~🌟Fragments of Stars🌟~
Simple but important A/N: This fanfic took some time to write and I'm very excited on writing it til the very end! There are only some minor changes: Cloud meets Zack when Zack's a Second Class and it follows Crisis Core, so the time zone it is in is CC. Not everything in this story will follow CC.
Now me being my stupid butt, I uploaded this a while ago but I deleted it on accident because I thought it was another story that needed to be deleted. Came back, saw that it wasn't there and had to reupload this. It took me a while to convince myself to just republish it because of my anxiety problems. My apologies.
This story is a yaoi story: boy x boy. If you do not like this material, I highly suggest you leave and find a better story that suits your taste. There will be warnings mentioned in the series. Unfortunately, I came in so late that it won't be for Clack Week 2016 like I wanted to... silly me.
There will be song choices at some chapters to show that this particular song fits the chapter, and you should listen to it when reading the specific chapter. You don't have to, but I recommend it!
Don't be surprised if there are grammar problems, I wrote this on phone on a software that uses * and # to bold or italicize words. So if you see one, please tell me; phones annoy me with auto correcting XD
Disclaimer: I do not own the image of the story, it belongs to its rightful owner. I do NOT own Final Fantasy or any of the characters. Square Enix is the original holder. I only own the story. There will be OCs in this story that belong to me.
There will be warnings such as: Violence, gore, mentions of rape or attempted, and language. YOU CAN TRUST ME, NONE OF THAT IS IN THIS CHAPTER YET LOL They WILL come later on. So stay in touch!
I'm thoroughly happy to introduce you to this story, enjoy and please comment!
~🌟Fragments of Stars🌟~
~Prologue~
It was once a kind time. The skies were the color of a virgin blue, so untouched and pure with clouds of cotton swimming in it like fish now clouded with nothing but the dull grey clouds covering it and bringing a sad demeanor. The air of the deserted wild was crisp and every time he had inhaled the earthy scent, he was only reminded that he was in the present, never in the past he so wished stayed forever. The world wasn't so kind.
The world was cruel, full of tricks, sending songs of deceiving lyrics into those of the people and making them believe those fairy tales.
Zack could feel the rough touch of the rocks crunching beneath his heels, the dust spewing from behind his boots like air itself. The degrading shade of brown on the trees spoke of nature and the leaves were as green as everglades. The wind whistled into his ears warnings of his surroundings. Sadly, the area barely sprouted any trees making them alien to their surrounding. It was a dead land with any life.
Sky blue eyes zipped across the trail of dirt towards the prairie, ignoring the scornful blackened sky of the night and dark clouds of grey covering them.
Without a sudden trace of knowing, time had suspended itself. It was as if he was in an all brightening void of white, but someone was there. Someone was there.
Hair of gold flowed with the wind and brushed. All he could see was the silhouette's back, their white shirt present and blending in with the void.
Zack yearned for that soft touch. The skin of lily white and cheeks of roses. Hair as gold as riches and those goddess blessed eyes of sky blue. Voice as silky as cream and touches like feathers. That blinding smile. The innocence he carried was untouched and Zack begged for it again.
"Cloud...?" He called.
That person tensed slightly. Once they turned around, they were gone and Zack was brought back into this gods forsakened world.
Where was that being he reached for? Waiting. Waiting at home.
For him.
"We're friends, right?"
A roaring cry so animalistic blew up, piercing the once calming air. His enhanced ears perked up at the suddenly deafening outburst almost making his ears ring. A wild beast of blue pounced from the clearing and landed directly in Zack's wake. Teeth long and baring with the saliva dripping down like a stream and eyes of a deadly beating red glaring directly at him. It's mane of a scarlet red spiked upward into a threatening scold. It was an enormous creature of death.
"Looks like I've got company..." he sighed into a sad smile. The beast charged at him in full speed like a bullet. Zack reached his arm onto his back, feeling the handle of his buster sword greet his palm made him smile a little. He jerked the blade from his back and braced himself once the beast came down with a strong brutal strike with its claw. Zack reeled to his side and countered with a sickening blow, the weapon scraping the beast's broad leg.
It wasn't fairly enough to even scrape the beast fatally. The eyes of red spotted the spikey haired man and hurled itself around, claws slashing the flesh at his arm. Zack grunted in pain and leaped back upon the brutal force, his arm stretched with a large deep gash and streaks of crimson flowing from it endlessly.
"Damn..." he cursed under his breathe. The searing hot pain rubbed harsh at his arm and he could feel the throbbing. Zack let half of his guard down upon the beast and it charged, barking with a nasty howl. Zack was caught off guard slightly but brought his blade down to block the blow and eventually parry it, sending the massive beast's arms upward. The beast's chest was exposed and Zack positioned his blade towards the heart of it.
"Take this!"
He plunged the sword within the hardened broad chest, but the sword's tip had only slipped through. It's chest was as tough as steel or immensely hardened rock.
The beast of blue growled in protest and swiped the man across the clearing. Zack hurled over and tumbled onto the ground like an ongoing tumbleweed. His clothes had been covered in a layer of dirt, the earth caking him. "Shit!"
Not only was his arm throbbing with pain of blood, but now his whole body screeched and ached of it. The beast looked as a ghost rising from its grave coming to his dirtied corpse. He roughly whiped the dirt off of his features, glaring daggers of ice at the beast.
Zack tried to muster all of the strength he could but his legs would not obey him. His body would not obey him.
"This looks... bad..." His voice coming out with rasps. He reached and rested his arm below him, raising his torso off of the ground, letting the single limb support his weight. The beast came prepared as it hurled itself at the wounded man of spikey black hair on the floor.
So this is it, huh?
Never thought it would be like this.
A grimace laced his mouth. If only he had more time. But.
Golden hair. Big eyes of a surreal blue and lashes long and black. A smile of true happiness, a smile of innocence. A smile directed at him.
"I'll be waiting. Don't lose all hope. Promise?"
That's right.
I did make a promise to you. And I'll fulfill it.
The mako in his veins rushed like adrenaline and pumped through his blood like an anxious fire eating away at anything. "I have someone I made a promise to!"
Discarding all of his senses, he leaped off of the ground and rushed at the snarling menace of death approaching him. Zack swiftly slid onto the floor straight under the beast, grunting at the friction the ground has rubbed off onto his body with the chunky dusty ground. With enough force, his blade rippled through the monster's chest harder than he had struck before. The beast whimpered slightly from the attack and a large runoff of blood spilled from its torso to its abdomen.
Zack, now on the opposite side of the wounded creature, straightened himself off of the ground immensely quick and rushed at the beast again, the buster sword in his clutches. With a powerful lunge from his thighs, Zack launched into the cool air and extended his buster sword. The beast whirled around and lunged at him in return. It was now or never, get the first strike or get hit by the second.
"Take this!" He shouted like a war cry, the blade intervening with the monster's broad throat and leaving a severely nasty ripple upon its neck, the blood spewing out like a fountain. Zack landed upon the solid ground, ankles rocking. It whimpered from the pain, weakly stumbling and trying to stay up. The beast had collapsed with a sickening loud thud, eyes that were once shining with the deadly intent to murder its prey now gone blank, lifeless.
"And I'm keeping it. Sorry"
There were no stars tonight, not behind the dark clouds shielding most of the sky. But there was one giant bright star out. Its light was challenged by none.
The monster laid dead in its tracks, the blood crawling upon the dirt and casting a thick liquidy layer of crimson. His head was screaming with throbbing pain and his limbs were aching. But that wasn't enough to stop him. "Put up a strong fight, didn't ya?"
He spoke to the lifeless corpse of the beast as if it could talk or respond to him. "Of course you did." He smiled.
Not caring anymore, he plopped down onto the rock hard ground, bottom first. Zack didn't fight with his true spirit until he was reminded. He wouldn't lose hope; he'd keep fighting until his last breath but with pride. He had to get to him, he's waiting. He craned his view to the blackened sky and caught that one star.
"Thank you for reminding me,"
"Cloud."
~🌟Fragments of Stars🌟~
Chapter One: Meeting You
"Attention cadets!"
"You are all to report to the training hall at once! Any excuses other than injury will not be tolerated! Do I make myself clear?"
The men saluted in a broad tone and shouted back 'Sir, yes sir!' in unison. Their commander, Commander Tabalt, was hard and demanding. Would take no for an answer. "Now maggots, get to your packing and head there!"
His hair was a shade of auburn brown and hung low to the nape of his neck, the strands looking as if they were sleeked from sweat or oil. He had eyes of an undying grey, the color is mostly thought of as dull but his shined of vivid seriousness. They scrambled through the barracks picking up their belongings and heading towards their destination. The blond boy had trouble following in their steps for he was very short for his age. The walls stretched a pearl lily white while their reflections bounced off of the untouched wall.
They made their way to the training hall. Cloud was very unfamiliar with this setting but yet has been here training constantly. It was huge and lit with weapons of fake firearms to wooden swords hanging on the racks. Real training took outside, this was just a precautionary like test. The floor was a polished marble grey and glistened under their feet and dim lights hung brightly above them like a silver sunlight. "I'll send a perfect trainer to sponsor you cadets. You may commence in the mean time." and he turned to take his leave.
As the broaded man left the training hall, they proceeded to train against each other. Fists slamming into each other, arms blocking and parrying. Swords of wood clashing together.
"Are you comin' or wha' Cloud?"
Cloud's vision was interrupted by a man of youth. He snatched the boy's attention and he looked at him. "Yeah, hold on, Charles."
The young man had roots of a dull dark chestnut and his face had an undying determination. His eyes were a lively green of emerald and he had a goofy smile which made Cloud wonder how he ever got in or seemed normal. He had an accent similar to an Australian and would sometimes say the strangest things. Charles was pretty tall but not enough to tower over everyone.
"You heard the cap', we gotta get this ov'r with." He smiled with a cheeky like goofy grin. "I know."
Cloud's eyes settled on his opponent and nothing else, clogging into his head that Charles was his opposer. They had taken the very first mat that was a little close to the entrance door. He settled into a fighting stance, legs slightly far apart carrying his weight and his arms placed in front of him in fists. "No holdin' back, eh?"
"Right."
Without a moment's ease, Charles dashed toward Cloud and brought a swift kick to his side flank. Cloud swiftly dodged the blow and countered with a jab to the man's rib. Charles stumbled but brought his other arm straight into Cloud's opposite side. His face wrinkled into a wince, the blow leaving an aching mark on his side. Yeah, that would bruise.
They broke off their closeness but continued sending limbs at each other, full force. Cloud landed fast hasty kicks upon his opponent but they managed to block some of the barrage of kicks. Charles slammed his fist at the youth, missing as the golden haired boy bounced to the side and twirled around sending a pugnacious hit to Charles's leg with his. They broke the distance from them one last time.
Cloud could feel the adrenaline and his blood rushing through his veins feverishly like a coursing stream and Charles could feel it, too. The cool air burned within his lungs that begged for air and the beads of sweat trickling his skin from his brow. This time it was Cloud's turn to throw in a move. The boy zipped over to the green eyed youth with the speed of lightning. Cloud wasn't much on the strong bulky side for he was slim and small framed, but he was great with speed for he might as well have weighed nothing more than a feather. There were usually only two fighting styles; strength and only depending on it with barely any strategy, and then there were speeds; relying on their fast nature and very tactical.
Cloud was on the speed side and often relied on that but the thing about speeders were that their hits would not have much effect. Charles flew his fist at the boy, only grazing the hairs of his cheekbones and his golden locks. He was close but Cloud rushed his movements.
He swiftly shot his elbow up and jabbed it straight into Charles's face, a large red mark blemishing across the bridge of his nose. The sudden crack didn't go unnoticed by Cloud and a flash of worry gleamed from his eyes. The towering young man craned backwards, rocking on his own two feet.
"Oh gods-Charles! Are you o-" before he could finish or usher the next word, a hand captured his wrist like an armed trap catching an animal; he slammed his knee straight into Cloud's stomach. The hit caught him so off guard and he dropped straight to the ground clutching his gut in painful grunts and rasps.
"Aw shit! Now I'm sorry!" Charles gasped and crouched down to his friend groveling on the mat. Cloud could feel the gnawing pain barking up his stomach and he could feel the acidic taste merged with iron, the bile rising to his throat along with the metallic twang of blood. All he could see was the faint dim light between wincing lashes, dark splotches of black clouding his vision from the corners of his eyes.
Charles frowned. "I tol' ya to not hold back man..." he, too, was clutching his nose painfully for blood was leaking from his nostrils.
"Nice job cadets."
They both heard a masculine husky voice, Charles craned his view to the voice. Cloud slowly but weakly raised his view to catch the person behind wincing eyes. "You both did impressive. Not bad gentlemen."
A man fairly big and built stared at the two, his grin honest and generous. His eyes were a deep shade of blue and his hair hung low until stopping at his jawline. Looking at his uniform there was no mistake that he was SOLDIER, the black color showing off that he was indeed a First Class. A blade as large as him was presented on his back. But there was a young man standing behind him. They were standing at the entrance door.
"C-Commander Hewley!" Charles straightened himself and gave a solid salute. Cloud flinched after hearing his superior was present and he was just groveling on the ground in pain.
Suck it up, you're going to get in fights so this shouldn't be something you should be complaining about.
His arms scrambled to support him but he could see that the man had reached his hand out in a gesture telling him to halt. "Easy there, that's far enough, cadet. No need to injure yourself any further." Angeal said in protest. He didn't want the boy to hurt himself trying to give his commanding officer respect. Man, this must have been embarrassing.
Though, a gloved hand moved into his vision.
"Here, I'll help you up."
This was a different person, not Angeal. Their voice was more lighter and their features were different. Looking up, Cloud found himself sucked into the young man's orbs completely.
They had spikey black hair that looked of a porcupine and soft baby blue eyes. His smile was present and it felt warm. His jawline was hardened and his intense glare sucked Cloud right on in. Upon gazing into those enhanced irises of blue, Cloud could see the entrails of mako swirling through them like a hypnotic screen.
"Hey, are you just going to stare or liven up?" He asked the puzzled blond cadet. Cloud looked at him in awe but snapped out of it and clasped the hand in front of him. Zack hauled him upward until his heels could stand upon the hard floor.
"S-sorry!" He quickly retorted. "No need to apologize, you totally took a beating." He chuckled out.
"Zack, no need to discourage the cadet."
"Are you always this serious, 'geal?"
Angeal smirked. "When it comes to training the weak or young, you have to take action and examine them. I did tell you that?"
"Yeah yeah. And then you bring out the whole 'it's for your honor' thing." Then he found the cadet once more in his eyes. "But I wasn't discouraging him. He did pretty awesome in my book! It was so fast and cool! Not on SOLDIER levels but ya get me, right?"
Angeal scoffed and eyed the cadets. "Excuse the puppy, he's reckless himself." Zack pouted, whining 'Ah c'mon Angeal!'
Cloud had never seen something like this in a long time, especially with Charles. There was something about Zack that made him stand out, that made him shine; a charm. He acted like a child and it brought giggles from his bosom.
Cloud had laughed.
There was something in the way Cloud sounded or rather seemed in front of the Second Class. The spikey-haired SOLDIER let his mouth drop agape slightly and his eyes sparkle. That sound was a delicate chime and it shocked him. It didn't take Cloud long enough to notice that all of the men's eyes were directed and him and Charles.
"They all must be watchin' since you guys just came in." Charles butted in. There wasn't even a clash of wood present or any movements or squeaking under their feet from the friction. Everyone had dropped dead in their tracks.
Angeal nodded. "Indeed it has. Carry on."
"I am leaving the 2nd Class to instruct you all. I expect you to be on high privileges and giving the utmost respect you have."
The built man shot an earnest glare to the men, his deep blue eyes hardening, cutting short. All infantry men scrambled to their usual routine of saluting, rushing their arms upward and standing tall and stiff like dull trees. "Sir, yes sir!" They shouted as one.
During their training, Zack would make a small stop helping the soldiers whether it was them embarrassingly on the ground seeking help to get up like what had happened to Cloud, or him teaching them the basics and proper training. The aching sense gnawing at his stomach made him stiff to the bone-Charles was a very powerful guy despite his description. Cloud had been sitting out for the passed two minutes.
A rough gloved hand clasped onto his shoulder. "Ey man." He looked up. "Didn't get ya too hard did I? Sorry bro." Charles's eyes sang a melancholic song and a sad smirk stood tall beneath knitted brows. Though the darkened bruise dusting the bridge of his nose had swollen up and dried blood hung below his nostrils. Cloud only nodded and smiled. Nothing to get worked over, it's training; there's meant to be injuries. "It's fine. We're bound to get injuries anyway."
Charles gave a puzzled glare for a good second before it settled back onto a smile. "That's the Cloud I know! Wanna continue this and finally end it?" Cloud nodded, pressing himself off of the bench to meet Charles's chest.
"Alright!" He pumped his fist up and stood at the end of the mat. "Ready whenev'r you are!" His knuckles crunched up into a fisted ball. Refocusing his thoughts, the golden haired boy took his stance. His legs planted themselves onto the mat and his hands clenched into balled fists, if he wasn't wearing gloves his knuckles would be seen as a ghostly white.
They launched directly at each other not holding back.
~🔸Fragments of Stars🔸~
Charles rubbed the new blemishes upon his face carefully, the hurt in his emerald glazed eyes before grumbling. "Damn Cloud, you sure pack a punch, dont'cha?" He looked over at the boy sitting upon his bed looking dazed in his own thoughts. "Huh? Oh. Yeah." He knew the new bruise on Charles's face wouldn't leave like dust on air, he did deck him straight in the face. There were a few gashes and long scratches resting upon his clothing, hair slightly ruffled and the scent of musky sweat staining the barracks' air.
Cloud looked the most tired since he moved around the most, but he wasn't. Sweat drenched locks drooping down even passed his sweaty brow, eyes averting from anyone and clothes ruffled out of order. But he still wasn't tired. That was a training session he'd never had in such a long time; the first being when he had met Charles and they brawled senselessly, snatching most of the men's attention towards them as if they were their own famous concert.
Charles eyed the boy. "Yoooo? Gaia to Cloud? Are ya in there?" The chestnut haired man leaned forward, dipping low to meet those orbs caught in thought and not just the floor. "Yes, I'm fine. Just thinking..." his voice of cream replied in a normal tone until his breathing hitched and a small cough broke through his lips. "You sure? You're not catchin' a cold now are ya?"
Cloud nodded slowly but coughed slightly more. "I told you - really -I'm fine. Just dehydrated from training. My throat is just dry is all." Charles gave a questionable look, brow raised. "A'ight, if you say so." The chestnut hair colored man plopped back on his bed carelessly, his tired breath puffing out from him. "Tired already? It's only dusk."
"Yeah man, don't care if it is dusk or not, totally tired bro." He chuckled. "Training's got me tired to the bone..." Charles said in a chuckle.
"You're telling me." Charles stretched, the muscle joints contracting and the sound of his bones aching. "Well, wha're gonna do? Don't seem tired."
The blond boy shrugged. "You're right. I'm not. I might go for a walk or something."
"Well alrighty then!" He heard Charles speak again. "You're obviously weird, the guys here look like some sort of zombies crawlin' from their graves after training. And yet after that session you ain't tired? Pfft, weirdo."
A smile crossed his lips. "And you're not weird for being energetic after that beating you took?" Charles glanced at Cloud. "Eh-...Likewise. Besides,"
The brunette pumped his fist a few inches away from his face.
"There ain't nothin' wrong with bein' happy all the time! Ya here me?" He looked of a true jester smiling like that. It was good having a friend like Charles around. He never thought he was weird or too strange looking, he actually grew fond of the boy on the third week of training because they happened to be paired up. As time went on they grew close and eventually might as well be deemed as comrades with a stable relationship. Cloud smiled "Yeah whatever, I'm going."
"Try not to get yourself into too much trouble, ya hear me?"
He nodded before walking out of the barracks. All or at least most of the men were crowded in clumps like corpses sprawled out all over their beds. They looked exhausted and drained, not even many of them moved. They just mumbled to their comrades while resting or at least trying to sit up. Charles puffed out a breath of heat. "I wonder what's gotten all of us tired today. We're used to this training..."
~🔹Fragments of Stars🔹~
Cloud waltzed onward to the doors of the ShinRa building. The dull fancylike corridors and the red carpet blanketing the ground. To him, everything looked dull and grey with the company, not even the employees had some sort of spark within them that spelled entertaining.
He was cloaked in a black jacket and his regular cadet pants hugging at his hips, while wearing brown colored boots. Just a jacket over his uniform, no big deal.
Ignoring the basic demeanor, Cloud stepped out from the doors and a fresh new scent of crisp dusky air hit his senses. The outside enraveled him to the colored sky of rich orange, gold clouds soaring across and the sun barely peeking its head over them. The streets weren't fully lit up yet but that never grew unsettling to him. Not many people were on the streets anyway making it more untenanted of life.
Cloud eyed the lanes of disappearing people left and right. It was saddening that it was already dusk and soon darkness will take a hold of the sky, its dark navy cover engulfing the sky above until little balls of white light glittered upon. He sighed from the view, making his way down the block and toward the railing next to the stone steps on the side. The area had different routes but the only thing that snatched his attention was the ever flowing fountain in the middle of the area below where he stood. The orange light dimly reflected off of the glistening water spraying from the fountain, its light fading inch by inch until the sky faded into a violety hue. It reminded him of a summer's haze but of course not a bit hot or scorching. The place was surprisingly and eeringly cold for its atmosphere, especially with so many people crowding the city in heat. It set a sickening feeling straight to his stomach-it reminded him of home, always cold without an ounce of heat to shed or thaw the chilling. Nothing but bad memories came from his hometown and he hated it.
Cloud sighed with irritation, running a frail pale hand through his locks of gold and resting it there. He didn't even begin to notice the fully casted darkened sky of navy and a vast sea of stars pin themselves there like snow flakes in the air of winter. Lips tinted a pale shade lightly quivered under his heated breath, eyes finally catching those luminous balls of light twinkling above him. He folded his arms upon the railing and rested them there.
It reminded him. On a cold night shimmering with nothing but a sky blazing of blue and white stars looking like a current streaming along space. A girl of dark chocolate hair and eyes of garnet looking large and innocent at the sea of stars.
"Hey, let's make a promise."
She said, turning to look the boy in the eyes.
"Um... If you get really famous and I'm ever in a bind..."
"You'll come save me, right?" Looking at her gentle eyes and them fluttering from the long lashes, he couldn't help but gaze at her in awe. Tifa was a beautiful girl to him, he envied how popular she was, how dear she was to everyone and never went unnoticed like he did. But he held slight feelings for her. "Huh?" Cloud gave her a confused glare.
"If I'm ever in trouble, my hero will come and rescue me."
"I want to experience that at least once."
The girl tucked several strands behind her ear and looked back up at the ever lasting sky of night, legs hanging and swinging from under her seating. Tender lips of a cherry's shade turned upward into a smile. "Promise?"
Cloud looked at her, studying her features briefly. He made up his mind, so the least he could do was give his answer to his childhood friend. "I... promise." His blue eyes blinked in confirmation, Tifa smiling gingerly. The dump was an unsettling place, junk of metal and materials rusting and growing rancid. Tires rested a muck the dirt while the metal they prompted themselves upon remained sturdy but released soft cries of creaks whenever they moved too much on it. Through that night that showered them in moonlight, they sat there for a remainder until it was time for Tifa to take her leave before she had gotten in trouble.
"...Yeah. A promise..."
Looking at things now, he would laugh at such a thing. Only a ShinRa grunt. Nothing more, probably less. Everything he wanted to be was so close, yet, so far to reach and grasp for it.
And then there was his mother, the poor woman having to stay home alone and constantly worry over her son. She made sure to send messages frequently, and so does Cloud, whether it's sending them or replying to them.
It was this brightly visible sky of stars with the similar background of his childhood.
I wonder what it's like being a star... All high up there.
Eyelids slowly fluttered into a closing like a curtain. I would like to a star.
"Beautiful sky tonight, is it not?"
He snapped out of his thoughts and found a man standing in the same position as him, leaning on the railing and looking around. "Oh, uh... yeah, it is."
The man smiled. "You seem down in the gutter."
"Just old memories." He rested his head into his arms that were folded upon the railing. "Ah, don't I feel you."
Cloud sighed. He brought his gaze back up from the arms that shielded his face. It was a nice night, more stars began forming and the sky grew more and more darker. "Midgar is like a trap zone, I tell ya." Cloud looked at the stranger. "What do you mean?"
"Well, it offers a lot of mystery and too many lies and blood have been shed here by the city from the company itself."
"It's dangerous. What about you?"
Cloud gave it quite a thought. Nothing good but "heroism" came from this city. "...Came here to get stronger." The man gave a straight face. "Stronger, eh?"
"Most lads come over here to get stronger, so I'm not quite fazed."
The blonde haired boy just minded his business and brought his head back down into his arms only half way, his nose peaking above them. "Say, do you have anywhere to stay?"
This was odd. "Sort of. I'm in the military..." he said with lips creased, trying not to cough; this somehow perked the man's interest. He gave an approving look and smiled. "Well then, you'll definitely get stronger! Keep goin' at it boy!" Cloud snuck a glance back. "...Thanks. But I doubt that."
Either that he had been speaking to a stranger for a while or time had sped up and decided to hit an hour and a half later than usual. It was a strange but yet uniquely night. Everyone on the streets minded their business and could care less about a kid like him. But something about how the man asked him questions felt very weird to him; he guessed he was just unused to it.
"I guess it's getting pretty late there." The man said. "Yeah, I guess so." The moon was completely present and decided to hide behind a couple of clouds. The city was just breathing of life every night. "I'll be headin' out now. It was nice meetin' you."
Cloud nodded and immediately headed back to the building not slowing down or even glancing back, but what he didn't notice was the man never fully left. He looked as if he was hesitant.
He didn't hear it, but it was a faint call.
Moving passed the front doors, he greeted the clerks at the desk as did they. Same old place, red carpet, business employees rummaging the place. Heading over to the elevator, he pressed the button and waited casually.
Either he would be killed for being late to the barracks or wearing casual clothing around the army. He pouted silently until he heard the DING from the elevator as if it chimed into a notable song.
No one in here, good
The elevator was empty, not a single being present in it. He mentally thanked the gods for not dealing with anyone he knew besides Charles, it would've been a problem for his motion sickness. His legs brought him into the box and he pressed the button to the barracks floor, the button lighting up. It would get him up faster than stairs but he despised it. No one would get to see him suffer.
The doors closed. Giving thought about it, he quickly stripped himself of the black hoodie, the rest of his complete blue uniform visible. The jacket tied around his waist.
Once the room he was in began to levitate and move up, the sickening bile rose to his throat and his head throbbed with a feeling of light headedness. "...ugh"
His hand clasped onto the railing of luster behind him, having a death grip but easily slipping into a weak tug. His legs felt like jelly and eventually the room suddenly grew hot. Cloud reached his other hand to his aching noggin and pressed it there, grunting at the annoyance of having motion sickness while wincing and trying to pay attention to the beaming red numbers shifting above. His voice hitched and dreads of coughs followed up on it. It felt like an eternity stuck in an endless shift of nausea and hoping to get out as soon possible.
Suddenly, an annoying high pitched DING rang in his ears and the room came into an abrupt halt, it completely stopped moving. Everything that was once assaulting him with bad intentions instantly scattered away, it was no longer hot. It felt like he was submerged in a hurricane and no way to escape. He thanked the gods once again for another save. The doors of silver parted open and he rushed out faster than he was in a hurry to get back into the barracks.
Cloud felt a sense of relief flush all the nervousness out from him. Out of nowhere, a large, almost like a wall, had slammed into him the instant he took a step out. He squeaked, the cadet soon found himself losing balance and crashing onto the marbled floor with a thud, his back and behind aching tenderly.
"Woah! Ow... that hurt...!"
It did hurt... wait, that's not me.
Wincing one eye open, he saw another person placed onto the ground, them sitting uncomfortably and placing their head in the palm of their gloved hand. Spiky black hair. One eye of pure beautiful indigo open, the other closed in pain; brows knitted.
Zack exclaimed "Hey! You're...!" They both hesitated for seconds glued to the ground like statues before Cloud sky rocketed to his feet, clumsily stumbling and scrambling to stand. "I-Im so sorry!" He rushed to say, barely having energy to sustain himself and tumbling onto his knees, once again on the ground.
"It's totally fine man! You okay?" The black haired boy raised himself off of the marbled floor, eyeing the cadet with those eyes of the ocean that were instantly drowning Cloud just by gazing into them. He wanted to evade that glare, he felt nothing but weak, embarrassingly ramming into a SOLDIER and unable to stand on his jelly legs was shameful. "I...I'm fine... I'm sorry."
The Fair raised his arm willingly in front of the blond he was towering over. Sky blue eyes averted to the hallways before hesitantly finding those macho eyes of indigo that willingly took him in once again. For Cloud, it felt like hours had just passed from him deciding to take ahold of the gloved hand, but it felt like he was frozen in place once his hand grasped onto it softly. Time had completely suspended itself. With some force, Zack yanked the cadet from the freezing floor, but he was surprisingly light; almost as light as a feather.
Still uneasy to the action and still weary from the elevator, Cloud found himself rocking from side to side like a leaf gliding through the air, trying not to let the nausea get to him, planting himself firmly onto the ground. Several coughs busted from his lips and he tried to suppress it, even if it meant muffling it. "Hey, are you sure you're alright?"
"...I'm fine. Thanks."
Zack chuckled. "...You should take it easy. You look like you're about to faint on me." He said raising his hand and placing it upon Cloud's shoulder gingerly, not rough or with any discomfort. The sudden touch sent spidery chills down his spine, each chill threatening to jerk him. Even if it felt as he was walking on ice in a tundra, that limb summoned a heat that blossomed within him.
Those eyes spoke of solemn sincerity, the deep sapphire orbs burning into his aquamarine ones, solely focused upon him for gods know how long. It was like he was drowning in the ocean of their surreal color, the mako visually swirling around just like the sudden feeling that decided to mute his voice and have his stomach suffer from a tingling feeling that never dared to cease. He couldn't look away, couldn't move.
"I won't. Sorry this happened..." the Strife released the gloved hand he was still clenching, and ignored any other thought his mind jammed into him, lips straighening into a thin line. "Sorry...!" The cadet stormed off down the hallway.
"Hey...wait!"
It was like his ears were blocked out by his own objectives, completely deaf to any other word or any other restraint. Before Zack could even process what had happened, Cloud had already disappeared behind the next turn, completely gone and out of sight like a phantom slipping through a wall and never being seen again.
A brow narrowed and a questionable glare came from Zack's features. "Man, what was that about?"
He raised a hand and scratched the back of his head, confused or rather oblivious. "Okay then. Should get back to Angeal or he'll kill me..."
~🔸Fragments of Stars🔸~
Cloud's lips pursed, a heavy sigh instantly flying out from not noticing he was holding his breath. He lazily slouched onto the wall looking as if his consciousness would give out on him, eyes narrowed, nose wrinkling. His arms cradled himself tightly, the feeling of anxiety mixed in with another undistinguished emotion within him sent waves of confusion all around him; the supposed tummy ache wasn't subsiding, it was still tingling as for his legs that were jelly trying to stand upright. The whole area felt of nothing but vivid spinning and it wouldn't stop, he still was light headed. Note to self: never use elevators as often as I did before.
The cadet shifted onto standing right, though his hands came down and pressed upon his knees, supporting his weight. He couldn't stay there like an old man with a pained condition, someone was bound to come. He straightened himself the best that he could before stepping onto the path toward the cadet barracks. Surprisingly the captain wasn't anywhere around and most of the men were already sloths in their beds, them creating a storm of loud snores that were unbearable.
Cloud disrobed himself of his jacket that still hung from his waist and his armor plates, quietly resting them in a safe spot before sliding into bed. Sheets as white as a cloud and the bed hardly ever screamed of creaks, but it wasn't a great bed. He let the covers drape over his small frame like a curtain-a little angel in rest.
"Psst...!"
He ignored it. "Psst! Ey, buddy! Can you hear me?" The voice whispered. Compared to the hurricane the cadets were snoring, he was mouse quiet. Cloud turned to the bunk bed to his side. "...Charles?" He blinked.
"Yeah, sorry for botherin' you at the moment. So," he continued "where did ya go and how was it?"
"Just around the fountain."
Charles snorted. "Of course, ya always around there, aren'cha?" It was a signature location for him in Charles's eyes. "I'll be sure to remember to find ya there."
Cloud shrugged him off. "Maybe I won't be there every time."
Charles's smile grew legs and stood high enough for Cloud to see perfectly. "Oh, I think I know what's goin' on here..." Cloud glanced at the man. "What do you mean?" He chuckled. "Don't play dumb with me bro,"
"You're totally seein' someone, aren't ya?!"
Cloud shifted upward and seemed more awake, face flustered. "What? Don't be ridiculous! There's no w-" his voice hitched and was soon assaulted by coughs.
Charles flared upward and hissed a whisper. "Sshhh! Ey, ey! Keep it down man, I'm just jokin'!" Cloud giving him a look of suspicion or disbelief. "That's not something to joke about often. And no," he sighed, "I am not seeing anyone. Just... wanted fresh air."
"No one would take interest in me anyway." Cloud then rested back into his covers, shielding his face from Charles, the other man only able to see the boy's backside. "Say,"
"What do you think about Fair?" Charles continued to watch his friend. "I like the guy. He's an alright man; wish we had 'em as a superior officer more often." He silently dry laughed.
Charles's ears perked up by the sound of sheets rustling, and the boy was watching him again. "...I...I don't know."
"He seems... like a great guy, that's what I'm picking up... You could definitely look up to a person like him." The boy of sky eyes looked in thought, gleaming with curiosity. Zack had a contagious adrenaline-anyone could be plagued by it. Memories of an earlier encounter, a generous hand offering to help him-a low life; someone who doesn't matter in a small world full of big experiences-despite what anyone else said, eyes as clean and clear as the seas that dared wash him off of his feet and carry him off with the current, a smile that brew nothing but heat blooming inside of his chest as if his heart would give out. It must have been anxiety... but every now and then when he thought of such a straight face that carried intentions of a caring human, he couldn't switch onto anything else.
"Yeah, I know what you mean, man. Seems tough and determined; I wish I had that kind of willpower." Charles said with a smile. "Don't ya think so too, Cloud?"
Nothing but the soft sounds of the boy's breathing was present from what he could hear out of the bass of snores. He had been turned back around, his back facing Charles again. He had turned his back on him after a while of his thinking. "...Asleep already, huh?"
It seemed like it. "Guess so." The brunette shrugged it off and slithered onto his opposite side no longer facing Cloud.
It felt like hours. But. The boy of gold hair was certain Charles couldn't hear, he was fast asleep already.
"...Yeah, I want it, too..."
~🌟Fragments of Stars🌟~
Heeey! How's the story coming along? I'm glad to have this chapter out. Chapter 2 is coming soon. The story so far was a little of a pain to write, but fell in love with it. Sadly, school has been started for me and I'm already tired HANG ME PLEASE. It's best if I get to cracking on this story right away!
Fun fact: If you want to hear a little joke about Charles, I was playing Xenoblade and Smash Bros Wii U/3DS earlier and I really couldn't get Reyn's voice from Xenoblade out of my head whenever I wrote his lines! So I guess his cannon voice is Reyn's but a little higher sounding? Oh, and the beast Zack was battling in the prologue is the same beast you fought as your first boss in Crisis Core. That giant blue dog monster in the training simulator in the beginning of the game. Forgot its name lol.
Please let me know what you think about this story! Please be nice about it, too. Until next time! Chapter 2 is on the way!
And if there is something wrong PLEASE warn me. I get anxiety real bad when I mess up...