuck me harder' or something like that."

Cid falls back on the mantra that he had been using ever since he met Vincent. I will not blush, I will not blush, I will not blush. Obviously it wasn't working because Chaos is still laughing. "Stop laughing," he mutters.

Chaos's laughter fades away and they are stranded in an island of silence in the middle of the air. "This is flying, captain. What you do when you stand on the Highwind is piloting. Piloting can never replace this. When you fly, the wind tears at all your facades until only the core is left. It purifies you."

Cid understands. Standing on the prow of the Highwind was the closest he had ever been to flying but this was the real thing. And it was everything he had ever dreamt of. It isn't too bad either that Vinnie/Chaos is here to share it with him.

Of course, that was until Chaos starts molesting him. "What the fuck are you doing you fr – oh God."

"I'd suggest you be very still and quiet, Highwind. We wouldn't want your friends looking up and seeing this, do you?"

I will not blush. I will not blush. I will not blush. I will not blush…dammit, I'm blushing.

Title: Reality Sucks

Word Count: 231

Pairing/Characters: Seph, Zack

Summary: A realistic look at why Seph/Cloud could not have worked

Requested by: fantasia0829

AN: Angst, I guess.

"Why not?"

"Hmm, because."

"Whhyyyy nooooot?"

Sephiroth sighed. "Just because, Zack."

"But you like him. And I'm sure he likes you back. What's not to like? General of the Shinra Army and beautiful to boot," Zack appealed, puppy dog-look in full force.

"Precisely. He likes me because of that. And I refuse to lust after someone who just likes me because I happen to be pretty."

"It's Cloud," Zack pointed out, "He likes everyone, he just happens to like you especially. Is that so bad?"

"He's fifteen," Sephiroth deadpanned. "I'm twenty-six. Do you think I need to have the charge of paedophilia hanging over my head? And he's a cadet as well. Accusations of favouritism are the least of the problems we'll have to deal with when someone finds out."

"So you're just being a coward?" Zack demanded.

Sephiroth looked up, a warning in his eyes. "I would prefer to think of myself as being cautious. I am the General of Shinra, I cannot afford attachments to anyone, least of all to an insignificant cadet. How do you think Hojo would react if he found out I had a lover?"

This made Zack pause. Hojo would not be happy to say the least. There would be a whole lot of pain in Cloud's future if Hojo ever found out. "…Sucks to be you."

A brief smile danced over Sephiroth's face. "Yeah."

Title: Karaoke of Doom

Word Count: 435

Pairing/Characters: Seph, Cloud, Zack, SOLDIERS

Summary: Zack is insane, Cloud is an accomplice, and Sephy is just pissed.

Requested by: mogumogu

AN: Britany Spears and Eminem songs are used because I find it amusing to imagine Sephy rapping.

"Sometimes I wonder about your intelligence."

Zackary Donovan grinned at the insult. He had the upper hand this time and he could be enough of a gracious winner to let Sephiroth get away with a snipe or two. "Now, now, sir," he placated, "No need to be such a sore loser. You had no idea that Cloud could be so good at Poker, but you did say you would do any favour he asked." The blond boy in question looked from the grinning Zack to the enraged Sephiroth, and wisely got out of the way.

"This is not a favour, this is blackmail."

Zack kept on grinning. He had known from the start that there was almost nothing that Sephiroth loved more than his sword. And the thought of it being dipped in Chocobo urine made Sephiroth as panicked as anything would, though he hid that panic well.

The plan was perfect. Cloud was a genius in Poker, and that genius spread to lock picking. All Zack had to do was distract Sephiroth long enough for Cloud to borrow the masamune, then provoke the Perfect SOLDIER into playing Poker. He had known Sephiroth would never agree to karaoke but when masamune was involved it was a whole different ball game. "No, this is more in the nature of incentive," he told his superior.

Gloved hands clenched into tight fists. "Incentive?" the General growled.

"Yep," Zack confirmed. "If you refuse to pay the forfeit then we drop your pretty little sword. You're fast, but not that fast."

"Then what are they doing here?" Sephiroth's stony gaze swept over the other inhabitants of the room, all of them First Class SOLDIERS. A few quailed under the stare but others were struggling to hide a smile. Sephiroth i knew /i it was a bad idea to allow Zack to train all the new First SOLDIERS.

"They paid to watch," Zack continued cheerfully, "Got quite a neat little sum too."

Sephiroth sighed. "Tell me Zack, how do you manage to pull so many people into this idiotic scheme?"

"By being a great advertiser," was the quick reply. "Especially with Cloud's help, he was in it right from the start."

Sephiroth cast a mild glare at the cadet who grinned. "Sorry sir, Zack corrupted me," the boy told him.

Zack clapped his hand. "So, what'll it be, the song or the drop? Times a-wasting."

"The…song," Sephiroth squeezed out between clenched teeth.

The grin Zack sported almost split his face in half, and Sephiroth was very tempted to complete the job. "Perfect. Now, I have 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' or 'Stan'."

Title: Envy

Word Count: 355

Pairing/Characters: Zack/Cloud

Summary: Cloud has jealously issues

Requested by: sascharin

AN: First Z/C I've ever written. I hope I did it well.

He was not jealous. He was not jealous. He was really not jealous.

Oh, what the hell! Yes, he was jealous. He really, really was. Why wouldn't he be when his crush was getting very touchy-feely with everyone but him?

THUNK!

That was the sound of his head hitting the bar. Already he could feel eyes on him but not the pair of eyes that he wanted. It started out as a small crush, but Zack was so damn friendly and touchy that it inevitably grew into more. So here he was, Cadet Cloud Strife, SOLDIER candidate, and pathetic school boy. It was even worse that he couldn't drink his sorrows away because he was underage by a month. A month!

"You okay, Cloud?" A part of Cloud leapt up in joy even as the other parts quailed under the rush of hormones. Stupid puberty, Cloud grumbled in his mind.

"I'm fine," he squeaked, looking up at his friend.

Zack grinned that irrepressible grin and all was right with the world. "Sorry for abandoning you, but you could be out there enjoying all of this too, y'know."

"I'm fine," Cloud muttered, staring into his ginger ale. "You seem to be taking care of everything yourself."

A hand flicked his ears. "You sound jealous."

Yes, yes I am, Cloud's mind sniped. But knowing Zack he would assume Cloud was jealous of him for getting all the girls. Zack had a sixth sense for everyone else's relationship problems but when it came to his own, he was as blind as a bat and as deaf as a worm. It made things very difficult for Cloud. "It's nothing, Zack. I'm just tired."

Zack made a cooing noise and ruffled Cloud's hair. "Aww, just let me finish up this drink and we can go back. Okay?"

Maybe it was nothing for Zack to give up his flirting for a tired friend but Cloud took it as a sign. There still was hope. And if all else failed, he could just tie Zack up and have his way with him. Secretly, Cloud was hoping things would go down that path.

Title: We Are A Family

Word Count: 389

Pairing/Characters: Seph/Cloud, and the silver trio

Summary: Then comes Cloud with baby carriages

Requested by: vasher

AN: Cloud in an apron

"MUUUUMM! Loz punch me again!"

"He was trying to shoot me!"

When the Planet told him that he would have to ensure an event like Reunion never happened again, he did not expect this. If he had, he would've told the Planet to go to hell. But here he was, stuck in a house with three pint-sized Sephiroth clones, having to play 'mother'. Apparently without Jenova around, they needed a caretaker and the Planet designated Cloud as the one. He would swear Aeris had a hand in it.

"Loz, don't punch your brother, and Yazoo, if you have to shoot something, shoot a damn tree." Loz was a bully and Yazoo was a whiny brat, and that was not the best mix.

"Mummy swore" a singsong voice piped up. "That's bad." Kadaj was even worse. He was like the love child of Sephiroth and Zack – and yeah, that was an image he did not need in his head. Snarky and mischievous in turn, Cloud was thisclose to locking the boy away in his room forever.

"Kadaj, get off the table. Tables are not meant to be sat on."

Wide aqua eyes looked at Cloud innocently. Cloud was not fooled. "But daddy does."

"Yes, well, there's a reason mummy smacks daddy whenever he does that," Cloud said clearly, adding to himself in a low mutter, "Not least because having to eat where he put his fat butt is very disgusting."

"So it freaks you out that I might've sat there but you don't mind it that the family eats where you and I had sex," a husky voice whispered into his ears. Cloud barely kept from flinching.

"Shut up," Cloud hissed. He really didn't need to explain to the trio the concept of the birds and the birds.

Sephiroth chuckled. "Awww, is little Cloud embarrassed? Does he want a cookie?" Cloud had no problem with reviving Sephiroth but did he have to have that arrogant, know-it-all attitude?

Then Cloud got an idea. "Boys, you know what?" he asked the silver-haired trio, "I think daddy would like to play dress-up with you."

The fact that he would most definitely be sleeping on the couch for the next month or so was worth it just to see that look of perfect terror on Sephiroth's face as the children tackled him in joy.

Title: Lick Me Sweet

Word Count: 388

Pairing/Characters: Seph/Cloud, Zack

Summary: Cloud is eeeevviillll

Requested by: shymagical

AN: Fluff, thank God.

Zack had no idea Cloud could be so evil. With those baby blue eyes, the mop of blonde hair, and that innocent look, Cloud was a poster boy for purity. The personality obviously did not match the looks because right at this moment, Poster Boy was slowly torturing the most powerful man on the planet with an evil glint in his eyes.

Zack looked from evil!Cloud to Sephiroth. The dark haired man knew his superior long enough to notice all the signs of tension that were there. Sephiroth was trying to work and Zack had to give him credit for his determination, but the General's capitulation was inevitable. But really, who could concentrate on work when a cute little blond was sitting right in front of him and licking ice cream with all the enjoyment of an addict.

"Mmm," Cloud moaned, licking the icy desert as he cast a seductive glance at his lover. "You sure you have to work, Sephy?"

If there was ever an award for 'The Most Determined Cadet To Get Laid', Zack would've immediately nominated Cloud. He was so proud of his little protégé. It took real guts to keep tempting someone as repressed as Sephiroth. There was a good chance that when Sephiroth finally broke, Cloud would not be able to walk straight ever again. "I'm fine," gritted out the focus of all of Cloud's salacious actions. Then Sephiroth turned to Zack, unable to cope with the sight of Cloud molesting the ice cream. "And don't you have work to do, Lieutenant?"

Zack bit his tongue to keep the grin off his face. "All done, sir. I'd rather enjoy the show," he added with a wink for Cloud. Sephiroth glared and it was worth every second of it.

Cloud seemed to get tired of being ignored for more than ten seconds and proceeded to tongue the ice cream once more. Zack was pleased to note that Sephiroth immediately paid attention to the blonde cadet. "C'mon, Seph," Cloud enticed, "Are you absolutely sure you have to work?"

"Yes."

"…Awww, so you don't wanna lick my ice cream?"

That did it. Five minutes later Zack left the room because quite frankly watching his superior and his protégé tongue each other was not worth it without at least getting a photo with which to blackmail them.

Title: Storm Child

Word Count: 319

Pairing/Character: Seph/Zack/Cloud (implied)

Summary: Cloud is a freaky storm child

Requested by: gryphonchik

AN: my OT3 for FFVII

Some days, Sephiroth just wanted to stay in bed. Some days he wanted to be anywhere but in bed, mainly because between Cloud and Zack it was a wonder he got any rest. And some days he just wanted to kill Zack. Today was one of those days.

"Why in the name of Gaia, are we out in the biggest storm to hit Midgar in thirty years?" He had to yell to be heard and even then he had the feel Zack was actually reading his lips.

"Looking for Cloud," he read from Zack's lip movement.

"Why would he be out here?" he shouted. Zack looked back blankly. Rolling his eyes, though he hated showing any emotion, he pulled his friend closer. "Why would he be out here!!" he yelled into Zack's ear.

"Dancing!" Zack yelled back, indicating a point beyond Sephiroth's shoulder. The general turned around and found a blonde-haired cadet dancing across the roof in a pagan manner.

Sephiroth sighed. He should've stayed in bed. He stalked his way to the blonde boy, who stopped as soon as he saw the great General. "Hey, Sephy!!"

Sephiroth pulled Cloud closer to him, trying not to notice how the thin uniform clung to Cloud's boy, "What are you doing here?!"

"Dancing, wanna dance with me?"

Then Zack was there. "C'mon, Cloud! It's fucking cold and you have an exam tomorrow!!"

"NO!"

"CLOUD!!"

"ZACK!!!"

Sephiroth took a deep breath. This was going to go on forever if he didn't step in. "CADET STRIFE! Obey your superior officers."

Cloud looked ready to yell back and was opening his mouth to do so…then the rain suddenly stopped, silence crashing down on them like four tons of bricks. "…Okay." Smiling sunnily he stepped away from the railings.

Both Sephiroth and Zack watched dumbly as their friend walked away. Sephiroth sighed and rubbed his temple. He knew he should've stayed in bed this morning.

Title: Of Strays and Names

Word Count: 436

Pairing: Seph/Zack/Cloud

Summary: It is confused by the new environment

Requested by: failedbutterfly

AN: I should name my cat Sephy

It couldn't understand the human that picked it up. The human had dark hair and kind hazel eyes. And it couldn't understand why the human just didn't ignore it like all the others did. The human had cradled it to his chest and carried him away from the body of its mother, whispering words of comfort.

"Another stray?" This human was just as strange as the first one with his silver hair and aqua eyes. "Don't we have our hands full with Cloud?"

"Hey!" the third one protested. "I'm not a stray, am I?" This one was younger than the others and more open. It struggled in the grasp of the dark-haired one, panicked by the suddenly constrictiveness of its environment. Thankfully the human released it, gently setting it on the floor.

"C'mon, Seph," the dark-haired one said, "Pleeease!! It's so cute and it looks just like you."

"It does not," 'Seph' replied huffily. It bound over to this interesting human that was supposed to look like it.

"Actually," the golden haired one, 'Cloud', argued, "It does, kinda. I mean aqua cats-eyes and silver fur. I think we should keep it. Pleeeeaaase!!" It added its own large, pleading eyes to the ones Cloud was directing at the Alpha Male. Although Seph sighed, he nodded reluctantly.

"Fine. But you clean up after it."

"Kick ass! Firstly, it needs a name," the dark-haired one noted, "How about 'Sephy'?"

"No," Seph refuted immediately. "We might as well name it Hojo."

Cloud grimaced, scratching a spot behind its head. "Er…no. Zack's right. I think Sephy will do." He looked down at it, a smile on his face. "What do you think?"

It paused to consider the name. Sephy. It had a nice ring to it. Sephy mewed, rubbing his head against Cloud's hand. He liked the name. Cloud grinned triumphantly. "See? It's such a cute name too, 'Sephy'."

Sephy glared at both of them. "I hate you both."

'Zack' smirked. "That's all right, we love you, don't we?" he asked Cloud who nodded.

"Yep. And we'd be happy to show it to you, when we finish cooking." The two men kissed Seph on his cheeks and sauntered off to the kitchen. Seph looked from them down to Sephy.

The two cat-like creatures stared at one another for a moment, Sephy entranced by the long silver hair that was just begging to be chewed on. "Touch it and die, cat," Seph snarled before stalking off, muttering something about strays and ridiculous names that Zack gave them. Sephy mewed to itself. He wasn't worried. He would get Seph's hair sooner or later.

Title: Watch the Sun

Word Count: 504

Pairing/Characters: Seph+Zack, with a touch of Cloud

Summary: How could anyone survive such a place?

Requested by: overcastxanadu

AN: Wutai War as well as a mention of Cloud.

Eat. Sleep. Fight. And you could survive the war for a day, only to repeat the cycle when the sun dawned again. There was never any time to contemplate the futility of what they were doing, or the insanity of attempting to conquer such a small nation. Shinra didn't care that soldiers were dying right, left, and centre, creating a whole river of blood with each clash. As long as Shinra Inc. became the leader of the world, they would cheerfully throw their soldiers into a massacre. Paranoia became second nature, fear became ingrained, and death became a comrade.

Maybe it wasn't too surprising that after a while the spirit began to fall, asking questions that could not be answered.

Why do we do this? How many more have to die before we can say we won? Would people remember this as more than a little footnote in history?

Zack knew better than to question Shinra. Those that did tended to meet the Turks in a lonely alley for a little 'chat', particularly since he was so high up in the hierarchy. But he could not help the questions running through his head.

Am I ever going back home? Will there be a home to go back to? How long before another war, like this one, starts? How am I going to survive in this hell hole?

"Zack!" the sharp command brought him back to the real world and he barely dodged a blow from a Wutaian. Before he could react, the enemy collapsed, a large katana having cut him down. He looked up to the one person who never had any of the doubts he had. Perhaps because he didn't need to doubt. General Sephiroth was sure to survive the war regardless of…anything.

"Thanks, sir," he greeted tiredly.

"Pay attention!" Sephiroth barked as he turned away, his mind already moving to the next five moves he was going to make.

Zack nodded to his superior's back, rallying to try another strike at the almost impenetrable defence of the Wutaians.

Eat. Sleep. Fight. And if you're lucky, you'll survive this war with at least a small part of your sanity and humanity intact. There is nothing but the heat of the sun, the rush of adrenaline, the flow of blood. Even when you rest your mind is always going to be on the next battle, trying to figure out how to improve your chances of survival. Then the sound of soldiers dying will reach your ears and you scramble for your blade, readying yourself for another attack, readying yourself to die.

Years later on, Cloud would ask him how he survived such a horrible war and Zack would smile and make a joke. Because when it's over, when it's all done, it's easier to joke about it then to say 'well, I kept telling myself I'm going to die, that I'm never going to make it out alive. Only then could I give my all'. It's easier to lie than to relive the nightmare.

Title: Turks

Word Count: 259

Pairing: Cloud+Tseng (one-sided)

Summary: If only Cloud had become a Turks

Requested by: deviatesellen

AN: I don't think I got to put in as much Tsen/Cloud as I wanted.

Cloud would never forget the day he was considered for the Turks. It involved tripping over his feet and falling on top of Tseng, and then verbally abusing the man (from now on he was going to find out who the person was before insulting him or her) and stomping off to training. That had resulted in Tseng following him around and observing him until one day the man pulled him aside and told him he was now part of the Turks program. Cloud had been too stunned to even consider arguing back and by the time he had regained his equilibrium, it was too late.

"Sir, I really think I'm better suited to the sword."

Tseng smiled. "Unfortunately, the Turks are less flamboyant than SOLDIERS. That means you will have to find more discrete weapons."

Cloud looked from his superior to the twin stilettos in his hands. "But, knives?"

"With your build, I doubt you could use anything else. And besides, we do need a blade specialist to fill in the gap." He was so calm, so collected, so very creepy.

But, Cloud's mind noted, he was also very hot. His heart was always going to be set on Sephiroth, but Cloud was a teenager and his libido was decidedly less choosy than his affections.

"Strife! Are you just going to stand there? You are a cadet, which means you are lower than the dirt on my shoes. Understand? Now, MOVE!"

Of course, if Tseng continued to be such an arse, even his libido might have second thoughts.