It had been years since he had heard his voice, and just as long since he had last seen his face. Just how many years? He couldn't tell. His heart was stuck in his throat as he locked eyes with Zack.
"I… He-hello, Zack."
"How's it going, Cloud? Man, it's been a while," Zack said. He held a hand out to Cloud. Cloud stepped forward slowly and took it, shaking his hand. "Ah, come here, Cloud," Zack said, wrapping his free arm around the blond's shoulders. Cloud fell into his embrace and closed his eyes. He could smell Zack's skin - the same earthy scent that he remembered. He felt Zack's hand drift to the back of his head and gently scratch his scalp at the base of his neck.
"It's so good to see you," Zack mumbled into his shoulder. Cloud pulled away after a moment and threw a glance at Reno, who was standing near the doorway where Cloud had left him. His arms were crossed, and he threw Zack a short wave and a nod. Zack returned the greeting and turned his attention back to Cloud.
"They need to finish up here. You know, vitals and stuff. Then I'll be free to do whatever," Zack said.
"You sure are taking this in stride," Cloud replied, scratching his head. "If I were you, I'd be completely confused."
"Are you kidding? I haven't felt better in years!"
Cloud fell silent and couldn't figure out anything else to say. Any other person would have been talking ninety miles a minute without taking a rest. He had so much to say, and could not find the words to say, all at the same time.
"Will you wait for me?"
The words came from Zack's mouth and in an instant made Cloud freeze. "W-wait for you?" he asked Zack. Zack nodded. "Sure, they'll be done in just a sec. Thought maybe you'd wanna hang out for a bit and give me the grand tour of the new building," he told Cloud.
"Uh, yeah.. Sure thing," Cloud said, glancing again at Reno. Reno shrugged and motioned for him to come closer. "I'll be outside the door. Whenever you're ready, let me know," he told Zack. He walked over to Reno, who pulled him outside of the lab door and closed it behind them. "I'm not believing this, Reno," Cloud said breathlessly.
"What I'm wondering is what gives Rufus the right to play as a god," Reno said, his brows furrowed. "How do you know he's behind this?" Cloud asked. Reno looked at him like he was crazy, and said, "Are you kidding? Who else, Cloud? Who else? Rufus has always done shit like this. You know this as well as I do. He's as bad as his old man was!"
"I don't mind," Cloud said quietly, looking down at his feet. "I have a friend back."
"Of course you don't mind, Cloud. But what about me? I'm not stupid. I know how you and Zack felt for each other years ago, and don't you dare try to pass it off as just a close friendship. If you would have let him, he would have been all over you like a hungry dog," Reno said in a low voice, glaring at Cloud.
Cloud's head jerked up. "Don't accuse me of anything, Reno. I didn't remember a damned thing until I found that letter!"
"What letter?"
Cloud clamped his hand over his mouth and gasped. He had sworn to himself that he would never let Reno know about the letter. The past was the past, after all - there was no need to go dragging up old flames when he and Reno were so in love with each other now. He had cursed himself for even falling into that black pit of silence and depression after he had found the letter, and now he cursed himself for not telling Reno the truth when he had the chance to earlier.
"...I found a letter from Zack that he had hidden in my dresser many years ago. It was nothing," he told Reno quietly. "I didn't remember anything but friendship until I found the letter."
Reno shook his head in disbelief and said, "You must have a fucking grand selective memory, Cloud. That is fucked up."
"It's not like I was hiding anything from you!" Cloud sputtered, holding his hands up in frustration.
Reno took a step back and tried to mentally look at the situation from Cloud's perspective. For once, he wanted to do it without the interference of his own brain, as hard as that was. He was quiet for a moment, then said calmly, "Okay, Cloud. Look, I know you've had some problems with memory for years. Things aren't always what they appear to be in your head, and reality has always been much worse than what you imagined it to be. I understand that. Now that I really consider it, I can see where you may have suppressed the memory of being in love with Zack."
"Thank you."
"Were you lying when you told me that you had never been with anyone?"
"That was the truth, Reno. I had never even kissed anyone," Cloud said. "I was being honest about that. I would know if I had suppressed that."
"Yeah, but are you sure, yo? I mean, being in love with someone is far more important than kissing someone, but you were somehow able to suppress that memory. What makes you know for sure that you didn't fuck him?" Reno said, knowing he was pushing Cloud's buttons. And he was right - the blond's face was a deep, scarlet red now, and Reno could see his jaw clenching.
"Reno, don't accuse me. You were my first for everything," Cloud said. "Including true love. I may have loved Zack, but it was nothing like what you and I have. Reno, you are everything to me, and don't ever think anything otherwise. Until death, remember?"
"Until whose death, Cloud? Mine? Because I know you can't truly die. I know about all of that."
A wave of sadness passed over Cloud's face. He turned his head away. "I didn't think you knew about that," he said softly. Reno reached out and turned Cloud's face to meet his and leaned down to kiss him gently. "Just as long as I get to spend the rest of my years with you, babe, I don't care. But don't take that away from me."