The Ferret

What happens when Zack finds a ferret in his apartment? Why does the ferret love Cloud? And why in the heck does it have a tattoo of Bahamut?!

Disclaimer: I don't own

"It got away?! How!?"

"Through the vent."

"Dammit!"

It had been just over a month, and already Bahamut was as widely known for mischief as Zack. The ferret's most recent prank had been to steal a bunch of Scarlet's jewelry and hide it in a currently unknown location. The only reason he had been found out was because he was seen when coming back for more.

A message came in on Scarlet's PHS;

"ferret passed cnf rm 4. prsuing."


Cloud had just turned a corner when something furry took a flying leap onto his head. He just kept walking as it burrowed into his hair. He knew what it was. A moment later, a man, breathing hard, skidded to a stop in front of him.

"Ha-have you seen... ferret... this way?" the man managed to gasp out. To which Cloud replied,

"Sorry, I haven't. But I'd check the cafeteria, there are a lot of hiding places there." The man didn't bother thanking Cloud, just took off in that direction. Cloud sighed, then continued to Zack's apartment, where he sat down on the couch and pulled the rodent out of his hair.

"What did he do this time?" He heard Zack ask as he came out of the kitchen. The blond shrugged, then looked Bahamut in the eye and made an inquisitive sound. The ferret squeaked cutely and grabbed its ears, then clicked a few times. Zack had no idea what that meant, but he knew that the two of them had somehow come up with a way of communicating Bahamut's meanings through simple gestures and sounds, so he stood by and watched, waiting for an answer.

"Whose? And where did you put it?" Cloud asked. Bahamut replied by putting his paws on his chest and sticking his tail out. That was one of the few gestures that Zack understood. It meant Scarlet and it was used frequently because she was one of Bahamut's favorite victims. After a moment, and a poke from Cloud, the ferret licked his paws, then opened his mouth and covered his eyes. Cloud got a slightly irritated look on his face and put Bahamut on the couch beside him, before turning to Zack and saying,

"He hid Scarlet's jewelry under the big freezer in the cafeteria." Zack couldn't help but laugh a bit before he managed to stifle it. Cloud had to admit, he did kind of enjoy seeing Scarlet so off her game. He was distracted by Bahamut trying to worm his way up Cloud's shirt, sending sending Zack into another round of laughter. The laughter just got louder when Cloud started to wriggle and reach into his shirt to try and get Bahamut out.

After a few unsuccessful grabs, Cloud just yanked his shirt off, making Bahamut flip up into the air, and land back on Cloud's head. Cloud sighed, then said to Zack,

"You text someone where Scarlet's jewelry is, and I'll Put B here back in his room." It wasn't really a 'room' room, just a nice-sized closet, really. A couple meters deep and slightly wider. In it was a cage, which was always kept open because its inhabitant could get out anyway, and it was just less work to not even bother. The cage contained a sling on the upper level, as well as food and water on the lower, and a purple plastic igloo.

Cloud set Bahamut in the cage, then, after giving the ferret a pat goodbye, went back to the living room.

"I'll see you later Zack. I've got a test mission tomorrow, and I need to get some sleep." Cloud murmured, then squeaked as he was suddenly swept into a hug. After a few seconds of near suffocation, Zack let go of Cloud, and wished him good luck.

On the way back to the barracks, Cloud heard a cackling sound. Frightened, he ducked into a side room, then peeked out a crack he left in the door. Just in time to see a hunched figure come around the corner. It had greasy black hair, and wore a lab coat. Cloud felt seriously creeped out, just by the evil aura the figure was practically oozing, and it got worse when he started cackling again. Cloud could remember Zack's stories, and some rumors, well enough to recognize this man as Professor Hojo, and decided it would be best to remain hidden.

Cloud waited a few minutes after the Prof. left his view before exiting the, thankfully, empty room, and headed for the barracks again at a noticeably faster pace, not wanting to be alone in the halls with the not-quite-sane scientist.


A/N: Thanks for the review(s)!

Been a bit busy, sorry for the delay. I'll try to write more, but I make no promises. I only finished this chapter because my internet shut off. My chapters are slowly getting longer. Yay!

Worked a bit on cover art for this fic. Now all I need is a scanner.

Constructive criticism is welcome, but no flaming, or I might set Bahamut after you.