Cloud walked into the basement of the ShinRa mansion in Nibleheim.

He looked around the room and memories came flooding back; The experiments, floating around in the mako tank for what felt like weeks at a time. He remembered when Zack tried to protest and Hojo would threaten to hurt Cloud more, if that was possible. And when Cloud objected and Hojo stabbed giant needles into Zack without even a second thought. Zack never screamed though, He never cried out in pain. He just looked over at Cloud and smiled weakly. Cloud always just screamed like there was no tomorrow. Zack never put Cloud through the distress of hearing his lover in excruciating pain.

The blonde went over to one of the mako tanks and put his hand on it. He remembered opening his eyes and seeing Zack stood in front of his tank, then opening it and catching Cloud as he fell out the tank lifelessly. Zack knelt on the ground holding Clouds upper body. He tenderly kissed Cloud and told him everything would be okay. Cloud wished he could respond, to kiss Zack back and cuddle him. Once again Cloud felt the warm soft lips grace his mako soaked skin.

Cloud opened his eyes. He was sat with his back to the tank crying into his knees. He walked around the tank and found a small slip of paper tucked away behind the tank. It had Clouds name on it so he picked it up and unfolded it.

Dear Cloud,

If you're reading this, I guess I'm not around any more. I thought this might happen so I wrote this. You work twice as hard as every one else and you're clever. Have confidence in yourself and do your best. The world isn't full of bad people like you might think. Live long enough and good things will come your way eventually.

"Next time that you feel like crying,

next time toy don't feel like tying

just remember ill be right there,

smiling down on you.

In the morning you don't feel like rising,

next time you feel like compromising,

just remember ill be right there,

smiling down on you."

You might feel lonely without me around, but you'll find someone new. I'm sorry. If it's to painful, please just forget about me. Nothing can ever come between us. Thanks for all the good times we had together.

From Zack.

P.S. Actually, I'd be happy if sometimes, you did remember.

"Z...Zack.." Cloud whimpered and curled up tighter, hugging the paper. He felt a warm,, familiar hand on his head and looked up slowly. Zack was knelt opposite him, smiling and ruffling his hair. Cloud jumped on his lover and hugged him as tight as he could.

"It's okay Cloud. I'll always be with you" Zack closed his eyes and kissed Cloud gently.

"You didn't deserve to die Zack" Cloud pressed himself into Zacks warm chest.

"Not many people do Cloud. But its not like I'm dead. I'll always be there when you need me" Zack cradled Cloud as he started to disappear.

"You shouldn't be there for me... I took credit for your work and now everyone knows me and thinks I'm a hero and not you. Only a handful of people know who you are. I'm a piss take of a living legacy"

"Cloud. Stop it" Zack kissed Cloud, "You are a hero. You stopped Sephiroth 3 times and I'm really proud of you. I love you" Zack said as he faded away and Cloud was back in the old lab clutching the paper.

"Thank you...Zack..."