Cerulean blue eyes slowly forced themselves open to look at a white ceiling, spaced with currently dimmed florescent lights. The first thing Cloud felt was confusion; this wasn't his room in the cadet dorms... That confusion soon dimmed as an ache in Cloud's side made itself known and memories from the VR room soon followed.
He recalled fighting the man of Darkness and receiving a blow to the side from the mace, and the wave of relief that had flooded through him as the world and the enemy dissipated. The final and most comforting memory was the feel of Zack by his side, and he could only hope that Zack had sustained no injury during his escape.
Cloud looked around the small room, it was void of anyone except himself and he was glad for that; the fact that the Darkness had made a direct move against him took a heavy toll on Cloud's mind. He had hoped, despite everything, that he would at least be able to achieve some of his goals before it came to facing the seemingly unstoppable foe. It also worried Cloud to no end that Zack had been present during the attack and very nearly injured; Cloud thanked Gaia he had been able to move fast enough.
With a sigh Cloud had to resign himself to the fact that his raven-haired friend would most likely have questions regarding how he had moved and acted later on. Deciding that it was pointless to remain sitting in the hospital wing, Cloud sat up slowly, gauging the full extent of his injury with practised ease and deciding it was not that bad, especially when compared to past wounds, Cloud stood up and looked around the small room once more until he located the door that led to the attached bathroom and made his way over.
Once inside Cloud switched the light on and turned to the small mirror above the sink. The room was tiny and housed a closely packed shower and toilet along with the sink, it left very little room to move around but from what Cloud could guess these rooms were not built with the idea of people spending long, luxurious periods of time in them.
Cloud was shirtless with a long bandage running around a large part of his waist, the loose hospital pants being the only other thing he had on. Quickly locating the end of the bandage, Cloud worked quickly to unwrap it, wanting to fully examine his own wound for himself. As he got to the last few loops of the long, thin cloth he noticed dried crimson stains, and knew that there must have been blood, however when he removed the final wrapping of bandage he only revealed badly bruised but otherwise unblemished skin. Cloud frowned but let it slide, deciding to ask Zack later. A few expert prods told him that he did indeed have a few broken ribs but he knew that they would be basically fully healed in a few days thanks to the mako in his system. Leaving the bandages in the bathroom, Cloud went back out to the room and began searching around for his actual clothes so that he could leave. However a quick searched proved useless as he soon figured that there was nothing else in the room besides a small Shinra magazine and spare sheets in a draw by the bed.
Sitting down Cloud had to settle for waiting and hoping that someone would bring by some better attire soon.
Not to long later a hyperactive raven-haired man opened the door silently stuck his head through, grinning wildly when he saw Cloud sitting up.
"Spikey!" He exclaimed and bounded through the door, letting it close with a soft thud behind him. Cloud looked up from where he had once more been lost in thought and allowed a small grin to show on his face.
"Hey Zack." He greeted, his quiet voice seeming to be a whisper when compared to Zack's loud greeting.
"How are you feeling buddy?" Zack asked, his voice more serious quite suddenly, the quick change only surprised Cloud for a moment as he, of all people, knew exactly how much Zack cared for his friends.
"Fine," Cloud answered, "It's just badly bruised."
A look of confusion ran over Zack's face at the words and Cloud watched his friends eyes drop down to his exposed side and focused on the skin.
"How...?" He asked moving closer.
Cloud figured then that the blood on the bandages had indeed been from the mace and he frowned. Sure mako healed quickly but it wouldn't even be fully healed yet let alone completely gone.
"Cloud, that was a serious wound... How could it just be... gone?" Zack asked, now standing right next to the blond.
"I don't know." Cloud replied silently as his mind quickly went over all the possibilities. Perhaps the Life Stream? No, it wouldn't have left any damage at all, and usually Cloud would be able to tell if he had come in contact with the Planet... "Could it be because of the VR room itself?" He asked.
"I... I'm not sure." Zack said with a small shrug.
The two fell into a pondering silence, each coming up with no sure answer for the strange outcome.
"Anyway," Zack said after a moment, swinging a small bag from his shoulder, "I brought you some clothes. Figured you wouldn't want to walk around in those."
"Thanks." Cloud took the bag gratefully and quickly opened it up and rummaged through the items Zack had brought along until he found a shirt.
"No worries Spikey." Zack replied with a grin, once more his carefree self.
Now that Zack wasn't looking at the bruised skin on Cloud's side, he found his eyes wandering slightly until they rested on a faint line on the blonds shoulder. He realised with a start that it was a scar, and from the size and shape it seemed to be from a blade of some kind.
The raven-haired man found himself reaching out before he could stop himself and his finger tips found themselves on the warm skin over the scar.
"What happened?" Zack blurted as bright blue eyes shot up to look at him as the blond froze. Slowly those blue eyes lowered to look at the area Zack was touching and he noticed the scar. Cloud frowned, he was so used to the scars that he had accumulated over the years that he had never even noticed that he shouldn't have them on his cadet body. Yet here it was; the thin scar he had earned from Sephiroth's Masamune when the silver haired demon had returned from the Life Stream during the Geostigma incident. Why had the Planet left it there?... He wondered. Cloud realised then that Zack was still waiting for an answer.
"It was... Something that happened a long time ago..." Cloud hedged quietly, looking away from Zack. Silence filled the room as Cloud quickly pulled his shirt on, effectively covering his other scars that he hoped Zack hadn't seen as well as removing Zack's hand from the scar that brought back so many bitter memories.
Zack knew that Cloud wasn't going to tell him so he didn't press the subject, instead he decided that he needed to change the subject to break the silence.
"Anyway, still up for that pizza?" Zack asked cheerily.
Cloud looked up thankfully and nodded. He had always loved how Zack could turn any uncomfortable situation into a comfortable conversation. Also, right then pizza sounded strangely good.
XxXxX
A few hours later Cloud was finally permitted to leave, but only after putting up with the doctors poking and prodding at him as they tried to figure out how his side had healed the way it did. Apparently they had no more of a clue than Cloud and Zack did.
When they finally left the hospital wing Cloud decided that he would not be returning there, he would have easily been able to do all that the doctors did without all the foolish questions about how he felt or how bad the pain was.
"Well, welcome back to society Spikey." Zack joked with a grin.
"More like freedom..." Cloud muttered softly, earning a laugh from Zack. Zack had watched with growing amusement as Cloud attempted to remain civil around the medical staff. When the nurse first came in Cloud became quiet as he usually was around an unknown face but he had stayed open enough while Zack was still there, then the raven-haired man had watched as more people came in wondering over the wound and Cloud completely closed off, his face a mask, and speaking very little.
"Well, just think, now your out of there and you don't have to put up with classes for a week. Plus we can finally have that pizza!" Zack replied cheerily.
With a mental sigh Cloud had to agree to that, he knew that his ribs would likely be fine enough to train with by tomorrow, so as long as he didn't get caught by the wrong people he planned to do just that.
"Anyway, lets drop by yours so that you can change into some casual clothes instead of your uniform." Zack said and steered them towards the cadet dorms.
"Why?" Cloud asked, slightly confused.
"Pizza is not a military related activity." Zack replied in a mock command voice before laughing, "Common Spikey, you need to relax once in a while. Tonight there will be no stuffy Shinra uniforms."
Cloud looked over to Zack's smiling face and knew once more that he wouldn't be able to refuse the raven-haired man, but... there was also a little problem.
"Uh... I don't have any other clothes than my uniforms..." Cloud said with a frown. He hadn't bothered to get any other clothes than the uniforms that Shinra supplied. He hadn't found it necessary to do so.
"What?" Zack asked incredulously. "You mean you don't have any casual clothes?"
Cloud nodded, suddenly wishing that he had decided to grab a few sets of civilian clothes.
"Hmm... I might have something that will fit you." Zack said thoughtfully before grabbing Cloud's arm and pulling him towards the SOLDIER building instead. Cloud followed along feeling slightly uncomfortable with the situation.
As usual the SOLDIER building was buzzing with activity when Zack and Cloud walked in; there were administration personnel, third class SOLDIERs and even a few Turks walking around and going about their business. Most were used to seeing the blond cadet with Zack by now and no one so much as paused as the pair walked through the lobby and over to the elevator.
As the elevator rose Cloud realised that he had never been in Zack's room before, he wondered what it would look like... Probably a mess knowing Zack. Soon enough the elevator came to a stop and the two friends got off on a floor Cloud hadn't visited yet, he followed his raven-haired friend and they headed down a few corridors before stopping in front of a door at the end of one of the halls.
Zack opened the door and entered with Cloud.
"It's not much, but it's home." Zack said with a chuckle.
Cloud had known that SOLDIERs got their own rooms but he hadn't ever been in one. Zack's apartment was a moderate size with a kitchen area off to the side through a open door. The room they had walked into held a large two-seater lounge and T.V set into the wall. There were two other doors that Cloud assumed went to the bedroom and bathroom. It was a comfortable place with a welcoming atmosphere that Cloud figured was because of its owner.
"It's nice." He commented. Zack grinned and laughed.
"Thanks, I'll be right back." The raven-haired man said before disappearing through one of the doors, Cloud got a quick view of a messy room and smiled slightly to himself, it was certainly Zack's house.
Cloud moved over and sat on the lounge. He couldn't quite understand why Zack was so bent on what they had to wear, but he figured it was better to humour Zack. After all most of Cloud's teen years were a blur or memories filled with pain.
It was almost odd to be doing something that didn't involve swords and could be considered socialising; he had spent so long keeping his friends at arms length that it was strange to let someone closer to him without looking for ways to push them back.
Cloud knew that even if he let Zack in, he wouldn't be able to tell him everything... Things were to strange and dangerous, and the last thing Cloud needed was to lose this friendship for a second time.
Hearing the door open, Cloud looked up to see Zack walking over. He had changed out of the usual SOLDIER uniform and now wore khaki shorts and a figure hugging shirt. With a start Cloud also realised that he had never seen Zack without his uniform on...
The next thing the blond knew there was a bundle of clothing in his face and Zack's laughter going around the room. Pulling the clothing down so he could see, Cloud half-heartedly glared at Zack who was now holding his stomach laughing.
"Aww man Spikey! You didn't even see it coming." Zack said between laughs. Cloud mentally noted that the statement was true; he really hadn't seen it coming... He'd been to busy looking at Zack out of uniform to have seen what he was carrying. "Heh... Go try them on, I'm pretty sure they will fit." Zack continued, not trying to contain his laughing.
Cloud got up and quickly moved into Zack's room. He could barely believe he had been so distracted that he hadn't even seen the clothes flying at him... He wondered vaguely if it was normal to get distracted while watching a friend like that...
With a sigh Cloud looked down at the clothes in his hands for the first time. There was a pair of jeans and a sleeveless black shirt. Getting changed, Cloud noticed that the familiar weight of First Sword was absent, and he wondered vaguely where his sword had ended up; he couldn't afford to lose it. Once changed Cloud was glad to notice that the clothes were a perfect fit for him and not to big as he had initially thought they'd be. He also wondered at the irony of just how similar this shirt was to his usual one that he had worn for the last few years, the only difference being that this one had no zip and the collar was not as high, all he needed now was his shoulder armour and the shoulder belt held on by the Fenrir pendant with the ring within its mouth.
Walking back out he found a now calm Zack sitting lazily on the lounge. Once again he found himself watching his friend as he sat completely relaxed, flicking slowly through different channels on the TV appearing to not have heard Cloud re-enter the room. Cloud found his eyes wandering over the body of his friend and seeing just how masculine and... beautiful he was.
Feeling eyes on him, Zack turned around to look behind him and his breath caught in his throat at what he saw. Cloud stood just inside the room, the jeans that he had been given hugging his legs and waist nicely, while the black shirt clung just right so that it showed the contours of Cloud's torso. Zack mentally made a note to encourage his friend to wear them more often... But, Zack thought with a flicker of protectiveness, only when around trustworthy people. It was all to easy for the raven-haired man to see a variety of people looking at the blond cadet as though he was a piece of meat, and in that moment Zack wanted nothing more that to protect Cloud from the world, even though he knew all to well that the blond could look after himself.
"Hey." Zack greeted with a wide grin. "They fit alright then?"
Cloud nodded and made his way over to the lounge where he sat.
"Do you know where my sword is?" He asked, deciding to voice his earlier concerns.
"Yeah, Angeal's got it for you. He didn't want to leave it with someone else that might not give it back."
"Thanks." Cloud replied with a small smile. He trusted Angeal with his sword and knew that there would be no damage to the blade under his care.
"No worries Spikey." Zack said with a large grin.
A comfortable silence fell after that as the two simply enjoyed each others company. Zack had settled the TV on some news channel as he had obviously given up on finding something entertaining. Cloud sat back, enjoying the peace after the fuss in the hospital wing and the fight before that. His ribs were still quite sore, especially when he moved certain ways, but the pain was barely noticeable most of the time to him; something that he still bitterly put down to being caused by the many torturous hours under Hojo's care. After a while Cloud felt a curious gaze on him and turned to see a serious faced Zack watching him.
"What is it?" Cloud asked, already guessing what his friend wanted to ask, but not wanting to say anything eluding to it if he was wrong.
"Cloud..." At the use of his normal name instead of the usual nickname, Cloud knew that Zack really wanted answers, and that bothered him the most because he knew that many of his answers were likely to be lies, or part-truths at best. "What really happened in the VR room?"
As tempted as Cloud was to tell the truth about the Darkness and simply put the warning to his friend, he knew that in doing so he would have to explain too many things from future knowledge and that would be treading on dangerous grounds.
"I don't know, I thought it was a glitch in the system?" He answered quietly. Both men knew that the occurred was no mere glitch, and if anything that confirmed Zack's thoughts that there was something bigger happening than Cloud was letting on.
"Ok... Yeah, but... The way you acted... and spoke... and fought before I left... It wasn't anything like when we trained." Zack spoke slowly pausing often and seeming to gather his thoughts. "You looked more like Angeal or one of the Firsts'."
Cloud internally swore, he had hoped that Zack hadn't been there long enough to see much, but apparently his raven-haired friend had observed more than he thought. Cloud could only be slightly thankful for the closed in environment they had been in, it had been part of the reason that he been injured as he wasn't able to fight properly there, but it had also been what stopped Zack from seeing the full extent of his ability.
"It was probably just adrenaline and the fear of the moment." Cloud hedged quietly, "Plus it's not like I exactly beat him."
Zack still didn't look overly convinced.
"You seemed like you were doing pretty well when I left." The raven-haired man pointed out.
"My style of fighting is for wide open areas, not enclosed rooms." Cloud challenged gently, "It was pretty clear that unless I managed to blow the walls out, I was bound to get pinned sooner of later." He didn't bother mentioning that had he seen his mistake before he made it, he would have quite easily rid the room of its walls, and ceiling for that matter.
"Pinned? I know he managed to hurt you but... I mean..." Zack faltered not sure how to correctly phrase what he wanted to say. Cloud sighed and proceeded to answer Zack's unspoken question.
"At one point I tried to jump away to get more room because the bastard had a physical damage barrier and I realised to late that I had managed to back myself into a wall... The guy was pretty quick to take the opportunity and got me with the mace." Zack winced slightly at that. "After that I couldn't get to my sword... he had be by the throat... I was lucky that it was then that the reality dissolved."
Cloud was sure that was the most he had spoken in a single go for a long time. He also felt better for being able to tell Zack at least one truth among the see of lies. Zack seemed to be thinking about what was said, but there still seemed to be something that was bothering him.
"Why did that guy..." Zack paused for a moment before plunging ahead anyway. "Why was that guy after you?"
Once again Cloud mentally cursed, both at the Darkness for stating their target so openly, and for just how observant Zack could be.
"I don't know..." Cloud said, guiltily looking away as he once again lied to his friend, especially when it was because if him that Zack had been in danger in the first place.
Zack saw the flash of guilt that ran through Cloud's eyes and for a moment felt a slight pang of hurt run through him that the blond wouldn't tell him the truth, but he quickly pushed it aside as he realised that if Cloud was actually displaying his feelings, even veiled as they were, he truly felt bad about it.
"Well, if anything else strange happens like that, promise me you'll tell me?" Zack said finally.
Cloud got the feeling that Zack was compromising what he wanted to know and what he probably knew Cloud wouldn't tell him. It was both endearing and concerning to the blond that Zack could read him so well, but he refused to entertain the thought of distancing himself from the raven-haired man. So finally Cloud nodded his agreement whilst he hoped that he wouldn't have to break that promise.
Well... that's one less set of questions to worry about... Cloud thought glumly, he knew that Angeal would have questions of his own and the tall First was less likely to let Cloud off with vague answers, and Cloud would need to face him soon, as he was not willing to go long without First Sword.
"Well then!" Zack said, once again his usual happy self. "How's about that pizza now?"
Cloud nodded with a small grin of his own and decided that he would never cease to be amazed by Zack's ability to change his moods, and therefore, the atmosphere around them in an instant.
Cloud watched as Zack made his way over to the table where he had placed his PHS earlier, then turned back to vaguely watch the TV as Zack ordered the pizza. He wondered if any of the civilians that worked for the pizza companies would actually have the nerve to go any further than the lobby of the SOLDIER building, but he quickly discounted the notion, as it was more likely that the pizza would be left at the front desk and brought up by either a free office worker or a third class.
Soon enough Zack was bounding over the back of the lounge to land next to Cloud.
"Shouldn't be too long." He said chuckling, "They tend to move pretty quickly when they realise the address is to the SOLDIER building."
Cloud nodded with a small grin, he wasn't surprised; most people usually went out of their way to ensure something is done when SOLDIER is involved.
"So..." Zack started with a cheeky grin that usually meant someone was going to find themselves part of a practical joke... Or worse. "Ever had a crush?"
Cloud looked at him like he was an alien for a moment; it was probably the last question he expected to be asked.
"Uh..." Cloud wasn't sure how or what to really answer. He had never really bothered with love, especially as he attempted to get his own mind back together. "Not really..."
"Aww, come on Spikey, everyone has a crush at one point in life." Zack pressed, knowing he had finally found something that had Cloud acting like a normal teenager.
"Well... maybe a few years ago..." Cloud said, running his had through is spikes in what Zack now knew to be the closest Cloud got to showing discomfort or embarrassment. "There was never much of a chance though..."
"Who was she?" Zack asked, glad for the chance to press the blond for more details about himself. Cloud had an annoying habit of worming his way out of questions about himself.
Cloud was a little bit more hesitant to answer any more questions... especially this one. Even though things were different now he was still cautious to delve into the memories of a past that had been buried for so long.
"It wasn't..." Cloud paused wondering if he should answer or not, but decided that he owed Zack a truthful answer. "It wasn't a she." He finished with more determination.
Zack instantly felt his hopes rise... Perhaps this could work out after all.
"What happened?" Zack asked, having to work to keep his excitement out of his voice. "I'm sure that if you told him-"
"He... passed away..." Cloud cut in quietly. He was glad that Zack had not been repulsed by the notion that he had preferred men, but it was hard to admit something like that when the person that you had lost was now sitting before you... Cloud quickly closed his mind off from the thoughts and pushed the memories back to where he had hidden them. There had been no chance then when Zack had liked Aerith, and there would be no chance now... He was just too broken to ever be someone's partner.
"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that." Zack said, wishing that he could take away the tinge of pain that flitted through the blonds eyes.
"It's fine... It was a long time ago." Cloud replied with a small smile, one of the ones that he reserved for Zack, and occasionally Angeal now as well.
"Cloud..." Zack called for the blonds attention softly, he didn't know what exactly he wanted to do, but he wanted to do something.
Cloud's incredibly blue eyes focused on him and not for the first time Zack felt like he was swimming in them; felt like he would be able to fall into them and lose himself forever.
Zack hadn't realised that he had been leaning towards Cloud, who seemed just as mesmerised as him, until a series of knocks sounded from the door and the two jumped apart to separate ends of the lounge and an awkward silence came over the room.
"I..uh... I better get that..." Zack said, stating the obvious while getting up to hide the blush coming over his cheeks. Had he been about to kiss Cloud?
XxXxX
Not long later the two friends sat at the small table in the kitchen area with a steaming pizza between them. Neither had been too sure what the moment in the lounge may have led to, but both had come to a silent agreement to let it slide and now sat in a comfortable silence as they ate.
"Mmm, this is good." Zack said, grinning as he spoke with food his in mouth and bringing a small smile from Cloud who agreed with a quick nod and another large bite.
To Cloud it had been a long time since he had eaten anything remotely close to a pizza. After the devastation that Midgar had seen as he and his friends in AVALANCHE worked to bring Sephiroth down, there hadn't been many decent fast food places. Those that had eventually made their way back into the market later on had never caught Cloud's interest, something that he had come to regret when the Darkness began to take its toll on the Planet and her people.
In no time at all, the pizza box was empty and the two friends were sitting back in their chairs with full stomachs and in Zack's case, a customary grin.
"You know, I think they should have these in the canteen." Zack decided, leaning forward to rest his elbows on the table.
"It would be preferable to the usual." Cloud agreed.
"Yep!... You know what? I can't wait for the holidays. It will be my first trip with Angeal that doesn't have to do with SOLDIER missions, and now my best friend gets to come as well!" Zack grinned at the idea, already being excited to be going to Costa.
"It should be good." Cloud agreed once more with a small smile of his own. The last time he had been in Costa the sea had been affected by the growing Darkness and had turned a sickly green and bore more monsters than was worth thinking about. It would be nice to see it as it once was again.
"Heh, just think; sun and surf! And we can party for real too." Zack's excitement was catchy and even Cloud found the idea of resting by the sea in the sun appealing.
"Do you think your ready for the SOLDIER exams?" Zack asked, moving from one subject to another with the natural ease that had been awarded to him since childhood.
"I hope so." Cloud answered. He knew that he could pass them easily but he also knew there would be complications, and he now to consider the possible idea that the Darkness would use the exam as another chance to attack him... And then if he passed he had the additional task of trying to avoid the mako treatments without raising suspicion. Too many damn issues... Cloud thought bitterly.
"Heh. I'm sure you will pass them like they are nothing." Zack encouraged, "Angeal thinks so to."
Cloud smiled softly at that, the support was in stark contrast to the rejection he had faced the first time.
"Thanks Zack."
"For?..." The raven-haired man seemed confused at the gratitude, earning another small grin from the blond.
"For believing in me." Cloud answered softly. He had had the support of his friends during and after the Sephiroth incidents, but it felt... different with Zack somehow, like it was more intense.
"No worries Spikey."
Zack and Cloud spent the next hour or so simply talking at the table, neither really wanting to move, but eventually Cloud decided that it was time for him to leave; just because he had a week off classes didn't mean that Zack was free of his SOLDIER duties.
"Well, I had better head off." Cloud said as he stood up from the table.
"Thanks for coming along." Zack replied as he also stood, "We should do this more often."
"Sure." Cloud agreed softly with a nod. "I'll see you around."
There was a strange feeling that ran through Zack as he watched Cloud turn to leave; he felt like there was still something he really needed to do before the blond left...
He hadn't even realised that he had moved after the blond until he was half way to the door where Cloud stood with a small bag in hand that held his cadet clothing.
"Wait." Zack said, causing Cloud to turn around to see Zack standing just behind him looking nervous all of a sudden.
"What's wrong?" Cloud asked, slightly concerned at the strange look in his friends eyes. Zack once again met his gaze, and a feeling very similar to earlier spread through Cloud's body. Then he had felt like he just couldn't move, but it had been a good feeling, although he hadn't been able to identify it then and he still couldn't now.
When Zack stepped closer, closing the small distance between them Cloud's heart seemed to miss a beat and he couldn't tear his eyes away from the glowing orbs before him. Zack hands came up to rest on the door on either side of his head and soon Cloud felt soft lips against his own.
It was a tentative kiss, and at first Cloud wasn't sure how to respond but as Zack's warm body pressed lightly against his own, effectively trapping him between the raven-haired man and the door, Cloud found a heat he had long thought lost running through his veins, and he found his lips responding to the kiss.
The kiss lasted only a while longer before a need for air won out and both males pulled apart slightly. Cloud's mind was a whirlwind of questions and feelings and any attempt to calm the maelstrom failed while Zack was still so close. It had been soft and unsure, but deep and passionate all at once, leaving the two breathless but silently wanting more.
Zack watched the emotions play through Cloud's eyes and was sure that the same must be playing through his. He couldn't believe he had kissed Cloud, but he was beyond happy that he did.
Leaning in once again he placed another soft kiss against the lips of the blond before pulling away slowly.
"I... uh... Sorry?" Zack offered, feeling a blush crawling up his cheeks again. Cloud seemed to take a moment to process the words and Zack briefly felt proud at having accomplished the task of catching the blond off guard. Finally Cloud shook his head.
"It's fine." Was the soft, almost inaudible reply.
Zack released a breath that he hadn't realised he had been holding till then and grinned happily at the blond before removing his hands from the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow some time right?" Zack asked.
Cloud nodded the affirmative before slowly leaving whilst still struggling with his own thoughts. He barely registered it when he passed through the lobby of the SOLDIER building, now mostly empty with the late hour, nor did he pay much attention when he finally arrived back at the cadet dorms, only managing to find some semblance of coherent thought when he entered his room.
Razor was sitting up in bed and looked up as the blond entered the room, taking in the appealing clothing of his target with a well hidden, curious eye. He also noticed that Cloud lacked his usual sword and briefly entertained the thought of making his move then and there, but quickly decided against it. He already had a date set for when he would corner his target, so for now he would simply observe and continue to learn.
Cloud got ready for bed swiftly, hoping that with sleep maybe he could answer some of the thoughts running through his mind.
I just kissed Zack... He thought in something close to wonder as he crawled under the bed sheets and switched off his lights...
Chapter 5... I wonder what you will all think... I hope you enjoyed.
