Used to belong to. [ Don't take it personally, Kim. Making sure people know he was ex-SOLDIER is something of a habit of Cloud's. It's not the first time Cloud's loyalty has been tested, and it's certainly far from the last. ] But... yeah. That's right. I'm sure I don't know the whole history, but given Hojo- [ Kim will notice there's something to the way Cloud says that name. An edge of restrained venom in his voice. A break in his more reserved affectation. ] you're probably dead on.
And you're right. Even if a SOLDIER does retire, Shinra would have the reach and power to monitor them their whole life, keep them from spilling any secrets. If they did, they'd probably have them executed on the spot.
The only reason they didn't catch me- [ There's... a moment. Kim catches it, in that way where someone is pausing to collect their thoughts. Cloud doesn't look, entirely sure of himself. There's a flicker of the eyes that even he might honestly have not realized as one thought has to connect to another. ]
Is... they thought I was already dead.
[ There's a conviction behind that part, despite his brief uncertainty. If nothing else, Cloud is certain that Shinra thought he was already dead. ]
no subject
And you're right. Even if a SOLDIER does retire, Shinra would have the reach and power to monitor them their whole life, keep them from spilling any secrets. If they did, they'd probably have them executed on the spot.
The only reason they didn't catch me- [ There's... a moment. Kim catches it, in that way where someone is pausing to collect their thoughts. Cloud doesn't look, entirely sure of himself. There's a flicker of the eyes that even he might honestly have not realized as one thought has to connect to another. ]
Is... they thought I was already dead.
[ There's a conviction behind that part, despite his brief uncertainty. If nothing else, Cloud is certain that Shinra thought he was already dead. ]