Once they were free from the laboratory Cloud had endless questions. Who were they, where did they come from, why were they here, all of the basics like that. Sephiroth was patient as he took the questions with stride. Occasionally Angeal answered when Sephiroth hesitated on some.

Meanwhile the three of them had the same idea. Cloud was eerily similar to a certain puppy. Same energy, but not overly hyper. They all wondered how it will go once they met.

"So then are there lab coats in Midgar?"

"They're not like the one that trapped you in there." Angeal was quick to answer.

"But they're lab coats. How can they be different? I mean, they made you guys, right?" Cloud frowned at the idea not all scientists are the same.

"Why do you think we were made? We were all born naturally." Genesis tilted his head.

"You smell of mako. Enough to drown in. And yet you guys don't need suits in order to survive." The blond crossed his arms as he tried to think. "We're all born, but sometimes we're born different. I've seen the way that lab coat attempted to create more like us through unborn infants. They all died, though."

The horror that Cloud could so casually talk about such experiments made their stomachs turn. They secretly wondered what the boy had seen that was worse than experimenting on unborn children. They had to remind themselves that Cloud was kidnapped at the tender age of six.

"I'm amazed he didn't turn to mass kidnapping." Genesis deadpanned.

"That would have been too risky to put him under radar." Sephiroth countered.

"Then why did he kidnap Cloud and Shelke?" The red commander wondered.

"I wasn't kidnapped. I was born in there." Cloud frowned at the information.

"No, you were kidnapped. You match a missing person's report of a boy named Cloud Strife." Angeal corrected. "You have a family."

Suddenly Cloud leaped high. In a flash Genesis pulled his friend back while Sephiroth grabbed the boy from behind. Those eyes were wild and focused on Angeal as he struggled.

"Enough. You won't harm my friends." Sephiroth spoke with a tone that meant he was serious. Cloud huffed angrily as he stopped. But all the same his eyes never strayed from the dark haired commander.

"I don't have a family. If they are, they're dead. They should have tried harder to find me." Cloud snarled deeply, a rumble in his chest as he spoke.

For a moment no one knew how to respond. He was so convinced that the didn't have a family that they knew he wouldn't listen to facts. If he was even presented with evidence he would deny them.

"Am I interrupting something?" A different voice asked. They turned to Reno, who remained well enough a safe distance away.

"Just calming him down." Sephiroth knew the way the Turk thought. He saw the glint of mischief in those eyes in the way the general was holding Cloud.

"So long as he doesn't pull that off in the air. We leave in fifteen." Reno snickered as he continued his way to the helicopter.

"Air? That thing flies?" Cloud blinked, now back to endless questions.

For someone who eats hearts and fully capable of taking down a Soldier, he still pertained some innocence in there. A sense of wonder about the world he's never seen. It gave them hope that there was a future for Cloud. A hope that he would overcome the violent parts of him.

Slowly Sephiroth released his hold on Cloud. For the most part Angeal did his best to answer the questions on how the helicopter flies. He wasn't a specialist on the matter. But he was the most patient with these sorts of questions.

When it finally came to actually flying Cloud was a nervous ball. Sephiroth placed the headset over his ears. Cloud frowned at having his hearing muffled, but they had already explained that they needed to wear these.

Cloud really hated the seat belts. But he still had the option to look out the window. When they took flight Cloud literally curled into a ball at the motion. It wasn't until Sephiroth placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him, that the blond relaxed enough to look out the window again.

They watched as he watched in awe as they flew. Angeal was hopeful, despite the bit of anger from earlier. Genesis couldn't help but compare Cloud to Zack. Sephiroth wondered how they were going to place Cloud in Soldier.

Sephiroth didn't want to ask for details on what happened with Weiss. He figured he would learn later when Cloud wasn't in the vicinity to overhear.

When they finally arrived at Midgar Cloud was asleep. Sephiroth carefully undid the seat belt and removed the headset. Then he picked up the blond in his arms and carried him bridal style. Somehow the blond remained asleep during all of this.

"I've heard the news you only got one of them. The president wants the actual report from all three of you." Lazard greeted them, nearly inhaling his coffee.

"Where do I place him? If I take him to Hojo, he will fight upon waking up." Sephiroth didn't wish to bring him to the man.

"How strong is he?"

"Enough to give me a challenge if we had a proper place to fight." Sephiroth noticed the way Lazard sighed.

"Angeal, you stay with him in the lounge." Of the three of them, the reports from Sephiroth and Genesis were vital for the briefing.

Sephiroth handed Cloud over to Angeal. He cradled the blond with care. At this time there shouldn't be a huge crowd in the lounge are, just a few floors down from the president's office. Cloud frowned in his sleep but otherwise didn't stir.

Despite the exhaustion they followed the director. They passed Shalua, who seemed distraught. Her one lead, and they couldn't secure her sister. Now she's out in the wilderness with others that were dangerous.

"Is she not allowed to be part of the briefing?" Genesis inquired.

"No. She requested to join, but she was denied. I promised her that I will give her all of the information afterwards." Lazard replied, keeping it strictly business.

Once in the office Sephiroth wasn't surprised to see Tseng already there. Reno passed along files and a flash drive. Upon taking their seats respectively Director Lazard cleared his throat.

"The invasion to take over the laboratory was a partial success. As Rui speculated, Alexus released the Six Soldiers from their cells to fend off General Sephiroth, and Commanders Rhapsodos and Hewley. They split into pairs and spread out."

"And yet only one of them is in our custody." Hojo scowled.

"Only because of Sephiroth. I delivered your offers, even tried to reason with them that they could have a better life with us. Weiss wouldn't take the bite." Genesis wasn't going to take the fault for this.

"I reached the control room only to find Alexus already dead. Cloud and Nero were partnered up. Cloud stayed to fight, and Nero opened a portal of darkness and escaped." Sephiroth explained.

"I see. And can you speculate how strong he is?"

"He rivals First Class. I would even go so far as to say he rivals us. If he was given proper room to fight then it would have taken me a little longer to knock him down. As it was, he got distracted when he stepped on Alexus' mutilated body." By us he meant the big three.

"But he followed your orders afterwards?"

"To a point. When he asked basic questions, learning who we are and where we came from, his family was brought up. He believed to have been born in there, not kidnapped. He even tried to fight Angeal over it. I managed to subdue him before he caused any injuries."

"And do you believe he is capable of being part of Soldier? Will he help us locate the others?"

"I am unsure on his stance of helping locate the others. But I believe he will be a good asset with Soldier."

"And why do you think that?"

"Despite his...tendencies, he is curious about how the world works. He even asked how a helicopter flies. In some aspects he's like a child, discovering the world for the first time. If guided properly and carefully I believe he can be like any other Soldier. Strange quirks, but a Soldier."

"And if he's placed into Science and Research?"

"Then I can assure you he will kill everyone in that department and escape. He views scientists all the same in that lab coats aren't human. He ate Alexus' heart after killing him." Sephiroth described that last bit and watched the others grimace.

"So he really does eat hearts?" Scarlett was both fascinated and horrified.

"Yes. I'm sure the Turks have photos of the aftermath. And we heard the whole thing on the intercom." Sephiroth elaborated.

He knew it will be some time to not hear those sounds in his sleep. Sephiroth wished there was such a thing as brain bleach, as Genesis liked to call when he wished to forget about a horrifying detail. Sephiroth knew his friends shared the same sentiments after this mission.

Tseng opened the file folder and searched through until he pulled out the photo in question. He placed it in the middle of the table for all to see the gruesome details.

Scarlett leaned with the most interest. Heidegger was disgusted. Hojo remained indifferent, although Sephiroth could see the curiosity in his dark eyes. Lazard refused to acknowledge the photo. Palmer was green in the face.

The president stared with the most impressive neutral poker face. His blue eyes glanced back at the general.

"And you're sure you can control him?"

"Yes. I am unsure if he will respect others, but he has shown that he is willing to listen to me and what I say. He only lashed out on Angeal because we found a trigger by accident. But even during his fury he listened to my commands."

For a moment the president considered the information. He closed his eyes for a few seconds. When he next opened them he had his answer.

"Very well. For the time being he will be with Soldier. However, he will still be assessed by Hojo. But, if there's one slip up, he's to be placed within Science and Research."

"Thank you, Mr. President."

"Oh, and since he only listens to Sephiroth, he will stay with him while he adjusts to our way of living."

Sephiroth knew it would be for the best. He just wondered how long he will last constantly wondering when his heart will be claimed by the Heart Eater. His anxiety was enough to race to the lounge to find Angeal and Cloud both passed out.

Angeal was asleep sitting up in a chair. In his lap Cloud was all curled up. He seemed so tiny compared to the bulky man.

Genesis snapped a picture.

"I hope you don't plan on sending that to anyone." Sephiroth frowned.

"No. Just the puppy with the caption, 'Guess you got competition', then refuse to give anymore answers." The commander smirked at his own little joke.

Sephiroth almost rolled his eyes. If they were in private quarters he would have. He might even have smirked with Genesis. He could imagine Zack going bonkers over the photo then given no further information.

Carefully he gathered Cloud in his arms to make their way to the building where Soldiers were housed. Sephiroth couldn't decide if he wanted strong coffee or some well deserved rest. He thought of the crunching of a rib cage being torn open and pulled apart.

He opted for coffee in the end.