Never Tear Us Apart: Part II

by tir-synni

Interlude I: Zack

            Zachary Stoker had always been one to have fun with the crowd. After the Wutai War, he had returned a hero…just not as much as his commander. He had been popular with both the ladies and the men. He had partied on a regular basis, and occasionally he had even convinced the Great Sephiroth to go with him…when he found a hat big enough to hide all of his silver hair that didn’t offend Seph’s sense of aesthetics. He had thrown himself into living his life, and he had loved every moment of it. Never once had he considered settling down. After all, where would the fun be in that?

            Cloud Strife had shown him where it would be.

            Now the blond beauty lay asleep in his arms, and never before had Zack felt more content. He had been eager to dismantle the bunk bed, and after he had reassured Cloud that he would never rush him, Cloud had agreed. Now his spiky-haired young lover slept by his side. Zack much preferred that to smacking his head off the metal bars when his alarm clock was particularly loud.

            Three weeks had passed since their first kiss. Surprisingly, things had been peaceful. No one harassed him about finding a new lover. After all, from the moment the recruit had arrived, Zack had not looked at another. When they got together, no one was surprised. Anyone who knew and raised a ruckus was quickly silenced by Seph and Zack. Zack had the feeling that Seph was laughing silently at his younger friend. Knowing Sephiroth’s quiet sense of humor, he wouldn’t be surprised.

            Speaking of Sephiroth….The tall, silver-haired General strode calmly through the bedroom’s open door. No surprise showed on his face as he observed the tender scene. He had stumbled on worse.

            “Three o’ clock in the afternoon?” he inquired, raising a perfect eyebrow. Zack envied him for being able to pull that off. Anyone else tried, and they simply looked silly.

            “Cloud had a rough morning,” he defended, pulling his exhausted lover closer. Cloud only murmured and ducked his head under Zack’s chin. “More recruits are dropping, and you know how the drill sergeants get when there are few left.”

            “Try to see how many they can get to leave,” Sephiroth agreed dryly. “The current bet is they will have five recruits left in the end.”

            Currently, there were twenty recruits. Zack grinned. “How do you know that? You’re either in your quarters or working. Yet, you always seem to have the most information.”

            Clear, emerald eyes darkened in amusement. “My secret. Are you going to wake him or let him sleep on your chest all evening? We have work to do.”

            Zack frowned and gazed at the sleeping youth in his arms. Yes, that work. Ever since Reno Sherrily had met Cloud, Zack had kept an eye out. Both he and Sephiroth had watched the dangerous redhead meet up with Cloud in corridors and outside, striking conversations with him. He was slowly drawing the petite blond out, now getting greeted with shy smiles. Reno always appeared at his most charming. Neither of the SOLDIERs liked it. Why would a Turk like Reno have such an interest in Cloud? Surely if it was to join the Turks, Tseng would be there with him. Or perhaps he was attempting it in a more covert fashion. Either way, Zack planned on finding out what Reno was up to.

            “I really don’t want to wake him up,” Zack sighed, brushing a lock of gold away from Cloud’s pale forehead. This time, Cloud didn’t even stir. “I don’t want to leave him, either.”

            Again went the eyebrow. How did Sephiroth do that? Zack decided that it had something to do with the eerie ability to have ass-long hair and never have it tangle or snag it in battle. Sephiroth was just born looking good. Sometimes, it annoyed the hell out of Zack.

            “You never want to,” Sephiroth pointed out with that damning logic of his. “But you have to sometimes. And this time, it is for his own safety.”

            Zack grunted but nodded compliance. He slipped gently out from under Cloud’s sleeping form. Against his pale skin, dark circles were visible. The past couple weeks had been hard on the recruit. They would grow harder still until he became a SOLDIER, Sephiroth allowing none but the best to join his forces. Zack knew it was for the best, but he wished it wasn’t so hard on his baby.

            His baby. Heh. He had never called any of his lovers that before.

            And he had never called any of them his.

            Tenderly, Zack brushed a kiss against Cloud’s smooth forehead and pulled the covers over him. “I’ll be back in a couple hours,” he murmured. “Sleep well.”

            Zack nodded at Sephiroth, and the two silently left Zack’s quarters. The sleeping form on the bed never noticed. He only rolled over sleepily to where Zack had been laying and inhaled his scent.

~~~~~

            Hours later, an exhausted Zack dragged himself into his apartment. Sephiroth and Zack had attempted to learn more concerning Sherrily, but had only drew a blank. Then old man Shinra had called on Zack to help quell a rebellion in the poorer regions of Midgar. By the time Zack had returned, the sun had long since set, and he was beginning to fear that the sun would beat him returning to his apartment.

            For one of the first times since he had met the lovely blonde, he was grateful that Cloud was such a fastidious young man. Zack stumbled wearily, too tired to even turn on a light. He collapsed on his bed, even more grateful that he no longer had a bunkbed. As tired as he was, he didn’t need to knock himself out to sleep.

            Zack dropped and instinctively reached out for his young lover. Only a cool blanket greeted him. His silver eyes shot open, and Zack glanced over. Empty. What the hell–

            Glancing quickly at the clock, Zack’s eyes narrowed. Almost four o’ clock in the morning. Where. Was. Cloud.

            Darkening eyes darted over to his answering machine. It was flashing with obvious messages. Was one of them from Cloud? Had something happened to him? Many recruits still had problems with the youth. Had one of them attacked him? Where could he be?

            A cold chill flowed through the SOLDIER. For so long, Zack had not known fear. Now, with the disappearance of this petite blond, Zack was frozen to the bone.

            Any signs of sleepiness was long gone. Zack flew out of the bed and to the answering machine with a speed and grace he normally reserved for a battlefield. Six messages blazed up at him. Flicking the button, Zack waited.

            The first message was from six o’ clock. Zack almost stopped breathing when Cloud’s sweet voice spoke. “Hey, Zack, are you in yet? Seph already returned, so I thought....Anyway, I’ll be back a little later. I’m going to get something to eat, and then I’m going to the pool. See ya later!”

            The next message was from eight o’ clock. Zack recognized the voice as one of the troopers under his command. It simply informed Zack that he would call later. The dark-haired SOLDIER recalled that he was pretty good in the sack.

            The next person had called at 8:30. “Hey, Zack!” Aeris’ familiar, beloved voice chirped. “Out, huh? Well, when you get in, call me. I haven’t seen you for a while, and you still haven’t introduced me to your cutie. Well, catch you later.”

            Zack couldn’t help but smile. Even when she wasn’t around, Aeris could raise his spirits. She reminded of Cloud like that.

            Cloud....

            Anxiously, Zack awaited the next message. This one happened at eleven. Zack cringed as an old lover perked up. Hastily, he erased this message...and the next one. Cloud did not need to hear those.

            The last one happened at midnight. Sephiroth’s familiar voice made Zack’s heart pound. “Zack. As soon as you get in, come to my apartment. Immediately.”

            Zack did not need to be told twice. When the great General Sephiroth commanded, everyone else obeyed. Even if they were his second in command.

            Even as he was scurrying back out of his apartment, Zack couldn’t help but fret. Cloud had called at six! Where was he now?

~~~~~

            Sephiroth opened the door on the first knock. Zack did not even bother blinking. He was rather used to it. He was surprised that he even had time to knock. Usually Seph was opening the door before that.

            “In,” Seph greeted him curtly. Zack simply nodded and slipped in the crack.

            Wide, shimmering blue eyes blinked up at him. “Zack,” Cloud whispered tremulously.

            That was all Cloud had time to say before Zack was on his knees before him. Sephiroth’s giant sofa dwarfed the petite blonde. Cloud only looked more delicate shrinking in a large blanket Sephiroth had obviously tossed on him, the bruises on his white face making him look positively fragile. Never before had Zack been so enraged.

            “Baby.” The word slipped so smoothly past Zack’s lips. He clutched Cloud’s trembling fingers. “What happened? Are you okay?”

            Cloud smiled shakily at him. The bitterness in it tore at Zack. “I’m fine. I’m used to it.”

            Zack’s lips tightened. Yeah. Zack had heard how Cloud was used to it. His young lover shouldn’t be used to it now.

            “Who?” he asked, his voice deceptively mild.

            Cloud closed his brilliant eyes and shook his head. Sephiroth’s hand dropped on Zack’s shoulder.

            “I used Materia to heal up the worst of the damage. I interrupted before it got too intense. Don’t worry. He gave better than he got.”

            Cloud simply shook his head again. Zack clenched his jaw and gently wrapped his arms around his young lover. Cloud curled into his chest in a way he wouldn’t have dared weeks ago.

            “Other recruits?” he inquired softly.

            Sephiroth nodded. “Apparently they had heard the bets, too.”

            Cloud did not move, did not cry. He simply rested his head against Zack’s broad shoulder. Comfortingly, the dark-haired warrior stroked his back.

            “Any names?” he asked flatly.

            Sephiroth’s hand tightened on his shoulder. “Don’t worry about that just yet.” The second sentence was quiet, but avidly clear to Zack. Take care of Cloud now.

            Zack nodded solemnly. “Come on, baby,” he murmured. Tenderly, he wrapped his arm around Cloud’s back and hauled him to his feet. “Let’s go back to the room.”

            Sephiroth walked them to the door. Courteously, he held it open for them. As Zack walked past, he leaned forward. “Sherrily was there,” he breathed. “I saw him vanish right before I broke up the fight.”

            Silver eyes narrowed. “Details later,” he said simply, then he led Cloud into the hall.

            Thoughts raced furiously through his mind as he helped Cloud back to their rooms. Cloud was among the best in his class. With the numbers dwindling as they were, no doubt some of the other recruits decided to knock out one of the threats. Zack’s jaw clenched, sending streaks of pain through his temples. However, his grip on Cloud remained tender and light.

            “He knew you were coming,” Cloud mumbled against Zack’s shoulder. “I was sleeping on his bed. I don’t know where he was. But he woke me up and moved me to the couch, and then you knocked. I don’t know how he knew.”

            A smile emerged despite Zack’s grim mood. “You stop questioning that after a while.”

            He felt more than saw the young man’s nod. “Yeah....”

            Why was Sherrily there? Was he urging them on? Or trying to stop them? Maybe he was spying for the Turks. What the hell is he doing?