and the last one made very quickly the last day of the week and I wanted to complete the week

Day 7: touch

...

Zack had done something to him, Cloud was certain.

He was on a mission that lingered and now two weeks had passed were Cloud had not seen the bubbly SOLDIER. Two weeks without talking about all and nothing. Two weeks without eating in Zack's apartment, trying to sabotage each others at many games and finishing in a heap of giggles on the floor.

Cloud felt like his skin was covered in crawling insects. The night he wrapped himself tightly in his cover in the hope that it would suffocate those bugs. But to no effect. During the day he could almost forget it. Except when someone brushed him and all his focus turned to the hand on his shoulder or the amical hit he just received. He both craved more and wanted to scuttle away from his comrades so no one would ever make the insects grow excited again. It numbed his limbs and he hated that.

Cloud was sure Zack had done something to him. He was going to have an explanation the moment he'd see him again.

The trooper didn't change his mind as three more days passed before he stood near Zack's door. He knocked on it with enough force to chase the insects on his hand a second, then they returned and Cloud's scowl with them. Cloud huffed, anger making him shudder.

The SOLDIER opened the door in sweatpants, eyes drooping and yawning. Zack's eyes light up when he saw Cloud. He beamed at him and Cloud's anger floated away as he returned Zack's smile without a second thought.

"Spike!"

Cloud was engulfed into a one armed hug before he could protest. He froze, his skin tingling all over and, reacting to his reaction, Zack froze too. The SOLDIER backed away, holding Cloud by his shoulder, worry clear on his face.

"You're hurt?"

Cloud opened his mouth, but stayed shut. He felt like he was dying. Zack touched him, but it wasn't enough. Zack wrapped his hands around Cloud's cheeks and meet his eyes.

"Cloud?"

The blond clutched Zack's shirt, trying to explain the weirdness that happened to him. But shame made him lower his head. He knew the origin of those sensations. He couldn't ignore it for days and blame Zack, he was only one man and couldn't take care of one of Cloud's stupid needs just because he was Cloud only friend.

"I... I just need one hug."

One hug wasn't asking for too much. Cloud thought that, but one part of his brain couldn't shake away the thought that it was too much.

Zack chuckled softly, "Sometimes you act too much like Seph." he wrapped an arm around Cloud's waist and pulled him in the apartment. "Two weeks is a bit too much without touching anyone, uh?"

Surprised, Cloud glanced at Zack. The man smiled, then winked just before falling on the couch, taking Cloud with him. He enveloped the blond in his arms and kissed his forehead. Cloud didn't lose his grasp on Zack in the fall, but startled at the affection. He tried to stand, but Zack hold him.

"One hug, remember? You didn't give a timeframe." Zack grinned. "So, do you want to stay the night with me?"

The trooper made a sound in his throat, staring at Zack's sunny face. He was overwhelmed by sensations. Zack arms around him, Zack warmth, Zack kindness. He couldn't let go of that right now.

"Su-sure."

Zack squeezed him, glowing at Cloud's answer.

"Good, I missed you too. I wanted to hug you so much my skin started tingling all over."

Cloud smiled to himself, he let his head fall on Zack, positively ecstatic.

.