To Lose is to Find
Zack x Cloud
Sora x Riku
Chapter One: The Calm before the Storm – Part 1 – Zack x Cloud
It was a cool morning, the crisp breeze wandering in through the open window. The air kissed the cheeks of a blonde sleeping peacefully in the arms of another. The rising sun sent wisps of its rays into the dark room, filling the shadows with a warm glow.
"Zaaack..." The blonde moaned through a yawn.
The said body beside him stirred a little, letting out a long sigh.
"Come on Zack, we have to get up now"
The arms around the blonde tightened as he felt the others face nuzzle into the back of his neck.
"Nah, I'm quite happy like this" He heard his raven haired boyfriend yawn contently.
The blonde giggled lightly as he shifted himself so he was facing Zack. He wrapped his skinny arms around the mass of raven hair and pressed his face up against his muscled chest. The Mako in Zack's eyes glowed warmly as he caressed the blonde's slim waist. Sapphire eyes looked up lovingly into Zack's, holding each others attention.
"Come on, we have work!" The blonde tried to say sternly but the warmth in Zack's eyes melted it away.
The raven haired man sighed unsatisfied as he realised his plan of passion would have to wait.
"Okay, up we get!" He finally said.
He stretched out his cramping muscles with a few squats before making his way to the bathroom. The blonde heard the shower start as he found himself sitting upright trying to wake himself up. His dazed eyes scanned their apartment bedroom to see everything he loved; pieces of Zack. The room was untidy; clothes sprawled about the room, his laptop on his desk covered in files and papers from work. And a hint of Zack's humour was in the form of a singing Chocobo teddy that sat on the bedside table. The blonde sighed contently at the site.
"Care to join me?" He heard a husky voice from the door.
The blonde snapped out of his daydream to find a half naked Zack standing in the doorway, a mischievous grin on his face.
"W-what?"
"Do. You. Want. To. Join. Me?" Zack enunciated each work in a playful mocking way that made the blonde glare back at him.
"B-but I..."
The blonde was cut off as Zack reached out and took hold of his hand before leading him through to the bathroom.
"Come on Cloud!"
After a rather...interesting...time in the shower, both men dressed for work. Cloud shrugged on his navy turtle neck top and zipped it to his collarbone. He fetched his metal guard pad and trapped it to his right shoulder. After securing it in place, he glanced over from his side of the bed to see Zack tightening his leather braces across his chest. Cloud smiled as his thoughts began to wonder.
It has been a year since Cloud had been reunited with Zack after years of thinking he was dead. Even now, Cloud still has the occasional nightmare of that day they were forced apart, Zack laying in a pool of blood after fighting the whole ShinRa army single handed. The words they shared as Zack gave him his buster sword, telling him to continue living for the both of them. He began to think of the memories of how he saved the world from Sephiroth, how the planet was saved from Meteor, how he destroyed the remnants; Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo, how he helped Vincent destroy Deep Ground, and how he did it all without Zack. It wasn't until a year after these events that they were reunited. Zack had been picked up by travellers who found him barely alive and taken him to a hospital. He may have made a full recovery but Zack had spent most of the long years apart in a Psychiatric Unit, traumatised by the events the occurred in Hojo's lab with Cloud, how they had both been put under the terrifying experiments that caused them so much physical and mental pain.
Zack looked over at the blonde and saw a painful expression across his face. He immediately went to his side, placing his gloved hands on his shoulders.
"Cloud, are you okay?" Zack's heart wrenching tone crushed Cloud.
"I'm alright Zack, just thinking, that's all" The blonde tried to say, but the tears that threatened to fall told Zack that he wasn't alright at all.
"Babe..."
Cloud blinked back his tears before looking up into Zack's azure Mako eyes. He placed his skinny arms around the other and nuzzled his face into his toned chest.
"I'm...just cherishing this moment..." Cloud whispered. "I know this is so out of the blue, but...I..."
Zack instinctively wrapped his strong arms around the blonde's thin frame and pulled him closer.
"Ssssh, Its okay, I can guess what you're thinking about...I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere Cloud"
The blonde instantly relaxed in Zack's embrace. He slowly looked up at him, locking their eyes together and smiled. The Ex-SOLDIER looked deeply into the blonde's eyes to see something else shine within the Mako.
"Cloud.....?"
"...Yeah?" The blonde found himself subconsciously stoking Zack's back delicately with his fingertips.
"I Love you"
Cloud had a sudden impulse and he acted on it, pushing himself up on his toes to capture Zack's lips. The Ex-SOLDIER was caught off guard but immediately pulled Cloud closer, crushing their lips together with more passion. The blonde moved his arms from Zack's back to wrap them around his neck and tangle his fingers in his raven hair. Their lips moved together with a sense of urgency, a hunger that they needed to satisfy. Zack glided his tongue along Cloud's bottom lip, seeking entry. The blonde automatically granted him access, letting out a soft moan when Zack slipped his tongue into Cloud's warm mouth. He explored vigorously and began to message his tongue with his own which caused another moan from the blonde who clutched Zack's hair and pulled him closer. He wanted more of that feeling. He wanted more of Zack's taste. The Ex-SLODIER slowly ran his hands up Cloud's skinny waist, snaking them up and under his top. The blonde shivered at the touch, and squirmed when Zack's hands found their way to his chest and slowly grazed over a nipple. He desperately leaned into the touch, craving for more, while trying to suppress the moans that were vibrating in his chest. Cloud didn't realise how forcefully he was pushing against Zack until he found him pushed up against the wall. The Ex-SOLDIER groaned into their kiss as he found his hands trapped between their chests. The blonde was the first to pull away for much needed air, gasping slightly as his lungs filled with oxygen. Zack took a couple of seconds to finally open his eyes to see Cloud's flushed red face inches away. His half lidded eyes full of lust and excitement; he felt his shaking breath on his face. This was making them both more aroused, if that was even possible considering how aroused they already were.
"I Love you too"
Before making their way out their apartment, they grabbed their swords. Zack mounted his Buster Sword on his back and Cloud sheathed his sword across his hip. They made their way outside into the busy streets of Edge, the outer city of Midgar, and headed out.
"It's such a nice day out!" Zack blurted out loud as he stretched his arms to the clear blue skies.
Cloud chuckled lightly at his normalpuppy behaviour. Well if you could call this kind of behaviour "normal" in a 28 year old. Zack glanced down at the smiling blonde and suddenly took his hand into his. The blonde looked at their locked hands and glanced back up into the raven haired man's glowing eyes. He couldn't help but widen his smile when he saw Zack pull his signature grin.
After a few minutes walking, they eventually found themselves at 7th Heaven. The famous- well, almost famous bar, run by none other that Tifa, a childhood friend of Cloud. To no surprise, Denzel was sitting on the outside step, waiting to greet them.
"Cloud! Zack!" He exclaimed as he ran the last bit of distance between them.
As he latched onto Cloud with a smothering hug, Zack chuckled to himself at how much those two had become like father and son. He was slightly surprised when the 13 year old hugged him as well; being the first time he had ever shown Zack the same affection.
Denzel was once a suffering orphan living on the streets after his parents were killed in the destruction of sector seven 5 years ago. Cloud found him having a Geostigma fit outside Aerith's church, and took him in. Since then, Denzel has finally been cured and now living full time under Tifa's care.
Walking in through the entrance, they found themselves in a dimly lit bar. The floor, tables and counter were made of the same dark wood that looked extremely old in the low light. The sides of the room were lined with private booths that seemed to hold shadows. The only light was from the two windows on each side of the door that focused most of its rays on the bar itself and the woman standing behind. Her long flowing black hair resting on her shoulders, she gave a small warm smile to the pair.
"Good morning you two!" she said, her crimson eyes holding a warm glow, busying herself with a beer glass; wiping the insides with a white wash cloth.
"Morning Tif!" Zack replied with his usual "Restless as a Puppy" grin.
"Sorry guys, I'm afraid it's a big schedule, including a delivery to Kalm and Helin" Tifa sighed as she approached them, holding out a piece of paper.
"You're joking me...." Cloud cursed bitterly as he scanned the list for the details. "This is going to take us all day..."
The crimson eyed barmaid gave Cloud a sympathetic smile before heading back behind the counter to serve a customer.
Zack glanced over the blonde's shoulder to read the list. His usual grin quickly faded. After a few moments of staring at the long list with denial, Zack jolted beside the blonde as an idea suddenly came to him.
"Hey I got it!" He began. "Why don't you leave the local deliveries with me and you take the ones outside of town? I mean, you have you're motor bike; Fenrir. It shouldn't take you too long..."
"Hey, not bad Zack, that's a pretty good idea!" Cloud smiled, flashing Zack a wide grin.
"Cloud!"
The blonde turned to see a small girl running towards him. Her hair tied in a red ribbon. As he knelt down to her she threw her arms around him.
"Good morning Marlene!"
"Are you going to be long today?" she asked, giving Cloud a hopeful look.
"Probably not, I'll be back for dinner, I promise!" he replied, patting her lightly on the head.
Marlene is another child living in Tifa's care. Her father, Barret, was part of their team many years ago, but he now has to work a lot. Most of his jobs being out of town, forced him to leave Marlene behind. Zack smiled at the 11 year old before receiving a hug from her as well.
Through all the difficult and hard times, Zack and Cloud were finally able to make an honest living as delivery boys, now they no longer have to fight. When Cloud first started the business with Tifa, they named it Strife Delivery Service. After reuniting with Zack, Cloud affectionately changed the name to Fair and Strife. Zack told the blonde not to bother, but deep down it made Zack feel so much more important and wanted. It was strange for them at first and still a little boring at times. They shouldn't even need to carry their infamous swords wherever they go. I guess old habits die hard, but at least they can now live in peace...together.
Zack helped Cloud load the packages into the Fenrir's compartments. The raven haired ex-SOLDIER savoured the moments of the blonde having to bend down, enjoying the site. Cloud frequently told him off, but it was like frigging bees to honey!
"Zack cut it out will you?" Cloud giggled uncontrollably as the ex-SOLDIER reached out to grab him by the waist, pulling him into a strong embrace.
"Babe, you know what I'm like when you deny me of my needs" Zack chuckled playfully; slowly running his hands over Cloud's back, making him shudder.
"Come on, not now. I have to go!" the blonde tried to say firmly but Zack's touches were beginning to drive him mad.
"Awwww" Zack pouted as Cloud pushed away to mount his bike. "How will I survive the day without you?"
The blonde rolled his eyes at Zack's sarcasm. He pulled out his goggles from his pocket and secured them over his eyes.
"I'll try not to be too long. I'm sure you'll be okay!" Cloud replied as he simultaneously started the bike, revving the engine.
The site made Zack go weak at the knees quickly. He was just barely able to suppress a groan.
"Your ass is so mine when you get back!"
Cloud smirked mischievously, leaning forward on the bike to hold the handles, and at the same time giving Zack a tantalising view of his ass.
"We'll see!" he growled playfully before launching forward on the bike, speeding away and out of site.
Zack stood there for a few moments to get his excited body under control. He wouldn't want to traumatise Tifa and the kids when he went back inside.