Author's Note:

Hello, everyone! Sorry for the huge delay in updating. For this second chapter I used one of TFR's writing prompts (Number 123) for inspiration and for this story's plot. It is fully used with no alterations, so that little piece is not owned in any way by me. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Let me know what you guys think. Review!

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Final Fantasy or TFR's writing prompts.

CHAPTER 2

Cloud Strife wiped the sweat from his forehead. This little sparring match had been giving him a harder time than he originally thought. He learned his lesson though. Never would he underestimate his opponent, puppy or not.

"Need a little break, Spikey?"

"I'm fine." A little exhausted, but that was all. No reason to quit… yet.

"I dunno. You're looking a little bit pale."

Cloud took this opportunity now that Zack had let down his guard to taunt him, to turn on the offensive. He smiled. Always so predictable, he thought. Focus was not the dark haired man's strongest asset. In only a matter of seconds it was gone.

"Ok, ok! I get it!" Joked Zack. "So, did you and Sephiroth enjoy your forceful vacations?"

"Well, if constant training and working out for six hours daily fits you description of it, then yes, we did."

"Yeah, I can see the difference," he answered between sword slashing and clashing.

"Nothing better to do, really." Cloud stopped his assaults taking a leap backwards to put some distance between them.

"So, no stopping to think about what you guys did?"

Cloud sighed annoyed. He knew the topic would have come out sooner or later. He would've preferred later though.

"I already told you. It was an accident."

"Cloud, ok, it's just… It takes a lot of rage to rip a man's arm off."

"Yeah, well he was that mad."

"And irradiated."

"Well, what did you expect? That guy was bullying me. He did it in my own defense."

"Cloud, he was a normal man. A civilian! You two are two Mako enhanced SOLDIER's."

"Look, we've both have heard enough from the President himself. I don't need to hear anything else from you too. And besides, do you expect me to see wrong in my own brother reacting towards anyone who does wrong to me?"

"I know that you two have come a long way. I just want to make sure no one has even the slightest right to talk ill about you two. Shinra's already looking bad enough in the public eye with all those eco-friendly terrorists on the rise. And this little stunt—"

"Accident," interrupted Cloud.

"—does nothing to help with all those rumors of us being monsters and all."

Cloud knew he was right. But he'd already decided he would put all of this in the past. There was no need to keep pouring salt over the wounds.

"Anyways, I'm glad they didn't kick you guys out. I would've been bored to death with no sparring partner."

"You'd still have Angeal."

"Nah, I mean, he's cool and all but I think he's getting a little old."

"Who's getting old?"

Both heads turned to see Angeal with his Buster sword attached to his back and arms crossed walking towards them in the training area.

Shit, was the only word that flashed across Zack's mind.

"No one," he said trying to cover up for himself offering a cheapish smile.

Angeal stopped right in front of the dark haired SOLDIER and gave him a look. Without tearing his eyes from him, Angeal addressed Cloud.

"Director Lazard wants to see you, Cloud."

"Yes, sir."

Cloud did his best to hold in his laughs but he couldn't avoid letting out a few snickers at the situation Zack and his big mouth had gotten into. He left the training area before Zack could try to convince him to stay.

"Now, what was that you were saying? Something about me getting old?"

Zack laughed nervously, "It was only a joke, really."

"Uh-huh." But Angeal didn't look too convinced. Before Zack could issue a complain, Angeal had already set up the simulation room for the two of them.

"Let's see who's getting old, shall we?"

In less than a second, Angeal had already charged at him with his sword to hit him with the dull side.

Zack only wished he'd learn how to keep his mouth shut.

Sephiroth sat with a leg crossed over the other and his arms crossed while he fixed Director Lazard one of his deadliest glares. Had it been any other man, he was sure he would've been begging for forgiveness and mercy. But something about being a superior to Sephiroth gave the man all the confidence he needed to remain calm. Smug even.

He'd been here for ten minutes already. Ten minutes that had passed without the other man saying as much as a reason behind this meeting. He had a pretty good idea of what it was though. He just hated wasting time.

At the other side of the desk, Lazard was running over and over again how he was going to tell Sephiroth and his brother the news. He was sure as hell the General wouldn't like it but it had been orders from above. There was nothing he could do to change them. He just prayed the siblings would remember that before they unleashed their wrath upon him.

Before he could offer the Goddess another silent prayer, Cloud Stife walked into the room. His facial expression became wary when he took in his older brother and his tense posture.

"Cloud, it's so nice of you to join us," greeted Lazard to which both other men raised an eyebrow. As if either of their presence here had been optional.

"Have a seat," he offered kindly. Well, here goes nothing.

"I'm sure you both know quite well why you're here. In light of recent events, the company's reputation has become somewhat damaged due to various reasons, one of which you two are entirely responsible for."

Sephiroth scoffed at this. Lazard ignored him and continued.

"It is because of this fact that the President himself has requested we all take the necessary measures to avoid ruining what is left of our image while we do our best to rebuild what isn't."

Both silver and golden haired men looked as if they couldn't care less about the company's situation. This was going to be a very long and difficult climb back to glory.

"I'm also quite sure that you both are familiar with the anti-Shinra terrorist group AVALANCHE. During your leave, this group managed to blow up two of our less important reactors as a very clear message. We have no doubt that this has all been but baby steps towards a grander plan seeking to destroy Shinra absolutely. However, we haven't the slightest idea as to who the members of this group may be.

"Now this is where you two would've come in if it hadn't been for the General's dismemberment of a normal civilian. Leaving me no option but to place both of you as far from this op as I can."

Cloud furrowed his brows as if in confusion, while Sephiroth's were raised almost high enough to touch his hairline as if in offense.

"As a small plan we have come up with, the President and any other well-known figure from the company, will be working directly with the public supporting causes, small businesses, schools, etc., by personally attending any and every event that we're invited to and even those we're not to show genuine interest in our people's affairs."

"And?" Sephiroth disrespectfully asked, much to Lazard's annoyance. He made a mental note to notify Hojo of his most precious creation's cocky and irreverent attitude as of late.

"And this is where you two actually come in. Even though the public does not exactly idolize you anymore, it doesn't change the fact that you two are of the best and the best we have. Which is why we are temporarily relocating you to First Class escorts to avoid any of Avalanche harm as much as a hair of any of our figures."

Lazard finished with a small satisfied smile as he finally took in a breath. It didn't last long though. Cloud still had that somewhat confused expression. It had been too much for him it seemed. Now, Sephiroth… He was livid!

Lazard had been one of the few that could affirm that the rumors of the General's eyes burning bright with Mako whenever he was possessed by ire were true. This proved it.

"So, let me get this straight," interrupted Cloud as the wheels in his brain turned. "You are not letting us deal with the terrorist's investigation because of one small incident that made us look back to the public to send us to deal with said public that now apparently hates us?"

"Think of it as an opportunity for you two to gain our people's respect and admiration once more."

"By degrading us to mere guards?" Finally spoke Sephiroth.

"While you two gain your privileges back, yes." He remembered what Zack had said a few years back, that they spoiled the General too much. He hadn't thought of it that way till now that not only the General but his brother as well were little more than the spoiled babes of the company.

Cloud scowled at Lazard's response while Sephiroth's stillness was the only hint that he was doing his best to keep his infamous temper under control.

"You sound like we haven't given enough to this fucking company. Tell me, does the risking of our lives each day mean nothing to you? Or the personal sacrifices we have all done to let you do as you please with our bodies? No wonder why the population seeks to get rid of you," fumed Cloud.

"Believe me, I am aware of everything you have offered, but this decision does not rest upon my hands," offered Lazard as sympathetically as he could.

Sephiroth then uncrossed his legs and arms as he gently placed them on the armrest to slowly push himself up. He could not believe what he heard. If it were for him, he would personally assist the terrorists to make sure this company was burned to the ground. He rested his hands upon Lazard's desk where the latter's fingers were entwined.

"You tell that fat bastard that I refuse this offer to gain back our privileges."

He said the last part mockingly as only he ever could and turned and left without as much as glancing back. Cloud followed after him in a similar fashion letting out a few curses towards the institution.

Once Lazard was alone, he let out a breath he didn't even know he'd been holding.

"Well, that went well," he mused out loud while he stood and went to pour himself two knuckles worth of liquor.

Sephiroth was angry beyond belief. He already was upset enough with everything Shinra to have to deal with any more of their shit.

"Seph!" He heard Cloud call from behind him across the hall. He didn't even stop to acknowledge his brother.

"Seph, wait!" Cloud gripped his arm in an effort to get his attention but was met with a heavy glare from Sephiroth.

"What?" He snapped.

"Look, I know you're mad, but I don't think it's a good idea for you to go out alone right now," cautioned Cloud.

Pulling his arm from Cloud's grip, he replied, "I'm going to the apartment. I need to be alone."

Cloud nodded once, understanding that the easiest way for him to calm down was when he was left alone to think things through. So, he stood there while he watched Sephiroth stomp his way out.

Sephiroth had stripped down the second he locked closed the door to his apartment. Well, his and Cloud that was. He was so mad that he felt a heavy fever beginning to rise. He got in the shower adjacent to his room and turned on the water as cold as possible hoping it would at least freshen him up a little. He focused on how the water ran down his hair to his scalp and the rest of his body.

He'd had enough of everything. This only served to add reasons to his growing list of why he should leave Shinra. He'd already discussed all of them with Angeal and Genesis, both of whom supported him. They'd told him that should he ever make the decision to leave, they would too. They'd even made him promise to not leave unless they all would at the same time, not putting it below Shinra to use them against each other. Cloud and Zack were the only ones left out of the info, but the three of them agreed to drag those two along with them.

Sephiroth had always thought it was wishful thinking, but now more than ever he saw leaving as a very probable decision.

Once he'd calmed down his anger, he continued his regular cleansing routine. Wrapped now in a towel, he went out to pick the garments he'd randomly removed on his way to the shower and placed them all neatly in the laundry. He had five spare uniforms to use, which he ignored for the rest of the afternoon. He knew he wasn't going back to work today, so after hanging back the towel in his bathroom, he lied down on his bed with the AC on high savoring the coolness it offered his body. He soon realized that though it soothed his body, it did little to ease his mind.

Jumping off his bed, he dressed up with pair of dark blue jeans and a black shirt. He went to the one place he knew he'd find something to occupy his mind with. Or someone.