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

[exsurgo]

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.

Comments

[exsurgo]

Yeah.

[ NO! ]

I mean - you too. I swear I'm not gonna turn into a huge booger just because we're dating now, please don't change your mind.

[ He grins, and duck to give Cloud a kiss in the hope that'll make up for what was definitely a display of boogeration. Idly, he takes a looser part of Cloud's shirt between his forefinger and thumb, rubs at it gently. It's just as soft as it looks. And then he smiles, a horrible idea dawning. ]

I like this shirt. What kind of fabric is it?

[meteorics]

[ it's funny -- cloud almost forgot how nice it is to be able to kiss zack like this, nice and easy. like they've been doing it for ages already, even if his heart still does a little flutter like it's the first time.

but... that?

cloud blinks. once, twice. ... then fixes zack with a deadpan look, voice flat. ]

If you say boyfriend material, I'm going back to the barracks.

[exsurgo]

[ He was 100% going to say boyfriend material. It's kinda better that he got Cloud to say it, though! ]

You say that, but I have confidence in my charm. And the fact that my apartment smells at least a little less like feet than the barracks do. C'mon, come sit with me.

[ He heads over to the sofa and collapses into it. It's so good like this; hanging out the way they always do, but now with added kissing! Kissing is the best. Kissing Cloud is the best, ever. ]

I didn't order pizza yet. Figured this way you could choose, and also I got so carried away tryna get cute for you that I forgot I was hungry. So we can do that, or we can bust out the game, or we can just... you know. Hang.

[ And kiss? ]

[meteorics]

[ the thing is, zack is 100% right to be confident in his charm. cloud would hang out with him even if his apartment did smell like sweaty cadet feet. (but that doesn't mean cloud has to go and confirm it for him!)

but he's more than happy to follow zack over to the couch, and even to flop down beside him! ... and then, in a feat of Bold and Daring, to even lean up against him, because that's boyfriend territory, right? ]

... you got cute for me? [ impossible not to sound delighted about it. ]

[exsurgo]

[ Wow. Not so long ago Cloud was super shy even about accepting when Zack offered to help him with something. Now here he is, plonking down and leaning against Zack like he thinks he belongs there just as much as Zack does. It's nice! And furthermore, it's hot. Zack slings an arm around Cloud's shoulders, welcoming him in to the space he's claimed for himself, and gives his best puppy pout. ]

You sound surpised. Does that mean it didn't work?

[ Yes, he's fishing. ]

[meteorics]

Yeah, you kinda missed the mark.

[ he's trying his best to maintain a Super Serious face, but the effect is ruined by the way he's going pink all over again. ]

I think you got, um, hot instead.

[exsurgo]

[ Bold. Not so bold that Zack doesn't notice Cloud blushing at saying it, which makes it perfect - it's just right. The Cloud he fell for, just with a little added spice. Zack can feel himself going a little pink at being told, and he screws his face up in mock disgust. ]

Gross. We've only been boyfriends for half an hour and we've already turned into one of those couples who match their outfits.

[ And then, just to be sure it's not the jeans-and-tshirt combo he's referring to: ]

You look hot, too. If me gaping at you when I opened the door didn't tip you off.

[meteorics]

[ he spots the pink! which means...! that was a Successful Flirt!! (he's totally going to tell his mom all about it in his weekly letter home.)

but then zack is calling him hot, and it's... kinda hard to believe this is real? it was hard enough to wrap his head around the idea that zack wanted to be friends with him, but! zack thinking he's hot? zack wanting to kiss him? wow.

but, wait. he stiffens suddenly, eyes going wide. ]

... does this mean we have to fill out one of those... forms?

[exsurgo]

[ That's kind of a crash back to reality. And he gets why Cloud would want to keep it quiet, he does! It's half the reason he didn't make a move sooner; if someone's already getting teased, a relationship with a superior officer is ammo the others don't need. Can't get into Soldier on his own merits, has to dole out favours instead - never mind that it's normal for someone Cloud's age not to have made Soldier yet unless they're freaky lucky like Zack (or just freaky, like Sephiroth).

Still, he'd kinda liked the idea of not having to hide his feelings anymore. Just little stuff, like sitting close at mess. Not that PDA wouldn't get them in trouble even if they were official, but the thought of it was nice. ]

We don't have to. If you wanna keep this just between us, we can do that. 'course, that means if I slip up we get busted for fraternization instead of just pushups and kitchen duty. Angeal might try to cover for me, but it's more likely he'd kick my ass himself. He's big on honor.

[meteorics]

I don't wanna get you in trouble! Especially not with Angeal.

[ if it comes down to zack's reputation versus his, the choice is easy! after all, cloud already gets ragged on for plenty of dumb stuff -- if people want to give him crap for dating a SOLDIER, whatever! it's not like some people haven't already thrown around the accusation about trying to sleep his way up through the ranks, and he and zack rarely did anything friendlier in public than a fistbump or a one-armed hug. ]

And I don't... mind people knowing. As long as it's okay with you, I mean. I just... [ squirming just a little. ] ... I heard they make you do an interview about it. What if they ask about... weird stuff?

[exsurgo]

[ Hearing Cloud say he doesn't mind people knowing goes a long way to making Zack feel better about all this. He's not as dumb as some people like to say he is, but he's not crafty enough to pull off the secret boyfriends routine - and it's just nice to know that Cloud likes him enough to be open about it! No, nice doesn't cut it. Cloud cares what people think about him, and the fact that he's willing to put his relationship with Zack above the inevitable teasing they're both gonna get? That melts Zack.

Of course, the last thing is an easy fix, and he grins. ]

I'll just file directly with Angeal. Dude'd pay money not to hear about my sex life.

[ oh, shi- ]

[meteorics]

Wha --?!

[ that... isn't a better option!!! ]

N-No way! He's like... almost your dad! What if he wants to give me the talk?

[exsurgo]

More like a big brother.

[ Which is still not great, considering the hot minute that scrawny young Zack spent with a huge throbbing crush on the hero who looked at a little backwater nobody and saw potential, but that is not information that needs to enter this conversation. ]

He gave me the talk, once. It went:

[ and he drops his voice considerably, trying to affect Angeal's low tones and doing a shitty job of it ]

"Zack, if anything ever tries anything with you that you don't want, you tell me immediately. And if I ever hear about you trying something with someone that they don't want, I'll rip your arm off and beat you in the head with the soggy end."

It'll be fine!

[meteorics]

[ if zack needs a physical indication of how Not Fine this option is, it'd be the way that cloud has gone white as a sheet. ]

Zack. [ this is the voice of someone deadly serious. someone speaking without the slightest hint of hyperbole. ] If Angeal tells me he's gonna rip my arm off and beat me with the soggy end, I'm gonna die on the spot. Right there, right in front of him.

[exsurgo]

[ Judging by the look on Cloud's face, that's not an exaggeration. Zack can't resist leaning forward and giving him a little peck on the forehead for comfort. ]

I'm pretty sure that was just for me, 'cause he feels responsible for me. He'd probably just ask you if you said yes because I'm technically your superior and you thought you had to.

If he does, please say no. I'm gonna be way worse as a dance partner with only one arm.

[meteorics]

[ he's not even sure whether it's the reassurance that gets a smile out of him, or whether it's the kiss on the forehead. maybe a winning combination of both? ]

You want me to tell him that it was totally your cheesy jokes that sealed the deal?

[exsurgo]

Yeah. Better leave out the promise of stickers. That might seem like bribery.

[ Cloud's seeming less stressed about the whole deal, so that's a win! Zack tightens the arm he has around Cloud into a proper hug, and smiles at him. ]

We're gonna ace the interview. We're just two guys who are really into each other! Even if he wanted to dig up dirt, we haven't got any.

[meteorics]

I'll keep that part between us.

[ ugh. with zack smiling at him and zack's arm around him, it's really hard not to feel optimistic about... everything. like everything's gonna work out perfectly, just because zack says it will.

so cloud leans into him a little further, nestling up against zack's side. ]

I just don't wanna screw up. Not when it comes to important stuff.

[exsurgo]

[ There's a fleeting impulse to tease - a little oooh, i'm important to you on the tip of Zack's tongue, but... why go for it? Cloud's important to him, too. That's good, and it's special, and it's not something he wants to joke about. Not now, when everything feels so new but so right that they might have been like this for years already. The threads his fingers into Cloud's hair instead, stroking gnetly instead of the usual ruffling. ]

Same. I'm joking a lot, but it important to me too. I wanna do this right. All of it, not just the interview. Being the best damn boyfriend you could hope for.

[meteorics]

[ oh. that feels nice -- little tingles along his scalp everywhere zack's fingertips are stroking, and cloud can't help but lean into the touch. ]

You already are. [ earnest, and he punctuates the sentiment by butting his head against zack's shoulder. ] Just because you're you. There's no way anyone could out-boyfriend you. Not even someone like Angeal.

[exsurgo]

Crazy talk.

[ But he's grinning ear to ear. It's great to hear, considering how long he's spent thinking how much he'd like to be Cloud's boyfriend, and be great at it. ]

I haven't even done anthing yet! You gotta set your bar higher, man.

[ Although on the off-chance that Cloud's basing that opinion just on the kissing... time to kiss him. Slow and sweet, full of all the affection Zack is feeling. ]

[meteorics]

[ man. how many times does someone have to kiss you like that before it stops making your head swim? it's... kinda cool to think that they're gonna have the chance to find out.

and by the time zack pulls away again, cloud is grinning -- too far gone to even care that he probably looks like a dope, all kiss-drunk and floaty. ]

You call that not doing anything? I dunno if I can handle what happens when you start trying.

[exsurgo]

[ Man, Zack could really get used to seeing that expression on Cloud's face. Bright, happy, almost a little stunned. It's awesome! ]

Only one way to find out, huh?

[ He waggles his eyebrows at Cloud, laughing. He could ride this high forever. ]

When's your next day off? I wanna plan ahead. I'm gonna dazzle you with trying.

[meteorics]

Ummm...

[ glancing up at the ceiling for a sake of a little mental math. ]

I've got tomorrow off, but that's probably short notice for dazzling. After that... uh... next Tuesday, maybe? If they don't call us in again for extra shifts.

[exsurgo]

[ Next Tuesday? Zack can cook up something totally insane by next Tuesday! But in the meantime... he wriggles a little, shifting until he can pull out his PHS, navigates one-handed through a few forms because like hell he's unhooking that arm from around Cloud's shoulders, and then snaps the PHS closed with a grin. ]

I'm claiming next Tuesday. Aaaand I just put through an official requisition for your assistance, so you're mine for the rest of the day. I'm gonna -

[ wait, he did it again. ]

Uh, is that okay?