A/N: Proof that I update, if horribly slowly! This is going to be a long haul, guys, but I don't drop stories without notice. :) Thank you guys so much for your interest and patience. Hope you guys enjoy the new chapter!

Despite Zack's grumbling, Angeal arranged training early again. Perhaps that explained how frankly dismal their practiced patterns were. As Zack nearly missed a third strike, Angeal caught his hilt, easily twisting the second class to a halt. "Zack, focus."

"Ah, dang, I can do better than that. One more try!" Zack hefted his sword, swinging it a bit too wildly. "Come on, come at me!"

At least he was willing to talk about doing better. Angeal frowned. "One more. But this time it comes with conditions. I let you try, you tell me what's bothering you."

"What? I'm not…" But under Angeal's eyes he squirmed. Zack was not a particularly good liar, and Angeal was acquainted with some of the best. The second class dropped his façade with a shrug. "Ah, Angeal, it's not…that pertinent. Not related."

Angeal stood tapping his foot. Zack could not resume training until he took a fighting stance. "If it affects your focus while we're in session, it becomes my business. We'll discuss after you get this move right."

Zack sighed and smirked, holding up his hands in defeat. "You win. You win. Yessir." He flexed his fingers around his sword hilt and bent his knees. "I'll get it right this time."

"Good. I'll believe that when I see it."

Angeal still waited, until he could see the slight dip in Zack's stance, the tilt in his shoulders. The silence thrummed and Zack nodded. "Ok. Start."

Angeal's first swing cut the word short as Zack leapt aside. Footwork had always been a strength, and for the initial set he easily kept defensible position, meeting Angeal's strikes as they fell. This wasn't sparring in the truest sense; he knew the moves, but not their order - odin, he'd have to try that combo!

Then, the right opening, Angeal coming at him from a wide parry. Zack counted steps, one, two - a sidestep, twist of the wrist, he ducked Angeal's blade, parried above his head. Force slid Angeal's blade over him, momentum propelling him under his opponent's guard. The split second allowed him to avoid the pommel and dart forward.

They stopped, breathing heavily. Zack's sword rested against Angeal's neck in the grove of the armor guarding his shoulder, Angeal's sword held out of reach by his arm pressed against the Zack's back. Angeal smiled. "Good! Well done."

Zack grinned as they disengaged. Redirecting the full strength of Angeal's downswing over his head was difficult, and each time before his teacher had brushed him aside and prevented the end-blow. But with a smaller or less skilled opponent, this technique would end a battle fast.

He'd hoped maybe Angeal would forget their promised talk during cool down exercises. But that, of course, was silly. As soon as he settled into stretches Angeal spoke up. "So, what's on your mind?"

Zack walked back and forth, hands clasped behind his head as the adrenaline faded. He fell into a set of squats as his body temperature lowered from mako-high, letting the his limbs adjust to the new level of activity. "Well," he said between breaths, "I've got this friend."

"Is this about a girl?"

"No!" Zack rolled his eyes. "Geeze, Angeal, it's nothing like that." Angeal nodded and held up a hand. Zack went back to his squats with a chuckle. "Nah, he's a SOLDIER cadet I met a while back. Good kid. Shy, smart, quiet, that sort. But yesterday he came to me real nervous."

Angeal finished his stretches and sat on the mat, watching Zack pace back and forth. "Is he in some sort of trouble?" Zack tended to pick up strays wherever he went, but rarely came to Angeal about them.

Zack shook his head. "I don't think so. Or at least, not like that. Y'see, he was tapped for the mentoring program, which I think is great. It'll do him a lot of good!" He paused, glancing hesitantly at Angeal. "But…ah, well, out with it, I guess. He's assigned to General Sephiroth. Which could be great! But I'm…" He stopped, shifting his feet back and forth. "I'm a bit concerned."

Angeal must have given him a look, because Zack hurriedly held up his hands. "I don't mean Cloud isn't lucky! Believe me. Of course nobody knows more." He cracked every one of his fingers before figuring out how to continue. "I just…Cloud's awful shy, Angeal. Like, wouldn't look at me while talking for a full week, kind of shy. General Sephiroth's…" He breathed out through his teeth. "Cloud's not a coward. But…he won't be too hard on him, will he?"

Angeal couldn't help a fond smile. Zack never shirked his friends, even if it meant uncomfortable conversations about his superiors to their good friends. "I'm not concerned about Sephiroth, but, then, I don't know your friend. Should I be? Do you he'll disappoint?"

Zack bristled. "What? No! No way! Cloud'll work twice as hard if he has to. He won't let him down."

"Well then, there's nothing to worry about." Zack subsided faster than a breath, attentive and listening. Angeal rested his chin on his hands, picking his words. Zack, at least, he could reassure easily. "Sephiroth is a notoriously fair man, Zack. He'll return effort with respect." His amusement returned from the day before. "I saw the two of them at the briefing. I don't expect any problems. But I'll ask Sephiroth later, see how their first meeting went."

Zack brightened with relief. "Yeah. Ok. Me, too, when I see Spiky." Spiky?

Zack finished his routine, springing forward to help Angeal up. "Thanks, Angeal…I feel way better! What about yours? When can I meet him?"

"We'll figure it out." Angeal grinned, feeling all the old thrill in his hands at the thought of teaching someone else to fight. "I assigned a bit of a special case so scheduling is…interesting right now." He had to see the Director on that asap. The delay was killing him! "But after that's settled I'm sure I can arrange something."

"Wait, is that why you made me get up again today!" Zack turned to him, aghast. "Is this going to be normal?"

Angeal tried not to laugh at Zack's horrified expression. Clearly Zack thought him the epitome of cruel. "Well, not exactly normal. Today it's for my briefing, but I may have to ask you once a week." Zack scrunched up his face in distaste. Angeal retrieved the buster sword from the rack, still smirking. "But, since you are the earlier student and higher rank, you have preference when it comes to scheduling."

Zack gave up his not-entirely-real horror. "Oh. Well, thanks!" A pause. Then, right on cue: "I don't really mind that much. Whatever you need."

Angeal chuckled and patted Zack's shoulder. "Your friend's name…Cloud, was it?" If he didn't get this down now, all he'd remember was Spiky.

"Yeah. Met him during that snowstorm. Another country kid!" Zack beamed, every part of him perking up in enthusiasm. He was fond of the cadet, more perhaps just as a passing acquaintance. The snow-storm sounded like a story, but Angeal didn't take the bait yet. He was busy, considering the odds of Sephiroth's student and Zack's friend ending up the same. Perhaps it was time he officially introduced Zack to the Firsts, if their lives were going to start colliding even more.

He'd have to ask Sephiroth about Cloud. The two were bound to have interesting points of divergence in opinion.

A shower and uniform change later, they were back to work. Zack hummed to himself now, bouncing on his toes as they waited in the elevator.

"If he's amendable, I'd to meet your cadet," Angeal said.

Zack's smile deepened. "Yeah? You should come down to Main Mess and eat with us sometime. I think you'll like him." Then, as an afterthought, barely worth stating, "He'll definitely like you."

Angeal chuckled. "We'll see. Not too fast. There's probably enough on his plate this week, after yesterday. Don't you remember the academy?" Personally, he wasn't going to do anything without giving Sephiroth a heads' up first. His friend probably didn't know about teacher-teacher etiquette yet, but Angeal was going to make sure he knew his rights.

"Speaking of, don't forget that 3rd class drilling you're running today, Zack."

He hadn't forgotten. Zack snapped his heels together at attention. "Yes, sir! Not forgetting!" Angeal couldn't help but smile.

With a ding, the elevator released them to the SOLDIER floor lobby. Before Angeal turned towards the First Class wing, Zack hesitated. "Aaah, you aren't going to tell the General I was, er, asking about him, are you…?" Zack's body curled inwards a bit. Even the tips of his hair seemed to. "I mean…"

Angeal couldn't resist a smirk. "I haven't decided yet." Zack's mortification was far more entertaining than it should've been. Later, when he took pity on his student, he'd reassure him. He wouldn't tell him that Sephiroth would only be confused, a little unnerved, and a little intrigued in equal measure. He'd tell him the more important piece: honor (which would make Zack roll his eyes and smile). Honor a confidence.

But for now it was too amusing.

Very little traveled faster at Shinra than rumor. Gossip almost seemed to have its own protocols for efficient dispersal, from one corporation edge to the other. Cloud had noticed a few times everyone seemed to know whatever the department heads did. How in the world did the entire infantry find out which book Commander Rhapsodos kept six copies of, anyway?

Still, he was mildly surprised when his alarm dragged him out of sleep to not one but two of his roommates watching. Cloud had been the last one in that night, after too long fruitlessly searching corridors for his earring. He'd almost missed lights out. DeMerre's look of disdain would've withered metal.

But now Josh and Tern both glanced expectantly at him as they hurriedly suited up for the day. As Cloud untangled his uniform harness, he felt the hard press of everyone's eyes on him, even DeMerre from his top bunk. Like pebbles, sitting on the back of his neck.

He shouldn't have been surprised. After all, who was bigger news than the General? In other circumstances Cloud would've gobbled up anything he could hear about the lucky cadet attached to the man. He shimmied into the sleeveless turtleneck, the altered uniform worn even in infantry exercises to single out cadets. If he burrowed down enough into the knitted neck, maybe he could avoid everyone's eyes.

Josh, ready first, always, leaned against his and Cloud's bunk, forming a sort of shadow over Cloud clumsily buckling his knee-guards. "Well, is it true? Did you talk to the General?"

Cloud flushed, hearing DeMerre thump his boots on the floor. "Yeah." Part of him wanted to smile, because that was proof. Yesterday really happened.

Calm he might be, but Josh was hardly any more immune to the General than most humans. Cloud had to duck a swinging arm as the older man surged to his feet. "That's awesome! And he's going to teach you? Like help with the whole cadet thing?"

And that was why most of Cloud wanted to hide. Except for his first day in the unit, the entire room never focused on Cloud. Now, Tern had even put down whatever he was reading, his eyes sharp grey pokes in Cloud's skin.

Cloud started to nod, but DeMerre cut him off. "Look at our lucky Shrimp! We all know he needs the help if he wants a chance. Hope the General won't look right over your head and miss you, though."

Cloud glared. DeMerre wasn't a cadet, hadn't even tried for the program, but somehow was still bitter about it. He liked to knock Cloud's uniform onto the floor when he could nudge it with his foot.

"Ferrel, shut up and get to roll." Josh tossed him his harness. "You're getting close to inspection, right?"

DeMerre slung on his tangled harness and mimed the trigger-pull towards Josh, who waved him out without looking. Cloud held still through the man's parting sneer. Ferrel DeMerre's was generally more tolerable when pretended not to exist.

Josh bumped a fist on Cloud's shoulder. "Ignore that idiot. It's awesome you got tapped for the mentoring thing. And, Shiva, the General? That's amazing!"

In the morning, exercises arrived with odd quickness, so there was always a tumble out of the room at 8-minutes till roll. Again, they always went in the same order: Josh first, then Tern, then Cloud. Scrambling out the door, Josh blurted, "Hey, wait, did you find your earring last night?"

There was barely any time for Cloud to shake his head. Josh frowned, said, "Damn, that sucks. Hale says Ferrel didn't take it or anything stupid like that. We'll keep our eyes open for it!" With that, he was gone.

Tern nodded gravely. By now, within one minute of putting down his book, he was fully uniformed. "It was a present from family, didn't you say?"

Cloud sort of wished they'd stop asking. There wasn't time to search this morning, not if he wanted to eat. He couldn't survive today without breakfast. He'd have to try before lunch, or this evening? But the longer he waited, the less likely he was to find it again.

Tern winced sympathetically. "It's around somewhere. We'll find it."

"Thanks." Cloud waved as Tern departed, surveying the room one more time. He snatched these brief alone moments when he could. He breathed deeply. Based on that wake up call, today, by this time the entire building could know he, Cloud Strife, was now associated with General Sephiroth.

That was terrifying.

The second bell sounded, and Cloud jolted, snatched up his infantry scarf and ran out of the room. He could not afford to be late to drill today of all days: penal duties could make him late for SOLDIER classes!

Thankfully, he reached his place in line before roll. Five seconds to spare. The infantry's morning drill was usually running and movement exercises. Today, over and over again, they broke ranks and dropping to imaginary firing cover. By the fourth sprint Cloud was sweaty and focused, everything worry forgotten in the rush of exertion.

Only after showering scarfing down breakfast, and sprinting back to barracks to change into cadet uniform, he realized the prickling along his arms during the march drills felt like people watching him, like the feeling that had pulled him awake this morning. Even though his age and enlistment date put him at the back, he thought he'd caught several officers eying him.

It stood to reason that they knew, too. Great.

Clothes changed, he had six minutes to run to the SOLDIER floor and his cadet classes. Dodging through crowds of shift-switching employees, Cloud felt intensely grateful for his helmet. It felt like every set of eyes were raptly seeking. Was he just being paranoid? Or was that secretary sizing him up, ticking off checkboxes in a description in her head?

Call it what you will, the paranoia or attention got worse in SOLDIER classes, where he had to take off his helmet. Cloud was certain some mutters at the backs of the lecture halls sounded an awful lot like his name. Once, during Shinra History, someone sitting in the front corner, out of the instructing sergeant's view, turned all the way around and stared up at Cloud.

He tried his best to ignore. Cloud told himself he was probably just paranoid, since he had grown up in a town surrounded by wolves, anyway. He was here to learn to be a SOLDIER, he needed to look for his earring, and he didn't have time for anything else. Even scanning the halls on every floor between the barracks and SOLDIER had almost made him late for class!

And, seirously, this was probably happening to every mentored cadet after yesterday. They were in a novel program, granted access to illustrious officers usually far above their reach. No big deal.

Lecture finally broke for lunch hour, and Cloud was free to rush out, using his small stature to duck in front of the surging, hunger-maddened mass. After lunch loomed four hours of combat classes, and Cloud knew he'd be too shot afterwards to do anything but swallow dinner and stumble back through infantry duties until Josh steered him to his bed.

Ducking around the hurrying hungry mass, Cloud checked his watch: exactly twenty minutes to get to Mess with time to suffer the line, get lunch, and have a few minutes to swallow it. Attempting combat training on an empty stomach was not an option. Twenty minutes.

Plenty of time. It had to be plenty of time.

Time ticked in his head; he hated that he had a good sense of the length of a second. Cloud turned down yet another hall, scanning the floor. If he'd dropped it yesterday morning, after Military History, it had to be in this set of corridors. He was running out of places to look. It had to be here. It had fallen off and it was somewhere here on the floor.

"You lost, cadet?"

Combat boots. Cloud recoiled, bracing for a reprimand. Cadets weren't allowed to wander out of turn.

But instead of an instructing SOLDIER, he faced a two cadets, their combined infantry-SOLDIER uniforms taking up most of the hallway. Both men stood a head or so taller than Cloud. The speaker, brown haired, with a puplish sparring bruise across his chin, leaned against the lecture hall door, as if he had the every right to be there. Cloud straightened under their scrutiny.

"No. Thanks."

The taller one stood carefully, while his friend crossed his arms. Cloud waited they came closer. They seemed to walk in time, as if already they'd been training together, to the same beat, for a year or two. "Say, what's your name?"

He had a sinking suspicion where this was going. But if Nibelheim taught Cloud one thing it was how to hold ground. They weren't wolves. "Who's asking?"

The second one walked behind him, and Cloud turned subtly to keep both in view. The shorter cadet smirked. "Doesn't really matter, does it? No need to get all bristly. I heard something funny last night at mess, that's all."

He didn't have time for this, for word games. Cloud pressed his teeth together. He could guess. "No."

"I heard the great General Sephiroth took on a student. Imagine how surprised I was! How'd I miss something like that? Far as I heard, people who know said the lucky man had blond hair straight up, like chocobo feathers. Pretty unusual, shouldn't be that hard to find. Sounds cool." He leaned down. "I wanted to meet him, you know. He must really be something to get the General to take him. But, I've looked all day, and all I've seen is you. So I'm curious. What is your name, shrimp?"

Cloud, oddly, felt something related to a laugh in his chest. If he could say his name to the General, these guys were nothing. "My name is Cloud Strife."

The one standing at his back shoulder rocked on his heels, an act of fear, whether genuine or feigned. The bruised man tensed, narrowing his eyes, and scrutiny pricked on Cloud's skin like needles. Like a challenge. He glared. "Strife," at least, must be tacked on the rumor now, or something sounding to it. That, strangest of all, pulled a dark, lightening ripple of pride out of him, so he smiled.

Yeah. That's right. His name.

The bruised cadet laughed softly, slowly. "So, then, it's you. Cloud Strife. Pleasure." He leaned back to his full height, a good five inches over Cloud's head. "How the hell did that happen?"

Cloud couldn't help his clenched fists. It wasn't their business, and yet the jerk's tongue had only repeated words that Cloud had muttered himself last night. Obviously they had no idea how the mentoring program worked, didn't know the General hadn't had a choice.

Wouldn't have chosen this way if he had.

The one behind him with sharpness that meant violence, snapping Cloud's attention to him. "No way he earned it!" He spoke right over Cloud's head like he didn't exist. "He isn't big enough to lift a sword!"

Cloud shouldn't have bared his teeth. There were two of them. They were bigger. He had other places to be.

He dodged the first harsh thrust of the bruised cadet's hand, but not fast enough. Half the shove caught his arm, upset his balance and snapped his fists up. Cloud had been in fights before. Not that they ever went great…

The bruised one watched him hawkishly, evidently expecting some hidden reason for Cloud's luck, some strength hidden in his thin bones. Cloud set himself, waiting grimly. This would be a fight. The tall one's jealousy was enough, but what really made him nervous was the livid splotches of blood under the skin on the shorter one's cheek. These badges of pain leered at him, curved in a second smile, a smirk this boy wore if proud of it. Cloud was cursorily attached to the general, to the focus of that pride and violence. Cloud was enough to hit.

Cloud couldn't get out of the way now, the wall close to his back. He shouldn't have backed up.

The bruised one smiled his two smiles. "So, then, what did you do? What did you give him?" Cloud's confusion must have shown on his face, because the boy scowled. "Don't play dumb, Strife. Favors like that don't come free and it definitely wasn't money. What bought him? What did you do?"

When he did understand, something in Cloud exploded. Without thinking he lunged forward, right into the other guy's face. "The General would never be bought on a bribe."

His rapid move earned a punch and Cloud smacked the wall, curled down around his chest and gasping for the wind pushed out of him. Owwww.
"Yo, what the hell?"

Catching his breath, Cloud saw a lanky redhead in a baggy cadet uniform by the lecture hall door. He looked mildly bored, skinny as a mess-hall meat stick, and strangely familiar, though Cloud would've expected to remember the that bush-top hair.

The two bullies balked. The bruised one stepped away from Cloud. "He was asking of it. Little rookie was trying to start something."

The redhead's lip curled, showing the edge of a tooth. "Riiiiight. Sure looks that way." He let his bangs flop in his face as eyed one cadet then the other. "I dunno about you guys, but I'm pretty hungry. Be best to get to mess before Lieutenant Taims finds you out here, no? He'll be coming out in a minute; I was just talking to him." He smiled. There was a gap between two of his teeth, one that swallowed any chance of answering back.

The threat of an officer cowed them. Still, the bruised one met Cloud's eyes as he left. Cloud filed his face under the 'this will be trouble' section.

He stepped away from wall, wincing when his nice new bruises protested. The redhead wandered over, hands in his pockets, sharp look on his face. "You ok?"

Cloud nodded, checking he could talk before he tried. "Yeah. I should go." If the Lieutenant was really coming he didn't want-

"Cadets?"

Cloud froze, resisting the urge to shrink back against the wall. The redhead had leave to be here. Cloud not so much. His "I lost my earring" excuse was probably invalidated by the fact that clearly did not have pierced ears.

Reno glanced at Taims and shrugged. "Waiting for me, sir. Friend a' mine."

Taims gave first Reno then Cloud a long look and Cloud wondered if he'd heard the altercation. The SOLDIER shrugged. "Well, loyalty is a admirable trait in a SOLDIER, I suppose. As you were." He eyed Cloud's arm, still slung protectively across his gut. "Don't let me catch you loitering again, cadet."

"Yes, sir," Cloud murmured.

The redhead waited till Taims turned the corner to start towards Mess. "You been to eat?"

Cloud fell into step beside him, out of a feeling of obligation. He should at least thank him. "No. I was looking for something I dropped when they turned up."

"Find it?"

"No."

"Damn."

"Uh…Thanks. For that back there." The redhead kept throwing his stringy bangs back, distracting Cloud when he tried to talk. And he'd thought he had unconventional hair.

The redhead smirked. "Eh, happy to. Can't stand idiots." He blew his bangs out of his face again as they entered the mess hall, looking with distaste at the line, still thirty people strong. "Oh, yeah, my favorite part of this whole mess."

After the accustomed pushing and avoiding flying foodstuffs, Cloud withdrew from the mass of bodies surrounding the servers. Even with his lateness, there were some mashed potatoes left. His chest ached still when he breathed and he didn't have his earring, but he took small victories. No one tripped him or confronted him on the way across the mess hall. He now certain of the number of glances passed his way, but that was less bad than punches.

There were, predictably, no open tables. Cloud hesitated in the aisle, casting unhappily around. He was not in the mood to squeeze in at the end of someone else's, not today.

And then, with a flair of déjà vu, he saw the redhead leaning back in his chair, giving him a lazy wave. That was it, Cloud realized. That's where he'd seen him before. That redhead had been at that mentoring meeting, that one lounging around and paying no attention to the Director. No wonder he'd been so ill impressed by those idiots, this guy didn't even respect his superiors.

Under usual circumstances, Cloud would have said no. But, since he had nowhere else, he slid into the seat across from the redhead. How this guy managed even a small table halfway through lunch baffled Cloud, but he was grateful. It was even one pushed against the wall, away from loudest sections. The redhead's lunch was halfway gone, too, like he'd somehow nabbed it quicker than Cloud. How?

Red drummed his fingers on the table, eying the incoming group of infantry at the far door. Cloud ate sullenly, now calm enough to acknowledge he still didn't have his earring. It was more and more seeming he'd never get it back.

"Never got your name."

Cloud glanced up to find his dining companion now looking directly at him. He supposed he owed that much; this stranger had lied to a superior for him. "Cloud. Cloud Strife." He put down his fork; his mother taught him better than this. "Nice to meet you."

"Ditto, man. I'm Reno." Reno offered a handshake, which Cloud accepted. His grip was stronger than expected. Reno cocked his head before he let go. "Saw you at the meeting yesterday. That, er, discussion out there, that was 'cause you and the General?"

Cloud wasn't surprised Reno knew. He seemed like the type. He debated lying for all of four seconds. "Yeah." Poking at his food, Cloud muttered, "What else would get me attention like that?"

"Oh, I dunno. If you dyed your superior's hair blue or somethin. That'd be cool." Cloud couldn't help looking up, which made Reno grin. "Hey, anything's possible, right? I don't know you. Could've happened."

Cloud smiled despite himself. That wasn't scorn. Reno wasn't mocking him. "Nothing so interesting," he offered. Eyes on him still, poking, made him look out at the mess hall, but he couldn't see them in the crowd. "Just that."

"Ya like him?"

Cloud stared. "What?"

Reno's smirk turned down on the corner, almost a scowl. "Do you like him? You think you'll go back?"

Disbelieving, Cloud forgot the forkful of lunch halfway to his mouth. He scrutinized Reno's twisted lip, the sharp points at the corner of his eyes. "Yeah. Yeah, I think I'll go back." He half expected a punch line, but he couldn't find one on Reno's face.

Reno nodded. "Just curious. Haven't talked to many people in the program, you know." Cloud raised an eyebrow, because that careful nonchalance wasn't "just" anything. No one asked if you "just" liked the General. And to ask if he was going back…he was pretty sure mental stability was tested before cadets signed on, but that was pretty out there.

Reno grew bored with Cloud's calmness and kicked his feet restlessly under the table. He had long legs. "Eh, I'm glad. Someone's getting good out of it."

"You don't see eye to eye with yours." Cloud couldn't say "like." Superiors weren't ranked on "like."

"Tipped ya?" Reno grinned with his teeth. "Arrogant cad like you've never seen. I wondered if they all were."

Cloud's hand tightened on his fork. "They aren't."

"Good." Reno bit into his burrito with more satisfaction than necessary, sending bits of meat and cheese all over his plate. He paused, picked up each crumb and put it back in the sandwich.

Despite himself, Cloud asked, "Who's assigned to you?"

"General Rhapsodos." Reno scowled as if the name tasted sour.

The Red General. O0ne of the most famous 1sts, second only to General Sephiroth himself. How could Reno gripe with good luck like that? "What happened?"

Reno's face lit with an unnerving kind of energy. Apparently he'd been stewing this for a while, because he drew a deep breath, folded his long fingers next to his plate, and launched into a detailed description of the Red SOLDIER's faults. Cloud listened, bemused. Hadn't Reno only seen his mentor twice yesterday?

Half listening to what definitely sounded like a thoroughly unpleasant meeting, Cloud tried to think what he knew. Rumors abounded, of course, Rhapsodos spawned them like wildfire, but apparently the Red General and Zack's teacher General Hewley were good friends. Zack had called it "best friends," not just "colleagues" or "peers." Cloud's real information came from that, through Zack, and while Zack sometimes hinted truths in the Red SOLDIER's eccentricity and temper, Cloud trusted Zack's judgment, and Zack trusted General Hewley's. Cloud felt that General Hewley wouldn't pick bad friends.

Of course, there were few people Zack thought were all bad. Reno didn't strike Cloud as quite so forgiving.

"He wouldn't even listen to me," Reno muttered0, finally slowing. His knuckles were pressed down on the table, white from the force. "Not for a minute. I mean, you can't blame me for snapping at him. I ain't some kid! I came for help fighting, not because I know nothin'." He blew a harsh breath through his teeth.

Cloud tried to think what to say. He never knew. "So what happened then?"

"Oh, I left. He yelled and I said I'd leave. So I did." Cloud, halfway between disbelief and admiration, wondered if that, stupid, mad, unfathomable bravery was what got Reno into the cadet program in the first place.

Cloud lowered his fork. "You mean not to go back."

Reno smirked. "Sharp." He shrugged tensely. "If he can't teach me one useful thing, why waste the time? Better things I could be doing."

Many reasons: penal duties for defied orders, expulsion for contempt of a higher officer, angering one of the most powerful men in the world. But Cloud didn't bother. Reno, insane as he seemed wasn't concerned.

Reno laughed carelessly. "You gonna snitch on me, huh?"

Cloud grimaced. "No." It took him a time to build his words together. "You don't think he can teach you anything?"

Reno's laugh was sharp edged, spiteful. "He's a spoiled, self-centered peacock." Reno grit his teeth so hard. How had one person earned that much anger in one sitting? "He knows nothing even about the city he lives in!" Reno spat. Not knowing what to say, Cloud didn't say anything. He watched the anger subside almost as fast as it roiled up, until Reno pulled back into himself. "Eh, sorry. Sorry, Cloud."

"It's fine." Cloud couldn't quite imagine General Rhapsodos as a peacock, and he was at a loss what Rhapsodos had or didn't have that incensed Reno. But he knew a little: it wasn't wise and it wasn't safe to anger a 1st, especially a general. Was Reno even thinking the consequences of pulling a stunt like that? Humiliating a general? A general known for his temper? Cloud didn't want to hear he'd gotten himself kicked out, or worse, over blowing a fuse.

"Well…have you asked him what he knows?" he ventured finally.

Reno stopped eating. "Eh?"

Cloud studied his food, brow furrowed. "I just…you can't know he has nothing for you until you've listened to him." Reno's intense attention made him uncomfortable. Cloud shrugged. "I don't know a lot, but generals don't get promoted for nothing. There's got to be something you can gain from him, and it would be…you'll never know what it was if you don't stick this one out."

He shut his mouth, delayed looking up again by eating another bite. Winging someone else's issues that weren't his business felt awful. Cloud didn't like people telling him what he couldn't do, so why was he telling someone else? If Reno got up and left right now, Cloud wouldn't be surprised. What right did he have to tell him he was being…well, bull-headed?

But, instead of leaving, the redhead sat looking at the table, a strange little smile on his face. "You always give advice?"

Cloud flushed and curled down. "No. Not usually." And sure as hell not about this. He really had zero qualifications to advise others, if he couldn't figure out his own issues. Life was much easier trying not to think about the mentoring thing for a few days.

They ate in silence for a little, the loudness of the mess hall echoing in Cloud's ears. The first bell cut in suddenly, announcing five minutes left in lunch period, and Cloud jumped. What? When had it gotten so late?

Reno winced. "Ah, and I'm keeping you talking!" He gestured towards Cloud's half finished plate. "I'll shut up till you're done. Eat."

And, true to his word, despite his earlier talkativeness, Reno stayed quiet, picking the crumbs off his plate and eating them as he waited for Cloud to finish.

With two minutes to spare, thanks to his companion's studious quiet, Cloud pushed back his plate. Next, down to the practice rooms, into sparring gear, and the start of combat drills. Just the thought made his arms ache.

Reno hovered a hand over Cloud's plate. "You said you lost something before, didn't ya?" On receiving a confused nod of permission, he set to eating the small chicken fragments left by Cloud's meal.

Cloud watched his quick fingers, bemused by the other cadet's apparent mission to clean his plate. He vaguely hoped Reno's disregard for personal space meant he wasn't annoyed by Cloud's earlier reproof. "Yeah." He tried not to frown too obviously, though the thought of it getting kicked around in the hallways hurt. He'd kept track of that earring for eight years at home. How would he ever tell his mother?

"What's it look like?"

"It's a silver wolf." Cloud didn't put his head in his hands, but he settled to pressing a palm against his forehead. "Red eyes." He knew it by heart, and he stumbled through putting it into words.

Reno listened to his description with rapt attention, and asked several questions. He thankfully didn't ask why Cloud carried an earring he couldn't wear. They left their plates at the dish-return and waded through the mass of Shinra employees towards the anterior door.

"I'll keep an eye out," Reno said. He slithered through the crowd like he was a stick insect.

Cloud followed, shaking his head. "Don't you have combat class, too?"

Reno grinned and waved dismissively. "You bet! But I won't be payin attention." He saluted lazily. "See ya round, Strife."

Cloud wasn't sure how anyone could be inattentive in combat class, but he'd have to ask later.

When he and Genesis had attained their current rank, either good fortune or Lazard's good sense had placed Angeal's office most accessibly out of the three generals. Close to the Director's office, at the head of the 1st's wing, the wide-windowed, paper strewn room let him keep an eye on everything seeking or leaving the others passed his door. Since Sephiroth had his preferred corner and Genesis was near the SOLDIER mess' back entrance, Angeal believed the Director had a hand in this.

Regardless, Angeal learned quickly to leave his door unlocked and slightly ajar.

"Eating yet?" Genesis stuck his head in just far enough to clink his earring on the door. He never disturbed Angeal with work during meals, for all Angeal told him a hundred times he could. And Gen grumbled about his politeness quirks.

"No. What do you have?" Angeal stretched in his chair, stiff from sitting all morning. Maybe he'd ask the other two if they wanted to go on a quick monster-patrol after lunch.

Genesis cracked his back - Angeal could swear every single vertebra - as he walked in. "Nothing good. Take a look at this." He dropped an open file on Angeal's desk, splaying a set of badly focused pictures. They were dimly lit and, as far as Angeal could tell, from an unnatural angle, leaving it difficult to identify what he was seeing.

"Camera footage, from the dockyards at Junon," Genesis supplied. "Someone or something tried to claw its way into a supply warehouse. The camera was torn down and these images were salvaged. Turks think it might be more up our alley, apparently, sent it over. And I can't for the life of me figure out what it is."

Angeal leaned down over the pictures, squinting at the blurry, dark shapes. Only one image was simple; the metallic glint of something in the center looked like a sideways blade. As he wracked his brain, a soft knock sounded from the still open door.

"Come in, Sephiroth and look at this, would you?"

Genesis sidled so Sephiroth could see the desk. Sephiroth pushed back his bangs and tilted his head in an attempt to see the images right-side up. "This is Junon?"

Even Angeal didn't know how he knew that. Genesis nodded. "Mhmm. Think we might have a monster team to send out, trying to figure out what we're dealing with. You ever seen something like this?"

Expert through the three were "seen it, done it, killed it," not even Genesis denied that Sephiroth had seen more than anyone. Even had they shared the same field experience, there were lab visits to account for. Sephiroth ran a finger along the most defined shape they had to work with, something organic and mid-motion. As he did, his eyes unfocused, staring at nothing as he tried to construct a figure in his mind's eye.

"That. That resembles a Needle Kiss spear." He pointed at the image with the flashing metal of a blade.

"Do they get that sharp?" Angeal asked, startled. He'd seen the birds before, the deadly lances they bore on their heads, but surely those were flesh and not blades?

"Not usually, no. Nor are they made of metal."

"Wait, look." Genesis pointed at the corner of another picture. "You can see an eye here, glowing. Mako-madness, maybe? That can make creatures do anything. Though it doesn't explain the metal."

Angeal frowned. "When were these taken?"

"Yesterday," Genesis murmured. "But needle kiss live an ocean away from Junon."

"Indeed. And the mako glow disturbs me. No bird could be exposed to that much mako in Junon." Sephiroth raised an eyebrow at Genesis. "Is anyone deploying?"

"Not yet." Genesis grit his teeth. "I'll report to the Director." He did not pull the case file back too quickly. Angeal was proud of him. He knew Genesis didn't particularly like Sephiroth in his work, for the sake of their silly competition, whatever it was this week.

Genesis nodded to Sephiroth as he turned. They shared a tired, crooked smirk, and Angeal wondered, then, if there was a competition on at all.

"I'll see you after lunch," Angeal said, and waited until he received a nod and a wave to drop his eyes and let Genesis leave the room. Sephiroth remained leaning on the desk. Briefly, his eyes were closed, content.

"You're not going with him?"

Angeal finished his last mission report with a flick of the mouse. "No. He's going out today. Something about a new seafood restaurant. I will be eating with you."

Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, but didn't protest and didn't open his eyes. "Very well. Perhaps, then, we should relocate to my office. Yours tends to more frequently receive…unwanted interruptions."

"That's what you call Zachary? I'm disappointed."

"No. That is what I call 3rds who wander in convinced you'll believe they can't find the elevator. As for Fair, I call him a…what was it now?" Sephiroth looked up at him innocently. "'Hyperactive puppy'?"

Angeal chuckled. "I'm lucky you're a liar. He's out on monster patrol right now anyway. I'd appreciate it if you didn't act like he's contagious."

"When that's verified, I will stop."

Sephiroth's office would be quieter, with less chance of stray ears catching unwanted information. Since Angeal wanted to talk anyway, it was easy to say yes. With that daunting work ethic, Sephiroth had attacked his paperwork for a good four hours last night, and now had the latest wave under control, so they used his desk as a table. Sephiroth shut the door, and for a little while, they weren't soldiers. Angeal set out napkins, and Sephiroth brewed tea.

As usual when he cornered Sephiroth for a meal, Angeal waited to see his friend eat. Sephiroth knew well enough what he was doing, but humored him, since all he'd get was a scolding if he tried to get out of it. When content, Angeal broke the comfortable silence. "So?"

Sephiroth rested his elbows on the desk, growing still. "He…surprised me."

Judging Sephiroth's moods took practice and careful eyes, but Angeal checked, and was pleased to see him relaxed now. He would share further if asked. "They always do. Good or bad?"

Again, a hesitation. Sephiroth wrinkled his nose, as if "good" and "bad" wasn't the phrasing he'd choose. Figured. After a long, patient pause, Sephiroth nodded slowly. "Good. Possibly. It's still early to judge."

Just like him to keep his options open. "And are you pleased?"

Angeal knew a smile on Sephiroth's face when he saw one. The corner of Sephiroth's mouth twitched, and he inclined his head, conceding defeat with more grace than was fair. "I am, yes."

Angeal beamed, probably a bit more pleased than he should've been. Sephiroth's student made him want his own, right now. Blasted scheduling conflicts.

Sephiroth laughed at him, a breath in the back of his throat and a shake of his head. He took another bite of the predominantly green, speckled dish he somehow managed to swallow. Another cooking day was in order soon to feed Sephiroth something resembling food, as usual.

"Are you going to tell me about him or must I be persuasive?"

Sephiroth raised an eyebrow and Angeal smirked. Oh, he could get it even out of the great General, and they both knew it. But he didn't have to. Sephiroth tilted his head and drank a little of his tea. "His name is Cloud Strife." His attention fixed somewhere beyond Angeal. Sephiroth always found it easier to talk to someone when he didn't focus on them. "He is blonde and small, quite young I think. Yet he can hold a conversation with me. I didn't think that possible so quickly. I find him…respectful. Inquisitive. Very timid. He has potential. I don't know how much, or if it's sufficient." He smiled wryly smile. "I'm afraid I may have to keep him until I find out."

Angeal sat back and sighed happily. "I'm glad."

"As am I." Sephiroth released a long breath, bending back to his food more out of self-discipline than hunger. "Now I'm consider how best I can be of service to him. He has far to go before he's ready."

"Don't worry so much. It'll be pretty clear what he needs."

Sephiroth's lips twitched, that time an almost-smirk. He didn't look up. "Angeal, whoever said I was worried?"

"No one at all." Angeal looked out wide windows on the far wall. "Though, speaking of that, you might find interesting what happened to me this morning." He had to be careful here. Sephiroth, for all Angeal trusted him, had a protective, possessive streak. He didn't know Zack as well as Angeal did. "I was training with Zack, and he asked about your Strife." A pause in Sephiroth's fork-to-mouth rhythm betrayed his interest. "He seemed…well, worried isn't the right word. He told me Cloud was shy and fretted about him recommending himself well. Seems they're friends." Angeal enjoyed the soft sense of pride he felt at Zack's willingness to stand up for his friend.

"Fair is a friend of Strife's?"

Angeal nodded. "That's what he told me. He was intent on tracking him down today to know how things went."

Fortunately, Sephiroth didn't take issue with Zack's interest in his cadet. Puzzling Angeal, he nodded thoughtfully and reached into the top drawer of his desk. "Good. Tell him to give Strife this."

Angeal accepted the tiny package, a small plastic bag with a folded post-it note in it, the paper crinkled and creased around something oddly shaped. He raised an eyebrow as he tucked it in his pocket.

Sephiroth met his curiosity unmoved, absolutely and regally unruffled, and that meant there would be no getting it out of him. Angeal pretended to pout, going back to his meal. Sometimes, it just wasn't worth the effort. He was not about to be drawn into the gossip circles Sephiroth alternately hated and enjoyed toying with. He'd be sure to hear it from Zack eventually anyway.

"I don't get paid to be a delivery boy," he muttered. "You'll have to meet Zack yourself, if this keeps up."

"His…interest, if that's what it is, may eventually render that chore unavoidable. I've heard Zachary Fair is protective of his strays."

Sephiroth's poker face was a bit too perfect at the edges. Cheeky. Angeal knew better. "Oh, however will you cope? I think anyone with Zack's attention is lucky to have him."

"So long as they never wish privacy." Sephiroth wasn't really teasing now, but a calmness to his tone took the bite from it. And, as usual, he was right.

They lapsed into silence, and Angeal was glad to see Sephiroth ate without prompting. The General had a nasty habit of postponing meals for work, and with his metabolism that was asking for trouble. Or Angeal thought so. A 1st ought to eat five or six times a day.

Angeal swallowed the soggy, mushy peaches from the fruit cup he'd bought, and missed apples. It was sometimes hard to remember to eat that much food, though.

Finished, he sat content to share a few minutes' downtime before returning to work. Sephiroth lazed in his chair, long legs tangled with Angeal's under the desk as he stared into the distance, eyes half closed. Angeal remembered that he did envy Sephiroth this office, because of the two panoramic windows. This high in the air, Angeal thought he could just glimpse the shores of the sea in the west. Even with the never-fading greenish glow of the horizon in this city, it was still beautiful.

"I'll see Strife gets it."

Sephiroth inclined his head in gratitude. He looked tired, and Angeal wondered if he'd been working on the Wutai problem. The execs liked to have their war hero involved, even if they were in negotiations now. He hoped they reached an agreement this time. Wasn't half a decade enough to teach them to make peace? Angeal wasn't not looking forward to going back, even under the nominal protection of a ceasefire.

Sephiroth unconsciously crossed his arms as he looked up, sensing Angeal's eyes. He hated being hovered over, being watched. Angeal gathered his tray, brushing the crumbs off Sephiroth's desk. "I'll take yours. Are you working the night again?"

He'd meant it as teasing, but Sephiroth didn't laugh, 'of course' clearly written on his face. That always made Angeal feel mildly foolish. "I will be training after eleven, if you must know."

The silence after that statement smoothed over the awkward gap. It had been a good month since they'd all been in Midgar for more than a few days, and Angeal had been looking forward to that invitation since coming home. "I'll bring Genesis, then."

Sephiroth shook his head. "If you convince him. He's been more diligent about his work than I've ever seen. He must be avoiding something."

"Oh, for this, he'll come out. I believe he's missed our sparring bouts."

Sephiroth straightened as Angeal took the empty dishware, pulling up his computer to return to work. But not before smiling. "As have I."

Angeal reached the door, but a low hmm from Sephiroth stopped him. "…Give Fair my thanks."

Angeal nodded. "See you tonight." Already refocused, Sephiroth raised a hand in a half-wave as he left.

Angeal headed to the mess first. Then back to his office to work. Zack was due to return from patrol at noon tomorrow, so he'd have to catch him then, preferably after he'd changed out of the monster-bloodied uniform. That way Strife would receive his package without Kalm Fang guts all over it. Though Sephiroth hadn't said, Angeal could tell getting this package to Strife was one less worry on his shoulders. Best see to it sooner rather than later.

But first, figure out what had Genesis in such a mood. Now that Sephiroth mentioned it, he hadn't seemed his usual self today, too diffident and focused.

Hoo boy. And it was only lunchtime?