I'm starting a fanfiction about Cloud. I don't know anything else about it.

[Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from Final Fantasy VII (a.k.a. everyone in this fanfic unless I decide to throw in a couple of my characters, in which I will announce that I am and that they belong to me.)

Cloud walked into the empty room, defeated. Time and time again he couldn't control Sephiroth when he got mad. This time Cloud had been the target. Cloud was just lucky that Zack was a SOLDER, and was there to help. Nevertheless, Sephiroth's rampages were getting more and more violent, and his fellow teammates were getting the worst of it. If Rufus couldn't control Sephiroth, then more drastic measures would be used to keep him calm.

And Cloud didn't want that. As aggressive as Sephiroth could be, Cloud knew that he meant no harm, and the things they could do to Sephiroth were brutal. Nobody deserved to go through their treatments.

And Sephiroth was a powerful asset to their missions; not someone worth loosing. Zack was strong, sure, but not nearly as strong as Sephiroth.

Thoughts like these tumbles around in Cloud's head as he lay down on the couch. He slowly drifted off to a restless sleep.

They had been on a mission to Mideel. The Lifestream pools had been expanding and burning away the skins of people getting too close to it. Mideel was slowly drowning in the Lifestream, and the Shinra had to stop it.

Everything had been going according to plan, evacuate the townspeople and suck up the liquid. But getting Sephiroth that close to the Lifestream had been a mistake; memories began resurfacing, leading to a breakdown right there in front of everyone. Cloud and Zack managed to get him away from other people before he became violent, but it was worse than usual. He began attacking Cloud, yelling to "Give mother back." Zack pulled Sephiroth off of Cloud only to get an equal beating. Back in Mideel, the Lifestream was still expanding.

"Help us!" People began screaming, and that was really when Sephiroth came. Everyone was a target. And Cloud couldn't remember anything after that; he had jut waken up to Zack's voice, calling his name.

"Cloud?" Zack knocked softly on the door frame as he walked into the room. "You awake?"

Cloud stirred, and slowly lifted his head, as if it weighed too much for him. "What…?"

"Cloud, how are you feeling?" Zack sat down on the couch, tending to the open and drying wounds.

Cloud pulled himself up and wrapped a bandage (that Zack had been holding) around his arm. "I'm… fine… where's Sephiroth?"

Zack sighed: Cloud would never put himself in front of one of his comrades. "Sephiroth is fine Cloud. And," She put her hand up before Cloud could say anything. "I'm fine, too. You were beaten up the most. Everyone's worried about you."

"Well, tell them all I'm fine." Cloud stood up to leave.

"Why don't you tell them yourself?" Zack stood up too, blocking his way, trying to lead him to the opposite door, where everyone was waiting on the other side.

Cloud looked at him for a moment, then pushed past him. "Mideel is still overflowing. We need to get back in there. We don't have time to pity me."

Zack shook his head, blocking his way again. "No one pities you, Cloud. They're just worried. There's a difference, you know. They need to know you're okay."

"I can tell them as we go back to Mideel…" Cloud paused. "Wait, where are we?"

Zack relaxed, glad to not have to fight anymore. "We're back in Midgar. The Turks are still in Mideel, keeping everything under check. The only place sophisticated enough to treat your guys' wounds was back here, so we flew back."

Cloud sighed. "Well, then what do I do now? I'm fine, and the Turks aren't trained to handle anything to do with the Lifestream. You can't tell me to let all of those people die."

"I never said that. I said that everyone who's worried about you should know that you're okay."

Cloud looked at him, disbelief playing across his features. "That's it?"

Zack shifted position awkwardly. "Well, that, and you're not leaving."

"What?!"

"You're not 'fine,' regardless of what you say. I know you, Cloud, and you need some rest. Even I need rest, and you were beaten up much worse than me. So rest." Zack pushed him back onto the couch. "I'll take care of everyone else, 'kay?"

Cloud glared at him like a little kid. "…whatever." He mumbled, and turned his back to him.

I think that was a bit short. Oh well, I can't think of anything else to write. On with the next chapter!!!

PS Zack was originally supposed to be Tifa (and I can't tell you why I had to change it), and I didn't want to go through editing the conversation so that Zack seemed more like himself, so if he seems very… girly, then now you know why. Oh, and if it says "she" on accident… well then I'm sorry.