Ok, so this is the awaited last chapter that is unfortunately, not a last chapter :P I thought I could have fit the idea of all the ending into one chapter, but alas, I couldn't. I figured my readers would prefer this small chapter since I wouldn't have updated in a while if I did try to type it all out. The last chapter will have Seph and Zack's break up, so stay tuned for that :)

Your thoughts and comments are appreciated as usual, thank you to those who've commented and faved so far^^

Zack's eyes widened and he looked at Cloud, stunned. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Somewhere in the corner of his mind a tiny a voice was telling him Cloud wouldn't, shouldn't leave no matter what because he wanted him there, but the more logical voice told him it wouldn't have been so bad because at least Cloud could heal properly that way. Neither made him feel any better.

Zack's voice faltered. "What? Cloud, you can't…" He reached a hand out to the teen, wanting him to take it and reassure him that he wouldn't break his heart by doing such a thing, but it broke any way when Cloud turned his back on him, walking away as if it would make him go away. "…you can't leave me."

Cloud rested his hands on his hips and turned around with a deep frown on his face. "You know Zack, you're really dense for somebody who says they're looking out for a friend. How many. Fucking. Times, Zack? How many times do I have to tell you that you having a relationship with Sephiroth is the worst thing you can do to me? The man raped me."

Zack's eyes blinked with unshed tears and he could feel his throat constricting, this isn't what he wanted to hear, wanted to feel. He felt like his heart was about to beat out of his chest. "I'm not doing it to hurt you Cloud, he needs me..."

"And I've needed you after my ordeal Zack, but you would rather be shacked up in my molester's bed, probably making babies and I'm supposed to be comfortable with that? No fucking way!"

"I…it's not like that at all. I need you too," Zack pleaded, his eyes glossing over with need, with pain. Why was it so damn hard to let Cloud go?

Cloud didn't like the mess that Zack had become, he looked so heartbroken he almost wanted to go over and comfort him, but the devil on his shoulder was telling him to let the man suffer. All he needed was some reassurance from Zack that he was on his side, that he could see his pain, that he knew that Sephiroth was wrong. Wanting to play the big brother while brushing his ordeal under the rug made him feel so put off he felt like screaming and hitting something; mainly the man before him.

"Yeah? I don't need you Zack. You got your revenge for what Hojo did to you, didn't you? Why can't I get justice for what was done to me? Oh right, I forgot, you're fucking him…..right?"

Cloud said the last part in a sarcastic tone and Zack flinched. He did get his revenge, didn't he? The man that did unspeakable things to him was now dead, and if he put himself in Cloud's shoes it would be like Cloud went into a relationship with Hojo even after what he had done. He shook the thought from his head and tried to think of reasons why Cloud should stay, why he was trying so hard, why he was pushing himself to the limit. Why he was breaking.

"It's not the same," Zack muttered. The wide eyed look he got from Cloud said it all, he thought he'd lost his mind.

Cloud wanted to make some snappy come back, to find something hurtful to say but the statement through him for a loop. Zack was as self righteous as they got saying that to him; who did he think he was?

"How is it not the same?"

Zack stuttered, should he just tell the truth and come out with it, was it wise, was it safe? Was it worth it? "I…I love you."

Cloud was taken aback. He thought he'd heard everything but this one took the cake. "Y…you l…love me?"

Somehow those words sounded so hollow coming from Zack's lips, like something a mechanical toy or something out of his imagination would say. It did make sense with how persistent the bastard was being though, even if it wasn't what he wanted to hear. Cloud's eyes narrowed. "How could you?"

Zack had a crestfallen look on his face and he diverted his eyes from Cloud's, not wanting to face the reality of what was happening. His confession hadn't helped the situation any, if anything he just push Cloud further away. Now the pain in his chest was increasing immensely, but he didn't care. He wanted Cloud to stay, had wanted him to be his even if he knew he couldn't have him. He wanted….no, he needed them both; his ying and his yang.

Zack rubbed his right elbow nervously with his left hand before speaking, "I…"

Cloud jabbed a finger accusingly at Zack. "Don't you dare, don't you fucking dare utter another word Zack. I've had it with your bullshit and your mind games! Get the fuck out of my life! GET OUT!" Cloud screamed after cutting Zack off, his body shaking with the hatred that enveloped him. Of all the things for Zack to say, of all the things he could have done, he spat on Cloud's intelligence like he took him for a fool. Him saying he loved him only made things a hundred times worse. How could you love someone and trivialize their rape in the same breath? How could he, how could they? Sephiroth had come to his apartment all high and mighty on his high horse, pretending as if they were merely cadet and General, expecting him to give Zack the time of day.

But Zack, Zack was just so…un-fucking-believable. He was a selfish prick that wanted everybody for himself, regardless of what it was doing to them. He just couldn't wrap his mind around Zack's reasoning, it made his head hurt.

Zack could feel his heart rate speeding up, his body trembling from fear. He couldn't understand what was happening to him, why he feared Cloud's reaction so much he felt like fainting. The pain in his chest wasn't helping any, especially since it started to increase with each passing moment, with each shaky breath.

Those eyes…Cloud smiled slightly and it didn't reach his eyes, but who was he to care when the blond was smiling. Cloud slowly started to walk over to him, his blues eyes a catalyst of emotions. When he was right before him Cloud slowly started to reach a hand out, as if wanting to touch his face. He greedily tilted his head up, hoping against all hope that Cloud had finally seen, had decided to give him a chance…had decided to love him back.

The slap that Zack received resonated around the room like the ripple effect of a pebble against a calm water surface, echoing with a ring before fading completely.

For Cloud, that was just the tip of the iceberg.

But for Zack, it was a rude awakening to his delusion of acceptance, the shattering of his vestige, the breaking of his heart. There was no room for argument, no room to try and maneuver his feelings, no room to breath.

Cloud didn't know what had happened; he saw when Zack's head whipped to the side from the force of his slap. He was expecting some form of retaliation, or at the very least a glare. Zack didn't move, didn't look at him and that worried him a bit, it was like he was completely frozen, in total and utter shock. Zack heaved, made a huge intake of breath before collapsing to the floor.

Cloud's eyes widened before he knelt down beside the brunet, checking for a pulse. It was there, but it was faint.

"Shit, Zack!" Cloud screamed before putting his ear to his chest. Zack's heartbeat sounded way too irregular to be normal. It sounded like it was literally going to beat out of his chest. "Zack!"

Cloud was stunned, what should he do, what could he do? Before he knew what was happening a hand had grabbed Zack up into a sitting position. When Cloud looked up it was Reno that was in his apartment. The lanky man moved Zack around until he had him thrown over his shoulder and in a flash; he was out the door with him.

Cloud stayed in his kneeling position on the floor, thinking about what had just happened. He now knew, staying here was hurting Zack as much as it was hurting him. He had to get away, as far away as he could from all of this. His mind was made up; fuck the one week notice one had to give before leaving ShinRa. He was leaving tonight. By tomorrow night he should be back in Nibelheim with his mother, sipping hot Wutainian chocolate tea and forgetting everything he left behind.

Getting up, Cloud grabbed a knapsack he had on hand and began stuffing it with a few toiletries, a few pieces of clothes and enough food items to last him until he reached home. There was nothing here for him, nothing but hatred and fear and bad memories. In a flash he was out the door and heading towards the complex's main gate. He knew that with the privileges Sephiroth had bestowed upon him he could leave if he wanted. Not looking back, not feeling any regrets, Cloud left the ShinRa compound and headed towards the train station that would help take him home.

Tomorrow should be a new day.

Tbc/