Once More, With Feeling

by Illusor Meaneld

If you could start your life over, knowing how things could turn out, what would you do differently? Cloud is offered this chance, and tries to change the future, but he quickly discovers that fate and destiny play a high stakes game.

17. Infinite in Mystery

Once More, With Feeling... – Chapter 17: Infinite in Mystery

Summary: Cloud and Reno get better acquainted, Cloud runs into an all-too familiar face, and Genesis finally returns from his long mission.

Author: Illusor Meaneld

Rated T: for Descriptive violence and injuries, No Adult Situations, No Cussing.

Disclaimer: I did not create, and do not own the characters from Final Fantasy 7, They are owned by Square-Enix, and I am simply borrowing them for my own (and hopefully your) enjoyment.

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Cloud had to blink several times at his 'superior officer' Turk. Tseng looked SO different than Cloud had remembered, his face was young, the long, loose hair that had distinguished the intensely loyal figure was tied back into a high, short pony-tail. His eyes did not hold quite the same dark knowledge that his older self always hinted at, the sadness was not nearly so deep. But the stance was the same, upright and perfectly postured, his feet evenly spaced and weight neatly distributed, ready for instantaneous action at the slightest provocation. Once finished with his assessment of the man before him, Cloud remembered himself and snapped his own polished shoes in tighter, giving Tseng the standard Military Salute of a SOLDIER Prep. Cadet,

"Private Cloud Strife, Reporting for Duty, Sir." He snapped his arm smartly back to his side and stood at rigid attention.

Reno started to laugh, "This is the TURKS Yo! Loosen up a bit!" Cloud, of course, ignored him.

"At ease" Tseng said smoothly, giving no indication of what he thought about Cloud's reaction. Cloud smoothly spread his stance and folded his arms behind his back.

"He said ease up!" Reno snickered, giving Cloud a rough shove, but the stance Cloud had taken had good balance, Cloud did not stumble but he did raise one eyebrow at Tseng to confirm Reno's claim.

"The Turks do not have to be quite that formal amongst our own." Tseng murmured, Cloud allowed himself to relax his stance completely; Reno rebelliously slung an arm over Cloud's shoulder to drag him further from any possible 'stance'.

The next little while consisted of Tseng explaining the rules and regulations of the Turk organization. It was a topic that was quite familiar to Cloud, but he managed to keep himself raptly attentive to his superior regardless. It actually wasn't as hard to stay focused as he might have thought, thinking about the rules when considering that they applied to HIM was different than researching a possible enemy. Having finished the initial explanations, Tseng leveled an intense gaze on Cloud, who managed not to flinch.

"Being a Turk, however, does not mean you always get Missions or interesting assignments." The Turk explained slowly, "It also means you do anything you're ordered to. Up to and including playing Courier to the rest of Shinra." Reno chuckled softly behind Cloud, as Tseng walked forward with a stack of folders, "These need to be taken to the Science Department, you are not to return until they have been properly signed."

Cloud accepted the stack with both arms, adjusting his position to balance the pile. "Sir, Yes Sir." He barked softly, Tseng raised an eyebrow,

"Call me Tseng, Cloud. You have too many other people who will require the formalities."

Reno laughed, "C'mon Cloud! You getta play delivery boy! I'll show ya the ropes!"

With a nod to Tseng, Cloud turned, quickly adjusting his balance again when Reno draped himself across the blonde's shoulders. The two of them walked out the door, Reno grinning and chuckling until they were out of earshot of Tseng's office.

"This is gonna be so much fun yo! I've been waitin' forever for a partner! We're gonna be the best duo ever!"

Cloud couldn't help but chuckle, "I'm just an Intern Reno! I'm not a real Turk."

The red-head snorted, "Don' listen to that crap yo! An Intern's as good as Turk."

"I dunno about that one…" Cloud said slowly, Reno was so excited, he felt kinda bad letting him down.

"Naw, it's totally how it works, If ya've made Intern, ya've made Turks! I interned with Rude yo, and lookit me now!"

"But… I…"

"It's what you wanted right Cloud?"

"Actually… I'm in SOLDIER Prep." Cloud muttered sheepishly, Reno froze, his arm halting Cloud's progress,

"WHAT? You can't be a SOLDIER yo! You gotta be a Turk! We're Partners!!"

"I picked SOLDIER for a reason Reno!"

"Don' Care! I'm gonna make you the best Turk ever! You're never gonna leave!"

"Reno! … I've got to be in SOLDIER!" Cloud tried to explain, attempting to suppress the stabbing guilt at Reno's forlorn face.

"Nuff of that stuff, we're not talkin' 'bout that." Reno snorted determinedly, "You're a Turk at the momen' and that's what's important!" Cloud sighed and shook his head, when he glanced back up Reno was eyeing his hair with a strangely mischievous expression.

"What?" Cloud couldn't help it, instantly wary at the grin that sprang up on his partner's face,

"First let's get you presentable yo!" Without warning Reno whipped a comb from his pocket and attacked the blonde locks, Cloud yelped, but unless he dropped the folders in his arms there was nothing he could do!

"GETTOFF!!" He cried, but the older boy had a firm hold on Cloud's spiky hair and just chuckled as he mercilessly combed them back. Not stopping until he'd slicked most of it into a short ponytail.

"See? Now that looks much better!" Reno produced a mirror from his pocket to prove his point. Cloud's unruly hair still spiked around his face a bit, but not nearly as much as Reno's odd haircut. He leveled a glare at the gleeful teen.

With a sudden flash of inspiration Cloud strode hastily down the hallway until he found a bench against the wall, dropping his papers on the flat surface he whirled on Reno.

"How about a trade!" Cloud snickered; his hands went to work in a flurry of activity, ignoring Reno's indignant yelps. Buttons were buttoned, the shirt properly tucked, Reno's tie was whipped from his pocket and wrapped firmly and expertly around his neck, despite the red-head's frantic attempts to halt Cloud's attack, the suit was neatly dusted and buttoned before Reno could do more than cry out in horror.

"What is WRONG with you YO?" Reno recoiled, yanking at the tie and collar with both hands, obviously he had no clue how to remove one that had been properly tied. "You tryin' to suffocate me?"

Cloud grinned broadly, "If I have to tie my hair back, you get to wear your suit right."

"I HATE your compromises! That's just not fair!"

"Take it or leave it." Cloud turned with a shrug, picking up his papers once more and continuing down the hall. Listening with one ear to Reno's curses and struggles with his shirt collar.

"I can't breath in this thing!" Reno whined, Cloud seriously doubted that Reno was having any problems whatsoever judging by the volume of his complaints. Cloud continued walking for most of the distance while Reno grumbled behind him, until the red-head finally quieted and jogged to catch up.

"I'll make you a deal, … I'll wear the suit if we can be best buds forever!"

Cloud laughed, "We already had a trade! … we-" But Cloud never got to finish his argument, as a strangled cry sounded from a just opened door, and Cloud looked up just in time to see Zack sweep him into a crushing hug,

"NOOO!!! You can't be a Turk Cloud! You're supposed to be MY best bud!"

"No way yo! Cloud is mine!" Reno snapped back with a smirk,

"It's JUST an INTERNSHIP!" Cloud yelped hastily, pushing away from Zack and struggling to keep his papers out of harm's way,

"No way!" Zack shot back at the red-head with a glare, huggling Cloud closer and more possessively, "Cloud was mine first!"

"He just promised to be MY best bud!" Reno snorted,

"DID NOT!" Cloud barked hastily at the sudden wounded look on Zack's face,

"That's right," Zack said calming slightly, "Cloud is MY friend!"

"We're Partners Yo! That means 'Best Buds' Forever!" the red-head sneered,

"He's gonna be MY Partner!" Zack childishly stuck his tongue out at the other teen,

"ZAAACK!!" Cloud sighed, "I gotta deliver these papers! I'm on a MISSION!!!... Remember your PROMISE Zack?"

Flushing sheepishly Zack lowered Cloud to the ground, "You're still my best bud right?" He widened his eyes pitifully and pouted,

"Gah!" Cloud threw his gaze skyward and groaned, "We're ALL friends alright? Now why don't you two settled your differences while I deliver these papers?"

"Hey! I'm supposed to help you with that!" Reno chirped,

Zack snorted, "Cloud doesn't need any help! He can take care of himself!"

"He's my partner!" the red-head glared,

"He's MY FRIEND first!" Zack returned the gaze,

Cloud beat a hasty retreat, trying to neaten the half-mangled stack as he ran. Ye GADS!! If he didn't already know better he'd have thought the two of them were five! He could still hear the arguments as to whether Cloud was going to be a SOLDIER or a Turk behind him even as he ducked through the door to the Science Department.

As the door slid shut behind him, and the volume of the voices in the hall dimmed, Cloud breathed a sigh of relief, … boys, … and he shook his head before glancing around the room. It was a very familiar room, with lots of tall metal tanks that sent shivers down Cloud's spine, he remembered living in a very similarly green-filled tank for five years. But things would be different this time. Bolstering his own courage Cloud strode neatly down the corridor and through the next door. Thankfully there were scientists attending their stations within the inner room. Cloud walked up to the first one and cleared his throat gently,

"Yes?" The young man turned blinking owlishly at Cloud behind his glasses,

"Sir, I have brought these documents to be signed, by the request of Tseng."

The scientist before him paused, adjusting his glasses as he glanced at the stack in Cloud's arms, "Ah… yes… well those need to be signed by the Department Head, not me."

Cloud froze, stiffening, "What?"

"I can't sign those, they need to be signed by Professor Hojo."

For a moment Cloud fell silent, he took a few deep breaths before he could continue, "And where… might I find the Professor?"

"Go up the elevator, he should be in the main laboratories." The young man gestured to the elevator lift Cloud already knew about, and turned back to his own work.

Somehow Cloud managed to suppress his instinctive shudder, and after straightening his shoulders he continued onward, he was actually glad that Reno wasn't with him, his first encounter with a 'still alive' Hojo wasn't something he wanted extra witnesses to. The elevator ride was simply a blur, Cloud's attention was on emptying his mind, on focusing only on the task at hand. He would do his best not to make a scene, … now was NOT the time.

By the time he stepped from the elevator Cloud had slid Vincent's favorite "mask" over his face, his expression blank and indifferent. He strode forward, listening to the distinctive clack of his own "Turk shoes" on the ground. He stepped up next to the professor and stared, the smell was the same, and Cloud resisted the urge to wrinkle his nose, keeping his face impassive.

"Professor Hojo, I require your signature on these documents." Cloud intoned,

The Professor did not look up from the clip board he was scribbling on, "I'm busy, go bother someone else." He waved his pen at Cloud, before pressing it to paper once more.

"Professor, … these documents require your signature, no other will do."

"Come back later." Was Hojo's terse reply,

"I am required to remain as per orders, and to continue to ask, until these folders have been reviewed, approved, and your signature properly applied to the enclosed documents."

Finally, Hojo looked up, glaring at the impertinent youth who dared to interrupt his work, he eyed Cloud speculatively for a moment before glancing at the tank and computers before him. "I am busy right now,…" Hojo reaffirmed, but his gaze fell back on Cloud, and the blonde tried not to flinch at the gleam in his eyes, "But perhaps,… if you would be willing to assist me in my experiment I could-"

"No." Cloud flatly interrupted,

Hojo's eyebrows snapped down, "If I order you to assist me, you-"

"No." Cloud repeated icily.

Hojo hesitated a moment to level a penetrating glare at Cloud, "You are out of line if you think you can refuse-"

"No."

"How Dare you-"

"I refuse to be anything akin to a specimen for you, or anyone else."

"And if I asked you to assist me with-"

"No."

Hojo sneered, "You are very rude, why should I bother with anything you've been assigned to do?"

"I am being rude, yes." Cloud replied coldly, "And I will continue to be rude and annoying until my mission has been completed, Professor."

"Impertinent brat," Hojo growled, snatching up the folders in Cloud's arms and browsing them with only half of his attention. He finally scrawled a signature across one or two pages and thrust the mess back at the blonde 'Turk'. "Now leave! I have important things to do."

Cloud turned smartly in place and almost marched himself from the room. Beneath his stoic mask he was seething, Hojo would get his due, of this Cloud was certain.

Cloud couldn't remember his passage back outside the Science Department, but he was snapped forcefully from his daze when the distinctive "itch" of being watched twinged at the back of his shoulder blades, it only lasted for a second but that was enough to have him glancing around. Cloud could never have mistaken the form that was striding determinedly down the hallway away from him, but he also couldn't fathom what Sephiroth was doing outside of the Science Department. Perhaps he had needed to speak to someone? … but then why had the General set off Cloud's warning instincts?? As Cloud continued to stare, he thought he saw Sephiroth flinch slightly, and certainly the silver-haired man was walking VERY quickly away.

Cloud's ponderings were abruptly interrupted when an enthusiastic red-head grabbed Cloud from his position around the corner,

"Hey Cloud! What'cha spacin' out for Cadet?"

Cloud chuckled, "not much…" His gaze traveled quickly down the hallway, "What happened to Zack?"

Reno snorted, "The high and mighty General Sephiroth told him to get lost yo!"

Cloud raised one skeptical eyebrow, "Really…"

"Or somethin' like that, … 'snot important." The red-head grinned cheekily, "What IS important is that you and I have a date this Saturday!"

Cloud coughed, his blonde eyebrow rising even further, "We have a what?"

"A date! You and I are totally having a sleep-over at my place this weekend! No wormin' out!"

Cloud sighed, and tried vainly to restrain a smile, "Pray tell… WHY am I crashing at your place?"

"It's tradition! I don't got a roomie 'cause I didn't have a Partner before. And since I gotta Partner now, ya gotta sleep over!"

"Is that so…" Cloud drawled sarcastically,

"'stotally so!"

"Alright then… what exactly would we be doing at this… 'slumber party'?"

Reno chuckled, "Oh we're gonna have the best party ever yo! I know a great Pizza place down in Sector 5, they have arcades and pinball! I've totally got the booze covered too!"

"Hey!" Cloud yelped, "No alcohol! We're under-age!"

"pffft!" Reno snickered, "No worries, they'll never find out!"

"I'LL get the drinks." Cloud chuckled, "You can get the food, … we can both get snacks, agreed?"

Reno's grin widened even further, "It's a DEAL! I'll come pick ya up Saturday a'right?"

Cloud just laughed, allowing Reno to lead him back down the hallway to Turk headquarters to finish his 'first mission'. A sleep-over eh? Cloud mused, perhaps being a Turk Intern would make things a lot easier than he'd expected! He had a few plans for Hojo that Reno's sleepover 'alibi' made a whole lot easier. Cloud had a few promises to keep, and this was the kind of opportunity he could NOT pass up. Just hang on a little longer Shelke, he coaxed silently, I'll have you outta there in no time.

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SOLDIER 1st Class Genesis Rhapsodos strode wearily into his rooms within the Shinra building. Having finally returned from his mission, he was more than content to spend a while relaxing before bothering with any 'debriefing' or other such nonsense. He dropped his bags to the floor just inside the room, and flipped on the light. Much to his surprise, his quarters were NOT as he had left them. There were several unremarkable black Shinra-issue duffle bags piled around the room, all notably full and bulging. Genesis gazed at the unfamiliar baggage for several moments before walking up to the closest one, and carelessly ripping it open. He blinked several times at the sight before him, there was a rather startling number of brand-new copies of the LOVELESS book, … that in itself was not surprising, his fanclub 'Red Leather' periodically sent him such things, the quantity was a bit startling, but the strangest part was that the books were wrapped in Black, Silver, and Green ribbons.

"I don't like green…" Genesis found himself muttering aloud, as he eyed the strange gifts before him.

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