Ch.6

Streams of light crept into the bedroom from the window. There were curtains, but they were not the thickest so light was making its way through to rudely wake up Zack before he was really wanting to get up. Not that he could really get super deep sleep for being a SOLDIER made him a rather light sleeper. But either way he knew he couldn't just sleep the entire day away even if he really wanted to.

He had his goals and plans set to get his life back on track and in a new direction. All he had to do was try to keep things from getting out of hand. Though in reality with the plans that he had, he knew that would be no easy feat.

"Just keep reminding yourself to take it one step at a time. You can do this Zack. You got this," Zack reminded himself before he fully opened his eyes to focus.

When he did he saw that Cloud must have shifted closer in the bed overnight. He was now much closer to Zack, with his head resting against Zack's chest. It was just like all those nights Zack had spent out in the world, keeping Cloud right by his side. Though that was all a choice made by Zack to keep him close, but now this time it was all on Cloud.

Though he still slept so peacefully and quietly. He was still tranquil with slow and steady breaths with no signs of stress or worry. Without even realizing it Zack started to smile as he continued to look at the sleeping blond.

"I gotta admit Cloud, you do look pretty adorable when sleeping. Who would have thought it." Zack slowly started to run his hand through Cloud's hair. It was so soft and light and he still had to seriously wonder just how it managed to stay spiky as it did.

"Hmm…" Cloud hummed quietly before he began to stir. His eyes fluttered open to meet Zack's. It was a relief to see that his eyes were looking far more blue than the other day. A good sign that the mako was starting to clear up from him, but there were still flickers of green in there. That and the fact he still looked so spaced out and dazed, but there was hope within those soft eyes.

"Zack?"

"Yeah spike, I'm here. You feeling better?"

Cloud stared at him, his eyes still trying to focus. After a bit he blinked again with a quick nod. "I think…"

Zack smiled and ruffled Cloud's hair. "That's good to hear! Just keep up waking up for me, okay buddy?"

"Yeah, okay."

"Now!" Zack quickly jumped up to his feet. "How about we get some breakfast?"

Before Cloud could give any form of response, Zack started to do a series of squats. Even if he wasn't a part of SOLDIER anymore he still knew he had to keep up his exercises. Though the more he let his thoughts run, with Cloud having enough mako in his system to basically classify him as a 1st Class… he was going to need some training.

"Hey Cloud, how about after we eat, you and I do a little training?"

"Training?"

"Yeah! Can't have you sitting around all day doing nothing after all." Zack said as best as he could as he continued to do his squat sets.

"And you'll… train me?"

"That's what I said, I bet you could be even as strong as me with my help" Zack replied laughing slightly. After a few more squats he finally stood back up straight. "All right, get going already and get out of bed. I'll see what we could eat and try to make up something."

"Right."

Zack headed out of the bedroom and walked into the kitchen, thinking over what would be best to eat. "Hmm I think I trust myself to make cereal over trying to cook an omelet or something." He sighed softly. "Guess I should have paid attention when I was a child and Ma would cook."

Not letting the thoughts get to him, he shook off the thoughts of his parents and went to grab some bowls and the box of cereal. After pouring milk into them he set them down on the table and saw that Cloud was already sitting there ready.

They began to eat quietly but soon enough Zack started to feel it was too quiet. Even though last night they had eaten dinner without any words, today it just felt different. "So, anything going on?"

"Huh? What do… you mean?" Cloud asked as he tilted his head to the side.

"You know, thoughts or stuff that you might be thinking."

"Oh…" Cloud closed his eyes and looked thoughtful for a moment. Then he opened his eyes and shrugged. "I don't know?"

"You don't know? Seriously? Come on, there's gotta be something kicking around in that head of yours."

Cloud shifted slightly as he started down at his cereal. When his eyes met Zack's again he smiled a little. "Well there's you."

Zack turned his head away the moment he felt his cheeks grow warm. He scratched the back of his head all while he continued to look away. "Yeah I know that much. But anything else?"

"I… don't know." The way Cloud spoke, aside from sounding spacy, he sounded the slightest bit confused. It made sense after all. He probably knew that there was more to think about, but for some reason nothing was coming to him. "Everything else feels hazy… like I can't… think it."

"It's okay, Cloud." Zack finally turned to looking at Cloud once he felt the warmth from his cheeks fade away. "You probably just need some more time to rest without too much worry. So… I guess your training may have to wait."

"What? Why…?" Cloud tilted his head to the side, clearing too confused to understand.

"Cause, I don't want to put too much stress on you. After thinking about it, I think you just need to rest. We were on the move for so long you never got the chance to just sit and take the time to relax peacefully. Now that our little on the run adventure is over you can do that. Maybe that will help clear out the haze in your head."

"Oh… I guess that makes sense. But…" Cloud frowned slightly. "I thought it would be nice… to train with you. You'd be good…"

The warmth was back in Zack's cheeks, though this time he didn't look away. He couldn't understand it. It was just a simple complement… why was it making him feel so much more nervous? "Y-You think?"

Cloud nodded quickly. "You have good energy. It works."

"Well!" Zack started to smile broadly. "I promise once I feel you have recovered that I will train you, okay? How's that sound?"

"Good."

"Then it's settled. You keep on resting and recovering so we can get to training you soon,"

Cloud was smiling again. "Thanks Zack."

After breakfast was finished and the table was cleaned up, Cloud went to sit on the couch. Though Zack quickly noticed that the blond was beginning to space out quickly. In all honesty Zack wasn't too sure what was best to do. He didn't want to have Cloud just sit there and space out all day, but he didn't want to push Cloud more than he could and have him have another freakout.

Though it could prove to be risky, Zack knew he would have to see just how far Cloud could exert himself without overdoing it. "Maybe there are just some simple tasks he could perform. Like stuff easily done around the apartment. Hmm maybe I gotta buy some board games or books. That would help, right?"

It wasn't long before there was a knock at his door. Even though he had a feeling who it probably was, he still chose to look through the peephole first. As his guesses were right he flung the door open and smiled. "Hey Kuns! Great to see you again."

"It's only been less than a day."

"Yeah but it's still been five years! That's a lot of time missed and I miss one of my best buddies!" Zack wrapped an arm around Kunsel into a side hug.

Kunsel chuckled while trying to playfully push Zack away. "Yeah yeah, I get it." His eyes then fell to Cloud, who was already becoming more spacey than before. "Is he doing all right?"

Zack placed his hands onto his hips and sighed slightly. "He's doing better than when he first woke up. But he is still just zoning out a lot. Oh! That reminds me. Hey Cloud, I just gotta talk privately with Kunsel for a bit. You'll be all right?"

"Yeah, I'll be all right," Cloud replied.

"Okay, good."

With that Zack led Kunsel into the bedroom and closed the door behind them. "I don't want Cloud hearing too much right now, but would you happen to know anything else about mako poison without being able to remember?"

"Already ahead of you. I thought you might have some questions, so I did some research last night. It's pretty amazing how he is recovering. Most cases, if they can recover, take much longer. As for the memories, when under the poisoning they are so out of it they cannot do or seem to acknowledge anything. I didn't see anything really for when someone recovers."

"Oh… I guess maybe it also has to do with whatever the hell Hojo must have been doing to us coupled with the mako. Maybe?"

Kunsel's expression hardened at the mention of Hojo's name. "It's possible. There are no online files I can access though about whatever he was doing to you. Only knew that you were and Cloud were two 'experiments' he was keeping."

Zack hummed as he tried to think back to when he first broke out from the lab. But after a moment he slumped his shoulders. "Ah… I know I read something about it. Like sheets and stuff at the lab there but… It's been so long now I can't remember."

Kunsel placed his hand on Zack's shoulder, giving him a reassuring look. "It's all right Zack, you don't need to recall it. But we can keep an eye out for things in case that has something to do with it."

"Right… Right. Yeah I get it. But at least for Cloud, I need him to start on his way to recovery. You think having him read or play games would be a good idea? Like, I don't know it would stimulate his brain or something but not too much to overwhelm him? He kind of had a bad freak out yesterday when I asked him too much, and I don't want it happening again."

"It sounds like a good idea. Worth a try. Now, if there isn't anything else. We can get to the next important thing." Kunsel handed him a phone. "This phone isn't connected to Shinra's network. It has my private number already added though. So any time you need me just text that one."

"Cool, thanks Kunsel. Hey! How about we take a picture to commemorate the moment?"

Not waiting for Kunsel to give an answer, Zack pulled him into another side hug. He flipped open the phone and switched on the camera and grinned. As soon as he saw Kunsel smile, he snapped the picture and saved it.

"Awesome. Seriously thanks though, I don't know what I would do without you."

"And I wouldn't know what I'd do without you…" Kunsel said as he lowered his voice.

Though after a moment, Zack realized that Kunsel wasn't just lowering his voice. He instead was trying to whisper it or mumble under his breath. But a meer whisper could not go past the ears of a SOLDIER. Though with those words left Zack confused. The tone was unlike what he usually expected from Kunsel and it was such a quick shift from how he was moments before.

"Kuns? You good there?"

Kunsel snapped his head to Zack. His expression became mixed with a bit of confusion and what looked like to be worry. "Nothing. Sorry. I was just thinking to myself and I guess I spoke aloud."

This was still not what he expected from his friend. He knew him well enough, but to have him actu quiet and hide things… it felt odd. While he had the thought not to pry, he still wanted to be a good friend, and a good friend made sure that the other was doing all right.

"Kunsel, is there something going on? Even though it's been five years, we can still talk and stuff right?"

Kunsel shook his head. "This isn't something that can just be easily talked about. Not now at least."

"What do you mean 'not now'?"

Kunsel sighed and opened his mouth, but then there was a beeping sound. He pulled out his Shinra issue phone and flipped it open. After a second he closed it and started to move towards the door. "I gotta head back. Some meeting is going to go on in an hour or something, I don't know. But they need me there."

"Oh, guess I can't really stop you then. But… we'll talk again soon?"

Kunsel averted his eyes. He started down at the floor while his hand gripped the door handle. "Yeah… just after I sort out some of these feelings. Nothing major though. Don't gotta worry about me."

He left the room and the apartment entirely before Zack could even say goodbye. It felt to him with an odd feeling… a strange twisting emptiness. It was so weird to see Kunsel act that way, but Zack couldn't find anything that would make sense. "He was fine the other day… well until we got here and he gave me that hug… I know he said not to worry, but I can't help but wonder a little."

Sighing Zack headed back out to the main room. Cloud was now standing by the window, staring out at the slums that they now lived in. Standing next to Cloud, Zack watched Kunsel walk away, heading in the direction of Shinra headquarters.

"I don't get it… what feelings could he… Ah… I don't know. Maybe I'll figure it out later."

Once he let out another sigh, he looked to Cloud and started to ruffle his hair again. The more he kept on doing it, the more fun it was becoming. Not that it wasn't fun before. But now he was just getting really used to it whenever he wanted to either tease Cloud or get his attention. Or both… both worked as well.

Then as on que, Cloud abruptly turned to look at Zack, almost surprised to see him suddenly standing next to him. "Zack? What's up?"

"I don't know. Just thinking I guess. Maybe we could get out of the house for a bit. Just talk a walk around the slums. Whaddya say?"

"Sounds good."

"Right! Then let's get dressed and ready to go!"

After the two got dressed Cloud went to the bathroom before they were going to leave. While Zack waited he started at the buster sword that now laid against the wall. Staring deeply at it he went over to it and picked it up.

"I don't know how dangerous out there it could be. There's always a chance for something… But if there is danger I don't want Cloud to get caught up in the middle of it. Perhaps it's better if I have Cloud stay at home and I'll go out to buy some stuff in the meantime. But… if I leave him alone and something happens, I wouldn't be there for him."

Zack rested his forehead against the flat side of the blade. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply like he always did when he wanted to try and meditate. But his thoughts still were everywhere with all the different outcomes playing in his head.

"What do I do… Angeal… what would you do?"

A few moments later a new thought came to his mind. "Protect your honor…"

The bathroom door opened after that and Cloud walked out and over to Zack. He looked at Zack inquisitive. "Zack? You okay?"

Zack blinked. "I'm fine. Why? Do I look funny or something?"

Cloud shrugged. "Just serious."

Zack let out a laugh. "I guess me trying to be serious must look pretty strange."

"Are we going?"

Zack placed the sword back down, still eyeing it heavily. "Yeah… about that…"

Facing Cloud, he looked at him directly. Now that he was right in front of Cloud, he found the thoughts coming in much faster now. Cloud was still waking up and he still didn't have too much to say, but there had been so much improvement over the past few days. Zack didn't want to risk anything happening that could cause a relapse.

A relapse… every time the word crossed his mind, he shuddered. To have Cloud possibly go back to being catatonic, where he couldn't speak or act much on his own. Those countless nights where Cloud just sat there, eyes half open but void of all expression. It still haunted Zack deeply.

"I can't let that happen again… but what's the best option to prevent it?"

While he was thinking, he suddenly felt arms wrap around him. Snapping from his thoughts he realized Cloud was holding on to him. He almost was perplexed by it, but Cloud looked at him with his eyes more focused than ever before.

"It's okay, Zack. Don't be worried."

Zack gasped slightly. Even if Cloud didn't know the exactness of what he had been thinking, he clearly could figure out something was going on. Zack could feel the warmth of Cloud's body pressed up against his own, bringing an unexpected sense of comforting.

Returning the hug, Zack rested his head on top of Cloud's. He soaked up as much of the warm feeling as he could, and it actually managed to calm down some of his nerves. It was just a simple thing, just a hug, but somehow it really made things feel so much clearer. "Thanks Cloud. I think I really needed that."

"All right! One second," Zack said, feeling more confident than before. Quickly he ran back into the bedroom and grabbed the harness from his uniform that he needed to keep the sword on his back. Once it was in place he came back and set the sword into position. "Let's head on out and take a stroll around the slums. Just stick close to me okay? Just in case anything happens you know.

Cloud nodded and with that the two of them headed out of the apartment. Now that they were outside, Zack took in a breath of air. "I gotta protect Cloud no matter what. On my honor I gotta do that, and that means keeping him safe as best as I can."

Ah another chapter done. Thank you all so far for reading! Hope you are enjoying what I got and what is to come!