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Walking Out on Destiny	By : HarliqueenNight Category: Final Fantasy VII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 2575 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Final Fantasy VII and all things associated are owned by Square Enix and Testuya Nomura respectively. I own nothing save for the characters and places created for the sake of this fan fiction and recieve no profit in the creation of this fanfiction.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
A/N: *squeal* ah you guys make me so happy and I don't even know any of you. But lol, here we go. Our first Cloud centric chapter with a side of Hojo and Vincent since it was so very requested. Now anyone who disagrees with the way Cloud behaves, remember that this is fanfiction and a very big what if scenario...meaning i can do what i want. j/k I try to keep them in character whatever that means but the only people who can successfully do that is square enix. So here we go!
Walking Out On Destiny: Season Two
Episode 1: When I Grow Up!
l
Cloud fell out of bed when Alina flipped the mattress over. He rolled to the floor with a hard thud, trapped in the blankets. He scuttled beneath it trying to avoid Alina's scolding smacks.
"You little spiky bastard, I told you to stay out of that damn garden," she shouted.
"AH! Calm down, woman; Mr. Lockhart said I could! ACK!" Cloud tried to unwrap himself from the cover.
She rolled him with her foot. "You know that lil beast of a girl always beats you up every time you go there. I wouldn't be surprised if the lil Amazon is waiting just to bust your scrawny ass! And you know what, I'm gonna let her!" She stopped to cough, her chest burning.
Cloud was immediately on his feet and at her side. He shifted her towards his bed and sat her down. "Mom, you gotta stop getting so worked up. I'm fine you know."
Alina took a deep breath and released, wiping the blood from her mouth. "Cloud, this is my own fault. You don't have to go through all this sneaking around to get money just for me."
Cloud shook his head. "It's okay mom. I get that stuff so you can feel better and nobody is going to stop me."
Alina smiled at her one and only son, he still wasn't very tall. He was durable, reliable, but oh, so small. He was going to be fifteen in two days. Fifteen in Nibelhiem was an adult. It meant you were old enough to drink, old enough to smoke, and old enough to get a full time job while still in school. However, it meant something else that she had been dreading ever since that silver haired SOLDIER showed up with her son in his arms. She'd seen it in Cloud's eyes, the way he watched, the way he followed, the way he admired the man who had gotten him home safely. Cloud wanted to catch up to the man famously known as the Silver Devil of Wutai. Cloud wanted to become a SOLDIER. She eyed her too thin, too small son and realized that she couldn't be there to smack those who picked on him upside the head. He would be on his own, and she wasn't so sure she could handle it.
"You okay now, mom?"
"Yeah, Cloudy, I'm alright," she whispered. "I'm just thinking about today. You get that interview with that SOLDIER who's coming and I keep wondering what they will say. I just don't want your feelings hurt if they turn you down."
"Hah, they won't!" Cloud replied confidently, grabbing a magazine. "You see this? ShinRa is recruiting all the SOLDIERs candidates they can so that they can make more super SOLDIERs. They're looking for the next Sephiroth, Genesis, and Angeal. I'm gonna take that test today and get in no matter what it takes."
"You really wanna meet the Devil Three huh? Or maybe you just wanna meet the silver one?"
"Mom, it isn't about meeting Sephiroth."
Alina looked around his room at all the memorabilia her son had collected over the years. Each wall had a different "Devil" on it. Genesis Rhapsodus, the Red Devil, Angeal Hewely, the Black Devil, and the illustrious Sephiroth, the Silver Devil." But only Sephiroth had the devotion and organization of a personal shrine. She gave Cloud a skeptic look. "Sure it isn't."
Cloud rolled his eyes. "Okay so it is, but only a little. I really want to get bigger and stronger and take care of you. You're sick mom. What kind of son would I be if I didn't at least try to take the weight off of you?"
"You'd be my son," Alina said simply. "When are you going to understand, no matter what you do or what you are I love you. So what do you need to go run off to Midgar for?"
"Because Midgar isn't here? Midgar isn't small, it isn't isolated, it isn't here! Now come on mom, we've been through this."
"I...I just don't want you to leave. I'd worry about you the whole time you were gone."
Cloud crouched down in front of her and gave her his cute face. "Mom?"
"Awe, no, no! Stop it; don't even do that-ew come on, the puppy eyes? Really? Cloudy!" She cringed and looked away from the big blue eyes that stared adorably at her. "Okay, okay! I'm over it! You can stop now! God, maybe once you're gone I can get some peace from that face."
Cloud smiled and stood up. "And now, I'm headed out!"
"Headed out? Where are you going? What time you going to be back? Who all are going to be there? Did Tifa put you up to something again? Will you make it to your test in time?"
"Getting naked now mom," Cloud said pulling of his shirt. "Boxers come next."
Alina rolled her eyes. "I wiped your ass for four years, what the hell you got that I don't already know about!"
Cloud looked back at her with a grin. "Okay, but do you really want to know how big your son's dick has gotten and risk being either turned on just because you haven't had a date in fifteen years or being freaked out because I probably look like dad down there, thus causing trauma for both of us?"
Alina only stared at Cloud. She got up quietly and immediately left the room murmuring about where she went wrong.
Cloud smiled as she closed the door and dropped the boxers. He went into the shower and got into the nice warm spray. His heart fluttered a bit at the thought of the days coming event. So he lied. A very big part of his motive for joining SOLDIER was to see Sephiroth again. His hero worship went above and beyond and he had worked extremely hard to change himself into someone the "Silver Devil" would respect. Today, he'd show the fruits of his labors.
It had taken Cloud a year of hard work. He dropped out of school as soon as the year ended because there was no way he was going to stick around that close-knit hellhole when he didn't have to. He had needed a job more than Nibelhiem's idea of a high school diploma. His hero-worshiping habits were expensive and so was his mother's medication. His life began to revolve around studying for the SOLDIER exams and taking care of Alina. The doctors said that she would be fine if she took the necessary precautions, but Cloud knew better. He'd watched her get weaker and weaker day by day. So how was he, the bastard-child of Nibelhiem who didn't even remember his father's face, suppose to provide for her in a community of old fashion-overbearing preachy bastards? Simple, he worked for the only outsider in Nibelhiem.
Cloud got dressed in a t-shirt that read "Nibelhiem: Population 10% Sober and Falling." He slipped on a pair of jeans with hiking boots. He walked over to his news clippings and posters of Sephiroth and looked into the jade green jewels that stared back at him and nodded. Today was the day. He put on a light jacket and kissed his mom goodbye as he made his way out the door. He had to get a haircut and do something about his clothes, even though Alina had already promised to take him shopping. She was tired and he didn't want her out in the nipping air with the way her cough was worsening. He had plenty of money put aside; his employer paid him well to keep his privacy and to do his shopping so paying for his mother's meds had become a no-brainer. However, he wanted to save up enough to move her to a place that wasn't so hazardous to her health. Some place warm where she could recover and be comfortable.
He walked over to the store, ignoring the look the shopkeeper gave him when he did. He pulled a small shopping cart and loaded it up with fresh meat, vegetables. He browsed the liquor isle lazily and chose a brand of alcohol he'd always seen his employer drink deciding to use his own money to pay for it. After all, the man had been good to him so far. Once he had everything he needed, he waltzed up to the checkout counter sticking his tongue out at the other customers. The shopkeeper rung up his purchase and looked at him skeptically, as always. Cloud pulled out a pile of cash and counted out the hundreds needed to complete the purchase. No one expected a fifteen year old to make that kind of money, especially one that no one really wanted to hire. So whenever Cloud made high-priced purchases it made the rumor mill run at double the speed. Some people said he was stealing, some said he had inherited the money from his late father when he became a teenager, others went so far as to give more unscrupulous reasons for him having the gil it took to live a bit better than they used to. The latest one being (and this was Cloud's favorite) that he was playing "house" with the recluse at the ShinRa Manor. Apparently, it was becoming popular belief that he had a sugar daddy who gave him whatever he wanted as long as he got on his knees once in a while. Alina always got pissed when people would whisper about it; while Cloud thought it was flattering that they believed he was that he was attractive enough to snag a rich old man. He never really paid the peanut gallery much attention since Sephiroth's visit to Nibelhiem.
Once he got his change, the shopkeeper waved him away and he made his way up the cobblestoned road to ShinRa Manor. The trees and bushes had grown thick since the Manor was abandoned years ago. No one cared to keep the branches back since ShinRa was no longer active in Nibelhiem and the only inhabitant of the mansion wasn't all that keen on outdoor activities. Which was good, otherwise Cloud wouldn't have a job. It was also a good thing the greenery was so overgrown otherwise there would be no twig-snapping to alert him.
He pretended not to hear as he went along his merry way. No point in getting all nervous now because thanks to personal training he had taken time to understand his enemies and their methods. This proved them to have one clear weakness: they were creatures of habit. He heard a feminine scream. That was another thing: she always came first. She tried to get him from behind with her hard glove covered fist which usually worked, but not today. Cloud moved to the side and planted his foot square in her stomach. The ebony haired beast doubled over for only a second before recovering to try another attack. He dodged, careful not to let the bags spill. He almost dropped the bottle of fine liquor. He took a punch in the jaw in order to keep it safely in the bag. She laughed triumphantly and went to knee him in the side but he caught it with his free hand kneed her in the pelvic bone. Never let it be said that he hit girls; Tifa was not a freaking girl!
"Ah, you bastard!" she growled holding her aching pelvic bone. "You aren't supposed to hit a girl there!"
"Oh, so your chest is free range?"
"What? AH!" she screamed as he put the whole of his foot into her breasts. She fell onto her back and cradled them crying.
Cloud sighed and stood back. "Go home Tifa! I haven't done anything to you yet!"
She grunted as she stood, still shielding her tender breasts. "I told you to stay away from my house! You know you're not allowed in there, I don't care what my dad says!"
"I buy stuff from your dad like everyone else, why the hell do you keep kicking my ass?"
"Cause you almost got me killed."
Cloud rolled his eyes and continued walking. "When the bridge collapsed I was trying to help you! Your friends left your ass for dead cause they were too scared to go. I wasn't because even though you're psychotic I didn't think you deserved to get hurt."
"That's not what everyone says happened and you know it!" She tried to attack again. Cloud whipped around, a small glow coming from beneath his shirt.
"Bolt2!"
Tifa's body seized up and arches of electricity flowed over her body. She jerked a few times before collapsing on the ground, her hair falling all around her in a pool of black. Cloud lowered his hand and crouched down by her smoking form. When she didn't move, he picked up a stick and poked her. She twitched.
"You still alive?" he asked. She mumbled something and he leaned closer to hear. "What?"
"You used bolt2..." she said though she was muffled from having her face in the dirt.
"Well yeah, you stopped feeling the first one bolt!" Cloud plainly. "You didn't piss yourself like the first time, did you?"
"No!" she groaned and managed to lift her head. "You wait until I get the feeling back in my body. I'm going to tear you a new one!"
"Just remember, this materia's mastered. I always have bolt3," he warned. He got up and left her there. "I guess you'll be fine. If you're still here when I get done, I'll help you!"
"I hate you, you Chocobo looking bastard!"
"At least my hair doesn't look like a dolphin's ass," he spouted. Yeah, he couldn't really tell if he and Tifa were friends or if they were just people who loved to hate each other. If it was possible, he would avoid Tifa at all costs, but she always ended up finding him. She always had her nose open for him and it freaked him out sometimes.
He finally got to made it to the manor's front gate and went inside it. He locked the gate behind him with his key and waltz up to the door quietly. He always got a little nervous, not knowing what kind of mood his employer would be in. Throughout the year he had been working for him, he'd watched the constant mood swings, the random bouts of ranting at no one, and he often heard growls and the like coming from the lower levels of the house. He'd been hesitant to ask but often told that his curiosity was healthy and today he was supposed to learn what was going on in that basement.
Cloud unlocked the door and went inside. He stepped into the foyer, ignoring the chill that always ran up his spine when he entered the house. The cobwebs were starting to get all over everything and the color had faded from what surely was once beautiful wallpaper. The furniture was dusty save for the pieces that were used. He went into the kitchens and began to put things he'd bought away. He glanced at the only working clock in the house and saw it was barely eight 'o clock. Alina had seriously woke him up entirely too early. He was positive his employer was still asleep as well and he wished he was too. He took out the bottle he'd bought and went up the stairs, taking off his jacket along the way. The mansion, despite its drafty appearance, managed to remain quite cozy and warm. The furnace stayed burning thanks to Cloud supplying good wood or sometimes coal. His employer hated the cold and he paid a good amount for Cloud to make warmth for both of them. Cloud ascended the final bit of stairs and went to the west wing where he knew the man who had been aiding him slept. He peeked into the room and frowned at the sight.
The doctor lay sprawled on the bed, his arm thrown haphazardly over his eyes. His hair, which was always kept tight in a low ponytail was lose and splayed over the white pillows and blankets. His lab coat had been left on the floor and his shit was partially unbuttoned allowing his chest to be shown. Cloud was skeptical to believe that the man was in his sixties. He was too well built for someone approaching his elderly years. It was probably from all the experimentation that went on. Whatever it was, the doctor still looked like he was in his prime. If he had been in to that sort of thing, Cloud would've gladly taken the man as his so called "sugar daddy," but he had higher standards than that. Cloud approached the bed and sat the bottle on the night stand carefully so as not to make too much noise. He reached for the man's shoulder and shook him awake.
"Professor Hojo?" he said gently. "Professor Hojo, it's morning."
Hojo lifted his arm from his face and groaned as his shoulder popped and ached. He opened his eyes groggily and looked at Cloud. "Boy, your eyes are a sight for old ones like mine."
"That's one of the creepiest things you've said to me since I've been here. Get up, sir."
Hojo yawned and sat up, his back cracking painfully. "You're rather early today Cloud."
"I come bearing gifts. You look like you didn't even eat yesterday."
"I was too busy getting my ornery ass kicked," he grumbled, standing. "I managed to take a shower but ended up going right back into that mess down stairs."
"Mess? Is that mystery guest of yours acting up?"
"More so than usual," he said buttoning up his shirt. "I have a theory that his moods fluctuate with the lunar cycle."
"How the hell does that work if you keep him in the basement?"
Hojo paused and looked at Cloud surprised that he'd actually thought about it. "Yes, that would be a valid argument if the bastard didn't escape to the surface. He's been doing that since I added that other strain. Let's see," he began to count on his fingers. "Hellmasker from Bone Villiage, Death Gigas from beneath Midgar, and finally Galian Beast from Cosmo Canyon, he should've stabilized by now. What the hell am I doing wrong?"
"You mean aside from keeping him locked in a basement?"
"What have I told you about your mouth?" Hojo murmured going up to the secret door. "Today is your SOLDIER test, yes?"
"Mm-hmm, but it's not until three 'o clock. So we got plenty of time."
"Yes, I promised to show you my guest. I warn you, he's been in a foul mood lately so don't expect him to respond to you right off the bat. If I wasn't drunk I would've never made that promise, but you're more cunning that you appear."
"Not sure who said blondes aren't smart."
"Someone with a jealous streak," Hojo opened the door to the basement and he went down the spiral staircase. Cloud hesitated at the door, making Hojo look back at him. "What is it?"
"Just a little nervous," Cloud admitted. "This place gives me the creeps you know."
"Then I'll gladly leave you up here," Hojo snapped, walking ahead.
That put a little fire in his step and he followed the Professor down the flimsy stairs. "You ever thought about having these steps replaced?"
"Ever thought about having your mouth removed? One of those two can be done soon as we get to the basement."
"Not my fault you're not a morning person."
They walked down into the dripping damp basement. Cloud flinched at the bats fluttering around on the ceiling as they slept. Hojo led him through the catacombs, passing various research rooms. He spied a very finely fashioned coffin lying amongst skeletons and dirty coffins. It was open, lined with plush red velvet and held a comfortable looking pillow. Cloud wondered who that one was meant for. Hojo beckoned him to keep up as they made it to the actual lab. The professor paused at the door and looked back at Cloud.
"What you see behind this door will be kept secret until you are told otherwise, understood? No one knows what I am doing here and if I have to, I'll kill you myself and you won't like what I do with the remains."
Cloud swallowed but replied. "Who the hell am I going to tell, Professor?"
"Good point, no one likes you."
"I'd like to think you like me."
"Like only goes so far with me. I like this bastard I'm dealing with yet I'm still using surgical knives on him."
"Some friend you are."
"Could've been worse."
"Could it?"
"Yes, I could've experimented on him while he was still alive."
Cloud paused and looked at him incredulously. Hojo only glanced at him before unlocking the door.
"Remember, this is our secret. I need not tell you I will kill you."
"Yes, yes, just open the damn thing; I'm dying to meet this guy."
"I hope he tries to kill you," Hojo mumbled, opening the door. He opened it wide allowing Cloud room to get in. They both paused and looked at the ceiling, one with a look of "oh shit" while the other just looked agitated. "Valentine, get off the ceiling!"
"Valentine?" Cloud repeated softly.
On the ceiling, a thin black clad creature crouched with something similar to a hockey mask on its face. His ebony hair hung long from his head as the mask turned and twisted on his face. A clawed hand taped the ceiling as he moved across the stone and his lithe body maneuvered around. Cloud flinched when he jumped down and made creepy groaning sound. It was then that Cloud realized they were in danger. The creature lifted his left hand and a chainsaw blade shifted from it making a loud buzzing sound.
"SHIT!" Cloud shouted stepping behind Hojo who didn't look frightened at all.
"Are we really going to do this Valentine...wait who are you this time?" Hojo rubbed his temple. "Right, Hellmasker. Well come on, then."
"Valentine" reared back and swiftly attacked Hojo with the chainsaw. The professor dodged, but Cloud was left alone to fend for himself. The chainsaw hit the wall behind him and he nearly pissed himself as blazing red eyes stared at him through the mask. Cloud froze up, staying completely still as the monster regarded him. Hojo dug around his desk drawer while it was distracted and pulled out his pistol. He let off a couple of rounds into its back and watched it fall against Cloud. It slid down and fell on the floor unconscious, his back bleeding.
"You killed him!" Cloud exclaimed.
Hojo found his glasses on the desk and slipped them on. "If you're going to be dramatic you can dig the bullets out."
"No thank you," Cloud nudged the monster with his foot. "Is he okay?"
"This is the best kept secret in all of ShinRa, of course he's fine." Hojo went over to his fallen subject and lifted him from the ground. He laid him on his stomach on the table and stepped back. Cloud peered over curiously. As they stood there, the body shifted and twitched until it became smaller and a half naked, pale man lay across the table. The form fitting leather pants wrapped power muscled legs. Hair poured over the side of the table like a black waterfall, shining beautifully under the artificial light. A pale back greeted Cloud's eyes, smooth and unmarred save for the bullets Hojo dug out of his back. Even that began to heal right before his eyes. Soft breath passed through petal pink lips and dark black lashes rested on lightly flushed cheeks.
"Cloud, I would like you to meet Vincent Valentine."
Cloud tilted his head in wonder. "Would it be weird if I called him pretty?"
"The most beautiful specimen I've ever had the privilege to cut open. Unfortunately, he's very much dead."
"What do you mean? I can see him breathing!"
"Oh yes, his bodily functions are working but the decay has not ceased. I'm searching hard for something that can sustain his life and allow new cells to be generated so that he does not decay. It's been a long process to get him this far, but I'm reaching a dead end. Eventually, those strains I've put within him will no longer be able to sustain him."
"You mean he'll die?"
Hojo was silent. "No, I refuse failure of that magnitude. However, if he degenerates too far I will place him in stasis until I can discover a solution."
Cloud walked around the body and crouched down so that he could look at the face of Hojo's specimen. "He looks like he's in pain…"
"If he is in there somewhere, then he's most likely experiencing the pain of being locked in a decaying body."
Cloud stood up and gave the man a pitying glance before turning away. "That's cruel, Professor Hojo."
"That's science. Besides, I am not doing this to learn anything. I'm doing this because I owe this man a life. Perhaps I will tell you his story one day when you've become the SOLDIER you've so aspired to be."
"More ammunition?"
"Call it an incentive, boy. Too bad you want to be a SOLDIER," Hojo said looking Cloud up and down. "I would've loved to have gotten my hands on you."
"I think you do that enough with all your stupid booster shots."
"They will help you past the SOLDIER physical. As you were, they would've passed your scrawny ass up."
Cloud bit his tongue. Hojo was right. After all the shots that helped to flush his system as well as aid him in getting in shape, Cloud had the physics to be accepted as a SOLDIER cadet, but the test was something Hojo could not aid him with. The good doctor had taken an interest in his development and in addition to paying him for his time he offered help with getting him into the program. Still, the idea that he hadn't stood a chance before still stung.
"Stop brooding," Hojo snapped.
"Yes, sir!"
l
"Oh come on Seph, aren't you missing me in the least?"
Tseng, who was driving, flinched at the volume of Genesis indignant screech.
"What the hell do you mean no? I've been stuck driving all over the freaking planet testing these silly out of city candidates for three months now! How can you not miss me?"
Tseng almost lost control of the wheel when Genesis flailed and hit him upside the head.
"Not you too Angie! Fine, when I get home I'm holding out on both of you! What am I saying, you don't care Angie! You're too wrapped up in the little black puppy you picked up off the street!"
Tseng swerved when Genesis shouted. "I DON'T GIVE A DAMN IF HE'S FROM GONGALU GONAGOO, SCREW YOU, YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY! PUT SEPH BACK ON!"
Tseng rolled his eyes and pulled the truck over when Genesis voice turned sweet and gentile again. He got out and stuck a cigarette between his lips and leaned against the truck. He had been stuck with Genesis since Kalm, listening to the flamboyant redhead spew the indignities of making a 1st Class Soldier, a Commander at that, run all over the place picking out recruits. He didn't stop to consider Tseng's discomfort in having a front row seat to Genesis's temper tantrums. He didn't have enough cigarettes to make it through this entire trip. He just hoped this Nibelhiem place had Wutai blend. Tseng pulled his ponytail holder out and finger combed his hair trying to relax himself.
"Who? Tseng?" Genesis leaned out the driver's door, having just noticed they had stopped. "He's leaning against the truck smoking. Yeah, I think he's smoking too much; its completely unhealthy. What? You wanna talk to him? I wasn't finished with you, Seph!" Genesis smacked his lips. "Fine! Silver haired hussy! Tseng!"
Tseng looked at him with an arched brow, cigarette dangling from his lips. For a moment Genesis felt his heart skip; for a moment, he saw Vincent standing before him. He shook his head and threw the phone at Tseng. Tseng caught it easily and placed it to his ear.
"Your precious brother wants to talk to you."
Tseng pressed the PHS to his ear. "Yes?"
"Tseng, are you alright?"
"As alright as I can be. I fear we won't be back in time for Vincent's memorial and I received word from Veld that Lady ShinRa may not make it."
"So I heard. The politics of ShinRa are changing too fast and Lucrecia has taken the SOLDIER experimentation somewhere strange. It's a lot to deal with, especially for you."
"I won't pretend the things I have been doing lately do not bother me. However, it is my job. You needn't worry about my conscience, Sephiroth. It is as clear as it can be for a Turk."
"I understand. Genesis isn't driving you to suicide is he?"
"Homocide would be more accurate, but we are almost to Nibelhiem. We're going to run about fifteen minutes late thanks to this stop, but it was either stop or allow Genesis to get us both killed."
A deep chuckle tingled against his ears. Tseng inhaled and exhaled trying to clear the sudden fuzziness in his head. Sephiroth really was starting to freak him out lately. Whenever they talked over the phone, it sounded like his voice could actually physically touch him. It was at its worst when the man was angry. The fluctuations of his tones would feel like lashings against his brain and often gave him a headache. On days like this, when his brother was calm and somewhat happy to hear from him, it sounded as though that voice was driving him to succumb to some heinous act or follow him into death. It was strange and he often wondered if it was due to the newest tests and treatments given by Lucrecia.
"I should get moving. I do not like to talk and drive," Tseng murmured, putting out his cigarette.
"Tseng?"
"Yes?"
"Try to be back on time. I'm…well…I…I want to be worried for you right now."
Tseng almost flinched at the loss in Sephiroth's voice. "I understand, Sephiroth. You do not have to try to be concerned for me."
"I want to…I…" Sephiroth's voice became unsure, as if showing even this small amount of emotion was driving him insane. "I…"
"Sephiroth, I need to go before we are even more late," Tseng said gently steering him back to more profession conversation. "I sent more tea and spider lilies for the memorial. Nibelhiem is the last stop so I will try my best to return on time."
"Understood. Text me when you've arrived safely," he replied, his voice suddenly cold and commanding.
"Goodbye," Tseng hung up and looked at Genesis who had a very distant look on his face, painfully distant. Tseng walked over to him just a tear slid down those perfect cheeks and he brushed away with his gloved hand. "So the beauty queen can cry."
"Kiss my eccentric ass, Tseng," Genesis said sadly.
"If you are so worried about him, then why don't you do something?" Tseng asked, climbing back in the truck.
"Because as long as Lucrecia is head of the science department, we all belong to her," Genesis's solemn tone actually made Tseng feel sorry for them. Angeal was the only one who escaped the proverbial chopping block. "Tseng…you're the last one he tries to feel with so even though you don't want to hear it, I want to talk to you about it anyway."
Tseng glanced at Genesis out the corner of his eye. "Why do I feel like this is going to be something way too personal?"
"Just hear me out," Genesis pleaded. "You remembered graduation?"
"Yes, there were a bunch of raunchy details I could've lived without but I do remember."
"Well, you remember how wonderful Sephiroth was back then, how…how…"
"Human? Yes, I remember."
"Well, over the years, I've watched my Sephiroth go from happy and caring to this cold, methodical machine. It used to be warm and comforting to be in his arms or to hear his voice, now it's like embracing an iceberg. He even fucks like this now."
"Don't need to hear this, though this is the first time I've ever heard your coupling referred to as such. When did that change?"
"That's what it's become. He fucks coldly, mechanically; the warmth is just the heat of us rutting together when it use to come from the love I thought we shared. It's like he's only doing it because it's another part of his duty as a General." Genesis covered his face with his hand. "Tseng, you're the only one Sephiroth still tries to love. Please, try to find a way to help him. This regression is hurting our relationship with each other. Even Angeal is wary of him, though he pretends like nothing is wrong."
Tseng kept his eyes on the road, but one thing was on his mind and he accidentally voiced it out loud. "I wish Vincent were here."
l
Angeal lay over Sephiroth's back, kissing his bare shoulders as the other man hung up the phone. "Genesis still griping?"
"It wouldn't be natural if he wasn't." Sephiroth turned so that Angeal was positioned over his front and he let his head hang off the edge of their Costa King Bed. Angeal pressed gentle, tickling kisses along his throat and Sephiroth let out a soft moan. "He's going to Nibelhiem right now with Tseng. Tseng sounded strange over the phone. I wonder what's on his mind so heavy."
Angeal brushed back Sephiroth's hair so that he could fully see his face. Like Genesis, Angeal had found wonder in seeing the whole of Sephiroth's perfect face and would often push away the bangs when he leaned in to kiss him. Angeal pressed a deep kiss to petal soft lips that had not changed since they were teenagers. Sephiroth arched up against tantalizing fingers that toyed with his sides. When their kiss broke, Sephiroth flicked his ear.
"We were having a conversation."
"One that you know the answer to," Angeal replied with a chuckle. "Tseng has always taken care of himself and been independent. You can't expect that to suddenly change. He'll handle it as he goes. Who knows, maybe they'll meet your little blonde friend."
"Blonde?"
"You remember the spikey haired one. What was his name? Storm? Rain?"
"I don't remember," Sephiroth said pulling Angeal down for a kiss. "I don't think I'm too concerned with it right now, either."
Angeal smirked into the kiss and pinned down Sephiroth's arms. "I'm not too concerned about it either."
Sephiroth chuckled.
"A hero's not afraid to give his life! A hero's gonna save me just in time!"
They both paused and looked at Angeal's phone. Sephiroth slowly turned and looked at Angeal with one of the blankest stares he'd ever seen on anyone's face.
"Are you fucking serious?" Sephiroth asked.
"Goddamn it Zack," Angeal groaned burying his head in Sephiroth's shoulder. "He keeps stealing my phone and setting ringtones. You should hear what yours is."
"I need a hero to save me now! I need a hero, save me now!"
"Get off me and answer that thing," Sephiroth grumbled.
Angeal apologized and rolled off to snatch his phone off the nightstand. Sephiroth watched him get up and walk into the bathroom to talk privately. He rolled onto his stomach and put his head on his arms. It was only a few moments before he heard his phone ring as well.
"She fucking hates me! Trust, she fucking hates me! La la la love"
Sephiroth snatched his phone and flipped it open. "The hell do you want?"
"Sephiroth, I need you to come a bit early today. I know you're doing that whole silly thing for Vincent's memorial and will pretend you don't have time for your mother. So, you're going to come early and I won't bother you for the rest of the week."
"Problem with that, mother, is that I'm busy. I'm on leave and am spending time with Angeal. Whatever it is can wait until my leave is up."
"Sephiroth," her giggle sounded humorless and cold. "You're always so mean to me. Well, if you don't think you can make it today, I'll just have Hollander bring Genesis in as soon as he gets back. We have some tests to run. After all, you're still competitive projects."
Sephiroth's hand tensed around the phone. "….fine…what time."
"Now would be grand, though I'm here all day."
Angeal finally hung up with Zack and came out of the room. "I have to go help the puppy and his dizzy friends with training. They have a field assessment coming up and-"
He realized the room was empty. Sephiroth's clothes and shoes were gone and he suddenly heard the front door close. Angeal sighed and went back into the bathroom to get ready.
"Jeez, not even a word."
l
Genesis stepped out of the truck and grimaced. "Deliver me from Beauty and the Beast. Tseng? Where are we again?"
Tseng slammed the truck door and walked up beside Genesis. "It's called Nibelhiem, Genesis. You're supposed to meet the candidate at the Inn."
"Mm, if anyone starts singing, I'm setting the whole place on fire. Where will you be?"
"I have to meet someone here," Tseng said walking ahead. "I'm on assignment."
"Here I thought you were with me for my endearing company."
"Don't say idiotic things," Tseng said under his breath though he knew Genesis's Mako enhanced ears could hear him.
"You little slant eyed jerk!" Genesis screeched.
Tseng ignored him.
Genesis huffed and walked around the quiet little town. It was so small and Genesis almost choked on the nearly smog free air. Only the Mako reactor in the distance made this very rustic area even remotely modern. He saw children running around like savages, beating each other with various objects. One was a girl in a pair of cargo shorts was searching around the water tower in the center of the town. When she didn't find what she was looking for, she kicked the brick foundation hard. Genesis's brow arched when he saw it actually cracked. She turned and looked at him, having felt him staring. Genesis realized she really was just a kid, but her chest was that of a grown woman. What was she, about fourteen or fifteen with D-Cup. What the hell?
"Can I help you?" she asked with a slight attitude crossing her arms to hide her ample bosom. Her voice was light, melodic, but held a strange accent to it.
"Don't flatter yourself honey, I'm gayer than a Tupperware party," Genesis snapped. "Can you tell me where the nearest hotel is?"
She tilted her head, her dark brown eyes showing mild suspicion. "There's a inn attached to old man Callahan's restaurant. It's the only one out here; not sure how you missed it, stranger."
Genesis's eye twitched at that accent. It sounded like she was speaking to some strange rhythm only she knew. "Um, yeah…I can't read any of the signs here so if you would show some hospitality and point out where it is?"
"Jeez, ya don't even bother to learn the language," she grumbled waving him along. "City folk sure are uppity. Come on."
Genesis eye twitched again. If all of these people talked the way this little girl did, he was going to have a headache by the time this trip was over. "Thank you, I think. Not that I particularly care, but what is your name? I don't want to have to say 'hey you' every few seconds."
"I'm Tifa Lockhart," she said proudly. "Who are you, stranger? You look kind of familiar."
"I'm Genesis Rhapsodus," he bowed a little. "Commander of the SOLDIERs of ShinRa Inc."
Tifa huffed. "ShinRa? I should've known. You're here to see him aren't you?"
"Excuse me?"
"Cloud Strife? He thinks he's smart enough to pass that stupid SOLDIER test."
"Cloud? What kind of name is that?"
Tifa stared at him. "What kinda name is Genesis?"
"You're working my nerves. Is this the inn?"
Tifa shrugged. "Yeah, just go on in. Trust me, you can't miss Cloud. He's skinny, blonde, and stupid. Tell him I'll be waiting to kick his ass outside!"
Genesis watched the psychotic little girl walk away. She'd be a beauty one day if she'd stop kicking people's ass and smart mouthing them. She even had a nice developing walk to her.
"Ah well," he sighed pulling out the files he'd been given. "Thank the goddess this is the last one. When I get back, I'm definitely taking leave. This bullshit was ridiculous." He fixed his hair and straightened his red velvet duster before walking in to the inn. He looked around at the random people who were enjoying their midday meals and decided to go to the greeter. She smiled brightly at him and actually looked earnest.
"Well hello there," she piped her accent stronger than the Tifa girl's. "How many in your party?"
Genesis's eye twitched again. "Actually, I'm from ShinRa Inc. I'm looking for someone named Cloud Strife. He is supposed to meet me here."
"Oh him," her face fell. "He's been here for two hours; I'll show you."
Genesis was surprised by the way her demeanor changed at the mentioning of Cloud's name. He didn't question it. She led him to the back of the small restaurant where a skinny, frail little blond sat Indian style in a booth. He certainly didn't look like a candidate for SOLDIER. He was pale, scrawny, and had hair that could've poked someone's eye out. Genesis took a breath and walked up to him with his best intimidating "I'm more kickass than you" posture.
"Are you Cloud Strife?"
The boy paused and looked up at him, turning flawless crystalline blue eyes to Genesis. The redhead almost gasped, but kept his composure. The boy nodded and scrambled to stand-up properly.
"Yes, sir."
Genesis eye twitched again. "That accent…" he murmured.
"What?"
"Nothing! It's a pleasure to meet you, I am-"
"Four Star General Genesis Rhapsodus, commander of the 2nd Battalion of SOLDIER aka the Red Devil of ShinRa Inc; often recognized by his red duster and color change eyes!"
Genesis simply stood there, staring at Cloud with narrowed eyes. Cloud's heart beat a million miles a minute, believing he had offended the General somehow. He was about ready to start apologizing and groveling when suddenly he was snatched and cuddled.
"OMG!" Genesis squealed. "You are so cute and adorable! It always makes me feel so good to meet an avid fan! AH! You have the prettiest eyes I've ever seen too, you adorable little thing."
Cloud was crushed under the strong arms of the SOLDIER and felt like he was drowning in the scent of fresh air. "MMmMMMMmMM!"
"What?" Genesis pulled back a little.
"I said, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU!" Cloud exclaimed shoving away.
Genesis laughed. "You are just wonderful. Sit down and lets gets this over with, my little SOLDIER-to-Be!"
l
"How do you believe he will fair, Valentine?" Hojo asked knowing that the man could not answer. "He's a good boy, honest, kind, and fairly brave. He could do great things under the right guidance, or terrible things under the wrong guidance. He reminds me so much of him. I wonder if I've gone soft over him. What do you think, eh? A heartless snake in the grass like me caring for an unwanted child? Being a father where another could not? Is that what changed you, my pretty Turk?"
The deceased Turk lay on the lab table staring blankly at the ceiling, his breath coming small pants as his body warred with the beasts within him. Hojo sat beside him on a laptop decoding his wife's old research. He'd cracked open the "present" Cloud had brought him and found a bottle of the town's finest Sherry. He sipped the beautiful red liquid slowly as he worked, glad that this town had something that wasn't completely watered down and countrified. He glanced at Vincent who exhaled suddenly and stopped breathing. Hojo waited for a moment and when Vincent did not breathe again he put the laptop to the side quickly.
"Shit," he cursed, leaning over Vincent. "You're in rare form today, aren't you?"
He left to go to the medicine cabinet and readied a needle. As soon as the bubbles were cleared, he quickly went back to the lab table and injected the liquid into Vincent's arm. There were so many needle pricks dotting his arm that Hojo almost grimaced at them. How long would he have to keep this body breathing? As soon as the liquid was pushed through, Vincent inhaled sharply and then returned to panting. Hojo sighed and leaned against the lab table. What the hell was he doing anyway? He'd restored Vincent's body, regenerated the torn flesh and ruptured organs from his wife's assault. But nothing would stop the decay nor keep the man's heart beating. The random little deaths were becoming more and more frequent and the time taken to bring him back to some form of health longer. Hojo ran a hand through his hair. Soft whispers began to echo in the room in a language he couldn't understand. They were dark, threatening, taunting. He couldn't stand it.
"Goddamn it, Valentine!" he growled. "What the hell am I doing? I've let her take everything from me. I'm stuck here trying to revive the dead instead of letting you rest in peace like you deserve. She has become everything I was while I stay here and continue to save you. The longer I am trapped in this house, the more I lose more of my senses."
He suddenly laughed as the voices grew louder and looked at Vincent's listless eyes. "You can't even hear me, you dead bastard. You're wasting away here, laughing at me behind those eyes of yours. You're laughing at me like her and these stupid voices that have taken up stay in my head. HAH! You know what they tell me to do to you, Valentine?"
Vincent, as usual, did not reply. Hojo glared at him and pressed a scalpel to the dead man's stomach. "They tell me eviscerate you, hang your organs on display for my colleagues to see. They tell me to slice open that pretty mouth of yours and recreate your beautiful smile so that when Sephiroth and Tseng see you, they will shy away in fear." He laughed maniacally, climbing on to the table. He straddled Vincent and placed his hands around the man's neck, constricting his breathing. "What a sight you would be, Valentine. Your face panted with your own blood and a smile like a harlequin! The joke would be on you for ever coming into our lives! For turning her head! For coming in between something that took three years to build and infecting our marriage with your chivalry, your kindness, your idiotic sense of obligation to my son! You for tearing at all I had built for myself simply because you couldn't let the bitch lie!"
Vincent's eyes widened slightly and his lips parted. Hojo froze at the sudden movement and his hands stopped getting tighter. HE stared into crimson eyes that stared at absolutely nothing and realized they were filled with tears that had yet to fall. Hojo released his throat and watched him gasp. The pale lips moved up and down in the semblance of words and Hojo leaned closer.
"Ho…jo…please…"
Startled, Hojo pulled away and looked around him as if he'd just realized what he had been doing. He got off the table and tugged at his hair. It was so quiet, the whispering had stopped and he had almost killed Vincent again. He looked back at the table. Wait, Vincent had spoken. The Turk had said something, had realized his life was endangered and responded. He had reacted!
"You're...truly alive in that rotting corpse." Hojo nodded to no one and picked up his laptop. He continued to decode Lucrecia's research and came across an old thesis. He glanced at Vincent once more, whose breathing had calmed. "I…believe I've found a way for you, Turk."
A/N: a good long chapter to show you that I love you and to make up for the wait. This is only a snippet of Cloud's personality, but I will try to incorporate more of it in the next chapter. Hope you're all still with me. Please review and let me know what you think. Also, this is not Tifa bashing. I'm cool with Tifa, I just tend to have problems with her logic in the game. Anyway, I'm building a sort of relationship between them that will come into play later. So don't worry, he's not gonna hate her and she's not going to always hate him. To explain the accent: it has that lilting melodic hint to it that most people in northern Europe have like Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland places like that.
Next Episode Cloud makes it obviously and Genesis decides to take an extended stay in Nibelhiem to prepare his new prodigy. Tseng carries out his assignment in Nibelhiem and Sephiroth…um…is Sephiroth. Tee-hee. Episode Two of Season Two: Blow this Scene.
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Walking Out on Destiny