A/N: This is for Meggurra my new beta who is working with me to revamp and revise Fourth Time's the Charm and eventually Ghost of Wutai. Thank you for your help and as you requested: a dominate Cloud with subordinate Sephiroth fic. Since you left me to my own devise with this one, I hope you enjoy the nonsense that my mind has created.

Prompt: Illulian presented this one to me but basically, this story is inspired by the story A SOLDIER's Weapon (if you haven't read it, I suggest you do, 'cause it's awesome).

Anywho, insert AC!Cloud in place of Zack and Young!Sephiroth in place of Cloud. Put them in a situation similar to that of the final Crisis Core scene and have Sephiroth become Cloud's living legacy. Years later, Sephiroth meets Young!Cloud and the paradoxical chaos associated with characters going back and trying to change the timeline, ensues.

Only, I expanded on this. I could not imagine this as a oneshot, so, I have planned, a possible three to fiveshot. It may turn out to be only three chapters long or it could expand past five. But hey~ Yah never know.

Any comments, reviews and the like are loved. I thrive off feedback.

Disclaimer: This was for fun, not for profit. I own nothing FF7 related….blah blah blah. To quote another writer: "These are not my characters, I'm just abusing them".

Summary: Gift for Meggurra: Sometimes, changing the past causes unexpected results. AU. Time travel fic. Young!Seph x AC!Cloud. m/m slash. Seph centric.

Words: 3,412

Rating: PG-13

Cause and Effect

By Catsitta

Lesson One: Never stalk a SOLDIER unless you want to be caught

Have you ever felt like you knew someone despite never seeing his face before? Like a faraway dream that drifting lazily at the outskirts of the conscious mind, teasing you with a sense of familiarity. Did you talk to them, ask their name, or did you sit and watch them walk by, those questions you so eagerly formed in thought not quite escaping into actual words?

Sephiroth had this feeling.

For damn near three years, he quietly watched, listened and learned about the stranger that he thought he should know. Never did he approach the man. It simply did not feel…right. So, he did his best to observe the stranger and after all these years, the urge to talk to him was overpowering. Never before had the silver-haired sixteen-year-old wanted to converse with someone so badly. He hated socializing. It was an awkward exchange at best but he found himself caring less and less about the fact.

For three years, he watched this man come in and out of the labs, each visit becoming more reluctant than the last. Understandable really, no one liked catching the interest of Professor Hojo. The scientist loved playing with patients he found interesting. Games that involved ridiculous amounts of experimental fluids, hypodermic needles from hell and all sorts of sharp, pointy things he could use to dissect the unfortunate curiosity.

But First Class SOLDIER, Cloud Strife, was more than just a mere, fleeting interest to the lunatic. He was a highly enhanced toy that could be cut to bits and survive…not that Strife ever let Hojo do anything of that nature. For all he was an enigma of sorts, the blond man did have a few quirks that never wavered and were made very clear to even the most oblivious of observer. He hated needles and labs. He hated Hojo (then again, who didn't?). And he had an unhealthy obsession with his trademark weapon, a fusion sword called First Tsurugi. That, and he never, and Sephiroth was sure when he meant never, let Hojo perform any kind of exam outside of the standard issue.

Then again, even those tests revealed how little anyone knew about the First.

Three years ago, when Sephiroth was still a project under the microscope, waiting for his chance to unveil his talents, Strife appeared out of nowhere. It was a very distinct memory inside his mind when Hojo came into the labs pulling at his hair, an unconscious blond stranger wheeled in on a stretcher behind him.

"What do you mean his mako levels surpass that of our capable measurement?" The skinny scientist snapped, his oily ponytail in disarray, "Our tools can track Specimen S's levels and his are the highest of any SOLDIER alive."

An auburn woman with wire rim glasses looked away with shame. The dark-haired man helping her with the table did the same.

"Where did you say they found him?" Hojo asked, quieter this time.

"Outside the facilities…just, lying there unconscious." The woman replied.

"Identification?"

"He carried none outside of a handful of business cards. They all refer to a Cloud Strife of Midgar Delivery Service…but we did a check. There is no company of that name in our records nor is there any mention to Cloud Strife… He…he is off the radar, professor. The Turks are doing an investigation now."

Sephiroth peered from around the corner, shivering with the sensations that flooded over him. The blond's presence, even while unconscious, made him feel exposed, vulnerable…frightened. There was an aura of strength and tragedy that radiated from the stranger. Immediately, the teen knew that the scars littering the man's body held significance. He was a warrior. Despite his stature, small and lean, this, Cloud Strife, was not a man to take lightly and turn you back on.

But who was he?

Blue eyes snapped open and met those of mako green.

Suddenly, Sephiroth found himself pinned beneath the man, that lean body ever ounce as strong as he suspected. Hot, blinding anger and hatred pooled in the blond's eyes. For the first time, the silver-haired teen thought he was going to die. After everything he went through at Hojo's hands, the hell and torture, he never thought a mere man would ever make him feel threatened. But this one did. He made him feel beyond terrified. Beyond weak.

Shouts of alarm rang out in the lab and the blond tightened his death grip on Sephiroth's shoulders. He said nothing. He simply stared at him, conflict developing within those blue orbs, battling against the spite. As the worst of the hatred faded, the teen actually realized something very important. The blond was beautiful. So very beautiful.

Pale skin drawn over the soft contours of a youthful face. A mouth with full lips, plump and ready for kissing. And that hair, wild and gravity defying, looked so soft and touchable.

It was severely embarrassing at the time to admit, but Sephiroth was attracted to the stranger. Before that moment, he never considered his preferences. Even afterwards, he found himself confused. Only the blond ever made his heart race with anticipation. No one else, male or female, even perked his interest. Over the next couple years, he would consider the possibility that it was not the fact that Cloud was male that aroused him, but something else…deeper, more complex, such as the lithe strength and deadly reflexes—the knowledge that if he so chose, the blond could kill him in an instant.

Cloud eventually loosened his hold, eyes closing, muttering nonsense under his breath. He shook his head and allowed the scientists to pull him off the prized specimen, going limp in their hold.

Questions fluttered into Sephiroth's mind like butterflies, each lazily floating, teasing him as they came to rest for but a moment before lifting and moving skywards.

Who was this stranger? Why did he attack him, and only him? Why did he have exorbitant amounts of mako in his system despite not being a SOLDIER?

Letting his mind return to the present, the silver-haired teen focused on said stranger. Gaia. Cloud was graceful.

In an impressive display, the First twisted around in the air, leaping nearly to the ceiling of the SOLDIER training gym, before moving like a missile towards the ground, spiraling into the descent. First Tsurugi would have ended up imbedded into the floor had the blond not pulled his strength from behind the attack, drawing the blade discreetly upwards as he fell. Cloud landed before his strike, dropping neatly into a crouch, the point of his weapon barely touching the floor. He drew in slow, even breaths before lifting the blade and going through the more complex of the basic poses.

Sephiroth always looked for flaws in the warrior's stance. He never found one.

There was an ethereal kind of perfection about the blond's movements…It was like watching a spirit or (dare he say) and angel at times. There was no other possible explanation or description for the way Cloud moved and attacked. It was…breathtaking.

Mako eyes locked onto the SOLDIER, the teen watched intently as Cloud finished his routine and brought the oversized sword down, letting it's tip rest momentarily on the floor. His breathing steady. His skin possessing the slightest sheen of sweat. Sephiroth shook his head slowly; any other SOLDIER would be gasping for air after that display, even himself. Silently, he willed for the blond to feel his gaze and look his way. Gaia, for once let the man notice him!

It was frustrating to know that, despite him being the hero of Wutain War and THE General of the military at a mere sixteen years of age, Cloud barely paid him any attention. Yes, Sephiroth had been in his presence on numerous occasions over the past couple years during missions and the like, but Cloud never said a word outside of what was necessary. Truly, it was astounding how little he knew about his prized First despite how much time they were around each other. One would think he and Cloud would be close in some way or another…but they weren't. Maybe, he mused, it was possible that the blond was trying to keep distance between them.

But again, why? Did he still feel guilt about attacking him unprovoked all those years ago? If so, that was the past. It was a humbling experience for the teen, but hardly a bad one. It was in moments like those that Sephiroth gained respect for him… Though if Cloud really was ashamed of that day, maybe that would explain his refusal for promotion to his Commander. Instead, he recommended the two other pet projects—those of Hollander— Genesis Rhapsodos and Angeal Hewley. Both were young and friends of Sephiroth's, already assumed to hold rank one day in the military, but still…they lacked experience.

Just like himself.

Of all the people to make General, why him? Why the child SOLDIER? Why not Cloud?

Wait…he blinked. They did offer. After his impressive display of tactical leadership and fighting prowess during the war (his feats shadowed by his own means, pushing Sephiroth into the spotlight in many cases), he was the optimal choice for leading the military. True, he was a mako-enhanced fighter that randomly appeared on ShinRa's doorstep with no recollection of his past or how he became to be as he was. But he was still a levelheaded man that was both immensely powerful and beautifully brilliant.

He was—Sephiroth was unashamed to admit with an inward sigh of admiration—perfect.

Everything he strived to be.

Everything he wanted…needed…desired.

As he felt heat pool in his lower regions, the teen clamped his eyes shut, fighting back the sudden arousal. True, he was not ashamed of admiring or even liking the blond. What bothered him was the sexual attraction he felt. Hojo always told him that it was not possible for him to feel desire…along with a whole spectrum of human emotions. But along with all the other things that made Cloud different was how he raised feelings inside Sephiroth he believed never existed. This all but cemented his obsession with the fighter.

Drawing in calming breaths, the teen opened his eyes. He had to get back to work. Even if he was sixteen, he was the General and General had stuff to do…unfortunately. But as he turned to walk away, he realized that someone stood in his path. Surprised, he leapt backwards and reached for his weapon, a specialized katana named Masamune, only to find it missing. He never went anywhere without it. That meant…!

Sephiroth paled and let his eyes travel from the floor up towards two steeled blue eyes.

"C-cloud!" He yelped before swallowing and regaining his composure. "Er, Strife. A pleasure to see you." It was bizarre how the other male could leave him so…small. It was not as if the man was particularly intimidating in size, rather, he stood about the same height as himself. Sephiroth knew that his own growth pattern would have him around six foot one by the time he was nineteen. But for now, standing at five foot eight, he could look the blond straight in those fearsome blue eyes. Not exactly a pleasant experience when all things were considered.

Cloud tilted his head and frowned. Nothing betrayed how he felt aside from that slight downwards curve of his lips. He seemed disappointed. So Sephiroth felt humiliated. What had he done to make the man he practically worshipped to look displeased? Gaia, he prayed he was not blushing from sheered discomfort…And why was this whole exchange not dealing with that not-so-little problem in his pants? He shifted slightly, hoping that the blond would not notice.

"Is something amiss?" Sephiroth asked, at last finding his mask of neutrality and calm.

"Yes," Cloud replied without a hint of emotion in his tone. Movement caught the young General's eye and said eyes widened when he saw the hip sheath dangling in the SOLDIER's hand. It was specially designed to hold Masamune in such a way that she did not become cumbersome outside of combat. Some fantastical technology or another made it so that the sheath, while only three feet long, could hold her by using some kind of time-space materia phenomena to cross dimensional fields…blah, blah, blah, etcetera. Even Sephiroth did not know the exact process of making such a thing, all he knew was that it was useful and was no longer on his person.

"That's mine," the silver-haired teen whined, breaking shortly from character.

"Mine now." Sephiroth scowled at the blond. How dare he!

"SOLDIER Strife, I demand that you return that into my possession before I discharge you from the program for theft and…" His mini tirade of demands was cut short by Cloud letting out a snort and rolling his eyes.

"No."

"No?" Sephiroth stared with disbelief.

"Not until you explain why you have been stalking me." Cloud stated, before shifting the stolen sheath in his hands,"And why I was able to take this without you noticing. Honestly, one would think the General of SOLDIER would have better instincts."

The teen gaped. These words of disrespect were the most the blond had ever spoken to him…and they hurt!

"I have not been…stalking you and my instincts are the best of any SOLDIER…" Sephiroth growled, hoping that Cloud did not notice his slight tremble. Gaia was he close. He could see a bead of sweat crawling along his cheek, brushing along the corner of his mouth…before sliding along that firm jaw and disappearing down the raised collar of his uniform. Did the First not realize how amazing he was? How intoxicating?

His thoughts were broken by Cloud letting out a snort of disbelief and turning away. Masamune still hung from his hand. Okay, yeah, the man was sexy, but that did not mean he could walk off with his weapon!

"Stop," Sephiroth commanded, feeling his temper raise. Only Cloud could get him riled. Only Cloud could break his composure. He wanted to cuss and pull his hair out for no particular reason other than Cloud. What would it take for this obsession to go away? What would it take for his obsession to never leave…to become his, to wrap him up in those strong arms and murmur words of adoration and approval? What was it that he wanted…? What was he willing to give?

Cloud paused and glanced over his shoulder, a bored expression on his face. It was amazing how even that glance could take Sephiroth's breath away.

"You must return that into my possession."

The blond warrior shrugged, First Tsurugi shifting slightly between his shoulders, but he did not release his hold on Masamune's sheath. Rather, he lifted it to eye level, quirked his head to the side and said,"You don't deserve this, yet." That floored him. Feeling thrown for a loop, Sephiroth could only stand rooted in place as one of his SOLDIERs turned and walked away, his beloved Masamune in their grip.

You do not deserve this, yet. What had he done to deserve this kind of treatment from the man?

Did it matter?

Cloud was a SOLDIER. A First Class. Someone who had a level head and respected authority without thinking to challenge it. Then again, he joined the program in the most unconventional way ever, his level of respect for others not a factor in the least. After recovering from whatever ailment he had, he went on a spree inside Hojo's lab, smashing everything to pieces with a blade no one recalled him having. It took a great deal of effort to calm the man down but he eventually bowed his shoulders in defeat. It was Hojo, distraught as well as giddy with a sadistic kind of glee (more than likely hoping to further his study of the blond), that demanded that Cloud be placed in SOLDIER. With his lab in pieces and a wicked grin on his lips, no one thought to question his command in fear of him having some kind of psychotic breakdown.

So they put the man into training… where he walked. Third's did not stand more than a few seconds. Nor did the Seconds fair any better. A couple of the First's actually posed him a momentary challenge before he sent them sailing across the room. A long story short, no one wanted to train him in fear of losing their lives so they slapped a First Class logo on his new uniform and called him SOLDIER.

He earned the rank in the end.

But for all his quiet command, distant and watchful, Cloud apparently had a side of him that liked flaunting his strength and control, even going as far as to put authority figures in their place.

Was he secretly suicidal? Maybe he hoped Sephiroth would make good on his offer to kick him out of the program? Gaia, his head hurt. As did other places but he was trying really, really hard not to think about that.

In the end, he forced himself to say the only thing on his mind that he thought could possibly get the blond to pause and consider him. "Then what do I have to do to deserve her?"

Cloud paused,"Is that an honest question?"

"Yes."

The blond turned around,"Then you will receive and honest answer: patience."

"What?"

"Patience. Learn it. Use it. Have it. Without it, a blade such as Masamune is but a waste. She is an extension of whoever wields her. Only with patience can you learn to fight with her properly. You dive into combat too quickly…to willingly. You must stop. Think. Consider. She is a weapon that begs for hesitation. Let your foe come to you. Let them dare to dance with her, not you. The purpose of Masamune is to give her master a time for thought. She is a tool for a tactical mind. Not an impulsive one. If you wish to continue to hack at your foes like a machine, then feel free, but use a blade that suits your style more accordingly. Do not abuse this one."

Sephiroth found no words. He could only watch with distress as Cloud once again made to walk away.

"Then teach me!" He commanded, "Become my mentor."

Cloud laughed; the sound haunting.

"I will not teach someone who has no desire to be taught."

"You do not know that." The teen whispered.

"I do. You think you are perfect. Flawless. That everything you do is without error. I will not teach you. You do not want me to reveal how little you know and understand. How little you control."

"Yes."

The blond hesitated and glanced over at the silver General.

"Yes what?"

"Yes. Yes, I think I'm perfect. Yes, I think I cannot make a mistake. So break me apart. Tear me down. Then teach me what I need to know. You said I need patience…then I will learn. Please. Gaia, I'm willing to beg if I must, Strife. Just tell me what I have to do to prove to you that I want you to mentor me."

"Nothing."

"Huh?"

"You can do nothing to make me wish to teach you nor do I believe you wish to be taught. It is not in your nature." Cloud replied nonchalantly. This argument was going nowhere.

Then it hit him. Cloud was testing him. He was this entire time. The way his eyes glimmered with challenge…expectance. He knew Sephiroth would fail this test. He was simply waiting for the teen to realize it as well.

The blond was right. He was impatient. And how many other things wrong with him did the warrior see during this exchange? The teen thought back to their words. But his musings were interrupted by Cloud reaching forwards, holding out Masamune for him to take. Sephiroth blinked and hesitated, remaining silent.

A smirk curled on the blond's lips,"Now you understand, "How had he known that! "Go ahead, reclaim your blade."

"Does this mean you will mentor me?" Sephiroth asked carefully.

"No." A weight dropped in his gut. That seemed like a solid answer. "But I will not stop you from trying to convince me otherwise." The teen nodded slowly and watched Cloud at last disappeared from sight, the sound of the door sliding shut the only reminder of his ever being there.

A/N: (Review my pretties, I know you wanna! Any suggestions, comments and feedback are welcome.)