CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The ShinRa facility, dreary, dull and with little to no expenses put towards keeping it in top shape, stood in sector zero as the one building within that sector. Beyond the building a sea of slums lay only a few hundred metres from the entranceway, while guards patrolled the vicinity near constantly to keep civilians off of ShinRa property. However, this day was much different from the usually cold, unresponsive days within the ShinRa building. A large banner had been hung from outside the building, marking the end of the cadet exams. Inside, employees, TURKS and SOLDIERS alike gathered round to help putting up banners, blowing up multicoloured balloons and releasing party poppers in all areas of the building (including the bathrooms, surprisingly) while they had a spare hour from their work. For working with ShinRa, you didn't get regular holidays, the most being a single weekend off due to illness before you would be required to return to work or be replaced. So with the end of the cadet examinations at winter each year, everyone who worked with and in ShinRa made sure to make it a special occasion, including having a large end of year party on the ground floor entrance halls.

Cloud Strife, a SOLDIER himself, hung on to the ladder he was up on, pinning the banner into the wall. Having never been present for a ShinRa party, Cloud didn't quite know what to expect. He stood on the ladder and gave the thumbs up to the third classes below him, who held the ladder as he slid down and landed with ease. Cloud took a moment to look around at the entrance hall he was helping to decorate. Along with dozens of ShinRa banners being hung up, many long metal tables had been stolen from the cafeteria and placed against the walls, now being filled with a variety of foods and drinks, including a rather large punch bowl Corporeal Riley was struggling with. Cloud jogged over to his roommate and helped him with the bowl to the table, Riley grinning and nodding in appreciation. Cloud turned and began to make his way back to the group of third classes he had grown acquainted to, wondering how many of the cadets from E dorm had made it into SOLDIER. He had heard from Zack that Kain had quit and joined the regular army shortly after he had been promoted to third class, while Rob had been thrown out for picking a fight with a rather pissed off TURK. Cloud sighed, standing by himself as the other SOLDIERS made their way to the next hall.

He had not been called to the General's office since he had been most graciously saved by the crimson commander after falling into some sort of trance with Sephiroth's sword. He shook his head as he remembered how he'd practically ran to Zack crying his eyes out, only to find he'd fallen asleep on the second class when he awoke the next morning to find an amused Genesis purring at the sight of them sleeping next to each other. Zack had promptly thrown Genesis out of the apartment, while Cloud gathered his thoughts, trying to recollect if they had done anything. He remembered Zack had kissed his forehead, and how they nearly collided under the sheets, but other than that he was sure they had only slept next to each other. Well, he had slept on Zack. He didn't know if the second class had been bothered about it until Zack had laughed fondly and rubbed his head, telling him he could come visit him any time he wanted. To which Cloud had done, arriving a few nights later with a pack of cookies he'd managed to get Reno to snag. Angeal had opened the door and upon seeing the cookies frowned.

"Are you saying my cooking isn't good enough?"

Cloud had spluttered until Zack dived in to rescue him from his gruff mentor. Cloud had mouthed a thanks and they sat watching another film whilst Angeal apprehended the cookies, taking a bite out of one and then deciding he'd keep the packet for himself. Zack and Cloud had been given one each as treats for behaving while the commander busied himself polishing his sword. He really did treat them like puppies, rubbing Zack's head and applauding him when he cracked puzzles in the films before the main character managed to. Cloud arrived the next day but was horrified to find one Genesis lying on top of Zack on the floor, Zack yelling in anger and Angeal leaving him to be molested. Cloud had entered and Genesis acted like he'd done nothing wrong, simply getting up and catching the blonde in his arms instead. This had gone on for each of the times Cloud had visited the apartment in three weeks. Now he had not seen Zack in a few days, both being busy with their duties as SOLDIERS to spare any time other than to text one another.

While Cloud had been keeping a social life, his work life was also adequate. When he wasn't taking classes with Riley, teaching the man how to use materia, Reno seemed to be his partner on every single mission he was given, except for when he and a few other third classes got sent into the sewers to fight monsters, which usually only took a few hours, then he would be dragged along to the Seventh Heaven bar where he the SOLDIERS would attempt to get him to talk to numerous girls, guys, animals. Anything to get him laid. It had become a mission, apparently, to make Cloud Strife lose his virginity before he reached second class. Cloud was bewildered and straight up refused to do anything with anyone, but when his cohorts went too far, occasionally trying things on themselves in their drunken states, Reno would never be far to whack them on the head with his steel baton.

He was due to meet Reno in the main entrance at one o'clock for his last mission of the week before he was given a weekend off for a well earned rest. Although he'd seen around four separate TURKS in the main hall since he'd arrived ten minutes ago and been hooked into helping spruce the place up, not one of them had been the coy red head. One TURK, the girl Cissnei who had helped him find training room 49 for his spar with Genesis, was helping out SOLDIERS by hanging up banners at the other side of the hall. They held the ladder for her, grinning as she made her way up, staring at her swaying behind as she did so. Cloud rolled his eyes at this sight before hearing the signature cackle of one Reno approaching him.

"Yo, Cloud!" dishevelled red hair everywhere above his goggles as usual, the TURK grinned happily, holding a party popper and exploding it in Cloud's face. Cloud's hair soon became entangled with numerous multicoloured paper lines. Reno burst into laughter as Cloud stared back at him, exhaling lowly.

"Hi, Reno." he muttered, pulling out the strands from his hair as the TURK began to wheeze as he tried to breath.

"You should seen your face!" he leaned forward, hands on his knees as he continued to laugh hysterically. Cloud blinked, hearing the sound of bending metal. He followed the sound, ignoring Reno as his mako enhanced ears picked up on the ladder slowly collapsing beneath the female TURK, who was none the wiser, the SOLDIERS gathered around her below starting to back away. Cloud rushed forward as Cissnei's eyes widened, the girl letting out a loud scream as the ladder gave in and fell apart, the TURK falling down. The third class dived through the crowd, catching Cissnei in his arms and landing on his back, sliding across the floor until his head bumped softly against the wall.

Reno stood up and turned, looking around when he noticed Cloud wasn't there anymore. He approached the awed group, shoving them out of the way with his metal baton, then burst into laughter yet again.

"Cloudy! I turn my back for a minute and you've got angels falling from the sky!"

Cloud grunted and sat up, rubbing his head where he'd hit the wall, the TURK in his arms staring at him with a bewildered expression. When he eventually opened his eyes to look at the girl on his lap, she was giggling.

"You! You're the smelly cadet!"

The crowd around began to laugh as Cloud flustered, Cissnei getting to her feet with ease and smiling widely. Cloud groaned and pulled himself up, leaning back against the wall for a moment before he turned to her.

"A thanks would've been alright…" he murmured, looking down at his feet as he rubbed his head where most likely a bruise would be forming.

Cissnei giggled, tilting her head to the side.

"You're Zack's friend!"

Cloud simply nodded as Reno began shooing away the SOLDIERS and employees gathered around them, hissing and spitting at them like a wild animal as he swung his baton around. Reno eventually returned to his side, grinning.

"Cissnei, you know my friend Cloud?"

"Yes, we met a few months ago." Cissnei had a thumb on her lower lip, as though she was contemplating, "you had just taken him through the sewers…"

"Oh. My bad." Reno snickered as he dropped an arm around Cloud's shoulders, starting to pull him away, "ah well, see ya later Ciss!"

"Wait."

Reno turned to face the girl, dragging Cloud with him. He grinned, patting his baton against his shoulder opposite the third class he had captured in his hold.

"Finally gonna take me up on my offer of a date?" Reno sniggered, keeping Cloud under his arm as the girl smiled sweetly.

"No, not you Reno. Cloud?"

Cloud blinked. He turned his sapphire eyes up to face the flustering girl, who was smiling lightly. Reno was holding Cloud with a disgruntled look on his features, facing away from her as he was rejected yet again. Cloud rubbed the back of his head when Reno finally released him and prowled off towards the entrance doors, not wanting to hear their plans. The girl stood patiently before him, only a few feet away, holding her hands in front of her lower stomach as was quiet other than a few giggles escaping her. Employees passing by them, Cloud didn't want to show her up in front of the facility, so tried to reply as nicely as possible.

"Ciss, I don't think that's a good idea…" the blonde murmured, practically feeling the girl's hopes shatter before him. However, Cissnei did not act hurt. She simply laughed softly.

"I was joking, silly." she mused as she leaned into him, pretending to sniff him, "but at least you smell a bit better now…only a bit." she smiled and turned, trotting off into the crowds. Cloud blinked, thinking that that went surprisingly well. He rubbed the back of his head and followed Reno's trail out the door, finding the TURK sitting half way down the stairs near the metal banister, grumbling to himself.

"Yo." Reno muttered when Cloud took a seat next to him, "how'd it go?"

"It didn't go anywhere." Cloud replied, the red head perking up slightly as he replied, "I don't like her. Not in that way, at least. She said she was joking, anyway."

"You idiot! Why'd you reject the hottest bird in ShinRa?!" Reno threw his arms up in the air, furious, "are you ever going to get laid?!" when Cloud ignored him, the TURK let out a frustrated sigh, "ugh. You're a moron."

Cloud and Reno made their way through the slums, after Cloud tried to explain to Reno that while he was not asexual, he had never found anyone who he was sexually interested in.

"You're so gay." Reno poked fun at the third class' dilemma, Cloud rolling his eyes as they passed a couple of kids arguing with a stray dog.

"I am not."

"Then why've you never had a girlfriend?"

"I have."

"Then how are you still a virgin?!"

Cloud could have tackled Reno into the nearest manhole when he let out this shocked statement, causing quite a few civilians to start chuckling at them. They stopped in the sector five slum market, looking around for any suspicious activity.

"Remind me what we're looking for?" Cloud sighed as the red head began to stuff his face with a hot dog he swiped.

"Some kid stole Reeve Tuesti's wallet." Reno informed, "so basically any kids."

"…We're out searching for a wallet?"

"Yo, we can't all go out fighting monsters!" Reno sneered, swallowing the last piece of indeterminable meat and swinging his baton around in his hand, leaning back against a stall, "besides, the wallet had a couple of key cards to get into the ShinRa upper floors. If AVALANCHE got a hold of those, we'd be pretty fucked." The stall owner ignored them as Reno explained, more concerned with her stock than the two teenagers standing close by. Cloud nodded, examining the market for any odd activity. When he finished his search, he felt a hand pulling on his shirt.

"Hey, Cloud."

Cloud blinked, turning to find Aeris smiling up at him. Cloud beamed as he saw she was holding a woven basket of flowers from her church, a mixture of ivory white and butter yellow petals hanging from her arms.

"Aeris." he closed his eyes as Aeris placed a flower into his hair, a golden one the same colour as his locks. She giggled when it sat perfectly upon a couple of spikes, drawing attention from the TURK next to him.

"Cloud, do you just attract girls? Wait, Aeris? Cloud, you two know each other?" Reno was clearly confused as he was sure Aeris had not been in the church when he first met Cloud. Aeris pursed her lips slightly as Cloud came up with a white lie.

"I bought a flower from her a few days ago." when Reno ah'd, the two cetras relaxed. Reno grinned and held his hand out to the basket, but was quickly whacked away by Aeris.

"Ow!"

"You have to pay!"

Protesting, "You gave Cloud one for free, yo!" Reno moaned.

"He's special!" Aeris snapped back at the TURK, Cloud chuckling at the two arguing. Reno grinned as Aeris giggled softly, then Cloud noticed the children in the market.

"Hey, Reno." he gestured to them, and the TURK took off in flight, chasing after them and shouting at the top of his lungs. The children scattered but Reno managed to grab one, dragging the girl kicking and screaming over to them. The civilians raised eyebrows but did not interfere, for they knew a dark blue suited TURK when they saw one. Reno dropped the girl to the floor between the three but kept a hand on her shoulder when she tried to make away under their legs.

"Tell us where the wallet is!" Reno snapped when he picked up the girl by her arms and held her in front of his face. The girl promptly kicked him in the neck, leaving him winded as he dropped her and she made her escape.

Cloud blocked her path, catching her in his arms.

"Shh, we're not going to hurt you." he tried to calm the kicking, screaming child but she would not silence. Not until Aeris knelt down in front of her.

"He's right you know, Cloud couldn't hurt a fly." she smiled, holding out a flower to the girl. Cloud frowned, knowing full well Aeris was bluffing. She shot him a look to keep quiet as she turned to Reno, "what is it you're looking for?"

"Ugh," Reno ran a hand over his neck, brushing the muck away, "Reeve Tuesti's wallet."

"…What does it look like?"

"Yo, I don't know. What a fucking wallet looks like I guess?" Reno muttered, Cloud loosening his grip on the child.

"Hun, we'd like your help." Aeris began, smiling softly as she placed the white flower into the little girl's hair, "we're looking for a wallet, have you or friends seen any?"

"Why would I help him! He's a ShinRa dog!" the girl protested, struggling in Cloud's arms again, "ugh! Let me go!"

Cloud opened his lips to speak but Aeris silenced him, pressing a finger against her lips.

"I'd really like to know where the wallet went, hun, it's really important. It belonged to Cloud's father." she gestured to the blonde, who looked confused at first, then nodded. The little girl scowled, then shrugged.

"I don't know! Marc found one yesterday but he sold."

"Who did she sell it too?" Reno questioned, suddenly leaning over them. The girl hissed at him. He hissed back, sticking out his tongue.

"You're weird!"

"Well, you're short." The girl pouted at the TURK as Cloud released her, she turned to the flower girl.

"I really don't know. Can I go? Mum will be worried." she pleaded. Aeris nodded and let the girl pass, who walked at first, then ran full speed. Reno chased after her, giving up once she vanished in the crowd.

"Great. We lost our only lead!" he ran his hands through his hair, "Tseng is gonna kill me, yo!"

Aeris and Cloud smiled to each other, Aeris stroking one of the petals of the flower in Cloud's hair. Reno sniggered at the two, noticing the way Cloud looked at the cetra as though they had known each other for years.

"Yo, Aeris. Come to the party?"

Aeris turned to the TURK as he put his baton away into the strap on his side, running his free hand through his hair with his back slouched, attempting to appear seductive. Cloud scoffed internally.

"Party?" Aeris questioned, her green eyes large with interest, "Cloud, you never said there was a party."

"That's because Cloud is a homo." Reno sneered as Cloud rolled his eyes, turning on the spot and facing away from them.

"I thought it was ShinRa employees only." he muttered, Aeris picking up on this and giving Reno an odd look. Reno shook his hands in the air.

"I can get you in! Only, if you be my date." he grinned. Cloud practically face-planted onto the ground. Aeris pressed a thumb to her lower lip, humming, then nodded.

"Ok then."

"Yes! I'll come pick you up at the church at six, alright?" when Aeris nodded, Reno fist pumped in the air and began to make his way back towards the ShinRa building. Cloud blinked repeatedly, not quite believing what he heard.

"Aeris, aren't you and Zack-?" he frowned when Aeris tilted her head, smiling softly.

"We broke up, Cloud."

"…What?" he lowered his eyebrows profusely, "when?"

"After we told him about your past." she continued to smile softly, though Cloud could see the sadness in her eyes, "it's alright, I'm ok."

"But, you two-?" Cloud shook his head, "I thought-"

"Cloud. What matters in a relationship is that both people are happy. Zack wasn't happy, so I let him go." Aeris informed, looking down at her flowers as she willed tears back, then smiled, "I'll see you tonight, yeah?" Cloud could only nod as she turned and started to disappear within the crowds, completely shocked, his heart slowing to a near stop.

AN ;; Reno, you dog! Going after newly single ladies! Ah well, perhaps he can give Aeris some happiness after her split with Zack. Meanwhile Cloud is very 'wtf' about the situation as he thought Zack was madly in love with Aeris. ~