fourstrings | glaciers have melted to the sea

glaciers have melted to the sea

[ Before he’d actually made SOLDIER, Zack had figured the mako treatment was a one-time deal. Get an injection or whatever and BAM! You’re supercharged! Go fight the good fight! The reality of it is that it’s an ongoing thing, and not even one you can really plan for because you get like three day’s notice – a week, if you’re lucky – and then you have to go in and get a treatment that takes all morning and can leave you useless for days. If there’s a pattern to it Zack doesn’t know what it is – one time Angeal got called in twice and Zack didn’t even have to go once – but the one time he asked about how they decided who got treatments when, the people in medical told him it was classified in a snooty kind of way that made it sound like he should have known better than to ask.

This time, he gets told two days ahead. It’s the shortest notice he’s ever had. It feels different after, too; he feels achy and heavy and a little sick to his stomach, which is normal, but it usually makes him want to sleep for a week and this time instead of that there’s just this buzzing under his skin, restless, like an itch. He can’t help thinking maybe it’s for the best; this is the first time he’s been called in while he and Cloud have been together, so it’s the first time he’s gonna see Cloud after, and he’s glad Cloud’s first intro to what he’s gonna have to do eventually isn’t one of the really bad ones.

Cloud’s pretty great about it, though. The guys from medical wheel Zack back – standard procedure – and Cloud is waiting, ready with a surprisingly well-told fib about just being here to keep an eye on his friend, and he brings Zack some water and steers him right to bed to sleep like Zack had warned him he’d probably want to do, and just sits with him, running fingers through his hair in a way that really does help with the headache.

Except. Zack can’t sleep. That itchy-under-his-skin feeling is still there and the pressure that feels like it’s building up in him is only getting worse. He fidgets, tosses and turns a little, and he doesn’t mean to be rude when Cloud asks if he’s okay and he doesn’t respond, it’s just a lot. Eventually he plants his face into Cloud’s lap, frustrated, wanting the comfort, and -

oh. Oh. Yeah. That’s better. That’s good. Cloud smells amazing, and before Zack really knows what he’s doing he’s pushing Cloud’s shirt up and out of the way so he can bury his face against the younger boy’s stomach, breathing him in and pressing a warm, open-mouthed kiss to the skin there.

He’s popped some unexpected boners before, but he’s never gotten hard as fast as he gets hard once he’s touching Cloud’s bare skin. ]

Cloud.

[ He has more to say than that, surely! He pulls at Cloud's shirt. ]

Off.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No.

[ That's pretty rude. Even Zack can recognize that, through the sudden fog of want that's crawling over him. He shakes his head, presses another kiss to Cloud's stomach and sighs against his skin. ]

I thought I did. Thought I would, I mean. It's different this time.

[ He puts a hand on Cloud's leg, runs it up over his thigh, squeezes there. He knows he probably looks like shit - he's usually pale after a treatment, shadows under his eyes, everyone always is, but Cloud'll kiss him with morning breath or crazy bed hair so he's pretty sure that's not it. Cloud's just trying to look after him!

This just isn't how Zack wants to be looked after right now. ]

I'm just tense. My whole body feels like it's gotta sneeze and it can't.

[ It's good for him to talk about symptoms - there's gonna be a debrief after where he has to do this anyway - so the tone of his voice is casual, but he's still pawing at Cloud's thigh as he says it, still kissing over his stomach. ]

[ that is... definitely a description. of something.

and cloud's not exactly sure what he can do about that -- not even sure whether he can blame zack's incredible command of language for the fact that he's confused, or if it's just because it's very distracting to have zack's mouth on his stomach and hand squeezing his thigh. whatever the case, it's putting a serious crimp in cloud's plans to be the Very Best Boyfriend Ever! how the hell are you supposed to help someone with a full-body sneeze? ]

Um... [ trying very hard to focus on the problem at hand and not what zack is doing, because getting a boner seems like one of the number one cardinal sins when you're taking care of someone. ] Do you want... a massage, maybe?

[ if he's tense, that'll help! right? ]

[ A massage? That seems like a rude and demanding thing to ask for, but... maybe! He feels so wound up, like there's electricity zipping under his skin. A massage might calm him down! And the idea of Cloud's hands on him is good, a part of his brain starting up a little chant of yes yes yes touch me touch me at the thought of it. ]

Yeah. I mean - do you mind? That sounds really nice.

[ But he's still kissing the soft skin of Cloud's stomach, not even really aware of it. Definitely not totally aware of what he's doing when he licks softly against it and hums at the taste of Cloud. ]

Yeah! [ brightly! enthusiastically! not only because cloud is more than happy to do anything if it'll help zack feel better, but also because it gives him an excuse to start wriggling away from zack licking him before his stupid dick betrays him.

cloud is going to be a good, kind, unselfish boyfriend! even if it kills him. ]

I think I have some muscle balm somewhere, that's supposed to help with tension... [ but he's gonna have to get up and get it, which is currently impossible with zack spider-monkey'd onto him. ] It's, um, in the bathroom? I think.

[ Okay, Zack knows how important it is to Cloud to help him through this. He remembers when he told Cloud he was up for a treatment and Cloud got that intense look he gets and made his hands into fists! He wants to let him do that! It'll be nice for both of them! So he slowly, reluctantly detaches himself, but not without giving a little whine as he does. No! He can't make Cloud feel bad about this! He puts one hand back on Cloud, just to pet at him. ]

Thanks. I'm really glad you're here with me.

[ Especially after this one, which seems... hinky. He's never felt like this before; usually he just wants to go to bed and sleep it off and wakes up after like a day feeling ready to take on the world. He's never been... restless like this before. He's so lucky to have Cloud! ]

[ the whine makes him pause. not just because of the little pang of guilt that it sends through him, but... he's worried! as long as cloud has known him, it's pretty rare to even see zack sitting still for more than a few minutes at a time. so watching him be laid up like this? it just makes cloud extra worried.

if it's enough to take zack down, it has to be extra-extra-extra bad, right? ]

Or maybe... I should call someone? [ not actually getting up from his perch on the edge of the bed, not yet. petting a hand gently through zack's hair, like he's hoping some of that comfort can soak in and help. ] The guy who brought you back left a card, just in case. Or, um... I could use your PHS to call General Hewley?

It's not bad. It's just different to how it normally is. I kinda feel better than normal, actually. Usually I'm really tired and I feel a little sick. Right now it's just like... fidgety. Wound up. Like I gotta do something, but I don't know what.

[ It's really cute that Cloud still calls Angeal General Hewley. It's cute that he's so concerned, too, but it's fine! Really! Maybe he just needs to get up and do some squats or something, burn off the energy and show Cloud he's a-okay all at once. And while he's having these thoughts, without him even realizing, he has moved to the edge of the bed and twined himself around Cloud again, nosing at the warm place where his neck meets his shoulder and kissing there. Some of that wound up tension dissipates when he does, and he sighs against Cloud's skin. ]

[ cloud strife is clearly dating a very dangerous octopus. he's barely even been sitting still for a minute, and zack is already all wrapped around him again? and worse, he's also kissing the place on cloud's neck that makes him go all hot and shivery inside, which isn't exactly helping him think. ]

Umm... they sounded pretty serious that you were supposed to stay in bed and take it easy... [ but... it kind of seems like zack is in The Mood? and if they fool around, that technically means zack is staying bed...!

the math is mathing. ]

Here. Scoot back a little, I've got an idea. [ nudging at zack to get him to move back to where they were on the bed. ]

Okay.

[ With a pout, because scooting back means moving away from Cloud, and he's not totally sure how he got back on Cloud again but it seems unfair to have to let go of him twice! Still, he scoots. Dutiful and trying to be as excited about hearing this idea as he was about the way Cloud's skin smells there, all warm and delicious and essence of Cloud. ]

[ okay! okay.

the little pout on zack's face just makes cloud feel mean, so he wastes no time in scooting himself right back with him! then... it kinda seemed like zack was into skin-to-skin contact? so cloud strips his own shirt up and over his head, tossing it in the general direction of the laundry hamper before he nudges at zack to lie down again. then he tucks himself snugly up along the other boy's side, wriggling to get comfy. ]

Here. This better?

Yeah.

[ Better is an understatement! Cloud's skin is warm and soft and smells like Cloud, and Zack wastes no time rolling onto his side so they're pressed chest-to-chest. His hands start roaming Cloud's skin right away, stroking, and he ducks his head so he can put his face right back where it was. Cloud smells so good. He tastes good, too, the proof of that clear when one of the kisses he's pressing against Cloud's throat turns open-mouthed so he can lap at his skin.

Pressing himself close like this is the first time he notices that he's ragingly hard and has been basically since he got his head in Cloud's lap, but it's hard to feel embarrassed about that when Cloud feels so good. This is the best idea, exactly what he needed. Cloud is a genius. ]

[ oh.

it takes about .03 seconds after zack rolls over for cloud to realize that... uh, hey, if he does end up getting a boner, at least he won't be alone! and that makes it easier not to feel guilty about how he might react to how good zack's mouth feels on his throat. ] Okay. Good.

[ relief! at least he's found something that helps.

and... he wants to keep helping. which is why cloud slides a hand shyly down zack's front, working it between them until he can rub his palm against the bulge straining at the front of zack's pants. his voice drops a little lower, almost like it's a secret: ] What about this?

Mmm.

[ Just a low hum as he rolls his hips forward and presses himself into Cloud's touch before he remembers that Cloud asked him a question and he's being rude. ]

That's good. That's really good.

[ It is! It feels good, obviously, but it's also like it focuses all the jitters he has. Like the prickly, marching-ants feeling all over his skin contracts and focuses itself into pleasure where Cloud's touching him. He sighs at the relief of it, grazes teeth against Cloud's neck. ]

You're the best medicine.

[ awesome! maybe cloud can still crush it when it comes to the whole Being An Awesome Boyfriend thing. taking care of zack like this is... uh, a little different to anything he'd planned, but cloud's not complaining! if it makes zack feel good, he's more than willing -- and it's not like touching zack like this is ever a hardship.

it's helpful that zack dressed to be comfy for the whole procedure -- the soft sweatpants he's wearing just have a button at the fly, so it's easy for cloud to pop that open and slide his hand inside. there, he can wrap his fingers around zack properly, sighing a little at the feeling of zack already hot and hard against his palm. ]

[ He groans at that touch. Loud, unguarded, totally shameless. It's so good already - Cloud's hand is warm, a beautiful combination of softness with little calluse patches from his rifle like extra points of stimulation, and Zack can't help rocking up into his grip. He grabs for the front of Cloud's pants before he remembers his manners and thinks to check - Zack wants to make this good for Cloud too, but he did go kind of 1-100 on him there! Maybe Cloud's not as into it! And if he's not, they should stop, which is gonna suck but he needs to know! ]

Can I touch you too?

[ oh. the way zack groans is enough to make cloud dizzy -- almost definitely the thought of all that blood promptly leaving his brain so it can race downwards towards his dick. and when zack follows it up by groping at the front of cloud's pants? his response is an embarrassing little whine, hips jolting forward into zack's touch before he can stop himself. ]

A-Are you sure? I mean, I'm... [ giving zack a little squeeze, then following it with a slow stroke from base to tip. ] ... supposed to be taking care of you.

I'm sure. That feels good. I wanna make you feel good, too. I wanna hear all the little noises you make when you do. Wanna see your face like that.

[ He's on the right track, he can tell. He can... smell it, kinda? Maybe taste it? Or... hear it, something like that. Whatever it is, he can tell. Cloud likes touching him like this, it's turning him on, and he'd feel good if Zack touched him, too. ]

[ okay. okay! it's not like cloud was ever gonna take a lot of convincing, but if it makes zack feel good? then... it's all part of his master plan to be the best boyfriend ever, right? ]

Then yeah. [ shyly, even though it's just the two of them. ] You can touch me.

Edited 2023-02-01 07:23 (UTC)

Good.

[ Thanks probably would have been better, more polite, but for now he's just concerned with getting Cloud's pants out of the way so he can wrap a hand around his cock. He growls when he does - he was right. It feels good, hot in his hand, and he strokes just like Cloud was doing for him. ]

I love the way your cock feels in my hand. Wish I could just spend all my time touching you.

[ That's... considerably more blunt than he usually is, at least this early on, but at least it's honest? ]

[ oh. oh, wow. that growl already goes straight through cloud in a bolt of heat, but. zack saying that??? to him??? oh boy. cloud can feel the way the heat leaps up into his face, and... oh man, is it possible to pass out because your face and your dick are hogging all the blood? it seems... possible. especially because his brain is kind of forgetting how to function enough to... Words. ]

I-I -- Um, I -- [ there is a part of him, traitorous and uncool, that wants to blurt out something stupid. like thanks. instead, cloud tries to focus his attention on starting up a proper rhythm of stroking zack -- nice and slow. ] Wow.

[ Wow is right. Cloud starts stroking over him with rhythm, and whatever's going on with this weird round of mako suddenly feels like a good thing. It's like each stroke is a wave that spreads out through his whole body, warm and wonderful. Shame Cloud didn't get one too, really - but Zack still matches pace, grinning as he feels Cloud thicken in his hand, plumping up the rest of the way to fully hard. The thought that Zack is the one doing that for him makes him grin, and he ducks his face to Cloud's neck again, nips gently there before he sucks the skin tight and hums at the feel of it. ]

[ zack's mouth finds cloud's neck, and the way he sucks at the skin there is enough to make cloud gasp, rhythm faltering as his brain sizzles with static. zack's usually careful about leaving marks, even if the scarf that comes with cloud's uniform is enough to cover them. but, uh. if that's what he feels like doing? cloud is not complaining.

it takes effort just to get his own stupid hand back to moving again, stroking over zack in steady pumps. not because he doesn't like doing it, but -- jeez. when zack starts touching him, it's hard not to end up in a drooling, useless heap. maybe cloud should have banned touching, after all. ]

You're good at this. Feels amazing, Cloud. My Cloud. You're always so good.

[ Cloud may be having trouble focusing, but it doesn't make a bit of difference to Zack. It's incredible. It always is, but especially now, when it calms the jangling that's been running through his body and focuses it on how good he feels instead. He kinda wants to suck another mark into Cloud's skin, but there's time for that. Lifts his head to find Cloud's mouth instead and kisses him, deep and hungry, and that's good too. Cloud's mouth is warm and wet, and it feels like Zack can taste how much he wants this. ]

[ what?? is happening??

there's a very small part of cloud that pipes up with a concern that maybe they need to call general hewley after all, because someone in the labs must've swapped zack out with a lookalike that has it out for cloud. because this zack? is clearly trying to kill him.

heaping praise on him, even though cloud is barely even doing anything. marking him up for other people to see, calling him my cloud. all of it is making cloud so turned on he's dizzy with it, and he's just lucky that zack stifles his whine when he seals their mouths together. even the kiss is just... whoa. wow. it's the kind of kiss zack usually saves when one of them has been away on deployment for awhile, and they finally have each other back behind closed doors again.

and when cloud finally has to break it just to breathe? he's flushed and panting, dazed. ] Wow.

Yeah.

[ It's wow! It's very wow. Cloud's breathing heavy, and that's amazing, like a shot right to his ego. But he wants - ]

Wait.

[ He wants to be naked. Nothing between him and Cloud. He rubs his thumb over the head of Cloud's dick like a little apology before he removes his hand so he can strip off the rest of Cloud's clothes, does the same with his own in short order. The he settles back in to kiss Cloud again, and if he presses in close so he can rub their dicks together who can blame him? Cloud is hot, Zack can't help but appreciate him. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject