Mad Skillz
by Ky

Summary: Flexibility and balance were not Cloud's strong points.
Genre: Humor
Rating: G
Warnings: None.

Disclaimer: Square Enix owns Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and Final Fantasy VII: Last Order and Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core. Another thing I have to disclaim here is: I've never played Final Fantasy VII. However, I have watched Advent Children 3 or 4 times, I've seen Last Order, and I'm currently obsessed with the trailer for Crisis Core because Zack rules.

Notes: Special thanks to Delightful Sin for beta-reading this. It really helped a lot, even thought I didn't take all of your suggestions exactly.

"You wanted to work on your balance, right?" Zack asked, touching his toes easily.

Cloud nodded in reply.

"Okay! Here, take this," the black-haired SOLDIER handed him a large cardboard box. "Good thing I ordered that pizza for lunch, eh?"

Cloud took the pizza box, turning it over in his hands dubiously. "What's this for?"

"Make like you're going to kick somebody. Like, a side kick," Zack responded.

Setting down the box, Cloud drew his right knee towards his body, then, in one swift motion, extended his right leg, pivoted with his left foot, and aimed his right heel to strike an imaginary target. Anyone who aspired to be a SOLDIER had to have at least some knowledge of martial arts, after all. The more fighting styles one knew the more useful one was.

"There. Freeze!" Zack exclaimed.

Cloud wobbled slightly. He had been quite ready to re-chamber his kick and stand on two feet again, thank you very much.

Zack took the pizza box from where Cloud had dropped it and set it atop Cloud's right foot, where the foot formed an angle with his right leg because of his outstretched heel.

"There you go. Hold that right there. I'll time."

Cloud gritted his teeth. His left foot twitched. He adjusted his position, bending over just slightly so he felt that his body weight was more evenly distributed. He glared enviously at Zack, who had dropped into full splits, legs straight out on either side of his body, and was now stretching to one side, as easily as if such positions were natural to him.

Flexibility was not Cloud's strong point. Just looking at the black-haired SOLDIER's splits made the insides of Cloud's thighs hurt.

Zack quickly caught on to his friend staring at him. "It hurts a little, okay?" He replied, switching his stretch to the other side of his body. "But hey," he leaned forward and stretched straight out in front of him now. "Ugh. If you wanna be a first class SOLDIER, you've gotta be able to do this. Flexibility's important. Fuller range of motion and all. You should see Sephiroth--"

Further words from Zack were interrupted by a wide-eyed Cloud making a choking noise. The blonde wind-milled his arms wildly in an attempt to regain his balance, but toppled over anyway, landing in a heap on the ground. The pizza box fell next to him with a mocking thud. Apparently, balance was not Cloud's strong point, either.

Zack shrugged and looked at the clock on the wall. "A minute and a half. Not bad. Now, try your left leg."