Disclaimer: Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- and it's characters (c) Square Enix. Me no own. Just playing with the characters here. ;) Half of this story was done by Shade the Hero. Thanks!

Bahamut: Hey everyone! We're back with another update for you all, and today we bring you a little more humor to lighten the mood after last chapter's overview of Cloud's past with Tifa and the accident, and the jump scare poor Angeal got at the end of the chapter. No puppies or chocobos were harmed in the making of this story. XD Well, not yet anyway. Heh. Enjoy the next installment of Operation: Sleepover! :)

Shade: Hey guys! Bahamut's summed it up pretty well, and believe me when I say we wouldn't dream of harming anything as cute as a puppy or chocobo, though that was that one Spider that met a fiery end at the hands of one arachnophobic Commander, but that's a story for another day. Enjoy the update guys and we'll see you next time! ;)

Dragon Tails & Smelly Labs

Cloud stared wide-eyed at Zack. There were no words that could describe how he felt. Even if he could he didn't trust his mouth to get those words out correctly. He had planned to try, but his first few weeks made him seriously doubt he'd get anywhere near SOLDIER. He wasn't as fast as the other cadets, nor was he strong enough and his endurance was a joke. His aim was okay, but SOLDIERs didn't rely on guns. They used swords and Cloud felt pretty embarrassed when he had trouble with a wooden practice sword.

Zack definitely had his work cut out for him, and Cloud really had no way to express how grateful he was for his help. One thing that wasn't hard to communicate was the sudden joy and hope that flared from deep within him.

For the first time in probably years, Cloud had given a full and genuine smile. Zack wouldn't be rewarded with any tears though. It took a lot to make Cloud Strife cry. Becoming a First Class might do it, but Cloud was a long ways away from that day.

When Zack leaned back and opened his menu Cloud found himself doing the same. It was then that he remembered that Zack was a Second Class. "Okay, but...if I make SOLDIER then...you better make First Class. Don't you dare let me pass you in rank. I don't want to have to give you anymore orders. Because I'm sure they'll be worse than twenty push ups."

Zack beamed when Cloud smiled, a real, full, genuine smile from the cadet since they'd first met. That in itself was worth helping the teen, because he had a feeling Cloud didn't have much to smile for until now.

When Cloud mentioned passing him in rank, his eyes flashed and he laughed. "That won't be happening, cadet. I'll make 1st Class, just you wait and see!" He said with bright eyes and a mile-wide smile. "And when I do, you're gonna be my student whether you like it or not." He winked at the teen before his gaze went over the menu. He had no intentions of not making 1st Class, he'd dreamed of it for years and he felt like he was just a step away from it now.

He couldn't wait for that day, and he wasn't going to wait before taking Cloud on as his student like Angeal had done for Zack.

When he sat his menu down as the waitress made her round back to their table, Zack flashed her a smile and ordered one of their burgers and fries for himself, then looked to see what Cloud wanted. "They got some great burgers here. Freshly cooked behemoth meat, just slaughtered in the back." He laughed at the grossed look that crossed the poor waitress' face at his joke about the meat being behemoth meat.

Cloud nodded as he scanned the menu. "Alright, I promise to give you as much trouble as you give yours." Cloud scrunched up his nose at the thought. He wondered just what kind of diet SOLDIERs had? Did they grow a taste for weird food once Mako came into the mix? Goddess he hoped not.

He scanned the menu again, making sure he knew what was in the food he wanted to order. "I'll take the shrimp platter with mashed potatoes and coleslaw, thanks."

Zack smiled wryly at that promise. He had certainly given Angeal quite a lot of trouble and he didn't doubt Cloud could do the same to him. Karma was going to come flying in his face when he made 1st, he was sure of it. But he would take it because being 1st and becoming a hero was his dream.

When the waitress left to get their orders filled, he shook his head at the blonde. "Are you actually going to eat coleslaw?" He asked, a somewhat disgusted look on his face. He swore it was just something they took from the SOLDIER cafeteria in Shinra.

Shaking his head again at the thought he leaned his head on his hand while staring at the blonde. "I should introduce you to my friends next weekend. There's a couple great guys I know, I bet you'd fit right in with us all." He said, suddenly making plans in his head for the following weekend. "Oh yeah, and Angeal. You gotta meet Angeal. Maybe I can talk him into letting you train with me next week." He winked, grinning mischievously at the cadet.

Cloud arched an eye brow at Zack as he took a sip of his water. "Have you seen the slop they call food in the Cadet mess hall? At least it doesn't have to come from a behemoth. Though, if you think that's good you should try Dragon Tail. There's plenty of dragons lurking in the Nibel mountains and they make pretty good meals if you can hunt one." He took another sip which cut off his sentence for a moment. "Of course that's pretty hard when they can swallow you up in one bite."

He was lying through his teeth, but he wanted to see if his new friend would fall for the old joke that the townspeople would tell travelers when they were asked about how tough they were. The joke was that they made dragons part of their diet.

Zack was gaping at the sound. He'd never actually seen a dragon, Angeal hadn't thought he was ready to fight one yet. But he didn't know they could eat them! "Seriously!" He pumped his fist with excitement. "That sounds awesome! What's it taste like? Is it expensive? Man, I gotta hunt one down and try it! How do they cook them?"

His bright blue eyes seemed to glow brighter with excitement at the thought. He could just imagine the taste of a cooked, roasted, maybe even smoked Dragon Tail dinner. It made his stomach growl loud and his mouth water at the very thought. He was already disappointed with the regular old burger he'd ordered.

Cloud had to fight the urge to spit out his drink and managed to reduce it to a slight choking instead. "You actually bought that?" He wiped his mouth with his napkin and shook his head. "It's just a joke. Everyone from my town says it to travelers who ask us how we deal with the dragons living so close. They're surprised we're still alive and ask why we haven't been eaten yet."

He gave his friend a smug grin. "Eating dragons. Have you seen how big a dragon is?"

Zack pouted, crossing his arms and shaking his head ruefully. "I thought you were serious! I mean it sounds good..." He pouted even more at knowing he'd probably never get to actually taste a dragon's tail. That was really disappointing for the 2nd Class.

He flashed a smile at Cloud though and laughed. "You obviously haven't had any Mako shots yet. I could probably eat a whole behemoth if I wanted to." He snickered and winked at Cloud. "Our appetites go through the roof once we get Mako in our system." That was always a bit of an odd effect it had on SOLDIERs, but most got used to their increased appetites among the few other things that got increased from Mako.

Cloud smirked at that bit of info. "Well, at least my mother won't have to worry about me not eating enough then,"

He felt a little bad about teasing Zack like that so he thought he'd throw him a bone. "I don't know what dragon tastes like. Most of the time we just leave them alone. They keep to their mountains and we don't bother them. But, there's no law that says you can't try to eat a dragon if you want. Even though they keep the Nibel Wolf population under control. Now those monsters, they don't care if you bother them or not. If they can get a chance to eat you they will. So...what other abilities does Mako give you? Strength, sure, but what else?"

The waitress brought them their food and Zack was more than happy to flash her a charming smile while taking his plate and then diving in. He thought over Cloud's question about what Mako does and considered his own experiences and others he knew. "Well," He started after swallowing a few fries. "Aside from strength and an appetite, it quickens our healing and metabolism like crazy. Small cuts are nothing, they heal in minutes, and where you'd probably die to something serious we'd have a higher chance of survival."

Zack took a few bites of his burger while thinking of what else. "We can move faster too. And we can practically see in the dark. You won't find a SOLDIER with bad vision either, it enhances everything. Makes everything clear and crisp. Then there's the enhanced hearing, -that takes forever to get used to by the way."

Leaning back, Zack hummed then grinned at the cadet. "Of course, one of the best perks about Mako is the enhanced libido." He waggled his eyebrows teasingly at the teen.

Cloud listened to Zack list off the various bonus effects that Mako could give as he dug into his own meal. He couldn't tell if was from hunger or not, but the food here tasted so much better than what the Cadet mess hall served. He had to admit being able to see in the dark was pretty cool. Same with enhanced hearing and vision.

Then Zack listed the last thing that was enhanced and Cloud nearly choked on his coleslaw. His face hinted a bit of blue as he fought to force down his food and regain the ability to breathe again. A couple chugs from his drink helped and once his food was past his wind pipe he gasped for breath.

"Jeez Zack!" Honestly, how old did he think Cloud was? How old was Zack? He had just realized he hadn't even asked. Sure he looked young, not even a few years older than Cloud, but couldn't Mako also make you look younger? "How old are you anyway?"

The 2nd Class couldn't help but guffaw at the teen's reaction to the last thing he listed. "Hey, you asked! I'm just being honest." He said, grinning wryly at the cadet. "It's even worse if you're a teenager. Like seriously." He snickered. Of course, he was still a teenager himself but that was beside the point. He was just finding Cloud's reaction to their increased libido after getting Mako in their systems hilarious.

Blinking, the teen was surprised Cloud didn't know how old he was. "I'm seventeen." He said around some fries. "What about you? You're like, what, twelve?" He teased, grinning mischievously. He knew the teen was older than that but he couldn't help but tease him, especially after the joke about the dragon's tail.

Cloud knew Zack was teasing about his age. After all, you had to be at least fourteen to enlist in the Cadet program, let alone SOLDIER. He took another sip of his water, still trying to cure the urge to cough. "I'm fifteen." Though he hand to wonder if he looked younger than that. His height or rather, lack of didn't help matters.

He took another bite of his shrimp meal, which he enjoyed. Seafood was a rare treat back home and he had been surprised to see it on the menu. "So, what made you wan to join SOLDIER? If you don't mind my asking?"

Zack grinned. "Fifteen's a good year, but sixteen is the best. Especially with Mako shots." He laughed and winked at the teen, eyes flashing in amusement. He finished off his burger and fries before he answered the cadet, and after leaning back his eyes seemed to glow with pride and happiness at the thought of his dream of being in SOLDIER.

"It's always been my dream! To become a hero like Sephiroth!" He pumped his fist and grinned. "And I'm so close to becoming a 1st Class, I can almost taste my dreams coming true!" He beamed.

Angeal had made a comment once or twice that the teen was close to making 1st. He couldn't wait until he finally proved himself to be good enough to join the ranks of the most powerful men of SOLDIER.

xoxo

Genesis was right behind Angeal. There was no smirk, no amusement, not even the anger he had felt a moment ago. He was determined and just as worried as Angeal. The most dangerous person in Shinra was not the President and it wasn't Sephiroth, it was Hojo. That whack job had a habit of making people disappear. And as angry as Genesis was at Zack for messing with his books, nothing warranted him to deserve that kind of fate.

Reno had no idea what had just happened or how he seemed to have gotten off without any punishment, but he was not about to complain. He did think about following them, but that look the SOLDIERs had. Reno had nerves of steel, sure, but you didn't go messing with Firsts and unless you either had orders to do so or a death wish, you left them alone.

Looking down at his paperwork, Reno sighed and pulled the first manila folder towards him.

Angeal was a big man, and his friend always joked about him being slower because of his size. And despite his Mako enhancements he was a little slower than Sephiroth and especially Genesis, but no one would think he was slow when he made his way back to the elevators and hit the button.

The doors couldn't open fast enough for the Commander, and as he hit the button for the labs, his heart hammered in his chest. Zack had actually gone after Hojo's project. He couldn't even fathom what had gone through his student's mind. He only hoped they'd reach the labs before Zack could strike, or just before Hojo had a chance of making his puppy disappear.

His eyes glowed brighter with the adrenaline that pumped through his veins with his Mako.

Genesis watched his friend with barely controlled patience at the slow pace of the elevator as they merely stood still. The worry was coming off his friend in waves and he had to do something to calm the man. "Angeal, if we make it in time, I'm sure you'll beat this lesson into his thick head to never mess with Hojo ever again."

Genesis hated Hojo. It was bad enough that they had to get their Mako injections from him, but just the man being in the same room could curdle milk. Genesis would give up every copy of Loveless he had if he could be given the chance to kill the man...and get away with it.

Eyes flashing Angeal looked at Genesis, his expression full of alarm. "If we make it in time? What do you mean IF?" His blood pressure shot through the roof with that statement. If? Goddess if Hojo did anything to his student, not even Sephiroth would be able to keep him from slaughtering the man with the Buster Sword.

Before the doors were even fully opened he got off the elevator and rushed to the labs, heart hammering in his chest and blood rushing in his ears.

Throwing the doors open to the labs, Angeal was immediately greeted by the strong scent of fresh fertilizer. He was used to the smell since he used some on his own plants, but that smell had no business in the labs. "Zack?" He called, hurrying inside with his hand on the hilt of his sword.

The sight of a lone assistant cleaning up a rather messy portion of the lab, -which looked like fertilizer and water had literally just been dumped right there- Angeal's towering frame went over to the man. "What happened here? Where's Hojo?" He grabbed the assistant by the arms and gave a slight shake.

Usually he didn't try and scare people, but in this case he threw caution to the wind. He wanted his puppy safe and sound, and nothing would stand in his way; especially not some lab assistant.

Well, that had the complete opposite effect Genesis was going for, but at least it got his friend moving faster. Genesis mused about how he could use that knowledge in the future, but shoved that to back of his mind when the scent of Mako hit him in the face. How it made him sick. It was a sure sign that they were in the labs. Though, what surprised him above all else was the added stench of fertilizer.

"By the planet! That stinks!"

The man gave out a squeak of fright as Angeal grabbed him and shook him. Once he saw his assailant's face however, he calmed down a little. "Oh thank Gaia. I thought you were Hojo."

"I suggest you answer my friend's question," Genesis warned him, his hand brushing the hilt of Rapier.

"Hojo? He's not here. We or rather, he was working on a new formula and then the next thing happened was..." He looked down at the mess that was at their feet. "It rained down from the ceiling, Commander. Followed by water. Hojo it...it landed right on him."

"What?!" Genesis slapped a hand over his mouth to stifle the laughter. "Are you saying Hojo was covered in fertilizer?"

The assistant nodded, "At least a whole bag's worth I'd say."

Genesis couldn't help but lean into Angeal as he broke down laughing. "Oh, I take it back! Hahahaha! You're St-hahahaha! H-he's a genius!"

"Who?" Asked the assistant.

Genesis's humor vanished almost instantly. "None of your business." He gave the room another look. "Have any other SOLDIERs come through here? SOLDIERs who normally shouldn't be here?"

The man shook his head. "Not that I know of."

Sometimes Angeal had to wonder if his best friend was bi polar with how fast he could switch moods.

Shaking his head, Angeal released the assistant at once and did a full and proper facepalm. His student hadn't. Yet the man was apparently witness to it. "So you're telling me no one has been in here and Hojo doesn't know who did this?" He asked, finally removing his hand from his face to look at the assistant.

He did relax a little, knowing Hojo had no idea who did this. But it still didn't answer his question as to where the bad puppy went scurrying off to next. Zack really had done it this time. And ironically, he didn't think the teen would be in a lick of trouble because Sephiroth would be too amused to care about the missing slingshot or the glued pen.

Eyes flashing, he pinched the bridge of his nose. Zack had done this as a safety precaution against punishment for those things. His student was too smart not to have thought this would effect how Sephiroth reacted to the pen incident.

The sneaky puppy.

The assistant rubbed his arms after the Commander had let go. "No sir, neither Hojo nor myself saw who did it. But I can tell you whoever is responsible had better not get discovered by the professor. After he had been...er well, dumped on, he uttered a few threats about what he would do to them that I don't want to repeat."

"Why not? Is it classified?" asked Genesis.

The assistant shook his head. "No, it's just...well, it's stomach turning, to put it lightly."

Genesis had heard enough. Not wanting to stay here any longer he grabbed Angeal by the arm and began to pull him out of the labs and back towards the elevator. "You know what?" He said after they were clear of any listening ears. "I say we give up this wild chocobo chase and let him come to us. Why don't the three of us simply wait in his apartment? He's bound to return there, if he's not there already."

Angeal blanched when the assistant talked about what Hojo had wanted to do, and he didn't want to know what he had said because he feared he'd rip Hojo apart without any due cause. He grumbled and followed behind Genesis, shaking his head a bit. "I suppose you're right...let's head back to Seph's office and tell him what we found before going and waiting for Zack at his apartment."

Running a hand through his hair, he left the labs and back to the elevators. At least Hojo had no clue who dumped the fertilizer on him, and he hoped he'd never find out.

Genesis nodded in agreement as he hit the elevator button and stepped inside. He thought it funny. Angeal always called Zack a mother hen, but Genesis saw that the kid more than likely got it from his mentor. Though in the Commander's case he was more 'mother grizzly' when it came to his student.

"Yes, I suppose we owe Sephiroth an update. I wonder if he managed to remove his pen yet without causing much damage? I bet he lost his temper and sliced his desk in half." He chuckled at the thought.

Angeal stepped onto the elevator and snorted. That wasn't entirely impossible; Sephiroth's temper was a rare but deadly thing. He chuckled at the thought of the few times he'd seen it and he shook his head. Even the Commander knew what fear felt like when faced with an angry General.

"Let's just hope he's calm so we can explain what he did to Hojo. I'm not sure which way he'll react over that one." He snorted and rubbed his face. Sephiroth probably would find it humorous, but it depended on his already given mood.

Genesis arched an eye brow at his friend. "Well, if he jumps to Hojo's defense we'll know he's lost his mind. The only person in this entire building stupid enough to defend Hojo is the President." The elevator rose up the several floors until it came to a stop at Sephiroth's office.

"Besides, Sephiroth could probably use a good laugh right about now. Didn't he seem just a tad tense during the meeting? Or was that just me?"

Snorting, Angeal stepped off the elevator once the doors opened up. "He's always tense when he has to repeat himself over and over to Shinra. You know he hates repeating himself to that man." He said, glancing at Genesis and smiling wryly before he walked into Sephiroth's office.

The desk was still in one piece, which was a good sign. He sat down heavily and rubbed his face. "Well, we found a couple more places Zack struck today. You won't believe it." He said, laughing weakly and rubbing the back of his neck.

Sephiroth looked up as Angeal and Genesis walked in, a bit frustrated after fighting with getting his pen off his desk. He'd managed it, but not without scuffing the desk. He'd have to have it repaired, or simply replace it one because that scuff would be too distracting.

"So what's the damage? And where is he?" He asked, wanting to see Fair himself after the thing with the pen. He wouldn't impale the teen on Masamune, but he did want to scare him with it at least. Angeal would not be able to save the teen from having ten years scared off his life.

Genesis nodded in agreement as they stepped off the elevator. He hated the man almost as much as Sephiroth did. And even more now thanks to recent events. That however was the last thing on his mind as he saw an irritated Sephiroth at his desk. He hid it well, but Genesis knew him better than that.

When asked what Fair had been up to he couldn't help but erupt into silent laughter as he sat down on the other chair. "That depends, do you want the tragic news first? Or the more hilarious tale?"

Angeal grunted and looked at Genesis with a disapproving snort. "Gen, contain yourself." He rolled his eyes a bit. Losing all his copies of Loveless was not tragic for anyone but Genesis. "For starters, Zack stole all of Genesis's copies of Loveless and replaced them with books on puppies and chocobos." He couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Genesis quoting a book on puppies or chocobos.

The silver haired General was a little amused and he raised a single thin silver brow. "He actually replaced every one? Impressive." He complimented. He knew Genesis had dozens of copies, so replacing them all with other books had to have taken time.

Zack had apparently thought of his plan all the way through.

"And what's the tragic news?" His lips twitched a bit as he glanced at Genesis. He figured that was what Genesis thought to be tragic, but he couldn't help but poke a little fun. He needed someone to vent his frustration out on at any rate and Genesis was a good source of humor.

TBC