Disclaimer: I do not in any way at all claim ownership of the characters, plots, or settings of FF7. They are Square Enix's. I do own any and all creatures/people/places/etc that are here-with created by me. Meaning, in other words, MINE!
Review Replys:
Kirallie: I'm glad Seph worked out. Cloud won't let Zack touch him becuase he has a fear of others getting to close. If and whenI get to revealing his past asI see it, you'll understand why then.
xXTwilight AuroraXx: Here's to the retchedly adorable bishie! And I'm glad my fic has intrigued you to the world of Zack/Cloud
Seiko123: I hope that means you like it. :D
Plague Rose: No intention of stopping anytime soon
Chapter 3
"Move your god damn feet, Strife! Do you WANT to be killed?"
The blonde grunted, the only indication for the pain he felt as the broad-side of the instructor's blade came down hard on his back. He growled, spinning hard to the left and pulling his blade with the momentum. The tip dragged in the earth, before slashing up diagonally. Steel clashed as the officer brought his weapon up to bear hastily, not expecting the sudden retalliation. He moved to press the young private, but found himself taking a step back as the blonde followed-up his first strike with a vicious down-ward swing. Twisting his own blade slightly, the officer sent his blade's edge screeching down the blonde's to lock at the hilt and pushed against the smaller boy. Grinning at the private, the officer edged his foot behind one knee, and tripped the boy up.
"I said earlier, watch your feet. Good effort, for once. Simmons! You're next! Strife, maybe you should think about a different weapon as well. You look ridiculous using a sword that big." He walked away from Cloud, moving to engage the next of his ten students.
Cloud scowled at his back, climbing to his feet and picking up the large buster sword. Ridiculous! Or are you embarrassed I caught you off-guard. He winced slightly, barely a twitch of a muscle, as the adrenaline seeped out of his system and he felt his right leg buckling. The blonde was grateful for once of the officer though, he had picked Cloud first. When done with thier one-on-one with the officer, the privates were allowed to leave. Being first meant he could leave without fear of Hirro and his lackeys waiting outside the doors. The three bigger boys cast him a malicious look as he walked out, focusing on keeping his pace smooth. Can't worry, Zack. Damn it! Its been a week since it happened though, my leg should be fine. He thought about heading to the infirmary, but shuddered at the thought of the white room with its sickening smell bleach and chlorofoam. I hate doctors. Always poking you and asking you stupid questions.
"Spike!"
He quickly turned, holding his massive sword in front of him casually, an effective way to stave off the dark-haired boy's usual greeting of jumping on him. Don't show it! Just push it aside, you big baby. You've hurt worse then this before, so you can damn well grin and fucking bear it. He nodded slightly to Zack.
"Now what kind of a greeting is that!" Zack demanded in a mock-angry voice. He had skidded to a stop when he saw the sword in the blonde's hands. "Come on! You know you wanna give me a hug!" He held his arms out, grinning in a disarming way.
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"You know you want to!"
"No."
"Fine. I'm still hugging you anyway!"
Blue eyes flew open wide and he dropped his sword as he back away hastily. The man had that look in his eyes when he was getting ready to pounce. "Zack, no!" His breath left him in a squeak as his ris became seriously constricted by the power in the other man's arms. "Let...go...breathe..."
Zack dropped him, scratching the back of his head while grinning. "Aw, sorry there, Choco. But you're so gosh darned adorable I forget my own strength around you." One, two, three.
"I AM NOT!"
Score! "You're so predictable, Spike. So, are you done for the day? Are you?" He gave the smaller boy big, watery, puppy-dog eyes.
The blonde slowly climbed to his feet, keeping his faced turned to the floor to hide how hard he was clenching his jaws together. "Unfortunately."
"Hey, you okay? You sound funny. I didn't really hurt you did I?" he circled around the boy as he stood, a contrite look on his face. "I'm sorry."
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Positive?"
"Yes!"
"Can I have a hug?"
"NO!"
The darker-haired boy sulked, trailing behind Cloud. "Will you cook dinner at least?"
His eyes narrowed. Zack never asked him that question unless he had already made plans. "Who for?"
Zack laughed, cheeks tinging a pale pink slightly. "Ah-ha ha. That easy to figure out am I? Well, I kind of invited Seph to dinner and someone really special to me."
He didn't know why he said it, later he blamed it on Zack rubbing off on him. But Cloud whirled around, as best as he could, and opened his eyes wide. "You mean there's someone in your life besides me? I thought...well..." He shrugged and turned away, concealling the wide-grin on his face as Zack remained rooted to the spot. "I'll just...get my things..."
Okay, either he's playing a joke or he's serious. And I've never even seen a HINT of humor in that boy. Which means...ah fuck! Way to go hot-shot! "Aw, shit Spike. I-I didn't know. Listen, its not like that, she's just a really good friend. And uhh...god damn it Spike, I never knew!" What the hell do I say? Damn, he's got a cute butt. NO! Focus for one second please! Wait...why is he smiling? Unless...unless... "You little...conniving, immature...tricking me like that!"
"The look on your face! It was priceless!" Cloud sputtered through laughter. It took several minutes for him to calm down, breaking-out again at the dumbfounded look on Zack's face. "Oh god." He gasped. "I don't think I've ever laughed like that." He started off towards what had become their apartment, the blonde insisting he could pay half the rent and help out.
"You...laughed. You actually have a sense of humor!" Zack exclaimed, rushing after the blonde and tackling him. "Let's see now if you're ticklish." He gave an experimental poke to the blonde's side, giggling as the boy squirmed.
It wasn't until a pair of black boots stopped beside the two that they finally stopped, and looked up into the jade eyes of Shinra's top Soldier. "I recongize the antics of Zack, but who the hell is the care-free blonde? Did you dump Cloud already Zack? That's pretty fast, even for you."
"Aw, Seph! Don't be so harsh! Of course I haven't left him, I just...enlightened him!" The Soldier said, grabbing Cloud around the waist as he tried to get up and hauling him back down. Cloud blushed, giving Sephiroth a salute from where he lay at the moment.
Green eyes rolled and he waved the private off. "So, is dinner still on or would you two like some alone time?"
With a desperate shove, Coud squirmed free of Zack's hold and leapt to his feet. And promptly fell to one knee, gripping the calf of his right leg. "Spike, you alright?" He nodded, pushing against the ground to stand up, and finding his leg couldn't hold his weight anymore. "Seriously Cloud, you need to let me know when stuff like this happens. How long have you been like this now? Two days? Three?"
"A week."
Several more curses followed and he started to inch along the wall away from the two Soldiers. "Where do you think you're going! No, you're not injuring yourself even more. Besides, at that pace we'll have to wait till next week to eat."
Cloud held out one hand, the old fear of being touched that had been absent for the last few days, returning as the Soldier strode towards him. Just like him... "I-I'm sorry! It w-wasn't my fault!"
"Well of course if wasn't, moron." He stopped before the blonde, an evil smirk forming. "Payback's a bitch, Chocobo." Using the mako-enhanced reflexes he had been endowed with, the man grabbed the private around the waist and flipped him over one shoulder, steadying him with one hand on the small of his back. "Ready to go, Seph?"
The silver-haired man felt his mouth pulling up in a small smile and he motioned for his friend to lead the way. Cloud stared at the back of Zack's shirt, wondering how the hell he got there, and why was...Zack's...hand..."ZACK!"
He was jounced slightly as the man carrying him chuckled, but at least the hand on his ass had moved back to his back. "Sorry Spike. Couldn't seem to help myself. I mean, it is your fault, tempting me like that with your little stunt earlier. No, don't ask Seph. That's just between me and my 'special' friend."
"You named it again?" Sephiroth asked. Cloud craned his head back sharply to look at him, gaping.
Zack flared a bright red. "No, I didn't. And do you HAVE to keep bringing that up?"
"Mhmm. You shouldn't have gotten so drunk."
"Oh look, here we are. Seph, be a dear and get the door. And shut up."
He dropped the blonde gently onto the couch, kneeling down in front of him. "Let me see it." Cloud sighed, and yanked up his pants leg, could already hear the anger and shock in Zack's voice when he would finally see why the blonde had kept his injury hidden. "By the planet. Spike...I think this is fractured."
"That would explain the pain." Cloud muttered grimly.
He's been walking around with this thing for a week! How did I not notice it? The other boy looked up at him, eyes serious. "Cloud, tell me who's doing this already?" He frowned as his friend shook his head. "Why not?"
"Its my problem, I'll fix it."
He looked away from Zack's grey eyes, to meet the appraising look in Sephiroth's green ones. He flinched and looked away, insteading watching as Zack activated a Fullcure. It was always fascinating to watch and the private couldn't wait until he was taught how to use one. So much power, compounded into so tiny a thing, the concepts of materia could hold the blonde's interest better then anything else. "There you go, good as new. For how long though, I don't know. Just...promise you'll tell me next time you're hurt."
Cloud winced. He hated to make promises. "I can't make a promise I might not keep." He looked down, pleased to see the large black and purple bruise was gone and the swelling around the area had disappeared as well. He stood up and took a step, grinning slightly when he was abel to move as easily as before his fight. "So, what do you guys want to eat?"
"Can I help?" Zack asked, springing to his feet and into the kitchen.
"NO!"
Cloud and Sephiroth stared at each other as they simultaneously shouted the word. Zack sulked, mumbling to himself. "Mutinous...traitors..took him in...my kitchen..."
Sephiroth looked over at him. "Zack."
"What do you want, traitor."
"Look, a butterfly."
The grey eyes went wide and a brilliant smiled formed as Zack whipped around in the direction Sephiroth had pointed. "Where? Where!"
"It just went out the window."
A pause. "The window's closed."
"Yes, I know. The butterfly closed it."
"Oh." He shrugged and plopped onto the couch, switching on the T.V. "Wait a second...butterflies can't do that." He gave the taller man an accusing look. "Oh, hey! What time is it?"
Sephiroth looked up from where he had been sampling the sauce Cloud had set to simmer. "Almost 5, why?" A knock on the door seemed to answer him and he looked to Zack for answers.
"Ah, she's here!"
"She?" The two others asked in unison.
"Zack!"
"Aeris!"
They watched as Zack grabbed the brown-haired girl and swung her around, Aeris giggling the whole time. They pulled back, staring at one another and Zack yanked gently on her braid. "I swear, this has gotten at least another foot longer since I last saw you."
"Just under actually. Hi, Sephiroth. Its been so long since I last saw you." She peered around Zack's shoulder to see the third person. "Hey Ken...oh! I'm sorry, I don't believe we've ever met." She turned back to Zack. "Are you and Kenji...?"
"Yeah. Awhile ago. Apparently I didn't take things seriously enough and he couldn't handle it anymore. Came home one day when he was leaving. Didn't say a word, just left. I heard he's stationed out near the borders of Wutai now." Zack shrugged and closed the door.
She patted him on the shoulders, glancing curiously at the blonde again. "If its any consollation, I never liked him. So, is he you new boyfriend?"
The man blushed and shook his head, looking to see if the other two had heard. Sephiroth had an indifferent look about him, but his piercing gaze gave away that he was listening in, and Cloud looked dumbstruck. Oh yeah, they heard. "No, no nothing like that. He's just a friend and my roommate. Besides, I'm pretty sure he's straight." Zack whispered. "Hey, Spike! Come over here, I need to introduce you."
Turning down the heat first on the oven, he padded over to the two and took Aeris' offered hand. "Nice to meet you, ma'am. Cloud Strife."
She smiled up at him. "Nice to meet you. But please, call me Aeris." She looked him over with a critical eye and Zack almost interceeded in what he new was coming. "Wow, I bet you got all the girls in your hometown, didn't you Cloud."
He blushed and rubbed his neck. "Uh, actually no. I'm wasn't really...interested in them. They were...they didn't like me either." Understatement of the century Cloud. Try the fact that they hated you almost as much as the boys did.
"Oh. I'm sorry." Suddenly she was hugging him and he was too shocked to return it. "Now you have at least one good memory of a girl. I'm glad I met you Cloud." She pulled back and walked over to Sephiroth, who gave her a painful look.
"Do you have to?"
"Yup!"
He gave her another long, suffering look, before dropping his arms enough that the girl could give him a hug as well. "You know, you're damagng my reputation beyond repair."
"I know." She giggled. "Oh wow! What smells so good! I know it can't be Zack, and you would never dream of sullying your hands with the mundane task of cooking," She ignored Sephiroth's frown, "So, does that mean you're the master chef, Cloud?"
"Uh, yeah. I guess so."
Zack slung an arm over Cloud's shoulders. "Isn't she great? Don't worry, you'll get used to her soon enough, she's a lot of fun."
"Uh-huh. So, who's Kenji?" Zack blushed and stammered, looking away, much to Cloud's amusement. "Was he your honey bunny?"
"Oh shut up! He's just an old boyfriend."
So, he's either gay or bi. Interesting. FInally, I have something I can tease him about. Cloud smirked to himself briefly. Until he finds out your little secret. The small smile vanished as he cast a glance at the man next to him, still babbling about random things. This could complicate things, couldn't it Strife.
"Cloud?"
He looked up at the mention of his name. "Huh?"
"You're sauce is starting to boil over and the water's ready for the noddles."
"Shit!"
Aeris wandered back over to Zack, watching as Cloud literally shoved Sephiroth out of the kitchen area, the man looking shocked that anyone had dared do such a thing, and worked furiously to save dinner. "Domesticated, isn't he? He's awfully cute, Zack."
The dark-haired Soldier looked at her. "What are you getting at?"
"Nothing, just that one like him won't stay single for long. Oh! Are those violets on the porch!" The Cetra gave a mischevious wink before dashing over to the flowers.
Zack stared after her. What the hell was that supposed to mean? He won't stay single for long. He stared at the blonde, now pulling out silverware. Hmmm, she's right.
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A.N. Wow! I don't think I've ever updated so quickly in my life. I wrote this in under 48 hours. I'm really enjoying writing this and I'm glad to see I have some regular readers already. Let's see, my next update may take longer, because my next two weeks are full of finals from school. That and I also want to write some more in my stories Priestess and Monk, as well as Wingless Angels.
I really wanted to protray Zack as a kind of happy-go-lucky puppy almost in this story, but who can and will be serious when a friend is injured or in danger. I also wanted Sephiroth to be cold and indifferent, to all but those who take the time to actual get to know him beyond his title. And Aeris, well I just love Aeris to death and I wanted her to be the mischief-maker in a way, but also a loyal friend and an advisor. I always thought she would be much less serious if her mother had never died, yes she's not dead in this fic, and if Shinra had never tried to capture her. Especially with Zack as a friend, who doesn't become a bit of a trouble-maker after knowing him?
Anyway, I will hopefully get the fourth chapter done sometime next week. If not, I'm terribly sorry, but school does come first afterall. But after these two weeks, I get four weeks off to myself and then I can really get down to writing. Anyway, Happy Holidays to one and all. I do have one Christmas wish for you all. Reviews:D
All I want for Christmas is some nice reviews. And maybe a hug and cookie too.