fourstrings | no matter any weather

no matter any weather

[ It’s funny how things come full circle, sometimes. They’d been on holiday in Costa del Sol when Zack pulled the fantasy of working a little farm together out of thin air. Now they’re moving everything into the little farm they’ve bought for cheap because the previous owners won big at the Gold Saucer, wanted to sell up and move to Costa del Sol. So lucky, it’s like something straight out of a dream. Fitting, since the process of getting here had seemed like a nightmare.

It started with Wutai. No, it should have started with Wutai. All those people who just wanted to live their lives on their own land, and Shinra sent in SOLDIER to make sure that didn’t happen. And Zack had done as he was told; loved it, even, thinking only of impressing Director Lazard. But then there’d been that girl who tried to scam him, sending him off to find materia, and it was only after Zack had made her cry a couple times that he started asking questions. Like, what did a little kid need all that materia for anyway, and where were all the adults in her life when she was out trying to swindle a member of Shinra’s elite fighting force?

He'd gone to Angeal hoping to be talked out of his doubts. That? Had not happened. What happened was a fast track to honorable discharge (with documentation that Zack strongly suspects was faked, because Shinra doesn’t let anyone go easy) for him and Cloud both, money that Angeal had said he wasn’t going to need with a funny sort of smile on his face. Zack hadn’t understood, but by the end of Angeal’s explanation he’d been in tears, and never more grateful that Cloud, at least, had never made it into SOLDIER. Although even if he had, it probably wouldn’t have stopped him from looking like he was going to faint when Angeal gave them both goodbye hugs and told them to live well.

He'll never forget it, but it seems very far away now. They didn’t have a lot of possessions to move. The farm equipment was included in the sale, and the house on the land is small but cosy; lots of polished wood surfaces, a fireplace in the living room, faded floral curtains that the owner had said would need to be replaced, but that Zack kind of likes. Best of all is the little stable with a pair of work chocobos; they’d been wary of Zack, fluffing up their feathers to seem bigger, but when Cloud had gone in and quietly said hi to them it had only taken about ten minutes for one of them to nestle her head in against Cloud’s neck and the look on his face had made it all worth it.

Tomorrow, he’ll be planting all day. There’s a tiny crop of corn and greens for chocobo feed, but the rest of the fields have lain fallow since the old owners made their plans to get out. It’s gonna take work to get it running profitably, but it’ll be good work. Honest. And he’ll have Cloud here with him; Cloud, who has just put down the last box and is standing there looking around the room like he can’t quite believe it. Zack can; he believes in this, because he believes in Cloud. He walks over and loops his arms around him from behind, nuzzles his face into Cloud’s hair. ]

Welcome home.

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[ there's a blink as zack suddenly shifts to fish something out of the nightstand, and cloud props himself up on one elbow so that he can see. honestly? with zack, you never exactly know what you're getting. it could be a drawer dildo that he pulls out with shameless enthusiasm ("i thought we could try this out together!), or...

it's something heart-meltingly sweet.

cloud reaches out to brush his fingertips across the petals, expression soft. it makes his heart ache that zack remembers a little throw-away comment from months ago, that it would mean so much to him that he'd go to all the trouble to put together this gift. then again, that's zack all over. so much more than cloud can ever believe he deserves. ]

Zack. [ pitched low. he doesn't have the words, everything that comes to mind just seems... trite. stupid. ... but it does bring to mind something he's been rolling over in his head for months, something that was always impossible when they were back on active duty. ]

I've been -- [ sitting up just a little further, reaching up to pull the dog tags off from around his neck. it doesn't compare to those little petals, not at all, but it's still irresistible to know it's something he can have, now. ] ... I want you to wear these. I've been thinking about it for a while.

[ rubbing his thumb over the raised metal imprint of his name, suddenly a little self-conscious. ] I just want you to have part of me with you. Always.

[ Oh, wow.

Zack still has his tags... somewhere. Buried in his stuff. He'd taken them off the second their leaving was official, known he'd never wear them again, but couldn't quite bring himself to throw them away. But Cloud's? He can wear those proudly. A little piece of Cloud to sit over his heart, the same way he carries Cloud inside it. ]

Cloud...

[ He can't think of anything to say that would express what he's feeling. Ducks his head instead, inviting Cloud to deliver the dog tags to their new home. ]

[ and cloud's more than happy to deliver them there. loops them carefully over zack's head, then reaches around to tug his hair gently out from under the loop of chain. with zack still leaning over him, they swing free -- but cloud takes a moment to press them against zack's chest with his fingertips, holding them against zack's heart. ]

They look better on you, anyway. [ with a little lopsided smile, leaning in to steal another kiss off zack's mouth. ]

[ Aw, shit. Aw, fuck. He is not going to cry.

Cloud presses his hand over the tags, over Zack's heart, and Zack folds his own hand over it. Leans in to that kiss and takes a breath. ]

Would you ever wanna -

I mean, we'd have to wait a while, probably, make sure everything died down. Let everyone back at HQ forget about us, or assume we got disappeared, or whatever. But when it does, do you think you'd wanna...

marry me?

[ it takes a second. nothing more than the space of a breath (or maybe two), and then...

... cloud huffs a laugh. just a little one, though!

and before zack can get the wrong idea, cloud takes his face in both his hands and leans forward to kiss him. long, slow, sweet. making sure he feels the yes in it, all the love and adoration that belongs to zack and zack alone.

and when he finally breaks away, there's a smile teasing at the corners of his mouth. ]

You know I already dropped everything to run away and start a new life with you, yeah? If you're asking if I want a ring and a ceremony to seal the deal, then yeah. Mostly because -- [ he's teasing here, stealing another kiss off zack's mouth. ] My mom would kill you if you didn't make it official.

But I'm already yours in every way that counts.

Edited 2023-01-04 07:38 (UTC)

Wouldn't want to make your mom mad.

[ And he leans in for another one of those kisses, because they're amazing. And he's happy, yeah! Cloud said yes, and he's right! They're already together, in it for the long haul, forging out on this new life together, but -

he shakes his head. ]

I didn't ask right. And that's totally on me, it kinda... snuck up on me there. But I've been thinking about asking. For ages. Not because I think we should, or because I want your mom to know I'm serious, or because my mom is gonna write me a letter a day about it once I tell her about all this. Because it's important to me. I know it's old-fashioned. I just... It's like when I realized I was in love with you. I never realized I wanted it until I really, really did.

I want it, too.

[ he does! absolutely, without a doubt. maybe it’s old-fashioned, but maybe cloud has always been a sucker for old-fashioned, anyway. and the idea of being able to promise to spend his life with zack? until they’re old and wrinkled and he’s heard every single one of zack’s lame jones at least a thousand times? it sounds pretty perfect. ]

I guess we don’t get to call this the honeymoon yet, huh? [ leaning up to nip playfully at zack’s lower lip. ]

Practice round?

[ Anyone else would think he was sidestepping the issue. He's confident Cloud won't; Cloud always gets him. It's just... he trusts Cloud. If Cloud says he wants it, he wants it. Nothing more to discuss until he asks properly, preferably without his dick out. Now? They can get on with celebrating.

The petals suddenly mean a lot more to him after all of that than he thought they would, so he grabs just one. Holds it up mock solemnly between thumb and forefinger, displaying it for Cloud, and lays it on the bed. ]

There.

[ Like it's some great achievment - but then it's back to the job at hand, peppering kisses over Cloud's neck and chest. ]

[ the great solemnity with which zack places that single petal on their bed is enough to get a laugh out of him, letting his body drop down against the mattress again and arching up a little to welcome those kisses. ]

Y’know, since you’re such a traditional guy — [ a little pause as zack’s mouth finds a place that makes cloud’s breath hitch. ] We could always wait ‘til marriage?

[ Zack pauses.

He looks up. ]

Gimme your PHS. I'm gonna call your mom, see how fast she can get out here for a ceremony.

[ Joking! Mostly. There's laughter in his eyes, but mostly because it's just occurred to him that if Cloud said that seriously? He'd do it. He'd whine like a puppy every time he saw Cloud naked and set a world record for beating off, but he'd do it.

He's so far gone. ]

[ oh my god. partly because it’s such a ridiculous threat, and partly because he knows there is a part of zack that’s totally serious. and cloud’s not sure what kind of threat might be effective here, so…

plan b! which is to drag zack down to him for a kiss cloud hopes is good enough to be distracting! ]

[ Cloud kisses are always distracting, but when he's trying to be distracting? Unreal. Zack hums against his mouth, settling in close again. Skims a hand down Cloud's side, the curve of his ribs, the dip of his waist. Loving every touch, always. ]

So that's a no on waiting for marriage?

[ a little hum like he’s thinking about it, even though his eyes are heavy-lidded and dark with want. and then he drags a lazy trail of kisses along zack’s jaw, sliding his hands down his broad back. ]

Pretty sure there’s a policy against cruel and unusual punishment.

Lucky for me.

[ He arches into that touch, dips his head so he can kiss over the little mark he raised over Cloud's throat, foolishly proud to see it there. Good thing the plan to call their folks for an emergency marriage is off or they'd have to explain why Cloud was wearing a scarf to his own wedding. The thought makes him laugh quietly, and he covers by dragging his teeth lightly over Cloud's collarbone. ]

I think if I had to wait to touch you like this... I might die.

[ He sounds very, very sincere. ]

[ cloud breathes out a pleased little sigh at that scrape of teeth over his skin, eyes sliding shut. doesn’t stop the little smile from tugging at one corner of his mouth and warming up the edges of his voice, though. ]

I believe it. First guy ever to jerk off so much he pulls his own dick off.

[ Well that interrupts progress! Zack drops his face against Cloud's chest as the laughter escapes him in a choked sputter, shoulders shaking with it, and he presses a kiss to Cloud's skin to make up for kinda snorting there. ]

Tragic. You could always keep it in my memory. But I think I can make better use of it while it's still attached.

[ And to support his case, he traces the tip of his tongue in a tight loop over one of Cloud's nipples. ]

[ well, if his grin is any indication, it's obvious that cloud doesn't mind being kinda snorted on. he combs his fingers lazily through zack's hair, petting affectionately like he's trapped under the weight of a great big dog. ]

I'll mount it and put it above the mantle. That's very rust -- ah!

[ whoops, thought lost when zack's tongue finds his nipple. ]

[ Luckily for Cloud, Zack is far too intrigued by that sound to revel in his victory. His hands fasten on Cloud's hips - a play at holding him in place when hopefully he'll need to do anything but - and he sets about trying to refine the process he'd used with such success before. A drag of his teeth, light sucking pressure, a curl of his tongue. This is fun. ]

[ sensitive. enough for him to whine out a little half-desperate sound as zack sets his mouth to work there in earnest, squirming restlessly against the sheets. not really trying to get away, not really wanting to -- there's something intoxicating about feeling how easily zack can hold him in place weighed against the knowledge of just how quickly said would let him go if cloud said the word. ]

Z-Zack... [ tightening the hand he has in zack's hair into a little tug, because it's the only kind of revenge he has from up here. ]

[ Sucky revenge, because Zack loves it. Cloud's a good boy, always has been, so if he's pulling at Zack's hair? That's a sign he's doing something right! He nibbles lightly (lightly! Raw nipples are no fun, he knows this from his ill-fated and short-lived decision to try and do distance running!), laughing soft against Cloud's skin. ]

I love the way you sound.

[ the nibble makes his breath hitch, prompts another half-hearted wriggle underneath zack's weight. but that praise makes him burn -- it always does, whether it's zack telling him he did good when cloud manages an extra five reps or because he's finally managed to get zack's dick all the way down his throat. one of those weird places, maybe, where one aspect of their relationship bleeds right into the other. ]

Yeah? [ a little breathy, trying to give zack's head a meaningful little push to get him moving lower. and maybe he's in a mood, because: ] .... what else?

[ Oho. Bratty Cloud doesn't often raise his head. More with Zack than with anyone else, he thinks, because he knows Zack knows he never means it mean. Because he knows Zack likes it.

He baits it out, takes the bud of Cloud's nipple lightly between his teeth and pulls back until it snaps out of that loose hold before he takes the cue and moves lower - but not low enough. Kissing over Cloud's stomach, licking against the curve of his tiny little waist, moving to suck another mark just above Cloud's hip. That one's just for them, but that doesn't mean he love it any less. ]

Love the way you taste. Your skin on my tongue. You got me so down bad I even love it when you come in my mouth.

[ it's almost too much, right there on the edge of overstimulation. and when zack finally lets him have a little mercy and slides lower, it's a dizzying mix of relief and loss. even when he's had too much, when it comes to zack, there's always a part of cloud that wants more.

he huffs out a sound that tries to be a laugh, but he's wound so tight it comes out more like a pant. ] Yeah, you do. I can see it on your face.

[ he's gotten better at this. talking shit, acting brazen. it helps to know zack likes it, makes it easier to settle the part of him that wants to clam up and cram his face into the nearest pillow. ] Greedy.

For you? Always.

[ Lower still. He cups Cloud's ass in his hands, uses then to tip Cloud's hips up as he kisses over the skin low on his stomach. Nips at the skin there, just a little. Teasing while he still has it in him, while it doesn't feel mean. He needs Cloud, as much of him as he can get - but he likes it best when Cloud needs him, too. When he's demanding it, either in a brazen mood like this one or whining and wriggling in Zack's hold in an effort to get more. ]

Hmm. You ever get real hungry and then walk into somewhere where everything looks so damn good you can't decide what you want, even though you're starving?

[ the nip makes him suck in a sharp breath, his cock twitching against his stomach. it's an instant turn-on when zack flexes that easy strength, shows how easy it is for him to move cloud around any way he likes him -- and cloud knows zack knows it, too. ]

Mm. [ combing zack's hair lazily away from his face, trying to act like he's cool, like this isn't affecting him just as much. ] How's that a problem? I've seen how much you can take.

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