Hi

I know, I know, this update is a bit late and I'm sorry. The family thing took longer than planned and then Halloween came and I was lost to that for a while. Happy Halloween by the way :o)

To make it up to you I've posted this chapter and the next one together as a sort of two-for-one deal. Also they sort of go together, so it makes sense to do it this way as well.

Enjoy.

It begins

Angeal couldn't help but sigh wearily as he looked up at the living room clock for what felt like the hundredth time in the past hour, his chocolate brown eyes darkening slightly and a frown forming on his brow as he noted that barley a minute had passed since he'd last looked.

"This isn't helping." The commander pointed out to himself, his words echoing faintly in the eerily silent apartment. "Zack is a soldier and as such has responsibilities other than Cloud. He can't let his concerns for the cadet hinder his work." He continued to say, the justification for his future actions being spoken more as a reassurance for himself at this point than anything else. "And Cloud will understand that Zack can't let his duties slide, that missions are an important part of being a soldier which can't be ignored."

Yet, however much he went over these thoughts, the commander was painfully aware that these were not the real reasons for his unsettled state, his heart knowing full well that both his pup and the blonde already understood what it meant to be a soldier and respected it. He was also more than just aware of how Zack's last mission had gone and how well Cloud had taken the soldier's absence. The reality of these facts, for some reason, being only a small comfort for the real burden he now felt on his shoulders. He also knew from the soldier's own account that the cadet had accepted the situation without question or complaint, that the blonde had not been angered or distressed when the team had returned later than intended. But one day assignments were not the same as week-long missions, the added burden of time and distance it would put on the pair perhaps adding another strain on their young and still fragile relationship.

In Angeal's mind it was just too soon, after everything which had happened, to separate them like this. The feeling in his gut continuing to prick at the idea that things were still not right for Cloud, even though they appeared to be on the surface, and that while the cadet's return to class had gone well all was not what it seemed. And it was these thoughts which now troubled Angeal the most as he unconsciously organised the novels on his bookshelf for the tenth time that afternoon, his thoughts still debating over how to approach the subject of the upcoming mission even as he continued to clean the already spotless apartment.

A knock at the door drew the commander's attention away from the mindless task and towards the front door, the eagerly repeated sound resonating a joyful vibration throughout the apartment, as it not only informed him of another's presence outside, but also wordlessly announced the identity of that person as well. At this Angeal couldn't help but chuckle lightly as he realised that his young pup and Cloud were here now, the weight on his already heavy heart managing to increase a little more even as a warm smile formed on his face.

The plan had seemed so simple when he'd discussed it with Tseng the night before, the pair of them finding no fault with the idea as they came to an agreement over the arrangement concerning the cadet. Yet now as the moment of truth finally came the commander couldn't help but feel guilty for what they were about to do, his need to make the evening as enjoyable as possible pushing to the forefront of his mind as his invited guests waited patiently in the corridor outside. Both under the assumption that tonight was a relaxing evening between friends and completely unaware of what was to come, the commander's idea that breaking the news in an informal setting would be easier now seeming a little naive even to him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

For Zack and Cloud the day had been wonderful, even though it couldn't have been considered special in any way.

The sun had risen that morning, without the accompanying rain from the previous weekend, and both had smiled cheerfully at the idea of now being able to have the picnic which Zack had organised before. The only problem was that this time it was a lack of transport which hindered their plans and not the weather, the soldier's almost desperate efforts to secure a vehicle for the day ending without much luck and leaving them once again unable to break free of the city.

In a strange way though the cadet had known that they wouldn't make it to Zack's special place outside of Midgar, had somehow understood that they wouldn't be escaping the concrete jungle even though the day was bright and clear. It was almost as if he could feel it in his bones that they were meant to stay near the base that day, that for some reason their presence would be required and that fate didn't want them disappearing off into the middle of nowhere just yet.

It was for this reason that Cloud didn't feel as heart-broken over the lack of transport as Zack did, why his disappointment that they wouldn't be having the picnic was more to do with how it made the soldier sad than because they weren't actually going. But he knew from past experiences to trust those gut feelings he got when they came, a sixth sense of sorts giving him some reassurances that when the time was right he would understand why.

In the end several things happened that day which supported Cloud's theory about staying on base, the string of coincidences being almost comical as one event easily led to another. First of all they had needed to do grocery shopping, a job which the cadet only discovered when he went to make breakfast and realised that some of the cupboards were bare. It was while they were buying the weekly food supplies that they bumped into Cissnei, the young female Turk greeting them both cheerfully and somehow convincing them to help her move some furniture seeing as they had some free time. As it turned out they weren't the only ones to have been talked into lumping things around and both were silently thankful when Kunsel appeared to give them a hand.

From there it had been through a conversation with Cloud about sword fighting that the 3rd class soldier had admitted to struggling with something and Zack was quick to offer his assistance, his proposal being more to do with escaping Cissnei's apartment before she found something else for them to do than anything else. Thankfully the brunette Turk had only glared at them playfully, fully aware of the poorly concealed scheme, and allowed them to go and have fun with their little boy toys as she called them. Cloud hadn't been able to keep the smile off his face as Zack had sulked at the comment and argued that swords were not little boy's toys, while Kunsel had openly laughed at what was clearly an on-going disagreement between the other two about weapons.

After that they had grabbed a quick lunch before heading to the soldier's training facilities, a place where no ordinary cadet would ever dare to go yet dreamed of seeing every time they passed it by. He was swiftly reminded of his sergeant's words that even when undertaking their own training they were not allowed to use these rooms, the honour and respect that they represented meaning that no lowly grunt would ever tarnish them with his presence. Until now.

Oh yes, it had been safe to say that Cloud had been on one hell of an emotional rollercoaster during that time. On one hand he'd been scared to death that someone would see him in such a grand place and rip him a new one for it, his lowly presence being almost like an insult to the great men who truly belonged in this building. There had also been a heavy dose of awe as he'd taken it all in, the cadet gyms being quite large in Cloud's own opinion yet nothing when compared to the sheer size of these halls. Zack had actually laughed at his shocked expression and then calmly explained it was so that their skills could be worked on and tested without hindrance, the mako in their bodies meaning that they required extra space to train in.

It had essentially been the two soldier's demonstration of this as they trained that had filled the blonde's other hand with amazement and wonder. His own small and still developing frame thrilling with a rush of excitement at the sight, even as it remained as far away from them both as it could be while he watched them spar. The combinations of flips, jumps, thrusts and strikes making the blonde realise just how much of an advantage having a chemically enhanced body really could be. And also how much Zack had been holding back in their own sparring session the night before.

Luckily for the soldier, though he didn't know it, Cloud hadn't been given a chance to ask him about that little detail. The cadet's thoughts about the subject quickly going to other matters once Zack had got off the phone, after speaking to Angeal, and announced they now had dinner plans that evening. To say that the unexpected invitation had been a surprise to the cadet was an understatement, the casual way it had been accepted and agreed to by the soldier coming a very close second in his mind. As a result it was fair to say that for a short time the blonde had been more than a little irritated with Zack for agreeing to the plans without his consent, that the soldier had inconsiderately agreed to the request of their presence without consulting him on the issue first.

However, that annoyance had soon paled in comparison to the whirlwind of other emotions that had swept through him as the other two finished off their match, the brief time he had alone allowing Cloud to think about things a little more clearly. Never before had the blonde been in a position where he'd been invited over to another person's house so easily, the idea of being a guest in someone else's home making his insides flip-flop in uncertainty but also nervous excitement. Already that feeling in his gut from earlier was stirring again, the odd sensation of something which he still couldn't place waiting just out of reach, and without daring to hope that it wasn't all going to end in disappointment Cloud had actually found himself looking forward to the event.

The end of the spar had come and gone since then, the pair parting company with Kunsel outside the complex for his quarters and returning home to their own. They'd just about had enough time to freshen up and change before heading out again, the need for smart but casual dress causing the cadet no end of problems until the soldier had stepped in and saved the day with a suitable suggestion of clothing.

And now the happy couple found themselves standing outside Angeal's apartment and waiting patiently to be let in, Zack's cheerful knocking being much to loud in the blonde's opinion and making him flinch internally as the sound echoed in the quiet corridor around them.

"Are you sure about this?" Cloud whispered nervously, his small hands already ringing themselves nervously together.

"I told you, it's fine." Zack reassured gently, his own voice being kept low more for the cadet's sake than any other. "Angeal's invited us over for dinner, not a lecture."

"Yea, but why?" The blonde asked for the hundredth time, the unsettled feeling in his gut still demanding a reason to explain why the sudden invitation had been made.

"You're not worried are you?" The soldier asked lightly, a slight chuckle escaping his soft lips as Cloud scowled at him in response. "I mean we've had dinner here before and we all had a good time, right?"

"Yes, but this is different." The blonde insisted firmly, his nervous state clearly being considered a form of unnecessary paranoia as the man beside him chuckled lightly at his words.

"You worry too much Spiky, it's just dinner."

"What if it's not, what if he wants to talk about ... stuff?" The cadet hurried to say, as Zack's hand rose and knocked on the wooden surface in front of them announcing their presence again.

"What? Like training and stuff?" The soldier asked, his head titling to one side in a questioning way as he began to see just how anxious the blonde at his side had become.

"No, not training. I mean ... other ... stuff." Cloud managed, his mind having considered this prospect more than just a possibility after having had such a calm, peaceful and uneventful week. Because life, fate, karma or whatever you call it really was a bitch and the blonde just knew there had to be a catch after being left alone by the other cadets for so long. After all, hadn't Zack warned him about this himself, hadn't he been teased that they would get a 'special talk' if the commander found out about them sleeping together. And Gaia enough people knew about it, even though they supposedly wouldn't tell. But what if one of them had slipped up, what if Angeal had overheard something and now...

Zack watched in amazement as Cloud angelic face seemed to pale before his eyes, the cadet's pastel peachy toned cheeks actually draining of colour as a storm of thoughts and emotions swirled through his worried sky blue orbs. Yet the soldier himself was clueless as to what could be causing the blonde so much distress, his voice continuing to be cheerful and reassuring as he quickly found himself speaking the words "Like what?"

Zack's sudden development of naivety, or possibly stupidity, over the matter only left Cloud with a deeper feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. The realisation that he'd have to spell the obvious out to the older teen making his ivory white skin flush with colour as the embarrassment of it all flood through his veins.

"What if he wants us here to talk about the birds and the bees?" The blonde huffed out in both annoyance and mild panic, just as the distinctive clicking sound of a lock undoing could be heard.

Unfortunately the soldier didn't have time to respond to the comment as the door in front of them opened, his slightly wider than normal violet eyes instantly searching Angeal's for any clue about the true intention behind the invitation if there was one. And sure enough he saw something, a very subtle and well hidden unease behind the commander's chocolate brown orbs which revealed Cloud to be right about the dinner being more than just a casual affair. "Oh shit." Zack cursed softly inside his head, his brain thankfully not allowing the words to escape as he obediently followed the blonde into the apartment and the door was firmly shut behind them.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Thankfully there was a minute or two of general greetings as Angeal took their jackets and went to hang them up, the pair taking the few seconds of the commander's absence to remove their shoes while also giving each other questioning looks.

In Cloud's sky blue eyes it was clear to see that he knew something was up, that although he hadn't seen what Zack had he could feel a slight tension in the air around them and it was reinforcing his sense of worry. It was just unfortunate that the soldier didn't get a chance to reply or give any reassurances, with either words or unspoken gestures, before Angeal chose that moment to reappear and begin talking again.

"So, how have you both been?"

"Good." Zack replied cheerfully, unwilling to let himself get pulled into the uncomfortable aura of tension which was now emanating from both cadet and commander. "You?"

"I must confess to having a slight headache over some things at the moment, so please forgive me if I seem a little off."

"Are we ... I mean ... would you like us to go?" Cloud asked timidly, his soft voice revealing an uncertainty in making such an offer but also a hint of hope that it would be accepted.

"Nonsense. I won't hear of you leaving." Angeal quickly argued, his controlled expression instantly lifting and allowing a more real and happier smile to break through. "I've called you here to help me get out of this state, if you don't mind that is?"

"Seriously?" Zack choked, before he could stop himself. "Cause normally I'm the one causing you the headache." He hurried to explain as sky blue eyes went wide in panic and muddy brown ones filled with playful chastising and amusement.

"Indeed you are pup." The commander agreed with a deep rich chuckle, the sound quickly helping to ease the aura of panic which had formed within the blonde at the soldier's small outburst. "But I find Cloud's company quite calming in contrast and it would be rude of me to steal him away from you."

"Hey." The soldier whined with an over-dramatic tone, his pouting expression melting away as soon as he saw the cadet's wide eyes and self-conscious blush after hearing the commander's words. "He's my Spiky, I found him first." Zack stated proudly, his arms instinctively going around the blonde's shoulders and drawing him into an affectionate hug.

At this point Angeal couldn't help but laugh out loud as he watched the blonde become more flustered not only by the soldier's words but also his actions, the faint pink hue which had formed on Cloud's cheeks darkening to a vibrant shade of red as he squirmed and tried to break free of the tender embrace without offending or upsetting Zack in some way. It was also clear to see that the cadet was still struggling with how to deal with the commander's own revelation, something which seemed to be causing him almost as much discomfort as Zack's hold on him now did.

"Zack please." Cloud whispered harshly, his near silent plea only just making it to the soldier's ears. "This is really embarrassing." He desperately tried to explain, the over-friendly contact which they now shared still being something he wasn't too comfortable of displaying in front other people. Especially Angeal, considering what he was now expecting the man to talk to them about.

"Sorry spiky, just got carried away." Zack apologised before letting go, the little voice in his head clapping sarcastically at him for not showing a bit more restraint given what the cadet had said only minutes ago.

"It's ok, just ... just ... ummmm." The blonde mumbled, unsure how to justify his actions without giving to much away.

"It's alright Cloud, I understand." Angeal offered as an escape route for the cadet's dilemma, his rugged features showing a man who knew all too well what the young soldier was like. "He's like a dog with a bone sometimes."

"I'd be insulted if I were you Spiky." Zack interrupted before the blonde could come up with his own comment. "Angeal just compared you to a bone."

"Better than some stupid chew toy." Cloud replied without thinking, his mind now a jumbled mess of thoughts and feelings and unable to rationalise the words he was saying before they left his mouth. It therefore took him a few seconds to realise what he'd just said, the humiliation of it causing his face to instantly ignite in a fresh wash of red just as both the soldier and commander started to laugh.

For Zack it was a moment of pure hilarity, the mental image of a small chibi style Cloud and him being able to chew on it not only eliciting naughty images in his mind but some really cute ones of the cadet as well. For Angeal however, his reaction to the off-handed comment was more about how it came out than what was said. The blonde's immediate response showing that not only was he now more comfortable around them both, to let such good-natured yet argumentative words be heard, but that his self-confidence in being able to speak in this way was clearly improving as well.

"Glad I amuse you." Cloud muttered under his breath, his slim arms already crossing themselves over his chest in a defensive gesture as he shrugged himself free of the soldier's weakened embrace.

"Sorry Spiky, but that was just priceless."

"Idiot." The blonde huffed before remembering where he was and who else was listening to them.

Angeal could only smile reassuringly and force his lips not to part again and allow another chuckle to escape his body, Cloud's wide-eyes and once again slightly fearful expression helping him keep his natural instinct to laugh in place.

"I'm sorry, sir." The cadet mumbled nervously, his head quickly dipping forward so that his sky blue spheres were hidden behind a curtain of blonde hair. "I ... I didn't mean any disrespect. Sir."

"I am fully aware of that Cloud and you're right, Zack can be an idiot at times. But I'm sure that's part of the reason why we both care about him so much."

"You know I might have been offended by that, if you hadn't added the last part." The soldier pouted in mock hurt, a dramatic sniff helping to draw a faint smile back on the cadet's soft lips once more.

"Come on, both of you." Angeal sighed, his voice light but also insistent as he realised that they were technically still standing in the entry way of the apartment. "We can talk more while we prepare dinner." He added, as he began to lead the other two towards the kitchen.

"You mean it's not ready yet?" Zack whined, his bottom lip actually sticking out in a genuine pout this time. "But I'm hungry." He groaned impudently, as they all entered the small kitchen and he saw that there was indeed no food ready and waiting for them.

"After our last meal together I thought Cloud might enjoy learning how to make another one of your favourite dishes."

"I would, thank you." The cadet cut in before the soldier could reply with another rude or disrespectful comment, the obvious eagerness in his voice for the suggested activity instantly killing the protesting words which had been about to leave Zack's lips.

"And if you like I could show you how to make the apple and cinnamon bread as well." The commander offered warmly, the excitement he could now see forming in the blonde's sky blue eyes making something deep within him flutter almost nurturingly.

"Really!?" Cloud gasped in pure unrestrained amazement, his coral coloured cheeks flushing warmly as he realised how he'd just sounded. "I mean, that would be ... I'd really ... like that. If it's not too much ... trouble." He mumbled self-consciously, all too aware of how Zack was once again grinning happily from ear to ear about the whole situation.

"As I have already said I enjoy your company and it would be no trouble at all." Angeal replied happily, his earlier feelings about Cloud being a new member to his family quickly reaffirming themselves in his heart again.

"So what do you want us to do then?" Zack asked, his own expression now one of contentment and pleasure as he watched the two most important people in his life begin to bond through a connection that was not just about him or working for ShinRa.

With the threat of a very personal and highly embarrassing conversation being removed from their minds both Cloud and Zack let themselves relax into the fun of the evening. The cadet's concerns about Angeal's real intentions for the get-together slowly slipping away as he focused on the more enjoyable tasks at hand, his mind finally accepting that perhaps he was just being paranoid about things and that he really did need to stop expecting the worst every time something nice happened. There was of course the lingering worries in the blonde's head that something still wasn't quite right about the commander's behaviour, that little sixth sense of his picking up on a vibe which echoed faintly around them all as they talked. But it wasn't something he could put his finger on, no matter how hard he tried. The original reason for the invitation still not entirely dismissed from his thoughts, but not really feeling as certain within him anymore.

Choosing not to question the matter further, and risk upsetting the other two with his own negative thoughts, Cloud began to focus more of his attention on helping to prepare dinner as well as making the apple cinnamon bread they all enjoyed so much. Slowly the cadet began to let his reservations about the evening fall away as Angeal's patient direction helped him to form a better understanding of the ingredients and techniques needed to make each dish, the blonde's inside gradually warming with the knowledge that Zack had been right about the commander taking him under his wing and about it being a good place to be. Never before had Cloud realised just what he'd been missing all this time as he grew up, his hopes and dreams of having a real father fading away over the years until not even a ghost of one could be imagined. And yet, here he was, experiencing sensations that sparked those very things back to life within him once more.

It was something he'd always wanted, yet given up daring to wish for. A man in his life to support and guide him through the ups and downs, a father figure to protect him while still teaching him how to survive on his own. A person who would not suffocate his growth into adulthood, but would still be there to cushion the falls and catch him each time he stumbled so that his feet would always find their way along the path again. The memories of nights spent praying for such a thing had washed over the cadet like a tidal wave and it had been all he could do to keep his emotions in check, the ache which came with remembering those nights begging the stars for his absent dad to come home again nearly letting tears fall from his eyes.

Instead he'd swallowed them all down and quickly swept the near suffocating emotions away out of sight, his mind quickly finding a nice safe place to hide them before either the soldier or commander would see. Tonight was not about the past it was about the future, about what they were doing here and now, and enjoying each other's company as much as they could.

Unknown to Cloud however he was not the only one to be dealing with a flurry of thoughts and feelings during that time, Zack's laid-back and cheerful behaviour silently masking the soldier's own internal battle of various emotions while they chatted. On the outside Zack was calm and content with how the evening was going, his insides being a completely different picture had anyone been able to see it. Not only was the soldier aware of the slight ebbs in the cadet's happiness but also the commander's occasional moments of withdrawal from them both, the unexpected behaviour not only catching Zack by surprise but also raising a lot of questions for him.

If he was going to be honest then the soldier had to admit that he'd sort of expected Cloud to be experiencing a variety of emotions about the dinner plans, his attempt to strengthen the friendship between his boyfriend and old mentor being important to him in more ways than one. Zack knew what his job entailed and after many reminders from friends he now wanted the two to get along so that should anything happen to him they would have each other, needed to know that whatever fate befell him in the future Angeal's heart would have a reason to keep caring and that Cloud wouldn't be alone. But the way Angeal became quiet and almost contemplative at times while they cooked was unsettling, his own violet eyes unable to look away as he noticed the commander's warm chocolate brown ones often glancing over at the cadet with something close to fatherly concern. And to the soldier's surprise that had bothered him greatly, his joy at seeing that Angeal had already taken Cloud into his heart being dampened by the unknown worry that now lingered there as well.

It was perhaps a blessing that Cloud never chose those moments to turn around and speak to them, his soft angelic features looking so young and filled with an almost child-like innocence as they joyfully sought out the commander's attention to check if what he'd done was correct. The happy yet also nervous words which were always spoken thankfully being enough to quickly pull Angeal out of his thoughts and back to reality before the blonde realised what had happened. And secretly Zack had breathed a sigh of relief that Cloud had been too caught up in what they were doing to notice the commander's pensive state, the pleasure his Spiky was clearly experiencing from the cooking lesson fortunately making him blind to what the soldier was now picking up on. If Cloud was right about Angeal's intention with a talk about the birds and the bees then he was going a funny way about it, the niggling feeling in his bones telling him that while that little talk was still a possibility it wasn't what really had the commander on edge that night.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Before they knew it the meal was ready and a delightful smell was filling the air around them, the sound of three stomachs rumbling loudly letting each man know it was pointless to deny their own hunger now. With light-hearted chuckles, and slightly self conscious blushes on Cloud's part, each had carried a plate laden with food to the dining table and sat down to eat. The dinner they had prepared ended up being even more delicious than it had looked or smelt, the mouth-watering aroma of apple and cinnamon bread quickly following the main course as they enjoyed it warm and fresh from the oven as a dessert with hot custard.

All throughout the meal they had talked about Cloud's training and how it was progressing, Zack's feedback on how well the blonde's sword work was coming along making the cadet smile with shy pride in his own achievements. In turn Angeal also asked the blonde about his studies, his interest in Cloud's thoughts about certain subjects making the soldier raise a mental eyebrow as they came up. Perhaps if he wasn't already a soldier and had been trained on when to pick up things he wouldn't have become suspicious, or maybe it was because he hung out with Reno and the others too much to not trust his gut instinct on things. But Zack would swear on his life that Angeal was feeling Cloud out about something and it began to trouble him greatly.

Dinner ended on a high note and this time there was no awkward interruption when it was time for Cloud to take his medication, the cadet quietly excusing himself when the alarm went off and disappearing into the kitchen to refill his glass with water to take the tablets as necessary. It was also at this point that the soldier dropped his cheerful act and settled a serious questioning glare at Angeal, the sudden change catching the commander by surprise and making him sit up straight in his chair.

"Zack? What's wrong?" Angeal stammered in confusion.

"Don't give me that." The soldier hissed quietly, his hard violet eyes glancing briefly towards the kitchen door before settling on troubled brown orbs once more. "You keep looking at him likes something's wrong and I want to know what it is damn it."

There was barely a second for the commander to think about a response, let alone say it, before Cloud reappeared in the room. His joyful footsteps instantly pausing as he sensed the sudden tension in the around them.

"What's going on?" The blonde asked, his sky blue eyes a little wider as they looked between the two men still sitting at the dining table. "Did I ... do something wrong?" He asked nervously, his breath catching in his throat as he dared to ask the question that now plagued his thoughts.

"No Cloud, you haven't done anything wrong." Angeal replied calmly, his warm chocolate coloured eyes offering up an apology to both soldier and cadet as he spoke. "The fault is mine here, for not approaching the subject sooner." He admitted with a soft sigh. "I had hoped to give us more time to enjoy the evening before bringing it up. But now I see that was foolish of me."

"What's going on Angeal?" Zack began, his concerned amethyst orbs now focused more on his old mentor as Cloud began to slowly approach the table again. "You've been acting ... off ... most of the evening. It's not like you, especially when you get to give a cooking lesson." The soldier joked, his attempt to lighten the mood helping a little as the commander chuckled openly and even the cadet allowed a small sound of nervous amusement to escape him.

"The truth is I wasn't sure how to broach this subject easily and so have been putting it off all evening."

"It's all right, you don't have to ... to talk about it." Cloud suddenly blurted out, his delicate features quickly developing a bright pink blush. "I know all about ... it. So you don't have to ... you know ... say anything." He mumbled self-consciously, the wonderful pink hue which currently adored his cheeks darkening to an even deeper shade of crimson as he spoke.

"Oh?" Angeal breathed questioningly, the blonde's words having caught him by surprise. "And what is 'it', that you think I wanted to talk about?"

"The ... the birds and the bees and ... stuff." Cloud managed before his voice faltered and fell away to silence. His sweet angelic face immediately becoming the perfect picture of pure undiluted embarrassment as he sunk a little lower in the chair he was once again sitting on.

To say that the cadet's answer had been a surprise was an understatement, the commander unable to stop himself from laughing out loud as he took in the looks on both of their faces. Cloud's delicate features were now lit like a beacon in the night they shone so brightly, his soft pale skin practically burning like fire as he let his discomfort and humiliation be seen. Sky blue eyes barely peeked up through blonde bangs as he unsuccessfully tried to make himself disappear, the golden hair which normally framed his face currently hanging down like a curtain as his head remained bowed and facing away. Zack on the other hand looked mortified at what had just been said, an expression of poorly concealed horror on his handsome face letting Angeal know that his old pupil had also been considering this a possibility but had never intended to bring it up willingly.

"It might help you to know that I had not intended to have that kind of talk with you tonight." The commander managed to inform them gently, once he had regained control of himself again. His ever observant eyes instantly seeing both the cadet and soldier relax a little with the knowledge. "But, now that you have brought it up, I can see that it's something I will have to remember for another time." He added smoothly, barley holding his soft smile in place in favour of a broad grin as both boys tensed again.

"You know Spiky's right." Zack tried to say calmly, the slight weaver in his voice giving away his nervousness of speaking. "You really don't have to talk about ... it."

"Perhaps..." Angeal agreed faintly, his amused expression faltering to become more serious once again. "But for now there are other things we need to discuss which are more important and I will not put them off any longer."

"Like what?" Cloud hesitated to ask, his sapphire orbs now filled with confusion and curiosity as well as relief and a faint shadow of the embarrassment he was still feeling.

"Like the mission Zack and I will be away on for the whole of next week." The commander replied calmly, his heart skipping a beat as he watched the cadet's shields instantly slide into place behind his eyes and all of the blonde's newly exposed emotions quickly becoming hidden away.

"Shit." Was all that was heard, the soldier's heart-felt exclamation summing the situation up perfectly as it echoed around them in the now deathly silent apartment.