Ta-da! It is Ch21 here for all you guys!

Another chapter in the journey of Zack and Cloud and their lives as SOLDIERs! Let's continue~!

Ch. 21

Cloud laid there for quite some time after having been able to calm down more. Though he had been relaxing and feeling better than before, there was still the faintest pain still in his head. He wished he could have fallen asleep, but his mind was still racing as well. The day had been a long one with many mixed feelings intertwined, so Cloud thought he would try to just sleep it all off. He closed his eyes and rolled over.

Not very long passed until he heard a door squeak open and then slam shut. It was the apartment door.

"Yo Cloud! Oh man I have some stuff to tell you! I hope you're not asleep yet," Zack yelled with excitement oozing from his voice.

Cloud thought about moving, but he still didn't have the energy to get up. He stayed on the bed as he let out a sigh, figuring Zack would come into his room anyways. And just as he thought he could hear the footsteps grow closer and Zack appeared, standing right in the doorway.

"Ah! So you are half asleep. Heh, did today's mission really tired you out that much?"

Cloud let out another sigh as he shook his head slowly. "No…. it isn't that. Wasn't too tired… just… something happened. After I worked out in the gym…" he trailed off with the last bit, trying to find the right words.

He knew Zack had been there for him before when he had moments like these, but he had thought he was over them. But then it started to come back to him once he came to Midgar and prepared to join SOLDIER. It was only two times now, but it still bothered him slightly. He didn't want to seem like a child for having such moments, but he knew Zack would listen. He would listen as well as do what he could to help Cloud feel better.

Zack walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge of it. "Huh, what do you mean Cloud? What happened today? You know you can tell me," Zack said softly. He wanted to tell Cloud all about the day's events that had happened for him, but he sensed that there was something more important going on with Cloud. So he pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind for the time.

Cloud sat back up and breathed in a couple of times until he felt that his head was clear enough to speak. "I had another one of those headache… you know the ones where I think I remember something… but it just hurts my head?"

"Why didn't you come and try to find me Cloud? Instead of dealing with it on your own. Are you okay right now? What made you have the pains again?" Zack paused before continuing. "Eh, sorry, not trying to overload you with questions. I guess it worries me those things are happening again."

Cloud wanted to tell Zack that he had saw him training with that 1st class, but he didn't wanna sound like he was spying. Though he didn't want to lie, he just felt it was better than explaining the rest of it. "I didn't know where you were… so I just headed home. I'm fine now… the pains gone. I…" He hesitated for a moment as he tried to think what to say, as again he was going to have to lie a little. "I'm not sure. Maybe it was someone I saw or something… I can't remember."

Zack cocked his head slightly to the side. "Someone you saw? Like, did you know them or something? Sorry for not being there for you when it all happened. Today was a busy day for me to be honest. A lot of training and mission briefing and many things. I guess I didn't realize that there would be so much work being a 2nd class now. But I'm here now though."

"I said I don't remember," Cloud restated, still not wanting to explain that he did see Zack earlier. "It's okay though… I understand. Being a 2nd class is really that tough then?" Cloud thought he might as well ask Zack about his day, to try and lighten to mood.

After looking at Cloud for a few more moments, Zack then brought a large smile back to his face. "Well, there are some big responsibilities for me now to have to take care of. It is an adjustment but I will manage. Good thing you have me here though to show you the ropes of it and let you know about it all," he chuckled softly.

He waited for Cloud to say something back to him, but the blond-haired brother of his just laid there. It seemed as though he just wanted to listen to what Zack had to say and not have to talk much. Zack decided he would just continue, as he almost couldn't contain his excitement anymore.

"Okay then. So you know what I told you before. But the best thing that happened is that apparently because of me proving myself, I've been assigned a special mentor!"

"Oh really?" Cloud asked as he tried to sit up in the bed. He wanted to pay more attention to what Zack was saying. He was interested, but he was still dazed a bit from before. "How'd that… happen?"

"Well you remember meeting Kunsel earlier today? Or rather seeing him. Well that ended up being what he approached me about. I went to the Director's office shortly after of course and he had a long talk with me about what I would be doing here now. And then he told me… one of the 1sts had taken a liking to me and wanted to mentor me. Isn't that great?!"

Even though Cloud was still hazy, that last part surprised him. His day had still not been the best, but he couldn't help but feel happy for Zack. "Wh-Wow! That is really cool to hear. So that's what happened to you today then. Who was it?"

"Well the guy is really cool. His name is Angeal and he is pretty powerful. He also has this huge sword too, though he told me he never uses it…" Zack trailed off.

"Oh so that was who the man was that I saw then. I think it makes sense now," Cloud thought to himself as he tried to understand the situation. He still did not want to let Zack know he had seen him. But he was still curious about what had happened that day. He was about to speak when Zack continued on.

"Though if I'm being honest, I was hoping it would be Sephiroth. Oh wouldn't that be the best? To train under the number one hero in the world. I'm not trying to complain or anything. I guess that just means that I will have to strive to become a hero too," Zack stated with confidence in his voice.

"Yeah, being with Sephiroth would be cool. So you ended up being with this Angeal person all day then?"

"From the time I left you, I was with him all day. I may be excited, but boy am I tired. He knows how to put you through some training… there's gonna be a lot more of that it seems though each day," Zack sighed as he rubbed his head. "Sorry I wasn't back around before now."

"It's okay, you are back now at least. But… does that means… you'll be around him more often then? 'Cause he is your mentor now?" Cloud still was happy for Zack, but thinking of the idea of seeing Zack less often worried him.

"Yeah I will have to be with him some more. Though, it's not like he's going to baby me. I still have to do things on my own. But with me being more busy, we might not see each other as much as usual until we get home. It'll be that way once you're there too ya know. It'll be all right though," Zack stated as he tried to give Cloud a reassuring smile.

Cloud sighed internally. He knew Zack was trying to make him feel better, but he still couldn't stop clinging to his worries. He didn't like the thought of finally seeing his brother after two years, then to hardly see him at all a few months later. He had spend those two years training as hard as he could so he could be with Zack again. If they were busy doing their own things throughout the day, then it didn't feel right to him. He wanted to try and stay happy though. He knew though would be various bumps in the road to their dreams, but it was still hard for him to deal with it.

"Maybe… when we both get to 1st class… maybe then it could be different." Cloud thought to himself.

A few moments past and he realized he still had not replied back to Zack. He took in a deep breath before he looked his brother in the eyes. He decided that he would be best to not try and worry Zack anymore. It was a big day for Zack anyways. "Okay. I think I get it now. Sorry for worrying."

Zack chuckled. "No no it's okay. We're both tired and probably need to get some sleep so we can keep going. I know I'm beat. I need some rest at least. Unless, you need me to stay here longer," he said as he yawned slightly.

Cloud shifted slightly on the bed before leaning against Zack. "Maybe you could stay a bit longer. I did miss you today… but I know you had important things to do."

"All right then, that's understandable. You also had a rough evening as well. It's the least I can do," Zack said as he turned towards Cloud and wrapped an arm around his neck squeezed him tightly.

Cloud smiled as he wrapped an arm back around Zack. He felt far more relaxed and better than before. "Thanks Zack. You always know how to cheer me up."

"Well I try my best ya know." Zack smiled as the two sat there for a good bit. He had not really done much but just be in Cloud's presence and talk to him for a few minutes, but it seemed as though that was just what his brother needed. He knew Cloud must have felt a little bit lonely today as well. He wished that he could promise Cloud that wouldn't happen much, but work was always unpredictable. He would do the best that he could in the coming times.

"I'm glad to hear you're feeling better," Zack continued. "Not too much longer being up or I might pass out on you," he laughed at the thought of that happening.

"You better get up then! I don't want you crushing me," Cloud replied with a laugh.

"Hey I'm not that heavy," Zack laughed in return. "But at least I'm not as short as you."

Cloud sent a glare back to Zack, but he couldn't hold it and he started to laugh again. "You're only like… two inches taller! I can still grow!" He then snickered as looked at Zack, looking at his spiky hair that somehow managed to spike upwards and stay there. "But my hair doesn't spike out like a bush at least."

This time it was Zack that sent a glare towards Cloud, not expecting his brother to remark like that. "You really think it's that spiky?" he asked as he started to feel of his hair. Zack was in thought for a moment but then a sly grin came to his face. "Ya know...those are strong words coming from the chocobo head here," he remarked as he fluffing Cloud's hair.

"I don't mind if you say that. Chocobos are far more fun than a bush," Cloud taunted as he stuck out his tongue.

"Hmm… well I guess you've got me there. I must be tired if I can't come back from that." Zack then relinquished his hold from Cloud and slowly stood up from the bed. "Tomorrow will be here soon. Let's rest all right?"

Cloud nodded and said goodnight to his brother. After Zack left the room Cloud finally finished taking off the rest of his SOLDIER uniform. Once he had swapped into his pajamas he flopped back down on the bed and rolled onto his back. He stared up at the ceiling until his eyes started to feel heavy. Before he even knew it his eyes closed and he drifted off into sleep.

And after some childish banter from the two we decided to wrap it up. But yes! Zack is finally being trained by Angeal! Plot is mooooving along!

Thank you all for reading!