Cloud was there in body, but not really in mind during the exam. He hardly noticed the nakedness as his ass was being examined inside and out. Pictures, swabs, all of that work. At one point the lights were turned off and a special light to illuminate dried body fluids was used over his front and back.
Pictures were taken of his injury on his face, too. Cloud simply followed what was instructed of him. His mind wandered a lot, and most of it was centered around General Sephiroth.
From what Zack described of the man, he was stand-offish and horrible with any kind of social activities. A lot of times he came off awkward or shy when really he had no idea what to say or how to communicate without sounding like a superior.
However, having friends like Angeal and Genesis made some improvements with him. And when Zack joined the picture, well he proudly proclaimed he got through the thick skull a little better than his mentor. At least that was what Zack claimed.
What astounded Cloud was the fact he witnessed a side of the general that not many can say they have seen. And he wasn't sure how to handle this information. One part of him felt that he was special. Yet another part of him whispered that he was only special due to unfortunate circumstances.
Cloud was torn on which was true. Maybe he can get some input from Zack later.
"There. All done! I've already got you a new set of clothes ready for you. If you like, you can take a shower beforehand while we wait for your friend to pick you up." The nurse offered.
The idea of a shower was tempting. So Cloud accepted it. The nurse started the water for him and grabbed him a towel. Cloud placed the towel by the sink and entered, almost sighing as the warm water sprayed over his body.
However as he began to scrub away, he felt that nothing was good enough. No matter what he didn't feel clean. Cloud scrubbed away harshly on his legs, arms, his sides, where he could reach on his back. He was worse off on his butt. Just when it began to feel a little raw he heard a knock on the bathroom door.
"Spike? I'm here. Sorry it took me so long. I got here fast as I can."
"Oh - Okay!" Cloud stopped what he was doing, heart racing.
"I'll wait until you're done, buddy." Zack walked away.
Cloud stood there a moment. It was then he really began to feel that he might have been too harsh on his body. The only part that he spared were his junk and his face. He wasn't going to risk the stitches.
He stayed like that a few more minutes to allow the water to relax his muscles. When he began to feel sleepy Cloud turned off the water. He dried himself quickly and put on the clean clothes the kind nurse left for him. They were a pair of sweatpants and a sweater.
He ran the towel over his hair a couple of times. When he was satisfied it was dry enough he dropped the towel on the floor and made his way out of the bathroom. Immediately Zack pulled him into a hug. In an instant his nose was invaded with a foul odor.
"Gross. You smell like sweat and death." Cloud commented, but returned the hug anyways.
"Sorry. Mission was a bit gruesome." Zack laughed softly. Cloud could feel the rumble in his friend's chest.
When they finally pulled apart Zack ran his hand through blond spikes. In the process he shook some droplets out. Cloud felt a tug on his lips in an attempt to smile. However it didn't come full force like usual.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here when it happened." Zack felt his heart sink at the sight of his friend. It pained him to see Cloud like this. What he didn't expect were the stitches and black eye. He wished someone had given him a little warning about it.
"Don't be. You were away on mission." Cloud shook his head.
"Still I...Damn it, I wish I had stayed." Zack pursed his lip, guilt written all over his face.
"Don't blame yourself." The blond knew what was going through his head. He could read the other like an open book.
"Then don't blame yourself either."
At Cloud's expression Zack tilts his head.
"What? I see it on your face. Whatever happened wasn't your fault. I know you, Spike. You're a fighter. So don't blame yourself over it."
Cloud wasn't sure he believed him. Zack sighed, seeing he wasn't fully getting through to his head. He reached up and pulled them so their foreheads were touching. Cloud felt his heart jump at being so close to his mentor. Even so he stared into those bright blue eyes.
"You're strong. You made it into SOLDIER. That takes a certain amount of strength that's not just in the body. I've seen it in you since the moment I met you."
Cloud felt his eyes well up. He bit his lip to stop himself from crying. He pulls away and nods. Zack places a hand on his shoulder.
"Now hold your head high. I know it hurts. It's gonna hurt. But you're not alone. They even granted you permission to be placed into my care while the mentorship is still pending. I'm not gonna leave you alone like that ever again. Not until you're ready to stand on your own two feet."
"Th - Thank you." Cloud whimpers.
"Anything for you Spikey. Now, do you wanna go anywhere? Movie? Lunch? It's up to you. Or if not, then there is always my suite and we can just relax, order food and watch television."
"Can...can we go home?" Cloud felt a little too self conscious about his stitches. He didn't want anyone to look at them.
"All right. That is fine. Let's go home, Spike."
xXx
"How is he?" Sephiroth checked in a few days later over the phone.
"Not good. He's not eating. Barely sleeping. He's had a few nightmares. He only seems to sleep when his body gives out on him." Zack sighed, glancing over at his pupil. The blond was currently passed out at this moment.
Cloud was curled up in a blanket on the couch. He refused to move to a bed, not unless he was snuggling with Zack. He allowed it of course, but he couldn't sleep after he would wake up to the blond having a nightmare. Which were quite often.
"He says he can't turn 'alert mode' off. Whatever that means."
"His anxieties are high. He doesn't feel safe with you?"
"He will only come to my bed to sleep. I don't mind it, but when he has nightmares I find myself unable to sleep and end up watching over him until he wakes up again." Zack admits. "Otherwise he won't leave the couch."
"Is he staying hydrated?" The general frowned.
"That's all he can stomach. He takes a few bites of food then stops, saying he feels sick. He doesn't want to push too hard then end up at the toilet."
"Have you tried soups?"
"It's not working very well." Zack wanted to roll his eyes. He swore on his mama that he tried everything in the book to help his pupil. But there was that old saying. One can lead a chocobo to water, but cannot force it to drink.
"Keep me updated. If he starts to drastically lose weight I might have to step in." Sephiroth hoped it wouldn't come to that.
"Now hold up, since when are you close enough to him to do that?" Zack placed a hand on his hip.
"I stayed by his side at the infirmary, Zack. I was there when he awoke. I was there to comfort him as he broke down crying. I was there on his request listening to his side of the story of what happened. I was there until the nurse pushed me out for his exam." At this moment Sephiroth's voice was strained.
"...Okay. Sorry. I didn't know that." Zack felt himself biting his lip. As of right now Cloud hadn't confided anything with him. He couldn't help but feel a little jealous. Apparently it could be heard in his voice because Sephiroth addressed it.
"I suggest you get some rest as well. Jealousy doesn't become of you."
"Yes, mom." Zack couldn't help it. He quickly hung up before his superior could give him shit over the nickname. He knew he was going to have an earful later for that.
Evidently after this Sephiroth didn't have to be called in to take matters into his own hands. Cloud managed to keep down a whole meal. However he refused to eat anything afterwards. So for three days he would only eat one meal.
In some ways it was an improvement. However no amount of suggestions or encouragement from Zack could get through to Cloud to eat more. So he reluctantly let it be. And soon he realized the nightmares were reduced to every other day. They managed to sleep more.
Cloud still insisted they shared a bed. His reasoning was he didn't want to feel alone. Zack didn't mind. If it helped his friend heal then he was all for it.
Then one night.
"Hey, stop that." Zack gripped a hand that was feeling around a little too much.
"...I want to forget about him." Cloud admits softly.
Zack turned to face him. The blond looked away in shame. He knew he crossed a boundary and felt guilty. Zack raised a hand to those spikes. He understood the logic, however he felt that he shouldn't be the one.
"Listen. I don't see you as disgusting, or unpure, or vile. Don't get me wrong, I think you're cute as a button." He smiled at the last part. Those deep blues looked up at him in surprise.
"Then why...?" Cloud frowned.
"If I didn't have a girl, I would be all for it, Spikey." Zack spoke gently.
Shame and horror was read all over Cloud. And Zack wanted to kick himself in the gut. Only the Turks knew of his girlfriend. He shouldn't have kept this secret from Cloud. If he had said so in the first place then they wouldn't be in this uncomfortable situation.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have kept that secret from you. The only reason I did is because she's under the Turks protection." Zack hated seeing his friend like this.
"Do I...Do I have to go to my own bed?" Cloud bit his lip.
"No. You can still stay as long as you need a cuddle buddy." Zack assured.
And so they cuddled for the rest of the night.
