Zack was due to return to his original SOLDIER duties- unable to put it off any longer thanks to the manpower shortage. To say that both he and Cloud were anxious was an understatement. Zack had been enjoying their time together and the simplicity it had brought with it. Hanging out with Cloud had been so easy and natural- requiring little to no effort or thought. Zack could be himself without the worry or fear of the consequences. The only exception to that being the inappropriate feelings that had been plaguing him- but, he found those getting slightly easier to control as time went on and he and Cloud grew closer as friends.

He was coming to care for Cloud as more than an incredibly attractive bit of jailbait- he was coming to care for him as an important friend. One that he didn't want to leave behind when he shipped out. He found the idea of returning to full-time military life daunting and, once more, wondered how things would pan out if he left SOLDIER and found himself a normal job.

Life would be so much simpler…

"There's a situation." Lazard announced, a sigh ghosting out with the words. "And, I'm afraid I have no choice but to ask for your immediate assistance."

"Yeah, yeah." Zack shrugged, pacing back and forth in front of the Director's desk. He could feel the starting of a headache gnawing at his skull. "Short-staffed and all that."

"It's a little more complicated." Lazard cut in, drumming his fingers on the desk. Zack glanced his way, trying to assess the man's expression. "Genesis has gone missing."

"Missing?"

"No." Lazard retorted, shaking his head as another sight left him. "To put it more clearly, Genesis has abandoned SOLDIER."

"No way!" Zack snapped, scowling coldly. "He wouldn't. There's no way Genesis would…" but, he found himself trailing off as the doubt began setting in. The more he thought about it, the less impossible the idea became.

"He's been acting strangely for some time now." Lazard pointed out, speaking Zack's mind for him. "I had extra watch put on him, just in case. The operatives I assigned to monitor him were found killed. Genesis abandoned his post in Wutai and vanished."

"How do you know he deserted?" Zack demanded. "He might be in trouble! What if the enemy-?"

"Genesis is the enemy, Zack." Lazard stated, his voice remaining steady. "He's taken a group of the lower class with him and abandoned Shinra. I've kept this under wraps for obvious reasons. The terrorists can't found out that we've lost yet another 1st Class, let alone that they've deserted. That said, the situation has escalated."

Zack shook his head, struggling to believe it. Genesis had been acting off, yeah- distancing himself, more reserved and quiet. Angeal's death had obviously affected him and there was always what Sephiroth had mentioned. But, even so, desertion? Not just that but the murder of one's comrades?

"Escalated?" Zack eventually repeated, trying to regain himself.

"Genesis has been sighted in his hometown." Lazard explained.

"Banora?"

"Yes. It's Angeal's hometown too." Lazard hummed thoughtfully. "We've received some conflicting reports. I dispatched operatives to assess the situation but, we lost contact. That's why I'm sending you to investigate the matter and confront Genesis. It will take a 1st to face a 1st."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Zack hissed. "You're not saying you want me to…?"

"Genesis's fate is unclear." Lazard murmured. "The company will base their decision on how to deal with Genesis based upon the findings of your investigation. That's why this mission is a top priority. You leave immediately. He will go with you."

As it turned out, 'he' was a member of the Turks- something Zack found disheartening at best. Tseng was the name and it quickly became apparent that he didn't give a damn about Genesis or what became of him. All he cared about was protecting the company's image. And, that meant cleaning up the 'mess' as quickly as possible.

The whole thing looked pretty gloomy.

Zack had just enough time to call both Aerith and Cloud before departure. Aerith was fine with it, used to him constantly shipping out on assignment, but Cloud was a bit more difficult. The kid fell silent as soon as Zack explained the situation. Zack assured him that everything would be fine, that he wouldn't be long and they'd hang out some more when he got back. He even promised him that 'date' with Aerith.

They kept in contact while Zack was gone, often speaking on the phone whenever Zack had the time. It was nice- a break from the cold, harshness of the reality Zack had been thrown in. He'd always found his communication with Aerith grounding, something to keep him going, but hearing the kid's voice on the end of the phone was a whole lot more impacting than the letters Aerith sent him.

Cloud would tell him about his training and the improvement he was making. Zack would praise him up and move the subject onto anything that sprung to mind- anything but the mission.

As it turned out, Genesis really had abandoned. He'd killed many townspeople, including his own parents. He attacked Zack, refusing to listen to reason before fleeing with a single, black-feathered wing carrying him across the winds. As a result, the beautiful town which had provided two of the greatest SOLDIERs the world had ever seen was demolished by the company's artillery.

Zack felt angry, betrayed and confused- things he tried to hide from Cloud when they spoke on the phone during his return flight. Once again, he wondered why he was still with Shinra. He began fantasizing about a peaceful, easy life. Kunsel was right, he was having a midlife crisis.

"Yo!" Zack called as he entered his apartment, beaming the moment he saw Cloud appear. "I'm back. You miss me?" Cloud ran up to him, wrapping his small arms around him in the tightest and most surprising hug of Zack's life. "Hey, easy there, spiky. If you ever find yourself losing in a fight, you could easily just hug the enemy to death, you know."

"Sorry." Cloud mumbled, pulling back with a small, shy smile. "I just…"

"Yeah, yeah." Zack playfully punched him in the shoulder. "I missed you too."

"I used the 'emergency takeout fund'." Cloud said, gesturing toward the pizza on the couch. "Not much of a welcome home meal, but…"

"It's perfect." Zack cut him off, a warm smile spreading across his face. In that moment, he wouldn't change a thing. "Just let me shower and I'll come join you, alright?"

"Sure."

Zack felt so free and at ease with his cursed uniform thrown across the bathroom and the dirt and sweat washed off of his skin. He wrapped a towel around his waist, stretching as he let out a blissful sigh and made his way back into the living room. During their meal, Cloud couldn't stop talking, proof of how excited he was to have Zack back. The older man had to remind the kid to stop for breaths every now and then. It was great. Truly a reflection of the peaceful life Zack had been dreaming of. No worries. No betrayal. No immediate threat of death.

"Aerith showed me the church in the slums." Cloud said, eyes lighting up as he talked about it. "I mean, I'm not really a great lover of flowers, but there's something so peaceful about it. She said I'm welcome there any time I like."

"Oh, so you two have been getting cosy while I've been gone, huh?" Zack said, narrowing his eyes in a lock of mock suspicion and disdain. Cloud seemed to study him for a moment, considering it, before muttering under his breath.

"Is it a problem if we have?"

"I don't know." Zack said, feeling the same, familiar tension settle in as the kid avoided his eyes. "Maybe. I don't like sharing."

"Sharing what?" Cloud whispered, lowering his head. "Aerith? Or…me…?"

Zack licked his lips, staring at Cloud's flushed face as he felt that heat pool in his lower stomach once more. The kid looked so hot and delectable. But, they were friends. He cared about Cloud. Even so…

"You." Cloud startled, turning to stare at Zack in shock and disbelief- obviously not expecting such a blunt and straightforward answer. After all, Zack had been doing his best to fight the feelings since they'd met. To have them thrown out so openly caught the kid off guard.

There was no going back then.

With no idea who made the first move, the two of them ended up so close, mouths pressing against one another hungrily. Cloud mewled, trying to press forward for more contact, his soft lips rubbing against Zack's in desperation. Zack felt a growl sound from low in his chest, reaching up to thread his fingers in the kid's hair as he deepened the kiss. He gently scraped his teeth along Cloud's bottom lip, drawing it into his mouth before releasing it and licking his way into Cloud's mouth.

Cloud grasped Zack's biceps as the pleasure enveloped him- Zack's tongue exploring the inside of his mouth, batting Cloud's own out of the way as they shuddered against one another. Cloud was sloppy, messy and inexperienced, but that just seemed to turn Zack on more. Zack kept going, holding Cloud's head in place with one hand, the other gliding down the kid's body to explore more, calloused fingers slipping under the hem of his shirt teasingly, forearm brushing against the bulge in Cloud's pants.

Cloud trembled, starting to struggle against Zack's hold. Zack smirked, releasing him, watching the kid try to regain his breath, studying the flush of red that crept from his cheeks down past his collarbone. Cloud was gorgeous.

"Hey, spiky," Zack whispered huskily, seeing those blue eyes glazed over in lust, "come sit on my lap, hm?" Cloud's eyes widened as he glanced down at the stirrings of a forming bulge in the front of Zack's towel, starting to shake his head as what he thought Zack was asking for dawned on him. Zack chuckled lowly. "Not like that. Here." Zack pulled the kid over, turning him round and guiding him to sit in-between Zack's spread legs. They were sat together on the couch, Cloud's back pressed against Zack's broad chest, his small body encompassed by the strong arms and legs of the older man.

Zack rested his head on the kid's shoulder, letting his breath ghost out against his ear. Cloud trembled again, grinding his teeth. "Just relax, spiky." Zack reassured him, his words snaking into Cloud's ear teasingly. "I'm gonna take care of you, okay?"

"Y-Yeah." Cloud mumbled shakily, watching Zack's hands reach down to fumble with the fly of his pants, those fingers creeping inside to search for the opening of his boxers. Cloud tensed up the moment he felt their skin brush, hands darting to grasp Zack's forearm. "Wait."

"Do you want me to stop?" Zack asked, suddenly dropping the soothing huskiness of his voice to replace it with cold, hard seriousness. Cloud took a moment to gather himself, knowing that Zack was anxiously awaiting his answer, knowing the man would do whatever he wanted.

"No." Zack's body seemed to instantly relax around him as Cloud's fingers loosened around his arm.

"Alright then." Zack whispered, pressing a gentle kiss against the kid's jaw. "Then just let me take care of you, 'kay?" Cloud nodded. Then hissed as his cock was pulled free from the confines of his pants, the air of the apartment rushing over the head. Cloud shuddered again, looking down to see Zack's strong hand holding him, squeezing gently as he mouthed kisses along his jaw and the shell of his ear. "You ready, baby?" And, that alone made Cloud's cock pulse. Zack grinned, feeling it jump in his hand.

Slowly, teasingly, he began to run his hand down to the base and then up to the tip, twisting slightly as he reached the head. Cloud bit his lip, a moan escaping before he could stop it as his hips jerked up. Zack rested his other hand on the kid's stomach, holding him still while he continued with the excruciatingly slow pace of his stroking. He watched Cloud's cockhead disappear into his fist and then reappear with every stroke, resting his chin on the kid's shoulder as he stared at it hungrily. Beads of precum leaking free, only to be spread across the skin by Zack's rough thumb.

Cloud's body was hot against him, beads of sweat starting to appear on the kid's forehead as his moans became more and more frequent, no longer able to be held back. Zack smirked, watching the kid squirm. He was going so slowly and yet, the kid seemed so close. Confirmed when Cloud gasped and dug his fingers into Zack's forearm once more.

"Zack, please, I…"

"It's okay." Zack shushed him, immediately quickening his pace. He started stroking Cloud's cock hard and fast, gripping it tighter as the kid squirmed in his grasp. "I want you to, Cloudy. Want you to shoot for me so bad. I wanna see you come. You're gonna do it, right?"

"Zack…" Cloud moaned, throwing his head back against the older man's chest, hips bucking up.

"Yeah, that's it. Come on, Cloud." He leaned in, letting his lips brush against the kid's ear. "Who's my special boy?" That was it. Cloud groaned, cock pulsing in Zack's hand as he shot rope after rope of his seed, coating his shirt as Zack kept pumping him through it, the rest dribbling out over Zack's fingers, the warmth of the fluid turning Zack on so much. "That's it, Cloud. Good boy. So good." Zack panted, slowing down his strokes as Cloud became too sensitive to bear it, opting instead to wrap his arms around the kid and cradle him gently.

Cloud panted, resting against Zack as he regained himself, his cock slowly softening as Zack rocked back and forth, whispering sweet nothings into his ear. Cloud caught himself just as he started drifting off to sleep, forcing his tired body to sit up.

"Zack," he said, voice coming out dry and broken, "that was…" he trailed off, looking down between them to see that Zack's towel had come free during the course of things- now only covering a part of what was lurking there. Zack's cock was big and half-hard, resting against his thigh with a small pool of precum coating the area around the head. Glancing back up, Cloud saw the man grinning back at him.

"You have no idea how fucking sexy you are, spiky. And, what a load! You must've needed that, huh?" Zack said teasingly, glancing down at Cloud's cock- still hanging out his pants. Cloud sprung into action, quickly tucking it away with an embarrassed groan. "Hey, don't worry about it! Just look!" Zack said, grasping his own cock and waving it around. "Look how hot you got me. I haven't needed to come so badly in ages."

"S-Should I...?" Cloud hesitated. He knew what he wanted. He wanted Zack. He wanted Zack's cock. But, Zack seemed to know exactly what he was doing. Every movement and action he'd used on Cloud had been thought-out and tactical. On the other hand, Cloud worried he'd just be flailing around obliviously, trying to do what he wanted but making a mess of it. Zack seemed to notice this indecision, giving him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"Kneel down, spiky." Cloud nodded, moving to kneel on the floor between Zack's legs. This was it. Here it was. He was really going to..."Now, just watch me."

Zack wrapped his hand around his own cock, stroking it eagerly as it hardened further. Cloud watched it grow, glancing up at Zack in confusion. The man was smirking down at him, picking up the pace of his own stroking.

"But, aren't I…?"

"Just stay right there, spiky." Zack groaned, face contorting in pleasure as he pumped faster. "This is okay for now. Just keep watching me." And Cloud did, watched as Zack stroked his impressive length, watched the other hand reach down to cradle his balls and tease the skin behind them, watched Zack's hips lift off the couch as he gave a loud groan, watched his cock pulse.

And, Cloud watched as rope after rope of come shot out and coated Zack's broad chest and abs, painting the skin hotly. Zack threw his head back, whispering a hot 'fuck' as he released his cock and steadied his breathing. Once composed, he looked down and shot Cloud a massive grin. "You did perfect, Cloud."

"I didn't do anything." Cloud shot back sarcastically, not that he was complaining about the show he'd been given.

"Hey." Zack muttered, leaning forward to give the kid a quick kiss on the forehead. "I meant it, you know. You are my special boy." He smiled warmly, ruffling the kid's hair as he got up and headed out the room. Once he returned, he was cleaned up and in a pair of boxers, a collection of clean clothes in his hand for Cloud. "I'm gonna hit the sack. You can come join me, if you want."

"I'm okay." Cloud said, taking the clothes with a shy smile. "I'm gonna stay up for a while."

"Fair enough. I'll see you tomorrow." Zack ruffled his hair. "Thanks, buddy."

After Zack left, Cloud didn't stay up. He got himself cleaned up and changed and collapsed onto the couch. Despite all of the thoughts running through his head, the questions, the worry and uncertainty as well as the warm, fluttery feeling in the pit of his stomach, he managed to fall into the embrace of sleep rather quickly. And, he slept right through the night, content and happy to have Zack back.

"Morning." Zack greeted him when he finally stirred awake. "Pancakes suit you?"

"Yeah." Cloud grumbled, running a hand through his mussed-up hair, struggling to gather himself. Before he knew it, Zack had plopped down on the couch next time him, thrusting a plate his way with a smile. "What's the occasion?"

"Ouch." Zack feigned hurt. "Can't we just celebrate me being back?"

"How long are you back for?" Cloud mumbled, digging in to his pancakes with vigor.

"Not too sure yet. But, we'll make the most of it." Zack smiled, patting Cloud's leg. "We've still got that date with Aerith, remember? She'd be awfully mad if we didn't make time for it."

"Yeah." Cloud scoffed. "If you're willing to share me, that is." The words escaped him before he even realized they'd passed through his mind. For a moment, he felt like a complete idiot, worried Zack might regret what they'd done. But, when a grin was shot his way and a hand cupped his crotch, he knew everything was okay.

"She's not getting any of this." Zack said, wiggling his eyebrows teasingly as he gave Cloud's cock a squeeze. "All for papa Zack." And, despite how awkward and tense the entire situation should have been, Cloud couldn't help but snort a laugh.

"Papa Zack? Really?"

"What, you don't like it?" Zack's smile faded, before he leaned forward to whisper in Cloud's ears. "You can call me daddy if you like." And, like the damn, charming jerk he was, Zack pulled back and beamed, punching the kid in the arm. "I'm gonna go get changed. Once you've picked you jaw off the floor, eat the rest of your pancakes before they get cold. We've got some catching up to do on your training, spiky."

Cloud shook his head, sighing in disbelief. How could Zack always make everything so light-hearted? He always put everyone at ease, dissolved tension and panic with just a few words and a smile. Cloud groaned, shoving more food into his mouth as he tried to ignore the tightness in his groin. He'd fallen for a SOLDIER, 1st Class. What were the odds?