Cloud was still stunned at dinner. When Zack and Seymour asked him what was up with him, he was hardly able to find a suitable reply. Sephiroth had just randomly showed up and invited him to his office? The General? The Great Sephiroth himself had actually stooped low enough to talk directly to just a lowly first year trainee? Had the planet been hit by a giant Meteor or something, because surely the world was ending.
He finally decided on, "General Sephiroth said he wanted to meet me in his office after dinner." His voice came out hushed and awed.
Zack and Seymour just stared at him, before Zack finally raised an eyebrow and said, "What did you DO? Even with all of my fooling around I've never had to talk to the GENERAL about it. Did you murder someone, were you caught conspiring with anti-Shinra forces?"
Cloud shook his head quickly, "No, I wouldn't do something like that! The only think I can think of doing wrong was when you and I snuck out to the slums... And I'm positive that Sephiroth saw us... Oh well, it was nice knowing you. I'll be sure to send you letters from Nibelheim when they throw me out."
Seymour rolled his eyes, "If they DO throw you out for something, be sure to tell me what it was, okay? And are you so sure that it's for a bad thing? Maybe he was just impressed by your performance today."
Cloud snorted, "Yeah, right. I'm really not that good."
"Yes, you are." Both Zack and Seymour replied at the same time. They all looked at each other and laughed. Cloud still didn't believe that he was very good, but his friends' confidence encouraged him. Maybe if he worked hard, he would be good. Maybe even SOLDIER quality- like Sephiroth. Sephiroth...who wanted to meet him. Well, maybe he would get better IF they didn't throw him out.
Cloud found himself unable to eat his mass-produced food. His stomach was too full of nervous butterflies to handle anything else occupying the space. And so, when there was no chance of putting it off any longer, he pulled the keycard out of his pocket and stood up. "Bye, guys." He said sadly, as if there was no chance of seeing them again.
"You'll be fine." Seymour assured.
"Yeah, see ya' later." Zack told him with a wink.
"I hope..." Cloud muttered, and walked to the elevator, where he slid his keycard in for level 53. The trip made him more nauseous than usual, as he was dreading what would happen. But then again, he WAS going to be in close proximity to the gorgeous form of Sephiroth. Now that he wasn't quite so embarrassed about his...well, liking guys, he didn't have much trouble admitting to himself that he had a major crush on the General. But who wouldn't? As Zack had said, he was damn sexy. He wouldn't be surprised if Sephiroth was a narcissist, and wouldn't blame him either.
The elevator arrived at the floor all too quickly, and yet not quick enough. It was rather funny how his feelings about Sephiroth were completely torn in two. One half was scared stiff of the heartless General, and the other half was wanting nothing more than to sleep with the 'Deity of Sexiness', as Seymour had called him. Obviously he wasn't the only one to have had thoughts like that about Sephiroth, right?
Either way, he found himself staring at a short hallway when the elevator doors opened. There was a door to the left, and another at the end of the hallway. The one to his left had a small plaque on the door that read, "Office". He decided that this was the door he needed, since the other one didn't have anything on it. He gathered his courage and knocked. Better to get it over with sooner than rather than later.
There was no sound except that of his knock echoing. Though it wasn't that loud, it seemed so in the stillness of the hallway. Cloud waited uncomfortably at the door, and when there was still no sign of the door opening, he knocked again, this time a bit more loudly.
Still there was nothing to show that anyone had heard him -or if anyone was in there. He stood there, feeling like an idiot for even thinking that Sephiroth was serious about meeting him. The thought of just leaving was pulling very strongly at him, but so was curiosity. He hesitantly put his hand on the knob of the door and turned it. After all, he WAS told to be here, right?
As there was still no sign of anyone stopping him, Cloud pushed the door open. The lights were on inside the office. In front of him was a desk behind which sat a chair. An empty chair. There was no one there. There also weren't any other chairs. Apparently, Sephiroth did not have visitors often, which made this visit all the more weird. Not only was a trainee one of these few visitors, but Sephiroth wasn't even here. Of course, Cloud didn't blame him. He wouldn't see the point of meeting with himself if he were some one as flawless as the General either.
The other items in the room had no personality whatsoever. They were standard, flawless, and arranged in a practical manner. Books about tactics and training and the like stacked neatly on the bookshelf, no pictures whatsoever on the wall, and filing cabinets spaced evenly along the left wall, labeled neatly in a stern sort of handwriting were the sort of thing encompassing the 'strictly business' feel of the room. It was like no one actually used it, the only thing that said otherwise was the lack of layers of dust piling on everything. It was, like Sephiroth, perfect in an almost excruciating way.
Well, maybe the cabinets on the wall weren't so evenly spaced as he thought. There was a large gap between the last one and the wall, and the reason he noticed this was because of the visible end of a shoe sticking out of it. It was the one thing in the room that didn't seem likely, and that was what drew Cloud to it. He hesitantly inched towards it and found that it was not just a shoe, but someone was wearing the shoe. Coming closer, there was no mistaking the black pants that Cloud had so wished to be, because they were on the body of Sephiroth.
Cloud was shocked. Sephiroth almost looked dead. His face was paler than usual and his usually bright and striking green eyes were duller than expected. They were staring blankly at a point of the wall directly opposite him. One of his knees was pulled up to his chest, across which one arm lay. The other arm was resting on his other long leg, which was stretched out before him, and that's why Cloud saw the foot. The sight scared him- a lot. But he could see the rise and fall of Sephiroth's chest, so he wasn't dead. But if not, what was wrong with the General? This was weird. Really weird.
Cloud followed the gaze of Sephiroth with his own eyes, to see that he had been wrong when he had thought there were no pictures. There was one, and it happened to be right at the point where Sephiroth's cold green eyes rested. It was small and showed a pretty lady with long black hair that shone silvery. She was wearing a simple blue dress, which only added to her beauty, since the plainness contrasted with her exquisitely carved face, making it stand out. The background behind it was indiscernible, as if the photograph had been taken somewhere dark.
Who was she? There were no markings or names on the photo, nor on the picture frame, which was made to bland in with the wall, which explained how Cloud had not noticed it. Who was this woman? The one picture in the room... In all likelihood it was Sephiroth's girlfriend, or even wife. Who knew if Sephiroth was married or single? Well, if she WAS his girlfriend, Cloud could just stop dreaming about this godly form next to him...unless he was bi or something, but still, it was impossible to imagine. Sephiroth and Cloud together? It was hilarious. The blonde sighed and brought his attention back to more pressing matters. Why was Sephiroth in this weird trance-thing when he was expecting a visitor?
Cloud knew he had to go get help or something. This seemed kind of serious, and he even waved his hand in front of the silver-haired man's face, getting no reaction whatsoever. He bit his lip and turned back to the door, deciding to go to the medical floor and tell them or something. His hand grasped the doorknob, and he was about to leave, yet something held him back.
There was a rustling sound coming from the corner and he turned quickly and guiltily to see Sephiroth step out of the gap, completely his normal self again. Well, if a body like his could ever be called normal. Green eyes met blue, and Cloud knew he had to do or say something.
However, Sephiroth spoke first. "Strife. How long have you been here?" The question didn't even sound like a question in Sephiroth's alluring yet almost toneless voice.
Cloud wondered what to say and decided on a lie. "I just got here, s-sir." Great, he was stuttering again.
Sephiroth's once-again bright eyes searched him, and he finally said, "Do not lie unless you can manage it without being caught."
Busted! Cloud lowered his eyes and mumbled, "Yes, sir."
Sephiroth was not done speaking, "And before you try to ask any questions about what you just saw, know that I will not answer any of them, so it would be wise to not try in the first place." he stated. Even though he was being scolded, Cloud's heart could not help but flutter at the almost melodic sound of Sephiroth's voice. The voice that was speaking directly to HIM.
"Yes, General sir." the blonde muttered again.
"Strife..." Sephiroth continued, Cloud's eyes traveling up the form in front of him to rest on hypnotizing green, "My name is Sephiroth, not sir."
Cloud blinked. Had the General just asked him to refer to him by FIRST NAME? Not that he had a last name, but still! "Yes, s-Sephiroth." he replied. Wow, was that weird or what?
"Now that that has been straightened out, You would like to know the reason I have called you here." It wasn't a question, nor did the general pause long enough to let him answer. Sephiroth's stance showed a bit of uncomfortableness, before returning to it's normal state. "I don't ever do this, but I have some advice for you." Cloud had no idea what he could be talking about. "Do not join SOLDIER."
What? Cloud knew he wasn't that good...but his friends thought so, but was he so awful that the General himself had to tell him that he couldn't join. With those few small words, his entire hopes were crushed. His shoulders slouched and his face took on a melancholy cast.
Sephiroth looked troubled, as if he were not expecting this exact reaction. Then his face showed understanding. "Ah...forgive me, I am not used to talking to people much, other than giving orders that is. What I meant was that by becoming a member of SOLDIER, you and your body become the property of ShinRa incorporated. In other words, all departments also have a hold on you. The concern is the Science and Research department. Professor Hojo," Sephiroth paused his voice dripping malice at the mention of the name, "Has taken a particular interest in you. That is to say, your body's natural reactions to Mako."
Sephiroth paused again to let that information sink in. So...he didn't say that because Cloud wasn't good, but rather he had good reactions to Mako? Cloud was confused, and even more so that Sephiroth was even taking the time to tell him all this.
The silver-haired man again spoke, "If you were to join SOLDIER, there is no doubt he would take advantage of that and turn you into his personal guinea pig, and it would not be pleasant. I know." This time, it was not Cloud who averted his eyes, but the man in front of him.
The blonde was swamped with what Sephiroth was telling him. He wanted him to not join SOLDIER so that Hojo wouldn't experiment on him...like he had on the General? He got up the courage to speak and asked, "I think I understand, but why bother to tell me?"
Sephiroth watched him silently before replying, "Because if you were to try out for SOLDIER, there is no doubt you would make it if you continue with your training."
Though it wasn't exactly the answer he was looking for, it gave him a warm feeling to know that Sephiroth had such faith in him. He would make SOLDIER if he tried? And here was Sephiroth telling him not to? It confused him, but he could see the point. But SOLDIER! That was the whole reason he joined ShinRa, to become a SOLDIER like the Great Sephiroth. Wasn't that worth becoming a scientific study?
The silver-haired man, as if reading his mind, said, "I do not recommend trying out. Being Hojo's personal pet is worse than you can imagine. What you just saw here was one of the many side effects that happen from his reckless tests and obsessions with abnormalities or enhancements. He has no concept of morality or of other life. To him, everything is an object without even a name other than a number or description he gives them." The words came out as almost hisses of anger and malice. Obviously, he and the professor did not get along.
So, the creepy way Sephiroth seemed almost dead was because of Hojo's experiments on him? It suddenly didn't seem too much of a sacrifice to give up SOLDIER. Not if it meant leaving his mental health and sanity behind. He remembered the way the General's eyes stared blankly and dully at the picture. Since Sephiroth had started giving personal information, Cloud decided to ask, "Who was she? The lady in the picture."
Piercing green eyes suddenly focused directly on Cloud, as if he had just remembered he was not alone. "I told you before that I would not answer your questions." He replied simply.
"Yes, si-Sephiroth." Cloud replied meekly. Well, it had been worth the try. "Was that all?"
The silver-haired man nodded. "Yes. And I strongly encourage you to take my advice."
Cloud still wasn't satisfied with the only answers he had, and persisted, "I'm still not sure why you would bother to help me. You said before that you never did anything like this, so why me?"
Sephiroth sighed ever-so-slightly. His eyes traveled to the ground, and then met Cloud's again with a soft look that conveyed more emotion than Cloud had thought possible of him. "Because I am currently the only living 'experiment' of Hojo. There have been more, but..." He paused, "I know what kind of horrors he can do. And...it would be a shame for the company and world to lose a person as fine as you." He said the last part in a rush, as if he wanted to not say it, but saying it faster made it easier. His expression hardened again, pulling a mask over his stance and features. "That is all, Strife. You are dismissed."
Cloud blinked. Had he just heard Sephiroth say he was fine. Of course, he couldn't have meant it THAT way, yet it sent Cloud's mind spiraling down a path that would've been insanely embarrassing if Sephiroth had known his thoughts right then. He brought his confidence up one last time to request something before leaving. "SIR, If I am to refer to you by your first name, I request the same as well. I'm Cloud. Strife was my father."
He could have sworn he saw the corners of Sephiroth's mouth twitch, though it was probably just a trick of his eyes. "Fair enough. I will...see you some other time, Cloud."
Cloud couldn't help but smile at him as he turned the doorknob and stepped out the door, looking back over his shoulder to say, "Yeah, see you later, Sephiroth." He closed the door behind him and walked back to the elevator, his heart pounding wildly for some reason. When the elevator arrived at his floor, he stood in the hallway for a while, letting what had just happened absorb into his brain.
When he fell asleep that night, his last thought was, 'I forgot to give him back the keycard.'
I know...I know, "I was expecting more Sephiroth/Cloud action!", right? Well, sorry...but I have to put Cloud through a life-changing ordeal first that will unlock the more confident side of Cloud. THEN I can get started with the real yummy stuff. Heh heh. I gotta say again, all of your reviews were AWESOME and more than greatly appreciated. I should frame them and hang them on my wall... Please continue reviewing!