Forbidden Fantasy: Soulmates
Fantasy's Flight
By: NemesisStrife
Disclaimer: These Final Fantasy 7 characters are property of Squaresoft. This is an Alternate Universe epic saga pre-game fanfiction. As stated before, this is a Cloud and Sephiroth pairing, involving shounen-ai, and it is my take on what should have happened in the game. Respect my opinions, please.
NOTES: People, since the server now has a new format, please check for my story under "Sort By Update (Chaptered)", please. And I will make it a point to add a new chapter, *hopefully* this FRIDAY. It all depends on the number and type of reviews I get. So, I hope you know what to do...keep on reading, and Review please.
Warnings for this chapter
1) I'm a sadist, just like Cloud is turning out to be… I decided that he needed to be a little "tougher", as well as being intelligent. And Kiyoshi insisted…* grin *. I aim to please.
2) For those who asked, yes, we have slight Reno yaoi hints, but nothing definite.
3) I love this phrase in the second paragraph … *see where I get my name from.*
" " Normal speech
' ' Thoughts
italics Emphasis
~ ~ Mental speech/ Telepathy
// // Flashback
Chapter 3
Preliminary Confrontation
Cloud found himself surrounded by students around ten years older. He fidgeted slightly in his seat, feeling nervous, all-too-aware of the fact that he was viewed with curiosity. 'Like I am a lab specimen waiting to be analysed.' He tried to shut out their inquisitive glances, and concentrated on the notes on his table and the professor's lecture. The classroom he was in was one of many in the Midgar University, a towering monolith near the ShinRa tower. 'At least I can't detect any feelings of open hostility. I guess this is one place where I won't get people calling me a "nerd", considering they managed to get into the University too.' He was taking most of the specialised Science courses, as well as the other general subjects. Astronomy, Physics, and physical Geography, in particular, fascinated him. 'I don't know why, but sometimes I feel that there's something, or someone telling me, it seems almost instinctive, the way I just know about the Planet, Mako Energy and the Universe. It's almost as if I know this by heart already.' Troubled, Cloud tried to turn his mind away from the disturbing thoughts, and found himself doodling absent-mindedly on his notebook. 'Green eyes. Slanted, almond-shaped. Straight, high nose. Long, flowing silvery hair.' With a jolt, Cloud hurriedly flipped the page and then shut the book quickly, not wanting anyone to see his sketch. 'Why am I thinking of Sephiroth, now?' He studiously focused back on the lesson, trying his hardest to blank out all other thoughts, and succeeded.
Later, heading back to the SOLDIER training facility, Cloud was lost in thought, mentally working out an equation in his textbook. Which is why he didn't notice Erek, Johnny and some of their gang hanging around the hall until a shadow fell on the ground before him. "Hey, punk, back from school already?" taunted the other boy.
Cloud slowly backed up, 'ah shit! Forget about them.' He took a step backwards, trying to avoid the confrontation that was brewing.
"Aww… is poor little Cloudy scared? You should be happy, you've got your photo in the Nibelheim news for being such a genius. Of course, after we're done with you, your guts will be plastered inside the newspaper," jeered Erek, and the rest of his gang guffawed.
Cloud chose to ignore him, and scanned the area, feeling a familiar, not-quite-disturbing presence. 'Sephiroth's up there. Next to the black-haired guy.' He scanned for possible escape routes, all the while seeming quite distant and not paying attention.
"I'm talking to you, wuss! Listen up, Cloudy!" yelled Erek, not pleased at being ignored.
Something snapped inside him, and Cloud could hear a voice in his mind, ~ go for it. ~ "It's Strife to you," he replied coolly, eyes narrowed. Erek sneered, and gestured for the rest of his gang to back off, and stepped up, fists clenched, ready for a fight. Without warning, he lunged at Cloud, enraged, his large bulk overshadowing Cloud. Cloud ducked under the blow, and quickly lashed out a foot at Erek, causing the older boy to lose his balance. As the surprise registered on Erek's face, expecting an easy victim, Cloud tensed as a clear attack plan flooded his mind. He quickly delivered a hard chop to the back of Erek's neck, then, with a blow to his windpipe, slammed the back of his head against a nearby pillar.
The bully was gagging, trying desperately to breathe, half-paralysed on the ground. As if he had rehearsed the entire move before, Cloud gracefully straightened, then said in a clear voice that carried throughout the hall, "one of the things we learned in Biology, is that there is a rather sensitive nerve at the base of your neck. A blow to the vertebrae, may cause bruising to the spinal cord, resulting in temporary paralysis. Also, you'll find it quite painful to breathe like that for the next 24 hours." Flipping his hair back from over his eyes, he glanced at the now pitifully-gasping boy on the floor, "he should regain full muscular control in a few days. That is if he recovers at all." The corners of his mouth curved upwards, in a scornful half-smile, then Cloud casually brushed past the group of boys, heading back for his dorm.
"Just you wait, Strife! We'll get you for this!" yelled back Johnny, all the while trying to lift Erek out, with the help of his other cronies.
'Oh, somehow… …I don't think so. Things have changed now. We're playing on by new rules, on a level playing field. And now, I know I can win.' Cloud's features set back in a look of cool indifference, and he glanced once more at the gathering crowd dispassionately, then left.
Sephiroth had been standing in the second level, overlooking the main hall, next to Zack, when he saw Cloud come in, with a load of textbooks under one arm. The recruit had looked absorbed in his work, brows creased in concentration over serious, now darker blue eyes. Zack had noticed Sephiroth's shift of attention, then turned to check it out for himself.
"Yo, Sephiroth. Isn't that the cute blond recruit from the ceremony?" Zack asked.
"Yeah. He's Cloud Strife, from Nibelheim," Sephiroth answered absently, more interested in the gang of other boys who had surrounded Cloud, without him knowing. "I think there's going to be trouble. Those guys are from the same hometown, and apparently, they have bullied him throughout his life."
"Whoa," Zack gave Sephiroth an odd look, "really done some research on the kid, haven't you? Fast worker." Sephiroth ignored the comment as usual, and focused on the confrontation, instead. Cloud was looking tense and wary, backing up a few steps, mistrust, suspicion and nervousness reflected on his face. Then, the fear seemed to dissipate, and he had looked up to the second floor, to briefly check for possible exits. Then the ringleader of the group, a tall, bulky recruit, with dull brown hair and eyes, stepped up front and taunted Cloud.
'That guy looms over Cloud. Probably outweighs him by twenty pounds. Plus, all his followers are there, it won't be a fair fight.' Sephiroth's hand clenched around the hilt of his sword, the Masamune, and he glared, through narrowed eyes, at the gang of recruits. There was a bright-red haired teen, tall and lanky, slouching slightly, who was encouraging the "leader" of the gang.
"Blond's in trouble. They all are over two years older than he is, probably 'cause the recruiting drive started late back at Nibelheim," Zack frowned, "there isn't a rule against fighting, so we can't interfere. 'Sides, it isn't our business to separate them, since the aren't actually getting into a battle. Yet."
"It involves Cloud. I'm making it my business," Sephiroth replied shortly. "If they touch him, I'm going to get them all kicked out of SOLDIER. Or, I might decided to even up the odds a bit."
Zack paused, and stared at his friend and commanding officer, who had an angry glow in his green eyes. 'Never heard or seen him like that before. Somehow, he's awfully protective about that recruit.' Cloud's clear, scornful reply echoed throughout the room, and Sephiroth tuned out all the other distractions, including his meal.
'He provoked the other guy deliberately. I hope he knows what he's doing.' The two men could only watch, as Cloud took a defensive stance, dropping into a protective crouch. Blue eyes gave nothing away, and Sephiroth couldn't help but tense slightly, when he saw the dark-brown-haired recruit lunge at the smaller boy. Somehow, Cloud shifted to an offensive position, moving with the force, letting the other fall off balance, then, with lightning-quick reflexes, bring him down with a swift blow to a vulnerable nerve. Cloud's eyes were still blank, devoid of emotion or compassion, smoothly getting to his feet. He had ignored the injured cries, and calmly spoke to him, still cold and distant. Then, for an instant, Sephiroth had caught a flicker of scorn, contempt, anger, hatred… …and satisfaction in those expressive azure blue eyes. Cloud's mouth twisted into a mocking, sadistic smirk, and he exited, with the rest of the recruits leaving a clear pathway, out of fear… and grudging respect.
"I don't think you will need to worry about him, Sephiroth," Zack finally broke the stunned silence.
"I know. That was an incredible move, wasn't it?" the General replied.
"Hmm… the kid kinda scares me. The look he gave the other boy… he's a cold-blooded killer… a warrior already," Zack shook his head.
"And the problem is?" Sephiroth asked, smiling slightly, one eyebrow lifted. Sephiroth gazed at the now-deserted hall, recalling the cold, ice-blue eyes, sun-lit, golden-blond hair, and swift, killing grace of the slender teen.
"Well," Zack grinned impishly, "you sure know how to pick them. Pretty, sweet, talented and full of potential, and able to still look devastatingly cute when practically destroying another person. I have to hand it to you."
"Zack, please. At least try and act serious for once."
"Ok. But really, Sephiroth, he does seem to be reluctant to start the fight, and stopped short of killing him, even for the sake of self-defense. Unlike someone I could mention," Zack shot Sephiroth a look.
"I won't let anyone hurt him," Sephiroth whispered. 'Not even myself. Especially not myself. The curse… this time… this month… manifests… afflicted with it all my life. I had better leave the ShinRa training grounds tonight… can't afford to hurt anyone here… can't fight it.' Stray thoughts flickered through Sephiroth's mind, and he took leave of his friend, wandering out into Midgar city.
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Cloud had been too tired to do anything more strip off his shirt and collapse into his bunk below Reno's last night. "Yo, wake up, Cloud!" Reno shook him into wakefulness, and Cloud yawned and sat up. "You're going to be late for breakfast if you don't hurry," Reno continued, grey eyes reflecting his carefree grin.
"I'll skip it. Not hungry anyway," Cloud replied, blinking as the bright sunlight took a while to get accustomed to.
"Okay, guess we'll get into trouble together, then. Speaking of trouble, that was one scary move you pulled yesterday. Wicked cool! Ancient grudge or something?" Reno asked.
"You could say that," Cloud replied cautiously, searching for a clean tunic, "but it's not something I particularly like to remember. The childhood… …memories from Nibelheim."
"Oh. I understand," the red-head smiled comfortingly, "a fight over some girl?" At Cloud's shake of his head, Reno continued, tying back his ponytail, "some… guy?"
"What!" Cloud practically gasped, mouth open in shock.
"C'mon, Cloud, it's pretty common. Okay, maybe Nibelheim is pretty sheltered, but I'm from Midgar, so I kinda grew up with it," Reno half-smiled, at the shocked look on Cloud's face.
'Oh my… I never knew… I mean, I did know that some were… but I didn't think there would be actually such openness in the city! Mom'll have a fit.' "Um… Reno, you aren't… are you?" Cloud asked.
"Well, actually I am gay. It's no big deal," Reno shrugged casually, "does that make you uncomfortable?"
Cloud shook his head slowly, looking at the handsome redhead, "it doesn't really matter. We are friends, right?"
With a playful grin spreading across his narrow mouth, Reno tugged on one of Cloud's spikes. "Yep."
"Ow! Hey, stop messing with my hair!" He yanked his friend's ponytail warningly, and the older boy let go with a laugh. "Do all the others know?" Cloud asked, suddenly serious.
"They just accept it. In Midgar, no one bothers about you, except for your family, and my parents understand. None of the other recruits in our year know, but I think some will be able to guess. I like living here, it's one of the cities that have the most freedom," the older boy answered.
"Are you… um… involved with anyone?" Cloud questioned shyly, afraid of offending his friend.
"Nah. Not now anyway. Why? You interested?" Reno teased, and at Cloud's blush, said "seriously, though, I think you are very attractive. But I don't want think you feel the same, so I'm not going to push it. Unless you want to?" Cloud was stunned by his friend's candid admission, and even more so when Reno placed his hand on the side of his face, tilting Cloud's head slightly upwards, so their eyes met.
"Um, Reno, no offence, but I don't think I should," Cloud gently removed the hand, tenor voice nervous.
"Ahh… okay. I keep forgetting you're three years younger, and might be 'girls-only'," Reno replied easily.
"It's not that. You're my friend and all, but I don't think of you that way. I guess I just do not feel like that about anyone," Cloud looked troubled, 'except maybe one person. Hell, no! I'm not going to say that!'
"I understand. If you change your mind, let me know," Reno teased, only half in jest, with a flirtatious smile.
'Not a chance, Reno. There's only been one for me… always. Only one.'
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