Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets: Interlude ❯ Secrets: Interlude ( One-Shot )

Title: Secrets: Interlude

Author: tir-synni

A/N: This is an interlude of an old, old story that I used to have on the net. Since I'm hoping to be able to post the original story soon, I decided I would put this up like a type of prelude. Hopefully, my S/C story should be up soon. Unbeta'd, so excuse the mistakes.

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine except the plot.

"Hojo tried again? How many times is that now?"

"Too many. This is unlike him. He's not the type to fail so horribly like this. And he must know that I moved the papers to a different location."

"So why does he keep coming back and snooping the room? There must be something we don't know."

"...mmm, pipe down you two...me sleepin'."

The soft, sleepy voice broke through the grim conversation like nothing else could. Commander Zachary Stoker stiffened from where he was lounging on his friend's couch and glanced to his right. On the sister couch, General Sephiroth met his gaze, then looked down at his lap. Stretched out along the couch lay his lover, with his blond head in Sephiroth's lap. Cloud Strife ignored the two amused looks and buried his face in Sephiroth's black jeans. Both 1st Class SOLDIERS glanced at the 2nd Class, then at each other. Sephiroth allowed a small smile, while Zack grinned.

The three friends had gathered in Sephiroth's apartment at Cloud's excited beckon. The young warrior had been resting from a trip from Junon when voices had awaken him. Grabbing his Buster Sword, Cloud had stalked through the apartment until he had come upon the strangers. For the sixth time since the initial break-in, Hojo's henchmen were searching through Sephiroth's apartments for papers the General had snatched from his 'father.' With a skill Cloud had not had at the original break-in, the youth was able to stop them. However, before Seph and Zack could arrive, the thieves had poisoned themselves with pills hidden in their teeth. After Cloud had explained what happened and Sephiroth and Zack had surreptitiously disposed of the corpses, Cloud had settled on his older lover's lap to continue his nap. He had spent several weeks in Junon practicing and attending seminars to reach the coveted 1st Class, a position few SOLDIERs attained. The blond warrior was exhausted.

"Anyway," Sephiroth continued, audibly lowering his voice, "the papers on the Jenova project are the only thing I know of that Hojo could want. Hojo's only interest has always been science, and it is the only scientific works I have in here."

Zack snorted. "Besides us." Silver eyes slipped to Cloud's delicate face before jerking back. Sephiroth noticed.

"It was not like the first time," Sephiroth assured him quietly. "However well trained Hojo's minions are, they were no match for a 2nd Class SOLDIER. The last several times were timed so no one was in the apartment. Hojo slipped up this time."

Gently, Sephiroth trailed his long fingers through his young lover's golden spikes. Sharp silver eyes flickered to the sight before focusing on Sephiroth's face. Sephiroth attributed it to concern.

"Cloud came back early from Junon," Zack reminded his old friend. "Remember, Cloud wasn't supposed to be back until next week. It's only because of his connection to us that he was able to jump on that ship."

The silver-haired General relaxed his rigid posture and mused on that. Since the first incident, when Hojo was unaware that Cloud stayed in Sephiroth's apartment, the scientist had always sent his men in when the three's schedules carried them away from the apartment. Sephiroth did indeed keep the papers still in the apartment--Hojo knew him well enough to know Sephiroth would not be comfortable with the papers on his person--but they were well hidden. But for the life of him, Sephiroth could not discover why the papers were so important to Hojo. The only reason Sephiroth thought them important enough to take was because of their connection to him, Zack, and Cloud.

Constantly, Sephiroth stroked Cloud's sleeping head. Silver eyes sought out the motion again before studying Sephiroth's thoughtful face. Sephiroth met those eyes, recognizing the unnatural gleam in them. Never before had he seen eyes that particular shade before, certainly not that lustrous. Often, he had commented the same of Cloud's eyes, as many had said of his. Mako made one's eyes glow, not shift the color and depth.

Part of the reason why Sephiroth had deemed those papers important.

"It has to do with her," the tall fighter muttered. "But she has been quiet for so long...."

Zack glanced back on Sephiroth's face again and shrugged. "Of course it has to do with her, but I thought that the prez had Hojo focused on something else, experiments concerning Mako and the such. I didn't even know Hojo was still thinking of her until the first attempt."

Sephiroth snorted, an unusual sound coming from so elegant a warrior. As always, Zack grinned. "Never underestimate Hojo. He is the head scientist of ShinRa for a reason."

Zack nodded, silver eyes flickering again. "He'll slip up, though. He did this time, he'll do it again. We'll just keep our eyes open until then."

Sephiroth nodded shortly back, then glanced ruefully at the sleeping figure on his lap. "I suppose I'll carry him to bed. He is small, but even he must get cramped on this couch."

Both warriors paused, looking at Cloud. Finally, Zack spoke. "Yep, he's out. I'll let you deal with the--" Another cautious glance at Cloud. "--shrimp, heh heh, while I check out the other SOLDIERs. Someone might've heard something."

Sephiroth gifted Zack with one of his rare smiles, and Zack grinned impishly back. Then the younger SOLDIER tenderly wiped a hanging lock of blond hair from Cloud's sweet, sleeping face. "Don't tire him out too much."

The two SOLDIERs nodded at each other, before Zack left the room.

~~~~~~

Idiot! Zack cursed himself. Fucking idiot! I can't believe I did that. I can't believe I'm thinking that. He's Seph's, I'm Aeris'. That's how it is.

The moment the door was shut soundly behind Zack, his casual strut became a furious stalk. All he could think about was Cloud's delicate face, how his long lashes settled so gently on his high cheekbones, how his soft lips parted with every breath. He had been gaping at Cloud, with his lover sitting right there! How long had he worked under the Planet's idea of a wet dream? And yet he had remained loyal to Aeris. And then he had met Cloud, and everything changed.

He's so fuckin' beautiful, Zack thought, closing his eyes momentarily. Absolutely gorgeous...I never would have imagined that he would grow so lovely....

Zack gave his head a good shake and clenched his fists. Hell, he had been the one who had hooked Cloud and Sephiroth up, recognizing the startling similarities between the two. He had been right, the two had hit it off, but that did nothing to stop the feelings in his heart.

The first time I had seen him...he had been facing off with his drill instructor before the rest of the class. He had had his helmet on, so I couldn't see much. All I noticed was his height. The sergeant had been nearly two feet taller than him, and Cloud had still been able to drop him. When he took off his helmet to check on his instructor...that was when I saw him and first recognized him. Two years ago, and every day since he had only grown more beautiful. Heh. Almost exactly two years ago. I met him on my birthday, I remember that. I had told Aeris later about it, and she had joked that it made one hell of a birthday present.

One hell of a birthday present....

Zack resisted the urge to punch a wall. He had asked for a room closer to the usual SOLDIER barracks, away from Cloud and Sephiroth's apartment. He had thought it was good to get away from temptation. Now he only wished he had asked for it a little closer so he could get to his punching bag a little quicker.

I'm being unfaithful to Aeris. I love her. Her smile, her laugh, hell, even her flowers. I don't love Cloud like that...I like him more as a little brother. But you aren't supposed to desire a little brother like this!

Beautiful, graceful, charming...when Cloud grew older, no one would be able to resist him. Only sixteen, he could sway people with his smile. Since meeting Zack and Sephiroth, he smiled more often. Of all of his accomplishments, Zack had to admit, that was one of the ones he was proudest for.

And if you try anything with him? Do you think he'll still smile at you? And what about Sephiroth? And Aeris? Think, Zachary!

Zack growled and stalked to his quarters, finally catching sight of the engraved door. With jerky movements, he opened the door and slammed it behind him, leaving stunned guards in his wake.

"Hey, what's the matter with Zack?" Cadet Ellison murmured to his companion.

Cadet Sandburg shrugged, eyes wide. "How the hell should I know? I've never seen him like that before."

"Do you think something's wrong?"

His friend looked at him disbelievingly. "There has to be. Zack's the most light-hearted guy I know. I hope nothing too bad happened."

Worriedly, the two guards stared silently at the commander's closed door. Whatever it was, it could not have been good.

~~~~~~

"Gotta have a special, gotta have a special," Cloud Strife muttered to himself, swinging the Buster Sword carefully in front of him. Even as his mind worked furiously for a special, his body and blade moved smoothly on the gym's mat. His body knew the moves drilled so furiously into him by Sephiroth, Zack, and his instructors. "All 1st Class SOLDIERs have some type of special...except Seph. All his moves are special." Cloud grinned impishly at the thought, his line of thinking having nothing to do with the upcoming SOLDIER exam. Then he gave himself a quick, mental shake. "Gotta have a special, something I haven't ripped off Zack..."

The Buster Sword sliced through the air, its blade whistling shrilly. Cloud spun around, his feet moving as if dancing. Several other SOLDIERS were watching him, one of them Cloud recognizing as a friend of Zack's. By the approval he saw in their eyes, Cloud knew he at least had the formations right.

"Rip too many moves off Zack, anyway," Cloud continued his monologue. Another shrill whistle, and Cloud whirled the blade in his slender hands. "Gotta have my own special. But wh--"

child

...hild..

...plan...

child

come

...must...

hear!

Cloud choked on a startled gasp, the Buster Sword tumbling from numbed fingers. His feet, dancing so gracefully a moment before, tripped, and he began falling. The walls spun around him in a hideous mix of grey and green.

child

child

come

we

calll

"Holy shit, Cloud!" a familiar voice yelped, and strong arms grabbed him. At the sudden touch, the voices quieted.

"H-huh?" Cloud stammered. The spinning myriad of colors stopped to reveal the usual walls of the SOLDIER gym, and he put a hand to his head. "What?"

"That's what I'm wonderin'," the voice commented worriedly again, and Cloud blinked up into Robert Neil's concerned face. For the first time, Cloud realized he was leaning against the older SOLDIER, and he quickly steadied himself.

"It...It was nothing," Cloud assured him, and the other approaching SOLDIERs, quickly. "Probably still tired from the trip from Junon."

He didn't believe that, and neither did any of the SOLDIERs. Quietly, Robert handed Cloud his Buster Sword, his pale eyes still on Cloud's face.

"Why don't you head back to your apartment, kiddo?" was all Robert said. "I think you're done for the day."

Cloud nodded wordlessly and fled from the gym, and the silent, curious eyes. They wouldn't ask questions. SOLDIERs did not ask questions, especially concerning anyone the General was associated with. But that didn't stop Cloud from wondering.

Was that...Jenova's voice I heard? But I haven't heard that since I was reunited with Zack and Seph!

~~~~~

"Wow...thrilling," Zack groaned, staring at the endless doodles before him. Paperwork. The greatest of all evils. When he had first joined SOLDIER, he had never imagined all the paperwork he would have. But as 2nd-in-command to the Great Sephiroth, he had a lot to do.

There's few times I feel sorry for ya, Seph, but this is one of them. Zack grimaced. If he had this much, he hated to imagine how much Seph would have.

"Eeevil paperwork," Zack growled, poking at a paper with his eraser. "What the hell do I care about this?" He read the title of the top paper. "And what the hell does this have to do with SOLDIER? Dammit, Reno, are you--"

young one

young one

yes

come

young

...ung...

plan

...n...

"Ugh!" Zack gasped, the pencil snapping between his fingers. Silver eyes widened in shock as the room began to spin. "Wha--"

young

young

...plan...

one

The garish colors of the typical ShinRa office danced together in a horrific mess. The steel grey of the ceiling quickly came into view as Zack tipped back in his chair. The young SOLDIER felt himself falling and tried to right himself, but--

one

one

hear

us

young

The wheels of the chair spun out wildly as Zack crashed to the floor. He collapsed in a heap on the thin carpet, holding his head in his hands. He clutched his thick black locks as the dizziness slowly faded away, leaving him in silence once more.

"Wha...what the hell?" he murmured, shaking his head tentatively. "What the fuck was that? Did I hear...did I hear Jenova's voice? But I haven't heard her voice since I met up with Cloud again."

~~~~~

The water sluiced down Sephiroth's smooth skin and through his long, silver mane. He tilted his head back to wash the soap away, methodically cleaning himself. Get cleaned, get changed, meet up with President ShinRa about SOLDIER. Usually, he could weasel his way out of those, but when it directly concerned SOLDIER, Sephiroth had to be brought in. Sephiroth did not mind. Considering the SOLDIER program wasn't a severe money-maker like some of the other areas of ShinRa Inc. were, he did not need to be brought in often.

Sephiroth tossed his soaked hair over his shoulder and began washing it. It was nice when Cloud's hands ran through it, but washing it was a bitch. At least the Mako in his bloodstream helped k--

first

first

long

while

...plan...

hear

first

The shampoo fell from Sephiroth's limp hands, clattering on the wet porcelain. The small shower stall spun like the rides Zack told him about at the Gold Saucer. Blinking, dazed like he never was before, Sephiroth felt himself falling.

first

hear

call

calll

hear

must

Sephiroth fell to his knees in the small shower stall, his stark white surroundings spinning and lurching sickeningly around him. His elbow cracked hard on the hot and cold lever protruding from the wall, sending a shock through his system. With a start, the voices quieted, and the room righted itself.

"Jenova?" Sephiroth whispered, on his knees in the shower. "But...never like that...and not for so long...?"

~~~~~

"Where is he?" Cloud exclaimed, pacing restlessly in Sephiroth's living room. Zack sat on the couch again. His large hands clutched the cushion tightly.

"He'll be here soon," Zack assured him absently, watching the blond pace. Lithe legs carried Cloud to one side of the living room, then quickly to the other. The older SOLDIER watched the tight muscles flex and stretch under Cloud's tight, old training suit. "He just has to finish that meeting with ShinRa."

Cloud huffed, never pausing. "He should've canceled it! This is more important than listening to that old pervert jabber!"

Zack's darkly lashed eyes slid upwards. "That old pervert is in control of most of the world. Remember that."

A low growl was his only answer. Zack was fascinated. It wasn't often he had the opportunity to see Cloud Strife truly upset, and he was like a teed off kitten, all fluffy spikes and tiny fangs. It was cute! He couldn't help himself. Usually, he was able to catch himself staring and force himself to stop, but not now. Especially since Sephiroth wasn't here.

"How the hell did that happen, anyway?" Cloud snarled, his body twisting to start another round of pacing. "He controls the company from--"

Zack laughed softly, even as he admired Cloud's lean curves. "We all know where, Cloud. Just calm down."

This time the answer was a furious hiss. Zack snickered; yep, definitely a pissed kitten.

Zack swallowed hard as Cloud whirled on him, hands on his slender hips. His high cheeks flushed, his lips parted, his brilliant eyes bright...Oh, boy, was Cloud Strife a sight.

Down, boy! You can't--

Oh, shut the fuck up. When will you be able to see this again?

Angry sparks made Cloud's eyes sparkle, and Zack knew for sure he was staring now. Cloud was still too angry to notice.

"Right now, Seph should be with us," Cloud continued, resuming his pacing. Zack watched after him hungrily. "He shouldn't be catering to that bastard. All three of us should be together, right, Zack?"

If Zack had a drink, he would have choked. Conflicting thoughts tore through his mind.

Together...all three of us...that would a dream come true....

Us three...we're friends, the best of friends! And I'm ogling one and betraying another! How can I even think of it!

Disturbed, Zack jerked his eyes away from Cloud. No! He would not betray them. Any of them.

Unfortunately, Cloud noticed his turmoil. It snapped him out of his anger. "Zack? Hey, Zack, what's the matter?"

Zack forced a smile. "Just worried about the Jenova scare, Spike. It's nothing."

Cloud's vivid blue eyes narrowed. Zack had the horrible feeling Cloud saw right through him.

"Zack--" Cloud began, concern softening his voice. Zack braced himself.

"Good. You two are here."

Sephiroth strode through the open door, silencing Cloud before he could say another word. The young blond shot Zack one last worried look before walking over to Sephiroth. Sephiroth immediately pulled him into a tight hug, lowering his head and pulling Cloud up so he could kiss the petite warrior. Cloud threw his arms around Sephiroth's neck and parted his lips. Sephiroth closed his eyes, kissing his young lover deeply, but Cloud's eyes remained open and staring at Zack. Zack knew Cloud saw every longing flinch, every hungry glance as Sephiroth clutched Cloud closer in a fervent hello.

Fuck. He was screwed.

Part II.

Children...

My children...

Come to mother...

Bring mother home....

Cloud Strife started awake, lingering echoes of that familiar voice fading slowly in his mind. He buried his face in his small hands. Cold sweat chilled his palms, dripped from his blond spikes to trail down the back of his hands. The young SOLDIER shivered uncontrollably.

"Love, it's all right. We're safe now." Sephiroth's hot breath grazing his ear pulled Cloud from his reverie. As he straightened, right into Sephiroth's welcoming arms, he noticed the shadows in the other man's eyes. Even the brilliant moonlight piercing through their bedroom window did nothing to alleviate that haunting darkness.

"You heard her, too," Cloud whispered, raising a hand to finger Sephiroth's pale, beautiful face. Sephiroth unconsciously leaned into Cloud's gentle touch.

"She calls us still," Sephiroth confirmed.

Cloud frowned worriedly. "Then Zack...." he trailed off. Haunted silver eyes blazed through his memory. He remembered Zack's longing gaze as Sephiroth pulled him into that kiss earlier.

Perhaps more than She haunts Zack, Cloud thought grimly.

"He probably had a similar dream, yes," Sephiroth agreed softly, "but that is not what you are thinking about."

Intense emerald eyes burned into Cloud's wide blue orbs. Disturbed, Cloud was the first to look away. He studied the silky black blankets covering his naked hips. The moonlight trailing through the General's penthouse apartment highlighted Cloud's clenched hands. Sephiroth's long, graceful hand seemed to flow as he enfolded Cloud's in a firm grip. Sephiroth's other hand wrapped gently around Cloud's waist and pulled him back against his bare chest. Sweat slickened Cloud's back, and he blushed as he remembered when Sephiroth had sweat earlier that night.

"Love," Sephiroth breathed into his ear. "What is it? Is something wrong with Zack?"

Hesitantly, Cloud peeked over his shoulder to meet Sephiroth's concerned eyes. What if he was right? If Zack desired him? Such a reaction was not unusual. In a predominately male environment, he was used to other guys lusting after him. Unfortunately, he was also used to Sephiroth's reaction to it. Surely, Sephiroth would not have such a bad reaction if it was Zack, right? After all, Zack hadn't done anything about it. He hadn't betrayed anyone.

Maybe I'm just being egotistical, Cloud tried to convince himself. He shifted so he could bury his face in Sephiroth's muscular chest. As usual, his lover's musky scent calmed him. Yeah, I'm just being egotistical. Not everyone wants me. Heh. Just trying to boost my own ego up, that's all.

But Cloud could not make himself believe it. The heated longing in those silver eyes shone too clearly in his mind.

"Don't look away from me, love," Sephiroth's gentle voice whispered in Cloud's ear. However, he didn't force Cloud to look at him. He simply hugged Cloud close and waited. He rubbed Cloud's back tenderly. Cloud knew that was all Sephiroth would say. He would wait for Cloud to speak

Cloud sucked in a breath, proud of Sephiroth's trust in him. He would trust Sephiroth now.

"Seph," he breathed, raising his head. "You're right. It isn't about Jenova...."

~~~~~~

Zachary Stoker sat up in his bed, staring sightlessly out the window. Being a first class SOLDIER had its advantages. He had his own room, with a large window that allowed crisp moonlight to flood the room. Zack stared into that moonlight, its glow reminding him of Sephiroth's silver hair.

*Shimmering, pale hair flashed before Zack's eyes as Sephiroth pulled away from the impassioned kiss. Towards the end, Cloud's intense blue eyes had finally closed. When they opened again, they were focused on Sephiroth, giving Zack a moment to collect himself. Jenova was the last thing on his mind.

Seph's going to kill me, Zack thought in dread. He's going to beat me into a bloody pulp just like he did that one officer. Ahhh, shit, the Masamune....

Sephiroth finally pulled away from Cloud's tender embrace to look at Zack. His emerald eyes were sympathetic. "I know it was unexpected, but we have to find out why she has awoken."

Zack nodded shakily. He thinks I'm afraid of Jenova. I wonder how he would react if he knew how terrified I am of him.

"It caught me on a chair with wheels," Zack tossed back, summoning a smile. Well, it was true. That did suck.

A small smile danced on Sephiroth's lips, a rare gift only allowed in Cloud's and Zack's presence. "I was in the shower."

Zack cringed good-naturedly, while Cloud snorted. "It caught me practicing with a Buster Sword."

Zack laughed, calming down. So far so good. Maybe Cloud hadn't noticed after all...

Sharp blue eyes darted Zack's way, and he flinched inwardly. Or perhaps not. But he hasn't said anything yet.

Sephiroth did not notice the strange tension in the room. In a way, it was unsurprising. After all, why would Sephiroth suspect them of anything? It was only around them that Sephiroth lowered his omnipresent guard.

Then Sephiroth's smile faded, and the General was all business. An arm firmly around Cloud's waist, Sephiroth moved to sit down. "After an attempt of Hojo's to steal documents on the Jenova experiments, Jenova awakens. After several years of peaceful sleep, she awakens. Not only is she awake, but she is calling. Whether she is calling of us or we happened to pick up a general frequency, I do not know. She is still calling for someone to come, though."

Zack frowned, slipping into business-mode, as well. "I don't think we just happened to eavesdrop. I think she was calling to us as individuals." He turned to Cloud, where the blond was snuggled on Sephiroth's lap. Zack could see a hint of fear in Cloud's eyes. He may have been a second-class SOLDIER, but he was still young, and he had been alone all his life. The last time Jenova had haunted him, she had been his only friend, and Cloud had trusted her. Now that trust had been transformed into fear, and Cloud was terrified of being alone.

"She called to me," Cloud agreed softly, his blue eyes distant. "It wasn't just calling to someone. She called to me."

Sephiroth and Zack exchanged a troubled look over Cloud's head. At Cloud's distress, Zack's lust was replaced by the familiar protectiveness that Cloud joked about so much. The blond was the last member of the group, the youngest and the most vulnerable. Both Sephiroth and Zack had sworn to protect him, SOLDIER or no.

Sephiroth squeezed Cloud close for a moment and sighed softly. "Damn. I was hoping you wouldn't say that. She called me the first one."

"Young one."

"Child."

Zack smirked at Cloud's disgruntled look before getting back to business. "She was definitely targeting us as individuals. Something has to be in those papers to explain this. Have you gotten anywhere deciphering Hojo's code, Seph?"

A small shake of the head answered Zack. "No. I rarely have time to dig them out, nonetheless attempt to study it."

Cloud frowned worriedly and wrapped his arms around himself. Instantly, the older warriors focused on him. "It's...different this time," he commented softly. "She's never...been this greedy before. It's kinda like...she was biding her time, getting everything ready. Now she's preparing to close the trap." Cloud shuddered before giving his head a good shake. "Or maybe I'm just paranoid," he murmured unconvincingly.

Sephiroth kissed Cloud's spikes silently, rubbing the boy's arms. Zack bit his lip. Cloud's instincts were usually on target...unfortunately, so was his. And he had a terrible feeling about the coming weeks.

"Maybe Aeris knows something," he suggested hurriedly, leaping to his feet. The ice in his chest grew unabated. "She's a Cetra, she has a connection with the Planet. She has to know something."

Sephiroth nodded, his green eyes unnaturally dark. He clutched Cloud's lithe body protectively to him. "Wait until morning. You have tomorrow off anyway."

Zack nodded back struggling to summon a flirtatious smile. "Great way to spend my birthday--with a beautiful lady. See you guys later."

Only sheer will kept him from running out the door.*

Surely nothing can separate us, Zack thought, chilled. We've found our way back to each other after so long. If Seph doesn't kill me in a jealous rage, Zack cringed, we should always be together. Right?

Chilled to the bone, Zack pulled his heavy cover back over his broad shoulders. However, his eyes refused to close, and he found himself staring endlessly into the moonlight. Perhaps seeing Aeris in the morning would calm the fear in his heart.

~~~~~

Cloud curled sleepily in Sephiroth's grip, a content sigh on his lips. Sephiroth smiled slightly above him and kissed his forehead. Cloud purred and snuggled closer to Sephiroth's naked body.

"We'll begin preparations first thing in the morning," Sephiroth promised, massaging Cloud's back. "We'll see how things go from there. No promises, love."

Cloud smiled quietly. "I trust you. I know you won't let me down."

Part III.

Zack's legs were heavy as he trudged towards Aeris' home. His SOLDIER uniform and awesome Buster Sword kept any thieves from attacking the young man. A fact to which he should have been grateful. In the state of mind he was in, who knows what he would have allowed them to do.

Formerly, the sight of Aeris would instantly cheer him up. Now the thought of it only deepened his unnatural depression. Whenever he thought of Aeris' sparkling emerald eyes, a memory of Cloud's crystalline blue would always accompany it. When he took her slender frame into his arms, he would wonder how Cloud's slight frame would feel. Each new day was a new agony as the unconscious comparisons continued. However much he loved Aeris, his unquenched desire for Cloud always shadowed it.

So when Aeris opened her door and smiled brilliantly at Zack, she was only greeted by a faint grin in return. Instantly, her smile fade. "Hey, birthday boy. What's wrong?"

Zack struggled to strengthen his grin. "Oh, same-old, same-old. ShinRa, Heidigger, the scum of the earth known as Hojo. The usual."

His grin came more naturally as Aeris threw herself into his arms and yanked his head down for a kiss. His beautiful, feisty Aeris....

Zack parted her lips hungrily and drowned in their kiss. This was but one of the reasons why he could not do anything with Cloud. Could he willingly sacrifice this for a one-night fling?

When they finally came up for air, another thought stole into his mind. Would Cloud's lips be this sweet? Zack cringed inwardly.

"Come on," Aeris invited, her eyes as sharp as Cloud's. "I knew you would be coming over today, and I made a small lunch for you. I even made your favorite tea."

Zack followed apprehensively. Why did he always have the feeling Aeris was looking right though him?

Oh, yeah. She probably was.

~~~~~

Cloud walked casually beside his older lover. Sephiroth towered over him, but his hand was gentle on Cloud's shoulder. Their customary weapons were at home, and only daggers and firearms adorned them. Neither minded. They could take care of themselves.

The petite blond sneaked a peek at Sephiroth. Rarely did Cloud ever see Sephiroth dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. He only regretted Sephiroth's long, silver hair. It had been tied up and hidden under a cap. How Sephiroth had been able to do that, Cloud truly did not know. Seph only smirked and kept silent.

Cloud's own distinctive locks were tied back in a ponytail, Nibelhelm-style. He rejoiced in his own casual clothes. Rarely did he ever had the opportunity to wear them. On his few off-weekends, Sephiroth and/or Zack convinced him to go out. In the end, he wore whatever outfit they chose.

Anyway you look at it, Cloud thought smugly, I look hot.

Seph elbowed him gently, as if sensing his thoughts. Cloud smiled sweetly in response.

"So we wait to see if Zack had left yet, right?" Cloud inquired.

Sephiroth nodded. "If Aeris is alone, we'll talk with her."

Cloud snorted as he thought upon the upcoming conversation. Oh, this should be good.

Hey, Aeris? We have a birthday gift planned for Zack that he'll never forget. You mind? Oh, what is it? Well....

~~~~~

Aeris had stayed quiet for most of the evening, only offering any possible information on Jenova her ancestry allowed her. Mostly, she kept a steady hand on Zack's arm. He felt the strength flow from the Cetra. The compassionate and warmth in her eyes calmed Zack like nothing else. Before her, he had been a wild flirt in the ShinRa, messing around with anything on two legs. Then he had stumbled upon her, selling flowers in the slums. The quiet strength in her luminescent emerald eyes had captured him and never let her go. Since then, only a pair of gentle baby-blues had ever provided challenge.

And what a challenge.

He stayed by her side for several hours. In the end, she actually did not have much information that could aid them, but Zack didn't care. Guilt and love battled inside of him as he bade good-bye. How could he betray her? What kind of person was he for even imagining it?

Shaking his head, Zack forced one last smile before walking back towards the base. He had to deal with this. He had to.

~~~~~

"You two can come out now," Aeris called wryly. Her large eyes never moved from where Zack had vanished while Cloud and Sephiroth came through the back. Cloud was smiling sheepishly, but Seph looked unimpressed.

"You noticed something wrong with Zack," he began immediately.

Aeris finally turned towards him. "How could I not?" she retorted. Her slender hands flew to her hips. Cloud had to admire her. She was one of the few not intimidated by the powerful General. "He was miserable." Her eyes were narrow on Seph's face, as if accusing him.

Cloud stepped forward. "Don't worry, we have a plan to cheer him up. We only need your permission." His eyes twinkled mischievously.

Aeris' eyes sparkled. Cloud had a feeling she knew exactly what he was going to say. "Please, continue."

~~~~~

Zack had searched throughout the base, but there had been no sign of either Cloud or Sephiroth. Nothing made him as nervous as those two. Either they were hiding to get a couple hours of privacy, or there was planning something. Between Sephiroth's cunning and Cloud's perchance for mischief, that was always bad. However, they usually let him in on it...unless he was the target. Zack cringed good-humoredly. Oh yeah, they were evil.

After a thorough search, Zack returned to his room. I might as well go to the gym, work off the stress, he decided. If they want to find me, they'll know where to look.

Absent-mindedly, he grabbed his shirt and flung it off. He would change into his grunt clothes and--

Zack stiffened. Wait. There was someone else in here. He blinked and looked behind his shoulder. "Seph?"

The tall General smiled seductively and stepped out of the shadows. He stalked behind Zack and lazily fingered his chest, trailing a longer finger around to his back. Zack watched him for a moment. Then he whipped his head around to meet two heavy-lidded blue eyes, right before Cloud pulled his head down for a kiss.

"Happy birthday, Zack," Seph breathed, brushing his lips against the back of his neck. Zack shuddered.

"What...?" he whispered weakly against Cloud's lips.

Cloud pulled away, smiling at Zack. "Aeris says hello," he murmured. While Zack gaped, Cloud nipped at Zack's jaw.

Zack's lips moved soundlessly for a moment, distracted by two pairs of lips working on his flesh. He shivered at the sensation of teeth and tongue. "A-Aeris?" he stammered.

Cloud snickered, raking his teeth above Zack's nipple. "We have him stammering," he purred. "And we haven't done anything yet."

A deep laugh sounded behind Zack. A hot mouth latched onto Zack's neck, suckling greedily. He arched, then cried out when Cloud's eager lips fastened on a nipple.

"Oh, Holy!" he gasped. Sephiroth's long hands slipped under Zack's pants, his mouth still working at Zack's neck. The dark-haired youth writhed as Seph cupped his hard ass. Short nails scraped his tender flesh. So lost was he that it took him a moment to realize that Cloud had stepped back. Cloud's sapphire eyes glowed with lust as he watched his lover seduce his best friend. Zack's own eyes were hot as he imagined what Cloud was seeing.

"The bed?" Cloud offered.

Zack didn't have the breath to reply.

~~~~~

Zack didn't remember getting to the bed. He didn't recall his pants getting toss across the room, nor the door getting locked behind them. Even if he had remembered, the sensation of Cloud's tight mouth around him would have erased all memory anyway.

"He's good at that, isn't he?" Sephiroth whispered beside Zack's ear, barely loud enough to be heard above Zack's breathy cries. Cloud's lips formed a tight suction around his hardened erection, bobbing rapidly up and down. Zack keened low in his throat as his nimble tongue swiped the underside of his cock. Desire burned hot in his stomach, more intense than he had felt in a long time. "He loves doing it. Something about the seemingly submission of the act, but knowing he is in complete control. He is, isn't he? He's your master now."

Zack choked as Cloud's teeth lightly scraped his flesh. His small hands danced swiftly along his balls, and Zack arched again. A dream...he had to be dreaming. Cloud's mouth on him, Sephiroth talking dirty in his ear...he needed more dreams like this.

Sephiroth's hot breath warmed Zack's ear as he delicately licked the lobe. His hand was white against Zack's dark chest, his strong fingers playing with the engorged nipples. His other hand easily held Zack's wrists above his head. "How many times have you imagined his hot mouth on you?" Too many, too many, too many.... As if reading his mind, Cloud bobbed low, and Zack shuddered as he felt Cloud's nose against his pubes.

Precome dripped into the hot cavern of Cloud's eager mouth before the blond beauty slowly pulled away. Zack watched, wide-eyed, as Cloud's dainty tongue licked the white droplets away. Cloud met his eyes and smiled mischievously. A drop of cum stained his lip. Deliberately, he licked it away. Impossibly, Zack felt himself harden more.

"Do you want to be inside him?" Sephiroth breathed huskily, his hand moving slowly against Zack's heaving chest. Zack barely had time to grab a breath before that thought knocked it out of him again. Stunned, he stared at Cloud, who sat between his legs.

"He hasn't said a word since we started," Cloud murmured. Fascinated, Zack gazed at his swollen lips. A sensual tug on his erect nipples quickly brought him back to reality, as did Cloud moving to sit on his lap. "I always thought he would be a talker in the sack."

Zack's jaw dropped, and Seph took advantage of this to suck on his bottom lip. Only when Zack was moaning once more did he move away. As always, Sephiroth's voice was calm when he spoke again, uncaring of the fact they were all naked.

"Doesn't the noises he make please you?" As if to emphasize his point, Sephiroth raked his nails once, twice, three times across Zack's erect nipples. As Zack mewled on the third, Seph pulled his hand away and stared expectantly at his younger lover.

Blue and green, vivid eyes flashed in silent communication as Zack lay sprawled beneath them. His erection pulsed hungrily between his legs, but for the moment, they ignored him. Zack couldn't find it within him to speak; this moment had only existed before in his wildest imagination. He would not ruin it.

Finally, Cloud seemed to take pity on him. One small hand slid down and rubbed gently at his erection. Zack mewled. "Do you like your birthday present so far, Zack?" Cloud asked softly. His hand moved slowly, gently sliding up and down his hardened flesh. Precome bubbled from the tip of his erection, flowing down the sides and mixing with Cloud's saliva. Involuntarily, Zack arched, only to be stopped by Seph's hand pushing down his stomach.

"I think that's a yes," Sephiroth purred. "He's ready, my love."

Cloud grinned mischievously. He squeezed Zack gently. Moaning, Zack closed his eyes, only to open them again at Seph's insistence. To Zack's surprise, he discovered his wrists were free.

"You need to be on your knees for this part," Sephiroth murmured huskily. Cloud smiled sweetly at them both, sliding his lithe body down the mattress. Zack froze once again as Cloud wiggled his pert, tiny bottom in the air. Between his tight thighs, Zack could see Cloud's hard erection. Apparently he wasn't the only one turned on. Glancing once at Sephiroth, who was stepping off the bed, Zack swallowed thickly. No wonder everyone called him a god.

Looking again at Cloud's firm ass, Zack hastily got onto his knees. He was probably never going to have this opportunity again. He wasn't going to waste it.

"You don't need lubricant," Sephiroth breathed into his ear. His strong hand slid around Zack's waist to fondle his aching arousal. "He prepped beforehand. You, on the otherhand...."

Zack mewled loudly. Sephiroth's other hand massaged his ass, his fingers sliding towards his crease. One finger gently played with his sphincter.

"Zack-kun," Cloud breathed. Zack whipped his head back around at the feeling of Cloud's own crease easing along his erection. "You don't need to wait for him. You can start now."

Overwhelmed as he was by the double sensation teasing him, Zack still didn't need a second invitation. Swallowing thickly, he pressed his erection against Cloud's crease. He pushed, and his hole easily gave. Zack's moan drowned out Cloud's groaning sigh at the first feel of the younger man's tight body. Slowly, he eased in. Cloud's tight heat overwhelmed all other sensation. One shallow thrust, then Zack slammed in. Cloud keened, and for a moment, Zack stayed there, lost in the feeling.

Only when three fingers shoved into him did he remember Sephiroth. Zack screamed, feeling those fingers touch something deep inside him. He shrieked again when Cloud pushed back hard against him.

"You've never bottomed before, have you?" Sephiroth growled in his ear. He took Zack's moan as an answer. "Cloud seems to be enjoying it, doesn't he?"

Zack couldn't answer if he tried. He thrust haphazardly into Cloud, then jerked back into Sephiroth's fingers. Each time, Sephiroth's fingers struck that spot again.

"Harder, dammit!" Cloud shrieked under him. Whatever thread of control Zack had was quickly unraveling. Cloud shoved his buttocks back, and Zack shuddered. "Don't tease me!"

Zack pulled back until only the head of his cock remained within Cloud. He tilted his hips, then was slammed back into Cloud as Sephiroth thrust into him for the first time.

"Fuck!" Zack howled.

"Please!" Cloud snapped.

Wildly, Zack thrust into Cloud, then yanked back onto Sephiroth's hard cock. Whatever pain he felt was drowned out by the stunning pleasure. Again and again, he jerked back and forth.

"Please, please, please!" Cloud wailed under him. Shivering uncontrollably, Zack pulled a hand off Cloud's hip and roughly grabbed his erection. Cloud writhed under him. Cloud's tight passage contracted, then Cloud began screaming, cum pouring out of him and soaking Zack's hand. The moment Cloud had collapsed, Zack's still hard member sliding out of him, Sephiroth grabbed Zack's hips and pushed him to the bed beside Cloud.

Sephiroth pounded Zack into the mattress. Already falling, Zack was gone when Sephiroth thrust hard into that spot one last time. Everything exploded in flashes of white and gold. His last known sensation was of something hot pouring into him.

~~~~~

"You know, I think he enjoyed himself."

"Heh."

"Wipe that smirk off your face. It's not...dignified."

"And lying on a cum-covered mattress is?"

"I cleaned some of it off!"

"You missed a spot."

If Zack had any ideas that the night before was a dream, that wake-up obliterated them. "Nani?" he murmured. The voices immediately stopped. "Cloud? Sephiroth?"

"About time you woke up. We were afraid we had killed you."

That was definitely Cloud. With a moan, Zack shifted on the mattress. An unusual soreness stopped him.

"That's to be expected." Sephiroth, sounding amused as hell.

With a low groan, Zack opened his eyes. Cloud's beautiful, smiling face greeted him, as well as a quick peck on the lips. Zack purred and simply laid still. This was not a feeling to be wasted.

"You have to get up sometime," Sephiroth pointed out. Zack forced himself to look up. Cloud's slender body was sandwiched between them. Sephiroth's hand, Zack noticed, was possessively on Cloud's waist. He decided he would never understand the older man. Let his lover sleep with another man-hell, join in!-and still be possessive the next morning. "Cloud's leaving for Junon this afternoon, and you promised to join him."

That woke Zack up. "The SOLDIER test!" he exclaimed.

Cloud grinned. "If my luck stays, I'll be a SOLDIER first class by the end of the week."

Zack smiled warmly at him. "Yep. If you were lucky enough to sleep with me, then that SOLDIER test will be nothing!"

Two pairs of raised eyebrows greeted that response.

"He's getting greedy," Cloud yawned. Zack smirked. He still looked like a kitten. "He's getting a penny for his next birthday."

Sephiroth kissed Cloud's throat. "We'll discuss that later," he purred. "After we return, we have to make plans concerning Hojo's papers."

Only Sephiroth could discuss business while lying naked in bed with two men.

Zack stared contently at Cloud's lithe body. He was as beautiful as he had imagined. He definitely hoped that they would be discussing it later. "Where are we supposed to meet you?" he asked, raising his eyes to Sephiroth's. Damn, if everyone thought the man looked like a wet dream with his clothes on, they would die looking at him now.

Sephiroth raised his lips from Cloud's bared neck. "Nibelhelm."