Chapter Text
Cloud hated Sephiroth.
Forget about his childhood crush. His idolization. His posters. His Silver Elite subscription. He now hated Sephiroth with every inch of his whole being.
He did not suffer through years of rigorous training regimen and traumatic medical experience from Science to get to work for SOLDIER just so he could experience this. What a godsdamn letdown.
Cloud limped towards medical, recounting the earlier events in his mind. His chest throbbed painfully at the wound the General inflicted intentionally at him. He had a plan godsdamnit. A well-thought out plan! And this six foot gray idiot decided to throw a whole-ass Masamune into everything he had worked so hard for.
Cloud had endured dressing up in tight corsets and garters and playing the meek bride for almost a week just to capture the infamous Don Corneo of Wall Market, or at least, to loosen his tongue of his crimes and illegal weapon stash by the time reinforcements would have arrived.
He just was not expecting reinforcements in the form of a raging Silver General who fucking skewered the don--including him--right after he had gotten him to slowly spill his secrets.
What the fuck.
Cloud gritted his teeth.
Sure. The fearful Don had mindlessly grabbed him to use as a meat shield against the Shinra horde, but Cloud had a fucking plan! The blond had wordlessly signaled to the general that he could disarm the don physically---he merely needed a proper signal from him. They needed the don alive for further questioning, didn't they?
So why the fuck did General fucking Sephiroth had to stab him through the chest just to get to the don? Why?? Did he not see his signal at all?!
And while he was excited that Sephiroth actually came--and with it his chance to actually (finally) work alongside him, his daydreams all came crashing down because of what he did.
The silverhair did not provide any explanation other than, “It's more efficient this way.”
Did he not realize how close he was to skewering Cloud’s own heart in the process? The bitch did not even bat an eyelash at the blond after he crumpled to the ground. While Sephiroth did shoot him a mild Cure to staunch the bleeding afterwards, Cloud knew he needed proper medical attention. Any sudden movement and he would bleed again. He did not have any materia on him for fuck's sake! He was undercover! These criminals had ways to detect any weapons on him. He could not risk it.
Cloud was seething. Second Class Kunsel had told him en route back to the Tower that there were sudden orders from up top to get rid of the Don. Apparently, one of his main lackeys decided to come clean and ratted him out and his plans a few hours before Cloud's undercover ended.
And they didn't think to tell me beforehand?!!
“Oh, it's top secret matters unfortunatel—” Kunsel stammered.
Cloud exhaled frustratingly through gritted teeth. “Regardless, there are other ways to kill the Don apart from stabbing through me, dammit.”
Kunsel only gave him an apologetic look. “I'll take you to medical.”
Cloud sat recuperating on one of the beds in the infirmary, reading the mission debrief that was emailed to him. While he had been praised for a job well done on record, Sephiroth did not spare him an apology for the stab. Just that he was ‘conducive to the success of the mission’ or whatever nicely-worded corporate jargon was there. Fucking hell.
And then Zack had told him that Sephiroth was fresh out of Science that day and everyone knew how awful things could get after a trip down the labs. He'd been there. He knew how it felt.
“That was no excuse to fucking stab me, Zack,” Cloud snapped.
“Well, er, I'm sure there's a reason---maybe he just doesn't want any semblance of weakness Corneo could exploit? I mean, I've been in that situation and I've almost lost a target that way ‘cos I don't wanna hurt a hostage,” Zack explained, rubbing his nape.
Cloud scoffed. “Maybe you should try being in my place and getting stabbed by someone you idolised.”
The blackhair gave him a sympathetic look. “”M sorry, Spike. I know you did a really good job and you deserve a better explanation,” He sighed. “He’s involved with an emergency prior to getting to you and I can't say much yet, still top-secret but I promise I'll make it up to you.”
Cloud paused and exhaled. Okay, fine, there’s an emergency. But why was he the last one to know—???!!! He could have avoided the sheer trauma of being stabbed (by the one he idolized)! But all he got was a chest wound, a weak Cure, and a simple mission compliment for his efforts.
It did not help that he was so burnt out pushing consecutive weeks of work, forgoing any off-days just so he could meet the good mission ratings quota. So he could get noticed more and maybe one day be placed on missions with the general he looked up to.
Right now, he was just so exhausted. All of this work and for what? To be stabbed and ignored. He was but a cog in a machine apparently.
He ended his call with Zack in a disappointed drawl, saying he would file a two week-long vacation leave for all the hassle. Zack wished him a good rest.
Fuck classified information. Fuck his lack of clearance. Taking his meds with him, Cloud traipsed back to his SOLDIER apartment. The doctor had said his stab wound would scar but he could have its traces removed eventually if he wanted.
Yeah, fuck that. He would keep the scar as a reminder that his idolisation was fickle and that Sephiroth was a fucking bitch that probably needed therapy. (A/N: they all do)
As he closed the door to his apartment, he crashed onto his bed. Tomorrow, he’s taking the first ship back to Nibelheim.
Cloud was awoken by loud knocks on his door.
Groaning, he squirmed deeper into his duvet. He hoped the knocking would go away. That it was a dream. But it only grew louder and more insistent.
“Alright, alright. I’m coming,” the blond ruffled his hair irritably as he slid off the bed. It was the eighth day of his vacation and he was taking back all the sleep he had missed. His mom was at a neighboring town to visit a friend so he was currently alone in the house. He cursed at the unknown visitor who dared disturb his much-needed sleep.
Cloud flung open the front door with a bit more force than necessary, glaring at the unknown visitor. A harried-looking Zack almost cried at him, grabbing his shoulders in visible panic. “Spiiikkkee! I missed you! I was so worried—you weren't answering your phone! I thought something happened to you!”
Cloud was taken aback for a few seconds at the sudden appearance of the black-haired SOLDIER. His best friend and mentor's voice was a bit too loud for his just-awoken self. Cringing, he stepped aside to let him in, closing the door in a snap. He followed Zack to the lounge, flopping on an armchair tiredly. “What brought you so early here, Zack?”
“It's not early, Spikey, it's already 2PM!”
“Huh,” Cloud blinked. He glanced at the clock at the mantelpiece. It was indeed a quarter past two in the afternoon.
“I mean I get it you're on leave but I didn't expect you to actually go radio-dead. Not even a reply to my texts?” Zack pouted at him, throwing him a canned coffee he fished from his pockets.
Cloud barely caught it in his hands and almost hit his just-healed chest. He scowled at him. “Phone probably died. I meant what I’d said about an ‘undisturbed’ vacation. My CO Sebastian gave me free reign anyway. So, what's so urgent that you need to see me personally up here in the isolated boondocks?” He popped open the can and took a sip. His stomach gurgled a protest. Damn, he probably should have eaten first.
Zack's pleasant demeanor abruptly changed. It was SOLDIER First Fair sitting on his couch right now and his serious face had Cloud sobering up a bit.
“I told you that something top-secret happened in HQ during our last talk, right? Well, it's becoming worse as we speak and the people up top need your help in this,” Zack explained seriously.
Worse? Were things so bad when he left? Cloud frowned. He avoided the news and the internet as much as he could. He found that it did well to his mental health especially when he was still new in Midgar. “People up top? Why would they, Zack? I'm nobody. Also why isn’t my CO notifying me too?”
“Hear me out, Cloudy,” Zack leaned forward. “It's a rather…well…It's a very sensitive issue. Your CO is aware of this, but I suggested breaking it to you myself. ‘Cos I have an idea how you'll react. I think you're the only one fitting for the role.”
“If you're making me dress up again—”
“No, but, you will be playing a role,” Zack said. Cloud scoffed. He was tempted to walk out of the lounge but seeing Zack's pitiful expression got him to reconsider. The blond sighed.
“Fine. I'll hear you out. But I need to eat, so hold on, I'll cook something first.”
“I'll help you!”
“YOU WANT ME TO WHAT?!”
“Shh! Keep it down, Spikey!”
“HOW AM I GONNA KEEP IT DOWN WHEN YOU’RE TELLING ME TO PRETEND TO BE THE GENERAL'S BO---MMFFPHH–”
Zack covered Cloud's mouth exasperatedly, while looking at the kitchen windows. The blond continued to splutter muffled curses on his palm, mako-tinted blue eyes flaring in shock and disbelief. Zack let him stew for a few seconds until he saw Cloud deflate like an angry chocobo. “So…will you let me continue?”
Cloud glared at the blackhair as he slowly let go of him, but he did not say anything anymore. He settled himself by spearing the last sausage on his plate---a bit harder than what was necessary. Zack muttered a hasty apology.
“The bosses wanted to talk with you directly but like I said, I suggested to do it myself first, ‘cause I know how hard this is –”
He heard Cloud hiss a ‘damn right’ in between chews.
“The bosses will tell you more in detail, but long story short: a coup happened in HQ while you were gone. Many are dead. The President's dead. Hojo's dead. Some experiments got loose and one of them was totally bad news. A genocidal alien parasite or something. Sephiroth and the commanders managed to eliminate the danger but apparently Hojo had leaked some info to the press before he kicked the bucket,” Zack explained.
Cloud could tell with the way he was wringing his hands that he was so close to doing squats if he weren't settled on his kitchen table right now.
“Hojo spilled all his disturbing experiments to the public, which included those of that alien parasite thing they kept in Shinra all these years. And that Sephiroth was apparently born from this experiment and now the public is panicking how the beloved Silver General is a threat to the world’s existence and are boycotting as we speak,” he paused and took a sip from his lukewarm coffee. “PR is handling stuff right now and well—”
“And the only solution they can think of is giving the general a love life? You think that will assuage people’s fears?!” Cloud exclaimed, aghast. He clutched his head in his palms, groaning. This was a lot to take. He was not even given the whole nitty-gritty details yet and he could feel a headache coming up.
Zack let out a weak laugh. “I thought the same, too, Spikey. But they had a point in wanting to shed more light on his ‘human’ side, so to speak. Not that he does not have any of course! Sephiroth is just---well I know he needs to be a bit more sociable but he's working on improving it.”
“Can't they think of any other solution?” Cloud asked. “There must be other ways to circle around the issue–”
“Rufus Shinra already approved it,” Zack sighed. “He says we need to dispel the bad rumors and quell the people's anxiety. You know how it goes with the public. Everyone will be more at ease if they know Sephiroth has this side of him.”
“You do realize Shinra--no --we will be putting up a show to everyone on Gaia? What is this--some sick reality tv show?”
“Yeah, the showbiz side isn't gonna be fun. For sure PR will be dragging the both of you to many presscons and tv appearances and–”
“Wait--you're making it sound like I already agreed!” Cloud interrupted, aghast.
Zack gave him a wry, exasperated grin that spoke volumes. Cloud’s frown deepened. “‘Orders’, huh?”
“Look, there’re more details to this, but I think ‘Geal and Director Lazard could prolly explain all the ‘work’ better to you. I just want to let you know that I did not like this arrangement at first either, but there's too much at stake. The riots have gotten worse by the day and we want to prove that Shinra can be better again.”
Cloud retorted. “Why me, though? I know you think I could maybe play this role because of my childhood crush, but heck he fucking stabbed me, Zack! I'm still mad!”
“Maybe you can forgive him when you meet again? I'll tell him to apologize to you–”
“Nope. He should realize it himself,” Cloud crossed his arms grumpily. “You still haven't answered my question.”
“Well---logically speaking, we gotta get someone who's from the company. Preferably SOLDIER, because of the nature of work and Seph doesn't appear anywhere else that's not mission-related. Well, maybe except for galas and stuff, but he's always with the VIPs. No public record of him mingling with any civilians,” Zack told him. “Plus, he's told us he's more inclined to males rather than females anyway-–”
Cloud felt his heart skip a beat.
Zack continued, “While the other commanders are possible choices as per public scrutiny, it's a no-no ‘cause the both of them are already attached to each other. Sephiroth won't get in the way of his best friends so, we think you're the best choice–”
Cloud gaped in dawning shock. The gears in his brain were turning fast with the information he's receiving. Commanders Angeal and Genesis were already dating each other? But wait--backtrack a bit --Sephiroth is gay? His pre-stabbing event self would have been overjoyed with the fact, but damn was this revelation making him feel terribly conflicted.
The blond caught himself from spiraling deeper into panic and cut off Zack with a problem that had bugged him since the latter mentioned the issue. “And you just thought to offer me on the chopping block just because? You do realize people at work will question this arrangement ‘cause I gotta remind you, Sephiroth and I barely interact. Like ever.”
“Don’t worry. You're gonna get more missions with him. Plus, it's good you're on vacation--this can be your dating stage. He fell for you right after your Corneo mission–”
“Zack. How many times must I remind you that he fucking stabbed me??! ”
“--or it could be a hidden relationship since there's a conflict of power and authority since he's literally your boss—”
“This isn't a soap opera!”
“It may very well be, Spikey,” Zack patted his arm.
Cloud groaned and buried his face in his palms again. “I need more coffee.”
Sure enough, after he plugged his phone, Cloud had received an official memo run through by his CO. Thankfully, it was not too complicated, but he was surprised that they allowed him to stay in Nibelheim until his vacation ended.
Huh.
Cloud squinted at it. He thought that the company would want him asap in Midgar.
“What in hells…?” Cloud bit his lip and skimmed the memo. When he reached the end and saw the tiny footnote that the General himself would be picking him up from Nibelheim on the way back to Midgar, he cursed loudly.
Fucking Fenrir's balls.
He glared at Zack who was doing his squats in front of his fireplace, pointedly avoiding his gaze..
“Sephiroth is coming here??!”