Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. They belong to Square Enix. Don't sue me.
Cloud avoided Zack for the next couple of days. When Zack would approach him, he would turn the other way and run. This made the SOLDIERS heart ache and he wondered why the cadet wouldn't talk to him. Cloud couldn't believe that Zack had lied to him, after he gave him the whole 'I want to be your friend' speech. He thought about asking why Zack had lied to him, but he just couldn't bring himself to talk to Zack yet. On the fourth day of the shunning, Cloud finally decided that he wanted to talk to Zack about this. But… where was Zack? Even when the cadet would run away the SOLDIER always followed and did a horrible job of hiding behind small bushes or around corners. But today, he was no where to be found.
Oh no…Cloud thought to himself in a panic. What if I made him upset and now he's avoiding me. Damn it Zack! I thought you said you were my friend. I guess your disappearance just proves I was wrong.
The young cadet's heart sank as he thought about this. It really hurt him, Zack was so nice to him, but it was all a lie? It hurt even more because the cadet had almost fallen for Zack. But he would never admit to that.
Cloud was walking back to the barracks from basic training while thinking about this. He didn't even notice that Dom had stepped a little ways in front of him, and ran into the bigger cadet. With in seconds Cloud was lifted off the ground by his shirt and slammed against the wall.
"Why don't you watch where you're going?" Dom glared at Cloud, but noticed for some reason Cloud's eyes didn't hold fear. In fact, they seemed to hold no emotion in them at this time.
Dom barked at the cadet again, "Why aren't you scared?" The blonde did not answer. He wasn't scared, he wanted to get beaten up. Maybe it would knock some sense into him for even thinking that Zack, a 1st class SOLDIER wanted to be his friend. Just as he finished that thought, Dom punched him in the side of the head, but he didn't stop. No he punch the cadet in the side of his head multiple times before noticing that Cloud was not going to react. Dom dropped the blonde, who just slid down the wall onto the ground. The bigger cadet didn't say anything but just walked away. Once Cloud noticed he was gone, he finally gave into his body and passed out.
He woke up in the infirmary. His vision was a little blurred, but he could see a fuzzy image that was looking down at him. The nurse? Cloud blinked a couple times trying to get his vision to clear a little when he heard a stern voice speak to him.
"Good, you're finally awake." The cadet's vision cleared now as he went into shock as two glowing green eyes looked down on him. It was General Sephiroth. The blonde couldn't even begin to try and form words he was so shocked.
"If you can speak I'd like you to tell me why you were passed out in the hallway." The blonde froze, he did not want to tell the General that he was beaten up. So he laid there hoping the General would think he wasn't ready to speak.
"Well, I'll just ask later. The doctor said you've got a minor concussion, but it's nothing to really worry about. Who ever you got into a fight with did some damage."
The cadet tensed up when he heard this. So the General knew. I guess it's not that hard to guess that I'm the one who tends to get picked on anyway. After all I'm so small.
In the same stern voice Sephiroth continued, "Well you better head back to the barracks. It's 6:45 now, and dinner should be served soon. Get some ice while you're in the dining hall for that bump." With that the General rose and made his way over to talk to the nurse sitting in the corner of the room that Cloud had not noticed.
The blonde rose from the small blue cot and hopped off. Feeling a little dizzy he held onto a nearby counter and regained his balance before saluting to the General and walking out of the infirmary and back to the barracks.
Sephiroth thought to himself while watching the boy leave. Zack won't be happy to hear about his little crush being beaten up. After all, he did tell me to keep an eye on the little blonde while he's on his mission.
It had been five days and the blonde still had not seen Zack. He knew he should get over it but it was really starting to worry him. He wanted to talk to Zack and make everything right between them. But he needed to find Zack first. So he decided to sneak out that night and head to Zack's apartment.
He laid wide awake in bed waiting for the perfect time to sneak out, he figured midnight would be a good time. Lev was already fast asleep and snoring up a storm. The cadet's ears perked up when he heard the alarm clock give a small chirp signaling that it was midnight.
He rose quietly from bed and snuck out the door, hoping his room mate would not wake up. He made it outside and started to run towards the back of one of the buildings. Once he reached it he moved to one of the corners and peered around it, making sure no one was there.
He was just about ready to run to the next building when he felt a hand on his shoulder. The blonde's eyes widened with freight as he was about to give out a scream when another hand was placed firmly over his mouth to prevent him from doing such a thing.
An un-recognizable voice was heard behind him, "Why are you up so late cadet? You should be in your room sleeping."
Then another voice, "It's that Cadet Strife?" Another hand was placed on him and turned him around and he backed up into a wall. He recognized these two as third class SOLDIERS. One had black spiked hair while the other had shaggy brown hair. They must have been on watch duty. The cadet knew he was going to get into trouble for sneaking out, but he did not realize what was about to come.
The black haired SOLDIER pinned Cloud to the wall hard, holding his arms by his wrists above his head. Making the blonde hit his head and wince a little. The SOLDIER just grinned and started to lick the blonde's neck. Cloud's eyes widened more and wondered what was going on. They aren't going to… to… rape me, are they?
The SOLDIER then lifted his knee into Cloud's crotch. He wasn't liking this. He didn't want his first time to be like this. He started to cry and scream for them to stop, but the brown haired SOLDIER came closer to Cloud and put a hand over his mouth and started to rip at his clothes. Cloud whimpered when he felt a hand touching his bare side, and tried his best to struggle, but the black haired one pressed his self up against Cloud and began to bite at his neck which made Cloud whimper and cry more.
Zack had finally gotten back from his mission, it was midnight. He had thought about the cute blonde cadet the entire time he was on the mission, and even though he knew Cloud would be fast asleep by now he was going to walk over to the barracks anyway. Maybe he wasn't asleep because of his friend again. Zack made it to the barracks and was searching for Cloud's when he heard some muffled cries and whimpering in the night. He didn't want to check it out, but for some reason his gut told him that it might be Cloud and there might be something wrong.
He rushed to where he heard the whimpering coming from and stumbled upon a scene he wasn't ready for. He looked at one of the SOLDIERS that was pressing himself against Cloud and kissing his neck, while the other had torn off some of Cloud's shirt and was touching him.
They were touching him. His little blonde chocobo. Zack's eyes became painted with rage and his blood boiled at the sight. He ran towards both of them knocking the black haired one to the ground and grabbing the brown haired one. He continued to punch the brown haired one till he was knocked unconscious then threw him to the ground. He turned his head to the black haired SOLDIER who laid on the ground in disbelief. Zack jumped on top of the other and started to mercilessly punch him till he was also unconscious. He was so blind with fury that he continued to beat the crap out of the other even though he was unconscious. He didn't even hear the faint sobs of Cloud talking to him.
"Zack… Zack… ZACK STOP IT!" Could shouted, he could stand to watch this anymore, they were both beaten to the point of bleeding.
With that Zack snapped back into reality and got off of the black haired SOLDIER and turned, grabbing Cloud forcefully by the wrist and pulling the blonde towards him. Embracing him tightly.
The SOLDIER whispered softly, but loud enough for Cloud to hear, "I'm sorry Cloud… I wasn't here to protect you, but I promise that from now on I will protect you. No matter what."
The blonde had been silent and stunned from all that just happened, he had let it all sink in. He started sobbing into the raven haired SOLDIERS chest, he knew now that he could trust Zack.
"You're staying over at my place tonight. Where I can keep an eye on you. Okay?"
Cloud just nodded not being able to speak because his throat felt swollen from crying to much.
"Well first let's take these guys to Seph, I need to talk to him anyway." Zack picked up the two SOLDIERS and threw them over both of his shoulders and started to walk off, Cloud followed close behind. They re-entered the building and took an elevator up to the 45th floor. When they got to a door labeled 'General Sephiroth' Zack told Cloud to just wait right outside the door and he would be out shortly.
The blonde sat down against the wall right next to the door. Hearing Zack yell about the two SOLDIERS and what they did. This made Cloud relive the whole thing again, and pulled his knees up to his chest and sobbed into them again.
Zack walked back out about ten minutes later and saw the blonde crying. The SOLDIER picked him up and carried him home.
Once at home Zack put down the sobbing boy and got him a glass of water. The blonde stopped sobbing after some time and drank a little of the water. He nervously sat down on the couch and placed his water on the small table in front of the couch then laid down.
"Cloud, why don't you sleep in my room for tonight? I'll sleep on the couch."
The blonde didn't answer, but grabbed Zack's hand and tried to pull him down next to himself on the couch. Zack stared at the spiky blonde for a moment before he understood that Cloud did not want to be alone at all tonight. So Zack grabbed a blanket and laid down on the couch, placing the blanket over them and wrapping his arms around the blonde.
Cloud had never felt so safe with anyone before. He never wanted to lose this feeling of Zack holding him. The blonde dozed off after a couple of minutes, and Zack whispered to him before he fell asleep too.
"I'll always protect you."
Alright! Chapter 4! I thought that this would be a good way to bring the two together, and slap some sense into Cloud that he really cares about Zack. Anyway I'm sorry! It's a day late I know! (Dx) I have a job now and so I've been tired lately, but I'll get used to it soon! And trust me, there will be an update at least every week. (I hate it when people take forever to update). Thanks for reading! Please review! They put smiles on my face.