Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Alliance ❯ Chapter 10

“Alliance”

Chapter 10

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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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Zack had “seen” Fenrir before when he was in the spirit world, but this was his first time to see the bike in the physical world with his own two eyes. He and Cloud stopped before the bike in the parking garage and he stared at it while Cloud removed the security lock from the front tire and put it in a compartment.

 

“You really built this bad boy yourself?” Zack inquired as Cloud got on and took out two pairs of protective eye goggles from another compartment.

 

“Yeah, little by little,” Cloud smiled. “How do you like him?”

 

“Sexy,” Zack complimented with a grin. He took the pair of goggles his friend handed to him and he put them on, securing them over his eyes. He straddled the seat behind Cloud and made it a point to hold onto him nice and tight when he put his arms around him—but not so tight that he restricted his breathing.

 

“Hey Cloud, did Director Lazard remind you of Rufus?” the black-haired fighter asked as Cloud made some last minute preparations before starting the bike.

 

Cloud bit his lip and shrugged. “You knew him better than I did.” Another hysterical snicker began to surface before he could stop it and some of it came out before he got a handle on it.

 

“Okay, that's the second time you've had a weird reaction when I mentioned it,” Zack informed him wryly. “What's going on?”

 

“Nothing,” the blonde lied, his face heating up as the flash of memory rose in his mind. He shifted on the bike and hoped that his body wouldn't betray him.

 

“You're not telling me straight, Chocobo,” Zack insisted, his breath tickling Cloud's ear. “I can tell because you tensed up.”

 

Cloud winced. “Okay, there's something to that but it's not something I really want to talk about here, where people could walk by and hear us. Can't it wait until later, after you do a few test flights?”

 

Zack heaved a sigh. “Must be something that touches a nerve. Okay Cloud…I'll try to be patient and wait `till you're ready to talk about it.”

 

“Thanks. I…I promise I'll explain it to you later, okay?” Cloud really wasn't prepared to tell Zack the truth at all, but he couldn't refuse him either. He'd been open with him about everything else pertaining to his relationships…he might as well try to explain about this as well.

 

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

 

A little over an hour later, they found the abandoned farm that Rufus had told them about. Cloud pulled off the road and parked Fenrir inside the open barn. Both men tugged their goggles down to hang around their necks and prepared to get off the bike. On impulse, Cloud turned around in his seat and planted a kiss on Zack's mouth, grateful that the other man didn't press him for information about his reactions to the whole Rufus/Lazard thing. Zack returned the kiss, smiling against his lips with pleasure and when Cloud tried to break away and dismount Fenrir, the black-haired fighter's arms tightened around him.

 

“Where are you going in such a hurry?” Zack purred, his mouth seeking out the blonde's again.

 

“Up to the hay loft,” Cloud murmured before his companion's lips pressed against his.

 

“Mmm, why?” Zack's tongue eased gently into his mouth and played for a moment before withdrawing.

 

“Can't remember,” Cloud's mind went blank.

 

Zack chuckled and did it again, scattering Cloud's thoughts further. One of the blonde's hands settled on his thigh and pushed upwards toward his crotch. Zack's urgency increased and he kissed him with more passion, sliding his tongue against his and using more pressure with his lips. He swelled in his pants as Cloud's hand stroked up and down his thigh, coming close to the source of his growing arousal.

 

~I should cut this out now, before he decides to feel me up and things get out of hand.~

 

He told himself that but he didn't make any moves to still the blonde's busy hand. He pulled Cloud tighter against him and glided a hand down his ribs and around to his stomach. His hand brushed against the top of the blonde's swelling crotch as he tugged on his shirt to pull it out of his pants and Cloud instinctively lifted his hips with needy frustration. Zack resisted the temptation to give him what he wanted, knowing his own limits and determined to wait a little while longer before moving to the next stage. He had a lot to do today and if he let himself get caught up in passion he'd lose precious training time and rob both of them of the perfect experience.

 

Oh, but it was so damn hard to resist…hard being the operative word.

 

There was suddenly a rending sound and Zack felt the familiar popping sensation. Both men froze and the black-haired solider pulled his lips away from Cloud's and rested his forehead on his shoulder with exasperation.

 

“Damn,” Zack sighed. Clearly, sexual tension was also a trigger for the wings to sprout. Now he'd ruined one of his favorite new shirts and the frustrated need he felt only increased his angst.

 

“Well, at least now I don't have to take my shirt off to practice flying,” Zack said glibly, trying to look on the bright side as always.

 

“Why'd they pop out?” Cloud asked as he looked at the poised wings.

 

Zack smirked at him. “For the same reason this did,” he murmured. Despite his better judgment, he grabbed the hand that Cloud still had resting on his leg and he guided it between his legs, demonstrating his point.

 

Cloud's breath caught as he felt the evidence of his companion's lust against his hand and he squeezed the bulging package eagerly, drawing a little moan from Zack. “So you're saying it's my fault?”

 

“No, it's totally MY fault,” Zack corrected with a short-winded laugh. “I'm the one that couldn't settle for a quick kiss.”

 

Cloud fondled the prominent bulge he was cupping impulsively, unable to help himself.

 

Zack hissed through his teeth and reached down to disengage his hand. “Okay now, I know I started this but you'll have to settle for a quick grope, Cutie-pie...at least until we're finished for the day.”

 

“Are you teasing me again, or is that a promise?” Cloud demanded as his hand was gently pulled away from Zack's groin.

 

“It's a promise, sexy thing,” Zack smiled. “I need something a little more satisfying than some stolen kisses, myself.”

 

Cloud bit his lip as the swell of lust crashed against his meager restraints. “Okay,” he said huskily, “if it's a promise, I'll hold back. Um…how about we start with some sparring?” A good swordfight was the next best thing, in his mind.

 

“Sounds good,” Zack's voice was just as laced with need. “I didn't bring the sword they gave me, though.”

 

“Not a problem.” Cloud smirked and turned back around, reaching for a catch under Fenrir's front compartments. Zack made a startled sound as the compartments popped open to reveal multiple swords of varying sizes and shapes.

 

“Whoa! I forgot you carried your own arsenal!” Zack exclaimed as he peered over Cloud's shoulder at the impressive array.

 

“Take your pick,” Cloud offered with a smile of shy pride. Zack's warmth left his back as the taller man dismounted from behind him and moved around closer to the front. Cloud watched his friend's blue-violet eyes study the selection of blades and he was again reminded that the man had once been a First Class Lieutenant in SOLDIER by the professional, calculating way he examined them.

 

“I think I'll start out with this one,” Zack said as he drew a blade of medium thickness from one of the sheaths. It was a broadsword, similar to what he'd used before he inherited the Buster sword. “I was always more comfortable with this length and weight.” He stepped back and balanced the hilt on the palm of his hand for a moment before giving the weapon an experimental twirl. “Good sword,” he approved.

 

Cloud chose one of the thicker ones, avoiding his collapsible blade because he knew he'd end up using the customizable feature by instinct and he didn't want an unfair advantage. Zack noticed how his hand briefly hovered over it before changing directions and he smirked.

 

“You can use the cool one, buddy,” the black-haired fighter encouraged, “this is just practice, right? Might do me some good to face a couple of surprises and get used to adjusting.”

 

Cloud hesitated and bit his lip. “That's a good point but you haven't been back for long and you're just getting into your element. Maybe we should start off simple.”

 

Zack chuckled at him and rested the point of his chosen blade on the earthy floor of the barn. “All the more reason for you to give me a challenge, Chocobo-head. We've only got one more day before we head into a real fight and those Deepground bastards aren't going to cut me any slack.” Zack reached out and cupped Cloud's chin, forcing him to look him in the eye.

 

“Just trust me, Cloud. Don't baby me. I won't hold it against you if you kick my ass and I know you won't hurt me, okay?”

 

Cloud nodded slowly and reached for the First Tsurugi. “As long as you don't think I'm trying to show off, I'll go along with it.”

 

Zack smiled and let go of the blonde's chin. “You're not the type to show off, hot stuff. Confidence isn't the same thing as arrogance and to tell you the truth, I'm proud of you. You've come a long way from that shy, uncertain teenager I used to know.”

 

Cloud blushed with pleasure at the compliment.

 

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

 

They dueled a few feet away from the barn, underneath a couple of big oak trees. The workout allowed both men an outlet for their sexual frustration and soon, they'd fallen into an easy combat rhythm with each other. Even though he was out of practice, Zack's skills were better than many professional fighters. Cloud took it easy on him at first, giving him a chance to get the feel of his weapon before using more aggressive tactics. He could see the difference with each passing minute as he lunged, dodged, swung and parried against Zack. The black-haired fighter was quickly gaining confidence and speed, his actions becoming steadily more graceful and skilled.

 

Before long, Cloud was forced to put his back into it. The elite Soldier was emerging with each passing stroke and the blonde found it harder and harder to find openings and block his attacks. It had been so long since he'd fought a swordsman with such formidable skills and Cloud was enjoying the growing challenge, even as he broke into a sweat and began grunting with exertion.

 

Zack was likewise glistening with perspiration and grunting with effort and when he suddenly launched a flurry of blows at Cloud, the blonde knew he couldn't afford to hold back any more. He barely managed to fend off the rapid attacks and when they broke apart again, he decided it was time to get down to business. He narrowed his sapphire eyes at Zack and launched a flurry of his own, making the other man swear. Once he had him off-balance, Cloud popped the release on his sword and snapped it open to form two separate, smaller blades. He went at Zack like a tornado of golden hair and flashing steel, weaving both blades in a spinning, deadly corkscrew.

 

“Ah, hell,” Zack panted.

 

He felt the jarring vibrations up his arms to his shoulders as he blocked the attacks with desperate haste. It was hard to keep up with Cloud's assault and he knew he was leaving himself wide open for another one. The blonde was damn good…but he'd already known that, since Cloud defeated Sephiroth twice. Just as he feared, the smaller man's attack abruptly stopped and Zack did his best to get his guard back up. The attack he predicted didn't come; instead, Cloud somersaulted right over his head, surprising him. Zack whirled around but as he was finishing the move, Cloud's leg swept out in a low arc and hit him in the back of the knees, knocking him off his feet.

 

Zack's weapon went flying into the grass and he landed on his back, the wind knocked out of him. A moment later, Cloud was straddling him and he had his swords crossed over Zack's throat.

 

“Okay, uncle,” Zack wheezed, holding his hands out in surrender.

 

Cloud withdrew the blades and set them aside on the ground. He put his hands flat on the earth on either side of Zack's head and gazed down at him with a little smile.

 

“Sorry.”

 

“No, you're not,” Zack snorted. “And neither am I. Those were some ace moves you pulled there and I'm glad I got to see `em up close and personal. Why the hell did they cut you from SOLDIER, again?”

 

“I was too small,” Cloud said with a shrug. He settled more comfortably on top of the other man, enjoying the feel of him beneath him. “So, you're my prisoner now. What do I do with you?”

 

“Forty lashes with a wet noodle?” suggested the black-haired fighter.

 

Cloud burst into soft laughter. “No, I think I'll settle for a kiss.”

 

“Hey, forty lashes with a wet tongue is even better,” Zack quipped, winking at him.

 

Cloud narrowed the distance between them and captured the other man's lips. Zack's fingers wove into his hair and he returned the kiss, his mouth parting to let the blonde's tongue in. Cloud was a little surprised by the submissive gesture but he took the invitation, exploring the other man's mouth with heated appreciation. Zack demonstrated that he was just as good as the receiver as he was as the giver: adaptable to either role. He sucked gently on Cloud's tongue and lightly scraped his teeth against it, providing an interesting, tickling sensation. Cloud groaned with arousal and deepened the kiss, stretching out on top of his companion and pressing his hips against Zack's.

 

Cloud wondered distantly which role Zack preferred to take in bed. While he was allowing the blonde to dominate the kiss, he was subtly guiding the motions of Cloud's lips and tongue and his hard body moved with a telling, yet gentle aggression. Cloud admitted to himself that he was confused. When it came to Reno, he preferred to be the seme and with Rufus it could go either way, but when it came to Zack his first instinct was to bottom. He hoped he wasn't reading the other man wrong.

 

Just as their kissing began to progress into making out, Cloud's phone rang. He grumbled a complaint and broke the kiss, sitting up to dig the item out of his pocket. He looked at the number to see if he could ignore the call. He couldn't. It was Cid's home phone. With a little sigh of regret, the blonde put the phone to his ear and answered it.

 

“Hey Cid.”

 

“How ya doing, kid?” the pilot's rough voice was a little distorted and Cloud guessed that he had a cigarette in his mouth.

 

“Hanging in there,” answered Cloud. He looked down at Zack and the black-haired man laced his fingers behind his head and relaxed, waiting in polite silence. Cloud swallowed at the sensual vision, wishing he could just throw his phone into the bushes and attack Zack with his mouth and hands.

 

“So, did you get my message?” Cloud asked, trying to keep the husky note out of his voice.

 

“Sure did. You can count on us, Spike. The posse's taking care of business so we can come help.” Cid's voice grew more aggressive. “I can't wait to give those fuckers some payback for what they did to my Shera, anyway. Nobody blows holes in MY ship and gets away with it. So, have you found out where the rats are hiding yet?”

 

Cloud winced, thinking of poor Cissnei. “Some of them, yeah. There's a group of them somewhere in the Ancient Forest near Cosmo Canyon, but we don't know how many there are. Tseng's organizing a strike mission to take care of them the day after tomorrow and Zack and I are going with them.”

 

“Shit,” Cid swore. “Can't make it there by then. Yuffie's got political shit to tie up before she can leave Wutai and I've gotta fine-tune Shera and get her weapons stocked. Who the hell's Zack, anyhow?”

 

Cloud looked down at the man he was still straddling and a little smile found its way onto his lips. “Uh, you might not believe this, but do you remember that friend I told you guys about, back when we were trying to track down Sephiroth?”

 

“You've gotta give me more than that, kid,” Cid answered, “We talked about a lot of shit back then and that's too vague for an old coot like me to figure out.”

 

“The guy that I got my memories confused with,” Cloud elaborated. “Do you remember how I thought I was a First Class Soldier before I joined Avalanche? Zack is the guy whose memories got meshed with mine. He's the guy that broke us out of Hojo's lab and…and died protecting me from ShinRa when they caught up with us.”

 

“Yeah, that rings a bell,” replied Cid slowly. Cloud could tell by the tone of his voice that the pilot was getting uncomfortable. “Am I hearing you right? Did you just tell me that guy's going with you on this raid?”

 

“That's right.” Cloud smirked, imagining the perplexed look on Cid's face.

 

“You're not losing your marbles again are ya kid? You know your pal's dead and gone, right?” A rare note of concern was rising in Cid's voice.

 

“I'm not crazy and Zack's not dead anymore,” Cloud said. He looked down at Zack again and the other man had raised his dark eyebrows a little, interested in the conversation about him.

 

“Oookay,” Cid drawled, “So you're telling me your friend is back from the dead and ya want me to shrug it off, just like that?”

 

“Call Vincent or Tifa and ask them, if you don't believe me,” Cloud sighed. “It's a long story but I'm telling you the truth, okay? Just get here as soon as you can, Cid. We still don't know how many Deepground bases there are or how much they've built up their forces. There could be a huge army of them somewhere and you know how good they are at hiding until they're ready to attack.”

 

“I hear ya Cloud, but I'm having a real hard time swallowing this `Zack' business,” Cid answered.

 

Cloud pressed his lips together with annoyance and reminded himself that the gruff pilot was only trying to look out for him. Cid wasn't the most lovable person on Gaia but he was loyal to his friends.

 

“Tell you what,” Cloud negotiated, struck by a sudden inspiration, “I'll take a picture of him right now on my phone and send it to you. Will you believe me then?”

 

“Sure, kid. I've got my cell charging right here next to the landline.”

 

“Okay, hang on.” Cloud put the call on hold and browsed through the function menu on his phone. He glanced at Zack as he selected the camera option and gave him an apologetic look. “You don't mind, do you?”

 

“Hell no,” Zack said with a grin. “You know what a ham I am. Take as many shots as you like, Chocobo.”

 

Cloud activated the camera function and started focusing on Zack's face. He sighed and lowered it. “Zack, put your tongue back into your mouth and stop making goofy faces.”

 

The black-haired fighter chuckled. “Aw, you're no fun.” He complied with the order with a sigh of defeat. “So what kind of face should I be making?”

 

“Just a normal face,” Cloud said, trying to hide his grin. He blushed faintly and lowered his eyes. “I want my friends to see what I do when I look at you.”

 

Zack sobered, his amethyst eyes softening on the blonde. “Okay Cloud. No more goofy faces. I can smile though, right?”

 

“Zackary Fair without a smile wouldn't be right,” Cloud agreed, blushing further, “it would be like…like…”

 

“Spring without flowers?” suggested the former Soldier lightly. “A dog without a bone? A rainy day without a rainbow? Sex without an orgasm?”

 

“Cut it out,” Cloud said tremulously as he fought a laugh. “Just let me take the picture, okay?”

 

“You're my captor, so I guess I've gotta do what you say,” Zack answered. He smiled crookedly and saluted.

 

Cloud quickly snapped a picture, finding the sexy grin and salute perfect for a photo. He looked at the resulting snapshot and smirked. ~My friends are going to shit themselves when they see this.~

 

Cloud sent the captured image to Cid's cellphone and switched back to the talk mode. “Okay Cid, I sent the picture and you should get it any minute.”

 

There was a faint beeping sound on the other line as Cid's nearby cellphone alerted that there was a new message. “Yup, got it,” Cid confirmed. “Let's see…” He went quiet for a moment as he looked at the image Cloud had sent. “Huh…I'll be damned. `Course, this could just be some random guy but I don't think you'd go that far to pull a prank. How'd this happen, kid?”

 

“I'll explain it all when you guys make it to Junon,” Cloud said. “It's too complicated to explain over the phone and we've got a lot of training to cram in before the raid. Will you pass the word around to the others for me? I don't want them freaking out when they meet him.”

 

“I guess I can do that for you. I reckon we'll make it there by the end of the week. Don't go killing all those Deepground bastards before I can join in, got it? I've still got an itch to scratch and I want to use Shera's guns to do it.”

 

Cloud smiled. “The way things are going, there's still going to be plenty to go around. See you soon, Cid.”

 

Cloud ended the call and put his phone away with a sigh. His stomach growled and he put a hand over it. “I guess we should head down the road to that rest stop and get something to eat,” he suggested. He would have loved to take up where he and Zack left off but there would be plenty of time for that later.

 

“I could go for some food,” Zack agreed.

 

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

 

After securing the swords back in Fenrir's compartment, they went a couple of miles down the road until they found the rest stop that Rufus had told them about. It had a small deli, a convenience store and bathrooms. They used the bathroom and washed their hands first before buying a couple of sub sandwiches, chips and drinks. After they ate, they started to leave and Zack's eyes were drawn to the little convenience store.

 

“Hey, I'm going to run in and get some bottled water to bring back with us,” Zack said to his companion. “I don't know about you but I get thirsty after I work up a sweat.”

 

Cloud nodded. “Okay. I'll just wait by Fenrir for you.”

 

Zack hid a smile. ~That's perfect, because I don't want you seeing what else I'm going to buy.~

 

The black-haired fighter went into the convenience store and bought a six-pack of bottled water. He looked around with a frown, trying to locate the other items he was after. With a shrug, he went to the checkout counter and decided to ask the cashier about it.

 

“Hi, how are you?” Zack said with an engaging smile as the woman rang him up. She returned the smile impulsively; charmed by him. “You wouldn't happen to have any protection for sale, would you?” Zack inquired.

 

The auburn haired woman looked a bit confused. “Protection, sir?”

 

“Yeah,” Zack answered a touch uncomfortably. “Condoms…do you stock them?”

 

She shook her head. “I'm sorry, we don't sell that sort of thing here. We probably should but the store owner is kind of old fashioned.”

 

Zack sighed, but he gave her a good-natured shrug. “That's all right. I'll just take the water. Oh, and some of these mints, too.” He noticed some folded picnic blankets on the shelves behind the register and he figured it wouldn't hurt to have something to lie on if he and Cloud had another make-out session. “I'll grab one of those little picnic blankets also.”

 

~Dammit. Unless Cloud keeps some protection on him we're not going to have the option if things get too heated…unless we go bareback. I know I'm clean and I'm sure he is too but wrapping the woody is the best way to be safe. Here I was thinking it's just about the right time, too. Reno was right. I HAVE waited long enough. Shit, a year keeping my hands off him because of his age, four years stuck in a fucking test tube, then another five years separated from him by death. I've waited longer than anybody should ever have to wait to be with someone they love! ~

 

It looked like he might have to wait just a little while longer, though. He told himself that good things were worth waiting for and he could act on his decision tonight, after they returned to Headquarters and got cleaned up. He was disappointed, however. He had a silly, romantic picture in his head of making love to Cloud by the lakeside, with nothing but nature surrounding them. It was probably a lot messier and less comfortable than he fantasized—what with the twigs and leaves and dirt and rocks and insects—but there was something about the thought of their first time being in a natural wild setting that appealed to him.

 

He smirked at his own silliness as he paid for his items. What difference did it really make, whether it was in a bed or in the grass or on top of a mountain or even in the back of a car?

 

~It's Cloud. That's what's going to make it special…not the location.~

 

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

 

They returned to the barn and climbed the ladder to the hayloft. Cloud watched as Zack released his wings and spread them, stretching them experimentally and exercising them a little. The black-haired man looked at the ground below and smirked.

 

“This is a lot less intimidating than jumping from the roof of a skyscraper,” Zack said wryly.

 

“And a lot less risky,” Cloud agreed. “Maybe after you get the hang of flying you can try taking off from the ground.”

 

“I didn't even think of that,” Zack mused. “Hell, if Genesis and Angeal could do it with one wing I'm sure I'll be able to do it with two. I wish Angeal was around to give me some pointers.”

 

He sighed heavily, thinking of the muscular First that had befriended him when he was still a beginner. He got to hang out with him while he was in the Lifestream but now he wouldn't be seeing him again until he finished living out this second life he'd been gifted with…unless Aerith found some way to give Angeal the ability to visit like she and Zack could do. Very few deceased people could visit the loved ones they left behind; it took a special connection with the Planet that most people just couldn't achieve.

 

“I'm sorry,” Cloud murmured sincerely. He hadn't known Angeal very well but he knew Zack was close to him and it had wrecked the dark-haired fighter when he was forced to fight and kill him.

 

Zack smiled over his shoulder at the blonde. “It's okay, Cloud. I know for a fact he's safe and content, so it's just my selfishness that makes me a little blue. I've got you here with me and that makes it all right.”

 

Cloud returned the smile and Zack stared at him for a moment, thinking he had the sweetest smile he'd ever seen. When he tore his eyes off of his friend and prepared to take a running leap out of the hayloft, he silently vowed to make Cloud smile as much as possible.

 

~Gaia, I love the hell out of this guy. Always have. I just want to kiss him all over and cuddle him and do other things I can't say out loud without being accused of being a pervert. Okay…think, Zack. What are you doing? Oh, right…getting ready to fly. Hmm, I feel so good right about now I think I could almost do it without the wings…heheh. Floating on a Cloud…oh yeah…that sounds nice.~

 

Cloud watched his friend from behind and he was puzzled by the way Zack just stood there, staring out at the landscape. “Are you okay?” Cloud asked, wondering if he was hesitating because he was afraid.

 

Zack jumped, startled out of his daydreaming by the inquiry. “Uh, I just drifted into La La land for a minute. I'm fine.”

 

Without waiting for his mind to kick into daydream mode again, Zack charged at the open loft doors and leaped, hooting with a mixture of fear and reckless exhilaration as he hurtled through the empty air. He snapped his wings out and wobbled a little as he adjusted the angle, gliding toward the ground with decent control. He flapped his wings cautiously and gained a little altitude, but he was heading straight for one of the nearby oak trees and he knew he was going to have to go higher to avoid flattening himself against the trunk.

 

“Watch out for the—” Cloud hollered.

 

Zack climbed higher and missed the trunk, but he hit the canopy and went through it with a string of curses and yelps. The branches rustled and he shot out on the other side, spitting leaves.

 

“Tree,” finished Cloud with a sigh.

 

Thankfully, his friend didn't appear to be injured and he smiled with relief. Zack banked to the left and circled around a little unsteadily, but he held onto his control and flapped his great wings, going higher and higher. Cloud hooted with excitement and jumped out onto the hay pulley, clinging to the old rope as it reeled him down to the ground below. He pulled the shaded goggles hanging around his neck over his eyes to shield them from the sun and he ran beneath his gliding friend, following him with shouts of encouragement.

 

After a little while, Zack landed in a bare field, only stumbling a little. He smiled at Cloud as the blonde ran toward him, jumping and waving his arms with glee as he did so. He hadn't seen his friend so unrestrained and happy in years and it made his heart swell.

 

“You did it! You kicked ass!” Cloud laughed as he closed the distance and threw his arms around the taller man impulsively. He realized how he was acting and he flushed, embarrassed for letting himself go so much. “I mean…uh…good work.”

 

Zack returned the embrace and chuckled. “Nobody's around to see you having fun, Cloud. I'm glad you're so happy about it and you don't have to worry about hiding it from me.”

 

Cloud shrugged, unable to contain his smile as he averted his blue eyes. “My friends wouldn't recognize me if they saw me like this.”

 

“They don't know what they're missing,” Zack said seriously, sliding a hand under the blonde's chin to guide his mouth to his for a kiss.

 

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

 

Zack practiced for several hours, taking little breaks in between flights to refresh himself and chat with Cloud. He was a little worried that the blonde would start getting restless and bored but Cloud seemed to enjoy watching him fly as much as Zack was enjoying doing it.

 

Eventually Zack got a little cocky and decided to try something a little more daring than simply flapping around. Cloud watched with a puzzled frown as the black-haired man gliding above him flew almost straight up. His confusion turned into concern as Zack kept going in an arc until he began to go upside-down.

 

~What is he trying to do?~

 

Cloud's watched, his neck craning as his friend went up and over until he was behind him instead of in front of him. He then realized that Zack was trying to do a loop, but he'd miscalculated his distance from the ground and he was now zooming in straight for Cloud at alarming speed, his angle too steep to control.

 

“Oh, SHIT!”

 

Suddenly, Cloud was running away from Zack as fast as he could and from behind him, he heard Zack echo the curse that he'd just shouted a moment ago. The frantic flap of wings grew louder as the black-haired man bore down on the fleeing blonde. Cloud risked a glance over his shoulder and he saw Zack's wide-eyed, terrified face just a few feet behind him. The former Soldier was obviously trying to slow down but he'd gained so much momentum when he'd tried the stunt that he wasn't succeeding.

 

“Cloud, lookout!” Zack shouted as he windmilled his arms. “Duck or something, man!”

 

Logic would have dictated that Cloud throw himself to the ground or zigzag out of the way, but it didn't occur to him to do any of that until it was too late. Zack couldn't change directions and the back of his friend's golden head filled his vision as he ran face-first into it. Cloud's hair was soft but his skull was pretty hard and Zack's eyes watered with pain as his nose took the brunt of the collision.

 

Down they went, in a tangle of arms, legs and wings. The two men rolled in the grass and despite the pain shooting through his nose and cheekbones, Zack held Cloud tightly and did his best to wrap his wings around him to buffer his body and protect him. They came to a ragged stop after a few feet and they lay there in stunned silence, panting heavily.

 

“You okay, Cloud?” Zack asked after a moment. He ignored the sticky blood dripping from his nose and turned his friend in his arms, gazing down at him frantically for any signs of broken bones or other serious injuries. The blonde seemed more shaken than anything else and his goggles were hanging lopsided over his face.

 

“My head hurts,” complained Cloud softly. He looked up at Zack and his eyes widened. “Your nose! Is it broken?”

 

“Naw, just bloodied and sore,” Zack answered as he gingerly felt along the bridge with his fingertips. “I'm soooo sorry about that, Goldie. Last thing I wanted to do was dive at you like that.”

 

Cloud sat up and looked at him, more worried about his bloody nose than the throbbing pain in the back of his head. “Here, I've got a first aid kit in Fenrir. Let's see to your nose first and then we can talk about what a boneheaded move that was.”

 

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

 

They staunched the flow of blood and Cloud took out one of the potions he had stashed in Fenrir for minor injuries. He shared it with Zack and their minor injuries were healed. More cautiously, Zack resumed his practice and Cloud watched with more alertness, ready to dive for cover if his friend lost control again. By early afternoon, Zack had figured out how to take off from the ground. Heavy cloud cover began to move in as the afternoon progressed and after another hour, thunder boomed overhead and lightning forked down in the distance.

 

Cloud looked at the skies and frowned as the wind picked up. He turned his gaze to the east, where Zack was flying. The black-haired fighter swerved unsteadily and Cloud was just about to holler for him to come down when he evidently came to the same conclusion. Zack flew toward Cloud and slowly touched down in front of him.

 

“Looks like the flying lesson's over for today,” Zack said, his black hair blowing in the wind.

 

“Yeah,” Cloud agreed. “Maybe we should head back.”

 

Zack glanced over his shoulder at the barn. He looked back at Cloud and thought it would be a shame to go back just yet. They had shelter from the coming storm and if they waited it out in the barn, it would give them some alone time together.

 

“I don't know if we should drive through a storm,” Zack said tactfully. “Why don't we just hang out inside while it passes over? I've got that blanket we've been sitting on in the hayloft when we take breaks. Hell, we could even take a nap or something if you want. I don't know about you but today kind of wore me out.”

 

Cloud considered the tempting idea and nodded with agreement. “I like that idea. It's better than putting on a bunch of heavy rain gear and driving through a mess.” He started for the barn and the clouds broke overhead before he could take two steps. Rain began to pour down, drenching both he and Zack in seconds. Zack caught him around the waist and pulled him tight against his body, making Cloud's stomach do a flip.

 

“Put your arms around my neck,” suggested the dark-haired fighter.

 

Too stupefied by the feel of Zack's strong body pressing against his through their wet clothes, Cloud did so. Suddenly he was being lifted and he muttered a surprised curse as Zack flew the short distance to the barn and through the open doors of the hayloft. He landed on the dusty wooden floor and smiled at Cloud as he set him down on his feet. Their bodies slid against one another as the blonde dropped and Zack sobered quickly, his groin pulling taut in his jeans.

 

“That was…neat,” Cloud said breathlessly as they broke away from each other.

 

“Maybe when I get the hang of it I'll give you a real ride,” Zack grinned.

 

Cloud flushed, thinking of something entirely different when the word “ride” came up. He started to respond but Zack shook his hair like a dog, splattering water droplets everywhere. Cloud laughed and did the same. They didn't have a towel to dry off with so this was just going to have to do. Zack finished shaking some of the water out of his hair and he walked to the blanket and sat down, patting it invitingly as he looked up at his friend. His eyes roved over Cloud as the blonde approached and he took a moment to appreciate the way the wet material clung to his body.

 

~Hmm, I think I'll ask him if he's got some protection with him…but first, I want to know why he kept getting the giggles every time I mentioned that Rufus reminds me of Lazard.~

 

“So, are you going to tell me or not?” Zack asked once Cloud sat down beside him.

 

“Tell you what?” inquired the blonde with a look of confusion.

 

“Why you acted the way you did when I said Rufus looks kind of like Director Lazard.”

 

Cloud winced. “I was hoping you'd forget about that.”

 

“Nope. I'm too curious.” Zack smiled at him. “Hey, you know you can tell me anything, right?”

 

“I know.” And he did. Cloud heaved a sigh and tried to gather his thoughts, wondering where to begin. “Okay, here goes. You know how you told me to live for both of us when you were…dying?”

 

Zack nodded and lowered his eyes. “Wish I hadn't done that now. That was an unfair burden for me to put on you.”

 

“It's okay,” Cloud assured him. “It's in the past. The thing is though…I kind of got some of your memories…even some of your skills. For a long time I was mixed up in the head and my memories were all confused with yours. I thought I was a First Class Soldier.” He smiled ruefully and shook his head.

 

“How the hell did I do that to you?” Zack asked, his brows drawn together. “Why didn't you tell me this before?”

 

“Aerith told me your connection to the Planet must have somehow triggered the transference,” Cloud shrugged. “You didn't do it on purpose but it happened. As for why I never told you, that look on your face right now is why. I knew you'd beat yourself up over it and I didn't want that.”

 

Zack swallowed and closed his eyes. “Cloud, I'm sorry. I—”

 

“Shhh,” the blonde interrupted. “I told you, I'm okay now. The thing is…um…I got something else from you too. I know how to…do something…that I couldn't remember ever being taught. Reno asked me about it and when I told him I couldn't remember where I learned it he got worried that I'd been…you know…abused or something. I started worrying about that too but this morning I got a flash of memory and I realized the thing I could do came from you.”

 

Zack had a look of concentration on his face as he tried to crack the blonde's coded explanation. He shook his head and gave up after a moment. “What is this `something' you're talking about, Goldie? What does it have to do with…with…Lazard…oh, no. Wait a minute…Cloud…did this memory of yours…uh…” Now it was his turn to be embarrassed as he began to understand what his friend was trying to tell him.

 

“Were you and Lazard fooling around?” Cloud asked softly, confirming the black-haired fighter's fears.

 

“Oh shit,” Zack muttered. “Your special mystery ability wouldn't have anything to do with tantric sex techniques, would it?” His face was turning as red as Cloud's and when the blonde nodded silently, he groaned and hid his face in his hands.

 

“Holy hell, that's not exactly the kind of thing I'd want to pass on!” Zack shook his head and swore at himself, imagining his sweet, innocent friend coming out of his Mako-induced catatonic state with those images floating around in his head. “I mean, sure…I'd teach it to you now but not back then, when you were so…so…”

 

“Take it easy,” Cloud murmured, his own embarrassment fading. “The actual memory didn't pop up until this morning, so you didn't accidentally molest me or anything like that. I just…knew how to do it and I could never explain why until I got that flashback. That's why I acted like that when you said Rufus reminded you of Lazard. It meant I wasn't just imagining it and I was happy, because I was starting to wonder if someone forced me and I just couldn't remember.”

 

Zack moved his hands away from his face and looked at him with a sigh. “You're not freaked out about it?”

 

Cloud shook his head. “A little embarrassed to talk about it, but not freaked out. It isn't like I thought you never had a sex life, Zack. I just didn't realize it wasn't with women.”

 

“Uh…yeah,” Zack said uncomfortably. “About that…I guess I should tell you now that I'm bi.”

 

Cloud blinked, but the surprise was very mild. Of course Zack was bisexual…it made sense with the way he flirted with everyone. It had been more shocking to find out he went for men at all than it was to hear he also went for women.

 

“You okay with that, Cloud?” Zack asked, searching his eyes.

 

Cloud nodded. “Yeah, I'm okay with it. It makes sense, after all.”

 

“I'm not going to run around sleeping with chicks and other guys,” Zack informed him, his expression serious. “It's all you now.”

 

“But…I can't expect you to…not when I'm in the kind of relationship I have,” Cloud stammered.

 

Zack shrugged. “I don't mind. I just don't want you thinking I'm a total dog, Cloudy.”

 

“I'd never think that,” Cloud answered. “If anything, I'm the dog here.”

 

“Bullshit,” Zack scolded. “You were already in your relationship when I came into the picture and I know you're happy with it, so I'm not going to try to get in the way. I just want in too, if you'll let me.”

 

Cloud nodded. “I want you. I think Reno does too, even though he hasn't said it out loud.”

 

“You think so?” Zack sounded a little surprised. Thunder boomed overhead and he and Cloud jumped a little, startled by the noise.

 

“Yeah. I know him better than he thinks I do. It's up to you guys to figure out what you want to do about that.”

 

“I just thought he was flirting for your sake,” the black-haired fighter murmured. “Hmm, that gives me something else to think about.”

 

Cloud chuckled. “We can worry about that later. I want to know where YOU learned that trick from.”

 

Zack looked sheepish. “I kind of borrowed one of Tseng's books…without telling him. I brought it right back when I was finished but that's where I learned it from.”

 

Cloud's mouth fell open. “You nabbed a sex book from Tseng and you didn't get caught? And, if Tseng knows how to do that, why hasn't he ever done it to Reno? I'm sure I'd have heard about it if he had!”

 

Zack thought of how passionate the redhead in question was and he smirked. “Maybe Tseng had the good sense not to tempt fate. Let's face it Cloud…Reno's sex on a stick. Get him too over stimulated and it would be like lighting a brush fire.”

 

Cloud bit his lip and flushed. “I guess I don't have Tseng's good sense, because I used it on him. We both lived through it, though.”

 

Zack laughed heartily at that and put an arm around him. “So you've got more guts than our Wutaian friend. Do me a favor though…don't ever tell Tseng I borrowed his book, okay? I don't know what he'd do to me…the guy acts all laid back but I've seen him in action before and he's one Turk I wouldn't want to piss off.”

 

“I hear you,” Cloud said with a smirk. He'd always had the same impression of Tseng and he understood Zack's concern. “Don't worry, I won't tell.”

 

“Thanks, Chocobo. Now, gimme a kiss.”

 

Cloud gladly did so and Zack's mouth was hot and insistent against his. The passion in the other man's kiss made Cloud's body sing with need and he pushed his fingers into Zack's damp hair and kissed him harder. Zack's hand slid up Cloud's back to his shoulder and he gently urged him to lie on his back. Cloud did so and Zack followed, settling his body on top of the blonde's. His thigh pressed between Cloud's legs and the smaller man pushed his hips up with wanton arousal, grinding his hardened bulge against Zack's leg.

 

The interior of the hayloft was lit up by a nearby flash of lightning and Zack held Cloud tight as he waited for the inevitable clash of thunder. It struck, loud enough to make the building vibrate and Cloud's soft yelp of alarm was muffled by Zack's mouth. The larger man's strong, protective hold on him was reassuring and eased Cloud's instinctive tension. He wasn't exactly frightened of storms—he'd ridden through them plenty of times. It was the loud noise that bothered Cloud.

 

Zack's mouth left his and kissed its way over his jaw to his ear. His teeth nibbled the sensitive lobe and Cloud groaned and clutched at the other man's shoulders, bunching up the clinging material of Zack's shirt. He opened his eyes and looked up at the wings hovering over him. The water had rolled off of the white feathers without actually wetting them and they were the only dry part of Zack's body. Cloud admired them even as Zack's nibbles made him tingle all over.

 

“I can't stand it anymore,” Cloud panted, sliding his fingers into Zack's hair to tug at it and make him lift his head. When the blue-violet eyes looked down at him questioningly, Cloud blurted his honest feelings. “I don't want to wait anymore, Zack. I want you now.”

 

Those sinfully appealing lips parted and those gorgeous eyes darkened with lust. “I want you too,” Zack murmured.

 

The sensual timber of Zack's voice made Cloud's swollen cock twitch in his pants and he bit his lip to fight a moan. Only Reno had ever gotten him this hot, this fast. He imagined what it would be like with the two of them at the same time and Cloud wasn't sure he'd survive such an encounter.

 

“Do you have anything on you?” Zack asked hopefully.

 

Cloud's expression froze. Since getting involved with Reno, he normally carried some protection on him but he couldn't remember grabbing any this morning before he and Zack left. “Hold on a sec,” he breathed as he squirmed beneath his companion and began searching the pockets of his cargo pants.

 

He found his phone, his wallet, his keys, a buck knife and a utility knife, but no condoms or lube. “Goddammit! Fuckedy-fuck-fuck! ”

 

Zack would have cursed with frustration as well, if he weren't so shocked by hearing such a vehemently uttered, vulgar string of curses explode from those sweet, kissable lips. He began to chuckle before he could help himself. “Kiss your mother with that mouth?”

 

“It's not funny,” Cloud fumed. “I really want you and I don't have anything on me!” Only when he was at his most passionate was Cloud so brutally honest, without embarrassment.

 

“It's okay,” Zack tried to soothe, though disappointment was eating him up inside as well. “We can head back to Headquarters as soon as the storm clears up.”

 

Cloud shook his head. “No, I can't wait that long. I swear I'm clean and I know you weren't with anyone while your body was in that tank. Can't we just go without?”

 

Zack had been considering the very same thing earlier. “I'm clean too,” he murmured. “After what happened to Cissnei, I thought I had the doctors test me. There's no telling what Deepground might have done to me while they had me in their custody and I wanted to be sure.” He gave Cloud a soft, brief kiss and looked into his eyes. “Are you sure, Cloud?”

 

Cloud stared into his eyes and slid his hands under Zack's wet shirt, feeling the tight muscles of his stomach and chest. “I'm positive. I want you inside me.”

 

Zack swallowed and his body trembled with the force of his desire. He shoved aside the fear that he might be so out of practice he'd disappoint Cloud and he lowered his mouth to his for another kiss. He took his time with it, fencing with Cloud's tongue and nibbling his lips until the blonde was panting before he drew back and looked him in the eye again.

 

“Anything you want, sexy.”

 

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

 

-To be continued