This one came quick, happy reading :)

For Zack, the day couldn't have gotten much worse than it already was. He was chastised by Lazard for supposedly slacking off in a training simulation and after that, he wasn't properly able to teach the group of new cadets he was responsible for earlier.

For him, what had happened was affecting him more than he'd like to admit. If only Cloud could forgive him an inch per day, then he'd eventually reach a mile. Sometimes when he thought about it and would imagine himself in Cloud's shoes, he realized he might have behaved the same way. He understood.

But still he worried so much. Was Cloud alright, was he eating properly, would he come back to training?

More importantly, would he ever forgive him?

Zack could live without Cloud dealing with him, no matter how much he wouldn't want that, but it would have to be under the condition that he was alright and getting on fine without him. He wanted what was best for the blond after all. Cloud was just a kid, a very traumatized kid.

For the entire day his mind had been wandering, drifting to a place where 'what if' was as common as the fear that everything would fall apart. He hadn't seen Sephiroth all day and even though he didn't think he was obligated to a check in like a servant, it still made him feel better when he knew where Sephiroth was. Not that he didn't trust him, but he just felt better that way.

The door to their apartment came into view and Zack quietly entered before leaving his shoes and gear by the door. Maybe Sephiroth would be able to make him feel better, he tried so hard sometimes it warmed his heart. Sephiroth, in his own way was taking the situation in stride, always listening to his concerns and suggestions. He could see where the man was remorseful even though he never actually said so directly, but it was the little things he did that made the difference, that showed him he wasn't wasting his energy and time by staying with him. For Sephiroth, the wound was just as deep for him as it was for them all, he just had a different way of dealing with it.

If only Cloud could see what he saw, maybe he would relent, if even a little bit.

"You need to stop doing that."

Sephiroth's voice drifted to Zack's ears and that's when he realized he was in the room with him. "Sorry, I can't help thinking about things."

"I understand. I made dinner, want some?"

Zack nodded his head and smiled. The first step to being happy was having a full stomach…at least he thought so. He walked into the kitchen and smelled the delicious food Sephiroth had made, it made his mouth water.

"Can I at least get a welcome home kiss?" Sephiroth asked while stirring a pot with a wooden spoon.

Like he said, the small things mattered the most. "Sure, Zack answered."

The brunet went over and placed a small peck on Sephiroth's cheek before heading to wash up. When he came back the dinner table had his food already served with a single white candle placed in the middle.

Sephiroth walked over and pulled Zack's chair out for him. He was always a hopeless romantic at heart and what Sephiroth was doing touched him on so many levels.

"I'm hoping I am succeeding in at least taking your mind off things for a little bit," Sephiroth commented.

Zack smiled, "You are."

The brunet looked down on the food, spaghetti and meatballs, and smiled. At least the man was trying. They both sat there, enjoying themselves until Sephiroth commented that he had something to tell Zack.

Being the straight forward man that he was, Sephiroth just came out and said what was on his mind.

"I went to see Cloud this morning."

He watched the fork drop from Zack's hand before hearing it clink with the porcelain of the plate. It was evident from the look in his eyes that he wasn't taking that news lightly.

"You what?" Zack asked incredulously. How could Sephiroth do something like that?

"I needed to ask him for myself if he would reconsider his decision to hate you," Sephiroth pointed out. "It's obvious how deeply it's hurting you."

Zack wasn't sure how to respond to that, but Sephiroth shouldn't have done such a thing. "No. I mean, I know it's hurting me but Seph, you shouldn't have gone to see him. He'll think you're trying to intimidate and harass him and that's not what I want."

Sephiroth frowned, "I was only looking out for your well being."

"I know Seph but, you might have just nullified any chance I have of getting in Cloud's good graces. You don't just show up at the front door of the person you raped and expect them to receive you. That's bullshit!"

"My intention was not for him to receive me, but for him to accept you," Sephiroth answered, trying to understand why Zack looked about ready to explode. Was what he did such a bad thing?

"Don't, just don't do anything like that without asking me first, ok? It's too sudden and Cloud would hate us more then he hates us already" Zack pointed out. He threw the table cloth he had on his legs down on the table and stormed off to the bedroom. He was extremely pissed at what Sephiroth did and needed time to cool off. Maybe if he tried to plead his case one more time with the blond he would hear him out, it was better than sitting around doing nothing.

Sephiroth said nothing when Zack walked out the door, slamming it shut behind him. He figured he needed some time to cool off so he let him be. What he couldn't understand though is why being logical and practical was such a bad thing. He had no intention of ever laying a finger on Cloud ever again, but judging by his reaction, Zack didn't believe him.

*****FF7*****

"Cloud! Cloudy!" Reno bellowed while pounding loudly on Cloud's door.

Shit, not again.

Cloud angrily opened the door. "I told you I didn't want any more food from you when you brought me lunch."

Reno grinned, "I know but if you were cooking I would have known so since you won't feed yourself, I'll feed you."

Reno pushed past Cloud with the dish he had in his hand and set it down on the table.

Cloud tsk'ed in annoyance, glaring daggers at the red-head. "You know, I see why you'd make a good Turk; you're so damn nosy it hurts."

"Nosy and a good cook," Reno smiled before laying out the dish for Cloud. It was night time and he didn't see him eat anything since he brought him lunch in the afternoon from his surveillance.

"If you keep this crap up and I'll get fat," Cloud huffed, walking towards the table indignantly with his arms crossed.

"Some training will get you back in shape, how about going out tomorrow?" Reno offered.

"I'm not ready yet."

"Why?"

"None of your damn business," Cloud muttered with his mouth full of corn. It pissed him off that Reno could cook because it made it that much harder to resist his food.

"Take it from me, the fresh air and exercise is just what you need, yo."

Cloud rolled his eyes. "What I need is to be left alone Reno, I'll make a hole in the door so you can shove the food in without coming inside since you're so intent on feeding me."

Reno blew Cloud a kiss and the blond stuck his tongue out in retaliation. They both looked at each other for a second before bursting out into a fit of laughter. Cloud couldn't remember what it had felt like to actually have a wholehearted laugh since the incident, but right now it felt good.

Reno walked towards the door, "I'll bring you breakfast in the morning."

"Fine, I like my eggs scrambled," Cloud muttered with his mouth full. He had every intention of finishing Reno's food until he heard a voice he wished he hadn't, causing his insides to knot and his stomach to constrict.

*****FF7*****

Zack wasn't sure that trying to see Cloud the same night he had seen Sephiroth was such a good idea, but he just had to see what he could do. He stood outside Cloud's door, wondering if he should even knock or go back when the sound of laughing could be heard. He frowned, wondering who could be in Cloud's apartment with him. He could make out the teen's voice and the other was familiar although he couldn't place it.

It hurt, hurt to know that somebody else was getting Cloud to open up, bringing him back from the darkness that had threatened to consume him. He wanted to be the one that Cloud decided to trust again, he desperately wanted to be his friend. He needed to be accepted.

The door opened and Zack was greeted with the sight of Reno.

"Zack?"

"Reno."

There was pregnant pause, neither knowing what to say after that.

Reno turned around and looked at Cloud, who had his head turned away from them and his hands balled into fists. He didn't say anything other than to walk out the door and close it behind him. He would keep an eye on things from inside his apartment.

Zack looked over at Cloud after Reno had left. He smiled nervously before taking a few hesitant steps, "Hi, Spike."

Cloud, feeling like throwing something and cursing, just sat there saying nothing. He was silently counting to ten.

Zack rambled on nervously. "I…I'm sorry about earlier, Sephiroth should never have come here."

Cloud still kept quiet, making sure to not look at the other man.

"He won't try to see you again, I promise."

"Can I expect the same from you?" Cloud asked angrily.

"Actually… I…" Zack started but Cloud stood up abruptly, knocking over his chair in the process while glaring at him heatedly.

"How do you know Reno, did you send him to spy on me?" The red-head was really starting to grow on him, but it seemed that everybody was against him.

"What?" Zack asked confused. He did know Reno but he never asked the man to do anything for him. "No."

"I don't believe you," Cloud huffed while folding his arms across his chest.

"Cloud, please, I'm not asking for your forgiveness anymore, just your understanding," Zack pleaded. "I'm trying so hard to reform him. You can't see it but this is affecting him just as much as it's affecting you, affecting us. He didn't mean to hurt you on purpose, that's all I want you to understand even if you can't forgive him."

"Why are you trying so hard?" Cloud asked, frustrated. "You say it's Hojo's doing but yet still you don't know what it was like looking into his eyes while he raped me. He wanted it, he loved it, he craved it."

Zack wasn't sure what he should be feeling anymore; sadness, loneliness, grief, regret? Maybe he shouldn't be pushing his feelings on Cloud so much. It wasn't like getting raped was something somebody instantly recovered from, especially if the rapist wasn't being punished for their crime as far the victim was concerned. But he knew Sephiroth regretted it, regret it down to his core and all he wanted at this point was for Cloud to understand that, even if he couldn't accept it, just to acknowledge it.

Zack broke down a moment later at the cold look in Cloud's eyes, "I can't do this. Nothing I do seems to work."

To Cloud, Zack looked so pitiful he didn't know whether he should feel sorry for him or not.

He chose not, "I'll save you the trouble," Cloud announced, "I'm leaving ShinRa."

*****FF7*****

Tbc/

Ok peeps, so I'm almost done. I'm thinking one more chapter of an unhappy ending. I'm trying to be plausible and I personally would never want to have anything to do with somebody who raped me, so Cloud will just take himself away. As for Seph/zack, I was thinking to split them apart too. I don't see how they can have a stable relationship in this type of situation. I'm open to suggestions, maybe somebody else will have an idea I would like :)