Fighting the Tide

by OnexLostxSoul

Zack Fair goes to unfathomable heights for Cadet Cloud Strife, but a drunken night in Costa del Sol and a meddlesome Sephiroth puts their friendship in peril. Faced with his own lies and lust, Zack learns why SOLDIERs shouldn't fall in love.

3. Chapter 3

(A/N: Am I magic, or am I magic? If only my story was as good as my updating! Haha!)

Mama-

I did it. I'm going to be in SOLDIER. I passed all of my exams, and I've been inducted into the advanced program. I just got my new schedule today listing all of my classes. Materia utilization, combat strategy, weapon specialization… I have three hours of training time allotted every day to use at my own discretion! I couldn't have done it without Zack. I never would've had the confidence or skills to get where I am. He's being evaluated for First Class soon, so I hope he still has time to train with me when he gets promoted.

I got a nice little pay raise now that I'm eligible for missions, so I went out and bought that camera like I said I would. I printed out pictures of Midgar, my dorm room, my roommate, the ShinRa building, and Zack of course. Things are really going well, Mom. Between you and me, I wasn't always confident in my decision to join the army. But I know now that I made the right decision, that I was meant for this.

Love,

Cloud

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

Genesis threaded his fingers through his hair, combing a stray lock back into place. This was a habit of his in the rare event that he became anxious, and he'd become hyperaware of it ever since Angeal had pointed it out to him in their youth. His narrowed eyes appraised the teenager standing before his desk, tossing the possibilities around in his mind. The Second Class SOLDIER was staring him down with equal determination, unwavering despite the sweat beading down the back of his neck. "Zack…" Genesis rested his chin on his folded hands, releasing his held breath with a sigh. "Promise me you will be responsible with this. I'm risking a lot here."

"Thank you. You'll never understand how much this means to me." Zack stepped forward as Genesis extracted a slim, black briefcase from beneath his desk and gripped the handle more tightly than necessary. "Everything concerning the matter is now my responsibility, and I'll make sure it stays that way."

Genesis could only nod. He trusted Zack…. but he may have allowed his affections for the boy to cloud his judgment this time. All it took was one look at Zack to know the boy had good intentions; how could one refuse those puppy-like eyes? Even so, Angeal would absolutely slaughter him if he knew what he had done.

Zack walked stiffly from the room with the briefcase pressed against his side. He stepped into the upward-bound elevator, too caught up in his paranoia to notice the cadet who stared at him with wide eyes. If anyone saw what was inside of the container he held under his arm, he would surely be fired. Possibly imprisoned. The thought sent his heart racing, eyes flickering up toward the security camera in the leftmost corner of the elevator. When he finally reached the Second Class SOLDIER floor, he stepped out and brusquely strode toward his room where, as expected, Cloud was waiting for him. He shot the cadet a smile that didn't quite match his mood, before swiping his keycard and pushing the door open. The blonde swallowed in an attempt to moisten his dry throat, Zack's uncharacteristic nervousness rubbing off on him.

"Just, ah, take a seat on the couch." Zack disappeared into the bathroom, and Cloud sat straight-backed on the beige sofa. The soles of his uniform boots tapped habitually against the floor, his stomach tightening into knots. He focused on the floor below until he saw Zack's combat boots out of the corner of his eye. In one hand the SOLDIER held a syringe full of glowing green liquid. In the other he held a cotton ball drenched in alcohol.

"Zack?" he asked softly, his eyes shifting nervously between the items. The SOLDIER sat beside him, keeping the dosage of mako in his extended arm. When Zack said he had a way to help, this wasn't exactly what Cloud imagined.

"This mako is one tenth of the concentration of the dosage Hojo administered to you. For the next few weeks I can give you increasingly greater concentrations to build up your resistance. The laboratories could do this for every cadet hypersensitive to mako, but the administration doesn't consider it worth their time."

"Will it make me sick?" Cloud asked with unease, eying the subtle green glow warily. He remembered all too well the night he spent violently throwing up in Zack's bathroom.

"Not like the last dosage did, promise. You can rest here as long as you need." Zack's smile, though somewhat forced, gave Cloud the confidence to hold out his arm. The blonde averted his eyes to the ceiling as he felt the cool alcohol swipe across his skin and the following pinch that, as much as he tried to remain expressionless, made him wince. Cloud shivered as a bandage was administered, nausea sweeping through him as the mako was pumped through his bloodstream. The idea made him think of poison, and his face grew pale. He barely noticed when Zack's hands pressed him into a reclined position before grazing a palm over his forehead and checking his pupils for dilation.

"As I thought," Zack mumbled, smoothing a hand through his friend's hair. "This will be fine. You have around six months until the next SOLDIER induction, which is plenty of time to gain resistance to the mako." I hope. He sat on the edge of the couch, nervous tension wrought through his body as he stared intently into Cloud's dazed eyes. Never before had he felt so conflicted in a course of action as he did now. He struggled with his own conscience, for once unsure of what was right and what was wrong.

You're putting Cloud in danger.

This is his one chance to achieve his dream.

You're not a doctor! If something goes wrong, you're to blame.

Cloud understands the risks. I told him I'd help him, and I meant it.

"Zack?" Cloud's hand touched his shoulder, earning his immediate attention.

"What's up, buddy?" He turned toward the cadet, who had curled up into a tight ball in an attempt to quell his nausea.

"You could get in trouble for this, couldn't you?" The guilt that penetrated Cloud's voice made Zack's blood run cold.

"No way! My friend took care of it. Don't worry about me. Just focus on getting better!" Zack winked, rising with the intent of fetching the other some water. However, he was brought to a halt by a soft mumble:

"Why are you doing this for me?"

Out of all of the questions and doubts that ran through Zack's mind, that was the single one that hadn't made an appearance. He sat back down, his expression sympathetic as he ran a hand once again through those soft blonde spikes. "You're my friend, Cloud. I'd do anything I could."

The heaviness in Cloud's head forced the teenager to recline back, and he pinched the bridge of his nose in an attempt to relieve his mounting queasiness. It was strange. Ever since his childhood he'd thought himself incapable of making true friends. From Nibelheim to Midgar he'd always been the outcast of social circles, for one reason or another. It was easy to blame his timidity, his independence, his lack of desire to conform to social conventions. All-in-all, being alone just made things easier for him. But Zack made him feel that if he ever returned to that solidarity, he would be incurably lonely. Before he could reflect further, Cloud slipped into a light sleep, subduing his thoughts and leaving them for another time. A few minutes of silently watching his friend doze evoked protective instincts in Zack. He leaned over and kissed Cloud's forehead on impulse, his lips tingling as they parted from the smooth skin. Zack felt his heart skip a beat, and the undeniable desire to repeat the action. He rose, casting a fond look at the teenager before attending to the pile of dishes in the sink which, as Zack was a bachelor in the military, had grown exponentially higher over its week-long negligence.

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

The atmosphere in the briefing room was terse. Zack looked down to the mission report in his hand, then to Angeal, then to the Director standing beside him. Angeal's arms were folded at his chest, taking his usual stance (which seemed twice as intimidating as usual) while the Director harmlessly adjusted his glasses and straightened his gloves. The raven-haired SOLDIER cleared his throat, nervously rocking back on his heels. He was so used to receiving orders from Angeal, he half-expected to hear that deep commanding voice ordering him into battle. Instead, all he received was a stern stare. What does Angeal usually do before we start a mission? Zack's mind flipped through scenarios, trying to balance impressing his superiors and achieving his ultimate goal. "I'd like to have a print out of the briefing concerning the mission during which the equipment was lost, if that's alright."

Zack breathed a sigh of relief as a smiling Lazard produced the pre-printed report from the pile of papers on his desk. "Thank you, Sir. I'll just, ah, review this on the helicopter then. So… Let's mosey." He shrugged awkwardly, trailing a hand back to ensure his sword was still strapped to his back. He had spent hours that morning rearranging his materia, and he would not permit himself to make an amateur mistake…. such as leaving his weapon behind. Zack made his way onto the rooftop landing strip, where a helicopter was awaiting their arrival. Angeal and Lazard seemed to follow at a lengthy distance, which was mysteriously unnerving. He began to climb into the back of the copter, before realizing he was the commanding officer and slid into the co-pilot seat next to the Turk at the controls. "Coordinates 67.873, 103.400," he affirmed as Angeal had often done, adjusting his headset. "Twenty miles northeast of Junon."

The man beside him huffed, clearly irritated at being reminded of what he already knew. Zack pursed his lips and fixed his eyes on the ground below as the helicopter ascended, excitement mounting as the ShinRa building grew smaller. Zack Fair, SOLDIER First Class. He mouthed the words, enjoying the way they rolled off of his tongue. He was going to get a promotion. And then he was going to take a vacation. And then he was going to be a hero. A commendable agenda indeed.

The only person more nervous than Zack was perhaps Angeal himself. This was the cumulative assessment of everything Zack had learned during their time together. Zack was one of the best soldiers- one of the best men- Angeal had the pleasure of working with. It was an honor to be with him for his final evaluation.

When Zack Fair stepped foot off of that helicopter, he slapped on his game face and surveyed the environment. Ocean to the left, grassy plains to the right, and the target cavern up ahead. With a self- pep talk, it was a little easier to accept the fact that two ShinRa officials were shadowing his every move. You're the man, Zack. This is your mission. Everyone's watching you this time. He led the way toward the cove, making a withdrawal from his mental bank of knowledge… which was,contrary to popular belief, adequately stocked. According to the reports, the equipment was lost on a monster research expedition. It was probably dropped in the midst of battle, meaning that it's deep in the cavern and probably surrounded by whatever species was being evaluated. He unfolded the report summary in his pocket and glanced at it again.

Shreds, Sonic Speeds, and Valrons. All high-level monsters. I'd better be on my toes if I want to impress the Director. His confidence was crushed when he stepped into the cavern and realized one important detail: he'd forgotten to bring a flashlight. Crap! I'm so screwed! Angeal never would have forgotten the flashlight. I'm not fit to be a First Class SOLDIER! I'm gonna be reprimanded, fired, put to death! Why didn't I just grab a damn flashlight? He turned around, about to announce his folly to the other members of the party, when Angeal presented him with a steel flashlight and a smirk.

"I'd almost forgotten. You asked me to hold onto this before we boarded the copter."

"Ah. Yes. Thank you, Angeal. I was… just looking for that." He blushed, flicking on the flashlight and turning toward the cavern. Well, let's hope the rest of the day goes a little smoother. With a deep breath, he marched straight into the darkness… and tripped over a rock, sending him stumbling forward to hit his head on a stalagmite. "Well, the structure seems stable. I guess it's safe to proceed." Zack patted the cavern roof rather fondly to disguise his utter humiliation. He took care in his step, making every attempt not to fall flat on his face. He shivered as he walked through what felt like a spider web (his imagination perhaps?), and hopped over a ledge that signaled the widening of the cavern. We're in the core of the cove, but where are the monsters? Nevertheless, Zack drew his sword in his right hand and waved about the flashlight with his left. He stilled for a moment, as did the men trailing him, listening intently to the soft noises echoing in the cavern. A shift of a pebble, the sound of the ocean's waves, a beastly hiss… Bingo.

A Zolokalter came skidding down the cavern wall and lunged toward him, teeth first. Zack effortlessly sliced through the enemy, throwing a Thunder in for good measure. Piece of cake. Who's the man? You're the man. His elation mounted with every step he took and every enemy he sliced through; that is, until he spotted something that seemed oddly out of place- two video cameras and a sound amplifier. Unfortunately, they were lying in what must have been the deepest, darkest, most dangerous crevice below the ledge upon which they stood. He drew a strand of rope from his belt and attached the flashlight before hanging it from the ceiling to light his path. He strapped his sword to his back and began to awkwardly climb down the cavern wall looking over one shoulder. He planted his feet into a steady niche until the equipment was within arm's reach. He extended his hand until his fingertips skimmed the surface of the camera…

The shriek of a battle cry curdled his blood, and he was forced to yank his hand back as the jaws of a Shred emerged from the pile of loose rocks below. Two more slithered from depths of the cavern, and Zack found himself surrounded by three reptilian beasts, eyes glowing with malicious intent. It's a nest! Zack's eyes flickered to the equipment below, flinching as the claws of one monster came much too close to it. I have to lure them away from here.

Angeal took a step back from the ledge, suppressing the instinctive urge to reach for his sword. Shreds were dangerous in a pack, coordinating their attacks intelligently and using restorative magic on each other. They were immune to three elements. Angeal took an uneasy breath. Did Zack remember that?

Zack backed further into the cavern, drawing his sword to fend off the first lunging monster. A thousand thoughts ran through his mind as he took the first swing.

Shreds have powerful immunities… but what are they?

They can use the third level of Cure on each other, I have to finish it quickly.

I have to use magic, but what kind?

Shreds originated in glacier territory! That means they're immune to ice, water, and probably earth.

So I have to hit it with…

"FIRE!" Zack threw a Fire at one and made a jab at the other, sending the monsters reeling backward. His victory was short-lived, as they cast cure upon themselves and went barreling toward him, significantly more irritated. Time for another approach. He cast a temporary barrier, working so quickly that his hands were a blur to the sight. He rearranged his materia, his thought process powered by adrenaline as he reworked his Fire materia into his sword alongside an Elemental materia. When his shield disintegrated, he wasted no time in plunging his sword through the stomach of the first Shred, casting a simultaneous summon with his other hand to keep the others occupied. Granted, summoning a Fat Chocobo in front of the Director was a little embarrassing, but it kept the Shreds occupied so that they would have no chance to heal their companion. When the first Shred was destroyed and the summon dismissed, the remaining Shreds, weakened but intact, surrounded him from opposite sides.

While fending off one, the other set of jaws sunk into his side. Damn. In one swift motion he sliced through the offending Shred, obliterating the last of his enemies. With a shudder, he cast Cure upon his wounded side and watched in fascination as the skin mended as though it had never been opened. He grimaced at his ruined uniform, but shrugged the matter off. Hopefully he was due for a First Class uniform anyway. He hauled the surveillance equipment (scratched and chipped, but otherwise functional) carefully to the top of the ledge, beaming over the pile of electronics.

"So, how did I do?"

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

"Strife."

"Sir!" Cloud snapped into a salute, despite the aching of his every muscle, the blur of his eyesight, and the sweat dripping from his brow. Class had only just ended, and the only thought running through his mind was of his hatred for his presiding sergeant. It was the final class of his basic training, and it seemed that not a single cadet was to catch a break. They had been worked through obstacle courses, forced to spar each other into unconsciousness, and barked at until their ears bled. No doubt he was in for a lecture, or perhaps an insult in the form of a bitter name-calling. Much to his surprise, his instructor looked him up and down and said, "Hit the showers, Strife. You've done well, and you have a great future ahead of you here in ShinRa."

Cloud blinked away his daze and stammered out, "Thank you, Sir!" Before his sergeant could remember that his personality was that of a cold-hearted bastard, Cloud sped off toward the locker rooms for the last time that year with a wide grin on his face. The day could not be better; he was finished with his training, Zack was off making First, and nobody had dared mock him after he had showcased his abilities at the examinations. After a quick shower, he pulled on a T-shirt and the cleanest pair of jeans in his possession before clearing his locker out- or rather, carelessly stuffed his possessions into his duffle bag. He trekked his way back to the administrative building, contemplating what he might do next. He had a whole week to himself, a vacation of sorts before moving into the advanced squadron. A grin pulled at his lips at the thought of having more time to spend with Zack. Maybe he'll still help me train. He started teaching me about materia last week, and I'd really like to try it for myself.

The automated double doors to the administration building slid open, and the first thing Cloud noticed was a very familiar voice: "Rolls off the tongue, doesn't it Angeal? First Class SOLDIER, Zack Fair!"

"Now all you have to do is live up to your title," a much deeper voice answered, tinged with amusement.

"No problem! Everything I- Cloud!" Cloud was smothered in muscled arms and promptly swung around in the air by a giddy Zack. "Cloud! You're not gonna believe this I-"

"Made First Class?" Cloud blinked away his daze as he was set back on the ground, attempting to regain his blurred vision. "I knew you would. Congratulations!" The wide smile on his face promptly faded when Zack stepped aside, revealing the burly, intimidating commander that was known as- "Commander Hewley! Sir!" Cloud saluted, his stiff anxiety ignored or perhaps unnoticed by Zack who dragged the blonde over toward his mentor.

"Angeal, this is my friend Cloud! You remember him from the exams, right?"

Angeal nodded, offering a kind smile toward the nerve-wracked cadet. So, this is the one Zack is so enamored with. "Of course. You performed well, Cadet Strife. ShinRa could use more men like you."

"Um, thank you, Sir!" Cloud paused, sparing a glance at the beaming teenager with an arm wrapped around him. "Of course, I couldn't have done it without Zack." He managed not to flinch at the deepest layer of truth to his statement.

"Nonsense! You did all of that on your own!" Zack ruffled the soft blonde spikes that immediately morphed their way back to their natural state.

"Zack!" Cloud blushed, swatting his friend's hand away. Of all people to embarrass him in front of!

"Come on, you and I are going out to dinner!" Zack began pushing a stunned Cloud toward the door, calling over his shoulder, "Wanna join us, Angeal?"

Angeal shook his head, attending to the paperwork strewn across the countertop of the foremost desk. "I need to approve your release and put your vacation request through. Sephiroth isn't going to be happy; he wanted you in Mideel this weekend."

"Dodged a bullet there," Zack mumbled with a sly grin while Cloud wiggled out of his grip.

"Hang on, Zack. I need to sign a few things too."

"Ah, paperwork ruins everything!" Zack pouted, releasing his friend only momentarily so that the cadet could saunter over to the front desk and request his registration forms. Cloud felt a sense of pride as he skimmed the documents outlining his new obligations. On the final page signed away his old life… signed himself over to ShinRa. Despite his slightly surreal 'I-just-emerged-from-a-milestone-in-life' moment, he allowed himself to be dragged away to 'celebrate the Zack Fair way' (which no doubt included pizza). However, what he did not expect was to follow Zack below the plate. It was the first time he'd ever seen the lower level of Midgar, and he couldn't keep the shock out of his expression. Beneath the plate was nothing short of… a ghetto. It was dark, damp, ragged, and saturated with a sense of desperation. He could no longer feel the warmth of the sun on the back of his neck, or see the towering buildings that seemed to stretch into the horizon.

"It's so… different below the plate," Cloud murmured, eyes passing over two children huddled against a residence no larger than a shack. He only realized he had stopped walking when Zack's hand tugged at his wrist.

"You haven't been down here before? Ah, man. When my friends and I were cadets, we used to head down here all the time and sneak into clubs." Cloud's astonishment did not go unnoticed by Zack, who couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, I wasn't exactly a prime example of a shining citizen. But I turned out alright, didn't I?"

"Better than alright." Cloud couldn't quell the uneasiness stirring in his blood. He could only imagine what shady, X-rated entertainment clubs beneath the plate must feature. Cloud had no time to ponder it as he followed Zack into the objective pizza parlor. Cloud sat himself down in the nearest booth while Zack placed their order, staring out the window at the ragged remains of what was once a city. He paid little mind to the cola that was slid in front of him, attention drawn to a rather sickly looking woman traveling the streets clothed in little more than rags.

"Cloud? What's on your mind?" Zack twirled his straw absently, observing the oddly misplaced expression of preoccupation on Cloud's face. Usually it was Zack that lost his concentration.

"If ShinRa has the resources to invade Wutai… why can't they help these people? Why can't they rebuild the lower level of Midgar?"

Zack grimaced, tapping his fingernails against the tabletop. "Funny thing, becoming a member of the armed forces. You start out wanting to do good. Unfortunately, you work off of someone else's perception of good. There's no money for ShinRa in rebuilding the lower plate. Even though I personally would rather put the resources to use down here, all I am is a soldier. I follow orders and hope ShinRa is doing the right thing. Moving up in the ranks will give you more influence on matters of importance, but even Sephiroth doesn't have the power to redirect the entire company's objectives."

Cloud sighed, shrugging off his unease before forcing a smile onto his face that, in the presence of Zack, would not remain false for long. "So? Obviously your mission went well. Tell me about it."

Zack nodded, taking a moment to compose himself before weaving the tale: "So there I was, in the middle of a pitch-black cavern with only a tiny, fluttering flashlight to light my path. Meters of jagged cavern rocks separated me from my objective. The equipment was within arms' reach when I heard a fierce growl. I blinked, I was surrounded by three bloodthirsty Shreds. Immune to water, ice, and earth, my materia was deemed useless! As bravely as I fought, my efforts were in vain as the wretched creatures cast Cure upon each other, hunting me like a pack of wolves hunts its prey. With only seconds to spare, I threw up a shield and rearranged the materia of my sword. Fire was my only weapon against my evil, smelly enemy! I took down one, but was promptly cornered by the remaining beasts. One sank his jaws into my left side-" Cloud uttered a genuine gasp at this point- "but I fended it off and sliced it into oblivion. In the end, I snatched up that surveillance equipment, submitted it to the Research Department, took a shower, and got my recommendation from the Director. I get formally promoted in a week." Zack's eyes widened along with his smile. "Say, you're on vacation this week too, aren't you? Are you going back to Nibelheim to see your family?"

"Not just yet. I swore that I wouldn't return to Nibelheim until I was a member of SOLDIER. I have a ways to go before I reach that point."

"It's not as far off as you think," Zack protested, fondly ruffling the other's hair. "Even Angeal was impressed by you." Cloud blushed, thankful for the distraction of the pizza (extra large, of course) arriving at their table. "Anyway," Zack spoke through a mouthful of pizza, earning a napkin tossed his way by a disgusted Cloud. "If I don't take my vacation now, I'll lose it. I was thinking maybe you'd like to come with me to Costa del Sol."

Cloud promptly choked on his first bite. "Are you serious?"

Zack stared strangely at the cadet, reaching over to pat his back and clear his airways. "Yeah. They've got really beautiful beaches there, you know. Perfect place to unwind for a while, just you and me. I'll have you back before your term starts, I promise."

"That does sound nice," Cloud admitted, wrapping one arm around his chest as he felt his heart accelerate. 'Just you and me.' The phrase was a pleasant reinforcement to Zack's claim that they were friends, that he valued Cloud despite their difference in rank. For some unknown, Gaia-forsaken reason… Zack really did like him. The thought alone sent Cloud's mind into a haze.

"Then it's settled. We'll leave on Sunday. It'll be good for you, getting out of this stuffy city." In the ravenous manner of a teenager, Zack turned his attention back to his food, leaving Cloud to wallow in his thoughts. Zack and him… vacationing in Costa del Sol… for a whole week together… 'Just you and me.' Suddenly, he'd lost his appetite to the butterflies in his stomach. He was jolted from his reverie as Zack's phone jingled a familiar ring. The man automatically flipped it open and held it against his ear, offering a pizza-muffled, "Zack Fair, SOLDIER First Class."

The velvety voice of Genesis Rhapsodos responded, "Well done, Zack. Now that you've made First Class, perhaps you can stop asking me for ridiculous favors."

"Heh. Sorry about that. In my defense, you keep submitting to my requests. I wouldn't-"

"Excuse me? Remember to whom you are speaking! Genesis Rhapsodos submits to no one." A muffled response bled thought the receiver followed by a shriek, "I heard that, Sephiroth!" A clearing of the throat commenced before he continued, "Anyway, I called to congratulate you on your astounding performance, blah, blah, blah… And expect more of my missions to be pawned off onto you, free-loader."

"Free-loader?" Zack raised an eyebrow as the line went dead. "That's a little harsh. Maybe I do deserve it. I'll do something nice for Genesis when I get back then."

I can't believe Zack is on such personal terms with Commanders Rhapsodos and Hewley. The General even! Then again, was it really so surprising? Zack had the potential to worm his way into anyone's heart.

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

Cloud could have kissed the ground when he stumbled out of the helicopter, though out of dignity he refrained from doing so. The ride from Midgar to Costa del Sol had been utterly horrifying, even more so with the hovering fear of vomiting up his breakfast all over Zack. When the man had assured him that he'd 'reserved transportation', Cloud had thought perhaps a train or a bus or even a rental car would be their means of travel. A personal ShinRa helicopter was the last thing he expected. "Thanks for the ride!" Zack called over the hum of the blades as the helicopter started up once more, not paying any mind to the woman shooting him a glare behind the controls. Cloud had to pity her; dropping off someone on a vacation while you're on the clock didn't exactly sound like fun.

"We have about a mile to walk before we reach town," Zack announced with a wide grin, tugging his standard ShinRa-issued duffle bag over his shoulder and sliding on a pair of sunglasses. The dutiful First Class SOLDIER, always ready and willing for danger, was now dressed in a pair of tattered jeans and a loose blue T-shirt surely to be tossed away when they reached the beach. Seeing Zack in casualwear was almost comical to some degree; Cloud had only ever seen the man in his uniform, which severely contrasted the warmth and vibrancy of his character. Now Zack didn't even look remotely dangerous, despite having the ability to snap a spine in half. Cloud shook off the last of his motion sickness and followed the man as he led the way along the coast. He couldn't help but admire the ocean as it came into view over the side of the cliff parallel to the path, reveling in the salty tang in the air that belonged solely to its waters.

"Thanks a lot for bringing me along. I haven't seen the outside of Midgar for seven months."

Zack dismissed his gratitude with a wave of his hand, stretching his arms out behind his back with a deep sigh. "Are you kidding? Wouldn't be much fun without you."

An unfamiliar fluttering sensation returned to Cloud's stomach as he trailed behind Zack, one arm wrapped tightly around his chest to clutch the strap of the bag hanging over his shoulder. Upon reaching Costa del Sol, Cloud found himself in awe of the settlement's quaint nature. He had been expecting an overbearing, extravagant, tourist-catering city. Instead, he saw the village in all of its lazy, weekend glory. It was full of easygoing citizens lounging about, listening to acoustic music and sipping brightly colored drinks. The atmosphere was relaxed, so different from the constant rustling of the barracks or the pressure of the training rooms. His shoes shuffled against the paved sandstone below as he followed Zack into the picturesque inn, decorated with rustic woods, tile accents, and extravagantly patterned rugs that would certainly make even the great Sephiroth dizzy.

"We'll need a room for six nights," Zack announced, shrugging his pack to the floor as he leaned up against the reception desk with a quirky smile and tapped the surface of the counter in a somewhat musical rhythm.

"We have one room available on the upper floor for one-hundred and twenty Gil per night," the clerk behind the desk said without looking up from the clipboard on his desk. "Room 203. Just sign the registry and I'll give you your keys."

"Thanks!" With more enthusiasm than one would expect of someone attending to a form, Zack began to whistle as he filled in the necessary blanks. Cloud had attempted to coerce Zack into allowing him to pay for half of their expenses, but the man had dismissed the issue by implying ShinRa would be the ones footing the bill. Cloud would have cared to act more indignant if he thought a cadet's opinion of corporate workings mattered to anyone.

They dragged their bags up the stairs, though they found themselves at a halt in front of the door. "It's not working," Zack whined as he fiddled with the bronze key to their room.

"Zack, you have to turn it the other way."

"Hmm? Oh!" Zack grinned sheepishly as the door clicked open. "I got so used to those keycards back at headquarters, I forgot how to use a real key!" Cloud chuckled as Zack flung open the door, tossed his bag aside, and flopped down on the gaudy seashell comfort of the bed-

Wait, bed? Cloud blinked very slowly. Yes. Bed. There was only one double bed. Much to his own bewilderment, the potential scenario of Zack and himself sharing a bed stuck to his mind as if it had been super-glued to the brain. He couldn't tell which disturbed him more- the fact that he would be spending the night a foot and a half away from Zack, or the fact that said fact seemed to bother him so much. Bother…? Was he bothered? Was that the name for it? He hardly had time to reflect on the matter, as Zack had stripped down to his bright blue bathing suit that drew his eye. It was… colorful. And blue. Like Zack's eyes. Oh, crap. Was Zack talking?

"C'mon, Cloud! Let's get going!" Zack gathered the seahorse-patterned towels of the hotel room as he spoke and slung them over the shoulder.

"Y-yeah." Cloud averted his gaze and slipped behind the bathroom door to strip away his jeans to reveal his swimming trunks bought just for the occasion. He unbuttoned his shirt, blushing when he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror. His body was nowhere near as toned as Zack's; as a cadet who focused on speed and tactics over strength, his muscular build could hardly compare with that of a strength-based fighter. He'd look so ridiculous next to Zack. Cloud left his shirt hanging over his shoulders with the justification of protecting his fair skin.

"Beach now!" Cloud was pulled out of the inn room by an eager Zack, barely able to shut the door before he was dragged downstairs and into the open. It seemed that with Zack being dragged was the only option... not that Cloud minded, of course. The older teenager navigated them through the sands of the busy beach, only releasing Cloud's hand when he had settled on a spot near the docks equipped with shade. The blonde cadet flushed a bright red as he flexed his hand at his side, still warm from Zack's firm grip. If he keeps doing that, people are going to think we're-

"…coming?"

Cloud blinked. "Huh?"

"I asked if you're coming! The water looks nice!" Zack stood beside him with that same innocent, amused smile on his face that made Cloud shiver. The First Class SOLDIER whipped his sunglasses off of his face and threw them onto one of the towels before scouting out the shoreline.

"You go on ahead. I should put on some sunscreen." He could already feel the sun frying his pale skin. Being born into a mountainous lineage of pallid, sun-deprived people assured him that he would heed the warning signs of sunburn with great care.

"Ah, that's right!" Zack said with a snap of his fingers, plopping down on the towel next to Cloud. "You Nibelheim dwellers are as pale as ghosts. Here, let me help." Before the younger could utter a single word in response, two hands were rubbing chilly lotion over his shoulder blades and down his back. Cloud could feel the blood rush to his cheeks as the hands descended, massaging the lotion into his flesh. He was relatively sure he resembled a pile of goo. In merely rubbing that sunscreen in, Zack had flicked on a once-dormant hormonal switch. However, there were several things wrong with this situation that warranted concern. It was not a beautiful woman in a skimpy bikini giving him a sensuous massage. It was his mentor. It was not the soft and delicate hands of a woman that were instilling such pleasure. It was the strong, manly hands of his best friend. Cloud was hardly oblivious to the giggling directed at them from a couple of girls sunbathing a few feet away, but that somehow bothered him less than his own reaction. He was enjoyingthe smooth hands of Zack running up and down his back and whispering over his shoulders. The two were close, so close he could feel Zack's body heat from behind.

Cloud shook himself from his daze as Zack's hands withdrew. Cloud mechanically spread sunscreen over the rest of his body as the other made a mad dash for the ocean. His spine tingled long after the man's departure. He reclined back on the towel and assumed a standard sunbathing pose. Never mind that he was sheltered by the shade of the docks. He watched Zack simply stand waist-deep in the water, relishing its rhythm and breaking out into a smile whenever he withstood a particularly harsh wave that would have sent others sprawling. Zack occasionally dove into the water only to resurface moments later, the spikes of his hair drooping a bit from the results of his efforts.

"Oi! Cloud! C'mon in! It's not cold, I promise!"

"Ah, I don't think-"

"Don't be a baby!"

"No! No, no, no, no, no, no, no! Zack, I swear if you come any closer, I'll-"

Cloud squealed (a manly squeal) as Zack's slippery arms wrapped around him and braced him against his own dripping wet body. His fervent protests were ignored as he was dragged to ocean and thrown into its salty depths. He reemerged with a mouthful of seawater and curses, ready to tell Zack exactly what he thought of him, when the words of anger disintegrated on his tongue. Zack, soaking wet with his head thrown back in laughter, was a handsome sight to behold… Cloud blushed, sinking down into the water as he was splashed at.

The possibility had nagged at Cloud's conscience before. During training sessions when Zack would pin him to the floor with a victorious smirk, during evenings curled up on the older man's couch eating popcorn and criticizing the lack of realistic physics in action movies. Moments when suddenly, their friendly contact crossed the line into intimacy. Cloud would be the first to admit that not every fantasy in his arsenal was of heterosexual nature. (Really, if you didn't find General Sephiroth attractive there was something wrong with you.) Even so, this was the first time he'd felt a, dare he admit it, romantic attraction to a man. Hell, this was the first time he'd formed a deep enough bond to experience an attraction that was deeper than carnal sexuality. Cloud was no psychologist, but perhaps he was a very close bond for romantic attraction?

His musings were interrupted when he realized he was standing listlessly in the ocean with Zack's face inches away from his own. "You okay, Cloud?" he was asking, expression saturated with concern. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"Y-yeah. No! I mean, I'm fine." Cloud ran a hand shyly through his hair, unwilling to meet the other's gaze. He was pretty sure that any direct eye contact would act as a teleprompter for his own scattered emotions. "I was just thinking… I've never been in the ocean before. It's strange." He held a hand out, allowing the incoming wave to brush against it. "It feels like it's moving of its own accord."

"You know, I've never thought about it like that." Zack frowned, skimming his fingers over the water. "I don't really know what causes the tide, come to think of it." He laughed suddenly, splashing Cloud with a sweep of his arm. To Cloud's fortune, or perhaps misfortune, he couldn't get much wetter than he already was. "You always notice stuff like that, don't you?"

Cloud wasn't sure whether that was a complaint or a compliment, but didn't have a chance to find out as the next unexpected wave decided his body would be the perfect breaking point. He was thrown forward straight into Zack, who held his ground as though the fierce current was little more than a light breeze. In an attempt to prevent himself from slipping down, Cloud instinctively threw his arms around the only steady thing in reach- Zack's neck. When the blonde opened his eyes, he found himself pressed chest-to-chest with the older man and- were Zack's hands on his waist? The rush of thoughts subsided, Cloud's brain stopped all functional processes aside from sensory perception. He could feel Zack's sun-warmed skin pressed against his own. He could feel the pressure of the man's hands on his waist. He could feel…

For once, the raven-haired man was without words as he met Cloud's eyes. Zack couldn't even begin to estimate the number of times someone had told him some variation of the words, 'Get a clue'. He couldn't help it; it wasn't in his nature to take things seriously, and that skewed his objective perception. Something clicked in his mako-enhanced senses, and he received a 'clue' about the current situation: there was something different about the way he interacted with Cloud. It was rooted in the ease with which they touched. Members of SOLDIER didn't hug. They didn't wrap their arms around each other in the middle of a movie, and they wouldn't dream ofbracing their comrade by the waist. Even more profound was the fact that Zack enjoyed the touch. He would go so far as to claim to be captivated by it.

All of this spun around his head for a good five silent seconds before Zack finally drew back with a signature smile that he hoped disguised whatever bewilderment he was experiencing. "Never turn your back to the ocean, Cloud." If he had any inkling of what was running through my head- He looks up to me as a mentor! I'm some kind of pervert!

"Right." The blonde cadet turned his head to the side, wiping the water from his eyes to hide a blush. Stupid! Holding onto him like that… Zack indeed looked troubled, and Cloud knew it must have been his fault. "I, uh, left something up in the room! I'll be right back!" He swam swiftly to shore and snatched up a towel, wrapping himself in it and navigating back to the inn without looking back. He practically ran up the stairs and into the room, shutting it firmly and securing the upper bolt for good measure. To his misfortune, he felt even more uneasy as he sat on the edge of the bed. A sliver of his mind informed him that he was making a big deal out of nothing. The rest of him screamed that he was going to lose his only friend if he didn't sort out whatever the hell was going on. He couldn't possibly pretend that nothing was wrong. The evidence of it all was the pulsing ache in his groin.

Cloud groaned, flopping back against the bed. Great. I'm hot for Zack. Well done, Strife. You just have to be different, don't you? His hand trailed down his bare stomach and immediately shot back up. No, no, no, no, no. But he'd bolted the door, and he needed to get this out of his system! His self-control dwindled in light on his surging hormones, as he shut his eyes and slid one hand beneath his shorts.

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

"G1, requesting status report."

"This is G1. Verifying insurgent base. Approaching from northern route as planned. Waiting for confirmation from S1."

"Understood, G1. Stand by for orders."

Genesis couldn't help but roll his eyes, tucking his hair behind his ear and eying the entrance to the bar across the road. Drug busts are work for lackeys. It's been a while since I've gone for capture rather than kill. All of this coded jargon seemed a little dramatic. There was no way their communications were being intercepted from a couple of thugs with a bar as their base. But, protocol was protocol. He did feel a little silly dressed in a pair of jeans and a grey hooded sweatshirt complete with a cropped black wig and sunglasses to conceal his identity for the time being. As much as he hated melting into the crowd, he had to admit that he'd done an excellent job of disguising himself.

"G1, this is S1." The incoming voice made Genesis shiver. "Pursue at your discretion. P1 and R2 have your flanks. P2 and P3 remain inside of base. Proceed according to plan."

"Understood." Genesis switched the communication device attached to his collar off and tucked it inside of his sweatshirt. He shoved his hands into his pockets like a sulky teenager and shuffled his way into the bar. He hadn't expected the worn wooden floors to creak upon his first step into the establishment, but he managed to withhold a wince. Was he a professional or not? His eyes flickered to the man seated at the far end of the counter and the other seated near the window. The allies. The bartender was absently cleaning his glass, pretending that he didn't know a drug deal was about to take place. Genesis shuffled his way over to the man and woman in the center of the room, pulling up a seat at the table nearest them.

He bit back a smirk, raising his hand to rest his chin upon it. He remained motionless until the woman uncrossed her legs and leaned over, greasy black hair covering her face. "Are you the Loutish Lyricist?"

Genesis almost snorted at the codename. Obviously Sephiroth's idea of a joke. "Yeah, that's me," he uttered in a forced, gruff voice. "Eight, seven, five, seven."

"Correct." She nudged the suitcase beneath the table into his sight. "He made the deposit three days ago. You're free to leave."

"Excellent." Genesis took off his glasses, and his accomplices on either sides of the room tensed at the signal. "Because you're not."

Before they could comprehend his words, the dealers were cuffed and pressed against the surface of the table. Another performance well-handled. He strutted out of the bar with the suitcase in hand, leaving the Turks to handle the arrest and the 'right to remain silent' speech. He'd done his duty for today. He walked around the block to the ShinRa van parked on the side street and knocked loudly at the back door. "Let me in, or I'll sit out here and smoke this whole damn case."

The door swung open from the inside, revealing a dozen surveillance screens and Sephiroth sitting before them with a look of utter boredom. "Well done, Commander."

"Child's play." Genesis hopped into the back and shut the door behind him, tossing the suitcase carelessly to the floor. "I didn't join SOLDIER to fraternize with petty criminals, you know."

"Petty, you say? The contents of that case are priced approximately at a year's worth of your salary." Sephiroth held the button at the edge of his headset and commanded, "Suspects have been apprehended and secured by Turk forces. You may proceed back to headquarters." With that, Sephiroth shut off the surveillance screens and the van shifted as it began to move. Genesis sat down and crossed his legs on the floor, staring wistfully at the ceiling above. He stripped off his wig and sweatshirt, leaving him in a black muscle shirt and dark blue jeans. His attire reminded him of afternoons spent in Banora with Angeal, lounging under apple trees and dreaming of better things. How terribly nostalgic.

He shifted onto his back and sighed, resting one hand behind his head and the other on his stomach. "It was a little entertaining. Reminded me of when we worked with the Special Corps on the gang threat in Junon." Genesis' last few words were stepped on by the ring of his cell phone, which was slid out of his pocket and held up to his ear. "R1- I mean, Rhapsodos here."

"Hey…"

Genesis frowned, tapping a side button to increase the volume. "Zack? Is that you?" Without waiting for an answer, he pulled the phone back and checked the I.D. Yes, it was Zack. But his voice was tinged with uncharacteristic melancholy that made it nigh unrecognizable.

"Yeah. Are you busy?"

Genesis raised an eyebrow. This was peculiar. Zack never thought to ask that… unless he was scared or stalling. "Not at all. I thought Angeal said you were on vacation."

"I am. Costa del Sol." A deep breath caused static to muffle the receiver. "I… It's kind of like… I'm sort of…" Zack began several sentences and ended them in silence, finally blurting out in a ridiculously loud voice, "What do you know about love?"

Genesis, who had a knack for letting nothing faze him, found himself… utterly fazed. He wasn't aware of it, but his sight had automatically aligned itself with the silver-haired General seated above him. "Nothing much, I'm afraid," he murmured. "It would seem to me that you can't fully know love until you've received it as well as given it. Having a little summer romance, are we?"

"I…" Zack's voice faded into complete silence, and the rhythmic sound of the waves lapping at the shoreline could be heard. "I don't know."

Genesis wanted to scold him for the ambiguity of his response, before reminding himself that not everything of the soul was as clear-cut as he wished it could be. "Well, I wish I could help you this time Zack, I really do. But I could recite every piece of poetry I know on the subject of love and you wouldn't be any closer to the truth. Just take it slow; there's no hurry. If you don't take action, you don't put anything at risk."

"You're right." Zack spoke as if admitting to a truth that was bitter and cruel. "I just don't understand it. I feel like I'm an open book right now, like he knows just by looking into my eyes."

He? So the Puppy really did fancy men. In light of the situation, Genesis decided to do the sensitive thing and not dwell on Zack's precious revelation to him. "That's just paranoia talking. He's having as much trouble reading you as you're having reading him. Use your time away from Midgar as a chance to gauge his feelings."

Zack's voice was a little lighter when he spoke again, "Thank you, Genesis. Tell Sephiroth I expect a rematch now that I'm ranked First."

Genesis turned to Sephiroth and said quite blatantly, "Zack says now that he's a First he can kick your ass." He flicked the phone shut just as the words, 'That's not what I said! Tell him that's not what I said!' escaped through the speaker. An amused smile pulled at Sephiroth's lips as he gracefully descended from the chair to the floor beside Genesis.

"Is Zack unwell?" The concern in his voice made the red-haired warrior smile.

"His heart is wrapped around his head. It'll take some time to sort out." Genesis reclined back on the cool steel floor, eyes fluttering shut.

"Heart… wrapped around his head?"

"He's not processing his emotions properly. It happens to everyone."

"You said something interesting: that you have to receive love in order to know it. Is that true?"

"Mutual love is the best kind. Or so I've been told."

Genesis was convinced it was his imagination playing a cruel trick on him when he felt the unfamiliar sensation of lips pressing against his own. When he opened his eyes and found he was staring into two emerald orbs, his heart melted in his chest. He wanted to ask what Sephiroth meant by it, but he couldn't find the words fast enough as the other's tongue swept between his lips. They were kissing. They hadn't kissed since their nights on the Wutai front, sneaking into each other's tents at night for desperate intimacy. Genesis slowly wrapped his arms around the man above him and deepened the kiss, heart pounding against his ribcage so loudly he was sure Sephiroth must have heard it. A hand caressed his face, and Genesis dared to dream that he knew what it was like to be loved.

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

Zack would have buried his cell phone in the sand had he not feared leaving it behind and incurring Angeal's wrath of breaking/losing yet another mobile. He knew he must have sounded like a love-stricken puppy to Genesis, but he couldn't bring himself to care in the face of his crisis. He groaned, curling up on his side and shoving his face into the towel beneath him. Genesis was right. He was just being paranoid. He couldn't scare Cloud off just by letting possibilities float through his mind.

Relax, Zack. You're on vacation! He crossed his hands behind his head and sighed, focusing on the sensation of the sun warming his body. He had nearly fallen asleep by the time Cloud returned, startled alert when he felt a nudge at his side and a scolding, "You'll get sunburn if you fall asleep out here."

"Yes, Mother," Zack teased, flipping over onto his back and resting his head on his arms. Cloud appeared much more at ease as he sat beside him, eyes wandering over the far side of the beach. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Huh?"

"Back in the room."

"Oh! Um, yes. I did." Cloud was saved from offering any further elaboration as a twin pair of squeals erupting from the shoreline a few feet away. A young girl and boy looked sadly down at their ruined sandcastle, which had been unexpectedly demolished by the incoming tide. "Oh, that's a shame," Cloud murmured, his heart twitching with sadness for the poor children. Having your hard work melted into shambles was a surely terribly feeling.

"Think we should help them rebuild?" Zack sat up to observe the situation, eyes twinkling with an all-too-familiar playfulness.

"I think so," Cloud agreed, standing up and brushing the sand from his body. He walked over to address the children, kneeling down and asking softly, "Hey guys. That was a really cool sandcastle you made. My friend and I were thinking of making one too. Can you help us?" The children's faces brightened, and immediately they were employing buckets and plastic shovels alike. Ensuring to structure the base of their new creation far from the tide's reach, a few buckets of stacked moist sand evolved into the digging of a moat and the carving of intricate windows. By the time they had finished, they had created a magnificent palace equipped with a fortress fit for an emperor. A few onlookers even pulled out their phones to take pictures of their truly historical sandcastle.

"Guess if I ever need a career change I can become a professional sandcastle-maker," Zack mused while he waved goodbye to the ecstatic children as they ran to their respective parents to share their achievements.

Cloud chuckled, trekking toward the ocean a few steps away to wash away the sand from his hands. "Did you ever want to do anything other than be a member of SOLDIER?"

"I thought of opening up an ice cream and pizza parlor in Gongaga," Zack said thoughtfully, running his fingertips over the sand. "They don't have either there, you know. But my mom told me I couldn't sustain a business in a village with such a small population. So, I settled for joining the military!"

Cloud turned around, an odd expression on his face as he tried to bite back his laughter. There was a slight possibility that Zack was joking, but he honestly doubted it. Selling pizza was so obviously a Zack-like ambition. "I'm glad you did. Though I have no doubts you would have been a fantastic manager of an ice cream and pizza parlor."

Zack grinned, standing and slinging his towel over his neck. "Well, I'm beat. I'm gonna head up to the room, take a shower, order room service, and fall asleep to basic cable. What do you say?"

"Sounds good." Cloud brushed away residual sand, disregarding the fact that more would find its way onto his clothes soon enough. His cheeks tinged with a blush as he followed behind the man, who began chattering nonstop about how vacations were conducive to better work performance. Gaia, if Zack ever figured out that the little faggot-of-a-cadet he had taken under his wing had a crush on him… I'd lose the only real friend I've ever had. His dismay only heightened upon trudging into the inn room, greeted with the prospect of the one double bed. Zack said something involving the words 'shower' and 'tiny little shampoo bottles' before darting into the bathroom, leaving the blonde staring at the bed in a daze. He turned his attention to the ceiling, addressing any possible higher power: If you only ever answer a single prayer of mine, let it be this: Please subdue my teenage hormones.

Meanwhile, Zack rested his head against the shower wall, eyes fluttering shut as steam filled the room and scalding water pounded against his back. The vapor saturating the air seemed reminiscent of his murky mind. The image of a soaking wet Cloud, arms wrapped around his own chest and smiling shyly at him never left his mind. Zack groaned, reaching behind him and rotating the knob to cold. He was a pervert, lusting after a minor who trusted him as a mentor and friend. What would Angeal say? He felt all the more sickened at the thought.

He grabbed one of the cute little bottles of shampoo lingering on the ledge and squirted it into his palm. "Get ahold of yourself!" he hissed, running his hands through his hair and lathering it furiously. And so, he did what he always did when he had trouble focusing: he ran through his favorite materia combinations in his head.

Counter and Mime.

Fire and Elemental.

Double cut and Slash-All.

Yes. Strategy. First Class SOLDIER Zack Fair didn't fall victim to lewd sexual fantasies. He was always thinking about how to destroy the next enemy! But the moment he wrapped himself in a towel and stepped out of the bathroom to scrounge around for his pajamas, he was met with a sight that eliminated all sense of strategy from his mind. Cloud was sitting on the bed dressed in a pair of loose-riding plaid sweats and a black muscle shirt falling off of one shoulder. Cross-legged, he was flipping through the television channels with a bored expression on his face. He looked so… cute. Cloud didn't glance at him as he said, "Seven months I've gone without television. No wonder I didn't miss it."

"N-nothing on, huh?" Zack nearly tripped over the duffle bag he was blindly searching for, securing his towel with one hand and fixing his eyes on Cloud.

"Not unless you're a fan of promotional television." The blonde flicked the power and the television went black, tossing the remote control to the side and sitting up to stretch his arms over his head. "Do you mind if I open the window?"

"Go ahead." Zack stared as Cloud rose from the bed and crossed the room, pulling the curtains open and lifting the window. The boy looked absolutely lovely against the backdrop of the setting sun, left arm raised to lean against the frame and opposite hip shifting to the side… Zack shook himself from his stupor, grabbing a pair of sweats and a T-shirt before dodging back into the bathroom with bated breath. It was over. He was a failure of a teacher, a failure of a best friend. First Class SOLDIER? More like First Class SCREW-UP.

Cloud pressed his head against the chilly glass as he heard Zack slip back into the bathroom. The sight of Zack, slippery and dripping with water, would be forever burned into his brain. The mind-blowing fantasy portion of his brain, to be exact. When Zack emerged, Cloud offered him a friendly smile that hopefully revealed no indication of having undressed him with his mind's eye. "Well, I'm gonna call for room service, then!" the raven-haired man began, sitting on the edge of the bed. He reached over for the menu on the bedside table and skimmed it. "Oh! Fish tacos! That sounds good." He passed the menu to the other, not missing the expression of distaste on the other's face. "What? I happen to enjoy the spirit of Costa del Sol!"

"Fish weren't meant to go into taco shells," Cloud insisted, taking the menu into his hand and searching for a more suitable choice. "I'll have… the strawberry-topped pancakes."

"Breakfast for dinner. A classic choice." Zack dialed the digits for room service and reclined back on the bed. "Yes, room 'll have one order of strawberry-topped pancakes and an order of infinitely more delicious fish tacos." He grinned and stuck his tongue out when Cloud delivered a weak punch to his arm. "Thank you."

"There's nothing delicious about a fish topped with cheese and sour cream," Cloud muttered as Zack hung up the phone.

"I firmly disagree. You can put almost any sort of meat in a taco shell. They're very versatile."

"Fish isn't a meat. It's… fish."

"Anything you can scrape off of a bone is meat. It's a fact."

Cloud snorted, dismissing Zack's comments with a wave of his hand. "Sure, sure. Go ahead and enjoy your disgusting tacos. Next time you see a poor little fish swim by, you can drown in your guilt for degrading their species and stuffing them in taco shells."

Zack huffed with false indignity, reaching over Cloud's body to snatch the remote. The cadet blushed as the man hovered over him for a moment as he spoke, "While I'm reflecting on that guilt, we'll watch pay-per-view."

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

It was the first time in years that Genesis had felt so utterly complete. It seemed as though the warmth inside of his chest could have melted him into the satin sheets of his bed. It was no different than any other night, apart from the man lying next to him with an arm slung over his chest. He could see even in the darkness how Sephiroth's chest steadily rose and fell, suggesting the man was in a deep sleep. Genesis couldn't possibly subject himself to sleeping in fear of waking up to find all of this had been a dream.

Sephiroth had been uncharacteristically tender in his ministrations, leaving Genesis satisfied in a way he hadn't felt for so long. The redhead lifted a hand and touched his fingers to his lips. It was too good to be true. He wondered whether or not this was a temporary show of affection, or perhaps a long-term admission.

Time after time it was affirmed to be a solely physical relationship. Even so, Genesis couldn't help but feel loved after such a gentle display. Loved. How curious. He would have to talk to Zack later.

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

"Just a bite."

Cloud wrinkled his nose, staring at the offending taco with great disdain. "It smells… fishy."

"I'd be concerned if it didn't." Zack held up the taco toward Cloud's side of the bed, raising an expectant eyebrow. "Just one bite."

The cadet reluctantly leaned forward, taking the smallest of bites from the taco. He chewed slowly with a furrowed brow and swallowed, averting his eyes to the ceiling in thought. "It's alright, I suppose. Taking into granted that everything tastes a little better on vacation."

"By 'alright', I'll assume you meant delicious." Zack smiled contentedly as though to say, 'I am plainly victorious'. He returned his attention to the movie, where the lead researcher was attempting to decode a message from outer space. "I swear, if they don't show at least one alien by the end of this movie, I'm going to be pissed," he spoke, voice muffled by fish, taco shell, and according condiments.

One hour and fifteen minutes later resulted in Zack being pissed. "All that time, and not a single alien!" he complained, turning off the television with a furious press of the power button.

"I think the point of the movie was more philosophical than that," Cloud pointed out as he reached back to adjust his pillow. "It seemed to cater more toward the pursuit of knowledge than actual science fiction. It was thought-provoking, if nothing else."

"When I watch an alien movie, I expect to see some aliens!" Zack growled, stretching his arms out over his head before bringing them down on his pillow in half-hearted frustration. "Explosions! Abductions! Photon torpedoes! I'm a SOLDIER! And SOLDIERs demand senseless alien violence!"

Cloud laughed, shifting down and rolling onto his side to get comfortable. "No need to give yourself nightmares."

"What are you implying? I'm First Class. I don't get nightmares!"

Cloud let out a sleepy noise as his eyes inevitably fluttered shut. "Course you don't."

"Hey! Don't go to sleep on me while I'm defending my dignity!"

"Mmmhmm." Cloud's knees curled slightly inward and nestled into the pillow. Zack smiled fondly as the boy fell asleep before his eyes. The senseless-alien-violence-loving teenager crept off of the bed so that he could wrap the younger in his own side of the comforter. Zack lay back in the bed and slid one arm underneath his pillow, staring at the beautiful blonde cadet for an immeasurable amount of time before forcing himself to shut his eyes. Cloud was off-limits. He would just have to use this vacation as a way of cementing their friendship and learning to control his hormones. Unfortunately, that façade dissolved on the fourth night.

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

"I've never had a cocktail before." Cloud swished the bright blue drink around suspiciously before sniffing it. "It smells sweet," he observed, glancing toward Zack as the man slid into the opposite side of the booth. The bar was crowded and noisy, the very sort of environment Cloud tried to avoid. But when Zack had found out the boy had never had even a sip of alcohol, Cloud had found himself being dragged to taste his first such beverage.

"It has to be sweet to disguise the tequila," Zack winked, taking his own green drink into his hand and squeezing a slice of lime into it. He stirred it absently as he spoke, "When I was a cadet, my friends and I would sneak out after curfew and head down to the lower plate to get wasted. They served this really great Mideelian ale, and in the morning you would not believe how hung-over I was! There was this one time when I threw up in combat training and-" Zack came to a dead halt, eyes narrowing at the blonde cadet. "You are going to forget everything I just said."

"Understood." Cloud laughed before lifting the drink to take a cautious sip. He smacked his lips as he assessed the flavor. Fruity, sour, and ultimately sweet with just a slight undertone of the bitter alcohol. "It's good," he finally said, taking another more enthusiastic sip. "Are you sure this is okay? I am still a minor."

"This is Costa del Sol. Nobody cares." Zack swished his glass around in his hand, reveling in the musical clinking of the ice. "Go ahead and finish it. You don't have to worry about getting a little tipsy. I'll make sure you get back to the inn alright."

"Th-thanks." Cloud propped his arm up on the table and rested his head on his hand, ignoring the blush tingeing his cheeks. "It's so beautiful here. I'm glad I got to come along."

"Like I said, it wouldn't be a vacation without you."

Not without 'someone'. Without 'you'. Cloud couldn't help but smile. "I've only ever been to Costa del Sol once, and that was just to catch a boat to Junon. That was when I was first traveling to Midgar."

"From Nibelheim, right?" Zack leaned forward, suddenly appearing very interested. "What's it like there? It's in the mountains, right?"

"Yeah. It's sort of a… quaint village on the southern side of Mt. Nibel." Cloud's hand slid to the back of his neck, rubbing it awkwardly. "Cold weather. Lots of snow."

"What's wrong?'

Cloud tilted his head to glance out the window. "Nibelheim holds some bad memories, that's all."

"But it's your home!" Zack said with awe, dropping the napkin he'd been fiddling with. "Is that why you left it for the military?"

"Sort of." Cloud shifted uncomfortably. Zack kept quiet despite his curiosity, but found that a second drink made the boy loosen his tongue of his own accord.

xXxDrinkNumberTwoxXx

"And everybody in the village blamed me! I mean I tried to stop her, but she went marching over that mountain thinking she could find her dead mother." Cloud sighed, polishing off the second drink with a last gulp. "I just wanted to help her. I decided then that I'd join SOLDIER. Never let anyone I care for be hurt again."

"You said something about that the first day we met," Zack said as he waved a waitress over to their booth. "With those motivations, you can't fail. So that girl. She's special to you?" Zack's voice cracked with forced disinterest.

"She was the reason I wanted to get stronger, but… we were never really close. I'm not even sure if my promise means anything to her."

"Are you kidding? When you come back to Nibelheim a member of SOLDIER, she'll be all over you." Zack's lips pursed into a disgruntled pout that didn't go unnoticed by Cloud.

"What about you? You got a girl waiting for you back home?"

"Gongaga? Nah. I always knew I could never settle down in a town like that. Angeal always told me the life of a SOLDIER would be a lonely one. Not much of a chance to settle down or start a family." A wistful sigh escaped his lips, counteracted with a smile as his beverage was refilled. "I mean, we could die at any time out there."

"How depressing." Cloud's eyes fluttered. His head was starting to feel a little light and slightly… warm. It was kinda nice.

xXxDrinkNumberThreexXx

"It was really… really Sephiroth. Who made me, um, want to join SOLDIER." Cloud's cheeks flushed lightly as he reached for his glass. Never mind he had some trouble picking it up. "I mean, he was on everything. The radio, the television, um… the radio. I thought to myself, if I could be as strong as him-" Cloud paused, bringing his glass to his lips as he thought. "Well then… I'd be, you know, as strong as him."

"Very strong," Zack agreed.

"Sephiroth." Cloud stared dreamily into the air. "He's amazing."

"Very."

"Powerful."

"Yeah."

"Fucking sexy."

Zack blinked, not quite so tipsy that he didn't catch the oddity of that statement. Cloud was enamored with Sephiroth. He grinned, wondering if the lightweight cadet could be egged on. "Yeah, Sephiroth is so hot. Hottest SOLDIER's ever seen."

"I know right?" Cloud slouched in his chair. "So. Sexy. I mean, so few guys can pull off leather the way he does. I have this poster above my bed of him posing for a military brochure. I had so many wet dreams falling asleep to that."

Zack clamped a hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter. "Y-yeah?"

"Genesis is really pretty too. Angeal's a hunk, but can you imagine how big his cock must be? I mean, ouch." Cloud started busting up at his own observation, while Zack blushed a bright red. The last thing he needed was to be thinking about his mentor's… assets. Then again, this magnified sliver of Cloud's character was more than revealing.

Zack wasn't sure when he became so absorbed in the conversation that he began drinking at his own pace- which was remarkably faster than Cloud's. By the time he was intoxicated, the younger teenager was utterly wasted, explaining in an uncharacteristically loud voice why all of the cadets in the barracks preferred pre-lubricated condoms. Zack pushed away his last half-empty glass, feeling more than a little tired. "We, ah, gotta go back to the um… the um… ummmm… room!" Zack announced, pulling his wallet out of his pocket and slapping his credit card down on the table. "Give yourself a nice tip," he slurred to no one, before standing uneasily and motioning for Cloud to do the same. Cloud followed, nearly toppling over the leg of the table. Zack saved him from the fall and bumped his head in the process, though he hardly processed the pain. He laughed, wrapping a single arm around Cloud as they stumbled toward the entrance of the bar. "You dork!"

"You're a cork!" Cloud intelligently responded, mistaking 'd' for 'c' and depriving the insult of meaning.

Zack dragged the intoxicated cadet toward the inn, pulling at the door for at least two minutes before realizing he ought to have pushed it. "Bastards…. Tried to lock us out!" The sounds of their noisy footsteps intermingled with giggles and hiccups. Unable to find his own key, Zack absently reached into Cloud's pocket and retrieved his. This earned a soft gasp from Cloud, as Zack's hand lingered a little too long on his backside. They stumbled into the room and Zack managed to kick the door shut and flip on the light before promptly tripping over his own two feet and falling onto the bed. "Ow!" he exclaimed reflexively, though the fall had been painless.

"Zack? You okay?" Cloud crawled onto the bed, getting a hold on the comforter before he slipped off.

"Uh-huh." Zack flipped onto his back with his legs dangling over the edge, hand held to his head. "Got a headache."

"Sorry." Cloud leaned over Zack, hands pressed into the mattress on either side of the other's head.

"Not your fault." The SOLDIER smiled, staring up in a daze at the teenager above him. His flushed face, his slightly parted lips, his glazed eyes… Zack did the only thing that made sense in his heavily intoxicated brain: he intertwined his hands around Cloud's neck and brought him down for a kiss. Their lips pressed sloppily together, lacking coordination as Zack squirmed his way out from underneath the younger and pinned him to the bed. Cloud's expression was unreadable, somewhere between surprise and pleasure- not that Zack interpreted this in any way.

"That's nice," Cloud mumbled as the other's hand trailed over his chest and beneath his shirt. His skin felt hot underneath Zack's touch, his nerves electrified and suddenly switching from dull awareness to high-alert mode. His arousal was quick to indulge his hormones, and heat built up in his groin at an alarming rate.

"Yeah?" Zack smiled as he leaned forward to kiss Cloud's neck. His hand pushed up the boy's T-shirt to expose his chest, fingers grazing over barely defined muscles. The blonde gasped as the touch fleeted over his perking nipples and clumsily massaged his shoulders. Despite the nagging voice in the back of Cloud's mind, he couldn't pinpoint the problem with the situation. This was what he wanted, wasn't it? After three failed attempts of removing Cloud's shirt, the cadet sat up and did it himself, tossing it in the direction of the door and bringing Zack in for another kiss. He shivered as the other gently bit his lower lip before moving onto his neck tendon and leaving a lovebite that enflamed his pulse.

"Zack…" Cloud couldn't force his brain and mouth to coordinate as he watched Zack strip off his own shirt and clumsily kick his shoes off. The man's hands were sliding down his body the next moment, one cupping his left hip and the other inclining a little lower to graze over his groin. A noise of pleasure escaped Cloud's lips as he moved into Zack's ministrations, earning a tongue sliding its way along his neck and shoulder. The sound of a zipper being undone was his only warning before Zack wrapped his hands around Cloud's jeans and tugged them down. A twitch of modesty kicked in as the younger vaguely realized the bulge of his erection was visible through his boxers. With a groan of embarrassment he tried to shift his legs together in a half-hearted attempt to ease his shame.

Zack released a somewhat amused sound as his fingers awkwardly unlaced the other's shoes, discarding them with eagerness so he could remove the blonde's jeans. The raven-haired man crept back up Cloud's body, delivering a kiss here or there before reaching his target. He grasped the teenager's erection through his boxers, leaving the other hissing with pleasurable surprise. "Zack, it… it feels good." His breathless whisper egged Zack on, and the man knelt between the teenager's legs and began fumbling with his own pants while breathing hot air over the boy's pulsing member.

"Ah!" Cloud fisted the sheets beneath his hands as the other man mouthed his cock over his boxers, his forearms trembling as he fought to support himself. "Fuck! Please, Zack!" The teasing heat lit his body on fire, newfound sensations coursing through his blood that were foreign and frightening, yet so terribly pleasurable.

Zack's pants and boxers were stripped and kicked aside, and the man allowed his eyes and hands to wander his pristine prize. The word 'sexy' ran through his head on repeat, as Cloud's widening eyes traveled his exposed body. The blonde's mouth suddenly ran dry as he eyed the sizeable erection, flushed and dripping for him. His thighs trembled with anticipation as Zack leaned between them, capturing his lips and prodding the younger's tongue with his own. Cloud's eyes fluttered shut with a hum of pleasure as Zack's hips rubbed up against his own, pressing the heat of the man's cock into his own clothed arousal.

Cloud gained a little confidence in the rhythm and began grinding back against Zack, all while their lips and tongues engaged. They released wanton moans as they moved together, until the fiery pleasure mounting in Zack's body gave him the push he needed to sneak his hands between their bodies and discard Cloud's boxers. The cadet released his breath in soft pants as they broke their kiss, face flushed and nails unconsciously digging into Zack's shoulders. Bare flesh bumped and rubbed as they shared a deep kiss, an undertone of awkwardness and inexperience blurring the fluidity of their movements. Cloud stifled a gasp as Zack's hands cupped his hips and lifted him up against the headboard, its ridges digging somewhat uncomfortably into his back.

"Cloud."

The single word was so tenderly spoken that Cloud could feel his heart melt in his chest. It was hardly enough, however, to distract him from the unbearable pain of Zack pressing into his unprepared body. "F-fuck!" he choked out, teeth grit with pain and eyes shut tightly. The pain may very well have caused him to blackout had the alcohol in his system not dulled it, a realization his intoxicated mind had not come to. For a fleeting moment, he questioned how anyone could possibly enjoy this. Whimpers escaped his throat as Zack sheathed himself inside of him. He hadn't even noticed the man had paused inside of him, his arousal weakening as he tried to focus on enduring the pain.

"You're beautiful," Zack whispered, rubbing his hands over Cloud's trembling thighs. "So, so beautiful. I've wanted this ever since I first saw you at the beach, soaking wet." He kissed his way along Cloud's throat, whispering in-between words. "Fuck Sephiroth. He can't have you, he can't see you like this. You're mine. Dream of me, Cloud. I'll make you so happy."

Cloud ran a shaky hand through his hair, brushing the sweat from his eyes as he found himself whispering, "Yeah. I'm yours, Zack. I'm all yours." It was accentuated by the warm blood of his torn body dripping on the white sheets below, oddly reminiscent of his virginity. His thighs instinctually spread to widen his pelvis and ease the discomfort as Zack began to move, one had sliding between them to caress Cloud. The older man's mako-blue eyes glowed with a tinge of green as he began to thrust, the utter tightness and warmth of the other's body driving his nerves to compelling heights.

"It's good, you're so good," Zack growled, falling into a natural rhythm as he thrust into the smaller body. Cloud's breath deepened as he focused on the way Zack's thumb spread his beading fluids over the head of his arousal, the way he loosely slid his hand up and down with every intent of pleasuring him. Their eyes met and Cloud couldn't possibly look away, feeling his entire being unraveled as Zack's gaze pierced his own. The blonde hissed with surprise as Zack adjusted his hips, further pressuring the pleasure-ridden gland inside of his body. A thrilling tingle amassed in his groin and fled through his stomach, driving him wild and tearing his attention away from the pain. Cloud began to pant, moving his hips against Zack's and throwing his head back with pleasure.

"Zack, Zack, Zack." The man's name was whispered like a sacred mantra as Cloud was endowed with a wild mental high. For a moment, the world was perfection as he tightened around the man, and the knowledge that the one moving inside of him was Zack tipped him over the brink of ecstasy. With a desperate cry he reached an orgasm, lower body clenching rhythmically as he spilled his seed between their chests. Zack moaned, an adrenaline high urging him to pound into Cloud with the last of his strength as he reached a mind-blowing climax he wouldn't remember in the morning.

It was all a blur, how Zack eased out of Cloud's body, how they kissed with lazy abandon, the way they wrapped themselves in the blankets and fell asleep pressed up against each other… tainted with the underlying tone that things could never be the same again.

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

"Gaia damn it all." Zack groaned, not daring to open his eyes and greet the light he knew was shining through the window. Why hadn't he bothered to shut the curtains? His head ached, his ears rung, and he was exhausted as hell. He supposed that, for what it was worth, he deserved it. If he couldn't even remember how many drinks he'd had last night, it was obvious he'd gone way overboard. He was lucky he even managed to find his way back to the inn. His eyes shot open suddenly, ignoring the shooting pain burning at his retinas as he blinked away his stupor. "Cloud?" he called out in a choked voice. He blindly felt around the bed, relieved to find a lump underneath the blankets next to him. His sight adjusted and he sighed away his tension to find Cloud's serene face clearly still asleep next to him.

"Poor thing," he mumbled, running a hand through the cadet's hair. "Your hangover is gonna be worse than mine. I'll let you sleep in, shall I?" He stretched out with a hiss of irritation before peeling away the sheets from his sweat-slicked skin. It was then he noticed two very peculiar things. One: he was naked. Never in his right mind would he sleep naked with another person in his bed. Two: there was blood on the sheets. "What the hell?" He quickly checked his own body for wounds then flung the sheets off of Cloud to do the same. It was then he noticed two more peculiar things. One: Cloud was also naked. Two: There were… fluids of a certain nature tainting the sheets and Cloud's body.

Zack couldn't seem to catch his breath as he began to piece the puzzle together, unimaginable horror pulsing through his chest and clenching around his heart. Had he…? Had they…? Ensuring that Cloud was fast asleep, he leaned over to check between the cadet's thighs, horrified to find traces of blood on the skin. "Oh my God," he whispered, threading a trembling hand through his hair. "No, no, no." Cloud shifted, making a soft noise of discontent. Zack quickly threw the covers back over him and unsteadily stood to shut the curtains.

I hurt him! He trusted me and I hurt him!

It's all my fault! I let us both get drunk!

Was it consensual? Oh God, what if I raped Cloud?

Zack threw on the first clothes he found in his bag, hands trembling as he kept glancing back at the bed. He paced nervously about the room, trying to decide what to do. He couldn't wake Cloud, he couldn't bear it. He had to clear his head, try to remember what happened the night before. Zack crept out of the room, making sure to stick the 'do not disturb' sign on the door before speeding downstairs. He chanced a glance at the clock in the lobby, wincing when he found that it was past two o' clock. And so, he did what he always did when his mind was in a muddle: exercise.

Zack marched into the town gym and to the front desk, demanding of the clerk, "How much for admission?"

The man raised an eyebrow at the teenager's state of disarray as he recited, "60 Gil for six months and 100 Gil for a year."

"How much for two hours?"

"...Two gil."

Zack opened his wallet and slammed the coins down, eyes bugging out of their sockets when he saw his credit card, always kept in the front pocket, was missing. Whatever. I'll cancel it when I get back. He strode over to the weight benches and began pumping iron, putting even the most ripped surfer in the place to shame. He sorted through his thoughts, his rapid pulse having little to do with his routine.

I had sex with Cloud. I had sex with Cloud. I had sex with Cloud.

Zack groaned, speeding up his repetitions. He was a horrible person. He was sick in the head. He needed professional help. He had taken advantage of a drunken minor! What was worse, he had sex with someone he cared about and couldn't even remember what it was like! That thought slowed him down a little, instilling a deep fear within him. He cared about Cloud. He loved Cloud. This could ruin everything! This could traumatize the boy! And the blood, dear heavens the blood…

After an immeasurable amount of time he finally burnt out, replacing the iron on the bar and sitting up only to bury his face in his hands. He wasn't ready to face Cloud. But he needed not to be alone, he needed advice. He fled to the nearest payphone and dialed the number of the man who would always care for him unconditionally.

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

Angeal glared distastefully at his lunch. After a morning of spilling monster guts, he really wasn't in the mood for spaghetti drizzled in marinara. Of course, Genesis had taken the trouble of bringing it to his office… Then again, what Gen didn't know wouldn't hurt him. He was saved from making a decision right away by the ringing of his cell phone, which he perhaps picked up a little too eagerly. Unregistered number? He didn't receive many of those calls. He flipped it open with a generic greeting: "Commander Hewley."

"Angeal." The familiar voice of his student bled through the receiver, clearly shaken and disturbed.

"Zack?" The man straightened in his chair, pressing the phone closer to his ear. "What's wrong."

"I… I…"

Angeal felt a twitch of fear inside of his chest. Zack never had a problem talking to him. Something must have surely happened. "Zack? Where are you? Do you need help?"

"Angeal, I… I fucked up."

Angeal's heart almost stopped. Never had he heard Zack use such vulgar language when addressing him, and certainly never in such a context. "Explain to me calmly what has happened," he ordered, his tone stern in an attempt to mask his anxiety. It was apparent that Zack needed him to be a source of strength right now. However, the next few words caused a break in Angeal's stoic demeanor.

"I had sex."

Well. That was more information than he needed to know. Angeal frowned, trying to identify the source of the problem. Any seventeen-year-old should be thrilled at the prospect of getting laid. "Um, Zack-?"

"I had sex with Cloud."

Okay then. That was a bit more revealing. "With Cadet Strife? The boy you went on vacation with?"

"Yeah." Zack's voice quivered, as though it was going to break into sobs at any moment. "I'm so scared, Angeal. There was blood on the sheets. I think I hurt him."

One hand absently tightening around the arm of Angeal's chair. He swallowed, setting aside the awkward nature of the subject. "Didn't you… prepare him?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"We were drunk. I can't remember." Zack sounded as though he was close to breaking out into sobs. "I don't think… I would have if I'd…"

Angeal sighed, bringing one hand up to the bridge of his nose and pinching it firmly. He had to remain calm, for Zack's sake. "Then you didn't use protection?"

"No."

The man took a deep breath, leaning back in his chair and counting to ten. "Alright, Zack. Let me get this straight. "You had sex with your male best friend."

"Yeah."

"You had unprotected, unprepared sex with your male best friend?"

"Y-Yes."

"You had unprotected, unprepared sex with your male best friend who is a minor?"

"I..."

"You had unprotected, unprepared sex with your male best friend who is a minor while intoxicated."

"Fuck!" A reverberating sound was heard in the background, much akin to the sound of steel being punched. "I'll never forgive myself! I didn't mean to hurt him, I swear! I love him! I love him and I took away something he can never get back! I don't want to lose him, and I don't know what to do!"

"Just calm down, Zack. Everything is going to be okay. Where is Cloud now?"

"He's up at the inn. He was asleep when I left."

"You have to talk to him. Apologize and explain what's going through your mind. He's just as confused and scared as you are, and it's your responsibility to take on the burden of being strong for him."

"But… what if he hates me?"

The words were spoken with such wrenching pain that Angeal could feel it reverberate in his own heart. Nevertheless, he spoke with an inevitable sternness, "There are consequences for every action, Zack."

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

Cloud lay at the foot of the bed that afternoon, staring up at the ceiling and exploring positions that wouldn't agitate his condition. The burning pain was a constant reminder of the events of the night before; although he couldn't necessary recollect said events, he was pretty damn certain he knew what happened. His chest ached from the pressure of repressed tears as he glared up at the ceiling. He was a slut. A hung-over, best-friend-fucking slut. He'd lost his virginity to the guy he loved, and he couldn't even be happy about it! He'll never speak to me again. He couldn't even bear to stick around.

Cloud promptly yanked out the pillow he'd laid out underneath his head and screamed his frustrations into it before tossing it aside. What would my mother say if she could see me now? She'd have a heart attack for sure.

There was a gentle knock on the door and Cloud jolted up, flinching when he put pressure on his aching backside. "Yeah?" he called out in a strained voice, nails digging nervously into the carpet.

"It's Zack. Can I come in?"

Cloud mutely nodded, before realizing the man couldn't have seen it. "Sure."

There was a pause before the door opened, revealing Zack looking… exactly how Cloud felt. Afraid, disheveled, and anxious to the point of developing a permanent twitch. The door shut with a click as their eyes met, each trying to gauge the other's reaction. Zack let out an uneasy breath before stepping forward, relieved when Cloud didn't so much as wince at his advances. He knelt beside the boy at a reasonable distance, speaking only when he couldn't sense any hostility. "How are you?" He flinched. Stupid question. This was getting off to a great start.

"I'm, um… okay." Cloud's hand clutched tightly at his sweats. "You?"

"I feel like crap." Zack's eyes widened, and he was quick to amend, "I have, you know, a really bad hangover." He paused, taking every fleeting second to gather his courage. "And I feel terrible about what happened last night." Cloud felt sick to his stomach, in a much different way than earlier when he'd thrown up four times. It was worse, so much worse. He buried his head in his hands and refused to look at the other.

He hates me, Cloud thought, and began to calculate how much a train to Nibelheim would cost.

He hates me, Zack realized, biting his lip hard enough to taste blood. "God, I'm so sorry, Cloud. I hurt you, and I betrayed you as a friend. That's unforgiveable. Nobody should have to go through what you did."

Cloud frowned, neck snapping to meet the other's gaze. "When the hell did this turn into a pity party for me? I got drunk off of my ass and came onto you!"

"You came onto me?" The words tasted strange in Zack's mouth, as though they didn't belong in that order. He blinked, trying to think back to the previous night. That couldn't be right. He must have taken advantage of Cloud.

"Well, yeah. Why else would you have-? I mean, I know you were drunk too. But I…"

"But I was the one who…" Zack sighed, looking from the bed to Cloud. "Cloud, I clearly hurt you last night. When I woke up, I was scared to God that I'd raped you."

"Raped me?" Cloud could have laughed if the situation was any less serious. "As if I would say no to you! I love you, Zack." Zack's brain, mushy from the start of the morning, melted into a pile of goo. Cloud rambled on with hopeless resignation, apparently not noticing the other's somewhat enlightened expression. "I'm sorry, Zack. I should never have let myself think of you in that way. It wasn't fair of me, taking advantage of our friendship to-"

Cloud was promptly shut up as a pair of lips pressed against his own. He gasped, pulling away only to find Zack toppling over him and pinning him to the floor with a stupid smile on his face. "Cloud…" He swooped down and kissed the boy again, and the cadet was too dumbstruck to do anything but enjoy it. Zack pulled away to whisper against his lips, "I think we're gonna be okay."