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No Stars in Midgar	By : Jdee Category: Final Fantasy VII > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 779 -:- 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
- 7
- 8
- 9
AN: Yeah sorry for the transcribed events this is a fanfic honest not a re-write >.>; but this is just so you know what time line of CC we're in atm.

Don't worry I'm not going to cover the Banora incident or Wutai war.

Seven

“Angeal! ANGEAL!”

Zack ran through the shrubs and on to the path.

Director Lazard was safe. But he had left Angeal out numbered. But orders were orders. Lazard's safety had been priority.

He knew Angeal would be okay, he could handle it. He always had handled it, with honor, pride and all that stuff he spurted constantly.

But something felt wrong as he ran back, he didn't know how he knew it just felt... off.

Zack came across two bodies lying in the path. He blinked then looked at them.

“What? These guys aren't Wutai troops.”

Now he was confused. They were here to fight the Wutai, but the armour the swords they didn't look like the normal enemies he had just been fighting.

The flash of light shot out in front of him and Zack saw the red materia hoover for a moment, then there was nothing but a brilliant bright white light.

Zack shielded his eyes, then he saw the array form in front of him.

The ground around him began to burn.

Spinning round Zack found himself staring down Ifrit.

“A summon?” He was confused.

The confusion changed to anger as he shouted, demanding of the unseen foe to reveal themselves. “Who called it out?”

Ifrit's fist slammed into the ground, the blast of fire knocked a shot of flames towards Zack knocking him to the ground.

Zack looked up and he was about to get up when a hand slammed him back into the ground before he could protest. Sephiroth stood there over him Masumune drawn.

Sephiroth leaped forward moving past Ifrit the Masumune slicing through the summon and it dispersed.

The flames surrounding them vanished.

Zack stood up staring. Sure he'd meet Sephiroth, sure Seph had been one of the ones to help him during the Mako poisoning but he had never seen anyone, not a single soul take down a summon with a single slice of a blade.

“Holy...” He breathed impressed, completely impressed and in awe.

Sephiroth strode past him towards the bodies.

Kneeling down he yanked the helmet off looking down at the face.

“Genesis.” Sephiroth stated looking at the face.

Zack jogged up to Sephiroth to look.

“The missing SOLDIER 1^st Class?” Zack asked.

Sephiroth pulled the helmet off the other body revealing the same exact face.

“They're identical.” Zack noted, now he was even more confused.

“A Genesis copy.” Sephiroth stated.

Zack was looking at Sephiroth as he spoke then turn to look at the bodies.

“A copy?” He was shocked. “A human copy?” He didn't like that idea.

His mother had always brought him up to believe that every single person on the planet was unique in their own way. Even people with the same faces would have one small difference but these two they were more identical than all the identical twins he had come across.

Sephiroth turned to look up at Zack. He glared at the kid, the last he heard Angeal and Zack were on the same mission. They were supposed to be together.

“Where's Angeal?” He demanded.

Zack walked away looking at the ground and scuffing his boots in the ground, just like the dejected puppy he was.

“I thought he was fighting around here.” Zack replied.

Sephiroth turned to look down at the copy he knelt over.

“Humph. So he's gone too.”

Sephiroth knew, Angeal had hinted at it, but Sephiroth wasn't expecting it to happen so suddenly. Another month or two at least, but not in Wutai.

Not in the middle of a war the end of it but not the middle.

Leaving his pupil alone so soon.

Sephiroth was not Angeal, he could not deal with a tag-a-long. He lacked experience with people outside of ShinRa and Zack was like one of those people.

Yet Angeal had made him promise. He had planned it but left Sephiroth hanging as to when he would leave. It was to be expected. Angeal obviously had come across Genesis and then just left.

Zack spun round behind him. “What?!” The youth exclaimed.

Sephiroth stood up as Zack approached him from behind.

“Wait what does that mean?” Zack asked.

“It means Angeal, has betrayed us as well.” Sephiroth was not happy.

Angeal could have finished his duty to SOLDIER then left. Sephiroth would of understood that.

But now they were more than short staffed and he was only one man, one man who would have to pick up the slack that not only Genesis' but now Angeal's absence left behind.

Zack was in shock. Angeal he wouldn't leave, he couldn't. He would not.

“No way!” Zack protested. “I know what kind of guy Angeal is!” Sephiroth was walking away from him down the path, Zack walked after him. “And he'd never do that!”

Sephiroth stopped and turned round. Zack almost gulped at the glare he was given.

“Angeal wouldn't betray us!” Zack's hand sliced through the air in front of himself. “NEVER!” He took a couple of steps back, he could feel his breath shortening, his heart was pounding.

He was over reacting, becoming emotional, he knew it.

“We'll head back to your base.” Sephiroth stated.

Zack let out a breath.

Angeal. Did he really leave?

Zack felt horrible, had he done something to scare Angeal off? Had Angeal left so no one would find out what had happened between then, was Angeal doing this to protect him?

Zack walked behind Sephiroth lost in thought a million things racing through his head.

A million memories.

The feeling of those lips and that body.

Zack's hand rand through his hair as he tried to stop himself from hyper ventilating.

Sephiroth stopped as he heard Zack stop and he looked over his shoulder, the emotion the teenager was showing, was conflicted, confused like that of a loved one dying.

Sephiroth looked at Zack he let out a breath.

“Were you and Angeal involved?” Sephiroth asked.

It made sense now why Zack would get this over protective and react the way he did.

“No!” Zack shook his head. He then looked down. “Do you know how that would have turned out? I'd have been even more ridiculed than I already am!”

Sephiroth nodded. “I assure you not. The company knew about Angeal and Genesis. They would not have looked upon the two of you any different.”

Zack's breath caught. “What?” He looked at Sephiroth.

“If you two were involved I need to know now, before an inquiry goes any further into this mess.” Sephiroth looked at him.

Zack's face was red, he was blushing.

The look told him all he needed to know. Evidence of that would have to be erased as soon as possible the moment they got back to base.

“It... was... um... I don't know! I really don't know what happened, he was acting weird and I got worried and then... then...” Zack stopped.

Sephiroth realized then and there Zack was coming to some conclusion that made him look even more like a kicked puppy.

“He was saying good-bye.” Zack breathed.

His hand rolled through his hair again before he shouted up at the sky.

“ANGEAL WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY IT DAMNIT?!”

Sephiroth sighed at the outburst. The kid might as well placed a neon sign above their heads for the Wutai to find and attack them.

“Are you done?” He motioned towards the direction of the camp.

Zack rolled his eyes and kicked a rock nearby.

“Yeah yeah.”

~*~*~*~

Zack was seated on a crate outside Lazard's tent. He was waiting for Sephiroth to emerge. He had come back to this base and they were preparing to leave.

Sephiroth had told him to sit here and wait.

Zack ran a hand through his hair. Both of them had been called back to ShinRa, Sephiroth had mentioned something about an inquisition that they both were going to endure over Angeal's vanishing act.

Zack was not going to look forward to that. Zack didn't lie very well. He knew he was horrible at it. He glanced to the direction of his tent and he could see Blaize in the distance, he could see the blonde heading to his tent.

Zack stood up, he wanted to go to his friend, but Sephiroth.

If he just up and left the General he knew he would be chewed out.

So he slumped back down sitting on the crate again. His elbows on his knees, his head sinking into his hands. Today was probably the worst day he could have endured during this entire war.

It was several more minutes before Sephiroth emerged from Lazard's tent.

“We're to head back to Midgar and give a full report.”

“That's it? So we just leave him here?”

“He's not dead Zack.” Sephiroth looked at him. “He'll be fine but it's you and I they're worried about.”

Zack raised a brow. “Us? Why are they worried about-” He stopped. “They don't want us going after him.”

“Not until they're sure we had nothing to do with it, that they're confidant we won't leave ShinRa either.” Sephiroth replied.

Zack let out a breath. “I'm going back to my tent to pack.”

“I sent your 2^nd in command to do that.”

Zack looked at Sephiroth. “What?”

“He is also your friend, if there is any evidence of anything incriminating, I told him to dispose of it so you are not dragged into this.” Sephiroth motioned in the other direction. “Go and eat.”

“But I'm not-” He stopped seeing the look Sephiroth gave him and he sighed. “Yeah yeah going.” He sighed.

Zack walked away from Sephiroth, he stopped. “Why do I feel that you know something you're protecting me from?”

“I will explain later.”

Zack watched Sephiroth walk towards Angeal's tent. Obviously to do the same to Angeal's tent that Blaize was doing to his.

Sighing Zack made his way to the mess tent. He pushed open the flap and looked at what was remaining of their forces for this war.

It was a pitiful sight indeed.

Several were wrapped in bandages other looked worse for wears and Zack moved to the spread of food and picked up a couple of bread rolls and a drink before making his way to a lone table and sitting down at it.

Normally he would have headed to a table with people, mostly to mingle do all those things he did. But he had no motivation for it today. None at all.

Angeal was gone, he left. In situations like this he was the one normally cheering up the others who were suffering that grief of a lost comrade.

Now he was the one who was suffering the lost.

Zack had been just staring at the soda can not touching the food on his plate running over the events in his head. He'd come out alive, he had promised he would.

Finally popping the can open he downed the contents and set the can down.

He was staring off into nothing, completely void of anything, only aware of the echo of dishes being scrapped clean and cutlery clanging against plates.

His mind was on Angeal and he let his head rest in his hands.

Everything.

He was going over everything in his head.

Angeal had hinted it to him, one of them wasn't going to come out of this. Zack thought Angeal was being paranoid about him going into this war, but that wasn't it. He saw it so much clearer now.

Angeal was really saying good-bye.

But why did Angeal say good-by that way? What happened to his slap on the shoulder and 'see you later' attitude? Why did he have to awaken even more confusion in him?

Sure Zack had fantasized about Seph, Angeal in that manner, but it was a fantasy. Reality was his parents would much have rather he brought home a cute girl.

He was confused, his lack of experience in that field on both sides of the fence made it hard for him to know where exactly he was really sitting.

“Zack?”

He heard the chair pull back and he looked up, blinking as Blaize sat down.

“What happened?” The blonde asked.

Zack shook his head. “I don't know yet. I'm still trying to work it out.”

“There's a text message going round that Angeal is M.I.A.” Blaize whispered.

“That's 'cause he is.” Zack replied.

Blaize nodded. “So what happens now?”

“Seph and I have to get cleared of company suspicion.”

Blaize blinked suddenly. “You're being pulled out of the war?”

“For now.” Zack replied. “You be careful out there okay?”

Blaize pulled a smoke out of his pocket, he nodded as he lit the crumpled cigarette, despite the large no smoking sign behind him.

“You too.”

Zack waited for Blaize to ask him, but the blonde just sat there smoking his cigarette.

Zack picked at the bread roll just grazing on the bread. He had no stomach for food, but Sephiroth had told him to eat so he really had no choice.

Blaize sighed. “How long Zack?” The blonde finally asked.

“How long what?” Zack paused then saw Blaize raise a brow.

“Today. That was it.” he replied understanding the silent question, not elaborating.

Kunsel's hawk eyes and hearing had made them both weary on what was exactly said out loud.

“Really?” Blaize asked.

“Yep, I'm pretty sure. First time.”

“Confused?”

“Fuck yes.” Zack's head hit the table.

Blaize raised a brow. “Don't worry I won't tell a soul.”

Blaize scratched the side of his face as Zack looked up at his friend.

“Thanks. Means a lot until I can... work some stuff out.”

Blaize smirked. “You are really flirty with men and female.”

Zack sat up. “No! It's not... I'm not... I- Wait you think so?”

Blaize nodded. “Yeah. It's cool, no skin off my back, me personally I would never go there.”

Zack frowned. “It's not that bad... just... I'm not used to it.”

“Yeah well still not going there...” Blaize smiled. “I'm going to remain straight till the day I die thank you.”

~*~*~*~

Zack was in the middle of his routine squats when the phone in his pocket warbled he hoped it was Blaize giving him another update on how the war was going.

He missed the blonde and he wanted to thank him for destroying the evidence of his roll around the tent with Angeal before the vanishing act.

“SOLDIER 2^nd Class Zack?” The voice on the other end asked.

It definitely wasn't Blaize.

The voice wasn't Kunsel either considering Kunsel was behind him in the den part staring off into space like he did on occasion.

“That would be me. Who is this?” Zack asked.

“Director Lazard wants to see you. Go to the briefing room.” The voice was cold, even colder than Seph's. Zack didn't like it, he didn't like being ordered round by someone he'd never met before.

“Hey! Wait!” But it was to late the line was dead.

Zack sighed and flipped his phone shut.

“Who was that?”

~*~*~*~

Zack ran down the hall towards the briefing room passing through the doors, he saw Lazard sitting there head in his hand as he came up behind the director.

“Any word on Angeal?” Zack asked.

Lazard shook his head before leaning back in the chair.

“He hasn't contacted his family either.” Lazard replied crossing his arms.

Zack looked down at the director.

“So what's this about?” Zack asked.

“A new assignment. I want you to go to the hometown of our missing SOLDER 1^st Class, Genesis.”

Zack lent down looking at Lazard strangely.

“Huh?”

“According to the parents, they've had no contact with Genesis whatsoever.” Lazard lent forward his hands steepled together his head resting upon them. “But, they can't be trusted.” He shook his head.

“Why?” Zack asked.

“They're his family.” Lazard replied as he looked over his shoulder at Zack.

Zack nodded stepping back. “Mmmmm mmhm mmhm.” He placed his hand behind his neck.

Zack walked around a bit.

“I've already dispatched some staff,” Lazard began.

Zack looked to the screen to see the familiar black suit and ties of the Turk uniform.

“But we've lost contact.”

Zack stopped walking as Lazard looked at him.

“I want you to go and investigate.” He jerked his head to the door. “He will go with you.” Lazard lent back in his chair.

Zack turned round as the black suit walked up to him.

“Tseng of the Turks.”

Zack looked at the Turk and he blinked. Wasn't this guy one of the two Turk pilots that flew him and Angeal into Wutai?

Zack kept quiet about that though.

“This job is looking reallllllly gloomy.” Zack stated.

Lazard sighed and he lent forward in his seat again. Zack watched Lazard out of the corner of his eye. The director seemed really restless.

“Let me know when you're ready to go.” Tseng stated.

“Right... I'll be right back.” Zack pointed at him before taking off out the door.

~*~*~*~

Zack was running down the hallway when he found himself tackled into the wall.

“Oof! Hey what gives?!”

He stopped as he saw Kolenka holding him there an arm pinned across his chest.

“You'll pay.” Kolenka growled.

Zack raised a brow. “Hey I'm on company time here pal, don't waste it!”

Kolenka was suddenly jolted and hit the ground.

Zack stopped and looked at the cadet standing there holding a taser.

Zack blinked. “Wow thanks.”

“Anytime.” The voice was soft, familiar. “Think of it as a return form of thanks.” The cadet began to walk off.

“Hey wait... kid.” Zack went to go after him.

Was this the cadet that Kolenka and Ace had harassed?

“I'm sorry for the loss of your friend.” The cadet nodded his head, before running off down the hall.

“My loss...” Zack whispered.

Zack felt his phone go off and he flipped it open.

“Hello?”

“You are dead.” The voice on the other end growled. “Watch your back.” The phone went dead.

Zack pulled the phone away from his ear.

“Hey what is this? How do you people keep getting my number?!” He exclaimed. “And what is this pick on me day?!”

Zack took off down the hall and into the room of the unit.

“Zack.” Kunsel motioned. “That paperwork you need to fill in for Sephiroth before you leave. Regarding the you know what.”

“Shit.” Zack cursed as he threw the important stuff into an overnight bag.

Kunsel stood up and Zack felt himself pushed to sit down.

“Zack.” Kunsel pulled out an enclosed envelope. “This is yours you need to open it.”

Zack looked at the envelope, he took it from Kunsel. He opened it slowly and read the contents, his mouth dropping for that moment.

“So that explains Kolenka kill me mode.” Zack sat back. He was looking at an updated list of his unit. Blaize's name had deceased written next to it stating the location of death to be Wutai.

“Shit.”

Zack set the piece of paper down. He ran a hand through his hair.

“Why now Kunsel, why didn't you-?”

“I only got it given to me while you were in the briefing.” Kunsel replied.

Zack let out a breath and stood up. “Well congratulations Kunsel I'm promoting you my 2^nd in command, just don't die on me.”

Kunsel looked at him shocked. “Wait what?”

“Watch over the Unit, make sure they don't die either.” Zack slung his bag over his shoulder and took off quickly.

“That paperwork for Sephiroth!”

“Can wait till I get back!” Zack shouted back before vanishing round the corner.

~*~*~*~

Cloud knocked on the door of the barracks again. But there was no answer and he let out a breath. He'd forgotten his keys and they were locked inside the barracks, so now he had to wait for one of his room mates to come and unlock the door.

Leaning against the wall he slid down it and pulled out his phone sending a text message to the nicer one of his roomies.

The others were just awful, picking on him, teasing him for his weaknesses.

Pulling his knees up to his chest he wrapped his arms around his legs he let his rest on the top of his knees and he sat there waiting.

He hoped that 2^nd Class was doing okay after the death of his friend. He hoped he had helped him at least. It must have been horrible to loose a friend like that.

Cloud only really had Tifa back home, but even then they weren't horribly close. Not like how he wanted to be with her.

Sighing. How was he going to get stronger if he couldn't even get a chance to prove himself.

Still to taser a 3^rd Class into unconsciousness was his high point of the day at least.

The guy was an asshole anyway.

Cloud had fallen into a doze mode, he was asleep when he heard the voices.

Drunken idiots in the hall coming back after partying.

He rubbed his eyes and pulled out his phone to check the time it was nine-thirty pm. There was still half an hour before the unit would return.

Cloud yawned as he listened to the voices.

He stopped seeing the cadet on a skateboard go down the hallway. His eyes went flat, the girl cadet was followed close behind by male cadet and another female cadet on foot.

“You look like you're twenty-five!” The scooter cadet shouted at a guy coming out of the lift.

“I am twenty-five asshole.”

“You look like you're fifteen!” He motioned at the girl behind him.

“Shut up!”

“And you!” The guy motioned at Cloud. “You look like you're twelve.”

Cloud glared at the guy as he jumped off the scooter the girl cadet walking caught it jumped on and scooted off.

The guy staggered up to him and Cloud pushed himself back up against the wall.

“Ya' kno ya really pretty yasssure ya're a boy?” He slurred.

“Of course I am!” Cloud snapped.

He was getting tired of the 'you look like a girl comments'.

“I need ssssum proof.”

“Hey I don't know you!”

Cloud held his hands up in signaling that he wasn't going to go there or touch this guy.

Then the mouth pressed against his the tongue probing lips open tasting him before pulling back and the guy looked at him.

“Have a nice night.” He patted Cloud on the cheeks before running off.

Cloud's breath was caught for the moment and he knew his face was flushing.

“W-what just happened there?” He murmured to himself.

He swallowed. He really hoped the rest of his time in ShinRa infantry would not be like that.

It was another five minutes before his roomie showed up.

“Sorry Cloud I got caught up in paperwork and training I couldn't get away.” He pulled out his keys and unlocked the door.

Cloud nodded his head. “Um... is is normal for other guy cadets to kiss guys?” Cloud asked.

His roomie blinked and looked at him.

“It happened to you again didn't it?” He asked.

Cloud nodded. “Yeah.”

“I don't get it. Why does that keep happening to you?”

“I don't know!” Cloud exclaimed. “Do I have a sign above my head saying 'random guys kiss me please'?!” He let out a breath.

His roomie laughed. “Not that I can see.” He patted Cloud on the shoulder. “Just wash up and sleep it off. We can write it up in a report later.”

“No.” Cloud shook his head. “'No reports I'm not doing that. It was a kiss he didn't stick his hands down my pants or anything.”

His roomie shrugged. “Okay your call.”

~*~*~*~

Sephiroth sat behind his desk as looked over the paperwork due to cross over his desk.

Zack's report on the incidents in Wutai had not been handed in.

“He still hasn't filed his report in.” He saw the list marking Zack as off base and in Banora. He was being accompanied by Tseng and Sephiroth hoped Zack didn't rile the 2^nd in command of the Turks up enough for him to loose his temper.

You either wanted to yell at Zack or just like him, he had that personality.

Sephiroth knew what he would be doing, especially if he didn't get that report the day after Zack returned from Banora maximum.

Pulling the next page down he took note of the Wutai casualties. He had only remembered Zack's friend because he helped cover up Zack's ass. To see the young man's name on the list. He sighed.

This war was definitely due to be finished.

He saw the memo noting that there were current peace talks being attempted by the ruler of Wutai and ShinRa at least they had managed that much.

Still their numbers were dwindling thanks to the Wutai troops and Genesis.

“What are you doing Genesis?” Sephiroth sighed. “And why didn't you come ask for help?”

Sephiroth stood up.

He was the only one left in ShinRa from the three of them and it hurt, once again he was shut out unable to help either of them, no matter how much he wanted to. He was forced to remember he was different from them. He was so different he couldn't even help those who had become his closest friends.

The alienation was beginning again. Like when he was a child under Hojo's experiments.

Pacing the office he decided he needed to at least get something to drink. There was that familiar voice starting to stir in the back of his mind again.

Always speaking to him when he felt conflicted, she spoke to him like a mother to a child and at times it irritated him. His mother was dead, he didn't need any wannabe mental replacements. That would leave him in the psych ward and ShinRa would be down another elite SOLDIER member.

“Not in the mood for you today.”

She had been so good as of late, with Angeal and Zack around he had managed to not even hear her once, but they were both gone, Zack only temporarily. But Angeal, he would not come back. Perhaps Zack would be a good filter to keep his sanity in check and nullify this current aggravation that tormented his very mind?

~*~*~*~

Zack arrived back from Banora. He could only drag his feet into the room and face plant his pillow.

He really, really, really wanted to punch Genesis one.

He was spoiled irritating and Zack swore if he heard loveless one more time he's tear his own ears off.

Eyes closed Zack just lay there face in the pillow and he felt his body begin to doze.

He was close to sleep when he felt a rolled up paper hit him on the back of the head.

“Hey what?!” He sat up and looked at Essai who motioned at the door.

Zack looked over his shoulder and gulped seeing a ticked off Sephiroth standing there arms crossed.

“I believe you have a report for me.”

Zack cringed and sat up. “Uuuuh about that.”

“With me... now.” Sephiroth turned round and walked off.

Zack let out a curse jumping up from the bed and he shot Essai a look.

“Why'd you hit me?”

“Hey he told me to wake you up I poked prodded but you were gone. It was all I had.”

Zack pulled the shoulder guards and ShinRa belt off dropping them on the floor, he was stiff enough as it was. He knew Seph would be keeping him for a while.

“Don't keep the General waiting.” Sebastian teased.

Zack shot them both a look before he ran out.

~*~*~*~

Sephiroth sat in his office and he watched Zack sitting there looking at the report, head dropping.

It was cruel of him to drag the half unconscious teenager into his office to fill in paperwork, but her voice had been insistent in making herself heard.

He just sat there watching Zack fall asleep before he cleared his throat.

Zack sat up suddenly.

“Wasn't sleeping!” He announced, then looked at Seph his face going red.

That brought a small smirk to Sephiroth's lips. He was starting to understand Angeal's fondness, if only for the humor purposes.

“Finish the report and you're free to go sleep Fair.” Sephiroth stated.

Zack sighed. “Okay. I can do this... um Seph?”

Sephiroth looked at him. “What?”

“Do I mentioned about Angeal and-” He stopped looking down.

“No, do not. You want to stay in ShinRa, then it never happened.” It was a cold statement.

Zack looked slightly taken aback but he nodded. “What do I say then.”

“Everything but that.” Sephiroth replied.

He was quite surprised that her voice had not said a thing to him not while Zack was there. She was so quiet, it almost worried him.

Zack slid the completed report across the desk to him.

“All done. Sorry for the delay.”

“It is understandable given the loss to your unit. But I'm afraid. A replacement will have to be picked. When you're ready.”

Zack nodded. “Understood. So I can go then?”

“Yes. We'll talk later.”

Zack walked to the door. He looked over his shoulder at Sephiroth reading over his report. Zack took his leave blinking for a moment.

“I guess I'm all he has left now.” Zack glanced to the closed door sympathetic. He would have to do something about that then. He just didn't know what yet.

~*~*~*~To Be Continued~*~*~*~
- 7
- 8
- 9
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