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Chapter 013

Zack hopped out of the back of the truck landing gracefully, his muddy combat boots smearing slightly on the smooth gray concrete of the large garage and loading dock. He shifted the buster blade upon his back slightly, heading for the back entrance. "Hey Zack, great job today."

Zack just waved a hand over his shoulder at the other SOLDIER before entering the building. He slowly walked up the plain white staircase, passed the elevator, passed each door that would take him to the main Shinra building, up to the second floor, third floor, and fourth floor and up. He didn't feel like taking the elevators today—he just wanted to be alone.

His skin was covered in a thin layer of dust kicked up from the truck, his hair was grayed slightly due to the layer of dust, his eyes were downcast and his shoulders were slumped—not at all like the hyper energetic puppy who usually tagged along with the great and mighty general Sephiroth.

At the thought of Sephiroth Zack felt his heart tighten against his rib cage in despair. He hated the tsunami of emotions that hit him every time he saw or thought of the general, hated how he was acting, he hated himself—he'd never hated himself before, it was extremely depressing.

When Zack finally bothered to lift his gaze and examine where he was going he was rather surprised to see his feet had lead him to the army barracks, which was only a few halls down from the Cadet barracks. He blinked and looked around. Only Cloud had returned from lunch so far. The blond was going through his personal belongings, blank expression upon his cream face—which was only slightly freckled—if you bothered to pay attention. If Zack strained his ears he was almost certain the little blond was humming a quiet tune to himself.

Cloud blinked and looked towards the door, his eyes brightened and he smiled as he folded one of his blue shirts and stuffed it back into his bag. "He Zack, where have you been?" He asked standing up and taking several steps towards the SOLDIER first class. His smile faded at the sorry state his friend seemed to be in. His brows tilted and his eyes took on a concerned sheen. "Zack, are you okay?"

"You're lucky you know."

Cloud blinked shifting his weight slightly, his head tilting just a fraction to the side in a questioning motion. Zack shrugged his shoulders slightly his head hanging to one side in a 'I-don't-give-a-fuck' stance. "Your dreams came true."

Cloud blinked, he was confused. What was Zack talking about? His dreams hadn't come true; he didn't make it into SOLDIER. "I know I should be happy for you, and I tried…I tried to be a good friend,"

"Zack what are you,"

"Putting on a mask, smiling and acting cheerful,'
"Zack you're beginning to,"

"But I just can't do it anymore." Tears lined the puppy's blue eyes. "Why him Cloud?"

Cloud blinked, even more confused than before. He frowned slightly.

"What are you talking about Zack?"

"Sephiroth." The tears fell. "Why did you pick him?" Zack shook his head and lifted a hand. "No, no I know why you chose him I mean, he's Sephiroth there's not a man or woman in their right mind who doesn't want to screw him but I mean…why him Cloud?"

Cloud's heart began to beat quicker and it felt as if it were sinking slowly, anxiety was beginning to kick in. He could hear his pulse in his ears. "He didn't even know you existed. He didn't care about you, you were just another cadet to him. I…I was your friend, I was…I accepted you from the moment I met you! I protected you, I helped you whenever you needed it, I, I, I…fuck." Zack collapsed onto one of the bunks, head in his hands, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably as he silently sobbed into his hands. Cloud stood rooted to the spot, the reality and severity of what his friend had just said hitting him like a ton of bricks. Zack loved him. Cloud felt his heart rip in two. Everything made perfect sense. It explained everything, why Zack was showing Sephiroth such animosity, why Zack was shying farther and farther away, why he was so depressed. Cloud swallowed, his throat having gone dry, blinking several times, turning his gaze slowly to his crying friend.

"I…I chose him because I thought you…no, I knew you were still in love with Angeal." He breathed his voice low and quiet, hardly above a whisper. Zack's breathing had stilled slightly the only sign showing that he was listening for he didn't lift his gaze. Cloud took several slow steps towards the slumped form of the other teen, dropped to his knees and tried to look at his friends face with little success. "I chose Sephiroth because I love him. And I think I always did."

Zack let a sob escape him. "But, Zack…I did fall in love with you."

Zack lifted his gaze. His blue eyes were shiny and tears ran freely down his cheeks. "I fell in love with you the first time you saved my life because I knew I could rely on you, I knew I could trust you and talk to you. I'm sorry Zack, I was blind to your feelings—I just always thought you were just being my mentor…I should have seen your love." Cloud leaned forward and gently kissed the other boy on the lips before pulling back. "But you must know that your feelings were not in vein, so please, please Zack, even though we can't be together, please don't let yourself fall apart like this." Cloud gently grabbed his friend's hands and squeezed them. "I need your strength and friendship and love just as much as I need Sephiroth; I need you both to keep me strong. I need you two in my life; otherwise, it just doesn't seem worth living."

Zack sniffed squeezing the blond's hands back. "Do you really hate Sephiroth?"

Zack let out an odd groan, a few stray tears escaping the corners of his eyes.

"No." He sniffed again, releasing the blond's right hand as to wipe his nose with his arm. "I've never hated Seph; I mean…He's my best friend. He was there for me when Angeal died, he…he," Zack bowed his head. "He kept me from falling apart. We became really good friends right around the time me and you met…and well I did really love you but I felt really strongly for Sephiroth, maybe not love but I did…do feel for him. I guess when you two got together I felt like you guys were leaving me behind. Here you guys were together, happy and everything and I was all alone. All you guys would do was to talk about each other, I felt like a third wheel, like I was getting in the way. And I knew then I would never have you, and that put a lot of strain on my friendship with Seph and now…Cloud I just don't know what to do."

Cloud stood and took a seat near his friend leaning against him in a hug.

"Maybe you should talk to Sephiroth, tell him what you're feeling. Sure, maybe he won't say anything, maybe he won't understand—but I'm sure he'd be glad to know what's going on with you. He is concerned Zack, even if he doesn't act like it. You're his first real friend, the first real friend who hasn't tried to hurt him in some way—and he just doesn't know what to do in a situation like this."

Zack sniffed again and took a ragged breath looking at the blond.

"You think I should really talk to him?"

Cloud smiled and nodded.

"Yes I do."

Zack returned the smile with a weak one of his own.

"Cloud…can…can I kiss you?"

Cloud blinked "Just once."

"O-okay…" Cloud breathed. Zack gently held the blonds hand as he leaned in and gently pressed his dry lips to the blond's soft pink lips. The kiss was gentle, sweet, kind and emotional. Cloud felt his stomach drop slightly as his heart beat quicker and then, Zack leaned away.

"I, I'm going to go and talk to Seph." He breathed, squeezing Cloud's hand before standing and exiting, wiping his nose on his arm again as the doors swung closed behind him. Cloud remained on the bunk more confused than he had ever been in his entire life. What was Sephiroth going to think when Zack told him everything? What was he going to do when Zack told him he kissed him? Cloud could just imaging what may transpire between the two. The next few minutes would either strengthen their friendship, or break them completely.

*

Sephiroth exited his office—he'd decided to cool down after his visit to the labs before going and searching for his blond lover, or their distraught puppy. He rounded the corner and almost walked straight into said distraught puppy. He blinked and paused. "There you Zackary, actually I was going to go and look for you in a little while." He stated, frowning. "Why did you leave without telling me or Cloud where you were going?"

Zack shrugged.

"Sorry but I had to get out of the apartment is all." Zack stated, knowing he had to talk to Sephiroth and tell him everything before he lost his nerve. "Seph, can we talk? In private?"

Sephiroth blinked in surprise.

"Sure."

*

Cloud paced back and forth outside Sephiroth's apartment door, the general wasn't at home, meaning Zack had either found him and they were talking, or they had already talked and Sephiroth was disposing of the body—either way Cloud had no way of getting into the general's apartment. He paced back and forth down the hall for several long minutes before leaning slumping against the door sighing.

*

Zack stood there head bowed, afraid to lift his gaze to the older man who had remained frighteningly silent for the past fifteen minutes—and just seeing the rustle of the long leather coat, Zack could tell he's stance had stiffened slightly when he'd confessed to kissing Cloud. He was mad, Zack knew that, knew that their friendship was over, he'd no doubt be beaten to a pulp or worse, and because of that Sephiroth would be put under temporary house arrest but let of early for good behavior…but would this affect his relationship with Cloud? Would Sephiroth be mad at Cloud for letting Zack steal a kiss? Zack felt his eyes widened. Had he just ruined Cloud's relationship with the general? The man of his dreams? 'Shit.'

Sephiroth took several moments to process what his LT. had said and was now looking hard at him.

"Zack,"

Zack's head snapped up blue eyes wide—he looked like a puppy caught in the headlights of a semi truck. Sephiroth took a step closer, leaned forward and quickly pecked the other on the lips before leaning towards his ear. "I'm touched…but don't ever sleep with the Turk again."

Zack's eyes widened farther and a shiver ran down his spine as the taller man stood, gave him a smile and exited the office. Zack blinked. 'W-what just happened?'

*

Sephiroth exited the elevator on the executive floor where all the higher ups lived, including himself, and came face to face with the Turk commander. Both narrowed their eyes at the other but nodded as they passed each other in respect. "Tseng."

"Sephiroth."

And that was that, Tseng entered the elevator, and Sephiroth headed down the hall towards his apartment, sweet and simple. He rounded the corner and paused. A soft smile flickered across his face at what he saw. Cloud slumped up against his apartment door, arms lying limp across his belly, head bowed, bangs shielding his face, lips parted slightly as he breathed slowly. Sephiroth approached and gently tapped the blond with the tip of his boot. Cloud jerked awake, blinked several times trying to remember where he was before looking up. "Oh hey Seph." He said with a smile, using the wall to help himself to a standing position. Sephiroth smiled.

"How long have you been waiting out here?"

"Oh just about forty-five minutes is all." Cloud suddenly grew a little nervous. He shrunk in on himself slightly and gazed up at Sephiroth like a baby chocobo. "Seph…are…are you mad at me?"

Sephiroth blinked.

"Why would I be mad at you Cloud?"

"Because I kissed Zack." The blond mumbled quietly. Sephiroth smiled and wrapped his arms around the blond holding him close—much to the blond's surprise.

"I am not mad at you for kissing Zack, I kissed him to."

Cloud blinked.

"You, wait what?"

Sephiroth shifted so he was facing the door, which he unlocked and opened, assuring the smaller man into his apartment.

"Zack explained everything, including a rendezvous with a certain red headed Turk. I don't blame him for loving you Cloud; you are, after all very loveable."

Cloud blushed. "And I had to admit his rendezvous bothered me."

Cloud tilted his head.

"So, you don't mind Zack liking me? Or the fact that we kissed?"
Sephiroth shook his head.

"No, why should I?"

Both looked to the door as it opened and a grinning Zack entered.

"Yeah after all he did have two lovers at one point."

Sephiroth rolled his eyes. Cloud blinked, it was as if the past month hadn't happened. Zack wrapped his arms around Cloud. "What he's trying to tell you Spiky is, he doesn't care if I kiss you or you kiss me, as long as he can do the same."

Cloud blinked.

"Oh…oh…OH!" He nodded. "I get it. So Seph, you're a polyfidel?"

Sephiroth nodded. "Have you always been a polyfidel?"

"I suppose so."

Zack grinned and gently turned the blonds face towards his.

"So Cloud, what do you say? Would you mind Seph having two wives?"

Cloud blushed and blinked suddenly feeling shy.

"N-no…not really…b-but, but only because it's you."

Zack grinned.

"Sweet! I am so moving back in here." He stated flopping down onto the sofa. Sephiroth rolled his eyes; getting the feeling he was forgetting something.

Polyfidelity is a form of polyamorous group marriage wherein all members consider each other to be primary partners and agree to be sexual only with other members of the group.

I sort of conjoined the whole Zack confession with Seph rethinking his relationships. ^^ So now we're back on track.