Author's Note

Okies, just before we begin this chapter, when you hit Zack's part about 3/4-ish of the way through, go on youtube (or whatever site you use for music) look for a song called "All In" by Lifehouse. (begins with "All night staring at the ceiling counting the minutes I'm feeling this way...") and then when that's finished look for another song by Lifehouse called "Falling In" (begins with "everytime I see your face my heart takes off on a high speed chase")

I was listening to Lifehouse's Smoke & Mirrors album whilst writing, and these two songs suit what goes on in the later part of the chapter :3

Anyway, see you in the proper author's note c;

Chapter XI – Taking Chances.

With the arrival of May, Cloud had half hoped that anything bad that had happened to him last month would be forgotten – just a bad memory which he'd never have to deal with again… There was one slight problem with that way of thinking though. He'd neglected to take into account the lengths a certain blue haired person was willing to go to make his life unpleasant.

Nearly a week had passed since he'd broke down crying on that bench to Zack. Cloud had been embarrassed and shy around him since but Zack, being Zack had insisted that there was nothing weird about him sobbing out a symphony against his chest. Cloud had tried to keep that in mind but still found the whole incident kind of cringe worthy (even if he was still secretly pleased he'd been held by Zack.)

Since then, Zack had made Cloud promise that if anything else involving Saïx popped up that the blond would go right to him. Since making that promise, Cloud had only bothered his friend with half of the incidents that Saïx had created.

The truth was that he didn't want to bother Zack with his problems. He didn't want to be a bad friend. And he didn't want Zack to have to constantly come to his rescue. In short, he was afraid his best friend here at this new school would get tired of him and leave him if he asked for help too frequently.

And that was something he couldn't bear to happen.

Saïx, however, seemed content in ripping Cloud a new one every time he saw him. The words faggot, homo and gay boy were fast becoming nicknames and the nervous blond still didn't want to tell Zack just how much the name calling bothered him.

'Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.' Yeah, right. He'd thought. Obviously the person who said that originally was either deaf or lived a life free from Saïx. Either was a possibility.

He had to admire Saïx's dedication to him though; after all, it must have taken a lot of effort on his part to hunt him down, make fun of him, and occasionally steam his lunch money on a daily basis.

Really.

On Monday, Cloud had decided to wait for Zack in their usual spot so the pair could walk home. He'd been waiting there for five minutes when he felt a tapping on his shoulder. Assuming that it was his friend who he'd been looking for, he turned from watching the front entrance and locked eyes with a pair of furious gold ones. A pair which Cloud have been acquainted with real well in recent days.

Not now, not now…

"Yo, gay boy." Saïx said, grinning at his own wit. Cloud stiffened, waiting for what was bound to follow.

"Saïx." He managed to say, trying to accompany his annoyed sounding words with a glare.

"You waiting for your lover?" He said loudly. Cloud cringed.

"No. I'm waiting for my friend." He replied, glancing back at the door. Oh please don't let Zack come out now. He thought, facing Saïx and fixing him with his best glare again.

"Oh, is that what they're calling it nowadays?" Saïx asked, laughing. A few people cast looks in their direction, scurrying past. Saïx seemed to have that effect on everyone. No one wanted anything to do with him; nor wanted to give him a reason to start on them. But, as long as he was amusing himself by bullying somebody who wasn't them, why get involved right?

"Hmph." Cloud managed to say, staring dumbly at the ground.

"What's the matter? Not going to defend yourself, faggot?" This latest statement was met with more looks and the sound of a few sneers of the people who walked past.

"D-don't call me that." Cloud stammered. He had managed to reach a point where he was able to talk back to Saïx over the past few days. He still wasn't able to call the bully all of the names he'd allocated him in his head, but speaking in a clipped, unsure tone was better than panicking and not saying anything in his own defence.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't." Saïx leered, leaning nonchalantly against a bin. Cloud pitied the bin for its burden.

Cloud paused for a moment, responses to the question put to him spinning around in his mind. In the spur of the moment – or in a retrospective move of stupidity – the answer came to him.

"Make. Me." He said slowly, taking a step back from Saïx. It was like watching the wind being taken from his sails. Saïx stared at him with none-too-well-hidden astonishment before quickly masking his face with a nasty sneer.

"Was that a challenge, queen of the queers?" Saïx scoffed. "What cha goin' to do? Blow job be to death?" As unoriginal an insult as it was, Cloud felt the first licks of panic creeping into his brain. Without really realising, he'd just challenged his tormentor to make him give a reason as to why his bullying was undeserved. And it didn't take a genius to see that from the way Saïx had got up off the bin and started advancing toward him, that sooner rather than later Cloud was going to end up getting injured at the hands of this brute. "Well?" The blue haired bully demanded, glaring at Cloud.

Cloud backed onto the first step. He dimly registered that there were people stood around watching, waiting for a fight to break out. Saïx advanced toward him, and then grabbed his shirt collar, lifting Cloud up off his feet.

"You dared me," He said, grinning menacingly. "What've you got to say now, faggot?"

"I-I!" Stammered Cloud, his eyes widening with fear.

"Thought as much." Saïx said, an almost sentimental smile passing over his features for the split second before he acted.

Using the full force of his body weight, he slammed Cloud down into the steps. Cloud crumpled, winded. Saïx kicked and punched at him, striking whatever part of Cloud he could, shouting obscenities in his face. Cloud recoiled into himself, feeling as though he was witnessing the scene rather than being the victim. He could vaguely feel the kicks which beat at his ribs, at his legs and arms, but he wasn't registering them as he should have. He didn't feel any of the rough treatment Saïx was subjecting his body to. None of that seemed real. He withdrew from himself, his mind going elsewhere as his body was beaten up.

Cloud wasn't entirely aware of what was happening to him. He knew that this public beating and name calling was easily the worst thing that Saïx had done to him yet, but past that he wasn't paying any attention.

It was only when Saïx was sent flying back toward the bin he'd been leaning against oh-so-casually before that consciousness seemed to seep into Cloud's being again. What had happened? Why was Saïx not punching him anymore..? Why was he curled up on the floor..?

When he eventually looked up, he saw a tall dark haired figure standing over him. Oh no! He thought as the realisation dawned on him.

He watched in both shock and embarrassment as his saviour pushed Saïx away again, and eventually swung a provoked punch at the other's face. Saïx reeled backwards before lunging again. A chant of 'fight, fight, fight' had sprung up around the crowd that had gathered, cheering on the two fighting teenagers.

No! Stop! Cloud willed them, hating how it was he that had caused this, he that was to blame.

The fighters circled one another, waiting for the other to lunge and try again to attack. Eventually the kind man who'd helped him out managed to land a hefty punch to the side of the bully's head, sending flying to the floor in a heap.

Zack shook his hand, cursing. As Saïx struggled to scramble to his feet, some teachers began running over, intent on breaking up the fight. Not that there was much fighting going on anymore.

"Fucking bastard." Zack spat, glowering at Saïx. "If I see you anywhere near me or my friends again, you better be prepared."

"Threatening me, Fair? I wouldn't do that you know. Wouldn't want me to pull in some of the big guns now, would you? Ah, just think about what that would mean-"

"Shut up Saïx! I mean it. Come near me or my friends and you'll be paying for it for months."

"You mean I'll be walking funny, will-"

"What on earth is going on here?" Called out a small round female teacher Cloud had never seen before. She stepped in front of Zack whilst her co-worker did the same with Saïx. "We're going to see Xemnas. Now." She announced in a nervous high pitched squeak, indicating for Zack to turn and walk back into the building he'd only come out of minutes before. Zack heaved a sigh and obliged her. Predictably, Saïx was the one to make a fuss. Whilst he was calling the teachers foul names and making a scene, Zack's blue eyes found Cloud's worried ones.

"You okay?" He asked, leaning down nearby to pick up his bag. Cloud managed a nod. "Would it be okay if… you waited for me?" Zack asked, his voice suddenly really serious. Again Cloud nodded. "Won't be long then." He said with a wink. Cloud nodded uselessly for a third time. He watched in a state of fear and awe as the two 'unruly' teenagers were frog-marched back into the school, not knowing what to do with himself.

It only took about 15 minutes for Zack to re-emerge from the building. As soon as Cloud caught sight of him he jumped up from his perch on the front steps of the school – he hadn't moved much since the fight had broke out – and hastily scurried over to Zack.

"Zack!" He exclaimed, his eyes ablaze with concern. "Are you okay?"

"Peachy, thanks." Zack said, waving a hand and dismissing the subject. Cloud sensed that he didn't want to talk about it and didn't try to push the matter any further.

"I… I'm sorry you had to get involved in that." Cloud said, dropping his gaze to the floor and avoiding looking at Zack.

"Yeah, what was that exactly?" Zack asked. When Cloud looked up and saw the raised eyebrow aimed in his direction, he started fumbling. That was something he hadn't wanted Zack to see, let alone become involved in. Stupid Saïx. He thought bitterly to himself. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

"Um, nothing…"

"Dude, that was hardly nothing. He had you on the ground and was kicking shit out of you." Zack's jaw clenched and unclenched, as though the thought angered him more than he was letting on. He gingerly rubbed the back of his head and sighed. "Let's go somewhere. We can at least grab a seat to talk this out on."

"Okay," Cloud agreed, if a little bit reluctantly. This was the part he'd been dreading. He wasn't looking forward to telling Zack what had happened to him in its entirety. Not one bit. "Where?" He asked, although he had a feeling he knew what the answer would be.

Zack waited for a moment before replying, looking at Cloud with an expression that the blond couldn't quite place. Was that… disappointment? "The park." He said, leading the way down the steps. Cloud followed, occasionally having to jog to keep up with the pace that Zack was setting.

When they arrived at the park, they made their way to their usual bench, which, upon arrival, both of them sat down on. Cloud stared out at the lake nervously, chewing his lip. Zack wasn't acting like his usual cheerful self. What had Saïx told him? Oh God, he thought. What has he said to him?

After what seemed like forever, Zack eventually spoke up again. His voice was colder than usual, and, as Cloud had feared, there was an element of sadness to it. Like the disappointment he thought he saw on his face earlier had crept into his voice.

"Why didn't you tell me he'd gotten that bad?" He asked, not looking at Cloud. Cloud froze, contemplating what he could say to Zack. Suddenly, his reasons for keeping this from his friend seemed moot, as though there had never been any logical reason for lying to Zack. He felt guilty. Zack had wanted to help him and now here they were – Cloud had made him think that he didn't want anything to do with him. With that last thought, Cloud began to panic again.

It took him a moment to find his voice as he stared at Zack almost unashamedly, wondering what was going through that head of his.

"I didn't want to trouble you any more than I already have." He admitted in a rather sullen voice. "I know I've been a big pain recently…" He trailed off, forcing his gaze out onto the lake. "I didn't want you to think badly of me because I couldn't stand up for myself. I didn't tell you because I thought I could handle it on my own. I didn't want to bother you." Or push you away. He added mentally. He knew he was blushing when he felt Zack's gaze on him but he pushed forward with his explanation, hoping to make Zack forgive him. He had to set things straight. And he had to do it now.

"You're such an amazing person, Zack." He said shyly, quietly. "I wanted to be like you, be able to help others who needed it. I never mean to disappoint yo-"

"Disappoint me?" Zack interrupted him, his voice softer than it was earlier, but still holding an unidentified emotion. "Cloud you haven't disappointed me. I guess my ego's a little hurt that you didn't feel you could come to me about all this, that's all." He said, shifting in his seat to face Cloud. Cloud chanced a look at him, and found he couldn't look away from the piercing blue-green eyes that held his own.

"But I'm pathetic," He whispered slowly, a frown occupying his brow. "I can't stand up for myself and you must tire of saving me all the time-"

"I could never get tired of saving you." Zack said, the smallest of smiles spreading across his face. "As long as you need me, I'll be there."

Cloud stared at Zack, not daring to believe what he was hearing. "But what it if happens mor-"

"No buts." Zack cut him off with a grin. "I want to be there for you." His smile had slipped from his face, an intent looking now playing about his features. Cloud hung off his words, taking them in and trying to process them. He was beginning to trust in what Zack was telling him. Even if he thought it was strange that Zack wouldn't get fed up of him being so needy.

They sat for a moment looking at each other without saying another word. It was Zack who first broke their eye contact and started up a new route for the conversation.

"So, what has he been saying to you anyway?"

There was no need to question who the 'he' that Zack mentioned was. Cloud hung his head, really not wanting to talk about it.

"I know there's more than what he's been saying around me, and more than you're letting on to." Zack pressed, hoping for an answer. Cloud gulped, not knowing what to say. He still didn't want Zack to know about that… part of him that he couldn't explain, even if he tried to. The side of him which was telling him that he was attracted to his friend.

Cloud took in a deep breath, hoping that the sudden rush of oxygen into his system would wake up his brain and give him the answers he needed. No such luck.

"I don't know where to begin." He mumbled, still unsure of what to say.

"How about with what he'd been calling you?" Zack suggested.

"It's a long story…"

"And I've got a lot of spare time."

Their eyes met again and both of them let out a chuckle. "Alright," Zack said, smiling gently and shuffling a little closer to Cloud on the bench. "Get it over with."

Cloud sighed this time before beginning his explanation. "He's said a lot of things, none of them particularly nice. Mainly about my sexuality…" He trailed off, looking away from Zack. "It's like… He said things and I realised some of the things he said applied to me. I began worrying about how much truth there was in his words, and eventually became convinced he was right. He said things as if he knew. As if he knew just what I was thinking."

"What did you mean when you said about there bring truth in his insults?" Zack asked. He didn't sound disgusted or anything like Cloud imagined he might. But then, the worst news had yet to make an appearance.

"I realised that he was talking about things that I had thought…" He trailed off, not wanting to say anymore. If he did, that would be it. Zack would know that it was him he had feelings for.

"About who?" Zack asked, watching Cloud carefully.

"I can't say." Cloud said, focusing his gaze on the floor where it safely would remain.

"Okay, then I won't push you," Zack said, smiling gently. They sat for a few quiet minutes, both of them looking out onto the small lake which was glittering prettily in the sunshine.

"Zack," Cloud said, turning to look at Zack nervously after about ten minutes had passed. Zack turned to face his friend. "What are you thinking about all this?"

"Truthfully?" Zack asked. Cloud nodded. "I don't know what to think anymore."

As the seconds that the pair spent together by the lake ticked by, Zack began to feel more and more nervous. He wasn't sure what was causing this feeling but he didn't think he'd be able to understand it, even if he knew. The only thing that he was certain of was that there was something Cloud wasn't telling him. Something huge, something earth-shattering for him.

Or at least the blond thought it that way. Cloud seemed to have shut off after asking him what he thought. Like he didn't know how to talk to him anymore. Zack was contempt with the silence, he had his own thoughts to collect and he knew that Cloud would eventually come to and speak to him again.

There was just one thing that remained an uncertainty.

Who was the mysterious person that Cloud was crushing on?

The hopeful and oh-so-slightly vain part of him was convinced that it was actually Zack himself that Cloud was talking about.

But the, his rational thought told him not to be so hopeful.

For the pair of them to fall in love with each other after only a few weeks of knowing one another?

Impossible.

Unthinkable.

Unless… was it that that feeling he'd been battling with – the one which he was convinced would scare Cloud away – mutual to the two of them?

Did Cloud feel the same?

Zack played the thought over in his head, testing the theories his mind threw out with it.

Saïx had been calling Cloud gay, and if Cloud was wondering if there was truth in the petty insults of that bullshit filled little cretin then that implied that he thought he had a crush on someone.

And if he wouldn't tell Zack about it then that someone had to be male, right?

Although, Zack mused to himself. Cloud's pretty shy… He might act in a similar fashion if this were about a girl.

Discarding that theory, he tried again.

Cloud's got something that's bothering him, yet knowing he can tell me he's choosing not to… Ergo, that someone he'd rather not mention is me? Zack shook his head slightly. No, that was far too hopeful.

Okay, so let's hypothesise. Zack thought casually. Let's say that the mystery person Cloud likes is actually me. Why on earth would he be uncomfortable telling me about it? I like him too so it's not like I'd be angr- His train of thought stopped abruptly as he realised what was keeping Cloud from sharing his crush out loud. It was the exact same fear Zack himself had, and was experiencing. The fear of losing Cloud, of driving him away with the news that he liked him. In that way. It seemed so simple.

But, his brain reminded him. This all rather depends on if Cloud even feels that way about you. For all you know it could be some other guy. Or girl. Or maybe he wasn't referring to Saïx calling him gay. The bully has called him looks of other things…

I'm looking far too deeply into this.

Zack sighed and leaned back against the bench. He chanced a glance at his companion, only to lock his gaze with two blue eyes. They looked away quickly, an almost guilty look appearing on the face they belonged to, as though he'd just been caught staring. Which he had. Zack smiled to himself, deciding upon his next move.

"Hey Cloud."

The blond's attention snapped back to him. "Yes, Zack?" He asked, his voice coming out in a nervous squeak.

"Tell me something about yourself. Something only you know."

"Something about be? But-"

"But why? Because I wanna learn something about you. I want to know a secret." Zack asked with a grin on his face. He had a plan. And he was hoping to whatever almighty force was out there that it would work.

"I'm really not all that interestin-" Cloud began, but he was cut off by Zack once more.

"'Course you are. Just tell me anything. When you're done, I'll tell you something about me, deal?"

Cloud had to think on this for a while before Zack heard him speak up. He was gazing out onto the lake with a small smile playing about his lips. Zack couldn't help but think that he looked oddly beautiful.

"Well, you asked for it. If I send you to sleep now, it's on your own head." Cloud said whilst Zack laughed. Zack didn't have to speak up again to encourage Cloud to talk. "About a year ago I started writing a book. I've not let anyone see the rough-version yet but I'm almost done with it. I'm hoping one day, if it's good enough, that it might get published." He turned to face Zack, and noticed the slightly awed look on his friend's face. "What?" He laughed nervously, another blush occupying his cheeks.

"Nothing…" Zack replied, trying not to smirk. "Just that that's awesome!" He grinned widely at Cloud, as if to reiterate the point. Cloud didn't look convinced so Zack continued. "No, really, I think that it's really cool! What is it about?"

It took a few moments for Zack to coax Cloud into telling him the plotline. It was almost as though he was embarrassed about it. Eventually he started talking about the characters, what their names were and where they lived. He then went on to describe what was going on in their world and what kind of difficulties they were going to have to overcome. Zack was completely captivated, unable to stop looking at or listening to his friend. Eventually Cloud stopped, beaming as though proud of himself for telling Zack. Zack grinned just as widely.

"You could… come over and read it sometime?" Cloud offered shyly. "You're the first person I've ever told about it and it'd be good to have someone else's opinion other than my own on it."

"I'd love to!" Zack exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up and a huge grin appearing on his face.

Cloud giggled softly. Zack did a double take, wondering if he'd just heard that sound right. When Cloud giggled again and Zack joined in chuckling, repeatedly thinking about how cute everything about Cloud was. He made a brief attempt to stop that and listen to see if his friend had anything more to say, but eventually gave in and allowed himself to just appreciate Cloud.

"Your turn." The blond said adamantly, all but demanding Zack's wandering attention back.

"My turn what..?" Zack asked, bemused and slightly clueless as to what his friend meant.

"That was the deal; I tell you something that no one else knows about me, and you'll do the same about yourself."

"Oh, that deal." Zack said, running a hand through his hair. Great, what to tell him? Suddenly his original plan of casually suggesting his feelings didn't seem all that great. What if Cloud didn't like what he had to say? He cleared his throat, thinking of improvising but knowing that that wouldn't work. He stuck with plan A.

"Alright," He began, chewing on his lip. It's now or never, knucklehead."I, uh… Hmm. I've been thinking recently about things I shouldn't have." He said ominously.

"Meaning what?" Cloud asked, clearly amused by Zack's unwillingness to contribute to his own idea.

"Just that I've had a lot of thoughts lately that have left me wondering what would happen if I acted on them."

"What kind of thoughts?" Cloud pressed.

"Do you- no, wait. You know when you think you'll regret something if you did it but you don't know if that's right until you do actually do it?" He attempted, unsure of what words were actually escaping his mouth.

"I guess I know that feeling. I don't like regretting things though. I try not to do anything that'll leave me with regrets."

"Well, that's the kind of problem I have. There's someone I really want to get to know on a new level. But I don't want to scare that person off." Please understand what I'm hinting at. Zack thought.

"That's kind of how I feel about that person I mentioned to you before," Cloud said, watching Zack's face closely. The black haired man could see the question in his friend's eyes; where was he going with this?

"Then you'll know what I mean when I say that I don't want to regret not telling them about how I feel, but I also don't want to regret making them feel weird either."

"That's my problem." Cloud sighed, staring out at the lake. "Go on then," He said, not bothering to look at Zack. There was something almost pained about his expression, like he was disappointed with what Zack was saying. "Who is the mystery woman then?"

"I can't tell you." Zack said, his gaze joining Cloud's one the shimmering surface of the lake, watching as it lapped at the grassy bank which surrounded it.

"Why not?" Came the question.

"Because I'm not sure you'll like it."

They sat in silence for a while, neither of them looking at nor talking to the other. A duck flew over head and landed with a splash in the water, sending up a spray of diamonds. Cloud chewed his lip, still curious about what Zack had meant. After what seemed like forever, his thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.

"You know, if I'm going to feel guilty about something, I might as well feel guilty about something I enjoyed." Zack said, turning to face him again. There was something in his voice which Cloud took a moment to place. It was determination. But for what?

"Hmm?" Cloud hummed, about to ask what his friend meant. He started to turn back to face Zack but he didn't have time to think before he felt a hand come into contact with his cheek and pull his face in the direction it had been headed. He didn't have time to ask the question that sat abandoned in his head about what Zack was on about. All he knew was that Zack's face was centimetres away from his own and that he didn't know why. As he tried to figure this new mystery out with a brain that was working far to groggily for his liking, Zack closed the last bit of distance between them and brought his mouth down on Cloud's. The simplest of kisses and yet Cloud's entire world came spinning to a halt.

Author's Note

/Disclaimer/

All characters to Square Enix and Disney~

Also, happy 10th anniversary to Kingdom Hearts eheh :'D

(I'm late-ish, I know)

Fight, fluff and a kiss? I bet you're all thinking that it's about time one of those things happened XD

Anyone else seeing what I meant about the music at the beginning now? Kinda suiting what's going on with these two at the moment, am I right? XD

I hope you like the chapter, I typed it up on my phone which was a first for me and also a bit of a pain having to re-type it on my laptop because it wouldn't format right… Anyway I quite like how it turned out, especially that end part right there 8D I wasn't quite sure where to end it, 'cause I wanted it to be quite abrupt. What do you guys think? Liking how this is turning out?

I feel like I'm missing something out of my usual author's note but I can't think what o.O

As usual anyway, thanks to everyone who's favourite'd, reviewed, subscribed or just read this story, I'm very appreciative of it~ If you like the story please drop me a review, I love love love reading them haha –insert heart here- and I might just give you more fluffy stuff if you do review :3

See ya soon~