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« Last post by Rosie on January 20, 2011, 08:48:43 pm »
Weaving through the crowd in the packed hallway, I tried to ignore the pushes and bumps and just elbow my way through, gaze fixed on the back of a certain blond. It hit me, even as I was struggling to keep up against the wave of people; some of whom said a simple hey or tried to start a conversation as I passed by. I’d done this a lot of times, in public places, as opposed to inside the ShinRa building- not that I was completely exempt from chatting up the girls on the desks, or, of course, Cissnei, while there- running after someone through the crowd, usually wanting their number. Well, I was a guy, after all- of course I should have been allowed to ask girls out when I felt like it. It was a familiar scene, following someone like this, but-
As I finally got close enough, I leaped forwards, throwing my arms around his neck. Cloud yelped, probably thinking it was an attack, but when my hand ruffled at his hair and I laughed, he relaxed, shaking his head softly.
“You know, someday, you’re gonna give me a heart attack.”
Scoffing, I dropped the hand from his hair, still keeping an arm locked across his shoulders. “You’re such a drama queen.”
He started to splutter, denying it, but I just grinned, letting him fall more into step with me as we strolled through the hallway. Part of me was just glad that he seemed to be in a good mood- since the time he’d gone off in a huff with me, he’d been constantly swinging between laughing along and liking my company, to being barely able to tolerate me. He hadn’t blown up and yelled at me just yet, but whenever he was having one of his bad days, he seemed constantly about to snap and explode. When he was like that, it set me on edge, too- I just couldn’t help it; I, for some reason, didn’t want him to be mad at me. And because of that, I tried to make the most of it when he seemed to be happy with me around, taking him off to hang out whenever he didn’t seem ready to rip my throat out. Well, actually, no- there was one other exception. One reason why, on some nights, even when he was looking bright and cheerful and didn’t seem like he could ever hate me, he bailed on me. Aerith. I’d seen it coming, of course I had- I wasn’t dumb, no matter what most of SOLDIER wanted to think. If there was one thing I got, it was relationships- and I could see the way Aerith looked at Cloud back at the stupid AVALANCHE gathering, how shy he’d gotten around her. Stopping it happening would have made me look like a complete dick, especially since…
They seemed happy together. Cloud was taking her out on dates about every once a week now, and, as much as he offered to double up, saying I could bring a girl, too, I didn’t want to. Sure, Aerith was sweet, and pretty, but… but she was a part of AVALANCHE, wasn’t she? That must have been why. I was wary of her getting close to Cloud because of that. Because he might get hurt. He did his best to persuade me that she was far from violent, that she wasn’t a fighter, that she was really peaceful and lovely and sensitive and caring and…
Vomit inducing.
Okay, sure, maybe I was being a little harsh about her, but I was right to have my defence up! It was just the same, with all the other members of that stupid rebel group. I mean, had I told Tifa I was in SOLDIER? Of course I hadn’t. Although I hadn’t planned on doing that anyway.
I knew it was coming, from the sheepish way he looked at me- like he thought he was gonna get in trouble, that I’d get mad and storm off. It happened, every time- the second he gave me that damn look, I knew it was an Aerith night again.
“Zack…” he started, and I sighed, pushing down the twinge in my gut at the thought of it happening again. I knew I wasn’t jealous- why would I be? It just… didn’t feel right.
“I’m… kind of… going out with Aerith again tonight. I know I said we could go for a drink, and everything, but…”
He peeked back at me, half hiding behind his bangs, and I forced a smile. Hey, I should have been happy for him, I knew that- Cloud had never been with a girl before. I’d shacked up with plenty, so I couldn’t really get picky about him dating someone. Even if he furiously flushed and denied whenever asked if he had a girlfriend, he was that shy about her. If she wasn’t in AVALANCHE, it might have been cute. And I hated how he seemed to think it was some huge deal, that he was always treading carefully so he wouldn’t upset me. Like hell I would get upset! It wasn’t a problem, not at all- he could date who he liked, as far as I was concerned, so why did he have to be so worried about how I’d react all the time?! It was so stupid!
“That’s alright,” I lied, hoping the cheer in my voice didn’t sound totally fake. “We can hang out for now, right?”
Cloud shook his head, looking more guilty than ever. “I’ve got a mission until later with a few of the others. Sorry.”
Heaving a sigh, I tightened my grip, momentarily squishing him against me, and then let go. “Well, have fun, then.”
Nodding, he quickened his pace a little- he was already in his uniform, I realised, wanting to slap myself for not noticing sooner and taking the hint. We could always hang out some other time. I didn’t know why it had to be such a big deal for both of us, really- I mean, I had missions all the time, right? And now so did Cloud. It just seemed that often, our missions didn’t clash- usually, they seemed to be timed so that the moment one of us was free, the other was on a job somewhere. It was annoying, and took some getting used to- 3rd Classes normally weren’t given that many missions. Still, at least I knew that his scruffy blond ass was safe- since that first solo mission, Cloud had been doing well, passing all the tasks they gave him, even if he often changed the subject awkwardly whenever anyone congratulated him on his success rate. We didn’t really talk about missions much, anyway- it seemed boring, and the conversation fell apart really fast since Cloud often just fell silent, adding shrugs here and there, whenever I tried. Although I didn’t get why he was so against talking about it, I didn’t bother to call him out on it- that was sure to put him in a bad mood.
Before I could say bye, or anything, I looked up and saw that Cloud was already gone. He’d rushed off, while I’d been dawdling amongst the crowd of ShinRa employees- who had already closed around the path he’d taken to escape. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I started to head towards the elevator, in the hopes I could get out of the crush of people and go and grab some lunch. It was my day off, after all- I’d already finished four missions that week, and there were none worth doing today. I’d only really hung around the building in the first place for something to do; Tifa was out again, like she always was nowadays; presumably with Barrett and the others, thinking of ways to take down the guys on top. And, with her gone, I couldn’t hang around at home like an idiot- I hated being there by myself for too long. It always freaked me out, how empty the house was when no one else was there- maybe Tifa felt that way, too. I didn’t know. I was out a lot, after all- maybe never being in the house now was her reaction to that.
But, before I could reach the elevator, a gloved hand grabbed my shoulder, tugging me sideways, nearly out of the hallway. Whipping around, I caught it by the wrist, twisting it hard, trying to get a good look at my assailant.
Except it wasn’t one. Just Genesis, looking pretty pissed that I was trying to break his hand. Swallowing hard, I let go of him, taking a step back. I guessed it was a sign of respect, backing down like that- not that I felt much towards Genesis at all. He really didn’t help himself; not many 2nd Classes that I knew were intimidated by his flamboyant attitude and obsession with poetry- he was more likely to read to you than scold you for anything. The 3rd Classes were terrified of him, but, then again, they were scared of all the 1sts. And, by extent, they were scared of most of the 2nd Classes, too, probably. The might have been SOLDIER, which in itself was an achievement, but here they were the lowest of the low- only better than the security, than the standard grunts. I’d never once met a cocky, arrogant 3rd who hadn’t completely lost his nerve after a few weeks- even just training them, you could see the changes when they realised that they weren’t as strong and clever as they’d first thought. Sometimes, it was funny; they might have even had the balls to answer back at first, but they son kept their heads down. Most of them had this kind of adorable awe when they looked at the higher classed SOLDIERS- I suppose I’d looked like that, too, before I got to 2nd and, thanks to Angeal, realised the 1st Classes weren’t that different, and it was possible to get along with them just fine. And Genesis, out of the lot, gained the least respect from me- while I joked around and called Sephiroth “Seph”, I was still always totally aware the entire time that he might be inches from slicing my head off. Sure, I’d seen Genesis get mad before- explode was probably the word for it- but he wasn’t the perfect SOLDIER like Sephiroth; and neither was he mature and calm like Angeal. Basically, to me, he was just a cocky, arrogant redhead who enjoyed parading his strength and class in front of anyone he considered inferior. Unlike back at the bar, the last time I‘d been face to face with him, he was back in his regular uniform under that sweeping pink coat- disappointingly, not a sparkle in sight; annoying, considering I’d been waiting to try and tease him about it.
He didn’t speak, just throwing me a look of sheer contempt- eyes narrowed, lips pressed into a firm line. Crossing my arms, putting on the defensive act, I asked him outright what he wanted- it wasn’t exactly a regular occurrence that I was stopped in the hallway by a 1st Class, especially not one with as gross an expression as the one currently slapped all over Genesis’ face.
After a long pause, presumably for dramatic effect (I certainly didn’t put tricks like that past him), he replied, “I was just watching you and Strife, is all.”
“Good to know your eyes are still working.”
His lips twitched in what I supposed was a fight against a smile. “I have a question for you, that’s all.”
“And what’s that?”
“Are you gay?”
He said it curiously, expression refusing to betray any kind of sick joke- but, still, I laughed. A proper laugh, while shaking my head.
“Don’t be stupid. I don’t swing that way.”
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