'Opposite Souls' Ch.4 - Sheriv

Chapter 4

"Honestly, its fine Aeris. I don't mind, the couch is far better then what I've had to live with for the last couple years anyway."

"But, Cloud! I don't want to throw you out of your own room! Please, let me just stay out here." Aeris begged, watching helplessly as the blonde removed a few essentials from his room. "I feel terrible."

He gave her one of his rare smiles, brilliant and carefree. Zack was astonished by it, so used to the blonde's usual angry, fearful, and sorrowful expression that seemed to twist a dagger into one's heart. I've never seen him smile like that for anyone. A deep frown formed on the man's lips, before he heaved a sigh. Ah well, that answers one question I suppose. He's definately straight. "Aeris, just give in. He's too mule-headed to listen to you. Heavens knows he doesn't listen to me, his best friend and faithful mentor. The man who took him in..."

"Against my will."

"Cared for him, clothed him..."

"That was only for that one morning!"

"Protected him..."

"You tackle me into walls at least twice a day! You broke my rib once!"

"Fed him..."

"Poisoned me is more like it."

"Introduced him to the wonders of late-night shows..."

"Ugh! I don't know how you can stand to watch that junk. Gross!"

"Allowed him to meet the great General Sephiroth."

"No comments?"

Aeris giggle at the two, then spun to give the blonde a quick hug. "Thank you, Cloud. But really, I would be fine out here." She sighed in defeat as he simply went about grabbing a pillow. "Well, at least let me get the blankets. Are they still in the closet over there, Zack?"

The mand nodded, pushing off from the wall he had been leaning against. "You know Spike, you could just sleep in my room."

"What a stupid idea, where would you sleep then?"

"With you of course!" The dark-haired man grinned, all innocence and sparkles.

Cloud gave him an offended look. "Uh, no. I've heard all about you, Zack. Does the name, Kisa, ring a bell? Didn't you use the same line on her?"

"Uh...well, ummm...yeah..."

"And what happened? Don't lie now."

Zack looked at the ground and mumbled. "I...pestered her to...sleep with me."

Cloud gave him a penetrating look. "Now, do you really think I'm dumb enough to say yes to your idea?"

"You can't blame me for hoping."

"Zack, you never change." Aeris giggled, lost beneath a massive stack of sheets and blankets. "I didn't know if you preferred cotton or wool or satin or whatever. So, I just grabbed a little bit of everything.

The blonde relieved her of the burden, setting it down and pulling out a thick comforter of black satin. "I can put these away for you. Thank you."

"You know, I have the matching sheets and summer set to that on my bed." Zack commented absently. "Wool is too scratchy and cotton is too itchy for me." He glared at the two as they ignored him. "Hey! Why aren't you ever that nice to me, Spike?"

The younger boy turned to him and gave him his best you're-a-complete-idiot look. "One, she hasn't injured me yet. Two, she hasn't made some lewd comment to me. Three, she's a girl and I'm always nicer to them. I know of chivalry, unlike you. Four, she calls me by my name. And five, she hasn't forced me to do anything against my will yet. Would you like me to continue?"

Grey eyes turned watery. "You're so mean to me." Zack pouted.

"All part of my charm."

"Along with your stubbornness, your bluntness, and the fact that nothing can make your damned hair lie flat?"

Aeris shook her head, hiding a smile behind her hand. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were offended, Zack."

"Who says I'm not."

The other two looked at each other briefly, then looked at the Soldier. "You're not."

Zack grinned in his usual Zack-ish way and watched as his roommate made himself up a bed on the couch, before going to help him with the pile of unused bedding. "So, how long you gonna stay for this time, Aeris?"

"Only tonight, since you offered me a place to sleep. Then I got to head out back for Rocket Town. Me and mother our visiting some old family friends there for Christmas. Its next week you know?"

"What! No way! I haven't done any of my shopping!" The dark-haired man shoved the last blankets back in place hastily, before grabbing Cloud's wrist and racing back to get Aeris' hand. "Come on, we gotta go now! I love holiday shopping!"

"Zack."

"No way, you're not getting out of it Cloud."

"Zack. You need money. And I think we need coats."

"Oh. Right."

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"Oh, oh, oh! Look over there!" Zack plastered his face against the glass window of a store display, staring at all the items within it. "I should so totally get Sephiroth that." He said, pointing to a painting of an arch-angel in full battle glory, one wing torn off and the bodies of his enemies littered before him.

Aeris gave it a skeptical look. "Oh, Zack dear. That's not very Christmas-y. In fact, its rather...gruesome."

"Yeah, but it looks like him! Look, he's got white hair and green eyes. He's even wearing black. And who ever said a Christmas present had to be Christmas-y. That's just boring. I'm gonna get it! You two go on ahead, we can meet in an hour at the restaurant over there." He pointed to a large, popular place. "I want to do some shopping alone." Can't let you see your presents early after all.

"You sure, Zack?" Aeris asked, unsure whether to go or stay.

He shooed her and Cloud off, turning around to enter the store. "Well, guess its just us then." Cloud mused, looking down as Aeris linked her arm through his. He shrugged and allowed her hand to remain where it was on his arm and started wandering again, allowing her to lead the way. He scanned random shops, not really looking, but still glancing around in case he did see anything he wanted to buy. I already sent mother her present. He thought about the delicate silver necklace he had found with a deep purple amethyst cut into a heart suspended from it. I suppose I should get something for Zack. He's the closest thing to a friend I've ever had. Hell, I'd go far enough to say he was my best friend at times. And Aeris, she's been nice to me as well. And...then there's him. But what does one buy for the General?

"Cloud? Are you listening?" Aeris poked him in the side, giggling as the blonde growled and twisted to the side.

"What?"

She pointed to the left. "I want to go in there. I think I see something I want to get for my mother. She loves sapphires and I've been saving up all year to get her something with them." She led him towards the jewelry shop, guiding him through the throng of girls pressed against the display widows. More then one turned to look the blonde over. He paid them no attention, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

"So what do you like?" He asked the girl next to him.

She looked up from surveying the multitude of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. "Me? I like flowers." Aeris replied with a cheery smile.

He chuckled softly. "That doesn't help me much." He left her and started to browse amoung the things offered as he waited for her to finish. Flowers. I'll have to keep that in mind.

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It was a rather comedic effect to see the Soldier attempting to juggle and balance his packages, the picture tucked under one arm, a bouquet of crystal roses held in the same hand, and several bags strung along his other arm. "Sir, are you sure you have it all?" The store's clerk asked anxiously, staring at the two other bags yet to be added to the assortment.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Just string those three along this arm. Uh, excuse me? You, the pretty girl in the blue dress." The girl looked around haughtily, the look vanishing when she caught sight of the handsome man who had called to her.

"Yes?"

He held out the crystal roses to her. "Can you hold these for a moment while I get the rest of my items." He gave her a dazzling smile and a wink that had the girl nearly melting where she stood.

"For you, I think I can do that." She batted her eyes at him, frowning when he didn't see it.

"Thank you, my pretty lady. I can handle it now." He took the flowers back and gave her a brief bow, before heading out of the shop and staggering his way to the meeting place. People scrambled to get out of his way as he teetered hazardously to the right, grunting with the effort to right himself. The Soldier picked up the pace, wanting to reach the place first so that he could rearranged some things so that they wouldn't be seen. Like the giant stuffed chocobo. He's going to kill me when he gets that! Zack cackled to himself. Ah well, the other presents should more then make up for it.

"Sir? Sir!" He jerked and looked at the lady calling his name. Wow! Didn't even realize I was here. "Can I help you, sir?"

"Uh, yeah. I need a booth. For three with room to put all this stuff."

She nodded and led the man through the crowded place, offering time and again to help him. Each time he laughed and shook his head, saying he needed to, "Impress my lovely waitress with my strength."

"How much did you spend!" Cloud asked, eyes wide as he stared at the mountain of bags and packages sitting in the booth opposite Zack. He grinned at him and shrugged.

"Dunno. I started with about 50,000 gil, and I'm somewhere in the vicinitie of 150,000 now. Come on, take a seat. You get the inside though, I prefer the outside." The dark-haired man slid out of the booth, motioning for Cloud to scoot in. "Holy! You actually bought stuff too, Cloud! Somehow I didn't expect that."

"Don't you want to sit with Aeris?"

Aeris shoved the blonde from behind towards Zack. "Are you kidding? I love Zack to death, but he's vicious when he's eating."

"Aw, its not my fault I like what's on everyone's plates. You just need to keep your fingers out of my way." He looked up, a large grin forming, then waited till Cloud was next to him. "Hey, Cloud. Look up."

"Huh?" Puzzled, the blonde looked up to where a bunch of green leaves with white berries had been nailed above the booth, above where he and Zack were standing. "What is it?"

"Its mistletoe! Two people standing beneath mistletoe are supposed to kiss. So come on, Cloud! Pucker up!"

Cloud stared at him. "You're joking, right." He gave Aeris a venomous glare as she laughed. "Don't encourage him. No way in hell am I...!"

He was promptly shut up as Zack neatly yanked him forward and planted a kiss right on his lips. Aeris politely looked away, staring out the window they were next to, only turning back when the sound of the two men sliding into the seat opposite her. Cloud looked like he was in shock, staring straight ahead while he tried to rationalize what had just happened. Zack looked like a cat who had gotten away with eating the canary. "So, what shall we have. I'm buying!"

"You...you..." He just...! Does that mean...no, but why...why did he..?

Blue eyes were now trained directly on him and he squirmed inwardly at their intensity. "Yes, me." Uh-oh! My danger sense it tingling. It feels like something bad is about to happen to me.

The blonde seemed to finally come to a decision and a wall dropped behind that fierce gaze. Zack noted several things in the next moment. The blonde was strong, accurate, and didn't pull his punches. He stared at the ground, astonished the blonde had actually knocked him out of the booth. he shook his head, wincing when he fingered his jaw. Holy damn! The kid can hit! There're Soldiers I know who couldn't swing like that! "Ow..." He sat up, looking over his shoulder at the blonde who was adamantly not looking at him and instead talking to Aeris.

He climbed back into the booth, giving Cloud is most pitiable look. Which went ignored. "I'm sorry." Ignored again. "Please, I won't do it again. Forgive me? Please?" A blink and a look this time! Progress! "Aw, come on, Spike! I'm dying here! I can't stand it when you're angry at me."

"You kissed me."

"I'm sorry!"

"That was my first one."

His jaw dropped. Quite literally, his jaw dropped open. "Oh." Great Flying Bahamuts! I can't believe I just stole his first kiss. "Wow, I completely deserved that punch." He muttered.

"Yes, you did."

"Shame, shame on you, Zack. Stealing the poor boy's first kiss like that." Aeris piped up.

Cloud shrugged, picking up a menu and reading the choices in it. "Its no big deal. It wasn't all that great as I thought it would be. I don't see the whole hype in it anymore. And from what I hear, Zack's supposed to be a good one at it. Severely dissappointed in it."

Aeris burst into laughter, wiping her eyes as a few tears leaked out. "Oh my goodness! Zack! He just said you're a terrible kisser!"

"I am not! I'm very good, thank you, when I want to be!" The Soldier huffed, indignant.

Cloud coughed slightly. "Not if I'm any judge." He flagged down a waitresses. "Yeah, I'll take this thing here, with a side of these. And water, please. Zack, either answer or close you're mouth. Unless you're trying to catch flies with it."

"How about you give me another chance to prove to you just how good I am at it." Zack said with a sly wink.

Cloud gave him a long, slow, look. "You're a moron."

Aeris choked as she tried to keep a straight face. "I'll have the same as him. But, ice tea instead of water. Lots of lemon please?" She handed the girl her menu and went back to watching the two men in front of her.

The waitresses finished jotting the two orders down and looked at Zack. "And for you, sir?"

"Uh...oh! Ummm..." He flipped through the menu quickly. "Do you have those coeurl steaks here?"

"Yes, we do."

"I'll take that, rare. And bring me a beer. Make it two, actually." He leaned back, stretching his legs out. "You know, Spike, I'm starting to worry about you. I've been trying to get you to crack a smile for how many months now? And in the last two days, I've not only seen you smile, but laugh, joke, and play pranks. Honestly now, who are you and what the hell have you done with Cloud?"

The blonde shrugged. "Maybe I just got tired of being on the defense all the time."

"Uh-huh. Oh, Spike! One more thing."

"What now, Zack?"

"Look up."

"Don't you dare."


To be continued ...