A/N: Hey, guys. So, we've all had those daydreams, after playing Crisis Core, of Zack's survival. We've all wondered what things would be like if he lived, right? Well, I decided to start a story to show my version of that common dream. It starts off with the scene on the cliff-side as Zack is dying. This story continues from Crisis Core. So, basically, everything that led up to this was featured in the game. In other words...Zack isn't gay...YET! He's still in love with Aerith at the moment, but all of that will change soon.

I LOVE this pairing more than any other and have tried a story featuring it before. However, I'm really gonna put a lot of effort into this one (more so than my last stories) and will try not to rush things. This is gonna have plot as well as sex so don't expect any heavy stuff in the first few chapters. But, hopefully the story will keep you interested until the naught parts ;)

Please enjoy and, of course, review!

WARNINGS: Yaoi, scenes of violence, Zack (warning of his own), and creativity!

KEY:

"(Insert dialogue)" = Speech

"..." = Awkward Silence

(Italics' = Thoughts

"(Bold)" = Angeal Speaking

"(Italics)" = Speech During Dream or Vision

'(Italics)' = Speech through Phone/Device

Chapter 1:

To Live Is To Have Honour

He dragged his body through the mud, a small groan of pain escaping his lips every time his body scraped against a sharp stone. But, none of that mattered...not now.

The rain was falling heavily, all light having left the world. It cascaded down onto the boy, causing golden locks to stick to his cheeks. It made the SOLDIER uniform feel heavy on his weak body, earning jolts and shudders of protest. He wanted to fall, to lie upon the muddy ground, to fall into an endless dream full of happiness.

However, as he began crawling through the vast litter of ShinRa helmets and discarded weapons, the will to continue moving intensified and he began scurrying across the muddy rock faster, dragging his unresponsive legs carelessly- no longer caring for his own comfort or safety.

Not one fallen soldier from ShinRa could be found amongst the rubble, not one corpse of the 'enemy' littered the cliff-side. The bodies of the dead must have been removed, which meant only one thing...they had been victorious.

The teen felt his eyes sting as he gazed out at the darkened horizon, searching for some hopeful spark.

Images of joyful moments, moments of laughter, moments of friendship, moments of pure happiness- they all fluttered through his longing mind, taunting him with terrors and fears that it was all over. Would he ever be happy again? Would he ever see his friend again?

The world seemed to answer his questions with wicked intent. It brought a single, motionless form into view as the boy dragged himself around a boulder.

It couldn't be...

Ignoring the immense pain in his upper body, especially his elbows, he forced himself to carry on. He pulled himself through the mud towards the familiar figure, raven-black hair shooting back in spikes, glistening blue eyes like those of the sky and a bloodied sword which only proved his honour.

He reached the man's side, staring at his chest as it slowly rose and fell. He felt his own breath catch in his throat as the overwhelming desire to cry overtook him, yet he held back. He didn't want his friend to see him cry...SOLDIERs never cry...

He forced himself onto his knees, despite the biting numb feeling in his legs. Slowly, hesitantly, the boy leant over his friend, pushing his face into the man's vision.

"Z-Zack..." The name came out as a whimper as he stared down at that face, covered with crimson regret. Was this the price of being a hero? Was this really all there was to glory?

The blond watched as the man below him moved, his teeth barring in the agony. He looked so...solemn.

"For the...both of us..." The voice that had soothed him in his own times of sorrow came out so feebly and weak...the boy didn't like the tone at all. It made Zack sound different...it only confirmed the cruel suspicion.

"Both...of us?" He whispered, repeating the strained words of his hero, still holding back tears.

"That's right, you're gonna..." The man stopped, unable to go on. He was so weak...

"You're gonna...?" The blond prompted him, he had to hear the final words...He gulped in terror as he thought that. The word...'final'...it stabbed through his heart viciously.

He almost let out a gasp as he noticed his friend lifting his left arm up, preparing to tell him to save his strength. But, the ravenette was far too stubborn for that, so the boy didn't bother uttering the instruction.

He felt gloved fingers tangle themselves in his dripping hair, pulling his head down with such little strength. The boy loosened his restraint, allowing himself to be pulled down.

As he felt his face pressed into the man's chest, he couldn't help but nuzzle into it, wiping the first few tears on Zack's shirt.

"Live." The word brought more tears to the boy's eyes, only to stain the bloodied shirt of his friend. He didn't want to live...not alone. He had no one else, no family...no friends...he needed Zack.

He breathed in the man's scent; the smell of Zack mixed with something new...blood. It stained his scent, just as it stained his body. Cloud didn't like it...he didn't feel like Zack anymore. He didn't want this to be his last memory of the hero.

"You'll be..." The blond focused his attention on the feeble voice, feeling the need to listen to his friend's last words. After everything Zack had done for him, it was only fair to allow him his final desire. "My living legacy." The fingers loosened, their grip fading away as the arm went limp. He could feel the hand leave his hair, he could hear the limb fall to the ground beside the man.

Cloud was hesitant in lifting his head from the man's chest. Though he could still feel the body rise and fall with each breath against his cheek, the fear that Zack would...die if he moved made his retreat slow.

The boy stared at the red substance that matted his hair together, feeling its warmth against his cheek.

Blood.

Zack's blood.

Shimmering blue eyes dragged themselves away from the sight, allowing Zack's last essence to remain on him. He stared down at the man, seeing that everlasting smile...the smile that would never fade...never...

Then, the man looked to his right- the pain of such a simple movement evident on his strained expression. It tore Cloud apart inside to see him in such agony- yet the man wouldn't stop...not until he was done.

Damp, blue eyes followed the SOLDIER's gaze to the blade held loosely in his hand. The rain had washed the crimson from the cool surface, leaving it glistening and clean, yet lying in a pool of blood. As that hand began to move, began to drag the sword through the mud towards the kneeling blond...it became too much.

Cloud understood what the man was trying to do...

"My honour, my dreams..."

He couldn't take something so precious...never...

"They're yours now."

The teen let out a feeble gasp as the sword was held out to him, offered by someone on the verge of death.

Never...

Cloud slapped the hand away, hearing the shattering clatter of the steel slamming against the rock. In his sorrow, he had used more force than expected and had flung the blade out of the owner's grasp.

Looking down, Cloud could see only sadness and disappointment on that face- the smile having faded away.

He deserved his last wish...but, it was too much.

Call the blond selfish if you wish, but he just couldn't live through these moment...these final moments.

"Cloud..." The word came out as a pleading whisper, full of begging and question. "Please..."

The boy shook his head vigorously, feeling blood and rain fling from his hair as his wall broke down. Tears freely streamed down his face, dragging the blood with them.

"No...I can't..." He cried, his will to stay upright collapsing. And so, he fell forward onto his friend, gripping at the SOLDIER shirt desperately, unwilling to let go. "Zack...you have to live..." He shouted, burying his face in the man's chest again. "Don't let them take you...please!" His cries turned into bursting sobs, drenching the man in pleading tears as he clung at his dying form. "I need you...you're my best friend!" Cloud couldn't stop his wails, no matter how successful at it he had been up to this moment. "I love you..." The words were uttered, with the love and respect that had been felt since their meeting. They were best friends...true friends. They had suffered everything together...they couldn't just separate now...

"Angeal?"

"You don't need me anymore, Zack. You've grown so much, you truly understand what it means to have honour now. It's time for you to teach others...just as I taught you."

"But, this is it. Isn't this the true fate of a SOLDIER? To die with pride and honour? To never let go of your dreams, even as it all ends?"

"A true SOLDIER always knows when it's time to pass on their honour...just as I passed it to you. However, do you really believe that it is time for YOU to pass it on? If you don't believe it...then it can't be true. To throw away your honour so carelessly...that's the biggest waste of all."

"But, Angeal."

"To die fighting for what you love is the greatest end to a SOLDIER's legacy. However, to accept death so easily, when it is not time...there's no honour in that..."

"Tell me, what should I do, Angeal?"

"..."

"Tell me!"

"Live. You need to live, Zack."

A/N: Okay, there you go. This chapter is obviously REALLY short, all I can say is don't worry! Starting from chapter 2, the length will be a lot more satisfying. I kept this one short because I didn't want to drag the death scene out too much and then have him live (it would look silly an probably be annoying) and I wanted to leave it on an interesting cliff-hanger. The next chapter will be up really soon due to how short this one is. Until then...please review!