AN: Well, after all that happiness I thought i'd add a little angst because I'm mean. Enjoy.
Chapter Twelve: Heidegger and Hojo
Zack saluted as the Head of Public Safety entered the small office, he waddled over to his desk and sat down. He waited a few moments, leaning on his elbows and eyeing Zack before sighing heavily. "At ease." He said and Zack relaxed, his eyes moved to Sephiroth who hadn't acknowledged Heidegger's presence at all. He leaned against the wall with his arms folded. "I suspect you're wondering why you're here." Heidegger began, drawing Zack's gaze to him once again.
"You could say that...sir."
"Do you know this boy." Heidegger pushed a file towards him, Zack leaned over and stared at Cloud's picture, he flushed a little and tried to hide it. He failed. "Er...yeah, that's Cloud. Cloud Strife, sir. Why?"
"Can I ask you what you were doing with him at the restaurant the other day?"
"Sir?" Zack put on a frown of confusion. "That wasn't Cloud."
"Do you take me for a fool?!" Heidegger stood up abruptly, his large belly pushing the desk forward as he slammed his hands onto it. "That boy was wearing a dress and a wig! I demand an explanation!"
"That wasn't Cloud." Zack replied calmly. "It was his twin sister, Claudia."
Heidegger froze, his eyes widening and then narrowing rapidly. "Sister? It says nothing in his file about a sister."
"Dunno why that would be, he introduced us a while back." Zack rubbed at the back of his neck and smiled. "She's cute, huh?" Heidegger flushed, his hands curling into fists on his desk.
"If you are lying to me SOLDIER First Class Zack Fair..." He let the threat trail away and Zack met his gaze solidly.
"No sir, why would I lie?"
"Very well, bring me the infantryman and I will hear this from his own lips." Heidegger gazed down at the picture of Cloud and Zack assumed himself dismissed, he backed away and then turned for the door, Sephiroth followed.
"You would do well not to antagonise him." Sephiroth muttered as the door closed behind them.
"I'm not, I'm trying to protect Cloud." Zack said as they began making their way towards the barracks. "I've gotta tell him what I told Heidegger, he's got to back up my story."
"They will find out." Sephiroth lowered his voice, keeping stride with Zack as his eyes moved around the corridor. "What will you do when they do?"
"I dunno, I guess we'll have to hide it for as long as possible."
"Stop seeing him." Sephiroth said suddenly, coming to a halt and forcing Zack to do the same.
"What?! I can't do that!"
"Why not? He is nothing. He's an infantry soldier and you can do far better. It is not simply your safety on the line but his as well, if you wish to protect him then you must break this thing off before it kills you both."
"It won't kill me." Zack grinned and folded his arms across his chest. "I'm first class now, remember? It'd take a lot to take me down."
"It would take me." Sephiroth said smoothly and began walking again, Zack froze before following.
"Hey, what does that mean?"
"Who executes a First Class who has been proven to be disloyal?"
"Another first...ah..." Zack sighed heavily. "Like they sent us out to destroy Genesis and Angeal."
"Exactly."
"Damn. So...um...would you do it?" Zack eyed Sephiroth curiously as they entered an elevator.
"I would do so if ordered, I am the only one left who would be able to. However, I cannot say that it would bring me any joy."
Zack sighed and put his arms behind his head, he leaned against the wall as they began their descent. "Well, that's about as much of an admission that you like me as I'm gunna get, right?" Sephiroth merely smiled. "Geez, we're really in trouble now aren't we?"
"Only if Cloud cannot convince Heidegger that you were with his sister at this restaurant. Is he a good liar?"
"I dunno..." Zack straightened as the doors opened. "I guess we'll have to see."
XXX
Cloud slammed his opponent, which happened to be Johnny, to the mat. He lifted a hand and curled it into a fist but before he could move to finish him the trainer blew his whistle. Cloud looked up and sat back on his haunches, allowing Johnny to sit up and grumble. "Strife! You're wanted by Heidegger!" The trainer called and Cloud climbed to his feet.
"Sir?"
"These two are here to escort you." The man looked exceedingly uncomfortable as Sephiroth and Zack appeared at the door, he put a hand on Cloud's shoulder. "Whatever you've done I would be extremely careful." He whispered softly before patting Cloud's shoulder and letting him go.
As Cloud walked over to Zack he felt the eyes of his whole unit on him, it was a little like he was walking to his own funeral. "What's going on?" He muttered as he reached them, Zack put a hand on his arm and steered him out of the room.
"Heidegger recognised you from your file." He whispered. "He interrogated me about whether you were the one at the restaurant with me."
Cloud's heart stuttered in his chest, he turned huge eyes onto Zack and pulled himself free of his grip. "He knows?!" He whispered.
"Well, he thinks he does." Zack replied.
"B-But...I'm gunna die." Cloud stumbled into a wall and put his head in his hands. "This was stupid! We've been so stupid!"
"Listen, I've told him it was your twin sister." Zack said brightly. "Just carry on with that story and he'll let you go."
"My...twin...sister...Zack you idiot! I don't have a twin! I'm an only child!"
"Yeah, so? How's he gunna know?"
"Because I said so on my application!" Cloud said in a voice bordering on complete hysteria. "By the gods, Zack, I'm so done for!"
"Calm down!" Zack put both hands on his shoulders and looked into his terrified eyes.
Cloud yanked himself free and glared at him. "This is your fault." He hissed and turned away, hands clenched into fists as he stormed towards the elevator at the other end of the corridor.
"I'm...sorry..." Zack muttered dejectedly.
"He is quite right." Sephiroth mused, smiling a little as he followed Cloud. "This is your fault."
"Shut up." Zack snapped.
XXX
Cloud took a deep, slow breath as he stood before Heidegger's door. He felt Zack's eyes on him but refused to look as he knocked and waited. "Enter." Cloud stepped into the room and closed it firmly in Zack's face.
"Sir, you asked to see me." He said, saluting and standing rigidly, he stared ahead of himself, not daring to meet Heidegger's gaze.
"Ah, Strife." Heidegger said, eyeing the small infantryman warily. "I have asked for you to meet today because I have a question for you."
"Sir." Cloud nodded, still standing to attention.
"Zack Fair informed me that you have a sister and yet I see no evidence to suggest such a thing in your files."
"No sir. Y-you wouldn't, sir." He almost flinched as Heidegger stood.
"So, you are telling me that on the night I saw Zack Fair in the restaurant it was you who was with him?"
"Yes sir." Cloud breathed, his face heating a little. Heidegger was silent, watching Cloud intently through his small eyes.
"You wore a dress and a wig to disguise yourself?"
"Yes sir." Cloud's cheeks flushed.
"You went on a date with a superior officer?"
"No sir." He glanced quickly to see if Heidgger had bought it.
"Then why did you do it?"
"I...I've always wanted to go to that restaurant, sir and Zack took me...I...I wore the dress as a dare, sir."
"So you are not in a romantic or sexual relationship with First Class Zack Fair."
"No sir. That would be inappropriate, sir." Cloud looked at him again and saw Heidegger appraising him, he kept his arms hidden behind his back and tried not to squirm or give any other sign he was lying.
"Then why did Mr. Fair lie to me?"
"Because I was embarrassed that I was forced to wear a dress and lost the dare, sir. He was trying to spare me humiliation." "Well, that makes sense. It would be rather humiliating. Very well, Strife, I will let you off this once." A tightness in Cloud's chest slowly eased but he tried not to look too relieved. Heidegger stood up and moved to the door, he flicked the lock and began slowly circling Cloud like a wolf. "On one condition." He said softly.
"C-Condition...sir...?" Heidgger put a hand beneath Cloud's chin and forced him to look at him.
"You are extremely pretty...for a boy."
"S-Sir..."
"In exchange for me allowing Zack to go unpunished for lying to me I want a favour."
"F-favour, sir?" Cloud felt a lump form in his throat as Heidegger smiled, he put both hands on Cloud's shoulders and leaned close so that his lips brushed Cloud's ear. He whispered what he wanted and Cloud's eyes widened.
XXX
"They've been in there ages." Zack said, pacing up and down restlessly. "What are they talking about?"
"I don't know. Heidgger's door in sound proofed." Sephiroth replied, standing by the door mostly out of curiosity as to the outcome of the mess Zack had created.
"I can't take much more of this!" Zack groaned. The door opened at that moment and Cloud stepped out into the hall, his eyes swept Zack and then Sephiroth before he turned his back on them both.
"You're off the hook, Zack." He said stiffly. "There's not going to be any punishment."
"What?! That's great! How did you do it?"
"I told him the truth...well, most of it. I said the dress was a dare and you treated me to dinner. Is that ok? Can...can I go now...?" He wrapped both his arms around himself and hung his head.
"Uh...yeah..." Zack frowned, it was unusual for Cloud to ask permission from him for anything, let alone leaving.
"Thank you, sir." He muttered and walked away.
"What happened in there?" Zack mused.
"I believe that Heidgger got what he truly wanted in the end." Sephiroth said softly. "It's not the first time and it won't be the last."
"What?" Zack's eyes narrowed and his sparkled dangerously.
"You are very naive, Zack. Have you ever noticed that cadets continue to leave ShinRa on a surprisingly regular basis?"
"I thought it was because they couldn't hack it." Zack admitted. Sephiroth shook his head.
"Think back, what did they all look like?"
"They were all...pretty..." Zack swore under his breath and anger clouded his expression. "He did something to him?! Is that what you're saying?"
"Zack, do not do anything rash!" Sephiroth said and grabbed Zack's arm in one of his hands, squeezing tightly to get his attention. "Attack him and I will kill you. It is my duty to protect him, do you understand?"
"Y-Yes...sorry..." Zack winced and Sephiroth released him with a nod.
"I would go see your lover, he will be quite upset by events." Sephiroth turned away and swept off, his coat flying out behind him like big black wings. Zack took a moment to rub his arm where Sephiroth had grabbed him but finally he sighed and walked away from Heidegger's door, he still wasn't entirely sure if he wasn't going to lose control and beat the fat man to a bloody pulp, despite Sephiroth's warning.
XXX
Sephiroth stood at the doors to the upper floor canteen. His eyes scanned the patrons and landed upon a small group of dark suited people, two women and three men. He strode towards them, sweeping past several people before they even realised he was there. Eyes followed his progress and quickly darted away again as if they feared to meet his gaze. Finally he stopped at their table. "Tha's cruel, Rude man!" Reno said loudly, laughing as he leaned back in his chair. He put his shoes on the table and sipped his coffee.
"I explained to him that he was-" Rude fell silent the second he noticed Sephiroth and then all the others did too.
"Ah, I knew we'd have someone come an' ruin our fun, yo." Reno said with a heavy sigh, he let his chair fall forwards with a sharp bang and slowly got to his feet, Rude followed suit and cracked his knuckles. Sephiroth smiled.
"Sephiroth, what do you want?" Tseng asked, holding out his hand to stop his Turks from moving forward as Reno looked as if he was about to do.
"A word." Sephiroth said calmly, eyes flicking to the gathered Turks, taking in each one. Cissnei smiled politely at him, her counterpart, a small blond woman merely frowned while Reno and Rude stood a step behind Tseng, ready in case tensions increased. Sephiroth's mind raced ahead of him as he worked out how he would disable each and every one of them, he smiled to himself. "If you would be so kind."
"Hey, you can' order us around!" Reno snapped, his hand dropping to his belt. Tseng grabbed his wrist firmly and gave him a warning look before releasing him.
"We can talk in the hall." Tseng said and walked away, motioning for his fellows to remain behind, they did so reluctantly. "I apologise for them, we've been having a few...issues in our department and they have difficulty trusting anyone from SOLDIER at the moment."
"Understandable. I have heard the rumours." They both came to a halt just outside the doors, Sephiroth looked around. "Perhaps somewhere more private would be more suitable, what I have to discuss is of a..." He paused as he considered how to phrase his words. "Sensitive nature." He finished and Tseng looked at him for a long time in silence.
"This would be more suited for Veld's ears." he said in a low voice.
"I would not wish to bother your boss with something as trivial as this." Sephiroth replied.
"Trivial? Then why come to us at all?"
"I was certain you would wish to gain some important information on a common enemy."
"Common enemy..." Tseng repeated slowly before abruptly turning around and leading Sephiroth down the hall. "I know a room. There are no security cameras as it is little more than a store room for the cleaning bots, but it is private."
"Excellent." They fell into step with each other, people moved as far out of their way as possible as they walked and Sephiroth found it highly amusing. Finally Tseng stopped before a plain metal door, he lifted his key card and slid it through the slot. Sephiroth knew that that card gave him access to every inch of ShinRa HQ, even areas he himself was barred from. They entered the small, dimly lit room and the door slid shut behind them. Tseng turned around and waited expectantly. "Heidegger." Sephiroth said slowly.
"What of him?"
"I heard that you recently had a little trouble with him."
Tseng smiled blandly, his face giving nothing away. "And where did you hear that?"
"A friend of a friend." Sephiroth answered cryptically. "I wondered if you have cameras in his office?"
"Why?"
"Because there is certain footage of him engaging in inappropriate activities with a young infantry solider."
Tseng's lips parted slightly, Sephiroth assumed that that was about as surprised as he ever got. "How long ago?" He asked quickly.
"About an hour."
"I see. And why are you giving me this information?"
"Because I want it used to prevent him touching that soldier ever again." Sephiroth said softly but his tone was dark, he allowed a little anger into his voice and Tseng's eyes narrowed as his body tensed. Was it fear? Or was it merely a simple reaction to someone exhibiting anger? Sephiroth smiled benignly, taking the edge off of his words.
"A common enemy indeed." Tseng said quietly and turned to look blindly at the cleaning robots. "I understand what you want, give me time and I may be able to do it."
"You will?"
"Of course. Anything to bring Heidegger down a peg or two. Shall we say that he has...incurred the wrath of the Turks." Tseng's smile was a little twisted as he spoke and he brought his hand up, spreading his fingers in a half shrug. "Junon was a disaster and he must pay."
"I thought we could agree on this."
"I will see what I can do. Reno will enjoy it, I'm sure. Now I must return before they start wondering if you've murdered me." Tseng walked to the door and left, Sephiroth followed. They parted in silence.
XXX
"Hey, Cloud! Open up!" Zack banged on the door to Cloud's dorm room for the fifth time, he sighed and rested his head against it. "Come on, let me in! Just...talk to me, please!" The door opened so suddenly Zack nearly fell through it, he righted himself and looked up to see Johnny standing there with his arms folded across his chest.
"He doesn't want to see you." He said coolly.
"I know but I have to talk to him! Please!" Zack said desperately.
"Sir, I know this is awkward but Cloud's..." Johnny paused and glanced back into the room. "He's not himself." He said and lowered his voice. "It's weird, he won't even talk to me."
"I know what happened. Cloud! Cloud, please just talk to me! Let me apologise!"
"Go away!" Cloud's voice was muffled as if he had his face pressed into his pillow.
"He's been puking on and off for a while now...he's not eaten anything either." Johnny said quietly. "I don't know what's got into him."
Zack clenched his hands into fists and straightened his back. "Cloud Strife, get out here now!" He ordered in his best impression of Angeal, from when he ordered him around.
Cloud was out the door in a second, hand already rising in an automatic salute. "Sir!" He said and Zack grinned triumphantly. Before Cloud could do anything to prevent him Zack grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the room, he tugged him none too gently down the hall until they were a little distance away from the main dorms. When they came to a halt Cloud ripped his arm free, giving Zack a furious glare. "What do you want?!" He hissed, backing away a few paces and wrapping his arms around himself in a protective gesture. "I did it! I got us off the hook! What more do you want from me?!" He said desperately.
"I just want to know what happened! What did he do to you?" Zack said, lowering his voice and looking Cloud over carefully. He was pale and looked slightly clammy and his eyes were dark.
"You want to know? Really? Zack, if I told you you'd go back there and kill him! I'm not going to do that. I won't be responsible for your death!"
"Sephiroth said pretty much the same thing." Zack said darkly, eyes glowing a little brighter as his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "What did he do?" He demanded. Cloud gazed at him for a long moment in silence before taking a deep breath.
"He didn't do anything much." He said weakly, lowering his head in shame as his cheeks heated and he began to shake a little. "He said he'd let you off if...if I...if I did him a favour." He whispered. "I-I...I'm sorry...I didn't have a choice! He would have had you executed! Please, you have to understand why I did it!"
"Cloud? What did you do?" Zack said, forcing himself to keep his voice even, despite the urge to shout at him and shake him.
"I...I gave him...a-a..." Cloud's face went pale and he put a hand to his mouth as if he were about to be sick. "I gave him a blow job." He muttered, closing his eyes and turning his head away. "It was the only way. H-he offered me...a-a promotion...into S-SOLDIER i-if I...if I d-did it again."
Zack froze. His eyes were wide and his lips parted in shock. "What...what did you do?" He asked quietly.
This time Cloud looked up at him, his eyes burning with pride. "I refused." He said firmly. "If I don't get in on my own merit then there's no point to any of this. How could I ever put on the uniform with any ounce of pride if I got into SOLDIER by giving myself to Heidegger? It's wrong. I won't lower myself that much."
Zack relaxed slowly and sighed. "I'm sorry. This is all my fault." He muttered, leaning against the wall of the corridor.
"Yeah, it kinda is." Cloud replied but he backed away when Zack tried to embrace him. "No. Not anymore. It's too dangerous...I'm sorry." He walked away, his head down and didn't look back up again. Zack watched him return to his dorms and felt suddenly empty, as if his very soul had gone with Cloud.
XXX
Zack found it increasingly odd that Heidegger was absent from a vast majority of SOLDIER-orientated events for the next few days. Whenever he asked Sephiroth about it he would only get a self satisfied smirk in response. The Turks too looked inordinately happy, they went about talking loudly, smiles evident on their faces and laughter in their eyes whenever Heidegger was brought up by someone. Zack found it odd but his curiosity was dimmed by the fact that Cloud hadn't even contacted him since they had spoken outside the cadets' dorms. One day he managed to corner Cissnei as she was walking to the executive elevators, he smiled and she returned it as she spotted him. "Zack, how are you?"
"I'm good." Zack said, walking towards her and stopping. "Hey, I've wondered if you know why Heidgger's been acting weird recently." He said abruptly and saw her smile widen with pure joy.
"Oh, he's probably nursing his hurt pride." She said and giggled lightly. "A man who has secrets as big as his should be more wary."
"That's cryptic." Zack muttered, pouting a little at the lack of information. Laughter prevented him from asking more questions, he looked over Cissnei's shoulder and spotted Reno with Rude coming towards them.
"Cissnei, what're you doin' chattin' here?" Reno asked as he came to a halt before Zack, his EMR tapping his shoulder lightly.
"I was talking to Zack." Cissnei said with a smile.
Reno smirked as he eyed Zack, he moved forward and began slowly circling him like a wolf stalking its prey. "I saw your boyfriend with Heidegger, yo. He's a bit of whore, wouldn't mind a go on him myself." He laughed as Zack's anger overrode his sense, and he grabbed Reno by the throat, slamming him roughly against the wall.
"Shut your mouth, Turk!" He growled furiously.
"He sucked Heidegger off, yo! I saw the whole damned thing!" Reno laughed, pushing Zack's arm away as it pressed against his neck. "He's got a cute mouth, is he really that good?"
"I said. Shut. Up." Zack's eyes glowed fiercely as jealousy and anger pounded through his veins.
"Reno! Stop taunting him!" Cissnei said, "Zack, let him go. There's no point in fighting." She tugged ineffectually at Zack's arm and Rude stepped forward, grabbed Zack around the neck with one arm and flung him backwards into the wall opposite. Zack hit it and his hand went for his sword, his fingers wrapping around the hilt. Reno stepped forward and pressed the button on his EMR, causing little bolts of electricity to course over its surface. He pointed it threateningly at Zack as he used his free hand to rub his throat. "Reno!" Cissnei said again angrily. "SOLDIER should stick to followin' orders like the dogs they are, yo." Reno said quietly. "Messin' with us will get ya killed."
"Killed?" Zack laughed, a low, dangerous sound that made Cissnei shift uneasily. "I'm no dog, Turk. That title belongs to you."
"Puppy then, wasn' it?" Reno turned and raised an eyebrow at Cissnei, she didn't answer. "Tha's what I heard your mentor called you. Puppies have sharp little teeth bu' can' do much damage yo." Reno crouched down so he was on Zack's level, a smirk played about his lips. "Fuck with us, Puppy, an' you'll see the dark side of the Turks, ya get me?"
"You started this!" Zack snapped back, leaping to his feet and reaching behind him to grab his sword again. "Do you want to finish it?"
Reno stepped back, giving himself room, the smile never leaving his face as his eyes lit up in excitement. "Tha' a challenge?" He asked gleefully. "Never fought a SOLDIER First before, yo. Could be interestin'."
"Reno, please, this is insane! What if Veld finds out?"
"What he don't know aint gunna hurt him." Reno slashed his EMR through the air experimentally. "Rude?"
"..." Rude cracked his knuckles, wearing a grim smile.
"Tha's my partner." Reno laughed but before he could make any sort of move a shout brought him up short.
"Reno! Rude! Cissnei! What is going on here? You were expected up in the Presidents office ten minutes ago!" Tseng appeared around the corner, watching the scene through narrowed eyes. "Zack, please release your weapon, there will be no fight."
Reno's smile fell and he sighed. "Jus' when I thought my day would get interestin', yo. Ah well, guess I got no choice now." He retracted his weapon and stuck it back in the holster on his belt.
Rude relaxed his threatening pose and Tseng nodded. "Go." He said and the Turks walked away but not before Reno leaned in to hiss in Zack ear.
"You better watch that boyfriend of yours, yo. He's caught my eye, an' I always get my prize." He chuckled and stuck both hands in his pockets before striding off, followed by a silent Rude and an apologetic Cissnei. Tseng watched them enter the elevator before sighing heavily. "I apologise for their misconduct." He said stiffly. "They're...tense. Zack?" He frowned as he realised Zack wasn't listening but frowning after the Turks.
"Huh? Oh sorry. I've gotta go, see you around." Zack walked away, leaving Tseng gazing after him in surprise.
XXX
The mess hall was busy, full of infantry eating and talking. Zack entered and looked around, searching for that head of spiky blond hair. He found Cloud sat beside Johnny but on his other side was a red haired Turk. Zack's hands tensed, curling into fists at his sides as anger flooded his system. Reno was leaning back in his seat, laughter on his lips and eyes glued to Cloud who was laughing with him. It wasn't the first time Zack had seen them together, since Reno's threat he had been with Cloud every time Zack had attempted to corner him to talk. Reno seemed to sense his burning gaze and looked up, a smirk crossed his face, his eyes narrowed deviously as he lifted a hand and touched Cloud's. Cloud said something and Reno nodded, replying and leaning forward intimately. Zack turned on his heel and left the hall.
"Zack, are you paying attention?" Sephiroth's voice seemed to come from far away and Zack blinked, he looked up to find all eyes on him. They were now in a meeting, they were discussing the recent rise in skirmishes from dissatisfied remnants of the Wutai war. These people were causing small issues throughout the world, although compared to AVALANCHE they were pretty minor the President was nervous about the amount of support they were receiving from the people.
"Oh...oh yeah...sorry." Zack said and slumped in his seat as people began to talk again. He sighed to himself and thought back on the previous nights dream. He closed his eyes against the urge to slam his fist into the table, he had to control himself. All he could see were Dream-Cloud's eyes as he had called Reno's name in ecstasy. That pretty blush on his cheeks, his back arched as Reno's mouth moved over his chest. Zack shook his head quickly, dislodging the dream and all the emotion it brought with it. He set his mind back on the meeting. Cloud was ignoring all of Zack's messages. He refused to answer his calls and he was actively avoiding him whenever possible. Slowly Zack was beginning to realise just how deeply he felt for him, it was like Cloud had taken his heart with him and it hurt like nothing else ever had. He understood why Cloud was doing it but Zack didn't care anymore. He wanted him. Cloud had somehow got under his skin in a way no one else ever had, his small, slightly shy smile, his big blue eyes and soft laugh. It made Zack feel happy and scared all at once and the feeling was utterly fantastic. It was becoming exceedingly difficult for Zack to stop himself from going down to the barracks and forcing Cloud to confront him, he knew Cloud well enough to know that that would not be well received. What was worse was that Sephiroth seemed to be able to talk to Cloud. They would sometimes be seen together in the hall ways, Zack wasn't sure what was said between them but the worshipful look Cloud kept giving Sephiroth made his insides burn. Cloud had been obsessed with Sephiroth, he was the sole reason he had come to Midgar in the first place. He was even a part of the Silver Elite fan club. It was stupid, Sephiroth had warned Zack off of having a relationship with Cloud, why would he go against his own words? The question didn't ease Zack's jealousy however, especially not when he began to see something in Sephiroth's eyes when he happened to look at the tiny blond. It was impossible. Surely, Sephiroth would never have any interest in a mere infantry soldier? That night Zack went to sleep with Cloud on his mind, as he did every night. Cloud was against the wall, his hair slicked with sweat, he was gasping and panting and writhing. But it wasn't Zack that was causing this reaction. It was Reno. It was Sephiroth.
Zack woke with gasp, eyes wide as he stared up at the dark ceiling of his one bedroomed apartment. He groaned and scrubbed at his face, he squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. "Angeal...I need help." He whispered softly into the night. His prayer went unanswered.
XXX
"Sephiroth if you are not going to assist me then I shall be forced to sedate you." Sephiroth lifted his eyes to Hojo, they were glowing almost too brightly to look into. His pale skin was bathed in sweat and he felt physically sick which was very rare in normal circumstances. He leaned heavily against the wall, silver hair falling untidily into his face. He wore nothing but his leather trousers as his coat had been tossed over the open door.
"I...I will not allow you to do any more testing." He whispered hoarsely.
"I have one more test to do before I am done, you will sit here until I am finished." Hojo replied irritably. He lifted a needle to the light, a frown creasing his forehead as he pushed the plunger to expel any air. Sephiroth eyed the strange black substance as it was lowered and the tip of the needle pressed into the crook of his arm. "Your body is truly remarkable." He muttered absently as the contents of the syringe were emptied into Sephiroth's veins.
"Whatever. Are we done?" Sephiroth replied, slipping further down the wall as exhaustion and weakness filled his entire body. His muscles ached. His limbs felt shaky and his breathing was sharp in his chest. He swallowed bile as it rose into his throat and closed his eyes.
"No. I must observe you for at least two hours." Hojo replied shortly, lifting a clipboard and scribbling something down. "Now, sit here like a good boy while I go and-" He turned as he spoke and was brought up short when he saw a blond infantry soldier standing in the door way. "Excuse me? Is there a reason you are interrupting my work?"
"C-Cloud?" Sephiroth opened his eyes. He lifted an arm and Cloud walked straight to him, his head bowed and seemingly utterly unaware of Hojo's presence.
"What-" Hojo gasped, eyes widening behind his glasses as excitement burst in his chest. He turned and left the two alone, moving as quickly as he could towards the observation room. He slammed the door open and turned to the assistant at the desk. "Write up everything you are witnessing! Do not miss a thing! This is...this is the biggest breakthrough we have had in the Jenova project since Sephiroth's birth!"
"S-sir, of course!" The woman grabbed a pad of paper and took to writing everything down. Hojo grinned, a smile so wide it seemed to reach off of his face.
Sephiroth felt a little delirious. He had no idea why Cloud was there, he had only been thinking of him as Hojo had completed his tests, a vain attempt to take his mind off of the agony sweeping through his body. He sat up and reached out to Cloud, cupping his chin and lifting his head so that their eyes met. Cloud's lips were slightly parted, his eyes a bright acidic green beneath the slightly lowered lids. "Sephiroth...called..." He breathed, the sound barley passing his lips.
"I...called?" Sephiroth frowned, confusion adding to his muddled state of mind. Cloud nodded and continued to stare at him. His thumb rose to caress Cloud's bottom lip, the action almost tender. Cloud shivered, his fingers twitching a little but he made no other movement. He looked as lifeless as a doll, his soft hair falling into his eyes and limbs pliant. A puppet. A small, beautiful, perfect little puppet. Sephiroth leaned forward, pain twinging through his abdomen as he pressed his lips to Cloud's, continuing to hold him still with a hand under his chin. Cloud responded slowly, as if waking from a dream. A soft, desperate moan escaped his lips and Sephiroth pushed his tongue into his mouth. He wasn't entirely in control of his body, it was as if his brain had decided to short circuit and give control over to his heavy heart. He lifted a free hand and slid it down Cloud's back, dragging him closer. When he pulled away and once again looked blearily into those strange eyes he realised that he could order Cloud to do anything and his orders would be carried out with no questions asked. He could order Cloud to his knees, order him to undo his fly and use that tongue to- Sephiroth cut off that thought abruptly. He pushed the blond away from him and shook his head. "Get out." He whispered as he slumped once again against the wall, pushing one hand into his hair and closing his eyes. He heard Cloud's footsteps retreat and the door swing nearly closed behind him.
Cloud was at the elevator when he blinked and abruptly came back to himself. He stared at his raised hand as his finger pressed against the down button. Slowly he began to tremble and slowly turned to gaze back down the corridor. Terror swept through him as he realised he had no idea how he had got there. The hall was brightly lit and the doors leading off were occasionally opened as white clad scientists and assistants wondered too and fro. He leaned against the wall as his knees threatened to give way beneath him, sweat sprang out on his skin and he lifted a hand to wipe it away. His memory of the last half hour was gone. Utterly blank. It had been happening more and more frequently and it terrified him beyond reason. Finally, after taking a moment to collect himself, he straightened and slammed the elevator button. He had to get out of there. He had to leave and get somewhere safe so that he could forget all it. The lift doors opened onto the lower floor and Cloud stepped out, he was feeling much calmer now he was no longer in the science department. He took a slow breath and steadied his beating heart before exiting the elevator and making his way towards the infantry training rooms, he had drills to do and was going to be late. He picked up his pace and almost walked straight into a solid body. He stepped back. "Sorry." He said and looked up.
"Cloud!" Zack said and grinned.
"Z-Zack..." Cloud glanced around but there was no one else in the corridor. "Look, I'm late for-"
"I've been meaning to talk to you, come here." Zack grabbed Cloud's hand and dragged him into a nearby empty office. He turned and closed the door before lowering his head and sighing. "I'm sorry." He said quietly.
"For what?" Cloud replied.
"For...everything. I fucked up. I know I did...geeze, this is harder than I thought it would be." He sighed and turned around to look at Cloud, his eyes moving over him slowly. "Are you all right? You look sick."
"I'm fine. What do you want?"
"I...I just..." Zack paused and shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck as he stared off to the side with a frown. "I shouldn't have been so forceful with you. I scared you off, I know that."
"You didn't do anything." Cloud said in a whisper, he took two steps closer nervously. "I did what I did to keep you safe...I wasn't given a choice but I wouldn't change it."
"You don't need to keep me safe, especially not by doing that kind of stuff." Zack replied."Look, I want-"
Cloud cut him off with a firm shake of his head. "No." He said, a flicker of pain passing through his eyes.
"You haven't even heard what I was gunna say!"
"You want to continue with our...relationship. We can't. It's over Zack." Cloud's hands clenched into fists as he strode to the door, head dropping so that his scarf covered his mouth. He stared at his feet as he pushed open the door with one hand but froze when the other was caught by Zack and he was turned around. Zack pinned him against the door, slamming it shut as he grabbed Cloud's shoulders and held him there.
"You don't understand! You can't leave!"
"Why?" Cloud tensed, gazing up into Zack's desperate, pleading face.
"Because I love you!" He blurted. There was a moment of utter silence.
Cloud's lips parted and his eyes slowly widened in surprise. A blush crept to his cheeks as he began to shake his head. "N-no..." He breathed. "Don't say that!" He pulled himself out of Zack's grasp and turned around, one hand clenching on the door handle as he pressed his forehead into it. He closed his eyes against the pain that erupted in his chest. "You have no right to say that to me! How could you?"
"What?" Zack blinked at the sudden anger in Cloud's voice.
"Don't lie to me like that! It's...it's so cruel!"
"Lie?" Zack laughed and took hold of Cloud's shoulders, he turned him around and forced him to meet his firm gaze. "I'm not lying. Cloud, I really do love you." Cloud's eyes scanned Zack's face rapidly, they narrowed a little and he lifted his hands to push against Zack's chest but he was unyielding.
"Don't." He whispered hoarsely. "Please." he pressed his forehead against Zack's chest and squeezed his eyes shut as his fingers tangled in his unform. "Don't say that if you don't mean it."
"I just said I meant it. Cloud, look at me." He put a hand under Cloud's chin so that their eyes met. He leaned down and pressed their lips together. "I don't lie to people I care about." He breathed against Cloud's mouth. "I'd never lie to you."
"Z-Zack..." Cloud trembled a little before he took a breath and slowly began to relax. "You...you mean it?"
"Yeah. I do."
"Then...then kiss me. I...I missed you." Cloud's voice cracked a little and Zack gladly claimed his lips once again, this time he pushed his tongue gently into Cloud's open mouth and smiled as Cloud's arms surrounded his waist and pulled their bodies closer together.