Don't Ever Leave Me
I don't own Final Fantasy or any of the characters. Just this story.
Chapter 4
About a month in a half later and Cloud was just about caught up to the other cadets. There were just a few things that he had left to learn before he was totally caught up.
He had been working extra hard to catch up to everyone.
About two weeks ago, Zack had backed away from him almost completely.
They got together for training and once it was over Zack would give him a report of how he was doing, what he needed to practice on, and when they would meet again. Then he would just leave. No other word spoken. None of the friendship the lieutenant had spoken of could be seen.
It made Cloud kind of sad.
What had happened to make Zack change so much?
He didn't joke. He didn't play around.
He didn't smile...
It wasn't like Zack at all and it worried him.
Cloud sighed as he headed to the barracks. He had just finished training with Zack and had been told to go back for the day.
Reno popped up next to Cloud out of nowhere.
"Hey, why do you look so down, yo?" Reno asked curiously.
Cloud jumped slightly at the sudden voice and looked at the red head.
"What?" he asked.
Reno chuckled.
"Why do you look so down?" he asked again.
Cloud shook his head in dismissal. H didn't want people knowing what was going on and he didn't want anyone to worry over his dismay.
"What makes you think I am?" He asked trying to be non-nonchalant about it.
Reno copied Cloud's expression and Cloud laughed.
"That's better, blondie." Reno said.
"Thanks."
"Have you eaten yet?" Reno asked.
Cloud shook his head.
"No, I don't feel hungry."
"You need to eat something. You can't go without nothing, it's not good for you, yo." Reno said grabbing Cloud's hand and dragging him to the mess hall.
"Reno, I'm not in the mood to eat." Cloud tried to protest.
"Non-sense, he said and sat Cloud down at a table, "now wait here and I'll go get us food." he took off before Cloud could say anything else.
Cloud sighed and sat there, knowing it would upset Reno if he just got up and left.
He watched as Reno gave him a wave and a smile from the line. Cloud smiled and waved back.
Reno and Cloud had become good friends, especially since this thing with Zack was going on. It was a good relief.
While Reno was selecting food, Cloud looked around and then froze when he spotted that raven hair.
Zack was walking to a table with a tray of his own.
Their eyes met but Zack quickly looked away. Severing the connection.
Cloud's expression saddened and Reno noticed.
He looked in the direction that Cloud was looking in and saw Zack.
Reno's aura darkened and he glared in Zack's direction.
He set his tray down and then handed Cloud his.
"Here you go Cloud." Reno said.
The blond gave no reaction that he had heard Reno. He just kept staring at Zack sadly.
Reno growled and stomped over to where Zack was sitting by himself. He slapped a hand down on the table to get his superior's attention.
Zack looked up at Reno.
"What do you want, Cadet Akai?" Zack asked blankly and went back to eating.
"What did you do?" Reno asked.
"What are you talking about?"
Reno pointed to Cloud who blushed slightly at being caught staring and looked away quickly.
But he hadn't looked away fast enough. Zack and Reno both saw the sadness in those blue depths. And when Reno looked back he saw guilt in Zack's.
"Him," Reno said pointing at Cloud. "I don't know what you did, but I know you did it. Now you're going to fix it. He's been moping around everywhere." Reno looked at Zack seriously. "If you don't fix it, I will." he said and went to head back to Cloud.
Reno only got a couple of steps before he was stopped by Zack who had stood up and was looking at Reno sternly.
"Is that a threat Cadet?" Zack growled.
Reno looked over his shoulder and scowled at the man.
"Not at all, lieutenant." he turned away again, "It's a promise." he walked away with a grin on his face.
He sat don across from Cloud. Effectively his view of Zack.
The blond looked up.
"What were you doing?" Cloud asked.
Reno shook his head.
"Just talking about some battle strategies." he replied.
"Oh." Cloud said looking down at his food.
Reno noticed that Cloud had just been pushing the food around on his plate and had maybe only taken a bite.
Maybe.
Reno sighed.
"Cloud." Reno said looking at him softly.
"Hmm?" was the his only reply.
"Please eat. I know your upset about something and you don't have to talk to me about it if you don't want to, but not eating and not sleeping is not good for you. Your taking whatever is bothering you out on yourself and I wont allow that." Reno said putting some strictness to his voice.
He pushed Cloud's plate closer to him and pointed at it.
"Now eat like the good grown up you are or I'll feed you like the kid you're acting like."
Cloud stared at him blankly.
Reno shrugged.
"Fine."
He picked up Cloud's fork and scooped up some mashed potato's, then he held them up to Cloud's lips.
When Cloud just sat there Reno sighed.
"Well open." Reno said.
Cloud opened his mouth to protest but was stopped when Reno shoved the food into his mouth instead.
Cloud stared at the red-head wide-eyed before he swallowed what was in his mouth with a slight blush covering his cheeks.
"Fine. I'll eat." he said and grabbed the fork back Reno.
He ate about half of his food before he stopped.
"That's all I'm eating, alright." he said and moved his tray away.
Reno looked at him as he stood up from the table.
"I'm just glad you ate something." he said.
"I'm going to go take a shower and then go to bed." he picked up his tray and then looked at Reno. "Thanks Reno." he said and then walked away.
Cloud tossed his tray and walked past a gaping Zack, only glancing at the dark-haired lieutenant once before leaving the mess hall.
I'm sorry for the long wait everyone. I've been working two jobs so that I can move out and into my own place. But here's the fourth chapter and I'm working on the fifth one now. There's going to be some action in the fifth one. Not a lot but some. Please review. It makes me happy.