Elbow Grease and Enthusiasm was sparked by an ask I got on tumblr, and it became a fic that I'm proud of and had so much fun writing. It's been great chatting with folks about it, how an older Cloud might fit into Angeal, Seph, Gen and Zack's lives, and about Cid... I seriously can't thank everybody enough. This is, what, my fourth or fifth completed ASGZC multichapter fic? Each time I learn so much more. Thanks to everyone who faved and followed, and especially those that reviewed - you all make me so happy. Please enjoy.

These friction plates were an embarrassment. Six of the small circular objects sat in Cloud's hands. They were still slightly oily, but he'd dabbed off the worst of it with a nearby rag. A motorcycle's drive plates—or the friction plates, as they were commonly called—were not smooth, flat circles but rather had small, squareish protrusions around the outside edge.

Those tangs on the rim there were designed to engage with the clutch basket… not that these plates in particular would be engaging with anything anytime soon. The edges of the tangs, once sharp, were now dull and rounded. Cloud pressed his thumb to what was once a corner, pushing until it indented the pad of his thumb. The metal that made the circle itself was quite thin, maybe a third of a centimeter across, and the plates as a whole two inches wide. The front and back faces of the thin discs were coated in a material similar to that used on the brake pads on cars he used to tend to in his uncle's shop. They were worn, though…

Gaia, how long did these bikes go without even a checkup? The full nine years since the program was in place?

Every single day Cloud Strife found something to groan about. He did so now, placing the plates down and then stretching his arms up to the ceiling, letting his joints pop wonderfully. He cracked his neck and peered out the glass windows on the one wall of his office at the empty garage before fixing his attention back on the plates.

Totally useless. Not even worth saving. Any bike with plates like these would have a mess of a clutch. Slowing down, stopping or changing gears could be impaired or fail altogether. Cloud had a very, very large box for parts that were too miserably fucked up to continue servicing any rider, ever; he tossed these into it. Maybe the scrap metal could be melted down into a SOLDIER's sword, or something.

…That was a pretty cool thought, actually.

As Cloud made notes in a thick notebook about which bike the parts had come from, what was wrong, and what he needed replaced, he imagined some ultra-enhanced First Class going around wielding a sword made from melted friction plates, crankshafts, and chrome support beams. It was utterly amazing that his budget was as big as it was. Getting replacement parts for all the 'shitty ass bikes' wasn't really an issue. He even often got to take Fenrir out and pick up the parts himself. Perks of the job.

What would a motorcycle-sword look like, anyway? Probably not pretty… would it even withstand heavy blows? A lot of this metal was brittle and rusting. It would probably look cool though… a multicolored, intimidating blade. Its wielder could wear a leather jacket over their SOLDIER uniform.

The echoing sound of the far doors to this floor opening snapped Cloud out of his ridiculous thoughts. He finished his notations and lifted his head.

The grinning face of Zack Fair appeared a minute later. It took some time to get to where the motorcycles were on this floor, tucked behind the far more commonly-used armored trucks and large transport vehicles. That was changing, though.

"Got your text," Zack said, waving at him through the glass windows to Cloud's workstation, then waltzing through the open door. "Hey, you."

"Hey." Cloud grinned at him, then dropped his pen and stood. Cloud's work space was full of little personalized touches. He had posters on the wall behind him, a speaker nearby that often played the folk and Wutaian pop albums he liked, a small model of ShinRa's failed rocket on the 'window' sill, and his skateboard leaning against the back wall. He had a picture of him and his four partners too, and Zack picked it up as Cloud wiped his hands down on a clean rag.

"This is a cute picture," he said, smiling in a way that made him look his most handsome. Kindness and affection really looked beautiful on a man like Zack. He put it back where it was, angled towards where Cloud usually had his chair. "What'd you need me for?"

Cloud did not answer right away. He attempted to squeeze past Zack in the doorway but Zack quickly wound an arm around his waist and tugged Cloud to him. They had not seen each other yet that day, and reunited with a long, relaxed kiss against the door frame. Cloud cupped Zack's cheek, stroking his thumb beneath his eye with all the gentleness he could muster.

Zack gave him a few chaste pecks before he withdrew, his eyes bright as he gazed down at Cloud. He was in uniform; Cloud had earlier told him to come visit the garage after he finished his desk work for the day. Cloud pulled playfully at the straps of Zack's SOLDIER belt like they were suspenders.

"Come check it out," he said simply.

Zack followed him out of the office and to the long row of bikes just beyond it. Before they had been tucked together with hardly any room at all between them. Cloud demanded parking spaces when he was hired as the official bike specialist for SOLDIER, though, and now they stood proudly in their own spots.

…Or, some of them stood proudly—most still looked like the kickstands were the only thing stopping them from being a hunk of junk on the cement.

Five of the forty-three motorcycles were completed already, though. Each one took about a month to be completely rebuilt, and that was with Cloud working on it constantly and with all the resources ShinRa possessed at his disposal.

Slowly, he'd finish them. Maybe he'd get an assistant and make the work go faster. Lazard was excited for their bike fleet to be upgraded, and although the man clearly did not understand all the work and time involved and was slightly frustrated with the bike-a-month timeframe, he was enthusiastic and often talked to Cloud about the potential here, which Cloud enjoyed and appreciated.

Cloud put his hands in his pockets and waited patiently for Zack to realize what Cloud had brought him down here for.

He was confused, clearly, and frowned at the bikes after an uncertain glance at Cloud. He soon noticed the shape at the far end. A new motorcycle sat in a new parking space; the white paint was still sticky, even. It was draped in a purple cover (Zack's favorite color, he knew).

Cloud nodded encouragingly when Zack glanced at him again. The two men went to it. "Is this number six?" Zack asked, folding his arms. He always celebrated when Cloud finished a new bike.

"Technically, but not really. Take the cover off."

It was hard not to fidget nervously as Zack gently inched the cover off, not wanting to get it caught on any parts and tip it over. The hulking purple shape was larger than the bikes nearby, and a bit taller too. Gaia, Cloud hoped Zack liked it.

First the wheels were exposed. Unlike Fenrir, with two wheels in front and one in back, this was inversed. The design ran a small risk of looking like a grown-up version of a tricycle, but the wheels were directly next to each other and not spread out to the far sides; it looked rather cool, actually, Cloud thought. They were wide and sturdy. The frame's colors, as they were revealed, glinted dully in the somewhat-poor lighting of the garage. In the sunlight though they would gleam a deep, rich blue.

Zack gasped as the tank cover came into view, and carefully removed the rest of the purple fabric. Generally, Cloud thought it was pretty tacky to put your bike's name on its side… but he'd done it for Zack. By the seat, on the curved blue metal between the rider's knees and the handlebars, was the word Odin.

"Cloud," Zack said, sounding a little breathless. He just stared at the bike, still holding his armful of cloth up above it.

Cloud gently took it from him and nudged his boyfriend. Zack straddled the bike and put his hands on the handlebars, but not before running his fingertips reverently over the carefully-painted word.

"Most of the original frame is in there somewhere," Cloud said, watching as Zack tested what it was like to sit. This Odin was larger than the old one, and the shape was different. It had to feel strange at first, and would take some getting used to. "There weren't a lot of parts worth saving, but the ones I could… I tried to repurpose them."

Zack finally looked at him. His eyes pinned Cloud in place. "I thought you scrapped Odin after I signed him over to you."

"That was the original plan." Cloud dropped the cover and walked over, closer, until he could cup the side of Zack's face, now about as high as his diaphragm. His hand, gentle as anything, slid into Zack's hair. He received an affectionate nuzzle into his palm. "But I was thinking about it, a few days after you left… and hearing you discuss the bikes with Genesis when you came back, just…" He sighed. "It's just rare I meet anyone with as genuine and enthusiastic a love for bikes as you. You were the only one in SOLDIER, it seemed like, who cared about the bikes. It didn't seem fair that you had to be the one without."

"Spike…" The familiar nickname made warmth blossom in Cloud's belly. "When did you find time to do this?"

Cloud shrugged. "Whenever. Late hours, I guess. When it was slow at work at the old shop with my uncle I'd mess around with it too. Actually—before we got together and you guys would visit me at the shop, Genesis caught me working on it, and Angeal once too, I think."

"This must have cost a fortune, Cloud…"

Cloud shook his head. "Partly why it took so long. Most of the parts are recycled—the really important stuff isn't, of course—and I did it by hand. When I had a delivery out of town, I'd pick up a new part for him… and once I got this job, it got a lot easier, obviously."

"Cloud," Zack said, shaking his head, overwhelmed.

The mechanic took pity on him. He covered Zack's hands on the handlebars with his own. They were bigger, and just as worn—but from swordfighting, not from garage work. Cloud stroked the knuckles of Zack's fingers before directing him to reach a new lever nearby.

"Pull this," Cloud said, his voice gentle as he instructed, "and…"

They did so together. The long compartments on the front of bike sprang out.

Fenrir, Cloud's own bike, had been designed without much inspiration from outside sources. He'd sketched out the bike of his dreams and set out to make it a reality. The spaces on Fenrir for Tsurugi were perhaps the inventions he was most proud of in his whole design. Lazard Deusericus also liked them. Each of the five other bikes Cloud had crafted thus far had built compartments that could be customized to suit a SOLDIER's weapons—swords, guns, and materia.

"I had the one on the right casted for Galatine," Cloud said as they opened. "But you can change that, if you decided to get a new blade."

Like this Zack wouldn't have to awkwardly ride with Galatine strapped to his back anymore. He could even fight on Odin now, with his weapon easy to draw. It was hard, but Cloud's first class on swordfighting while riding—requested by Lazard—was scheduled for next month.

"He's…fuckin' gorgeous," Zack breathed. He still sounded awestruck.

Now slightly embarrassed by his large gift, Cloud twisted around so he could kiss his boyfriend. "So are you."

"Mm," Zack agreed, his lips shaping into a smile against Cloud's mouth. Now he seemed more like himself. He grabbed the sides of Cloud's face and kept him close as his lips formed dozens of lovely shapes against Cloud's. Unlike his rough hands, Zack's kisses were always so, so soft. His tongue coaxed Cloud's into playing and they brushed together with care, Zack's running lovingly over the smooth plushness of Cloud's bottom lip and the blunt hardness of his teeth.

Zack gave his shoulders a small tug and Cloud wobbled, unbalanced. A moment later he was straddling the bike too. Odin's seat was not meant for two people. They were now scooped up together in the small dip of the seat. His dick was all smashed up against Zack's.

Cloud opened his mouth to say something or maybe just to laugh, but Zack deepened their kiss and stole the breath from his lungs. His hand was strong on the side of Cloud's head, and the other slid down Cloud's back to cup his ass and pull, grinding them together.

After a little bit of this, breathlessly trying to keep up and letting Zack rock their hips together, Cloud felt the bulge in Zack's uniform pants a little more solidly than before. Oh. Damn. He really had enjoyed the gift.

Zack pulled away and Cloud tried to follow, his lashes lowered, in a panting daze. The SOLDIER started fiddling with his belts.

He looked up and cracked a grin even as his gaze remained hot and serious. "I want you to fuck me," Zack said, grabbing his mostly-hard cock once it was freed and giving it a few quick strokes.

"Uh," Cloud said, "Okay."

His hands fell to Zack's waist and hesitated. Their positioning was bad, and the request had been so abrupt. Zack covered Cloud's hands with his, like Cloud had done a minute or two earlier, and slowly pushed up his knit uniform top. Cloud got the idea, and pulled it over Zack's head once the SOLDIER removed his pauldrons and tossed aside the clunky belt.

The garage was usually chilly. It was the end of winter, now, and for months it had been quite cold down here. The basement levels had poor insulation and this floor even less so, since the floor was all cement. Far off on the other side of the level was a hangar door that led to a long, fairly steep tunnel up to the surface—it was how they got all the vehicles actually to the top of the plate. Frigid air seeped down into the garage area every time it opened.

Zack didn't seem to care. His bared chest was so delightfully warm against Cloud's hands as he ran them across his taut abs, petting down Zack's sides. Cloud was an active man, but he simply didn't do anything close to as much physical activity as his four boyfriends. They practiced his swordfighting with him, and Cloud had access to some of the gyms as a ShinRa employee and used them regularly, but Zack had a strict workout regime and went out to fight monsters on the regular.

Zack's body was such a treat as a result. He had lean, defined muscles, paired with broad shoulders that were nice to rest your head on and a trim waist it was nice to hug. Cloud did neither of those things and skimmed his hands back up, stopping to brush his thumbs across Zack's nipples, hardened from the chill in the air.

Then they continued, past his clavicle and his tanned neck, then into that thick, dark hair. Cloud worked his fingers into it nice and deep, then tugged Zack down into a steaming kiss.

Between them Zack pumped at his cock and rolled his hips into Cloud's as much as he could in the tiny space. Zack's tongue delved deep into Cloud's mouth now, making Cloud's toes curl as it swiped across his palate. His lips were hot and fucking greedy, stealing his breath, making Cloud gasp and grip his fistfuls of hair tighter.

Zack was trying to get Cloud into it as fast as possible. It worked, of course. When Zack's hand slipped past the popped button on Cloud's jeans his cock was flushed and filling out already. Zack's lips moved down to Cloud's neck as he eased it out entirely.

Cloud just groaned, letting Zack work him over for the time being. His head lolled back on his neck as Zack bit at his skin, not hard enough for it to hurt but enough to make Cloud's breath stutter and his fists tighten in Zack's hair again.

The grimy fluorescent lights on the ceiling blurred as Zack jerked him off. Cloud stared at them, dazed, his whole body shuddering as Zack paired another bite to his sensitive neck with a swipe across the head of his cock with his thumb.

"I need to…" Cloud said, trailing off to sigh deeply as Zack gave a firm stroke from the root of his dick to the tip, "Get stuff. In the office."

"Okay." Zack kissed the skin over his fluttering pulse. "Be quick about it."

The order made Cloud's cock buck in Zack's hand. He got off Odin, a little hazy, and stumbled towards his workspace. He hardly even cared that his dick was out and slapping against his jeans with each step.

There was a tiny handwashing station in his office and Cloud hastily scrubbed off the last of the stubborn oil from the friction plates he'd been handling earlier. There was lube in a drawer and some condoms too—he grabbed both.

Through the window he could see Zack irritably kicking off his boots, sitting sideways on his new bike now. He looked damn good on it—the new Odin fit him so well. Cloud felt a surge of pride and walked back to his boyfriend with his chest unconsciously puffed out like a displaying Chocobo. Zack gave him an odd, fond look, tilting his head.

Despite the pause of a minute or two Zack was just as hot and enthusiastic as he was before Cloud left. "Sorry," Zack murmured, even though there was nothing to apologize for, "I just need this." He kissed Cloud again and then turned, bracing his forearms on Odin and bending over.

Cloud murmured something soothing to him as he surveyed the situation.

Odin was really not an ideal location for a fuck. The seat was wider than most bikes but certainly no bed. The kickstand was sturdy and would keep the bike up through gentle, physical nudges and strong desert winds, but the kind of wobbling that would inevitably come with its owner getting pounded on top of it? Probably not.

Regardless, Zack's tan, muscular ass was in his hands—literally. Cloud ran his hands over the toned curves of it, giving one gentle swat as he thought. He absently spread Zack's cheeks with his thumbs and watched as his asshole clenched, probably in anticipation. Zack twisted a bit and peered down the corded muscles of his back to wink at Cloud. "Get on with it, Mr. Mechanic. My dick's killin' me at this point."

Cloud let out the ungraceful snort of someone who attempts to hold in their laughter but fails miserably. His quiet chuckles made Zack's serious expression crack into a goofy grin. He laughed too, and their amusement echoed off the walls of the empty and lonely garage.

Zack really was horny as hell, though, and hiked a knee up onto the back of the bike. He impatiently reached back and fisted his hand in Cloud's shirt. "You brought lube with you?"

"Yeah, yeah," Cloud answered, pulling it out of his pocket. He squirted some out onto his fingers as he asked, "What happened to shy Zack? He used to get so nervous every time he kissed me, let alone demanded I fuck him."

"Hey," Zack said, with a touch of a whine in his voice. Cloud's fingers danced along the curve of his asscrack. The dark, curly hairs were soft and fine; he loved to swipe his fingers through them, and did so now. He used one thumb to spread Zack's left cheek, though it was hardly necessary…the position had Zack spread out deliciously for him already.

"You don't need to pull that card on me," Zack protested, his face pinker than it had been a minute ago. "Those were dark days, man."

"We're still in the Dark Ages, then," Cloud countered. He pressed one lubed finger to Zack's entrance and slid it around in gentle circles, until the whole thing was slick. Nearby hair glued into glistening clumps, almost like little spikes… Zack's ass matched his head.

Cloud had to bite his lip harshly to stop from laughing; he doubted Zack would appreciate Cloud chuckling at this particular moment. He slid in a finger to distract himself, to get on with it already. Zack was still frowning, not liking the acknowledgement that, yes, Zack was still occasionally shy around him.

One finger quickly became two and just as quickly three. None of his boyfriends required as long and tender a prep as him. SOLDIER bodies could do a lot of things unenhanced folks' could not. It wasn't like any of them could take a dick dry—hell no—but their muscles tended to relax quicker and accept things like dick or toys more easily than others. With Cloud, they had to be gentle, but with each other, they could let loose a bit more. At times Cloud was slightly jealous, but he knew at this point it wasn't worth worrying about things outside his control.

He fucked Zack fast and hard on his fingers, crooking them in the way he knew Zack liked. His boyfriend smelled like sweat, as he'd worked out and assisted leading a swordsmanship class today, but Cloud was no better, streaked with grease as he always was. His ass gripped Cloud's fingers firm and tight.

"Condom?" Cloud asked. That was an involved question about whether Zack had been injured today—if he'd gotten any open wounds or scratches or handled the blood or fluids of an injured comrade.

"We're good without it," Zack answered, confirming that none of those things had occurred. The other four got tested bi-weekly at least anyway, when they checked in from almost every mission or got a checkup or transfusion.

Cloud stroked his own cock, generously adding more lube. The chilly air did nothing to make the cold lube feel any better, but when Cloud fucked into Zack his body was hot. Zack liked that first thrust to be slow but deep, giving it to him millimeter by millimeter as he adjusted. Cloud filled him up slow and stopped when his balls came to rest against Zack's.

That usually wasn't possible, unless they were doing doggy style, and even that was a deal more intimate than this, bent over a damn motorcycle. It was cute, though, and Cloud smiled weakly even as he waited a minute, waiting for Zack to give him some indication that he was okay with Cloud moving.

He got it and Cloud slowly pulled out. Zack's hole twitched around him, involuntary little spasms that made Cloud's lungs heave with the effort of staying cool. He withdrew until he was gone completely, and then thrust back in again, still tantalizingly slowly. Zack groaned as he was stretched around the head of Cloud's cock again—every damn time, he loved that part the most.

As the speed of Cloud's thrusts gradually increased Zack got more and more into it—shoving himself back to take it all, egging Cloud on with things like, "There you go, baby, give it to me like that, yeah?" and bracing his forehead on his arm as he jerked himself off with his free hand. Cloud almost laughed again; his gift had made Zack so ridiculously horny.

If getting fucked over this bike was what Zack wanted, fine; Cloud could roll with it. That was what Cloud Strife did. He grabbed those angular hips and really gave it to him, just as Zack instructed.

Only the low, constant humming of the lights overhead distracted from the wet schlop schlop of Zack's ass as Cloud fucked it. When he was younger—even younger than Zack—he used to get embarrassed about that kind of thing but now he couldn't give less of a shit. It was just one small part of an experience that had dozens of small parts that combined to be something fantastic (or, at least, usually fantastic, and definitely fantastic when it was with the people Cloud loved).

There was a lot to enjoy and appreciate, like the deep line along Zack's spine, tight from the way he was keeping himself upright. The slight jiggle of his cheeks every time Cloud thrust into him. His thighs, straining, so muscular and shapely. Zack's voice, rougher than usual, dripping in profanity but still every bit as sweet as it always was. The way he sighed in bliss and praised Cloud when he gave his prostate the loving attention he craved; it drove Cloud wild.

And all those small parts, and countless others (the other, less-often appreciated parts of Zack's body, the contrast of Cloud's paler hands on Zack's warm skin, Zack's hair spilling over Odin, the fact he and Zack were doing this at all after their unconventional courtship) did indeed coalesce into a wonderful experience… one that had them both gasping, rutting against each other, marking Odin as Zack's territory now. The bike, like Fenrir, would become in time a part of Zack, something he could control and maneuver without a thought. Like wielding a sword, perhaps.

And in less poetic terms—Zack just got off fucking hard getting taken over the damn thing.

"Cloouud," Zack was groaning, working his thick cock, and taking Cloud's so well, clenching around his older boyfriend.

"Are you close?—Shit." Cloud's rumbly purr changed quickly to irritation. If he had heard it that meant Zack certainly did too; the elevator doors had pinged on their floor. Someone, probably a truck driver for a mission transport, was reporting to get their vehicle.

Cloud had sort of been looking forward to seeing Zack come all over Odin, but he didn't dare keep them out here. It took a good minute or two to get all the way over to where the bikes were, in a small, secluded corner because in years past no one gave a crap about the motorcycles, but if they were spotted that would not end well for them.

Zack was so loathe to get off of Cloud's cock he reached his arms back and let Cloud grip his hands. His boyfriend was flexible as hell and didn't seem to mind the strain on his shoulders as he lowered his knee and Cloud took a step back, Zack moving with him.

They waddled like that back into Cloud's office. What was that called…wheelbarrowing? Probably not, but it was all Cloud could think of, and he laughed under his breath as the two of them awkwardly made it into the door, Zack still impaled on his cock. Zack laughed too, moving too quickly and pulling off.

"Dammit," he joked, "I thought we were gonna make it without you slippin' outta me."

Zack's accent, like Cloud's, became more pronounced when he was sleepy, drunk, or extremely aroused. Cloud had spent over ten years in Midgar already so his Nibel accent was not what it once was…but Zack, at times, really dazzled him with that Gongagan drawl.

Cloud had a small rolled-up mat (for yoga; some SOLDIER shoved it in his hands his first week with the building and attempted to show him some positions. Yoga was not Cloud's thing, but he kept the mat, for office fucks). Zack spread it out and laid down on his back as Cloud quickly closed the office door, then peered out the glass windows to make sure they did not have a voyeur perusing the motorcycles. The windows were only from the ceiling to halfway down the wall; Cloud dropped down to lay his body over Zack's, and knew the both of them were out of sight.

He was still so, so warm, and Zack cradled Cloud's face in his hands and kissed his mouth and cheekbones and temple. He wrapped his strong legs around Cloud's hips and Cloud panted, pressing his forehead to the side of Zack's head, rolling his hips. Their full, flushed dicks rubbed together and it was good but it wasn't as good as fucking Zack was.

Cloud lifted himself up, away from that irresistible strength and warmth, and lined his cock up again. Zack didn't even need a few gentle thrusts to loosen back up; he was ready to take him.

It took a minute to recover from the interruption. Before, on Odin, Zack had been close to climax. Now there was a little bit of petting, some goofy smiles, some talk—Zack commented on the particularly shapely stain on the ceiling of Cloud's office that he hadn't yet seen because the other two times he'd come down here for sex it had been Cloud on his back staring up at the ceiling and its stains—but soon they got there again, hot and quick and desperate.

Cloud always liked to see Zack when they fucked. On Odin he got to see parts of Zack he saw less often (like that defined, broad back) but now Cloud could see how Zack had a splotchy blush on his chest. His gaze burned hot. Cloud couldn't look away from those eyes. Zack even had a red mark on his forehead from where he'd been resting it against his arm, bent over the bike.

Cloud braced his arms on either side of Zack's body and fucked him with deep, sensuous rolls of his hips. He kept the pace fast but steady, his arms trembling with the effort of keeping this up, and he was reinvigorated as Zack coasted his hands up his chest, squeezed his hips with his legs, and crooned, "I love you so much, Cloud."

Cloud just grunted, his lungs unwilling to let him respond in kind right now. Zack got the sentiment though. Zack kept petting his skin with one hand, goading him on with that cheeky, yet serious look in his eye, digging one booted foot into Cloud's ass as if to help him go even deeper, and Cloud finally stilled altogether as his cock bucked and he came inside his boyfriend.

Zack let out a soft groan. He smiled, pleased with Cloud coming even as he did himself, his hand jerking his cock until he was clenching around Cloud's softening dick and shooting come across his belly.

That tactile gentleness returned as Cloud pulled out. His arms were shaking. Zack gathered him down in a hug and murmured into his ear. All of his boyfriends could support Cloud's weight with ease, and Zack encouraged Cloud to sag onto him, heedless of his weight as he caught his breath and nuzzled into Zack's neck.

"That was good," Zack breathed. Cloud's eyes were closed but he could feel Zack stretching out his cramped hips and thighs as best as he could while lying down with a lover on top of him. The image of a spider or roach on its back struggling to turn over with its legs wiggling fruitlessly in the air came to mind, and Cloud hid his grin into Zack's damp skin.

Zack's kind fingers stroked through the short hairs at the nape of his neck and coasted up to the thicker hair on the top of his skull. Cloud purred deep in his chest as his one hand found the other side of Zack's face, cupping his cheek tenderly.

They laid there for a short time, touching and nuzzling and murmuring to each other. Then Zack's arms looped around Cloud's waist (one possessive hand on his ass, though Cloud hardly minded) and the two of them fell quiet and dozed for maybe five minutes. Then Cloud got back up on his knees, gave a tremendous stretch, and said, "Wanna head home with me when I'm finished with what I was doing?"

"We haven't even had three dates yet, and he's asking if I want to go back to his place," Zack said in a stage-whisper, fanning his face as if overwhelmed.

They kissed one last time before pulling their clothes back on. Cloud's were mostly in the office, having been discarded after he shut the door, but Zack's were all back by Odin. If a SOLDIER really had come to get a motorcycle (no one did; Cloud would have heard the engine start from two dozen feet away) it would have been no secret what he and Zack were doing. After Cloud peered around for anybody and gave the okay Zack went back to Odin, clomping around naked except for his SOLDIER boots (Cloud got a vivid image of Genesis coming to visit him in the garage, back in the day).

Cloud returned to his friction plates. There was a box of parts that had to be inspected and inventoried and ShinRa's Motorcycle Specialist went through them quickly, jotting down notes with a hand that still sort of smelled of lube despite the quick hand-wash.

Occasionally he would look up through the glass windows to check up on Zack. Zack spent some time admiring Odin some more, crouching to see him from all angles. He sat on the bike again (Cloud didn't miss the way Zack sort of rocked back into the seat once or twice, perhaps relishing any small soreness or even maybe imagining Cloud's cock in him again, fuck). Then Zack retrieved Cloud's skateboard (pausing to give him a gross, wet kiss to his cheek) and kicked around the big, empty space of the garage.

The concrete was smooth and the spaces between the types of vehicles open, which was why Cloud had it down here in the first place. You weren't supposed to ride a board in boots, because it fucked up the griptape and you just got so much better grip with proper flat, skate shoes, but Zack was able to get away with a lot of things where Cloud was concerned.

He'd taught Zack how do to a kickflip, and it was all Zack could do other than the most basic ollie. He did kickflip after kickflip after kickflip, and since he seemed to be content with that Cloud averted his eyes and focused on his work.

He finished quickly. They wiped down the yoga mat with sanitizing wipes and put Odin's purple cover back on. Zack grabbed Cloud right beside the motorcycle, dipped him like they were ending a dramatic first dance at a fancy event in a cheesy movie, and kissed him like that, like Zack should have been wearing a tux and Cloud a fancy red gown that glittered.

Cloud almost giggled after Zack righted him, but managed to bury it with a grumpy scowl. Zack tapped his cheek, blushing a little himself, and grabbed his hand as they left the garage.

The commute to work was really long. An entire elevator ride downstairs. The two of them went back up now, greeting people who entered that they knew, and saying have a nice one as they left. When they got off they walked slowly to Genesis's apartment, feet scuffing the ground, their shoulders brushing, bumping into each other on purpose as they enjoyed a last minute between just the two of them.

Sephiroth answered the door. He was still in full uniform, probably having just returned home for the evening himself. The first couple times Cloud met Sephiroth he was not wearing this particular imposing outfit; his stomach still flipped a bit when he saw Sephiroth in it. He seemed taller, colder, more untouchable.

Except that they did touch, and Sephiroth initiated it, even. He tugged Cloud to his chest after they walked through so the door could be shut behind them. "Hello, Cloud," he said in that lovely rumbling voice, his hand warm on the back of Cloud's neck.

"Mm. Hey." Cloud tilted his face up and Sephiroth kissed him hello.

Those mako eyes darkened for a moment as Sephiroth noticed his swollen lips, the bite on his neck, and his messy hair. Cloud leant against him more heavily for a moment, flirting in their own, quiet way, and Sephiroth's hand on his neck grew heavier.

Then Cloud left him so Zack could greet him and he moseyed further into the apartment. Genesis was stretched out on the couch, a new book in his hands. Cloud took it from him, marked his page, and placed those hands on his hips instead as he sat on the edge.

"Hey," he said again. He kept his face expressionless as Genesis glared at him.

As expected, that glare quickly cracked into a slightly crooked smile. (It wasn't perfect, and sometimes Genesis got insecure about his grin, but Cloud, at least, was a fan.) "He takes my book and wants me to give him attention," he drawled, even as one hand slipped under Cloud's stained shirt to rest on his bare skin. "If I didn't adore him so much I'd be irritated."

"No you wouldn't," Cloud countered. He leant closer, until he could rest his forehead against Genesis's and bump their noses together. "We all know you reading a book really means 'come distract me.'"

"It means 'distract me and get a Firaga to the face,'" Genesis murmured. Cloud finished the Firaga to the face part in his head. They all teased Genesis about that on the regular, so he brought it up when he was making a light-hearted joke about himself. Genesis' lips started to pucker, like he was waiting for Cloud to come in the rest of the way and kiss him. Cloud did not, naturally, and stood.

"I'm gonna change," he said.

Genesis said something mildly insulting and Sephiroth informed him from across the room, "Angeal got back early, a few hours ago. Change into something in the guest room."

Cloud's eyebrows rose. Angeal was due back in two days. He'd been sent out on a mission near Bone Village to dispose of mako-addled monsters. Over the past few months these kinds of missions were becoming more and more frequent, and the problem more and more obvious. The public was starting to broadcast reports of these monsters, their destruction, and ShinRa's involvement.

Some of his clothes were in the guest room, neatly tucked away in a dresser beside those belonging to Zack, Sephiroth, and Angeal. Cloud lived 'officially' with Sephiroth, because that apartment had an empty room room and desperately needed someone to liven it up. Genesis had that huge, cartoony bed and always welcomed them all, however, so he was often here, as well. When he wandered back in to the living room Genesis lifted an arm for Cloud to sit next to him properly this time.

Genesis was gentle and always so affectionate. He told Cloud once that he wanted to give him the world and so far seemed to be trying to accomplish that. Sephiroth, sitting across from them on an end chair and flipping through their stack of take-out menus, told him that they were planning to wake Angeal up once they ordered and their food arrived. He was asleep in Genesis's bed (and wow, imagining Angeal just beyond that closed door dwarfed in that big bed made Cloud smile).

Zack came in from the kitchen with his arms folded. He said, "…Sooo."

The other three glanced at him. Zack perched on the edge of Sephiroth's chair and crossed one leg over the other. He continued, "Cloud showed me the new and improved Odin today. I'm guessing you two already know about him."

Genesis looked delighted. "Finally! Did you like him?"

Zack had been trying to look stern, but he finally grinned and leant forward, his face nothing but eager enthusiasm. "He's gorgeous! How did you guys all manage to keep this a secret from me? We suck at keeping secrets!"

That was true. The rules of their relationship dictated no more secrets like the ones that landed them in hot water before. They attempted to orchestrate things for birthdays and such but someone always inevitably spilled the beans. It was usually Angeal, bless him—he tended to crack under the pressure of keeping secrets, especially from Genesis. Genesis' birthday had been two months ago (the second birthday in this group Cloud was witnessing, the first being Sephiroth's just a few weeks after he joined their relationship) and the redhead had specifically targeted Angeal, knowing he'd eventually trip up and reveal the details of the excursion they had planned for him.

"It wasn't easy," Sephiroth said, smiling. He had been so excited for Cloud to reveal Odin to Zack, and had even spent some hours with him in the garage, learning bit by bit how to service a motorcycle. He'd exhausted all the space books ShinRa owned and that Midgar's public libraries possessed and had moved on to some engineering and auto books in order to have something that we can share, Cloud. I want to be able to talk with you about the things you love.

Precious.

Cloud said, "I threatened everyone, basically. I've been rewarding Angeal for every week he goes without accidentally spilling the gysahl greens."

"With what?" Zack asked.

Cloud shrugged. "Took him out for a few dates to places he likes." Angeal wasn't complicated where gifts were concerned. He liked almost everything and anything his boyfriends gave him.

"Hmm… I'm impressed." Zack smiled gently at them all. "He's great. I still can't really believe it… I figured I'd pick up one of Cloud's new bikes once he had a dozen or so of 'em made."

"Nah." Cloud shook his head and let Genesis snuggle into his side. "Yours has been in the works for a long time."

"A really long time. Since the day I met you, huh?"

"Since a few days afterward." Cloud grinned, and rested his head against the top of Genesis's. "But since then, yeah."

Zack gave him a look—one of this limitless, deep affection—and Genesis said with a squeeze to Cloud's knee, "You two fucked, didn't you."

Sephiroth hid a smile behind his hand, and Zack leant sideways so he could wrap an arm around Sephiroth's shoulders and harass him a bit. "Yeah, we did," Zack said, sticking his nose in the air. "Right there on Odin, actually! It was hot as hell; you shoulda been there."

Sephiroth seemed interested. "On the bike? How did that work?"

"It kind of didn't," Cloud admitted.

"It worked just fine."

"It really kind of didn't."

Zack got off of Sephiroth and advanced, his fists clenched in mock-fury. Genesis defended Cloud from Zack's playful smacks for all of ten seconds, then let out a dramatic sigh of exhaustion and flopped back against the back of the couch. Cloud was left to Zack's mercy.

The youngest SOLDIER had this thing about giving him noogies. He said it made him feel like their six year age difference was reversed. Cloud hated it. He ducked under Zack's arm and shoved off the hand that tried to delve into his spikes. He retreated to the kitchen and was followed, but managed to lose Zack on the other side of the apartment. Zack had decided grabbing a beer and kicking back in front of the television was more appealing than chasing his boyfriend.

Cloud decided to check up on Angeal. He quietly and carefully opened the door, easing his head into the darkened room. Genesis occasionally got migraines (the problem with being so powerful a magic user, he said) and had thick curtains to blot out any sunlight, not that the room got too much anyway what with the smog. One of the two was drawn shut.

To Cloud's surprise, Angeal was awake. Just barely, though. He sat upright in the bed, the covers still a twisted mess around his hips. He was rubbing his eyes.

Cloud quietly entered the room and shut the door behind himself with a small click. Angeal smiled tiredly at him, still rubbing the boogers out of one eye with his knuckle. "Cloud," he murmured. "I heard talking. M'up. Com'ere."

It was hard to resist a request from this man. Angeal looked so rumpled and exhausted and sweet as Cloud kicked off his shoes and crawled up the edge of the bed. The SOLDIER raised his hands as Cloud got close and cupped his face, brushing careful thumbs under Cloud's eyes.

"Any injuries?" Cloud asked after pressing a gentle kiss to one of those thumbs. Angeal looked a bit ragged—scruffier than usual. His hair was sticking up oddly and he smelled of body wash. He must have had a shower just before falling asleep a few hours earlier. His breath even still smelled of spearmint.

"Some, but they're healed. Medical checked me out and let me go. It's good to be back."

"It's good to have you here," Cloud confirmed. He slid his arms around Angeal's neck, shifting more onto the man's lap so he could hug him. His embrace was welcomed and returned, and familiar wide arms slid around his lower back, holding him close.

It did not escape Cloud's notice that Angeal took a discreet breath, inhaling the scent of his hair, but he did not comment on it. Instead he raked his fingers through Angeal's tangled locks, brushing them tenderly off his forehead and out of his eyes. Angeal settled Cloud more firmly onto his lap, running sleep-heavy hands over his thighs and curling them around to rest on his bottom.

He let his head drop to Cloud's shoulder, his face angled to rest against the blond's skin. Those warm hands gave his ass a squeeze. "It's very good to be back," he mumbled, sounding far too sleepy to really be all that seductive.

"Didn't get any sex out near Bone Village?"

Angeal chuckled, his amusement puffing out into the hollow of Cloud's throat. "Unfortunately not. My lovers were all home in Midgar."

"Bummer," Cloud said, sympathetic. "But at least you got home a couple days early."

"Mmmmm..." Angeal let out a long, low hum. His eyes had closed; Cloud felt the tickle of them sweeping shut. Every inch of him was soft and inviting. All that hard, intimidating muscle was rarely utilized in destructive ways, in the grand scheme of things. Angeal was a warrior, yes, but he was also so much more than that. He could be gentle as anything as he tended to his hobbies or to his partners.

Cloud dug his fingers into Angeal's tense shoulders. Angeal's hands tightened on his hips, a sign he appreciated it. Cloud massaged his worn-out boyfriend's muscles until he realized Angeal was no longer passively resting against his shoulder but kissing his neck. His fingers paused; Angeal nipped at his pulse before sucking the thin skin covering it between his blunt front teeth.

Letting out a shaky breath, Cloud's massage continued again. He surely reeked of Zack still, and sex besides. Angeal's big, wide hands crept up to slip underneath the waistband of Cloud's soft pants and briefs to cup his ass, this time skin-to-skin. A small, quiet laugh bubbled up as Angeal ground Cloud down into his lap. Some of his fingers had crept closer and closer until his fingertips were resting (not so) innocently against Cloud's entrance.

"You're always horny when you wake up," Cloud murmured.

Angeal just responded with a quick, "I know," before gently biting at his neck again.

Those hands soon departed so Angeal could tug down Cloud's pants, ease out his cock, and stroke it as he rolled Cloud's balls in his other hand. Cloud put a finger beneath Angeal's chin and lifted up his head. He gazed deep into those still-sleepy, glowing blue eyes before ducking his head to capture Angeal's mouth.

And it felt so good. The mission had left Angeal's lips chapped and his face more bearded than Cloud had seen it in quite some time. There were so many textures—including the softness of his skin and hair, too—and sensations, like the wetness of Angeal's tongue curling around his contrasted with the more solid rasp of blankets and his calloused hands working his cock.

Angeal wanted to introduce yet another. "Why don't you grab the lube?"

Those suggestions Angeal liked to purr in that damn voice of his were often packaged with the subtle weight of an order. Cloud was crawling off Angeal's lap before it even really registered. He went to the bedside table, kneeling awkwardly in his mussed clothes, and retrieved the bottle.

When he returned Angeal slid his pants and underwear down, his touch lingering on his thighs and calves. A guiding hand on the small of Cloud's back positioned him on Angeal's lap again, straddling him. Angeal looked extremely serious as he squeezed lube onto his fingers again. His brows were drawn together like he was angry, perhaps.

Angeal tried hard to be stern and grumpy at times, but he was an expressive, easily-flustered man, really. He'd never beat Genesis in a theatrics contest but Cloud would never forget how red in the face Angeal had gotten when he'd shown up at Highwind Auto with flowers not meant for Cloud but his boyfriends—which Cloud understandably misinterpreted.

Cloud gave his big sweetheart of a man an encouraging hum as a slick finger swept in a lewd circle around his asshole, then pushed in. Angeal pressed a kiss to Cloud's Adam's apple as he teased him with that first finger. The stretch wasn't enough to really feel like much, and it certainly wasn't enough for Cloud, who rocked his hips back impatiently.

Angeal was not that interested in letting Cloud draw him in and seduce him like Zack had Cloud earlier. He was focused, and that was something Cloud could appreciate. So, he gave up trying to reach for Angeal's dick in return and just went with it. If Angeal wanted to finger him until he came without reciprocation, fine. He'd hardly complain.

Soon Cloud was leaning almost all of his weight on Angeal, his eyes closed, breathing quietly and heavily. The three thick fingers inside him were gentle but so rhythmic, deep and insistent even if they moved slowly. That soul-deep, thorough fucking that was Angeal's trademark always did Cloud in.

"I missed you," Angeal said again. One of his hands was supporting Cloud while the other was busy fingering him. Cloud wrung his cock with a shaky hand of his own. "One night I couldn't stop thinking about how much I wanted to spread you out over my lap and make you cum, just like this."

Cloud did not respond with words. His tiny gasp and the involuntary clenching of his ass spoke enough. Angeal's fingers kept fucking him, slow and deep. He murmured to him, "I love watching you get off."

"Never woulda guessed," Cloud managed, speaking right into Angeal's hair. "With all the time you spend teasing me."

"I'm giving you the attention you deserve." Angeal pressed another kiss to Cloud's neck. The hand on Cloud's ass gave a tiny squeeze. Just for a moment, he rolled Cloud down on the large bulge in his sleep pants.

Gaia, Angeal didn't even have his cock in him and Cloud still felt goddamn claimed. The attention Angeal always gave him, especially at times like this…. It got Cloud off more than he'd expected it to, before he became part of the relationship when he spent time fantasizing about what they'd be like as lovers.

The hand he had working his cock sped up. "There you go," Angeal rumbled. Cloud worked his hand into Angeal's hair and gripped it, cradling his boyfriend as he came. Angeal's fingers did not pause, pushing in as surely as ever despite the spasming of Cloud's ass around them.

The second orgasm sapped the last of Cloud's strength. He leant against Angeal entirely now. Angeal eased himself backwards, adjusting Cloud so he could lie on his belly on top of the SOLDIER. Cloud could feel Angeal's erection pressing against his thigh but Angeal was making no moves to do anything about it. His hands rubbed down Cloud's back, soothing and slow.

Briefly, Cloud wondered if Angeal had any close calls on his mission. All four were extra cuddly after missions they nearly died on.

Neither spoke for a little while. Eventually Angeal kissed the top of Cloud's head and asked, "Who were you playing around with earlier?"

Cloud almost snickered at the phrasing, but didn't really have the energy for it. "Zack," he responded. "Showed him Odin today."

"Oh?" Angeal sounded pleased. He spoiled Zack rotten, and was so happy Cloud finished the bike. "It's amazing I didn't blow it."

"I know it is. You managed it though. He had no idea; his face was pretty great."

"I wish we could have seen it."

Angeal's fingers worked into Cloud's hair and scritched his scalp soothingly as the two men lay there together. The cotton of Angeal's shirt beneath Cloud's face smelled so good… and he was so comfortable and accommodating of Cloud's knees, hips and elbows. He could have slept. He almost did.

But the door opening stirred Cloud, and he cracked open his eyes to peer at Angeal's shoulder as whoever it was approached the bed. He knew how he looked—naked from the waist down, still on top of Angeal. The lube had only just begun to dry on his ass; he was still slick and sticky. He didn't care enough to cover himself with a blanket or try to act bashful.

The bed dipped, and two warm hands came down on his lower back. They coasted upwards in a firm massage. Cloud let out an appreciative hum.

Sephiroth's voice came from just above him; he must have been kneeling over the both of them. "You're awake."

"Mm." Then came the soft sound of the two men kissing. Sephiroth had this thing where he almost always cupped Angeal's jaw when they did that. It was cute, and Cloud smiled as he felt one of the hands on his back disappear for a moment.

Sephiroth's lips then pressed affectionately to the back of Cloud's neck, just above the swoop of his shirt. "Nursing him back to health, my Cloud?"

"You know it." Cloud lifted his head a bit, so he could turn his head and gaze at Sephiroth. He looked like he glowed in the darkened room, with all that moonlight silver. "He's still hard."

Angeal chuckled quietly as Sephiroth and Cloud shared a look and a smile. "…Oh?" Sephiroth asked. The fingers that had been working at the knots in Cloud's shoulder blades tickled as they coasted back down. Sephiroth grabbed Cloud's ass in both his hands, his thumbs dangerously close to his sensitive and relaxed asshole.

"He had a hard mission. We missed him a great deal. I'd say he deserves even more of a welcome."

"Mmmm." Cloud was too exhausted, too high off of what Angeal had done to him to have a comparably sophisticated response. He nuzzled into the younger man beneath him though.

"If you two are offering," was Angeal's answer. He shifted beneath Cloud, his hips rising slightly, his cock pushing into Cloud's spent one.

Farther down on the bed than both of them, Sephiroth was fussing with Angeal's legs. He tugged off the man's pants from the ankles, waiting for Cloud to press his knees into the bed and lift up a bit so they could be slid off. Angeal was not wearing underwear, which made things easier. Cloud wrapped his hand around Angeal's cock, giving the big thing a tender stroke.

He couldn't do that for long, though, because Sephiroth adjusted the both of them again. Cloud went back to lying down on Angeal, his head pillowed on the man's shoulder. His thighs settled on either side of Angeal's, and then Sephiroth pushed Angeal's knees up, so his heels dug into the bedding. Cloud was spread out even more like this. The both of them were set to get fucked.

That did indeed seem to be Sephiroth's goal. "Do I need a condom?" he asked Angeal.

"No. I got tested in medical after reporting in to Lazard."

The positioning was hot as hell. Cloud bit at Angeal's bearded jaw and peered back at Sephiroth. "You wanna take turns with us, Seph?"

Sephiroth was busy putting lube on his fingers and gently working them into Angeal, and did not answer. That was okay, though—his intentions were obvious. Watching any of the other four during this act was one of Cloud's favorite things. Lying right on Angeal as it happened was somewhat new and totally cool. He could feel, and not just see, the intake of breath as Sephiroth added another finger. He could touch the crinkle in Angeal's brow as they slid in deeper, and the tenseness of his clenching jaw as Sephiroth skillfully sought out his prostate, giving it some attention.

"That feel good?" Cloud asked Angeal. He shifted a bit so he could reach between their bodies and slowly pump Angeal's cock. He wasn't quite sitting on it, but there was not really a way to keep it free with Cloud lying against his chest like this. Angeal gave a tiny grin, and it faded after a moment as his gaze flicked down to Cloud.

"Cloud's come twice today, Seph. I don't think he can handle much more."

Sephiroth had been in the middle of smooching the dip at the base of Cloud's spine. He paused and looked at Cloud, his hair sliding over the blond's skin. "I'm definitely not going to be able to get hard again for a while," Cloud said, after taking stock of himself. "But you can still give it to me. It feels good regardless."

The burn of Sephiroth's gaze on his back made Cloud shiver. Cloud knew it turned Sephiroth on when he said stuff like that—saying he wanted Sephiroth's dick in him even without the promise of orgasm, just to experience the sensations of it… for Sephiroth, penetrating somebody was a big thing. Knowing it was appreciated and not taken for granted or abused floored SOLDIER's General.

Angeal's breath grew labored as Sephiroth worked in a fourth and final finger, fucking him more roughly than he would have Cloud. Cloud smoothed a thumb over his angry-looking forehead, murmuring romantic nonsense to him. Angeal's hips jerked underneath Cloud's, lifting the blond up and then lowering him back down.

Cloud was breathing heavily too, the blood rushing in his ears and his whole body sensitized with being this damn close to these two doing that so close to him. He didn't realize that Sephiroth had slid his fingers out of Angeal until they were pushing into him. He let out a moan, surprised, and pressed his forehead to Angeal's shoulder.

Fuck, it felt good. Erection or no erection—getting filled by his partners was always an experience, even if it was occasionally a practice in patience.

"I need my shirt off for this," Cloud muttered, and put his weight on his knees so he could yank his shirt over his head. Angeal's wide hands went to his sides and he felt the tickle of Sephiroth's hair more fully now. This was much better, and more intimate, too.

As Sephiroth prepped Cloud (something that was considerably easier than usual considering Angeal was doing this to him fifteen minutes ago) he said conversationally, "Cloud revealed Odin today."

"I heard." Angeal's voice was rougher than usual with lust. He reached down to spread Cloud's asscheeks with his hands, making Sephiroth's job easier. Cloud squirmed between the two men, hot and trapped and more than a little bothered.

When Sephiroth withdrew and removed his clothes Cloud stretched so he could lean up and over, looking down at Angeal. He smiled—it was even darker in the room now, and he could hardly see him—and bent to kiss him.

While the other two were enhanced and could get by just fine in the darkness they knew Cloud was as blind as a Northern Crater bat with no light source. Sephiroth padded to the bathroom (his heavy, long-legged steps sounded so predatory, and Cloud shivered again) and flicked on the light, half-closing the door behind him.

"Thanks," Cloud gasped, breaking away from Angeal's lips for a moment to say it.

As Sephiroth grabbed the backs of Angeal's knees and pushed them back, totally exposing the other man, he picked up their previous conversation. "Zack's very pleased. He was surprised you didn't—"

"Let it slip, yeah, I heard," Angeal said. He sounded irritated but Cloud could feel the way his lips were curved into the shape of a smile as he tucked his face against the side of Cloud's head. As Sephiroth shuffled closer on his knees and retracted one arm momentarily so he could position his cock, Cloud moved back down. He rested his head back on Angeal's shoulder and tried to be as out of the way as possible.

Cloud could tell when the head of Sephiroth's cock breached Angeal. Angeal sucked in a breath—one of all pleasure, and no discomfort. The curve of Sephiroth's lean stomach pressed against Cloud's ass as he buried himself fully inside Angeal.

Sephiroth pulled out so he could do it again, and then again. This was such an excellent way to witness Angeal getting pounded. Cloud could see it (he peeked behind himself and watched Sephiroth's handsome face make interesting expressions as he concentrated) and feel it (he was jostled slightly with each thrust in, and Angeal's grasping hands were pulling at him) and hear it (Angeal's tiny sighs and Sephiroth's exhales, tight with exertion). Cloud held on tight and started to laugh—not because anything was funny, but because he was just having fun, and Gaia, he loved them, and this.

Angeal chuckled along with him even as he moaned. Cloud's laugh cut off abruptly as, without warning, Sephiroth pulled out of Angeal entirely and fucked into Cloud instead.

The push and slide was a great deal gentler than what Sephiroth had been giving their other boyfriend. Cloud trembled as that thick cock sank deeper into him, filling him up.

Sephiroth knew what he did to Cloud. He purred, "Good boy."

Angeal's careful hands stroked his sweaty hair out of his face. Cloud had not the energy to roll his hips back into Sephiroth and take it like he sometimes liked to. Zack and Angeal, in addition to a long day in the garage, had worn him out. This was no hindrance to Sephiroth or Angeal, though. They accommodated him, keeping him comfortable and supported as Sephiroth's dick moved inside him, hot and hard and good.

And it was weird, still being mostly flaccid, and just lying there tiredly as Sephiroth gave it to him—but it wasn't bad. It was even nice. And it was hot—so hot, with Angeal wonderfully hard and horny beneath him and with Sephiroth's hair on his back and feeling so good both inside and outside him.

Sephiroth switched it up on them again, leaving Cloud and entering Angeal again. Cloud gasped at the loss. Angeal clutched at Cloud, his heartbeat thudding away against Cloud's chest.

Sephiroth would fuck Angeal for a while, then Cloud. The other two grabbed at each other, kissing and rubbing and talking, too—casually commenting on how Sephiroth felt inside both of them. They sent each other mischievous glances at Sephiroth's responses. Sephiroth was not shy about revealing how hot he found this…how much he was loving having the both of them ready for his pleasure.

Sephiroth was the spoiled one in this relationship, really, but it was hard to not give him everything when he was so sinfully hot, and his touch so irresistible. If Cloud was feeling this good in his exhausted state than Angeal must have been flying.

Cloud could tell when Sephiroth pulled out for the last time. His thrusts just before it weren't as deep as before, just shallow ones to give Cloud that delicious stretched feeling with none of the potential for discomfort. As he drew away one of his hands, previously jamming Angeal's knees back towards his chest, gave Cloud's lower back a soothing, lingering pet. I'm leaving, but I'll never forget about you.

And then he was back inside Angeal, fucking him hard—and Cloud was being rocked around with the force of it. He panted, sandwiched between his lovers. He could hear the both of them clearly, close physically and also close to orgasm; the thick, heavy slap of Sephiroth's balls and upper thighs hitting Angeal's ass made Cloud's eyes close, imagining Sephiroth inside him as well.

Summoning the last of his strength, Cloud supported himself on shaky arms and gyrated his hips as best he could. He grinded his soft cock down against Angeal's erection, dragging his balls against the hard shaft. Angeal dug his head back into the pillow, his eyes closing.

Sephiroth pressed his forehead to Cloud's back as he came. Those thrusts into Angeal grew slower, deeper; Sephiroth rolled his hips in a way that was just so damn lewd. Angeal let out a quiet curse, barely-there, as the muscles of his stomach tightened and his cock spurt several thick streams of come. More dribbled across those delicious abs and Cloud watched it all, still working his hips, coaxing release from Angeal.

Sephiroth wound an arm around Cloud's waist and hauled him off Angeal, and it was a good thing, too, because Cloud's arms gave out. He settled behind Sephiroth, spooning up against his broad back after pushing the man's hair out of the way. He laid there with his eyes closed, breathing deeply as the other two came together for kisses.

Angeal was such a damn cuddler. Cloud smiled to himself, half into the bedding, as he felt Angeal's arms brush around him; they were wrapped around Sephiroth now. "You alive over there?" asked Angeal.

Cloud grunted an affirmative.

The SOLDIERs talked quietly between the two of them for a little while. Cloud wasn't really paying attention. He stirred from what was not the first doze of the evening when the bedroom door opened. Please, don't be looking for more sex, was his first thought.

He didn't have to worry. It was Genesis and Zack, yes, but all they did was crawl into bed with the three of them. Genesis even slid some pants up Cloud's legs. They were not the ones Angeal got him out of before. The redhead tucked himself behind Cloud, stroking gentle hands over his skin, pushing sweaty hair off his neck.

"You four wore him out." Genesis kissed his temple. "I'm almost jealous I didn't get a turn with him."

Cloud groaned. Genesis hummed into his ear; he was just kidding. "Perhaps I'll treat you tomorrow, if you're feeling up to it…"

Zack was at the bottom of the large bed. "While you guys were banging," he said, leaning back on his hands, "Gen and I ordered food. It's here."

"One of you might have to feed me," Cloud muttered. He wasn't quite that exhausted, but it got him a few chuckles.

"I volunteer for that. I haven't forgotten when you fed me soup and got it all down my shirt."

Cloud gently elbowed Genesis. The man had been sick, and sneezed—it startled Cloud, and the hovering spoonful of broth just in front of his face had tilted. The way Genesis carried on about it, you'd think he'd gotten more cocktail sauce from ShinRa hors d'oeuvres on another tuxedo.

The memory of Genesis saying that, complaining about the food the company served that night, the evening of the Celebrating Innovation in our Community event… it made Cloud frown. He blinked twice, staring at Zack relaxing.

That was the first night he'd come up here. He'd laughed, when he saw this big bed. Zack had thrown it onto him and posed a bit, because he was nervous and showing off, acting like a goof. They'd all been in fancy suits, Genesis's featuring a bit of a condiment garnish. Sephiroth had told him that he would not penetrate him, because some acts were loaded like that. Angeal had been so gentle with him.

Cloud had just been there for a night that time, just to fuck. Now, he was here to stay.

A lot had changed since then…

Burrowing back into Genesis's embrace, Cloud surveyed his three partners he could see. They were half-clothed or naked altogether. Zack idly scratched at his treasure trail peeking out over the waistband of his sweats and Sephiroth lounged on the bed in the nude, unashamed. Angeal still had that t-shirt on. It had been pushed up to his neck while they all fucked and was rumpled.

"You okay, Cloud?" Zack asked.

Cloud blinked again, coming back to himself. "Yeah," he answered. Zack nodded, his eyes flicking over him briefly like he was checking for physical proof to contradict Cloud's statement.

Genesis's fingers entwined with his. "He's just tired."

That night of the event… Genesis had been the first one to get close to him, once he and Sephiroth arrived at the apartment. No one had been making any moves, having a stiff conversation in the living room. Genesis pressed up against Cloud's back and twisted their fingers together much like they were right now, and got things rolling.

"I was just," Cloud started, and stopped.

The others eyed him, Sephiroth rolling over to catch his gaze. Cloud clenched his jaw for a moment, as unsure of his words as ever. "I was just," he repeated, "thinking… of the first time I came up here."

Cloud couldn't quite see Angeal's face over Sephiroth's shoulder, and he couldn't see Genesis at all, but he knew the two of them were smiling gently at him. "Yeah?" Zack asked. He tilted his head, that one spike he had in his face falling into his eyes.

Now Cloud felt awkward. He stared at his own hand. The nails were blunt. The nail of his right thumb was black from when he'd gotten it pinched a few weeks back while working on Odin and the flesh underneath bruised.

"I think it's Odin," he said. "It feels like things have come in a circle, a bit. Like that era's ending."

"Everything was a lot different when you first started working on him, hm."

Zack always understood what Cloud was trying to say without him needing to say it. The blond shot his youngest boyfriend a grateful look. "Yeah," was all he said.

"Things are only gonna keep changing," Zack said. He looked at Angeal, and Cloud did too.

He'd been asleep, so no one could ask about the mission. "It's getting worse," Angeal confirmed. "Every time we go out to get rid of these things they're increasingly feral. There were so many this time…"

Sephiroth looked grave. "ShinRa can't keep this quiet for much longer."

No, the company could not. The five had been discussing this for months… the evidence of ShinRa's harm against the planet grew by the day. Soon, the four top SOLDIERs would not be enough to keep this under wraps. A reactor would get attacked. A village. A city. The cause of the monsters' rage would be revealed as mako, addling with their brains. Even the five of them had only heard whispers of this, but apparently something similar was occurring in humans. In babies, exposed to mako too early and too often. Disfigurements. Anger.

If things continued like this, ShinRa would have hell to pay—there was no doubt about that.

Cloud joined ShinRa extremely reluctantly. Living in the slums for so much of his life he saw firsthand the damage the company caused. His partners knew the depth of his distaste for the company. Taking over the jobs of the two past bike specialists had been the best move regardless, however, for both Cloud and his uncle Cid. His decision to come had been difficult at first but ultimately a painless one. Not everyone was that lucky.

It seemed like AVALANCHE's numbers grew by the day. A squad of Infantry had deserted the other week. A few members of SOLDIER were angry with the company, and soon the appeal of staying to fight alongside Angeal Hewley, Sephiroth, and Genesis Rhapsodos would not be enough to make them stay.

So they discussed the situation, and had a few possible avenues to explore if things got worse. Long conversations about possibly deserting ShinRa too sobered their apartments every couple weeks. It was unlikely ShinRa would let their four best warriors just leave; it was not a route to take lightly. But were they supposed to stay with the company, when it became so clear that its actions were inexcusable? Working for ShinRa was something all of them (except for perhaps Sephiroth) had been forced to grapple with for years. Finding ways to rationalize your vital role in the imperialist violence was every SOLDIER's duty.

Maybe there was a limit to that, of what a SOLDIER could take.

But if ShinRa, Gaia hoping, improved? Realized that killing the planet was not sustainable regardless of how much money they made doing it? Would they stay?

(Cloud once joked that, if they did leave, he'd supply the getaway vehicles. Three were already downstairs, battle-ready and waiting, plus Odin and Fenrir.)

Zack raked a hand through his hair. He looked haggard—older, too, these days. "It's gonna be hard," he said. The muscles of his bare arm flexed as he clenched his fist. He let it go after a few moments as he exhaled. "Figuring out what to do."

Cloud nodded, leaning a bit more heavily back against Genesis. The redhead's arms tightened around him. Zack caught his gaze and held it.

"Odin couldn't have been easy for you, Cloud. You had all kinds of other shit going on. You got him done for me anyway." He reached out and touched Cloud's ankle. The touch was soft and brief, but still so meaningful. "Getting you wasn't easy. I just sorta feel like…"

Zack hesitated for a moment. Cloud, Angeal, Genesis and Sephiroth were watching him though, listening carefully to what he was saying. Zack continued. "It seems like none of the shit we do is ever easy. And that means it's important. If it's this difficult, right now, figuring out what we're going to do with our lives and our situation….it means it's important enough to be worth all that effort. It feels like where we are now, even if we don't have an answer yet… we're getting there, and I think that's what we should be doing. We're in the right place, right now, even if it feels wrong sometimes."

Genesis breathed a shaky sigh into Cloud's ear. Zack had acknowledged their struggle and validated it, and eased the anxiety resulting from not having a solution.

Yeah, this relationship hadn't been easy to get—and Zack was right, decisions about it from here on out did deserve all the time and energy they were putting in. It just proved it was precious.

Angeal sat up, stretching out his arms and shoulders. "We'll make the best decision for us in the end."

"Yeah," Cloud said, believing it with everything he had, "We will."

"I think dinner is the best decision for the moment," Genesis said. He sat up too, pulling Cloud with him. "So is getting this one a potion. He hardly has the energy to chew, the poor thing."

"You can chew it first and give it to me like a bird," Cloud offered. He said it with a flat expression and threw in a wink.

"Ew," Genesis said, sticking up his nose, and got out of bed.

Someone did toss Cloud a potion, and Cloud clambered out of bed after he downed the nasty thing, tugging on his shirt. Sephiroth grabbed him on his way out the door and patted down his clothes, also flattening down some of the spikes that had gotten extra askew from all that activity.

The man wasn't quite looking at him. He plucked at the neck of the t-shirt Zack had tugged down over his head a moment earlier.

"It'll be okay," Cloud said. His smiles often came across as strained or fake. The one he gave Sephiroth now was genuine, powered by the honest belief he had in Zack's words, and the words of their other partners.

Sephiroth considered him. He nodded after a moment. Cloud did not see him tug at his neckline for the rest of the night.

The bags of take-out were sitting on the kitchen table and Zack and Genesis were already going through them, placing individual food items at people's seats. Cloud didn't know what they'd ordered him but figured he'd like it—they knew him, at this point, like the back of their hands. Or perhaps 'their leading edge of their swords' was a better comparison. Angeal had it a bit harder because he had two.

"What do you want to drink, Cloud?" Angeal asked as Cloud entered the kitchen.

"Water's fine—oh, shit."

He'd gotten a glance at the clock on the wall. "Fuck, I gotta call my uncle."

He turned around and hurried back out of the room. His cell phone, where was it, where was it—he found it on the floor of the guest room, having fallen out of his pocket when he'd changed out of his oil-streaked clothes in there. He was seventeen minutes late; Cid would be pissed.

Yes—there were two missed calls.

Cloud sat on the bed and dialed Cid. "Where the fuck were you?" his uncle greeted instead of a standard hello.

"Getting fu—"

"Aw, hell, Cloud!"

Cloud laughed loudly, tipping backwards onto the bed. Gaia, he missed Cid Highwind. "Sorry," he said, still grinning, smiling at the ceiling. "I'm here now. Tell me how it went."

"It went fuckin' great. She got right off the ground, kid—higher than any o' them ShinRa choppers ever have any hope to. The mayor in town was here and he was watching. Some of the scientists that live outside Cosmo came too. Shera went up with me, and the way her eyes lit up, Cloud… you'd wish you could see it. She says she wishes you coulda been up there with us too."

Cloud almost had to swallow past a lump in his throat. Cid, too, sounded uncharacteristically emotional. He drawled, acting cool, "There you two are, up in the air, and I'm stuck down in the basement in the middle of the plate."

"I know you are." Cid was serious. "And I know I keep sayin' this, but without you we wouldn't have gotten this far on the Freya."

"It's no trouble."

Today was just a first test—a small, compact aircraft that just hinted at the vast, sprawling air ships Cid wanted to build in the coming years. Cloud replaced two salaried ShinRa employees with his appointment as the motorcycle specialist, after all. He now had far too much money for just himself, when his only expenses went towards food occasionally and he lived with his four partners anyway. The entirety of that second paycheck, along with most of Cloud's other one, to be honest—had been going to Cid. With that extra income Cid was finally able to leave Highwind Auto and Midgar and go back to Rocket Town.

For the past few months Cid had been fundraising—sharing his ideas, speaking at conferences, and visiting far-off cities. People were getting excited about his airships. This new flow of cash meant he could finally go back to building prototypes—ones like the Freya, which he had just demonstrated for the first time today.

"I'll probably be thankin' you for the next decade," Cid said, stubbornness making his voice gruffer than usual.

"And I'll keep tellin' you it's no problem."

"Fine. Tomorrow we're doing another flight with Freya. If we get high enough that we can see Nibelheim over the mountains I'll flip them off for you."

"Please do that. Sephiroth and Zack have a mission there in a couple weeks—I might go along. Flip off some of the old neighbors myself. Did you take pictures today?"

"They're already sittin' in your inbox," Cid said. Cloud could hear the grin in his voice now—Cid was so damn proud, and so damn happy.

"Cool. I'll check them out, then."

"You fuckin' better—she's a beauty! Nothin' like the Shera is going to be, but close." Cid paused for a moment. "Hey. You know if things go south on your end, with the company or with anything else—Shera and I could always use someone who knows their way around repairing machines."

Cloud chuckled quietly. "Yeah. I know. Thanks, uncle Cid."

"Yeah." Cid sounded embarrassed. "I'm gonna go. We're havin' a celebration for the flight today an' I'm itchin' for a cigarette, too. You should get back to those young men of yours."

"Yeah." Cloud could hear them a couple rooms over. They were talking to each other, joking, telling stories. Waiting for him to come back. He stood, and started towards them. "Guess I should."