yay! chapter 2! :) I really have no idea what to put up here really, sooo...enjoy I guess! :D
Zack: You suck at these introductions.
me: Yeah, I know T^T
Cloud: Don't forget the chocolate milk!
me: O_O
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~XChapter 2: Work Led To This?X~
The holidays had ended and Zack found his vaction time over. But, what was he going to do about Cloud? His alarm blared at four in the morning. Zack leaned over and slapped the alarm clock to make it shut up. He glanced back over at Cloud. He was sleeping peacefully, unfased from the alarm, and he had Zack's broad arm, wrapped around in his frail ones.
Zack had to carefully remove his arm from Clouds grasp. Yes, Zack grew a soft spot and continued to let Cloud sleep in his bed with him. But that was going to end one of these days. Cloud rolled over on his other side as his hand fell over the side of the bed, as it dangled almost seemingly to be lifeless.
The covers were around Cloud, only a coner of the blanket was draped over Cloud's stomach. Once again, Zack succeded in hogging the covers. He walked over to Cloud's side of the bed and scooted him away from the edge of the bed he was so near falling off from. He rested his once sprawled out hand over his chest and placed his little chocobo in his other arm. Zack pulled the covers over Cloud more. It was still December after all.
Zack disapeared into the kitchen to search for somthing to drink. He decided to call Shinra HQ and tell them about Cloud. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed his work number before holding it up to his ear.
"Shinra Power Company, How can I help you?" A desk attendant answered.
"Zack Fair speaking, could you patch me up to the pres?" Zack asked taking milk out of the fridge.
"One moment please." The lady said switching the line.
Cheesy elevator music played while Zack waited. Zack chugged the milk straight from the carton. It was still good.
"Hello?" The president answered.
"Hey Pres, Zack Fair here. I'm calling about my work today."
"Oh? What about it?"
"You see, Three days ago I found a boy on the streets and took him in. I'm not sure what to do with the kid while I work today." Zack said twisting the cap back onto the milk carton.
"You can't leave him at home?" The president inquired.
"Last time I left the house for thirty minutes, Toilet paper was strewn all over the living room and Cloud had gotten ahold of some candy I keep stored away in a drawer. Let's say the sugar rush and the mess he made in the kitchen took me three hours to clean." Zack explained chuckling as he put the milk back in the fridge.
"I see, well, I guess you may bring the child up here for today. One of the Turks, Cissnei, Has no important jobs to be doing. You can leave the child with her. I'll let her know." The president said flipping through some early morning paperwork. "Alright, thanks a ton. Bye." Zack said before hanging up the phone and grabbing a breakfast muffin from the cupboard beside the fridge.
Guess He'd have to go and wake Cloud up and get him ready. First, he needed to get himself ready. Zack finished his muffin and stalked to the bathroom before disapearing behind the closed door for twenty minutes to take a quick shower. Afterwards he got dressed in his SOLDIER uniform and brushed his teeth free from the scent of muffin.
He went into his room. Cloud was still sleeping peacefully, a slight snore coming from his mouth. He was drooling on the pillow.
"Cloud, get up. Zack said lightly shaking him." Cloud rolled over on his back and rubbed his eyes.
"Time to get up. You've got to come with me today." Zack said helping Cloud sit up. "Daddy...I'm still sleepy." He muttered yawning.
"I know, I know." Zack said picking Cloud up.
"Where we go?" Cloud asked streaching.
"Your coming up to where I work." Zack said carrying Cloud into the kitchen.
"You hungry?" Zack asked. Cloud nodded.
Zack fixed Cloud a glass of milk, a breakfast muffin, half a banana, and a cup of yogurt.
"It's not much but here you go." Zack said giving Cloud his breakfast.
He picked up a spoon and stabbed into the yogurt cup and peeling the aluminum lid off the top. Zack quickly walked to the bathroom and got a hairbrush. Cloud's hair had bedhead galore. But then again, didn't it always? Zack brushed Cloud's hair as he ate. Cloud finished his breakfast and milk and carried the dishes to the sink. He tried to put them in gently, but they made a loud clang. Nothing broke.
Zack helped Cloud get dressed for the day, and also to brush his teeth. He gave Cloud a book to bring along with his little chocobo plush so he wouldn't get bored or lonely. Zack left the apartment with Cloud resting on his hip as he locked the door. Cloud was reading the book to his chocobo, whom he called Choco.
"Alright, let's get a move on." Zack said hoisting Cloud up to ride on his shoulders.
Cloud observed the veiw from Zacks shoulders. His hands resting on Zack's head.
"Daddy! I'm a bird! Cheee! Chee!" Cloud chirped like a bird and pretended to fly by plapping his arms up and down. Zack chuckled.
They arrived at Shinra HQ at about seven-ish. The automatic doors slid open for them. Zack set Cloud down on the ground. Cloud was in awe at the large spacious building. He began to run off.
"Cloud, don't run off!" Zack called grabbing him by the middle.
"Sorry Daddy." Cloud apologized. Zack looked around.
"Cissnei should be here." Zack said to himself.
Cloud threw his chocobo plush into the air, exclaiming that Choco could fly. Some of the secretaries giggled at little Cloud.
"Zack!" A voice called from the stairway. There was Cissnei racing down the steps carefully.
"Ah, there you are Cissnei." Zack smiled.
Cloud squeaked and hid behind Zack.
"So I heard from the pres that he wants me to watch the little boy your looking after?" Cissnei said smiling with her hands behind her back and leaning into the question it seemed.
"Yup. This is Cloud." Zack said slightly moving over to reveil Cloud fiddling with Choco nervously.
When he was in veiw again, he squeaked and ran behind Zack again, clutching his pantleg tightly.
"Sorry, He's really shy." Zack chuckled.
"Aww! He's adorable!" Cissnei cooed.
Zack crouched down to Cloud's height, so they could see eye-to-eye.
"Hey Cloud, I have to work. Sadly, You can't be with me when I work, so Cissnei here is going to look after you for awhile, okay?" Zack asked patting Cloud's head. Cloud gave a little sniff.
"But Daddy! I don't want you to go! Because if you go, then you'll go like my mommy did and never come back!" Cloud wailed burying his face in Zack's knee.
"Oh, Cloud I'm not going to do that to you." Zack said loosely hugging him.
"I'm just going to be upstairs for a few hours, I'll come right back when I'm done with work, I promise." Zack said.
"You swear?" Cloud asked looking at Zack now.
"Cross my heart." he smiled.
Cloud nodded and hugged Zack one last time.
"See you later Daddy." He said before slowly approaching Cissnei.
"Cissnei, if there's an emergancy, call me okay?" Zack asked.
"Sure thing!: Cissnei winked.
Zack thanked Cissnei before dashing toward the elevators and disapearing as the metalic dorrs slid shut.
"Alright Cloud. Wanna go to the park?" She smiled. Cloud's face lit up.
"I love the park!" He exclaimed.
"Good." Cissnei giggled leading him out of Shinra.
"Hold my hand okay?" She asked. Cloud obeyed.
Suprisingly, The rumours of Midgar not being able to support grass, trees, or flowers, was just that, a rumour. Because Midgar always looked alive in the winter for some reason. Grass was yellow-green, certian flowers would bloom. Pine trees, ever so green. The park was full of trees and flowers.
Cloud dashed to the swings and began to swing. Cissnei watched him swinging high. The boy could entertain himself so easily. He hopped off and tumbled. He srang back up giggling. He went down the slide a few times. Cissnei lost track of time while Cloud was having fun. She checked her watch. They had been there since eight in the moring. Now it was high noon!
"Hey Cloud, Let's go get some lunch, then we can come back of you want." Cissnei suggested.
"Yeah!" Cloud exlcaimed.
"Choco wants some cupcakes!" Cloud smiled.
"Is that what you want too Cloud?" Cissnei asked. Cloud nodded.
"Alright, only a few okay?" She smiled. Cloud nodded and began to run around. This kid had some energy!
They arrived at a cafe in sector 8. Cloud got a chocolate, and a vanilla cupcake, with a glass of milk. He quickly scarfed that down. Cissnei just got a little somthing to nibble on.
"May we go to the park again?" Cloud sweetly asked.
"Your not tired from all that running around?" Cissnei asked.
"Nu-uh!" Cloud exclaimed hopping off the chair.
He began to copy Zack whenever he did squats. Cissnei burst out into laughter, she tried to contain it but failed.
"Alright, let's go to the park." She smiled.
"Yay!" Cloud exclaimed grabbing Choco and running off.
"Hold on Cloud! Wait for me!" Cissnei called hurrying to pay the bill and dash after the energetic Cloud.
They arrived back at the park. No one was there but her and Cloud. He dashed around again and spun himself on the merry-go-round until he was dizzy. Then he got off and tried to walk in a straight line, he failed and fell down laughing. Cloud decided, he would climb a tree next.
There was a really tall tree that he could reach if he stood on top of the slide. That was the trees LOWEST branch! Cloud hopped up on the slide and grabbed ahold of the branch tightly before pulling himself up.
"Cloud, don't do that! you could fall! Please come down!" Cissnei pleaded.
"I'll be fine!" Cloud sang as he scaled the tree higher and higher.
The boy was very advernterous. Soon, he reached the top of the tree and had a look around. He could see the Shinra HQ from all the way up here.
"Wow! Look at this view!" He exlcaimed.
"Come down now Cloud! Please!" Cissnei shouted from Cloud's perch, high in the large pine tree.
"Okay, okay!" Cloud called back, carefully climbing down, branch-by-branch.
"Good Cloud, be very careful!" Cissnei urdged.
Cloud was close to the slide again, hovering over a thin branch.
"Cissnei, Stop being so paranoid." Cloud giggled continuing to make his way down. Cloud had to snake around to one side of the tree that would hit solid ground if he fell. The branch was thin but seemed very sturdy. Cissnei watching in anticipaition as Cloud was thinking out his next move.
He was just about to move down another branch when suddenly, SNAP! The branch Cloud was resting on broke. Sending Cloud hurdling down into other branches. He was too shocked to let out a scream, until he landed on his leg in an un-natural position. He let out a loud wail as tears streaked his face.
Cissnei observed the injury, It was bad. Somthing white was barely poking out of Cloud's leg. More than likely, his bone. She remembered to call Zack. She dialed his number while trying to hush Cloud.
"Hello?" Zack asked.
"Zack, It's Cissnei!" She said loudly, over Cloud's wails.
"Cissnei? Is that Cloud screaming in the background? What happened?" Zack asked all in one breath.
"Cloud was climbing a tree and the branch he was on snapped out from under him and he crashed to the ground. I think his leg is broken!" Cissnei said.
"Daddy!" Cloud cried loudly. So loudly, that Zack could clearly hear it on his side of the conversation.
"Where are you?" Zack asked.
"T-The park in sector 5." Cissnei said stroking Cloud's hair.
"I'll be on my way." Zack said before quickly hanging up.