Okay, third chapter. I can do this, I can do this.

I've got to say, I love you all.

Seriously. I barely find this stuff at all interesting, and your reading it of your own free will! Wow. You guys rock.

I'll be updating this story once a week at least. Maybe more. I can only post from school, so I've got to work with that.

And this chapter is in my original writing style, so I hope it's better. I wrote the first two chapters in a new style I developed that some of my friends liked. I feel much more comfortable with this chapter than I did with any other.

Chapter Three: Tell Me

Pairing: SephxCloud eventual SephxZackxCloud

Warning: RANDOM

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It had only been two days since Cloud and Sephiroth came to their neutral state. They were both sitting in Sephiroth's office, cadet classes having been canceled due to flooding of the entire teaching building. Cloud suspected a potential Reno-involvement, but let it go, thinking instead of the much needed rest he would get.

Sephiroth looked over mission reports filed by his First Class SOLDIERs while Cloud finished a report on the effects of mako on the human body that was due tomorrow. They both worked in compatible silence.

Sephiroth occasionally glanced at the blond sharing his office-space thoughtfully. Finally, he had to ask. "Strife, I reviewed your file, but try as I might, I could not find any mention or indication on who your father is."

Cloud paused and tensed slowly. "If I might be so bold as to say; I do not think that is at all any of your business, sir," Cloud didn't look up at his mentor, silently urging him to drop the matter.

Sephiroth didn't pick up on the hint. "I think it is."

"Why did you feel the need to check up on me?" Cloud kept his voice steady, but his hands started shaking.

"I was curious. It's a two way street you know, you can ask me anything."

"Doesn't that contridict what we agreed on two days ago?" Cloud asked, trying to avert Sephiroth's attention.

"It does. Are you going to answer me?"

"Is that an order?"

"Does it have to be?"

"Yes."

"Ah, okay." Sephiroth turned his attention to his paperwork, seemingly ignoring the confused blond.

"That's it?"

"Do you want that to be it?"

"Yes."

"Well then," he straightened his papers.

Cloud watched his mentor for a few more moments. He shook his head and finished scrawling a few more lines to finish the essay. He scanned over it. He nodded to himself, then a thought occured to him. "Excuse me, sir? Can you look this over?"

The general nodded and held out his hand, and the papers were put in his hands. "Your back to calling me 'sir' then? Pity. You act very amusing when your informal."

Cloud's face turned indignant for a fraction of a moment before smoothing out. "You extract amusement from odd places, if you don't mind my saying so, sir."

Sephiroth kept his eyes on the paper. Cloud's remark did prompt a slight smile. "Things weren't as fun without a puppy. You are the owner of a hidden wild streak."

"I am not!" Cloud protested. "Uh, sir," he added sheepishly.

Green eyes rested on him, disbelieving. Cloud looked down with a blush and scuffed his boot on the hard-wood floor. He looked up to see his papers being pushed under his nose.

"It was very informative. You used the correct terms and showed your grasp on the concepts. The word choice at the end there was a bit rough, but all you have to do is subsitute in a few words."

"Ah, okay, thank you."

"Your welcome. You may use my thesaurus. It's on the bottom shelf," he nodded toward one of the many floor to ceiling bookshelves.

Cloud nodded his thanks and manuvered around the black leather sofas and wandered to the shelf in question. His eyes scanned the titles, eventually picking out a thesaurus. His eyes wandered back to the shelf again. He stood and looked at some of the higher shelves. One book caught his eye.

He stood on his toes and his hand brushed the spine. Tugging the leather bound book off the shelf, he saw the title. "Loveless" was inprinted into the worn brown leather. He gently opened the pages and read a few words of Act One. It appeared to be handwritten. He flipped to the back of the book and read the date. It must have been the original.

The book was carefully tugged from his grasp and put back on the shelf. Cloud started. He hadn't heard the General stand up, let alone cross the room. "Please don't touch. If you wish to read it, I have a copy in my apartment. This," he told him, tapping the spine of the book. "Is special."

"I saw. It was handwritten?" Cloud asked cautiously, hoping he wouldn't be reprimanded by the man he was beginning to trust.

"It is the original. One of my friends aquired if after searching for years. He loved that play," Sephiroth explained, resting his hands on the cadet's shoulders.

"It's hard to imagine you with friends," he stated, then once again, his shyness overcame him. "I'm sorry."

"It's quite alright. His name was Genesis Rhapsodos. He was another General."

"There were more than one?" Cloud asked.

"Yes. Three in fact. We were... friends. General Genesis Rhapsodos and General Angeal Hewley were their names."

Cloud took the hint not to mention anything more. "What about you sir? What about your own childhood?"

Sephiroth considered this. "Let's make a deal. I'll tell you mine and you tell me yours."

Cloud hesitated and relented. "Alright, let's sit down. This is going to be long, I'm guessing." The men moved to the sofa, and they each took a seat on one, facing eachother.

Moments passed as Sephiroth sorted through his menories to find a suitable place to start. He cleared his throat.

He began.

"I was born-"

He was cut off.

"HOLY MOTHER-"

"AW HELL!"

Sephiroth's second in command apparently decided now was the time to come crashing through his 67th floor window.

With Reno and... Was that a-?

"Zack, why do you have a chocobo?" Cloud asked, sounding disturbed. "And Reno, what have I told you about saying 'holy?'"

Sephiroth had a more pressing question. "How did you manage this one, Fair?"

The two pranking buddies shot to their feet and began blaming eachother. Their voices rose until it sounded like the room was filled with hundreds of people, not four.

Sephiroth himself was disturbed. He wanted to know how they managed to fly through his window. He slowly looked at Cloud, who covered his face with his hands. His shoulders were shaking.

He's laughing, Sephiroth realized. He hadn't seen his small sad charge laugh. Cloud finally looked at him and mouthed his words, knowing he couldn't be heard over the men. "I'll take care of it."

Cloud observed the men for a few more moments, wondering how when inspiration struck. He grinned and walked closer, but remembered he had to warn his mentor. He turned. "Don't worry about what's gonna happen next," he mouthed.

Reno and Zack faced eachother now, screaming at the top of their lungs, trying to pin the blame on the other and the chocobo was getting angry. So was Cloud for that matter.

He went around the mahogany desk and hopped on top of it, proping his feet in the chair, mindful of the paperwork. He was positive Sephiroth wouldn't mind. Almost 20% positive, in fact.

Cloud waited until they took a breath and drew one in himself and began his cunning plan.

He started bawling. Not just crying, but full blown bawling. As he suspected, Zack and Reno shut up in seconds. They stood there horrified, then began fussing.

"Are you alright?" Reno asked, walking over like a misbehaving child.

"Did the glass hurt you?" Zack questioned meekly. He came closer too and hugged his best friend.

Cloud let the tears stop and leaned into the hug. "You both were being stupid and you needed to stop."

Zack froze, as did Reno. "You were fake-crying?" Reno asked weakly. "Remind me that if I need to go anyplace resticted, to take you along. You could cry at the guards and they'd totally buy that we're lost."

Zack pouted, "You know we were really worried, don't you. I thought we hurt you," he tightly hugged his favorite cadet, then let go.

Cloud smiled guiltily. "When I really cry, it's quieter," he informed them. They made a mental note of that, just in case.

Sephiroth stepped over to them. "Now, I would like the whole story of how you came crashing through my window."

Reno and Zack looked at eachother sadly. The General of the Shinra army was angry with them. This was it.

But no, it wasn't. Not for the chocobo. It launched itself onto the desk, which Cloud managed to vacate just in time.

It squawked to high heavens... and shat on the legendary Sephiroth's desk.