Life as a SOLDIER

Disclaimer: Now onto something more lighthearted.

A/N: Yeah… For a little while. Let's keep on going!

Chapter Twenty-One: The Best Birthday Gift Of All!
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It was a week after field training, and Cloud seemed to be doing fine. Except for the occasional wince or flinch or two, he seemed to be in high spirits.

"Hey! Look, it's snowing!" said Zack, rushing to the window. "Sweet, I love it when it snows!"

Cloud walked to the window too. "Whoa, I didn't know that it snows this early, much less that it an snow around here."

"It always snows around here!" said Zack. "And it always lasts a very long time! I always look forward to the snow every year! Wanna know why?"

"Why?" asked Cloud.

"Because my birthday is coming soon! It always comes two weeks after field training!"

"Really?" asked Cloud. "Awa! I didn't know that!" said Cloud suddenly feeling panicked. "Your birthday is less then a week away, and I have no idea what to give you…!"

"Don't worry, you'll come up with something," said Zack. "I'm gonna be twenty-two, isn't that wonderful!"

"It is!" agreed Cloud. Even though you'll become six years older then me, thought Cloud sadly.

"Oh, by the way, I have something to do right now…" said Zack slowly, pulling out some tape measure. He suddenly faced Cloud and wrapped the tape measure around Cloud's neck, pulling the blonde SOLDIER closer to him.

"Ah! Za-Za-Zack, what are you doing!" asked Cloud, blushing wildly, as his face was barely an inch away from Zack's.

"I'm taking your measurements," said Zack with a wicked grin.

"My--My measurements!" repeated Cloud, looking at the tape measure.

"Yes…" said Zack slowly, looking around with his eyes. "For a new outfit?"

"Oh, oh, yeah, a new outfit," said Cloud, feeling slightly disappointed.

"Arms out! Come on," said Zack, releasing Cloud. He held up the tape measure. "Before my birthday party, I have a great surprise for you!"

"You--you do?" asked Cloud. "You don't have to… really!"

"But I do!" argued Zack cheerfully. "After all, you're of legal age to drive now, and seeing as you have no means of transportation, I decided to get you a little something!"

"A little something? Like what?"

"It's a surprise," reminded Zack with a wink as he took Cloud's measurements. "But by the end of this week, we'll both see the wonderful thing I got you!"

"Okay… Thanks, Zack," said Cloud shyly, looking at his sleeve.

"Now, go play outside or something. I gotta go get your gift ready!" Zack skedaddled off in a giddy fashion.

Cloud smiled to himself. "Zack, you're so thoughtful and considerate… Everyone should be like you…" He left his room and hurried down to the library. "I need to find that book again…" He searched through the bookshelves until he found it again: the Know-It-All book! He picked it up and opened it up.

Hello again, Cloud. How have you been?

Cloud sighed. It was kinda creepy that this book could talk to you. "I've been good," he said quietly to the book. "Thanks for asking."

That's no trouble at all. Now, here isn't a good place to talk, otherwise you'll get so excited when I tell you what I have to tell you.

"…sure," said Cloud, taking the book to the librarian at the desk. "Excuse me, I'd like to check this one out."

"The Know-It-All book?" asked the librarian, taking the book and scanning it through the library check out thingy. "Many people are after this book, you're lucky you can get it today."

"Oh, thanks," said Cloud.

"Also, along with the Know-It-All book, you get the Really Useful Book. Both are very… well, smart and useful. Here, use them well."

"Thanks," said Cloud again. "Bye," he said with a wave.

"Come again."

Curiously, Cloud opened the first page of the Really Useful Book.

Hello, how are you, Cloud Strife. I'm the Know-It-All's sister. I'm much more useful then the Know-it-all.

Cloud raised an eyebrow as he entered his room, sitting down at his table. "Okay… so, uh, I'd thought I'd consult you again…"

Of course you would, Cloud, we know all.

You mean YOU know all. I tell Cloud all of the USEFUL things.

Hey, you nanny nagging book of scrap-made paper!

How dare you!

"Whoa, whoa, stop fighting, you two!" said Cloud hurriedly, separating the two books just in case they grew teeth or something.

Let me at her! I'll wring out her pages slowly and painfully!

Not before I rip your spine from your back!

Cloud blinked. It was very odd to hear two books arguing with each other. "Uh… how about we put those thought aside and return to the problem at hand? I needed to consult your guys about something…"

Of course, Cloud. Shoot.

We're all ears!

"…well, Know-It-All book, I wanted to ask the same question I asked last time…"

What, the one about how to convince Zack to write you a program that will grow you some wings? I could tell you the program right now!

No, no, please don't…

-ahem- Just type this into your program: programcloud+strife(underscore)functionswings(underscore)cloud+strifegrow(underscore)from(underscore)back; wing(underscore)colorwhite/000321-4(underscore)cloud(underscore)strife(underscore)programcloud(underscore)with(underscore)wings(underscore)23410001001001011001001001011000100110cloud(underscore)strifecompleted(underscore)program

Cloud stared blankly at the book. "Uh… I--I'm afraid I didn't catch that," he said, scratching his head.

He's ALWAYS like that. Listen, Know-It-All, Cloud can't understand the programmers jargon! He has to ask Zack himself!

Now THAT'S useful advice, Really Useful! He's too embarrassed to ask questions like that! Remember, he LIKES Zack!

Oh, yeah, that's right! Flip the next page, Cloud, it'll be the most useful thing you have ever remembered…

Cloud blinked and flipped the next page in the Really Useful Book.

Remember what Tifa told you.

Cloud looked up slowly at his laptop, his mind returning to the most remembered words Tifa had ever told him…

Flash: "What the hell are you doing on the swing sets! Why don't you get off and give another kid a chance!" demanded Tifa one day while Cloud was sitting sadly on the swings…

"…a pleasant memory, really…"

Hey, it'll be useful one day if that's the first thing you remembered.

True that. Look, pal, we KNOW how you feel about Zack. Why not just straight out tell him? He's one of those clueless people that'll have no idea how you feel unless you tell him!

"That's easier said then done…" muttered Cloud.

That's why we're here for you!

That's true! Now, let us have some nice discussions on what to do…

Cloud looked out the window, then back at the Know-It-All book and the Really Useful Book. "All right… tell me what I must do to get myself wings…"

A few days later…

"Come on, Cloud, it's dinner time!" announced Zack, opening Cloud's door. "We're gonna have something really yummy for dinner tonight!"

Cloud looked up from the Really Useful Book and the Know-It-All book. "Dinner time? What's for dinner?" he asked, setting the books on the table.

"Chicken fried rice with teriyaki and sesame chicken and egg rolls! It's Oriental night!" Zack started humming cheerfully as he led Cloud down the hallway. "Rice is so good for you! I'm going to eat a lot of rice tonight!" sang Zack, skipping merrily down the stairs.

Cloud smiled, watching Zack sing and skip. He acts so cheerful all the time…

"But if you eat too much rice, you'll get fat," sang Zack some more, jumping cheerfully down the last three steps. "But I'm going to eat all of the rice I want, because it's my own loss if I ruin my body, right?" Zack twirled around. "So laugh all you want, but I'll be the one happy tonight with a full belly! Tonight, I'm gonna eat all the rice I want!"

"You have a nice singing voice," said Cloud, watching Zack fondly.

"Thanks!" said Zack, stopping in his twirling to smile at Cloud.

"Zack, you really love rice, don't you?"

"I sure do!" said Zack cheerfully. "Thinking about rice makes me soo happy! The first dinner I had with Aeris was rice! Lalalalalala," sang Zack some more as they made their way to the cafeteria. "Rice, rice, rice, yummy steamy rice!"

Cloud sighed to himself. So that's why he likes rice so much… oh, well. "I like rice too," said Cloud.

"I know! Everyone should love rice!" Zack picked Cloud up and spun him around cheerfully.

"Awa!" yelped Cloud, red slightly. "I don't like being spun around!"

"Aaw!" squealed Zack, putting Cloud down and hugging him tightly. "You're soo cute when you do that!"

"When--When I do what?" stammered Cloud.

"When you say 'awa'!"

"…you think it's cute when I go 'awa'…?"

"It's soo adorable! Oh, darn it, your soo cute! Why did you have to be so cute?" asked Zack, ruffling Cloud's hair.

"I--I'm not really so…" stuttered Cloud, looking down at his boots shyly.

"You are too!" said Zack, poking Cloud's nose. "Come on, let's go to dinner together!" Zack took Cloud's hand and led him inside the cafeteria. "Rice is soo yummy!"

"Hmm," agreed Cloud. "Oh, hi, Sephy," he said to Sephiroth.

Sephiroth glanced back. "Someone's cheerful today," he observed, watching Zack skip happily to the serving table.

"He loves rice," said Cloud. "Today's his birthday, and we're having rice today. Oh, I haven't gotten him anything…" he sighed sadly, slumping his head onto the table. "But I had no idea what to get him…"

"So?" asked Sephiroth, looking pretty untroubled at the fact that today was Zack's birthday.

"I wanted to get something nice for Zack…"

"Get me something? Like what?" asked Zack, setting down three steaming plates of chicken fried rice with teriyaki and sesame chicken. "Fresh from the pot!" he announced cheerfully.

"Thanks, I guess…" said Sephiroth slowly, staring at Zack weirdly.

"…I don't know what I should get you… I should've thought about it more… I'm sorry, Zack," muttered Cloud sadly.

"Don't feel bad, sometimes even I forget to get myself a gift!" Zack took in several shovelfuls of rice and chicken, and said with a full mouth, "Oh, and by the way, I haff to sho you shumffin after dinner!"

"Oh, that's right, you said you were working on something… It's done?"

"What, pray tell, is this something?" asked Sephiroth, feeling slightly left out.

"A motorcycle!" said Zack excitedly after swallowing loudly. "You'll love it, Cloud!"

"A motorcycle?" repeated Sephiroth in disgust. "Why can't you ever keep your feet on the ground?"

"Why can't you, Mr. One-Winged Angel?"

"Oh… that's cold."

"Let--Lets not fight now," said Cloud with a nervous laugh. "We can all go see it together!"

"No can do, I'm afraid, I have to go take Spikey out on a walk," said Sephiroth, picking up his empty plate. "I'll see you all later, I dislike motorcycles greatly."

"Suit yourself," shrugged Zack, swallowing the last of his rice and chicken. He let out a squeal of pure bliss. "I love rice!" he said happily.

"You can have the rest of mine," said Cloud earnestly, wanting to see Zack hum happily again.

"I can! Whee! Thank you soo much, Cloud!" said Zack, taking Cloud's food plate from him. Sephiroth rolled his eyes and stalked off while Cloud stood up, smiling at Zack fondly. "Yummy rice!" he said, gobbling all of the rice whole. "Yummy, tasty rice!" He stood up too, and skipped merrily out of the cafeteria, Cloud close at his heels.

"So, what did you want to show me?"

"Yeah, before I do that, Cloud, I wanted to tell you that you don't have to worry about getting me a gift. Wanna know why?"

"Why? There's no reason why I shouldn't get you a gift!" said Cloud sadly, looking up at Zack.

"Because, Cloud," said Zack, pulling out a long black ribbon, "you, Cloud, are my best birthday present of all time!" said Zack happily as he tied the black ribbon around Cloud's neck. "There? Is it all comfy?"

"…!" Cloud gasped as Zack tied the black ribbon to his neck. "I--I--I--I­'m your best birthday present…!"

"You sure are!" said Zack, holding out the two ends of the ribbon up to Cloud's eyes. "I've never had anybody around me that actually, truly cared for me, other then Aeris of course. You are a true friend of mine, and I thank the higher powers everyday that you came into my life!"

"Oh, Zack, I…I don't know what to say," said Cloud, blushing slightly.

"It's okay, Cloud. You're my little gift to me, and I never want to see you sad. That's why I want to take care of you. Though I can't do much to help, I'll always be around to protect you, Cloud," said Zack with an affectionate smile at Cloud.

Cloud looked up at Zack with amazed eyes. "You--You do a lot for me, Zack, just by saying things like that," he said with a shy smile, meeting Zack's gaze with equal (or possibly more) affection.

Zack laughed. "That means a lot to me, Cloud. Thank you so much, for entering my life!"

Cloud felt the black ribbon tied around his neck with a happy heart. Zack, I would gladly be your present any day…I'm so glad you consider me your present…

"Come on, I also have something to show you, remember?" Zack took Cloud's hand and hurried him to the outside of Shinra. "Lookie here!"

"Whoa! Is--That's your motorcycle you've been working on!" asked Cloud in surprise. "That's so cool looking! What's it called?"

"Oh, I named this beauty 'Fenrir'," said Zack, patting the motorcycle's handlebars. "She's a fast one she is. It used to be an old busted motorcycle I found abandoned in Midgar, so I decided to turn it into a new hot motorcycle, for you! Now that you're of legal age to drive, we can go places now!"

"But--You--You didn't have to make a gift for me," said Cloud, glancing away quickly. "I--You…"

"Your birthday was a while ago too, wasn't it?" asked Zack. "I didn't get you a gift either."

"That's because you didn't know me!" disagreed Cloud, waving his hands wildly. "My birthday's in August, and it was before I came here! You don't have to feel bad for me!"

Zack blinked down at Cloud. "Oh… But still, friends give each other gifts. And besides," added Zack, twirling the black ribbon, "if my gift is happy, then I'm happy!"

"…!" gasped Cloud, looking up at Zack in shock. "My happiness means that much to you?"

"It sure does!" said Zack. "Now, how about we give Fenrir a test run, eh? Come on! You can ride in back at first, so you see how it's done!" Zack hopped onto Fenrir and patted the spot behind him. "It'll be fun!" he assured.

"Ok-Okay, coming," said Cloud, blushing slightly as he hopped behind Zack onto Fenrir. "Is it safe?"

"She's perfectly safe," said Zack, revving the engine alive. "Hang on tight, this could be a fast ride!"

"It can't be that fast--AWAAAAA!' yelled Cloud as Zack suddenly sped off into the distance. "We're going pretty fast!" he yelled, grabbing onto Zack tightly in fear of falling off.

"Are you kidding, this is a slow speed on Fenrir!" yelled Zack back, apparently enjoying this cruise. "Let's see what she really can do!"

They spent the rest of the evening riding Fenrir around and about outside of Shinra. This once-old-and-busted motorcycle was now a new-hotness motorcycle, and thanks to Zack, the twosome could ride it everywhere. If they wanted. But for now, they brought Fenrir to a stop and walked back into Shinra, talking excitedly about the qualities of Fenrir, and what else they could do in the future. And as for Cloud…

Now's a good time to ask him about getting my own wings, decided Cloud as they made their way upstairs to Zack's room. "Hey, Zack," he started.

"Yes, Cloud?" asked Zack, opening the door to let Cloud in. He went to the cupboard and pulled out a packet of fig newtons. "Let's eat and talk!"

Cloud looked down with embarrassment. "Um… Zack, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, ask away," said Zack, munching on a fig newton.

"Uh…" Cloud mumbled something.

"What's that?" asked Zack, leaning in closer to hear Cloud.

"…I--I want to know… how to grow wings, just like Sephy…"

Zack stared for a couple seconds. "Wings? You?"

"You--you think it's a stupid idea, don't you? I knew it," muttered Cloud, hanging his head. "I'm sorry for bringing it up so suddenly…"

"No, no, not at all!" argued Zack hurriedly. "I think it's a brilliant idea!"

"You do!" asked Cloud, looking up.

"Yeah! Why didn't you tell me sooner that you wanted wings? I can give you wings!"

"You can?" asked Cloud. "How?"

"It's a complicated program, and it'll take a while for it to work, but…" Zack stood up and walked over to Cloud. "Just promise me one thing."

"Sure, anything."

"Okay… Let's say the program actually works, yeah? When your wings are fully developed and ready for flight… Fly me somewhere."

"Huh?" asked Cloud, quite sure he had misheard Zack.

"When I do the program for your wings… Fly me away. Far away, so that we may see the world from high in the sky."

"You mean you can actually do it?" asked Cloud.

"I sure can," said Zack with a smile. "Once I write the program, you'll be my little angel Chocobo!" He patted Cloud's back. "I'll do it just for you, as to make my special gift happy! You'll be very happy one it's finished!"
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Aaw. I can see Cloud with cute white angel wings.
Nana: So? I thought he had one demonic wing.
No, no, that's just my little Cloud animation… Or does he have one demonic wing? …Yeah, he does. I think… I'm not too sure of it's true or not…
Rose: It might be.
Zelda: Wings are nice.
I know, aren't they? -notices readers- Oh, hi! Sorry, I forgot about you all for a couple of seconds… Uh, yes. Cloud is also gonna have wings in this fanfic!
Mario: We're just giving Cloud everything, aren't we?
Link: Why, we've given him geostigma, Fenrir… Now we're gonna give him wings.
Chikara: That's why its called "www(dot)fanfiction(dot)net".
Exactly! Thanks for reading! See you in a little bit!