Loser of The Year
Cloud was certain of many things in his time he had been at ShinRa as a cadet. One was his Drill Sergeant was a complete ass about anything he could be, whether it was something you did or even just the way he looked. Another was the males he shared the barracks with. They were all hormone driven male whore's who would do anyone to get a step up in their career in the military, yet terrorized Cloud for things he never did. And just recently was that his friend Zack Fair, a second class SOLDIER, was always happy and with a smile on his face.
Or at least, he was. Until nearly two weeks ago.
Cloud had tried his best to cheer Zack up, even though he couldn't do much with his limited access to the building, being a cadet and all. Zack tried hard in those instances to let a smile grace his features, but the worry and pain in his eyes made any smile he had dull in comparison to his usual happy smiles.
All this pain was from Zack's friend, a fellow second class, laying in the hospital. Cloud had never met Adrian, but he seemed to make Zack happy and a good friend. He had seen many people leaving the SOLDIER's room when he did errands for his instructors to the infirmary. He had even seen the General and his Commanders leaving the room on one occasion. Cloud could only hope for the sake of Zack that Adrian woke up soon.
Even a ShinRa hating citizen could see how the tower seemed to dim each day the SOLDIER lay in comatose.
Cloud looked over to Zack. Zack had, like every day, come to the cadet's cafeteria to spend the hour with Cloud. This was usually the only time Cloud saw Zack during the week, as he was usually training with the rest of his squad. Cloud's free time was nearly non existent.
Zack had gotten a cadet lunch, which Cloud often wondered why. The food was hardly edible, and any cadet would tell you tales of the luxury SOLDIER cafeteria food was. Zack never really ate the food he got from the line, but he got it and sat with Cloud every day anyway. Cloud was getting worried. Zack talked, but it was with less flair and enthusiasm as before. He seemed to be too worried to put the energy in.
Cloud sighed.
"Zack." Violet eyes looked up from the gunk on the tray and into sapphire blue eyes sitting across from him. "Zack, I know your worried about your friend. But if you continue this way your only going to get sick. You can't help your friend if your sick right?" Cloud asked, looking to the older teen. Zack sighed and nodded, looking back to the tray, ashamed.
"I just can't help it though Cloud. He should have been up by now. Even the doctors are worried. They all agreed the head wound wasn't nearly that bad to put him into such a state. And everything else is fine with him. His mako levels are a little low, but not enough for him to not wake up. I just don't know what to do." Zack sighed again and rubbed the back of his neck. He had gone to see Adrian every day, even staying for hours at a time. Countless times he didn't even leave until Angeal dragged him back to his apartment. Kunsel and Luxiere had been to see him too, both as puzzled as Zack over his comatose state. Genesis himself had demanded that something be done, even if Adrian's doctor, Dresin, still wasn't back from Junon.
And that made Zack wonder. It took three weeks to gather equipment for a lab? The doctor had said Dresin was in Junon for a week before Adrian had come in with his injury, and it had been nearly two weeks since that. Where was he?
"Zack." Cloud whispered, leaning closer to his friend from across the table. Zack looked up, his violet eyes meeting Cloud's. "Do you love him?" Zack blinked, shocked.
Did he? Zack thought. He had definitely gotten stronger feelings for Adrian in general. But was it really love? It didn't feel like anything he felt for Aerith. But at the same time, it felt so much more. He wanted to be beside Adrian, even now. He wanted to see the younger teen safe. To hold him even. He was almost desperate for Adrian to wake up. But was that love?
"I…I don't know Cloud. I mean, I never really thought about being with guys before. I don't see anything wrong about it, it just never happened to me. But with Adrian, I don't know. I know I feel something strong for him, but the thought of being with another guy is kinda scary." Zack blushed, realizing what he was talking about with his younger friend, a boy that was barley 17. "I mean, I'm no virgin, but, I've never had sex with a guy either so…" Zack cut himself off, stumbling over his words. Cloud had a small smile creeping onto his face.
"Don't think about it being about sex, Zack. Do you genuinely care about Adrian?" Zack nodded without a second thought. "Then that's all you need to worry about. If Adrian feels the same about you that's all that should matter. You can worry about sex later. And if your scared about hurting him there's always ways to find out how to go about it, right?"
"You mean porn?" Cloud blushed, stuttering.
"N-no! There's other sites!" Zack laughed, genuinely, for the first time in two weeks, his eyes lighting up. Cloud smiled despite himself.
"I'm just messing with you Cloudy. Besides, how do you know so much about this stuff, huh?"
"Have you been in my barracks lately Zack? Those guys are nothing but a bunch of man whores. It's all they talk about. I can't help but to hear about it." Zack laughed, reaching across the table to ruffle Cloud's hair.
Maybe, when Adrian woke up, Zack would tell him how he felt. Genuinely. Because even though Aerith said he had to be there for Adrian, in every way, you couldn't imagine feelings like these. And they were definitely genuine.
Adrian looked around the dark abyss, floating aimlessly. How long had he been there? What was going on? Was he still trapped on that wall?
Was he dead?
Manic laughter echoed all around him, yet Adrian could see no one.
"Who's there?" Adrian called, looking around. The laughter continued, growing louder and louder before vanishing completely. Adrian tried to move, but found he could not.
'The specimen appears to be waking.' A voice echoed. Adrian tensed. That voice, it sounded so familiar. 'Any day now, and the true purpose will be revealed. Are you ready for it?'
'Come now, your confusing it. Time alone will allow it to manifest. Our work will soon pay off.'
Adrian looked around as much as he could, but the darkness was blinding. Who was there? What were they talking about?
"Someone. Please. Tell me what's going on!" Adrian yelled, frustrated. The laughter came back, echoing in the abyss.
'Any day now.'
Doctor Dresin walked into the infirmary, scowl firmly in place. The equipment was both expensive, and hard to find, and when he finally gets back he was sent straight to the medical ward. That boy need bubble wrapped or something with how often he was sent there.
Dresin walked into the room Adrian was in and looked at the unconscious boy on the bed. A second class SOLDIER sat beside him, violet mako infused eyes darting to him as he entered. Dresin's ice blue eyes narrowed. Who was this? Why was he permitted in the room?
"Who are you and what are you doing here." Dresin demanded, looking to the teen. Dresin sneered as the teen stood, towering over him.
"Zack Fair. Adrian's my friend."
"I've never heard of you. Move aside boy." Dresin sneered, moving to the bedside. He withdrew a syringe from his pocket and injected the serum inside it into the iv that was attached to Adrian's arm.
"What is that?" The SOLDIER asked. Dresin sneered again, turning abruptly.
"That is none of your concern. It is between Adrian and myself." Dresin turned and made to walk out the room. "He shall awake within the hour. If not I am to be called immediately. Do you understand or is that too much for you to remember?" Dresin didn't wait for an answer, walking out of the room. He had business to attend to. He couldn't spend all his time looking after an accident prone SOLDIER.
Zack stood, shocked. With how Adrian talked about Dresin, he seemed to be rather nice, to Adrian at least. Yet that man who had walked in here was anything but.
Zack looked back to his friend, retaking his seat. What ever that liquid was, it seemed to be working. Adrian was gaining color back already. Zack smiled and slumped in his seat.
Adrian sighed, laying in bed, bored. He had left the infirmary early this morning. He had strict orders of not using his right arm, and had to have someone change his shoulder bandage every day for him, as he was unable to do so himself.
Zack had happily volunteered.
Speaking of Zack, Adrian had noticed something rather new about the second class. Where before Zack was friendly in a 'friend' manner, he was now friendly in a 'notice me' manner. And that lead to the thoughts of Zack's previous statement of how he was 'curious' to new relationships.
Was Zack interested in him?
Adrian jumped at the thought and hurriedly reached for his PHS, hissing in pain as he forgot about his injury. Adrian slowly rethought his actions and instead slowly sat up, turned, and then reached for his PHS on the bedside. Scrolling through his contacts to 'K'. The phone rang a total of two times before it was picked up.
"You ok Adrian? You need anything? I'll be right over."
"Kunsel stop. I don't need anything, I just want to talk. I'm bored over here." Adrian laughed, stopping his friends worried rant.
"Oh. Well what do you want to talk about?"
"Zack."
"Zack?"
"Yup."
"What about him?"
"Remember what I told you we talked about when you forgot about us in that closet?"
"Yea, something about him taking an interest in men or something? What about it?"
"Do you think he likes me?" Adrian asked, slowly resting back against his pillows. His shoulder was starting to throb.
"As what? You mean interested?"
"Duh Kunsel. Of course he likes me as a friend, he wouldn't talk to me otherwise."
"Well, he hasn't told me, and I haven't really talked to him lately. I was on a mission the same time as you and got back after you. I could ask him, if you want." Kunsel said, the shrug apparent even though Adrian didn't actually see it.
"No, that would make it too obvious."
"Isn't that the point?"
"Kunsel, for having many TURK like abilities, your not being very TURK like right now. If he didn't actually like me and I was getting the hints wrong I would look like a total idiot."
"What hints?"
"Well…ever since I woke up from my mini coma he's been really…clingy? I guess? Like he volunteered to change my bandages everyday, he didn't leave my bedside while I was out, or the entire way to my apartment when they released me, and he was standing rather close."
"Did it ever occur to you he was standing close and acting like that because he was a concerned friend?"
"Kunsel, man. You didn't see the way he was looking at me. There was no 'just friends' feelings there, but at the same time I'm not sure what exactly it was either. Look, I need you to do some reconnaissance for me, ok. I need to know his feelings. Can you do that for me?"
"I suppose. But isn't that really supposed to be something you do for yourself? What are we? Teenage school girls or something?"
"I'm injured Kunsel. I can't even masturbate right now. You want me to figure out someone else's emotions? Not possible."
"Too much info Adrian. Too. Much."
Zack sighed heavily. Ever since Adrian had woken up he was trying his best to convey his feelings for the purple haired SOLDIER, but he wasn't sure they were being taken the right way. He had volunteered to help with his bandages, walked him back to his apartment, and had even got take out from the nearby Wutaien restaurant for him before he left. Who would Adrian tell his feelings?
Kunsel.
Zack smiled at this thought and quickly left his apartment, heading down the hall and down another corridor towards Kunsel's quarters. Coming to the right door, Zack prayed silently Luxiere wasn't there, doing that, and knocked. Faint footsteps were heard from the other side before Kunsel opened the door, helm firmly in place on his head. Zack smiled.
"You and Adrian sure do like those helmets." Zack joked, looking to his friend. Kunsel smiled, a short laugh escaping him. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" Zack asked, peering around his friend to see if anyone else was in the apartment. Kunsel moved aside, waving him in.
"No. Luxiere is on patrol till midnight, and Adrian can only bother me via PHS, which unsurprisingly he's already done. Attention span of a kitten, I swear." Kunsel laughed, moving towards the small kitchen. "Water, beer, tea, or soda?" Kunsel asked, looking over his shoulder to his violet eyes friend.
"Water's fine." Zack said, planting himself on the plain black sofa. Kunsel came back with two bottles of water in hand, tossing one to Zack before sitting on the sofa next to him.
"Anything in particular you wanted or just to hang out?" Kunsel asked, opening his water.
"Actually, I wanted to ask you something." Zack started, feeling his palms begin to sweat in his gloves. "Has Adrian said anything about me to you?" Zack asked, looking shyly at his bottled water in his lap. Kunsel paused before looking over at the other second class.
'Adrian has amazing timing. I didn't even talk to him 20 min's ago and here Zack is asking the same thing as him.' Kunsel smiled, turning to Zack, his smile widening by the second. Zack looked up at his silence and quickly jerked back at the almost creepy smile Kunsel had on his face.
"W-what?" Zack stuttered, feeling slightly scared at the deranged look.
"Adrian called me, asking exactly the same thing as you. It's hilarious how you both have the hots for each other and yet are so clueless as to not see it." Kunsel laughed, shaking his head. Zack perked up, mako glowing faintly in his violet eyes.
"Really?" Zack smiled. Kunsel nodded.
"Listen Zack. You want to impress him right?" Zack nodded vigorously at his friend. "Then listen to me. I know everything there is to know about our little purple haired friend. He loves Wutaien food, anything spicy, and has officially declared alcohol the devil, but loves fruity drinks. His favorite flower is a rare orchid only found in Wutai, and loves the color purple, which is why I always thought his hair was dyed. He hates chocolates, so if you go for candy, get him something sour. And most importantly, he never makes the first move when it comes to relationships and is completely retarded when someone tries to woo him. You need to make it obvious." Zack at some point had taken out his PHS to type all the info down so he wouldn't forget it, nodding enthusiastically as his friend talked.
"Thanks Kunsel! You're the best man!" Zack yelled, hugging his helmed friend before rushing from the apartment. He needed to get some sour candy immediately and look up rare Wutaien orchids. Where would he even get one? Can he get them imported? He'd have to ask Aerith, she knew everything about flowers.
Kunsel smiled before taking out his PHS.
"Commander Rhapsodos? I felt the need to inform you that your dear lovers puppy is attempting to woo your student. I thought you might like to know so you can enjoy the show." Kunsel laughed at Genesis's enraged yell before he hung up on the Commander.
Of course Kunsel wanted both his friends to be happy, but the ensuing courtship was no doubt going to be both funny, and knowing Zack, corny. He might as well get his enjoyment out of it. And seeing an enraged Genesis was always funny.
This was going to be fun.
Adrian sighed as he lounged on his sofa, remote in his left hand and a no longer useful ice pack on his right shoulder. It had melted some time ago, but moving was rather painful on his shoulder, even with the pain killers he was given, so Adrian opted to be lazy and wait for someone to come to his apartment before moving.
Sadly there was nothing on, just boring old daytime soap operas where someone can die then magical come back to life, or have an evil twin or some shit. 'Moogle Diaries', 'Chocobo's of our lives', 'Midgar Hospital', and 'All My Honey Bee's' to list a few of the daytime reruns. Adrian sighed and looked to the clock on his stove in the kitchen. It was nearly one, so Zack would be by soon to change his bandages. He did say he would be by after training. Hopefully he brought lunch or something. He was starving.
Adrian sighed and was about to continue channel surfing when someone knocked on the door. He was about to just call the person in when he remembered the door was locked. Adrian groaned silently and got up, wincing at his shoulder.
"Who is it?" Adrian called as he walked to the door.
"It's Zack!" Came from the other side of the metal door, slightly muffled. Adrian eyes the sunglasses off to the side on a table before shaking his head. He unlocked the door and let Zack in, seeing he had indeed brought food, and drinks, and movies? Zack stumbled in, barley finding the kitchen table before dropping everything he brought.
"Sorry I'm a bit late. I decided I might as well keep you company a bit since you can't really leave or go anywhere. I brought Wutaien from that place down the street, I always eat there. You like Wutaien right? I also brought some movies I bought a while ago and haven't watched yet, there's nothing on T.V. this time of day. I also got a few of those fusion drinks they're selling in that store in the lobby. Hope they taste alright…" Zack turned and finally looked at Adrian, seeing for the first time his friend was clad in only low riding purple sleep pants and bandages wrapped tight around his shoulder and torso. His deep purple hair was slightly tousled, like he had been laying around all day, which he probably had, and his eyes were, surprisingly, unhidden. Zack smiled wide and moved over to his friend, pulling bandages from his pocket.
"How about we get you fixed up then pig out while we watch some movies huh?"
Adrian sat as straight as he could, arms out as Zack wrapped his shoulder and torso up. His shoulder so his stitches wouldn't catch on anything, and his torso so his ribs would heal right. Adrian had to admit, Zack was a pretty good friend, taking care of him in his time of need, bringing him food and entertainment. And not too long ago he had been glaring at Zack in a closet.
'But I'd also been answering his gay-curious questions. Which reminds me, I wonder how he's making out with this interest of his. Did he tell him yet?'
Adrian almost jumped as Zack suddenly exclaimed that he was done, leaving Adrian on the couch as he quickly gathered the food, drinks and movies he had brought. Zack got the movie playing before he started to lay out the food on the coffee table, setting the drinks he brought on either side, both being some sort of fruit flavored.
"I didn't really know what you liked so I got a bit of everything." Zack exclaimed, handing a box to Adrian. Adrian took it, smiling to Zack in thanks, as he shifted slightly. His shoulder was angry at the new wrappings. Adrian looked in to see what he had and smiled at all the spicy food that lay within. Zack was peeking at him from his peripherals and smiled slightly to himself before he began to eat as well.
Looked like he was doing well so far.