Chapter 11

When Cloud opened his eyes the bright lights made him shut them again. His headache and everything felt heavy. He let out a groan, hoping that the pain would stop and he would be able to look around and see where he was.

Though his eyes were closed he heard the sound of a chair moment and someone shuffling closer to where he was lying. "Cloud? You awake man?"

"Marcus?" Cloud asked softly, trying to open his eyes again, but it was still far too bright.

"Hey, take it easy, you still need some rest from what the doctors say."

"What… did the doctors say? What happened?" Cloud asked.

The last thing he remembered was going in for his small mako injection. It wasn't quite like how he expected it to be, with having to be hooked up within a large tube, but after that he couldn't remember anything. Nothing could come to mind, not without causing his headache to grow worse.

"Well um…" Marcus started to say. He almost sounded hesitant to say what the answer was. He knew if he could see Marcus's face it was probably saddened or some other emotion in that range. "Uh well they said that the mako didn't react well with you or you didn't react well to the mako. Something like that. They didn't really say which it was."

"What?" Cloud's eyes shot open, disregarding the headache he got when the light met his eyes. "I didn't… I… uh…"

"Hey hey! Don't force yourself too soon," Marcus warned. "The doctors also said that you needed plenty of rest after all that. They said you were lucky… if they hadn't been as quick…" Marcus's face paled a little. "You could have developed mako poisoning and then it would be unlikely that you'd recover."

Cloud let the words sink in. It left him uneasy to think that despite his best efforts he could have succumbed to something like mako poisoning. It was something that he felt would dig deep into his skin, into his mind, haunting him from this point forward.

"So… So that means that I didn't-"

At that very moment, as if planned, the door opened up and one of the SOLDIERs who had been in charge of the program stepped in. Thankfully not the one who had given him trouble before about his materia.

Marcus jumped to his feet and saluted. "S-Sir! Sorry I didn't return sooner. It's just that I was-"

"I know what you were doing. Caring for a friend shows you have heart. But you may take your leave now and return to the apartments."

"Alright, thank you sir. See you Cloud! Get better soon!"

"Bye Marcus," Cloud said before he watched his friend leave the room.

Now that he was left alone with the SOLDIER he averted his eyes to the bed. He waited a moment as the captain came close and soon took a seat right where Marcus had been. "So Strife… about what happened. Let me start with this. You've proven to be a strong candidate. Your results in all of the training were off the charts compared to the others. But when it comes to the mako… that's the biggest factor in the 'will you, won't you' scenario."

Cloud already dreaded where the conversation was heading. He gripped the sheets tightly and did whatever he could to hold back the tears. He wanted to reach into his pocket and hold his special materia, but he realized that he was in different clothes. Obviously they had changed him after being in that tank, but now he just had to wonder where his materia was and hoped no one took it.

"So…" the SOLDIER finally continued. "We are left with this… you really have great physical strengths and we don't want to pass that up, but if you can't tolerate the mako you can be in SOLDIER. So if you're fine with it, we can place you as an Infantryman. No doubt you'll rise to the top of that in no time."

"Oh… I guess…"

"It's up to you Strife. You make the final call. Either join as a Infantryman, or head on home."

With that, the SOLDIER left the room without another word, leaving Cloud to dive deeper into his own thoughts. Though now along his eyes began to drift around the room. It was just a standard medical room and he knew he would probably be held in there for a few days.

Eventually his eyes rested on a basket on the dresser. There he saw his clothes were neatly folded and next to the basket was a small sack. Carefully getting up from the bed he made his way over there and opened up the small bag and thankfully it held his materia. He held it up to the light to see if it was truly his own, though he could already tell when he held it in his palm. It was special to him and only him after all.

With a heavy sigh he went back to lay down on the bed. He clutched the materia to his chest and finally the tears slipped out. He had been trying his hardest to hold everything back ever since Marcus told him what happened. He had lasted this long, but he knew he couldn't keep it up forever.

His dreams, his hopes of what he could become. They were all but gone now. He had given it his all and he still wasn't good enough. He still didn't have what it took to be what he always dreamed. Slowly his mind drifted back to sleep as he continued to clutch the materia to his chest. Sleep was just overcoming him for whatever reason and he had no care to fight it off.

"Dad… I'm sorry…"

When Cloud opened his eyes again everything felt light and foggy. He was no longer in the medical wing but instead in a foggy void. He could see for miles, but all he could see was fog. He started to walk around though, wondering just why he was here. He hoped eventually he would find something or someone, but for now he seems to be on his own.

"Sonur minn…" his father's voice whispered to him.

Cloud whipped around to find his father standing there calmly as ever. Cloud however was the complete opposite. He ran into his father's arms and began to sob. He didn't care if this was real or not, but he had a feeling that his father did have some involvement in all of this. All he wanted right now was to be held and that was exactly what was given.

"D-Dad… I…" Cloud tried to say, but the sobbed swelling up in his throat stopped that attempt.

His father hushed him lightly. "Shh, don't stress yourself sonur."

"But I didn't… I couldn't make it!" Cloud shouted. "I wanted to be in SOLDIER… why couldn't I make it?"

It wasn't really a question he wanted the answer to, it was just more of a rhetorical one. But it seemed that his father had more to say on the matter than he originally thought. "I am afraid that I must admit that I had fears that something like this could happen."

Slowly Cloud lifted his head to meet his father's eyes. "What? What do you mean?"

"This Shinra… do you know where the mako that they use comes from?"

Cloud nodded. "They um it comes from the planet right? The energy and stuff?"

"It comes from the Lifestream. They have found a way to harness it for their own means… but remind me sonur minn, whose domain is the Lifestream?"

"The goddess, Minerva," Cloud answered, not too sure where his father was trying to go with this.

"Yes and her domain of the Lifestream is different from the land the other gods and I reside in. She has her own world basically over the Lifestream… It's a different magic than our own. And that…" his father sighed. "That caused that interference."

"Interference?"

"The reason you cannot tolerate mako is because it comes from the Lifestream. Unless given special permission we other gods cannot enter her Lifestream. She is fairly protective of it after all."

Now the pieces were coming together. Slowly Cloud felt things click into place as he started looking at what the bigger picture was with this new information. "S-So it's because I have the blood of the gods in me? That's why I rejected the mako?"

"That is exactly what it is. I'm so sorry sonur minn, I should have suspected sooner and said something. I just did not wish to crush your dreams, but I see that this may have done more harm than the other."

Cloud didn't feel hurt. He knew his father meant well after all. There was no way he could ever be upset at him for withholding something like this. He had to be better than that. With that in mind he shook his head and smiled a little. "I'm not mad… I'm actually glad you told me now. Cause now I know that I am not weak."

"You've never been weak. You have always been my strong sonur minn. I am still proud of how far you have come and I still shall watch over your progress no matter what it may be."

Cloud went back to hugging his father tightly. "Thanks dad, I'm going to keep on trying to be a hero. Even if I can't be in SOLDIER there are other things I can try and do around here to help people."

"Good, I am glad that you have not given up your resolve yet. Hafðu hjarta sonur minn, ekki gefa upp von þína."

Cloud nodded and started to smile warmly. He tightened his hug a little and closed his eyes. "Ég mun hafa það í hug faðir."

When Cloud opened his eyes again he was back to laying in bed, the red matiera right next to him like it had been before. With a new sense of confidence Cloud felt more relaxed than before and readjusted himself to be comfortable. "I got this… I'll keep on going. I am not giving up yet."

"You're really just going to go and be an Infantryman?" Marcus asked.

Currently there was no training for the day and Cloud was allowed back to the apartments. He had recovered faster than expected, no doubt to his godly blood, and he could resume doing what he wanted now. He had given it a lot of thought though on what he wanted to do. He still had potential as the one SOLDIER had told him and he knew he could be still very helpful. He already was stronger than most 3rd Class just because he was a demi-god, but he had to keep that part low and hidden.

"Yeah… I already sent in my forms to apply. I wanna do something still and this way I can still be out there fighting with you and the others."

"I just wish you could have made it to SOLDIER with me…" Marcus sighed. "I was really rooting for you, ya know?"

"Thanks Marcus," Cloud replied softly.

Marcus was still the only one who was his friend and the only one who believed in him that much. Even after his failure over the mako, Marcus was still wanting to stick by him. He knew a lot of the others, Bartholomew in particular, made fun of him behind his back. Marcus never did though, he remained true and still stood up for Cloud if anyone tried to cause any problems.

"Sure no problem. And hey what if you become the captain of the Infantrymen? Or a division of them? That would be so cool and then the others would probably stop treating you like crap."

Cloud shifted in his seat a little. "I don't really care what the others think. I just want to work on being a hero and stuff."

"That's fair. I'd still like to punch Bartholomew in the face after what he said the other day. I can't stand his attitude. Honestly he is going to make SOLDIER look bad if he keeps this up."

"Yeah I know… but not much that we can do about it. I guess you just gotta be the one to keep the name good."

Marcus laughed. "Oh you bet! I may not get to be as popular as the 1st Class, but I will get close!"

"And I'll be rooting for you," Cloud replied before going to finish up his food.

After he finished up he started to walk back to the apartments with Marcus. They still were chatting about various things when suddenly someone was standing in front of them. Cloud recognized them as the Turk who had stood up for him before and he realized in that moment he never got the Turk's name.

"Um? Something we can help you with?" Marcus spoke up first.

"I would like to borrow Strife for a time if that's alright."

"Um sure?" Marcus said as he looked to Cloud with a confused glance. "You got anything against that?"

Cloud shrugged. "Nope, I guess I'll see you back at the apartments?"

"Sure thing! See ya later, Cloud," Marcus said before he headed down the rest of the hallway.

Now it was just Cloud and the Turk. There was a moment of silence that passed between them before the Turk cleared his throat and began to walk down a nearby hallway. "Follow me."

Cloud followed right behind him without saying a word. He had no idea what was happening or even what to expect. The Turks were always so mysterious and that just left Cloud to wonder a million questions in his head. What could the Turks possibly want with him?

EVentually they stopped in front of an office room and the Turk unlocked it. He stepped aside to let Cloud in first. Slowly Cloud stepped in and heard the door lock and close behind him. Now he was beginning to have more reason to worry what all of this is about.

"I'm sorry if I seem like I am taking precautions, I only wish to take as much privacy as we can get."

"Uh did I do something wrong?" Cloud finally asked, no longer able to contain his inner thoughts.

"Not at all, I just needed a place for us to speak where we would not be interrupted or spied upon. I've already fixed this room so the security cameras will not work at this hour."

"Um but why? I still don't know why… and I don't even know who you are."

The Turk smiled slightly. "I apologize for that. I am Tseng of the Turks. And you Cloud Strife are by far the most interesting recruit in years."

Tseng moved over to the desk and took a seat. "Do you have any reason as to why I would think this?"

Cloud shook his head right away, not wanting to say more than he should in the situation. If there was a chance this had to do with him being a demi-god he had to be extremely careful. Letting others know his origins would no doubt cause trouble. He wasn't sure exactly what the higher ups would think, but he could figure that it would end badly. All he could do now was try to wait it out as long as he could until he figured out just what it was Tseng wanted from him. All he had to do was play it safe for now and hope for the best.

"You have skills that surpassed most others in the SOLDIER tryouts. You have strength and skill unlike the others who are still learning the basics. One may look at what you did growing up, you no doubt prepared for this, yes?"

Cloud swallowed. "Yeah something like that."

"Cloud, there is no need to be afraid. I know, or at least have a feeling, about your origins. They are unique compared to the rest, wouldn't you say?"

Cloud staggered back a bit. He wanted to run and make a break for it, but he knew that Tseng had locked the door. He would have to waste time trying to unlock it before running away. He had no idea though how Tseng could have ever picked up on it. Sure he was a Turk and they were always snooping around, but there was no way that he could have figured out that. Cloud had been so careful to not reveal anything. He was sure of it.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just a kid… that's all."

Tseng laughed a little. "I suppose I should be clearer about this. When you first came here I sensed something in the air. Someone that was different from the rest. When I met you and saw your materia, it just confirmed it for me. You Cloud, are a demi-god."

Cloud paled, almost dropped to the floor. He was found out. Somehow and somewhat Tseng had figured it out. He only now wondered what would happen next. A Turk knew his secret, and he wasn't sure if it really was going to be a good thing or bad.

"S-So… what if I am?"

Tseng straightened up, his expression remaining calm as ever. "I suppose you may not have noticed it as you are still young. But when I said that there is no need to be afraid. I understand more than you may realize."

That caught Cloud off guard. "What? What do you mean?"

"Think about it Cloud, it's easier than you may think."

Cloud tried running through a hundred scenarios in his head. He had no idea if anything was really true or not but he went with what his gut was telling him. He had nothing to lose… he hopped. "Are you… I mean are you also-"

"Yes, I too am a demi-god."

FINALLY MADE IT TO THIS POINT! AHH I HAVE been waiting to get to this chapter for a long while.

I also have changed from using old Norse to Icelandic entirely just for easier ways of writing. Thanks to TheRandomArtFur for helping with that!

Icelandic lines

Ég mun hafa það í hug faðir (Translation: I'll keep that in mind father)
Hafðu hjarta sonur minn, ekki gefa upp von þína (Translation: Have heart my son, do not give up your hope )