Becoming SOLDIER

Three minutes into the last round and Cloud knew instantly what the other team had planned; but he was too late and powerless to stop it. His troop already pulled to far ahead of him; ego's clouding their judgement as they rushed eagerly forward. Cloud silently cursed under his breath. He pulled out from behind his bunker only to have to jump back into hiding as a shower of paint flashed before his vision and rang in his ears.

Are they... pinning me down?

Cloud growled to himself as he searched for a way to retreat from the bunker; only to find he was pinned down at all sides. His eyes scanned around him trying to find anyone from his troop; but they were to far ahead and he couldn't reach them. Not even his voice carried that far; he grunted and weighed his options. Cloud tensed as he heard a rush of paint fly closer and closer to him; shouting; feet pounding at the dirt behind him. The steps were moving on his position; That's suicide?!

Cloud, careful not to peer to far over the bunker, turned and took aim over the top of the bunker keeping low. His eyes went wide as he took desperate shots at the - not one but five - men charging for him; two of which he shot but they continued onward ignoring it. Before he could do much else they split up and surrounded Cloud on all sides taking aim and firing. All the men were only mere feet away as they showered the defenseless boy with paint.

Paint hit all over Cloud's body; but something was different. The paint didn't burst; it only pounded painfully against Cloud's skin as it hit. Cloud collapsed to his knees and shielded his head with his arms. The paint pelted him; Cloud bit his lip hard to avoid from crying out as the pain ripped through him. The balls of paint slamming into his small frame. Cloud knew that each one left a welt that would glow across his skin; he knew even that they had to be breaking skin as they hit. He could feel the throbbing and stinging pain in each newly formed welt. He swore it felt like someone was actually shooting bullets; it seemed to take the instructor an eternity to start blowing his whistle and yell at the other cadets to stop.

Cloud's body felt like it was on fire; but he knew he couldn't show weakness- not in front of these men - not in front of Ralph's flunkies. Cloud should have known they planned something; he reached down with slightly shaky fingers at one of the balls that dropped after smacking his skin. His eyes narrowed and his frown deepened into an expression of anger; the paint was 'frozen'. It was ice cold; no wonder they didn't burst; no wonder they felt so painful. Cloud figured at 14 balls per second and five men aimed on him for almost a full minute before the instructor intervened.... Cloud gritted his teeth pulling himself up to stand. He smirked defiantly at the group despite his pain. The instructor was raving like a lunatic; obviously more than a little upset for the past event. The instructor quickly dismissed the other cadet's and requested an audience with the five men privately.

Cloud turned off the field towards the barracks trying his best not to show the pain that erupted from the simple movements. He heard another pair of rushed feet run up to him. However he didn't tense; he knew who the trot belonged to; he was only surprised that the raven haired cadet hadn't approached him sooner. Cloud only mentally winced as a hand came down on his shoulder, "Cloud are you alright buddy?"

Cloud sighed to conceal a painful grunt that threatened to spill past his lips; he was sure the shoulder Zack's hand so 'gently' had been placed upon was now covering over a half dozen welts. Zack must have felt the small raised mounds because he quickly lifted his hand away and looked to Cloud with concern opening his mouth to speak.

"I told you before... I can handle things on my own....," Cloud paused, "I never forgot my promise Zack; We're in this together... but there are just something I need to..."

Zack cut him off his head dropping to watch the tips of his boots scuff the ground, " I know Cloud...Listen, let's just forget about the whole thing ok? We're still friends right..?"

Cloud smiled softly, "Friends," He raised his arm up and they bumped their forearms together.

Zack looked over to Cloud quickly replacing his serious grimace with a large cheeky grin, "Let's mosey on out of here; Don't know about you but I need a loooooooong shower! Can't attract the ladies smelling like paint and BO"

Cloud chuckled replying smugly; ignoring the twitch of his brow at the pain it caused for his skin to stretch against the newly formed welts, "Dressing up other recruits hardly makes them count as women, Pup."

Zack gaped, "Awwww.... Chocobo head; geeezzz that's cold!"

Cloud raised his brow, his eyes twitching as he scowled; the name really didn't bother him that much but he couldn't let Zack know that. He'd never hear the end of it.

Finally making it to their lockers they started to strip from their paint and sweat soaked training gear. Cloud's brows pushed upwards as he pulled each article off; every small movement of his muscles sent waves of pain throughout his body. He choked back the hisses as the offending fabric brushed against the ripped and welted skin. Finally removing his shirt Cloud frowned. His torso was nothing but patch work of purples, blues, pinks. and reds. Rings popped out from the patches; some overlapping over each other. His chest was no different; Cloud snickered gravely at the sight. There was more bruising than there was his natural fair skin; and the bruise left from Ralph's powerful fist still hadn't completely healed. Add a sickly yellow to the list of discolorations over Cloud's body. Cloud only sighed and stripped down completely wrapping a towel around his waist; he turned heel and started to take a step towards the showers.

"Heya Cloudy wait up would you.....,"Zack's voice trailed off as he saw the condition the boy's body was in. His mouth slightly parted and eyebrows lifted in concern, "Cloud..."

Cloud forced a weak smile, "It's alright; it doesn't hurt as bad as it looks."

Zack felt the familiar rise of anger boiling in his stomach; but it wasn't directed at Cloud. He was angry he wasn't able to protect Cloud again.

Cloud gave Zack a light punch to the arm, "Don't worry about it..Let's hurry up so we can get some chow."

Zack forced a very obvious fake smile and nodded; his features never relaxed as his eyes followed the form leading them into the showers. How could he allow something like this to happen? Cloud's once flawless skin was now matted by ugly bruising, welts, and scabs. Zack frowned deepened; he wanted to comfort his friend like he usually had. Ever since they came here Cloud was just... Well... Different... He missed Cloud coming to him in the middle of the night. He missed comforting the boy; holding him; stroking his that patch of hair that he always cooed at; missed the warmth of his friends body against his own. There was a time when Cloud would dare to nuzzle his neck and Zack would feel the tiny boy's warm breath tickling the sensitive area of skin, but now.... Cloud seemed to want to be independent more than anything; Zack didn't want to tell his friend this but the main reason he had gotten so upset the other day was because Zack was hurt. It hurt him that Cloud didn't seem to need him anymore; why did his friend want to take everything on himself lately? Zack sighed as he stepped under a shower head and began to wash himself ever so often allowing his eyes to wander Cloud's bruised form.

Cloud shifted a little uncomfortably; usually he didn't mind when the other boy stared but considering the situation Cloud was very unnerved. Cloud tried to ignore the sharp blue eyes that began to burrow into him. He didn't want Zack's pity; and even though he wanted so desperately to swallow his pride and curl up in his friend's protective grasp he wouldn't allow it. He needed to be strong; he needed to stand with his friend, beside his friend... on his own. Cloud only allowed a very faint expression of pain as his face wrinkled slightly twisting. The warm water made the open skin sting even more; and the pounding of the drops on his skin made him tense; in turn pulling at his skin and allowing a small moan of pain to faintly brush past his lips. It was only two more days til they had the exams and he was determined to prove to everyone that he wasn't some fragile little farm boy. He couldn't wait to see the look on their faces when he became a SOLDIER.