Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He couldn’t believe it. They found out his secret. They stared at him like he was a freak or treasure. He couldn’t run into his house fast enough. He could feel his animal ears pressed against his head. They knew. They all knew now. He was an omega. A defective one though. No scent, no heat cycle, and no ability to have children. He was a beta with omega accessories. The animal ears and tail. Like a golden wolf.

He been able to hide it for twenty years. His hat that he normally pinned to his hair just flew off his head in front of everyone. He locked his door and blocked the windows from prying eyes. The mayor was knocking on the door but he wasn’t going to open that door for anyone.

“Cloud! Come out!” Cloud ignored the order. No doubt he used his alpha voice that was supposed to work on omegas. Granted he didn’t think that was true at all. All it did was make Cloud angry and growl under his breath but he reminded silent. “Cloud.” The Mayor’s voice softened probably seeing the other way wasn’t working. “We all saw it. There is no denying what you are.” Cloud sat down in front of the door, pulling his knees to his chest.

This was his worst nightmare. Omegas were very rare now and every pack wanted one. Instinct or status no doubt. “Alright. I understand. After everything you need some time. We will talk tomorrow about finding you a pack. We will get a great price.” Price? What was he? Furniture? No, fuck that.

Cloud got up and ran to his mother’s corner of their small house. He hadn’t touched it since she passed last winter. He opened her jewelry box and found her gold-colored bobby pins. The perfect color for her hair and by extension his too. He narrowed his eyes at his reflection. His ear twitching in agitation. Cloud grabbed and rolled his one ear and pinned it inside of tuft of hair. The golden ear blended perfectly. He flatted the other one down and pinned it. It was slightly painful but he didn’t care.

There was nothing of value in her box after that, not even sentimental. He moved to other side of the room and grabbing the sheet off his bed and decent kitchen knife, he cut a strip longways. Taking it, he wrapped up his tail tight from base to tip. Cutting a second strip he pressed it tight around his waist. After making sure he could move without issue and glanced at the mirror again. He smiled seeing he could pass for a normal/beta so well.

Cloud grabbed his pillowcase and shook the pillow out. He gathered all canned and preserved meats. Anything that could last. There wasn’t much but it would do for now. He packed the few shirts and pants he had. He wrapped them around the cans to minimize noise.

He was leaving tonight. No doubt the greedy mayor would have people outside his home to make sure he stays. He didn’t put it past him. He tried to sell his own daughter’s hand in marriage to old man Johnson. that was old enough to be her grandfather but she hightailed it out of here too. he wondered if he would ever meet up with her one day.

Cloud shook his head. He didn’t have time to get lost in his thoughts. He pulled out a hidden drawer under his bed and pulled out his best, dark coat. He was going near the river and it got cold. The river wasn’t that wide and the current wasn’t that bad. He could make it across. It was better than traveling the mountains. There wasn’t much on the other side. He needed to get far away as he could as quickly as possible. It would be best if they thought he died out there.

Then he pulled out his prized possessions. A fire Materia and two-handed sword. It wasn’t anything special. He made his own bracer and the sword he found in the mountain one day. He practiced every spare minute and got rather good with it. He killed wolves and jerked the meat to sell. He started to wish he didn’t sell out every batch now. Double checking he had everything he dared to take to help get out of here. He had one chance. He waited and listened for the town to go quiet.

***

He climbed the wall inside and popped out of the roof. He cursed his alabaster skin and put his gloves on and coat hood up. He slowly flatted himself on the roof watching for the night guard that patrolled normally for wolves but no doubt was told him keep on eye on his door. There one another guard in front of his door too. they were not playing around. There was another one the beginning of the mountain trail. Too bad he wasn’t going that way. They figured he would hide in the mountains as one of their expert guides.

The wandering patrol tuned his back and Cloud slowly lowered himself to the ground and used the neighbor’s house for cover. Slowly he walked in a crouch and watched the guard and got behind his last hiding place. The tricky part was the narrow exit. The only cover was the only truck in town. He was going to have to be quick and silent.

He silently gave a prayer to any summon spirts that were listening and his mother’s spirt was guidance. As if something took pity on him. Old man Johnson decided to drink himself into a mood. He was thrown out of the inn and he cursed loudly at them for it. Seeing his chance Cloud booked it out of there and no one seemed to have saw him.

He wasn’t out of danger yet though. He needed to get away and fast. He ran out of the gate heading to the river. He could travel up it instead of across. He needed off this continent. Only the first half would be dangerous due to the cold and pit falls. Half up due it the weather changed dramatically. He wouldn’t need the coat at all. Wolves lashed out seeing what they thought was an easy meal only to be cut quickly in half. No time to loot them. He refused to be sold like a prized chocobo.

It was past midnight according to moon placement. And he could see river. It was a little way off but it only made him run faster. He was the quickest runner in the village. His frame was made for it. Even after his accident, his speed got faster and his stamina got larger. His eyes looked a little strange but not in a bad way.

He stopped just before the ground got muddy. He didn’t want to leave a trail if he could help it. Little choice he backed up and jumped into the middle of the river. He was an okay swimmer. He managed to climb up a rock and was able to skip stones for a while. The cold air on the wet clothes chilling him to the bone. Realizing the wet coat was useless now he took it off and tied it around his waist. He wasn’t going to discard it if he could be useful and his case wasn’t big enough to put that inside it too.

When the chill in the air was notably less, he looked at the sky. It looked around three a.m. by the moon placement. He watched the starry night all the time and got good telling by the moon. He tried teaching it to his mother but she never got the hang of it. He smiled as he passed by the runoff of the waterfall, the halfway point. Then back to dry land. The water to get easier to swim though as he passed by the runoff.

He climbed up a rock to catch his breath. He needed a plan as he didn’t think that far ahead. Pure stubborn determination was only going to get him so far after all. He was a country boy with little education and horrible people skills. The skills he did have were a mixed bag. He was stronger than one would think and could fight monsters. He could skin the hide off anything that attacked. He was okay at fixing things that wouldn’t mako powered. He had a sword and a fire Materia in a handmade bracer.

“What can I do that all that?” He asked himself. He was drawing a blank. He didn’t know enough about the outside world to know. Nibleheim was cut off from the world by choice. The boys were to go out, make money, find a wife, and come back. Fifty-fifty on the coming back part.

Cloud steeled himself and continued his mission. He found parts where there were dry paths where the land with too high and the water didn’t reach or the aftermath of a landslide. He made up some time there. He glanced at the moon. Another hour before people woke up in that hellhole. He needed to be further away to feel safe.

He was tired and sleepy. It been at this all night. But, he did it. He was on land. He could finally dry out. He still wasn’t ready to call it though. He needed a form of shelter. A cave, a ledge, something. Cloud sat on the ground and pulled out a pack of jerky. After all that he needed some energy. Finding some burnable trash and wood, he used his fire Materia to make a small fire to help dry out. He didn’t need hypothermia due to wet clothes. To not fall sleep Cloud sang to himself to keep his mind going. He just needed to dry off a little first.

X)(X

The sun was peaking up and the town started to wake up. The mayor been up for a while talking to excited packs. He had three sheets on paper with numbers and figures. Two packs dropped out seeing that Cloud was male while the others didn’t mind that. The mayor didn’t hear the knocking on the door at first.

He finally heard it and wondered to the door. To be greeted by a six foot seven, long haired man carrying a sword almost at long as him. His eyes slit closer to a snake that glowed green.

“You are Mayor Lockhart?” Brian nodded unable to speak. “Good. We heard you are trying to sell an Omega.” The mayor seemed to relax.

“Yes. Yes. You have a bid? You have some high numbers to beat.” Brian froze as the man’s sword as at his neck.

“Brian Lockhart. You are hereby under arrest.”

“arrest? Why?”

“You are trying to sell a protected class. You are not his guardian or family. The charges are forcing a pack, selling a protected class, and selling a slave. You admitted it in front of three other witnesses. Zack, cuff him.” A spiky black-haired man who looked like he wanted to drag him behind the house and beat him senseless. He cuffed him quickly and a little rougher than necessary.

Genesis rolled a fireball between his fingers threateningly and Angeal just had to stand there with arms crossed. No one tried to stop them or ask questions.

“Hey Seph-iroth.” Zack added the rest on his name remembering they were in public. “I don’t think the omega is safe here or safe from him.”

“Agreed.”

“Safe from him?” Brian blurted out confused.

Genesis looked appalled. “This town is so behind the times. Selling omegas? A male one at that? Did you think that would go well.” Brian looked confused. “You tried using the voice, yes?” Brian nodded. “did it work?” Brian shook his head. “You are lucky he didn’t rip your head off. That might have worked on some female omegas. A male one is different. They are stronger, faster, and once provoked has the strength of six men.” Brian looked so confused. “you might be the luckiest son of a bitch I even met. His parents must have been holding him tightly.” Brian confusion get worse.

“He is not a child!” there was hope in his eyes. “He is twenty years old!” Genesis stepped closer getting into Brian’s face.

“You think that helps your case, don’t you? You are mistaken. No wonder you so brazenly shouted to the mountain top that you were trying to sell an omega. That practice was deemed illegal forty years ago. And breeding programs deemed immoral fifteen years ago not to mention they didn’t work. Two Omega equals over dominant Alphas that are too crazy to live in society.” Genesis cleared his throat and smoothed his hair, all calming gestures.

Sephiroth collected the evidence of biding had on the table. Sephiroth held the papers in front of the mayor’s face. “With these and what you said to me. You are going away for the rest of your life. Make it easier on yourself. Where is he and what is his name?”

Brian’s mouth shook in fear. “C-C-Cloud S-Strife. H-H-He lives next door.” Zack walked the mayor out and into the arms of Troopers they brought with them for crowd control if needed. Sephiroth started to Cloud’s door.

“Sephiroth.” Zack said pulling on Sephiroth coat. “Maybe I should try? He might take you as a threat. You come off as intimidating not meaning to be.” Sephiroth thought about it and decided that Zack had a point.

“Agreed.” Sephiroth stepped to the side to let Zack through. Zack knocked on the door. Waited a bit and knocked again.

“Mister Strife! Please answer the door!” Zack said loudly but nicely. “It is okay. That jerk Lockhart is going to jail for trying to sell you. Completely illegal and he will never bother you again.” Zack rocked on his heels waiting for a response. After about thirty seconds Zack knocked again. “Mister Strife!” Zack put his ear to the door and listened. There was no sound inside, not even breathing. “Oh no.” Zack hit the door, breaking the lock instantly.

“Zack! What are you doing?!” Angeal yelled once the door break open and Zack ran inside. Sephiroth got to the entrance when Zack popped back out.

“He is not here!” Both alarm and relief was on his face. “I heard nothing not even breathing . . . so I thought he might have . . .” Zack’s words failed him and the others understood. Sephiroth walked in to see for himself.

It was basically a one room, open floor plan house. It was rather small and partly ransacked. Sephiroth zeroed in on the cut bed sheet. Genesis walked in followed by Angeal.

“He ran. No doubt believing the worse if he was sold like the mayor wanted. There were some takers.” Sephiroth vowed to himself that he would find them and punish them. “I will set everything they have on fire and watch it burn.” Sephiroth had an ally and possible alibi.

“one question I have is how did he go for twenty years and no one notice earlier?”

“The parents probably had a home birth and were afraid of what the others would do. So, isolation, certain clothing-.”

“There is no scent here.” The other three sniffed the air. No scent at all. Zack pressed his face against the pillow on the bed. There was nothing at all.

“A scentless Omega? Does that even happen?” Sephiroth thought about it. There was little information on omegas and a lot of it wrong. On top of that, they were dealing with a Male omega. They reacted differently and were different. They were fierce hunters and brave protectors. There were reports of them going through mini transformations that caused fangs and claws to appear but no proof that was true.

Angeal called to them showing them the hole in the roof. That’s how he got out. The question was where would he go. The mountains or across the river? Both had there good and bad points. The village people were not talking or coming out of their houses. No doubt afraid of being arrested because they did nothing about Mr. Strife being sold to the highest biding pack.

“Man, there is not much here. Not even pictures.”

“he could have taken those with him.” Angeal explained calmly despite wanting to beat that man for what he tried to do.

“So, we have a scared male omega on the run. That could lash out thinking the worse.” Genesis said not liking what could happen.

“We should go track him down.” Sephiroth hated that they were hunting down someone who just wanted to escape a bad situation.

X)(X

Cloud found a hole in the mountain side that he could fit into in the wee hours of the morning. He yawned and got as comfortable as he could. He closed his eyes as he went over his bare bones plan. get to the coast without being seen as much as possible, beg-borrow-steal a ride to the next continent. If or when he gets there was the giant question mark in the room. He would need to find a job or a way to support himself. Maybe he could build a little house and eat certain monsters. He didn’t know what kind they had over there but if he could eat Nibleheim wolves, he could eat almost anything.

He smiled at the thought of a nice little home with a little vegetable garden. With that happy thought he out like a light.

X)(X

After about an hour, they found tracks out of town. Sephiroth noticed the lightly heavier on the one side and the hesitant stride they took. They lost the tracks twenty feet from the river. Zack volunteered to swim across the river but didn’t want for permission. The river was stronger than it looked but Zack was enhanced and determined. He dived down looking under the water just in case. After about five minutes he pulled himself out of water and called Sephiroth.

Sephiroth pressed the speaker button. “I’m on the other side as you can see.” Sephiroth saw Zack wave a little. “That currant is strong though and the river is much deeper than it looks. I am not sure he could swim that and it’s cold. In the middle of the night is would be freezing. I looked for tracks and nothing. I don’t think he came this way.”

Sephiroth looked around. There were only so many options. “Get back to this side.”

“yes, sir.”

“You don’t have to call me sir then it’s just us Zack.”

“But you like it when I call you sir.” The playful tone on the line almost caused him to lose composure. “Heading back over.” The call cut off. Sephiroth waited for Angeal and Genesis findings. By the time Zack came back, the other two generals were back as well.

“anything?” sephiroth asked.

“Nothing to the ocean I could find.” Genesis said with folding arms.

“No tracks north either.” There was concern in his voice. Sephiroth tried to think. No tracks meant this Cloud went through the water. But the space between the last footprint and the river was too far to jump.

“Unless . . .-“

“Unless what darling?” sephiroth didn’t realized he said that out loud.

“the tracks end twenty feet from the river. That is too far to jump unless-“

“He’s enhanced!” Zack blurted out getting it. “Sorry.” Zack added sheepishly. He didn’t mean to cut Sephiroth off.

“Exactly.”

“So, we have a scared, enhanced, male omega.” Angeal grimaced a little. “That could be really bad.”

“But he didn’t attack when the man used the Alpha voice though. Wouldn’t that prove he isn’t going to attack?”

“indeed. Yet, the orders are clear. If he was unsafe, to bring him to midgar.”

“He was being sold. It was unsafe for the beginning. Sounds like Rufus wants him.” Genesis said with a dark tone. “We don’t even have a description.” Sephiroth took out his phone.

“Ask the Mayor what Mr. Strife looks like. Tell him I will ask for lighter sentence for his assistance.” He really wasn’t going to ask. There was a long pause before Sephiroth hung up the phone. “Blonde hair with natural spikes, Blue eyes with a green sheen to them, five foot eight with a muscular yet slender build.”

“So now that we are sure he is enhanced somehow and he used the river, did he go that way or that way? He was trying to minizine tracks so either way is possible.” Angeal asked.

“Clever little country boy, isn’t he?”

“Hey! Three out of the four of us are country boys. You included!” Zack bristled.

“It was not an insult Zackary love. The education is smaller towns are lacking. It is a fact. I did not even see a school here.” Zack was still annoyed but calmed. “I doubt he ever been outside the town before. Good chance he does not know where he is going.”

“there is a waterfall runoff that way. The current would be stronger. But going that way would get him farther way since them couldn’t follow him.”

“Hang on. How enhanced is he? Would he be strong enough to fight that in freezing water. It’s cold now. At night its got to be freezing. Even Soldiers can get too cold.” It was a good point. they had no idea. Some people got the eyes with the tiniest bit of mako while others took up to second class with a few boosters before it showed.

“Zack step over here.” Angeal requested and Zack confused complied. “The tracks read as he took a step back and jumped. Please do the same.”

“Wait. He needs to be off-balance. It makes a different.” Genesis being strangely helpful took off Zack’s sword and get him his to hold on the left side. The tracks showed the left side was digging into the earth just a little. Zack held the sword on the left and lined himself up with the tracks. Taking the same amount back he leaped forward. Zack landed on the other bank but then fell backwards into the water. He scrambled out of the water and used his phone.

“I made it to the other side but couldn’t stick the landing.”

“Good chance then he almost second class enhanced. Thank you, Zack. Get back over here.” Sephiroth hung up.

“So, he went up.” Angeal looked up the river. “What now? Where would he go?”

“There are a few micro-villages along the coast, Corel . . . if he didn’t . . .” Genesis didn’t want to think he could have drowned trying to escape. He couldn’t have known they were there to save him. Zack popped out of the water ringing out his hair.

“So. What now?” Zack asked getting the water out of his ears.

“Get in the helicopter. We will see where is river goes exactly. I need to call this in.”

X)(X

Night had fallen as Cloud woke up. He slowly crawled out of the hole in the mountain side. He stretched the limbs out before he got his things. He opened his bag up and found his darker shirt and switched it out. He folded the other one and shoved it in his bag. He noticed this huge sand pit in the distance. He read about it in the few books Nibleheim had. It was a good landmark and if he walked along it, he knew he wouldn’t go in circles.

He decided to go to the left, away from the river he came from. The monsters were weaker here and Cloud could cut through them easy. He cut the wings off these flying lizard things and these ground creatures that looked like they belonged in the ocean. He wrapped the wings up in the shirt he was wearing earlier and inspected the nut he found. It didn’t smell too good and he doubted he could eat it. Maybe the next town could tell him what it was. He hoped it was worth something.

Despite being on the run, he was having the time of his life.

X)(X

Inside the Shinra villa. “Yes, sir.” Sephiroth said monotone as possible. “understood, sir. Good night, sir.” Sephiroth hung up and sighed. He turned his head to the others. “We are to find him. Non-harmed. And have him brought to midgar.”

“Sephiroth.” Zack looked at the ground, wringing his hands. So unzack like. “He is not going to the lab, right?” Sephiroth wondered that too. the selective breeding trails were on female omegas. It was possible someone in R&D department would love to try it with a male omega.

Genesis raked his hand through Zack’s hair. “I had that Rufus talked about getting an omega for his pack even if it was female. Knowing there is a male one out there. He could jump at the chance.” Zack didn’t feel that much better but a little.

“But.” Zack’s voice was strained. “He’s never seen him.”

“He would not care. If he was not to his liking, he would make him. Hair dyes, color contracts, or whatever.” Genesis said trying to be reassuring but it had the opposite effect. Angeal put his hand on Zack’s shoulder.

“is it wrong that I hate this?”

“No.” Sephiroth said. “I hate this too.” Sephiroth gestured to the bedroom and everyone filed in.

X)(X

Cloud had a full bag and wide eyes seeing Costa del sol. People were out and about. There was a party going on at the bench. Food, games, and laughs. This seemed like such a happy place. He noticed the shops were still open and went inside.

The shop was huge compared to the one in Nibleheim. He saw an item list on the wall including monster parts they brought with prices. It had pictures too when helped since he didn’t know what they were called.

“First time out this way, huh?” Cloud took a moment to realize the voice was talking to him.

“Oh. Um . . . Yeah. Sorry.” Cloud wasn’t why he was apologizing but went with it. the person behind the counter laughed like it was the funniest thing.

“Country boy! always quick to apologize like they did something wrong. I take it that you have parts too. the way you were studying that list.” Cloud nodded face beet red he was so transparent. “Nice. Step up the counter and I’ll sort ya out.” Cloud walked up and opened his bag. He put the shirt on the counter and opened it showing the wings. The clerk picked one up and inspected it. “Nice. . . . very nice. You done this before?”

“Wolves and Dragons. With dragons the scales, blood, and meat are more important. So, it’s my first-time de-winging anything. It’s was pretty easy to see the lines.” The man nodded going through all the wings. Cloud dug through his bag for the nuts he picked up.

“Can you tell me what these are?” the man looked over seeing the Nuts.

“Saraha nuts. They are for Chocobo breeding. They are pretty rare for the monsters to be holding on to one. Two hundred gil each if you are selling.” Cloud nodded having no use for them and put them on the counter.

By the end the wings sold for three thousand gil and the nuts for eight hundred. Cloud never had so much gil in his life. Granted Nibleheim ran mostly on the barter system. Cloud brought an actual travel pack and some sunglasses as he found himself blocking the sun from his eye’s multiple times during the journey. Then asked about how he could he get across the ocean as soon as possible.

Zack got hungry after their long make out session. Zack wanted to get some snacks since Angeal was asleep. Zack bumped into a man and both were quick with a ‘sorry.’ The guy wasn’t hurt and he wasn’t so all was fine. They were nicer here than in Midgar.

Cloud found the fishman area who were packing up. Despite his social batteries at an all-time low. He talked to one and lucked out. For a thousand gil he could get a one-way ride to junon but they were leaving now. Cloud nodded perfectly okay with that. He was asked to help him pack up and Cloud was more than happy too. the sooner off this continent the better.

Zack was eating an ice cream bar shaped like a chocobo looking at the night sky. You didn’t see the stars on the plate. He missed them sometimes. The party on the beach was in full swing. They needed to come back soon for vacation and play on the beach. He would need to look for a strong SPF for Sephiroth’s and Genesis’s pale skin.

That guy was pale too. granted the light gold blonde hair may have made him look paler. The accent was cute too and familiar. His brain was itching but he didn’t know why. He scanned the beach seeing the partiers and fisherman. The inn slash restaurant required fish for their dishes. The blonde was there. Was he a fisherman? No, too pale. He looked to be about five foot seven maybe eight. He was lean and muscular like dancer.

“Wait a minute. . . blonde, five foot eight, lean but muscular, and twenty years old.” He didn’t have the omega ears or tail though. “wait. Do male omegas have that?” Zack tossed his trash in a trash can and ran back to the villa. He had to ask before they took off. He ran all the way and throw the door open. “Do male omegas have the ears and tail?!” Zack screamed into the villa. An annoyed Genesis popped the door to the bedroom open.

“Zackary Fair! What is your problem?!”

“Answer the question!”

“Yes. All omegas do.” Zack calmed hearing that.

“Okay. It’s not him.” Genesis stopped being mad now curious. Angeal and Sephiroth walked out of the room to.

“Explain.” Sephiroth said slow and carefully.

“Okay, I went to the store for some snacks. I ran into a guy and he matched a lot of the description but he didn’t have ears. He wasn’t wearing a hat or anything. No ears, not omega. Sorry for waking you up.”

“he matched the description otherwise?”

“Yeah. Blonde hair, lean but muscular build, country boy manners, age looked around twenty, five foot seven to five foot nine, and he was pale as you Seph so not a local.”

“Eye color?”

“sunglasses.” Sephiroth understood Zack’s excitement. That much of a match, they needed to investigate that.

“show me.” Zack turned out of the door and everyone followed. Going to the walkway over the entrance of town, Zack scanned the waterline. They were still there.

“there!” sephiroth followed his hand and seeing the what Zack did. The sound of a motor sounded off and the boat the blonde was on took off. “Damn. Too late.”

“They are no doubt headed to Junon. It will take until dawn to get there but by helicopter an hour or two.”

“By the time we have to leave the pilot should be sober.” Zack bounced on his heels.

“what are the chances that was him?” Sephiroth with his better than average soldier eye sight, looked him over. He saw no ears or tail but he could be hiding them somehow. Plus, he forgot to ask what his animal features were. He couldn’t see his eye color but everything else they knew matched.

“High chance.”

”we have a few hours before we can leave. Let us go back to bed for a bit.” Angeal suggested. They all agreed.

X)(X

Cloud was motion sick but did his best to hide it. he couldn’t have known this was a thing. He found pacing in the small sleeping cabin helped slightly. He wasn’t going to throw up but he wanted too. yet, despite that he was happy. He was getting off the continent. Away from Nibleheim. Not sold to whatever pack that paid the most.

Alpha packs were the worst. Normal/beta people were ten times better. Why did he have to be born with these cursed ears and tail. He wanted them gone. He dreamed of it. Thought about doing it himself. All he wanted was to live a peaceful life, away from those that would use him, hurt him, and try to control him.

A knock at the door caught Cloud’s attention. He went to the door and opened it. the older fisherman was standing there.

“there been a change.” Cloud’s heart jumped. Did they find him? were they here to put a leash and chains on him? “We are heading to Midgar instead of Junon.” The fisherman handed half the money back to Cloud. “Sorry for the sudden change.” The fisherman walked away. Cloud slumped in relief.

Junon. Midgar. It didn’t matter to him. He wasn’t going to stay in a big town anyways. It was a few hours before they would get there. He decided to nap to refresh himself. He gone days without sleep before but it was unpleasant. You do not sleep in Dragon territory. Cloud fell into a light sleep.

Chapter Text

The pilot said they would be ready to go in twenty minutes. With that information, Genesis went to tell Angeal and Zack. He walked through the town to get to the villa. Going up the stairs to the building Genesis went inside. He heard noises from the bed room and opened the door. He was greeted to a sight of Zack on his knees, and Angeal holding his hands by the wrists above his head. Head against the wall with most of Angeal’s cock in his mouth. Genesis watched amused. That was one way to shut him up. As tempted as he was to watch this all day, they had an omega to find.

“finish up you two. We leave in twenty.” Genesis said but didn’t leave the room. Angeal looked back at him a little surprised he didn’t him come in. “I didn’t say I was leaving the free show.” Genesis leaned against the wall. “punishment? Was Zack bad boy?” He cooed in a slight playful tone.

Angeal laughed once silently. “The worst. He needs a spanking but my hands are busy.” Genesis walked over and sat down of the bed. Angeal let go of Zack’s wrists and stepped back, Cock slipping out of Zack’s mouth. Zack coughed and breathed deeply. He looked up at Angeal how looked down at him. “You are not sorry yet. Get up.” Zack stood up slowly.

As he got to his feet Angeal grabbed the back of his neck and led him to the bed. He bent him over it a bit forcedly. Genesis stood behind Zack and kicked his legs apart so he could stand between them. Angeal crawled to the middle of the bed in front of Zack’s face. Gensis took the pillowcase off the nearest pillow and grabbed Zack’s wrists. He put them behind his back and tried his wrists together.

“Now. if you rip the material or slip your hands out. I will tie you down fully and leave you on the edge all night once back in midgar. Now finish what you started.” Genesis said with a playful slap on his ass. Angeal’s cock pushed past his lips again. Genesis looked at Angeal as he reached underneath Zack to undo his pants. “How many?”

“Until his ass turns cherry red.” He said to Genesis before turning his attention back to Zack. “Oh, and Zack. If you cum before I do, I will be very disappointed.” Angeal’s vague threat made Zack got the chills. Last time Angeal was disappointed, Zack couldn’t sit normally for a week. He was enhanced at the time too.

He felt the cool air on his bare ass just before the sting of Genesis’s punishing slap. The moan around Angeal’s engorged flesh made him tighten his hand in Zack’s hair. “He seems to be enjoying it too much, what a pain slut.” Angeal Zack’s head back off his cock.

“is that true Zack? You a pain slut?” Angeal asked mockingly as Zack tried to caught his breath. A loud slap caused Zack to cry out.

“He asked you a question. Are . . . you . . .a . . . pain . . . slut?” Genesis slapped him harder between each word. He pulled back on Zack’s hair, making his back bow until he was looking Genesis in the face. “well?”

“Yes.” The voice was weak and breathy.

“Can’t hear you.” Genesis said disapprovingly.

“Yes, sir.” Zack said clearer and louder.

“Yes, sir what?” Genesis asked giving Zack the hardest slap yet.

“I’m a slut! pain slut! All the sluts you want!” Zack almost yelled that. Genesis let go of Zack’s hair only to have Angeal grabbed it. He inched closer making Zack took more of him in his mouth. Genesis looked at Zack’s red ass. He was turn on.

“I thought you said we have only had twenty minutes.” Angeal said watching Genesis put out the oil he liked to use for this.

“A lot can happen it twenty minutes.” Genesis lovingly cooed back at Angeal all the while spreading the oil across his fingers.

***

Sephiroth tapped his foot waiting for the others. He finally saw them coming down the stairs. He took one look at them and knew he had fun without him.

“Really?” Three guilty looks met his gaze.

“You can blame me, precious. I walked in on something and got caught up in it.” Zack shook his head at Genesis’ statement.

“No, my fault. I teased Angeal to his limit on propose.” Sephiroth lightly grinned at Zack’s confession.

“Sounds like all three of you are at fault and will be making it up to me later.” Sephiroth stated as he opened the door to the helicopter. “Inside. We still should get there before he does.”

X)(X

Cloud couldn’t sleep well on the ship but he got enough to function for now. He could see this ‘Midgar’ place. It looked like a dark and nearly dreadful place with more lights than In the night sky. He could smell to the city from here. It was unpleasant. It reminded him of old lamp oil mixed with burnt hair.

Between the smell and the motion sickness Cloud throw-up over the side of the boat. He did not have much in his stomach luckily.

X)(X

Landing at the helipad at Junon, all of them stepped out. Sephiroth ordered a spilt up. Genesis and Zack go to the undercity and search all fishing boats as they come in. Angeal and himself could do the same here. Report every thirty minutes.

X)(X

The fishman requested help after he found his courier wasn’t there. He offered the rest of Cloud’s money back for it. Cloud was okay with it. He got used to the smell now. Cloud thought nothing about piling three crates on top of each other and lifting them with one arm. After a moment of the fisherman staring at him like a freak of nature, He grabbed the remaining crate. Cloud followed since he had no idea where they were going.

The guards stopped them at the gate to sector five. The fisherman handed him his pass. Since Cloud was temp help, he was responsible for him. the fisherman agreed and they were let through.

“There is a tangled walkway to the wall market. You good with that sword?”

“Good enough.”

The fisherman gave him a look that yelled ‘smart ass.’ “A highway up top collapsed some years ago. They left it because it was the slums’ problem.” The fishman spit on the ground. “Damn Shin-ra and there plate only mentality.” Cloud listened to him vent about top platers and he stopped three pick pocketers along the way. After he ended up breaking the wrist of one of them, no one else tried after that. Cloud felt bad about that but the fisherman told him it was a good thing. Teach that guy not to do that.

They stopped by main slum city in sector five. He had Cloud put down the crates to grab the top one. After shop talk the fisherman got paid and they set off again. There went through the hole in the wall to the twisted pathway. Cloud wanting to see what they were dealing with, jumped up top of a metal pile, all while carrying the crates on his shoulder.

“Wow. What a mess. You think they would at least repurpose the metal around here.” The fisherman just stared at him.

“Okay, you little show off. Just stay there a minute. Let me catch up.” Cloud forgot about him for a moment. His brain focused on checking everything out. Cloud heard something and lowered the crates and grabbed his sword. Two Whole eaters jumped-attacked only to be sliced down in one swing. these things were much weaker than Nible wolves. He inspected the body of one of the monsters. It smelled bad; he doubted it had parts he could eat.

He heard the fisherman huff and puff. He looked at Cloud and grunted. “I’m getting too old for this.” He looked at the monster’s body. “oh. Good. You can take them.”

“Any parts worth anything? Or can you eat it?”

“You eat monsters?” Cloud looked confused at the fisherman’s light disgust.

“A normal practice in Nibleheim. Granted we have wolves and dragons. Also, these bug like creatures. Not great for eating but their legs and stringers of worth a bit.” The fisherman shrugged his shoulders at that.

“I can tell you about fish. This is out of my wheelhouse.” Cloud nodded with a light and quick smile.

“Okay. Sorry I asked.” Cloud looked back down at it and pulled out one of its teeth. It was sharp and solid. He could make it into a wicked knife. Sometimes a bigger sword was a problem in close quarters. He put it in his pack for later. Picking up the crates again Cloud waited for him to full catch up.

Cloud lifted the crate from the fisherman and motioned him to lead the way. With a nod of thanks, they continued on. Over this piece, under that one, and across a balance beam then to the gate that was the beginning to sector six. Cloud could see a playground and the huge solid steel gate.

“that is sector seven. One of the safest sectors. They have watchers and fighters around the clock. Very little crime.” The old man sighed. “Wall market is a strange place with its own rules. If someone offers you something, don’t take it, don’t follow anyone but me, don’t go into an alley, and be careful of the women who are in fancy dresses. That’s trouble you don’t want.”

“So, stick to you, keep my head down, don’t talk unless I have too?”

“You’re quick.” The old man laughed. “Look briefly and don’t touch.” Cloud nodded and the man continued on. They turned away from the gate and down a crooked path. The music hit Cloud’s ears. Like everyone’s radio was on full blast and on different stations. It was lively, even more than the beach he just come from.

A carriage come to them. Cloud looked at the huge birds pulling it. there were beautiful. He never seen Chocobos in person before. Only read about them a little.

“Chocobo Sam.”

“Fisherman Joel.” The man jumps down from the carriage seat. “You brought a . . . friend?”

“Hired help for the day. Need someone to do the heavy lifting.”

Sam looked at the crates on Cloud’s shoulder and looked back at Joel. “empty?”

“Full of fish and ice.” The look he gave screamed ‘I-wouldn’t-believe-it-either.’ Sam looked at Cloud noticing the sunglasses. Without asking he stuck out, removed them while Cloud was distracted. Cloud caught himself before he growled at the thief. He thought he broke that habit. He put the crates down in case this guy was ready for a fight. His eyes started to burn as he glared at sunglasses thief. “Mako eyes. That explains it.” Sam handed the glasses back. Cloud almost swiped them out of his hand but thought better of it.

“You’re soldier?” Fisherman Joel asked shocked but Cloud was confused greatly.

“I never been in a miliary.”

“Not that kind.” Joel said annoyed.

“There is another kind?” Sam nodded to himself understanding now.

“I heard the accent before. You are around the mountain area on the other continent. Pretty remote. I imagine you never hear of the Wutai war either.” Cloud’s head of swimming. There was a war? What was a Wutai? A monster or area? There was so many things Cloud didn’t know. “ignorance is bliss. I envy you. Keep the sunglasses on. It will cut down on the questions.” Cloud nodded once but was rather embarrassed as he put them back on.

The carriage started moving on its own. Sam turned to soothe the chocobos only to notice they weren’t scared. They wanted to check out the blonde. Cloud turned to see them approach him. The Chocobos seemed to be sniffing him before cooing and nuzzling him. Cloud almost laughed and found himself reaching up petting each one. They let out a cute little ‘wark’ of excitement. “unless you got some greens on you. You got some natural talent. They don’t take to most people.” Cloud wasn’t sure what he meant by greens on you. Grass? Weeds? Some kind of vegetable?

Sam watched the blonde pet his girls like he been raised with them. He put his face to his memory. If he was looking for a job in the future, he could hire them to take care of the chocobos. He just didn’t need that right now. “well, it was nice seeing you again and nice meeting you. But I have a job to do.”

“As do we.” Fisherman Joel agreed it was time to go. Cloud took that as his cue, that his time was up with the chocobos. Sam tried to direct his Chocobos who resisted at first but then relented. With sad sounding coos they took off. Cloud picked up the crates again and waiting for the older man to continue. Slowly they made there way to wall market.

Shops, stalls, games, and more was all around. Cloud felt overwhelmed with everything. He hoped his delivery would be quick. Women in fancy dresses giggled as they walked by and Cloud was sure one of them palmed his ass for a second. He didn’t know how to deal with that.

“There it is.” Cloud looked up seeing a restaurant. His mom told him about them once. He wasn’t keen of having other people cook his food. If he was watching them the whole time, maybe. Cloud followed him to the back on the building and the old man knocked on the door. After a short time, a grumpy looking man with a huge knife answered.

“You’re early. Good! Come in.” they followed the chief until the old fisherman signaled Cloud set Down the crates. Cloud looked around at people chopping vegetables, chopping meat, slicing fruits he didn’t recognize. He realized he needed to do research on many things. Nibleheim education was lacking in all areas in seemed. “I see you finally hired a helper.” The chief said with a little laugh.

“Just for today.” The fisherman said quickly and The chef just shrugged. Handing the Fisherman a gil bag. “pleasure doing business with you.” The fisherman turned to leave and Cloud followed.

As the door shut the Fisherman sighed in relief. Cloud wondered if they dodged a bullet or something. “That went smoothly. Thank ya, kindly.” He reached into his pocket and handed Cloud Five-hundred gil. “The extra is a tip. If I was you, I find a way to sector seven and go to the community center there. All kinds of books to read up on current events and such. Ignorance maybe be bliss but it’s also deadly.” Cloud nodded his understanding.

“thank you for everything.” Cloud said not good at goodbyes.

The fisherman pulled out a cigarette and lit it. “Indeed. I going to hang around here for a bit. You really shouldn’t.” He took a drag from his smoke stick and let it out before looking back at him. “I mean this in the nicest way but . . . you have a ‘too pretty face’ for a guy. I would make tracks out of here.” Cloud understood a warning when he heard it. Cloud nearly power walked to the exit in this almost lawless place. The fisherman smiled seeing Cloud beelining it for the way out of here. “Good boy.” he seen too many that couldn’t take a hint.

Cloud ignored all sounds and didn’t stop until he could not hear the music anymore. He was at the playground area again. He looked at the giant gate of sector seven. There seemed to be no way to open it that he could see. He decided to go back to sector five and see what information he could get. And see about better clothes, he stuck out a little too much.

X)(X

“So, none of you pick up a passenger at Costa del sol.” All he was negative answers from the fishermen. Genesis groaned inside his head.

“He is not in trouble. He is a victim.” Zack added but Still negatives answers. Genesis felt he had no choice but to do a search. Zack apologized constantly as items were thrown about on each ship. He felt like broken record. After the last ship Genesis called the other team.

“anything?” Angeal’s deep baritone voice graced his ear.

“No. I even checked the boats myself. No sign of the blonde.” Genesis sighed relaying that.

“We had no luck either. We think the boat may not have been coming here.” Genesis looked behind him to Zack smoothing over Genesis rough actions. He did have a way with people. “I’ll call you back.” Angeal blurted out and hung up the call. Genesis wondered what that was about. Zack bound up next to him.

“anything?” Zack asked with excited puppy energy.

“Nothing.” Genesis watched Zack’s face fall when he said that.

X)(X

Angeal had to break up a fight. No punches were thrown but it was going to happen. Sephiroth could win but the trouble he would get wasn’t worth it. Angeal moved Sephiroth back a little and looked back at the fisherman with a questioning look.

“Shin-ra dogs hounding hard working civilians. You should be ashamed. You don’t you create another war. It is all your good for.” Angeal felt like that was the closest thing to damage he has had in a while. He understood the anger but it wouldn’t helpful.

“Please.” Angeal started. “We are trying to find a victim who believes he has to run.”

“If he is running from you, I can’t blame him.” Talking wasn’t going to help. This man already was against everything they stood for.

Angeal took a breath to compose himself. “The sooner you tell us. The sooner we can leave. Otherwise, we will have to search each boat one by one. We have orders from higher up.”

The outspoken fisherman huffed in annoyance. “I picked up no one.” He said through gritted teeth. The others said similar things in nice tones.

“Are all the boats here in Junon.” Angeal inquired.

“I can’t tell you.”

“I can’t or won’t?” Sephiroth asked in a tone the fisherman bristled too.

“Can’t. We don’t have information on other boats in the area. We rarely overlap like this. We are in-de-pend-ent.” The fisherman said slowly like Sephiroth was too stupid to understand. Angeal didn’t know that and it seemed Sephiroth didn’t know either. “Can we go now? You are taking food out of my family’s mouths every second you delay for this wild goose chase of yours.” Angeal seeing a way to stop the fighting, pulled out a pouch and put an oversize hand full of gil inside. Closing the bag, he tossed it to him. the man couldn’t help but marvel at the weight of it.

“Now you are out nothing. Is there a way to find out how many boats were out last night?” The man pocketed the money and titled his head. He sighed suddenly.

“I need a make a few calls.” It seemed cooperation could be brought.

X)(X

Cloud was behind a curtain that worked as a dressing room. He found black pants, a high neck sleeveless shirt, forearm guards with wrist protectors, gloves that matched, and black adventurer boots. He didn’t know what materials the clothes were made of but, they felt sturdy and decent against his skin. He also found a magnetic brace where your sword could go across your back without a sheath. It tried it out and the sword didn’t move until he moved it. That was a cool find and useful. Better than putting part of it in his bag or carry it all the time.

As he checked out at the counter, he noticing the man had earrings. He only seen a few women in the village have those. He never thought about men having them.

“Something wrong?” Cloud did not realize he was staring.

“Sorry. I was looking at your earrings.”

“Thinking about getting a pair?” the man said pulling off the earring with some effort. “Magnetic backing. Great if you are on the fence or have a job that don’t allow them.” Cloud never seen that before. that was cool. “Shop down the street sells them. Decent prices.” Cloud nodded and decided to check it out.

He found the shop and stepped in. it was full of interesting odds and ends. He looked at things almost in wonder. He was glad he had sunglasses on still. He loved the wolf and dragon statues. There was one where they were in battle poses against each other. Locked in eternal battle. He had no use for it but it was cool.

Looking a little more, he found them. He went through them. He didn’t want the fake diamonds looking ones. Overpriced, over pressed coal. He never understood the appeal.

“Hello there.” Cloud looked up at what he figured was a clerk here. “See anything you like?”

“Not yet.” Cloud didn’t think he would. These did nothing for him.

“Yeah, these don’t suit you. Come with me. I have some cool ones behind the counter. I think you’ll find something that strikes you.” Cloud followed him to the counter where the man pulled out a ring display. “Anything you like the look of?” Cloud scanned the lines. His eyes were drawn to the bottom row.

“Metal work ones.”

“should have guessed.” Cloud wondered why but didn’t want to ask. He watched the clerk pull out another display tray. These were nice. There were all kinds from nature like to animal forms. He was drawn to the animal ones more. He pointed to the wolf biting down on a ring. “Nice choice.” Cloud wondered if he said to everyone or any choice he made.

The man popped the earring out of the holding spot and walked around. He put on the earring on Cloud himself. He felt the magnetics pull on other sides of his ears. It didn’t hurt but the light pressure made him felt the pain in his animal ears lessen. That was a plus. “Wow.” The man said with a tilt to his head. “yes. That suits you.” Cloud looked at the mirror. He found it interesting he was drawn to wolves, maybe because he was one in a since.

In the end of it, Cloud brought the earrings. The clerk, who he found out was the owner, measured his ring finger and found a matching ring in his size. Cloud had powerful but slender fingers and the ring was smaller than average for men’s rings. Women normally didn’t like the chucker and heavy designs. So, He let Cloud have it for free since it fit him perfectly.

Cloud was rather enjoying himself. He never thought he would ever be doing this. He was checking out shops and stalls. He normally didn’t like the idea of someone making his food but he could see them do it in these food stalls. He was hungry enough to give it a shot, but he never had so many choices before. He could go for some dragon right now but he doubted they had it.

He looked around for something filling and cheap. He didn’t want to burn though all his money. He already brought the useless earrings on a whim. They made him happy when he saw them so made not a hundred percent useless. Plus, he wanted a real bracer not his makeshift one he was able to put together.

Cloud took a chance and walked to a stall that had one other customer and then ordered the same thing. He then found a quiet place to eat it. it was on a stick and fried on hot oil. His ma did something similar with a skillet on top of the cauldron in the fire place. He took a bite.

It was sweeter than he thought it would be. He never had a sweet tooth but it wasn’t bad. Yet, it was gone after a few bites. Mildly disappointed he moved on. He looked around knocking the hand away from his pocket, the pickpocket child ran off. He felt bad the kids here felt like they had to steal but not bad enough to let them do it.

He saw a sign that mentioned Materia and stepped inside. The clerk didn’t look up for his magazine. Cloud looked around a little and noticed bracers in locked cases.

Cloud was bumped into hard enough to knock his sunglasses to the ground. “Sorry about that.” Cloud looked at the person speaking. “I was in focus mode.” The clerk looked at him and straightened up suddenly. Then looked down and picked up the glasses. He cleaned them on his shirt and handed them back carefully. He whole attitude changed in an instant. “You looking for a decent replacement for the time being?” His voice was softer than before and a little quivery. Cloud nodded as he needed to get the one had on replaced. ”lovely. I have the account on file.” Cloud wanted to ask but was embarrassed again that he didn’t understand.

Cloud was ‘given’ a heavy-duty bracer and an ice and restore Materia. He was told he had three thousand nine hundred gil left and it was a use it or lose it kind of thing. So, he took a lightening and a sense as well. He was shown a few accessories. He understood these, the mayor had a few back home. He recognized the star pendent. Poison was a nasty effect monsters loved to use, so he picked that.

With his ‘account’ used up, he stepped out. He started back to sector seven’s gate and see how he could get through.

X)(X

Angeal got on his phone again. They had something to go on now.

“Yes, Darling?” Genesis purred into the phone.

“We have something. There are three boats missing. One went to bone village, one to Kalm, and the last to Midgar. No reports of a passenger since they are not supposed to take them but they do for the right amount of gil.” Angeal explained.

“well, if he went to bone village, he no doubt be looking for a way out of there. They call it a village but it’s a dig site.” Genesis mused out loud.

“indeed. We need to regroup at the helipad. Going to check Kalm first. It straightforward and with all of us. We can check this in a few hours. Midgar can take days to weeks. Especially in the slums.” Genesis couldn’t argue with that. Angeal hung up and Genesis yelled over his shoulder.

“Zack. We got a lead. Let us go!” Zack perked up and come running.

X)(X

Cloud stepped off the carriage. Chocobo Sam was headed to seven there as well. No words were needed as Cloud looked for the community center. Seeing the tiny sign in the same building as the weapon shop. He crossed the street and went inside. He followed the sign’s direction and read the center was on the second floor. He walked by only to have his arm seized.

“You can’t walk by here and not buy somethin.’ Might be unhealthy fer ya, if you know what I mean.” Cloud really didn’t like to be grabbed. Cloud twisted but held on to the guy’s wrist when he did. The man cried out in pain and was supported by the counter. Cloud looked down at him, his sunglasses slipped down slightly, enough for the man to see the green glow.

“fuck off.” Cloud said with no inflection in his voice.

“fucking off!” Cloud let go and the man scrambled to the back of his caged counter. With that Cloud continued his way.

He went up the barely maintained stairs into what looked more like a giant store room. Books and newspapers in piles on the floor. He ignored the fighting demonstrations they were getting to the smaller kids. With monsters around he approved of them learning how to fight.

He went to the first pile of books and found them to be guides for repair work for engine repairs. He made a note to himself to come back to this pile later. Walking to the next pile he found the war that Chocobo guy was talking about. He sat down next to it and started reading.

Wutai war was a fight for resources and shin-ra’s need to be the only power source of the world. Cloud remembered the reactor from back home. nothing they had ran on mako power. Only gas, oil, or in his case fire lit shove for light and warmth. He had no idea what good that reactor was. maybe it was broken.

The war been going on for a while before an agreement was reached. Trade rights and power agreements. It looked like they planned to build a reactor but it was on the back burner. Shin-ra had other plans that were more important it seemed.

“Okay the war is over but feelings are still hurt on both sides. Got it.” Cloud mumbled to himself and got up from the floor. He went to the next group and it was mostly newspaper articles and propaganda. It featured a sliver haired man with a long and thin sword, a red-head with a flare for the dramatic, and two Black-headed ones with thick swords on there backs. There were the top Soldiers. A fighting force that armies couldn’t defeat. Cloud looked at the eyes and saw why people were quick to think he was one of them.

There seemed to be a love and hate for these guys.

With that he moved on to what looked like world study. He looked at a map to see where wasn’t much on this continent. Midgar was surrounded by near desert conditions. Pollution killed the plant life maybe? There was a lot of empty space though. How perfect to build a small little house in the middle of nowhere. He wondered if anyone sold seeds here or the other town. “You getting ahead of yourself. One thing at a time.” Cloud chastised himself. He had more things to look up.

X)(X

They arrived in Kalm. He kept the same teams and started the search. Sephiroth was still off his game. Angeal doubted the fisherman got to him that badly.

“You still mad about Costa del sol?”

“No.” Angeal saw that was the lie it was.

“Liar.” Sephiroth sighed and turned his head to the side. Angeal almost laughed. He looked like a pouting child, who was six foot seven. They went into the inn to ask the innkeeper if a new blonde came in. He man said no. Angeal suddenly paid for room and took Sephiroth by the hand upstairs. Sephiroth followed partly confused.

“Angeal?” Angeal tangled his leg around Sephiroth’s and pushed causing him to fall off his feet and he landed on the bed. A large hand around his neck applying pressure a moment later.

“If you wanted a little attention. All you had to do was said so.” Angeal let go of his neck and caressed his cheek. “So, what do you want?” what did he want? He wanted Angeal to wreak him.

“I -I want you to take my choices away. I want you to be rough and take me anyway you want.” Angeal was getting hot. He loved when sephiroth talked like this.

“Yeah? You sure? What if I want to tie you arms behind your back and your ankles together? have you blindfolded and gagged as I take you as hard as I can? You sure you want that?” Sephiroth cheeks flushed red at the images Angeal painted in his head. “Maybe start with having you on your knees, hands held above your head as you service me.” Angeal leaned down by his ear and whispered. “and I won’t be gentle about it.” Sephiroth squirmed under him. Angeal’s deep voice doing things to his insides.

“Yes!” desperation was heavy in his voice. “I want it. I want it so bad.” Angeal stood off the bed and Sephiroth almost whined at the loss of his weight on him.

“What are you waiting for? Clothes off and then turn towards the wall.” Sephiroth was off the bed and started doing as demanded. Once he pulled his pant off, he heard Angeal’s voice. “Put your hooker boots back on.” Sephiroth blushed at the comment but sat on the bed to do as he was told. Angeal walked over and braided sephiroth’s hair a few inches at the base of the neck. “there. I do not want my sight blocked when I look down at you. Now. Wall!” The tone shot through Sephiroth who stood and faced the wall.

Angeal took his time and pulled out soldier strength cuffs. They were used on newly enhanced Thirds who got paranoid or violent after the first few injections. He liked using them on Zack from time to time, so he kept a pair on him at all times. It wouldn’t hold him or Sephiroth if they tried to break them thought. “You break these. I make you watch as I fuck Genesis instead.” Angeal spinned Sephiroth around to face him. “last chance to change your mind and I can be kind.” Sephiroth shook his head. He wanted the roughness, the loss of control. “Kneel.”

X)(X

Genesis and Zack got a private video call that had a warning of ‘find a quiet place before opening’. Genesis and Zack turned to each other and rushed behind an empty building. They both opened the call. Both were greeted with the image of Sephiroth on his knees deepthroating Angeal.

“Hot.” Zack said what Genesis was thinking.

“Sephiroth needed a little attention.” Angeal voice purred over the phone. “I think he needs little one on one with all of us. One of you come to the inn in an hour. Then one next one an hour later. Then all of us together until he passes out.” Angeal reached down and pull sephiroth off his cock. “How does that sound, Slutiroth?” sephiroth took a few deep breaths before responding.

“see you soon.” Sephiroth barely out that out before Angeal shoved himself back in his mouth. With sephiroth’s head against the wall, Angeal thrusted his hips roughly and quickly.

Zack and Genesis were watching the show with hungry eyes. suddenly camera view changed back to Angeal’s face. “time starts now.” The screen went black. Lightly disappointed they put their phones away.

“well.” Genesis started. “No omega here and now we have and hour to kill.”

“well one of us has an hour. The other has two hours to kill.” Zack interjected.

“True.” Both raised a fist and did a quick rock, paper, scissors game. Genesis won. He smiled lightly at the win. He stood and gave a helping hand to Zack “come.”

“What’s up?” Genesis evilly.

“Going to buy some chains. And see if they have a fabric store here for some silk if they got it.” Zack smiled back understanding and took Genesis’s hand.

X)(X

Cloud was told the center was closing for the night and was gently kicked out. He was fine with that since he was basically done. He noticed across the street at a building all lit up that wasn’t before. He decided to check it out.

Stepping inside there were a few people talking and drinking. He recognized it was a bar. Nibleheim had a tiny one so he was able to identify it. He walked up to the bar top and sat down.

“I’ll be right with you.” That voice sounded so familiar. There was no way.

“Cloud?” Red eyes looked at him in shock. There was a way After all.

“Hey Tifa.”

Chapter Text

Tifa was over the counter and hugging Cloud as hard as she could. Cloud found himself laughed at her antics. She smiled as he put his forehead to hers, hands linked together. it was a Nibleheim greeting normally for beloved family members. She done it to him first the night she left, seeing him as her family as her father tried to sell her hand in marriage to old man Johnson.

The bar was silent as moments ticked by. Slowly they pulled away hands still linked.

“If you are here. Does that mean . . ?” Cloud didn’t need the full sentence to understand what Tifa was asking.

“Last winter. Nible flu.” Tifa looked down; she liked Mrs. Strife. She suddenly looked up at him.

“Last winter? I thought you get out of there faster than this.” Cloud wished he had. At the time he felt guilty for leaving and all the memories he be leaving behind. “Did something happen? You know you can’t fool me Cloud.” He never could. He could lie very well to anyone else but Tifa could see through his half-truths and lies. He did not lie much since he rarely needed to.

“Yeah. Something sorta big. I do not want to talk about it with other people around.” Tifa nodded understanding the Cloud was a private person.

“Watch the bar.” She said to the two girls behind the bar top. Both nodded while pouring drinks. Tifa let go of one of his hands and tugged him along with the other. He followed her up the out the door, and up the street where there was an apartment building thrown together. She pulled Cloud up the stairs from it and opened the door in the middle of row of rooms.

Cloud stepped in the small apartment. It was basically one room with a curtain for bathroom privacy. Not much different from his home back at nibleheim expect the bathroom was outside.

“Okay Cloud. It just you and me. What happened? Dragon attack? Wolves? Landslide?” Cloud shook his head.

“No, the town is fine. It only affected me really.” Tifa titled her head. Cloud sighed knowing he was going to have to show her. “Okay, don’t freak out.” Tifa nodded slowly, waiting patiently. Cloud reached up to his head and pulled out a few golden bobby pins. The ear twisted in the thick spike of hair sprang out, like to was happy to be free.

Tifa’s eyes widened as a second ear was freed from its bobby pin prison. Cloud lifted his shirt and untied the stripe of bedsheet. He quickly unwrapped his tail. There he was, standing in his golden shame. He hated this so much. He felt sick.

She walked forward and touched the ears like she didn’t believe they were real. His ears flinched away from her as they were tender but she moved quicker. Despite the quickness, her touch was gentle.

“You’re an omega.” She breathed out not believing it. “A male omega.” She looked at the tail and then at his face. Cloud lightly rolled his eyes.

“Go ahead.” She kneeled and touched his thick, silken golden tail.

“If you were anyone else, I would have thought this was a joke of some kind.” She stood up. “How did you hide being . . . one?” She could tell he didn’t like the term omega.

“I am defective it seems. No scent and no heats. I’m a beta with a few extra pieces. But those parts are all people see.” Cloud’s eyes were downcast and stormy. His ears were pulled back too. there was ten times for expressive then the rest of Cloud.

“Cloud. What happened?” He could not stall anymore.

“It was the Nible harvest festival. I was selling and trading my wares when my hat flew off my head at the worse time and everyone saw them.” He gestured to his ears on his head. “I ran into my house as fast as I could. Next thing I know your father tells me he was going to find me a pack and get a good price.” Tifa eyes showed an array of emotions before settled on anger.

“He was going to sell you?! Asshole!”

“I had to sneak out, going through my roof. He had a guard on my porch and one on the mountain trail.” Cloud crossed his arms in a weak attempt to give himself some comfort.

“fucker! I knew he was greedy son of a bitch But-but Y-You’re a person.” She was so mad, she was stuttering. Angry tears ran down her cheeks and she lunged to hug him hard. Cloud dropped his arms to receive her. “I’m so sorry Cloud. So sorry. You don’t deserve this.” Cloud hugged her back. Gaia, he missed her.

“So that’s why I am here. Far away from there. I don’t want to be in a place this crowded though. So, I can’t stay here.” She understood. If anyone was like her father, Cloud would look like a gold mine. Laws or not, there would be someone that would love to get their hands on something ultra rare.

“Okay. Yeah.” She said pulled away and wiping her eyes. “Open spaces and less people.” Tifa tried to think. “Stay here tonight. I’m the only one with the key . . . other than Marle but she will not come in. You can leave just not get back in.” she added that since her did not want it to sound like she was locking him in. She thought about it some more. “You can’t eat the wolves here like at home. Even if you could, you do not want to. So later need to stock you up on food stuffs.” Cloud nodded and started rewrapping his tail and pressed it hard against his lower stomach. He tied it tight to him making it as flat as possible. “Here I got your ears. I can see it from all angles.” Cloud handed her the bobby pins.

She was a lot gentler about it as she gently rolled his one of his ears into a tuff of hair. The pins almost disappeared against his hair. The other was easier as it could be hidden flat against his scalp. His naturally spikes helped camouflaged it.

“I got to get back to the bar. I cannot let those two run things. They give the place away if they could.” Cloud nodded with a smile. “I’ll be back by three A.M. try to get some sleep; you look like you had a rough journey. I’ll bring any leftovers.”

“don’t get yourself in trouble.”

“I won’t. I own the place.” Cloud didn’t expect that but at the same time he was proud. She stepped out the door, leaving Cloud alone. He found a corner and settled down. he didn’t feel right taking the bed, it was tifa’s after all.

X)(X

Angeal and genesis found a slightly hidden adult shop. Not as good as the stuff they had back home, these wouldn’t last that long. Yet, they only need them to last a session.

“time?” Genesis asked.

“ten more minutes.” Genesis almost pouted. Waiting was the worst.

“Be patent. After that we have all night or however long he lasts.” Genesis laughed truly enjoying Angeal’s current mood.

“Every couple months you get into a mood and I love it.” Genesis slid his fingers across Angeal’s clothed chest only for his hand to be seized.

“You keep that up, you’ll be next.”

“Promise?” Genesis never backed down from a challenge. He wasn’t going to start now.

X)(X

Cloud got into a fitful sleep full of dreams of him running from unknown threats, people holding collars and chains, and them calling out possessive terms at him. He wasn’t like the others, he just looked like them. A few extra but useless parts.

The rattle of the door woke Cloud up and he tensed when the door opened. Tifa’s black hair came into view. She had a bag full of something that looked heavy.

“Oh. Your still awake?” Tifa asked him. she thought she was quiet enough.

“I heard the door.” He never been so glad to wake up.

“Still a light sleeper I see.” She sat down on the bed and patted it, telling Cloud to come over. Cloud did as requested. She pulled out pieces of homemade pizza and vegetable chili. Cloud was never picky about food, neither was Tifa. He picked out a slice and tried it. the second bite Cloud dipped a piece of Pizza in the his chili cup. Tifa didn’t expect that and watched as Cloud seemed to agree with the taste. She tried it herself and found a new favor combination. “why didn’t I think of that?”

They finished everything. Cloud felt like a glutton but ever since the accident he was always hungry. He learned to ignore it over the years.

“How long were your traveling? It took me four months to get here. I lucked out a few times.”

“the harvest festival was two days ago.” The festival did change depending when the land decided to give something. It seemed to take long each year.

“Two days?! How did you get here so fast?”

“well. I went up the river instead of across. That cut some time.” Cloud said like it was easiest thing in the world.

“Cloud! You could have died! The current, the freezing temps. How did you endure that?!” Cloud smiled lightly trying to calm her.

“It only cold for half of it. after you get past the waterfall runoff, the water warms up. It took all night but I made it. I was tired. I made a fire to dry out and found a tiny hole In the mountain size and slept until nightfall. Then I followed the border of that sand trap that take up most of that area to a town on the water. The man at the item shop was helpful. I talked to a man who owned a fishing boat and paid him to take me across. Interestingly enough, We were going to June-oh? Jiunon? . . .”

“Junon?” Tifa suggested.

“that’s it. But he gave me back half the money I paid due to location change. Like I care at the time. Then he asked for help and I help deliver fish to sector five and wall market. I got all my money back plus some and he told me to get to here. To learn up about things because ignorance is bliss but deadly, or something along those lines.” He was grumpy but a good natured guy.

“You are incredible. I doubt anyone else could make it so fast on foot.” Cloud brushed off the comment and helped Tifa clean up. After that Tifa settled for bed and Cloud tried to go back to the corner. His arm was caught.

“It’s cold and I need body heat.”

“But-“

“You’re little spoon.” Cloud got pulled into bed. He decided not to fight. She was as stubborn as he was. Cloud settled on his side and Tifa curled around his back and covered the both of them with the blanket. She was right, it was warm. This wasn’t awkward. He was fretting for nothing. Sleep came quickly and it was dreamless. The best kind of sleep.

X)(X

Sephiroth washed up as well as he could in the inn shower. He hated the cheap conditioner this town had. It was the best they had but he still hated it. his hair was unhappy about it as it felt like straw. Feeling it was as good as it was going to get, Sephiroth shut off the shower. He dried off and noticed his clothes weren’t in the room. He brought them, he knew he did.

Wrapping the towel around his waist, he stepped out seeing the others waiting for him. Gensis was on the phone doing his best not to scream at who was on the other side of the phone call, Zack polishing his boots, and Angeal come in with Breakfast.

“Ah! Sephiroth.” Genesis started. “Rufus called . . . again. He is getting antsy.” Rufus didn’t like to wait, just like his father. “I also called bone village. No new blonde there. Good chance he arrived in Midgar. Kinda did are job for us.”

“If he still there.” Zack added with him finishing the job on Sephiroth’s boots. “We are a day behind and he moves fast.” Zack had a good point. the omega got across the continent and to the other one in two days. For someone who wasn’t well traveled, being from a remote village in the middle of nowhere, he got around.

“there is another issue. The president caught word on it and wants the same thing.” The others groaned. Two big personalities, neither on them pleasant, was after the same prize. Genesis nodded along with the groans. “I know. It puts us in the middle.” Genesis got up and went over the sephiroth, gently leading him to the bed. Sitting him down, Genesis took out a brush and started trying to undo the knots from last night’s fun. Zack came over and checked over Sephiroth’s body. Making sure there was no sores or cuts they didn’t heal. It was never the case but he checked anyway.

“it’s not home cooked but it’s the best they have.” They been on battlefields and stomached field rations. Genesis gave a final stroke of the brush and let Sephiroth get dressed.

X)(X

Cloud woke up when the lamps turned completely on signaling it was day time. It made sense that would be how it worked with a giant plate above your head.

“Nine a.m. on the dot.” Tifa said with a yawn. She throws the sheet off and started her stretches. Cloud was awake now. He normally go for a run but instead He moved into a handstand and slowly did pushups in that position. “Show off.” Tifa said sticking out her tongue. Cloud rolled his eyes and continued. Tifa finished up and went to the bathroom curtain. “So, there are some bounties that need to be done. That should give you some money to buy some food stuffs.”

“I have two thousand five hundred on me.”

“That much! You been on the road for two days!”

“I harvested a few monsters along the way. And a few items they eaten. Like the guy called them Chocobo breeding nuts. Sold for two hundred gil each. The wings off the monsters around that huge sand trap were worth more.”

“Nice. I will remember that. okay then can you help with one of them? I don’t think I can take it be myself.” Tifa half asked and half demanded.

“Anything for you, Tifa.”

“When did you turn into a sweet talker?” Tifa joked coming out tightening her gloves.

“only for you.” Tifa giggled at that.

“Let’s go kick of monster’s butts and got that bounty. Then get you so supplies. Do you have a plan?”

“I play it by ear. You can’t plan for the town trying to sell you.” Tifa rubbed her arm thinking about that. who would plan for that?

“Good point.” She said mostly to stop the awkwardness. She headed to the door and Cloud followed. “so, monster first or breakfast?”

“Let’s earn breakfast.” Tifa nodded in agreement.

“Tifa my dear. You going on a mission?” an older gray-haired woman called out to her as they come down the stairs. “New . . . friend?” Cloud wasn’t thrilled by the judging tone. He had his fill of that in Nibleheim.

“This is Cloud. He was my next-door neighbor and honorary family member. He just out got out of there and not a moment too soon.” The woman grunted in slight displeasure before going back inside. Cloud looked at Tifa who waved him off.

“I don’t know. She is like that with new guys. She warms up eventually.” Cloud didn’t plan to stick around that long. Cloud looked at the people behind his sunglasses. This didn’t look like a happy place as all. Everyone but the kids were downtrodden and grumpy. He be happy to leave this place soon.

Tifa run to a gate and opened it. it looked to be falling apart.

“Through here.”

“Does this gate even have a purpose?”

“I’m sure it did once.” Tifa shut it after Cloud walked through. Cloud decided it didn’t matter.

X)(X

The soldiers stepped off the helicopter to be met by Rufus and Tseng. Sephiroth sighed internally and walked over to greet them.

“Sephiroth.”

“mister vice president. What do I owe the pleasure?” Rufus smiled lightly before getting to business.

“How is the search for my omega coming?” Sephiroth cursed internally. Part of him was glad this ‘Cloud’ wasn’t going to a lab but Rufus’s pack might be worse.

“Sir. Your father-“ sephiroth was cut off.

“Yes, yes. But if I claim first, then he can’t do anything.” If the choice was either Rufus’s or Ralph’s pack. He would jump off the helipad. He felt this ‘Cloud’ might have a similar mindset. Sephiroth decided to answer the question with as little detail that Rufus would allow.

“We believe he is in the slums of midgar.”

“So close yet so far.” Rufus looked almost predatory. “Happy hunting. Don’t scar up my omega.” He turned to Tseng who was one of Rufus’ packmates but worked for the president. He would give Rufus inside information. It made for interesting pillow talk.

“The president wishes to know when the omega will be delivered.” Tseng said distastefully.

“When he is found. The slums on midgar houses thousands. And many hiding places.” Tseng nodded.

“On a personal note. Take your time. On a professional one be quick about it.” Turks and their Turk speak. Translated-‘the president is getting impatient. Hurry, find him, and tell Rufus instantly. I don’t like this as much as you do.’ Both vice president and Turk turned to walk away.

“He doesn’t like this because? Jealously or rufus will be forcing a pack regardless of what the omega wants?” Genesis asked with no fear.

“I don’t know. Maybe both. The omega may prefer death over them.” Sephiroth wasn’t joking as this ‘Cloud’ chose a dangerous path to get farther away faster. They stopped talking when Tseng came back.

“Sephiroth. I am not sure if you been notified but Professor Hojo was killed in a lab explosion. Last night.” Sephiroth wanted to dance for joy, he hated that man. Sperm donator or not. “Your pack has been cleared but we are investigating.

“So, drinks tonight?” Zack asked and got elbowed by Angeal. Tseng almost laughed.

“Reno and Rude will be holding a ‘serve’ for him at seven tonight. Door charge is one bottle.” translation- ‘get shitfaced party because it couldn’t happen to a better person.’ “If you want any personal items being the next of kin, please collect them now.” Sephiroth was only interested in some of the professor’s books. He nodded at Tseng and followed him. No doubt he’ll report anything Sephiroth collected.

X)(X

“Cloud!” Tifa called out with her hand out stretched. Without explaining Cloud knew the plan. He grabbed her hand and swing her around to gather momentum before releasing his grip. She flew into the enemy fist first. She quickly grabbed its head and forced it to the ground. Tifa jumped away before impact when Cloud quickly cut its head off. Tifa looked up seeing more joined the party.

“oh, look party favors.” Tifa almost snorted at that before getting serious. Cloud gathered his mana and cast fire on the leader. It got enraged, just like Cloud wanted. The rest would follow the new leader of the pack. Tifa jumped out of the way and let Cloud do what he planned.

Cloud put his sword on his back and waited for something. Tifa was losing faith, what was Cloud doing? She almost called out then Cloud jumped over the leader’s head as he went to chomp Cloud in half. Grabbing it’s horns Cloud forced it to go into the air straight up making the others follow. Twisting the air forced its head down making it swan dive. Cloud covered it’s eyes and got ready. Before hitting the ground, Cloud springboarded off it’s body. Cloud landed safely there the lead monster did not. The others followed it to their deaths.

After countless wet thuds Tifa looked up to see the pile of dead mutated monsters. “Cloud! You crazy son of a bastard! That was . . . so cool! If I didn’t see you like a brother, I would get on one knee and ask you to marry me, Beta style.” Cloud laughed at the thought of them in that kind of relationship. They didn’t have romantic feelings. End of story.

“Your dad would have a heart attack. Actually, I don’t see a downside to that.” Tifa laughed harder. All love she ever had for that man was kill and buried after she found him cheating on her mother years ago and then when he tried to force a Beta marriage to old man Johnson. Especially since she was an alpha. Yet, she wasn’t interested in a pack. She wanted a good fight and busy business.

“If we are not in packs or married by the time we are thrity. Let’s marry each other Beta style. I don’t mind adopting.” Cloud could tell she meant that. He be fine in a sexless marriage with his best friend.

“You have to write your sperm donor about it and how much you love me.” Tifa almost fell laughing. She gave a thumbs up to that. it took for a minute to catch her breath.

”Deal. Okay, I needed that. you got the leader’s head?” Cloud walked by over and looked for it. it was a little squished but mostly intact. “good enough! Let’s get that bounty!” They headed back to the owner of the bounty.

A red hair in a black suit stepped out of the shadows. He looked at the mess and smirked. That was one way to do it. he pulled out his phone.

“Boss. I located the missing omega. In sector seven. Here’s a sample of his work.” Reno took a picture of the dead pile of mutated monsters. “He is in the company of a long-haired woman. They seem to know each other very well. Shall I follow?”

“At a distance. Good work.”

Reno put the phone away and started after them. As he rounded the corner a fist from both sides caught Reno in the temples. His eyes rolled back and he collapsed. Both Tifa and Cloud stepped out of the shadows looking down at him.

“Told ya I heard someone.” Cloud said matter-o-factly.

“Okay, yeah.” She bent down looking at the downed red-head. “Damn. It’s a Turk.” She looked back at Cloud with serious eyes. “Someone at Shin-ra, high up, wants you.” There was distaste in her voice.

“You sure it isn’t about you?” Cloud asked kind of hoping that was case.

“No, they would be at the bar.” Cloud knew she was right. Damn, out of the frying pan and into the fire. Tifa pulled out some zip ties from his pocket and bound Reno’s wrists together behind his back.

“You always carry those?”

“They are very useful for anything you need to stay together.” Cloud nodded at her and went through Reno’s pockets. He found some gil and an ether. Tifa took his company card. “I have some friends that can make use of this for a while.” She found his phone and threw in in the nearest trash bin. “We should put him somewhere where the monsters won’t eat him.” She looked around and pointed to a shed. Cloud picked him up and carried him there. He was only semi-careful with his placement inside it. Feeling a little petty, Cloud tied his shoelaces together in a constrictor knot. With that done Cloud stepped out and Tifa locked the door. “To keep the monsters out.” She said in a devious way. Cloud put on arm around her shoulders.

“Still the call went out. They know I am here.” His time with his friend was almost up and they would come down and bother her.

“Better hurry then.” She said with no fear.

X)(X

Sephiroth went through Hojo’s secret book section. The only thing Sephiroth cared about. Tseng held out a box as Sephiroth throw books in.

“junk, junk, Genesis might like that one, this one . . . maybe I’ll use it for Zack to read as punishment after he does something stupid again.” Sephiroth laughed at the thought. He tossed a few more books in the box when he found the one he wanted. One of the few books written on the subject. Guild of all alphas and all omegas. He knew there was a section of male omegas. he tossed them into the box. “that is all my interested in.” Tseng seemed happy he was done down here.

They went to the elevator and Tseng looked at Sephiroth.

“Sector seven. He’s been spotted. He’s a fighter and rather fearless.” Sephiroth figured that when they found out he went up the river instead of across it. “He had been seen with a long-haired female. She had been identified as Tifa Lockhart. Low-grade alpha. Business owner on sector seven lower city. Reputation: well liked. Five foot four, red eyes, black hair, athletic build. Marshal artist.

“Relationship?” Sephiroth asked but wondered why. It wasn’t important information. He knew Cloud was on his own family wise.

“She mentioned ‘like a brother.’ And the banter that was overheard between them would confirm they are comfortable friends.” Sephiroth nodded at the information. Once he dropped the books off, they need to go down to sector seven.

X)(X

Protein powders, trail mixes, packaged meat sticks, two travel canteens, and canned foods. Tifa gave him an emergency blanket with a sad look.

“I’m going to miss you Cloud.”

“me too. maybe in six months to a year they think I died or something. Then I can come back for short visits.” Tifa Hugged him one more time.

“take care of yourself. Find your happiness.” Cloud turned and walked out the gate. The guards didn’t care about who left, only about who came in. Cloud walked along the dirt paths of the dreary landscape. He wondered when he was going to see green grass again. He watched as a few vehicles went by. He never seen one in motion before. He wondered what it was like to drive one.

Cloud heard a Cooing sound and someone yelling in concern. Cloud turned to meet yellow feathers of a greeting Chocobos. He wondered if he ran into Chocobo Sam again.

“Tasha, sunshine, penny. What are you doing jumping out like that. you could have hurt yourselves. Oh!” a Man that wasn’t Chocobo Sam noticed cloud was there. “hello, there. Sorry. I don’t know what got into them.” The Chocobos crowded him out again. He laughed at the craziness of it. “They like you. You not made of greens, right?” Cloud still wasn’t sure of greens were. He just scratched one behind the ear wondering why he was a Chocobo magnet.

X)(X

Veld called Sephiroth since he was going down, to find Reno. He gave him his last know coordinates. He sent Angeal and Genesis to find him and himself and Zack were going to Seventh heaven. The bar looked lightly out of place with all the metal houses. The bar was wooden and looked warm and inviting. Sephiroth brought Zack along for his natural ability to befriend almost anyone. He felt like he was going to need it.

There was a sign out front saying there was a new pizza flavor. Vegetable chili pizza. As a promotion, it come with a free shot of Cactar whiskey. Zack looked happy about it. Zack grabbed Sephiroth’s hand and pulled him inside. There were three young ladies behind the bar. None of them being Tifa Lockhart. The place was packed and the food was flying from the kitchen. There wasn’t room at the bar so for the moment had an empty table. No sooner had their butts hit the seat and a redhead with a ponytail put two menus in front of them.

“Heya cuties. Nice to see new faces here. You here for the special like everyone else?”

“the vegetable chill pizza. Yup sounds great. One each please.” Jessie giggled lightly. Sephiroth noticed her flirty behavior. He wondered if it was for tips people gave or she normal personality.

“Sure, things darlins. I get the order in as quickly as I can.” Her voice dropped when she said that. With that he took back the menus and walked to the kitchen, avoiding hands with practiced ease.

X)(X

Genesis and Angeal found the phone in the trash and called Reno’s name. It took them a minute to hear someone trying to scream but sound like they had a mouth full of cotton. They went to the shed and hear it was loudest. Angeal unlocked it and opened the door, where a zip-tied, shoelace knotted Reno lost balance. Angeal caught him before the ground did.

Reno wasn’t gagged, he was swollen. Genesis felt pity and healed his face slowly. He’s features slowly came back as the swelling went away.

“Dudes, yo! Thanks. That’s better.” Angeal looked at the knot on his shoelaces. A constrictor knot once set could take hours to undo. He cut them instead and cut the zip-tie on his wrists. “I think I was jumped by a gang of thugs.”

“Really?” Angeal was sure that wasn’t true.

“I think. I don’t remember.” That seemed more honest. “I remember seeing the suppose to be omega but I didn’t see ears or a tail. Males have those, right?” Genesis said they did but Angeal was wondering now. If he was scentless maybe he was missing others things too? Then how did the town know he was an omega? Angeal had too many questions. Angeal shook the thoughts away and called Veld to let him know Reno was found and was getting healed up.

X)(X

Two personal sized pizzas and two shots were put on their table. The waitress winked at Zack and walked away hips swaying just a little more. Zack took a bite and grinned.

“That’s good.” Zack said to encourage Sephiroth to try it. He normally wouldn’t eat something like this but cut a piece with a fork and gave it a shot. It was good. it wasn’t Angeal’s level but damn close. “Good, right?”

“Indeed.” Sephiroth could see why this place was packed. Decent food at a low price. The same would go for seven times more on the upper plate.

A commotion was brewing in the middle of the bar. Two customers were having an argument that was getting physical. The first punch was thrown and a raven haired woman was out of the kitchen like lightening. She spilt kicked one under the chin and punched the other in the stomach.

Both men were down and She turned to her customers. With hands on her hips, she addressed them.

“What is the number one rule of bar.”

“Fight outside!” Everyone expects Zack and Sephiroth cheered out.

“Right! I don’t ask much. Fight outside, no means no, no sex on the bar top, floors, or tables and keep your drugs away from here. I don’t ask for much.” The cheer raised their glasses in a cheer. The raven turned back to the barely conscious duo. “Two week ban for fighting. Pay your bills and leave.” Already embarrassed they both put the gil on the bar and walked out.

“wow.” Zack said. “What a woman. She takes no crap.”

“That’s would be our Tifa Lockhart.” Sephiroth stood and Zack put the gil on the table with a large tip.

“Miss Lockhart?” Sephiroth said just behind her. “We need to have a word about your father.” Her eyes narrowed but she sighed.

“Jesse Bar. Crystal kitchen. I shouldn’t be long.” With that Tifa led that to a small office. There was small number of grips and boos at them. Sephiroth expected little less. With the door shut Tifa sat down behind the desk. “He dead?”

“No, miss.” Sephiorth said bluntly.

“Too bad. I disowned that thing after he tried to sell my hand in beta marriage with a man old enough to be my grandfather. So, if you are looking to collect damages, you are barking up the wrong tree. Soldier or not I will fight it. you don’t scare me.” Sephiroth heard that last line plenty of times. Yet, he believed her.

“He is in jail.” Sephiroth added

“Good. pure curiosity, why?” Tifa asked. Cloud didn’t tell her that. Maybe he didn’t know.

“the charges are forcing a pack, selling a protected class, and slavery.”

“Selling a protected class?” she was confused. What was in a protected class? Children? Her eyes widen at the thought and she stood up in a panic.

“He was selling Children?! I knew he was an asshole. Oh Gaia! Oh, Gaia Oh Gaia. How could he be such a monster!” Zack was around the desk and sat her back down.

“No! no. no. Not kids. He wasn’t selling kids. Breathe. It’s okay.” Tifa collected her breath. Sephiroth watched as Zack applied comfort. That reaction was real. Blush control, heartbeat, eye flare. The recovery process. You can’t fake all those.

“No miss Lockhart. Not Children. An Omega. Omegas are a protected class.” Tifa wasn’t aware of that. it made sense if there were getting rarer.

“When did omegas became a protected class?” Tifa asked as she never heard that.

“About fifteen years. ago” Sephiroth bluntly answered. Tifa rolled that around in her head.

“Maybe that kind of makes sense. They are rare still.” Sephiroth nodded at her statement.

“Where is Cloud Strife?” He asked promptly.

“Cloud? You think he was he helping? There is no way, you’re wrong. My father hated his existence. He rather be eaten by a nible dragon than take Cloud’s help and Cloud wouldn’t spit on him if he was dying of thirst after everything he done to him and his ma.” Tifa said with no exaggeration.

“Why?” Zack jumped in rather curious.

“Sperm donor was old fashioned. When Cloud’s mother didn’t instantly remarry after her husband got killed by nible wildlife. He deemed her unclean and her spawn just as bad. It didn’t help they were blonde.”

“Blonde? What’s wrong with that?” Zack asked truly interested.

“There is an old prophecy about a long-haired blonde destroying the planet. He would bring that up all the time. It was stupid especially since it was miss translated. It’s sliver haired. Long slivered haired man destroying the planet. But sperm donor can’t be wrong.” Sephiroth shook his head.

“We are getting off Track. Where is Cloud?” Sephiroth said trying to redirect the conversion.

“Not here. And he had nothing to do with selling an Omega.” Tifa said keep full eye contact.

“Cloud is the omega your father was trying to sell.” Sephiroth punched the word father out and Tifa used her martial arts background to keep her heart rate under control.

“He’s a boy. Maybe you mean Claudia? They looked eerily similar. But she died last winter. I’m sure she was beta.” Tifa said still sad about that.

“No. Cloud is a male Omega. I think you know that. Maybe not for long.” Tifa was running out of stall tactics. She leaned back in her chair. “He was here with you hours ago.” Sephiroth started and Tifa knew she had one card left to play.

“Yeah. He helped with a bounty and brought travel gear. He didn’t like it here. He said it was too loud, too crowded and smelled bad. Like bad lamp oil and burned hair. He is not wrong.”

“where did he go?” Sephiroth pressed.

“He didn’t tell me and I didn’t want to know.” Tifa crossed her arms defiantly.

“Ms. Lockhart-“ Tifa cut him off. She hated his voice and tone.

“Being an omega is not a crime. You trying to force a pack? The same crime my father is in jail for, soldier boy?” Sephiroth felt a twist of guilt. She wasn’t wrong exactly.

“We have orders-“ Sephiroth started again Tifa jumped down his throat.

“That is against the law unless you have enough gil it seems.” Zack jumped in to calm them down.

“Guys! Guys. Come on. You’re both getting heated.” Zack turned to Tifa. “there is another issue. He is enhanced.”

“No shit. The eyes are a dead giveaway. It been over Five years since the accident. He’s fine, better than most.” Tifa swiped a lock of hair out of her face. “Not illegal especially when faulty reactors are around. They create pockets of mako all around. That is the company you work for. It’s the company’s fault. Not Cloud’s.” Sephiroth was out of plays. Cloud wasn’t a criminal and she didn’t have information by design. They couldn’t arrest her without backlash.

All they needed was another slum rising war. The people down here outnumbered them four to one. At times he felt the people of the slums were one thread from starting another one.

“Miss Tifa. We do not want to hurt him.” Zack pleaded.

“No, You wait to drag him to a pack against his will. He would rather you kill him. You would have to drug him or break his legs to make him go with you. Cloud lived without a family pack and he not to fond of loudmouth Alphas.” Tifa stood up with the power and elegance of Queen. “Now leave. Pay for you meal and go. I have nothing else to say to you. You have ruined my night.” She opened the office door for them. “Good night, let the door hit you on the way out.” They walked the way out, everyone giving them the stink eye. The silence was deafening. They been in war zones more inviting.

“What a woman, indeed.” Sephiroth said agreeing with Zack’s must earlier statement.

Once they were out the door. the party started back up like they were never there. Sephiroth sighed on the inside. Cloud had no doubt left Midgar And could have gone anywhere. Both vice and president weren’t going to like this. Sephiroth heard Genesis's and Angeal's one-of-a-kind footsteps. He turned seeing them coming to him.

“How did it go?” Angeal asked as he walked up.

“After being told off by a woman half my size that looked like she wanted me dead in sixteen different ways. We missed him by hours. Didn’t tell her where for her protection.” Genesis shook his head in disappointment.

“Well. Let us go back to HQ. We are going to need Turk’s help to get a clue where he got off too. back on a ship, on foot. We can’t tell.” Sephiroth could hear the earful he was going to receive but he had a chance to read that book now.

Chapter Text

Cloud was sitting in the back of the truck with the Chocobos. The birds crowded around him, happily cooing and Warking. Each one wanted his attention. Chocobo bill couldn’t get them back in the truck and asked Cloud if he could. Cloud got on the back of the truck and they followed. Chocobo Bill was so tickled, he offered Cloud a ride. Cloud was all for it, away from here was good.

He closed his eyes to keep the motion sickness to a minimum. The sounds of coos were distracting enough as he petted two at a time. He wasn’t sure how long they been driving but he chanced a look out. The grass was green now. That made him happy, not so much his stomach though. Settling back down he tried to think about anything else.

A huge jerk woke Cloud up and the Chocobos too. He took a moment to settle his stomach as the Trucks turned off.

“Okay. Chocobo whisperer. Can you get them through the gate?” Cloud stood and jumped off the truck. The chocobos followed suit without complaint. Cloud walked through the gate and the Chocobos happily followed. Bill closed the gate behind the last chocobo. Cloud turned around and jumped the gate. The Chocobo cooed leaning their head over the rail for more pets.

“You got a way with them. They love you.” Cloud blushed lightly because calming himself down. “I wonder if you can work you magic with bubs. He is a stud chocobo but he is . . . unruly.” Cloud wonder if there was a different with a male chocobo to a female one. Female dragons were bigger and meaner. Female wolves were faster and quicker to jump into a fight. He wanted to see.

Bill took him to the barn were an angry chocobo was kicked the walls and pecking the door hard. Cloud looked inside seeing him. He looked like other chocobos. The Chocobo turned to him with a crazy look in his eyes and went on the attack. The chocobo couldn’t reach him due to the gate and Cloud knew it.

“as you can see, he’s crazy.” Bill sighed but Cloud noticed something. Cloud jumped the gate and the Chocobo went for the attack. Bill said something but Cloud was on a mission. He caught his beak and stepped on its foot as it couldn’t kick as easily.

“It’s got something under its wing. There is dried blood.” As the wing fluttered Cloud was able to take his free hand and pull the object. It was a broken off knife. It came out and Cloud focused on the restore in his bracer. He wasn’t sure if it would work on a Chocobo but he would give it a try. Green energy entered the wound and healed it from the inside out.

The chocobo stopped trying to peck and stopped fighting. Cloud took a chance and removed his foot off Bubs’ foot. The chocobo shifted but didn’t try anything. Cloud let go on his beak and stepped back. The Chocobo raised it’s wing and started preen it. opening the gate this time he stepped out of the pen. Cloud turned to Bill. He showed the broken knife to him.

“This had to hurt.” Cloud said looking at it. The Chocobo cooed and pulled the back on his shirt. Cloud turned around and petted him. he was now acting like the others outside. A sweet, loving chocobo that wanted attention. Bill took the blade from Cloud and looked at it.

“Who would attack a Chocobo?” Bill asked the open air before tossing it into a scrap bin. “Seriously, you are a Chocobo whisperer.” Bill decided he was going to try and keep him around a bit longer.

X)(X

“You’re telling me four of my best soldiers couldn’t find one person?!” the president screamed in a tantrum. Sephiroth said nothing knowing it wouldn’t help. “I want that omega and I want him now. Find him. get out!” Sephiroth left the office as fast as he could. It went better than he thought.

Stepping into the elevator he noticed Tseng and waited for the message. Tseng took his time before speaking.

“Old man in rare form?”

“Yeah.” Sometimes sephiroth wondered why he hadn’t dropped him out the window yet.

“Your target has luck. He is a Chocobo magnet. They come to him.” Sephiroth thought about that. that was an interesting ability.

“Does Rufus have a message?” Sephiroth asked not really caring.

“He wants him too but can see he is fast, clever, and has strange luck. All we can tell you is he got into a truck with three Chocobos that jumped out to greet him.” the doors opened and Sephiroth got of the elevator. “call me if you have trouble.” The doors shut. Sephiroth sighed on the inside and went back to his room. He had a section of a male omegas to read.

X)(X

Homemade bread, vegetable stir-fry, and bean soup. Cloud listened at the man was here with his grandchildren after his wife and son were killed. His son in the war and his wife got killed by a midgar zolom. It was the reason he set up shop here. Cheap chocobo rentals to get across the marsh where those things live.

His grandson named Billy didn’t believe that Cloud could have calmed the stud chocobo or that the other Chocobos liked him that much despite his grandfather’s words. Cloud wasn’t offended by that. he found it weird too. Chocobo Bill told Billy to shush and after dinner Cloud could show off his talent. Little three-year-old Cloe just stared at Cloud like he was a life-sized doll she wanted to play with. Cloud saw all this as the price as being fed. Billy on the other hand was mad for reasons Cloud didn’t understand. He understood being hated for no reason or reasons he didn’t understand.

After dinner and clean up everyone went outside and Billy ran into the barn. He came back with these vegetable looking things.

“Those is a Saraha greens. Chocobo loves greens more than their own mommas.” Cloud nodded at Bill. Now he knew what ‘greens’ mean. The Chocobos crowded around Billy and nibbled at the green. Cloud walked up the rail of the walking pen and the Chocobos took notice. They walked away from Billy and went to Cloud without a second glance. Billy was in shock. Chocobos don’t act like this.

“see Billy. Next time believe your poor old grandfather. I’m not senile yet.” Cloud yawned slightly; traveling was fun despite the motion sickness but tiring. He shook it off and continued petting the attention starved chocobos. He doubted they were attention starved but that acted like it. “have you ever riding on before?” Cloud turned to Billy.

“I saw my first Chocobo yesterday. They were pulling a carriage. I didn’t even know you could ride them.” Cloud explained but Billy had a hard time understanding that.

“where you from?” the boy asked still having a time wrapping his head around what Cloud just said to him.

“Nibleheim. Nothing out there but old fashion ideals, dragons, wolves, and winters that freeze you to death inside your home with the fire going.” Billy looked slightly disturbed and refused to look at Cloud. Cloud turned to Chocobo Bill and bowed slightly.

“I think you for the ride and the food but I need to find a cave, tree, ledge, or something to bed down tonight.” Bill thought for a moment.

“there is plenty room in the barn. There is a loft up top. Plenty warm and plenty of room.” Cloud took a moment to think about it.

“If it isn’t a bother?”

“None at all. That area is rarely used and there is nothing worth stealing. We don’t even lock up the barn at night.” There was no one else out here but the point still stood.

“Very well. I thank you for the lodging as well.” Bill laughed joyfully.

“Come along Billy.” The boy walked past but stopped still not looking at Cloud.

“sorry I did not believe you. That is strange behavior for any chocobo.”

“I get it. no worries.” Cloud said as he long brushed it off. Billy nodded and went to the house. Bill needed to put the kids to bed. “bill and Billy. That’s will be confusing when the child gets older.” He decided to turn in early. He was just tired.

X)(X

Sephiroth found the chapter on Male Omegas. His pack gathered around to hear it.

“male omegas are the balancing force to protect the female omegas from unworthy alphas. If an alpha tried to take a female by force the male Omega would kill the alpha. The rage causes the mana inside them to change form slightly. Fangs, claws, and eyes would appear or change.” Sephiroth looked at the drawing of a male’s head with fangs just past the top lip, resting on the bottom lip. There was a front view with the mouth open. The rest of the teeth had a sharper appearance.

The other drawings were of the ‘claws’ they grew. It looked closer to finger nails that grow straight about six to eight inches. There was a note that said ‘hard as steel and sharp as knifes.’ The eyes were slit look his were, maybe more so. Sephiroth couldn’t help but think they were rather beautiful. He turned the page finding more.

“If the ‘alpha voice’ was used in the presence of the male omega. The male omega would go into a rage and kill the offender. In rage mode the omega’s strength increases three to . . .Ten times?” Sephiroth had to re-read that part. “yes, up to ten times.” He remembered Genesis said six times but it seemed that wasn’t the max amount of strength.

He cleared his throat to continue. “the Male omega was rarely mated as instinct was to protect those around him. the male was more likely to create lasting friendships than romantic relationships. One male omega is born for every two hundred female omegas. the male is known for a raging appetite and how been known to . . .” Sephiroth leaned away from the book.

“What? Known to . . .” Zack asked. Sephiroth wasn’t sure how to feel about this part.

“Eat unworthy alphas entirely including the bones.” Zack grimaced but something sparked.

“Wait. Didn’t Lockhart’s dad use the voice? And Cloud didn’t kill him? Maybe he isn’t an omega after all.” Sephiroth pondered Zack’s thought.

“there could be reasons for that but it’s an interesting theory.” Sephiroth scanned the page for anything useful. “do not have a scent like female omegas or alphas do.” He remembered in Cloud house there was no scent of any kind. That checked out. He slimmed the page again. “Predatory animals, not monsters, have been known to be affectionate to male omegas and prey animals terrified of them.”

“what are Chocobos?” Zack asked and Angeal was already looking it up on his phone.

“Predator.” Angeal said getting the answer quickly. “that answers that question to why Chocobo love him.”

“So, you have a male omega, who can mini transform if threatened, who can multiply his strength three to ten times, this one is mixed with second class enhancements that we know of for clarification.” Genesis pinched between his eyes. “We are to wrangle An enhanced male omega that can eat alphas if they are unworthy. If he is second class level normally and that is a guess. Times that by three minimum and . .” Genesis ran the calculations in his head and didn’t like the answer he got. “Minimum . . . one on one fight. We are dead and then eaten. Lovely. Not to mention we must capture him with little to no damage.” Genesis looked like he needed a drink but remembered he couldn’t get drunk.

“so.” Zack started. “We’re boned?” Angeal wanted to bop the back of Zack’s head but reframed.

“What does unworthy exactly mean?” Angeal asked. Sephiroth flipped pages but found all author’s notes and a glossary.

“it doesn’t say.” It would mean anything including if the Omega found them unpleasant to look at. There was no way of knowing.

“it sounds like even if we do manage to do this. the president and vice president are not going to like him. the president would want a submissive pack member and Rufus could want a someone he could control. Neither type is this Cloud guy.” Zack said and the others agreed.

Sephiroth put the book away, he kind of wished he didn’t read it. the idea that this Cloud could kill and eat him was disturbing. Zack was right, the president and son didn’t know what they were asking for.

Zack’s phone went off and he picked it up. He gave affirmation noises and a quick thanks before hanging out. “that was cissnei. The man driving the truck with the chocobos owns a farm close to the marsh with the Zoloms. Good chance he went that way.” Sephiroth texted the pilot and he got confirmation that he would be ready in twenty.

“leaving in twenty and I mean twenty this time.” Genesis smirked at him with a knowing look that Sephiroth choose to ignore.

X)(X

Cloud was sleeping soundly. The lights in the barn were still on but Cloud’s sunglasses worked wonders for that. The slight Warking Chocobos was like a sweet lullaby to Cloud’s ears. But the chocobos started to sound strange all the sudden. Cloud eyes popped hearing the concern. He looked down seeing nothing amiss. Yet, he heard angry voices. A sudden scream had Cloud on his feet and sword on his back. He jumped down and ran out of the barn.

Cloe was screaming as a towering figure of over her. Cloud growled and ran, sword at the ready.

“Sephiroth! Three o’clock!” Sephiroth turned sword at the ready, barely catching the blade coming at his face.

“Cloe! House! Now!” Cloud yelled out to the little girl ran as He covered her escape.

“Cloud I take it.” the sword pushed down harder on his. “I wasn’t going to hurt her.” Sephiroth grunted out finding the pressure hard than he thought.

“Sephiroth!” Angeal cried out in alarm.

“Stay there! There was a misunderstanding. He thought I was going to hurt the little girl when she screamed. This reaction . . . is understandable.” He tried to dislodge the omega’s sword but the omega was no beginner with a sword. The omega was able to turn them he could see the others. Sephiroth allowed it if I helped put the irritated omega as ease. “the child came out to see what the guardian was yelling at and she ran away from me in fear. I was faster than her. He misunderstood the situation. I would have done the same.”

Sephiroth went for another disarm but Cloud felt it coming and ducked, twisted and swing with a backstep and the sword missed Sephiroth face by hairs. Using the distraction, Cloud backflipped a few times to put space between them.

He reset his stance in a bluff, but Cloud cursed internally. Four against one, one sword, one makeshift knife, and baby Materia. He was out classed and he knew it. He had one chance and not a great one at that.

“Now. That we are calm. We need you to come with us.” Sephiroth reached out his hand “We know what you are and I know it is an unfair situation. Yet, it is better for everyone in the long run.” Cloud smiled lightly and that was all the warning Sephiroth got as lightening crashed between them. The soldiers’ dark adjusted eyes couldn’t handle the sudden flash. Cloud turned and ran to the marsh. He knew what he needed to do and had to be faster than it.

Cloud swiped a few rocks off the ground. He threw rock into the southern corner. Cloud jumped and throw a second rock as he landed and waited the snake to go back to the spot and leaped again. He landed just shy but ran the rest of the way before the snake could track him.

The soldiers were running after and Cloud throw his last rocks and far into the marsh as he could. The snake followed the vibrations to when the soldiers would have crossed. It wouldn’t stall for long. Cloud ran inside the cave and hoped there was an exit. He sniffed the air and caught the smell of dry grass. He followed it praying again to anyone who was listening he was going the right way.

Out of the exit Cloud quickly scanned the area. It was open field with a few patches of trees. It would take too long to find cover, Cloud took another chance and climbed up the mountain face free handed. It was smoother than he thought but Cloud wouldn’t back down. He got to the top by the time he heard them ran through. Cloud covered his mouth to remain quiet.

“where? How? I be impressed if I wasn’t so annoyed.” Genesis griped. Sephiroth looked at the ground seeing nothing. No foot steps or anything. Nothing looked disturbed.

“You two recheck the cave, he might be hiding. Zack with me.”

“Seriously, he should try out for soldier. That move in the marsh was brilliant.” Zack said meaning it. he got away from the four of them, used a huge monster against them using rocks and well timed jumped across the marsh, and with only a few seconds head start disappeared somewhere. “You think he went to the fort big bird?” Sephiroth looked at fort condor, would ‘Cloud’ be turned away because of the mako eyes? could he talk his way in? too many unknown factors to make a conclusion.

Cloud found a cervice on top of the mountain just big enough for him to slid in. He crawled under a few pieces of broken rock. He kept singing the few songs he knew in his head to keep some sibilance of time. Panic was the enemy here.

A sound he wasn’t familiar with was deafening. There was something in the sky, flying. He read about these flying machines. It carried people and things across the planet. It went over the top of the mountain, right over his head. Cloud found himself holding his breath. It flew past him. The sound stayed sounding the same telling Cloud it wasn’t moving anymore.

After five songs the flying machine got loud again and the area was bright. The flying machine must have had lights. He held his breath again if that somehow helped. The sound went over his head again and past it. the sound was getting lighter and lighter until he didn’t hear it anymore. He stayed still. The machine left but the soldiers might not have.

Two more songs and the world was quiet. Cloud would have heard something. Slowly he uncovered himself and crawled to the edge of the mountain ledge. Looking down, he saw nothing. He was safe for now. He threw himself over the edge and climbed down. He couldn’t stay here. They would be back when the sun was up. He had to get off this continent. There had to be somewhere he could go.

He touched down on the ground and He ran to the ocean’s edge. He wondered if his idea would work. Cloud bent down and put his hand in the water and cast Ice. The water surface froze over and Cloud stepped on it. it barely held his weight. The water was warm too. It wouldn’t last long before melting. He ran across the sheet of ice as it was faster than swimming. His Nibleheim roots were perfect for this. he could tap dance on ice and never slip.

After a while He learned he could cast when moving. He didn’t have to stop anymore. Cloud wondered if there were monsters in the water. He never saw any. Maybe they were on the bottom? there he was thinking about his stomach again.

He could see islands in the distance. The air too was getting warmer. Cloud was getting tired by the constat mana drain but he couldn’t stop, not until he got to dry land. He stumbled once and that woke him up. It was the middle of the night by the moon placement. He been running for hours with a nearly consist mana usage.

He was huffing and puffing went he stepped onto land again. He ended up on a beautiful island with the greenness grass he ever saw. He wanted to get to the forest and up a tree to sleep for a while.

He didn’t make it to the forest.

X)(X

Rufus watched the footage off Sephiroth body camera. Normally just training purposes. The night vision caught the exchange. This Cloud was fearless and strong but not foolish. He weighed the odds and opted for retreat, using the natural area to his advantage. Where he went after the cave was still a mystery. They couldn’t find anything by helicopter.

“this game of hide and seek is amusing. Yet, I am growing tired of it quickly.” He went toe to toe with Sephiroth with an inferior weapon and still was able to hold him off. Granted Sephiroth wasn’t going for the kill, it was still impressive.

Once tamed he would make a wonderful bodyguard and packmate. “what will be your taming method, I wonder. Gill, jewels, the lives of others? Perhaps isolation from everyone but myself. You will hate me at first but that will change with me being your only companion. You are stubborn so I bet you will hold out for a while.” Rufus smiled at the thought of his Omega at guard by his desk.

X)(X

Cloud groaned lightly and turned over. The edges of his mind registered that he was on a bed with a sheet over him. his eyes opened and nearly bolted out of bed in a panicked state. Where was he? How he get here? Did they find him?

“Whoa. Hey! Hey. Calm down. you’re okay.” A woman in a white outfit come over gently. “You are in a clinic. We found you pass out just past the water’s edge. Mana exhaustion mostly.” He couldn’t feel his hands and the room was spinning. The nurse took his hand and talked him through the panic attack.

He wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that. She looked his over and liked what she saw apparently.

“there you go. That’s better. Now do you know where you are?” the Angel in white asked.

“um . . . southern island.” He figured since he ran south and it was an island.

“okay. That’s good and you’re not wrong. You’re in the town of Mideel. I doubt you heard of it. most haven’t.” she walked over to a table and handed Cloud a small pouch. He opened the pouch seeing Golden bobby pins. Breath was caught in his throat. He reached up and felt his ears were out in the open with shaking hands. “Not again! Hey! Breathe! Breathe. Calm down. there are no alphas in this town. No need to be scared.” Cloud’s body had to figure how to breathe in rhythm again. “I’m guessing you are running from a very persistent pack and you been hiding your true self as a beta. What do you use to cover your scent? As a beta I can’t smell anything.” It took a moment to register the question.

“I’m defective. I do not have a scent or heats. Just these.” Cloud tugged his wolf ears hatefully. “and a stupid tail. It’s all people see.”

“I see. that’s a good thing, right? Easier to hide.” Cloud nodded. A scent would have given him away in an instant. It be better if he didn’t have them at all. “No worries. We are a beta community and no one other than the doctor and myself knows you are not a beta.” She peered at him. “I never knew an omega could be male.” Cloud didn’t say anything and just looked at her. “You’re enhanced.” She just now noticed? Most people notice that first. “Soldier?”

“No. I felt into a small patch on it at the bottom of a valley after the mountain shook five years ago. It took everything I had to get out of it. I don’t remember getting off the mountain or getting home either. my ma then told me I was out for two months. Woke up with these.” He motioned to his eyes. the nurse nodded when the door opened and Cloud covered his head with the sheet out of instinct.

“Lovely. You’re awake. No need to do that, I already know.” The doctor stated with a one finger on both sides of his head mimicking pointed ears and Cloud let the sheet slid off, feeling exposed. “Now. Let’s see.” he shined a pen light in his eyes for moment and rolled a Materia shard against his skin. “You’re mana has recovered quite quickly. Granted with the amount of mako you have that makes sense.” The doctor turned put the Materia shard away. “Any idea how much mako you have?”

“I’m sorry?” The confused tone told the doctor all he needed to know.

“It’s alright. Do you know how you got enhanced?” Cloud repeated what he told the nurse. “two months? Most don’t wake up after a week. After the week mark the chances drop quickly. You are lucky, young man.” Cloud didn’t feel lucky but he wasn’t going to argue. “You still look exhausted. Rest for a while. We will kick you out if we get busy. Pin your ears if that makes you more comfortable.” Cloud didn’t need to be told twice and pinned the ears in place. He looked over at the table saw his sunglasses, sword, bracer, boots, and earrings. Looking everything was accounted for Cloud rested his head. He was tired.

X)(X

Tseng, reno, and rude stepped off the helicopter. There were to find were the Omega got off to. They searched the ground for any footprints that didn’t match the soldiers and found nothing so far. They walked to the exit of the cave and spread out.

Tseng searched around the cave exit. He could see in the light the different prints. This Cloud was the smallest size but not by much. Genesis was only a half size bigger. Cloud’s prints were only one and a half and then no trace. He looked at the prints carefully. The back foot dig into the ground, this indicated a jump. The video of the marsh showed two jumps and four steps cleared the marsh. Granted that may have been on propose to direct the Zolom to buy him more time.

He saw it, a bit on moss that grows on the other side on the mountain wall. It was over his head and this ‘cloud’ was shorter than him, meaning it wasn’t transplanted by accidental touch. The mountain wall was steep and slick. Did he try to climb it? him being a Nibleheim resident and enhanced, he possibly could climb it. the question is did he have enough time?

“Boss man! Found prints!” Reno yelled over the ear piece. “following them and . . . shit. They go to the ocean.” Did the omega decide death was better? He went to Reno seeing him by the tracts that walked straight to the water. No mistaking this was the way he went. Tseng called Rufus.

“Good news?” Tseng took a picture of the prints going into the water. Tseng heard him tsk over the phone. “We sure he died?” Tseng wasn’t but bodies didn’t last long the further away from reactors. Midgar area they like lasted a week before they green sparked out of existence. “report this to my father but search for proof like his sword or Materia.” The phone clicked and he called the president.

“You better have my omega Tseng.” Tseng sent the same picture and Tseng heard the president smash something. “You have a body?” Tseng had a random thought about how the president would be into that.

“The body wouldn’t last this long out here. Trust me on that, sir.” Another item was smashed.

“Very well. Head back.” The president’s voice was calm despite his actions. The call ended and Tseng breathed a sigh of relief. He hated talking that was man so much.

“orders sir?” Rude asked.

“one of you won’t be missed right away. Check the bottom of the ocean for any personal effect of Mr. Strife. Sword, Materia, his wolf earrings. Anything that we are sure was his.

“If we don’t find anything?” Reno asked curiosity.

“Then good chance it was a trick. He is enhanced, he could still be swimming for an island. As of right now self-termination is the most likely. Pick which one is on search duty. The other, come with me.” Tseng walked by to the helicopter and Rude and Reno played a game of rock, paper, scissors. Reno won. He patted Rude on the shoulder and kissed his forehead before running after Tseng.

Tseng turned seeing Reno and waited for him. he stepped into the helicopter and held on as they took off. Tseng sat down and patted the seat next to him. reno sat down and put his hand over Tseng’s. Tseng didn’t like the fact the omega who was going to join their pack felt like this was the only way out. He was going to help the omega fit into the pack.

Rufus wasn’t that bad. He talked a bigger game but never hurt any of them. Not even Reno when he deserved it. the worse would be threating to put a collar and leash on him, mostly for the wild chase he put on. It both impressed and infuriated him. it would last a week and then he would find what made him happy.

Tseng sighed and texted Sephiroth.

X)(X

Sephiroth picked up the phone seeing it was from Tseng. He opened it and it was a picture of footprints walking into the ocean. The text stated they were looking for a body.

“hey. Seph? You, okay?” Zack looked at the phone and paled. Did they push him to this choice?

“Hm? What did we miss?” Sephiroth looked at Angeal and Genesis and handed them the phone. Genesis gave the phone back quickly. “the arrow has left the bow of the goddess.” Angeal put his arm around Genesis’ shoulders.

“It’s not anyone’s fault here. He made a choice.” Angeal word felt hollow.

“If I was forced to join one of their packs, I would have done the same.” Sephiroth stated with a hundred percent sincere. Angeal wanted to make Sephiroth take that back but he understood the feeling behind it.

“We cannot change this. we can mourn the loss but at the end. We can’t let grief win.” Angeal was talking sense but it still hurt. He would have loved to cross swords again.

Everyone decided to sleep in the same room tonight.

Chapter Text

Cloud woke up in late afternoon feeling better. He got dressed in his clothes and gear. Checking his ears, he found they didn’t move in his sleep. With that, he tried to head out.

“Hello, young man. Feeling better now?” Cloud nodded feeling awkward.

“Um . . . what do I owe for . . . everything?” the Doctor chuckled finding something amusing.

“nothing. I got to see something I didn’t think existed. That is payment enough.” Cloud understood his omega status was what he was talking about. “I not sure how you got the mana exhaustion but be careful.” Cloud looked down and nodded. Deciding he was in the way, left the clinic.

The town was different. It looked like it was made with whatever was lying around. He decided to leave the town before to many people saw him. He wondered if there were many monsters worth eating. He was so hungry. He was always hungry.

X)(X

Rude reported finding weapons and Materia on the ocean floor but the weapons looked older and the Materia was support. ‘Cloud’ had lightning and ice elements and a restore by Sephiroth’s report. There was no concrete prove that Cloud died in the ocean. He was told to keep looking a bit longer.

X)(X

Cloud was trying to catch his breath. He killed a huge worm like monster and it took forever. That thing was strong but slow. He cut a chuck of meat from its side and gave it a sniff. It smelled like he could eat it. Making a makeshift cooking fire, he switched out his lightning with fire and lit it up. Then finding a stick, he pierced it and held it over the fire.

It was still rare but Cloud couldn’t wait anymore. He tore into it and his eyes lit up. It was better than dragon and dragon was pretty damn good. He nearly inhaled it. Cloud stood up quickly to strip that monster down fully.

After collecting all the meat, Cloud carried it back to the fire. Cloud took a nibble of the uncooked meat. It was just as good. Cloud smiled at his chewed his delicious meal. Cloud started to feel like an animal but pushed that thought aside.

He went through all the pieces before he knew it. that amount of meat could have fed the entire town of nibleheim. And he was still hungry. Cloud started to cry at that thought. Why was he such a freak? Why was he born this? he hated it. the animal parts of his body, the urge to growl and howl, the never-ending hunger, and Alphas think they can just own him. he hated it!

After a while, Cloud dried his eyes. all the crying In the world wouldn’t change the fact he was a freak of nature. He was glad he was defective. One less problem at least. At least he found about five thousand gil in the huge purple monster’s stomach. He wanted to collect Thirty thousand gil and he could buy the crystal sword and a crystal bracer. The sword was beautiful and a huge upgrade and the bracer had more Materia slots. He had seven thousand on him now. He had a little ways to go.

Now he had an excuse to kill and eat a few more of those monsters to not waste it. He saw one in the distance and he ran for it.

***

Cloud settled down with second lunch when he heard people approaching fast. He turned seeing the people on slightly armored Chocobos. Seeing them Cloud didn’t feel threatened. He continued to eat as they got closer. The Chocobos stopped listening to the riders and come to Cloud. One even bucked her rider off to come over. Cloud wiped his hands on the grass and then started to pet them.

“I never seen a chocobo act this way.” The other two helped the one that was bucked off. After checking for injuries, they came over to Cloud. The one Chocobo hissed at the riders when they approached. “Calm Talon. Calm. Not going to hurt your new friend.”

“Hey you’re that guy by the water. We found you early this morning. Should you be up and around so early?” the Youngest of the three newcomers asked.

“Country boy. We heal fast.” Cloud said still petting the Chocobos without a care in the world. He tore a small piece of sea worm meat off and offered to one of the Chocobos. He wasn’t sure what they ate. He knew ‘greens’ were on the menu but maybe they ate other things? The Chocobo sniffed it and took it from his hand. It popped up like it wanted to dance and gave a happy sounding whistle sound. Cloud then offered the same to the other two that gobbled the treat down. all three looked happy.

“Sea worm meat?”

“If that what those purple things are called, then yes.” Cloud had no idea what any of the monsters here were called. Cloud not caring about reactions sliced a steak sized pieces and ate it right in front of them. He was expecting them to repulsed but they were not.

“You selling that in town?” Cloud looked at the one that spoke.

“There is a demand for that? some people are shocked I eat some monsters.” He remembered the fisherman’s shocked face.

“City folks maybe. You see a lot of stores here? Plus, sea worm meat, despite the name is rather good. spirals too. heck the headhunters’ legs in the forest are decent if you season them right. In fact, that is what we do. We hunt the monsters you can eat and protect the mini farms from the crysales that have taken a liking to them.” Cloud didn’t see any farms but he wasn’t looking for them either.

“good to know.” Cloud said, his social awkwardness showing its ugly head again.

“You seem pretty good at killing these things. We could use a hand.” That was something Cloud understood.

***

The three men watched in shock as Cloud jumped on the Sea worms head and plunged his sword straight into it. He found out in the last fight that those things had a soft spot on the top of its head. the thing didn’t stand a chance as it fell flat. Cloud jumped and rolled at the last second. Cloud started striping it down when the others snapped out of it.

“Sorry man. Here we are slack jawed. Yet you took that thing down easy.” Cloud nodded and froze a huge cut of meat off its side. One of the other guys put it on a sleigh and rode off into town to quarter it and sell it. one stayed behind as the other two came back as Cloud butchered the sea worm.

After taking all the meat and he started searching the stomach. This one was a junk yard. Cloud pulled out metal, broken weapons, a ring, half a picture frame, and lots of cloth.

“This one must have had pika or something.”

“What’s pika.” The youngest of the three asked him.

“the urge you can’t control to eat non-food items.” There was a guy back home that ate clay and dirt. His mother explained why he did that. The guy waited for the joke but when cloud didn’t laugh, the man shook his head. He looked over the stuff.

“Wow. That’s a lot of junk. At least the broken weapons are worth something. The cloth is a lost cause.”

“fire starters after they are dried out.” The guy thought about that and shrugged. Cloud looked further into the saw worm’s stomach for anything.

The guy took out a blade and slowly walked up to Cloud. Alarm bells rang in Cloud’s head as he turned in time to catch the man’s attack.

“You’re quick, beta trash. Alphas are the future. Too bad. You have a pretty face. I normally like them a bit younger but I wouldn’t mind taking a round or two with ya. Then gut ya like a fish.” Cloud heard himself growl, his mouth felt heavy, and his vision went red.

***

“You think Youl took that guy out?” the older of the man asked.

“he is a hot head.”

“You saw what that guy did.” The man was worried about the other guy.

“Youl will catch him by surprise. Wish he wait though. The guy is good and killing those things. All that meat, you know.”

“Yeah. But You have to get rid of the strongest though. Soon we will take over this place and make the stupid Betas work themselves to the bone for us. As nature intended. If we knew he be that strong, we would have finished him off while he was unconscious.” They closed in on the starting to disappear corpse of the sea worm. The walked around seeing the Blond who’s back on to them, looking into the stomach of the giant monster. They looked down at the items the blonde pulled out.

“Wow. This worm ate everything but the kitchen sink.”

“Youl! Hey Youl! Where are you?” One of the men stepped on a knife that they recognized. It was Youl’s favorite blade. Cloud stood up and growled like a beast. Instincts of the other two had them stepping back. Cloud turned and the shook in fear. One pulled out his gun and another a long knife.

“what the hell are you?!” Cloud roared like a dragon. The sound of a gun shot and screaming could be heard all the way back to the village.

***

Cloud was in the ocean trying to scrub the blood away. He cut off his nails that grew eight inches of hard steel and buried them deep in the sand. He was in shock. He . . . he not only killed them. He ate them too. nothing but their clothes remained. Which he was burning on the beach. The blood was long gone but Cloud kept scrubbing. He started crying as he came to terms what he had done.

“I am a monster. I turn into a monster. I am a defective, freak, monster.” Even if they were bad people, he didn’t have the right to just . . . eat them. He didn’t even do it quick. The one that tried to shoot him, he was kept alive as long as possible. And what was worse, they were delicious. “I really can’t be around people anymore.” His mind jumped to his best friend. That promise had to be broken now. She deserved better than an alpha eating monster.

He looked at his gil pouch and counted it. with what he had from before, sea worms, and the evil alphas, he had thirty-one thousand gil. It was enough to get the sword and bracer. He wanted to be in and out of that village. Then he needed to find somewhere no one else was at.

He looked into the fire seeing the cloth burned up. He would wait until he was dry and calm. There was no more blood from them, being washed away from the scene. The Chocobos were hunting for bugs in the grass it seems. He watched them as it had a calming effect. He needed to remain calm.

X)(X

Rude pulled the camera back up and looked at pictures. There was nothing out of the normal so far. He too hated the fact the omega more than likely took this route. Was he truly that scared? how badly was he treated before? Rude forced himself stop thinking about it. He continued his work and dropped the camera in the water again.

X)(X

Cloud was a calm as he was going to be when he headed back to a Mideel. He hurried to the weapon shop to sell of the broken weapons and buy the sword. He sold his sword and replaced it with the crystal sword. It was heavy but the weight felt good and solid. He quickly went out of the shop and moved upstairs to get the bracer. He too was no nonsense seller and quickly sold the crystal bracer. Cloud changed out the Materia and put in a few others. Between the weapon and bracer, he could have all of them on him.

At the last second, he stopped by the item shop and found a metal cooking plate, travel containers and bags. With that he headed out. A hand tugged on his shirt and Cloud turned alarmed.

“it’s okay. Just me. I thought I warn you that three alphas popped into town. They do that every few months. I’m not a fan but they seem interested making money here.” The nurse from earlier said concerned for Cloud’s mental wellbeing.

“I seen them. They are gone now.” Cloud said eyes downcast.

“that roar. Something got them, didn’t it?” she asked. Cloud was going to let her believe that.

“definitely something. It’s gone now.” Cloud was going to try to never turn into that thing again.

“what was it?”

“a freak of nature with nails, fangs, and bloodlust.” She hugged herself a little scared.

“I see. You saw it but you couldn’t save them.” Cloud’s guilt of being the monster doubled. She mistook it as guilt of no being able to save them.

“Hey! None of that. it took down three armed men. You may be enhanced but no idea how much. It all could have gone to your eyes for all I know.” He knew he was stronger than most but he wasn’t a hundred percent sure where the line was for normal. The people of nibleheim were made different.

“Miss Apjane!” A Child ran up to them, he looked destressed.

“Albert? Why are you yelling?”

“Keilen fell in a deep hole with green water! He cannot get out!” Cloud flashed back to his accident. That green water was pure Mako before the reactors got to it.

“Show me!” She ran after the child calling out to some of the people there. People started running after them and Cloud found himself going after them too. it was just outside of the town and the hole in the ground was full of metal pieces half covered in mako twenty feet down. The fumes were strong to make his eyes burn. “Keilen!” the Nurse called out but got no answer. She started coughing and had to back away to get a breath.

Cloud reached over to a guy wearing a bandana. The guy cried out in complaint but Cloud tried it around his mouth and nose. Before thinking this through Cloud ran up through the people to the hole in the ground. He spotted the child passed out on the metal beams just above the green liquid. Cloud put his sword in the ground.

He jumped down not hearing the people calling after him. Cloud caught himself halfway down using his mountain climbing abilities and higher than average strength. He reached out to the metal beam and slowly slid down. the child wasn’t safe by much as the metal the boy was on was being held up by slowly sinking metal. Cloud reached down and pulled him up into his arms.

Metal gave way and Cloud’s foot slipped. Pain laced up his leg as sharp metal sliced his flesh and that leg went into the mako below. Cloud gritted his teeth as It burned but he didn’t have time to worry about that. the fumes were getting to him and the child been down here longer than him. holding him with one arm, he climbed the metal beam just barely with the use of one arm and leg. The injured one was freezing up. It was now or never. Setting his feet on the top of it, he gave a short prayer to his mom’s spirt, he held the child tighter and jumped with all his might.

Cloud cleared the hole and the people around it, landing behind the crowd. Barely a breath was taken when he felt the child be taken for his grasp. The people looked like shadows and sounded like they were under water. Cloud ripped off the bandana to breathe the fresher air. He was so dizzy and his leg felt like someone was cutting into it with lightning bolt. He felt something cool splash on him as he passed out right there.

***

Cloud opened his tried eyes seeing nothing but darkness. He felt a cool hand on his forehead. Did ma come to get him to take him to the planet? did the child make it? was he still in a mako coma and the last five years was all a dream?

“Go back to sleep. You’re not ready yet.” Cloud slipped back into sleep.

***

Cloud opened his eyes and saw the same room the last time. His body felt heavy and tingly. Moving his fingers was a chore.

“You’re awake. Good. last thing you remember?” the nurse asked him and Cloud had to think for a moment.

“someone telling me to go back to sleep.” The Nurse looked shocked before recovering.

“I didn’t expect you to remember that. what about before that?” Cloud suddenly remembered.

“The child!” Cloud tried to move but his body refused to listen. The lady put her hand on his forehead with light pressure.

“Calm! Calm. He is safe but asleep. He breathed in a lot of fumes. To be honest, I am more concerned about you. Pure mako got into your fresh flesh wound. Your body healed the injury faster than we could clean the mako off you. We are unsure what side effects that you might get.” Cloud turned his head to see the doctor who walked in during his mini freak out.

“You were already enhanced to an unknown degree. That alone might have saved you from anything really bad. Anyone else with that cut submerged in mako would have gotten mako poisoned. You, since your awake will feel like crap here soon.” The doctor said taking a penlight again and shined it in Cloud’s eyes. “The glow is stronger and I doubt this is the final product. I wish we had a way to measure the amount you have. But only Shin-ra has anything like that.” there was slight distaste in his voice when he said that.

Cloud regained the use of his fingers and forearms. Cloud he found he could move his feet and ankles too. he looked back at the nurse.

“why was there metal like that underground?” Cloud asked suddenly thinking about it. His understanding of the world outside Nibleheim was sorely lacking but that wasn’t natural. That much he knew.

“this was one of the first experimental sites for a reactor. They found it too hard to store the energy after collecting it here and scraped the project. They covered the holes were the mako came the closest to the surface. We thought we reinforced all of them but it seems we missed one.” Cloud felt dizzy. “You should sleep if you can, if you are starting to feel ill.” Cloud took her advice.

X)(X

Sephiroth, Genesis, Angeal, were sparring in a three-way battle. They all seemed just a little off their games. Zack was watching in the stands. He got his promotion to first class but his enhances boost was on hold until someone could understand Hojo’s work.

Hollander died years ago due to inhaling a toxic chemical. He coughed up blood and spent a week in a medical coma before his body gave out.

Zack could see they were off their timing. Sephiroth almost got hit by a strike he could avoid. Zack stood up.

“Guys! Get out of your heads! You yell at me for mistakes less than this.” Zack called out and they lowered their swords.

“He’s right. Gift of the goddess. What are we doing?” Genesis turned away and quickly wiped his eyes. “He wasn’t going to be our packmate. Why are we mourning like this? We met once and he ran!”

“Like you wouldn’t run if you had to join Rufus’ or the president’s pack?” Angeal said calmly. “Let’s take a break. I’ll make Dinner tonight. Zack!” Angeal called over his shoulder. “I acquire your assistance for dinner.”

Everyone agreed to meet up at six and Angeal told Zack to come with him. they walked in silence all the way to Angeal’s apartment. The place was a mess. Angeal was a total clean freak so this spoke volumes. When Zack closed the door, he turned back to see Angeal’s body shaking. Zack knew what was going on. Angeal was at his limit. He was the rock of the group but he is soft hearted. That combination was not the greatest for that.

“Angeal. It’s okay. Let it out.” Sobs racked Angeal’s body. Zack led him to the couch and Angeal laid his head down in Zack’s lap. Zack looked at the silent notification on his phone. Sephiroth asked if Angeal broke because Genesis did. Zack confirmed Angeal’s guard finally dropped. Zack typed back a question. If they only just met him, why did losing him hurt so much? Sephiroth didn’t know but he felt the same as the rest of them.

X)(X

He slept until the next morning. First thing he found a bucket by his bed and threw up Green sludge. The nurse must have expected that he would. The doctor watched from the door and waited until he was done. Once he felt he didn’t have anything else to get rid of he put the bucket down. the doctor then came in with a glass of water. Cloud took it and slipped. There was something else in it.

“Lemon water. The citrus will help with the taste.” The Doctor explained.

“You dealt with mako poisoning before?” that seemed a little too perfect to him.

“You have mako intoxication. Same group but not as bad. Your body is able to handle it and cleared most of it. no different than soldier boosters.”

“Soldier boosters? I don’t understand.” He read the basics of Soldiers back in the community center but there was nothing about boosters.

“Soldiers are enhanced. They have classes inside their soldier ring. They get injected with more mako the higher your rank. I seen so many promising young men die during the process.” The doctor looked guilty when he said that.

“Just men?” everyone worked in Nibleheim so gender lines were not understood. Men sewed clothes if good at it, women fought monster if good at it.

“There were a few women in the program too. But either the Turks wanted them or J-cells would reject them. J-cells were already picky. I only remember one woman able to handle it but she got caught up in an explosion. She was shielding an injured kid and died protecting her.”

“So, you work for them?” did he need to run?

“Worked. Past tense. Shinra has there hands everywhere. There isn’t much they haven’t put their greedy hands on. Out of three people, one of them works or worked for shin-ra somehow.” Cloud didn’t realize Shin-ra was that large scale. Things made a little more sense. “Well enough of that. you think you can walk. Walking will help move the junk in your system out of it.” Cloud moved to put his feet on the floor and found himself unbalanced.

Cloud sat back down as his head spinned. Cloud had to grab the bucket again.

X)(X

Rude’s time table was up and was collected. He found nothing of mister Strife’s. there was a chance he was alive. The chances were fifty/fifty. He needed to report to Rufus in person.

X)(X

The Nurse was helping his walk around the village. He was leap and bounds from this morning but still a little unsteady. Cloud noticed the people was saying hi and a few ran up and hugged him. years of being treated like an outcast for things outside his control, didn’t prepare him for that.

“Not use to getting hugs, huh?”

“socially awkward in an icy village that hated me because my mother didn’t instantly get remarried and our blonde hair. We were too poor to move being in the middle of nowhere.” The nurse nodded sadly and helped him turn around to walk back the other way.

“You are doing better already. By tomorrow you should be back to normal.” Normal for him or normal for other people? That was the question. He needed to get away from everyone sooner better than later. He was still so hungry. He could barely stand it.

X)(X

“So, you found nothing concrete?” Rude being a man a few words nodded. Rufus sighed and patted the side of his desk. Rude come to the spot. Rufus reached up at stroked his face gently. “You did well. I missed you while you were gone.” Rude remained neutral as Rufus knew he would. “keep an ear out for any enhanced blondes on all channels. It’s up in the air if he is alive or not. Not giving up just yet.”

“Sir.” Rude said that in a ‘I-understand’ kind of way.

“Go, write your report. We are going to my penthouse tonight for dinner and ‘nightcaps’.” Rude nodded and left the office. Rufus smirked and pulled up a picture on his phone. It was in night vision mode but it showed the blonde in profile. “If you are still out there. I will find you. You are strong and rather clever but I’m find what works on you.” He put his phone away to do some work before ‘dinner.’

X)(X

It was night time when Cloud felt back to normal. He decided it was time to go. silently, he left the clinic and started to the ocean. After a but he ran across a small farm. Those murderous alphas weren’t lying about that. Cloud felt like laughing for some reason but resisted the urge. Slicing through any enemy that wanted to fight, Cloud finally got to the water. Freezing a path, Cloud stepped up and started walking. He didn’t know where he was going but somewhere people weren’t was the goal.

***

Cloud wasn’t sure how long he been walking. It was still dark but he wasn’t sure when he started this trip. The moon seemed to be around two a.m. phase. There was a big shadow in the distance and the air was getting colder.

His breath came out in white huffs. It reminded him of the top peaks of mount Nibleheim. He saw a giant landmass. It looked too harsh for people to live there. He didn’t mind the cold and if it had monsters he could eat and skin, he could thrive here. He needed to make or find shelter soon. The thought made Cloud move a little quicker.

The cliffs were high, steep, and covered in ice. Cloud steeled himself and found a first handhold. Cloud found his fingers were making holes in the ice and rock face. That dip in mako with open flesh really did boost him. he was going to have to relearn his limits again. He pulled himself up to the fall part. he Pulled out some cloth and dug a hole in the snow. Lighting it with the fire Materia he started to warm up. He heard growling as he saw a long coated giant wolf looking monster.

“hm. You look like a decent meal and a possible nice coat.” the thing snarled as Cloud drew his sword. More showed up and the idea pissed Cloud off. “Seriously, I’ve had it up to here with packs.” They attacked and Cloud danced around them. Kill them carefully to not tear up their coats. The head of the biggest one rolled on the ground and all was quiet.

Cloud took out his Whole Eater tooth knife and skinned the fur off. The fur was thick and soft despite the look. He took a small piece of meat and tried it. it paled in comparison to sea worms but better than Nible wolf meat. He could get a taste for it. he quickly skinned and gutted the rest of them before they turned to green sparks.

After freezing the flesh side of the pelts, he rolled them and put them in his park to tan later. he filled the travel bags and containers with frozen meat and ate the rest. The meal, fight and fire warmed him enough to climb this next part. crumbling pieces of rock broke under Cloud grip, as he gritted his teeth to get another handhold.

“Come on. That all you got? I would do this all day.” Cloud said through gritted teeth, psyching himself up. He wasn’t going to let this wall beat him after everything. Fingers curled around a pointed like edge and pulled himself up. With out leg on one side and one on the other, Cloud let out of howl. He felt so good to let that out.

Catching his breath, he looked down and saw a cabin with green grass. There was snow all around it but the cabin had no evidence of snow touching. What strange weather this world has unless he was seeing things. He swung his other leg over and started to climb down. the wind wasn’t beating down on him nearly as much. It helped as it was whipping him around a little bit.

The climb down was easier and he jumped the last twenty feet. He barely felt the impact and he mental jolted down that wasn’t his near his limit. He headed towards the cabin still now a hundred percent sure all this didn’t drive him crazy.

He feet hit the grass and the air felt warmer than the surround area. It didn’t make sense but he went with it. the cabin was in great shape. Who would make a cabin here? Other than him. this frozen place seemed to be lacking people. He walked up a few steps and tried the door. It was unlocked.

The door gently popped open and Cloud stepped inside. The place was clean and warm. Someone must live here.

“Hello?! I don’t mean to intrude! I almost didn’t believe this place was real.” Cloud waited for a response. He heard a Wark and turned to a Green Chocobo. “Whoa. I didn’t know that came in different colors.” Cloud said to himself. He walked over reached out. The Chocobo rubbed her head against his hand.

“Howdy!” Cloud jumped at the voice and then jolted at who make it. A purple ball on a person who looked to be floating. “Don’t see a lot of people around here.” A ringing endorsement to Cloud’s ears.

“I’m sorry to just walk in like this.”

“No no. it’s fine. You’re harmless. That Chocobo don’t like bad people. And she loves you.” The non-human thing said.

“Who are you?”

“Oh! Me? I’m . . . um . . . I don’t know.” Cloud tilted his head. How does one forget their own name? “Chocobo Sage! I got it now. Sorry. After staying here for twenty years I forget many things. They are in this noggin of mine. It just takes a bit to find the information.”

“what are you?” it was a floating purple ball with a face and beard.

“That I never knew. Only one I ever seen.” Cloud knew what that felt like. Feeling a kindred spirt, Cloud took out his bobby pins his pointed ears sprang out. Then he unwrapped his tail and it swayed a bit side to side. The purple non-human looked at him curiously.

“I know the feeling.”

Chapter Text

“Wow. You been through a bit, haven’t ya?” Chocobo sage said. “well, don’t mind company but food will be on you. I never needed it myself so I don’t stock anything except for the Chocobos.” Cloud nodded in understanding. If this guy hasn’t seen people in years, then it was the prefect place to hide. Also, this guy wasn’t human or monster, so completely safe from him if he turned into that . . . thing again and he didn’t care about the omega thing. It was a win/win.

Chocobo Sage talked a mile a minute about things he thought he forgotten a minute ago. For the last thirty minutes he talking about how to breed a gold chocobo that was able to go over mountains, across rivers, and even go over the ocean.

“And that is the process to breed the best ability chocobo.”

“How did anyone figure that all out?” Cloud asked as the process seemed almost random.

“Lots and lots of trail and error. Back in the day I breed two great chocobos and ended with only more yellows. Not sure why it requires a good and great.” Cloud looked over at the green Chocobo.

“So that one is a mountain climbing chocobo?” The chocobo tilted its head to Cloud’s question with a cute little chirp noise.

“yup. Her name is . . . um . . . . Minty! Yes Minty.” Chocobo sage finally remembered after a few seconds. His memory was improving with stimulation. “She sounded to have taken a liking to you. I wonder if it because you are an omega.” Cloud wondered too. Chocobos did seem to love him, knocking off its own rider to go to him.

“I have yet to meet a Chocobo that didn’t seem to want my attention. One was mad until I removed a knife tip from under it wing, then it acted like I was his best friend.” When Chocobo sage laughed his entire body shook up and down.

“something is itching in my brain and it has to do with Male omegas. they are different but I can’t remember how. Maybe it will come to me.” Chocobo sage looked down like the answer was there.

“If it comes to you, it comes. if not, that is okay. I’m not normal anyways so it’s possible it wouldn’t apply to me.” Cloud sighed in relief. He finally found a safe place. And Chocobo Sage wasn’t interested in his Omega status. His ears twitched and the pain made him grimace. He would have to let them be out for a while. He hated them so much but he hated the pain just a little more.

X)(X

“You found interesting search results?” Tseng asked as Rude handed him the report. A doctor tried to find a way to measure mako levels. There by itself wasn’t enough to mean anything, mostly due to the area was teaming with natural mako just under the surface. He imagined the natural water supply was tainted with it. the only thing was the timing. “keep monitoring that area for anything else.” Rude nodded and returned to his station.

If he told Rufus now, he would rush down there and there may no be anything to find. Then the president would see red flags in Rufus’ behavior and that’s the last thing they needed.

“I hope that omega is either dead or can hide underwater for the rest of his life. Otherwise, things are going to get messy.” It wasn’t truly the omega’s fault rufus and Ralph took to much interest. He didn’t blame the omega for running either. “I wonder if you even knew what you were running from.” He escaped his home town that wanted to sell him, he may not know who took the bait.

X)(X

Emotionally the soldier pack was doing better. Angeal got sent off for a monster mission back around Nibleheim of all places. In fact, he had to go Nibleheim for a side mission in Shin-ra mansion.

Sephiroth was back doing paperwork that someone else should be doing or so he felt. Genesis went over magic scores of third-class soldiers and new troopers. He was looking for magic talent to mold. Yet, Zack on the other hand was in limbo due to the soldier program couldn’t continue without Hojo and Holander. They were the only ones that understood the process and they were no more.

That left him training with other seconds classes and holding back. He was too strong for these guys but no strong enough to train with the firsts. It truly left him in limbo.

X)(X

Angeal tracked the reported blackish purple tentacle monster on the other side of the river that ‘Cloud’ traveled to leave his home town. The tracks showed it tried and failed to leave a certain area. It also seemed to be running a perimeter, seemingly trying to find a way to go where it was trying to go. everywhere this . . thing touched the ground was black, and the grass, dead. Sometimes he would find a wolf that didn’t look right. He was sure that was connected.

Angeal could hear a voice on the wind but the words were faded. It sounded female and when she talked it gave him a headache.

He heard something moving and tried to follow the sound. Then he saw it a creature made of shadow. He heard it then, the voice it was partly coming from that thing. The only word he could make out was ‘mother.’

Angeal didn’t want to touch this thing so he took the sword off his back. Vowing to clean it well later, he launched an attack. His sword sliced down the middle but tenacles sprang out from the wound. Angeal jerked when spikes on the end of them pierced his flesh. Angeal kicked the thing away causing the spikes to rip out of his skin. Ignoring the pain Angeal cast the strongest lightning spell he could.

The woman’s voice screamed and he watched as the creature dissolved into a puddle on the ground that absorbed into it. waiting for a moment for a counter attack that never came. He looked at his hand where one of spikes out him. his skin repaired itself without a mark but there was a black substance. He wondered if it was tried to poison him. he opened his travel pack and pull out a sample kit. He wiped the black substance on a clean towel and then put it in a sealable bag that goes airless to not change sample through chemical change. The Medical lab would be interested in running tests on it.

With part one completed, he went to start part two of the mission. He was about a thirty-minute walk from the town. He wasn’t looking forward to going back to his town that time forgot. Something about that thing had his brain itching. He took out his phone and called Sephiroth. He put in on speaker and put it on his belt, to have his hands free while traveling.

“Angeal? Something wrong?”

“Maybe.” Angeal said as he itched his palm. “the shadow creature attacked and left a black substance on my skin. I took a sample and I feel okay but I don’t like this.”

“I see.” Sephiroth took a moment before responding. “Do you need back-up or pick up?” Angeal flexed his palm. It didn’t hurt and there was no discoloring of the skin.

“No. it is strange though. The creature was . . . unable to go past a certain point. I never seen anything like it.”

“Like can’t cross the water?”

“No. more like there was an invisible line on the ground.” Sephiroth made an affirmation noise.

“I look forward to your full report.” Angeal could tell Sephiroth never heard of this either. Angeal canceled the call.

The monsters in the area seemed unchanged and no more or less hostel. The town on the other hand was empty. At first, he through people were in their homes, waiting for him to leave. Yet, the time before there was sounds of people whispering, talking, moving, or even breathing. No such thing now. The town was dead.

“Did they evacuate?” There were no signs of it. Angeal didn’t know what to make of it. He walked up to a random house and knocked on the door. He normally won’t but he tried the door and it was unlocked. He slowly popped his head inside. “Hello? Anyone?” the house was silent and nothing looked out of place. If they left in a hurry, things would be open, or knocked over but, it was just normal lived in area. He fully stepped inside, and decided to do a room-to-room search.

Kitchen, clear. Living room, clear. Bathroom, clear. He opened the bedroom door and nothing. He went the dresser and opened it. full of clothes, same with the closet. He didn’t like this. something was really weird here. The town was untouched by fire, monster, or nature. So where was everyone? He called Sephiroth again.

“Angeal?” Sephiroth voice was laced with concern.

“Something is really wrong here. The people are gone but all their stuff in still here. The town is undamaged in every way. It is like everyone vanished.”

“That is strange.”

“I’m going to check the other houses but I hear nothing here. No signs of life.” There was a silence of the other side of the line. “Seph?”

“I contacted Tseng to see if there wasn’t a mass arrest or something. He denies this and I believe him.” Angeal chest felt tight. Something weird happened here. “Report if you find anything but continue your mission.” The click on the hang out was deafening in this silent ghost town. Angeal found himself wishing Zack was here to fill the silence.

The houses were simple enough, only the inn and the mayor’s house even had a second floor. Strangely only Cloud’s home was just a one room home. he looked at Cloud’s home from the outside. He didn’t want to go back in there. Not after everything but he had to. He needed to complete the search. With a sorrowful heart, he went through the open door.

It was just like they left it. he figured the town would have ransacked the place but Cloud didn’t seem to have anything worth the trouble of taking. Cloud and his mother were obviously the poorest in this town and was not liked for whatever reason. Something about the mother not instantly re-marrying and them being blonde. Such swallow reasons to hate anyone. It was up there with alphas hating on betas.

“What would have happened if this place found out he was an omega when he was a child?” the law would be in effect when he was five but laws only stopped honest people. And the mayor found a few packs willing to break it. they were found and got fifth teen years for trying to buy him. the two that dropped out when they learned he was male got five years. Angeal believed that all should have gotten twenty years to life for trying to buy someone in the first place.

He checked for crawl spaces or trapdoors to a bottom level or something. Yet, there was nothing. This was it. with a sigh, he left the house and closed the door behind him. all that was left was the mansion. The place gave him the creeps but he ignored it.

The doors of the place almost come off it’s hinges as he opened it. cobwebs and dust were everywhere. The floor under his feet creaked so bad, he thought he was going to go through it any second. There was a trail of footsteps that looked like they were shuffling going up the stairs. He didn’t like this at all. Something weirder than the whole town disappearing was happening here. He needed a reason to call for back-up other than gut feeling through.

Slowly he climbed the stairs, swiping a few Dorky faces out of his way that wanted to fight. He looked down seeing the footsteps going towards the room with the secret door that was a little obvious it wasn’t just a wall. He opened the wall and slowly walked down the rotten spiral staircase. The boards moaned in protest as he stepped on them. He hated these stairs as they seemed endless.

He broke one step before he got to the bottom. this place was creeping him out something bad. Every instinct was gearing him for a fight. He took his sword from his back. If it was like the monster from before he didn’t want skin contact as much as possible. He vowed to give the sword a proper cleaning when he was back home.

He heard strange voices behind the door at the end of the hallway. He steeled his nerve and threw open the door. He looked but not believing this. there were shadow people. He had no other term for it. humanoid shapes but no features. There were clothes of all kinds of the floor. He wondered of the shadow people kidnapped at then ate them. It would explain the clothes but no bodies or blood.

“Reunion. . . . sephiroth. . . . mountain.” The one closest to him said in a voice that didn’t sound human. Why did it say the name of his packmate Angeal wondered.

“Dear Gaia.” Angeal softly looking at all this. all of them seemed to turn to him before trying to attack him. Angeal had to counter attack. They melted into floor was one strike. He paused at the small shadows. They were children sized. This brought up a question. Were these things the towns people? They lunged too and he had to fight back.

The last shadow person was dead and Angeal quickly took a picture of the scene. These things? . . . . People? Where dissolving fast.

X)(X

“Angeal, Calm down. what do you mean that town may have turned into shadow people?” Sephiroth listened to Angeal’s description of what just happened. Then a picture opened up on his phone showing that scene. “I see.” then Angeal told him what one of them said. “It said my name. You’re sure?” The only time he wished Hojo was alive, so he could torture the information out of him. “reunion? No, that means nothing to me.” This was a strange situation that was beyond him. “We should check on the Nibleheim woman to see if she is or isn’t affected. Her father too.” Cloud. He was from there too. was he turning and didn’t want to become one of those things?

There were too many questions, too many unknowns to make an opinion. He was going to have to call in a favor. “Angeal, I going to call in a favor and see what we can find. But your mission still stands.” Angeal acknowledged and hung up. Sephiroth called Tseng.

“Sephiroth.”

“Calling in one of my favors. I need you to find anything about ‘reunion’ in Hojo’s files. Something I can’t explain happened.” He heard Tseng writing something.

“It will take time to break the into it. I’m call you when I have something.” Translation – do not call me, I will call you. With that Tseng hung up. Sephiroth put the phone down as His headache was coming back. It been a while but it was back with revenge. He quickly texted Zack and Genesis that he needed chocolate, coffee, and a head massage in the worst way.

X)(X

Cloud took minty off for a ride. Chocobo sage taught him to ride and he was in love with it. the speed, the wind in his face. He could do this all day but he didn’t want to hurt the precious bird. They were friends now.

He ended up in icicle inn town. It was small but nice. He checked to make sure his ears were hidden still before walking in. he did get some looks but it was because of his outfit. It was chilly but not that bad. Mako or Nibleheim mountain conditions, he wasn’t sure.

Minty waited and enjoyed the attention from the kids that wanted to pet the chocobo. Minty was cool with it then so was Cloud. He checked out the item shop. They had almost everything here. Clothes, blankets, food stuffs, things for hobbies. Everything but weapons, accessories, and bracers. He saw a hat like the one that flew off his head that cursed day. It was fur lined with hopper fur. He smiled and picked it up.

He went through the food stuffs. He partly wanted to try them all but that was his hunger talking. A hunger that was never ending. He picked out a few protein snacks and meat snacks. He walked the rows and saw knitting needles and all kinds of yarn. He found the thickest one’s yarn bundles and decent sized needles. He brought them to check-out and the price was lower than he thought.

He didn’t need anything else for now and decided to head back. He approached and minty cooed at him. the kids moved away and Cloud gave the ‘home’ command. Minty took off. The ride was short due to her ability but it was enjoyable none the less.

He slid off her back and nuzzled her a little. She seemed happy to stretch her legs a bit. Cloud put her back in her pen and gave her a few greens that she happily ate. He smiled and he took the pins out of his hair and let his hated, cursed ears pop out. He opened his pack and got the new hat. Expertly he pinned the hat to his hair. Now his ears were free but hidden again. He could deal with that.

He tossed his head hard to move sure it wouldn’t move. He remembered doing that the day it flew off his head. Why did it fail after twenty years? He didn’t know. His tail ached to be set free but Cloud ignored it. if it wanted to rot off, he let it.

He shook those thoughts away. He had dinner to catch and pelts to skin. He was going to make a nice fur coat and maybe a blanket. He had a few pelts tanning already but he needed more.

X)(X

Angeal put his hands up slowly when he heard the click and felt the end of a gun at his temple. He doubts it would kill him but it would give him a dozy of a headache. Plus, this could be a misunderstanding.

“Who are you?” the voice sounded like it hadn’t been used it years.

“Angeal Hewley, Soldier first class, third in command of Shin-ra army.”

“what is all this?” Angeal couldn’t say for sure.

“I think the town’s people turned into . . . these. It’s a guess though.” Red eyes bored into his like he was looking for something. He didn’t find what he thought he would and the gun was taken away from his head. The man walked forward, kneeling down to look at one of them more closely.

“I can feel the dying j-cells. These poor creatures were in the middle of their transformation.” Angeal bent down looking at the erased features of the humanoid thing. Was it changing into the thing he fought earlier?

“What was going on in this town? We were just here a few days ago. Things were fine.” Angeal asked the open air. None of this made any sense.

“Why were you here?”

“the mayor was trying to sell an omega.”

“So? You were looking to buy?” Angeal wondered if he somehow didn’t know.

“It’s illegal . . . for the past fifth teen years.” The caped man’s eyes widen slightly before he caught himself.

“I see. what years is this?”

“O6.” The man grunted at that and stood up.

“Why are you down here?” The man changed the subject.

“Hojo is dead.” The man whipped back at him. “This lab wasn’t on the books. I’m here to what was going on here and destroy it.”

“this is a place of nightmares.” Angeal found himself agreeing. “I will help you, then we can destroy this place so it can’t hurt anyone else.” Angeal welcomed the help.

X)(X

Sephiroth groaned as Zack rubbed his head and Genesis brought him coffee and chocolate. It barely helped. Someone inside his head was pounding away.

“Is there anything else that can help?” Zack asked concerned. He hated seeing any one his packmates in pain.

“I know something that might help.” The tone alone told them what Genesis was thinking. Sephiroth wasn’t against it but Angeal wasn’t here. He didn’t like anyone being left out. He could see just two of them but he had an issue when it was three out of four.

“If Angeal is okay with it.” Genesis texted him.

X)(X

Angeal phone went off and he answered on speaker to show he had nothing to hide.

“Genesis. You do guys find something on reunion?”

“Not yet, darling. Is it a slight social call. The migraines came back with vengeance.”

“Seriously? Why?” Angeal knew how bad those could be.

“No idea. The normal things aren’t working. His is asking permission.” He understood.

“take care of him good.”

“Understand darling.”

“Just one thing, tell him to . . -“ Angeal forgot the new friend was in the room. It was kind of personal. His friend turned with a look that said finish his sentence. “-keep his hooker boots on.” Genesis delighted laugh filled his ear.

“Will do.” The call ended and Angeal felt slightly embarrassed. His new friend on the other hand shows no emotion.

He seemed happy to drop it and they went through files, trying to piece together what happened here. Angeal opened a new book at found something promising. Sephiroth copies, Numbers on the hand, calling Sephiroth’s name. jenova reunion. There it was.

“You find something?”

“I think so. One of those guys mentioned reunion and this talking about jenova reunion.” The caped man nodded seeing Angeal’s point. “Damn it Professor. What were you doing?”

X)X

Cloud found himself outside and facing the direction Nibleheim is. It wasn’t homesickness but something felt wrong. He wasn’t going back there but something was tugging at him. he didn’t like it. Three hoppers showed up to die and Cloud welcomed it. he needs more hopper fur. He put his sword in the ground. he didn’t want to stain that beautiful fur.

His snapped the neck of two of them and the third hopped off somewhere. Cloud vowed in his head he wouldn’t be free for long. It started the fight and Cloud was going to finish it.

He skinned the hopper with the whole eater blade. He froze the flesh side of the pelt and skinned the other one. After that he sliced all the meat of its bones. He started a fire and put the metal plate he picked up in Medeel over the fire and started cooking.

He again looked back in the direction of Nibleheim. Whatever was going on, it had nothing to do with him.

X)(X

Fingers sliding through silver hair found purchase and pulled back. He couldn’t see and his hands tied behind his back. He was forced over what felt like a strong desk.

“Nothing to say, agent S?” He felt a band go around the base of his cock. “You be screaming and begging soon enough.”

“The famous agent S as our sex slave. I like the sound of that.” agent Z said opening agent S’ mouth and shoved his dick into his mouth. The hand in his hair tightening as Agent S struggled a little.

“indeed agent Z. the trap we set worked well. Time to break him in.” Agent G pushed himself inside Agent S. he felt agent S buck from the intrusion. Strong hands on his hips kept him still. “No point fighting, you have no chance.”

Sephiroth didn’t care about the scene anymore. He was just glad his migraine was gone.

X)(X

“there seemed to be a force not allowing the j-cells to move. I have yet to find the cause and destroy it. so far, this town is a failure.” His caped friend that finally introduced himself as Vincent, read from a thick tome that found in the floor.

“Something here stopped the j-cells?” Angeal tried to think. The only thing he could think about was Cloud. But how could he stop J-cells? How would that work?

“it seems you have an idea.” Angeal wondered if this guy would read minds or something.

“My pack was here a few days ago and everyone was fine. The town was full and active. The only thing I know that changed was a man named Cloud. He was hiding that he was an omega for twenty years. He was found out the day before we got here. We came to arrest mayor Lockhart for trying to sell him but Cloud escaped the night before.”

“You think either the mayor or this Cloud might be what was holding the j-cells back?”

“it’s the only thing I know that changed. They could have been something else but I wouldn’t know what.” Vincent seemed to think this over.

“where are these people now?”

“One is in jail and the other . . . we believe he terminated himself to not be paired into a pack.” Angeal wanted to cry again. He hated the fact the Omega likely did that.

“You are not sure?” Angeal shook his head.

“We found no evidence either way.” Vincent curtly nodded in understanding.

“You feel guilty.” Vincent stated.

“My Pack and I were the last to see him. We were tasked to bring him to Midgar.”

“He was a criminal?”

“No. the president and vice president wanted him for there pack due to his rarity.”

“they wanted to force a pack?” There was slight anger in Vincent’s normally one toned voice.

“They did. It was an order, we couldn’t disobey.” Vincent still looked annoyed but strangely understanding. “He ran and we tried chasing him down. he used a Midgar Zolom to buy time and went through the cave. He just disappeared; we couldn’t find anything with a helicopter. No prints, or disturbed landscape. Nothing. I don’t know where he went. We even rechecked the cave.”

“and how do you think it was self- termination?”

“the next morning the Turks found a few prints going into the ocean and none coming out.”

“the chance he just swam?”

“From there. Even enhanced would be hard pressed to make it to somewhere that supports life.” Angeal felt his heart trying to break again.

“So, he could be alive but you are treating him as dead then.” Angeal nodded to the question. Vincent decided to change topics. “I don’t see anymore information of reunion. Just misinformation.”

“Misinformation?”

“This says Jenova was sephiroth’s mother but that is not true. His mother was Lucrecia Crescent and father is Hojo with certain genetic markers replaced.”

“How do you know this?”

“I was there. My name is Vincent valentine as I was on security detail of both Hojo and Lucrecia as they worked to create the strongest Solider from birth. Lucrecia is pregnant with sephiroth and collapsed. The J-cells were fighting her so hard. I went to Hojo and told him this experiment was over. Hojo didn’t like that. He shot and killed me but experimented on me in death. Lucrecia too gave me Chaos who can’t die and now neither can I. I couldn’t save the one I loved. My greatest sin.” He took a moment “I don’t know if the Sephiroth lived.”

“Sephiroth is alive and in Midgar. He is also my packmate.” Vincent looked at him like he was trying to determine if he was lying or not. Angeal took his phone and scrolled through his pictures. He found on with all of them in it. slowly he showed the screen to Vincent.

Vincent’s eyes zeroed on the sliver haired one. He knew it was him. he could see parts of Lucrecia is his face. Emotions long dormant were trying to form.

“The D.N.A changes came from you, didn’t it?” Vincent nodded. “I can see it.”

“He is . . . well?”

“He is general of shin-ra’s army with three loving packmates. We do what we can.” Vincent finally looked away.

“One less sin of many. I thank you for that.” He seemingly put his emotions aside. “You have what you need?” Angeal nodded. “then allow me to erase this nightmare.”

X)(X

Cloud was inside the cabin. He found a cushion tucked into a corner. Chocobo Sage didn’t have any furniture but if he floated all the time, he didn’t need any. Cloud wasn’t picky. He could make a chair is it was big deal. He started knitting. He used to make clothes for the children in Nibleheim. Gloves, socks, and even sweaters were most common. It was often given fur scrapes to make trimmings for them.

He planned on making a coat and blanket. He may have mako but he could still get cold. It just took a while. Nibleheim toughness bred into him. the wind that blows through off the mountain chilled visitors to the bone. When it was season for people ‘challenge the mountain’ he hurriedly made gear. They would go to the shop, who sent them to him despite the hate.

That was how he got the fire Materia since he took gil and trade. Traded one of his warmest coats for it and three hundred gil. Strangely, those were good times. He enjoyed making things. He dreamed of making weapons. Sure, he made the whole eater blade but that was minor.

“I remember!” Cloud jumped at Chocobo Sage suddenly yelled out. “Male omegas are touched by Gaia.” Cloud waited for an explanation but didn’t get one.

“You probably don’t remember but what does that mean?”

“Don’t tease me! It means . . . nope. Can’t remember for the life of me.” Cloud laughed without sound and went back to work. He should have picked up more yarn.

Chapter Text

After burning everything and then collapsing the building entirely, wings ripped out of Vincent’s back and took off without a goodbye. Angeal watched him go but took a picture to show in his report. He didn’t want to be accused of getting too many Mako fumes again. It was one time; he wasn’t the only one and he didn’t do it on purpose.

With his mission complete, he called in a pick-up. Once he had confirmation of the pick-up time, he looked back at the sky barely seeing him in the distance. He hoped wherever his new friend was going, was much better than here.

X)(X

Cloud finished the outline for his new coat. the tanning process needed a bit longer but he was able to make his normal compound for the process. By tomorrow he could be able to start construction on it. the freezing cold of the area sped up the process. Maybe tomorrow he would go back to the town and buy more yarn to make fur lined socks and gloves. He was in the mood to create.

It was the one thing he missed from Nibleheim. His jerky, clothes, and warmer gear always sold. Sometimes he could make headband ear muffs for the children, no charge. The adults hated him for existing but the children did not. He hated dwelling on that so much.

Minty cooed at Cloud, breaking him out of that train of thought and he recognized it was feeding time. He grabbed an arm full of greens and put in her food bin. She cooed gratefully and ate with gusto. He stroked her head gently as she ate. He looked at Chocobo Sage that seemed to sleep almost twenty hours a day. He easily woke up when you went to him but other than that he slept through everything. He didn’t know if that was normal for . . . everywhere he was.

He decided a nap sounded nice and then he got catch dinner. He remembered Chocobo Sage talking about two-legged mini dinosaur things in the area. He wondered if they tasted like dragons. He hoped so.

X)(X

Rufus sighed leaning slightly back in his chair. His father was really annoying him. he was mad he lost his prize and even at one time thought he stashed him away somewhere. He wished that was the case but he was just as upset things worked out like this. what was worse, they had no evidence of one way or another if the omega was gone or not.

He betted on not. He gave four experienced Soldiers the slip with them being thirty seconds behind. The running theory was he somehow climbed the smooth and tall mountain wall just outside the exit of the cave he went through. That tiny spot of drying moss just above Tseng’s wingspan was the only evidence that maybe he did that. It could have gotten flung off one other the Soldier’s or even the Omega’s clothes in their haste for all they knew. Yet, if he did, he was able to hide from a helicopter with infrared camera and a bird’s eye view.

A knock at the door drew Rufus’s attention. He looked at the screen seeing it was Tseng. With a light smile he hit the intercom button.

“the door is open.” Tseng opened the door and walked to the desk. Rufus gave him his full attention. “What do I owe the pleasure?”

“Sir, when can I expect Reno back?”

“Reno ran his mouth and it’s being punished.” Tseng leaned over the desk seeing Reno had his hands handcuffed behind Rufus’ chair. Due to the width of the back of the chair Reno was flush against Rufus’ lap, mouth stretched around Rufus’ engorged flesh. Tseng turned his head he could see he had a collar and chain that kept Reno from pulling back more than an inch attached to the handcuffs. It effectively trapped Reno right there.

Tseng leaned back with a neutral face. Like he didn’t just see that.

“Timetable?” Tseng the ever professional. He liked that about him.

“Two more hours.” Rufus put his hand on the back of Reno’s head and pushed it forward making him take more of Rufus into his mouth. Tseng heard Reno grunt in surprise. “Unless you want to help shorten it.” Tseng looked back down again and then back at Rufus.

“Black box?” Tseng wasn’t sure why he was asking, he knew.

“Black box.” Rufus confirmed. Reno was going to get it more than he already was. he wondered if Reno actually did something to deserve this. then he decided that Reno would have eventually. He would have him write a personal report later.

X)(X

Cloud’s nap didn’t last long as he stomach demanded attention again. He was starting to believe it was getting worse. He hoped he wasn’t craving Alpha flesh or something. On the bright side he found the two-legged lizard dino thing. He was weaker than he thought but it did taste close to dragon, which was a plus. It had some nice claws too. be great to make close quarters weapons.

He felt his ears trying to twitching under his hat. That only happened when something was incoming to his position. Cloud scanned the area seeing nothing before seeing something out of the corner of his eye in the sky. He turned in time to see something coming for him. Cloud drove out of the way at the last second.

The thing half crashed on the snowy ground. it’s bat like wings flailing around like it was fighting itself. Cloud was at a loss at what to do. Cure it? kill it? talk to it? run away from it? Cloud brought his sword forward waiting for it to do something.

He watched as the wings curled into its back and it shrunk in size. It took on the form of a human with a red cape. Cloud gathered his mana for a fire two spell, more of a threat than anything. The man shaped stranger stood and slowly turned around.

He was human or at least human looking now. That only made more questions. The man put his hands in the air in a I-mean-no-harm gesture. Cloud didn’t really buy it after all that.

“I apologize for the rude greeting. Chaos was hungry and he is hard to talk to when like that.” Cloud could partly relate. Expect he knew his hunger was an unstoppable force. “after twenty such years his magic has dwindled.”

“Then drink an ether.” Cloud spat at him.

“Not that easy. I wish it was.” Cloud felt a growl escape his lips. So much for breaking that habit. “You are a male Omega.” The growling from Cloud got louder and deeper. Vincent actually took a mini step away. “I am not longer an alpha so that doesn’t interest me. Your mana is blessed by Gaia.”

“What the shit does that even mean?!” Cloud’s voice started to sound wrong. Almost like two voices speaking at once.

“Please do not transform. I truly meant no harm. Chaos got over excited and lost it for a moment.” Cloud eyes widened. He didn’t want to turn again. He needed to calm down. Cloud looked to the side and saw a Hopper. He took his Whole eater knife and threw it. he speared through its head, killing it instantly. Cloud gave the man a look of warning and he seemed to understand. Cloud then went to the new kill and pulled out the knife out of its head.

He ripped the fur off and started eating. It seemed to calm the beast gnarling inside him. He didn’t care how he looked to the caped man. Let him see the animal He could become. Cloud looked at the blood-stained fur on the snow. He felt wasteful. Maybe he could clean it and use it for trimmings? Cloud froze the flesh side as he finished his meal. He felt the anger lessened with the meal warm in his belly. The feeling never lasted more than a few minutes.

Hoppers didn’t a lot of meat on them. Mostly on the legs. At the ravenous pace Cloud eat he was finished with it within minutes. Standing, Not bothering to wipe the blood away, he stood back in front of the caped man.

“explain Gaia blessed.” It wasn’t a request but the caped man didn’t seem offended by the command.

“The planet’s conscious granted a small amount of her blessing into your mana. It makes your magic stronger than normal.”

“You mean I’m soldier enhanced.” His gestured to her eyes.

“No. Not the same. You do not have the taint of Jenova and nor stolen lifeblood of Gaia.”

“I landed in reactor run off when the mountain shook.” Cloud explained like he was explaining how to breathe the air.

“The mountain shook because she needed you in the mako to bless you more. As an omega you were born with the small blessing. She needed to give you more for one reason or another.” Cloud almost rolled his eyes.

“I was in a coma for two months. You call that a blessing?” Cloud was getting really warm as the anger tried to flare up again. He tried to push it down. He needs to remain level headed.

“You woke up.” The voice was not the same and the man’s eyes were yellow in the center instead of red. Was he talking to Chaos now? “that long without her blessing. You do not wake up.” Cloud remembered what the doctor in Mideel said. the whole after a week your chances of recovery drop greatly. It checked out.

“Fine.” Cloud took a breath to calm the anger that was creeping up again. “You tried to kill me because I’m blessed then?” the caped man/chaos shook his head at him.

“No. I wanted your mana. Your death was not my intention. I am starving. That is something you should understand.” Cloud stopped a growl before it come out. He could partly understand. The constant hunger nearly drove him crazy when he was younger. He learned to hunt and hunt well in response. He felt bad as he would bring back half of what he caught and ate the other half in secret.

Cloud pulled himself back to the present. “Fine. Say I believe this. what does that entail? My blood? Life force?”

“I just need to absorb your mana. You will regain it after you rest. You will be tried for a little while. That is all.” Despite everything, he felt his words were true. Monster to monster honor perhaps. Cloud sighed and took his sword and stuck in the snow but kept his whole eater blade.

“Fine. But try something and this-“ Cloud brought the blade up. “-goes through your skull.” The caped man showed his gun on his side. As a show of good faith, he took it from the holster and drop it on the snowy ground. slowly Cloud stepped up to him. as he telegraphing every movement the caped man brought him hand up to Cloud’s chest.

It was an odd sensation but not painful. A familiar feeling on mana drain started and Cloud found himself starting to breathe hard. The caped man/Chaos took his hand away. The yellow in the center of the man’s red eyes faded away.

“That will do for now. I am sorry but he will need a few more feedings before he can regulate.” Cloud wasn’t too thrilled to be a food source. “I understand that this is not ideal.” Cloud felt like he could nap the rest of the day now. “I see you are feeling it now. You should rest.”

“dine and dashing? Can I have a name of the one talking to me?” the caped man put his gun back in its holder.

“Vincent valentine.”

“lovely. Cloud is your meal’s name if you care.” Cloud was tried and grumpy. Vincent didn’t seem to care about Cloud’s attitude. But his eyes widened at his name just enough from Cloud to notice.

“Cloud from Nibleheim?” Cloud jolted and Vincent knew he was right. “I just come from there. Everyone is gone. Turned to shadow like people calling for a reunion.” Cloud’s tiredness disappeared. Everyone was gone? Turned into shadow people? Reunion?

“what? But. . .they were . . .I just. . . they were fine days ago! How do people turn into shadows?! What the . . .why?” Cloud dropped into a squat and held his head. Nothing made sense. Everyone was gone . . . even the children? Could it be a mistake? Cloud flashed back to when he felt something was wrong, looking in the direction on Nibleheim. Was that what he felt? If so, why did it happen when he left? Was it timing or was it somehow his fault? But, how could it be?

Vincent kneeled down in front of him. A gentle hand on his shoulder made Cloud looked up.

“You could not have known and the town was going to sell you if you stayed. Their fate was sealed.”

“How do you know this?” Cloud asked.

“I met a soldier in the lab of the shin-ra mansion. I made him tell me everything. Hojo was doing experiments. He mentioned the cells couldn’t take over because of an outside force. After feeling your energy, I am sure you were the force. You being there was enough to keep Jenova cells at bay.” There was the name again. Cloud was sure he never heard the name before today but it caused his skull to pound in rage. Cloud’s body felt like lead and his eyes slid close.

Vincent caught Cloud’s body before it landed in the snow. He was breathing and his heartbeat was strong. The mana drain and the mental turmoil was too much. He could understand, it was a lot. Even if the town wanted to sell him, there seemed to be some love for the place. Maybe a person or two.

Vincent took some snow and wiped some of the slowly freezing blood hot his face. Getting him clean enough he picked him up, lightly concerned at the weight on him. he just ate an entire bunny monster and weighted as much as a sack of feathers. He pulled the sword out of the snow surprised at its heavy weight. People really used these? He rarely seen people use swords expect the soldier he ran into.

Half dragging the sword he went for the cabin in the distance. Was it his place? No, it could not be. According to Angeal this Cloud ran away a few days ago. A cabin that size could take longer to make and the materials to build it. there was smoke coming out of the chimney so either he found it or someone else lived there.

The footprints that matching Cloud’s boots seemed to go to the building, so Cloud was staying here. He leaned the sword up against the house and tried the door. the house was warm and there was a Chocobo who was unhappy to see him. he didn’t know Chocobos hissed like that.

“Minty! What is wrong girl?” this purple ball like . . . person said. “Gaia good graces. Who are you? What happened to him?” Minty busted out of her pen and pulled on Cloud’s shirt while taking to Kick Vincent. “Minty! Calm down! he’s not taking to hurt him . . . right?” the doubt was understandable. Vincent moved the best he could to the cushion and put him down. Minty got between them and tried to back him up. Vincent ended up backing up and calm the pissed off Chocobo.

The Chocobo calmed when he stepped away and she turned back Cloud. Slowly she rubs her head against his face, cooing softly.

“That girl adored mister Cloud the second he showed up.” Minty laid her head over Cloud’s body, cooing softy. Vincent tried to move but found he could not. “Sorry mister. You must explain why he is like this. I like my new friend and I do not trust you.” Vincent didn’t even feel the purple thing mana build up. Was it able to cast stop on part of the body instead of the whole thing? It was stronger than it appeared. Vincent slowly and carefully explained his interaction with Cloud.

After the long explanation Vincent felt a restorative spell hit him and he could move again.

“I see. that explains a few things.” Cloud groaned loudly and Minty Warked in alarm.

“it’s okay minty. I’m okay.” Cloud opened his eyes and see he was in the cabin. Maybe all of that was a bad dream? He hoped so.

“You okay now?” Vincent asked as if to let Cloud know he was still here.

“Shit. All that happened, didn’t it?”

“Yes. Nibleheim, shadow people, jenova, chaos needing you as a power source a few more times. All of it.” Cloud felt tears pricking his eyes. sure, they weren’t the best people but they were people. And the children, despite the parents’ hatred, loved him. they came to him to repair toys or to get gloves, socks, and ear muffs. Sometimes freshly made jerky sticks. Sometimes he wondered if the adults even remembered why they were supposed to hate him. some were nice until someone else showed up or mean to him outside but they were come in to get measured for a jacket or coat flipped the attitude once out of sight of the others.

“Tifa!” Cloud jolted up scaring Minty. “she is from the village, did she . . ?” Cloud was in a full-blown panic.

“I advise against getting worked up. You still have mana depletion. You need rest.” Vincent’s advice fell on deaf ears.

“I can’t. if she turned too I . . .I don’t think I can live with that. she like my sister and best friend. I just need to know she is okay. That’s all need. I need to go to midgar and find out if she is okay.” Cloud was panic rambling and Vincent, despite the hissing chocobo, pushed Cloud down on the cushion.

“I owe you so I will go. I can get their faster than you in your condition. Give me a full name and last seen location. You mentioned midgar. Can you narrow that down?” Cloud didn’t like this but he had a point.

“Sector seven lower city. She has a bar named seventh heaven. Tifa Lockhart.” The adrenalin was running out and wiped Cloud out again.

“Rest. I’ll see you in short order.” Vincent turned to the door and without a word left. Minty got her head back on Cloud’s stomach with him petting her mindlessly.

“well,” chocobo sage started. “interesting . . . friend? You have.” Friend was pushing it. right now, Cloud was a battery and Vincent was doing a favor so the battery could recharge. Still if he could get to Tifa faster, he was okay with it. He needed to rest more; this was a lot for one day.

“Please be okay.” Cloud whispered to the wind as his eyes closed again.

X)(X

The Helicopter landed and Angeal’s impressive frame came out. He called medical about the shadow creature piercing him and leaving a black smear across his palm. They insisted on tests and Angeal could see why. He wasn’t going to like it but it made sense. He handed them the hazard bag with the black substance. He could see eyes lighting up at the thought of new research. Not as bad as science department but still kind of creepy.

Sephiroth was in the pack waiting area while Angeal was in isolation. Normal procedure for this. Sephiroth hit the intercom.

“How are you feeling?” sephiroth asked him.

“Shouldn’t I be asking that?” he gave Sephiroth a smile that was similar to Zack’s I-did-nothing-wrong smile. He sighed. “I’m a little tired but I think that was due to the weirdness of it.” Sephiroth nodded understanding Angeal’s point. “Tseng took the research I got from the lab. Something about pieces of a puzzle and your favor.” Sephiroth nodded to Angeal. Turks were known to lie but Tseng did not. He finds a way around it. “You still have the migraine.” It wasn’t a question.

“it come back after they finished up. It’s not so bad but it come back.” He wanted to rip his head off instead of ripping his head off and stomping on it. slight improvement.

A nurse walked in Angeal’s room.

“You are clear. Thank you for the sample though.” Angeal nearly jumped off the medical bed and hurried out of the room. A small part of him felt it was a little quick but ignored it. in record time Angeal opened the pack waiting room and hugged Sephiroth hard.

“there now. How about a spar and random night?” Angeal loved both ideas. Exercise was good for romance. Sephiroth called Genesis for the spar and asked Zack if he wanted to observe.

X)(X

Tseng sent all the information that he found that didn’t require the president’s pass to get to. Even he couldn’t cover his tracts fast enough. The president would know almost instantly. Until Rufus gave the word, he could cause no fights. Although he dreamed of putting a bullet in his head.

X)(X

Sephiroth glanced at his phone seeing the information Tseng sent with a note saying he refunded half a favor since the information was under the president only. The one line he couldn’t cross at the moment. It could wait as Angeal just rejoined them. Genesis wanted a spar with Angeal as referee. Everyone understood that Genesis was having trouble with his emotions and a good fight was the only way to work off the stress of it.

Genesis and Zack were in the first’s only training room. Angeal kissed Genesis on the forehead before joining Zack on the benches. He gave Zack a cuddle hug. They watched as both genesis and sephiroth took starting positions. Winner fought Angeal.

X)(X

Cloud knew he was dreaming as the landscape was too perfect to be real. He was in the mountains of Nibleheim at the reactor. That horrible blight of nature. He hated it the moment he saw it all those years ago. The useless thing. The town got no power from it and it poisoned the area around it.

He found his feet moving despite him not wanting to. He never been inside the place and never wanted to be there. He climbed down chains and across the walkway to a room with these pod looking things. He hugged himself as he felt sick. He really didn’t want to be here. He slowly walked up the stairs where was a door with the name Jenova above it.

He put his hand on the door and he heard a woman’s voice cursing and hissing hate at him. that he should stay away or she would kill everyone his cares for. This made him want to confront the voice and possibly kill her for that threat. He didn’t have many people left in his life but he couldn’t let this thing spew her threats.

He growled at the door and pain laced through his brain. It wasn’t her; it was dozens of voices screaming in pain. The voices were . . . familiar.

Cloud woke up for the dream, scaring minty a little. Cloud smoothed her down while calming his heartbeat. Despite that he closed his eyes for another try.

X)(X

Sephiroth’s sword slid off Genesis’s shoulder guard and sliced into Genesis’ flesh. It hurt badly and Genesis stopped attacking which alarmed everyone. Genesis passed it off and applauded Sephiroth’s skills. He had he need to wash the inside of his coat and went to the washroom.

He peeled off the coat to see a deep gash by the shoulder. It wasn’t healing like it should. This wound was wrong. He didn’t want the others to worry. He would go to medical tomorrow. He wasn’t going tonight. Not when they just got together again.

He got the bleeding to stop but the wound was red and raw looking. It stung like open flesh too. he winched when he got the coat back on. Due to the love of the stage, he fancied himself an actor. He put on his best ‘nothing wrong’ performance.

He stepped out of the wash room with dramatic flare he was known for. Sephiroth looked guilty for causing an injury. Genesis walked over and caressed Sephiroth’s chest.

“Good spar, darling. You got lucky though. Next time, you are mine.” Sephiroth took Genesis’ hand and kissed it gently. Even with his social awkwardness, he could be charming at times.

“How about take-out, a movie, and fun night?” Zack suggested and the others agreed nearly instantly. After all fun night and random night meant the same thing. They decided to meet up at Sephiroth’s room in an hour.

Genesis when to his room and straight to the shower. Stripping down he looked at his shoulder. The edges were wet with a back sticky substance. Disgusted, he stepped into the shower and almost screamed when the hot water hit the wound. He scrubbed the area despite the pain but the black gunk struck like glue.

He was prideful but believed himself a smart man. He knew he should go to medical and spend who knows how long there. But, he could have tonight, right? He wasn’t in danger of bleeding to death after all. If he got picked for random night, he would gift it to Angeal. He couldn’t let his packmates see this wound.

X)(X

Tifa watched the lights dim, signaling it was the beginning of the evening. People would start coming in soon. The kitchen was in the middle of prep, and the bar was double checking supplies. There was something she didn’t like but couldn’t put her finger on it. she stepped into her office and once the door closed, she turned with a punch.

Although Vincent didn’t expect it, he was faster. He grabbed her wrist and held up a piece of paper in front of her face. Her eyes scanned it.

-sorry. This place could be bugged. I here to check on you because of Cloud. He was worried what happened to the people of nibleheim happened to you.-

Tifa froze reading that. sensing she wasn’t going to fight anymore he let her go. he gave her a piece of paper and a pen. She quickly wrote down her notes.
-what happened? Is he okay?-

Vincent wrote quickly.
-he will be fine. Yet, the people of your village are gone-

Tifa wrote her note.
-gone or dead?-

Vincent made the cut throat gesture. Tifa’s eyes widened but didn’t make a sound. He quickly wrote another message.
-their cells were attacked and changed. He is immune.-

The look on her face was one of relief. She wrote down one last note.
-tell me to stay safe or I will kick his underweight ass.-

Vincent nodded and wrote one last note himself.
-I will. Burn both notes and go about your night normally- he handed her the note. She looked down to read it real fast. When she looked back up, he was gone. Tifa looked in the corners for him but he was not there. With a silent sigh, she reached for a candle lighter and burned the notes.

“Tifa! What’s the new drink special today?”

“I’ll show you. It’s a new drink called Tempest Discord.”

X)(X

Cloud woke up again feeling much better now. By the light outside the window, he figured it was somewhere in the evening. He couldn’t see the moon so exact timing was lost on him. Minty was still next to him cooing softly In her sleep.

He had that dream again. He got through to door and he heard his mother’s voice but she wouldn’t talk like that. he knew it was the thing pretending to be her. even he his dream he felt his teeth grow heavy and his nails growing. The transformation he went through was unpleasant as the pain in his mouth and fingers stung. He was aware of what he was doing but had little to no control to what he was doing. like the threat must be destroyed one way or another.

What really bothered him was the inside of the reactor in Nible mountains. He never went inside there, never saw inside. Why were his dreams fixed on the same design, like he seen it before. He knew he never did. And this Jenova thing had a metal protection in front of it that looked like an evil angel almost. He had his hands on it and was ripping it out of place. Like the real Jenova was behind it. were his dreams trying to tell him something?

Minty rubbed her head against his. He petted her to her delight. He could go for a meal and then work on his long coat some more. The skins weren’t ready yet but the lining needed more work.

X)(X

Cid from rocket town was typing up a strange report of blacken grass creeping closer to the town and a few mutated monsters with tentacles. It was getting closer every day. People were getting scared at this and he was at a loss. Normal attacks did little to detour, whatever this was.

Chapter Text

Rufus found the report written by Cid Highwind. It was flagged due to his area what was close to Nibleheim. Angeal’s report talked about shadow people and a shadow monster. It seemed to spread the other direction now. The lab was destroyed but the problem was still happening. He texted Sephiroth about this. all of them might be sent out to stop this.

X)(X

The buzzing woke everyone up. Limbs tangled together like they fell asleep playing twister. They also forget to untie Angeal after last night. Although he could easily break the restraints, it wasn’t the point. after sorting everyone out, Sephiroth looked at his phone.

“Angeal. Looks like there are more shadow monsters and the area is spreading.” Angeal sat up in shock.

“the lab is destroyed. There must be other places these . . . things are coming from.” Angeal stated still haunted by the smaller shadow people. The ones that were the size of children. Did the people turn into these things too? like a final form? The thought made him sick.

“Do we have orders yet?” Zack asked as he rather do something than hurry up and wait. Sephiroth shook his head, it was just a heads up. Zack almost deflated right there. He didn’t like this. Not at all.

Genesis announced he was taking a shower and it wasn’t an invitation. He needed alone time. They seemed to understand. Genesis locked the door and opened his dark robe. His shoulder was oozing black substance the consistency of sticky gel. It hurt a little the wound looked bigger. He heard the others talking. Where they talking about him? did someone see last night? He will go to medical just not this second.

“Stop.” Genesis angry whispered to himself. He was getting strangely paranoid. He kept reciting loveless in his head to calm himself.

X)(X

Cloud checked his tanning and found it in perfect condition. He collected them and to take them inside. He turned seeing Vincent land much gentler this time.

“Tifa said and I quote - stay safe or I am going to kick your underweight ass.” Cloud was shaking as he tried to keep it in but failed. He laughed straight from the belly, a release of emotion. A huge weight was dropped from him mentally and even Vincent could see that.

“thank you. That is something she would say so I know you did see her. I admit I had a doubt or two. Trust of people is been shaken the last few days.” Vincent could understand. Being sold because of your rarity, like a prized item, would take away trust. “You here for lunch?” Vincent was glad he wasn’t upset about being used that way.

“You are refreshed enough?”

“I’m okay. I bounce back it seems. Might be the mako or country boy stamina. Maybe both.” Cloud gathered the last tanned skin and turned his head to him. “come inside as I can get comfortable.” Cloud headed inside with Vincent following. As Vincent stepped in Minty hissed. “Minty. It’s okay. Friend.” Cloud said patting Vincent of the shoulder. Minty stopped hissing but the glint in her eyes guaranteed murder if he could within pecking range.

Cloud put the skins on the floor by the cushion and settled down on it. Vincent nodded his thanks before slowly putting his hand on Cloud’s chest again. It didn’t feel so needy like last time. He could understand insane hunger. Vincent took his hand away sooner than he thought he would.

“He took a bit too much the first time. He was more stable now.” Cloud could see that. hunger makes people crazy, monsters too. Cloud didn’t feel like needed a nap so he took out his Whole Eater knife and started trimming them. Vincent strangely didn’t just take off.

“What? Afraid your meal going to run off?” Cloud asked deadpanned.

“I could tract your mana down like last time.” That was true. “I have no where to go right now. I don’t require food or rest so I require no attention.” Cloud wondered what his stomach could feel like if he required no food. Imagining his stomach wasn’t the burning and near nauseousness from the gnawing pain. He pushed the thoughts away and continued trimming the pelts.

He ran out of yarn and reached into his pack by the cushion. He put on his old coat that seen better days. He could use it for parts later.

“Why didn’t you wear that when you were hunting?” Vincent asked suddenly curious.

“We are down in a valley technically so the wind doesn’t cut through you. The town of the other hand the breeze with freeze ya to the bone. Nibleheim mountains was insane with sudden temperature drops but out in the open here. . . even with mako. This one will help but as you can see, is about done.” Cloud looked at the pouch of parts he took for monsters. Jumping teeth, Those giant wolves’ fangs, claws from the two-legged dino. he had a few of them, he hoped they were worth something. He also had a carob nut according to Chocobo sage, who took instant interest to it. He was willing to give it to him but he insisted of paying thousand for it.

He found a hi-potions too for the Jumpings and Bandersnatchs. He didn’t like the hi-potions when he had restored and mako in his veins. So, he hoped they be worth something.

“how are you planning to get out of here?” Cloud pointed to minty.

“Green mountain climbing Chocobo. Can be there and back in minutes. Depending on the shops being crowded or not. I invite you but minty has taken a hatred to you.” Minty tossed her head like she agreed with the statement.

“Or we can fly.” Part of him would like to try but he gets seasick apparently. Do people get airsick too? he decided to ask.

“Is air sickness a thing?” Cloud hoped not, seasickness was bad enough.

“yes, but the trip is short so you be on the ground before that happened.” Well, if he didn’t like it, he won’t go again. “Okay, I’ll give it a try.” Vinent nodded and walked outside. “I’ll take you out later, minty.” She cooed in response. Cloud checked his gil pouch again. He had about five thousand gil at the moment. With that he stepped out of Chocobo sage’s house.

Seeing a two-legged Dino again. Cloud scanned it quickly. A Vlakorados. He signaled for Vincent to wait as he removed his coat before he engaged it in battle. it was a short one and Cloud quickly removed claws, the end of it’s tail, and the meat. He froze the meat and took it the pile of ice blocked meat. It wouldn’t last long but it was a start. The blood froze on his skin and Cloud peeled it off. The blood of his shirt was going to be covered by the coat so he would wash it later.

He got the coat back on and stood next to Vincent. With one arm Vincent held Cloud to his side and Choas’ wings come out of his back. He took off quickly and cleared the wall of the valley area in seconds. Cloud looked around seeing the area in a bird’s eye view.

“what’s that over there?” Cloud pointed to the giant skull that was sticking out of the ground. despite Vincent long slumber he knew what it was,

“Bone village. A dig site with little funding. It’s almost a tourist trap now. You can pay to have them dig where you want.”

“that’s . . . different.” He was all about discovery but that seemed like a strange way to do it. Vincent landed behind a building and put his wings back inside his body. After that he followed Cloud to the item shop. The clerk gave a short wave and Cloud looked at the part list. Seeing his instincts were good as he harvested the best parts, he went to turn them in. the lady inspected and weighed the teeth and fangs. She seemed delighted and gave Cloud seven hundred and fifty gil for them. Then the claws and end of the tails of the Vlakoradoses.

“Nice.” She said slowly. “you don’t run into these everyday and these things have a health pool out of his world. Most people just run.” Those tails were worth five hundred each and the claws were two hundred each. Netting him two thousand one hundred gil on those alone. “got anything else in there?” She was looking at his pack that did seem to be endless on items at times.

“A few hi-potions I don’t need.”

“Nice. Those are worth a pretty gil.” Each of those were seven and fifty gil each. Cloud wasn’t sure why but he was not normal by any means. Cloud overall got five thousand and fifty gil for that. no wonder most of the boys didn’t go back to nibleheim. Making money out of the town was rather easy.

With that done Cloud grabbed a basket and went to the hobby aisle. He picked through the thicker yarn bundles. Vincent from himself holding the basket as Cloud tossed bundle after bundle. He didn’t want to be back for a while. Cloud looked back seeing the overly full basket in Vincent’s arms.

“hm. Going to need another basket.” Cloud went to go retrieve one.

After filling that next one up they went to the food Alise for any different snacks. Vincent watched as Cloud looked at the items for hungry eyes. Cloud showed restraint and picked only a few items before going to check out. He stopped seeing a sewing kit. He seemed to have lost his along the way or forget to pack it for his midnight run for freedom. Seeing a good array of sizes for the needles, including a carpenter’s needle, he tossed that in the basket too. now done, he went to the cashier.

The lady had a million questions that Cloud answered as quickly and basic as possible. Vincent added nothing. After paying Cloud filled his travel park and walked out with Vincent. They went back around the same building as earlier and Vincent brought the wings out. Vincent was right, they weren’t the air long enough to get airsick.

Vincent touched down the front of the cabin and they both went inside. Cloud striped off his coat went to the small wash area. The place was used to wash greens mostly but could be used for hygiene purposes as long as you clean the area well afterwards. Cloud took off his shirt and washed the blood out of it.

“may I ask what kind you are?” Cloud felt his ears flatten on his head like an angry cat at the question. Cloud calmed himself down. he wasn’t an alpha. Probably not even human anymore. Cloud dried his hands on his pants and pulled the pins from his hat before removing it. Vincent saw the golden ears on the top of head.

“happy?” the sarcasm was thick enough to choke someone.

“they are rounded at the tips. So. . . you are a wolf. A predator type. I’ll only seen prey types like deer, and bunnies. The closest to predatory was cat type since they are predator and prey at the same time.” Vincent could tell Cloud’s patience for this kind of talk was running out. “Another rarity. I see why the president and vice president wanted you. You are a double rarity.” Cloud growled at the thought as he put his hat back on and repined it. “I upset you.” A strange version of an apology.

“I hate I was born this.” Cloud took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It’s been nothing but trouble since that day. Stupid stray wind blew my hat off somehow at the worst time.” The timing seemed calculated, as crazy as that sounded.

“You got away from four of the highest members of soldier. That’s impressive.” Cloud turned looking at him. His brain pushed the past conversion in the front of his mind.

“The soldier you find in the lab. He was one of them that tried to take me to the pack that brought me.” Cloud said putting it together.

“Technically not brought, no money was exchanged. And they believe you are dead.” Cloud looked at him and removed his sunglasses. Vincent almost reacted to the amount of mako in his eyes. he said he was enhanced but Vincent didn’t think it was that much.

“why?” Cloud said rather confused. He would have let the Zolom eat him if that was the case.

“They found your prints walking into the ocean and not coming out. They didn’t believe you could swim anywhere that could support life from there.” Vincent watched Cloud’s eyes go from confused to something close to proud.

“I didn’t swim.” Cloud said with a cheeky smile. “I cast ice on the water’s surface and ran. Nibleheim is full of invisible ice paths around the mountains, you learn how to walk and run on it at a young age. It took hours and a lot of mana but I made it so a southern island. I passed out on the beach once I made it though and woke up in a clinic. Beta community. Only the doctor and nurse there know I wasn’t beta. They didn’t care.” If he didn’t turn into a monster if too upset, he would have stayed there.

“You froze the top of the water? I imagine that wouldn’t have worked with most people.”

“I barely worked with me. Just light enough. If I was ten pounds heavier, I probably go through it in the warm areas. Up here not so much.” Cloud was misunderstanding.

“it’s more than that. Your mana is different and you can bring out more in a magic cast than others.” Cloud had nothing to compare that to, so he had no idea if that was true or not.

“I wouldn’t know about that. All I know is, I tried it and it worked. Then a learned to cast while running. I ended up with mana depletion but it worked.” Cloud didn’t want to talk about this anymore. If they thought he was dead, good. He had no issues with that. His best friend knew he was okay and that was all the mattered.

The water he squeezed out his shirt finally ran clean and Cloud then settled in to clean the area with heavy cleaners. Vincent went to the fireplace and stroked the fire to make it a little warmer. Cloud found a broom and two unused chairs and hung of the shirt so it could dry. With that drying, Cloud went to the cushion and continued making the outline of his soon to be new coat.

Vincent remained silent as he watched Cloud work. He measured and meticulously sewed together the design. It seemed like his coat was going to be reversible with white Jumping’s fur on the outside and bandersnatch’s on the inside. He watched when Cloud started ripping up his old coat, painstakingly undoing the stitching. The stitching was done with thin leather. No doubt made with Nibleheim wolf hide.

Hours went by without a word as Cloud worked. He seamless sewed the furs together in a matching pattern, shredded and recompiled the stuffing from his old coat as well.

“How . .” Cloud started but stopped. He looked at Vincent like he was trying to gauge if he should continue or not. “How many Omegas have you seen other than myself?”

“Five. Female. Two deer like, one cat, two I think they were like hamsters. All in packs but two of them not bonded with them.” Cloud looked down. he didn’t understand.

“my mother was a beta and she was all I had. I don’t understand what bonded means.” Vincent nodded his understanding.

“If they accept the pack, they mentally bond with them. They can feel the others’ emotions. Unless they are betas which happens. Betas can and have been in packs. Alphas can feel other alphas and the Omega if they have one which most pack don’t anymore. Some were killed because of the bond out of jealousy from other packs.” If I can have you, no one can bullshit Cloud thought only inside his head. Hearing himself say it would make me angry.

Cloud felt sick. He started to hate blockheaded Alphas more now. He didn’t hate all alphas; his best friend was an alpha but he hated to ‘alphas are better than the rest’ mentality. Vincent continued. “I checked a few things before coming back. There are five point two billion people in the world. Of them only twenty omegas were registered. You were not on the register. Could there be more? Yes. But You are the only male one though. I can’t feel anyone else’s Gaia energy like that. I felt the part Ancient’s but I couldn’t use her energy. She told me only a male omega could save Chaos. He is the life source of all my demons.” Cloud wanted to ask but at the same time didn’t want to know how many are in there.

Cloud tried to sort all this. five billion plus people and only twenty-one including him were omegas. they weren’t rare, they were nearly extinct. He continued his work nearly mindlessly. He needed the distraction. He measured the length of his arm and to the beginning of his thumb. Minty suddenly gave her ‘dinner time’ call that made Cloud jump. He laughed a little to stop the nervous energy.

“Okay. Once my hearts stops its marathon.” Cloud took a moment before he stood and stretched before going to greens stash.

X)(X

Genesis did a lot of fast talking to get away from the pack. He didn’t want to worry them. Since they couldn’t sense his emotions due to his secret, to everyone but his pack, shame. He was a beta not even a low-grade alpha. Straight up beta. All of Shin-ra thought he was an alpha and they were known as the strongest alpha pack in the world. He was living a lie that he himself never told.

He got to the medical hall when his phone rang. He answered it quickly.

“Gen! emergency call. The shadow things Angeal deal with is back and it seems invited friends. It’s spreading and the troopers aren’t making any headway. We are to leave A.S.A.P.” Zack’s tone was a cross between nervous and excited.

“the arrow had left the bow of the goddess.” Genesis said turning away from the medical wing.

“That means you are on your way, right?” Genesis rolled his eyes at the question with a loving smile.

“Yes, Zackary love.”

X)(X

Cloud interwoven the stuffing from his old coat into the yarn outline. Vincent was finally getting the picture of how this works. He never was the creative type unless it was Turk business. Not able to blieve was he was seeing He casted Sense a few times to see if Cloud used Haste on himself but the readout showed zero on statuses.

“You are rather fast with this.” Vincent said watching Cloud hands go even faster.

“Years of practice. People come to challenge the mountain and the item shop didn’t carry a lot of pieces. Mostly socks, and hats. They would grudgingly send them to Ma and me. Ma would serve them tea and I would show them the pieces I had and I would do alterations right there if need. I could make things all year round for those two months ever year since I was five. We made most of our money or barter deals those months. I got my fire Materia that way. Traded my best and heaviest coat for it. it even had dragon scales to protect against fire attacks.” The Nible festival had nothing on the crazy tourist season.

Cloud stopped everything and looked off in the distance. It took him a moment to realize he was breathing hard. The urge to hiss and growl was almost overpowering. He got up and put his now dry shirt back on almost in a trance.

“Cloud?” Vincent’s voice cut through his daze. Cloud looked at him with a look in his eyes that seemed feral. “What is it?” Cloud didn’t know why but he knew it in his soul.

“It’s making it’s move.”

X)(X

The helicopter touched down and Zack and Sephiroth stepped out. The other two were to be dropped off the helicopter other side. The idea was to cut off it’s retreats and push it back. Zack looked at Sephiroth as his instincts were screaming that something was wrong.

“Seph?”

“I . . .I’m okay.” Sephiroth head was spinning. Thinking about That voice. Had he heard her voice before?

“Seph, something is really wrong here.” Sephiroth shook it off. He looked back at Zack.

“And we are going to fix that. I’m okay now.” He sounded confident but Zack felt panicky and paranoid. Like there was someone behind him with a knife. Sephiroth kissed Zack on the forehead. “Trust yourself and trust your pack.” Zack steeled himself and nodded once at him. both drew their swords and walked the preimadered in opposite directions.

X)(X

Cloud in almost a trance walked outside, Vincent followed. Cloud growled in the same direction as he skull pounded in rage.

“Cloud-“ Cloud snarled at the sound of his name.

“I’m going. Do not try to stop me.” That second grovely voice that sounded like an animal mimicking a human voice started to come through.

“I don’t want to stop you. I’m going with you. To erase another sin, Jenova must be destroyed. I think only you can stop her.” Cloud held his head. Control. He needs to stay in control.

“Sorry, this is driving me crazy. It’s gotta die before I lose it.”

“You’re Mana had been cut in half. Allow me to fly us. It’s faster.” Cloud nodded and let Vincent pick him up. With a painful grunt the wings ripped out of his back.

X)(X

Genesis and Angeal were sent to the other side of the river where the green grass had turned black.

“They looked different than that before.” Genesis looked at a few monsters running a perimeter check. These monsters were no shadow but more like sludge that contaminated the ground they slide over. Genesis felt sick to his stomach at the thought. “Genesis. You been acting strange. Is everything okay?” Genesis looked at Angeal’s eyes. A sweet soul in a giant’s body.

“I . . .I am just repulsed these . . . things.” Angeal didn’t believe him not now wasn’t the time.

X)(X

Zack slashed through another one but it was like two more took it’s place. He was sure there was more of them now. Sephiroth bolt three an area of them but they seemed to rematerialize with friends a second later.

“Seph. This isn’t working. Physical or magic their numbers still grow.” Sephiroth noticed that too. there may be no end to this. if they couldn’t stop these things, they would have the bomb the area. A PR nightmare even if the Nibleheim area was now uninhabited. Even the Turks could not silence everyone with something this big. The people of the failed rocket launch were being evacuated. It would be a bit before they could be picked up. At this rate the people could be overrun by nightfall.

The other way as well was too close to cosmo canyon, that was beloved to the people. That place had over the years became the center of finding members of your pack and spiritual healing. “Seph! Wake up!” Zack voice snapped him out of it. where was his head right now? He couldn’t concentrate and his migraine was doubling in intensity.

X)(X

The area these things were expanding and they decided on a new trick. Many of these things absorbed into one mass. Angeal had to fall back as the thing’s tentacles flailed around wildly. Sludge dripped out its flailing limbs spreading its contamination further.

Genesis’ magic seemed to make more of them and Angeal fists or sword was no better. Angeal dived and tackled Genesis as an attack from the back almost speared him.

“We can’t hurt these things! Magic and attacks only make more of them!” Genesis never encountered something like this. can’t talk to them, can’t buy them off, can’t threaten them, can’t magic them without making more, and can’t attack them without making more. They were out of options.

X)(X

Cloud’s stomach just about had it. He could see the beginning of the mountain on the horizon. His skin was pricking and his instincts were on high alert. He was itching for a fight despite his stomach betraying him.

“There is something wrong here. I can feel her cells far off the mountain.” Vincent said over the wind. He looked at Cloud seeing his eyes narrow into slits. He was close to transforming. This close to moving and spread Jenova cells was driving his Gaia blessed instincts. Vincent needed to go faster; he had no idea how Cloud would react when full transformation happened. “Stay in control for a little longer. I know it’s hard.” Cloud’s nails started to grow. Cloud was fighting a losing battle.

X)(X

Zack got knocked to the ground and dogpiled. Sephiroth slashed his sword to cut them down before pulling him out. He was okay for the moment.

“Seph.” Zack coughed as the stretch of the freshly defeated yet respawning monsters was over powering. Especially since more came to replace them. “I’m out of ideas. Physical and magic attacks are no good. what else can we do?!” Sephiroth asked himself the same question.

X)(X

Cloud opened his eyes seeing the river he traveled to get away. Teeth grew heavy and his nails were fully extended. Seeing the land was turning black was too much.

“Contamination!” Cloud kept tensing like he was about to jump from Vincent’s hold. “It must die!”

“Almost there. Keep control.” A giant black blob looking monster was sliding across the ground. Cloud growled and hissed. Vincent knew the battle was lost and Cloud lost to Gaia’s will. He landed quickly by the river as Cloud was out of his arms and was running roaring like a beast. There was no stopping him now. Vincent needed to rest a moment. Cloud’s full transform seemed to drain energy out his demons. He would recover. He just needed time.

X)(X

Angeal and Gensis were covered in slithering tentacles. Limbs immobile, chests being squeezed, and skin burning. They were being pulled into its body. Angeal looked at Genesis’s eyes, apologizing that he couldn’t save him or himself.

A Roar sounding like a dragon on the war path sounded and both Soldiers were dropped to the ground hard. Precious air entered their lungs as the monster flailed at the small attacker was hurting it. it took only a second to recognize him.

“It can’t be. He’s alive?!” Angeal only saw him at night for a few moments but he remembered that face with those sunglasses.

“gift of the goddess.” Gensis watched at Cloud’s claws burned the creature’s flesh. It was not healing. Cloud could hurt this thing. Angeal helped Genesis to his feet. he needed to get out of range. They couldn’t hurt this thing but Cloud could somehow.

Angeal helped Genesis to a bolder and got out his phone.

X)(X

Sephiroth felt the phone ring. Despite the fight, he answered it on speaker.

“Seph. He’s alive and he can hurt these things.” Despite that small amount of information, he understood. The omega . . . No. Cloud was alive and maybe the only hope for this mission.

“Seph! They are . . . running!?” Zack didn’t understand why when they were winning.

“He’s alive” Sephiroth explained. “He can kill them.” Zack’s heart leaped at the thought Cloud was alive. He never gave up hope.

X)(X

Cloud was breathing hard as the burning sludge monster burned like paper and disappeared into the wind. The smaller ones leaped to attack only to be swiped down. the black substance of the ground seemed to pull back, like it was shirking back in fear.

Not thinking genesis rushed forward and cradled Cloud face in his hands.

“I can’t believe that you are alive. Where have you been?” Cloud’s eyes narrowed and he grabbed Genesis left hand. Angeal rushed in only to be knocked to the ground with Cloud’s foot on his throat. It wasn’t putting much pressure, more of a show of force.

“I don’t think he wants to hurt us.” Cloud sniffed Genesis’ wrist and Genesis wonder if it was because he didn’t have a scent, being a beta. A quick sniff at the shoulder caused Cloud growl and rip the shoulder protection off of him. Angeal reacted causing Cloud to crunch his foot down. “Be still.” When Angeal listened, the pressure stopped.

Cloud ripped off the bandage and growled harder. His transformed nails lightly touched the wound before slicing into the flesh. Black liquid poured out only to turn into gas a few moments later.

“Genesis. What is that wound?”

“I was on the way to medical when I got the call.” Cloud’s growling encouraged Genesis to be calm and his answers short.

“is he hurting you?” he could see his nails in his skin the look on Genesis’ face looked like relief.

“Not anymore.” The wounds wasn’t even bleeding red only black.

Cloud slid his nails out but the wound was still open and not healing at all. Cloud’s hand grabbed the back of Genesis’ head and kissed him full on the mouth. Genesis’ body almost went limp and a warm but comfortable burn spread through his body. Genesis eyes slid close as black smoke escaped his lips. Cloud let him fall gently to the ground. Angeal panicked but noticed the wound was healed.

Cloud moved his foot and let Angeal up, who rolled and leaped to his feet. Again, he looked at Genesis who was healed and breathing.

“What did you do?” Cloud held his head like he was in pain.

“contamination. Heal or destroy.” The sound coming out of Cloud’s throat wasn’t human. It was barely understandable. Cloud knocked Angeal to the ground. despite being much smaller, Cloud was stronger. Cloud growled and put two nails a hair width away from Angeal’s eyes. he stopped fighting him at this point.

Cloud lifted Angeal’s hand and sniffed it with a growl on his lips. Angeal remembered the creature from before got him in the hand. The black substance. Was it the same that Cloud released from Genesis’ shoulder?

Angeal jolted as Cloud bit into Angeal’s palm. It hurt but not as bad as one would think. The same with Genesis’ shoulder, the black liquid ran out and disappeared into smoke. The small amount of fatigue floated away; he almost didn’t notice it. He tried to talk to him but got kissed instead. His body wouldn’t move and black smoke too come out of him. eyes closed as slumber took over.

Cloud stood up and looked towards the mountain. The contamination was there. It must be eradicated.

Chapter Text

Cloud slashed with his clawed nails at anything that came after him. with every step his skull pounded in rage. Black tentacles on the ground sunk back into the ground, like they were being recalled. Some part of him realized that It was scared of him. He could taste the deep-seated fear. He could hurt it. He could kill it. Cloud growled deep in his chest at the thought. As he walked through his hometown now wasteland. His instinctual mindset was slipping.

Cloud leaped and sliced his claw like nails through a combined shadow creatures. Were these the townspeople? People that died on the mountain? Not people at all? Cloud’s head was full of thoughts. Why? Why did his hat have to fly off his head that day? If the mayor didn’t try to sell him, if Mr. Lockhart didn’t care. Or maybe if the others stood up for him, then he would have stayed. Keeping this thing in check.

All it took was one person’s greed to destroy this town. His and his mother’s home.

He felt himself going feral again and welcomed it. he had the rest of his life for regrets and self-hatred. He had a blight of humanity to destroy. He quickened his pace to the mountain until he was a full sprint. He never did trust that bridge since Tifa’s fall. Cloud leaped and cleared the gap. Last time he had to climb up a little, this time he had move to spare. Another clue that he needed to check his strength limits, but this wasn’t the time.

There were people on the floor by the metal pipes with uniforms and guns. A few were breathing, a few were not. Cloud cast cure one that was. the person slowly sat up in pain. He seemed in a panic.

“The monsters . . . those things! They keep coming!” Cloud wasn’t the mood for a conversion and walked on. “You can’t!” the yelling apparently hurt his insides and he coughed hard enough for him to hold himself. “you’ll get killed!” Cloud ignored him and continued down the stairs. There was more on this level. They all looked dead, all but one. Cloud cast cure two and suddenly regretted it. the dizziness he felt with the lce walking was showing up again. Chaos’ feeding was starting to catch up with him.

He decided to continue with no more magic. With that thought he leaped to the next platform were the door was. He pushed the door open seeing a forest of black tentacles that reacted to the disturbance.

X)(X

Sephiroth and Zack came out of the cave following the running sludge monsters. They seemed to be going to the reactor in a hurry. Sephiroth started to lag behind, as the pain in his head was worse than it ever been. He swore he had a female voice screaming at him. screeching his name as loud as she could.

Zack turned to see Sephiroth was struggling and came back. Sephiroth tried to tell him to go on without him but he knew if he could talk enough to say that, Zack would ignore the order.

“Seph!” Sephiroth turned his head and emptied his stomach in violent fashion. He could fell Zack gathering his long hair away from the line of fire and quickly braided it. He could barely hear past the ringing in his ears. It was so bright on this mountain, it hurt so much. And that woman’s voice. It was both soothing and irritating. A combo he didn’t know could exist.

Zack was confused on what to do. He watched Sephiroth with migraines before but never this bad. Zack picked him up the best he could without too much jerking movement and took him back in the colored cave they just come out of. Slowly he set him on the ground. it was darker in here and the smell from the dead creatures was lessened too.

“I’ll be back. Just rest here.” It broke his heart to leave him there but the job came first unless Sephiroth was going to die. Zack pulled his sword off his back and run down the windings trail. The sound of battle was deafening and it made Zack run faster. He was tempted to jump and climb but didn’t trust the crumbling cliffside.

Zack got to the top and saw it wasn’t the troopers but one man fighting. He recognized Cloud instantly. He was alive and he could kill these things. He watched Cloud rip off his sunglasses as the last attack scratched the lens. Even as far as he was, Zack could see the shine of Cloud’s eyes. you don’t get that hard of a shine with a second-class enhancements.

Cloud slashed through the last enemy and watched as the dark spots on the ground slowly go into the reactor. It was recalling any part of itself that was still alive. Cloud stalked after them and started up the stairs of the reactor.

Zack called after Cloud again but he showed to signs of even hearing him. Zack ran after him. He got there in time to watch Cloud jump off the pipes to the platform below. Zack didn’t trust his balance and found chains that led from the platform to the walkway. He ran to the next room seeing rows and rows of strangely shaped pods. He looked up at the top of the stairs seeing Cloud looking at the door with Jenova’s name on the top of it.

“Cloud.” Zack called out calmly to not scare him. Cloud reared back and punched the door. Zack watched at the door got sent into the next room in a few pieces. Cloud staggered in still holding his head. Zack followed slowly and saw a room with a tube in the middle of a drained reservoir where Mako should be. Cloud walked across thick pipes to these metal pieces that looked like a woman with wings. Zack couldn’t figure out why.

Cloud grabbed the machinery and ripped it out it’s base. Throwing down the empty reservoir he looked back seeing a humanoid female looking thing. It was wearing a helmet with the name Jenova. Zack was frozen at the sight of it.

“That’s Sephiroth’s mom?” it couldn’t be. It wasn’t even human. It was a poor attempt at human form. What was Hojo trying to do?

Cloud growled and attack the tube, his nails getting deeper and deeper in the see-through material that couldn’t be glass. A Pure mako smell filled the room before it splashed hitting Cloud head on. “Cloud!” He showed no signs of hearing him and broke the rest of the material away.

Cloud stared down at it. it was trying one last time. He held his head.

(Don’t! I can help you! I can make you not be what you are. Take away what you hate the most. I can take them away.) Cloud growled in pain. (please my son. Please help mother. Do not hurt mother anymore.) It said the wrong thing.

“You are not my mother.” Zack barely made out what he said before Cloud attacked in a frenzy. His arms moving faster than Zack could see. Zack turned to see Sephiroth just behind him. he looked better but not great.

“Sephiroth?” Sephiroth looked at the thing in the room with hate.

“She let me go. I wasn’t strong enough for her. yet, she picked the wrong person.” Zack didn’t fully understand as he turned back to the attack scene.

(Stop! I command you! Stop! You are killing mother!) Both Sephiroth and Cloud held their heads but Cloud recovered faster and shoved his nails into its head at the temples. It was the only part of her in one piece. The rest burned and disappeared into the air like smoke.

Cloud hissed as his fangs grew longer and bit into her skull. Sephiroth dropped to his knees, holding his head. Zack kneeled down trying to help him. he had a fleeting thought of stopping Cloud but Sephiroth grabbed Zack’s arm. Zack cradled Sephiroth’s head to his chest. He understood, despite the pain, that thing had to be destroyed and only Cloud could do it for some reason.

The things head turned to ash in Cloud’s mouth and hands. Sephiroth looked up seeing the thing was gone and Cloud turned around. He too noticed the shine in Cloud’s eyes. those were not second grade anything. He walked like a predatory towards them. His mission wasn’t done.

Cloud was on them both in an instant. Zack’s arms were pinned behind him and pushed to his knees with one arm. He twisted like a fish but the grip only got stronger. Sephiroth was pinned against the wall still in a kneeling position with a knee to his throat. He was no condition to fight an enhanced, angry, and on a mission Male omega. Cloud took his knee away and in a changed tactic gently coaxed Sephiroth’s head up. Cloud’s long nails encouraged Sephiroth to move his head the way he wanted.

Zack turned his head to see Cloud was kissing Sephiroth and then Sephiroth started to cough up black smoke. His whole body was convoluting with the action.

“Sephiroth!” Zack screamed, concern and fear overcoming him. He yelped as he was forced to stand and face the blonde. He came in close and sniffed him. he leaned back and released his grip. Zack, seeing he had no interest in him went to Sephiroth keeping an eye on the omega. “Sephiroth. How do I help you?” Tears started to pour seeing his packmate in distress.

“The contamination is only within him now. Is Gaia allows it, he will live, if not he will burn like ‘it’ did.” Zack barely understood the groveled broken voice of the omega. Cloud turned to leave.

“Please!” Zack grabbed Cloud’s hand not caring he cut his hand on the omega’s sharp as razors nails. “I can’t lose him. He’s one of the pack. I can’t lose him or the others. Please! Help him! help me not to lose him!” Zack squeezed harder, cutting his hand deeper. Cloud’s head was twitching and he held it like he was in great pain. His fangs retracted and his eye’s irises went round again.

“Pick him up.” Cloud’s voice was different. Zack realized it was he true voice and not the transformation he went through. “He has one chance.” Zack picked Sephiroth’s still convulsing body up and followed Cloud all the way out of the reactor. He went back down the path they come from. Going through the mini maze of the cave back to the mako fountain.

Cloud waited for Zack to catch up. He gestured to put sephiroth down right next to it. Cloud sat on his knees and Zack followed suit.

“My mana is low so will need your assistance. I can’t guarantee this will work either.” Zack looked down at his suffering packmate.

“Anything you need.” Cloud nodded and reached out his hands. Zack put his hands in his.

”Think only of your pack and him. concentrate on your love and connection.” He put Zack’s hands on Sephiroth shaking chest and place his own hands over Zack’s. Cloud had little idea what he was doing and winging the rest.

Zack watched as Cloud was glowing lightly. For a moment he through he had golden colored wings. Wind started around them and Cloud’s hat flew off in the gale. His golden ears standing proudly. Zack forced his eyes back on Sephiroth how coughed up black sludge that turned to smoke once it hit the ground.

“Not guilty.” A completely different voice came from Cloud as the gale calmed down. Sephiroth inhaled deeply and opened his eyes.

“Seph!” Zack hugged him and cried in pure relief.

“I met the goddess. Genesis is going to be so jealous.” Zack laughed at the truth of that statement. He heard the sound of a knife being pulled from its sheath and turned to Cloud. Who was cutting his nails off. Those did not revert seemed.

“What?” Cloud asked annoyed at them look at him like he was a freak. He thought he was but he didn’t like people staring at him. “Can’t a guy cut his claws off in peace?!” Cloud huffed and continued. Zack laughed to let off all emotions and Sephiroth rubbed his head in a form of comfort.

With that done Cloud buried the claws in the dirt so no one or thing would be hurt. He looked around and found his hat on a high ledge. Standing suddenly, he jumped, nearly bouncing from wall to wall to retrieve it and landed back by the fountain. Cloud checked it for damage. Slowly he pulled the pins from his hair and pinned through the hat and clipped in to his hair again.

“Thank you, Cloud.” Cloud sighed watching Sephiroth falling asleep to reset.

“Thank Minerva. She had to final say. She decided to not punish the carrier of ‘it’s’ cells when it wasn’t his choice. I am the destroyer, the weapon, the monster. Not a healer. That is her department.”

“No! you are wrong. you could have just not helped. You could have just killed us. You didn’t. you’re not a monster. a fierce protecter and strong to the point that it’s scary but you are not a monster.” Cloud partly appreciated those words but didn’t believe them true.

“I’m not needed here anymore.” Cloud said and started off. Zack almost called after him but the dizziness took over. “Mana exhaustion. Sleep for a while. Goodbye.” Cloud started off. Zack held out his hand seeing him getting farther away but passed out on Sephiroth’s chest.

X)(X

Cloud walked past the place the reactor was but now was a hole in the ground. it happened at the same time he asked for judgement for Sephiroth. He couldn’t be happier to see that thing gone. Going through the door he walked to other direction, to tired to climb up the ladder and he really hated that bridge.

His steps were getting slower and his vision was getting darker. He was out of energy. He was just done.

He swore that he just blinked and he was off the mountain. He was standing on the slowly turning back to green grass. The world decided to spin and he collapsed against the wall, sliding down it. He just needed to rest a little. Just a little nap.

X)(X

The troopers were tasked with taking samples of the grass that was both green and black in color. One of the troopers noticed a man at the back entrance against the mountain wall. He checked for a pulse and found it. the sergeant come over and bent down looking at the young man. He tried to take the hat off but it was stuck. The troopers noticed the pins and pulled them up a little.

Golden ears were the only thing either on them saw when the sergeant shot the trooper in the head. He turned back to Cloud and put his hat down on. He even pushed the pins back down. Draping him over his shoulder, he called for an evac for him and one passenger.

“You are my golden ticket. I will be rewarded handsomely for finding the omega the ‘Alpha pack’ couldn’t. stupid alphas and their dumb packs. Oh well. As long as I get a fat reward for you, I don’t care.” The helicopter came down and he stepped in. he careful strapped Cloud in the seat and even put a blanket over him.

“He injured?”

“Above your paygrade.” That seemed to make the pilot shut up. The sergeant sat across from his meal ticket.

The pilot texted his boss to ask about an above your paygrade order. Because he was higher ranked than the sergeant. His boss said to follow normal protocol and he would take care of it.

X)(X

The familiar dark sky is what greeted Sephiroth’s eyes. he was in the med ward in Shin-ra headquarters. The rest of the pack was there too. there was a trooper on watch duty. he stood with a salute once he noticed the general was awake. Sephiroth returned it and asked for a quick bullet point report.

“Sir! We found you and Second-class Zack together and second in command and third in command together. the mission is complete and the shadow monsters and the strange black spreading of the area has reverted. There was one survivor non-millary, location is unknown sir.”

“Suriviving cillvian?”

“sir, yes, sir!” sephiroth wished this guy would take it down a notch.

“description?”

“Sir. I don’t have that information and the person was covered in a blanket for some reason. There is a rumor it was a man with blonde hair.” Sephiroth was out of bed and woke up the others harshly.

“They got Cloud.”

“Shit.” Zack shouted out. “Which one?!” If he had to pick, Rufus was probably be better if only slightly. Sephiroth called Rufus and got a quick pick up.

“Sephiroth. Strange for you to call me.”

“You have him?”

“Him?” there was a strange pause. “the Omega? He is here?!” that meant Cloud was with the president or on the way to him.

“How long ago was he brought here?” Sephiroth asked the trooper. The trooper looked at his watch.

“Sir! Thirty-five minutes ago. I think they went to have him washed and changed sir.”

“I’ll met you at the elevator.” The call hung up and the rest of the pack nodded. Everyone but the trooper left the room leaving a confused trooper. He was told to stay here until he superior released him. unsure what to do, he sat back down. just waiting for orders.

X)(X

President Shin-ra opened the door to see the omega in an outfit that he decided will be his only outfit. Heidegger was kind enough to have him dressed in gold and black thong that had a hole for the beautiful golden tail and a long sleeve mesh top. He walked around to see a sleeping gorgeous face with a leather collar with a chain attached.

“finally. Good thing he is pretty and I would like to keep him that way. Otherwise, I would punish this one for running away from me.” Scarlet was on her phone. She didn’t have an opinion on the omega. She allowed herself to be in this pack for power and money. they didn’t care that she found her pleasures elsewhere. and she liked to cause pain and long-lasting injuries on them so she was told to keep her hands off him or her hands were to be cut off.

Reeve was in the room and so uncomfortable. He was forced in the pack but not bonded. Never has he been so happy to be born a beta. Palmer was there as an honorary pack member for power and for the whole ‘the most powerful people are in the same pack’ kind of thing.

“wake him.” Reeve got up and opened a stick of smelling salts. Cloud’s head popped up and reeve got out of the way quickly. Cloud took a moment to take in his surroundings. He was bound to a chair and in an outfit that someone need to be gutted for. He looked up seeing an older man with a short and stout build, fair skin, blue eyes, thinning blond hair, and a mustache. Cloud’s first thought was is this my grandfather?

The other next to him was a heavyset man with fair skin, brown eyes, short black hair, and a bushy beard. He was wearing enough metals on his shirt that he could melt them down and make a sword. Compensating for something?

“well, well, well. Finally, we meet mister Cloud Strife. We had you down as dead. Thanks for cleaning up that mess in Nibleheim. Whoa.” The president got a good look at Cloud’s eyes. They glowed like Sephiroth’s expect the blue around the green. “I knew you were enhanced but this much. Hm. No matter. That means I can be rougher with you.”

X)(X

Rufus and his pack where seconds behind the soldiers and going up to the president’s floor. There were troopers, shoulder to shoulder on the floor sixty-nine. But one look from Sephiroth had them moving they out of the way the best they could.

X)(X

“You like my smell, Omega?” The president put his arm in front of Cloud. He wanted to puke.

“You smell like cheaply made cigars, bad cologne, and body odor.” The president slapped Cloud but ended up hurting himself more than Cloud. He held his wrist that he hurt. “Damn Soldier enhancements!” he shook it out and gave Cloud a look that was supposed to scare him. it fell short of that. “If you don’t start behaving properly, I will kill your family.”

“I’m from Nibleheim.” The president jolted. Those people in that place were already dead. “Plus, my mother was already dead and my father died when I was two . . . maybe three. Do not remember him. No siblings, never seen an aunts or uncles, don’t know if I have grandparents. So. Yeah. If you find anyone that I might be related too, let me know. To be honest, I thought you might have been. Blond hair. Blue eyes. maybe you’re my granddad. Right age.” Cloud got punched in the stomach by Heidegger but that again seemed to hurt him more than Cloud as he rubbed his fist.

“How dare you talk like that to your pack leader!”

“one, not part of this dysfunctional thing and two, Is that a thing?” Cloud never paid attention to pack dynamics.

“Each pack chooses if there is one or not, normally.” Reeve pipped up to answer Cloud’s actual question.

“No talking from you!” Heidegger screamed at Reeve and Reeve collapsed on himself. Cloud wondered what they had on him to make him up like that. “I’ll deal with you later.” the President grabbed Cloud’s collar and made him look at him. “Obey.” The alpha voice rang out, like a bell toll.

X)(X

When the others got to the stairs, Scarlet was crawling on the ground only for something with long nail to pierced her leg. She screamed in pain and horror and held on the edge of the stairs. She looked down seeing the soldiers.

“Help meee!” her grip failed and she was pulled back up, there was loud noises, screaming, and the smell of blood.

Rufus looked at the others and declared a five-minute break.

X)(X

Slowly the soldiers, followed by the Turks, and then Rufus went up the stairs to the president’s office. The area was covered in blood with palmer and scarlet ripped onto a few pieces. Heidegger was ripped in half. Yet, there was no sign of the president. Just a traumatized Reeve and a bloody, barely dressed Cloud who was acting more animal than they saw earlier. As was he was licking his nails clean from the blood.

“reeve.” Angeal whispered yelled to him. “You, okay?” Reeve was still shaking but nodded. He was unharmed. Cloud did have him in his claws but dropped him. Maybe because he wasn’t a threat? Or maybe because he was a beta? No way of telling.

“where is the president?” Cloud bumped loudly as if to answer the question. Cloud looked up and hissed at the new comers. The Turks looked like they were going to pull their weapons But Rufus told them to stand down. Cloud only attacked if threaten since he didn’t hurt Reeve who wouldn’t hurt anyone.

“You think the president used the voice?” Zack asked.

“What? That doesn’t work?” Rufus asked a little confused. He didn’t use it as his pack would do anything he told them to do. Reno liked to be roughed up and then pampered.

“Not on a male omega. That’s how you get eaten.” Sephiroth answered.

“eaten?” Rufus looked surprised.

“Male omegas aren’t like their female counterparts. They eat unworthy alphas and their rage makes them three and ten times stronger.” Sephiroth added.

“Now Cloud is enhanced even more than we thought. So . . .” Zack trailed off leaving Rufus fill In the blanks.

Cloud groaned holding his head. He looked at his hand and sighed seeing the long nails again. It took a few moments for the memories to come back. He suddenly remembered the outfit he was put in and slid off the desk, hiding behind it.

“Where are my clothes?! Who dresses people like this?! Sick fuckheads!” Cloud yelled as the collar and leash was thrown across the room. Reeve seemed to calm himself enough and he took off his jacket. Still scared of the people eating omega, he threw it on top of the desk. Cloud snatched it the second the cloth hit it. “thanks.” After a few moments, Cloud popped back up in a blue suit jacket that come almost mid-thigh. It was a little big but Cloud didn’t care. “Now. where am I? why am I here? And again, where are my clothes. Do not forget my sword, my knife, my bracer, Materia, and star pendent.” Cloud reached up feeling his hair and ears. “and my hat. I have ten gold bobby pins. Those were my mothers. I swear I will rampage if one is missing!” Rufus looked at Rude and Reno to find the items. Cloud touched his human ears. “And silver wolf earrings with magnetic backs to them.”

Rufus cleared his throat. “You are in shin-ra headquarters the middle of midgar. How you got here, I’m not sure yet.” He looked over at shotgun who was already looking into it. Angeal went to Reeve now that Cloud was not feral. Something that in the excitement was overlooked. Reeve was covered in bruises. Angeal lightly touched one and Reeve jumped at it.

“They abused you. You deserve better than this.” Reeve held his other arm in his hand.

Rude and Reno were back in record time with a box full of Cloud’s stuff. They put it on the desk and backed away from the annoyed omega. Cloud put on the bracer and popped a restore in it. He cast a Basic cure and a Regen on Reeve. The dark bruises were turning brown and yellowed before disappearing.

“He was brought by helicopter. The sergeant called for an evac, same sergeant was shot when he got here and was taken by two captains. He was then striped down, washed, the captains got a little handsy with the tail.” She stopped when Cloud started to growl.

Something about that shook her core. She been in gunfights, knifes at her throat, and bombs at her feet with no reaction but that scared her. she cleared her throat and mind. “They had to get bottoms that fit better since the others were too big, then they took you to the president’s office and tried you to the chair. They didn’t know what your enhancements or the level of them.” Cloud remembered the chair but he actually thought he could turn them off. Who would want someone that shows nothing but distain?

Cloud pulled out his clothes and took off the suit jacket. He peeled the horrible mesh top off and set it on fire as he dropped it in the metal trash can. Cloud made sure he was covered by the desk as he removed the thong. It was tight around the base of his tail so he ripped it off. Quickly he tugged his pants on ignored the discomfort his tail felt. Put on his magnetic sword attachment then put the sword on his back. He put the star pendent back on followed by his earrings. He carefully counted the golden bobby pins and smiled when he found all ten.

“Where is my hat?” Reno smiled in a ‘I’m sorry about this’ kind of way.

“Didn’t find one. It’s possible one of the captains took it as a . . . trophy.” Cloud was confused. He sniffed his arm and he was still scentless as far as he could tell.

“I don’t have a scent. What would anyone get from that.” Cloud asked but he wasn’t sure if he wanted an answer.

“A Memory.” Cloud rolled his eyes and looked at Shotgun.

“They just touched my tail, right? Nothing more.” Shotgun nodded at the question.

“Alphas. So weird. Go pet a dog or a cat. They have tails too.” Cloud mumbled to himself and took the bobby pins out of the box and saw his hands. He forgot about his eight-inch nails and put the pins on the desk. He took out the Whole Eater knife and sat on the desk. Slowly cut them off and put them in the burn metal trash can. It was pain steaking to cut through these things and the knife was getting dull. He was going to find a replacement monster teeth to make more.

But the time Cloud finished one hand, Rufus approached him. Cloud showed no interest in him. Rufus raised his hand towards Cloud’s ears nearly in a trance. A Growl stopped him as Enhanced eyes burned into his. He retracted the offending hand put it behind his back. He never felt so out of his element. He was at a loss.

“I hereby apologize for my father’s treatment of you.” Rufus said with a bow. Cloud was not impressed.

“You are just as guilty. Sending soldiers to drag me somewhere I didn’t want to go. Omega or not.” A hand lashed out, catching Rufus’s coat and pulled him eye level with him. “You Don’t own me.” Cloud pushed him off his feet and continued cutting the rest of his nails off.

Sawing the last one off he dropped it in the still burning trash. Cloud showed little care as he rolled one of his pointed ears into a turf of gravity defying pieces of hair and pinned it. the Alphas actually looked like they were hurting when they did that. Cloud flattened that other and pinned it in place.

“Must you be so rough with them?” Angeal asked sounding pained. This only pissed Cloud off. They were his to do with. Cloud started growling again before cutting himself off. He wasn’t an animal, he needed to stop doing that.

“I tried to cut them off once. Almost bled to death. Oh. I remember the pain too. I’m no baby when it comes to that but I barely cut the base of this one.” He pointed to his left side. “Long story short. If I going to take myself out, I will slice these horrible things off my body and die in my true form.” Rufus got to his feet and again approached Cloud.

“How could you say such a thing? You are perfect. A deadly Beauty.” Cloud felt sickened by Rufus’s words. He wanted nothing more to never hear his voice again. “You did in minutes what we wouldn’t in years.”

“sounds like you owe me a favor then.” Cloud said with a deadpanned expression.

“Anything you want.” It sounded like he meant it.

“you and your pack, leave me alone. Forever.” Rufus acted like he got hit in the face.

“Surely, you don’t mean that.” Rufus seemed for once completely lost.

“Surely, I do. What’s the matter, penthouse princess? Never had a rejection before?” Cloud checked the box finding his boots but no socks. “don’t tell me they took my socks at another trophy. So weird.” Cloud shoved his feet into his boots. The smell of death was sickening in here. Cloud looked through the giant window. You couldn’t see the stars here.

Reeve opened the door to the helipad to let fresher air in. Cloud noticed that and went through it faster than the non-soldiers could see it. there was no way down from out there so there was no panic. Shotgun stayed behind and took Reeve to the infirmary to get checked out. She wasn’t part of the pack by choice so that made perfect sense.

“I never seen him try so hard.”

“He can’t buy him and Cloud could just transform then eat him. he can’t swing the situation his way and Clous is dead set on the No.” Then the soldiers on top of this. they won’t let Rufus try anything underhanded.

“How does it feel to be free?”

“Wonderful.”

Outside of the helipad, Cloud went to the ledge and looked down. it was a pretty high tower in this metal city. How could people live cut off from nature? It was suffocating. Cloud looked over seeing a flash of red with gold and smiled.

“Cloud. My self and my pack are different from my father. If you wish to take it slow.-” Cloud was done with this. Cloud turned around gave a short wave and leaned back hard.

Everyone rushed to look over and didn’t see him at all.

“did he transform into a bird? Where did he go?” Reno said confused. Rude was calling ground units but they didn’t see him neither.

Sephiroth noticed something but kept it to himself. There was a huge pair on wings in the sky and they were holding something with the same-colored hair Cloud had. Genesis didn’t need a pack bond to see that Sephiroth knew something he and the others didn’t.

X)(X

Cloud put his arms around Vincent’s neck. They flew in silence through the night and back to Chocobo Sage’s house. Vincent put Cloud down in the snow and shot three monsters in the head. Cloud didn’t need to be told and he dug in. and tore the pelts on them semi-carefully and consumed all meat.

After the last jumping was eaten Cloud cleaned his hand with melted snow. He grabbed the bloody pelts and walked to the house. He dropped the pelts outside for tanning later. All he wanted was a nice, long nap.

“What happened? Something strange was in the air.” Cloud smiled lightly before curling up on the cushion.

“I’ll tell you all about it after I sleep. I had quite the adventure.” Minty cooed gently like she was trying to say goodnight. Vincent found a nice corner and remained a watchful observer. He wanted to hear the story too but he could wait. what was time to an immortal?

Chapter Text

Four months went by. Cloud made a cave on the inside of the thick mountain side. Chocobo Sage said he could stay with him but Cloud needed his own space. It took a while but once finished it was twice the size of what his old house was. He kept his tanning skins inside the cave and busied himself with making clothing items and weapons out of monster claws, fangs, and anything he could find.

He made friends with the pilot that came to icicle inn from supply drop-offs. Once a month he would be on this supply runs and Cloud went with him.

He would have twelve hours to spend in on these runs. He would go to sector five and give the knitted items to the kids. They were happy to see him and there was a man named Briggs that took over the orphanage. He was always so happy to see Cloud and his sack full of knitted articles. It was strangely cold in Midgar.

He noticed a Turk or two following at a distance when he showed up here. He noticed one in Icicle inn too. He always tried to lose them, like a game of hide and seek. Rude and shotgun he could lose a lot easier than Reno and Tseng. So much for ‘anything you want.’ Penthouse princess really couldn’t take no for an answer.

The last couple of months, things had changed a bit. Mako reactors were in the works of being shut down. clean-up efforts were in effect, troopers were on more patrols for monster raids, the slums were being cleaned up, and there were talks about building a new city that didn’t have the spilt of the upper and lower areas.

It seemed weird unless the president was really a problem, holding back all these changes. Cloud decided he didn’t care. He was just here to see his friend. After losing his Turk stalker, he double backed back to sector seven. He waited in the weapon shop that Tifa always visited.

She grabbed his hands and he put his forehand to hers. She smiled and pulled back.

“How are things this month?”

“A few Turk sightings but they still haven’t found my new home. Have they been bugging you?”

“No. I am off-limits it seems. I think they may be scared to piss you off too much.” Tifa adopted a thinking pose for a moment. “the soldier though. He comes back once a week for the chili pizza. Never says a word to me and tips the waitress well.” Cloud wasn’t sure what to think about that. if he wasn’t bothering her, he figured It was okay. “You stocked up?’ Cloud motioned to his pack. “great! The kids love your clothes. I met a friend who has a young daughter. She is three.” Cloud understood what she was asking without asking. Make some more three-year-old range group clothes and let her have first dibs.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Tifa handed over a bag of materials.

“Marle had a lot just sitting in the storage room.” He could believe that, she seemed like the type to have random things laying around.

“I have to get back to the pilot if I want to get home this month.” Tifa nodded and hugged him tightly.

X)(X

Zack is hanging around the food stalls. The food options were so much better down here. And the smell down here was almost gone due to changes Rufus started. How the death of one man could change so much? He brought a random food item and walked down seller’s row. He scanned the stalls in his version of window shopping when he saw him.

Zack ran past the stalls and searched the area. He knew he saw him. He walked by a building and got pulled between two buildings. The strength alone, he knew it was him.

“What is your problem?” Zack looking into Cloud’s not angry but annoyed eyes.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t believe it was you. How did you survive that fall? I mean, I know you did but how?”

“I had a friend in high place. Is that all you wanted?” Zack felt his arms being released and Zack hugged Cloud. “seriously. Stop.” Cloud said almost deadpanned.

“I’m just glad you are okay.” The soldier was crying and Cloud didn’t know how to deal with this.

“Ah . . um . . .I have a ride to catch so . . . could you maybe. . . . stop?” Cloud’s social awkwardness was rearing its ugly head. Yet, it seemed to work as Zack let go. Cloud stepped out of the alley at high speed. Zack on the other hand got a text from him pack. Genesis was having a pampering session and it wasn’t the same without him. Zack texted that he was on the way, he had something to tell them anyways.

X)(X

“So, you ran into him in the slums? Did he look okay?” Angeal asked.

“Never better. Rufus apparently knows he visits as I saw shotgun. She hates the slums so she doesn’t go down there for fun.”

“Yeah, I heard he can give the slip to her and Rude rather easily. Reno and Tseng takes more effort.” Zack smiled at the thought of confused Turks running around the slums.” Angeal carefully brushed the hair around Genesis’ ears before putting leave in conditioner in it. Zack continued giving Genesis’ nails a high buff.

“Rufus still not giving up?” Zack asked

“He’s in love.” Angeal answered automatically.

“He is delusional. Cloud does not like him in any way.” Genesis chimed in. “Surprised Cloud didn’t eat him. I wouldn’t mind Reeve in charge.” He groaned again as Sephiroth worked. “Sorry Sephiroth. Where you feeling neglected during the conversation? Can’t help that your mouth is full.” Genesis’ fingers petted Sephiroth’s hair.

“maybe he would prefer being part of a show?” Zack suggested and Genesis laughed.

“I Love a good performance.” Genesis looked up at Angeal and reached up stroking his cheek gently. “Angeal darling. You are the brave knight that must stop the evil prince. You must pound him into submission.” Zack switched sides to work on the other hand’s nails. Angeal put down the comb and slowly walked around the chair.

“So?” Zack started. “audience gets involved?”

“The prince still must be defeated. Let’s see what the brave knight can do first.”

“What if he’s not evil and Just cursed?” Zack asked getting into this.

“Then we have to beat him in battle and purify him.” Genesis answered with a dark chuckle.

X)(X

A half a day and Cloud was back in Icicle inn. Cloud pulled out his monster fur coat and turned it white fur out. He made his home in the high wind area, so if anyone followed him. he could blend into the area and they would lose him as his foot prints would be blown over.

He moved the giant boulder that didn’t look like it could be moved and slipped inside. He moved it back and used his fire Materia to light the lamps on the walls. He set his coat on the stone table and settled into his favorite spot In the cave. He opened the sack Tifa gave him and found yards of fabric. He pulled it all out and dumped his pack. It was time to work on his friend’s request.

X)(X

Another month went by and Cloud came to Seventh heaven. Jessie called Tifa and she bolted out of the office and Cloud dodged a punch to the face. Both danced around each other with half-hearted strikes. She stuck out with both fists and Cloud caught them. Slowly they linked hands and foreheads met. Both lightly laughed at their play fighting. Cloud wasn’t great at hand-to-hand but could dodged all day. Plus, the enhancements, she knew he could hurt her if he wanted to. He was as crazy as she was.

She looked down at the bag Cloud had. She looked back at him and he nodded. Who needed words? She put the bag on the counter and pulled out the items. gloves, hats, scarves, knitted shirt, and everyday dress pink and white, socks with fur cuffs, a pink and white soft fabric shirt, and soft patchwork like pants. She went to the back door and called two people in. One was a giant black man with a gun arm and the other was a little girl on his shoulder.

“Barret. Marlene. This is Cloud, my oldest friend.” Cloud put on hand over his chest and bowed slightly. “I asked him to make a few things for a three-year-old girl in mind. he always makes things for the orphanage children. They adore him.” Marlene was put on the bar top and she went for the everyday dress instantly.

“Pretty!” Tifa took her to the office to change, leaving Barret and Cloud alone. Cloud’s social awkwardness was worse than normal.

“So, You like making clothes?” Barret asked in a small talking way.

“Clothes, weapons, anything really.” Cloud looked at the floor, wishing Tifa would hurry up. As if a pray was heard Marlene ran out in a dress that fit her perfectly. “that dress has some hidden extensors. The double layer skirt had hidden snaps that dropped down. it gives the dress six more inches.”

“Cloud! That’s brilliant.” Tifa praised. “kids grow like weeds.” Cloud nodded at the statement. Marlene took a pair of gloves, one hat, a knitted shirt and patchwork pants.

“Heya!” a voice rang out and a short redhaired come into veiw. “Ohhh! The cute childhood friend is back.”

“Miss Jessie.” Cloud wanted to say ‘annoying loud redhead’ but controlled himself.

“You are always wearing a hat. You have a bad haircut or something?”

“Or something.” Cloud answered automatically. Cloud watched Marlene put the gloves on but didn’t notice Jessie’s hand.

“Jessie! Stop!” The hat was already in her hand. Cloud felt the air hit his ears and both Marlene and Barret were just staring at him. “Jessie!” Tifa was pissed and swiped the hat out of her loose stocked grip. she put the hat back on the shellshocked Cloud. “Cloud? Cloud! It’s okay!” She glared at Jessie. “Jessie! Office now!” Jessie slowly did as she was told. “Cloud. Please. You are starting to scare me.” Marlene pouted seeing Cloud should distressed.

“It’s okay mister Cwoud. I like your hair. It’s almost the color of the sun.”

“R-Right. Closer to a Chocobo. Not an insult, they are beautiful birds.” Barret saw the ears but seeing how him react this way, made him play along.

Cloud snapped back to reality and got to his feet. He refused to look at anyone right now.

“She can have whatever. The rest goes to sector five orphanage. I won’t be back for a while.” Cloud turned hurried to the exit.

“Cloud!” After the doors closed behind Cloud, he ran.

“I don’t understand, Daddy. What is wrong with being blonde?” Barret shrugged but reminded her to never do what Jessie did. Marlene promised to never pull someone’s hat off.

“great. Can you two go somewhere else? I need to have a harsh word with Jessie.” Tifa said tugging on her battle glove. Barret took the new clothes and went back to their apartment. Marle took a liking to Marlene and give them the room at half price.

X)(X

Cloud was on the water running for a few hours now. As it got colder, he made the ice thicker into he could get to the upper layers of the northern continent. He didn’t stop running even when his feet hit frozen grass. A snowstorm was kicking up But Cloud didn’t stop as he ran into the storm.

The wind stung his skin but he paid it no mind. He founded his door and opened it and shut it with authority. Without turning on the lamps, he took off his hat and took off everything but his shorts that was made to accommodate his troublesome tail. He went to his handmade bed and under all the handmade fur blankets. The cave was warm but the feeling of furs was comforting. He laid there and started to sob. Why couldn’t people let him make believe he was one of them? Why did he get too comfortable and not pin his hat down? why did he do such a stupid thing?

X)(X

Vincent traveled back to see what Cloud’s energy felt so bad. He knew where Cloud’s new home was and tried to open the heavy door. he borrowed a little of Choas’ strength to open it just enough to slip through.

It was dark but his demon tenants allowed him great night vision. He walked over to the stone frame bed and handmade mattress and fur blankets. He could feel the distress in his energy.

“Cloud?”

“Please leave me alone Vincent.” Vincent sat down on the bed. Slowly he pulled the limp body of Cloud up and to him. Cloud didn’t fight him.

“Let it out.” One tear led to two, two to four, four to scream crying. The damn broke and Cloud was letting out years of pain. Despite how much he hated being an Omega, he still had instincts that hurt him, to ignore them. With no one to protect and care for, he started to go into a depression. Vincent could feel it in his energy for months.

Vincent remembered reading all about omegas during the near end of the breeding programs before he was killed and experimented on. No one seen one in decades and used betas with minor traits with a few proper aged female omegas. they tried tweaking the cells once inside but it ended up being unstable Alphas birthed instead.

The fierce protector needed people to protect. Monster hunting would never be enough. He needed to be with people who could handle or at least heal from his strength. The sad thing is that Cloud probably wouldn’t mind being a one if the alpha instinct to have him wasn’t on full display. He hated feeling like everyone wanted to own him, like a pet.

Being taken and dressed up to see the president and then tried to be forced into a pack, didn’t help matters.

***

Cloud ranted, cried, and screamed in Vincent’s arms before mental exhaustion took over. He knew what needed to be done. This lonely lifestyle for self-protection was an unhealthy for an omega. Even a male one. They rarely bonded or got romantic but they formed bonding friendships. A protector needed to protect.

He also was afraid of his strength and instinct to eat bad alphas. He could understand but this had to stop.

“You will hate me at first but it must be done.” Vincent put Cloud down and covered him up with the furs. He went back to the stone door and again moved it enough to squeeze through.

X)(X

Sephiroth come back from training and shut the door. he stopped instantly and looked around the room, seeing nothing amiss. Yet, he knew.

“I know you are here. Show yourself.” Vincent dropped from the ceiling. Sephiroth looked at the caped man. “You are Turk trained but I do not know you.”

“I am a . . . friend of Cloud’s.” he wasn’t sure what else to call it but it sounded right.

“He is alright?”

“Physically yes. Emotionally no.” Vincent moved away from sephiroth to the padded chair. He motioned Sephiroth to sit on the couch in front of him. They needed to talk about a few things.

***

“So. Jenova isn’t my mother, I just have her cells, I have twenty-five to forty percent of your D.N.A., and you believe Cloud needs us, but might not be able to see it. Is that everything?” Vincent nodded. Sephiroth leaned back thinking it all over. “You know that first time I saw Cloud’s ears and tail was the day he ate the president. The first time he had them pinned in his hair and his tail was hidden. We crossed swords and I was unable to disarm him.” Sephiroth found himself smiling at the memory. “We all felt horrible when we thought he drowned himself. We were actively grieving someone we met for the first time. We knew he was an omega but I never imagined a wolf type. A Golden wolf.” Sephiroth opened his phone and looked at his saved vacation days. “I need to talk to the others. I thank you for all the information, Vincent valentine.” Vincent stood.

Sephiroth looked down at his phone to call his pack. He looked up seeing Vincent was gone. He was better than any Turk he ever seen.

X)(X

Veld was taking a mental break. He wished Rufus could get that the Omega didn’t want anything to do with him. they were wasting time following him when they caught a glimpse of him. the only reason he didn’t force the omega into the pack was the fact the omega was as strong if not stronger than the first classes and mister Cloud’s track record of eating pushing alphas. He hoped Cloud didn’t get heart burn on the asshole.

“Veld.” The person in question had a gun in each hand in a blink of an eye. He looked at the intruder and, in a moment, recognized him.

“Vincent. . . you are alive?! How?”

“Hojo.” Veld put his guns away.

“He is so lucky he got blown up.” Vincent looked annoyed too. he wanted to put a bullet in his head. “Where exactly have you been?” Vincent sat down in the chair in front of Veld. It was a long story.

X)(X

Sephiroth cashed in his half a favor he still had. After requesting with a small bit of force for a vacation and Rufus allowed if he chose the location. He picked costa del sol which he always picked. Tseng sent a different pilot there to replace the other one. They waited for the polit to get drunk and flew off.

“why did he pick such a cold place?”

“He is afraid of the thing he turns into when he is mad.” Sephiroth said to genesis’ question. “less people, less chance to hurt anyone.”

“So . . . he is in town?” Zack asked looking around.

“No. he lives in a hollowed-out cave in the snowiest and windiest part of this area.” Sephiroth pointed into the distance away from the town. Zack said he wanted to drop by the store here real fast. He was told he had five minutes.

***

Cloud didn’t hear the stone boulder move. He was completely out from the emotional break yesterday.

“Wow. This is nicer than I thought.” Genesis lit each lamp on the walls. There was a stone table, a stone bed with a handmade mattress and many furs, more furs in the process of being tanned, and half completed children’s clothes on stone tables. Monster claws and random pieces of metal scattered across them.

Slowly they walked to the bed seeing the exhausted Cloud with nothing covering his wolf ears. Zack drew a finger down Cloud’s cheek and Cloud’s eyes popped open. Cloud back was against the cave wall, terrified.

“Hey. Calm down. it’s okay. You are okay.” Zack tried to soothe the room. Cloud seemed like the type that turned his fear to anger at a drop of a hat.

“What the shit is wrong with you people?! Fuck that Penthouse Princess!” fangs started to grow past his closed lips. “If I see him in person, I’ll just eat him like I did his nasty, asshole of a father.”

“Let me know if you want any Saffron. He’ll go down easier.” Angeal elbowed Genesis who elbowed him back just as hard.

“He thinks we are in costa del sol right now. he would have a fit if he knew where we are.” Angeal explained.

“You should go back there if you know what is good for you then.” Cloud said coldly showing nothing but annoyance. Zack actually pouted lightly. Not that the was expecting a hug and a kiss but this open degree of distain was disheartening. “Seriously Vincent. What in Gaia’s winds were you thinking?” Cloud was going to punch him when he saw him again.

“You know?” Sephiroth asked in light surprise.

“He can feel my ‘Gaia blessed’ energy and he was the only one that knew I was here. It not that hard to figure out even if I’m backwater as it can get.” Cloud ran he fingers through his hair In a calming gesture. “Even the Turks in icicle inn couldn’t find me outside of town. They tried and failed.” He even picked one up from the ground and dropped them in the inn with a note pinned to their clothes. Saying -next time, I’ll leave you there to freeze to death.-

“yeah, we almost got lost in the last leg of it and we had directions.” Cloud wasn’t surprised. It was half the reason he picked this place to live out the rest of his days. Away from people so he wouldn’t hurt them and away from people that wanted to own him because of a few useless body parts. “Wow, how did you get in so warm in here?” Zack asked looking around for a heat source.

Thrown by the random question, Cloud just answered calmly. “There is a natural hot spring on this continent. The line of it runs this way, warming the cave here naturally without waste or toxic fumes.” Suddenly Cloud snapped out of it and Growled. “Don’t change the subject! You need to get far away from me! I eat alphas, remember? You want to be next on the menu?”

“Why didn’t you hurt Reeve?” Sephiroth asked suddenly again catching Cloud off guard.

“What?” Who? Was he supposed to know?

“Why didn’t you hurt Reeve?” Sephiroth repeated in the same tone.

“Who even this is that?” He was drawing all the blanks.

“He gave you the jacket and you healed his bruises.” Angeal answered. Cloud remembered that guy. Nice guy forced in an evil pack.

“He is a beta.” Cloud said but it can out closer to a question.

“So was palmer.” Seeing Cloud’s who-the-fuck-is-that’ face he decided to explain. “The older gray haired one and Scarlet was a fake alpha. She wears.” He forgot and corrected himself. “wore a perfume that makes you smell like an alpha.” No wonder she smelled wrong. He didn’t eat her because she smelled so bad to him. Even he wasn’t that hungry to eat that.

“I tore him into pieces because he drew a golden gun on me. Her . . . She smelled bad. I am a monster that eats people if you piss me off. Do I need a reason?” Cloud was trying to hold into enough anger but not transform. He didn’t want to hurt anyone.

“Reeve?” Sephiroth redirected.

“He was pushed into me by her. I had no reason to hurt him, he didn’t want to be there, same as me. Plus, Beta. I do not eat them it seems.” Cloud didn’t think about it. he just did what he felt was necessary. Killing him was not needed.

“why didn’t you eat Heidegger?”

“The guy with all the metals like it makes him better? I don’t know. I just ripped him in half longways. I Think I was mad about the outfit.” He just knew he picked it out. It was pointless and overly gaudy. Just like that guy. “what does it matter? I ate three others before that. see monster. just take out your weapons and kill the monster already or just go back to Costa whatever it was called.” Zack suddenly pounced on the bed and bear hugged Cloud.

“You are not a monster. you did what had to be done. Life in midgar is so much better with them gone. The three you ate before, what did they do? I bet it was really bad.”

“one tried to attack me and said he I was a little older than he liked them. I’m twenty. I do not think I look older than that.” Zack nodded agreeing that he looked his age or maybe a little younger. “Actually. he said a lot younger. The idea that might mean hurting the chi . . .-“ Cloud held his head. It sickened him to think about it. “the others wanted to take over the beta community and work them to the bone for their benefit.” Saying it out loud that did sound really, really bad. “regardless I didn’t have the right to be jury, judge and executioner. Who am I to decide?” Zack pulled back a little so he could look at Cloud’s face.

“You stopped an alpha that wanted to hurt children and his friends that thought betas were their slaves. If it was us, we would have either carted them off to jail or at least two of us would have got rid of them quietly.” Genesis and Sephiroth looked elsewhere at that statement. “Now if you ate Reeve, I would believe you were a monster but you didn’t. he got pushed into you and you let him go. you cured Genesis and fixed his shoulder, you cured Angeal, you cure Sephiroth and saved him.”

“Gaia did, not me.” Cloud looked away from him feeling ashamed of this whole conversion. Eyes started to burn.

“If you didn’t do the thing with the wind, and the wings, and glowing eyes, and lady’s voice coming out of you. I don’t think his body could have taken it. you saved a couple of Troopers too at the mountain, remember? Monsters don’t heal people. And . . .” Zack cleared a tear off his cloud’s cheek. “Monsters don’t feel remorse.” Cloud focused on all the anger he had. He had to show them. To make them understand.

A growl exploded from Cloud’s chest as he pushed Zack off him and caught him by the throat. He was squeezing hard enough to cut his airway off. The others almost jumped in back Zack hand signaled to back off.

A hand floated up to Cloud’s cheek and traced it. Cloud halfheartedly snapped at it but his fangs were gone and his eyes started to go round again. Cloud realized he stopped applying pressure for a while now. with a smile Zack gently pulled Cloud’s hand away, careful with the eight-inch nails.

“See. you only hurt bad people. You didn’t hurt the mayor because he was harmless to you, or maybe a small part of you wanted to leave that place too, You didn’t hurt Reeve, you didn’t hurt Rufus or his pack, the few extras, or us. You didn’t kill me despite being in full transformation and easily could. You have the strength. You had me completely at your mercy in the reactor and with one arm, had me subdued. You could have crushed my throat in a second just now. You didn’t want to hurt me. You are in more control than you realize, even if the instincts run amuck. You are the protector. To stop bad alphas from hurting the others. That is your role. This is why you transform. This is why you ate them.” Cloud sat back on his heels and looked at his claw like nails. It was the proof he turned into that thing.

Zack gestured to his bag and Sephiroth handed it to him. opening the bag he dumped in front of Cloud. Snacks and food stuffs of all kinds fell out of the bag.

“What?! You think you can buy me with food?”

***

You could buy time with food it seemed. Zack remembered the ravinness appetite of Male omegas. Cloud opened another bag while watching some movie that Zack enjoyed on his phone.

“What is that guy’s job again?” Cloud asked pointing to the man in a suit on the phone screen.

“Butler.”

“Um . . . yeah. No idea what that is or what he does.” Cloud admitted.

“He is like a paid helper. Answers doors, answers phone calls, housekeeping with there aren’t housekeepers.”

“So, he is a person that helps lazy people with more money than sense?”

“well, yes and no. some people run many companies and needs someone to help keep track of everything. Like I have to tell Seph to go eat because he forgets all the time.” Sephiroth didn’t protest that statement. Cloud was lightly jealous. To be able to forget about his stomach for a while.

***

“So, you lived on an apple farm? But the apples season was random?” Cloud asked as his head was on Genesis’ lap. Genesis nodded at Cloud’s questions. “and Angeal was your neighbor?” Both nodded. “What do dumbapples taste like?”

“You can’t really eat them right away. They have to be aged. Once they are no longer rock hard the taste is clean and refreshing with a little bit of sweet.” Cloud seemed to be hanging on every word.

***

“So, you carry a sword into battle but rarely use it due to family honor?” Cloud groaned lightly as large hands worked knots out of his upper back. It hurt as first but the body relaxed into it as it realized it was helping.

“Using it causes rust, wear, and tear.” Cloud needed to make him Nible fashioned sword oil. It was made for protection from extreme conditioners. Cloud reached over and got another snack.

“You truly do not get full, do you?” Genesis asked as Cloud showed no sign of slowing down.

“I don’t know what that feels like. I always feel like I haven’t eaten in a week with the pains and feeling like my stomach is trying to eat itself. I ate three Sea worms raw one after another and still hungry.” Cloud thought about it. “I could go for a sea worm right now or a Nible dragon. Or a Sea worm and a Nible dragon. That combo got to be delicious.” Cloud took another bite of the sweet bun. He found out that he preferred salty over sweet. He wasn’t going to turn his nose up at it though. Nibleheim values didn’t let him waste food.

***

“So, I am not defective. I’m not supposed to have a scent or heats. My role was to protect the female omegas from bad alphas if they tired anything. Except now there are barely any of those. I never even seen another omega before. My friend told me there are only twenty registered and I wasn’t on the list.” He took the last snack off the table. “Have you guys seen an omega besides me?”

“I’ve seen a bunny and a deer.” Sephiroth said remembering that. “Hojo wanted them in a pack with me but I wasn’t interested. I wasn’t going to give him children to experiment on.”

“were they pretty?” Cloud asked.

“You are prettier.” Sephiorth admitted with no shame. Cloud acted like he was hit in the chest.

“I am not pretty!”

“You are right. You are not pretty. You are gorgeous.” Genesis jumped in the conversion. Cloud cheeks went red in embarrassment.

“I . . .wha? I . . . I am not!” Cloud was flustered he couldn’t speak right.

***

It was starting to get dark. Sephiroth asked for a duel. Since their first short fight Sephiroth wanted more. Specially since Cloud was even more enhanced that he realized. And had a much better sword. The snowy wind whipped them in the face as their swords clashed.

“so, you saved a child from a Mako pit. The structure gave away and you cut your leg. The same leg ended up in the mako causing mako intoxication for a full day.” They pulled apart and crossed swords again.

“Yeah. Basically.” Cloud twisted up on his handle and caught the handle of Sephiroth’s sword making him stumble back. The snow dragged him down and he found Cloud’s sword at his neck.

“You win.”

“You lost because of snow. Not swordsmanship.”

“I will need a rematch on neutral terrain then.” Cloud turned to see a Bandersnatch approaching.

“One second.” Cloud leaped in front of it and killed it for dinner and it’s pelt. He skinned it quickly and dissected it just as quick. Cloud froze the meat and the wet side of the pelt before picking both up to go back inside. “Let’s go back inside.”

Cloud used his elbow to move the boulder over and Sephiroth moved it back. They both took off their boots so not to track snow on the pelts Cloud was using for rugs.

“Who won?” Zack asked.

“The snow.” Cloud answered before Sephiroth could. Sephiroth pointed his thumb at Cloud. The blonde walked to the other side of the cave with the frozen meat and melted the ice. He put his hand on the cooking tray and raised it to cooking temperature before slicing the meat into streak sizes. Cloud was making dinner for his guests.

***

He thought they were going to go at nightfall but they seemed to have no intention of it. they piled on the bed; Cloud was glad he made it of stone. Plus, he did make it a little over-sized. Cloud at first was a little weirded out but like when he and Tifa slept in the same bed, he found that it wasn’t that bad. Rather pleasant.

***

Four days had passed. Zack and him traveled to icicle inn and brought out their yarn. And then more snacks mostly the salter ones. Cloud got stopped by some of the kids that knew him by sight. A little girl asked if he had earmuffs and he did make the headband version of earmuffs for the last few weeks. She loved her jumping fur earmuff headband.

“Kids seem to like you.”

“the eyes scare them at first but they seem to come around.” Zack nodded seeing that. “Turk, four o’clock.” Zack turned seeing Cissnei.

“Cissnei! Get over here!” Cloud was surprised and suddenly unsure. “It is okay. She is a friend. She’s cool. If anyone breaks the rules, it’s her.” Cloud still didn’t like this.

“Zack. Interesting to see you here. You are supposed to be in costa del sol right now.”

“Does Rufus not understand that Cloud doesn’t like him in the slightest?” Cissnei shrugged at that.

“Penthouse princess.” Cissnei looked at Cloud saying that since he coined the Nik-name. “Doesn’t take no very well. I think, he thinks he can win him over.” Cloud huffed in disgust.

“I should have eaten him and anyone that tried to stop me.” Cloud didn’t care if that would upset her. If he didn’t eat alphas, he be in chains or worse right now because of his asshole father. He was just as guilty as him in Cloud’s eyes.

He watched her trying not to shiver in the cold. The black suits doing little to keep her warm. Cloud sighed at himself and dig in his bag. He handed her a Black scarf. Slowly she took it. she smiled feeling the soft yarn and tied it around her neck.

“Thank you. You are a little harsh on words but you heart is warm. Oh, and two guns thanks you for finding him and taking him back to the inn.” Cloud nodded.

“Do not follow. You won’t make it.”

“No worries. I get it. You should be allowed to make your own choice. Plus, no one wants to piss you off. We seen what you can do. But orders are to report sightings.” Cloud gestured to Zack that he was done with this conversion.

“Goodbye.” He said walking past both of them. She turned fully to Zack.

“Good luck. He’s got trust issues for obvious reasons. But, if anyone can it would be you. You won over Genesis Afterall.” Zack smiled.

“Will do.” Zack waved and ran to catch up to Cloud. Cissnei watched them walk away. She pulled out her phone to write a report. ‘Target found in icicle inn, snow storm kicked up, unable to follow.’ She closed the phone with a smile. She touched the scarf around her neck before walking back to the inn. It was getting colder.

***

They returned to the cave home a few hours later. After taking off their boots Cloud unloaded all the yarn and snacks on the crafting table. the others felt a note saying they were going to spar for experience in the snow fighting. Zack turned seeing Cloud right next to him. slowly cloud reached up at Zack and pulled him down a little. Cloud kissed Zack slowly.

Cloud was making a sound closer to a cat. It took Zack a moment to realize Cloud was purring. He roared like a dragon, hissed like a snake, and growled like a wolf. Why not purr like a cat? It was cute. The purring almost put Zack in a trance.

“Maybe we should come back later.” Genesis said playfully. Cloud looked at him and took off his hat.

“Or you can hush and join us for a nap.” Cloud said pulling Zack to the bed. Genesis and the others agreed a cuddle nap sounded great.

***

“I don’t like the idea being that close to them many people. Plus, I like going anywhere I want, when I want. Midgar is a soulless metal city and it suffocating.” Cloud said. there was so much conversion, down right refusals, compromises, and then an agreement. It would take a little time.

X)(X

Despite last month, Cloud came back to visit Tifa and donate the items he made. He dropped by the leaf house and put down a huge sack of clothes he had during the month. He even dabbled into hair accessories like decorated headbands and clips. They were a hit.

Stopping by a shop that sold fabric and yarn he liked, he brought as much as he travel pack could hold. He stepped out and noticed the Turks instantly. He rolled his eyes but didn’t run. Tseng took this as an invite.

“Mister Strife.”

“Turk.” Cloud responded coldly as he dug into his bag. Cloud handed him a Bandersnatch leather cross body bag with Leviathan likeness etched into top flap. Tseng stopped inspecting it. he looked inside and around it and realized it wasn’t evidence or anything like that. it was Wutai recreation of the cross-body bags they tended to wear for day-to-day use. He was given a gift.

Fingers touched the etching. It reminded him of home and simpler times. He decided to let Cloud, just this once, be left alone. He decided to go to the actual Wutai restaurant in the slums. He was feeling nostalgic.

Cloud Checked his hat and pins and they were on tight. He swallowed his anxiety and walked in. Tifa was behind the bar cleaning.

“Cloud!” Tifa hugged the stuffing out of him. “I thought you might not be back for a while after. . “ she trailed off.

“Yeah. That was unpleasant. I have a few more items.” He pulled out shirts, pants, shorts, a soft and hard headband with bow details. He had even made a few oversized items. an oversized stocking cap and extra-long scarf for Barret. Barret was having a hard time finding clothes that fit him at six foot five and without the gun three hundred and fifty pounds.

“Mis-ster Cwoud.” Sudden three-year-old latched onto his leg. “You back!” she small giggles were adorable.

“Marlene! Don’t run too far ahead of me. Midgar slums are dangerous, even with the clean-up.”

“Here for lunch?” Tifa asked despite knowing the answer.

“You bet!” Barret was surprised to see Cloud again after the first time. “Oh. Hey. Uh . . . didn’t expect to see you for a long while.” Cloud shrugged.

“Barret got a job with slum clean-up. Took one look at him and said you’re hired. He works as a bouncer here on the weekends.”

“You need a bouncer?” Tifa laughed.

“I rather work on drinks not working people over when they are misbehaving.” Barret chuckled as Tifa put a plate down in front of him. looking like some kind of omelet. “Plenty of work to go around here. Years of it really. And the plans for the new city being built look interesting. But that’s years into the future.” Tifa put Marlene of the bar top and gave her an apple juice box.

“Thank you miss Tifa.” She said almost mechanically As Tifa plated some leftovers with biscuits from her. her little hand reached out to touch a soft headband on the bar top.

“You like that one?”

“Pwetty.” Cloud watched at Tifa put it on her to her delight. Barret looked over and smiled.

“Very pretty.”

“You making a lot of these Cloud?”

“I was given some odds and ends pieces and was able to use them.” Cloud reached into his travel pack and pulled out a half complete charm bracelet. “I was able to melt down some of the useless metal pieces, reinforced the metal used for molds with Bandersnatches claw powder. Making details molds was the hard part.”

“Chocobo!” Marlene pointed to the bird charm on the bracelet. Cloud nodded at her once to show her that she was correct.

“These charms are so cute. The kids would love them. Some adults too.” Tifa partly wanted a few charms too.

“still in prototype faze and I’m moving home base here shorty.”

“Home base?” Tifa asked.

“A lot happened almost half a year ago. And more major changes happened last month.” Tifa narrowed her eyes at him.

(Timing is too prefect. What happened Cloud?”)

(this thing called Jenova turned everyone into shadow like monsters. I’ll I could kill them and Jenova. Then I was taken to the president that was intent of making me part of the pack somehow and ate him.)

(what? You said you ate him?) Cloud opened his mouth and clicked his teeth hard.

(I am not defective. I am not the same as female omegas. we are supposed to protect the others from bad alphas. The president makes the fourth one I am eaten. Sorry if that upsets you.) Tifa took a moment before nodding to herself.

(I’m sure you had your reasons. I trust you.) Cloud smiled lightly and Tifa put a yellow and blue drink in front of him. “A tempest discord. The drink I made with you in mind.” He took a sip. It was sour on top and sweet on bottom but when the flavors mixed it sent the togue to flavor explosion. It was good but something was missing.

“You should try a salt rim. Hit all the flavors.” Tifa thought about it and salted the rim of a glass and made another tempest discord. She gave a quick swig and her eyes lit up.

“you did it again Cloud. It’s perfect. You and flavor combos.” Two more people walked in. seventh heaven was more of a night spot but they were open for lunch. “Briggs! Wedge!”

“Cloud!” Briggs called out and hugged Cloud out of nowhere. Cloud tolerated it but was annoyed with it. “The Little ladies love the new hair adornments you made. The boys wonder if you are going to make anything for them next.” Cloud had some ideas but he had so many things on his plate.

“No promises.” Cloud said slowly.

“Hey now. no need to sound so down. You donate so much stuff already. We appreciate all of it.” A shorter, heavier set man stepped up, a little nervous but overly friendly.

“Heya. Briggs told me all about ya. You don’t look like how I pictured you in my head but that’s okay.” Cloud wasn’t sure what to say to that, so remained silent. “It’s not a bad thing. Just saying. What color hair do you have?”

“Blonde.” Tifa, Barret, and Marlene said at the same time. That tone weirded out wedge for a brief second before shaking it off.

“Oh, that’s cool and you have blue soldier glow eyes. really didn’t expect that. want to play darts?” Cloud really didn’t want to but somehow ended up playing and shattering Wedge’s high score.

X)(X

After clearing some missions on the public board, Cloud found himself walking in the in-process cleaning areas. It looked to be slow going. All he wanted was to kill a Whole eater and pull out some of its teeth for blades. The one he made before served him well.

He found a group of them and killed them quickly. He hurried to pluck the biggest ones first before they melted into green sparks. If he had time, he would get the smaller ones.

He plucked the last one and slid it into his bag. That should keep him supplied for a while. He wonders as he looked around, if the metal was going to be reused. He could take some if not. He needed to make more chocobo charms. Tifa didn’t say it but he saw she eyes when she looked at it. he had more ideas but needed to do some research.

He walked along the path he recognized to sector five. He remembered a building he walked by the first time. It was weirdly non touched for something abandoned. It was a strange shape too. Kind of a mini version on the mansion in Nibleheim. He went to the door and opened it.

It was an old meeting hall? There were these long benches and a speaking area on a stage. There was something else on the stage too. he walked closer seeing yellow flowers and actual sunlight through the horrible metal plate. He sat down staring at them.

“hello.” A female rang out and Cloud turned seeing a woman with the greenest eyes he ever seen. “Nice to finally meet you. Meet Vincent a while back, I told him he needed to find a male omega to save Chaos.” Cloud was confused as he checked his hat and the back on him slowly. “Done worry, you can’t see them. You shouldn’t need to hide but I get it. Being part Cetra myself, I get being rare. Yet, I don’t have certain body parts giving it away either.” The word cetra rolled around in his brain and the definition dropped in his brain despite the fact he knew he never heard of the world before.

“the true meaning of Gaia blessed.” Cloud found himself saying.

“More like Gaia touched but yeah. Are they talking to you?” Cloud strangely didn’t need more context. He heard whispers since he got here.

“I can’t make out the words.”

“You either. Too bad.” She stepped up on the stage and reached into the flower bed. “I think they might be trying to tell you something. I didn’t plant these and they weren’t here yesterday.” She collected four purple heliotropes. “in the language of flower. These mean ever-lasting love. There is four on them.” She handed them to Cloud. “They grew for you.” Cloud looked down at the cluster of purple flowers. “you mind escorting a girl home?”

X)(X

It was time. He collected all his items including his blankets, rugs, all the yarn, and weapons. He really was just leaving the stone tables, bathtub, bed, and the lamps. He headed out and decided he see Chocobo sage and minty as he had the time. He free climbed the snowing mountain wall. With the fur coat the wind was nothing to him.

He sat on top of the mountain edge, taking a look around. He enjoyed the peace here a bit. With a smile he half slid, half jumped down the other side. Climbing down was always easier than up.

He went up to the cabin and knocked before going in. Minty chirped and cooed and Chocobo sage laughed wholeheartedly.

“Good to see you.” Cloud smiled sadly while petting minty. Goodbyes were hard.

***

He was encouraged to take Minty out one last time. As she went over the mountain, he noticed his cave hideout’s door was ajar. It didn’t matter now but he was sure he closed it. deciding he must have forgotten, he continued his way to the continent’s edge.

X)(X

“What do you mean he isn’t there?!” Rufus’s voice was annoyed and not believing.

“Sir, the place been emptied of all personal effects. Just a stone frame bed and just some tables and some lamps. That’s it.” Reno explained and took pictures to send to him.

X)(X

Minty rubbed her face against his before he gave the order from her to go home. she sadly obeyed. He watched her go and turned to the ocean. He didn’t wait long before a fishing boat showed up.

“Cloud.”

“fisherman Joel. Nice to see ya again.” He stepped aboard the familiar ship. Cloud was lead down the sleeping quarters and Cloud rested his head. The sea sickness wasn’t as bad this time.

***

The trip was a little bit shorter than the first time of this boat. Joel banged on the door to let him know shore was minutes away. Cloud grabbed his stuff and got to the upper deck seeing a man in the distance in a robe. He didn’t know why but he knew it was Genesis. As the boat docked Genesis handed Joel a huge pouch of what Cloud figured was gil, to him. Joel waved goodbye to Cloud and set off.

“Good trip?’

“better than the last one.” Cloud answered honesty.

“We have almost everything ready. Really only one last thing.”

“is it the hardest thing?” Cloud halfway joked.

“No. not really. Just annoying. We are going to Rufus’s office and telling him ‘too bad, so sad.’ So, his soldiers are retiring and daring Cloud likes us better.”

“I like a decaying cockroach more than him.” Genesis laughed at the comment. “You will love the surprise we cooked up yet, first thing first. Angeal whipped up a feast since all his ingredients could fill a small room. We will restock later.” Cloud normally didn’t like Suprises but kept that to himself.

There were special elevators that took you straight to the plate. They required special keycards which Genesis had. Normally no one was allowed without a card but no one dared to question or stop Genesis. He was known to throw fireballs at the smallest slight.

“welcome to sector eight top city.” There was a lot of people walking around, going to shops, cafes, and restaurants. There were people putting on performances In the street.

“My sword thirst for vengeance!” Cloud was startled looking for an enemy or attacker.”

“That is a line from loveless.” Genesis explained seeing Cloud’s reaction.

“Oh.” He never heard of it that he remembered.

“We will have to go to the theater sometime.”

“thea-ther?” Genesis stopped at looked hurt that Cloud not only never been but didn’t know what one was.

“That is something we will have to fix. Not just loveless but all the classics.” Cloud still didn’t know what a theater was. Genesis raised his arm for a taxi that roamed the area. Like magic one pulled up and he gestured Cloud inside before getting in himself. “Shin-ra headquarters area.” The taxi took off quickly.

“So, this is what inside a vehicle looks like.” Cloud said in wonder

“You never been in a car before?”

“Close was the back of a truck with a couple of Chocobos. Good thing they seem to love me.” Genesis remembered the book saying predatory animal did love male omegas where pray animals would fear him.

***

They were dropped off and Genesis paid the driver well over the price. Genesis led the way drawing all the attention. Getting through the lobby and to the elevator. He put in special card in the door allowing him to go floor fifty-eight. The door opened at there was only four doors on the level. Genesis pointed to the one door and led Cloud to it. the door opened and he could hear pots and pans being moved around. The smells here made Cloud’s mouth water.

“there you Genesis?”

“indeed, darling and I am not alone.” Angeal glanced over his shoulder seeing them. A gentle smile crossed his face.

“Dinner will be ready in ten. Feel free to put your stuff anywhere and wash up.”

“Lavatory is that way.” Cloud tilted his head. It took a moment to realize Cloud didn’t know that word. “oh. Ah. washroom?” Cloud looked at his clothes before it hit him.

“Oh. Water closet. Not used to those being inside the main building but I have heard of it.” Cloud finally understood. “I thought you wanted me to wash my clothes at first.” Cloud chuckled lightly and take off his travel pack with many bags tried to it.

A rapid knock at the door sounded and two others popped in. Zack hugged Genesis and greeted Angeal know he didn’t like unnecessary people in the kitchen.

“So, you’re back . . . that means. . . .” Zack was bouncing up and down. The lavatory/washroom door opened up and Zack was across the room in a blink.

“Cloudy!”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Spikey!” Cloud sighed. He could deal with that one.

“Such a Puppy.” Cloud commented.

“Hey!” the others laughed as Cloud picked up on that instantly.

Angeal put the last dish on the table and call everyone to come sit down. Cloud waited for the other to pick spots since he was a guest. The seat at the end was the last one open so Cloud sat there. The others complimented Angeal for his work and everyone started digging in.

Cloud didn’t have a chance of making his own plate as everyone started pulling items on his plate. Cloud almost found it amusing but hoped they would calm down as time passed. On the bright side, the food was beyond his imagining.

***

“You think he will just let you guys go?” Cloud asked.

“He will. He wouldn’t like it but he will.” Angeal answered as he finished the last dish before drying it and packing it away.

“Okay, does everyone have everything?” Eyes were on Genesis who looked slightly offended.

“I got everything in storage expect the things I need right now.” they didn’t seem to expect that for some reason that Cloud didn’t fully understand.

“Zack?” Angeal asked.

“Packed and ready!” Zack answered with a mock salute. “you?”

“The bed will be picked up in an hour. That is the last thing.” They helped Angeal with the rest of the things. A quick check with Cloud, who looked at his travel pack with bags tied to it. “Looks like we are ready.” Sephiroth opened the door and they headed to the elevator. They got off on the floor sixty and got into a different elevator that could go higher.

Floor sixty-nine. They ignored the secretary that told them they didn’t have an appointment. She tried to call Rufus to warn him but Cloud rushed over and smashed the phone. She ducked down behind the desk and wisely shut up.

“Take a break.” Cloud demanded in a tone at she instantly agreed to. She got to her feet and ran elsewhere. “didn’t want the surprise to be ruined.” Genesis put his arm around Cloud, he loved this little hellion side. Slowly they went up the stairs and Zack said he had this one. He squared up a kick that made the door fly off their hinges.

“Honey! I’m home!” Zack laughed almost insanely.

“Zackary Fair! What is the meaning of this?!” the entire pack stepped into view. Eyes fall on Cloud the moment he noticed him.

“we are here to talk retirement effective right now.” Rufus for once seemed caught off-guard at Zack’s words.

“We are not property of shin-ra. If you disagree, we can put Reeve in charge.” Sephiroth had his sword one inch out of it scabbard.

“Why are we talking? I could just eat him and anyone that got upset about it.” Cloud asked, fully intent to do so.

“Gentleman! Please. One moment. There seems to be a misunderstanding or something going on here. Who said you were property?”

“You father, hojo, most of the science department actually.“ Sephiroth answered in a deadpanned kind of way.

“Okay. I lot of people said that. yet, father, hojo, and most of the department are dead. I do not think you as property.”

“That’s funny coming from you. since you demanded me to be brought to Midgar. Like a piece of furniture. Or a prized Chocobo.” Fangs started to peak out from under his top lip.

“I . . . I can’t deny that.” He knows better than to try. Cloud walked to the desk and leaned his weight on it.

“one last time. You don’t own me. I don’t want anything to do with you.” Cloud slammed his hand down on the word ‘you.’ It left a deep handprint in the metal. “Seph. Come here please.” Sephiroth confused do so. With his eyes locked on Rufus,’ Cloud swiped everything off the desk in one motion and bent Sephiroth backwards on it. stepping between his legs, Cloud raised sephiroth’s head and kissed him inches from Rufus’ face.

Unsure how long he held it, Cloud let go of panting Sephiroth and glared at Rufus. “Understand? Did it sink in?” Cloud asked as his eyes started to slit. Rufus looked away.

“I understand.” Cloud stepped away and let Sephiroth recover.

“No more Turks following me. No more bugging me. I would only touch you to put you in the same place as your father. You don’t want that.” Rufus had a look cloud couldn’t tell what it meant. Sephiroth sat up and straighten his clothes.

“Now that it settled. About our retirement.” Rufus looked like he was going to explode.

***

The four of them were discharged from Shin-ra military. Rufus didn’t like it but he liked his head where it was. if Cloud didn’t get to him first. After hours of paperwork and final goodbyes. They were able to get their things and leave Shin-ra headquarters. They put everything in a moving truck and set off. Cloud wasn’t sure where they were going but they would being mum about it.

Cloud buried his head in Angeal’s chest. Partly because of the motion sickness and partly because of embarrassment about what he did in Rufus’ office.

***

Cloud was woken up seeing the sunrise but we asked to close his eyes for the surprise. Cloud did so and they led him out of the truck. They took a handful of steppes before stopped.

“Okay. Open them.” Angeal deep voice ring out and Cloud did so. There were around the Chocobo farm but against the mountain wall. There was a log cabin style mansion built with a blacksmithing area and the ground prepped for gardens. Even he his dreams was him dream home so elaborate.

“How . . . I never mentioned. . .” Cloud was all the emotions at once.

“The bonding has started. It was surprised to. We had a shared dream, even Genesis had it, of a log cabin house with a fence to allow a small vegetable garden. We knew this was your ideal home and you adore Chocobos. So, we made it bigger and added a few things.” Cloud felt tears drop from his face. He was happy, why was he crying? He didn’t understand. Zack and Genesis hugged from opposite sides.

“It’s okay Cloud.”

“You deserve the best we can give.” Angeal and sephiroth took a front and back position and group hugged everyone.

X)(X
X)(X

Two weeks later. Cloud was in sector seven. People got out of his way and Cloud took a chance. He removed his hat. He got looks but no one approached and even tried to talk to him. he couldn’t believe how people were reacting. He didn’t hide his ears anymore as the alphas gave him a wide leeway. He smelled of powerful Alphas that sent fear through other alphas. It was freeing not having to worry about it. he stepped into the bar and Tifa gasped.

“Cloud! Your hat! It’s-“

“I don’t need it anymore.” She smelled the air. Her alphas level was low but she could smell Alphas. Powerful alphas.

“Wait? I though you hated the idea of a pack?”

“I did. But there is an exception to every rule.” Tifa hugged him tightly.

“I never seen you so happy but what about the Turks and such.”

“I told Rufus no and my pack got retirement. They build me the house of beyond my dreams.”

“Wait. Retirement? . . . No way.” Tifa looked back at him and sniffed him again. “You smell like the dark headed one that eat here once a week.”

“Zack. And there is also Genesis, angeal, and Sephiroth.”

“the first class and the should have been first class soldiers.” She put her head down silently laughing. “Who else could handle you? Or do you handle them?” Cloud reached into his pack and pulled out a silver chocobo and silver monster Bomb charm. Tifa looked at them in great detail. “Cloud. These are so cool.”

“Been working on some summon ones. The detail of those guys is insane.”

“keeping busy I see.”

“And I am raising Chocobos. Have my own river cross Chocobo, I call her Brook.”

“You are amazing, Cloud.” He blushed lightly. “So? Which one is better in bed?” Cloud turned red.

“Tifa! Seriously?! Gave me some time. Not there yet. It’s a lot, you know.” Tifa kissed his forehead like she would to a little brother. “Brat.” She giggled again. She was happy that Cloud could be himself and had people in his corner. “Borrow your office for a few minutes?” Tifa nodded and Cloud searched his bag finding his travel sewing kit.

Tifa had time to wipe down the bar top when Cloud came out. It was the only thing that was out. She forgot how long his tail was as it went down to his ankles.

“I’m not hiding anymore. Alphas tries something. I’ll just eat him starting with the limbs.” Tifa went to the kitchen and came back with a bowl of nibleheim stew, today’s special.

“Hi miss Tifa!” Marlene’s little voice rang out followed by the heavy footprints. “Whoa!” Marlene was beside Cloud wide eyed. It seemed she didn’t notice the ears the first time and only caught a glimpse of his hair color. Her father was well was surprised but for the fact that Cloud was willing showing them off instead of hiding.

“Marlene! Staring is rude.” Marlene looked down.

“Sowwy.”

“I get it. I just not going to hide anymore. Alphas will learn to keep their hands to themselves.”

“It Helps you are in a pack with four of the strongest people on earth. Add you to the mix is an insane combination.” Cloud ate the stew; it wasn’t as good as his mother’s but it warmed his stomach.

X)(X

Briggs and wedge come in a while later and was shocked but cool with the fact. Wedge mentioned between soldier eyes and the smell of three ultra powerful alphas. Only the stupid would try anything. Marlene asked if she could brush his tail and Barret almost jumped in with apologies. Cloud decided his tail could use some pampering. She was three and an beta, it meant nothing. No different than petting a dog.

X)(X

He put Brook away in her oversized pen with the yellows Feather and Nails. He fed them some greens and watered them down. with them happy Cloud headed to his garden.

As he was finishing a vehicle that wasn’t a car or truck pulled up. Cloud reached up to grasp the handle of his sword only for Zack and Angeal to pop out. Cloud put his hand back down.

“Spikey!” Cloud rolled his eyes at the nike-name but waved regardless. “We got so much food to fill out the huge pantry.”

Two months went by. Cloud still was not ready for physical intimacy beyond cuddles and kisses just yet. Rufus sent presents to their log mansion that got sent back in ashes. Reno showed up once and Cloud almost drowned him in a water troth for the chocobos yet Reno showed Cloud his broken weapon. He was going to have to wait months for a new one due to the workloads of fixing midgar and building the new city.

He almost refused since he never made something like this but he was intrigued. He took it to his blacksmith/hobby shop. When found the insides was simple in design. It used pieces of a lightning Materia so it acted like a stun gun. After two hours he resealed the sides and handed it back to Reno. He warned Reno that this was a onetime thing and if he came back, he would feed him to a Midgar Zolom.

Reno thanked him so much it was unnerving. But the gears changed quickly. He asked if he could let go of the hate for the boss. Cloud’s uncovered ears pulled back like a pissed off cat. Reno moved back and promised to get the boss to back off since he made his choice. Rufus never had something he couldn’t have eventually. When Cloud’s eyes slit, Reno fled. He didn’t want to fifth person Cloud devoured.

Zack hugged Cloud until he reverted. It wasn’t a full transform but it was enough. He walked Cloud inside for a snack.

He bred a mountain climbing Chocobo who he called Rocky. He tried to let the parents go but they didn’t want to go. Cloud stopped trying after a while. He made so much gil from endorsements from Chocobo racing at Gold saucer. He almost thought it was cheating since the other Chocobos seemed to let him win if he couldn’t win on his own.

All in all. Cloud was happy despite everything he would through. Although he wondered where Vincent was. he owned him a punch and drink. Cloud figured he could find him when he wanted too. mysterious as the dark side of the moon, that one was.

X)(X

Vincent was outside a waterfall. He found her. She needed to know her versions of the world were not true. That her son and partly his too, was happy.