Disclaimer: Final Fantasy belongs to Squaresoft and various other interested parties, not me. I'm not making any money from this, and no infringement of copyright is intended. This is a work of fandom, intended as appreciation of the original work.

Chapter 25

Choking, Cloud kicked out in the hopes of hitting the captain and maybe getting some leverage. The SOLDIER was faster than he was, though, and evaded the pitiful attacks with ease. Black spots were starting to gather at the edges of Cloud's vision, and he tried not to panic. Somehow, he didn't think Marek was going to let him go once he'd passed out.

There was only one possible explanation for this; Captain Marek was the inside informant Shinra had been searching for. Cloud couldn't imagine how that was possible, but he also didn't have time to worry about it at the moment. Not if he wanted to survive long enough to tell someone what he'd discovered.

He doesn't know Zack is out there, Cloud reminded himself. We can't be that far from the meeting point. If I can just get enough air to yell, or make some noise somehow...

A stray beam of sunlight, trickling down into the ravine now that the storm was over, flashed off his bracer and made his materia glow for a moment. Cloud hadn't even consciously registered the light before his mind was already reaching out, searching for the familiar energy of the spells. He knew he didn't have enough power to seriously injure or even deter the captain, but he might be able to get himself loose.

Somehow he managed to croak out the words to the Fire 1 spell on the whisper of his last bit of air. Marek's eyes widened, but it was too late for him to cast MBarrier or Reflect on himself. The Fire spell hit him right where Cloud had intended it to; not in the face, which Marek was already moving to try to dodge, but focused on the wrist of the hand that was holding Cloud by the throat.

With a curse Marek let go and Cloud fell to the ground, coughing and gasping for air. He didn't stay still, already rolling back out of range of a kick or punch before Marek could recover. One good blow from the SOLDIER and Cloud would be finished, he knew. He couldn't afford to let him get that shot.

He had one advantage. In the narrow ravine the massive buster swords the SOLDIERs carried would be all but useless. There just wasn't any room to swing it. Cloud, on the other hand, could use his much smaller sword to fairly good effect if he was careful not to jam it on the rock. That left only two ways Marek could damage him from outside his reach; magic, and items.

There wasn't much he could do to protect himself against items except hope Marek wasn't carrying any, but he could do something about the threat of magic. Scrambling to his feet, Cloud ignored his aching throat and used every last bit of magical energy he had remaining to cast Reflect. It was a gamble; it meant he wouldn't be able to cast any healing spells, and if Marek had Dispel available then Cloud was screwed.

From the sound of the captain's curse as he saw the spell form around Cloud, though, it seemed he was in luck. Having caught his breath as much as he was able to past the bruising in his throat, Cloud drew his sword and charged the SOLDIER with a hoarse yell.

The narrow confines kept Marek from being able to dodge effectively, so he did the next best thing. Instead of tripping himself up trying to avoid the blow, he chose where to take it and allowed Cloud to make the hit. That wasn't what Cloud had been expecting, and he wasn't able to compensate for the movement quickly enough. The blade entered Marek's side just below the ribs in a non-vital area, and jammed briefly in the man's body.

Before Cloud could yank it loose, the captain closed one gloved fist over the base of the blade and wrenched it out of Cloud's hand and free of his body with the same motion. Cloud was stunned that the man could just casually rip a sword out of himself in one bloody spray. He'd known that the SOLDIERs 1st Class had a ridiculous ability to take damage and keep going as though nothing was wrong, but this was the first time he'd seen it demonstrated quite so blatantly.

Distracted, he didn't see the blow coming until it was too late. Marek's free hand caught him in the shoulder and shoved, sending Cloud flying back to impact hard against the ravine wall. Once again Cloud had the wind knocked out of him, and this time he couldn't get it back because of the bruising that almost closed off his throat. Wheezing, he slid to the ground and collapsed to his hands and knees, struggling for air.

"Pathetic." Marek took his time walking up to Cloud. The boy forced himself into a defensive crouch despite his difficulty in breathing. He refused to just lie there and let Marek kill him without a fight, no matter what.

"Absolutely disgusting," Marek said again, stopping just out of reach and studying Cloud with a look of contempt on his face. "The standards for the Shinra army have fallen so low, I'm almost ashamed to call myself a SOLDIER. First that brat making it to the Specials before he'd even been a SOLDIER for a year, and then you being brought in to omega company. It's a joke, that's what it is. Neither of you would have lasted a week in the Wutai jungles." He sneered. "All because Zack is the general's golden boy. I thought Sephiroth was above being bribed or sucked up to like that, but I guess he's just got a thing for little boys."

It was exactly the same thing Cloud had always been most afraid of; that he hadn't really done anything to deserve the promotion to omega, that it had all been a mistake of some kind. That people wouldn't respect him, or believe he could have made it this far on his own merits. Fear and doubts rose up and threatened to choke him more surely than any injury ever could.

Even so, it wasn't hard to find an answer for Marek. "The only person bringing down the standards of SOLDIER is you," Cloud choked out, glaring fiercely at the man. He might have doubts about his own worthiness, but there was not a thought in his mind that Zack didn't deserve everything he'd earned. "You backstabbing asshole, we trusted you! You're our captain, you're a SOLDIER 1st Class, how could you sell us out?"

"There was a time when being a SOLDIER meant something, and if I have my way it will again." There was an unholy light in Marek's eyes as he lifted Cloud's sword in one hand and aimed it at the boy's heart. "People all over the world will be counting on us to protect them from the monsters. And there's no room for useless wastes of space like you!"

He thrust forward almost faster than Cloud could see, and despite himself Cloud closed his eyes on a wave of fear. He threw himself desperately to his right, knowing there was no way he could avoid the blade entirely but hoping he could at least cause Marek to miss his heart.

There was a fierce yell and the sound of a heavy impact, and Cloud felt a line of fire spread across his bicep at the edge of his shoulder armour. He hit the ground and rolled without thinking, feeling more stinging impacts as stone chips flew everywhere. It took him a moment to figure out what had happened, but when he staggered back to his feet he found that Marek had been slammed into the rock wall hard enough to make a depression. The captain looked dazed, struggling to turn and confront the new threat with Cloud's sword still in his hand.

And standing in front of him, eyes blazing with mako-enhanced fury and fists clenched, was Zack. "You son of a bitch!" the older boy yelled, swinging at the captain again and landing a solid hit to the man's face. "Don't you dare lay a finger on him. You traitor, I'll tear you apart!"

"You!" Captain Marek stared in shock. "You're supposed to be in Midgar for training!"

"First Lieutenant Zack reporting for duty, sir," Zack snarled, sketching a mocking salute with one closed fist. "Let me show you just how much I've improved."

He punched again at the captain, but the man had recovered enough to dodge. Marek evaded Zack's strike and lashed out with the sword catching Zack low on the side. It was a minor wound, and Zack didn't even pay attention to it.

Cloud watched with a sense of awe as the two SOLDIERs continued to trade blows, moving at a speed that would have required a Haste spell for anyone else. They both ignored wounds that would have dropped Cloud where he stood, and the level of the magic that flashed back and forth between them made the hair on Cloud's body stand on end.

Searching for a way to help Zack, Cloud clung to the rock wall and mostly tried to stay out of the way. He had no hope in a battle of this level and he knew it, but he couldn't just stand around and do nothing like a damsel in distress. He was supposed to be watching Zack's back.

Especially since Zack was losing. Marek had the advantage; he was 1st Class to Zack's 2nd, had years of experience, and most tellingly he was armed. Zack hadn't even bothered to try bringing his buster sword into play, realizing how useless it would be in the narrow confines of the ravine. Marek had no such problem, and it was Cloud's own sword he was using to hurt Zack.

Then Zack turned too fast and the massive sword strapped to his back got jammed into a tight spot, leaving him pinned for a critical moment. With a shout of triumph Marek drove the sword through the older boy's chest and right out his back. Zack managed to twist enough in his sword harness that it missed his heart, but he was choking up thick blood from where the sword had gone through his lung.

Cloud screamed an anguished denial as Marek wrenched the sword out and thrust again, trying to finish Zack off. Somehow the older boy managed to pull off a miracle and tore himself free of the sword harness, leaving it behind as he ducked and rolled out of the way. He came to his feet, his breathing making a horrible bubbling sound in his chest, but obviously far from out of the fight.

Lunging after him, Marek slashed again and was drawn further into the ravine when Zack backed off. They were almost back to the mark Zack had made in the wall; Cloud could see it ahead.

Still struggling for air, Cloud ran after them. Marek was between him and Zack now and there wasn't a lot of room to manoeuvre. Maybe he could jump on the man's back while he was occupied by Zack. Cloud wouldn't be able to do much damage without a weapon, but if he could just distract Marek long enough for Zack to get a good shot in...

He passed the buster sword where it was still hung up on the wall, and some instinct made him pause. Looking at it, Cloud's eyes lit with a fiery determination that was almost a match for the SOLDIERs' mako glow.

Reaching out, he grabbed the sword by the hilt with both hands, planted one foot on the rock beside it, and heaved with all his strength. It took three tries, but he finally managed to get it loose from the rock. Of course the effort of it sent him tumbling head over ass when it did finally come out, and the heavy sword landed on him hard enough to leave him aching and bruised. He was just lucky it was the flat of the blade that hit him and not the edge.

Neither of the two combatants seemed to have noticed what he was doing. Marek had blood dripping down over one eye from a nasty cut; Cloud realized why when he saw the jagged bit of rock Zack had broken off to use as a weapon. It was slowing Marek down, but not enough. He was still going to win the fight unless Cloud did something to turn the tide.

Staggering to his feet, Cloud got both hands on the hilt and tried to lift the sword. His eyes widened as he was barely able to drag the hilt up off the ground, let alone raise the whole sword. He'd never handled one of the buster swords before. The easy way the SOLDIERs swung them around made it seem like they couldn't be as heavy as they looked, even though Cloud still remembered Zack dragging one along during the fight in Mideel. Now he knew why.

There was no way he could lift the sword and bring it crashing down on Marek's head or shoulders, which had been his first thought. And even assuming he could lift it high enough to drive it through Marek's back, there was nothing that said it wouldn't go too far and hit Zack as well.

Grunting with the effort, Cloud dragged the sword after him as he moved down the ravine towards Zack and Marek. His injured arm burned with the strain and threatened to give out on him, but he hung on. They'd passed the mark on the wall now, and Cloud could see that the ravine was continuing to slowly narrow as they went. Pretty soon Zack would be boxed in and unable to move, if he continued giving ground.

So it was just that much more urgent that Cloud get his ass in gear. He did his best to move quietly; if Marek realized he was there, he would only have to turn and one quick swipe of the sword would finish Cloud. Zack might be able to overpower him in that moment of distraction, but Cloud was kind of hoping to come out of this fight alive if he could. If it came to that he'd die willingly, knowing he'd helped save his friend, but if he played this right he wouldn't have to.

Zack didn't betray him by so much as a flicker of his eyes over Marek's shoulder, but Cloud knew his friend had seen what he was doing when Zack started dodging with purpose. He was keeping Marek facing straight ahead as much as possible now, so the captain wouldn't see Cloud coming. It meant Zack's range of movement was restricted and he started taking more and worse hits, but if he could keep it up for just a few more moments, then Cloud could make his move.

Assuming he could get the damn sword off the ground. Grimly determined, he clenched his hands on the hilt and heaved with all his might, bringing the heavy sword up and around in an arc from the ground to about knee level. That was enough; the blade cut across Marek's calves and the backs of his knees, severing muscles and tendons and making him cry out in shock and pain.

As Cloud had hoped, it worked as a distraction. Marek stumbled and swore, then hastily cast a high-level Cure spell. In the moment when he was engaged in the spellcasting, Zack shouted wordlessly and drove the jagged rock into the captain's temple with all his enhanced strength.

It made a sound like a fallen melon bursting open on impact. Cloud gagged at the sound of it, and Marek collapsed with the last word of the Cure spell still on his lips. The green magic that had gathered around him turned into blue sparkles that sealed most of the visible wounds on his body. If he was dead it wouldn't help, but if there was even a last gasp of life in him it might be enough to bring him right back into the fight.

Both Cloud and Zack held their breath, waiting to see if the man would move. After a long moment when nothing happened, Zack sighed in relief and sagged against the wall. "He's dead," the older boy croaked with a bloody grin in Cloud's direction. "We did it. Fucking Shiva, Cloud, we just beat one of the SOLDIERs who served with Sephiroth in Wutai, do you realize that?" Triumph and pride glittered in the older boy's glowing eyes.

"He was... he was..." Cloud's voice was as hoarse as a chocobo's cry, forced past the bruising of his throat. "How could he?" he finally settled on. The question encompassed everything about this whole mess that didn't make any sense to him. How could Marek, so favoured among his troops as a fair and generous captain, have turned out to be the traitor? How could he have deliberately tried to kill Cloud and Zack, just because he thought they didn't deserve the positions they'd been promoted to? How could he work with this scientist, spreading horrible monsters all around the world just so the SOLDIERs would have something that would let them look good killing it?

"I don't know." The gleeful light in Zack's eyes faded as the reality of the situation struck him as well. "I don't know, Cloud. It doesn't make sense to me either. When I saw him skewer you like that, I couldn't believe it. I heard the last part of what he said to you. It must have been growing inside him for a long time. Maybe since Wutai; a lot of the troops that served in the war ended up suffering disorders from the trauma later, going crazy. I guess he just hid his issues better than most."

"Now what?" Cloud wanted to know. He felt lost and adrift, with no idea of how to proceed from here. The scientist was still out there somewhere, assuming he hadn't heard the fighting and fled. Colin and Sean were still back at camp, or maybe out searching for some sign of Cloud after the storm. Had they known what was going on? Surely not. They needed to radio back to base for help... and to report that they'd just killed their commanding officer. "We're going to be facing a court martial!" Cloud realized with a groan.

"Shit, yeah, probably," Zack agreed, dismayed. "Ah, Hades. Well, catching that scientist would do a hell of a lot for our credibility, so let's get moving. We can't go after him in this state; we'll take Marek back to the camp and get Sean and Colin, and radio for backup at the same time."

A quick search of the captain's body revealed a couple of potions and hi-potions that both Cloud and Zack gratefully drank. Neither of them had enough energy left for a Cure spell. It didn't fix them completely, especially not Zack, but it was enough that Cloud could be confident they would actually make it back to camp.

Getting Marek's body up out of the ravine was the toughest part; after that, Cloud was shocked to realize just how close to camp they really were. The tower of Gold Saucer loomed up over them to one side, glimpsed occasionally between drifts of airborne sand. "We must be right outside the limit of the perimeter patrols!" Cloud exclaimed, staring at the landmark. "Why didn't we ever find this place?"

"Do all the patrols work in spirals?" Zack asked, and Cloud nodded. "And they all start from the same side of camp?"

"No, every other patrol starts from the opposite side, and they go in the other direction," Cloud said, struggling to picture it in his head. He'd always taken it for granted that the patrol pattern was set up to cover the whole area, but if the captain was the traitor then that wasn't a safe assumption. "That leaves a big blind spot on one side of the camp, doesn't it?" he asked slowly. "That must be where we are. None of us ever realized." Shaking his head, he pointed. "The camp must be that way."

Zack slung the captain's body over his shoulders, and they slogged through the sand towards the camp. They didn't have to go very far before Cloud could see the tents in the distance, and he cursed softly to himself. He couldn't believe they'd all been so gullible.

When they staggered into camp with the captain's body Sean and Colin immediately assumed the worst. "Are we under attack?" Sean blurted out, eyes wide and face pale as he stared at Zack with Marek slung over his shoulder. "Is the captain okay?"

Cringing, Cloud opened his mouth to explain and await the inevitable questions and accusations, but Zack beat him to it. "We found the rogue scientist," Zack explained tersely. "The informant was there with him and we were attacked. Captain Marek is dead, so I'm in command. The scientist may still be out there - you two come with me. Cloud, find the medical supplies, take care of yourself and then get ready for potential casualties. I'll radio Midgar while you two are gearing up."

"Yes sir!" the others chorused, and Cloud had to admire the older boy's quick thinking. Nothing Zack had said was a lie, but he'd deftly led the other two troops to believe that it had been the informant who killed the captain. The truth would come out eventually, but for now it was more important that they go after the scientist quickly.

By the time Cloud found the medical supplies in the captain's tent, Zack had finished reporting in by radio. The older boy found him in the tent and stepped inside, dropping the flap behind him to give them a moment of privacy. "We're in luck," he said quietly. "Or maybe out of luck, depending on how you look at it. Sephiroth was out with a unit of the Specials trying again to track the scientist, and I guess they were getting close because they're not very far out. I'm still going to take the others into the ravine, we don't want the sight of the chopper to scare the bastard off if he's still out there, but they should be here before we get back."

"Oh, yay," Cloud sighed, picturing himself facing General Sephiroth alone and trying to explain why exactly there was a dead SOLDIER 1st Class that Zack and Cloud were responsible for.

"You'll be okay." Zack tugged him into a quick, fierce hug, forgetting for a moment not to treat the younger boy like glass. "Sephiroth's a good commander, remember? He'll listen, and he'll believe us."

"Captain Marek was a good commander too, or so everybody thought," Cloud pointed out, his words muffled in Zack's tunic. He hugged back just as tightly, reaction setting in as the adrenalin from the fight wore off. "Here," he said when they finally pulled away, handing Zack a satchel full of ethers and hi-potions. "Take these, you might need them. He's probably got monsters guarding him. Be careful."

"I will. All right!" Zack raised his voice as he pushed the tent flap open again and strode out into the bright desert sunlight. "Let's get moving! I want this guy dead or our prisoner sooner rather than later. The general is on his way; I think it'd look pretty impressive if we can present him with the guy we've all spent so long searching for."

"Yes, sir!" Colin and Sean saluted, sounding enthusiastic at the prospect, and Cloud couldn't blame them. This was the sort of thing that could make your career. Assuming you hadn't killed your CO in the process, of course.

"Corporal, you stay here and meet the general," Zack gave him the official order. "You know where we'll be if he lands before we get back and wants to send reinforcements."

"Yes, sir," Cloud saluted as well, biting back the fear that was trying to rise inside him. If Sephiroth didn't believe them, they could be in a world of trouble. At least it wasn't a case of their word against Marek's, since the captain couldn't exactly defend himself.

There was nothing Cloud could do but watch as Zack led the others back towards the ravine at a trot, swords and rifles held ready. Marek's body was in his tent; it had seemed a bit much to leave him just lying out in the brutal sunlight. Once the dust trail from Zack's group had faded out of sight, Cloud went to pace in nervous circles as he waited for the general.

At least he didn't have to wait very long. Not fifteen minutes later he heard the sound of rotor blades, and when he shaded his eyes with his hand he could see an incoming Shinra helicopter flying low over the desert sand. It was coming in from the wrong approach to pass over the ravine - just as every other Shinra chopper or airship did, Cloud realized. Yes, Marek and the scientist had set this up perfectly. What better place to hide than right under Shinra's noses?

By the time the chopper set down on the flattened area that served as a landing zone, Cloud was waiting at the edges. General Sephiroth was the first to step out, and Cloud snapped to attention and saluted.

"As you were, corporal," Sephiroth instructed him. A moment later he smiled faintly. "And may I say it's nice to actually be able to give you that order in the field. I'm glad to see you in one piece, for a change."

"Yes, sir," Cloud nodded. He couldn't figure out what to do with his hands, so he went to parade rest even though he hadn't been ordered to. "Z... Lieutenant Zack asked me to stay behind and meet you, sir. He's still out with the others chasing down the rogue scientist - at least, we believe it's him, he matches the pictures..." Realizing he was babbling, Cloud bit down on his lip and cut himself off. He really, really needed to break the habit of babbling under stress.

Nodding, Sephiroth gestured to the SOLDIERs who'd climbed out of the chopper behind him. "Zeke, Brian, and Austin set up a perimeter guard. Jeremy, take the others out and track them. They may need reinforcements."

"Yes, sir!" The SOLDIERs snapped a salute in unison, then broke up to go to their assigned tasks. Cloud watched with a sense of relief as the small group of SOLDIERs headed out after getting directions from him. He'd been worried about Zack and the others.

"Now, corporal," Sephiroth caught his attention once more, raising an eyebrow. "I want to see Marek's body, and I want the full story in your own words. The lieutenant was not terribly forthcoming over the radio, which may be just as well. The details are undoubtedly going to be classified."

Despite himself, Cloud's mouth twitched. "I'm sure Lieutenant Zack will be happy to hear that, sir."

Sephiroth chuckled. "Yes, I'm sure he will. Lead the way, corporal."

Once inside the captain's tent, Cloud related the whole story from the moment the sandstorm hit to their return to the camp, while Sephiroth studied Marek's body. By the time he was finished Cloud was a nervous wreck, hanging on to his dignity by clinging to military protocol and absolutely certain there was no way anyone was going to believe them. Sephiroth's silence throughout the report hadn't exactly bolstered his confidence, and the cool look he was giving Cloud now wasn't helping either.

"It's quite the story," Sephiroth said quietly when he was sure Cloud was done. "I hope for your sake they do return with the good doctor or some other evidence. Marek was a good man and a good SOLDIER, he's been in the Specials for years. A military tribunal will find it difficult to believe he would be the one to turn on us."

Swallowing, Cloud forced himself to speak up. "With respect sir, is there anyone in the Specials that you would easily believe could have been an informant? You already knew it almost had to be one of them, didn't you?"

"Point taken, corporal," Sephiroth inclined his head. He still wasn't showing any sign of whether he personally believed Cloud or not, but at least he wasn't openly condemning them.

There was a shout from outside the tent, and Sephiroth shoved back the flap and strode out to meet the returning patrol. Lacking any orders to the contrary, Cloud decided to follow him. He was desperate to know what they'd found in the ravine.

At first he thought the scientist had escaped them after all, as he saw nothing but a wall of SOLDIERs. Then the group split to reveal Zack, Colin and Sean in the middle, somewhat the worse for wear but leading a man gagged and bound tightly in rope.

"Dr. Lins," Sephiroth said as the group came to a halt before him. "I'd say it's good to see you again, but I doubt you'd believe me even under better circumstances." Once again Cloud was forced to wonder about the apparent enmity between the general and Shinra's scientists. Was it only them, or did Sephiroth dislike all scientists?

"Take him to the chopper," Sephiroth ordered one of the SOLDIERs. "We'll be bringing him back to Midgar for trial. Jeremy, Brian, you'll be staying here with the omega troops. Continue the regular patrols and gather any evidence that can be used against the good doctor. Lieutenant Zack, Corporal Cloud, you will be returning with us for the trial as well."

"Yes sir," Zack and Cloud chorused. Cloud felt like his heart was in his throat, and it was all he could do not to be sick. So capturing the scientist wasn't enough to acquit them. Lins wouldn't exactly be happy with the two of them for being so instrumental in his capture; what if he decided to take revenge by implicating Cloud and Zack as his informants and claim they'd killed Captain Marek when he discovered them? It wouldn't explain why they'd come straight back to camp to report in, but it would cast suspicion on both of them that could be the end of their careers.

Perhaps - no, almost certainly - reading Cloud's worries in his eyes, the general unbent enough to nod at them. "Once you've testified in the trial against the doctor and Captain Marek, I'll see to it you have a few days of leave to recover," Sephiroth said. "Gather your things, the helicopter will be leaving in fifteen minutes."

The release of worry was so intense Cloud was almost amazed his legs were still holding him up. "Yes, sir!" he said again, and turned and all but fled back to his tent.

Once inside, he stood staring at the cot he'd been sleeping in for weeks, trying to get his mind to start working again. He thought he might be in shock; nothing was connecting in his brain.

Strong arms slid around him from behind, and Zack tugged him back to lean against the older boy's chest. "It's okay," Zack said when Cloud automatically started to protest. "The SOLDIERs are all busy, and the troops are too shocked by everything to bother us. It's all right, Cloud. Relax, it's over."

"The trial," Cloud gasped, finding his voice again. "Hades, I thought he meant we were still going to have to stand trial for Marek's death."

"Yeah, me too," Zack confessed, and Cloud was somewhat gratified to hear that his voice was shaking nearly as much as Cloud's. "Sounds like we're just witnesses, though. And we're getting leave, did you hear?"

Turning in his arms, Cloud rested his head against Zack's shoulder and just breathed in the familiar scent of his friend. It was somewhat masked by the smells of blood and sweat and mako, but those were familiar too. "Something will happen," he predicted in a feeble attempt at a joke. "The universe doesn't like it when we get leave at the same time in the same place, haven't you noticed?"

"Maybe," Zack shrugged, resting his cheek against Cloud's hair. "Doesn't matter. Leave or not, we'll still be together and that's the only thing that counts. They can't keep us apart for long." Cloud could hear the smile in his voice as he added, "Wouldn't have been so bad taking the fall for Marek's death, as long as they'd put us in a cell together. At least it would have meant we wouldn't keep getting posted to different places!"

"You're an idiot," Cloud told him gruffly, trying to keep his own reluctant smile hidden.

"Yeah, but you like me that way. Right?" Zack pulled back and grinned down at him, then kissed him quickly when Cloud just rolled his eyes. "C'mon, you heard the general. My stuff's mostly still in my bag, but you need to pack."

He turned and tugged Cloud towards his cot, and Cloud followed him willingly. They had a lot to face before this mess would be over, and he had no illusions that their lives would ever be simple, but still he couldn't help but feel that things were right with the world. Here he was, at Zack's back as they narrowly wormed their way out of trouble once again...

And he wouldn't have it any other way.

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