Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/4871650.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Final_Fantasy_VII
  Relationship:
      Zack_Fair/Cloud_Strife
  Character:
      Zack_Fair, Cloud_Strife, Genesis_Rhapsodos, Sephiroth, Kunsel_
      (Compilation_of_FFVII), Lazard_Deusericus, Angeal_Hewley
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Universe_-_Canon_Divergence, Age_Difference, Size_Difference,
      Dysfunctional_Relationships, Moral_Ambiguity, Unsafe_Sex, Barebacking,
      Dirty_Talk, Oral_Sex, Anal_Fingering, Anal_Sex, Protective!Zack,
      Conflicted!Zack, Underage!Cloud, Homeless!Cloud, 15yearold!Cloud, Angst
      and_Humor
  Stats:
      Published: 2015-09-25 Updated: 2015-11-30 Chapters: 5/? Words: 21347
****** Right Where I Belong ******
by BrackenLight
Summary
     Hair messy and unkempt, nice-looking but obviously too wild to
     manage. Teenage boisterousness which reared its head in moments of
     anger, but little self-control over such emotions. Cloud was clumsy
     and awkward. He stumbled over his words. He stuttered when he was
     nervous. He acted impulsively. And he was just so damn innocent and
     young.
     Cloud pretty much hit all of Zack’s dirty fantasies- including ones
     he wasn’t even aware of.
Notes
     UNDERAGE warning applies- Cloud is 15 years old (round about his
     canon age in the Crisis Core era), whilst Zack is in his late 20s.
***** Chapter 1 *****
Zack wasn’t necessarily against the idea- it just didn’t seem as appealing to
him as it did to his friend. He was all for going out, hitting the clubs of
Midgar, drinking ‘responsibly’ (which never damn well happened, no matter how
hard they tried to limit and pace themselves) before stumbling home and
collapsing wherever his body saw fit. It was a rare luxury. Something they
didn’t get to do very often.
Mako energy has various effects on the body. For those strong enough,
physically and mentally, to get through the infusion process, most of the
effects are beneficial. But, Mako is an enhancer- known to strengthen the body
and seek to perfect the host. As a result, Mako and alcohol don’t really mix.
People infused with Mako energy, namely those in the military faction known as
SOLDIER, may not suffer from the most devastating side effects of alcohol-
liver damage, poisoning, etc.- but their bodies damn well punished them for
attempting to betray their health. Drinking was discouraged amongst SOLDIER-
it’s listed as one of the things to be avoided in the pamphlet and everything.
But, considering the long-term health effects were negated as a result of the
Mako infusion, it went without saying that most ignored it. That said, the damn
hangovers were killers. The ‘morning after’ seemed to hit members of SOLDIER a
hell of a harder than it did before- often requiring an entire day of recovery.
So, obviously, it wasn’t something they could fit in that often. Zack was
normally the most enthusiastic when they did get the chance. But, it had been a
very long week, and he was tired. Unbelievably tired. Which was completely out
of the ordinary for him.
Zack Fair was SOLDIER, 1st Class. Strong, fast, smart (when it came to battle,
anyway) and famous to boot. He’d spent most of his youth striving for that
ideal, working hard and doing whatever he could to reach it. When he finally
did, he was surprised to find that it wasn’t everything he expected. Sure,
there were the awesome aspects that he’d dreamed of, but there was an almost
political and calculated side to things which often dragged him down.
Paperwork was the bane of his existence. Office politics confused and irritated
him. Interaction with media was troublesome. And, even as a 1st Class, he still
sometimes found himself feeling like nothing but a tool. He kept those feelings
to himself, however, instead choosing to focus on the positives- all the
privileges and luxuries he was entitled to.
That week though, he found the Turks interfering in one of his missions,
strolling in with some secret agenda and doing their own thing. It had got to
him. To have control of his own damn mission taken from him.
That’s why he didn’t feel up to it that night…
“Look, Zack,” his friend said, tone dropping to a more serious one, “I’ve been
waiting for this for a long time now. We don’t get to hang out as much as we
did as kids. Don’t you miss those days?”
“Kunsel, I…”
“All I’m saying is, we used to be inseparable.” Kunsel interrupted, shaking his
head. “I understand that we’re both busy, especially you, but that’s why nights
like these are so important to me. I don’t want to lose this chance while we’ve
got it.”
Zack studied him for a moment, that solemn face, the disappointment in those
blue eyes, before letting out a defeated sigh. Running his fingers through his
slicked-back hair, he chuckled to himself.
“Man, you really know how to twist a guy’s arm.” His friend’s face brightened
immediately.
“You’re too easy.” He professed with a smile. “It’s not even a challenge
anymore.”
“Oh, really?”
Zack reached over, grabbing Kunsel and drawing him near. The two wrestled for a
while, evenly matched at first, but it was Zack who always ended up getting the
upper hand recently, pinning his friend in a headlock until he gave in. “You’ve
been slacking, man.”
“Have not.” Kunsel retorted. “You’ve just been excelling. I’m still one of the
top of the 2nd Class.”
“Whatever.” Zack huffed. “I always knew I’d beat you to 1st Class,” he teased,
giving a wink when Kunsel’s face fell, “but I always thought you’d be right
behind me, you know.”
“Priorities change, man.” He shrugged. “I’ve seen what you’ve had to put up
with since the big promotion. I don’t think I could handle the intensity. I’m
not that loyal to Shinra. Perks just don’t seem worth it for a guy like me.”
Zack hummed, considering it for a moment, before shaking the thought away.
“Well, we heading out or not?”
The two exchanged a grin.
===============================================================================
 
Despite his earlier reservations, Zack was the one to lead the way into the
bar. It was a hard done little joint in the slums below the metropolitan top-
somewhere a 1st Class like Zack was less likely to be recognized. People in the
slums didn’t really peruse the usual media sources those on the surface did,
and few were hardcore fans of SOLDIER. So, for nights when Zack and Kunsel just
wanted each other’s company, it was perfect.
The place was packed- unsurprising, considering it was a Friday night- and
dark. Perfect cover. With any luck, their Mako-infused eyes would go
undetected, or at least pass for normal blue eyes.
That night they let loose, getting lost in the music, the dancing and the
ladies. It felt like old times- back when such nights were a regular thing
between the occasional missions. Zack felt on top of the world.
It had to end sometime though. And that ‘sometime’ happened to be at 3.00 am,
when they found themselves stumbling out of the back entrance, giggling to
themselves like a bunch of teenaged no-gooders.
“You totally ruined my chances with that chick!” Kunsel snapped, smacking Zack
on the shoulder with a glare.
“She was too good for you anyway, man.” He teased, wincing at the dark look he
received. There was a moment of tension, followed by booming laughter from the
two of them.
Zack was so distracted in his glee, that he didn’t even notice someone else was
in the alleyway behind the bar until he practically tripped over them. He
ignored Kunsel’s chuckle in favor of righting himself and turning to the poor
guy. “Sorry ‘bout that. Didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“Sorry.” The…kid mumbled. He was pale, with blonde, spiky hair which stood out
in such a dark place and eyes that could possibly pass for those of a SOLDIER
to the untrained eye. He looked a little frightened, avoiding eye contact, and
was wearing clothes that had seen better days. He could definitely use a good
meal too.
“My fault.” Zack shrugged. “Help you up?” He offered, holding out a hand. The
kid shook his head, but went to the trouble of glancing at the face of his
‘attacker’ before clambering to his feet.
“You shouldn’t hang around back here.” The kid suggested. “Not unless you wanna
see some things you’d rather not.” He pulled a face at his own words-
disgusted. Zack grinned at that.
“What are you doing here then?”
“Zack.” Kunsel hissed, giving him a warning glare- something about his tone
seeming to upset the blonde kid immensely, judging from the curt look and
pursing of his lips.
“I sneak into the bar this way.” He retorted, obviously holding back a bit of
anger. “I don’t hang around here if that’s what you’re implying.”
Kunsel was taken aback by that. Zack couldn’t stop the laugh that burst out
from his stomach.
They watched the kid go, slipping through the door, in silence. The kid
muttered another apology on his way but left with nothing more than that.
Zack’s eyes roamed up and down his body just as he left their sight.
“You’re such a dick.” Zack laughed again, nudging Kunsel as they turned to head
out of the alleyway. “You totally jumped the gun and assumed he was a
prostitute.”
“Hey, he was the one hanging around in the alley!” Kunsel protested. “Besides,
I didn’t think he’d get my drift. I was only warning you not to pry. It’s not
my fault he figured out what I was thinking.”
“Dick.” Zack teased.
“Well, what about you, eyeing him up like the pervert you are!”
“Shut up!”
“There’s no way that kid’s legal.” Kunsel lectured. “As a 1st Class, you should
be more careful. You have a reputation, right?”
“I only checked him out!” Zack snapped. “It’s not like I jumped him or
anything. You make me out to be, well, I dunno…”
“He was a good-looking kid, I’ll admit that much.” Kunsel shrugged. “But,
you’re not exactly a teenage stud anymore, you know. Keep your eyes on people
above a certain age, please.”
“You make me out to be a dirty old man.” Zack pouted.
“To him, you kinda are.”
“Dick!”
===============================================================================
 
Sure enough, the following morning hit Zack hard. And, for the millionth time
since his Mako enhancement, he vowed to never drink alcohol again. Kunsel
didn’t believe him when they spoke on the phone.
“You say that every time. Give it a month or two.”
“I’m not kidding.” Zack groaned, burying his face in his pillow. “I feel like
I’ve been crushed by a Behemoth. And I’m pretty damn sure I’ve left my wallet
at that bar too.” Kunsel cursed down the phone.
“Doesn’t that have your SOLDIER I.D card in it? You need to get that back. And
fast.”
“I hate my life.” Zack whined. “I don’t wanna go anywhere, let alone the slums,
right now.”
“Tough luck, my man.” Kunsel tried to laugh but obviously thought better,
wincing as the sound penetrated his skull. “Lazard will lose his shit if he
finds out one of his precious 1sts headed down for some boozing in the slums.”
Zack wanted to storm down to the 2nd Class floor and smack Kunsel in the mouth,
but he knew his friend had a very good point. One way or another, severe Mako-
enhanced hangover or not, he’d have to go retrieve his wallet and hope he could
bribe the bar owner into keeping quiet- that’s if no one else picked it up.
Of course, Kunsel refused to help him out, choosing to stay holed up in the
barracks to sleep it off. So, out of pure childishness, Zack made a snide
remark about the shared accommodation, rubbing it in that he had his own
apartment- courtesy of his rank- before hanging up and dragging himself out of
his glorious bed.
The trip to the slums was far less exciting that morning, and it was far more
difficult to avoid being sighted at noon on a Saturday. And, the crushing news
that the owner of the bar hadn’t found a wallet and nothing had been handed in,
was enough to make Zack wish he’d brought the Buster Sword along with him- just
to vent.
With a huff, he stormed out, fetching his phone to call Kunsel and let his rage
known. Before he could though, he caught sight of a flash of gold out of the
corner of his eye. The kid. The same kid from the night before was headed his
way, one hand raised to try and grab his attention.
“You dropped this.” The blonde said simply, thrusting the prized wallet his
way. “Probably when we bumped heads in the alley. I found it on my way out.”
“Thanks, man.” Zack grinned, weighing it in his hand whilst he enjoyed the
feeling of relief crashing over him. “You’re a serious life saver!” He flipped
it open, a quick glance confirming that all of his belongings (including his
money) were safe and accounted for. A rough kid from the slums had returned his
wallet intact- nothing stolen. His faith in humanity was restored. Maybe, just
maybe, the kid hadn’t even bothered looking inside…
“So, what’s a SOLDIER doing down here?” The kid asked, instantly shattering
Zack’s illusionary peace.
“Will you keep your voice down?” Zack hushed him, glancing around nervously at
the people going about their business. The kid lowered his head, a little
embarrassed that he’d overstepped the mark and stuck his nose in someone else’s
business. Zack sighed, feeling a little guilty. “In fairness, it was stupid of
me to leave my I.D card in here.”
“If it’s any consolation, I actually recognized you the moment I saw you.” The
kid said, looking up again with those beautiful, natural eyes. So different
from eyes tainted with Mako. They were pure. Untouched. Truly like the sky.
“Zack Fair, SOLDIER 1st Class.”
“Ah, that right?” Zack smirked. “A member of my fan club?”
“No.” The kid said, a little too bluntly, and the look on his face showed he
regretted it. “I mean, I know all of the 1sts. I moved to Midgar to join
SOLDIER, actually.”
“Oh.” Zack paused, imagining Kunsel perched on his shoulder, warning him not to
pry and to keep his mouth shut. Unfortunately, the expression on his face must
have given him away, despite his efforts to keep quiet. The kid flushed with
embarrassment, the tint of red travelling up his neck and across his face.
“I didn’t make the cut.” He admitted quietly. “Couldn’t face the folks back
home.”
“That’s how you ended up in the slums?”
“I couldn’t afford to stay up top for long.” He shrugged. “It was kinda my only
option at the time. No one will hire me- they say I’m too young and I don’t
have any experience.”
“So, what’s the plan then?” Zack asked, probably taking things too far and
doing something Kunsel would smack him upside the head for. He should just
thank the kid for the wallet and walk away. A SOLDIER 1st Class, hanging around
the slums, talking to a homeless bit of jailbait in the middle of the day. Not
the brightest idea ever. But, he couldn’t help being curious. Besides, there
was something interesting about the kid. And, he didn’t just mean the fact that
the kid was damn hot.
Zack felt sorry for him. He couldn’t imagine being rejected by the SOLDIER
recruitment programme. He couldn’t imagine being faced with the possibility of
going home and admitting to everyone that he had failed. At that age, had the
same happened to him, he might have just done exactly the same and made his way
down to hide his shame in the grubby alleys of the slums.
“Survive.” The kid murmured bluntly. “Until I’m old enough to find work. Work
that doesn’t involve…” A pause. “…what your friend was implying last night.”
Zack instantly felt relieved- which didn’t really make much sense considering
he didn’t know the kid. Still, he couldn’t help also feeling a little ashamed
of Kunsel’s behavior.
“Sorry ‘bout that.” He offered, scratching the back of his head. “He doesn’t
mean to be a dick. He just kind of…is one.”
The kid actually smiled at that. And Zack felt a hunger stirring inside of him.
“Anyway, I better go.” The kid said, suddenly aware of their surroundings,
glancing at the people littering the street awkwardly. “I’m glad I got to
return that back to you.”
“Thanks again.”
The kid turned to leave.
Zack stopped him just in time to ask his name.
Cloud.
How fitting.
===============================================================================
 
“A SOLDIER reject?” Kunsel echoed, putting it a little harsher than Zack had at
first. “Looked a little young for a potential recruit.” He smirked, dodging an
attempted kick with ease, moving into position to land a blow of his own.
“Now you’re exaggerating!” Zack scoffed, blocking the strike with his forearm.
“Kid’s got to be at least fifteen to have applied to join the recruitment
programme.”
“But, he can’t be any older than eighteen.” Kunsel added, dropping to the
ground to attempt kicking at Zack’s feet. Zack evaded smoothly with a simple
jump. “After all, he said he was too young to work in Midgar!” Zack blocked his
attempt at a punch, grasping his wrist and slinging him across the training
room. Kunsel managed to land without spraining anything. “And he said he had to
sneak into that bar.”
“Still, can you believe he returned my wallet?” Zack said, a fond smile
crossing his lips. “Most people would have made off with it.”
“Oh, please.” Kunsel tutted, charging forward for another rush of assaults.
“The kid was probably planning to run off with it!” He grunted as they traded
hits, one after another. “He had no idea he was going to bump into you. It was
a coincidence. If he hadn’t have seen you, he would have kept it!”
“He saw me before I saw him!” Zack snapped back. “If he was so desperate for
money, he could have ran!” He narrowly avoided an elbow to the jaw. He was
distracted. “Besides, it’s not like he could hand it in to the bar when he’s
not supposed to be there in the first place!”
“You’re grasping at straws.” Kunsel huffed, receiving a punch to the gut
shortly after.
They called it quits after that. Heading over to gulp down some water and dry
the sweat from their foreheads. The conversation, however, was far from over.
Zack was nearing obsession, unable to let go of the kid from the slums. “Look,
I get that you have the hots for the kid, but can we let this drop? It’s not
like you can actually do anything about it.”
“I know, I know.” Zack muttered, staring at the ground. “I’m just getting ahead
of myself, okay? I mean, did you see him?”
“Not really my thing, buddy.” Kunsel patted him on the shoulder. “But, if you
need any added motivation to stay away from a certain slum hottie…” he leaned
in, whispering in Zack’s ear menacingly, “If you get caught, you’ll be stripped
of your SOLDIER status and thrown in jail to rot.”
Zack gulped.
Well, that certainly worked.
===============================================================================
 
The subject of Cloud from the slums wasn’t raised again for the next week. It
crossed Zack’s mind from time to time, but he found himself far too busy with
his workload. Missions were piling up lately. Too many high-profile assignments
and not enough SOLDIER 1st Class.
However, when the thought of Cloud was forced into his mind again, he was
horrified to find himself in Lazard’s office of all places. He knew he was
supposed to expect the unexpected- but that was ridiculous!
“One of you needs to escort a small unit down into the slums and eliminate the
group quickly and quietly.” Lazard briefed. “This assignment is a top priority.
However, I understand that all of you have full schedules, which is why I’m
leaving it up to you to decide amongst yourselves who goes.”
“Not a chance.” Genesis Rhapsodos, SOLDIER 1stClass, looked disgusted at the
very notion. “I don’t understand why this requires our attention. Like you
said, all of us are buried in work. So, why can’t the 2nds handle this one?
It’s just a rebellious faction. This seems unnecessary to me.”
“They’re more than a rebellious faction, Genesis.” Sephiroth, SOLDIER 1st
Class, cut in. “They’re a terrorist cell within our very own city. One wrong
move and we could have a serious incident on our hands.”
“Precisely.” Lazard nodded. “We need someone who can deal with this quickly but
quietly. No mess. No questions. No collateral damage. In and out. I’m not
willing to risk anything, which is why I’m requesting a 1st Class to lead the
assault.”
“I decline.” Genesis retorted, almost instantly. “I’m needed on the frontlines
in Wutai. I don’t have time to go boar hunting in the slums.”
“Why don’t you accept this assignment, Zack?” Sephiroth suggested, turning to
the younger man with a curious gleam in his eye. “As I recall, delicate matters
like this haven’t been your thing in the past.” He chuckled. “Now’s the time to
prove that you can go in without going all out.”
“Aw, come on!” Zack groaned, shooting the man a glare. When he discovered that
the great General Sephiroth had a sense of humor, he’d thought it was a good
thing at the time. Now he wasn’t so sure. “Why aren’t the Turks taking this
one?” He protested. “They have no problem poking their noses in everything
else.”
“Zack.” Lazard warned. “The President sent this one to us. Can you handle it or
not?”
“Fine.”
===============================================================================
 
The mission itself wasn’t all that bad. Under his guidance, Zack’s squad
managed to take care of things in record time. All terrorists exterminated- no
problem. He called Lazard to declare the mission a success and congratulated
his team- consisting of a few 2nds and 3rds, as well as a small unit of Shinra
troops. Having postponed his other assignments, Zack found himself disappointed
that everything went as smoothly as it did. It was boring. But, that was
obviously what the higher-ups wanted.
Zack sent some of the Shinra troops off to check there was no ‘collateral
damage’, as well as to reassure the public, whilst the others cleared the place
out and disposed of the corpses. The 2nds and 3rds were gathered together,
chattering excitedly about their triumph.
With nothing else much to do, Zack decided to slip off for some much-needed
peace.
And, when he just so happened to find a particular blonde teenager wandering
the slums, far be it from him to ignore the coincidental hand of fate. And, if
there was a part of him that was hoping he’d bump into the kid all along,
well…he wouldn’t tell Kunsel, that was for sure.
“You’re back.” Cloud observed, “And in uniform this time.” Something close
to…envy(?) flashed in his eyes.
“Damn straight.” Zack grinned, bumping his own chest in pride. “Keeping the
city safe like no one else can!” Cloud actually scoffed at that, glancing round
at the rotten streets of the slums. Zack looked at him quizzically.
“You have no idea what goes on down here.” The kid muttered solemnly. “I didn’t
either until I started staying here. It’s like a cage, full of animals willing
to do whatever it takes to survive. No one even bothers enforcing the law below
the plate.” Concern spread throughout Zack. Cloud seemed off. Although he was
obviously run down and exhausted in their previous meetings, there was
something off this time around. He was shaky. Paler than before. His whole
demeanour screamed fear and anxiety.
“What happened?” Zack asked softly, quickly making sure there was no one close
enough to overhear them. Cloud shuffled awkwardly, looking down to hide his
face. “Come on, Cloud, tell me.” The use of the kid’s name seemed to shock him,
causing him to look up desperately.
“It’s not so bad during the day, really.” Cloud insisted. “I help out people
where I can- odd jobs here and there- and sometimes I even get a little bit of
money for it. The people here can be really nice. But…” He went to look down
again. Zack reached out but stopped. Touching the kid’s chin was probably too
intimate. So, instead he settled for giving his small shoulder a comforting
squeeze.
“What is it?” He asked gently.
“Most nights, I can’t find anywhere to sleep. I mean,” Cloud stalled, looking
off into the distance, “I don’t mind hitting it rough outside- I’m used to
that, after all- but slum alleyways aren’t the best place to be at night. When
people see me they assume I’m a…that I’m offering that and they don’t always
listen when I tell them different.”
“Oh, Cloud.” Zack murmured, hand falling.
“It’s never happened!” Cloud explained quickly. “But, I’ve had a few close
calls.”
A heavy silence fell between them, neither one able to meet the eyes of the
other. Zack didn’t know what to say. He felt for the kid, he really did. He
knew the slums, whilst sometimes appearing as a friendly community, had a lot
of problems. And, like Cloud had said, the law wasn’t always enforced. Shinra
troops rarely ventured down below and most other authorities had lost their
power. What options did Cloud have…?
“Commander Fair!” A sudden call snapped them out of their daze- one of the
Shinra troops had tracked him down. Cloud instantly shrunk into himself,
glancing at Zack nervously. “We’ve surveyed the area and completed our checks,
as ordered, sir.”
“Alright.” Zack said, glancing between the troop and the kid beside him. “I’ve
finished interacting with the locals round here. I think we’ve smoothed
everything over.” He offered a smile. “We’re heading back. Tell the others.”
“Yes, sir!”
Cloud remained silent until he was sure the troop had gone.
“You’re here on assignment?” He asked, finally twigging on. “I’m sorry! I
didn’t mean to-”
“Forget it.” Zack cut him off, grinning. “And, hey, take this.” He fished
through his wallet, pulling out a rather crumpled card, which he handed over.
Cloud took it with shaky fingers. “Any problems, like the ones you’ve been
having, and you call me right away. Got it?”
“But-”
“No buts.” Zack said sternly, making the kid jump in surprise. “If I’m not
around and I can’t come and get you out personally, I can at least ask a close
friend to do something. I want you to promise me you’ll call.”
“Okay.” Cloud murmured hesitantly, offering a small nod. He obviously had
doubts, Zack could tell, but he didn’t raise any of them. He’d promised- Zack
could do no more than that.
 
===============================================================================
 
***** Chapter 2 *****
Chapter Summary
     Zack is faced with the consequences of his offer...
Zack was away on assignment for a week and a half following his last meeting
with Cloud. Though The Wutai War had ended, there was a lot of cleaning up to
do- mainly consisting of hunting down extremist factions and sending a message
that SOLDIER was the wrong military force to pick a fight with.
Genesis took charge of most of those missions- hardly seen around HQ recently-
but, not even he could do it all alone. Zack was called in for added support.
And the pure exhilaration of fighting side-by-side with Commander Genesis
Rhapsodos as equals was enough to keep his mind occupied most of the time.
The Wutai War had taken away something important to both of them- Angeal.
Zack’s mentor and Genesis’s friend had died on the battlefield whilst
protecting his comrades. It profoundly affected the both of them- plunging them
into despair at first. But, Zack used it as motivation to become the best
SOLDIER 1st Class he could. He took Angeal’s place as the heart of SOLDIER-
teaching the same lessons of honor that he himself, as a naïve kid, had
learned.
Genesis, however, seemed to withdraw. He was the same man he’d always been-
though Zack hadn’t known him all that well before being promoted- but it didn’t
go unnoticed that he seemed to take the responsibility of cleaning up Wutai all
upon himself. He spent most of his time there, completing assignment after
assignment, only returning to HQ briefly at times.
They didn’t speak of Angeal during their shared mission. Nevertheless, Zack
found himself enjoying Genesis’s company. He wasn’t a bad guy- if a little
strange. He provided decent enough distraction, at least.
Still, Zack couldn’t help wondering if Cloud was okay whenever he got a spare
moment to think. The kid hadn’t called- and he’d promised he would- so Zack
kept telling himself that he must be fine.
However, he hadn’t been back in Midgar more than a couple of hours before his
phone rang- an unknown number.
“You’re back.”Cloud’s shaky voice mumbled through the phone- a statement rather
than a question. It clicked in Zack’s head almost instantly. “I saw it on the
news.”
“You waited until I was back before phoning.” Zack sighed, pinching the bridge
of his nose. “Why didn’t you call sooner? I told you, I have a friend that
could have helped ou-”
“I didn’t…” Cloud trailed off and Zack could hear him bite back a sob. He
sounded dreadful. “I dunno why but, I only want you. I just…I’m sorry.”
“Where are you?” Zack asked, ignoring the apology as he moved to grab his
things. He’d just had enough time since his return to submit his report, grab a
shower and get changed. It was late though- more like early hours of the
morning, actually.
“I ran…payphone…the alley by the bar.”
“On my way. Stay hidden and safe.”
A broken sound of relief could be heard down the line before they ended the
call.
===============================================================================
 
Zack found Cloud huddled in the alleyway, evidence of tears staining his cheeks
and a new layer of dirt over his skin and clothing. The kid made an effort to
wipe at his face, gulping down the fear and putting on a brave front as he
jumped up to his feet. A hurried and panicked apology spilled from his lips as
soon as Zack came into view.
“…and I know you’ve only just got back and you’re probably exhausted and you’ve
been shot at and all that, and I’m so, so sorry. Oh god, I don’t know why I
called you! I just saw you on the news and I couldn’t help it.” Cloud blurted
out, not even taking time to breathe. But, Zack let him. The kid obviously
needed it. “There were these thugs and I tried fighting as best as I could- I
think I broke one of their noses- but there were too many and I didn’t know
what to do! So, I…I…”
“You what?” Zack asked calmly, trying to hide his confusion.
“I kicked the biggest guy in the balls and ran as fast as I could!”
…
Zack burst out laughing, knowing he shouldn’t when it was clear that the kid
was in such a terrible state, but unable to hold it back when he pictured Cloud
cracking a guy twice his height in the nuts. Sure enough, he got a glare and a
pout in return.
“They didn’t hurt you though, right?” Zack asked, finally settling himself. To
his relief, Cloud shook his head no.
“But, I think they’re looking for me.” Cloud said slowly, seeming to only just
realize it himself. “Oh, shit!” The expletive seemed so out of place and
unnatural that Zack found himself holding back another laugh. He knew it was an
inappropriate time, but he was used to intense and dangerous situations, so a
little skirmish with some thugs wasn’t all that concerning to him.
“Relax, spiky.” He said, glancing down the streets briefly. “Come on. Let’s get
out of here.”
“W-What?” Cloud stopped, eyes widening as it dawned on him that Zack was
beckoning him to follow. “I…I thought you were just gonna, I dunno, beat them
up or something.”
“A SOLDIER going around beating up thugs in the slums?” Zack said, spelling it
out with a cocked eyebrow. Cloud blushed in embarrassment, lowering his head as
he realized his expectation was ridiculous. “Just come on. We’ll get you
cleaned up and figure out what to do in the morning.”
Cloud didn’t seem to like the idea- either still cautious and untrusting of
Zack or worried that he was imposing- but he didn’t argue. Instead, they
slipped back into Midgar unnoticed and headed for SOLDIER HQ, completely silent
the entire journey. Zack smuggled the kid in through his private entrance, his
conscience (which sounded an awful lot like Kunsel’s mocking tone) screaming at
him for being so stupid as he did, and soon enough they were in the safety of
his apartment.
Cloud seemed completely transfixed, staring around in awe at the luxurious
accommodation reserved only for a SOLDIER 1st Class. Zack smiled, knowing the
feeling all too well. He’d had the same reaction when he first saw Angeal’s
place.
“Whoa…”
“You can check it out in the morning.” Zack chuckled, gesturing toward an open
door along the corridor. “Bathroom’s through there. Grab yourself a shower and
I’ll fetch some spare clothes for you.”
“Thanks.” Cloud mumbled, avoiding eye contact once more.
Zack didn’t really have any clothes that would come close to fitting Cloud. As
a SOLDIER, his belongings were few and far between and he didn’t hold on to
useless stuff. He had no old clothes from his teenage years- not that even
those would fit the kid. Cloud was quite a bit shorter than him, and so much
smaller in frame that Zack worried that his clothing might defeat the point.
Still, he shook away the thought of leaving Cloud to strut around in the nude
and picked out the best he could: a pair of sweatpants and an old, hooded
sweatshirt with the SOLDIER logo- part of his old training gear.
Zack left them just inside the bathroom and headed into his living room,
slumping down on the couch with a sigh. He considered contacting Kunsel but,
once he noticed the time, he dropped the idea. He knew his friend had an
assignment in the morning- no sense bothering him so early. Besides, he didn’t
need Kunsel lecturing him and reinforcing what an idiot he was- he was already
well aware of that.
“Fuck.” He muttered to himself, running the palm of his hand over his face.
He’d done many reckless things in his day, but this took the cake. For one, it
was absolutely forbidden to allow someone access to SOLDIER Headquarters
without clearance- that, however, could be wriggled out of. A 1st like Zack
could get away with that with nothing more than an informal warning. An
underage kid off the street of the slums- a SOLDIER reject no less- was another
matter entirely. He’d be hung out to dry if anyone found out. Lazard would lose
his mind. Why did he always get himself in tough situations? Angeal once,
jokingly, said that Zack seemed addicted to trouble. He was starting to believe
his mentor had been right all along.
“Zack?” A small voice snapped Zack out of his thoughts, startling him back into
reality. So much for heightened focus. Glancing over, Zack found himself
speechless, teeth gnawing on his lip to hold back a groan.
Cloud was fucking gorgeous.
Stood there, so small and innocent-looking, practically drowning in the clothes
Zack had given him. The sweatshirt was hanging off his shoulders- exposing
pale, smooth skin and the ridge of his collarbone. The pants were much too
large, the drawstring pulled and tied as tightly as possible, hanging off his
hips enticingly. All it would take would be a small tug and they’d be down in
no time.
“Sorry about the fit.” He managed to say, eyes roaming the kid.
“S’okay.” Cloud mumbled- a mixture of shyness and exhaustion. He dragged his
feet when Zack beckoned him over, practically collapsing on the couch, sitting
just a little too close. “I shouldn’t be here, should I?” Zack chuckled dryly
at that.
“Damn right you shouldn’t.” He admitted. “But, don’t worry. No one’s gonna find
out. No point fretting over it right now. I think we can both do with some
sleep, then we can figure this all out in the morning.”
“I’m s…thank you.” Cloud said, changing his apology at the last minute,
glancing over with earnest eyes. He stared at Zack like the man was a true
hero- something that felt a lot dirtier than it should. The kid leaned a bit
closer, something Zack interpreted as an attempt at contact. Deciding that that
was a very bad idea, he leaped to his feet and fetched a pillow and a blanket,
handing them to Cloud with a forced smile.
The kid’s expression was hard to read- the true emotion hidden beneath a layer
of tiredness. They said goodnight and went their separate ways.
Zack could hardly sleep that night.
===============================================================================
 
Cloud was still asleep the next morning, clutching his pillow like it was his
lifeline and breathing softly into it. It was probably his first comfortable
night since leaving home. Zack tore his eyes away and left his apartment-
choosing to head down to the communal gym rather than use his own for his
morning workout. He put even more effort into it than he usually did- searching
for a distraction through physical exertion. It didn’t work.
When he returned to his apartment, Cloud was up, having fetched himself a drink
and settled on the couch. He looked…at home…which made something twist inside
Zack’s gut.
“Morning.” The kid offered shyly, suddenly finding intense interest in his
glass of water.
“Sleep well?”
“Yeah. Better than I have in a long time.”
“It is a damn good couch.”
“Yup.”
An awkward silence- how Zack hated those.
“So…” he started, a little unsure how to start, “where are you from?”
“Nibelheim.” Cloud looked up, seemingly a bit more comfortable once the
conversation was flowing.
“No way.” Zack grinned. “You’re a country boy too.”
“‘Too?’”
“Gongaga” Zack claimed boldly, eliciting a laugh from the kid. “Hey, what’s so
funny about that? You know Gongaga?”
“No, but it’s such a backwater name.” Cloud said, repressing the smile that had
spread on his face, unsure at first whether or not he had offended the only guy
who had cut him a break.
“Ditto Nibelheim.” Zack retorted, hands on his hips.
“Like you’ve been there.” Cloud snapped, a little too defensively.
Another awkward pause.
“I haven’t, but there’s a reactor there, right? A Mako reactor outside Midgar
usually means…”
“…nothing else out there.” They said in unison, looking at one another in
bewilderment once it struck them. Another pause, far less awkward, before the
two shared a carefree and genuine laugh- a lot of the tension dissolving, just
like that.
“Look, Cloud,” Zack started, shifting on his feet, “we need to figure out where
you’re going from here. I mean, you can’t go back to the slums. Winter will be
drawing in soon. No matter how tough you are, you’ll have a hard time down
there without shelter.”
“I…” Cloud sighed. “I was trying not to think about that.”
“Trust me, pushing things off doesn’t make them go away.” Zack knew that from
experience. “Any family outside Nibelheim?”
“No.” Cloud shrugged. “It’s just me and my mom.”
“Friends?”
“Never really had any back home, let alone anywhere else.” Man, the kid really
was backed into a corner. Zack had a back-up plan, but it all came down to one
thing…one thing he was too nervous to ask at first.
“How…” he stalled for a moment, glancing away from the far too attractive kid
just sitting in his apartment, “how old are you?”
“Um…” Cloud bit his lip, shuffling under Zack’s stare. “Fifteen.”
Zack really was a dirty old man.
“Like, a young fifteen, or…?”
“Zack.” Cloud whined.
“Well, Midgar’s shelters are out of the question then.” He sighed in defeat,
scratching the back of his head. “They don’t accept anyone under the age of
sixteen. If you turn up, they’ll report you to the authorities. You’ll either
be escorted home or put in the system. I mean, you’re old enough to enlist in
the military but not to apply for a place in a homeless shelter. How messed
up’s that?”
Cloud offered a half-hearted smile for his sake.
Zack wanted to suggest the kid just gulp down his fear and shame and head home.
After all, it had to be better than freezing to death on the streets. Then
again, he had no right to judge. Poor kid only had his mother, no friends to
speak of. Scurrying back home with his head down wasn’t exactly going to make
life any easier.
“Look, you don’t have to worry.” Cloud said, doing his best to put on a
confident front. He failed miserably. Zack saw right through the façade, almost
immediately. “There are a few nice people down there who have put me up once or
twice. I might be able to get a few nights here and there. All I’ve gotta do is
stick it out ‘till I’m sixteen, right? Then I can go to a shelter.”
Zack shook his head. He knew a dumb plan when he heard one- he had enough
experience of them too. Cloud seemed to understand that his attempt was wasted
and lowered his head once more.
“It’s obvious we’re not gonna be able to settle this today. We need more time.”
He pondered it for a moment, calculating how much shit he was already in and
how much more he might end up getting in if this carried on. He figured things
couldn’t get much worse- though Kunsel would probably disagree with him.
“Alright, here’s what we’re gonna do. You’re free to stay here for now.” He
raised a hand, effectively silencing the kid before he could protest. “It’s
temporary. I’m gonna book some time off, pull a few strings, which will give us
enough time to find a better solution. There must be someone out there willing
to hire you and I’m sure we can find some cheap accommodation. It shouldn’t
take you long to earn enough- I can even lend you some for a deposit.”
“Y-You’d do that?” Cloud asked, completely bewildered.
“Sure. It’s SOLDIER’s job to help people.” Zack offered a bright smile. That’s
what the media claimed anyway. “Although…”
“Your bosses wouldn’t see it that way.” Cloud finished for him, catching on
pretty quick. Zack offered an apologetic smile.
“That’s why we’ve gotta have some ground rules.” The kid nodded in
understanding, sitting silently as he waited for instruction. And wasn’t that
just a little arousing in the worst kind of way. “You can’t go anywhere else in
the SOLDIER building but here- that’s kind of an obvious one. You get caught
without clearance and you’ll be in serious shit.”
“Right.” Cloud gulped, a little anxious at the thought.
“Whenever you wanna leave, use the private elevator.” Zack jabbed his thumb in
the right direction- the way they’d snuck in a few hours earlier. “But, be
discreet. Don’t go waving your arms around and drawing attention to yourself.
I’ll give you a spare key card. Don’t lose it.”
“Key card. Don’t lose. Got it.” Cloud nodded, a little too adorably.
“And, of course, don’t talk to anyone about this.” Zack said firmly, watching
the kid take it all in. “Other than that, help yourself to food and all that.”
Zack thought he handled the situation rather well. He’d set up boundaries and
made it clear that the arrangement was temporary. And, he’d managed to go all
those hours without pushing the kid down and fucking him- which was an
achievement in itself. Only time would tell just how much of an idiot he really
was.
===============================================================================
 
Approaching Lazard was an odd experience. He got on with the Director rather
well, but he always seemed to have a slight twist of mischief to his smile-
like he knew every little secret somehow. So, for Zack, who had a guilty
conscience, it was especially unnerving.
“You’ve never requested leave before.” Lazard pointed out, cocking an eyebrow
at the request. Zack shuffled awkwardly under his gaze.
“A guy can only handle so much, I guess.” Zack shrugged. “Heading out to Wutai
with Genesis just took it out of me.”
“That so?”
“Yup!”
Zack wasn’t so sure that his grin was all that convincing. Lazard studied him
for a while, amusement and curiosity playing on his features as he mulled it
over. Finally, whatever he was trying to piece together seemed to fall into
place. Though, the chuckle that escaped him wasn’t exactly reassuring.
“You obviously know about the 1st Class shortage.” Lazard said, giving Zack a
pointed look. “So, I can’t give you full leave, as much as you may deserve it.
That would mean trying to divide your pending assignments amongst the few
others we have.”
Zack sighed. “What I can do,” Lazard continued, “is reroute to you only those
assignments which do not require deployment. It may mean a few more of the
boring jobs you hate so much, but it means you can stay in Midgar, at least.”
Good enough.
“Thanks, Director!” Zack smiled, feeling relieved to know he had enough time to
try and help Cloud out a bit- if only to clear his conscience.
===============================================================================
 
The next step was updating Kunsel about the Cloud situation. For that, Zack had
to wait until late afternoon, when Kunsel had finished up his own assignment.
And, sure enough, his best friend looked at him like he was the dumbest thing
to ever walk the planet.
“You brought him home with you?” Kunsel hissed, smacking a hand to his own
forehead in exasperation. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Zack!”
“You heard what I said!” Zack protested weakly. “He has nowhere else to go!”
“You’re SOLDIER 1st Class!” Yeah, like he needed any more reminders. “You can’t
just take strays home with you- especially underage strays.”
“Nothing happened! He just crashed for the night. Besides, I told you, I’m
sorting it.”
“Oh, yeah. How could I forget?” Kunsel snapped. “You’ve booked time off to find
the kid a job and a place to live. What, you hoping he’ll let you fuck him out
of gratitude?”
“Kunsel!”
“You totally are, aren’t you? I don’t believe you.”
Zack bit his lip, trying to steer his thoughts away from that area. It wasn’t
like that. He was helping out a guy who was down on his luck- trying to cut him
a break. It was because he could relate to Cloud. He really felt sorry for him
and he wanted to help. He was trying to uphold his honor. Just like Angeal
would want him to. But then why did the idea of Cloud paying him back with
submission and sex turn him on so much…?
“Come on, Kunsel,” Zack pleaded, “I could really use your help on this one.”
“Oh, no! I’m not having anything to do with your sordid affair.”
“Kuns’!” Zack gave him the puppy dog eyes, clapping his hands together in form
of a prayer. To his credit, Kunsel held out for quite a while, glaring
stubbornly in indignation. The eyes always worked though. And, sure enough, the
man eventually let out a defeated sigh- the tension leaving his shoulders.
“I’ll ask around and see if I can find a place for the kid to work-
accommodation too.” He muttered, shaking his head at his own damn weakness.
“But, no more than that. The kid himself is all your responsibility. If anyone
finds out, I’m denying any knowledge.”
“You’re the best!”
“Idiot.”
===============================================================================
 
Zack returned to his apartment that evening, with a takeaway for two and a hand
full of hope. There was really no guarantee that Cloud would still be there.
For all Zack knew, he could have run off with anything valuable he could find-
another thing Kunsel warned him about. Still, considering the kid returned a
wallet full of money and credit cards, Zack had a bit more faith. He didn’t
know the kid, sure, but he didn’t think Cloud was like that.
Besides, Cloud was still there, after all. He was perched on the couch, still
wearing the clothes that Zack had lent him and still seeming unsure in his
surroundings. In fact, it didn’t look like he’d even touched anything at all.
The television wasn’t even on. Kid was probably too nervous to go poking
around. Technically, Zack hadn’t given him permission to access the
entertainment systems- just the food and drink.
Cloud was a good kid.
“I hope you like takeout.” Zack said, waving the bag in the air with a grin.
“There’s no home cooking here.” He admitted, well aware of his pretty shitty
culinary skills. He didn’t want to poison the kid right off the bat.
Thankfully, Cloud wasn’t all that fussy- seeming to just be happy with food in
general. They sat down together on the couch, after Zack switched on the news
for background noise, and chowed down.
Cloud tore through his plate so fast anyone would think he hadn’t eaten in all
of his fifteen years of life. And, despite his hesitation, he didn’t say no
when Zack offered to share a little of his own with him. Just a little, mind
you.
Zack couldn’t stop staring at the kid the whole time.
He looked better with all of the dirt and grime washed away- the scent of his
own soap was much more pleasing to Zack than the foul odor of the slums too.
Beautiful, golden hair in a ruffled mess of spikes- more wild and dishevelled
than Zack’s slicked back style. Skin still pale but with a healthy gleam to it,
rather than a sickly tint. Eyes still as blue as the sky. And, his frame still
much too small for the clothes he was hiding away in.
Cloud pretty much hit all of Zack’s dirty fantasies- including ones he wasn’t
even aware of.
Zack was reaching the end of his late twenties. Though some of his friends and
peers would disagree, he was a fully grown man now. Kunsel was right- it was
inappropriate to still be yearning after teenagers. Not that he was yearning
for them all. There was just something so dirty and raw about it.
Sephiroth and Genesis were hot- there was no denying that. Zack could see the
appeal, sure. But, they were just too clean and pristine and perfect. Even on
the battlefield, Genesis was flawless- hair perfectly styled and clothes well-
tailored. The way they spoke brimmed with confidence and a practiced
sophistication too. They were too respectable- for lack of a better word. That
was often the problem with women too. Zack didn’t mind that. In fact, he
admired those who looked out for themselves so well.
However, deep down, the dark part of him lusted for someone like Cloud.
Hair messy and unkempt, nice-looking but obviously too wild to manage. Teenage
boisterousness which reared its head in moments of anger, but little self-
control over such emotions. Cloud was clumsy and awkward. He stumbled over his
words. He stuttered when he was nervous. He acted impulsively. And he was just
so damn innocent and young.
Zack cursed under his breath, wincing when Cloud looked his way curiously.
“Zack,” Cloud mumbled quietly, “I’m sorry…for all this.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Zack gave him a wink, moving to take their plates to
the kitchen, attempting to hide the stirring in his pants as he adjusted. He
was stopped in his tracks by a gentle, almost ghostly, hand on his thigh.
“Cloud?” His breath caught in his throat.
“I…” Cloud began shakily, seeming so unsure and confused about his own actions,
“I c-can…”
“Shit.” Zack cursed again, watching the trembling fingers glide up his thigh
with purpose- just inches away from- “Stop.” He pushed Cloud’s hand away,
feeling his dick jump in an attempt to follow it. Cloud shrunk back, face
turning a deep red as he hid his eyes beneath the fringe of his hair. Shame
seemed to infect every inch of his body.
“Sorry.” The kid mumbled dejectedly. “I just wanted to be of use.”
“What?” Zack gaped, willing away the hardness in his pants as he considered
those words carefully. There was a lot he didn’t know about Cloud- a hell of a
lot- and those words implied something he probably didn’t want to know. “Look,
you don’t have to do anything like that. Let’s just get some rest, okay? I
don’t mind you being here and that’s that.”
“I…” Cloud tensed up, fingers grasping at the fabric covering his own thighs,
jaw tense and body shaking, “I don’t want to be a burden. I can’t just sit
around here doing nothing. I don’t want to spend my entire life owing you.”
“Cloud…” Zack began, trailing off as words failed him. He didn’t know what to
think, let alone what to say.
“I know you want to…” Cloud stated simply, catching Zack off guard with the
confidence in his tone. The kid wasn’t willing to argue that fact. He’d already
decided it was true. “And I do too,” he whispered, a little more unsure and
shaky, “Not just because I owe you either.”
“Look,” Zack sighed, finding it more and more difficult to turn down probably
the best offer he’d ever had in his entire life. The manifestation of all his
desires was serving himself up on a silver platter. He was wavering. “I’ve been
known to make stupid decisions, okay? I’ve kinda got a reputation for it. But,
this…” he gestured toward Cloud, “is taking it too far.”
“But, I-”
“I said no!” Zack snapped, voice spiking in a way he normally saved for the
battlefield.
“Fine!” Cloud shouted, jumping to his feet, face red from anger rather than
embarrassment. And there was the lack of control. The kid looked ready to
explode, but there was a fearful desperation in his eyes which betrayed the
front he was putting on. He stared Zack down for a moment, the anger slowly
fading away as his eyes moistened. With a choked sound, he stormed toward the
private elevator, snatching the spare key card off the table as he went.
And Zack let him, falling back into the couch with a sigh, burying his face in
his hands.
The voice in his head, the one which sounded like Kunsel, was oddly quiet. That
was how fucked up he was.
===============================================================================
 
***** Chapter 3 *****
Chapter Summary
     Zack discovers something about Cloud...
It was about 2 am when Zack heard the elevator.
He’d been sat on the couch since Cloud left, beating himself up and cursing his
rotten luck, debating whether to go after the kid or try and forget he ever
existed in the first place. He didn’t bother calling Kunsel- he already knew
what his friend would suggest. So, when the doors slid open, he felt a wave of
relief wash over him. Feeling uncharacteristically tired- emotionally, more
than anything- he turned his head toward the entrance and gulped down the
sudden lump in his throat.
“Cloud…” he murmured, dragging himself onto his feet. The kid looked frozen,
curled in on himself and shuddering. His feet looked grubby and sore from
venturing outside barefooted. His skin looked wind-battered. And he looked
small. So small and vulnerable.
“Zack,” he sniffed, avoiding eye contact, “I-I’m sorry.”
Zack stared at him for a moment, watching him shuffle closer hesitantly. With a
sigh, he grasped the kid and pulled him near. Cloud settled almost instantly,
relaxing against him with his face buried in Zack’s chest. He didn’t cry- Zack
had the feeling he’d already done enough of that for one night- but the kid let
out a broken sound. The sound of someone who’d run out of fight. And, at that
moment, Zack struggled with the idea of Cloud ever joining SOLDIER. He was so
small, so fragile. Zack could break him in two with ease. How could such a kid
possibly survive on the battlefield? Why did Cloud ever think he could possibly
make it? If he’d faced up to reality from the start, he could’ve stayed home
and saved himself the embarrassment. He wouldn’t be hiding out of shame.
“Cloud,” Zack said gently, feeling the kid shudder in response to the rumble of
his chest, “I’ve got a new rule.”
“Huh?” Cloud pulled back, looking up with dull, tired eyes. Zack had to bite
his lip to keep his darkest fantasies from spewing out of his impulsive mouth.
“If you’re gonna stay here,” Zack said, clutching the kid’s shoulders to keep
him grounded and focussed, “if I’m gonna put my neck on the line for you, then
you have to do everything I say.” Cloud blinked, confusion spreading across his
face. “I can’t have you arguing with me like that, or storming off in a strop.
Someone could’ve heard you, or seen you.”
“Sorry.” Cloud mumbled, hanging his head in shame. Zack grasped his chin,
forcing him to look at him.
“We’ve got to trust each other here.” He persisted, fingers tightening when
Cloud tried to turn away. “You’ve gotta trust me enough to let me sort
everything and I’ve gotta trust you to stick to what I say. You’ve already
broken the rule about being discreet when you leave.”
“I just…”
“Whenever you feel angry, like you’ve gotta let off steam, head into my gym and
have a round with the punching bag or something.” Zack suggested, trying to
diplomatic. “I know this whole situation is messed up and I get that you’re
down on your luck and pissed off. We’re gonna annoy each other now and then-
that’s just how it is- but is a stupid argument really worth getting caught?
You know what would happen.”
“I know.” Cloud sighed, pulling his chin out of the man’s grasp. “I’ll try and
do better. I’m sorry, Zack.”
“Okay then.” Zack let go, glancing at the clock one last time. “Let’s get some
sleep. I don’t really want these late nights becoming a thing.” Cloud didn’t
say a word, just headed to the couch obediently. It was good enough for Zack.
He was too tired to have an argument over attitude, after all. Besides, he
didn’t sign up to be a single parent for a moody fucking teenager.
===============================================================================
 
The next morning, Cloud was back to being the pleasant kid Zack had taken in.
They shared breakfast with one another at the kitchen table, the tension long
gone, as well as the attitude. Turned out, Cloud just needed some time to cool
off on his own for a while. Now, he was cheerful again. Far more tolerable.
“Have you ever been on a mission with General Sephiroth?”
“A few.”
“No way!” Cloud stared at him in bewilderment, like he was the luckiest guy in
the world but didn’t seem to appreciate it. “What’s he like?”
“A little abrasive.” Zack shrugged, secretly lapping up all the attention, “He
comes off as a bit cold, but he’s an alright guy when you get to know him. Very
dry sense of humor though. That can get a bit annoying at times- especially
when you’re fighting off the enemy while he rips the piss out of you.” Cloud
beamed at him, entire face lighting up in glee. Zack couldn’t help smirking
around his morning coffee, allowing the conversation to die off comfortably.
They enjoyed the quiet for a while, nothing but the faint sounds of chewing and
the radio in the background.
“Shinra continues to terrorise Wutai to this day.” A booming voice sounded out,
catching the attention of the both of them. “Despite already stripping the land
of its dignity, as well as its natural resources, with the use of the
genetically altered freaks known as ‘SOLDIER’, the company seems unsatisfied
and our government continues to support their greed and tyranny.”
“This is…” Cloud muttered, glancing at Zack worriedly.
“Anti-Shinra broadcasts,” Zack hummed, “we’ve been investigating them for a
while. Or, at least, the Turks have.”
“Right now, the monster known as Commander Genesis Rhapsodos, held up to the
people as a hero, is hunting down and slaughtering any remnants of the Wutai
resistance out of cold callousness. This man is a lie! He hides behind the
false history of a brave soldier from a proud family to deceive you all. And,
he uses that falsehood to justify killing innocents.”The man hissed through the
radio, appearing to slam his fists on a desk, judging from the sound. “That
includes the husbands, wives and children of the brave warriors that have
already been executed for defending their homeland. And you people not only
allow this, but cry for it out of ignoran-”
Zack shut it off, cursing under his breath.
“I’ve gotta head out for a bit.” He announced calmly, offering the kid a
gentle, reassuring smile. “Do whatever- watch TV for a bit if you want.”
“Okay.” Cloud murmured, seeming slightly disheartened.
===============================================================================
 
“I doubt Genesis has heard,” Sephiroth mused, “seeing as they don’t broadcast
that far out. However, I can assure you he won’t be best pleased.”
“Right now, it isn’t really Genesis I’m worried about.” Lazard sighed. “We
believe these broadcasts are linked to the insurgency group AVALANCHE. The
Turks have been investigating them for a while now and they remain adamant they
don’t want SOLDIER near this. But, that said, this recent broadcast poses a new
problem.”
“More of a problem than the bombings?” Zack mocked, folding his arms with a
frown.
“The bombings can be labelled as terrorist incidents.” Sephiroth explained.
“That is how the public will see them, regardless. These broadcasts, however,
are an attempt at propaganda to rally up support for the group. Something like
that can prove more dangerous in the long term.”
“But, no one’s gonna fall for that crap!” Zack protested. “It’s not like the
stuff they said about Genesis is true!” There was an immediate silence as
Sephiroth and Lazard exchanged looks, both seeming off and unsettled. “Oh, come
on!”
“Though I don’t wish to discuss Genesis’s personal matters,” Sephiroth stated,
always the professional, “there is merit to the terrorist’s claims regarding
his history.”
“Not only that,” Lazard cut in, “but reports from Wutai indicate that Genesis
is going beyond his duties.” Something in the pit of Zack’s gut twisted
grotesquely, a sudden nausea snapping him in its grasp.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Genesis doesn’t handle things well.” Sephiroth admitted, the look of
concentration on his face implying he was doing his best to choose his words
wisely. “He has a tendency to overact and behave recklessly in response to
traumatic events. Angeal’s death seems to have triggered another one of these
‘reckless’ streaks.” Zack couldn’t believe his ears. He hadn’t noticed anything
like that when he’d been out there with Genesis. The Commander seemed fine,
carrying out his mission in the way he always did. Just what the hell was being
implied?
“Either way,” Lazard spoke up, “the point is, this proves that the group are
investigating SOLDIER in search of any evidence they can use to sway public
opinion. They’re not inventing fantastical lies out of nowhere, they’re using
information they can prove. Seeing as the 1sts are idolized by the public, it
makes sense that they would be AVALANCHE’s targets.”
“They’re trying to discredit the ‘heroes’ of SOLDIER.” Sephiroth added.
“Precisely. Chances are, the 1sts are being watched closely.” Lazard warned,
giving Zack a pointed look. “That means, right now, there can be no slip ups.
All of you have to remain fully professional and perfectly presentable. If they
watch you, I want them to see nothing but the heroes you are known to be.
They’ll jump on anything they can. That’s means no outings to the bars, Zack.”
Zack gulped.
“Yes, sir.”
“I’ll be heading out to Wutai,” Sephiroth explained softly, “to update Genesis
on the situation. I was scheduled to oversee the induction programme this week.
Seeing as you’re on leave, it makes sense to have you cover it, Zack.”
“It won’t be too hard to come up with a cover story.” Lazard agreed.
“Sure.”
But, there was only one thing on Zack’s mind…
Being watched closely.
No slip ups.
Fully professional and perfectly presentable.
Cloud.
===============================================================================
 
Kunsel was attending a goodwill demonstration in Midgar in response to the
broadcast, leaving Zack with no friend to go and pester or ask for advice. So,
with his conscience conveniently absent, he returned back to his apartment to
try and hide from his guilt. When he got there, however, he was surprised to
discover that Cloud was nowhere to be seen. He wasn’t on the couch. Not in the
kitchen or bathroom. But, his key card was still on the table.
Zack pouted, deciding to go and hunt down his stray.
Where he found him was quite a surprise. Cloud was in Zack’s personal gym,
obviously taking him up on his offer, going at it with the punching bag. The
kid had stripped down to a pair of Zack’s boxers- far too large and in danger
of slipping off his narrow hips (and wasn’t that the hottest thing he’d ever
seen)- and a similarly large t-shirt. His exposed skin was glistening with a
sheen of sweat. Face red from exertion. Breath short but well controlled.
Zack cocked an eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe as he watched the kid
move. Cloud had his fists in almost perfect position, guarding his face and
torso as he was supposed to. He moved swiftly from side to side, lunging
forward to strike with his fists, pounding the bag again and again and again.
Occasionally, he ducked and delivered a kick, his technique a little sloppy but
still rather impressive. His footwork needed improvement though. He left
himself too open when it came to his form. Still, the little grunts he let out
with every strike were a bit more distracting. The enemy would probably be too
focussed on trying to keep their dicks under control.
Zack’s chuckle at his own sordid thoughts almost made Cloud fall flat on his
face- proof of his shoddy footing.
“Zack,” he panted, stirring up the dirtiest images in the man’s mind, “I…you
said I could-”
“It’s fine.” Zack said, offering a smile. “You’re free to come in here
whenever. Still, if you don’t mind me saying, you’re all about up here,” he
indicated what he meant, lifting his arms to mimic Cloud’s guard, “and not
enough about down here.” He shifted his feet into a perfected stance, watching
the kid’s eyes roam down his body. “Guard is important, being the basics and
all. But, fact is, fighting hand-to-hand is pretty rare outside of training.
Once you move on to weapons training it kind of loses its point. Your footing
is always important though. That’s where a skilled enemy will be aiming for.”
“But, if I’m quick enough…” Cloud started, obviously changing his mind and
falling silent. Zack chuckled again, beckoning the kid over.
“Show me.” He declared. “Try and land a blow on me.”
“Zack…”
“Ah, ah.” He interrupted, wagging a finger in warning. “What’s the new rule?”
“Do everything you say.” Cloud sighed. Nevertheless, he obeyed, stepping
forward and demonstrating his flawed stance once more. A moment of hesitation
and a nod from Zack later, and he lunged forward with a fist- damn fast for an
inexperienced kid. Still, once Zack sidestepped and exploited the false angle
of Cloud’s feet, the attacker found himself flat on his ass within seconds.
And, more than anything, Cloud looked confused.
“Feet are too far apart- makes your stance shaky and slows down your reaction
time.”
“Right, nothing to do with me fighting a SOLDIER 1st Class.” The kid muttered,
rolling his eyes. Sarcastic little brat. Zack smiled.
“Watch.” He moved forward, until he was right in front of the kid, and angled
his feet perfectly. Cloud watched curiously, doing his best to focus. “If the
base is good, the rest follows. Footing becomes even more important when you’re
handling a sword, you know.” At this point, however, the kid was paying very
little attention to Zack’s feet- something which made the man’s heart tighten.
Cloud’s hypnotic eyes, so blue, were focussed on the bulge Zack’s cock made in
his SOLDIER pants. Zack stared down at him, eyes honing in on a bead of sweat
trailing down the kid’s cheek, the way Cloud’s tongue unconsciously slipped out
to catch it as it passed. The way he seemed to lean ever so forward without
even realizing.
Fuck.
Zack hoped these terrorists couldn’t see into his apartment, or he was so
screwed. Still, at the moment, he couldn’t bring himself to give a shit. His
gloved hand reached out, fingers tangling in Cloud’s damp hair. He told himself
it was with the intention of keeping the kid away. But, when Cloud took it as
invitation, bowing forward to bury his face into Zack’s crotch, the older man
was too shocked to find the strength to do anything but shudder. Pushing just
how wrong it was to the back of his mind- along with Kunsel- he watched the
kid’s eyes close in contentment. Cloud moved around a little, before he seemed
to melt. His body went slack, knelt on the floor, nose moving along the outline
of Zack’s slowly hardening cock. Cloud’s lips brushed along the bulge,
eliciting a small moan from the man above, his nose inhaling the scent with a
moan of his own.
Zack cursed under his breath, yanking on the kid’s hair in an attempt to pull
him off. Cloud’s hands shot up, clutching on the leg of his pants defiantly as
he pushed his face in harder. He stubbornly muffled out a sound of protest,
nuzzling against Zack’s cock eagerly, like it was a gift he wasn’t willing to
part with. Zack tightened his grip in Cloud’s hair as he felt the warm breath
ghost over him. And, although it took all the willpower he possessed, he
managed to finally pry the kid away.
Cloud looked up at him, so filthy. His cheeks were flushed, no longer from his
sparring, pupils large and desperate. And his own cock was tenting Zack’s
boxers- something he didn’t even bother trying to hide. So shameless and needy.
Zack cursed again, letting go of the kid’s hair to give him a reassuring pat on
the head.
“Come on,” Zack said calmly, trying to pretend Cloud wasn’t turning out to be
the death of him, “I’m ordering a pizza.” And, damn it, the kid had to give him
such a bright and pure hearted smile from where he was seated on his knees,
looking up at him with adoration.
“Yeah.”
===============================================================================
 
“So,” Zack mumbled, watching the kid tuck into his food with the same
enthusiasm as before, “where’d you learn to fight like that?”
“Taught myself.” Cloud managed, around a mouthful of pizza, not letting up for
even a second. “I used to spend hours training. It’s all I had to do. It helped
me take care of the bullies too.”
“Explains how you broke that thug’s nose.” Zack hummed, studying the kid
closely. “Still, your hand-to-hand combat skills are pretty good, considering
your age and inexperience. Better than I was at fifteen.”
“Really?” Cloud gulped down another mouthful, pausing to look over at Zack with
searching eyes, lighting up at the smallest sign of praise.
“So, how’d you end up flunking the recruitment?”
“Confidence, I guess.” Cloud shrugged, trying to play it off that he didn’t
care much. His eyes gave him away though. Zack was starting to learn that the
kid had very expressive eyes. Every emotion he had seemed to be reflected in
them. “I don’t do well under pressure. I totally messed up. I just stood there
while the other guy floored me. That and I tripped during the obstacle course.”
Man, could the kid ever get a break?
“Ever consider reapplying?”
“Not anytime soon.” Cloud scoffed. “It was humiliating. I’d have to be pretty
damn impressive to make them forget what a loser I was.”
“Yeah.” Zack murmured to himself. “Pretty damn impressive.”
“Huh?”
“Come on.”
===============================================================================
 
They spent the rest of the afternoon together in the gym, working on Cloud’s
footing first of all. The kid had developed a bad habit that proved hard to
break. Zack knocked him down over and over, dodging every attempt at an attack
he made end exploiting the same flaws. Cloud caught on quickly though. Before
long, he’d corrected his stance and even picked up on the pattern of Zack’s
counters.
The first time he smoothly dodged his sweeping kick, Zack was dumbfounded- so
much so that he left himself wide open and suffered a fist to the gut for it.
“I’m so sorry!” Cloud shouted worriedly, fussing over him out of pure panic.
“S’fine.” Zack assured, rubbing his own stomach soothingly. “Just didn’t expect
you to hit so hard, spiky. That’s some crazy strength.”
“T-Thanks.”
They continued from there. Zack gave the kid some more helpful pointers and
tips- some that went beyond basics- and the kid soaked up every bit of new
information and applied it almost immediately. He was a quick learner. A very
quick learner. He was determined too, rejecting all offers of a rest, always
wanting to push himself and keep going.
Zack had been wrong.
Cloud was a fighter.
And, sparring against him was even more fun that taking on Kunsel. Zack loved
every minute of it. The pride of being able to pass on his knowledge, the
exhilaration he felt whenever Cloud pulled something off, the surge of desire
that struck him with every movement of that lithe body.
And, when they were sparring, Cloud looked more alive than ever before.
===============================================================================
 
“Let’s go.” Zack said, throwing clean sweats at the couch. Cloud caught them,
looking up in confusion.
“Where we going?”
“It’s a surprise.” Zack retorted, gesturing at the clothes. “Put ‘em on and
come on.” He looked away while the kid got dressed, trying to keep himself
distracted until Cloud appeared at his side. A glance his way and Zack had to
bite his lip. They needed to get Cloud some clothes of his own- clothes that
actually fit properly. With a sigh, Zack herded the kid out of the apartment-
ignoring the strange look he received when they headed for the main elevator
instead of the private one.
Zack checked the time- 11pm- most of the others would be in bed by now. If they
were careful, they’d be able to pull it off without any trouble at all. Still,
the way Cloud stared at him the entire way was unsettling- it began to make
Zack doubt himself.
“T-This is…” Cloud only averted his gaze when the doors slid open, instead
staring up in wonder and awe. “A SOLDIER training room?”
“One of the top simulators.” Zack nodded. “Reserved for the 2nds and 1sts. But,
it’ll be better than the gym back h-” he caught himself before it slipped out,
rethinking his wording quickly, “-back at the apartment.”
“But, why…?” Cloud asked, still gaping as they stepped inside.
“You’ve got potential, spiky.” Zack admitted casually. “I know what we’re gonna
do. I’m gonna train you up and you’re gonna reapply for SOLDIER and blow them
all away. You’ll do so well the second time around, they’ll totally forget
about your fluke.”
“But-”
“Enough buts!” Zack snapped on a sigh, turning to glare at the kid sternly.
“For heaven’s sake, Cloud, it was your dream to be in SOLDIER. If you just give
up after one slip up, how the hell are you ever gonna make it? I said I’d help
you find a job and a place to stay but, now I see that it’s not good enough.”
Cloud fell into silence. “Embrace your dreams. If you want to be in SOLDIER,
you need to have dreams. And honor.”
With newfound determination, Cloud gave a curt nod and offered no further
arguments.
“You know, you just broke one of your own rules.” He pointed out before they
could start, always seeming to gain the upper hand. Zack punched him in the
arm.
They sparred for hours- using the training simulator to practice dodging,
stealth strikes, form, and technique. Cloud picked it all up incredibly
quickly, giving it his everything after Zack’s pep talk. And, in that moment,
Zack’s desires, lust, and fantasies took a back seat. All he could feel was an
immense amount of pride. Kunsel seemed to vanish from his head as well. In his
place, Angeal stood.
‘Angeal, are you watching?’ Zack thought to himself, complimenting the kid for
pulling off a tricky spin-kick. ‘This kid- one day, he’ll be a hero. Like you.’
===============================================================================
 
“Zack,” Cloud murmured quietly, the first word he’d spoken since they finished
their training session. They’d returned to the apartment in a comfortable
silence, collapsing on the couch side by side, a drink of water each to
rehydrate. It was starting to look like late nights really were becoming their
thing. “SOLDIER…aren’t monsters, right?” Zack blinked, surprised by the sudden
question. He’d noticed that something seemed off- like it was plaguing Cloud’s
mind- and there was obviously a reason Cloud started wailing on the punching
bag in the first place. That morning’s broadcast must have got to him.
“Well…” Zack sighed, resting his head back, “as far as I’m concerned, as long
as you have honor, you aren’t a monster. We’re there to do our job, Cloud.”
“But, what if the mission is wrong?” Cloud mumbled thoughtfully.
“Well, SOLDIER 1st Class are allowed to refuse orders.” Zack said with a smirk.
“We’re trusted to make our own judgement, as long as we accept any
consequences. And, the rookies should be able to trust us 1sts to make the best
decision.”
“But, how do you trust someone else to make that kind of decision?”
“You trusted me enough to come with me to the training room, even though you
knew it could get us caught.” Zack pointed out. “And, there’s only two possible
reasons why. Either you trust me to a point where you have faith in my
decisions. Or, you know that I’d be held responsible if anything bad happened.
It’s the same kinda thing. The rookies either trust us because they respect us,
or because they know they won’t be accountable.”
“That’s messed up.” Cloud rolled his eyes. “If someone ordered me to kill an
innocent person, I wouldn’t care how much I trusted them or the fact that I’d
be off the hook, I wouldn’t do it. That’s not what being SOLDIER is all about.
There’s no honor in that.” Zack smiled, surprised once more by the stray he’d
picked up from the slums. The kid really did have potential.
“You get it, Cloud.” He said with a smile, reaching across the ruffle the kid’s
hair. “You’d make a good SOLDIER.”
“You really think I can make it?”
“Trust me.”
They smiled together.
There were a lot of things about Cloud that Zack didn’t understand, things he
wanted to ask about but didn’t dare. That included the kid’s feelings for him.
Cloud was obviously interested, but Zack couldn’t understand in what way. Was
he just lonely and in need of some affection? Something his confused, messed up
and young mind was misinterpreting as physical attraction towards the first
person in Midgar who was nice to him? Or, was he genuinely attracted and was
hoping that they’d become friends or even more?
Kunsel would probably tell him to distance himself, but that didn’t sit well
with Zack.
===============================================================================
 
***** Chapter 4 *****
Chapter Summary
     Cloud becomes more than just a random kid...
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Zack and Cloud fell into a comfortable routine for the next week. They would
wake up and head into the gym to work out together- Zack encouraging the kid to
keep up as best as possible- before sharing breakfast whilst the radio played
in the background. Zack would then leave and spend the day completing his
duties as a ‘stay at home’ SOLDIER whilst Cloud kept himself occupied. Zack
would eventually return with dinner- after which they would sneak into the
training room late at night and spar until they were too exhausted to keep
going. Then it was bedtime- going their separate ways to their respective
couch/bed. It wasn’t for nothing though. They’d come up with a plan between
them…
===============================================================================
 
Zack took over Sephiroth’s duty and attended the induction programme, giving a
speech to the new recruits about dreams and honor- watching their faces twist
into determined scowls. After the introductions, he watched from afar as they
were sorted into groups and presented to Professor Hollander and Professor
Hojo- the two main figureheads of Shinra’s science department- and the
creepiest guys around. What was ahead of the new recruits was the arduous
process of Mako infusion- something which would divide the strong and the weak.
Zack shuddered as he thought back to his own experience. It was something he
tried not to remember. Thankfully, the obnoxious ringing of his cell proved to
be the perfect distraction.
“Zack.”
“Sephiroth?” Zack glanced around, making sure no one was close enough to
overhear. “What’s up? Your reception is way too good for you to be in Wutai.”
“I just got back.” Sephiroth explained bluntly- never one for small talk. “I
assume you’ve finished the formalities. Meet me in Lazard’s office.”
Zack sighed, hearing the click of the line going dead. Sooner or later, maybe
the great General would acknowledge him as an equal he couldn’t just boss
around…
Probably later rather than sooner…
===============================================================================
 
“Where’s the Director?”
“He’s in a meeting with the President.” Sephiroth glanced his way briefly-
seeming unusually lost in thought. It didn’t sit right with Zack. Something was
definitely off. “I called you here because I thought it would be the most
private place to have this discussion.”
“What discussion?” Zack gulped, thoughts immediately turning to Cloud. Maybe
sneaking into the training room had been too risky, after all.
“It’s about Genesis.”
Instant relief. Though, the feeling was only momentary once he saw Sephiroth’s
furrowed brow and slight grimace.
“Did something happen?”
“Genesis was injured.”
“In Wutai?” Zack asked, his concern only growing.
“No.” Sephiroth cut him off, replacing the concern with confusion. The general
sighed heavily. “A few months ago, during a training session between myself,
Genesis and Angeal. I was the one who injured Genesis. Things got out of hand.
As I said, Genesis has a habit of acting recklessly- he took it too far.”
“Why are you telling me this?” Zack asked, studying Sephiroth closely- as
expected, he couldn’t read the guy well enough to determine anything.
“Genesis’s wound did not heal- not as quickly or thoroughly as one would expect
from a SOLDIER enhanced with Mako. The one who treated him was Hollander.”
“Hollander?” Zack crossed his arms with a frown. “That guy’s with the science
department. Why was he performing routine medical treatment?”
“Exactly.” Sephiroth nodded curtly. “He stepped in before Genesis could be seen
by the medical corps. He was also involved with Angeal.”
“Angeal?” Zack froze on the spot. “What does this all mean?”
“I don’t know.” Sephiroth admitted quietly, shoulders tensing in response.
“But, I think it may have something to do with Genesis’s erratic behavior. I’m
going to start investigating Hollander- unofficially, of course. Naturally,
this mustn’t get out. If the terrorists find out, it will be leaked to the
public. ‘Shinra employees investigating one another’- not the best headline.”
“Of course.” Zack nodded.
“So, I’m keeping this between the two of us.” Sephiroth gestured between them.
“Not even Lazard can know.”
“But, why tell me?”
“Because you were Angeal’s friend.” Sephiroth retorted simply. And, somehow,
that seemed enough for the both of them. They exchanged a nod and went their
separate ways.
===============================================================================
 
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I’m not kidding, Kuns’!” Zack snapped, reaching across to punch his friend in
the arm. “The kid really has got potential. The guy soaks up information like a
sponge. He’s pulling off moves that took me months to get the hang of and he’s
performing far above that of a potential applicant.”
“Okay, whatever.” Kunsel sighed, rolling his eyes. “So, the kid’s got talent.
Good for him.”
“You could sound a little more interested.”
“Look, if you’re not gonna make the effort to be interesting, I’m not gonna
make the effort to be interested.” Kunsel sniped, narrowing his eyes at Zack.
“All you ever talk about is that kid lately. Need I remind you that I found the
kid a job? Have you even told him that yet?”
“Hey!” Zack retorted defensively. “The plan’s changed. I’m getting this kid
into SOLDIER.”
“He failed the recruitment.” Kunsel pointed out. “Which means he has a whole
year before he can apply- unless there’s a serious shortage. You cannot hide a
stray in your apartment until then.”
“That’s why he’s applying for the Shinra Security Department first.” Zack
grinned, glad to finally share the ingenious plan they’d concocted. “Then, he’s
gonna get in to SOLDIER next year.”
“And where’s he gonna stay until then, huh?” Kunsel interjected. “I noticed you
said Shinra Security Department instead of Shinra Army. You know damn well the
Security Department aren’t provided with accommodation.”
“Cloud and I don’t think the army’s such a good idea- he’ll get derailed from
joining SOLDIER.”
“Whatever.” Kunsel sighed again. “You’re doing everything you can to drag this
out. You don’t want him to leave. Admit it.”
“Fine!” Zack burst out, feeling a rush of rage at the sight of his friend’s
cocky, satisfied smirk. “No, I don’t want Cloud to leave! He’s cool and fun and
smart. He works hard and doesn’t expect anything for nothing. I like the guy,
okay? He’s good company and I’ve enjoyed having him around.”
“Zack, you’re a SO-”
“I don’t care!” Zack shouted, slamming his fist against the wall. Kunsel froze,
speechless for the first time in forever. “Don’t you ever think there’s more to
life than that? Angeal did! I spend my days following orders all the time,
Kunsel. Half the time, I don’t even have all the information. I just do what
I’m told, get the job done and go home. That’s all I am. The muscle. I thought
things would be different when I made 1st, but…”
“God, you’re loud.” Kunsel muttered, rubbing at his temples soothingly. “I get
it. You’re having a crisis and this kid is making it better for you. That’s
great and all. But, back here in reality there are these things called
‘consequences’ and they’re nothing to turn your nose up at.”
“I know that.” Zack whined, slumping against the wall. “Angeal taught me that
there’s nothing more important than upholding your honor. I know I’m breaking
the rules. And I know that I’m putting myself in a position that threatens my
honor. But, I can’t be as cold and decisive as you and Sephiroth. It’s not that
easy.” Kunsel seemed to take pity on him, either that or he just lost the will
to argue. With a sigh and a shake of his head, he gave in.
“I’ve got connections in the Security Department. I’ll do what I can to open
the doors for him, so the kid better come through and prove himself.” Zack
grinned.
“You’ve got connections everywhere, man!”
“Yeah, well…”
“Thanks, Kunsel.” Zack pat him on the shoulder. “I mean it. I’d be lost without
you.”
“Just don’t get caught.” Kunsel warned, shooting him a glare. “I may be able to
hide the fact that he’s been homeless the last few weeks, but I’m not getting
myself in shit because you can’t control your libido.”
“It’s not like that…” Zack sighed. He loved his friend, he really did, but he
could be such a pain in the ass.
===============================================================================
 
The first time Zack and Cloud went out together in public was to go clothes
shopping. As much as he enjoyed seeing it, Zack knew the kid couldn’t parade
around in clothes several sizes too big forever. It’s not like he could turn up
to the try outs for the Security Department dressed that way either. So, they
invested in some modest, casual clothes and training gear. Cloud prattled on
and on about paying Zack back someday, but the SOLDIER wasn’t too interested.
The day of Cloud’s try outs came soon after. Zack prepared an extra special
breakfast- managing to avoid overdoing the bacon for once- and went over some
more drills to boost the kid’s confidence. It wasn’t clear which one was more
nervous, but the overall tension was undeniable. Zack gave him a speech about
honor and dreams and all that, but he didn’t think Cloud was even listening.
Zack wanted so badly to tag along with the kid, but he knew that was insane.
Walking right through the front door of the Shinra building with Cloud was
taking things too far. It was a shame. The poor kid looked like he needed
someone to lean on. Cloud wasn’t kidding when he said he suffered from
confidence issues. Throughout the morning, it looked like he was going to throw
up. He poked at his breakfast rather than ate it, despite Zack’s prompting, and
was so unfocussed during their drills that he left himself wide open in ways
which he normally wouldn’t. Zack was worried.
“I’m gonna screw up.” Was Cloud’s answer when Zack finally confronted him about
his mood.
“That’s a load of crap!” Zack berated him. “This is a sure thing, spiky.”
“You don’t get it, Zack.” Cloud sighed. “I always screw up. When I’m on my own
or if it’s just fooling around, I’m fine. But, anything important, and I freak.
That’s the way it’s always been.”
“Hey.” Zack knelt down, placing his hands on the kid’s shoulders. Cloud looked
up at him curiously, studying the kind-hearted grin that was shot his way.
“You’re not gonna screw up. Trust me on this, Cloud. I believe in you.”
“Z-Zack…?” Cloud searched his eyes, what for, Zack didn’t know, but he must
have found it. He gave Zack a small smile, eyes lighting up slightly. “Yeah.”
Just before they parted ways, Zack pulled the kid in for a quick hug- the first
bit of meaningful physical contact they’d had since the incident in the gym-
and ruffled his hair. That was the last he saw of Cloud that day.
===============================================================================
 
The entire time Cloud was away, Zack paced up and down. He occasionally tried
to distract himself with squats but couldn’t keep his mind off it for more than
a few minutes, if that. It didn’t bother him that he seemed to care so much
about a homeless kid from the slums. There was just something he didn’t
understand- a feeling of worry and caring. He felt like he needed to see Cloud
do well- to succeed. Zack suspected that it was the same way Angeal had felt
about him. Difference being that Angeal didn’t lust after him like a pervert…at
least he hoped not…
That line of thought did manage to distract Zack for a while- filling his head
with dick-killing images of an incredibly grotesque nature. He started to
wonder if Cloud was just as sickened by his attraction, but quickly dismissed
it. Zack had never shoved his face in Angeal’s crotch like it was his saving
grace- even if he felt like he owed his mentor. And there was no ignoring how
hard Cloud had been. Zack shuddered. His dick wanted attention, but he ignored
it. He was too nervous to jerk off.
The wait was hell. Knowing Cloud was out there on his own was worse.
Only when he finally heard the elevator doors open and close- followed by the
patter of small feet along the floor of his apartment- did Zack release the
tension building in his body with a shaky breath. It was late. Cloud shouldn’t
have been that late. Something was wrong- a thought that was only reinforced
when Zack saw the kid.
Cloud shuffled through into the living room shyly, head lowered and eyes glued
to his feet. His shoulders were slumped, he was curled in on himself, and he
looked miserable.
“What happened?” Zack asked, not knowing whether he really wanted to know or
not.
“I screwed up.” Cloud muttered brokenly, doing everything he could to avoid
Zack’s eye. He sounded utterly destroyed, and Zack felt his heart clench as he
heard it.
“Cloud…” Zack began, trailing off as the kid shook his head.
“I tried to tell you.” He said, the hurt evident in his voice. “I always screw
up.”
Without another word, Cloud headed off to the bathroom, ignoring Zack’s calls
and protests, and locked himself in. Zack groaned, collapsing onto the couch in
frustration and balling his hands into fists. He felt several emotions whirling
inside of him- anger, humiliation, guilt. He shouldn’t have pushed Cloud so
hard. He shouldn’t have made the kid apply for the Security Department. He
should have listened when Cloud said he didn’t think he could do it. But, he’d
been so damn certain that Cloud could do it. He’d seen how amazing the kid was.
He hadn’t doubted it for a second. So, why…?
If anyone could find out what happened, it would be Kunsel. He knew everything.
After it became clear that Cloud wasn’t coming out of the bathroom any time
soon, Zack dragged himself off of the couch and left the apartment. The kid
obviously wanted to be alone and Zack wanted to make sure he wouldn’t overhear
anything.
Zack dialled Kunsel almost as soon as he got out into the night air.
“Sorry, man.” Kunsel said immediately after the pleasantries. Sure enough, he
already knew.
“What happened?” Zack demanded, far more angrily than when he’d asked Cloud.
“Someone recognized him from the slums.” Kunsel sighed over the line. “They ran
an extensive check- made the connection with the SOLDIER recruitment, put the
pieces together and crossed him off the list. From what I hear, the kid
actually did damn well.”
“Then why would they cut him out like that?!” Zack shouted, fingers grasping
his phone dangerously tight.
“You think SOLDIER is all about image? The Security Department’s even worse!”
Kunsel snapped back. “I did what I could, Zack. But, even I have limits, okay?
I know it sucks, but come on. It was just a temporary plan, right?”
“You don’t get it.” Zack hissed. “You don’t know Cloud. This…it’s knocked him
back down- just when he was getting back up.”
“Sorry, but that’s not my area of expertise.” Kunsel shot back defensively.
“You want inside gossip? I’m your man. You wanna know how to get ahead? Call me
up. But, you wanna know how to deal with rejected teenagers? That’s not my
thing. He’s your boy, Zack. You deal with him.”
“He’s not my boy!”
“I said I’d help and I did what I could.”And that ended it. Zack knew he was
being unfair, taking his anger out on Kunsel because there was no one else to
blame. With a muttered apology, he ended the call. Kunsel was right. It was up
to Zack to fix it.
===============================================================================
 
With fresh pizza takeout in hand, Zack returned to his apartment with a clearer
head. It took some knocking and some convincing, but he eventually coaxed Cloud
out of the bathroom with promise of food. The kid hadn’t eaten since that
morning after all. Zack resisted the urge to pull the kid into a tight hug when
he saw just how crushed he looked, instead guiding him over to the couch.
Cloud didn’t want to talk about it but Zack was stubborn- he made the kid
listen as he told him about his call to Kunsel. He’d hoped that the truth would
make Cloud feel a little better, but all the kid did was lower his head in
further shame.
“You didn’t screw up, Cloud.” Zack reiterated, studying the kid as he slowly
nibbled at a slice of pizza.
“But, I did.” Cloud whispered. “If I hadn’t messed up my SOLDIER recruitment,
this never would’ve happened. If only I wasn’t so…”
“What? ‘So’ what?” Zack interrupted, starting to get a little impatient- as
selfish and cruel as it was. “How long are you gonna beat yourself up for it,
Cloud? You think you’re the first to mess up? Do you know how many times I’ve
made a complete ass of myself? I’ve ruined missions, broken equipment,
humiliated my mentor and embarrassed myself plenty of times! But, you know
what? You gotta just keep going. It’s hard, yeah. That’s the whole fucking
point. You think never making a mistake would make you a good SOLDIER?”
“I…” Cloud went to argue but paused, eyes shifting to the side as he started to
think it through. He put down his slice of pizza, staring at it incredulously.
The sides of his lips twitched ever-so-slightly as it dawned on him. “I never
thought of it like that.”
“Welcome to my world.” Zack said, reaching across to wrap an arm around the
kid’s shoulders. Cloud instantly fell into the touch, collapsing against Zack’s
chest. And Zack let him, just holding him soothingly as Cloud struggled to hold
back a sob. He was starting to understand Cloud. The kid had obviously spent a
lifetime being rejected and let down- that’s why he was so eager to prove
himself and so shaken up when he didn’t make it. “Getting knocked down sucks,
but getting back up makes you stronger than the guys who never got knocked down
in the first place.”
“What about Sephiroth?” Cloud murmured with a huff, warm breath ghosting over
Zack’s chest.
“Please, he’s probably fucked up loads of times!” Zack chuckled, squeezing the
kid that bit closer. “But, I bet they cover it up!”
“No way!” Cloud scoffed, the shame and pain starting to ease a bit as they
laughed together. They fell into comfortable silence- both at ease. Around
Zack, Cloud didn’t need to hide in shame. And, with Cloud, Zack could drop the
professional bullshit and be himself. That’s why, even if they said nothing at
all, things were good…
===============================================================================
 
“~Hellllllllooooooo~”
“Oh, shit!” Zack cursed, cringing at the shocked gasp that sounded over the
intercom.
“You forgot, didn’t you?” Came the disappointed murmur, instantly filling Zack
with immense guilt. It was true. With Cloud around, the change in his work
schedule and their late nights, he’d slept in and completely forgotten about
the visit.
“I…now isn’t really a good time, Aerith.”
“You said we could spend more time together.” She said, trying to hide the
disappointment from her voice. “I was looking forward to it. But, if you’re
busy with work stuff, then I understand.”
Zack groaned, slamming his head against the wall. With a glance over at the
couch, where Cloud sat with a quizzical expression, and an inner conflict that
he couldn’t cope with right there and then, he gave in.
“What am I thinking?” He murmured over the intercom. “Of course you can come
up, Aerith.”
“Okay!”
As soon as he hit the buzzer and the elevator kicked into action, Zack spun on
the spot to deal with a suddenly panic-stricken Cloud. The kid looked
mortified- shocked to find Zack breaking yet another of his own rules.
“Relax, spiky.” He said, offering a small smile. “Just a friend. She’s a girl
from the slums, that’s all. No connections to Shinra. And she won’t tell
anyone, okay? She’ll understand.” The kid gulped, giving a nod, but not seeming
entirely convinced.
Aerith gave a squeal as the elevator doors opened and poor Cloud looked like he
was planning on leaping out of the window.
“W-Why aren’t you dressed?” The girl said, hitting Zack in the chest whilst
averting her eyes. “It’s improper in front of a lady, you know.”
“Sorry about that.” Zack smiled sheepishly, scratching at the back of his head.
He hadn’t considered that parading around in his underwear was likely to take
Aerith by surprise. He knew the girl was sweet on him, as well as being sweet
in general, and he certainly cared for her but the two of them were very
different- especially when it came to ideas on modesty. “I overslept. Besides,
it’s no different than if we were at the beach, you know.”
“I…I suppose…” Aerith uncovered her eyes, that beautiful smile lighting up the
room. “I got here all by myself.” She stated proudly, earning a grin in return.
Not long ago, the very thought of the city above terrified Aerith. Zack had
escorted her around Midgar a few times, but for her to make the trip alone was
certainly a big deal. Before he could really express just how proud and happy
he was though, she suddenly noticed that the two of them weren’t alone. And,
the awkwardness returned. “Oh.”
“Oh, right.” Zack shuffled nervously. At least Cloud was fully clothed- he
doubted Aerith would’ve been able to handle seeing an undressed stranger.
“Aerith, this is a friend of mine. He’s staying with me for a while. His name’s
Cloud.”
“Cloud?” She repeated, tilting her head slightly. “Like the clouds in the sky?”
“Hi.” Cloud offered nervously.
“You don’t look like Zack’s other friends.” She pointed out, a look of thought
on her face. “Of course, I’ve only really met Kunsel, but I’ve heard about the
others.”
“Yeah, and you were never meant to meet Kunsel.” Zack muttered, remembering the
day Aerith had suddenly known plenty of embarrassing details about him.
“I’m Aerith.” She said, ignoring Zack completely as she brushed past him. “It’s
nice to meet you, Cloud.”
“Are you Zack’s girlfriend?” Cloud asked impulsively, before he even realized
the words leaving his lips. Both Zack and Aerith instantly froze, faces flaring
up. Zack wanted to smack the kid round the head for that one. Way to make
things even more awkward.
“Don’t be silly.” Aerith giggled. Zack narrowed his eyes at her, groaning. She
didn’t have to be so blunt and harsh about it. Ignoring his obvious objections,
Aerith ushered Zack into the bathroom and insisted he made himself presentable,
reassuring him that she and Cloud would get on just fine. Zack, however, wasn’t
too convinced. Both Aerith and Cloud were a bit awkward when it came to people-
their social skills needed work- it was a recipe for disaster.
===============================================================================
 
As it turned out, Zack may have been a little quick to panic. As it turned out,
Cloud and Aerith got on just fine. Cloud told her all about Nibelheim- its vast
mountains and fields and all of the wildlife. Aerith kept chopping and changing
between terrified of the very thought to massively intrigued and curious. When
Zack returned from the bathroom, the conversation between the three of them
flowed effortlessly. And, admittedly, it was nice to be able to share news of
Cloud’s existence with someone less judgemental and naggy as Kunsel. It
actually came as a relief.
“Your hair needs trimming.” Aerith suddenly declared, yanking at Zack’s spikes
a little. “I’ll fix it up for you!” And, how did he know that one was coming.
He knew she liked helping out, and Aerith was a girl of many talents. She’d
trimmed his hair from time to time. But, whenever they got onto the subject,
the same thing always cropped up. “I preferred your old hairstyle.” There it
was.
“I know, I know.” He chuckled. “But, I told you already. A 1st Class like me
can’t go round with a kiddy haircut.”
She huffed but gave in, as always. Aerith was too easy-going to argue too much.
Either way, she was still excited when Zack accepted her offer and hurried to
the kitchen to collect supplies. “Just a trim.” Zack reminded her, not wanting
anything too extreme.
Under Cloud’s watchful eye, she went about her business- not a word spoken
until she was done.
“There. What do you think, Cloud?” She asked.
“Looks pretty much the same as always.” Cloud murmured, earning himself a glare
from Zack. “But, it’s tidier and neater. It looks good.” He quickly
backtracked, getting a nod in return for his save. Aerith smiled.
“Want me to trim yours as well?” She offered. “It suits you but it doesn’t look
like you’ve had it tidied up for quite a while.” Cloud hesitated, glancing over
at Zack for reassurance. When he found it, though, he was quick to accept.
As it turned out, things didn’t stop there. Not only did Aerith cut his hair
for him- especially the bangs hanging over his eyes- but she also pierced his
ears. Cloud made a passing comment that he’d always wanted them done and was
jealous of Zack’s studs. So, just like that, Aerith was going about her
business, always eager to please. The poor kid looked like he was going to shit
himself- Zack’s grin the only thing stopping him from sprinting away. Aerith
may have been an amateur, but a good one. And, after borrowing a pair of spare
studs from Zack, it was done effortlessly and painlessly.
Aerith stood back to admire her handiwork, settled next to Zack as she studied
the kid. And, Zack couldn’t help but do the same. Cloud looked…amazing…
Aerith had given him more than just a small trim, like she’d done for Zack.
She’d cut his spikes into more controlled and neat forms- keeping the
distinctive shape but giving them a purposeful look. Cloud now looked like his
hair had been styled, as opposed to unkempt. She’d also cut the back
considerably shorter and worked in some gel to spike it. And the earrings
suited Cloud. Two glistening, silver studs- standing out against his blonde
hair and blue eyes.
“Hm.” Aerith hummed thoughtfully, snapping Zack out of his trance. “It’s okay…”
“He looks great, Aerith.” Zack reassured her, shaking his head at her
pickiness. “He really does.” Cloud beamed at the praise, the tension and worry
instantly melting away. All it took were a few words from Zack and he was on
top of the world. He looked happier than ever before.
“You owe me extra for sorting out your special boy here.”
“Oh, come on.” Zack grinned sheepishly. “Alright, how about I take you out and
treat you next time.” Aerith considered it, before that dazzling smile appeared
once more.
“Only if Cloud can come too.”
“Sure.” Zack glanced between them. “It’s a date.”
===============================================================================
 
When Aerith finally left that evening, it was oddly quiet in the apartment.
They’d been so at ease together, talking and laughing to no end, that Cloud and
Zack found themselves stuck in an almost somber quiet. It was the same feeling
you always get as a kid when your friend who’s been over goes home- a sort of
emptiness. Everything seems so dull and boring with them gone and you need time
to readjust.
So, when they settled down on the couch late at night to watch some crappy
movie together, it was no surprise that they didn’t talk for quite a while. In
fact, it wasn’t until about half way through that Cloud finally spoke up.
“Do you…like Aerith?” He asked quietly. Zack cocked his eyebrow, giving him a
look that was almost a warning. “It’s okay.” Cloud promised. “You’ve just never
mentioned her before.”
“I wouldn’t have known where to start.” Zack admitted with a shrug. “She’s
special, all right.”
“We can still be friends, right?” Cloud asked, simplifying the question and
implication that hid between the lines. Although it wasn’t direct
acknowledgement, it was the first time either of them had gone near the subject
of the tension between them. Neither of them had made a move since that day in
the gym and neither dare speak of it. In the meantime, however, they’d each
come to see and care for the other in a different way- a way they didn’t want
to lose.
“Yeah.” Zack said confidently. Even if he couldn’t indulge in his fantasies and
be with Cloud the way his dirty mind wanted, he still wanted their friendship.
No matter what. “Of course we can.”
“And I’ll still be your special boy?” Cloud went on further, voice dropping
into such a quiet whisper that Zack struggled to hear it. It was a throwback to
Aerith’s earlier comment- something that had seemed so passing and natural that
Zack hadn’t really thought much of it at the time. Hearing and seeing how much
it seemed to mean to Cloud in that moment, however, shed new light on the
matter. With a warm smile, he reached across and ruffled the kid’s hair.
“Yeah. Sure thing, spiky.”
===============================================================================
 
Chapter End Notes
     I never intended to include Aerith in this story. But, I decided that
     Zack needed the perspective and influence of someone other than
     Kunsel. Besides, there wasn't really any female presence at all.
***** Chapter 5 *****
Chapter Summary
     The tension between Zack and Cloud reaches a new height...
Zack was due to return to his original SOLDIER duties- unable to put it off any
longer thanks to the manpower shortage. To say that both he and Cloud were
anxious was an understatement. Zack had been enjoying their time together and
the simplicity it had brought with it. Hanging out with Cloud had been so easy
and natural- requiring little to no effort or thought. Zack could be himself
without the worry or fear of the consequences. The only exception to that being
the inappropriate feelings that had been plaguing him- but, he found those
getting slightly easier to control as time went on and he and Cloud grew closer
as friends.
He was coming to care for Cloud as more than an incredibly attractive bit of
jailbait- he was coming to care for him as an important friend. One that he
didn’t want to leave behind when he shipped out. He found the idea of returning
to full-time military life daunting and, once more, wondered how things would
pan out if he left SOLDIER and found himself a normal job.
Life would be so much simpler…
===============================================================================
 
“There’s a situation.” Lazard announced, a sigh ghosting out with the words.
“And, I’m afraid I have no choice but to ask for your immediate assistance.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Zack shrugged, pacing back and forth in front of the Director’s
desk. He could feel the starting of a headache gnawing at his skull. “Short-
staffed and all that.”
“It’s a little more complicated.” Lazard cut in, drumming his fingers on the
desk. Zack glanced his way, trying to assess the man’s expression. “Genesis has
gone missing.”
“Missing?”
“No.” Lazard retorted, shaking his head as another sight left him. “To put it
more clearly, Genesis has abandoned SOLDIER.”
“No way!” Zack snapped, scowling coldly. “He wouldn’t. There’s no way Genesis
would…” but, he found himself trailing off as the doubt began setting in. The
more he thought about it, the less impossible the idea became.
“He’s been acting strangely for some time now.” Lazard pointed out, speaking
Zack’s mind for him. “I had extra watch put on him, just in case. The
operatives I assigned to monitor him were found killed. Genesis abandoned his
post in Wutai and vanished.”
“How do you know he deserted?” Zack demanded. “He might be in trouble! What if
the enemy-?”
“Genesis is the enemy, Zack.” Lazard stated, his voice remaining steady. “He’s
taken a group of the lower class with him and abandoned Shinra. I’ve kept this
under wraps for obvious reasons. The terrorists can’t found out that we’ve lost
yet another 1st Class, let alone that they’ve deserted. That said, the
situation has escalated.”
Zack shook his head, struggling to believe it. Genesis had been acting off,
yeah- distancing himself, more reserved and quiet. Angeal’s death had obviously
affected him and there was always what Sephiroth had mentioned. But, even so,
desertion? Not just that but the murder of one’s comrades?
“Escalated?” Zack eventually repeated, trying to regain himself.
“Genesis has been sighted in his hometown.” Lazard explained.
“Banora?”
“Yes. It’s Angeal’s hometown too.” Lazard hummed thoughtfully. “We’ve received
some conflicting reports. I dispatched operatives to assess the situation but,
we lost contact. That’s why I’m sending you to investigate the matter and
confront Genesis. It will take a 1st to face a 1st.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Zack hissed. “You’re not saying you want me
to…?”
“Genesis’s fate is unclear.” Lazard murmured. “The company will base their
decision on how to deal with Genesis based upon the findings of your
investigation. That’s why this mission is a top priority. You leave
immediately. He will go with you.”
As it turned out, ‘he’ was a member of the Turks- something Zack found
disheartening at best. Tseng was the name and it quickly became apparent that
he didn’t give a damn about Genesis or what became of him. All he cared about
was protecting the company’s image. And, that meant cleaning up the ‘mess’ as
quickly as possible.
The whole thing looked pretty gloomy.
===============================================================================
 
Zack had just enough time to call both Aerith and Cloud before departure.
Aerith was fine with it, used to him constantly shipping out on assignment, but
Cloud was a bit more difficult. The kid fell silent as soon as Zack explained
the situation. Zack assured him that everything would be fine, that he wouldn’t
be long and they’d hang out some more when he got back. He even promised him
that ‘date’ with Aerith.
They kept in contact while Zack was gone, often speaking on the phone whenever
Zack had the time. It was nice- a break from the cold, harshness of the reality
Zack had been thrown in. He’d always found his communication with Aerith
grounding, something to keep him going, but hearing the kid’s voice on the end
of the phone was a whole lot more impacting than the letters Aerith sent him.
Cloud would tell him about his training and the improvement he was making. Zack
would praise him up and move the subject onto anything that sprung to mind-
anything but the mission.
As it turned out, Genesis really had abandoned. He’d killed many townspeople,
including his own parents. He attacked Zack, refusing to listen to reason
before fleeing with a single, black-feathered wing carrying him across the
winds. As a result, the beautiful town which had provided two of the greatest
SOLDIERs the world had ever seen was demolished by the company’s artillery.
Zack felt angry, betrayed and confused- things he tried to hide from Cloud when
they spoke on the phone during his return flight. Once again, he wondered why
he was still with Shinra. He began fantasizing about a peaceful, easy life.
Kunsel was right, he was having a midlife crisis.
===============================================================================
 
“Yo!” Zack called as he entered his apartment, beaming the moment he saw Cloud
appear. “I’m back. You miss me?” Cloud ran up to him, wrapping his small arms
around him in the tightest and most surprising hug of Zack’s life. “Hey, easy
there, spiky. If you ever find yourself losing in a fight, you could easily
just hug the enemy to death, you know.”
“Sorry.” Cloud mumbled, pulling back with a small, shy smile. “I just…”
“Yeah, yeah.” Zack playfully punched him in the shoulder. “I missed you too.”
“I used the ‘emergency takeout fund’.” Cloud said, gesturing toward the pizza
on the couch. “Not much of a welcome home meal, but…”
“It’s perfect.” Zack cut him off, a warm smile spreading across his face. In
that moment, he wouldn’t change a thing. “Just let me shower and I’ll come join
you, alright?”
“Sure."
Zack felt so free and at ease with his cursed uniform thrown across the
bathroom and the dirt and sweat washed off of his skin. He wrapped a towel
around his waist, stretching as he let out a blissful sigh and made his way
back into the living room. During their meal, Cloud couldn’t stop talking,
proof of how excited he was to have Zack back. The older man had to remind the
kid to stop for breaths every now and then. It was great. Truly a reflection of
the peaceful life Zack had been dreaming of. No worries. No betrayal. No
immediate threat of death.
“Aerith showed me the church in the slums.” Cloud said, eyes lighting up as he
talked about it. “I mean, I’m not really a great lover of flowers, but there’s
something so peaceful about it. She said I’m welcome there any time I like.”
“Oh, so you two have been getting cosy while I’ve been gone, huh?” Zack said,
narrowing his eyes in a lock of mock suspicion and disdain. Cloud seemed to
study him for a moment, considering it, before muttering under his breath.
“Is it a problem if we have?”
“I don’t know.” Zack said, feeling the same, familiar tension settle in as the
kid avoided his eyes. “Maybe. I don’t like sharing.”
“Sharing what?” Cloud whispered, lowering his head. “Aerith? Or…me…?”
Zack licked his lips, staring at Cloud’s flushed face as he felt that heat pool
in his lower stomach once more. The kid looked so hot and delectable. But, they
were friends. He cared about Cloud. Even so…
“You.” Cloud startled, turning to stare at Zack in shock and disbelief-
obviously not expecting such a blunt and straightforward answer. After all,
Zack had been doing his best to fight the feelings since they’d met. To have
them thrown out so openly caught the kid off guard.
There was no going back then.
With no idea who made the first move, the two of them ended up so close, mouths
pressing against one another hungrily. Cloud mewled, trying to press forward
for more contact, his soft lips rubbing against Zack’s in desperation. Zack
felt a growl sound from low in his chest, reaching up to thread his fingers in
the kid’s hair as he deepened the kiss. He gently scraped his teeth along
Cloud’s bottom lip, drawing it into his mouth before releasing it and licking
his way into Cloud’s mouth.
Cloud grasped Zack’s biceps as the pleasure enveloped him- Zack’s tongue
exploring the inside of his mouth, batting Cloud’s own out of the way as they
shuddered against one another. Cloud was sloppy, messy and inexperienced, but
that just seemed to turn Zack on more. Zack kept going, holding Cloud’s head in
place with one hand, the other gliding down the kid’s body to explore more,
calloused fingers slipping under the hem of his shirt teasingly, forearm
brushing against the bulge in Cloud’s pants.
Cloud trembled, starting to struggle against Zack’s hold. Zack smirked,
releasing him, watching the kid try to regain his breath, studying the flush of
red that crept from his cheeks down past his collarbone. Cloud was gorgeous.
“Hey, spiky,” Zack whispered huskily, seeing those blue eyes glazed over in
lust, “come sit on my lap, hm?” Cloud’s eyes widened as he glanced down at the
stirrings of a forming bulge in the front of Zack’s towel, starting to shake
his head as what he thought Zack was asking for dawned on him. Zack chuckled
lowly. “Not like that. Here.” Zack pulled the kid over, turning him round and
guiding him to sit in-between Zack’s spread legs. They were sat together on the
couch, Cloud’s back pressed against Zack’s broad chest, his small body
encompassed by the strong arms and legs of the older man.
Zack rested his head on the kid’s shoulder, letting his breath ghost out
against his ear. Cloud trembled again, grinding his teeth. “Just relax, spiky.”
Zack reassured him, his words snaking into Cloud’s ear teasingly. “I’m gonna
take care of you, okay?”
“Y-Yeah.” Cloud mumbled shakily, watching Zack’s hands reach down to fumble
with the fly of his pants, those fingers creeping inside to search for the
opening of his boxers. Cloud tensed up the moment he felt their skin brush,
hands darting to grasp Zack’s forearm. “Wait.”
“Do you want me to stop?” Zack asked, suddenly dropping the soothing huskiness
of his voice to replace it with cold, hard seriousness. Cloud took a moment to
gather himself, knowing that Zack was anxiously awaiting his answer, knowing
the man would do whatever he wanted.
“No.” Zack’s body seemed to instantly relax around him as Cloud’s fingers
loosened around his arm.
“Alright then.” Zack whispered, pressing a gentle kiss against the kid’s jaw.
“Then just let me take care of you, ‘kay?” Cloud nodded. Then hissed as his
cock was pulled free from the confines of his pants, the air of the apartment
rushing over the head. Cloud shuddered again, looking down to see Zack’s strong
hand holding him, squeezing gently as he mouthed kisses along his jaw and the
shell of his ear. “You ready, baby?” And, that alone made Cloud’s cock pulse.
Zack grinned, feeling it jump in his hand.
Slowly, teasingly, he began to run his hand down to the base and then up to the
tip, twisting slightly as he reached the head. Cloud bit his lip, a moan
escaping before he could stop it as his hips jerked up. Zack rested his other
hand on the kid’s stomach, holding him still while he continued with the
excruciatingly slow pace of his stroking. He watched Cloud’s cockhead disappear
into his fist and then reappear with every stroke, resting his chin on the
kid’s shoulder as he stared at it hungrily. Beads of precum leaking free, only
to be spread across the skin by Zack’s rough thumb.
Cloud’s body was hot against him, beads of sweat starting to appear on the
kid’s forehead as his moans became more and more frequent, no longer able to be
held back. Zack smirked, watching the kid squirm. He was going so slowly and
yet, the kid seemed so close. Confirmed when Cloud gasped and dug his fingers
into Zack’s forearm once more.
“Zack, please, I…”
“It’s okay.” Zack shushed him, immediately quickening his pace. He started
stroking Cloud’s cock hard and fast, gripping it tighter as the kid squirmed in
his grasp. “I want you to, Cloudy. Want you to shoot for me so bad. I wanna see
you come. You’re gonna do it, right?”
“Zack…” Cloud moaned, throwing his head back against the older man’s chest,
hips bucking up.
“Yeah, that’s it. Come on, Cloud.” He leaned in, letting his lips brush against
the kid’s ear. “Who’s my special boy?” That was it. Cloud groaned, cock pulsing
in Zack’s hand as he shot rope after rope of his seed, coating his shirt as
Zack kept pumping him through it, the rest dribbling out over Zack’s fingers,
the warmth of the fluid turning Zack on so much. “That’s it, Cloud. Good boy.
So good.” Zack panted, slowing down his strokes as Cloud became too sensitive
to bear it, opting instead to wrap his arms around the kid and cradle him
gently.
Cloud panted, resting against Zack as he regained himself, his cock slowly
softening as Zack rocked back and forth, whispering sweet nothings into his
ear. Cloud caught himself just as he started drifting off to sleep, forcing his
tired body to sit up.
“Zack,” he said, voice coming out dry and broken, “that was…” he trailed off,
looking down between them to see that Zack’s towel had come free during the
course of things- now only covering a part of what was lurking there. Zack’s
cock was big and half-hard, resting against his thigh with a small pool of
precum coating the area around the head. Glancing back up, Cloud saw the man
grinning back at him.
“You have no idea how fucking sexy you are, spiky. And, what a load! You
must’ve needed that, huh?” Zack said teasingly, glancing down at Cloud’s cock-
still hanging out his pants. Cloud sprung into action, quickly tucking it away
with an embarrassed groan. “Hey, don’t worry about it! Just look!” Zack said,
grasping his own cock and waving it around. “Look how hot you got me. I haven't
needed to come so badly in ages.”
“S-Should I...?” Cloud hesitated. He knew what he wanted. He wanted Zack. He
wanted Zack’s cock. But, Zack seemed to know exactly what he was doing. Every
movement and action he’d used on Cloud had been thought-out and tactical. On
the other hand, Cloud worried he’d just be flailing around obliviously, trying
to do what he wanted but making a mess of it. Zack seemed to notice this
indecision, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
“Kneel down, spiky.” Cloud nodded, moving to kneel on the floor between Zack’s
legs. This was it. Here it was. He was really going to...“Now, just watch me.”
Zack wrapped his hand around his own cock, stroking it eagerly as it hardened
further. Cloud watched it grow, glancing up at Zack in confusion. The man was
smirking down at him, picking up the pace of his own stroking.
“But, aren’t I…?”
“Just stay right there, spiky.” Zack groaned, face contorting in pleasure as he
pumped faster. “This is okay for now. Just keep watching me.” And Cloud did,
watched as Zack stroked his impressive length, watched the other hand reach
down to cradle his balls and tease the skin behind them, watched Zack’s hips
lift off the couch as he gave a loud groan, watched his cock pulse.
And, Cloud watched as rope after rope of come shot out and coated Zack’s broad
chest and abs, painting the skin hotly. Zack threw his head back, whispering a
hot ‘fuck’ as he released his cock and steadied his breathing. Once composed,
he looked down and shot Cloud a massive grin. “You did perfect, Cloud.”
“I didn’t do anything.” Cloud shot back sarcastically, not that he was
complaining about the show he’d been given.
“Hey.” Zack muttered, leaning forward to give the kid a quick kiss on the
forehead. “I meant it, you know. You are my special boy.” He smiled warmly,
ruffling the kid’s hair as he got up and headed out the room. Once he returned,
he was cleaned up and in a pair of boxers, a collection of clean clothes in his
hand for Cloud. “I’m gonna hit the sack. You can come join me, if you want.”
“I’m okay.” Cloud said, taking the clothes with a shy smile. “I’m gonna stay up
for a while.”
“Fair enough. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Zack ruffled his hair. “Thanks, buddy.”
After Zack left, Cloud didn’t stay up. He got himself cleaned up and changed
and collapsed onto the couch. Despite all of the thoughts running through his
head, the questions, the worry and uncertainty as well as the warm, fluttery
feeling in the pit of his stomach, he managed to fall into the embrace of sleep
rather quickly. And, he slept right through the night, content and happy to
have Zack back.
===============================================================================
 
“Morning.” Zack greeted him when he finally stirred awake. “Pancakes suit you?”
“Yeah.” Cloud grumbled, running a hand through his mussed-up hair, struggling
to gather himself. Before he knew it, Zack had plopped down on the couch next
time him, thrusting a plate his way with a smile. “What’s the occasion?”
“Ouch.” Zack feigned hurt. “Can’t we just celebrate me being back?”
“How long are you back for?” Cloud mumbled, digging in to his pancakes with
vigor.
“Not too sure yet. But, we’ll make the most of it.” Zack smiled, patting
Cloud’s leg. “We’ve still got that date with Aerith, remember? She’d be awfully
mad if we didn’t make time for it.”
“Yeah.” Cloud scoffed. “If you’re willing to share me, that is.” The words
escaped him before he even realized they’d passed through his mind. For a
moment, he felt like a complete idiot, worried Zack might regret what they’d
done. But, when a grin was shot his way and a hand cupped his crotch, he knew
everything was okay.
“She’s not getting any of this.” Zack said, wiggling his eyebrows teasingly as
he gave Cloud’s cock a squeeze. “All for papa Zack.” And, despite how awkward
and tense the entire situation should have been, Cloud couldn’t help but snort
a laugh.
“Papa Zack? Really?”
“What, you don’t like it?” Zack’s smile faded, before he leaned forward to
whisper in Cloud’s ears. “You can call me daddy if you like.” And, like the
damn, charming jerk he was, Zack pulled back and beamed, punching the kid in
the arm. “I’m gonna go get changed. Once you’ve picked you jaw off the floor,
eat the rest of your pancakes before they get cold. We’ve got some catching up
to do on your training, spiky.”
Cloud shook his head, sighing in disbelief. How could Zack always make
everything so light-hearted? He always put everyone at ease, dissolved tension
and panic with just a few words and a smile. Cloud groaned, shoving more food
into his mouth as he tried to ignore the tightness in his groin. He’d fallen
for a SOLDIER, 1st Class. What were the odds?
===============================================================================
 
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