FicWad

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any Square Enix related indica, such as characters, settings, etc.

WARNINGS: Language

Chapter Eight:
Decisions and Laughter

Zack listened as Sephiroth told him of the course of events that had lead to Cloud's being here, and as to why he was in such critical state. Sephiroth recalled how he'd seen the teen on the early morning news, then how he had found the murder weapon buried in the body of the massive mako-enhanced dog.

So . . . Cloud, you're not even a SOLDIER and you've already been subjected to the stuff. I feel for you.

Zack studied the feverish blonde as Sephiroth continued to massage a burn cream into his singed flesh, telling him more details of the past events. Cloud was so thin his ribs could be seen through his pale skin. His abdomen hadn't been burned, mostly his limbs. Though, as fare as Zack could tell, his entire body brandished a heated sunburn-like irritation. Sephiroth explained that he hadn't intended to find the teen. Cloud attempted to steal his wallet, and the white-haired man had given chase. Once Sephiroth realized who he was, he brought him here, to the apartment, to administer the mako treatments.

"I didn't think he would make it Zack. He was already in the third stage when I got him here. I think he went into cardiac arrest once. I thought he had died, but his body pulled out on its own. He fought back, and his condition gradually improved until I was positive he was back in the safe zone. When he finally woke, I think I frightened him. He wouldn't look me in the eye, flinched every time I moved."

Zack interrupted, "Do you think he really killed that boy?"

"I'm getting there, just be patient." Zack looked back down to the sedated blonde as Sephiroth went on.

Sephiroth continued on to tell him how he had explained the effects of mako to the blonde, and of how he would forever have to continue mako treatments, or die.

"I then made him an offer. You see, I've been thinking. Cloud doesn't look like what one would call SOLDIER material, he's far too thin as of now, but he killed that monster, and it was the size of my living room sofa. Then he survived the mako poisoning for well over twelve hours. Most full grown men die within six. All he needs is a little work . . . and a boost in confidence. He might make a fine SOLDIER someday, but, when I offered to let him join ShinRa . . . " Here Sephiroth paused. "Zack, be sure you do not tell him I let you know, but, when I offered to let him join, he . . . tried to kill himself in my kitchen. I stopped him before he could. He was crying what seemed like nonstop, so I put him to bed, and the next day he acted fine. As if nothing had happened."

Then Sephiroth informed him of Tseng's visit, and how the Turk had found the dagger and become suspicious.

"I planned to question Cloud concerning the truth in his accusations."

A gasp of pain was heard from the bed as Sephiroth brushed the boy's charred leg a little too roughly. Zack watched as his friend soothed the unconscious boy. While he had seen this side of Sephiroth before, usually directed toward himself, it still amazed him. Once again that small pang of jealousy interrupted his thoughts, but he nudged it aside roughly. He knew he could never be more to Sephiroth than a friend, even if he knew the man cared for him more than that. Sephiroth needed someone else in his life. Sephiroth needed more than a friend. He could definitely see the General had begun to care for Cloud, but did Cloud himself know? Would Cloud be good for his friend? Just how much did Sephiroth care? Would Cloud be willing to reciprocate if Sephiroth showed any serious interest? He would have to wait until he actually met the teen in a functional state to answer that question.

"My argument with Tseng woke him. After he had taken a shower, I evoked the information from him." Zack squirmed as Sephiroth studied his face. " He killed Matthew, but for a viable reason. It took me a long time to dig it out of him, but he confessed as to why. He told me he had lived in that orphanage ever since he was six. It would seem, when the truth comes out, Cloud is the real victim. According to him, the boy he killed sexually harassed him quite often. The night he killed Matthew, the boy had tried to all-out rape him. It just so happened one of Matthew's partners-in-crime brought a knife into the fray. Cloud got his hands on it and used it in an act of self-defense out of fear. I don't believe he's lying either. His eyes were truthful, besides, there were far too many tears."

This surprised Zack to say the least. He had been expecting to hear Sephiroth tell him Cloud was innocent of the charges, but this?

"I can imagine he's been scarred for life." He now felt even more sympathetic for the injured blonde.

Sephiroth nodded. "That's precisely why I need your help. He wouldn't tell me why he refused to join SOLDIER, but I have my suspicions. I think he's afraid of men in general. He knows that if he joins he will be around other males twenty-four/seven."

"Seph, in case you have forgotten, I am a guy! How can I help, he'll be afraid of me too!" Zack shrieked indignantly.

"No, Zack, I have not forgotten your gender. What I'm saying, is you have a way with people. You make others trust you. I think if Cloud can learn to trust one person more doors will open."

"Sephiroth, are you blind?! The guy has told you so much!" He motioned to the now whimpering form on the large bed. "Seph, he has learned to trust. He trusted you with that information. He trusted you enough not to run away the first day he was here. That's what I'd have done!"

Sephiroth remained quiet, eyes focused on Cloud. He looked up into Zack's eyes. "I failed to think of it that way." Sephiroth looked shocked. Zack couldn't help the friendly grin that escaped him. Sephiroth never thought of the good things he did. He was a pessimist through and through, so, naturally, he always focused on the bad. He always tortured himself for being a bad person, for killing men in Wutai War One. Zack had made it his duty to teach him to remind him of his good deeds rather than the bad, or else his friend would end up as nothing but a depressed shell of regret. Zack placed a reassuring hand on Sephiroth's shoulder.

"But that doesn't mean I won't help you out. After all, it seems to me as though you've put a lot of effort into this little guy. I'll help you put him back on his feet, and I'll help you keep an eye on him tonight. You look like you could use some rest."

Sephiroth capped the burn salve and stood, covering Cloud with a light sheet, so as not to irritate his sensitive skin. "Thank you, Zack. It truly is a gift to have a friend like you. You go ahead and get comfortable on the couch. I'll take first shift."

Zack nodded and crossed the room to the closet, where he knew Sephiroth kept some extra blankets and a pillow.

I stay here so often Seph might as well put another bed in his den. Not that he probably wouldn't mind me sleeping in the same bed with him. Zack's conscience winked at him and he shook his head violently at the onslaught of images brought on by that thought. He really needed to stop being so perverted. Besides, Sephiroth knew he was straight and hadn't tried anything since the hot tub incident, Sephiroth's first and only attempt at romanticizing with him.

He remembered it quite well. He and Sephiroth had checked in at a hotel for a conference in North Corel about methods to control the monsters in the southern mines. They had both decided to try out the hot tub down stairs. Zack hadn't known then that Sephiroth was homosexual, but he did have his suspicions. Nonetheless, he felt comfortable stripping down to his boxer shorts and sitting in a large tub with the man. Apparently Sephiroth had been harboring a crush on him for a while, and seeing him almost naked was too much for the man. Sephiroth had mustered the courage to actually kiss him. Imagine his surprise at finding himself lip-locked with his General, friend, and battle partner. He had gently refused Sephiroth's advances, but he had still rejected him. While he had tried not to hurt him, causing emotional pain was inevitable in that situation and things had been rather rough between them for a week or two. Though he couldn't help but admit that, if kissing were a sport, Sephiroth would be the champion.

After digging through the sea of black leather, Zack came up victorious, holding a deep blue blanket and a plush white pillow. He tossed the pillow onto the couch and sat to remove his boots. "Good thing Seph's couch is comfortable," he muttered to himself. He tossed the boots nearly across the room, aiming for the space beneath the bar, but missed by a whole yard. No matter, Sephiroth had other concerns to attend to other than scolding him for throwing his boots around. Next, off came the thick SOLDIER belt. He despised wearing that thing. It itched like hell, and the straps were so thick they made sitting all but impossible. With that aside, he stretched out and made himself comfortable. He could tell by the look in the Sephiroth's eyes that he hadn't planned to sleep at all with Cloud in such bad condition. He set his watch to wake him up in three hours' time. He had to make Sephiroth got at least some sleep.

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Sephiroth waited until he heard the twin thumps of Zack's boots falling from their few seconds of airborne glory before he made any move to make himself comfortable. It was bound to be a long night, but Cloud was like this because of him. The least he could do was provide care until the teen recovered. While mako healed many things quickly, he knew the burns would take at least a week even with the extra aid.

He seated himself on the edge of the bed, unsure of what to do next. He couldn't help but notice he found himself in this predicament quite often around Cloud. The General was usually confident, and sure of his actions, but Cloud had introduced him to new situations he had never even contemplated. A few months ago, if anyone had told him he would be nursing a wounded orphan back to health, he would have assumed them to be overdosing on level three narcotics. He shook his head with a sigh.

Now that Zack was out of the room, he decided to further assess Cloud's injuries. He hadn't done so in his friend's presence in fear of letting Zack see how much he had began to care for the blonde. Was it fear? No, it wasn't fear. Sephiroth just didn't want anyone to see how inexperienced he was with the simplest things, comforting crying teenagers for example. In his childhood, he hadn't learned these rudimentary acts, as he had never been given any representations to follow. So now, in adulthood, he still didn't know how to act around others, especially those who were weaker than himself by such a large margin. Before Cloud had come into his life, he hadn't even known he lacked these skills, now he found himself exhibiting his lack thereof quite often. He remembered back to the teen's attempts at suicide. He had comforted the boy well enough then, right? Maybe these acts were pure instinct. Oddly, he now felt the impulse to just stroke the boy's hair as he slept. Were his instincts advising him wisely? That didn't matter. He gave in to his urge all the same.

His fingers sifted lightly through the feathery blonde silk. Cloud had sweated quite a bit due to the heat of his burns, yet the yellow spikes still stood with as much fervor as before. He stopped when his fingers traveled over a crackling lump. He withdrew them to find them speckled in flecks of dried blood. Blood?!

Sephiroth parted the nest of blonde fluff and discovered a mass of crimson. Most of the blood had dried over the wound, masking its severity. Sephiroth blindly located the damp flannel with one hand and began to gently wipe away the concealing red. What he found underneath shocked him slightly. Two savage gashes stood out like a shark in a fish tank against the field of natural gold. How could he have missed them? He had known from the amount of blood left behind by Cloud's abductor that the boy was wounded, yet it just slipped his mind. He resented himself even more for his carelessness. The wound could have become infected, causing Cloud even more problems. While Zack had said Cloud apparently trusted him, Sephiroth wouldn't blame the boy if he altogether hated him after this. That wasn't important now. Now Sephiroth needed to clean the injury. There was no time to berate himself.

He retrieved an antiseptic from his medicine cabinet and began the task, afterwards placing a gauze bandage over it with medical tape. He didn't think Cloud would be happy to wake with an entire roll of bandage wrapped around his head, so this would have to do.

Sephiroth glanced down to Cloud's charred leg. He didn't think putting a bandage on it would very wise, nor would it be convenient when it came to reapplying the salve. The rest of Cloud's burns weren't serious enough to merit bandages. The mako in the blonde's blood had begun to take care of the minor injuries, as they visibly looked better already. Sephiroth knew it was his leg that would take so long in healing. Ironic, how mako would heal the less important things first.

Sephiroth ran another wet cloth over the thirsty burns before aspiring to finally make himself comfortable. He didn't plan on waking Zack as he had said. Cloud's injuries were his responsibility and no one else's. His coat was lying on the floor where he had discarded it after removing it from the boy, and he had left his shoulder armor at the prison, so there wasn't much else to do. He removed the cumbersome SOLDIER belt, despised and hated by all who wore them, then removed his boots. Unlike Zack's, they weren't abused once as he placed them side by side next to the bed. He lay down, respectively giving Cloud plentiful space. Positive he would be roused at any change in the sleeping blonde's condition, he allowed himself to drift into a light sleep.

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Zack rolled off the couch, momentarily forgetting where he had lodged for the night. He groaned at the shrill incessant beeping, willing it to fall silent, or at least tone it down so he could return to his wonderful dream about his girlfriend, Aeris, but, as luck had it, the annoyance would not relent until he was fully aware of his surroundings. He rubbed his eyes and came to his senses. The beeping was his wrist watch. He had set the alarm to wake himself, but why? Everything rushed back to him in an instant. Right, he was supposed to relieve Sephiroth of his 'post'. Picking himself off of the floor, he massaged his shoulder briefly. Seph's floor really knew how to throw a punch.

He scratched his chest and ran a hand through his mussed hair, then set off toward Sephiroth's bedroom. He opened the door, about to speak, but promptly halted his actions. Now this was a sight! If only he had a camera.

Sephiroth had apparently decided to lie down, wether he had intended to sleep or not, Zack didn't know, but he had dozed off all the same. The white-haired man lay sprawled on his back, wearing nothing but those damned leather pants. How could he possibly sleep in those? But that wasn't what caught Zack's attention the most. Cloud had wriggled from beneath the sheet sometime during the night, and sought out a new source of heat, Sephiroth. The teen slept curled into the older man's side, head tucked beneath his arm. Zack couldn't stop the grin that flashed onto his face. Obviously neither were aware of their sleeping arrangement, but that just made it all the cuter.

Cute?! Sephiroth cute?!? He suppressed his mischievous mirth and continued forwards, closer to the bed.

He checked Cloud's leg, which seemed to have healed some during the three hours he had allowed himself to sleep. Mako could work wonders, though Zack knew this wound would take at least four days to heal completely. Burns were stubborn. He retrieved the discarded sheet from the foot of the bed, where it had hidden itself from Cloud. He then draped it over the two, and stood back in deep thought.

From what Sephiroth had told him about the days he was gone, he and Cloud didn't seem all that close . . . /yet/, but it was there. Zack could see it. Sephiroth obviously cared for the blonde, and he had yet to meet Cloud, but, from what he had heard, the boy seemed to trust Sephiroth to a great degree, or as much as could be expected from someone with his experiences. Yes, Zack could see at least friendship there, but what about more? Sephiroth had all but given up trying to find someone to live his life with. If Cloud was willing, why not? Sure, there was a twelve-year age gap, but if they worked out for one another, surely that wouldn't matter.

Zack decided he would definitely be investigating this matter further. First off, he needed to meet Cloud while the teen was actually capable of speaking, just to see what kind of person he was. From what he had heard, Sephiroth and Cloud would both be good for each other . . . if they realized it. Zack knew Sephiroth would be hesitant to pursue a relationship with someone so much younger than himself, and he knew Cloud would have a hard time going into any relationship because of the . . . incident with Matthew, but he had to try. Sephiroth wanted him to help Cloud, and he had wanted to do so before hand, but now he had even more of a reason. By helping Cloud back onto his feet, he could help his friend.

Operation Seph Cloud initiated!

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Fire.

Heat.

Pain.

Cloud was chained to a wall, his wrists bled as roaring flames surrounded him. The blazing heat scorched his eyes. He was crying, screaming desperately. The pain . . . slow, intense, agonizing torture. He hadn't even died yet and he was in Hell. The blaze flared around, burning on all sides. Even /if he hadn't been bound he still could not have escaped.

A dark form began to make its way toward him. As it came closer, he recognized it as Tseng. The man's eyes were blazing, just like the flare around him. He shivered as the man laughed darkly, as if possessed. This monster took pleasure from his pain, his tears, his screams. Tseng miraculously stalked through flames, not once did he catch fire, smirking at him with a jagged grin. The demon reached out a clawed hand and stroked his face. The touch burned more than the flames. Cloud voiced his agony in a choked gasp, bawling piteously. His throat was now too sore, too ragged to do much else. The blackened claws dragged across his cheek, leaving behind deep gashes.

Tseng chuckled as Cloud tried to escape the clawed hand. Then, the demon spoke.

"Your attempts, Strife, are inevitably futile. You will never be free of me, or my nephew." Cloud's eyes widened in horror as Matthew appeared beside Tseng, a wicked grin spread across his face, barring his dark fangs. Tseng stepped aside, and the specter came forwards. Cloud thrashed at his bindings, desperate now to get away. Then he felt the monster's hands on him, burning, pinning him motionless. Before he had time to react, Matthew's lips were crushing his own. They too burned malevolently. He choked as a snake-like tongue wormed its way passed his lips, exploring every crevice of his mouth. Then the invader pulled away, leaving him shaking.

"I will get what I want . . . Cloud."

Cloud starred in trepidation, tears flowing freely as Matthew removed his shirt. He halted his movements in shock. Matthew's abdomen was marred by a long, sloppily stitched wound. He had done that. The older boy had removed the rest of his clothing while Cloud had been gaping at the disfiguration. Then Matthew moved forwards. When had his own clothes disappeared?

He pleaded sorrowfully as he felt the unwelcome hands on him, stroking him. Once again, that foul mouth was pressed against his, this time seeking out his tongue in particular. The sharp teeth cut him savagely. When Matthew pulled away, blood oozing down his front, he began to lap at the crimson liquid down Cloud's chest.

"Delicious."

Cloud froze as he felt the proof of Matthew's arousal against his inner thigh.

"I will have you now."/

Cloud gasped hungrily and his eyes flew open. Matthew was gone. Tseng was gone. There were no more flames. He wiped at the seat dripping from his brow. It had only been a dream. Then why did he still hurt so much? No, he hurt less now, but still, the pain was there, concentrated mainly around his leg. He sat up, immediately regretting the action. He lowered himself back onto the sweat-soaked sheets with a grimace. The pain in his leg made sitting up extremely painful.

He felt exhausted, as if a giant had squeezed all of the energy from his body like an orange. He closed his eyes, but rest would not come. His inner voice kept telling him he was missing a very important aspect of his surroundings, but what?

He finally took notice of the bed's other occupant. Sephiroth. Had the man carried him here!? The last thing he remembered was pain . . . and heat. Gaia, the heat had been so unbearable. Sephiroth must have gotten to him in time after all. Cloud had prepared himself for death, but, it would seem he had escaped its ravenous clutches once again. Or rather Sephiroth had saved his life . . . again. Cloud still didn't understand why the man cared, but that didn't matter anymore. Sephiroth had saved him twice. An image of Sephiroth diving through the hot wall of flames loomed into his head. This time, the man had actually put his own life in danger. He had done more than enough to merit Cloud's trust, but Cloud still couldn't bring himself to trust him wholly. Old habits are hard to kull.

Cloud watched the steady rise and fall of the man's well-muscled chest, knowing he should feel fear of being in a bed with a half-dressed man, but he didn't . . . couldn't. Instead, he felt safe. A foreign feeling he rarely experienced, but recognized. Sephiroth wouldn't let him die. He had definitely proven that. Even if Cloud didn't know why the man would go through so much trouble just for someone as worthless as himself, he was willing to forgo not knowing the answer to that question for now. As he had thought before, the man had definitely earned at least a /little/of his trust.

Now that he thought on the matter in depth, he realized Sephiroth had saved his life three times. The mako incident, Tseng, and his suicide attempt. Perhaps he had been wrong. Not all men were cold-hearted bastards. Yes, he could trust this man. Cloud quickly hushed his inner voice. It said he should stick with his policy. Never trust again.

Would you just shut up this once?! he snapped.

He studied the man's face. The stern intimidating facade had crumbled in his sleep, softening his expression substantially. He now looked almost ethereal.

"Thank you," he whispered to the sleeping man as he snuggled back into his side. He had recently learned that body heat was an exceptionally useful source of warmth.

He drifted back into sleep, never noticing the flash of emerald glow from the man beside him. Sephiroth hadn't wanted to startle the boy, so had chosen to feign sleep. Ironically, he was the one who had received a shock as Cloud had nestled himself down beside him. He hadn't been aware enough to fully contemplate the meaning of the gesture, so he returned to his sleep enjoying the alien tickle of pale spikes under his arm.

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Cloud woke in a daze of confusion. Such pain, but where was it coming from? His eyes flew open and a cool cloth was pressed to his brow in an instant. Sephiroth told him to relax, and the confusion abated as his mind caught up. He was in Sephiroth's apartment, and he had been badly burned. That explained the pain.

"We gave you a pain reliever last night. Its effects have apparently ceased." Sephiroth took a bottle from the night stand and obtained a pill from it. He then held it out to Cloud, who took it and placed it in his own mouth as he was handed a glass of tart juice. He grimaced as the white-haired man helped him sit up, the pain in his leg overwhelming. He swallowed the pill, then stopped when his mind had analyzed Sephiroth's words again in retrospect. We?

"Who's we?" He ground out as he was being lowered back onto the bed. He felt humiliated at needed Sephiroth's help in such a simple task, but decided it didn't matter. The man had helped him before with the mako incident and in bandaging his wrist, so Cloud had gotten slightly used to the treatment.

Sephiroth moved aside and Cloud realized there was another man in the room. Cloud blinked enough in five seconds to compensate for the rest of the day. He had thought he had wild hair. This man looked as if he were trying to disguise himself as a hedgehog. The dark-haired man smiley jovially and stepped forwards. Cloud gasped, his deep cocoa eyes glowed too.

"My name's Zackary, but you can just call me Zack." He had the most cheerful demeanor Cloud had ever seen. Though that wasn't saying much, considering most people Cloud had met were overall depressing, himself included. Cloud had never met someone so seemingly exuberant, therefore had no idea how to react.

Zack placed his hands on his hips and mock glared at him. "What? I know I'm sexy, but I had no idea I possessed the power to render people speechless with my looks. Sorry buddy, I'm taken!"

Cloud indeed was speechless, but the cause was not Zack's looks. The comment had caused a rush of blood to his cheeks. Cloud blinked and glanced to Sephiroth, as if to ask if this new acquaintance was on drugs. The white-haired man failed to be of much help, as his only response was to send one eyebrow climbing an inch above the other, something Cloud himself had never managed no matter how hard he wrinkled his brow in effort.

"Hmmm . . . shy huh? Oh well, you'll warm up to me. Zack sat on the edge of the bed, Cloud following his every move like a snake preparing to strike. He still didn't know what to make of this . . . Zack. The man was impossibly loud, that he had decided, but could he be trusted?

Sephiroth seemed to tolerate him well enough, though how Cloud couldn't decide. From what he knew of Sephiroth, he seemed like the type of man who cherished silence and occasional solitude. Zack seemed the polar opposite.

Finally, Sephiroth stepped forwards, relieving Cloud of the pressure of conjuring up a response to this new situation. "Zack," he sighed and shook his head. "Cloud, Zack will be staying here for a while, you don't mind I hope?"

Although Cloud did not yet feel comfortable around this obnoxious new conundrum, who was he to argue? After all, this wasn't even his home. How could he possibly deny Sephiroth the freedom of deciding who comes and goes?

Cloud shook his head before finding his voice, never once looking away from the spiky bush at the foot of the bed. "I . . . I don't mind." He was convinced if his eyes got any wider they would pop.

Zack rose from the bed. Cloud could practically see the light bulb ignite above him. "I know. I'll make breakfast! Pancakes alright with you Spikey?" Cloud's stomach gurgled, as if the mention of food had reminded it of its now constant hunger.

"I'll take that as a yes." Zack skipped through the door, presumably destined for the kitchen. Cloud didn't even know what a pancake was, but if it was edible, he was willing.

Sephiroth leaned over him. "I need to check your leg." Cloud watched as he lifted the blanket to reveal his blackened limb. It looked better than when he had seen it the night before.

"It needs more salve." Sephiroth took a green container from the table, twisted off the lid, and dipped his fingers in. When he removed them, they were filmed in a translucent white cream. "This may sting at first."

Cloud flinched as cold creme came into contact with hot skin. Then the salve began to take effect, and he reveled in the resulting relief. He closed his eyes as Sephiroth massaged the medication into his dehydrated skin. No one had ever touched him before with the intention of comfort rather than pain. He decided he liked it . . . a lot.

He had almost drifted back into slumber when Sephiroth's gentle baritone pulled him back.

"I know it will take you some time adjust to Zack, but I think you'll find he makes a good friend. Who knows, perhaps you can even learn to appreciate his crude humor." Sephiroth removed his hand from his leg and recapped the salve.

Cloud was surprised to find himself missing the contact. "He seems . . . happy-go-lucky."

"Yes, I know, but he has been my friend for years. I've gotten used to him. He can be serious when required. Besides, he's the one who brought these blessed pain relievers."

"They work fast." That was true, his pain was already dissipating. Images of his nightmare played through his head and his mood automatically darkened.

Sephiroth seemed to read his mind. "He won't get away with it. You have my word I'll make sure of that."

"He was his nephew. Matthew was Tseng's nephew. That's why he . . . "

"That still gave him no right."

"I had no right to take Matthew's life."

"That boy had no right to do what he did. His death is his own fault."

"I had a nightmare last night, about both of them."

Sephiroth remained quiet, thinking, then he finally spoke, almost in a whisper. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Cloud considered the offer, but decided he didn't want to recall how he had been molested in his dreams by the ghost of the boy he had murdered, deserving or no. He shook his head. Then he made a quick change of subject. "Do I have to lie in bed all day?"

"Can you walk?"

Cloud frowned. "Probably not."

"Would you like me to carry you into the den and put on a movie for you?"

Cloud blanched at the thought of being carried, then realized Sephiroth must have carried him on quite a few occasions, albeight unconscious. The thought of sitting in bed all day drove him to his decision.

"If you don't mind."

"Of course not, you don't weigh much anyway. Oh, I almost forgot." The tall man retrieved a bag from a dresser across the room. "Zack took the liberty of buying you some new clothes. He placed them on the blonde's lap.

Zack had bought him clothes? But the man had never even spoken to him until a few minutes ago. Nonetheless, here they were, lying on his lap. He reached into the bag and pulled out a shirt first, a dark green sleeveless. He attempted to put it on, but found his arms were stiff from the burns. Sephiroth took the task from him and pulled the shirt down over his head. Cloud hated being so helpless, but helpless was better than half-naked. He then produced a pair of pants from the white bag. Zack had found a pair of black jeans in his size?

"I don't think you need to wear those until your leg is healed. The material will chaff."

Cloud nodded and pulled out yet another pair of pants. These were smooth and the color of wet gravel. Cloud had never felt a material so soft. He assumed these were the pants he was intended to wear until his burn was healed, but, one problem. How was he supposed to put them on!? He looked up pleadingly to Sephiroth, wishing not to be embarrassed on such a high level. Sephiroth chuckled and took the pants from him. The white-haired man slipped them up his thighs, careful not to agitate the burn, then pulled them over his hips. He could see there were still more items in the bag, so he reached in once more, coming out with a thick hooded sweatshirt. It too was soft. Cloud decided Zack had nice tastes in clothes. The hoodie was black, and there was a pair of red wings on the back. Each feather looked so realistic Cloud couldn't help but run his hands over them a few times. He peared into the bag again, which, by now, seemed to possess no bottom. Inside, he could see several pair of socks and boxers.

He looked up, confused. "Zack bought all of this? He's just met me."

"Well, it was my money, but I deducted he would be better suited to pick the clothes out. After all, he dresses like a teenager himself when he's not in uniform." At Cloud's questioning look he added, "He's in SOLDIER, my second in command."

Now that made more sense. Sephiroth seemed to have adopted him in a sense. "Sephiroth?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you doing this? I don't deserve your kindness."

The other man remained silent for an uncomfortable period of time. Cloud feared he had just destroyed their prefatory companionship."You want the truth? I don't know the answer myself, but you're wrong. You do deserve my kindness. I know you've never had much before, living in an orphanage for so long. You're just . . . different. I don't know what it is." Sephiroth seemed lost for words. Finally, he gave up trying to describe his motives, and sighed.

"I understand." Sephiroth studied Cloud questioningly."You can't describe your feeling and thoughts with words. I've learned that, in those situations, you can give yourself a headache trying. You don't have to answer. I don't want your head to hurt all day. I just want to thank you."

Sephiroth nodded and they sat in companionable silence for a while."One more thing. Speaking of headaches, I need to check your other bandage."

Other bandage?

Sephiroth stood and helped Cloud sit up. Cloud then felt the man's long fingers raking through his hair. A tingle ran from the back of his neck down into his arms, causing the tiny hairs to stand erect. Sephiroth apologized as he removed a peice of tape, taking several blonde strands with it. Now he remembered. He had been bashed in the head twice by, what was his name? Rozz?

Sephiroth removed the old bandage and began cleaning the lacerations with a disinfectant that stung sharply, but Cloud contained his hiss of contempt. Then Sephiroth covered the wound with a new bandage.

"There. You'll need another mako injection before you go to bed, and you should be completely healed by the end of the week, mako poisoning included. Though you'll still need injections, just not as often. The tainted mako is what is causing your body's need for frequent injections. When it's out of your system, you'll appreciate the substance a lot more."

That reminded Cloud of the decision he had made in the shower. "Sephiroth, I've been thinking. I'll consider joining ShinRa, but, will I have to stay in the barracks?"

"Now that I think of it, there's no rule that says you absolutely have to, but my apartment is too far away for a cadet, which is where you would start at. Trust me, you'll cherish every minute of sleep you can get. Perhaps, if you decide to join, you can board with Zack. His quarters are on a top floor, but they're close enough. That is if you feel comfortable around him."

"And what will happen to me if I don't join ShinRa?"

"I can't keep stealing extra injections forever. Someone will notice."

"Breakfast is ready!" At that point in their conversation, Zack burst into the room, smile as wide as ever. "Will Spikey be joining us in the den, or are we joining him in here?"

"I'll carry him to the sofa. You prepare his plate."

"Okay dokie!"

Cloud groaned as Zack went to perform said task. "I've never met anyone as upbeat as him."

Sephiroth chuckled and placed one arm beneath his legs, supporting his upper body with the other. Cloud could tell he was being careful not to brush his burned leg. Soon, Cloud found himself sitting on the black sofa. Zack bounded in balancing three plates piled with pancakes, three glasses of milk, and a bottle of syrup. Cloud braced himself for the shattering crash that was sure to occur at any given moment, but relaxed as the brunette began to unload his quarry onto the table.

"Bet you wouldn't be able to guess I'm a gourmet chef just by looking at me eh?" Zack handed him a plate of pancakes. "Syrup? Lots of sugar!"

Sephiroth sat in his chair across from the sofa, as usual. "If he has the same reaction to sugar as you, then I don't think it's in the best interest of my possessions."

"What are you talking about? I've only had a little bit of sugar in my coffee this morning."

Sephiroth rolled his eyes. "Exactly. Now that I think of it, there cannot possibly be anyone else on the planet as hyper active as yourself. Besides, sugar makes people gain weight. Go ahead and give Cloud the whole bottle if he can stomach it."

Cloud shook his head, not bringing up the fact that he had never had many sweets in his life, therefore the taste of them turned out quite repulsing. Though he had never had pancakes either. Maybe a little syrup wouldn't hurt. Next thing he knew, he found a giant glob of butter right in the middle of his plate, courtesy of a certain brunette. He poured some syrup on top of the now melting butter. His stomach growled as the smell of butter and pancakes reached his nostrils. He took a bite. They were delicious, even more so than the Wutanese take-out he had last eaten. Now, no matter how annoying Zack seemed, he just couldn't bring himself to dislike the man at all, not when his hands had created such a heavenly thing. Perhaps staying with him wouldn't be so bad after all. He had made up his mind. He would join ShinRa, but decided not to tell Sephiroth at the moment, as the other two occupants of the room seemed completely engrossed in devouring Zack's cooking masterpiece.

Zack's pancakes were not the only factor that had determined his decision. At first, he had his doubts as to wether or not Zack could be trusted, but, if Sephiroth trusted him, then he would as well. Besides, someone so flirtatious in nature could never scheme to cause harm to someone else . . . successfully anyway.

His inner conscience protested his decision with many belittling insults. For the second time that day, he told it to shove off, something he had never done once before. It seemed Cloud was experiencing a lot of things now that he had never even considered before, and now he was going to join the army. A month ago, if anyone had told him that, he would have rolled his eyes at them and walked away.

His plate was still half full, but the capacity of his stomach would not allow him to eat anymore, no matter how tasty they were, he didn't fancy exploding combined with his existing injuries.

He watched Zack as the man devoured the last morsel from his plate. Gaia, he had eaten fast. Sephiroth still had a good bit to go before he was finished. Syrup dribbled down Zack's chin and the brunette wiped it on his sleeve.

That figures.

"You done Spikey?"

Cloud nodded in response. Before he had time to say anything else, Zack had abducted his pancakes and begun to shovel them away as well.

"Zack is a bottomless pit." Sephiroth intoned. Cloud just observed in amazement as Zack quickly finished and stacked both plates on the table.

"You want me to finish your's too?"

Sephiroth shook his head. "I think I can manage. Besides, picking what's left of you after you pop out of my hair isn't on my itinerary for today."

Zack stuck his tongue out childishly. Cloud couldn't stop the snort that escaped him.

"Oh, there is someone in there." Zack knocked on his head playfully, avoiding the bandages.

Finally, Cloud decided to speak. "Well, I couldn't help but laugh when I pictured tiny bits of Zack all over the apartment."

Zack mumbled and crossed his arms over his chest, disgruntled.

"What was that Zack?" Sephiroth inquired.

"I said, he has been taking lessons in humor from you, the king of sardony."

"Zack, sardony isn't a word," Sephiroth chided.

"Yes it is! It's my word!"

"It's not in the dictionary."

"It's in my dictionary! Along with heeblduflaba, jwenisism, philangi porno, and peaner."

"Philangi porno? I don't even want to know."

By this time, Cloud was fighting desperately to conceal an outburst of giggles that threatened to make themselves known if he dared to exhale. His body was shaking with effort of holding them in. He had never laughed like this before. He had also never had a reason to laugh like this before.

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Zack preened as he watched Cloud struggling with a fit of silent laughter. One more word was all it would take, and he knew just the word to use.

"Hey Spike." Cloud looked up at him, not daring to open his mouth. Now he would swoop in and attack. "Banana."

The effect of that one simple word was astounding. Cloud doubled over, hugging himself. His laughter was like none Zack had ever heard before. He decided he liked it. Not a booming gafaw, a donkey's bark or a squeaking air toy, but a series of short ha's occasionally punctuated by a squeak. Tears were streaming from the blonde's eyes.

Mission accomplished. Zack had always prided himself in making people laugh. Hell, he had even made Sephiroth produce a rare chuckle a time or two. Now that he had cheered up Mr. Gloomy, it was time to get the boy comfortable in his presence. What better way to do that than a good long movie?

Zack rose from the sofa as Cloud recovered from his bought of delectation. The edge of Sephiroth's mouth curled up in one of the smallest smiles he had ever seen, but it was still there, most likely brought on by seeing Cloud happy for once. Zack opened Sephiroth's treasury of epic DVD's and chose one of the longest ones he could find. He put the movie in and went back to his spot on the couch.

"Hope you like medieval wars and stuff Spiky, 'cus this is a long movie."

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By the end of the film, Sephiroth's butt and legs were critically numb. He stood, dreading the expected tingle which was sure to come. Cloud had mustered up the courage to lie down sometime during the first two hours, and his head now lay in Zack's lap. Today had gone well. Cloud had taken to Zack with no problems at all, and the brunette was already working wonders for the boy.

Zack's roaring snore pierced the silence like a bullet. He would wake Cloud if the teen was not relocated.

Sehphiroth ignored the pins and needles coursing through his thighs with every step, and bent to lift Cloud tenderly back to the bed. The blonde felt so fragile in his arms, but he would fix that. Cloud would never miss a meal again as long he was under his roof, or Zack's for that matter. He wondered vaguely if Cloud had made any further decisions concerning SOLDIER. That didn't matter, not right now. He would worry about that at another time.

He lay Cloud on the bed and held his breath as the blonde stirred, but Cloud simply turned onto his uninjured side and continued to sleep as if he had been in that position all along.

He then exited the room. He went into his kitchen, where he dug up a pencil and a pamphlet of paper. He wrote quickly and placed the paper on the table in front of Zack, who was now snoring louder than before. He had considered placing it on his friend's lap, but remembered his body's habit of leaking enough saliva to fill a bucket.

He pulled on his coat and boots, then slipped out the door, planning to pay a visit to a certain Turk.
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Author Notes:
I know it took me a long time to get this chapter posted. I promise you, I posted as soon as I finished the grammatical and spelling crap.

This chapter could have gone a lot of ways ans, I'll admit, I started it with no destined plot whatsoever.

Don't worry, Tseng gets punished in the next chapter. Evil Laughter

Also, I'll have you know the words heeblduflaba, jwenisism, philangi porno, and peaner are not words I just made up. My friends and I have been using them for years. Yes, we are a strange lot. Heeblduflaba is a swear word, much like dammit. Jwenisism has no defined definition. I guess you could say it is used in the same pretext as the word meep. Philangi porno is exactly as it says. A philangi is the scientific term for finger, so philangi porno would be rubbing the fingers of one hand together with someone else's fingers. Never do this with your own two hands, as this is considered incest. Last but not least, a peaner is a knee, whereas a wenis is an elbow.

There, Danielle's vocabulary lesson for the day. If you think these words are weird, you would not survive sitting at the lunch table with my group. We'd have you gasping for air by the end of the day. I guess you can say, we're all like Zack . . . mentally unstable because we choose to be, except Jimmy, he's just the fat bald guy with random outbursts of odd behavior, but we love him anyway!