"You went a little overboard, don't you think?" Tseng motioned to the unconscious man in the stretcher that was being carried away. He didn't have to guess who it was. The neat buzzed dark hair was enough, no matter if the entire face was bruised up and bloodied.
Lazard and the Turks were informed of the incident. Tseng sent Reno and Rude to the location and picked up everyone involved to return. They had also dropped off a very disgruntled Genesis to take over the mission.
"He deserves worse." Sephiroth stated spitefully.
"How did you convince him not to kill the man?" Tseng raised an eyebrow to Angeal, who sighed.
"I didn't. That was Cloud's work. I had the other Second Class SOLDIER take my phone and call Zack. I made him put Cloud on the phone to talk him down." The commander explained while he crossed his arms.
"And it worked." Tseng processed the information for a moment. "You do know the rumors will worsen after tonight."
"Then let him be a warning to them all what happens should they try anything." Sephiroth didn't bother to hide the venom in his voice.
"I understand your fury, general. Believe me when I say I want nothing more than to lock that scum away for the rest of his life." Tseng admits, earning a glare from the general.
"Then why haven't you?" Sephiroth hissed.
"Because my hands are tied until the results come back." The Turk reminded sternly. His words made the general scowl. "At any rate, depending on the extent of his injuries, he can't do anymore harm to Cloud while he heals. This should at the very least keep him under our noses until the results are in."
"I suppose there's always a silver lining." Angeal comments.
"I suggest you all get some rest. Oh, and do please keep this night to yourselves." Tseng eyed all three SOLDIERs.
"My lips are sealed, Sirs." The Second Class SOLDIER assured.
"I have no concerns with him. He kept the secret fight with Cloud to himself, and he didn't even see it." Sephiroth added, this young man had already earned his respect in that regard in keeping secrets.
"Less paperwork for me, then." Tseng sighed in relief.
As they all began to disperse, Angeal caught up to the general. Sensing his friend Sephiroth paused to turn and address him.
"What is Cloud to you?" Angeal knew if he waited too long to ask, Sephiroth will clam up and refuse to give him any straight answers.
"What do you mean by that? He is Zack's pupil with a lot of potential."
"Don't play coy with me, Seph." Angeal gave him the look.
"Why are you being so persistent?" Sephiroth glared.
"I haven't even met the boy officially, and I can already see how much he's changed you. I see how much you are willing to jump for him. He doesn't even have to ask for it and you still take matters into your own hands." Angeal took a breath and exhaled. "I won't get in between you two. That's not why I'm saying all of this."
"Then why are you wasting our time?" Sephiroth grew impatient.
"I want you to take a step back and reevaluate this situation. He has a lot on his plate. He is a victim of a heinous crime, and is on a very long road of recovery. Because of you actively seeking to help him, people are going to notice. Most of them already have. And one of these days the fame will catch him."
"I don't think that will be something to be worried about." The general resisted rolling his eyes.
"I'm just saying. Again, I've never met him, therefore I cannot cast judgment on whether he will thrive in the spotlight or not. I just want you to be aware of all possibilities before you make any moves on him."
"Like mentor, like pupil." Sephiroth groaned at this.
"Zack has noticed too?" Angeal was surprised at the detail.
"Listen, I'll tell you what I've told the puppy. I won't be the one making the decisions on whether to start or end a relationship should he seek it. All the cards are up to him. It is ultimately his choice to make. Whatever it will be I will respect it."
Angeal saw a certain detail in his friend's eyes. Something only he or Genesis would notice. There was pain in them, hidden underneath the carefully crafted mask Sephiroth built for the entire world. Angeal and Genesis learned how to look for the faintest signs in their friend.
"Even if ending it will hurt you beyond repair?" Angeal spoke so softly, his words were barely above a whisper.
In other words, what if Cloud used Sephiroth?
A flash of anger passed through those eyes. The emotion turned the mako to glow brightly. As soon as the emotion came it was shoved down, stomped out as Sephiroth reined in control. He knew Angeal noticed the detail, however. They have known each other long enough to notice the smallest of changes.
"It is still Cloud's choice." Sephiroth stated with such conviction that Angeal couldn't stand it. He looked away in defeat. He felt broken that he had somehow made the situation worse rather than better.
When Angeal couldn't find any words in him to reply Sephiroth turned around. His movements were stiff and forced as he walked. Angeal watched with a heavy heart. He pulled out his phone to start messaging Genesis.
xXx
Cloud noticed a difference in Sephiroth after that night. He couldn't quite put a name to what it was that changed. He saw instead how the general grew more distant. The blond began to worry that perhaps it was somehow his fault.
"Is he okay?" Cloud asked Zack one evening while the general was out on a mission in the city.
"Seph? Yeah. Why?" Zack raised an eyebrow. Apparently he hadn't noticed anything different.
"I don't know. He seems distant. Withdrawn." Cloud couldn't help but make the connection it had something to do with that night the general went out of his way to hurt Brandt.
"Oh, he gets like that every now and then. That's how he normally is. He'll come around when he's done having his moment."
"You sure about that?" The blond had his doubts.
"Trust me, I've tried to get him to come around during one of these moments. He shut me out even further. Not even Genesis or Angeal can help. He will eventually snap back to his old self and act like nothing ever happened." Zack assured with confidence.
"If you're sure..." Cloud decided to drop it.
The few nights Sephiroth was home Cloud gave him space. If what Zack told him was true that he would shut everyone out further, then Cloud didn't want to cross any boundaries and make it worse. So he stayed cuddling with his mentor.
Then came the day Angeal finally visited.
"So this is the infamous Cloud Strife, the one person who has General Sephiroth wrapped around his finger." The commander studied the blond curiously, there was a mirth in his dark eyes as he spoke.
"What do you mean?" Cloud blinked. "I don't have him wrapped around anything."
Zack busted out laughing from the kitchen. He was in the middle of making lunch for all of them. Cloud ignored him and kept his gaze on the commander. The big muscular man raised an eyebrow.
"You really don't understand the amount of power you have over him." Angeal observed, and just like that his views on the boy changed. He severely misunderstood the young SOLDIER. He wanted to kick himself for casting judgment too quickly without getting to know him first.
"What do you mean?" Cloud was genuinely confused.
"I suppose you noticed the amount of missions he's been out for?"
"Of course I have. What does that have to do with anything? He's the general." Cloud wasn't sure on where this was going.
"He's signing them up so Zack doesn't have to leave." Angeal didn't have to look up to confirm with his former pupil. In the kitchen Zack slowed his movements. Of course the younger First Class noticed this a while ago.
"What? But why? Is it something I did? Is it because of what happened that night?" Cloud panicked.
"No, no. It's nothing of the sort." Angeal shook his head. "It was my fault."
"How is it your fault and not mine?" Those deep blue eyes narrowed.
Oh this poor sweet boy. Angeal concluded in that moment that Cloud had silently been blaming himself in the change within Sephiroth. In the kitchen Zack cursed quiet enough that Cloud couldn't hear, but Angeal could. Seems his former pupil still had some learning to do if he hadn't noticed the blond's change of behavior since Sephiroth had become withdrawn.
"I confronted him that night. After you calmed him down and the Turks came and got us. I cornered him and initiated a rather heavy conversation with him."
"About what?" Cloud still wasn't sure what to make of the information.
"It was about you." Angeal let the knowledge sink in before continuing. "It's not my place to say what was said. I will admit that I was wrong, however."
"Wrong with what?" Cloud's voice was shaking.
"I misjudged you without getting to know you first."
"You? Mr. Mom?" Zack couldn't help but pipe up.
"Even I make mistakes, Puppy." Angeal chuckled at his own expense.
"Well I'll be damned. Never thought I'd see the day." Zack shook his head.
"Anyways, what I mean to say is, I shouldn't have said what I said that night. And I am deeply sorry for the pain it caused to you. All I can say in my defense was I was looking out for one of my good friends." Angeal held out his hand. "Will you forgive me, Cloud?"
The blond stared at the hand for a moment. He processed what the commander explained. Although he didn't fully understand, he knew Angeal was being sincere. Cloud grasped the outstretched hand firmly, and Angeal gently returned the gesture.
"I forgive you. But you better apologize to Sephiroth, too." Cloud said sternly.
"I will next time I see him." Angeal assured with a laugh. He could see why Zack and Sephiroth flocked to this boy. He decided in that moment he didn't have to be there when Genesis finally came around to meet Cloud. The boy can handle himself just fine.
"Great! Now that's over, anyone hungry? I made tacos!" Zack brought over a huge plate.
While the other two ate away with slightly higher spirits, Angeal pulled out his phone to send a short message to Genesis. The last thing he wanted was for the other commander to come at Cloud with all his fury.
We don't need to worry about Cloud. He has my approval to be with Seph.
