The next day. Johnny wore a dark blue technician's jumpsuit emblazoned with "Garrick & Son". He carried his large toolbox on his back.
He was in Sector 8, at the loading dock area of the Shinra Building. Although Johnny hated Shinra, their money "smelled good." Reeve Tuesti (Head of Urban Development) had personally recommended Garrick's workshop to handle the ventilation installation in the trooper barracks because of their neat work on the infrastructure in Sector 7.
Johnny was walking toward the Trooper Barracks area. The corridor was crowded with blue-uniformed soldiers and a few arrogant SOLDIER 3rd Class operatives.
Johnny had to duck when passing through the security gate door. The guard stared at him with intimidation, but upon seeing Johnny's body size and sharp gaze, the guard actually stepped aside.
"Permission to pass," Johnny's voice was heavy.
"P-please... Mr. Technician," the guard said nervously.
Johnny had just crossed the troop transport parking area when a harsh commotion broke his concentration.
In the corner of the parking area, a transport truck had just arrived from field training. The rear door opened roughly. A young infantry trooper stumbled out, his face as pale as a sheet. He immediately fell to his knees near the drainage grate, his body convulsing as he fought the urge to vomit.
"HURKKK..."
The trooper was small of build and had conspicuous blonde hair in a messy spiky style. His iron helmet rolled loose on the asphalt.
A burly Sergeant got down from the truck and kicked the young trooper's helmet.
"Get up, STRIFE!" the Sergeant barked. "Embarrassing! You say you want to be a SOLDIER?! You vomit just from riding in a truck! Ordered to run six laps as punishment and you're already about to faint! Are you a soldier or a princess?! You backwater trash!"
The young trooper—Cloud Strife (15 Years Old)—tried to stand while wiping his mouth, but his legs trembled violently. His eyes were glassy, holding back shame and nausea.
"Sorry... Sergeant..." Cloud's voice was small and weak.
"Sorry won't save you on the battlefield, you fool!" The Sergeant raised his hand high, preparing to deliver a hard slap to the back of Cloud's head.
Suddenly, a giant hand wrapped in a technician's glove caught the Sergeant's wrist.
GRAB.
The Sergeant's hand stopped in the air.
Not because he held back, but because a massive hand wrapped in a thick technician's glove had seized his wrist.
The Sergeant's eyes went wide. He tried to pull his hand back, but it was futile. The grip was numbing, strong and unyielding as a hydraulic vise. He turned aside and found himself standing in the shadow of a towering "wall" in blue coveralls.
"Who are you?!" the Sergeant snapped, though his nerve wavered at seeing Johnny's height.
"Technician," Johnny answered flatly. His gaze was cold, as if looking at garbage. "You're blocking my work path. And your voice is hurting my ears."
Johnny threw the Sergeant's hand off. The Sergeant stumbled back.
"We're not done yet, Strife!" The Sergeant spat on the ground, then left quickly, unwilling to deal with the giant.
Johnny sighed, then looked down at the young trooper still kneeling on the asphalt.
Cloud Strife looked up. To him, seeing Johnny was like looking at a mountain. Cloud felt incredibly small and pathetic.
"You," Johnny said, extending a cold bottle of mineral water from his jumpsuit pocket.
"D-drink," Johnny ordered.
Cloud hesitated, then accepted it with trembling hands. "T-thank you..."
"Name's Strife?" Johnny asked, squatting down in front of Cloud (his signature pose).
"Cloud. Cloud Strife, Sir," Cloud answered nervously, hurriedly gulping down the water. "Sorry to trouble you, Sir."
Johnny frowned. "Sir? Am I that old? I'm only sixteen."
Cloud choked on his water. His eyes went perfectly round, staring at Johnny's sharp features, hard jaw, and mature aura that screamed twenties years or older.
"Six... teen?" Cloud stammered. His face flushed with embarrassment. "I'm sorry... Bro! I mean... you're a year older than me. I'm fifteen."
Johnny exhaled. This kid is honest, he thought. Innocent and blunt.
"I'm Johnny. From Sector 7." Johnny pointed his chin at the transport truck. "Motion sickness?"
Cloud nodded weakly, looking back down at the asphalt. "I'm... pathetic. I want to be a great SOLDIER like General Sephiroth, but I can't even ride in a truck. Punished with a little running and I'm already about to faint."
Johnny looked at Cloud intently. He saw a frail, crybaby kid. But beneath that, Johnny also saw how Cloud's hand clenched tight on his knee until the knuckles turned white. There was a refusal to give up there. A small ember that hadn't been extinguished.
"Listen, Cloud," Johnny said. He patted Cloud's shoulder—a pat hard enough to nearly tip Cloud over.
"Motion sickness is an inner ear problem, not a guts problem. Don't listen to that stupid Sergeant."
Johnny reached into his tool pocket, pulling out a piece of Dried Ginger (a provision from Mother Marilla).
"This is dried ginger. My mother made it," Johnny said, offering it. "Chew this if you have to ride a truck. The spicy heat helps focus, and the nausea disappears instantly. It's a secret family recipe."
Cloud accepted the ginger, staring at it in confusion. "Ginger?"
"Eat," Johnny urged.
"And stand up straight. If you keep slouching, you look like an easy target. You're a Shinra Trooper. If you want to be a SOLDIER, your chest must be puffed out, even if you feel like puking your guts out."
Cloud swallowed hard, then slowly pulled his shoulders back. He puffed his chest out slightly, trying to mimic Johnny's sturdy posture, though his frame still looked fragile.
"Thank you... Bro Johnny," Cloud said. This time there was a small spark in his eyes. A spark of admiration.
Johnny smirked faintly. "Bro", huh? Not bad, he thought.
"Get back to the barracks. And don't let anyone kick your helmet again."
Without waiting for an answer, Johnny shouldered his toolbox again and walked away toward the dormitory entrance. Cloud stood quietly there, staring at Johnny's broad back receding. On this terrible day, Cloud had just found a new idol besides Sephiroth—a young technician from Sector 7 who was far more dashing than any Sergeant.
===============================================================
The ventilation repair job was finally finished. Johnny wiped the grease from his large wrench with a rag, preparing to head home. Beside him, Cloud—ordered by the angry sergeant earlier, to accompany and wait for Johnny repairs— he stood stiffly and chewing the last of the dried ginger given by Johnny.
"Thank you, Bro Johnny," Cloud said politely. His face, previously pale, had regained some color. "My stomach feels much better."
"Good. Watch your posture," Johnny replied without turning, packing his tools into the metal box.
Suddenly, the automatic door at the end of the hall opened with a hiss.
"Yooo! Cloud! Here you are!"
The voice was full of energy, cheerful, and incredibly familiar. A SOLDIER 1st Class with spiky black hair, with bright Mako-blue eyes, strode in while doing light stretches.
Zack Fair, seventeen years old. He looked dashing in the signature black uniform of a SOLDIER 1st Class, the legendary Buster Sword hanging heavy on his back.
"Captain Zack!" Cloud immediately snapped to attention and gave a stiff salute. "Sir! Accompany the technician, sir !"
"Relax, relax!" Zack patted Cloud's shoulder, laughing crisply. "We're both 'country boys' here. Just call me Zack when there are no superiors around. We were on the mission together in Modeoheim last year, remember?"
Zack then turned toward the towering figure in blue coveralls next to Cloud.
"And who is your big new friend he—"
Zack froze. His eyes went wide as Johnny turned around and stood to his full height in front of him.
"JOHNNY! MY FRIEND!" Zack shouted joyfully. Without hesitation, he hugged Johnny tightly.
To Zack, Johnny wasn't just an acquaintance. He was a past love rival, a comrade in arms against Angeal and Genesis, and the only person who could match his physical strength during sword training in Sector 8. However, mission schedules had kept them apart for the last four months.
"Long time no see, Spike," Johnny greeted in his heavy baritone voice, patting Zack's back firmly.
Zack released the hug, then stepped back to inspect his friend.
"Hahaha! The Roof Guy!" Zack exclaimed enthusiastically. "Whoa, crazy! We haven't met for four months, what have you been eating down there? Mako Fertilizer? Your body got even bigger, like a Behemoth!"
Zack punched Johnny's arm lightly—it felt as hard as a truck tire. His laughter then faded slightly, replaced by a more serious tone.
"Hey, how's Sector 5?" Zack asked quietly. "How is... Aerith? I've been so busy with missions in Wutai, I haven't had a chance to drop by your place."
"Aerith is fine," Johnny answered calmly. "Very fine. She is safe with me."
Zack nodded, then gave a bitter but sincere smile. "You guys are engaged, right? Well, congratulations, Johnny. I really lost the starting race, haha."
"Haha, thanks Zack," Johnny smirked faintly. He remembered Aerith's words from before, about how destiny should have brought her and Zack together. Johnny decided to heat things up a bit—a little male mischief. "And just so you know, let me remind you of one more thing: Aerith is mine."
"Yeah, yeah, I know, Mr. Possessive," Zack scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"And... there's one more thing I haven't told you." Johnny leaned his face slightly closer to Zack's ear, grinning devilishly. "We already sleep in the same bed."
BOOM!
As if struck by Thundaga, Zack froze.
"Sleep... same bed..." Zack muttered in heavy shock. "You guys aren't married yet! Are you serious?!"
Zack's face turned beet red. "Crazy, Johnny! Even I'm not that bold! Damn it! You move fast, you Giant!"
Johnny stood tall, hands on his hips, chin lifted high. His expression was one of absolute victory and pride. Inside his jumpsuit pocket, Puck the fairy smiled proudly.
Seeing Zack flustered, Johnny laughed freely, then patted the soldier's back again. "Forget about me. How about Cissnei? You guys are still dating, right?"
Zack's face brightened a little at the name. "Yeah. After the Modeoheim mission, we had a short vacation in Costa del Sol. We played Pirate's Rampage, Card Carnival, watched Run Wild, and had dinner at the seaside Bar. I always call her and yeah, because of missions, I sometimes take her out for ramen."
"Hmm, romantic," Johnny commented. Then he whispered again with a provocative tone. "In that case... take it one step further..."
"What?" Zack asked innocently.
"Try inviting Cissnei to sleep over," Johnny whispered.
"You're crazy, Johnny!" Zack shouted, his face turning even redder. "No way I'd dare do that!"
Johnny burst out laughing. "Just kidding, Zack! I mean, if you're serious, well... you know." Johnny scratched his head, a bit confused by his own advice.
"Buy a ring, Zack," Johnny said finally, his tone turning serious. "It's a sign of commitment. A woman like Cissnei needs certainty. If you give her a ring, she won't leave you."
Zack fell silent, pondering the advice. "Seriously?"
"Seriously," Johnny affirmed. "Just don't buy a cheap one from the Wall Market flea market."
Cloud, who had been watching from the side like a statue, was utterly confused. He looked at Zack—his new idol and hero—who was flustered about romance, and then at Johnny—the technician he just met—who looked so confident and dominant.
"Excuse me..." Cloud finally dared to ask, his voice quiet.
"Bro Johnny... Captain Zack... do you know each other? I thought Bro Johnny was just a technician from Sector 7?"