Zack had this all under control.
Waking up two hours before the event actually started, he had managed to find everything that they might possibly need. He still didn't understand why Shin-Ra had such random things all over but he didn't question it.
This was all very convenient.
Zack had managed to find buckets, soap, water, wax, sponges, you name it! Although he was running all over headquarters trying to make sure that everybody had all their stuff and was exhausted, he was also happy.
Shin-Ra was about to have their first ever car wash, courtesy of Zack Fair being a persistent and noisy SOLDIER. He was proud of that.
He had spread the news like wildfire.
Being as imaginative as he thought he'd dang near found every way possible to spread the news. He'd even gone under the plate to ask Aerith to pass it around to. Although his girlfriend wasn't exactly fond of Shin-Ra she decided to help because she was rather fond of Zack and he "really wanted to go" on the trip.
As Zack led Cloud by the arm through the rows and rows of cars, he couldn't help but think that he'd done well. Everywhere he looked there were SOLDIERS talking to the civilians and getting everything ready for the washing. He also noticed that most of the people that had come to get their cars washed were girls.
Exactly what he had hoped for.
He could see the members Silver Elite, Red Leather, and Keepers of Honor as they were wearing shirts with of their respective hero. That was fine with Zack because he had asked the three SOLDIERS to do this because so many of their fans would attend.
Doing a quick head count Zack discovered there were only a couple dozen SOLDIERS who were helping and as far as Zack was concerned those were the only ones going on the trip.
Zack chuckled to himself a bit thinking of how he had gotten these soldiers to participate. It was about a week ago when he pitched the idea in the VR Training Room and most of them looked at him like he was crazy. If Zack remembered correctly it had gone something like, "Yo fellas, if you haven't heard this yet, there's gonna be a car wash next Saturday. It's so that we can all go to Costa del Sol like every year. Y'know you wanna go, so come help us! All you gotta do is wash cars, shamelessly flirt with the people and look hot while you're doing it!"
Well, Zack's memory was faulty either way.
Cloud nudged Zack and when he got Zack's attention he pointed to a steady trail of cars that was lined up. Zack grinned. Even more cars?
Perfect!
Zack glanced at Cloud as they continued to weave through cars, SOLDIERS and civilians, finally settling on a car that seemed small enough for Cloud. Cupping his hands against the window of the car Zack peered in and noticed that the owner was still in the car and walked around to the driver's side to knock on the glass. It lowered to reveal a young woman.
"Hello miss. My name is Zack and this is my friend Cloud. He's going to be washing your car today" Zack declared.
The woman flushed.
"That's fine. Hi Cloud, nice to meet you. My name is Ravyn" She replied, extending a hand.
Cloud took her hand and shook it.
"Don't worry ma'am you're car is in good hands. Cloud is a very diligent worker, isn't that right Cloud?" Zack questioned.
Cloud nodded. "Yes, ma'am"
She smiled. "Well then, you have my trust. Please take good care of my car" She opened the door to reveal herself to be a rather short girl.
"I'll just be walking around and looking at the displays. I'll come back every once in a while to see if you're done"
With a nod, she walked off.
The second she was gone, Cloud's face was flushed red and he looked adorable, but Zack couldn't tell Cloud that. That would result in squealing, Zack getting hit, and Cloud vehemently trying to convince Zack that he indeed was not cute. Zack couldn't resist pinching his cheek though. He relished in Cloud's bright blush and facial expression. Whipping out a name tag, he quickly pinned it on Cloud and smirked.
If Seph didn't like this kid, he was out of his mind!
Zack looked up at Cloud with a goofy grin, eager to mess with Cloud some more when he noticed that Cloud was looking away at nothing in particular. That was typical Cloud behavior but Zack had a feeling there was another reason for this behavior as well.
"What's wrong Cloud?" Zack asked, willing to be serious for a bit.
Cloud's blush deepened. "Nothing, what're you talking about?"
"Cloud, I can tell when something is wrong. It comes with the best friend title. So, what's wrong?" Zack questioned.
Cloud's face became a frown but slowly it became more neutral as he said, "I don't think I can do this Zack"
"Sure you can! It's real easy. First you just gotta soak the car with water from this bucket-," Zack taught only to be interrupted by Cloud's hand covering his mouth.
"Mmmf, Mmm, hmmm hmf hmm?" Zack asked.
Cloud's nose facial expression turned more desperate and Zack realized that Cloud was actually serious.
"Zack!" He whined, releasing his friends' mouth.
"Okay, okay I'm sorry. I'm listening"
"Zack, Sephiroth was looking at me, I mean really looking at me. I don't know what I did, and I don't know if it was the 'you're-good-looking' way or the 'you're-going-to-be-impaled-by-Masamune' way." Then Cloud's eyebrows rose and his face made an 'O' that told Cloud was completely over reacting. "Or maybe it was the 'I-acknowledge-you-and-your-pathetic-crush' way? 'Cuz that's the worst. If he knows I like him and the feelings not mutual, I'd rather him kill me…"
Cloud continued to ramble, while Zack watched with an incredulous expression.
"…I mean really, death can't be all that bad right? It's better than seeing him everyday, doing nothing but admiring him. Thinking of all the fun we could've had, love we could have shared. Imagine the children we could have adopted! I would've made a great mom right? I'd make a great wife too… I'd cook him new things everyday, but Sephiroth won't know. He's gonna kill me Zack! This was all your idea! Why do I let you talk me into these things? I could've lived the life of a normal Cadet. Watching him and knowing I can never do anything more than that. It would've been sad but- hey! No death involved in that one. Now I'm gonna be sushi… there's only one way out Zack, go get Buster Sword and do it. Make it so it doesn't hurt, please. If it has to hurt at least make it quick."
Zack gaped and attempted to take in the entire monologue.
He tried to fight it, he really did but-.
"I can't take you seriously Spiky. I'm sorry" Zack finally interrupted, bursting into laughter.
"ZACK!" Cloud exclaimed, even louder this time.
Zack couldn't answer all he could do was stand there, doubled over laughing so hard he started to hiccup while tears streamed down his face.
Cloud growled and faced the car but Zack could see the shaking of his shoulders.
Chocobo head was laughing too.
Several SOLDIERS watched Zack and Cloud laugh with a slight confused grin of their own. They'd known by now that Zack was insane and they couldn't help wondering what he was laughing about now. The civilians who watched couldn't help but smirk at the infectious laughter.
Zack tried breathing deeply to calm himself but the sound of his broken breathing made him start laughing again, he tried turning away from Cloud but he just started laughing at the faces of the people around him, last Zack tried pinching his nose and closing his eyes.
The laughter stopped but his body still shook.
"Blondie, come over here" Zack wheezed, extending a hand.
Cloud briefly turned around, locked eyes with Zack before shaking his head.
He could see in Cloud's eyes that he thought the whole situation was funny too but that he was a little hurt too. Seeing Cloud upset sobered Zack up and finally getting a hold of himself, Zack stood up and grabbed Cloud's arm to turn him.
"Spiky you gotta know that was ridiculous" Zack spoke, trying to hold back the giggles.
Cloud faced him and bit his lip trying to suppress the smirk, "Yeah, I know"
"How many times do I gotta tell you? Seph's a good guy. I wouldn't be doing this unless he was. He's just got a stick up his ass. He thinks everybody's gotta be scared of him but he's really nice and funny. I'm telling you! Don't worry"
Cloud scrunched his nose, processing. Finally Cloud nodded, "Okay, fine. I'll stop being melodramatic. Just promise me you'll let me do this my way"
"Your way?"
"Yeah, my way. You got a problem with that Zack Fair?" Cloud asked, poking Zack in the chest with his index finger.
"No problem at all Cloud Strife, just make it snappy" Zack answered with a grin.
Cloud smiled back all traces of hurt gone from his face.
"Alright, so I'm gonna go get this whole shin-dig started. They want me to go stay by the stage but I promise I'll keep an eye on you."
Cloud nodded.
"See ya later Spike. Hopefully, with on a certain someone's arm" Zack said with a wink, before turning around and headed to the stage.
"ZACK!" Cloud yelled again with a laugh.
Zack kept walking away but rose his hand to signal to Cloud that he'd heard him.
The dark-haired SOLDIER made his way all the way to the front where a small stage had been set up.
"Finally!" Kunsel exclaimed. "What the heck were you doing?"
"I was talking to Cloud"
"Lovely, well since this was your idea. I think you've gotta get up there and say something to get this entire thing started." Kunsel responded.
Zack shrugged. "Okay, doesn't sound that hard."
Ignoring the frustrated look on Kunsel's face and that Kunsel was about to tell him something, Zack jumped up on the stage grabbed the microphone from the podium and spoke.
"Good morning to everyone!" Zack called.
Ill-timed shouts of "Good morning Zack" reached his ears and he smiled.
"Well, if you didn't know, my name's Zack! I came up with this carwash idea and the whole point of this whole carwash is to get some money for Costa del Sol so thanks to the fellow SOLDIERS for volunteering to do it and to all the civilians, thank you for supporting us SOLDIERS. We'll be out here all day so I hope you put on suntan lotion. If you get thirsty, we've got some water up here at the front of the stage. If you've got any questions, Kunsel and I will be up here and… that's pretty much it! Let me know if you want me to put on a specific song and I'll see if I can put it on" Zack pulled the mic away from himself as he thought for a second.
How should he end this?
"Oh yeah! So let's start cleaning those cars!"
There was a collective shout as all the SOLDIERS cheered.
With a grin, Zack put down the microphone and made his way down from the stage.
"Probably should've planned something." Zack told Kunsel as he sat next to him.
"You should have but it not that big a problem, it was actually pretty good and you got everyone in the mood to start cleaning the cars" Kunsel answered.
"So… what, I'm gonna be helping you pass out water all day?" Zack asked.
"Unless you want to help wash the cars" Kunsel shrugged.
Zack peeked over at Cloud who had just begun washing the car. He saw Sephiroth making his way over to Cloud and grinned.
"Nope. Let's get to work" Zack replied, hopping off the side of the stage.
A/N: I've got no excuse… don't hurt me!
So this one is Zack's point of view and it's also a bit shorter and not funny but the next chapter will start be long, and cute and full of fluff! Bwahahahaha-
*cough*
Ahem… so what do you think?