Never Tear Us Apart: Part I

by tir-synni

 

Warning: All the interludes are flashbacks.  It says whose viewpoint it is.  Hope that's all cleared up.

 

Interlude I: Cloud

 

            "Aw fuck," Cloud moaned quietly.  "I'm screwed."

            Nervously, the young blonde followed the other SOLDIER recruits into the training area of the r the fact that he was the slightest recruit there.

            Cloud barely suppressed a shiver and marched in time with the others.  Many of them were a head taller than he was.  He had a sinking feeling that this place was going to be ten times worse than Nibelhelm.  Still a punching bag, just with a different view.  A city instead of a hick town.

            No, Cloud thought viciously.  I won't just be a punching bag.  I was holding my own in Nibelhelm, and I'll hold my own here.  The youth noticed their sizes again and clenched his teeth.  At the very least, they won't get away unscathed.

            Probably beat me to a pulp, but they won't get away unscathed.

            Great logic.

            Dutifully, Cloud followed the rest in a line-up before some of the higher people of ShinRa.  His golden spikes were like a neon sign among the other recruits, and Cloud knew it.  The other recruits had used them thus far to keep track of him.  It was only pride that kept him from cringing.  Hell, it was only his pride that had got him this far.

            Cloud stood straight, his head high even as he realized who was observing the recruits.  Sephiroth.  The mighty, legendary General Sephiroth was looking over the recruits.

            And going straight over my head, Cloud thought glumly.  He knew Sephiroth wouldn't even notice him once, nonetheless look at him twice.  Still, that knowledge hurt.  Cloud wanted so badly to be like Sephiroth someday, and the knowledge that he wasn't even worth a second glance hurt.  How could he be as well-loved as Sephiroth if--

            Unbeknownst to him, his fists were clenched.

            Cloud tore his eyes away from where the silver-haired angel was lecturing on the podium, only to meet a striking pair of silver eyes.  Cloud felt his eyes widen as that same pair of beautiful, silver eyes proceeded to peruse his body.

            What the hell is he doing? Cloud thought indignantly.  How dare he look at me like that? Well, if he gets to look at me, I get to look at him.

            Proud of himself for the decision, Cloud studied the other man.  He was tall and muscular, topped with a mane of black hair that was wilder than his own golden locks.  His body was broad, a warrior's body.  A massive sword was on his back, and looking at that blade, Cloud could understand why the SOLDIER was so muscular.  Then Cloud looked at the SOLDIER's face.

            Cloud's breath exploded from his lungs.  The SOLDIER was...beautiful.  His face was so lovely and alive!  His soft lips seemed to be endlessly laughing, his darkly tanned face lit up in an irresistible smile.  Even his eyes, those beautiful silver eyes, were shining with an inner laughter.

            "...And this is my 2nd-in-command, Zachary Stoker, SOLDIER 1st Class," Sephiroth's voice rang clearly, and the object of Cloud's attention stepped forward and bowed.

            Cloud's smile, the one had hadn't even known he had, faded away.  Zachary Stoker.  He had heard of him.  ShinRa's playboy.  Flirted with and fucked everything on two legs.  The guy who had just tried to flirt with him.

            Cloud's face hardened, and when Zack met his eyes again, he only met blue ice.

            Cloud knew he was a pretty boy.  Just another reason his life had been hell in Nibelhelm.  He knew he came off more of his mother than his father physically.  He was extremely feminine look-wise, and he wasn't proud.  Cloud had a delicate face and large blue eyes.  Since leaving Nibelhelm, Cloud had been hit on so many times he had lost count.  Apparently, Zack was the latest one.

            Either a punching bag or sex toy.  Cloud felt real good.

            It felt like forever until the lecture was over.  Instantly, Cloud took off to where his assigned dorm was.  He knew the price for stalling.  He had to hurry.

            However, Cloud wasn't fast enough.

            "Hey, pretty boy!" a deep voice mocked, and an older SOLDIER recruit blocked his path.  Cloud stopped immediately and glanced to his right, then left.  Yep; the guy's buddies was there.  Cloud did not even have to look behind him.  He knew the fourth one was there.

            "What do you want?" Cloud asked quietly, even as his body prepared for the inevitable fight.  He had done this many times before.  He knew the drill.

            The leader, as Cloud supposed he was, smirked at him.  "Pretty boys aren't for fightin'," he drawled.  "They're for fuckin', not fightin'.  You don't belong in SOLDIER."

            Cloud bared his teeth in a parody of a grin, but his eyes were cold.  "Too bad you're not suited for either."

            The leader swaggered forward.  "Guess I'll just show you I can fight; then I'll show you I can fuck."

            As one, the four recruits lunged at the blonde.  Years of experience had Cloud responding instantly.  He threw himself to one side and drove his elbow into a recruit's stomach.  The recruit slammed hard on his back, wheezing and gasping, while the momentum carried Cloud clear of the other three boys.  Cloud rolled quickly to his feet and glared coldly at the trio.

            "Back off!" Cloud warned.  That would be his last warning, last mercy.  He had to deal with enough of these shitheads in Nibelhelm.  He wasn't going to fuck with them here, too.

            All they did, however, was scoff at him and his "good luck," and keep coming.  Cloud gritted his teeth.  Fine.  Their funeral.

            Right before they reached him, Cloud darted to their right and kneed one in the groin.  He straightened, his leg out, stringing the middle one in the stomach.  Relying on his speed, Cloud retreated before diving again to one side.  A fist slammed by his face before he whirled around and backhanded the last in the nose.  He heard the crack before he felt the blood soak his knuckles.  There was a strangled scream, but Cloud ignored him.  He had told them to back off.  Wasn't his fault.

            Cloud glanced around at his foes.  Unbelieving, he grimaced.  They were all down, all four of them.  Damn, at least the creeps in Nibelhelm were able to inflict bruises on him.  These asswipes were all hot air.

            The sound of clapping startled out of his thoughts.  Shocked, he whirled around to see General Sephiroth and his 2nd-in-command, Zack, applauding him.

            For a long time, Cloud could only stare wide-eyed at them.  A chill overtook him, and as before, it was only pride that kept him from curling up into a ball.  They were clapping.  They were clapping.  That was good, right?  That meant he wouldn't be punished, right?  Other boys he could handle.  But when adults punished you, you couldn't fight back.

            "It was four to one, and you didn't break a sweat," Zack shouted.  The black-haired man motioned Cloud to him.  "Don't worry, you're not in trouble.  It was a clear case of self-defense."

            An audible sigh of relief escaped Cloud's lips.  It was his first day.  He didn't want to get into trouble already.

            As Zack gestured again, Cloud shyly approached his commanding officers.  He wasn't in trouble.  No trouble equaled no punishment.  He didn't know who or what to thank.

            "Have you ever had any formal training before?" Sephiroth inquired, his voice soft.  Cloud blinked up at him.

            "No training, Sir, formal or informal."

            A sleek, silver eyebrow raised.  "Then how did you knew how to fight?  Surely you've had experience from before."

            Cloud knew he was blushing.  He could feel it warming his cheekbones.  Embarrassed and a little humiliated, he bowed his head.  "I...I was picked on often at my hometown, Sir.  I learned how to fight out of self-defense."

            There was a moment of silence, and Cloud felt his humiliation grow.  The mighty Sephiroth meets the Punching Bag.  Needless to say, he is not impression.

            Bile rose up in Cloud's throat, but he quickly swallowed it.  "My apologies, Sir, for distracting you.  I'll do my best to stay out of trouble, Sir.  If you'll excuse me, Sir, I--"

            Two strong fingers sliding under his jaw immediately silenced Cloud.  Electricity flowed through Cloud at that simple touch, even as he shut his eyes and braced for a slap from the other hand.  Shit, his big mouth had gotten him into trouble after all.

            "Hey, hey, it's all right," a gentle voice reassured him.  Cloud recognized Zack's friendly voice and hesitantly opened his eyes.  Those beautiful silver eyes met his again.  Cloud could drown in them.

            "We aren't going to punish you," Zack reassured him gently.  "You've done nothing wrong.   What's your name, kid?"

            Those eyes...."Cloud Strife, Sir," Cloud said quietly.  "New SOLDIER recruit."  Before he could go on, Zack interrupted him.

            "Hi, Cloud," Zack greeted.  "Call me Zack.  You probably know Seph."

            Seph?  Cloud blinked.  "Know of, S--Zack.  I don't know him."  Shyly, the blonde diverted his eyes from Zack to glance at Sephiroth.  The General smiled at him.

            Zack grinned at him.  "Well, don't worry, you'll get to know him soon.  You've shown that you have a lot of potential, and I want to show you how to use it."

            Cloud's eyes widened.  "Zack?"

            Zack laughed, a deep, cheerful sound.  "I'm going to mentor you, kid."