A/N: In all reality I should have placed this first paragraph at the end of the last chapter to make sense chronologically and the story would've flown better. But hopefully if none of you are too upset at the ridiculous amount of time it took to get this started again, you'll be able to forgive me one more vice. :)
Blank's POV
I awoke to what at first experience felt like an earthquake. Once I realized there was no earth beneath me to quake I concluded we'd landed a bit roughly on an airship dock. I sat up. Bits of straw clung in clumps to the ratty mess my hair had become.
Zidane slumped further behind me into the indention my body had made in the chocobo bedding. His mouth hung open and he snorted a bit before curling up into himself. I shook my head with a smile.
"Zidane." I spoke softly but nudged him harshly enough to wake him. He slothfully came to and blinked his eyes one after the other before focusing both on me.
"We've landed." I informed. He lifted his torso to sit up, clearly still in slight pain due to the stress his body must have suffered over these recent days. I tried not to allow worry to show on my face.
"Relax, I'm just a little stiff." Zidane waved away my expression. I must've not hidden well. "How's your arm?" He asked.
"I think I may have stunted my recovery rate…" I frowned, rotating the joint about my shoulder in a quick test of ability.
"How's that?" He asked again, reaching up to my hair and plucking stocks of straw from it.
"I had… well… let's just get out of here first. There'll be time for that later." I avoided talk of Lani and actually hoped the subject would be forgotten entirely. Zidane agreed and helped me to my feet.
We swung open the stall's door and hurried out the way we'd come. Zidane assisted me down the ladder and we disembarked just outside of Alexandria's surrounding town.
We stepped out onto the dock and I peered out over the waving grass. The wind blew it in sheets of flashing silver and green. The sun shone brightly. I turned to Zidane who was watching me carefully.
"So… what now?" He asked.
"We live our lives as we please." I smiled. Zidane took an excited inhale and breathed out slowly as he took my hand.
"We could get a house here?"
I nodded.
"We could-"
"Anythin' Zi." My smile widened.
THREE MONTHS LATER
Zidane's POV
I stepped into the quaint cottage hand in hand with Blank. A kitchen, a living room and loft in the corner served as the bedroom connected via ladder.
"Our very own."
"Courtesy of the fine denizens of Alexandria." Blank chuckled. I did also. He was, of course, referencing the funds we'd "borrowed" from the good people of this town to found our newly paid for home. He pulled me into a loose embrace. His arms hung low on the small of my back but I was still held to him.
"You're so gorgeous." He pressed his nose to mine in a brief nuzzle of affection as he voiced his compliment.
I blushed and couldn't find the words to reply. He grinned at my flushed cheeks and pulled me into a kiss. I loved his adornment. Everything I did, he appreciated it. He'd been the one who kept me safe while we were on the streets for three long months. He'd find us nice places to rest and good food to eat.
He'd fuel himself on my own proofs of affection. We haven't had sexual relations since back in Treno. There was no time, no place, no initiation. I felt like giving Blank the thanks he deserved.
I kissed him again, slowly. He grinned against my lips and we softly continued the lips pressing to lips and added tongue dancing with tongue.
"Blank…" I said quietly, almost a whisper, "I want… I want us to make love." I said sheepishly. Blank pulled back, an unreadable expression on his face. I frowned. Maybe I was too hasty… Blank had only just said he loved me. Maybe he only said it in the disorienting stress of the situation? I assumed too much.
"Zidane, I don't think it's quite time for that." He shook his head sadly. I took his hands, pulling him towards the couch.
"Why not? We finally have a home. We're free of Tantalus and I want this. Don't you want this?" I asked, then paused as we sat, "Don't you… want me?"
"Of course I do! Zidane you really have no idea how much I want you." Blank confessed. That put my worries to rest. "I just…" He hesitated. I pressed my fingers to his chest, guiding him down to the couch.
"I know you have problems resisting. The night we found out each others' feelings you couldn't hold back much." I smirked, trailing my fingers down his chest as I leaned over his body as sexily as I could manage. I wanted to be appealing to him.
"W-well this is different. This is your first time," He seized my wrists and sat back up, "I want it to be as special and unrushed as you deserve." He said. My first time? Not our first time… I had to have known Blank had been with other partners. I mean, he's older than I am… and we haven't been together all that long. I just didn't really want to accept it.
"Who else have you been with?" I asked absently.
"I… well…" He stammered and fumbled with his words. I felt a pit of jealousy and spite knot up in my stomach. "C'mon, let's go to bed." Blank nudged me.
"No! I wanna know." I folded my arms stubbornly.
"I'll tell you," he promised, "in the hammock." I looked him over, judging his honesty and then agreed. I climbed the ladder and crawled into the hammock. Blank nestled in beside me. He turned me to him and held me close, my face against his warm chest. His foot hung off the edge slightly and pushed against a dresser, rhythmically rocking us in a soothing silent lullaby.
"Okay now…" Blank sighed, "When you first came to Tantalus, I instantly fell in love with you. Period. No denying it." He began. My cheeks burned red but he couldn't see. "That isn't to say I didn't try and deny it. It confused and scared me. I'd never been so attracted to anyone and I couldn't or rather wouldn't dare attempt to be with you. To get my mind clear and get you out of my head, I tried avoiding you." He said.
"I remember. You weren't there a lot when I was first adopted." I recalled.
"Yeah, I traveled to a lot of- um- bars. I picked up a lot of partners, tryin' to stupidly run away from you usin' sex with strangers as a sort of amnesia tool." He sighed, "It didn't work of course. I couldn't make it through without accidentally sayin' your name or closin' my eyes and imaginin' you beneath me instead." Blank became a little more rigid with each assertion.
"At last I quit and returned to you and Baku. I was appointed your mentor and it'd been torture watchin' you grow up thinkin' I'd never have you." He said, "I'm sorry I did those things with all those bar harlots." He apologized.
"I forgive you," I choked a bit, really upset or really enthralled by his story, not even I was sure which.
"But I promise it's nothin' but you from here on out. When we make love it'll mean somethin'." He swore. I smiled.
"I love you," I said.
"I love you, too." He kissed the top of my head and stroked my hair with a thumb. He continued to and he hummed a hushed melody as he rocked us.
"What song is that?" I asked with a yawn.
"I learned it from my mother. When you had nightmares I'd hum it to you like she used to do for me." Blank informed. I huddled closer and allowed the perfection to sink in.
"S-sorry, I shouldn't treat you like you're still a child." He stopped humming.
"No, no. It reminds me of those times back in Tantalus. Back when you did everything like this for me. You still do… I feel secure." I assured. He smiled and carried on. I was pulled deep into slumber by the gentle cradle Blank had invented himself to be.
THE NEXT MORNING
Blank's POV
I was face down in the diamond netting of the hammock, nose snorting snores where Zidane's body used to be. I jolted awake with a kick of my leg.
"Get back!" I screamed. Sweat poured from my skin and I shivered. My hand gripped my forehead as Zidane came rushing up the ladder.
"You alright?" He asked, hurrying to my side.
"Yes, I'm sorry." I wheezed. Zidane stroked my hair.
"Maybe I should have been the one singing you the lullaby?" He joked. I forced a smile and nodded. I'd been having nightmares for months, just recently it became apparent that my fantasized terrors were becoming worse. Zidane had never been disturbed by any shouts before now.
"I think I'll get some water…" I panted. Zidane nodded and followed me closely like a worried mother.
"What'd you dream about?" He inquired.
"I-uh-don't remember." I lied, stepping out through the back door to the showers along the alley. Their faces were pretty vivid, even now I can still recall…
"You sure? Talking about it might help." He offered. I shook my head in assurance.
"I'm fine." I pulled the rope and let the water run for a bit and then took some sips through cupped hands. "Thanks for your concern though." I completely altered the mood, pulling Zidane to me.
"Ew, you're all sweaty!" He giggled, pushing in resistance. I held him close to me the more he struggled.
"Like you care." I kissed him.
"I didn't make you sweat, therefore, I don't like it." He smirked.
"Then I'll wash off. Right now!" I sidestepped with a screaming Zidane into the shower stream fully clothed-- or as clothed as I ever am.
I kissed him again, water blinding me and dripping from every expression on my face. The liquid seeped into our mouths when we parted lips and I could taste it as we moved inwards again with tongue. My hair flopped into my face. Zidane pushed it back and kissed me harder. I gripped a hand to his thigh and held it taught, pressing our lower halves as close as our soaked garments would permit.
"Blank…" He managed my name. His tail culred up my arm as it supported his thigh. Eventually the water shut off and we broke away, breath ragged and hot.
"Boooooy howdy! That was some make-out session!" We both started and snapped our gazes towards some crates in the alley. There was Ruby! Running towards us and fanning herself.
"R-Ruby!" Zidane stammered and instinctively leaped off of me.
"I guess you two are all in, huh?" She sighed, "It's a shame, I really had thing for you Blank." She pouted.
"What are you doin' here?" I asked.
"I'm startin' a play business right here in Alexandria. You boys interested?" She asked.
"In what-"
"Where's Tantalus?" I interrupted.
"Not here, promise." She held up her right hand like it meant something sacred. I still don't like this.
"What plays are you doing, Ruby?" Zidane asked excitedly.
"Well aren't you darlin'! I'm doin' a series of my favorites, mostly Lord Alvon." She said, "You two should swing by." She invited.
"Nah, we've got stuff to-"
"Sure!" Zidane chimed in.
"Um… Zi-"
"Great!" Enthused, Ruby clapped her hands. "I'll have a show goin' every night at eight." She said.
"We'll be there." Zidane grinned. I seethed on the sidelines, clearly not getting any input. Ruby finally elft, saying something incredibly southern and seemingly out of context as she exited.
"Zidane!" I growled as soon as she was out of earshot.
"She's still our friend. It's Ruby, man. C'mon…" He pleaded.
"Ruby is close with us- I mean Tantalus. Why would she conveniently find us here and invite us to a play?"
"Because she's our friend." Zidane said, "Friends invite friends to their plays." He remained un-phased by my argument and stormed back inside, soaking wet still.
"…Are you made at me?" I asked as he instantly headed up the ladder. His boots squeaked as they rubbed the sleek wood on his way up. I feared he might slip.
"No, I'm disappointed that you have such distrust for Ruby."
"Can you blame me?" I tried not to shout. There was a pause.
"No, I suppose not." He sighed. I deemed the climb after him would be safe now and free of aggressive kicking. Zidane sat upon the dresser, arms folded, a puddle forming around him as he was consistently sedated.
"I'm sorry. I'll apologize to Ruby tonight, too." I said. Zidane smiled at me.
"Thanks."
"Still…" I started and Zidane raised his eyebrows expectantly, "Friend or not, she interrupted a very enjoyable kiss." I whined. Zidane chuckled and pulled me over to him. I could hear the sloshing of water in my boots as they slid across the floorboards. Water dripped from my hair and tickled his nose.
"Where were we?"
End of Part VI
TBC