Warning: Rated M for violence, swearing and graphic M/M relationships in later chapters

Disclaimer: I do not own all of these lovely characters; I just borrow them once in a while.

WARNING: This Chapter is NOT worksafe.

He hurt all over.

He wanted to move but was afraid he was going to rip something open if he moved too fast. He was pretty sure he already had a dislocated shoulder, and maybe a broken rib or two. At least he was on a bed… wait, when did he get on the bed?

Cracking an eye open (God, even his eyelids hurt!) Zack looked around, trying to gauge his surroundings. All he remembered from last night was getting beaten into a pulp by a bastard with a vendetta and then calling… Cloud?

Looking over, he saw Cloud slouched in a chair, bags under his eyes as he stared at the floor, a bag of melted ice in one hand and a bottle of pills in the other. Zack wanted to say something witty, but it just came out as a pitiful moan.

Cloud's head suddenly snapped up and he looked at Zack, relief flooding into his eyes. A loud sigh carried through the stale air as Cloud got up and hurried to the bed.

"Fuck, you scared me you bastard! You've been out cold for almost two days!"

Zack squeezed his eyes shut and moaned again. He vaguely realized that Cloud had been scared about him being hurt, but any further thoughts were discarded when pain fluttered through him again. "T-that long?" He croaked out, his throat sore from limited use.

'Yeah, you fucker! God…" Cloud ran a hand through his hair and tugged at a few locks. "Here, you need more medication."

Zack heard a pill bottle being opened, and the crack from the cap of water being broken. He opened his eyes and watched as Cloud put the medicine on the table and moved to help Zack sit up.

"You broke a rib I think, and you're bruised all over. I cleaned some of your cuts-" Zack let out a few hisses as Cloud pushed him up against the pillows. "-but I need to change some of the dressings. Also, we need more ice."

Passing the bottle to Zack, Cloud helped him take some painkillers. The water was soothing going down his throat, but when it hit his stomach, Zack realized how hungry he was. "Food?"

"Yeah, I was going to go get some of that too… I haven't really eaten either. Think it's safe to… leave for a bit? I only went to the pharmacy to get you some stuff but you know… someone wants us both dead now so…" Cloud shrugged and looked down at the now half empty bottle.

"No it will be safe… just go to a small convenient store. D-don't take too long, but d-don't act suspicious… okay?"

Cloud nodded and hesitantly moved his hand to brush Zack's bangs from his face. He paused slightly before quickly standing up. "I'll be back…"

Zack coughed and then moaned softly. "Yeah, okay…"

Cloud was heading to the door when Zack's voice stopped him.

"Why… why did you come?"

Cloud bit his bottom lip before turning around. "Because you saved my life… I figured I would save yours."

Zack furrowed his eyebrows and raised a hand to do a shaky salute. "Thanks… and Cloud… no milk products, okay? I'm lactose intolerant."

Cloud nodded and smiled softly before quickly turning around. Walking out and down the street, Cloud breathed in the air, happy to be out for just a little bit. He spent the last two days sitting beside the bed, watching Zack's chest rise and fall just to make sure he was still alive.

Somewhere along the way, Cloud had grown accustomed to the raven haired hit man. He wasn't sure why he was terrified at the thought of losing the male, but when he saw him lying on the ground, broken and looking like he was run over by a truck, something in Cloud broke. He figured it was because, in a way, the man who was sent to kill him was now the one protecting him and that somewhere along the way they had become dependant on each other to survive.

Well wasn't that just dandy.

Cloud was getting more and more angry and confused just thinking about it and everything else that was going wrong, and finally kicked a pebble on the street violently before walking into the store. The florescent lights flickered, casting an eerie, almost dead light on everything. Walking past the cash, Cloud's gaze flicked up to the man behind the counter, half asleep over his porn magazine spread across the surface.

Walking to the back of the store to the coolers, Cloud decided to get a few drinks before buying some random snacks and things high in protein. Walking to the counter, he dumped the contents on the male's magazine before he gave him a pointed stare.

"Shit dude… fucking ruined the moment." The man grumbled out, standing up straighter to begin scanning the items slowly.

Cloud stood and fiddled with the change in his pocket, and stared at the man, hoping to speed him up. Finally he could pay and threw the money on the counter before taking his goods and walking back to the motel.

Getting back, he opened the door and walked in to see Zack staring at the ceiling. His eyes snapped to Cloud, and he smiled slightly.

"You're back…" He croaked out, his voice still sore.

Cloud nodded and brought the bag over to the bed. He shuffled through it and brought out a banana. "It's from a corner store with a guy who read dirty magazines in public… so it's not the best banana."

He peeled it and passed it to Zack, who began to eat the fruit slowly, still incredibly sore. He wondered if he would always feel like this.

Cloud opened up the diet coke and drank half of it in one go before rubbing his eyes. Zack saw the gesture and frowned.

"You should sleep." He whispered, finishing his banana. Cloud looked at Zack for a moment before standing up.

"You need more sleep too," He wandered over to the desk and began opening a few pill bottles while counting how many he had of each. He brought them back to Zack after he had the right amount, and gave him the water. "Take these and try and sleep. I'll clean your cuts and then I'll sleep too."

Zack nodded and took his pills before taking Cloud's wrist in his hand. "Why?"

"I said already… you saved mine, and I owe you." He replied curtly before going into the bathroom to grab some antiseptic.

XX

Zack woke up at some point in time; not knowing how much of the day had passed but was feeling a little better. He was still sore as hell, but at least he could move better. Turning his head, he looked over at Cloud who was curled up tightly on the other side of the bed as far away from Zack as possible, and still wearing the dress shirt and slacks he had been wearing for a while now. He wanted to try and comfort the male, but as soon as he realized he was reaching out to him, Zack pulled his hand back and closed his eyes.

Looking away, Zack stared up at the ceiling before deciding to get up and take a shower, and inspect the damage. He stood up slowly, and took a few deep breaths, working past the pain of the bruised ribs and sore chest, arms and legs.

He slowly and painstakingly made it to the bathroom, and leaned against the wall. Flicking the light on, Zack saw himself in the mirror and cringed. He had a split lip and a black eye that was turning yellow and purple, looking like a disease carrying across his face. He also had a new cut on his cheek and his entire chest was bruised and beaten. Well, at least his nose wasn't broken.

He managed to make it to the shower and turned it on, letting it get hot before stepping in. He hissed as the water hit his cuts, but worked through the pain and stripped off some of the bandages Cloud put on him while watching the dried blood swirl down the drain.

Cloud… that man confused Zack. One moment he would be throwing things at him, and screaming bloody murder, and then next… he seemed kind and almost a little shy and vulnerable, like he needed taking care of. Zack still couldn't figure out why Cloud had gone through such great lengths to keep him alive. After all, before Zack saved his life, he had been sent to kill him. And it also didn't explain why Cloud was going above the line of duty. Anyone else would have brought him to the bed, tended a few wounds and then gotten the hell out of there. Not stay to feed and nurse him carefully back to health.

He didn't understand it… but he wasn't going to reject the help. Without Cloud, Zack thought he probably would be dead. He would have to thank him later.

He stood under the water for longer than necessary before cleaning up as best he could. Getting out he wrapped a towel around his waist before stumbling out to the bedroom. Looking over at the bed, Zack saw Cloud sitting up, a furious look on his face.

"What?" Zack mumbled out, moving back to the bed. He didn't look at Cloud as he lay back down, hissing softly as his muscles rejected the hunched over motion.

"You fucking got up and left without saying anything!" Cloud hissed out, his nostrils flaring.

"H-hey… sorry I just needed a shower."

"I thought you… you were taken away!" Cloud moved to rest over Zack, his hands on either side of his head, fingers digging into the pillows. "I will not have you getting dragged off and dying after I… after I worked hard to help you!"

Zack looked up at Cloud and didn't say anything. There were so many other unsaid things between them that Zack was finding it hard to concentrate as well as breath. God he felt like a trapped animal, his eyes flicking over Cloud's trying to read his emotion. But it soon became impossible and so he did what he did best, and he gave in to animal instinct. Moving his head up, Zack crushed his lips against Cloud's; just as Cloud had come down to do the same thing.

It was the easy thing to do, and in the back of Zack's mind, it felt like the right thing to do. Just push past everything to go to an ending they would both be pleased with, and while in the process it would allow them to forget everything completely.

Their lips locked together in a messy kiss, and Zack pushed past the burning pain in his lip that made it feel like it was being split all over again. He brought a hand up to run through Cloud's hair before Cloud batted his hand away.

"Save your energy…" Cloud mumbled against Zack's lips, his hot breath brushing against sweat slicked lips. There eyes locked again for a moment, and Zack still couldn't read Cloud's emotions. Just as he was about to say something, Cloud moved back down and cupped Zack's face in his hands and kissed him again, this time being gentle-- something Zack hadn't felt in a while.

A few awkward, and hurried moments later, and Cloud was rocking on Zack, head tossed back in pleasure as he tried not to touch Zack's bruises (which was proving to be difficult) while also running his hands all along Zack's strong chest at the same time.

Zack lay on the mattress and thrust up as much as he could; while dimly aware that maybe having sex with bruised ribs wasn't such a smart idea. But the pleasure rushing through his veins was enough to demolish any doubts.

Heavy moans filled the room, as they moved together, creating a moment that would take them away for just a while- something that only they could share in. The ecstasy between them boiled over as they released everything, crying out.

Moments later, Zack found himself once again looking at Cloud's back from across the bed, with his rumpled dress shirt half off and his pants discarded on the floor.

"Are you… are you okay?" Cloud whispered after a tense silence. Despite having been with each other in the most intimate way not five minutes ago, they both seemed to have an emotional distance between them that even they couldn't begin to breech.

"Yeah… what about you?"

Cloud hesitated before nodding his head slowly. He then closed further around himself and wrapped his arms tightly around his knees in a slow, almost pained looking motion. It wasn't just a physical gesture; it was also a hidden emotional one, telling Zack he didn't want to talk anymore.

Zack couldn't blame him… they were both too fucked up.

XX

Zack woke up and felt a weight on the side of his bed. He expected Cloud to be sitting there, and opened his eyes only to be surprised by the sight of Sephiroth sitting on the side of the bed, playing with a cigarette. He didn't look at Zack, although he knew he was awake.

Moments of silence passed between them before Zack spoke.

"Where's Cloud?"

Sephiroth raised an eyebrow and stared at the wall across from him. "I have no idea… I am no longer concerned about him."

Zack rubbed his eyes and sat up more, while pulling the blankets up to hide his waist before trying to tame his wild hair. He then paused mid way, and wondered why he was still trying to impress Sephiroth. He dropped his hands and placed them in his lap and studied Sephiroth closely, even squinting his eyes to get a real good look. Sephiroth looked wary and… tired. Something he hadn't seen for a long time.

"Why are you-" He began, desperate for answers but was interrupted with an unaccustomed fury from the silver haired male.

"I think you know perfectly well I am here Zackary," Sephiroth replied quickly, his eyes flashing from the wall to look at Zack, while his voice carried to him like a slap to the face. "Do you really think I wouldn't come and speak with you after you leave and betray your entire family?"

Zack met Sephiroth's stare before bending under the intense gaze to look at the floor. "Just get it over with then and kill me. That's what you do, isn't it? You beat me and took away everything from me, so what's left? A bullet to the head?"

Sephiroth looked away slowly before standing up. "We didn't do this to you, you did this to yourself. You were a good person, Zackary… you were true to the family and proved your loyalty again and again… I trusted you."

Zack stiffened and held on to the blanket around him. Before he could even make a sound, Sephiroth continued.

"I thought you would do the family proud, and I put a great deal into you… but you failed me." He brought a thin hand up to adjust his tie, shaking just slightly. "You could have done greater things…"

He turned to look down at Zack, and Zack almost felt like he was back when he first joined and Sephiroth was proud of his accomplishments, proud of who he was, and what he could do. There was softness to Sephiroth's eyes that wasn't there before.

"I am giving you a second chance to come back."

Zack was taken aback, and subconsciously went to rub his finger, knowing just what he would have to do to get back in. Cutting one owns finger off was a true sign of how apologetic you were. It was barbaric act from way back when the Yakuza first formed, and was still used today. He has seen many a man lose his finger, just for a chance at redemption in the eyes of a crime boss.

"W-why?" Zack mumbled, looking up at Sephiroth.

Sephiroth just headed towards the door and straitened his suit jacket before opening the door. "… Remember something Zackary… the Yakuza use whatever and whoever they want to get what they want… and I am not done using you."

He then left the room, shutting the door softly with a small click, showing how well he could contain his true emotions. The soft dismissal was like a punch to the gut, a thousand times worse than anything Vincent had inflicted on him before.

Sephiroth wanted him back--that was for sure… but when it came down to it, his reasons were like any other Yakuza boss'. It was for the good of the family, and that was all that mattered. The family as a whole and how high up each member could bring them in the crime world.

Closing his eyes, Zack thought of his options. Go back to face the music, and have a shot at redemption in the eyes of the only people he every really connected with… or run away and try and start a new life, with no closure and no clue.

Zack stared at the door for a long while, numb to any emotion before screaming loudly- letting out a barbaric, animalistic sound. He felt like his throat was ripping apart, but that didn't matter.

All that mattered, as that for once in his life, Zack was no longer confident in his set path.

Authors Note: Okay, so updates are going to go down a lot, because I just started College and it's kinda stressful. But, I promise I will work as hard as I can to get these chapters out for you guys! I appreciate everyone who reads, watches, favourites and reviews! Seriously you guys are SO awesome that words cannot compare. Uh, I hope you enjoyed the chapter; it was hard to write mostly because it relied so heavily on a certain feeling and emotion. But anyways, thank you so much for everything!