In which Cloud gets one major step closer to Angeal. Thanks for reading!

"So how do you like ShinRa so far?"

"It's great. It's not what I expected, it's harder, but in good ways, you know?"

"Mmmhmm. I was never in the Infantry myself so I can't say, but I see and hear stuff about how tough it can be. You guys do good work."

"Oh yeah? Straight into SOLDIER?"

There was an exam to go straight into the SOLDIER program but it was ridiculously hard. Few members of SOLDIER got in that way. Cloud failed it.

"Yup! They saw how awesome I am and even gave me Angeal as a mentor a couple months into being a Third. That was… what, four years ago?"

"Yeah? How old are you?"

"Twenty-one. You?"

"Seventeen."

"Not old enough to drink, then; it's eighteen in Midgar. Well… don't worry about it. They'll let you in if you're with me. Oh—yeah, we're going to a bar, by the way. That cool with you?"

Zack had a lot of expression in his voice. Just listening to him speak was really nice. Because of the crowds Cloud mostly followed along behind him and not beside… but even that was okay, because while SOLDIER uniform pants were loose to allow movement occasionally someone with a truly rockin' ass would come along and pull them off. Zack was one of those.

"The drinking age in Nibelheim is fifteen."

"No shit?"

"Yup."

The bar was enough blocks away from the parade route to have room to walk around in. All the shops and other businesses they passed close to it were swarmed. Cloud didn't catch the name; he was too busy staring at Zack, at the cut of his jaw and the glow of his eyes and his white teeth surrounded by a kind smile.

"Hey man," Zack greeted the bouncer at the door. The bouncer gave Zack a bro-grab and waved them in without issue. There were some other SOLDIERs here… ones like Zack who must have finished their part of the parade or not been important enough to be in it.

Cloud and Zack sat at two stools at the end of the bar. The shelves holding the liquor glowed soft neon colors that cycled through the rainbow every minute or so. Cloud was a little nervous… he hadn't done anything like this before. Zack kept him relaxed though. The guy was just chill, the kind of effortlessly nice that even put Cloud who was more prickly than a cactuar most days at ease.

"So are you on the SOLDIER track?" Zack asked, scooting his stool a little closer to Cloud's. Their knees brushed, and it may have been an accident but probably not. He was tall enough to block out most of the rest of the bar. Cloud felt safe and snug in his little corner.

"Yeah. Didn't pass the SOLDIER entrance test when I moved here so I'm gonna be in the Infantry for a few years."

"Bummer. But hey, it sounds like you're learning a lot of awesome things."

Cloud pulled out his wallet to see how much Gil he had before he ordered any drinks. Zack pushed his wallet away though (literally, placing his hand on Cloud's and letting his fingertips linger for a moment as he playfully pushed it back down into Cloud's lap) and said, "Don't worry about it, it's my treat! Today's a day to celebrate, yeah?"

So Cloud asked the bartender for his favorite, a brand of whiskey brewed in the Nibel region that was a fiery cinnamon. In the frigid mountains you needed a drink that could warm you from inside like that. Cloud liked it on the rocks, no mixer; Zack took a sniff and said, "Yeeeaah, no."

Cloud started to explain how he'd go to the bar back home every now and again, and how there wasn't much else to do back there. Small hometown discussion had done them well before. Zack listened closely, sipping at his beer. After a couple minutes he got distracted by something though; Cloud peered behind Zack at a woman walking over to them. She looked angry.

"Aw shit," Zack muttered to himself. "Y'know, I thought it was the other bar we couldn't go to tonight. Dammit. Uh, hold on a sec Spike, sorry."

Cloud strained his ears and eavesdropped with all he had, of course. The woman was gorgeous, with dark skin and hair, wearing leggings that clung to her full-figured frame and a sequined top that showed off the curves of her stomach and shone under the bar lights. She looked dressed to kill…dressed for a date. Cloud sipped his whiskey and pretended to be busy on his phone.

"You didn't get my text?" he heard Zack say. "Aw, I see—here, yeah, it never went through. Mm. Yeah, no—no, he's in the Infantry. I'm under orders to…" Zack faded out a bit as he spoke softer and Cloud listened harder, frowning. "Mmhmm, important ShinRa business, babe… reschedule our date for tomorrow maybe?... you then, yeah…"

Cloud almost texted Moss about it, then realized that maybe this wasn't the kind of thing he wanted to tell anybody. Zack had said earlier that he had 'somewhere to be' right about now, but had cancelled on those plans to hang out with Cloud instead.

Had he ditched a scheduled date with that girl to go on a date with him instead?

Cloud took a gulp of his drink and turned it over in his mouth. SOLDIER Second Class Zack… was a dangerous guy.

Zack returned a minute later with a megawatt grin. "Sorry Spike!" he said, sitting down again. He caged Cloud's knees in with his own on either side, casual-like, but Cloud knew what he was doing. "Had a small misunderstanding with some girl I know. It's all good—what were you saying about the bar back home?"

Cloud stared into the face of who was undeniably a serial heartbreaker and didn't even mind it. "I was just saying that uh, everyone from town was always there. You don't realize how small your hometown is until half of it is in the bar every single night."

"Yeah, I know right! How many people are in Nibelheim? We had like eight hundred people."

"I think like four hundred."

Zack whistled. "It's amazing your town keeps thriving like that."

Even though Cloud was a little wary now that he'd seen Zack do what he had conversation still flowed so easily between them. Gongaga was hot and tropical with dust storms that had Zack covering his windows with cloth and plugging up the gap beneath his front door. He'd spent his childhood mucking through swamps and whacking lurking water monsters with wooden swords.

They played a little game where after their first drinks they picked out what the other should drink for rounds two and three. Cloud ordered Zack something with pureed bananas and lots of solid fruit chunks and then a supermug of cold lemony beer. Zack got him freakin' absinthe, with the flames and the sugar and everything, and then a very light cherry cocktail since the absinthe was so strong.

SOLDIER metabolisms were weird; Zack seemed to get solidly drunk for a couple minutes after he'd finish a drink but it faded fast. Cloud coasted upwards more gradually and stayed that way, nicely tipsy. They stopped after the third round and spent awhile just talking, Zack facing him and keeping him wonderfully separate from the rest of the establishment.

"You got any questions about SOLDIER?" Zack asked. It seemed he loved to talk about it—he knew it made him cool. "Glowing eyes? Super strength? Anything?"

"Hmmm." Cloud pretended to wooze in his seat. He put his hands on Zack's thighs to 'steady' himself. The fabric of the SOLDIER pants was a little scratchy against his palms and the muscles underneath it… strong and firm. Cloud didn't move them. "I heard some gossip at a Keeper meeting…"

"Oh yeah?" Zack raised an eyebrow. "Shoot."

"Your cum," Cloud said bluntly. "Does it glow?"

Zack's other brow joined the first. He let out a small disbelieving puff of air. "Uh?"

Cloud's hands slid a little higher up Zack's legs, millimeter by millimeter, so slowly he doubted Zack would notice until his fingers got close to the top of his thighs… and the bulge between them.

"Well, yeah," Zack said. "Not like, radioactive or glow-in-the-dark or anything—but it glows a little bit, yeah. You'd only notice if it's pitch dark and once it's been exposed to the air for a minute or two the glow fades."

"Does the Mako hurt a partner if it goes inside them?"

Grin. "You're awfully interested in my semen." Cloud just smiled, somewhat bashfully. "Nah it doesn't. Actually, it's a really good way to build up a tolerance for people with Mako allergies. Thirds have the weakest concentration, Firsts the most." Cloud nodded as he processed this, his fingers curling around Zack's thighs. "And there's another thing about it."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yup. The Mako kills STIs. All of 'em. Can't give 'em, can't get 'em. We don't catch colds anymore either—our immune systems are, like, superpowered. So you never have to worry about catching anything from a SOLDIER, even if they come inside ya."

Cloud breathed, "Woah." Zack hummed and covered Cloud's hands with his. He ran them down towards his knees and then back up, gentle, gentle… the intimacy of it and the look Zack was giving him made his breath catch.

Zack rubbed his thumbs over the back of Cloud's hands. "You still wanna come over and play video games?"

"Yeah."

Zack paid their bill and they left. It was a nice walk back. The crowd thinned some during the time they were inside, and although it was still much more crowded than usual it was not overwhelming. Cloud stuck his hands in his pockets and enjoyed his buzz, scuffing his shoes against the cobbled streets of this pretentious part of town. "You like Wutaian?" Zack asked. Cloud did, very much so (he'd had it for the first time after coming here), so Zack called in an order that was to arrive at Zack's apartment at the same time as him.

Zack had a lot of entertaining Angeal stories and he shared some as they walked. "He goes on these lectures," Zack said, "and most of the time they don't make any sense. Like, I'll say one thing and he'll reply with this big unrelated tangent. I've learned to just kinda go, 'Uh-huh, Angeal, whatever you say.'"

After all the things the Keepers said about the guy Angeal had almost become this larger-than-life figure to Cloud. It was good to have him brought back down.

The same ShinRa lobby seemed different with a SOLDIER at his side. It seemed smaller… or maybe Cloud felt bigger. One of the receptionists started to call something out and Zack cut her off with, "We'll talk later!"

They beat the delivery lady by two minutes. In these two minutes Cloud and Zack took off their shoes and Zack gave him the tour. It wasn't much—kitchen, living room, bedroom (gulp), bathroom… but it was a space just for Zack, and that was pretty awesome. Cloud insisted on paying for dinner and Zack let him. They sat on Zack's couch and spread out their collection of plastic containers, plates and bowls.

Zack's couch was comfy… really comfy. It faced a huge TV screen with a mess of game systems and wires underneath it. Zack didn't turn it on just yet—he angled himself towards Cloud. Chopsticks in hand, he asked, "So why'd you join SOLDIER?"

Cloud shrugged. He focused on his chicken for a minute, not saying anything... something about Zack had him answering pretty honestly though. "I wasn't much back in Nibelheim," Cloud confessed. "I only had one friend, and she wasn't so great to me half the time, though I wasn't great to her, either. It sucked, so—I guess I wanted to get out, and not be some… loser, you know?"

Cloud felt a bit silly. He hadn't meant to get all tragic backstory on the guy, but eh. Zack did not make fun of him; he just said, "Yeah, I feel that. I wanted to be this big hero. Famous, saving people, all of that. I'm not on Angeal's level yet, but I think I'm getting there. My fanclub'll surpass his someday."

Zack snorted right after he said it, unable to deliver the joke straight. "Maybe people will join my club thinking it's a virginity thing—"

"Shut up," Cloud growled as Zack cracked up. He stabbed his chopsticks menacingly at Zack and stole some of his noodles in revenge.

"It sucks not having fans. I mean—come on, I'm dashing, I'm funny. I got it all. It's only a matter of time. But not yet."

Zack's utter confidence in himself made Cloud laugh. Gaia, he wished he could be like that.

"Can I tell you something kind of pathetic?"

"Yeah."

"It's why I hang out with the Keepers so much. They love me, but only 'cause I'm so close to Angeal, and they want me to tell them stories about him or introduce them. Which—y'know, it sucks, but it is entertaining and boosts my ego so I do it anyways. Eventually I'm gonna have fans who like me the best and for the right reasons."

Zack looked a little glum so Cloud took a chance. "I just met you and I'm already a fan. You're a cool guy."

Slowly, Zack beamed. "You… cheesy little shit."

As they kept eating they shared mission stories. Zack also disapproved of what the Turks were doing but said they must be doing it for a reason. He'd done worse, he told Cloud. He told Cloud about a time he'd gone on a mission to Costa with Genesis and they'd gone surfing after it was over. Zack sucked but Genesis had been a natural. "Seph was just there for the last day… and he refused to go out and swim because of the paparazzi. —Your eyes just lit up Spike, I swear."

"They did not," Cloud said. (He loved how Zack kept using the nickname he'd come up with for him.)

"They did, like you just got solstice presents."

"They did not."

"They did, like—" Cloud didn't get to hear Zack's next comparison because his apartment door opened. In strolled Genesis Rhapsodos who apparently was a natural at surfing.

Cloud knew what the man looked like but it was super different seeing someone so famous in person. Genesis wasn't in his uniform, either, but a fancy-looking black suit with thin white pinstripes. He had a red dress shirt underneath and a black silk tie. Fancy.

"Hey Gen," Zack said casually.

Genesis' polished shoes clacked on Zack's hardwood as he came further inside. "Hmmm," he said, eyeing them with all their food everywhere. Guy had a pleasant voice— "At least this one is cute." — and an unpleasant attitude.

"Ignore him," Zack said, sounding annoyed. "We just like to piss each other off. This is my buddy Cloud, Genesis."

"I'm sure. I left that cake in your fridge and I decided I'm gifting it at this dreadful party."

"You're lucky I didn't take a slice of it yet." (Zack winked at Cloud after Genesis clicked into the kitchen, and held out a piece of broccoli. Cloud accepted and made eye contact as his lips closed around it.)

Genesis called back, "Well, of course not—you don't like carrot cake; that's why I made it in your kitchen and not mine. It wouldn't last two days with Sephiroth around."

Zack chuckled. "That's true." He grinned wickedly. "Cloud here is in the Keepers—got any good stories for him?"

Genesis emerged with a plastic dome in his hands. "No. Don't use Zack to get to Angeal." Genesis said it dangerously, his pretty blue eyes narrowed at him.

Zack was awkward. "…Aw, he's just concerned 'cause that happened once or—"

"I'm not," Cloud answered. He steadied his container in his lap and met Genesis's gaze. "I'm only in the Keepers 'cause my mom made me join. I don't really care about getting to meet Angeal. And I'm not using Zack for anything; he invited me over."

If Cloud had been a SOLDIER perhaps he would have been cowed. But Genesis wasn't his fucking CO. "Hmmm," Genesis said again, studying him. He sent Zack a look and left.

"Maaaan," Zack sighed. "Sorry about that Spike."

"It's fine." It really was. "It was kind of hot."

Snorting, Zack said, "Yeah, I think Gen gets off on people standing up to him too."

They packed away the food and Cloud had another glass of water. He slipped into Zack's bathroom to 'freshen up' in case they fucked (it was extremely likely).

As Zack turned on his game system he asked casually, "How drunk are you, Spike?"

"Barely."

"You bein' honest with me?"

"Yeah. Just the smallest buzz, seriously. The food helped. What about you?"

"Sober. So you played one of the old blitzball games?"

"Yeah. Blitzball Mania 2. The graphics were terrible. I never got anything after that." Because we couldn't afford game systems as they got fancier and more expensive.

"Well, they've come far since the ages of that bullshit. I think you're gonna like this."

As the game system started up Zack went into the bathroom and then his bedroom. He smelled minty-fresh now; Cloud could smell him as Zack flopped down next to him, closer than before. He was in jeans and a SOLDIER t-shirt now too, not his uniform.

Cloud tried not to blush. Neither was talking about it. That sobriety discussion had come close but… other than that, this could have been your average playdate or hangout. Zack brought his legs up and crossed them. His knee now pressed against Cloud's thigh, lightly like an afterthought, and was not removed.

Alright then. Cloud accepted his controller and took a last sip of water. The coolness on his tongue calmed him, let him focus. "Are you good at this game?" he asked when he'd set it down on the coaster.

"I'm alright. I do well in single mode but always get my ass kicked if I play online against those who play it nonstop, you know? I'm too busy savin' people's lives to practice that much…"

Cloud snorted at Zack, making the guy grin. "Alright, sure. What are the controls?"

Zack pulled up multiplayer mode. "Top or bottom?"

"Top," Cloud sighed, rolling his eyes. The screen split in half horizontally and Cloud got the top half of the screen. Blitzball was a sports game. It was played in a big blue watery orb and two teams had to get the ball past the goalie into the net. Zack flicked through menus expertly and they selected their teams.

Cloud went for a well-rounded team while Zack's had high attack but low everything else. The players' faces were actually recognizable… unlike on the old crappy game Cloud played. In fact, they looked really darn realistic.

When the match started Zack held up his controller. He leaned down and closer to Cloud, his breath hot on his ear. "Press this button to switch between characters," he demonstrated. "When you're controlling someone you can see their stats up here…"

Zack led him through the rest of the controls. Hardly anything was the same as when he used to play. He didn't remember everything Zack said either. He was a little distracted by Zack speaking lowly to him, their shoulders touching now, Zack's hair tickling his neck. Cloud shuddered, and Zack's next sentence about Wither and other status effects seemed more indulgent than before.

Zack finally backed off a bit and they started the match. Zack's team stayed back on their half of the field for a minute as Cloud swam his players in circles and tossed the blitzball between them. "Okay," Cloud said, as it started to come together for him. "I think I've got it. The graphics are gorgeous."

"I know, right?"

The sunlight rippling through the water looked real. Cloud could see the textures on his team's ugly brown outfits. You could even move the camera far enough away to see the crowds screaming.

Eight players on a team. Three fielders. Four defenders. One goalie. HP. Endurance, Attack, Catch, et cetera. Got it. Cloud swam forward with his middle fielder, officially starting the match.

When Zack's controlled character got close Cloud passed to other players. He played hot-potato with it, trying to get someone out in the open who could sneak in to score. Zack intercepted one of his passes though, and with everyone else so far ahead, he had the unobstructed access to Cloud's goal. He scored easily.

"Tough shit," Zack quipped.

Stopping Zack's team was hard—their attack stats were high. Cloud kept an eye on the screen and the other on Zack's hands, watching to see when he used special moves and learning button combinations for more complicated maneuvers.

"You suck," Cloud muttered as Zack's player and one of his both grabbed the ball at the same time. Both of them mashed the attack button as fast as they could and Zack came away with it.

Zack dipped a shoulder and banged him with it. He stayed like that though, closer now, with more of their bodies pressed together. Cloud quickly got the hang of it and soon they were battling in earnest.

Cloud frowned as he concentrated, keeping track of stats and player positions. Blocks, status effects, ball trajectories. When he first scored he raised his arms in the air and Zack said, "Lucky shot."

The first match ended when Zack hit five first; Cloud had only scored three goals. "Again?" Zack asked.

The second battle was more savage. Cloud had a strategy now. He used Zack's weak defenses to his advantage and kept the ball in his half of the sphere. When Zack broke away with it Cloud managed to save the goal maybe half the time.

Cloud was so into it he hardly noticed Zack's thigh moving over. Cloud's were spread now, his right leg hooked over Zack's left. If he shifted another inch Cloud could press his dick against Zack's leg. He did so casually.

The second match ended 5-4 in Cloud's favor. Cloud looked at Zack with the most smug, derisive look he could muster. "Ha," he said, and then, "oof," as Zack grabbed his waist and hauled him onto his lap.

They play-fought, wrestling the controllers out of hands and pushing at each other. Zack growled, "That second goal was bullshit," and Cloud responded, "No, your goalie just sucks." Panting around laughs, the two duked it out for another minute… then settled. Cloud sat firmly on Zack's lap, now facing the screen.

Zack hooked his chin over Cloud's shoulder. "Let's set this game to the unlimited mode." Rather than matches ending at five points like before or getting a time limit such as ten minutes this would go on indefinitely.

As Cloud changed the settings he brought his feet off the floor and folded his legs underneath him, alongside Zack's thighs. He shifted his weight to his knees momentarily to adjust himself, then sat back down. Zack's erection pressed against his ass.

Cloud squirmed a bit as the match started. He heard Zack inhale slightly, his chin still on his shoulder. Zack was so warm against his back… and his arms around Cloud's waist held him in place, snug. Zack held the controller in front of Cloud's belly.

The first goal was Cloud's. His fastest character zipped around and eluded the others and kicked the blitzball in without any blockers covering her. "Damn you," Zack muttered. The blunt curve of his canine pressed against Cloud's neck. He nipped at him; Cloud's hips rolled down as he gasped.

Zack got the next goal, and to reward him Cloud shifted his weight to his shins and knees and rubbed his ass on Zack's lap. He moved slowly. It wasn't enough to qualify as grinding, but it was stimulating for sure. Cloud did it again when Zack got a little too close to his goal. The distraction didn't work, but Zack chuckled into his ear.

Cloud's dick ached in his pants so he shifted his angle a bit to give himself some relief, not Zack. A breathy exhale left him as he frotted against Zack's leg. "Dammit," he swore as Zack got another goal.

"Too bad, Spike." Zack's voice dripped satisfaction.

Zack pulled at him, hugging his middle and coaxing him back against his chest. Zack leant back into the back of the couch. Cloud was flexible; it didn't hurt his legs to sit like this. The SOLDIER was warm, sturdy and broad… this was the kind of chest it was good to hide in, something safe. There wasn't time for that sentimental bullshit though; Cloud wanted to fuck.

When Cloud scored next they got a short cutscene of Cloud's fielder doing a victory swim. Zack's one hand left the controller during this and slipped under the waistband of Cloud's pants. Finally.

Cloud didn't react, choosing to aggressively move the blitzball down the sphere. Zack's other teammates controlled by the computer were still formidable but Cloud was able to get past them. Zack's character swam in awkward circles back near the goal… because his other hand was curled around Cloud's dick now. He stroked it, his thumb smearing around the sticky drop of fluid beading from the slit.

Cloud squirmed more, stuck between rocking back onto Zack's erection and moving forward into his hand. He scored another goal.

Zack spoke huskily into his ear, "Now that's a little unfair, don't you think?"

"Don't know what you're talking about."

Zack let go of the controller entirely. Setting it aside, he pushed Cloud's pants and underwear down as much as he could with Cloud still sitting. "Damn," he muttered, squeezing Cloud's ass with both hands before gently smacking it, a request to move up. Cloud raised up on his knees and Zack pushed it all down to them. Once the blond sat back down and brought his legs up he was able to kick them off himself.

Then he was naked from the waist down and shuddering as Zack eased out his own cock from his jeans and it rested hot and solid against his ass.

Zack pulled him back and ground Cloud down onto it.

Cloud almost moaned out loud. That would have ended this game they were playing though… this thing where they weren't acknowledging that they were about to fuck on the couch.

They moved together, friction making them both breathe a little heavier. The SOLDIER was so hard, so excited because of him; it was dizzying.

Unfortunately, Zack was decent and wouldn't just stick his fingers in Cloud's body without asking. "Are you cool with—" he started to ask.

"Yeah," Cloud said, cutting him off. He brought his knees back to the couch cushions so he could get his ass up. He spread his legs a little and bent at the waist, bracing his hands and the controller on Zack's knees.

His ass looked great like this, he knew. (He'd learned a lot about his body in the past few months.) While bent over his cheeks spread slightly and exposed his hole.

A click, and then slick coolness against him. Must've grabbed the stuff during his quick dip into his bedroom earlier. As Zack's finger slid into him Cloud moaned in his throat approvingly. Then he changed his grip on the controller, balanced on Zack's knees, and scored.

Another finger. Another goal.

Another finger. Three in Cloud now, loosening him up, crooking, finding the right spot that had Cloud's legs shaking. Goal, goal, goal.

Zack withdrew, then pulled a condom out of his pocket. Cloud looked away from the screen finally but only long enough to bat it away. Zack picked it back up and Cloud broke their silence to mutter, "I'd rather not. If that's something you're cool with."

Zack didn't answer. He scattered kisses to the top of Cloud's ass and base of his spine, then shifted him. Cloud's knees came up again. He sat on Zack's lap once more… though this time he reached underneath himself to grab Zack's cock and hold it steady as Zack, with his fantastic SOLDIER strength, held all of Cloud's weight… and lowered him onto it.

The guy was big. The head, and then the shaft, was hard and sticky and so, so hot inside him. Knowing it was Zack's skin pressed to his flesh with no latex in between made Cloud's cock twitch between his legs, aching already. But instead of stroking it… Cloud scored points. Zack kept his t-shirt on but Cloud could feel his hard muscles through the cotton.

Zack's warm breath puffed against his neck. He inhaled, deep and gasping, as Cloud settled against him, all of Zack's dick inside. The exhale as Zack lifted him back up was deep and desperate.

Zack started to bounce Cloud in his lap. Cloud was not raised high; it was more like rocking, a sexy rut where Zack was so interested in being inside Cloud he wouldn't stand for withdrawing.

Cloud sighed, still clenching around the big thing in him. His head tipped back onto Zack's shoulder as the head stimulated his prostate. He eyed the TV through lowered lashes.

Zack's fingers tightened against his hips. "You feel amazing, you know," he whispered.

Cloud's answer was only a weak aaahhh… as Zack went back to bouncing him. His face burned from the praise and warmth spread down his chest to his cock, flushed and bouncing along. The dick in him was even warmer, filling him with heat, and it radiated out in waves.

Goals. So many goals. While Zack's controlled character floated there, utterly still, the rest of his team struggled to stop Cloud's continuous offense. The AI could hardly keep up with Cloud now that he'd gotten the hang of the controls. After another couple minutes of this Zack tried to turn him. Resisting at first, Cloud stayed facing the TV until he scored one last time. Then he started to rotate and Zack's greedy hands grabbed his thighs and he got Cloud where he wanted all by himself. Nice.

Facing Zack was a whole lot hotter than before. With rough, grabbing hands, Cloud seized both sides of Zack's face and crushed their mouths together. He pushed his tongue past Zack's lips and stroked it with as much as self-confident bravado as he had—he could tell it worked as Zack's mouth gaped slightly when Cloud said, "Cum inside me."

Zack then grinned his thousand watt playboy smile against Cloud's cheek. His cock made deliciously wet sounds as he helped Cloud ride it. "That an order, Infantryman…?"

Cloud rolled his eyes. He didn't want to say yes it is or no it isn't—he didn't want to play that game right now—he just wanted Zack to listen to him already and fill him up with semen 'cause he was so excited for it he felt like he could just die from the wait. He decided to force it out of Zack his way instead of bothering to reply to that.

Zack had been lifting Cloud and up and lowering him all on his own with those strong SOLDIER arms. (Show-off—the self-satisfaction just oozed off this guy. Check me out, everything Zack did said.) Cloud shrugged off Zack's hands, moving them from his thighs to his hips instead. The message was: hold on tight. Cloud looped his arms around Zack's neck and worked his legs so that he could ride him hard and fast.

Zack chuckled against Cloud's mouth as he realized that no Yeah, it's an order or No Sir was coming. Then he went back to gasping and sighing.

Cloud wrung that orgasm out of him. Zack got a little louder, his face scrunched up, then disappearing as it pressed into Cloud's shoulder and all he saw was black hair instead.

Cloud couldn't feel anything out of the ordinary as Zack came and during his own orgasm shortly after, but once he pulled out and warmth dripped out of him—that was it.

"You're blushing," Zack panted, grinning.

After Zack scooted Cloud off his lap, stood, and pulled his t-shirt over his head (now damp in one spot from Cloud's cum), Cloud checked out the TV screen. He unpaused it and ended the match.

Final score: 68 to 12.

Zack padded, naked, into the next room and Cloud stayed where he was. That score…

Later, after Cloud pushed him into his bedroom for another round—a proper one, with no games this time—he asked Cloud about it, the blitzball thing. The infantryman just laughed and waved it off.

Under the desk Cloud fiddled with his PHS. No one really cared. Half of the Keepers of Honor didn't come regularly, and they weren't strict about not doing paperwork or texting during meetings. The Keepers were chill like that.

(Once someone joked that Silver Elite meetings must have been like how movies always showed cult meetings. Dark hoods. Rhythmic chanting about Sephiroth. They probably had a song with an orchestral accompaniment and everything. A big bin sat by the door for PHSs so everyone could give Sephiroth their creepy, undivided attention and so no one could leak fanclub secrets.)

Still, Cloud's friend Tom Moss was addressing the group and he didn't want to be rude. Cloud moved his PHS to his pocket, but he still ran his finger over the corner of it as he thought.

"I hope you're all still training for the fanclub Olympics," Moss was saying. "They sneak up on us every year. There's going to be a joint fundraiser with Red Leather in two weeks at a club downtown, location TBD. It's for wildlife rehabilitation in the Banora region. Yesterday I met with the Infantry director of the Silver Elite and we talked about the incident from the shampoo distribution event last year and. . ."

The pad of Cloud's thumb slid over the home button. He planned out his text in his head.

Hey Zack, what's up?; How you doin'?; What's good man?; Hey, I hope you've been well.

That first message after hooking up with someone had to be perfectly crafted lest unnecessary awkwardness ensue. It was awkward already… Zack told him he'd text Cloud so they could hang out but he'd gotten nothing after five days. It was up to Cloud to try it.

As everyone trickled out of the borrowed room after the meeting Cloud hung back.

Moss already grilled him on the 'date' the day after the parade so he didn't take advantage of having Cloud alone in the room other than ruffling his hair affectionately and telling him "See ya on Thursday, Cloud."

"Later."

Cloud stared at the blinking cursor on his PHS' screen. How's the week been treating you? perhaps…?

What was a guy like Zack Fair doing with his late afternoon? Training, maybe. Stretching out on his couch after a same-day mission maybe. He could be with Angeal Hewley right now actually, shooting the shit or working hard while totally unaware of all the infantry who had just gathered together to sing Angeal's praises.

Was Zack on a date with today's latest fling? Maybe he'd lied his way out of retaliation from that one woman who he'd ditched for Cloud and sweet-talked his way into another chance. Maybe he had her in his apartment right now.

(If Zack did have someone in his apartment—if he was playing Blitzball Mania 2 with someone else, using the same moves on them that he'd used on Cloud, he'd turn on the screen and see Cloud's spectacular high score, 68 to 12, on the top of the screen. Every time Zack played that game from here on out he'd get that small reminder of the blond teenager he'd picked up at the Keepers of Honor booth at the parade, and that was the whole point of Cloud stubbornly scoring all those goals in the first place. Cloud Strife left his mark, even on guys like Zack.)

Regardless of what he was doing, it didn't bother Cloud—really. Honest.

He settled for a quick Hey Zack. What's new? and left for his bunk.

Two days later he still had no response. Cloud didn't really stress over it—or at least, not until an entire week later, when he still had not heard from Zack. He even sent a follow-up text at the four day mark, a simple Hey! but no, nothing.

"I'm kind of annoyed," Cloud sighed to Wilde. Both their fingers ached from breaking down and reassembling their rifles so many times. Cloud didn't like his rifle very much, but at least he was getting good with it. "I get that he's weird about people who want to—cling to him, and stuff, but he won't even hang out with me again?"

Wilde blew gently on her finger. She'd pinched it while inserting the magazine earlier and it bled. "Well, considering that you two slept together he probably thinks that you want to date him and he's ignoring you so he doesn't lead you on."

"Well. Zack's got a big enough head. He probably thinks everyone he sleeps with falls for him and he's gotta avoid them after that."

"Seems the type."

They'd reached the point where they split up to stow their weapons in their separate bunkers. "Still bleeding?" Cloud glanced at Helena's thumb. "C'mon, I've got a first aid kit" (courtesy of his mom's last care package).

As he bandaged up her hand he offered a few suggestions as to how to get Zack to stop ignoring him. When it came down to it an in-person meeting seemed best.

Cloud got his chance thanks to Sandy Li. She put out her feelers and got back to him about a tattoo artist of hers who knew a girl who was a bartender at a place in Sector Four who Zack promised that he'd swing by on Saturday night.

And like a real creep, like exactly the kind of ex-hookup Zack was trying to avoid, Cloud decided to go. He, Karan, and Tom Moss camped out at a table early in the evening and settled down to wait. (They had to bribe the bouncer at the door with 50 Gil since Karan and Cloud were 17, and the two Infantry were sour about it.)

Karan's friend Everett showed up early in the evening to their delight. Hanging out with the most glamorous nurse in the Infantry corps was apparently much more interesting than endless mozzarella sticks and waiting for Zack Fair to show up.

One person down.

Moss was all giggly at the thought of meeting Zack Fair again because he was so close to Angeal—he demanded all the details of Cloud's date with Zack before, though Cloud gave him the extremely abbreviated version.

A pro-ShinRa civilian was giving Moss the eye though. He was fairly Angeal-ish with scruff and big arms and dark hair. After his second drink Moss elbowed Cloud out of the way and went over 'to say hi.'

Nine o'clock and two people down.

Stubbornly, Cloud stayed there. He politely declined when a pretty woman—so pretty—asked if he needed some company. A guy across the room bought him a drink; Cloud thanked the bartender for bringing it over and drank it all without ever looking in his direction. Savage.

Nine twenty-seven, Zack Fair entered the establishment. He was not in his uniform this time, looking far more casual in a civilian outfit. He grinned in a familiar way with the bartender—Li's contact probably—and tapped his foot to the loud music as he waited for his drink.

Cloud gave him ten minutes.

When the stool next to Zack's at the bar emptied Cloud surged from his booth across the room and slid into it. Zack kind of casually glanced his way, mid-sip of whiskey, and looked over again a moment later, Adam's apple bobbing as he choked a little.

"Hey," Cloud said, "You want one?"

Zack took a mozzarella stick but man, he looked uncomfortable.

Think fast. "I'm here with some friends." He gestured behind him in the direction of the table, realizing too late that his friends were now off on their own. "Saw you come in. How you been?"

"Pretty good." Zack smiled but his body language clearly said he didn't want to chat. He was leaning away a little and looking around the bar.

Was it better to be direct or not?

Indirect: "You meeting anyone here, or…?"

"Heh, heh. Nah—figured I'd come and meet some new people, y'know?" Zack laughed awkwardly.

Direct: "I was wondering why you haven't been answering me back. Did I do something to make you feel weird?"

Zack didn't answer for a moment. He looked flummoxed. A previous version of Cloud Strife may not have had the guts to be so straightforward with something like this (if indeed the previous Cloud Strife did this kind of thing, sleeping with a playboy and pursuing his friendship afterward) but the Cloud he was now, a Cloud who was still in progress, was stubborn enough and didn't care enough to say stuff like this.

"Look buddy," Zack said, sighing. His shoulders drooped, his mouth turned down, and he fixed Cloud with a look that was all kicked puppy—it was impossible to get mad at a guy like this. "I just don't want to break your heart, you know?" He reached out and touched Cloud's knee. "We had a good time, but I'm just not lookin' for somethin' serious right now. You're a great dude, and any guy would be lucky to have you." His thumb rubbed the side of Cloud's leg, reassuring, and then it retreated. "I've hurt too many people and I sure as hell don't want to hurt you too."

Cloud could have laughed. The whole thing sounded rehearsed—especially that last line. Briefly he wondered how many people he'd said that one to.

He didn't laugh however. Cloud just said, "Yeah, those would be valid concerns if I was actually looking to date you. I genuinely just want you to be my friend. I thought we had a pretty good time before the sex and all—like at the bar, when we were talking, and when we hung out at your place." He shrugged. "But hey, if you honestly don't think we'd be good friends, I get it; I'll leave you alone."

Zack hesitated, and Cloud knew he'd won. Obviously they'd had a really awesome connection or Cloud wouldn't even be here—but with Zack also being from a small town, and them having similar interests and their senses of humor syncing up just right, Cloud knew that Zack secretly wanted to be Cloud's friend too.

Zack's silence stretched on.

"I'll prove it to you," Cloud said. "Need a wingman?"

Five minutes later Cloud was across the room again, now waiting and watching. As the bar continued to fill up, Zack struck up conversation with a woman passing by. He did the whole rubbing the back of his neck thing, and Cloud predicted his Gongagan country drawl was making an appearance.

She was seriously pretty, with long black hair and olive skin. The colored lights over by the bar twinkled off of the glittering jewelry on her neck and hands. Zack gave her his seat at the bar and stood for a bit as they chatted until the seat next to her was vacated. Then they talked with Zack's knees caging hers in like he had sat with Cloud.

The signal was Zack raking his fingers through his hair from scalp to the back of his neck. He did it in a way that looked totally natural, him shaking his bangs slightly when he was done. Insert dreamy smile and his thumb rubbing circles against the back of her hand.

Cloud casually walked by them, glancing at Zack. Then he did an exaggerated double-take. Then he stopped altogether.

"Oh my god," he said. "Are you Zack Fair?"

Zack looked away from his potential date like it pained him to do so. "Uh, hello? Can I help you?"

Cloud brought his hands up to cover his mouth. "Holy shit—it is you. The First Class SOLDIER." He got closer, invading their space, smiling apologetically at the bemused-looking lady on the stool. "Look, I'm in your fanclub, and—"

"Aaah." Zack waved a hand, looking cool as a cactuar. "Shucks, I appreciate it kid but I'm kinda busy right now—"

"No," Cloud persisted, "Can I please have your autograph? You probably don't remember me, but you saved my hometown from all those monsters last spring." He racked his brain for the name of a town, eyes darting frantically up and down the bar counter. "…Mustardville. You saved all of us."

Zack's eye twitched at Mustardville but he rolled with it. "Aw, I'm just doing my job. Saving people is what I do."

"I just can't believe I'm meeting Zack Fair in person, my grandma isn't going to believe it. Are you sure I can't—"

"I'm gonna need some space, man. I'm busy talking to my friend Jendayi here and I'd like to focus on her." Zack turned to Jendayi and gave her a besotted look.

Cloud gushed over Zack for another half a minute and then slunk off looking despondent. Behind him, Zack said something like Ugh, I'm sorry you had to see that, it happens all the time and Cloud rolled his eyes.

Towards the tail end of the next Keepers meeting Cloud's PHS buzzed with a message. He waited until Radomír Lebedev's slideshow of pictures from Angeal's latest mission to Junon was finished, then pulled it out.

Hey Spike. Thanks for the assist last night (Mustardville?). Everything went well. ;) You doing anything tonight? My training with Angeal ends at 8 and then I was thinking of renting a DVD or something. Lemme know.

Score.