A/N: Thank you so much for the warm reception on this story! Thanks to your enthusiasm, it will be continuing. Please enjoy chapter two! And thanks for waiting!
Disclaimer: I do not own FFVII or any of its derivative works.
Chapter 2
Cloud's life changed after he returned from Nibelheim. It seemed that by the time he got out of medical with a clean bill of health, the entire building knew that he had helped Sephiroth in the caves. He should have been pleased by the sudden onslaught of positive attention, but he was too busy being relieved by the fact that there was absolutely no talk of kissing.
It was only three days later that an official notice was sent to him stating that his previously-rejected application to Soldier was being re-evaluated. He let his fellow troopers whoop and holler in excitement, buying him drinks and celebrating for him, but he stayed slightly distant from their excitement. He knew these people. Before his name started being used next to Sephiroth's, they'd looked right through him.
He wished Zack was still there, and not investigating the ruins of the Midgar Reactor, which had mysteriously exploded the day before Cloud was released from medical leave. He wasn't sure exactly what the letter meant. He wasn't even sure why he'd been rejected the first time. He had worked harder than anyone—studied more fiercely—even Zack had been bewildered by how hard Cloud was working, commenting, mildly, that Cloud was practically a shoo-in as far as he was concerned. His rowdy friend had been as bewildered as Cloud himself at the rejection letter, and had seemed almost as hurt. Cloud couldn't wait to show him the new one. He looked forward to his friend's return that evening. Maybe seeing Zack excited about it would help him to solidify his own feelings.
He was happy, sure. Soldier was his dream. It always had been. But there was a strange, slightly painful backdrop to the emotion. Something that whispered in his ear that he hadn't earned it—that somehow Sephiroth had made this happen, despite his promise. And the thought of Sephiroth raised all sorts of strange, confusion emotions. He hadn't seen him since returning. Not even while he was in medical, trying to shake the lingering symptoms of the dragon's burn. He understood, of course. Sephiroth was the general, and had himself been hurt. Though by the time they returned to Shinra, Sephiroth had insisted mildly that his eyes were fine even as he and Cloud stepped out of the transport. There was no talk around the building of any lingering symptoms from the dragon's fire in his eyes, but Cloud couldn't shake his worry. No talk was almost as bad as full blown rumors.
And then, out of the blue, he woke up in the barracks one morning to a letter welcoming him to the official Soldier trainee program. He didn't show it to any other trainees. He tucked it into the pocket of his uniform, and silently reported to the office where he was told in the letter to go. The secretaries smiled warmly at him, handed him packets of information, and congratulated him warmly. His things, he was told, would be relocated to his new room by the time he was done with General Sephiroth.
Cloud froze, staring at the woman he'd been talking to in open shock. She gave him a warm smile and patted his shoulder lightly.
"He likes to meet candidates in person," she said mildly. "You'll be meeting him down in the VR training rooms. And don't worry! Almost everyone comes back in one piece."
"Almost?" Cloud squeaked in confusion, intimidated by Sephiroth even as he was thrilled to hear he'd be seeing him.
"Just once," the woman sighed, shaking her head. "That poor boy... You'd best get moving, he'll be down there in fifteen minutes. You'll want to be early."
Cloud ran out the door, forgetting his information packets in his haste. He thought he heard a titter of laughter behind him, but he didn't care. He wasn't afraid of Sephiroth hurting him. But he couldn't wait to see the man—couldn't wait to find out if he'd been right or not, about what he meant to Sephiroth—about whether or not Nibelheim had really changed everything, like he thought it had. By the time he reached the room, he was five minutes early and out of breath. A pair of First Class Soldiers were leaving the next VR room in the line, and cast him a look that could have been taken as pity, apparently realizing what a trooper like him was there for.
Cloud tried to catch his breath, turning to look at the VR room doors, filled with excitement and anxiety. Was he just in this program for moments like this? So that Sephiroth could call him down to the VR rooms to meet up with him?
If he was only there for Sephiroth's whims, would he really mind?
His thoughts and anxieties were abruptly interrupted by the rush of air as the VR room doors opened.
Inside stood Sephiroth, his hair whipping around him as though the breath of air from inside had been much stronger than it had felt to Cloud. Behind him, the hologram conjured by the room was just fading. Cloud saw, just for a moment, the false body of a dragon dissolving back into simple programming. It appeared to be in several pieces. Cloud shuddered quietly.
"Right on time," Sephiroth said lowly.
His voice was cold and distant. This was not the man who Cloud had helped through the underground network of Nibelheim. This was his general and commander. Under the gaze of his perfect and inhuman eyes, Cloud felt himself starting to shrink, and clamped down on the impulse.
"Sir," he barked, snapping to attention. He did not salute. Saluting inside was considered a serious faux pas in Shinra. The only one still stupid enough to do it was the president of the company.
"Enter," Sephiroth said briskly, stepping back from the doors and moving inside. Cloud watched the movement of his hair and the flicker of his long coat behind his legs as he strode into the now-blank VR room with great purpose.
Cloud followed, stepping into the room that no mere trooper was ever allowed to enter. It was certainly big. The space was a huge and completely unadorned box. Cloud had to admit to a quiet sense of disappointment. But the visual he'd witnessed at first—the dying dragon—that had been something to write home about. If he were the kind of person to write home. If he had a home worth writing to.
"What location do you prefer?" Sephiroth asked blankly, taking up a place across the room from Cloud.
Cloud froze, realizing all at once that they were not just here to talk. He watched Sephiroth roll his shoulders beneath his pauldrons, and a chill worked its way through him. Was he about to fight with Sephiroth?
"I don't—don't have a preference, sir," Cloud choked.
"Computer," Sephiroth said sharply and swiftly without pausing for a moment. "Location: Wutaian Fortress."
Cloud gasped as the ground beneath his feet changed all at once. He backed up, looking around as the huge room transformed itself around them, taking on the appearance of a huge Wutaian structure, that looked more to Cloud like a storybook palace than a fortress. He gaped as the world around them opened up, and a faint wind started up around them. It even smelled like grass. He looked back to Sephiroth, dumbfounded.
"Come, cadet," Sephiroth said darkly. There was something about the way he said the words that sent an entirely inappropriate shiver through Cloud. "Do not fear running into the walls. They will move to accommodate us, as will the floor. You could walk through the landscapes for days and never run into a wall unless you were to shut the program down."
"Sir," Cloud took a breath, shaking his head. "What am I here to do?"
"You are here to prove your worth," Sephiroth replied darkly. "Now come. Show me what you can do."
Cloud's eyes widened. He threw his shoulders back, watching Sephiroth sink into a fighting stance. He took a shaking breath. Not exactly what he had hoped when he heard that he'd be spending time alone with Sephiroth. Silently, he berated himself for ever doubting that. What exactly did he think of the general, that he was so shallow he'd allow him to join Soldier just for his own gain? Cloud narrowed his eyes at himself, and sank into a fighting stance of his own. If Sephiroth wanted proof that he belonged in the Soldier program, then Cloud would do his absolute best to prove it.
What followed was less of a fight than a pointless game of tag. Cloud couldn't get close enough to Sephiroth to touch him. When he did catch up, it was only because Sephiroth had stopped to wait for him with a maddeningly indulgent look. Cloud could barely keep his eyes on the man, and he still got the distinct feeling that Sephiroth was holding back his speed for him. When they matched fist to fist, every one of Cloud's strikes was dodged or blocked. Cloud tried his best not to miss on purpose, but being blocked by Sephiroth HURT. The man's blocks were practically strikes themselves, and Cloud could feel vivid bruises appearing on his forearms from the blocks, all of which managed to connect on exactly the same piece of his arm every single time.
But Cloud kept coming. He wasn't going to stop. Air burned in his lungs, and the original location had been left far behind as he chased Sephiroth over the impossible landscape. Sephiroth had been correct. They never ran into a wall. He continued to chase, aware that Sephiroth was intentionally wearing him down. What was the point of this exercise, he wondered as he sprinted to try and catch up to a particularly long jump backwards from Sephiroth. Was it to humiliate candidates? Make them aware of how far they had to go? Or did most candidates manage to catch up, and it was just Cloud who couldn't contend on Sephiroth's level?
He could feel his body giving out. He had no way to know how much time had passed. He would have guessed an hour at least. Sephiroth had yet to break a sweat. His eyes were still calm and level. But he didn't seem to be looking at Cloud. He gazed straight ahead, fixedly, no matter where Cloud himself stood. That was both strange and a little insulting, Cloud thought with a scowl. He wasn't that weak. Even if he must have seemed to move as slowly as a snail to the enhanced Soldier, the least Sephiroth could do would be pay attention.
Cloud gathered himself, struggling to catch his breath. He wanted to prove himself to Sephiroth, but with every passing minute it grew less likely that he would be able to. Cloud launched himself forward, and felt his foot slip. He managed not to fall flat on his face, but he went to one knee, panting hard and struggling to rise.
Sephiroth paused, tilting his head with interest. Cloud grit his teeth. The man still wasn't meeting his eyes. He struggled to his feet and squared his shoulders, preparing to run at him once more.
Then a loud grinding sound filled the air, and the world went dark as though the sun had been extinguished. Cloud jolted, looking around him. Red lights switched on abruptly, illuminating the electronic walls of the empty room he had first entered. The landscape of Wutai was gone.
"Half an hour late," Sephiroth muttered with faint annoyance in his voice.
"What?" Asked Cloud in alarm, his voice coming out breathless.
Sephiroth turned towards him and walked forward swiftly. Cloud sank into his fighting stance, lifting his fists. Sephiroth paused, tilting his head.
"Cloud," He said smoothly and calmly. "The power in the VR room is out. Meaning that the cameras are out. Besides, we are already well past the half-hour exhaustion test that most candidates go through."
"What?" Cloud stammered again.
"Put your fists down," Sephiroth simplified. "I am not your general right now."
Cloud put down his fists, and Sephiroth closed the distance between them. His long fingers slid over Cloud's cheek, and within the space of a single heartbeat, the General was kissing Cloud breathless. Cloud gripped his shoulders tightly, frustration forgotten in the wake of this sudden and very welcome change in conversation. His mind whirred, thinking over the security cameras, his insistence on secrecy, and Sephiroth's attempts to draw out their time rather than exhausting him all at once like he very well could have. He let a small smile touch his lips as Sephiroth kissed him, and slid his hands back into the long silver hair that he suddenly had access to.
"Sir," Cloud whispered against his lips when Sephiroth pulled back for a moment, "did you break the VR room to get some alone time with me?"
"Don't be foolish," Sephiroth muttered, lowering his head to kiss the junction of Cloud's neck and shoulder, where muscles were trembling from his exertion.
"Oh," Cloud whispered, almost disappointed by the answer.
"I hired a Turk to do it for me," Sephiroth finished, pulling back to look down at Cloud, his face lit lightly by the red emergency lighting. "Much less conspicuous."
Cloud renewed their kiss with new passion, eliciting a soft chuckle from his partner. Sephiroth's hands snaked around him, pressing Cloud's body closer to the Silver General's. Cloud could feel sculpted muscles, and the buckles of the trademark jacket digging lightly into his torso. He didn't mind in the slightest. When Sephiroth licked lightly over his lips, requesting entry, Cloud opened his mouth to the General without thought.
He pulled back after a long, breathless moment, his body raging with the intensity of their interaction. The exhaustion of the fight was completely forgotten in the wake of his exhilaration in that moment. Sephiroth gave a little smile. But there was still something off with his eyes, Cloud realized. Sephiroth still wasn't quite looking at him. Towards him, yes, but there was no focus in his gaze. From a distance, it had seemed like inattention. But from up close...
"Sir-"
"Call me Sephiroth, Cloud."
"Sephiroth," Cloud corrected himself. "Are you still blind?"
There was a long moment of silence between them. Cloud watched the faint scowl on Sephiroth's lips deepen, and started to feel worry rise. He tightened his grip on the general. If he'd offended the man, he didn't want him to leave before he could apologize.
"Not entirely," Sephiroth finally replied.
Cloud felt the ground drop out from under him. He tightened his grip on the cross straps of Sephiroth's jacket, in a strange mixture of protectiveness and fear.
"How have you been-"
"Eyesight is somewhat over rated," Sephiroth commented with a shrug. "My other senses are more than adept enough for me to function, now that I have grown accustomed. And as I said, I am no longer entirely blind. I have begun to distinguish light from dark. It is a step."
"But sir-"
"Sephiroth," The general corrected again, glancing down at him with a raised eyebrow. "We are still in private."
Cloud leaned lightly against his chest, the skin cool and smooth under his cheek. He couldn't even bring himself to be embarrassed over his slip. He was filled with a cold fear.
Sephiroth lifted a hand, brushing it over the tips of Cloud's hair once, as though testing their feel, then settled his hand on Cloud's head.
"There is nothing to be upset over," he commented mildly.
"What if they send you on a mission?" Cloud whispered into his sternum.
"Then I will send Zack in my stead. I have done it often enough before. Though in training with him this morning after his return I found the battle relatively easy to follow." Sephiroth replied with a shrug.
"You were training?" Cloud hissed, eyes narrowing. "Knowing you could get hurt?"
"Cloud," Sephiroth sighed.
"And what if you can't send Zack in?" Cloud snapped, startled by the anger that rose in him. "What if he's not here, or he's hurt?"
"Then we shall find out whether I can fight monsters as easily without seeing them. It would be an interesting experience."
"An interesting-" Cloud spluttered, then released his grip on Sephiroth to punch his chest. "We're talking about your safety—your life!"
Sephiroth stared blankly down at him, his face cast in the maddeningly neutral expression that could have meant anything. Cloud clenched his fists, glaring at the man he was facing despite the fact that Sephiroth could not see the look.
"No one can know, Cloud," The General said at long last, his voice unnervingly low and serious.
"Why not," Cloud demanded. "What's more important than you staying safe?"
"There are many things," Sephiroth said lowly. "If the higher ups in this company were to discover my," he paused, considering his words, "situation, the danger I would be in would far outweigh that of any simple monster attack, Cloud."
"What?" Cloud whispered, staring up into Sephiroth's very serious face with a quiet horror.
"Shinra is not all heroes, Cloud," Sephiroth warned, his voice low and dark. "As I know you yourself will discover in time. Zachary would tell you the same."
"But who would—who would DARE to hurt you?" Cloud asked, reaching out again to rest his hand against Sephiroth's shoulder. "Who in Shinra would want to?"
"The more you know, the more danger you will be in," Sephiroth replied. "So I will tell you no more."
The man lifted his head abruptly, looking to the VR room doors. Cloud twisted to look, but froze as Sephiroth's hand landed lightly on his cheek, sliding down to cup his chin. Cloud let out a soft sigh of breath as Sephiroth kissed his brow, then his cheek, and finally his lips.
"I trust you," Sephiroth whispered into their kiss. "To keep me safe."
Before Cloud could reply, Sephiroth stepped away from him, and the VR room doors slid open, admitting a host of worried technicians.
"What took you?" Sephiroth asked coldly.
"I am so sorry, General," The man Cloud could only assume was in charge said. "This has never happened before."
"Then ensure that it does not again," Sephiroth ordered. "Strife, we shall delay your training for the day. Report to Commander Fair. He should have been released from his debriefing by now."
"Yes sir," Cloud barked, quietly startled that he managed to make his voice catch properly. He'd been half expecting to wheeze the words of surprise.
And then Sephiroth was gone again, striding swiftly out of Cloud's life until he sauntered back in, whenever he so chose. Cloud let out a slow breath as the workers swarmed inside to look the place over. After a moment, Cloud realized he was attracting a great deal of interest from those around him by standing in the middle of the room, staring out the door.
"You alright?" one of the workers asked.
"Fine," Cloud answered briskly. "He's just... Intimidating."
That rose a chorus of understanding chuckles from the Technicians, and Cloud let out a breath, casting the man who'd asked if he was alright a brief smile as he escaped the room.
By the time Cloud caught up to Zack, the enthusiastic First Class already knew all about the malfunction.
"They say you were stuck in that VR room for, like, half an hour," Zack said fondly, catching Cloud up in a tight hug. "You didn't panic, did you?"
"Why would I panic?" Cloud groused, trying to wiggle his way out of Zack's arms.
"Uh, I don't know, because you were stuck in a training room with The Silver General?" Zack teased, finally releasing Cloud. "Guess you're not so easy to shake after Nibelheim, huh?"
Cloud didn't reply. He was staring in silent horror at the very long silver hair on Zack's uniform. He was very certain it hadn't been there a moment ago. It must have gotten transferred when Zack hugged him. He didn't let himself feel the thrill of excitement that ran through him at the thought of Sephiroth close enough to leave hairs. If Zack realized—if he found out—Cloud doubted the so-called 'Puppy' would be able to help but blab to the whole compound. He tried to kickstart his brain.
"How'd you know about it already anyhow?" Cloud asked dryly, trying to force himself to sound normal.
"Well, I know he was gunna give you a lesson today. He told me while we were sparring."
"Was it hand to hand sparring or armed today?" Cloud asked, sensing a glimmer of hope.
"Some of both," Zack replied with a shrug. "Why?"
"I just wanted to make sure Aerith didn't have reason to get jealous before I warned you about the hair on your shirt," Cloud replied with a breathless laugh that had nothing to do with Zack's fidelity, but was still an honest expression of relief.
Zack grinned hugely when he looked down and saw the hair. Then he threw his shoulders back and beamed with pride.
"I'm not taking it off," He proclaimed. "Managing to get close enough to General Sephiroth to end up with one of his hairs is an honor!"
Cloud gave a wan smile and shook his head. He knew better than that. Zack was getting closer to Sephiroth's level with each passing day. Some people around the compound called him 'the new Angeal.' Cloud always pretended he hadn't heard. Repeating those words would have caused Zack nothing but more heartbreak. Cloud had been there the night Zack called himself Angeal's legacy and broke into tears.
"Hey, Cloudy," Zack said after a moment. "You know what's weird?"
Cloud made a soft sound of question, watching Zack's sky-blue eyes gaze up at the ceiling.
"I've been using those VR rooms for years, and they've never locked down. Not even when the trinity used to tear them up during sparring."
"Weird," Cloud commented dryly.
"Yup," Zack said mildly, clapping a hand on Cloud's shoulder firmly. "Of course, I'm sure it was just a malfunction. I mean, it's either that or you and Sephiroth just LOVE getting stuck together in dark enclosed spaces, right?"
Zack shoved Cloud fondly and wandered off, giving a jaunty wave. Cloud stood dumbfounded and wondered with a sickening dread if he had underestimated the puppy. He moved through the rest of his day in a trance—packing his things in the barrack up and passing them off to the Shinra workers setting up his new room—finding his way to the Soldier's mess, where the official candidates were invited to dine while decisions were being made about their futures.
It wasn't until that night in the new and SOLDIER-filled mess hall, when Zack plopped himself down right next to Cloud, laughing and joking with the other Soldier candidates, easing Cloud's awkward introduction to them, that Cloud realized he had underestimated Zack. Just not in the way he'd thought. The rowdy first was entertaining the table easily, and not one word did he breathe about Sephiroth and Cloud. He even neatly steered conversation around the Nibelheim caves and the VR room crash, redirecting to tell tall tales of his missions with the silver general. And the next thing Cloud knew, Zack was talking about his missions with him. With every word of praise Zack spoke, the eyes of Cloud's new peers grew more open and impressed, losing the hostile suspicion they had held before.
Cloud smiled and shrugged bashfully when he was addressed, but guilt warmed his cheeks and made his gut twist. He should have trusted Zack, and believed in his ability to keep a secret. After all, of everyone Cloud knew, Zack had experienced the most crushing lost in the past year, and yet he was still all laughs and smiles in public. The turks were probably jealous by now that he'd gotten into Soldier before they saw his acting talent.
Once dinner was over, Zack slung an arm around Cloud's shoulders and led him further upstairs than Cloud had been before, teaching him how to operate the higher-floor elevators, which somehow managed to be almost maze-like, despite only going up and down.
Cloud pulled him inside his new apartment the moment Zack handed him the key card.
"I don't know what to do," he blurted abruptly. "I'm not even sure if he likes me."
"He likes you," Zack said mildly, ruffling Cloud's hair. "I mean, I'm the one who requested you for the Nibelheim mission, but I saw him smile when he looked at the request. He definitely likes you."
"I never even see him except-"
"Except when he's hiring my turk buddies to shut the VR room down on you two?" Zack questioned with a grin. "Relax, Cloud. You'll see more of him once you're officially my apprentice."
Cloud gaped at him. He felt tears rising in his eyes as the words sunk in. He was deeply, sickeningly grateful when Zack pulled him into a hug. It gave him the chance to hide his tears against his friend's shirt.
"You're gunna be great, Spike," Zack whispered, running a hand through his hair. "And I'm gunna make sure of that."
For Cloud, it was as though he suddenly could feel again. All of the days of silence, and non-feeling crashed down around him. All the excitement of being reconsidered for Soldier, and the joy of being noticed and wanted by Sephiroth, and the confusion brought on by that same want. And above and beyond it all, the glee of having Zack there with him—to ruffle his hair while he cried without complaining about his weakness or thinking less of him.
"You'll see, Spike. It'll all work out." Zack muttered above him.
Cloud closed his eyes, pressed against Zack's chest, and thought of being pressed against Sephiroth's only hours ago. He really really hoped Zack was right. Because if he was, all of his dreams—all of them—were about to start coming true at last. So long as Sephiroth could keep himself from getting killed while his eyes healed, and Cloud himself could make it in Soldier.
