Cloud and Zack arrived at a building just off of the military base. Walking up to the door, Zack used his key and opened it up to reveal a small but cozy entranceway. After shaking off his raincoat and closing up the umbrella Cloud had been using, Zack began to head up the stairs.
"We're heading up this way," he said.
Cloud stayed anchored to the spot. He had expected Zack to be taking him to a hotel...or a motel or something. This looked more like an apartment. A rather nice apartment considering it was in Midgar.
"Uh...listen commander, I appreciate this, really...but I'm sure I can get someone back at the barracks to let me in..." Cloud stumbled and tried not to look at Zack.
Stupid stupid stupid! Nobody else is so pathetic that their commanding officer has to make sure they aren't in the gutter.
"Oh gimme a break Cloud. There was obviously no one coming to help you when you were banging on that door. Now come with me. And for now, call me Zack."
Ringing out his long spiky hair as he walked up the stairs, Zack didn't have to look behind him to know that Cloud had decided to follow.
As he approached his room at the end of the hall, Zack noticed that the door next to his was open. He poked his head inside and saw that his neighbor was sitting quietly at his desk, sharpening his prized possession.
"Hey Sephiroth," Zack said quietly, and waved energetically at him. Sephiroth let the barest hint of a smile through as he nodded at Zack's presence. Then the first class Soldier decided that seeing Sephiroth would probably not help to calm down Cloud at all, and quickly shut the door and moved on to unlock his own.
With the door unlocked Zack opened it in a flurry and ushered Cloud inside, the poor boy looking thoroughly confused as to what was going on.
No wonder this kid gets picked on. He's got the look of a scared rabbit.
"How about you clean up, and I'll grab some dry clothes for you."
"Oh, its okay commander, I'm fine really..." Cloud trailed off as he shifted uneasily from foot to foot.
"I told you. Call me Zack. And if you have this much trouble with it, how about I make it a direct order that you take care of your health and get your ass in gear to do so," Zack grinned, his cornflower blue eyes shining at his ingenuity in tricking his guest.
Finally Cloud could resist no more and gave in to Zack's demands. When he was clean and dry, and sitting on Zack's couch with a soda can in his hand, the older man sat across from him and his entire countenance changed. His smile faded into a neutral look, and the laughing look in his eyes changed into something much more intense.
"So what made you become a ShinRa trooper Cloud?"
The blond didn't respond right away. He focused his eyes on his soda can. And continued to run his fingers along it, catching the condensation in drops on his fingertips before answering.
"I wanted to serve ShinRa and do good for—"
"Cloud," Zack interrupted in the kindest voice he could, "I need you to be honest with me. Just pretend that we're not a first rank Soldier and a trooper. Pretend we're friends."
Cloud nodded, his wet hair dangling in front of his eyes until he had to push it out of the way.
"I wanted to become a Soldier. I told everyone in my home town that I would be one when I came back. All because..." Cloud seemed to develop a lump in his throat and stopped talking, instead taking a swig of his soda.
"And have you taken the tests for Soldier yet? How far did you make it?" Having seen the strength the small boy could muster outside his barracks, Zack was positive that he must have at least made it past the initial screening for Soldier.
"I-I took the test. But...they said I wasn't...wasn't quite the type they were looking for," Cloud ground out around the lump in his throat.
"Well then obviously the ones testing you were morons."
Cloud looked up at the brash comment and saw that Zack's face was still serious, no hint of a joke or of sarcasm on it. A strand of his hair hung over his face and cast a shadow along one side, causing that eye to be shades darker than the other which seemed to glow in the light.
"Listen to me Cloud. You can take the entrance exam for Soldier again in two years. That's the minimum amount of time you have to wait between testing. But this time you will make it in. I guarantee it."
Zack stood up and started to head towards his front door, before apparently deciding against that course of action.
Maybe I can ease Cloud into the idea that Soldiers aren't gods...but introducing him to Sephiroth is definitely NOT the way to do it.
"Forgive me commander....er....Zack, but they told me I wasn't prepared physically, mentally, or skilled enough to make it even past the first level of testing. I'm sure you hold some sway with them, but is it enough to really help someone like me?"
A complete and total failure. Maybe I could be the towel boy for the Soldiers. That's a job that's more suited to me.
"Hell kid, I'll train you." Zack put his hands on his hips and flashed a bright grin at the shocked young cadet.
"But, are you sure...I mean would you have enough spare time?"
Zack walked over and mussed Cloud's wet hair, causing it to stand in more unusual directions than normal. Cloud smiled, feeling for the first time since he'd come to Midgar, that someone had actually noticed him. That he wasn't just some face in the crowd.
"By the time I'm through with you Cloud, you'll have all the makings of a first class soldier yourself."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am much appreciative of the reviews I've gotten so far. I'm glad you all like it. And unlike some authors, I promise if you keep telling me that you like it, I'll keep writing it. And if you think something should happen, or I should change the way I'm doing things, I LOVE those kinds of comments and do consider them when I write. Anyway, hoped you liked this short chapter. I promise, it's going to get very very good starting with the next few chapters.
Oh, and the title for this fic came to me while I was listening to Queen's "We Will Rock You" and the line about "mud on your face/you big disgrace" just seemed to fit the opening chapter of this fic too perfectly. Anyway.
Later readers!!
