All this for a GIP. Well, it's not a GIP if I post other things, so... er... that makes it a regular entry, I suppose.

Title: Degree of Separation
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Characters: Angeal and Cloud, bits of Zack and Sephiroth
Prompt: What?
Rating: PG-13/R
Word Count: 609
Notes: Apparently, all FF7 things I do must be somehow linked to Chofi-verse. Also, Ender's Game and bits of Dune slipped in here.


Zack's little project looked lost, as usual. He was wandering around the Academy offices, scanning name plates and then looking at the large envelope in his hand. They didn't match, apparently, so he went off to the next door. They'd never match. Angeal let it go on for a few more doors until deciding to play Guardian Angeal again. The last two times he played he got different results. Let's see what would happen this time. Damn Zack, finally getting to him.

"Looking for someone, Strife?"

Cloud turned around and snapped into attention. "I am, sir." This was Soldier First Class Angeal, if Zack's description was accurate. Since Zack was Zack, Cloud had to fight the urge to take a glance downward and see if Zack was entirely right. Take my word for it, Spike. He's huge. Perverted fucker.

Angeal sighed and rolled his eyes. "At ease." Ah, so that was where Zack got the "fuck protocol" look from. It was kind of scary how Angeal even looked like Zack, only older. "Now, who're you after?"

Cloud handed over the envelope. "Well, I was told to deliver this to Solider Hyral in the barracks, but I couldn't find a box for him. Since instructors also have boxes in their offices at the Academy, I thought I'd go over here to check." He was babbling. He babbled when he was nervous. What he was nervous of, exactly, he didn't know. A few of Zack's comments about Angeal being a hard-ass came to mind. Fuck, what if Angeal thought he was too stupid to get into the Program? He'd have to go back home because no one would want a washed out cadet.

The Soldier took a look at the envelope, scoffed, and tore it in two. Cloud's stomach felt ready to settle in its new home near his knees. Angeal must have sensed how royally screwed he'd be, because the Soldier calmed him down immediately.

"They do this shit every damn year, Strife." Angeal grinned. Another thing Zack cribbed from him. "Soldier Hyral doesn't exist. Hyral was a cadet from the old days. He washed out. The name sounds official, so they haze a newb by making him find Hyral."

Cloud felt like an idiot. "I'm sorry, sir." It was all he could think to say.

Angeal snorted. "Sorry for what? Not knowing the cadet rosters from when you were in diapers?" Strife was going to be a mission. Zack trying to mentor Strife was going to make his own mentorship of Zack look sane by comparison. And Zack said he was the sane one in Soldier. "Don't worry about it, Strife. Most of the clowns that pull this shit fell for it themselves, once upon a time."

Strife brightened up immediately. "Thank you, sir." Angeal wondered if that smile should be registered as a weapon. He'd thought the same of Zack when the Soldier was just starting out. All right, Zack, you see something I don't yet, and that means you've roped me into playing Guardian Angeal. Damn your hide, Zack. Strife was still waiting for a dismissal. Impressive.

"You can go, Strife. Tell 'em Soldier Hyral says hello." Once Strife was out of sight, Angeal allowed himself to shudder. Hyral. He'd seen the videos. It started out as routine: two boys sparring, the bout being taped for the practical instructors to correct form. The blue blur of a Haste around the silver-haired boy. The crack of the wooden sword hitting the spine could only be imagined on the soundless video. Hyral crumpled, dead before he hit the ground. Sephiroth's first public kill. Find Hyral. So incredibly fucked up.