Zack knew he had fucked up as the heavens opened overhead and doused him with frigid rain-water. In the open sky he was completely exposed and became soaked to the bone almost instantly. His wings worked overtime to keep him airborne as he started descending and touched down heavily on a nearby rooftop. He trailed water as he trudged along doggedly from one side to the other, then, with great effort, managed to take off again. He repeated this a few times, hopping from one building to the next. All the while his dizziness steadily increased.

When he reached the edge of the next building it suddenly became too much. Zack's head swam alarmingly and the world tipped before his eyes. He must've blacked out for a second because the next thing he knew he was plunging towards the ground with a sharp gasp of terror. Thankfully(?), something caught him before he could reach it.

He crashed down into a metal balcony with a bone-rattling thud and the breath was knocked from his lungs. He lay there, stunned and winded while the world span around him. His whole body throbbed from his racing pulse and the pain from the impact. Zack groaned and clenched his eyes shut.

A wedge of light washed over him along with a sudden burst of noise as someone wrenched open the balcony door. The person's anxious voice reached him but the words were half garbled by the fierce pounding in his head. He could feel them getting closer, carefully moving around his splayed wings, and Zack was grateful for that.

He swallowed and took a deep breath to steady himself, pushing up on arms that felt like jello. The person had stopped talking and Zack took a moment to find his own voice before he managed to say, "Sorry, man, dropping in on you like this."

His quip was met with a disbelieving huff of laughter and Zack felt proud of himself for being able to calm the civilian down despite the state he was in. Somehow, he managed to get himself up on his hands and knees and dragged his wings into a less awkward position

The person was suddenly a lot closer, well within arm's reach and leaning towards him. "Hey, can you stand? Should you stand?" they asked him fretfully and after a moment knelt down. A warm hand lightly touched his shoulder.

"Yeah", he answered their question, raising his head. "I think I can."

Zack blinked dazedly as he finally got a good look at the person, and it was only half because of his sickness.

The first thought that floated through his fever addled brain was: an angel…? The light from the open doorway washed over the person's rain-soaked skin and hair, glittering off of water droplets that clung to the ends of his miraculously intact spikes and lending him an almost ethereal golden glow. He had the bluest eyes Zack had ever seen in his life.

The guy frowned at him and darted a look between his wings and the doorway with a distracted sounding, "hang on." He got up to open the other side of the double doors and then came back to Zack's side.

"Come on", he said softly, both hands splaying over Zack's shoulders with an encouraging push, "let's get you out of the rain."

Zack straightened out at the prompting and passively allowed the man to duck under one arm and grab him around the waist. The warm press of his body was an incredibly welcome change to the freezing rain-water and the metal of the balcony under his legs.

"One, two, three-", the guy counted and together they managed to get Zack on his feet.

The apartment was heated and the couch was bliss to his achy body. Zack felt a stab of guilt over how badly he was probably ruining the upholstery but sunk down with a grateful sigh regardless.

The guy told him to wait, like Zack could go anywhere, and ducked out of the room.

Zack let his head lean against the back of the couch and he took a deep breath.

His boyfriends were gonna kill him, he thought to himself miserably.

No, scratch that. They'd nurse him back to health and then kill him, which was arguably worse since it came with a heaping side-dish of guilt.

He'd known he was getting sick but had promised them that he'd be careful and that he would be fine anyway. Ha.

Zack was pulled from his thoughts as his would-be saviour came back.

"Sorry about your couch", he told the blonde, eyeing the bundle of towels he'd brought back with him.

The guy waved him off and Zack watched in confusion as he locked the balcony doors before dropping the towels onto a large puddle of water that must've formed while they'd been left open. He'd thought the towels were for him…

The blonde turned and walked over, looking shifty as he switched the TV off and gave him a thoughtful once over. "You should probably take a shower or something to warm up and I'll try to find you a change of clothes", he said suddenly.

Zack felt his eyebrows arching up. That was a very generous offer, almost suspiciously so. It also kind of sounded like the set up to a bad porno.

Zack couldn't help but tense as the blonde reached for him but the man simply laid his hand over his forehead with a clinical touch, only letting it stay there long enough to tell that he was unwell.

"You're burning up", the man observed, "and there's no way I'm letting you fly off with a fever like that. So, you can stay the night and someone can pick you up in the morning, I guess. If you have someone who can…?" He trailed off, frowning and looking shifty again as his eyes dropped to the ground, clearly thinking about something.

Zack tried to cover his paranoia, feeling wary but wanting to give the guy the benefit of the doubt. "Yeah, I do", he said and the guy glanced back up at him. "Are you sure that's okay though, I mean, it's a pretty big imposition -putting up some random guy that crashed on your balcony. I could be an axe-murderer for all you know."

A deeply unimpressed look stole across the blonde's features and Zack blinked, a little stunned as the man's entire demeanour seemed to suddenly open up.

"I'm not in the habit of offering things I don't mean to", he informed Zack dryly. "And besides", he continued, blue eyes sweeping pointedly over Zack's drooping wings as his expression softened thoughtfully.

Zack barely restrained the urge to preen under that intense gaze.

"I think there's a good chance I owe you one already", the blonde finished saying at last, giving him a not-quite smile.

Zack couldn't help but laugh, surprised. That was some unusual reasoning but he could see where the guy was coming from. He relaxed, sighing, and decided to trust. "I guess I'll take you up on that shower then."

The blonde seemed pleased as he held out his hands, which Zack took and allowed himself to be pulled up off the couch. "You probably won't fit, now that I think about it", the blonde said contemplatively as he stepped in close, and again that lithe body pressed up along Zack's side.

And of course Zack couldn't help himself. "That's what she said", he said almost automatically.

The blonde snorted. "Seriously?" he asked, giving him the stink eye. "I take it back, you need to leave."

It was an admirable delivery, though the blonde couldn't quite keep his expression under check, lips twitching into a smile despite the flatness of his words. Zack laughed.

It suddenly occurred to him that introductions would be a good idea. "I'm Zack, by the way", he said as they made their way towards a hallway.

"Nice to meet you, Zack, circumstances aside."

Zack made an amused sound. Yeah, not his usual method of making friends.

"I'm Cloud."

Zack blinked. "Cloud, huh?" he murmured and eyed the blonde. "That's a pretty name. Suits you." Considering what his first impression of him had been… It really, really did, Zack thought, smiling widely.

Cloud's eyes widened. He stared blankly back at Zack for a long moment and then suddenly turned his face away. "Thanks", he muttered.

The tips of his ears, Zack noted with giddy delight, were bright red.

"You're welcome", he chirped.

Finally, they'd reached a modest bathroom and Cloud directed Zack onto the closed lid of a toilet. Zack sat and draped his arms over his knees.

"You good?" Cloud asked, eyeing him closely.

He'd definitely been better, but for now, good enough. Zack smiled lightly. "I'm good."

Cloud nodded and left the room, probably to go and find him those clothes he'd mentioned earlier.

He'd been right about the shower, Zack thought, eyeing the stall. He wouldn't fit as things were so he took the opportunity while he was waiting and closed his eyes, breathing deeply as he reached into that metaphysical space inside him.

This probably wasn't gonna feel great with the condition he was in, but, for the sake of practicality he willed his wings away. The effort zapped him of the little energy he had left and the rush of cold as they folded out of reality made him feel about as awful as he suspected it would. He grimaced, hanging his head with a barely suppressed groan.

But Cloud was coming back and Zack raised his head again with great effort. He blinked curiously at the frustrated look on the blonde's face.

"Something wrong?" He asked, somehow keeping his voice even.

Cloud's gaze darted up, lips starting to pull into a sheepish grimace before his features suddenly morphed into a wide-eyed look of astonishment.

He could guess what that was about. Zack glanced towards his own exposed back and smiled. "Yeah, neat trick. Sorry I didn't do it earlier but it takes a bit of concentration."

"No", Cloud said slowly, eyes locked on the now empty space as he came closer. "That's fine…" His gaze swept over Zack's shoulder blades and he was clearly curious but turned away after a moment to lay an armful of fabric on the counter opposite Zack.

He stood there silent for a moment, with his back still to the Soldier, before he finally spoke. "Take it easy. Don't rush just cause you're borrowing the place. If you get dizzy or anything, you know…" Cloud trailed off. He sounded awkward but the sentiment behind the words was conveyed loud and clear. It was sweet. He really was a good guy.

Cloud glanced over his shoulder with those pretty blue eyes and Zack hoped his expression wasn't too dopey. "I will, don't worry", he said. "Don't wanna pass out in your shower and give you even more to deal with." Zack grinned and Cloud's gaze bounced away again in another apparent fit of shyness before he nodded and left him to it.

It took Zack an almost embarrassingly long time to peel the drenched clothing away from his body and he piled everything in a careless heap. Every article felt twice as heavy, water logged as they were, and even his underwear made an audible wet splat as it hit the tiles. Zack snickered to himself. Geez.

His skin was so chilled that when he stepped under the warm spray of water it hurt from the abrupt change in temperature. Kind of like pins and needles, only with burning. Zack hissed softly at the sensation, wiggling his toes where it was particularly bad. It faded after a minute or two as he adjusted and he could feel his muscles unwinding.

Zack laid his burning forehead against the cool tiles of the wall and held back what would have been a very inappropriate sounding moan. He didn't want to accidentally give his host the wrong idea.

He didn't bother using anything to wash his hair. He got the impression Cloud wouldn't have minded either way but its not like he needed to so he left it. He did borrow the soap though and gave the essentials a quick scrub.

It must've only taken him a couple of minutes tops but just standing unsupported for that long took its toll. By the time he had dried himself and slipped into his borrow clothes he was feeling exhausted and deeply nauseous. He suspected his desire to warm up the rest of his body had backfired with his fever and he had to quickly get down on hands and knees for a moment, head hanging as he rode out a strong bout of dizziness.

After a while he found the will to stand back up.

He fished his mobile out of his discarded trousers and tucked it into his pocket before he opened the door. That was as far as he got before the dizziness quickly re-emerged. Zack grimaced, squeezing his eyes shut to block out the spinning hallway as he leant against the doorframe. Shit.

"Cloud", he called.

The sound of footsteps immediately hurried towards him. "What's up, you okay?" Cloud's concerned voice reached him a moment later.

Zack swallowed and slit his eyes open. "I think I need to borrow your shoulder again", he reluctantly admitted. Good guy or not he was seriously putting Cloud out tonight.

Bless him though, the blonde mercifully didn't say anything. He'd changed his clothes, Zack noted, curling his fingers against his shoulder as he was helped down the hallway again. He leant some of his weight against the wall as they went in a feeble attempt to take some of the load off.

Zack made a curious sound when instead of heading back to the lounge as he'd assumed they would, Cloud redirected them into a different room. Zack's gaze flittered about, quickly taking in the interior, and he immediately realised where they were.

"This is…"

"My room", Cloud said and turned them around, sitting Zack down on the edge of the bed.

Zack felt a flush of discomfort. He was a fairly laid back guy but, seriously, there was a limit to how much you could impose on a person you'd just met, even when it was being offered. "Cloud-" he started to say, intending to rebuke him, but the blonde was having none of it.

"You're taking the bed, sickie, and I'm on the couch. I wouldn't recommend trying to out-stubborn me", Cloud said, cutting him off, but not unkindly. He continued to say, "I changed the sheets and I can change them again later. It's one night." The look he turned on Zack brooked no argument. Still.

"I got the couch wet, earlier", Zack reminded him, heart sinking.

"Only one side", Cloud rebuffed glibly. "And it's a fold-out anyway so I'll manage."

Zack floundered in the face of Cloud's resoluteness, searching for something else to say, but the words dried up under the blonde's narrowing blue gaze.

He laughed breathlessly in defeat and pulled his damp hair back. "Alright", he conceded.

Cloud nodded once, sharply, eyes glittering with triumph. He turned about face. "Also I'm drying your hair so deal with it", he said haughtily as he left the room and a surprised laugh burst out of Zack at the clear teasing. He shook his head and ran a hand down his face, leaving it over his grinning mouth as he stared out the doorway Cloud had just disappeared through.

The expression slowly faded as he realised that he really needed to call one of his boyfriends, who had undoubtedly noticed his lateness by now. He flicked his phone open and sure enough, he already had several missed calls and a handful of text messages. Zack winced guiltily. God he sucked.

Cloud came back to the room, brandishing a small hairdryer, and Zack huffed in amusement despite his fallen mood. Cloud faltered for a moment, gaze flickering over Zack's expression and darting down to the mobile in his hands. He seemed to want to say something but, like earlier, kept quiet and continued on as he was.

He switched out the bedside lamp's plug with the dryer's and left it resting by Zack's hip as he made his way around to the other side of the bed. Cloud climbed on with a quiet squeak of mattress springs and it shifted under his weight as he scooted forwards on his knees. He settled behind Zack at a polite distance. "I'll use the cool setting but tell me if you need to stop", he instructed as he picked the dryer up.

Zack nodded.

The sound the dryer made meant that any conversation was impractical, so they sat in relatively easy silence as Cloud worked.

It took a little while since, as Cloud had said, they used the cool air setting only, in an attempt to not aggravate his fever any further.

It was quite relaxing as the blonde's fingers combed through his hair, scritching against his scalp as he checked for dampness and carefully worked out any tangles along the way.

Zack probably would have enjoyed it more in other circumstances but the steadily growing need to contact and reassure his boyfriends of his wellbeing was dominating his thoughts. He turned the mobile in his hand, over and over as he tried vainly to think of a way to ask for privacy that didn't sound rude or ungrateful. No matter how he worded it he'd end up sounding like he found Cloud untrustworthy.

The dryer powered down with a soft hum and the mattress bounced as Cloud stood up, deftly gathering the dryer's cable in a series of lops around his hand. Zack opened his mouth, drawing breath to speak, but Cloud beat him to it. "Sunrise building, apartment 52", he said as he made for the door.

Zack blinked, confused for a moment before realisation set in and he was once again floored by this man's thoughtfulness. Honest to god he came this close to tearing up. He could only hope that he conveyed the depth of his appreciation with his expression as Cloud looked back at him with a soft, "Take your time", and shut the door with a gentle click.

Zack shifted up the bed and settled back against the headboard. He quickly skimmed through the increasingly worried sounding texts he'd received and then clicked on the last missed call notif, which was from Genesis, and rang the number back.

It was picked up barely two rings in and Zack winced. He really had worried them.

"Zack", his boyfriend's sharp with stress voice said in place of a greeting. "Where are you? I'm putting you on speaker."

There was a scuffle of movement as he was switched over and Zack heard Angeal calling, "Is that Zack?" from somewhere in the apartment. Sephiroth's voice, which sounded much closer, called back, "Yes, it is." After a moment Angeal spoke again, sounding like he'd entered the room, "Zack."

They were all together then.

"Hey", Zack said soothingly, "hey, my guys. I'm so, so sorry for worrying you but I swear I'm fine. I uhh, I'm not actually sure where I am right now. But I'm safe."

"You don't know where you are?" Genesis asked.

Zack hummed. "Well, kinda. I mean, I know what the building is cause the guy whose balcony I landed in told me but uhh, yeah, I don't know."

"You landed in someone's balcony?" Angeal sounded concerned.

Zack pursed his lips and hummed again, trying to think of the best way to phrase his unfortunate mishap. "Zack", Angeal pressed as he took too long to answer.

Zack sighed gustily. "'Kay, so, you know how I said my cold wasn't so bad and that I'd be fine?"

"…Yes", Genesis answered, in a 'go on' sort of tone.

"Well, turns out I was wrong and I kinda, maybe, uh-", he turned his eyes towards the ceiling and prayed for mercy, "-fell off a building, a little."

"You what?!" Angeal exclaimed, almost drowning out Sephiroth's low noise of worry.

This was immediately followed by Genesis's accusatory, "You said you were fine!"

"I am!" Zack quickly defended, but amended a beat later with, "Mostly."

"Mostly?", Genesis stressed back, demanding explanation.

Zack took a deep breath. "I wasn't really hurt from the fall. Cause like I said, balcony. But yeah I can't really move around on my own right now since I get, like, nauseatingly dizzy just standing up too long. So the guy whose balcony I landed in said it was cool for me to stay the night and he lent me some clothes and his shower and yeah. So I'm good, promise. Sick, but, fine." He explained in a rush, fiddling nervously with the end of his borrowed shirt.

There was a moment of silence as they took in his words and then Sephiroth finally spoke up. "This person", he started slowly, "the guy whose balcony you landed on", he parroted Zack's phrasing which earned a quiet huff of amusement from Genesis. "He lent you clothes? And his shower?"

Zack nodded even though they couldn't see him, "And he said I could stay the night."

There was another beat of silence. "That's very generous of him, considering you're complete strangers", Sephiroth said at last.

Aaand there was the crux of the matter. Zack knew him well enough to read between the lines and hear what was being unsaid.

Are you sure this person doesn't have ulterior motives?

Zack's automatic response was a bristle of offense on Cloud's behalf and he felt the need to defend him. This was tempered quickly by the knowledge that all three of his boyfriends had legitimate, historical reasons for any wariness they might have felt at the situation. Zack was fortunate in that he hadn't experienced anything like they had, and hopefully never would, but he understood exactly where they were coming from.

Still, he liked Cloud and he felt like he could trust him so he said as much. "Yeah, yeah I know, and I get why you're worried. I do. But, Cloud's a good guy and I trust him. I trust that what he's doing, he's doing out of genuine kindness and not for some other reason", Zack said with conviction.

Genesis sighed on the other end of the line.

"If you're sure", Angeal said. "We trust your judgement."

Zack chewed guiltily at his lower lip. "…Even though I promised I'd be fine going out with my cold and was wrong?" he asked quietly.

Now Angeal sighed and Sephiroth answered for him.

"Did you say you'd be fine and go out knowing that you wouldn't be?"

Zack blinked. "No, that'd be stupid. I wouldn't make you worry like that."

"You didn't know it'd get this bad?"

"No, it just happened suddenly half way back."

"You honestly though it would be fine at the time."

"…Yeah", Zack answered slowly, starting to see where this was going.

"Then it's not your fault. You didn't break a promise because you couldn't have known", Sephiroth concluded.

"And besides," Angeal added. "This and that are different. You're an excellent judge of character so if you say this person is safe then we believe you", he reassured gently and Zack was overcome with love for his boyfriends. He beamed from the force of the emotion swelling in his chest.

"Okay", he answered thickly.

"Are you sure you don't want one of us to come over to you now?" Genesis asked.

Zack made a positive sound. "Yeah. It's okay. It's late and still raining anyways."

Genesis harrumphed. "Like that would stop me."

Zack laughed softly. "Yeah, I know, you'd go through hell and high water, babe. Never doubted it. But it really is fine though."

"Alright", Genesis said reluctantly.

"One of us will come and pick you up in the morning then. What's the address?" Angeal asked and there was the sound of paper being shuffled and a pen clicking.

"Uh, like I said, I'm not sure but you can probably look it up. Sunrise apartments."

"Hm. One moment", Angeal said and there was a few seconds of quiet. "Got it?" He asked, directed at whoever was looking it up at their end.

"Here", Genesis answered and this was followed by a shift and the scratching of pen on paper.

Angeal hummed. "What room?"

"52", Zack tried to say but was interrupted by a yawn which garbled the word halfway through so that it turned into "fi eee soo". He shook his head and tried again. "Sorry. Fifty two."

"Got it", Angeal said fondly. "Alright then, I suppose we should let you go for now. You need sleep."

Zack hummed in agreement. "Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight. Sleep well", said Sephiroth.

"Goodnight, darling, we love you", Genesis added.

"I love you guys too, goodnight."

"Goodnight, love." Angeal hung up the call.

Less than a minute later there was a quiet knock at the door.

"Zack?" Cloud called from the other side.

"Yeah", he called back.

The door opened and Cloud peeked hesitantly into the room. "I was thinking of turning in, is there anything else you need for the night?" he asked, voice hushed.

Zack shook his head. "Nah, I'm good, thanks."

Cloud nodded and started to close the door.

Zack called out again. "Cloud?"

Cloud hummed and looked back at him.

"Seriously", Zack said and held his gaze, trying to convey the full weight of the sincerity behind his words. "Thank you."

They stared at one another for a moment and Cloud seemed to get it because he tipped his head with a small smile. "You're welcome", he said shyly. "Goodnight, Zack."

"Goodnight."

Honestly, Genesis didn't know what he had been expecting when Zack had told them about this 'Cloud' the night before, but it certainly hadn't been…this.

The man who answered the door seemed to be in a half-zombie state, barely functioning with his eyes squinted shut against the morning light streaming into the apartment behind him. It reflected radiantly off the golden blonde of his hair, which was currently mussed in the most extreme case of bedhead that Genesis had ever laid eyes on.

Despite that, his features were lovely and he had a very pleasant, low voice that wasn't at all diminished by the slight huskiness from sleep. He waved Genesis through without looking at him and after a moment to get over his shock (and to ogle) Genesis stepped into the apartment.

The man closed the door but didn't follow after him as Genesis had half expected him too. Instead, the rumpled beauty staggered his way back towards a fold-out couch bed and crawled onto it before all but collapsing down with a symphony of squealing springs and a content sigh.

He seemed completely at ease despite having just let a complete stranger into his home and apparently trusted Genesis to simply do what he had come to do without supervision.

And Genesis wasn't quite sure to make of that.

Regardless, he followed the man's instructions and crept silently down the hall, anxious to see his lover.

The room he entered was clearly the master bedroom, meaning that the blonde had offered not only his home but also his bed. And if Zack was right, this was all done out of genuine kindness and nothing more. Genesis felt a swell of gratitude towards the man back in the lounge.

The world could do with a little more altruism.

Genesis dropped the change of clothes he'd brought with him besides the door and padded up to the doona covered lump that was his sleeping lover. He stuffed his beanie into the pocket of his coat and pulled his face mask down around his neck. "Zack, love", he called quietly.

The brunette didn't stir so he placed a knee on the edge of the mattress and leaned over him. He gently carded back the wild black hair strewn over his lover's face and brushed the backs on his fingers against his cheek. Genesis clicked his tongue at the fever hot skin. He tried again, "Zack, darling, wake up."

Zack made a low noise. "Gen?" he croaked sleepily.

Genesis smiled. "I'm here. Time to go home."

Zack breathed deeply and slowly rolled onto his back. Genesis smoothed his hair back and continued to card his fingers through the strands strewn across the pillow as Zack liberated a hand from the blankets and rubbed at his eyes. He groaned pitifully. "Ow."

Genesis's lips tipped in a frown. "What hurts?" he asked, smoothing a thumb over the ridge of his brow.

"Everything", Zack said after a moment.

Genesis made a sympathetic sound and pecked him lightly on the mouth, unheeding of morning breath. "You're taking something the second we get back", he said.

"Yeah", Zack agreed readily and struggled to sit up. Genesis slipped his arms around him and helped, moving further onto the bed. They sat together for a moment like that, with Zack wrapped in his arms and leaning into him heavily. "This sucks", Zack murmured into his neck.

Genesis squeezed him gently and kissed the side of his head.

"I know, love."

With some instruction from Zack, Genesis found his way to the laundry and collected his lover's things before returning to the bedroom to help him change.

They took their time and shared quiet conversation as they went, filling each other in on their day before since they hadn't been able to last night.

Zack was achy and starting to feel a tickle in his chest and throat that promised coughing in his near future, but at least he could stand up without the world going all kaleidoscope on him.

"So, that's Cloud", Genesis commented casually as he was tying the laces of his boots for him.

Zack lifted his eyebrows in interest and looked down at him from where he was sitting on the edge of the bed. "Mmhmm", he hummed.

Genesis glanced up knowingly, lips curling into the beginnings of a smirk. "He's very cute."

Zack's lips twitched and he glanced away thoughtfully and then back again as he started to grin. "It might've partly been the fever and crashing into a metal balcony but-" Zack ducked his head. "My first thought when I saw him was that he was an angel", he confessed, laughing at his own cheesiness.

Genesis snorted. "An angel? Really?"

"Hey, I was really out of it and he was all", Zack gestured vaguely with his hands to try and convey what all of Cloud was, "backlit and glowy and blonde, with those big blue eyes. You'd've thought it too."

Genesis laid his chin on Zack's knee and snickered.

Zack frowned playfully and gave a lock of his hair a gentle tug, then carded his fingers through his fringe. He cupped the side of his face and thumbed at his cheekbone.

Genesis closed his eyes and leaned into his hand with a faint smile. After a moment he looked up at Zack. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah", Zack smiled back. "Let's go home."

Somehow, Cloud was still dozing when they made their way into the lounge and didn't show any signs of stirring.

Zack moved to the back of the couch and peered down at the blonde. He slapped a hand over his mouth to keep a hysterical burst of giggles contained as he got a good look at Cloud's insane bed head. He turned back to Genesis with wide eyes as his lover leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. "Was it like that before?" he asked disbelievingly.

Genesis chuckled lowly. "Yes, it was. He was barely coherent when he answered the door."

Zack wheezed quietly. "Oh my god", he whispered in delight and after a moment of contemplation knelt down at the head of the couch.

He reached out and gave Cloud's shoulder a gentle prod.

…Nothing.

He tried again. Prod. "Cloud."

Cloud grunted in acknowledgment after a short delay.

Genesis snorted and pulled his face mask back into place.

"Cloud, buddy, wakey-wakey", Zack sing-songed.

Cloud's eyebrows scrunched up. "Cloud's not here right now", he muttered and pulled the sheets over his face, and only his face. If that was his attempt at blocking out the world it was hilariously unsuccessful.

Genesis laughed and Zack was barely keeping it together himself as he tugged as one of those far-too-tempting spikes. He rubbed the strands between the pad of his thumb and forefinger. Even though it looked like that his hair was so soft. How…? What a mystery.

"Come on, you can do it." Zack coaxed. "I need to say goodbye, bud, can't do that with you asleep."

There was a beat of silence as Cloud seemed to contemplate this before he heaved a sigh from under the sheet. He slowly pushed himself up into a sitting position.

"Why're you so chipper?" the blonde grumbled and those lovely baby blues finally cracked open. He peered over at Zack accusingly. It was adorable.

"Why're you so cute?" Zack shot back.

Cloud scowled heavily and looked away. There was a bright flush creeping up the back of his neck and into his ears.

Zack couldn't help himself and cooed at him, reaching out to give his hair another tug.

Cloud's scowl deepened. "You were saying goodbye", he said to distract him.

Zack smiled. "Yeah, Gen came to get me a bit earlier than planned", he said, glancing back over his shoulder and saw Cloud look in the same direction out the corner of his eye.

Genesis eyed the blonde as he was observed in turn and could see the moment his eyes lit up with recognition. He barely held back a sound of amusement as Cloud then turned to look at Zack with a downright concerned expression.

"Has anyone ever told you", he asked him slowly, "that you suck at keeping secrets?"

Zack was quiet for second, surprised, and then threw his head back and laughed uproariously. He tapered off into wheezy little coughs as it wound down and Genesis frowned faintly in concern.

Meanwhile, Cloud was rubbing at his forehead and muttering something about leaving the room. Genesis didn't quite catch it but Zack must've because he chuckled again and said, "Sorry." He then started to get up from his kneeling position and Genesis quickly stepped forwards to help when he spotted the slight tremble in his limbs.

Cloud tipped his head back and blinked up at the two of them with a neutral expression. If he though anything of their casual familiarity he didn't let it show on his face. His eyes really were a stunning shade of blue, Genesis thought as he observed them finally from up close.

Zack reached out and gave the blonde's hair an affectionate ruffle. "Bye, Cloud", he said, "and seriously, thanks again for everything." Something about the finality of that statement didn't quite sit well with him but Zack shoved the feeling down and kept smiling.

Cloud hummed and as Zack retracted his hand said a quiet, "Bye."

Genesis kept his arm looped around Zack's shoulders as the two of them turned and walked out of the apartment, closing the door behind them.

And Zack ignored the irrational little prickle of disappointment in his chest.

AN/:

This is literally just a POV change up of the last chapter but I felt compelled to do it. I tried to move things around as much as I could while keeping to the same events but yeah... hopefully it's not too dull to read...