I don't own FFVII or any of its characters.
"Is anyone in?"
"I'm afraid not, sir," answers the perky young receptionist with a frown. "All scientific personnel are out in the field today."
The young woman's eyes rest on Sephiroth's face a moment too long.
"But, I could try calling someone if you'd like," she offers in a pretty little tone.
The General draws on his charm, careful to make it cloying and thick.
"That won't be necessary," he husks with certain eye contact. "I will be fine on my own."
"If you need anything…" the hopeful voice trails off.
"Only that you keep this our little secret."
His deep voice trails after him as he walks down Hojo's white halls. The girl sighs with youthful dreams after him. It never occurs to the young woman to check her visitor for clearance.
Sephiroth nearly chuckles to himself over the ease of his entrance. He travels down the sterile passageways, his boots the only constant sound. These labs have not been important since he and Aerith were children. With only memories to guide him, the white haired man slowly finds his destination.
The door creaks and the scent of old papers drifts by his nose. He lets out an unknown breath. He was not always strong and if Hojo had have caught him in here as a child; the punishment would have left him screaming. But, no one is here now and Sephiroth is one of the most powerful people on Gaia. He punches in the code without hesitation.
The archive casing separates with a burst of putrid steam. Sephiroth's eyes gleam with all the potential secrets he may uncover. He is one step closer.
One step closer to his ultimate goal.
He came here for answers. Make no mistake-they will be gotten.
"Cry all you want, Strife. It won't do you any good."
Cloud spits blood from his mouth and allows his tears to break the air. Gone is the timid boy who cannot look anyone in the eye. Left behind is an animal focused on survival and escape.
"You can't even defend yourself," sneers one of his attackers."It's a joke that you're even in SOLDIER, much less Brigadier General Fair's pet."
The older boy kicks Cloud for good measure.
The blond gasps at the pain and grunts once the wave is over. The pain might send him over the edge. He will do what he can to survive and they will never see him coming.
He flexes his fist, feeling the power buzz in his veins. They will be lucky to get out with a broken bone or two. Something dangerous and untapped lives inside him.
His knuckles crack and he feels the adrenaline thrumming as he rushes forward. He will definitely put someone in the hospital today. Afterwards, they will shun him as if it was his fault. The children in Nibelheim did, there is little reason not to expect the same from the little tyrants of Midgard.
The floor starts to splinter under the pressure of his fingertips. A few of the boys seem to realize something is wrong and wisely back away. Cloud can feel himself drifting away. It will be too late for the foolish others.
"What's all this?" roars a distant voice and Cloud slumps in relief when he realizes it is his mentor.
"Names and rank," the furious man growls.
The bullying cadets snap at attention and one bursts into tears.
"Now!" Zack hisses, the look foreign on the normally friendly commander.
One by one, his assailants list their details. Zack barks out threats and harsh punishments for all of them. Cloud does not feel an ounce of pity.
"Are you alright?" Zack shifts his attention to the injured boy in a much gentler tone.
To his credit, the cadet tries to nod his head yes. He is fooling no one. The black haired man lends a comforting arm and helps his mentee to stand.
"They got you good," he whistles at the blue and black littering the child's face. "Lazard is going to kill me..."
"I'm sorry," Cloud rasps out, apologizing for the things he is and the things he is not.
"Gaia," the 2ND swears. "Can you wait here? I've got take these little bastards to their commanding officer."
The teenager nods though he would like nothing more than sob of his teacher's shoulder.
Zack gives him a reassuring pat and a crumpled tissue to catch the blood.
"Kadaj," he calls from over his shoulder, "stay with him."
Cloud lifts his blue eyes to seas of jealous green.
"Kadaj."
The light haired child squares his shoulders and makes his glare harder.
"Kadaj."
Eternities later, the boy stomps forward and takes a frigid stance next to his nemesis.
Zack smiles at his son, which seems to ease the preteen's harshness.
"Thank you," he grins at his trying boy before he turns to haul one of the offenders by the back of his collar.
The bully whimpers under the tight grip. Zack grins ferally at him in return. He has little use for bullies.
"You better pray the Director is out of his office."
And, neither does Lazard Deusericus.
Kadaj's green eyes make him uncomfortable, more so than the glares and leers of his tormentors. He feels stripped bare and somehow that hurts far more than any punch or kick.
"I'm stronger than this," he mumbles without meaning to.
The other boy floats disinterested eyes at him and snorts.
"Getting your butt kicked is a weird way to show it."
The blond flinches then gathers his courage. There is something about Kadaj, with his acid tongue and hateful eyes, that draws him in; that begs him to get closer.
"You don't like me do you?"
Kadaj snorts again at his question and levels a straight look.
"No."
Cloud sighs and pinches at his bleeding nose. After a few painful seconds, he tries again.
"Can I at least ask why?"
He is answered with a displeased shrug and a roll of emerald.
"I just don't."
"Okay..." Cloud accepts.
He has heard far less for far more hate. He should just let things go, but...
"I want to be friends."
Cloud waits for the blow or the ugly threats but neither of them come. There is silence in the space of his statement. They both shift uncomfortably under its weight.
Kadaj answers finally.
"Why?"
His throat burns as he says the words. He is confused by Cloud's language. He is a threat and a danger, not another lost and lonely boy like himself.
"I dunno," Cloud answers truthfully. "I've never really had friends."
"I thought that...," the older youth murmurs softly, looking away.
They are interrupted by the click of Zack's boots. Kadaj huffs away and nearly runs to his father. The 2ND ruffles the boy's hair. He whispers something that Cloud cannot hear. Kadaj turns back to glower and the boy freezes in his gaze.
"See you in, Nibelheim," the 10-year-old grumbles, scuffing a shoe in the dirt and looking like Cloud is the last person he wants to talk to.
"Yeah," Cloud grunts, tired and unwilling to spend anymore of himself.
Kadaj stomps off into the corridors of Shinra without a second look.
Zack comes to sit next his protégé, checking all of the bruised and battered places with gentle eyes.
"How long has this been going on?"
The teen shrugs his shoulders and shrinks into himself.
"I dunno," he mumbles.
Fatherhood rarely agrees with military life, but it proves invaluable in the rare instances that it is needed.
"If it happens again, you tell me, you hear," Zack orders."This a place for heroes, not bullies. I ain't gonna stand by and let you get beat up under my watch."
Cloud bites his lip and nods his head. There are days when it would be nice to have a father.
"You can come to me with anything, Cloud. I'm here to help you. I'm here to make you SOLDIER."
The teenager fiddles with his fingers and keeps his eyes on the ground. Zack sighs and ruffles up his spikes. It is just his luck he would end up with two troubled boys when he is already stretched thin.
Cloud wipes at the drop of blood running his nose, his lips waver minutely. It is all that Zack needs to see before he brings the child tenderly under a kindly arm. Is this how Angeal felt when he first saw him? Somehow, this non-parental paternity is more frightening than the real thing. He is a player on the sidelines of a game he does not like. He would have never have signed Cloud up for SOLDIER. One look and a few minutes is all it takes to see that he is not fit for it.
Still, it is not his job to decide. It is Lazard's and he wants the boy in his program. His job is to see thingsa through until the end. Hopefully, it is happy…
"Let's get you to the infirmary. I don't think those wounds are bad enough for a Cure."
Cloud raises up and follows mutely.
None of his attackers survive their first mission.