Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Alliance ❯ Chapter 13

“Alliance”

Chapter 13

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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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Reeve hadn't expected his lover to be so aggressive about it when he encouraged him to take the initiative. Ever since the night they got together, the engineer had been working on coaxing Vincent out of his shell, little by little. The dark gunman was by no means a typical man and his fears of harming Reeve kept him from exploring his assertive side too thoroughly. While Reeve appreciated and respected those concerns, he had faith in Vincent and he knew that the man was capable of controlling himself.

 

Tonight, he wondered if he had been wrong about that. “I want you to let yourself go a little tonight,” he'd said before they retired to his room, “we're about to come into something big and I don't want either of us living with regrets for what might have been, understand? I trust you, Vincent. You won't hurt me.”

 

After being shoved onto the bed, pinned down and bitten on the neck hard enough to draw blood, Reeve was forced to question his own judgment. He cried out a warning, fearing that if he just bore the minor pain silently his companion might take it too far and puncture a jugular. He had the canines to do it, if he got carried away.

 

Vincent pulled back and gazed down at him with lust-fogged crimson eyes, some sanity returning to his expression as he saw the blood trickling onto the pillow under Reeve's head. He stared at the wound he'd made in his lover's neck, fascinated and repulsed at the same time.

 

“I'm not ready for this,” the gunman said roughly. He tried to get up off of his companion but Reeve's arms went around him and prevented his retreat. He stared into the engineer's calm brown eyes uncertainly. “I hurt you,” he reminded when Reeve didn't let go of him.

 

“Just a little sting,” Reeve ensured him. “I've been hurt much worse than that before, believe me.” He smiled dryly at his dark, beautiful lover, determined to show him that he didn't have to be boxed into one role. “You can do this, Vincent. I can take a little rough treatment…just be mindful not to sever anything important, if you know what I mean.”

 

“This is no time for jokes,” the shapeshifter murmured. His eyes strayed of their own accord to Reeve's bared chest and he got distracted. He loved the engineer's swimmer's build and the pattern of dark hair that dusted his chest and stomach. He heard Reeve chuckle softly and he flushed, meeting his gaze again. “You mock my desire.”

 

“No, of course not,” Reeve said hastily, running his hands over the gunman's slimmer body leisurely. “I just get a bit giddy when you look at me that way. Vincent, I promise you it will be fine. You stopped as soon as I spoke up. You have better control over yourself than you think.” His fingertips traced the pattern of scars on Vincent's back and he swallowed. “I want to give you the same thing you've given me.”

 

“I know you do,” Vincent whispered uncertainly, “I want it too, but…what if I can't stop the next time?”

 

“You will,” Reeve said with confidence. “If you can't trust yourself, trust me instead. I won't let it get out of control and I promise you'll know it if you really hurt me.”

 

Vincent considered his offer, staring unblinkingly down at him while his desire burned unbearably. “I'll get the items we require,” he finally murmured.

 

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

 

A short time later, they were both naked and Reeve was on his back with his legs propped over Vincent's pale shoulders. He'd started to lie on his stomach but Vincent insisted on this position, so that he could look into his eyes and read his expressions. The gunman was taking no chances and even though he held Reeve's wrists crossed over his head with his claw hand, he was gentle and cautious as he positioned himself and thrust forward.

 

Reeve groaned softly, his captured hands clenching involuntarily as his lover's hard girth drove into him. They'd taken time to prepare him first, of course, but it had been so long since the last time he took this role that the sensation was practically new to him. Vincent was watching him carefully, his pale lips parted with pleasure and his long eyes heavy-lidded. Reeve nodded encouragingly, moving beneath the other man to entice him further.

 

With a heavy groan, Vincent pushed in the rest of the way and closed his eyes, examining the feel of his companion's body squeezing his rigid flesh. It was different from the few experiences he remembered having in the past, and it was intoxicating. He growled low in his throat as his lust threatened to erupt. He knew that Reeve wouldn't break if he gave him a good, hard fuck but it wasn't the force of his thrusting cock that he feared would harm the other man. His demons lusted for blood as much as pleasures of the flesh and Vincent would die before he made Reeve pay for that.

 

He pulled back slowly and then shoved forward again, bucking into Reeve's pliant body with aggressive enthusiasm. The engineer's swift gasp expressed both pain and pleasure but he didn't ask him to stop, so Vincent did it again…and again.

 

“Oh…oh, hell,” Reeve panted, his eyes staring blankly up at the ceiling as Vincent's cock shoved against his prostate. Whether the gunman meant to or not, he was sliding in with perfect precision and each thrust made a jolt of sensation go through Reeve's spine. “Don't stop,” he grunted when the gunman paused for a moment.

 

Vincent obliged and his metallic claw tightened around Reeve's wrists almost painfully. The engineer didn't fight his dominating hold—not that he could have if he tried. Reeve arched his throat and groaned Vincent's name through clenched teeth, his erection rubbing against the gunman's stomach with each thrust. He felt Vincent's mouth caressing his chest and he arched his back encouragingly, only to blurt another sharp gasp as he felt the straight, white teeth close over his nipple and bite just hard enough to sting. Vincent's tongue swirled around the abused, tender bud a moment later and provided an interesting contrast of pleasure to soothe away the brief pain.

 

Vincent pumped harder and the bed began to bump against the wall with the force of his motions. Reeve vaguely recalled that Cloud's suite was right next to his and he bit his lip to hold back the volume of his cries, realizing that the blonde could probably hear his and Vincent's activities through the wall.

 

~Poor kid…he's probably got his pillow stuffed over his head right now, trying to block out the noise. Damn, I should have asked Rufus to assign him to another room further down.~

 

With that realization came another, more disturbing one: Tifa's room was on the other side. He was literally surrounded by his young friends and here he was getting his ass pounded by Vincent, probably traumatizing both of them for life with his audio pornography.

 

“Cover my mouth,” Reeve panted shakenly. A particularly hard push forced a guttural moan past his lips before he could stop it and he nearly came. “Vince…please,” he begged.

 

Vincent didn't question his demand. He covered the engineer's mouth with his human hand and resumed kissing and biting at his chest and throat. He thought it was some sort of kink his lover had in mind and he didn't bother to temper the volume of his own groans and growls of pleasure.

 

~Well, this is going to do a whole lot of good,~ Reeve thought as Vincent snarled a promise to fuck him up. He knew it was his lover's passion talking and he'd grown used to Vincent saying things in the heat of lust that he'd never say under regular circumstances, but he was sure that the occupants of both adjacent rooms could hear the gunman's rough declaration.

 

“Mmph…wait,” the engineer tried to say, but his request was muffled under the hand he'd so brilliantly demanded Vincent place over his mouth and the gunman was too impassioned to take heed of his distorted request. Reeve howled behind the pale hand clamped over his mouth as Vincent's hips snapped forcefully, driving his cock so hard and deep that it made the engineer's vision blur with pleasure.

 

“Reeve,” growled the gunman, biting down on the skin over his left pectoral.

 

He felt his teeth go in and he tasted the salty blood. It made him mad with lust and he sucked at the wound and ground his hips in hard, forceful circles. The engineer's ragged, muffled cry was full of pleasure rather than pain and Vincent groaned, wanting more. He released Reeve's wrists abruptly and reared back, slipping out of his body and pulling the other man's legs off of his shoulders. Before the WRO leader could ask what he was doing, Vincent flipped him over onto his stomach and pinned him down, shoving his thighs apart and positioning his erection between his buttocks.

 

Reeve bit down on the pillow as Vincent drove into him again, filling him completely with the first thrust. He didn't get a chance to adjust to the new position and the forceful penetration before the gunman began fucking him again. Vincent's hands sought out Reeve's—which were clutching the pillow with desperation. Claw and mortal hand closed around the engineer's wrists, holding them tightly to keep him subdued.

 

After a moment, the engineer realized he couldn't breathe and the unbearable pleasure/pain of Vincent's thrusts distracted him enough that he couldn't immediately work out why.

 

~Your face is in the pillow, dumbass! Turn your head before you smother yourself!~

 

Reeve turned his head to the side and sucked in a much-needed helping of oxygen…which he immediately expulsed with a loud moan as Vincent bit him on the shoulder. He probably should have said something, because this particular bite was harder than the last ones had been and he could feel the blood dripping down his shoulder. He didn't want Vincent to stop though and he knew that if he did, he'd have time to notice the damage he'd done and feel guilty. If he stopped him now, Vincent might never believe he could take it and despite the sting of the gunman's sharp teeth, it felt too good for Reeve to take the risk that his lover might never work up the courage to take this role again.

 

Reeve forgot all about his neighbors as Vincent gasped and panted in his ear. The powerful thrusts of the former Turk's cock were driving all coherent thought from Reeve's head and the pressure in his pelvic area built and built with each moment. Reeve cried Vincent's name hoarsely as the pressure exploded and he came against the sheets his body was rubbing against. Vincent's answering curse was hot and breathy against his ear as the shapeshifter's lean body went taut against his, the spasms of Reeve's orgasm driving him over the edge as well.

 

Vincent's weight fell against Reeve's back as the gunman came inside of him. The silken tendrils of his jet-black hair blanketed the engineer's aching shoulders as he laid his head between them. His ragged breath caressed Reeve's skin and his gripping hands loosened over his wrists and stroked up and down his arms with slow sensuality. All of his aggression was spent and now he was pressing soft, tender kisses along Reeve's back and shoulders, licking gently at the wounds he'd caused.

 

He'd done it. He'd taken his lover without any of his demons making an unwanted appearance and taking over. It was unfortunate that he'd bitten Reeve so many times in the process but since the other man wasn't complaining, Vincent's guilt was salved. He really could take it.

 

“Are you okay?” Vincent asked when he found the breath to speak again. He brushed his lover's sweat-dampened chestnut hair away from his face and studied him carefully.

 

“I'm fantastic,” Reeve answered in a breathless voice. “How are you?”

 

Vincent caught himself smiling. “Amazed,” he replied truthfully. He eased his sated flesh out of the snug passage it was nestled in and rolled carefully off the other man, sitting up to remove the protective barrier of latex gloving it. “I'm going to dispose of this and get my Cure materia for you,” he informed Reeve as he stood up and headed for the bathroom.

 

“I hardly think a Cure spell is necessary,” Reeve said dryly as he rolled onto his back and laced his fingers behind his head. He winced a little at the burn in his nether regions. “If a man can't take a few love bites without falling apart, he certainly shouldn't be in the line of work I'm in.”

 

Vincent paused and looked over his shoulder at him, his red gaze sweeping over his body and resting below his navel. “I wasn't getting it for the bites,” he said pointedly as the engineer squirmed to get comfortable.

 

“Oh.” Reeve didn't argue further. Yes, he could go without the quick fix of a Cure spell but his bottom wouldn't thank him for it and sleep would probably be hard to come by from the discomfort. “Carry on, then.”

 

Vincent's lips quirked and he opened the bathroom door. Reeve admired his pale, firm ass and sighed. He was pleased with the outcome of this evening, even if his friends heard more than he ever wanted them to hear and his posterior was burning. There was nothing more fulfilling in a relationship than a mutual exchange of trust and sharing, and he knew the last of the barriers between himself and Vincent had been dissolved.

 

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

 

Cloud's cellphone was ringing but the blonde was sleeping like a log. Ordinarily he wasn't such a heavy sleeper, but he'd worn himself out over the past two days and Zack's presence made him instinctively more relaxed. The black-haired fighter heard the cheerful, digital ring of the phone and he opened his eyes and reached out for it, grabbing it off the nightstand and answering it before it could wake his companion up.

 

“Cloud's phone,” he yawned.

 

“Um, who's this?” the voice on the other line was youthful sounding and female.

 

“Zack,” answered the former Soldier with a grin. “And who's this?”

 

“I'll tell you after you tell me what you're doing with Cloud's phone,” the girl said evasively, her tone more than a little suspicious.

 

“I'm his friend,” Zack explained. “I answered it for him because he's asleep.”

 

“He doesn't have any friends named `Zack',” she snorted. “Well, except that dead guy. Are you dead?”

 

Zack chuckled softly. “No, I'm not dead…but I'm the dead guy you're thinking of.”

 

Silence. Then: “Huh? What gives, is this some kind of stupid joke? Lemme talk to Cloud!”

 

“I told you, he's sleeping,” Zack said stubbornly. He was enjoying the girl's confusion, whoever she was. “If you're one of his posse then you should have gotten a message from Cid about me by now.”

 

“I'm a very important and busy lady,” she sniffed arrogantly. “I haven't had time to talk to Cid yet. Now tell me who you are, mister! I'm next in line to rule Wutai and if you've hurt my friend I'll kick your sorry butt into next Tuesday!”

 

Her announcement concerning her lineage jogged Zack's memory and he grinned. “Yuffie, right?”

 

“You just never mind who I am and answer my questions!” the girl demanded in a huff.

 

Zack covered the mouthpiece of the phone and snickered softly. He cleared his throat before speaking again. “I have answered your questions. I told you, I'm Zack. Is it my fault you were too busy to check your messages? Besides, you should remember me. You put me through hell sending me out on Materia hunts, back in my SOLDIER days. You were just a skinny little kid then, though.”

 

She went silent and he imagined her eyes going round. “I don't believe you,” She grumbled, “Okay, I'm going to check my text messages and if I don't find one from Cid explaining this, you're going to be in some major trouble, pal.”

 

“Wouldn't want that,” Zack said lightly. I'll hold while you have a look, sugar.”

 

“DON'T call me `sugar', you perv.”

 

He chuckled again. “You're right…there's definitely more spice in you than sugar.”

 

She mumbled something about sexism and put him on hold to check her messages.

 

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

 

In her bedroom in Wutai, the young ninja checked through her text messages. The guy on Cloud's phone had a nice voice but she didn't trust him one bit. She found one from Cid, just as this “Zack” character said she would. There was an attachment with it but she waited to open it up until she read Cid's message.

 

“Talked to Spike today. Says his pal Zack came back from dead. Thought he was crazy but he sent this pic. Looks like the guy I saw in a pic Tifa showed me once. Cloud says will explain when we all get there. Crazy shit.”

 

Yuffie frowned and opened the attachment. Her eyebrows shot up as she looked down at the saluting, grinning hunk in the picture. “Oh. My. God. I REMEMBER HIM!!” She admired the picture for a moment. She'd been too young to appreciate a hot looking guy like that when she knew him years ago but now…hubba-hubba! “Maybe I'm in the market for a husband after all. That would make the old goat happy.”

 

She cleared her throat and clicked back over, her voice much sweeter than before. “Oh, you're that Zack!” She was still confused about what the hell was going on but she was used to Cloud's obscurity by now and weird things weren't exactly new to her. “Why didn't you just say so?”

 

“I kind of did,” he replied with a chuckle. “At least, I tried to.”

 

“Oh, I thought you were a different Zack. So it's really you, huh?”

 

“Yeah, it's me.” She could literally hear the smile in his voice. “Cloud took that picture while he was on the phone with your pal Cid, trying to convince him he wasn't losing his marbles.”

 

“I can't wait to hear how this happened,” she said in an excited tone. “You're helping with the Deepground stuff, right?”

 

“Wouldn't have it any other way,” he assured her. “Oh, it looks like Chocobo-head is waking up. Hold on a sec and I'll hand him over to you.”

 

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

 

Cloud barely opened his eyes before he felt Zack's lips press against his in a good-morning kiss. He smiled sleepily up at the other man, his heart singing with joy to find him still there.

 

“There's a materia thief on the phone for you,” Zack informed him with a wink.

 

Cloud sat up groggily and put the phone to his ear. “Hello?”

 

“Hey Cloud! I was just talking to Hottie…er…I mean Zack. Sorry to call so early…I keep forgetting about the time zone differences. It's like, late night over here. Anyhow, I just wanted to let you know we should be there by the end of the week.”

 

“That's good, Yuffie,” the blonde yawned. He glanced at the clock. “Actually I'm glad you called so early. We need a head start to get a full day's training in.”

 

“Training?” She sounded puzzled. “What for? You already kick ass.”

 

“It's not for me,” he explained, “It's for Zack. He's been out of it for a while and we're just getting him warmed up for the raid on the Deepground group that attacked Cissnei.”

 

“Oh,” she sounded slightly subdued. “I guess being dead would make anyone a little rusty. How's Cissnei doing, anyhow? I don't know her that well but everyone seems to like her.”

 

“I guess she's doing as well as can be expected,” Cloud murmured uncertainly. “She was beat up pretty bad.” He hadn't told his friends that Cissnei had been sexually assaulted because he didn't think it was right to inform them of something so private and traumatizing. “Zack visits her every day and it seems to cheer her up a little.”

 

“He does?” She sounded oddly wary, now. “Um, are they like…together?”

 

“No, they're just good friends,” Cloud answered.

 

“Oh.” Yuffie's voice perked up. “Is he with anyone else?”

 

Cloud closed his eyes and groaned softly, finally seeing where the ninja girl's questions were leading. He had to nip this in the bud, before she started crushing too hard on Zack. “Yeah, actually,” he said uncomfortably. While his friends never said anything out loud, he was pretty sure they all knew he was gay. What most of them didn't know was who he was being gay with.

 

“Damn,” Yuffie grumbled. “So who is she?”

 

“Uh, it's not a she, if you get my meaning,” Cloud said, his face heating up.

 

“You're kidding.” Yuffie sounded annoyed now. “You mean to tell me a sexy, manly hunk like that is gay?” She caught herself and had the humility to sound embarrassed. “Uh, sorry Cloud…not that I think you aren't sexy or manly…it's just…you're…um…you know…you're a different kind of sexy…like the cute, broody kind, you know?”

 

“Quit while you're ahead,” the blonde said with a little smirk. He glanced at Zack and he really couldn't blame Yuffie for her description of him. He was sitting cross-legged on the bed, stretching his shoulders, back and arms in the morning light. Cloud watched the play of muscles in Zack's chest and torso as they contracted and relaxed and he missed what Yuffie said next.

 

“Hello? Gaia to Cloud Strife!”

 

He shook himself out of it. “Sorry, Yuffie…I zoned out. I'm not awake, yet.” Cloud turned around to face away from Zack before the sable-haired man could notice how red his face was.

 

“Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, Spacey.”

 

“Is there something else you want?” Cloud grumbled.

 

“No, I was just complaining about how all the good ones are gay or taken or both,” Yuffie sighed. “Dad's been riding my ass to get married and start working on heirs. Like I wanna spend my time waddling around with a pregnant belly! As if.”

 

“Doesn't sound like you,” Cloud agreed.

 

“See, that's what I like about you,” she said cheerfully. “You never push me like other people do. You're just like `yeah, whatever' and `do what makes you happy'. Everyone else yammers about my `responsibilities'.”

 

“Uh-huh,” Cloud yawned.

 

“Well, that's a shame about Zack,” she sighed. “At least I'll get some eye candy while I'm there, though. Don't let him get killed, okay Cloud?”

 

“I won't,” he promised with a soft smile. “See you soon, Yuffie.” He hung up the phone and tossed it on the bed, falling back against the mattress with a groan.

 

“You act like you just had a root canal,” Zack observed with a grin. “What's up with the blush, cutie-pie? Did the little thief say something saucy?”

 

“She's got a crush on you,” mumbled the blonde.

 

Zack's grin widened. “Yup, they all love the Zackster. Oof!” His sentence ended in an expulsion of breath as Cloud smacked him in the stomach.

 

“Think a lot of yourself, don't you?” Cloud muttered.

 

Zack pounced on him, pinning him down with a wicked smile. “You don't?” He goosed the blonde in the ribs, making him gasp and squirm.

 

“Never said I didn't…quit that!” Cloud snickered humiliatingly as his lover tickled him again.

 

Zack enjoyed a few moments of torturing his smaller companion before he sobered and lowered his mouth for a kiss. “You know I'm just playing around, right?” he murmured against Cloud's lips.

 

“I've been with Reno for over a year,” Cloud replied with a little smile. “I'm used to being with a flirt. Don't worry, I know you don't really think you're Gaia's Gift and I know you're not a man whore.”

 

Zack laughed and rolled over, bringing the blonde with him so that Cloud was sprawled on top of him. “Damn, I was hoping I'd get a jealous reaction and a little aggressive territory claiming.”

 

Cloud raised his eyebrows, beginning to see a side of Zack that he'd never known was there. “Would you like that?” he asked. He couldn't imagine the sable-haired fighter taking a uke role but he was beginning to find it very easy to imagine him letting someone tie him up and ride the hell out of him. The way he'd talked about Cloud piercing his ear and “branding” him, the way he'd told him to “have his way” with him when he took him into his lap in the barn…there was more to Zack's sensuality than vanilla sex.

 

“What do you think, sexy thing?” Zack replied in a seductive drone, waggling his eyebrows.

 

Cloud considered him thoughtfully. “I think Reno's not the only sex fiend I'm dating,” he said bluntly. “Was yesterday what you really wanted? I mean, you…um…you…”

 

“I made sweet love to you,” Zack finished for him. He was smiling but his eyes were serious. “Yeah, that was exactly what I wanted for our first time, and I'd love the hell out of doing that again and again, every chance I get. I've got my kinks but I'm a romantic, too. I'm just not a one-trick dog, if you know what I mean.”

 

Cloud felt relieved and he smiled. “Yeah, I know what you mean.” He lowered his head for another kiss, taking his time to enjoy the feel of Zack's lips and tongue while the morning was still young enough. He started getting hard and the next words that came out of his mouth made him want to crawl under the bed and hide in shame for the rest of the day.

 

“So, any chance of a threesome with me and Reno?”

 

Zack stared at him, his expression slack with shock.

 

Cloud's mouth worked and he couldn't think of any way to excuse the kinky proposition he'd just made. He started to get off of the other man, intending to run out the door if he had to—but Zack put his arms around him and wouldn't let him up.

 

“Did my sweet, innocent Goldie just admit he's got dirty thoughts of a man scramble floating around in his head?” Zack laughed with delight, his white teeth flashing with one of those stunning, wolfish smiles he was so good at.

 

“No…no, he didn't!” Cloud grunted and struggled against the larger man's hold on him, his eyes huge in his face and his face bright pink.

 

“Oh, I think he did!” Zack lifted his head and pretended to nom on Cloud's neck. “My baby wants me to get with his baby! Holy shit, a fox and my pack-mate, together in my bed at once! Now that's some quality porn.”

 

“Okay, I'm embarrassed enough,” Cloud sputtered. His brain pointed out something that Zack had said and he stopped struggling abruptly, staring down at him. “Did you say `pack-mate'?” Maybe it wasn't just Rufus and Reno that thought of him and Zack as wolf-like, despite the black-haired fighter's constant referrals to him as “Chocobo”.

 

“Yeah, so?” Zack looked at him curiously, sobering a little under his surprised scrutiny.

 

“Thought I reminded you of a bird,” Cloud hedged uncertainly.

 

Zack shrugged. “Sometimes, but it's mainly the hair and the way you act when you're a little spooked. Besides, I know it drives you crazy when I compare you to a chocobo.” He smiled at him warmly. “The rest of the time you're like a wolf. Guess I'm not the only one to make that observation, huh?”

 

“No,” Cloud agreed. He combed his fingers through Zack's mussed, black hair, his embarrassment fading as he was struck with the feeling that he and Zack really were like pack-mates. “You're definitely a wolf,” he finished.

 

“Hmm, two wolves and a fox,” Zack said thoughtfully. “We'll just have to play it by ear and see what happens.”

 

“Yeah?” Something wicked took hold of Cloud at the thought of the three of them tangled in a passionate jumble of limbs and flesh. He reached out and grabbed the phone lying next to him and he flipped it open and searched through his saved media files. “Have a look at this and tell me you still want to `play it by ear'.”

 

As Cloud showed the snapshot to Zack, he realized that for the first time he understood why Reno had been so determined to see him and Rufus get together. With all boundaries dropped, there would be no reason for jealousy between anyone and Cloud was so in love with both of them that he couldn't help but want a completed triangle.

 

Zack looked at the picture on the cellphone screen and it took his brain a moment to register what he was seeing. He'd only ever seen Reno in his Turk uniform, with the exception of that time years ago at Costa Del Sol when the Turks were sent to keep an eye on him and Reno had worn some swimming trunks. He'd never even seen the redhead with his hair down, before.

 

In the photo, a lean young man stood with his legs slightly parted, one hand splayed over his partly exposed abdomen and the other hand holding the rim of a black fedora hat that was sitting on his head. He wore a brown, two-button blazer that exposed his lithe-muscled chest and stomach down to the navel and a matching pair of dress pants. Long, vivid red hair spilled out from under the hat to tumble down his chest and around his shoulders. The young man's lips were curved into a “come-hither” smile and he gazed out from the picture with bedroom eyes.

 

“Uhh,” Zack drawled stupidly. He wiped at his mouth just to be sure there wasn't drool coming out of it. “That's…he looks…wow.”

 

“Yup,” Cloud agreed with a smug smile. “I picked it out for him.”

 

“Okay, I stand corrected,” Zack said with a gulp. “Maybe I could do a little more than just wait and see what happens.” He tore his eyes off of the sinfully tempting picture and studied Cloud carefully. “You sure this is what you want, though? I mean, you don't think it would be awkward?”

 

Cloud turned the phone off and shook his head, gazing at the other man a little bashfully. “Why should it be? I told you I've done it before.”

 

“I know,” Zack said, “I just wanted to make sure. I don't want you feeling like you've got to do this to make us feel better about sharing you. A minute ago you were blushing like a virgin on her wedding night and now you're showing me hot pictures of your redhead. It's throwing me off a little.”

 

Cloud bit his lip and shrugged. “I guess I'm just not good at expressing myself. At least, not verbally.” He looked him in the eye and forced the truth to come out past his clumsy lips. “I'd like to try it. Like I said before, it's up to you and Reno whether you hook up, but if you do…” he trailed off and averted his eyes, frustrated by his inability to just say what he thought.

 

Zack reached up and traced his lips with his fingertips. “As long as I know you're okay with it, I won't shy away if I get the urge to pounce him.”

 

He said it with such a straight face that it was funny. Cloud's mouth twitched and he tried with all his might to be serious, but Zack's choice of words was so contrary to his expression that the blonde failed.

 

“Hey, I was being serious for a change,” Zack protested when Cloud sputtered softly with laughter.

 

“I know you were,” Cloud agreed unevenly, “I'm sorry. Didn't mean to laugh at you.”

 

Zack shrugged. “It's okay. I guess I should have used less colorful terms.” He put his arms around the blonde and pulled him down, hugging him tightly. “Besides, you're cute when you laugh.”

 

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

 

Cloud gave Reno a quick call before they headed out the door. The Turk was on his way in to the office with Rude and they had a meeting to attend concerning their role in the strike tomorrow.

 

“Don't let Bird boy wear himself out too much on ya,” Reno said glibly. “Oh, or on flying. We're all gonna need plenty of sleep tonight, yo.”

 

“I'll keep him in line,” Cloud promised dryly, his eyes flitting to Zack with amusement. “Talk to you later, Reno.”

 

He and Zack left after that and they spent the day at the barn outside of city limits. Unfortunately, there was no time to spare for further lovemaking. Between combat practice and flying practice, the black-haired man's attention was absorbed. When they sat down to eat the lunch Cloud had packed they took a little time to enjoy some stolen kisses and caress one another's bodies, but Zack knew that there was no such thing as a “quickie” when it came to intimacy with Cloud and he restrained himself with difficulty.

 

They resumed training after lunch, trying to ignore their desire for each other. By the time the sun was setting, Zack had managed to figure out how to twist through the air like a corkscrew, much to Cloud's amazement. The former Soldier had discovered that the trick to using his wings to his best advantage was to listen to the instincts that seemed to have come with the package. He finally understood how Angeal and Genesis got the hang of it so fast and he felt a little stupid for taking longer than they did to catch on.

 

“You'd think you were born with those wings,” Cloud complimented with a smile as Zack landed in front of him. “I can't believe how—“

 

“Later,” Zack interrupted as he put his arms around him. He was perspiring lightly from all of the activity and his eyes burned with need as they gazed into Cloud's. “I know Reno's going to want a little quality time with you tonight too, so I'm nabbing you for a little while before we go back.”

 

Cloud's mouth fell open as he was lifted and carried into the hayloft. They barely touched down before Zack was kissing him and pulling at his clothes. The other man's lips and tongue made his thoughts scatter and his body restless with lust. Not that Cloud would have objected to a spontaneous romp in the hay with Zack, but the other man hardly gave him a chance to protest, as if he were afraid that if he allowed the blonde to speak he'd say “no”.

 

His clothes soon ended up in a pile with Zackary's and Cloud was thankful that this time, they'd remembered to bring lubricant. The black-haired fighter prepared him as quickly as he dared before he coaxed Cloud onto his side and spooned intimately against his back, embracing him with one arm while he positioned himself. Cloud's swift gasp as he entered him gave Zack paused and he murmured a breathless inquiry. The blonde nodded, confirming that he was all right, and Zack took him with slow, gentle passion that belied his earlier aggression. He gasped endearments in his ear and groaned softly with pleasure.

 

“Wish we had more time,” Zack moaned, holding his orgasm back. He wasn't going to use tantric this time because they needed to get back before long. Cloud was making those unlikely sounds of helpless pleasure that Zack never would have imagined coming from his lips.

 

“Me too,” Cloud panted. His eyes fluttered shut and he pushed back against Zack's gently thrusting cock desperately as the pleasure built to consuming heights. Zack hooked an arm under his topmost leg and lifted it, exposing him for better penetration. Cloud couldn't contain the long, ragged groan that erupted from his throat as the next thrust made his body shiver from head to toe. “Unh! Ah…ah…Zack,” Cloud tossed his head back, narrowly avoiding cracking his lover in the face with the back of his head.

 

“What do you have against my nose?” Zack chuckled breathlessly as he jerked his face to the side and avoided the collision.

 

“S-sorry,” Cloud panted. He clenched his teeth and the next sound that came out was a ragged cry. His cock twitched and he gripped it with his hand and stroked it hard and fast. Zack saw him doing it and the black-haired man cursed roughly with lust.

 

“God, that's so fucking sexy,” Zack growled. He watched the flushed organ spurt in Cloud's gripping hand and he felt the blonde clench tightly around him. “Cloud,” he choked as he came inside of him. Their moans of pleasure mingled together and they collapsed on top of the blanket when it finished.

 

“That,” Zack panted, “is about as close to a `quickie' as I can give. Sorry I jumped you like that, Cloud.” He raised his head enough to kiss the blonde's freckled shoulder, feeling a little bad.

 

“I'm not complaining,” Cloud assured him in an equally winded voice. He snuggled into the other man's embrace and sighed, loving the feel of him resting intimately inside of his body. “Never thought I'd get so into this role.”

 

“You mean receiving?” Zack inquired softly between kisses.

 

“Yeah.” Cloud was thankful that his companion wasn't using crude terms for it. He was already starting to feel embarrassed about jerking himself off at the end of the encounter.

 

“Hey, you haven't been doing that just for my sake, right?” Zack asked with a frown.

 

Cloud shook his head. “Nuh-uh. I've just been doing what feels right.” He couldn't explain just why it felt right that way with Zack, anymore than he could explain why his first instinct with Reno was usually to fuck his brains out, or why he could go either way with Rufus. It just…was.

 

“I guess we've got to get back,” Zack sighed reluctantly. “I'll sleep in my room tonight so you and Reno can have some privacy, okay?”

 

Cloud turned his head for a kiss, grateful that Zack was so understanding and patient. Maybe someday soon, he wouldn't have to divide his time between the two of them. The more he thought about it, the better it sounded. He didn't have Reno's multi-tasking skills when it came to lovers and he wasn't sure when or if he'd have another encounter with Rufus, partitioned as his time was. How the hell the president managed to run his company and find time for his Turks was another mystery.

 

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

 

Cloud wondered if he would have enough energy to fight tomorrow. When they returned to headquarters, he and Zack had dinner and gave one another a kiss goodnight before the black-haired fighter went to visit Cissnei and Cloud called up Reno to invite him to his room. He wasn't doing it specifically for sex…he would have been just as happy talking and kissing, but the redhead had other plans.

 

“I'm so fucking glad you called me up,” Reno panted as he rocked on top of the blonde fighter he was straddling. “I was starting to get withdrawals, Blondie.”

 

“Don't know how you do it,” Cloud groaned, licking his lips and gripping the Turk's thrusting hips with both hands.

 

“Baby, if you haven't figured that out by now you haven't been paying attention,” Reno teased, his eyes flashing down at him. He put his hands over Cloud's and guided them to his ass, letting him feel the flex of his muscles. “Like riding a bike,” he teased. “A really hot, blond bike.”

 

“That isn't what I meant,” Cloud said in an unsteady voice. His breath caught as Reno propelled his pelvis forward hard, taking him in deep. “I…I meant…keeping up with all of us. Aren't you…tired?”

 

“Aww, are Zack and I wearing you out?” Reno purred. He rotated his hips in circles, moaning with seductive pleasure as Cloud's shaft massaged him inside. “Guess you're lucky Rufus is too busy to tap ya right now too, then.” He rocked from side to side, smiling down at him with a look that was purely sensual as he ran his tongue over his parted lips.

 

Cloud squeezed the redhead's ass with one hand and reached around between his spread thighs with the other. He thrust upwards into his impassioned lover as he gripped Reno's dew-beaded cock and began to stroke it.

 

“Damn, that's good,” Reno whimpered, his brows furrowing as Cloud's touch and hip action pleasured him. He arched his back and moaned, rocking harder against him and matching his thrusts. “Cloud…baby…” He panted harder and faster, groaning breathless curses as their actions brought him closer to his peak.

 

Cloud stared up at him, loving the flush of passion darkening his pale cheeks and the way the crescent tattoos on them complimented it. Reno's eyes were closed and his head was bowed, his sculpted features sweaty and alight with an expression of lust and ecstasy. His ponytail hung over his left shoulder, draping that side of his chest and torso all the way down to his hip. He hadn't given Cloud a chance to free it from its elastic but the blonde was beyond caring, now.

 

Reno gasped as Cloud released his ass to pinch his nipples to hardness, one at a time. Once they were tightened, the blonde brushed his fingers over the sensitized peaks, going back and forth between them and stroking his palm lazily along the slim pectoral muscles as he went. He evened out his pelvic motions, smoothing them so that they weren't jarring even as he increased the force behind them.

 

“Ooooh, damn,” Reno whimpered shakenly. “Cloud…I can't hold it…feels to fucking good!”

 

“It's okay,” soothed the blonde just as unevenly, on the verge of climax himself. God, it really did make a difference to do it without a barrier…he was trembling with the effort to wait until his lover came.

 

Reno bowed over him and kissed him almost brutally as his control slipped. His creamy seed discharged all over Cloud's stomach and slicked against Reno's heaving torso as he collapsed on top of the blonde and panted heavily. A sharp gasp of wonder escaped his lips a moment later when he felt the warm spurt of Cloud's release fill him up.

 

“Oh god,” Reno sighed, closing his eyes and resting his head on Cloud's chest as the blonde grunted and twitched inside of him. “Why the hell haven't we tried this before?”

 

He'd almost asked Rude to try it bareback last night but he knew how conservative his partner could be about such things. If anyone would be brave enough to do it besides Cloud, Rufus would. The redhead kissed Cloud's heaving chest and stroked his torso, sighing with satisfaction.

 

“Never thought of it before,” Cloud sighed when he caught his breath. He caressed Reno's back with long, smooth strokes, tracing his arching spine with his fingertips.

 

“The things you can learn when you're desperate, horny and stuck out in the middle of nowhere,” Reno purred, his lips traveling up to Cloud's neck, jaw and mouth. He kissed him deeply, absorbed in the feel of his lover.

 

Cloud kissed him back, just as fascinated with the sensations. When they recovered enough, they showered together and returned to bed naked. They touched and kissed as they fell asleep, pleasantly spent from the encounter.

 

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

 

-To be continued