A/N:

Yay!!! I had time to write!!! just a special thanks to everyone who reviewed. you make me really happy and make my hallmates stare at me funny when I scream with joy :D

The awesome reviewers are...

ObsessiveCompulsiveValkyrie, mom calling, vLuna, Skyhanhunter, and Ethereal-Sage.

Thanks soooo much!

Disclaimer: I really really really really really wished I owned Zack and Cloud. But I don't. Damn.


His arms were too thin, legs not even close to having the same amount of muscle as the other potential recruits. And it was not only their physical appearance that disturbed him, but the internal sore he felt deep under his newly calloused skin. Cloud looked at the bruises marking his face, his arms, his chest, wondering if the pain he was facing now was even worth it, if it would even matter in the long run. Don't say that.

It was worth it. All those fights he lost, all the names… he could forget everything if he could get strong, if he could just get her to notice him. I need to make it into SOLDIER. Cloud put his infantry jacket back on and removed his helmet from his desk and placed it back over his head. His image faded from the full length mirror as he shifted from his small, messy room and outside into the barracks section of the SOLDIER department.

The young teenager walked through the halls, still wide eyed at the impressive yet impassive fighters surrounding him. His gun was holstered on his back, swaying vaguely as he stepped forward, legs no longer lagging but pounding strong on the linoleum floors. He ignored the never ending soreness and settled for a distraction. "Zack?" He approached the slightly older boy swiftly. The exercises, although harsh and sometimes ridiculously random, took his mind away from the excruciating discomfort he was currently feeling. He coughed a little, his voice feeling parched and soft still from sleep. "Zack?"

The black haired boy turned slowly, looking somewhat surprised. His eyes were rimmed with sleep, making him look exhausted. "Oh, hey Cloud! Ready for your warm-up?"

"Yeah, are you okay?" They were both walking further down the corridor, towards the training center.

Zack nodded blankly, "I'm…I'll explain it later. I just got myself in a really awkward situation."

The blond's eyebrows furrowed, half guessing at what Zack meant. "You know, SOLDIERs aren't allowed to have girls in the barracks, Zack."

"Hey! That's not what I meant!" Zack opened the door and swiftly pulled out his cell phone. "And for that nasty comment, I may just give you a bit of a challenge."

Cloud gulped, "Challenge?" He could feel his knees quake with pain already.

"Yup." He punched in a code of numbers and stepped back.

Cloud was quickly met with a tall figure, swiftly establishing itself from the virtual data of the training center. The environment shifted, the deep grey metal walls turning dark as night, and the floor turning into hard brown rock under his boots. There was a flash of white metal as the tall, silver haired man pulled out a long katana, aiming it towards Cloud's forehead. "Zack…" Cloud's breathe felt heavy. "You're kidding, right?"

"Hey, hey!" Zack's voice could be heard behind him, "Just be grateful you won't be fighting him in real life, eh?"

He immediately collapsed on the floor when the simulation ended, thoroughly exhausted, not wanting to sit or stand or even breath. But even with all the physical pain currently enveloping his body, Cloud's anguish seemed to be nothing compared to whatever the hell was going on in Zack's mind. "Um…Zack?"

His mentor stopped briefly from his crouching exercise and looked at him. "What?"

"Did you get demoted or something?"

"Demoted?!" He crashed on his side from the word, still unbalanced from his previous stance. Zack jumped up from the ground, gruffly dusting off his 2nd Class uniform. "No! Never! The day I get demoted is the day SOLDIER falls to bits."

"…Alright." Cloud softly scratched his head. "Um…then what's wrong?"

"Noth…" Zack stopped for a second, passive frown turning into a deep smile. "I just realized I was supposed to do something today, but I promised Cissnei I'd file this really long report that I kind of didn't start yet…so. Cloud, mind doing me a favor?"

Normally, Cloud was the kind of person who agreed to favors simply because it was an easy task, something one person should do for another. But doing a favor for Zack Fair usually had its twists. "…what kind of favor?"

"Eh, think of it more of an assignment."

"I'm not doing your paperwork."

Zack held up his hands, "No, no! Course not! I'll handle that. It's just…I have this letter." The black haired teenager fumbled though the inner pockets of his SOLDIER uniform and clumsily let go of the envelope into Cloud's open palm. "…The address is on there."

"Address?" Cloud glanced down, blue eyes immediately shooting back up. "This is in the slums?!"

Zack's frown deepened, but he quickly recovered, revealing his normal carefree state. "Yup yup. But don't worry Cloud. Just drop this off and then come straight back up."

"Okay." The infantryman replaced his helmet back on his head. "Is this some sort of Shinra mission?"

"No." Zack's tone turned violently serious. "It's much more important."

He couldn't concentrate on his paperwork, the day before taking over all of his thought. Zack shifted back in his chair and rubbed his eyes to try and relieve himself of the weariness and anxiety enveloping him. "Shit."

-----

"Aerith…"

She smiled sweetly, misty eyes looking up at him. "I…really missed you!" The young girl gave a slight giggle and backed away from the SOLDIER. "You haven't been here in a while."

He scratched the back of his head. "Yeah…I've been trying really hard to get to First."

"Of course." She gave a soft grunt, not to be disrespectful, but just to vocalize her omniscience. "Be careful." Aerith grabbed his gloved hand, leading him through the yellow and white flowers carpeting the ground. Warmth and feelings of nourishment swept through him.

The thought hit him then, how Aerith could nurture flowers like this, flowers this beautiful HERE in the slums. "Aerith, you…you're…"

She turned around, brown braid following behind her, "What?" Her green eyes looked piercing, looked otherworldly.

"…you're…" Zack shook his head. The feeling was there. The fuzzy feeling of comfort and desire was vanishing with the realization that he was being watched, all of his actions noted, all his words taken down. "You're beautiful."

Aerith gave a soft smile, but didn't turn her head away. Her gaze was still pressed on him. "Zack? You won't stay away too long again, right?"

"I…" His blue eyes flashed to her face, her hands, her dress, her hair, her eyes. "I can't promise that."

-----

"Hey! You done?"

The loud voice stirred him away. Zack Fair looked up from the piles of paper littering his desk and up to Cissnei, leaning on the doorframe. "Yeah, um, just about." It was a lie, but he must have been in here for a good hour already.

She smiled, "Great! I thought, um, maybe we could go on that lunch you mentioned before…?"

Lunch? He felt empty; the normal feeling of excitement of taking out a new girl suddenly gone. What's wrong with me? "Yeah! Definitely! Though I thought it was dinner…"

Cissnei blushed profusely and started towards the door, obviously embarrassed.

"Hey, wait! I'm starving!" Zack ran up to Cissnei, who gently leaned closer to him. As if on reflex, Zack placed his arm around her shoulder, vague feelings of warmth returning.

A/N:

I'll try to update soon...I just don't know what yet XD

byebye!

~Mira