Chapter 16

By StarSongVII

Disclaimer: I own only the OCs and make no money from this work. Final Fantasy VII and its characters and settings belong to Square Enix.

Warnings: Swearing, mature themes, violence, angst, potential triggers, cultural appropriation, and yaoi. Also Cloud hooking up with others. Don't like, don't read.

A/N 1: Has everyone played or watched play through vids of FFVII Remake yet? That ending…I'm still shook.

##

Monday. 0238 hours. Six weeks to SOLDIER exams.

Zack couldn't sleep. That alone would have triggered alarms across Shinra if he was out of bed, but today / tonight (what time was it anyway? He'd busted his alarm clock ages ago for blaring at him to wake up) he was still in bed.

Still thinking about the most beautiful green eyes he'd ever seen, still remembering the sweetest smile he'd ever been graced with.

Still gazing upon the face of an angel in a broken down church deep in the slums, who smelled of fresh flowers, and light and love and everything that was good in the world.

Everything he'd been looking for.

He didn't remember the journey back to his apartment, once his home but no longer, not after all that.

He knew now why Cloud had tried so hard to get them to meet, and he owed the blond cadet everything. The kid had kept silent by his side, as understanding and unassuming as ever, just making sure Zack got home safe because the First was in such a daze he didn't think he'd even remember his own name.

Yet somehow he'd been able to speak to the angel, to chat, had made her laugh, even (oh God her laugh, it was the most magical sound he'd ever heard, except for the one thing she'd said as he was leaving).

See you soon, Zack.

How did his name sound so different, so precious, coming from those perfect pink lips?

Aeris.

Her name was Aeris. It was the most beautiful name in the world.

He'd never been like this, not with any of the beauties he'd met and bedded in his Wild Days, which were Officially Over.

There was only one woman in the world for him, and that was Aeris.

He didn't remember what he'd said, and he hoped to God he hadn't been a love struck fool. It wasn't him, it wasn't Zack Fair. But Aeris wasn't any ordinary woman, that much he knew.

Zack owed Cloud big time, for the rest of his life.

He also needed to find out more about Aeris from the small blond ASAP.

##

Monday. 0839 hours.

Alright, he'd caused a ruckus.

Zack had wandered into his office early, trying desperately to find something to do until he could see Cloud again and pull him aside to ask about the angel. He was tempted to just march into the cadet's classes and yank him out - he outranked everyone except Sephiroth in SOLDIER anyway - but he couldn't do something so selfish. Cloud was determined to pass his SOLDIER exams, and Zack shouldn't be messing with that plan.

But God DAMN did he want to ask Cloud all about Aeris.

As it was, the nice old lady who cleaned his office had damn near had a heart attack when he'd walked in just now. He felt terrible for scaring her, but it wasn't his fault he was at work on time for once.

Forget the arrow. Cupid Cloud had emptied the whole damn quiver into Zack yesterday.

He groaned, thumping his forehead on his desk and the paperwork he'd been attempting to complete.

"Rough morning?"

Jerking his head up, he shot out of his seat, grabbing the first implement he could as a weapon before he registered who the voice belonged to.

Tseng looked entirely too amused for his own good.

Dammit.

"Tseng, bro! Morning!" Alright, so the Turk had gotten the jump on him, but he could still turn this around.

Smile and wave, boys.

The twinkle in the Turk's eye told him he wasn't fooling anyone. But it was the sobering of a familiarly exotic face that made Zack straighten, clenching whatever it was he'd grabbed earlier.

"Heard of the band R.E.M.?" Why did the man have to be so damn oblique? Now wasn't the time, dammit!

Hang on…

The SOLDIER wasn't an idiot. Though he got along fine with almost everyone in Shinra (he hated many of the Heads), and he had a friendly relationship with the Turks, he and Tseng didn't speak for no reason.

Tseng had warned Zack about Cloud's visits to the church before. Had told Zack to ensure the kid stayed away, saying "God's still on vacation".

Did that mean…?

Before the SOLDIER could say another word, a cool voice, laced with an edge, filled his office.

"Some of my team enjoy the song 'Losing my religion'."

The Turk was gone before Zack could respond, confused as to why he was being told not to do something by another Shinra division (alright, everyone always told him not to destroy property but who cared?), when all he'd done was follow Cloud to a church and meet Aeris.

Cloud.

Shit, was the kid in trouble? Did he know something about Aeris, was Aeris mixed up in something with Shinra that was so bad Zack was being warned to stay clear?

Life is bigger than you and you are not me.

What would happen to Cloud? And Aeris?

He had to protect them. He had to make sure they were alright, that no one hurt them.

The lengths that I will go to.

And to do that, he'd need more information.

He wasn't an idiot. After all, he was Zack Fair, Brigadier General Extraordinaire.

Grinning, he threw himself back in his chair and looked down.

He'd grabbed the Pikachu pen. It was yellow, like Cloud's hair, and cute, like Cloud. And it zapped people, like Cloud had done by taking Zack to the church.

It was a sign. He'd get the information from Cloud somehow. The kid was too damn nice not to give Zack what he wanted, not when the cadet had tried several times to take him to the church.

Thank God for Cloud Strife.

##

Monday. 1001 hours.

Cloud now understood why some people cackled. Lord knows he'd wanted to do that since yesterday when he'd witnessed, no, made, two of his favorite people meet.

The looks on their faces. The awkward conversations, between two people who usually always knew what to say, teased him mercilessly and pulled him out of his shell with their warmth and friendship and love.

He'd been mortified at some of the corny lines Zack had pulled, wanting to cringe, but Aeris seemed to love every word, laughing that tinkling laugh of hers, eyes shining as she sat next to the love of her life on a pew as Cloud sat by the flowers, watching, smiling, feeling at peace at last.

It was worth it. It was so worth it.

As it was, he couldn't stop humming. He wasn't even sure what song it was, if it was even one song or ten, but he couldn't help himself.

He was happy. He'd done something right, Zack and Aeris had met, and they were still as crazily in love with each other as ever.

How was it that the two best people he knew were so perfect for one another? It was obviously a sign from the universe that they were meant to be.

And he'd helped, this time.

He desperately wanted to pat himself on the back.

Fortunately Reno nearly broke his nose, which brought him back to reality with a start.

If he wanted Zack and Aeris to have all the happiness in the world, he'd need to make sure of it. And right now was a good place to start. There was a smirk that needed wiping off, after all.

##

Monday. 1015 hours.

Reno knew he'd asked for it, that he should've just let Cloud continue his little spell on Cloud Nine, but he couldn't help it.

The kid had been SINGING.

Alright, the blond had a nice voice, and it was great seeing how happy the Nibelheim cadet was especially after so much misery and moping. But the singing, humming, and starry eyes since yesterday had creeped Reno out so much he'd almost busted the kid's face just to stop it.

Well, he'd succeeded in stopping it anyway. And then he'd paid the price.

Cloud was most definitely bipolar, if the abrupt switch from chirpy chocobo chick to murderous fighter was any indication.

Being bi is fine, being bipolar is NOT, Blondie!

Reno was panting hard, struggling to evade blow after blow, grateful at least that it was hand-to-hand combat and not sword training.

Why couldn't he just let singing chocobos be?

##

Future.

The sound was familiar, yet it wasn't.

It was Fenrir, but louder, doubled up yet muted somehow.

Tifa didn't care. She dropped whatever it was that she'd been holding, vaulting from behind the bar and rushing to the doors, shoving them out of the way.

"Clo…"

The disoriented feeling was back. The shrieks and squeals didn't help.

Before her on two bikes, so very similar to Cloud's and yet not, were two men with eyes so very similar to Cloud's and yet not.

One was dark haired and dark eyed, chiseled and handsome in a way that was wholesome and yet made Tifa think thoughts she shouldn't at all. The other was lanky and languid, with dirty blond hair and seductive green eyes above luscious smirking lips.

Tifa barely heard the cars arrive, the shrieking from the crowd nothing but white noise as her ears seemed to ring.

She knew these people, yet she didn't. Was it…?

That man from before, Ray Johnson, was stepping out of his sleek car, dressed to the nines as usual and flashing pearly whites that made Tifa feel like a teenage girl all over again. Behind him, Reno slid out - what was Reno doing, why wasn't he with Rude? - and the four men before her all exchanged hugs and fist bumps and greetings, their identical ear rings glinting in the golden sunset.

Why were so many having the same ear rings as Cloud?

Who ARE these people?

The hulking giant from before was back, blocking the sun, voice a respectful rumble as he asked if she had a table available for them. Dumbly she nodded, stepping back and to the side, not hearing the giant's request for twenty bottles of her finest whisky but nodding anyway as she watched the four - Reno, Ray Johnson, and the two with the bikes - commandeer a table while chatting and joking with an ease that belied years of friendship.

Reno was only that way with Rude, wasn't he?

"Ma'am?"

Starting, she looked up - way up. The giant was waiting for something.

The drinks.

"Oh! Right! Coming up!"

She didn't know how anyone could operate on auto-pilot so well, but she supposed it was a latent skill she'd just unlocked, more focused on trying to listen to the conversation going on at the table than anything else.

The dark skinned man took the trays, laden with bottles and glasses and ice, with ease.

"Like taking candy from a baby, huh Grant?"

A memory - or was it a dream? - of Cloud laughing at the giant, lightly slapping a tree trunk of a bicep fondly.

Tifa turned around, grabbed the vodka from the top shelf, and took a long swig. It burned, but she needed it. This was going to kill all their livers eventually.

Somehow the men at the table had noticed, some looking confused, Reno looking concerned. Only Johnson seemed to expect it, telling the others they'd wait a bit more for 'Tranton'.

Tifa didn't have to wonder who was Tranton for long. A man of average height and build burst in, panting, light brown hair mussed and matted with sweat - he'd obviously sprinted here - and then the table of five was rising, laughing and teasing. Light brown eyes that glowed looked up, right at Tifa, and an open, honest face was turning redder as the man blushed further before giving her a shy smile.

She remembered that smile from long ago.

What…?

She took another swig of the bottle.

When everyone was settled - first clinking their glasses together, that chant "Team Fenrir for life!" echoing through Seventh Heaven - the other men all turned to Johnson expectantly.

Reno was the first to break the silence, of course. Some things never changed.

"So why'd you call a meeting, Johnson? And without Cloud?"

Cloud…what's going on?

A smooth voice calmed her nerves somehow, and Tifa was grateful for whatever she could get. She didn't think there was much vodka left in the bottle.

"I've had a chat with Tuesti." Those silver eyes flicked over to Tifa and she almost forgot to breathe again. Then they were gone, focusing on each male at the table. "It seems that Cloud's gone back in time."

Utter silence greeted that statement, until finally it was broken by full-bellied laughter from Reno and that dirty blond. The dark eyed man with the bike was asking questions - he used some words similar to Reeve's - while the giant stayed silent and impassive. The man with light brown hair was mimicking a gold fish.

Through it all Johnson remained calm, that handsome visage unchanging, waiting for the others to calm down. When they did, though Reno was still giggling slightly, and the blond was hiccuping, he continued as though discussing nothing more mundane than the weather.

"That's the reason you've noticed some of them," and his eyes angled to Tifa meaningfully before he turned away, "Looking completely disoriented and confused sometimes." Johnson leaned towards the blond at his side, smirking, and oh for Seventh Heaven's sake, Tifa, you're not a school girl with a crush anymore! "Heard Kisaragi freaked when she met you recently."

Memory and realization made green eyes widen. Then Johnson was looking at the chiseled man with dark eyes. "Your uncle, heard he decided to take it in stride so all's good, but…" he was looking at Reno now. "You might've noticed everyone else kinda 'forgetting' things or questioning you, right?"

Reno looked at Tifa thoughtfully, no doubt remembering the past few days - had it even been the past few days? The redhead nodded. "Yeah, that's right. Tifa and Rude and Tseng…everyone's been trippin'."

Johnson nodded, and somehow everyone at the table turned their attention back to him. He did have a mesmerizing quality about his face.

Stop it, Tifa!

"So it seems they remember things differently from us. And their memories - and ours - keep changing depending on whatever Cloud does in the past."

The black haired man with the bike nodded. "Makes sense. So that's why no one's been able to reach the boss yet, huh?"

How was he so calm about all this?!

That's just how Ralph is, Teef.

Another vision of a laughing Cloud, this time with the dark haired man's - Ralph's - arm slung across his shoulders.

"It's not to say anyone's wrong or right," Johnson continued, refilling his glass. "It's just that everyone remembers things differently, right now."

"We might not even remember this conversation tomorrow," Ralph mused, forsaking the glass and going straight for the bottle.

SOLDIERS.

Reno looked thoughtful, pensive. It was an odd look on him. Yet Tifa remembered seeing it before, in a different setting.

Or did she?

"What's on your mind, Reno?"

Johnson's mannerisms, even the way he said Reno's name, it all seemed so incredibly familiar to Tifa, like reflections in a frozen pond, and if she could just wipe away the frost on the surface…

"Nah, bro. All good." The familiar smirk was back, and then the redhead was egging the others on to a drinking contest.

And that was that, it seemed. The Tranton man still seemed dazed and confused, so Tifa knew she wasn't the only one suffering some form of whiplash.

SOLDIERS.

##

Monday. 2112 hours.

Zack had held out well all day, not approaching Cloud until their private training.

If he'd gone out to purchase clothes and toiletries for the kid, and written a letter of approval for Cloud to be out of the barracks tonight, that was just brilliant planning.

And alright he hadn't held out through the entire private training, dragging the kid off to his apartment before the end of it under some mumbled pretext. The blond hadn't batted an eyelash, had actually looked amused, which meant he knew what Zack was after.

Still, the SOLDIER had held out, insisting the cadet take a shower first and change, asking if the kid wanted anything to eat. His little Chocobo had demurred, accepting only the mug of hot chocolate before settling himself on the couch and looking at Zack expectantly.

It seemed Zack wasn't fooling anyone. That was fine. He was done with pretences, had suffered through an entire day of them.

The weirdest part was when he'd been walking through Midgar, after buying Cloud's stuff, and had seen Aeris selling flowers on the street.

But that was just a dream.

He was a goner, from the moment he'd looked into those beautiful green eyes.

Now here he was, and he didn't know where to start with asking Cloud about the angel in the church.

Fortunately, the cadet didn't need any prompting.

"So, you're probably wondering about Aeris?"

Zack wanted to strangle the little chocobo. He also now understood Sephiroth's penchant for throwing people into walls.

The look on his face must have made it clear, because the tiny blond chuckled. It was a great sound, but not what the SOLDIER wanted to hear right now.

"Aeris and I know each other coz…well, that's a long story." That haunted look was back in baby blue eyes, but it faded quickly as the cadet seemed to force himself to focus on Zack. "She's under Turk surveillance, I'm sure you know. And you're probably wondering why."

That was it. Zack was throwing the kid into the wall in their next private training.

Cloud seemed torn between amusement and caution, and at the realization of the latter the dark haired man remembered how full of secrets the Nibelheim boy was, how he'd always seemed like he knew more than he let on.

He'd started observing the cadet because of those secrets, the knowledge that the cadet hid away but expressed only through violence.

And an invitation to a church in the slums.

All at once, Zack felt torn. While he wanted to know more about Aeris, about Cloud, he also wasn't the type to force others to do things they weren't comfortable doing. Never mind that he'd seen the bruises, knew that the blond cadet liked it rough and liked being dominated. He understood that kind of behavior, that desire to lose control once in a while. But only when he felt safe.

Clearly Cloud didn't feel safe enough yet with Zack. And that hurt, even if the SOLDIER knew the blond had opened up somewhat, had shared part of his secret.

The distance in your eyes.

Those blue eyes weren't familiar anymore, old, pained, like the kid had been through more than anyone should ever have to and was struggling to hang on, trying his best to do better but shackled by a past that had scarred him permanently.

Before Zack could tell the cadet to forget it, because as much as he wanted to hear about Aeris he didn't want it - not like this - when he saw a pale throat work, saw the pain fade in the sky, replaced only by determination and that wariness that had colored most of their initial interactions.

I'm choosing my confessions.

When Cloud looked up again, locking eyes with Zack, it was clear the blond had come to a decision. And the SOLDIER would respect that, whatever it was. Because Cloud was his friend, and even though the tiny Nibelheim cadet was full of secrets, Zack wanted the kid's trust more than anything.

He wasn't going to ruin everything they'd built simply because he was rushing things. He could wait.

"The Turks, they're watching her, because of who her mother was."

Thank you.

It seemed Cloud had decided to trust Zack, and that meant more to the dark-haired man that he could say (and that was saying a lot).

"She'll need your help, in future." At that baby blues turned steely, as though daring the older man to say no, to refuse. "And she'll tell you more when she's ready to. It's Ancient history, in a way, but it's still her story to tell."

##

Monday. 2120 hours.

The hint of the century.

He desperately wanted to tell Zack everything, to let the other man in and have someone to help him, help them. But he couldn't, not yet. It was too much, it would drive anyone crazy, it might make the SOLDIER turn away from Cloud for spouting insanity, lies.

As much as he wanted to protect Zack, wanted to stand side-by-side and face the world together, wanted to see Zack and Aeris happy, he couldn't risk revealing it all. It was his duty, his cross to bear. Zack had done enough.

What if all these fantasies come flailing around, now I've said too much?

That was what he was most afraid of. They were on a good track, they'd get there eventually - once Cloud made SOLDIER, once he'd stopped Nibelheim from happening, once he got to Vincent and Lucrezia.

There was more at stake than just Zack's and Aeris' relationship.

Life is bigger than you, and you are not me.

Cloud would say no more on this topic, for now at least.

He opened his mouth, wanting to reassure Zack that it wasn't that he didn't trust him, that he cared, Zack was his greatest friend…

"I understand, Spiky."

Blinking, he stared, stunned, as those handsome features softened, deep blue eyes grateful and kind.

Zack.

Cloud wasn't worthy of friendship with someone so amazing, so generous and honorable and gentle. Someone who never asked for anything, who gave everything - even his life - for others.

He tried to swallow past the lump in his throat, wanted desperately to tell the other man everything, tell him how sorry he was, how much he wanted Zack and Aeris to live long and prosper and be happy.

A warm hand on his head, and then his hair was being mussed in that heartbreakingly familiar way.

"Quit looking at me like that, kid!" The SOLDIER leaned forward, bending to be eye to eye with Cloud who was trying desperately to blink back tears. "It's alright, I understand, OK?"

I haven't said enough.

The mug was taken from his hands, set carefully on the cluttered table, and then he was being pulled into strong arms, a solid embrace he could never get enough of, and he couldn't stop the tears anymore.

Zack.

The dark haired man was stroking his back gently, like he was a child who'd woken up from a nightmare and needed reassurance that he was safe now, no one would hurt him, everything was fine, he was safe and he was loved and it was going to be OK.

"Thank you for introducing me, and for telling me about her." Why was Zack thanking Cloud? It should be the other way around, Cloud owed Zack everything. "Don't push yourself, OK? Tell me what you want to say in your own time. Same goes for Aeris."

How could he ever hope to stand side-by-side with Zack, when the man was leagues ahead of everyone else?

Thank you.

To all the Ancients who'd made this happen, who'd given him another chance, who'd given them all another chance.

To whoever it was who'd chosen to bring to life the great man that was Zack Fair in the first place.

Thank you.

There was no way Cloud would ever mess this up.

##

Monday. 2125 hours.

His vision was failing, but that was a given. He'd sustained more damage than he had in a long time, and Zack hadn't been there to heal him.

Somehow he'd found his way, kept his wits about him enough to know he didn't want anyone to see him like this. As battered as he was, he was still the greatest SOLDIER in history. Sneaking onto a Shinra ship, stowing away to Junon, hiding while hitching rides (unbeknownst to the drivers) all the way back to Midgar, that was the easy part.

But it'd taken a lot out of him. He didn't travel with many potions, was too exhausted to cast another Cure spell on himself.

Hojo would be disappointed.

Good.

He'd never asked to be the Perfect Killer, never asked for any of the things heaped on him - the praises, the glory, the adulation...the responsibilities.

Right now, the only thing he wanted was to be able to breathe without feeling like he was going to black out on every inhale. And get home unnoticed.

Base security really was lacking, but Sephiroth was grateful for that. No one could see him like this. If they knew he was just a man, incapable of defeating their opponents, what would they think?

How would they ever follow him into battle, do as he ordered, ever again?

WHY did he have to live in the penthouse?

The stairs were a struggle, he could barely lift one leg up without clutching the bannister with whatever strength he had left, trying desperately not to pass out and fall.

He could make it. He would make it. For Zack. For Cloud.

Cloud.

He wanted to hear those words, one more time.

Welcome home.

He wanted to go home.

Was the emergency escape door always so heavy?

"Seph!"

What…

Maybe he'd passed out and fallen down the stairs, hit his head somewhere. Because there was no way Zack was here in his apartment, rushing to him and carrying him to a plush sofa.

There was no way the blond who haunted his dreams was on said sofa, baby blue eyes red-rimmed and wide.

Cloud.

The cadet was moving, arranging pillows and cushions, as Zack laid Sephiroth down as gently as possible. If the action made the General's body spasm with pain and his head spin, he didn't care, because he was looking into his favorite blue sky.

I'm home.

##

Monday. 2155 hours.

Zack hadn't seen his friend like this in awhile, not since that time the silver-haired man had become a human shield for Zack.

You damn fool.

Sephiroth should never have gone on a mission solo.

You DAMN FOOL.

It wasn't that the General thought he was better than the rest of them, Zack knew, even if he WAS the greatest SOLDIER to ever live.

No, Zack knew his friend all too well. The idiot had thought it best for him to suffer alone, not to drag anyone else into his battles.

YOU DAMN FOOL.

When would Sephiroth learn that that's what friends were for? To fight beside you, to watch your back, to follow you into the dark?

He'd beat some sense into the silver-haired man later. For now, he had to treat the patchwork of wounds, stem the bleeding from a broken off blade still embedded in the General's side.

Thank God Cloud was here to help.

The blond seemed adept at field medicine, once he'd recovered from his shock. Moving around Zack's apartment with ease, somehow knowing where to find the First Aid Kit, keeping pressure on a worrisome gash across the General's thigh that was tightly bound in layers of bloodied bandages but still pulsing, leaking.

Zack would have to clean the stairwell, that much was certain. Though Sephiroth had wrapped his wounds tightly, was skilled at infiltration, there was no way the man hadn't left some evidence behind.

Not when those green eyes were glassy, fading in and out on a too pale face as his friend struggled to breathe.

Don't die on me, Seph. Don't you DARE. I'm done with people leaving me. Ain't no one else bailing on me!

Maybe he should've been gentler, but right now time was of the essence. Fortunately they were SOLDIERs, which meant they didn't need to sterilize medical instruments the way non-enhanced people required to prevent infection.

It also meant that Zack could simply stick his fingers into his friend's side, and pull the blade out from where it'd been tearing up Sephiroth's lung.

The fact that the man was still alive, still breathing, could only be put down to the General's superior healing abilities. Anyone else would've died by now.

Blood was pulsing, spraying and spurting and leaking out of the wound as Sephiroth coughed, trying to bend double but prevented from doing so by the pain and all his injuries.

"Cure materia." It was Cloud's voice, yet it wasn't. Because this voice was older, wiser, the voice of a war veteran who'd seen worse.

Nodding, Zack rose, dashed to his room even as Cloud moved so that the cadet had his left hand pressuring the now open wound in Sephiroth's side, while his right held firm to the General's thigh.

The dark-haired SOLDIER had barely made it out of his room before he was casting the strongest Cure spell he could, knew it had worked as the hacking cough from his sofa stopped, and then he was casting another.

"Zack. Stop."

He was breathing hard, like he'd sprinted up and down Mt Nibel carrying all of the town on his shoulders, like he'd faced a horde of Shinra soldiers and mechas and monsters.

"Come help me with this. Need you to hold him down."

How was the youngest person in the room also the calmest and most capable?

Dumbly, Zack did as he was told, dropping the Cure materia carelessly on the coffee table, it might have gone into the mug of now-cold chocolate, holding Sephiroth down as gently as possible, trying not to wince when Cloud cut the straps on a bloodied leather coat off and they saw the rest of the damage. The spells had worked to stem the bleeding, but they hadn't fixed the General's broken ribs, two jagged bones poking out through mottled skin, nor had they fixed the broken collarbone.

Cloud's hands were steady as he wielded his knife - it was a fancier balisong than the old one - slicing away at the General's clothes and boots. Zack wondered again how it was that the youngest among them was the calmest and most capable, then he saw the rest of the damage to his friend's legs and wanted to scream. And they hadn't yet flipped him over to check his back.

Under ordinary circumstances, Zack would've been looking for a blush on a pretty young face, to tease mercilessly because the cadet was adorable when he was flustered.

But the cadet that kneeled on the floor by his sofa right now wasn't the least bit flustered, eyes calm and hard, hands efficient and business-like as the blond ruthlessly set broken bones.

Zack was fortunate his silver-haired friend was still weak from blood loss. There was no way he'd have kept the taller SOLDIER down under ordinary circumstances, as green eyes flared and a sharp jaw clenched tight against the sudden, bone deep pain.

It was over quickly, though it felt like forever to the First Class as he watched his friend struggle to hold on, to remain conscious and not cry out.

Always so strong for everyone else.

They'd talk once Sephiroth was better, which wouldn't take long. Already the General's superior abilities were on display as bruises began to fade, clots dispersed.

Those green eyes were still hazy, but they were clearer now than they'd been before.

"Get him up."

Right. They hadn't checked Seph's back yet.

Cloud held a hand firm to the ribs and collar bone he'd just set, as Zack manoeuvred around the cadet - thank Shiva the kid was tiny - to lift his tall friend as gently as possible into position. It was hard, having to support the General's weight without aggravating any of his injuries, but Zack was a SOLDIER First Class.

And it seemed Cloud was a brilliant field medic, getting to work quickly, pulling out what looked like a needle from Sephiroth as the General clenched his eyes tight against the slow, smooth extraction.

Then the blond was moving again, setting a broken shoulder blade with no warning - Sephiroth jerked sharply, and Zack cursed himself for bumping into a still healing collarbone, but Cloud should've at least given the dark-haired SOLDIER a sign.

At last, the blond nodded, grabbing bandages and expertly wrapping the healing wounds, covering the bruises and broken skin, before rising to help Zack lay the General back gently on the couch, placing throws and blankets on him.

"Potions."

Later, when Zack thought back to tonight, he'd find it both amusing and odd that the cadet was giving instructions to a Brigadier General as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do.

Right now though, he was rushing to his room, grabbing as many bottles as he could carry and so damn glad he always kept a huge stash…

Hang on.

The adrenaline was fading, the shock of seeing Sephiroth so severely injured replaced by the vaguest of ideas that solidified with every breath.

Oh how the tables have turned.

This time Cloud would care for Sephiroth. And hopefully, they'd have a better tomorrow than before.

Smirking, he hid the rest of his potions, taking only one bottle out with him and pasting on a slightly panicked expression.

"I've only got one! Take care of him, I'll go get more!" he tossed the bottle at the blond, who caught it deftly, then Zack grabbed his table cloth - he needed something to clean up the stairwell with, after all - and was out the door, leaving Les Miserables behind.

This time, when he barged in on them again, things would be better between the two, he was positive.

It wasn't often they had a chance at a Remake after all.

Here's looking at you, kid.

##

Monday. 2222 hours.

Cloud was trying hard to ignore the memories of seeing Sephiroth so shattered, so broken.

Usually the silver haired man only looked like this thanks to Cloud.

Stop it. Focus. He needs help.

Sephiroth wasn't crazy here, though there was something to be said about the man's split personality that Sunday three weeks ago, but Zack and Aeris had told him to be understanding.

He brought the bottle to thin lips, raising the General's head slightly to help him drink the healing potion.

Dazed green eyes fluttered, and then pale lips parted and drank thirstily.

When it was done, Cloud rose and went to the kitchen, grabbing as many bottles of water as he could carry. Sephiroth needed fluids.

As he helped the SOLDIER drink from bottle after bottle, he watched, mesmerized, as color gradually returned to lips he'd been dreaming of.

Stop it!

He had to focus. With an effort, he tore his eyes away from that perfect mouth, locking gazes instead with emerald eyes that were losing their haze.

He's back.

Cloud knew better than anyone how much damage Sephiroth could take, how hard it was to defeat him in combat. The fact that the man had returned so broken meant that no one else would have come home from the mission.

And now, the genetic enhancements were clearly kicking into overdrive, knitting broken bones back together, stitching torn capillaries and organs and skin whole.

But the extent of the damage, despite the powerful Cure spells, meant Sephiroth would need time to heal fully.

And by time Cloud estimated the man would need a full day to recover, if he didn't get more potions or Cure spells.

Well, he's the General after all.

The fourth bottle of water down, he reached for another, when a matted, sweaty head shook slightly. It seemed Sephiroth was fine for now.

Nodding, Cloud turned, thought to busy himself with cleaning up, anything to keep himself from realizing that they were alone in Zack's apartment, that no one was gonna come look for them, that he wasn't even due back to the barracks until morning…

"…Cloud."

The voice was soft, hoarse. But it still flooded Cloud's entire being with the strength of one of those crazy booming speakers in the club Team Fenrir liked to frequent.

He turned back, slowly, unsure of what to expect. The last time their situations had been reversed, he'd woken up the next day to Sephiroth shutting him out completely.

This time, emerald green eyes were half-lidded, and a hand was reaching for him…

"Don't move!" Dropping the empty bottles, he grabbed slightly shaking fingers, gently guiding Sephiroth's arm back under the blanket. When he tried to pull back, however, his hand was squeezed tight.

He didn't miss the slight wince on a handsome face at that move, and a part of him now understood why Tifa sometimes looked absolutely murderous when he ran around while still healing.

"Stay still and stop aggravating your wounds. I'm not going anywhere."

Tense shoulders relaxed at that, and the General nodded weakly. The vice-like grip on Cloud's hand loosened slightly, but he made no move to pull back.

He wasn't going to leave Sephiroth here like this, not when the man was vulnerable and clearly wanted Cloud to stay.

If the split personality hit again tomorrow, so be it. He'd make the most of this time they had together, now.

Wracking his brains, wishing he had more of Reno's glib tongue, Ray's easy charm, that soft voice filled the room again.

"I'm sorry, about before." It was clearly taking a lot of effort for the General to speak, his breathing labored as his body worked to recover on its own without potions or more spells.

I'm sorry, about before.

He'd spent years hunting Sephiroth down for his crimes, hearing the way the silver-haired man had been cursed and hated the world over, glaring into crazed emeralds that held no remorse, no awareness of the pain and destruction he was causing.

I'm sorry, about before.

It was obvious the man was referring to what happened in his apartment 3 weeks ago. But to Cloud, who'd never really known Sephiroth before he fell to Jenova's influence, it was just as easily an apology for everything in Days of Future Past.

A huff, and that trembling hand - or was it his own that was trembling? - was squeezing slightly.

"Are you…mad?"

Was he mad?

Maybe he WAS going mad. There was no way that Sephiroth - destroyer of worlds, slayer of innocents - was lying here looking so young, so unsure.

So afraid.

It was true, Cloud realized. That brief flash in brilliant green eyes had been fear.

Sephiroth was afraid that Cloud was mad at him?

He used to love it when Cloud was mad at him.

This is the Remake, remember?

Of everything that had driven that fact home - Aeris, Zack, his conversation with his mother - this was the nail in the coffin that was the past.

Sephiroth was different here. Like Zack said, the man wasn't used to good things happening to him; like Aeris said, he needed time, he needed help.

Cloud wasn't going to let him down, not when he'd let enough people down to last a lifetime.

Pale features were tight as thin lips turned down slightly, doubtless taking the blond's continued silence for rejection, confirmation that the cadet was angry.

Stop spacing out, idiot!

He could have his head in the clouds, or he could act, right here and right now.

As Sephiroth made to pull his hand away, Cloud squeezed, enjoying how surprise made the General look every bit the 25 year old he was, but in a good way.

"I'm not mad." He tried for a smile, then he didn't have to try when green eyes widened further. It was a better look on Sephiroth than that deranged glare of his.

FOCUS!

He wasn't going into his little headspace right now. He could do that later.

"I understand." The look on the silver-haired man's face was something Cloud wouldn't forget for a long time.

He had to keep going, to reach Sephiroth now, to make sure what had passed would never again come to pass.

"I know it's hard, sometimes, when we're used to being alone." His smile was self-deprecating this time, but a gentle squeeze to his hand made it lose the edge. "You went alone to protect everyone, didn't you?"

He'd never thought those emeralds could get any bigger.

He'd also never thought the day would come when he'd use the adjective 'adorable' to describe Sephiroth, but there it was.

The most dangerous man in the world, the greatest villain of all time (to most people at least - Cloud still maintained it was all Jenova's and Shinra's fault), was fucking adorable right now.

Alright so Cloud was mentally older than Sephiroth was right now, and that might've explained things. But there was no denying that he wanted to keep the General looking like this as long as possible.

"I told you, right? You're a good person."

The almost bashful look on an aristocratic face was too much to bear - now he knew why people squealed when they saw cute babies and kittens - but it was the denial, the self-recrimination in green eyes that was more than Cloud could handle.

No. Don't go there.

He wouldn't let them fall into old habits, not now. Now when they'd come so far.

"You went alone, snuck back here so no one would see, so you'd always be the strong one, the one everyone can rely on, right?"

Sounds familiar.

Shut up.

Yes, he was exactly the same, pulled the exact stunts as Sephiroth had loads of times.

But he was trying to do better, to rely on others more now. And it was only fair that the General do the same - Cloud wasn't going to be the only one changing here, they ALL were.

And he was going to make sure of it.

"We need to learn to let people in."

Double entendre, nice!

Shut up.

He hadn't meant it that way, of course. And it seemed Sephiroth had understood, judging by the widening of brilliant green eyes - were they always so open, so honest? - the slight nod, and then the General was looking at the top of Cloud's head.

"Your hair..."

My hair?

Oh. He'd gotten a hair cut. He would've pulled back self-consciously if he wasn't still holding on to a large hand.

"It's nice." There it was, a sight Cloud never thought he'd see.

The faintest of smiles was on Sephiroth's lips. Not a cruel sneer, not a twisted smirk, but a shy, sweet tilt of thin lips.

Long eyelashes were fluttering, eyelids drooping. The General has used all his energy just getting home.

Home.

He's home.

"Welcome home, Sephiroth."

Those eyelashes fluttered some more, then hazy green eyes were locked on his, and that small smile widened.

It was the most beautiful thing Cloud had ever seen.

"I'm home, Cloud."

They would be alright. He was sure of it.

Thank you.

##

Tuesday. 0400 hours.

Cloud didn't want to wake up, but there was an annoyingly insistent voice whispering in his ear, and a warm hand kept shaking him.

He was so comfortable though.

"…ky? C'mon kid you gotta get back to the barracks for your private training with your bunker. C'mon c'mon wakey wakey time to mosey!"

Go away.

A snort. "No can do, kiddo. You gotta wake up and head back to your bunker, c'mon c'mon up up up!"

No.

"C'mon Cloud, don't do this to me, man. You look really cute all curled up next to Seph and I took a ton of pics already and I'll send…"

Seph?!

Cloud jerked back, blinking sleep from his eyes, vision gradually focusing and mind slowly clearing.

Sephiroth.

He'd been sitting on the floor, leaning against the sofa, sharing the same pillow as the General. Their hands were still loosely clasped under the blankets covering the silver-haired man, someone had rearranged them so that their hands were resting on the one spot of Sephiroth's torso that was uninjured. The blanket that had been wrapped around Cloud - Zack must have done that, he realized groggily - was sliding down to the rug, but he didn't notice the change in temperature right then.

Sephiroth looked so peaceful as he slept, covered in colorful throws and blankets, hair matted and tangled, some dirt and blood still smudged across one high cheekbone.

Beautiful.

He really didn't want to leave, but Zack was there snickering, and then Cloud's face was warm enough to fry an egg he was sure.

Last night, he'd sliced the clothes, boots and gloves off Sephiroth. The man had been wearing underwear, thankfully, but…

He'd been a vision, even broken, bleeding, barely breathing.

Zack was full on chortling right now, trying ineffectually to muffle the sounds by clamping his hands over his mouth.

Cloud really wanted to hit him.

Sephiroth stirred slightly, and immediately his audience of two stilled, waiting patiently until the General's breathing evened for several heartbeats.

"C'mon Cloud, you gotta get back to the barracks." Zack's whisper jolted him back to reality. He could've spent all day just staring at that majestic visage, filthy, matted hair, and all.

Grudgingly - he really didn't want to leave - he extracted his hand from underneath the blankets, moving to rise as slowly as possible. Even injured and asleep, there was no telling how the General would react to sudden movement around him.

Backing up, keeping his eyes trained on that beautiful face, he turned when he reached Zack, realizing the man had been smirking throughout everything from the end of the couch.

That absolutely called for an eye roll.

Zack snickered slightly, keeping his volume low, before slinging an arm across Cloud's shoulders, guiding him carefully towards the kitchen, where a fresh brew of coffee was waiting.

How had the SOLDIER gotten everything ready - even sandwiches in a paper bag, it seemed - without Cloud or Sephiroth waking up?

The man really was a First Class.

He accepted the mug of hot coffee gratefully, peeking from beneath lowered lashes at the figure still in slumber on the couch.

He really hoped everything would be fine when the man woke up.

Zack was pushing him subtly towards the door, apologizing under his breath but saying that Cloud really couldn't be late, his friends would ask too many questions, and that got the small blond to inhale the rest of his coffee - it burned - grabbing the bag of sandwiches and heading to the door.

He left with just one last, long look at the man on the sofa, then Zack was there - warm blue eyes and pearly whites and whispered "I'll sort something out soon, OK!" lifting Cloud's spirits before the the dark haired man was gesturing him towards the elevator.

The blond made it back to barracks, cleaning up, changing to his usual t-shirt and pants, and eating one of the sandwiches - of course it had to be peanut butter, jelly, and maple syrup because Zack - before the others woke up.

If he was a little out of it during training, no one said anything. Nor did they say anything about him being out of the barracks overnight.

How things had changed.

Where before no one bothered with him because he was a loser, the runt of the litter, now they deliberately kept out of his affairs because they respected his decisions, even when he didn't offer any information.

Alright, who was he kidding. Jared's suggestive eyebrow wiggles and air smooches, the smirks on the faces of the Triple R's…

They definitely knew he'd spent time with Sephiroth last night.

He wondered how they knew, though. It wasn't like he had a goofy smile on his face or anything.

##

Tuesday. 0600 hours.

Cloud had the goofiest smile Ray had ever seen. It was heart warming and hilarious, and only his respect for his friend kept him from snickering the way their Rocket Towner classmate was.

Ralph really needed to learn some subtlety.

It was obvious the blond had spent time with the General the night before, though somehow they all knew it hadn't been anything…strenuous.

Cloud's eyes would probably be shooting rainbows if it'd been that.

It was a welcome distraction for Ray. He'd woken up in the middle of the night from a nightmare - his home on fire as his mother screamed, trapped inside, his father impaled on the Apollo's spear in the driveway, his friends lying on the ground with their throats slit - and he hadn't been able to sleep after that, tossing and turning, wondering why he was dreaming such things now of all times.

Of course he knew why, but he was probably overreacting.

News had reached him on Sunday that the son of another Family had been assassinated, gunned down with his pregnant wife as they'd shopped for baby clothes.

Officially, they'd been killed by a random Wutai cell trying to instil terror in the populace.

Along with the news, had been a message from his father.

Enough with the war games.

Ray had never gotten his father's blessing for SOLDIER. He'd believed his old man would come around, eventually, as long as he made it through the exams, showed how he added value to the Family.

He didn't want to go home now, not when he was so close, when he had friends, his own family here.

A family that seemed to be able to read his mind, however adept his poker face was.

The other four hung back as usual after they'd showered, Cloud telling Grant to head to the cafeteria with everyone else first.

The Corel boy would never question the smaller cadet.

When they were alone, Ralph leaning casually by the doorway, their sharp shooter keeping watch, Reno broke the silence.

"This about that cat that got shot with his wife?"

How Reno knew about it, Ray could only chalk up to the redhead's street connections in the slums.

Cloud looked confused - the blond really had no idea what it was Ray's family truly did for a living - but concerned.

"Your dad want you to leave camp?"

At Jared's words, Cloud's back snapped ramrod straight as Ray was suddenly pinned beneath the force of sky blue lasers.

No.

He wondered if the small blond was telepathic, because he could've sworn he'd heard Cloud's voice in his head clear as day.

"You gotta go home, Johnson?"

Reno's voice was as casual as usual, body language deceptively loose and languid, but those clear blue eyes were sharp as the shrapnel that had torn through his mother's legs.

Ray didn't know what to say.

He didn't want to go home, he wanted to stay. But at the same time, he couldn't ignore a direct order from his father. He was underaged still, and he wasn't the head of the Family…

"Do you want to go home, Ray?"

That soft voice silenced the frantic whispers in his head.

Cloud.

The smallest of them all looked concerned, sad, those baby blues pained but open, accepting, understanding.

If Ray wanted to go home, Cloud wouldn't say anything to stop him. But if Ray didn't…

Who're you kidding? You're just a bunch of nobodies.

For all their successes as Team Fenrir, for all their renown in training camp, even hanging out with the Brigadier General and the General, they weren't anything more than maggots on the food chain.

And yet...

He balled his fists, clenched his teeth. He didn't want to go home. He was happy here, he wanted to stay, to be part of the gang.

"Alright."

Had he said any of that aloud?

Cloud looked determined, they all did. Jared had squared his shoulders, Ralph's jaw was set in that tell-tale sign the other boy was ready for a fight.

Were they…?

They were going to do what they could to help him stay, somehow. Ray would've hugged them if he didn't think they were delusional. They were just cadets, two of them orphans, one from a broken shanty town, the other from a backwater village in the mountains. What could they do?

"Team Fenrir for life, remember?"

Ray had almost forgotten what Cloud was like, when the blond had had his about face, become someone not to be messed with. He'd gotten comfortable with the other, used to being part of his inner circle, used to being trusted, leaned on, let in.

In more ways than one.

Stop it.

It didn't make a difference, them wanting to help him stay, because they were just pawns in a bigger game, just kids on the bottom rung of the ladder.

But it did.

##

Tuesday. 1547 hours.

Sephiroth stirred, smelling Wutaian.

Zack must want something.

Zack.

Memories of the night before, of the days past, came rushing back to him. Disjointed and fragmented: a masked trio, pain, monsters and mecha, sneaking onboard a Shinra vessel, trying desperately to keep breathing, missing Engineers and Genesis clones, First Class SOLDIERs who should've been dead but weren't..

One thing was absolutely clear though: he'd made it home, and Zack and Cloud had been waiting for him.

Why was he even in Zack's apartment in the first place?

"I know you're awake, Seph."

There really was no fooling the dark haired man, sometimes.

He cracked his eyes open, saw Zack's back - so similar to Angeal's and yet not - as the man pottered about the kitchen humming that infernal rhyme he'd made up long ago.

"Sephiroth and Cloudy sitting in a tree…"

Rolling his eyes, he made to rise, pushing a hand into the plush cushions.

His hand.

It'd been warm through the night, somehow he knew. Clasped in a smaller grip, as blue sky and a sweet smile filled his vision, a soft, strong voice welcoming him home, telling him they needed to let people in.

Cloud.

He'd apologized, or was that just a dream? He couldn't be sure, he'd been in and out of consciousness, but he vaguely remembered the small blond letting him know he understood, tearing down his defenses with laser precision.

Welcome home, Sephiroth.

He'd heard those words from the cadet last night, of that he was absolutely certain.

"K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Zack was an idiot, that much was certain too.

Sighing, the General pushed himself fully upright, noting the soreness that told him he still needed to rest, the bandages that criss-crossed his torso.

Cloud had fixed him up last night.

How the blond had done such a good job despite being only fifteen made Sephiroth wonder, but not for long. Zack was sashaying over, smirking and humming some other silly tune, carrying a plate - at least he'd put it on a plate, excellent job Zachary - laden with Wutaian goodness, and a few bottles of water.

He was really thirsty, he realized.

He downed three bottles of water, was reaching for the fourth, when Zack's smirking and humming finally made him snap.

"What?"

He'd never had such weak will power before, but he was injured.

"Nothingggggg." That sing song voice made him want to throw the other man into a wall.

Though the way his body ached, he'd probably only be able to do that tomorrow.

Rolling his eyes, which seemed to please Zack to no end, because the other man started chortling openly, he downed the bottle of water before reaching for the plate of food.

It was all his favorites. Zack really did want something.

The dark haired SOLDIER would spill the beans soon enough, as long as Sephiroth kept silent and aggravated him. For now, the General needed to refuel and get better.

Bringing a forkful of spicy goodness to his lips, he recalled Cloud welcoming him home last night.

Had their usual takeout joint changed their recipe? Because the food had never tasted this good.

##

Tuesday. 2100 hours.

Zack had been expecting Cloud to hang back to chat, but he hadn't expected the topic.

His little chocobo was just full of surprises these days.

Blinking, the First tried to wrap his head around what his flushed and stammering friend was mumbling, but a part of him was jumping for joy and screaming to the rafters (internally, of couse. Wouldn't do to scare the boy).

Cloud was asking him for help.

For the kid to reach out like this, to take the initiative - even if it was for that Junon mobster friend of his - made Zack want to glomp his little buddy.

"Of course!"

He'd agreed without thinking, but this was a special occasion.

Cloud had asked for help. And Zack wouldn't let him down, even if it killed him.

Sephiroth probably would though, once Zack approached the man for his help. So sue him, but even the Family couldn't say no to the General - that was the only way to settle this matter.

Cloud didn't need to know the details, of course. As far as the Chicky was concerned, Zack Fair had made his day.

The small but beaming smile he received was proof of that.

Today was a great day.

As Zack skipped back to his apartment, humming, he thought back to last night - returning to find Cloud curled up, holding on to Seph's hand under the covers (Zack had peeked, wondering if the blond had been holding something else). Then this morning, and the way the kid had obviously been on Cloud Nine simply having slept on the floor next to the General - the Nibelheim cadet was way too sweet and pure sometimes - and the conversation he'd had with Sephiroth in the afternoon.

Well, the one-sided conversation. Because his silver-haired friend had done his best to tune him out, but Zack was fluent in body language.

And boy, had Sephiroth sung like a canary.

From twitches of a silver eyebrow, to involuntary clenching of slim fingers, to full on red tints on pale ears, the General had all but declared his affections for the blond cadet.

Now the only issue was getting them to slowly work towards a proper relationship, in time for an epic consummation on Cloud's 16th birthday.

Because Zack knew his friend, knew the General had to be sure this was right, this was what Cloud wanted, this was acceptable and OK.

The huge gap in their ranks aside - Zack was certain Cloud would rocket up the ladder anyway, the kid was a brilliant fighter and strategist - Sephiroth was a whole decade older than Cloud.

It made sense that the SOLDIER was hesitant about starting anything, about whether a relationship would be inappropriate.

Zack wanted to scream that it didn't matter, as long as they were happy and Cloud was of legal age before they started getting down and dirty, but at the same time he'd wanted to do the Spazzing Seal.

For Sephiroth to be worrying so much about something like that, it meant he really did care about the other.

So he'd changed the topic, laying into his superior officer without mercy about trying to be a damn hero, wanting to shoulder everything on his own, hurting those he was shutting out and leaving behind, and had been stunned into silence when Sephiroth had agreed.

No frills, no unnecessary prose. Just a simple "you're right".

Cloud must have broached the topic last night, it was the only logical reason why the General was suddenly so agreeable.

He'd switched tracks after that, alternately teasing and reassuring, telling his friend that the blond definitely cared, was 110% interested, that it was OK even with the age gap but maybe wait till Cloud's 16 before you fuck…

"Don't say such vulgar things about Cloud."

Sephiroth had snapped at him, for the first time ever. Zack was proud of himself for holding back on the Spazzing Seal, but he went ahead and gave himself two mental pats on the back.

He'd deliberately triggered the General, for shits and giggles, and it had worked. Sephiroth was injured, that much was certain, but for the usually controlled man to be so easily riled because of the word 'fuck'…

Sephiroth and Cloudy sitting in a tree.

It was love, plain and simple. The first time the silver-haired man had ever felt so strongly for another, had ever cared so deeply for someone else.

They were absolutely perfect for each other. Both so incredibly lacking in social skills, scared and scarred yet bravely protecting everyone else, soldiering on and taking the weight of the world on their shoulders silently without asking for anything in return.

Both so damn loyal and dutiful, so damn innocent and unsure.

Both so ridiculously intelligent yet absolutely idiotic.

Those two were meant to be. And Zack would make it happen, no matter the consequences.

He'd set into motion a little plan to ensure the two would get to spend quality time together soon, and alright this time he couldn't hold back on the Spazzing Seal.

He'd earned it.

##

Wednesday. 2112 hours.

Ray was taking his time in the shower, but he'd deliberately built a reputation for it anyway.

He needed the time to re-read the message in his hand several times.

General called. You can stay.

The General had called his father to persuade him to let Ray remain in training?

This was Cloud's doing, of that there was no doubt. There was only one person in the world who held such sway over the greatest SOLDIER of all time, only one in his little Family in the barracks who could've reached out so quickly and gotten things done.

So that was why Cloud had stayed back to speak to the Brigadier General last night, why the blond had looked positively radiant today after a whisper from the dark-haired First Class. Ray had assumed it was about the General, but he'd thought it had something to do with those mutual feelings that were obvious to everyone but the General and Cloud.

Cloud.

His friend had stepped in immediately, used the one connection he had beyond their little circle of cadets, had gotten the General of SOLDIER himself to call Don Johnson. Hadn't said a word to Ray, hadn't wanted to claim any credit or ask for anything in return.

Had simply helped because Ray was his friend.

He was glad no one was watching him. He wouldn't fool anyone by claiming the water on his face was from the shower.

Thank you.

Fuck it. The whole world could watch for all he cared. Real men cried.

##

Thursday. 0945 hours.

Life is beautiful.

Jared hadn't truly felt that way in a long time, but today was a good day.

Ray wasn't leaving, and it was thanks to Cloud.

There was no need to wonder who'd done it, who'd made it happen, when the silver eyed cadet had burst out of the shower stall last night, charging at Cloud who'd been patiently waiting for them in the doorway - blond locks need extra moisturizing and conditioning, silly goose, stop rushing through your beauty regime! - and wrapping the stunned boy in a wet hug.

No one thought for a second that the water dripping off Ray's chin was from the shower. Not with the way his friend, the boy who'd saved him from the streets, who'd always stood tall and stoic and calm against everything and everyone, had sobbed, clinging desperately onto a lithe, lean body, as Cloud awkwardly tried to handle what was probably more affection than he was used to.

It would've been hilarious if it hadn't made Jared so damn happy he'd jumped right in, all thoughts of wet, naked & clothed cadets out the window as he realized what it meant.

Then Ralph had whooped, and they'd all toppled to the ground.

Reno had of course played it cool, but the redhead hadn't fooled anyone, not with how relieved he'd looked, how lean shoulders had finally relaxed for the first time in two days.

Ray was staying.

Jared didn't know how to thank Cloud for this gift. He liked the whole crew, he admitted it, as more than just fuck buddies, but he adored Ray and Ralph most of all.

He wouldn't be whole without them.

The Nibelheim cadet probably didn't realize how much it meant to him, to Ray, to any of them, but for someone who'd been without a family for so long, knowing their little posse was not losing anyone was a gift worthy of a million Christmases.

Right then and there, Jared had resolved to do better, whatever it took, to pay Cloud back for this small act of kindness. While there was no doubt the deed had been done for selfish reasons - Cloud obviously cared about Ray and didn't want his friend to leave - the fact remained that it mattered like hell to the taller blond.

Ray was staying.

Jared would find a way to make it up to Cloud somehow for all his snide remarks, for ignoring the smaller blond before, for being jealous and insecure and angry because the other cadet still had a mom at least, was the apple of the Brigadier General's eye, the top student in their cohort, the love of the General's life.

The General.

That's it!

Cloud was the smartest person he knew and also the dumbest person he knew. Jared would make sure the Nibelheim cadet hooked up with the General somehow, even if it killed him.

They could all get by with a little help from their friends, after all.

##

Friday. 0730 hours.

Life is beautiful.

Zack was humming a new song, or maybe it was a remix of some old song, but who cared? He'd invited the Bad Boys & That Kalm Kid over tomorrow night, Sephiroth had made sure the Junon cadet wasn't leaving the program, Cloud had smiled a mega-watt smile at Zack, and he was now watching his favorite TV show:

Cadets Gone Wild: Battle Sims Edition.

And it was a fact that they'd gone completely wild. Sephiroth was clearly in a good mood.

The course was simple, deceptively so. An old school Western showdown, every team in a burned out saloon, waiting. The target: to pull an arrow down from the top of a pillar in the middle of the 'town'.

Let's get down to business.

##

Friday. 0731 hours.

Talk about a shit show.

Reno huffed, ducking down from the window where he'd been firing wildly at the building across the street as soon as the horn had sounded.

How the hell were they suppose to achieve the objective of getting to the damn pillar, climbing it, and yanking the arrow out without getting killed by the other teams?

Cloud's strategy last night had been unexpected, as usual. And downright devilish, which Reno approved of, but it still seemed impossible.

Never try, never know.

Fuck it, he'd thrown his lot in with this crazy bunch, and he'd go down fighting next to them.

##

Friday. 0752 hours.

War is not freedom.

It was Jared's fault for humming that song as soon as they'd gotten the Battle Sims mission pack yesterday. Ray called it an ear worm.

Cloud called it annoying. Though he had to admit the song rang true.

Loyal brave and true.

Goddammit.

He needed to focus, theirs was a plan that relied on split second timing, absolute precision.

Now if everyone could stop singing the damn song, it'd be just peachy.

##

Friday. 0808 hours.

Ralph had to admit, when he'd heard the plan last night he'd wanted to laugh.

He was in a great mood anyway, since Cloud had stopped Ray's father from taking him out of the program, but he'd wanted to laugh for a totally different reason.

It was only right now that the small blond's genius became apparent, and the plan made perfect sense.

Damn, son.

Cloud could probably give the General a run for his money.

As the Nibelheim cadet had predicted, the other teams would be lost, unsure about which saloon held the Thirds, no one wanting to be the first to charge towards the pillar only to be gunned down by everyone else.

It also meant that everyone was focused on watching the street, so no one was paying attention to the back of the saloons.

Winning takes bravery.

The song was pretty catchy, he had to admit.

He was on sniper duty, as usual. The others causing enough of a ruckus for him to sneak out and take up a position in the decrepit tower at the end of the main street. He supposed he had years of sneaking around Rocket Town to be grateful for his stealth abilities.

All for my family.

##

Friday. 0810 hours.

Sephiroth had to admit he was surprised, again, by Cloud's brilliance.

99.9% of teams in this simulation opted for the kamikaze route, throwing all rationality to the wind and simply charging at the pillar until the last one standing got to the top and yanked out the arrow, looking down to see everyone dead on the street.

Fake dead, but still dead, if this wasn't a simulation.

Yet Team Fenrir was up to something, cadet after cadet sneaking out the back as Cloud and some of his team mates laid cover fire, distracting the others.

Their resident sniper was already comfortably in position, while others, including that Junon cadet whose father he'd had to call personally, were waiting calmly behind some enemy saloons.

Interesting.

He really shouldn't have taken the time to come, who knew how long it'd be till it was over, but he'd been curious. Zack's persistent whining about it, despite being flung into the wall a total of 57 times, hadn't helped temper his curiosity and sheer desire to see Cloud in action.

But he had a mountain of paperwork waiting, and being here meant he'd be stuck in the office till late afternoon tomorrow.

It was worth it though, when Team Fenrir finally sprung into action.

Somehow the cadets moved at the same time, despite having no radio capabilities. He assumed it had something to do with the way their lips had moved, originally wondering why they were giving away their position, but now he realized they'd been keeping time by silently singing the same song.

Interesting.

He could use that in the field, some day.

##

Friday. 0833 hours.

It had gone like clockwork.

Exactly as Cloud had predicted, their flash bombs through the back door - he really was developing an affinity for this mode of entry, dammit - had startled enemy teams enough for them to be easily taken out by spraying saloons with paint pellets.

It also meant that for each saloon Team Fenrir took out, the infiltrators simply needed to rush in, grab the downed enemy's flash bombs, lob them into the next saloon, and rinse and repeat.

Anyone who dashed onto the street to escape the flash bombs was picked off easily by Ralph in his nest.

Now came the hardest part.

Cloud took a breath, nodding once at Reno, before steeling himself and dashing out the door of their saloon.

Out in the open.

He hated being so vulnerable and exposed. That was just asking for trouble.

No one to save me.

He could do this. He'd saved the world several times, had battled the greatest enemies their planet had ever seen. He just had to be…

Loyal, brave and true.

Goddammit.

Ducking low, running in zig zags, and praying like hell his team had his back, Cloud sprinted towards the central pillar.

Right on cue, the Thirds burst out of the saloon they'd been waiting in, desperate for payback against him.

Check yourself before you wreck yourself.

He'd been counting on their bruised egos.

Before they could take aim, they were falling like flies, courtesy of one very dependable Ralph Vikers.

He reached the pillar and started the climb, grateful for his daily private training, and that streak of stubbornness that had helped him defeat all enemies of world peace.

They weren't allowed to remove their packs, but he was grateful for that, as it served as a shield right now.

He knew he was taking hits, stray shots aimed at the sole mad man who was ascending the pillar, but as long as he kept his head low, and scrambled like a damn monkey up the column…

Almost there.

His arms burned, the pillar was insanely high.

Will I be stronger, or will I be weak?

The answer was simple, he'd proven it plenty of times.

When push came to shove, Cloud always came through.

The arrow was sunk in deep, but it was no match for him. Yanking it out, trying not to fall over backwards from the momentum and the weight of the pack, he waited, breathlessly, until the blessed horn rang through the arena.

YES!

They'd won, again.

As he slid easily down the pillar, knowing he shouldn't show off but really not caring right now, he heard Jeffries' booming voice announcing that they'd won, but were 38 seconds away from the course record.

Whatever.

This was a SOLDIER arena after all, and they were only cadets.

##

Friday. 2020 hours.

So that's how it is.

Ray had declared tonight Club Night, without explaining why.

The others knew though.

As they wandered through the slums to their usual spot, the locals having gotten used to seeing more than a hundred cadets out at once on Friday nights, he'd spotted his mother's brother ducking into an alley that led to No Man's Land.

None of the Families had sway over that one strip of the slums. It was a Neutral Zone, and one that they only entered when it came to the Family Business.

The last time his father had entered that area, it'd been to promise not to declare war for the bombing that had taken his wife's legs.

So why was Uncle Fredo going in there now?

Another man ducked into the alley not long after. Ray didn't recognize him, so he must have been from another Family.

A low whistle as Reno made himself known, they were all getting quite aggressive to sudden movements, courtesy of training, before a lean arm was slung around his shoulders, an alcohol-tinged breath in his ear.

"That dude's the Barzini enforcer, Sollozzo. He's bad news, bro. Pushes drugs to kids, cuts their organs out for sale, keeps an entire stable of women locked up somewhere just to get them pregnant so he has an army of bastards doing his dirty work."

Barzini?

He had to get a message out to his father, immediately. The War had begun.

##

Saturday. 1600 hours.

"Right on time, boys!"

That chirpy voice welcomed them in, Zack grinning as Ray returned the sweaters he'd lent them previously, chuckling as the Junon cadet mentioned they'd had them cleaned.

"Thanks kids, but you didn't have to."

The SOLDIER laughed as he was presented with more whisky, telling them he didn't accept bribes but gleefully taking the bottles anyway.

They were settled in, Cloud on the couch alone for some reason, holding a bowl filled with pretzels, when Zack cursed.

"What is it?"

He didn't like it when Zack was unhappy.

"I forgot to take my DVD back! I really wanted to watch it again with all of you." Those sad puppy dog eyes tugged at him.

"Could we go get it?" He'd do anything for Zack after all.

The First looked at Cloud assessingly, before seeming to come to a decision, nodding and rising.

"Could you? Here's my keycard." The blond accepted it without thinking, wondering why he needed it when the doorman recognized him by now.

"It's upstairs."

Upstairs.

Upstairs.

That was Sephiroth's penthouse.

Eyes widening, Cloud stared at Zack even as he was ushered out the door, not missing the smirks on his friends' faces, or the twinkle in blue eyes as Zack assured him that Sephiroth was still at work, that it'd only take a second.

Right.

He stared at the elevator button, jabbing it unconsciously, then he was tapping the keycard against the panel and the metal cage was moving.

When the doors dinged open, he peered out, half hoping the General was home and yet not because how weird would it be for a cadet to come waltzing in all of a sudden?

He wasn't going to think about how he felt when he realized the luxurious duplex was empty.

Stepping over the threshold hesitantly, he spotted the DVD easily on the coffee table, its garish cover screaming the title at all and sundry.

Just why Zack was so adamant about watching Avengers: Endgame, Cloud couldn't understand. Nor could he see the General ever watching such a film.

He went ahead and picked it up anyway, studiously ignoring the pristine white couch that pretended three weeks ago hadn't happened with its subtle, blood-free shine in the golden sunset.

The elevator dinged, and suddenly Cloud understood what a rabbit in headlights felt like.

Sephiroth was stepping out, casually pulling at his tie, when he realized he wasn't alone. Sharp green eyes locked on to baby blues, before widening.

Cloud would've thought that expression adorable if he hasn't been desperately thinking about how to explain himself.

"…Zack…movie…"

It seemed the General had figured it out, seeing the DVD and keycard the cadet was clutching to his chest.

The flickers of emotions that passed through emerald eyes were too far to make out, but the rueful tilt to those lips wasn't.

"Of course."

Cloud blinked.

It seemed like forever before Sephiroth spoke again, the two of them staring at each other from opposite ends of the expansive apartment.

"You're spending the day at Zack's?"

When had that smooth voice lost its authoritative edge, become so intimate and familiar?

Cloud flushed slightly, wanted to kick himself.

Be a man, dammit!

The General was still waiting patiently, looking like the cover of a glossy magazine or a billboard in the middle of the city.

There should be limits on how absurdly attractive someone could be.

At a cocked eyebrow, Cloud sputtered back to life.

"No! Yes! I mean, we just got here…there! And Zack said…"

Shiva save me.

He was an idiot.

C'mon, Cloud, you can do this. It's just a conversation.

"Do you wanna come?"

Was that a proposition?

He flushed fifty shades of red, no doubt, given the heat radiating off his face. The way those elegant eyebrows shot up, Cloud wished desperately for Meteor to hit him.

"Sure."

He blinked. Had Sephiroth just…?

"But I need to change."

I can help.

SHUT UP.

Cloud wasn't sure if he'd responded, maybe he did, given the General had started moving, walking towards him - Cloud wasn't sure what breathing was anymore - before taking the stairs up to his room.

His room.

Oh Lordy, Cloud was a goner.

Not wanting to sit, because that would just be presumptuous and he didn't like that brilliantly white sofa that ignored three weeks ago, he was left standing awkwardly in the middle of the living room, clutching a DVD and a keycard to his chest like a silly girl in one of those cartoons Denzel liked to watch.

When Sephiroth came back down the stairs, looking like a supermodel on a catwalk despite wearing only jeans and another white henley, sleeves pushed up his (toned and muscular) forearms casually, Cloud really didn't know what that thing called breathing was.

The General walked over, barefoot and soundless, and Cloud wondered if he'd died and gone to Heaven.

How did anyone smell this good after being at work all day?

He almost missed the bashful look that flickered across an elegant mien, before a voice - he was sure it was Sephiroth's, but the man had never sounded so awkward before - broke the trance.

"This is yours, I believe."

Looking down at the outstretched hand, he recognized his old balisong. He'd left it behind, that time, too upset to think about taking it along three weeks ago when he'd been told to leave the penthouse.

Hesitantly, he reached out, not sure if his fingers had meant to brush a warm palm by accident.

When he looked up again, that bashful look was back, as was the self-recrimination in green eyes.

What…?

"I'm sorry, about before."

Before?

But Sephiroth had already apologized on Monday, and Cloud had told him he wasn't mad. Did that mean the silver-haired man had forgotten everything? He certainly looked none the worse for wear right now, standing before the blond like a vision of beauty and strength, but…

"Haven't we been over this?"

Oh good job, Strife, speaking your mind and all.

Shut up.

He couldn't believe he was speaking so casually, even though he'd yelled at Sephiroth plenty of times in the future. He was just a cadet, for crying out loud.

It was worth it to see those emeralds widen, before an amused glint made itself known.

"Yes, but I wanted to apologize properly." Cloud wanted to swoon. "It's the least I could do."

Cloud absolutely swooned.

Belatedly, he realized broad shoulders had tensed slightly, as though the SOLDIER was waiting for him to respond.

It seemed the General truly did feel bad about three weeks ago. Cloud wanted to cry.

Thank you.

"It's OK."

He wasn't sure if the smile had come through properly, until he saw the way green eyes lit up, then all of a sudden something happened that had Cloud wondering if he was in an alternate universe.

His nostrils were filled with Sephiroth, warm, spicy, woody, and somewhat citrusy, his cheek pressed against a soft henley and a solid chest beneath it.

Wha…?

He was standing on his own again, bereft of warmth save where a large hand was still holding him. And his face of course.

Forget cooking an egg on his face, Cloud was pretty sure he could cook a three course meal on it.

Dimly he registered that the General's ears were red, before he was being guided back to the elevator, that hand still pressed lightly against his lower back, and then they were in Zack's apartment and the knowing looks (and snickers from Ralph) should've given Cloud his motor skills back but they didn't.

So it was only natural that he moved to sit on the couch next to Sephiroth just as that hand guided him to.

##

Saturday. 1935 hours.

Zack 1 : Silly lovebirds 1,000,000.

The dark haired SOLDIER wanted to pat himself on the back for how flawlessly his plan had progressed, right down to Sephiroth coming back to his apartment just as the tiny blond was getting the DVD Zack had intentionally placed on the coffee table.

And for the General to be acting like this, keeping Cloud close to him on the couch - it was absolutely their couch now - as he and the blond teamed up to play a video game against the rest of them…

SCORE.

Zack was a genius, thanks very much.

When the Dumb Duo lost, and Sephiroth grumbled that the way the fighters moved in Tekken 7 was highly illogical, and Zack saw the way those baby blues just looked up at his tall friend worshipfully, the universe suddenly felt completely, absolutely right.

And when Sephiroth leaned back, arm casually between Cloud and the sofa as he grabbed pretzels from the bowl on the cadet's lap, Zack committed the scene to memory. He wasn't going to ruin it by taking his phone out.

No, he was just going to be here, right now, watching two people he cared deeply about be happy next to each other.

That's me in the corner.

Maybe he'd go to the church tomorrow.

Hours later, after he'd laid blankets on the cadets passed out in his living room, before he made his way to his own bed, he took one last look at the couch and couldn't resist taking his phone out this time.

They'd thank him later.

Sephiroth had fallen asleep, one strong arm still wrapped around Cloud, and neither had stirred as Zack had tucked the throws around their shoulders and hips.

Life is beautiful.

It was, it really was.

##

A/N 1: 'Losing My Religion' is a song by R.E.M. Check out the lyrics and you'll know why I deliberately referenced it (and included the lyrics) in Zack's POVs this chapter, as well as in Cloud's POV while in Zack's apartment.

A/N 2: The conversation with Tseng that Zack was referring to, about God being on vacation, is in Chapter 6.

A/N 3: The future scene references bits from earlier chapters, where I address some of the time travel thing and feature the team from the original game. The part about Yuffie freaking out at Jared was mentioned in Chapter 12. Cid's acceptance of the situation was mentioned in Chapter 11. Ray first makes an appearance to Tifa in the future in Chapter 8, when Rude & Tifa question Reno about how he knows the other.

A/N 4: Several other song references in Zack's Monday 2155 hours segment. There's "That's what friends are for" (Dionne Warwick), and "I will follow you into the dark" (Death Cab For Cutie).

A/N 5: I made reference to the X-Men movie "Days of Future Past" in Chapter 11 as well.

A/N 6: The last line in Jared's POV is a play on "With a little help from my friends" by The Beatles.

A/N 7: Yes, serious Mulan vibes with the Battle Sims objective (arrow on the pillar), as well as the inclusion of "I'll Make A Man Out Of You" lyrics and "Loyal Brave True" lyrics.

A/N 8: I am a huge fan of the Godfather. Those who're familiar with it might recognize my deliberate use of the names Fredo, Barzini, and Sollozo.

A/N 9: In Chapter 10 I mentioned Zack lending the cadets sweaters to head back to the barracks after a night at his place.

A/N 10: Yeah, it seems to be going well with Seph and Cloud #NoPromises

A/N 11: I'm going to be busy for awhile, an ex-colleague got me some freelance work. So just pumped this chapter out as fast as I could. See y'all next time. Stay safe.