Disclaimer: Do not own Final Fantasy VII and will not make a profit out of this fic. All characters©Square Enix

Entry for SpookyDaedalus' from Y!Gallery, ZackxCloud contest themed: "Winter".

I must apologise to all the hard-core fans of ZackxCloud for any and all discrepancies from the original story. it's been too long since I've played Final Fantasy VII or seen Last Order and I haven't had he chance to play Crisis Core, so there's bound to be somethings that don't add up.

Enjoy and don't be shy, leave your thoughts, corrections and/or suggestions.:happy:

--

So I ended up in third place in the overall contest and the prize was a drawing by SpookyDeadalus himself, which is a really big treat because he's a brilliant artist.

He asked me what I wanted drawn and I requested a scene from the fic. He choose this bit from chapter 2:

"Unconsciously, Zack raised a hand to the tormented lip, rescuing it from the assaulting white teeth. Soothing the afflicted area with his thumb(...)"

and this was the amazing result: http : / pics . livejournal . com / marinliliz / pic / 00007 ysc (sorry for the spaces but otherwise ff . net cripples the links and you won't be able to see this)

SIX WINTERS

1.

"Cloud Strife!?" A voice that sounds inquisitive, says from the locker room door.

Cloud raises his head from tying his ShinRa issued boots and looks in the direction of the warm voice inquiring after him. "Yes. I'm Cloud Strife."

A handsome, dark-haired and strangely familiar SOLDIER, leaning against the door frame, looks at him, skeptically. "You are Cloud Strife?"

"Yes!" Cloud answers with a defying tone.

The dark-haired SOLDIER smirks and looks him from above in a mocking stare. "You're kind a short for SOLDIER, aren't you?"

Cloud rises, unconsciously trying to stand taller and snarls, indignantly, "what's it to you?"

The man enters the room with an extended, welcoming hand, introducing himself: "Zack Fair. You're in my squad and you're late," he chides. "You should be out there, by now, with the rest of the trainees."

Cloud takes the outstretched hand; paling with the realization the man is his superior, but the warm smile matching the voice and the kind eyes, settle his fears. Instead he asks, "are you the squad leader?"

"Nope, I'm just the training officer. Sephiroth's the leader."

"Really!?"

"Oh no! Not another Sephiroth fan," the squad trainer exclaims and theatrically raises his hands in defeat. "Yeah really, peanut! Now, if I were you I'd hurry. He isn't into undisciplined and lazy soldiers."

Cloud huffs at the accusation, but catches himself before saying anything he might regret, remembering the man is a superior and simply replies, "Yes."

"It should be 'Yes, sir.' to you." The officer points to the first class insignia. "Got it private?" he asks, not hiding his grin.

"Yes, sir," Cloud answers, reluctantly.

"Good, now hurry." Zack says moving to the door. "Oh, and dress warmly. It's freezing outside." He adds, turning back and smiling, "Welcome to SOLDIER, Cloud!"

March2008©MarinLiliz

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