Cloud's observing a photoshoot session from afar.
Nothing in his head is conscious about what he's looking at. Instead, it's full of questions.
What was he thinking?
Why the fuck did he have to kiss Zack on the mouth?
Now he can't even look that man in the eye.
He couldn't even look at Tifa when he's having breakfast with her this morning.
It made him feel like shit every time he did.
He kissed someone else behind her back.
It was not meant to happen. It was not supposed to cross his mind. The only person that he should be kissing is her and no one else.
The kiss must have ruined things with Zack too.
The other man's acting weird around him. All tight-lipped and stiff like they're meeting one another for his first day at work.
They haven't exchanged a single word since the studio opens for business today and others around them must have realized by now.
But he doesn't care about them or what they think.
What he really cares about is for things between him and Zack to be normal again.
Sessions in the studio start and end like they usually do and Cloud just goes through them one by one without getting really into it.
He's too focused on rehearsing his apology to Zack in his head.
The clock hits 4.50pm and the final session ends.
He goes on to pack the equipment, per usual but he's rushing through it so he can have time to talk with Zack before the other man leaves.
A few minutes pass by and he quickly learns that he actually doesn't need to worry about any of that.
Zack approaches him first – to his surprise.
There's awkwardness in his posture and gestures but Cloud's still able to recognise the genial air he often carries around with him.
"Do you finally have time to help me process some photos?" he asks. "Please tell me you do," he rushes to add as if the prospect of Cloud declining again would embarrass him.
Cloud snickers. "Yeah, I do."
"Great! I'll meet you in the darkroom. Gotta have my smoke first."
Zack leaves to smoke outside while he continues to pack up and organize the studio.
Once he's done, he walks straight into the room next to the pantry, bringing with him the camera that Zack has been using throughout the day.
He's unloading films out of the camera when Zack finally walks in.
"Let's see what we got here!" Zack says, eagerly joining his side at the table where the enlarger is.
He clicks on the switch light, turning the room into total redness, then hovers by the enlarger with Zack as they work on the first image.
There's never a time when Cloud doesn't like the process of developing a photo in the darkroom. It has an almost tranquilizing effect on him.
Enlarge an image on a piece of resin coated paper. Control the colour and sharpness of the image with the help of the focus finder tool. Dip the image in trays of chemicals. Use tongs to move the paper around to reduce marks and blemishes on the image. Once the image comes up just like you want it to, hang the paper horizontally on a string for the image to be assessed with other images.
He does each task in silence and with immense concentration, while Zack's guiding him patiently whenever necessary.
10 developed photos later and they reach an image of a naked man laying on a white sheet with his arms behind his head.
"Ah. The one with a huge cock," Zack remarks.
Cloud laughs lightly and shakes his head.
"What? It's true. Can't you see?"
Zack points to the image, urging him to see.
"I can."
How can he miss it? It's the only thing the whole crew couldn't stop whispering about during the client's photoshoot session.
"Shit… he's probably bigger than I am," Zack murmurs, almost begrudgingly. Then he tilts his head, "Or not. We're probably the same size."
Cloud squints his eyes at Zack.
He does it not because he doesn't believe Zack. It's just always funny to watch all that confidence in the other man deflate as he becomes flustered over the most trivial of things.
Zack drops his jaw and looks slighted by Cloud's (fake) doubt. "It's true! You can ask Aerith just how big I am!"
Cloud smiles and shakes his head again. "Okay, Zack. I get it."
"You don't believe me…."
"I do."
"No, you don't. You probably don't believe me because you think yours is bigger than mine."
He snorts. "Trust me, I don't."
He's not into comparing sizes and frankly, he's happy with his size!
Zack laughs, the boyish kind that he always does when he's done teasing someone. "Okay, sorry. I was just joking. No more talk about cocks."
There's a brief silence between them as he moves the image to the first tray.
For some reason, he feels the need to turn at Zack.
When he does, he finds the other man's already looking at him.
His breath quickens.
An invincible spark zaps across them.
Zack pushes him against a table and their lips soon collide.
It's an almost violent kiss, as though they've waited for too long to fulfil this hunger for tasting the fullness of each other's lips.
Zack's prying his mouth open and he's craning his head to lean closer. They're gasping in between heavy strokes of the tongue that heats his body until it overwhelms his head and makes him dizzy.
When Zack pulls away, he almost whines. It must have showed on his face because Zack's grinning before he pelts him with more kisses on the neck.
Desperate for more, he snakes both of his hands underneath Zack's shirt and trails the other man's lower back with his fingers.
Zack returns his touch by grabbing and kneading his ass until he's shivering.
They're so close to another that he can feel their hardness grinding against one another.
He doesn't want this to end.
The universe though isn't so fucking kind to him.
A phone rings, crushing his wish away. It rings loudly and annoyingly in one of Zack's trouser pockets.
The other man grunts and goes on to answer the call he's receiving without even checking who's calling.
It takes every bone in Cloud's body not to snatch that phone away from him.
"Hello?" Zack speaks, voice heavy with exasperation that he doesn't even try to hide.
Cloud caresses the palm of his free hand as he listens quietly to the person at the other end of the line.
"Can't we go some other time?"
Zack's request isn't received well by the person he's speaking to. Cloud can hear the tirade that goes off from the other end of the line and forces Zack to move the phone several distance away from his ear.
"Okay, fine! I'll go! FUCK! Meet me there!"
Zack shoves the phone back into his pocket, then gives Cloud an apologetic look.
"Sorry…"
"Don't be."
"You know how Aerith is…"
"I know. You don't have to explain."
Cloud flashes Zack a smile.
He doesn't want to say more.
He only hopes that Zack shares the same thoughts as he does.
That this won't be the last time.
Zack leans forward to give him one final kiss and when it ends, the other man sighs like he doesn't want it to.
Zack leaves but he stays.
There's no way he can go home when he feels like soaring up in the sky and all his mind can think about is the man with a scar on his jaw.