fourstrings | and if you say run, I'll run with you

and if you say run, I'll run with you

Help, they’re making us

[ A message like that from Cloud would send Zack running at the best of times. It’s not technically breaking any rules to use the company data to find out where he is, and it puts him at ease a little to see he’s in one of the training rooms – until Zack gets there and peeks through the glass of the door.
The orderly lines. The fact that everybody is in PT gear, not uniform. And the fact that Genesis – who Zack is pretty sure by now is at least a little bit of a sadist – is at the front of the room.

It’s time for the lessons.

Zack panics. What kind of friend is he? Why didn’t he warn Cloud? But – it’s early! They don’t usually do this until you’re pretty high up in the ranks! It’s only used for showing off at formal events and, on very rare occasions, infiltration! It’s too soon! It’s Genesis enacting some cruel ploy, Zack just knows it. He’s not even required to instruct, he’s just doing it for his own sick glee! So Zack throws open the door, points at Cloud, and musters his very best attempt at a stern voice as he says I need an assistant. Strife, you’re up.

That, as it turns out, was a mistake.

Genesis turns to face him, the motion smooth as silk, a wicked smile curving his lips and a look of malice glittering in his eyes. If you want one of my students, he says, you will first assist with a demonstration. Which is how Zack ends up letting Genesis lead him in a paso doble in front of the gathered infantrymen. It’s… fine. It’s fine! Zack likes dancing! He doesn’t even mind that he’s not leading, except that he’s being led by Genesis, and the dance requires a lot of intense eye contact, tight turns with their bodies close, and a terrifying incident in which Genesis picks him up by the hips and spins him. But the music is loud and fast, and it’s not so bad when he reminds himself that this is for Cloud, who doesn't deserve to be dropped in a situation like this unprepared.

The dance finishes. Zack bows to Genesis, just like his own lessons hammered home. Genesis offers a sweeping bow in return, something that effortlessly communicates messages such as I know what you’re up to and don’t mess with me, you little shit. Zack straightens, and tries not to pout. ]

Can I get on with my work now?

[ The nod Genesis gives him is almost imperceptible, so Zack beckons to Cloud and hurries the both of them back outside before that maniac can change his mind. ]

What an asshole.

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[ Well, it didn't make him laugh -

but it did interrupt the apologies and the look of mounting panic on Cloud's face, so Zack's calling it a win! ]

Remember. I told you about my froggy past, so this is a no-shame zone. You're doing real good for, what, five minutes of lessons? Believe in yourself, man. I do.

[ he's still... processing...

... and then cloud blinks. once, twice. then: ]

Did you just... [ his voice is wobbling, just a little. ] ... ribbit at me?

[ Zack is still close, voice quiet. Horribly sincere. ]

I did. And I'll do it again. I'm gonna ribbit at you as many times as it takes for you to know there's nothing you can do to look lame to me.

[ Okay, maybe that was a little much. He breaks into a smile. ]

[ there is a long moment where cloud does absolutely nothing except stare. eyes wide, expression impossible to read, dead silent otherwise.

... and then, a little crack in his composure in the form of a snort.

then he has to let go of zack's hands because he's bent double from laughing, almost caving in on himself from the force of his giggling. ]

You can't...! [ trying to wheeze it out between laughs, half-incoherent. ] Y-You can't th-threaten people with ribbits!

[ Cloud lets go of Zack's hand, which is a good thing - Zack's been battling the urge to give him a little kiss with increasing frequency lately, and it's never stronger than when Cloud laughs, all lit up like that. The urge is still there, but the distance makes it a lot less easy to think about just pulling him in close and going for it.

Still good, though. Zack laughs too, the sound of Cloud's mirth absolutely contagious. ]

Can and did. It's up to you now, sunshine. Believe in yourself, or get ribbeted.

[ oh my god!! that just makes the laughter worse, and cloud is forced to brace himself on his knees before he ends up toppling head over heels. ]

D-Don't -- [ pfftahaha. ] D-Don't make it into a-a verb!

[ why are illegal verbs so funny? we just don't know. ]

Too late!

[ And by this point Cloud's laughing has him so caught up that he drops down into a squat to preserve his own balance. Even for the squatmaster it's too much with the force of that laughter, and he ends up just plonking down onto his butt. ]

I'm gonna ribbet you with ribbity ribbets!

S-Stop!

[ cloud doesn't last that much longer on his feet, either. especially not when zack hits him with a whole sentence of ribbeting threats -- there's a final wobble, and then he's plonking down hard on his butt, too. and finally, just flopping down onto his back and letting the stupid fit of giggling wind itself down, blinking hard against the tears burning at the corners of his eyes. ]

I'm taking back what I said about you being a good teacher. [ which would sound a lot more threatening if he hadn't just laughed himself to the point of having the hiccups. aiming a little kick at zack's ankle. ] You're the lamest.

Hey, at least it's getting you out of class!

[ not even a beat to protest being called lame. First of all, he's like 70% sure Cloud doesn't actually think that (or at least likes it, if he does), but mostly it's way different to Cloud calling himself lame. The giggles subside a little as he just Looks at Cloud, laying there on his back, still laughing.

Man, Zack is boned. ]

[ just thinking about class is enough to make him wince!

but... ]

... did they really make you learn the... [ what was the name of it again? ] ... uh, whatever you and Genesis did? That looked... um, way harder than the waltz.

[ and if he has to try to practice something that involves... that much close contact with zack, he's absolutely going to combust. ]

[ Cloud's laughter dying down is enough to get Zack peering at him again, so it's kind of a relief when that's the question. ]

Nah. The required stuff is just the basics. Things like that, the advanced stuff? It's optional. Turns out I really like dancing.

Not so much when it's with Genesis, but hey. [ He shrugs easily. ] At least he didn't trip me. Again.

You're really good at it.

[ it's the kind of compliment given easily, by someone taking for granted that the recipient is just... good at everything.

but then cloud is scrunching up his nose a little, clearly turning something over in his head. ] I don't really get the point of making us learn stuff like this. I mean, even if I end up going to a fancy event, it's not like...

[ ... anyone is ever going to ask me to dance.

but he realizes how depressing that is before the words make it out, so the rest of that sentence just trails away into nothing. ]

[ Zack leans back, propped on his elbows. He doesn't know exactly what Cloud is thinking, but he can hear it in his voice - that little thread of doubt, the mean little goblin voice that seems to pipe up and tell Cloud he's not cool enough or good enough.

So when Zack opens his mouth, he says what he's been thinking but not planning on saying. ]

Aw, come on. You don't wanna light up the floor with me? I was kinda hoping teaching you this would give me one thing to look forward to when I have to get into dress uniform.

[ a blink. and then another, and then it's obvious that those words process all the way by the way that cloud's expression lights up -- a mix of happiness and awe, like every time zack is nice to him is the first time. just as unexpected and just as welcome. ]

You'd wanna dance with me? In front of everyone?

Yeah, man.

[ Like it's the easiest thing in the world to say, even though it treads really close to something he's been trying not to say. Not until he's sure. ]

I like dancing, I like hanging out with you. Put 'em together, that sounds like a pretty good time to me. I'm not in here just 'cause I'm an amazing, charitable, big-hearted, wonderful guy, you know. I'm having fun.

Really?

[ maybe zack's the one with the puppy moniker, but cloud is proving that his own impression isn't half-bad. eyes lit up, the happiness is written all over his face -- it's way too easy to imagine a fluffy blonde tail behind him, wagging happily away. ]

I mean... [ shyly, like it's a secret. ] I'm having fun, too.

I always do, when it's with you.

Really.

[ Okay, that... gets Zack closer to the sure he's been waiting for! It's just - he knows Cloud doesn't have a lot of other friends here - hell, neither does Zack, really. Angeal's great but he's also kind of Zack's boss, and he can't talk to Kunsel the way he can talk to Cloud. If he asks Cloud out and it's awkward then Cloud might avoid him and then they're both down a best friend, and that'll suck. Or Cloud might say yes just to avoid it being weird, and that? Would be a hundred times worse. But this just puts a real shine on that hope he's been steadily polishing.

He lays back so he can spring up (for no reason other than showing off, but hey!) and reaches a hand down to Cloud, an offer to help him up - and to cement what he's said. ]

So come on. First time you get roped into one of Shinra's fancy shindigs, I want first dance.

[ it's obvious! to everyone! that zack would almost definitely be the only dance cloud had, not just the first. ... but cloud still likes it when zack talks like that, like cloud's a big deal, like there's some stiff competition when it comes to spending time with him.

if it came from anyone else, cloud would probably assume it was a joke at his expense. but zack wouldn't, not ever, because zack's a great guy and a real hero and every bit the kind of person cloud is hoping he can grow into someday.

and maybe that warm train of thought is what keeps him from shying away at the idea of the dance lessons resuming. instead, he takes zack's hand so that he can pull himself back to his feet, and then... well. after a second or two to summon the courage, he goes ahead and gets back into the positions they were in before. ]

Like this?

[ Huh. Cloud had his hand on Zack's waist before and it was fine! Nice, but fine! But now that he puts it there himself, it feels warmer somehow. Zack murmurs one sec and fishes out his PHS to skip the music back to the start of that slower waltz, and hopes it covers for his second of fluster as he slips his hand back into Cloud's. ]

Alright. Now we're perfect.

Take it away!

[ Quickly, please, because the longer they stand here the more tempting it is just to kiss him. ]

[ oh! yeah! the actual... dancing part.

cloud waits for a second, mainly just so he can listen in to the music long enough to hear the beat, and then... one step. two steps! three steps. four. just like zack showed him, eyes focused on their feet to make sure that he doesn't trip. and then again through those four steps, and again, and again...!

until finally he's got enough confidence to look up at zack again, beaming. ] Look! We're doing it!

[ They're doing it. They're doing it perfectly, and Zack's barely noticed, because while Cloud's eyes are on their feet Zack's eyes are on Cloud's face. Those bits of fair hair that always seem to fall forward, shading his impossibly blue eyes. The delicate bow of his mouth, and the heart-shattering moment when the tip of Cloud's tongue pokes between his lips for a second in concentration. And then Cloud exclaims in pride, looks up at Zack with such an expression of joy on his face, and Zack doesn't have nearly enough time to wipe the tenderness off his own. ]

We are. You're pretty great, Cloud.

[ It's the sort of thing that he should say loudly, full of encouragement. It comes out soft as chocobo-chick down, like the smile on his face. ]

[ does it work to zack's benefit that cloud is so thrilled that they're dancing that his brain doesn't fully register the look on zack's face? because... dancing! they're dancing! ]

We're great. Together.

We really are.

[ It's still warm, even though there's a part of Zack that definitely registers that he dodged a bullet. Sadly, that part of him is not really in communication with the rest of him, because the rest of him spies (and seizes) the opportunity to shorten his next set of steps slightly, so that when Cloud moves forward and Zack moves backwards, they end up closer than they were. It's so nice to be like this - close, moving together, Cloud's face all lit up with pride. ]

When your lessons come up for real you're gonna smoke 'em. We'll be doing a tango in no time.

[ oh. oh.

suddenly, they're... a lot closer. almost chest-to-chest, even though that's not quite right, given that zack's nearly a head taller. but still! the song is slow and sweet, zack is close enough for cloud to be able to breathe in and smell his shampoo, and wow. maybe he should be imagining dancing like this with tifa, but...

honestly? there's only one person he's thinking of, and no need to imagine him.

maybe it's an uncharacteristic fit of boldness. maybe it's temporary insanity. but cloud shifts until he can slide an arm around zack's waist, the heat burning in his cheeks as he swallows down the instinctive urge to ask is this okay? ]

It's okay if we stick with this dance for awhile. I like it.

[ Wow, okay. Wow. Zack's so used to having to egg Cloud on about stuff that he was fully prepared to have to justify why he wanted Cloud to lead in the dance, and here Cloud is... leading. Cloud's arm is warm around Zack's waist even through his shirt, and they're close enough that their clothing brushes in little whispers as they move. Like it's saying tell him, tell him.

Zack moves the hand on Cloud's shoulder, slides it closer so his fingers curl softly at the back of Cloud's neck. It's still a perfectly acceptable waltz, they're still keeping perfect time. It just feels a lot less ballroom and a lot more... getting mushy with your date at your best friend's wedding.

Wow. ]

Good. Me too.

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