"What happened at Cloud's old bunkroom?" Reno asked soon as Tseng returned to the office.

"It was broken into and vandalized. One of his old bunkmates made the report, however Heidegger refused to take it seriously enough to send someone down before Cloud showed up to retrieve his things." Tseng explained calmly.

"Think it was Brandt?" Reno scowled.

"If not, then the people closest to him. They proceeded to spray paint WHORE on the wall." The higher ranked Turk concluded.

"Those bastards." The redhead cursed.

"How did Cloud handle it?" Rude inquired of the boy.

"Bad enough Zack called in the general to help calm him down. His answer? Take him to the training room." Tseng sat at his desk. The pair followed him, now very curious.

"How did that go? Please tell me you got footage! I wanna see!" Reno leans over his bosses shoulder.

Tseng didn't reply and simply connected his USB to his computer. Eagerly the rest of the Turks gathered around his desk, evidently having heard the whole conversation. Everyone watched with baited breath, even Tseng as he had missed most of the fight and entered during the climax of it. Seeing the build up proved to be just as amazing as he suspected.

"Holy shit! And he hasn't had any injections yet? Damn, boy! He can give the general a run of his money!" Reno exclaimed at the end of it.

"That's amazing." Cissinei comments.

"To think though, if this hadn't happened to him, he wouldn't have discovered this part of himself." Rude speculated. This observation brought down the excitement in the air.

Tseng disconnected the USB. Yes, he agreed the same sentiment. However, he hoped that with Sephiroth's help, the boy won't go rogue. Under the general's guidence then this potential SOLDIER has a chance to stay on the righteous path.

"Will the general take over as his mentor?" Reno wondered what they all thought.

"Officially he is under Zack's care. However, for the time being the both of them will be sharing General Sephiroth's suite. This way the general can help Cloud out during his free time and keep it off record."

"Smart thinking, boss."

"What do we do about Brandt?" Rude asked.

"For now we keep an eye on him and his friends. If the results of the break in come back as any of them, then we have reason to hold them for a while until the results of the kit comes back from forensics." Tseng instructed. To be honest they all knew it had to be Brandt. There was no denying with all the facts lining up.

However earlier the previous week the Second Class SOLDIER proved to be slimey. He claimed Cloud was willing. He said the boy wanted him. Cloud never said no or fought back. He didn't know what happened to Cloud's face. Brandt claimed he left the blond after they finished their business when Cloud fell asleep.

However Tseng and his entire team of Turks had tracked down everyone who had been at that party. Everyone confirmed Cloud tried to leave, but Brandt redirected him to a private room. No one else went into that room. Somehow Brandt had slipped away without anyone noticing at one point, for he was long gone before the company received a complaint call from a neighbor about the noise.

And Brandt's small circle of friends backed up their friend on the time frame of when he showed up at their hang out spot. They all claimed their friend wouldn't do that to anyone. Their insistence was a little too much, for that was all they talked about over anything else. It was as if they were trying to cover up for one of their own on the matter.

Tseng saw right through them. His entire floor did. But with no direct evidence and with Cloud's memory fuzzy, there was nothing the Turks could do but let Brandt go. It was frustrating on everyone, everyone but Brandt anyhow.

But they all knew they will swarm once the tests results were back. Tseng aimed to arrest the unsuspecting SOLDIER when he least expected it. Perhaps there was one silver lining. Brandt knew he fucked up and he was sweating balls the entire time the results were being processed. It was enough for Tseng to wait patiently.

xXx

"Dude. That was so cool! I've never seen you fight like that, Spike! That was amazing! And the way you had Sephiroth cornered? Man! I wish I recorded the whole thing!" Zack was a bouncing ball of energy hours later in the suite.

As instructed by Tseng they only grabbed the essentials for their silent move. The two were currently in the living room, watching television waiting for Sephiroth's return. It was habit of him to only come in only to sleep, so they didn't expect him home anytime soon.

"Is he mad? Do you think?" Cloud didn't share his mentor's excitement.

"What? No! Of course not! If anything he's just as ecstatic as I am! I know for a fact he hasn't faced anyone who has given him that much a challenge in a long time!" Zack flashed a huge grin.

"Really? Not even Commander Hewley or Commander Rhapsodos?" Cloud wondered curiously.

"They hardly have time off together at the same time to give that a try." Zack brushed off the names. "Oh yeah, whenever you're ready to meet my old mentor, let me know and I'll catch him on one of his days off."

"Yeah." Cloud nods absent mindedly.

"You doing okay? You been spacing out since we got here." Zack scooted closer on the couch. Nothing escaped him when it concerned his pupil.

"It's just...a little overwhelming we're here." Cloud admits with a blush. He still had a hard time wrapping his head around the fact that not only did Sephiroth comfort him at the infirmary, but he dropped whatever he was doing to help him then let him take his anger out on him. And he actually stood his ground against the man!

"I know. I understand. To be honest, I didn't expect we could be placed here, either. But you know? It means you get more support. I mean, I know once Genesis and Angeal figure it out, they're gonna come around often. They're gonna wanna see the one SOLDIER who gave Sephiroth a taste of his own medicine." Zack was beside himself.

"And that's a good thing?" Cloud almost panics. He wasn't sure of Angeal, but he heard the rumors of Genesis. He was known to be bipolar, and quick to anger on his worst days.

"What? You worried about Genesis? Don't worry, if anything happens Angeal or Sephiroth will keep him in line. Or myself if it's needed. But I don't think he will do anything. He might be all prickly on the outside, but he's a big softie on the inside."

"Who are we speaking about?" Sephiroth entered the suite.

"Genesis." Zack waved a welcome greeting. Cloud curled up into a tighter ball underneath his blanket. Although Tseng said not to bring anything personal, he refused to leave behind the blanket that's become his best friend.

"He's forbidden for another month to enter my suite." Sephiroth stated as he made around to the kitchen, grabbing a drink.

"What for this time?" Zack raised an eyebrow.

"For messing with my hair products." The general answered with a tone in his voice.

"Noted, don't mess with your stuff. Although that should be the number one rule in decency." Zack laughed.

"You don't need to hide yourself, Cloud." Sephiroth watched the blond poke his head up over the edge of the couch.

"You're sure you're not mad at me from earlier?" He asked tentatively.

"Of course not. What's passed has passed. There is no need to dwell on it. You're not feeling like you want to go on a killing spree?" Sephiroth raised an eyebrow.

"No." Cloud shook his head.

"Then there's no reason to be afraid."

"So what will the sleeping arrangements look like?" Zack inquired curiously, earning a deep blush from his pupil. Sephiroth resisted going over there and smacking his lieutenant upside the head.

"You take the spare room. Then it's up to Cloud who he chooses his cuddle buddy. However, I should warn you my alarm is set early in the mornings."

"Wait? You offering to take over as cuddle buddy?" Zack frowned slightly. Cloud knew what he was thinking. That one night he let his hand wander a little.

"I'm leaving it up to Cloud."

"You really don't mind?" The blond squeaked.

"Genesis and Angeal forced themselves to be my cuddle buddies for a whole year once. I'm open to the idea." Sephiroth shrugged, taking a sip of his drink. "If you don't mind, I'm going to shower."

Zack watched him go. He turned to see that Cloud's attention was back at the television. Keeping his phone out of sight the lieutenant pulled it out to message his superior. He might have been paranoid to turn it on silent, but he was being careful.

You sure about that offer? He tried to feel me up once. He wanted to forget that someone touched him.

And? You think I can't handle myself with him? Sephiroth replied a minute later. The sound of the shower turned on in the bathroom.

It's not that. Zack frowned.

Then what is it? The sharp response cut deep.

I'm not stupid, Seph. It takes someone without a brain to not see you've got a soft spot for him. Zack typed away.

I won't push myself on him, Zack.

Doesn't matter if you don't. I see the way he looks up to you. If he starts something, then you follow through, it's just...

What, Zack? By now Sephiroth's patience was wearing thin. He wanted to get into the shower already.

I just don't want to see my two best friends hurt if this doesn't work out. Zack finally admits.

You act like I would ever hurt him.

Trauma bonding isn't healthy, Seph. Zack pointed out.

I won't initiate, and I won't end it. All of the cards lay in his hands on what he wants. He is a grown man. Now if you please I need to shower. Sephiroth had enough of the conversation.

Zack sighed as he put away his phone. Damn it all. He turned his gaze back to Cloud. It didn't come to any surprise that the blond was asleep. He had refused to nap at all after his fight against the general despite the obvious exhaustion his body displayed.

A smile crept up on Zack's face. Maybe his concerns weren't needed. He couldn't help it when it centered around either Sephiroth or Cloud. Zack raised his hand to gently run through the blond spikes. Cloud mumbled softly in his sleep but otherwise didn't move or wake up.

Zack turned off the television. He stood and gently picked up his pupil and made their way to the spare room. Sephiroth was right in that regard that Cloud was grown. Maybe Zack was being too protective. In the end it was all up to Cloud. Zack decided that whatever his pupil decided on, then he will give all of his support.