Cloud stirred at someone trying to shake him awake. And, considering how long it had taken him to fall asleep in the first place, he didn't very much appreciate it. Especially when his internal clock told him it was still too early for reveille.
He slapped the offending limb away, snuggling deeper into his admittedly thin blankets. Honestly, the cadet barracks were far from luxurious, but right now he was too tired to care. He valued his sleep!
But then, the shaking continued, more aggressively. He thought he might've heard someone saying his name, but he was too busy trying to get them to leave him the hell alone to really care.
"Fuck'ff. . ." He grumbled and made to turn over, only for someone to grab his shoulder to keep him in place. As someone who didn't normally like people to randomly grab him when he was awake, he sure as hell didn't like that, and lashed out. Only, whoever it was grabbed his fist (not that it would've been very hard seeing as he was still half asleep). Finally opening his eyes and prepared to growl out all sorts of threats to whoever the hell keeps trying to wake him up, Cloud stalled at seeing who it actually was.
"Zack?" He asked in disbelief. What was Zack doing in his bunker?! Sure, the guy was a SOLDIER and all, but that doesn't mean he's allowed to go sneaking around all willy-nilly, right? Even if he was, it's damn early! And didn't he have a mission last night? What the hell?
"Finally in the world of the living, Spiky?" Zack asked, a cheeky grin on his face. Cloud blinked. Chuckling, Zack leaned back away from him. "Ah, maybe not completely."
"I. . . Zack, what are you doing here?" He had to ask, because frankly, it was way too early to be getting up to trouble.
"I'm getting you ready for our mission, duh! Or, did I not mention that yet. . .?" He put his hand to his chin in thought, then promptly shook his head. "Ah, well. Doesn't matter, I'll brief you on the way. Up and at 'em, soldier!"
Cloud couldn't help but stare, but got up anyways. He looked around his bunk of still-sleeping cadets (oh, the envy) and noticed that one of his uniforms had already been laid out for him. Did Zack go through? It was thoughtful, sure, but. . . Actually, not entirely surprising. Shaking his head tiredly, Cloud gathered up his clothes and left the bunk towards the locker room to change and get the remainder of his equipment. All of this was done in a tired daze as he tried to fight off the remaining sleepiness and surprise.
Exiting the locker room, now fully decked out in his uniform, Cloud came across Zack waiting outside the room doing squats. When he was noticed, Zack sprung up and motioned him to follow down the hall. Once they were walking side-by-side, he started explaining.
"Alright, so, you're gonna be coming with 'Geal, myself, and a couple other Thirds up North to check out some sketchy readings." He began, and Cloud interrupted him.
"But I'm just a cadet, why am I going?"
"Well, you're from a pretty hardcore snowy area, right? So you're gonna be our tracker-survivalist person! We're gonna be up there for at least a couple of days, so we're gonna need one. Who better than my Spiky?" Zack easily waved off his concern, "And besides, don't you cadets usually like having more experience?" It was a. . . pretty weak excuse to bring a cadet on a mission like that, if Cloud was being honest with himself. Not really wrong, but definitely not right.
Either way, he thought as they entered one of the elevators, he was here and apparently going on this mission. He was left wondering how in the world Zack had managed to convince anyone that this was a good idea when a new concern hit him.
"Zack, wait, what about my -"
"Classes?" He was cut off, "Yeah, Angeal pointed that out too. Don't worry about that, I'll help you catch up. Scout's honor!" Zack held a fist to his chest and winked. That was both relieving and not, considering how often he talked about the classes being 'unnecessary' and how he managed to pass without paying much attention. It was a nice gesture, though.
The elevator 'dinged' and Zack strode out, Cloud just a step behind. They walked the rest of the way towards the helicopter landing in silence.
Zack, with a spring in his step, no doubt due to going on a mission with both his mentor and best friend, and Cloud, with his nerves steadily rising. He gulped. He was really doing this, huh? He, a measly cadet, was going on the same mission as a First Class SOLDIER. This whole situation escalated from a mild annoyance to an absolute terror.
Even Zack's reassuring smiles couldn't have stopped the pit in his stomach from forming when they finally came upon their group. It was only sheer will that kept Cloud from freezing and staring.
"Hey, Angeal! Brought the chocobo!" Zack called out and he had to forcibly keep himself from glaring at his friend over the nickname. In front of the Commander, too! Said Commander began making his way towards them, and Cloud snapped to attention.
Commander Hewley stopped in front of them and began eyeing him, most likely taking in his lithe form and slightly frazzled expression. He raised an eyebrow over at Zack.
"This is the cadet you tried so hard to get permission to bring?" Hewley said, bringing his attention back over to the cadet in question. Cloud gulped and tried not to fidget under his skepticality. He had heard that Angeal Hewley was a kind, but stern man, and he was definitely looking the 'stern' part.
Zack waved his hands around. "Okay, okay, I know what he looks like, but trust me!"
A heavy sigh. Hewly pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's not like I can change anything now. . ." He shook his head lightly. "You're responsible for him. Understood?" And with one final look at them both that had Cloud unconsciously straightening his posture, the Commander left to begin ordering the rest of the men left in the hangar.
Cloud was still rooted in place even after he left and jumped when someone knocked against his shoulder.
"Hey, chin up buddy. I promise he's usually way more fun than that. He's just kinda mad at me right now, heh." Zack used a tone of voice that was surely meant to be reassuring, but unfortunately had no such effect against his torrent of nerves. "Anyway, left's get our packs and board up, yeah? 'Geal'll tell us more about the mission after we land."
Cloud took a deep breath, nodded, and made his way with Zack towards one of the helicopters.
The trip to the Northern Continent was, naturally, hell incarnate.
The helicopter barely got off the ground before Cloud started getting green, and really, it only got worse from there. He really should have expected this; It's not like his motion sickness would magically go away just because he's on an actual mission.
Speaking of missions, Cloud was horrified to note that his nausea did nothing to distract him from his anxiety. If anything, it made it far worse. It didn't take much to guess that Zack was really the only reason he was allowed here at all, and that made him a burden at best and a liability at worst. Which made him pointedly aware of how he was definitely not making a very good impression on the SOLDIERs. And, despite his earlier reassurances, he was also pretty certain he was disappointing Zack a little. His friend went through hoops and hurdles to get him on this mission, and here he was making a fool of himself!
Needless to say, after the countless hours of torture that is flying, Cloud was about damn ready to praise the Goddess when they started to land. It took every shred of will he had remaining not to jump out as soon as they landed, but somehow, he managed to wait until all the other SOLDIERs had gotten out before sliding out himself. Only a few steps on stable land and he was already feeling immensely better.
He drew in a breath of fresh air and gave a small smile when Zack smacked him lightly on the shoulder. With a tilt of his head, they made their way over to the rest of the group so they could be addressed by the Commander.
"Is everyone situated?" Hewley looked at each of them in kind, and Cloud almost thought that he lingered on him with a look of sympathy. Content, he nodded. " Alright, listen up. The Science department has gotten some very concerning readings about the mako levels north of here. Our job is to investigate the source, and, if any have been affected, exterminate any monsters in the area. For now, though, we will head for town and settle at the inn. We will begin our mission at 0500 tomorrow. Understood?"
Cloud nodded along in affirmation with everyone else. Satisfied, Commander Hewley turned and motioned for them to follow. He bit his lip as he fell into step behind the other SOLDIERs. He supposed he could why they needed someone who was familiar with the wilderness, specifically in frigid environments, but. . . He was still just a cadet. He wouldn't be any help in killing monsters, and he was definitely susceptible to mako. Surely they could've found a better, safer choice?
Whatever, he decided, and straightened a little. He was here now, and no amount of disapproval could change that. Cloud steeled his resolve and decided that, even if it was nothing compared to the others, he would definitely be giving it his all.
