A/N: I'm not even going to try and make excuses. It involves a combo of multiple jobs and laziness. If you're still reading this, you're amazing. No, really. You have the patience and memory of a Saint. I've already started the next chapter, so, y'know. There's more on the back-burner being...burned out. OK, blah blah, please enjoy! I'm sorry for such a mammoth delay and thank you (truly) for your support.
[ Week VIII ] Sunday
Despite not setting his alarm, Cloud awoke at 5AM. Four months at ShinRa had etched a new routine into him. He sighed and stretched when he read 'SUN' on his digital clock. What was he supposed to do today? Sunday, there couldn't be much, there never was. With a gasp Cloud jerked and sprang out of bed. He stood there, bare feet tingling against the cold floor and laughed. Were his memories correct?
Tousling his hair and rubbing his eyes, Cloud rushed to the showers. He couldn't stop smiling and his fingers trembled, even when he stood under a warm shower head. He let the water pour over his face until his eyes felt stuck together, when he realised: where was he supposed to be meeting Zack? Groaning at their idiocy - a knot forming in his stomach - Cloud rinsed and dressed. For the next few hours he and his classmates had cleaning duty in the mess hall, but did Zack know that? Would he wait? What time did he expect Cloud to show up?
Striding to the cafeteria, preoccupied by these questions and gnawing on his lip, he was surprised when someone sprung from a door on the left. Cloud yelped and tried not to grimace when he recognised who it was.
"Good morning, Professor Hojo," he mumbled.
Hojo's eyes widened and he ignored the clipboard he'd been studying.
"Why, you look familiar," he said. "Very familiar." The greasy man narrowed his eyes and adjusted his glasses to read the name tag on Cloud's uniform. "Ah, Strife! Yes, an interesting case." Cloud took a step backwards, unable to shake off the impression that Hojo had never really forgotten. "Why didn't you return for your check up, hmm? It's been almost a month. How's your head? Been feeling ill at all? Nauseous? Stiff joints? Itchy eyes?"
"No - I've been fine." Cloud forced a smile. "I should go. Thank you for your concern."
"Ah, ah! Not so fast." Professor Hojo snatched his elbow and held it firm. "You have unfinished...therapy to undergo."
"I-I'm sure I don't need it anymore." He tugged to free himself but the old man had a bonier grip than Cloud would've given him credit for. "Sir, I've been told I'm fine. I have to be on parade."
Hojo smiled, or Cloud supposed that's what he was trying to do. It was more like a leer. "And who told you that? A doctor? Hollander maybe? Oh, but that's right. I'm the only qualified super-scientist around here now!"
"Er..."
"Exactly. You can't trust an unprofessional opinion on these things. You hurt yourself pretty badly. I remember, I would never forget a worthy specimen - I mean patient." The man chortled. "Forgive me, I've been teaching nurses in basic-training this morning how to do an autopsy. My mind is tangled with terminology!"
He released Cloud's arm and peered into his eyes. As he considered fleeing from the unnerving professor, he thought he saw a flicker of concern. What was it that terrified Zack? Was it some irrational phobia Cloud didn't know about? Maybe Hojo was just weird. Some people were like that. He was sure Director Lazard wouldn't employ anyone with malicious intent. Thinking about it, what could Hojo get away with? If harm came to Cloud surely it would be noticed and Hojo would lose his job. Why would this lonely (and admittedly creepy) man risk that over an insignificant cadet? There was no reason for this man to wish him harm.
"That's OK," Cloud murmured. "What's wrong?"
Without replying, Hojo removed a torch from his pocket and shined the light into each eye. "Don't wriggle, boy, I can't get a good look otherwise."
"But, what's wrong?" Cloud stared at Hojo's wrinkled forehead as the light blotted out the rest of the corridor.
"I'm not certain." Hojo's creep-tastic leer returned. "But your pupils don't - well, they don't look right. You're not on drugs, are you?"
"What? Of course not!" Did it look that way? He tried to edge away again, his stomach grumbling. "I really need to -"
Hojo glared. It was the kind of glare Cloud's instructor made when a cadet spoke out of turn, or the look his mother gave when she knew the truth.
"I think you should have your follow up inspection," said Hojo. "It won't take too long. If you don't, I'll be speaking to your commander." Another warbling laugh escaped him. "Come along, I've things to be doing, experiments to be run, patients to examine... I'm certain I know just what to do with you - what's wrong with you, I mean. A slight reaction to iodine, perhaps?"
"But I'm not..."
"Cloud," he said with a stiff lip. Stepping to the side, Hojo waited for Cloud to begin heading in the direction of the labs.
"I haven't given my instructor any warning," he tried as a last attempt to bail.
Rolling his eyes and waving his clipboard, Hojo began steering him forward by the shoulder. "I'll write you a note." Cloud couldn't help but think of Zack handing him a scribbled-on bit of paper. "Goodness," Hojo muttered to himself. "The young have no regard for their health or how useful they can be. You'll do nicely, nicely..."
Sighing, Cloud let himself be directed down the corridor. He supposed it was better than swilling a dirty mop across the floor or listening to Yuki boast about the latest slum-girl he'd coerced. Would a letter from Hojo hold the same amount of calibre as one from Zack? It wasn't worth worrying about. Instead, he peered at what the professor carried close to his chest. The clipboard in Hojo's hand was battered and he tried to catch a glimpse of what was written on it.
"What did you use to help me recover, sir?" he asked.
"Hmm?" Hojo peered at him from under his round glasses. "A new formula I've been working on. Nothing a healthy SOLDIER in training can't handle."
"But I'm not a SOLDIER yet."
"Yet. I've, er, I've read fascinating reports about you. All commendable."
There were commendable reports about himself? Cloud grinned, wondering which subject his instructors thought he was best at. He personally felt it was combat. When his next report card came through, he fantasised about seeing 'outstanding' from Takihiro. With Zack's lessons in the VT-room he knew it would be a kick in the teeth for Takihiro to concede that Cloud was a fair fighter.
"Thank you. I didn't realise."
"I said 'commendable'. That's nothing to be proud of yet. I'm sure that'll soon change."
The only person they came across was Sephiroth and Cloud saluted him, staring after the great General once he had passed. Had he just received a small nod from the most famous man in the Eastern continent? He grinned to himself, watching Sephiroth's hair sway from left to right. Today was going to be awesome. Cloud had passed the General and later he was going to be spending time with Zack. Could a cadet get any luckier?
In Hojo's lab the lights were tinted green and yellow. It turned the metallic surfaces blue and hindered how well the corners of the room could be seen. A glass cabinet on the far side held numerous unidentified objects and liquids. One was a decanter filled with floating amber beads. Cloud stared at them, fascinated by the display of colours and how they refracted light.
"Take a seat," said Hojo. He gestured to a reclining chair opposite his desk. The fettered surface was well worn. Cloud lowered into it and perched on the edge, too uncomfortable to consider relaxing into its wide arms. He stared at Hojo as he snapped on synthetic gloves and removed a green vial from the cabinet. The professor shook the vial and the liquid inside glowed. Removing a petri-dish he scrapped out a bit of the gel it contained with a spatula and transfered this sample to the glowing vial. Shaking it again, the vial turned turquoise.
"What is that?"
Hojo's mind had wandered and he looked up as if he didn't know where the voice had come from. "Just something to finish off what we started."
Cloud scrunched his nose.
From the back of the cabinet Hojo now removed a needle. He slotted it onto the vial and as Hojo approached with the needle raised, Cloud slid back into his seat - shoulders raised. It was Zack's fault he was imagining all kinds of awful things in that vial. It was silly to assume this slightly insane professor would do anything irrational. At a gesture from Hojo he pushed his sleeve up and bore his arm. A wet swab was then brushed over the area about to be pierced.
"This might sting," Hojo mumbled.
Cloud stared at the floor and pressed his lips together, trying to keep his breathing steady. When the tip sank into his flesh he winced but nothing more, refusing to appear weak. Cloud felt the liquid enter his arm. A steady stream that seemed to increase the pressure in his veins. It began to burn and he clenched his jaw, eyes squeezed shut. "And this... How will it complete the treatment exactly?" he whispered.
"Hopefully, you'll never be as fragile as you are now."
"What?" He glanced across at Hojo to find the man staring at him, watching his face. The burning reached his fingertips and turned into a tidal wave of agony. Cloud almost yanked his arm away, gripping the chair until his knuckles felt frozen. There was no one else around. The only person who had seen him with the professor was Sephiroth - if the General had cared enough to notice him. It was only when he saw Hojo standing opposite him that Cloud realised the needle was gone.
He shook in his seat, unable to form words with a numb mouth. All he could say was 'ow' over and over again. The flames beneath his skin spread throughout his body. Head too heavy, limbs like ice, organs squeezing and convulsing. Cloud whimpered before realising he should trust Zack's judgement from now on. If there was a 'from now on'.
It was one in the afternoon. From experience, Zack knew that the cadets had finished their work an hour ago. He strolled back and forth outside the gates, swinging his arms. How stupid of him not to mention a time and place. Would Cloud even think to come here? Beginning to feel impatient after a long hour in the sun, Zack decided it was time to hunt him down. What a nuisance. ShinRa was enormous. Half the day would probably consist in finding Cloud. If he didn't have a PHS, Zack was going to take him out and ensure that he bought one.
The courtyards were quiet and no one had seen Cloud Strife. Staff in the main entrance said they had swapped duty since this morning and the cadet barracks were full of boisterous recruits, but no Cloud. Where was he supposed to begin searching? Did Cloud have a place where he liked to hang out? Maybe Cloud was looking for him, too, and they kept missing each other.
Checking the time, Zack noted it was 1:45PM. He huffed, already fed up of searching. He took a deep breath and stopped for a drink from one of the fountains, then resumed the search with determination. If only ShinRa wasn't so damn big or the weather so hot.
When Zack made to leave the cadet-area, someone tapped him on the shoulder. Turning, he came face to face with a tall cadet he thought he recognised. There was something familiar about his large forehead and plum lips.
"Can I help you?"
"Good day, sir." The cadet gave a small bow. "Did I hear you asking for Cadet Strife?"
"You did. Have you seen him?"
"No. He wasn't on cleaning duty with the rest of us."
Zack placed his hands on his hips, troubled. He couldn't help being concerned, but he was Cloud's superior and he would prefer not to tell him off for skipping duties. "Why's that?"
"I don't know, sir. He just didn't show up. I didn't see him in the canteen for breakfast, either."
Cloud wouldn't skip his duties just to meet up with Zack, would he? If that was the case, Zack would have to be 'responsible' and reprimand him. In a way, the idea that Cloud would do such a thing made him smile. Daft bird. If that wasn't the case however, then where'd he go?
"Do you know where he might have gone?" Zack asked.
The cadet shook his head. "I'm sorry."
"Not to worry. Keep your eyes open. If you see him, tell him he's in almost-trouble with Zack." He noticed the cadet's face sour as he came to attention, making Zack unease; twisting his stomach like a punch to the abs. What had he done to offend this guy? "What's your name?"
"Yuki Enix, sir," his attitude crept into his voice. "I was with you during the ShinRa Infiltration. Have you forgotten?"
He realised at once that he'd offended Yuki. Zack favoured Cloud too openly and he struggled to hide how ashamed he felt. Professionalism had never been Zack's strength. He wanted to be everyone's friend, even if he knew this was impossible, and vowed to himself - on the spot - not to allow any cadet to think he was undervalued. "Enix, of course. Thank you for your help."
"I know you think Cloud is above average, but you should get to know him."
"Excuse me?"
"He's good with a sword but you don't know what he's really like."
"'What he's like?' Are you bad-mouthing your peers?"
"No sir. Good luck searching. I have to go." Yuki left with a curt nod.
Zack wasn't sure why he felt threatened. He watched Yuki return to the barracks and then headed off.
Cicadas had nested in the few trees planted on campus and Zack stopped in the main courtyard to think. He watched cloud-shadows pass over the fake grass and let the droning insects numb his concerns. It seemed important to understand Yuki's words. The glass buildings towering around Zack intensified the sunlight and, overhead, he heard a chopper. The world was moving but, right now, his worries seemed greater than the world.
He headed up to the virtual training floor and stared out one of the windows. Midgar crawled with activity, thousands of people. It overwhelmed him and Zack sat on one of the benches. Searching for Cloud in a place like ShinRa was pointless without clues. As he sat listening to the lights humming with electricity and the wind against the glass, Zack realised what was going on.
Cloud stood him up.
This had never happened to him before and imagining that Cloud would be the first to leave him hanging left a stabbing sickness inside. Zack pictured Cloud's sweet face and tried to recall the eagerness in his eyes, but he couldn't. Perhaps he had seen only what he wanted to see. You don't know what he's really like. Was Cloud a guy who enjoyed attention?
Zack hid his face in his hands, humiliated.
His PHS buzzed and it was a moment before he answered the call. "What's up?"
"Hey buddy, wanna hang out today? I know you don't have any work." It was Kunsel and Zack struggled to reply. He wanted to mope and nurse his injury. "Zack?" But he realised Kunsel would make him feel better.
"Yeah, sure. Where abouts? My place?" He hadn't invited Kunsel over in too long.
"For real? Yes! You're quarters are sweet. I'll be there in half an hour."
"Alright, see ya."
"You OK?"
"I'll tell you when I see you." Zack hung up and stared at the floor for what seemed like ages. Rooted to the spot, his thoughts spiralled around Cloud and Kunsel. Did he wait and hope that this was a misunderstanding, or did he give into Kunsel?
No one came to the virtual training rooms and, when he left, Cloud was still no where to be seen.
