Improper use of a Soldier

“Improper use of a Soldier”
Chapter 1
(An “Alliance” universe ficlet)

Author's note: This fanfic mini-series ties into my "Alliance" universe.
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(Warning: Possible spoilers for all FF7 game/movie titles)
*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can’t get enough of this world and the characters.*
~***********************************************~

“These are your new quarters.”

Zack stepped through the threshold at Angeal’s invitation and he stared. “I get my own private quarters, now?”

The older swordsman nodded solemnly and hid a smile behind his hand as his charge dropped his bags and walked into the main room. It was an efficiency apartment, befitting Zack’s rank—certainly nothing extravagant but a step up from sharing barracks with other military personnel. It was already furnished with the essentials; including a sofa bed, kitchen facilities neatly hidden behind a set of shutter doors and a separate, complete bathroom. Zack was grinning as if it were a multi-bedroom luxury suite.

“The couch can be transformed into a bed,” Angeal explained as he followed Zack inside. He walked over to the right-side wall and opened the sliding doors to reveal the kitchenette. “You’ve got your own fridge, pantry, stove, garbage disposal unit and toaster.”

Zack looked ridiculously impressed and Angeal was reminded that he’d come from a small village in the jungles of Gongaga. To someone like him, having even small living quarters all his own was probably novel.

“This is so cool,” Zack said with enthusiasm. He walked to the sofa and plopped down on it, bouncing a little as he reached for the TV remote on the small coffee table. He clicked it on and started surfing through channels with a broad grin. “So does this thing pick up the movie channels or just free broadcasts? Ooh, what about the stereo?”

Zack’s attention shifted to the small stereo sitting on the entertainment unit beside the television and he got off the couch and went to it, turning it on and fiddling with the dials until he found his favorite rock station. “Do you like this band that’s playing, Angeal? I think they’re okay but their latest album wasn’t as good as the last one…” Zack went on to keep babbling, so excited that he didn’t seem to be aware that he wasn’t giving Angeal the chance to respond between questions and statements.

Angeal was patient, more amused by Zack’s impulsive behavior than annoyed. Sephiroth, however, might not find Zack’s boundless enthusiasm quite so endearing. With that in mind, Angeal decided to interrupt Zack’s one-way conversation. He held up a hand for silence and gave the younger Soldier a commanding look. Despite his excitable nature, Zack was well trained and he knew when to shut up. He trailed off into silence and cocked his head quizzically at his superior. His brown eyes were openly curious, hiding nothing.

Angeal smirked faintly. The younger man reminded him of a wolf pup, sometimes.

“Remember, this isn’t a vacation,” he said firmly. “You were promoted to SOLDIER because you have what it takes to be the best, but it won’t come without hard work. You need to curb that enthusiasm of yours when you’re on the field and take your job seriously, Zack. Horse around in the privacy of your quarters all you like, but when you walk out of this room to be on duty, stifle it. Other instructors won’t be as lenient as I am. Don’t blow it.”

Zack sobered and nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

~*****************************~

Zack trained hard during the day, until he was too exhausted to even crack a joke by the time he was off-duty and dismissed to return to his quarters. Some nights he barely had the energy left to cook up a meal for himself and he began to make use of the cafeteria again, just to spare himself the added effort. Angeal pushed him, encouraging him to keep up the good performance with the promise that it wouldn’t be long before he went up a rank if he continued doing so well. He called his parents every few days to update them on his progress and tell them he loved them.

There was more to being in SOLDIER than honing his fighting skills, he learned. He had to learn history, geography and human anatomy as well. Angeal explained that every Soldier needed to know where they came from, how to navigate in the world and how the human body worked. Zack also had to learn how to use other weapons besides the sword. He soon discovered that he was a sucky shot with firearms but his determination pulled him through enough for him to pass the tests. He’d never had made it as an infantryman but the requirements were for him to have a decent enough knowledge of how other weapons worked to be able to use them in a pinch. As swamped as he was, he never complained about all the hard work and he kept his spirits up.

His sword skills continued to improve and when he began to receive Mako treatments, so did his strength, senses and dexterity. His eyes began to slowly change color as his body took to the treatments, going lavender around the pupils because of the blue Mako glow blending with the natural pigment. He soon rose to the top of his class and when the day came for evaluations, he was one of the first to be promoted from Fourth to Third Class. He made a few friends on the way and gained some admirers without even realizing it. He flirted with girls whenever he got the chance but he began to find himself admiring other men now and then. He told himself he was only imagining it and he concentrated on his training.

When he met Sephiroth for the first time, he was forced to rethink his theory that it was just in his head.

~*****************************~

“Zack, this is Sephiroth,” Angeal introduced. “He’ll be instructing you today.”

Zack saluted the silver-haired man and tried not to stare. The guy seemed to have miles of lustrous, silken hair and it hung loose down his back, all the way to his calves. Zack wondered how in the hell anyone could fight with Sephiroth’s reputed skills with that much hair flowing around them. Didn’t it get in the way? He almost blurted an inquiry about it but he remembered his rank and manners. Sephiroth assessed him with bright, emerald green eyes and Zack was a bit startled to notice that the pupils were vertically slit, instead of round like a normal human’s. The silver lashes framing them were long and thick and Sephiroth’s face was so sculpted and flawless, it couldn’t be described as anything less than beautiful.

~I need to cool it. He’s my superior and he’s a guy!~ Zack’s eyes roved over the tall First Class Soldier helplessly and he admired the portion of Sephiroth’s chest that was exposed through the option portion of the top half of his leather body armor. ~A very beautiful guy.~

Zack started to open his mouth to ask Sephiroth out on a date and he choked on his own tongue and flushed. Sephiroth and Angeal gave him suspicious looks as he scratched the back of his head and averted his gaze.

~Why aren’t they saying anything? What am I supposed to do? Shit, did they notice me leering at him?~

At a loss for anything else to say, Zack stood up straight and gave Sephiroth a respectful nod. “I’m ready to start whenever you are, Sir.”

Sephiroth looked sidelong at Angeal before giving Zack a brief, curt nod. “Good,” he said. His voice was unreasonably sensual to Zack. “Then let’s get started.”

Zack fought a grimace and he knew his cheeks were rosy by now.

~******************************************~

Director Lazard stood behind the observation window next to Angeal and watched as the Soldier’s pupil went through holographic training exercises with Sephiroth. He tapped his bottom lip thoughtfully, studying the young man’s motions.

“So this is the budding Soldier you’ve been praising,” murmured Lazard with interest.

Angeal nodded, watching his protégé soberly. Zack seemed a little off today, but it wasn’t unusual for Sephiroth to have an intimidating affect on people when they first met him. “He’s been moving through the ranks fast,” Angeal said. “He copes with the Mako treatments better than most and I think he’ll make Second before long.”

Director Lazard took his glasses off to wipe the lenses on his shirt, annoyed with a smudge that was compromising his vision. “But how well does he follow orders?” He replaced the glasses and narrowed his eyes on the young man in the training room. Zackary Fair was clearly strong and skilled but he seemed to hesitate when Sephiroth gave him instructions.

“Usually very well,” Angeal defended. “He’s accustomed to training with me, however.”

Lazard cracked a hint of a smile. He was an observant man and he could read between the lines better than most. “Meaning, this is his first session with the General. Point taken.” He looked at the tall, muscular Soldier standing beside him and studied him for a moment. “You seem fond of your pupil, Angeal.”

Angeal gave a single nod, not bothering to deny it. “As I said, he has great potential. I admire his determination and spirit, Sir.” He reached up to scratch at the beard growth adorning his chin and said nothing more about it.

Lazard didn’t press him further. Instead, he continued to observe Zack and he listened to the grunting comments and little jokes the black-haired Third came out with as he fought. He couldn’t seem to help it and Sephiroth demonstrated that he was losing patience when he coolly ordered Zack to expend less effort on comedy and more on fighting. Lazard had heard a lot of good things about Fair. Apparently, he was a likeable fellow—friendly, helpful and perhaps a little naive about the world. He had a toned physique and one of the most tempting asses Lazard had ever seen. The simulation visor he wore over his eyes obscured most of the upper half of his face and that annoyed Lazard. Interested to see if his face was as attractive as his body, the Director postponed getting back to his paperwork and waited for the training session to end.

Zack went through the motions of deflecting something with his sword, while Sephiroth twisted on his feet and deftly leaped into the air to slash at something else. Having no idea what the two soldiers saw in the holographic scenario, Lazard simply admired their moves.

“Ha! Two down,” Zack called with a grin.

He had a pleasing smile. It was confident without being cocky and his teeth were straight and white. Lazard studied his smiling lips and found them to his liking, too.

Sephiroth’s masamune sang as it whistled through the air over Zack’s head, slicing off a few strands of spiked black hair in its passing. “And a third that you didn’t notice in your gloating,” announced the General arrogantly. “Stop entertaining yourself, Private Fair. Treat it as reality.”

Zack grimaced sheepishly and Lazard barely heard him mutter, “but this is how I act in reality.”

Lazard Deusericus brought his coffee cup to his lips and smiled into it. Zack wasn’t the only one entertained.

~************************************~

By the time the exercise was finished, Zack decided that his attraction to Sephiroth was purely physical. As uncommonly beautiful as the man was, his cold, practical mannerisms were a turn off and Zack came to the conclusion that he’d merely suffered a bit of confusion due to Sephiroth’s hair and looks. After all, if he were really into guys, wouldn’t he have a crush on Angeal by now? His mentor was handsome, honorable, strong and brave. Logically those qualities should have drawn Zack to him. He loved the guy, but in a big-brother way. Feeling relieved by his self-evaluation and a little more relaxed around Sephiroth, Zack pulled his visor off and smiled as Sephiroth powered down the computer.

“Don’t know how you move so fast,” Zack said to the General as he sucked in gulps of air. Sephiroth was barely winded but Zack was out of breath and sweating.

“Training, practice,” Sephiroth paused and gave him a meaningful look, “and taking my job seriously.”

Zack winced again and sheathed his sword in the scabbard across his back. He put his hands on his knees and bent over a little to catch his breath. The hydraulic door opened and Zack looked up to see Angeal walking into the training room with a well-dressed executive type. Zack studied the man approaching with his mentor curiously. He had fine-sculpted handsome features and collar-length, feathered blond hair. He wore a pair of small oval-framed glasses on his face and he had a silver stud in each earlobe. When he came close enough for the light to stop flashing on his glasses, Zack saw his eyes. The blue-gray peepers were steady and commanding on him. Something about the guy made a tingle race through Zack’s spine and it wasn’t an unpleasant sensation.

~Fuck me…I’m never going to figure this out!~

He’d ping-ponged so much lately over his own sexuality and just when he thought he could conclude he was straight, he developed abrupt attractions for pretty men. Zack straightened up, uncomfortable under the blond’s unrelenting scrutiny. The man didn’t appear to be much older than he was but the refined dignity of his expression and stance made him seem older.

“Zack, this is Director Lazard,” Angeal introduced. “I’m sure you’ll be working with him more in the future, as you progress.”

Zack impulsively stuck his hand out and Lazard took it, returning the handshake. “The Director, huh?” Zack said, “So you’re in charge of SOLDIER?” He couldn’t quite keep the surprise out of his voice. Lazard didn’t look like a military man. Then again, Sephiroth was more beautiful than most women and he was the deadliest Soldier alive. Remembering his place, Zack finished addressing him with more respect. “Nice to meet you, Sir.”

Lazard nodded, his eyes scanning Zack in a way that reminded the dark-haired Third suspiciously of the way he sometimes undressed women with his eyes. It made him feel exposed and a little vulnerable.

“Angeal tells me you’ve come a long way in a short time,” Lazard said. His voice was patient, authoritative and strangely lilting. “I look forward to seeing what kind of Soldier you’ll make, in the end.”

Zack turned the words over in his head and frowned a little. Was there some hidden meaning behind that? He couldn’t tell…maybe it was just the way Lazard watched him. It made Zack feel like he was under some kind of microscope.

~I’m just being paranoid. It’s the guy’s job to study Soldiers. He probably has a hand in deciding who gets promoted and who gets passed up.~

Still, it made him self-conscious and when Zack opened his mouth to respond, his words came out with a country drawl that he thought he’d finally phased out. “Lookin’ forward to getting there myself, Sir.” His mouth twisted as soon as the sentence left his mouth, but it was too late to take it back now.

Lazard smirked and beside him, Angeal looked at Zack with a concerned frown. The big First was holding a bottle of spring water in one hand and he passed it to Zack. “Here, I think you’re dehydrated.”

Zack took it and unscrewed the cap, swallowing a few sips and trying to look more relaxed than he felt. The way Angeal said it implied that he thought Zack’s brain was shriveling in his head.

“Do I detect a bit of a country accent?” Lazard inquired politely.

Zack nodded and became very interested in reading the label on the drink Angeal had given to him. “I’m from Gongaga,” he explained. “Uh, the accent comes back now and then, I guess.”

~I thought I finally ditched it, too.~

The Director’s sensitive looking mouth quirked again but he didn’t tease him. “It’s not unpleasant to the ears.” He checked his watch and nodded to Angeal and Sephiroth. “I’ll leave you to it. I have work of my own to do.” His eyes settled on Zackary once more, holding his gaze. “I expect good things of you, Private Fair. Until later.”

Zack nodded and watched him go. Sephiroth started to follow the Director out but he turned and regarded Zack and Angeal for a moment. “I wasn’t entirely unimpressed,” he stated with a nod at Zack. “There’s room for improvement, of course.”

Zack’s eyebrows went up and once the door slid shut and he was alone with his mentor, he looked at Angeal curiously. “What did that mean? Was that good?” His drawl was gone again, thank Gaia.

Angeal stared at the door and nodded. “Coming from Sephiroth, it was practically glowing praise. Good work, Zack.”

~*************************************~

Like most Soldiers in training, Zack had days when he was violently ill after having Mako treatments. Unlike most of the others, he was too stubborn to check into the med ward or rest in his quarters when these episodes happened. The second time he trained with Sephiroth, the General noticed how pale he was and how much he fumbled with his weapon and he stopped the program and pulled his visor off to regard him.

“Do I blame unregulated partying for your condition, or Mako treatments?”

Zack swallowed nausea and took a deep breath. “I had treatments this morning. I can handle it, though.”

There was grudging respect in the Sephiroth’s green eyes. Most trainees didn’t make it out of bed again until the third day after treatment, let alone resume combat training. “Your determination is commendable, but unwise. On the first day after a treatment you should stay off your feet, at least.”

Zack shook his head and tried to say something in argument but instead, his stomach heaved and he quickly turned away and covered his mouth, fighting down the bile that rose in his throat. His legs began to collapse beneath him and he leaned against the wall to keep from falling. A strong, gloved hand caught him by the arm and Zack sucked in sharp breaths as he looked down at it and tried to bring it into focus.

“You’re going to the medical wing,” Sephiroth told him. “I don’t care to hear Angeal’s speech when he comes back from his mission, if he finds out I allowed you to train while afflicted. That’s an order, Fair.”

Zack sighed and complied, allowing Sephiroth to support him as they walked out of the training room together.

~********************************~

As his training continued on, Zack noticed Director Lazard watching him regularly. He reasoned that it was the man’s responsibility to monitor the progress of recruits but he couldn’t help but notice that the Director seemed to pay more attention to him than anyone else. In fact, maybe Zack was imagining it but Lazard always seemed to find time out of his busy schedule specifically to watch him train.

He reminded himself that Lazard had a funny affect on him from the beginning. If the Director was studying him a bit more closely than the other members of SOLDIER, it probably meant that Zack’s performance was either very good or very bad. Thinking of what Angeal told him about Sephiroth’s comment on the first day he’d trained with him, Zack chose to believe he was doing good.

A few weeks after meeting Lazard and Sephiroth for the first time, Zack was stepping out of his quarters to go to class and he almost bumped into a man with auburn hair and a long red jacket. He blurted an apology and asked the other man if he was okay. Aqua eyes regarded him haughtily for a moment and then the other man’s face took on a peculiar expression of recognition. Zack noted with annoyance that the redhead was quite attractive too and he decided that on the weekend he needed to go out and spend time with one of his girlfriends. The more time he spent in this sausage factory, the more guys he noticed.

“Third Class Soldier Zackary Fair?” The redhead asked him.

Zack blinked. “Uh, yeah. How’d you—”

The other man grabbed his arm. “You’re late for class. Come along.”

Zack stumbled, taken by surprise by the abrupt introduction and the other man’s surprising strength. Guessing that he must be one of the First Class Soldiers, Zack caught his balance and fell into step beside him. “How’d you know who I was?”

“I’m substituting for your history instructor, today,” said the redhead absently.

“Aren’t you late too?”

The other man glanced sidelong at him. “I’ve just come back from a long series of missions. Unlike you, I have an excuse and I’m the teacher.”

“Okay,” Zack said. Something told him he shouldn’t cross this man. “Sorry I’m running late, Mister…?”

“Rhapsodos,” offered the First. “Genesis, First Class. You may call me ‘Sir.’ If you do well, there may be glorious opportunities in your future…opportunities you can’t even imagine.”

Zack didn’t argue. He’d heard Angeal mention Genesis before. Evidently, he and Sephiroth trained up to their current ranks with the redhead, and it seemed like they were old friends. He could only assume Genesis looked over his files for some reason, or maybe Angeal told him about him and described him.

His perverted mind came up with all kinds of scenarios in response to that odd, off-the-wall statement that probably had nothing to do with the actual meaning behind them. He was beginning to think that Angeal was the only First that wasn’t mentally afflicted. Hell, sometimes he wasn’t even sure Sephiroth was human.

~Am I going to start acting like that if I make it to First?~

~*********************************~

Director Lazard always took a moment to speak with him in passing or after training and Zack could no longer deny that something was going on. He needed someone to talk to…someone he could trust. Girls never made him feel nervous the way Lazard did but then again, none of the girls he dated were in a position of authority over him. Was it just the man’s status as the SOLDIER Director that affected him? The questions still raged in his mind.

One day after Angeal returned from another mission, Zack called him and asked him if he had the time to meet up with him somewhere. The other man agreed and said he could stop by his quarters that night, so Zack relaxed a little through the day and concentrated on his training. After getting off duty, he ate, showered and waited for his mentor to show up. Almost an hour later there was a knock at his door and Zack hopped off the couch and practically charged across the room to answer it.

“Thank Gaia,” Zack sighed when he opened the door to see the reassuring sight of Angeal standing there with his arms crossed over his chest. “I really need to talk to you, man.”

Angeal gave him a frowning look of concern before stepping in and shutting the door behind him. “You’ve grown,” he observed, “and your eyes are almost blue. My guess is you don’t have many treatments left to get through.”

Zack looked down at himself. He’d noticed some of his pants being a little too short and some of his clothes were a little tight now, but it didn’t dawn on him that he’d gotten any bigger. “I don’t think my size and eyes are the only things changing,” Zack said grimly.

Seeing that he was really upset, Angeal laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Then let’s talk about it, whatever it is.”

Zack nodded and gestured toward the couch. “I think you’d better sit down.”

Angeal was immediately suspicious. “What did you do, Zackary?”

“Nothing!” Zack defended. “I didn’t do anything…it’s what I’m thinking that’s bothering me. Can you just sit down?”

Angeal did as he was asked and looked up at the younger man as Zack paced back and forth in front of him and ran his fingers through his bristly dark hair. “Angeal,” Zack began, searching for words. “After you started in SOLDIER, did you ever…like…notice other guys more than usual?”

“Notice them how?” Angeal asked.

Zack turned to him and shrugged, unable to meet his gaze. “You know.”

Angeal shook his head and his chiseled features grew more puzzled. “No, I don’t know what you mean.”

Zack sighed and decided to just come out with it. “I…I think I might be turning kind of gay.”

Angeal shook his head. “Zack, I have it on good authority that people can’t just ‘turn gay’ one day. If certain people heard you saying otherwise, I don’t think I could protect you.”

Zack wondered if Sephiroth or Genesis were one of the people Angeal was talking about. “Then what the hell’s wrong with me?” he asked, throwing his hands up.

Angeal looked at him thoughtfully. “What made you decide you might be ‘turning gay’, Zack?”

Zack flushed and looked away. “I just…I’ve been noticing some guys for a while now. Kind of the way I notice girls, only not as many.” Thinking that he might scare his friend, he quickly added; “Don’t worry though…you’re not the kind of guy I’ve been attracted to. That is, you’re a great looking guy but the ones catching my attention are more…um…pretty. Not that you aren’t pretty, I just—“

“Zack—“

“I just mean you’re pretty in a more masculine way and the guys I’ve been noticing—“

“Zack, shut up.”

The younger Soldier swallowed and looked at his mentor warily.

“I think I understand what you’re trying to say,” Angeal went on with a chuckle. “I’m not afraid you’re going to come on to me and I’m not offended. It’s the ‘pretty’ guys you’ve been feeling this for, am I right?”

Zack nodded.

“But you’re still attracted to women,” reasoned Angeal.

Zack nodded again and relaxed a little, glad he hadn’t stuck his foot too far into his mouth. It was a well-known fact that he was a girl crazy flirt and that hadn’t changed since he’d noticed his attention drifting toward other men. “So I’m not gay?”

Angeal sighed. “You’re naive, is what you are. You’re probably also bisexual.”

Zack felt like a stupid country bumpkin. He’d heard the term before, of course, but it hadn’t even crossed his mind that he could simply like both genders that way. He thought he was just gradually switching or something. “I never noticed it before I came here, though.”

“You’ve never been exposed to such a broad variety of men, until you came here.” Angeal shrugged. “And, you’ve been exposed to them every day, pretty much all day. You’ve been applying yourself hard and you haven’t had many chances to get out. It’s possible you’re just a little stir crazy and transferring your…ahem…enthusiasm for affection to the nearest thing to females around.”

Zack thought about Sephiroth’s long, beautiful hair and the way he’d nearly asked him out on a date as soon as he saw him. He thought of Lazard’s features and how they were masculine but fine-boned. The same applied to Genesis and just about every other male he’d found himself admiring. “You think that’s really it?”

“No,” Angeal answered bluntly. “I think you’re bisexual and have a preference for pretty boys.”

He stood up and closed the distance between them to pat Zack comfortingly on the arm. “But I also know how you think, and I know that telling you it’s okay to be bi isn’t enough for you right now.” He smiled faintly. “Oh, and you aren’t stupid, Zack. If you were, you never would have met the requirements to get this far. SOLDIER isn’t just about muscle—it’s about honor, dreams and brains, too.”

“I think I’ve opened my mouth one too many times to you,” Zack grumbled. As his friendship with Angeal grew during his time in SOLDIER, so did his trust. He’d opened up to the big man more than he had to anybody else since coming here and now Angeal seemed to know him inside and out.

“You like to talk,” agreed Angeal. He sobered a bit and regarded Zack seriously. “That really could get you into trouble some day, Zack. There’s nothing wrong with opening up to someone you trust but as I said before, you need to practice more restraint in other situations.”

Zack sighed, crestfallen. “I know.”

Angeal patted him again. “You’ve gotten better about it. You can improve without losing your spirit, Zack.”

The younger Soldier looked at him warmly. “Well, I’ve got you looking out for me, big guy. Thanks.”

~******************************~

Unfortunately for Zack, Angeal’s talk didn’t make him feel better about his sexual confusion. He got leave from duty over the weekend and made plans with one of his girlfriends to get his needs out of his system and get the fresh start he thought he needed. He only intended to do some necking with her after taking her out to a movie. Having the reputation of a horn dog didn’t mean he was actually a man-slut but he had a way with women and he was no virgin, either. What started out as an intended make-out session in his quarters after the show ended up resulting in Darlene Whitman’s clothes lying in a pile on the floor with Zack’s.

The next morning Zack woke up in a mild state of confusion, until he realized the warmth he felt against his back had soft, feminine curves. He turned over to look at the young woman and he imagined what his parents would say to him if they knew he’d used her to confirm his own insecurities about himself. Zack winced and tried to ease out of the bed without waking her but she stirred and smiled up at him sleepily as he got up and hastily retrieved his underwear.

“Good morning,” she yawned as she sat up. The blanket fell down and Zack quickly looked away, though it was too late to try and be respectful.

“Morning,” he greeted. He located his discarded pants and slipped them on, hopping from foot to foot in his haste. “Did you sleep okay?”

“The mattress is a little lumpy,” she admitted, “but I had a Soldier to keep me warm.”

Zack picked up her clothes and dropped them on the bed next to her. “Here you go. I can make some breakfast, if you’re hungry.” He had no idea what he was saying. The words just tumbled out automatically as he searched his mind for a way to own up to his mistake and just be honest with her. He thought about Angeal and his honor and he sighed, his shoulders slumping.

“Hey Darlene, are you covered?”

Her voice sounded a little puzzled. “I’ve got my shirt on. What’s the matter?”

Zack turned around and returned to the bed, seating himself gingerly on it. “See, the thing is,” he tried to begin. There was a knock at his door and he swore softly. He thought about not answering it but it could be something important.

“Hold that thought,” he said to his guest as he stood back up and went to the door. He cracked it open and poked his face out. When he saw Director Lazard’s handsome face looking at him, panic shot through his body and he nearly slammed the door shut. He forced himself to calm down and made sure his body was blocking the view into his room as he opened the door a little wider and tried to look casual.

“Hi Director. What can I do for you?” Zack noticed the way the man’s intelligent gaze roamed his bare upper body for a moment and that same feeling he’d tried convincing himself was all in his head returned.

“Good morning, Zackary,” answered Lazard politely, “I hate to disturb you when you’ve taken a leave of duty for the weekend, but you have an evaluation on Monday and I thought you might like to know ahead of time, so you can prepare. This is your chance to make Second Class.”

Zack’s mouth dropped open a little. “So soon? I didn’t think they’d start picking people out for another month.”

“Plans change,” the Director said coolly. He glanced over Zack’s shoulder and his pale eyebrows lifted. “I see you have…company. Well, I won’t keep you. You’ll be sent on a mission Monday morning and evaluated on your performance. Don’t be late and get plenty of rest.”

Zack swallowed and thanked him. “I’ll see you Monday then, Sir.”

When the Director walked away, Zack shut the door and rested his forehead against it with a sigh. Wonderful…now Lazard knew he had a girl stay with him overnight. It wasn’t against the rules when Soldiers were off duty to have visitors, but it was embarrassing. Zack turned around and returned to the bed, thankful that Darlene was now fully dressed and sitting on top of the sheets.

“Okay, as I was trying to say before,” he said uncomfortably. “I didn’t mean for things to go that far last night. You aren’t the only girl I talk to and—“

She sighed and waved a hand. “Forget the speech, Zack. You can relax, okay? I’ve got a steady boyfriend already. I just wanted to have some fun.”

Zack stared at her. “Y-you do? You did?” He’d never been in this situation before, though he was aware that women were just as likely to cheat and deceive as men. Considering his own driving reasons for letting things go so far last night, he knew he didn’t have the right to be offended. He felt suddenly sorry for whoever her boyfriend was, however, and he realized he needed to be more careful about who he dated from now on.

“It’s okay,” she soothed. She got out of the bed and looked around for her purse. Finding it, she picked it up and slung it over her shoulder. “I’ll go now. You’ve got nothing to worry about; you were great.” She gave him one more appreciative once-over and her eyes lingered for a moment on his crotch, making him blush. After that, she showed herself out the door and left him floundering in confused guilt and shame.

~**********************************~

-To be continued