"Ghost"
'Chapter 10'

By: Kareian & Emo Fox

Zack only made soft hushing noises as Cloud cried. His warm hand moving gently up and down the man's back. His face was soft as he listened to the anguished cries. He would keep his promise he would catch Cloud.

Almost an hour later, Zack had carefully maneuvered Cloud and himself down to the surface of the bed. He carefully held Cloud's broken body against his own, his arm over the man's hip bone, so not to put pressure on his broken ribs. He had tucked Cloud's face under his chin, and was carefully threading his fingers through the blonde hair. He continued his small hushing sounds, trying to sooth the blonde.

Cloud's sobs had stopped a short while before.. now was only sniffles and hiccups. He felt like a child in Zack's arms -- like a little kid again, like he hadn't grown an inch since he had last seen him. He nudged his head under Zack's chin, his eyes burned and his throat hurt but he wasn't crying anymore and that was a plus.

Zack smiled as Cloud slowly quieted down, "See, I'm still here." He teased lightly. He wouldn't tease Cloud about the crying, hell back in the day he did enough crying for the both of them, "Feel better?"

Cloud's lips were in a strained frown as if he were fighting with the expression. He tilted his head towards Zack as he smiled warmly down to him and it made Cloud's heart start to beat a little faster, "..mm." He offered, not trusting his voice just yet, it might still be warbled from crying. He let his hand fall from Zack's shirt, feeling even more foolish for clinging to him like he had.. like he was a lifeline.

"..Sorry." He said after a moment in a tired tone, he averted his gaze, making a move to separate them.. as if he might've crossed a line or something. He still wasn't used to physical contact..but Cloud had yet to detangle his hand from Zack's, Cloud really didn't want to roll away from him.

"What are ya sorry for?" Zack kept his head down, waiting for Cloud to look back up to him, "You didn't do anything wrong." He pointed out, even though he knew the blonde was a bit upset about the crying, "Hell, Cloud, you've seen me cry lots of times, remember when I broke my favorite shoe? I cried. You laughed at me for it too."

He snickered at the memory, 'But Spiiiiiike, it was my favorite shoe!'

Cloud couldn't help but smile.

God..this was so familiar. The memories brought a new splash of emotion in his eyes as he turned his gaze back up to the brunette. He eyed him a long moment, inches apart, just watching him with those blue-green red-rimmed eyes. "..yeah. You were a cry baby."

Zack smirked and shrugged, "Still am." He reminded. Moving his arm, he gently brushed the dried tear tracks away with his warm fingers. "Give me a week, I'll probably cry about something." He teased lightly, his fingers lingering over the smooth skin of Cloud's cheek.

Cloud watched him a long moment, a gentle smile on his lips as he regarded Zack. He leaned in slightly to the feel of warm fingers on his cheek, to the fingers holding his face, "Probably." He agreed quietly, continuing to gaze at him with those big blue-green eyes.

It felt surreal.. dream-like.

Pop!

Cloud's breath hitched in his throat as he jolted to attention hissing from the pain in his side.

What the hell?!

It was picth black now..

Oh..

"..the light." He groaned trying to calm down and lay back but now the pain in his side and back was hindering him.

Zack carefully held Cloud in one place, before ever so slowly lowering him to the bed. He kept Cloud still, and gently cupped his cheek, "Easy..." he murmured. He could feel the tense muscles in Cloud's body, and the sweat break out at the strain, "What did I say about straining yourself?" He asked quietly still smiling.

Cloud allowed himself to be lowered back to the bed.. on his back now, trying to let his muscles relax as Zack perched half-way over him. The warm fingers on his cheek were distracting, but he was irritated that the light had scared him so badly. But.. he had been caught up in Zack's eyes and thus not paying attention to anything else..

..god he was like a kid again. A kid falling in love for the first time all over again. He smiled slightly, "..there should be some more bulbs in the closet." He offered but was unsure if Zack would care to go find one.

"You and I don't need light." Zack smiled gently. He was perched over Cloud's body resting on his forearm. His mako-infused eyes gazed down at Cloud in an affectionate expression, "..You've grown up so much.." He murmured.

Cloud's face and body had sharpened, and filled out leaving him a beautiful man.

"You're still so beautiful.."

Cloud gazed up at Zack, the moonlight trailing in through the window cast a silvery glow across the whole room. Zack's eyes were intense, holding Cloud's gaze so the man couldn't look away even if he wanted to.

It felt so familiar yet different..

They'd laid together so many times in the past but this was somehow different. Cloud was compelled to touch Zack.. his arm lifting and his fingers brushing over the man's cheek and across his temple. He fingered the smooth tendrils that shadowed the bright gaze.. running his fingers along his scalp before resting behind his ear.

Zack smiled gently down at Cloud, letting the man trace his face, letting him familiarize himself once more. He caught the smooth back side of Cloud's hand and cupped it gently. He knew he couldn't try anything on Cloud, he couldn't do anything, but it felt good to be pressed up against him once more. Slowly moving the hand towards his mouth, he pressed a soft kiss to the skin.

"...I still love you.."

Cloud was entranced by the feel of Zack's skin -- of the warmth of him. The lips on his fingers were soft and inviting and Cloud focused then on the man's plump lips.

..Zack..

"I..love you too." He said softly, letting his hand fall from his chin to his neck.. following the contour with deft fingers.

Zack kept his hand on Cloud's letting the blonde explore his face and neck. His expression was still tender, his smile growing as Cloud uttered the three words. Leaning down he gently nuzzled Cloud's cheek.

"I missed you.."

Cloud's hand trailed back to Zack's cheek as the man leaned in and rubbed their skin together in a casual manner.

Mm..

Cloud gently rested his hand under Zack's chin and slowly guided his face to his. "..I missed you too." He said in a soft tone, his bright blue-green eyes latching onto the other soldier's in a quiet understanding embrace.

In a slow deliberate movement Cloud began to lean in, hand still on his cheek, bright eyes sliding shut as he pressed his lips to Zack's.

Zack's eyes fluttered closed as he felt Cloud's lips against his own. They weren't trembling, they were sure of them self now. He kept the kiss light, despite the heavy heart beat in his chest that urged him to take it further. He slowly dragged his hand up Cloud's body, keeping his touch feather light, before his own hand rested on the blonde's neck.

God..

Cloud's body was screaming for Zack.. he felt so relaxed and at ease. He felt the light touches across his body, he wanted to move to them but his broken body kept him still. He moved his lips against Zack's wanting something more.. He felt the hand on his neck and moaned into the kiss -- it had been years, so many years without him.. without any human contact. His heart was hammering in his chest and his uneven breath caused a spasm of pain to rip down his spine.

"Zack.." He murmured against his lips, pulling back before he got too caught up in the inviting kiss..

Damn..He leaned back on the pillows, his blue-green eyes clouded, his lips swollen from the kiss and his cheeks starting to flush from pain and excitement.

Zack knew that would happen. He let Cloud relax back on to the bed, and gently ran his fingers through the man's hair, in relaxing gesture, "..Little out of shape there, aren't ya?" He teased, trying to divert Cloud's attention from the broken rib. The kiss had been just as amazing to him as it had been 10 years ago. His own body was excited, but he tried to keep it under control.

...This would be hard now, with Cloud so hurt, it would be quite a while before they could really do anything, "Aren't you supposed to be some big, bad warrior or something?"

Cloud rolled his eyes to the man perched above him.. trying to ignore the taste in his mouth. He licked his lips absently, tasting the remains of Zack.

..he still tastes so damn good.

"I did crash my bike.." He reminded him though he knew Zack was well aware though he was just trying to keep the conversation light. Trying to keep it off what he wanted to do. His hands trailed lazily in Zack's hair at the back of his neck, teasing the flesh as he remained rather submissive under the soldier.

Zack knew that look and gently pulled back, "Hey now, if you keep doing that I might do something to hurt you, then I'd really cry." He smiled as he gently reached up and lightly gripped Cloud's wrist. He gently caressed the skin with his thumb as he gazed down into the blue, green eyes, "I want to too, but we can't."

"Want to what?" Cloud propped up on his good elbow, as if wanting to tempt Zack into doing something.. but at the same time Cloud didn't know if he was ready for more pain. He was pressed back against the pillows, his good leg coming up to trap Zack between his good leg and his stationary one. His knee rested on the man's hip and his intense mako infused eyes regarded the man almost in a tempting manner.

Cloud certainly was an aggressive little thing now..

Zack felt his heart race.

This wasn't good.

"Ahh C'mon, Cloud." He wiggled back slightly, trying to get out of the light grip, but not hurt the man at the same time. "You're busted up, you can't even lay on your right side, and you want me to get frisky with you?" He laughed slightly, he started to easily edge back slightly, trying to ease back from Cloud, "C'mon, don't try and seduce me, it just migh --- Wa!" Zack hadn't realized how far back he had been shifting, until he felt his back side slip off the bed only to take the bulk of his body with it.

Cloud was propped up watching as Zack inched further and further away from him. He knew he was only trying to do the right thing.. and Cloud wasn't really sure if his body could handle a little messing around right now.

..but he had missed him.

He wanted to feel his skin on his, he wanted to remember what it all felt like. And his taste.. Cloud had reached for him then, as he wiggled just a little more and then Zack had fallen right off the bed.

..just like that.

The man leaned back on the bed, a little frown on his lips as the other soldier was finally out of his reach, "..you don't want to touch me that bad?" He was trying to trap Zack back into contact. He leaned back against the pillows and laid himself out again for the man to see.

Zack glanced over at Cloud and immediately wished he hadn't. Little brat was trying to seduce him!

"Ahh baby don't be like that." He begged, sounding more like a whine, "You're all busted up." He tried to explain, "I don't exactly want to be gentle with you!" He tried to hint at, "Besides you can barely breathe normally as is, you think sex is going to feel good on your ribs?" He tried again. Sitting up he rested his forearm on the bed, his blue eyes catching Cloud's, "I promise the moment you're ribs are healed we'll go at it, but not before that."

Cloud moved his good leg towards Zack's arm, running his toes over the smooth skin a moment almost in a gesture of thought.

..he was right. He knew the dark haired man was right. He could barely breathe, sex wouldn't help.. and it had been so long, he doubted he'd be able to handle it without being healed.

"..fine." Cloud murmured, not sounding so happy, almost pouting if he hadn't been so proud now to do it.

Zack smirked gently and caught the blonde's foot with his hand, "...You're still a little nympho for me, huh?" He asked slowly dragging Cloud's good foot closer to him, "I think you are.." he smiled devilishly before he licked the arch of Cloud's foot.

The feel of his tongue over his foot sent a chill down his spine -- pleasant yet ticklish all at the same time. His expression was soft as he regarded the other man but he tried to shrug the feelings off. He laid more casually to one side, closing his pretty blue-green eyes.

"..I don't know." Cloud murmured, "Are you still as good as you were?" He said, a slight smirk on his lips.

Zack drew away from Cloud's foot and gave him the infamous smirk, "Baby, no one forgets Zachary Fair." He said in a cocky tone.

Cloud's eyes were smoldering in the moon light as he leaned back on one arm, stretching his torso out to one side, exposing his sculpted chest under the tight black shirt. The blonde's cat-like eyes opened lazily as Zack spoke cockily and caught his attention.

"..is that right?" He murmured, feeling comfortable talking like this. The tight shirt left little to the imagination and those smoldering eyes sent a warm heat throughout Cloud's body. Pleasant memories of their coupling had been buried under the bad ones for much too long.. sadly Cloud had forgotten how Zack felt.. what it felt like to be under him, what his lips felt across his skin.

..everything.

Maybe a reason why he wanted to make a new memory and was too impatient to wait on the healing process his body had to go through first. His eyes spoke volumes without saying a word -- he wanted him, evident in the way he displayed his half-naked body for the man to see.

"You never forgot." Zack smirked he watched Cloud's expression for a moment before he blinked, "What? Don't tell me you forgot!" He exclaimed. That was a small hit to his ego..."Ahh, baby, I'd help you remember in a heartbeat if hadn't gone and gotten yourself broken." He teased. Zack was trying so hard not to play into the seducing eyes.

Stupid Zack..Being like that.. All responsible and crap. Cloud could tell his attempts weren't working and it was making him a little frustrated to say the least. He kept throwing out that sexy smirk and those smoldering eyes and yet the words that came out weren't the ones he wanted to hear.

He didn't want a, 'I would...buuutt...'

No.

He wanted Zack so damn bad and even more so because Zack was trying so hard not to want him. Blah.. Cloud tried to tame his own libido, shifting into his pillows and trying not to let the frown turn into a pout.

"..get on the bed." It was an order, he was sick of looking at Zack on the floor playing with his toes.. he wanted him back near him so he could at least focus on something to keep his mind off sex.

Zack smirked at the authoritive tone. Cloud was a man now, and not the shy teenager he had once been. Crawling back up on the bed, Zack laid on his stomach next to the blonde and smiled gently, "Yes, Sir?" He asked with a smirk.

Cloud watched him a long moment, that damn smirk was poisonous. He shifted so he was facing the other soldier, lifting his hand to boldly run his fingers through Zack's hair.

..he wasn't a kid anymore. He knew what he wanted now, how to get it, what buttons to push. He trailed his hand down the back of his neck, across his shoulders and back again. He kept his face expressionless as Zack questioned him as if for another order.

Sir?

He wiggled down the bed, just enough so he was eye level with Zack.. ignoring the ache of his ribs, wanting to do this, wanting to try to pull his last card. Cloud closed in on Zack's ear, his lips against the tender flesh, "..Zack.." His tone was concentrated, deliberate. "Make me remember."

Zack froze, the words sending a shiver down his spine, his blood filling his arousal.

That was not good.

It was as if Cloud knew that spot still.

...probably doe, little brat.

Zack slowly pulled away, it was the hardest thing he'd ever done. His body and mind were all telling him something different, to go back and ravish the blonde body. He had asked for it. But his heart told him no. Cloud was hurt. "Cloud." He whispered, his voice shuddering, he closed his eyes, "I-I..I can't." he whispered, "You can hardly breath." he tried pointing out. This hurt him just as much as it would have hurt Cloud physically. "Don't make me do this...not tonight..please." He whispered.

Cloud watched him a long moment before he fell heavily into the pillows. He mashed his face in the soft fabric and just.. hid.

This sucked..

He was hard.

His skin was on fire.. Zack was right here and he couldn't do anything about it. He..couldn't torture Zack anymore, it was really only hurting himself too.

He knew they couldn't..

But damn it he wanted to..

"..sorry." He mumbled into the pillow, not looking up, he tried to relax himself.. tried to count backwards from ten and ignore the thought of Zack ravishing him.

"I, um.." Zack slowly started to peal himself away from the bed, nervously glancing down at himself.

Yep, he was real hard..

"I'm gonna go...sleep in my room.." he paused. He had to turn this around, "You might rape me in my sleep." He teased.

Cloud turned his face from the pillow, his smoldering eyes taking in the sight of Zack standing awkwardly next to the bed the tent in his pants a little more than obvious.

Argh..This sucks so much..

He mushed his face back in the pillow trying to ignore him. "..whatever."

....This didn't go the way I planned.

Sighing, Zack turned and started towards the door.

Shower...He needed a cold shower…Ice cold.

"Alright, I'll see ya in the morning, hot stuff." He teased once more as he stepped through the door.

Leaning against it for a brief moment he let out a long, frustrated sigh before he pushed off of the door and bee-lined it to the bathroom. He immediately flipped the light on and shut the door, shirt already half way off.

Cold shower, cold shower.

Stepping into the icy spray he let out a wince and his natural defense was to try and back away but he forced himself to stay under the water. He shivered and twisted under the cold droplets until his teeth chattered.

"Way too close.."

AN: well there's chapter 10. It is longer, a bit boring for my tastes, but the action is coming. I really don't want to read reviews that just ask where the sex is, because then I feel like that's all you guys want to read. This obviously isn't that kind of story.

On a happy note. I can't believe how many people have reviewed this story or have added it or faved it or alerted it! I'm so amazed! Makes me happy! I love seeing reviews! I love my phone going off at work telling me I have e-mails! ^_^

So please, keep on reviewing. Today was definitely a day that I needed the love and kind words.

I am happy to announce that "The Hidden Mist" is the FIRST PERSON!! *cheers and throws balloons and streamers* to actually request something from me! ^//^ I'm so excited! I'll talk with my writing partner in crime tomorrow about it. I'll get her butt in gear and we'll write you something ^_^, since you're always reviewing our stories and loving them. I feel like this is a very do-able request!

~Kareian~

REVIEW PLEASE!