AN: Sorry for this being way late, but I been having some personal issues. That, and my computer is acting up. Anyway, the next two parts should be up later today, SOILDER's honor.
Ch.10 Operation Cosplay
"Are you sure you are going to be able to handle this yo?" Reno looked at Hayate as he handed her a bad full of Hair dye, pony tails, scissors, and bobby-pins. Once he heard about Hayate's plan he made sure and reserve tickets for the event.
"Oh leave it to me." Hayate smirked. "Do you have the other thing that I ask you to get?"
"Of course yo." Reno then handed Hayate another bag containing a few items for their plan.
"This is perfect, now we need a way to get them to... cooperate. Do you have any ideas?"
"Sleeping materia," he suggested. "We can always ask Kunsel to help."
"Do you think you can convince him to..." Hayate raised an eyebrow. "Lend us some of his materia? Or do you think you can convince him to help us?"
"Oh Kunsel!" Reno yelled at the helmeted man sitting on the couch, Kunsel looked up and saw Hayate and Reno forming some sort of scheme. "I had him in on it, yo."
"You're such a genius Reno." Hayate gave him a hug. "It seems I don't have to teach you anything, you thought of everything."
"Ah thanks and yes I'm an excellent prankster." Reno smiled "I think I see a beautiful friendship blossoming yo."
"I think so too." Hayate looked at the calendar behind her. "Now all we need to do is wait until Saturday. I need you two to be here at 8:00 AM sharp."
"Of course yo," Reno looked at the contents in the bag. "You can do that right Kunsel?"
"Sure, I wanted to get back at Zack for that little stunt at hand to hand combat class." Kunsel shrugged. Zack was actually mad at him for taking the last doughnut in the lounge. So as revenge he was rougher during hand to hand combat class. All for a doughnut, so this was the chance for payback.
"Nice that you can make it." Hayate handed him a similar bag. "I need you to bring this to Zack's house on that morning."
"Really?" Kunsel looked inside the bag. "I guess it could be worse."
"I say operation Cosplay is a go!" Hayate cheered.
"Awesome! Um... Would you have any make-up yo?" Reno asked.
"Who do you think I am?" Hayate crossed her over her chest. "Of course I have make up. I told you to bring what I don't have and you did."
"Right, just making sure, you know. Gotta hide my tattoos," Reno pointed out.
"Yes I got everything to make and hide tattoos."
"I think you two are insane." Kunsel leaned against the wall.
"Reno would you like to join me for a maniacal laugh?" Hayate asked.
"Of course yo!" Reno smirked then both started to laugh manically. At times he was thankful that Reno's apartment was soundproof, because if they heard these two they would call the authorities.
"You two are going to drive me crazy one of these days." Kunsel muttered to himself. He actually felt sorry for them but he figured that it will be fun. Now they had to wait for Saturday to come.
x-x
It was finally Saturday morning and Reno and Kunsel were in front of Zack's house and were right on time. Each had the bags that Hayate instructed them to bring. Reno knocked on the door once before Hayate answered. She seemed to have a stop watch for some reason.
"What's with the stop watch yo?" Reno asked.
"We need to be at the event by 1:30PM." Hayate explained. "Plus we are going to keep an eye for time when we're executing our plan."
"Do you really think it will work?" Kunsel asked.
"Of course, Cloud is already here." Hayate opened the door. "Let's go eat some breakfast and start on our little operation."
"Wait, why is Cloud here?" Reno was curious; they didn't mention anything about Cloud.
"Oh that is a surprise my accomplice. I want to show you when it is done. For now we have three targets. Men do you know your jobs?"
"I get Zack yo?" Reno replied trying to remember for sure.
"While Zack is distracted I will cast sleep." Kunsel added.
"Good, I will take care of Angeal." Hayate giggled. "This is going to be the best day ever."
"Wait, who is getting Cloud?" Reno asked, "I can't wait to see everyone yo!"
"I guess I can take out Cloud on the way. Unless one of you two would like to get him." Hayate looked at her accomplices one was grinning like an idiot and the other one looked like he was bored.
"I want the little chocobo as well please." Reno smirked
"He's all yours." Hayate looked at her watch, it was 8:30AM. "Operation Cosplay is a go!"
Reno quickly leapt after the yell and went to find Zack which he soon found.
"Hello my love." Reno said with smile and he hugged Zack.
"Reno!" Zack jumped in Reno's embrace. He looked at Kunsel standing at the door. "What you doing here? Could stop thinking of me? You too Kuns, what are you doing here?"
"Oh I missed you so much baby, and I wanted to see you." Reno hugged him closer "And Kunsel thought he should come in case we did things yo." Reno smirked
"I do not want to know that!" Kunsel rolled his eyes. "I'm also this guy's ride so I had to come."
"So what do you want to do Reno, we could go upstairs and..." Zack trailed off.
"Oh Zack you devil!" Reno cheered. "Come on let me rock your world yo!" Reno Smirked at him.
"That does it!" Kunsel activated the materia from his bracer and cast the spell on Zack. "Time for a nap Zack."
"What the..." Zack's eyelids got heavier until he closed them. His body was relaxed and left himself collapsed in Reno's arms. "Damn it Reno."
"Really Kunsel, you had to do that now yo!" Reno complained
"It was really getting awkward." Kunsel watched as Reno picked up Zack. "So what are we going to say to Aerith?"
"Oh she knows what's going on, she's actually in on it yo." Reno smiled "Who do you think is going to put make-up on Zack's face?"
"I see, well then let's put him in his room."
"Alright yo," Reno headed up the trying to carry Zack. Soon enough they were in front of his room. "Kunsel open the door yo."
"Right," Kunsel opened the door and signaled Reno to place Zack on his bed. "Come on Reno we don't have time to for you to cuddle with Zack."
"But he is so cute yo..." Reno pouted as he got off "Okay give me the red hair dye yo." Reno smirked
"Red hair dye." Kunsel handed him a red bottle.
Reno then opened the bottle "Give me two towels, this going to be messy."
"Towels."
Reno then put the towels under Zack's head "Okay time to get the show on the road yo!" Reno cheered and started to gently work the hair dye into Zack's hair. "Go get Aerith."
"Got it, just don't have your way with him when I am away." Kunsel started to walk away to find Aerith.
"Yes, yes, I promise I won't" Reno scoffed at him before adding more hair dye to Zack's hair.
"Honestly I wonder..." Kunsel left the room to find Aerith. On the way he overheard a conversation.
"No Hayate and that's final." That sounded like Angeal, Aerith's dad.
"Come one Angeal, for me?" That was Hayate's voice.
"I don't care, I will not fall for it this time." Angeal seemed sure of himself.
"Not even if I do this?" There was some noise of clothing falling on the floor. "Come on you know you want to."
"Hayate, not while they're here." Angeal growled, he sounded angry.
"Come on, I'll keep quiet this time." Hayate's voice sounded so seductive. Kunsel swallowed a hard lump in his throat.
"Hayate!"
Kunsel started to hear things he shouldn't he scrambled out the hall, his face felt really hot. He finally found Aerith outside in the garden.
"Oh hello Kunsel, how are you?" She smiled at him gently
"I'm fine..." Kunsel took a deep breath, thankful for the helmet he was wearing. "Reno needs you, it is time."
"Oh this should be fun!" Aerith smiled, happy to be putting make-up on Zack.
"Be careful on the way up." He called out to Aerith.
"Why is that?" She asked.
"I... nevermind," Kunsel shook his head. "Listen I need to find Cloud do you know where he is?"
"Yeah, he's in the living room watching TV." She replied before she left to go help Reno with Zack.
"Thanks!" Kunsel leaned against the dumbapple tree, he took one off the branches and starting munching on it. "I guess I can wait a little bit since Hayate is busy with Angeal."
Kunsel went inside the room and true enough there was Cloud sitting watching TV.
"What's up kid?"
"Nothing much, just trying to ignore the sounds from the dining room..." Cloud replied timidly.
"What sound?" Kunsel asked innocently.
"Well you know..." Cloud began to blush.
"Hayate?"
"Y-yeah..." Cloud turned redder at his answer
Kunsel took the remote and turned up the volume. "We'll just have to ignore them for the time being, so what on?"
"How I met your mother." Cloud answered with a smile.
"Sound fun, let watch until Hayate's... free." Kunsel took off his helmet and placed it next to him. "You like it here?"
"Yeah!" He smiled "I like getting to know Zack and Aerith."
"Good kid, so how are you keeping up in class?" Kunsel started, he wanted for Cloud to feel more relax around him, the boy seem tense.
"Yeah, I'm trying my hardest." Cloud replied timidly
"Good, Reno and Zack want you to be the fourth member so we can me the Fantastic Four." Kunsel made quotation marks with his fingers.
"They're so funny, I find their antics funny." Cloud laughed
"Don't remind me, I am trying to stay sane thank you very much." Kunsel groaned. He was in deep thought, he might as well entertain the kid for a while before they get down to business. "Do you want to hear how we became friends?"
"Oh I would love too!" Cloud cheered
"Let's see, it started out in my first year as a cadet. I was new to Midgar, didn't knew a single soul."
Kunsel placed on his helmet. Today was the first day of class; after years of working in odd jobs he finally got accepted to the Academy, Midgar's best military school. Kunsel wanted to become a SOLDIER but more than that he wanted to become an instructor. To him it felt right to achieve that goal.
Kunsel took his notebooks and headed off to class. He hasn't met his roommates yet. He came to the Academy late so they were already in class. He had classes in the morning and training in the afternoon.
When he made it to class he knocked on the door and entered the classroom. He watched as all eyes were on him.
"Listen up, you we got a new student today. The SOLDIER barked. "What is your name son?"
"Kunsel Lanster, sir." Kunsel looked up the the instructor. The man was well built and very tall. He had light brown eyes and short black spiky hair. He had scars all over his body, some even on his face. The man glared down at him.
"Cadet Lanster you will sit next to Cadet Fair and Cadet Sinclair." the SOILDER ordered. "And this will be the last time that you will be tardy to my class do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir," Kunsel took off and sat on his assigned seat, a boy around his age with spiky red hair leaned back. The other was a boy with long spiky black hair. Kunsel had to admit that they were both good looking in their own way.
"What made you join ShinRa, man?" He looked the other student up and down. "The name is Reno, yo."
"Yeah, you seem too scrawny like Reno here to be a SOILDER." The black haired boy added. "I'm Zack."
"Hey," Kunsel hissed. "I came here so that I can become an instructor. And I am not scrawny."
"I don't know man, your almost like me in scrawniness" Reno smirked "This is why I'm becoming a Turk and then an instructor!" Reno cheered
"Why a Turk?" Kunsel asked. "I thought that everyone in this class was going to try joining SOLDIER?"
"These classes are fundamentals.' Zack shrugged. Most here want to be in SOLDIER but a few like my beloved here want to be a Turk."
"Beloved?" Kunsel blinked.
"Oh yes, my love" Reno looked behind Kunsel "I can't wait until class over yo."
"Cadet Fair, Cadet Sinclair, Cadet Lanster, is my class too dull that you need to start a conversation behind my back?" The entire class was looking at them.
"n-no sir." Kunsel slid back in his desk, wishing that the ground would swallow him whole.
"We are paying attention , right guys?" Zack shrugged.
"I can hear every word you say man" Reno smiled "I just like talking to my love more."
"Oh Reno not in front of everyone." Zack waved his hand at the red head.
"That's it you three, suicides runs after training." The instructor barked.
"What!" Zack stood up, "That's not fair."
"Come on man we heard every word you said!" Reno glared "We were just talking you never cared before yo!"
"Make that three days starting today!" the instructor growled.
"What!"
"Make it four!"
"How about you make it odd!" Reno Shouted
"Fine smartass make it this entire week then!"
"Yeah well..." Zack never got to finish what he wanted to say as Kunsel placed his hand over their mouths.
"Stop it," Kunsel whispered. "We are sorry sir; we'll be there after our afternoon class." Kunsel bowed in apology.
"You're lucky that this Cadet stopped you guys or I would suspend your asses on the next comment." The instructor pointed at the door. "Get those two clowns out of my class before I decide to suspend them I want you three to be in the training field and start on the hell rounds!"
"Yes sir," Kunsel dragged Zack and Reno out of the classroom and into the hall. He let go of their wrists and faced the opposite direction.
"What a fucking asshole." Zack grumbled.
"I know god, I wish I could fucking him yo!" Reno glared
"Shut up." Kunsel glared. "Are you two happy now?"
"What is your problem dude?" Zack pushed Kunsel away.
"You two are my problem, it's my first day and I am already in trouble." Kunsel crossed his arms over is chest. "All you had to do was to shut up and take the punishment but you just had to keep running your mouths!"
"It was unfair man" Reno looked sternly at him "We talk in there all the time and he doesn't care one bit yo."
"I don't give a rats ass what you do or not. But you talked back to a superior that could get you expelled on insubordination." Kunsel growled. "I can see that is not going through your thick skulls."
"Why do you suddenly have a sick up your ass new kid!" Zack hissed. "You are putting the blame on us like we were the only ones who talk. You are such a spineless coward that you couldn't defend yourself!"'
Reno watched as Zack was knocked over by Kunsel's fist. "Don't you dare..." Kunsel growled. "Tell me where is the training grounds, I want to get this punishment over with and after that I never want to speak with you again!"
"Fine by suck-up" Reno glared "God I never met someone so full of himself yo." He looked at Zack "Right Zack?"
"Not now Reno." Zack rubbed his cheek. "Fine by us, that is what we get for trying to be your friend."
"I never ask you to." Kunsel started to walk away; he was determined to find the training grounds on his own.
"Wow so you guys were almost enemies?" Cloud was surprised as he listened; all three were such close friends. He couldn't even imagine that they would fight each other.
"That's right." Kunsel nodded. "They didn't understand then that if they talked back one more time then he would have suspended or even expelled them on insubordination."
"Wow, I would have thought Zack knew better." he laughed
"We were young," Kunsel explained. "We both wanted to be right and we didn't want to admit our mistakes."
"Then why is Reno still like that?"
"Because he's Reno, do you need another explanation?"
"No, Reno is Reno." Cloud shook his head. "But I guess that doesn't interfere with his work right?"
"He's actually second in command in the Turk program and the most popular instructor. Just like Zack and I."
"I can see why, girls must drool over the man." Cloud remarked "Do his students know about Zack and him?"
"Oh it's is a well know fact in the Academy that Zack and Reno are BFL."
"BFL?" Cloud asked.
"Bromance for life." Kunsel replied.
"Then why did I never know that..." Cloud frowned
"You just don't pay attention." Kunsel chuckled. "There are a lot of rumors that go through the Academy but if you are that out of the loop then I guess I will have to teach you how to make your own like I did back when I was a student at the Academy."
"Please do I want to know some rumors!"
"I'll tell you later, it's good to be in the know. Now where was I…"
Suicide runs, the one thing that every student in the Academy hated. It was very simple excise, one sprints from start to finish. Touch the finish line and sprint back, half way back the student must turn around and run back to the finish line turn around half way. One does this until they reach the starting point.
What makes these suicide runs different is the bracelet enhancements that SOILDER uses. These special bracelets make the body center of gravity heavier, making the runs harder than they are. The instructors can place the amount of weight that each student should carry. It has been said that the heaviest is 200 lbs, reserved for top SOILDERS
Zack, Reno and Kunsel were already on their 15 set of suicide runs, Reno and Zack bracelets were set at 40 lbs while Kunsel's was set to 30lbs. All three were tired and thirsty; they weren't allowed to be off the course by the instructor.
"This sucks balls," Zack groaned as he turned around and started to run in the opposite direction.
"Shiva, I want to go to Costa del Sol after this yo." Reno panted, "too bad it cost's a fortune."
"I know, but we'll go on our honeymoon." Zack grinned.
"Oh Zack, that would be a dream come true yo." Reno smiled "I love you Zack Fair."
Kunsel grunted as he sprinted towards the finish line. He looked back and saw Zack and Reno. While they were still joking around they didn't look so good. Reno looked paler than usual and Zack's face said he was about to throw up any minute. They had higher weight than he did. Sure he hated their stupid antics, only a few hours after he met them but it wasn't really fair.
Kunsel stopped and marched over to the instructor. Punishment or not they have been doing this for 3 hours this had to stop.
Zack and Reno looked at Kunsel talking to the instructor. When they were done talking the instructor walked over to them.
"Great, the new kid must have sucked up to him so he can get out of punishment." Zack spat.
"Well someone is definitely a goody-two-shoes!" Reno grunted "I really don't like him..."
"Fair, Sinclair you're free to go." the instructor pointed at the doors. "Now get out of my sight before I change my mind."
"What are you talking about?" Zack was surprised; this was not the thing he thought he was going to hear.
"Love, let's go before he makes us run more yo." Reno whispered "Come on we can cuddle in our room to feel better."
The three of them watched as Kunsel re-adjusted his bracelet and started to move to the course. Zack and Reno watched the new guy confused. They saw that Kunsel moved more sluggish than before. It hit them that the instructor said Fair and Sinclair, he didn't said anything about Kunsel. "What about Cadet Lanster, sir?"
"He still needs to run." the instructor shrugged. "He made a deal with me."
"And what was that deal yo?" Reno remarked coldly
"He said that you two weren't well enough go on with the punishment." The instructor explained. "He said that he would take the punishment for the three of you instead, so he increased his weight to 50lbs. so you don't have to come tomorrow, slackers."
"He did that?" Zack asked.
"Have you been listening?" The instructor sneered. "That kid has a lot of guts to tell me to let you off the hook. You should be proud of a friend like him."
"Well he isn't our friend man." Reno scoffed "He seems to think I'm weird yo."
"Aren't you kid?" The instructor snorted. "You and Fair aren't exactly the most normal of the bunch."
"Hey!"
"Why would you say that yo," Reno glared. "How are we not normal?"
"Lets see, you flirt with Fair 24/7. Fair you have a tendency of not staying still for five fucking minutes. Sinclair you came to the academy once wearing a long blond wig and told everyone to call you Linda. Does that seem normal to you?"
"Why yes it does!" Reno smirked "And Zack flirts back yo!"
"That's right love." Zack nodded.
"You see Linda," Instructor looked at Kunsel. "I would have thought that you would appreciate what he just did for you two slackers."
"I guess..."
"I am appreciative; it means I can cuddle with my baby now yo." Reno smiled "Am I right baby?"
"Yeah..." Zack looked down to the floor, he felt like a dick for yelling at Kunsel. He was only wanted to help them and they didn't listen. Now he's taking the punishment for the three of them. Zack activated his bracelet and set is to 50lbs. He felt the sudden weight around his shoulders, trying to push him down. He started to head to the field when the instructor stopped him.
"You're not going anywhere."
"Why not? I'm completing my punishment." Zack growled.
"You don't have one, the kid took yours and Sinclair's punishments." The instructor pushed Zack back with one hand. "Now I want you out of here before I really suspend the both of you on insubordination."
"Just for trying to complete a punishment that we want to complete?" Reno grimaced. "What the fuck man, you're a piece of work, yo."
"He saved your asses, you better fucking appreciate it." The instructor growled. "If you step one foot in the course then the one who is going to be expelled is him." He pointed at Kunsel who was struggling to sprint towards the finish line.
"Can we at least help him yo?" Reno glared "Look at him he looks worse than we did, let us help him!" he frowned "What do you think Zack?"
"Let us help him." Zack's hands turned white and blood was coming out of the shallow cuts done by his nails. "Expel me."
"Excuse me?" The instructor raised an eyebrow.
"You heard me, expel me right now." Zack looked up and at the instructor's eyes. "I want Kunsel to be off his punishment now, so expel me that was what you wanted right?"
"Expel me too you fucker." Reno shouted, "I'm helping that kid out yo!"
Zack and Reno ran over to the course when they saw Kunsel collapsed. The instructor looked at the pair, amused at their change of heart towards the new kid. They learned something today and that's all he cares about right now. Now He had to get those reports done, he'll leave the kid to those two. The kid will be fine.
Zack kneeled on Kunsel's left looking at the boy's miserable face. Kunsel was panting hard, out of breath.
"W-what are you... here?" Kunsel's voice sounded dry and sickly.
"Course man, me and Zack know better than to leave a man down yo." Reno smiled as him and Zack helped him up to his feet "Now tell us where your room is so we can take you their"
"Room 312." Kunsel wheezed.
"That's our room!" Zack looked at Kunsel, "why didn't you say so earlier?"
"You never... oh shit." Kunsel sprinted on wobbly legs and made it to the grass outside the academy grounds where he started to vomit. Zack and Reno watched with sympathy as Kunsel emptied his stomach.
"Poor kid exhausted himself." Reno frowned "Hmm, wonder how he'll react to our constant cuddling love?"
"Who knows," Zack shrugged as he went and rubbed Kunsel's back. "Let it all out, you will feel much better."
"Poor kid" he frowned and went to hug "Feel better okay."
Kunsel looked at the two. They weren't so bad, forgotten why did he got angry in the first place." Will you two still be my friend?"
"Of course, even your vomit." Zack grinned.
"You know you are pretty cute yo." Reno smirked but was soon smacked across the head "Oww what the hell yo!"
"I am hurt, Reno." Zack pouted, "You don't love me anymore?"
"Of course love, but you were being so distant that I thought you lost your love for me." Reno frowned "I will always love you baby." Reno then hugged Zack
"Oh brother." Kunsel rolled his eyes.
He guessed that he would have to get used to their flirting. As long as he doesn't get pulled in then he will be alright. Midgar doesn't seem so bad anymore, not with weird friends like these.
"Wow you were right Reno and Zack have had a very long and weird relationship..." Cloud looked wide eyed
"Yep, but know that they made my days at the academy more fun." Kunsel grinned.
"Really?" Cloud asked shocked "Wait did they cuddle at all?"
"Yes," Kunsel nodded. "They actually made me cuddle with them quite a few times."
"Ah, that's cute!" Cloud smiled,"weird but cute."
"Right," Kunsel looked at the door that led to the dining room. Things seemed to be calming down so it is time to put Cloud into the Operation Cosplay. "Cloud could you do me a favor?"
"Sure, what is it?" Cloud asked curious.
"Go to sleep." A cloud of green magic surrounded Cloud's face.
"H-huh?" Soon enough Cloud was out
Kunsel caught Cloud before he collapsed on the floor. Hayate came in the living room. Her clothes were ruffled and her hair was a mess. Kunsel's face started to turn red.
"So you knocked Cloud out?" Hayate asked.
"Yeah..." Kunsel didn't know how to ask without sounding awkward. "What about Angeal?"
"I managed to convince him, do you want to know how?" Hayate smirked.
"No thanks I'm good!" Kunsel shook his head.
"Take Cloud to the guest room next to Zack's room I have his things ready." Hayate ordered.
"So what are you going to put him in?" Kunsel asked.
"You'll see." Hayate made her way up the stair followed by Kunsel and an unconscious Cloud in his arms.
Once they made it to the room Kunsel placed Cloud on the bed. He excused himself to put on his outfit. He was really glad he was not Cloud at the moment because Hayate seemed scary. He couldn't wait to see their fruits of labor on this one.
Chapter 10 end
Who will dress as who?