Silmeria - Happy reading.

Disclaimer - I claim no rights to Final Fantasy VII

Chapter Eight - Anxiety of the Heart

The sweat on the broom handle caused it to slip in Cloud's hands, but he kept a steady grip as his blue eyes stayed on the door, his hair drooping when a customer entered instead of Zack whose bright smile and teasing eyes had been a welcome addition to Cloud's life in the past three weeks. He continued his chore, his mind straying to the Alpha Sentinel who had all but disappeared and caused a flutter of worry at the pit of his stomach. He hoped that Zack was alright. Granted, he knew that the man had several duties as Alpha Sentinel, but he had hoped-foolishly- that the man would at least come to visit, but the door had stayed barren with the exception of their regulars. And as much as he didn't want to admit it, it was slightly upsetting not seeing his friend.

He missed him.

He swept around the tables, mindful of the chairs and tables and the customers who were watching the game on the television. This was silly, this pining that he was going through and it irritated him that he couldn't get his mind off Zack. Sure, the man was funny, charming, handsome and kind-Cloud shook his head, a dark flush coming to his cheeks as he swept faster, hitting more than one chair leg, mindlessly kicking them out of the way as he finally made it out of the door and down the steps, coming to a stop with the handle still clutched tightly in his hand and his heart racing against his chest. This was really silly. Is that what people who were infatuated went through? This crazy spin of emotions that didn't have an off button? He wanted to turn it off so that he didn't act like an idiot in front of other people and in front of Zack.

"My goodness, what did that broom do to you?"

Cloud's head shot up, his cheeks flushing further at having been caught having such deep thoughts. The embarrassment, however, faded quickly when he realized who was standing in front of him.

"Lady Faremis?" Cloud blinked, lowering the broom and staring at Aerith, who gave him a kind smile at being addressed formally. "What are you doing here? I mean, at Seventh Heaven?"

"What?" Aerith teased, her pink lips pulling into a teasing smile. "A girl can't have a nice drink every once in a while?"

"Of course." Cloud quickly reassured, the embarrassment back in full force. "Of course, I didn't mean to imply that you couldn't. It's just that, well, I didn't think the bar setting was your type of hang outs, you know?"

Aerith nodded, an amused sigh escaping her lips. "You and everyone else apparently, but I do like the occasional glass of Cosmo Wine." Aerith looked around, her green eyes curious and holding a hint of amusement to them. "So, this is where he was going after the meetings."

"Who?" Cloud asked curiously before he caught himself and shook his head in apology. "I'm sorry, but do you mind if I ask who were talking about? I might know his face."

"Oh, I'm sure you do, Cloud." Aerith laughed softly. "I'm talking about Zack." she took a step forward and Cloud noticed the bouquet of roses in her hands, making him more curious about the reason that she was here at this time of day. "He would always make an excuse to escape the meetings or the after-dinners and I wondered where he was going."

If it was possible, Cloud's cheeks darkened and he suddenly found the ground very interesting. He had no idea that Zack was skimping on his duties to spend time with him. His father would have tanned him alive if he found out that he was interfering with an Alpha.

"I had no idea that he was doing such a thing, Lady Faremis." Cloud bowed quickly, his cheeks still a dark red. "I extend my deepest apologies to the council for interfering-"

"Dilly dally, shilly shally." Aerith interrupted with a small laugh. "There's really no need to be so formal, Cloud and there really was no harm done with Zack leaving after the meetings. Why, they should be grateful that they were able to hold him for the entire two hours in the first place."

"Still, I didn't know he was skimping on his duties to visit me and Tifa." Cloud kept his eyes lowered, still flustered at the information. "I'll be more careful."

Aerith sighed, the sound colored with fond exasperation. "He did say that you would be a little hard on yourself about the situation, but I didn't believe him. I need to start taking him to heart a little bit more." Aerith stepped forward and handed the bouquet of roses to him, and Cloud, startled, took them and stared at it with confusion. "Um, thank you?"

"It's an apology bouquet." Aerith stated. "From Zack, to you. He says he's sorry for not visiting and he'll see you soon."

"Oh." Cloud's cheeks warmed and stared down at the roses with a fluttering heart. It was a nice gift. "If you can, tell him thank you? Although, no gift was really needed."

"Oh, I think he'll disagree with you on that statement." Aerith gave him a sly smile which only prompted another deeper blush. "He really is taken with you, you know? It's to the point where Angeal and Sephiroth are interested."

"Angeal?" Cloud pressed, turning his attention away from the flowers. "Who is that?"

"Angeal Hewely." Aerith explained further. "Is a member of the Alpha Sentinel Council. Although, Zack has the final decision in most of the changes that happen in Midgar, it's the council that he has to run it by first. He created this system in order not to let his own power out of control." Aerith's smile turned sad for a moment. "It's a remnant of Xavier's Days and although it's not really needed, Zack insisted."

"It's a smart thing to do." Cloud disagreed quietly. "It's not good for a man to have too much power. It doesn't matter how good he is at heart, there's always a chance that it might run rampant and corrupt him or her."

"True," Aerith acknowledged with a tight smile that belied her real feelings on the matter. She disagreed with Cloud, that much was obvious, but she wasn't wiling to argue about it. At least, not yet. "But, I have faith in Zack and you do too, right?"

"Of course." there was no question about that. "He's protecting himself from another repeat of Xavier's Days and we should all be appreciative that he's taking those steps." Cloud let out a small sigh, tired of the conversation. "Please, tell him thank you for the flowers?"

Knowing that the conversation was over and no hard feelings were dealt, Aerith smiled again, the motion sincere. "Of course, have a pleasant day, Cloud." she turned on her heel and walked back towards the train station and it was then that Cloud noticed the brace on her left arm holding two green orbs-materia.

Well, let it never be said that Lady Faremis went without protection.

He pressed the roses closer to his chest and took a deep breath, smiling as the smell drifted up his nose and calmed his racing heart. Never let it be said that Zack Fair wasn't charming. Cloud turned back towards the bar, stopping when he saw Tifa sitting on the bar steps with a smile on her lips and teasing eyes. Instinctively, he pressed the roses closer and huffed in amusement at Tifa's look.

"They're a gift." Cloud stated swiftly. "That's. All."

"Okay." Tifa kept smiling, her eyes growing darker which only meant that she was listening to his voice more closely, to see if he was lying. "A gift."

"That's right, it's a gift." Cloud frowned, the excuse sounding disbelieving to his own ears. "He wanted to apologize for not being around the last couple of days."

"Now, Cloud, sweetheart, no one really apologizes for not being around." Tifa smiled, her eyes lighting up back to the usual reddish-brown. "Sure, you'll get a phone call stating where you are, but roses? Cloud, Zack is courting you."

"No, he's not." Cloud pressed the roses closer to his chest in part-offense and part-denial. There was no way that Zack was courting him. "He's just friendly. You know how friendly is he, don't you? He's just making me feel welcome and-" Cloud's cheeks burned at Tifa's startled laughter at his denial. His shoulder's slumped and he buried his burning face into the flowers.

"He-he's courting me isn't he?"

"You better believe it."

The shock that he was being courted by an Alpha Sentinel didn't set in until two days later when Cloud was shopping for a pair of new gloves for Tifa, who had taken to training in the slums for exercise. Of course, there were other-more safer-ways to get into shape, but Tifa would hear none of it. So, Cloud would make sure that she at least had a pair reliable gauntlets.

He hadn't expected to bump into Zack. Literally.

The man was dressed was finely today with a sharp blue button down shirt, with a black jacket and slacks along with a pair of brown leather loafers. He looked his part as an Alpha Sentinel and Cloud vehemently denied the heat rising to his cheeks. He would just blame the early chill that was coming through the city.

Suddenly, the sight of Zack forced him to remember the bouquet of roses that were sitting on his bedside table in a clear vase that Tifa had bought from the shops and the red that decorated his face, became deeper and he turned back to the weapons store after stumbling out a shy hello.

"Morning." Zack's deep voice caressed his senses and for the first time, did Cloud wonder when Zack's voice becoming so smooth and sensual? "What are you doing in front of the weapons shop?"

"I'm looking for Tifa some gauntlets. She's training in the slums." Cloud refused to turn to Zack, keeping his back to the man-a sign of disrespect, he was sure, but what else could he do? "I just want her to be careful."

"Ah, I wouldn't worry about Tifa." Zack reached up and placed a hand on Cloud's forearm, causing his head to shoot up and meet Zack's violet eyes in the reflection of the mirror. "I'm sure she's an excellent fighter." Zack's hand slid down his arm and touched his wrist lightly. "Did you get the flowers?"

"Yes, they're lovely, thank you very much."

"You're welcome." Zack's hand slid back up, resting at his forearm again, their eyes still locked in the reflection of the glass. "I didn't want you to think that I forgot about you and just vanished, you know? That's the last thing I wanted to do to you, Cloud."

Cloud swallowed, a shiver racing down his spine when Zack's eyes visibly darkened at the implication. "I-I'm glad you didn't. I didn't expect to bump into you here. Are you doing some shopping?"

"Actually." Zack gently turned him around and Cloud sighed when Zack pulled him closer, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. "I was hoping to run into you. I wanted to ask you something."

"A-ask me something?" Cloud cursed at his stutter. Now was not the time to act like a love-struck fool. "What is it?"

"Well, there's this new restaurant in Minerva Town that I'm dying to try, but I don't have anyone to go with and eating out alone, well, it kind of sucks." Zack tugged him closer, leaning down and lowering his voice down to a conspiratorial whisper. "Would you be interested in going with me?"

"Sure." it was out of Cloud's mouth before he could stop it and he blinked in stunned shock at his quick response. What in the hell was that?

"Great." Zack purred, burying his face into Cloud's hair before re-directing him into the weapon's shop where the shopkeeper eagerly greeted them. "Let's get those gauntlets for Tifa and we can go over our dinner plans, okay?"

"Okay."

Maybe dinner wouldn't be so bad? He was pretty sure that Zack would remain on his best behavior, right?

As it turned out, dinner was going to be a bad idea.