The wait is over! Ch28 is here for all of you! Thank you for the reviews last chapter, we love seeing what you guys think of this!
Now let's get right to it!
Ch.28
Cloud headed down the stairs, trying to keep his thoughts clear and straight. He was sure that the event that transpired in the elevator would not leave his mind anytime soon. He could feel that his heart was still racing. It was almost unbelievable, yet it had happened. He had in fact gotten stuck in a elevator with Cissnei and somehow… someway accidentally kissed her.
Cloud's face heated up as he pressed his hands to his cheeks. "Why… Why did that have to happen? I'm to young for this… I should find Zack… He'll listen to me about this… though he'll probably tease me first." He let out a long sigh as he ran his hands over his face. "I just can't understand this feeling…"
Once Cloud reached the end of the staircase he exited out into the main floor. He took in a deep breath, trying to continue keeping himself calm, but still inside his thoughts were raging. He was like a bottle of emotions that was ready to burst at any given moment. He closed his eyes and tried to calm his rapid heartbeat and better prepare himself before heading home.
"Heya, Cloud!" a voice came out of nowhere as a hand found itself on Cloud's shoulder.
"Ahhhh!" Cloud screamed suddenly at the unexpected sound and touch.
He then turned completely around to see who it was that had snuck behind him there. Once he was finally able to focus his eyes, he saw a familiar face. "Oh, uh… it's just you Marcus."
Marcus cocked his head at Cloud. "Just me? Well of course. I was still here and happened to see you so I figured I'd say hi. It's been a while since we've spoken. What's up?" he asked simply, hoping to engage his friend in some conversation.
"Ah not too much then. Just got out of being stuck in an elevator."
"Really? Well, I guess that explains why it wasn't working earlier then when I tried it. What exactly happened that you got stuck?"
Cloud started to think for a moment as he wanted to explain things to Marcus, but at the same time he also didn't. "Hmm, well… I was in there and was riding it and then the button was pressed to stop it, but then it stopped working. And then we were stuck."
Marcus narrowed his eyes slightly. "We?"
"Uh, um… it was nobody important. Just some… person." Cloud scratched the back of his head, trying to feign any doubts from his nervous voice.
"Hmm… well, your red face says otherwise buddy. Something happened didn't it? Come on, you can tell me."
Marcus was trying to pry for the information that Cloud had not wanted to say anything about. He had slipped up and accidentally said 'we'. He felt so bad because he was trying to not keep secrets but he just couldn't bring himself to tell Marcus. Even though they were friends, he still didn't trust him as much as Zack. He had to find some way to get away for now.
"Erm, well… oh would you look at the time now. It is getting later and I was supposed to be home already. Look, I gotta run. Uh, Zack's waiting on me okay," Cloud replied hurriedly.
He then turned around and started to walk away briskly before breaking into a run. As he made it a good ways away, he heard Marcus yell after him. "Tell me about it soon then!"
He hoped that he could tell it to him, if he could build up the courage. He really just wanted to put it out of his mind for now and try to focus, but he was finding that hard to do. He had to try to tell it to Zack first though. Would he even be able to do that?
Zack and Cloud were sitting on their couch in the evening just relaxing as the two of them had managed to be off around the same time somehow. It was nice for a change to be able to spend some time with his brother again, even if just for a bit.
"Hey, Cloud. Is something wrong? I've been meaning to ask, but you just have been more quiet than usual the past two days. Not only that, but you seem nervous. What's wrong?"
Well, it happened just as Cloud had feared. He indeed had not been able to tell Zack yet, and everytime he tried, he would clam up and just get so nervous about it. He hated feeling like that because he was not able to fully enjoy the company of his brother. Even though they were together physically, they had not really been doing much. Cloud knew he would get nowhere by diverting the topic any longer, but he just didn't know what to do.
"Gaia to Cloud… hello! You in there?" Zack asked as he waved a hand in front of Cloud's face.
"Oh, right. Yeah, I'm here. Sorry, I was just thinking about something."
"Yeah, I can tell. You've been just here, but not really here. Look," he said as he placed his hands on Cloud's shoulders and turned to him. "You can tell me anything you know. I'm your big brother."
"I know, I know, it's just… it's confusing…" Cloud trailed off and lowered his head.
Zack continued to look at him intently as he suddenly realized something. "Wait… this isn't what we talked about before right? About that girl? Hmm?"
Cloud said nothing to his brother and continued to look down.
Zack, however, took his brother's silence as confirmation. "It is! I knew something was up. I should have guessed this sooner. Come on, tell me about it. I'll help."
A long sigh echoed from Cloud. He knew he wanted to tell Zack, and now that his brother knew, there was no reason to hide it anymore. "Yeah… o-okay you win. I'll tell you. I-I wanted to anyways, but was just… nervous."
"Well you don't have to be. I've got your back of course," Zack said, ruffling Cloud's hair.
Cloud causally tried to brush off Zack's hand as he let out a short laugh. "Yeah I know. Thanks Zack. But something… happened today with her, and I just don't know what to think about it."
"How about you tell me already, so that way I can start finding a way to help," Zack replied cheerfully.
Cloud nodded and leaned closer to Zack. Even though he knew it was just them in the apartment, he still felt shy about the entire matter, and whispering it seemed like the only way he could even tell Zack. After he finished explaining he sat back down to see Zack trying to hold back his laughter.
"Oh my god, Cloud. You actually kissed her?" Zack asked in between a few laughs.
"I said she fell on me after we toppled to the floor. Don't laugh at this! It isn't funny Zack," Cloud replied with a pout.
"I mean, heh, it kind of is. Just how that all happened. Maybe it was fate that it happened," Zack teased as he grinned.
Cloud began to pout even more before glaring at Zack. "Cut it out! You said you were going to help me, not tease me!"
"But I am the big brother, I am suppose to tease you, then help you," Zack laughed, but as he saw Cloud continued to glare at him, he calmed himself down. "All right, I get it. Sorry for laughing at it. But that is what you are so confused and nervous about? Like what you should be feeling or how you feel about it?"
Cloud hummed as he nodded. "What do I do about it? Like I've never kissed a girl… or technically been kissed by one."
"Well I wanna try and help you here, but I can't tell you how to feel or what to think about it. Those are your own feelings and you gotta try to figure it out for yourself. But you shouldn't be so afraid. You're growing up and these feelings will come to you more as you get older."
"But I've kissed a girl… and I don't know how to describe it…" Cloud let out a brief sigh before looking to Zack. "Zack, what was it like when you first kissed a girl?"
Zack looked surprised for a moment as he straightened up. "Huh? Me? Uh… well… let's see… I…"
As Zack continued to fumble over his words, Cloud narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Wait a minute. Zack… Have you not kissed a girl yet?"
"What? N-No… I mean I… It's just not…There are girls I've flirted with a-and… " Zack continued to stumble over his words as well as started to fidget slightly, only making Cloud more suspicious of him.
"Ah! You haven't even kissed a girl yet?! You Zack? You always say you are flirting with girls, yet you haven't had a first kiss yet?" Cloud nearly shouted, but he managed to keep his voice lower enough. He knew that that walls were thin apartment walls and he didn't want others to hear their conversation easily.
"Hey! I'll get there one day… I've talked and flirted with plenty of girls… but I haven't gotten up to kissing a girl yet."
Cloud snorted with laughter. "So I've seriously had my first kiss before you? Now that is something that is really funny."
"Now come on Cloud, you don't get to tease me," Zack muttered as he was the one that was pouting.
"Yeah I can! Who says the little brother can't tease the older brother? I kissed a girl before you!"
Zack recovered quickly from his pouting and smirked at Cloud. "Oh so now you are boasting about kissing a girl now"
Cloud's face reddened slightly as he vigorously shook his head. "No! It was an accidental kiss, not like real one. It… It doesn't count."
"Are you going to make up your mind on it then? Did you kiss a girl before me or not? Cause if it doesn't count, then I could still beat you there," Zack replied as he leaned closer to Cloud and chuckled.
Cloud groaned as he buried his face into his hands. "Whatever. I don't want to think about it anymore… but I at least don't feel as nervous about it. Thanks."
Zack wrapped an arm around Cloud and pulled him into a side hug. "You're welcome buddy."
The next day had dawned, and the brothers were once again getting ready to head out to Shinra. After a few minutes, everything was ready for the day. Zack turned to Cloud as the two started out of their apartment. "Now Cloud, don't forget what today is you here?"
Cloud glanced over towards his brother. "Um, y-yeah, I remember what it is. For sure…"
"You don't remember do you?!" Zack asked with a surprised tone.
"W-What? No… I mean… I-"
"I'm kidding, I'm kidding. I'm not that worked up about it. With everything on your mind last night and recently, I'm sure you just forgot."
"Yeah… that's probably it. So, what is it then?"
Zack hummed for a moment before answering. "Let's just say that a certain someone is turning sixteen today," he pointed at himself and smiled as the two continued on.
"Oh I'm so sorry! I should not have forgotten that. That's right though, I do remember now. That's awesome though!" Cloud exclaimed as he nudged Zack in the arm. "Now we will have to celebrate this evening then."
"Well, that's what I was counting on. I mean, not that I was expecting… But, it would be nice." Zack's hints were pretty direct, but it was a big day for him after all.
None of that bothered Cloud though as he wanted to make sure he would be there for his brother no matter what. "Sure thing. That sounds like a good plan."
On the way to the building, they continued their chat, discussing plans for the possible get together later in the evening. Nothing major was brought up between the two other than that, which pleased Cloud, as he did worry Zack might try to tease him more about his incident. The most important discussion ended up being food though. Fortunately, neither of them were too picky, so the decisions had been made fairly easily in less than fifteen minutes, and just before they arrived to work.
Upon entering the building, Zack told Cloud to go in and he would join him in due time. As he walked through the doors, something startled him. "Cloud Fair," a voice spoke; a familiar voice, and upon looking, he noticed it belonged to an upper class SOLDIER.
"Kunsel!" Zack exclaimed from behind as he moved past Cloud towards the man.
"Hey, Zack. I didn't see you come in so I thought it might just be your brother."
"Ah, you should know we always come together. So, what's up?" Zack curiously asked.
"Well, I was told to come and wait for Cloud when he arrived here. And now here we are."
Cloud looked at his brother, giving him a look of 'what-is-this-about'. Zack shrugged. "If it's Kunsel, you have nothing to worry about. You remember him right?"
Upon hearing this, Cloud turned back to face Kunsel. He did remember the man, as he was one of Zack's best friends. Though, even with that fact, he was still curious as to the sudden callout.
"Hey there," Cloud started. "So, what is it that you need?"
"The Director wants to see you immediately, and I was waiting here on his orders. Now, come with me please," he spoke quickly.
"Well hold on," Cloud protested. "Zaaaack. What about what we were talking about?"
Zack waved him on. "It's fine, it sounds like you have something important now. Go take care of that. I'll be waiting here in the evening by the door so come find me there. Just don't forget."
He sighed. "Yeah, all right then."
Zack smiled. "Well, see ya Spike. And hopefully catch you around later Kunsel."
"Ah yeah, I'll be done by then, I hope," Kunsel replied.
Cloud only nodded and waved to his brother a goodbye as he turned back to the other man and nodded at him. He motioned for Cloud to follow him as they began to move towards the elevator, which seemed strange to Cloud.
"Umm, isn't the elevator busted? Why are we taking it?"
"The repairs on it were completed last night so it is working just fine again. I'm very glad about that too. Taking the stairs was proving to be a hassle," he sighed with a relief as he pressed the button to call for the transport.
Cloud only nodded as the two of them entered into the elevator and started their ascension.
Admittedly, the thought that first crossed Cloud's mind is that he was getting in trouble for what happened in the elevator the other day with Cissnei. What if she wasn't okay with him and she had went to someone about it? Or, maybe Reno found out and told someone? Although, he also considered that maybe they were upset that he messed up the elevator. Even though it wasn't his fault it had been done, he was still present.
His mind raced so quickly with differing thoughts that he lost track of the time they had been in the shaft until he heard a ding. They had finally arrived at the Director's floor and departed the elevator.
He had never actually met the Director before as he had only been just a 3rd class SOLDIER. Sometimes, there were exceptions but there was no reason he had to have met the man yet. But today, there was the unexpected opportunity to meet the man responsible for all SOLDIER activities. He was quickly taken from his inner monologue at the behest of another voice.
"All right Cloud we're here. Come on, let's go in."
He nodded at Kunsel's suggestion. "Oh, uh, yeah, right."
As the two entered, Cloud noticed that the room inside was quite spacious, with windows lining the back wall, which offered a glimpse of the city below. Directly in front of him below a couple of steps into the room sat a large, half-cylindrical desk in the center. Behind said desk, he could see a man sitting behind it.
After standing there at the beginning of the room, the Director finally acknowledged them and motioned for them to come into the room. Kunsel directed Cloud to proceed towards the Director as he then fell back and exited the room. Cloud looked for a moment, then did as instructed and was soon standing before the Director in front of his desk.
"Well, good to finally meet you, Cloud. I'm Director Lazard. I've been hearing some things about you, even more so lately," he began.
"O-Oh? You have?" Cloud asked while half holding in his breath. Now that he was in the same room as the Director he felt a whole other level of nervousness. He tried to keep his hands still at his side, but he could feel them started to clam up.
"Yes yes. You've been quite impressive on your missions as of late, most especially the three you were assigned with the Turks. Now, I'm sure you're aware that 3rd class SOLDIERs don't partake in missions such as those. So, why were you the exception?" he questioned, as if wanting Cloud to come up with the correct answer. He adjusted his glasses as he stared right at Cloud.
"Uh… I don't know… um sir," Cloud said quickly. He could hardly keep his breathing steady, so how could he even keep his thoughts straight? He had no idea still what this was all about, but he still tried to keep thinking of ways to calm down, even if it wasn't really working. "I just w-work really hard, that's a-all."
The Director pointed his hand at Cloud. "Exactly. You work hard, and you've proven your skill exceeds that of most others. So I wanted to test you. Of course, there was always the off chance you could have died, but you didn't and here you are."
He then arose from his chair and stretched momentarily before striding around the large desk. Upon coming to a stop in front of Cloud, he looked down at the young boy. "Now, you must be wondering why you're here right now then. I can tell you are nervous, but don't be."
Cloud took in a slow breath as he nodded to the Director. He opened his mouth to respond back, but he found that he couldn't say anything more. Even though the Director was acting calm and nice to him, he was still too far nervous to say anything else. He slowly managed to look up at the Director and stared at him in the eyes, waiting for what he would say next.
"Well, you need to get over that. You're one of my SOLDIERs, so that nervousness and shyness isn't going to cut it," he said sternly as he then narrowed his eyes at Cloud. "Or...could it be that something else is on your mind? Maybe something happened recently and you're more nervous than usual."
"Um, uh...w-what do you mean...uh, sir?"
Fear escaped through Cloud's face as he was frozen there, thinking of what the Director might mean. The only thing that crossed his mind of recent happenings was the events in the elevator. However, the only person that he had mentioned it to was Zack. He knew Zack would not tell, nor did he have the time between last night and today. How could the Director possibly know?
Then, a sudden, other fearful thought crept into his mind. "Oh no...what if Cissnei told about it. Crap that would be really embarrassing. I thought I wasn't gonna have to worry about this. But now...I don't know."
The Director just curtly smiled and leaned in to Cloud's ear so only he could ear. "I'm sure you're thinking about what happened in the elevator right? Don't worry, nobody told me. But there are cameras in there, so when someone complained about it being out of order, I checked it out for myself. Nobody else knows, so don't let it get to you. I mean, unless you want others to know."
"No!" he shouted, forgetting who he was speaking to. He then realized his outburst and tried to backpedal. "Um, sorry, Director. I-I just...please don't say anything!" he begged as he bowed his upper body towards the man as a gesture.
"I said it's fine. Besides, that is not why you were called today. But I wanted to address it because you are going to need to be more focused now. You will be taking on a lot more responsibility from this day. Accept what has already happened, and then you can move on," Lazard stated to him.
Cloud honestly had not expected life advice from the Director of SOLDIER, but he was relieved. The fact that he was not in trouble and that someone else was trying to look out for him was comforting to know. "R-Right then. But, uh, what do you mean by more responsibility."
The Director straightened his glasses and went back to standing directly in front of Cloud. "Well, if you're sure you're ready then let's get to it," he paused before continuing. "From this day forward, you are a 2nd class SOLDIER. Be sure to make us proud of what you do."
Ta-da! Cloud finally did it! He finally made it into 2nd class! Took all this time, but he finally got through it. But now what is to happen? Hmm so many possibilities.
Thanks again as always for reading!