"Take me back" is henceforth renamed "Two Steps Back". Yay!
Also, my line-breaks for -all- the previous chapters has been removed. I... ahve no idea how or why.
Pacing, Cloud was quickly realizing, was an extremely uncomfortable affair when you were still suffering from a hangover. It wasn't that he hadn't wanted to sleep in on one of his last few days off until he had officially acclimatized himself with his new (unofficially impossible) enhancements, but waking early had become so ingrained, both in his life as a cadet and the life as... well, 'ex-fugitive' fit best, he supposed. Regardless of what he had been, he had to be practically unconscious to wake later than at sunrise when reveille was called.
Which spoke in favour of him actually still being lethargic on that day he had had the duel with Zack, he realized, and paused in his march. The SOLDIERs sitting in the lounge seemed to heave quiet sighs of relief, thinking he had finally stopped, but then he only started up again when he had absorbed the implications, earning himself a fresh array of glares. It was amazing what you could learn to ignore, though, and Cloud continued walking in circles around the lounge. He would have preferred to be somewhere more private, but his own room was too small (and made him feel slightly claustrophobic besides) to pace in and if he paced in any of the hallways, chances was he would get in the way of someone.
It wasn't like Cloud wasn't still feeling the after-effects of the copious amount of alcohol he had been more or less forced to consume, it was just that the hangover couldn't distract him from what was really bothering him.
How could he have been so stupid? Planet, of course the reason he had gone to Angeal in the first place was to avoid making mistakes, but he had just been to focused on not doing nothing that he had just barged right into it like a bomb into a tea party.
That was always what happened when he tried doing something beyond 'charge and fight'; he got some kinda idea in his head and it wasn't until someone pointed it out to him or it was too late that he realised how stupid the idea had been in the first place. Life, how could he have been so moronic as to just go to Angeal like that? He should have gotten the proof first, then gone to Angeal. Or better yet, not gone to anyone at all. Instead he had just been too afraid to fall back into the trap he had found himself in when the geostigma had plagued the world, when he had been too afraid of his own helplessness to do anything.
At least Angeal had given him the time to prove his insane claims instead of just rejecting them outright. He had been so lucky that his behaviour had confused Angeal long enough to give him that window, but now that he had had time to think Angeal could very well be going straight to his two friends to warn them or.. or something. It didn't matter. At least Sephiroth's personal information would most likely still be safe in Nibelheim and he had at least been cautious enough not to reveal where it was.
Right. That was what he should be now. Cautious. Caution was the way to go. He would just have to learn not to panic over every little thing and it was so much easier not to panic when people you loved, people he had let die before, wasn't depending on him to succeed.
Then again, hadn't Abbing, Kron and Curly been depending on him to lead them back to Midgar? No, not really. Omdahl and Jaeger had been his security net; there to make sure that even if he failed, they would still make it. There was no security for this; it was either do or die. So for now at least, he would have to err on the side of caution. He had time yet. They had time yet. There was no reason for him to risk it all because he-..
His thought process was abruptly interrupted when someone grabbed his collar from behind and attempted to drag him down into a chair. Attempted, only, because the second Cloud perceived that he was caught he automatically twisted and reached for First Tsurugi but since he only had the standard issue broadsword strapped to his back, what would have been an elegant disarming of his opponent ended with his own rather undignified sprawl on the floor and Zack staring down at him.
"And what was that supposed to be, Cloudy?" The Second Class asked, his eyes alight with what could only be perceived as amusement at Cloud's rather embarrassing predicament.
"Uh..."
"You know, for a combat genius, that must've been really fucking embarrassing," Zack continued with a certain amount of glee that Cloud would have perceived as spiteful in anyone but Zack. When Zack held down a hand for him, regardless of spite or not, he curled up on his shoulders and placed his feet against Zack's chest.
Zack went sailing over his head, landing on his back with a loud exclamation of breath and Cloud sitting securely on his stomach. "Now, who's 'really fucking embarrassed'?"
"Still you," the prone SOLDIER answered, laughing. "Life, I swear you just got even faster than you were day before yesterday. That's just unfair and leaves me with no reason to feel the least bit embarrassed."
"Except that you've just been bested by a Third Class. For the second time."
"You may have a point there, except that I have a sneaking suspicion it'll take a First Class to beat you, and I am yet only a very humble Second. I'll wait to get embarrassed until I hear about anything less than a First Class besting you."
Well, that was probably safe enough, but even so. "Aren't you a little bit over-confident in my abilities?"
"Of course not. Mind letting me up, now? I think we're attracting stares and besides, Angeal's waiting for me."
Cloud grudgingly got up and cautiously gave Zack a hand up too, not wishing to be thrown the way he himself had just thrown Zack. The boisterous teen simply smiled in a way that told Cloud in no uncertain terms that payback was due, but that it would wait until Cloud was not on his guard.
"Anyway, I was just walking by and you seemed to be thinking too deeply," the raven-haired SOLDIER said. "Good morning!" And then he was off, all but skipping on his way to meet Angeal.
"Ah, Za-..." Shutting up before he got Zack's attention again Cloud scowled in the direction he had disappeared in. And what was he going to say anyway? 'Sorry, but if Angeal's acting weird, it may be my fault'? Or how about 'give my condolences for his humanity'? Yeah. Not. He would just pretend like nothing had ever happened and hope that even if Zack noticed something was off, he would respect his mentor enough to keep from asking too many questions.
With his eyes fixed in the direction his friend had disappeared to, Cloud didn't notice how the other SOLDIERs in the room stiffened until an itch told him that he was being watched like a hawk. Turning slowly, this time intensely aware that his sword was strapped over his shoulder and not in a complicated harness on his back, Cloud squared his shoulders to meet whomever had decided to confront him. The attention didn't feel hostile as such, but he would be able to draw the sword faster than anyone would be able to jump him, if, when, he turned and found an enemy waiting.
When he got a look at his observer, Cloud almost did reach for the sword, he knew that his hand had twitched and that the general had seen it, but there was not really anything he could do about it. Any protest that he hadn't intended to react like the general was an enemy would only be acknowledging that it had happened and there wasn't really anything else he could do.
"Strife." Sephiroth's voice was low and carried a definite air of bemusement and reproach, but was mostly neutral. In fact, Cloud doubted that anyone but himself had caught the two emotions colouring the one word. He had only caught them because the second he had become aware that the Nightmare General was focused on him, his awareness and tension had gone through the roof.
"S-sir!" He answered with a salute, clumsy and belated but hoping that it could be excused, since he was quite sure that Sephiroth had never made it a point to socialize with his troops.
"At ease, SOLDIER." Cloud lowered the hand and went to parade rest, much too nervous to go properly at ease. Sephiroth raised an eyebrow, but let it slide. "I'm here to have you go through a second medical, since the one you received upon wakening after your mako shots proved insufficient to determine the exact level of mako in your blood."
"I, uh, pardon?"
The general heaved a small sigh and would have given the diminutive SOLDIER an exasperated look if it had been at all appropriate. "Since you accidentally received more mako than normal, it's appropriate that we ensure that your health has not suffered, as well as calculate the exact concentration of mako in your blood.
"As such, please follow me to the sixty-seventh floor so we can get it over with." And with no further explanation, Sephiroth turned, assured that his subordinate would follow.
"The... the sixty-seventh floor? Isn't that the science department?" The general stopped and looked over his shoulder at the Third, who hadn't moved at all.
"Yes?"
Taking a deep breath, obviously agitated, the new SOLDIER moved his gaze from the huge windows and back to his general. Staring straight into his commander's eyes, the seemingly quite unassuming boy opened his mouth to protest, when it was as though he suddenly remembered that they were in public. He snapped his mouth shut, cast a few furtive looks around before opening it again. "I don't trust the science department."
Sephiroth turned fully, giving close scrutiny to the way his young underling held himself, as if on the verge of curling up or jumping away. Tension was clear in the short frame, but he was perfectly balanced; could probably answer to any threat in the blink of an eye. It was difficult to hide the smirk that wanted to emerge. "Probably a prudent sentiment, given that they're not exactly known for their ethics. However, I assure you I would allow no harm to come to one of my SOLDIERs, which is why I will be present throughout the examination."
Cloud frowned, not entirely happy with that arrangement. It wasn't that he really thought Sephiroth would let the science department run away with him, but on the other hand, he didn't trust him at all. It was one thing, thinking that Sephiroth's dislike for Hojo ran deep enough that the general would disrupt the madman's schemes on principle, it was something quite different to trust it with his own body. And mind.
"Wouldn't it be more appropriate for someone of lower rank to.. accompany me?" Someone not you.
"Of course. It's a great honour that I show you such consideration."
Cloud sighed. There was really nothing to be done about it, though. He couldn't very well disobey and, Planet forbid, show disrespect towards Sephiroth when he was surrounded by SOLDIERs whose primary rule of living was 'Respect General Sephiroth'. He might be socially challenged, but even he could see where that would lead. "Then, please, lead the way."
Something that really was bothering him about this entire set-up, though, was why would Sephiroth do this himself? It wasn't like other SOLDIERs didn't have spare time enough to accompany him, whereas the general most likely had an endless amount of paper work he should be doing instead. Besides, Cloud would feel safer with someone else, who had gotten a clear order to make sure nothing untoward happened to him. Zack could have done it and he trusted Zack.
And shouldn't a thing like this be done in a medical facility? And why would Hojo risk an only just raised SOLDIER within his department? What if he was a spy? Wasn't that risky?
They exchanged no words on the way up, both unused to starting casual conversations and both content with silence as Cloud followed Sephiroth, first in the elevator and then up the stairs from floor 59. At least Sephiroth had full access, Cloud mused, darkly amused at the thought the Great General flittering about, searching for keycards on every floor.
Of course, the general could open the entire wall with a single slash of Masamune, so the flittering around looking into random crates, completing random puzzles and answering weird riddles would probably never happen in the first place, but it was a funny thought.
All thoughts of humiliating Sephiroth fled, however, as they stepped onto the science department floor. Already on the landing, the smell of disinfectant had permeated into the walls and the two SOLDIERs, sense of smell already more sensitive than even other SOLDIERs, wrinkled their noses automatically. It was even worse once the door was opened and the smell of long since dead things preserved in foul fluids and recently dead things not preserved and not likely to be preserved, entered their nostrils, but this time, both refrained from showing such obvious discomfort.
Sephiroth led Cloud through the halls and into a lab that looked suspiciously like the one where Aeris once upon a time never had been held. Even the tank where Jenova's headless body had been, would be (not if I can help it!), was intact, although it seemed to be holding some sort of monster. A flying eye, or one of its family members, except it was missing most of its limbs and only the movement of the eye denoted it to still be alive. Somewhat.
Cloud quickly turned his gaze away and instead focused on Sephiroth, who, unconcerned with the other scientists, went straight to where Hojo was in the middle of checking the results of one of his underlings.
"Hojo." Sephiroth's deep, authoritative voice cut easily through the general racket in the slightly cramped room. "I brought SOLDIER Third Class, Cloud Strife." It was always funny, Cloud thought, how some people were able to express such utter dislike and scorn with such polite words. Obviously, General Sephiroth had mastered the art.
"Ah, yes, yes, put him on examination table four. I'll be right over." And it was amazing how some people could so obviously make an effort to ignore said dislike and scorn.
A lab assistant came over out of nowhere and directed them over to a steel table situated somewhat towards the back, and suddenly Cloud remembered exactly why he really, really didn't want to be anywhere near that room. It was all well and good to distract himself thinking of other things, more amusing and less serious, but there were restraints attached to the table, and while they probably couldn't really hold him if he was in full health, taking the chance that Hojo could somehow inject something in him to make him less able would be plain stupid.
"No restraints," he managed to force out through gritted teeth. "No restraints, no injections and I am still not allowing Hojo to touch me."
Sephiroth turned, surprised at the all but hissed out words. Cloud Strife wasn't looking back, though, eyes darting around as though he was expecting an attack any moment and he was sweating profusely. A sudden loud noise to his right made his hand twitch, the same way they had done when the SOLDIER had first spotted him down in the lounge, except this time they twitched towards the boy's waist. Maybe he was concealing an unauthorized weapon?
"Do you have a table without restraints?" He asked, rather than having the teen searched in such clearly distressing surroundings. "It seems rather inappropriate to examine an employer of ShinRa," he added, staring the lab technician in the eyes and wondering how long this one would last before he caved.
"I-I'm sorry, general, sir, b-b-but the only tables we have, uhm, like that are being used, for, uh, supplies.. and... such..." He trailed off, cowed at the unblinking stare directed at him.
"Is that so." There wasn't even the trace of a question to detect in the unimpressed tone, and the assistant took a step back and bumped into the table in question.
"Is there a problem here?"
You had to give credit to Hojo for not flinching as both Sephiroth and Cloud turned blazing eyes on him. Not many people could face down two agitated SOLDIERs without shrinking back. But then, Sephiroth wasn't agitated as much as he was just wholly unimpressed.
And, Cloud thought darkly, Sephiroth would probably side with Hojo despite everything, if Cloud attacked without any obvious reasons beyond 'he's freaking creepy'.
"Yes, professor, there is a problem," he ventured, staring the creepy bugger in the eyes. "I am not going anywhere near a table you've set up with restraints." He enunciated each word carefully and kept eye contact to make sure Hojo understood that he was not backing down under any circumstances, even though he frantically wanted to make sure nothing was sneaking up on him from behind,. The mere thought of lying on the table and feeling cold steel surrounding his wrists and ankles, regardless of whether it could actually hold him down or not, was terrifying.
"Don't be silly, they're only there if you should turn violent." And make his previous threats a reality, went unsaid, but hung in the air in the dark scowl man directed at Cloud.
Both professor, lab tech, and general noticed how Cloud's already pale face abruptly lost all colour and nostrils flared as he sunk into a defensive posture. Eyes that had been mako bright ever since they entered the laboratory began glowing slightly and his hand inched a little closer to the hilt of his sword.
"SOLDIER!" Sephiroth barked, surprised that the reaction had been so, well, not violent, not yet. It was a somewhat unpleasant feeling, thinking that the threat he himself posed was the only thing keeping his underling from releasing hell upon the lab. "Stand down!"
The entire floor stopped working, all staff turning to look at the spectacle happening as the little SOLDIER took a few seconds to answer to the order, slowly composing himself and letting his hand fall down. His posture didn't change much though and the glow of his eyes didn't diminish at all.
"I... apologize."
Sephiroth almost snorted at the insincere apology, but considering the circumstances, it was more than he had expected. "No need. Hojo, I cannot comprehend why my SOLDIER's request cannot be met. It's not like you're gonna perform any invasive or even painful procedures, right? You're just performing a medical examination, to determine Strife's mako-levels... right?" If there had been any doubt at all, the slight growl with which Sephiroth uttered the last word made it clear that objection was not an option.
"Yes, yes, of course. However since the spe-subject suffers from latrophobia, I thought it safest to have certain security measures ready. Strife has previously knocked out a doctor, who only had the best of intentions, after all."
The taller of the two SOLDIERs cast a dubious look at the fourteen-year-old, wondering if there was any truth to the scientist's claims; were they purely fabricated, grossly exaggerated, or true?
Noticing his scrutiny, Strife shrugged. "I was waking up and Dr. Howe was hovering. I, uh, panicked." He ignored the heat rising to his cheeks. Sometimes, it was simply wiser to expose your weaknesses even if his inner fourteen-year-old was wildly opposed to the idea, but exactly because he looked fourteen, he could afford to show more weakness (was the repkly from his inner twenty-seven-year-old). And since Sephiroth seemed to be more or less on his side in this (although it was probably more in order to one-up the professor than any tender feelings for a newly raised Third), maybe he should start figuring out how he would avoid having the professor anywhere near him during the examination.
"I see," the general commented, turning back to Hojo acknowledging neither the pale pink darkening the Third's fair complexion nor the disrespectful word use. "Then the situation cannot very well be compared, right, Professor? Since Strife won't have to be sedated at any point, we don't have to worry about him being disoriented and losing focus."
It was almost admirable, Cloud thought, the way the general was practically bullying the head of the science department using perfect reason and on-the-surface polite words as his weapons. There was nothing to dress the general down for and even if there had been, Cloud doubted that Hojo would do it in front of a lowly Third, who might spread the word of how Sephiroth had been scolded.
Hojo, after all, had created Sephiroth with the intention of being known for creating the perfect being; a god.
Gods did not get scolded.
"If I may?" He interjected, disrupting the staring match going on between the two men. "Aside from the restraints, I also can't.. permit Professor Hojo to conduct the examination." More like tolerate, but permit was much wiser use of words in his present situation.
"How come?"
Cloud turned to face Sephiroth more directly, but not more than he could still keep an eye on Hojo. "The likelihood that I'll panic is way bigger up here, surrounded by all this equipment and... stuff." He wrinkled his nose again, clearly denoting what other factors were increasing his unease. "Since the professor is so worried for his health, why not let someone... less important do the tests?" He shot a pointed look at the professor, ensuring that the deranged man knew that he would be sure to panic, should the scientist get too close.
He never made idle threats.
Sephiroth hid a smirk, wondering how long it had taken the little SOLDIER to think up such a subtle threat. The little SOLDIER had, if not exactly a flare for subtlety, he thought, then at least abilities. No one had ever accused his SOLDIERs of being manipulative. Himself, sure, often even, but never his SOLDIERs. The only SOLDIERs to ever truly move in the political circles of ShinRa besides himself were Angeal and Genesis. Angeal cared nothing for politics and was more often than not brutally honest, regardless of the consequences to himself and others and Genesis felt nothing but disdain for the less-than-subtle kissing-up going on among ShinRa's executives and had on several occasions been very vocal about just that.
This Cloud Strife might be teachable.
Then again, even if he could, there was no saying that the child would be on his side considering the wholly untrusting attitude with which he had been greeted in the lounge. Which was strange, because Sephiroth had never met a SOLDIER, who wasn't unquestionable loyal to him. Even Genesis and Angeal, who were the only SOLDIERs ever to openly question or disagree with him were both loyal when it actually mattered.
Sephiroth didn't even question whether a big enough push could make his two friends betray him; the mere idea seemed laughable.
The lan technicians had managed to remove the restraints and Cloud moved to sit on the cold table after having propped his sword up next to it, but was immediately instructed to lie down and relax.
"Sorry for reminding you," he told the tech in an almost calm tone. "But I'm not exactly comfortable in these surroundings. Relaxing just isn't gonna happen." He did lie down, though, after a look towards Hojo, who was standing two steps away, watching closely but keeping out of range.
Sephiroth moved to stand beside him. Should the doctor try to move closer, he would be ready to restrain him. If Strife did panic, more likely than not there would be casualties and possibly a large amount of equipment damaged, better not to take that risk. A black mark could stay on your record forever and that would interfere with the SOLDIER he wanted out of Strife. Funny, he didn't usually take an interest in shaping his SOLDIERs, rather he let other people to that and then used those he needed.
But then, none had ever been quite as interesting as Strife.
On the table Cloud's pulse was definitely speeding, pounding through his temples as though in an effort to escape the confines of his veins. Cloud kept a surreptitious eye on Hojo, angry with himself, when Sephiroth's move to stand next to the crazy man actually managed to calm him a little bit. It rankled that he couldn't help but trust he man just enough to keep him safe when he knew the general cared nothing for anyone but himself. When he knew how very good the bastard was at manipulation. It would be just like him to make a person trust him only to betray that later when it no longer suited him.
And the illusion that he was safe was playing havoc with his mind, because he knew he wasn't.
And why would such a simple gesture even matter?
"Okay, Mr. Strife, I got what we need, thanks. You can get off now." Cloud wasted no time in getting off the table and getting his sword in hand again. Pure discipline made him stay and wait for Sephiroth before he left the vile place.
"I trust I will have full access to the test results, professor?"
"Yes, of course." Hojo was already turning away, following the tray of blood and tissue samples that they had collected.
"And I trust I will be thoroughly informed of every test you perform and if any samples are discarded or stored, I want to know that as well."
"As you wish," Hojo finally replied after a short pause. Cloud almost snorted. Fat chance the psycho would actually do as he had promised.
"Goodbye then." Sephiroth gave a derisive throw of his head, flinging his fall of silver hair in a dramatic arc as he turned and left, Cloud following closely, glad to finally be able to leave.
Neither one of them opened their mouths until they had descended another two floors, then Cloud ventured to ask a question.
"Do you... Will Professor Hojo really inform you of everything he uses my blood for?"
"No, of course not. However if I don't make demands like these I won't be told anything at all. If you weren't already so wary of them, I would have warned you never to go to the science department alone. They can't be trusted."
"I see." Of course, he knew already. He had first hand knowledge of just how ruthless the science department was, of just how little they cared for the well-being of someone in their hands. Human or not, it made no difference to them.
Probably only President Shinra could make a difference in the Science Department, and that, only because he funded it and could withdraw his money whenever he wanted.
They descended the rest of the way in silence, Sephiroth getting off at the 51st floor rather than the 49th, where Cloud went back to the lounge, albeit he refrained from continuing his pacing, much to the relief of everyone there.
No ANs this chapter, really. Sorry for the (extremely) long wait, but... you're gonna have to get used to it, unfortunately. I lost my momentum D: Next: Seph rants and the war restarts.