There was something intensely frustrating about Cloud not being as enthused about Riku as Zack himself was. He knew, internally, that it was silly. Cloud had been killed by Sephiroth, and Riku was a clone of Sephiroth. He wanted to snap at the young soldier, tell him Riku and Sephiroth were nothing like each other and he shouldn't judge so quickly. It almost hurt that someone Zack valued as much as Cloud wasn't eager to get to know Riku.

But he schooled himself, took in a subtle breath to get himself under control instead of just flying off the handle like he would have when he was younger. No one understood Riku like he did. No one would in this place for a long time, if ever. He couldn't hold their ignorance against them.

"He's a good kid," he said a bit more curtly than he meant to. "I've done my best to raise him to be a good man." He didn't look at Cloud. He simply watched where he was walking, the smile gone from his face. He was a protective parent when it came to Riku, and he wanted only the best for the kid he called his own.

"Are you hungry?" He asked suddenly, changing the subject. "Should we find something to eat? My treat."