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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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.

[ feeling like you're gonna melt right through your boots is a totally normal dancing thing, right? it has to be. because this is a totally normal dance, and... wow.

zack moves his hand until his fingers are brushing the back of cloud's neck, and it almost feels like his touch is electrified with bolt materia. like there are little sparks where zack's skin is touching his, buzzing down cloud's spine and exploding into little butterflies in his stomach. and maybe there's a part of him that realizes that it wouldn't be like this if he danced with just anyone, but... maybe he also doesn't want to think too closely about that, because if he does, it'll pop this little magic bubble. ]

[ Can a heart actually beat so loud that someone else can hear it without putting their head right on your chest? Zack feels like he's gonna find out, 'cause they might be doing a waltz but his heart is slam dancing in there, right up against the wall of his ribs. And... he's not imagining it, right? Cloud feels the same way. Or he wouldn't have curled that arm around him, would've moved away when Zack touched the back of his neck.

He's bursting to say something, but it would have to be good. Not the first dumbass thing into his mind - or worse, the kind of thing that pops out of his mouth without passing through his mind at all. He'll brew on it a little longer. It's hardly taxing, when just dancing like this with Cloud is so good. Just the music and the two of them, moving together in perfect sync.

Which, of course, is when the track winds to a close. A swell of instruments, a sweet, sustained note at the end, and knows enough to know that in a formal setting you're supposed to bow to your partner at the end of a dance. What he does instead, in the quiet heartbeat between this piece ending and then next beginning, is duck his head and brush the softest kiss against Cloud's lips. Just the way he'd want to if they were doing this for real. ]

[ this dance is going really well...! it's actually kind of easy once cloud stops thinking about it so hard, just focuses on the music and how those simple steps flow with the rhythm. and it's... really nice to have an excuse to be this close to zack without having to worry if zack is going to think he's weird, or --

right on cue, the music ends.

and cloud looks up to say something, not even halfway sure what it's going to be, but it immediately flies right out of his head when zack leans down and brushes a kiss against his mouth. so soft that cloud could almost be forgiven for thinking it didn't happen at all -- except for the way his heart is hammering as a result.

but! all he can do? is freeze like a big lug, eyes wide and unbelieving. ]

[ His first instinct is to apologize. Cloud's eyes are always pretty big but now they're huge with - surprise? Shock? Probably would have been a better move to ask first, but - ]

Was that okay?

[ He's... 90% confident that the answer is going to be yes. Which is why he doesn't step back, or take his hand away from Cloud's neck. The only physical betrayal of his sudden onset of doubt is the way his eyed dart around Cloud's face, like he can figure out the answer before Cloud says it.

Fuck, he hopes it's yes. ]

[ yes. the obvious answer is yes.

but cloud's brain is still more than a little shell-shocked, which means that the first thing that actually comes out is: ]

Oh.

[ ... wait, what? let's try this again. ] You kissed me.

[ no! no! that wasn't yes at all!! and now he's lifting a hand to touch his lips like he's looking for confirmation, because that's the totally cool and reasonable way to respond to someone smooching you. ]

Sure did.

[ It would sound very smooth, if the tone of Zack's voice wasn't edging slowly towards panic. On the bright side, Cloud doesn't sound outraged. On the... other side, he does sound a little bewildered. Like he might if Zack suddenly showed up with purple hair, or ate his PHS. Not like he'd maybe been thinking about it too, hoping for it.

Hmm. ]

I could... do it again. Or never do it again and apologize until the day I die. Up to you.

[ okay, maybe it's the fact that zack is offering to never do it again that finally snaps cloud out of it. he blinks hard, eyes snapping back up towards zack's face, and...

... there's a definite bloom of pink in his cheeks when he speaks again. ]

Again. [ it's soft, but his voice gets a little stronger as he finishes the thought. ] You should definitely do it again.

[ OKAY PHEW

that's great to hear, and Zack grins at Cloud for a beat before he does just as ordered. This time the permission makes him more confident, and he lingers a little - still close-mouthed, but the press of his lips is warm and slow. And it's good. Just that, the warmth of Cloud's lips against his - so soft! does he use chapstick or something? - the scent of him, having him close. And when he pulls back, he's right back to grinning. ]

I gotta say, I'm glad you went for option a.

[ that grin is enough to make his heart skip a beat, but it's nothing on the way it feels when zack leans back in for that second kiss. and this time, cloud gets it together enough to lean up and meet him -- rocking up onto his tiptoes and tipping his chin up.

and wow! wow! it's a real kiss!

... not that the first one wasn't, but cloud's with it enough this time to be aware of the way his heart does a little stutter-step in his chest and the way that it feels like there's electricity jumping back and forth between he and zack. (is that what people mean when they talk about sparks?)

and by the time zack pulls back, cloud is grinning. from ear to ear, so wide it hurts his face. ]

Wow.

Yeah, I thought so too!

[ Okay, this is great! Dance lessons were a better idea than he even knew! 'cause he like kissing Cloud, and juding by the way Cloud moved into it this time and the grin on his face, Cloud likes it too!

Oh, except - ]

I feel like I should say I didn't bring you here for this. I really did just wanna teach you to dance. You just looked so -

[ Zack Fair, do not say cute! ]

irresistable.

Oh. [ it should be impossible for cloud to get even more pink. somehow, despite all logic and reason, he proves that it isn't. ]

I don't mind! I mean -- [ wait. chewing on the inside corner of his lip for a moment, and then: ] ... wait. Those weren't like... friend-kisses, right?

[ what the fuck is a friend-kiss? ] B-Because it's okay if they were! I just wanna make sure --

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