"I've thought of a wonderful present for you… Shall I give you despair?"

14-year old Cloud Strife wakes with a start, eyes wide and heart racing. He scans the room wildly, the vision of a single black wing still behind his eyelids. When nothing appears out of the ordinary, he takes a deep, calming breath, unable to shake the feeling that he's forgotten something important.

Glancing at the clock, he sighs – he needs to be up in 30 minutes. Even with the sight of black wings and feathers fading from his mind, there's not enough time to even entertain the thought of going back to sleep. Slowly dragging himself out of bed, the only consolation he has is that his roommates are still asleep. He's not sure how he would have explained this particular episode otherwise. He already gets enough flak for being quiet, he doesn't need to add 'prone to spontaneous panic attacks' to the list.

"Bed's smaller than the one in Edge," he mumbles to himself, rummaging through his dresser for his cadet uniform. He's lived here for the past few months, so he's not sure why the sight of his room in the barracks feels so unfamiliar. He stops, one hand clutching his uniform, the other shooting up to run through blond spikes. "Wait… Edge? Where's that?" he asks, brow furrowed. He had only ever lived in Nibelheim before. He had never even heard of a place called Edge. Deciding he's not going to get any further with that train of thought, he goes back to the task at hand, head slightly aching from the extra abuse so early in the morning. "Ugh, no use worrying about that now. Probably something to do with that dream."

Morning training goes as well as can be expected. Cloud's not the best of the cadets, but at least he's not the worst either. Growing up in the mountains of Nibelheim has really helped him keep up with, and in some cases surpass, his fellow cadets. He's still sweaty and tired, though, when their drill sergeant dismisses them. He turns with the rest of the cadets to head back to the Shinra Building – the barracks and cafeteria housed within.

Mind still half-occupied with the events of the morning, he completely forgets to keep an eye out for Johnson – the biggest cadet in their group and Cloud's main bully. Born and raised in Midgar, Johnson has always resented that a backwater kid like Cloud is the more skilled of the two, especially with how much shorter Cloud is.

The only warning he has of the coming danger is the yell of "Outta the way, Chocobo-head!" Next thing he knows, he is sprawled on the floor, a dull pain in his side from being shoved.

"What the hell, Johnson!" yells Garrett, who is in front of him now. Garrett is the tallest of Cloud's roommates and the one least likely to take Johnson's shit. He claims it's cause of his red hair – makes him fiery. Cloud thinks 'fiery' is just a nicer way of saying 'loud', but he would never say that, especially not with the teen currently acting as a human barrier.

Johnson just laughs snidely in response as he brushes past and enters the Shinra Building, flanked by his lackeys.

His remaining roommates help him to his feet. Logan is equally as protective as Garrett, though Cloud doesn't think his short brown hair has anything to do with that. Colin is shorter than the other two, but is still taller than Cloud. His hair is blond, but it's not spiky, so he doesn't have to deal with the Chocobo comparisons (Cloud swears he's not bitter).

These 3 might be his roommates, but they are also his friends. His only friends. Cloud is too quiet (too strange) and Johnson too popular for any of the other cadets to associate with him. Sometimes, he's still a little surprised that he actually has friends. He never had any in Nibelheim, so the idea of actually having some is still a little foreign to him. Yes, Tifa was nice to him (practically the only one), but she had her own friends. Friends who did not approve of him.

Lunch in the cadet cafeteria starts normally enough, Garrett and Logan gossiping about whatever strikes their fancy. Colin and, less frequently, Cloud joining in every now and then.

"Definitely steer clear of Heidegger today, man," Garrett says between bites of food. "I heard the President tore him a new one. In front of the other directors no less!" Director Heidegger was a large, cruel man with a nasty temper. Not above attacking those around him, you did not want to be around when he was in a mood. His presence definitely did not bring joy.

Logan snorts. "Probably mocked his laugh again, too."

Cloud's not sure why this conversation seems so off. Everybody knows that President Rufus can't stand the head of Public Security. Or his trademark 'horse' laugh. If Garrett's mouth wasn't currently full, he would no doubt be mocking the man's laugh himself – gya haa haa haa!

"I don't understand why he doesn't just fire the man," Logan continues. That would be nice. Then they could have somebody competent in charge of Public Security. Rather than someone who viewed his underlings as disposable pawns.

"Maybe he wants to keep an eye on him?" Colin asks tentatively. Rufus's oversight definitely prevented Heidegger from getting away with the things he could under the former President. It was probably easier for the Turks to keep an eye on him, too, if he stayed where he was. If he even thought of hurting the President, the Turks would know. They were loyal to Rufus and Rufus alone.

"Or make him suffer," adds Logan. Cloud wouldn't be surprised. Rufus did seem to enjoy humiliating the man.

Garrett hums. "Probably deciding whether to kill him like his old man or not." Ok. Not where he expected this conversation to go, but this is Garrett, so not entirely surprising. "Not that I'm complaining though. The slums are a lot nicer since he took over."

Colin obviously didn't anticipate the turn of the conversation as he splutters out a squeaky, "wait… what?" Cloud didn't either and he's sure the look on his face must echo Colin's spoken sentiment.

Garrett gives the both of them a weird look. "You didn't know? It's all anybody talked about in Midgar after it happened."

"I'm from Mideel, dude. All I heard was former President Shinra died of natural causes," Colin says. Cloud grunts his approval. That was more or less what was said in Nibelheim.

"I keep forgetting you two are backwater boys." Garrett had grown up in the Sector 4 slums. Logan in Sector 3. "He was shot in the head." President Rufus was known for his sawed-off shotgun. And his all-white suit. And his good looks – nope, stopping that train of thought right there.

"Like Professor Hojo," offers Logan. If anyone mourned former President Shinra's death, nobody mourned Hojo's. The former head of the Research and Development Division was known to be a ruthless man only interested in his research. He enjoyed seeing other people suffer and the rumor was he could make you disappear if he took an interest in you. Cloud's glad that he doesn't have to deal with that, shaking away the voice in the back of his head begging for a number at the thought of the man.

"Did… did the President kill him, too?" Colin's voice is almost a whisper, his eyes so wide, Cloud's afraid they might pop out of his head.

Logan glances around them to make sure nobody else is listening before continuing. "Nah, I think it was that Turk from Nibelheim."

"Nibelheim?" Cloud asks, surprised. He'd never heard of a Turk from his hometown, though he can't quite get the image of a tattered red cloak out of his mind.

"Oh, so you are paying attention! You're quieter than normal." Garrett is all smiles. "Which is saying something." His roommates are used to him being quiet, though that doesn't stop them from teasing him good-naturedly.

"Sorry... Just got a lot on my mind." He still doesn't feel comfortable bringing up whatever happened this morning.

Garrett is still smiling as he reaches over to ruffle Cloud's hair. "I'm just messing with you, kid."

Cloud huffs. "Kid? We're the same age." They all were. Garrett just had a few months on him (and several inches, his traitorous brain adds).

Garrett laughs, "I'm still taller, though!" He vaguely wonders if Garrett can read his thoughts.

Ignoring Garrett's antics, Logan continues. "Long black hair, red eyes. Day after Hojo's found dead, he's seen wandering the building. I hear he spent a long time in Nibelheim before that. You never saw him there, Cloud?"

Cloud shakes his head. "Definitely would remember if I saw somebody like that in Nibelheim." He does not mention that he sees this man all the time in the Shinra Building, the Turk's piercing red eyes following his every movement. He doesn't need his friends worrying or thinking he's paranoid… or both. It's probably just a coincidence, including that one time Cloud saw him in the hallway outside the cadet barracks. Nobody else seemed to notice him at least.

"I've never seen him before." Colin's eyes are still wide, but his voice is back to its usual volume. He's completely engrossed in the conversation now, his half-eaten lunch forgotten.

"Hmm," Logan hums around a mouthful of food. "I've only ever seen him a few times." Garrett nods in agreement, quiet for once. Cloud is definitely not saying anything now. Besides, if the Turk was following him, Cloud probably would never notice him. Yep, nothing weird about this at all.

"Well, at least Hojo's death was better than Hollander's," Garrett quips. "I heard he was burned to a crisp."

"Hollander?" Cloud had never heard of the man. Colin looks like he hadn't either. Must be another backwater boy thing.

"Another scientist like Hojo," Garrett replies. "I hear he was not happy when Hojo became head of R&D. He wanted the spot for himself." Well, if Hollander was anything like Hojo, Cloud thinks it's better that he's dead, too.

"I bet it was Commander Rhapsodos who did it. I've heard there was no love lost between the two." Cloud is just glad that that was Logan who commented and not Garrett. They really don't need anybody overhearing their conversation. "Everybody knows how adept he is at magic and his particular affinity for fire. I hear he's not allowed to teach low-level materia classes anymore because of his habit of lobbing fireballs at those he finds annoying." Cloud makes a mental note not to annoy the man.

"Did the Turks not investigate the deaths?" Colin asks.

Logan grimaces. "They did, but they found no evidence of wrongdoing. Said all three of them died of natural causes."

Garrett slams a fist on the table. "They're in on it, too! How is being burned alive natural?" Or shot in the head for that matter, Cloud thinks.

Logan slaps a hand over Garrett's mouth. "Dude, keep your voice down unless you want to disappear." If the Turks were good at one thing, it was making people disappear.

Their conversation slips to lighter topics after that and Cloud returns his attention to his food.

They're almost done with lunch when the ground is completely ripped out from underneath Cloud.

"Whoa! What the hell is Fair doing here?" Garrett exclaims.

Cloud looks up and, sure enough, Zack Fair is standing near the entrance of the cafeteria, eyes scanning over the sea of cadets. He's wearing his usual 1st Class SOLDIER uniform, but he still looks too young to Cloud's eyes. He's also missing a scar that Cloud could have sworn he had, but no use dwelling on that now. This is no time to be having a mental breakdown, especially if Cloud wants to make SOLDIER, too.

He is just thinking that he bets Zack doesn't have to deal with people making fun of his hair, spiky as it is, when mako blue eyes meet his own sapphire ones. He doesn't even notice the tear that slides down his face.

"You'll be my living legacy."

Zack brightens in an instant, a radiant smile splitting his face, and then he's practically bouncing over to their table. His nickname, Zack the Puppy, definitely well-earned.

"Shit. Is he coming over here?" Colin whispers, looking at the rest of the table. "Wait… Cloud, are you crying?" Which, of course, causes his other roommates to turn their attention to him as well. So much for not worrying them.

"I'm not…" Cloud stops when he realizes that he actually is crying and goes to dry his eyes instead. "I don't know what's wrong with me." Which was completely true, but didn't really help explain his crying over a 1st Class SOLDIER.

He's saved from any further interrogation when Zack stops at their table. Right in front of Cloud. He just hopes the other teen can't tell that he's been crying.

"Heya Spike!" Zack's smile is almost infectious. If it wasn't for his complete state of confusion, Cloud might have smiled back.

"Uh… hi?" Cloud responds lamely. He certainly wouldn't be winning any awards for quick-thinking.

A look of confusion flickers across Zack's face. It happens so quickly, though, that Cloud is half-sure he imagined it. Wouldn't be the first thing today.

"You do know who I am, right?" Zack asks. Which is a strange question. How could he not know? Zack was one of the strongest SOLDIERs and a 1st Class one, to boot. The guy was the only SOLDIER other than the Golden Trio to have his own fan club. Not that Cloud was a member or anything.

"SOLDIER 1st Class Zack Fair, sir?" Cloud wonders if this is some sort of weird test. The day's been strange enough already.

Zack visibly deflates and Cloud is trying to think of ways to bring that smile back when the question that will haunt him for a good while to come passes Zack's lips. "You don't remember, do you?"

"Uhh… remember what, sir?" Obviously, his confusion wasn't going away any time soon. At least his roommates look just as confused, small consolation as it was.

Zack hesitates, running a hand through black spikes, then sighs. His smile is back the next moment, though it doesn't quite reach his eyes this time. "No worries, Spikey! I'm here to fetch you for the General anyway!"

Several things happen in that next second. Logan chokes, Colin stutters something that distinctly sounds like "S-Sephiroth?", and Garrett yells, "What the heck did you do this time?" Well, at least Cloud knows that they're still paying attention. He just hopes that nobody else in the cafeteria can hear their conversation. Especially not Johnson. He's on the opposite end of the cafeteria, though, so maybe Cloud will be lucky.

Ignoring the way that he almost copies Garrett's thought process, Cloud asks, "Am I in trouble, sir?" He really hopes not. He's not sure what would warrant a visit to General Sephiroth's office, but if he's in trouble, it must be something serious.

Zack laughs. "Of course not! And call me Zack! I have the feeling that we're going to be great friends." His roommates look a little jealous at that. Friends with a 1st Class SOLDIER is like a dream come true.

Cloud looks at the other teen in complete shock. Zack outranked him by a lot. "But, sir, I can't…"

Zack sighs, "Not sir. Zack."

He looks at his other roommates, but they're too shocked to be of any help. Turning back to Zack, he tries again. "But, sir, that would be inappropriate."

Zack shakes his head. "Nuh-uh. Repeat after me. Zack." He says, stretching out his name.

Cloud sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "Fine… Zack."

Zack's smile finally reaches his eyes again. "See? That wasn't so hard." Then he's pulling Cloud from his seat and out of the cafeteria. He doesn't let go even as they start their trek through the building.

Cloud finds that he doesn't mind as much as he thinks he should. He just wishes there was no one else around. Zack is practically holding his hand and people are definitely staring. He really hopes his face is not as red as Garrett's hair.

"You can let go of my hand now, sir." At Zack's pointed look, he tries again. "I mean, Zack. People are starting to stare." And Cloud is not a big fan of attention.

Zack keeps smiling, but doesn't take his hand away. "No can do, Cloudy. If I let go of you, you might disappear, and then what would I tell the General?"

Cloud sighs, exasperated. "There's no way I could outrun a 1st Class SOLDIER." Or any SOLDIER for that matter, but definitely not a 1st Class one.

"Not now, no. But when you become a SOLDIER, I know you'll give me a run for my money." Zack replies easily.

Cloud can't help the warmth that rushes through his body at that. Zack said when, not if, and he made it sound like he was confident Cloud would make it to his level, too. There was no hint of deceit in his voice, either. He hopes that Zack was right before and they do become friends.

It doesn't take them long to reach the elevator and when they enter, Zack presses the button for floor 50, his other hand still wrapped protectively around Cloud's.

Standing next to Zack, facing the doors of the elevator, Cloud totally misses the calculating look in the other's eyes. "I'm from Gongaga, by the way." Cloud can't help the chuckle that falls from his throat as he turns to look at Zack.

"Hey, what's so funny about that! You know Gongaga?" Zack's still smiling, though, so he can't be upset.

"No, but it's such a backwater name." Cloud can't shake the feeling that he's had this conversation before. Which is weird since he just met the SOLDIER.

"What about you?" Zack's eyes are brighter than usual and Cloud can't quite make out the emotion he sees in them.

"Nibelheim," He answers. At least it sounds better than Gongaga.

"There's a mako reactor there, right?" Zack asks, excitement almost palpable. He continues after Cloud nods. "A mako reactor outside Midgar usually means…"

"Nothing else out there." They both answer at the same time. Zack looks like he just won the jackpot and Cloud's sense of déjà vu intensifies.

Before either of them can say anything else, the elevator dings, signaling its arrival at the 50th floor. Cloud follows Zack out and they make the rest of the journey to Sephiroth's office in silence.

Zack knocks once, then twice on the door. "Come in," directs a deep voice from the other side. They enter and Zack finally lets go of Cloud's hand, going to stand in front of Sephiroth's desk. Cloud only mourns the loss of warmth for a moment, though. His attention is stolen by the man sitting behind the desk, still working on paperwork, not a single strand of silver hair out of place.

Sephiroth is everything Cloud wants to be. His idol and his entire reason for coming to Midgar in the first place. Cloud can't believe he's this close to the man, the posters definitely do not do him justice. Still in a state of shock, Cloud really hopes that the two SOLDIERs' enhanced hearing can't make out just how fast his heart is racing.

"I'm back with Cadet Strife, sir." Zack salutes, shoulders tense. Sephiroth nods and Zack relaxes. Sephiroth's green, slitted eyes are then on Cloud, who still has not moved from the entrance of the room. He doesn't have to worry about SOLDIER hearing any more – with Sephiroth's eyes on him, he's pretty sure his heart has stopped beating altogether.

"Ah, Cloud. Thank you for coming." Cloud really does try to stop the shiver that goes through him at the way Sephiroth practically caresses his name. He's completely unsuccessful, though.