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Chapter Text

Cloud woke up gasping, his lungs burning like he'd been drowning. He heaved himself onto his hands and knees, coughing up something slick and glowing.  His body ached with phantom pain, Mako still thrumming under his skin. His fingers dug into damp dirt, and he struggled to push himself up

The world around him was eerily silent save for the soft trickle of water. He was in a cavern-no, a Mako pool, its sickly glow casting shadows on the jagged walls.The Mako clung to his skin, seeping into the crevices of his gloves, his boots-his very being. Even without looking, he knew his eyes had taken on that unnatural glow again

The air was thick with the acrid stench of raw Mako. It coated his throat, turning every breath into a reminder that he had survived something he shouldn’t have. He staggered to his feet, boots squelching in the residue, and forced himself to move. He had to get out of here-wherever here was

The climb was grueling, every muscle in his body screaming in protest, He certainly doesn’t appreciate being unceremoniously dumped into another Mako pool by the lifestream, forced to haul Fenrir out of the foul-smelling liquid with a thoroughly unwanted, surprise Mako bath. No amount of shouting at the pool, demanding answers from the life stream for doing what it did that Cloud get an answer and he gave up after screaming himself hoarse and leaving the side of the pool. Eventually, he found an exit. The moment he stepped outside, he searched his surroundings for anything that might give him a clue about where he was. 

Only the wide canvas of the graying sky can be seen for miles from where he is standing. The sky has always been a murky grey. Ever since then.

Cloud squinted his eyes hard enough to see any signs of mountains that he can hopefully get to. Eventually, he sees one after getting to a higher ground.

He made his way down the dirt path, moving on instinct. The terrain felt known but distant, like an old memory half-forgotten. 

How many times does he have to go through this shit?

Goddess. Tifa is going to be pissed when she finds out the goods she fought for with bloodied fists are now a mush of shattered glass and Mako-soaked debris in Fenrir’s compartment. She can blame the planet for kidnapping him unannounced mid-transit and dumping him goddess-knows-where.

Disoriented, with his PHS fried and having no other possible way to contact anyone, It took nearly a week to find civilization. and the other half trying to scrape the Mako residue out of every crevice of Fenrir. Who knew that bike had so many damn tight spots for that shit to settle? Even now, he couldn't get rid of it all.

His rations were gone, and his body ached from trudging through unfamiliar terrain. His gear was in shambles, and the Mako exposure had left him with bouts of dizziness that refused to fade. But at last, against the horizon, he saw the familiar silhouette of Kalm.

Relief warred with unease as he approached the town. Something was off. The road signs looked newer, the buildings freshly painted. He dismissed it at first- Maybe the mayor had finally begun renovating the streets of Kalm, giving the town a fresher look than Cloud remembered.. But then came the people. Their stares lingered too long, their expressions unreadable. A creeping sense of wrongness settled in his gut.

A agingvendor called out to him as he passed. Bushy brows covering his sight as he attempts to get Cloud over.

 "Traveler! Need a ride? Take a Chocobo! They’re Good for the road."

Cloud ignored him, but not before catching a flash of yellow near the old man-a chocobo with its handler adjusting a saddle. One of the birds lifted its head, staring right at him.

It fluffed its crest.

Cloud scowled and walked faster.

He kept his head down and ears open, catching snippets of conversation as he passed through the marketplace. A merchant grumbled about a Shinra recruitment drive in Midgar. Another spoke of Wutai’s latest counterattack.

Cloud frowned. Shinra? Counterattack? The war should have been over. Shinra, disbanded and groveling at the world’s feet for forgiveness for fucking up their lives.

Tension coiled in his spine, a warning he couldn’t ignore. He needed more information. The streets were busier, what he’s hearing wasn’t right, and-was that a digital billboard?

Cloud narrowed his eyes, stepping closer to a group of people gathered near a storefront. They were chattering excitedly, pointing at something posted on the window.

A newspaper.

His stomach twisted as he approached, eyes scanning the page for the date. He doesnt know how many days, or even weeks he stayed floating in the mako pool. Its already a miracle that he woke up on his own at all

When he found it, his breath hitched

And froze.

He rubbed his eyes, convinced it was some aftereffect of his Mako dip or a bad hallucination. But there it was, unmistakable.

The date was wrong. Decades wrong.

His pulse skittered. His grip tightened on the paper, crinkling the edges. This wasn’t just a small jump. This was something else entirely.

His gaze flicked lower, and his stomach twisted.

His heart pounded in his chest. That couldn’t be right. That wasn’t possible. His fingers curled around the edge of the newspaper, gripping it tighter as he forced himself to reread the date over and over again. He swallowed hard, a sick feeling settling in his gut. This had to be a mistake. Or maybe he was dreaming. Maybe-

His thoughts derailed as his gaze flicked lower. An ad.

A recruitment ad.

For SOLDIER.

And there, printed in bold letters beneath the Shinra insignia, was a face that made his blood run cold.

SEPHIROTH.

loud’s world tilted.

He took a step back, heart hammering against his ribs. The letters swam in his vision, the familiar sharp strokes of the name digging into his skull. His breath came out shallow, uneven.

No. No, this wasn’t happening. He had burned this name from his world. Had ripped it out, buried it to the deepest part of his mind. This has to be a nightmare. It had to be.

Maybe he hadnt woke up from his mako dip after all. Maybe he’s trapped in his own mind, playing tricks, like what happened before.

But the weight of the newspaper was solid in his hands. The air in his lungs was real. The voices around him-excited, hopeful-drilled into his ears. And the date. The date. If it was real, if all of this was real-

Cloud inhaled sharply, staggering away from the crowd. His vision blurred at the edges, but he forced himself to focus. He needed to think. To prove that this wasn’t real. That this was some elaborate trick. But every breath, every sound, every sensation screamed otherwise.

His grip on reality was slipping, but if there was one thing he knew-one thing he could cling to-it was that the world didn’t want him to rest. Not yet.

And if this was real, then he needed to find out why.

A muffled conversation drifted from a group of men nearby.

"…-ra’s rolling out another batch of recruits. Got a cousin trying to get in."

"Think he’ll make it?"

"Who knows. They’re pickier now, even with the war dragging. Only the strong get to be SOLDIERs"

Cloud pushed the curdling emotion aside. The Vendor of the newspaper had been eyeing him warily after his outburst from earlier.and the people around himbegun whispering and pointing at him, at his eyes. He doesn’t want to risk having military officers on his ass for being suspicious and so bid a curt nod towards the man, took out a gil to pay for the crumpled paper and retreated.

The world around him faded. His hands clenched the newspaper so tight the ink smudged against his gloves. Cloud forced himself to move, ducking into an alley where the noise of the crowd faded into the background. His hands clenched and unclenched as he steadied his breathing. If this was a trick, he’d find the cracks. If this was real… he’d have to deal with it.

He needed information. If Shinra was still standing, if Sephiroth was alive and well, that meant he had been thrown back in time

Cloud’s throat tightened.

It wasn’t the first time he’d lost control of his fate. But this time, it felt… different. Less like a cruel joke, more like an opportunity. He just wasn’t sure if it was one he wanted.

His fingers brushed against the newspaper he still clutched, Sephiroth’s facv taunting him. If he was here, if this world still hadn’t unraveled into ruin, then maybe-

No. No maybes. He couldn’t afford to hope. He had a job to do.

And the first step? Figuring out what the hell is going on.

Cloud exhaled sharply and straightened. If he was to survive this, he needed to move. He needed to observe. And most importantly, he needed to keep his head down-at least until he understood what kind of game fate had thrown him into this time.

With one last glance at the crowded street, he slipped into the shadows, already planning his next move.

If this was time travel, then Aerith…

Aerith.

If this was the past-if the Lifestream had truly thrown him back…

Then Aerith was alive.

The realization sent a shudder through him, chasing away the fog of confusion. His course was set. He had to find her. He had to see her with his own eyes.

And then… he'd figure out what the hell he was going to do next.

The shock and adrenaline wore off within an hour of drifting through the crowd and observing the environment around him. CLoud still couldn’t believe that this was happening. He was still skeptical. Believed it to be a nightmare induced by Mako Poisoning. Unless he saw and spoke with Aerith himself, then he might partially believe that this wasn’t one of his crazy mind’s fault.

Cloud moved with purpose, though every step felt like treading through fog. His mind churned, dissecting possibilities, but none settled right. Time travel? Some cosmic joke? The Planet’s will? It didn’t matter. What mattered was understanding where-when-he was.

His boots hit cobblestone with a steady rhythm as he moved through Kalm’s streets. The sights, the smells-they felt wrong. Not in the way of a dream, not distorted or surreal, but just... off. People walked with lighter steps, their faces unburdened by the weight of war. The buildings, though familiar, gleamed with a cleanliness he didn’t remember. Shinra’s presence wasn’t oppressive. It was welcomed.

Cloud gritted his teeth.

He looked around

The massive billboard loomed overhead, a familiar figure plastered across it, posing like a goddamn runway model.

Sephiroth.

Jessie would have lost her mind over this. Barret would shoot it full of holes with his gun. Yuffie would probably steal it in broad daylight and light it on fire in honor of her ancestor.

Hell, Cloud almost drew his Fusion Sword instinctively, his hand twitching, itching to shred the damn thing. It's been years since he saw Sephiroth’s face, and it was just as repulsive as ever. To suddenly see it plastered everywhere after years of not seeing his face? If it wasn’t for the revelation earlier, he would’ve believed that  he stumbled into some kind of cult hideout for Sephiroth fanatics. This part of Kalm wasn’t that crazy over Sephiroth. Something wasn’t right. Cloud would've remembered Sephiroth doing a photo shoot like this. He would've pinned it to the wall for motivation during his teenage years, or whatever.

Jenova’s little soldier had no business posing like that. Gloved hand outstretched toward the camera, soft eyes-likely some lighting trick or photo-editing bullshit. Masamune limply lowered to the ground, rising smoke, and destroyed Wutai properties in the background completing the whole ridiculous ensemble. The title on the ad read, "Awakening the True Vision."

It’s absurd. And yet, Cloud can’t deny the truth in it. Sephiroth was the vision-the distorted, twisted image Cloud had been fighting against for years. But the caption beneath it nagged something within him:

 “The time is now. Complete the vision and take your place among the chosen.”

Cloud snorts derisively. Typical Shinra stunt. Recruitment. They’re just trying to get more ignorant country bumpkins to join their twisted SOLDIER ranks. Using Sephiroth as the damn poster boy, nothing unusual. But the thought of Shinra still existing, still scheming, made his stomach churn. He can't believe that He was one of these Country Bumpkins that believed them. He has been blind.

Done with this nonsense, Cloud snatched a newspaper from a nearby wary vendor and gave him a handful of gil. When he got yanked over by the Lifestream, he didn’t expect any of this crap. Shaking his head, he had to force himself not to get bitter over it. The Lifestream had a sense of humor, didn’t it? He glanced at whatever this world had in store for him in the piece of paper in his hands-and nearly ripped it to shreds when he got an eyeful of that smug smirk and catty green eyes.

He barely stopped himself from snarling when he saw the smaller version of Sephiroth’s irritating face between his hands. Flowing silverlocks swaying in the wind like a paid actor, Gloved hands outstretched as if waiting for the viewer to take it. Who the hell thought it was wise to put that stupid face on the front of a newspaper? Shouldn’t there be important, world-concerning news first? Some Creepy corrupted officials getting busted? 

Cloud rolled his eyes at the absurdity of it all. 

Turning to the page he was looking for, Cloud's eyes landed on the date. His brows furrowed. Since the Wutai War was still ongoing. He was pretty sure his younger self-still back in Nibelheim-was probably idolizing and fawning over Sephiroth like a *gagged*  fanboy. His memory of the war was fuzzy. It had been years since Cloud had heard anything about it, but the way it had dragged on felt so far removed from his life. Wutai had been a place he barely thought about back then, just another war in the distance. He knew Yuffie had been just a child when it started, growing up right in the middle of all of it, but Cloud never saw how it might’ve affected the rest of the world. To him, it felt like Shinra was still sending troops to put down a rebellion.

Then the Nibelheim Incident happened and the rosy tinted glasses were ruthlessly removed from his eyes by Sephiroth and Shinra.

2

Cloud Grumbled as a wisp of air managed to go through his cracked goggles. He maneuvered Fenrir through the outskirts of Midgar, the roar of the engine cutting through the eerie silence of the wasteland. The darkened sky hung low, suffocating and murky, as if it threatened rain but never quite delivered. The city loomed in the distance, a fortress of steel and corruption, but his destination was not Midgar itself-it was the Sector 5 slums.

Aerith.

His mind was still tangled in the mess of time travel, of the inexplicable reality he found himself thrust into. But if there was one person he trusted-one person whose mere presence might steady his shaken world-it was her. Even if she didn’t know him yet. Even if he was a stranger to her in this world.

Cloud adjusted his grip on the handles, eyes scanning the landscape. His instincts, sharp as ever, prickled with unease. Something was wrong.

Then he saw it-a flash of red and black in the distance, clashing steel, and the unmistakable ripple of materia being cast.

A fight.

And at the center of it, an unknown swordsman in a crimson coat, wielding a slender rapier against a monstrous chimera.

He twisted Fenrir’s handles, accelerating toward the battlefield. 

Cloud barely had time to process what’s happening before the massive beast lunged at the man in red, catching him off guard. The man turned, blade raised, but there was a moment of hesitation

Then their eyes met.

Before his eyes, the sky suddenly shifted.  

The swordsman in red faltered as if he felt the same thing Cloud felt. His blade lowered, a sharp inhale escaping him.

And the chimera struck at the opportunity. The Man barely had time to block the hit with his rapier before he went flying in a good distance and landed hard on a Rock with a groan. The man could barely stand before the chimera is on him with another attack, its snarling face seemingly intent on pounding the man into the earth with all its might

The man will be Dead before Cloud can reach him in his state.

Cloud reacted before he could think. The World blurred into a slowmo, his vision turning a fainted tinge of Blue as he went into Limit Break.

At the last possible second, he leapt from the bike, flipping through the air as he unsheathed his buster sword in one fluid motion. A blur of steel met flesh, and the chimera let out a guttural shriek as Cloud’s blade sliced through its side, forcing it back.

The red-coated warrior, momentarily stunned, staggered backward. “You…”

Cloud didn’t respond. He moved on instinct, positioning himself between the beast and the man. The chimera growled, baring its fangs, before lunging again. This time, Cloud was ready. A well-timed dodge, his blade splitting into two to create a precise slash in its weakest point, the creature roared in pain, already weakened by the other man from before and making a desperate swipe at them with its tail. Cloud Blocked it with a grunt, his twin sword once again forming into one. The blond then leapt at the creature’s head and plunged the sword directly to its brain and the creature collapsed with a final, wet gurgle.

Silence.

Cloud blinked back the sting in his eyes, the sudden brightness of the previously muted color around him left him stunned. He stared at the beast, the dripping red gushing out of its wound, dripping out of his fusion sword.

The sky stretched endlessly above him, an achingly shade of blue. The earth beneath his boots doesn't seem as ashy and dead as he remembers it to be. It felt... sharper. Brighter. The weight of the world seemed different. 

Cloud clenched his fists. This wasn’t right. Even after Meteorfall, after the Remnants, the sky hasn’t been this bright. The planet was still recovering from the destruction brought upon it.

Cloud exhaled, lowering his blade. Flicking the gore out of it and slinging it at his back. He can slot them back in fenrir once he’s done here. He turned to the swordsman, whose wide-eyed stare hadn’t wavered.

“What?” Cloud muttered, uncomfortable under the intense scrutiny.

The man took a step forward. “You… just now-” He cut himself off, eyes darting toward the sky, then back to Cloud. “The sky.”

Cloud frowned. “What about it?”

The man inhaled sharply, as if steadying himself. His voice was quieter when he spoke again, but no less intense. “It’s blue.”

Cloud stared at him. “…And?”

The man let out a breathless chuckle. “You don’t understand.”

“No, I don’t,” Cloud said flatly. “And I don’t care.”

The swordsman looked like he wanted to say more, but Cloud turned away, sheathing his sword. He had already wasted too much time here. If the guy was capable of standing and talking in riddles, he was clearly fine.

“I’m leaving,” Cloud said. “You can handle yourself.”

He started toward Fenrir, but the man suddenly stiffened. “Wait.”

Cloud didn’t stop.

“I’m injured.”

That made him pause.

Cloud turned just enough to glance back. The red-coated man was leaning against his sword, his stance slightly off-balance. Cloud’s sharp eyes caught the awkward angle of his foot. Ankle, probably sprained or worse.

“And my Cure materia broke,” the man added, expression carefully neutral.

Cloud narrowed his eyes. “Convenient.”

The swordsman spread his hands, a picture of innocence. “I was ambushed.”

Cloud sighed. He wasn’t heartless. Muttering under his breath, he walked back and knelt beside the man, activating a mastered Curara spell. The familiar green glow enveloped the injury, sealing the damage within seconds.

The swordsman stared at him.

“…What?” Cloud asked, exasperated.

The man slowly tilted his head. “You have fully mastered materia.”

Cloud’s jaw clenched. “So?”

The man gave him an odd look but said nothing. Instead, he exhaled and straightened, rolling his foot experimentally. “I still need a ride back to Midgar.” 

Cloud stared at him. “You can walk.”

Without missing a beat, the man clutched his side dramatically. “Ah, but my injuries-”

Cloud turned back toward Fenrir.

The man panicked. “Wait! I do need transport. You’re heading toward Midgar anyway.”

Cloud tensed. He had not planned on bringing a Shinra-affiliated stranger anywhere near his intended destination.

The swordsman seemed to sense his hesitation and, for once, dropped the theatrics. “Just drop me at the entrance gate at Midgar That’s all.”

Cloud exhaled through his nose. Every instinct screamed at him to say no, but he also knew that leaving him alone out here, after everything, didn’t sit right with him either.

“…Fine.”

The man brightened-too much-but Cloud ignored it, motioning toward Fenrir. “Get on.”

Instead of complying like a normal person, the red-clad swordsman smirked and tilted his head just so- like he was posing for a damn portrait. “Genesis Rhapsodos, First Class SOLDIER.” He said it like an introduction that should mean something.

Cloud gave him a flat look. “…Okay?”

Genesis’s smirk faltered. “…Okay?”

Cloud turned away, climbing onto Fenrir without further acknowledgment. The name did sound vaguely familiar, but he couldn’t be bothered to place it. Not a priority. Not worth thinking about.

Genesis, however, was clearly not done. He leaned in, resting an elbow against the bike like he had all the time in the world.

“And you are?”

Cloud exhaled. “Cloud.”

There was a pause. “Just Cloud?”

Cloud gritted his teeth. “Get on the bike.”

But Genesis wasn’t moving. “That’s hardly fair,” he drawled. “I give you my full name, and all I get is a single syllable?”

Cloud flexed his fingers against the handles. He didn’t have the patience for this. “Get. On.”

Genesis was still watching him, eyes sharp with amusement. “Cloud,” he murmured, testing the name like it was something to be savored.

Cloud ignored him.

“ Cloud .” This time, it was lower. Smoother.

Cloud’s grip twitched.

Genesis caught it. Of course he caught it.

The bastard hummed, all smug satisfaction. “Suits you.”

Cloud inhaled slowly through his nose. If he let himself react, Genesis would never let it go. “Are you getting on, or am I leaving you here?”

A beat of silence. Then a chuckle. “You’re a terrible conversationalist.”

Cloud revved Fenrir’s engine in response, the deep growl cutting off whatever Genesis had been planning to say next.

Smart move.

But when Genesis finally swung himself onto the seat behind him, Cloud could still feel the smirk against his shoulder blades.

-

Genesis Rhapsodos had always believed in soulmates.

How could he not? It was woven into the very fabric of their existence- the undeniable truth that some souls were meant to intertwine, that fate would pull them together, no matter how long it took.

And yet…

He had spent years believing their bond was already complete. That he, Angeal, Sephiroth, and Zack were whole as they were. Their missing piece had never appeared, and eventually, Genesis had resigned himself to the idea that perhaps they never would. That the last thread of their connection had frayed before it could even take form. It was fine. He was content. More than that, he was happy.

Until now.

Until the moment he had locked eyes with the blond warrior- the stranger who had descended like some relentless storm, cutting through the battlefield like he had always belonged there.

The sky was blue.

The realization hit Genesis harder than any battle ever had.

For the first time in his life, the dull grays and muted shadows of his world burst into vibrant color. It was overwhelming, a rush of sensation that made his breath catch in his throat. He had thought he knew color- Sephiroth’s silver and green, Zack’s gold, Angeal’s deep earthen hues- but this was something else.

And the man before him- golden-haired, sharp-eyed, radiating strength- was the reason.

Maybe it was the adrenaline, maybe it was the intoxicating euphoria of finally seeing the sky, of finally feeling something shift into place after years of waiting, but Genesis could hardly tear his eyes away. His soulmate. Their soulmate.

His soulmate had arrived.

And he was magnificent.

Genesis could hardly breathe.

His soulmate.

And he didn’t even realize it.

Then the blond turned away, utterly uninterested, and Genesis panicked.

No. No, no, no.

He needed to keep this man close. Needed to understand. Needed more.

And he didn’t even know his whole name yet

Cloud. Just Cloud.

Genesis clenched his jaw, frustration curling beneath his ribs. It was too fitting, too poetic to be real. Like something straight out of a Loveless verse- an errant cloud breaking free from the heavens, descending upon the battlefield to change fate itself. A storm that appeared in his darkest moment, scattering the gray and flooding his world with color.

Was it an alias? Some name borrowed from the wind? It gnawed at him, the not knowing.

The thought sent something sharp and unyielding through his chest. It didn’t matter. He would learn it soon enough. Because one thing was certain- Genesis had waited too long for this moment to let it slip away.

So he lied. Took advantage of the man’s broody kindness.

And now, as he rode behind the man on the most ridiculous but undeniably cool machine he had ever seen, Genesis couldn’t help but think back to the moment before.

The battle. The near miss. The way fate had intervened in the form of a golden-haired warrior wielding a sword like it was an extension of his very soul.

A shiver ghosted down his spine. If he hadn’t appeared when he did… would Genesis have survived that fight?

Maybe.

He liked to believe he would have clawed his way to victory, because Genesis Rhapsodos was nothing if not persistent. But would he have won at the cost of never meeting him ?

Would he have traded survival for never locking eyes with the man who had, in a single moment, colored his entire world?

Genesis tightened his grip against the stranger’s waist- not that the other seemed to notice, too focused on the road ahead.

If he hadn’t faltered at the last second, if he had held steady instead of being struck breathless by the shift in his vision… would the man have stopped at all? Would he have just ridden past, nothing more than a blur of motion on that absurdly powerful bike?

The thought was unbearable.

Genesis wasn’t one to thank destiny, but for once, he felt like he owed it something.

Because no matter how the battle might have ended- victory, defeat, or some grueling stalemate- nothing could compare to the moment he had seen.

And this man- his soulmate, their final missing piece- had been the one to make it happen.

Genesis prided himself on being a man of many passions. Literature, battle, beauty-all things that made life worth living. But never, never had he thought he would experience something as utterly ridiculous as falling in love at first sight. And yet, here he was, gripping the back of the ridiculously cool machine known as Fenrir, utterly smitten with the blond disaster driving it.

The wind whipped past them as they sped through the wasteland, and Genesis found himself enchanted despite the discomfort of their close quarters. He had seen motorbikes before, obviously, but nothing quite like this. This wasn’t some standard-issue Shinra transport; no, this was a machine of war and purpose, its design sleek and powerful, its engine growling beneath them like a beast barely restrained.

Genesis hadn’t expected something this from soulmate. Fenrir wasn’t just a motorcycle- it was a beast of war, sleek and precise, built for speed and maneuverability beyond anything standard-issue. Even across uneven terrain, the bike handled effortlessly, as if it answered only to its rider.

His lips parted slightly. How fitting. It was a foolish thought, but he could not shake it. His mind, ever drawn to poetic imagery, reached instinctively for the words.

"My friend, the fates are cruel…"

It was almost fitting, wasn’t it? The lone soldier with his burdens, carrying his broken sword in pieces, reforging it when needed- much like himself. And those compartments, folding open and closed like the slow beat of flight…

Genesis tilted his head, watching the way his little blonde maneuvered Fenrir like a warbird diving through the air, and thought, rather absently- 

"…The hero must wander, ever alone."

His lips curled, just slightly. "Tell me, Cloud ," he mused over the roar of the engine, leaning in, "was it always your intention to ride a steel-winged beast into battle, or is that just a happy accident?"

Cloud barely flicked a glance back. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Genesis chuckled. "Oh, nothing," he said smoothly. "Just admiring your craftsmanship. Though I must say, that sword of yours deserves better poetry."

He exhaled, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “Tell me, Cloud, did you build this weapon of yours?”

Cloud hesitated, just for a breath, before replying. "...Yeah."

The confirmation sent a ripple of delight through Genesis, though he schooled his expression into something far less embarrassing than what he actually felt. Cloud built his own weapon? A multi-blade system that locked together and separated at will?

It was brilliant. Ingenious, even.

And suddenly, the world’s dullness before meeting Cloud made perfect sense. Who else could compare?

Genesis leaned back slightly, letting the wind tousled his hair as he gave Cloud a look dangerously close to admiration. “You are full of surprises, Cloud.”

Cloud made a noise of faint irritation, but Genesis didn’t miss the way his grip tightened just slightly, like he wasn’t sure how to take the compliment.

Cloud, his dearest soulmate was a vision.

His golden hair, wild and windswept, shimmered in the light, an untamed halo of sharp edges and soft defiance. His stance was effortless, every movement precise, honed by experience. Genesis had seen many warriors in his time, but none who moved like Cloud. There was something almost unshakable about him, as if battle itself bowed to his will.

And his clothes- Goddess, his clothes.

Dark, sleek, and practical, his coat swept behind him with every motion, secured by thick belts and reinforced with armor that only enhanced his already imposing presence. The high collar framed his sharp jawline perfectly, while the single pauldron gleamed under the light, adding to the effortless warrior aesthetic. He looked like he had stepped straight out of legend, a storm rolling in, untouchable yet impossible to ignore.

And his name- such a perfect name for a soulmate who colored the sky.

Genesis vowed to find Cloud’s mother and kneel in respect and adoration for birthing such a perfect man. He had fought tooth and nail to get that name out of Cloud’s stubbornly pretty mouth, and he thought- without regret- that it had been worth it. Even if it meant risking a boot to the ribs.

And those eyes- 

Mako green, bright and piercing, brimming with a quiet intensity that spoke of power restrained. Genesis had always considered his own eyes remarkable, but Cloud’s? They were mesmerizing.

And Cloud had no idea what he had just done.

Genesis glanced up at the sky, at the brilliant blue that had been nothing but gray mere moments ago. The world had changed the moment he met Cloud’s gaze, and with it, his entire life. He was still reeling, fingers twitching with the need to do something about it.

So, naturally, he started snitching.

With careful movements, he retrieved his PHS, shielding it from Cloud’s view. He sent the lone message that will surely make their day chaotic

Genesis: [The sky’s looking especially vibrant today. Almost breathtaking.]

Then, privately, to  Angeal.

[Tell Sephiroth he owes me 50 gil. Found our Last piece. Also, he's gorgeous.]

Cloud suddenly spoke, jarring Genesis from his silent meltdown.

"Stop fidgeting back there."

Genesis blinked, caught. "I wasn’t fidgeting."

"You were moving," Cloud said flatly. "If you fall off, I’m not stopping."

Genesis smirked. "So cold."

Cloud sighed heavily, clearly regretting his life choices.

Genesis found it adorable.

But he needed more. He needed to know everything about this man, about the soulmate who had unknowingly upended his entire existence. And if that meant prying information out of Cloud’s stubborn little head, so be it. He braced himself for the inevitable chaos. Any minute now, his PHS would start vibrating like a bomb about to go off. Most will probably come from the Puppy. But They can wait and meet their Soulmate later. For now, Genesis want to savor the moment with his soulmate, the last piece of their precious bond. 

He has always been selfish

It won’t change, atleast for now

The wind roared past them as Fenrir tore down the road, the engine’s deep growl rumbling beneath them. Genesis gripped Cloud’s sides- not just for balance, but for the excuse. The sheer speed of the bike sent gusts whipping through his hair, his coat flaring behind him like a crimson banner. The rush of air made it nearly impossible for an ordinary person to speak, but they weren’t ordinary.

“You really like going fast, don’t you?” Genesis mused, his voice carrying despite the wind.

Cloud didn’t glance back. “It’s efficient.”

Genesis smirked. “Efficient at making people cling to you, maybe.” His grip tightened, fingers pressing into Cloud’s waist a little too enthusiastically. Not that he’d ever admit it.

Cloud huffed, but didn’t shake him off. “You’d rather walk?”

“Hah. Never.” Genesis glanced at the blur of scenery around them, then back to the man keeping them steady at such reckless speeds. “I suppose you’re used to this kind of thing.”

Cloud Responded with a Grunt.

"Where exactly are we going?" Genesis asked, shifting slightly to lean closer.

Cloud stiffened. " Midgar? Where exactly? None of your Business."

Genesis narrowed his eyes. "For what?"

"I need to talk to someone."

Something about the way he said it made Genesis bristle. "Someone?"

"Yes."

Genesis’ grip tightened on the seat. "Not much of an answer."

Cloud shot him a brief, irritated glance. "Not much of your business."

Genesis hummed, displeased. The thought of Cloud seeking someone else, speaking about someone else-it stirred something possessive and entirely unfair in his chest. He barely knew Cloud, and yet the idea of another person holding his attention sent a spark of irrational jealousy through him.

"A woman?" Genesis guessed, watching for a reaction.

Cloud hesitated, just for a second. But Genesis caught it. Damn it.

Genesis turned his gaze toward the horizon, lips pressing into a thin line. "I see."

Cloud glanced at him again, brow furrowed. "You see what?"

Genesis shrugged, voice carefully neutral. "Nothing. Just trying to understand you."

Cloud scoffed. "Good luck with that."

Genesis would understand him. He would make sure of it.

Then a thought occurred to him-one that should have come much sooner. Cloud’s reaction earlier, his complete lack of understanding when Genesis had first spoken about the sky-

Genesis frowned, watching Cloud carefully. "You’re awfully calm about all of this."

Cloud didn’t react. "About what?"

Genesis gestured vaguely, as if that explained everything. "The sky, the-" he caught himself before blurting us like some lovestruck idiot. "-change. Doesn’t it mean anything to you?"

Cloud exhaled through his nose, as if patience was something he barely had to spare. "You’re the one acting like the sky is some kind of miracle."

Genesis felt like it was. The entire world had shifted, but Cloud was acting like it was just another day. His irritation twisted into something closer to confusion.

"Doesn’t it feel different? The world?" Genesis asked, voice quieter now, almost uncertain.

Cloud’s expression remained unreadable. "No."

Genesis frowned. That wasn’t right. This was monumental-life-changing! He tried another angle. "The sky. It’s blue. Do you really have nothing to say about that?"

Cloud exhaled sharply. "Why are you so obsessed with the sky?"

Genesis’ fingers twitched. He hadn’t expected to be the only one shaken by this. He had assumed-of course he had assumed-that Cloud had felt something too. But the more they spoke, the more uneasy Genesis felt.

"It doesn’t mean anything to you?" Genesis asked, voice quieter now, almost uncertain.

Cloud’s jaw tensed. "What are you talking about?"

Genesis studied him, something uncomfortable curling in his chest. "You really don’t-" He stopped himself. No, that didn’t make sense. Cloud had to know. He was just… pretending? Dismissing it?

Genesis didn’t understand. Why wasn’t Cloud reacting?

Cloud shifted his grip on the handles. "Look, whatever you’re trying to get at, I don’t care. Just sit tight and don’t fall off."

Genesis’ stomach twisted with something foreign. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.

And yet, it was becoming increasingly, painfully clear-

Cloud had no idea.

Genesis let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh. "Unbelievable. You’re in the dark."

Cloud didn’t respond, but that was answer enough.

Genesis grinned, slow and delighted. Oh, this was interesting. His soulmate-his gorgeous, powerful, clueless soulmate-had no idea what they were to each other.

Which meant Genesis had all the time in the world to make him understand.

And then, as if the Planet itself willed it, Cloud muttered under his breath, "So falls the fool."

Genesis nearly choked on air. His head snapped to Cloud so fast it was a miracle he didn’t get whiplash. "That was Loveless!"

Cloud frowned. "What?"

"You just-you quoted Loveless-!" Genesis was practically vibrating. "Cloud, you poetic enigma, say it again!"

Genesis had always considered himself a connoisseur of words. Whether in battle, in conversation, or in the throes of passion, the right words had power-an art he had mastered. And yet, for all his poetic inclinations, nothing could have prepared him for the sheer delight of hearing Cloud unknowingly quote Loveless back at him.

It had started as yet another attempt to pry some sort of reaction out of Cloud, who remained maddeningly indifferent to their supposed fate. Genesis had leaned in close, voice lilting with theatrical mischief, and mused, "For what is a man without a past but a leaf adrift upon the winds of fate?"

Cloud, without thinking, muttered, "Then let him carve his own path, lest he be lost to the current."

Silence.

Genesis blinked.

Cloud blinked back, brow furrowing at the sudden shift in atmosphere. "What?"

Genesis grinned.

A slow, delighted thing that spread across his face like he had just unearthed the most delicious secret in the world.

Cloud frowned harder. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You-" Genesis let out a breathless laugh. "You just quoted Loveless."

Cloud’s face went blank. "I did not."

"Oh, but you did." Genesis’ eyes shone with the kind of unholy amusement that made Cloud instantly regret ever speaking. "Tell me, Cloud-are you secretly a scholar of the classics? A devotee of the greatest literary work to grace our world?"

Cloud scowled. "I don’t even know what you’re talking about."

Genesis placed a hand over his heart as if wounded. "Blasphemy." Then his smirk turned downright wicked. "Or perhaps it is destiny? A connection so deep that even the words of the past bind us-"

Cloud cut him off with a long-suffering sigh. "Drop it."

"Never."

Cloud turned away, clearly deciding that pretending Genesis didn’t exist was his best course of action. It did nothing to deter him.

If anything, Genesis took it as a challenge.

He spent the next half-hour casually slipping in Loveless quotes into their conversation, watching with great interest as Cloud unconsciously responded with paraphrased lines. It was fascinating. He wasn’t even sure Cloud realized he was doing it.

The best part? The increasing look of suspicion on Cloud’s face every time Genesis reacted with barely-contained glee.

"You’re up to something," Cloud finally said, eyes narrowing.

Genesis smiled, all innocent charm. "Me? I am merely enjoying our conversation."

Cloud didn’t buy it for a second. "You’re being weird."

"I am always like this."

Cloud made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a groan. "I regret letting you on my bike."

Genesis sighed dreamily. "Ah, but fate has woven our paths together. There is no escape now, dear Cloudy."

Cloud visibly winced. "That’s it. You’re walking next time."

Genesis just laughed.

Oh, he was going to enjoy this.

Genesis leaned back slightly, the wind pulling at his coat as Fenrir sped across the wasteland. His mind was alight with possibilities, questions stacking atop each other in an endless spiral.

Cloud had no idea.

It was incredible.

Genesis had spent his entire life believing that meeting his soulmate would be an earth-shattering event. And it had been-for him. The moment their eyes met, the world had burst into color, the drab grays of Midgar giving way to endless hues, sharp and vibrant. But Cloud? Cloud had just stared blankly at him, as if nothing had changed at all.

It defied all logic.

Genesis had assumed Cloud simply had a strange way of processing things. Some people were quiet in the face of overwhelming revelations. But the more they spoke, the more unsettling it became.

Cloud didn’t know.

Didn’t realize.

And now that Genesis was sure of it, he had absolutely no idea what to do with this information.

He eyed the back of Cloud’s head, watching the way strands of blond hair whipped in the wind. He could feel the warmth of him, solid and steady beneath his hands where they rested on the seat. There was a tension in Cloud’s shoulders now, subtle but present-he’d noticed Genesis staring.

Good.

“You’re unusually quiet,” Cloud muttered, his voice barely audible over the roar of the engine.

Genesis smirked. “I’m thinking.”

“That’s never good.”

Genesis huffed a soft laugh but didn’t deny it. Cloud had no idea how much trouble he was in.

For a while, they rode in silence, the rhythmic hum of the bike filling the space between them. Then Genesis shifted forward just a little, enough that Cloud would feel him there. “Tell me something.”

Cloud tensed. “What.”

“Why don’t you care?”

Cloud’s grip tightened ever so slightly on the handlebars. “About what.”

Genesis hummed, tilting his head. “Everything. The sky, the colors-” He hesitated, then added deliberately, “Me.”

That earned him a reaction. Cloud exhaled through his nose, irritated, and Genesis knew he was getting under his skin.

“Don’t start,” Cloud warned.

“Oh, but I must.” Genesis leaned closer, voice dropping into something almost conspiratorial. “It’s just so fascinating. Most people-well, all people, really-would be reacting quite differently. And yet, here you are, acting as though none of this is significant.”

Cloud didn’t answer immediately, but Genesis didn’t miss the slight shift in his posture, the way his fingers flexed before settling again. It was subtle, but it was there.

“You’re overthinking it,” Cloud said at last.

Genesis scoffed. “I never overthink.”

Cloud gave him a look over his shoulder that was somehow both unimpressed and vaguely exasperated.

Genesis grinned. “Alright, perhaps I do. But in this case, I’m entirely justified. I know what I felt. What I saw. And you…” He trailed off, eyes narrowing. “You’re acting like it never even happened.”

Cloud didn’t deny it. Didn’t confirm it, either. He just turned his attention back to the road, silent in a way that felt heavier than before.

Genesis watched him, gears turning in his mind. This wasn’t simple ignorance-Cloud wasn’t pretending not to understand. He genuinely didn’t.

And that begged the question: why?

Genesis had a terrible, wonderful feeling he was going to enjoy finding out.

Genesis had always loved uncovering secrets. The hidden meanings in poetry, the nuances in battle, the way a well-placed word could shift an entire conversation. And now, he had a mystery sitting right in front of him, gripping the handles of Fenrir with all the stubbornness of a man pretending he wasn’t out of his depth.

Cloud didn’t know about soulmates. His soulmate had no idea.

Genesis leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing as he studied the set of Cloud’s shoulders. Tension coiled there, buried beneath feigned indifference. So, he thought, not only unaware, but also unwilling to entertain the conversation. Interesting. It made Genesis itch to push, to pry, to dig his fingers into the carefully built walls and see what was beneath them.

"So tell me something, Cloud," Genesis drawled, his tone as casual as he could make it. "Have you always been this emotionally constipated, or is it just a special treat for me?"

Cloud sighed through his nose. "I can stop this bike and leave you here."

"You could," Genesis allowed. "But you won’t."

Cloud didn’t answer, which meant Genesis was right.

A grin curled at Genesis’ lips. "You’re a hard man to impress, Cloud. I’ve seen men weep at the sight of a blue sky, and yet here you are, utterly unmoved. It’s almost insulting."

Cloud’s grip on the handlebars tightened. "It’s just the sky."

"Oh, but it’s not," Genesis countered smoothly. "It’s proof."

That got a reaction. A brief flicker, a barely-there shift in Cloud’s posture. Genesis pounced on it.

"It changed the moment we met eyes," he continued, voice dropping just slightly. "A world without color, suddenly vivid. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?"

Cloud’s jaw tensed. "I don’t see how it matters."

Genesis tilted his head. "No? Then let’s say-hypothetically, of course-that the entire world had just proven something to you. Something undeniable, something that changed everything you thought you knew. Would you still dismiss it?"

Cloud’s fingers twitched. "I don’t have time for hypotheticals."

Genesis chuckled, delighted. "Ah, but you see, this isn’t hypothetical. It’s very real, and you’re standing in the middle of it."

Cloud’s silence stretched between them, heavy and unyielding. Genesis could almost hear the thoughts whirring in that stubborn blond head. He didn’t know whether Cloud was refusing to understand or genuinely clueless, but either way, it made his pulse quicken with intrigue.

"You do know about soulmates, don’t you?" Genesis pressed, voice softer now, testing.

Cloud didn’t answer immediately. And that-that was interesting.

Genesis arched a brow. "Wait. You do know what soulmates are, right?"

Cloud exhaled sharply. "I know what the stories say."

"Stories," Genesis repeated, incredulous. "Oh, Cloud. That’s adorable."

Cloud gave him a warning look, but Genesis only grinned wider. Fascinating. Cloud wasn’t just unaware-he had dismissed the entire concept. Brushed it off as legend, as fantasy. Which meant he had never expected this to happen. He had never even considered it a possibility.

And that made Genesis want to prove it to him all the more.

He leaned forward, voice lowering, just enough to send a shiver down the spine if Cloud were the type to react. "Well then. If it’s all just stories, you won’t mind if I test a theory or two, will you?"

Cloud shot him a deeply unimpressed look. "If you try anything, you’re walking to Midgar."

Genesis laughed, rich and warm. "Oh, Cloud. You make it sound like I’d actually need to try."

- 

Genesis had expected resistance. He had anticipated stubbornness, denial, and that adorable little scowl Cloud wore whenever he was deeply, soul-crushingly done with everything around him.

What he had not expected was for Cloud to still be completely, utterly oblivious.

They had been riding for miles now, the hum of Fenrir’s engine the only constant sound between them. Genesis had given Cloud time-ample time-to process, to come to his own conclusions, to at least acknowledge that something had changed. But Cloud? Cloud remained stubbornly silent, his shoulders squared with determination, gaze fixed firmly on the road ahead.

Genesis, quite frankly, was beginning to suffer.

“So,” Genesis began, casual, leaning just a little closer so his words ghosted against Cloud’s ear. “You truly feel nothing different?”

Cloud exhaled sharply. “We’re not talking about this.”

Genesis smirked. “Oh, but we are. We must! This is the single most important revelation of my life, and you-” He gestured dramatically, despite the fact that Cloud couldn’t see him. “-are behaving as if the sky itself didn’t just open up and reveal its splendor!”

Cloud’s fingers tightened on the handlebars. “You’re being dramatic.”

“Am I?” Genesis let his smirk widen. “Or are you simply too afraid to face the truth?”

Cloud’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t rise to the bait.

Genesis hummed. “Perhaps you require a different approach.” His voice dropped to something smoother, something more lyrical. “‘My friend, the fates are cruel. There are no dreams, no honor remains-’”

Cloud twitched violently. “Stop that.”

Genesis grinned, victorious. “Ah, but you do know it.”

Cloud scowled. “Of course, I do. Everyone does.”

Genesis clasped a hand over his chest, as if struck by the weight of destiny itself. “Then you understand the gravity of this moment! This is fate, Cloud. The kind sung of in epics, whispered in legends.”

Cloud groaned. “I regret everything.”

“Too late for that.” Genesis leaned forward again, tone dropping to something softer, something more serious. “Tell me, Cloud. What color were your eyes before?”

Cloud stiffened. “What?”

Genesis exhaled, glancing upward. “The sky,” he murmured. “I had never seen it before today. Not truly. I envied those who had. Those who found their soulmates and gazed upon a world so much more vibrant than the one they had known.”

Cloud remained silent, but Genesis could feel the tension in the air shift.

“I wondered,” Genesis continued, quieter now, “if yours were blue. Before the mako.”

Cloud hesitated. “…They were.”

Genesis closed his eyes for a moment, letting the weight of that sink in. When he opened them, his expression was uncharacteristically gentle. “Then they must have been breathtaking.”

Cloud made a strangled sound. “Can you not?”

Genesis only smirked. “I fear I cannot help it.”

Cloud groaned again, but Genesis caught the faintest flush on his ears. Interesting.

Yes. He would very much enjoy this.

But he had to be careful. Cloud was already resisting, pushing back against the edges of understanding. If Genesis pushed too hard, Cloud would shut down completely. No, this needed to unfold at just the right pace.

Even now, he rejected the very concept of soulmates, as though he could be an exception to the rules of this world.

He wasn’t.

And that fact filled Genesis with a gnawing, insidious panic he hadn’t felt in years.

Because Cloud wasn’t staying.

Cloud was going to drop him off at the Shinra outpost, and then he was going to leave. Just like that. Gone, disappeared into the wilds of the world, and Genesis would never see him again.

Worse, none of them would.

Zack, Angeal, Sephiroth- they hadn’t even seen their soulmate yet. They didn’t even know he existed. And if Genesis let this opportunity slip away, they never would.

Cloud would vanish, and he’d take the colors of the sky and the ocean with him.

Genesis could already see it in his mind’s eye: Cloud, determined, distant, walking away without a second thought. No hesitation, no looking back. Whatever mission he had, whatever person he was so damn set on reaching, it was enough to make him cast Genesis aside like a stranger on the side of the road.

That thought alone made Genesis’s heart pound.

He had to act fast.

If he wanted to keep Cloud within reach, he needed leverage, an anchor- anything. And, well. Cloud had given him a perfect one.

Whoever this girl was, the one Cloud was so intent on finding, she had a hold on him stronger than anything else in this world.

Genesis would find out why.

If this woman was important enough for Cloud to move heaven and earth to get to, then she was important enough for Genesis to meet.

And he would.

Because there was no damn way he was letting Cloud disappear before Zack, Angeal, and Sephiroth even got the chance to lay eyes on their soulmate. For Cloud not even meeting them first to see how wonderful they will be together, as a completed soulmate meant to be together, as dictated by the Goddess. Genesis exhaled sharply, adjusting his grip as Fenrir rumbled beneath them. “Tell me something, Cloud,” he began, voice softer now. “What color is the sky?”

Cloud blinked, thrown by the question. “…Blue?”

Genesis made a sound like he was waiting for more.

Cloud frowned. He hadn’t been paying attention. The sky was blue. It had always been blue. What kind of question was that?

Genesis hummed, tilting his head up. “I’d say it’s closer to azure right now,” he mused. “With hints of cobalt near the horizon. It’s richer than I remember. Deeper.” He glanced at Cloud, eyes sharp with meaning. “And you?”

Cloud kept his eyes on the road, jaw tightening. He didn’t want to acknowledge it. Didn’t want to admit that- 

That it was different.

The sky had always been blue, but this blue was something else. It was crisp, vivid, almost too intense to look at. The muted haze he had grown used to was gone.

The realization settled uncomfortably in his chest.

Genesis smirked, seeing something in Cloud’s expression. “I thought so.”

Cloud exhaled through his nose. “It’s just the atmosphere,” he muttered. “Mako exposure messes with perception.”

Genesis outright laughed at that. “Oh, Cloud, that is the most pathetic excuse I’ve ever heard.”

Cloud scowled, but Genesis continued before he could argue.

“You’ve been seeing the world through a filter, haven’t you?” His voice dropped, tone almost sympathetic. “Muted. Dimmed. You thought that was normal.”

Cloud’s grip on the handlebars tightened.

It was normal.

Or at least- it had been.

Genesis leaned in again, voice coaxing. “Tell me, Cloud. What color is my coat?”

Cloud didn’t answer.

He didn’t have to.

It was red.

Not just any red- the kind of red that burned at the edges of his vision, impossibly rich, impossibly real. He hadn’t seen red like this in years. Not since- 

Cloud inhaled sharply.

Not since before the Planet begun to die when a certain ex-general and a certain electric corporation begun fucking it up..

His world had never been grayscale. He had never been colorblind. He can still distinguish colors But somewhere along the way, he had stopped seeing this.

Genesis was watching him closely now, like a scientist observing an experiment. “Fascinating,” he murmured. “You truly hadn’t noticed?”

Cloud swallowed.

No.

No, he hadn’t.

Because he had been focused. Because there had always been something more important, something that demanded his attention, something that wasn’t this.

But now, in the wake of Genesis’s words, he couldn’t unsee it.

The sky. The dirt road. The fire in the distance.

The Auburn color of his Hair

It had been dull before. Everything had been dull before. Not before their eyes met.

Genesis huffed, leaning forward so his chin nearly rested on Cloud’s shoulder. The golden-haired man tensed slightly at the contact but didn’t shake him off.

Progress.

Still, Genesis was getting desperate. They were nearing whatever town Cloud had been heading toward, and once they arrived, Genesis had no guarantee that Cloud wouldn’t just leave him behind.

He couldn’t let that happen.

Cloud was a keepsake in his hands, precious and fleeting, and Genesis didn’t intend to let him slip away.

His name suited him, Genesis realized.

Clouds drifted, yes, but this one was more than that. Cloud was an errant cloud, unbound by the natural order of things, refusing to settle, refusing to obey the world’s rules. Even now, he seemed to outright reject the concept of soulmates, as though he were an exception.

He wasn’t.

Did Cloud even know who he was? How important he was?

People would kill to be in Genesis’s position. They would sacrifice anything to be his soulmate, to become part of them. and here Cloud was, utterly oblivious to the weight of it.

Genesis exhaled slowly, trying to keep his frustration in check. "Cloud."

A grunt.

"You do realize what this means, don’t you?"

Genesis had been waiting for this moment. Watching Cloud struggle, watching him try so valiantly to avoid reacting to his poetry-oh, it had been delightful. But now, it was time to lay down the truth, to see just how much he could shake up Cloud's worldview.

“Cloud,” Genesis began, voice steady, dramatic as ever. “Do you know what it means to meet your soulmate?”

Cloud made a vague noise of disinterest, keeping his eyes ahead on the road. The terrain was uneven, and he had no intention of giving Genesis any more reason to mock him for poor driving skills. “Some kind of fairytale nonsense?” he muttered. “People meeting and suddenly knowing they’re meant for each other?”

Genesis hummed. “More than that. Much more.” He turned slightly, letting the wind ruffle through his hair, clearly relishing the way he was about to completely ruin Cloud’s day. “Meeting your soulmate allows you to see the colors of the world for the first time.”

Cloud furrowed his brows but didn’t look at him. “...What?”

Genesis smirked. “Before meeting your soulmate, the world is colorless. Just shades of grey, an empty canvas waiting to be painted. And the moment you meet them- bam.” He snapped his fingers. “Color floods into your world.”

Cloud’s grip on the handlebars tightened. That was- no, that was insane. People weren’t colorblind before meeting their soulmate. That wasn’t how it worked. That wasn’t how anything worked.

Genesis, clearly seeing the doubt on his face, continued smoothly. “And then there are those who have multiple soulmates,” he said. “Not just one, but two, three… or more. Their colors come in pieces, gradually, each soulmate adding a little more vibrancy, a little more depth.”

Cloud made a face. “That sounds complicated.”

Genesis laughed. “Oh, extremely. But think of it this way- someone with only one soulmate, their world is suddenly bright, fully painted the moment they meet. But someone with multiple? It’s like a slow sunrise, piece by piece, bit by bit, getting brighter, richer, more real as each soulmate enters their life.”

Cloud kept his gaze stubbornly forward. He hadn’t ever thought about polyamory in that sense, not in terms of how it could literally alter the way someone saw the world. It was a weirdly poetic way to put it.

Genesis, for his part, had gone silent. Waiting. Expecting.

Cloud’s frown deepened. “What?”

Genesis let out a long, suffering sigh, rubbing his temple as if he were dealing with a particularly dense student. “Cloud,” he said, voice slow, patient, as if speaking to a particularly slow chocobo. “Do you not see what this means?”

Cloud blinked. “...What?”

A long pause. Genesis looked like he was debating whether to strangle him or shake him. Then, very deliberately, he said, “We’re soulmates, Cloud.”

The motorcycle nearly swerved off the road.

“WOAH, CLOUD- ” Genesis had to grip Cloud’s shoulders to keep them from flying into a rock. Cloud’s mind was in absolute chaos. He forced the bike back under control, heart hammering, brain screaming WHAT?!

Fenrir skidded to a halt, the tires kicking up dirt as they jerked to a stop at the roadside. Cloud barely registered Genesis letting go, stepping off the bike with a slow, deliberate movement, his coat settling around him in the lingering breeze.

Genesis leaned casually against Fenrir, one knee bent, weight balanced effortlessly. The way the wind toyed with his hair, catching in loose strands, the way his mako-bright eyes studied Cloud with an intensity that sent something crawling up his spine- Cloud almost hated how ridiculously good he looked just standing there.

“That’s not- ” He felt his stomach twist, the realization pressing against his ribs. “That’s not possible.”

Genesis snorted. “Oh, but it is.”

Cloud’s breathing was sharp, shallow. He tried to deny it, tried to push away the implications, but he couldn’t ignore the fact that the world around him had been dull before he met Genesis. The ocean, the sky, the fire in the distance- 

The red of Genesis’s coat.

It wasn’t just red. It was crimson, layered in shades of deep wine and bright scarlet. The leather caught the light, shifting hues with every movement, each fold and crease suddenly visible.

And Genesis himself- 

His cheeks were flushed, either from the wind or from the way he was looking at Cloud, gaze locked onto him like he was truly seeing him for the first time.

His mind latched onto that, desperate for an explanation. Maybe he had just never noticed color before. Maybe it had always been there, and he just… hadn’t paid attention? But that didn’t make sense. He remembered Midgar, the bleak greys and muted browns. He remembered looking at the sky and never thinking twice about its color- because there hadn’t been any.

He swallowed thickly. “This… this world…” He shook his head, fingers clenched against the handles. “This world isn’t my world.”

Genesis tilted his head. “Of course it is.”

Cloud’s stomach twisted further. There were no soulmates in his world. No being colorblind until meeting someone destined for you. Soulmates were a concept in fantasy novels, in romance books- 

And yet here he was.

Genesis watched the conflict on his face with something between amusement and curiosity. “You’re in disbelief.”

“Damn right I am,” Cloud muttered. His grip tightened further. His mind was a hurricane of thoughts, memories, and unwanted realizations. Because if Genesis was his soulmate, then that meant- 

Cloud’s thoughts stuttered, looping back to Genesis’s words from earlier.

"And then there are those who have multiple soulmates. Not just one, but two, three… or more. Their colors come in pieces, gradually, each soulmate adding a little more vibrancy, a little more depth."

Cloud’s stomach twisted.

He glanced at Genesis out of the corner of his eye, gaze tracing over him with something uneasy and searching. The red of his coat was impossibly vivid, almost blinding in its richness- but what about everything else? The world had shifted, yes, but there were gaps. Some colors weren’t as sharp as they should be, weren’t as saturated as the rest.

There was something missing.

Cloud clenched his jaw.

It couldn’t be.

It shouldn’t be.

But the thought lodged itself in his mind, unwanted and relentless.

The ocean. The sky. The fire. The sun.

They weren’t all red.

They weren’t all Genesis.

Cloud’s gaze flickered to the man beside him- his striking crimson coat, the cascade of auburn hair, the sharp angles of his face. And his eyes- blue , but not like the sky Genesis had so poetically admired. No, his were deeper, richer, a shade of cerulean with edges that bled into teal, like the depths of a sea Cloud had never seen.

And yet, the world hadn’t fully shifted. The colors weren’t complete. Some pieces were still missing.

Cloud barely resisted the urge to groan. “I need a drink.”

Genesis laughed, far too delighted. “Oh, Cloudy, we’re just getting started.”

Then, with the kind of smug satisfaction that made Cloud want to drive Fenrir straight into a ditch, Genesis continued, “If this is how you react after finding me, I can’t wait to see what you’ll do when you meet the others.” He leaned in just enough for Cloud to feel the heat of his presence, his voice a low purr. “Do you think you’ll short-circuit on the spot? Or will you simply flee?”

Cloud exhaled through his nose, jaw tight. “I hate everything about this conversation.”

Genesis grinned, utterly unbothered.

And then, voice dripping with satisfaction, he added—

“And you haven’t even met all of us yet.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

The fire crackled softly, the flames casting long shadows against the rocky terrain. Smoke curled into the crisp night air, the scent of sizzling meat mingling with the earthiness of crushed herbs. Cloud sat cross-legged near the fire, sharpening one of his knives with slow, methodical movements.

Across from him, Genesis watched, lounging back on his hands with an ease that Cloud already knew was deceptive. The man was never fully relaxed- always calculating, always ready to pounce. His unreadable blue eyes flickered between Cloud and the roasting meat with an expression that Cloud didn’t trust.

They had argued earlier, a drawn-out, frustrating back-and-forth about the soulmate nonsense.

Cloud had shut it down quickly.

"You're mistaken," he had said, gripping Fenrir’s handles with white-knuckled precision.

Genesis had only laughed, amused and exasperated in equal measure. “Oh, am I? And here I thought you were supposed to be the skeptical but reasonable type."

Cloud had resisted the urge to scoff. “This isn’t about skepticism. It’s about reality. You think I’m your soulmate, but that’s impossible.”

Genesis tilted his head, watching him like a puzzle he intended to solve. "Why is it impossible?"

Cloud exhaled sharply. "Because I don’t belong here.”

That was the closest thing to the truth that he could afford to give.

Genesis had narrowed his eyes at that, something calculating flickering behind them. He had leaned forward then, voice softer, almost coaxing. "Then where do you belong?"

Cloud had clenched his jaw. "Somewhere else."

He could still see the way Genesis studied him after that, quiet and considering, as if weighing whether to push further. Cloud refused to be the first to look away. He told himself it wasn’t a challenge, but the weight of Genesis’ gaze felt like a hook lodged between his ribs, waiting for him to flinch. He forced his expression blank, unwilling to give the man even an inch of ground.

But then he internally kicked himself. Why was he arguing with the man and wastes any more time that he should?  He got the feeling that Genesis would stubbornly strive to win this silly staring contest even with an incoming Bahamut SIN from his stubborn behind.

Cloud felt tempted to do that. Maybe even Ride Bahamut himself and flying off to leave this luggage of problems. Laying low be damned.

But Aerith wouldn’t like that. Cloud has a feeling that she’ll know even without him telling her.

Cloud turned away before the man could pry deeper, swinging his leg over Fenrir.

Genesis straightened immediately, alarm flashing across his face. "What are you doing?"

Cloud glanced at him, unimpressed. "Getting back on the road."

Genesis scoffed, folding his arms. "So that’s it? You’re running away?"

Cloud gave him a flat look, then motioned toward Fenrir. "You can stay here if you want."

There was a heartbeat of silence.

Genesis narrowed his eyes. "You wouldn’t."

Cloud’s only response was starting the engine.

Genesis lost his composure for half a second before he scrambled forward, vaulting onto the bike behind Cloud with a speed that would’ve been impressive if it wasn’t so desperate. He gripped Cloud’s shoulders for balance, leaning in. "You are insufferable."

Cloud smirked faintly. "You’re the one who got on."

Genesis huffed, muttering something under his breath before begrudgingly settling into his seat. "We’re not done talking about this."

Cloud revved the engine in response, and they shot forward down the dirt path.

They rode in silence, the wind whipping past them. Fenrir roared beneath them, eating up the distance with smooth, controlled power. Genesis, despite himself, found the ride exhilarating.

Still, he wasn’t about to let the topic drop.

After a while, Genesis shifted, speaking over the hum of the engine. "We need to stop for the night."

Cloud didn’t even glance at him. "We can keep going."

Genesis rolled his eyes. "Yes, I’m sure your endurance is legendary, but even you need rest."

“We could make it to Midgar by morning,” he had argued, 

“And we could also ride directly into an ambush,” Genesis had countered smoothly, giving him the other a look that was both exasperated and amused. “I don’t know about you, but I prefer not to fight an entire pack of monsters while running on fumes.”

Cloud had gritted his teeth, knowing the other man had a point but still hating the delay.

Cloud’s grip on the handlebars tightened. He didn’t want to stop. Not when he was still wrapping his head around everything. Not when he had a mission to complete.

Genesis, sensing his reluctance, smirked. "What’s wrong? Afraid to be alone with me under the stars?"

Cloud exhaled sharply. "Fine. But you’re doing the setup."

Genesis smirked, victorious. "I knew you’d see reason."

Cloud muttered something that sounded suspiciously like regret.

Because every minute wasted was another minute further from his actual goal.

He had to talk to Aerith.

It was the only real lead he had. She had been the closest to the Lifestream, and could hear it in ways no one else could. If anyone could help him figure out why the hell he was here and how to get back, it would be her.

The fire crackled between them, flickering light casting shifting shadows along the uneven rock walls of their makeshift camp. It had taken nearly an hour to find a suitable place- far enough from the main road to avoid monsters and patrols, but close enough that they wouldn’t be forced to spend an entire extra day trekking through the wilderness.

Cloud flipped the cut of meat he had carved from the Zuu he had taken down earlier, watching as the fat sizzled against the hot surface of a flat decent rock. Genesis had made a fuss about using a ‘Dirty rock’  as a pan but Cloud quickly shut him up with an offer that he can just not eat if he’s so disgusted by it.. The auburn-haired man had merely grumbled and grudgingly cast a cleaning spell over it a dozen times before dramatically waving Cloud off.

The large bird had put up a fight, but it hadn’t been anything he couldn’t handle. Genesis had watched the whole thing, arms crossed, lips curled into a smirk, looking far too entertaine

“Effortless,” the red-clad man had murmured once Cloud had finished wiping the blood from his sword.

Cloud had ignored him.

Now, as the scent of roasting meat filled the air, he pretended not to notice the way Genesis kept sneaking glances at him from across the fire. 

The meat was nearly done cooking, and Cloud focused on that, using his knife to shift the pieces over the fire, watching the juices sizzle against the flames. It gave him something to do. Something to concentrate on.

There was silence for a moment. Then- 

“Is it done yet?”

Cloud barely refrained from throwing the knife. Instead, he gave Genesis a blank stare. "Five more minutes."

Genesis let out a long-suffering sigh and leaned back against a nearby boulder, staring at the night sky. "This is taking forever."

Cloud twitched. "It’s cooking. That’s how it works."

Genesis smirked. "Oh, I know. I just enjoy seeing how long it takes before you snap."

Cloud gritted his teeth and focused on the meat.

The fire flickered between them, casting Genesis in a warm glow, his red coat a sharp contrast against the darkened landscape. He looked entirely at ease, as if he had every right to be here, to share this campfire, to talk to Cloud like they weren’t strangers.

Cloud, for his part, didn’t know what to do with him.

A soulmate? Him?

It had to be a mistake.

He wasn’t from this world. Whatever bond Genesis thought they had- it wasn’t his.

It belonged to the Cloud Strife of this timeline, this version of history.

Cloud clenched his jaw. He didn’t have time for this.

His priority was getting back.

But Genesis was still staring.

“…Are you just going to stare all night?” he muttered, not looking up.

Genesis hummed. “I was merely admiring your technique.”

Cloud exhaled slowly. “For killing the Zuu, or for cooking?”

Genesis smirked, stretching his legs out like he had all the time in the world. “Both.”

Cloud fought the urge to roll his eyes.

“This is quite the domestic side of you,” Genesis continued, watching as Cloud rotated the meat with precise movements. “Who knew you had such practical skills?”

Cloud shot him a look. “I eat food, don’t I?”

Genesis chuckled. “And here I thought you sustained yourself on sheer brooding alone.”

Cloud sighed and refocused on the meal, pointedly ignoring him.

Silence settled between them for a while, save for the crackling of the fire and the distant rustle of wind through dry grass. The stars above were clearer than they ever were in Midgar- bright, stretching endlessly across the sky.

Cloud used to like looking at the stars.

Not so much anymore.

Genesis let out a pleased sigh. “A perfect evening.”

Cloud tensed when he heard the inevitable intake of breath that meant Genesis was about to- 

“‘When the war of the beasts brings about the world’s end…’”

Cloud exhaled through his nose.

“Don’t.”

“‘The goddess descends from the sky- ’”

“Genesis.”

“‘Wings of light and dark spread afar- ’”

Cloud shoved a plate of cooked meat in his direction.

Genesis blinked, clearly surprised, before his smirk widened into something slow and smug.

Cloud resisted the urge to sigh.

He could already feel the headache forming.

“Just eat,” he said flatly.

Genesis accepted the plate, though the way he was watching Cloud was downright predatory. The firelight reflected in his blue-green eyes, sharp and considering, and Cloud suddenly had the uncomfortable realization that this man was thoroughly enjoying every second of this.

A moment passed. Then, Genesis took a deliberate bite.

His expression shifted immediately.

He covered it well- too well- but Cloud saw it. The brief flicker of surprise, the way his brows twitched just slightly before he smoothed it over with feigned indifference.

“…Well?” Cloud prompted, raising an eyebrow.

Genesis chewed thoughtfully, swallowing with slow deliberation. Genesis opened his mouth, then closed it again, scowling slightly, as if refusing to admit that Cloud had surprised him. Then, as if the words pained him, he muttered, “…It’s good.”

Cloud blinked.

Genesis scowled. “Don’t look at me like that.”

Cloud wasn’t sure how he was looking at him, but he didn’t care.

Genesis huffed. “Unexpectedly decent,” he amended, stabbing another piece with his fork. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”

Cloud stared at him, unimpressed. “You’re acting like I made a three-course meal out of a monster carcass.”

Genesis smirked. “You did add seasoning.”

“I found some herbs nearby.”

Genesis made an exaggerated gesture with his fork. “And yet, even with such limited resources, you managed to make something palatable. Impressive.”

Cloud gave him a flat look.

Genesis, of course, was entirely unbothered, taking another slow bite like he was savoring it on principle.

“Must be quite the skill to have, considering the company you keep,” he mused.

Cloud frowned slightly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Genesis smirked over his plate. “Oh, nothing. Just that I imagine a certain someone might appreciate the effort.”

Cloud stiffened.

His reaction must have been too telling, because Genesis’s eyes lit up.

Cloud set his plate down, exhaling through his nose. “Don’t.”

Genesis leaned forward slightly, elbow braced on one knee, head tilted in mock curiosity. “Who is she?”

Cloud frowned. “What?”

“The girl you’re so determined to see.”

Cloud’s grip on his fork tightened slightly. “Why do you care?”

Genesis grinned. “Oh, I don’t. I’m merely curious about the person who has my dear soulmate in such a hurry.”

Cloud resisted the urge to groan.

“She’s someone I need to talk to.”

Genesis hummed. “She must be quite the woman, to have you in such a hurry. Should I be jealous?”

Cloud shook his head, grabbing his plate again and focusing on his food. “It’s not what you’re thinking.”

Genesis took another bite, chewing slowly, watching him.

Cloud ignored him.

This was going to be a long night.

Genesis set his plate down, stretching his legs out as he leaned back slightly against a nearby rock. He wasn’t watching the fire anymore. His gaze flickered toward Cloud, sharp and considering, lingering longer than before.

Cloud ignored it. Or at least, he tried to.

The silence stretched.

Then, finally, Genesis exhaled through his nose, tilting his head slightly. “You know,” he mused, voice deceptively casual, “with those eyes, I’d almost think you were a SOLDIER.”

Cloud’s fingers twitched.

Genesis caught it.

He always caught things like that.

“Oh?” His smirk widened, something keen and dangerous flickering in his expression. “Didn’t like that? What, don’t want to be associated with Shinra?”

Cloud scowled, stabbing his knife into the dirt beside him. “I’m not.”

Genesis’s lips curled. “Not what?”

Cloud exhaled sharply. “Not a SOLDIER. Not Shinra. Not anything to do with them.”

Genesis hummed, dragging a finger idly over the dust on his gauntlet. “That’s funny.”

Cloud’s grip on his knee tightened. “What’s funny?”

Genesis smirked, shifting his weight “ you fight like a SOLDIER. And those eyes- " He gestured vaguely at Cloud's face. "Mako-bright. You’re either Shinra-affiliated or an experiment gone wrong."

Cloud’s grip on the knife tightened briefly before he forced himself to remain calm. "Not.Shinra," he said flatly.

Genesis propped his chin up with one hand, watching him closely.as if he hadn’t heard the other man’s clipped response “Because if you were in  I would’ve noticed you.”

Cloud blinked, caught off guard. “What?”

Genesis gestured vaguely. “Your hair. No one forgets a chocobo like that running around the building.”

Cloud rolled his eyes. “You wouldn’t have noticed me.”

“Oh, but I would have.”

Genesis leaned forward slightly, eyes glinting with something unreadable.

“The mako in your eyes- that’s not standard infantry enhancement.” His voice lowered, smooth and certain, like he was closing a trap. “And yet, you insist you were never SOLDIER. So where did you get it?”

Cloud exhaled slowly. He forced his shoulders to relax, forced his body not to tense under Genesis’s scrutiny. Debating how much to say. 

The fire crackled.

He could feel Genesis’s eyes on him, patient and expectant, waiting for an answer.

He had to make this good.

“I fell into a mako pool,” Cloud said, voice flat.

Genesis’s brow lifted slightly, curiosity deepening.

Cloud didn’t give him time to pick it apart. He kept going, keeping his expression blank, his voice even. “Got dragged out before it killed me. By a friend.”

Genesis didn’t interrupt. He just… watched.

Cloud swallowed. “Didn’t remember anything. Not for a long time. My friend helped me… piece things together.”

A half-truth.

Natural enough.

The man doesn’t need to know that it’s more than that. Being an Experiment, Hojo.

Genesis exhaled through his nose, expression unreadable. His fingers drummed lightly against his knee.

“Hmm,” he murmured, considering. 

Cloud didn’t like that sound.

The redhead stared at him, searching his face for a lie. Cloud kept his expression neutral.

Genesis leaned back again, gaze flicking toward the fire. “That would explain some things.”

Cloud frowned slightly. “Like what?”

Genesis tapped a gloved finger against his chin. "That might explain why you don’t know about soulmates."

Cloud let out a slow breath. "Or maybe they just don’t exist."

Genesis scoffed, shaking his head. "Strange. You don’t strike me as someone who would have been ordinary, even before the Mako. I feel like I would’ve remembered someone like you. Your little friend should've also told you about Soulmates"

Cloud wasn’t sure why that made his stomach twist. 

Silence.

Cloud stared at him.

Genesis didn’t look away.

The air between them felt different now- tenser, heavier. Like something had shifted beneath the surface of their conversation, but neither of them had named it yet.

Then Genesis exhaled, something like amusement tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Well, no matter,” he said smoothly, stretching his arms over his head before reaching for his plate again. “You know now.”

Cloud wasn’t sure if that made things better or worse

Genesis smirked as he leaned back, stretching out like he had already won. Cloud scowled at the sight.

“We should take turns keeping watch,” Cloud muttered, forcing his focus back to something practical.

Genesis arched a brow. “How responsible of you.”

Cloud ignored the dig. “I’ll take first watch. You sleep.”

Genesis scoffed. “Oh, absolutely not.”

Cloud frowned. “You need rest.”

“So do you.”

They locked eyes, the fire crackling between them.

Cloud exhaled sharply through his nose. “I function on less sleep.”

Genesis gave him a look of exaggerated disbelief. “Oh? And that’s supposed to convince me?”

Cloud crossed his arms. “I’ve done it before.”

Genesis waved a hand. “And I, my dear, mysterious companion, have fought battles where I stayed awake for over seventy-two hours. Your argument is invalid.”

Cloud’s eye twitched. “You’re making that up.”

“Am I?”

“Yes.”

Genesis smirked.

Cloud clenched his jaw.

They sat there, staring each other down like two wolves circling for dominance.

Finally, Genesis rolled his eyes, muttering something about stubborn idiots before pulling out a green materia. With a casual flick of his wrist, a soft hum of energy surrounded them, a translucent barrier settling over the camp.

“There,” Genesis said smugly. “Now nothing’s getting in unless I let it.”

Cloud watched the shimmering shield flicker for a moment before narrowing his eyes. “That’s not foolproof.”

Genesis tsked. “Do you always have to be so difficult?”

Cloud crossed his arms, gaze unwavering. “Yes.”

Genesis sighed dramatically. “Fine. Stay awake, then. But don’t blame me when you collapse mid-transport. I am certainly blaming you if we crash into a boulder with your stubborness.”

Cloud huffed but didn’t argue further.

Silence settled over them, the fire casting shifting shadows against the rocky terrain. The night air was cool, crisp, and oddly still.

Cloud, despite himself, found his gaze drifting upward. The stars stretched endlessly above them, clearer than they ever were in Midgar.

A strange thought crept into his mind.

Somewhere out there, the real Cloud Strife of this world existed.

The one who was meant to be here.

The one who Genesis and his supposed other soulmates were actually bonded to.

Cloud swallowed, the thought pressing down on his chest in a way he didn’t like.

“…You’re wrong,” he said quietly.

Genesis, who had been toying with his gauntlet straps, glanced up.

Cloud kept his gaze on the fire, fingers curling slightly over his knee. “You’ve got the wrong guy.”

His voice was quieter than he intended, something frayed and tired woven into the words.

Genesis stilled. The firelight flickered across his features, casting shadows over sharp cheekbones, the glint of his unreadable eyes.

Then, ever so slightly, his smirk faded.

“…Is it so bad?”

Cloud blinked.

Genesis’s voice had softened, losing its usual theatrical lilt. It wasn’t teasing. It wasn’t playful. It was just- honest.

“Is it really so terrible?” Genesis continued, still watching him. His fingers twitched slightly against his knee. “To be our soulmate?”

Cloud’s throat felt tight.

That wasn’t-  He didn’t mean- 

It wasn’t about them.

It was about him.

Cloud exhaled slowly, forcing himself to keep his voice even. “I just don’t think it’s me.”

Genesis hummed, gaze flickering, as if he saw something in Cloud’s face that Cloud himself couldn’t.

Then, with a slow breath, he leaned back, stretching out his legs with an air of finality.

“I’ll let you see for yourself,” he murmured.

Cloud didn’t know what to say to that.

How could Genesis sound so sure?

Like it was fact.

Like Cloud belonged to them.

Like Cloud deserved to belong to them.

His fingers clenched.

Because he didn’t. He couldn’t.

He had never belonged anywhere.

Not in Nibelheim, where he had been just another awkward kid with big dreams he couldn’t reach.

Not in Shinra, where he hadn’t even made it. Where he had been forgotten.

Not in Midgar, where his name had become something heavier than he could bear.

And certainly not here, in a world where his presence had to be some kind of mistake.

Genesis was still looking at him. Waiting.

Cloud wanted to tell him he was wasting his time. That whatever connection he thought they had wasn’t real.

But the words wouldn’t come.

Instead, exhaustion pressed in, thick and insistent. His body was tense, but the moment he allowed himself to relax, sleep crept in like a tide he couldn’t fight.

His last thought before slipping into unconsciousness was an odd one- 

For the first time since arriving in this world, he didn’t feel like he had to sleep with one eye open.

Genesis had never been good at patience. He was a man of action, of passion, of taking what he wanted with both hands and refusing to let go.

And yet, as he watched Cloud sleep, curled in on himself as if trying to make himself smaller, Genesis found himself frozen.

The blond had always carried himself like something untouchable. Like a blade honed to perfection, sharp-edged and unyielding, meant to cut through the world before it could cut him. But here, in the quiet, beneath the watchful glow of the stars, that edge was dulled.

Here, Cloud looked…

Small.

Not weak, never that, but fragile in a way Genesis hadn’t expected.

His arms were drawn close to his chest, his breathing steady but shallow, his brows creased even in sleep. His body was wound too tight, even now- like he was waiting for something to go wrong, like he didn’t trust the peace to last.

Genesis clenched his jaw.

He wanted to touch him. Wanted to trace the tension in his brow, to press a hand against the sharp line of his jaw, to smooth the worry away with nothing but the warmth of his palm. But something told him that Cloud would bolt if he tried. That he would snap awake like a cornered animal, coiled and ready to fight.

The thought sent something unpleasant curling in Genesis’s chest.

Had anyone ever held him without expectation? Had anyone ever taught him that he didn’t have to be on guard? That he didn’t have to fight?

Genesis exhaled, tilting his head up. The sky above stretched endlessly, vast and open in a way that made his chest feel tight. The blue was deeper now, dark as ink, dotted with distant pinpricks of light. The moon hung low, casting a pale glow over the campsite.

Genesis had never looked at the night sky like this before.

Not truly.

Not until Cloud.

A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He murmured, half to himself, half to the night- 

“‘My friend, the fates are cruel. There are no dreams, no honor remains…’”

The words fell softly, lost to the breeze, and yet, they felt heavier now.

He lowered his gaze back to Cloud, watching the way the firelight flickered over his features, the glow casting golden highlights through his already sun-kissed hair.

Cloud had looked at him earlier like he couldn’t quite believe this was real. Like the mere thought of being wanted- of being meant for someone- was something he couldn’t allow himself to have.

And that made something deep within Genesis ache .

He had known, from the moment he saw him, that Cloud was important. He had felt it in his bones, in the very breath he took the moment his world burst into color. But now, looking at him- truly looking- Genesis realized something else.

Cloud had no idea how important he was.

Not just to Genesis. Not just to whatever force had bound them together.

But to everyone who had ever fought beside him. To whoever he was so desperate to return to. To the very world that had shaped him.

Cloud carried himself like a man who had already given everything.

Genesis had every intention of showing him that he didn’t have to.

Not alone.

His fingers curled against his palm.

This bond belonged to Cloud as much as it belonged to him, and Genesis refused to let him turn away from it.

Refused to let him go.

He exhaled, voice barely more than a whisper.

“You are not alone, Cloud.”

The blond shifted slightly in his sleep but didn’t wake.

Genesis watched him for a moment longer before settling back, gaze lingering.

Then, silently, he vowed- 

I will make you understand.

I will show you what it means to be wanted, to be chosen.

I refuse to let you go.

After confirming that the man was finally asleep and wouldn’t be waking up soon, Genesis took out his PHS. He scrolled through the absolute chaos that had unfolded in his messages.

Hundreds. Hundreds of missed calls and unread texts.

Most of them, unsurprisingly, were from Zack.

🐶 Puppy (Zack) 
WHAT DO YOU MEAN "THE SKY’S BLUE"??
WHERE ARE YOU??
WHAT DO YOU MEAN "LAST PIECE"??
GENESIS ANSWER ME I SWEAR TO GAIA
ANGEAL JUST SAID YOU FOUND OUR SOULMATE- IS THIS REAL??
GENESIS. I AM LOSING MY MIND.
DON’T MAKE ME CALL YOU. I WILL CALL YOU.
I AM CALLING YOU.

📲 Missed Call: Zack (45x)

🛡️ BUSTED (Angeal) -
Genesis?
I assume by your cryptic message that you’ve confirmed it?
Where are you? How is he?

📲 Missed Call: Angeal (10x)

⚔️ Motherless Behaviour (Sephiroth) -
Genesis.
Clarify. Now.
Or I will track your location.

📲 Missed Call: Sephiroth (12x)

Genesis stifled a laugh, covering his mouth as he glanced at the sleeping blond beside him.

Cloud hadn’t stirred.

Still curled in on himself, golden hair shifting slightly with the breeze, the firelight flickering over his peaceful expression. The sharp tension he carried when awake had melted away, leaving behind something softer, something Genesis itched to hold.

Genesis exhaled.

Perfect.

His body moved before his mind caught up. In a flash, his PHS was tilted at just the right angle, capturing Cloud in all his absurd, accidental radiance. The glow of the fire, the soft way his lips parted in sleep.

Click.
Click.
Click.

…Genesis blinked.

When had he taken a dozen photos?

Shaking his head, he scrolled through them, narrowing down the best shot. It took longer than expected. Cloud was frustratingly photogenic, even in sleep. Unfair.

Finally, he selected the one that captured everything.

The fire’s glow. The careless way Cloud’s hair fell over his forehead. The absolute peace in his expression.

Genesis smirked.

And sent it.

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) -
[ Attachment]
Found him.

Silence.

Genesis waited.

…Waited longer.

Then- 

🐶 Puppy (Zack) -
GENESIS.

IS THAT HIM.

WHAT THE ACTUAL FU-
THAT’S HIM?!?!
HE’S SO CUTE WTF
LOOK AT HIS HAIR. LOOK AT HIS FLUFFYHAIR.

HE LOOKS LIEK A CHOCOBO

A FLUFFY GOLFRN CHOCOBO
I LOVE HIM ALREADY.
GENESIS WHAT’S HIS NAME.
GENESIS ANSWER ME I NEED TO KNOW WHO OUR SOULMATE IS.

🛡️ BUSTED (Angeal) -
Zack. Breathe.

🐶 Puppy (Zack) -
I AM BREATHING. VERY RAPIDLY.
LOOK AT HIS HAIR.

HE’S TINY.

ANGEAL LOOK

⚔️ Motherless Behaviour (Sephiroth) -
…
Genesis.
Where are you.

Genesis smirked.

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) -
Relax. He’s safe.
His name is Cloud.

🐶 Puppy (Zack) -
CLOUD???
THAT’S SO COOL???
CLOUD BADASS. CLOUD AMAZING.
I AM CLAIMING HIM AS MY FAVORITE SOULMATE.

🛡️ BUSTED (Angeal) -
We all share a bond, Zack.

🐶 Puppy (Zack) -
I KNOW BUT LOOK AT HIM.
HE’S ADORABLE.
I’M GONNA TEACH HIM HOW TO DO COOL FLIPS.

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) :
Yes. Cloud .
Yes, he’s real.
Yes, I found him first.
No, you may not have him yet.

🐶 Puppy (Zack) :
WHY NOT.
WHERE ARE YOU.
IS HE AWAKE.
DOES HE LIKE DOGS.
DOES HE LIKE ME.

⚔️ Motherless Behaviour (Sephiroth) -
…
Cloud.

Genesis exhaled through his nose, shaking his head.

Sephiroth was thinking.

Genesis could feel it.

It was only a matter of time before he asked for specifics. Before he demanded to know what Cloud was like, what his combat level was, what type of bond they shared.

Genesis glanced at the sleeping blond again, something warm curling in his chest.

They didn’t know yet.

They hadn’t seen him.

Hadn’t felt what Genesis felt when their eyes met, when the world burst into color.

They would.

Soon.

For now- 

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) -
You’ll see soon enough.

🐶 Puppy (Zack) -
GENESIS DON’T BE MYSTERIOUS RIGHT NOW.
GENESIS
GENESIIIIIIIIIIIS

🛡️ BUSTED (Angeal) -
Zackary. Stop yelling

⚔️ Motherless Behaviour (Sephiroth) -
Genesis, where are you right now?

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) -
Somewhere between Kalm and Midgar.

⚔️ Motherless Behaviour (Sephiroth) -
Is he injured?

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) -
No. He’s fine. Sleeping soundly. Adorable. More than fine, actually.

⚔️ Motherless Behaviour (Sephiroth) -
Explain.

Genesis took a deep breath. How does one even begin to explain what happened earlier? That the world had been dull and muted, that he had gone into that fight expecting nothing but blood and exhaustion, only to have everything change in an instant?

That the sky had turned blue.

That his soulmate had descended like a force of nature, cutting through the battlefield with effortless precision, tearing down a Chimera as if it were nothing but an inconvenience?

That Genesis had watched, spellbound, as the impossible unfolded before him?

That Cloud - quiet, brooding, untouchable Cloud- had looked at him like he was something foreign, something unreal, like he wasn’t even sure he existed in this world?

How was he supposed to explain that?

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) -
He took down a Chimera. Saved my life.

🐶 Puppy (Zack) -
WHAT THE F-  HE TOOK DOWN A CHIMERA?? ALONE??

🛡️ BUSTED (Angeal) -
…Explain.

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) -
And- his sword is even cooler than yours, Angeal.

🛡️ BUSTED (Angeal) -
Genesis.

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) -
It splits into two.

🐶 Puppy (Zack) -
EXCUSE ME? HE HAS A COOLER BUSTER SWORD??? I NEED TO SEE IT RIGHT NOW.

⚔️ Motherless Behaviour (Sephiroth) -
…Genesis.

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) -
Oh, and one more thing. He has a bike.

🐶 Puppy (Zack) -
A BIKE?? IS HE THE COOLEST MAN ALIVE??

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) -
[Attachment] Meet Fenrir. For future reference. In case thelittle bird tries to run. 

🐶 Puppy (Zack) -
I AM LOSING MY MIND. CHIMERA SLAYER. BUSTER SWORD 2.0. COOL MOTORCYCLE. PERFECT HAIR.

🛡️ BUSTED (Angeal) -
He sounds… capable.

🐶 Puppy (Zack) -
MORE THAN CAPABLE. HE’S PERFECT. I AM GOING TO LOVE HIM SO MUCH.

⚔️ Motherless Behaviour (Sephiroth) -
Keep an eye on him, and don’t let him leave. We will get Ready and meet you at the nearest outpost.

Oh and Genesis?

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) -
Yes, dear? 

⚔️ Motherless Behaviour (Sephiroth) -
Change my name back.

🔥 LOVELESS IS NOT DEAD (Genesis) -
No. 

🐶 Puppy (Zack) -
LMAOOOOOO HE’S STILL MAD ABOUT IT.

Genesis smirked, locking his PHS.

They could wait.

For now, he had a soulmate to keep safe.

But how does one keep an eye on a person who seems so eager to disappear and leave him behind?

Genesis frowned, his gaze drifting toward the sleeping blond. Cloud was a runner. He had felt it the moment their eyes met- that deep, instinctual urge in the other man to bolt, to put as much distance between himself and the truth as possible.

Genesis had seen many reactions to soulmates. Disbelief. Joy. Even fear. But never had he seen someone look at the very concept like it was a battle they had already lost.

Cloud didn’t want this. Didn’t want them .

And yet- Genesis knew better than to take his words at face value.

People lied. Their eyes didn’t.

And Cloud’s eyes, no matter how hard he tried to mask it, held a longing that Genesis felt in his bones.

He just didn’t believe he deserved it.

Genesis let out a slow breath, his gaze drifting to the parked bike beside the fire.

Fenrir.

It was a beast of a machine, sleek and powerful, built for endurance. Every inch of it screamed independence- freedom. A machine for a man who never intended to stay in one place for too long.

Genesis tapped a finger against his knee thoughtfully.

His fingers twitched at his side. Fiddling one of his materias hidden in his pocket thoughtfully.

Cloud woke to the warmth of the morning sun pressing against his face. The fire had long since burned out, leaving only the faint scent of charred wood lingering in the air. His muscles ached from the uneven ground, but what bothered him more was the realization that he had slept for far too long.

Too comfortably.

His eyes cracked open, immediately locking onto Genesis, who was casually lounging against a boulder, arms folded, a look of satisfaction shining in his too-bright eyes.

Cloud scowled.

“Why didn’t you wake me?” he muttered, voice still rough from sleep.

Genesis tilted his head, as if the answer should be obvious. “Because you looked adorable.”

Cloud made a face, already regretting the question. He sat up stiffly, rolling his shoulders, still feeling the remnants of sleep weighing down on him. His hair, he could tell, was a mess.

Genesis watched him with a knowing smirk, clearly enjoying himself. “Honestly, I expected more resistance when I said that. Should I be flattered?”

Cloud exhaled through his nose, standing up and brushing the dirt from his clothes. “If I were more awake, you’d already be on the ground.”

Genesis placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. “How cruel.”

Cloud ignored him, focusing on gathering their things. His gloves, his sword- 

Right.

He glanced at Fenrir, then at his weapon, still strapped to his back. There was no way he was riding with it like that. Not unless he wanted to impale his overly clingy passenger.

Cloud sighed, moving toward Fenrir and reaching for the hidden compartments near the bike’s front axle. With practiced ease, he unfastened his sword and began disassembling it, slotting each blade into its designated compartment.

Genesis, who had been stretching lazily, suddenly froze. His eyes narrowed, watching the process unfold.

Cloud barely spared him a glance, too tired to deal with whatever reaction was brewing behind him.

Genesis, however, had gone utterly still, gaze flickering between Cloud and Fenrir as if seeing both for the first time.

“Wait,” he said slowly. “You actually take the blades apart?”

Cloud hummed in acknowledgment. “Yeah.”

Genesis’s brow furrowed slightly. “I knew it split. I saw it back in the fight. But I thought it was just- ” He gestured vaguely with his hands. “A twin blade.”

Cloud smirked faintly, finally awake enough to enjoy this. “Nope.”

Genesis’s eyes narrowed further as he watched Cloud lock each piece into Fenrir’s storage. He counted. Once. Then twice.

“…How many?”

Cloud closed the last compartment and dusted off his gloves. “Six.”

Genesis took a step closer, staring at the bike like it had personally betrayed him.

“Six?!”

Cloud turned slightly, amused. “Yeah.”

Genesis ran a hand down his face, then gestured wildly at Fenrir. “How? Why ?”

Cloud shrugged. “Modular combat.”

Genesis threw his arms up. “That should not work! ”

Cloud fought the urge to smirk. “It does.”

Genesis opened his mouth, then shut it again. He looked back at Fenrir, then at Cloud, then back again.

“You designed this?”

Cloud’s amusement faded slightly. His gaze flickered away. “Built it.”

Genesis’s expression blanked for a moment.

“…Excuse me?”

Cloud exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. “Had some help with the mechanics. A friend made sure I didn’t die putting it together.”

Genesis narrowed his eyes, voice careful. “This friend - they must be a genius.”

Cloud’s lips quirked faintly. “Yeah. Something like that.”

He could already hear Cid’s voice in his head, swearing up a storm as he lectured him about the weight distribution of the swords and his dumbass is gonna lug around six oversized kitchen knives, at least make sure they don’t fly off and kill someone. ”

Genesis, for his part, looked like his entire understanding of physics had just been rewritten.

“…You built that?” he muttered again, almost to himself. His eyes flickered to Fenrir, then back to Cloud. “And the bike?”

Cloud gave a noncommittal shrug. “Same deal. Engine modifications were tricky, but I got it right eventually.”

Genesis stared at him like he had personally rewritten the laws of reality.

“…So let me get this straight,” he said slowly. “You built a six-piece transforming sword, a combat-grade motorcycle, and customized both to work together ?”

Cloud nodded. “Yeah.”

Genesis inhaled deeply, then exhaled.

“…You are the most insufferably competent man I’ve ever met.”

Cloud snorted, adjusting his gloves. “Coming from you, that means a lot.”

Genesis shook his head, still staring at Fenrir with something between awe and begrudging respect. He had watched, entranced, as the two compartments expanded on either side of the front axle. A shape vaguely reminiscent of- 

Wings.

Cloud, deciding that was enough of that, swung onto Fenrir’s seat and revved the engine.

Genesis, still looking as if his entire worldview had been shaken, blinked twice before climbing on behind him.

They had wasted enough time.

Cloud rolled his eyes, after a final check he looked at the man in question.

“Ready now?” he asked flatly.

Genesis was already sliding onto the seat behind him, far too at ease with wrapping his arms around Cloud’s waist, gripping just enough to make it known he was doing it on purpose.

The low growl of Fenrir filled the morning air.

They rode in silence, the wind whipping past them. The tension between them shifting from playful to something heavier. The air felt charged , like the moment before a storm.

Cloud didn’t have to look up to know why.

Midgar loomed in the distance, the Shinra Building a towering monolith against the horizon.

His grip on the handlebars tightened.

Midgar looms like a executener ahead of them.

The towering spires of Midgar rose in the distance, a jagged silhouette against the morning sky. The Shinra Tower stood at its heart, its steel and glass reflecting the sun, cutting into the horizon like an unyielding monolith.

Cloud slowed Fenrir to a stop just outside the main road leading to the city gates, pulling into the shadow of a crumbling overpass. The bike rumbled softly beneath them before falling silent, leaving only the distant hum of the city in the air.

Genesis slid off the bike, landing lightly on his feet, but he didn't move. He just stood there , gaze locked onto Midgar with an unreadable expression.

Cloud exhaled. He knew that feeling. That creeping sense of unease that came with returning to a place that never truly felt like home.

"We're here," Cloud said quietly.

Genesis didn't respond.

Something was wrong.

Cloud turned to him fully, noting the stiffness in his shoulders, the way his hands curled into fists.

"Genesis," he prompted, frowning.

Genesis snapped back to reality with a sharp inhale. He looked at Cloud, then at the guards posted near the side entrance.

And then- 

"Wait."

Cloud blinked. "What?"

Genesis turned to face him fully, stepping closer. " Wait. Just- wait a moment. " His fingers twitched at his sides, as if resisting the urge to reach for something- for Cloud .

Cloud frowned. " Why? "

Genesis wet his lips, struggling for words. " Because- " He exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. " Because I need to- because we need to talk. "

Cloud’s stomach twisted. "Now ? "

"Yes, now," Genesis said, voice tight. He took another step forward, something frantic creeping into his tone. "Why are you in such a hurry?"

Cloud clenched his jaw. "Because I have somewhere to be."

Genesis’ eyes darkened. " With her . "

Cloud inhaled sharply. " Genesis- "

"You're going to her."

Cloud exhaled through his nose, already exhausted. "I told you- "

" Why? " Genesis snapped, voice sharp with something unsteady. " Why are you so determined to go to her instead of coming with me? "

Cloud stiffened.

Genesis shook his head, hands clenching at his sides. " No, not just me. Us. You’re ours , Cloud. You belong with us, not- " His expression twisted. " Not some girl. " he spit the word like its some vitriol.

Cloud’s patience snapped . " She's not just some girl! "

Genesis flinched.

" You don’t understand, " Cloud continued, his voice low, biting. " I need to see her. "

" Why?! "

Cloud’s throat felt tight. "Because she might have answers."

Genesis’ eyes narrowed. "Answers to what?"

Cloud hesitated.

Genesis took another step forward. "To what, Cloud?"

Cloud looked away. "I can’t tell you."

"Can’t, or won’t?"

Cloud inhaled sharply through his nose, temper fraying. "It’s not about you."*

Genesis let out a harsh, humorless laugh. "Not about me? Not about us?" He scoffed, shaking his head. "No, of course not. It never is, is it?"

Cloud’s jaw tightened. "Genesis- "

"Do you even care?"

Cloud’s breath hitched. " What? "

Genesis’ voice wavered, but the words came out sharp. "Do you even care about us? About what this means?" He gestured between them, frustration spilling over. "Or am I just some inconvenience to you?"

Cloud flinched .

It was such a small movement, but Genesis caught it .

Genesis laughed, but it was hollow. Bitter. "Of course." His eyes darkened. "You'd rather go to her than come with me. With us."

Cloud’s patience snapped. "It’s not like that!"

"Then what is it like?"

Cloud opened his mouth, then closed it. He couldn’t explain. Not without risking everything. Risking Aerith's existence to Shinra too early.

Genesis let out a slow, shaky breath, his fingers twitching against Cloud’s wrist. Then—determination hardened in his expression. "Then I’m coming with you."

Cloud’s stomach twisted. "No."

"Yes."

"Genesis—"

"If you won’t come with me, then I’ll go with you. That’s fair, isn’t it?"

Cloud cursed internally.

The tension between them coiled tight, too tight .

Genesis took a shaky breath, then, finally- 

"Come with me."

Cloud's heart stopped .

Genesis was pleading . Not demanding, not teasing- just pleading .

" Please. "

Cloud clenched his fists. " I can’t. "

" Why not?! " Genesis’ voice cracked. " Why is it so impossible for you to stay? "

Cloud shook his head, taking a step back. "Because I don’t belong here."

Genesis flinched, something cracking in his expression. "Don’t say that."

Cloud exhaled. " You got the wrong guy. "

Genesis’ hand twitched. " No. "

Cloud’s stomach twisted.

" You did, " Cloud forced out, voice low. " This isn’t my world. This isn’t my life. "

"That's bullshit," Genesis snapped, stepping forward again. His voice wavered—just slightly—but the fire in his eyes didn’t. "You felt it, just like I did."

Cloud turned away.

Genesis grabbed his wrist. "Cloud."

Cloud tensed but didn’t pull away.

Genesis searched his face, desperate now. "Tell me—is it so bad?" His grip tightened, not enough to hurt, but enough to make Cloud feel it. "Is it so awful to have us? To have me?"

"We had a deal," Cloud forced out, voice low. "I bring you to the gates in midgar That’s it."

Genesis faltered. "That’s it?"

His fingers slipped from Cloud’s wrist. His expression… changed.

Cloud felt the moment it happened. The moment Genesis understood.

The moment he realized Cloud was going to leave.

That this was goodbye.

The devastation in his eyes made something inside Cloud twist.

Genesis’ expression crumpled- just for a moment, before something hard and dangerous settled over his face.

His hand moved toward his coat.

Cloud reacted before he could think .

The spell left his hand, casting 'sleep'  in an instant. Powered by desperation

Genesis’ body tensed- his eyes widened in betrayal - before his limbs slackened.

Cloud lunged forward, catching him before he hit the ground.

Genesis slumped against him, breath slow and deep, face pressed against Cloud’s shoulder.

Cloud’s grip tightened .

His fingers curled into the fabric of Genesis’ coat, holding him close .

For a long moment, Cloud just- held him .

He didn’t understand why. Didn’t understand why it felt like something inside him was splintering , why the weight of Genesis in his arms felt wrong and right all at once.

Cloud swallowed. " I’m sorry. "

His voice was barely above a whisper.

Slowly, carefully, he lowered Genesis against the wall, making sure he wouldn’t slump over.

His fingers lingered for half a second too long.

Then- he cast a protective spell over him.

He stared at Genesis’ unconscious face, at the way the tension had bled from his features, leaving him looking soft .

Too soft.

Too vulnerable .

Cloud inhaled sharply, stepping back.

He turned.

The guards were still talking. He approached them.

"Excuse me."

The two men turned, startled.

Cloud jerked his thumb toward the wall. "There’s a drunk guy passed out over there. Might wanna check on him."

The guards exchanged looks. "Yeah? And who the hell are you?"

Cloud shrugged. "Dunno. He was slurring something about his name being Genesis Rhapsodos."

The guards panicked.

"Wait- Genesis Rhapsodos?!"

"Shit- where?!"

They bolted toward where Cloud had pointed.

Cloud exhaled, watching them go.

Fenrir rumbled to life, emerging from its hiding place.

Cloud adjusted his goggles, gaze unreadable.

Then he drove.

Straight into Midgar.

Straight into whatever came next.

And he did not look back.

Because if he did- if he let himself look, even for a second- he wasn’t sure he’d be able to leave.

Chapter Text

Cloud didn’t look back.

He refused to look back.

His grip on Fenrir’s handles was tight- too tight, his knuckles white beneath his gloves. The road blurred beneath him, the roar of the engine a distant hum in his ears, drowned out by the static in his mind.

His body was moving. His focus was sharp. But inside- inside, everything was fraying at the edges.

Genesis.

Genesis had called him their last piece. Had begged him to come with him.

Cloud clenched his jaw. His fingers curled against Fenrir’s grips, holding on like they were the only thing keeping him tethered. The world blurred around him, Midgar looming in the distance, but all he could see was-

Genesis

The warmth of his hands at Cloud’s waist. The way his voice curled around Cloud’s name like it meant something- like he meant something. The sharp edges of his words, softened by an unwavering certainty, a confidence that made it impossible to ignore him.

Cloud had only known him for less than a day. Half of it, he had spent sleeping. The rest? Bartering with a shameless man who refused to take no for an answer.

And yet- 

And yet, leaving him felt like a mistake.

Something heavy coiled in Cloud’s chest, an ache that wasn’t just guilt, but something deeper- something he didn’t have a name for. It didn’t make sense. It shouldn’t hurt to walk away from someone he barely knew.

But it did.

It did.

Cloud scowled, shaking his head sharply, as if that could shake the feeling loose. It was nothing. A mistake. A misunderstanding.

Because even if this world had soulmates- why would it affect him?

Why would it matter?

He wasn’t supposed to be here. He didn’t belong.

Cloud’s fingers curled against the grips, nails digging into the leather. Genesis had other soulmates. His real soulmates.

Cloud was just- 

Just what?

A mistake? An interference? Had he somehow ruined their chance to meet the way soulmates were supposed to?

A sharp, breathless laugh slipped past his lips, bitter and hollow. It wasn’t like he hadn’t done that before. He had ruined so much already.

He shouldn’t feel this way.

But he did.

And that- that terrified him.

Genesis’s voice still echoed in his head. Come with me.

His plea.

The way he had looked at Cloud, eyes burning with something raw, something desperate, like Cloud was the only thing anchoring him to the ground. Like Cloud was something to fight for.

Something to hold onto.

And Cloud- 

Cloud had torn himself away anyway.

It was stupid. 

Genesis was a Shinra. A First Class SOLDIER. An enemy.

The kind of man Cloud had spent years fighting against. And yet- he had felt it. That same, impossible pull.

Like he was meant to be there.

Like he had just made a mistake.

He swallowed hard, pushing the thought down. It didn’t matter. It couldn’t matter.

Cloud should’ve left him there the moment he had introduced himself. Genesis Rhapsodos, First Class SOLDIER. That had been enough reason to turn and walk away.

But he hadn’t.

And now- 

Now something ugly and sharp curled in his chest at the memory of Genesis’s face when Cloud cast Sleep. Like the world had caved in on him.

The Blond grit his teeth, pushing down the thought. It was nothing. A mistake. A misunderstanding.

But the image wouldn’t leave him.

The way he looked at him. The way his voice cracked when he asked Cloud to come with him. The pure, unfiltered emotion that had nearly shattered something inside Cloud, something he didn’t even have a name for.

Genesis had looked at him like he was everything . Like he was something to fight for, something worth holding onto.

Cloud had torn himself away anyway.

It had to be done.

He had done the right thing.

Genesis was Shinra. He reminded himself again. 

A First Class SOLDIER. An enemy. More than ever, in this time period., The kind of man Cloud had spent years fighting against. An unknown that he could barely recall in his own world, added with the constant amnesia and mindfuckery that Sephiroth did to his brain.

The guilt sat heavy in his chest, coiled tight and suffocating. He ignored it. Focused on the road. It was fine.

Genesis had other soulmates. His real soulmates. Cloud was just- 

Just what?

A mistake?

Cloud’s throat felt tight.

He wasn’t supposed to belong. Not with anyone, here.

Genesis would see soon enough.

That Cloud wasn’t his. That he wasn’t part of their world, part of their supposed Bond .

That whatever had happened between them- whatever this was- was nothing but an accident.

Cloud pressed harder on the gas, ignoring the sick twist in his gut.

He didn’t have time for this.

Navigating Midgar was muscle memory.

Cloud barely had to think as he slipped through the familiar backstreets, the hidden paths he had once used to avoid Shinra patrols. Even now, years later, his body moved on instinct, taking the most efficient routes, the ones least likely to draw attention.

The city loomed around him, a patchwork of old ruins and new construction, the scars of the past still visible beneath the steel and neon. He should’ve been paying more attention, should’ve been scanning for threats, but his mind kept circling back.

He parked Fenrir in the shadows of a rusted-out alleyway near Sector 5. Couldn’t risk drawing attention. The bike purred beneath him before powering down, the absence of sound leaving too much room for the thoughts he’d been trying to outrun.

Cloud sighed, dragging a hand through his hair.

Get it together.

He had just stepped away from Fenrir when he felt it.

Eyes on him.

Cloud didn’t react immediately. Just shifted his weight slightly, letting his gaze flicker to the side.

A group of men loitered near the alley’s entrance, watching him with interest that immediately put him on edge.

One of them- a wiry man with a scar down his cheek- grinned. “Well, well. What do we have here?”

Cloud said nothing. 

Scarface tilted his head. “Not from around here, are ya?”

The gang members stepped closer, their postures loose but predatory, the kind of stance that spoke of people who thought they had the upper hand.

There were four of them. Maybe five.

“Move.” His voice was flat. Uninterested.

Scarface tilted his head. “That’s rude. ”

“We’re just being friendly.” Another one, taller, sneered, stepping forward. His clothes were ragged but reinforced, old Shinra gear stitched together in scraps. A knife twirled between his fingers, flashing dull silver in the low light.

Cloud’s fingers twitched at his side. He didn’t reach for his sword.

Not yet.

“I don’t want trouble,”

“Yeah?” The gang leader smirked, his teeth glinting. “See, that’s a problem. ‘Cause we do.”

The others chuckled. A few shifted around him, trying to surround him.

Cloud sighed. Of course.

He could walk away. Could ignore them and keep moving.

But- 

One of them stepped too close.

Cloud heard the whisper of steel before he even saw it.

The  knife. Raised. Poised to stab him.

That was a mistake.

His arm snapped up, catching the wrist of the man trying to stab him. He twisted. Hard. The sickening pop of a joint dislocating cracked through the alley, followed by a strangled yelp.

The others froze.

Cloud didn’t.

He swept a foot beneath the gang leader’s stance, sending him sprawling to the ground. Before the others could react, Cloud straightened- and the metal of his Fusion Swords gleamed behind him.

The weight of the weapon was a silent warning.

A single, massive blade strapped to his back

The gang members stilled.

Cloud exhaled slowly. And when he lifted his head- when his eyes met theirs- 

They froze.

Because Cloud Strife’s mako-bright eyes weren’t just glowing.

They were burning.

They went pale.

Good.

Cloud let the silence stretch, let the weight of the moment sink in.

Then, voice low, quiet, he said, “Leave.”

The gang didn’t hesitate. They turned and ran.

Cloud didn’t watch them go. Didn’t even spare them a second glance.

He turned back to Fenrir, dragging a gloved hand over his face.

Tired.

He was so damn tired.

Cloud slowed as he approached the familiar structure.

The church in Sector 5 stood exactly as he remembered itNo, not exactly.

It was different.

Back in his world, the place had been worn down, barely holding together. The roof had collapsed in places, leaving gaping holes for rain and sunlight to spill through. 

This one…

This one still had its roof.

The stained glass was cracked but not shattered. The wood looked aged but not rotted, as if time had been kinder here. The flowers remained, blooming in defiance of the steel and concrete surrounding them.

But Aerith- 

She wasn’t here.

Cloud’s stomach twisted.

She was supposed to be here.

The thought struck harder than it should have. He had no right to expect her presence, no reason to believe she would be waiting for him here wtih her radiant smile.

He ran a hand down his face, forcing himself to think.

She sold flowers.

She could be in the market.

Cloud could go looking for her- could slip through the streets, grab a hood to hide his attention-seeking hair, avoid detection and track her down.

But Midgar, even this Midgar, was dangerous ground.

Too many people. Too many eyes. Too many unknowns.

He couldn’t afford to be seen.

No.

She would come back.

She always came back.

The silence inside swallowed him whole.

His boots barely made a sound against the wooden floor. The air inside was warm, carrying the faint scent of earth and flowers.

Cloud walked forward, placing his sword in one of the pillars as he past the pews, past the soft patches of sunlight that painted the floor in dappled gold.

He stopped at the flower bed.

The same flowers he had knelt beside before. The same place he had stood with her, where she had smiled at him like he was someone worth smiling at.

he swallowed, rubbing a hand down his face.

His thoughts were too full.

Genesis. The argument. The desperation in his voice. Soulmates.

It didn’t matter.

It couldn’t matter.

He was here for answers.

Nothing else.

Cloud sank against the flower bed, exhaustion creeping into his limbs.

 He would wait.

Just wait.

…He could search for her later, if she didn’t come back soon.

He could- 

Cloud’s body sagged, exhaustion creeping into his limbs. The sleep took him gradually, as if pulling him under in slow, deliberate waves. He fought it, at first.

But the warmth of the sun filtering through the cracked stained glass, the gentle sway of the flowers in the breeze, the familiar scent- 

His shoulders relaxed.

His breath evened out.

The weight of everything blurred at the edges.

And, just like that- 

Cloud Strife, against his better judgement, slept.

.

.

.

.

Sephiroth walked down the quiet, sterile halls of Shinra’s medical wing, his boots tapping with a steady rhythm against the floor. He nodded curtly at the medic in charge, the man quickly straightening, his hands almost twitching in an attempt to seem composed.

Without saying a word, Sephiroth moved past him, heading toward a room that had been rarely used in recent years. It was reserved for 1st Class SOLDIERS, a place meant for the elite, though it had gathered dust since its last occupant. Now, it held Genesis.

The door slid open with a soft hiss. Inside, Genesis lay asleep, his brows furrowed tightly as if caught in the grip of a troubled dream. The sight stirred something in Sephiroth- a brief flicker of concern, quickly hidden behind his unreadable expression.

“How is he?” Sephiroth asked, his voice cold, controlled.

The medic stepped forward, his voice tight with tension. “He’s not injured, sir. Just under a powerful Sleep spell and a Protect spell. His vitals are stable and should be waking up soon enough.”

Sephiroth absorbed the information without reacting outwardly. His mind, however, was elsewhere, replaying the report he’d received earlier- the two Shinra Troopers who had found Genesis at the gates of Midgar, unconscious and alone. They’d mentioned a man with wild blonde hair, dark attire... a vague description that instantly connected in Sephiroth's mind. It matched Cloud. The absence of the mysterious man gnawed at him. Though he had not fully bonded nor personally met  Cloud yet, the connection through Genesis was undeniable. Sephiroth couldn’t explain it, but there was something pulling him, something faint and distant, like a whisper across a great distance. Still, it was hardly enough to fully comprehend, and the absence of Cloud left him with more questions than answers.

Why was Cloud missing? Where had he gone? And more troubling still- why was Genesis found alone?

Sephiroth’s thoughts flickered back to how he had left his post at Wutai as quickly as he could, driven by an overwhelming need to meet with his other soulmate, the one whose presence had always lingered just out of reach. His other soulmates was occupied with missions of their own, already on their way back to Shinra to regroup but on the way Sephiroth  couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. He had to meet with them, to make sense of what was happening, but instead, here he was, facing more uncertainty.

Even Sephiroth himself was nervous, though he would never admit it aloud. He was used to control, to mastery over every situation, but this... this was different. The unknowns about their final soulmate were unsettling, to say the least.

Just then, Zack’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “How is he?” Zack asked, his voice low, his usual hyperactive energy replaced with something softer. He stood a few steps behind Sephiroth, his eyes focused on Genesis.

“Genesis will wake up soon,” Sephiroth replied, trying to reassure him in the simplest way possible. “He’s just under a spell.”

Zack nodded, but his gaze never left Genesis, his expression troubled. He stepped closer, a frown tugging at his features. “I’ve never seen him like this…”

Angeal, ever the calming presence, placed a hand on Zack’s shoulder. “We don’t know what happened yet, Zack. We’ll wait for Genesis to wake up and tell us what’s going on.”

Zack glanced up at Sephiroth, still worried. “I just... I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong. With Genesis and with Cloud. I just hope they’re okay. Both of them.”

Sephiroth glanced at the unconscious Genesis, then back at Zack. He could see the concern in Zack’s eyes, though the younger SOLDIER was trying to hide it behind his usual brashness. His worry wasn’t so much about the unknown but about the bond they all shared, the final piece that was still missing.

“We’ll figure this out,” Sephiroth said, his tone firm, though his own unease was buried deep. “Genesis will wake up, and then we’ll know more.”

Angeal gave Zack a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. “For now, we wait. We don’t rush to conclusions.”

Zack sighed but nodded, clearly still restless, though he understood the necessity of waiting. “Yeah... I just hope wherever Cloudy is, he’s okay.”

Sephiroth’s thoughts wandered once more. Where was Cloud? Why wasn’t he here with Genesis? The questions hung heavy, but he knew, like Zack, that there was little to do but wait. Genesis would wake soon enough, and when he did, maybe the pieces would finally fall into place.

Zack broke the silence with an attempt to lighten the mood. He looked at Sephiroth, trying to muster up some optimism, despite everything weighing on his mind. "You know, Cloud's got that crazy spiky chocobo hair, right? Sounds like someone who’d be hard to miss. Don’t you think? “

Sephiroth's lips twitched, though it wasn’t quite a smile. Zack’s way of coping was through humor, even if it was forced. 

Meanwhile, Genesis remained still, his brow furrowed in the deep sleep that had been cast over him. But if one looked closely, they might notice the subtle twitch of his fingers- small, almost imperceptible, but a sign that he wasn’t as far gone as he appeared. 

Cloud drifted .

Suspended in weightless silence, floating somewhere between awareness and sleep.

It was quiet.

Comforting.

Until- 

C...loud...

The silence rippled. A voice- low, familiar, threading through the edges of his mind like silk unraveling.

Cloud’s fingers twitched.

Wh...ere are... you...

Something cold whispered along his spine.

No.

My... dear... Cloud...?

A sharp tremor shot through him.

Cloud turned away.

Or at least, he thought he did.

He didn’t want to hear it. Didn’t want to let it in.

Not now.

Not ever.

The voice lingered- pressing, searching - but Cloud curled deeper into himself, sinking into the warmth, into the scent of flowers, letting sleep pull him further down- 

Until it faded.

Until it was gone .

Until- 

A soft hum. The warmth of sunlight. The gentle rustle of movement nearby.

Cloud’s eyes cracked open.

The scent of flowers was the first thing he noticed. Sweet, fresh, and familiar.

The second thing was the warmth of sunlight spilling through broken beams overhead, bathing the ruined church in a soft golden glow. It was different from how he last remembered it. Not as damaged as in his world, but still worn down, the floor uneven, vines creeping along the stone.

Cloud inhaled slowly, grounding himself.

He was here .

This was real .

“…You finally woke up.”

Cloud stiffened.

A shadow shifted at the edge of his vision. Soft footsteps padded against the wooden planks, light and unhurried. And then- 

A single yellow flower entered his view.

Cloud blinked.

“Welcome back ,” Aerith said with a gentle smile, holding out the flower.

For a moment, Cloud could only stare.

She looked… the same.

The same green eyes, the same chestnut hair, tied in its usual ribbon. The same presence- warm, grounding, alive .

His chest ached .

Aerith tilted her head, as if studying him. “You’re looking at me like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Cloud swallowed.

I have.

Cloud didn’t take the flower.

Couldn’t.

His fingers twitched at his sides, and he forced them still, resisting the inexplicable urge to reach out. He had seen Aerith in his dreams before. Heard her voice echo through the Lifestream, playful and teasing, warm and reassuring.

But this wasn’t a dream.

She was standing right there

Aerith didn’t seem to mind his silence. She just held out the flower a little closer, waiting.

“Come on,” she said, wiggling it slightly. “I promise, it won’t bite.”.

Cloud took a deep breath. “…You’re real.”

Aerith’s lips quirked into something knowing. “Of course, I’m real.”

But not my Aerith.

Cloud knew that. Logically, he knew. But his heart was slower to accept it. He let his eyes linger, trying to find the differences, trying to remind himself that this wasn’t the same girl who had stood in the Forgotten Capital, who had reached out to him in a dreamlike haze- who had smiled, even as she- 

How was he supposed to react to this?

Cloud hesitated. He still wasn’t sure what to say. Where to even begin.

Aerith watched him expectantly. “So, are you going to take it or what?”

Cloud blinked. The flower.

He hesitated before slowly reaching out and taking it. The petals were soft between his gloved fingers, delicate and impossibly real.

Aerith beamed. “Good.”

Cloud had no idea what to do with it. After a beat, he carefully tucked it into the folds of his coat.

Aerith gave an approving nod before clasping her hands behind her back. “Well, now that you’re awake, I was thinking we should have tea.”

Cloud blinked again.

Tea?

He opened his mouth, closed it, then frowned. “I- what?”

“Tea,” Aerith repeated cheerfully, already turning on her heel. “You know, that thing where people sit, drink something warm, and talk?”

Cloud scowled. “I know what tea is.”

“Great! Then you won’t have a problem drinking it.”

Cloud rubbed a hand down his face. “Aerith, I didn’t- ”

But she was already moving, practically floating across the floorboards with her usual impossible grace.

“I’ll get the water. You sit.”

Cloud exhaled through his nose.

…This was happening, wasn’t it?

With a sigh, he begrudgingly followed her toward the pews.

Aerith worked quickly, pulling out a small kettle and a tin of tea leaves from her bag.

Cloud watched her, frowning slightly. “…You just carry that around with you?”

Aerith hummed, unbothered. “You’d be surprised how many people open up over a cup of tea.”

Cloud didn’t respond to that.

Aerith flicked her gaze up at him, smile still in place but softer now. More knowing.

“So,” she said lightly, “what took you so long?”

Cloud’s head snapped back to her, eyes sharp with something unreadable. Did she know?

The question must have been obvious on his face, because Aerith giggled. “I was waiting, you know,” she said lightly, turning the flower tin in her hands. “Ever since you arrived. I knew you’d come find me eventually.”

Cloud’s throat felt tight.

“…How?”

Aerith didn’t answer immediately. She just smiled, that same unreadable expression in her eyes.

“The Planet told me.”

His fingers halted at the rim of the cup. He eyed her face to see if this is another one of her pranks.

She was serious.

Aerith’s voice was gentle but unwavering. “I wasn’t the Aerith you knew. But the moment you arrived, I felt you.”

Cloud tensed.

Aerith let out a quiet hum, carefully measuring out tea leaves into the kettle. “I’ve always been able to hear the Lifestream. But this time, it was different. Like… something new had entered it. Something foreign, but familiar. Something important.”

She glanced at him, eyes warm. “And I knew it was you.”

Cloud’s jaw clenched.

He didn’t like that.

He didn’t like any of this.

He shifted uncomfortably on the pew, fingers twitching against his knees. “I still don’t understand.”

Aerith poured the tea into a simple ceramic cup and handed it to him. “Then let’s start small.”

Cloud stared at the cup for a long moment before reluctantly taking it.

The warmth seeped through his gloves, grounding him.

He took a slow sip. 

The taste was light, floral- soothing in a way he hadn’t expected.

Aerith sipped her own tea, watching him over the rim of her cup. "Not bad, right?"

Cloud sighed. “…It’s tea.” setting the cup down, he muttered. "...Could be worse."

She giggled. "I'll take that as a compliment."

He scowled, but the tension in his shoulders eased.

Just a little.

He wasn’t sure how to approach this conversation- wasn’t even sure where to start.

But Aerith, as always, was patient.

“I get the feeling you have a lot of questions,” she said, voice softer now.

Cloud glanced down at his tea, watching the way the surface rippled slightly in the dim light. “That obvious?”

“A little.”

Silence stretched between them, not uncomfortable, but weighted.

Cloud finally sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “…I don’t know where to start.”

Aerith hummed thoughtfully, tapping a finger against her cup. “Maybe not with how you got here.” She smiled. “Maybe start with how you feel about being here.”

Cloud let out a humorless laugh. “That’s… complicated.”

“Complicated is fine.”

Cloud dragged a hand down his face. “…I don’t belong here.”

Aerith tilted her head. “Why not?”

Cloud blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean, ‘why not?’”

She shrugged. “I mean, you’re here. The world hasn’t rejected you. It’s as if you fit , even if you don’t see it yet.”

Cloud frowned, shifting uncomfortably. “That doesn’t mean I should be here.”

Aerith studied him for a long moment, then set her tea down with a soft clink.

“You know,” she mused, voice light, “you sound a lot like someone who’s waiting for permission to exist.”

Cloud sent her a puzzled look. "What do you even mean by that?"

Aerith’s gaze was gentle but unyielding. “You’re here , Cloud. Whether you want to be or not. You can spend all your time trying to prove why you don’t belong, or you can start figuring out what to do now .”

Cloud looked away, jaw tight.

Aerith didn’t push. She simply sipped her tea, giving him time to sit with that thought.

The blond exhaled through his nose, rubbing his temple. “…I just want to know why .”

Aerith’s expression turned knowing. “Then you should ask the one who brought you here.”

Cloud frowned, looking up at her.

She held out her hand.

“Come on,” she said gently. “I can take you to her.”

Cloud stared. “Her?”

Aerith nodded. “I know some things, but not everything. My knowledge is limited to what the Planet allows me to understand.”

Cloud swallowed. He didn’t like the sound of that.

Aerith wiggled her fingers, still offering her hand. “She can explain better than I can.”

Cloud hesitated.

Every part of him screamed don’t do it- don’t step deeper into something he didn’t understand, something that was already pulling him in more than he wanted to admit.

But Aerith’s expression was patient, unwavering.

You’re here. The world hasn’t rejected you.

Cloud exhaled slowly.

Then, reluctantly, he reached out- 

And the world lurched .

Weightless.

The feeling of falling.

A sudden plunge into something vast, endless, and bright.

Then- 

Stillness.

Cloud opened his eyes.

And the world was light.

He stood in a place that wasn’t a place. The air was thick with something ancient, stretching endlessly in all directions- soft, luminous, neither sky nor earth but something between . He had the vague impression of standing on solid ground, but when he looked down, there was nothing beneath his feet. No shadow. No reflection.

Just… light.

A presence.

Vast. Ancient. Infinite.

Cloud’s breath came shallow. His fingers twitched instinctively for his sword- Only to find nothing. 

He was not alone.

A figure emerged- formless at first, shifting, like light bending into shape.

Then- 

A woman.

Or, something like one.

She was tall, draped in flowing robes darker than the void between stars, constellations stitched into the fabric shifting as if they were alive. Her hair, long and weightless, shimmered like liquid silver, cascading over her shoulders and down her back in waves. her eyes were the cosmos itself.

She looked at him.

And smiled.

“My Beloved Champion.”

Cloud’s throat closed.

The voice wasn’t spoken- it was felt. It echoed in his bones, hummed in his blood, settled in the deepest parts of him like something that had always been there, waiting. A presence he had known his entire life, even if he had never put a name to it.

His fingers twitched at his sides.

“…Who are you?” His voice came out hoarse.

The woman tilted her head. “You know.”

He knew.

Even if he shouldn’t.

Because he had felt her presence before.

In every battle. In every wound. In every moment his body should have given out, but didn’t.

The wind against his back. The tremor in the ground beneath his feet.

The voice in the Lifestream.

“…Gaia.”

The Goddess' smile deepened.

Of course it was Gaia.

Because why wouldn’t it be? At this point, getting dragged into some strange, ethereal plane to have a conversation with the literal Planet was just another entry on the ever-growing list of things he didn’t sign up for.

But something feels different.

Cloud’s arms crossed tightly over his chest, weight shifting onto his back foot. His gaze locked onto the ethereal figure before him- the presence that felt like Gaia, but…

Not.

Something was wrong. Off.

He had never seen Gaia before, never stood in front of her like this, but- he knew.

Deep in his bones, in the marrow of his existence, in the way the Lifestream had once wrapped around him like a whisper of home- he knew.

This wasn’t the same presence.

His Gaia had been something vast, familiar, something that- despite everything- had belonged to him just as much as he had belonged to her. This… this wasn’t that.

Close. Similar. But different in a way he couldn’t quite name.

His arms crossed tightly over his chest as he regarded her warily. “But not my Gaia.”

Gaia- this Gaia- tilted her head slightly. “No. I am not.”

Cloud huffed, dragging a hand down his face. That was… a lot to process. But at the same time, it confirmed what he had already felt in his gut.

Would’ve been real nice if Aerith had warned him first before dropping him into the presence of a literal goddess.

“Aerith told me you could explain things better than she could.” His voice was flat, edged with irritation. “Guess she wasn’t kidding.”

Gaia’s lips curled in something almost amused. “I imagine she did not tell you much before bringing you here.”

Cloud let out a slow, controlled breath through his nose. “Understatement.”

Because of course she hadn’t. That would’ve been too easy. Would've been amusing.

"Then where is she?” His voice was sharp. Accusing. Both know who Cloud is talking about.

His own Gaia.

Gaia was silent for a moment, as if considering her words. “She is where she has always been.”

His weight shifted onto his back foot, and regarded her warily. “So. You took me.”

Gaia’s expression remained serene. “I saved you.”

Cloud’s jaw tightened. “Did you?”

Gaia tilted her head. “You would not have survived what came next.”

Cloud let out a slow breath through his nose.His shoulders were tense, his fingers twitching against his arms. He didn’t trust that.  “I had people waiting for me.”

Gaia’s gaze softened. “I know.”

Nails dug painfully in his palm as he bit out the question that's been plaguing him since he got here. “Then why?”

Gaia stepped closer, her movement smooth and effortless, like she was gliding across the space between them.

“You were bound to a cycle that would never end,” she said gently. “A cycle that would never let you go.”

Cloud’s chest tightened.

He didn’t need to ask what she meant.

Sephiroth.

Cloud’s fingers curled into his sleeves. His voice was quieter now. He already knew. “And she gave me to you?”

This Gaia's expression remained unreadable. “Yes.”

The word landed in his stomach like a stone.

Cloud swallowed. Something inside him twisted.

Anger.

Disbelief.

A bitter, suffocating sense of betrayal.

He clenched his jaw. “ ...Why ?”

Gaia stepped closer, smooth and effortless, as though she was gliding rather than walking. "Because she had no choice.”

Cloud almost laughed. It was humorless, empty smile in his face. “No choice?” His voice was tight. “She couldn’t have, I don’t know, warned me first?”

Gaia’s eyes softened. “Would you have agreed?”

Cloud opened his mouth- 

And stopped.

His throat bobbed.

Because he knew the answer.

No.

No, he wouldn’t have agreed.

Not when he had people waiting for him.

Gaia watched him, calm and unwavering. "The Calamity’s son in your world has anchored himself to your existence,” she said, voice gentle but firm. “Through you, he has found ways to return- again, and again, and again. Even as your Gaia tried to expel him, he clung to you.” She exhaled, slow and deliberate.  “Even as the Lifestream tried to expel him, he clung to you like a parasite. Used your memories, your connection, to manifest once more.”

Cloud’s fingers twitched.

He already knew that.

He’d felt it.

Every time he thought Sephiroth was finally gone, every time he thought he was finally free, the bastard always found a way to crawl back.

Gaia watched him, eyes unreadable.  “She could not let it continue.”

Cloud pressed a hand against his temple, feeling the slow, dull throb of a headache creeping in. “So what? She just- decided I wasn’t worth keeping? Just handed me off to another version of herself?”

Gaia’s expression didn’t change. “She chose to save you.”

Cloud swallowed. His voice, when it came, was quieter. “And my world?”

Gaia was silent for a long moment.

Then- 

“It will heal.”

Cloud’s jaw locked. “Without me.”

Gaia’s gaze didn’t waver. “Without him.”She Corrected.

The meaning was clear.

Without Sephiroth.

Without his shadow lurking behind every corner, waiting for an opportunity to return.

Without the constant threat of his existence hanging over the planet like a sword waiting to drop.

Cloud exhaled. Slow. Measured.

He didn’t know how to feel.

Didn’t know what to feel.

His planet- his home- would heal. Would recover. Would move forward.

And it had done so without him.

Cloud clenched his fists. Not in anger. Not in grief. Just… grounding himself.

He should have been relieved. Should have been grateful.

But all he could think about was them.

Denzel. Marlene. Tifa. Avalanche.

His home. His world.

Both Gaia had taken him from it.

And no matter how good their reasons were- 

He wasn’t sure he could forgive themfor it.

He had spent so long fighting- clawing his way through battle after battle, keeping Sephiroth from destroying everything he loved. And now? Now, it turned out, the only way to win was to remove himself from the equation entirely.

It left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“And this world?” His voice was wary. “Why bring me here?”

The air around them trembled- not with force, but with something deeper, something woven into the very essence of the world itself. Cloud felt it in his bones, a pressure that coiled tight in his chest, heavy and ancient.

Gaia’s form flickered for the briefest moment, like a candle struggling against an unseen wind. Her expression, once serene, wavered. She lifted a hand as if to grasp at something beyond her reach, fingers trembling before curling inward, tightening into a fist. A weight settled over her, something sorrowful, something vast.

“This world,” she said at last, her voice calm- but beneath that calm, something cracked. “Is in danger.”

Cloud exhaled through his nose. Yeah. No shit. He was already bracing for the inevitable.

But something shifted in Gaia’s expression that made Cloud respond with a snarky remark.

Something deeper.

Something heavy.

She wasn’t just stating a fact.

She was remembering.

“But I have seen this world’s end.”

Cloud watched as her otherworldly eyes- that vast cosmos swirling beneath her skin - dimmed, as if shadowed by something immense. Her voice, when it came, was quieter. Softer.

“I changed variables. I altered paths. I tried to guide it toward salvation.” Her hands curled slightly at her sides. “But I could never touch what the Calamity had tainted. k”

Cloud clenched his jaw. He already knew what she meant.

Jenova.

Gaia’s eyes darkened, galaxies swirling in her gaze like a dying star collapsing in on itself.

“I could never stop it before it began. ICould never nip the problem from the bud before it even started. Because one way or another, the calamity will always find a way to come back” A pause. A breath. “And Sephiroth… his existence is inevitable.”

Cloud’s stomach turned.

Of course.

Of fucking course.

She didn’t need to explain. He understood.

It always came back to Sephiroth.

It always would.

Gaia’s expression was unreadable, but Cloud felt the weight of it. The sheer, unfathomable time she had spent trying.

Undoing. Restarting. Rewinding. Trying to find an answer.

And failing.

Every. Single. Time.

Then, her voice softened.

“Until one moment- ”

The stars in her eyes flickered.

“…Just one.”

Cloud blinked. “What?”

Gaia’s voice was steady, but the weight behind it was anything but.

“When I broke the cycle for the last time, when I shattered the boundaries of space and time with what little strength I had left…” she paused, eyes distant, as if she could still see the echoes of that moment. “I was not alone in my desperation,” she murmured, almost to herself. “As I reached beyond my own existence, another answered.”

Cloud’s shoulders tensed.

Gaia met his gaze. “Your world.”

The air seemed thinner.

“My counterpart had been watching, waiting- searching for a way to save itself.” Her voice softened, something raw beneath it. ““Your world was suffering. It was not dying- not yet. But it was faltering. Withering beneath the weight of what should not have been.”

Cloud inhaled slowly, measured, trying to contain the nausea rising in his gut. He didn’t need her to explain. 

He already knew that. He had seen it- the land drying, the air growing thin, the creeping rot spreading beneath the surface, poisoning the rivers, the earth, the sky.

It had been gradual, slow enough that most people hadn’t noticed. The world still spun, the cities still thrived, people still fought their petty wars and lived their short, fleeting lives as if nothing had changed.

But Cloud had noticed.

He had seen the way the forests no longer grew as thick, the way flowers wilted just a little too quickly. He had felt the stillness in the air, the way the breeze carried a weight it hadn’t before.

The Lifestream.

It had been tainted.

Not by the natural cycle of life and death. Not by the ordinary greed of humans who took more than they gave back.

But by Sephiroth.

By his will. By his hatred. By the unnatural, undying persistence of his existence.

Cloud’s stomach twisted, nausea creeping up his throat.

He had fought so hard.

He had cut Sephiroth down. Again. And again. And again.

And yet.

Yet.

He never truly left.

“Sephiroth refuses to return to the cycle,” Gaia continued, her voice soft but inexorable, like the shifting tides of an ocean. “He lingers. He persists. His will is too strong;. His presence poisons the Lifestream, corrupting it. And through it, he reaches for you.”

Cloud swallowed, his throat tight. “I know.”

Of course, he knew.

He had felt it.

Sephiroth had not just haunted his dreams- he had haunted his waking hours, curling into the crevices of his mind, lurking in the spaces between his thoughts.

Every time he closed his eyes, every time he let his guard down, Sephiroth was there.

Watching. Waiting.

Not just as a ghost.

Not just as a memory.

But as something far more real. Far more insidious.

Cloud had known it wasn’t over. He had known, even after the Reunion was thwarted, even after Sephiroth’s body was cut down, that it wasn’t enough.

It was never enough.

Sephiroth’s existence was like a stain on reality itself, something that could not be washed away, no matter how many times he was struck down.

And through that existence- through that will- he had reached for Cloud. Again. And again.

And the Planet had suffered for it.

Cloud gritted his teeth.

He had fought so hard to escape him.

And it hadn’t mattered.

Gaia’s eyes softened. “You were the bridge,” she said. “You were his anchor.”

Of course.

He should have realized.

Sephiroth had never let him go. Not even in death.

Cloud had killed him, but Sephiroth had clung to him anyway. Had seeped into the cracks of his mind, had twisted his memories, had coiled himself around the very essence of Cloud’s being.

Not even the Planet could cleanse him completely.

Because Cloud was there.

Cloud, who had been bathed in mako, who had once carried a piece of Sephiroth within him.

Cloud, who had been bound to him in ways he had never wanted to be.

Sephiroth had used him.

Used his thoughts, his memories, his very soul to claw his way back.

And Cloud had let it happen.

Not because he wanted to.

But because he didn’t know how to stop it.

Because deep down, some part of him had never believed it was truly over.

Some part of him had always been waiting for the next time.

The next battle.

The next return.

The next attempt of a Reunion.

Gaia’s voice was gentle, but the truth in it was merciless. “If you remained in your world, he would have used you until there was nothing left. Of you, of the lifestream”

Cloud shuddered.

He didn’t doubt it.

Because he knew Sephiroth.

Knew the depth of his obsession.

Sephiroth was not simply trying to kill him.

If that was all he wanted, Cloud could have dealt with it. Could have fought him, cut him down, ended it cleanly.

But that wasn’t what Sephiroth wanted.

He didn’t just want Cloud dead.

He wanted Cloud undone.

He wanted to unravel him, piece by piece, until there was nothing left but what Sephiroth allowed to remain.

He wanted Cloud to be his. A puppet.

And that- Cloud thought, bile rising in his throat- that was so much worse.

Gaia lowered her gaze. “Your world could not risk it. She could not risk it.”

Cloud swallowed hard, his throat raw.

“She had already lost so much,” Gaia whispered. “She had already suffered. and slowly, its inhabitants”

Cloud exhaled shakily.

He thought of everything his world had endured.

The war.

The destruction.

Meteorfall.

Geostigma.

And in the aftermath- when they had finally thought they had won- Sephiroth had still lingered.

Still poisoned the world with his presence.

Still refused to let go.

And Cloud- Cloud had been the doorway.

Of course, his Gaia had been desperate.

Of course, she had done the only thing she could.

She had tp severe the link. 

Cut him free.

Thrown him into the arms of another world, another Gaia, in the hopes that here, at least, he would be safe.

Cloud clenched his fists. “And what about everyone else?”

Gaia’s expression softened. “She will fight for them, just as she fought for you.” Her voice was steady, a quiet certainty woven into every word. “Your Gaia is strong, Cloud. She will find a way.”

Cloud’s stomach twisted.

Because if he stayed, Sephiroth would have used him again.

Would have tainted the Lifestream beyond repair.

Would have destroyed the world, piece by piece, simply because he could.

Because he wanted to.

Because Cloud existed, and therefore, Sephiroth would never stop reaching for him.

Cloud’s breath shuddered out of him.

“She had to let me go,” he whispered.

Sephiroth had never stopped tainting the Lifestream, had never stopped clawing his way back through sheer force of will.

And Gaia- his Gaia- had let him go on.

Not because she wanted to.

But because she couldn’t stop him. With Cloud as the beacon.

Gaia’s voice dropped lower, the weight of ancient sorrow lacing every word. “I was not the only one desperate for salvation. Your Gaia, your home, faced a choice no mother should ever make.”

Cloud barely breathed as she spoke.

“She adored you,” the Gaia before him continued, voice almost wistful. “You were her champion, her hero. She tried to hold onto you, tried to keep you safe. But she knew.” A pause. “If Sephiroth remained, he would poison her lifeblood until there was nothing left. And in time, the world would follow.”

The words struck like a hammer to his chest. He wanted to deny it- wanted to shove it away, because the idea of the planet itself caring for him, mourning him, was too much. Too vast. Too unbearable.

Cloud’s hands curled into fists at his sides.

He had fought. He had tried. He had done everything he could.

And still, it hadn’t been enough.

Gaia did not stop. “She could not keep you,” she whispered, eyes dimming. “Not if she wished to survive.”

“So she made a choice,” Gaia whispered.

Cloud’s breath caught.

Not if she wished to survive.

“She let me take you,” Gaia murmured. “Not out of indifference, but out of love. Because to keep you meant destruction. It meant suffering. The Lifestream was tainted, Cloud. Poisoned. And you- ” she exhaled, voice unbearably gentle, “- you were the thread keeping him tied to your world.”

He wanted to reject it, to throw her words away and pretend they meant nothing. But he couldn’t. Because deep down, in the pit of his soul, he knew.

Sephiroth’s will had always latched onto him. Had used him. Had seen him as something to possess, to pull closer, to twist into something he could never escape.

And the Planet- the very world beneath his feet- had ripped him away not just to save itself, but to save him.

Cloud pressed his hand against his forehead, trying to steady his breath. “Great.”

Of all the things that could’ve happened. Of all the choices that could’ve been made.

The weight of it settled in his chest like an immovable stone. His world- his home - had given him away.

Because keeping him had been too dangerous.

Because Sephiroth had made him too dangerous.

Gaia watched him carefully. “Your mourned your loss. But she knew… knew that here, you would be safe.”

Safe.

The word rang hollow.

Because he knew, with a certainty that burned deep into his bones, that safety had never been something meant for him.

“So you made a deal,” he said flatly.

Gaia’s gaze didn’t waver. “Yes.”

A deal. A bargain struck between two worlds, between two Gaias, because Cloud- his presence, his strength, his very existence- had become something neither could afford to lose.

Cloud’s Gaia hadn’t wanted to let him go.

He could feel it now, in the weight of this revelation, in the echoes of something he hadn’t understood when he first arrived. The hesitation. The reluctance. The way his world had tried to hold onto him until the last possible moment.

And this world’s Gaia had known. Had felt it, just as he did now.

“You were… weak,” Cloud said carefully, studying her. “When I first got here.”

Gaia inclined her head. “Yes.”

“Because of the time shift.”

“And because of the price I paid.”

Cloud exhaled sharply. “Right.”

The near-miss of disaster. The desperate attempt to undo what could not be undone. The cycle, shattered one last time at an unimaginable cost.

And even now, she was still recovering.

It made sense- why she hadn’t spoken to him the moment he arrived, why there had been silence in the beginning. She hadn’t been able to. Not yet.

Cloud closed his eyes for a brief moment before reopening them.

His world hadn’t wanted to let him go.

But it had no choice.

The silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Cloud’s fingers curled at his sides, his breath steady, but his mind churned.

Cloud frowned, his mind racing. “…How did it happen?”

Gaia watched him carefully, silent for a long moment.

“What made this world fall apart so completely?” His fingers clenched at his sides. “What was different?”

Cloud’s mind raced. This world- this ravaged, dying planet- what had led it here? Hadn’t the people fought back? Hadn’t there been anyone to stop it?

What made this world fall apart so completely?

What was different?

His chest tightened. What about him? Where was his counterpart in all of this?

“…Then what happened to ‘me’?” Cloud asked slowly, the words unfamiliar on his own tongue.

Gaia didn’t answer immediately.

She studied him instead, something quiet, something deeply contemplative in her gaze. Like she was turning his question over, examining it from every angle.

Like she had already asked herself the same thing.

When she met the other Gaia, when she glimpsed a world so unlike the one Cloud had come from, she had searched for the answer.

What had diverged? What had shifted?

What had changed for that world to not be immediately obliterated by a fully awakened Sephiroth?

A world where Sephiroth had been stopped just after he met Jenova. Where the cycle of destruction had been severed before it could take root. Where the planet had won itself a few more years of peace.

Unlike hers.

Unlike her world, which had been ravaged beyond repair. Where even the Planet’s WEAPONs had failed, falling before an enemy too powerful, too driven to be stopped.

One factor.

One variable.

One life.

Her gaze softened, almost reverent, as though she were holding something impossibly delicate in the palm of her hand.

Then, finally, she spoke.

"It was you."

Cloud blinked, the words lodging deep in his chest. “What?”

Gaia’s gaze was steady now, certain. “Here, in this world…”

She hesitated, as if the weight of the truth was only now settling in her own mind.

“You never joined Shinra.”

The words struck him like a physical blow, leaving him momentarily breathless.

A world without a Cloud Strife in Shinra.

A world where a nameless infantryman never dreamed of SOLDIER.

A world where a fifteen-year-old boy never stepped into a transport truck bound for Midgar.

Cloud’s stomach twisted. His voice came out rough. “…Then what happened to him?”

Gaia’s expression was unreadable.  “He stayed in Nibelheim. Never went to Midgar. Never thought of becoming a SOLDIER. A life far away from what was to come.”

His heart pounded against his ribs.

Gaia’s voice was softer now, like she was treading carefully. “This world’s Cloud Strife never had the same path as you. He never joined Shinra. Never crossed the same roads. His existence is just as precious… yet fate never shaped him into the hero that stood against Sephiroth.”

Cloud’s breath came shallow.

Because it should have been good news.

On quiet nights, when the ghosts of the past let him be, hadn’t he let himself imagine it?

What if he had never left?
What if he had stayed in that small, quiet town?
Would he have had a normal life?
Would he have been happy?

A world where a young Cloud Strife never had to scrape and claw for a dream that never wanted him.

Where he never had to wake up drowning in Mako, choking on another man’s memories.

Where he never had to bury Zack.

His hands curled into fists.

It should have been good news.

So why did it feel like a death sentence?

Cloud’s voice was barely a whisper. “…And because of that, this world’s Sephiroth- ”

“Was never stopped,” Gaia finished.

Cloud closed his eyes.

Of course.

Of fucking course.

Cloud shut his eyes, and he could see it- 

A version of Nibelheim left to burn.
A version of Sephiroth who was never cast into the reactor.
A world where Meteor was never stopped.

His stomach churned violently.

But- 

Cloud swallowed.

There was still one more question clawing at his mind, scraping against the inside of his skull.

“…What about Zack?”

The silence stretched for a beat too long.

Cloud’s breath caught.

Zack had been strong. Zack had been real . He had been everything Cloud had wanted to be- brave, capable, a SOLDIER in more than just name.

Even if he had never been there- 

Even if Cloud Strife had never so much as touched Shinra- 

Zack should have been able to stop it.

Right?

Cloud exhaled sharply, barely able to hear his own voice. “…Wouldn’t Zack have- ”

Gaia’s gaze didn’t waver.

And that silence made something in Cloud’s chest crack.

Because Zack had been strong.

He had been fast. He had been smart. He had been the kind of person who could face down monsters and laugh in the face of danger.

Zack had carried them both across half the continent with nothing but a buster sword in his back and sheer determination. He had fought for his life, for Cloud’s life, right up until the bitter end.

He had won .

If Zack had been there- if Zack had been alive- then why hadn’t he stopped Sephiroth?

Why hadn’t he been the hero?

Cloud’s breath came shallow, too fast, too uneven.

It had always been Zack.

Zack had been the one who should have been there.

Zack had been the one who had earned it.

A real SOLDIER. A real hero.

Unlike Cloud.

Cloud clenched his jaw, throat tight. “Why me?”

Gaia said nothing.

Cloud let out a sharp breath, anger bleeding into the edges of his words. “Zack was strong. He was fast, smart, capable- he should have been able to stop Sephiroth! He was able to stop him- ”

Except he hadn’t.

Not here.

Gaia didn’t say it. She didn’t have to.*

Cloud’s breath stilled.

A slow, creeping realization settled in his bones.

The weight of it nearly crushed him.

Because no matter how much he tried to deny it- 

No matter how much he had always wondered- 

Zack hadn’t stopped Sephiroth.

Not here. Not in this world.

Cloud’s stomach twisted violently. His head ached. His thoughts churned.

It didn’t make sense. It wasn’t fair.

What made him so special?

What had made him the one to stop Sephiroth in his world?

Because it hadn’t been skill.

It hadn’t been strength.

It had been luck.

A cheap, pathetic, desperate attack at the right moment- when Sephiroth had been distracted, when he had thought Cloud was nothing.

And he had been right.

Cloud had been nothing.

A weak trooper who never even made it to SOLDIER.

An experiment not even worth mentioning.

A tagalong Zack had to drag across the land while he was barely conscious.

A dead weight.

Cloud clenched his fists until his nails bit into his palms.

Zack had died because he had slowed him down.

Because Cloud had been there.

Because Cloud had failed him.

And yet- somehow- it had been Cloud who stopped Sephiroth.

Not Zack.

Not anyone else.

Cloud.

His mouth was dry. His heartbeat too loud in his ears.

If he had never gone to Midgar- 

If he had never set foot in Nibelheim’s reactor- 

If he had never stood in Sephiroth’s way- 

Then there had been no one left to stop him.

No one else had done it.

No one else could.

Cloud exhaled, shaking, hollow.

Because if this world had taught him anything- 

It was that, for some reason- 

It had always been him .

Cloud’s breath came in shallow bursts, his chest tight. His mind couldn’t grasp it, couldn’t accept it.

It didn’t make sense.

It couldn’t make sense.

He wasn’t special. He wasn’t a hero.

He had been lucky .

A fluke.

A weak, Mako-drenched experiment Shinra had discarded without a second thought. A trooper who had never even made it to SOLDIER.

A mistake.

There was no reason why he had been the one to stop Sephiroth.

Why him ?

Why not Zack?

Why not someone stronger? Someone better ?

His hands curled into fists at his sides, nails biting into skin, but it wasn’t enough to ground him.

The weight of it pressed down on him, suffocating, crushing- 

And then- 

Warmth.

Fingertips, impossibly soft, cupped his face.

Cloud flinched at the touch, his breath stuttering in his chest, but Gaia didn’t let him pull away.

He hadn’t even noticed how badly he was shaking.

Gaia’s hands were cool against his skin, grounding, steady .

“Enough,” she said, voice firm, but not unkind.

Cloud’s lips parted, but no words came out.

Gaia’s gaze softened.

"You are precious, Cloud."

Cloud’s breath hitched.

“You speak of yourself as though you are nothing,” she murmured, her thumbs brushing against his cheeks, gentle as the breeze. “As though you are replaceable.”

Cloud stared at her, unable to move, unable to breathe .

She shook her head, sadness flickering in the depths of her ancient eyes. "I do not understand how you cannot see what I see. How your own Gaia could have let you carry this weight alone."

Cloud clenched his jaw. “I- ”

“You believe that you only won by luck,” she continued, her voice a quiet force. “That you were nothing but a mistake.”

Cloud’s throat felt tight, his fingers twitching at his sides.

“But you are the one who stopped Sephiroth.”

Gaia’s hands cradled his face like he was something fragile , something that had been handled too roughly, too carelessly, for too long.

“You are the one who stood against him. You are the one who fought. Who won .”

Cloud swallowed hard, his pulse hammering in his ears.

“But I- ” His voice wavered. “I only got the chance because he wasn’t paying attention. Because he thought I wasn’t a threat. It was never supposed to be me - ”

Gaia’s hands didn’t waver.

“Then who ?” she asked simply.

Cloud stilled.

“If it was not supposed to be you,” she said, “then why was it?”

Cloud’s breath came unsteady.

Gaia exhaled softly, fingers tracing over his skin like she could soothe the hurt buried deep beneath it.

“This world is already changing because you are here,” she said. “Your very presence has already gradually altered its course.”

Cloud swallowed against the lump in his throat.

“I have seen it,” she whispered. “ Felt it.”

Her voice was gentle, but there was something unwavering beneath it. Something absolute .

“I do not make mistakes, Cloud.”

Cloud’s vision blurred for a moment, something tight twisting in his chest.

“You are not a mistake.”

Gaia’s hands were warm. Real .

And the contact shook him.

Pulled him back from the abyss of his own thoughts, anchored him in the moment.

His breath came ragged, but steadier.

Gaia smiled, small and sad. “You deserve to believe that.”

Cloud blinked, throat burning.

He didn’t know what to say.

Didn’t know how to say it.

Gaia watched him for a long moment, eyes unreadable.

Then, slowly, she released him.

And Cloud- 

Cloud sucked in a slow breath, blinking past the haze in his head. His heart still thudded too fast, his throat felt tight- but worse than all that was the sudden, horrifying realization that he had just crashed out in front of a goddess.

Oh. Oh, that’s embarrassing.

His fingers twitched at his sides, and for a wild moment, he actually considered finding a hole to crawl into. Maybe the Lifestream would be kind enough to swallow him whole.

…No? Damn.

Cloud hunched his shoulders and stubbornly did not look at Gaia. Nope. Not happening. If he didn’t see her, maybe this whole thing would just cease to exist.

Gaia, for her part, didn’t comment. She simply waited, patient and unmoving.

The silence stretched.

Cloud exhaled sharply, scowling at nothing. “…I’m fine.”

Gaia’s smile was unreadable. “Are you ready to continue?”

Her voice was gentle, giving him an out, but Cloud just sighed, crossing his arms. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever.”

Dignity in shambles, but at least he could pretend it wasn’t.

Cloud exhaled slowly, pulling himself together, shoving everything- his breakdown, the overwhelming weight of it all- into the furthest corner of his mind. He squared his shoulders, rolled them back, and exhaled again. Neutral face. Steady stance. Like he hadn’t just completely lost it in front of the literal embodiment of the Planet.

Finally, Cloud forced himself to meet her gaze.

“So what now?”

Gaia regarded him for a long moment before speaking.

“That,” she said, “is for you to decide.”

Cloud turning to face her fully. “That’s bullshit.”

Gaia laughed.

Not mocking. Not cruel. Warm.

She looked at him with something like amusement, something fond. “You are sharp, my Champion.”

Cloud scowled. “Don’t call me that.”

Gaia arched a brow, something playful in the curve of her lips. “Would you prefer Hero of Dawn? ”

Cloud visibly recoiled. “Absolutely not.”

Gaia’s smirk deepened, as if thoroughly entertained by his suffering.

Cloud huffed, looking away. His gaze drifted across the endless plane of light, as if expecting to find something- anything- that would make this all make sense. But there was nothing. No direction. No horizon.

Just Gaia.

Just him.

Cloud exhaled through his nose. His voice was quieter when he spoke again.

“…So I’m stuck here.”

Gaia regarded him for a long moment. “That depends on what you mean by ‘stuck.’”

Cloud shot her a flat look. “Don’t start with riddles.”

Gaia chuckled, but there was something gentle in her expression. Something sad.

“You were given a second chance,” she murmured. “Not a prison.”

Cloud’s jaw tensed. “Doesn’t feel like much of a choice.”

“That’s because you haven’t made one yet.”

His fingers curled against his sleeves, grip tight. “And what am I supposed to choose?”

Gaia’s gaze didn’t waver. “What to do next.”

That wasn’t an answer.

Cloud turned away, staring into the endless glow of whatever space this was. His mind churned with too many thoughts, too many conflicting emotions. He wanted to fight. He wanted to argue. He wanted- 

He didn’t know.

Cloud’s fingers curled against his sleeves, grip tight. “And what am I supposed to do?”

Gaia regarded him, her expression unreadable. “What you’ve always done.”

That wasn’t an answer.

Cloud muttered  irritation creeping into his voice. “That’s not helpful.” “What do I even do?” His voice was quieter, rawer. “Take out the reactors? Destroy Shinra?  Jenova? Sephiroth?”

Gaia’s eyes softened. “Sephiroth can be stopped,” she said gently. “If he never meets Jenova.”

If he never meets Jenova.

His mind reeled.

Not defeat. Not a battle. Not a war.

Prevention.

Cloud’s fingers twitched at his sides.

Could he do that?

Would he?

His memories of Sephiroth were bloodstained, tangled in fire and betrayal, in a history that felt impossible to rewrite.

Gaia watched him closely, waiting. Expecting.

Cloud’s breath was tight in his throat. “That’s not possible.”

Gaia watched him patiently. “Isn’t it?”

Cloud’s hands curled into fists. Sephiroth. The name burned, like it always did. The source of everything. The nightmare that wouldn’t end.

Could he stop that from happening?

Would he?

Gaia only smiled. “You will find your path.”

Cloud shook his head. “And if I fail?”

Gaia’s voice was quiet, certain. “You won’t.”

There it was again. That unshakable certainty.

Cloud set his jaw. “You keep saying that.”

Gaia’s expression remained unreadable. “Because it is true.”

Cloud hated how much that bothered him.

The silence stretched, thick with the weight of everything left unsaid.

Cloud exhaled sharply, frustration creeping into his voice. “What’s the deal with the soulmate thing?”

Gaia’s smile didn’t falter, though there was something knowing in her eyes. “You were never meant to be alone, Cloud.”

His stomach twisted. “That doesn’t answer my question.”

Gaia tilted her head slightly, as if studying him. “Some things must be realized, not told.”

Cloud scowled. “I’d rather just know now.”

She only chuckled softly, ancient and patient. “You will.”

Before he could press further, her form flickered.

Cloud tensed. The glow around her dimmed, edges wavering, as if something was pulling her away.

Gaia sighed, the sound tinged with regret. “It seems our time is shorter than I hoped.”

Cloud’s hands curled into fists. “What’s happening?”

Gaia’s form flickered again, more pronounced this time. “This connection takes much from me,” she admitted. “But we will speak again when I recover.”

Cloud clenched his jaw, a bitter taste in his mouth. “You could’ve just answered me.”

Gaia’s gaze softened, something warm and knowing beneath it. “You are more stubborn than I expected.”

Cloud scoffed. “You and everyone else.”

Gaia smiled. “Then I will tell you this- do not reject it so quickly, Cloud. You do not yet understand what it means.”

Cloud’s throat felt tight. He didn’t know what to say to that.

Gaia’s form shimmered one last time.

“We will meet again, Cloud. When you are ready.”

And then- 

The world collapsed in light.

Weightless. Endless.

Then- 

A sharp inhale.

Cloud’s body jerked- 

He woke up.

And Aerith was there.

Cloud blinked, his eyes still adjusting to the brightness that surrounded him. The weight of everything he’d just experienced- talking to Gaia, learning about soulmates, his place in this world- was still fresh, like it had just happened.

Aerith.

She was sitting beside him, her soft smile just as gentle as he remembered,

Cloud blinked, his mind still catching up. The memories of Gaia, of everything she’d said, still burned in the back of his skull. 

Aerith smiled. “Hey, sleepyhead.”

Cloud exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face. “How long?”

“Not too long,” she assured. “I figured you could use the rest.”

Cloud let out a breath through his nose, neither amused nor annoyed. Just… exhausted.

“…She told me why I’m here.”

Aerith’s expression sharpened. “Gaia?”

Cloud nodded. About to say it but halted.

Cloud nodded. He opened his mouth to say it—then stopped.

How the hell was he supposed to explain all of it? Where did he even begin?

That he had been given away by his own world? That he was the sole reason his Gaia still stood while this one was barely holding on? That his very existence—every choice, every failure, every battle—was the dividing line between survival and annihilation?

It was too much. It was everything.

“She said this world needed me. That its Lifestream is too fragile to fight back against what’s coming.” His voice was flat, but the weight of those words pressed against him. “That if nothing changes, it’ll fall apart.” 

In the end, that was all he could say.

Aerith frowned, concern flickering in her eyes. “And you believe her?”

Cloud scoffed. “Doesn’t matter if I do or not. If this world’s going to end, then someone has to stop it.” His fingers curled against the sheets. “And apparently, that someone is me.”

Aerith studied him for a long moment. “…That’s a lot to put on one person’s shoulders.”

Cloud let out a short breath. “Not the first time.”

Silence settled between them.

Then, Cloud’s brows furrowed. “She also said I wasn’t supposed to be alone.”

Aerith tilted her head. “What do you mean?”

 “Soulmates.” The word felt foreign in his mouth, like something that didn’t belong. “She said it was my ‘destiny.’ That I was always meant to have them.” His voice turned sharp. “Whatever the hell that means.”

Aerith’s gaze didn’t waver. “…And what do you think it means?”

Cloud scoffed. “It doesn’t matter. I asked her to explain it, but then- ” He frowned, irritation bubbling up again. “Then she starts flickering like a dying lightbulb and says she has to recover before she can tell me anything else.”

Aerith blinked. “That’s… suspicious.”

Cloud huffed. “Right? It’s like she realized she said too much and bailed.”

Aerith watched him carefully. “And you don’t believe her?”

Cloud didn’t answer immediately.

For a moment- just a moment- his mind flickered back to a certain man, a memory of firelight reflecting off auburn hair, of sharp blue eyes watching him like he was something important.

He shut the thought down.

None of that mattered now.

He had bigger things to deal with than a soulmate bond that never should have existed in the first place.

His hands clenched against the sheets. “I have more important things to worry about,” he said, voice flat. “Soulmates aren’t my problem. I need to figure out what the hell is happening in this world.” His jaw tightened. “I have to stop Jenova. Destroy the reactors. Make sure this planet doesn’t end up destryoed.”

Aerith tilted her head. “And the bond?”

Cloud looked at her, his eyes hardening. "I’m not their soulmate," he said, the words coming out before he could stop them. "This whole soulmate thing, it’s a mistake. I'm just some... cosmic bullshit. "

Aerith frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

Cloud clenched his fists, looking away, unable to meet her gaze. “I don’t even know who they are. I know I ruined their chance. I’m not the one they’re looking for.” His voice faltered for a second, but he forced it back, clinging to the lie. “I’m just a… a replacement. An alternate version.”

Aerith was quiet for a moment, letting the silence settle between them. She didn’t push, didn’t press for more. But her gaze—soft, knowing—felt like she could see straight through him.

Finally, she spoke, her voice steady. “Cloud… you keep talking about what you’re not. What you ruined. But have you thought about what you are?”

Cloud shook his head, frustration curling tight in his chest. “It’s not about what I do now. I don’t belong here. I’m not the soulmate they think I am. I ruined their chance to meet the way soulmates do.”

Aerith sighed, stepping closer. “Cloud, it’s not that simple.” She hesitated, then gave him a small, sad smile. “Things don’t always happen the way we think they should. But that doesn’t mean they’re wrong.”

Cloud swallowed, his throat tight. He wanted to believe that. Wanted to believe it wasn’t too late to fix things.

But he wasn’t sure it could be fixed.

"I don’t know what to do," he whispered. "I’m so damn tired."

Aerith’s gaze softened, and she reached out, covering his hand with her own. “Then rest. Breathe. And when you’re ready, maybe… just maybe, let yourself see what’s in front of you.”

Cloud muttered. “This world’s Genesis—his soulmates—I’m not one of them. I don’t belong in their place.”

Aerith didn’t correct him. Didn’t argue. Didn’t say you don’t know that or maybe you should give it a chance.

She just gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “You’ll figure it out, Cloud.”

Cloud swallowed hard. He didn’t want to.

And yet, in the back of his mind, Gaia’s words echoed:

You were never meant to be alone.

He shut his eyes, trying to ignore the way his chest tightened.

The room was silent.

A sharp contrast to what everyone had expected.

Genesis had woken up—not with a start, not with a snarl of rage, not with a dramatic monologue or a thrown fireball. No.

He had woken up quietly, with slow, deliberate movement.

That alone sent a ripple of unease through the room.

Zack, who had been bracing for a tantrum, now found himself frozen, watching as Genesis sat up with an eerie sort of grace. No tension, no outward fury—just measured movements that made the air feel heavier. He exhaled, breath controlled, unfaltering. His fingers twitched, flexing experimentally against the sheets before curling into a fist.

Genesis opened his eyes.

And Zack’s heart thudded violently in his chest at the sight.

That wasn’t the look of a man who had just been bested in battle.

It was the look of a man who had already decided how he was going to win the next one.

Genesis lifted a hand, turning it over, studying his own fingers as if reacquainting himself with his body. Then, with slow precision, lithe hands smoothed over his coat, checking for something. And then—he pulled something small and round into the dim light.

A materia.

The soft red glow pulsed faintly against his palm, casting shadows over his fingers.

Zack squinted. "Huh? What's that?" He leaned in slightly, trying to get a better look.

Genesis hummed, almost absentmindedly. "Just a little precaution." He turned the materia over in his fingers with unreadable patience.

Zack narrowed his eyes. There was something off about the way it shimmered—something nagging at the back of his mind.

Then, realization struck.

His body stiffened. "Wait… is that—?" His eyes widened. "Dude…"

A tracking Materia.

Across the room, a low shift of movement—Angeal’s shoulders tensing, Sephiroth’s hand twitching just slightly, cat eyes narrowing.

Genesis finally looked at him.

And smiled.

A slow, knowing, razor-sharp smile.

Zack swallowed. That really wasn’t a good sign.

He was slightly concerned right now.

Genesis rolled the materia between his fingers one last time, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, ever so slowly, a smirk ghosted across his lips.

“Oh, little bird,” he murmured, voice smooth—too smooth, velvety with something sharp buried beneath it. Something dangerous. Something inevitable.

"You can fly as far as you like."

The materia pulsed once.

Zack forced out a nervous chuckle, an attempt to break the growing tension. “Uh—Gen? Buddy? What are you—”

Genesis exhaled, slow, measured. Like he had all the time in the world. Like he had already won.

“But in the end…"

His smirk widened, Mako-bright eyes gleaming in the dim light, sharp with intent.

"I will catch you," he said softly.

And then—

Click.

The materia activated.

tw ugleh artwork i made

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Chapter Text

Chapter 4

When Genesis woke, he knew Cloud was gone. Not just absent from the room, not just temporarily misplaced-  gone.

The absence was a gaping wound in his chest, raw and aching. He felt it before his eyes even opened, before his mind fully grasped where he was. His bond-  the one that should have been bright, vibrant, present -  was hollow. A thread pulled taut, stretched to its limit-  on the brink of severing.

He left me.

The sheets beneath his fingers were sterile, unfamiliar. The air reeked of disinfectant and Shinra’s false cleanliness. His pulse thundered in his ears, fast and sharp, climbing with every second that he confirmed what his soul already knew.

Cloud wasn’t here.

Cloud had run.

"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the Goddess-  we seek it thus, and take to the sky."

Genesis' lips parted, the words slipping out, quiet and aching. It was instinct-  Loveless always had a passage that fit. And now, they felt bitter on his tongue. He had sought, he had found , and yet-  Cloud had turned away.

Something inside him twisted, frayed at the edges. He inhaled, slow and deliberate, holding it tight-  containing it. Containing himself.

Because if he didn’t-  if he so much as moved the wrong way-  he wasn’t sure what would happen.

Pain came first. Sharp and lancing, digging into places that shouldn’t have been vulnerable. The kind of pain that felt unnatural, wrong -  because soulmates weren’t supposed to leave . Not like this. Not when the colors had already bloomed between them, undeniable and real.

Then came the betrayal. A slow- burning ember that caught and spread, licking up his spine, setting fire to his veins.

Genesis had felt it. Had known the moment their eyes met, when his world flooded with a sky so vast, so infinite, it nearly took his breath away. He had felt the bond settle into place, deep and true -  an immutable fact of existence.

And still, Cloud had turned away. Had still left .

His fingers flexed against the sheets, the only visible motion betraying the storm raging beneath his skin. The room felt too bright, too sterile. The very walls of this Shinra- controlled place pressing in, suffocating him, as if it had been complicit in Cloud’s escape.

A crack splintered through his self- control.

Not a break. Not yet.

But close.

He exhaled, slow. Measured. Suppressed the roiling inferno with careful precision, forcing the flames back down, down, down , until the heat was nothing more than simmering embers beneath a glassy, unshakable surface.

Outwardly, he was still. Too still.

The air around him shifted , an almost imperceptible pressure curling at the edges of the room. No sharp movements, no raised voice-  just a quiet, terrifying calm.

Genesis was not calm .

But he knew how to wear the illusion of it.

The moment stretched, long and silent. The medic nearby hesitated, their movements stuttering before they wisely chose to stay quiet. Even Zack-  Zack , always loud, always moving-  remained unnervingly still.

They could feel it.

His rage. 

No, Genesis understood . The little bird had flown away because he was confused.

  Lost .

Genesis could see it clearly now-  the way Cloud recoiled from the truth, the way his brows had furrowed not in denial, but in sheer, incomprehensible absence. Like the knowledge had never been there to begin with. 

And that? That was infuriating.

Soulmates were not optional. They were not a fleeting whim or an abstract concept to be dismissed. It was a bond that existed beyond reason, beyond logic-  a truth written into the very fabric of the world itself. And Cloud, his Cloud, told him what’s happening between them  wasn’t real.

Genesis had felt it then, clawing at the edges of his mind. Because Cloud should have known.

But he hadn’t.

After everything-  after the colors, after the sheer weight of what they were, after the bond that thrummed between them, unacknowledged-  Cloud had turned away.

Genesis had been prepared for war, for defiance, for struggle-  the kind of battle that set blood and soul alight. But not this. 

Not rejection.

It was one thing to anticipate it, to plan for the possibility of Cloud running. He had accounted for it, had ensured he could find him again. But knowing it might happen and feeling it unfold in real time-  watching Cloud turn his back and choose to  walk away, feeling the bond stretch thinner, more distant-  

That was something else entirely.

One that Genesis hadn’t been ready for. Hadn’t been prepared for the silence that followed. For the hollow ache in his chest. For the way his hands trembled before he forced them still. It had never occurred to him that a soulmate-  their soulmate-  would choose distance over destiny. Even now, the wound throbbed, fresh and bleeding beneath the layers of logic he tried to drape over it.

That was fine.

Genesis would simply make him understand.

He would find him. Catch him. Bring him home.

And when he did-   then they would talk.

Genesis clenched his fists, then-  relief. A small, flickering pulse against his palm.

The tracking materia.

His fingers clenched it so tightly it might’ve cracked.,It shouldn’t have come to this. Shouldn’t have been necessary . But at least one of his plans had worked.. He had known Cloud might flee, had anticipated his stubbornness, his distrust. So Genesis had prepared-  because he always prepared.But nothing could have prepared him for the way it felt . For the sharp, visceral reality of Cloud being gone .

Genesis exhaled sharply, the sound bordering on a growl. A part of him, a wounded and bitter part, wanted to rage-  to tear through the building and find Cloud himself

"Even if the morrow is barren of promises, nothing shall forestall my return."

The words curled in his chest, steady and unwavering.. A part of him, wounded and bitter, wanted to rage -  to tear through the building and find Cloud himself. To demand answers, demand what was theirs.

But no.

Genesis had already made his first mistake.

He wouldn’t make another.

And this time, he wouldn’t let him slip away.

The materia pulsed once, then dimmed, its glow fading into Genesis’ palm.

The shift was subtle. No spell was cast, no sudden burst of magic-  just an activation, a quiet flicker of power, and then nothing.

But the tension in the room tripled.

Zack shifted uneasily. . He knew what that was. He had watched Genesis activate it and the way the Genesis’ smirk lingered, confident and certain -  did something to him. He doesn’t know yet what it was.

Angeal sensed it too. His gaze flicked to Genesis, watching him closely.  He had expected an explosion.

Genesis had always been passionate -  anger and pride flaring like fire, unpredictable but never quiet. When he woke up, Angeal had expected something -  outrage, cutting demands, heat . But instead, Genesis sat there, unnervingly composed, turning the materia over in his fingers. The soft glow reflected in his eyes, flickering like embers beneath the surface.

Angeal frowned. The machines monitoring Genesis’ vitals beeped steadily in the background, but it was the silence that held his focus.

Even Sephiroth, unreadable as ever, watched Genesis with careful scrutiny.

This wasn’t the kind of anger Genesis was known for. It wasn’t loud. It didn’t spark and burn, feeding off itself until it consumed everything in its path.

No, this was different.

And that was what unsettled Angeal the most.

“You’re awfully quiet,” he said, testing.

Genesis didn’t look up. His fingers turned the materia once more, slow and deliberate. Angeal studied him. No eyes rolling. No scoffing in disbelief. No cutting remark to break the tension.

That wasn’t right.

“I expected more theatrics,” Angeal pressed, watching for a reaction.

Genesis huffed a quiet laugh-  too quiet.

But then, he tilted his head slightly, fingers pausing over the materia, his voice smooth but carrying an edge just beneath the surface.

“And what would that accomplish?” he mused. “Would you prefer I threw a fit? Would that make this easier for you?” His eyes flickered, an unreadable emotion lurking behind his eyes. “Would it comfort you?”His tone curled at the edges, almost amused, almost dangerous. . “If I raged and roared? If I set fire to this room and tore through the halls demanding answers?”

His gaze flicked up, sharp and cutting, fire barely contained behind his eyes

“Is that what you’re waiting for, Angeal?”

Angeal recoiled as if slapped. Then was immediately followed by guilt and confusion. For all the years he had known Genesis-  for all the fights, the dramatics, the fire-  this was the first time he found himself caught off guard like this .

Genesis wasn’t just mad. He wasn’t sulking over some minor irritation or throwing a fit over Scarlet taunting him, or a Shinra executive testing his patience. No, this was deeper, one that settled in his bones like a slow- burning inferno.

Angeal exhaled slowly, brow furrowing. He should’ve known better.

Of course, Genesis Rhapsodos was unpredictable. Hadn't that always been the case? Since when had he become predictable ? The realization made Angeal’s stomach turn.

And yet-  he had expected it. He had waited for Genesis to explode. To lash out. To set the room ablaze with words as sharp as his blade. The fact that he hadn’t… unsettled him more than the alternative.

His grip tightened at his side. “I didn’t mean it like that-  ”

“Save it,” Genesis cut in, his voice smooth but leaving no room for argument. “Spare me the excuses.”

Angeal's jaw clenched. He could’ve let it drop-  should have. But concern outweighed pride, and his voice was steady when he said, “This isn’t like you.”

Genesis hummed at that, low and contemplative. He turned the materia over in his fingers, the glow catching in his eyes. Then, with an almost lazy flick, he tossed it into the air-  just high enough for the light to flash between his fingers-  before catching it again with ease.

Again. And again.

Not restless. Not irritated. Something else entirely.

“You act like this is something new,” Genesis mused, his voice light, almost conversational.

The casual tone-  the way he toyed with the materia instead of crushing it in his fist, the way he remained poised instead of pacing-  made Zack shift, uneasy. His gaze darted between them before finally settling on Genesis.

Then, hesitantly, like he was trying to will it into reality, Zack asked, “So... you’re not mad?"”

Genesis caught the materia mid- toss-  and didn’t throw it again. For a beat, he remained perfectly still, fingers curled around the smooth surface. Then, slowly, he lowered his hand to his lap, his grip tightening just slightly.

His smirk curled, sharp at the edges. “Oh, darling. No,”  Genesis mused, voice light.“That would be too simple.”

Then, his voice dipped, smooth as silk, edged like a blade.

“I’m livid .”

Silence followed, thick and expectant. Zack shifted uneasily, glancing between Genesis and Angeal as if waiting for the explosion that never came. Sephiroth remained still, watching, waiting.

But Genesis didn’t lash out. He didn’t sneer, didn’t demand retribution. He only tilted his head slightly, fingers still idly turning the materia in his hand.

That was worse.

Angeal felt it, too-  

Genesis wasn’t just angry.

The medic who had been standing by hesitated, clearly debating whether to speak or pretend they hadn’t just heard the sharp edge in Genesis’ tone. Unfortunately, duty demanded otherwise.

They stepped forward, clearing their throat. “Sir, we should-  ”

Genesis flicked a hand in dismissal, not even sparing them a glance. “Unnecessary.”

The medic swallowed, nerves warring with protocol “Sir, standard procedure-  ”

“ I said, unnecessary. ”

That smooth, unwavering tone was somehow worse than if he’d snapped.

Zack exchanged a look with Angeal. Okay. Yeah. This was getting out of hand.

Genesis never turned away a chance to be doted on, especially after a fight. He lived for the attention, for the dramatic declarations of his suffering, for the chance to monologue about how fate had dealt him an unjust hand. But now?

Now, he was lounging. Fiddling with his materia, humming a  tune he briefly recalled hailing from banora.

It was unsettling.

The medic flinched but didn’t move, clearly debating whether to push further. A mistake.

Genesis finally deigned to look at them, and whatever the medic saw in his eyes made them go deathly still. There was no fire materia in his hands, no telltale flicker of magic, but the promise was there. Unspoken. A searing certainty that if they didn’t leave this room in the next five seconds, they’d be leaving in ashes.

The medic stiffened. Then, with a jerky nod, they turned and fled, the door clicking shut behind them.

Angeal exhaled sharply. “Genesis.”

Genesis hummed, idly tracing a finger against the smooth surface of the materia cradled in his palm. He hadn’t put it down since he woke up. He wasn’t going to. “What?”

Angeal’s arms crossed, his frown deepening. “You can’t just dismiss medical personnel on a whim. They’re here to help.”

A scoff. “Help?” Genesis echoed, tilting his head, Mako swirling behind his pupils like a barely contained inferno. “That one was a rat. Either Hojo’s or Hollander’s.” He didn’t blink, didn’t look away. “This is soulmate business, Angeal. Not theirs. Certainly not Shinra’s.”

Angeal frowned, uneasy. Genesis rarely spoke of Shinra with fondness, but there was something different now-  colder. Final.

Whatever rebuttal he had was cut short when Sephiroth took a step forward.

“Regardless,” he said, voice even, “we should not take chances.”

A flick of his wrist, and a faint pulse of magic rippled outward, invisible but unmistakable. The air hummed, sharp with static, before settling into a weight that pressed at the edges of their senses.

Zack blinked. “Was that-  ?”

“A ward,” Sephiroth confirmed. “Privacy.” His eyes flicked toward Genesis

Genesis smirked-  thin, empty of humor.

“How thoughtful, General. ”

Zack wet his lips. “Sooooo…” He trailed off, trying to sound casual. “Gen. Buddy. Pal. Wanna tell us what the hell happened?”

When Genesis finally looked at him, Zack nearly wished he hadn’t.

Mako- bright eyes gleamed with an unreadable edge, the smirk on his lips nothing but teeth.

Sephiroth took a step forward, his presence filling the space between them. His voice, when he spoke, was steady, but his eyes flicked over Genesis with   careful scrutiny. “What Happened? You were found unconscious at the gates,” he said, the words measured. “Alone. Explain.”

A pause.

Then, Genesis sighed, long- suffering, like this was all such a hassle.

"Must we do this interrogation now?” he drawled, leaning back against the pillows. “Surely you aren’t that desperate for my company, Sephiroth."

Sephiroth didn’t rise to the bait, but a flicker of emotion crossed his face-  too brief to place, but there. The tips of his ears went faintly pink. “…Answer the question.”

Genesis clicked his tongue but relented with a dramatic sigh, crossing his arms before settling back into his relaxed posture.

Angeal exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders.That was more like it. The sharp, unsettling edge from earlier dulled, replaced by something closer to his usual dramatics. It wasn’t perfect-  not yet-  but at least the eerie stillness had started to crack.

Maybe-  just maybe-  Genesis was finally grounding himself.

"Fine. Since you’re all so desperate to know."

His fingers drummed against the materia once with a contemplative hum.

Genesis traced a lazy circle against the bedsheet, as if contemplating how best to spin his tale.

Then, with a sigh, he began.

"I was making my way back to Midgar when I encountered a Chimera," he said, voice smooth, measured. "Hardly an issue, of course, but as I was handling it, something... unexpected happened."

A pause. A glance toward his audience-  measuring, choosing his words with care. The moment stretched, poised on the edge of revelation.

Then, with deliberate slowness, Genesis turned his gaze to Sephiroth.

"I met him."

A shift in the room.

Genesis felt the weight of their curiosity pressing in like a storm about to break.

Zack was the first to speak.

"Our final soulmate," he murmured, as if testing the words aloud.

There was no shock in his tone not anymore-  only awe .

Genesis nodded in agreement. "Indeed."

Genesis took his time, savoring the weight of their attention. He lifted a hand, studied his nails with apparent indifference, before finally, finally, deigning to elaborate.

“He appeared as if called by the Planet itself,” he murmured, voice lilting. “Golden hair, striking blue eyes-  oh, that color, Sephiroth.” He exhaled, wistful. “The moment our eyes met, the sky itself was reborn. The world erupted into color, and for the first time, I saw blue. A color so vivid, so all- consuming-  ”

He broke off, pressing a hand to his chest like a poet overcome by his own words.

Genesis hummed. "It swallowed everything else. The sky, the sea, the very air itself-  all painted in his hues.”

His gaze lingered on Zack and Angeal.

And then-  realization struck, sudden and sharp. He looked at them-  truly looked at them now that the haze of red and hurt abated-  and saw the color that had been waiting there all along.

"All this time," he murmured, gaze flickering between them, "and I never noticed."

Zack blinked. "Huh?"

Genesis’ lips curled as he studied the Mako glow of their eyes. Now, for the first time, he saw them for what they were.

Genesis’ lips curled slightly. "Your eyes," he murmured, gaze flickering between them. "Both of you. They must have always been this shade. But only now can I truly see them."

Zack visibly lit up, forgetting the tension in the room as he bounced excitedly. "No way-  really?!" He grabbed Angeal’s arm, shaking it slightly. "Dude, did you hear that?! He can actually see it now!"

Angeal chuckled, shaking his head. "Yes, Zack. We heard."

But Zack wasn’t done. He turned back to Genesis, eyes bright with excitement. "Okay, okay, so what’s it like?!" he pressed. "Like-  what kind of blue are we talking about? Dark? Light? Are my eyes the same shade as Angeal’s? Or are they different?"

Genesis exhaled, his dramatic flair shining through from the onslaught of the puppy’s enthusiasm. "Do I look like a painter to you?"

Zack deflated. "Aw, c’mon, Gen-  just describe it!"

Genesis huffed, but his smirk softened.

"Fine," he said, tilting his head. "Zack, yours are… bright. Like the heart of a flame, where blue burns the hottest. Electric. Alive."

Zack beamed .

"And Angeal’s?" he prompted eagerly.

Genesis’ gaze flicked over, thoughtful.

"...Steady," he said after a pause. "A deep, grounding blue. Like the ocean under a storm-  unshaken. Resilient."

Angeal gave him a look that was half amusement, half exasperation. "You have a complete vision now for a day, and you’re already waxing poetic."

Genesis grinned. "Can you blame me?"

Zack was still vibrating.

"Man, this is so weird," Zack said, almost breathless with wonder. "I mean-  I know my eyes are blue. People have told me a million times. But I’ve never actually heard someone describe them like that before!"

Since joining Shinra, since meeting his soulmates, all he’d ever seen in the mirror was the unnatural glow-  the Mako that bled around his pupils, swallowing color and turning his reflection into something distant. But now? Now, one of his soulmates could see them-  the whole of them. The knowledge sent a thrill of anticipation through him, tangled with yearning.

He couldn’t wait to meet Cloudy. To prove to him that they were worth it.

Genesis hummed, gaze flickering back to the memory of Cloud’s eyes-  brilliant, endless, overwhelming.

" And yet, " he murmured, almost to himself, " his were something else entirely."

A beat. Then, smoothly, he continued.

"He didn’t realize what it meant, of course," Genesis said, voice dipping lower, thoughtful. "The poor thing. I saw it in his eyes-  the confusion, the uncertainty. He had no idea what a soulmate even was."

Sephiroth raised an Eyebrow at that. A silent question about why Genesis didn't deign to tell them that in the PSH that night. 

Genesis leaned back against the pillows, fingers tapping a slow, deliberate rhythm against the sheets. “At first, he didn’t react at all. Not even a flinch. I watched him, waiting for the moment it hit him-  the shock, the realization. But it never came. He just looked at me like I was talking nonsense and walked away.” His fingers curled against the blanket. “I said the sky was blue, and do you know what he said?”

Angeal frowned.

" 'And ?'” Genesis mimicked, voice dipping flat and unimpressed.

Zack blinked. “Uh. That’s-  ”

“I know.” Genesis cut him off, eyes narrowing. “He didn’t understand. Not even a little. I thought he was ignoring it at first, refusing to acknowledge what had happened. But when I tried bringing it up again, when I asked him outright-  ” Genesis paused, jaw tightening. “I realized he had no idea what I was talking about.”

Sephiroth blinked, head tilting ever so slightly, as if turning the words over, testing them against reason.

Genesis gave a slow, deliberate nod. “He doesn’t know what soulmates are. He doesn’t even know what the colors mean.”

Zack sat up straighter. “Wait. At all?”

Genesis nodded seriously “At all.”

“That’s...” Angeal hesitated, brows furrowing. “That doesn’t make sense.”

“Oh, believe me, I know.” Genesis let out a low, humorless chuckle. “I told him everything. That I- we are his soulmate.. That he belonged with us.” His voice darkened. “He told me I had made a mistake. That we had the wrong person. That it wasn’t him, That he didn’t belong.”

Zack groaned, rubbing his face. “Yeah, that tracks.”

Angeal’s frown deepened. “That’s... not how soulmates are supposed to react.”

Genesis gave a sharp, humorless smile. “Yes, well, our wayward soulmate doesn’t seem to care much for what’s ‘supposed’ to happen.”

Zack whistled, then reached out, wrapping his fingers around Genesis’ hand in a brief squeeze-  solid, grounding. A quiet offer of comfort. Genesis didn’t pull away. His grip tightened just slightly in return.

 “I spelled it out. I told him exactly what soulmates meant. How color worked. How our bond worked. And he still didn’t get it. He thought I was talking about some kind of ‘fairytale nonsense. ’ ”

Sephiroth leaned in ever so slightly, drawn forward by the weight of Genesis’ words-  curious, intent. His gaze never wavered, eyes sharp with just shy of urgency. “And when  he finally understand?”

Genesis smirked, though there was a tense in the curl of his lips. “Oh, that was the best part. He nearly crashed his damn motorcycle.”

Zack choked. “What?!”

Genesis waved a hand, the picture of nonchalance. “Swerved right off the road. I had to grab his shoulders so we didn’t die.”

Angeal pinched the bridge of his nose. “Genesis.”

“Oh, don’t look at me like that, mother hen,” Genesis huffed. “It was hardly my fault he reacted so poorly to the truth.”

Zack cackled. “Man, I wish I could’ve seen that.”

Angeal frowned. "Why would he react strongly about it? That’s… unusual."

Genesis’ smirk widened. "Unusual, yes. But hardly surprising." He waved a hand airily. “He’s skittish. Understandable, really-  for someone like him.”.

Zack straightened. "Someone like him?"

A slow, deliberate nod. “He's A enhanced fighter, but not affiliated with Shinra.”

That had immediate effects.

Sephiroth’s fingers twitched slightly. Angeal’s brow furrowed. ZZack blinked once, then again, his easygoing demeanor cooling into something more intent.

Genesis observed their reactions with satisfaction.

"Shinra doesn’t just hand out enhancements," Angeal said, voice tinged with curiosity and caution.

Genesis shrugged. "His eyes shine just like ours. He wields a blade that splits into six pieces-  "

"Six?!" Zack’s voice cracked. “Gen, you  only said two!”

Genesis smirked. "A mystery, isn’t it? A delightful one."

Zack practically vibrated in place. “Still, Six?! No, no, hold up-  you can’t just drop that on me and move on! How does that even work ? Is he throwing them? Dual wielding? Some crazy materia trick? You have to tell me more later.” His eyes gleamed, the sheer awe in his voice impossible to miss.

"You should have seen him,"  a slow, pleased smile curling at the edges of hGenesis’ lips. "He's incredible. Strong. Fast. Determined."

The words dripped with a depth richer than admiration-  a weight that made Zack glance at Angeal, a curiosity that had Sephiroth humming softly, tilting his head ever so slightly.

Genesis let the moment stretch, let them feel it.

He could still see it so vividly-  the way Cloud had moved, fluid and lethal, as if battle itself was woven into his very bones. A blade that sang when it cleaved through the monster, each motion precise, measured, devastating.

Not a wasted step. Not a moment of hesitation.

Genesis had felt it, standing there in the wake of Cloud’s battle-  the sheer presence of him.

Wasn’t that proof enough?

That Cloud belonged to them? That no bond in the world could compare to what was theirs? No one else was deserving. No one else could even hope to understand.

And oh, wasn’t that something?

Wasn’t that delicious?

His soulmate-  his little bird,  so quiet in demeanor, yet burning with a quiet, unyielding fire beneath it all. It was his color that had brought Genesis sight, his eyes that had turned the world blue , bringing out the beauty of everything else and now that he’d seen him-  truly seen him-  Genesis couldn’t unsee it.

Couldn’t forget it.

Wouldn’t.

Cloud had stood there, blade in hand-  a presence that demanded recognition, one that struck Genesis with an undeniable sense of familiarity. This , he had thought. This is ours.

And yet, for all that presence-  for all that quiet, magnetic pull-  Cloud tried to be unassuming. Not consciously, not in a way that drew attention, but in that careful, measured way of someone accustomed to slipping through the cracks, to going unseen unless absolutely necessary.

Genesis had felt it during their brief time together-  the way Cloud naturally withdrew, how his footsteps made no sound unless he wanted them to, how his voice only came when directly addressed, short and efficient, as if speech itself was an effort not worth making. If Genesis hadn’t talked his ears their entire journey, filling the silence with poetry, observations, and thinly veiled prodding, he suspected Cloud wouldn’t have spoken at all.

It was maddening.

Cloud acted like he could fade into the background, like the world wouldn’t inevitably turn to watch him. As if Genesis himself hadn’t already been caught-  hook, line, and sinker-  from the instant they met.

And yet-  unassuming? As if Cloud could ever be such a thing. As if the universe itself wouldn’t bend slightly at his presence, wouldn’t hush and take notice when he stepped into a room. Unassuming? When Genesis himself had turned his head at first sight, when even now, he could feel the echo of Cloud’s presence lingering, as if the space itself had refused to forget him?

The thought was so absurd that Genesis did scoff, quiet but sharp.

Because Cloud was eye- catching. He had the kind of presence that made people look twice without realizing why. The kind of magnetism that came not from boisterousness or deliberate charm but from a force far deeper-  undeniable, inescapable.

The way he held himself, the way he moved-  silent, certain. His eyes, so fiercely glowing with mako, burning with a wildness that refused to be tamed.

Even that ridiculous ensemble of his, all sleek blacks and sharp buckles, only enhanced the effect. When he moved, his coat shifted like a shadowed wing, fluid and weightless.

Cloud had simply moved -  so effortlessly, so naturally, wind and momentum making his coat unfurl behind him in a way that mimicked what Genesis had sought his whole life.

He’d looked up at him and thought:

That’s our Soulmate.

And yet-  

That kind of presence, that quiet, striking allure? It would be noticed. No matter how much Cloud might try to bury himself in silence, to walk unnoticed in the world, people would see him. They would look at him.

Admire him. Covet him.

Genesis just knew it.

Because he had noticed.

Because he had been struck breathless, even for a moment.

And if he had, then surely-  surely -  others would too.

The thought burned, bitter and possessive, curling in his chest like a warning snarl.

He would have to deal with it, wouldn’t he? Bat away the inevitable admirers, remind them-  gently, or not-  that Cloud wasn’t for them. That Cloud already belonged somewhere.

That Cloud belonged to them.

His fingers tapped absently against the sheets, his mind still caught on the memory of gold hair whipping through the air, the flicker of Mako- bright eyes narrowing in focus-  so sharp, so fierce. And the way Cloud had looked at him, like Genesis was saying the unthinkable, something utterly incomprehensible, and still-  

Still, he'd cared for him when Genesis staggered.

Still, he'd stayed, even when his words had been  a blatant lie. An excuse to keep close.

"He doesn’t act like a SOLDIER," he mused, voice light, thoughtful. "Doesn’t posture, doesn’t strut-  doesn’t even acknowledge what he’s capable of. But when he moves-  "

Genesis smirked, fingers curling slightly against the sheets, slow and deliberate. He let the words linger, let the silence stretch before adding, softer, lower, "It’s instinct. All of it. Strength honed not by training, but by survival."

The intrigue in the room deepened, curiosity sharpening into something weightier.

Genesis leaned forward slightly. "You were wondering where he got the Mako glow, weren’t you?" His gaze flicked between them, sharp. "How he’s Enhanced despite never stepping foot in Shinra?"

There was only one way to gain that level of enhancement outside of Shinra’s labs.

And it wasn’t survivable

"He told me he fell into a Mako pool."

The air in the room seemed to drop a degree.

"Fell?" Angeal repeated, his voice slow, disbelieving.

"Fell?!" Zack’s voice cracked, a mixture of shock and alarm. "How do you even-  What-  And he survived that?!" His hands gestured wildly, as if trying to grasp the sheer impossibility of it.

"Fell," Genesis confirmed, and now there was danger in his voice. A fury that simmered low, controlled-  for now . "And if that wasn’t enough, he nearly died from Mako poisoning. Was saved before it could kill him by a… friend .” His lip curled slightly around the word, like it tasted foul. “And when he woke up, he didn’t remember a thing.”

A heavy pause.

"He didn’t-  " Zack started, but stopped, his brows furrowing. "Wait. You’re saying-  "

Genesis rolled the materia between his fingers, a slow, deliberate motion. “That friend of his told him what they could. Filled in the gaps .” His fingers tapped once against the bedsheet, then tightened. “But somehow, conveniently , they left out the entire concept of soulmates.”

The face Genesis was making right now could turn nonbelievers into devout men praying for the Goddess.

Angeal was the first to break the silence. “…You’re saying he lost everything .” His voice was quiet, careful.

Genesis inhaled sharply. “Not everything ,” he admitted. “Some of his memories came back-  over time, with help. But it’s clear now that not all of them did.” His grip on the materia tightened. “Soulmates. Colors. The importance of meeting Us. None of it.”

Zack swallowed, expression uneasy.

"That kind of exposure," Angeal said after a moment, his jaw tightening with concern. "Raw, unfiltered Mako-  " 

“Even the strongest minds don’t survive it unscathed,” Sephiroth murmured, voice barely above a whisper. His eyes showed concern. “They drown. Their body survives, but their mind-  ”

"Fractures," Genesis finished, the flickering movement of the materia in his fingers slowing. His voice was lower now, edged with something dark. "If Cloud fell-  if he drowned in it-  then who knows what he lost? How much of himself was taken?"

A thick silence followed.

Because they all knew.

Mako pools weren’t like the controlled infusions of SOLDIER. They were something else -  alive, raw and untamed, more predator than substance. It didn’t just change people; it consumed them.

And when someone fell in-  fully submerged-  what came back wasn’t whole .

Zack shifted uneasily. "Then… shouldn’t he be-  ?" He hesitated. "I mean, if it really wiped everything-  ?"

Genesis scoffed, but there was no humor in it. "That’s the question, isn’t it?" His grip on the materia turned white- knuckled. " How is he still fighting? Still thinking? Still-  " He cut himself off, exhaling sharply. " Someone pulled him back. Someone helped him."

His voice dipped lower, edged with something bitter. "They found him like that-  mind shattered, memories scattered-  and they chose what to tell him." His fingers curled against his palm. " They decided what parts of him he got to have back."

The weight of his accusation settled over the room.

Because it wasn’t just about Cloud losing his memories anymore.

It was about the fact that someone had them. And they had kept them from him.

 "And conveniently," he continued, voice musing, "soulmates weren’t part of the memories they returned to him. So now, here we are-  him running from something he doesn’t understand, and me chasing after him like a desperate fool."

His fingers resumed twirling the materia, slower now. Calculating.

And none of them said the obvious.

That whoever had found Cloud in that state-  whoever had dragged him back from the brink-  had more control over him than any of them did.

Zack exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "But-  he’s fine, isn’t he? He’s still him ."

Genesis scoffed softly. “Is he?” His voice was cool. “He didn’t recognize the bond at all. Didn’t understand what I was to him. Didn’t even see it happening.”

Genesis looked away, teal eyes catching sight of the materia in his hand. "I should’ve realized it sooner. When I asked about the mako in Mako his eyes, he told me he was never in SOLDIER. Never part of Shinra. And yet-  ” His lips curled slightly, but there was no humor in it. “His eyes shines like us- brighter even. He moves like us FIRSTs. His strength, his speed-  he’s Enhanced. But he has no memory of ever becoming that way.”

Angeal’s expression darkened. "If he’s missing that much, then…"

"Then what else is missing?" Genesis finished for him.

The silence stretched, heavier now.

Because it wasn’t just some memories. It wasn’t just an accident.

Cloud was soulbound to four people and had never even heard of soulmates.

That wasn’t just memory loss.

That was erasure .

Zack shifted uncomfortably. "...You think his friend just-  never told him? About soulmates?"

Genesis let out a quiet, humorless laugh. " They filled in the gaps, remember?" His fingers twitched slightly around the materia. "So why did they leave him to stumble through the world blind to what he is?"

His frustration was tempered now by something colder. More calculating.

Because at the end of it all, there was one undeniable fact:

Cloud had a past.

And someone had decided he didn’t need to know it.

Finally, Genesis exhaled. His voice was calmer when he spoke next. "I was determined to bring him to you. To us. So I followed."

He smirked, but it was a sharp thing, humorless. "But he ran."

Zack blinked. "Wait, just like that?"

Genesis scoffed. "No, of course not. He had a reason, however... utterly unacceptable it may be."

Sephiroth shifted slightly, his fingers pressing together in thought. "What reason?"

Genesis’ jaw tightened. Then, he exhaled, his glare shifting to the empty air as if it personally offended him.

"A girl."

The silence was deafening.

Zack coughed. Angeal looked skyward, as if questioning his life choices. Sephiroth tilted his head slightly, the only sign of his reaction.

Genesis clicked his tongue. "He insisted he needed to see her. Refused to come with me."

Sephiroth exhaled slowly. "I see."

Genesis huffed, crossing his arms. "Honestly. I was trying to be patient, truly-  but the more he rejected the bond, the more I-  " He caught himself, jaw clenching slightly before he scoffed. "Well. Let’s just say I’m no longer feeling particularly generous."

A pause.

Then, Genesis narrowed his eyes.

"In fact," he drawled, expression darkening, "I wouldn’t be surprised if that girl was the so- called friend that saved him."

Zack choked. "Wait-  what? "

Genesis scoffed. "Think about it." He gestured sharply. "Some mysterious person just so happened to be there when he fell? Nursed him back to health? Conveniently left out the entire existence of soulmates?" His lips curled in distaste. "And now, when I finally catch him, he refuses to come with me-  because he needs to see her ?"

He exhaled sharply through his nose. "How convenient."

Zack frowned, clearly uncomfortable. Scratching the back of his spiky hair in vague distress” I mean... you don’t know that for sure, Genesis. You’re making a lot of assumptions here."

Genesis lifted a brow. "Am I?"

Angeal, who had been pinching the bridge of his nose, finally spoke up. "Cloud never actually said it was a girl, did he?"

Genesis opened his mouth, then paused.

Zack latched onto the opening immediately. "Wait-  yeah! Did he actually say ‘her’? For all you know, it could've been some old dude or, like, a chocobo farmer. Or did you just assume?"

Genesis’ lips thinned. "...It was implied."

Angeal’s brow lifted. "So, no. He didn’t specify."

Genesis scoffed. "It hardly matters."

"It does, though!" Zack threw up his hands. "You’re so fixated on this ‘girl’ that you’ve decided she’s some master manipulator keeping Cloud away from us. What if the person who saved him and the one he went to see aren’t even the same person?"

Genesis’ eye twitched. "...That is a possibility," he admitted, though the petulance in his tone suggested he didn’t like conceding the point.

Zack pressed on, encouraged. "See? Maybe he just has people he cares about that have nothing to do with soulmates! Maybe he’s got family, or a mentor, or hell, even just a regular old friend."

Genesis scowled. "That doesn’t change the fact that he ran."

"It kind of does, actually," Angeal said evenly. "If he had an obligation to someone important, of course he’d want to go to them first. That’s not rejecting the bond-  it’s prioritizing something else."

Genesis crossed his arms, clearly unhappy. "Fine. But if I find out that girl-  if there even is a girl-  is manipulating him, I will personally ensure she regrets it."

Zack groaned. "You’re impossible."

Genesis scoffed, arms crossing tighter over his chest. “I don’t need to know her,” he said coolly. “I just need to know she’s keeping my soulmate from me.”

Angeal pinched the bridge of his nose.

Sephiroth simply sighed.

Zack groaned. “Oh, come on , man. You’re being ridiculous.”

Genesis snapped his head toward him, eyes flashing. “Am I? Tell me, Zack, why exactly are you so desperate to defend her? Do you know who she is? Have you met her?”

Zack opened his mouth, then hesitated. “…Well, no, but-  ”

Genesis scoffed, leaning back against the pillows. “Then spare me your misplaced sympathy. Cloud abandoned me at the gate because of her. He ran because of her. And you expect me to just accept that?”

Zack looked exasperated. “You don’t even know if she’s the same person!”

Genesis turned his glare to Angeal. “And you -  you’re actually entertaining this nonsense? Do you honestly believe it’s just a coincidence?” He let out a sharp, humorless laugh. “Some mysterious person just so happens to save him, and now he’s running straight to her?”

Angeal’s voice was steady. “It’s possible. You’re jumping to conclusions without facts, Genesis. Cloud never specified who saved him.”

Genesis inhaled sharply through his nose, clearly fighting to keep his temper. Then, after a long, pointed pause, he admitted with clear reluctance, “He didn’t specify.”

Zack threw up his hands. “See! You just assumed !”

Genesis clenched his jaw. " Fine. Maybe. But that doesn’t change the fact that she -  whoever she is -  is keeping him from us.”

Sephiroth finally cut in. “And if it turns out she isn’t?”

Genesis scoffed, throwing his hands up. “Oh, of course! Let’s all just fight me over this, shall we? I’m sure Cloud’s just running off to some random friend who conveniently nursed him back to health! Never mind that he refuses to acknowledge the bond, never mind that he’s actively avoiding us-  let’s just ignore the obvious answer, why don’t we?”

His fingers curled into fists. “I know I’m right. And when I prove I’m right, I expect each and every one of you to admit that you were wrong.”

Zack groaned, slumping forward dramatically. “Angeal, help. ”

Angeal sighed, rubbing his temples. “Genesis.”

Genesis huffed, lifting his chin. Unrepentant.

Sephiroth merely exhaled, the closest he would get to admitting his exhaustion.

The room fell into silence after Genesis' last declaration, but the tension was far from gone. Zack rubbed the back of his neck, glancing between Angeal and Sephiroth before settling his gaze on Genesis.

"Look, I get that you’re pissed," Zack started carefully, his voice lighter, like he was trying to keep the mood from boiling over. "But maybe Cloudy wasn’t trying to ignore you. Maybe he’s just… overwhelmed? This soulmate stuff is a lot. You know it is."

It was a lot. For anyone else, the revelation of a soulmate bond could be life- altering-  but theirs? Theirs was unprecedented.

Soulmate pairs were the norm. Two people drawn together by fate, their worlds painted in color the moment their eyes met. In rare cases, a bond of three existed, but anything beyond that? Unheard of. The idea of a five- soulmate bond had never even been theorized, let alone witnessed. They were something entirely different-  something more.

From the moment their bond had begun to take shape, they had all known-  felt -  that there were five threads woven together, five souls meant to complete the whole. It wasn’t just a guess, wasn’t just some abstract feeling. It was fact.

And unlike others who regained their colors in an instant, theirs had returned gradually, deepening with each fated meeting, sharpening into something more than just sight. The world wasn’t just in color-  it was vivid, alive, endless. And the colors-  Gaia, the colors.

Vivid and endless, just as brilliant as the first time he'd seen them. The sky still stretched vast and endless, deep blue bleeding into gold at the horizon from the window. His coat still burned crimson, exactly as it should. The world hadn’t dulled in the hours since-  if anything, it had only grown richer, more true.

Genesis had spent an entire day reveling in that wonder, drinking in the colors from Cloud’s back as they rode, together. He had already traced the way the sunlight caught in Cloud’s hair, how the shifting hues of dusk had softened the sharp edges of his face. He had memorized the way his own hands looked against Cloud’s shoulders-  colorful, whole.  

And here, The way light shifted through Sephiroth’s silver hair, catching violet at the edges. The way Angeal’s steady, earthen hues made everything feel solid, real. The way Zack practically radiated warmth, golden as the sun.

It was breathtaking.

It should have been everything.

And yet-  

But even surrounded by color, Genesis couldn’t revel in it. Not yet. Not like before.

Not at first.when he woke up. The wound was still too fresh, his rage still too consuming, burning hot enough to drown out everything else. To appreciate his precious soulmates due to blind rage. He had spent so long waiting for this -  for completion, for the moment their fates would finally align.

The colors hadn’t dulled, not truly. The world still burned as brilliantly as it had when he first saw it in full-  but it felt empty. Hollow. As if Gaia had given him something exquisite, only to take away the part that mattered most.

His mind was still caught in the memory, fingers twitching against the blankets as he replayed the moment over and over again-  Cloud, standing there, defiant, stubborn, refusing. The way he set his jaw, eyes steely with conviction, like Genesis was the one who had to justify himself.

He exhaled sharply, jaw tightening. "He didn’t listen," he muttered, more to himself than the others. "He refused to see reason. Every excuse he gave, every argument he threw back-  he wasn’t just avoiding us. He was defending her." His lips curled with distaste. "Like she had any right."

ack winced. "Well, I mean… if she’s important to him, maybe she does have some kind of-  "

Genesis shot him a glare so sharp that Zack coughed and quickly changed tactics. "I’m just saying! It’s not like he knows us, not really. You can’t expect him to just drop everything and follow you back to Shinra like some lost puppy."

"He’s not a puppy ," Genesis snapped. then inhaled sharply, forcing himself to stop. His temper had slipped earlier, sharp and unrestrained, despite his attempts to rein it in. Zack had flinched-  just for a second, but long enough for Genesis to feel the burn of regret coil in his gut. He exhaled through his nose, smoothing a hand over the blanket as if to ground himself. He didn’t want to snap at them. Not at Zack. Not at Angeal. Not at Sephiroth

The red glow of the materia flickered against his palm, proof that Cloud wasn't gone. Just away. For now. Genesis exhaled, forcing the breath to steady. His heartbeat slowed, not calm but controlled. He had something. A lead. A tether. If he had woken up to nothing-  if he had reached out and found only silence-  

Genesis shut his eyes and forced the thought away.

Sephiroth tilted his head slightly. "No. But he’s certainly running."

Genesis’ fingers twitched against the blanket. "Temporarily."

Angeal sighed, his voice patient but firm. "Or maybe he just has different priorities right now."

"It was infuriating," Genesis’ voice grumbled. "The more I pushed, the more he dug in his heels, as if I were the unreasonable one. Like I was asking for too much." His fingers curled into fists. "I wasn’t thinking straight when I shouted at him." he admitted, the words tasting bitter. 

But it wasn’t just that Cloud refused. It was why he refused.

Genesis’ fingers twitched against the blanket as the memory resurfaced, raw and biting. "I told him I would go with him then," he said, voice edged with lingering disbelief. "If he wouldn’t come with me back at Shinra, then fine-  I would follow him. Wherever he was going, I would go too."

He let out a sharp exhale. "And still, he said no. He wouldn’t let me follow. Wouldn’t even explain why." Genesis’ jaw clenched, his voice turning sharp. "Like it made perfect sense to him, like I should just accept it without question. He refused to listen, refused to let me stay-  "

He cut himself off, shoulders tense. His pulse was hammering. The rejection had been one thing, but the way Cloud shut him out-  as if Genesis didn’t belong there, as if he were something separate-  was a bitter pill to swallow.

The argument had spiraled fast-  too fast. The more Cloud refused to come with him, the more he defended that girl-  Genesis sneered at the memory-  like she had any real claim to him. Like she mattered in this equation. I t was infuriating. The angrier Genesis got, the more stubborn Cloud became, until Genesis realized, with an almost disbelieving rage, that Cloud was actually going to leave.

So he made a decision. If Cloud refused to listen, then he'd just have to sleep through the trip back.

Genesis exhaled sharply, jaw tightening, before dragging a hand down his face. His fingers lingered near his mouth, as if physically holding back the words-  but there was no use. Sephiroth was watching him, too knowing, too perceptive. Angeal’s brows were already furrowed, and Zack… Zack had that expectant look, waiting for him to say it.

Tch.

He rolled his shoulders, forcing himself to appear unaffected, but the heat creeping up his neck betrayed him.

"I tried to put him to sleep too," he admitted, grudgingly. The words felt foreign on his tongue, like he was pulling them out one by one with a pair of pliers.

A pause.

Then-  Zack let out a short, incredulous laugh. "You what?"

Genesis shot him a withering glare, heat spiking in his chest. "Don’t make me repeat myself."

Sephiroth hummed, unimpressed. "I see," he murmured, as if he already had his suspicions. That only made it worse.

Genesis crossed his arms, sinking further into the pillows, scowl deepening. "It was a logical course of action," he muttered, defensive now. "If he wouldn’t come willingly, I would have just- " He waved a hand sharply. "- brought him back."

"But he-  ?" Angeal prompted, waiting.

Genesis clicked his tongue, looking away. He hated this. Hated that they’d caught him, because one way or another, they’ll just find out. Hated even more what came next.

"But Cloud was faster." His fingers curled against his sleeve, finally forcing himself to look at them. "He put me to sleep first."

There. He said it.

Silence.

Then Zack howled . He nearly doubled over, clutching his stomach as laughter wracked through him. " Oh, man! Oh, that’s- " He wheezed between words, shaking his head. " That’s rich!"

Sephiroth, entirely unaffected, simply nodded once, as if he had already anticipated this outcome. "Expected," he remarked, not even looking at Genesis anymore, like the matter had already been settled.

Angeal dragged a hand down his face. " Genesis ," he said, exasperated. "What were you thinking ?"

Genesis scoffed. "He left me no choice."

Zack, finally catching his breath, let out a long sigh and lifted his hands in a placating gesture. "Man, I don’t know. But what I do know is that trying to Sleep spell him probably didn’t help your case."

Genesis narrowed his eyes. " My case?"

Zack hesitated. "Y’know… convincing him to come along? Making him not see you as a threat?"

Genesis’ glare darkened.

Zack, however, clearly didn’t know when to stop. "I mean, dude, can you blame him? He probably saw it coming from a mile away. You aren’t exactly subtle-  "

A pillow hit him square in the face.

"Okay, rude! " Zack squawked, pulling the pillow away. "See? This is why you got knocked out first- "

Genesis lobbed another pillow at him.

Zack ducked - hard . Instinct, pure SOLDIER- honed self- preservation, had him twisting violently out of the way. The second pillow sliced through the air with force , whipping past his head fast enough to stir his hair before it slammed into the wall with a dull thud .

Zack blinked. Then he turned to stare at the pillow where it had impaled itself against the wall like a fallen soldier.

"…Okay," Zack mumbled. "So even a pillow can be a deadly weapon when thrown by a 1st Class."

Genesis sniffed, unimpressed. "Let that be a warning."

Zack held up his hands in surrender. "Message received, loud and clear."

Sephiroth exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Enough."

“Genesis," Angeal said, voice holding a mixture of scolding and disappointment but Genesis ignored him.

Genesis' lips pressed together before he gave a slow nod. "I barely had time to draw my materia before he cast it. Faster than me. And he did it without even pulling out his own." His voice dropped lower, contemplative. "He left me at the gates. But before I blacked out, I-  " He hesitated, fingers twitching against the blanket. "I remember arms around me. Holding me."

Through the haze of emotions, of hurt, the pounding of his heart threatening to swallow them both whole, Genesis remembered.

It wasn’t just the fact that Cloud had cast Sleep on him. That stung , yes-  but it wasn’t the real wound.

Because Genesis had planned to do the same.

The spell had been on the tip of his tongue, the incantation ready. He had made his choice. If Cloud refused to listen, then he’d simply have to sleep through the trip back. But Cloud had acted first. Not out of strategy, not because he had seen it coming-  on pure instinct.

If Genesis had been faster, if he had cast first, Cloud would have been the one unconscious in his arms. But he wasn’t. He hesitated -  whether to reason, to push just a little more, he didn’t know. And in that split second, Cloud reacted, chose , and Genesis was the one left behind.

But that wasn’t what cut the deepest.

That he had looked Genesis in the eye and decided-  convinced himself-  that this was wrong. That he was wrong.

Cloud didn’t think Genesis had made a mistake in judgment, didn’t think that soulmates or fate had conspired against them. No, Cloud believed that he himself wasn’t meant to be here. That Genesis, Angeal, Sephiroth, and Zack-  his soulmates-  had gotten it wrong .

Why?

Why was Cloud so certain of that?

Genesis had seen hesitation before. He had seen people doubt, seen them wrestle with fate, questioning if they deserved love, if they were enough. But this wasn’t uncertainty. It wasn’t disbelief. It was conviction .

Cloud hadn’t denied Genesis out of confusion or fear.

He had rejected them because he truly believed he didn’t belong.

And wasn’t that the cruelest thing of all?

Anyone else would be ecstatic to discover they had a soulmate-  let alone four. Most people dreamed of finding something like this, of being part of something greater, of being chosen .

But Cloud?

Cloud saw Genesis, at what was implied, all the possibilities, the bond felt clearly between them-  and turned away .

Genesis' fingers curled into the sheets, his breath even but slow.

And Yet.

Even then, even when Cloud had denied them, rejected them-  

He had still caught Genesis when he fell.

That moment, that single instant, was the only fragile thread of consolation Genesis had left. That Cloud, despite everything , had stepped forward instead of letting him collapse. 

That he had pressed against Genesis for one fleeting heartbeat, warm and solid, before sleep stole Genesis away. Not Genesis, who had spent every interaction testing the limits, pressing too close,, to push past those carefully built walls. searching for something real beneath Cloud’s stubborn denial and seeming ignorance.

So why-  why, when it should have been so easy to let Genesis fall-  had he caught him?

Cloud could have let him fall. Could have let him crumple to the dirt, one final dismissal, a last, unspoken confirmation that he wanted nothing to do with their bond.

But he hadn’t.

For one fleeting heartbeat, Cloud had pressed against him-  warm, solid, there . He had chosen to step closer, to reach for Genesis instead of pulling away. And maybe it meant nothing. Maybe it was just instinct, reflex, muscle memory from battles fought long before this moment.

But maybe it wasn’t.

And that was enough for Genesis to hold onto.

His last words-  half- slurred, barely conscious-  clung to the back of his mind. A desperate thing. A plea, maybe.

Genesis hated it. Hated himself for feeling like this. Goddess , it had barely been a day and that dumb man had already left him like this.

No one spoke for a moment.

Sephiroth’s gaze lingered on Genesis, his head tilting ever so slightly, stepping closer towards his soulmate “The tracking spell,” he said, voice smooth but edged with something almost-  fond. “When did you place it?”

The question cut through Genesis’ thoughts, pulling him from the weight of his own mind. His fingers twitched, but then-  ah. There it was. A spark, a shift. His lips curled, and pride surged to the forefront, washing away the momentary lapse of vulnerability.

Genesis tilted his head, smug and self- satisfied.

  "The night he was sleeping. I placed it on his bike."

Then Zack let out a low whistle. “Damn, that’s devious.”

Angeal sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Genesis.” That seemed to be the only thing he could say. But the weight behind it spoke volumes-  Why are you like this?

Then Zack straightened, eyes narrowing in realization. "Wait a second. That picture you sent to the group chat-  Cloud’s bike-  was that…?"

Genesis smirked, slow and pleased. "So that we could easily identify it on sight? Of course."

Zack gawked at him. "You planned this."

Genesis shrugged, utterly unapologetic. "I prefer to call it foresight ." He rolled his eyes, arms crossing. "Not that it was necessary -  that bike of his isn’t exactly subtle. It’s one of a kind. Shinra’s mechanics would drool over it the second they laid eyes on it, and any would- be thief would take one look and decide they valued their life too much to even think about touching it. Honestly, it’s as formidable as its owner."

Sephiroth exhaled slowly, a hint of fondness glinting in his eyes before he schooled his expression into a more neutral mask. “You’re aware there are protocols against using materia on civilians,” he said, not quite reprimanding, but firm enough to remind Genesis that he was still the General. That the public demanded perfection. That Shinra demanded its rules be followed to a T.

But really, he should have expected this. Of course Genesis would do this.

Genesis scoffed, lifting a hand in exasperation. "And if I hadn’t , where would we be now? Wandering Midgar’s slums aimlessly, hoping for a miracle? Time isn’t on our side. We needed this-  I needed this. It’s not like I planted a bomb under his seat. It’s just a spell. Non- invasive. Passive. It only activates when we seek him out."

Angeal sighed, rubbing his temple, his expression torn. "That’s not the point, Genesis. There are rules. Even you know that. Tracking someone without their knowledge-  attempting to force them to stay with a Sleep spell-  do you realize how bad this looks? It’s a violation of protocol, of trust-  hell, it’s practically attempted kidnapping. And using materia on a civilian, especially someone who doesn’t belong to Shinra-  "

"Oh, please," Genesis cut in. "Cloud isn’t some hapless civilian. that even 2nds and 3rds would struggle with and cast Sleep faster than I could. He’s more than capable of handling himself. If anything, this just evens the playing field. And frankly, if I hadn’t done it, we’d have no way of knowing where he is right now. Doesn’t that count for something?"

Zack ran a hand down his face. "Okay, great. We know where he is. Now what? Do we just go to him?"

Genesis immediately cut in. "No. If we move in too fast, he’ll run. Again. And this time, he’ll be suspicious of how we found him so easily."

Zack frowned. "Then what? We just wait?"

Genesis leaned forward slightly, finger tapping in his chin as he mull over it. "Cloud knows how to fight. He could easily be a SOLDIER First if he wanted. With the Mako shine in his eyes and the way he moves, he’d give even us a run for our money." He let that hang in the air before continuing. "If we want to get close to him, we need to be smart about it. No reckless charges. Not overwhelming him. We do this the right way."

The weight of his words settled over them, and for once, no one argued.

Zack exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair. "So what do we do then? Just... follow him?"

Genesis hummed. "No. Not just watch." He met Sephiroth’s gaze, determination flashing in his eyes. "We learn. We figure out what he wants, why he went to her. What he’s looking for." A slow, thoughtful pause. "And then, when the time is right, we show him where he rightfully belongs."

With us.

He glanced at the window, as if he could see past the steel and concrete of Midgar to wherever Cloud had fled. His fingers tapped a slow, deliberate rhythm against his armrest.

"He’s like a bird," Genesis murmured, almost to himself. "Not one of those domesticated things that sit pretty in a cage, content to be fed and preened over. No... Cloud is the kind that flies alone. The kind that’s wary, slow to trust, always watching for threats. And if you startle him-  if you come at him too fast, too strong-  he’ll bolt."

There was something almost admiring in his voice, but it was undercut by something deeper. Something possessive.

"We have to be careful," he continued, leaning back against the pillows, gaze sharp. "Too much pressure, and he’ll see us as a trap. But if we let him think he’s free, let him believe we understand his hesitance, his uncertainty… then, eventually, he’ll come back on his own." His lips curled slightly, eyes glinting. "And if not, we make him see that he never needed to run in the first place."

And more than that-  he needs to think of a way for Shinra to stay out of it .

Genesis had seen the way Cloud recoiled at even the implication of being associated with Shinra. The way his jaw tightened, the way his entire body went stiff at the mention of it. If Shinra got too involved, if they tried to treat this like some asset retrieval , Cloud would disappear for good. And Genesis would not allow that . This was a soulmate matter-  personal, immutable, untouchable by Shinra’s grasping hands. If he played this right, he could make it clear that this wasn’t about them . That if they interfered, they would only lose . Cloud would run, and they would never see him again.

That was not an option.

A beat of silence followed.

Then, Sephiroth spoke, quiet and measured.

"And if he still runs after all of this?"

His fingers tightened imperceptibly around the materia.

The sharp lines of tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers tapped a slow, thoughtful rhythm against the sheets-  small tells, but ones Angeal knew well. Had seen it before-  on the battlefield, in the way Genesis dismantled his enemies with cruel precision, in the way he never let something slip through his grasp once he’d set his sights on it. There was a particular intensity to him when his mind was fixed on something just out of reach, an obsession sharpened into purpose. The battlefield had taught many to fear it-  that ruthless, relentless pursuit.

Genesis was not the kind of man who let things slip through his fingers.

Not when he wanted them.

And he wanted Cloud.

And Cloud had made himself something to be chased.

Genesis smiled.

A pit settled in Angeal’s stomach.

The smile was thin, razor- sharp. “Then let him run,” Genesis murmured, turning the Tracker materia between his fingers, slow and deliberate. “The wind sails over the water’s surface-  quietly, but surely.” His gaze flickered, burning with something almost feverish. "Even the wandering soul knows no rest."

“But it always finds its way back in the end.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 5

The sun hung low in the sky, its golden light filtering through the cracks in the church walls, slipping through shattered stained glass in fractured streaks of red, gold, and violet. The Sector 5 slums had begun to settle, the hum of distant voices and footsteps fading as the last embers of daylight clung stubbornly to the worn wooden beams.

Inside, the scent of earth and wildflowers lingered, the flower bed near the altar glowing under the sun’s waning touch. Dust swirled lazily in the air, catching in the amber light. Near the edge of the flowers, Cloud lies with his back to the wooden beams, just a few inches shy of stepping into the fragile bloom decorating the floor of the church. Beside him, Aerith perched on the worn floorboards, legs tucked to the side, fingers idly twisting a stray stem between them.

Cloud exhaled, a sound caught somewhere between reluctant acceptance and inevitable defeat. Aerith had won- of course she had. She always did when it came to him. From the moment he had stepped into the church, wary and exhausted, reeling from a revelation courtesy of the Goddess that made him want to hurl, Aerith had taken one look at him and decided, with all the quiet certainty of an unshakable decree, that he wasn’t going anywhere just yet.

He had tried. He really had.

But Aerith had only smiled, her eyes twinkling like she already knew every excuse he hadn’t even thought of yet. Think of it as a rest stop, Cloud, she had said, voice as gentle as the touch that coaxed him onto the flower bed. Even heroes need to rest sometimes

Much to his dismay-   and embarrassment-   he couldn’t exactly deny her-   the staying part that is. He missed Aerith. Her voice, her warmth. Even after years of not seeing her, he couldn’t find it within himself to refuse any of her requests.

And that was how he found himself here instead of doing anything productive, like-   I don’t know Aeriith, maybe I should start blowing up reactors? He found himself lying near the field of flowers, his head cushioned by the wooden floor, arms loosely folded over his stomach as Aerith played with his hair. The warmth of the sun filtered through the broken ceiling, casting dappled light over him, the scent of lilies and wildflowers thick in the air. He was dangerously close to sleep, lulled by the rhythmic motion of her fingers threading through his blond spikes, the faint hum of her voice wrapping around him.

A gentle weight settled in his hair. lightly scraping his scalp with a small tingle. His eyes opened slightly just as those dainty hands retreated with its mischievous owner, A flower.

He let his eyes slip shut, his other senses heightening to make up for it. The creak of the church, the distant murmur of the city outside, footsteps outside as people went on their day, the steady hum of Aerith beside him-   peaceful, undemanding, safe. It was a rare moment of peace, where he wasn’t running, wasn’t fighting, wasn’t planning. 

He let his mind wander, savoring the silence, the comfort of being with someone who expected nothing from him but to exist. When was the last time he had a moment like this? Just himself, the precious people he was with, enjoying the quiet? No care in the world as time drifted by-   

Then, as if to fuck with him, his traitorous mind dredged up a memory he hadn’t asked for. A certain Auburn man with a crimson coat,  a playful smirk on his lips, teal eyes staring at him with emotions Cloud doesn’t want to acknowledge. The twinkling sky above them, the crackling fire, the last moment of peace before he had fallen asleep without meaning to.

His peaceful moment cracked, his brow twitching before his body tensed, as if trying to frantically erase the memory from existence. Aerith, ever perceptive, clicked her tongue and pressed down on his forehead, smoothing out the tension before it could fully form. "Shhh."

Cloud did not shhh. But he didn’t tense again either.His focus, reluctantly, returned to the sensation of Aerith’s fingers threading through his hair, gently placing another flower there. Relax, Cloud, her touch seemed to say. You’re safe here.

He took a breath, letting himself sink back into the moment. In that distracted relapse, his enhanced hearing- his never- ailed- him- before hearing- completely missed the muffled squawk and scuffle of multiple feet outside the church. There was a grunt-   swiftly cut off-   followed by more hushed commotion.

Outside the church, an entirely different battle was being waged.

Genesis had made exactly three steps toward the church's grand stained-  glass window- offering an unobstructed view of its occupants- before Angeal had clamped a hand over his mouth and hauled him back. Zack, quick as ever, had thrown his full weight onto Genesis’ shoulders, arms locked in a desperate hold around his torso. 

The effect was immediate- Genesis staggered, teeth bared behind Angeal’s palm, and let out a muffled "Mmnnphhh!"

"Shhh!" Zack whisper-yelled, planting his feet like he was holding back a beast. "We agreed to watch and learn, not storm in there like a lunatic!”

Genesis thrashed.

Sephiroth, the only one still maintaining an air of composure, slowly dragged a hand down his face. "This was your plan," he reminded coolly.

Genesis hissed.

"You said," Angeal grunted, wrestling him back another step, "and I quote, 'We must not act rashly. We must observe the stray in his natural habitat, we analyze, and then we strike when the time is right. before making our move.'”

Zack nodded rapidly. "Yeah! Those were your exact words!"

And yet, he was the one trying to throw himself into the scene and ruin it all.

"I did not mean while he was being seduced by a flower girl!" Genesis spat, muffled against Angeal’s palm.

Cloud was too relaxedEmitting a rare vulnerability that Genesis had only ever witnessed in those fleeting moments before sleep claimed him that night . And here he was, completely at ease, giving his back to this- this girl!

Genesis could see it. Lying there, letting the flower girl tuck blooms into his hair. Like he belonged there. Like he wasn’t supposed to be beside here beside them.

The audacity.

The nerve of that girl to give their soulmate flowers!

This was heresy.

Sephiroth exhaled sharply through his nose. "You are the one who suggested we wait and gather information," he muttered, unimpressed.

Zack, still straining to hold him back, let out a breathless laugh. “Man, I knew you were gonna break first, but come on! Not even five minutes?- No- Not even a minute!”

As if to make things worse for all the people outside the church, peeking like a tom cat, the girl picked  a small, delicate flower and, with all the casual confidence in the world, reached up- and tucked it behind Cloud’s ear.

A beat. Then-

Fwump.

Zack barely had time to react before Genesis lunged forward again, dragging all three of them a full step toward the church doors before Zack dug in his heels,  arms locked around Genesis' waist like a lifeline and held on for dear life.

Sephiroth was going to have a headache.

"Genesis," he intoned, low and warning.

Genesis snarled, muffled by Angeal’s hand but still seething with rage. Sephiroth had never seen him so personally affronted. The audacity of Cloud, lying there so relaxed, letting someone put flowers in his hair, when he had so adamantly refused to acknowledge his soulmates-   

"Just- just calm down, man!" Zack begged. "We need a plan!"

Genesis flailed again.

Sephiroth looked skyward, silently wondering if it was too late to defect to Wutai.

Inside the church, Aerith, who absolutely heard the scuffle outside sighed, long and  suffering. "Hmm?" she tilted her head to the side catching a glimpse of movement outside the windows. "You’d think someone is being tortured out there with all that noise"

Cloud made a questioning hum, half-  lidded eyes cracking open slightly at her sudden commentary, but Aerith didn’t acknowledge it. Instead, The Cetra simply placed another flower in his hair, continuing her very important mission as if nothing at all was happening outside.

Cloud let out a grunt, shifting slightly. “I should go soon,” he muttered, cracking an eye open as another flower was tucked behind his ear.

Aerith hummed, entirely unconcerned. “Mmm. You could.”

He frowned. That wasn’t exactly the reassurance he was looking for.

“The spell’s probably worn off by now,” he added, mostly to himself. His gaze flicked toward the windows, watching vague shapes moving outside. Too much movement. A bad sign. And his body is tingling, much to his discontent, he couldn't exactly pinpoint why its familiar with his mind being a mess of mush of contentment- exhaustion.

Aerith placed another flower in his hair with all the gravity of a master artisan. “Don’t worry about it.”

Cloud did worry about it. In fact, the longer he lie here, the more his mind and body seem to pull against this forced relaxation and the urge to bolt towards the nearest mako reactor.

The sun dipped lower into the horizon, the last remnants of daylight stretching long across the uneven streets. Shadows crept from the edges, darkening the spaces between buildings, spilling into corners where neon lights flickered to life. The market was bustling more than ever with the  approaching night, merchants calling out their eye- catching deals of the day while shoppers wove through the crowds, haggling over produce and trinkets.

Cloud moved through the streets of Sector 5, eyes scanning the market stalls without truly seeing them. He wasn't looking for anything in particular-  just something to eat, anything that would be quick and easy. He hadn’t eaten all day, and though he could ignore the hunger gnawing at him, Aerith apparently had other ideas.

"Come on, just a little longer," she said cheerfully, walking a step ahead of him with her hands clasped behind her back. "You should at least have a proper meal before you go running off again."

He wasn't entirely sure how she’d managed to convince him to stay this long-  Aerith had a way of making him go along with things before he even realized it. He suspected she was scheming something devious as usual, though he couldn’t quite place what it was.

“I can find food on my own,” he muttered, but there was no real bite to his words.

"Mm, I don’t doubt it," she hummed, glancing over her shoulder with a knowing smile. "But I think you’ll like this place. Just trust me, okay?"

He didn’t argue. Instead, he let his gaze drift over the sector, comparing it to the one he remembered. In his world, Sector 5 had been nothing more than rubble-  wreckage from Meteor’s descent, ruins left behind after his battle with Sephiroth’s remnants. Here, the buildings stood intact, the streets alive with people just trying to get by. It was jarring to see it so… whole.

Cloud fought the  restlessness curling in his chest. He had a plan to set in motion. Nibelheim was his priority-  getting rid of Jenova before Sephiroth ever found her, erasing any traces of Hojo's 'research' before someone else could exploit it. He still needed to learn more about his other self, the one who belonged to this world. Gaia had been frustratingly vague, offering only fragments of insight, never the full picture. He couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was something important he wasn't seeing.

"You're thinking too hard again," Aerith teased lightly, nudging him with her elbow as they stepped into a quieter side street. "You're always brooding about something, huh?"

Cloud blinked, dragging himself out of his thoughts. "Just… planning my next move."

"Of course you are," she said with amusement, linking her hands behind her back. "But right now, you should be thinking about dinner."

She turned abruptly, leading him toward a food stall tucked between two buildings. The food stall was tucked near the edge of the market, slightly removed from the more crowded streets. The warm glow of flickering lanterns cast soft light over the worn wooden counter, highlighting the uneven grooves beneath his fingertips. The air was thick with the scent of sizzling meat and freshly steamed rice, Cloud felt the faintest twinge of hunger stir in his stomach at the sight of it.

Aerith beamed at him as she placed an order for both of them, as if he’d already agreed. Cloud sighed, already resigned to his fate. It wasn’t like he had anything better to do- staying a little longer wouldn’t kill him. Probably.

With that thought, he moved toward the only available long table, setting his Tsurugi at the metal post near him with practiced ease. The table was the kind typically found in canteens- long, communal, and shared by strangers who simply needed a place to eat. A few people were already seated, engaged in quiet conversation or focused on their meals, but there was more than enough space for him and Aerith to sit without much of a disturbance. He ignored the curious looks and outright gawking from passersby with the kind of professional indifference that came from years of being conspicuous. Aerith followed shortly after, satisfaction practically radiating off her as she finished paying.

“You won’t regret this, I promise,” she chirped, sliding into the seat beside him. “Mister Walter’s food is the best in this area.”

“Yeah. I know. The Aerith in my world brought me here too.”

She laughed, bright and full of delight. “See? Clearly, I have excellent taste across dimensions.”

Cloud exhaled- half a sigh, half the ghost of a chuckle. “I could’ve paid.”

Aerith waved a hand, completely unmoved by his insistence. “It’s my treat,” she said with a grin. “Besides, you can pay me back with stories. Good ones from your world.  Maybe even some juicy gossip.” she ended with a mischievous wiggle of her fingers.

Cloud gave her a long, flat look. “You’re impossible.”

Aerith only giggled, looking entirely too pleased with herself. As they waited for their food, She suddenly perked up, eyes alight with recognition as she looked at the distance.. Before Cloud could ask, turning over to see who got her all giddy,  she had already excused herself, already disappearing into the crowd with a skip in her steps.

“Just a minute, okay? I think I know them!” she had said, waving a hand over her shoulder before vanishing between the shifting bodies of the market.  Cloud hadn't even seen who she was talking about, Still, he let her go, tugging his hood lower as a reflex. He found himself only half paying attention to the sounds around him, absently tracing patterns against the worn wooden table,  letting the sounds of Sector 5’s marketplace wash over him.

It was strange- Midgar at night had always carried an edge of danger in his world,  but here, there was an odd sort of warmth. People lingered, chatting easily as they shopped. There is a lightness in how they address one another that he usually doesn’t see back in his own world, where its citizens look at each other warily and waiting for something to happen. Idly, he closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of the market, The chatter of people, the clang of metal cookware, the occasional burst of laughter. It should have been comforting- normal amidst the chaos of everything, but instead, a small part of himjust felt out of place.

A quiet clink pulled him from his thoughts as a drink was set down in front of him. Cloud blinked, glancing up at the stall’s assistant, who grinned and placed another drink at Aerith’s empty seat.

“On the house,” they said cheerfully before heading back to their work.

Cloud muttered a quiet thanks, though his focus lingered on the glass in front of him. A deep, rich red. He frowned at it, fingers brushing idly over the rim, feeling the cool condensation. Mindlessly he kept his hands busy, running his fingers along the glass as he waited for Aerith to return. His gaze flickered toward the direction that she disappeared to, but he still couldn’t pick her out from the crowd. 

He couldn’t exactly get up and go searching for her- not when their food was still being prepared. Besides, it wasn’t like Aerith to wander off too far, especially when she had been so excited about their meal with how excited she was talking about it.

The scrape of wood against stone barely registered at first-  another customer taking a seat, nothing unusual. Cloud kept his gaze on the drink in front of him, idly running his fingers along the condensation gathering on the glass, vaguely wondering when Aerith would return.

Then a voice cut through the market’s ambient noise, easygoing and familiar.

“Hey, old man! I’ll take the usual!”

Cloud nearly startled, fingers stilling against the glass in his hand. Air sat heavy in his lungs as he stared down at the wooden table, the world tilting just slightly beneath him.

He knew that voice.

A huff of exasperation followed almost immediately. "There’s a reason we have a counter at the stall, you know. Why don’t you use it for once?"

It carried an easy warmth, light and full of energy, the kind that could slip past a person’s defenses before they even realized it. It was bright, unshaken by the weight of the world, threaded with a confidence that made everything seem just a little less daunting. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to move, to look, to confirm what his mind already knew. But he remained frozen, forced to keep himself under control.

There was a beat of silence before the voice whined back, utterly unapologetic.

"But you already know what I order every time! What if by the time I get up there and order the same meal I always get, there’s no seat left for this poor pal of yours?"

He gripped the edge of the counter, forcing his hands to remain still, but his heart was already hammering against his ribs, the sudden rush of adrenaline making his head swim. Cloud clenched his jaw, staring down at the table feeling like his life depended on it as he realized who was sitting beside him.

Zack Fair was sitting beside him.

Alive.

The very much alive man beside him let out a small sigh, stretching his arms behind his head as he leaned comfortably against the stall. "Man, the market’s packed tonight. Almost didn’t find a seat." He turned slightly toward Cloud, the movement casual, unguarded. "Hope you don’t mind me sitting here.”

Cloud shook his head slightly, gaze fixed on his drink. "It’s fine," he muttered. Tugging at the helm of his hood more insistently. Zack didn’t seem bothered by his lack of enthusiasm. If anything, he just grinned wider, settling into his seat like he belonged there

“You’re new around here, aren’t you?” The chair beside him creaked as Zack leaned slightly in his direction. “Don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

Cloud forced himself to breathe, steadying the restless energy coiling in his chest. tension thrumming beneath the surface of his movemnts, every motion tempered to keep his unease from slipping through. He inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment, careful not to let his gaze linger.

“…Something like that,” he murmured, voice steady despite the storm clawing at the edges of his composure.

If Zack noticed anything odd about his response, he didn’t comment on it. Instead, his attention snagged on something else entirely.

“Whoa-  hold up,” Zack blurted, excitement bleeding into his tone. “That’s your sword?”

Cloud stiffened again, unconsciously shifting as Zack leaned forward, openly staring at Tsurugi, his fusion sword. The man seemed to vibrate with barely contained enthusiasm  as he stared at it, nearly towering both of them from how big it is.

“That’s gotta be one of the coolest blades I’ve ever seen! It’s even more amazing up close” he declared, pointing at it excitedly before glancing back at Cloud, expectant. “You made this?”

Cloud hesitated, warmth creeping up his neck. He hadn’t expected that reaction. Or maybe he had- Zack always had a way of getting excited over things like this- but experiencing it firsthand was different. A strange mix of emotions stirred in his chest. He’d always been curious about what his Zack would have thought of the Tsurugi when he first made it.

And now, here he was, actually hearing it. Even if this Zack is a counterpart of the man he knew.

It was almost funny. Zack didn’t even know that his own Buster sword had been the inspiration, the foundation. If he did, he’d probably be insufferably smug about it- grinning ear to ear, teasing Cloud about taking after him. His living legacy. The thought nearly made Cloud snort.

“…Yeah,” he admitted, coughing into his fist.  

Zack let out an impressed whistle, still eyeing the sword like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. “Man, that’s seriously awesome. How do you even use it? No- how do you even carry it? My shoulders hurt just looking at it!” His voice was thick with enthusiasm, practically vibrating with excitement.

Cloud gave a small, noncommittal shrug. “You’re free to try it,” he said, watching Zack from the corner of his eye. He was... curious. Just a little.

Zack’s entire body lit up like a child on their birthday. “Wait, really ?” he blurted out, metaphorical tail wagging at full speed. He was already on his feet before Cloud could second- guess himself, stepping toward the massive blade with the kind of reckless confidence that made Cloud suppress a sigh.

Then Zack actually tried to lift it.

The sword barely budged. Zack grunted, adjusting his grip, his muscles straining as he attempted to hoist it off the ground. When it finally moved, it lurched unexpectedly, nearly toppling him over. He managed to lift it a few inches, but keeping it upright was another struggle entirely. His arms trembled under the weight, the sword’s sheer mass making it nearly impossible to hold steady past his knees. A normal person wouldn’t even hope to make it budge. Even with all his enhancements, Zack was struggling .

He let out a strangled noise somewhere between a laugh and an incredulous wheeze. “Holy- how heavy is this thing?! ”

Cloud took a sip of his drink, answering as if he weren’t completely upending Zack’s understanding of physics. “About a nine-five to a hundred and forty pounds, depending on how many blades I detach.”

Zack gawked at him. “That’s insane! I thought Angeal’s Buster Sword was heavy, but this- this is just- ” He cut himself off with another admiring look at the weapon, then at Cloud, then back at the weapon like he couldn’t decide which was more impressive. “That’s gotta be the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. And you use it like it’s nothing? Dude, you’re on another level!”

Cloud shifted, valiantly attempting to maintain his personal space as Zack’s enthusiasm manifested in wild gestures and an endless stream of questions. He only answered a few- mostly the ones that didn’t require much elaboration- but that didn’t stop Zack from marveling over everything.

Eventually, after another failed attempt at lifting the sword and a very pointed glare from the stall assistant, Zack sheepishly returned the weapon to its post with the same difficulty of moving it earlier. He wiped his hands on his pants like he hadn’t just embarrassed himself in front of half the market, then slid back onto his seat with a small huff.

He stretched his arms with a groan, rolling his shoulders like he could still feel the weight of the sword. Then, he glanced back at Cloud, a genuine grin tugging at his lips. “Thanks for letting me try, by the way. That was awesome. Even if I nearly threw my back out.” He laughed, completely unbothered by his complete defeat. “I swear, I’m gonna get stronger and come back just to lift that thing properly.”

Then, as if he hadn’t just been thrown into an existential crisis over the weight of a single weapon, he shot Cloud a lopsided grin.

“Well, guess I should introduce myself, huh?” He propped an elbow on the counter, eyes twinkling with curiosity. “I’m Zack, from Gongaga.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Cloud felt something in his chest flutter. A memory resurfaced of a different time, a different place. The same introduction, spoken with the same energy, the same warmth. He couldn’t stop the quiet laugh that slipped out, shaking his head as he dropped his gaze.

Zack blinked, red creeping up in his face at the sound, then immediately pouted. "Hey, what’s so funny about that?"

Cloud exhaled softly through his nose, the corner of his lips twitching upward. "Gongaga," he found himself echoing, amused despite the nostalgia. "It’s such a backwater name."

Zack gasped, scandalized. "Hey!"

Cloud allowed himself a brief moment to indulge in the familiarity, the easy back- and- forth. He had spent years drowning in loss, in grief, but Zack’s presence had always been something solid and grounding. And even now-  even now-  he still found himself pulled in by it.

Zack huffed, folding his arms as he leaned back in his chair, but there was no real heat behind it. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Like your hometown’s any better."

Cloud hummed, gaze softening despite himself.

"Nibelheim," he admitted.

Zack perked up immediately. "Nibelheim? No way! That makes us both country bumpkins!" He clapped Cloud on the shoulder, beaming. "Man, that’s great! We gotta stick together, y’know?"

Cloud shook his head at the sheer enthusiasm, his own body rebelling and didn’t pull away from Zack’s touch. Weak. He was so weak to him.

Then, as if remembering something, Zack leaned forward again, voice lilting playfully. As he said "Wait a sec-  you never told me your name."

Cloud stiffened. He hadn’t, had he?

Zack tilted his head, expectant. "C'mon, don’t leave me hanging here."

Cloud hesitated, but Zack’s naturally persistent energy made it clear that he wasn’t letting this go. And, honestly… what harm was there in telling him?

"It’s Cloud," he relented.

Zack grinned, as if tasting the name on his tongue. "Cloud, huh? Suits you." 

‘Suits you’

The words echoed in his head, intertwining with another voice-  rich with dramatics and laced with a smug smirk. A tangled emotion coiled in his stomach. He didn’t know what to make of it, only that it left him unmoored, feeling like the ground beneath his feet had subtly shifted ever so slightly. 

Cloud huffed, glancing away, but his ears betrayed him, turning red. His gaze flickered briefly beneath the edge of his hood, catching the curve of a grin- bright, unbothered. For a fleeting moment, his focus snagged on something missing from Zack’s face. The scar on his cheek- it wasn’t there. It left him wondering..

When did he get that scar?

The thought barely had time to settle before the other’s grin widened, lips parting as if to speak. 

Cloud shift his gaze away.

“You been in Midgar long?” Zack asked, tilting his head.

Cloud debated how much to say, fingers idly tracing the rim on his glass. “Not really.”

Zack nodded, propping his elbow on the counter. “Yeah, it’s a whole different world from back home, huh?” His voice held a note of nostalgia, eyes flickering toward the bustle of the marketplace. “I remember when I first got here-  thought I’d be swallowed whole by the city. But, y’know, coming to Midgar, joining SOLDIER… it was the best decision I ever made.”

Cloud took a quiet sip of his drink, letting Zack’s words wash over him, wrapping around him like an old, well- worn blanket. It should have been comforting.

But it wasn’t.

The easy, comfortable mood that had settled between them earlier began to dissipate as the conversation drifted toward a subject he wasn’t particularly fond of- Shinra.

Because Cloud already knew how this story ended. In his world- his reality- Shinra had turned on them both, reducing them to nothing more than experiments under Hojo’s scalpel. They had been hunted, branded as expendable. And Zack- Zack had been cut down by the very comrades he had once fought beside, as if his loyalty had never meant a damn thing.

And now, here Zack sat, alive, whole, smiling like Shinra had never chewed him up and spit him out, saying with absolute certainty that joining Shinra, becoming a SOLDIER, was the best decision he ever made. His gaze flickered to Zack, studying the way he looked out at the marketplace, nostalgia softening the sharp edges of his features. This Zack hadn’t been betrayed. This Zack hadn’t fought, hadn’t run, hadn’t been cut down in the dirt while Cloud lay helpless to stop it.

Would it happen here too?

Would this Shinra betray Zack the same way? Be an experiment by a vindictive scientist just because they beat its ‘greatest creation’?  Reduce him to another failed experiment? Would he be forced to watch, helpless all over again, as Zack bled out in the dirt under a rainy sky that didn’t care?

Cloud’s grip tightened, nails digging into his palms.

No. He wouldn’t let it happen.

Not Hojo. Not Shinra.

His breath evened out, panic settling into a steely edge, razor- sharp and unyielding. He’d seen it once- lived it, lost everything to it. But this time, he wasn’t stumbling blind. He knew what was coming. And if fate thought it could take Zack from him again, it would have to go through him first.

“…Yeah?” His voice came out quieter than intended, steadier now, like steel cooling in water. “You think so?”

Zack laughed, ignorant of the turmoil happening inside the blond’s head, resting an elbow on the counter. " “I mean, sure, the training’s brutal, the city’s a mess, and I’ve probably been this close to dying way too many times, but you know what makes it all worth it?”

Cloud raised his cup to take a sip, hoping to soothe his parched throat and maybe- just maybe- brace himself for whatever nonsense Zack was about to say next.

He didn't even get the chance.

Zack sighed dramatically, stretching his arms over his head before dropping them onto the counter with a loud thunk. “My soulmates.”

Cloud choked.

The drink went down the wrong way, and he barely managed to keep himself from outright doubling over. He coughed sharply, gripping the counter as his throat burned, his brain short- circuiting. He set the cup down with a little too much force, his fingers tightening around the rim like it had personally offended him.

"Soulmates?" His voice came out rough, strained. He swallowed hard, trying to force down both his coughing fit and the sheer absurdity of what he'd just heard. "Wait, As in… plural?"

Zack winced in sympathy but laughed all the same. “Whoa, you good there, buddy?” He patted Cloud’s back apologetically but Cloud barely noticed the hand, his mind too busy scrambling to catch up.

“Yeah.” Zack nodded, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. “Got a couple of ‘em.” He rubbed the back of his neck, a soft, almost bashful smile crossing his face. “Didn’t think I’d ever be that lucky, y’know? But life’s funny like that.”

Cloud stared at him, mind racing.

SoulmateS.

He could barely wrap his head around it.

But what threw him even more, what really sent his thoughts spiraling, was the fact that Zack’s soulmate isn’t just Aerith. Cloud had always assumed, in that deep, unquestioning way that felt like fact, that Zack and Aerith were meant to be together. That no matter the world or the timeline, their paths would always cross. It just made sense. Maybe she was still one of them...? but the idea of Zack having more than one soulmate was something Cloud couldn’t quite wrap his head around. The thought unsettled him. He almost wanted to ask, to confirm if Aerith was among them, but how was he supposed to bring it up? Wouldn’t it be strange to mention her out of nowhere?

Cloud exhaled slowly, tightening his grip around his drink as he forced his expression into something more  neutral. "Huh."

Zack, completely oblivious to the growing panic in Cloud’s head, just grinned. “Yeah! We haven’t met him yet- the last one, I mean- but I know he’s out there.”

Cloud kept his head down, hood low, fingers tightening around his cup like it might somehow save him from this conversation. From the corner of his vision, he caught the unmistakable glint of Zack’s smile- wide, easy, and far too warm for Cloud’s peace of mind.

The words turned over in Cloud’s head with sharp precision, catching on something he hadn’t noticed at first. He? Cloud's grip tightened around his cup, his knuckles going white. He should let it go- really, he should- but something about the way Zack had said it nagged at him.

"He?"

The question slipped out before he could stop himself, low and wary. Zack visibly stiffened for half a second before forcing a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck with an almost suspicious level of nonchalance

Cloud found himself even more suspicious at the reaction. He is clearly onto something if Zack reacted like this  “How can you tell it’s a ‘he’?”

 “Oh, uh- you know, just a gut feeling!” He waved a hand vaguely, like that explained everything. “Call it SOLDIER intuition or- uh- soulmate instincts! Yeah, that!”

Cloud squinted.  

Zack let out a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. “I mean, wouldn’t it be kinda weird if it wasn’t? Uh- not that it has to be, but, uh, you get what I mean, right?”

He did not, in fact, get what he meant.

“I know my last soulmate is close. It’s like- I dunno, I can just tell.” Zack chuckled, shaking his head. “The others can’t wait to meet him. They know it’s only a matter of time now.”

Cloud didn’t know who Zack’s missing soulmate was. But the way he said it- the quiet longing woven into his voice, the yearning - made something unpleasant coil in his chest.

Irritation prickled under his skin, sharp and unexplainable. It made no sense. There was nothing here that should bother him, nothing that should make his fingers twitch against his glass or his jaw tense. And yet, the feeling wouldn’t settle.

So he did what he did best. He shut it down.

“…I see,” was all he said, his voice steady, his expression carefully blank.

Zack let out a barely audible sigh of relief. Cloud ignored it, because there was another matter that needs to be addressed and Cloud was barely holding himself together.

How many soulmates does Zack have?! And there’s still one he hasn’t met?

Zack, still blissfully unaware of Cloud’s minor existential crisis, just chuckled and leaned back against the counter. “But enough about me. What about you?”

Cloud forced his fingers to unclench from the glass, exhaling slowly. He should’ve seen this coming. He should’ve known Zack would turn the conversation onto him eventually.

Before he could figure out how to respond, a sharp vibration buzzed against the quiet between them. Zack’s PHS, buried in his pocket, rattled insistently, the sound loud enough to cut through the marketplace hum. Zack startled, eyes widening slightly before he slapped a hand over his pocket, hurriedly silencing the call with a sheepish wince.

“Ah-  sorry about that,” he muttered, stuffing the device deeper into his pocket before turning back to Cloud as if nothing had happened.

Whoever that was, Zack didn’t want to answer.

“What brings you here, huh?” Zack leaned forward, nudging him playfully. “Midgar’s soooo far from Nibelheim.”

His gaze dropped  to his drink, finding it more interesting than the imploring gaze boring through his skull as he thought of what to reply “Just meeting up with a friend for… important matters,” he ended up saying, defaulting to the same vague response he’d been giving since he arrived.

Zack hummed, tilting his head slightly, his expression thoughtful yet teasing. “She must be a pretty important friend then.” 

Cloud tensed- just a fraction- but Zack caught it. His grin widened as he propped his elbow against the counter, resting his chin in his palm, studying Cloud with half-lidded eyes. There was something sharp beneath the lazy amusement, a curiosity that lingered even as he kept his tone light.

“What, secret mission or something?” he joked, but the humor couldn’t quite mask the genuine interest laced beneath it. He wanted to know.

Cloud resisted the urge to fidget. Instead, he took another sip of his drink, using the movement as an excuse to shift his gaze further away. His hood shielded most of his face, but he could still feel Zack’s gaze lingering.

“Something like that,” Cloud finally muttered.

Zack let out an exaggerated sigh, drumming his fingers against the counter. “Man, you’re mysterious. It’s kinda unfair.”

Cloud huffed, but still didn’t look at him.

“Come on, who is she?,” Zack pressed lightly. “Not even a hint?”

Cloud debated, just for a moment, whether or not to answer. He is too tired to question why Zack slipped again.  He didn’t miss the slip- she - Zack had said it again, like he already knew who Cloud’s companion was. Maybe it was just an assumption, a guess thrown carelessly into the conversation. But even through the exhaustion pressing at his mind, Cloud’s instincts remained sharp, cataloging every detail, every inconsistency.

Still, he let it slide.

Zack didn’t seem the type to play games with malicious intent, and Cloud couldn’t imagine him scheming about something like this. He wasn’t sure what Zack was up to, but it wasn’t enough to warrant confrontation. Not yet.

Instead, Cloud merely exhaled, as if the question barely warranted a response. He shifted his weight, the movement effortlessly casual, letting the silence stretch just long enough to make Zack second-guess himself.

If Zack was a regular here, then he’d know Aerith. There’s No use making flimsy excuses. She was well-known in Sector 5, after all. And besides, she was bound to find her way back any minute now. 

At least, he hoped so.

Speaking of…Where is she?

“…It’s Aerith,” Cloud finally said.

Zack blinked before breaking into a grin. “Oh, Aerith! You know her?”

At the confirming nod of his head, Zack laughed, propping his chin on his palm. “Man, small world! She’s a sweetheart, isn’t she? Always knows what to do, always looking out for people.”

Cloud hummed noncommittally, eyes flickering toward the empty space where Aerith should have been. She was taking her sweet time.

Zack tilted his head, still smiling. “So, what made you come all the way from Nibelheim to Midgar just to see her? That’s a pretty long trip.”

Cloud almost corrected him- almost . Technically, he hadn’t come straight from Nibelheim. But it’s not like he could just say he woke up in some random forest near Kalm, right? Instead, he let Zack draw his own conclusions, fingers tapping idly against his drink.. “I just… needed to have some things answered. Cleared up.”

It was vague, but it wasn’t a lie. There were too many things that didn’t make sense-  the existence of his other self that diverged the fate of this world, Gaia’s cryptic words, Genesis that claimed him  to be one of their soulmates,  him. He needed clarity, and Aerith had always been good at that.

Zack hummed thoughtfully, leaning forward as he regarded Cloud. “Must be some pretty important things then.?”

Cloud remained silent, gaze locked on the condensation trailing down his glass. 

Zack watched him for a moment longer before relenting with a good- natured chuckle. “Alright, alright. I get it. Private business and all.” He leaned back slightly from his seat. 

For a second, guilt twisted in Cloud’s chest. Zack was open, he look so effortlessly genuine, and here he was-  keeping everything close to his chest, shutting him out. But the weight of what he knew, of what he had to prevent, settled heavily over that momentary hesitation. No. He couldn’t afford to slip.

The scent of freshly cooked food wafted through the air as the owner of the food stall emerged from the small kitchen, carefully balancing two plates in hand. Cloud sat up straighter, barely restraining his immediate reaction to glance over his shoulder in search of Aerith. Where is she?

The plates were placed in front of him and the empty seat beside him-  Aerith’s meal set neatly in place as though she would return any second now. But she wasn’t here.

Cloud resisted the urge to sigh, his fingers tapping minutely at the table as he stared at his meal, debating whether he should wait or start eating. He hadn’t even thought about food since he’d arrived, his mind occupied with more pressing concerns, but now that it was right in front of him-  hot, fresh, and practically begging to be eaten-  his stomach seemed to twist in anticipation. He was starving. He could feel Zack’s gaze on him, likely picking up on his hesitation. 

Another plate was set down just past Cloud’s, right in front of Zack.

“There you go, Enjoy.”

"Aw, nice! Thanks, man!” Zack grinned, rubbing his hands together eagerly, practically vibrating with excitement. His eyes locked onto the food like it was a prize hard-won, and for a second, Cloud was struck by the familiarity of it.

It was a sight he’d seen before- Zack, all but salivating over a good meal, as if he hadn’t eaten in days. Back then, it had been one of the small things that had made life in Shinra bearable. Watching Zack enjoy the simplest things with such unfiltered enthusiasm…

It had been years since Cloud had seen that.

He didn’t know why the thought made him hesitate. It wasn’t like he had a problem with it. This was Zack. Alive. Talking. Grinning like nothing had changed. And yet, Cloud found himself resisting the instinct to really look at him, to meet his gaze fully.

It was ridiculous.

But for so long, his memories of Zack had been just that- memories. Distant voices. Fragments. A face recalled in flashes, muddled by time. And if he looked at him now, if he took him in without the filter of half-remembered moments, Cloud wasn’t sure what he’d feel.

Would Zack be exactly as he remembered? Or would he be something entirely different?

His fingers twitched against his sleeve before he forced himself to exhale and relax. Now his food was here, Zack’s food was here, and there was still no sign of Aerith.

Was she taking her time on purpose? Cloud thought, mildly exasperated. Aerith, what exactly are you up to?

He didn’t dare touch his food just yet. Instead, he folded his arms, staring at the steam curling off the plate, She should be back soon. Right? A few moments passed in silence, save for the ambient noise of the market around them. Eventually, he glanced at Zack, only to find the other man also sitting idle, not even reaching for his utensils. His meal sat untouched in front of him, cooling by the second.

Cloud frowned. "You're not eating?"

Zack turned to him with a grin, propping his chin up on one hand. “Nah, I don’t mind waiting. Besides,” he added, his voice shifting-  losing its usual playful lilt in favor of something calmer, more certain. “This will be my first meal with you , after all.”

There was something about the way he said it, the weight behind those words, as if they carried a meaning deeper than what was spoken aloud. The ease in Zack’s tone, the quiet sincerity of it, sent a flutter through Cloud’s chest, an unfamiliar warmth curling at the edges of his ribs. Before he could stop it, heat rose to his face, his stomach flipping in a way he didn’t understand. He had no idea why it affected him, only that the feeling refused to settle, lingering just beneath his skin like a spark waiting to catch

Zack, as if sensing a weakness from his impenetrable shell, only grinned and leaned back. “Besides, it'd be rude to start without Aerith, right?”

Cloud latched onto that excuse like a lifeline "She’s taking her time,"He looked  away. a quiet sense of relief unfurling in his chest. Of course. He must’ve been overthinking it. Zack had always been sentimental-  always the kind of person who made even the smallest moments feel important. It was one of those little acts of consideration that had drawn Cloud to him back in his trooper days, the effortless warmth that made Zack, Zack.

And Aerith… well, she would pout if she missed the chance to start a meal together. She’d insist that food tasted better when shared, that eating alone was just sad.

Cloud huffed softly, shaking off the odd tension knotting in his chest. He fiddled with the handle of the fork, willing himself to focus on the food in front of him rather than the lingering weight of Zack’s words.

"Yeah," Zack chuckled, seemingly content to wait. "But that’s fine. Food always tastes better when you eat with good company."

The blond found himself agreeing with a fond smile on his face.

Zack’s PHS  vibrated one again, making Cloud flinched instinctively at the sudden noise,, straightening as Zack let out a startled laugh. “Whoops-  sorry about that,” Zack said, flashing him a sheepish grin. He fished the device out of his pocket, glancing at the screen.

Cloud watched as Zack glanced at the screen. For a moment, his easygoing expression flickered, something unreadable passing through his eyes. Then, with a dramatic sigh, he pressed a button to silence the call.

"Honestly," Zack fondly  muttered under his breath, shaking his head. The blonde didn’t comment as Zack set the PHS aside and shot Cloud an easy grin. “Didn’t mean to startle ya.”

Cloud shook  his head. “It’s fine.” The PHS buzzed insistently on the table, rattling against the worn wood as if demanding attention. Zack hummed thoughtfully before finally reaching over to turn it off again, stretching his arms above his head with a lazy grin. Cloud, who had been staring absently at the table, barely acknowledged him. He was still caught in his thoughts. 

Which was probably why he wasn’t prepared for Zack’s next words.

Zack grinned.

"You and Aerith, huh?"

Cloud blinked, turning to him with a frown. "What?" The words barely registered at first. Cloud was so lost in his own mind that it took a second to process that Zack was speaking to him.

Zack leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees, looking far too pleased with himself. "Yeah, makes sense. You guys are soulmates, right?"

Cloud physically recoiled. His entire body flinched like Zack had just chucked a live grenade at him.

"…Excuse me?"

Zack laughed, the picture of easy confidence, completely oblivious to the sheer wrongness of what he had just said. "Come on, don’t play with me. I get it now, You went all the way from Nibelheim to Midgar just to find her. That’s some serious dedication, Cloudy."

Cloud could feel his heart start to pound-  not from nervousness,, but from sheer disbelief and embarrassment.

"That has nothing to do with soulmates," he bit out, more forceful than he intended.

Zack only raised an eyebrow, grinning like he had Cloud cornered. "Oh, yeah? Then what do you call it? Crossing an entire ocean just to see her?"

Cloud scowled, his patience wearing thin. "I was trying to get to Midgar."

Zack waved off his protest, smirking. "Yeah, yeah. Trying to get to Aerith." 

Cloud could feel a headache coming. "Doesn’t mean she’s my soulmate, you’re ridiculous- ." But ofcourse the other wasn’t listening. Or rather-  he was hearing Cloud just fine, he was just choosing to be a menace.

"Man, if I didn’t know Aerith, I’d be really jealous right now." Zack whistled low, shaking his head with exaggerated amazement. "The effort, Cloudy. You made it all the way from Nibelheim to Midgar, fought who knows what, and still went straight to her. That’s commitment." He laughed, nodding his head in approval.

Cloud stared at him blankly. Then, slowly, his brows furrowed.

Something about what Zack was saying wasn’t clicking.

"I was trying to get to Midgar," he repeated, more insistently this time.

"Uh- huh," Zack nodded along, as if he completely agreed. "Trying to get to Aerith."

Cloud felt his eye twitch. "That wasn’t-  "

Zack only leaned in further, grinning like he knew something Cloud didn’t. "So you’re saying you went through all that trouble, and she wasn’t the first person you went to see?"

Cloud opened his mouth, then shut it, realization striking a beat too late.

…She was the first person he had sought out. Not because of soulmates, obviously. But because she was the one person in this unfamiliar world who felt safe. The first person to confirm that this wasn’t his home. The one person who-  

Zack took Cloud’s silence as victory, laughing smugly. "See? Even you have to admit it. That’s, like, top- tier devotion. If I didn’t know her personally, I’d definitely be sulking about it."

Cloud pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply. "We are not soulmates."

Zack blinked, then tilted his head, considering him. "...Huh. You sure? ‘Cause it really sounds like something a soulmate would do."

Cloud exhaled sharply through his nose, trying to rein in his frustration. "I know I’m sure."

Zack hummed, watching him closely now. His amusement had softened into something more serious.  "Alright," he said after a beat. "Then… have you met yours?"

The words hit Cloud like a punch to the gut.

The difference was immediate-  he hadn’t hesitated to deny Aerith, hadn’t even thought about it. But this-  this question made him pause, his entire body tensing before he could control it.

Zack noticed his silence. His expression uncharacteristically sharpened as Cloud unconsciously hunched in on himself.

"Cloud?"

Cloud kept his gaze fixed on his gloves, fingers curling against his knee. He didn't know what to say. Suddenly,  His appetite was gone, the food before him looking dull and tasteless as the question he doesn't even know he dreaded to be asked was brought up.

There was no right answer. Where would he even begin? How did he explain that he literally wasn’t part of this world? That he was an outsider, almost like a literal doppelganger, a walking paradox who was given by his planet into another, and ended up in a reality that wasn’t his? That the entire concept of soulmates had been as foreign to him as-  oh, he didn’t know-  the idea that people were born colorblind until fate decided otherwise?

How Can he say any of that without being thrown into a psych ward? Even it sounded crazy in his mind. Wouldn’t believe hi,self either if he hadn’t experienced it himself.

"...There was a misunderstanding," He started, each word slow as he think of how to somehow explain what happened.

Zack frowned. "A misunderstanding?"

Cloud nodded stiffly. “I didn’t even know about soulmates.” He turned slightly, shoulders tight, as if trying to shake off the weight of the conversation. “Until yesterday.”

Silence.

Cloud could feel Zack staring at him.

Then-  

“…What.”

Cloud winced.

Zack sat up a little straighter, brows furrowing. He blinked, tilting his head. “Wait-  what?”

Cloud shifted uncomfortably. “Nobody told me.”

Zack’s expression flickered through a range of emotions-  mild shock, confusion, exasperation-  but instead of the loud, dramatic outburst Cloud had almost been expecting, he just frowned, looking deeply thrown off.

“…How?” Zack asked, still processing. “How do you go your whole life not knowing about soulmates?”

Maybe because soulmates weren’t a thing in his world? Maybe because people weren’t walking around literally colorblind until they met their so- called destined partners? How was he supposed to know to ask that kind of question when he’d first stumbled into civilization?

He crossed his arms. “I didn’t talk to people much.”

Zack’s expression twitched. “…That’s your reason?”

Cloud scowled, looking away. “It’s not like it came up.”

Zack let out a slow, controlled breath, dragging a hand down his face. “Man. This is-  ” He cut himself off with a quiet, almost incredulous laugh, shaking his head. “Someone’s gonna lose his mind even more than he already is.”

Cloud frowned. “Who-  ”

Zack ignored him, running a hand through his hair. “Okay, okay. So not only did you not know what soulmates were, but now you’re telling me there was some kind of misunderstanding on top of that?” Zack exhaled through his nose, still frowning, but the sheer shock Cloud had expected wasn’t quite there. He had braced himself for over-the-top exclamations, maybe even Zack grabbing his shoulders and shaking it with disbelief. Instead, Zack just looked… puzzled. Not quite, exactly, but more thoughtful than dramatic.

Cloud supposed he should be grateful that at least Zack hadn’t shouted his reaction for everyone to hear. Then, reluctantly, he nodded. "…Someone said I was their soulmate. One of their soulmates."

Zack didn’t respond right away. His frown deepened, gaze sharp with thought rather than disbelief. He wasn’t reacting with the wide- eyed shock Cloud had expected-  wasn’t throwing his hands in the air or demanding an explanation. Instead, he was assessing Cloud, piecing things together with careful consideration.

Cloud shifted under the scrutiny, suddenly feeling like he’d revealed too much. But then again, Zack claimed he had more than one soulmate- drama was probably just another Tuesday for him. Maybe a revelation like this wasn’t as earth-shattering as Cloud had assumed.

Then, after a beat, Zack leaned forward slightly, voice quieter now, as if wary of pushing too hard. “And?” he prompted, gentle but firm. “What did you say?”

Cloud hesitated.

What had he said? Nothing that made sense. He barely remembered how he’d responded-  his mind had been too tangled in disbelief to process it properly.

“…I didn’t believe them,” he admitted.

Zack exhaled softly, thoughtful. “But you’re not so sure now.”

It wasn’t a question.

Cloud’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t deny it.

Because the truth was, he didn’t know.

Nothing about this made sense. This world, its rules, its expectations-  everything was different than what he’s used to, and this soulmate thing was just another impossibility thrown at him. It wasn’t just the idea of soulmates themselves, but what they represented.

People destined for each other. Bound, connected from their very soul.

But Cloud wasn’t from here.

And now he was supposed to believe he was bound to people he’d never even met before? That they were bound to him? That fate had somehow tied them together despite the fact that they had never spoken, never known one another?

It didn’t seem fair.

Bonds were built, forged through shared experiences, trust, and battle-worn camaraderie. That’s why AVALANCHE had become so tightly knit despite their differences- despite the way they had clashed at the start. Their bond wasn’t written in some cosmic decree; it was earned. Chosen.

The thought of having that choice taken from him left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Because if fate was so arbitrary, so indifferent to reason, then what was stopping it from pulling something truly ridiculous? What if it decided that Rufus Shinra of all people was his soulmate? His former bane of existence , the same man who had made their journey an absolute hell with his constant interference? Cloud would rather hurl himself into the nearest Lifestream.

Or even worse-

A certain ex-general with a god complex.

Cloud exhaled sharply through his nose. No. He wasn’t even going to entertain that thought.

"...Wouldn't that be dangerous?" Cloud muttered, more to himself than to Zack. "What if we’re enemies? What if they’re at the side that you’re fighting?" His throat felt tight. "Wouldn’t that compromise everything?"

Zack was quiet for a long moment. Then, softly, he said, "You’re thinking about it too hard."

Cloud scoffed. "How am I not supposed to?"

He could almost imagine zack smiling at him as he said "Because soulmates don’t work like that. I mean, yeah, fate’s a little crazy sometimes, but there’s always a reason why people are tied together. You might not see it now, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there."

Cloud clenched his jaw. He wanted to argue. He wanted to say that fate had never been kind to him, that nothing good had ever come from believing in things he couldn’t control.

Zack’s voice softened even more.

"I get it," he admitted. "I didn’t think I deserved mine, either."

Cloud turned to the man questioningly. What?.

Zack exhaled, dragging a hand through his hair. “Even now, it still feels kinda unreal, you know? That four amazing people are supposed to be my soulmates.”

For what felt like the hundredth time today, Cloud felt the ground shift beneath him.

Four.

Four?!

He could barely wrap his head around one person claiming to be his soulmate-  let alone that same person casually claiming he had multiple. And yet Zack sat there saying it as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Cloud didn’t know how to respond. How was he supposed to react to that? It was already mindblowing trying to process the fact that someone believed they were soulmates, but now there were four people in the equation?

Zack turned fully toward him, their knees bumping slightly as he faced him. Cloud couldnt find it in himself to face him just yet, still, those soothing voice seems to know what to say. "I know how hard this is. How scary it is."

Cloud swallowed, feeling his throat dry. Zack continued, his voice earnest, "But soulmates aren’t about being forced together. It’s a gift, you know? The Goddess just gives us a little push in the right direction, a literal sign that this is the best person for you. She leads us to the people who will bring out the best in us-  who we can be our best selves with."

Cloud clenched his fists, nails pressing against his palms. A push in the right direction, Zack said, like it was simple. But Cloud wasn’t meant to be here. He wasn’t meant to have this.

He couldn’t let himself want it.

Zack smiled, warm and unwavering. "You don’t have to believe it yet. You don’t even have to accept it yet. But maybe… it wouldn’t hurt to give it a chance."

A chance.

Cloud sucked in a breath. His traitorous heart ached with something sharp and unspoken, something he had no right to feel. Something that wasn’t his.

Should he be?
Does he dare hope?
Can he be selfish?

Slowly, hesitantly, he lifted his head. A breeze passed between them, gentle but insistent, and his tight grip on the hem of his hood slackened. The fabric slipped from his fingers.

And then-  

Familiar Sky blue eyes met his.

Golden.
Glowing.
Bright.

The air left Cloud’s lungs.

For a moment, time slowed. The world blurred, faded, became something distant and secondary. The only thing left-  the only thing real-  was Zack.

The setting sun spilled across the sky, bleeding warm hues into the horizon, and in its glow, Zack looked almost unreal. Light caught in his hair, kissed the strong line of his jaw, and softened the brightness of his Mako- hued eyes. Normally, those eyes were sky blue-  vivid, striking, full of life as Cloud remembered-  but now, under the golden light, they gleamed like polished amber, like the last rays of sunlight reflected on the ocean’s surface. Cloud couldn’t find the will to look away.

The moment stretched, thick and weighty, something unspoken settling between them.

And Zack-  Zack was looking at him like he was the universe itself. There was a quiet depth in his gaze, that made Cloud’s breath catch. He didn’t know how to describe it, only that a strange, weightless feeling stirred in his chest  as Zack kept looking at him like that.

Cloud felt like he was falling.

It had been years. Years since he had last seen him like this-  face to face, real, solid, alive. He had forgotten how much space Zack took up, how much light he carried with him, how much warmth he radiated just by being there.

And now he was here. Looking at him. Smiling. Cloud’s chest ached, his throat tightened as thousands of emotions threatened to come out of him.

Zack let out a quiet, breathless laugh, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Wow," Zack murmured, a smile tugging at his lips. "That was-  wow."

The sheer wonder in that one word causes Cloud to regain some of his senses . His mind scrambled for logic, for reason, for a way to rationalize what was happening, but the weight of it was pressing down on him, suffocating in its intensity. His fingers curled into fists. heart slamming against his ribs, threatening to burst out.

No.

He needed to leave. Now.

"I have to go," he rasped, the words barely making  it past the lump in his throat.

He turned, forced himself to turn, and started walking away, steps brisk and unsteady. He needed to get out of here before Zack could stop him, before Zack could see the look in his eyes, before-  

Cloud barely made it three steps before  A warm hand wrapped around his wrist.

Of course, Zack wouldn’t let him.

"Whoa, hey,”  Zack said, tugging just enough to halt Cloud’s retreat. “ hold on,"

Cloud stiffened. His pulse roared in his ears, the sudden contact grounding and terrifying all at once. He swallowed hard, forcing his expression blank before glancing back at him. "Let go."

Zack, predictably, did not let go. If anything, his grip tightened-  just slightly. e tilted his head, studying Cloud with that same easy patience he had always had. But there was something else in his gaze, softer, and still carrying that look of wonderment as he stared at Cloud.

"Cloud," Zack murmured, and the sound of his name said so softly sent a shudder through him. "Talk to me."

"Zack," he said, low and warning.

Zack hummed. Unconcerned. Unbothered. Not letting go.

"Cloud. You do realize what just happened, right?"

Cloud stared at him, heart still hammering against his ribs.

Zack gestured vaguely between them. "The whole-  color thing?"

It took a second for them to register. A second too long. Because of that fleeting, breathtaking moment when Cloud had locked eyes with Zack, he had forgotten everything else-  forgotten that this was a different world, that he wasn’t supposed to belong here, that nothing in this place had ever made sense.

The meaning of those words landed like a physical blow.

Cloud stiffened.

His mind stuttered, tripping over itself as realization clawed its way to the surface. Because-  because it wasn’t that, right? It couldn’t be. It was just the sunlight, just Zack’s Mako- bright eyes catching the light in the right way, just-  just the golden hour making everything seem more vivid, more surreal, more-  

Oh.

Oh, Goddess.

He could feel his heart threatening to burst.

There must be something in his face that made Zack’s eyes widened, his grip tightening just slightly. "Oh my god," he breathed. "You really didn’t get it."

Cloud’s mouth opened, but no words came out.

Zack groaned, tilting his head back toward the sky like he was asking the heavens for patience. "And I was supposed to be the youngest one! Cloud, come on!"

Cloud felt like he was reeling, the weight of the moment crashing down on him all at once. His stomach twisted violently, his thoughts spiraling in too many directions at once, because it wasn’t supposed to be him.

"You- " His voice felt foreign in his throat. "Me?"

Zack looked at him like he had just announced that he didn’t know how to use a sword. "Yes, you, dummy! Who else?!"

Cloud stared, completely thrown.

"But-  " His throat tightened. "I-  I thought-  "

Zack exhaled, his voice quieter now, steadier. "You thought it wasn’t you? That you weren’t worth it," he said, gaze unwavering. "That’s what you were gonna say, isn’t it?"

Cloud flinched. Because, yes. That was exactly what he had been about to say.

Zack watched him carefully, the warmth in his expression never fading. "Spike, please," he huffed, rolling his eyes dramatically.

Cloud jerked, completely thrown off balance. "What?!"

Zack lifted his chin, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “You heard me. And if I wasn’t clear enough- ”

He tugged Cloud closer, their chests nearly brushing. They were so close now that Cloud could see it- the faint specks of gold swirling in the endless blue of Zack’s eyes, shimmering like sunlight reflecting off water. There was something intense in that gaze, something too deep, too full for Cloud to even begin to understand.

Cloud couldn’t move. Couldn’t breathe.

Zack’s teasing grin softened, melting into something so warm, so achingly tender, that it made Cloud’s stomach twist.

“You’re my soulmate, Cloud,” he said, voice rich with unwavering certainty, like it was the simplest truth in the world.

The words echoed, reverberating through him like the aftershocks of an earthquake, leaving his thoughts cracked and splintered in its wake. He felt unsteady, like his body wasn’t quite his own, like his lungs had forgotten how to breathe.

No. No, that-  that couldn’t be right.

It wasn’t supposed to be him.

Cloud was convinced that he wasn’t meant for this, that whatever this soulmate bond was never his to have. It had been easier that way-  easier to push it aside, to bury the longing, to pretend it didn’t matter. But now Zack was standing here, saying things that didn’t make sense, and Cloud didn’t know how to process it.

And damn it all , Cloud didn’t know how to deal with that.

His heart pounded against his ribs, an uncomfortable pressure in his chest, and every part of him screamed to run-  to move-  to put as much distance between himself and the suffocating weight of Zack’s words. 

But Zack was still holding his wrist.

"Cloud." Zack’s voice was softer now, his grip loosening just slightly, as if sensing the way Cloud was fraying at the edges. "You with me?"

Cloud forced himself to swallow. "I-  " His throat felt raw, his voice thin. "You don’t-  you don’t have to say that."

Zack blinked, head tilting slightly. "What?"

"You don’t have to say it just to make me feel better," Cloud mumbled, looking away. "I get it. You’re trying to make this easier, but-  "

"Okay, whoa, hold up." Zack pulled him back just slightly-  just enough to make Cloud look at him. His brows furrowed, something almost offended flashing across his face. "You think I’m saying this just to be nice?"

Cloud wilted beneath the weight of Zack’s stare.

"I-  I don’t know," he admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "I just…" His fingers twitched at his sides, his shoulders curling inward. "It doesn’t feel real."

Zack’s expression softened. "Cloud."

His name, spoken with such certainty, such weight, sent another sharp pang through his chest.

"I’ve known, you know," Zack continued, shaking his head with something like quiet exasperation. "When I approached you, sat beside you, talked to you-  "

Cloud’s breath hitched. "What?"

A small, almost sheepish smile tugged at Zack’s lips. "Genesis woke up and told us," he admitted.

Cloud blinked. "Wait-  Genesis?!"

Zack brightened. "Oh yeah! "

Cloud’s stomach twisted.

"I’m so sorry about his behavior, by the way," Zack went on, completely missing-  or ignoring-  Cloud’s rising alarm. "He usually doesn’t try kidnapping people who don’t follow his whims-  "

Cloud felt something in his brain short- circuit. "Kidnapped?!"

"Well, okay, not kidnapped kidnapped-  " Zack held up his hands. "Just, you know, aggressively tried to make you stay put. And he did try casting Sleep on you-  "

Cloud gawked at him. He opened his mouth- shut it again. What the hell was he supposed to even say to that?

Zack winced. "Yeah, he’s still a little thorny about you getting him before he could, but he means well! He just got really excited to finally meet you, and like-  "

"He tried to knock me out? " Cloud’s voice was flat.

Zack paused, blinking, as if briefly questioning whether they were even having the same conversation.

“…Affectionately?” he offered, tone edging toward hopeful.

Cloud just stared at him.

Zack cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. “Okay, yeah, I get how that sounds. But in his defense, he was just really excited! You have to understand, Genesis doesn’t usually get this worked up about meeting new people, so for him to- ”

“He tried to knock me out, Zack.” Cloud’s voice was flat, utterly devoid of amusement.

Zack winced, flashing a sheepish grin. “Uh… yeah. But, you know, with love ?”

Cloud buried his face in his hands. "Oh, Gaia, why-  "

Zack patted his shoulder, grinning. "Look, he’s a bit… intense. But you’ll get used to it!"

Cloud peeked at him between his fingers, utterly unconvinced.

Zack just smiled, warm and unwavering. "You don’t have to believe it yet," he said, voice soft. He reached out, hands lightly hovering over the smaller man’s shoulder, and when he didn't move away, he gently squeezed his shoulder. "But maybe… it wouldn’t hurt to give it a chance."

Cloud swallowed, his throat tight. He wanted to believe him- wanted to trust the warmth in Zack’s voice, the certainty in his touch. But believing meant opening himself up to something he wasn’t sure he was ready for.

"Take your time," Zack murmured, voice full of something soft and patient and real. "But I’m not going anywhere."

The moment between them shattered when, out of nowhere, a familiar voice rang through the air like a bell.

"Cloud! Sorry it took a while-  "

Cloud whipped around so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash. "Aerith?!"

There she was, standing a few feet away, beaming like she hadn’t just vanished without explanation for an alarming amount of time.

Cloud narrowed his eyes. "Where the hell have you been?"

Aerith waved a hand dismissively, looking entirely unbothered by his exasperation. "Oh, you know, here and there! I had some things to do-  people to see-  flowers to check on-  "

Cloud stared at her, waiting.

She just smiled back, tilting her head innocently.

Cloud dragged a hand down his face. "Aerith."

"Fine, fine." She laughed, completely unrepentant. "I got sidetracked by a few things, but I’m here now! Oh-  Hey! Zack~ Is that you?"

Zack grinned. "In the flesh!"

Aerith’s eyes flickered between them, her curiosity sparking like a lit fuse. "I see you met my friend Cloud!"

Zack chuckled, crossing his arms. "Aerith, it’s been a while. I see you know Spikey."

Before Cloud could react, Zack suddenly latched onto him, slinging an arm around his shoulders like they were the best of buds.

"And guess what?" Zack declared, absolutely beaming. "Cloud’s my soulmate!"

Aerith gasped, her hands flying to her mouth before she practically vibrated with excitement. "That’s wonderful! My two favorite people in the world!!"

Cloud stood there. Staring.

His brain stalled.

He could already feel his energy reserves draining at an alarming rate. Aerith and Zack-  two human embodiments of sunshine-  were now united in enthusiasm, and Cloud was the unfortunate soul caught in the middle.

You know what? They were practically made for each other. The same infectious energy, the same relentless enthusiasm, the same uncanny ability to steamroll over logic and personal boundaries like an unstoppable force of nature. Honestly, if the universe had any sense at all, they should have been the soulmates instead. There had to have been some cosmic mistake- Gaia had clearly fucked up somewhere when she decided to drag him into this.

Maybe… just maybe… if he moved carefully enough, he could slink away while they were still caught up in their mutual excitement. Slip into the shadows, erase all evidence that he had ever been here, and pretend this entire day never happened.

Vincent probably had an extra coffin in the mansion.

Cloud rubbed a hand down his face. He really hoped Vincent wouldn’t mind the company.

A throat cleared.

Cloud froze.

Slowly-  so slowly-  he turned his head.

The silent stall owner was still there. Watching. Witnessing.

Which meant-   Which meant this entire time-  through Zack’s declaration, through Aerith’s dramatics, through Cloud’s very public existential crisis-  

The old man had been standing there.

Silently.

Observing.

Cloud’s stomach dropped.

The stall owner, to his everlasting horror, simply nodded toward the counter and asked, voice calm and level  "Should I pack your meals to go, or will you be eating here?"

Cloud was just about to say to go -  anything to escape this madness-  when Zack cheerfully clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"We’ll eat here!"

Aerith clasped her hands. "Oh, let’s eat here! I want to sit and chat-  there’s so much to talk about!"

Cloud barely had time to process before he was being herded back to their table.

And by herded, he meant dragged.

"Wait-  " 

Cloud attempted to sit at the edge. It was a solid plan. A defensive position. An escape route so he can get the hell out of here while the two are distracted.

Unfortunately, Zack and Aerith had other ideas.

Because somehow, before he could even register what was happening, Zack and Aerith had casually maneuvered him right into the middle of the seating arrangement. It was done so naturally, so seamlessly, that by the time Cloud realized what had happened, Zack was already latched onto his arm again, and Aerith was giggling as she poked his cheek.

Cloud blinked slowly.

What.

"You’re so cute when you pout, Cloud," Aerith teased, lightly pressing a finger against his cheek. "All huffy and grumpy like a little hedgehog."

Cloud swatted her hand away, scowling. "I am not-  "

"Yes, you are," Zack grinned, giving Cloud’s arm a squeeze.

Cloud felt utterly done.

The stall owner returned, setting another drink in front of them, completely unbothered by whatever this was. Then, without a word, he turned back to his post, silently judging them.

Cloud sighed. Fine. Food. He could focus on food.

He picked up his chopsticks-  

Only for Zack to suddenly scoop up a piece of food and attempt to spoon- feed him.

Cloud’s soul left his body. "What the hell are you doing."

Zack blinked innocently. "Feeding you?"

Cloud recoiled, looking at him like he’d just committed a war crime. “I can eat myself.”

Zack huffed. "Aww, you’re no fun."

Then, with an absolutely shit- eating grin, Zack tilted his head.

"Okay then. Can you feed me?"

Cloud nearly threw his chopsticks across the table.

Cloud knew what he was doing. The reminders, the constant emphasis, the obnoxious levels of affection . Zack was making a point, and Cloud wanted absolutely no part in it. He had barely wrapped his head around the fact that Zack was alive , much less the fact that he was apparently claiming to be one of his soulmate .

And Aerith, the absolute traitor, wasn’t helping.

She watched the exchange with barely contained glee, her expression one of pure delight, as if she still couldn’t believe how small the world was. This was, apparently, the highlight of her day. She gasped, looking far too invested in this complete disaster of a situation. “Oh, that’s a great idea! You should totally feed him, Cloud!”

Cloud turned to her, deadpan. “Please don’t.”

Aerith, of course, ignored him completely.

Zack, fully emboldened, puffed out his chest like he had just received divine confirmation to continue his reign of chaos. “See? Even Aerith agrees! This is soulmate bonding, Cloud. You better get used to it.” He nudged him playfully, beaming. “I told you I was gonna be your favorite, didn’t I?”

Cloud exhaled sharply through his nose, fingers tightening around his chopsticks. “Can you Calm down, please?”

“And I already know I’m gonna be the best one.” Zack grinned like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You better brace yourself, buddy, because this is happening. I can’t wait to introduce you to the others.” He paused, tapping his chin as if just remembering something. “Oh, and maybe get Genesis to apologize for being a dramatic ass. But, you know. One thing at a time.”

Cloud pinched the bridge of his nose, willing himself to stay calm. They were starting to attract attention. He could already feel the weight of a few curious stares, the way nearby conversations had quieted just enough to make him uncomfortably aware that people were listening .

And then, as if the situation wasn’t already bad enough , the cooking assistant returned.

With a cake .

A full- on cake - complete with obnoxiously bright, sparkling firework candles and, written in bold gold frosting across the top, the word Congratulations!

Cloud stared at it, completely at a loss.

Where the hell had she even gotten that? And more importantly- what exactly were they congratulating them for ?

Zack, completely unbothered, let out an impressed whistle. “Wow, you guys really go all out here.”

Aerith covered her mouth, but it did nothing to hide her absolute delight. “Oh, I really wish I had a camera right now.”

Cloud was too overwhelmed to run. He pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling lightheaded.  "I hate both of you."

Zack nudged him, completely unbothered. "No, you don’t. You love us."

Cloud considered his life choices.

He ate his food in pointed silence, refusing to engage, while Zack and Aerith kept up an endless stream of conversation, completely content to fawn over him like he was some rare, fascinating creature.

The whole experience felt so surreal that, for a brief moment, Cloud seriously considered if he had fallen asleep at the church and this was just some weird, lucid dream.

Because there was no way this was actually happening.

There was no way he was sitting here, sandwiched between Zack and Aerith, being poked and fawned over, while the silent stall owner continued to bear witness to his slow, inevitable descent into madness.

Cloud lowered his head, feeling his last shred of sanity slipping away. He really, really hoped Vincent wouldn’t mind some company in that coffin.