((A/N: Please don't kill me, you guys.))

The pain was like nothing he had ever felt before.

A sharp and constant stabbing in his head, just behind his eyes, temporarily blinding him at times was the torture he was going through now. Shinra had done plenty to him in the past, and with less than ideal side effects, but never had he felt a pain like this. To be honest, they had him so drugged up back then, he'd never felt much of anything.

The pain was coupled with an unnatural draw. He was overcome with the urge to travel to Midgar. As he walked, his feet moved without any conscious direction, though he seemed to be for over a day and a half on a direct path to the city. Sure, he stopped from time to time for nourishment, but in general such things were avoided.

The people feared him. He couldn't rightly say he blamed them. Quite often, he was reduced to death threats and violence just to get himself something to eat. And yet, the closer he got to Midgar, the less guilt he felt for these measures. In fact, the closer his destination became, the less he felt anything at all.

----

Pain began striking Zack only hours after Cloud's confession.

A headache was a given, the curse to accompany the tears that just wouldn't subside. The lightheadedness wasn't entirely shocking either. Cloud was dying. It couldn't be real. It seemed as though a shadow had been lain across his entire life. He drifted from place to place, unable to find a single word to express the sort of pain it left him with.

Physically, he felt weaker than he ever had in his life. So weak that he could not, in all fairness, attribute it entirely to Cloud's condition. He lay restless in the visitor's lounge, weary beyond all belief but unable to sleep. He shivered constantly, his skin turning icy cold. Was whatever Cloud had contagious? When the thought came to Zack, it was almost a comfort. He told himself that, if things kept going the way they were, he would die first.

Of course, he didn't mention the discomfort to Cloud. His friend had enough to worry about, and so long as he was blind, he wouldn't be able to tell that Zack's skin had become as ashen and pale as it was. He wouldn't notice the dark circles beneath his eyes nor the fact that he couldn't seem to keep himself warm, even with blankets piled on top of him.

Cloud could, however, tell that something was not right. He recognized a slight wheezing when Zack sat so close he could hear him breathing. He spoke in shorter sentences, often pausing for breath. And those times when Cloud took his hand, it was like ice. Cloud did not, however, experience the sure sign of a problem- Zack's own collapse.

Several days had passed since their conversation; It was around seven when he excused himself from Cloud's room, the first time he left without Vincent's command since Cloud was admitted. After all the time he'd spent freezing his ass off in that room, a sudden blast of heat hit him so hard he was sure he'd pass out. Last thing he needed was to check out right in front of Cloud. So there he was, in the hallway with Vincent watching, more concern in his eyes than Zack had ever seen.

"...You alright?" the fact that he was actually voicing concern for the often over-zealous young man would have set off an alarm in Zack's head had it been clear enough to register. However, from the moment he stood and as he stumbled into the hall, all he could focus on was the crushing pain in his chest.

"...yeh..." Zack tried to brush Vincent off, only to find that he was having trouble walking at all, much less pushing past him down the hall. In his mind, he could visualize a fiery hand gripping his heart, tight enough that its vital rhythm was reduced to little more than an irregular half-gallop raging between his ribs. His right hand found its way to a grip at his chest, whereas the left seemed suddenly to weigh about a ton and a half.

"Zack." Vincent was at his side just in time to catch the man as he crumpled into a heap before him.

----

"He had WHAT!?" Cloud could barely make sense of what Vincent was telling him. The worry had begun to creep up on him when Zack wasn't there when he woke up the next morning, only becoming worse when Vincent hadn't appeared at his normal time either. And now, as it turned out, his fears were well-founded. Zack had left his room only to promptly drop at Vincent's feet, with a heart attack!?

"Calm down." Vincent warned in his naturally well-kept tone. At the same time, he was well aware that it was probably quite hard to stay calm when your best friend and lover had nearly died just hours before. He sat back quietly as Cloud went on about how there must've been a mistake, how strong and healthy Zack had always been, how young he was- all things Vincent had already figured out himself.

"He's not...I mean, he's... he's still..." Cloud stumbled on his words, tongue thick in his mouth, a salty taste flooding it as he licked a few stray tears from his bottom lip. Even the bandages couldn't halt the heavy flow.

"He's in the intensive care unit." If any of this actually troubled Vincent, Cloud would never know, "He's stabilized, but he hasn't woken up yet." calm as ever, of course, leaning back in the chair though with little comfort. These events were disconcerting to say the least, and when he spoke to Tifa he learned of increasing rumors, a black-caped man making appearances closer and closer. This much, he decided, Cloud didn't need to know just yet.

"This can't be happening." the whimper in Cloud's voice actually caused Vincent to cringe. Such a reaction wasn't common with his friend- usually such a closed, quiet man, the sudden emotion was unheard of. "There's no way this is happening. Not to him. No...No!"

---

"Strife. I was wondering how long it would be until you showed up." Cloud was surprised Sephiroth regarded him at all when he entered the tiny waiting room. It was ice cold and he noticed that even the general had a heavy leather jacket on, "Of course, you're probably going to be admitted yourself wearing just that."

The administration thought it a good idea to supply heat only to patients' rooms. They were in SOLDIER, after all, and only Shinra personnel would be allowed visitation regardless. Being the middle of December, heat would have been ideal. He was called by one of Zack's friends- Reno, he recalled the name to be- only saying to get to the hospital...Zack was hurt.

So he did just that. Without a second thought, he was running to the hospital wearing nothing more than his jeans, torn half to shreds and at least a size too small, and an old wife beater he'd borrowed from Zack's hamper. He had been, at the time, waiting in Zack's apartment, curled under the heavy comforter in the bed, watching some old Christmas movie while waiting for his friend, his love, to return from his latest mission.

Instead, he was greeted with a phone call, and now with a SOLDIER general, who's face had a smear of blood on one cheek and bandage on his forehead at the other side.

"What happened?" If Sephiroth was injured, he could only imagine that Zack was in a grave situation. Sephiroth just didn't get hurt. His skills were unmatched. That anyone would get a hit in on him was beyond Cloud's comprehension. Of course, most things were beyond his comprehension as he stood there, damp from the snow outside and the tears that all but froze to his face.

"He's a damn fool." was Sephiroth's response. Cloud would have protested, but to be quite honest, he wasn't sure he didn't agree. As much as it pained him to admit it, the guy had a knack for getting in over his head. "We had some business to take care of in Wutai. Zack and Reno, fucking morons, decided to spend the night at Turtle's Paradise."

Cloud remembered hearing of the bar. Zack had mentioned before that it was his favorite part of being sent on the mundane Wutai peace-keeping missions; Good drinks and hot waitresses were always there for the taking, he said, if you had the cash.

"The bar?" Cloud confirmed, only confused further. What the hell did Zack DO?

"Reno has a gift when it comes to pissing off the exact wrong person. The only smarts he has are in his mouth, and he doesn't know how to shut it." Still, nothing had really been explained to Cloud, though he tried to piece things together at this point.

"So, he got in a bar fight?" relief was quick to call when this was confirmed. Just a bar fight- he probably got his face busted open, needed a few stitches, would be good to go by the next afternoon.

"Yeah. Damn lucky I was passing by, too." Sephiroth muttered, sitting in one of the two chairs in the cramped room, signaling for Cloud to take the other, "By the time I found him, Reno was nowhere to be seen and Zack got himself stuck on the business end of a pretty impressive switchblade." There went the relief.

"He was stabbed!?" Cloud tensed, gripping the armrests on the chair. The cold vinyl on his back caused him to shiver just as much as those words.

"He got sliced pretty well. The guy was tough... high ranking in some crime syndicate. Toughest fight I've had in a while... when I finally got him down, Zack was in pretty poor shape. Reno had finally shown up again, just in time to try to pin the rap on someone else." The impression Sephiroth gave of the young Turk was far different than the one Zack had imparted. Given the situation, though, Cloud was more inclined to believe Sephiroth.

"Will he...be okay?" Cloud could scarcely make his throat work. The words didn't want to form on his lips, and his voice didn't want to carry them out. He gripped the arms of the chair until his knuckles turned white, staring at the ground.

"Damned if I know." Sephiroth muttered in return. "He lost a lot of blood, and the wound..." he actually paused now, considering just how much the boy could handle hearing, "...let's just say there are many better places to take a knife."

Cloud didn't know how to respond to it, so he didn't. A sort of numbness had taken hold, and he slumped back into the chair, staring at green linoleum tiles, slipping in and out of awareness for what seemed like many hours.

It wasn't until Sephiroth took him by the shoulder that he found himself back in a conscious state. The older man explained that a doctor had come and talked to him, that it took a hell of a lot of explaining to convince him that Cloud wasn't, in fact, hurt as well. He told him that Zack had received well over a hundred stitches, but that his most vital organs had been missed, however narrowly. He then told Cloud to follow him into the ICU, and to be fucking prepared; that he wouldn't like what he saw.

As soon as they reached the partition Zack was situated behind, everything Sephiroth told him rang true. He stood behind Sephiroth, out of view behind his larger frame, unable to hide the horror at the scene awaiting him. He saw gauze taped to his friend's chest, crisscrossing the tanned skin like a map of the most important organs in his body. He saw the swollen lip and one blackened, closed eye while the other greeted Sephiroth wearily, glassy and tired. He saw an IV running into Zack's arm, replenishing fluids and easing the pain. He traced wires from beeping machines to tiny adhesive circles pressed onto his chest, and saw the snaking tubes reach from an oxygen tank up into Zack's nostrils.

"Nice job you did there, dumbass." Sephiroth growled. Cloud's eyes widened as he still hid, wondering silently how someone could speak to their friend in such a way when he apparently came damn close to getting himself killed.

"Aww. Worried about your friend?" Zack returned, bloodstained lips turning into a smile, "nice to know you care."

"I saved your life, you ungrateful little jerk-off." Sephiroth smiled as well, however, something Cloud probably would have revealed himself to see if only he knew it to be happening.

"I could've taken him." Zack laughed at his own pseudo-confidence, though it was punctuated with a cough.

"I saw that." Sephiroth turned to look behind him though, rolling his eyes to see Cloud cowering behind him, hidden from view, "And I babysat your little boyfriend, too. I swear to GOD there's something wrong with this kid." he took Cloud by the shoulder again, pushing him in front of his legs, close to the bed. His cheeks went red and Cloud stared at the ground. He hated hospitals, he hated sickness, he hated seeing his friend in the condition he was in. It all felt so unnatural to him, awkward and uncomfortable, and more than a little frightening.

Zack apparently felt only marginally more comfortable, looking away when he saw Cloud.

"Why'd you bring him here, Seph?" he asked, the emotion in his voice something Cloud couldn't decipher. He was more than a little hurt, though, that Zack obviously didn't want to see him.

"I didn't. Reno must've sent him." Sephiroth shot back, just as testily, "And you should watch your damn mouth. He's been worrying himself half to fuckin' death, and that's how you greet him?" Cloud's eyes widened the tiniest bit. Was Sephiroth actually standing up for him?

"Exactly. He shouldn't have known in the first place." it wasn't the most enjoyable experience in the world, being spoken about as if you weren't even in the room. Cloud remained silent though as Zack went on, "The last thing I need is for him to be involved in this kind of shit. I expect you made me sound plenty idiotic, too."

"Damn straight!" Sephiroth was shouting now, anger evident in his body, "It was an idiotic thing to do. You damn near got yourself killed, and for what? Reno's big mouth? Let him pay for that with his own ass." Cloud was surprised a nurse didn't come in to send Sephiroth away. His anger was becoming more and more obvious, while Zack's frustration was rising too, evidenced not just through his sharp words, but a heart rate jumping considerably on one of the monitors near the bed. If he could have worked up the nerve, Cloud would have liked to send Sephiroth away, to try and calm his friend. He was hurt, he needed to recover, and this wasn't helping.

"He's my friend. I don't just leave my friends when they need me." Zack spat back.

"And what about him?" he gestured to Cloud, "Poor kid's way more dependent on you than your dumbass drinking buddy. But you came within an inch of abandoning him for good!" Zack and Cloud both cringed at this.

"Stop it. Don't do this in front-"

"-why not?" Sephiroth interrupted harshly. "What is it that you say to him at night before you fall asleep? What do you tell me all the time, when I'm so bored by it I could quite happily die? What do you tell him before you fuck-"

"CUT IT OUT." Zack was yelling too, sitting up in the bed. He was about to say something else when Cloud, amidst the anger in the room and the fear he was left with, interrupted.

"He doesn't." Both became quiet, staring at Cloud, head still bowed as he stared through tears at the floor, "He doesn't say anything to me, so don't say it. Please, just stop." his voice trembled as he fought off sobs, "He doesn't feel that way. Sir..." he looked up to Sephiroth finally. The general, notoriously non-empathetic, felt a knot in his stomach by the look on Cloud's face, "You're mistaken."

"Cloud!" Zack's voice was something of a whimper, guilt clear in his eyes. His appeal was ignored, though, Cloud still staring at Sephiroth, shocked by his own courage as he went on;

"But that does NOT mean that I don't feel it, so I'd really appreciate it if you could just leave him alone. He damn near died... he doesn't need this right now. Please." he was shaking so badly, Cloud was sure he would fall to the ground at any moment. Sephiroth studied the boy for a moment, expression blank, then looked back to Zack, far less empathetic to the tears on his cheeks.

"Maybe he's not as bad as I thought." he admitted quietly, heading for the door, "for such an idiot, you're a damn lucky one."

-----

Tifa couldn't believe what she had just seen. Her mouth had gone dry and her legs trembled as she sprinted down the hall. It was him. Sephiroth. Sephiroth was in the damn hospital! No. No. No. No. NO. She kept running, ignoring the elevator when the doors didn't open instantly, taking the stairs up to Cloud's ninth floor room.

She ignored the warnings of nurses as she sped through the hallways, not stopping until she was in Cloud's room, gasping for breath in the doorway, Vincent and Cloud both staring at her now. Neither had been speaking- Cloud lost in his memories until Tifa interrupted, Vincent half-asleep as he stayed by Cloud's side.

"What's going on?" Cloud asked, his voice cracking slightly when he spoke. Worry didn't creep up on him so much as it slammed into his face, tearing its way through his body. Something horrible had just happened. His mind, naturally went straight to Zack. 'Please, PLEASE...he has to be okay. don't let him be dead' he prayed silently to whatever deity cared to listen.

"Sephiroth." she panted, this catching Vincent's attention and causing him to sit up in his seat, urging her to continue. "he's... HERE."

Cloud could have kicked himself for feeling more relief than anything else.

----

"Se...phiroth..." Zack found his voice dry, throat painfully raw. He could hardly speak as he tried to make his eyes focus on the man at the foot of his bed. What had happened to him? The last thing he could remember was that searing pain, followed by darkness.

"You recognize me. Good." Sephiroth's voice was deeper than Zack remembered, his body more toned. While death had reduced Zack to nothing, it had apparently done wonders for his former friend. Of course, if Cloud was right with his explanation, Zack would be dead within the next few moments. Sephiroth the homicidal maniac... the ex-SOLDIER was shocked by the revelation, though he couldn't say it was implausible.

"What's happening to me?" Zack felt groggy, tired, almost hung over. It was quite the feat just to make his eyes focus properly even long enough to make Sephiroth's form apparent. Nothing made sense to him right now. Despite his weariness, his heart felt like a jackhammer in his chest, pounding recklessly until he was sure it would break out of his body all together.

"I...don't know." Sephiroth admitted quietly, "I found myself outside of the crater weeks ago... and I was drawn here. I didn't know what I was looking for, but I feel like I've found it here." he sat in the bed, not bothering to explain that, despite the fact that a warning was sounding on the EKG next to his bed, no nurse would be tending to him. They threatened to kill him...what else could he do but retaliate?

"I think you're killing us." Zack whispered, letting his eyes fall shut again, writhing painfully on the bed. His heart seemed to become ever more frantic, a dull ache setting in with its fervor.

"I think you're killing me." Sephiroth whispered in return, fingers rubbing the side of his head. More headaches... the last thing he needed was more headaches. And worse than ever. A dizzying pain taking over his body, and soon all was black. However, his body did not collapse, and the only difference Zack could discern was in the monotony of his voice as he spoke a single word,

"Reunion."

---

"Cloud...come here, please..." Zack begged as Sephiroth left, snapping the curtain shut behind him. Cloud kept his eyes on the ground as he inched closer, slowly making his way to Zack's bedside. He was surprised by the warmth as Zack's hand wrapped around his. He assumed he would be cold, clammy, as if he were in fact on his deathbed. Instead, there was the familiar warmth he'd grown to appreciate quite quickly, "Please look at me." he whispered, leaning forward and tilting Cloud's chin upwards. It was a test of will for Cloud to look at him without turning his eyes away. His stomach ached to see Zack this way. In his mind, the guy was untouchable. Even Sephiroth had trouble beating him. Yet, here he was, tethered to a bed, only narrowly escaping death hours before.

"Cloud, I love-"

"-You don't have to say that, Zack." he returned, actually pressing his two forefingers over Zack's lips, "I don't want you too feel like you have to tell me that. It's okay. I just wanted him to let you be." It was unexpected, to say the least, that Cloud now went on to crawl carefully into the bed, gently squeezing in next to his friend, finally taking his hand away. "Just be more careful with what you say... he seemed damn convinced." Cloud actually sounded guilty as he said this, avoiding Zack's gaze even though he was now quite close to the man and soon drawn in closer.

"Listen to me, Cloud. And don't even think of interrupting." he scooted away just far enough to look down into Cloud's eyes again, "I love you. End of story. I don't care if he doesn't believe it. I'd like to say I don't care if you believe it, either, but that would be a lie. I want you to believe me, but I can't make you. I can just tell you over and over again that I do." He paused, considering his next words as he ran his fingers through Cloud's hair, the large plastic clip on his finger only slightly in the way.

"If I didn't... I probably wouldn't be here at all." he admitted quietly, cheeks reddening. This time Zack was the one to look away, "It's not the first time I've been really, badly hurt since I've been in SOLDIER, Cloud." he swallowed deeply, forcing himself to look into the shimmering, tearful blue eyes again, "Just the first time I've had every reason to avoid it."

----

To Cloud, the memory felt so fresh it could have happened moments ago. He could still taste the hints of blood on Zack as he sealed the admission with a kiss, still feel the warmth of his body as his own was freezing. He could still remember the worry he felt back then, and was sure that it was a hundred times worse now.

These thoughts, swirling in Cloud's mind along with Tifa's admission, along with his worry for the two who had rushed out almost as quickly as Tifa had burst in to try and figure out what was going on, they stuffed his mind and wouldn't leave.

There wasn't a distraction from his anxiety until, quite suddenly, a sharp pain surged from his head, down his neck and through every inch of his body. As though every muscle in his body had tensed and cramped at once, with no signs of letting up. His hands began to shake uncontrollably, breaths becoming shallow and rapid when he could make them come at all. His pulse pounded painfully in his temples, and the thundering of his own heart was nearly deafening, drowning out anything else in the room.

He had no way of knowing that, the moment this attack had begun, he was as close to that memory as he had been since it happened. Sephiroth stood at the foot of his bed, laying Zack's motionless body across Cloud's legs. His eyes hard darkened, and were Zack awake and Cloud not blind, they would see that, without a doubt, Sephiroth's mind was not his own.

"And now..." the voice came from the doorway, something vaguely familiar to Cloud, though he could hardly hear it and was far from stable enough to place it, "...I can have my reunion."