Never Tear Us Apart

by tir-synni

 

A/N: There were some concern that that last chapter was the end.  Nope!  Got at least...two parts after this.  A sequel is in progress, but I'm having a wee bit of trouble with it.  All in all, I'm expecting three stories in whole for "Never."  Thanks for all the reviews!  Keep it up!  Oh, and if you catch any grammar mistakes, please e-mail me and let me know.

 

Interlude IV: Cloud

 

            Cloud woke before his alarm went off, a smile on his lips and a soft light in his eyes.  It took him a while to remember why.  When he did, his smile faded, replaced by open-mouthed shock.

            His mistake, Zack had told him, his conviction still ringing in Cloud's mind.  Did that mean Zack wanted to be with him, unlike his father?

            "He held my hand," Cloud whispered, stunned.  Zack, beautiful Zack, wanted him?  Could this be just another fling?  But he had not seen Zack with anyone else since he had arrived, and he knew Zack wouldn't tease him anyway.

            He...trusted Zack.

            Cloud swallowed hard.  The only person he had ever trusted before was his mother.  Now he trusted Zack, too.  Weird.

            Below him, the alarm clock began to ring shrilly, and Cloud heard Zack grumble sleepily as he pounded it.  Zack had insisted that Cloud slept on the top bunk.  Cloud figured it was only because Zack was afraid he would kill himself trying to knock the alarm off.  Cloud's small smile returned.

            Drowsy expletives grumbled beneath him.  Another slam on the alarm clock, and then Cloud saw a blur of black as the alarm clock flew across the room.  Zack wasn't a morning person.

            Cloud stretched lazily and wiggled his toes.  Below him, he could hear Zack still grumbling.  Strong, long legs swung out from the bottom bunk, and Cloud watched with interest as Zack flexed the smooth, hard muscles.  The darkly tanned flesh was bare, Zack's strong thighs the only part of his legs clothed.  Cloud swallowed hard as he noticed Zack's morning erection.  He felt his own hardness twinge in answer, and suddenly hot, Cloud rolled over on his back.  Shit!  Cloud concentrated on his breathing until he felt his erection flag.  Damn, he had not needed that.

            "Hey, you up yet, Cloud?" Zack yawned, sleepy silver eyes peeking at Cloud from over the bedframe.  A lock of thick black hair falling in his face yielded a young, mischievous look.  "If I can't sleep in, neither can you."

            Cloud blinked at Zack.  "I'm awake."

            Zack smirked at him. "Then what are you still doing in bed?  Come on, get up!  You get to play with the nice drill sergeant, and then you can come back and let Seph and I wipe the floor with you."

            Cloud rolled his eyes.  "Great incentive.  I'm getting up."

            Zack's casual, friendly manner instantly calmed Cloud.  A small smile playing on his lips, Cloud sat up and threw off the covers.  Before he could hop off the top bed, however, Zack's strong hands clasped him and eased him to the floor.  Cloud's wide blue eyes met gentle silver ones.  Shyly, Cloud turned away.

            Zack's large hands rested on his slim waist a moment longer before reluctantly releasing him.  The long fingers lingers on Cloud's pale nightshirt, searing the youth through the thin fabric, and Cloud shivered.  From under thick, blond lashes, Cloud saw Zack smile.

            "Get dressed," Zack said softly, his voice huskier than it was a moment ago.  "I'm going to grab a quick shower.  While I'm doing that, why don't you fix us a hot breakfast."

            Cloud managed a shy smile.  "Bacon and eggs?" he offered.

            Zack's dazzling smile answered him.

~~~~~

            Sweaty and exhausted, Cloud Strife jogged back from the morning drill.  The regular instructor had been replaced with a SOLDIER.  After a short, sharp lecture on what they could expect in their near futures, the SOLDIER had proceeded to run them through a set of more advanced drills.  He had worked them until the weaker recruits had started dropping.  Then he had paired them with another recruit.  The SOLDIER had them battle for twice the normal amount of time.  After another set of drills, he had released them.  All throughout, the SOLDIER had had a clipboard, occasionally writing notes.  Cloud wondered what those notes were about.

            With a weary hand, Cloud wiped some sweat away from his flushed forehead.  It didn't particularly matter at the moment.  All Cloud cared about was a nice shower.  Then he got to work up another sweat practicing with Seph and Zack.  After all this work, he had to make SOLDIER.  He had to!

            Lost in thought, Cloud didn't realize anyone else was in the hallway until his head smack against someone's chin.  Stunned, Cloud tripped backwards, only to be caught by strong arms.  Cloud blinked upward, startled and wary.

            "Where you rushing to, little one?" a surprised redhead questioned, steadying him.  A sharp green eye roved over Cloud's tense body.  "You okay?"

            Still blinking, Cloud nodded warily.  The stranger seemed nice, but he radiated the same aura of danger that Zack and Sephiroth gave off.  Yet, Cloud thought, eyeing the loose, untucked shirt and relaxed stance, he doesn't seem to have the strictness of SOLDIER.

            "I'm going to my room to shower, Sir," Cloud replied quietly.  The youth took a step back and sized the stranger up.  Definitely not SOLDIER, but a deadly warrior, nonetheless.  However lazy his stance, Cloud bet the stranger would be able to attack and defend instantly.

            The redhead was still studying Cloud, his green eyes sharp in contrast to his lax manner.  "What's your name, little one?" he inquired.

            Instantly, Cloud came to attention.  "Cadet Cloud Strife, Sir.  SOLDIER recruit--"

            The stranger waved a hand, and Cloud quieted.  "Cloud Strife.  What a beautiful name.  And still a SOLDIER recruit!  I've heard many of the recruits have been dropping out lately.  Something about the last obstacle course."

            Cloud cringed at the reminder of the obstacle course.  After that incident was the only time Zack had truly touched him, besides the many times the older man had tossed him to the mat, and the tender touch of his hands from the night before.  Zack had massaged away the flood of aches and bandaged his multiple wounds.  Cloud's truest and greatest regret of that horrid course was that he had been too exhausted to enjoy Zack's caring touch.

            "The obstacle course had been tough," Cloud admitted.  "You just had to shake it off and keep going."

            The redhead grinned at him, and Cloud knew the stranger had approved of his words.  "Precisely.  I like you, little one.  The name's Reno, Reno Sherrily.  You ever need help, ask for me.  I'll come.  Just tell someone that Cloud Strife needs Reno Sherrily, and I'll be there."  Reno tapped Cloud's cheek gently.  "I'll be keeping an eye on you, little one."

            Shocked, Cloud watched Reno saunter off.  It took a moment for him to realize his jaw was hanging open.  Shaking his head, Cloud whispered, "Bye, Reno."  With one last glance, Cloud resumed jogging down the hall.

~~~~~

            "You're late," Sephiroth commented, his soft disapproval slicing into Cloud.

            Freshly showered, Cloud timidly entered Sephiroth's private training room.  Deeply shamed, Cloud struggled to keep his head high.  "I'm sorry, Sir," he apologized, his voice quiet but clear.  Unconsciously, Cloud reverted to "Sir" instead of "Seph."

            Beside where Sephiroth stood in the middle of the bare room, Zack looked up.  In one hand shone his Buster Sword, while a rag covered in polish graced the other.  His silver eyes averted from the items, instead staring at Cloud in concern.  "Where were you, Cloud?  It's not like you to be late."

            Cloud resisted the urge to cringe as the disapproval on Seph's face deepened.  The General didn't like excuses.  "It was my fault.  I bumped into some stranger in the hall, and he wanted to talk.  I should have told him that I had an appointment..." Cloud hesitated, recalling the eerie intensity of Reno's eyes.  He doubted it would have gotten him out of there sooner.  However, it had been Cloud's responsibility to keep the appointment, not Reno's.  It was his fault he was late.

            Sephiroth, however, noticed his hesitation.  The intense disapproval faded, edged by concern.  "Who was it?  Another recruit?  A SOLDIER?"

            Don't show any discomfort! Cloud snapped at himself.  Real SOLDIERs don't show any sign of weakness.  Neither will you.

            "Not a recruit," Cloud admitted, meeting Seph's gaze.  "He was more like a SOLDIER...but wasn't.  He said his name was Reno Sherrily."

            Despite what many recruits thought, Cloud was intelligent.  Years of getting beat up for it in Nibelhelm had taught Cloud that.  So when Cloud saw Zack and Seph stiffen and exchange glances at the mention of Reno's name, he knew some Major Shit was up.

            "What's wrong?" Cloud questioned nervously.  "Reno seemed nice.  He said he like me, something to do with the fact I'm still in SOLDIER training.  He told me...if I ever need him...to just ask for him, and he'll come."

            At any other time, the look of shock on dear Zack's face would have amused Cloud.  The alarm in Seph's eyes canceled that.

            "Zack?" Cloud questioned nervously.  Zack shushed him with a tentative finger to his lips.  Cloud silenced immediately, stunned by the feel of Zack's warm flesh against his mouth.

            "Don't worry about it," Zack reassured him softly, "we'll take care of it."  Zack's gentle fingers raised to stroke Cloud's smooth cheek.

            Cloud waited for his body to stiffen up, as was so common in response to intimate touches.  It never happened.  Unconsciously smiling, Cloud leaned into the affectionate gesture.  It felt good against his skin.

            "All right," Cloud sighed, too busy enjoying the touch to argue.  Zack smiled, but it didn't banish the worry from his silver eyes.

            "Come on," Zack said softly, tenderly stroking Cloud's cheek.  "Time to get to your training."

            Cloud smiled, forgetting about Reno for the moment.  "Sure."