Adult-FanFiction.org : Final Fantasy

Crystal Clear	By : MystIc19 Category: Final Fantasy VII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1058 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Disclaimer: I don�t own FF7 or any of the FF7 characters.

�I�m tired, how many is that anyway?� Kyo asked while lying flat on his back and tilting his head a bit to glance at the blonde.

Cloud frowned and looked to his friend, �twenty,� he mumbled.

�That�s it!?� Kyo exclaimed while lifting his head up some before letting it fall back onto the blue mat, �whatever, I give. No more sit ups.�

Smiling Cloud let go of his roommates feet and moved beside him as Kyo continued to stare up at the ceiling. They needed a break anyways, Okuda�s class had been especially tiring that day, they really shouldn�t push it.

�So what do you think General Sephiroth wanted anyways?� Kyo asked still keeping his eyes fixed on the gym ceiling above them.

�I don�t know,� Cloud replied, �maybe Sergeant Okuda will tell us tomorrow.�

�Think so?� Kyo asked while turning his head lazily to look at the blonde.

Cloud shrugged. He hoped Okuda would but he wasn�t sure if that would really happen. But his curiosity was starting to get to him just as much as it was to Kyo. The General Sephiroth coming into a class full of recruits just to �observe.� What was the point to that? He had come into the class at the very beginning, not giving much explanation besides he was just observing, and stayed all the way until the end, remaining silent. Didn�t he know his presence, while thrilling as it was also intimidated the hell out of the students? It was nearly impossible to focus and concentrate on the exercises knowing that the General�s mako gaze was on you.

�I hope he wasn�t like evaluating us or something,� Kyo continued, his eyes becoming wide as he spoke, �I mean what if he tells Sergeant Okuda which students are doing well and which aren�t. What if there is like some penalty.�

Cloud blinked while leaning back on his hands and turning to Kyo, �You think that�s what he was doing? Evaluating?�

�Maybe,� Kyo replied while painfully pulling himself up to a sitting position, �I mean I assume as the General he wants to make sure that his potential SOLDIERS are on the right track.�

�If he thinks we weren�t that good then Okuda is only going to make class more difficult,� the blonde explained with a sigh as he heard Kyo make a groan of protest.

Now he was becoming nervous. He didn�t know how the hell he looked in front of The General but he hoped it was good. He couldn�t afford to mess up in front of him. After all the man probably already thought he was a problem. He knew that he had been suspended from class for �causing� a fight, and he also caught him snooping around in Zack�s office. So the boy probably hadn�t made very much of a great impression on him so far.

Sighing the recruit ran a hand through disheveled golden spikes. He was trying his best to prove his worth in Sergeant Okuda�s class, he only hoped it was enough. But if General Sephiroth deemed him �unworthy�, well then there wasn�t much else he could do.

�Come on,� Kyo began while standing to his feet, �we�ll worry about this later. But now we eat.�

Cloud nodded and got up from off of the mat and followed Kyo out of the gym and down the halls until they reached the cafeteria. It was already pretty crowded so they had to wait a while in line before they finally got their trays and were served dinner�or what the facility called dinner anyways. But it hardly mattered, it was food and it was in front of them so they weren�t going to complain.

It didn�t take them long to finish and in a bit they were back in their room. Kyo didn�t wait a minute to call Lana up and tell her all about his day and then shower her with compliments. Cloud rolled his eyes briefly as he laid back on his bed. But in all honesty it wasn�t so bad anymore having to listen to Kyo talk about Lana, maybe because now he had someone special in his life too.

Glancing at the clock Cloud frowned, he still had a lot more of his night left and he didn�t have any homework or anything to occupy his time and Zack was going to be tied up with office stuff for awhile.

Sitting up on the bed he swung his legs over and made his way to the door before receiving a questioning look from his roommate. He mouthed the word gym while slipping on his shoes.

Kyo nodded and continued on with his conversation as the blonde slipped

out of the room. True it seemed like he had been practicing almost all day, but with The General stopping by the class like he did earlier, he really couldn�t take any chances. He had to be well prepared�.that and he didn�t really have anything else to do, but mostly because he had to be prepared. He had been thinking about General Sephiroth coming into class all day, he could only imagine if he had told Sergeant Okuda something about him. Something like �that Strife kid needs work,� maybe General Sephiroth wouldn�t exactly say it like that, but still. Sighing the blonde frowned as the thoughts continued to run through his head. Pulling out his keycard once arriving at the gym he slid it through the slot before the door opened revealing an empty room. He was grateful for that, he didn�t like when there was people in there, and since it was after dinner time he was sure that nobody else would come.

Crossing the room he made his way over to the wall and picked up one of the practice swords that were hanging on the rack. He twirled the wooden sword a few times before a smile graced his face. If only he were to the level where he could wield something like Zack�s buster sword, or Sephiroth�s masamune�actually, he didn�t think he would want to use Masamune, it only seemed fitting for The General.

Getting into a fighting stance the blonde practiced a few forms that they had learned in class, swinging the practice sword this way and that, causing a whooshing sound to be heard in the air. If anything his speed had definitely improved since training with Zack, he learned that that was just as important as the strength behind his attacks.

Hearing the gym door open and close with an echo and the sound of footsteps the blonde stopped his movement and turned his gaze towards the door.

�Oh please go on,� Jin started once he was halfway across the room.

Cloud narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched the teen that he despised walk closer towards him.

�What do you want Jin?� He asked in a low voice.

The taller recruit laughed just as he reached the blue mats. �What do you own the gym now Strife? Last I checked I thought it was available to everyone,� he explained with a cocky grin while stepping onto the mats, directly in front of Cloud.

The blonde held his ground, staring the other straight in the eyes. They stayed that way for awhile, it was almost like their gaze was a type of battle itself and whoever looked away first would be the loser.

�Come on,� Jin began while giving in and looking away from the shorter boy to the rack of wooden swords, �show me what you got. That�s the best practice isn�t it?� Grabbing a sword he turned it in his grasp a few times before holding it out and dropping into a fighting stance, his eyes traveling back to the boy.

What is he up to? Blue eyes traveled over the taller teen for a moment before he too got into a fighting stance. He wasn�t sure if Jin would play fair, but if he did try anything at least he would be able to put up a fair fight without his two friends around�that is if they didn�t pop up from behind the equipment or something.

Not hesitating at all Jin lunged forward bringing his sword down with all of his strength which Cloud blocked. But it was a pretty forceful hit and the blonde thought he was going to stumble back for a moment, but he didn�t, he was determined to put everything into this.

Hopping back briefly Jin moved forward again to attack the other, swinging in every direction, which only remained to keep being blocked.

They had been at it for about five minutes and still Jin had yet to land a hit. Distancing himself a bit from the blonde he smirked while tilting his head, �you�re pretty fast�even more so since the last time we sparred.�

Cloud was silent as he kept blazing blue eyes on his opponent. He was probably just trying to talk to catch him off guard, and he wasn�t going to let that happen.

Dashing forward again Jin brought down his sword as Cloud blocked it but the taller one pushed back with all his strength. However Cloud was determined not to budge and pushed back with just as much strength as he gritted his teeth.

�Stubborn little brat aren�t you?� Jin growled out as he finally let up, dropping to the ground and kicking out his leg in an attempt to trip the other. But the blonde jumped back quickly avoiding the hit.

Standing up fully Jin smiled as he twirled the sword in his hand, �you�re pretty good.�

�Of course you thought otherwise,� Cloud replied still staying on alert just in case Jin tried to attack.

�I guess I did underestimate you in some aspects,� Jin continued while lowering his sword with one hand and running his free one through his hair.

The blonde relaxed just a bit upon seeing the other, �I guess you did.�

Jin�s smile began to vanish as he kept his gaze on the blonde, his eyes seeming to pierce into the others.

This time Cloud was the one to look away, he didn�t look away from Jin altogether, no that would be too risky, but he instead focused on the wooden sword he was holding. Something about Jin�s gaze that time just made him feel uneasy.

�How�d you do it?� Jin asked with curiosity in his tone.

�Do what?� Cloud asked tearing his gaze from the sword and back to Jin.

�Enhance your skills,� Jin continued.

�Practice, just like everyone else in this place does,� the blonde explained.

�That�s it?� The other recruit continued to prod.

�What the hell are you trying to get at?� Cloud asked, anger becoming evident in his tone.

�Just wondering if there is more to what you are saying,� Jin began while raising his sword again, �but I guess it�s bad to reveal your secrets�

�So I have to have a secret just because I�m better than you?� Cloud asked with a grin. He couldn�t help it, he always had to say smart remarks. He was sure Jin wouldn�t be too pleased and that may push him overboard but he didn�t really mind.

�Strife please,� Jin replied with a roll of his eyes and a laugh, �don�t get too cocky.�

�Just stating the obvious,� Cloud continued while narrowing his eyes, �care to prove me wrong?� He asked while raising his sword as well.

�Well,� Jin began with a sigh, �I didn�t want to bruise you up so soon again after our last little fight but�I mean if you insist.�

Asshole! The blonde quickly lunged at the recruit as he felt his anger build up inside him, knocking the other back onto the mat.

Jin got up quickly and rushed at the blonde just as fast as he had done with him but Cloud quickly moved aside, however he didn�t expect Jin to turn around so quickly and was knocked onto the mat face first as his practice sword fell out of his grasp and slid across the mat.

Pushing himself up slightly he rubbed the side of his face while turning around, just in time to meet Jin�s gaze as he dropped down next to the blonde and pressed the side of the wooden sword against the boy�s neck.

�Well well, looks like I don�t suck after all,� Jin explained with a smirk while pushing down a bit harder.

Cloud coughed a few times before grasping the sword and pushing it away as he heard Jin laugh.

�You would�ve pulled it off had you not let your anger blind you like that,� Jin began.

What the hell? Is he trying to give me advice? Staring up at the other teen with wide eyes he quickly became uncomfortable with noticing how close they were to each other, and he didn�t like the look he was receiving from the other. It was just�weird. Pushing Jin back he quickly rolled to the side and retrieved his sword before springing back up.

Jin laughed as he got up on his feet, �what more? I thought I won�

Come on Cloud, you can take him easily. He�s right, don�t let your anger get to you, it only messes up your concentration. �You win when I can�t get up,� the blonde replied while readying himself again.

�Is that how you really want it? I was trying to cut you a break,� Jin began with a twirl of his sword before holding it out at arms length.

�I don�t need you to do me any favors,� Cloud spat while narrowing his eyes. The nerve of this guy, really. Cloud didn�t understand him at all. He had been a pain since he arrived in Midgar and he was still proving to be that way. He really thought he was so much better than he was didn�t he? Shaking his head briefly the recruit sighed, he couldn�t keep thinking about it, it would only upset him more and distract him from the situation at hand.

�Did I hit a nerve?� Jin asked with a grin.

The blonde was silent as he kept his gaze on the opponent, he didn�t want to hear him talk anymore and figured if he didn�t say anything to him that he in turn wouldn�t say anything else to him and they could just finish this.

�Guess I did,� Jin continued with a sneer, �Sergeant Okuda�s right about you.�

Blinking for a moment Cloud just stared back at the other before shaking his head, �what does that mean?� What the hell does he say about me?

Before Jin could answer the gym door opened once more and both of the recruits turned their gazes towards it to see Zack step in. He glanced around the area for a moment before his focus was directed to the blonde.

�Kyo told me I�d find you here,� he began with his usual grin before turning his gaze towards the other teen.

Jin was silent for a moment before standing at attention, �Good evening sir!�

Zack crossed over the room and gave Jin a slight nod, �Jin Barton isn�t it?�

�Yes sir,� the recruit replied.

Zack narrowed his eyes briefly at the teen, all of the thoughts of what he had done to Cloud flooding into his mind. He saw a picture of Cloud with a black eye flash through his memory and at that moment he seriously wanted to hit the kid.

�Hey,� Cloud replied while letting his arms fall to his sides, the wooden practice sword scraping the mat as he did so.

�Everything okay here?� Zack asked while slowly turning his gaze from Jin to the blonde.

�Yeah,� Cloud replied with a nod, �we were just�practicing.�

�I see,� Zack answered while looking back to Jin with a not so friendly gaze.

Cloud cleared his throat before stepping off of the mat, sending Zack a look that seemed to say �knock it off.�

Zack caught the gaze from the blonde and looked back to Jin, this time trying to appear casual. �It�s past curfew so you should be heading back.�

�Yes sir!� Jin replied with a nod before putting back his practice sword and stepping off of the blue mats. �See you in class Strife, Goodnight sir,� he said to each of them before exiting the room. Though he was wondering why Cloud didn�t stand at attention at the SOLDIERS presence or why he had addressed him so casually. It was definitely odd. Glancing back at the gym he waited a few minutes to see if Cloud would come out shortly after, but he didn�t. Why didn�t he leave yet? It was past curfew so why was Jin only addressed to head back? Raising an eyebrow he stared at the door a moment longer before finally turning and heading down the hall.

�Did he do anything to you?� Zack asked while turning his focus back to the blonde.

�No,� Cloud replied with a sigh while hanging up the wooden sword, �I mean we were practicing, but he didn�t try to pull any tricks.�

�Practice? With him?� Zack asked with a confused expression as he scratched the back of his head.

�It�s not like I asked him to come along with me, he just showed up,� Cloud continued while walking off of the mat again.

�Oh,� Zack began with a nod.

�But you can�t act different when he�s around,� Cloud continued.

�What?� The SOLDIER asked while watching the recruit walk further into the gym.

�You came in here like you wanted to kick his ass, I�m sure he sensed that too,� the blonde continued.

Zack grinned, �Good, I�m glad I could put a little scare into him.�

�Zack no,� Cloud began with a sigh, �you can�t do stuff like that just because of me.� Turning back around to meet the SOLDIERS gaze he shook his head a bit upon seeing his boyfriends confused look.

�I just�it�s that line between personal and professional, I don�t want you to cross that just because of what I�ve told you about him,� Cloud explained.

�So,� Zack started while furrowing his eyebrows, �I�m supposed to be nice to him?�

�Just treat him like you would any other recruit okay? Otherwise things will be complicated,� the recruit continued.

�Complicated how?� Zack asked with genuine curiosity.

The blonde let out a long sigh, �They just will be! It�s still like special treatment from you which I told you I didn�t want! Just let me handle him on my own, you don�t have a problem with him I do! Just keep it like that!�

The SOLDIER stared at the recruit for a moment in surprise before nodding. �Sure okay,� he began softly, �sorry, I didn�t look at it like that.�

Dropping his gaze to the floor the blonde mentally slapped himself. He didn�t mean to yell like that, not at Zack. And why the hell was he making such a big deal off of it? Of course Zack would act that way towards Jin, he cared about Cloud so of course he wouldn�t like anyone who he knew gave him such a hard time. Why was he getting mad at him for caring? Maybe it was because he didn�t want to feel like Zack had to always come to his aid like he was a little kid. True he was thankful for all of the times that the SOLDIER had gotten him out of a problem, but he didn�t need him to fight his battles for him�or he didn�t want that anyways. Or was he just upset because he didn�t finish sparring with Jin? Didn�t get to prove to the jerk that he was capable of bringing him down. Or maybe�

�I�m sorry,� the blonde spoke quietly while pushing away his thoughts and lifting his gaze towards the SOLDIER, �I didn�t mean to�it�s not even a big deal I just�� Pausing briefly he looked back to the ground for a moment and when he looked back up Zack was standing in front of him, with that same grin on his face.

�I�m sorry,� he said again as he felt strong arms wrap around him. He melted into the embrace and closed his eyes as he wrapped his arms around the SOLDIER.

�Stop apologizing,� Zack began with a laugh. He heard the boy let out a content sigh as he buried his face into his chest. Stroking his hair gently Zack couldn�t help but wonder what all was going on in the recruits mind. He seemed to hold too many things in, in his opinion, so it wasn�t a surprise if he would blow up occasionally. He only hoped that he would get better at telling him what was on his mind. More than anything else he wanted to be that person that Cloud confided in, he wanted to know everything about him, he wanted to understand his thoughts and feelings.

�Long day?� Zack asked softly.

�Extremely,� the blonde replied, voice slightly muffled.

�Tell me all about it then,� the SOLDIER continued while pulling back a little, �but let�s get out of here first huh?�

Giving a small nod the recruit smiled just before Zack kissed him lightly. He felt a bit guilty still for getting upset a moment ago and he didn�t see why Zack was still being so nice to him. He honestly wondered sometimes why the SOLDIER was even with him, he could be with anyone that he wanted and yet he wanted to be with the scrawny recruit. Already all of his tension and frustration seemed to be disappearing, and he knew that was only because of Zack. He didn�t understand how he had that effect on him but he just knew that he loved it.

�Is that what you�re all stressed out about!?� Zack asked with a bit of a laugh.

�Well�yeah I guess, but I mean you don�t think it�s a big deal?� Cloud asked while propping himself up on his elbow on the SOLDIERS bed. He had filled him in on the whole story of Sephiroth coming into his class earlier after they left the gym, hoping that maybe he could give him some insight on it.

�No Spike,� Zack continued while lying back on the bed and grinning up at the other, �That�s his job, it�s what he does. All of you recruits are potential SOLDIERS, he just has to check up once in awhile and see how things are. Yeah sure he may be taking some mental notes on a few things but it�s nothing serious. Besides you have nothing to worry about, you�re doing more than great.�

�Not according to my instructor,� the blonde replied while shifting his gaze to the blankets on the bed.

�Hey,� Zack began while poking the boy in his arm to gain his attention, �It doesn�t matter what Okuda might think, Seph will see for himself that you�re doing great and his opinion is the one the matters.�

�Yeah,� Cloud began with a nod, �you�re right.�

�Of course I am,� Zack replied with a smirk, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Glancing down at the SOLDIER the blonde smiled, �conceited.�

�Hey you called me that once before, it�s not a nice thing to say� Zack said with a playful hurt expression.

�Maybe I say it because it�s true,� Cloud replied while tilting his head to the side allowing a few blonde spikes to fall over his eye.

Grinning Zack gently brushed the stray strands of hair away from the boys face as he looked into his eyes, those innocent blue eyes that he could stare into forever and not get tired of the sight.

�What?� Cloud asked softly, the traces of his smile still lingering.

�Nothing,� the SOLDIER replied, �just admiring you.�

Blinking the blonde felt his face heat up before glancing away.

Grinning even wider Zack chuckled to himself as he watched the boy. He really was too cute. But he guessed that the blonde just wasn�t used to having someone pay so much attention to him, and he still was trying to figure out how to handle it when he ran into a situation that he didn�t really know how to respond too.

Sitting up beside the recruit Zack leaned over and kissed the boys cheek, his lips lingering for a bit longer than usual. He found himself looking into those blue eyes again as the other turned around to face him, though this time he saw something else in those blue orbs, he guessed the best word to describe it would be happiness. Yeah, the blonde looked happy, and though he wasn�t smiling at the moment it was perfectly clear in his eyes. And that in itself was enough to make Zack smile, just knowing that he alone was the reason behind it. He leaned in again this time kissing the recruit on the lips before pulling back and placing a few more small kisses on his face. The SOLDIER loved to be affectionate towards the blonde, and in truth he would gladly place kisses all over the others body if given the chance. Feeling fingers gently close around his own he pulled back a bit, eyes opening to focus on the other, but in a minute they were closed again as the blonde leaned in and kissed the SOLDIER. It wasn�t a rushed kiss, it was soft and slow, usually how Cloud always initiated it, but it was almost as if he were trying to put his feelings into this one. To say what he wanted in this action rather than in words. But regardless of whether he said anything to Zack or not the other knew that he cared deeply about him. Over the course of their relationship they had become really close, almost like each others halves. And without the other, things just weren�t right.

The recruit broke the kiss but Zack leaned in again capturing his lips. He heard the blonde gasp a bit seeing as how he didn�t give him enough time to really catch his breath, but he couldn�t help it. He could easily get caught up with the boy, it was like he was as addictive as caffeine�or something like that. But he hadn�t seen him all day so you couldn�t blame him.

Letting go of his hold on the others hand Cloud ran his fingers through dark raven hair as he felt an arm slide around his waist and hold him tight. He was running out of air but he didn�t really mind, he was too hypnotized by the kiss and didn�t want to feel Zack�s lips away from his. He wanted to keep the feeling of his fast beating heart and the butterflies in his stomach.

The SOLDIER leaned forward a bit more trying to deepen the kiss as much as possible while Cloud slid his hands out of dark hair to wrap his arms around the others neck. With Zack leaning more into the blonde the boy was at an uncomfortable angle and finally rested back on the bed while pulling Zack down with him.

They broke the kiss finally upon changing positions, breathing in the air that they both so desperately needed. Zack felt his heartbeat quicken as he took in the view of the boy beneath him. His golden hair messy and his cheeks tinged pink in the way they usually did whenever they would kiss. His lips were still parted slightly, begging to be kissed again, and his eyes remained closed for a moment before fluttering open. He was truly a beautiful sight to see in the SOLDIERS opinion, and he didn�t waste anytime before he crushed his lips back onto the others. The blonde let out a soft moan as Zack traveled his lips down to the boys neck. The sound from the other just about pushed Zack overboard and he had to try to shake the ideas out of his mind that he was imagining doing to the recruit just so he could hear that sound over and over again. But no matter what he wouldn�t move quickly, he wouldn�t do anything that Cloud didn�t feel comfortable with. It wasn�t a race. In fact Zack was enjoying the speed that they were going. Sure he had a few moments when he would get some inappropriate thoughts, but they would go as fast as they came. He was enjoying exploring their growing relationship, and the fact that they were at this point now was more than enough for him, after all it was a big deal considering that when he first met Cloud the boy didn�t like to be touched at all.

The sound of the phone ringing off in the distance shook the two back into reality. Zack opened his eyes a bit, lips lingering on the recruits neck as he contemplated if he should even bother to get up to answer it.

�Aren�t you going to answer that?� Came the boys soft, breathy voice after a few more rings.

�Mm,� Zack mumbled while pulling away from the blonde, �I guess,� he finished while glancing at the clock on the nightstand. It was nearly eleven at night, so he was wondering who would be calling now. Moving off of the bed and out of the room, the SOLDIER reluctantly made his way into the kitchen to answer the phone.

Cloud sat up fully on the bed and glanced at the clock, it was pretty late and he had classes the next day, he really should�ve been asleep instead of making out with his boyfriend. A small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth at that thought, actually he guessed being a little tired tomorrow was worth it. He exited the room and walked into the living room where he saw Zack.

�That was Seph, looks like I have to go back to the office, apparently I overlooked a lot of stuff,� the SOLDIER began.

�Now?� Cloud asked.

�Yeah,� Zack replied while grabbing his keys from off of the table.

�Oh,� the blonde mumbled while glancing from Zack to the table. He watched as he walked to the hall closet and retrieved his jacket before slipping on his usual boots.

�I�ll be back later,� Zack began, �don�t wait up though I�m sure it�ll be late.�

�Okay,� Cloud replied with a nod.

Crossing back over to the blonde Zack kissed him quickly, �See ya later.�

�Bye,� the recruit said softly as he watched Zack exit the apartment. He let out a sigh of irritation before walking into the kitchen. He hated when Zack wasn�t there at night, not that he was scared or anything but it just felt strange. And he liked to have him there when he fell asleep. Sure the SOLDIER would come back and slip into bed but that was when Cloud was already asleep, it wasn�t the same. He didn�t stay at Zack�s all the time, but he did�actually he was probably there more than he was back in his room with Kyo so he guessed he was there all the time actually.

Grabbing a glass of water the recruit drank it steadily before the phone started to ring again catching him off guard and almost making him choke on his drink. Coughing a few times he made his way over to the phone, maybe it was Sephiroth calling to tell Zack that he didn�t need to go into the office after all.

�Hello?�

�Uh�hello?� Came the small soft voice on the other end of the line.

�Um, can I help you?� The blonde asked.

�Oh no, sorry I think I got the wrong number,�

�Are you looking for Zack?�

�Oh yeah�so I did dial right,� she continued with a bit of a laugh, �can I speak to him?�

�Actually he�s not here right now, can he call you back?�

�Oh well sure, can you just let him know Aerith called? He�s so hard to get a hold of. I know it�s late but I thought I could catch him at this time.�

Aerith? That name sounds familiar, where have I heard it before? �Sure I�ll let him know you called, you actually just missed him.�

�Yeah I usually do,� she explained, �I left him a message a while back but I don�t think he got it.�

Aerith�wait that birthday card I found in Zack�s office. It was from Aerith.

�Aerith?�

�Hmm?�

�How do you know Zack?� The recruit asked in curiosity thinking back to the birthday card.

�Oh well he used to be my best customer,� she began with a laugh.

�Customer?�

�Yeah, I have a flower shop down in the bottom plate�I know it�s a little out place but��

�You live down on the bottom plate too?� Cloud asked. How many people did Zack know down there.

�Yeah, I only met Zack because he was down here so frequently, usually on assignment or something. But then I guess he just started to come down here so often to see me,� she continued, �I wondered why a guy like him would buy so many flowers.�

Glancing at the counter in the kitchen the blonde stared at the vase full of colorful flowers, the vase of flowers that looked just like the one in Zack�s room and also in his office.

�You two must be good friends,� Cloud began as he continued to stare at the vase.

She laughed for a moment before speaking again , �Well I would hope so, I am his girlfriend.�

The blonde nearly dropped the phone at that as his eyes widened.

�Anyways uh�can you make sure you let him know I called?�

Girlfriend. Though the word was so simple it just didn�t make sense to the recruit no matter how hard he tried. This girl and Zack were�

�Sure I�ll tell him,� he choked out while trying to hold in the tears that were threatening to fall.

�Thank you! Goodnight!� The girl spoke in her cheery voice before hanging up the phone.

�Girlfriend,� the boy mumbled to himself while setting down the phone. He stood there in silence for a while staring at nothing in particular as his mind ran rapid. No, no way. Zack couldn�t have a girlfriend, he couldn�t he was with him! Looking at the vase again he didn�t bother to stop the tears that began to flow down his face. Maybe Zack did have a girlfriend, he didn�t really know. Is that why he didn�t want him to go down to the bottom plate? He didn�t want him to find out about his �girlfriend?� Or was that the reason why he was gone so long on assignments? Was he really with her? No, Zack wouldn�t do that to him, Zack cared about him. Or was that just a lie? Was the SOLDIER just acting? Was the whole thing just some sort of twisted joke?

Running his hands through his hair he leaned against the wall as his breathing became more heavy. He was mad, hurt, confused�and a whole bunch of other things that he couldn�t even place a name on. He thought Zack was different from everyone else at the facility, but it looked like he was just like the rest of them. He acted like he was his friend, acted like he cared and even made him think that they could possibly be something a lot more than just friends. And he believed that, like a damn idiot he believed that. And now�what? He should�ve known, he should�ve known from the beginning. Nobody was ever that nice unless they were up to something. Nothing in his life ever worked out well.

Wiping some of the tears away from his eyes he pushed himself away from the wall. He hated Midgar, he really fucking hated it. There was nothing good in the whole damn place, and while he had thought that maybe there was, he was wrong!

Shaking his head briefly he ran a hand over his face. This couldn�t be real. Zack did care about him, was that just an act? It was a really good one. He was so nice to him and he seemed to really want to see the recruit succeed. Did he just do all that because he knew it was what Cloud wanted to hear?

Cloud felt sick for a moment as he thought about this. Thinking that maybe all he was to Zack was just somebody that he could mess around with while at the facility and then at other times he could be with his real girlfriend. Was he just a crappy fill in?

Without thinking he suddenly punched the wall of the kitchen as hard as he could, causing the surface to break and scrape his knuckles. He wanted to hurt something, or someone as badly as he was hurting right now, in truth he really wanted to hit Zack for making a fool out of him. Didn�t the other realize how much he cared about him? Why did he lead him on like this? Why couldn�t he have found out earlier, before things were serious. At least then it wouldn�t have been so bad, at least he wouldn�t have fallen in�

With a swipe of his arm he knocked the glass he had been drinking out of onto the kitchen floor before he knocked the vase down as well, sending it shattering across the tile. Colorful flowers lay strewn about as water trickled across the ground.

Sighing he slumped against the wall again before sliding down and covering his face with his hands. What a mess. And not the kitchen�him. He was such a mess. As much as he wanted to be angry at Zack, as much as he wanted him to walk through the door so he beat the hell out of him, he couldn�t. He was hurt more. Hurt more than anything. He didn�t understand it at all. And while he wanted to hurt the SOLDIER he was sure that if he walked through the door right now he would more than likely feel like falling into his arms and sobbing and asking him why.

Picking himself up from off the ground he walked into the living room wearily. Picking up his gym bag and slipping on his shoes he made his way to the door as tears continued to fall down his face. He needed to get out of there, he liked to come to Zack�s apartment because it was the place he felt most comfortable in the whole damn city, but not now.

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A/N: Hey everyone, well there is chapter 11, it took me a bit longer because I changed the whole Aerith and Cloud scene a few times! But chapter 12 is in the works already. Hope you all like angst! Hehe. Thanks for reviewing, it really motivates me so much, you guys rock! Ja ne!
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Crystal Clear