"I should have been honest from the start." Sephiroth hated this. Soon as Cloud inquired about Genesis with his scent change he should have kept a closer eye on the commander.

"Don't blame yourself." Zack sounded like his mentor.

"About Genesis?" Cloud caught on.

"Perhaps I am part of the reason why. Although if I had known sooner, I would have tried harder to reach out to him. Instead I left him be, assuming he would come to me when he wasn't so angry."

"You can't change the past, Sephiroth." Angeal advised.

"I am aware." They entered the director's office.

"Explain everything. All of you." Lazard glanced up from his computer. His eyes hardened and face taught.

"It all started when I wounded Genesis in the VR room. Hollander informed Angeal and I that he needed blood donated. I offered, but Hollander wouldn't accept me." Sephiroth began.

"Who is Hollander?" Cloud had never heard of him.

"Another lab coat. But he also designs our robots." Lazard explained.

Cloud pondered why that was a good idea.

"After I donated blood, it seemed like Genesis was getting better. But he made himself scarce to all of us. When Cloud brought up his scent changed, I asked him if there was anything he wished to tell me." Angeal looked down.

"Did he say anything to you?" The director inquired.

"He closed himself off from me. I couldn't get any answers. Shortly afterwards he broke things off with us."

"What happened with Cloud to get tipped off?" Sephiroth wondered.

"I walked into the cafeteria. And almost all of the Third Class Soldiers had the same scent as Genesis. I ran and called the director to get a better idea where to find him. I confronted him and he got mad when I connected that he wasn't the cause."

"Cloud's theory is solid. He stated that it had to be a lab coat. Someone trying to find a cure for Genesis and using the other Soldiers as test subjects." Zack added.

"This is a peculiar situation. I can't charge Hollander without more solid proof. But I will have to look into the number of Soldiers that are seen to by Hollander for a better understanding. See if Hojo can obtain samples and find the cause."

"That won't be enough time! He will slip away soon he finds out what happened today." Cloud panicked.

"That is legally the best I can do. I can't hold him accountable based on theories alone. Your presence has already brought the departments wanting a fight. If I detain Hollander without proof, they will hand you to Hojo and remove me as director."

Cloud understood. But that didn't help him feel any better. And after the director took all of their reports he brought them to the president. This time Sephiroth didn't have to attend.

"Seph?" Zack pulled him aside when Cloud left.

"What is it?" The general sensed the young Soldier's unease.

"I saw that smile everyone talks about. Genesis tried to run. And Cloud smiled. A smile that gives me chills. I can't get it out of my head."

"Understand that is simply his instincts kicking in. It would seem he can control it to a point now. He's learned his lesson not to immediately eat the hearts in his victory. Then again Genesis was lucky due to circumstances."

"It's still unsettling." Zack bit his lip.

"Give him time. Soon you won't see that side of him everytime you look at him."

Zack hoped that the general was right.

In the aftermath of the meeting Cloud was promoted to Second Class. And it was a matter of debate to end his probation early. This didn't matter to the blond, he was more anxious for Hollander to be brought to justice.

And then the lab coat slipped away.

"I told them it would come to this!" Cloud snapped when he learned the news.

"Soon as he realized the Turks were onto him he bailed. Although rumors of you striking down Genesis probably set him off in the first place." Sephiroth sighed.

"Did he leave evidence at least?" The blond knew it was too much to hope for.

"Everything he worked on was erased."

For a long time Cloud was angry. Sephiroth noticed immediately. Zack and Angeal finally got to see one day when they walked into training.

"You're allowing your emotions to get the better of you." Angeal observed.

"At least I'm not acting out on it!" Cloud yelled. He didn't even miss a beat as he continued his onslaught of attacks.

Sephiroth blocked and deflected. Although this was no easy task. With the increase of mako injections and the unbridled fury within the blond, he was a force to be reckoned with.

"I'll give you that." The commander was still unnerved by the power Cloud was displaying.

"How long has he been like this?" Zack inquired.

"Since Hollander ran off." Sephiroth blocked another powerful strike. "And no signs of him channeling it properly."

"I'm literally. Right. Here!" Cloud struck with each word. His eyes were dark with burning hate. And the last strike sent Sephiroth back.

"How about talking it out?" Angeal offered.

"Talk about what? There's nothing to talk about! Except I want to see the lab coat gutted like the pig he is! And Genesis - he can rot with his disease!" Cloud lunged forward on the offensive.

"I understand your hatred with scientists and researchers. But that was a little uncalled for with a former comrade."

"What? You wanna defend his honor?" The blond whirled and held a stance to offer a challenge to the commander.

"I'm not raising my sword for a pointless fight." Angeal stared him down.

"For someone who talks so much about honor, then call me out for expressing my feelings then you refuse to accept my challenge? You're a coward." The venom in Cloud's voice nearly made everyone flinch.

"Enough." Sephiroth intervened. "You need to learn to hold your tongue."

"I won't be changed into something I'm not!" Cloud glared at the general. Sephiroth willed himself not to backhand him.

"This is deeper than just Genessis and Hollander getting away." Zack tilted his head. "You're upset over something else."

"Not everything needs to be complicated!"

"You just proved my point by defending yourself. Was it something Genesis said? When he called you a puppet?" Zack theorized.

At the word Cloud lunged towards him full speed with a yell. Angeal rushed to defend his pupil. Sephiroth snatched the blond. His arms wrapped around his own pupil and held on tightly with all his strength as Cloud struggled.

"If you continue, I will be forced to hold you in a choke hold." Sephiroth warned.

Cloud had no rational thought to comprehend. He kicked and bit. His fangs nearly tore through the leather and into the flesh of Sephiroth's arm.

Fearing that should Cloud taste blood then it would send him into a blood rage, the general shifted with all his weight to buckle shorter legs. Then quickly one arm moved to press against Cloud's throat like an iron bar.

After each gasp Sephiroth applied a little more pressure. He was constantly willing his body not to break the fragile neck. As the body weakened and began to collapse Sephiroth allowed them both to fall. He released his hold to instead embrace Cloud as they laid there.

"Breathe slowly. You're close to hyperventilating. Focus on me and breathe as I breathe." Sephiroth instructed.

Cloud followed his words. He focused the inhales and exhales of his mate. His body shook with remnants of rage and shock. But he couldn't turn to meet Sephiroth's eyes. He felt hurt by this method his mate had used.

"Look at me." Sephiroth spoke evenly once Cloud's breathing was under control.

He refused out of spite and stubbornness.

"Cloud." His tone promised punishment.

Reluctantly the blond slowly moved his eyes to meet Sephiroth's. They swirled with regret, pain and irritation. An odd combination to be sure.

But there was one other emotion that was so faint.

"I gave you fair warning before I used the choke hold. When you refused to listen I did what was necessary to calm you down. I won't tolerate you lashing out on comrades, even if you were triggered. I can't protect you a second time."

Cloud understood. That faint emotion was fear. Sephiroth was afraid. Was he afraid to lose him? That he wouldn't be able to stop them from taking him away and handing him over to the whims of a lab coat?

He closed his eyes. And exhaled. When Cloud opened his eyes again his expression softened.

"I understand."

"We'll talk more later. For now, I believe you owe an apology."

Slowly they stood on their feet. And for the first time Cloud realized how hard he had been pushing himself. The aches and pains were insane.

"...I'm sorry. For attacking." He couldn't meet their eyes.

"As long it won't happen again." Angeal released the tension in his muscles. His hand lowered from the handle of his precious sword.

"You're fine, Spike. I guess I shouldn't have been making theories while you were already in a mood. What I said was the straw that broke the chocobo's back." Zack was understanding.

"You keep mentioning them when I still have no idea what they are." Cloud deadpanned.

"Remind me to take you along to a mission by a chocobo farm. They sometimes get monsters that wander too close."

That evening Cloud hesitated joining Sephiroth in bed. The general had to fetch him from the couch then carry him to their bed. His arms wrapped around the smaller form.

"Why did that word effect you so bad?"

"...I don't know. When he said it, it felt like a sword impaled me. Then twisted. And it stayed in there. I don't know how to describe it properly, let alone process it."

"It sounds like shame. Why would you feel ashamed? I thought you were finally finding your place here."

"I don't know! It - it's making me realize how confined I am. That even though I'm out of the laboratory, I'm not exactly free. Then when I realized that, I was so angry."

"At me?" Sephiroth wondered.

"No! Never you! I know I took it out on you but I never felt that towards you." Cloud shook his head.

They stared into each other. And Sephiroth understood. He knew Cloud wasn't lying. He raised a hand to cusp a pale cheek.

"I used to be the same way." He was raised in a lab. He was never allowed outside until he was given his first mission.

He remembered that sense of freedom. And he reveled in it for a time. To finally go outside. Only to realize he was still leashed. Sephiroth experienced the same emotions Cloud was enduring.

"What helped you?"

"Meeting Angeal and Genesis."

"But..." Cloud couldn't hold the tears anymore. He felt for Sephiroth. At the same time he came to terms that this was his new cage now.

That night they held each other tightly.