#cloud: thread

At first flower language didn’t interest Cloud. He watched Aerith do her thing and sell the right flowers to the right people, combine the right flowers for the most fitting bouquets and Cloud was fine with not getting any of it. But when he watched a woman receive pink dahlias from a man who bought the flowers earlier that day and she burst into happy tears, Cloud started to feel a little intrigued. Clearly he was missing out on something here.

This guy didn’t look like anything Shinra had thrown at him so far. In fact, he looked really odd. Not human. It didn’t matter though, because Cloud wasn’t afraid of a challenge. “One of Shinra’s goons?” He drew his sword and got into position. “You’re big, I give you that, but I’m faster.” 

What had gotten into the man? Cloud had never seen Sephiroth like this. He was usually always in control of himself, so seemingly unaffected by the things around him. Now, Sephiroth was clearly distressed and the emotional energy he emitted alone was enough to overwhelm Cloud.

“S-sir..” He accepted the journal automatically, seeing he would accept anything Sephiroth placed in his hands. His gaze fell down towards the written pages and in his worried state, he could only make out some of the more important words. 

Jenova injections, Wutai, warrior hero...propaganda. That was really what it was, and to Cloud, Sephiroth had been exactly that. A hero, a war hero, protecting the world from Wutai. Cloud wasn’t entirely sure what Jenova really was, but he had heard the rumours of course. That it’s some scary-looking piece of alien, something connected to the mako. 

Did that make Sephiroth an alien? The older stared at him with such desperation and fear, Cloud couldn’t help but to approach him. After what happened between them, he felt it was his duty too. 

“I don’t know what for,” he answered honestly and reached out to take Sephiroth’s hand. “I see you..you’ve been lied to.” In the process, Cloud had been lied to as well. His idol, the ultimate SOLDIER, was different from what he thought he was. But was that really the case? Nature versus nurture came to mind. “That’s terrible, they had no right to manipulate you like that, but..” He squeezed the hand subconsciously. “Does it change who you are? You are Sephiroth.” 

Whispers or whatever else these freaking things were, there must be a better explanation for why Cloud kept seeing him everywhere he went. This must all be in his head, harmless hallucinations that he was letting get the better of him. This had to be from all that mako in his system. Yes, definitely. He just wanted a good night’s rest for a change, without nightmares of burning towns and long silver hair.

There’s only one person that can help him. Even if it it was the most unlikely one for Cloud to go to. He just had a feeling that Rufus was very good at keeping things under the radar and also setting aside their differences for mutual benefits.

On his way to Rufus’ office, he must have tipped off the entire building, but they got nothing on Cloud’s ability to send them all back where they came from. He was hurrying anyways, not dragging out stupid fights he didn’t ask for. Some woman, must be a secretary, screamed “No, you can’t go in there! The boss is in a meeting”, and so he got the confirmation that this was the right place.

“I’m the boss’ meeting.” He opened the door and stepped inside, watching Rufus on his chair by the desk.