Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Alliance ❯ Chapter 5

“Alliance”

Chapter 5

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(Warning: Possible spoilers for all FF7 game/movie titles)

*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can't get enough of this world and the characters.*

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Elation. Remembered sorrow. Confusion. Memories of fear—fear for his blonde companion, fear for the world. These were the things that warred inside of Zackary Fair as he returned to his bed on shaking legs and took a few deep breaths. Cloud and Tifa were looking at him with concern and he gave them both a cocky smile.

 

“See? Told you I could make it to the bathroom on my own.” His stomach growled again and he put a hand over it and grimaced. “Ugh…hunger pains almost make you feel sick.”

 

“They're bringing a couple of burgers over from the cafeteria now,” Cloud offered.

 

“Are you sure you should be eating something that heavy right away?” Tifa regarded him dubiously. “Maybe you should start with something light, like soup.”

 

The dark-haired Soldier made a face at her. “Soup? I'm starving, here! I need some real food, Tifa.”

 

She shrugged. “I'm just trying to look out for you. I wouldn't want you to push yourself and get sick all over the place.”

 

“Thanks,” he said with a crooked grin, “but I'll risk it. I miss food and soup doesn't count.”

 

“Okay, if you say so,” Tifa said with a smile. She sniffed and rubbed her eyes. “Well, I'm going to get some sleep and let you guys catch up. If you need anything, just ask the doctors to call me and I'll come right down.” She gave him a brief kiss on the forehead and stood up, walking away quickly but not before he saw the tears gathering in her eyes.

 

Zack watched her go and he sighed. “I wish she wouldn't cry. Even if she's doing it because she's happy, it bums me out.” His own throat was threatening to close up and he barely managed to keep his voice light enough to conceal it.

 

Afraid that if he started talking about how much Zack had been missed by both of them he'd start crying just like Tifa, Cloud went for a change of subject.

 

“We're going to have to get you some clothes,” he said thoughtfully, his blue eyes sweeping over Zack's reclined form. “I'd offer you some of mine but I don't think you'd fit in them.”

 

Zack gave the blonde a good, long look and nodded with agreement, even as he took notice that his friend's muscles had filled out since he was a recruit and his features were more mature…though still youthful and absurdly innocent.

 

“Hey, how old are you now?” he asked.

 

“Twenty-seven,” answered Cloud. “Why?”

 

Zack blinked, looking him up and down. “Really? Damn, that much time's gone by? You were what, fifteen when you joined ShinRa?”

 

Cloud considered the question. “That sounds right, yeah.”

 

Zack shook his head and grinned at him. “You don't look twenty-seven. Don't get me wrong, you don't look like skinny jailbait anymore either, but I'd have pegged you at about twenty-one or twenty-two. It's hard to keep track of time when you're dead, I guess.”

 

“You're just now noticing I've grown up?” Cloud said with a faint chuckle.

 

“I noticed before, but it wasn't very obvious,” replied Zack. “You perceive things a little differently when you don't have mortal senses anymore.”

 

He suddenly bit back a laugh. “Listen to me, I sound like a sage.” He studied Cloud again and he sighed. “Damn, it's good to see you with a real pair of eyes again.”

 

Cloud plucked at the bed sheets covering Zack to the waist and lowered his eyes. “It's great to see you again, too.”

 

~Especially when you're looking at me with those eyes I missed so much…and that smile. Oh shit, I'm gonna start crying now.~

 

Zack immediately saw the solitary tear that etched its way down the blonde's cheek. It fell before Cloud could turn away and the black-haired fighter's eyes burned sympathetically.

 

“Come on, kid…don't you start on me now,” Zack whispered. “I could barely handle it when Tifa did it but if you start crying, I'm going to do it too and between the gown and nearly falling on my ass on the way to the bathroom, I've already lost a few cool points!” His words were coming out like rapid-fire past an aching throat.

 

Cloud muttered an apology and sniffed, raising his pretty, sapphire eyes to look at Zack. The tears kept welling up despite his obvious efforts to hold them back and Zack's vision blurred as well.

 

“Aw, dammit…come here,” pleaded Zack achingly as he reached out for the blonde.

 

His emotions were too out of control for Cloud to refuse and he sat on the edge of the bed and put his arms around his friend's neck, burying his tear-dampened face against his shoulder. He heard Zack's breath hitch and he felt answering dampness on the other man's skin as he rubbed his face against his.

 

“Look at us,” Zack choked as he rubbed Cloud's back and breathed in his living scent, “we're crying like a pair of big…criers!”

 

His usual wit had deserted him in the face of his emotional breakdown. Gaia, had Cloud ever fit this well against him before? He'd hugged him plenty of times in the past, rocked him at night when they were on the run…anything and everything he could think of to bring a spark of life back into those amazing eyes and make him feel safe, even when they were anything but.

 

The memories of how Cloud Strife had felt in his arms were pale in comparison to the reality of here and now. His body was fit and hard but his skin was soft…so soft that Zack wanted to just rub his face against every inch of him for the rest of the night. His warm breath stirred his hair and tickled against his neck and the trusting way the blonde's arms embraced him made Zack want to squeeze him to bits. Just hugging him like this—unloading all the pain and longing and happiness—was a perfect moment for Zack…even if he was embarrassing himself a little.

 

Of course, he couldn't have known that Reno was watching the heartfelt exchange with expert observation skills. He couldn't have known that the Turk saw right through him and he couldn't have known that it scared the living hell out of Reno to see his golden lover reunited with someone that was everything he wasn't.

 

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

 

Reno waited until Cloud and Zack calmed down and got their emotions under control again. The usually tactless redhead practiced admirable restraint, if for no other reason than his feelings for Cloud and his respect for Zack. When he thought it was safe to go in without embarrassing either of them with an awkward interruption, he went through the door with the box of food and the soft drink that the cafeteria sent down.

 

“Hey Fair, your food's here,” Reno said as he crossed the room and brought the items to him. “Better eat it before it gets cold.”

 

“You didn't spit in it or anything, did you?” Zack inquired with a good-natured smirk.

 

For a moment, Reno wondered if the man had picked up on his feelings somehow. The blue-violet eyes were a little red-rimmed from crying but friendly on him and the Turk decided his new rival didn't really think he would have done something like that. It almost made Reno wish he had, but Fair's damned likable nature kept him from exercising such childish and underhanded pranks.

 

“Nah, I blew my nose on it man,” the redhead answered with a smirk of his own. He set the box and the drink on the dining tray and then moved it into position over Zack's lap.

 

“Gross, Reno,” Cloud sputtered, “this is his first meal in years and you're going to ruin his appetite!”

 

Zack laughed and shot a wink Reno's way as he opened the box. “Relax Cloud, I'm the one that started it and I'm too hungry to let a word ruin my appetite.” He sniffed appreciatively at the hamburgers and the bed of fries they rested on.

 

Reno discovered something new: Zack's wink made his stomach do a little flip—which was a reaction that was usually reserved for his lovers. He'd always thought the guy was hot but that wink made him more than just eye candy to Reno. The redhead was shockingly flustered and he shifted from one foot to the other in confusion.

 

~What the fuck is this? A minute ago I was wishing I really had spit or blown my damned nose on his food! Now I'm wanting to get in line with Blondie to jump his bones!~

 

“You okay Reno?” Cloud asked when he noticed the look of concentration and denial on his lover's face.

 

Reno dragged his thoughts out of the gutter and blinked at him. “Yeah, I'm cool. I was just thinking I'd better take off and get some rest, yo. I've gotta work in the morning and it's pretty late.”

 

“Oh,” Cloud said in a subdued voice. “I guess Zack needs sleep too. If you hold up a minute, I'll come with you.”

 

“Nah, stay here and visit with your chum, Blondie. Ya haven't seen each other in ages and I'm sure you've got some catching up to do.”

 

Reno leaned over the blonde and made it a point to give him a deep, shameless kiss on the mouth. It was a good, long kiss and he didn't spare the tongue. Poor Cloud was caught off guard, his face turning red even as he returned the kiss impulsively. Zack's eyebrows shot up at the display and Reno was satisfied that he'd made his relationship with Cloud abundantly clear. The Turk released his lover's mouth and straightened up, shooting a wink of his own at Zack before turning smoothly on his heel and strutting away, whistling as he went.

 

~You wink at me, I'll wink right back, Wolfy.~

 

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

 

“Um, that was…he's not usually that obvious in public,” Cloud stammered once he and Zack were alone again. “I don't know what got into him.”

 

Zack cleared his throat and did his best to control the twitching of his lips. “Looks to me like someone wanted to mark his territory, Cutie-pie.”

 

Cloud stared at him. “Why? Oh, and don't start with the stupid girly nicknames, man. I've got enough on my mind without people here making fun of me because of your weird pet names. I'm not a kid anymore.”

 

Zack's eyes traveled his form lazily. “No, you sure aren't. Come on, Cloud…don't you know jealousy when you see it? By the way, good luck getting me to stop with the pet names. I call it like I see it, Cornflower.”

 

“Cornflower!” Cloud sputtered. “Where did that one come from?”

 

“Your eyes,” Zack flashed a white smile at him. “Blue as can be, just like cornflowers.”

 

Cloud was trying hard not to smile. “Just call me by my real name, okay? Anyhow, you're wrong about Reno. He's not the jealous type. We've…uh…we've got sort of an open relationship. I'm not his only partner.”

 

“But he's yours?” Zack frowned. “That's not fair.”

 

“No, he's not really my only…can we talk about this some other time?” Cloud's golden lashes lowered and his cheeks were charmingly pink.

 

Zack chuckled. “You've come a long way from the shy little innocent I used to know. I won't push you, kid. Okay, so tell me about this WRO and ShinRa. I was so damned confused when I woke up and I'm not sure I've got my facts straight. I know ShinRa cleaned up their act a little but I don't know all the details.”

 

“I'll try to explain it,” Cloud answered dubiously, “but you should probably talk to Reeve tomorrow if you want all of the details.”

 

“Will do,” Zack said. He broke open a ketchup packet and squeezed the sauce out over his fries. “Want some?”

 

“Not hungry…you eat,” Cloud said. He gathered his thoughts to explain everything that had happened with ShinRa and the planet since Zack had been gone, but the black-haired fighter put a fry in his mouth and his eyes widened with amazement, giving Cloud pause.

 

“Oh my god,” Zack said as he chewed and swallowed. “Food is so GOOD! I can't believe I forgot how good it is!”

 

He started to gobble the fries greedily and Cloud stared open-mouthed, unused to seeing his friend make a pig of himself. Zack had always been a fast eater but now he was stuffing fries into his mouth until his cheeks bulged and he was hardly chewing before he swallowed. He grabbed one of the hamburgers and took a huge bite out of it…then promptly began to choke.

 

Cloud half-panicked and got up to pat his friend frantically on the back as Zack covered his mouth with a napkin and coughed raggedly. The black-haired Soldier held out one hand with the finger raised, indicating that he just needed a minute. Cloud reluctantly backed off and watched with round, concerned eyes as Zack grabbed his drink and sucked down about half of it. After a moment, the coughing fit eased and Zack wiped his watering eyes.

 

“You've got to chew,” informed Cloud helpfully. Inwardly he thought that if Zack got this excited over average cafeteria food, he'd probably cream himself if he ever tried Rufus's cooking.

 

“Yeah, I kind of made a glutton of myself there,” Zack agreed with a sheepish grin. “The taste just caught me off guard for a minute.”

 

“Just be more careful,” Cloud advised seriously, “it would be really boneheaded if you came back to life just to get owned by a hamburger in one day.”

 

Zack blurted a hearty laugh and Cloud's softer, more reserved laughter joined it. After they composed themselves, Zack ate at a more controlled pace and Cloud explained the WRO and ShinRa situation as best he could, filling in the blanks about the events after Meteor. Zack already knew about a lot of it—such as Geostigma, but he was fuzzy about the whole Omega incident and he only knew a little about what everyone did after that.

 

He finished his meal before Cloud finished his story but he listened with interest, only interrupting now and then to ask a question or tell the blonde he already knew about something he was saying.

 

“So ShinRa's on the side of the angels now,” Zack mused after Cloud finished. “It's kind of hard to believe, but I've seen some of it with my own eyes. Hell, you're dating Reno of the Turks so they must have made some pretty radical changes.”

 

Cloud shifted uncomfortably. “Their goals changed for the better but their methods are still pretty rough sometimes. I try not to think about it because…because I love him, you know?”

 

Zack's features softened. “Yeah, I know you do, buddy. That was pretty obvious when Aerith and I found you moping over his disappearance. It takes a pretty big heart to look past your differences with him and love him for who he is.”

 

Cloud shrugged, wondering if that was true. He'd stopped Reno from killing that wife-beater after all. His primary motivation had been to keep the Turk from getting himself into trouble but he doubted he could have let him do it even if there weren't any witnesses and thus, no risk of punishment from the organization for public murder. If he really loved Reno for who he was, shouldn't he be able to accept that part of his nature?

 

“You're thinking too hard, Cloud.” Zack was smiling knowingly at him. “I guess I touched a sore spot.”

 

“Sometimes I don't know if I'm really seeing him,” admitted the blonde. “He's got a completely different way of looking at the world from me and I'm afraid I'm lying to myself.”

 

“Let me tell you something, Chocobo; it doesn't sound to me like there's a whole lot Reno's done that `good guys' like us haven't. Maybe his reasons were different but hey, we both joined the military to learn how to fight…and how to kill. You joined Avalanche to blow up ShinRa property and Reno blew up that pillar over the slums. Both of you did what you had to do according to your situations, right?”

 

“I guess so,” Cloud said. “He hates to be reminded about the pillar. I don't think he wanted to do it…I could tell by his eyes even back then when we tried to stop him.”

 

Zack nodded. “I didn't want to kill Angeal. You didn't want to give the black materia to Sephiroth. I'm sure Reno's done a lot of other things he didn't want to do, just like everyone else. You know what I think?”

 

Cloud shook his head and looked at him curiously.

 

“I think you're seeing him just fine,” Zack finished with a smile. “If you love the guy he's got to be worth it. You're too good to love bad people, kid.”

 

Cloud was cheered by the observation. “I think you're the one that really sees people, Zack. Thanks.” He paused for a moment before adding; “and I'm not a kid.”

 

“Old habits die hard,” Zack apologized. He didn't really still think of Cloud as a kid but he thought it would make things easier if he pretended to.

 

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

 

“What the hell am I thinking?” Reno ranted under his breath to himself as he walked through the parking garage to his car. “I can't keep doing this shit. I've gotta stop being so damned greedy!”

 

“Something troubling you, Fox?” a voice said from ahead and to the left.

 

Reno nearly yelped, startled by the familiar, sensual voice. “Didn't know you were in here, boss,” he said breathlessly, trying to calm his racing heart.

 

Rufus crossed the parking garage to meet him, holding his keys in one hand. “I decided to spend the night in my own apartment for a change,” he said. “I was just going to my car when I overheard you muttering to yourself.” The president stopped and studied him and the dim lights of the garage cast shadows over his fine-boned features.

 

“Normally you can detect the sound of a pin dropping in a crowded room,” Rufus stated. “You've been known to duck bullets before they've even left the chamber. So tell me why a man with your observation skills is so distracted that he failed to notice the sound of my footsteps echoing in here?” His sharp eyes studied Reno as he spoke and the Turk knew it was no good lying to him.

 

“It's this Zack business,” Reno admitted, averting his eyes. “Cloud looked so happy with him and it made me think about a few things.”

 

Rufus cocked his head to the side and his gray eyes narrowed. “Reno, are you…jealous?” A slow, ironic smile curved his sensual mouth.

 

“Fuck no!” Reno shook his head vehemently. Rufus only looked more certain of his observation and the Turk sighed. “Well, maybe a little. I don't have the right, though. I'm sleeping with three other guys besides Strife and he pretty much just sticks with me, except when he sleeps with you. I guess I'm really just…concerned. I don't wanna lose him, Rufus.” His use of the president's given name hinted that he needed a little affection and support.

 

Rufus gave a low, brief laugh. “Ah, Reno…welcome to my world.”

 

The redhead looked at him with dawning comprehension. “Your world, eh?”

 

The president nodded. “Now you know exactly how I felt when your affair with Strife began. I can't say that I'm not enjoying this—at least a little bit.”

 

Reno's expression soured. “Well, it sucks!” He knew it sounded childish but it was the bare truth about the mixture of fear, interest and jealousy he was experiencing. “If he's got a hero like Fair to be with, why would he still want someone like me?”

 

Rufus sobered, his eyes holding the fuming Turk's. “Believe me, I know the feeling.”

 

Reno's blue-green eyes looked a bit lost and sad as they gazed back at him and Rufus sighed and closed the remaining distance between them, putting an arm around his lover's shoulders.

 

“Reno, I pulled some of the stupidest stunts on record to gain control of Cloud Strife, because I was so afraid that he would take you from me…from us. It wasn't simple jealousy that drove me; it was the fear that your relationship with him would make you see us in a different light and lose interest. Does any of this sound familiar to you?”

 

“A little too familiar,” agreed the redhead with a grimace. He had become Rufus Shinra. The thought made him smirk a little.

 

“As it turned out,” Rufus went on, “I never needed to do any of those things. I was worrying over nothing. Your devotion to me and the others remained intact despite my concerns.”

 

“But this is different,” Reno insisted, “Cloud swore up and down they were just friends and he keeps telling me Fair is only into women, but if you saw `em together you would have seen the chemistry too, boss. I don't care what Blondie says; he and Wolfy are hot for each other. Zack's like him, you know? They fit together.”

 

“And you `fit' with us, yet your affections for us didn't diminish your affections for Cloud, did it?” Rufus persisted.

 

“No,” Reno agreed. He looked sidelong at his boss, admiring his clarity. “I guess you're right. It's just…ah, shit…I'm a freakin' slut, boss.”

 

“You're attracted to Fair,” Rufus casually stated.

 

Reno swallowed and gave him a sheepish look. “Sorry. I won't try anything though…promise.”

 

Rufus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, gathering his thoughts. “Reno, since you started your affair with Strife, I've come to understand something about you. Forbidden fruit only makes you more reckless and desperate for it, so I'm content to let things go as they may. You've already proven to me that outside romantic interests won't make you neglectful of my needs. Perhaps it would even be beneficial for you to have a black wolf to go with your golden one.”

 

Reno stared at him, agape at the unexpected encouragement. “Yo, did you just tell me to go for it with Fair, Sir?”

 

Rufus shrugged and combed his fingers through Reno's long ponytail. “If the two of them are as `hot' for one another as you say, I see no reason why you shouldn't be…supportive. You could shoot for a matching set, so to speak.”

 

Reno grinned slyly at him. “You wanna tap him too, don't ya, boss?”

 

Rufus looked back at him and smiled faintly. “I'll admit that his surname is ironically appropriate. Zackary is certainly `fair' on the eyes. However, I hardly know the man. What I do know is that it's far easier to join in than to fight a pairing and going by his looks and what little I know of his personality, I can hardly blame you for having an interest.”

 

“I don't think you're ever going to stop surprising me,” Reno declared in a wry tone.

 

“I'm a surprising person,” Rufus agreed. “Now that we've gotten this little discussion out of the way, I'd rather not go home to an empty bed. Stay with me tonight, Reno.”

 

“You got it,” purred the redhead in concordance. He nibbled the president's ear with sensual appreciation.

 

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

 

Cloud and Zack eventually ran out of energy and when the black-haired fighter dozed off, the blonde decided to retire to his suite for some rest, too. He came right back down the next morning, bringing breakfast to his friend and eating with him. Shortly after they finished, Reeve came into the room and introduced himself to Zack. He provided further information about what his organization did and what was going on with Deepground. After that, he asked for the fighter's measurements and sent one of his staff to get some combat gear and basic clothes for him.

 

“When you've recovered enough to be released, we'll set you up with a suite here in the building and give you company credit to buy more clothing of your choice with,” Reeve told him as he went over his charts. “Most of the shops in Junon accept our card, so you should have plenty of variety to replace your wardrobe with.”

 

“Wow, that's really generous of you,” Zack said. His expression darkened into one of suspicion. “So what's the catch?”

 

Reeve was un-offended. “The `catch' is that we would like your consent to run a few tests. They wouldn't be anything serious…only some blood samples, a few strands of hair and maybe a skin scraping. It would be beneficial to our research and it could lead to more advanced medical treatment. It would also be beneficial to you, since all we know about what was done to your body while you were under Deepground's control was what we found in the files that we rescued from the compound.”

 

Zack looked at Cloud, who was sitting in the chair beside his bed. “What do you think, Cloud?”

 

The blonde looked from Reeve to Zack with an uncertain expression on his face. “You don't have to agree to any of it if you don't want to and I really wouldn't blame you if you don't. I trust Reeve though, and I think you should try to find out what's going on inside of you so there won't be any ugly surprises.”

 

Zack's mouth twisted in distaste but he nodded, finding his friend's reasoning solid. “Yeah, I don't want any weird surprises either. Plus, it'd make me feel pretty good if my blood helped come up with a cure for some major disease.” He looked up at Reeve and nodded. “Count me in.”

 

“Thank you,” the engineer said sincerely. “There's also one other thing. Your skills are well documented, Zackary—”

 

“Call me `Zack',” the dark-haired fighter interrupted. “The long version sounds so…scoldy.”

 

Reeve hid a smile. “Okay, `Zack' it is. As I was saying: your fighting skills are said to be pretty incredible. I know that you need time to adjust and recover but I would like you to consider joining our cause. People don't come back from the dead every day and on the rare occasion that they do, history's shown that it usually means something big is on the horizon. We could use your skills. You'd get a salary of course, and your gear would be supplied by the organization.”

 

Zack grimaced. “Fight for ShinRa again, eh?”

 

“Well, technically you'd be fighting for the WRO, but yes, ShinRa funds the organization and works with us,” Reeve reminded him.

 

Zack shrugged. “I guess if Chocobo-head is working with you guys, you must be all right. I can't promise I'll be any good after all this time but you've got me.”

 

Reeve glanced at Cloud, his brown eyes twinkling with amusement as the blonde blushed and nudged Zack with irritation. “What a…creative moniker. You know Cloud, your hair really does look a little like a chocobo's crest.”

 

Cloud shot a murderous blue glare at Zack, who just grinned fondly at him and reached out to ruffle his feathery hair.

 

“I'll just go and fill out the paperwork for your tests,” Reeve said tactfully.

 

When he was gone, Zack made his feelings about the engineer known. “Reeve's great. He's the one that has the mechanical cat, right?”

 

“Yeah,” confirmed Cloud. “He's also got a monkey.”

 

“A monkey?” Zack looked amused and impressed at the same time. “Does it do any tricks?”

 

“He says it can dance but I haven't seen it do it yet,” replied the blonde. “It's pretty good at pulling annoyed faces at Reeve, though. I think it's mad at him because he hasn't given it speech, like he gave Cait Sith.”

 

Zack laughed. “I can't wait to meet the rest of your friends.”

 

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

 

-To be continued