Life as a SOLDIER

Disclaimer: No one will mind that Cloud is a little…

A/N: Don't spoil it! Let them find out on their own! Okay? Good! Let's go!

Chapter Eight: Swim Day

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Cloud stood outside sachoo's office, hesitating slightly as he held his hand on the doorknob. His mind was still on that e-mail he received from sachoo…

Flashback…about 25 minutes ago…

Cloud reread the e-mail many times, quite sure he had misread the e-mail. But there was no mistaking it.

To: cs (at-symbol) yahoo (dot) com
From: shinra (underscore) electric (underscore) company (at-symbol) yahoo (dot) com

Cloud Strife,

It has come to my attention that you're quite useful an powerful in combat. As such, I request a meeting with you prior to lunchtime. I heard that you've sustained serious injury, but do try to make it on time. We have a great deal to discuss regarding your promotion. You've earned a higher rank in SOLDIER, so we'll discuss your options. Don't forget to come.

All the best,

Sachoo no Shinra Company

End flashback…

Cloud removed his hand from the doorknob, backed away a few paces and stopped. No, I can't leave, he told himself, and walked back to the door, but topped at the door. Ooh, but I'm so scared…! I've heard nothing good about the sachoo so far… They say that behind a good company is always a bad tyrant…

Cloud stood still as harsh and violent images crowded his mind about tyrant sachoos and evil people and sadists who like to cause pain to people…

"No, no!" he told himself firmly. "I have to go see sachoo because of the important meeting he discussed!" With a nod, Cloud opened the door to sachoo's office and entered the room.

The sachoo didn't look up from his desk. He was writing something down, and said to Cloud, "You're late, Strife."

"Uh… I am?" asked Cloud.

"Yes, five minutes late. Next time I call you to my office, I expect you to come here on time. I'm the sachoo of this company, and I don't have time to idle away. Is that clear?"

"Yes, sir," muttered Cloud, looking down at the ground. "What did you call me for?"

"Take a seat, Strife, and I'll tell you," said sachoo, looking up briefly. "Go on, pull up a chair."

Cloud nodded and did as he was told, sitting down in the seat across from sachoo. He looked down at his own hands, not facing the sachoo.

"Well, I asked you to come here for your promotion, right? Well, yes, Cloud, I'm upgrading your rank to first class SOLIDER."

"What!" asked Cloud. "For real? You were serious?"

"Yes, I'm serious. You've done more then any new SOLIDER has done in a long time. You're powerful enough on your own, and your programs flawless."

"Program?" repeated Cloud.

"Meaning your profile," said sachoo airily. "You're in great shape and everything. All the qualities of a first class SOLDIER."

"But--but you can't make me a first class SOLDIER!" exclaimed Cloud, looking up. "I haven't got any special qualities or anything like that…"

"Don't say that," disagreed sachoo. "You've all the qualities. Now, as a first class SOLDIER, you get access to most anywhere in Shinra, and you're equal rank to join the combat. It's special training for going out into the field for real work."

"…" said Cloud, looking down. "But I…"

"That is my final word, Strife," said sachoo curtly. "As of tomorrow, you're a fist class SOLDIER."

"Yes, sir," sighed Cloud.

"You're dismissed," said sachoo, waving a hand.

Cloud nodded, and left the room, closing the door, his head awhirl with thoughts. First class SOLDIER… he thought to himself. I'm a first class SOLDIER now… He walked down the stairs slowly, and as he made his way down to the cafeteria, he crashed into Zack. "Ouchie," he said.

"Oh, Cloud, there you are!" said Zack. "I was just about to go get you!"

"Were you?" asked Cloud, looking up at Zack.

"Yeah, I just got the news, and thought I'd tell you!" Zack seemed very excited about something.

"Well, whatever it is, spit it out," said Cloud as they entered Cloud's room.

"Tomorrow, all the SOLDIERs get a special day off to go to the pool! We're going swimming!" said Zack clapping his hands with childish glee.

Cloud stopped suddenly. "…swimming? We're going swimming?"

"Aren't you excited!" asked Zack, still acting childish, dancing around the room all giddy.

"...sure!" said Cloud, trying to smile. But the realization that they were going swimming reminded Cloud of this thing he had about…

Zack stopped in his giddy dancing, seeing Cloud's hesitation. "What's wrong? Don't you like swimming? Or is it that you can't swim?"

"No, I enjoy swimming, I can swim okay, it's just…" Cloud trailed off, staring at the floor awkwardly.

"Hmm…" said Zack, looking at Cloud closely. "You hydrophobic?"

"No," answered Cloud.

"Then whatever is the matter?" asked Zack, looking confused now.

"It's…nothing. You wouldn't understand…"

"Hmm… fair enough," said Zack, albeit confused still, and resumed his giddy dancing around the room. "We're going swimming, whee!"

Cloud sat on the bed, continuing to stare at the floor. Swimming, he thought. That means that all the SOLDIERs will be swimming… or relaxing, or resting in the sun… with… no…

"Cloud!" called Zack. "Hey, earth to Cloud!"

Cloud jumped in surprise and looked up. "Huh?"

"Are you bi?" asked Zack suddenly.

"Whoa!" Cloud gaped at Zack, and looked around and stood up. "You know? How-how did you know? Did Tifa e-mail you!"

"…" went Zack, giving Cloud a blank stare. "You mean… you are actually bi?"

Cloud went red, and looked down at the floor again. "No--No, that's not… that's not exactly…. Uh…"

"…in all my years of SOLDIER," said Zack slowly, "I have never seen a bisexual SOLDIER among our ranks… Never, not once!"

"…is that bad?" asked Cloud.

"Not bad, per se," said Zack. "Just unusual. It depends on how you think about it… Hm! Now that's an idea!" he exclaimed.

"What is?" asked Cloud.

"You can sleep with sachoo and earn yourself to vice president of Shinra Company!"

"WHAAA!" cried Cloud. "Never! I'm bi a little, not gay!"

"You mean you're still a virgin?" asked Zack with disbelief.

"Yes!" answered Cloud defiantly, glaring at the side of his bed feeling slightly flustered.

"Cool, so am I!" said Zack.

Cloud gave Zack a shifty-eyed look for a second, then sighed sadly. "Do you think I'm a freak?" asked Cloud sadly.

"No, you're perfect, remember?" asked Zack. He blinked. "But, I'm not…" He gave a shuddering gasp. "I'll never be perfect…"

"Oh, Zack, don't say that," said Cloud, looking at Zack in the eye. "I think you're the best person I have ever met! Really!"

"Really?" asked Zack sheepishly.

Cloud nodded. "Exactly!"

"Oh, so the reason you didn't look forward to swimming was because of the bi thing," said Zack, returning to the subject. Cloud nodded again. "Well, just try not to loom at anyone, and you'll be just fine!"

"But what about you?" asked Cloud fretfully.

"Huh? What about me?" asked Zack. "Unless you have some attraction to me!" asked Zack in shock.

"Wha--No, no I don't!" exclaimed Cloud, an exclamation in complete contrast to the redness of his face. "You--I see you as a friend! Really!"

"Really?" asked Zack.

'Yes, just a friend, that's all!" said Cloud quickly, a little too quickly.

Zack stared at Cloud for a few seconds, then shrugged. "Okay, I believe you!" he said cheerfully. "Whee, swimming!" he said cheerfully, twirling in circles around Cloud's room.

"Do try not to knock anything over," said Cloud with a sigh, glancing out the window. Zack seems to be taking the fact that I'm bi pretty well… he thought to himself. He went red again. I suppose that means that he's okay with…

CRASH

Cloud jumped and whirled around. "Zack!"

Zack was looked at a chair he had just knocked over. "Sorry, I'll get you a new one," he promised.

"That's okay, I'll fix it later," said Cloud, looking back out the window again.

"Tifa know you're bi?" asked Zack suddenly. It appeared that he had this bad habit of dropping unexpected questions like that often.

"Of course she knows!" said Cloud defensively.

"And she's okay with that?"

"She never said she minded that I'm bi, mind you!" said Cloud in the same defensive tone. "Why does everyone make a big deal out of bi people?"

"I don't," said Zack. "I was just asking. Forgive me."

Cloud sighed. "I'm sorry… Uh, when were we leaving again?" he asked.

"Tomorrow," reminded Zack.

"Right…"

"Where were you, anyway? Why were you all spaced out when you crashed into me? Did you go see the doctor? Or were you snooping around places?"

"…I saw sachoo. He set a meeting with me, and…"

"And?" prompted Zack.

"He promoted me to first class SOLDIER," finished Cloud.

"…he did what!" asked Zack. "He promoted you!" Cloud nodded silently. "Why? Did he give a reason why?"

"He said that I was good in combat and said that I was good for field training. How many other first class SOLDIERs are there?"

"About 63.. 64 including you now…" Zack sat down next to Cloud. "Wow, you're the same rank as I now! We're both first class SOLDIERs now!"

"You're first class too?" asked Cloud. "I didn't know."

"I never told you?" asked Zack. "Huh. Well, cool, were' the same rank now! This is pretty cool!"

"I guess…" said Cloud.

"Well, let's go down and see our Chocobo! I decided that I'll ditch lessons with you! Let's go!" said Zack, standing up.

"Is that okay?" asked Cloud. "I don't want you to get into trouble because of me."

"They won't even know we're gone!" said Zack, pulling cloud off the bed. "Besides, you need peace and relaxation! And you can get that around Chocobo. Let's go!" Zack took hold of Cloud's hand and led him out the door down the stairs outside Shinra to the Chocobo garden.

Cloud felt a newer elated happiness that day that had nothing to do with the Chocobo as he watched Zack take care of his own Chocobo…

The next day…

"All right, is everyone ready?" barked the voice of Bruce. He was walking among the rows of SOLDIERs who were going swimming. A few SOLDIERS were staying behind; to Cloud's slight disappointment, Sephiroth was among those who were staying.

I wouldn't mind seeing Sephy with us, he thought sadly.

"We're leaving now!" barked Bruce. "Get into the vans now, we're leaving for the swimming pool!"

"Where's the swimming pool located?" asked Cloud as he and Zack got into the backseat of the same van.

"Uhm, like a few miles way," said Zack. "I don't know the exact distance, but its far enough for us to take vans there."

"Okay…" said Cloud, looking out the window.

"Let's turn the radio on!" yelled one of Zack's friends from the front seat. "Let's see…" he flipped the radio on.

(Sean Paul's "Temperature" starts blaring on the speakers)

Cloud blushed slightly. what a song to play around me! he thought, staring out the window.

"Hey, when do we start stripping?" asked another SOLDIER.

"When we get there," answered another SOLDIER from the drivers seat.

"Okay…"

Cloud blushed again. What a word to use around me! he thought.

Zack stared at Cloud weirdly, the shrugged. "So, which pool we going to?"

"OOH! PCD!" yelled the SOLDIER who turned the radio on.

(The Pussy Cat Doll's "Dontcha?" starts blaring on the speakers)

"Yeah! It's the sexy Pussy Cat Dolls!" yelled a SOLDIER.

"That doesn't explain which pool we're going to!" said the SOLDIER.

"Oh, uh, I have no idea."

"We're following the other vans, so I guess we'll find out," said the other SOLDIER musingly.

"How long does it take to get there?" asked Cloud as the song continued to blare through the radio.

"Uh, about an hour. Maybe two hours," answered Zack.

"Did everyone bring their shorts?" asked the SOLDIER driving the van.

"Yeah," chorused all the SOLDIERs except Cloud, who was looking slightly abashed.

Zack was mouthing along with "Dontcha" "Dontcha wish your girlfriend was HOT like me, yeah!" he hissed.

"Yeah!" yelled the SOLDIER who turned the radio on.

(The Pussy Cat Doll's "Beep" starts blaring on the speakers)

Cloud reddened again. What a song title! he thought, staring out the window. Never before have I been so surrounded by so many guys…!

Zack stared at Cloud weirdly again, and started mouthing along with "Beep". "Ahhh…" he hisses with the girls.

Zack's two SOLDIER friends imitated the beep sounds in the song.

Cloud closed his eyes. Maybe I can sleep the whole way there…

"Let's turn the bass on!" yelled the SOLDIER who turned the radio on, flipping the bass on to full strength. The bass echoed loudly in the van, making the walls jitter.

Cloud heaved a sigh, opening his eyes. I guess not…

"Come off it, we need a change of pace," said the SOLDIER driving the van, and changed the radio station.

(James Blunt's "You're Beautiful" starts blaring on the speakers)

"No, it's almost over!"

Cloud growled inwardly, and yelled, "Hey, are we there yet!"

All the SOLDIERs gasped and stared at Cloud in astonishment.

(Ne-yo's "So Sick" starts playing in the background)

Cloud coughed. "Sorry… It's just so hot in here, I can't think clearly."

"Here, I'll fix that," said Zack casually, reaching over Cloud to open his window. "There you go!"

"Th-thanks," stammered Cloud.

"No problem," said Zack cheerfully, leaning back in his seat. Cloud sighed for the umpteenth time, and looked out the window.

One hour later…

"YAY! WE'RE HERE!" yelled the SOLDIERs in joy, expect Cloud, who was looking abashed again.

"Let's get changed and go swimming! Today's your day!" yelled Bruce, and started a stampede to the dressing room.

Cloud walked slowly to the dressing room trailing behind everyone. Keep calm, keep calm, keep calm, he told himself frantically as a SOLDIER turned a portable radio on.

(Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot" starts playing)

Cloud stopped, and shook his head. What a song to play! he thought as he slunk into the back of the dressing room, not looking at anyone, just sitting in the corner.

Zack looked around, and spotted Cloud. "Cloud, what are you doing on the ground?"

"…I fell over," he muttered, sitting up .Dear lord, Zack's shirt is off! It's off!

"Hurry on, Cloud, I'll be waiting by the pool!" Zack hurried out with the rest of the SOLDIERs, and Cloud realized that he was the only one left in the dressing room.

Cloud stood rooted for a second. I can't do this! he thought frantically as he changed into the shorts and hurried out with everyone.

"Cloud! Over here!" called Zack, waving him to come over. "Here's a good spot to swim!"

"Ok-Okay!" called Cloud, hurrying to Zack, taking care to not look at anyone. "Let's swim now!"

"Sure," answered Zack.

(Chamillionaire's "Ridin' Dirty" starts playing on the radio)

Cloud fell over anime-style into the pool. What--what kind of song is that! He thought.

"Hey, Cloud, you sunburn easily or something?" asked one of Zack's friends. "You're all red in the face."

"It's--It's nothing," stammered Cloud, waving a hand while laughing nervously. "Let's swim on!"

"Sure, okay!" agreed the other SOLIDER, as Zack jumped into the pool too.

Cloud stayed still for a second, listening to the next song.

(Natasha Bedingfield's "Single" starts playing on the radio)

I don't like being single, though Cloud to himself. I'd like to date someone one day…

"Oi, Cloud! Are you gonna stand there spaced out all day or what! Come on and swim!"

"Oh, right!" said Cloud loudly, and hurried to go swim with his friends. Well… at least I don't ache anywhere anymore, thought Cloud as he swam with the others. I should just loose up and have fun… We'll be here all day… Okay, I'll do that! said Cloud to himself. He reached one end of the pool, taking a rest. What could go wrong?

A shadow came across Cloud.

(Nick Lachey's "What's Left of Me" starts playing in the background)

Cloud blinked curiously, and looked up to see a fully-dressed Sephiroth looked down at him. "I thought you'd be here," said Sephiroth. "I came to warn you that after you come back, we're fighting again. I wanted to see you really at work. So when you get back from the swimming trip. Go strait to me, okay? I'll be waiting you-know-where." Sephiroth turned heel and walked off.

He…Sephy came all the way out here just to tell me that? asked Cloud to himself. Why would Sephy do that…? And why in earth does he want to fight me again…? Isn't defeating me once fine with him?

Sephiroth stopped, and turned to Zack, who had climbed out of the pool for a few seconds. He leaned over to Zack's ear and whispered something to his ear. He continued to walk off, leaving Zack stare in shock after Sephiroth.

Cloud didn't miss that. I wonder what Sephy said to Zack…? I'll find out later on today, I guess…

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Ooh. I love doing things like this. Battle scene ahead! Glee! -dances around all giddy- I love battle scenes! Anyway, I hope you're still following this fanfic! And I hope you don't mind the slight shonen-ai ahead. I can't stand it, I love shonen-ai. So bear with me for a while, and if you dislike that sort of thing, then kindly don't read this fanfic. Anyway, see you in a bit! Oh, and the song thing was because I was listening to the radio at the time, and heard those songs play... Sorry about that.