Disclaimer:If I owned Final Fantasy VII, would I be writing fanfiction about it? And why, oh why, would I have made Aerith Zack's girlfriend in the game?
Author's Note: Hmm... I've had this idea for a while, had this prologue sketched out... but never really worked on any of it... but hey, let's give it a shot and see where it goes/grin/
Oh yes! The character "Tsubatchi" is mine, XD
Prologue: Enter Temptation
The loud ringing in his ears signified the end of another day spent mindlessly scribbling down notes of things he either did or did not understand. But despite it's almost head-ache spawning sound, the bell heralded the start of freedom for the weekend.
Cloud liked Fridays. Fridays meant he could go home and do his homework (should any be supplied) and know that he had two whole days ahead of him if he really couldn't be bothered with it.
Mondays were – as Mondays always tend to be – pretty damn lame, that feeling that you haven't quite managed to do everything you really wanted to do always seems to hit on a Monday morning after you've walloped the snooze button several times before finally leaving the house with dishevelled hair and half eaten breakfast.
Tuesdays were monotonous and held the venomous promise that though you may have survived Monday, you're not quite at the midweek mark yet. Ha.
Wednesday was the one that grinned rather mischievously and stuck it's leg out in front of Tuesday as he walked passed, gleefully informing him that aforementioned midweek mark was indeed, here.
Thursday was the worst. Thursday was the Tormentor. Thursday was the Dark Lord. In fact, forget the Four Horsemen, Thursday was the apocalypse itself. Why? Well, because Thursday liked to fuck around with your brain and play these little mind games and dangle the promise of Friday's freedom in front of your nose like a carrot on a fishing pole and laugh maniacally as you run around in circles foaming out the mouth.
Ah, enter the Saviour. Friday arrives and banishes the evil Thursday with its divine light. Praised be Friday.
Saturday... um... very little of Saturday was known to Cloud, since Saturday was the day Cloud switched off his mobile phone and slept. Yup, just sleep. Maybe he'd wake up to go to the bathroom and eat and drink, but the day was spent in his pyjamas, complete with fluffy chocobo slippers.
What?
Sunday was another evil day, perhaps not quite of the same calibre as Thursday... nothing compares to the horror that is Thursday. But Sunday was quite mean in the fact that it liked to whisper to you – rather sinisterly, in fact – that Monday wasn't all that far away.
But since it was Friday, it took Cloud a total of twenty minute, contrary to his usual thirty five to reach home. His mother greeted him with her usual smile, while his father grunted his "Hullo Cloud," without removing his nose from his newspaper.
Tsubatchi wasn't home yet, Cloud noticed, which was odd for a Friday, his class ended before Cloud's school day on Fridays. Maybe he was unsure of something in his coursework and decided to stay behind at college a while for a few pointers. Either that, or he was chasing women again.
The latter seemed much more likely.
Cloud dumped his school bag in his room and quickly changed into a comfortable pair of baggy jeans and a T-shirt branded with his favourite band before heading to the kitchen. He pulled the carton of milk from the fridge, then a glass to pour it into as an afterthought, rationalizing his mother would kill him if she caught him drinking from the carton. Last time wasn't too pretty...
It was at the moment upon replacing the carton in the fridge that the low grumble of a car pulling into the drive reached his ears. Sighing, Cloud took the milk out of the fridge and retrieved his brother's favourite coffee mug.
The front door opened just as Cloud had switched on the kettle, the sound of it closing again was quickly followed by Tsubatchi's voice calling "'M home Ma!" and then a quieter, "C'mon, I'll introduce you."
Cloud frowned at the blue light on the kettle, since when did Tsubatchi bring a girl home and introduce her to his parents? Strange events indeed. He could make out his brothers voice, but no one else's. More than likely due to the fact that Tsubatchi was, in a word, loud.
The kitchen door soon opened and Cloud was greeted with a friendly, "Hiya Cloudie!" Cloud nodded, still facing away from his brother as he spooned some coffee and two heaped spoons of sugar into Tsubatchi's cup.
"Oh! Awesome Cloud! How bout you Zack? Fancy a cup?"
It was then that Cloud heard the most beautiful sound he would hear in his life, rich and full of life, a sound that made his breath hitch, his heart race and his knees tremble all at once.
"I'd love one, thanks."
A shiver ran down Cloud's spine at the new-comers voice, almost musical, practically laced with honey. Cloud reached for another mug, trying his best to stop his hand from shaking so he wouldn't drop it. "What do you take?"
"Coffee please, black."
Cloud nodded and spooned some coffee into the mug, "Sugar?"
"No thank you."
Cloud nodded and added the boiling water to both, stirring them a little before adding the milk to Tsubatchi's and then stirring them some more before removing the spoon and standing aside so the two could retrieve their drinks.
When he turned, Cloud was glad he hadn't handed them their drinks, otherwise he probably would have spilled hot coffee all over himself. Zack's voice was ordinary compared to his face. Soft looking and healthily tanned skin framed by midnight black hair, styled in spikes not quite unlike his own, some bangs in the front falling into sparkling violet eyes.
Absolutely striking. He'd never seen eyes quite like them, almost sparkling. And those electric eyes were staring right into his own unflinchingly.
Cloud gulped. Hard.
He felt himself tremble – and prayed to whatever Gods that may or may not exist that no one noticed – when those dazzling eyes travelled slowly down his body, making their way back up again to the blonde's ocean blue eyes with a teasing smirk on his face. Cloud could only hope that the heat he felt in his cheeks wasn't visible.
"Yeah, I really am terrible at intros," Tsubatchi cut in obliviously, "Zack, this is my little brother, Cloud. He's kinda shy, but fun when you get to know him. Cloudie, this here is Zack Fair," Tsubatchi placed his hand on the tall, dark haired boy's shoulder, "he and his family moved into town a few days ago, started in my class today, so I thought I'd show him around a bit."
Cloud nodded and – trying his hardest not to blush any further – extended his hand, "Nice to m-meet you."
Zack grinned and took the offered hand, giving the blonde's a firm squeeze, "Pleasure's all mine Cloud." he all but purred, eyes locked with Cloud's.
Cloud could feel his cheeks burn even more at Zack's obvious emphasis on the word "pleasure."
Zack let go when Tsubatchi placed his hand on the raven haired boy's shoulder.
"C'mon man, I've still got tonnes to show ya!"
Zack looked down into his mug, while Cloud took the opportunity to busy himself cleaning the dishes. Dishes were always a good enough distraction.
"I've still got a bit left Tsu'..."
"Alrighty, I'll go get the car started. Just come out when you're done, 'kay?"
Cloud heard the kitchen door open, then the front door open and close, then the sound of Tsubatchi's car door opening and shutting, followed by the roar of the engine.
That was when the realization hit him that he was all alone in the kitchen with Zack.
Alone. With Zack.
Zack. Him. Alone.
Oh help...
There was a muffled thud as Zack leaned his hip on the side of thou counter next to him, "So... What do you do? Are you at college too?"
Cloud shook his head, trying to calm his racing heart. "No, I'm still at school."
Zack's eyes widened, - Oh Gods, don't look into them - "Seriously? You don't look that young..."
Cloud shrugged and continued cleaning the dishes, anything to keep from looking at the other.
"Y'know..." Zack began, his voice throaty and full of mischief as Cloud felt him move. Zack grinned a feline grin as he heard the blonde gasp when he stood behind the petite boy, his chin resting on Cloud's shoulder as he placed his – now empty – coffee mug to the side before sliding his hands slowly onto the blonde's slim hips.
"You don't have to be shy around me doll." Zack purred, his warm breath on Cloud's ear making the blonde shiver before Zack made his way outside to join Tsubatchi in his polished red Mustang, leaving Cloud with an empty kitchen and a thumping heart.
XXXXXX
It was only later that night – when he was sure he should probably be sleeping – lying in his bed that Cloud trusted himself to think about what had happened.
Zack Fair. His face was a work of art, his voice beautiful, and his touch was like electricity. He effected Cloud in a way that made Cloud want to do anything that Zack asked of him. To want to get down on his knees and worship the raven haired teen.
And the Gods be damned if Zack didn't know it.
Well.. there we have it... lol.
Reviews are love!