"Are you okay?" Zack asked in concern. He reached down, gripped Cloud's arm, and hauled him effortlessly to his feet. "Don't strain yourself like that, cadet, change won't happen overnight."
Cloud didn't respond, too busy drinking in the older man's presence. Everything about him -his face, his voice, the hand gripping Cloud's arm- was like water to drought-ridden earth. And Cloud was the wilting plant that turned its face up to the rain, having almost forgotten what it felt like.
I almost forgot the sound of his voice.
The thought sent a cascade of ice through Cloud's stomach. How could he have forgotten? What kind of a friend was he?
A not very good one.
I knew that already.
"Hey! Hey, cadet!" Zack shook him slightly, and Cloud snapped out of it. "You okay?" the dark-haired man asked, frowning and checking him over. "You look all right. What's your name, cadet?"
Cloud stared at him, frozen once again. This isn't right! His mind shrieked. This isn't how they met! What about the trip, and Tseng and the downed helicopter and the snow and...
Cloud snapped out of it. A ranking officer had asked him a question, and as nice as Zack was, he did not hold with insubordination. He snapped to attention. "Cloud Strife, sir!"
"Relax, Strife, I'm not gonna write you up or anything," Zack grinned, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Just wanted to make sure you were okay. I'll see you around, 'kay?"
And he left, leaving Cloud to stare after him and wonder, What the hell just happened?
So...It's a bit longer...I guess... :( They WILL get longer! I swear to God! I'm usually not very good at writing short chapters, but I guess for this story they just tend to end short... Next chapter will be Sephiroth! Yay! ^_^
