Here is the next chapter, Enjoy.

"Hey Seph, do you think Cloud might need counseling?" Zack asked his lover from his lying position on their bed. He was shirtless and was clad in a pair of blue boxers, watching Sephiroth look in the dresser drawer for something to wear after his bath. The work day had ended and they both needed to rest for the next day.

Zack's fatigue was mostly emotional while Sephiroth's was physical.

"It's highly likely," Sephiroth answered.

Zack turned himself on to his back and intertwined his fingers behind his head while staring at the ceiling. "Do you think he'll do it?"

"Hopefully."

"I'm really confused Seph, I don't know how to go about dealing with him," Zack muttered thoughtfully. It was starting to show on his face that the situation was weighing heavily on him.

Sephiroth stopped what he was doing and looked over at his lover. "At least you're trying."

Zack sighed. "That's not helping the situation any, Seph. I know he isn't alright but he seems to just get worse when he sees me. To him I'm the most horrible person in the world for not hating you."

Zack's eyes glossed over before he tried curling himself into a ball and Sephiroth walked the short distance to try and comfort the other man. Even he still didn't understand fully why Zack could forgive him so easily and although he didn't have any ill intentions towards him, in that regard he could understand Cloud's feelings.

The General ran a hand soothingly through Zack's spikes before the brunet buried his face into the pillow under his head. "I'm sorry you're suffering so much because of this, Zack. It's a pity one cannot change the past." He then took a deep breath; he'd never regretted anything so much in his life to wish he could change the past. "I know you love Cloud, and you will try your hardest to win his trust back, but please prepare yourself for possibly losing him forever."

The small sob that tore from Zack's throat at his words touched Sephiroth on an emotional level nothing's ever had before and he resolved he couldn't stand by idly and let Zack take on such a huge task alone.

He had to do something about Cloud, and soon.

That night Cloud decided to keep himself distracted by reading a book. He had found one lying around and decided to see what it was about. He had just taken a bath and had sat with his legs curled under him on the couch. He was about to open the book when a knock sounded at his door. Feeling strongly that it was Reno he frowned before moving to answer it.

"What's the matter?" Cloud asked the red-head leaning languidly against his door frame. The other man had a towel around his neck and a small plastic bag in his hand.

"I'm out of hot water and cold ones make me sick, care to help me out?"

Cloud knew that was utter bullshit but what the heck. "Sure, come in."

The blond stepped to the side and allowed the other man to enter.

"Mmm, pretty small place yo," Reno commented while walking towards the bathroom. He had spent a few days in this very same room years ago before he became a Turk so he knew the layout quite well.

"Whatever, just hurry and go," Cloud said while waving the other man off with one hand. He retook his earlier position on the couch and listened as the bath water began running in the small bathroom. Becoming distracted he just sat there doing nothing until Reno came back out.

"That felt good yo," Reno commented while drying his hair with the towel he brought.

Cloud looked over and saw that the other now had on a tall black pants and a t-shirt; only the color changing from his earlier attire.

Reno mindlessly just took a seat beside the blond, much to Cloud's annoyance. If he had the strength he would have just kicked him out.

"You took your shower, now leave please," Cloud muttered darkly.

Reno grinned. "Care to get me a drink? I'm thirsty."

Cloud sighed before moving off the couch and heading towards the kitchen. Reno took the opportunity to plant a miniature bugging device in an inconspicuous area of the room where it wouldn't be easily noticed. He eyed the single dark painting on the wall which was a similar color to the flat, button like device. Peeling the tiny protective layer off the back he planted the item on the painting with a simple touch of his right index finger. It blended in so smoothly he wouldn't have known it was there if he hadn't planted it himself.

By the time Cloud came back with a carbonated soda in his hand he was already seated as if he hadn't moved at all.

"Here," cloud muttered while handing the can to the other man. All he wanted was for him to leave.

"Thanks yo," Reno muttered before popping the top of the can and causing the fizz to spontaneously pop all around him.

Cloud was extremely pissed, but Instead of saying anything to the stubborn bastard he stood up and moved away.

"Where ya going?" Reno asked languidly.

Cloud stopped but didn't turn around, "To get away from you."

Reno noisily placed the can on a small table before him, "Don't bother, I'll be leaving."

When Reno stood to leave Cloud followed him to the door. He paused at the door frame and turned to look at the blond.

"Thanks for the shower," he smiled before walking away.

Cloud watched the man's back as he walked towards his room, keeping his eyes on the extra long ponytail at the back of his head. When Reno disappeared he closed his own door and sighed.

Reno was so damn annoying. He walked back to the couch and laid himself down on it, just thinking about nothing and everything until he fell asleep.

Reno on the other hand was busy watching Cloud sleep from the monitor of the laptop he had with him. He didn't know what it was about the kid but he was very…interesting. Not to mention beautiful.

It wasn't too long after watching Cloud sleeping that Reno decided he should get some rest also. He had Tseng to deal with in the morning after all.

"Seph…?" Zack asked sleepily the next morning, groggily looking around for the other man. He had no idea when he'd fell asleep, he didn't even remember feeling sleepy. Sephiroth had offered him a warm cup of milk then…..nothing.

Zack sighed, his lover had drugged him. But now he realized the man wasn't around. Shaking the sleep from his mind he made his way towards the shower for a bath. He vaguely remembered that the investigation into Hojo's murder was still ongoing and a friend of his, Reno, had mentioned having some theory he didn't want to share. He did tell him though that they suspected that whoever the man was experimenting on at the time might have done, or at least been a part of the murder. He feigned ignorance and just listened to what the other had to say.

He'd only met Reno a few days ago while training and even though he was wary of the secretive Turks, Reno didn't seem so bad.

After taking a bath and putting on his uniform Zack decided to head out for the day, he could always call Sephiroth and ask him where he was.

Standing by the door the brunette remembered his emotional state the night before. He knew it hurt on a level he wasn't willing to show, but he resolved he wouldn't give up on Cloud no matter what.

Sephiroth made his way silently towards the East wing early in the morning. He left Zack sleeping and had chosen such an hour when only necessary personnel would be around.

He had a brief conversation with the man he had appointed to watch Cloud, who informed him the teen hadn't left the wing at all, not even once. He did tell him, however, that he saw Reno enter his room.

When he was through he walked straight up to the elevator that would take him to Cloud's floor and nobody dared to stop or question him.

They knew better.

After stepping off the contraption Sephiroth walked silently towards Cloud's door and knocked once.

Cloud heard the noise through the fog in his mind. He frowned, and then turned himself on to his back in the hopes the noise was a dream. He was about to drift back into darkness when the knocking sounded again, a little louder this time. Cursing under his breath the young blond groggily got to his feet and grudgingly decided to strangle whoever was at the door.

His steps were heavy with fatigue and when he finally reached the door that seemed a longer distance away than it normally did, he pulled it open…only to collapse at the sight before him.

***

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