"Cloud!" Zack burst into the cadet's dorm room, clutching his laptop under one arm. "You're not gonna believe this news!"

Cloud glanced up from where he laid reading on his bed, raising an eyebrow at Zack's dramatics. "What's up, Zack?"

"OnexLostxSoul has written an interactive story!"

Cloud huffed, rolling his eyes and returning to his textbook. "Whatever. That's not so great."

"But it's about you!"

Cloud froze, his fingers pinching the next page. "Wh-what?"

"It's like this," Zack explained, not bothering to shut the door as he sat upon Cloud's bed. He flipped his laptop open and gestured to the screen. "In the story you play as... well, Cloud. Depending on your actions, you can get a romantic ending with Sephiroth, Genesis, Angeal, or…" Zack's face flushed slightly. "Yours truly."

"What the hell?" Cloud yanked the laptop out of Zack's grasp and settled it before him. "Is that even legal?"

"Well, not on FFNet, anyway," Zack explained. "That's why you have to visit OnexLostxSoul's LiveJournal for the link to the story. But that's not all! There's a code word if you reach the romantic ZackxCloud ending. The first three people to redeem that code to OnexLostxSoul by means of e-mail, LiveJournal, or PM can request a Final Fantasy VII one-shot. OnexLostxSoul will write it for you, and finish by Christmas."

"This is an infringement on my rights!" Cloud sneered, bringing his index finger to the touchpad of the computer. "...Now how do I get the ending with Sephiroth?"

(A/N: I couldn't resist. XD But Zack and Cloud speak the truth. I've written an interactive story in which you make decisions as a reader. Those decisions can land Cloud a love life with any of the First Class favorites… or no love life at all. If you can find the ZackxCloud ending and you're one of the first three people to redeem the code at the end, you can make any FFVII request one-shot you like, and I'll gladly write it for you. You can go to my profile for the link to my LiveJournal, or just type it on in, removing the spaces naturally:

onexlostxsoul. livejournal. com/

Please post to my LiveJournal or PM me on FFNet and let me know what you think.

I'll be posting frequently on my LiveJournal to let anyone who's interested know the status of chapters. If you have a LiveJournal yourself, please feel free to befriend me and we can chat away about writing, FFVII, or total nonsense. )

Mama-

I'm sorry it's been a while since I last wrote to you. A lot has happened in the past two weeks. The workload in my new classes is a lot more intense than I thought it would be. These assignments actually require some degree of mental capacity. After running laps and pumping iron for seven months, it's taken me some time to get back into the swing of academic work. Most of my old unit was deployed to Wutai today. It came as a surprise to everyone after President ShinRa's speech last month about finally stabilizing and withdrawing. You don't have to worry, Mom. They won't send me abroad until I'm finished with my SOLDIER training, and the war will probably be over by then.

Since you're always asking me, I thought you should know that I've found 'someone special'. The situation is complicated, but whose relationship isn't, right? I'm not sure what to expect; my life is going through a lot of changes right now, and I don't know how this will all play out in the end. But I have my dreams and I have someone who loves me. All-in-all, things seem to be working out pretty well. Don't worry about sending me a letter just yet. Next week I'm going to buy a mobile with the money I've saved up and we can talk properly then.

Yours,

Cloud

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

Genesis wasn't entirely sure how it came to this. One minute he was filling out a mission report, the next he was sitting on the floor against his desk with Zack Fair's head in his lap. Clinical psychology wasn't exactly in his job description, but it was certainly a lot more interesting than paperwork. "I'm sorry, Genesis," Zack was saying, as he lay staring up at the ceiling in a daze. "I couldn't go to Angeal, not now. After everything I've done, he must think I'm…"

"Zack, Zack, Zack," Genesis cooed, stroking a hand through the teenager's hair. "Angeal doesn't think any less of you for what happened. He's not disappointed in you, he's disappointed for you. Nobody's first time with the person they love should be in a drunken haze." His attempt at comforting the younger man backfired rather stupendously. Zack let out a pathetic groan, lifting his hand and slapping it over his eyes. Genesis rolled his eyes as he plucked the SOLDIER's hand away and threaded it in his own. "Do stop whining. Everything worked out in the end, didn't it?"

"I should have been responsible. I cheated him out of a really wonderful experience."

"Think of it as the 'inciting incident' to your relationship. It was the means by which you both came to learn how you felt about each other. Sure the circumstances are… unusual, but that doesn't change how you feel. You're starting off on a clean slate. Don't let yourself feel guilty over something that can't be fixed."

Zack sighed the most dramatic of sighs. "But it was a-"

"Ah!" Genesis touched a finger to the man's lips, effectively silencing him. "Alright, Zack. Let me make this really simple for you. Do you feel lucky to be with Cloud?"

"Of course." Zack looked as though Genesis had just asked him what color Sephiroth's hair was.

"And does Cloud feel lucky to be with you? All modesty aside."

Zack pursed his lips, turning his attention to the ceiling as he contemplated the matter. A vision crossed his mind, one of a dazed Cloud lying on his couch, asking Zack why he was risking so much for him. "Yeah. Yeah, I think he does."

"There you have it. You're happy, he's happy, everybody's happy."

"I'm not happy."

Zack jolted at the sound of the newcomer's voice, nearly bashing his head against Genesis'. The auburn-haired man lazily glanced up to see Sephiroth standing over the desk, lips quirked in slight amusement. Strands of silver hair fluttered over his shoulders as the man leaned forward to tap the papers scattered about Genesis' desk evidentially. "You were meant to have these to me an hour ago."

"It can wait." Genesis flipped a nonchalant hand through the air. He was Genesis Rhapsodos. The world would wait for him. Never mind the paperwork. "Zack is having an emotional revelation."

"Sephiroth's right." Zack leapt to his feet and straightened his clothes in one swift motion. "I better get going. Thanks for everything, Genesis. I'll call you later."

"Zack!" The teenager paused in mid-step out the door. Genesis shot him a wink, curling his left hand at his lips. "Bring the kid 'round my place sometime."

"Are you kidding?" Zack laughed. "He thinks I'm the coolest thing ever since making First! If I introduce him to you, I'll destroy the illusion."

"True enough."

Zack promptly stuck his tongue out at the man (which Genesis swore he would have yanked straight out of the other's head had he not been so comfortably seated on the floor). With a much more respectful nod toward Sephiroth, Zack slipped out the room. "I humor him too much," Genesis announced, idly resting his head against the desk. "Rookie Firsts think they can get away with everything." Sephiroth gracefully joined him on the floor, as if proper social etiquette called for it.

"I take it that means Zack settled his little lovers' dispute?"

"That's correct." Genesis allowed himself to lean on the man's shoulder, a slight smile pulling at his lips. "It seems that, come to think of it, there was really no dispute after all. Matters of the heart can be ambiguous." Sephiroth's arm wrapped around his waist and Genesis found that gentle, expectant gesture was enough to make his own heart race.

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

Cloud couldn't stop a pained hiss from escaping his lips as the needle slipped through his skin. Zack held tightly to his arm as he flinched, ensuring that the needle was not displaced.

"Ah, sorry!" Zack focused on the syringe in his hand to avoid the expression of pain on the other's face. He forced himself to press the mako in steadily, ignoring the impulse to yank the damn thing out. "And to think, my mother always told me I should have gone to medical school," he muttered as he slowly withdrew the needle. This earned a weak chuckle from Cloud, who tipped his head back onto the couch cushions in preparation for the expected nausea. Zack leaned over to kiss Cloud's forehead and gently squeeze his thigh before stepping away to erase the evidence of the crime.

"Any new classes today?" Zack asked as he carefully wrapped the glowing green vial of mako in a dark cloth and slipped it into its slot of disgrace within the briefcase.

"Um…" Cloud fought through the fog of his mind, attempting to regain the lucidity Zack was testing for. "Yeah. Tactics. They handed out a module handbook that's about five inches thick. Professor must be about eighty years old."

"No way! Marwick?" Cloud frowned, then nodded in recognition. Zack laughed, snapping the briefcase shut and dragging it back to its hiding place under his bed. It wasn't very creative, but it beat leaving the thing in plain sight. "That guy taught Angeal and Genesis when they joined the army," he called from his bedroom. "And he was old back then! If you manage to stay awake during lectures, you'll learn a lot from him."

Cloud forced a sound of acknowledgment from the back of his throat, succumbing to a mako-influenced daze. He closed his eyes for a moment, or at least what feels like a moment. But his eyes fluttered open and he was staring up at Zack, who had somehow maneuvered the younger's head into his lap without him noticing. "How are you feelin'?" he asked, mouth curved into a perfect Zack Fair smile. It could have been the mako, but Cloud swore that the other man glowed.

"Fine." Cloud attempted to prove this by sitting up, but his head swam and he sank back down with a groan.

"Easy, Cloud." Zack smoothed a hand over his forehead. "It's normal to feel like a little out-of-sorts. You're not getting sick anymore, and that's the important thing."

The cadet nodded, and the subsequent dizziness made him instantly regret the action. He shut his eyes and focused on his breathing. Zack's hand continually threaded through his hair and the action was still so intimate, so strange that it made his heart… well, hiccup. "Keep talking. I always feel worse after I fall asleep. What incredible feats did First Class SOLDIER Zack Fair accomplish today?"

Through quivering eyelids, Cloud could see Zack's shoulders shake in a silent chuckle. "I bravely sat through a three-hour leadership seminar. They won't promote me until I go through all of the accreditation and stuff. I was sitting next to Sephiroth. Don't tell anyone, but I think he fell asleep halfway through."

"No way, Zack."

"It's true! He had his head bowed like he was in really deep thought or something, but his eyes were completely closed. Not that I blame him. Sephiroth is probably the last person in the world who needs to attend a leadership seminar. Protocol, you know? The Director wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't make us sit through boring lectures every once in a while." The word 'us' tasted oddly on Zack's tongue. His ever-expressive face shifted into a frown without his permission, and Cloud reached a languid hand up to stroke the man's cheek.

"S'matter?"

"Hmm? Oh, it's…" Zack shrugged. He lifted a hand up and pressed it over Cloud's as though to keep it in place. "It's nothing."

"Liar." Cloud pulled himself up despite Zack's protests and sat upright on the arm of the sofa so that he could meet the man's eyes. "What's wrong?"

Zack couldn't help but smile. It was so like Cloud, half-nauseous and half-asleep, to want to help Zack sort himself out. "Sometimes I feel like I'm being… patronized."

"What do you mean?"

Zack released another heavy sigh, eyes shifting away from the other's. He hadn't imagined it would be this difficult to talk about. If it was anyone but Cloud, he might not have been able to explain it. "When I look around at the other First Class SOLDIER members, I feel like I don't belong in their ranks. Like I'm not quite on their level, you know? I feel like I weaseled my way in sometimes, as if I'm…"

"The runt of the pack?" Cloud seemed much more alert now, his lips tipped upward in a knowing smile. The raven-haired man nodded slowly. "I feel that way too. I think everyone does, sometimes. But you've worked so hard, Zack. You deserve this, even if you feel like you don't." The man raised an eyebrow and Cloud simply shrugged. "Don't believe me? Whatever. You'll have plenty of opportunities to prove it to yourself."

"I'm a little surprised, that's all." Zack reached forward and cupped the other's face, earning a crimson blush. "For such a quiet guy, you know just what to say. I think you should do a little more talking here and there." The words were sealed with a kiss. Cloud looked so dazed when Zack pulled away, the man was momentarily concerned that he might faint. "Cloud? Y'okay?"

"Uh-huh." Cloud lifted a hand to his own face, willing away the embarrassment manifested there. "I just, ah, need some water."

"Wait here, I'll get it!" Zack leapt eagerly off the couch, leaving Cloud to settle into his vacant spot. The SOLDIER snuck a peek at the blonde cadet over his shoulder, his mouth curling into a smile as he saw Cloud touch a finger to his lips. They had struck a silent accord that their relationship would be approached with far more caution than had been exercised on their first night together. It was, after all, Zack's first steady relationship and Cloud's first relationship period. There was a permanent shift from friendship into romantic intimacy that Zack had found enthralling. The radiant virtue Cloud possessed was charming; it made Zack want to treat him delicately, more so than necessary. The young man was, after all, going to be trained as a SOLDIER. The very thought made Zack's chest swell with pride-

"Ah-!" Zack jerked his hand back when he felt water drizzle down it, having overfilled the glass of water. Of course, the sudden motion caused additional water to splash down his shirt. The glass slipped from his hand and shattered against the floor.

"Zack? What was that?"

Apparently staring at Cloud was a pastime to be regulated.

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

Zack always thought the idea of snow was pretty romantic, if nothing else. Pure white flakes suspended in air, whirling about the rhythm of the wind only to land on your tongue and melt. Tiny iced speckles clinging to your eyelashes and hair as the landscape was covered in a soft white blanket that bowed to your step. Sounds kinda nice, doesn't it? Well, Zack Fair could now safely tell you from experience that snow was the farthest possible climate from romantic.

It snowed rather heavily twenty miles north of Kalm, where Zack was currently carrying out his first mission as a First Class SOLDIER. Well, there were pure white flakes suspended in the air, alright. And they were all aiming to accumulate on the thin jacket he'd thrown over his uniform. If you stuck out your tongue to catch snowflakes, it would freeze off. The tiny iced speckles accumulating on his eyelashes were gluing his eyes shut. And the 'fluffy' blanket of snow currently crunching under his feet was the reason why the convoy was now trekking through the iced hills on foot, as the company truck had failed to live up to its four-wheel drive capabilities.

On the brighter side, he'd sneakily signed himself up to lead Cloud's first trial mission. It meant a lot to be with Cloud for his first mission; it was one of the most important days in a cadet's life. Zack could still remember his own: Sector Five, monster eradication. That was the day he'd met Angeal, back when the First Class legend wasn't too important to run trial missions with cadets. But Zack had admired the way Angeal had carried himself, like a true hero, and made every effort to impress the man. Given a few months, they were inseparable. What would it be like, Zack wondered, if every infantryman could have a mentor like that? Many more would reach their peak potential, he supposed.

He had made something of a game out of guessing which of the three cadets trekking behind him was his boyfriend; those uniforms made them all look the same, but he speculated that the leftmost one was Cloud. He had a habit of putting his right hand on his hip near his gun holster whenever Zack stopped. Cloud always exercised a little extra caution.

"Alright guys," Zack announced, rubbing his gloved hands together and turning to face the recruits. "If you read the memo, you know we're hunting Ice Golems. They mostly hang around up north, but they can migrate down to the edge of the continent on drifting glaciers. They've been running around Kalm freezing people, and the town is running out of hairdryers to thaw the citizens out with." Zack winced when absolute silence met his joke. He'd like to think it was due to nervous jitters rather than his own flawed humor. "Anyway, they were seen around this area just this morning by a group of fishermen heading for the coast. I wasn't planning on the truck getting stuck and there's quite a bit of ground to cover, but we're still gonna do our best. Agreed?"

"Sir!"

"Now, keep on your toes. The Golems only come up to about this height-" Zack gestured to his mid-calf. "But they'll freeze you up in a heartbeat, so always keep moving and try to keep the fight long-range. To our advantage, they're physically slow. Aim well, move fast, and keep your distance. All clear?"

"Sir!"

"Right, then. Keep your eyes peeled." Zack turned on his heels and released a nervous breath, fogging the air in front of him. He wasn't used to giving orders; he'd spent the last few years of his life waiting for Angeal to tell him what to do. For once, the entirety of the mission (the objective, the safety of his subordinates, the security of a town) rested on his shoulders. The responsibility was enough to make him want to hide under his bed and live off of potato chips.

Zack paused at the top of one of the higher hills, reaching into one of his many pockets to withdraw a pair of binoculars he used to survey the snowy landscape. "I'm looking for any traces of displacement in the snow," Zack explained for the benefit of the cadets shadowing him. "Any tracks we find are bound to be fresh, considering the recent overnight snowfall. When you're heading into a severe climate, make sure you check the weather reports and prepare yourself accordingly." Zack's eyes narrowed, and he adjusted the focus slightly. "Alright, I'm seeing some indents on the side of that hill. Small, but deep. Ice Golems are drawn to concentrated areas of heat, which they subsequently try to eliminate. If we don't find the Golems, they'll find us."

Cloud tried to bite back a smile as they continued trailing the First Class SOLDIER. The man had flawlessly fallen into the role of a leader, as Cloud suspected he would. How lucky he'd been to be assigned to Zack for his trial mission! Sure, he was standing in the bitter cold and there was absolutely no sign of the target, but excitement kept his blood pumping with adrenaline. For once, he'd be aiming for real monsters. Not painted targets or holographic threats. He couldn't help but be nervous. Many horror stories of trial missions circled around the barracks. Cloud just wouldn't be able to live with himself if he froze up in the middle of a battle, or shot one of his allies in the foot.

"You guys ready for this?" the infantryman beside him asked under his breath.

"Yeah," Cloud muttered, forcing his hand to edge away from his gun. Stupid nerves were turning him trigger-happy.

"You bet," replied the cadet on his far side. His voice dripped with confidence, and it made Cloud feel just a bit less jumpy. Now, it didn't matter what their exam grades were, or what new reasons the sergeants had found to scream at them. Here, they were simply comrades in arms.

It was a mile's walk before Zack paused again, hand retreating to the hilt of the sword strapped to his back. The cadets jerked their guns out of their holsters and waited in dead silence, unable to pick up on the slight disturbance that Zack had sensed. It had been… a crunch in the snow. But different from the crunch of the terrain beneath combat boots. A suspicious crunch. It was-

Ice Golems sprang up from the surrounding terrain, rifting the faultless blanket of snow and encircling them. Zack whipped his sword from its holster and sliced at the nearest one, all while jerking his head back to assess the situation. The cadets began firing rapidly upon the targets, which numbered about eight or nine. The deafening sound of bullets being fired was unfamiliar and unnerving. It reminded him of the battlefront in Wutai…

Focus, Zack.

Zack dodged a Cold Snap and the icy winds barely graze his cheek. He unleashed Fire magic on the two nearest golems, which let out blood-curdling hisses as they disintegrated into ashes. Three down. He glanced back toward the cadets, who had broken formation to fight from a distance in accordance to his orders.

Cloud's heart pumped so hard, he swore he could feel it leap into his throat. He paced swiftly back and forth on the icy terrain as a sluggish Golem sent crackling icy winds whirling toward where he'd stood a mere moment before. His eyes raced between the enemy and his allies, lost in the heat of his first battle. He paused for a moment, unleashing a round of bullets that took down the nearest Golem.

"Behind you!" The voice of a comrade.

Cloud reflexively dashed to the left, whether the comment had been aimed at him or not. He barely escaped the brush of the icy magic. They're surrounding us, working as a team. Luckily, they could manage the same. He shot down the last Golem in his range before dashing to join a fellow cadet being ganged up on by three of the blasted ice devils.

Two of the cadets had joined in a tag-team force, leaving Zack to assist the fourth member of their squadron, who was shifting his aim between two Golems. Zack threw up a Barrier against one, leaving his partner free to attack the remaining monster. "Get ready!" he called, and the cadet nodded in affirmation. He released the shield, giving his comrade full range. Zack held back, suppressing the twitching need to attack as he watched the final monster fall at the hands of his subordinate. He breathed a sigh of relief, though his smile was quick to fade when his attention returned to the farthest two cadets. Cloud had stripped off his helmet and tossed it aside, hovering over his fallen comrade whose entire right leg had been completely iced over.

"Zack, come quick!" His slip of the tongue in addressing Zack went completely ignored. The man was beside him in an instant, gently pressing the wounded cadet into a reclined position.

"Don't worry," Zack spoke with feinted calmness, discarding his jacket and draping it over the boy. He scraped the snow off of his right glove before holding it to the injured leg. "I've dealt with this before." Or at least, I've seen it dealt with. "What's your name?"

"S-St-Stannis," the cadet forced through chattering teeth. "Russell Stannis."

Zack smiled down on the boy, hoping that his own alarm wasn't apparent. "Hold still, Russell. This won't take too long."

Cloud watched on in awe as the ice began to gradually melt beneath Zack's touch. Water streamed down into the snow below, and the First's hand began to trace its way up and down the block of ice. The Fire materia, Cloud realized when he saw the soft glow emitted from the man's glove. Zack was utilizing the magic at a low concentration.

After melting the ice, Zack rolled the seam of Russell's pants up and rested the pallid leg on his lap. "Don't try to move it, yet," the First warned, as he peeled away his gloves and began massaging the life back into the younger man's limb. "It's going to be numb for quite a while. We'll have a medic give you a quick look over when we get back to headquarters. Having any trouble breathing?"

"N-no, Sir. Thank you, Sir."

"Good. Cloud, reach into my back pocket and pull out my phone."

Zack's voice was so authoritative, Cloud instinctively responded: "Yes, Sir!" He retrieved the mobile and flipped it open.

"Speed-dial number three. Ask them how long it's going to take for the helicopter to reach us."

Cloud hit the button and held the phone up to his ear, trying to still his shivering.

"Tseng speaking."

Cloud cleared his throat. "Um, Lieutenant Fair would like to know when the helicopter is going to reach his squadron."

"What are your coordinates?"

"The coordinates, Zack?"

"What?" Zack let out an irritated sigh. "Hold the phone up to my ear. Tseng, don't pretend that you can't just trace us using the tracking signal on my mobile. We're more than a little frostbitten out here."

A pointed sigh was heard, along with the tapping of keyboard keys. "The helicopter was dispatched half an hour ago. It will reach your location in ten to fifteen minutes. You really should know your coordinates, Zack. What if your cell phone malfunctioned?"

Zack couldn't help but chuckle. "Then I guess I wouldn't be calling you, asking you to send us a helicopter."

A sound of indignity was heard just before Zack motioned for Cloud to shut the device off.

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

Mission Level: Trial

Objective: Eliminate Ice Golems terrorizing Kalm area.

Squadron Leader: Zack Fair, SOLDIER First Class

Infantrymen Assigned: Doran Gaine, Russell Stannis, Cloud Strife

Mission Status: Completed

Accident Report: Breakdown of company vehicle, registration number HJB546. Injury: Russell Strannis, mild hypothermia. Attained from contact with Ice Golem.

Zack slumped from his seat on the couch and slid onto the floor with a dejected sigh. He wanted to cast the clipboard away, somewhere it wouldn't taunt him. But no, he would hold it just where it was so he could stare at it. Miserably. He'd completely flopped the first mission assigned to him. What kind of squadron leader lets an underling's leg nearly freeze off? An irresponsible, unworthy, pathetic, low-life-

The automatic doors to the Firsts' lounge shifted open followed by a "There you are!", effectively interrupting his self-berating. Angeal seated himself on couch above Zack, folding his arms and glancing over the younger man's shoulder at the report held limply in his lap. "I've been looking everywhere for you, Zack. I tried to call-"

"Sorry. M'phone's off." Zack felt his throat tighten and he fixated his gaze on the cursed mission report. Angeal was the last person he could possibly face now. The man who'd taught him, trained him to be everything he couldn't seem to live up to no matter what he did.

Angeal's warm smile faded, as did the 'congratulations' at the tip of his tongue. "Zack, what's wrong?"

"I…" Zack's hands clenched, bunching the fabric of his pants. "I screwed up the mission." Unable to speak further, he wordlessly handed the mission report to the other.

Angeal scanned it, his brow furrowing. "It's not your fault if the company equipment breaks down."

"No, no." Zack swallowed hard. "Keep reading." He waited. He waited for Angeal to scold him for his irresponsibility. He waited for the man to lecture him about honor. What he received instead was laughter.

"What, the 'mild hypothermia'? Zack, you'd have to be a miracle worker to make it through a mission like this without a minor injury. You can't stop everyone from getting hurt. You gave the cadet on-site treatment, didn't you?"

"Well, I mean… yeah."

"So he spent a few minutes shivering. What else could you expect? You were fighting Ice Golems."

Zack's dismay edged away to make room for bewilderment. He glanced up, meeting Angeal's gaze with wide eyes. Was the man seriously writing this off like it was nothing? "But he was under my command! If anyone should have gotten hurt, it should have been me!"

Angeal shook his head, proceeding to do a most curious thing. He slid down onto the ground next to Zack, handing the report back to his former student. "Zack, do you remember when we were on mob control in Sector Six?"

"How could I not? I got stabbed in the side by some crazy loon. Genesis looked really impressed. Said he never saw so much blood come out of one person before."

Angeal crossed one leg over the other in an oddly casual pose and tipped his head back to rest it on the edge of the sofa. "I was pacing outside of the operating room in a frenzy, and I spent every moment blaming myself for what happened to you."

"But it wasn't your fault!" Zack said, perhaps more loudly and forcefully than he meant to. "You told me to draw my sword to intimidate the crowd, but I was too scared I'd accidentally hurt somebody. If I had, things probably would have settled down and I wouldn't have gotten hurt."

"And this," Angeal tapped the mission report in the other's hand, "isn't your fault. The welfare of your subordinates is a top priority, but it's realistic to expect injuries. It's unavoidable in our profession. If I blamed myself for the death of every comrade I've commanded and battled alongside, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning."

Zack sighed, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. "Sorry. I must sound stupid to you."

"Quite the opposite." The heaviness of Zack's chest faded as Angeal's hand clasped his shoulder. "Taking responsibility for the safety of your comrades is the sign of an honorable leader. Russell Stannis is probably back in the barracks right now, completely cured of his 'mild hypothermia', telling all of the other cadets how incredibly cool you are."

A smile finally pulled at Zack's lips. He was quiet for a moment, idly shuffling one shoe against the ground before murmuring, "Thanks, Angeal."

"You know, I'm proud of you."

Did he? Hearing those words made Zack's eyes feel hot and wet. "Yeah," he whispered in a thick voice. "I know."

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

"Try again. You'll get it."

Cloud heaved a sigh, lifting his left hand and examining it as though trying to find the source of the problem. Equipped in his glove was a simple, low-level Barrier materia that Zack had provided for him to practice with. So far, he'd only been able to make the thing glow a little bit. If there was anyone else practicing in the training room, he would have died of embarrassment by now. "What am I doing wrong?" he asked, waving his hand about in midair with a frown.

"It takes a while to get used to." Zack stepped forward, taking Cloud's hand into his own and squeezing it. "But once you do it the first time, you never forget. Don't rely totally on the materia to do its job. It may have potential, but it draws its strength from you. Concentrate. Feel the warmth, the circulating energy." Cloud retracted his hand, turning away to face at the wall. The only warmth he could feel was the blood circulating to his cheeks. "Let's see, how did Genesis put it? Materia is a middleman between you and the Lifestream. Thinking of it that way has always helped me."

"A middleman?" Cloud flexed his hand, glancing curiously back at Zack.

"Yeah. Theoretically, the Lifestream can't be channeled without materia. It's your middleman! So to speak."

Cloud extended his hand and shut his eyes. If he focused, he could feel the pulsating energy of the materia… A flash of yellow energy materialized with a hiss before him, and it shocked Cloud so much that he tumbled backward into Zack's arms. "See, you've almost got it!" Zack righted his boyfriend into a standing position, keeping his hands interlocked at Cloud's abdomen. The blonde infantryman inclined his head back with a smile, and Zack leaned forward…

"Well, well, well. Never thought I'd have to cite Fair for misuse of the training room."

"Commander, Sir! Zack, let go!" Cloud snapped to attention, trying to shrug Zack's grip away. The First Class ignored him as he pouted at Genesis, who stared quite intently at them from the doorway.

"I'm showing Cloud how to use materia," Zack explained, while the blonde cadet simply gawked.

"Of course you are." Genesis strode forward and pushed Zack aside. "Make room for a real expert." He took the man's place, pressing himself up (most unnecessarily) against Cloud and wrapping his arms around the cadet's waist. Cloud froze beneath his touch, unable to breathe lest he thought it might displease the Commander.

Zack's jaw dropped. What. The. Hell? Who did Genesis think he was, barging in here like that? Oh, so he thought he could just steal away Cloud? Just like that, huh? Not happening! He would draw his sword and challenge Genesis to the death for Cloud's love! …Damn, he left his sword in the locker room. It would have to be melee! Or rock-paper-scissors. Zack always won at rock-paper-scissors!

"What Zack said is only half-correct," Genesis breathed against Cloud's ear, and the blonde thought his legs might be melting from underneath him. Auburn locks of hair tickled his cheek as the Commander's strong body pressed up closely against him. "The materia is more than a 'middleman'. It is a medium. The Lifestream pulses with mako energy, which you as a human are partially composed of." Genesis' arms tightened around him, and a hand was placed directly over his heart. If the man noticed his erratic heartbeat, he never indicated so. "Feeling the power of the materia isn't enough. Feel your own power. It's inside of you, flowing as the Lifestream flows. Let the materia make the connection."

Cloud wasn't sure whether if it was the Commander's words, the need to impress him, or sheer dumb luck. But when he raised his arm and cast the spell, a complete Barrier appeared in front of him. Genesis pulled away with a satisfied smirk, leaving Cloud's flesh tingling where his fingertips had brushed it upon his retreat. "Um, thank you, Sir." Cloud dismissed the spell, taking an unconscious step forward to steady himself.

"Not at all." Genesis turned back toward Zack, whose cerulean eyes were darkened by an uncharacteristic glare. The redhead smiled, striding casually up to Zack and twirling a rouge strand of raven hair between his fingers. "Relax, Puppy," he whispered, casting the man a wink. "I'm just playing. I like my men… taller." He kissed Zack's cheek (which subsequently reddened), before slinging an arm around his shoulders and facing Cloud. "I've heard a lot about you, Cadet Cloud Strife. Zack speaks of you constantly. In fact, he almost never shuts up."

"S-Sorry," Cloud spoke reflexively, swearing that the blush painted across his face was officially permanent. No, that wouldn't do. He had to impress Genesis, if only because he was Zack's friend.

Genesis waved away his apology with a flick of his hand. "Let's see. I've gathered from Zack that you are 'adorably shy', 'ridiculously smart', 'super-duper strong', and that you make an amazing macaroni and cheese."

"Zack exaggerates," Cloud said, unable to suppress a smile. "My macaroni and cheese isn't all that good." Genesis melodious laughter filled the room, and Cloud's heart did flips in his chest. He made the Commander laugh! This was the biggest accomplishment of his day! Of his week! Of his life!

"I approve," Genesis whispered in Zack's ear, before turning to make his grand exit. "You can keep him, Puppy."

The door slid shut just as Cloud asked in an amused voice, "Puppy?"

Zack shrugged, shuffling one foot awkwardly against the ground. "Seph n' Gen n' Geal call me that," he explained in a murmur, suspicious of the way Cloud's grin kept getting wider.

"Hm. You know, that's cute." Cloud stepped forward, resting one hand on Zack's shoulder and the other on his waist. "What Genesis said. Did you really tell him those things?"

"I may have mentioned them in passing." Zack's hands curled around the younger's hips. "Does it bother you?"

"Actually…" Cloud leaned upward and planted a chaste kiss on Zack's lips. "I think it's sweet." As though just coming to terms with his own actions, the blonde pulled away with a dark blush. He pulled a mobile phone out of his pocket and held it up for Zack to see. "I bought this today. Had it approved by ShinRa and whatnot."

Zack's eyes lit up immediately and he yanked the phone out of the boy's hand to program his number into it. "This is awesome! Now I can text you during meetings about how bored I am!"

Cloud laughed, accepting his mobile back and shifting it nervously between hands. "There's just one thing…"

Zack patiently waited for Cloud to explain this 'one thing'. After fifteen seconds of silence he prodded, "What's up?"

"Well, I mean, you see…" The young man took a deep breath. Why was this so hard? "I'm gonna call my mom today. For the first time in a really long while. And I was wondering if you wanted to meet her. I mean, you know, talk to her. I know it's kinda silly, but I really like you, Zack. It's important to her and… it's important to me."

Zack's next breath felt like ice in his lungs. 'It's important to me.' Every socially fluent person on the planet knew that those words signified a vital chance for a boyfriend: the chance to totally succeed as the greatest person of all time, or the chance to fuck up royally. Cloud's pleading blue eyes made up his mind before he could consider the consequences. "I'd love to meet her, Cloud."

The two sat side-by-side against the wall of the training chamber as Cloud fiddled with the device in his hand. Beep! He jolted a little, as though the noise had startled him. Zack bit back a smile, reaching over to wrap an arm around the boy. Cloud sighed and began dialing. A terse silence passed over the two of them, and Zack could just barely make out the ringing on the other line. It was then he came to a full realization of what was happening, and his heart skipped a beat in his chest.

"What if she doesn't like me?" he whispered, to which Cloud rolled his eyes.

"Name one person who doesn't like you."

Before Zack could come up with a name, the ringing gave way to a voice: "Strife residence."

"It's me."

A soft gasp. "Cloud! Oh, Sweetie, it's so good to hear your voice! I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too, Mama," Cloud spoke softly, before clearing his throat to settle the thick emotion in his tone. Zack pursed his lips and rested his head in Cloud's shoulder to silence his laughter, resisting the urge to squeeze the boy tightly. That was just too adorable.

"Oh, I'm so glad you called. Tell me, are you eating well?"

"Um, you know-"

"Are you keeping your room clean?"

"It's pretty-"

"How are your classes?"

"Oh, they're-"

"And what's this about a 'special someone' you wrote to me about? I want to know everything!"

"That's… sort of what I called about." He glanced toward Zack, who offered him a dazzling smile and a thumbs-up. "They're here with me right now." Zack's eyes widened and his smile slowly faded. He didn't overlook Cloud's use of gender-neutral pronouns. Didn't Mrs. Strife know…? "I'll put 'em on now."

The next thing he knew, Zack had a mobile in his hand and Cloud was pacing in the middle of the room, raking one hand nervously through his hair. "What do I say?" he mouthed, to which Cloud simply made frantic gestures that could have meant anything. He was going to have to start teaching Cloud proper field signals sometime soon. Zack took a deep breath and said in his clearest, most charming voice, "Hi, Mrs. Strife! My name is Zack Fair, SOLDIER First Class!"

A pause ensued before a sweet, soft voice kindly said, "Oh! My apologies. I thought Cloud was going to pass me along to his girlfriend."

"Um… Well, that would be me, I guess!" Smooth, Fair. "What I mean is-" What did he mean? He glanced up at Cloud, who was biting his lip and twisting his hands anxiously together. Zack's next words were spoken calmly, as though he had forgotten to whom he was speaking: "I'm your son's boyfriend. And he means the world to me." Cloud's apprehension melted away. His hands fell to his sides, and he simply stared at Zack like he was the shiniest piece of materia in the world.

Fifteen seconds of absolute silence passed before the woman spoke again. "May I speak to my son, please?" Her voice cracked somewhat on the last word.

"Of course." Zack held the phone out to Cloud, who lifted it slowly to his ear.

"Mama?"

"Cloud, Sweetheart... Are you-?"

"Gay?" Cloud took a deep breath. "Yeah. I am."

"You never told me, Honey." Her voice wasn't dripping with disappointment or anger… Simply incredulity. Cloud reasoned that was a good thing.

"I know. I… It didn't really matter until I met Zack."

"Does he make you happy?"

"Very."

"And he's… he's good to you?"

"Yes."

A sigh could be heard. "Alright. Can I speak to Zack, please?"

"Sure."

Zack accepted the phone with a nervous swallow. "Um… hello?"

"Zack Fair." He flinched. This stern, sharp voice was nothing like the one Zack had spoken to moments ago.

"Y-Yes, Ma'am?"

"You treat my son well, you hear?"

"Of course!"

"You listen to everything he says, you respect him, and if you can't control your hormones, you use condoms. Understand?" Zack's jaw dropped. "Understand?"

"Yes Ma'am!"

"I don't care if you're a First Class, Second Class, or Fifteenth Class SOLDIER! If I hear you've hurt my son, I'll be on the next ferry to the western continent to pummel you into the ground." Mrs. Strife's tone abruptly shifted into a sweeter, more motherly voice. "Now, then. Tell me about yourself, Zack. Do you have any hobbies?"

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

"That was a cruel trick," Zack stiffly informed his boyfriend as Cloud flipped the mobile shut, Mrs. Strife having exhausted her many questions for them both. "You could have at least told her I wasn't a girl."

"You know why I did that, don't you?" Cloud pocketed his phone and slid down the wall to sit next to the other, his smile bright.

"Because you wanted to see me suffer?"

"Not quite." Cloud reached out and intertwined their hands, squeezing Zack's gently. "My mom is protective of me. Overly so since my father died. If I told her I was gay right away, she would have panicked, assuming I was being taken advantage of. It's better that she met you first."

Zack wouldn't have believed it, was it not for the solemn sincerity in Cloud's voice. "You have way too much faith in me," he finally said, though his lips twitched into a grin.

"Not so. Everything turned out alright."

"I guess it did, didn't it?"

"Mhmm."

"…Cloud?"

"Yeah?"

"If we ever get into a fight, please don't tell your mom. I'll be dead before we can make up."

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

Sephiroth knew something was still out of sorts. It's not that he wasn't trying. That couldn't have been the problem. At least Genesis seemed more content. Sephiroth supposed that some good had come from his efforts to be a proper lover. Like now, the auburn-haired man was smiling at him. Not smirking or scoffing. Really smiling. That was happening more often than not, as of late. Sephiroth did what made sense; he reached over the bed, closing the gap between them with a kiss. The First Class SOLDIER melted into his touch, trailing a hand over Sephiroth's back in a gesture of sheer affection. When he wrapped his arm around Genesis and settled next to him, the older man's mako-blue eyes positively glowed. After a few minutes they fluttered shut, and Sephiroth simply watched as the man fell asleep in his arms.

Genesis' delight seemed to stem from the tiniest gestures Sephiroth had recently implemented into their sex life. He'd admit the word 'love' had caught him off-guard, but there was no reason he couldn't live up to Genesis' expectations. The kisses, the embraces, simply staying the night in Genesis' bed… That last one could be something of an inconvenience, but it was nice seeing Genesis as pleased as he was.

So why wasn't he happy? Was it some personal flaw of his?

They had been teenagers when they were first deployed to Wutai. The shock they felt was unparalleled when Angeal was assigned to domestic welfare and remained in Midgar. Before that, the three of them had been inseparable; ShinRa's pet projects, always pushed to the brink and deriving the strength they needed from each other. Being away from Angeal had left a void so deep, they had been forced to cling to one another more desperately. Thus, a relationship had developed, carrying with it implications that Sephiroth hadn't fully understood at the time. The emotional intimacy was comforting, and the sex had been pleasurable.

Time and war had hardened Sephiroth. When he didn't need that emotional intimacy the same way, the relationship had dwindled down to… well, sex. He had become domineering over Genesis in the bedroom, and the man's uncharacteristic submissiveness had deluded him into thinking the other was content with their arrangement. It wasn't until recently he'd understood how much Genesis had been hurting. Sephiroth had taken it upon himself to fix things. It was his fault, after all. He couldn't help but be disappointed; his behavior had changed everything for Genesis, and nothing for him. He wanted to feel what he saw in Genesis' eyes every time they kissed. But whatever excitement he'd felt in Wutai, experimenting under sleeping bags and fucking away fears, was gone.

Why couldn't Genesis just be happy with sex? Why couldn't Sephiroth just be happy with the other's affection?

Genesis let out a soft noise, shifting himself closer to Sephiroth in his sleep. The man's train of thought broke, and he allowed it to stay that way. Perhaps he was looking too deeply into this. The sex was even better now, and Genesis' smiles were genuine. If a kiss or two could do that… what was the harm?

xXxFightingTheTidexXx

To: GRhapsodos at ShinraGlobalNet

From: AHewley at ShinraGlobalNet

Subject: Re: Puppy's Mission

Yes, it seems my worries were misplaced. Zack is back to his normal self again. He and Kunsel ended up decorating the twenty-first floor with bits of paper from all of the shredding machines in the entire building. (Don't ask me what they were trying to do; apparently it was a prank on Sephiroth gone wrong).

I wanted to thank you for all of the support you've lent Zack over these past few weeks. He values your friendship more than words can say. I'm glad he has someone to turn to for relationship advice and whatnot. I'm not really cutout for that sort of thing. That being said...

You know that I'm here for you, Genesis. I've always respected your boundaries, but I'm not blind. I can see what's happening here. Please, talk to me. I don't want to see you get hurt.

Send E-mail?

...[Cancel].

E-mail Deleted.

(A/N: Malone- if you're reading this, I just wanted to thank you for your continual support. You consistently leave me input, but I couldn't return the favor because you post anonymously. So, thank you very much! :D )