InsaneJournal

FFVII CC Fic: Call of Duty
Title: Call of Duty
Characters: Cloud, Zack, Angeal, Genesis/Sephiroth
Rating: PG
Word Count: 460

The rookies didn't know enough to know it yet, but training camps were not the roughest of the rough. The monster count was generally low, there was no enemy fire and unless it was a training exercise of some sort, their meals were guaranteed. The bigger camps even had electricity and running water, courtesy the generators and some careful field engineering.

Of course, it was the field. Sometimes things went wrong.

They had about two minutes of grousing when the generator went out. They'd have to eat in the dark. The eight-inch black-and-white television with the tinfoil bunched on the rabbit ears that they used to keep up with the scores back home wouldn't work. The pumps would be out of commission so they'd have to haul water from the creek by hand for dish duty and forget about the showers.

Then the alarm sounded. The older men sprang into action, knowing glances cutting through the sudden tension. This is it, boys, welcome to the army, where shit can and will happen. Cloud stumbled out of the large mess tent into the fading half-light. “Strife! Don't lag!” someone barked, and Cloud was shoved down the line forming to the river.

“What's happening?” he asked Halloran.

“Same thing that happens every time the damned generators crap out,” Halloran shouted, shoving a bucket into Cloud's hands. “Bucket brigade to the SOLDIER section of camp! Don't ask questions, just do it!” Cloud nodded and hauled his share, shoulders bunching with the strain.

-o-o-o-

Zack took the full buckets four at a time. The wire handles of the pair hooked on his elbows threatened to cut into his flesh with the weight, but a SOLDIER didn't fuss for personal discomfort. Angeal met him halfway through the SOLDIER grounds.

“Easy, pup, I got this.” He looped his arms through the handles and relieved Zack instantly of the weight.

“Do you need more?” Zack huffed. “Is it a big fire?” He glanced towards the back of camp. He couldn't see the smoke.

Angeal's gaze was steady. “Not yet, pup. Get the water.”

Zack nodded and took off running back to the creek.

-o-o-o-

“Genesis?” Angeal called. “Is the situation contained?”

“Just a second, I'm checking,” Genesis called from within the canvas enclosure. “One more load, Angeal!”

“Right,” Angeal grunted and scooped up the empties for transport back to the line.

Inside the sodden enclosure, Genesis knelt beside a furious Sephiroth. “Is it done?” Sephiroth growled.

Genesis took a careful look. “Not yet. There's still some left.” He reached for another bucket. “You know, sugar, you wouldn't keep getting caught like this if you didn't insist on using a whole bottle of shampoo every single time.”