Been a while, huh?

This is set around chapters 11-12, when Cloud and Zack are first settling in as roommates, also references the oneshots 'Opening up' and 'A day in Nibelheim',

"Your puppy has wandered off." Genesis noted the moment he picked up.

"Have you seen him?" Angeal sighed. Genesis was sounding smug.

"No, I've been dealing with the recruits. Try Sephiroth or someone." And with that, Genesis hung up. Angeal sighed, and dialed Sephiroth as he headed to check the gym.

"Yes Angeal?"

"Zack's gone missing on me again- I gave him a lunch break and he hasn't come back."

"His PHS is not working?"

"He left it with me."

"I will keep an eye out . . . Perhaps his friends could help?"

"That's my next call, thanks."

"I'll let you know." Angeal sighed, then turned back to the training room, just in time to be bowled over by a very confused Zack.

"Angeal! Where were you?"

"Looking for you." Angeal tried not to sigh again. "We need to start training."

"Wait! You haven't met my new roomate yet!" Zack pointed at the figure he'd been dragging around.

The first thought Angeal had was that Mrs. Strife looked odd in a soldier uniform, before he realized it was her son.

"Second Class Strife, sir." The blond attempted an awkward salute before just giving up. "Zack, you can let go."

"Huh? Oh, sorry, Cloud." Zack released the pauldron he'd been holding, letting the other straighten up. "Can he train with us? He was going to train alone, but he doesn't believe me when I say that's a bad idea."

Angeal tried not to wince, Zack apparently wasn't aware that his new roommate had just recently lost his usual sparring partners.

Then again, this gave Angeal an excuse to talk to Strife without raising too many questions.

"If he'd like to join us, I have no objection." Angeal decided, Strife looked at him with an unreadable expression, before noticably relaxing his shoulders.

" . . . I'm game, I'm a little rusty, though."

"Then this will help."

Angeal would have to tell Genesis and Sephiroth about this development later. For now, he had training to do.

Next up: Barret and Cid. See you then!