"You cherish me?" Cloud asked that night.
"Of course. Ever since you have become part of my life, I find joy in everything. You replaced the dull lonely nights. I actually want to come home from missions. You make this world bearable." Sephiroth smiles fondly.
Cloud leans up for a tender kiss. Sephiroth returns the sweet gesture. Whatever the future will hold, they had each other. Things were about to get wild for everyone involved.
When Emilia and Tseng told him he will be followed everywhere, he scoffed at them. However just days after the first court date Cloud wasn't laughing. Any floors that weren't restricted the press would follow him and take unsuspecting pictures.
It got to the point the Turks banned the media altogether from the building. This rule was initiated when a reporter found a lost executive keycard that allowed access to restricted floors. Tseng had made rotating shifts of all Turks to keep an eye on Cloud. And Reno caught someone following Cloud to the floor of Sephiroth's suite.
"Yo! Who are you? What you doing on this floor?" Reno accused.
Cloud turned, at this point he was halfway down the hallway to Sephiroth's door. He saw the camera snapping away pictures. With quick thinking the blond opened the door to Zack's instead and enter just as Reno tackled the reporter to the floor.
An hour later Tseng calls to inform him that it's safe to switch to Sephiroth's if he so wished. He had gone over better security plans that will be effective immediately. The solution was that all SOLDIERs on one special floor must update their keycards in order to get the elevator doors to open on their floor.
Only a very select few that didn't live on that floor had access. And the Turks are never sloppy in losing their keycards. While almost everyone on this floor complained, they grudgingly accepted the new security method. It occurred that any sneaky reporter was going after Cloud would immediately seek opportunity on other famous individuals.
"I wish Lazard never mentioned me." Genesis admits one evening while they had a dinner get together.
"I thought you enjoyed the spotlight." Sephiroth smirks.
"Yes. When it's about me. All they wanna talk about is Cloud."
"I'm sorry." Cloud felt horrible.
"Don't be. I'm just venting. They wouldn't leave me alone." The red commander assured.
Once the press got the idea Genesis was done talking to them, they quickly shifted their intentions to Zack. And very quickly he became popular. Charming smile and easy going attitude to brag about his pupil won them over. The people adored him.
"How did I meet Cloud? He was a recruit in my class. Saw the potential in him real quick. That's why I requested to be his mentor soon as he got into the program."
"There's rumors going around Cloud is currently in a relationship with General Sephiroth. Is this true?"
"Nah. They're just close friends. Sephiroth saw the potential in him too, added a few tips once. Let me tell you, that was the proudest moment of my life. I mean, my first pupil gets the attention from General Sephiroth? I'm the luckiest man to be his mentor."
"Do you happen to know Cloud's type? Men? Women?"
"I can't speak for him in that department."
"What about you? Anyone special or are you single?"
"I may or may not have a special someone."
"Do you know the circumstances of how Cloud gained the attention of Emilia Phoenix?"
"Oh she reached out to us. I don't know what she heard to make her reach out, but after they talked she came up with the contract that once he makes it to First Class he pays her."
"Do you believe he will make it to First Class?"
"I know he can. And that's not just me saying that because I'm his mentor. He did catch an eye from Genesis and Sephiroth. So I feel very confident with the odds."
"What makes Cloud so special that he has caught the attention of both General Sephiroth and Commander Genesis?"
"He's determined. Won't ever quit in a fight. He's also fast. Now that the mako injections have started, there's good improvement in strength. But he's got a good brain in there. Adapts well in a fight and comes up with new solutions everyday for the same problems."
"Are you sure there was no involvement with Vice President Rufus Shinra?"
"Nope. Cloud would have definitely told me if he had." Zack stood firm.
"Ladies and gentlemen, our sincerest apologies for cutting this short but Lieutenant Zack Fair is needed for an important mission." Tseng said cold faced to the reporters before escorting Zack away from them.
After that night Zack became the new face of magazine covers, the newspapers and has since been the talk in the news. He has now gained his own fan base with rising numbers. Talk spread that he has become the newest obsession for Midgar's most handsome bachelor. Although there was speculation if he was single or not.
Overnight Zack was being followed everywhere. Luckily with the new security method in place Zack didn't face any of the same problems Cloud did. Unlike Cloud who shied away, Zack took the fame in stride. He even posed soon as he caught on he was being followed and photographed.
Then things took a wild turn. A week before the second date of the trial Zack and Cloud were coming back from a mission in Midgar. It was late at night, having just swept the streets of monsters. However Cloud was having great anxiety for the upcoming week.
"Hey. You'll be great. I requested that day off from missions and it looks like Lazard is gonna clear me." Zack pats Cloud's shoulder.
"I can't help it. There's so much pressure on me. I don't understand how anyone sees me as special. How is it everyone but me sees it?" Cloud was on the verge of tears. "And if I am special, then why did that happen to me?"
Zack pulled him into a tight hug. With the warm embrace Cloud breaks down. After a few minutes of crying the blond gathered himself. When he was reduced to sniffles Zack pressed his lips on Cloud's forehead. It was a tender brotherly moment of affection, nothing romantic.
"You are special, Cloud. I seen it since we first met. And maybe Brandt did too, but he abused you for it. There is a difference of taking advantage and treasuring those who are different in a special kind of way. Don't ever think of yourself otherwise. Or I'll beat that way of thinking outta you."
Cloud laughed. He felt a little more at ease now. Although he still felt nervous of the trial it wasn't as heavy of a burden. At the sight of Cloud's smile Zack let go and they continued their way to Shinra HQ.
The next day the news was wild. All over the same picture of Zack kissing Cloud's forehead. And all of the headlines are asking, BROMANCE OR SOMETHING MORE? Soon as Zack caught wind of it he raced into Sephiroth's suite, barging in while the other two were still getting ready.
Sephiroth pokes his head out of the bathroom. He only had his pants on. Cloud was fully dressed and scarfing down breakfast. Soon as Zack hurried inside the blond puts the food down. The pair watched with equal confusion as Zack approached Sephiroth.
"I'm so sorry! Please don't kill me!"
"What are you on about?" Sephiroth raised an eyebrow.
Zack turned and literally climbed over the couch to grab the remote. He flips through the channels until he found the one. He glanced over at Sephiroth, face white as a sheet. Curious the pair moved closer while Zack turned up the volume.
And they both stopped cold. Behind the reporter was a photo in great detail of Zack kissing Cloud's forehead. Horror spread through Cloud, and he nervously glanced at Sephiroth.
"Is there perhaps more to the mentor and pupil relationship? Only time will tell, more on the subject tonight." The female news reporter questions, and the news changed to the weather.
"Please don't kill me. I didn't mean anything of it, I swear!" Zack panics.
"It was my fault. I was having a meltdown. He was comforting me." Cloud added, biting his lip.
"I know. I can tell the difference. Just don't expect me to remain calm while everyone shoves this in my face for the next few days." Sephiroth warned. Zack wanted to shrivel up and die.
Cloud's phone goes off. He checks the number but didn't recognize it. Even so he answered it anyway.
"Cloud, are you alone?" Emilia asked, masking the panic in her voice.
"No. Zack and Sephiroth are here with me. I just learned the news." Cloud explains.
"Put me on speaker." She insisted.
"Okay, you're on." He pressed the button.
"I don't believe this will change anything for the trial. In fact, this might deflect all of the rumors that Cloud is with Sephiroth."
"So what you're saying is go along with it?" Zack's face said it all. He didn't want to. He couldn't. After he came to terms with his crush on Cloud and that nothing will become of it, he laid it to rest. And there was the matter of Sephiroth.
"Don't deny it. But don't say yes either. They will pick up on this and more rumors and speculation will spread. The original rumors concerning Sephiroth will come into question. And because you're so willing to talk to the people they will adore the idea of you being with Cloud more than Sephiroth."
"I... I don't know how to go about this. I don't want to overstep boundaries." Zack glanced at the general.
"You won't have to do any kissing or anything romantic. The most I would suggest to make it more believable is hold hands often, be seen out in public together. If you're alone and heading back to HQ then stop by and pick up two meals. Does this sound reasonable enough for all of you?"
"I guess it doesn't sound too bad?" Zack eyes both of his best friends.
"If Sephiroth is all right with it I am." Cloud looked at his lover.
"If she truly believes it will help Cloud, then I'm for it. So long as it doesn't go too far. I can't promise Zack's wellbeing if that happens." Sephiroth sent a warning look, and Zack nervously backs away.
"All right. I'm sorry for suggesting this sort of thing. The last I want is to create a wedge in a relationship. But if we try and deny that he's with Zack, then it is confirmation that he's with Sephiroth. In my mind the answer is clear on what needs to be done. You know, after the trial is resolved, if you want to make a big deal out of it then stage a public break up. That way you don't have to pretend forever."
"Yeah. I understand." Cloud hadn't thought of that.
"All right. I have to go, today is rather busy here. Cloud, I already scheduled with Tseng for us to have a last meeting to go over the plans for the trial. He will keep you informed."
"All right, thank you." Cloud hung up the phone.
The blond looks up to Sephiroth, who eyed over him. Cloud blushed brightly. That was the same sort of look he had when Rufus had him sign his contract to be his personal bodyguard.
"Oh, no. Please don't. No hickeys. Please, Sephiroth." He pleaded.
"Fine. I will restrain myself. This time." Sephiroth promised.
