Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Alliance ❯ Chapter 8

“Alliance”

Chapter 8

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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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The sun was beginning to set and Zack stood on the edge of the roof and took a deep breath, squinting against the orange light. He was sure he looked romantic and dramatic, standing there with his big white wings spread out on either side of him and his black hair blowing around his face. In truth, he felt like he was about to piss his pants. He peered over the side of the building and hastily took a step back when vertigo swiftly struck him.

 

“You okay man?” Reno asked from behind and to the left. He was standing beside Cloud, waiting for the black-haired fighter to take his first flight.

 

“Fine,” Zack answered glibly, shooting a wild grin over his shoulder at the two men. “Just getting a feel for the wind speed.” He took another deep breath and blew it out slowly.

 

~Come on, you can do this. You've jumped out of hovering choppers before…you've fought on cliffsides…you've taken down half an army.~

 

“Okay,” Zack said, taking another couple of steps backwards to prepare for a running leap. “Here I go.”

 

He didn't move. Reno and Cloud exchanged a look and the Turk cleared his throat.

 

“I'm going,” Zack said stubbornly, narrowing his eyes and pursing his lips. He took a lurching step forward and stopped abruptly, cursing himself softly. He turned around and looked at his two companions, painting a confident expression on his face.

 

“You know, I think I should stretch a little…loosen up first.”

 

Reno nodded condescendingly and smirked at him in a knowing way. “If it helps, yo.” Beside him, Cloud just looked worried.

 

Zack arched his back and reached his arms over his head, making a great show of stretching. He was so nervous that he wasn't even aware of how nicely he was displaying his chest and stomach muscles to his companions and he didn't notice that both of them were staring at him.

 

Cloud caught himself ogling and he glanced at Reno guiltily, wondering if the redhead noticed. He did a double-take when he saw that the Turk's sea-green eyes were caressing Zack's body as boldly as his own had been. Cloud nudged his lover and frowned meaningfully at him, jerking his chin at Zack and shaking his head.

 

Reno shrugged and smirked. “Like you weren't just eye-fucking the hell outta him a minute ago,” the redhead whispered smugly.

 

Cloud predictably flushed with embarrassment and bit his lip. “Okay fine,” Cloud whispered as softly as he could, “so you were right. Now cut it out!”

 

Reno chuckled and stopped leering at Zack; not because Cloud told him to but because the black-haired fighter had finished stretching and glanced over at them.

 

“What are you two whispering about?” Zack inquired. “Are you making bets on whether I splatter or something?” He started doing some squats, grunting softly with each one.

 

“Nah, we're just discussing…motivation,” Reno answered with a sharp look at Cloud. He reached behind and pinched the blonde's bottom without shame, making him jump. “Seems the right encouragement is all people really need to get things started, yo.”

 

Zack stopped doing his squats and regarded the redhead curiously.

 

~What's this guy hinting at? It seems like there's always a double-meaning to everything he does.~

 

Reno approached the edge of the roof and put one foot on the trimming, leaning forward a little to look down. He gave a low whistle and glanced over his shoulder at Zack. “That's a long drop, man. But hey, you've got wings so there's nothing to worry about, right?”

 

“Reno, you're a little too close—“ Cloud warned, nervous about the off-balance way his lover was standing.

 

Reno leaned further over, ignoring the blonde's warning. “Maybe it just doesn't bother me because I'm used to heights,” he said conversationally. He stood up on the trimming with both feet, the toes of his oxford shoes hanging over a deadly drop.

 

“Okay, you've shown off enough,” Cloud said nervously, starting toward him.

 

Reno turned to tell the fighter to relax but a strong gust of wind swept the rooftop and he lost his balance. He fell over the side and a long stream of curses followed in his wake.

 

“RENO!!” Cloud yelled, charging for the edge of the roof.

 

“Aw, man!” Zack exclaimed. Now he didn't have a choice. He ran and leapt off, instinctively tucking his wings in as he dove like a falcon for the falling Turk.

 

Reno was falling with his back facing the ground and he stared up at Zack with a look of terror that wasn't feigned in the least. The black-haired fighter straightened his body out as much as he could to increase his momentum and the Turk's sprawled position was helping to slow his descent enough to give him a chance to catch up with him. Zack reached out with both hands as he closed the distance and he caught Reno around the waist. The redhead wrapped his arms around Zack's neck and clung to him tightly.

 

“OOH SHIIIT!!”

 

Zack couldn't tell whether the hollered curse came from his mouth or Reno's. They were both yelling at the top of their lungs and when he snapped his wings out to catch the wind he nearly dropped the lean Turk he was trying to save. They were now gliding at an angle but their momentum was still fast enough that hitting the ground could prove fatal…at least for Reno.

 

“Flap your fucking wings, man!” Reno hollered over the rush of air.

 

“Oh yeah,” Zack gulped. He did so and they wobbled for a moment while he fought to slow their descent and gain some control over their trajectory. There were shouts of alarm and amazement from the streets below but Zack was too busy trying to keep from killing himself and his passenger to pay attention.

 

He spotted a grassy park up ahead and he aimed for it, hoping that the vegetation and soil might soften their landing. Reno had his legs locked around his waist now, clinging to him like a possum. Despite his earlier bravado concerning heights, the Turk had his face buried against Zack's neck and the former Soldier found it and the tight hold Reno had on him inappropriately distracting.

 

“I think we'll be okay,” Zack hollered as he slowed his speed further and began to understand how the angle of his wing position affected his flight. “It'll be a little rough but we'll make it.” He tilted his wings up a little and they climbed a bit in altitude, but their forward momentum slowed even more and he was able to clumsily hover and drift down to the earth below. His feet hit the ground hard enough to make his legs buckle and the impact sent Reno rolling away in the grass, but as first landings went he thought it was pretty good. He fell to his hands and knees and groaned with relief.

 

“Hey Red, you okay?” Zack said breathlessly as he shook his head to clear it and peered through disheveled black bangs at the nearby Turk.

 

Reno was on his back, panting and staring up at the sky. He turned his head and looked at Zack with relieved tourmaline eyes. “Yeah, I'm okay. Nice save, hotshot. Knew ya could do it.”

 

Zack realized what had actually happened and he scowled at Reno. “Hey, you set me up, didn't you?”

 

Reno clapped his hands together with slow exaggeration, applauding Zack sarcastically. “Ten points to the hero…he's more than just a pretty face.”

 

Zack crawled over to the Turk, straddling over him on hands and knees and glaring down at him with angry, blue-violet eyes. “You could have gotten yourself killed, you crazy rooster!”

 

“Yeah,” admitted Reno breathlessly, staring unwaveringly up at the black-haired man. “But I didn't. You flew, didn't ya?”

 

“I wouldn't call what we just did `flying',” Zack snarled. “Did you see Cloud's face when you took that dive? Did you even think of what you'd be putting him through with a stunt like that?”

 

Reno's expression sobered and a hint of shame found its way onto his pale, angular face. “Didn't really consider that, yo,” he sighed. He turned his head and looked in the direction they had glided from, wondering if his blonde lover was having a conniption on top of the building.

 

Zack's eyes locked on the smooth stretch of neck that Reno bared and they traveled from there to the appealing clavicle and the portion of lean chest exposed under the open V in the redhead's shirt. He had to appreciate Cloud's taste in lovers…Reno was certainly a sexy little beast, even if he was a pain in the ass. The Turk's long ponytail was lying halfway across his left arm, which was flung out lazily in the grass. Zack took a moment to marvel at the vivid color of it and he realized where his thoughts were taking him as his eyes went back to that appealing throat and chest.

 

Reno turned his head and looked back up at him again, his sensitive lips quirking into a sensual smirk. “You're pretty forceful when you're pissed, Fair.”

 

“We should get back and show Cloud we're both in one piece, before he has a meltdown,” Zack suggested gruffly, levering his body off of the too-attractive Turk. He stood up with a grunt and extended his hand to Reno as his wings folded closer to his back.

 

~So much for my concerns about Reno getting pissed about Cloud and I. If there's one thing I know it's flirting and if that wasn't a line he just gave me, I'll eat my shoes. Hmph…wonder how this is all going to pan out?~

 

Reno took Zack's offered hand and allowed the larger man to help him to his feet. The redhead staggered on shaky legs and Zack caught him around the waist and his expression softened to reluctant concern.

 

“Are you sure you're not hurt?” Zack inquired.

 

Reno brushed some grass out of his hair and nodded. “Promise. I guess I'm just a little more shaken up than I thought, Wolfy.”

 

Zack couldn't help but smile a little. He had a feeling he and Reno were going to have a little unspoken competition with one another over creative nicknames. “'Wolfy', huh?”

 

“Hey, you called me a rooster,” the Turk shrugged.

 

“I guess I did,” Zack chuckled. “You don't actually remind me of one though.”

 

“What bird would ya associate me with if you were going to?” Reno asked lightly as they started back towards Headquarters. People were staring, some following them and taking pictures. Both men ignored the audience.

 

“Hmm, I guess a phoenix,” Zack said. “You're not really like a bird though. More like a…a…”

 

“Fox?” Reno grinned at him.

 

Zack snapped his fingers. “That's it! You're definitely a fox.”

 

Reno could have taken that comment and ran with it but he held back, biting his lip to control the urge. “Hey Zack, can we not tell Cloud that I did that on purpose?”

 

Zack stopped walking and looked at him with disapproval, though his supporting hold on him didn't loosen.

 

“It's just, I didn't think it through,” Reno explained with a grimace. “It just came to me all the sudden and I didn't even think about how much it might scare him, yo.”

 

“I'm not crazy about keeping secrets from him, but since you were just trying to help I think this one time I can let it slide,” the raven fighter agreed solemnly. “I've got to ask you about something, though.”

 

Reno glared at some of the onlookers, warning them with his eyes to back off and mind their own business. “Yeah? What's that?” His known status as a Turk and his icy glare fortunately chased a few busybodies off, affording a little more privacy.

 

Zack looked him in the eye. “I'm pretty sure you know how I feel about Cloud.”

 

Reno knew it was a bad time to play games, so he nodded. “Yeah, I figured that out right away.”

 

“He told me that you two are in an open relationship,” Zack went on. “So you don't just stick with each other, right?”

 

“Nah, but we do have a little select group,” explained the redhead. “Cloud's only been with me and Rufus, though.”

 

Zack blinked. “Rufus…as in Rufus Shinra?”

 

Reno chuckled. “That's right. I guess he didn't tell you that, huh?”

 

“He didn't give me details about his other partners. He told me about yours but he got awkward and embarrassed when he I asked him who he slept with besides you.”

 

“He was probably afraid you'd have a problem with it,” Reno guessed.

 

“Why?” Zack wondered with sincere interest. “I mean, if the old president was still around and Cloud was sleeping with HIM, I'd have to wonder about his sanity but Rufus is a different story. I know about the changes he's been making and he's a good-looking dude.”

 

“I dunno, maybe he didn't think you'd be so understanding about it,” Reno said. “The boss still has a lot of enemies and it took a long time for Strife to start trusting him. I guess he figures you and his other friends wouldn't get it.”

 

Reno studied the other man seriously for a moment. “Ya know Zack, you're a pretty mellow guy. I haven't heard you say a judgmental thing about anyone except those bastards that hurt Cissnei.”

 

Zack shrugged. “I guess I'm not a fan of grudges. So anyway, back to Cloud. Since you're in an open relationship I want…uh…okay, this is awkward…I figured I should ask you just to be sure and now's not really the time to be trying to work something like this out, but…um…”

 

Reno blurted a laugh. “Oh man…are you trying to ask me for permission to date Blondie?”

 

Zack scratched his head and shrugged. “Well, sort of. You two have been together for a while and let's face it, you've been acting pretty possessive around me.”

 

“Noticed that, did ya?” Reno sighed. “Look, I'll level with you. I'm afraid if he gets with you he won't want me anymore.”

 

Zack looked him up and down and frowned, shaking his head. “I don't see that happening.”

 

“Thanks for the vote of confidence but it goes deeper than just looks, Fair.” Reno tilted his head and looked at Zack with open admiration for a moment. “You're a hero. I'm a Turk. Get it?”

 

It started to sink in, but Zack still shook his head. “Like I told Cloud, it's not all black and white. He sees something in you that's got nothing to do with what you do for a living and everything to do with who you are. What he sees in you isn't going to go away because of me, Reno.”

 

“That last part sounded a lot like what the boss said to me,” Reno murmured. “Okay Zack…go for it. Just don't try to keep him all to yourself, man. I'm willing to share but I'm not willing to let him go, understand?”

 

“Got it,” Zack replied with a nod.

 

They were just crossing the street to the Headquarters building when Cloud came running out the front doors. He looked like he was desperately out of breath but when he saw them approaching he found hidden reserves of strength and he sped up.

 

“Whoa, easy there, Chocobo!” Zack caught the blonde by the arm as he reached them and staggered.

 

“Ran,” Cloud panted, dragging in great gulps of air as he pointed up, “From top…floor! Elevators…too slow! Had to…take…stairs!” His wide blue eyes examined both of them rapidly, searching for signs of injury. “Both…okay?”

 

“We're fine, baby,” Reno said, torn between amusement and concern. “Wolfy got us down safe. Shit, you took the stairs?”

 

Cloud nodded convulsively and bent over, placing his hands on his knees as he fought for breath. “Scared…shit out of…me! Soon as…stop seeing black spots…I'm kicking…ass!”

 

“Okay, we've got a pretty big audience out here and you look like you're about to pass out,” Zack chuckled. He turned around and spread his wings a little, crouching in front of Cloud. “Piggy-back, Cloud. I'll get you inside and up to your room, okay?”

 

“What about…training?” Cloud rasped as he climbed onto Zack's back and let the other man carry him. He coughed as he almost inhaled a feather and he shifted so that he was sitting in a better position between the broad wings.

 

Zack felt the smaller man's body trembling against his and he shook his head. “I don't think you could take on a housefly right now, Cloudy. You just let us get you to bed so you can rest and I'll train without you tonight, okay?”

 

The poor, exhausted blonde didn't have the breath or strength to argue.

 

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

 

“You two look like a pair of cats watching a plump, juicy bird,” Reno snickered as he came up behind Elena and Vivian.

 

Both Turk women were watching Zack training through the gym window with a fixation that was almost lewd. They were both so absorbed in watching that they hadn't heard Reno approach and they both jumped a little. He smirked as the two women looked at him with guilty expressions, like schoolgirls caught with dirty magazines.

 

Reno looked over Elena's shoulder and realized she had double the reason to stare. Tseng was in the gym with Zack, sparring with him. The Wutaian was handy with swords himself and it seemed that he'd offered to take Cloud's place for the night. Both men were shirtless and glistening with sweat.

 

~Guess I can't blame Elena for enjoying a little eye candy even if she'll never get down Tseng's pants.~

 

“A girl's got to shop sometimes,” Elena said boldly, shrugging at him despite her blushing face.

 

“Even if it's just window-shopping,” Vivian added with a sigh, her blue eyes turning away from Reno to peer at Zack again through the window.

 

Reno chuckled. “Can't argue with that. Do they know you're both here perving on `em though?”

 

“We aren't `perving',” Elena insisted with a scowl. “We're just…watching. Do you perve on wrestling matches?”

 

“Sometimes,” admitted the redhead with a waggle of his eyebrows. He stepped up beside the blonde and watched with them. Zack was doing fairly well but his wings were hindering him, keeping him from performing the moves that his body was most familiar with. Tseng was patient and encouraging, reminding him to compensate and change his techniques.

 

After a while, Reno decided to walk through the doors and join them, if only to give Zack a little moral support. He could tell that the black-haired fighter was getting frustrated and handicapped or not, he could do some serious damage to Tseng if his temper got the better of him.

 

“How's it going?” Reno asked as he walked in.

 

“Could be worse,” Zack grunted as he rolled away from one of Tseng's swings. “It could also be a lot better, if these damned wings would just go away for a little while!” He made a visible effort of concentration and Reno's eyebrows shot up as the objects of Zack's frustrations shrank and vanished into his back.

 

“Yo, they're gone now, Wolfy,” Reno pointed out as he circled around behind the fighter to examine his back. The skin was smooth, with no sign of scars to mark where the appendages had grown.

 

Zack turned his head left and right as he reached over his shoulder with one hand to pat the skin searchingly. “I really did it,” he said in a relieved voice. “I got them to go away!”

 

“What did you do?” Tseng inquired curiously.

 

“I just flexed something in my shoulders and really, really wished they'd go back in,” Zack answered with an amazed frown. “It's a little hard to explain. It felt a little like clenching a fist or something but it didn't use muscle groups I'm used to having.”

 

“Can you make `em come back again?” Reno asked.

 

“Ooh, I don't know,” Zack said with a little cringe. “It took me long enough to figure out how to put the damn things away.”

 

“Well, they're part of you now, so ya might as well work on controlling `em,” suggested Reno. “Just give it a try, man. You know what made them go back in so you probably won't get stuck with `em again.”

 

Zack looked uncertainly at Tseng, who nodded in agreement with Reno. “You have power at your disposal, Zackary. If you don't learn how to control it, all it will ever be is a hindrance for you.”

 

Zack groaned. “Damn you and your Wutaian philosophy.”

 

Tseng smiled quietly at him and waited patiently.

 

“Okay, here goes,” the black-haired fighter muttered. He closed his eyes and concentrated on opening the imaginary fist this time, imagining the feel of the adrenaline rush he'd gotten when the wings burst free for the first time.

 

At first nothing happened and Zack heaved a sigh and tried again. He gasped at the familiar popping sensation in his shoulder blades and Reno swore softly and took a hasty step back as the wings again emerged from the ex-Soldier's back and spread wide.

 

“I think I'm getting it,” Zack murmured, his brow creased with concentration. He began to sweat harder as he made the wings retreat again, only to push them back out.

 

Reno stared with wide eyes at the spectacle of Zack's wings growing and shrinking in and out of his back. After a couple of minutes Zack began to tire and sink to his knees and the manifestation and de-manifestation of the appendages started making Reno strangely turned on.

 

~Must be the whole in-out-in-out thing that's doing it to me…fuck I'm a pervert.~

 

“I think you should stop now, Zackary,” Tseng suggested in a polite, yet firm tone. “You're really exerting yourself and it seems to be paining you.”

 

Zack did stop and he panted softly, kneeling down on the floor as he drew the wings back into his body one last time. “Now that was a workout,” he gasped when he finished.

 

“You certainly are a determined one,” Tseng observed.

 

Zack nodded in agreement. “Bullheaded…that's what my mother always said.”

 

“In situations like these, that isn't a bad thing,” Tseng answered. “Now if you'll both excuse me, it's close to midnight and I'd like to check on Cissnei before I retire. Goodnight.”

 

“'Night Tseng,” Zack said. “Thanks for the workout.”

 

“Later, boss,” Reno added.

 

Zack tried to stand up and he stumbled, weak from the effort he'd expended.

 

“Here,” Reno said, putting an arm around Zack's waist and helping him to his feet. He reached into his blazer and searched for a specific keyring. “Why don't you have a shower and take this when you're finished?”

 

Zack looked at the keyring that the Turk had pressed into his palm. It only had one key on it. “What's this go to?”

 

“Cloud's room,” Reno whispered with a grin. “Like I said, go for it.”

 

Zack looked at the key and then at Reno. “I'm not sure it's a good time for me to `go for it' yet.”

 

“Huh? Why not? What was the point of that little talk we had earlier and why'd I spend twenty minutes telling Cloud I'm cool with the two of you, then?” He peered suspiciously at the raven-haired man and he caught a very faint blush on Zack's cheeks. If the man had a tan at all he doubted he'd have seen the slight change in pigment.

 

“What are you afraid of, Fair?” demanded Reno.

 

“Who said I was afraid of anything?”

 

Reno smiled slyly at him. “You didn't have to say anything, man. It's written all over that honest face of yours.”

 

Zack grumbled and blew a few stray wisps of hair out of his eyes. “Okay…fighting isn't the only thing I'm out of practice with, you know?”

 

Reno considered that and shrugged. “Just go with your instincts, like you did today. You haven't gone wrong yet.” The Turk remembered one more thing, then. “Oh, I'll give ya one really important pointer though; Cloud likes it slow and easy the most, when he bottoms. He'll take a hard ride but if you wanna make him moan, let him feel every inch of you and take your time with it.”

 

Now Zack really was blushing and it wasn't entirely a symptom of embarrassment. His groin pulled taut in his pants as a result of Reno's erotic description and he found himself picturing the Turk and his blonde friend together.

 

“Slow and easy, right,” Zack said huskily. He stared at Reno and admired the shape of his eyes and the fringe of ginger lashes surrounding them. Again, he had to give Cloud credit for good taste in lovers and the more he got to know Reno, the more he liked him. “Thanks for the tip. I'm still going to wait a little longer, though.”

 

“Why?” Reno asked with candid curiosity. “Haven't you waited long enough?”

 

“I just want it to be the right moment. I'll know when it is.” Zack grinned, knowing it sounded cheesy.

 

“Shit…you're one of those romantic types, aren't ya?” Reno shook his head and sighed, but his eyes were twinkling with interest and mischief.

 

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

 

Zack did take advantage of the key that Reno gave him after he got cleaned up, but not for the reason the Turk pushed for. He let himself into Cloud's suite and called out softly to him as he made his way to the bedroom. He heard the blonde mumble in confusion and saw his shadowy outline sit up in the bed.

 

“Hey, don't be mad at me okay?” Zack said as he approached and sat down on the edge of the bed.

 

“Zack? I thought I locked the door,” Cloud yawned, reaching out clumsily for the bedside lamp. He clicked it on and squinted in the sudden light at his friend.

 

“You did,” Zack confirmed with a sheepish grin. “Reno gave me a key.”

 

“Reno?” Cloud rubbed his eyes. “He told me he only borrowed that key. Should have known better.”

 

“Wait, you didn't give it to him?” Now Zack was confused. “I thought that's how he got it, since you two are together.”

 

Cloud waved a hand negligently. “Doesn't matter. I would have but he just helped himself before I could get a copy for him.” He stretched and blinked, trying to bring his sleep-blurred eyes into focus. Usually it wasn't this hard for him to wake up but he'd really worn himself out earlier with his mad dash down thirty-five floors worth of stairs. When Zack's profile came into focus, he stared. His friend was wearing a black muscle shirt and there were no white wings arching out of his back.

 

“Your wings are gone.” Cloud tilted his head with confusion, doll-like in his sleepy state.

 

“Yeah, I wanted to show you that,” Zack chuckled. “I've figured out how to pop them in and out. I did it by accident while I was practicing with Tseng and I just figured it out from there.”

 

Cloud smiled. “That's great, Zack. So you borrowed the key to show me?”

 

“Not exactly,” the ex-Soldier said, shifting a little on the bed. Cloud's golden hair was mussed and he had imprints from the wrinkles on his pillow pressed into his face. He wore a pair of plain green boxer shorts and the rumpled bed covers were bunched up around his thighs. He looked painfully endearing to Zack.

 

“The truth is, I wanted to spend the night with you…just sleeping next to you and maybe getting a little nookie and some cuddles. What do you say, Cloud?” Zack's heart pounded as he waited for an answer and he didn't know why he was so nervous.

 

The blonde's eyes seemed to clear as the proposition sank in. He reached out for Zack and surprised him as he had in the elevator, cupping the back of his head to draw his mouth to his. There was no hesitation and no awkwardness in the moment—just a perfect kiss full of desire and tenderness. Zack slid further onto the bed and put his arms around the smaller man, deepening the kiss.

 

“I always thought you'd be kind of shy,” Zack murmured as his mouth trailed over Cloud's jaw and throat.

 

“Only when I talk instead of act,” answered the blonde. His fingers slid into Zack's shower-dampened hair, encouraging the movement of his lips on his neck. Zack was making him feel a little like a teen again, with his gentle, restrained passion. He was holding back and while Cloud was used to his lovers being more aggressive, he understood why Zack was trying to take it slow. He clamped down on his own need and refrained from rushing it.

 

Zack stretched out on his side and drew Cloud down with him, his mouth constantly moving over his lips, his jaw and his neck. He stroked the blonde's arms and back with his hands, caressing the skin with unhurried tenderness. He rolled onto his back, bringing Cloud with him so that the blonde was stretched out on top of him.

 

Zack allowed himself one guilty pleasure, unable to resist the temptation. He slid his hands down and cupped his companion's delightfully firm, rounded ass and he alternated between rubbing it through the boxers and squeezing the cheeks gently. He felt Cloud's growing erection against his thigh and he groaned faintly, reminding himself that now wasn't the right time to go all the way.

 

“Zack, you're really turning me on,” Cloud warned, his hands running over the black-haired fighter's muscle shirt to explore the hard planes of his body. “Don't be a tease.”

 

Zack laughed softly and rubbed his nose against Cloud's. “I'm not trying to, believe me. Like I said, I want it to be just right. Come on, Goldie…if a horndog like me can hold back I'm sure a sweet country boy like you can do it too.” Cloud's mouth met his in an open-mouthed kiss, the tongue sliding in briefly before retreating so that he could answer.

 

“I've had some bad influences,” Cloud murmured against his lips.

 

“Hmm, so Reno's responsible for this hot little bombshell I've got on top of me, eh?” Zack teased, returning Cloud's kisses with slow, sensual ones of his own. “Who else, besides Rufus?”

 

Cloud pulled back and looked at him with a wary expression, reminding Zack that Reno had been the one to tell him about Rufus, not Cloud.

 

“He told you,” Cloud accused. “What else did you and Reno talk about? All he told me was that you asked him how he'd feel about you and I getting together and he said it was okay.”

 

“That's basically the gist of it,” Zack assured him, wishing he could kick himself for spoiling the mood. “He just slipped up and mentioned Rufus.”

 

“I meant to tell you about that myself,” sighed the blonde, his sapphire gaze dropping. “I just wanted to do it on my own time. I guess I should just come clean with you now, before this goes any further.”

 

“You make it sound like you've done something wrong,” Zack observed with a frown. When Cloud looked at him sharply he realized he wasn't far from the mark.

 

“Just don't judge me, okay?” Cloud said in a subtly pleading tone.

 

“Why would I do that?” Zack questioned sincerely.

 

Cloud shrugged. “I don't know…maybe because you always seemed to have this wholesome image of me. The things I'm going to tell you now are gonna shatter that image in a million pieces.”

 

“I don't think they will, but I'm listening,” Zack said gently. He stroked Cloud's hair and gazed up at him with friendly, encouraging eyes.

 

Cloud took a deep breath and began. He told him everything…about his first encounter with Reno on Fenrir, the following encounter and kidnapping with the limo and the drugged orgy with the Turks. Zack's expression darkened when he got to the parts about Rufus coercing, tricking and seducing him but Cloud quickly explained that the president hadn't tried anything like that on him since the party. He went on to tell him about Reno's Mako poisoning coma, Rufus's kidnapping and finally, the reconciliation he'd had with the president.

 

“So, I've fooled around with all of them at least a little, but Reno and Rufus are the two I've actually been with,” explained Cloud when he was finished. “Reno was sleeping with all three of them before he and I got together and he still does. I never thought I'd be okay with a relationship like this but it works. How he finds the time for all of us, I'll never know.”

 

Zack chuckled, imagining the level of energy and stamina the redhead must have at his disposal. “Well, you've got nothing to worry about, Cutie Pie. It's kind of surprising but it doesn't change the way I feel about you…or my intentions.”

 

“You really don't care?” Cloud persisted, narrowing his eyes at Zack searchingly. “I mean, they're all with ShinRa and after everything that's happened you've got plenty of reasons to be disgusted.”

 

“Cloud, I'm not disgusted,” Zack insisted firmly, cupping his face to hold his gaze. “I know I was kind of out of it when I first woke up but I remember everything I learned while I was with Aerith in the Lifestream. Sure, they've got flaws and they still do some things I'm against but I know you feel the same. Overall they're a different company and like I said before, I know you wouldn't be with any of them if there wasn't some good in them.”

 

Cloud laid his head on the other man's chest and closed his eyes with relief. Zack's hands stroked his back and Cloud turned his face up to kiss his throat. “I was worried,” he confessed. “Thanks for understanding, Zack.”

 

Zack smiled and kept rubbing his back. “Thanks for trusting me enough to tell me about it,” he returned. “Now, what do you say we get a little sleep? I've still got a butt-load of flying and sword practice to cram in before we go and tear Cissnei's attackers a new one.”

 

Cloud couldn't decide whether he was more disappointed or endeared that Zack didn't push for more making out. He snuggled against Zack and contented himself with the feel of his strong body lying beneath him. If he wanted to wait, Cloud wasn't going to push him.

 

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

 

-To be continued