And This Represents...

Man I'm tired...training has been a bitch lately. Speaking of which, what is he doing?

"Zack...what are you doing?"

I studied him from beneath my helmet, watching him as he struggled.

He grunted in response, "What does it look like I'm doing, Cloud?"

There was sweat pouring off his face, his hair was matted, as he continued to lift the barbell weighted down. I blinked, I've seen Zack lift weights before, but he's never sweated this much.

"I know you're lifting weights–

"Then why did you ask," he heaved again.

I sighed, removing my helmet, "I was asking why because there's a pink ribbon tied to the barbell," I stated plainly.

This caught him off guard, and the bar tipped. He struggled to right it, before placing it into his resting place. He glared up at me from the weight bench, the pink ribbon hanging delicately before his face.

"Cloud," his breath was still heavy, "What have I taught you? Have you not been listening? Have you been ignoring my words of wisdom?"

What words of wisdom? "How long have you been doing that for, Zack?"

"Not important," he raised a finger, pointing up at me, "What is important is this," he tapped the pink ribbon.

...Right...

"A ribbon...a pink ribbon is what is important..." and here he was talking about words of wisdom.

He sighed, "Cloud Cloud Cloud...you're hopeless. It isn't the pink ribbon itself, but rather what the pink ribbon stands for."

"Which would be...?"

"Women, Cloud. Women. Man, you're clueless."

How does one make this correlation? Please, explain.

"I don't get out as much as you, Zack. Do tell." I'm not the soldier who gets to run around the city and flirts with everything that...well...he just flirts...alot

"Cloud," Zack regarded me seriously, "Women care about very few things in this world."

"Zack..."

"And in order to win over said women you must execute these things seamlessly."

I don't know if I like where this is going.

"Exhibit A. Why would I be working my ass off here with a pink ribbon tied around the barbell which represents what, Cloud?"

"...women..."

"Good! Good! I knew you were a fast learner...anyways, what would this barbell have to do with women and me using it, Cloud?"

He can't be serious here.

"Come on, Cloud. I know you can do it," he cooed.

Sick.

"Uh...women like...men..."

"Uh huh, uh huh..." he egged me on.

"With nice bodies?"

"Precisely! Cloud! We may make a man out of you yet–

"Hey!"

"–but that is not the problem here today," he sits up, swinging his legs across the bench.

"So what is the problem..."

"I obviously don't have nice enough of a body to get women."

Snort.

"Cloud, I know you like looking, but your opinion counts for nothing–

"That wasn't what I meant," it's well known he's the biggest player around here.

"Oh really," he raises his eyes in a mock suggestive way, "Then what did you mean Cloud?"

"I meant that I know for a fact you've had plenty of girls around the barracks."

"Pssh, they mean nothing," he said standing slowly.

"But I thought–

"They're girls like you said. I need women, nice, fine women who will cook for me."

"...you might not get 'women' if they heard you talk like that."

"That was just a couple things needed, okay? Don't call me a sexist pig!"

"I didn't, Zack."

"Sorry, habit."

"Uh huh."

"Shut up, Cloud. Anyways, so, in order to get women, I have to get a nice body," he pulled the pink ribbon off of the bar, "And I needed motivation. That's why I tied the ribbon around the bar. Women, it motivates me to do one more push, one more...so my body can be that much better for the ladies..."

"Right."

"Yep, that's the story, Cloud," he grinned wide.

I paused for a moment, studying his grin which seemed too big and too forced for even Zack.

"...she denied you the second date, didn't she?"

His face fell in an instant, "She's shrewd, man. Hope was my head, and she just sent it off to the guillotine without even a second glance back," he frowns, "It was for my birthday, too."

"A challenge for the great and almighty Zack?" I tease.

He glares at me, "Don't mock me Cloud, this is serious."

"Obviously she's not. Playing hard to get?"

He threw his arm around my shoulder, "She's as slippery as a wet fish covered in oil."

I sigh, "Happy Birthday, Zack."

I hate you Zack.

'Ha! And you thought I was wrong! What did I tell you? What did I tell you? Trust in the great Zack, man, and you never go wrong.'

I grunt, lifting the large barbell again.

'Cloud, I don't think Tifa thinks you're getting out of shape.'

I appreciate the concern, Aerith...but I'll decide that for myself.

Zack chuckles, 'Just don't over do it, little buddy.'

'Yeah, Zack showing up sore and disgruntled on my steps did nothing for our relationship.'

Ha! Backfired.

'Shut up, kilt-boy.'

Bastard.

I grunt, putting the barbell back into its place. It's been about three months since I finally finished this part of the basement. There was a storage closet down here for some of Tifa's wine, but I finished off an area all for myself.

And I got a weight bench, too.

Huzzah.

I hear footsteps on the stairs, creaking.

"Cloud, what are you doing?" Tifa walks in the room, staring at me, "Have you been down here working out this entire time?"

"Yeah," I glance at her.

"Why?" she walks over, sitting down beside of me as I sit up.

Ouchkabibbles...shoulders are a little stiff.

I roll one, holding it with my other hand, and shrug, "Just felt like working out."

"Well don't over do it," she states, rubbing her hand across my back lightly, "The others will be here soon."

My head falls, "I can't believe you invited them."

"I doubt I could've kept them away."

"They could've waited till Cid's wedding," We'll be seeing each other in what, two weeks again?

"Cloud," she reprimands softly, "They care about you."

I grunt in response, "It better not be like last year."

She sighs, smiling slightly, "We aren't going out in public. Just a nice, quiet dinner with friends."

Quiet? Don't kid me here. You remember the last time we all went out to dinner? Yuffie, does that ring a bell? She alone could bring down the whole restaurant. If there's casualties after this night, don't come crying to me.

"They better not get me a dress again," I say, the wound still fresh in my mind.

She giggles, standing and kissing my forehead lightly, "Come on, they've already filled that quota for the year."

'Man skirt'

Shut up Zack.

"Don't work out too much, kay? Don't want those muscles too big to fit in the sleeves," she squeezes my arm lightly.

'Yeah, work out your thighs so you can show out how nice and muscular your legs are.'

Zack!

"Okay," I say, smiling at her, "I'll be up in a minute to take a shower."

"Good," she smiles again, kissing my cheek before disappearing out of the basement.

I reach into my back pocket, pulling out the object slowly.

'Is that...Tifa's hair band, Cloud? Why do you have that? Was that what you had tied around the barbell?'

Ask your boyfriend Aerith.

'I knew I taught you something!'

God, I'm never going to hear the end of this.

'But it worked, didn't it? Didn't it? Motivation, my man, that's all you need.'

Yes Zack, now stop gloating.

He chuckles, 'Happy Birthday, Cloud.'

A/N: Another short chappie, but I spat it out while I could. Man I'm tired...I hope you enjoyed this one...a little bit different take, but not much. Prepare, for after Cloud's b-day, comes THE WEDDIN. Zomgoshes! Ah well, must get back to study time now. Later loves! Thanks for the reviews!