Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Revival of the Departed ❯ Chapter 21

Title: Revival of the Departed

Author: J'dee

Series: Final Fantasy VII - this part based after Dirge of Cerberus

Rating: Mature - NC-17

Pairs: Reno X Zack / Tseng x Elena (hinted)

Story: Alive and well, Zack has returned… but he's not alone. Hojo's experiments on him have caused some schizophrenic side effects that even Zack doesn't realise. Sephiroth and Jenova are alive and well… inside him, plotting their return and destruction of the planet. Will Cloud be able to kill Sephiroth again when he's housed inside the body of his best friend and mentor?

(Het/Yaoi/Non-Con)

Disclaimer: Make no money yadda yadda yadda, not my characters ect ect

 

 

Chapter Twenty-One

 

 

Zack watched as Reno lit up a cigarette flopping on to the couch, setting two bottles on the table. Zack raised a brow at the red head making himself comfortable.

“I didn't know you smoked.” Zack commented.

“I don't… just when I'm drinking socially… and this my good friend is socially.” Reno grabbed a bottle taking a drag of the smoke inhaling the toxins in to his lungs before he blew the smoke out.

Zack sat on a stool. Eventually the bar had closed. Reno and Zack were left to find their way back here. Reno had made sure Clover was okay for driving the depressed and completely drunk M'adoc home. Walker going with them and Ezekiel followed behind in Walker's car to drop the red headed former SOLDIER and the hyper active blonde home.

“Take a normal seat.” Reno waved his hand about. Reaching over he grabbed the other bottle handing it to Zack. “Drink up yo.”

Zack nodded his head wearily, Reno still seemed as sober as the most non alcoholic person Zack could think of. Which he couldn't at this stage.

“Uhh… thanks.” Zack took a sip and turned the bottle round to read the label of the local beer, it was your standard run of the mill beer, Zack was surprised that they still stocked it after three years.

“I aim to please.” Reno winked at him.

“Oh really now?” Zack chuckled.

 

Reno lay on his back on the couch, his head on the arm rest his legs dangling over the other end, watching Zack rocking on the stool.

“Yo, be careful- no falling on the Turk.” Reno raised the bottle to his lips and took a long drink. He was supposed to seduce this guy. `How?' Reno thought, thanks to Mako and Jenova enhancements both of them were still as sober as each other. They'd drunk the bar almost to the point of dry with the help of a depressed and rejected M'adoc.

It was then that Zack moved to get up and Reno noticed the former SOLDIER loose his footing in the complications that was a stool, Zack fell and Reno happened to be where the ever so graceful Zack landed.

“For the love of Jenova's head…. ZACK!” Reno exclaimed holding his bottle up and managing not to spill anything.

Zack shook the stool off his leg with a sigh and sat down on the ground in front of the couch. “My bad… Sorry…” He apologized.

Reno let out a defeated sigh and he looked down at the sheepishly grinning Zack. `Tseng… I'm not drunk enough for this.' Reno thought knocking back the rest of the bottle, before taking another drag of the cigarette. They were drunk that was obvious, but they weren't that drunk.

“Gil for them Reno?” Zack asked.

“Nothing really. I'm just pondering another drink yo.” Reno sat up putting his empty bottle on the table. Reno looked at Zack holding up his empty bottle.

“If you're up.” Zack chuckled.

Reno nodded. “Yeah sure hold on yo.” Getting up and heading to the kitchen, Reno made his way to the fridge opening it up and looking at the selection of alcohol.

`I need Something with a serious kick.'

Grabbing a couple of bottles of the strongest alcohol he had. Reno made his way back to his couch in the lounge.

 

Handing a bottle to Zack he pulled his goggles off setting them on the table before flopping back on to the couch.

“Thanks.” Zack grinned popping the lid off the drink and knocking half of it back. The former SOLDIER shook his head.

“Wow strong…”

“Yeah it's the best yo. Bound to liquefy an Ifrit summons in a single shot.” Reno grinned as he took a sip.

“Remind me not to use it when I summon then.” Zack grinned.

How the hell was he supposed to make the moves on a former SOLDIER, he wasn't Sephiroth and sure as Hades wasn't Tseng.

`It's helping him isn't it?' Reno thought to himself. `It's undoing the damage I let Sephiroth do to Zack.'

“Reno you okay?” Zack looked at him.

Reno blinked. “Yeah… I just-” He stopped seeing Zack look at him, the pure mako blue eyes on him genuinely showing concern. “Oh what the hell.” He pulled Zack up on to the couch, making the former SOLDIER blink in confusion.

 

Zack felt his back land on the soft cushions of the couch, he looked at Reno leaning over him. He was definitely confused as the Turk looked at him, the turquoise eyes looking at him as if contemplating something.

“Zack…” Reno swallowed. “Did I ever tell you…” The Turk began staring at him intently his expression serious. “How incredibly beautiful your eyes are.”

Zack blinked in confusion. It was almost like one of M'adoc's pick up lines he was sure of it. “Uhhh… Well no… but thanks.”

“Well they are.” Zack felt Reno's hand move up his side slowly.

Zack felt his breath hitch in his throat. “I… uh…” `Damnit Tseng!' He thought. `Stop doing this to them! To me!' He thought quickly looking away. He couldn't, not again, especially so soon it wasn't fair not to Reno that like Cissnei he had to do this.

Reno grabbed his chin gently and turned his face back. “You were saying yo?” The red head smirked at him.

“I... ahhhh... like your eyes too.” Zack sweatdropped.

“What's this?  Zack Fair being intimidated?” Reno chuckled.

“I'm not!” Zack protested.

Reno raised an eyebrow scoffing. “Suuuure.”

“I'm not intimidated!” Zack's hands grabbed on to Reno's arms.

“Mmmmm so I see.” Reno licked his lips slightly.

Zack leant up closer to the red head. “...... Reno you don't have to do this.”

Reno pulled at Zack's arms slightly. “I do… I get this right I get my hours back I can get my pay check back and I can survive.”

Zack looked at Reno, his hand moved to the red head's shoulder. “I'm sorry…” He moved his hips up pulling himself up the couch slightly making contact with Reno by accident.

The red head let out a quiet moan, Zack blushed at the sound.

“Zack....” Reno seemed to almost whisper his name.

Zack swallowed. “What?”

“You.... know... what...” Reno breathed, his hips lightly arching in to Zack's

Zack slipped arm round Reno's head. “No what....” He asked.

He shouldn't have even played this game, Tseng meant well, but Reno, he didn't want to get Reno in trouble, the red headed Turk was only doing his job, following Tseng's orders so he could earn enough to pay his rent for the week.

 

Reno moaned softly feeling warm breath on his neck. “What I want… is you.... Zack....”

“Oh in that case....” Zack's mouth moved slowly over Reno's.

Reno pulled one hand free and ran fingers through the former SOLDIER's hair, pulling him closer, lips brushing against his.

Zack's tongue slipped in to Reno's mouth, his hand slipping over Reno's shoulder to his back. The touch was soft gentle not what he expected from a former SOLDIER.

Reno gasped slightly, mouth opening a little more and kissed back a little harder, his other hand gripping the front of Zack's shirt. He moaned softly and nipped at the lips over his.

Zack purred in to Reno's mouth, a tongue flickering over the Turks.

Reno groaned and shivered slightly at the unexpected move and slid his hands down the nape of his neck, finger tracing down slowly as he kissed back.

Zack's hand rolled over Reno's back, then other tangling in the back of his hair puling his mouth closer.

Reno sat up shrugging his jacket off and his hand moved to the base of his black shirt looking down at Zack.

Zack sat up slightly under him, helping Reno lift the shirt up.

Reno pulled back slightly to catch his breath and held Zack's gaze as the shirt moved up his chest before being pulled from his body and discarded to the side.

 

Zack heard the sound of the piece of fabric hitting the ground in a soft plop, he was reaction to the red head's body, each move each touch bringing on that urgency he wanted to feel so badly.

`He's worth it… try him…'

Zack gasped. `Stop watching…' he mentally scolded Sephiroth. `Pervert.'

`He leaves you craving for more… red head's are always fiery in the bedroom… full of such passion. Take him… enjoy it.'

`Shut up please Seph… not now…'

`Take him.'

 

Reno swallowed, Zack moved so differently to Sephiroth, and he felt bad that he was actually enjoying this, it was a job there wasn't supposed to be enjoyment in this… well normally there was, if it wasn't an order. But it was an order so there for he wasn't supposed to enjoy it. Yet confused he was.

 

Zack's hand moved over Reno's chest slowly, taking in the contours and shape of the well trained figure.

Reno shivered slightly he leant over, trying to push Zack back gently and kiss him.

Zack grinned. “Mmmm...” He looked at the red head and chuckled. “Still not intimidated...”

“Does it look like I care yo?” Reno smirked back and slanted his mouth over Zack's and kissed him deeply.

Zack moaned in to Reno's mouth, his arms slipping round the red head's neck.

 

Reno pushed back slowly and leant over, deepening the kiss and ran hands down Zack's chest, fingers tracing along his waistband.

Zack groaned more, his hips rolling up.

“Mmm does Zack like that yo?” Reno grinned nipping at Zack's bottom lip and traced his fingers over the skin just above the waistband.

Zack's breath hitched and he nodded a little. “Yeah... damn you...”

“Mmmm I will make it worth your while...” Reno kissed down slowly, nipping at the side of Zack's neck, as his hands fumbled with the jeans, slowly pulling the zipper down while he nipped softly at the former SOLDIER's jawline.

Zack's hips jerked up as the former SOLDIER gasped. “I believe that...” He purred.

Reno licked the bite mark and pulled back, hands resting on his hips, grinning wickedly, watching Zack, not moving, enjoying the torturous look on his face.

“Hnn... Damnit Reno...” Zack's hand moved to grip Reno's arm pulling him down. “Tease...”

Reno leant in closer, hands slowly inching towards the obvious trapped arousal. “Tell me what you want...” He whispered in Zack's ear.

 

Zack gasped, “I want...” his head turned catching Reno's mouth, he wasn't supposed to be enjoying this was he, letting his eyes close as he felt the tongue crash against his hungrily. There was too much sex involved in this gathering energy thing, pulling back slightly looking at the red head. It was Reno he wasn't supposed to see the red head in this light. “You to hurry the hell up...” He finished.

 

Reno groaned as their mouths collided again in a battle of will. “Mmmmm.... Zack...” He deepened the kiss, fighting for dominance, he slid a hand over the covered arousal and squeezed slightly.

Zack's hips jerked up in to the hand. His breath hissed. “Damn tease....”

“You just gonna lay there and take it yo?” Reno's eyes flashed with the challenge and squeezed harder over the trapped arousal.

Zack grabbed him flipping him over pinning Reno under him. “Not for much longer...” Zack's mouth crashed against Reno hungrily, hips rolling up against his.

Reno groaned loudly, hands gripping Zack's shoulders tightly and lay his head back and groaned feeling the former SOLDIER's weight against him. 

“Mmmm Zack.... God Zack....”

Zack's mouth moved along the jaw line down his neck slowly stealing glances up at Reno's face and smirked.

Reno arched under him, eyes closed moaning with pleasure, tilting his head back farther to give Zack more room.

Zack purred his mouth moving lower to Reno's chest tongue slipping out to draw slow lines down, while one hand slipped between Reno's thighs to roll over the arousal.

Reno gasped at the sensation of that hot wet tongue and shivered.

“Zack... damn it...” Reno arched up hard, pushing against Zack's hand urgently.

Zack's hand rolled over the trapped arousal. “What?” He flashed Reno an innocent look before kissing down his chest

“You... fucking... know... what.” Reno groaned loudly angling his hips up, pushing against Zack's hand.

Zack chuckled darkly his hand moving up to undo Reno's jeans slowly. “Oh yeah I know... how's the payback... a bitch huh?”

Reno gripped Zack's arms tightly biting his lip hard, fighting it back, not wanting him to hear, not wanting to give him that satisfaction. He unwillingly let Sephiroth know, he wouldn't repeat that, not with Zack.

Zack's hand slipped in to his jeans looking up at Reno's face and grinned. His hand rolled over the arousal slowly.

Reno's hips jerked up hard, a whimper escaping his lips. “Zack... stop... teasing...” He gripped Zack's shoulder tightly, fingers digging in.

“Told you payback's a bitch...” Zack's hand gripped Reno's arousal and began to stroke.

Reno lay his head back and groaned softly before grinning. “Mmm but I think... I'm the one... getting the...better... deal.” He arched up, hips hitching up against Zack's hand.

 

Zack's hand moved continually along Reno's arousal base to tip and back in several smooth strokes. “I know at least I don't leave someone hanging on...”  Zack's mouth moved to Reno's navel tongue dipping in slowly.

“You just... moved too soon... that's all…” Reno groaned.

Zack purred his hand stroking Reno faster. “Uh huh...”

Reno laid his hand behind Zack's head and pulled him closer kissing him hard and deeply.

Zack kissed him back purring in to his mouth. The red head was turned on to the point he could feel the quiver in the arousal. Quickening his strokes along the length he watched as the red head writhed and moaned under him, seemingly lost in the moment close to his release.

Slipping his mouth from the red heads he watched as Reno clutched his shoulders more firmly.

“ZACK! SHIT!”

Zack felt the release spill over his gloved hand and he pulled back looking down at the red head gasping for breath.

Zack slipped from the couch standing up looking down at Reno as the red head just groaned panting slightly.

It was moments like this that made Zack truly wonder what his sexual preference was.

`I did it again… Cloud I'm so sorry…' He thought sadly. `What the hell is wrong with me… why do I-?'

`Crave to touch other men?'

Zack sucked in a breath moving away from Reno. The red head looked at him blinking.

“Zack…”

“I…”

Reno sat up slowly grabbing his drink and knocking back the rest of the contents. “It was supposed to be an order yo.”

Zack just blinked it was like Reno read his expression of confusion.

Reno tossed the empty bottle across the room falling back on to the couch, his hand moving to his face. “Why am I so tired suddenly?”

Zack blinked for a moment. “It's only been a few days since Sephiroth…” He stopped hearing the dark chuckle of the former General in the back of his head.

`He isn't as recovered as Tseng thought.'

Zack turned away his face heating up.

“It's okay yo. I messed up there.” Reno confessed.

“It was my fault I shouldn't have taken out my frustrations on you because of Tseng.” Zack moved up to the window, he glanced at his soiled glove and he squeezed his hand shut, his eyes closing.

Zack heard Reno move and he felt the Turk slip up behind him, a hand slipping to Zack's neglected arousal. Zack sucked in a breath quickly as the Turk's hand started stroking his length.

“Reno.” Zack gasped his hand moving to the window holding on for balance as he felt the breath by his ear.

“Relax…” Reno whispered in to his ear. “I'll make this reaaaal good yo.”

Zack flushed at the words, his eyes moving downcast to watch the hand as it rolled up his arousal and then down in smooth swift strokes and he sucked in a breath watching the hand work.

“I bet you will.” Zack hissed as his hips began to slowly rock in to the hand.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Cloud sat at the booth looking out the window, was Zack supposed to take this long to return? He left with Cissnei and hadn't even called to say he was alright.

Cloud looked behind as Tifa came down the stairs fresh from the shower. “I'm going out for a couple of hours, can you watch the bar for me.”

Cloud just nodded his head.

“I'm just going to check on Denzel and Marlene, let them know that we're okay and that they can come back soon.” She placed a hand on Cloud's shoulder. “Zack will be fine, he's a grown man Cloud, he can take care of himself.”

“I know…” Cloud glanced to the dumb apple and he let out a sigh. “We're so close to saving him… I can feel it.”

Tifa gave him a comforting smile. “I know we are and we will save him.”

Cloud watched as Tifa grabbed her keys before she lent down and gave him a kiss on the lips. “We won't let Sephiroth take control of his body.”

Cloud watched as she headed to the door, and it closed with a light click behind her.

Standing up from the booth Cloud moved behind the bar and he looked round.

Watch the bar, she'd left him to run the bar a couple of times before, but why did this time feel like it was going to take him more than his usual effort to do so this time?

“Zack…” He mumbled his hand moved to the box under the bar and he blinked looking down pulling it out.

He glanced at the silver coated box and opened it looking at all of Aerith's letters to Zack and he felt that tight knot in his stomach.

“Are we even close to saving him yet?” He whispered. “Or am I just telling myself that to ease the pain that I might loose him again?”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Tseng stopped outside Elena's door and he watched as the blonde unlocked her door, he grabbed her hand making her turn to look at him, and he saw the blush he opened her hand up before reaching in to his pocket and pulling out her car keys and placing them in her hand.

“Thank you sir.” She whispered.

“No one can know Elena.” Tseng looked at her.

“I know.” Her hand moved to his face and she smiled at him warmly. “No one will. If they find out know it wasn't me who told.”

Tseng nodded his head slowly. He looked at the blonde, they had been through too much since Cloud first showed up destroying that mako reactor three and a half odd years ago.

His hand moved to the side of her face and he lent in capturing her lips making her gasp into his mouth in surprise.

He had watched her being tortured by Kadaj and his gang, and they had refused to talk, but to feel then what he'd felt now was starting to mess with his mind.

`What did Sephiroth awaken?' He thought pulling back from the kiss. “See you tomorrow.” He turned round ready to leave when he felt the arm of his jacket snagged.

“Wait…” He heard her worried voice. “Stay… you were hurt, and I'm not talking about physically… emotionally to sir… let me-” She trailed off her brown eyes looking at him and he read the general concern behind them.

“I'll be fine.”

She shook her head. “Then for me… so I know you're alright.”

Tseng let out a sigh and he relented slowly letting Elena pull him in to her apartment.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Zack moaned on all fours, Reno flanking his back, the hand stroking between his legs, his hips rocked with the hands movements.

“Hnnnn… Reno.” He panted hips jerking urgently. “Close.”

Reno's breath moved along the side of his neck. “I know…”

Zack gasped looking over his shoulder at the red head, he felt his lips captured and his mouth invaded as Reno's tongue slipped round his tugging at it urgently.

Zack felt the hand quickening the strokes and he thrust in the hand, moaning in to the mouth.

`He feels good doesn't he?' Sephiroth's deep voice seemed to breath in his ear.

`Hnnnn Seph… shut up…' Zack begged silently.

 

Reno pulled his mouth back and he watched Zack's face, the passion and lust written over his features told Reno that the former SOLDIER wasn't able to fight his need for release for much longer. Reno moved his mouth to the side of Zack's neck and he began to suck on the skin languidly, his free hand roaming up Zack's chest rolling over pecs, up the other side of his neck to touch the side of Zack's face.

Zack turned his head slightly taking the digits in his mouth sucking on them hungrily as hips thrust in to Reno's hand faster.

“Zack… don't hold back yo.”

 

Zack gasped at the words as the breath caressed his cheek lightly. “Fuck.” He hissed as he felt his climax spill out in a burst.

Reno pulled his hand back lightly, moving from Zack the red head sat back.

Zack turned over falling on his back panting. He watched as Reno crawled over him the red head lowering his mouth to Zack's capturing lips.

Zack moaned into the mouth and he felt fingers slide through his hair before tugging at one of the silver streaked spikes.

“Reno… you don't have to do this.” Zack breathed as Reno pulled back from the kiss slightly.

“I need to get back to work, don't you understand yo?” Reno asked.

Zack looked up at the red head. “It's just I don't want to take too much of your strength you need it…”

`Don't lie to him. Cloud… it's who you really want.'

Zack swallowed as Reno managed to sit back. Zack watched as Reno stood up and his hand moved to the arm rest of the couch before the red head flopped down.

“Reno are you-?” He stood up moving to the red head and watched as Reno flopped lying down on his back.

“Drunk.” Reno pointed up and laughed. “Perfectly fine though… just drunk yo.”

Zack blinked and he stood up nodding his head. Reno snagged his wrist pulling him down and Zack's hands caught the side of the couch stopping his full weight from landing on Reno and he felt a hand move to the back of his head pulling his head down and lips captured his again.

“Mmmm you taste good.” Reno mumbled.

Zack pulled back from the kiss slowly and he looked down at Reno as the red head's eyes drifted close.

“Reno!” Zack grabbed the red head's arms and shook him slightly.

`Passed out drunk… not much changes with him.'

Zack pulled back standing up. “I'll get a blanket.” He murmured before slipping in to Reno's room and opened the cupboard pulling a spare duvet down. He carried it in to the lounge flinging the duvet over the unconscious Reno before he slumped to sit on the ground and he flicked the television on with a sigh.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Rude made his way down the corridor of Reno's apartment, he gave a light knock on his partner's apartment door and waited for a moment before pulling out his copy of Reno's key and unlocking the door.

Entering the apartment he was surprised to find it pretty much clean minus the pile of beer, vodka, wine, and bourbon bottles in a corner and he raised a brow, there was an empty pizza box on the bench.

Rude glanced round and looked over seeing the television on, a dvd menu was running, blinking he walked in to the lounge and saw Reno unconscious on the couch. He looked round. Zack's buster sword rested in the corner of the room, but the former 1st class was no where in sight.

Rude flicked the dvd off and was greeted with the morning news.

“The merger between ShinRA and WRO although marking a momentous occasion, it is difficult on whether we can trust the secrets that ShinRA has still locked up behind their doors-”

 

*click*

 

Rude turned round and he stopped seeing Zack standing there in just a singlet top and jeans, fresh from a shower, he held the remote.

“Sorry I liked the music of the dvd menu.” He just smiled walking up to the television sticking the remote on the top.

“How did it go?” Rude asked. “Did Reno-?”

“Pass out before anything could happen? You betcha. Guess Jenova cells have more tolerance to alcohol than Mako huh?” Zack just smiled before walking up the sword his hand touching the hilt. “Am I free to go now?” He looked over his shoulder.

“Walker and Clover are downstairs they will drive you back to Seventh Heaven.” Rude remarked.

Zack nodded, he moved up to Reno's sleeping form and put a hand on the Turks head. “Sorry you had to be dragged in to all this Reno, I'm sorry about Sephiroth, I'm sorry about Tseng's orders… I'm sorry you had to find me.” He let out a sigh before walking to the door, leaving Rude standing alone in the apartment.

Rude looked at Reno and he pulled his sun glasses off cleaning them on his jacket before he slipped them back on and moved to Reno's side kneeling down in front of the younger Turk.

 

~*~*~*~

 

Zack stepped out of the apartment building and he looked up at the sky, the blue seemed to stretch for miles on end with only the occasional cloud in sight.

“Cloud… I'm sorry.” He whispered.

“Zack.” He looked over at the blonde leaning against the car, the fur lined navy blue jacket, the pale blue shirt and black tie combination, reminding him of how much the Turks were accessorizing these days.

“No hang over Clover?” Zack smiled.

Clover groaned and rubbed his forehead. “No.” He mumbled.

“The asshole passed out on my couch. I had to peel him off it this morning… lets just say my girlfriend wasn't happy to find him there last night.” Walker shot Clover a glare.

Clover flopped back on to the bonnet. “She'll live to bang you another day.”

Zack looked at Walker glaring at the blonde. That glare the motions everything personality wise reminded him so strongly of Angeal.

“Clover you're driving.” Walker stated.

“What why?”

“Because I said so and if you don't listen you'll be pissing lead for the next week.” Walker growled.

Zack just smiled behind his hand and Clover let out a sigh giving Zack a look that he knew too well that read `Are all SOLDIER's from Banora this grumpy?'

Zack patted Clover on the shoulder as the blonde made his way off the bonnet. “Take it easy kid, you get used to the Banora attitude.”

Zack slipped in to the backseat and Walker went to move to the passenger side. “Walker… Sit with me.” Zack smiled at the former SOLDIER who just nodded and slipped in to the backseat with him.

Clover stated the engine before he pulled out in to the street.

 

Zack looked at the former SOLDIER. “I want to ask you about Jenova. What you know, what she showed you… what she does and how active has she been?”

Zack caught the look Walker shot at Clover and Zack nodded his head slowly. “Don't worry Clover won't tell anyone will you?”

Clover's mouth moved but nothing came out except a sigh.

“She came from the stigma I contracted a year ago, six months ago when I was wandering she used to attack my mind with images between flashes of blue, then slowly she mutated to something from an eastern horror, the images grew stronger and she tried to call me to join her… I refused she got mad, then when she managed to finally physically touch me I went cold.” Walker explained.

“It's been said that ethereal beings need energy so that's when you walk through a cold pocket of air it's the ethereal being sucking the energy from that spot to try an manifest themselves in one way or another.” Clover explained from the front seat. “When Jenova manifests herself she doesn't suck energy from the air, she takes it from your body, and then you crave another body to warm yours us, sometimes… it fails extremely and she ends up sucking the energy from their body too.”

Zack looked at Clover's eyes in the rear vision mirror. “How do you know this?”

Clover's shoulder's shrugged. “Experience.”

Zack looked at Walker then at Clover. “Did she-?”

“Use me to steal some of Clover's energy… yes.” Walker stated. Zack saw the eyes flicker out the window he knew the former SOLDIER was hiding something more that involved the blonde but he couldn't put his finger on it.

“Which means…” Zack began.

Clover cleared his throat uncomfortably. “What Tseng has been ordering Turks to do with you, we did without orders. It… it's something that we'd rather not have repeated. But that depends on Jenova. If Quinn finds this cure the hallejah I'll kiss the creepy kid. Cause that means good-bye Jenova helllllllo social life.”

Zack looked at Walker who remained looking outside the window. “Clover you seem to know an awful lot. Who told you Quinn was looking for a cure?”

Clover smirked. “Tseng, those who have had problems with Jenova know Quinn is looking for a cure.”

“Problems.” Zack repeated and he looked to Walker. “How bad are your problems Walker?”

“They're not so bad lately. Even since she jumped I'm perfectly fine. She's with Quinn and he's holding her there…” Walker explained.

Zack saw Seventh Heaven in the distance and Clover pulled the car up to the curb.

The door to the bar opened and Zack saw Cloud standing there the obvious concern on his face. “Tell Tseng I'm not going anywhere for a while so if he wants me he has to come to me, I'm not dropping by ShinRA for a while.”

“Fair enough.” Clover remarked.

Walker slipped from the car and held the door open for Zack.

Zack slipped out of the backseat and he looked at Walker carefully. “Take care… and watch over him. I saw Jenova over him, she might come back for him, I'd hate to see him go through what you, I or Quinn went through.”

Walker nodded his head slowly. “Sir.”

Zack just smiled. “Just Zack Walker… just Zack I'm not military anymore and neither are you.” He patted the former 1st Class on the shoulder before walking up to Cloud.

 

Cloud swallowed looking at the two Turks, the blonde he recognized he had been the first Turk to guide Cloud through the new ShinRA building, the one in the elevator, who wanted got get stronger, when Cloud went to see Zack after was first discovered, then in the halls later on during some of Zack's tests.

Cloud looked to the serious as hell red head blinking, the one who had glared at him in the halls because he looked like his Turk partner. Cloud looked to the blue eyed blonde behind the wheel. The blonde looked nervous as hell and Cloud blinked he didn't look like the blonde at all really. Cissnei had been right.

“Zack.” Cloud looked at his friend. “Are you-?”

He was pulled in to arms quickly and he felt the blush come on. “I just need sleep Cloudy. Just sleep.”

Cloud watched the red head move to the passenger side make a comment to the blonde before the car pulled out of the curb leaving them behind.

“Zack… you missed… Genesis.” Cloud whispered in to the chest.

Zack let him go suddenly and Cloud saw the expression. “Genesis was here?”

“Yesterday afternoon.” Cloud replied.

Zack looked to the sky. “Do I have to go looking for him?”

“He didn't say. I think he'll try and find you.” Cloud mumbled.

Zack nodded his head slowly. “Alright I guess we just have to wait then.” He slipped one arm from Cloud's waist and raised the other one to settle over his shoulder. “But I hope you don't mind if I sleep the day away… I'm really tired.”

Cloud watched Zack yawn and he nodded his head slowly. “I don't mind.”

 

~*~*~*~

 

Rude helped Reno sit down at his desk, the red head held the side of his temple. “Did I have to come in to work today yo?”

“I'm afraid so.” Rude replied. “Tseng wants a report.”

Reno sat up suddenly. “Shit Zack.” He looked at Rude.

“Said you passed out. Clover and Walker took him back to Seventh Heaven.” Rude explained. He sat down looking at Reno. “Did anything happen?”

Reno thought for a moment he blushed looking down at the wood of his desk. “It started to… but I… got really tired, Zack mumbled something about me not fully recovering from Sephiroth and he didn't want to go through with it.” He explained.

“Is that so?” Tseng's voice cut in.

 

Reno looked up at Tseng. “Boss I'm sorry. I… we… er…”

“Had too much to drink and you passed out. I just got a call from Cloud, he's told me Zack won't be coming in to ShinRA offices anymore and we're to go to him. Which means I take it you failed Reno.” Tseng remarked.

Reno's hand moved to his head and he sighed. “Yeah, can you blame me, you're telling me to sleep with an ex-fugitive, ex-SOLDIER, a good person, whose -A-GUY-.”

Tseng let out a sigh. “I'll give you time to recover but you have two days on the second day you better have completed your mission.”

Reno blinked. “So I can come back to work?”

“For a bit yes you can.” Tseng replied. “I'm going to send M'adoc to visit Zack tomorrow. The day after if that doesn't work I'm sending you and Genesis in.”

Reno's mouth moved. “Genesis… he finally contacted you?”

“This morning asking where he might find Zack.” Tseng replied. “I had to stall him. He seems eager to meet up with him again.”

Reno let his forehead drop to the desk. “Okay I get it yo. I'll fix my mistake.”

“Good.” Tseng left the office.

Reno let out a sigh. “Damnit.”

“Pray M'adoc gets the job done so you won't have to do anything, and can recover in peace.” Rude remarked.

Reno looked up at his partner thankful that he still had Reno's personal well being on his mind. “I hope so too partner.”

 

 

 

To Be Continued…