T-T Homygosh, I can't believe how long we let this off. Between the two of us, we managed to write at least three chapters of it. The only problem is that we're both slackers when it comes to typing it out on computer. From now on, we're going to try and update once every other week (or once a week if we're feeling generous).
But in any case, we would like to thank the people who have reviewed this story and for continuing to read it despite our laziness. We blame Wajas for our laziness.
Since we are human, we would appreciate any kind of feedback. We're are both amateur writers and hope to be published one of these days. Fan fiction is a way we're practicing and honing our skills.
Flames will be used to roast Sergeant Okami's ass.
For those of you who hadn't realized, this story will have plenty of boyxboy love as well as some girlxgirl love. If you don't like it, don't read.
Title: Between Angels and Puppies
Author: Chibi Envy Chan
Pairings: Angeal/Zack though later Angeal/Zack/Cloud, Sephiroth/?, Genesis/?
Warning: There will be boy/boy/boy love and boy/boy love. Oh yeah, girl/girl love too.
Warning: There will be spoilers. I will try to follow Crisis Core, but I will deviate from time to time as I have other plans for Angeal.
Warning: Doesn't follow the timeline exactly.
Warning: Character death(s)
Warning: It will contain OCs.
Summary: Life is complicated especially when you work for a company like ShinRa. Everything seemed normal and fine until SOLDIERs started going AWOL without any rhyme or reason. Everyone has hidden motives, but are they good or bad? Follow a first class, a second class, and a cadet as they navigate through these troubling times. As if that wasn't hard enough, they have to deal with what they mean to each other.
Special Shout Out: This is a gift for an awesome Final Fantasy VII writer, Amarissia. Check out her stories. I have her under my favorite authors section. Chibi gives her a two thumbs up!
Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII, but I do own my OCs. Basically, they're anyone you don't know.
Chapter 6: Missing
"Oh Cloudy," Zack sang as he skipped down the hall, bringing attention to himself. He received quite a few stares and chuckles from the first classes he passed. "I have a surprise for you."
A handful of cadets poked their heads out, wondering who was that insane SOLDIER. They were yelled at by their instructors and hurried back to their assignments.
As soon as he was within hearing distance, Cloud groaned. He didn't need this especially with Okami's pet students nearby. Didn't they have anything better to do than to pick on him?
"Your boyfriend's here," Evan sneered while their instructor was admonishing another student. He circled around the blond. "Not brave without your bodyguards, are you?"
The blond rolled his blue eyes and stepped away from Evan and his minions. He wouldn't cave into his urge to punch the idiot even though he could get away unscathed. The last thing he needed was a black mark on his permanent record.
Sergeant Okami would pounce on this opportunity. Most likely, he worked with his pets to weed out the students who he thought to be weak, meaning the good fighters. Those pets were now convening around him.
"That Tailor kid isn't here to protect you," Evan jeered. He walked in front of Cloud and kept moving in front as the blond tried to ignore him. "I guess what they say is true. Once a chicken, always a chicken."
Children. They were a bunch of children. Cloud refused to sink to their level. Yet, it was so very tempting to show off the moves he learned from Zack, who actually knew what he was doing.
"What's the matter? Are you dumb? I just insulted you. Are you a man or a chocobo?"
Cloud wished he would shut up already. Couldn't he come up with better insults? Before either of them could act, Zack pounced on Cloud.
"Gah, what are you doing here? I have class."
"Nuh uh, it's over," Zack cheerfully announced. He pointed to the synchronized clock. "You'd better get going. All the edible food will be gone if you dilly dally."
The instructor sent several glares to the SOLDIER's back. He hated that kid, rising through the ranks so easily and quickly too. Then again, he hated people who had more talent than him.
"Oh," Cloud said as he allowed himself to be lead (dragged) out of the room. He felt a chill run down his spine. It must be those bullies or their instructor. He figured it had to be Sergeant Okami, because he been made a fool of by Zack on numerous occasions. "Zack?"
"Hm?"
"I was wondering if you know what happened to Dirk. He wasn't in class today, and he never skips classes."
Zack guessed both the older Tailors wanted to keep them safe or something along those lines. He scratched his head. "I'm not sure what happened."
Those big blue eyes just had to look up at him. Oh how he both loved and dreaded him. They made him turn into a pile of mushy Zack.
"I'll see if he's okay." 'Gods, I'm such a pushover.' Zack wanted to sigh, but that would tip off Cloud. He also felt like his puppy had died. It was an irrational feeling, and he knew it.
Cloud smiled and actually hugged him. "Thank you." He had been worried all through class. The quints were most of the few friends he had. "So?"
The second class looked miffed. "Can't I spend time with my friend?"
"Best friend?"
"Of course!" Zack playfully nudged him, minding his strength. How could they not be friends? "What? Did you think we're just friends, hm?"
The cadet smiled again and shook his head. He was glad Zack considered them to be good friends. Things were starting to look up. Now all he needed to do was pass all his classes so he wouldn't have to deal with them on a daily basis.
"Um, we're going the wrong way," Cloud spoke up when he saw them turn the opposite direction. They were heading to the second and third classes' cafeteria. The food wasn't bad from what food Zack brought him.
"No, we're heading the right way." Zack's smile widened if possible.
'He's up to something. Should I run while I have my sanity in tact?' Cloud glanced around for the nearest escape route. He wasn't about to dive out of a window or hole himself up in another classroom. When they approached a set of stairs, he felt an arm being draped over his shoulders.
"No worries. We won't get into trouble," Zack assured after he felt Cloud tense. "You need to trust me more."
"Did you remember the time you decided to put chocobo strength in mmft-."
Zack's mako blue eyes scanned for any first or second classes. He released his grip on the cadet's mouth. "We are never to mention that in public."
Cloud gave him that look whenever he was being an idiot. "We were lucky they ruled it as circumstantial."
In response, Zack grinned sheepishly. Why was he always on the losing end of these? Maybe he should start using his head more often and for thinking.
"So you decided to kidnap me for a lunch date?" Cloud asked, filling the uneasy silence. He had grown used to Zack's constant idle chatter about anything, and it felt awkward with the silence that hung around them.
Mischief twinkled in the second class' eyes, causing Cloud to almost shudder and run away, far away. Sadly, Zack tightened his grip on the cadet. The uneasy silence returned for a moment.
"I knew it you're up to something!"
Zack put on his hurt look as he swung Cloud so they could look at each other in the eye. "I'm hurt you think so little of me. After all I've done for you, this is how you treat me?" He sniffled.
Cloud rolled his eyes. "Quit being a ham. You already know the answer to that."
Inside the second/third class cafeteria, the lunch lady waved to him. She recognized those set of spikes anywhere. "Long time no see. What are you, on a diet?"
Being the social person, Zack dragged his buddy over to her. "Pfft, me on a diet? Be serious about it."
"A young man like yourself needs the extra nutrition. You, SOLDIERs, are too skinny. Put on some weight. Oh if I was only ten years younger." She had a dreamy expression as she stared at the ceiling.
"Try thirty." He received a mock glare from her. "But I'm already taken."
"It's sad really. The good ones are taken or gay. What's a young woman to do?"
"Tell me when you meet one."
This time he received a foot stomp courtesy of Cloud. Zack yelped and began jumping up and down on his good foot. Why must Cloud be so brutal to him? Maybe he should wear his steel toed combat boots instead of the cheap ones the company provided.
"Be nice," Cloud chastised, giving him a death glare that would rival Sephiroth's.
Once the pain subsided, Zack returned the glare with one of his own. "No need to resort to violence."
"Pfft, that's the only way you learn anything. I'm surprised you haven't driven Commander Hewley insane by now."
The SOLDIER's mouth dropped. "Hey I can too learn things. It just takes a little while." Why did he hang around Cloud?
"More like a rolled up newspaper."
"Gah! I knew it. You two are conspiring against me. This isn't fair."
"Only in your mind."
"… I don't like you," Zack muttered even though he didn't mean it. He hated being outworded or whatever. Why couldn't he win against either of them?
Meanwhile the lunch lady sighed. To be young and in love, wouldn't it be grand? 'So this must be the one who snagged Zack. He's so cute and can keep him in check. They make a cute couple.' Her inner fan girl squeed with joy. She wondered if they would let her take pictures.
"…" Zack didn't know what to say.
"You've found a good one. Make sure you don't lose him. He's such a cutie."
Zack tilted his head in confusion while Cloud blushed furiously. He looked between the two. What was going on?
Having received their meals, Cloud clamped onto Zack's wrist and dragged him away from the insanely grinning lunch lady.
"Yo, easy on the arm," the SOLDIER said but allowed the blond to drag him wherever he wanted, which was down the line. He snagged a few things along the way and then paid for their meals.
This was way unusual of the blond. He normally wasn't this assertive. Zack found he liked this side though he didn't know why. He was glad Cloud was coming out of his shell.
"What's up?"
Cloud refused to talk about it. If the other spiky haired man didn't figure it out tough luck. Cloud wasn't going to tell.
"Ouch, the cold shoulder treatment. Did I do something wrong? Cloudy, please tell me. I'll make it right." The SOLDIER couldn't lose Cloud as a friend. It was up there with Angeal rejecting him. He didn't want to let go or think about it.
The blond sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. He really didn't want to tell. "It's not you. I promise. It's more on what she asked?"
"Miss Candy? She's sweet. I'm not talking about her name. Come to think of it, I don't think that's her real name." At least Cloud wasn't mad at him, but she mentioned something about finding a good one. Did she mean friend?
"Sounds more like a cross-dresser's name," Cloud sighed, plopping down in an empty chair at an empty table.
A dark brow was raised. Since when Cloud know about them? "Really, I didn't know about it." Wasn't he supposed to be the innocent one?
"We had one in our small town. His name is Princess, and certainly didn't look like one." The blond nearly shuddered at the memory. It was awful. He was thankful he didn't have nightmares from that traumatic experience.
Zack winced. There were certain people who should never wear a dress ever. He took a seat across from the cadet.
"Well, most undercover missions go to the Turks so you don't have to worry about dressing in a dress." He gave Cloud a real good look over. "Though I must say, you'll look stunning in a dress.
Cloud nearly choked on his salad. This reminded him about a conversation he had not too long ago. "I swear I will not wear a dress."
The SOLDIER chuckled. He found a flushed Cloud to be rather cute. "Not even for me?" Nope. From the way the blond glared daggers at him, he knew the answer. "I still think you'd look cute."
"Absolutely not. If I were in a relationship, I'm wearing the pants." Cloud stabbed his meatball to emphasized his point.
Wait a second. Did Miss Candy think they were dating? "Oh. She may be nice, but has a few screws loose. Don't take what she says seriously." Yet some little voice kept nagging him.
"Okay," Cloud wasn't sure what to make of her. He didn't know what except he wanted to get this done and over with. For some reason, he felt strange around his second class friend. It felt like he was meeting Zack for the first time. "You said something about a surprise." Hopefully, it wouldn't be embarrassing as Zack's last surprise. He wanted to hide under his bed at home forever.
The second class pretended to look hurt as he placed his hands over his heart. "You wound me." He read Cloud's body language. It told him flight or fight. "But seriously, you'll be stoked by this."
"Somehow, I doubt it," the cadet said a bit on the wary side. He picked up his piece of bread and tore into it.
Shaking his head, the second class wished Cloud would trust him. Then again, he had a penchant for getting them into compromising positions and in trouble. "No really, I mean it."
"Let's see it."
Zack chuckled. "I can't show it. You know Angeal? Well, he's agreed to help me with your training. He might not make it all the time, but he's going to try. Now, that wasn't painful, was it?"
Cloud didn't know what to say. His voice failed him several times. This was his dream come true. It would help him closer to his goal, becoming a hero.
Seeing Cloud's nearly comatose state, Zack laughed and gently swatted the blond. "Come on, it's not bad. You know how many students he takes?" The dark haired SOLDIER went on and on about his mentor turned lover.
The blond, on the other hand, could only nod his head dumbly and eat lunch. Out of experience, he never thought he would meet any of the legendary three let alone be trained by one.
"So Cloudy," Zack asked after not hearing a peep out of the blond for awhile. He resorted to poking him. Still no response. Maybe he should have it done more subtly? Nah, that wasn't his style.
Wait, was this some kind of joke? It was too good to be true, but at the same time, Zack wouldn't pull this kind of prank on him. He wasn't mean or cruel. Oh wait, what was Zack doing.
"And then Angeal said to be tough and take it hard. Who knew sword play could be so exhausting and fun?"
"Doesn't it require muscle to wield the Buster?"
The SOLDIER nearly fell over in laughter. Cloud was too innocent and naïve for his own good. He was going to change that over time. Zack vowed to help him see the light.
"Did I say something funny?"
Shaking his head, the second class replied. "No. It's something you're too young for." He reached over and ruffled the soft blond spikes.
Said person glared and swatted the offending hand away. "Don't mess up my hair."
The second class laughed once more. "It doesn't look any different. Relax. I'm sure one bad hair day isn't going to kill you or be the end of the world." The slumped look told him there was more to this than a bad hair day. "It's more than that, isn't it?"
Cloud nodded his head. He couldn't most (all) secrets from his ever watchful mentor. Still, he didn't want to burden Zack who already did so much for him, a lowly cadet.
"It's nothing really. I meant that's what best friends are for, right?" Zack pushed away his empty tray and leaned against the table, his head resting on his hands. He learned forward so he could look into those beautiful blue eyes…
Did he just think of Cloud's eyes as beautiful? It must be the lack of sleep. There was no other explanation unless he liked Cloud as more than a friend.
Was it possible to like two people? He thought he was supposed to feel that way toward one person and only one person? On second thought, why was he even entertaining this thought?
"Zack, are you okay?" Cloud asked a whole lot closer than he was, startling the second class.
He grinned in good nature. "Sorry, I had my head up in the clouds. Hey, no more hitting. Be thankful I didn't mention a certain species of bird."
While he was grateful, Cloud didn't like making fun of his name. He had no idea why he had been named Cloud. His mother didn't even know. All she knew was that his father really wanted to name him Cloud. He didn't say for what reason.
"Thanks, I guess."
Border!
Being second in command wasn't all that. Right now, he wanted to crawl into bed and curl up against his sweet but way too energetic puppy. He also needed some pain killers for this CEO migraine inducing meeting?
Why did he need to be there? He was a SOLDIER, not an accountant. Maybe they were testing him. His puppy was more than enough, but he was too cute that he couldn't stay mad at him for too long.
The ride up the elevator didn't make it better. In fact, it might have made it worse. SOLDIER's number one psycho happened to be there.
Tense from the meeting, Angeal was ready to strike or defend himself if need be, however, the situation never arose. The other first class seemed to be subdued. Was his eyes glossed over? It was nearly impossible for first class SOLDIERs to become drunk, but it happened from time to time. They rarely had hangovers with their high metabolism.
Angeal had to do a double take on the younger first class. It was as if he was in a world of his own, but he knew better. The other most likely had been to the lab and probably ended up in the 'good' hands of the doctor.
Observing the other first class, he made mental notes of any twitch or little signs. Needless to say, there wasn't anything. If he hadn't been patient, he would be sleeping. Come to think of it, the younger SOLDIER probably didn't register his presence.
As soon as the doors slid open, he walked off in a zombie like state. He walked to his door without any problems or incidents.
Once the car started moving, Angeal pondered a lot of things. What was happening within SOLDIER? Why were certain people acting strange? How was Cloud doing outside of his classes? There were too many questions for his liking and not enough answers. He could easily pull up Cloud's scores.
At his floor, he stepped off the elevator and walked quickly to the place he called home. He fished out his key on his way there, however, he never had to use it as the door opened. Angeal found his arms full of his puppy as he was glomped.
If he had a tail, it would be wagging rapidly. His blue eyes shined brightly, and it wasn't the mako. He was beaming from the inside. "I was wondering when you'd get home."
"Down boy," Angeal said playfully. Only Zack could bring this side out of him. However, there might be another person, but that was another thought for another day. He chuckled when his puppy cutely pouted and pried Zack off so he could actually enter their shared apartment. "What's the good news?"
Not being able to keep still, Zack bounced on the heels of his feet. "How did you know? Are you reading my mind?" First Cloud and now Angeal?
The first class chuckled and ruffled the soft spiky black hair. He liked running his hand through them. In spite of their appearance, they were soft and silky. "You're an open book."
Not fair.
"You're cheating."
"You're avoiding the question. I'm guessing I'll need to bail you out of whatever mess you've landed yourself into this time."
Zack stuck up his nose and turns his back to his lover, his arms crossed. "I'll hope you know I was well behaved. I didn't even pull Cloud out of class. I waited for him to get out."
"Oh so you dragged him into your half baked plans? I pity the poor kitten." Angeal was behind him and wrapped his muscular arms around the smaller frame. It fit perfectly.
"I resent that. You two are tag teaming against me."
"I think I like him."
This proved it. They were so against him. "I knew it. You two are conspiring against me." The second class pouted once again.
"Perhaps," Angeal teased. "SO what is making you so bouncy tonight?"
Having a short attention span, Zack forgot about the teasing. "Cloud is stoked about the good news. He was rendered speechless."
"That's good," Angeal said. He placed his chin on that soft hair. His reputation, while good in commanding an army, made it difficult for him to associate with people outside of first class and ShinRa administration. "I hope he isn't intimidated by my position."
"He's shy around anyone. Just give him a little time. He'll warm up to you." Zack loved the feel of those powerful arms gently holding him. It felt safe and warm and comfortable.
"Good."
Angeal had this insane urge to protect the blond even though they barely met. He felt drawn to Cloud just as he had with Zack.
Border Again Love Me!
Green eyes darted around. He needed to avoid a certain madman, who somehow managed to find him every single damned time he missed an appointment. It was as if he planted a tracer on him, which he wouldn't put past the 'good' doctor.
Thankfully, the doctor rarely left the lab and didn't know his way around the SOLDIER dormitories. He hated associating with inferior beings. To Hojo, the president was considered to be among these beings. Sephiroth considered him to be a tub of lard. He could easily toss the fat executive one handed and still beat the older SOLDIERs.
Once deep in the SOLDIER dorms, Sephiroth peeled himself from the shadows. Imagine him, the great general, reduced to sneaking around. Very few things intimidated him, and he intimidating so many people with a few exceptions. They fell into one of the categories: stupid, courageous, suicidal, or plain psychotic.
He maneuvered around the area as he knew the place like the back of his hand. The General could do this in his sleep. He didn't pause in the third or second class dorms but headed straight to the first class quarters.
Reaching the door, he slid his hard and entered. He hated doing this whenever his appointments came around. This time, it had been an impromptu appointment. His Turk ally notified him ahead of time so he had been able to escape his office. No doubt, Hojo was swearing profusely when he discovered an empty office.
Now he only had one important thing to do before he retired for the night.