Sorry for the delay in updating but I got a little distracted with writing 'The healing process'. Anyway here are two more chapters which I hope you enjoy.

Please remember to review.

Fit for duty

When Angeal had said it wasn't going to be easy he had meant it, the commander making sure that both soldier and cadet worked right up until the final part of their training. Zack had been prepared for it, knowing they would be challenged at every opportunity, but poor Cloud had nerve felt anything like it. The blonde's body had protested the abuse being forced upon it and he was barely able to stay awake to eat the dinner Zack had prepared that evening.

The next day wasn't much better, but a hot shower and good nights sleep had helped to refresh the cadet and once again he gave it everything he had. Zack looked on with pride as Cloud completed the tasks assigned, the blonde's strong will and determination shining brightly as he demonstrated his true abilities. The soldier had to admit that there were times when he had worried slightly, especially during the combat situations in the VR training room, but each time the cadet had risen to the challenge and easily proven himself. Angeal was also pleased with the progress being made, his assessment of Zack taking a back seat as he became more focused on Cloud's performance. Had either boy looked at his clipboard they would have seen that most of the notes now referred to the cadet's skill and technique rather than the soldier's. Once again Cloud had barely finished his meal before sleep carried him away that night and Zack could only smile as he settled them both down in the bed. His arms taking their rightful place around the blonde as he lay down beside him.

On the last day they had started early, with both endurance and stamina based activities being completed. Combat had followed, with Angeal assessing their performance in both hand to hand and sword based scenarios. They had been allowed a brief rest for lunch, which Cloud had needed even if he pretended otherwise, then continued on until nearly three in the afternoon. It was at this point that the cadet's day had come to an end, with the soldier and commander dropping him off at home before heading off to Zack's last physical examine before he was given the all clear.

They had both returned a few hours late to find the blonde asleep on the sofa, an open textbook balanced on his knees as he lay slumped against the arm rest. Angeal quickly noted Cloud's exhausted appearance and decided that perhaps he had pushed the cadet a little too hard, or more to the point he had allowed the blonde to push himself too hard.

"He's going to get a back ache sleeping like that." Angeal whispered.

"Yea." Zack agreed softly, smiling down at the peaceful expression on Cloud's face.

"We should probably move him." The commander suggested, looking over and catching Zack's distant gaze.

"Huh?" The soldier replied, his mind having missed the comment altogether.

"You should get him to bed, he clearly needs to rest. In fact it might be a good idea for you to get an early night as well."

"I'm fine." Zack laughed softly, raising his face to look at Angeal.

"Maybe, but it's been a long week for both of you. It couldn't hurt."

"Ok, no wild parties, I promise." The soldier joked softly, his eyes once more straying towards Cloud.

Angeal allowed a small chuckle of his own to mix with Zack's before turning and making his way from the apartment. He stopped in the door way as the soldier approached to see him out.

"Tell Cloud I will make arrangements for him to start classes again on Monday."

"Thanks, he'll be glad to hear that."

"It's going to be tough on him Zack, the other cadets know about ... well they know a lot. I'm not sure how they are going to react around him."

"I guessed that might happen. Could I ... maybe ... stay with him the first few days, sort of keep an eye on him?"

"I can't allow you to be his bodyguard, but I'm sure we can work something out so that you happen to be passing by as he comes and goes."

"Thanks Angeal."

"You're welcome, now go get some rest."

"Yes mum." Zack whined playfully, rolling his eyes at the commander.

Angeal Smiled at the soldier's expression and walked away, his warm laughter filling the corridor as Zack closed the door behind him.

"Ok Spiky." He said returning to the living room and crouching down beside the sleeping blonde. "Time to get you to bed."

Zack carefully removed the book from Cloud's grip, placing it safely on the coffee table, before gently sliding his arms under the cadet's body and lifting him up. The angle had been a little awkward but he managed to stand without disturbing the blonde and felt a warmth spread through his chest as he felt the smaller body now held tightly against his own. The soldier moved slowly towards the bedroom, his eyes never leaving the cadet's delicate features as he gently lowered the sleeping form onto the soft mattress.

Thankfully Cloud had already changed out of his uniform before falling asleep, so Zack didn't have to worry about disturbing him now. The soldier lowered himself down to kneel beside the sleeping figure, as he carefully pulled the blankets up to cover the cadet's body. A gentle breath escaped his lips, the warm air drifting over the blonde, and causing some of the cadet's hair to shift and resettle over his face. An amused curve appeared on Zack's mouth as he watched the fine strands dance over Cloud's pale skin and tickle the blonde's nose, the cadet's face screwing up slightly as he reacted to the light touch even in his sleep. His fingers had barely moved the hair out of the way when Cloud's eyes fluttered open and sleepy blue orbs look up to his own violet eyes.

"Hey." Zack whispered, repeating the gentle caress against Cloud's forehead and smiling when the cadet lent into the touch.

"Hey." Cloud replied, his voice still thick from a deep sleep.

"I'm gonna let you rest for a bit. I'll wake you when dinner's ready." He said, already moving back to stand up.

"Stay, please." The cadet asked hopefully, his hand coming out from beneath the blanket to catch the soldier's before he could walk away.

"Ok" Zack replied, Cloud's innocent and adorable expression making it hard to refuse such a simple request.

Smiling down at the cadet once more he moved back to remove his harness and shoulder pads, carefully lowering them to the floor so they wouldn't make too much noise. The soldier had planned on going straight back to the living room and leaving the blonde to sleep, but now he would stay for a bit and wait for Cloud to drift off again first. The cadet had already moved over making room for the soldier and Zack quickly slid onto the bed, carefully pulling the blanket up and over them both. Cloud's body automatically shifted back until it was pressed firmly against Zack's front and the soldier hummed in approval as his arms wrapped around the cadet's torso, pulling the warm body tighter against his own. It wasn't long before the steady rise and fall of Cloud's chest indicated that he was once again asleep, the dream filled state having never been far away while they had briefly talked. The solder's plan to leave had quickly been discarded in preference for the new position he found himself in, the feel of the cadet's warm body and gentle breaths starting to draw Zack into his own dream like state.

It was several hours later when Zack opened his eyes and realised that not only was it now night, but also that the bed where Cloud should have been was empty. He stretched out his body, trying to work out the kinks from his aching muscles and yawned softly. His mind registering the blonde's absence from the bedroom and his senses easily picking up the sound of someone moving about in the living room behind the closed door. He rose from the bed and made his way out of the room, looking around the apartment for Cloud and squinting slightly as his eyes adjusted to the bright light coming from the kitchen area. He quickly found the cadet sitting curled up on the sofa with something in his hands and instantly guessed it was the textbook again.

"How long have you been up?" He asked, moving further into the room.

"I little while." Cloud replied, turning round to look over at the soldier. "I didn't wake you did I?"

"Nah I think my stomach did that for you." Zack joked, rubbing the mentioned body part as it rumbled again.

"I see." Cloud laughed, turning back to the book in his hands.

"You want something to eat?" He asked, the words becoming muffled by a yawn.

"Sure, what did you have in mind?"

"Uuummm, let's see."

Cloud laughed softly to himself as Zack became lost in his own thoughts while searching through the cupboards for a suitable meal option. A few minutes later and the soldier was preparing something in the kitchen, his mind focused on the task of cooking a late supper and momentarily distracted from the blonde who continued to study.

"Ok, food's ready." Zack announced twenty minutes later, the smell of something quite appetising accompanying his words.

"Great, I just finished that chapter anyway." Cloud responded, closing the book and heading over to sit at the table.

"You know you should probably take a break from all that." Zack commented, tilting his head towards the book as he settled two plates on the small dining table.

"I need to make sure I haven't missed anything." Cloud replied, a second before he began eating.

"Yea, but I seriously think you're ahead of the classes now. There's no way they have covered as much as you have." Zack informed him evenly, before digging in as well.

"Maybe, but I'd rather be ready."

"So that's what got you up?"

"Yes. I wanted to finish the section I was reading before you got home."

"It must have been really interesting based on how out of it you were." Zack teased, enjoying the look he received from the cadet.

"I was tired, so sue me." Cloud replied lightly, his smile showing that he was enjoying the banter between them as they ate.

"Well Angeal gave orders that we were to rest up tomorrow so we wouldn't be too tired for Monday." The soldier informed the blonde casually, watching out the corner of his eye for the cadet's reaction.

"He ... did? Then ... I can ... go back?" Cloud managed, as the realisation of the words took hold.

"Yep, as of today we are both fit for duty." Zack announced happily, his eyes glowing brightly at the knowledge.

"Will you ... be there?" The cadet asked nervously,

"Sort of." Zack admitted gently. "Angeal doesn't think it's a good idea to smoother you, but he's gonna make sure I pass by so that we meet as you're changing classes."

"If you ... think that's ... best." Cloud stammered, his hand now shaking slightly so that the food balanced on the fork fell back onto the plate.

"Hey, it's ok." Zack soothed gently, quickly taking Cloud's hands in his own and holding them tightly.

Cloud didn't respond with words, his voice getting stuck somewhere in the back of his throat as he fought the rising panic which was steadily growing. Zack quickly left his chair and moved to kneel beside the cadet's chair, wrapping his arms tenderly around the trembling form.

"What's wrong?" He asked softly

"I'm going back." Cloud whispered in response

"I thought you wanted that."

"I did ... I do ... but ..."

"But now it's actually happening it's freaking you out." Zack concluded, drawing back to meet Cloud's eyes.

Cloud nodded silently while chewing nervously on his bottom lip, the soft flesh darkening as teethed were dragged across it.

"Hey." Zack soothed, placing a finger on the cadet's mouth to stop the unconscious abuse to the delicate skin. "You gonna hurt yourself."

Cloud's breath hitched at the contact and this time when the soldier looked into the cadet's eyes, he saw something else now flickering within the sky blue jewels before him. Zack looked deep into the glowing orbs and saw the heat stirring within them, knowing that it was his touch which had affected Cloud like this.

"You ... ok?" He breathed, his own body now responding to the sudden intimacy between them.

"Yes." Cloud whispered, his lips moving against the single digit pressed over them and causing it to trace along the sensitive flesh.

The action had an immediate effect on Zack's body, his mouth suddenly going dry and his heart beating a little faster in his chest. The soldier's hand began to tremble as he moved it to gently cup the cadet's jaw, his thumb replacing his finger on the blonde's lips so that the other fingers could move together to brush against the soft skin of Cloud's cheek. He watched as the cadet lent into the touch, gently nuzzling the palm of his hand, the blonde's eye lids fluttering closed as he relaxed under the gently caress. A small gasp escaped Zack's lips as Cloud sighed happily, a warm breathe escaping the soft lips and travelling down over his arm causing goose bumps to form along the skin. The sensation didn't stop there and the soldier found himself breathing a little faster as he felt the tingling rush spread throughout his entire body.

Cloud felt a warmth building within his chest, the bright glow quickly spreading through his body, as he felt Zack slowly drawing his face forward. The cadet's heart skip a beat as the air against his lips became warm, the gentle caress of heated breaths indicating that the soldier's face was now almost touching his own. Cloud waited for a brief moment to see if Zack would close the gap between them, to see if this time the soldier would be the one to make the first move. He almost cried out in joy as gentle lips pressed down against his own, as Zack carefully moved their mouths together in sensual motions which made his lower body tighten. A second later and the soldier was licking a teasing line across the seam of his mouth, silently asking permission to take the kiss further and explore inside. Cloud willingly parted his lips and moaned softly as Zack's tongue slowly entered and began to play against his own, the gentle caresses of the warm muscle sending heat through his veins.

Zack felt the soft vibrations of the moan as it escaped Cloud's body, the sound not only being a joy to hear but also to feel as it passed over his own lips. He deepened the kiss and allowed his own pleasure to be heard as the taste of the cadet began to fill his senses. He moved forward slightly on his knees, pushing their bodies closer together and felt Cloud respond by also moving forward. The new position put the cadet's legs on either side of his waist, the blonde's legs spreading wider as their chests became pressed together. Zack had a moment to realise that his over excited body was about to connect with a rather private part of Cloud's and stopped himself. His instinctive reaction was to pull back from the kiss, their lips breaking apart and leaving him gasping in a deep breath.

Unfortunately Cloud had just begun to lean further into the kiss, using the soldier's body as a way to balance himself. With that support suddenly gone the cadet toppled forward, his weight letting him fall off the chair and onto Zack's unevenly positioned body.

The soldier had no way to stop himself from falling backwards and grunted softly as his back hit the carpeted floor, his hands instinctively coming up to catch the cadet who was also tumbling to the ground. He ignored the pain as his shoulders smacked against the hard surface, his main concern being for Cloud's welfare as he caught the cadet in his open arms. The momentum of the fall dropped the blonde onto his chest and Zack automatically wrapped his arms around the smaller body to protect it. It was only then that he realised how close their bodies had suddenly become.

Cloud gasped as he suddenly felt himself topple forward, his hands still resting on Zack's shoulders and useless to stop him from falling. There was a moment of panic as he dropped towards the ground and then a sharp pain as his knees impacted with the floor. The injury was quickly dismissed when the cadet suddenly realised that the position of his knees, which were now on either side of the soldier's body, meant that he was effectively straddling Zack's lap. This added with the new location of his hands, left Cloud in no doubt that he was now essentially pinning the soldier to the ground. He also couldn't fail to notice that he was now connected with Zack in a very intimate way.

Both soldier and cadet looked at each other across a very short distance, their gasping breathes not only a response to the deep kiss they had shared but now the position they found themselves in. Neither able to deny the effect the interaction had been having on their bodies, as both felt the identical arousals which were now pressed together, and wide blue eyes started down into equally surprised violet orbs.

Time seemed to stand still as both became frozen in place, neither able to move or look away, their hearts beating loudly in the sudden silence of the room. It was only when Zack blinked, his eyelids shutting for the briefest of moments, that the spell between them was broken. Cloud's body drew in a gulping breath and he immediately went to pull away, his legs sliding back as he frantically pushed off the floor with his arms.

It took the soldier a second to realise that the cadet was panicking and knew that he couldn't let what had happened between them end like this.