He has plenty of backbone, thank you! Just because he can't know Rufus would be partially amused by that doesn't mean it's not potentially a career-ending line to voice.

Staring for a beat, Cloud probably looked as incredulous as he felt before he snorted loudly.

"... Maybe, but even if... that'd get me past the physical exam, it's not gonna magically make the mako test a positive. And I want to do this on my own merit." Pausing, he shook his head, eyes narrowing. "Besides. There's no reason for you to do something like that."

That was the thing he didn't get. Why were they even having this conversation, in this way? Rufus had no reason to be less implicitly and more explicitly implying these things were possible and within reach, if he wanted them. He was literally nobody, and it'd give Rufus absolutely nothing to do something like that.