Good god, let me give you my life

[exsurgo]

[ Some people in this situation might worry that it was too much.

Zack is worried that it’s not enough.

Okay, yes, he got Cloud off duty for the day, and had him stay over so he could wake him up with a birthday blowjob. But the gifts he got are almost all practical things; some boots and jeans to replace the very well-worn ones that Cloud wears when he’s in civvies ‘cause he seems to think of any money that he spends on himself as money he’s taking from his mother, and some actual uniform boots too because even though Shinra supplies them, Cloud’s still in the infantry, where they don’t seem to have heard of sizes and a march is much easier when your boots fit. There’s a little detour on the way out, too; Zack knows where Sephiroth is working for the day, and he may not be the guy’s biggest fan but he at least knows he’s not rude enough to decline to wish Cloud a happy birthday when Zack announces the occasion to him. It’s totally worth it for the look on Cloud’s face.

Dinner is a picnic – not one he made, for both their sakes, but bought and taken to Aerith’s church where they can cozy up together without worry of being seen. She’s gonna clear out for the evening, but she does make an appearance to bring a cake her mother made and ask Cloud how he likes the flowers Zack presented him with, and when she kisses him on the cheek he flushes so pink so fast that Zack could almost be jealous.

And when they head back, there’s the poster. Zack had claimed to forget his wallet so in could duck back into the apartment and put it up so it’d be a surprise when they got back. It’s Cloud’s old one, the one he’d tried to hide when Zack first talked him into moving in, and Sephiroth had definitely been stifling a laugh when he signed - no, no need to make it out to me, just sign your name, man!. Embarrassing as that was, he’s still excited enough that he basically hustles Cloud over so it’s in view. ]

Ta-da!

Comments

[meteorics]

[ this is (hands down) the best birthday cloud strife has ever had.

the only person who'd ever cared before was his mom, and even though he always appreciated the effort she put into making his favorite dinner and a homemade cake, the day still came with a pang of realization that no one else cared. and then once he got to midgar? it was that realization all over again, and worse because he didn't even have his mom to do her best to make it special. (hell, the automated happy birthday message from the company had even screwed up and sent the text a week late, and that had felt like the universe slapping him right in the face.)

but with zack? it really is the kind of day someone could look forward to all year.

it's not just the morning blowjob (which is great!), or the presents (that show how much attention zack pays to even the things cloud doesn't say outloud), or the cozy little picnic date (which felt so romantic that cloud's pulse is still fluttering), it's... all of it. the sum of every part, the whole concerted effort that tells him zack thinks cloud is the kind of person who deserves a day that special. (and maybe cloud can't understand why, maybe he doesn't agree, but he soaks it up all the same.)

and when zack hustles him over in front of the poster, cloud thinks for a second that its presence on the wall might be the present. don't get him wrong, it's great! zack found a frame for it, and dedicated a highly prime place on the wall for it, and cloud is touched by the gesture, but.

then he spots it.

a signature, graceful and effortless and absolutely unmistakable.

one of his hands is still occupied with holding the flowers zack got for him, but cloud immediately fumbles for one of zack's hands with the other. all so he can give him a squeeze, eyes transfixed on the signature and expression lit up with all the awe and joy of a kid on christmas morning. ]

Zack. [ it's all he can manage, breathless. ] Zack, you --