StellarEclipse

"Zack?" Cloud called quietly from the doorway. "Can I talk to you a minute?"

The older man lifted an eyebrow, noting the oddly intense look to Cloud's expression. "Uh, sure, Spike."

He exchanged a quick glance with Leon. The other man was also curious as to what this was about. Zack gave a brief grin before moving away to follow Cloud out of the room.

They met up on the back porch, Cloud crossing it to press both hands to the rail. The blond stared out across the yard, seemingly oblivious to the cold. Then again, he likely was. Mako had made both men highly resistant to the elements.

Zack folded his arms and angled his head. "So, what's up?"

Cloud sighed. "Promise you won't make any sarcastic remarks."

The First Class would have been highly amused if it were not for the tone of Cloud's voice. Whatever this was about, he was very serious about it. "Sure, Spike."

"Last night," Cloud began slowly. "I had a dream about you."

Zack scrunched up his face. "Okay."

There was another heavy sigh. "It was an erotic dream, Zack."

Zack waited a moment. "Oh."

"I was talking in my sleep; Riku heard the whole thing."

The older man blew out a breath. "Whoa. I don't imagine he took it very well."

"No."

Zack remained quiet for a few minutes. Obviously, Cloud was looking for some kind of guidance but he was not sure what he could tell him. He could not help but feel a bit excited to know that Cloud still felt that way about him, even if it was subconsciously. He knew he was still attracted to Cloud despite the fact that they both knew without a doubt their time was over.

"You know, psychologically it's not all that uncommon to occasionally fantasize about your exes."

"I know that." Cloud turned and leaned on the rail. "…But Riku, it's all new for him and he's already so insecure. He was so… scared this morning. He got violent about it, screaming and crying. I didn't know what I could do or say that would convince him that it was just a dream; that I wasn't going to go running off with you on a whim."

"He really thinks you're going to leave him for me?" Zack bit his lip. "If you were going to do that, it would have happened already."

"I told him that but he's just not listening." The blond flicked his blue eyes up to actually look at Zack for the first time since they had come out here. "What's really bothering me more than anything is how angry I am at him."

Zack understood right away why Cloud was angry. He dropped his arms and took a few steps forward. "It's so easy to forget he's still a kid."

"This is his first relationship. Not only that, he was just so young when we got together. There's just so much…" Cloud trailed off. "I don't think he realizes how terrified I am that he's the one who's going to leave me on a whim. That he's going to find someone his own age and he'll be gone."

Zack met Cloud's eyes squarely. "You know that's not going to happen."

Cloud looked away. "I guess."

"You guess?" Zack repeated incredulously. "Look at me, Cloud."

It took a minute but the younger man glanced over.

"Stop thinking with that screwed up, self-loathing mind of yours. If Riku was here I'd tell him the exact same thing." Zack spoke confidently. "When it comes to both of you, you need to keep your brains out of it and simply use your hearts because that's where you're going to find all of your answers."

He took a few steps forward and stopped less than a foot from Cloud. "Now, what is your heart telling you?"

The blonde worried his lower lip for a moment. "Riku is my heart."

Zack smiled. "There you go."

Cloud nodded, a faint smile coming to his own mouth. "Thank you, Zack."

"That's what I'm here for." Zack folded his arms and lifted a black eyebrow. "Now, do you need me to go kick Riku's heart into gear or do you think you can handle that?"

"I can do it." Cloud hesitated then embraced Zack tightly. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Zack allowed himself a moment to enjoy having the blonde in his arms again. He quickly moved away and threw a cocky grin on his face. "Yeah, yeah. Go have your make-up sex and try not to irritate the neighbors too much doing it."

Cloud nodded again and left the porch through the house. Zack heard the front door open and close and sighed, letting his shoulders slump. He laughed at himself as he turned to enter the house and find Leon.

If only he could take his own advice.