Chapter 21

Cloud really hated his life sometimes. This was one of those moments. He was crying again and Mother was most certainly pissed. He had a killer headache (courtesy of said Mother) and he had really thought he was a better liar than that. It was hard to believe his skills had gotten this bad.

"Sh, don't cry. Tell us what's wrong, Chocobo."

Cloud felt a flare of irritation and fondness at the familiar nickname. His heart fluttered nervously as he realized the position he was in. Genesis was wrapped around him from behind while Sephiroth was looming over both of them protectively. A part of him wanted to lean into the pair while the rest of his common sense told him to get the fuck away from them and stop angering Mother. He supposed that was the part of him that actually cared what happened to him. Reluctantly, he pulled away from the double embrace and rubbed his tears away. In his mind, Mother gave her approval.

"… I need to go, sirs. I'm sorry you had to see that and it won't happen again." It was more of a promise to himself than the First Class pair. Before either could respond, he walked out, the door closing quietly behind him.

"… Why can't my life be easy for once?"

"I wonder if I went insane and tried to destroy Gaia in a previous life. She just hates us so much." The unlucky pair looked forlornly at the closed door but neither reached for it. If Cloud didn't want them, they wouldn't push until he was ready.

424242

Cloud had passed.

He had passed with full scores, ensuring his Class. He was officially the fifth First Class SOLDIER. Mother was nearly purring in happiness, surprising him so much he nearly lost his composure in the room full of former cadets. Quickly shaking his head, he headed to his bunker to grab his bags. They were moving the new SOLDIERS into the SOLDIER barracks. Well, it was more like a SOLDIER dorm for Cloud since he was a First Class and got his own room on the 60th floor but he digressed.

After dropping their bags off, the other new SOLDIERS and Cloud were herded into a room for an official speech by Sephiroth himself. Cloud carefully avoided eye contact with the Firsts during the assembly and hurried into his room once they were dismissed. He quickly swiped his key card and closed the door behind him. Exhausted, he lay down on the empty mattress. He would put his stuff away later.

Once he fell asleep, Mother rushed over Cloud's mind like a river, surrounding it completely. He felt Her pleasure at his success but she was still upset with him for the crying incident earlier. In his sleep, he whimpered softly as She punished him for his disloyalty. It hurt like hell but it was for his own good, right?

424242

"Are you sure it's a good idea to leave Spiky alone?" Zack asked worriedly. Sephiroth looked a bit unsure but he nodded anyways.

"We should give him some time to think things over before we make anymore advances. He also needs time to settle into SOLDIER." The four Firsts in Angeal and Zack's room felt a burst of pride at that. Their little Chocobo was a First Class SOLDIER! They had all known he had had talent but the last person to enter First Class immediately after cadet training had been Zack! And Zack had been 18 when he had passed, a full year older than the little cad- no SOLDIER.

Angeal sighed at his friends' reluctance to approach Cloud but he couldn't force them to do anything. He had a little nagging feeling that they had very little time before he would be lost but he pushed it away. Thoughts like those wouldn't do him any good….. Angeal still felt a bit worried, though. Maybe, just maybe, he could have Reno poke around in Cloud's room? Or install a video camera? It was dishonest and a terrible invasion of privacy but that nagging feeling just wouldn't go away. Besides, Reno still owed him for that one incident with the stripper, the flaming chinchilla, and Hojo.

Angeal shook himself out of his thoughts and scowled good-naturedly at the pair of lovers standing in his living room. "If that's all settled, Zack and I have some things we need to get to." His friends seemed too distracted to hear properly but their bodies responded and they left. Zack turned to his mentor, confused.

"What do we have to do?" he asked curiously. Zack certainly didn't remember anything that needed attending to. Angeal just grinned before leaning forward to touch his lips to Zack's.

The kiss became hungry and, soon, Angeal had his tongue in Zack's mouth and said puppy sitting in his lap on the couch.

"Mmh…"

Zack ground his hips slowly, drawing a low growl from his lover. Angeal's eyes snapped open and watched him heatedly before he smirked widely. The First Class ground his hips harder against Zack, earning a moan. His hands roamed over Zack's toned body, mapping out the sharp planes and muscles. Oh how Angeal loved his puppy. Fuck Reno and clear thinking. All he needed right now was his little lover and a bottle of lube.

424242

"Hello?" Aerith peered curiously at the strange figure that had landed in her garden. He was obviously a SOLDIER but she didn't know enough about them to know his Class. His face was also covered. "Mr. SOLDIER? Are you okay?"

The figure stirred and a low groan came from beneath the helmet. Aerith giggled lightly and clapped her hands together.

"You're awake! Hooray!"

The SOLDIER sat up and turned, obviously looking at her. It was just too bad that she couldn't see his face. Then again, this was a SOLDIER: a dog of Shinra. Should she really trust him? Gaia murmured soothingly. Yep. Aerith could trust him.

"I'm Aerith! And you are?" Aerith imagined the SOLDIER blinking curiously at her. Oddly enough, she imagined his eyes to be a dark purple; a strange color for SOLDIERS who normally had bright glowing green or blue eyes.

"…Kunsel. Um, where am I exactly?" the newly named Kunsel asked.

"You're in Sector 5. Are you lost?" The SOLDIER shook his head.

"I'll be fine. I think I can make my way back from here." He stood abruptly once he realized he was sitting in the flower girl's garden.

"Oh hell. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Aerith giggled at the strange SOLDIER but managed to shake her head to show he was forgiven. Kunsel sighed and rubbed his chin thoughtfully before grinning.

"I'll take you out in exchange. Here. Take my PHS number." The helmeted figure thrust a piece of paper into her hand before waving goodbye and rushing out. Aerith smiled gently.