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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
- 25
- 26
- 27
Warning: this chapter contains torture…like seriously. If you don't like that sort of thing, skip the interrogation scene please. Last thing I want is for anyone to lose their minds. Now if you're like me and find the idea of Tseng torturing anyone so full of win then by all means read on.

Walking Out on Destiny Season Two

Episode Eleven: Shuffle…

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Sephiroth was very confused when he found himself staring into sleepy glowing eyes that reflected the dark green glow of the city. He always came at 3 in the morning to pick Zack up for their morning run unless one of them was on mission. So when the chocobo haired boy answered the door with a less than cheery disposition, he was…rather surprised. Cloud stood there sleepily staring at him, practically swimming in the oversized t-shirt and loose shorts he had on. Sephiroth hoped the boy was too sleepy to notice the slow blush creeping to his cheeks as he admired how adorable he looked in that clothing. Cloud didn't even seem to register who he was as he stared vacantly ahead.

"Um..is Zack home?"

Cloud tilted his head this way and that just like a baby bird before closing the door for a moment. He reopened it and handed the General a note. Sephiroth immediately recognized Zacks messy scribbling.

Hey Seph,

You're probably wondering why the chicabo is answering the door; well I got called in for a mission in the middle of the night and won't be back until tomorrow. So I need you to babysit. Cloud pretty much feeds and waters himself buuuut I have nothing in the way of groceries left and since it was so abrupt, Cloud will starve. So do me a favor and look after him. Ya know, feed him, pet him, and make sure his shit is the same color as when I left him with you! Thanks buddy, I know you and Tseng will look after my thing. Make sure he gets some exercise. Don't want him to be a fat ass when he starts basic.

Love

Zack :3

P.S. All jokes aside, the mako has been giving him nightmares. Not sure what it was mixed with. So watch him cause when he has them. Tie him down or something.

Sephiroth balled up the note and looked down who had fallen asleep on his feet. Sephiroth wasn't sure what to do with him and if Tseng had not been all the way in the car he would've asked him. He cleared his throat and poked the blonde in the forehead which surprisingly made the boy wake up instantly. He blinked at Sephiroth, still not fully conscious.

"Since I've become the unwilling petsitter, you're going to have to adjust your schedule to my schedule for today. Meaning I need you to get dressed in something comfortable and you're coming running with me."

Cloud blinked once and dug in his pocket for a few minutes before pulling out his phone. He looked at the time then at Sephiroth and then promptly began closing the door. Sephiroth, who was certain if the boy was actually awake would not do something stupid like slam the door in his face, slammed his hand on the door before it closed and scared some awareness into Cloud. Cloud blinked once again…then simply walked away. Sephiroth rolled his eyes and followed him inside, snatching him before he could burrow too deeply into the blankets on the couch. He lifted Cloud by his waist and carried him against his hip like luggage towards the bathroom. He turned the shower to a not scalding but "wake the hell up" temperature and promptly tossed Cloud under the spray.

"AH FUCK MOTHERING SHIT!"

"Oh good, your awake. Put something comfortable on. You need to be ready in five minutes or I will dress you myself and it won't be pleasant for either of us."

Cloud knew when he was being intimidated and normally he had something smart to say….buuuuut this was Sephiroth and he was a gnat compared to that kinda power. So he did the only thing he could do. Nod and find a towel.

Tseng tapped the wheel wondering what was taking Sephiroth so long. He knew Zack was lazy but he was always prompt with their exercises; the boy loved physical activity. So when Sephiroth finally came down with something flung over his shoulder, he was a little…curious. Sephiroth opened the back door and lowered his load level with the seat and Tseng watched a tired Cloud crawl into the back seat and promptly collapse…and begin snoring. Tseng gave Sephiroth a look when he got into the passenger seat.

"Zacks not home, he's my responsibility."

"….you killed eight gold fish…"

"Good thing this one knows how to feed himself then."

Tseng shrugged and started the car. "Should I get you a book on how to care for small creatures?"

"Shaddup, Tseng."

Tseng smirked and pulled off while Sephiroth screwed around with his radio. Sephiroth smirked when he heard a melody come on. Tseng practically frizzed.

"Do it."

"No."

"Come on, you love this song."

"Its mildly entertaining. That's not love."

"Just do it, whens the last time you did it. Come on," Sephiroth obnoxiously poked his fingers against Tseng's temple.

"Stop that I'm driving."

"Come oooon, do it. As the eldest of us, I invoke my right to make you do something you don't want to."

"Which one of us has the gun here?"

"Which one of us has the enhanced everything?"

"You're not bulletproof."

"Nope, but I can catch one. Do it!"

"If I do, will you shut the hell up."

"Nope, I'll still be a bastard…but you're going to do it."

Tseng sighed. "Fine! Don't understand why you pick the gayest song in existence."

"Oh that is not the gayest song. Besides, you sung it in the shower and the deal was for as long as you live you had to sing it or I would show the video of you singing and dancing the shower to Reno."

Tseng face burned. "Why did you move home again?"

"Do it! Promise I'll sing it with you."

"There are times when you're queerer than a 2 gil bill."

"DO IT!"

"You tell anyone and I will slit your throat in your sleep." Tseng sighed wishing he were somewhere else. "So hot out the box

Can we pick up the pace

Turn it up, heat it up

I need to be entertained

Push the limit, are you with it?

Baby don't be afraid Imma hurt you real good baby."

Sephiroth had hugest shit eating grin on his face until he heard a drowsy voice chime into the music.

"Let's go it's my show, baby, do what I say

Don't trip off the glitz that I'm gonna display

I told you, Imma hold ya down until you're amazed

Give it to ya til you're screamin' my name…"

Sephiroth glanced in the back seat to see Cloud singing the lyrics in his sleep.

Tseng snorted and continued, finding a new source of entertainment. "No escaping when I start

Once I'm in I own your heart

There's no way to ring the alarm

So hold on until it's over!"

Cloud suddenly sat up and jammed, swaying his head from side to side fully awake but eyes closed feeling the rhythm. "OH! Do you know what you got into! Can you handle what I'm about to do! Cuz it's about to get rough for you! I'm here for your entertainment!"

Snickering made Cloud open his eyes and realize he wasn't in the safety of the guest room…in Zacks house…alone. He blinked as Sephiroth and Tseng both stared at him with eerily identical smirks on their faces. Sephiroth was just pressing stop record on his phone.

"Oh that was just priceless."

"….what?" Cloud asked bewildered.

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Reno partially fell off the metro. He was tired, he had a severe case of jet lag, and he hadn't been laid since the Costa De Sol incident. He felt a large arm wrapped around his waist giving his weary body support. He grinned and looked up at Rude who adjusted his glasses as they exited the train. The ShinRa Militia still had him at gunpoint, but he no longer had handcuffs and as long as Reno watched him, he was able to roam free. The big man was still dressing in his three piece suits not giving a rat's ass that he was considered a prisoner. The way he walked as if his stare alone could melt the militia's rifles was intimidating and fucking sexy to Reno. He couldn't wait to see what the hell Tseng wanted so he could do a little fraternizing with the enemy and get it out of his system. Then again, the thought of seeing Tseng again turned his head as well. He missed the company of his number one partner and he was certain Tseng had no one suitable to work with sine he'd been gone. If he didn't know Tseng better, he'd let his imagination run away with him and assume this meeting was just to get him back to Midgar. Tseng was better than though. Something had went wrong and Reno was dying to find out whose ass they had to kick.

"You alright."

"Yeah, jus' fuggin' tired. I hate all that traveling when I ain't the one drivin'. Come on, big guy. Tseng said he wanted to see ya."

"Can't decide if that's a good thing or a bad thing." Rude said glancing at the guards.

"Hey, look at it this way, Tseng can't be that bad. He let you keep your name and fortune. He probably wants to give you the rest of your shit back."

"Hmm." Reno could tell Rude was skeptical.

"Tseng isn't bad people, man. He saved me from rotting in jail, he saved those kids when he could've just escaped and went about his business. He was brought up to be a good person, brought up by a real Turk. He's a mean son of a bitch but he ain't evil." Reno shook his head. "He never will be."

Rude eyed the soft smile on his face and shook his head. Reno had it bad and didn't even know it. He followed the redhead, looking up at ShinRa HQ and for once feeling humbled. This was the organization that had turned his life inside out not once but twice. It was so much more than his operation could have ever imagined and to think he thought he held power over ShinRa with his gunrunning when in reality, they only dealt with him because it was cheaper. It wasn't that they couldn't afford it, it was more of "why exploit our resources when we can exploit theirs." ShinRa was not just corporation; it was a mother fucking organized crime ring and no one could bring them down.

Reno nudged him. "You alright?"

"Just realized that all this time I thought I had a hand on ShinRa…you fuckers were untouchable."

Reno smirked. "We've always been untouchable. We got the kinda power to make others untouchable too. Maybe if you get on Tseng's good side…"

Rude looked down at the man and shook his head.

"Just sayin'. Turk could use somebody like you."

"Sorry, red. I ain't muscle for hire."

Reno narrowed his eyes. "That's all you think we are? Goes to show your little partners had no idea what they were fucking with and neither did you. Just meet them. Meet the whole of Turk just once, and I promise you'll be beggin us to take ya."

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Tseng sat patiently in a chair, his legs crossed one over the other as Claude was situated on the floor. Two women in Turk uniform stood behind him in as Claude came too.

"Good morning, Claude," Tseng said politely. "This is Guns and this is Shuriken."

"Oh, Tseng, didn't have the spine to kill me."

Tseng tilted his head. "I need you to answer questions for me, Claude. It's important you answer honestly; I need you to answer honestly. If you do not answer honestly then I will be unhappy and ask these lovely ladies to leave you alone with me. At this very moment, they are the only thing protecting you from me and what's on that table over there."

Claude looked at Guns who held no sympathy in her cold blue eyes and then Shuriken who showed some emotion but it was only pity. Claude glanced at said table finding different arrays of needles lined up neatly and sterilized in alcohol. These ladies were new to this sort of thing, he could tell. They wouldn't be able to stomach this and therefore would not allow Tseng to harm him. They were women after all and women were weak. How long they kept Tseng away obviously depended on the right answers. Claude outright laughed, attempting to call their bluff.

"You really think you have the guts for this?" he asked the girls. "You're women, how and you go against your nature to let such inhumane practices go on."

The female Turks looked at each other, then at Tseng. Tseng closed his eyes and smirked as they laughed outright. Claude frowned at their reaction.

"You know," Shuriken said. "Years ago, I would've thought this was inhumane, but after a while you start to get a taste for it."

"Same here," Guns agreed. "On top of that, your little group had someone important to me in their check point. I ain't got a lick of sympathy for you."

Claude fell silent at her cold blue gaze. Tseng pushed his hair behind his ear and tilted his head inquiringly. "Are you read to begin, Claude?"

The man narrowed his eyes and schooled his face. "Just get dis over with, Tseng."

"Tell me, who informed you of my past?"

He shook his head. "Here I thought you was betta than this Tseng. The one who informed me is someone in your organization."

"Oh yes, I know of him, but I asked who informed you of the intimate details of my past. You would not have known my weaknesses had they not been told to you and there is only one man who knew of my conditioning. I am afraid he is dead."

Claude shook his head. "I didn't need to be informed of that. All I needed to know was which checkpoints you passed through. My job as a slaver means I know how to condition the stock. After meeting you the first time, watching the way you acted and moved coupled with knowing where you came from, I knew exactly how to handle you. You should know betta than dat. If I could get a hold of you now I could have you on your knees just by using what u were conditioned to like. I could break Tseng, any slaver could, I just would need to know what button to push."

Tseng's eyes flashed but he held no expression, no sign that the words affected him. "So you are saying that a slaver of your rank need only know where I have been in order to-"

"Take you down yes. I thought Turk had a tight intel network, but then again it was a Turk who gave you to me."

Shuriken glanced at Tseng for a moment, confused by this information. Tseng did not acknowledge her. "And your Don, Rude as you call him, he knew of your work."

"Pfft, Rude don't have the stomach for his daddy's work. Which was fine, I handled that fortune alone and left him with what he was good at. Gun runnin' was all Rude could do so I made him believe that was all his daddy did. Didn't need him botching up the checkpoints cuz he had a heart!"

"I see, so Rude knew nothing?"

"Nawl, so it was useless for you to sick that little red demon on him to pump him for information. Still, it was a nice trick. Give him the wild one and then you come at me with your refined exotic self. What makes you stay in ShinRa Tseng, it's obvious they're stuntin something beautiful in that black little heart of yours. Virgin too, mm-mm-mm. I shoulda followed my first mind and took you when you were nothing but putty in my hands…I could've made you believe I was God after I was done with you. A snap of my fingers would've had you callin' me daddy in front of these women."

Tseng's mask slipped and Claude spotted the barely noticeable twitch in his brow. "Oh, you don't like that idea. Well, I know a secret. Did you know the man who bought you from the Madame was a good colleague of mine? Remember when you were so small, wild little thing, but run hands through that hair of yours and-"

"Guns, Shuriken…I ask that you leave the room."

Shuriken cast him a worried glance but turned to follow. Guns glanced back at Tseng. "We will be outside."

"No need, this will be a while," Tseng replied, never facing them.

"Understood."

Once they left Claude laughed and watched as Tseng rose from the chair. "Got to you then."

"I realize that our line of questioning is going nowhere and there is much I need to know before I attend my meeting. I asked for your cooperation and you failed to give it. Therefore, your feigned ignorance shall become much more painful." With that said, Tseng stood up and went to the table removing his Turk blazer as he went. "It's clear to me that you do not understand the magnitude of your situation."

Claude watched as Tseng perused the table and chose very fine gauged needles. "You dun have da fortitude for this Tseng. It's not in you. You were meant to be submissive, do as ya told. If I used the right tone of voice, you would release me right now."

"You are correct Claude. I was meant to do as I was told," Tseng murmured as he pushed his hair to one side and knelt on to the floor gracefully. He reached out and took one of the man's hands down from the shackle and held it almost gently in his own. "These hands…I can almost imagine how small mine would've been if I had gone to you first. How young I would be in the hands of a grown man."

Claude smirked. "I would've kept you. I could still do so now if you let me go."

Tseng looked at him, his cool gray eyes aglow in the dim lighting. Claude had to admit, even in his situation, Tseng was stunning. "You wish to take me away from here? Show me…" Tseng loosened his grip on Claude's hand. "Show me how you would make me submit, Claude. Show me what you claim I am preconditioned for."

Claude slipped his hand slowly from Tseng's grasp and slipped it into the Turks hair. Tseng fought back a moan as experienced fingers massaged the base of his skull and slid over his scalp. Tseng let a soft sigh escape his lips admitting that it was an enjoyable feeling and it did make him wish to submit, however…

"See, I could take you away from dis life Tseng. You don't belong here, bowing to these fat cats, staining ya hands with blood for no reason other than you were told. You deserve to be dressed, fed, and petted. You deserve to be kept and cared for, a beautiful exotic pet in my bed. Free me and you'd never have to be this person again. Let me be the one to keep you, Tseng?"

"It's true. This servant of corporate Neanderthals is not who I am. And I can say, if you were not who you were…I would gladly submit to freedom from all this."

"Then submit, Tseng. Follow the instinct, the training we gave you and submit, my love." Claude said sweetly boring into Tseng's eyes. "Submit little cat."

Tseng smiled a bit and withdrew Claude's hand from his hair. He gently kissed the palm of his captive's hand in servant like gesture. "You are not strong enough, to make me submit."

Claude screamed when a needle was driven into the small patch of skin between nails and fingertips. "FUCK!"

"Your slave rings may have instilled much into me, but they did not break me. Only one man could order me, force me, make me submit to him with a simple wor gesture and he is dead. You..." Tseng shoved another into the next finger. "Could never…" Another. "Be Vincent Valentine." Another was shoved in one after the other until his hand fell limply on the floor, unable to move for the pain of the needles. Tseng crawled closer to the sobbing man, pushing his chin up. Claude realized as he looked into those eyes that he had made a mistake. "You see now, Claude?" Tseng unbuckled his other hand and began to give it the same treatment. "You see? You did not respect me for what I was." He stuck needles into each finger until the man's screams overpowered his serene voice. "I am Turk, Claude." He lifted the man's chin so that he looked directly at him as he spoke. "By nurture, physically, emotionally, mentally, I am Turk. By sweat, tears and by blood…I. Am. Turk." Tseng smirked and kissed the man like a lover. "And you will not survive this moment with me."

Guns and Shuriken had not left as they had been told. They were very concerned for Tseng after the things Claude had said. Upon hearing the screaming, however, they chose to stay out of plain curiosity. When Tseng came out of the cell, pulling his blazer on as he exited, he barely spared a glance at them.

"Clean that up; I have learned what I needed."

Guns looked at Shuriken. "Hey…Cissnei…you think he's dead?"

Shuriken shrugged. "Dunno Laney…one way to find out."

They both peeked into the room and both gasp at the sight of Claude. He was laying sprawled on the cell floor, his hands and feet covered with needles and his mouth was forced open by various needles pressed into the junction of his lip and gums. The man screamed every time he blinked from the needles in the tear ducts of his eyes. Both lady Turks looked at their superior's retreating form and then back at Claude. They almost felt sympathy for the man for incurring Tseng's wrath to this extent.

Rufus wasn't sure what to do with himself when he received a phone call from Tseng to join their meeting. He was escorted by Cissnei who he came to learn was really named Shuriken. Only her Turk brethren knew her name and now so did he. He wondered if that was leverage against his life or if it was some sort of initiation. So many things ran through his head at the idea of being exclusively requested to come and not allowed to speak of it was...admittedly scary. This was Turk and you didn't fuck with Turk. At least that was the general consensus. He glanced up at Cissnei who smiled at him reassuringly.

"We're no going to do anything to you, Sir."

"Why…do you all keep calling me, Sir?"

"Its…um…just go in," she said with a half-smile as she opened the door to Tseng's office.

Rufus almost questioned her but was glad to let it go in place of seeing Tseng sitting on the front of his desk. The way the man held posture, even when doing something improper like sitting on top of a desk, always looked cool. He sat up straight backed, one leg crossed over the other and his hands carded together on his knee. His hair was pulled back tight in a pony tail that was slightly shorter than it was last time. He had gotten cut again and Rufus lamented over it. He loved how long Tseng's hair had gotten. Either way, Rufus wished to be that way, to be the center attention of the room when he was present so that he was always noticed first. That's how Tseng was, that's how his mother was. He wanted that.

"Sir, it was good of you to come despite the circumstances."

Rufus shook his head. "I can afford to miss school."

Tseng nodded and slipped off the desk. It was only then that Rufus noticed the other Turks in the room. There were a great number of them including Melitta who often visited the house for his mother. He knew most of them but this was his first time seeing one in particular in person. A green eyed Turk with fiery red hair sat with a half burned cigarette in his mouth. He kept his eyes on Tseng and the man's movements as he approached Rufus and for some reason that burned him. Who was this guy who dressed sloppily dressed in the black and white watching Tseng like he was some sort of show. Rufus was snapped out of that thought when he noticed a man who was not dressed in a Turk uniform stood close to the couch near the redhead as if he was ready to protect them. Rufus was sure the large bald man was not a member of Turk; he had the official ones memorized thanks to his mother. Tseng paused in front of him, following his line of vision.

"Ah, this is Rude. He is a prisoner of circumstance at the moment," Tseng said with a smirk.

Rufus watched as the large man bristled. He covered the action by adjusting the shades on his face. It was a motion that would've been missed if Rufus had not been blatantly staring at him the entire time. Rufus looked up at Tseng who had a calming expression on his face. How he managed to do that and still look professional was beyond him.

"Now that we all are here, Cissnei lock the door. Reno?"

"We're in a dead zone, Tseng. Nobody can hear us, nobody can see us. Not even on these pieces o' shit." The redhead said pointing at the black collars.

Rufus felt a tinge of guilt when he saw it but tried not to let it show on his face. Tseng crossed his arms.

"You're all here because you are all of like mind. That this company is heading to a dark place and our leadership has failed us. Veld has turned on us for the lap of immunity and power. He's lost the meaning of whom and what we are. To put it plainly as we are known to do, Veld has betrayed us and we do not tolerate traitors."

There were collective nods and murmurs of agreement.

"In light of this situation, Heidegger now rules the Department of Administrative Research. He rules our missions and our orders; however, he does not rule us. That has and forever will be Lady ShinRa's place until the day she dies and she will not die by our failing."

Rufus smiled a little at the sounds in the room. They really were loyal to his mother but…did that mean…

"With that being said…we need to be discreet about what must take place over the next few years. Heidegger and President ShinRa will run us ragged and control our working lives but this will not last. If there is anyone who is more loyal to the job rather than the organization than I ask that you get the hell out now. You will not be punished, you will not be killed. IF you choose not to stand with us, all that is asked that you stay out of the way."

No one made a single move. Tseng looked around at all of them, looking them each in the face. None of them shrunk under his sight. He paused at Rude. "You are in deep as well; as long as you are with us you will remain alive. Heidegger and Veld have ordered your execution but as long as you are under my authority you keep your properties and wealth and you keep your life. You can choose to leave now…but you will not live past today should you do so."

"You got a sniper on me already? After tearing apart everything I worked for you're giving me an ultimatum to be part of your little club house."

Reno chuckled. "You gone get shot."

"Let's make one thing clear Rude. What you grossed in your business is merely a tear drop in what you could earn and build here. The power you commanded there is the equivalent of a child ruling a playground compared to what can be gained here. You insult us as you please but you have idea of what we can do for you should you chose to join or what we could do to you should you chose not to."

"And if I chose to go to this Heidegger and bargained your head for mine?"

"No rock will be big enough for you to hide under. Turk rules the western continent, we would find you and when we did, you best already be dead."

Rufus shivered at the promise in that voice and the sudden coldness in the room emitted from the other members. What was even more unnerving was the smirk that Reno gave Rude from his laid back position on the couch. It told that he had no qualms about killing the bigger man here if Tseng said so. Rude however did not budge, despite being outnumbered.

"Give me one good reason to join you when it was your 'organization' that destroyed my life, not once but twice."

Tseng narrowed his eyes. "Because you aren't ready to die and I am not ready for you to do so."

Melitta closed her eyes with a smile and nodded as Tseng spoke those words as if she remembering something fondly. Rufus watched her blink a few times, her eyes glassy before returning to a stoic posture. What had happened to these people?

Rude didn't argue; he grew silent. Tseng knew this was acceptance and spoke in a kinder tone.

"You will learn, Rude. In Turk, being unseen makes your presence a threat to those who know how to look for us. Being unheard makes our voices louder than any single branch of ShinRa. SOLDIER is the visible strength, Fleet is the visible power, but Turk…Turk is the reason ShinRa is the monopoly it is. We killed a lot of people to ensure that. So," he looked at the other members. "Lady ShinRa cannot protect us forever. She grows stronger but by the time she is able to take power again and when she does, I fear it won't be the ShinRa she built. In order to remain who we are and to do things as we've always done, a coup is necessary."

"Hold on Tseng, we don't have the kinda strength to take over a company!" Rod said nervously.

"We'd be gunned down in our own homes," Laney said softly.

"This is why we won't do that. We won't have to," Tseng said his eyes falling on Rufus. "There is no need for direct approach considering we already have a valuable asset in our midsts."

"Me? I-I can't do anything, I don't have any power or anything!"

"Not yet you don't. But you have us and you have desire to see your father fall, do you not?"

Rufus nodded. "But…what can I do?"

"You can learn from us."

Reno laughed. "Get it kid? This whole organization is going to place itself in your hands, yo. Ya remember us when you get that power ya got comin to ya, and we make sure you make it to get that power."

"We'll protect you, we train you, and we teach you everything you need to know about ShinRa Inc, the real ShinRa Inc." Cissnei said sweetly.

"You will take Lady ShinRa's place and bring ShinRa back to what it was. You already have supporters in the other departments. As I told you before, you are not alone," Tseng said gently.

"I-I…You guys would lay your lives and jobs on the line for me."

"You asked for my life contract and I will give it to you along with every Turks' in this room if there are no objections."

Rufus felt himself be uncomfortable scrutinized before there was agreement. Reno shrugged. "Tseng, I trust your judgement. Long as the lil fucker doesn't get me killed."

"We are laying the world at your feet, Rufus ShinRa," Tseng made direct eye contact with the boy, making it impossible for him to shy away. "Take it."

Rufus looked at all of them and a small sense of dread filled them. They all were looking to him to save them from the new ShinRa that was rising, but what he failed. He looked up at Tseng once more finding a confidence in them that no one, not even his strong willed mother had in him. I won't fail…I won't fail them and I won't fail Tseng.

"Okay…just show me what to do."

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Sephiroth decided that watching Cloud eat was like watching a train wreck. He knew that he should probably make the boy slow down before he choked, but the sheer magnitude of food the boy was scarfing down was worth waiting. Good thing this was a buffet otherwise Sephiroth would've been ass deep in a bill. Not that he had trouble paying; he just really didn't want to explain that much money in just food. That and he hated hostess. She kept batting her eyelashes at him and calling Cloud his kid brother. Regardless, he was going to chalk all that eating up to the Mako burning all the calories he had in his tiny body. Most kids weren't introduced to Mako until after about two years of academy, so this was something new for him to deal with honestly and he was curious about the results.

It took Cloud an unreasonable amount of time to realize he was being stared at. The food was the best thing he ever tasted though that wasn't saying much since he'd lived in Nibelhiem. Still it was delicious and he was so hungry he could kill something and eat it too. So when he looked up from his meal to see the "Silver Devil" staring at him…he was a more than a little intimidated.

"Um…." He slurped the rest of a noodle in his mouth. "Am i…eating too much?"

"No, it's an all you can eat," Sephiroth said plainly. "I'm just trying to figure out where it's all going."

Cloud smiled sheepishly. "There's a black hole connected to my esophagus. Least that's what my mom says."

"I see that," Sephiroth said resting his chin on his hand. "…can I ask what in your heredity gave you those eyes?"

Sephiroth mentally smacked himself. What the hell made him go and ask something like that? He normally didn't pry this way but he was damn curious. He played it off by being stoic and watched the blond laugh with a shamed blush on his face.

"Um…well before the Strifes became just me and my mom, we were one of the first families to settle Nibelhiem. The very first Strife female born in Nibelhiem was born blond and blue eyed and the trait became dominant from then on. The males usually don't have blond hair and blue eyes, it's just the females but…well when I came I was blond haired and blue eyes. My grandpa told me that all the women have distinct blue eyes because for the better part of a century before the town was built, the Strifes were mining materia. We were often exposed to the natural Mako emissions. Breathing it in and sometimes getting it on our skin it got into the bloodline. Though why the trait goes to only females I don't know."

Sephiroth tilted his head. "So…you are the first Strife male in centuries to have blond hair and blue eyes. The fact that it's a female trait might explain why you are so small and slight of build."

Cloud sulked. "I'm not that little."

"On the contrary, you're fairly small for a fourteen year old."

"You don't have to rub it in!"

Sephiroth blinked. "My apologies. I didn't mean to offend you."

Cloud blinked and tilted his head at the General. "You…wait you weren't picking at me?"

"No, I was making a general observation."

Cloud studied the general hard, realizing a bit had changed since their chance meeting. The general seemed to have a…language barrier? No he communicated fine. Maybe an emotional barrier like he could recognize emotions in others and react the right way. He heard of people like that on TV before…but no the perfect SOLDIER couldn't possibly have any mental issues. That's just insulting. Cloud shrugged.

"Well, I dunno, the doctor always said I had more estrogen in my system than I should've," he said with a laugh. "But Hojo's been dealing with that."

"Hojo actually treats you with kindness."

"Yeah, he says I'm like the son he never got to raise or something. I just assumed his son died or something."

Sephiroth felt something in him crack at that statement, but he ignored it. "What made you want to be in SOLDIER, Cloud."

"You invited me!" Cloud suddenly said and quickly clammed up.

Sephiroth smirked. "Did I?"

"Well not really, it's more so when I met you for the first time the "Hero of Wutai" and when you told that there was no reason why I couldn't fight back I just knew what I had to do. I had to get stronger, I had to be better. So when you told me that I did everything I could to join SOLDIER in the hopes that I would make my mom proud and…fight back against what destiny says I'm supposed to do."

"Destiny…how do you know it's not your destiny to be in SOLDIER?"

"Because if it was, destiny wouldn't make it so hard. I wouldn't be this small, I wouldn't be this anxious or wiry. I wouldn't nervous every time I tried to speak up or secretly afraid of the backlash when I was a smart ass. I wouldn't need help from Gen and I wouldn't need Zack to be my friend. I would be able to stand on my own as a SOLDIER just like Gen, just like Angeal…just like you. Destiny wants me back at home working the materia mines and married to a backwoods girl getting a day older and not a single bit smarter. Destiny wants my mother to pass away from her illness without me being able to do a thing about it. Destiny wants me to be alone in a village that hates me with no one I can count on. But I won't let it. There's too much more that I want to let destiny tell me that this is what I was made for. So I'm gonna try."

Sephiroth was silent through Cloud's declaration. He watched Cloud's mannerisms and facial expression for each and every word he said and found himself enthralled at the sheer honesty in the boy. This boy was like Zack but not. Sure they both wanted SOLDIER to make their dreams come true, but where Zack wanted to be an honorable hero like Angeal, Cloud just wanted to be. Cloud wanted to tilt his world on its axis and make everything wrong in it right. Sephiroth was sorely reminded of what Vincent tried to do for him by taking him out of that lab and remembered why he worked so hard on his own to join SOLDIER without Hojo and Lucrecia's influence on the board. He wanted to prove that he wasn't a super SOLDIER because he was born to be…he was one because he chose to be.

Cloud lowered his head, a light blush on his cheeks. "I guess it's silly. I'm probably annoying you with all that sappy stuff."

"No," Sephiroth said softly. "I believe you have a purer reason for being in SOLDIER than any cadet I have ever met."

Cloud looked up in surprise and almost shied away at how intensely those jade eyes were boring into him. "Thank you sir."

"Sephiroth or Seph is just fine."

"Right…"

"Cloud?"

"Yes, Si-Seph?"

"What would you say if I took over mentoring you for SOLDIER."

"I thought Genesis already took me."

"I think you would benefit from both of us…but I think I've taken an interest in you that I'm afraid I can't let go. You'll learn I'm a stubborn man and my curiosity makes me even more so. So tell me, what would you say if I took over mentoring you?"

"I would say…uh…woo!"

Sephiroth actually laughed. "Eloquent. Come on, I think we've eaten enough of this restaurant's food."

"Oh uh sorry."

"It's alright, I blame the Mako. It makes us eat a hell of a lot more to make up for all the calorie and carb burning."

"Oh…sure, that explains that."

"Though you still eat more than anyone I've ever seen. Angeal has nothing on you."

Cloud sulked.

After Sephiroth paid, he had Cloud walk about with him. Sephiroth had called into the office and told them he would not be in today. The other brass had told him he could take off whenever he felt like it, no need to call. But Sephiroth never was the type to take advantage of his position and certainly wasn't going to start now that he actually wanted to set an example. He glanced at Cloud watching the boy look around the city, still awestruck at his uniqueness. Knowing that beneath the hoodie and cargo pants wearing teen was a brilliant, passionate mind waiting to be developed was…exhilarating. He felt a strange fluff in his chest when he looked at the teen and it battled with his common sense. There was some name calling in there as well "Creeper, pedophile, and cradle robber" being among them. No, he didn't want Cloud in that way. At least he didn't think he did. There was more so a need to watch over the boy and a strange obligation to make the boy's dreams come true. He wondered if it was something like Vincent felt when he took him home or when Genesis decided to become his friend or hell when Angeal decided to watch over them both. Cloud turned those incredible blues to Sephiroth in question of his silence. Sephiroth found himself smiling a bit, making Cloud smile back.

Cloud knew one thing. He enjoyed the sight of Sephiroth smiling and wanted to make him smile as much as possible. The lack of smile lines proved that he didn't do so often. Seeing Sephiroth being a normal person, out for a stroll on his off day made the crush he had developed over the years on him grow. The glow of his hair, the shine of his ethereal eyes, and the air of confidence near him made Cloud feel every kind of inadequate but it didn't stop his heart from fluttering when Sephiroth directed his attention to him. Yes, he'd lied a little. In his declaration, destiny would say that he could never win this man, could never know this man. But by his own volition he swore he would know, understand, and in time be Sephiroth's friend. Yes, even if he could never make anything of his schoolboy crush, he wanted to stand at the general's side as someone the man could trust to watch his back. When Sephiroth smiled at him, he swore he would do everything he could to be a part of the General's life…even if it was only as a subordinate. After all, Cloud always believed that if it was the best you could do then it was enough and who was to blame if he didn't do his best.

"Cloud?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you like to do?"

"Um….I've always wanted to go to an arcade. They look awesome."

"You've never been to an arcade?"

"Nope."

Sephiroth gave him a look that asked "where the fuck do you live?" and led him towards one of the many gallerias. "I get to play for free, we're going to shoot zombies and shit."

l

l

It had been a while since he actually touched down and stayed in Midgar for longer than an hour. He had been avoiding the city for a long time since Vincent had passed and for good reason. He was not a man to let memories catch up to them and in the sky or in Rocket Town, memories couldn't follow him. So when he received a call from Tseng to aid him in travel with his more discreet plane the "Tiny Bronco" he nearly told the kid hell know. But he knew that Tseng and Sephiroth were Vincent's boys and he promised himself that if either of them ever needed him, he would be there for them. So he geared up the Bronco and had it docked onto the his carrier class, the Minerva, and headed out to Midgar. His beloved Highwind was stuck under red tape and they were trying to modify her into weapons class which he adamantly refused. He didn't care what that old fart ShinRa said. That's not what he built the Highwind for. It was cruiser class made to enjoy flight in honor of his dad. God forbid they ever found out about the monster he was working on underneath Rocket Town. Heh, but he would cross that bridge when it started to burn. Right now, he had to find Tseng and that required him to walk into ShinRa HQ.

"Fuck my life."

"Welcome back Captain Highwind!" the receptionist spouted. Several other greeting followed, which surprised Cid. He thought the turnover rate was higher than this. Why the hell was he still seeing the same faces.

"Yo! Old Man!"

Cid growled knowing that voice anywhere. "Goddamn it ya fuckin' slum rat, call me old again and I'll take yer goggles and hang ya with 'em."

"Jeez man," Reno grinned. "The longer ya stay out there in the sticks the more hick ya become, yo."

"Cut the crap ya lil bastard. Where's Tseng at?"

"In his office, I think he gotta make a trip home to get ready for this cause he's been here all day. You got the goods yo."

"Yeah, we're gonna take the Bronco, I equipped her with a frequency jammer. Won't stop 'em from shockin the shit outcha with them collars but it'll keep 'em from findin' him."

"Good," Reno looked around. "Lemme talk with ya, yo."

"Sure why not," Cid grumbled putting a cigarette to his lips as they stepped outside.

Reno made sure no one was listening before leaning in close. "Listen, Tseng ain't doin so hot. All this new shit we're doin is wearin' him out. Whatever he's doin with you get it done and over with cuz it's been heavy on him."

"Keep talkin kid, I might think yer in love with him."

"He's my partner, yo. First and foremost I look after him. Which is better than what you do, hidin' all the way out there in the sticks!"

"Yeah, yeah, case in point. Whatcha want me to do, I don't even know where we're headed. Said he'd tell me when we get on the bronco."

"I don't care, just watch him. He ain't healthy. He's tired, he's weak, and he ain't been right since he interrogated Claude. He even cut his hair."

"Tseng cut his hair," Cid almost dropped his cigarette. For good reason, mind you. Tseng's keeping his hair long was always a sign that everything was okay. The very thought of Tseng letting anyone take scissors to his hair was blasphemy. It was a sure sign that Tseng was depressed or that something was weighing him down.

"Yeah, the point is, be the parent an' watch over Vincent's kid. Ya know he'd hate ya if ya didn't."

"Yeah….I'll watch him. Boy need a break anyway."

"Here he comes. Remember what I said old man. I know where you live!"

"Eat a dick ya fuckin' rat."

Reno stuck his tongue out at him before walking back into the building. He passed Tseng with his usual grin but Tseng wasn't stupid. The Wutian paused and stared at Reno's retreating form before continuing to meet with Cid. Cid, never concerned with person space, gave him a tight manly hug that cut Tseng's breath before patting him hard on the back.

"Hey kid! How ya been?"

"As well as can be expected with this hardware on my neck. You came sooner than I thought you would, Chief," Tseng said taking down his ponytail and lighting a cigarette.

Cid felt a pang in his heart at being called Chief but brushed it off. "Meh, I told you boys if ya needed anythin' from Uncle Highwind, I'd be ready to go. So I'm here."

Tseng blew out smoke and scratched his head tiredly. "About that…Cid there is something happening, something I have to do and the reason I have to do it cannot be told. I wish to tell you so that I do not have to bare it alone but I fear your reaction."

"What could be so bad?"

"….you loved Vincent, didn't you Cid?"

"What kinda question is that?"

"Be honest with me chief…please."

Cid saw the seriousness on his face and nodded. "Yeah, dunno why but I did."

"Do you still?"

"Ya don't stop lovin' somebody just cuz they dead, kid."

Tseng smiled a bit though it was sad. Cid didn't pretend to know what was going through his head at that statement but he felt his words had hit something soft. Tseng shook his head and began walking.

"Come…I have something to show you. All I ask is that you stay calm when you see."

Cid was not a praying man. He didn't really believe in gods or goddesses or anything of the like but when he laid eyes on Vincent curled peacefully in the stasis coffin, breathing, alive, he wanted fall to his knees and praise whoever was out there. He did in fact he went to his knees and touched Vincent's sleeping face finding it warm against his hand. He heard Hojo and Tseng arguing in that crazy Wutainese and he couldn't understand a word they were saying, not that he wanted to. All he cared about was sadly lying in this box at the moment.

Hojo slipped back into Midgardian and stomped out of the room. "This is reckless and I expected more from you! You run the risk of getting us all killed!"

"Hey!" Cid shouted. "Look ya looney bin! I've been grievin over this guy for years and to find out he's alive is the best news I've heard! Why the fuck would I mess that up!"

"Your love for him may convince you to shout it from the rooftops. I don't trust anyone to keep the secret! I barely trust Tseng though even less now!"

Tseng clicked his tongue at the doctor and spoke a whole new string of Wutainese and then slipped into Midgardian. "Hojo…we need him and he deserved to know."

"Then why don't you just run off and tell Sephiroth while you're at it."

"Sephiroth would not able to handle such a thing. Not until Vincent is well. If he saw Vincent like this he would grow angry at both of us and kill you for experimenting on him like this. You know he feels about science."

"Look I dun care what ya two are all in a knot about it but know I'm gonna help and I ain't tellin no body. I want Vincent alive and I'm gonna make sure it happens without someone waitin to blow his damn brains out again!"

Hojo tossed his glasses on the table and rubbed his temples. He sighed after a moment. "Fine, trust the pilot, trust the Turk but know that if this is discovered we all will fall and Vincent will die all over again. He will be in stasis until you return. Do not fail me Turk."

Tseng nodded and looked at Cid. "Do you understand now what we're looking for?"

"Yeah some fairy tale legend called Chaos."

"Not a legend, a Weapon."

l

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Cloud walked on the railing of the Sector 6 bridge that lead into the still under construction Sector 7. Sephiroth kept a tentative eye on the teen so he wouldn't fall off. People were slowly starting to live there though most of them were ShinRa official inspectors, architects and camping construction. The tiny lights glowed with a slight mystical glow thanks to the reactor fumes making them look like distant flares rather than street lamps. The buildings being constructed there already had been lit and looked like monoliths that looked down on the city's inhabitants and protecting them. Ambient glow in the background set off an almost sanctuary like feel as they viewed it from the middle of the bridge and it made Cloud stare in wonder.

"Almost makes you want to cry…" Cloud whispered.

"Hmm?"

"The way it looks…I guess it doesn't do anything to you since you've always lived here but…I've been in one place all my life and I've seen more in this one city than I have in my entire existence. But this…this is beautiful."

Sephiroth hummed in agreement but his eyes had never left Cloud. The glow of the city was set against the boy making his skin paler in a beautiful way and his profile had its own glow. When the blond turned him, those blue eyes no longer as tainted with Mako as they were before, glowed with the natural beauty he loved before with flecks of almost gray in his irises. The Mako only enhanced the beauty that was already there giving them a ghostly glow that shamed the bright shine of Sephiroth's own Mako filled gaze. Cloud tilted his head questioningly and Sephiroth shook his head. They both continued to look at the scenery, one with an appreciation for that beauty he had never felt before.

Neither of them realized that together they were experiencing a moment that they would always remember for the rest of their lives and neither of them realized what it meant for them. This one moment would be the one and only romantic moment they would have before the whole world fell apart and rebuilt itself. Shame, they didn't even think to kiss.

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A/N: took forever. I think the next chapter is the last chapter in this arch. Tseng will go on his quest, Rufus will stand up for something, Lazard and Gen get to know each other. Cloud discovers a few feelings he didn't think he had and Sephiroth discovers a few of his own. Too bad they aren't for each other. Sorry for the wait guys. I'm doing much better, even have a job now that consumes a bit of my time when I'm not sickly. Thanks for sticking around for it all. Next up some action of every kind :3
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Walking Out on Destiny