A/N: (prompt 26: getting married) I didn't think a traditional wedding would fit, like, at all, so no tuxedos and wedding dresses folks. I just randomly decided to make this shit up and stick it in here, because Gonganains seem like super duper laid back people to the nth degree.

June 26: Wedding

14:25; east of Gold Saucer desert, Western Continent

Sephiroth was surprised at how smoothly the mission went. There were only a few minor injuries for the whole squad and the terrorists had been apprehended quickly. More than simply that, Zack had been more aware of himself when they went into battle; he wasn't as reckless as he tended to be and chose his actions with more care. The silver general was pleased.

They were loading up the prisoners, and the situation fully under control, when Sephiroth went to find his lover. Zack had wandered off somewhere, sent off on patrol, and the general assumed that he was perhaps playing in a field of flowers. Sephiroth smiled at the thought. He wasn't entirely sure how one played in a field of flowers, but he knew Zack would find a way.

Sephiroth just happened to glance at the hilltop in his quest – one covered with bright flowers that stretched into the cliff that overlooked the sea. He hadn't actually expected to see a familiar black head amongst the colorful petals.

The general shook his head, hiding his smile.

Zack was sitting there. He looked out of place, dressed for battle in SOLDIER blues with a sword strapped to his back, sitting betwixt the flowers. As he drew closer, Sephiroth realized that Zack was making an elaborate braid of them. The general stood there for a moment, admiring his lover's profile in the bright sun; the Third hadn't noticed him yet. The youth was absorbed in his work, focused intently on weaving together stems of flowers; even from his vantage, Sephiroth could see his lover's smile. It was only when Zack stopped working and stretched that the general called out to him.

"Zack," Sephiroth called; The SOLDIER Third turned at his name, his smile was wide and twinkled with mischief. "The transports will be loaded soon."

"We both know that really means in a few hours." Zack patted the ground next to him, rustling a few of the flowers. "So, why don't we just chill for a while?"

As much as Sephiroth didn't want to admit it, Zack did have a point. There was a particular... bureaucratic process that had to be followed when handling prisoners; especially political ones. The general strolled into the field, and stood near his lover. He did not sit. As tempting as the thought was, a part of him suspected that something could still go wrong. If any problems arose, he wanted to be ready to spring to action.

Regardless of where he was in the field - It was pleasantly quiet, a natural quiet filled with the sound of insects, birds, the whistle of the wind as it brushed against the grass and the distant sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below. It smelled of earth and a soft fragrance of flowers, mingling with the strong odor of salt, and most importantly like Zack. Sephiroth took a breath, savoring the taste, the moment, and the sensation of being here with Zack.

It was peaceful and quiet. Sephiroth smiled.

Zack shifted beside him. "We should get married."

"Pardon?" Sephiroth was certain he had just misheard Zack. There's no way he could have just said that.

Zack laughed. "I mean, you remember what Reno said a while back, you know... at Costa Del Sol?" Sephiroth remembered that Reno had said quite a few things back then; the marriage comment hadn't been exactly... pleasant. "Well... I've been thinking about it. Like, not a lot a lot, but just a little bit. Especially, you know, around here," he gestured with a shoulder south – to Gongaga, Sephiroth realized suddenly. "And, I don't know... I mean, I always thought about getting married..."

"It's a horrible idea." Clearly Zack hadn't really been thinking at all about what Reno had said; it hadn't been much more than an insult – on that still irritated Sephiroth to this day. Shutting Zack down before he got strange daydreams was the best approach to deal with this kind of situation. "There would be too much publicity. While a few SOLDIER have married one another, each wedding was chaos. They were merely Seconds and Thirds – imagine if a general would get married?" Sephiroth shook his head. He remembered their argument, just days ago – remembered how they made up; they trusted each other, so he said it. "Zack... the world would use you against me. You would never be safe."

Zack scoffed, leaning back in the flowers. "You worry too much, Seph."

It was clear Zack's mind wasn't going to be changed easily – he was blind to the danger. The general had to switch tactics: talking about the ShinRa politics of a SOLDIER marriage would be the surest route.

But, Zack was already bouncing to his feet, with a shake of his head. There were to braided wreathes of flowers in his hand. "Look, Seph. I'm not saying we go all out and tell everyone – maybe we don't tell anyone. See, like, when people get married back home – in Gongaga – they don't do it to tell the world or to throw a fancy party or anything. The whole thing is about joining our lives together. You, me, together forever."

Joined together forever... the thought was tempting. In fact, it was more than tempting, as if it had been something the general hadn't realized he wanted all this time. To be with Zack for the rest of his life, beside him, together... Logical arguments tried to break through the sudden blur of temptation in his mind, but he couldn't seem to care about them; they drifted away without a second thought.

"What do we do?"

Zack smiled. His smiles were always beautiful, Sephiroth knew. But, this time, somehow, beneath the sunlight and amid the bright glow of flowers, he looked radiant – it was almost as if he didn't belong in the world, but was instead like one of those angels that Genesis loved to wax poetically about. Sephiroth felt a warmth blooming inside of him at the sight, the sensation that only Zack could give him.

"It's really simple. All you have to do is take one of these," Zack waved a flower wreath, "and put it on my head, and I'll put one on your head. And then we kiss."

If Sephiroth remembered correctly, weddings included a lot more ceremony, speeches, and vows. Even simple affairs required legal documents a procession and far too many religious promises. "That's all?" he found himself asking.

"Super simple, right? But, see, here's the catch. The hardest part of the ceremony is making sure to think of only me. Nothing else. Got it?" Zack was smiling and Sephiroth had to stop himself from pulling him into a kiss.

"Of course," he rumbled back.

Quietly he took one of the wreaths from Zack's hand. Zack's smile never faded, only grew wider. Sephiroth could feel Zack's hand rising and he bowed his head, allowing the flowers to be placed in his hair. The touch was unusual, but Zack's fingers were soft and gentle, ticklish and solemn.

There was something deep in Zack's eyes when he reached up to put the flowers on Zack's messy head. The general had seen it there before, flickers of it on their lazy mornings and when they cuddled together in the middle of the night, but never so prolonged. He couldn't identify it, but decided he liked the way it looked. The way it crinkled his eyes seemed to match the gentle petals in his hair. Gentle, loving, warm...

Zack trailed his fingers down to Sephiroth's jaw, tugging him down without words. Obliging, the general ran his fingers across the nape of Zack's neck. And their lips met in a kiss.

It was a strange kiss. It was both passionate and not. Sephiroth didn't feel any of the usual desire he associated with a kiss, but instead his body was flooded with something warm – something that made him feel whole.

They pulled apart.

"I hope you know I'm going to ball you Hubby now." Zack breath whispered against the general's lips, their noses brushing against each other.

"I hope you won't." Sephiroth preferred the nickname Zack had already claimed, it warmed his heart plenty enough. 'Hubby' simply sounded odd – like a product or a jar; he didn't like it.

"When we get back we're going to lock ourselves away in the bedroom and fully enjoy our honeymoon." Zack moved his arms to wrap around Sephiroth, pulling them close.

"I'm afraid we'll have to delay those plans." Sephiroth played with the hairs on the nape of his lover's neck. "I will be reporting to the labs when we return."

Zack made a face. The Third knew how much he hated the labs. After dealing with the politicians and Hojo, he doubted he would be able to do more than fall asleep. But instead of saying anything, Zack just leaned forward and kissed Sephiroth gently again. "Tomorrow, then?"

Sephiroth almost agreed, but something stopped him. Something was going on tomorrow in a way that felt like a plan he had made months ago. He couldn't quite place it at first as he frowned down at Zack. But, when the Third tiled his head with that eager smile, waiting for an answer, he remembered. Then he smiled. If he remembered correctly, the materia transfer would be finished by the time they returned; what a perfect gift.

"Perhaps." Sephiroth captured his lover's – husband's – lips again as Zack laughed in his mouth.