ATTRACTIONS
~re-edited~
There will be five parts to this mission. This is part one.
Reno finds himself forced to sit by his biggest desire... Does this mean opportunity for Zack?
Will he finally find out what's going on between the pair?
Chapter Twelve: The Beginning
"You'll be flying with me, spike."
Zack had never felt such relief in his entire life.
"Honestly?" he cried happily, wrapping his arms around the smirking man. "That's awesome! I assumed they'd shove me in the truck with the other men!"
Luck is on my side!
Zack had been worried that he'd be required to travel with the lower class fighters, which he usually tended to do on these types of missions. However, this time round he was desperate to avoid that duty. He had been hopelessly praying that someone would bravely come along and rescue him from the torment. This brave knight had happened to be Reno. The Turk had saved him from the distress he would have had to face. Zack was extremely grateful.
Reno however, was not so enthusiastic. "Yo, whatcha getting all wussy for? It's a helicopter ride."
The Soldier wasn't listening, though. He was far too busy being pleased with himself. This change of transport would be the perfect opportunity to dodge Cloud and eliminate the risk of facing him throughout the entire mission. Score!
The Turk was curious as to what had made him so chirpy. "Yo, why so pleased?"
"I'm not," Zack lied, wiping the satisfied grin off his previously gloomy face. "Why would I be?"
Reno however, was not at all convinced. "Wouldn't be because of that kidling, would it?"
He can see right through me...
"Of c-course not," Zack spluttered, finally releasing his grip from the smug man. "Everything's fine between the two of us. We're completely back to normal."
What the hell am I saying?
"Whatever," Reno snorted, pulling out his 'lucky' smoke of the day.
Zack frowned at the man.
"What?" Reno whined, sensing the man's obvious annoyance. "Helps me to fly!"
How, by completely ruining your lungs?
Zack decided to change the subject. "So, who else is going?"
"Dunno do I? Just got told to wait here for the group."
The group?
"Is there enough room for everyone?" Zack asked, concerned. "Not exactly the biggest ride."
What if some of the Infantry Men were being loaded into the helicopter too?
"Of course!" Reno snapped at him, offended by the man's doubt. "This baby is big enough and strong enough for a whole load of people. It's not just any helicopter, yo."
Zack smirked at his worked up friend. "Really need to get laid, pal."
"Oh yeah, cause you can talk! How many people have you recently -"
The Turk stopped abruptly mid sentence.
No...
Zack waved his hand in front of the redhead's unmoving face. "Hello?"
It was no use, though. Reno was completely distracted.
What's up with him? He's not even blinking...
Zack followed the Turk's gaze and found himself being stunned to silence also.
Shit, Sephiroth!
"We're not taking him... are we?" he whimpered, still unable to divert his eyes from the approaching man. Zack really did not need this right now. Was this his punishment for successfully avoiding Cloud? Did someone unfairly think that one piece of happiness was far too much already?
"I think we are," Reno whispered, his eyes full of fear and...
Got to be reading him wrong?
...Excitement.
Sephiroth finally reached the baffled pair. "Are we almost ready to go?" he asked casually.
Reno let out a whimper in reply.
Zack simply said nothing.
"Hurry up and finish that cigarette then, Turk," Sephiroth hissed, before climbing into the front of the unoccupied helicopter.
The Turk's eyes widened. He was sitting in the front... that meant only one thing!
"Guess I've gotta put up with the jerk!" Reno sighed, sounding far too happy for Zack's liking.
Is he pleased about him joining us?
"Rather you than me," Zack chuckled, patting his friend comfortingly on the back. "Good luck."
With that, the pair clambered inelegantly into the back of the helicopter and joined the rest of the other crew.
When had they arrived? Eh, Reno didn't really care. His mind was already way too boggled. How was he possibly going to cope with all the stress?
Got a whole flight with Sephiroth...
He could have sworn that his stomach was somersaulting...
"What's with your face today, Cloud?"
The blonde scowled up at his friend. "Leave it, Mark."
"Yeah, leave it," Nathan added, receiving a grateful look from the clearly unhappy man. However, that look soon turned into a venomous glare once Nathan had finished his sentence. "He's really pissed off and will only answer your questions with a grunt or girly punch."
Mark laughed. "At this rate, it'll be you on the receiving line."
Nathan shrugged at the warning. "I know. It's always me. All I do is offer him love, and all he does is abuse me!"
The blonde frowned up at his friend. All he does is offer him love? Bullshit. If Nathan really wanted to show him love, then he could at least shut up for a change and leave him the hell alone. Yes, Cloud was moody and yes, he was taking it out on friends. But did they really have to pester him so much?
"If you want to talk," Mark said, shooting the blonde a reassuring look. "You know where I am."
Then, much to Cloud's relief, he went and joined the other men in the truck.
However, Nathan was not so quick to leave. "Now he's gone, you can tell me the problem. It'll be our little secret."
Does he ever give up?
Cloud gritted his teeth. "I have already said a thousand times, it's nothing!"
"Nothing?" Nathan snorted, amused by the blonde's attempt to dodge the subject. "If it's nothing, then why are you pouting like a distressed little girl? Why are you hitting everyone in your sight? Why are you usually spiky blondes locks drooping more than – ow!"
Cloud had lashed out at him.
"Why did you do that?" Nathan yelped, clutching his battered shoulder in agony.
The blonde showed no sign of remorse. "Just go away, please."
Nathan did just that.
I know I shouldn't be taking it out on him, but...
Cloud sighed. He would have to apologise to the pair of them later. They would almost certainly him forgive him, so what did it matter? They always did. Cloud could always solve problems with his group of friends. But this issue with Zack? He had no idea how to solve it...
Wasn't even my fault!
The blonde pouted. What was the guys problem?
He had made the first move on Cloud!
He had asked, "So what happens now?"
He had clearly been as interested as him!
So, why was he being so cold towards him? Why had he said all of those terrible things?
Cloud didn't understand it. He wasn't sure he wanted to, either.
At least now he could let his anger out on a few monsters and hopefully stop punishing his innocent friends. Maybe he could question Zack, too? Force him to come clean?
No...
Cloud had a better idea.
It's genius!
"Hey, Nathan!" he cried, waving frantically over to his stropping friend. "Over here!"
Nathan immediately got up out of his crouching position and joined the blonde. "Yes, lover?"
"I'm so sorry," Cloud said, gazing up at the man with wide and apologetic eyes. "Can you forgive me for how I acted? I know you were just trying to help and I appreciate it... really."
Nathan raised his eyebrow at him. "What are you after? Why the sudden mood change?"
The blonde licked his lips in reply.
He wasn't going to tell Nathan the real reason.
However, he knew that his friend would be a willing victim in his mission.
I know exactly how to get to Zack...
"Let's stick together for these next few days!" Cloud said to his friend, smiling innocently up at him.
Nathan simply shrugged in reply. "Whatever you want, sunshine."
He was going to make sure that the man never once left his side.
For once he was not going to shake off Nathan's irritating clinginess.
Cloud was...
...going to make Zack so jealous!
Reno finally finished his smoke and threw it shakily onto the ground below it. Damn... He was far too nervous. Sephiroth was definitely going to sense his edginess. The Turk didn't want that; not again. Every time he'd been with the man, he'd either made a complete fool out of himself or said the total wrong things. Not this time! He was going too –
"Day dreaming, Turk?" Sephiroth asked, rudely interrupting Reno mid-thought.
He immediately snapped back to life. "Of course not! Just planning the fight is all."
"Well, hurry up. I do not have the patience to sit here for hours whilst you think to yourself."
Well, I don't have the confidence to just stroll in there and accompany you!
"Fine!" Reno hissed, grabbing onto the helicopter and clumsily hauling himself in. "Don't blame me though when we plummet to our death. Need time to plan these things, yo."
The General was not at all moved by Reno's speech. "Had time to think last night, did we not?"
No! Was too busy thinking about you, wasn't I?
"Whatever," Reno snorted, positioning himself awkwardly in his seat. "Let's just get rolling."
Sephiroth hummed in response.
Is he always this sensible? Kinda hot though, I guess...
"Why are we still not moving, Turk?" Sephiroth growled, once again displaying just how impatient he was; especially when it came to Reno. Although, he wasn't too sure why that was exactly.
Reno immediately started the helicopter up. "Yo, gimme a break!"
"I will not accept sloppiness," Sephiroth declared, grinning slightly to himself.
Why does this fool always amuse me?
"Go sit in the back then, yo," Reno snapped, surprising himself with his sudden coldness. "If you're just gonna annoy me, then you can go join the other guys."
Sephiroth found himself being offended by the comment.
Why am I letting this idiot get to me?
"As you wish," he said coolly, beginning to un-strap from the passenger seat.
Reno gaped at him, wide-eyed.
He didn't really want him to go – why had he taken him so seriously?
"I-I was just messing yo," the redhead choked, turning his attention back to the flight. "Stay there if you wanna. The company's nice anyways."
Sephiroth paused his actions. "You are very mind boggling, Turk."
Reno nodded in agreement. "Yup, but you love it."
Much to the redhead's amazement, the General did not deny that fact.
He doesn't really love it... does he?
Sephiroth quickly realised his mistake. "I suggest you quit making immature remarks."
There we go...
"This is gonna be a looooong journey," Reno sighed to himself, uncaring that the General could hear his remark. It was true; the trip was going drag on to the point where it became painful. How had Reno possibly fooled himself into thinking that the flight could be an excuse to get closer to the man? Sephiroth was ice cold and heartless.
"You're tense," Sephiroth pointed out, making the poor Turk turn as red as his hair.
Damn!...
.
.
.
Everyone's asleep...
Zack was relieved that all of his comrades had collapsed on the flight and caught up with some much needed rest. He wasn't really in the mood for conversation. Sure, he was glad that he'd been forced to travel with the 1st Class Soldiers instead of the other men. But still... he'd rather have been left alone.
Listen to you, sounding all moody!
"Bleh," he said, feebly pulling out his mobile from his pocket. This attitude did not suit him at all.
What am I doing?
Zack knew exactly what he was doing.
He had been praying that a missed call from Cloud would be displayed on his phone, or even better, an unread text message. However, there was nothing; only his wallpaper staring back at him, uncaring and unsympathetic.
Zack groaned. He needed to change that wallpaper...
It was the picture of him and Cloud.
However, he himself had been cropped out for obvious reasons.
"Why aren't you concentrating?" someone howled in the distance. "You're going to murder us all!"
Is that Sephiroth?
Zack assumed that it was. He could distinctly hear the redhead whining back at him.
He wouldn't be able to sleep on the helicopter; he knew that much. Although he hadn't slept at all the previous night, Zack would still rather stay awake and listen to his thoughts than drift off to sleep and risk dreaming about Cloud. At least when he was awake, he could control the thoughts. His dreams on the other hand, might end up displaying something that Zack was trying so hard to block out...
Me and Cloud. Together.
"Urgh."
Zack could still hear the pair bickering in the front. That was strange for Sephiroth; he hardly ever bickered with anyone. He found it to be extremely childish. The General rarely ever quarreled and in most cases, won the debate. However, to hear the general squabbling without care was extremely unusual. It really did not suit him.
Although he knew it was a bad idea; Zack decided to do something that would hopefully stop his growing curiosity. He had to find out what was going on between the pair. Even if it risked being caught by the two of them and getting scolded by Sephiroth himself.
He forced his body out of its comfortable position and crawled sneakily over to the front of the helicopter. Zack could hear the pair much clearer now and realised that they were both discussing something in low voices and whispers. This excited the Soldier. Maybe he was going to find out the dark secret that Reno had mentioned?
Zack must have looked so suspicious behind that door...
"How did you find out?" Sephiroth asked the redhead, turning interestedly around to face the man. "Or more importantly, why did you keep the information to yourself?"
Zack's stomach clenched up in excitement.
This was it!
He was finally going to find out Sephiroth's dark secret.
But... did he really want to know what it was?
Hell yeah I do!
Oh Reno... Stop being so nervous!
What is Sephiroth after with him? Is it genuine attraction, or something else?
Zack... What will you discover?
HA. No one piss off Cloud when he's angry!
Please Review... I'll dance round the street naked :') xx
