Update 8/13/17: This work has been edited and beta'd by the lovely and awesome ChaosBalance over on Ao3 who has been an amazing help throughout this journey.


"Zack come on. Wake up!" It was nice to dream of that voice. He hadn't heard that voice since his first life.

"Lieutenant SOLDIER First-Class Zackary Fair!" The command had him jerking out of bed faster than the other person was ready for. This caused them both to be caught in the whirlwind that was Zack causing an unfortunate clanking of head against head. Zack blinked his eyes as he looked all around him, taking in the sight of his disorganized Shinra issued Soldier-Second bedroom and the man standing next to his bed holding his forehead. Zack felt it quickly sinking in that he wasn't dreaming. Angeal really was waking him up.

Ignoring his pounding head, Zack impulsively jumped on his mentor, who was still having issues with seeing straight, "Angeal!"

"Down puppy," the man grunted as he tried to push Zack off of himself. It was of no use. Zack had latched on and was not letting go. It didn't matter to Zack that Angeal was a General SOLDIER First-Class, he was not letting go.

"But you're here," Zack all but whined. Angeal was already gone by the time they were brought back in their second life. He didn't have a chance to save Angeal in their second life, so he wasn't very prepared to see him in this one. The last time they had been brought back was after the mess of Genesis and Angeal deserting and them making an enemy of Shinra. This time would be much different it seemed.

"Of course I'm here. You didn't show up for morning training and you didn't show up at your office either." Angeal reprimanded. His scolding lost a bit of its effectiveness with Zack wrapped around him like a squid. He had finally realized the folly of his struggles against his raven haired mentee, and thus let his arms fall loosely to his sides. Though he wasn't quite his mentee anymore since his promotion.

Zack deflated a bit at the tone of voice, but he couldn't stay down for long, not now that he was brought back again. Especially knowing that there was a better chance this time around to save everyone that was important to him. He would do everything in his power to make sure that everything worked out for the best. 'So, I don't think I should mention anything about time travel yet. I'll wait until I have to, to try to explain any of that. I'll just be the puppy friend that the generals need.' Zack thought to himself. With that decided, Zack smiled even brighter.

"I might have over did my training yesterday. I feel fine now though." Zack said, looking a little sheepish as he finally let go of Angeal to scratch the back of his head and look away. He slowly took in his surroundings as he felt new bits and pieces of information fitting into place. As Zack leisurely looked around his room, he took note of all the packed boxes.

"Don't push yourself too hard after getting your First injections. You don't want to overdo it. You might have been cleared by medical, but those injections are not to be taken lightly. You can still lapse and have a negative reaction to the mixture." Angeal's caught himself before he let his lecture get too out of hand. He knew that Zack understood the risks before accepting the promotion to First-Class. "Also, don't forget that the movers will be here later today to move you to your new apartment on the 60th floor." Angeal said as he eyed his student. Zack seemed different somehow, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"Oh, I know. I feel fine now. I must have been exhausted when I got back last night though. Anyways, I was just trying to remember what day that was supposed to happen. I still can't believe I got the promotion already." Zack said, taking on a sheepish look again. His mind was alight with all of the new possibilities that were opening up to him. There were already changes to the timeline and as far as he knew he hadn't done anything yet. It was going to take more than a hot shower to help him sort out some of the new information. That and maybe a talk to his two favorite people. With that thought Zack started to gather up his uniform.

Angeal stared for a bit longer than was probably polite but who wouldn't, Zack seemed to have mellowed overnight. It was something that he had thought to be an impossibility before coming to wake the raven haired man up. He was still an excitable puppy, but it was as if he was more mature. He shook his head to dislodge that thought. He must not have had enough sleep the night before. "As long as you're okay. Just try not to worry me like that."

"You got it. Thanks for waking me though. I'll be in my office after I get a shower in. I must have been tossing and turning in my sleep a lot or just forgot to take a shower after training yesterday, 'cause I smell, and not a good smell either." He grabbed the last article of clothes that he was looking for and practically ran into the bathroom. "Later 'Geal!"

It was different, having events that hadn't happened to him in over two lifetimes feel fresher in his memory. It was as if he had just lived it. In a way he had. His body was from this time so it would only make sense. It was easy to forget the small details after only a few years let alone a few decades. Not that he was going to complain, it just helped him come up with a perfect excuse.

Angeal was left there rubbing his head, staring at the closed door that his student had gone through. He stared at the bathroom door until the sound of running water brought him back to his senses. "I'll see you later then," he shouted over the water as he turned to let himself out. He picked up a few interesting words over the sound of water when Zack raised his voice a few times before he could leave.

"….can't freak... Angeal… alive… forced… kill... cry later… have… job…" Angeal stood there in confusion for a minute before shaking his head. His puppy must have had a bad dream. There was a lot that he was missing that his hearing couldn't pick up. Maybe he'd ask later. With that thought he finished walking out of the apartment.

Zack stood in front of the mirror with the faucet running as he stared at his reflection. Cold water dripping down his face from where he'd splashed it, masking the tear tracks. His breathing was ragged and his eyes were dilated. He was prepared for a lot of things coming back a third time. Being woken up by Angeal when he first got back, was not one of them. All of the emotions he thought he had dealt with over that first life were threatening to break him. At least he didn't break down in front of Angeal and he was able to keep himself composed. It was a near thing though.

"Cloud, I wish you were here," Zack whispered as he closed his eyes. Just thinking of his blonde haired lover gave him the strength to keep pushing forward. He was able to pull himself up and above the raging storm his emotions were causing in his heart. Turning off the faucet and moving to turn the shower on, Zack took one last shuddering breath before becoming the Zack everyone knew. He'd break down when he had Cloud by his side and no sooner. Well, maybe sooner when he went to visit Aerith.

While the First was stripping off his clothes to climb into the shower a thought occurred to him. He remembered the painful feeling of his soul mark changing but he had no idea what it looked like now. Zack finished shedding his clothes to be able to see his mark.

It took his breath away with how beautiful it was. He smiled as he traced it with his finger. It had hope for the future welling up again, until he noticed that it was no longer whole. "Nope. Not dealing with it right now. I'll talk to Cloud or Aerith about it."

Zack visibly shook himself out of further thought of his soul mark. He had more immediate problems to deal with. He would have to make sure that he didn't draw too much attention to himself. He also had to avoid the labs like the plague. Hojo and Hollander did not need to find out that he had pure lifestream running through his veins. Just the thought of those two men being alive and in the same building had Zack fighting the urge to find and kill them. Not that that wasn't the plan to begin with anyways, but there was no need to draw unneeded attention to himself.

Then, there was the fact that he had no way to get in touch with his blond haired soul mate. He could only wait, as patiently as Zack could, to hear any news from Cloud. In the meantime, he had the option of going down and bugging Aerith for any information that she had. Of course, the issue of Turks would be a hurdle. One he'd like to try to avoid if at all possible.

Out loud Zack said, "So, I guess I should do my work even though there are other things that need to be done. I'll get what I can done and then go talk to Aer and see what she knows." He was quiet for a moment as he let the water cascade over his head. "This sucks, I can't be without my Chocobo. Ugh, this is going to be a long day." With his ranting out of his system, Zack finished getting ready for work and took off.

He waved and said hi to everyone he passed as he followed the familiar path to his office. Even though he had lived two lives now, Zack was still the most optimistic and friendliest person you could meet. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry seemed to sense that he was in a hurry, as no one tried to hold him up or talk to him for more than the pleasant formalities he offered. It wasn't until he was rounding the corner to the hallway that would lead to his destination, that he noticed anything different. Bright green eyes surrounded by a shock of vivid red were wide and staring at him, as if they were looking at a ghost.

"You!" They all but yelled pointing their finger against his chest.

"Hey, I didn't do it this time. I was asleep all morning. I have proof. I even missed my training with Angeal and he had to come and wake me up." He kept babbling trying to placate the wild eyed red head. He did not want any of his friends mad at him. He also would not be blamed for a prank he didn't commit.

"Course it was you. Who do ya take me for? I don't have time for my head to be in the clouds. I'm a Turk," Reno drawled as he brought his hand back to himself palming his EMR and gave Zack a bit of space. "I still have no idea how you did it, but there was that garden you managed to grow in Tseng's keyboard. They were some pretty flowers, but man was he pissed when he noticed them growing."

"You can't blame that one on me! I was gone for two months before they started growing. I only heard that it had happened." Zack argued as he glared daggers at Reno. He was so not going to try and get him in trouble for one of his pranks.

Reno held his hands up in defense. "Ok fine, that one might have been one of mine. But there was the paint rainbows on the infantry vehicles windows."

"Ok, that one definitely wasn't me. I know those guys have to deal with Heidegger. They don't need to be tortured with pranks too."

"Ok I'll give you that. I wonder who did pull that one then." Reno cocked his head in thought for a moment before shaking the thought away. He gave Zack a mischievous smile before opening his mouth again. "I know for a fact though that you're the one that got Rude to eat a toothpaste filled Oreo."

Zack stares at him for a minute. He pulled that off with Reno's help in their first life. Rude never ate anything Zack offered to him again. It had also not happened in this current life. "He still won't eat anything I give him, will he?"

"Probably not, seeing as he still hasn't forgotten about it." The Turk said with a smirk as he looked Zack in the eyes. Letting him know in his own way that this conversation was more serious than some pranks.

"Anyways, I was planning on going to see a friend down in the slums once I get done with work. Maybe buy a flower from the girl who sells them down there. What do you think about me buying you and Rude a round of drinks at the new bar? I think it was Heaven something or other?" Zack asked as he started doing squats as a way to ease his tension. He had gotten better at using code but it still wasn't his best quality. He was hopeful that Reno remembered that.

"Yeah that would work yo. I'm sure Rude will be down for it. I think a few of the other Turks were wanting to go out as well. You wouldn't mind them tagging along would ya?" Reno flipped his EMR up to his shoulder as looked to be in thought.

Oh he definitely remembered, and from the sounds of it, some of the other Turks did too. This was going to be very different this time around if more people were going to be remembering their past lives. "That would be fine. How about you take a break from the drinking until then? You look like you're already tipsy."

"Well you better not get the idea to go out to the cliffs if you get drunk again." His accent was coming on thicker and those eyes that were just a bright green seemed dull. "I mean, I don't want to have to get the other Turks to help me save your sorry ass. We almost… didn't…make it last time."

Zack stopped his squats to stare at Reno. His voice had gone so low and his accent so thick Zack almost couldn't understand what he was saying. "Hey, I'm here now. Yeah it was stupid, but there will be no more stunts like that again!" he said trying to reassure the Turk.

Reno nodded his head and began twirling his EMR around as he started to walk away. "Don't do anything I wouldn't!" he hollered over his shoulder as he headed to the elevators.

"Like what? Drop a Plate?" Zack called out for a more personal confirmation that Reno remembered.

Reno paused without turning around. His drawl thick and his voice was low when he answered, "That's why I've already started drinking for the day. Stupid question, yo." Then he was vanishing into an empty elevator.

Zack gazed at the elevator Reno disappeared into for a few moments longer, almost wishing he could take back his questions. He didn't mean to hurt him, just confirm that he remembered everything. He eventually shook his head, turning to his door to unlock it. Once he was safely in his new office, Zack realized he might not get done with his work before he had to bail on it all.

"Let's do this," Zack muttered as he hunkered down at his desk to get to work, all the while cursing his younger self. He didn't let his mind wander, even though that's all it wanted to do. He didn't train in discipline with Cloud for nothing. Might have been a different context but the method still worked. He had time later to dwell on any plans that needed to be put in place. For now he'd get his work done and try not to run around screaming for his soulmate. That wouldn't do anyone any good.


A few hours into his work and Zack was ready to throw in the towel. SHINRA was wasting his talents on paperwork that a grunt could do. So when his phone rang he was ready for the breather. So without looking at the caller ID he picked up his phone.

"This is Fair," he answered with a cheerful voice.

A female voice he wasn't expecting came over the line. "Hi my name is Tifa. I'm calling about a lost chocobo that I found of yours. It wandered through Nibelheim. I tried to keep it here for you but it wouldn't stay. It's currently headed towards Rocket Town."