Chapter Text
Cloud sat as primly as he could manage in the stiff new blue dress they had dressed him in for the interview. He kept his hands neatly folded on his lap despite the urge to tug at the dress hem that just barely covered his knees. The other omegas in the room would most definitely snitch on him if he fidgeted, but he wasn’t sure how much longer he could bear the scratchy fabric. He tried to surreptitiously scrape his shoulder blades against the back of the small wooden armchair he was sitting in, but the lead omega’s eyes snapped to him in an instant. Cloud froze, but couldn’t stop himself from glaring at the other omega.
The older omega sniffed in disdain, arranging himself gracefully on a settee without any of the seeming nerves that the younger teens around him displayed. His dress was a much more flattering cut and color, made with finer cloth. He leaned towards the omega next to him and whispered something and they both giggled. Cloud ground his teeth before abruptly remembering that he wasn’t supposed to do that either. His ass was still sore from that morning.
The lead omega leaned back to check that the headmistress was out of earshot before fixing Cloud with a look.
“It’s not like anyone would pick you anyway, Strife. You’re still such a baby! Alphas want mature, beautiful, and elegant omegas! Everyone knows that!”
“I’m not a baby! I’m 14!” Cloud interrupted.
The entire room burst into muffled giggles from the other omegas before the lead omega could shush them. He checked the hallway through the open door again before turning to quietly hiss with venom towards Cloud again.
“If you’re not a baby, then why do you cry every night since they brought you here? Hmm? You’re an embarrassment and a disgrace to the Shinra company! They should’ve just left you in that podunk town where they found you! Look at you! Your face is turning red just like a radish! You’re just a dirty radish! You don’t belong here with us, you belong in a stable!”
Cloud jumped up and charged at the other omega, claws ready to swipe into his face, but two bigger omegas were on him before he could even cross the room. The lead omega gave a short laugh, muttering, “Too easy,” before falling back with his hand to his head and shrieking piercingly.
Footsteps thundered up the stairs and the headmistress burst into the room, closely followed by a dark haired alpha dressed in a SOLDIER uniform.
“What is going on here!?” She demanded, eyes sweeping the room before landing with disapproval on Cloud.
“Oh, Headmistress! Thank goodness you’re here! It was horrible! He tried to attack me out of nowhere! I only meant to coach him on his posture, he needn’t have taken it so personally!” The lead omega whimpered tragically, hand hooked into the neck of his dress to “inadvertently’ reveal his scent gland while releasing his scent into the room.
The headmistress snorted at the display, but still turned her eye balefully on Cloud. “Sit in your seat properly Mr. Strife! We will have words later about this behavior.” She cast another look around the room at the other omegas, but they had already scrambled back to their various seats, all sitting demurely.
She turned to the alpha standing behind her, “I’m very sorry about that Mr. Fair, but perhaps we can discuss the paperwork afterwards? You may as well meet the omegas now that you’re here.”
The alpha shuffled his feet awkwardly and placed a hand on the back of his neck as if he were the one in trouble here. “Um, well, as I was trying to say, I don’t really…”
“It’s no trouble at all, just have a seat and I’ll go ring up the tea. The omegas have so been looking forward to meeting you!” The headmistress smiled at him before turning on her heels and was out the door before the alpha could reply, leaving him gaping after her.
He stood there for a moment before scrubbing the back of his head and chuckling awkwardly, as he scanned the room, eyes flitting over the omegas before landing on the large cushioned armchair set out for him. “Well, wouldn't want to be rude, I guess? I’ll just sit here then…” He sat down and then scratched at his head again. All the omegas eyed him appreciatively.
The alpha was extremely handsome. His features were perfectly symmetrical with spiky black hair framing a beautifully masculine face with a strong jawline. His eyes were a brilliant blue. He was probably the most handsome alpha Cloud had ever seen besides Sephiroth, but then, Cloud had only seen pictures of Sephiroth. This alpha was sitting just 5 feet from Cloud and Cloud could see the way his muscles rippled when he moved, and smell his scent.
Goddess, why did this random alpha smell so good?
“So, Mr. Fair, was it?” The lead omega wasn’t going to sit around and wait for this perfect specimen to notice him. Technically, they weren’t supposed to speak until spoken to, but the headmistress wasn’t here to enforce the rule, and it appeared that the alpha didn’t have any idea how to begin.
“Ah, yeah, that’s right! Sorry to barge in on y’all like that! I just… I thought someone had gotten hurt, and uh…”
“Ah yes, rather unfortunate that you should witness such a sight. Shocking really! Shinra has so many fine home-bred omegas, it’s baffling why they insist on bringing in beasts from the scrub, as if any cultured alpha would want such a thing!”
The alpha cocked his head cutely, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Oh? From… the scrub? You mean, like, the country?” His eyes turned to Cloud appraisingly, and Cloud couldn’t help hunching his shoulders slightly.
“That’s right!” The lead omega continued blithely, “They brought him in a few months ago and all he’s done since then is cry and snivel and get into fights! Can you believe the audacity? The ingratitude? Always crying for his mommy! Apparently she tried to hide him from the inspectors! Can you believe it? Can you imagine the embarrassment a SOLDIER would have to deal with on the daily with an omega like that? It’s ridiculous! We’ve been here in training to please an alpha since we were pups! He doesn’t belong in the same room as us!”
“Yeah… I’m getting that.” The alpha replied slowly, his jaw twitching as his eyes narrowed further, now fully fixed on Cloud.
Cloud hunched down even further, turning his face away. The urge to bare his throat in submission towards the now inexplicably angry alpha warred with the urge to jump up and punch the prissy lead omega in the face, freezing Cloud’s muscles. If only the lead omega wouldn’t keep bringing the alpha’s attention towards him!
“Exactly! A SOLDIER like you has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders! He shouldn’t have to deal with that kind of stress! He deserves to be greeted respectfully and to be doted on by a loving mate! Someone who knows his needs and will fulfill his every whim before he even needs to speak! That’s the Shinra promise, after all. A lovely mate to soothe your cares after an exhausting day of-”
“I’m not here looking for a mate, actually.” The alpha interrupted cooly.
The entire room of omegas gasped, sans Cloud, who sagged in relief to have the alpha’s gaze turned away from him.
“I came to file an extension on my single status. I don’t have time for a mate.” The alpha continued, “However… I believe I may have changed my mind.”
A susurration of excited titters swept through the room.
“Oh?” The lead omega leaned forward and licked his lips sensually, “Has one of us caught your eye?”
“You could say that.” The alpha said as he stood abruptly and took two long strides towards Cloud before dropping to one knee in front of him and reaching out to tilt Cloud’s face up from where he was studying the carpet. “Hey, it’s ok. I’m Zack, what’s your name?”
The lead omega jumped up, sputtering, “What?! But, him!? You don’t want him! He’s the one I was telling you about! The crybaby! The troublemaker! Just because he’s got a pretty face, you- You alphas are all the same! You-”
“That’s enough.” The headmistress is at the door. “All of you except Strife are to return to your rooms immediately. Aht, aht! No arguments! Go! I’ll deal with you later.”
The omega’s filed out of the room quickly, the only sound the whisper of cloth and the muted tapping of shoes. The headmistress closed the door behind them.
Zack didn’t turn his face a hair to acknowledge their exit or the headmistress's presence. His eyes searched Cloud’s face as if looking for meaning in a beautiful painting. Cloud sat frozen, caught between shock and dread. Why was the alpha looking at him like that? Surely he hadn’t meant that he wanted… Cloud?
Zack tapped his fingers against Cloud’s face. “Don’t be scared. I’m not gonna hurt you. What’s your name, sunshine?”
“No, it’s Cloud.” Cloud heard himself answering as if from a distance. “Not Sunshine. Cloud.”
The headmistress cleared her throat noisily, but Zack just laughed. “Oh! Bet I can clear those clouds up, Sunshine!” He winked at Cloud and then sat back on his heels, grinning, his white fangs flashing.
Cloud narrowed his eyes, was this alpha making fun of him?
The headmistress cleared her throat again and Cloud glanced at her before realizing that his hands were gripping the hem of his dress, and the material was rucking up above his knees. He smoothed it down in annoyance and then folded his hands in his lap again, trying to regain his composure; not that he had any to begin with. The alpha, Zack, leaned back on his heels seemingly perfectly at ease where he was.
“Would Mr. Fair prefer to sit on the chair next to Cloud?” The headmistress busied herself with accepting a small cart of tea fixings from the servants at the door. “Or perhaps the settee? There’s a table here for the tea.”
Zack looked as if he was thinking of refusing, but then seemed to change his mind. Standing from where he was kneeling with a series of quick athletic movements, he held out his hand to Cloud. “Come sit with me?”
Cloud hesitated, but remembered his training after a sharp look from the headmistress. “Of course.” He muttered, taking the hand and attempting to move gracefully to the settee with the alpha. The best he could do was a few economical moves and remembering not to spread his legs at the last second. Zack showed no such compunction, plopping himself eagerly down next to Cloud and spreading his legs comfortably.
“That’s more comfortable for you, right? Cloud?” He didn’t wait for an answer before leaning forward to pile some cookies on a plate and handing it to Cloud. “I don’t know what you like, but there’s a nice variety here. Just eat what you want and leave the rest.” He piled an even bigger pile onto another plate and set it on his knee. “Haven’t seen this many different kinds of cookies since Christmas! Thanks, ma’am, I think we’re fine on our own.” He addressed the headmistress for the first time since she’d returned.
The headmistress hesitated, “Policy states that a SOLDIER should not be left alone with a single omega, not that I think you’d do anything, but, until papers have been signed… it’s the reputation of the school on the line…”
Zack waved a hand unconcernedly, “Why don’t you bring us the papers then? The sooner we get them signed, the sooner we can leave this stinkhole.”
The headmistress stiffened, but bowed respectfully, before leaving at a brisk pace.
Zack poured some tea for Cloud and then himself, before sighing and leaning back to dunk a cookie in his tea, he took a bite, but then grimaced before placing it back on his plate. “Can’t hold a candle to Angeal’s” he muttered. He turned to Cloud, who still sat holding his cookie plate untouched. “So, you’re a country boy? Where from?”
“Nibelheim.”
“Oh, that’s on the northern part of the western continent right? I haven’t heard of that town, but the heim suffix is familiar. You get a lot of snow up there, right? I’ve never actually seen the snow. It doesn’t ever snow where I grew up, I’m from Gongaga myself-”
Cloud couldn’t help the snort of incredulous laughter. Was there really a place with such a silly name? Did they let their pups name their town? It sounded like baby talk!
“Hey! Did you just laugh?”
“Nope.”
“Heh, did so! I can see you trying to hide that smile! You’re pretty cute when you smile! Hey don’t hide from me, come on-”
“Ahem.”
At the sound of the headmistress clearing her throat loudly in the doorway, Zack jumped back from where he was leaning practically into Cloud's lap to get a good look at his face. Cloud straightened up like he’d been shocked, his posture going stiff. Both of their plates of cookies tumbled from their laps onto the carpet from the sudden movement.
Zack busied himself with picking up the cookies off the floor and piling them onto the tea tray, while the headmistress cleared space on the table for the papers by moving the teapot back to the cart. Cloud focused on evening out his breathing and trying to think about pleasant things, so that his scent didn’t give away his distress. It was probably too late for that, but it still calmed his nerves to make an effort.
The headmistress sat on a nearby chair and Zack went through the papers carefully, his brow scrunching up and the tip of his tongue sticking out cutely. Cloud had to drag his gaze away, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. His eyes wandered over the papers, but he couldn’t understand any of it and he looked away in embarrassment, distracting himself by sipping at his tea and picking through the pile of cookies for an unbroken one to nibble on.
Occasionally Zack would ask a clarifying question and Cloud paid close attention, but remained unsure of what they were talking about. What was a mating stipend? What was a stipulation? What was an end clause? What was the point of the paperwork in the first place? If Zack was going to take Cloud as his mate, then wasn’t it a simple process? None of the folk-tales he’d heard as a pup ever mentioned paperwork. Just heat and bites.
Cloud had to turn his body away to hide his blush.
“Seems pretty straightforward, for Shinra anyway.” Zack heaved a sigh, then nudged Cloud, “Any thoughts? You’ve been awfully quiet over there. Do you have any conditions you’d like to add? This is your chance to reject my offer, you know? Anything you want, I’ll make them add it in!”
Cloud stared at Zack, unsure how to respond. Wasn’t Zack a SOLDIER? How could he be so… naive? Cloud knew that he had no choice in the matter.
If anything had been pounded into his head in the past several months, it was that he was Shinra property. Just a small cog in a massive profit machine that was Shinra. That everyone had their place as long as they played their part, and if they didn’t play along, then… the consequences would be dire.
Cloud couldn’t suppress a shudder as he glanced at the headmistress briefly. She was watching him like a hawk, one eye-brow raised, as if daring him to object. Cloud swallowed past the sudden lump in his throat, knowing that his scent must be giving away his fear, but unable to stop it.
“No. No conditions.” Cloud picked up a pen from beside the papers and signed his name carefully in Heimat script. His signature was just window dressing anyway, he could at least give it a personal touch.
“Hey, what’s wrong? Your scent-”
Cloud cut him off. “Nothings wrong. I’m just nervous. I wasn’t expecting to be mated today.”
Zack chuckled nervously and scrubbed at his hair again, displacing the spikes in every direction. “Yeah, me neither.” Zack traced the curls of Cloud’s name on the paper absentmindedly, before shaking himself. He gave Cloud one more piercing look as Cloud concentrated on keeping his face blank, before shrugging and signing his own name with a jagged flair.
Zack let out a loud breath like he’d been running a race and then stretched, placing his arms along the back of the settee, one of his arms settling along Cloud’s shoulders and pulling him close. Cloud stiffened up, but at the quiet tutting sound from the headmistress, he remembered to relax, or at least to try to, leaning his head into the crook of the alpha’s shoulder.
“I’ll leave you two alone for a few minutes while I gather Cloud’s effects.” The headmistress said as she gathered the papers up into a neat pile. “I’ll kindly ask you to please save any “celebrating” for when you’ve relocated to your private quarters. I won’t be but a moment.”
She swept out and Zack heaved another sigh. “Celebrating huh? Man, I wish I’d known I was going to meet you today! Then I could have arranged a party to celebrate our mating day! I could’ve introduced you to Angeal and my friends! Man, they’re not gonna believe this! I’m not sure I believe it! I mean, when I walked in, I was determined to politely decline, but then… there you were! I guess Genesis is onto something when he goes on about fate. I never felt such a strong desire to protect someone... Were you really gonna attack that omega? I mean, he deserved it! Never met a nastier piece of work. Although, you do hear horror stories about Scarlett, amirite?”
It took Cloud a moment to realize that the stream of words had ended and that Zack was waiting for a reply to his question. What had been the question again? Zack wanted to have a party?
Cloud grimaced at the thought. He was pretty sure that wasn’t what the headmistress had meant by celebrating, but he was kinda relieved that that was the interpretation Zack had taken. He wasn’t sure if he could fulfill his duty to Zack, his mate, his alpha on such short notice anyway. He shuddered at the thought and Zack pulled him closer in response.
“Hey, you don’t need to worry about her! You’re legally mine now. I won’t let her so much as lay eyes on you! I can protect you, alright? I’m a SOLDIER Second!” He stated this proudly, rubbing Cloud’s arm soothingly and then began rubbing the scent glands under his chin against Cloud’s hair, covering him in his scent.
Cloud wasn’t sure who Zack was talking about. Was he talking about the headmistress? Cloud knew that the signed papers now meant that she no longer had any control over him, but that didn’t mean that he didn’t still, ultimately, belong to Shinra.
Zack was a SOLDIER, he belonged to Shinra by contract and blood. Being a SOLDIER meant literally letting Shinra shape you into a weapon for their own use through the secret process that allowed them to introduce mako into the blood, creating the super soldiers. All of the services and privileges that SOLDIERs enjoyed were just that, oil and grease to keep the machine running.
Shinra owned Zack, and Zack owned Cloud, it was simple really. Cloud wondered why Zack didn’t seem to know that. Or maybe he did? Maybe he did know, but chose to pretend otherwise for his peace of mind. Cloud could understand that.
Cloud snapped back to reality when the headmistress re-entered the room, realizing that his thinking had become hazy and that he was purring into Zack’s armpit, rubbing his nose into the strong scent there. He jerked back, face flaming and Zack made a soothing rumbly sound before coughing awkwardly as he noticed the headmistress.
“Um, right. Is this… all his stuff?” Zack motioned towards the small duffel bag.
“That’s right.” She answered, “We encouraged our omegas to live frugally so as not to be a burden on their alpha’s” She smiled and handed each of them a candy wrapped in gold foil. “Congratulations! May peace and prosperity be with you.” She announced in a formal tone.
Cloud and Zack both stood to accept the candies and Zack took the bag. “Um, thanks…” Zack answered for both of them. She nodded and motioned towards the door. “Always a pleasure to see a happily mated pair.” she replied and led them down the hallways to the front door, where she took a thin overcoat and scarf from a waiting servant and handed them to Cloud. “It’s not far from here to the Shinra tower, but your dress isn’t suited to the rainy weather we’ve been having.”
Cloud stood there, trying to decide if he was supposed to be thankful for this show of kindness. Was he just supposed to forget and forgive all the ways she had been cruel to him, just over a cheap coat? She seemed to sense his welling defiance, smiling sharply. “Remember, if things don’t work out with your new alpha, you’ve always got a home here.”
The threat landed and he turned away from her to shrug the coat on. Zack put down his bag temporarily to wrap the scarf around Cloud’s neck and head, protecting him from the elements.
“Ready, Cloudy?”
Cloud didn’t comment on the familiarization of his name, but only nodded. Zack smiled, more brilliantly than the sun, and taking Cloud by the hand, led him out the door.