Getting organised
After Angeal's initial revelation there had been a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, the commander giving both Cloud and Zack time to absorb the information and mull it over in their own heads. Already he could see how the soldier was reacting to the knowledge, his young pup's fierce determination to do his duties clearly waging a war with his need to protect the blonde beside him. But as for the cadet ... well that was just a mystery, as he was presented with an all too familiar blank and unreadable expression.
"Are we really going to be gone a week?" Zack asked, his voice coming out unusually soft as the question was hesitantly spoken.
"I'm afraid so." Angeal replied with a sigh, his sympathetic expression now turning towards Cloud as he continued to speak. "I've tried to sort out the problems from this end, but there's just no other way around it."
"That's alright." A faint, barley audible voice spoke up. The cadet's sky blue eyes remaining void of emotion as they held the commander's concerned brown ones. "You both have jobs to do and shouldn't be putting your responsibilities off just because you're worried about me." He explained, the determination and certainty he felt in what he was saying slowly becoming stronger with each word he spoke. "I can take care of myself and did it before when you were on missions Zack, this won't be any different." The blonde rationalised, as he noticed his boyfriend about to argue what was being said. "I know things are different now, but you can't be there to hold my hand all the time."
"I don't hold your hand all the time Spiky." Zack huffed, his mood darkening at Cloud's disturbingly calm acceptance of the situation. "But there is a certain amount of protection that my presence can give, which won't be there when I'm gone."
"You can't watch over me forever Zack, some day you'll have to step back far enough to let me work things out on my own again."
"Are you saying I'm smothering you?"
"No." Cloud gasped, his stone like mask finally cracking as he heard the pained tone in the soldier's words. "Gaia, no."
"Then what? What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I'm not going to freak out over this, because part of me knew it had to happen." The cadet explained, the pools of blue which had been empty before now filling with a sea of emotions. "I ... I know Angeal's been trying to keep you on base ever since I ... well ever since that day and it's not right. He shouldn't be keeping you here just to watch over me, not when you should be out there helping others."
For a moment nobody spoke as this time it was the commander and soldier's turn to listen to what had been said and understand the implications of the words spoken, their eyes meeting across the table and silently communicating that there was no way to argue with this point.
"It seems that we have been ... babying you ... these past few weeks." Angeal began, his warm chocolate coloured eyes levelling with swirling blue as he began to apologise. "It was not our intention."
"It's fine." Cloud sighed, as he slumped back in his chair and ran a hand through a mass of golden spikes. "I know I gave you both a lot of reasons to worry and I'm sorry for that. But the truth is you can't keep putting things off because of me and what might happen." He stated firmly, his expression becoming softer as he turned to look at Zack who had so far remained silent beside him. "Last weekend you went on a mission and I can't believe it's taken me this long to realise it's the first one you've been on in a while."
"It's alright, it was just a quick assignment."
"But you love missions Zack, you always have." The cadet argued with a heart-felt tone. "I can still remember how you'd tell me all about them when you got back, even when I pretended not to be that interested, and I know that they always made you happy. I'm not going to say that it won't be ... that I won't miss you when you're away, but you need do this ... we both need you to do this."
"I don't understand." The soldier admitted reluctantly, his uncertain gaze now shifting between both the cadet and the commander again.
"I believe that what Cloud is trying to say, is that it's time to get on with our lives and start getting things back to where they should be."
"So you want me to go away?" Zack asked, the confusion he was now feeling about the whole thing very clear in his voice.
"I don't want you to go, never think that. Please." The blonde begged softly, a gloss of tears appearing in his shimmering sapphire eyes as he spoke. "But things are slowly going back to normal for me and that means they have to do the same thing for you too."
"But they are normal. I mean, I went on that assignment last weekend didn't I?" The soldier protested weakly.
"I know you did and I also saw how happy it made you to be out and about doing things like that again." Cloud informed them, his delicate features taking on a look of guilt as they sought forgiveness from both men. "I had no right to make you give that up for me, no reason to stop you from doing the things you love, and I'm sorry."
"You didn't make me do anything Cloud, it wasn't like that." The soldier stated firmly, the warmth which now radiated from his bright amethyst eyes glossing over a little in sympathy with the cadet's damp softly glowing orbs.
"Zack is right. We let this happen because we felt it was right, not because you wanted it." Angeal added to support the soldier's response, his own rugged features softening even more to help ease the blonde's spiralling emotions. "But you are correct that the time has come for things to go back to normal."
"Thank you, for understanding." Cloud whispered, a faint smile managing to find its way on his lips as the things he'd needed to hear were said.
"Alright." Zack sighed in agreement, his body easing back against the chair he was sitting in as the tension in his shoulders began to lesson. "But I want someone to check on you while I'm gone."
"I don't ..." Cloud began before he was cut off.
"I know you don't want it and I'm not asking for someone else to be your shadow while I'm gone, but ... but I need this." The soldier hurried to explain, the emotional drain the conversation was having on him becoming clear in his tired violet eyes. "I won't be able to concentrate unless I know you're ok, even if that means having Kunsel pop in and check on you a couple of times."
This time it was Angeal to interrupt the pairs conversation, his voice speaking up before the cadet could argue the idea or the soldier was able to finish his explanation.
"I'm afraid Kunsel will be joining us on this mission Zack, he's part of the reason why we're going."
"Why?" Cloud asked in surprise before he could stop himself, his question thankfully drawing them away from the previous disagreement for a moment.
"Maybe I should explain things from the start." Angeal suggested as he looked between the pair, the cadet's curious expression now matching the soldier's almost identically. "Once you have heard all of the details maybe you will have fewer concerns."
With silent nods of agreement being his only response the commander drew a deep steadying breath and began to explain the situation, his words being cool calm and collected as he gave them a more detailed account of the same information which he'd given Tseng the night before. It was fair to say that both soldier and cadet were just as appalled by the circumstances as he and the head Turk had been, the angry shimmer of green in Zack's eyes being mirrored almost identically by a flicker of blue flame in Cloud's. It was clear to see that both boys were not about to let Kunsel and the other soldier's promotions be hindered by the stupidity of one man and ShinRa's need for paperwork, the blonde himself clearly even more annoyed now by the unnecessary level of reports needed after to his own unforgettable experience filling them in.
In the end it was Cloud who stated that they had to go, that it wasn't right for Kunsel to miss out on his promotion to 2nd just because some 'arsehole' couldn't do his job properly. The cadet had also been quite firm in his belief that he'd be fine while they were gone, that for the sake of their sanity he would only go to classes and spend the rest of the time in the apartment so that they wouldn't have to worry about anything happening to him. It had been at this point that Angeal had raised his other point in the conversation, deciding that since the blonde had brought it up himself there really was no better time to discuss it.
"Actually." The commander began, as he watched Zack continue to look uncomfortable with the idea. "I've been speaking to Tseng about your training being interrupted while we were away and he has offered Reno's services to cover that time."
"He has?" Cloud gasped, the surprise of the offer very clear on his face.
"Indeed." Angeal managed with a chuckle, his spirits lifting as a badly concealed look of relief appeared on the soldier's handsome features. "He remembered suggesting it before and as long as Reno is not needed somewhere else, is quite happy to let him work with you after classes like Zack and I have been doing."
"And Reno's ok with this, right?" The soldier asked, a glimmer of uncertainty still present in his soft violet eyes. "I mean, I'm all for it so don't get me wrong." He began, his expression becoming apologetic towards the blonde as he spoke. "But Red's never really mentored before. Does he even know what to do or how to do it?"
"That was the other reason for Tseng's offer." Angeal admitted with a smile which could almost have been considered a grin. "He would like to see how well Reno would coup if he took up a mentor's role."
"So what? Teaching Spiky would be like a sort of sampler course for him?" Zack replied wearily, the expression on his face clearly showing his unease about the idea.
"In a manner of speaking." The commander confirmed, the look he gave the soldier silently telling him to let this happen.
"I'm just guessing here but Tseng's not going to mention that part to Reno, is he?" Zack asked, his voice speaking in a way which said he already knew the answer.
"No, he will not." Angeal confirmed gently.
"Oh this should be fun." The soldier sighed, as he looked towards the blonde beside him sympathetically.
"Why?" Cloud asked, his clear blue eyes appearing cheerfully thoughtful as he spoke. "He did ok when I sparred with him that day when you had your evaluation." The cadet explained happily, the idea of being trained for a short time by the young Turk actually appealing to him. "And it might be kind of fun to learn a few of the things he did to me, they'll definitely come in useful with hand to hand combat classes."
"What he did to you?" Zack spluttered, the words barely making it out as he choked on the air he was breathing in.
"I ended up on my backside quite a few times." The cadet admitted with a chuckle, his sky blue orbs actually brightening at the memory. "Reno didn't hold back when we fought and I had a few bruises to show for it."
"He was supposed to show you around and look after you, not beat you up." The soldier huffed, now clearly annoyed at the red head they were talking about.
"We sparred Zack and he didn't hold back."
"Well he should have done."
"No, he shouldn't." Cloud stated firmly, his lips twisting into an irritated scowl. "I don't want to be handled with kid gloves, you know that."
"Yea, but ..."
"No buts Zack. I wasn't wrapped in cotton wool while I grew up and I'm not going to let it happen now."
"I can't help wanting to protect you and keep you safe." The soldier mumbled wearily, his warm lavender orbs trying to communicate what he was feeling as he heard the clipped tone in the blonde's voice.
"I know that and I've already told you I feel the same way, that I understand what you feel when you can't be there to make sure I'm safe." Cloud replied calmly, the tone he spoke with softening as he saw the worried, caring and apologetic look in Zack's glowing amethyst eyes. "But you have to understand that if I'm going to be a soldier then I need to be able to stand on my own two feet again. And if that means Reno gets to knock me flat on my arse a few times to do it then I'm happy to accept that."
"I know." The soldier sighed unhappily, a slight frown forming on his face as he spoke. "But that doesn't mean I have to like it."
"I'm not saying I like it either." The cadet chuckled in response, a sparkle of amusement entering his bright sapphire spheres. "But maybe Reno can show me things that will give me an edge over the others that normal training can't."
"I guess he would be able to show you stuff that I can't." Zack agreed thoughtfully, his insides instantly warming to the idea of Cloud being more prepared than the other cadets and able to defend himself in other unexpected ways.
"Then you both agree to the idea?" Angeal asked cautiously, his instincts still telling him to tread carefully for the time being.
"I ..." Cloud started to say, his voice faltering for a moment as the soldier's calm lavender eyes caught his own. "I'm ok with it as long as Zack is."
"I guess it would suck to be restricted to only classes and the apartment while we are away." The soldier sighed, his lips naturally quirking up as the cadet's reaction to his words confirmed them perfectly. "And I know Reno could teach you a few things I probably can't."
"Some of them may even be acceptable." The commander added, his off-hand and clearly teasing comment earning him light-hearted chuckles of agreement from both Zack and Cloud.
"And it makes sense for him to get a feel for mentoring while also keeping an eye on you for me." The soldier aired thoughtfully, his words being a lot closer to the truth than he realised as they were spoken.
"It'll be fine Zack, you'll see." The cadet reassured the raven haired soldier, the tender gaze he gave the older teen making even Angeal feel a slight blush rise on his own cheeks to mirror the one now forming on Zack's
"Ok." The soldier stated more confidently, his head nodding briefly in agreement with the blonde's statement before it turned to look directly at the commander. "So when do we met with Reno to work out rotas?" He asked, knowing that with only a day to go before they left he didn't have much time to go over Cloud's new training schedule with the red head.
"Tomorrow." Angeal replied happily, the tension which had been present in his body while they talked now fading away. "Tseng should have spoken to Reno by then and he'll be contacting you in the morning."
"So much for a lazy Sunday." The soldier sighed, his eyes sparkling with amusement even as a dramatic pout made its way onto his handsome features.
"Indeed." Angeal agreed with a heart-warming chuckle, as he began to clear the empty plates away and indirectly brought the discussion to an end.
Not long after they began to tidy up both commander and soldier noticed the cadet trying to stifle a yawn, the sight instantly reminding the other two that the blonde was not mako enhanced and therefore wasn't able to keep going all day like they could. It was therefore with a polite thanks for the dinner, and a reluctant acceptance of the mission pack he would need to go through before they departed on Monday morning, that the soldier encouraged Cloud to get his things together so they could head home. The cadet's small protests of being fine quickly becoming muffled by another yawn and a tired embarrassed smile, as he gave into what was very apparent to all of them, and accepted that it was pointless to argue his obvious need for sleep anymore.
The door has barley closed on the two before Angeal was making a phone call, his heart beating a little faster as he waited for Tseng to answer and confirm that he'd spoke to Reno about the temporary arrangement. As efficient as every the head Turk picked up after the second ring, his voice cool calm and collected as he reported that his part in their plan had been fulfilled and that Reno understood the importance of not drawing to much attention to the fact he would also be watching over Cloud outside of training. They then spoke briefly about their conversations with each party involved, the commander describing how his discussion with Zack and Cloud had gone and Tseng explaining what he'd said to the red head under his command.
Both agreed that given the way the soldier had reacted it wouldn't be long before both he and Reno worked out what their old mentors were up to, but each hoped that by then the week would be over and the results they were aiming for would have been achieved. For now, all they could do was let things play out and see how they went for all those involved.