Disclaimer: I really hate doing this. Everybody already knows that I don't own it.
AN: Thanks to CloudRed1988 for the helpful hints and suggestions. Thankyou SoulNinjas for the review. I tried keep that fiery Zack in this one as well as keep to his characterization. Last but definitely not least, Thanks for everyone else who is reading this! Oh yes before I forget if there are pairings it is Zack and Aerith and Cloud and (wouldn't you like to know) MWAHAHAHA! :D
Zack cracked open tired eyes as he heard voices coming from the living room. Memories of this morning rushed back in full force. He looked around Angeal's room. This was definitely not a prank. "Oh boy."
Zack sat up and swung his legs off the bed in a fluid motion. His hand shot out to catch Angeal's nightstand. Zack hung on for dear life until his vision stopped spinning. As things became still around him, his muscles started to complain about their use after several years of stillness. Ignoring them the best he could, he got to his feet and stumbled to the door. He pushed the door the rest of the way open.
Angeal, Genesis, and Sethiroth were sitting on the couches talking over some sort of drink. Knowing Angeal, it was probably hot tea. Zack stood in the door and watched them, a smile tugging at his lips. Angeal was alive. Genesis still trusted his friends. Sephiroth still had his friends. The peaceful scene was broken by a loud scream from Zack's room.
Before the Firsts could get up, Zack was already dashing into the bedroom. Cloud's screams grew more intense.
"Cloud. Hey, buddy, it's okay." Zack placed a hand on Cloud's forehead. "Spiky wake up. You are only dreaming. Cloud!"
Zack laid a hand on Cloud's shoulders to try to rouse him. Cloud twisted and turned in Zack's cluches.
"Please, stop." Cloud pleaded in his sleep. "Help me!"
"Cloud, wake up." Zack's caring voice quieted Cloud.
Cloud's eyes shot open and locked on Zack. Cloud's eyes were as bright blue as ever but they were full of fear. "He was there…he was…"
"Shh Cloud. You're safe," Zack said.
"What happened?" Angeal's concerned voice came from the doorway.
"Nothing," Zack said as Cloud laid back down. "Rest up Blondie."
"Pup, answer your mentor," Genesis snarled.
Zack looked up and glared at the First. "Nothing unusual happened. People have nightmares all the time."
"That was no mere dream," Sephiroth simply stated.
Zack looked at Angeal sending a silent plea for help. But he found no help there. Zack sighed as his body complained louder. Minerva, if you did this…Why? And why do I feel so weak?
"Zack." Zack opened his eyes and saw Angeal next to him. Angeal put his hand on Zack's forehead. "You should get some rest as well. You are still burning up."
"Thanks, but I'm not leaving Cloud's side again." Zack sat down in the chair. He turned his attention back toward Cloud's sleeping form.
"All right, call if you need anything. I will be in the other room," Angeal politely said as he walked towards the door, ushering the others out as well.
"Thanks," Zack said softly as the door slightly closed behind the Firsts. "Do you know what's going on?"
Zack asked Cloud. He knew that he wouldn't answer but it felt normal to talk to Cloud anyway. "Maybe I should find us some food soon."
Zack yawned as he let his body relax in the chair. "Man, am I tired."
XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD
Zack woke up to the smell of meat cooking. His stomach growled. He looked down at Cloud. His breathing was still and even. Zack got up and stretched. Then out of habit, he started doing squats. It was nice to be alive. He picked up his cell phone off of the nightstand. He flipped it open to see that Kunsel had sent him a message. He quickly scrolled down and opened it.
Zack,
Angeal said that you were sick. Hope you feel better soon. You didn't miss much in training today, just the usual.
Kunsel.
Zack smiled and closed his phone. Zack looked down at Cloud to see him still fast asleep. Zack decided it was probably a good idea to go apologize to Angeal for his rude behavior. As he stepped out of his room, he saw that Sephiroth and Genesis were still sitting in the living room. Sephiroth seemed to have brought his paperwork with him and Genesis was busy reading Loveless. Zack took a deep breath and walked past the two Firsts and into the kitchen to stop in the doorway watching Angeal cook.
He quietly sat down at one of the chairs and watched. Memories of another life came rushing back. Memories that Zack had pushed back. Zack laid his head down on the table. For the first time since Angeal had left, Zack felt at home. He looked up to see a cup in front of him. He smiled as he looked back up at Angeal, who was busy cutting up some vegetables. Zack took the tea and sipped on it gratefully.
"I am sorry Angeal," Zack said after he finished his tea.
"For?" Angeal asked.
"Everything today," Zack said looking up to meet Angeal's eyes.
"Zack," Angeal said taking the seat across for him. "Are you feeling better?"
Zack took a moment to reflect. He had gotten shot back in time while he was in the middle of a conversation with Aerith. He was probably here to stop the Sephiroth calamity. To do so he first had to save Genesis from himself and from Hollander. Then he would have to figure out how to stop the degradation. Then— Zack let out a moan as he set his head back on the table. I'm too tired to think about this.
Zack kept his head down as Angeal got up. Angeal seemed to accept the silence again. Zack was thankful for it. He was able to relax and hear Angeal working in the kitchen preparing dinner. Angeal is alive.
Zack walked into the room to see Angeal standing alone.
"It should have been me. I should have dealt with Genesis." Angeal turned to look at Zack.
"Yeah…So why did you send me?"
"To prepare you," Angeal turned around and held up his sword, pointing it at Zack. "For your next fight."
"Have you lost it?" Zack jumped back as Angeal swung at his right shoulder.
Zack spun out of the way as Angeal brought the broadsword to his middle. Only to side step as Angeal aimed for his left shoulder.
"Stop it!" Zack pleaded.
Zack's mind fast-forwarded the part with Hollander and the fight with the beast that Angeal had become. It slowed down when Angeal was lying on his back, his life leaving him. His white feathers were scattered around his torn body.
"Zack, you have my thanks." Angeal's voice was rough.
Zack knelt next to him trying not to cry.
"This…is for you," Angeal said as he held up his sword.
Zack holding back his tears slowly and carefully grabbed the sword.
"Protect your honor, always." Angeal smiled, and then died.
"Zack," a hand on Zack's shoulder jolted him awake. Zack looked up to see Angeal standing beside him.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Angeal said.
"When did I fall asleep?" Zack rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.
"An hour ago," Angeal chuckled. "It's dinner time. Can you help set the table?"
"Sure." Zack walked to the cupboards. "Are Sephiroth and Genesis joining us?"
"I believe so," Angeal said as he took dinner out of the oven. "Don't worry about getting knives out."
"Alright." Zack got four cups, plates, spoons, and forks. He walked back to the table and proceeded to place each item in its proper location. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Will you tell the others that dinner is ready?" Angeal asked as he started to set the food on the table.
Zack walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. The two Firsts were completely lost in their activities. Zack smirked and looked around for the bowl of M&Ms that was always full. Spotting it, he took a handful and proceeded to lay them down in a shape of an arrow. The arrow began by the couches and pointed to the kitchen. Then quickly and quietly, Zack retrieved another two M&Ms from the bowl. This was one of the times that having enhanced attributes helped. Zack, using his enhanced strength, flicked the candies at the two Firsts and ducked back around the doorway and into the kitchen.
"What the…" Genesis said. "Sephiroth, what are you doing?"
"I'm following the direction of the arrow."
Zack hurriedly sat down. The table now held lasagna, sliced dumbapples, green beans, and water. Zack gazed at the delicious food. His stomach growled loudly. This would be his first real meal in seven years! The thought grew better with the fact that the meal was cooked by Angeal.
"It appears that dinner is ready." Sephiroth's voice distracted Zack's admiration of the food.
"Why weren't we told?" Genesis asked, offended.
"I sent Zack to get you," Angeal said as he also took his seat. "Zack?"
A grin stole over Zack's face. "Oh I did tell them, just not verbally."
"So you're the one who threw those infuriating candies at us?" Genesis asked in a deadly tone.
"Yeah, do you want to do something about it?" Zack said leaning toward Genesis.
Angeal stared in astonishment at Zack. Genesis leaned closer too.
"Yes. Training room—"
"Genesis," Sephiroth simply stated. "I believe that while you are at a table, you do not fight."
"Sephiroth is correct," Angeal said. "Let's get our food and have a nice dinner."
Genesis and Zack both backed off.
So we need to act soon with Genesis, preferably before the training accident, Zack thought. He truly didn't want to fight with Genesis again. Zack needed to know how far back they were sent. Sephiroth had told Zack that before the incident, Genesis had been quick to anger.
Zack tore his mind away from those thoughts as his stomach growled again. Everyone looked at him. Zack scratched the back of his neck as Angeal piled food on his plate.
"Let us eat." Angeal said.
Zack shoved some lasagna into his mouth. His mouth instantly watered as he chewed slowly. It was a perfect combination of noodle, sauce, meat, and cheese. Before he realized it, Zack had cleaned his plate off. He sighed contently as he sank in his chair.
"Zack, I know what was up with your odd behavior today," Angeal said suddenly.
"You do?" Zack paled. How did he figure it out?
"Yes," Angeal stated.
"Well I guess that saves me from having to explain." Zack scratched the back of his neck again.
"I wish you would have told me," Angeal gently said.
"I didn't want you to laugh at me or think I was insane," Zack said.
"I wouldn't have. It is your choice," Angeal said. "I will be here if you need me though."
"My choice? Angeal, are talking about the same thing?" Zack inquired. It was definitely not his choice to be pulled from the future and dropped in the past.
"Isn't Cloud your lover?" Angeal asked.
Zack fell out of his chair. "What?! No, we're just friends! I have a girl…"
Zack wasn't sure if Aerith would still like him or even if he should tempt fate and meet her. What would happen if he screwed up? He could end up dying or back at the labs for the remainder of his life. No. He would not seek her out. Zack got up and straightened his chair.
"Thanks for the meal Angeal." Zack picked up his plate and silverware and dumped them in the sink.
What is the goddess thinking? Why send me back with Cloud? I already failed…and more than once. Zack walked to his bedroom and shut the door. He slumped into the chair by the bed. He didn't look at Cloud for the fear of having to face his friend.
"Life wouldn't have been as cruel to you, if I hadn't failed so many times. How can I call myself a hero?" Zack looked at Cloud to see him sitting and wide awake. "Cloud! You're awake!"
"Zack, are you sick?" Cloud asked.
"No…well…I don't know. What does the possibility of me being sick have to do with the fact that you are awake?"
"Because you are not yourself. I am the one who is usually in the need of encouragement, not you." Cloud looked at his friend seriously.
Zack locked eyes with Cloud as a smile spread on his lips. Zack reached forward and wrapped the blond in a hug. "Thanks Cloud."
Thanks for reading! Please review and tell me what you think!
Zack: hehe... If you don't I will flick M&Ms at you!
Sephiroth: How can you do that? You are but a character in-
Zack: Don't underestimate me! *evil laugh*
Edited 10/24/2012