Disclaimer: I do not in any way at all claim ownership of the characters, plots, or settings of FF7. They are Square Enix's. I do own any and all creatures/people/places/etc that are here-with created by me. Meaning, in other words, MINE!

Review Replies:

Dragpn: Hmmm, maybe. I just might write a bit more citrus-y then I currently am in this story.

Vortigan: It won't be this chapter or the next probably, but there will be at least one chapter that focus's heavily on Cloud's past

Plague Rose: No intention of stopping anytime soon! Lol. And for you, I switched it to humor/romance

Nat: Can't wait till you do get it up. And I'm glad you liked my version of a drunk Sephiroth. I would have been swearing as well, but then I think I would have plastered myself to Zack. lol

xXTwilight AuroraXx: Yay! Happy its your favorite one so far. No, not like that...yet! Evil Grin

Nejidragon: He's fun drunk, ain't he?

Punk Debutante: I love writing their side comments and convos. Zack and Seph convos just have so much potential to them.

DarkKatana: Joins you in fangirl squee'ing

Anna Crumbly: I'm writing as fast as I can. :)

Ty: Awww, thank you!

Diablos: It ain't done yet. There's going to be many more chapter yet to come in this story.

Seiko123: Thank you! I've finished my finals so I can relax now. Lol. Ah, its okay if you don't know much about them. It was jsut a random question. (hug)

Liankitty: Aye, I agree. More Zack punches and kisses. Poor Zack, he's either loved or abused. lol

Jensen: You said it all right there.

Chapter 7

His head was pounding, the light streaming through the window burning his eyes brutally. He groaned, burying his face into the crook of Zack's neck and shoulder, trying to block out the light. A sickening taste lay heavily on his tongue and he let out another groan as the pain intensified in his head. His movements must have awakened the Soldier he was currently laying half on, because a moan slipped from the man and he tried to roll over onto his stomach.

"Spike. Close the drapes." He whispered painfully. He tried again to shove the blonde off so he could bury his face in his pillow. What are you doing? He paused, wondering why he was trying to push a cute guy off him.

Cloud almost whimpered at the thought of having to face the light again. Scrunching his eyes as tight as he could, he crawled over Zack, rolled off the side of the bed and crawled across the floor, groping for the cord to release the blinds. He sighed with relief when the piercing light vanished once more, dropping to the ground where he was. "Spike?"

"Yeah, Zack."

"You okay?"

"I'm cold. I'm thirsty. And I'm dying."

Zack grinned and chuckled, wincing at the movement. "Well, I can help with one of those if you can get your ass back over here."

Cloud shivered, but forced himself on all fours once more to stumble back to the bed, where he just collapsed again. "Too much effort. Forget it. Give me blanket, I'm cold."

"I knew there was something that Soldier enhancements would come in handy for." Before Cloud could question the other man what he meant, Zack had leaned over the side and picked him off the floor. The blonde yelped, and whimpered at the loud noise. He looked down in amusement where he was now straddling Zack, hands braced against his chest, and the other man's hands still on his waist. "Hmmm, deja vu. Damn it, Spike. Why do you always offer me these temptations when I'm in no mood or condition to accept?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?" He shifted, sitting back and rubbing his temple, stopping at a groan from the man beneath him.

"Spike. Don't do that. In fact, don't move for the next few minutes, okay." Thank god he's too groggy this morning. Otherwise, I'd likely find myself kicked out of MY room. He laughed at the thought, quickly stopping though as the action not only aggravated his headache more, but caused the blonde to bounce slightly. Not good at all. Definately not good. Need a nice cold shower, and quick.

"Zack. You okay?" The Soldier nodded. "Good. Can I move then? As comfortable as I mostly am, you're sporting a tent at the moment."

FUCK! Zack burned red with embarrassment as Cloud toppled to the side, choking on laughter. Think of ice, freezing winds, Shinra at the beach! He made to get up, but Cloud dragged him back down to the bed, still giggling quietly. He looked back behind him to demand what he was doing, and found himself falling into the deep blue seas of Cloud's eyes, not two inches away from his own. "Uh...Spike..." He couldn't think, could only continue staring back at the other boy as Cloud's gaze dropped, to his mouth, back to his eyes, and down again.

"Remember how you were trying to guess my type, Zack?"

He nodded numbly.

"Want a hint? Because I'm looking right at them."

He kept staring at the other man, it was the only thing that he could do, that made any sense in his reality where the world had flipped around and changed. Is he saying...no way! Not Spike! No way he could like me! Why's he getting closer then? And suddenly his reality was shattered into a thousand splinters as the blonde kissed him, tentative and soft. It wasn't much more of a touching of the blonde's lips to his, Cloud being inexperienced and Zack turned to a statue from his shock, despite his mind screaming at him to do something.

Cloud pulled back long before the man could regain control of his body, a small smile on his face. "What's wrong Zack? Couerl got your tongue?"

"Cloud, you're not drunk are you?" Zack asked, sighing with relief as the smaller man gave a frown and shook his head. "So then, this is all real right? Its not a dream of figment of my imagination, brutally torturing me with that which I can't have?"

The small smile came back ten-fold, Cloud actually laughing slightly. "No, I'm quite sure this is real. Or, if its a dream, its a rather suck-y one. You were always suave and charming in mine. So I'm getting extremely shorted if this is a dream."

Zack growled playfully and rolled to the side. "So, I'm not charming and suave. Fine, you can just sleep alone from now on."

The blonde shrugged. "That's fine. I've done it my entire life so far, what's a few more years, decades. But we'll see who cracks first. I'M not the one with the reputation of being a sex-crazed boy-toy." He slid off the bed, stretching in a highly provacative way.

I am so going to lose. Zack watched the blonde avidly, absently running his tongue over his lower lip. "You might want to put some pants on first, kid."

"Now why would I want to do that?"

The Soldier glared. "That's just mean."

Cloud raised an eyebrow and snapped his fingers. "I'm sure that would have carried a lot more meaning, if you had said it while looking at my eyes and not my body. I swear, I'm starting to get worried about whether or not you're going to eat me." He put one hand on a hip, tapping his foot. "Zack! Eyes are still up here!"

The dark-haired man shrugged. "Meh, I like my view just fine. Interesting, you turn a really bright red when you blush, did you know that?" He jerked slightly, just realizing something. "It's Christmas! And my hang-over's almost gone. Planet bless Mako-enhancements! Oops, sorry Spike. Want me to kiss you and make you feel better?"

The blonde had fallen to one knee, pressing hard against his temple to stop the pounding. "No, just lower your voice or I'll give you a new headache. Mother-fucking-son-of-a-god-damn-bitch. I am never drinking again."

"Yeah, well suck it up! Its Christmas and I got presents for you! Let's go wake up Seph!" The man bounded out of bed and grabbed the smaller man, swinging him around and dragging him out the door, both still in only boxers and Cloud almost crying from the pain in his skull.

"Zack, please!"

"Oh, right. Sorry."

They stopped outside of Cloud's room, the door still wide-open and marveled at the sight. Sephiroth lay on his back, spread-eagle with his hair forming a halo around him. His mouth was partially open and one arm hung over the side of the bed. A dim green glow could be seen through his eyelids. His leather jacket lay half-on, half-off his frame. Both men's gaze was drawn to the arm not hanging over the edge of the bed, where the General was clutching a small, stuffed chocobo Zack had bought Cloud a couple months ago.

"You sleep with that thing?" Zack asked, pointing at the bird.

Cloud frowned, cheeks tinging a pale red. "So what if I do?"

Zack grabbed him in another of his crushing hugs. "Awwww, is it because I bought it for you?"

The blonde struggled, pushing and shoving against the taller man, trying to squirm free of him. "Hell no! At the time you got it for me, I liked this really cute brunette in my materia class."

"What cute brunette?" Zack growled. "Wait! Are you saying you like moi?"

Cloud gave him a blank look, that slowly turned into his you're-a-complete-moron look. "Zack. I've been dropping hints ever since Aeris told me you were interested. I figured you knew when you kissed me, but I didn't just want to end up as one of your one-night stands, so I held back."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! First things first, how did Aeris know! Second, that completely explains your attitude change now. Which is a good thing, by the way. I like you more carefree and happy. Thirdly, no way in hell would I ever do that to you. Afterall, you're one of my best friends." Zack's mind swirled around, thoughts jumbling together.

"She's a girl." Cloud said in answer to Zack's question. "They know things like that. I swear, its ESP. Creepy actually."

"Will you two, please, shut the hell up!" Sephiroth growled, cracking one eye open to glare at the two. "Some of us are trying to sleep, you know." He looked down to where he was holding the small stuffed animal, looking rather startled to see he had it. With a practiced flick of his wrist, the silver-haired man threw the bird at Zack, hitting the distracted man dead-on. "Go discuss your love life where I don't have hear all the sugar-y-ness."

"Aw, Seph! Its presents time! GET UP GET UP GET UP!" Zack pounced on the bed, jumping up and down as Sephiroth curled into a tight ball, whimpering inaudibly. Zack looked back at Cloud, intending to tell him to help him torture the uptight General, and saw the scandalized and terrified look. "This is the only time when I can best him, so I like to take advantage of it while I can. Come join me! He'll get me back during sparring practice. SEPH! WAKE UP! ACK!"

Down went the darker-haired Soldier, legs swept out from under him by Sephiroth, who was still clutching his head in agony. Zack let out a groan from where he lay on the floor. "That was mean, Seph."

Shaking his head, Cloud left the two to bicker, going instead to one of the two hallway closets. Opening it, he started withdrawing several wrapped packages, going to place them carefully within the pile of gifts from Zack. He paused, mouth quirking up slightly when he found one from Sephiroth to Zack. Somehow, I never thought the General would buy anyone something. I just hope I don't offend him by giving him something. Besides Zack, he's still the closet thing to a friend I have.

"No peeking!"

Cloud rolled his eyes, waving Zack off. "I wasn't, don't worry. The virtue of your packages remains intact. Unlike your own, if I may so add."

"Oh, hush. You're so cruel to me, you know that. God, where's the damned coffee." The Soldier grumbled under his breath, searching through cabinets, when he felt someone shove him to the side. Hard. "Dammit Seph! Oh. You found the coffee."

Zack twitched and fidgetted while Sephiroth carefully measured out, and started the coffee-maker. Fixing his coat, the General pulled out two small, round things from his pocket. Looking at each carefully, he tossed one to Zack and the other to Cloud, who failed to catch it due to his pounding headache. Curiously, Zack looked over the brightly-wrapped sphere he held.

"Is this...a Christmas present! From you?"

"Yes. And its not the only one. I have another around here somewhere. For the love of...where's one of your damn healing materia. Your boy over there is starting to make me pity him." The man stalked over to his friend's buster sword, quickly swiping a glow orb out of it and striding over to Cloud. Within moments, the blonde had never felt better and he gave the General a small nod of thanks.

The blonde also looked over the sphere in his hand, before starting to rip the paper off it. A small, red orb rolled into his palm and he looked at it closely. A tiny shard of blue ice lay at its heart, and inside the ice, there looked to be... "Is this a summon!"

"Hm? Yes. Shiva to be exact. Merry Christmas, Strife." He sighed in relief as the beeping noise signalled the coffee was done. "Bless the fires of Ifrit."

Zack was staring at the small orb in his own hand in utter amazement. "Seph, where did you get this?"

"Guy who owed me a favor. Its the one you've been searching for, right?"

"It is, but this is Ultimate! I mean, I never expected to even see one! This is...thank you." The taller of the two Soldiers placed a mug of coffee in front of the other. "And THANK YOU!"

"Zack, get off me. Seriously, stop hugging me. Like now. Let go. I said get off. I meant now, not later. Off! You. Now!" Tilting his head back, he mouthed the word why, grabbed Zack's wrists, dragged him over to Cloud, and attached the dark-haired man to the blonde. "There, hug him. Not me."

"Gee, thanks sir." Cloud muttered sarcastically as Zack snuggled in closer. "I hope you know, this constitutes as you losing."

"Hmmm...I think I got the better end of the bargain." Zack giggled and sipped at the coffee he had managed to keep a hold of. "Oh! Seph! I got some stuff for you! Be a dear and hand out all those over there would you?"

Sephiroth breathed out heavily, getting up from the chair he had just sat down in to go over and pluck a random present out. "Okay, let's see. To: Cloud, From:..." He looked up at Zack and shook his head. "You're pathetic. From: Your Drop-Dead Sexy Roommate." He tossed the curiously light, and squishy package to the blonde.

Zack pressed a hand to his mouth, holding in a serious case of giggles. Cloud pushed him from where he sat, half on the floor, half in the blonde's lap. He sulked a moment, before climbing onto the couch beside him, blatantly moving in close to him. And gaining an annoyed look. Cloud turned the thing in his hands around, finding the seam and ripping into the paper. He felt something soft, and pulled a large, stuffed chocobo from the wrappings. Embroidered on the bird's left wing, was the name "Cloud" in bright blue.

"I saw it, and I thought it looked so much like you! I had to get it." Zack motioned to Sephiroth to continue.

"Hmm, for me. What's this, Zack? Didn't want to put your name on it?" Seph asked.

"Huh? What do you mean, I signed them all. It must not be from me then. Which means..." He turned to the blonde, who had become obsessed with looking his new bird over. "Cloud?"

"I estimated what size to get you, but I noticed your gloves are getting worn. They're the same make I think as your others." Cloud mumbled softly.

Sephiroth yanked on the new gloves, made of soft, black leather. "Hm, you've a good eye, Strife. They fit perfectly. Thank you. Here Zack, these two are yours." He dug deeper into the pile. "This one is yours too. All of them are unmarked from who, so I guess they're from Strife. Hm, what the hell is this Zack?" He pulled a large square package towards himself. "Oh, the last seven are yours, Strife."

"Wha?"

"Mhmm. All from lover-boy over there, who's created some odd alias' for himself. I think my favorite is, 'From: The Sex God of Shinra's Army.' Highly amusing Zack."

"I try. Holy shit, Spike! I love this band! But they're unsigned, you can't find these anywhere!" He ruffled Cloud's spikes, looking over the three CD's the blonde had gotten him, along with a DVD the man had been wanting and a case of the Soldier's favorite Wutainese wine. "How the hell did you get these?"

"They're from my home, used to be a local band. I asked my mother to get them, we always have them in my hometown. Zack, why exactly did you give me handcuffs? And a whip?"

"Oh! Umm...for later?"

"I'm sleeping in the bunkers tonight."

Before he could plead his case to the blonde, he caught Sephiroth's expression as the man looked the painting over. "I know you're not one for paintings and all, but it screamed you."

"I...I like it." Green eyes locked onto silver and the General smiled, nodding his thanks.

"ZACK!" The man winced, and looked over to the side at the blonde. "I can ignore the whip. I can ignore the meaning of the handcuffs. I can even look past the collar. But the leash is pushing me."

"Oh! Was that in there? I told them I only wanted the collar. Oh well, I guess they threw it in for free." He shrugged and grinned sheepishly.

"Don't worry about it, Strife." Sephiroth muttered, still looking over the painting. "I got the same stuff the first Christmas I knew him. However, I also got some bondage shirt that consisted entirely of leather straps. Oh. Yes, that's the one." He pointed to the latest un-wrapped package in Cloud's lap. "Don't worry, the last three things should be serious gifts."

Zack shrank back against the opposite side of the couch, looking as helpless and pitiable as he could at the fury flashing through the blonde. "I changed my mind. YOU'RE sleeping outside tonight." Putting his trust in the silver-haired man though, the blonde hesitantly dragged the largest, and heaviest, of the three remaining presents to him and tore off the paper. "A buster sword. You got me my own buster sword?"

"Yup! Actually, its Ragnarok. A bit more powerful then the standard Shinra one. Am I forgiven now?" Zack asked, slowly inching back towards Cloud.

"We'll see after these two." One held a pair of fighting gloves and the last held a small, silver stud with a sliver of ice-blue materia in the center. "Is this an earring?"

"Yup! I thought it'd look good on you, to have an earring." Zack nodded, arms crossed. "Yup, you'd definately look hot with an earring. Like a rebel. And everyone loves a rebel, afterall."

Cloud rolled the small stud between his fingers, trying to picture himself with an earring. "I don't have pierced ears though." Eyes widened drastically as Zack held up a pin. "Oh, hell no."

"Ah, it no biggie. Seph did mine. You just gotta numb your ear with some ice first. Come on, we can do it now. Seph, you got steadier hands, will you do it?"

"I think its up to, Strife. Oh, here's one more from me." He tossed something heavy at the other Soldier.

"Huh?" With a gleeful squeak, Zack tore into the present. "Its...a chocobo bridle."

"Its your half of the bet. Strife, hold still. And keep this on there for a few minutes." The General shoved a piece of ice into the blonde's hand, going to heat up the pin to sterelize it. "The bird is in the stables, you can't miss it. Alright, Strife. Let me see." With a quick movement, the pin was in, out, and the earring put into the small hole made. "There, all done."

Cloud blinked, he had barely felt it. He quickly strode over to the nearest mirror, looking at the new piercing. "Hm. I actually like it. Alright Zack, you're forgiven."

"I knew you couldn't resist me! Now put on the shirt and collar, they'll go good together."

"Get out."

The whipped-dog look came back to the dark-haired Soldier and he looked to his friend for support. Sephiroth sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Strife. You really should just do it. Otherwise, he'll never stop asking."

"I can't believe you're siding with him."

"Me either."

"I can't believe I'm actually going to do it either." The blonde grumbled, snapping on the collar and struggling his way into the shirt. "Stupid thing. Going to pay for this Zack. There, happy?"

"Well, damn." Zack whistled softly, going to stand beside Sephiroth. "He looks good, doesn't he?" The man next to him grunted in agreement while Cloud squirmed uncomfortably. "I think I found somebody who looks just as good in leather as you do, Seph. Now, we just need to find a pair of tight, black leather pants to go with that and he'll be...hmmm, what comes after 'completely irresistable'?"

"He'll be a Zack Lure. With the magically ability of being able to attract a Zack with a glance."

Cloud and Zack's jaws dropped. "You made a joke. I mean, an actual, bonafide, funny joke! I'm so proud of you Seph."

"Zack. Get off me. Now."

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A.N.- Okay, another chapter done. This one took me awhile to write, I know. I got caught up in studying and working on some vectors that I recently learned how to use. Anywho, a nice little cutesy chapter. I can totally see Zack getting his friends some kind of prank gift like the bondage gear. It just, popped into my head. Well, I hope you all liked it. Also, I may be a bit slower in uploading the chapters. On the plus side htough, it may mean two chapters submitted in one day if that happens. Well, here's the Daily Chapter Question:

Will Zack finally win Cloud completely over before or after New Years?

Happy reading and I'll see you at the next chapter!