Q: hope u take the DoC OC story ideas into consideration, seeing the latest trailer of ff7 remake intermission is out.
A: I'm super flattered that you think I would be able to do this story justice, I really am. I just unfortunately will not have the time to work on it for awhile. Between working full-time and writing the two fics I currently have out, that eats up pretty much 100% of my time. I also have not played DoC since it first came out, so I would need to refamiliarize myself with that first. It probably will be at least a year before I'm able to look at this, so if this is something you want right away, maybe somebody else could look into writing it. Sorry if this wasn't the answer you were looking for :(
A/N:
WARNING: There is a brief incident of sexual harassment in this chapter. Please keep this in mind while reading.
Like I mentioned in my other fic, this month will be a little busy for me, so my aim is to post the next chapter 5 weeks from now (since 4 weeks would land on July 4th for those of us in the US), but depending on how things go, it might take closer to a month and a half or two months for me to post.
Also, pay special attention to the chat names later in this chapter. You may recognize a few of them.
A slobbery growl echoes throughout the Combat Simulator, and then the conjured Doomrat launches itself at Cloud. Sharp, pointy fangs bared in a mean snarl, hatred written all throughout its tense, coiled muscles, if it wasn't for the fact that this was all a simulation, Cloud would be convinced that the monster was out for revenge. Revenge for all of the Wererats he had killed before. But whatever. Revenge or not, it's all fine. Cloud doesn't care. He's at complete zen with everything.
Or at least that's what he tells himself. Even as Sephiroth's words from the day before – "I will kill them personally"– repeat themselves, unprovoked, through his head once more.
No, stop. Focus.
Taking a deep (and depressingly much-needed) breath, Cloud rolls the fire materia around in his hand. He wishes he could just use ice, since, you know, that's what Doomrats are weak to. But no. Rhapsodos had already shot that idea down. That wouldn't prove anything, he had said. They were testing Cloud's control, not his knowledge of enemy weaknesses. It wasn't like Cloud had already saved the planet from Sephiroth three times over, now was it?
Dumb.
But fine. He can play along. He's still at peace with himself. He's still not thinking about Sephiroth. Not the way the man's hand had burned hot on his shoulder (and almost still does?). And certainly not the pain that had flashed through his eyes in response to Cloud's aggression.
Another growl accompanies the Doomrat's continued approach, and Cloud starts to feed mana into the fire materia, the orb glowing brighter and brighter in his hand. Just another second and he'll be able to see the whites of its eyes, will be able to feel its rotten breath on his face. Another second and he can cast his spell, igniting the Doomrat's beady little eyes and nothing else. Just as Rhapsodos instructed.
"Do you really hate Sephiroth, little bird?"
Cloud makes a strangled sound, unfortunately similar to Reno's squawk from the day before, his focus ripped from him with just those seven seemingly simple words. Unable to do anything to fix his mistake, he stands, stunned, as the energy he was feeding into the materia slips from his control and races towards the monster in front of him. Watches, eyes wide, as his spell hits, the entire Doomrat exploding into a ball of flames, just like those ill-fated training dummies from a few months ago.
Damn.
"Impressive." Rhapsodos whistles from behind him, the tone of his voice entirely too amused for Cloud's liking. "But you do realize that that wasn't the point of this exercise, right?"
Clouds spins on his heel, his mouth twisting into a snarl of his own at the smug look on Rhapsodos's face. "You distracted me!"
"Distractions are part of life as a SOLDIER," Rhapsodos replies, waving a hand nonchalantly. "You need to be prepared for them. You should know this by now."
"But you brought up Sephiroth!"
"I did."
"Why does everybody keep talking about him?"
Rhapsodos sighs. "Because, as crazy as it might seem, I don't like seeing my friend miserable. He's hardly eaten, slept, or left that office of his since you two had your fight."
"…And you're expecting me to make nice with him?" Cloud grumbles, refusing to make eye contact with the man. He's half-convinced (and afraid) that if he does, he'll lose whatever resolve he has left when it comes to Sephiroth. Especially since he can already feel his hold on his hatred slipping.
And that terrifies him. Was one little smile enough to make him forget about all those years of torment?
"No. Not at all. If you wish to hate him for the rest of your life, Goddess knows you would be entirely justified. And I'm sure Sephiroth expects it, too. I'm just curious as to why you hate him and not me as well."
Cloud's snarky (and somewhat forced?) 'of course I'll hate him for the rest of my life' dies on his lips, his face scrunching up in confusion. "What…? Why would I hate you?"
"Because, little bird – " Rhapsodos looks more morose than Cloud's even seen him before – "I am at least partially to blame for everything that happened to you. More so than Sephiroth. If I hadn't deserted, if I hadn't given in to my soul corrupted by vengeance, then Sephiroth might never have fallen to Jenova in the first place."
"I… what?"
"The part I played put this whole tragedy in motion. My actions cost Angeal his life and isolated Sephiroth to the point where he took Hojo's fiction for fact. In my bid to be more than just a failed experiment, I was even willing to hurt you. I would have too, if it wasn't for Zack. But still… you don't hate me?"
All Cloud can do is shake his head dumbly.
"I'm grateful, little bird. I really am. Though, I would ask you to think about this. Sephiroth might not show it, but he was just as traumatized by his actions as you were. He blames himself just as much too, even though he had no say in what he did. He won't admit it, though. He willingly takes the hatred, the abuse, because he believes he deserves it. Thinks that if only he had been stronger, better, then none of what happened would have happened."
"Stronger…"
Rhapsodos nods. "He couldn't so much as breath without Jenova telling him to. That's how deep her control ran. He was powerless to do anything other than watch the terrifying events unfold, like a canary in a gilded cage."
Cloud swallows, hard. 'Powerless to do anything' sounded painfully familiar.
"He probably doesn't think I notice, but I see the tension in his shoulders, the extra weight he carries around this time. And I see how hard he strives to make amends for his actions. When Heidegger mutinied, Zack was… understandably overwhelmed by the presence of all those troopers – bad memories, he said." Cloud grimaces at the reminder – bad memories, alright. "Sephiroth waltzed right in front of him like it was the most natural thing in the world. If asked, he'd probably just try to play it off as him getting closer to that idiot Director. But I'm not that easy to fool. Not anymore at least. No, he was shielding Zackary, so if worst came to worst, he would take the brunt of the attack rather than our oversized Puppy."
"Why…?" Cloud takes a rather shaky breath. Why did he feel so unsteady? Why was it so hard to hear this? "Why are you telling me this…?"
"Because, little bird, I know the shame of acting without having the whole truth. I know the disgrace of being driven solely by revenge. Believe me, it's a lonely road to take. And I do not wish for you to follow in my foolish footsteps." Cloud wants to look away, he really does. But he can't. Not with Rhapsodos's eyes boring into his own. "I tell you this because I'm convinced Sephiroth expects to perish during this next confrontation with Jenova. And I loath the idea of losing a friend again. Especially one who has been working so hard to atone for his crimes."
"Atone for his crimes…?" Cloud lets out a weak, hysterical-sounding laugh. "That sounds like Vincent."
Rhapsodos's lips quirk upwards. "Like father, like son… I suppose."
"I-I…" Cloud's hands ball up at his sides… perhaps to hide how they tremble. He doesn't think he's ready for the whole truth yet. Doesn't think he can handle it right now. "Can we just go back to training, Rhapsodos?"
"Very well." Rhapsodos nods easily, as if they had just been talking about the weather rather than Sephiroth's lack of culpability. "You are welcome to call me Genesis, though. You've earned that right by now."
Cloud shakes his head. "…We're not there yet."
"I cannot believe I'm doing this again."
"Oh, stop complaining," Aerith giggles. Which, honestly, isn't fair. She wasn't the one completely embarrassed with this whole ordeal.
"I've barely remembered for a week. How did you convince me to do this again so soon?" Cloud laments, trying for a different, probably equally useless, approach. It made no sense. Cloud thought he had been quite clear when he had said "No way in hell." But then the next thing he knew, he was arm-in-arm with Aerith, wandering the plate and trying his best not to punch anybody.
"Because you love me," Aerith sings, quite saccharinely. And well, it's 100% true, Cloud won't deny it. But that doesn't stop the unimpressed grunt he offers in return. "Oh, don't be like that – " Aerith pinches his cheek, which so does not help his sour mood – "You look so adorable!"
"Did you really have to put a flower in my hair, though?" he grumbles, his nose wrinkling to show his distaste with the entire situation.
But her response, whatever it would have been (probably "It's the finishing touch!" if he knows Aerith), is lost. Drowned out by the wolf whistle to their right. "Looking good, girls! Maaannnn, am I glad I got up this morning!"
Gaia damn it all.
Alright. That's it. The next one to cat-call him is getting punched. He doesn't care if he still has no idea how to walk in these heels that Aerith had forced him into. Somebody's getting hurt. It would definitely make him feel a whole lot better.
But Aerith just giggles again and sends a bright "Thank you!" over her shoulder – "No, thank you!" – even as Cloud grits his teeth and tugs her along. "Stop encouraging them."
"You can have a little fun, you know."
Cloud twitches. "I'm. wearing. a. dress." An uncomfortably tight, purple bodice and black skirt, that is. Complete with fake braids, a 'dash of makeup', tissues down the bra Aerith insisted he wear, and one of Aerith's white lilies snug behind his ear – "Can't use the yellow ones! They would just blend in!"
He hates this. So much.
Aerith, on the other hand, seems to be enjoying this entirely too much. He can tell by the way she snickers before twining their fingers together. "Come on, you're hot. Make the most of it."
"If we run into anybody we know, I swear I'll never forgive you."
Aerith sighs. "We've been over this before, Cloud-y – " she sings one of Zack's more favorite nicknames for him – "Sephiroth's been holing himself up in the Tower, and we're avoiding Sector 8 like the plague. There's nothing to worry about."
She obviously doesn't remember that his name is cursed. For no sooner are the words out of her mouth than there's a loud gasp just as they pass Cactuar King. "Oh my god, an angel…" Now, that in and of itself wouldn't be so bad – he had heard it all today – if it wasn't accompanied by a teenaged boy barreling his way in front of them, in front of Cloud, stopping them dead in their tracks.
A red-head teenaged boy who, even with all the buttons of his shirt done up, is entirely too familiar.
"…Johnny?"
If Cloud had had any common sense, he would have kept his damn mouth shut, for the starstruck look on mini-Johnny's face only intensifies at the recognition. "The angel knows my name…"
Aerith snorts next to him, the girl not even trying to hide her amusement. "Smooth…" she whispers. Johnny doesn't seem to notice, though, not with the way he still stares, enthralled, at Cloud.
Fantastic.
"Oh, yeah… uh – " Cloud racks his brain for a good excuse to get him out of this damn mess, reaching over to subtly pinch Aerith at the same time – "you see, uh… a friend of mine has a crush on you and she pointed you out."
Even with his rather poor delivery, Johnny buys the act hook, line, and sinker. "Really!? Who!?"
"Oh… uh – "
"No wait! Shut up!" Johnny cuts him off. "I don't care! It doesn't matter. Johnny only has eyes for you!" Cloud tries to back up – it wasn't fair that this was only happening to him, Aerith was just as dolled up – but Johnny doesn't let him get far. No, the younger, but just as over the top, boy follows him, reaching for his hands. "Oh, please don't be upset! I wasn't telling you to shut up, promise! I would never!"
Gaia really was out to get him, wasn't she?
"You're my love, my light, the only one I'll ever – "
"Marlene!"
Cloud jerks at the new voice, his eyes automatically searching for the closest thing he had had to a daughter. But all he finds is Biggs jogging towards them. And while he would normally be happy to see his friend – if he wasn't in a dress – he can't help the pain, the despair that comes with the reminder that Marlene was gone. That even if he saw her again, she wouldn't remember him.
It hurt so much.
"Hey, sorry I'm late," Biggs says, sliding an arm effortlessly over Cloud's shoulders. "Hope you weren't waiting too long."
Oh.
He gets it.
He hates it, but he gets it. "Just a couple minutes, actually. Aer and I were just wandering around," Cloud tries to smile prettily up at Biggs, in his best guess at how a girl was supposed to act.
And, well, his acting must work since Biggs blushes. "T-That's good t-to hear."
"Wait!" Johnny draws their attention back to him, the boy still cradling Cloud's hands. And by cradling, Cloud means squeezing to death. "How do you know my angel!?"
"Your… angel?" Biggs asks, confused.
Cloud sighs. He guesses he'll have to bring out the big guns. "Biggs here is my boyfriend." He feels a little bad for how crushed Johnny looks at his lie. But not bad enough to take it back. No, instead he gently pries his hands from Johnny's slackened grip and wraps one around Biggs's waist.
"R-Right." Biggs tenses against his side. "H-Her boyfriend."
"I-I…" Johnny sniffs, looking back and forth, distraught, between Cloud's (hopefully convincing) smiling face and Biggs's beet-red one. "Your… b-b-boyfriend?"
"Aren't they cute together?" Aerith (not so?) helpfully provides.
Johnny's lip quivers. "It figures that a beautiful vision such as you – " Cloud tries not to twitch – "would already be taken. I should have seen it coming. Dammit, Johnny! You're always so stupid! Of course she would already have somebody!" Johnny turns to Biggs, his eyes going wide as if he was seeing him for the first time. "Wait! I know you! You're one of the neighborhood watch, aren't you? Gah! Of course she would choose you over me! I'm such a dumbass!"
Now, Cloud normally prides himself on his ability to think his way out of difficult situations. But right now, he's left to watch, baffled and not a tiny bit concerned, as Johnny laments his 'horrible, terrible, rotten luck' further, before turning on his heel and running away. "Stupid, stupid, stupid!"
"…I thought he was weird as an adult," Cloud admits, unable to tear his eyes away from the disappearing train wreck that was Johnny.
"You never grew up with him," Biggs responds, just as dazed.
"Fair enough."
"So…" Aerith joins in, sounding entirely too cheerful considering the crap that had just happened. "Will you be joining us, Biggs?"
"Oh!" is Biggs's startled response, the teen looking unbelievingly at the arm he still had wrapped around Cloud's shoulders. "Sorry about that!" He starts to move his arm, his body tensed as if ready to jolt away ashamed.
"You can keep it there," Cloud responds tiredly, wondering (not for the first time) when this damn day would finally be over. "If it means people will finally leave me alone, I'm all for it."
Biggs pauses, hesitant and not a tiny bit stunned, before slowly lowering his arm around Cloud's shoulders once more. "To be fair, you do make for a rather…" Biggs coughs into his free hand, embarrassed, "good-looking girl."
"Shut up, Biggs."
"You got it."
.
.
.
"Sorry, by the way, for calling you Marlene." Biggs rubs the back of his neck with his free hand, his other a surprisingly comforting weight around Cloud's shoulders. Especially since it meant he was finally invisible to everybody else on the plate. He could deal with pretending like Biggs was his boyfriend for an afternoon if it meant he didn't have to hear any more shit like "See the one in the purple dress? What I wouldn't let her do to me…"
Ugh.
Disgusting.
"I figured that was better than calling you by your real name," Biggs continues, reminding Cloud that the teen was still talking.
"No, I appreciate it." Cloud pulls his attention away from the bleary-eyed office worker stumbling down the street, mumbling (rather derangedly) about "fix one bug and another 20 show up" … whatever the hell that was supposed to mean. "Thanks for having my back."
"Y-Yeah… s-sure."
"Oh, look!" Aerith interrupts, running a few steps towards the playground they were approaching, her red dress swaying with the motion. "It's like the one in the slums!"
"It is," Cloud agrees, shaking his head at the cat slide. It seemed so strange that not even two months ago, he was playing SOLDIERs and Monsters with Zack. That not even two months ago, he thought Sephiroth was the best thing since mako energy. And that Johnson was his biggest concern.
How things had changed.
"Sooooo…" Aerith turns back towards him, the smirk on her face sending all kinds of chills down his spine. He doesn't like where this is going. "Is this where you and Zack had your fun?"
Cloud splutters. "We were just playing a game!"
"Interesting way of playing it."
"Aerith – "
"There you are!"
The alarm on Aerith's face is the only warning Cloud has before he and Biggs are ripped apart, a heavy hand digging into his shoulder as they're roughly turned around. "Thought you'd get away, didn't you!? Yeah, well you never shoulda messed with…" But the thug grappling at them trails off, looking between him and Biggs, surprised. "…Oops. Wrong guy."
"What the hell d'you think you're doing?" Another one swaggers up. And honestly, these two remind him of Corneo's lackeys – leather pants, unbuttoned vests, acting like their clothes were too damn tight for them. But why would Corneo's lackeys be here? Didn't they have more important things to worry about below plate? "Recon, dude!" The newcomer claps his hands in front of the first thug's face. "Do you even know what that means?"
"Course I do…"
"It certainly doesn't seem like it! And you even grabbed the wrong person!"
"But I thought – "
"No, you didn't think! Look at them – " the second one sweeps a hand in Cloud's and Biggs's direction – "do they look like the guy we're after!?"
"Uh… no, Boss." The first thug drops his hands back to his sides glumly.
"That's right, dumbass!" Their 'savior' shakes his head and turns his attention to Biggs. "Don't worry about him, this numbskull is still…" But whatever he was going to say is lost as his eyes land on Cloud, the thug slicking his hair back somewhat cockily. "Oh my. You have my sincerest apologies, Miss." The thug grabs Cloud's hand and has it pressed to his lips before Cloud can do more than squeak in protest. "If there's anything I can do for you, anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask."
He would love for the man to let go of his hand and to stop staring at him like he was some sort of prize to be won, but how does he say that? How does he convey his disgust with this whole situation without setting the no-doubt volatile man off? "O-Oh… I-I…"
But the thug doesn't wait for him to finish, the man instead using his hold on Cloud to drag him forward, his free hand dropping to Cloud's hip. "I know a place nearby where we could be alone. Trust me, I can show you a real good time."
Oh Gaia. Bring Johnny back, please.
"What seems to be the problem here?"
Sure, this newcomer may have saved Cloud from actually having to punch somebody in the face, but he can't help the way he tenses head to toe. He knows that voice. He doesn't even have to turn around this time. Dammit. If he wasn't still trying to appear dainty, he probably would have released a string of curses that would have made even Cid blush.
Well, all he can hope for now is he won't be recognized.
And yet, the arm that slides its way over his shoulders is not reassuring in the slightest, even if it means he's finally pulled from that creepy thug's grasp.
"A S-SOLDIER…"
Cloud nearly rolls his eyes. It wasn't just any SOLDIER. No, this time it was actually Rhapsodos next to him. Rhapsodos, who by all accounts should either be back at the Tower or in Sector 8 gushing about 'war of the beasts' this and 'gift of the Goddess' that. But apparently the universe really did hate Cloud. Figures.
"Well? I asked you a question, didn't I?" Rhapsodos's voice holds its usual charm, but there's still a hint of steel and impatience there that Cloud has never heard before. Not even before the man insisted on training him. Something that felt so starkly different to the man's calm understanding from the day before.
And he really hopes that that's how the man would respond to any girl being harassed, and not any of the far more embarrassing alternatives.
"E-Eh… No p-problem at all…" The second thug stutters out. "Just a case of mistaken identity, is all."
"Excellent. I trust you know how to excuse yourselves."
"But I – "
A ball of fire lands at the thug's feet. "I will only say this once – " Rhapsodos apparently doesn't like being questioned – "If you touch my friend again, I will light your ass on fire. Do I make myself clear?"
"C-Crystal c-clear," the thug squeals, grabbing the back of his friend's (subordinate's?) vest and dragging him away. "You won't hear another peep outta us. Promise."
"Fantastic."
The thugs beat a hasty retreat, scurrying down an alley and out of sight. But that's the least of Cloud's concerns. For Rhapsodos still holds him close, studying him thoughtfully. "Well, you don't appear to be harmed."
"N-No, s-sir," Cloud squeaks, trying to keep his voice as light and as gentle as possible. Perhaps if he doesn't turn fully to Rhapsodos, if he doesn't let the man get a good look at his face, he wouldn't recognize him.
Ok, you can do this, Cloud. Just don't look. Don't look.
"That's good to hear. Though, I will admit you do look radiant, little bird."
Cloud chokes on his breath and turns wide eyes to Rhapsodos, his neck protesting at the speed in which he turned. Rhapsodos, on the contrary, regards him calmly in return, a twinkle in his eyes and a knowing smile on his face. Ugh, of course he would have already figured it out. "Shit."
"Did you honestly think I wouldn't recognize you?"
"I had hoped at least…"
"Silly of you," Rhapsodos chuckles softly. "While I didn't realize this was a hobby of yours – " he looks pointedly at Cloud's dress – "I'd recognize you in anything."
"This isn't a hobby!" Cloud growls, crossing his arms over his purple-clad chest and frowning (pouting?) up at Rhapsodos. "What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn't you be in Sector 8 extolling the virtues of Loveless?"
"Oh, little bird. I can do that anywhere." Shaking his head, amused, Rhapsodos recites, "Dreams of the morrow hath the shattered soul, Pride is lost, Wings stripped away, the end is nigh. I told you Sephiroth has been holing himself up in his office, didn't I?" Cloud nods, bemused. He's not sure what that has to do with Rhapsodos being here. "I got tired of the great big lout looking like somebody had stolen his Chocobo – " Cloud twitches reflexively – "so I thought some fresh air might do him good."
"Some fresh air…?" What was he, a plant? Cloud rolls his eyes – it's not like it really matters one way or the other. As long as Cloud doesn't have to be near him, everything should be fine.
But, wait.
No…
"Rhapsodos… Just what do you mean by 'fresh air'? Where is Sephiroth now?"
"Genesis!"
Cloud's fingers twist into the skirt he had been talked into, dread already dropping to the pit of his stomach. Oh Gaia. Please no. He can't do this right now. Rhapsodos seeing him like this was bad enough.
But the new voice doesn't stop. No, it sounds again, this time much closer. "Why did you run off?"
"I saw a little bird and decided to pursue it." Rhapsodos's hand drops to the small of Cloud's back, firm yet gentle pressure turning him round to face Sephiroth, Cloud too stunned to stop him.
"Little bird? Isn't that your name for…"
His eyes transfixed to Sephiroth's face as they are, Cloud doesn't miss the way confusion turns to realization and then to something more like stunned admiration – "Oh…". Nor does he miss how Sephiroth's lips part in his surprise, the man's breath catching in his throat.
"…Fuck," Cloud hears himself say.
Rhapsodos chuckles. "Not until you're older, little one."
Normally, Cloud would be upset with the insinuation, but he doesn't have it in him to complain right now. Not when he's so busy watching the way Sephiroth swallows, the man's Adam's apple bobbing with the movement. Not when he's so distracted by the heat rising to his face and the nervous thrumming rocking right through him, straight to his core. But it's just because he's so embarrassed at being caught in a dress. It has nothing to do with the raw, unguarded way in which Sephiroth looks at him, and certainly not the way Sephiroth's eyes trail ever so slowly down his dress-covered body.
Right?
"I think you broke him, little bird."
Sephiroth's eyes sweep up the same maddeningly slow way they had down, stopping once they reach Cloud's face again. "C-Cloud…" he breathes out, the man taking an unconscious step forward.
"Shall I give you despair?"
And that, that's enough to remind Cloud. He had trusted Sephiroth before and gotten burned. So what if the man was trying to be better? So what if Cloud (desperately?) wanted it to be true? That doesn't magically erase all of the trauma, all of the heartache. That doesn't give Cloud back the years he had suffered at Hojo's hand, at Sephiroth's hand.
He… he's not ready. This is too much.
Jerking away from Sephiroth, his eyes dropping to the concrete of the sidewalk to avoid any pained expression on the man's face, Cloud grabs Biggs's wrist in one hand and Aerith's in the other. "Come on."
And then he flees.
Aerith had been kind enough not to mention any of the crap that had happened on the plate, aside from a somewhat guilty "Well, I've been wrong before…". And Biggs seemed too embarrassed to so much as look him in the eye, even as Cloud warned him to steer clear of Wall Market and any thugs he might see (he's not sure what this lookalike did, but it can't be good if they were willing to grab Biggs in broad daylight). So, by the time Cloud managed to change back into his cadet uniform, scrub off all the damn makeup, and trudge his way back to the Tower, he naturally assumed he would be able to put all thoughts of weird shit behind him.
He was wrong.
Sure, the looks he got on the train were annoying, but not entirely out of the ordinary considering his (overly vaunted) status as Sephiroth's student. But that never would have prepared him for the strangeness that seemed to be waiting for him at every turn throughout the Tower. The front desk receptionist dropping her pen to stare at him, amazed, as he crossed the lobby. Female office workers giggling as he passed the 3rd floor cafeteria, pointing at him as if he couldn't see them. A 2nd Class SOLDIER not paying attention and running smack-dab into him as he waited for the elevator. The latter in and of itself wouldn't have been so strange if the SOLDIER didn't then proceed to barely make it halfway through his apology – "Sorry about that…" – before his mouth clicked shut, the teen looking as much like a Chocobo in the headlights as someone with a helmet on could.
And, well, Cloud probably should have been more concerned about that and about the way the SOLDIER shakily excused himself – "I-I g-gotta g-go..." – and then practically ran away. But he recognized the dude's voice as the one who had complained about him while he was sparring with Hewley. He really couldn't care less.
But all of that paled in comparison to the way every single living thing fell deathly silent once he walked through the doors of the cadet cafeteria.
Something was definitely up.
Ignoring the food counter and the blushing cashier, Cloud stomps his way over to the table his roommates had already claimed. He knows it won't really help, but he can't help the way he sinks into the nearest chair and covers his hair with both hands in some vain attempt to hide himself from prying eyes. "What the hell is going on?" he hisses at his roommates.
But not even Garrett can meet his eye, not without turning a light pink at least, the teen coughing awkwardly into his fist. "Gotta say, C-Cloud… I never would have guessed that you would kill in a d-dress, dude, but I've been wrong before."
"H-How…?" Cloud's hands drop to the table helplessly, dread pooling into the pit of his stomach once more. "How do you know about that?"
"It's all over S-Sephiroth's fanclub," Colin not-so-helpfully squeaks out.
All… over?
Oh.
Shit.
"Can… Can I…?" Cloud reaches blindly across the table for Garrett's PHS (he still refuses to join Sephiroth's fanclub himself), the red-head pushing it into his fumbling hand with a sympathetic grimace. What he finds waiting for him makes Cloud certain he'll never want to join the man's fanclub for as long as he lives.
Some person, some asshole, had snuck a picture of him and Sephiroth and posted it. More specifically, they had snapped a picture of Sephiroth gawking at him in drag and then posted it – on blast – to Sephiroth's entire. frickin. fanclub.
Fan-fucking-tastic.
LadysMan69: who's that girl? she's gorgeous!
SOLDIERboy123: right!? no wonder Sephiroth can't take his eyes off her!
DieACatLady: I wish somebody would look at me like that…
LadysMan69: this isn't about you
DieACatLady: rude!
SephirothLover617859: what happened to that student of his?
OneStopShopForGossip: you mean Cloud Strife?
SephirothLover617859: yeah! that's it! I thought Sephiroth only had eyes for him?
SOLDIERboy123: Sephiroth probably just got tired of him. nobody's seen them together in days….
AlwaysSilverElite8675309: nooooooo! they were so cute together!
LadysMan69: moving on to greener pastures?
OneStopShopForGossip: the general would never be that callous
SOLDIERboy123: I don't know man… you see the lovestruck look on his face, right?
TreasurePrincess: DAMN! Looking HAWT, Cloud! ❤️❤️❤️
SephirothLover617859: wait! that's Cloud?
DieACatLady: I can see it
AlwaysSilverElite8675309: YES! still together!
OneStopShopForGossip: oh wow…
SOLDIERboy123: …excuse me while I go burn my eyes out
TreasurePrincess: MAN, how'd Aer convince you to wear THAT?
AncientFlower: He lost a bet XD
Cloud sighs – he hadn't lost a bet. He just hadn't been able to tell Aerith no. Not after he had gotten her killed the first time around. Sure, she keeps telling him it wasn't his fault, but he still feels responsible. He'd do anything to make it up to her. He'd do anything for her.
But he appreciates her attempt to save him some face.
BombsAway: obviously I need to hang around you two more often
SeventhHeaven: oh my… you really outdid yourself, Aer! He looks great!
AncientFlower: doesn't he?
TreasurePrincess: p.s., I still love you more than that silver-haired meanie! ❤️
SephirothLover617859: silver-haired meanie?!
WellTechnically: wait isn't the kid… well, a kid?
DieACatLady: what's your point?
WellTechnically: idk… isn't it kinda gross he's looking at a kid like that?
SephirothLover617859: ….oh
AlwaysSilverElite8675309: he can't be a kid!
RedTurkey: word on the street's he's rly an adult
WellTechnically: doesn't look like an adult…
RedTurkey: freak accident, ya know… reckon our dear ol' general's waitin til he matures again…
HowMayIHelpYou: ANOTHER ONE!?
LadysMan69: another one…?
HowMayIHelpYou: …just forget I said anything
OneStopShopForGossip: you can't leave us hanging like that
HowMayIHelpYou: they'll kill me!
LadysMan69: who'll kill you?
HowMayIHelpYou: ….the turks
RedTurkey: well you hafta tell us now
HowMayIHelpYou: I can't…
RedTurkey: oh c'mon now. the turks don't police silly rumors like this
HowMayIHelpYou: …you're sure?
RedTurkey: positive
HowMayIHelpYou: …all I know is there's a girl like that involved with one of the turks. I won't say any more
RedTurkey: how curious
Cloud passes the PHS back with a groan. He had read enough. Ugh. And here he had thought being hit on by not only Johnny but some random thug, and then running into Sephiroth was bad enough. Of course he would be wrong. It must be a running gag or something.
This was terrible. This was really bad. How was he honestly supposed to avoid every single person in Midgar?
First, though, he would need to track down Yuffie and Reno and figure out what the hell they were thinking ratting him out like that. Sure, Aerith, Tifa, and (he's pretty sure) Jessie hadn't made things better, but they were just wading through the shit that had already been sown.
Kupo! Kupo!
Well, his humiliation must not be over yet. Great.
But when he pulls out his PHS, he's greeted with Zack in big letters, bouncing across the screen. "Hey, what's up? Did you already make it to Banora?"
"Yeah, we got here a couple hours ago… It's just…" Zack sighs.
And wasn't that a big warning sign? Zack never sounded this down. "…You ok? You're not hurt right?"
"I'm fine, bud. Just a little bummed you would dress up for Aerith but not me…"
"Zack."
"I asked first, though…"
Cloud sighs – how does he deal with a whining Zack? "You know Aerith. She has a way with her words."
"I know… But I want to see you in a pretty dress too…"
"Zack. It's all over Sephiroth's fanclub. You don't have to go far to see it."
"Yeah, but I want to see it in person…"
"Zack…"
"Please, bud? I promise I won't tell anybody about it. You have my word."
It wasn't Zack's word he was worried about, it was his own dwindling pride. Sure, he felt just as responsible for Zack's death and would do anything for him just like Aerith, but Cloud had already been caught in a dress once. No way was he going to go through that again. No way was he going to have his made-up self blasted all over Sephiroth's fanclub again.
"Please…?"
But if there was one thing Zack was good at, it was that pleading tone of his. Cloud could already feel himself tempted to give in. Could already see himself reaching wordlessly (and thoughtlessly) for that dress again just like when Aerith had clasped her hands in front of her and begged "Please, Cloud? I bought it for you."
Damn.
How does he convince the teen to drop the subject without being rude about it?
Oh. He's got it. "I'm not going to wear a dress again unless you wear one, too."
"Deal!"
"Wait, Zack! Didn't you hear what I said?"
"Loud and clear, buddy! Oh, this is going to be so much fun! No takesies-backsies now! Hmm… You think Aerith can make me look as cute as you?"
Sephiroth had thought that some time away from Cloud would help things. Would help him tamp down on these inappropriate feelings he had when it came to the boy… and maybe help Cloud come to terms with his existence. Things seemed to be going well, too. He had been mildly affected by Cloud's presence during that meeting with Lord Godo – his heart had definitely skipped a beat when Cloud cheered up Genesis – but he still thought he had handled himself pretty well.
But that was before he saw Cloud in a dress.
He's not sure what the appropriate response was to seeing your student all dressed up, but checking him out was most likely not it. He hadn't been able to help himself, though. Cloud reminded him of the angels from Professor Gast's bedtime stories or the Goddess from Genesis's Loveless-sick harpings.
Or even the dazzlingly bright sun he foolishly couldn't tear his eyes away from.
True, he has no intentions of starting anything with the underage boy, even if Cloud could stand to be in the same room with him. But he recognizes the elevated heartrate and the unusual tingling feeling as a sign he had a crush (like Angeal and Genesis claimed) and not a warning of Jenova's return like he had originally thought.
And yet, even with that understanding, he has no idea what to do about it. Lauded as the greatest military mind on all of Gaia, and he finds himself done in by his feelings.
Some General he was.
Knock.
The single knock on his office door draws him away from his uncomfortable thoughts. "Come in." He knows it couldn't be Cloud since the boy still hated him (and always knocked twice), and Genesis never knocked. But he still never would have guessed who actually glides through the doorway. "Vincent? You don't normally make social calls."
Vincent closes the door behind him before approaching his desk, silent as the grave. "I figured it was about time we had a father-son chat."
The words are followed by Vincent pulling his PHS from a hidden pocket and sliding it across the desk. But whatever Sephiroth expected to find staring back at him, it certainly wasn't Cloud's dolled-up self once more. "…You're a member of my fanclub?"
"I thought it would be a good way to keep an eye on you."
Sephiroth blinks owlishly at the man. "I'm… led to believe that that's not how a normal father-son relationship works."
"We're not normal," is Vincent's simple reply.
"…Fair enough." Sephiroth sighs. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I thought it necessary to remind you that while Cloud will be 15 in a couple of months, that is still underage."
Sephiroth feels his eyes narrow. "Did you really come all this way to give me the Talk?"
But Vincent doesn't so much as bat a lash at his change in mood. If anything, the bastard just looks amused. "Am I not doing it right?"
A/N:
- Did I buy a PS5 just to play Yuffie's story in the Remake? Yes. Did I have to button mash for like 30 minutes on Best Buy's website to get it? Why, yes, yes I did. But do I regret a single second of it? Not at all XD (would have been a different story if I didn't manage to snag one)
- So, my beta reader has never actually played the games/watched the movies, so all she knows about the story is what I've told her/the clips I've sent for her to watch. Well, she got a new phone the other day and was like "My new phone's color is Cloud Mint... I feel like Aerith grows that." I'm so proud of her lol
- I've been wanting to put Cloud in a dress since back when I started this fic, but only just got around to doing it. Also, I would love to be able to draw him all dolled up for everybody, but unless you want a reaaalllllllyyyyyy bad stick figure, I'm just gonna leave it to your imagination ;)
- For the bleary-eyed office worker/bugs in the code reference - for those who aren't programming savvy, a bug in a program or a script is basically a mistake in the code that causes the program/script to either fail completely or to just behave in an unexpected/unintended way. But often when you fix/patch one bug, you find a bunch more. There's a joke I like: "99 little bugs in the code. 99 little bugs in the code. Take one down, patch it around. 117 little bugs in the code..."
And the chat names (a few of these were probably obvious, especially with Cloud pointing some of them out):
- LadysMan69: just some random internet jerk
- SOLDIERboy123: the one who was complaining about Cloud when he was practicing with Angeal. Also the one Cloud ran into outside the elevators
- DieACatLady: also a random person, though I might have Kunsel save her later, idk...
- SephirothLover617859 & AlwaysSilverElite8675309: two of Sephiroth's almost infinite fangirls. I used the numbers to hint at how unoriginal most of them are (you can thank my beta reader for 867-5309 (for those unaware, that's a song from the 80's)).
- OneStopShopForGossip: Kunsel
- TreasurePrincess: Yuffie
- AncientFlower: Aerith
- BombsAway: Jessie
- SeventhHeaven: Tifa
- WellTechnically: another random person
- RedTurkey: Reno
- HowMayIHelpYou: Heather, the receptionist