Yaoi

Mature

Romance/Humor

Zack Fair/Cloud Strife

I don't own Final Fantasy. If I did it wouldn't be appropriate for kids XD so I'm stuck with writing it instead.

Hope you all enjoy this.

Don't ever leave me

Chapter 1

He found himself standing in the office of General Sephiroth. He had arrived hours ago but the bad thing was that he wasn't supposed to be here. This had never happened before and he felt awkward just standing there as the general sent out informant letters to all the lieutenants telling them that he was there.

What had happened was that he had finished his training early and there was nothing else that the other training center could teach the cadet. So to solve their problem they had sent him here to move on with his training. But the fact was that this training center had already received its new cadets, months ago. He felt out of place, finishing early and then coming here late he almost felt like crawling into a corner. When the general sent out the last of the letters he finally looked up at the cadet.

"Well this is new." He said in a deep and almost husky voice. "We don't normally have this kind of problem."

The cadet kind of shrunk at the word problem but didn't let it show.

"I'm sorry sir." The cadet said quickly.

"Don't be. You are ahead of all your classes and training. You should be proud." The general said and then leaned back in his overly sized chair.

"Thank you sir." The cadet said still standing there awkwardly.

The general looked at him then smirked.

"You may have a seat cadet. It may take some time for one of the lieutenants to reply." General Sephiroth said.

"Thank you sir." The cadet said and took a seat in one of the chairs lined up against the wall of the spacious office.

The general moved a very long length of silver hair out of his face before he began speaking again; locking his bright blue-green eyes with the cadets blue ones.

"It will take some time for a reply. These cadets have been training for months, which means that you're behind. Whichever lieutenant decides to take you in that means that they will have to take extra time to go back and train you everything that you have missed on top of training their other cadets so that you will be caught up. Do you understand cadet?" the general asked.

"Yes sir." He said.

General Sephiroth nodded and then he went back to doing some paper work that he had been working on when the cadet had come in.

They sat there in silence for what seemed like hours but when he looked at the clock just above the generals head he noticed that it had only been half of one. He looked back down at his hands and when he did there were two light taps on the door to the office. He looked up just as the general did.

"You may enter." He said keeping his attention on the door.

At that moment a tall black haired man came into the room and shut the door. When he stepped in he took a look at the cadet and then shifted his attention to the general.

"I should have know it would be you lieutenant." The general said briskly but also with a hint of sarcasm.

"Aww don't say it like that sir you know you enjoy my company." The man said with big grin stretching his handsome features.

"Yeah." The general said and then looked at the cadet.

The black haired man did the same and then came closer to the cadet.

"So this is him right Seph." The lieutenant said smirking again.

The cadet couldn't believe that the lieutenant had just called the general that and without getting in any trouble.

"Don't call me that around other people." The general said on a sigh.

"Never minded before." The lieutenant said with a muffled grin.

"We may be friends Lieutenant Fair but I am still your superior." General Sephiroth said with mock evil on his face. Or at least he thought it was mock.

"Aww come on general don't be that way." The lieutenant said and the cadet noticed that he called him general this time.

The general grinned and then nodded.

"Yes this is him." The general said and then picked up a file. While he did that the lieutenant came closer to the cadet in question. The cadet stood and the lieutenant looked him over. "Name: Cloud Strife, Age: 20, Hometown: Nibelheim, graduated from his last training camp two months in advance." The general said without looking up.

The lieutenant whistled softly and then met eyes with Cloud. When he did he noticed the lieutenant had blue eyes but around the pupil there was a hint of green, and on his left cheek there was a faint x shaped scar.

"Well we have one thing in common." The lieutenant said.

"What would that be sir?" Cadet Strife asked cautiously.

The lieutenant smiled. "I'm from Gongaga, we're both county boys." The man said smiling more. "I'm not the only one now. Yes!" he said relishing that fact.

Cloud didn't know what to do so he just stood there looking at the lieutenant.

"Don't worry he's always like this, you'll get used to him." He heard the general say.

"Aww come on, you say that like it's a bad thing." Lieutenant Fair said turning his head so that he could look at the general who was now smiling.

The lieutenant didn't seem hurt from the actions that were directed at him in fact he seemed used to it. He turned his head to look back at the cadet and smiled.

"My name is Zack Fair, but from this day on you will call me Lieutenant Fair unless given the order otherwise since I'm your new lieutenant, understood cadet Strife?" Lieutenant Fair asked and then held out his right hand to be shaken.

Cloud didn't know what to do. He had never shaken someone's hand before it had never been expected of him. The only thing that had been expected from him was to salute when needed so that's what he did. He raised his right hand to just above his brow and saluted his superior.

"Thank you sir. I won't let you down sir." Cadet Strife said.

Lieutenant Fair got a confused look on his face for a moment and he cocked his head to the side then let out a small laugh. He reached out with hand that he had outstretched and took the hand that Cloud had been saluting with. The lieutenant pulled the hand between them and then shook it lightly but with a firm grip.

Cloud felt a light blush reach his cheeks and hoped to Shiva that no one had noticed it.

"It's nice to meet you, Cloud Strife." Lieutenant Fair said then he looked at General Sephiroth. "Do you approve?" he asked.

The general smiled and shrugged his shoulders.

Cloud was the only one that noticed that the lieutenant still had a hold of his hand.

"Why do you think when you walked through the door I said 'I should have know it was you'?

You always pick up the loners. And besides do I have choice, go ahead Zack?" general Sephiroth said then added. "Just remember to update. You forget enough as it is and now you have double it."

"Yes, sir." He said.

Lieutenant Fair finally let go of Clouds hand and saluted the general and then Cloud did the same both holding the pose till they heard 'Dismissed'.

With that command Lieutenant Fair released the pose and turned to the door.

"Let's go cadet we have a lot of catching up to do." The lieutenant said.

"Yes, sir." Cloud said and then followed his lieutenant out of the general's office and they made their way down a hallway.

"First I will show you where everything is, we don't want you lost now do we?" the lieutenant said with a grin spreading across his beautiful face.

"No sir." Cloud said walking to keep up with the man leading him now.

"Good, after that we will head out to the training grounds. We need to start immediately on your training with how far behind you are." Lieutenant Fair with a hint of a sigh.

Cloud almost felt bad for putting the Lieutenant through this.

"I'm sorry sir." Cloud said putting his head down slightly.

Lieutenant Fair stopped walking and Cloud almost walked right into him. He turned back to face the cadet with his head cocked to the side.

"Why?" he asked his brows coming together in confusion.

Cloud opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He tried again.

"For making you have to go back and train me so far into the training period." Cloud said lowering his head more.

He didn't see when the lieutenant came closer and stopped only inches away until he felt a pressure on his head that began to ruffle his spiky blond locks of hair.

He looked up in surprise only to find the Lieutenants hand in his hair and a soft smile gracing his features.

"You don't have to be sorry about that, it's my job, and besides if I didn't want to do this I wouldn't have taken up the responsibility for it." Lieutenant Fair said with the smile still there.

Cloud didn't know what to do. He felt a blush creeping up onto his cheeks again and quickly turned his face to the ground so that the lieutenant didn't see it.

"Sorry sir." Cloud muttered.

He heard the lieutenant sigh.

"Now what was that for?" he asked.

"For saying sorry. Sir" Cloud answered.

The lieutenant cocked his head to the side again and then he smiled.

"You're a shy one aren't you, cadet Strife?" he asked bending at the waist so that he could look at the cadet a little more in the face since he had it pointed down at the ground studying his military issued boots.

"Your boots are fine cadet, look at me." Lieutenant Fair said standing straight again.

Cloud hesitated for a moment knowing that there was still a blush on his face but he did as he was commanded always one to obey a command.

"Yes sir." He said still not looking at the lieutenant as he said this, instead opting to look just above the lieutenant's head.

The lieutenant was still only inches away from the blond and his blush deepened.

"Yes what, cadet?" Lieutenant Fair asked his voice getting serious but still with a hint of playfulness.

"Yes sir, I get shy easily." Cloud said and felt like covering his face with his hands.

The lieutenant ruffled Clouds hair once more before he pulled his hand away and placed it at his side.

"Don't worry cadet Strife; there is no need to be shy around me. In fact I think we'll end up being friends, don't you?" Lieutenant Fair asked.

"I hope so sir." Cloud said his blush finally dissipating a little.

"Oh, I know we will." The lieutenant said softly under his breath so that the blond couldn't hear him. Then louder he said, "Good then let's get started shall we?"

Cloud nodded, "Yes sir."

It nearly took a half hour for the lieutenant to show Cloud everything that he needed to see. It took an added half hour because lieutenant kept stopping and talking t people along the way.

He introduced Cloud to his first team since he had to show him the mess hall anyway. They all seemed to like him, saying things like 'its nice to meet you' and ' hope you like it here', but when he and the lieutenant turned to walk away Cloud took a look back and saw that every single one of them were glaring at him and ad only him.

When they reached the training grounds Cloud paused and looked at lieutenant Fair.

"Permission to speak, sir?" Cloud asked.

"Granted." Lieutenant Fair said as he began prepping.

"Do they dislike new comers?" he asked walking up beside lieutenant Fair.

He had opened up a cabinet full of practice swords and looked over at Cloud.

"Do who dislike new comers?" he asked.

"Um, your team, sir." Cloud said and looked at the different kinds of swords.

"Not that I know of. Pick one." the lieutenant said and grabbed a sword that was wide and long and looked like it would be heavy.

"Oh." Cloud said and picked a sword that was similar to Zack's.

The lieutenant turned to face his cadet and saw the look that was on his face. This expression made the lieutenant wonder what was going on in the blonds head.

"Why do you ask cadet?" he asked in all seriousness.

"No reason." Cloud lied.

He tried swinging his sword in trial.

'Just right.' he thought.

Out of nowhere the practice sword that Zack had was swinging toward him and he had just enough time to duck and roll out of the way before he was hit.

"Sir?" Cloud asked as he got up and avoided another swing of sword.

"Don't lie to me cadet. I may be more laid back than the other lieutenants but I wont and don't tolerate liars." lieutenant Fair said and charged forward again.

Cloud ducked out of the way staying in a crouch and then kicked his right leg out connecting it with the lieutenants ankles and knocking them together, forcing the bigger man to fall to his side.

Cloud shot up was met with the lieutenants sword racing toward him. He swung his blade and met the lieutenants swings.

'When did he get back up?' Cloud thought to himself. ' It should have at least kept him on the ground until I was back up. He's so fast though.'

Cloud jumped away from the next swing and was defending off another in no time, his feet barely hitting the ground.

He was so busy concentrating on the others arms that he barely noticed the lieutenants legs until they were knocking Clouds ankles together and he was landing on his ass, hard. There would be a bruise there later he was sure.

He looked up just in time to see Zack dropping to his knees on either side of Clouds hips. Cloud went to push the other off so that he could get back up and fight but the lieutenant knocked the blonds weapon away before he pushed his hands down to the ground above Clouds head.

Cloud blushed deeply because of the intimate position that thy were in and hoped it just looked like a flush from the fight and the heat.

He was about to speck up when the lieutenant stopped him.

"I'm surprised cadet. You were able to keep up with me for a moment, no cadet can do that yet, not that I'm aware of. But enough of that, back to the subject at hand, and no more lying. Why did you ask me that question?" Lieutenant Fair asked.

"Its nothing, sir, really... ah." Cloud gasped in pain as his hands were squeezed harder and pressed firmer into the ground.

"I said no lying cadet." Lieutenant Fair said in a stiff tone.

"When we were leaving the mess hall, they were all glaring at me." Cloud said in a faint voice.

As soon as he said that the pressure around his wrists released just a bit but didn't let him go.

"There was that so hard to say?" Lieutenant Fair asked.

Cloud looked up and noticed that the lieutenant was far too close. Their faces only inches away from each other. Cloud didn't know what to do.

"N-no sir." Cloud stuttered.

"What's wrong cadet, you seem a bit flustered?" lieutenant Fair asked in an almost husky voice.

Cloud blushed brighter and turned his head to look away from the lieutenant.

Lieutenant Fair chuckled and then released Cloud's hands. He stood up and then reached a hand down to Cloud with a warm smile on his face.

"I'm just messing with you cadet."

Cloud blushed again and then hesitantly took the lieutenants offered hand. As soon as he did lieutenant Fair pulled him up to his feet with one jerk of his hand. Cloud had to balance himself before he fell into Zack's chest.

Once the lieutenant let his hand go, Cloud walked back to his sword and picked it up, taking his fighting stance again, he looked at lieutenant Fair who was just staring at him.

"What are you doing cadet Strife?" He asked.

"We were training, sir?" Cloud said but it sounded more like a question than an answer.

"Yes cadet we were, but we're done now. I just wanted to see what you could do and I have to admit I'm impressed. You did well," Zack looked at Cloud "You can put your sword down now." he said.

Cloud hesitated for a moment and kept his stance. He wondered if th lieutenant was testing him some how.

"I'm not going to jump you once your sword is down, cadet. That's dishonorable." Zack said seriously.

Cloud looked at and saw that he was telling the truth. He lowered his weapon to his side and relaxed his stance.

"That's good cadet, now, lets get this mess cleaned up and go get something to eat. I had the kitchen save us a meal since e were going to be here." lieutenant Fair said and picked up his blade.

He walked it back to weapons cabinet and set it in its proper place.

Cloud headed to the cabinet ad also placed his sword in its place.

Cloud didn't realize how hungry he was until his stomach growled loud enough to be heard. He grabbed his stomach and blushed at the embarrassing noise.

Lieutenant Fair laughed loudly which only made Cloud blush harder. He looked at the cadet.

'Shiva he looks cute when he blushes!' Zack thought as he closed the weapons cabinet.

Cloud turned away towards the entrance and started for the mess hall.

Zack caught up to easily.

"Why don't you join me for lunch?" he asked.

Cloud nodded.

'Alright then, lets go before our stomachs start eating themselves." he said happily.

"Yes, sir." Cloud said and kept walking.

Zack walked beside the blond and then put him arm around his shoulders.

"Call me Zack while we eat, and I'll call you Cloud, but only when we're alone or else some might think it's special treatment." Zack said.

Cloud blushed deeper and looked at his boots as they continued to the mess hall.

"Yes, sir- Z-Zack." Cloud mumbled.

Zack grinned on the outside, but he smirked inwardly.

'Perfect' he thought.

'Well then Spiky, lets go eat," Zack said and practically dragged Cloud the rest of the way to the mess hall.

When they reached it, it was almost completely empty except for the people that served the food and the ones cleaning up.

Zack told Cloud to go sit at a table that was in the corner of the room while he went and got the trays of food.

Cloud did as he was told and when he sat down he noticed how secluded the area was. He could only see a few other tables. He couldn't even see the make line where Zack was.

Cloud stared off into space wondering what was going on. Why was Zack acting the way he was? Why was he being so nice? Why did he want to call each other by first names? It wasn't normal for a lieutenant or any superior, no matter how laid back they were to want to be called by their first name by a cadet or anyone lower than them, and the favor returned. It was considered rude and disgraceful by many. And, they hadn't even trained that long, it made Cloud feel lazy.

Cloud was so far off into his own thoughts that he hadn't even noticed that Zack had sat down with their trays of food.

"Earth to Cloud. Anybody home.?" Zack said ans snapped his fingers in front of Cloud's face.

Cloud blinked blankly for a second and then looked at Zack across from him.

"What?" He asked.

Zack chuckled softly and then pointed at Cloud's tray of food.

"I said, here's your food," Zack smiled "What were you thinking about so intently that you ignored your superior?" Zack asked lazily.

Cloud blushed at the thought of telling Zack he was thinking about him, but he didn't want to lie, he had learned his lesson with that.

He took a deep breath.

"I was trying to figure out why you're so laid back. It's strange." Cloud said.

Zack looked taken aback at first but then he laughed loudly.

Shocked by the response, Cloud just stared at Zack till his laughing slowed.

"Sorry Cloud, just thats the first time I've been asked that by a cadet. Well to answer your question, mainly it's because thats who I am. I've always been like this. In fact, my mentor used to call me a puppy for the way I act," At the mention of his mentor Zack's face saddened but he quickly hid it and continued to talk. " I'm also laid back because I believe that the better you know your team and the better you act with them the better they will get and the more they will want to train. I mean come on, if I yelled and stayed dis-attached all the time would you want to train?" Zack asked seriously.

"Not really." Cloud answered.

"My point. Don't get me wrong, I still have discipline and structure, but if we all get along then it would be better. My cadets would want to train." Zack leaned closer to Cloud. "Between you, me and the wall, because of the way I treat my cadets they're ahead of most of the other cadets being trained here. Proven fact." Zack leaned back in his seat.

Cloud smiled.

Zack bounced up and down in his seat slightly, making Cloud see why his mentor had called him a puppy.

"Your so cute when you smile! I'm so going to work on getting you to do that more often." Zack said without a care in the world.

This only made Cloud blush and hide his face. He pushed his food around on the tray and took a couple bites to calm himself.

"Aw come on Chocobo, its a compliment." Zack wined seeming even more like a puppy.

Cloud cocked his head to the side slightly and looked at Zack questioningly.

"Ch-Chocobo?"

Zack laughed again and pointed to Cloud's hair which was bright blond and very spiky.

"Your hair. It reminds me of a chocobo. You know that's it, that's going to be your nickname from me." Zack said crossing his arms and looking proud of himself.

Cloud just hid his face again and finished his meal. He had to admit, it was a lot better here than at his last training camp.

"When are we going to train again next?" Cloud asked pushing his tray away.

Zack looked up from his last bite of food, an perfect eyebrow raised. He finished his meal before speaking up.

"Tomorrow. Probably about the same time as today. but I'm thinking about having you come in to watch my other cadets' training session. I want you to see what their doing and I'm hoping that, that will help you catch up faster so that I can get you in with them. Soo... meet me in the same training area as today at six a.m., and I'll have you watch them. then after that when they leave to eat, me and you will train, well, after I sit down for a second." Zack said sounding like the lieutenant he was until he got the last part.

"Yes, sir."Cloud said feeling excited.

"Do I have to make that an order for you to follow it?" Zack asked lightly.

"What?" Cloud asked confused.

"You called me 'sir', and not for the first time since I told you to call me Zack. Do I have to make it an order?"

"No, si-" Cloud almost face-palmed.

Zack only quirked a brow.

"Its a habit. Most superiors don't want to be called by their first names." Cloud explained.

"Well I'm not most superiors."

"May I ask why you don't want to be called 'sir'?" Cloud asked.

Zack mumbled something that Cloud couldn't catch.

"What?"

Zack sighed.

"It makes me sound old." He complained "I tolerate it when I'm around everyone but i still hate it." Zack said with a pout.

Cloud paused then let out a little chuckle which made Zack smile.

"I'm going to have to get you to do that more too." Zack said.

Cloud quickly stopped, standing up to go give his tray to the person to wash it.

"You don't like compliments do you?" Zack asked as he caught up to Cloud.

Cloud looked away and handed the guy his tray.

"It's just... no ones ever really... given them to me, so it's new, and I... I don't know how to react to them." Cloud explained feeling awkward.

Zack gaped at the blond next to him as he handed his tray to the cadet stuck on dishes duty.

"You've never been complimented?" Zack asked too loudly.

"Shh! It's embarrassing." Cloud said facing Zack.

Zack chuckled.

"Well that explains why you blush every time I give you one." Zack said smugly.

Cloud almost, almost, turned to smack his lieutenant on the arm but stopped short with a glare instead. Of course this only made the other man laugh more. This time Cloud did smack Zack on his arm hard enough to get the mans attention.

Zack paused and stopped laughing.

'Shit, now I've done it. I just hit my superior.' Cloud thought swallowing hard.

"You just hit me." Zack said incredulously then he smiled and Cloud released the breath he hadn't noticed he'd been holding. "No ones had the nerve to hit me before, it makes me feel normal."

"Keep laughing at me and I'll do it again." Cloud said semi- hesitantly.

"I think we're going to get along good." Zack said with a smile.

"You're so strange." Cloud said.

"Why thank you. Normal is so over-rated don't you think?" Zack said with a bright smile on his face.

Cloud just smiled and shook his head.

They headed out of the mess hall and began walking to the barracks.

"Do you stay in the barracks too, Zack?" Cloud asked.

Zack looked over at Cloud and shook his head.

"No, since I'm a lieutenant I get my own room and everything. I don't have to share." he said happily.

"Then why are you heading to the barracks?" Cloud asked confused.

"I'm walking you back of course. And I'm also going to tell my cadets to lay off you." Zack said in all seriousness.

Cloud stopped in his tracks looking horrified.

"No! Please don't. I mean they already dislike like me, I don't want to give them another reason." Cloud said. " If you say something, they'll think I went running to you with my problems instead of handling them myself." Cloud explained.

"But you didn't come running to me. I forced it out of you." Zack said.

"They wont see it that way," Cloud looked away. "Just... please don't. It doesn't bother me. I'm not here for friends, I'm here to become SOLDIER. I'll take care of it myself." Cloud said looking Zack in the face.

Zack wanted to argue over what Cloud was saying but he didn't want to the blonds pride or have him mad at him.

"Fine, but if they do anything else, tell me. I don't tolerate this stuff. If you don't want me to say anything, fine, but that wont stop me from making they're training harder." Zack said with evil look on his face and a tone to match.

Cloud didn't say anything just kept standing there looking at the lieutenant.

Zack looked at the blond with narrowed eyes when he didn't answer. he took a couple of steps forward then stopped barely a foot away.

"Cadet Strife," Zack said making Cloud stiffen. " you will tell me if they do anything. I don't put up with bullying. That shit is for middle school not SOLDIER. If they call you names, you will tell me. If they attempt to beat you up, you will tell me. Whatever they do that seems offending to you, you will tell me. Am i making myself clear Cadet?" Zack said with strict authority lacing into his tone.

Cloud swallowed thickly at the sound of the other mans voice and the look in his eyes.

"Ye- yes, sir." Cloud stuttered.

"Good, now lets get you to the barracks. You're going to need rest for tomorrow." Zack said going back to his usual self in a flick.

Cloud hesitated for a moment then followed.

"Zack...?" Cloud asked softly. wondering if he was still allowed to call him that.

"Hmm?" Zack responded lost in thought.

"Why did you 'If they attempt to beat me up?" Cloud asked out of true curiosity.

Zack looked at Cloud over his shoulder and Cloud could see a smirk.

"These cadets may have been here longer, but none of them could keep up with me like you could, especially on arrival. You could take any of them, easy." Zack said matter-of-factly.

"But weren't you going easy on me?" Cloud asked.

Zack just smirked wider and faced forward again.

Cloud gaped at the raven haired man in front of him.

"You weren't?"

Cloud saw Zack's head shake 'no'.

"Nope. I don't go easy on my new cadets. Strictly for the purpose of seeing where they are." Zack said casually.

Cloud sputtered for a moment but then he just gave up.

They walked in silence the rest of the way to the barracks that held Zack's cadets. They stopped when they were at the door.

"Here you go cadet." Zack said formally.

"Thank-you, sir." Cloud said and started to head in.

Zack got an idea that he believed would help keep the cadets off Cloud's ass. And technically he wasn't saying anything.

"Cadet Strife!" He said loud enough to get everyone's attention. All eyes went straight to Cloud. "Good work today. I've never had someone keep up with me like you did. You've got potential." Zack said and then to everyone he said. "Tomorrow, six a.m., training grounds. Don't be late." and with that he left.

Cloud stood frozen in the center of the room as everyone's eyes tore into him.