Chapter 14

By StarSongVII

Disclaimer: I own only the OCs and make no money from this work. Final Fantasy VII and its characters and settings belong to Square Enix.

Warnings: Swearing, mature themes, violence, angst, potential triggers, cultural appropriation, and yaoi. Also Cloud hooking up with others. Don't like, don't read.

A/N 1: Thanks for all the kind comments and support. It's definitely helped me deal with things.

A/N 2: So the previous chapter and this one were originally planned to be a single chapter, but I was in a hurry to push out updates so I split them. And today I just felt like pumping this out, because it'd been so long since I last updated and (to me, at least) the previous chapter wasn't a complete update.

##

Thursday, 0945 hours. Same week as previous chapter [2 months to SOLDIER exams, 6 months to Nibelheim].

Alright, Cloud definitely regretted training like a mad man despite his injury.

The potions Ray was somehow managing to sneak to him thrice a day helped somewhat, but right now in sword training the blond was tempted to just ditch the sword and head butt Ralph into submission.

He had spiky hair after all. Maybe it'd add damage.

Attack +10.

Get a grip, idiot. This isn't a damn video game.

No, it's just the Remake.

Lost in his thoughts, he narrowly dodged Ralph's swing - sheer habit had kept him safe, but the concerned look in the black-haired cadet's eyes told him he wasn't doing a good job of keeping up appearances.

He tried for a reassuring smile, knew it was more of a grimace when Ralph's lips pursed and his brow furrowed.

"Take it easy, OK?"

It was murmured softly, so that their instructors and classmates wouldn't hear. Cloud appreciated the thoughtfulness, but he couldn't afford to take it easy when he had 2 months to exams, and 6 months to Nibelheim.

He only had 2 months to change his fate. And a piddling injury like this wasn't about to stop him. Not when he'd suffered worse.

Gritting his teeth, he tried to raise his arm but the movement made him want to throw up, scream, and faint all at the same time. Ralph looked ready to call an instructor over.

"I'm fine." It was grunted softly through clenched teeth, but the other cadet heard and frowned even more. Before the Rocket Towner could retort, Cloud switched the sword to his left hand and swung with practiced ease. Ralph's reflexes were all that saved him from getting a bruise on his neck from the dented metal pole.

Dark eye brows shot up and an impressed whistle told Cloud he was still the greatest swordsman in the world.

Smirking, he stepped up his attacks.

Life's what you make of it, after all.

So what if he'd gone through hell. He could make a difference now, he could CHANGE things, he could 'live his best life'...and alright so the good-vibes-only-zen-positivity-think-and-the-universe-will-give mumbo-jumbo that Jared had been spouting yesterday had made them all cringe and beg the tall blond to shut up, but Cloud had to admit some of it sort of made sense.

Not that he'd ever say it aloud. He had a reputation to maintain, after all.

He trounced Ralph so soundly that the cadet forced Ray to switch partners. The apprehension in silver eyes made Cloud grin for the first time in a long time.

Back in black.

##

Thursday, 1330 hours.

Cursed. I'm cursed.

Times like these Zack really wondered if breaking several mirrors (totally not his fault, why was the gym lined with mirrors when there were Dangerous Flying Objects everywhere?) really did cause bad luck.

He supposed he shouldn't be so self-centered, but dammit he'd really wanted to go with Spiky to the church this weekend. And now he had to cancel on the kid. Again.

It was for a good reason, but somehow it didn't make Zack feel any better.

Almost immediately he hated himself for thinking that way. While Cloud was important to him, the fact remained that he had other people to help, other people who were hurting as a result of his ineptitude as a leader.

Stop it. Don't go there.

He'd been spending too much time around Les Miserables.

Shaking his head, he focused again on the note before him, hand-delivered by a Third Class who'd lingered outside the doorway so long Zack had had to drag the kid in.

Alright, so the Third was actually older than Zack, but right now he was being Brigadier General. It was the reason the SOLDIER had come to him after all.

Sighing, he re-read the note, mentally marvelling at the typos and slapping his internal Sephiroth for being such a fastidious twat.

One of the Thirds who'd fallen in Wutai had been an orphan, supporting his younger siblings with his salary. Zack remembered him - Oliver Twist - who always signed up for every mission, never took a day off, and wore his uniform everywhere. Word was that it was so he didn't have to spend money on clothes. Now Zack knew why.

Thirds made a decent amount, but it seemed it had taken Oliver years to qualify, and all that time as a cadet and a grunt he'd barely made enough to survive on, let alone support two siblings, one of whom was ill and requiring expensive treatment and round-the-clock healthcare supervision. It seemed he'd racked up considerable debt keeping his sibling alive, and it was taking all of his salary as a Third just to keep up with repayments and provide enough funds for his siblings now.

Now that Oliver was gone, it seemed the younger brother had attempted suicide by trying to jump from his hospital window. The sister had gotten aggressive with Shinra personnel, throwing things, hitting them, and was locked up. The note asked Zack to consider intervening to have all charges dropped.

So that was why the Third had been so hesitant to deliver it. To officially put a request like that in writing could be used against him.

Zack supposed it could've been worse. He wondered how Sephiroth was doing - he'd known for a long time that the General called the families of fallen SOLDIERs personally. If Oliver's family was taking it this badly, the black haired man could only hazard a guess at how the phone call had gone.

He'd have to sort Sephiroth out too. And just when they were doing better.

Selfish bastard.

Now wasn't the time to whine or complain. It wasn't like him, but he was frustrated as all hell with how nothing ever seemed to go right, at all his hard work constantly being nullified.

One step forward making two steps back.

FOCUS.

Alright, he'd arrange to meet Oliver's family this weekend, maybe look at moving the trip forward so he'd be able to make it back in time to keep his promise to Cloud. In the meantime, he'd find his silver-haired friend to talk to him.

Feeling a bit better now, he looked up and blinked.

Speak of the devil

Sephiroth was standing impassive as ever before Zack's desk. While the aristocratic face betrayed nothing, it was a given that the General had read the entire note upside down and was most likely beating himself up internally.

Right, let's get to it.

Before he could say anything, Sephiroth handed him a folder and he took it by reflex. A quick glance at the label, and when he looked up again the General was gone.

Dammit.

This was hitting the silver-haired man harder than he was letting on. Groaning, Zack flipped the folder open, and wanted to scream.

There was absolutely no chance of him making the church visit with Cloud this weekend. He was due to leave in 2 hours to escort personnel to Rocket Town, to deliver materials for building the rocket and the planes, and supervise the set-up and installation of new security protocols for the town and the building sites.

When it rains it FUCKING pours.

Fuck it, he was gonna scream, knock some sense into Sephiroth, then grovel at Cloud's feet.

The fact that no one came to check on him after his (very impressive and manly) yell was a small consolation. It meant that his reputation as a bit of a Wild Card still held, rank be damned.

Sephiroth wasn't in his office.

FUCK THIS SHIT.

Why couldn't things go right for ONCE?

Wow, emo much?

Startled, Zack belatedly realized that he'd crushed his Rocket Town orders completely. Not that he cared.

It was true that he was pissed off, moreso than usual. The fatigue from their mission last week, coupled with fear for Cloud on Saturday, the roller-coaster of emotions since, having to ambush Sephiroth in bed at 4am, trying to get through to Twiddle-sad and Twiddle-sadder all the time, believing he was making progress but having Life get in the way…

And through it all recently he hadn't gotten any relief. He'd been so completely focused on everyone else, on making everyone happy.

That's what heroes do, right?

Yeah, he'd always wanted to save the world, to fight for those who couldn't fight for themselves. Sometimes it meant charging forward no matter how exhausted he was, sometimes it meant fighting demons they carried, being a shoulder to cry on.

But what was the point, when Life just kept pissing on everything? What was the bloody point of it all, when at the end of the day nothing ever went right, when everything he worked so hard for was constantly undone by that asshole Murphy?

Zack, hold on to your dreams.

That familiar pang of sorrow was back, laced with the hurt that lingered from his mentor abandoning him. But on the heels of that came the song of hope that always filled his heart.

You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.

He could do this. He could handle this. It was all about mindset. It wasn't like him to bitch and moan, it wasn't in his nature to give up. He was a fighter, a warrior, a SOLDIER.

When nothing's going right, surf a left.

He could do this. He could save the world and his friends. After all, he was Zack Fair, Brigadier General Extraordinaire.

Surf's up, bitches.

Murphy better start running.

##

Thursday, 1455 hours.

Ray knew being friends with Cloud had its perks, but seeing a nervous, fluttering Brigadier General waiting outside their Navigation classroom, holding a huge (poorly wrapped) basket, was definitely something for the history books.

He glanced at his short blond friend, the confused, horrified and concerned expression almost comical in the dingy hallway.

Looking at the rest of their class, and at the corridor filled with stunned cadets from other bunkers, reminded him that most people weren't as familiar with the Brigadier General as some of them were.

Right, let's get to it.

Nudging Ralph, who'd blatantly started sniggering - the Rocket Towner was SUCH an open book sometimes - he angled his head meaningfully towards the crowd. Realization filled rugged features instantly, and Ralph grabbed Jared and Brian, loudly talking about what Battle Sims could possibly be about tomorrow, and how much ass they were gonna kick. Jared caught on instantly and started throwing insults at the other bunkers, joined almost immediately by Reno.

You could always count on Reno to bring the salt.

Gesturing to Grant, who instantly dragged a few other cadets off, Ray gave an icy glare to the remaining cadets who were lingering.

It worked like a charm. The hallway cleared out instantly, everyone speculating about Battle Sims and pretending very poorly like they weren't dying to know what was in the basket.

Still got it.

Time to leave the basket cases to it.

##

Thursday, 1730 hours.

The damn basket was blocking his view, but Cloud preferred not being able to see everyone furtively staring at it and him.

The teasing comments from the others had helped keep his mind off the conversation from earlier, but they were zoned out now waiting for the update on Battle Sims. Which meant Cloud was left to his own cloudy devices.

Zack had been apologetic, almost in tears, which made the blond feel like telling the SOLDIER anything he wanted to hear as long as he felt better. That the First Class broke protocol again to tell the cadet the truth about why he had to cancel again was proof enough of how much Cloud mattered to the other man, there was no need to apologize or make an "I'm sorry I'm an asshole" basket.

The wrapping on the basket really was sorry looking.

It was so typically Zack, to make such a big deal over Cloud, that the blond couldn't really find it in himself to feel as morose as he usually did. And alright, embarrassment at being gawked at constantly aside, he was really touched at the fact that Zack had taken the time to prepare something for him and explain in person.

He felt bad for the fallen Third, and his family. He knew what it was like to feel lost, bereft, to wonder at the point of continuing, to be filled with impotent rage at the world.

He also knew that if anyone could help, it was Zack Fair. The man was an angel with messy black halo.

So he'd wished his old friend all the best, and told him that there was always next week. That had cheered the SOLDIER up considerably, and Cloud had gotten his hair completely messed up in return.

It was totally worth it.

A casual nudge brought him back to the present as the messenger was leaving, and their instructor cleared his throat. Cloud wondered why the man thought there was a need to try to get their attention, when every cadet was eyeing the slip of paper hungrily.

The excited uproar that greeted the announcement anchored the blond firmly in the present.

"SOLDIER TIME, BABY!" Jared was crowing excitedly, one arm around Brian as the tall cadet gyrated in his seat, ignoring the Kalm boy's squawks.

"Did you hear that? Did you hear that?! WE'RE DEPLOYING BY CHOPPERS!" Ralph's eyes were shining, could the other cadet be any more of a motorhead?

"Can't wait to penetrate that bad boy." Trust Reno to lay on the innuendos. Cloud would've rolled his eyes if he was a more expressive man.

Brian's sputtered outrage just made things worse.

"So boss," Ray was leaning against him, breath hot and heavy in Cloud's ear. He resolutely refused to rise to the occasion.

Oh Lordy, he was making innuendos to himself. Shiva help him.

"…doing it back door?"

The raucous laughter to Brian's offended sensibilities helped mask Cloud's discomfiture. What the hell was wrong with him? He was a MAN, dammit, and he had better control than this!

The innuendos continued through dinner, along with competitive jeers and jibes throughout the cafeteria. It continued in the barracks as Cloud tried (and failed) to stealthily unwrap Zack's sorry basket, and then suddenly the bottles of whisky and snacks had their bunker wishing Battle Sims was over and done with already so they could enjoy the gifts from the Brigadier General. Rolling his eyes, Cloud placed the basket gently on the ground, and Reno swooped in - carting the precious cargo off to his locker to keep it safe.

Well, if there was one thing the red head was good at, it was keeping his belongings theft-proof.

Ray had activated their Secrecy Protocol - it was time to plan Team Fenrir's total domination of the other bunkers.

Let's get down to business.

##

Friday. 0730 hours.

Sephiroth hadn't slept in a while, though he knew it didn't show.

The phone calls had been difficult. Seeing the note Zack had received about Private Twist's family moreso.

You're nothing but a stone cold killer!

Closing his eyes briefly, reflexively, didn't help reduce the sting of the memory. Was it Private Twist's sister who'd said it, or maybe the pregnant wife of another fallen SOLDIER?

Or maybe it was the aging grandfather of the Second who'd fallen at the walls.

What're you good for if you can't keep your men safe?

Had that been from the teenage son of the Third who'd fallen defending Rocket Town?

All you do is kill and hurt people.

They'd all said that, hadn't they? If everyone said that, it had to be true - it had to be a fact.

The sound of the horn startled him out of his reverie, and belatedly he realized the instructors in the observation room had been furtively watching him.

He supposed they knew he wasn't in the mood for talking, especially without Zack's calming, cheerful presence to act as a buffer.

If he was the perfect killer, then Zack was the perfect savior - the foil to his darkness.

Maybe that was why Zack was so loved by everyone, why Sephiroth was so hated, unwanted except when killing had to be done.

Maybe that was why Zack had so many friends, and Sephiroth had no one.

You're not alone, Sephiroth.

Startled by the memory of soft words and bright blue eyes, he refocused on the screen in time to see Cloud rappelling out of his chopper with ease that belied years of practice.

How…

The slight wince when the blond had made it to ground told him that the wound was still bothering the cadet. Inwardly he kicked himself.

He'd known that Cloud was injured, and yet he'd thrown the cadets into a SOLDIER arena, with deployment by helicopter.

What is WRONG with you?

He'd thought…

Thought what? You clearly weren't thinking. All you do is hurt people.

"Woah."

The soft exclamation from Jeffries brought him back to the present. Cloud's team had taken out a group of Thirds who'd been waiting to ambush them at the drop site, the cadets moving with practiced ease into a defensive formation around their leader, the Rocket Town cadet handling the offensive assault given his superior marksmanship.

Were his Thirds really that useless?

While he would admit under duress that he was proud of Cloud and his friends, he was also disgruntled at how easily a group of cadets had dispatched veteran SOLDIERs.

Clearly something had to be done. If they were losing to cadets in Battle Sims like that, they'd fall like flies on the battle field.

And then that'd be it. No rematches, no remakes.

Nothing could stop death once you had a real bullet in your skull. There'd be no coming back from that.

Game Over.

He'd really been spending too much time with Zack.

Thinking back to yesterday, when Zack had run through the halls of Shinra screaming his name, brought an involuntary tug to his lips. The Black Porcupine really was an idiot.

An idiot with a heart of gold.

It'd been a rushed conversation - monologue by Zack, really - when the man had finally managed to corner Sephiroth (by launching himself at his superior officer in a flying tackle from several floors above the lobby). It seemed taking the escalator or elevator like a normal human being was simply out of the question.

No, Zack had decided he would literally knock the air right out of the General.

Fortunately, all of Shinra was so used to Zack's antics that no one batted an eyelash, continuing around the two SOLDIERs tangled in a heap on the ground - because Sephiroth honestly hadn't expected his second-in-command to be THAT much of an idiot - and then the black menace had had the gall to simply straddle his commanding officer, right there in the lobby, launch into a hushed tirade, and backflip off carrying an absolutely ridiculous looking basket.

A lesser man might have had whip lash. Sephiroth was not a lesser man.

He'd maintained a stoic facade all the way back to his office, before he'd allowed himself a small, infinitesimal lift of his lips.

"It's not your fault, Seph. Shit happens. The only constant in life is death. Death comes to all. It happens, OK? And our line of business is as dangerous as it gets. Don't take it all on yourself. Don't get all Sad Seph on me now. I know I won't be around for a few days but that doesn't mean you can sit around and emo OK, buddy? OK! I gotta mosey but I got your back always and if you're lonely just call me alright? Be back in a few days! Make sure you get enough sleep and eat healthy and drink enough water! Bye!"

How the man managed to say so much without drawing a breath was a mystery to Sephiroth.

It wasn't that he wanted to sit around and emo, honestly. It just happened that he made the phone calls while seated.

He hadn't been able to sleep a wink despite his superior will power, the angry accusations roiling in his head, the fact that he was no closer to 'making it up' to Cloud meant the possibility of loss was high…

Somehow he'd moved as though on auto-pilot towards the observation room. As though there was an invisible string tied to him, always always pulling him towards a small, beautiful cadet.

A cadet who had very successfully led his team through the first stage of their fort infiltration in almost record time. Jeffries had been muttering in the background, disgruntled that they'd missed out on the record, but the burly instructor was now trying to tell the cadets on the screens that they could still set a course record if they moved faster, dammit.

How little you know.

If Sephiroth was a more expressive man, he would've rolled his eyes.

There was a reason for Cloud's caution, and the General was honestly surprised at the cadet's prudence. The brash members of his party would clearly have charged forward, given how deceptively safe and simple this stage looked - but it was clear they deferred completely to Cloud, waiting patiently and moving slowly, carefully.

He couldn't see the blond's face well from the camera angle, but it offered a bird's eye view of what happened next. How the cadet had known about the trip wire was something to be investigated.

Maybe he's just skilled.

He's FIFTEEN years old.

Point.

Why was he arguing with an Imaginary Zack?

Vikers fired perfectly at the trip wire as soon as the others were in position, and on cue flash bombs went off where Team Fenrir would have been had it not been for Cloud's almost psychic abilities.

The Thirds on the other hand, completely lacked any such psychic abilities.

Nine SOLDIERs came rushing out guns blazing, expecting disoriented panicky cadets. (Sephiroth would never use such a derogatory term as 'maggots' to refer to another human being, especially not after seeing pictures of what had happened to his ambushed and betrayed men).

They got a troop of skilled future SOLDIERs (plus one Turk, because Sephiroth would NOT accept that redhead into SOLDIER - he was too street) under the command of an exceptional leader, ready and waiting.

It was both a pity and a pleasure that it was over so soon, the Thirds picked off with almost surgical precision by Vikers, as the rest of the team laid cover fire. The General had to wonder again at Cloud's psychic abilities, when Fontaine, Johnson, and the Kalm cadet wheeled around and took out a rival team hoping to sneak up on Team Fenrir.

Not a chance.

Cloud really was a brilliant commander.

The ten cadets moved confidently, assuredly, to the doorway at the other end. Johnson tried the handle once everyone was in position but it was locked.

Sephiroth shouldn't have been surprised at what Cloud ordered done. The Corel boy kicked the door down easily, as though it was nothing more than one of Zack's silly plush toys.

One by one, Team Fenrir moved in.

Stage cleared.

##

Friday. 0812 hours.

Cloud was quite certain he was smiling in that feral way Tifa said he did sometimes, when he was faced with a particularly worthy opponent.

This absolutely qualified.

The mission pack had been deliberately misleading about the number of potential enemy combatants, and vague about the objective. The 'fort' was equipped with traps and trip wire, as well as false walls and hidden doors that Thirds liked jumping out of.

But every time an enemy came out of the woodwork, he was promptly shot right between the eyes by Ralph.

Cloud was glad to have the Rocket Towner on his side.

The other thing he was glad for was the traps and trip wire. Because they could just as easily be used on opponents.

"Let her rip."

Jared hooted, taking off at a mad sprint, screaming the lyrics to some cartoon song that everyone had decided to make their anthem for the day.

"Tranquil as a forest but on fire within!" The taller blond posed at the end of the hallway, waving at opponents before turning and sprinting like mad towards Cloud.

"Once you find your center, you are sure to win!" Ralph was ready, crouched next to Ray, both dark-haired cadets holding their weapons steady, Ray aiming for where most cadets' torsos would be, Ralph aiming for where their heads would be.

On cue, everyone started screeching as soon as two enemy teams turned the corner and Jared had dived for cover.

"You're a spineless, pale, pathetic lot! And you haven't got a clue!"

It was over quickly. Cadets who hadn't been hit by paint bullets had triggered trip wires and traps set to protect them, going down like flies as more and more enemy combatants poured in and were caught in the chaos.

Somehow I'll make a man out of you.

Cloud was DEFINITELY grinning.

##

Friday. 0847 hours.

Really, Cloud should have expected this.

Reno snickered to himself as he watched the blond attempt to tune them out, but they'd just set yet another course record. It hadn't been easy, trying to get into the control room had involved Cloud and Ralph having to be boosted into air vents by Grant. The terse seconds that followed had been nerve wracking, though Ray had appeared as composed as ever, continuing to count down per the small blond's instructions.

When he reached 100, Grant kicked the door down and they charged in guns blazing. They had no way of knowing if Cloud and Ralph had made it to their positions, but somehow they knew the other two were there waiting for them.

And they were.

It was over fast, with Ralph's superior precision from his sniper's nest taking SOLDIERs down from behind, while Cloud laid heavy cover fire on the Thirds as well as the doorway.

"Be a man!" Jared was balancing precariously on the battlements, waving his arms like he just don't care.

"We must be swift as the coursing river!" Cartoon songs were the best. Everyone knew the lyrics - slum dog or millionaire.

"Be a man!" Jared had started gyrating suggestively, fortunately Ray had assigned Grant to keep a hand on the tall blond's belt to prevent him plummeting to his death.

"With all the force of a great typhoon!" The red head would've pummelled Tranton under ordinary circumstances for shrieking in his ear, but he was pretty sure he was in the same decibel range.

Cloud had his hands over his ears, and was obviously trying desperately not to smile.

"Be a man!" The nymphomaniac was now attempting to do the shuffle. With a quick hand gesture from Ray, the Corel cadet hauled Jared off the walls. Somehow Jared seemed to take it as a cue to make Grant his pole and move like a stripper.

"With all the strength of a raging fire!" Reno was pretty sure he hadn't sung that line because he was cackling hysterically at Grant's long suffering face.

A quick glance at Cloud showed the smallest of them all was looking far into the distance almost wistfully.

Mysterious as the dark side of the moon.

##

Friday. 0928 hours.

Sephiroth was attempting to focus on his work, but images of Cloud's incredible victory kept assailing him. The perils of a photographic memory.

He seemed to keep recalling one scene in particular, as the blond cadet wove through the fort with feline grace.

A silver hair tie among blond locks.

It wasn't much. It was just a simple hair tie. Given how long Cloud's hair was now, it made sense that the cadet had to tie his hair back.

But seeing it had somehow really made Sephiroth wish he'd arrived sooner in the slums, to protect Cloud.

And a small part of him wished he'd moved sooner that night in his apartment, before Zack interrupted them with his arrival.

Which was ridiculous, really, because Cloud was a cadet and Sephiroth was a General. It would be a terrible abuse of power.

Oh PLEASE. Go on and kiss the boy.

Shut up, Zachary.

It was really happening. Sephiroth was going insane.

With a Herculean effort, he tried to read the document in front of him for the eleventh time.

Good Lord, he was turning into his hyperactive ADHD friend.

Make it up to Cloud, ok?

The problem was that he had no idea where to start. He'd never been taught to apologize, never been trained in how to manage personal relationships.

He couldn't believe he'd used the words 'personal' and 'relationships' about Cloud. But the fact remained that he'd had the cadet in his apartment on Saturday, that he had an unhealthy obsession with flawless skin, big blue eyes, a perfect Cupid's bow mouth…

Unbidden, the memory of Cloud's wince when he'd rappelled down the rope came to fore, superimposed with memories of blood on a pristine white couch, Cloud's reaction to when he'd jerked too hard while stitching the cadet up…

You see? All you do is hurt people. You're nothing but a monster.

It was true. He'd selected the course personally for the cadets, deliberately assigned Team Fenrir to the infiltration team which meant they'd had to be helo'd in, which meant Cloud had to rappel down despite carrying a heavy pack and with a healing sword wound.

Maybe I really am a monster.

He couldn't do anything right, when it came to others. All he could do was hurt, was kill, was destroy…

Thank you for your service, Sephiroth.

Soft blue skies filled his vision, a sweet alcohol-tinged scent…

He felt more than heard Cloud's soft, resolute voice, reverberating through his skull, filling him with a faith he hadn't known he was lacking.

So what if Sephiroth was the ultimate killer? As long as he killed only to protect what mattered to him, to protect the happiness of others, to protect Zack & Cloud, he was doing a service to the world.

It made perfect sense. His logic was undeniable. As the greatest warrior in the world, his duty was to destroy any and all threats faced by the ones he cared about.

Mind made up, he read the document before him for the twelfth time. This time for real.

##

Friday. 2302 hours.

This is becoming a habit.

They were back in the club, having finished Cloud's 'Zack Basket' long ago. It had been Ray's idea partly because he'd been informed that he had an informant waiting to meet him, and partly because he was hoping to take the small blond's mind off whatever it is he'd been moping about.

Alright, who was he kidding. The Nibelheim cadet was most definitely moping over something that happened with the General last Sunday.

As the DJ played 16 Shots, he stood up and made his way to the bathroom. The informant was waiting in the last cubicle that had an 'out of order' sign placed before it, and Ray recognized the other two men casually using the urinal and the sink as his Family's enforcers.

Better safe than sorry, son.

It hadn't saved his mother's legs anyway.

Stop it. Focus.

He listened impassively as the informant started telling him about a great nightclub further down the road, picking up the keywords and coded message before turning to leave as soon as someone outside started to hum 'Speak Softly, Love'.

That was his cue that it was safe to exit.

As he wandered casually back to his table - and his very drunk friends - his mind churned.

Two weeks ago, a group of individuals dressed in Wutaian garb but with identical faces had attempted to kidnap Lord Godo's daughter, Yuffie Kisaragi. It seemed the girl was a handful though, and had evaded them in the caves.

That explained the sudden move to throw every foreigner out of Wutai, Johnson Family included.

The part he was most curious about was the identical faces. He'd heard several other rumors, of clones engaging with SOLDIERs and civilians. But who would be sending this many copies of himself out?

##

Friday. 2302 hours. Shinra Tower.

Sephiroth told himself he hadn't actually agreed to Zack's request that he get enough sleep. What was important was that he did his duty and protected Zack and Cloud.

Nothing else matters.

It was a good thing he was at his desk anyway, when Tseng wandered in casually, as though it were 'normal' working hours and the Turk was about to invite the General out for lunch.

I see.

Tseng had left with nothing but a simple nod of his head after delivering his message, though Sephiroth didn't miss the Turk's sharp eyes watching for a reaction that he never gave. Their little game continued, and neither of them ever knew where the other stood.

The clone had attacked Sephiroth in Wutai to make him show himself, so that Godo would assume the abduction of his only child had been masterminded by SOLDIER, and be susceptible to Genesis' suggestion that they work together.

He supposed if he really wanted to end the war by any means necessary, he'd take Godo's daughter hostage and kill her if need be. It'd break Godo's spirit for sure, after losing his wife and unborn son to illness. But he couldn't quite bring himself to do that to a child.

While Sephiroth knew he'd never had a 'normal' childhood, and the daughter of the Lord of Wutai most definitely did not either, he would never drag a child into the war intentionally.

And yet you take children from families all the time.

It was true. Every single person he'd killed most likely had family waiting for them, like Private Twist, like the other Seconds and Thirds and grunts who'd died at the hands of Wutai and Genesis and AVALANCHE.

Like his men who were killed by their friends, fellow SOLDIERs who'd defected to Genesis' side.

If Genesis hadn't left, if Genesis had just listened

But it was too little, too late. All he could do now was fix things and prevent anyone he cared about from losing anyone they cared about.

He drew the line at involving children, though. That was against the rules of war, against the rules of honorable conduct.

That was low and cowardly, and Genesis would pay.

##

Saturday. 1542 hours.

Cloud was limping slightly as they walked toward their usual hoagie joint, and if the blond twitched when the sounds of Simon Curtis' 'Flesh' played through tinny speakers nearby, no one said anything though they all smirked.

It was better than remembering the self recrimination in baby blues, the way the stitches looked on a pale, lean chest.

Ray slipped the a bootlegger some gil for the bottles they were buying, along with a note. He'd woken up early as usual today, despite the exertions of the night before, and found another note hidden among the cups of coffee delivered by one of his men.

So the girl Cloud always visited was a Cetra. So they exist. Interesting.

He needed information - about the clones, about who it was that Cloud kept visiting and kept trying to introduce to the Brigadier General but not to them. And if the girl really was a Cetra, then he needed more information - scientific information - than the myths & legends he'd heard as a child.

The Promised Land sounded like a load of religious bullshit to him, but where there's smoke there's fire.

Shinra's interest in the Cetra doubtless was due to the potential for unlimited resources they could capitalize on. But Ray needed to know how far they'd gotten, what their plans were, why they hadn't yet seized the Cetra girl and done what they needed to for information.

He knew very well how cold-blooded Shinra was after all.

"Is the cloudiness sexually transmitted?" Belatedly Ray realized he'd been pulling a Cloud, lost in his thoughts and only coming back to the present when Jared made his loud enquiry while draping himself on the Junon boy.

Cloud choked on his hoagie, Reno attempting to thump his back helpfully while laughing his ass off.

No time like the present.

He'd given the instructions, and his men would execute. For now, he'd enjoy time spent with his friends.

##

Sunday. 1212 hours.

As much as Cloud had told himself he wouldn't visit Aeris so thoroughly debaunched, he desperately needed a familiar face who knew what was happening better than he did.

He'd bathed twice, scrubbed himself hard to remove the evidence of last night, though the bruises on his wrists and neck couldn't be washed off with soap. He really didn't want to answer any of Aeris' questions about it, but he also knew he'd been away from her for too long.

If she teased him mercilessly about his activities, he knew he'd be happy to hear it anyway.

Masochist.

That he was, clearly. Enjoying being tied up and tormented by the others, made to crawl and beg like a slave…

He was twisted. Rotten. A slut, like Hojo had said he was.

Stop it.

He was going to see Aeris, had enlisted the others to help distract the Turks enough (again). He wasn't going to bring his dark cloud (hah!) to such a holy place.

The air in the church always seemed lighter and fresher, clearing his mind and cleansing his soul with each breath. Aeris' sweet smile and laughing eyes did the rest.

She always did smell like light and love.

As they sat and talked, and yes she did tease him mercilessly over his bruises, Cloud could feel himself relaxing - the tight coil in his chest unwinding with each tinkling giggle, each gentle touch of soft hands on his arm.

So this was what home felt like. Cloud had almost forgotten, so wrapped up in himself and his pain and duty.

"So!" A clap, and he was brought back to the present. He smiled ruefully, which just made bright green eyes shine with mirth. "How's it going with You-Know-Who?"

At the word, his mind flashed back to last Sunday, Sephiroth's cold behavior, and he tensed up again.

"Cloud?" A soft hand, worried emeralds in an empty church.

Willing the pain away, he shook his head, averting his eyes. He supposed he hadn't done a very good job of hiding the hurt, given how he was immediately cradled in a hug that made him want to cry tears of relief that he was here, that she was here, she was real

"You poor thing," soft breath against his ear and warm hands stroked his hair and neck. Cloud could feel the sting in his eyes at the sympathy in Aeris' voice, but he didn't want to cry. He knew how much it hurt her when he did. "It's tough for all of you, but give him time, OK?"

Odd how similar her advice was to Zack's.

Zack.

He pulled back reluctantly, guiltily. This entire time he'd been having fun, running around "kicking ass and taking names" as Jared said, but he hadn't even done one thing for her.

"Cloud?" He really hated seeing that look on her face. Shaking his head, he stomped the negativity down, resolving to think about it later. For now, he had questions.

"I actually wanted to ask you about Genesis." Familiar green eyes widened, and Cloud nearly bailed on finishing his question. Nearly, but he knew that he couldn't stop now - not when it was important. "Last week, I saw…a clone of his? I followed it, I don't know why. I don't remember any of this, but it must have happened when I was here before." A lot had happened before and he hadn't noticed - he'd been so caught up in himself - but he knew that the Genesis thing hadn't been widely publicized, because he didn't remember many mentions of it even in the future. "What's going on?"

Aeris sighed, and Cloud wanted to kick himself. He hated seeing her like this, the last thing he'd wanted to do was upset her.

Stupid, stupid, STUPID.

Before the Emo Express left the station, a soft, clear voice filled the air. "It must be from Zack, those…memories. They must have carried over." She didn't need to say when the transmission occurred. That was why he was here after all, to stop it from ever happening.

So that was why he didn't know much about it. It really hadn't been his fault this time. Even though it was a serious matter, Cloud couldn't help feeling vindicated slightly.

Aeris seemed to know what was going on, giving him a light tap on his bicep and failing miserably at looking stern. It didn't suit her angelic face anyway.

The sober, serious look suited her even less.

"Cloud, I've been hearing whispers." She looked away at the flowers, and Cloud wished like hell he could wipe the sadness from her eyes just by buying her a flower. Why couldn't he do anything when it mattered?

"The Ancients…" It was whispered, hushed, even in this church that had only the two of them, as though Aeris didn't want to bother the thousands of her kin, didn't want to defile this place with her words. "They've been…talking, in a sense. About Genesis, but also AVALANCHE, and Deepground."

Cloud groaned. Deepground? They were a PAIN to deal with.

AVALANCHE…though he knew he shouldn't think that way, at least it gave him a chance to see Barret again. His burly friend had been a major pain too, but the man was loyal to a fault, could always be counted on to do the right thing, to tell it to him straight. Cloud would never admit it, but he regretted not hugging Barret back that time.

Maybe we can hug tomorrow.

"And…" The hesitance in her voice did little to mask the fear. Startled, Cloud's spine straightened, fists curling, reaching for a sword that wasn't on his back, breathing deliberately long and even to prepare for a fight against an enemy who wanted to take everything from him.

But that he was never giving anything to, ever again.

"What is it?" he sounded like his old self again, and it wasn't a good thing. But it was necessary.

Aeris wouldn't meet his eyes, her lips didn't seem to move so he wasn't sure if he'd heard or imagined her response. The reaction in his gut was all too real though.

"The Triplets are coming."

##

Sunday. 1312 hours.

Ralph supposed he should be grateful that Jared and Ray were flanking him while Reno led the way. After all, they were in Wall Market, and he'd heard the stories of the pickpockets and cheats here, of what happened when you didn't pay attention to your surroundings.

But his attention was focused entirely on the wares on display, looking for the materials to build a phone without actually buying a ready made phone. He'd heard that calls were always tracked, either by Shinra or the Mob or some unscrupulous hacker in the slums, and he didn't need others hearing what he had to say to Uncle Cid.

Discretion is the better part of valor.

Once upon a time, he'd been idealistic, innocent. And even though the others (except Brian) were more world weary than he was, he wasn't a child anymore.

You're gonna make the world a better place, huh?

Gritting his teeth, Ralph forced the memories away, faced the facts and reality like the engineer he was. There was no going back to those days, not when she was dead and buried.

A nudge and calm silver eyes brought him back to the present.

Ray. Phone. Right.

It wouldn't do to get distracted. He knew what was needed, knew that he could actually just ask to borrow Ra's phone, but he didn't want to do that.

He owed the Junon cadet too much, as it was.

No, he would do this on his own. He'd prove his worth. He'd build them all phones that couldn't be tracked or traced, that would ensure they could always stay in contact no matter what.

Well, technically the non-traceable part was all Jared and his coding, but the point was that Ralph would lay the foundations.

He also had some ideas for making the phones waterproof and bulletproof and undetectable. Everyone always forgot that he was a genius inventor, but it was fine that way. It meant they left him to his own devices, ignored the sketches in his notebooks.

They had time left before they had to return to the barracks, and Cloud was yet to meet with them so Ralph was taking it slow, perusing almost uninterestedly so no one would try to rip him off.

He was fifteen, not an idiot. He learned quick, had had to learn quick.

Still, he was glad to have his friends around, watching his back. He wouldn't be here without them, that much was certain.

##

Sunday. 1958 hours.

The helo was taking off in 2 minutes, and it'd take him exactly 23 seconds to walk over and board.

That left 1 minute 37 seconds for a call to Zack.

A familiar voice filled his ears after less than a ring. Zack had clearly been playing with his phone instead of supervising the security installation. Some things never changed.

"Seph!" How was the other man's voice always so warm, even over a satellite transmission? "What's up? Got lonely huh? Miss me lots?"

He rolled his eyes at the snicker, even though his friend couldn't see it.

His friend.

That was why he was doing this after all. To protect his friend.

"I'm heading off on a mission, solo." Somehow he just knew that Zack was frowning, even though he couldn't see it. The silence weighed heavy.

59 seconds left.

"Alright." Zack didn't sound alright, but they both knew that Sephiroth outranked him and there was nothing the dark-haired SOLDIER could do right now. "You stay safe, and come home."

Home.

Welcome home.

Sephiroth didn't remember agreeing or saying goodbye, but as helo took off, he realized he was still clutching the phone in his hand.

He wondered if he'd ever hear those words again.

##

A/N 1: Meta moments abound, not sure if anyone caught them?

A/N 2: 'Back in black' is an AC/DC song.

A/N 3: 'You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf' and 'When nothing's going right, surf a left' are popular sayings among surfers.

A/N 4: "Let's get down to business" is the opening line of the Mulan song "I'll make a man out of you". Team Fenrir also sings the song during Battle Sims and after. "Let her rip" during Battle Sims is a reference to the scene in Hidalgo when Viggo Mortensen's character tells his mustang to go nuts (and win the race).

A/N 5: "Go on and kiss the boy" is a play on the Little Mermaid song Kiss The Girl - the part that goes "go on and kiss the girl".

AN 6: '16 Shots' is a song by Stefflon Don. 'Speak Softly, Love' is the theme song of Godfather. 'Nothing else matters' is a Metallica song.

A/N 7: Sorry, no detailed smut this time. I just didn't feel like writing it. Simon Curtis' 'Flesh' was recommended by bloodshound in a comment on FFNet, and though I was intending (years ago) to write a detailed scene incorporating the song, I hope this mention suffices.

A/N 8: 'Maybe we can hug tomorrow' in Cloud's POV in the church is a deliberate throwback to when Barret thinks it in the future, in an earlier chapter of this fic.

A/N 9: Well, that was a cliffhanger.