Late, As Always
Chapter 4 – redone!

A/N: Alright. I'm on a roll. I think I finally know where I wanted to go with this in the first place. Here goes nothin'.

It was the weekend, thank god. Cloud was so ready for a few days off after the hell he had been put through in the past week. He sort of felt bad about how he had treated the doctor the other day, but it was a necessary evil. The woman was far too close to outing his secret. Although, if she really did have access to his file… she probably already knew what happened. That in and of itself was terrifying.

Panic set in. What if she told people? What if it spread? Everyone would know. Even Zack. And Sephiroth. The only people he cared to impress would suddenly see him as useless, broken. ShinRa would throw him out because he obviously wouldn't make a good SOLDIER anymore. Everything he had ever wanted would be gone in an instant…

As if on cue, Cloud's door burst open, nearly giving him a heart attack.

"CHOCOBO!"

Great.

"Yes, Zack?" Cloud asked, cringing at the nickname.

"What're you doing this weekend?"

"Well, I…"

"Great! Cuz there's going to be this awesome party at the SOLDIER house, and you're totally going to be there! It'll be a damn good time! You'll get to meet other SOLDIERs and I think Sephiroth might even come if I can manage to be obnoxious enough… We'll see, though. We're leaving in about an hour, ok?!"

And, in a flurry of fluffy black spikes, he was gone.

Leaving in an hour didn't leave Cloud with much room to experiment with the perfect outfit and hair. He could not physically go to a party that Sephiroth would be present at looking like a ragamuffin. No, that would be totally distasteful. Cloud tore ass into the bathroom to try to manage the mop everyone called hair, but after roughly fifteen minutes had absolutely no luck. Instead, he embraced the messy spikes, using a little hair wax to give them a little more form and toning down the chaos factor. He gave his face a quick wash, a quick moisturize, brushed his teeth until they shone and took off for the closet.

Uniforms, uniforms, uniforms. Nothing but ShinRa logos, beige, camouflage and shapeless clothing. This would not do at all… Cloud needed something with a little oomph, a little pizzazz. Pursing his lips, he dug in the very bottom for the meager bag of clothes he had brought from home. The first thing that caught his eye was a pair of jeans that would be absolutely perfect: they were boot-cut that were snug in the hips and buns (he had to show off his best asset, of course!). Truthfully, they used to be his mother's, but as far as she knew, they got lost after doing laundry one day. He could still clearly hear his mother's voice in his head asking if he'd seen her favorite jeans.

Cloud giggled to himself and continued the search for a shirt to wear. He didn't want to go all out crazy… Hm. He grabbed a fitted black polo with white detailing on the sleeves, collar and faux pocket that really showcased his budding abs and arms. Perfect! It said, "look at me!" without being really attention seeking.

Zack reentered the room shortly after Cloud had finished agonizing in front of the mirror.

"Ready?" he asked, smiling. Cloud looked awesome.

"I suppose," Cloud mumbled. His body language screamed insecure.

Zack laughed. "You look fantastic, Cloud. Don't worry so much. Is that a baby six-pack I see forming?! And look at those biceps!"

Without warning, Zack whipped Cloud's shirt up and started poking at his abs. Cloud squealed at the invasion, batting Zack's hands away.

"YES IT IS, THANK YOU. Now, get off!"

Cloud secretly loved the attention. Zack knew this. He purposely did things like what he just did to boost the kid's self-esteem. That is not to say he didn't think Cloud was attractive, because he really did. It was a matter of being dramatic about it to make sure Cloud got what he was trying to say.

Once Cloud was smiling, Zack ushered him out the door. A short walk put them outside the SOLDIER house, where the music was so damn loud Cloud's bones rattled with every bass thud. Zack laughed at Cloud's cringing.

"Don't be a party pooper, Cloud. It'll be fun! Relax!"

Upon entering, Zack immediately scanned the room for his partner. It was easy to tell when Sephiroth was present: usually he was in the middle of a large crowd, looking rather awkward. After a few moments of a social struggle, there would be a large empty bubble around him, with people straining to control themselves from going over and talking to the man. It was actually pretty fun to watch. No such luck today, however, and that made Zack cranky. Sephiroth said he'd come. Well, not in so many words, but…

Earlier that day:

"SEPH!" Zack yelled as he came into the office.

Sephiroth sighed. It was too early for shenanigans. "Yes, Zackary?"

"There's a party tonight at the SOLDIER house! You game?"

A very swift "no" was the answer. Sephiroth didn't even look up or consider the offer. Zack did not accept it.

"Don't be like that. Could you at least consider it?" he asked, pouting.

Again, a very quick denial followed. Zack smiled to himself; he had a plan.

"Alright, fine. I see you aren't going to go with me. I'll be back in five; I'm going to go alert Cloud that he needs to be my date tonight. I can't go to a party alooooone!"

Zack had just enough time to note how Sephiroth perked up at the name, and considered his plan a success.

All Zack had to do was mention the blond's name and it was a done deal. Cloud had no idea that he was being used as bait, but it was all good. The subject of matchmaking shouldn't really be aware of the process, anyway.

After a bunch of introductions and a few illegal shots for the underage cadet, Zack excused himself to go figure out where Sephiroth was. Cloud was happily conversing with a group of Thirds, and assured Zack he would be alright. Smiling, Zack took off into the next room and retrieved his PHS.

"Call Sephiroth," he commanded the device. Seconds later, it rang a few times before Sephiroth picked up.

"What is it now?" the General asked, sounding a little… odd.

"I just wanted to see if you changed your mind about my offer! A party isn't a party without the socially awkward General, you know," Zack chirped back.

"I don't think so, Zack. I'm headed home for the evening."

Zack might have believed that, but he heard the subtle sounds of downtown Midgar in the background. Sephiroth did not live in downtown Midgar, but the SOLDIER house was there…

"Oh. Well that's too bad, Seph." Zack paused, and grinned. "Alright, well, I gotta get back. I left Cloud with a group of the Thirds. I think Kunsel's looking out for him though. Brett was making eyes at the kid when I scooted away. See ya at the office tomorrow!"

Before Sephiroth could answer, Zack hung up and skipped back into the main room. Sephiroth was SO on his way.

In a matter of a minute, Cloud had gotten involved in some beer pong, and was doing rather poorly. Zack giggled as he came up behind the blond.

"You suck at this, you know," he said. Cloud laughed.

"I know that! I haven't played this before. I'm tryiinnnnggg! I have horrible aim! If they stick me in the regulation army, I'm totally screwed. Those assholes use nothing but gunnnsssss."

Zack cut Cloud off after a while. He didn't want the boy to be super drunk when Sephiroth arrived, which actually would probably be any moment…

The door opened. No one really noticed but Zack…until Sephiroth entered the room. At that point, everyone cheered and immediately flocked over. Poor Sephiroth was surrounded and trying not to be as awkward as usual.

"Yo! Leave the man alone, people! Small groups at a time, yeah?" Zack yelled over the commotion. "Get outta here!"

Grumbling, the mob broke up. Zack smiled at his partner.

"Going home for the night, Seph?" he asked cheekily. "I'm pretty sure you don't live here."

Sephiroth gave a half smile. "Yes, well, I'm not as tired as I thought I was. Besides, if I didn't show up, I'd have to listen to you whining at me for weeks about how I have no social life, I missed a great party, I should get out more, I need to – as you say – get laid… I decided a few hours of agonizing torture was better than a week of it."

Laughing, Zack scanned the room for Cloud. The cadet was looking very concentrated on the beer pong game that had resumed. In fact, he was too concentrated on it. Eyes narrowing, Zack motioned for Sephiroth to wait a second and sauntered up to his favorite cadet.

"Don't you wanna talk to Sephiroth, Cloud?" Zacked asked casually. "I'm sure he'd appreciate a break from the normal accosting he gets at these parties."

After a small nervous giggle, Cloud turned his gaze on Zack. "I guess so. What am I supposed to talk about? I mean, he's Sephiroth. I'm just… Cloud, the cadet."

"What do I always tell you? Don't worry so much! Come on, I'll go with you."

Even Zack felt the immediate sparks that flew between Cloud and Sephiroth. The air around them changed within seconds. They awkwardly half-smiled at each other and Zack knew that somehow, things would work out.

"Sephiroth, I believe you know Cloud?" Zack said, scooting Cloud closer to Sephiroth.

"Absolutely," Sephiroth replied. "Good to see you, Cloud."

Cloud smiled. "You too… Sephiroth."

There may as well have been lightning crackling between the two, and Zack started to feel like he was encroaching upon something very intimate. As the two began to make small talk, Zack wandered away, smiling.

"So, I see you got roped into this as well?" Sephiroth asked, laughing. "When Zack is around, these things tend to happen often."

"You mean getting dragged into all sorts of trouble?" Cloud retorted, also laughing. "Geez, I can't tell you how many times I've been woken up in the middle of the night for some harebrained scheme. I just want to slap him and say, 'damnit, Zack, I'm sleeping!'"

"Yes, indeed. I get those as well, typically in the middle of the work day. As if I don't have enough to deal with without him trying to get me to do something stupid! I'm sorry, Zack, would YOU like to do my paperwork for me? No? Alright, then I have to do it."

Speak of the devil, and the devil shall appear, or so they say. Not always. Zack heard the pair poking fun at him, and decided to let it go. They were hitting it off too well to intrude.

"Would you like a drink, Cloud?" Sephiroth asked, heading for the fridge. "I know you probably don't know your way around here yet. And, personally, I don't feel right getting my own drinks in a new area."

"Ah, I suppose. I think maybe I should stick to water this time, though. I don't think they want me headed back completely wasted."

Sephiroth snickered. "Aren't you a little young to be under the influence? Hm?"

"Zack's fault, completely. He twisted my arm. Zack twists arms like nobody's business," Cloud countered, attempting to be deadpan serious and failing miserably. He blushed. "How did you know, anyway?"

Turning slightly awkward, Sephiroth busied himself in the fridge while formulating a response. He returned to Cloud with bottled water.

"Well, you are under my command, cadet or no. I do have to keep an eye on things. That's my life, you know. Paperwork, and cadet intel. Sometimes they even let me out to play in the yard!"

Perhaps it was the drinks, but Cloud laughed way harder at that than absolutely necessary. It was infectious, however, and soon Sephiroth joined in as well.

"Your sense of humor is perfect!" Cloud finally exclaimed after he caught his breath. "It's quirky. You know, I would have never pegged you as quirky. I've seen you all over the papers since I was like, small. Always soooo serious and soooo commanding. But this? Excellent."

The General eyed Cloud for a moment. "Since you were small? So, what, yesterday?"

"BUUUUURRRRNNNN!" Kunsel yelled from across the room. Zack promptly elbowed him in the ribs.

"DON'T BE A DICK, KUNSEL," Cloud yelled back. "Sorry. Seriously though. Like, I've been seeing you all over the place since I was young. And small. But smaller than now. Oh dang. Am I babbling?"

The cadet was drunk. Hilariously so. It seemed to Sephiroth that Cloud was always so withdrawn, especially lately, but he was certainly coming out of his shell under the influence of both the alcohol and Zack. His fellow First was really having a positive influence in Cloud's life.

"So what you're telling me, Cloud, is that I do cadet intel and you do Sephiroth intel?" Sephiroth clarified, a twinkle in his emerald eyes.

"Ah, well…" Cloud blundered. He was so busted. "Hard not to see you in the news and the papers, you know. I mean… uhh… would you look at the time! Lights out is sooo close! That means I gotta run, and sober up! Geez. How unfortunate."

Zack came running up at that moment, as if on cue. "Dude, Cloud. It's Friday night. Lights out doesn't resume until Sunday?"

Sephiroth laughed. Cloud blushed.

"Well, I gotta stay in a routine, so I can… um… wake up in time to get to your oh-so-exciting morning classes! Duh! Gosh, Zack. I'm so tired."

The poor kid was in such a rut, having been called out by his idol and all, so Zack let him slide. Sephiroth looked disappointed that the kid was leaving, so Zack jumped in to save the day.

"So, Cloud, we usually party it up at least one day during a weekend. You should start making regular appearances! Hell, even Seph here seems more relaxed and maybe HE will make regular appearances as well!"

Daggers shot his way from both sides.

"Don't call me Seph in public," came at the same time as, "I'm not really a partier."

"Fine and no problem! We could hang just the three of us?" Zack countered, undeterred.

"We'll see," Cloud dodged. He started to sneak toward the door. "Sephiroth, it was good to see you again. Zack, I'll see you back in the dorms come Sunday, I'm sure."

The actual problem was that Cloud could feel his meds wearing off. Insecurity and serious anxiety were creeping in and his chest was starting to feel tight. Memories were surfacing, as seemed to be the norm when night fell.

"You, too, Cloud," Sephiroth replied, smiling despite his disappointment at the boy leaving so soon. He reached out and briefly touched Cloud's shoulder. "Perhaps I'll see you soon?"

Memories that had already begun to surface came out in full force as Cloud recalled a firm grip on his shoulder, forcing him to the ground. Whispered threats roared in his ears. Sheer panic set in and Cloud practically tore of the room and onto the streets.

Inside, Sephiroth and Zack alike were flabbergasted by the display.

"What just happened? I thought that was going rather well," Sephiroth wondered aloud.

Sighing, Zack clapped his superior on the shoulder knowingly. "That is something the two of you are going to have to work out. I think I know what's up, but it really isn't my place, ya know? You seem to really have hit it off with him though, yeah?"

It was then that Sephiroth also left, leaving Zack's questions verbally unanswered. That didn't matter, though. Zack already knew everything he needed to know. He glanced over at Kunsel and nodded, smiling. Everything was going according to plan.

Note:

Wow, it has been so long! Things have been absolute chaos between getting married, chasing after my toddler, establishing myself in a new career and trying to find a house. But I found time to finish this (I got inspired, and reminded, by playing FFVII in my very little free time lol). And I'm motivated to keep going! I see a lack of sleep in my future as I attempt to keep writing.

I'm just going to go ahead and take down the old version of this fic. It irritates me to no end that I rushed things so bad, and left out key elements of where I was trying to go with this! I can't stand by and let that stay public. It embarrasses me.

Thank you again to everyone that has stuck with me through this very long journey, and to those I see that have been joining the team as time has gone by. I appreciate all the support!

Things are about to get easier for our dear Cloud, but harder at the same time, as we may remember from Version 1. I really want to try to hash out this budding relationship between him and Sephiroth, but he has to work on the issues he has from being assaulted. I think perhaps I'll hold off on the physical parts for a few more chapters, or maybe I'll have him stick to the original idea of "make me forget," but in a more classy way. Not sure yet. I have all sorts of ideas, and I suppose I'll have to write, see how it sounds, and rewrite depending on how I feel.