Things are getting better for the pair, but there's still a long way to go.

I hope you're still enjoying the story. Just a small reminder to review at the end :o)

Opening up

It was late in the morning when Cloud finally emerged from the bedroom. While part of him still hated the feeling of being confined to the apartment another part of him was enjoying the opportunity for sleeping in. If he was going to be honest with himself, his routine of getting up early had pretty much disappeared. It would be hard to correct it if, no when, the time came. Yawning as he left the bedroom Cloud noticed that the apartment was quiet, a good sign that Zack wasn't about. Sure enough a quick check of the living room revealed a scrap of paper on the table informing the cadet of the soldier's whereabouts.

Hey

Got called into the office, thought I'd let you sleep.

I'll swing by for lunch, we'll go out.

Zack

Cloud ran his fingers over the words as if checking to make sure they were real. His heart fluttered slightly at the prospect of going out for lunch, he hadn't eaten anywhere but here in the apartment for so long, it was both an enjoyable and frightening prospect. Glancing at the kitchen clock the cadet noticed it was already past ten, he really had slept in today. Deciding that a shower was the first order of the day, his current dishevelled mess being a good indicator of his need to wash, he grabbed a towel and headed for the bathroom.

The previous nights activities were still evident on his body, his time spent running around the compound having been exhilarating but also leaving him in desperate need of a shower. The hot soapy water felt incredible as it worked wonders on his tired body washing the dirt, sweat and grim away along with something else which had been clinging onto the cadet. It wasn't something he could see, or touch or feel, but the blonde still knew it was there and smiled when he felt it slip away.

As the water poured down over him Cloud felt his body easing, the tension from so many worries washing away. He knew they weren't gone completely , it would be foolish to think they were, but there was something calming about knowing that Zack trusted him. He had feared they would never have that again, but the soldier knew about this secret and had accepted it. The cadet still felt guilty for doing it, but there were so many things he wasn't ready to talk about yet, still so much he couldn't say. Not until he knew it was safe, really safe for him to open his heart, to let someone in.

He dried and dressed quickly putting on a pair of combat trousers and his ShinRa issue t-shirt. The material of the top felt uncomfortable against his body and the memories it brought up made him shudder. It had only been on his body for a few seconds before it ended up as a crumpled head of fabric on the bedroom floor, a clean white t-shirt replacing it. Cloud looked down at the offending garment and walked away, unable to touch it, avoiding all the things it represented from that day.

He buried himself in a text book and began to work on one of the materia assignments he had been given. The subject wasn't hard, just a little more complicated than he had expected, and he found that the essay was actually fun to write. It also meant that he quickly lost track of time and was caught by surprise when he heard the front door opening and Zack calling out his name.

"Hey Spiky, you ready to go?"

Cloud looked up at the raven haired soldier and let a small smile grace his lips. Zack's eyes were shining brightly and he had a look of pure childhood excitement on his handsome face.

"What's in the bag?" Cloud asked hesitantly.

"What bag?"

"The one on your back" Cloud said, using his pen as a pointer to indicate the item in question.

"Oops busted. Ok it's a surprise so get moving" the soldier laughed already turning back towards the door.

Cloud grabbed his uniform shirt from the back of the chair and was just putting it on when Zack turned around and saw him.

"You don't need that, come on" the soldier urged.

Shrugging at the apparent rush Cloud tossed the item back on the chair and hurried to kick his boots on. They were out the door and heading towards the lifts at a rather fast pace and the cadet began to wonder what the excitement was all about.

"Zack?"

"Yea Spiky"

"Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise"

"You said that already"

"Well it's still true"

Cloud blinked at the soldier unsure what to say next. He couldn't help but notice the way Zack's grin grew wider and the way his eyes seemed to sparkle more as they moved through the compound.

"Come on" Zack said cheerfully, his stride increasing and forcing Cloud to almost jog to keep up.

They quickly made their way towards the main ShinRa building and Cloud felt the knots forming in his stomach. This was not a place where he should be.

"Don't look so worried. You're with me, no one will question it" Zack declared as if it were the simplest thing.

They made their way through the reception area easily, with Zack giving the staff on the desk a cheerful wave as he passed by, and entered the elevator in the lobby riding it up to one of the higher floors. Cloud wasn't sure which floor they stopped at because he was too busy looking out through the glass and hoping that the lift didn't fall, after all it was a long way down. Zack was still smiling like a kid at Christmas when they left the elevator and walked along an empty corridor.

"What are we doing here?" Cloud asked nervously

"It's a surprise" Zack repeated, his grin practically splitting his face in two.

They reached what appeared to be a small door and Cloud noted the maintenance sign above it. Before he could comment Zack had the access hatch open and was already climbing through the gap.

"Come on" the soldier coaxed turning to face him and extending a hand towards the blonde.

Cloud hesitated for a moment, looking at the offered hand and then up into the soldiers eyes. The eyes were still glowing with excitement but they were also tinged with something else now, a silent desperation to be trusted and Cloud couldn't deny him that. He nodded silently and took the hand, let the soldier help him just as he always did, somehow knowing that it was the right thing to do.

The artificial light changed to natural as he passed through the doorway and the suns warmth shone down upon him once more. It took the cadet a minute of looking around to see that they were now standing on the top of the ShinRa building looking down upon the compound and at the world as far as the eye could see.

"Oh Zack" Cloud breathed taking in the wondrous sight.

"Yea, I know" Zack sighed, his eyes not on the horizon but on the blonde in front of him.

Neither commented on the fact that the cadet's hand was still holding the soldier's as Cloud moved forward to look over the edge. The height was a little more than the blonde had anticipated and he felt his legs turn to jelly as the realisation hit. Cloud staggered back against Zack's toned chest, the soldier holding him tightly as his heart beat faster and his breath came in short sharp gasps. The blonde wasn't sure what was affecting him more, the thought of falling to his death or the feel of Zack holding him so close.

"You ok?" Zack asked his voice trying to sound light and casual, but not quite achieving it.

"Yes" Cloud breathed slowly pulling himself away, afraid of making things awkward.

"Do you like it?" Zack asked moving them both to sit down against a wall away from the edge.

"It's amazing" Cloud responded happily.

"A good surprise then?" Zack enquired digging through the bag to remove various food options and some drinks

"Perfect" Cloud agreed smiling brightly.

"You know you should do that more often."

"What?"

"Smile, it looks good on you."

The words were spoken softly and Cloud couldn't help but blush at the gentle tone the soldier had used to give the complement.

"How ... how did you find this place?" the cadet asked, deciding he needed to break the odd silence of the moment.

"I found it while hiding out one day. I still come here sometimes, but you can't tell Angeal."

"He doesn't know?"

"Uumm well he might, but if he does he pretends he doesn't and it suites us both fine."

"They why .."

"Because if he officially knows then he has to tell Seph where I am and bang, no more hiding place."

Cloud couldn't help but laugh at the idea of Zack hiding from the general, and Sephiroth storming around the building trying to find him, while Angeal pretended not to know anything. The image was almost comical and he had to swallow the mouthful of sandwich he was eating carefully so he didn't choke on it.

"So do you come here a lot then?" Cloud asked taking a drinks bottle and opening the lid.

"Yea, it's where I come when I need to clear my head, when I need to escape everything."

Cloud's shoulders suddenly went tense and hunched over, his head bowing down allowing blonde hair to fall forward covering his face. The faint smile which had graced his delicate features now slipped away, as he became engrossed in the lid of his drinks bottle.

Zack cringed as the atmosphere between them changed, as the tension began to build again, and an uncomfortable silence descended upon them. The soldier knew he had said too much, that if Angeal was here he would be glaring at him, but he hadn't meant to do it. As the minutes began to pass the deafening silence became too much for Zack, his heart beating frantically as he watched the cadet, the need to comment and correct this mistake tearing him up inside. Before the soldier could say anything Cloud spoke, his voice just loud enough to hear, the words being said softly and hesitantly as he continued to examine the object in his hands.

"I thought you and Angeal agreed not to discuss this with me."

"Yea, well the thing is I don't always do as I'm told, you can ask Angeal he's always saying ..."

Zack's words trailed off as his mind finally caught on to what Cloud had said.

"Hey, wait a minute" the soldier cried, turning to face the cadet completely. "How did you know that?"

Cloud looked up now, but instead of facing the soldier he turned towards the horizon.

"I heard you" he admitted softly.

"When? How? I mean you were gone and ..."

"I was there. I came back and heard you talking."

"What else did you hear?" Zack asked cautiously, but still trying to keep the tone light.

"I don't want to be a Turk, but thank Angeal for the compliment."

"I knew it" Zack cheered triumphantly. "Soldier right, like me, that's still your dream isn't it."

Cloud turned to face him now and the look on the cadet's face was nervous, hesitant but also happy.

"Thank you for trusting me" Cloud whispered, briefly meeting the soldier's eyes.

"I want you to be open with me, ok?" Zack said, taking the opportunity now that it was available.

"I can't ... I don't know .." Cloud began shakily before he was cut off.

"I'm not saying I need to know everything right now" Zack quickly interrupted. "But when you're ready?" he continued his voice softer now.

Cloud hesitated for a moment, his fears and worries clearly showing in his eyes, and then silently nodded.

"Oh, this is for you by the way" Zack said taking the new key card from his pocket.

"But don't you need it" Cloud asked blinking in confusion.

"Nope, got my own. This one is yours."

"Mine?" Cloud breathed taking the slim piece of plastic in his hand.

"Yep. You are now officially my new roomy" Zack declared grinning wildly.

"Thank you" Cloud murmured softly.

They ate the rest of their lunch in silence, but for once it wasn't awkward, and both enjoyed the company as well as the food they shared.