AN: Well, next chapter is finally done, woo! Enjoy my fellow FF7 fans.

Chapter Five: Anger

Cloud finally stood, swaying a little as he wiped his mouth on a tissue and stared at the door of the toilet cubicle. The voice had fallen silent, for which he was eternally thankful but he still felt sick and weak and tired, he decided it was high time he left and went to bed. He opened the door and stepped out, walking unsteadily over to the taps and washing his hands, he splashed water over his face and gasped at the temperature before moving to the towels. Before he got there though he felt a hand slide around his middle, he was pulled roughly backwards into a warm, sweaty body. "Hey there, honey, how much you chargin'?"

Something inside Cloud cringed, he turned his head and saw the man reflected in the mirror, he was tall and skinny with a shock of bright pink hair. His face was pockmarked and when he grinned it revealed teeth stained yellow. "I'm not a whore!" Cloud muttered vehemently, trying to slip free of the man's grip but he was held fast, he felt dirty fingers dig into his tight abdominal muscles and stinking breathe brushed his ear.

"In that case, you up for makin' a bit of Gil?"

Cloud pushed at the man's arm but he was surprisingly strong for one so thin, Infantry wages were bad but Cloud wasn't that desperate. "Get. Off. Of. Me!" He growled.

Reno peered in through the door to the restroom, a smirk graced his features as he watched Cloud struggle with the man. He chuckled softly to himself and took a picture on his PHS before folding it shut and putting his hands in his pockets, he slid through the bustling crowd of the bar as easily as if he were invisible, he was good at not being noticed. He moved silently up to the table where the two SOLDIER's sat deep in conversation and, before they had even registered his presence, he was already sat in Cloud's vacated seat. Zack blinked several times as he took note of Reno's sudden appearance, the Turk leaned casually back in his seat and smirked broadly, Sephiroth lifted his eyes to Reno before returning to staring around at the patrons with cool disinterest. "I got summit you might wanna know, yo." He said, his eyes glued to Zack who frowned curiously.

"What's that?"

Reno leaned forward and flipped open his PHS, he showed Zack the picture of Cloud in the unwanted embrace of the stranger. He watched in sick fascination as Zack's face twisted as several emotions flickered in those eerie blue eyes. "Bastard." He hissed and stood up, tipping his chair over backwards and moving for the toilet doors, Reno bounded to his feet and followed eagerly, he enjoyed trouble wherever it was to be found and this was a far more interesting diversion than his original mission. He missed Sephiroth stand and it wasn't until the imposing figure had passed him that he realised he had even moved, Reno's steps faltered, did he really want to involve himself in trouble if the general was involved? He paused before shrugging, no one had to know. He slid after the SOLDIER's as they went to rescue their pretty friend.

Cloud tensed as the fingers of the man slid beneath the hem of his t-shirt and began gliding over his muscles. He gritted his teeth at the feelings of rage and disgust that filled him, finally he broke one arm free of the man's embrace and abruptly sent his elbow straight into the man's gut. He gained a satisfying grunt in response as the man released him and doubled over in agony, Cloud turned on the spot and brought his knee up, smashing the man's face into a bloody mess and he keeled over backwards. "You liddle shit!" The man screamed, clutching at his broken nose as blood poured from between his fingers. He glared up at Cloud furiously, Cloud glared back. "You broke by dose!"

"You deserve it!" Cloud spat, turning his back on the man and moving to the basin to once more wash his hands, he would need a shower when he got back to ShinRa just to remove the vile scent of the man off of his skin.

"Don' you dare dalk back do me!" The man's voice was uncomfortably close and before Cloud could react he was pulled into a strangle hold, Cloud grabbed the man's arm and flung his full weight forward, the man behind him lost his balance and went tumbling over Cloud's back as if he were playing a dangerous form of leapfrog. He smashed into the mirrors, sending shards of sparkling silver flying everywhere, Cloud vaguely felt one of the shards hit his cheek but the pain barely even registered. The man lay beneath the row of sinks, moaning and clutching at his face. Cloud stared down at him coldly, his eyes glowing fiercely as if lit by a fire from within. Slowly his fingers found the knife he carried whilst out in the slums, he brought it out and stood above the man running his thumb over the blade, as if debating what to do.

Zack opened the door after hearing the loud crashing noise, he ran into the room and opened his mouth to speak but before he could he took in the scene before him. Cloud had the man pinned against the wall, a knife at his throat and his eyes...his eyes were glowing as if he had already entered SOLDIER. Zack's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water as Cloud pressed the blade against the man's jugular, he felt Sephiroth stand by his side and watch the scene quietly. "Don't lay your filthy hands on me again!" Cloud hissed and slammed the knife into the wall by the side of the man's head, he flinched and whimpered pathetically before Cloud allowed him to crumple to the floor. He stood over him for a moment, breathing heavily before turning around to find both Zack and Sephiroth gazing at him. Zack's eyes drifted down to the prone man who was apparently crying before returning to Cloud's face, Sephiroth appraised Cloud silently, head cocked to one side and beyond them Cloud spotted a flash of bright red hair. Cloud blinked at them both. "What?" He asked in surprise at seeing them there.

"It appears he is not as helpless as he first looks." Sephiroth mused softly and Cloud noticed for the first time that his arm was wreathed in green flame, it faded away and Sephiroth smiled. "You are an interesting boy, Cloud Strife."

"I...I thought you were in trouble?" Zack asked, gazing down in mild surprise at the bleeding man.

"What, because of this?" Cloud nudged the man with his boot, causing him to whimper again. A small smile touched his lips as he pulled his knife from the wall. "He's nothing but a pervert, I can handle a guy like that." It was the second time Zack had attempted to rush to Cloud's aid only to find that he had never needed it. It was strange, he had seen Cloud fail to restrain a fat, bloated old scientist and yet here he was having just beat a man to bloody pulp. He seemed to ooze vulnerability but now Zack was seeing, for the first time, a rather violent streak in him that he had never even considered being there, Cloud ran a hand through his spiky hair and looked down at the blood stained tiles. "I...I'm sorry...I just don't like people touching me without my permission."

"No! No it's cool, I'm just surprised." Zack replied, smiling as he looked back up at Cloud, he realised that his eyes were their usual icy blue and mentally shook himself. He must be imagining things.

"It appears that all is in hand, I shall return to ShinRa now, as should you two." Sephiroth said slowly, his eyes burning holes into Cloud. Reno leaned against the wall, his fingers dancing over the buttons of his PHS as he relayed everything to Tseng. He chewed some gum as Sephiroth glided past him, turning those odd green eyes onto him only briefly before seeming to dismiss him, but he paused before he drew too far away. "What do you know about the boy?" He asked in a soft whisper.

"Nothin', yo." Reno replied, chewing and still texting. "Ain't my place."

"No...I suppose not." Sephiroth moved away, Reno glanced up to watch him before returning to his text. Tseng seemed interested in what he had to say about the incident.

XXX

Cloud was surprised when he stepped out into the cool night time air, he felt the alcohol he had drunk hit him like a truck and he stumbled. He hadn't realised just how drunk he really was, he felt a strong arm slide around his waist and leaned into the warm body at his side, he giggled a little as Zack guided him out of Wall Market and towards the train station. Cloud stumbled as the world tilted dangerously, he felt Zack's grip on him tighten and he was held firmly, he looked up and came to halt, forcing Zack to do the same. "Why're you doin' this?" He muttered, blinking up at his friend curiously, a slight frown marring his forehead.

"Doing what?"

"Helpin' me, bein'...nice." Cloud responded, hiccoughing a little.

Zack shook his head, "Because that's what friends do, right?"

"Issit? Never had none." Cloud smirked and laughed softly as if this was hilarious. "Back home, i'm a bi' of a-a...weirdo."

"Oh? How come?"

Cloud's smile grew. "I got into loads of fights...I remember once...Tifa's Martial Arts Master had to stop me from killin' some kid...dunno why I hurt him so badly." Cloud blinked again, staring up at the plate before returning his eyes to Zack, they seemed to sparkle beneath the garish florescent lights around them. "Mother cried. Always cryin', she was...as if...as if she was worried. Why? I'm not that important...I'm...no one."

"She's your mother, she's going to get upset when you get hurt." Zack replied, shifting as Cloud leaned more weight on him, he wasn't sure he understood where this seemingly idle conversation was going and he didn't like the dark look in Cloud's normally bright eyes.

"Huh...yeah, Mother was always worryin'...hey, Zack?" Cloud gripped Zack's top tightly, standing on tip toe to bring their faces closer, his eyelids dropped and his smile changed. "Kiss me again." He whispered hoarsely, Zack stared mutely into those eyes and opened his mouth but his voice seemed to have deserted him. Cloud had never given him any indication that he was anything but straight.

"I...I think you need to go home and sleep off this alcohol." Cloud shook his head emphatically, they were stood in the middle of Wall Market, people were giving them a wide berth but no one seemed too bothered by their closeness.

"Nope. Don't need sleep...she'll come back if I sleep. Zack," He reached up, pushing fingers into Zack's spiky hair and slowly pulled himself closer, tipping his head to the side as a pleading, slightly desperate look entered his eyes. "I want...I want..." Cloud paused, biting his bottom lip before taking a deep breath and finally closing the distance between them. Zack felt his breath stop momentarily as Cloud's lips met his own, he felt them part and a hot, wet tongue slipped out to glide along his own bottom lip as if begging for entrance. He couldn't help himself, Cloud was literally throwing himself at him and Zack was fully aware that he wasn't a very strong man when it involved pretty people. He sighed and opened his mouth, his own hands rising to grip Cloud's hair as he did his, he turned Cloud around and shoved him roughly into the wall, earning a soft gasp in response. He easily dominated the kiss, enjoying the heat rushing through his body as Cloud pressed himself as close as it was possible to get and tugged on his hair in a way that sent chills down his spine. Zack mumbled something against Cloud's mouth and got a hum in response as he released those soft blond locks and slid his hands down to his hips, pushing his thumbs into the waist band of Cloud's casual trousers. "Ugh..." Cloud opened his eyes, they were clouded with lust and a pink flush resided on his cheeks. "Z-Zack I-" He began but his eyes widened as he gazed over Zack's shoulder.

"Woah, what we got here then, Rude? Looks like SOLDIER-boy has forgotten himself, yo." Reno's laugh was grating and Zack turned flashing eyes to him but the Turk stood there, utterly unafraid. "You're his superior, Zack-y, I wouldn't let Sephiroth or the Bosses catch you." He sniggered and began to walk away.

"It's none of your business, Turk!" Zack shouted after him angrily.

Reno looked back at him over his shoulder, his expression suddenly dangerous. "Everythin's my business, SOLDIER." He said darkly and moved on, his partner adjusted his glasses and gave Zack a prolonged look before following after him.

"Shit." Zack cursed and turned back to Cloud who was breathing heavily and blinking after the two Turks, he could see that his eyes were glazed from the amount of booze he'd drunk and he looked a little pale. He sighed, Reno was right, he shouldn't have taken advantage of Cloud's inebriated state but for some reason he couldn't help himself. "C'mon, let's get you back to the barracks."

"Huh?" Cloud turned to him and blinked again, he swayed drunkenly and leaned heavily against Zack, slowly his eyes began to fall closed and his head drooped. "Mmm...sleepy..." He whispered as his legs finally gave way and Zack was forced to catch him before he fell in the dirt.

XXX

It was a long time before Sephiroth finally fell asleep, he lay awake long into the early morning listening to that voice that had been with him all his life. It spoke of things, things which, as a child, he had barely comprehended, only now it was stronger. He heard it's soft laughter, it spoke to him with an almost loving caress in its tone, as if it knew him intimately and he did feel as if he were connected to it. He had always just assumed that it was the voice of his subconscious but when he had made the mistake of telling Hojo about it the man had forced him to stay in the labs for a month, only the war in Wutai prevented him from subjecting Sephiroth to more than a month. He had never spoken of it again, not even to Genesis or Angeal, despite the fact that out of everyone they would likely understand. He closed his eyes and sighed heavily as the darkness around him slowly began to turn lighter, the voice in his head spoke of great deeds, of murder and sacrifice and the end of days. He tuned it out, unable to listen to it any longer, that is until it spoke a name. His eyes snapped open and he gazed up at the dim ceiling of his one bedroomed apartment.

Cloud.

What about him?

Ha-ha...so now you listen? He is a special creature, isn't he? You know, you could have him.

'Have him'? Is an object to which I can bend to my every desire? No. I will not become like Hojo.

Ah yes, Hojo has been such a big help in our plans, little one. I think we should allow him to live just a little longer, he deserves to at least have a small chance of pursuing his ideas to the very end, don't you?

No one is going to die. What do you know about Cloud Strife?

Hee hee. Impatient to know more about him I see. Well, my sweet, he is a Puppet. He is your toy, moulded for you by others. If you say the words he is yours to do what you will, he has no will of his own, he has no existence outside of you.

Sephiroth fell silent, closing his eyes and breathing deeply. The voice was strange tonight, speaking in riddles as if it were Genesis. What did that even mean? Cloud had no existence outside of him? It made no sense and Sephiroth wished he could shut down the voice entirely, maybe then he would finally be able to get some sleep. His last thoughts, as he slowly drifted into unconsciousness, was of Cloud covered in blood, lifting a broken piece of metal in one hand and turning to look at him. He saw those eyes, a perfect replica of his own.

XXX

Another mission. Cloud trudged at the back of a line of his fellow infantry soldiers, he gazed around himself in awe. The cave glowed, it was an eerie green and made all the hairs on the back of his neck prickle. He walked and stared, just like the others. Orders were to retrieve some natural materia from the caves, Heidegger wanted it for some reason that was never disclosed. "Cool, isn't it?" The soft voice made Cloud look up to find Zack smiling at him, his eyes seeming to glow brighter in the green mako glow. He smiled and nodded.

"Yeah."

"I've only been here once but there's rumours that you can only cross that swamp outside on a Chocobo..."

"Glad we got a chopper in." Cloud replied, still entranced by the glowing walls. "Where is this Materia supposed to be?"

"Further in, Sephiroth's got the directions." Zack said, waving his arm towards the generals back. They moved forward in silence, Cloud's hands idly caressing his rifle as he stayed alert for monsters. It seemed that there were none around, likely they had sensed the large number of their party and so decided to stay away but you could never be too careful. He remembered the wolves back at his home town, how they would come slinking into the town during bitter winters in search of food, Cloud had watched from his bedroom window as people scattered in terror. Finally the company came to halt, Cloud looked ahead and saw Sephiroth standing before a deep pool of pure mako, it was the most beautiful thing Cloud had ever seen and he crept slowly forward for a better look. He found himself stood just a little behind the general who paid him no mind as he gazed across the lake to the island in the very centre. Cloud saw the shining ball of energy, such a powerful object encased in a tiny hard shell, small enough to clutch in ones hand.

Cloud moved closer curiously, gazing down at the still glowing pool of pure light, his feet touched the edge and he felt a hand grip his elbow, he looked up into Sephiroth's inscrutable face. "I would not advise falling in, cadet. Mako poisoning is not pleasant." Cloud thought he sounded as if he were speaking from experience but held his tongue and simply nodded.

"Sephiroth, how are we going to get that?" Zack asked, pointing a gloved hand at the island. Sephiroth said nothing as he stabbed his sword into the damp earth and stepped forward, his feet slid into the mako and Cloud gasped, along with several others. Before they knew it Sephiroth was stood in it up to his waist, he made no sound as he walked steadily towards the centre of the pool and climbed up onto its shore, Cloud heard a soft sigh escape the generals lips but wasn't certain if he had imagined it. Zack knelt by the pool and dipped his fingers into it, wincing only a little as he did so, his eyes seemed to glow suddenly brighter as he withdrew his hand and watched the odd, water-like substance drip back into the main body. "Hurts even through the gloves." He muttered, seemingly to himself. "Sephiroth, are you all right?" He called and Sephiroth turned, a smile gracing his face as he took hold of the materia.

"Of course, why would I not be?" Zack snorted and folded his arms across his chest but didn't rise to the bait.

"You gunna be able to get back?"

"I can jump." Sephiroth replied, his eyes moving to the pool, he seemed slightly reluctant to go back into it.

"Why doesn't it affect him?" Cloud asked no one in particular.

Zack shrugged. "SOLDIER are infused with Mako energy, you know that but it...it needs topping up frequently, we're basically submerged in it on a regular basis. We're used to it."

"Doesn't it hurt though?"

"Like a bitch." Zack grinned. Cloud returned his gaze to the general as he prepared to leap, everyone stepped back just as Sephiroth jumped but Cloud didn't move in time. The general's eyes widened as he realised what was about to happen and Cloud tried to get out of the way but his foot, precariously on the edge as it was, slipped from beneath him and he gasped as he lost his balance. "Oh fu-" He slid and fell with a splash into the pool. Zack tried to grab him before he fell, his fingers scraped the back of his uniform but he didn't make it in time.

"CLOUD!" He cried as he watched his friend go under. The men around him backed away as Sephiroth landed with perfect grace, he turned immediately and, with Zack at his side, plunged his hand into the mako. They fished around for a moment, sweat springing out on Zack's face until finally his burning fingers found something. Sephiroth uttered a soft curse, his eyes narrowed and glowing so fiercely it was hard to look into them. They were the exact same colour as the pool and walls. Finally Sephiroth too found something and together they pulled, Cloud came slithering out, a loud agonised cry escaping his lips as he was hauled roughly onto the cold stone. He curled into a fetal position and covered his head with his arms as he trembled violently. "Cloud?!" Zack fell to his side, brushing hair from his face and making sure he wasn't wounded. "Cloud, can you hear me? Hey, come on, it'll be all right." Slowly Cloud's dazed eyes opened, his breathing was laboured and Zack noticed the faint glow in his eyes.

"'m...f-fine..." He said softly, blinking a little as if trying to clear his head. Slowly he uncurled himself and tried to stand, Zack held him as his knees trembled and he fell back to the floor. "I...I..." he groaned and clutched at his stomach, eyes clamped tightly shut. "Oh...feel...sick..."

"Yeah, that'll happen." Zack said with a sigh as he turned and looked up at Sephiroth, he kept a hand on Cloud's shoulder. "What do we do?"

"We contact ShinRa, they can send the pick-up. When he's well enough we have to get him out of here and get him straight to the Medical facility." Sephiroth said, watching Cloud intently. "He should be dead." He muttered and turned away to issue orders. By the time the helicopter arrived Cloud was slipping in and out of conciousness, he had already vomited twice on the way out of the caves and he was struggling to hold himself up. His head hung low, his whole body giving off a faint glow as he stumbled by Zack's side. "Come on, not far now. You can do it Cloud. Just keep going, one foot in front of the other...that's it."

"Nng..." It was all Cloud could force past his numb lips, his head spun as if he were drunk and colours swirled past his vision. He heard snatches of conversation from his fellow infantrymen and Zack's careful encouragement. He slipped a little but Zack held him tightly, Cloud was forced to remember the last time he had been this close to his friend. The time neither of them acknowledged. He remembered Reno's reprimand and had decided not to drink, ever again. The alcohol had made him act like an idiot, he had lost all sense of propriety and could have lost Zack his job and potentially his life. It would not happen again. Ever. He stumbled again and when he looked up he almost screamed. Standing before him and wearing a stern, hurt expression was his mother. She looked as she had the day he had left home, her arms folded over her chest and wearing the same dress she had worn that day. Cloud halted, gazing with wide eyes at the figure of his mother, he watched as she moved her lips, she was saying something he couldn't quite hear. "Cloud? Cloud, come on man, we've got to get you to the chopper."

"He is hallucinating." Sephiroth said calmly as he walked at their side. "He needs medical attention." Zack and Sephiroth shared a knowing look, they both knew about those terrible hallucinations. They looked so real that one could barely distinguish it from reality. They were terrifying and played on your deepest insecurities, it was one of the worst side effects of the Mako enhancements.

"M—mother..." Cloud mumbled drunkenly, his hand rising as he reached out to touch the woman.

"Mother?! You are no son of mine! You are a complete failure, you never brought anything to this family but shame. I'm glad you never write, I never want to see your face again!"

"Ugh..." Cloud slipped out of Zack's grasp and fell to his knees, he blinked up at his mother as she glared at him with such hatred he felt his heart break. "'m...sorry..." He muttered sluggishly and lowered his head, covering his face in his hands. "Sorry..."

"She's right, Cloud. How could someone like me ever be interested in a pathetic, weak boy like you?"

"Tifa?" Cloud blinked as Tifa materialised from no where, somehow this bothered him far less than the disgust in her eyes.

"Cloud, stay with me! The other's have gone to meet the chopper and get a stretcher! Just...hold on! It's not real, any of it. You can make it through this." Cloud felt hands on his face and he was forced to look up into beautifully glowing blue eyes.

"Z-Zack...?" He managed to force words out of his numb mouth and blink very slowly.

"Yeah, it's me. Come on, they're nearly here."

"Nearly...here...?" Cloud frowned as he looked back at the two women. "...who...?"

"Cloud?"

"Huh?"

"Are you all right?"

"...Tifa..." Cloud hung his head as agony tore through him, a scream was wrenched helplessly from his lips as he fell forward. Zack caught him and held him as he felt burning waves wash through every nerve ending, his body flushed hot and cold and yet, through it all, it felt as if he knew this pain. It felt oddly familiar.

Ha-ha...

"M-Mother?" Cloud opened his eyes and stared blindly up at the cave roof, he could vaguely hear a familiar voice speaking to him but he could no longer make out words.

"Is he...asking for his mother?" Sephiroth asked, gazing down at Cloud's body as Zack supported it.

"Dunno, he's been saying that a lot...along with another name...Tifa?" Zack shrugged. "Must be people from his past...they got me too."

"Get him up, they're here." Zack nodded, his face full of concern as he gently hefted Cloud in his arms, he was a lot lighter than he looked. He followed Sephiroth towards the cave entrance and out onto the small patch of grass that surrounded it, there he saw the helicopter flown by Reno who was leaning against its side and watching them draw near.

"He fell into a Mako pool." Sephiroth said in answer to his raised eyebrow.

"Ouch, yo. How'd that happen?"

"Accident." Zack grunted as he climbed on board with the barely-concious Cloud. Reno snorted.

"Dumb blond." He climbed the helicopter with the ease of a cat and settled himself into the pilots seat. "Get comfy, we're takin' off in three, yo."