Behind Shinra Doors

Chapter 20: Seeing Through New Eyes

After Cloud was done dressing and ready to go, Cameron chattered of what happened in the normal squad of SOLDIERS. Like who's with who, and who's done who, and who's with who but is doing who. Cloud stayed silent all the way, too much engaged in the world he now saw. His view seemed totally different but everything stayed the same.

He knew what's to come from behind him and every action from any device he could see and hear as well. The entire time it tired his mind to think of it but he held it back from Cameron.

The day of training had just ended when Cameron and Cloud arrived downstairs in the cafeteria where Zack stared into his caffeinated drink. Cloud slyly tapped on his should and Zack jumped up in haste.

"Cloud!"

"Gently, it still hurts." mentioning of his back.

"Oh!" Zack suddenly released. "Sorry." The three took their seats and Cloud began a conversational topic.

"So, where's the General?"

"He was called up by the President not long ago about something, which is why we were dismissed so early." Zack shook his little baggie of sugar and began pouring its contents in the coffee until Liam's mass volume crashed upon the table and sliding into the steamy hot cup which emptied into Zack's lap.

"Cloud!" Liam opened his arms.

"DAMIT LIAM!" The coffee burned through his uniform which he tired to wipe constantly. "Now get me another cup after you totally demolished my last one!"

"Don't worry." Cloud waved while getting up. "I'll get it."

"Since when did you know how to make coffee?" Cameron asked.

"By watching you." Cloud retorted. He turned around and Liam leaned closer to Zack.

"Sorry mate, you're going to get a shitty coffee then." Cameron attacked Liam to the ground while Zack scooted a couple of seats away from the scene.

Cloud casually walked through the maze of crowds and tables with ease but as he got closer into the throng his ears began picking up whispers carrying his name. Those hushed voices grew more and clearer as he tuned his hearing to catch the words.

"Yah that's him"

"Caught red handed with a Turk."

"President Shinra got so pissed off because he was jealous."

"And Rufus wanted him to get it because Cloud was doing him on the side."

"Got 30 mako injections but he had more in the past because he got all those nightmares."

"He's been sleeping with everyone that offered him a better something."

"I heard he's sleeping with every Turk so he can join the team."

"The only reason he made the elite team was because he gave the President a blowjob."

At this Cloud stopped and turned around to view his hateful crowd. All faces were familiar and many carried those that he laughed with and knew. But now those faces burned a scornful look at the blonde with a predatory glint in their eyes. Yet never did he back away in a corner to simper but how could one defend himself from society's cruelest form? So all he could do was stare back at them wearing the same contemptuous mask.

"Slut." Was the whisper he heard from Dylan, huffed under his breath. Cloud's stony glare turned towards him in the most unbelievable state.

"What did you say!" He spoke softly back but didn't keep at bay the vileness each word carried.

"You heard him." Another spoke up. He was outnumbered and cast out by his own peers whom he treasured as his own family. The soldier back out of the gathering crowd and walked quickly out of the cafeteria.

"Cloud?" Zack beckoned but was ignored. "Cloud!"

Cloud slammed the timber doors shut behind him praying that it would strike fear into the hearts of all that said those rumors in his face. But they were only doors, nothing more. They saw him crumble beneath them like some insect and the thought alone brought Cloud to break. A vacant wall stood as his only leaning post to shield his face from the world as tears rained out of his aquatic eyes.

So much strength he gave to cease those fountains but it only conducted more to follow. His sobs were the only things that he concentrated on; ignoring the fact that Sephiroth came from behind. He slowly reached out for his shoulder but the youth bit back a nasty remark to not touch him.

The General took back his graceful hand away from the trembling form, following orders as always. But the continuous harsh gasps of Cloud broke a nerve inside him. Sephiroth snatched Cloud away from the wall and pressed him against his slender frame. The soldier did not fight back the warmth of his embrace.

"If you fight it alone," Sephiroth whispered in his ear. "You are alone." A finger gently wiped away dashing tears that covered Cloud's face and at last, Sephiroth saw those two overwhelming orbs of pure innocence and beauty, however, they lost the softness in their color; replaced by a striking coat that screams for attention in many ways.

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