(A/N: A request fic for someone to whom I owe a lot.)
Mama-
I know it's been a while since I've last called. I hope I haven't worried you too much. You wouldn't believe the waiting list for the phones around here! Cadets aren't exactly given top priority, you know? Even letters are a swifter form of communication. My classes are really starting to take off. Combat, weapons training, navigation… all of the usual stuff. I have another month of coursework before they start sending me on missions and such. If my instructors see potential in me and my scores are high enough, there's a possibility that I can move on into the advanced squadron. The physical conditioning is a little rough, but I can feel myself getting stronger. At least I sleep pretty well as a result. The food they serve in the mess hall takes some getting used to. You must have spoiled me with your cooking. Ultimately, I have a new inspiration for joining SOLDIER- their cafeteria.
In any case, I'm glad to hear you and the rest of the town are well. Midgar is certainly… different, to say the least. I wish you could see it. ShinRa headquarters alone is over sixty stories tall. Being in a city as large as this one has a way of making you feel small and insignificant. It's a big world out here, you know? Soon enough, I'm going to see all of it. Once I can afford it, I'll buy a camera and mail you the pictures, I promise.
Please take care. I worry about you, in that house all alone. Of course, worrying is your job, isn't it? I'm staying out of trouble for the most part. (Kidding. No trouble. None at all.) And no. I don't have a girlfriend yet. You don't have to keep asking. I promise you'll be the first to know when I do.
Much love,
Cloud
Cloud Strife nodded his approval to the piece of paper that lay on the cheap wooden desk, gently blowing upon the drying ink before reaching into the lowest of the three side drawers to withdraw a single envelope and stamp. He carefully printed the address of his hometown on the envelope, including every letter of the return information should his mother see fit to send him a written reply. (Though no one was entirely sure where the cadets' mail actually went; some say the Firsts would use it for target practice with their Fire materia). The letter would be enough to placate her for the time, vague as it was. He tucked his letter into the folds of the envelope and ran his tongue along the tapered edge with a grimace. Not that he expected it to taste like sugar and cinnamon mind you, but one would have thought that after so many years of envelope production, manufactures might have come up with a way to subdue the sheer toxicity of the taste.
The legs of his chair scraped against the floor as he stood, walking over to his bunk on the adjacent side of the room. He reached under the cot and yanked out his standard ShinRa-issued duffle bag. Cloud shoved aside his crumpled exercise clothes, wrinkling his nose in distaste. Laundry day for cadets came around twice a week, which their superiors seemed to consider remarkably generous. Unfortunately, there were few stenches stronger than the accumulation of training-induced sweat. He zipped the envelope up in a safe niche, resolving to send it off the next day on the way to morning classes. He kicked his bag back underneath his bed without much regard, shuffling his bare feet awkwardly as he stood in the center of the room, contemplating his next move. He habitually rolled the waist of his grey sweatpants up and adjusted his black muscle shirt that was just a touch too big for him, occasionally slipping off of one shoulder.
And now, he had a choice at two hours prior to lights out. He could attend to the small pile of textbooks sitting expectantly on his desk, or he could collapse onto his bed and try to ignore the aching of his calf muscles as he fell into an uneasy sleep. Fifty extra laps for his squadron had not served his stamina well; the cool, slightly disheveled sheets of his bunk were calling out to him ever so desperately. He looked to his textbooks. Then to his bunk. And back to his textbooks. Health and Fitness, read the first gleaming title. Study of Combat and Strategy was the second. If that wasn't enough to make him drowsy, the third was ShinRa: A History Made of the Future. He massaged the bridge of his nose with a begrudging groan. He couldn't slack off now, not when a mere month separated him from placement examinations. He slumped stiffly back into the chair and flipped open Health and Fitness to the required reading.
"When treating a heavily bleeding wound in an environment with limited resources-"
As though the universe sought to taunt him, the door burst open followed by a lengthy yawn. "Heya, Strife. Your legs hurtin' like mine are?"
"Yeah," Cloud admitted, flexing his ankles only to feel a familiar ache swell in the deepest muscles. He swung an arm over the back of the chair and turned to meet the weary eyes of his roommate. The young man of fifteen ran a hand through his shaggy chocolate hair, his narrow face twisting in a grimace. His bright green eyes were glazed with weariness as he rocked back onto his heels, as though testing the lactic acid built up in his lower legs. The olive skin of his forehead glistened with sweat as the teenager began to lazily undo the buckles of his uniform and kick off his shoes.
"Ah, I'm gonna feel this in the morning. You didn't have a class afterward, did you? Lucky bastard. I had weapons training right after. My legs felt like jelly; I couldn't stand up straight. Didn't hit the target once."
A smirk pulled at the blonde's face. "Sergeant won't have noticed a difference then." Cloud just barely dodged a sweaty sock, nearly sliding out from behind the desk they shared. It was a taunt of good taste; Cyrus Alton placed second in the sixty rankings of the latest batch of infantrymen, having the natural makings of a stealth sniper. Cloud, his visual perspective lacking in spatial mechanics, ranked thirty-four.
Upon Cloud's swift duck, Cyrus caught sight of the open book on his desk. "Don't tell me we have reading in that," he groaned, peeling his gloves from his hands and allowing them to fall to the floor.
"We always have reading," Cloud said with a forlorn sigh, closing his textbook with a disgruntled expression. The other's self-pitying musings were markedly contagious. He casually stepped over his roommate's discarded articles of clothing and flopped back onto his bed, folding his hands behind his head in some attempt to attain a degree of comfort on the lumpy bunk. He could study at breakfast if he needed to.
"You hittin' the hay?" Cyrus spared him a glance before stripping himself down to his boxers, leaving his clothing scattered without care.
"Yeah. I could sleep for a week."
"Great. I'm shutting off the lights then, 'cause I've about had it with this day."
Cloud stared at the discolored white of the wall across from him, roughly textured and lacking the personal touches of the average teenager's room. It had already been a few months, and yet these quarters still did not feel like a home to him. If he didn't play his cards carefully, he could end up staying in these barracks for longer than he planned. Years, even, if he couldn't make it into SOLDIER. Darkness fell upon the room and Cloud sighed, turning onto his side and jamming an arm under his pillow. To be considered for SOLDIER, you had to stand out. You had to have a reason for ShinRa to think you might be exceptional. Cloud possessed neither advantage as of yet.
xXxFightingTheTidexXx
Up, down. Huff, puff. Up, down. Huff, puff. Up, down. Huff, puff.
Angeal ignored the flurry of motion in the corner of his eye, setting his sights on the mission reports scattered along the width of his desk. How he hated paperwork, so much so that nowadays the mere sight of paper gave him a headache. Sometimes, he considered the prospect that the only reason Lazard had given him his own office in Headquarters was to pawn grunt work off on him. Four SOLDIER members and seven infantrymen for a recon mission? Ridiculous. A complete waste of efficiency. And Angeal made sure to jot down such notes on the spiral-bound pad of paper shoved off to the side of his desk.
Up, down. Huff, puff. Up, down. Huff-
"Angeal?" The voice of his protégé penetrated his concentration, making his eyes twitch with the desire to look up and tend to the boy. It was a protective instinct, he supposed. He would spoil Zack if he betrayed how much control younger actually had over him. Angeal glanced up on the second call of his name, as it had a much more demanding (and dare he say whiny) tone of voice. "Angeal, I thought you said we had work to do!" Zack ceased his squatting and crossed his arms over his chest, his bright cerulean eyes narrowed with distaste.
"This is work, Zack."
The Second Class SOLDIER sighed, returning to his squats with a sour face. He never would have offered to accompany Angeal this morning if he had known they were doomed to hours of paperwork. So much for helping Angeal battle monsters and protect civilians. "This is the boring kind of stuff you should hire an assistant for. Your time is much better spent on missions."
"I have responsibilities other than swinging my sword around," Angeal chastised, his eyes shifting from the standard blade sheathed at his hip to the Buster Sword leaning up against the wall. "You'll keep that in mind if you ever want to make First Class. Did you finish ordering those files by date?"
"You wanted them in date order?" Zack glanced down guiltily at the stack of manila folders he had placed at the edge of his mentor's desk. "I'm sorry, Angeal. I alphabetized them."
Angeal sighed, raising a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose (and perhaps hide a smile). "Maintain your focus, Zack." Certainly an alphabetical mishap wouldn't kill his student on the battlefield, but lack of concentration would. With a final glance at the mounting papers on his desk, Angeal stood and slid the Buster Sword into its holster. After all, the papers would still be there the next morning. "I reserved a training chamber so we can practice your materia usage. Let's head downstairs."
"Alright!" Zack crowed, pumping his fist into the air. Finally, a chance to get out of this room!
"Abandoning your paperwork in favor of fun and frolicking? How very unlike you, Angeal." Zack leapt, startled at the sound of an unexpected voice while his teacher lazily glanced toward the window on the far side of the room, where Genesis Rhapsodos crouched on the open ledge, his crimson duster coat billowing in the breeze behind him. His pale pink lips were twisted into a pout as his blue eyes playfully narrowed. "Sephiroth and I have had the virtual simulator all to ourselves this morning," Genesis continued, as though he wasn't sitting atop a ledge over thirty floors above ground level, rocking precariously back on his heels. "It's very boring without you."
"I'm sure," Angeal agreed with a raised eyebrow, before turning his sights to Zack. "But I have a prior engagement."
"The puppy can come too," Genesis insisted, rubbing his thumb against his forefinger as he stared intently at the raven-haired soldier. "That is, if he thinks he can run with the big dogs."
Angeal rolled his eyes, knowing well enough that Zack would not resist the bait. Surely enough, the Second Class swung his arms forward to pound his left hand into his right palm and demanded, "I want to spar with Sephiroth!" The teenager's mentor shot a dirty look at his red-haired companion, who merely shrugged with a wispy smile. Zack resembled Genesis in his pursuit of heroism; by striving to compete with the greatest hero the world has ever known, he found himself that much closer to achieving his own aspirations.
Genesis' next words were patronizing, if nothing else. "Of course you do. Just don't bite off more than you can chew, Puppy." And with that, Genesis pulled himself upward and out of sight, leaving the window wide open in his wake.
Angeal couldn't help but smile as Zack stared after the man with a glint of admiration. "Come on. We'll be taking the elevator, like sensible human beings."
While Zack silently disagreed, (Genesis' dramatics made his entrances second-to-none) he trailed behind Angeal as he locked up his office and headed for the nearest elevator. "Zack," Angeal began over the echo of combat boots against grey tiled floors, "Learning from Sephiroth is more important than winning against him. Make sure you pay as much attention to his movements as you do your own."
"You got it." A default response. It was difficult to tell whether or not Zack was paying attention as they walked side by side into the virtual training room on the forty-ninth level. There was an extra bounce in Zack's step as they strode through the metal door and into the chamber. Their holographic surroundings quivered for a moment, before blending in a dreamlike manner that Zack was certain he would never become accustomed to. When he regained his composure and sight, he found himself overlooking the ocean atop the adjunct of a structure that was plainly of ShinRa design. The base in Junon, Zack realized. They stood atop the ridiculously large, purpose-ambiguous cannon built a mere few years ago. (Zack insisted that the cannon was created to combat potential alien invasions; Angeal didn't share interest in this theory.) Further down stood Genesis and Sephiroth, swords in hand as they met the gazes of the newcomers. The red-haired man inclined his head, whispering a few unheard words to an amused Sephiroth before striding toward Zack.
"The General will see you now," he mused, offering the enthusiastic Second a playful wink. Angeal and Genesis removed themselves from the battle scene, seated upon the rounded ledge overlooking the length of the cannon. Genesis pulled LOVELESS from the depths of his coat, masking his glance in Angeal's direction. The man was focused intensely on his student, arms folded at his chest as he attempted to quell the worry mounting there. "Be at peace, my friend. You know Sephiroth won't do the boy any harm."
"The harder Zack pushes, the harder Sephiroth pushes back."
"It is merely friendly competition." Genesis dismissed the matter with a wave of his hand, returning his eyes to his poetry. "Think nothing of it."
Zack locked his arms behind his back and stretched them, relishing the sensation of blood flowing into his muscles. He relished the determination that accompanied pre-battle silence before moving to meet a steely-eyed Sephiroth. He stepped forward, hand automatically rising to the hilt of the sword strapped to his back as he met the General's stare. "Sir." The word was laced with sharpness.
"Fair." Sephiroth gave the Masamune an experimental swing, his lips extending into a smirk. "I do hope you're feeling confident today."
"Likewise." Zack raised his sword and flicked his wrist nonchalantly, an act of defiance to the naked eye. "Will you have the first move, or shall I?"
"Perhaps you should go first. I'd hate for this to be over quickly."
Zack's eyes narrowed, the rings of his irises barely tinged with mako-green. "We'll just see about that." Always find your ground, Angeal's voice lectured in his head. Stabilizing your stance is your first central defense. Don't let your opponent break your bearings. He lunged forward, certain to firmly cement his stance before swinging his sword down toward the man's chest. Sephiroth's slender weapon blocked him with ease, sharply pushing him back with a single flex of his arm. Zack grunted, parrying a second well-aimed blow to his neck. His arms trembled from the force of the silver-haired hero's attack, but Zack's expression remained steadfast as their experimental demonstration of power ended. Now came the true battle.
Angeal's swallowed hard, his eyes following the every motion of Zack's sword. The clash of metal was a blur to the average human's eyes, but his mako-enhanced vision traced the dancing blades with accuracy. His heart leapt as Sephiroth cornered Zack at the edge of the structure, his shoulders slumping in relief as the Second managed to vault over the other using his sword as leverage. Genesis shifted at his side, book now abandoned in a limp hand as he eyed the exchange with interest. "What do you know? Your puppy is holding his own against Seph."
"It's too early to tell," Angeal insisted, irrational fear clawing at his protective instincts. Sephiroth may have been his closest friend, but Zack was nothing short of a little brother. Yet time proved Genesis correct; the match pursued for seven minutes with no visible victor on either side.
"You've taught him well, Angeal," Genesis murmured, running a thoughtful hand over his chin as Zack flipped back and swung at Sephiroth's leg, his blade barely missing the edge of the man's boot. "He fights on par with SOLDERs of our caliber. Why have you not recommended him to Lazard yet?"
"He still has much to learn," Angeal said softly, his eyes flickering toward the metal surface below. He didn't so much as blink when he felt the comforting grip of Genesis' hand on his shoulder.
"Is that a feeling or a fact?" When he did not receive a response, Genesis squeezed his companion's shoulder with a whisper, "There are some things you can't teach him, Angeal."
No. Zack wasn't ready yet. He wasn't ready to see what they had seen. There was a charming innocence about Zack Fair that his mentor would give anything to preserve. And if it was up to Angeal, Zack would never have to see the reality of war, the reality of ShinRa. He would never have to see through the illusion of heroism and into the heart of corruption. Angeal flinched as Zack was finally disarmed, thrown to the ground by the force of Sephiroth's blow. The Masamune landed in the steel an inch away from the boy's throat, a satisfied smirk crossing over the General's face.
Zack groaned as he collided with the cruel, unforgiving surface beneath him. His lips twisted into a grimace, knowing he had been bested when his fist clenched around the sword that was no longer in his grasp. His eyes met with those of his colleague's, and a silent moment of regard passed between them before Sephiroth retracted his weapon to offer a hand to the younger. "It's been a pleasure, Fair."
Zack chuckled, allowing himself to grasp the man's gloved hand in his own. Sephiroth pulled him to his feet and pressed his sword into his hand, his smile softening somewhat as Zack rubbed his sore shoulder with a wince. "Ah. What was that you did, when you changed sword hands?"
"If you have enough control over your non-dominant hand, you can block an otherwise threatening blow by flipping your sword into it and bracing it upon impact. It should be used as a last resort." Sephiroth lifted the Masamune. "Try it." Zack nodded, watching as the weapon fell at a third of its normal speed. It came down at a rightward angle, leaving the other to flip his sword into his left hand and twist his wrist to parry the blow. Sephiroth nodded approvingly, withdrawing his weapon. "Not bad."
Zack's eyes immediately brightened. That was the closest he'd ever gotten to a compliment from Sephiroth! Angeal, meanwhile, was left with Genesis' words running endlessly through his mind. Zack Fair was seventeen years old; he wasn't prepared for the stripping of innocence that came with being a First. And yet, Angeal himself had been seventeen upon becoming a First, had he not? When Zack came striding back toward him, eager to show him what he'd learned, he put a hand on the boy's- man's- shoulder and guided him toward the edge of the platform. "Are we leaving already?" Zack said with a pout, to which the weight on Angeal's chest deepened.
"Zack… How would you feel about being recommended for First?"
Only the slam of the metal door behind them could break Zack's unsurpassed shock. "What? You mean it?"
Angeal nodded, a smile pulling at his lips as his student's eyes went wider than dinner plates. "Lazard will want to see a more extensive resume come time for your evaluation. When I was your age, I spent a few hours a week teaching the incoming cadets. Instructors are always grateful to hand over their classes to a member of SOLDIER."
"Whoa, whoa!" Zack took a comical step back, waving his arms in the air. "Whoa. You're telling me that I can log hours helping cadets, and actually get credit for doing it?"
"That would be the gist of the matter, yes."
Zack crossed his arms over his chest, head throw back in laughter. "That sounds great, Angeal! When can I start?"
Somehow, I knew this would appeal to him. "I'll make a few calls this evening and see what I can do. I'm willing to bet your help will be extremely sought after."
xXxFightingTheTidexXx
Cloud tapped his fingers impatiently on the desk's surface while the clerk behind it busied himself with three telephone calls at once. His stomach growled with irritation, a side effect of resolving to study the art of treating heavily bleeding wounds at breakfast time. "I have a letter for Nibelheim," he announced the moment he made eye contact with the man, whose head immediately turned to his computer screen.
"Nibelheim," Cloud reiterated, handing over his letter expectantly. The clerk offered him a noncommittal nod, to which the blonde cadet narrowed his eyes. "It's a very important letter," he tried again, unable to earn even a glance. He sighed after a moment, reaching downward to pull his duffle bag over his shoulder. "Thank you." With a last glance at the letter thrown carelessly into a bin overflowing with envelopes, he carried on toward the stairwell at the end of the floor. His lower calf muscles ached with every step he took, causing a familiar weariness to pass over him despite having scraped an extra few hours of sleep out of his night.
He ascended seven floors, his face twisted with pain as every step he took aggravated his sore legs. CADET COMBAT TRAINING, read the black lettering spread across the glass separating him from the room. Cloud sighed, his blue eyes reflecting back at him as he stared at a few of his comrades that were warming up on the marked boundaries of the gymnasium. They spoke animatedly as they stretched against the wall, a few wincing in a manner similar to Cloud. The blonde-haired cadet sighed once more, ducking his head down when he was glanced at and proceeding to the adjacent locker room. He knew he was… somewhat less gifted when it came to physical strength in comparison to his colleagues. He was slender, weedy, and couldn't aim a rifle to save his life. He couldn't bench-press twice his weight, and he couldn't punch a wall hard enough to leave a dent. But… Cloud flexed his left hand experimentally, before using it to open his locker. This is my dream. There was nothing hard work couldn't achieve. Or at least, that's what he kept telling himself.
Swiftly, he stripped out of his standard uniform in exchange for a pair of grey sweats and a white muscle shirt. Cadets sauntered in left in right, their banter echoing off of the walls.
"Heard you shot an eighty-nine last week."
"And then Kunsel told him that she had said…"
"And Tenak got caught with this girl in his room, see…"
"And who was standing right behind him but Commander Rhapsodos?"
Cloud wormed his way through the crowd, jostled a bit by the bodies around him. His nose wrinkled with relief when he escaped the scent of sweaty socks and long-unattended undergarments. He entered into the lengthy gymnasium, lined with predetermined boundaries for combat rings. The blonde cadet rolled his shoulders back and swung his arms forward, purely for show, before joining his comrades in line. He remained silent, his eyes sweeping from the mats on the floors to the florescent lights above. Something was off. Sergeant was usually barking this and that by now, telling them to clothe their sissy asses before he made them run around naked.
The door to the hallway burst open, revealing a breathless young man in a SOLDIER uniform. Blue… He must be Second Class. Cloud wasn't entirely sure when his jaw dropped open or when absolute silence filled the air, but it must been sometime around when the muscular, spiky-haired man cried out, "What time is it? I'm not late, am I?" Catching sight of the aligned recruits, now straight-backed and frozen in amazement, the man marched forward with a relieved smile on his face. It was rare to see a member of SOLDIER in a cadet gymnasium, let alone on their training floors. With his hands on his hips, the man's gaze drifted over them as he halted in front of the twenty or so cadets before him. "The name's Zack Fair, SOLDIER Second Class," he announced in a comically enthusiastic voice, his arms folding over his chest. "And I'm your substitute teacher for the day! First on my agenda is to answer any questions you might have. So…" Zack rubbed his gloved hands together, the smile never leaving his face. "Who here has thought about joining SOLDIER?"
Over two-thirds of the young men hesitantly raised their hands. A blush tinged at Cloud's cheeks. To openly admit he wanted someday to be on this man's level? He couldn't possibly make such a claim! Not wanting to draw attention to himself, Cloud remained absolutely still at the far end of the line. "Alright! Well, you guys have me to deal with for the next two hours! Before we get started, I'd like to answer questions you have about the SOLDIER program."
One hand immediately shot up into the air. "Sir? How do you become enhanced by the mako?"
"Ah, that's a good one. You see, every member receives periodic injections. Because the body initially treats mako as a poison, you start off with smaller dosages and they increase according to your body's affinity to them." Zack jabbed a thumb toward his chest, winking at the cadets. "I get mine once every two weeks. I was lucky enough to be assigned to Professor Hojo himself. I tell you, being face-to-face with him is a lot scarier than any injection." Laughter scattered among the recruits, and Cloud pursed his lips with wonder. Never had he seen a superior act so casually, so friendly with his subordinates. Two minutes and he had already won the lot of them over!
"How does the mako actually help?"
If Zack minded that his title had been dropped, he certainly didn't show it. "Well, it enhances my physical and mental stamina. Because of the mako I can move faster, jump farther, develop more concentrated muscles, and use greater amounts of magic. It increases strength, agility, reflexes… All of the basics."
"Do you ever have to sleep?"
Zack's face twisted into one of stunned amusement before bursting out into laughter. "How flattering! Yes, I have to sleep. I'm a human just like you guys. I sleep, I eat. I do normal-people stuff, like go grocery shopping, wash my socks, get shampoo in my eyes when I'm in the shower…" Zack passed a hand over his eyes with a wince, indicating that this might have been a more recent occurrence.
Cloud unintentionally bit the inside of his cheek at the very thought of Zack Fair taking a shower. It shouldn't be so shocking, he admonished himself, feeling blood circulate to his face. It's not like he's a different species. "Why did you join SOLDIER?" Cloud was oblivious, blissfully oblivious, for a total of three seconds before realizing he had unintentionally voiced his question. His once-pale face must have deepened to a shade of magenta as total silence fell upon the room. Was… Was that a stupid question? Too personal? Out of line? I'm a moron. I'm never talking again. Ever. I'm dropping out of the army. I'm going to work for the pizza parlor across the street.
Zack frowned, one hand stroking his chin thoughtfully (a gesture he had yet to realize he'd picked up from Angeal). "Well," he began, his voice somewhat softer, "I guess it's because I wanted to become a real hero. Someone to look up to, you know? That's always been my goal." The smile returned to Zack's face as he inclined his head at the painfully shy cadet. "What about you? What reason do you have for joining?"
How did he…? I never indicated that I wanted to enter. Then again, he may have about as much control of his arm-raising as he did over his vocal cords. Cloud's heart clenched as he thought back to that night with Tifa, and the promise he'd made to her. His voice softened with loss of confidence as he uttered, "I want to protect the people closest to me." Zack's warm smile made Cloud's heart melt in his chest, causing him to feel as though he had done something very right.
"It's important to have a healthy motivation. You'll never stop striving for your dreams." Zack mulled the comment over in his head. I really do sound like Angeal, he mused, before clapping his hands together and calling out, "Alright. Get into your sparring partners and practice the sets you were taught last week. I'll come around to check your form and give you some pointers."
Damn, why am I such a spaz? Thoroughly humiliated, Cloud strode swiftly over to his partner, who had already claimed a nearby ring.
"Why don't you go first? God knows you need the practice, Strife." The teenager jerked his head toward Cloud, a smirk crossing his face.
The blonde sighed, a heaviness settling itself on his chest. Great, just great. He was about to make a fool of himself in front of a genuine SOLDIER! Zack would only pay him any mind out of pity when he got his ass beaten into the concrete. Cloud took his stance, glancing backward to ensure that Zack was nowhere in sight. Then, he stepped forward and struck with his left fist. Parried. His right. Parried. His arms were promptly twisted and he was thrown into the ground below. When he opened his eyes with a wince, he did not meet the victorious gaze of his sparring partner, but the vivid cerulean eyes of Zack Fair. Of course. Cloud promptly got to his feet, hiding a blush by wiping his mouth with a sleeve. He glanced at the Second Class, wondering if his eyes were narrowed in concentration or disgust. He barely had time to ponder the matter before his partner instigated the next move; he lunged toward Cloud before capturing the blonde's wrists. The position for the infamous 'flip'. No matter how he braced his stance, Cloud couldn't stop himself from being thrown overhead and once again slammed into the ground. He choked out a groan of pain, barely registering the much gentler grip on his hands as he was pulled to his feet.
Cloud stifled a gasp when he realized it was Zack who had helped him up and was guiding him back to his side of the ring. He was positioned facing the other recruit, whose eyes held some semblance of envy as Zack began to whisper into his ear, "Exercises like this are more difficult for people with a stature similar to yours. This time, get a grip on him and slide your left foot forward into the ground when he tries to break your stance. You'll know what to do from there." Zack stepped out of the ring and commanded, "Try the set again."
Though clearly befuddled, Cloud readied himself to be pounded flat once more. His opposition dove forward and the two locked their hands around each other's wrist. Cloud's left foot skidded forward, and in a split-second realized what he had to do. He jammed his knee upward, which just so happened to be directly beneath the other's abdomen. Immediately the grip on him was released and his opponent was curled up in the fetal position on the floor. An inevitable smile crossed his face as he turned back to Zack… only to realize the man had proceeded to the next pair. Cloud sighed, pathetically running a hand through his hair. He tried to shake away his crestfallen expression; of course the man wasn't interested in his progress. He only wanted to stop the cadet from embarrassing himself.
Zack took a deep breath, trying to maintain a professional expression while reveling in the excitement he felt bubbling in his chest as he overlooked the cadets. Strangely enough, they seemed to really enjoy his company. Angeal had always told him he had 'a way' with people. He walked up and down the isle of combating recruits, his eyes draw once again to the slender, blonde cadet that seemed like something of a misfit amongst his comrades. A smile tugged at his lips as the young man effectively engaged his opponent and sent him sprawling to the floor. Really, with all of the money ShinRa weaseled the populace out of, they could at least afford to specialize their combat classes. Oh well. When he's accepted into the SOLDIER program, he'll have the chance to develop his individual skills.
He leaned up against the wall, his sweeping eyes gluing themselves to the fair-skinned blonde. The boy's hair was naturally spiked and just begged to be endearingly ruffled. Zack ran a hand through his own hair and settled it on his neck as he watched with a wince as the boy's arms were twisted behind him by his opponent. His stance is perfect, but it's the wrong sort of approach for his build. In the infinitely wise categorization method of Zack's mind, there were two types of combat styles: the Angeal Hewley style, and the Genesis Rhapsodos style. Some were built for strength and head-on action, others were built for speed and more creative approaches. Cloud Strife certainly fit under the Genesis Rhapsodos style if he… Realizing that he had been staring at that particular cadet for an immeasurable amount of time, he turned his gaze to the ceiling and faked a yawn before dashing forward to adjust the posture of a recruit.
When class had finally ended, he received a chorus of appreciation from his subordinates as they filed back to the locker room. "Take care! See you guys later! Don't forget to tell your sergeant that I'm totally awesome! And- Hmm?" Zack reached into his pocket and pulled out his vibrating mobile, his grin widening at the name listed. He flipped it open and held it up to his ear. "Hey, Angeal!"
"How did it go?"
"It felt so great to help out! I just hope they learned something useful from me."
"I'm certain that they did. You can tell me more about it on the way to Sector Five. We have a job to do. Meet me in the briefing room."
Zack whopped, throwing his fist into the air. "Sweet!" He stuffed the phone into his pocket and ran toward the elevator at the end of the hall, a pair of blue eyes shadowing his movement down the corridor.
xXxFightingTheTidexXx
Being a member of SOLDIER wasn't all fun and games, you know. If you returned to headquarters covered in monster blood and bits of rubble, you most likely had a worthwhile day. Zack trudged into ShinRa at precisely ten o' clock in the evening, appearing to have had the most productive day of all time. He earned sour expressions from the night cleaning crew as he trailed debris along the sparkling floors, shrugging his apology as he made his way toward the nearest elevator. His hand hovered over the button that led to the Second Class apartments, but withdrew it in split-second moment of thought. There was no way he'd ever get the stench out of his quarters if he entered as he was. Instead, he pressed the button that led to the SOLDIER gym. He'd use the showers in the lockers rooms instead. Sure they were somewhat lacking temperature-wise, but at least they'd be nice and empty at this time of night so he could spend as long as he wanted washing the stench of slime from his body.
The corridor was eerily quiet, the only light illuminating his way being that of the dim emergency lights and the incoming radiance from Sector Eight through the windows. He fumbled with the keycard in his pocket, before unlocking the gym and in turn the locker rooms. Technically he really shouldn't have been in a restricted area this late at night, but he figured that if ShinRa was going to send him off to get covered in monster guts, the least they could do was pay for his shower. He flipped on the lights and immediately began to strip off his clothes, leaving them carelessly in his wake as he trudged toward the nearest stall. He jerked the nozzle all the way to the left and lifted it up, shuddering as the chilly water soaked him to the bone. Nevertheless, the relief that came with ridding himself of that horrid reek was undeniably worth standing under that freezing water motionless for at least fifteen minutes. If only he had been carrying around a Barrier materia like Angeal told him to! But why carry around Barrier when you could have cool stuff, like Fire and Lightning?
Why? This is why. Zack yanked out a piece of rubble lodged into his hair. When he had finally used up the soap pump attached to the wall of the shower, he stepped out and swiftly made his way to his locker to grab his spare uniform and a towel (which may or may not have been used already. At this point, Fair wasn't exactly in a position to be picky). He relished the sensation of semi-fresh cloth against his body as he dressed, giving his hair a last good rub down with the towel before tossing it back into his locker. He glanced down at his old uniform, which now littered the locker room floor. He removed his cell phone and wallet from the discarded pants before shoving the uniform down the designated laundry chute, wondering if he'd ever see it again. He more often than not did his own laundry, not trusting the assigned crew after receiving his last shirt back two sizes too small. Strapping his sword to his back, he ruffled a hand through his dripping hair before making his way out of the room. He shut off the locker room lighting before stepping into the gym, freezing when he saw a flicker of movement against the dim moonlight. His hand instinctively went to his sword, though faltered when he realized that the silhouette was one of a comrade in arms. The slender figure was holding a ShinRa-issued sword, whipping it around his body and slicing through the air with utter precision. Zack didn't seem to have proper control of his body as he rested his head against the doorframe and silently watch the shadow dance with its sword. The sight was so beautiful, he wondered if he might be imagining it. (A possibility he was willing to consider- he still had a bump on his head from when he'd been thrown into the wall of a building earlier that day."
The swordsman was moving slowly, slightly clumsy, as though just growing accustomed to the motions. Zack wasn't sure how long he had been standing there in the complete darkness before the figure lowered his sword, which met the ground with a soft 'clang' in his lazy grasp. "Who am I kidding?" a soft voice mumbled, a voice tinged by a light accent that was unmistakable to Zack's ears. He had heard it only just that morning, after all.
"Hey, uh, you!" He winced when the figure nearly leaped out of his skin, the sword clattering to the floor. Zack could almost feel the fear radiating off of the young man as he crossed the room swiftly, guilt tugging at him. He hadn't meant to scare the poor boy! As he got closer, the spiky nature of the shadow's hair and the blue tinge of his wide eyes cemented his suspicions. Zack awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, his hand flexing with nervousness as he spoke, "I don't know if you remember me…"
"Lieutenant Fair, Sir. SOLDIER, Second Class." The cadet straightened, and Zack noticed that the boy was trembling slightly at his knees.
"At east, at ease. You're not in trouble." His words seemed to have some calming effect, causing the younger's shoulders to sag. "I just wanted to know what you're doing here."
"I-I'm sorry, Sir." Zack strained his ears to keep up with that soft, dreadfully shy voice. "The door to the gymnasium was left open, and I was passing by on my way back to my room. I was curious."
Cloud's heart hammered in his chest, praying that the man could not see his flushed face or trembling legs. How humiliating! He'd been caught training- if it could even be called that-with a sword by a master swordsman! And the same one he'd made a fool of himself in front of just that morning! Was the man going to cite him for misconduct? Or simply taunt him like anyone else would?
"Yeah well, that was my fault. I must have left the door open on my way to my locker…" Angeal would positively kill him if he knew that Zack had been so irresponsible! Luckily it was neither an enemy nor a thief, but an enthusiastic cadet. "You were pretty good with that sword. How much training have you had?"
Cloud put on a brave face. He deserved to be mocked, and he would have to adhere to his superior's questions even if it killed him. "None, Sir. Just what I see."
"Yeah?" Zack bent over and picked up the sword, tossing it between his hands with a hum of interest. "How does the weight feel?"
"Um… Sir?"
"The weight of the sword. How does it feel when you're swinging it? Too light, too heavy?"
Cloud swallowed hard as the man tested the sword in his own grasp. What was he playing at? Was he going to slice Cloud to smithereens? "It's a little heavy, Sir."
"I thought so. I'll be right back." Zack ran off toward to the left, leaving Cloud staring dumbly at the air in front of him. The Second Class SOLDIER was back by his side in a manner of moments, dragging him toward an area of greater light near the glass windows overlooking the city below. He pressed the hilt of a different sword into Cloud's hands, and began to explain, "This sword is a little lighter, but heavy enough so that you can still feel resistance. Try it out."
Cloud's heart rate slowed to normal, a different excitement replacing his fear. He couldn't believe what was happening! He sliced through the air from the upper right to the lower left, earning a grunt of approval from Zack. "Having a sword you can wield with only one hand leaves you a lot of leeway to use materia on the flip of a dime. It's a great advantage. Now, if you're worried about footing, don't be. Your focal point is your sword. Everything else follows naturally. By the looks of it, you already sort of have the feel for this." Zack swept behind the cadet and reached around him to grasp his hands in his own. Cloud's breath stuck to his lungs as the man whispered in his ear, "Okay, loosen your grip a little. Heh. Don't want to cut off circulation to our fingers, do we? When you take a jab at the right from the left, step forward with your left. When you take a jab at the left from the right, step forward with your right." Cloud did as the man instructed, focusing of the shift of his weight as he went. "Good, good! You feel that momentum? That's key. You need to feel that same flow for every movement you make."
"I see. Th-thank you, Sir." Cloud pursed his lips and lowered the sword in a contemplative state. Why was Zack doing this for him? He had snuck into a SOLDIER gym and stolen a turn with a weapon that had no right to be in his hand.
"Tell you what. Call me 'Zack' And you are?"
"Cloud. Cloud Strife."
"Well, Cloud Strife, how about you and I talk strategy the Zack Fair way?"
xXxFightingTheTidexXx
As it turned out, strategy the Zack Fair way was talking about swordsmanship over pizza in the man's apartment. In fact, Cloud was pretty sure that by adding pizza to any occasion, you automatically made it the 'Zack Fair' way. The blonde was shocked when the Second Class had taken him by the hand and led him up to one of the higher levels of the ShinRa building (Cloud had been forced to shut his eyes on the elevator to prevent himself from throwing up all over the man), and into apartment number twenty-three. While Cloud was hesitant about following a nigh stranger into a secluded area, his fear and admiration of Zack kept him from running down the corridor and screaming for help. And there they sat, curled up on a coffee-brown sofa eating a microwavable pizza and drinking orange soda.
SOLDIER has it so good, Cloud thought as his eyes drifted over the apartment. Sure, the furniture was secondhand, the walls were chipped, and the carpet was a hideous, shaggy beige… but it was a home. What Cloud wouldn't give to have a place of his own!
"And so," Zack continued, his mouth full of pepperoni, sausage, tomatoes, olives, and cheese, "Balance is only second to focus. Angeal is always harping on me about that, 'cause I don't always have the best attention span. Oh, Angeal is my mentor. He's been with me ever since I joined SOLDIER. I have a feeling he'd like you; you're kinda like me! A natural swordsman, a real adventurous spirit. Only you're quieter and you listen better. Come to think of it, he'd like you even better than me." Zack's mouth twisted into a woeful grimace before leaning over to grab another slice of pizza and tossing it onto a greasy paper plate. "So, how are your marks anyway?"
"Fine," Cloud said, still prodding at his second piece of pizza, while Zack had gone through at least five. "I've been comparing my scores to the averages of the SOLDIER potentials. My physical conditioning evaluations and my weapon accuracy are both still low."
"That's it?" Zack waved his hand in utter dismissal. "Those things will improve over time. I was a really bad shot too, when I first started. I passed the SOLDIER exam with the lowest gun-handling scores, but Angeal made me learn how to shoot properly anyway. I was pissed, but it saved my life once. I had to shoot through a strap while I was hiking on the side of a mountain to keep from strangling myself."
Cloud's eyes bugged out, already wide with admiration. This man spoke of death as though facing it was an everyday occurrence! Come to think of it, it probably was for this man. "That's incredible!"
"Nah." Zack modestly waved away his praise, though a smile pulled at his lips. "I can help you with your shooting a little. I have some tips and tricks up my sleeve. But I can really help you with your sword work. You'll have a great foundation before you even join SOLDIER training."
Cloud chuckled dully, his eyes flickering down to the carpet as he leaned his head against his arm sprawled against the back of the couch. "You mean 'if' I join."
"No I don't."
Cloud looked up. He was startled as Zack's eyes pierced his own, utter seriousness molded into their gaze; a seriousness he had yet to witness the other adorn. "You seem so certain," Cloud mumbled, running a shy hand through his hair as he contemplated a crease in the sofa cushion.
"Of course. You have a healthy motivation. All you have to do is embrace your dreams." Zack tilted his head toward the ceiling, before glancing back toward the cadet. "I like you, Cloud. I'll teach you everything I know. Friends?" He stuck out his hand, a wide smile glistening across his face.
Half of Cloud's brain told him that he would just fuck this up, encouraging him to go running in the opposite direction- coincidentally the direction of the window. The other half wondered how nice it would be, to actually have a friend in a world that normally never took a second glance at him. But this man, the least likely to ever do so, took a second glance. How could he say no? "Friends," he affirmed, taking the other's hand and shaking it firmly. "Thanks, Zack," Cloud mumbled as he withdrew his grasp, certain that his pale skin was revealing the blood rushing to his cheeks.
"No problem, kid." Zack reached over to tousle the younger's hair, earning a soft grunt of annoyance before pulling out his mobile. "Whoops! It's two o' clock. I kept you for way longer than I thought."
Two o' clock? I was supposed to be in the barracks by eleven! "I have a class tomorrow morning!" Cloud yelped, leaping to his feet only to be yanked back down by a grinning Zack, who was now speaking into his phone.
"Hey, Genesis," Zack said, tapping a finger against the outer edge of his mobile habitually.
"Wh-what is it, Zack? Your mission didn't last this long, did it? Is Ah-Angeal okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine." Zack frowned, pressing the phone against his ear. He swore he could hear a soft panting in the background, but he couldn't tell if it was Genesis. "Are you okay?"
"Fine, fine. Just preoccupied. What can I do for you tonight?" There was a grunt, and a sudden stillness of all movement in the background.
"Well, I need a favor. I would ask Angeal but he'd be pretty irritated if I called him this late at night for something like this. I figured you'd still be awake."
"The nightingale knows not the time of day, only the song in its heart."
"I'll remember that. Can you please write out an excuse slip for Cadet Cloud Strife? He won't be in the barracks tonight, and he won't be at his first class tomorrow."
Melodious laughter filled the receiver. "My, my! Angeal's little Puppy has gone and grown into a wolf! Taking a cadet to our bed, are we?"
"Wha-?" Zack flushed at the very implications. "No, no, no! It's not like that! I'm just giving him a little one-on-one training!"
"My, how kinky!"
"Shut up!"
"Okay, okay. I shall excuse Cadet Strife from his early morning responsibilities as he is receiving formal training under Zack Fair. Or rather, underneath Zack Fair."
"You're such a pervert!"
"Anything else, Sweetheart?"
"No. Thanks, Genesis."
"May the songbird lull you into a slumber of sweet dreams."
"Erm, same to you." Zack flipped his phone shut with a shudder, before turning back to his friend with an exasperated smile. "Sorry about that. Genesis excuses you from being in the barracks. You can crash here. Instead of going to your morning class, you and I are going to spend some quality time investigating your sword technique."
"Oh! Thanks, Zack. You didn't have to do that." Cloud inwardly cheered. Yes! No weight lifting for him tomorrow! "So, who's this life-saving Genesis?"
Zack's brow knitted into a frown for a moment, before he broke out into laughter. "That's right, you'd probably know him as Commander Rhapsodos."
Cloud's jaw dropped as he stared at the grinning man. Zack had been so 'buddy-buddy' on the phone with Genesis Rhapsodos? And had called him a pervert? "You know Commander Rhapsodos?"
"Sure, sure. My mentor is a good friend of Genesis'. Sephiroth's too." He winked suddenly, reaching over to nudge the cadet playfully in the shoulder. "Bet you'd like to meet the General, huh?"
"No!" Cloud protested quickly, shuffling his shoe against the carpet. "I wouldn't know what to say!"
Zack chuckled, leaping up off of the couch and heading for the closet in the hallway connecting to his bedroom. "You'd be surprised at how agreeable Sephiroth can be when it comes to conversation," Zack called, fishing out a spare blanket and pillow from underneath the rarely-used ironing board. "Angeal's a really good cook you see, and he was talking to Seph about pancake toppings just the other day. As it turns out, he really likes strawberries and whip cream, but he can't stand maple syrup. Too sticky."
Angeal? Seph? Pancake toppings? Strawberries? Whip cream?
Just who was it that Cloud had befriended, being so intimate with the legendary Trinity of SOLDIER?
"Here," Zack tossed him his sleeping accessories, which Cloud caught with unsteady hands. "I'd let you take the bed, but I don't want you to see my room. It's a total pigsty. But that's the life of a Second Class, you know."
"Heh." Cloud smiled, propping the pillow up against one end of the sofa. "The couch is perfectly fine. I really appreciate this, Zack."
"Don't sweat it. This is what friends are for! The bathroom is down the hall to the left, and my bedroom is to the right. If you hear freaky noises, they're probably from next-door. My neighbor brings his girlfriend home a lot. Just kinda pound on the wall. They'll shut up." With this, Zack flipped off the lights and headed into his own room, leaving Cloud to curl up on his couch. It was much more comfortable than his cot back at the barracks, the blonde decided as he buried his head into his pillow and tucked the covers over his form. The temperature was right, the sofa wasn't bumpy, and the blanket wasn't itchy. Even so, Cloud couldn't help but wonder whether or not Zack Fair let all of the people he'd only known for a single day sleep on his couch.
xXxFightingTheTidexXx
"Okay, okay. I shall excuse Cadet Strife from his early morning responsibilities as he is receiving formal training under Zack Fair. Or rather, underneath Zack Fair." Genesis clenched his cell phone tightly in his hand, unable to hold back a smile. Even in his current position he could still effectively tease Zack Fair.
"You're such a pervert!"
"Anything else, Sweetheart?" Genesis closed his eyes, biting back a moan as a hand traveled down his chest.
"No. Thanks, Genesis."
"May the songbird lull you into a slumber of sweet dreams."
"Erm, same to you."
The phone snapped shut and was promptly tossed to the floor, Genesis' lips trembling as he felt the man behind him shift while sheathed within him.
"I don't like being interrupted, Genesis." A pale, strong hand caressed his throat. A hand that could snap his neck and leave him for dead within moments.
"My apologies. I haven't control over such things." The red-haired warrior gasped, his hips arching into the air as he was rocked forward onto his forearms. A curtain of silver hair drifted over his shoulders, followed by the whisper:
"I'm not sure I'm willing to go on. I'll need some convincing."
Genesis ducked his head behind his outstretched arm to hide his face from the culprit. "Please… please. For heaven's sake, I need you."
"Pray tell, how badly do you need me?" A hand graced over his cock, causing the man to pant and grasp at the red silk sheets below.
"So, so badly!" Genesis' attempt to roll his hips back was promptly thwarted by the other's hands grasping them. He knew what he was meant to do. He was meant to degrade himself, to admit that he was nothing and would always be nothing in comparison to Sephiroth. But Genesis was strong; he didn't have to put up with the man's games if he didn't want to. So why the hell did he do it? "Fuck me like the slut you know I am," he hissed, his tongue giving way to his orgasm-denied body.
Genesis shut his eyes, allowing his shoulders to slump forward as Sephiroth clutched at him and pounded mercilessly into his body. He focused only on the intense sensation of the man moving within him, only his concentration keeping the pleasure in his gut overriding the sickness he felt. His hand descended to his own length, stroking it swiftly as bliss shot through his spine. "Yes, yes, yes…" he murmured, quivering with pleasure as he pumped his erection and shook with bliss. "Deeper!" he cried, arching his back and relishing it- him.
"You really are a slut, aren't you?" Sephiroth muttered, head thrown back with grit teeth as the friction between his legs mounted. Yes, this is what the General wanted. Submission, from his most powerful rival. It got him off, gave him satisfaction beyond the physical realm.
"Yes." Genesis covered his mouth with his free hand, tears springing to his eyes. He could feel his arousal failing him, becoming desensitized to touch. He needed to finish, and quickly. He shut his eyes and rocked against Sephiroth, using the opportunity to reach back and clasp a hand around his lover's neck. Genesis buried his face in Sephiroth's hair, inhaling deeply with a troubled moan.
He came to a quick and unsettled orgasm, spilling weakly onto the sheets below as Sephiroth rode out his climax within his stretched insides. Genesis collapsed, with nothing but cum on the sheets and a man sprawled out over him to show for it. It only took three breaths before the General disengaged himself. It would have been alright. It would have been normal. If Sephiroth hadn't made every attempt not to touch him. Even if that wasn't the case, would it have killed the man to lay an affectionate hand on him before jerking out of him, hands against the mattress as leverage? It left him lying there, feeling… feeling like the slut he had claimed to be.
In some attempt to recover his lost dignity, Genesis reached to the side and wrapped a tousled sheet around his body before sitting up and shooting the dressing man a smirk. "To your satisfaction, General?" he purred, stretching his arms over his head and arching his back in the manner of a feline.
"As always, Genesis."
Always. The red-head sighed, allowing his head to fall back against the headboard. Always swift and rough. Always just enough to sate him. Always without a touch of tenderness. Never a kiss to the lips, never a caress just for the sake of touch, never even a chance at having sex face-to-face. It was all impersonal with Sephiroth, and it was best that way. Genesis was sure of it. He didn't mind giving himself to Sephiroth; he had signed his body over years ago. But he did wonder why he was left feeling so terribly unfulfilled afterward.