Xirel here! Second story to this website... Centered entirely around Cloud and Zack. Let me know if I should continue...? I'm posting up 3 chapters. If you want more, let me know and I'll be more than happy to post other chapters up!
Disclaimer: (I really don't know why I need these... This is, after all, -Sigh-) Cloudy an Zacky no mine! Cloud ish Zack's. And Zack ish Tetsuya Nomura's! (And Angeal's -COUGH-)
He has more skill and more charisma than all the other recruits put together and trippled, but he's still precieved as the weakest. Am I the only one who can see his true potential? Maybe, maybe... It's because he's the smallest, the shortest and the thinnest... Or maybe... Because he can't do as many push-ups and is the first to collapse... But he's always the last to give up. Even when he falls to the ground during a race or an obstacle course, he keeps on going. He will start to crawl if he falls and refuses to stop until he too reaches the finish line.
He really is strong. Once he's older, once his body catches up with his mind, he will be the strongest SOLDIER has ever seen. Except for me, of course.
I've seen him spar. On his own and with others. In both instances he seems to be in a perfectly choreographed dance, moving with grace, agility and a speed I've never seen before in simple recruits. The only time I've seen it in others is in the First Class SOLDIERs, but only after their Mako treatments. When he spars with others he moves with such a fluidity that it seems almost like he's made of water instead of flesh. He counters almost every blow and strikes back with assured accuracy. He's always beaten... But that's only because his opponent uses brute force and their size to an advantage. Never though, has his partner, whoever it may be, finish him without panting like a dog and being near collapse.
He's in one word alone, incredible. But he doesn't see that. He thinks quite the opposite. But maybe... It's only because no one has ever bothered to tell him that.
"I can't do it!" Throwing down his sword in aggravation, Cloud Strife let his head fall to his hands, sinking to his knees. "I'm sorry... I just... Can't."
"Come on Spike! Try again. Just one more time," extending a hand to the exasperated blonde, Zack Fair grinned, grabbing Cloud's arm and pulling him to his feet when he only shook his head and whimpered in response. "I've seen you do more complex things before; I'm pretty sure you can pull this off if you stop crying like a baby!"
"Why do you even bother trying, Lieutenant?" The 15-year-old's voice was on the verge of breaking down, muffled by the hands covering his face, cracking every so often. "I know why you're training with me. It's because I'm the weakest! Because I need the most help!"
"No, it's because you have potential." Zack's grin fell when he heard Cloud stifle a sob. "Spike. Look at me," Gently Zack removed Cloud's hands, pinning them together. He frowned when Cloud turned his face away, letting blonde hair cascade over his face to hide the bright, blue eyes that Zack so loved. "Cloud Strife!" The slender boy winced and whimpered again when he heard the Second Class Soldier pronounce his full name. "Look at me! And that's an order!"
Trying to remain stern but to no avail, Zack's heart threatened to jump out of his chest and shatter against the ground into a million, tiny shards. Slightly shaking, the young blonde turned his head to his commander and opened his eyes slowly, releasing previously trapped tears and whimpering again in shame as he felt them slide down his cheeks.
"Spike..." Zack smiled reassuringly and pulled him into a tight embrace, stroking the blonde locks soothingly. "It's OK to cry in front of me. I will never hurt you. But... you have to keep trying. For me, 'Kay? I know you can do this! So dry those tears and let's try again!"
Cloud pulled away from him and stuck out his bottom lip in an adorable pout, glaring up at Zack, then turning away to let out a stubborn huff. Zack couldn't help himself, although he tried. He laughed. But this only aggravated the blonde even more, causing him to snatch up his sword and swing at Zack.
Black hair flew wildly as he easily dodged the unexpected attack, though surprised, shocked even, and caught off-guard. Violet eyes flaring mischievously, he yelled out, "oh it's on!" before drawing his own blade, the Buster Sword.
"You asked for it!" Cloud yelled back in reply, executing the routine with perfect accuracy that he had attempted earlier.