For the favorite cloud centric ot3 question, it used to always be zack x sephiroth x cloud but ao3 writers have shown me the beauty of genesis x cloud so i'd have to answer genesis x seph x cloud. I feel like cloud softens both gen and seph while not letting them walk all over him.
(Also sidenote, have you ever read the mission on ao3? starts off gen x seph x cloud and turns asgzc and it was the fic to sell me to the ship.)
Heya! Sorry for the late reply, and no I don’t think I have ever read that fic but thanks so much for the rec, I’ll def check it out now :). What you described about Cloud softening both Gen and Seph whilst also providing enough backbone in order to match them as equals is one of the reasons why I love SephGenCloud so much!!! Such an awesome dynamic between the three.
I love the thought of Gen and Seph being S U P E R overprotective (esp Seph) over their smol infantryman boyfriend getting bullied and beaten by his peers, but acting completely nonchalant in order to avoid being suspicious bc Cloud hates it when they don’t think he can take care of himself (they know he can, but they’re just very watchful and protective bfs bc they know Cloud is a lone wolf).
One day Cloud notices that the guys that usually bully him suddenly won’t make eye contact with him and they suspiciously keep getting into “training accidents” and Cloud just narrows his eyes and frowns and thinks ‘those motherfuckers did something! AGAIN!!!111′ and sends them an angry text in a group chat telling them that ‘WE NEED TO TALK’ in all caps. lol xD
Ah, yes. They really make a great trio. :)