Sorry! Real life, writer's block, BLAH. But REMAKE is creeping up on us, coming out, like, years before I expected it to, and I imagine some of you also might be in a very FFVII mood. I do really hope this jolts the fandom back into life and brings us new readers, and new writers.

No particular warnings, I don't think. No infringement also.

seriously, have you guys seen the footage of HD Cloud in Honeybee drag? When the whole game is out (they're doing some episodic thingy, right?), I am biting the bullet and finally upgrading from my trusty PS2. The Choir is also excited, though it's not going to be fun around here if Genesis doesn't make at least an appearance.

WITH THE DEAD
Chapter 13

Zack had managed to calm himself a bit before Dagan appeared again, though he definitely didn't feel the "at home" the elder had encouraged he make himself. A polite knock at the door, a wait till Zack said "Come in," and the smiling man almost floated in.

"Settled, little one? A bit less nervous?"

Zack smiled, mostly because Dagan was smiling, and the usually-cheerful boy unconsciously returned that expression whenever it was directed at him. "I think so, sir."

With a kind laugh, Dagan waved his finger. "What did I say to call me, Zack?"

"Sorry…Grand-sire."

Another smile. "I wasn't sure I'd ever get to hear that. Angeal and Genesis were young when they left, too young to have a child yet, and then with the rift…well…it's a lovely thing to hear. Though…" A chuckle. "…makes me sound quite old, doesn't it?"

"You don't look old," Zack assured him, with his own short laugh.

So sweet. So pure. Genesis was beautiful, but worldly, older, experienced. This is innocence. It will remain untouched, untainted, if I'm careful to be gentle. With ease, Dagan cloaked the thought from Zack. "I can sense you need to feed."

A bit reluctantly, Zack nodded, but he was obviously trying to be brave. "Yeah…I can do it, Angeal taught me."

"Did he? May I see?"

Dagan approached, and framed Zack's face with his cool, soft hands. Instinctively, Zack knew what he meant, closed his eyes, and opened his mind, flipping to the disliked memory like pages in a scrapbook. Dagan pushed down a thrill of delight – Amazing, he shouldn't know how to do this yet – and examined the event through the boy's eyes. Angeal had done the correct thing, instructing Zack in using his youth and beauty to lure his victim, because Zack didn't yet have the strength for an outright attack, and likely would never be able to frighten most humans. When Zack felt Dagan withdraw, he opened his eyes. The elder didn't step back yet, instead stroked his cheeks.

"Your eyes are remarkable, I've never seen quite that pale-rainwater color. Is it common where you are from?"

Zack laughed nervously – from the proximity, not the words, he was used to this compliment. "No, just seems to run in my family. My grandfather had them, but not either of my…"

Dagan gently swiped the tear away before Zack even knew it had escaped. "Your birth parents."

"I'm…sorry."

"Don't be. Do you miss them?"

Zack looked down, as much as he could with Dagan still cradling his face. "Usually not. That must sound awful."

"Not at all. Your tie to your blood-parents is incredibly strong. It was bound to write over earlier attachments, so to speak."

"I miss them, though," Zack said quietly. He immediately mentally kicked himself for being rude.

Dagan seemed to take no offense, letting go of Zack's face only to wrap him in what seemed to be a loving embrace. Zack was craving such a touch and let himself disappear into the bigger body.

Of course you do. You need not hide it.

Zack was trying to think how to say thank you when he felt Dagan's hand slide lower, caressing his bottom before settling under it to lift him slightly.

This is how Angeal holds you, yes? How does it feel?

Wrong, would have been one answer, wrong when anyone but Angeal did it, but Zack had a bigger problem than that. The pressure of the hand, the pressing of his groin to Dagan's body had him hard. He had been holding back for so long, and cursed himself while wiggling, trying to decrease the pressure. Dagan made a hushing noise, and drew him even closer.

"S-Sir, I-I have to – "

"Grand-sire, remember? I know you have to, poor thing, you've been fighting it. Let me help."

Before Zack could think of a polite refusal, the cradling hand pushed inward, making him rub against Dagan. The boy moaned, a sound that thrilled the elder, one he wanted to hear again an infinite number of times. Zack fought half-heartedly, torn between a need not only to come but to be made to come, and the fact that he barely knew this man.

You will know me in time, little one, but you know enough for now. You know I'm of your blood, that I am an elder in charge of you, that I love you and want to make you feel good.

But – oh! Not-not there…

Dagan's large hand was not only pushing Zack's hardness into his own, it was squeezing him with enough force to stimulate him on the inside. It was all Zack could do to not thrust in response, but no matter, Dagan was forcing their groins to rub together.

Zack knew he wouldn't be able to hold off much longer, so briefly forgetting not wanting to be rude, he struggled. The arms around him would not be dislodged, though they were continually making tiny adjustments to avoid hurting the smaller body.

N-No please I can't – Hold back, he meant.

I know you can't. Blame only me if it's easier. Just let go, little one.

With a desperate-sounding cry, Zack lost his battle, releasing what had built up inside him. Because he had been holding back so long, it was an even longer climax than usual, during which Dagan buried his face in the soft black spikes first, then moved to Zack's neck and deeply inhaled the sweet scent of him. The elder kissed and licked the cool skin, especially along the jugular vein, meanwhile beginning to push calm into the boy, slowly enough to keep him from pulling away but not disrupt the orgasm. Dagan's lower hand was now squeezing rapidly and firmly anyway, putting pressure on the prostate, intensifying and prolonging the release so much that by the time it began to ebb, Zack would have fallen were he not being held.

Good boy.

Zack thought of Angeal, his deep voice whispering those words, and immediately began to cry against the shoulder his head was held to. Even if he'd been able to hide the wetness of his tears, it didn't matter, Dagan was peering into him.

I'm sorry, little one, you weren't ready for that, were you? I thought it would make you feel better, but perhaps I was wrong to push.

Zack was used to being a good judge of character, and the mental voice sounded genuinely sorry. "I-It's okay."

You need not feel embarrassed, child, but I sense you do. I imagine you'd like to be alone. Once you've eaten, I'll leave you for a little while.

Zack tried to hide his gratitude for that. "O-Okay. Are we hunting nearby? I can't fly yet, but I'm a fast runner."

Hunting? Oh, you've misunderstood, little one.

Still being held off the ground by one hand, the other gently nudged Zack's face toward Dagan's neck. The sound and smell of blood, familiar blood, instantly called to Zack. He tried to move away, was not being allowed to, and with a sudden gasp of shock, the boy realized what the elder was trying to do, trying to make him do.

"N-No, I – "

"You only feed from your parents, I know. It wouldn't be right of me to disrupt that and risk you being hurt or upset by hunting humans."

"I-I promised them I would only – "

"Drink from them, yes. But this is really no different. They are your parents, I am theirs, we are the same blood, all four of us."

It did smell like Angeal and Genesis's blood, it cried out to him and pounded through the vein and skin in the same rhythm. With calm being poured into him and his energy not yet returned, and on top of that the strength of the body holding him, Zack was not able to get away from the scent and the sound, and whatever his mind was shouting, his body and his loneliness wanted the blood being offered to him. He was so focused on it he barely reacted, except with another, much milder climax when Dagan gently sank his teeth into Zack's neck and began to swallow. Far stranger was the odd but pleasant sensation that seemed to radiate out from the teeth inside him until it was in his fingers and toes, something Zack had nearly forgotten, something he had once loved. What was this? It was –

Warm, yes, Zack, I can make you warm. Dagan smiled; without realizing it, the boy was pressing himself closer, mistaking the heat was coming from the taller body. You've missed that, haven't you?

The fangs withdrew after only a few moments, but Zack felt weak, empty, wouldn't have been able to stand had Dagan not been holding him. Disoriented, Zack tried to reach the objections he had had to this closeness, and to what was being pushed on him, but all he could find was how calm and warm he felt, how his hunger had increased, how much he wanted the blood being offered. Dagan stroked his hair affectionately, and gently forced his face toward the loud, life-giving vein. Instinct took over, and Zack bit into it.

Rapture. Yet another orgasm shot through Zack, but he barely noticed, so great was the heat and pleasure of the liquid flowing into him. It wasn't entirely the same, but it did taste a lot like Genesis and Angeal's blood, and it was filling his emptiness, connecting him to another person, not Genesis or Angeal but someone who was telling him, not in words but a flow of feelings, I love you, you are safe. Dagan, old and recently-fed, encouraged Zack to take as much as he wanted, and when the boy was at last full, it was easy with Zack's exertion, both mental and physical, to nudge him into a deep sleep.

Dagan kept the teenager warm until he was completely unconscious, indulged himself by exploring the young body, both over and under his clothes, kissing the unresponsive lips, and finally settling Zack onto his bed and removing his shoes, assuring himself that he'd soon know every inch of the boy's skin. True, Zack was worth the effort it would be, but Dagan was looking forward to the game as well, the chase, the care he would take in undermining Angeal and Genesis and making their child his own.

agzagzagzagz

Zack awoke feeling confused, both from at first forgetting where he was and his shame at what had happened between he and Dagan before he fell unconscious. Sitting up in the fancy four-poster bed, Zack gathered his knees to his chest and sat curled up, a pitiful sight had there been anyone to witness it. Tentatively, he tried to reach out to Angeal and Genesis, resolved he would pretend all was fine, if only he could talk to them for a moment…but the consciousness that met his in the ether was the man who after a quick greeting and a short knock came into the bedroom.

"I'm here, little one."

Trying not to look too much like that was not what Zack wanted, the boy tried to force a smile. SOLDIER had, to some extent, taught him about diplomacy, and Zack knew his best chance at surviving this visitation test was to go along to get along, deal with his situation however he had to in order to get home. If he had to feign a bond with his new protector, so be it. Angeal would want him to do anything, fake anything in order to protect himself. Zack resolved to act cheery…but as the elder vampire came closer, a rush of misery surged up in the lonely, confused newborn and he promptly burst into tears even he didn't understand.

Making a low noise of concern and soothing, Dagan sat down on the thick top mattress and collected the boy's tense and shaking body into an enclosing embrace. The almost-stranger rubbed his back, carded long fingers through the glossy black spikes, rocked Zack while murmuring, "It's all right, little one. Don't try to hide how you feel. You will never be in trouble with me for your emotions."

It took Zack a few moments to realize that he had started to push himself deeper into the hug, as though he were receiving some comfort from it. Am I? What's wrong with me?

Nothing is wrong with you, little one. I know you're still getting used to me, but I am your grand-sire and it's only natural that you seek reassurance from me. There's not a thing wrong with it. Dagan made a "hmm" sound that seemed faintly displeased. Take that down, little one.

Zack hadn't even realized he'd thrown up an instinctive shield. Hesitating only a moment – remembering Angeal would tell him to get along, to cooperate – he dissolved the shield. Dagan sat back and smiled at him.

"You were different, weren't you, even as a human."

"Different?"

"Unusual. Even aside from how smart you are, I can sense that easily, but it's more. Were you always advanced?"

"Um, Angeal said I took to SOLDIER training more easily than most people. ShinRa fast-tracked me through training and assigned me to Angeal because they…"

"Considered you a prized asset." He's too modest to say so, how adorable.

"I guess."

Dagan smiled again and ran a long-fingered hand over the boy's spikes. "We have guests tonight."

"Who?"

"It's a surprise."

"I don't like surprises," Zack said with a completely unintentional and irresistible pout.

"All right," the elder laughed, "I've asked Merrick to bring his boy over for a bit of a play-date. But I can cancel if you're not up to it."

"Huh? No, I like them. This is cool," Zack said lightly.

"I just don't want you pushing yourself." Dagan mentally kicked himself when his utterance, though somewhat playful, made the newborn frown a bit, and he forced a laugh. "Indulge your overprotective grand-sire. You're dealing with a lot right now, and I don't quite trust that you will be perfectly honest about your limits."

Zack looked mollified, and he shrugged good-naturedly. "Okay…Grand-sire."

Dagan, whose heart must have cooled only a very little when his mortal life ended, felt something in his chest that he needed a few moments to realize was warmth. His intentions toward Zack were not innocent, even he knew that, though it's only in stories that the villain would use that word for himself. Dagan merely pondered for an instant that Zack was affecting him more than he had anticipated. He resolved, then, that he had Zack's interests at heart, that he was a better parent than stoic Angeal and unstable Genesis could ever be.

It was excuses, he knew, for taking what he wanted. But he didn't care enough to stop.

agzagzagz

"What's the difference between Draughts and Mega-Draughts again?"

"You're hopeless," Zack laughed, not turning from the TV screen as he manipulated his controller. "One hundred health points and 500, respectively. Only use the Megas when you really need to, they're hard to come by."

"Too late." Alan was now laughing as well, working his own controller with a bit less skill and confidence. "Hope we don't need the one I just took."

"Don't worry, I know a few cheat codes…"

Across the large parlor from where the young vampires were playing Last Legend VIII, Dagan regarded his grandchild with a fond, indulgent smile before tipping a bottle over a fancy teacup and sliding it over to his own guest. Merrick took it with a thank-you and sipped.

"Excellent vintage. What's the mix?"

"Chateau Mont-Verte and B2."

Merrick chuckled. "Rarest blood type and such a fine wine, I must be an even more welcome visitor than I thought."

"I'm grateful to you for bringing Zack some company to help him settle in, and…well, I know you to be a good friend of Angeal and Genesis. Now that I have Zack, I'm very eager to return to my sons' good graces. Their friends ought to be mine, I think."

Privately Merrick was a little perturbed by what Dagan had just said about 'having' Zack, but he was a fair man and had resolved recently to give the clan lord a chance. Maybe he really was redeeming himself. And if not, Angeal and Genesis would still want him to take any chance he could to spy on Dagan's behavior. And additionally, Merrick himself was a lenient parent and hadn't wanted to deny Zack the chance to continue his new friendship with Alan.

"How is Zack adjusting?"

"Quite well, I think. There have been some tears, but I've told him it's perfectly natural he misses his fathers and he doesn't need to hide that, which relieved him, I believe."

"Poor child," Merrick mused, then quickly added, "that was kind of you, though."

"Where are you two going?" Dagan called across the large room to the young vampires, who had sprang up and were headed to the door nearest them.

"We'll be right back," Zack called. "I left 'Megawarp' upstairs and want to show Alan my room!"

"Easy, friend," Merrick said with a laugh. "It's easier to parent when you trust."

Dagan forced a smile and continued the conversation, but his own laugh was absent of mirth.

Aazgazgazgaz

"Wow, awesome room! Master is way more modern than your grand-sire, he says old-style rooms remind him of his own sire."

Zack nodded. "It's a bit much to get used to. Genesis's style is kind of like this, but he likes modern touches, too."

"You can show me when I visit you at home. Oh, hey, I'm sorry…"

Zack silently cursed himself as he roughly wiped red-tinged tears from his cheeks. "It's not your fault. Gen warned me I'd be like a PMS-ing girl anyway, and even though it's only been a few days…"

"You miss them. Of course you do. Hey…" Alan stepped a little closer and lowered his voice. "This guy is treating you okay, right? Because Master says if he's not…"

"No, he is." He is…right? "I'm just being a baby."

"You are a baby, that's why," Alan teased.

"You're not much older than me!"

"Am too! I was 18 when I was changed, and that was 30 years ago." Alan pushed a stray lock of blond hair off his forehead. "I may not be an adult yet, but I'm old enough to give you advice. So don't be annoyed at yourself for how you feel. It's a waste of energy anyway."

"That sounds like something Angeal would – "

It shouldn't have surprised Zack, it had been hours, and though it had been happening less often here than in the company of his fathers, the boy was still a newborn, along with all that entailed. Suddenly he jerked upward almost onto his toes, eyes rolling back, and with a beautiful moan began to slowly but intensely fill his pants with semen. Instinctively, perhaps fearing he'd fall, Alan loosely embraced the shorter body, let Zack's face fall against his shoulder, let the narrow, boyish hips thrust against his own crotch. Alan was young as well, extremely attracted to his new friend, and himself was hard in an instant.

The elder child slipped one arm around Zack's waist to support him, and allowed the other hand to cup the newborn's perfectly-shaped ass, squeezing it at its middle, putting just enough pressure on the gland inside to make Zack groan again. Like every other vampire but with less mature-adult control, Alan found Zack's scent the best he'd ever encountered, and pressed his face into the fragrant white skin between neck and shoulder. He wanted to break it with his fangs, but figured if he was going to throw etiquette out the window, it should be for something he wanted even more.

Once Zack seemed to be done and beginning to recover, Alan whispered to him, "You wanted to see me fly, didn't you?"

Not himself again yet enough to answer, Zack responded with a sort of mental question mark. He then felt himself being lifted, not in flight but more like flotation, off the carpeted stone floor, over to the elegant bed, and being settled on the velvet bedspread with a welcome weight on top of him.

"Stop me if you need to," Alan hoarsely stammered, then his mouth was on Zack's.

Aside from his sires, Zack had no experience of passionate kissing, had never dealt with the fumbling frenzy of someone close to his own age, but what Alan lacked in technique, he more than made up for in enthusiasm. Besides, the younger boy as a newborn needed this, needed a lot of it, and though Alan wasn't Genesis or Angeal, he was familiar, safe, uncomplicated, and would definitely stop if asked to.

Zack didn't want it to stop. His hands moved restlessly over Alan's back and shoulders, while Alan's arms were around his body, embracing but exploring, and pushing Zack's shirt up so that when the kiss broke, the blond's lips moved their frenzy to the bared abdomen, a flattish wall of hard muscle draped in silken skin. His thumbs circled the nipples, and when they hardened instantly, accompanied by an aroused cry, Alan took one into his mouth and began to alternate between sweeps of his tongue and light scratching with his teeth.

Zack almost screamed into his hand, which he had clamped over his mouth. Alan paused briefly to mentally check on him, and seeing the boy was still very willing, just very, very stimulated, began to give the other breast the same treatment, while plunging his left hand into Zack's pants. He only had to fondle a few moments before the come-slicked organ was stiffening again.

Fingers shaking with want, Alan clumsily yanked the zipper down, roughly pulled the clothing down, and locked his mouth over the erection that erupted almost immediately. Thoughts hazy with pleasure, Alan registered that the newborn tasted almost as good as he smelled.

The older boy nuzzled Zack's bare stomach with his face, and barely had enough time to mentally touch Zack and see that he was fine, he'd enjoyed it too, before the door forcefully swung open.

Both startled, Alan sat back and Zack scrambled to refasten his pants. They must have had an intimation that they'd done something wrong even before they saw Dagan's displeased expression.

"What's going on here?" the lord asked in a not scary, not threatening, but low voice.

Merrick, emerging from behind him, laughed shortly. "Obvious, isn't it? You know how young ones are, any chance for a bit of exp-"

"Little one, are you all right?" Dagan interrupted, gazing at Zack.

Though not yet fully recovered from the orgasm, Zack sensed that damage-control was required here, and he smiled a bit nervously. "Yes, Grand-sire, I'm sorry we snuck off like that, and if you were worried, but…it's not like…I mean…I wanted to."

Dagan took a step closer to the bed, and Alan, without thinking or realizing what he did, instinctively grabbed Zack and held him, obviously with the intent to protect. Dagan halted, face unreadable but eyes growing chilly, and Merrick quickly cleared his throat.

"Alan, come here. Now."

Reluctantly, but without protest, the elder of the boys slowly slid his hands off the younger, and went across the room to his sire, who mentally reassured him and ran cool fingers through his blond hair comfortingly. Dagan meanwhile had reached Zack, and was holding his face while gently probing, as though he expected to find the newborn traumatized. When he didn't, he drew Zack to his chest. Zack sensed the unfamiliar position was meant to make him feel safe, but he was too confused to do so.

"Um, Grand-sire, it's okay, Angeal and Genesis said I can…"

"But I did not. While you are in my care, my permission is required for anyone to touch you."

Merrick spoke up, calmly as usual. "I apologize on behalf of my son, old friend. Had he known of this rule, I assure you, he would not have broken it."

"Accepted, of course." Dagan set Zack back on the bed and turned, leaving one hand stroking the spiky black hair. "I know no harm was meant."

"Thank you. As it's getting early, we must get going." Merrick mentally hushed the protest Alan was about to make. "You understand, we both have little ones now who need their rest."

Dagan chuckled, though without humor, seemingly. "Indeed. I thank you both for coming, and I hope you will be our guests again when our schedules permit."

"Of course we will."

"Bye, Zack," Alan said with an apologetic smile as he was led out of the room.

Zack raised a hand in farewell, couldn't force words out, felt nervous even when Dagan turned back to him, and closed the short distance between them again with a hushing, very parental sound.

"Don't be alarmed, Zack, you're not in any trouble. I should have informed you of this rule beforehand. I suppose I was surprised that Genesis and Angeal allow other vampires to be intimate with you."

Zack bit his lip to keep from frowning. "Angeal said it's healthy for my age, and that I needed to get used to vampires being touchy-feely."

Dagan smiled, and though the expression was friendly, it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Impressive. Were you only mine, I don't think I would be able to share. It seems my boys have become quite mature. I'll see our guests out, little one, and be right back for your feeding."

Once alone, Zack looked at the thick rug below his feet, trying to make sense of his jumbled thoughts. If Dagan had been angry about what Alan had done, he was dealing with it pretty well, and looking at and treating his grandchild with the same affectionate protectiveness as usual. He must have meant it when he said Zack was not in trouble, so what was bothering the boy?

It was, perhaps, merely the way the vampire lord had said, "were you only mine." As though he were stating the way things should be, or – though Zack didn't think this far – the way they were going to be.

To be continued.