Butterfly Effect: Chapter 21
Nov. 11th, 2006 04:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bard_linnAuthors: Bard Linn and Kiraya
Genre: General/Drama
Pairings: None, at the moment.
Rating (Overall): PG-13
Summary: "You really ought to get out more, you know…"
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII and all associated characters and symbols are the exclusive property of Square Enix and its associates. We’re just borrowing them for a while.
This chapter is dedicated to Kazuhiko over at fanfiction.net, who left 20 incredible reviews, one for each chapter. We can’t say how insightful and inspiring your words were, Kazuhiko. This chapter is for you.
Chapter 21
Scott’s eyebrows rose as he walked into the training center. “Cloud, you’re early.” He had intended to get a little bit of independent warm-up in before he started with Cloud, but it seemed that wasn’t going to happen today. The SOLDIER candidate was already here for the training session Zack had asked Scott to cover… and he was an hour early.
Zack had put in a request for SOLDIER Thirds to work with his apprentice, citing the need for Cloud to work with different styles. Scott had volunteered instantly, since he didn’t usually have duty then, and he had to admit he missed his former squadmate. Really, though, he should have remembered Cloud’s tendency to practically live in the gym…
Cloud shrugged. “I wanted to get warmed up before you got here.”
A smile appeared on the Third Class’s face. “So did I, actually. Give me a few minutes?” Scott took out his custom practice swords and performed a quick series of kata, feeling Cloud’s inquisitive eyes on him the entire time. Once his muscles were loosened up — only a matter of moments — he turned back to the blond. “All right. Now, I know Lieutenant Sinclair’s been working with you, so I expect— Paul?”
The other SOLDIER waved as he entered the gym, taking a seat on the benches along one wall. “Don’t mind me. I just want to watch.”
“Okay,” Scott replied, giving his friend a suspicious glance before turning back to his student. “Anyway, Cloud, your skills have to have improved since I’ve seen you work last, so I’d just like to spar a little, get a feel for things. Do your best, but don’t overexert yourself. Think of it just like the placement test. —Paul, why are you laughing?”
Paul shook his head, his hazel eyes twinkling. “Nothing! It’s nothing.”
Scott rolled his eyes, firmly steeling his mind to ignore his fellow SOLDIER. “All right, then. Whenever you’re ready, Cloud.”
The blond settled into a comfortable stance, clearly waiting for his teacher to take the offensive. Slightly amused, Scott did, right blade coming in high, left blade coming in low, only not to hit anything with either. Cloud had darted aside, dancing out of his reach. The SOLDIER struck again, only to have Cloud repeat the move, this time striking out with a kick to Scott’s weaker left side. Ow. The blond hadn’t really held back on that; he’d probably have a nasty bruise for at least a few hours.
Clearly he needed to take his opponent a little more seriously.
Their deadly dance continued, Scott lashing out and Cloud managing to avoid most of his attacks, sometimes by mere inches, taking the chance to get in a counterstrike when he could. They seemed to be at a stalemate… but in such a contest between SOLDIER and unenhanced, the result was inevitable. It wasn’t long before Cloud began to tire, his movements becoming a little less quick, his reactions just a bit behind what they should be.
“Ha!” The practice sword went flying out of Cloud’s hands. The young man let it go and dropped into a roll, coming up right in Scott’s blind spot, hand darting in to strike at the SOLDIER’s neck. Reacting instinctively to the feeling of threat! behind him, Scott abandoned all restraint, spinning almost faster than the human eye could see, his sword at Cloud’s throat. “Enough, Cloud. Stop.”
Cloud backed off, blue eyes carefully weighing his opponent. Scott considered for a moment what he had seen. Cloud’s swordwork was still jerky at points, the movements rougher than they should be. The sword was not yet an extension of him, moving with the same fluidity of his body… not that this was necessarily a bad thing. Cloud was still young, and hadn’t been studying the sword long, though he was certainly skilled enough that he could have gone freelance and made a decent living as a mercenary. He was substantially better than many of the others entering the SOLDIER program; that much was clear to even Scott’s eyes. If he kept going as he was, the cadet could only improve his swordswork.
His body, on the other hand…
Cloud clearly knew where every part of him was at all times and exactly how much it could handle at any given moment. Scott reflected with a wry smile that he must be one of those lucky few who grew up steadily, and hadn’t had the sort of rapid growth spurt that made these things so frustratingly awkward while readjusting. That level of familiarity with one’s own body certainly wasn’t something Scott had expected from Cloud, though; it took long years to acquire that. The cadet would’ve had to have been trained extensively during his childhood to develop it, and yet he hadn’t shown any of that ability when they’d been squadmates.
His skill at hand to hand went far beyond that of most SOLDIER candidates, and even beyond that of many full SOLDIERs, who often relied on their enhanced speed and strength rather than skill to get them out of a bind when unexpectedly disarmed. In an unarmed fight, with a bit of luck (or some decent spells) on his side, Cloud could probably land a blow enough to put even a SOLDIER out of a fight for a while — and once he was enhanced…
Well, by that point he’d be nigh unstoppable. Scott shook his head. Nothing short of death would let Cloud Strife out of ShinRa’s grasp.
“You need to practice more with the sword,” he finally said aloud, “but I think you already know that.” Cloud nodded. “Mostly, you need to work on making your moves more fluid, which comes with time. I can certainly spar with you more if you’d like, and give you some tips on how to fight dual wielders, too.”
“I don’t suppose I could learn to do that, could I?” Cloud asked, gesturing at the practice blades in Scott’s hands.
“Well, I don’t see why not.” Scott smiled. “I’m not actually naturally ambidextrous… and neither is Paul, who taught me.”
“I learned when I broke my arm when I was a kid,” the other SOLDIER added.
“But it’s not easy,” Scott cautioned. “You’ll have to use your left hand whenever possible. Paul made me tie my right arm up when we weren’t doing anything critical to training.”
“I’d love to try. Being forced to rely only on your dominant hand is a liability,” Cloud replied. “And thanks for the offer to spar; I know I need more practice. The only problem is I pretty much know exactly how Zack will react by now.”
“Try taking him with your left hand only next time,” Scott suggested with a grin. “That should liven things up.” To his horror, the cadet looked like he was seriously considering it. “I was joking, Cloud!”
“But it might be a good idea,” Cloud countered. He lifted his arms and stretched slowly, still looking thoughtful.
“You’re obsessed,” Scott muttered, shaking his head.
“As much as I hate to break up this little party,” Paul interjected, “you better get going to the mess if you want dinner before duty tonight, Scott.”
Scott glanced at the clock on the wall. “Damn, you’re right. Want to join us, Cloud? Even miserable food is better with company.”
The youth shook his head regretfully. “Zack wants to meet me for some theory work in fifteen minutes. Maybe another time?”
“Sure,” Scott replied amicably. “Once I get my schedule finalized I’ll get in touch with Zack and we’ll work something out, okay?”
“Great! I’ll see you soon!” The youth dashed out of the gym, making a beeline for the showers.
Scott watched him go, then turned on his friend. “Now, why exactly were you laughing?”
Paul grinned. “I was the one who tested with Cloud when he reentered the program. Gave me quite a shock.”
“Then you knew how good he was and didn’t even tell me.” Scott glared. “Why, I ought to—”
“I’d only have colored your impression. Besides, it was worth seeing your face when he got you the first time.” Paul backed away as Scott advanced. “Hey, hey, just remember who has the Restore materia around here!”
“Fine; you win. Let’s go to dinner.” Scott sighed. “But I do expect to get a chance to use that later.”
“Waste a Cure on something as small as a bruise?” Paul asked teasingly. “Hey now, don’t look at me like that. If it’s still bothering you that much by the time you get back — and I highly doubt it will be — I’ll take care of it myself,” he promised, leading the way to the mess hall. “Either way, you’ll be good as new by tomorrow.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Zack? Is something wrong?” Cloud asked, looking at his friend and superior officer with worried eyes, detecting the almost hidden signs of fatigue and… illness?
“Oh, I’m fine,” Zack replied, smirking a little. “Girl last night didn’t show, that’s all.”
“Zaaaaack!” Cloud yelped, flushing a deep red and hitting the SOLDIER on the upper arm, an action he rarely indulged in and Zack actually encouraged, the premise being that it helped create a more relaxed atmosphere between the two of them. And it wasn’t like it would hurt him — at least, not normally. Today, though, much to Cloud’s surprise, Zack winced. “Zack? Are you okay?”
The dark-haired man smiled tightly. “Sorry. I got a booster today, and, well, you managed to get me where they stuck the needle.”
“A booster?”
Zack shrugged. “It’s not really top secret or anything. You know once you get into SOLDIER you get Mako treatments, but you also have to have boosters every once in a while, depending on how quickly you metabolize the stuff. No more often than every three months, no less than every six. It’s not as bad as the class treatments; just puts you off for a few hours or so.”
“Oh.” Cloud looked slightly upset. “Then I guess we shouldn’t practice today…”
Zack snorted. “From what I’ve heard, Scott and Paul have been giving you at least three hours a day for the past week, not to mention all the extra time you spent today working by yourself. You’re due for a break, kid, and I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer. Come on, you can help me bring some stuff up to Seph’s quarters to make up for it.” Zack grinned. “With both of us it should only take one trip.”
Cloud smiled back, accepting Zack’s implied forgiveness. “Now I know why they haven’t given you an apprentice before. You just use them to get your work done!” Despite his words, he followed Zack to the part of the complex where ShinRa’s military officers valiantly battled their paperwork. Once they’d arrived at the General’s split office, Zack started gathering up papers from his desk and neatly packing them into two boxes. Cloud, studiously avoiding looking at any of the papers in case they were classified, spent the time investigating the knickknacks on Zack’s desk. “Hey, isn’t this like the thing you got me?” He held up a set of interlocking rings.
“Yeah. You have to get the middle one off without bending it or anything…” Zack replied absentmindedly as he skimmed a document. “Any luck with the one you have?”
“Not just yet. I think I might getting somewhere, though,” Cloud replied, putting the brain teaser down.
“Right, then. I think that’s the last of it.” Zack dropped the final packet into the box and taped them both shut for security purposes — something he did almost automatically by now, no matter the contents of the documents he was carrying. “Let’s go.”
Cloud scooped up his box and followed Zack to Sephiroth’s room, looking up and down the hallway as they went. More than a few people gave him a second glance, his uniform, stature — most SOLDIERS were on the taller side — and eyes marking him an outsider, but when they looked at Zack they seemed to make the connection. This made Cloud more than a bit curious — why did it seem like everybody knew about him and Zack, anyway? Though mentorships weren’t secret, it wasn’t like they made a big deal about it… He shook his head, and by the time they had arrived at the General’s door he’d set those thoughts aside.
“Damn. The key…” Zack shifted the box under his arm, trying to grab the keycard in his pocket with his left hand while not dropping his burden. Cloud carefully placed his own box down, fished out the card, and opened the door. “Thanks. You’re a life saver.”
“Or at least a box saver,” Cloud quipped as he retrieved his own box and followed Zack inside.
Much to his surprise, both the General and Vincent were present, the former sitting on the couch with a report before him and a cup of coffee in his hand, the latter staring intently at a computer screen. “General.” Cloud couldn’t exactly salute with a box in his hands, and technically he wasn’t on duty, so he compensated as best as he could with a serious nod. “Hello, Vincent.”
“Strife.”
“Cloud.” Vincent blinked. “What are you doing?”
“Helping Zack,” the cadet replied, putting his box on top of the one his companion had already dropped next to the couch.
“Well, since the gang is all here…” Zack grinned, rubbing his hands together, looking much like a stereotypical villain plotting evil. “Let’s go out to eat!”
“No, Zachary,” Sephiroth said, not even bothering to look up from his reading. “We need to finish reviewing these files before the exams show up.”
“They’re another two weeks away!” his aide protested. “And don’t call me Zachary.” He didn’t notice Cloud’s eyes brighten, filing away Zack’s reaction to the name for future use. “Besides, I got a booster today. They always tell us we should eat well after that, you know, and you can hardly call anything around here good…”
“Regardless—”
“I know a quiet little place on top of the Plate, even. Serves great food and nobody there’ll stare or ask inconvenient questions, no matter who you are.” Still seeing Sephiroth’s refusal to capitulate, he turned to gather reinforcements. “What do you think, Cloud? Shouldn’t we go out?”
It was hard not to glare at Zack for saying that. No fair. No matter what he said, at least one of his instructors would end up upset with him. Both the General and Vincent would be less than pleased if he said yes, but… on the other hand, Zack would sulk for ages if he said no. In fact, the dark-haired SOLDIER might consider it a sign that Cloud was backsliding in his social “training.” The thought chilled him; he really didn’t want to be dragged out on the town on a regular basis again. “Ummm… sure. Sounds good.”
The fact that after his birthday party the General no longer seemed quite so intimidating and unapproachable had nothing to do with his decision, of course. Neither did his desire to learn more about the man in charge of SOLDIER. He thought he actually understood how to interact with the General now; all he had to do was approach him pretty much the same way he did Vincent. In some ways it was almost creepy how similar they were…
The blond quickly found himself focused under two deadly sharp gazes, but he managed to ignore them admirably. “I’d like something a bit better than normal to eat,” he continued, trying not to sound defensive.
“Great!” Zack grinned at Sephiroth. “Come on! You really ought to get out more, you know…”
“You too, Vincent,” Cloud interjected with surprising confidence. “I know you want to keep working on finding a way to get rid of Hojo and all that, but if all you do is sit around and brood about it, aren’t you just making yourself as miserable as he’d want you to be?”
Silence. Surprisingly thick silence, especially from two men who spent so much time perfectly comfortable in the absence of noise and idle chatter. Still, Cloud refused to back down, though from what little Vincent had told him he knew his words would probably affect the General as much as the former Turk himself. Hojo’s name was almost a magic word with the two of them, provided it was used carefully and infrequently.
Vincent spoke first. “You aren’t going to back down on this, are you.” It wasn’t a question.
“Nope.” Cloud suddenly grinned, an expression so frighteningly similar to Zack’s that it conjured visions of the pair regularly tag teaming their more stoic companions (something that seemed more and more inevitable as time went on).
“Look, Seph,” Zack cut in, suddenly all seriousness again. “It’ll be a nice, quiet evening. No reporters, no photographers, no annoying ShinRa personnel. Just good food, maybe a good wine, and some excellent company. I promise. SOLDIER’s honor,” he added softly.
Sephiroth regarded his friend for a long moment, then in a rare show of sarcasm replied, “You have honor?” He placed his paper and mug down on the coffee table with a sigh. “Since it’s perfectly clear you cannot be dissuaded, I suppose we may as well go.”
“Yes!” Zack whooped, pumping his fist and looking like nothing less than an overjoyed little kid. “Just give us fifteen minutes — Cloud and I should get out of uniform. Meet you at the gate!” He grabbed his apprentice’s arm and dragged the blond off, allowing the door to slide shut behind them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The modest restaurant fit well into the upper middle-class neighborhoods here above the Plate, and was clearly a well-kept facility. However, Havoc’s Haven was a great deal more than that.
Haven promised just that to anyone who entered there. The management absolutely forbade the press to appear anywhere on the premises, and waiters were carefully tested to ensure they wouldn’t stare at, bother, or leak information about important guests; those who did were fired immediately. It was just the sort of private, quiet environment Zack wanted for those very rare times he actually managed to get Sephiroth out of the office for a bit of a break.
“Ah, Mr. Sinclair!” The host smiled at him. “It is good to see you again, sir. How many?”
“Four,” Zack promptly replied.
The man nodded, gathered the necessary menus, and guided the group back down a long hallway with several curtained doors. He stopped at the last and pulled a cord, parting the curtain. Zack nodded as they entered. This was one of the most private of the dining rooms, generally reserved for the more famous guests. Seating was arranged so that each table was isolated from both sight and hearing, granting privacy even from sometimes nosy neighbors. “Here you are. Your waiter will be with you in a moment.”
Cloud glanced around. “Where are all the people?”
Zack grinned. “This place prides itself on quiet, uninterrupted dinners for everyone — celebrities included. You’re likely only to see the occasional staff tonight. They purposely designed it that way.”
“Wow.”
This arrangement clearly did not sit well with Vincent, used to observing all activity around him. After a moment’s pause, he took the spot that offered the best combination of secure concealment and a view, however limited it was. Without hesitation, Sephiroth settled himself so he could cover the former Turk’s blind spot; Zack plopped into the seat beside him, and Cloud sat next to Vincent.
“So… any suggestions, Zack?” Cloud inquired, flipping open his menu.
“Nothing specific. Everything is good.”
“Well, while you’re deciding, can I get you something to drink?” their waitress asked, appearing from around the corner. She was a bit older than Cloud expected, probably in her mid-thirties. She wrote down their requests and vanished, reappearing shortly to take their orders.
Zack was somewhat amused to note Cloud attracting most of the waitress’s attention. He himself was a pretty well-known face here; Sephiroth was… well, Sephiroth; and Vincent, in spite of his odd clothing and reluctance to be there, had the unmistakable air of a Turk, something anyone familiar with those in uniform could pick up on. Cloud, on the other hand, had an unfulfilled potential about him, a sense of sleeping greatness — at least in Zack’s humble opinion, anyway. Undoubtedly the staff were wondering if Cloud would someday be one of their more famous patrons.
Of course, if this SOLDIER First Class had any say in it, his friend would be.
Zack managed the conversation masterfully, even gradually drawing Vincent and Sephiroth into it as he chatted with Cloud about his day. He’d always had a gift for speech — people back home had often wryly told his parents that he’d do well in politics someday — which he used to his advantage even as a SOLDIER, whether he was an impromptu mediator or in a more pleasant, relaxed situation like this, where all he had to do was keep things comfortable for everyone without letting the conversation dry up.
Their food soon arrived, and it proved delicious. Even Vincent and Sephiroth seemed to genuinely enjoy it. Cloud, however, had an odd look on his face as he tried the stew he’d ordered, tasting each bite as if carefully analyzing it.
“Is everything all right?” the manager asked, stopping by their table.
Zack nodded. “Just as always.”
“Excuse me,” Cloud interjected. “Your cook—”
The manager frowned slightly. “Yes?”
“Where did she — or he, I guess — get this recipe?” the blond asked, pointing at his stew with his spoon.
“I’m not sure. I’d have to ask.”
“If you could, that’d be great. The taste is really familiar, but I’m sure it can’t be…” He trailed off, looking thoughtful as he took another bite.
The manager left. A short time later, the cook appeared, a graying woman whose age clearly showed in the laugh lines around her mouth and eyes. “You asked about the stew, sir? I got the recipe from a friend of mine in Nibelheim. I’m sorry if it wasn’t—”
“Oh, no, it’s delicious!” Cloud assured her, smiling now. “I was surprised to find a dish from home here, of all places,” he added, allowing just a little of that rougher, slower Nibelheim accent, which he had tried so hard to hide when he first came to Midgar, into his voice.
“Oh!” The cook smiled back. “You must know Elizabeth, then!”
“She’s still at the inn, or at least she was last year,” Cloud replied, voice lapsing again so only the barest traces of his accent were still apparent.
“Forgive me for saying so, but you don’t really sound like you’re from Nibelheim…”
Cloud laughed, pointing at Zack. “That’s mostly his fault.”
“Well, Mr. Sinclair will keep you in good hands. We all know that.” Still smiling, the cook inclined her head. “Now, I really must get back to work. Please enjoy your dinner, gentlemen.”
“What was that about?” Zack asked once she had left.
“Nothing, really…” It was clear the SOLDIER wouldn’t settle for that as an answer, so Cloud explained, “I used to eat this back home sometimes, that’s all. I don’t know if it’s the seasoning or what, but I’ve never had a stew exactly like this anyplace else.” He didn’t mention that it was a comfort food for him, one that had bolstered his spirits when life seemed impossibly hard — the time shortly after his father’s death especially. Zack gave him an odd look, but let it drop.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“It is somewhat peculiar how easily he does that,” Sephiroth observed.
“Vincent?” Cloud asked his superior. The man nodded, his sharp eyes still focused on the entrance to the shadowy alley into which the former Turk had vanished. “I guess so. He’ll probably meet up with us again once we get back. Or he might just head straight to your quarters. Sir.” Vincent had declined to wait with them, insisting that being out at a restaurant, no matter their privacy policy, had been quite enough of a risk for some time. After all, who knew what sort of trouble might arise if high-ranking SOLDIERs were seen in public with a dead man?
Sephiroth “hmm”ed in response to Cloud’s statement, but said nothing further.
The cadet and the SOLDIER were waiting outside for Zack to finish paying their bill; the other SOLDIER had sternly forbidden them paying for dinner, insisting it was his treat. Cloud shifted restlessly from one foot to the other, curiosity warring with his waning reluctance to initiate conversation with the General. He cleared his throat. “Has Vincent talked to you any more about… what they did?”
Sephiroth gave the youth a sharp look. “What did he tell you?” His voice was cool, testing.
Cloud shook his head. “Not much. Just… the basics. A lot of it took me a long time to figure out, though, and I doubt he’ll ever tell me everything.” He looked up at the General. “It’s only right, though. I really don’t deserve to know. I’m not involved; it’s not meant for me to hear. But you… you should know.”
Sephiroth studied Cloud’s face intently. The overwhelming, worshipful fear of the cadet who’d collided with him three years ago was gone. Now his eyes were not unlike Zack’s, full not of pity but of respect for one who had endured great hardship. There was a glimmer of rare understanding there as well, and though he could only know by proxy, could never understand it to the extent Sephiroth and Vincent did, it was clear Cloud wouldn’t press the issue… something for which the elite SOLDIER was, in some small way, thankful. “Perhaps I will ask him someday,” he said finally, looking away across the street.
“I think that would be good, for both of you,” Cloud replied quietly. Inwardly, though, he was satisfied; talking with the General had been intimidating at first, but — much like dealing with Vincent — it seemed to only grow easier the more he did it.
“Hey! What are you two up to?” Zack called out as he exited the restaurant, noting the pair standing closer together than was normal for either of them.
“Why, Zachary, isn’t it obvious? We’re plotting your imminent demise, of course,” Cloud replied with an absolutely straight face, though he was pleased to note the hint of a smirk lurking at the corner of Sephiroth’s mouth.
Zack sniffed. “That’s not very— hey!” He scowled at his young friend. “Whatever happened to respecting your superior officers, kid? You can’t call me Zachary!”
“Quite right.” Cloud turned and snapped off a salute to Sephiroth. “Sir, requesting permission to address Lieutenant Sinclair by his full first name when the situation calls for it.”
“Granted,” the General replied smoothly. “Provided the situation calls for it.”
“Hey! Guys, this isn’t funny. Come on, Seph! You can’t do this to me; it’s bad enough coming from just you…”
Their banter continued all the way back to the ShinRa compound, Zack trying to get a rise out of his student (and his superior), Cloud giving as good as he got, and Sephiroth interjecting the occasional dry comment that seemed to be worth more than everything his companions said together.
It was with the utmost reluctance that Cloud bid goodnight to the pair of SOLDIERs and headed off to the barracks. Curfew would come soon enough, and he had training early in the morning. But first… pausing at his footlocker, the youth rummaged around until he found an old envelope. Inside lay several papers yellow and brittle with age. They crinkled in his hands as he carefully leafed through them.
Then he tore them in half and threw them into the trash.
Eyeing the remains of his collection of Sephiroth newspaper clippings, Cloud couldn’t help smiling.
He had no need of them anymore.
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Genre: General/Drama
Pairings: None, at the moment.
Rating (Overall): PG-13
Summary: "You really ought to get out more, you know…"
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII and all associated characters and symbols are the exclusive property of Square Enix and its associates. We’re just borrowing them for a while.
This chapter is dedicated to Kazuhiko over at fanfiction.net, who left 20 incredible reviews, one for each chapter. We can’t say how insightful and inspiring your words were, Kazuhiko. This chapter is for you.
Chapter 21
Scott’s eyebrows rose as he walked into the training center. “Cloud, you’re early.” He had intended to get a little bit of independent warm-up in before he started with Cloud, but it seemed that wasn’t going to happen today. The SOLDIER candidate was already here for the training session Zack had asked Scott to cover… and he was an hour early.
Zack had put in a request for SOLDIER Thirds to work with his apprentice, citing the need for Cloud to work with different styles. Scott had volunteered instantly, since he didn’t usually have duty then, and he had to admit he missed his former squadmate. Really, though, he should have remembered Cloud’s tendency to practically live in the gym…
Cloud shrugged. “I wanted to get warmed up before you got here.”
A smile appeared on the Third Class’s face. “So did I, actually. Give me a few minutes?” Scott took out his custom practice swords and performed a quick series of kata, feeling Cloud’s inquisitive eyes on him the entire time. Once his muscles were loosened up — only a matter of moments — he turned back to the blond. “All right. Now, I know Lieutenant Sinclair’s been working with you, so I expect— Paul?”
The other SOLDIER waved as he entered the gym, taking a seat on the benches along one wall. “Don’t mind me. I just want to watch.”
“Okay,” Scott replied, giving his friend a suspicious glance before turning back to his student. “Anyway, Cloud, your skills have to have improved since I’ve seen you work last, so I’d just like to spar a little, get a feel for things. Do your best, but don’t overexert yourself. Think of it just like the placement test. —Paul, why are you laughing?”
Paul shook his head, his hazel eyes twinkling. “Nothing! It’s nothing.”
Scott rolled his eyes, firmly steeling his mind to ignore his fellow SOLDIER. “All right, then. Whenever you’re ready, Cloud.”
The blond settled into a comfortable stance, clearly waiting for his teacher to take the offensive. Slightly amused, Scott did, right blade coming in high, left blade coming in low, only not to hit anything with either. Cloud had darted aside, dancing out of his reach. The SOLDIER struck again, only to have Cloud repeat the move, this time striking out with a kick to Scott’s weaker left side. Ow. The blond hadn’t really held back on that; he’d probably have a nasty bruise for at least a few hours.
Clearly he needed to take his opponent a little more seriously.
Their deadly dance continued, Scott lashing out and Cloud managing to avoid most of his attacks, sometimes by mere inches, taking the chance to get in a counterstrike when he could. They seemed to be at a stalemate… but in such a contest between SOLDIER and unenhanced, the result was inevitable. It wasn’t long before Cloud began to tire, his movements becoming a little less quick, his reactions just a bit behind what they should be.
“Ha!” The practice sword went flying out of Cloud’s hands. The young man let it go and dropped into a roll, coming up right in Scott’s blind spot, hand darting in to strike at the SOLDIER’s neck. Reacting instinctively to the feeling of threat! behind him, Scott abandoned all restraint, spinning almost faster than the human eye could see, his sword at Cloud’s throat. “Enough, Cloud. Stop.”
Cloud backed off, blue eyes carefully weighing his opponent. Scott considered for a moment what he had seen. Cloud’s swordwork was still jerky at points, the movements rougher than they should be. The sword was not yet an extension of him, moving with the same fluidity of his body… not that this was necessarily a bad thing. Cloud was still young, and hadn’t been studying the sword long, though he was certainly skilled enough that he could have gone freelance and made a decent living as a mercenary. He was substantially better than many of the others entering the SOLDIER program; that much was clear to even Scott’s eyes. If he kept going as he was, the cadet could only improve his swordswork.
His body, on the other hand…
Cloud clearly knew where every part of him was at all times and exactly how much it could handle at any given moment. Scott reflected with a wry smile that he must be one of those lucky few who grew up steadily, and hadn’t had the sort of rapid growth spurt that made these things so frustratingly awkward while readjusting. That level of familiarity with one’s own body certainly wasn’t something Scott had expected from Cloud, though; it took long years to acquire that. The cadet would’ve had to have been trained extensively during his childhood to develop it, and yet he hadn’t shown any of that ability when they’d been squadmates.
His skill at hand to hand went far beyond that of most SOLDIER candidates, and even beyond that of many full SOLDIERs, who often relied on their enhanced speed and strength rather than skill to get them out of a bind when unexpectedly disarmed. In an unarmed fight, with a bit of luck (or some decent spells) on his side, Cloud could probably land a blow enough to put even a SOLDIER out of a fight for a while — and once he was enhanced…
Well, by that point he’d be nigh unstoppable. Scott shook his head. Nothing short of death would let Cloud Strife out of ShinRa’s grasp.
“You need to practice more with the sword,” he finally said aloud, “but I think you already know that.” Cloud nodded. “Mostly, you need to work on making your moves more fluid, which comes with time. I can certainly spar with you more if you’d like, and give you some tips on how to fight dual wielders, too.”
“I don’t suppose I could learn to do that, could I?” Cloud asked, gesturing at the practice blades in Scott’s hands.
“Well, I don’t see why not.” Scott smiled. “I’m not actually naturally ambidextrous… and neither is Paul, who taught me.”
“I learned when I broke my arm when I was a kid,” the other SOLDIER added.
“But it’s not easy,” Scott cautioned. “You’ll have to use your left hand whenever possible. Paul made me tie my right arm up when we weren’t doing anything critical to training.”
“I’d love to try. Being forced to rely only on your dominant hand is a liability,” Cloud replied. “And thanks for the offer to spar; I know I need more practice. The only problem is I pretty much know exactly how Zack will react by now.”
“Try taking him with your left hand only next time,” Scott suggested with a grin. “That should liven things up.” To his horror, the cadet looked like he was seriously considering it. “I was joking, Cloud!”
“But it might be a good idea,” Cloud countered. He lifted his arms and stretched slowly, still looking thoughtful.
“You’re obsessed,” Scott muttered, shaking his head.
“As much as I hate to break up this little party,” Paul interjected, “you better get going to the mess if you want dinner before duty tonight, Scott.”
Scott glanced at the clock on the wall. “Damn, you’re right. Want to join us, Cloud? Even miserable food is better with company.”
The youth shook his head regretfully. “Zack wants to meet me for some theory work in fifteen minutes. Maybe another time?”
“Sure,” Scott replied amicably. “Once I get my schedule finalized I’ll get in touch with Zack and we’ll work something out, okay?”
“Great! I’ll see you soon!” The youth dashed out of the gym, making a beeline for the showers.
Scott watched him go, then turned on his friend. “Now, why exactly were you laughing?”
Paul grinned. “I was the one who tested with Cloud when he reentered the program. Gave me quite a shock.”
“Then you knew how good he was and didn’t even tell me.” Scott glared. “Why, I ought to—”
“I’d only have colored your impression. Besides, it was worth seeing your face when he got you the first time.” Paul backed away as Scott advanced. “Hey, hey, just remember who has the Restore materia around here!”
“Fine; you win. Let’s go to dinner.” Scott sighed. “But I do expect to get a chance to use that later.”
“Waste a Cure on something as small as a bruise?” Paul asked teasingly. “Hey now, don’t look at me like that. If it’s still bothering you that much by the time you get back — and I highly doubt it will be — I’ll take care of it myself,” he promised, leading the way to the mess hall. “Either way, you’ll be good as new by tomorrow.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“Zack? Is something wrong?” Cloud asked, looking at his friend and superior officer with worried eyes, detecting the almost hidden signs of fatigue and… illness?
“Oh, I’m fine,” Zack replied, smirking a little. “Girl last night didn’t show, that’s all.”
“Zaaaaack!” Cloud yelped, flushing a deep red and hitting the SOLDIER on the upper arm, an action he rarely indulged in and Zack actually encouraged, the premise being that it helped create a more relaxed atmosphere between the two of them. And it wasn’t like it would hurt him — at least, not normally. Today, though, much to Cloud’s surprise, Zack winced. “Zack? Are you okay?”
The dark-haired man smiled tightly. “Sorry. I got a booster today, and, well, you managed to get me where they stuck the needle.”
“A booster?”
Zack shrugged. “It’s not really top secret or anything. You know once you get into SOLDIER you get Mako treatments, but you also have to have boosters every once in a while, depending on how quickly you metabolize the stuff. No more often than every three months, no less than every six. It’s not as bad as the class treatments; just puts you off for a few hours or so.”
“Oh.” Cloud looked slightly upset. “Then I guess we shouldn’t practice today…”
Zack snorted. “From what I’ve heard, Scott and Paul have been giving you at least three hours a day for the past week, not to mention all the extra time you spent today working by yourself. You’re due for a break, kid, and I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer. Come on, you can help me bring some stuff up to Seph’s quarters to make up for it.” Zack grinned. “With both of us it should only take one trip.”
Cloud smiled back, accepting Zack’s implied forgiveness. “Now I know why they haven’t given you an apprentice before. You just use them to get your work done!” Despite his words, he followed Zack to the part of the complex where ShinRa’s military officers valiantly battled their paperwork. Once they’d arrived at the General’s split office, Zack started gathering up papers from his desk and neatly packing them into two boxes. Cloud, studiously avoiding looking at any of the papers in case they were classified, spent the time investigating the knickknacks on Zack’s desk. “Hey, isn’t this like the thing you got me?” He held up a set of interlocking rings.
“Yeah. You have to get the middle one off without bending it or anything…” Zack replied absentmindedly as he skimmed a document. “Any luck with the one you have?”
“Not just yet. I think I might getting somewhere, though,” Cloud replied, putting the brain teaser down.
“Right, then. I think that’s the last of it.” Zack dropped the final packet into the box and taped them both shut for security purposes — something he did almost automatically by now, no matter the contents of the documents he was carrying. “Let’s go.”
Cloud scooped up his box and followed Zack to Sephiroth’s room, looking up and down the hallway as they went. More than a few people gave him a second glance, his uniform, stature — most SOLDIERS were on the taller side — and eyes marking him an outsider, but when they looked at Zack they seemed to make the connection. This made Cloud more than a bit curious — why did it seem like everybody knew about him and Zack, anyway? Though mentorships weren’t secret, it wasn’t like they made a big deal about it… He shook his head, and by the time they had arrived at the General’s door he’d set those thoughts aside.
“Damn. The key…” Zack shifted the box under his arm, trying to grab the keycard in his pocket with his left hand while not dropping his burden. Cloud carefully placed his own box down, fished out the card, and opened the door. “Thanks. You’re a life saver.”
“Or at least a box saver,” Cloud quipped as he retrieved his own box and followed Zack inside.
Much to his surprise, both the General and Vincent were present, the former sitting on the couch with a report before him and a cup of coffee in his hand, the latter staring intently at a computer screen. “General.” Cloud couldn’t exactly salute with a box in his hands, and technically he wasn’t on duty, so he compensated as best as he could with a serious nod. “Hello, Vincent.”
“Strife.”
“Cloud.” Vincent blinked. “What are you doing?”
“Helping Zack,” the cadet replied, putting his box on top of the one his companion had already dropped next to the couch.
“Well, since the gang is all here…” Zack grinned, rubbing his hands together, looking much like a stereotypical villain plotting evil. “Let’s go out to eat!”
“No, Zachary,” Sephiroth said, not even bothering to look up from his reading. “We need to finish reviewing these files before the exams show up.”
“They’re another two weeks away!” his aide protested. “And don’t call me Zachary.” He didn’t notice Cloud’s eyes brighten, filing away Zack’s reaction to the name for future use. “Besides, I got a booster today. They always tell us we should eat well after that, you know, and you can hardly call anything around here good…”
“Regardless—”
“I know a quiet little place on top of the Plate, even. Serves great food and nobody there’ll stare or ask inconvenient questions, no matter who you are.” Still seeing Sephiroth’s refusal to capitulate, he turned to gather reinforcements. “What do you think, Cloud? Shouldn’t we go out?”
It was hard not to glare at Zack for saying that. No fair. No matter what he said, at least one of his instructors would end up upset with him. Both the General and Vincent would be less than pleased if he said yes, but… on the other hand, Zack would sulk for ages if he said no. In fact, the dark-haired SOLDIER might consider it a sign that Cloud was backsliding in his social “training.” The thought chilled him; he really didn’t want to be dragged out on the town on a regular basis again. “Ummm… sure. Sounds good.”
The fact that after his birthday party the General no longer seemed quite so intimidating and unapproachable had nothing to do with his decision, of course. Neither did his desire to learn more about the man in charge of SOLDIER. He thought he actually understood how to interact with the General now; all he had to do was approach him pretty much the same way he did Vincent. In some ways it was almost creepy how similar they were…
The blond quickly found himself focused under two deadly sharp gazes, but he managed to ignore them admirably. “I’d like something a bit better than normal to eat,” he continued, trying not to sound defensive.
“Great!” Zack grinned at Sephiroth. “Come on! You really ought to get out more, you know…”
“You too, Vincent,” Cloud interjected with surprising confidence. “I know you want to keep working on finding a way to get rid of Hojo and all that, but if all you do is sit around and brood about it, aren’t you just making yourself as miserable as he’d want you to be?”
Silence. Surprisingly thick silence, especially from two men who spent so much time perfectly comfortable in the absence of noise and idle chatter. Still, Cloud refused to back down, though from what little Vincent had told him he knew his words would probably affect the General as much as the former Turk himself. Hojo’s name was almost a magic word with the two of them, provided it was used carefully and infrequently.
Vincent spoke first. “You aren’t going to back down on this, are you.” It wasn’t a question.
“Nope.” Cloud suddenly grinned, an expression so frighteningly similar to Zack’s that it conjured visions of the pair regularly tag teaming their more stoic companions (something that seemed more and more inevitable as time went on).
“Look, Seph,” Zack cut in, suddenly all seriousness again. “It’ll be a nice, quiet evening. No reporters, no photographers, no annoying ShinRa personnel. Just good food, maybe a good wine, and some excellent company. I promise. SOLDIER’s honor,” he added softly.
Sephiroth regarded his friend for a long moment, then in a rare show of sarcasm replied, “You have honor?” He placed his paper and mug down on the coffee table with a sigh. “Since it’s perfectly clear you cannot be dissuaded, I suppose we may as well go.”
“Yes!” Zack whooped, pumping his fist and looking like nothing less than an overjoyed little kid. “Just give us fifteen minutes — Cloud and I should get out of uniform. Meet you at the gate!” He grabbed his apprentice’s arm and dragged the blond off, allowing the door to slide shut behind them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The modest restaurant fit well into the upper middle-class neighborhoods here above the Plate, and was clearly a well-kept facility. However, Havoc’s Haven was a great deal more than that.
Haven promised just that to anyone who entered there. The management absolutely forbade the press to appear anywhere on the premises, and waiters were carefully tested to ensure they wouldn’t stare at, bother, or leak information about important guests; those who did were fired immediately. It was just the sort of private, quiet environment Zack wanted for those very rare times he actually managed to get Sephiroth out of the office for a bit of a break.
“Ah, Mr. Sinclair!” The host smiled at him. “It is good to see you again, sir. How many?”
“Four,” Zack promptly replied.
The man nodded, gathered the necessary menus, and guided the group back down a long hallway with several curtained doors. He stopped at the last and pulled a cord, parting the curtain. Zack nodded as they entered. This was one of the most private of the dining rooms, generally reserved for the more famous guests. Seating was arranged so that each table was isolated from both sight and hearing, granting privacy even from sometimes nosy neighbors. “Here you are. Your waiter will be with you in a moment.”
Cloud glanced around. “Where are all the people?”
Zack grinned. “This place prides itself on quiet, uninterrupted dinners for everyone — celebrities included. You’re likely only to see the occasional staff tonight. They purposely designed it that way.”
“Wow.”
This arrangement clearly did not sit well with Vincent, used to observing all activity around him. After a moment’s pause, he took the spot that offered the best combination of secure concealment and a view, however limited it was. Without hesitation, Sephiroth settled himself so he could cover the former Turk’s blind spot; Zack plopped into the seat beside him, and Cloud sat next to Vincent.
“So… any suggestions, Zack?” Cloud inquired, flipping open his menu.
“Nothing specific. Everything is good.”
“Well, while you’re deciding, can I get you something to drink?” their waitress asked, appearing from around the corner. She was a bit older than Cloud expected, probably in her mid-thirties. She wrote down their requests and vanished, reappearing shortly to take their orders.
Zack was somewhat amused to note Cloud attracting most of the waitress’s attention. He himself was a pretty well-known face here; Sephiroth was… well, Sephiroth; and Vincent, in spite of his odd clothing and reluctance to be there, had the unmistakable air of a Turk, something anyone familiar with those in uniform could pick up on. Cloud, on the other hand, had an unfulfilled potential about him, a sense of sleeping greatness — at least in Zack’s humble opinion, anyway. Undoubtedly the staff were wondering if Cloud would someday be one of their more famous patrons.
Of course, if this SOLDIER First Class had any say in it, his friend would be.
Zack managed the conversation masterfully, even gradually drawing Vincent and Sephiroth into it as he chatted with Cloud about his day. He’d always had a gift for speech — people back home had often wryly told his parents that he’d do well in politics someday — which he used to his advantage even as a SOLDIER, whether he was an impromptu mediator or in a more pleasant, relaxed situation like this, where all he had to do was keep things comfortable for everyone without letting the conversation dry up.
Their food soon arrived, and it proved delicious. Even Vincent and Sephiroth seemed to genuinely enjoy it. Cloud, however, had an odd look on his face as he tried the stew he’d ordered, tasting each bite as if carefully analyzing it.
“Is everything all right?” the manager asked, stopping by their table.
Zack nodded. “Just as always.”
“Excuse me,” Cloud interjected. “Your cook—”
The manager frowned slightly. “Yes?”
“Where did she — or he, I guess — get this recipe?” the blond asked, pointing at his stew with his spoon.
“I’m not sure. I’d have to ask.”
“If you could, that’d be great. The taste is really familiar, but I’m sure it can’t be…” He trailed off, looking thoughtful as he took another bite.
The manager left. A short time later, the cook appeared, a graying woman whose age clearly showed in the laugh lines around her mouth and eyes. “You asked about the stew, sir? I got the recipe from a friend of mine in Nibelheim. I’m sorry if it wasn’t—”
“Oh, no, it’s delicious!” Cloud assured her, smiling now. “I was surprised to find a dish from home here, of all places,” he added, allowing just a little of that rougher, slower Nibelheim accent, which he had tried so hard to hide when he first came to Midgar, into his voice.
“Oh!” The cook smiled back. “You must know Elizabeth, then!”
“She’s still at the inn, or at least she was last year,” Cloud replied, voice lapsing again so only the barest traces of his accent were still apparent.
“Forgive me for saying so, but you don’t really sound like you’re from Nibelheim…”
Cloud laughed, pointing at Zack. “That’s mostly his fault.”
“Well, Mr. Sinclair will keep you in good hands. We all know that.” Still smiling, the cook inclined her head. “Now, I really must get back to work. Please enjoy your dinner, gentlemen.”
“What was that about?” Zack asked once she had left.
“Nothing, really…” It was clear the SOLDIER wouldn’t settle for that as an answer, so Cloud explained, “I used to eat this back home sometimes, that’s all. I don’t know if it’s the seasoning or what, but I’ve never had a stew exactly like this anyplace else.” He didn’t mention that it was a comfort food for him, one that had bolstered his spirits when life seemed impossibly hard — the time shortly after his father’s death especially. Zack gave him an odd look, but let it drop.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“It is somewhat peculiar how easily he does that,” Sephiroth observed.
“Vincent?” Cloud asked his superior. The man nodded, his sharp eyes still focused on the entrance to the shadowy alley into which the former Turk had vanished. “I guess so. He’ll probably meet up with us again once we get back. Or he might just head straight to your quarters. Sir.” Vincent had declined to wait with them, insisting that being out at a restaurant, no matter their privacy policy, had been quite enough of a risk for some time. After all, who knew what sort of trouble might arise if high-ranking SOLDIERs were seen in public with a dead man?
Sephiroth “hmm”ed in response to Cloud’s statement, but said nothing further.
The cadet and the SOLDIER were waiting outside for Zack to finish paying their bill; the other SOLDIER had sternly forbidden them paying for dinner, insisting it was his treat. Cloud shifted restlessly from one foot to the other, curiosity warring with his waning reluctance to initiate conversation with the General. He cleared his throat. “Has Vincent talked to you any more about… what they did?”
Sephiroth gave the youth a sharp look. “What did he tell you?” His voice was cool, testing.
Cloud shook his head. “Not much. Just… the basics. A lot of it took me a long time to figure out, though, and I doubt he’ll ever tell me everything.” He looked up at the General. “It’s only right, though. I really don’t deserve to know. I’m not involved; it’s not meant for me to hear. But you… you should know.”
Sephiroth studied Cloud’s face intently. The overwhelming, worshipful fear of the cadet who’d collided with him three years ago was gone. Now his eyes were not unlike Zack’s, full not of pity but of respect for one who had endured great hardship. There was a glimmer of rare understanding there as well, and though he could only know by proxy, could never understand it to the extent Sephiroth and Vincent did, it was clear Cloud wouldn’t press the issue… something for which the elite SOLDIER was, in some small way, thankful. “Perhaps I will ask him someday,” he said finally, looking away across the street.
“I think that would be good, for both of you,” Cloud replied quietly. Inwardly, though, he was satisfied; talking with the General had been intimidating at first, but — much like dealing with Vincent — it seemed to only grow easier the more he did it.
“Hey! What are you two up to?” Zack called out as he exited the restaurant, noting the pair standing closer together than was normal for either of them.
“Why, Zachary, isn’t it obvious? We’re plotting your imminent demise, of course,” Cloud replied with an absolutely straight face, though he was pleased to note the hint of a smirk lurking at the corner of Sephiroth’s mouth.
Zack sniffed. “That’s not very— hey!” He scowled at his young friend. “Whatever happened to respecting your superior officers, kid? You can’t call me Zachary!”
“Quite right.” Cloud turned and snapped off a salute to Sephiroth. “Sir, requesting permission to address Lieutenant Sinclair by his full first name when the situation calls for it.”
“Granted,” the General replied smoothly. “Provided the situation calls for it.”
“Hey! Guys, this isn’t funny. Come on, Seph! You can’t do this to me; it’s bad enough coming from just you…”
Their banter continued all the way back to the ShinRa compound, Zack trying to get a rise out of his student (and his superior), Cloud giving as good as he got, and Sephiroth interjecting the occasional dry comment that seemed to be worth more than everything his companions said together.
It was with the utmost reluctance that Cloud bid goodnight to the pair of SOLDIERs and headed off to the barracks. Curfew would come soon enough, and he had training early in the morning. But first… pausing at his footlocker, the youth rummaged around until he found an old envelope. Inside lay several papers yellow and brittle with age. They crinkled in his hands as he carefully leafed through them.
Then he tore them in half and threw them into the trash.
Eyeing the remains of his collection of Sephiroth newspaper clippings, Cloud couldn’t help smiling.
He had no need of them anymore.
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