Cloud standing with the other recruits, listening to their jeering laughter. He stiffens and struggles to keep his head high, even as his cheeks burn with humiliation. Then a strong hand rests on Cloud's shoulder. Shocked, Cloud looks up to see Zack standing by his side. Zack smiles reassuringly and squeezes his shoulder. Confidence returned, Cloud smiles back.

Cloud smiles radiantly at Zack, showing off his SOLDIER uniform. Zack grins merrily back and applauds him. Then Cloud's delicate face sobers, and he throws his arms around Zack's neck. He mouths something into Zack's ear. Zack hugs Cloud and mouths the same words back.

A shot of Cloud and Zack curled in bed. Cloud's blond head is buried in Zack's neck. Tenderly, Zack strokes the pale spikes. Instantly, Cloud cuddles closer, and Zack smiles gently.

A flash of Hojo's henchmen carrying Zack and Cloud to the tubes. Cloud's unconscious, and Zack's silver eyes are wide in terror. He reaches for Cloud, grabbing his hand. Scenes of the next five years, pictures of torture at Hojo's hands, fly across the screen. Mouths open in silent screams, blood spraying, Mako and Jenova being injected. Through it all, the picture of Zack clutching Cloud's hand remains dominant.

Shot of Zack carrying Cloud's limp body out of the lab and to freedom.

Cloud moaning gibberish, tossing his head back and forth. Zack hunches over him, chanting three simple words.

Cloud's eyes closed tightly in his pale face, almost as if he's afraid to see. Zack holds him gently in his arms and gazes at the sun setting over Cosmo Canyon.

Cloud's face is flushed with a rising fever, his flesh drenched in sweat. He moans again, but Zack simply fingers his face. Zack sees none of Cloud's sickness. He sees the boy he had met all those years ago, and in the feverish form before him, he recognizes that same strength.

Zack scoops up Cloud's limp body again, setting forth towards Midgar. A shaky hand reaches up to touch Zack's face. Zack guides it the rest of the way.

Zack holding Cloud close in the back of the truck, whispering reassurances. They will survive, they will make it to Midgar...they will be together.

Cloud, as leader of AVALANCHE. He stares into the Crater before looking behind him. Everyone meets his eyes confidently, and Cloud turns his head to rest his eyes on the large sword in his hands. For a moment, he imagines it's Zack's Buster Sword in his hands.

Cloud in drills, working up a sweat. As he turns along with everyone else to the right, he sees Zack watching him. He smiles back at the older man, and he feels rejuvenated.

Cloud standing on his and Zack's balcony. In his hands is a picture of Nibelhelm, and he remembers the pain he suffered there. Then Zack is gently pulling the picture out of his hands, tossing it on the bed. Zack whispers something in Cloud's ear and points to the stars.

Cloud and Zack in a tight embrace. Cloud meets Zack's loving eyes, and despite their height difference, he feels tall in that tender gaze.

Cloud and Zack on a day off. Zack's flirting constantly interrupts Cloud's studies, but the recruit doesn't mind. He simply smiles brightly back at Zack and snuggles into him.

Zack dragging Cloud from Nibelhelm....

Zack whispering words of love in Cloud's ear...

Zack guiding Cloud to freedom....

Zack staring down at Cloud's face in a mixture of concern and adoration....

Cloud's trembling hand fingering Zack's face, with Zack's hand steadying him....

Zack holds Cloud tightly on the way to Midgar, Cloud's hand clutching his even when unconscious....

Shot of Cloud's face in Nibelhelm, frightened, pale, and alone....

Another shot of Cloud's face, this one as the leader of AVALANCHE, proud, wise, achingly beautiful....

Flash of tears burning on Cloud's face, and he angrily wipes them away. Zack silently walks up behind him and pulls him into a tender embrace. Gently, he wipes away Cloud's tears.

Cloud turns around in Zack's arms and buries his face in Zack's chest. No words are spoken. They simply hold each other tightly.

In the moonlight, Zack wipes away Cloud's tears and speaks soothingly to him. Cloud's tears dries, and the youth looks up at him with shining eyes.

Cloud leans forward as Zack leans down, and their lips meet in a tender kiss.

Cloud standing tall, the Ultima Sword in his hands. He turns around and barks orders at the rest of AVALANCHE. They obey immediately.

Cloud fights the creatures stopping them on the way to the bottom. His sword flashes brightly in his hand, and in his eyes shines Zack's conviction.

Cloud after defeating Sephiroth, clamoring back up the Crater. He glances back behind him, only to hear a soft voice urging him on. Cloud whips his head back and continues upward.

Cloud standing on the cliff where Zack was killed.

A single tear, a mixture of joy and pain, traces down his cheek.