AN: Well.. I've got another idea for a story so... I just need to get this out of my head or I'll explode. As you can see it's kinda long and it pretty much wrote itself. And as a warning I'd say this is a pretty fast-paced story. So there. Pls review if you enjoyed this chapter!

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Cloud is a good for nothing delinquent, simply put by everyone who knows him by his face and his name. Orphaned at the age of ten, he learned to fend for himself in order to survive the ruthless world he was shoved in, only armed with the last of wisdoms his young mother had left. Day after day, he struggled but kept on, hardened by pain and polished by bruises. Six years later, with a prettier face and a sharper mind, he still fights on, dreaming of the day when he'll finally break away from this curse of a life. He makes use of everything he's got after all.

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Zack dashed through the streets of Midgar, running past the morning rush of people. He is going to be late. Looking at his watch for the tenth time, he gritted his teeth as he willed for his legs to run faster. He needs to catch the next train no matter what, or he'll hear another one of Genesis' never-ending litany about punctuality. Man, how he hated those. Mind wandering, he found himself cursing as he collided with someone, the impact almost making him stumble. The other person landed in his ass to the ground though, and another curse left his mouth.

"Shit! Sorry! I was really in a hurry. You okay?" The brunet asked frantically, stretching out his hand to help the boy. The said boy didn't say anything, only looking at him through the hood of his gray jacket, but reached for his hand nonetheless.

"I'm fine." The boy finally said, looking down as he dusted his pants, his hood sliding off of his head. It revealed a shock of blonde hair, refreshingly spiking in every direction. It complimented his very blue eyes. He looked up to meet his gaze for a second, before turning his back on him to walk away.

"Well.. I'm really sorry buddy!" Zack repeated at his retreating back. He watched the boy for a moment as he walked further, the boy slipping the cover back to his blonde head.

He huffed as he reached Sector Seven's station, slowing a little to catch some air. He took the stairs two at a time to the platform, finally allowing himself much needed breath. He really wished that his bike was functional at the moment, but the repairs are taking too long. He caught the train thankfully, swiping his card at the turnstile and slipping through the closing doors. Leaning his back at the closed door, he slipped his hand to his pocket to retrieve a handkerchief. To his utter horror, it wasn't there. He reached his other hand to the other pocket and cursed, realizing that it is also not in there, along with his wallet. He wiped his hand along his face, attempting to control the frustration that is creeping through his body.

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Cloud smiled a little, counting and slipping the Gil into his pocket. He rummaged a little into the contents of the wallet, finding mostly, IDs, and credit cards. Staring at the ID before him, his smile grew a little wider. This Zack Fair, has got a lot of money in his wallet, doesn't he? Poor thing must be pissed right now looking for it. He looked at his handsome tiny face a little longer before replacing the contents back where it came from. If he's lucky enough, he might come looking for it, he got his IDs after all. Those are what they always wanted back, and their cards. He wasn't supposed to pick him, really, because he used to go for the inconspicuous ones. But he was eye-catching as hell, running around like that, tall, tan, spiky slicked-back raven hair, black long-sleeved shirt tucked neatly. And he wasn't wrong, guys like that got a ton of Gil. He released a yawn as he stretched like a cat, hands above his head and feet dangling to the steps of a rusty staircase. There will be good food for tonight, and for that, he rejoiced internally. He climbed back to their dingy apartment above, spirits high.

He pushed open the ever creaky door, scanning for the familiar sight of Aerith. He could smell something being cooked in the kitchen, and headed for it.

"Hey Aer. Where are the others?" He asked the brunette, her long braided hair and red apron swishing as she turned around to greet him. A warm smile grazed her face, eyes lighting up at the mention of her name.

"Heeey! They went out for a while. Tifa and Reno got gigs. Marlene is playing outside with Denzel. They left me all alone in here!" She gave him a defeated look, her lips pouting at the thought. The blonde smiled at that, sitting himself at the small table, foot in the chair.

"I earned four thousand Gil today." The blonde said nonchalantly, regarding the brunette mildly. She looked at him again, a little astonished, a small frown appearing in her smooth forehead.

"Oh. Cloud— I'm happy, but please just be careful, okay?" the brunette said, worry dripping from her words. She continued her cooking, her back facing Cloud once more.

"You should stop worrying about it. I just do it rarely now anyway."

"I know, but— what if you angered a truly nasty person? I don't want you to get hurt anymore."

He smiled again at that and he knows that the frown in her face eased. Cloud was still thankful he had friends that truly care for him. Without them, who knows what kind of soulless person he will be? It is so easy to belong to the rottenest of people in the slums. He knows he isn't doing the most righteous of things either but at least he's not that far gone compared to the shithole they're in. Drugs are a big no. It dulls his senses and with a stature like his, he relies on it very much along with his speed. Pretty similar with Reno he thought, that said redhead being quite fast with his reflexes too. He wondered idly what type of 'gig' they are into right now. He likes to drag Tifa along with him mostly, and it gives them less worry. He's pretty dumb at times, after all.

Cloud walked towards the door, the little peace he had being interrupted by the bellowing voice of their landlord. Opening the door, it revealed an angry-looking Cid, toothpick in his mouth.

"Oi. Rent's due. Pay up." The middle-aged blonde man said, voice raspy and breath smelling like tobacco. Cloud reached for his pocket, fishing one five-hundred Gil. He shoved it in his waiting hand, not uttering a single word. Cid only stared back, chewing his toothpick.

"Tell Aerith there's a lotta tea Shera made back home. I hate it. She better come pick it up."

.

Zack sighed as he massaged his aching temples. Losing his wallet and his ID's were just the greatest thing. It could have fallen out, or more importantly, stolen by a certain blonde kid he had bumped into earlier this morning. Damn, he needed those ID's. It's his access to the office facilities after all. Everyone knows it's such a pain in the butt to get another one. It could be worse though, his phone could've been gone with it too, but at least he still has it. Most of his clients contacts are there. Angeal was pretty sympathetic with him thankfully, lending him more than enough money to last a week or so. Genesis was a little prickly about it, spouting the importance of losing company properties and possible breach of information. After all, anyone bright enough simply needs to check the Shinra logo printed in those to know their value. It has been two years and this office setting is still not suiting him at all. They could've given him more field work instead but alas, it looks like he'll be spending more time facing paper works and investors.

Zack spun from his chair and eyed Kunsel who was obviously bored to his wits, gesturing him for a drink after work when he caught his attention. The other grinned momentarily and whipped his head back to his laptop as Genesis passed by along with Angeal. The excruciating meeting is about to end he noticed, and sighed in relief. He was getting antsy already, sitting and not listening for almost half the day in front of his babbling higher-ups. Sephiroth is nowhere to be seen of course, having the ultimate power to excuse himself from these kinds of meetings. Sometimes he wished he made it into his level just for this sole reason.

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The evening was still young but Zack and Kunsel called it a night, opting to take it easy and just relax so they can have more energy to face the next boring day ahead. They have both already expressed their sentiments regarding their future with Shinra, and somehow it made Zack feel less miserable. He was walking downtown past the night time shops of Sector seven, when he caught a glimpse of someone familiar. His gray hoodie was pulled back, his blonde spiky hair sticking out. He was leaning on one of the sidewalk railings, hands in his pocket. They have seen each other. He consciously walked towards the kid, stopping to a safe distance from the side. He was surprised when the blonde began to talk to him.

"I've got your wallet." The blonde said as he stood straight, body shifting towards Zack.

"How did you get it? I'm pretty sure I didn't drop it in your hands." The brunet replied, eyeing him carefully.

"Do you want it back?"

Zack flashed a smile to that.

"Hmmm.. Let me guess, how much do you want for it?"

"Ten thousand. If not, I'll just probably give it to someone who can max out your credit limit very fast."

"Whoa there. Are you really being serious right now, kid? What makes you think that my card still works?" the brunet replied, smile still plastered on his face.

"Do I look like I'm kidding? Of course I had it checked."

"You think I wouldn't report you to the police right now?"

"I've probably had gone by then." The blonde easily retorted, shrugging.

"I'm a fast runner, you know." The brunet fired back, amused.

"We'll see about that."

"Oh cmon' kiddo, can't you just return it to me nicely? I'll even treat you to dinner afterwards. What do you say?" Zack asked, cocking his head slightly, eyes bright.

"That you're simply annoying."

Zack laughed hard, throwing his head back.

"What the hell man, I'm broke you know. My friend even treated me to lunch earlier! So how about five thousand?"

Cloud restrained himself from sighing. This was proving to be getting more and more difficult by the moment. Either this guy is insane, or he was just obviously making fun him. It wears his patience off every passing second. Out of the many people he had encountered, this one was the weirdest of them all. There is even no sign of the other man being angry. There was no trace of malice, no grudge, and no fist flying towards his face. There was simply no danger at the situation at all. Cloud darted towards the raven haired man and stretched out his hand. This is better than nothing anyway.

"Five thousand and a dinner."

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The dinner on a noodle shop was proving to be even more weirder, with the brunet talking to him carelessly, like nothing happened, like he didn't just rob him, extort him, or like they didn't just meet twenty minutes ago. He was asking him all sorts of questions, and he found himself answering most of them. He was eyeing him strangely all that time, like he was looking for something in him, or something he might do. It was unnerving, and he cannot thoroughly enjoy the food.

"Why do you need so much money anyway?"

"Why do you even ask? You like gossip?"

"Nah. I'm just curious. I've seen the entirety of the slums you know."

"I really don't need your sympathy."

"Like I said, I'm just curious. I mean, my life from Gongaga is also pretty poor."

"So you're from the country side?"

"Yeah. When I was old enough I came here."

"And what of your parents?"

"They remained poor for a couple more years until I was able to support them, that is."

"I don't even understand why we're having this conversation."

"Because you feel like you can trust me."

"I don't."

Cloud finished his noodles, the brunet laughing at his side. The guy had proved to be lacking any sense of boundaries. He just met him but he talks to him like he was his acquaintance. He was used to the people in the slums, the rude, ill-mannered ones, the angry, obscenity-filled conversations, the ruckus and the threats, the gang fights, riots, and every kind of nasty one can think about. This was so refreshingly pleasant, and he is quite hating it, feeling like it was all just a pretense. He didn't trust him a bit.

Or does he?

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Leaving the shop, Zack is proving that he is keeping his word, flashing the five thousand Gil in front of his face. He was grinning once again, as he laid out his hand in exchange. Cloud placed the wallet to his open palm.

"I really hope this helps you, you know."

The remark caught the blonde off guard. It sounded really sincere, and for once, the brunet stopped smiling. He snatched the money from his hand, securing it in his pocket. He never felt so guilty until now.

.

"Well I hope I'll never see you again."

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"Ahh! Reno's back." Aerith exclaimed, beaming to see his flaming red hair. He returned the gesture and grinned at her, flashing his toothy smile in her direction.

"Yo." Is the only thing he said before plopping down to the sofa heavily.

"Where's Tifa? How did it go?" the brunette inquired eagerly, standing beside Cloud.

"Tif's will be back a little later. She said she wanted to buy stuff. And— of course it went well. I'm not like Cloud here messing everything up, yo."

The said blonde snorted at the remark, folding his arms in front of him. He almost rolled his eyes.

"Yeah? Says the idiot that got arrested twice already."

"Well. Not anymore spiky-head."

The redhead replied, fishing something from inside his jacket. He waived a small gun in front of him, grinning ear to ear.

"Where the hell did you get that?" The blonde asked, jaw tightening. It was extremely difficult to get a gun in Midgar. There was a ban and it is exclusively used only by the police. If you get caught with it, you might as well get shot yourself. Lives in the slums were disposable, anyways.

"Salty? I've got a part time ya know."

"What? Being a snitch?" The blonde remarked, curious. The redhead just shrugged, tucking his gun out of sight. Aerith's face is no longer excited.

"This seems dangerous Reno." Aerith commented meekly, face full of concern.

"Pays well. Plus I can get past those fuckin' Turks any day!" Reno was grinning again.

"I can recommend ya, if ya want, spiky-head."

Cloud unfolded his arms at that, turning to face the window behind him instead.

"I'm not interested."

Tifa bursted through the door at that moment, boots clunking against the wooden floor. She walked straight to Reno after exclaiming a short "I'm back!" to everyone. The redhead stretched his arm to her halfway, pulling the brunette down to his lap.

"So, you've got something for me?" Reno asked immediately, clutching the brunette at her waist. She giggled and punched him lightly in return, receiving an amused "ow!" in return.

"Yeah. Something that can make you shut-up." Tifa finally said, eyes sparkling.

Aerith seemed to be blushing, while Cloud watched in indifference. The blonde lifted his weight from the window and walked out. Aerith followed suit, mumbling "I'm gonna look for the kids" before disappearing somewhere. Cloud ended up outside, strolling the slums of Sector seven. He had contemplated on what Reno had said, but decided that being an informant to the Turks does not suit him well. Reno is definitely more qualified for a job like that. He just can't go sneaking around asking and scavenging for whatever information they needed him to retrieve. Reno is more creative in that part more than him. What he can do better is to do the fighting instead, not having that much patience with intricate plans of an espionage.

Lost in thought, he realized he had wandered once again to the slums only playground. Even in its ruined shabby state, children still played in it in the morning, sometimes even at night. Now it was empty, his only companion were the blinking lights and laughter coming from the pubs and the food stalls not far. He himself had never played in it when he was young, yet he somehow feels at ease with it. Not as peaceful like the abandoned church, but quiet enough for someone to think and observe. Like what they are doing now, he thought.

He should have seen it coming from miles away. Slum thugs do not forget grudges anyway. But this was fine really, he thought, or rather convinced himself. There were about ten of them. There was one of him. That still okay. He had saved enough money and Aerith knows where he hides it, away from Reno. He could walk out of this with bruises, cuts, two black eyes, broken bones, even a knife wound. Or maybe, he wouldn't be able to walk out of it at all. He unclenched his fists inside the pocket of his hoodie, stilling his breath. He slipped his right hand out, and reached for his back pocket. He always liked his foldable knife, he thought, flicking his wrists to snap it open. It was the very first thing he had bought for himself after all. If he was with Reno, he's pretty sure this wouldn't end up as badly, and they've might probably have kicked dirt in their faces, at least for the most of them. But the said redhead isn't here right now.

Slowly but deliberately they creeped in, faces mocking and hungry.

"If it isn't stormbringer Cloud huh? We're glad to see you again, finally. How'd you've been these days? Biggs and Wedge were still pretty much.. I don't know, I guess broken? You know, can't even walk and all."

The leader smiled at him, and Cloud breathed the thick air of revenge, suffocating him. His gang days with Avalanche is done a long time ago. He needed them, and they needed him, but things have changed and so does he, and in the end shit has been done. He had put it behind his back already but clearly, his past mistakes were still here to haunt him.

"If you didn't ditch the mission, everything could've gone right you know. Well, we couldn't blame you if you got scared, yeah? Really, no hard feelings, Cloud. We did not want to ever see your face again either. So, this will be the last time. And this is for the group you abandoned, you ungrateful piece of shit."

Cloud held the knife tightly in front of him, legs apart, his senses going overdrive with alertness. His blood was pumping double-time, body heat rising uncomfortably. He can feel the trickle of sweat going down his temple. No warnings had been made.

The first three of them attacked him fervently, adrenaline rushing, but so was he. He managed to dodge them pretty quickly, the knives thrown in his direction slicing thick air. They were up with their hands a blink later, throwing punches in every direction, but he still got a knife. He managed to block some, his knife cutting open sleeves and arms. One had screeched in pain as his fingers were sliced harshly. At least they were still intact. One has his palm on his stomach and is cursing him to hell and back. The other one, well, he wouldn't last long with a stab in his kidney.

The leader whistled in response, slowly clapping in front of his men.

"Wow. You're still as good as ever, blondie. It's such a shame, really, we could've been the greatest team, you see? But this will be the end of the road for you."

Brass knuckles, more knives, a baseball bat, and a broken sword. The brawlers of Avalanche aren't creative the least. Aside from a few, mostly knife throwers, they were just normal thugs. What is deadly though, are those brass knuckles. They can knock him out with a single hit in the forehead. There was very little option he's got. Dodge knives and get hit in the head? He cannot afford that. Too easy for them. Don't get hit in the head and dodge the knives? He can try, but all in all, he was really, utterly screwed.

.

It was actually a pleasant evening, he thought as he sped through Midgar, his favorite companion in tow. The wind in his face was nice, the evening was still young, but most of all, the speed was driving him on edge, burning away his false adrenaline rush. For now, this would do, he thought, until the cravings in the pit of his stomach will be satiated. He slowed his motorcycle down as he came closer to the urban areas of Midgar, avoiding drawing too much attention. He really doesn't feel like mingling in the busy streets in the upper plate, everything looking like some kind of jumbled mess everywhere. Kunsel also preferred the same, and they used to go to some hole in the wall bars in the slums below. Everything felt a little simpler in there. He came to a halt still quite far from his destination, the name Seventh Heaven blinking at eye sight. Something had caught his attention, and he needed to stop. Hands tight around the handlebars, he watched. Not more than a minute later, he was walking towards them.

There were ten of them, Zack counted, minus the three lying limp on the ground. The fourth one was bleeding like hell in his middle and trying to stop it, the remaining six flanking one kid. He can tell that the knife in front of him was shaking, most probably from pain. The color of crimson was spreading from his right arm, staining his gray hoodie. It will get harder for him to keep his hand up. He's got bruises somewhere else but he can think about that later. His feet were dragging him faster.

Zack cracked his knuckles.

"Hey, Cloud buddy!" The brunet called, everyone hitting a stop suddenly to look at his direction. He was about five paces behind them but his fist still collided to the first person he managed to grab in a wink of an eye. He had sent him unconscious, his body tumbling a few feet away. The others seemed to be in little shock, eyes wide locking in him. All he needed was that little moment. Two of them got their heads mashed together, one stabbed with his own knife, another hit in the shoulder with that said knife, and one getting kneed hard in the stomach. There was now only one.

Zack grinned.

"So. Who told you that you can lay a hand on a kid?" the brunet asked the last man standing, his face ashen.

"He owes us. That little shit ain't just any kid—" he was cut short by a backhanded blow in the face. Zack's own face was flatly indifferent. The brunet then faced the blonde kid.

"Cloud, I thought I taught you some manners?" Zack said suddenly in exaggeration, feigning a frown.

"I thought I told you I don't wanna see your face anymore."

"You're so being mean just now!" the brunet exclaimed in a high pitched tone.

"Why are you here?"

"I was about to go somewhere. Are you alright?"

"Somebody with a single eye can tell I'm not." The blonde replied in feigned irritation. Zack rolled his eyes, yet somehow, the look of concern on the other man's face seemed more truthful.

"Yeah, I thought so too. So can you just—"

"Never mind. Cmon', I know first aid, you know?"

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The blonde didn't argue when he offered him to come with him to his apartment. He protested a little, yes, but it died down at the promise of food. He immediately told Cloud to settle down as he retrieved a first-aid kit. He's gotten a busted lip, a bruise in his jaw and a gash at his right arm. Nothing life threatening so far. He actually did pretty well on his own but if he had not happened to pass by, it could had been far worse.

"What exactly did you do to get kicked in the ass?" the brunet asked as he cleaned the cut in the blonde's arm. The blonde winced in return and he isn't sure if it because of the pain or the question.

"I ditched their group." The blonde stated simply, scrutinizing the way Zack cleaned his injury. The brunet had a firm grip in his arm, holding him in place when he involuntarily jerks his arm away from the sting of alcohol.

"And they didn't want you back anymore, obviously, huh? Still I'd say you did pretty well." The brunet stated, voicing his earlier thoughts.

"Well it seems you're much better though, you're quite fast." Zack chuckled.

"Yeah, I kinda had a military training."

Cloud knows that was just the half-truth. Zack isn't just good. He was amazing. He had crushed those guys earlier like they were insects. He didn't even break a sweat. He realized then and there that this man was dangerous. If he had known much earlier, he would have stayed away. But somehow, it seems as though he had tickled his fancy and now he was in his good side. That's a lot better in every way possible, but still he needs to be careful. Zack had finished cleaning and applying some kind of medicine and gauze on his wound. He was now inspecting his jaw, where he had been hit by a brass knuckle earlier. Thank Gaia it wasn't broken.

"This medicine is really good, don't worry. But you'll never get it anywhere though. Shinra exclusive."

"Why did you help me?"

"Hmm.. I don't know, I saw you getting mobbed and I just, feel like helping?" Zack replied, eyebrows knitting together.

"Didn't know you where the hero type."

"Aww. Really? You think I'm hero material?"

"No. More like maternal." The brunet looked at him and laughed heartily, his hand still tilting the blonde's head sideways.

"You crack me up, you know?"

"You're the one I thought who's on crack. You're crazy."

"Well, I'm not Zack if I'm not crazy."

The brunet released his face, finally, cleaning up the mess of bloodied cloths and cotton.

"All done! You better take some pain relievers though. I think you're still in shock."

"I'm not, I'm kind of used to it. I've been worse."

The brunet silenced after that, looking at the blonde seriously. He stood up and excused himself to the kitchen with the waste. He returned with a mug hot chocolate and pain reliever a few minutes later, to the blonde that is now pretty engrossed with his living room. He was checking out his stuff with great interest. He replaced the scented candle he was smelling carefully when he saw him, head cocking to the side. Zack smiled at him.

"Do you have a girl?" the blonde suddenly asked.

"No. What makes you think so?"

Cloud shrugged.

"Your apartment is pretty homey. That's why. I thought someone is keeping it that way."

The brunet laughed once again. He laid down the mug as he plopped to the sofa, urging Cloud to join him.

"Cmon'. I brought you some hot chocolate."

The blonde obliged without a word, sitting beside the brunet. He reached for the mug, inhaling the steaming liquid. He looked pleasantly content. Zack cannot help but stare as he realized how something so simple can be appreciated by someone else. These kind of things were just plainly normal to him, not giving a second thought about the things he was blessed to have. He often finds himself complaining to his friends of always lacking about something and he was feeling kind of bad about it now. He never gave the smaller things much of an importance. After all, he was a kind of person that only focuses on the grand scheme of things, and not the details or the repercussions of the things he had done. Yes, he was pretty much very carefree, careless, and whiny. No wonder Genesis chastises him every opportunity he's got.

Shaking the thoughts off, he reached for the remote and turned on the tv. The silence is kind of getting into his nerves.

"Do you want to spend the night here? I don't think it'll be safe for you to be running around the slums at this hour. And I'll order food like I said."

Cloud lifted his gaze from the now empty mug towards Zack. He looked like he was in some kind of a daze for a moment before his eyes cleared, and he shook his head.

"No. I'll get going."

"You at least want that medicine to take effect though."

Another silence had stretched between them, and the brunet decided to leave them be. He tried focusing on the television instead, sprawling languidly on the sofa. It didn't work. He was still acutely conscious of Cloud's presence beside him, and his awkwardly silent state. He was back to staring at nothing.

"You know, I really thought.. I was going to die."

Zack's full attention was back to the blonde. He turned once more to face him, sitting more properly beside him. He thought for once, he would really listen.

"So you do feel vulnerable sometimes, huh?"

"Do you?" The blonde asked, frowning.

"Of course I do. Everyone does. I am no different."

"You seem to have everything. What is there to be feeling helpless about?"

The brunet fell silent. Surely with the difference in lifestyle that they had right now, it was definitely getting into Cloud. He didn't mean to; he wasn't that heartless. He wanted to help because, he also came from hardship. It wasn't that easy, but it also hasn't been that hard for him too. He guessed the lack of challenge there was is what makes him crave so much more.

"Many things. There are still many things I can't do anything about, you know."

Unconsciously, the brunet reached out to ruffle the blonde head lightly. He stopped suddenly when he realized it, flashing him a shy grin. The blonde said nothing, but the frown was gone.

"I mean, even when I reached this point in my life where I have everything I wanted when I was kid, I'm slowly realizing that it is not really what makes me happy. It is actually doing very little for me."

"Then what will make you happy?"

Zack was feeling lost. A simple question like that shouldn't be that difficult to answer, but he finds that he has got no answer.

"I don't know. Become a Shinra hero maybe? Saving people's lives and such."

"You said you trained in the military."

"Yeah, but the Soldier program has been terminated only two years after I graduated. I become an apprentice and has gone for missions but that's that. It was finished before I even get started, you can say. I mean, there was no war to fight after all."

"Must be a bummer huh?"

"You bet. They could've let me fight some monsters at least!"

"So that's true?"

"What? The monsters? You don't believe them don't you? I can guarantee you that they really exist."

Cloud looked like he was at awe. And for the first time, Zack felt like the blonde was just a normal boy, first time hearing about some fantastical adventure. Not a mature for-his-age kid, thinking about surviving everyday life.

"Well, I grew up in a place where humans are the monsters."

He hit reality hard.

"But not everyone of them, at least."

Zack wasn't sure what got him stunned, maybe it was because of how true Cloud's words are, or because the said blonde had clambered up his lap, staring him down. One of his hands rested at the armrest while the other at his thigh. His pulse hitched. He didn't know what he was thinking after all. Just what goes around the heads of teenagers?

"Hey.." Zack started, bringing up his hand to touch the blonde or stop to him from whatever he was thinking about doing. Well, he didn't really know where to place his hand. This is just too close for his comfort and Cloud's facial features were assaulting him in the way they shouldn't probably would.

"Don't touch me."

Zack jerked his hands away from the blonde's waist, lifting both of his hands in the air. The blonde then lifted his right hand from his thigh and reached behind him, producing his knife. It opened in a flick of his wrist and was pressed directly at his neck. Zack's pulse went to the roof.

"Don't move."

"That's dangerous, you know." The brunet answered, voice no more than a whisper. The blonde did not answer, his other hand disappearing under his shirt. He inhaled sharply as he felt Cloud's hand touch tight muscles of his abdomen.

"You scared?" The blonde suddenly asked, his hand now roaming slowly upwards, exploring every inch of him. Zack should be telling him to stop this joke right now, but finds himself unable to move, feeling the blonde's hand intensely over his skin. He cannot look away from his face and his eyes that flutters from time to time over his mouth. Zack leaned closer instead, bringing their bodies closer, his neck pressing dangerously at the knife. He must be going crazy because he was getting aroused by this. First he mugged him, then extorted him, and now he was feeling him up at knife-point?

He gave Cloud a smirk.

"No."

It seemed to have fueled him more as Cloud leaned closer still, half-lidded eyes focusing over Zack's mouth. His hair almost tickled the brunet's face, the very small distance between them filled with want. He tried to control it with his voice that came out as a breathless whisper.

"I can kill you right now."

He felt Zack shiver as his hand traced the intricate details of his spine. The brunet was smiling again as he took his wrist, gently pulling it away from his neck. He was staring at him intensely, and something else was glowing from his sky blue eyes that made Cloud shiver in return.

"Scared?"

So much for being careful.

"Not at all."

He released the blonde's wrist as Cloud pulled away completely, going back to sit at his side like nothing ever happened. The drumming in his chest makes him want to breathe in and out heavily only to release the amount of adrenaline the blonde had built. Zack can't help it, and he laughed. Maybe he needs to have a jog later.

.

"Did you just take my wallet again?"

.