#(c: cloud)

"As if I ever could... You're a monster."

Cloud stared him down, trying to stamp down the rising bout of anxiety that always came about whenever he encountered the terror from his dreams. In fact, it was difficult to even look at him for too long, and he wasn't sure if this was fear or defiance. He always wondered if he was hallucinating, asleep, or the real Sephiroth was standing here before him. Tight was the grip on his sword's hilt, and the massive bulk of blade was pointed downward, temporarily too tired to lift it; gathering his strength for the inevitable attack.

"What the hell do you even want?!"

Sephiroth makes a disapproving noise by clicking his tongue against the backs of his teeth. 

“Nearly got yourself killed for these transfusions and now you're going to end up almost killing yourself because of them." He doesn't know why he deigns to bother with a lecture at all, especially given the fact that so little clearly gets through Cloud Strife's thick skull to begin with.

In a way, he can appreciate the rationale. Finding yourself completely indentured (or should the word be indebted? Is there a difference in Cloud's case?) to Rufus Shinra must tap into the demand for a particular brand of self-representation. One that doesn’t allow the Turks to poke a million holes in your armor and one that bares its teeth in defiance at the suggestion of weakness. Whatever Cloud imagines to be weakness, at any rate. 

“Drink,” Sephiroth sighs impatiently as he shoves the mouth of a bottle of water towards Cloud’s face. “You’ll need to consistently keep your body fueled while it acclimates to the amount of mako in your system. How are you adjusting to changes to your metabolism?” 

He has not placed great import on revealing his whereabouts in the late hours of the night ever since he had abandoned the Company. Only their promise keeps him here, tethered to the city. Atonement, of a sort, even if he does not imagine the odds would be in his favor if Cloud’s loyalties were ever called into question if Shinra, whether junior or senior, were to discover that Cloud was in semi-frequent contact with Sephiroth of all people.

Fortunately, he has found means to fashion several safehouses along the peaks of the Slum’s oddly tilted tenement towers and within the winding mazes of its many alleyways. Multiple redundancies kept away in the back pocket, in case anyone ever came sniffing too close in places they shouldn’t.  

Cloud stared at the other, and then the way the person had slumped in their grasp, blood pooling at their feet. He was a little stunned by this entire situation, and decided to take a few steps back, hand reaching up for the hilt of his blade. "I...-- It's not?? I find that hard to believe."

His heart was already racing, wondering if he should be preparing himself for a fight, or if he was just going to bolt. Never before having really considered to run from anyone before. He'd try to not do that, right away, at least. Eyes darting from the now-corpse, to the other with all their beauty, almost too-inviting.

In the timeline's he's gone through thus far, most of the challenges were of defeating 'himself' and the others of his old group of 'friends'. Though, the ones he were hunting were not the reality of friends he knew, and needed to find. The promise was to wipe out all in their way, until he found them, even if it meant having to go unnecessarily hard on these fakes. What surprised him now, is when he was tasked to taking out the very President of ShinRa, having not touched the other's, just yet, in this timeline.

Slinking into the office was easy, coming in through a portal in one of the many rooms linked to it outside. Though the orders were simple enough, he knew such a daunting task would be difficult, as Rufus' skills were always one-step ahead of his, and not even his quickness could outmatch the man's.

Quietly, he approached the desk, and the familiarity of this place did blind his senses for a few short moments. The hesitation stilling his hand from reaching back to bring his sword out, as he should have done so by now. There was something here in his chest; a faint ping of such longing, so devastating to his psyche. He had been ignoring it all this time, not wanting to really go after the likes of this one, in all those other universes...

"... I...-- Yeah. Thank you..." Cloud simply could not believe that she was here, and saying that to him. He had, as usual, found himself at a spot that was just far enough away from the other's. His mind was always lost, nowadays, and he felt the need to be alone would somehow help it. Though, seeing Tifa come along and offer him some company seemed to sort of fill that sense of loneliness that had crept into his heart.

His gaze averted, after briefly glancing her way with a nod, and he stared ahead at the area before them; silent stars, a slight breeze. "I just didn't want to bother anyone. I'm... not feeling too great, honestly. It's hard to explain." Of course his mind would always linger on the one who has been causing all of them, and the world, too many problems. The monster that took everything from himself, and from Tifa.

"...Yes, of course. Let's go!" Cloud knew they did not have the time for formal introductions, and he had been lucky enough to get his name out during their heated conflict with that monster. The taunting. The powerful strikes. It was some miracle that the two of them had made it around the corner and away from the one-winged angel. After a few minutes, making sure they were actually at a safe distance, (or aka - just not followed, for now, because Cloud knew...)

He turned towards the other, and caught his breath after a few seconds, seeing the man was still in the same sort of condition as before. Which he felt ultimately responsible for... Guilt running through him. He did not know what powers these people possessed, but it was clearly strong enough to at least keep Sephiroth at bay.

"... I'm sorry. I... It's really hard to explain, but I think it's pretty clear that we're both not meant to be here. Your people might be in danger, but also not just yet. He's got a weird need to always come for me. The guy should be dead. I ran him through with my blade, but..." Cloud was still so furious over that fact. This monster who ruined his life was still going around, causing problems. Breathing. He should have it in him to finish him off, and yet, it's like the other's powers have increased. It frightened him to no end, but he would try to ignore that.

"All I remember is what I've said... A light appearing, taking me in... Sephiroth's doing, no doubt... And I ended up here. I have no clue how to return, but he most likely does, and is just messing with me."