Title: Bring Me Back to Life

Summary/Author's Note: Hello guys! I told you I would rule this tag hahaha another awesome Zack x Cloud (Zloud) fiction for you! This one is about Cloud, eighteen year old who just moves out. He gets an unexpected roommate! Zack is the roommate but hey, no one but Cloud can see him. *dun dun dun* I wonder why…hehehe why not read and find out? Hoo, hoo, hoo and my lovelies you have given me close to over 800 views on my Chocobo fic. Love you all!

I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS! ALL RIGHTS GO TO SQUARE ENIX

Give Me A Reason….

Cloud looked around his first ever apartment quite pleased with himself. He had moved out finally, graduated high school, and had an awesome job at one of the most prestigious gaming companies known to man. His life was extraordinary so far and he hadn't been happier. He felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned instantly smiling at his best friend, Aerith.

"What are you doing here? I didn't know you'd be coming down today! Though, I don't have anything done yet I'm working on it." His voice was excited, soft. Cloud was naturally just a soft spoken individual, never too loud.

Aerith put her hands behind her back with a large smile, "I wanted to see the apartment! It looks really nice and it's all for you! Though…" She paused and scanned the bare walls, "You could put some pictures up. Maybe some flowers, oh I know! I can bring some down from the shop."

Cloud stopped her before she could get too into her statement. "No! Aerith, I love you and all, but this is a guy's place! I don't want pretty pictures or flowers in here, okay?"

She pouted slightly before nodding, "Fine, fine, but you'll come to me for flowers one day I assure you."

Cloud smirked, "No I assure you I won't." He quickly showed Aerith around the apartment and then wiped his hands on his jeans. "So what do you think, Aerith?"

"I think it's awesome! I am so glad you have something to look forward too. How is the job?"

"I start in three days. My designs might go into the next game they're working on. It's kind of an exciting prospect, so I'll be working my butt off on my designs."

The brunette smiled happily for her younger friend. "Life is on the right track then. This is a good thing, Cloud. I think we have something to look forward to now, right?"

The boy nodded and stretched slightly. "Yes, yes we do."

The two sat on his couch and talked for twenty minutes before Aerith had to leave. She had left Marlene to tend the flower shop and she was convinced it was an awful idea. "See you later, Cloud!"

He waved before shutting the door and smirking. He finally had a place of his own to call home! How was something like this possible? How could someone like Cloud have all of this to himself? Collapsing on his bed, he tucked his hands behind his head, and stared at the ceiling with a relaxed grin. Cloud Strife was home.

He fell asleep without meaning too. His eyes closed and he slept soundly for a good hour before a breeze ghosted over his cheek. "Cloud, please wake up." A voice brought him from his sleep violently.

Sweat dripped down his forehead and down his back as he scanned his room terrified. Had he not yet left those bad dreams behind him? His hands clenched and unclenched the sheets underneath him nervously. No one was in his room, no one at all. Night had fallen outside in the real world, and Cloud closed his eyes to quell his racing heart.

Something ghosted over his cheek, over the back of his neck. "It's fine." That voice again and this time he could tell it was male.

Cloud repressed a shiver and his eyes snapped open before he stood and stretched. "I need food." He muttered hearing his stomach growl. "I'll feel better with food." He doubted he would feel better, the thought of food made this feeling worse actually. "I have a few days before I have to be serious. I have time to get it together."

He moved into his kitchen and scanned the little supplies he'd brought with him. As he passed through the entryway from the living room into the small kitchen he froze. His breath caught in his throat and he groaned doubling over. It was so cold all of a sudden, what the heck happened? Was it really happening again?

"Mom, if you're here…..please just stop."

A raven haired man sat in the window watching Cloud and Aerith. A calm smirk touched his lips as his electric eyes washed over the two repeatedly. He was bored, had been walking the halls when this room caught his attention. He'd walked in uninvited; no one ever seemed to notice him anyway.

His name was Zack Fair, but as for why he was here he had no idea. He liked to watch people, liked to eavesdrop, and every once in a while he liked to try and get people's attention. Sometimes it worked but other times it didn't. It was a win or lose situation and Zack loved playing the game. He'd managed to get one person's attention his entire stay at this hotel, but the poor bastard died three days after making contact.

Zack had come to think he was bad luck, but he never let negative thoughts cloud his mind. Not when he was stuck here. If there was someone to keep him company, to keep his attention then fine, but when he had nothing and no one it was bothersome. Cloud and Aerith kept him entertained and he couldn't help but smirk. He felt involved without being directly involved.

"Flowers don't sound bad, Cloud. Let her bring you some. This place is drab." Zack crooned to himself lightly. "It would brighten the place up."

When she left things got quiet again and Zack looked out the window. He watched Aerith hail a cab and then she was gone. The brunette was really cute and innocent. There was no way she had ever been involved in anything bad. Standing he followed Cloud to the bedroom and watched the blonde drift off to sleep. Zack did what he could to entertain himself, but who was he kidding, he didn't have anything to do?

Kneeling down next to the bed he brushed a hand over Cloud's hair. He was bored and he missed touch. His hand went through the blonde spikes making him puff his cheeks out in irritation. He wanted human contact, anything at all! This kid needed to wake up and entertain him again. Why had he fallen asleep so early anyway? What kind of person went to bed before eight?

The raven haired male sighed softly to himself before closing his eyes. "Cloud, please wake up." He was lonely and missed the other's voice. He hadn't been so interested in someone in a long, long time.

When the blonde moved into a sitting position at a frightening pace, Zack jerked back startled. Had….had he heard him? "Did you hear me, Cloud? Hey, hey, are you listening?" He waved his hands in front of the blonde eagerly. He heard him, there was no other way. "Come on, listen please! Go back to sleeping and listen to me!"

He looked terrified and hesitant, blue eyes scanned the room nervously. Zack didn't want to hurt him or scare him, no not at all. He wanted someone to talk to and someone to acknowledge him.

"It's fine." Zack whispered near Cloud's ear. "I'm not going to hurt you, listen to me." He reached up to rub the other's back and missed hitting his neck slightly. Well, going through his neck anyway.

The boy's eyes opened again and he stood looking terrified. Zack had lost again. Hanging his head he sighed and shrugged, "I was so close that time."

Cloud's stomach growled and he muttered something before running off. Zack wasn't going to give up, no not yet. He ran past Cloud and barred his entrance to the kitchen. "Listen to me!" The blonde ran through him and then he was almost on the floor.

A strange feeling ran through Zack's body as he winced and shivered. What the hell was that? He looked back at the blonde and watched as Cloud shook. He had scared him or maybe hurt him? Zack moved forward and watched tears hit the floor.

"Mom, if you're here….please stop." His voice broke with every word.

Zack's chest hurt and he stopped moving. The poor boy obviously had a lot going on in his life right now. He hung his head and clenched his fists wishing he could cry himself. "I'm not your mom, but I need company as you do. Please, try to hear me again….please Cloud."

The apartment was uneasily silent for hours. Cloud tried to watch TV to pass the time, but he didn't seem to be paying attention. Zack sat on the floor in front of the TV staring back at the blonde wishing he could be seen. How could he make Cloud see him? He was debating this when there was a knock on the front door. Who would be here this late at night?

Zack looked up as Cloud stood with a sigh. The blonde moved to the door and opened it slowly debating on whether or not he wanted company. "Oh…hello."

Two men stood in the door way, a red head and a bald man. "Hey there!" The red head spoke first. "We came to check on our new neighbor! How are things going?"
Cloud took on a stoic expression. Why were strangers bothering him at midnight? "And you chose to come now, why?"

The balding, black man smirked, "I told you it was too late. We should have come tomorrow."

"Nah, it's not too late! We didn't know if you had plans, so I wanted to make sure you'd be home." This red head was overly peppy. He had strange tattoos on the sides of his face and his hair was long, back in a pony tail almost. "The name is Reno and this is Rude." He stuck his hand out to shake.

Cloud stared at it before giving in and nodding, "My name is Cloud. Nice to meet you guys. I am really ti…" He was cut off when Reno rushed into the apartment dancing around. "Is he drunk?"

Rude shook his head and sighed, "This is normal for him. I apologize for his rudeness."

"Was that a pun?"

The black man smirked nonchalantly, "Not at all. Reno, we have to go! I told your mom we would have breakfast with her tomorrow and that means we need to be awake by eight. You know how punctual your mother is."

The red head pouted slightly, but he didn't tell his partner no. "Fine, we'll come bug Cloud tomorrow then!" Winking at the blonde he gave a half wave, "Night."

Zack had watched the whole encounter with a grin on his face. Oh man, since when did those two greet the neighbors? He had missed seeing them though. "Cloud, those are good men. You should see them more often. They would take care of you no matter how bizarre."

As Zack spoke Cloud closed the door and scanned the empty apartment. His voice shook slightly and he nodded, "I'm going to bed, please let me sleep peacefully." His words were no more than a whisper and Zack frowned.

Why did he have to sleep again? Crossing his arms against his chest he gave in with a nod. "Very well, Cloud. Good night."

Ghosts didn't sleep, so as Cloud caught a few hours of sleep he walked the apartment bored. He tried to maintain silence for the blonde considering he didn't seem too pleased to be sharing his quarters with the dead.

A/N

So kind of short, but this was just a little introduction here. The real story is going to start next chapter! I'm really excited for this one; I can see Cloud being some sort of medium, can't you?