I'm cringing at how long its been since I update this. I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say. There's just been so much going on the last couple of months with work and stuff. I hate not having time to focus on my writing as much as I used to.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.
Revelations and intrigue
After a night of broken sleep and terror filled dreams it was no wonder that Cloud wasn't exactly at his best when trying to concentrate on what he was being shown. His tired blue eyes sometimes becoming unfocused, or simply glazed over with fatigue, as Cissnei tried to explain the basics of computer hacking to him. In truth the problem wasn't so much what he was being taught, well not exactly, but more to do with how hot the room they were working in had become. There was just something about sitting in a warm room, while someone droned on about something only vaguely interesting, that made you feel incredibly drowsy. The monotone voice being used, rambling on in a way that could easily put even the most dedicated person to sleep after a while.
Reno, on the other hand, was sort of enjoying the way his morning was going. Sure he was still a little groggy but coffee, really strong coffee, like three shots of espresso and melt the spoon kind of strong, had taken the edge off the worst of it and now he was actually buzzing a little from his caffeine induced high. Really Cloud should have had some as well, but the blonde had politely declined the offer saying he was already feeling tense and that the added boost would probably make it worse. It had been kind of nice to hear him admit to such a thing, a sort of opening up in his defences to show that he wasn't going back on what had been discussed and that he wasn't going to hide from them anymore. Of course, if he didn't start paying attention he might want to hide from one of them because falling asleep on Cissnei was almost unforgivable. And painful, if Reno recalled that day correctly. Although, the head injury he sustained might have been the reason why he couldn't actually remember that time so well.
As if to interrupt his wandering thoughts, and reinforce them in some way, a small surprised squawk was suddenly heard nearby and drew the red head's attention immediately. The slightly wider sky blue eyes and gaping mouth of the cadet beside him making Reno smirk a little despite himself.
"What the hell was that for?" Cloud demanded, his initial shock of the situation now replaced by annoyance as he gingerly rubbed the back of his head.
"You were falling asleep." Cissnei started firmly, her stance and expression portraying that of a pissed of instructor. "No one falls asleep on me when I'm giving a lesson."
"It's true." Reno added in support of her statement, the cheeky grin which now adored his features showing a man who had not regret for having done it once before himself. "Just be grateful that your walking away from it Blondie. Some of us weren't so lucky."
"And some don't learn from it either." The brunette growled softly, the unspoken threat very clear though her hazel coloured eyes now flickered with a teasing playfulness rather than genuine anger.
"I'm sorry." The cadet whispered, his head having ducked down so that ocean blue orbs missed the change in the looks being shared by the suited people beside him. "I didn't mean to be rude." He tried to explain, his voice barley audible above the gentle hum of the computer they were using.
For a moment neither Turk spoke, though it was clear that both were unhappy with the sudden change in behaviour from the blonde currently sitting between them. The previously confident young man, who had only just bitten the brunette's head off for cuffing the back of his head, suddenly reverting back to a very unsure cadet again.
"It's alright." Reno spoke up first, his words coming out only a second before Cissnei's had begun to form. "I mean, at least you're only fazing in and out." He added with a chuckle of amusement as he reflected on his own experiences. "I actually did fall asleep and still have the scars to prove it."
"Really?" Cloud asked in mild disbelief, his curiosity getting the better of his worries about upsetting them so that he once again faced them while he spoke.
"Yep." Reno replied cheerfully, his overly pleased expression confusing the blonde even more and making the female Turk in their company shake her head and sigh in exasperation.
"It wasn't that bad." Cissnei tried to defend herself weakly, the looks which were currently being shared between the pair instantly letting Cloud know there was definitely more to it
"What … happened?" The blonde ventured to ask, his intrigue more than just a little peeked by the silent conversation he could see going on between the two people beside him.
"I'd been on a mission, an all nighter, so was dead tired." Reno began, another huff from Cissnei interrupting his explanation though the woman herself said nothing else on the matter. "Anyway …" The red head continued, a knowing look already passing between them both once more. "…Cissnei here needed some help with some newbie's being trained and even though I was practically a walking corpse, they assigned me to assist."
"I'd have had more luck with a corpse." The brunette grumbled, though the heat in her words as also coated in barley restrained amusement.
"Yea, you probably would have." Reno happily agreed, the humour filled snort he received in response showing that there weren't really any bad feelings about what had happened between them.
Anyway…" Cissnei continued for him, the obvious smirk she was desperately trying to ignore in fact making her own lips twitch up at the edges. "Mister 'can't take anything seriously' here, managed to stay awake for a whole two minutes after we started."
"I resent that." Reno interrupted, with a dramatised act of being insulted. "I lasted at least five minutes before giving up."
"And he wonders why he can't hold onto a decent relationship." Cissnei teased. Her playful bite making sea-green eyes pop out of their sockets, while a mixed gasp of shock and amusement could be heard escaping Cloud's mouth even as he hurried to contain it.
"And concussing the men who fall asleep on you, isn't exactly a relationship builder." Reno snipped back, his grin now reaching from ear to ear as a devil's gleam filled his aqua coloured orbs.
"Are we bickering again children?" Tseng's voice cut in before the brunette's reply could be given a voice, the commanding tone drawing the attention of all three instantly.
"Hey Boss man." Reno greeted the head Turk cheerfully, his relaxed pose on the reclined chair not even budging an inch as he spoke. "What can we do for you this fine morning?"
"On this occasion, I believe it is more about what I can do for you." Tseng replied calmly, a twinkle in his eye not being missed by a now distracted and very curious pair of Turks.
"You got a treat for us?" The red head joked carefully, not really sure what the man was up to but even more intrigued by the small upward curve his saw on normally publicly stoic lips.
"I have just received confirmation that Angeal's team have achieved their objective." The head Turk informed them, all three suited figures instantly noticing how the blonde in their company suddenly sat up and started paying closer attention to what was being said.
"Does this mean they'll be returning to base soon?" Cissnei asked for the cadet, each one knowing that this was now the only thing Cloud was interested in.
"Indeed." Tseng confirmed happily, a slight chuckle escaping him as a brilliant smile appeared on soft pink lips and sky blues spheres began to shine brightly. "They are packing up now and should be arriving back to base just before supper."
"Hear that Blondie, your boy's gonna be home in time for dinner." Reno called out cheerfully, the delightful blush which rose on the cadet's cheeks not being missed by any of them even as he looked down to hide it. The sight of such easily displayed emotions quickly drawing more pleased smiles from the people around him, while also helping to confirm the things they already knew to be true.
"Is that all sir? Or did you have something else to inform us?" The brunette enquired, the ducked head of golden hair beside her tipping back a little as she spoke. Curious ocean coloured orbs once again making themselves visible beneath blonde bangs and showing that Cloud was still focused on what was being discussed, even if he still didn't feel confident joining in.
"Actually I do have a little something." Tseng offered casually, his eyes turning to the cadet himself now as he continued to speak. "Zack has sent you a message, in advance of his return, in the form of a restricted file." The head Turk began to explain. The rush of excitement he saw in azure orbs not being a surprise considering how the cadet clearly felt for the soldier, nor was the flickering of uncertainty and worry which followed as the blonde began to see the catch to his precious gift from the soldier.
"Any particular reason why Zack would do that, Sir?" Reno asked on the blonde's behalf, knowing that there was more too it and deciding that the he didn't really like the unsettled look which had formed on Cloud's delicate features.
"I might have mentioned what you and Cissnei were training Cloud on this morning when Angeal called." Tseng responded offhandedly, the act he was putting on not fooling his ex-pupil for a moment.
"How thoughtful of you." The red head sighed, his legs dropping down from their stretched out placement on the table to land softly on the floor so that he could turn to face the man properly as they talked. "And would it have been his idea, or yours, that Zack's message get encrypted?"
"I believe it was a joint venture." Tseng replied lightly, the teasing look in his eye showing that while it was probably a little unfair for the cadet it was also necessary.
And though Reno hated to admit his old mentor was right, he knew he was. Knew that Cloud had been sucking badly at the task Cissnei had set all morning, a first if he was honest about their time training together, and that this incentive might be enough to push the blonde into completing his assignment for the day.
"Any chance we can get a clue to help us track down this encoded message and translate it?" The fiery haired Turk questioned with an exaggerated sigh, his sea-green orbs twinkling with a small amount of pleasure at the challenge. Even if it was technically Cloud's to undertake.
"Think top level clearance and then important dates." Was all Tseng was willing to give them, his finally words being the last they would get from him as he left the room before any of them could speak again.
"Top level." Cissnei groaned, her head falling into an open palm as she slumped a little on the table. "He doesn't make this easy does he?" She sighed, her hazel spheres moving to look over at both blonde and red head beside her.
"Don't tell me you're worried?" Reno chuckled with amusement, his own heart now racing with excitement at the chance to have some fun with what was essentially a boring task. Well, at least it was when your life didn't depend on it, or you were finding out something juicy about someone else.
"I'm going to need dates to start the decoding, so start thinking of important occasions to begin with. We can work on anything not specific to us or Zack after we've eliminated the obvious ones first." Cloud's voice commanded them, the unexpected serious tone drawing both Turk's attention immediately.
For a moment neither Reno nor Cissnei were able to talk, let alone blink, as the previously half asleep cadet came to life in front of them. No longer were his eyes glazed or fogging over with sleep, but in fact crystal clear like a cool mountain stream. His back was now straight and his expression determined, slim fingers already moving purposefully over the keyboard beneath them as screen after screen popped up and information was typed in. Already the blonde had begun a search parameter, using a specified date and a time window to begin a search for all incoming transmissions that morning, the information which flashed up on the display showing that he was also sorting them into levels of clearance and priority.
"Holy shit." Reno breathed, his wider than normal turquoise eyes going to the women beside him whose light brown orbs now probably matched his own in size and shape as they watched the cadet work.
"You were paying attention after all." Cissnei breathed, a joyful smile having formed on her lips.
"Sort of." Cloud replied with a shrug, his attention too focused on the windows in front of him to actually look at them while he spoke. "I sort of knew this stuff already." He admitted awkwardly, his darker blue eyes revealing a hint of guilt at not informing them sooner, for leading them along with the charade of teaching him, and also the worry of confessing to what he'd already learnt a skill for.
"So…" Reno practically purred, fully enjoying the turn of events and discovering this little gem of information. "… how long you been playing where you shouldn't be?"
"I invoke my right not to answer that." The cadet stated back firmly, a slight twitch of his lips in an upward curve letting both Turks know it had probably been a while.
"Did I even need to teach you this stuff?" Cissnei sighed, her head now falling limply onto folded arms as she slumped onto the table in a way which screamed defeated. Much to Reno's continuing pleasure.
"Sorry." Cloud managed, his gaze flicking up to her for a moment to show that his apology was genuinely felt. "I just didn't want you spoil your fun." And then his head was back down again and his mind set on the task at hand. His simple reply, and perhaps teasing one at that, being the last thing he said as Reno burst into fits of laughter.
The sound of the red head's joyous mirth continuing, even after Cissnei had pushed him off his chair and he'd landed in a heap on his arse at their feet.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
To say that Reno and Cissnei were surprised by Cloud's knowledge of the ShinRa computer systems would have been an understatement, the ease at which he began to access and browse certain areas quickly telling both Turks that the blonde had definitely done this sort of thing before on more than one occasion. And that in itself was the problem.
No cadet should have been able to work the system so efficiently, especially not the soldier data bases which the blonde and his peers weren't allowed to use yet due to their lower status. It was almost as if Cloud had been granted access by someone of higher authority, someone who would definitely get into a shit heap of trouble for such a security breach.
And while the brunette and red head hated to consider the implications of Cloud's newly demonstrated skills, especially if the only soldier they could think of was involved, they also understood that it was better to ask questions now then face the consequences later.
"Cloud…" Reno began, his sea-green eyes turning away from the worried hazel ones they had been connected too as he focused on the blonde properly.
"Yea." The cadet replied almost instinctively, his own sapphire orbs not once flickering away from the screen he was currently skimming over.
"Not that I'm not impressed by what you're doing …" The red head began. His voice faltering as he found himself unsure how to ask what he needed to know, but was actually afraid to hear. "But how the hell did you learn to do it?"
There, that was simple. Or not. Based on how Cloud's fingers had suddenly stilled on the keyboard.
For a moment it was as if none of them dared to breathe, the only sound to fill the void being that of the clock which hung on the wall across the other side of the room. Several soft ticks counted the seconds as both Turk's waited for the cadet to say something, the tension within his supple frame showing of more than just unease at answering the question. In fact, if both could read the blonde correctly, he was now just as afraid to say what they wanted him to as they were to hear it.
"It wasn't Zack." Cloud stated firmly after a moment, the three words being quickly followed by two distinctive sighs of relief from the suited figures on either side of him.
"Then can I ask who it was?" The red head probed gently. Because if it wasn't Zack, then someone else had royally screwed up. After all, it was one thing for the love-stuck soldier to let Cloud have access but another completely if some total stranger had let it happen.
"It … I'm not sure … exactly …" The cadet mumbled, the words he spoke not being a completely lie but also not the whole truth.
"It's important that we known Cloud." Cissnei began, her hand moving to gently rest on a faintly trembling shoulder and squeeze it reassuringly. "If someone left this information lying around who knows who else could have seen it."
"It wasn't .. I mean .. he …" The blonde tried to explain, his voice faltering as he tried to find the right thing to say.
"Just start with the simple stuff." Reno suggested helpfully, his hand now replacing Cissnei's on the cadet's body as he too offered comfort and support with non-verbal communication. "Like when you first started to do this sort of thing."
"I guess it was about six months ago." Cloud admitted softly, his nervous and uncertain tone very clear to hear. "I was in the library one night … studying."
Both Turk's shared a glance at that, the slight crack in the cadet's voice before he'd said studying showing that it wasn't the real reason the blonde had been there. It didn't take much for them to consider other reasons why he'd been there, why the young man might have felt more comfortable amongst the rows and rows of books than in his own barracks. Neither said anything about it though, each feeling uncomfortable with the thoughts now flowing through their heads and not wanting to have their worries confirmed by Cloud in that moment. And beside, that time was over now. They didn't have to think about back then when the cadet was alone amongst his peers and suffering, especially when it wasn't likely to happen again anytime soon with him now living with Zack.
"Go on." Cissnei encouraged, her gentle manor visibly helping the blonde to relax a little more as he began to speak again.
"I ... had a report to re-d … to do. It was … too noisy, in the barracks, so I went there."
Again sea-green and hazel orbs meet and confirmed what the other was thinking, Cloud's words changing at the last second showing he was still hiding things from them and that the excuse he was giving was only partially true. No doubt the cadet was actually re-doing an assignment based on that slip, which meant someone had either stolen or wrecked his original one, and the justification of the barracks being too noisy was probably questionable as well. Again, neither dug deeper into what had or, in this case, had not been said.
"Did you get it done?" Reno asked, hoping that the slight distraction of topic would help Cloud to feel a little more at ease.
"Yea, I did."
The brunette smiled warmly as she and the red head shared another look, the slightly happier sigh which had followed the blonde's words making her realise just how tense the cadet really was and how careful they were going to have to be as they continued to question him.
"What was it about? The assignment I mean."
"It was a history essay." Cloud replied calmly, the change in focus of their discussion making it easier for him to give the answers they wanted. "Some reflection piece on a battle of some kind, I don't really remember which one anymore."
Reno could believe that. He'd could still remember all the worthless facts that had been drilled into him while training, especially the history of ShinRa and its conquering of the world. He knew now that half of it was utter bullshit, the truth being a lot darker and seedy than the cadets were taught. After all, they couldn't have the young boys dreaming of death and brutality when everyone knew they enlisted to be mini Sephiroth's and heroes of Gaia. Couldn't have the soldier wannab's finding out the truth until it was too late to pull out and ShinRa actually had its claws in them.
So caught up in his own internal musings, and touch of bitter resentment at the life he now lived, Reno didn't realise that he'd sighed out loud. Not until he got kicked in the shine and looked up into annoyed light brown orbs did he realise that the disappointed and frustrated sound he'd let slip had been taken in the wrong way by the cadet beside him.
"Sorry Blondie, just thinking about my own days as a cadet." The red head offered with an apologetic shrug at the clearly withdrawn boy beside him. The cautious and slightly guarded look currently being aimed at him not being one he was happy to see, nor pleased to know he'd indirectly put there.
"I'm surprised you can remember any of that time, considering how much you drank back then." Cissnei cut in her. Her bit being more to do with her irritation at him wrecking Cloud's improved state than drifting off into his own thoughts.
"That was the point." Reno snapped back, the hurt of remembering such things making it hard to contain the emotions which were starting to swell up within him. "I drank to forget."
"Why?" Cloud interrupted, before Cissnei could respond. His unexpected question, and the feelings associated with it, catching both Turk's by surprise.
"Why what?" The red head asked while trying to calm himself so that his building anger wouldn't be vented on the wrong person.
"Why did you drink to forget?" The blonde questioned uncertainly, his confused sapphire spheres filled with the need to understand.
"You remember what I said before about our past teaching us things? About how the lessons were learn in life guide what we do and who we become?" Reno sighed, his face turning away so that the other two wouldn't see the emotions he knew were now starting to leak from him.
"Yes." A soft breath whispered in acknowledgement, a slight pause following before the red head continued.
"Well, I … I learnt a lot, as a ki … as a cadet."
Another pause and then a deep steadying breath was heard as Reno gathered himself, as sea-green orbs became hidden by closed eyes lids and he stopped looking at them while he spoke. The red head certain that if he let himself acknowledge their presence, and perhaps their sympathy, he wouldn't be able to talk about the things Cloud clearly wanted an answer too.
"I didn't have the best childhood and coming here was supposed to change that, make it better somehow. But I guess you guys know what I mean."
Cloud and Cissnei said nothing as a few seconds of silence passed between them all. How could they? Hadn't their reasons for joining ShinRa indeed been similar to the red head's, though in very different ways to each others? Also the pair were certain that to speak now would only interrupt Reno and possible ruin the confidence he had in letting so much slip.
"It was ok at first, something new and exciting." The red head began, his shoulders shrugging in a sad way as he continued to speak about his past. "But then … well … life really sucks when the magic wears off."
"Reno it's …" Cissnei tried to interrupt, her mind already warning her about what the red head was going to say and her heart wanting to protect her friend from the pain it was clearly causing him. Even if he wouldn't admit it out loud.
"It's ok, I said I'd talk about this stuff with him."
Cloud didn't make a sound to acknowledge he'd heard the words spoken, but couldn't stop a look of guilt from showing on his angelic features when the brunette glared meaningfully at him. Both of them knowing that this discomfort was indirectly being caused by him and that it shouldn't be necessary right now, if at all.
"You can stop giving him the evil eye Ciss." Reno chuckled, the slightly amused tone making both pairs of brown and blue eyes snap back to him once more. "I'm not going to spill my guts right now, but he does have a right to know eventually."
"You don't have to tell me anything." Cloud offered, his voice once again barely a whisper so as not to upset or offend anyone.
"Sure I do." The red head replied with another soft laughter following it. "I promised to swap war stories with you and one day I will, but just not today."
The cadet simply nodded in silent acceptance of what had been said and waited patiently for Reno to continue, his sapphire orbs flickering momentarily to the female Turk beside him if only to see what she now thought of what was happening between them. Clearly Cissnei wasn't overly happy with seeing Reno looking so down, her worry for the other meaning that the concerned expression on her face was barley concealed and clear for everyone else to see.
"You already know that Zack and I got no end of grief with Tseng and Angeal as our mentors?" The red head asked unnecessarily, his wandering thoughts not even waiting for a response before they continued to pour from his mouth in a fountain of words. "Anyway, the long and short of it is that I started to drink to get through it. Even when Zack and I were teamed up, things still got too much. Actually, I'm not sure how many times solider boy saved my butt or dragged it back to his place to sober up."
"More than any of us care to remember." Cissnei added, though her stern disapproving tone was still tainted by her concern for the fiery haired Turk beside her.
"Yea, I know." Reno sighed, his sea-green eyes finally opening to look back at them. "And I'm sorry about it too, about all the grief I put you guys through over the years."
"Years?" Cloud murmured without thinking, his voice not being intentional spoken for them to hear but still loud enough that they caught it anyway.
"Yea, years." The red head huffed, a touch of regret to the words. "Even after Zack, Cissnei and Kunsel came into my life I would occasionally screw up."
"Why?" The cadet whispered just as softly and uncertain as before.
"Turk missions are … different … from soldier ones." Cissnei informed him carefully, hazel and turquoise spheres meeting in silent understanding about what could be said and how much they were allowed to reveal.
"Sometimes you have to do things which are … questionable, but can't be questioned." She tried to explain, her need for Cloud to just accept this and not ask for more information very clear for the blonde to see in her expression.
"You didn't like what you had to do?" The cadet guessed
"Sometimes we still don't. But it's who we are and what we're employed to do." Reno agreed with a twisted smile. One which showed a bizarre sort of amusement at having to undertake tasks which obviously upset him.
"Why don't you transfer?" Cloud asked in all innocence. His confusion only growing as the pair once again shared a knowing look between them.
"Turk's don't transfer and they don't retire." Cissnei informed him evenly, the lack of emotion making the statement so matter of fact it was almost scary.
Silence so thick it was like soup fell over them then, as each let themselves be carried away by their own thoughts about what had been said. For Reno and Cissnei it was nothing new to be consumed by, the semi-soul-destroying contemplation of their chosen vocation, and the requirements that went with it, meaning that they were already used to such negative feelings swimming within them. For the cadet however it was a startling surprise, his insides churning as he began to understand why the red head would turn to drink when all this pressure had been put on him.
Inside his head the blonde could easily recall his own horrendous childhood, the pain and humiliation which he'd tried to leave behind following him as easily as the prevailing winds which blew through the trees. He didn't know much about Reno's past, about the exact details of what had driven the red head to join ShinRa, but he could certainly guess when the other said they had a lot in common in this area of their lives. But what upset Cloud most was that, even with Zack and the others by his side, Reno had still suffered within himself. That, somewhere along the way, the fiery haired man beside him and nearly given up on himself just as Cloud had done all those weeks ago.
Sure their choice of death hadn't been the same, Reno's being a much longer and more painful process, but still it was there. One having taken a knife to his wrist to end the suffering in a quick and final act of surrender, while the other had slowly given up and let himself drown in the suffering all around him. Both weighed down by their torment of the world and the burdens which had been forced on their shoulders from such a young age.
Realisation and understanding dawned on Cloud like the rising sun, a glimmer of light in his mind brightening as more and more things began to make sense and the random pieces of things he knew about the red head finally began to click into place within him.
"I think I understand." The cadet spoke up, his soft voice being calm and somewhat relaxed as he broke the quite void which had formed around them. "And I'd .. I'd like to talk about it more, when you're ready too, but only if that's ok with you."
"Su … sure." Reno stammered, his surprise easy to see. "We can grab a drink and …"
" … swap war stories." Cloud finished for him, the small nervous smiles they shared showing that while the chat would be painful it would also be good for them both. After all, no one else would understand what they had been going through better than the other, not even Zack and Cissnei who had been there to help. Because, in the end, only someone who had been there and truly tried to end it all could really understand.
For a moment no one spoke and while the silence was not uncomfortable like last time it still made Cissnei feel uneasy, the understanding that she watched pass between blonde and red head making her insides feel more than just a little unsettled by the idea of what might be said or done next. It was therefore her voice which interrupted the quiet this time and drew their combined attention towards her, the gently spoken reminder about what they had originally been talking about quickly swapping one expression on the cadet's face for another.
"I don't know his name, or at least, he never told me it." Cloud sighed, accepting the fact that there were some things the pair needed to know because it was there job. "I was struggling to find the information, because the system had been locked down for the night for cadets."
Neither Reno nor Cissnei voiced the fact that such a thing was only done after curfew had been put into place, meaning that Cloud shouldn't have even been in the library at that time to begin with. But seeing as how he was now talking about it, if only a little reluctantly, they weren't about to interrupt him again.
"He was a soldier working on his own report, or more like finishing it off, and saw me getting … frustrated."
The brunette Turk had a feeling it would have been more than that to get a soldier to help a cadet with an assignment, especially one he didn't know or had any contact with. But again, she wasn't about to say what emotions she really suspected the blonde had been feeling or showing for others to pick up on.
"I guess he felt sorry for me." Cloud mumbled uncomfortably, confirming some of the young woman's suspicions. " Anyway, he offered me his computer terminal once he was done and asked me to make sure I logged off afterwards." The cadet continued without pause. "I guess I got curious once I was finished and had a look around the soldier data bases to kill some time."
Again there was that slip in what was being said, the accidental confession of Cloud not wanting to return to the cadet barracks and instead hiding out somewhere safe away from his peers. It wasn't a comforting thought for either brunette or red head to consider that the blonde had actually spent nights awake and studying in the library rather than sleeping in his bed. Even if it was a shitty standard issue slab of rock the army liked to call a bed. It also made the pair wonder what else Cloud had been up to those nights, where else he had trained or even slept just to avoid being around the other boys. Reno already knew of Cloud's night time adventures around the grounds of the base and now found himself wondering if there weren't other places, other than the library, the cadet had purposefully gone to so that he would be safely hidden away.
"I take it you made a note of his log in details and used them again." Cissnei asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes." Cloud admitted uncomfortably, the truth clearly worrying him now that the pair were aware of it.
"I'm surprised no one picked up on it." Reno spoke up, the fact that it had gone on so long without being detected showing that more than just that soldier were to blame for letting such a security breach occur.
"Actually." The blonde murmured cautiously, his face turning away as he spoke. "I started to pick stuff up quite quickly and soon found other user names and codes to access the sites with. I wasn't stupid and made sure not to go beyond the limits of the security level I was using."
Ah, that would explain the lack of alarms going off Reno mused thoughtfully. Cleaver really, when you thought about it.
"After a while I found some … questionable log on details." Cloud confessed, a dry cough clearing his throat as he forced himself to admit something he was probably going to regret saying. "I think one or two were Turk based, the non traceable kind, because they got me into a lot more places than the soldier ones did."
When no angry words or accusations were thrown his way the cadet took a deep breath and carefully looked up to face the pair beside him, certain that his breach of their trust was about to come back and smack him in the face. Instead he was greeted by overly wide hazel and sea-green eyes, the shock of such an admission clear to see on both Turk's faces.
"Holly, shit." Reno swore softly after a moment.
"No kidding." Was Cissnei echoing words, her voice just as breathless as his.
"You seriously got your hands on Turk access codes?" The red head asked, knowing what he'd heard but wanting to hear it again just to be sure.
"Yes." Cloud replied hesitantly, his angelic face now a mixture of fear, confusion and a glimmer of hope because of the amused smiles currently present on the other twos faces.
"That's pretty ballsy." Reno chuckled, a highly entertained and somewhat proud look on his athletic features showing he was more than just a little impressed by the cadet's actions.
"Ya know, we would have capped ya for having that info back then?"
Big blue eyes and a loud reflexive gulp however showed that yes, Cloud had considered it, if only in the last few minutes in a more serious way. It also let the pair know that the cadet was now panicking that this fate might still be in store for him.
"Chill." The red head soothed, a rich warm laughter following his words as the blonde looked at him dubiously. "You're a Turk trainee so it's ok to have that kind of access … now."
There was no need to say more as he looked Cloud square in the eyes and emphasised the word now as it was spoken. The cadet nodding silently in complete understanding, knowing that he was never to admit to having these codes earlier, and that no one else was ever going to find out just how long he'd been playing in someone else's sand box so to speak.
"Perhaps we should concentrate on this task for a while and try to get it done before lunch." Cissnei proposed casually, her instant switch back to their assignment effectively ending the other conversation then and there.
"Sure." Reno chuckled again, watching as Cloud hesitated before continuing his search once more. "Although I think we're focusing in the wrong place with this search."
"What do you mean?" The brunette asked, the way the pair slipped so easily back into their earlier roles once again helping the cadet to feel more relaxed about being able to continue with what he'd previously been doing.
"Angeal would have Zack thinking that Cloud sucks at this, so he would have made it obvious for him to find."
"Maybe there's a clue in the subject titles." Cissnei offered helpfully, her index finger already tapping out an unconscious rhythm as she contemplated something else before speaking. "You know, he might have even sent the message to himself so that no one else would find it floating around."
"That's not a bad idea." The red head agreed joyfully, both Turk's now turning to the blonde in their company with equally amused gleams in their eyes.
"Try accessing Zack's emails." Cissnei began
"And look for any saved rather than sent messages from this morning." Reno finished, the combined power of their excitement overwhelming the cadet for a moment as he simply stared at them in shocked silence.
"Well …" A voice spoke up, encouraging him to do as he'd been told.
A moment later and trembling fingers were searching and locating Zack's personal email account. The codes Cloud entered quickly granting him access to the information in a way which was technically wrong. Well, actually, it was completely wrong and inappropriate. But seeing as he was meant to be finding the message any way possible it was ok, wasn't it?
Pushing that thought aside the cadet focused himself to look for anything that would stand out, his eyes scanning for any key words or numbers that would resemble something Tseng had hinted at or Cissnei had suggested. It didn't take long after that to find a saved copy of the message in one of Zack's personal folders, one which had evidently been made specifically for Cloud. Apparently the soldier had actually sent the message and it was indeed lost somewhere in the ether of the net, but here in his personal account was a saved copy almost waiting for the blonde to read it.
Cloud ignored the guilt at having invaded Zack's personal space to find his message, considering it wasn't quite the way he was suppose to find it, and he also tried really hard to ignore the other files saved in the folder which related to him. Except, now that he knew they were there, it was going to be hard to pretend he hadn't seen them and that curiosity wasn't burning and hole through his stomach. Still, with the soldier's message retrieved he could settle with that for now and smiled happily as he noted that the letters within the message had been replaced by numbers with his and Zack's birthdays acting as the key for the whole thing.
Two minutes later and Reno had helped Cloud to print the message off while Cissnei had gone to grab a pen to help the blonde decode the message, the smile which now shone on each of their faces showing that not only had the task been fun to do but had also been beneficial in a lot more ways than any of them had expected. It was only as Cloud was logging off however that his smile slipped a little, his eyes catching sight of one folder just before the screen switched to the confirmation display. The very clear and easily identifiable title 'Kyle' standing out as clear as day for him to see just before it was hidden from sight. In that moment the cadet was glad that both Turks were busy fetching the printout and necessary stationary across the other side of the room, because there was no way he would have been able to hide his shocked expression or slightly choked breath at seeing that name. Just as he knew that there would have been no way to hide the need which now flowed through him to find out what was contained within that folder as well as his own.