OoOoOooOOo

Chapter 8

A/N: I am a bad author. Please forgive me! I think I found what was blocking me, though. Maybe.

OooOOOoooo

"Um... hello?"

Cloud looked up from his position sprawled on the floor and sighed. "Hi, Aeris."

"Oh! It's Mr. Not Today." Aeris tilted her head. "Why are you lying in the floor of my church?"

"I needed to mope and it's really hard to do that at the ShinRa tower."

Aeris stiffened. "You said you weren't a SOLDIER."

"I'm not." Cloud smirked, closing his eyes. "I work in the department of space engineering. I'm trying to build a rocket so that the Calamity can leave the Planet and go off and bother someone else."

"Er..."

"It'll work." Cloud said confidently. And if it didn't... loop time! "And anyway, she wants to leave, that's why she keeps trying to destroy the Planet."

"Oh, my." Aeris said faintly.

Cloud cracked an eye open. "Did you consult the Lifestream about me?"

Aeris sighed and sank to her knees beside him. "I did." She looked at him sadly. "I'm sorry."

Cloud turned his head, feeling suddenly and overwhelmingly choked up. "It's not your fault."

"So... did you figure yourself out with Zach?" Aeris asked.

Cloud frowned. "You know, that's a good question."

"Hmm. If you don't know the answer to it, then maybe you should talk to him." Aeris pointed out.

"You may be right. But I don't know that he likes me all that much." Which was an interesting development, actually.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You'll find another boyfriend." Aeris soothed.

Cloud choked, sitting up abruptly. He turned to Aeris, mouth open to protest hotly, but saw the mirth dancing in her eyes. "Oh, ha ha." Cloud scowled. "Very funny."

"I thought so." Aeris quipped.

"I should get back." Cloud sighed. He had recruits to train, mountains of paperwork to do, and... sigh. He was still hungry...

"Ok. But don't be so long next time."

Cloud blinked at her.

Aeris shrugged. "You were a bit startling last time, but I know that you know me, and I feel that I know you." She looked around the empty church, her eyes not landing on the flowers but rather the empty space up in the rafters.

Cloud realized abruptly that Sephiroth wasn't the only one who could use a friend. "Yeah, ok." He agreed.

"And next time, bring your boyfriend." Aeris' eyes glittered in amusement.

"Aerrrrrris!" Cloud drawled out her name. "I don't have a boyfriend!" Zack wouldn't come with him, for sure. The thought of Genesis in the church... or worse... Sephiroth! No, bad idea.

"That's too bad." Aeris patted him on the arm. "Everyone deserves somebody." She said with a mostly straight face.

"I'm leaving now." Cloud stood, turning on his heel and shaking his head.

"Goodby Mr. Not Today!" Aeris called after him.

As he walked away, Cloud couldn't help the way his mouth tilted up. Aeris always had a way of getting him out of his moods. Which is why he had jumped down here. Now to get back up... maybe he'd jump on the top of a train again. It was such a pain to climb the support pillars.

OoOOOoOOo

"'Of course... I'll come back for you. Even if you don't promise to wait. I'll return knowing you'll be there.'"

At the first sound, Aeris had turned with an 'eep'. "Who's there?"

Genesis leaned forward off of the wall he'd been leaning against and came more into the light. "Someone curious who has our friend so intrigued."

"Are you the boyfriend?" Aeris asked.

Genesis almost physically stumbled at the non sequitur. "What!?"

OoOOOOOoOo

Cloud lounged back in his chair, ridiculously pleased with himself. In front of him his recruits were leveling up. By doing paperwork. The mysterious They had said it was impossible, but They were absolutely rubbish at using materia in an optimum fashion. He had a good feeling Genesis at least would have been game to try, if he had asked, though the man had seen him use duct tape as a main weapon, so he might have just been going with the crazy.

Anyway- his minions were currently using Firaga instead of pens, burning the letters into the paper. As Cloud lounged another fire started and he lazily gestured for Kobe to put it out- not with a water spell, as might be expected, but with a tightly controlled Aeroga sucking all the oxygen away from the flames and snuffing them. This time Kobe succeeded and he grinned widely.

"Good job, Kobe." Cloud smiled. To his left Jarod stood down with the Quaga spell half-cast. That was the back-up of the back-up. Which was why they were outside. Plus the sunshine was nice.

"So, Romeo- What have we learned?" Cloud asked lazily.

The sheepish young man who had caused the whole thing rubbed the back of his neck. "That dotting 'i's does not take more than the tiniest bit of power?"

"Very good." Cloud nodded. "Now do the dance."

Romeo sighed but complied. He picked up the pen with it's modified materia slot where the ink should be and clicked the end of it with a flourish before sheathing it in the pocket of his button up collared shirt.

Romeo had almost gained a level- good. He was the last one to get to a decent level with the fire spells. Maybe soon they could actually get work done. While his minions were practicing, Cloud had been reading the reports he had been neglecting in lieu of discovering fine dining.

Cid's accusations in the future weren't far off. Cloud knew enough to understand Cid's work- both from his various lives as a bike mechanic and that one masochistic loop where he had decided to work in one of the reactors as a technician. At least twice he had found weird inconsistencies and just a bit of digging on his portable terminal showed memo traffic where various officials had deliberately and rather unsubtly changed things. Obviously they wanted to sabotage the whole project, though why wasn't as clear. Cloud had a feeling that his motto or 'when in doubt, blame Hojo' was probably pretty accurate. Something about competition for grant money or something, if not outright Jenova induced.

Regardless of the politics or insanity of the situation, Cloud had an alien he needed to shoot into the great beyond.

Cloud's stomach started to rumble so he pulled out his PHS and sent a quick text to Genesis. He smiled when he got the reply. "Alright, kids- that's enough for the moment. Let's go get some lunch."

"In the cafeteria?" Gianni asked.

"Oh, no." Cloud grinned. "We're going to get it fresh."

"Fresh?" Jarod asked dubiously.

OoOooOOO

"So you see-" Cloud paused to intercept the claws slashing at Romeo- "You just truss them up like so, and now they can't do anything." Cloud tightened the last knot on the Bagrisk, which was hissing and rolling its swirled eyes and lolling its tongue at them. He handed the Bagrisk off to Trace, who slung it onto his back with the other six-legged creature he already had.

"I got this one!" Kobe cried, rushing forward to try to grab the last Bagrisk. Cloud saw the little animal take a casting stance and he raised his arm to call Kobe back. Too late. The earth shook and all eight of his troops/ office workers froze solid. Not exactly literally- they were not cold. No, they all were petrified.

Cloud shook his head and pulled out his Soft pins. It was probably more fun that it needed to be stabbing all of the young men with the pins, reversing the paralysis.

"What was that?" Gianni asked, wobbling slightly.

"Quake." Cloud replied. "Let's try again, then." As much as it was sort of painful watching these kids with a power level in the single digits trying to take on monsters well into the teens, but Cloud was able to sit back with relative ease. He blocked all of the fatal attacks, after all, had several Phoenix under-feathers and potions. No one was in any real danger. And they could actually get good experience this way... though again, it was not the traditional method and thus the results were somewhat odd. Sometimes it resulted in no discernible increase in level, and sometimes it caused a glitchy skyrocketing of ability.

Cloud and Genesis had gained four and eight levels, respectively, the last time they had taken out a pair of Mandragora. It had been extremely confusing to see the jump in Genesis in particular, just for cutting off the tops of the things and letting them go (a crucial herb for Cloud's chocobo breeding scheme). Genesis had of course immediately attacked Sephiroth and been knocked out, which Cloud could have told him would happen- the other was still a good dozen or more levels under Sephiroth.

Finally the last Bagrisk was secured and Cloud shook off his thoughts. The nine of them set off walking, following Cloud's lead.

"What are we going to do with them?" Aiden asked, finally, confused.

"We're going to a Corel food joint. I know one that makes food traditionally." Cloud grinned. "And we're not going to have to spend a dime."

"Free food!" The boys crowed happily.

OOOOOoOo

"Hey, there, Cloud!"

Cloud turned to see Genesis racing down the hallway. Seemed he had gotten over his latest challenge of Sephiroth without any hospitalization-worthy damage. "Genesis." He quirked an eyebrow. "The wandering soul knows no rest?"

"Oh, pfft!" Genesis waved his hand. "I know I could have beaten him."

"Uh huh." Cloud rolled his eyes. "With a lot of luck, a good summons and maybe a battle buddy or five..."

"If you ever agreed to team up with me." Genesis pouted.

"Then it would be me defeating him with you buzzing about the outsides." Cloud teased.

"Would not!" Genesis protested hotly.

"Well... I'm going back to my room, so..."

"But it's Friday!"

Cloud raised an eyebrow. "So?"

"So!?" Genesis just shook his head. "You're as bad as Sephiroth and Angeal. Come out with me. There's a promotion party."

"Oh? Who got promoted?" Cloud asked, not really caring all that much.

"The puppy did. Something about his doing a good job on all the reconnaissance missions. Him and that friend of his that never takes off his helmet." Genesis wheedled, sensing weakness when Cloud turned to look at him fully at mention of Zack.

"Oh..." Cloud frowned. That meant time was passing. Only a matter of time before someone went crazy and tried to destroy the Planet. It might be worth it to have a little fun. "Alright."

"Well, let's go! There's cake at the bar."

Cloud allowed himself to be dragged along, feeling a bit depressed. The cycle would never end, it seemed. And he wasn't even sure if he could get properly drunk. Not having mako this time around was promising for the prospect, but it may well end up that his metabolism was too high, regardless.

"Hey, Commander! Good of you to make it." Kunsel greeted happily. Cloud assumed he was smiling, but the SOLDIER still had his helmet on and the reflective surface obscured his face.

"'Even if the morrow is barren of promises, nothing shall forestall my return.'" Genesis quoted, the hand not holding onto Cloud's wrist over his heart.

Cloud blinked and looked around, Judging by the wood accents, bar stools and smell of alcohol and people pressed in too close, it seemed they had arrived at the party.

"I didn't think you would be able to bring him." Kunsel's visor swung towards Cloud.

"Oh, hey! New people!" Zack bounced over but skidded to an uncertain stop when he saw who it was, which made Cloud feel a little cold inside. When had Zack become wary of him?

"Cloud needs to get out more. I bet you he hasn't seen a woman in months." Genesis swung his gaze over to the blond for confirmation.

Cloud shrugged.

"Not like he needs it..." Zack muttered.

Genesis' eyes narrowed and he blurred forward to catch Zack in a headlock. "What was that, puppy? I thought I heard a bark."

"Get off me!" Zack whined. "You've already dragged me into your weird love-triangle."

Not that Cloud couldn't see Genesis in an awkward romantic situation... "What love triangle?" Cloud asked Kunsel.

"You, the Commander and the General." Kunsel shrugged. "Everyone knows about it."

Cloud looked at the sleek mask incredulously. "Knows about what exactly?"

"The puppy is convinced." Genesis released the dark haired teen and shoved the promotee over good-naturedly. "Which is why I knew you needed to come on out. All work and no tail makes for a gloomy Cloud, don't you think?"

"Uh..." Cloud looked around the bar dubiously. There were only SOLDIERs there so far.

"Yeah, this place is kind of a sausage fest." Zack shrugged. "But we're only here for the cake. After that we have a route planned through all the good bars. No one bar can keep up with how much alcohol a SOLDIER can drink, anyway."

Cloud gave Genesis a long look. "I don't need help with women."

"My friend, the fates are cruel." Genesis patted Cloud's shoulder in consolation.

Cloud felt his eyebrow starting to twitch.

"Here." Kunsel pressed a beer into Cloud's hand.

Cloud gratefully took a long pull. The appeal of women in Midgar... not high. And he certainly didn't need any help with any of them! He knew all of them from one life or another. It was... just damn depressing. He chugged the beer and snagged another one from a SOLDIER Third just before he could take his first sip. Cloud gave him a glare when the guy went to protest, then punched the fist that came flying at him, causing it to crunch. While the Third howled on the floor, several others laughed and Zack gave him another beer. Cloud downed the stolen one and then started on the third, growling. There was nothing that was really going to make this night better.

OooOoooo

"Well. It's certainly obvious that he doesn't have mako." Zack laughed as he doodled on the passed-out Cloud's face with a marker.

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Kunsel asked, giggling so much that he fell over.

"Yes." Zack said seriously. He added a few pubes to the penis before sitting back to admire his handiwork. "This has been a good night."

OooOOooo

Cloud was too surprised (and hung over, if he was being honest) to make a sound as he was suddenly pulled to a halt in the corridor. He looked down at the thin fingers firmly wrapped around his bicep and slowly turned to give his attacker a raised eyebrow. "Yes?"

"I want to spar." Sephiroth stated.

"Oh..." Cloud blinked. Would that a herd of Gighees weren't galloping through his head singing at the top of their lungs. Sure, he could fight, he could always fight... but... his head...

"You said any time I thought of something." Sephiroth pointed out somewhat petulantly.

"Yeah, you're right, of course." Cloud thought longingly of a big glass of water and something salty and greasy. "How about breakfast first?" He asked hopefully.

"It's one in the afternoon. We spar." Sephiroth started tugging Cloud along after him.

"Hey! I'd like to see you you like getting manhandled!" Cloud grumbled. Actually, yeah, he really, really would, especially since he was pretty sure Sephiroth had liked it that time.

"I would like to see you try."

Cloud looked up into Sephiroth's eyes a bit in surprise. That had almost sounded... and yeah, there is a bit of a sparkle in the green cat-slit eyes. The man was trying to provoke him. "You changed your mind about the whips?" The time-traveler asked hopefully, starting to actually keep up instead of being drug behind.

"If that is the only way to motivate you to repeat our duel, then I suppose alternative weapons might be used."

"You sound so enthusiastic." Cloud said, feeling one corner of his mouth pulling up in amusement. He pulled free and stopped in the corridor, stroking his chin in thought. "I suppose I could always start organizing the Space Department's files. That sounds pretty exciting." It did certainly need it. Being deliberately sabotaged had done Hel to the cataloging system and Cloud really did need to get a working rocket output. Though just throwing Jenova into space was an idea, he was only sixty percent sure it would work.

Sephiroth scowled. "You will duel me."

Cloud pursed his lips contemplatively. "I dunno... maybe Genesis can..." Once again Cloud is surprised. Sephiroth's eyes flashed with... literally glowing intensity, making Cloud automatically settle down into a defensive stance, a Shield already growing in his mental reserves. It was an instinct so thoroughly reinforced every life that he didn't actually need to have the materia equipped to cast it. Yay for being dead-ish all the time.

"Genesis has been taking too much of your time." Sephiroth said slowly. "And he is no match for me."

"I was teasing." Cloud replied slowly, frowning as he looked at Sephiroth. "I would love to spar you." What was a good way to ask if someone was hearing voices?

Sephiroth's eyes suddenly snapped to Cloud's tense posture and then his expression frosted over. He spun on his heal and took off in the direction of the simulator.

Cloud followed, somewhat bemused. What had set Sephiroth off? He hadn't looked that insane yet in this time loop... and he had looked about as crazed there for a split second as he tended to when resurrected into the middle of a battle. Which is to say really fucking nuts. The adrenalin was still pumping in Cloud's veins as they entered the room.

"Swords." Sephiroth said shortly, basically daring Cloud to argue.

Without speaking, Cloud loosened his sword and pulled it from the scabbard on his back. Sephiroth huffed out a breath and punched a few buttons. The room transformed into a desert. They were on top of a mesa, or actually more of a butte, Cloud supposed... he did sometimes make money as a cartographer since he traveled so much, so he really should be specific. Anyway- a large outcropping of rock about maybe 100 meters high and 80 in diameter, looking out over many similar structures extending into the far horizon under a perfect blue sky. The closest one was maybe 20 meters away- jumpable, especially if he used Sephiroth as a stepping stone half way through.

Some small part of Cloud's mind that was not tracking Masumune was relieved that the desert view did not come with the unrelenting heat that it should have. It was close, but no indoor facility would be able to punish like the actual sun.

Sephiroth turned to Cloud, raised an eyebrow and flicked his seven feet of steel back and forth, indicating that he was ready.

Cloud smirked and ran at Sephiroth, who predictably dodged. But that was fine- Cloud hadn't been intending to engage. He kept going to the edge of the butte and took a flying leap off of it, his laughing cry almost drowning out the General's shout of alarm. Cloud spun in midair with a practiced kick of his legs, turning just in time to use the momentum to bring his sword to bear on Sephiroth. Who... almost got his face sliced before he was able to bring his blade to block. The momentum was enough to let Cloud bounce off the force and land on the next large rock formation as he intended, but he looked on with mild worry as Sephiroth fell into the side of the hard wall of stone. The cloud of dust that resulted was pretty impressive and the loud crash that followed it a second later made Cloud wince a little. But not enough that he missed Sephiroth leaping out of the cloud trailing bits of rock and debris.

Cloud danced out of the way as his opponent landed rather dramatically in a crouch with the dust sparkling around him in the reflected light.

Sephiroth straightened but did not attack. Cloud looked him over for any sign of injury. Something like that shouldn't have hurt the mako-enhanced SOLDIER, but maybe Cloud was overestimating the General's ability to withstand smashing face first into solid rock. It was pretty early yet- he was probably only in the 50 to 70 range.

"Why did you leap off the cliff?" Sephiroth asked with, for him, no small degree of heat.

"I was fairly sure I would make it, and almost as sure that you would follow, so then I definitely could have." Cloud explained his earlier calculations.

Sephiroth looked... a little stumped, actually. "You were planning on pushing off of my attack mid-air?"

"Yes..?" Cloud cocked his head. What was wrong with that? They did it all the time.

"What if I hadn't attacked?"

Cloud scoffed. "Right. Like that would ever happen." Sephiroth glowered. "But if it did," Cloud allowed, "and I didn't make the leap, then I would have been able to jump off the side of the butte. Or just landed down in the desert." He shrugged.

Sephiroth, however, wasn't really looking at him, he had a distant look to his eyes.

"You know what, let's postpone this. We can leave it for when we can plan it a bit better."

"No." The silver headed man shook his head, the hair falling over his shoulder.

Cloud spotted a telltale greenish tinge to the very ends of the General's hair. He retrieved his sheath and put away his sword, which caused the other to start growling. "I swear on the Planet that I will spar with you every day if you want to." Cloud promised. "But I think maybe we should pause for a bit, ok?" Besides the hangover, Cloud knew that fighting right now would not end well. Sephiroth was compromised- Cloud was almost totally certain the other man had just come from a 'treatment' of Hojo's.

"But not today." Sephiroth growled. "Today you are going to go with Genesis."

Cloud put out his hands placatingly. "I don't have to go see him, we can go together, ok?"

"I..." Sephiroth looked confused. "I thought you were..." He trailed off, frowning in confusion.

Cloud stepped slower cautiously, trying not to make sudden movements. "It's ok, Sephiroth. Whatever you want, ok? I know it's not dinner yet but we could go get some chocolate or something, ok?"

Sephiroth looked down at the floor, his expression lost. "I do not like these emotions."

"Chocolate will help." Cloud reassured him as he inched cautiously inside Masamune's reach.

"No... I know what will."

"Ok, great!" Cloud smiled. In retrospect he should have seen where this was going. As it was, however, he just had time to roll his eyes in annoyance and cough a little before the sword piercing his heart caused him to bleed out to the point he lost consciousness.