Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Alliance ❯ Chapter 16

“Alliance”

Chapter 16

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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.*

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

 

 

“The mission was successful, Sir.”

 

Rufus relaxed in his seat, pleased with the report. “Very good, Tseng. How many casualties were there on our side?”

 

“Very few,” answered the Wutaian. “We lost seven ShinRa militia and four WRO operatives. There were no deaths amongst the Turk ranks. However, we have another problem.”

 

Rufus held back a groan.

 

~What fresh hell is this?~

 

“Go on,” he said aloud.

 

“The Deepground forces were in the process of evacuating when we arrived,” Tseng explained. “Half of them were already gone when we got there and the remaining operatives staged a decoy to keep us busy while more escaped. We caught up with them anyhow but I can't help but wonder if we have an inside leak.”

 

Rufus sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “It does seem suspicious that our enemies are always on the move when we close in on them. How many did you capture?”

 

“Thirteen.”

 

Rufus frowned. “Only thirteen? Didn't you tell me this was a large force?”

 

“It was,” Tseng agreed, “but they were determined to avoid capture. They fled, fought to the death or committed suicide to protect their secrets. Some escaped but we've taken photos of the rest…both dead and captured. I intend to have Cissnei look through them when we return, if she can bear it. With your permission, if any of her attackers are amongst the prisoners I would like them separated from the others for…special treatment.”

 

“Of course.” Rufus wasn't without sympathy for Cissnei's plight and he had no compunctions about treating her assailants to a slow, torturous death. “I suspect I don't have to tell you that I want all of the prisoners heavily interrogated. Let them know that those who cooperate will be rewarded, while those who don't will suffer a painful death.”

 

“What shall their reward be for cooperation, Sir? They can't be trusted to go free.”

 

“I would be perfectly happy to offer them a quick death,” Rufus said, “but that might not be enough incentive for some. Perhaps being allowed to live, even as a prisoner, might loosen some tongues. I leave it up to you to decide what the most tempting offer is for each individual, Tseng.”

 

For all his polite demeanor and gentle treatment of his lovers, Tseng was a master of anatomy and torture. He was capable of switching his emotions off completely when the situation called for it and there had been many prisoners in the past that begged for death after one session with him.

 

“I understand,” The Turk leader answered respectfully. “I'll begin as soon as we've returned and gotten settled in.”

 

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

 

Nanaki politely declined the invitation to go back to Junon with them.

 

“I will stay here and bury the dead with my people,” the lion stated to Cloud. “Even enemies deserve proper respect in death, after all.”

 

Cloud couldn't disagree. He thanked his feline friend for the help and joined in the effort to clear the bodies from the plains and wilderness. Tifa and Elena worked together to see to minor injuries and help with the cleanup.

 

After getting cleaned up and changed, the allied teams traveled back to the harbor and loaded the ground transport, the surviving helicopters, the prisoners and themselves onto the waiting ships. Reno couldn't contain his smirk at the sight of Zack wearing a crew shirt that was tight enough to ride up on his stomach a little. The black-haired fighter grumbled about skinny ShinRa people and tugged in vain on the bottom of the shirt, trying to make it stay in place over his belt line.

 

“It's not like I'm a giant,” Zack muttered. “I'm a pretty average sized guy, right?”

 

Reno eyed the shirt and appreciated the way it molded to the toned muscles of the other man's chest and torso. He shrugged. “Well, you're not hulking but you're still taller and bigger than average. If you think it's bad on you, imagine Rude here trying to squeeze into that.”

 

Rude mumbled something about filling out reports and made himself scarce, before Reno could start giving graphic, public descriptions of his body just to embarrass him.

 

“Chicken,” Reno called after him with a grin. Rude gave him the finger over his shoulder, making the redhead laugh.

 

“It's not that bad,” Cloud insisted with a yawn, his tired blue eyes regarding Zack with veiled appreciation as well. “You only have to put up with it until we reach Junon.”

 

“I guess,” Zack sighed. “ShinRa and the WRO need to start hiring more guys with meat on their bones. If this is `standard issue' clothing people are either shrinking or the company's got a fixation with little guys.”

 

“It fits me just fine,” Cloud protested. “But I guess I'm little, compared to you.”

 

Zack smirked at him. “No, you're perfect,” he corrected with a wink. “You're not a big guy but you've got some great muscle tone. I wouldn't change that sweet body of yours for anything, Cloudy.”

 

“Gotta agree with that,” Reno chimed in, leering at the blonde as well.

 

Cloud tried very hard not to let their comments embarrass him, but he felt the inevitable heat steadily creep into his face. Both of his lovers were undressing him with their eyes. Reno was only a little taller than him but his limbs were longer, his build slim and agile. Zack was taller than both of them and athletically built, though not as heavily muscled as his mentor Angeal or Rude. Cloud's blush deepened further as he thought of how the three of them would compliment each other in bed.

 

“What do you think's going through that blond head of his?” Reno murmured to Zack, his sly gaze still roaming Cloud's body.

 

“Must be something dirty, the way he's blushing,” Zack chuckled.

 

“I'm hungry.” Cloud made the announcement abruptly and fled the scene, leaving both of his lovers grinning with amusement.

 

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

 

After getting something to eat from the ration supplies, Cloud and Zack retired to the sleeping cabin. Reno used the restroom and also made his way to the sleeping quarters, but his purpose wasn't to rest. He was a little concerned for Cloud, after seeing the remorse in his eyes over the lives he'd taken. He wanted to make sure he was okay and if he had to, he would request a sedative from the medics to help Cloud sleep.

 

People could call him a killer, a street rat, a man-whore and any other combination of things that had a ring of truth, but nobody could accuse him of being un-attentive to his lovers when they weren't at their best. Reno moved down the narrow hallway leading from the main seating area of the cabin to the sleeping quarters.

 

He pushed the door open and peered into the darkened cabin, searching through the dimness for a familiar head of spiky golden hair. Snores varying from soft and rhythmic to loud and intermittent filled the cabin and Reno wondered how in the hell anyone could sleep through so much noise. Then again, most of the sleepers had been in direct combat and were probably too exhausted to notice.

 

Reno crept into the area, looking left and right at the sleeping bunks he passed. He passed Tifa and Elena, who were sleeping adjacent from one another. He noticed that both women were wearing earplugs and he gave them props for cleverness.

 

Midway through the room he spotted Cloud and Zack, spooned intimately together on a single bunk. Reno's vision had adjusted enough to the dimness to see that both of them sported dark circles of fatigue under their eyes and he felt sympathy for them. Even in his sleep, Zack had one arm around Cloud protectively. Evidently the sable-haired fighter wasn't concerned about what anyone thought of him and Cloud cuddling together in public. Zack was obviously comfortable with his sexuality and that was a huge turn-on for Reno.

 

Reno waited for the jealousy to come but to his surprise and relief, it didn't. Something else had replaced the unsavory emotion…something he'd felt before but had refused to admit. Watching Cloud and Zack together was like watching Tseng and Rufus together, now. Reno felt a combination of possessive pride and fondness for both of the sleeping men and the only word that went through his head was: “Mine”.

 

He smirked, holding back a soft laugh at his own greed as he reached out and stroked Cloud's wild bangs out of his eyes. The blonde's lips were parted and relaxed in his sleep and Reno took a moment to admire the shape of them before bending down to kiss them softly. When he drew back, his gaze fixated on Zack and he felt an unusual burst of indecisiveness.

 

“When this is finished, I'd like to prove `hot' can be a color.”

 

A shiver of lust went up Reno's spine as he recalled Zackary's murmured words and he tilted his head and stared at the sleeping fighter. His hand began to reach for Zack of its own accord and Reno paused, remembering the last time he'd touched the man while he was sleeping.

 

~His wings ain't out to nab me this time and the guy's so exhausted he probably won't wake up. What's one little touch gonna hurt?~

 

Never one to shy away from risks when there was a reward to be had, Reno allowed his hand to reach out and stroke Zack's dark hair. It was thicker than Cloud's and somewhat tangled, but it was soft at the tips. Reno sifted his fingers through it and stared at the black-haired fighter's relaxed mouth. Maybe one little kiss would be okay, too.

 

He ignored the warning in his mind as he leaned over Cloud and brought his lips to Zack's. He brushed them back and forth against the other man's before kissing them softly. He even allowed himself the brief pleasure of tracing those sinfully tempting, masculine lips with the tip of his tongue before he began to pull away.

 

Reno froze after pulling back a few inches. Zack's blue-violet eyes were open and looking at him. His face was blank of expression and the Turk felt a surge of adrenaline as he wondered what Fair would do in response to his taking liberties this way. He considered reaching for his EMR just to be safe, but Zack lifted the arm he had around Cloud and he cupped the back of Reno's head with his hand to draw him closer.

 

“Uh, look,” Reno began softly, unable to read those intense eyes to guess what Zack intended to do. “I was only—”

 

Zack's warm, firm mouth covered his, the lips confident and insistent against Reno's. Shocked to his toes, the Turk responded to the kiss automatically, his instincts kicking in even though his brain was frozen with confusion. Zack's tongue eased into his mouth with gentle persuasion, questing inside and stroking against Reno's.

 

The Turk could honestly say he'd never been kissed quite this way before. It was almost like Tseng's kisses, but there was a more obvious undertone of dominance to it. His groin pulled taut and he pushed his fingers into Zack's hair, caressing the other man's exploring tongue with his own. He moaned softly into the fighter's mouth, wanting him even more.

 

~Fuck, the guy doesn't give any warning and he doesn't hesitate. Any one of these people in here could wake up and see this! Is Zack even awake or is he doing something like sleepwalking right now?~

 

After an incalculable number of minutes, Zack ended the kiss and released him. Reno was breathing heavily and he stared into the former Soldier's eyes. His lips felt swollen and his heart was pounding so hard he was sure it would wake the slumbering occupants of the cabin up. Zack stared back at him and a slow, sensual smile curved his lips.

 

“Goodnight, Foxy.” Zack's whisper was laced with intimate promise and he laid his head back down, put his arm around Cloud again and closed his eyes.

 

Reno stayed frozen for a moment as his mind replayed the moment and tried to untangle his thoughts. Fair was like a fucking vampire or something…asleep one minute, awake the next and right back to sleep again once he'd attacked the person that dared touch him. Only unlike the cliché vampire horror flicks, there was nothing creepy about it. Startling yes…unsettling, even…but ultimately sexy and intriguing.

 

Reno came out of his paralysis and rediscovered his ability to move. He took advantage of it, retreating quickly out of the sleeping quarters with nimble haste and shutting the door behind him. He leaned against the door and closed his eyes, muttering soft curses. There was no telling if Zack would even remember kissing him like that when he woke up again. For all Reno knew, he hadn't even been aware he was doing it.

 

~Or maybe he IS aware of it and it's part of his little seduction game.~

 

The more he thought of it, the more it made sense to him. Zack was the only person Reno had ever met that could possibly rival him at the game of seduction. Rufus was the only other man that came close and his methods were much more direct. The redhead looked down at his tented crotch and pressed his lips together with irritation.

 

“You wanna prove that `hot' can be a color, Wolfy?” He whispered, his eyes narrowing to glittering slits. “That's fine baby, `cause I'm going to prove how loud I can make you moan my name, yo.”

 

When it was finished. When they'd have plenty of time to explore all the different ways Reno could make Zackary Fair buck beneath him and beg for more. He'd have his way with him and when he was finished with him, Zack was going to be a panting, sweaty wreck.

 

The bluster salved his pride a little but it didn't help calm the raging lust he felt. Zack had done it again and Reno was stuck with a raging hard-on and a nasty case of sexual frustration once more. He almost considered grabbing Rude or Tseng and dragging them into one of the tiny bathrooms with him for enough temporary privacy for a quick fuck. Unfortunately, he knew his superior and partner would say it was inappropriate, no matter how appealing the idea might be to them.

 

With a heavy sigh, Reno went into the first bathroom he found and took care of his problem alone.

 

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

 

The first thing that Tseng did upon returning to Junon was to take the picture viewer with all of the digital photos on it to Cissnei's infirmary room, so that she could identify her attackers if any of them were amongst the captured or deceased.

 

“I know it's difficult Cissnei, but please try to focus,” Tseng encouraged softly as the recovering young woman looked through the photos with shaking hands. He resisted touching her except to gently and briefly stroke her hair now and then. Anything more than that made her flinch away from him.

 

She'd had surgery the morning before to correct internal damage before the medical staff used healing materia on her. Her broken arm was healed, the cut on her leg was closed and the bruises and swelling were gone from her face. For all the miraculous work of the materia, there was no way to cure the pain and trauma in her soft, doe-like eyes.

 

Cissnei shuffled through the pictures slowly, looking at each one carefully before scrolling to the next. As a Turk, the sight of death didn't disturb her but the fear of seeing one of those faces looking back up at her made her tremble. She was almost relieved when she reached the bottom of the picture files without seeing any of her assailants.

 

“None of them are here,” she murmured.

 

“Keep going, little one,” Tseng prompted. “There are still some left.”

 

Cissnei froze as soon as he finished saying that, for in the next photo she recognized one of her three rapists. Her whole body trembled and she bit her lip, nodding wordlessly as she pointed at it. She couldn't get the words out past her tightened throat.

 

Tseng leaned over and looked at the picture she had identified. It was one of the casualties. In fact, it was the man that Strife had beheaded in the beginning of the fight against those who were trying to escape. The photo that Cissnei identified was of the man's severed head.

 

“You're certain he was one of them?” Tseng questioned.

 

She nodded. “He…he choked me,” she whispered tightly.

 

Tseng rubbed her shoulder gently. “He's gone now. He can't hurt you.”

 

“Who got him?” Cissnei asked, looking up at him with bright, tearful eyes.

 

“Cloud,” answered the Wutaian readily. “He met him in battle when he and his team confronted the Deepground operatives that were trying to escape.”

 

“I…this is going to sound strange, but I want to give him a `thank you' card.”

 

Tseng smiled at the young woman, pleased to see a little of the old Cissnei shining through the darkness. “Of course. I'll pick one up for you to sign in the morning.”

 

She nodded and made herself go through the rest of the photos. When she reached the final picture her breath caught. It was one of the live prisoners they had in custody and Tseng felt a little thrill of adrenaline.

 

“Is he one of them too?” the Turk leader prompted softly.

 

Cissnei nodded. “He's here?” She began to tremble again.

 

“Yes,” answered Tseng, “but he won't get anywhere near you and I promise you, when I'm finished with him he'll never assault anyone, ever again.” He took the picture viewer from her and stroked her hair in long, soothing motions. “Rest easy, Cissnei. You will be avenged.”

 

She clutched at the teddy bear that Elena had brought her, hugging it to her chest as tears silently spilled down her cheeks. Tseng swallowed and left the room. Zack, Cloud, Reno, Rude and Elena were waiting in the hallway with the doctor and Tseng regarded each of them in turn.

 

“I want you to give her something to help her sleep,” he said to the doctor. “She's identified two of her attackers and it's shaken her up a bit.”

 

The doctor nodded and went to get the medication.

 

“Which ones were they?” Cloud asked.

 

“You've already killed one of them,” Tseng replied, a ghost of a smile curving his lips.

 

“I did?” the blonde's eyebrows went up.

 

“Yes. The man you beheaded in the beginning of the fight was the one responsible for choking her…amongst other things.”

 

Reno smiled grimly and clapped the blonde fighter on the back. “Thatta boy.”

 

Cloud's gem-bright eyes were thoughtful as he lowered them. “I wish I'd have known he was one of them. I killed him too fast.”

 

“Not to worry,” Tseng comforted, “we have one of them in the holding cells downstairs and the other one is still at large. I assume he got out with the others that evacuated before we arrived. We'll find him eventually and like his friend in the holding cell, he'll enjoy a more…thorough…punishment for his crime.”

 

“So one of the fuckers is here?” Reno growled. “I want some time with him, man.”

 

“No,” Tseng said firmly. “I don't want him dead yet, Reno. Unless you can prove to me that you can satisfy your lust for revenge without ending his life, I can't allow you to do it.”

 

Reno sputtered, his face reddening with anger. Rude patted his shoulder consolingly and the redhead sighed heavily and hung his head. “I can't,” he said. “I can't promise I won't cut the bastard into a billion tiny pieces when I lay my hands on him. Goddammit.”

 

Tseng looked sharply at Zack, whose body was tense as well. “And you, Zackary? Can I trust you not to end this creature's life before full justice is served?”

 

The black-haired man looked at him, his jaw tense and his eyes glittering with unshed tears. The sheer force of his emotions radiated from his body but he kept himself under control and gave the Wutaian a curt nod.

 

Tseng studied him, wondering if he could trust him to keep his word. He looked at Cloud, Rude and Elena questioningly, silently asking them if they wished to get some licks in on the rapist.

 

“I wouldn't say `no' to fighting him,” Cloud muttered uncomfortably, “but it wouldn't feel right just beating him up when he can't fight back. It's not because I don't think he deserves it or because I wouldn't love to hurt him, but…I just…” He shrugged, at a loss for how to explain it.

 

“S'okay, Cloud,” Reno said. “We know if ya wouldn't hesitate to put the hurt on the guy in a fight.”

 

Tseng nodded, expecting no less of Cloud. He noticed that Zack looked uncomfortable too all the sudden and he understood. The black-haired man's sense of honor was compromised by his devotion to Cissnei. Cloud wasn't close to her the way Zack was, so he was able to hold to his morals without feeling like he was betraying the young woman. The Wutaian felt pity for Zack as he watched the expressions flit across the handsome fighter's face. There was most certainly an inner war going on inside of him.

 

“Rude? Elena?” He raised his eyebrows at the other two Turks, waiting for their answer.

 

“I just want to kick him in the balls a few times,” Elena said. “I know what you're going to do to him is going to be a lot worse than whatever I can dream up, Sir.”

 

Rude cracked his knuckles and nodded silently, leaving no doubt that he would be satisfied with a few well-aimed punches.

 

“It's settled then,” Tseng finalized. “Reno, I'm sorry. I know you would love nothing more than a few moments alone with this creature, but you understand my concerns, don't you?”

 

The redhead nodded. “As long as I can watch him get it from you and the others, I'll be fine. Just let me know when you're ready to finish him off, boss. Then it won't matter if I kill the slimy fuck.”

 

“Well said,” Tseng nodded.

 

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

 

Tseng had the rapist separated from the other prisoners and locked in a sound proof room with padded walls and a mirrored observation window of tempered, bulletproof glass. Zack went in first and Tseng watched closely, having his misgivings about it but trusting Zack's SOLDIER training and sense of honor to keep him in line. Cloud stood beside the Wutaian and Tseng noticed the way the blonde was chewing his lower lip and watching his lover enter the padded room with concerned blue eyes.

 

~So, I'm clearly not the only one with doubts about this. Perhaps I should put a stop to it now.~

 

He hesitated though. He knew very well how much Zackary Fair cared for Cissnei and he thought that if it weren't for Cloud, the former Soldier might eventually try to court her. At the very least, Cissnei deserved to have a champion for her honor. Through the speakers attached to the wall above, Tseng and the others could hear what was happening within the room as Zack strode in.

 

“How's it going?” Zack said to the prisoner. His voice was so light and friendly that one would think he was pals with the rapist.

 

Cloud was the only one that understood what the falsely cheerful voice meant and he tensed, fighting the urge to run in there and drag his lover out the door before it escalated. Zack was capable of being friendly with just about anyone but when he did it to people he hated, it was usually a prelude to destruction.

 

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

 

The prisoner looked up at Zack, studying him with neon-rimmed, cobalt eyes. His hair was a dull gray in color and it fell straight and smooth to his mid-back. His features were chiseled and roughly handsome, but for the cruel twist of his mouth.

 

He eyed the black-haired visitor's ill-fitting shirt and took note of his toned, strong build. Though the too-small shirt looked a bit ridiculous on him, the lupine grace of his athletic body marked him as a formidable opponent. There was something about the man that he couldn't quite place, though…something familiar.

 

The prisoner strained covertly against his manacles, testing the bonds.

 

“Idrisaith, right?” Zack questioned. “Funny name. So, how are they treating you, Id-boy?” His smile was friendly enough but the prisoner could see the wolfish aggression beneath it.

 

“Had some fun with a Turk girl, didn't you?” Zack went on, keeping his tone light.

 

Idrisaith detected the barely perceptible emotion underneath the mild inquiry and he began to understand why he'd been separated from the others and what this alpha male was doing here now.

 

“What are you, her knight?” he growled.

 

Zack appeared to consider the question for a moment, his head tilting slightly. “Yeah, I guess I am,” he agreed with a nod. “I'm her knight in shining…uh…t-shirt.” He seemed to realize how snug said shirt was and he tugged at the hem of it, trying to pull it down over the strip of abdomen it revealed.

 

The Deepground operative shrugged. “So I tore up one of your bitches. What's the matter, ShinRa dog…you upset because she can't have your pups now?”

 

The sable-haired man stiffened and his eyes lit up from within. The material of his shirt tightened even more and there was a tearing sound. Idrisaith's smug look faded as a pair of luminous white wings sprouted from the other man's back, rending his shirt in half so that only the sleeves held the tattered remains on his body.

 

He knew where he'd seen the man before, but he didn't get the chance to think about the revelation because one of those big, monstrous wings swung toward him and slapped him clear across the room, chair and all. The wing was surprisingly heavy and tough, the hard bones contrasting oddly with the soft feathers. The black-haired man was upon him before he could even try to break free of his bonds and defend himself.

 

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

 

Zack didn't spare a thought to the surprising way he'd instinctively attacked the Deeground mutt with his wing. The prisoner was still cuffed to his chair and stuck on his side against back left corner of the padded room. Zack's world was suffused in a blood-red haze as he charged the rapist and kicked him violently in the ribs before squatting before him and wrapping his hands around his throat.

 

Zack squeezed hard, taking savage delight in the resulting sound of the other man's choking gurgles. “How does it feel, huh?” Zack snarled, his livid amethyst eyes boring into the rapist's. “Your pal did this to my `bitch'. How do you like it? Did you laugh while he did it? Did you use her just to make her choke harder?”

 

The prisoner couldn't answer, of course. He was too busy fighting for breath and trying to break free from the steel manacles that kept him bound to the toppled chair. If he could have spoken, Zack might have been surprised by what he'd have to say. As it stood, he was slowly being strangled to death and he couldn't utter a single word to the livid man hovering over him.

 

“You wanna make animal comparisons?” the ex-Soldier growled, baring his teeth. “Fine. Let's do that, then. What do you think wolves do when they take down their prey?”

 

Without waiting for a response, Zack released the prisoner's throat with his hands and went with sheer, primal instinct. He sank his teeth into his neck, tearing away skin and making blood spill. He didn't hit an artery but the groan of pain was enough to satisfy him. He didn't have fangs but his teeth were strong and his bite was powerful.

 

Suddenly there were hands on him…several of them. He vaguely heard Cloud hollering and Rude's strained grunts as the hands pulled at his wings, arms and shoulders. Part of his mind screamed at him to stop but he was so enraged…so insulted that this twisted bastard had compared poor Cissnei to a bitch in heat…all Zack wanted to do was tear his throat out like the animal so many had likened him too.

 

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

 

Tseng cursed himself for a fool even as he struggled with Cloud and Rude to pry Zack off of the prisoner. Reno wasn't any help at all—the moment the redhead saw Zack slam the prisoner across the room, he was cheering for the former Soldier. Elena was frozen to the spot, staring at the spectacle with wide eyes.

 

While Cloud and Rude worked to subdue the infuriated, winged fighter, Tseng tried to use his soothing techniques on him. He spoke the language of his homeland, keeping his voice droning and calm. Usually it worked well against surging male hormones, but he found himself knocked across the room by one of Zack's wings, this time. He was shaken but unharmed and he pulled himself to his feet and watched as Cloud and Rude did their best to pull Zack off of the prisoner and calm him down.

 

In the end, it was Cloud's voice that reached the former Soldier.

 

“Come on, Zack…you're out of control! It's okay…just let it go, man. Don't let him get to you like this.”

 

Zack slowly released the prisoner and backed off, panting heavily. His mouth was stained with bright blood and his eyes were feral on the rapist as Rude and Cloud carefully ushered him away. He looked into Cloud's worried blue eyes and the wild expression faded from his face, to be replaced by emotional exhaustion.

 

“Cloud,” the black-haired fighter whispered simply, having words to describe the way he felt. The aching tone of his whisper said it all.

 

“I know,” Cloud murmured. He stroked the mussed, dark hair out of his lover's eyes and continued to coax him toward the door. “It's okay, Zack.”

 

The blonde gave a nod to Rude, who nodded back and hurried over to Tseng. “Are you okay, Sir?” Rude questioned.

 

“Other than feeling a bit foolish, yes.” Tseng accepted the big man's support and reached into one pocket of his blazer, withdrawing a green materia orb. He held it in the palm of his hand and activated it, focusing on the bleeding prisoner.

 

“Sir, what did you cast?” asked Rude as he helped the disoriented Wutaian out of the room behind Cloud and Zack.

 

“Regen,” Tseng murmured. “As I said, the creature has a long, painful road to travel before I'm finished.” He motioned for Rude to help him set the prisoner back upright, ignoring the shocked groans of pain from the man.

 

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

 

“I think we've done enough for today,” Tseng informed the others as Cloud guided Zack to a chair in the observation room. “Zackary, are you coherent now?”

 

The black-haired fighter lifted his head and looked up at him with shock-dilated pupils. “Yeah…kind of embarrassed, too.”

 

Tseng's lips quirked a little and he felt a vague sense of relief at the return of a more familiar behavioral pattern from Zack. “You lost your head. It's not that surprising and I should have prepared better for it.”

 

Zack responded by bending over and puking on the floor. Cloud hastily brushed the dark-haired fighter's hair out of his face while Reno grabbed the waste bin and positioned it under him.

 

“Did I really chew a piece out of that guy's neck?” Zack inquired in a ragged voice once the heaving spell passed.

 

“He was asking for it, yo,” Reno answered glibly as he produced a handkerchief from one of the pockets of his blazer. He grabbed his bottle of water off the table and wetted the handkerchief before wiping the blood off of Zack's face.

 

“Gotta get that taste out of my mouth,” Zack mumbled shakenly.

 

“Here,” Elena offered, thrusting her half-finished can of soda at him. “Sip this.”

 

Zack took the drink but his hand was shaking so bad he couldn't hold it steady. Cloud gently took it from him and brought it to his lips, tilting it carefully while he swallowed. Reno grimaced at the strangely bright blood staining his handkerchief and he threw the item away in the bin.

 

“Maybe Fair should get checked out by a doctor,” the redhead suggested, glancing at Zack sidelong. “We don't know what kind of shit's in those Deepground fuckers' blood and I'd hate to see him come down with something nasty for having a munch, ya know?”

 

“That's a valid point,” agreed Tseng. “Although it might be better to have a sample drawn from the creature, rather than subject Zack to more testing right now.”

 

Reno smirked at the Wutaian's continued reference to the rapist as a “creature”. He couldn't wait to see what Tseng was going to do to him. “Good point, boss. I'll phone in the order if ya want.”

 

Reno motioned to Cloud and gave a meaningful look at Zack, silently telling the blonde to get him out of there and into bed. The blonde caught the message and nodded.

 

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

 

“Don't kiss me.”

 

Cloud stopped and stared at Zack. They had both gotten cleaned up and ready for bed as soon as they returned to the suite floor and Zack had come over at his request after showering and changing.

 

“You acted on instinct and anger,” he murmured; running his fingers through the other man's dark, damp hair. Maybe he was imagining it but it seemed like Zack's hair was growing faster than average. Tifa had trimmed it up while he was still unconscious and it was already shaggy again and reaching his shoulders.

 

“Until they know what was in that guy's blood, I don't want you kissing me,” Zack said stubbornly, his blue-violet eyes latching onto Cloud's. “I'm serious, Cloud. Yeah, I'm embarrassed for acting like a rabid dog but I'm more worried about contaminating you with something.”

 

Cloud sighed and settled for throwing a leg over Zack's thighs and resting his head on his chest. “Okay. I get it.”

 

“You mad?” a hint of amusement found its way into Zack's tone and the blonde smile a little in response before shaking his head.

 

“No. You're just looking out for me.”

 

Zack's arms went around him and he squeezed gently. “We'll have our nookie time when all of this chaos clears up, Chocobo. I promise.” His lips nuzzled Cloud's forehead.

 

“You love her, don't you?” Cloud murmured, tilting his head back to look Zack in the eye.

 

The other man gazed back at him unwaveringly. He knew whom he meant and he nodded. “Yeah. Not the same way I love you, but yeah. If things were different maybe something would come of that, but I'm with you.”

 

“I wouldn't mind, you know,” Cloud murmured. “I wouldn't have the right to.”

 

Zack sighed. “Even if I tried to go down that road with Cissnei, she might never be able to have a relationship like that again, know what I'm saying? I'm happy with where I am now and I'm sure friendship is enough for her, too.”

 

Cloud nodded and let his eyes drift shut. “Okay. I just wanted you to know. I trust you, Zack.”

 

The black-haired fighter smiled painfully at his sleepy companion, feeling his throat tighten as he squeezed him again. “I know you do, Sunshine. I love you.”

 

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

 

-To be continued