Cloud felt so confused as they headed up the mountain to the reactor with Tifa leading them. Now that he was no longer alone with Sephiroth, he didn't quite know what to think, especially since Sephiroth was in his coldly distant professional mode while in public. Cloud didn't like it, he was unable to admit his idol had raped him, and seeing Sephiroth like this made Cloud extremely uncomfortable. Or was he mad at Cloud for not taking his eyes off their guide? Tifa was prettier than he remembered, and he wondered if he should let her know who he is. Cloud sighed…he wasn't sure himself who he was now. He was eager for the mission to be over so he could be alone with Sephiroth again and he could explain things to Cloud.
Sephiroth had indeed noticed how Cloud seemed to be staring at their guide, and it did make him mad, but not at his lover, he couldn't be mad at Cloud. He was mad at Tifa…she had interested Reno but rejected him, was she just another one of those slutty teases that Reno loved so much? She obviously had no problem exposing herself. She would never have Cloud, he'd see to that. His possessiveness over Cloud surprised him with its intensity. Emotions were a detriment to his line of work, and he had no life outside Shin-Ra Corporation. But Cloud…he belonged to Sephiroth alone. He didn't mind Cloud's friendship with Zack, that wasn't a threat to him. After this mission was over, he would take his first vacation, he had plenty of days off that he never used. Cloud would come with him, and he would really have his lover all to himself then.
Cloud's confusion only worsened after the trip to the reactor. Zack wouldn't tell him what happened, or where Sephiroth was. He did suggest that Cloud talk to Tifa, but Cloud couldn't bring himself to do that, or even tell Zack why. Not only was he just a lowly infantryman, but there was Sephiroth in his life now, but he didn't know to what end. Had Sephiroth lied to him when he said he'd never leave Cloud? He shuddered at the very thought…he needed to believe that Sephiroth was incapable of being anything but a hero. Cloud smiled at how special it made him feel that someone like Sephiroth wanted to keep Cloud to himself.
Sephiroth refused to attack the inn when he unleashed his fury upon the town, in case Cloud was there. He had other plans for him, after all. He would rescue his mother, and take her and Cloud somewhere safe. Then he would destroy anything that stood in his way…he would rule this planet with both of them at his side.
Cloud saw Zack head towards the mountain reactor, and he followed slowly at first, in shock at hearing people say Sephiroth had gone mad. When he heard someone mention that Tifa had gone there to confront Sephiroth, something broke inside of him, and he ran the rest of the way. The sight of Tifa and Zack's injured bodies engulfed him with a wrath fueled by betrayal.
"How dare you?!" Sephiroth was outraged that it was his chosen lover who dared attack him and his mother…his favoritism had its limits, after all. When Cloud insisted on fighting, Sephiroth skewered him in kind to try and reason with him. "Don't test me!" he gave his lover one final warning. His eyes widened when Cloud somehow found the strength to gain control of the sword away from him. "No…impossible!" Those were what everyone assumed to be Sephiroth's final words.
Cloud felt dead inside as he stumbled out of the Jenova chamber, falling down the stairs and collapsing next to Zack.
"Are you serious? We have to go back? That place is a hellhole!" Reno's voice crackled with disgust over the helicopter's radio as he was flying himself and Rude back to headquarters.
"It is now. You're on cleanup duty. Head to the reactor first." Tseng's voice responded.
Reno got a pouty expression on his face as he turned his bird around and headed back to Nibelheim. "What the…" Shock at the wreckage he witnessed as they overflew the charred ground now covered his face. He and Rude cautiously entered the reactor on full alert, Rude hurrying to check the vitals of the three survivors they found there while Reno stood guard with his weapon on its highest voltage setting. Reno recognized them all, but Zack was the only one he hoped was still alive. They were getting low on First Class SOLDIERs, with no likely candidates in the available pool. That infantryman was easily replaceable, and the girl…well breasts didn't have to be natural to interest him these days, but it would still be a pity that she wouldn't grow up.
"They shouldn't still be alive." Rude commented as he radioed for help. "HQ says we stay here til Hojo arrives. Apparently he wants new test subjects." he told his partner.
"No surprise there. What about the girl?" Reno asked.
"I'll take her." Zangan said from the doorway leading outside, catching Reno and Rude by surprise. A few other of the surviving villagers were behind him.
"She's all yours then." Reno gestured for Rude to hand her over once he was finished administering first aid.
"It'll be alright, Tifa." Zangan said as he carried her outside.
Cloud briefly came to when he heard the familiar voices, twitching when he heard Tifa's name. One man's voice triggered a feeling of being violated, but he passed out again before identifying it.