Chapter Text
Cloud had come to terms with the constant refusal. Year after year he tries only to be denied. But his recent letter told him something new.
High mako intolerance.
He stares at the paper, swallowing past the lump in his throat. Well, now he had a reason as to why he was being rejected instead of the normal speech of ‘sorry but no’. He couldn’t go back to Nibelheim and admit to his mama, who supported him the entire time, that he failed to do what he set out for.
Cloud knows he would need to talk to his mother, there was no way he could hide it from her. But to return home… he couldn’t. His contract for the infantry was almost up- a 5 year contract. If he wanted to, he could sign on for another 5. But he was tired. Every year he tried for Soldier, and every year he was denied.
The mental stress was starting to get to him…
“Sorry, Strife.” Someone pats him on the back and he looks up, finding his bunkmate Leo standing over him with a somber expression. “Guess they finally cut you off, huh?”
“Yeah… they did.”
Leo sighs and sits beside him, staring at his own letter. While Cloud knows it read of his success into the program, he could tell Leo was apprehensive now.
“Can’t believe I’m gonna be leaving your dumbass alone down here.”
A sharp snort escapes his nose and Cloud digs his elbow into Leo’s ribs.
“More like I won’t be around to keep your dumbass out of trouble.” Cloud grins when the other shoves his shoulder, clapping his hand onto Leo’s back. “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. Might finally take a break for once…”
“Are you done sounding depressing?”
They look up and find someone dangling their head over the top bunk. Ashe had joined the infantry 2 years prior at 16, a little spitfire from the Slums, and clung to Leo the first week and that soon bled over to Cloud. Leo reaches up, poking the teen’s face and snickers when Ashe scowls and tries to smack his hand.
“You have no tact, kiddo.” Leo scolds lightly.
“And you’re acting like the world is ending.”
Cloud sighs as Ashe slips from the top bunk, moving to let him sit on his opposite side. Leo and Ashe sandwich him in and he finally folds the letter back up, tucking it under his pillow to be forgotten for now. He lets his two friends drag him up and out of the barracks. For the rest of the day, Cloud thinks of the alternatives he could do.
The obvious is to go back home and he already pushes that onto the back burner. He knew his mama would let him come back, but Ashe and Leo would drag him back kicking and screaming. The other was to continue his contract here and move up in the infantry, but never reach Soldier. The last was to leave Shinra, but stay in Midgar.
And the last one was looking far too tempting.