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.
Zack found himself facing the old door of his apartment, his small bag filled with clothes and a gun resting loosely in his hand. He noticed a few people had tried to break in while he was gone, and frowned when he saw damage to the door. Whoever tried it wasn't very good…
Taking the keys out of his pocket, Zack opened the door and walked in, kicking away a few articles of clothing that had been strewn half hazard across the scuffed up floorboards. He looked around the red painted walls, eyeing a few photos that were crooked before catching himself in the mirror in the bathroom. He frowned, hating how his bruises had turned yellow in colour with the occasional purple to add to the effect.
He dropped his bag down on his bed and flopped down beside it, causing the mattress to squeak and groan, protesting the added weight. He no longer had any need to run away… well, maybe he did, but Sephiroth seemed to want to keep Zack alive to 'use him'. So, in theory he should be safe to come back to his apartment with its familiar cracked ceiling and the window that wouldn't open.
Ever since Sephiroth had come to talk to Zack and Cloud had left, Zack had nothing but his own thoughts to keep him company. He figured he would either go crazy or find the answers to life.
So far crazy was winning.
He still couldn't decide on whether he should go back. Cut his pinkie off, beg for forgiveness and forget about Cloud, potential freedom, and everything else but the dealings of his family. It sounded easy enough for most people. He wouldn't be living in constant paranoia for one thing, not to mention he could go back to something familiar… someplace that seemed to actually want him.
But the chance at freedom… the ability to break free and do something with his life was gnawing at Zack from the inside. Groaning, the raven haired male rolled on to his stomach, and then moved on to his back quickly, forgetting about his ribs. He lay still for what seemed like hours before getting up to get a glass of water.
Turning the tap while washing away the dust in a coffee mug, Zack faintly heard the lock on his door being opened, and the faint click as it opened with no resistance. He turned the water off and looked over his shoulder into the main room waiting to see who would come through the door.
"- and he could have fucking given me the key before hand, otherwise I wouldn't have had to-"
"Destroy the door and unsuccessfully get inside?"
Zack paused and put his glass down on the counter and turned around fully to see Kadaj and Reno coming into the apartment. Kadaj was holding the key and had an annoyed expression on his face as he looked at Reno.
"Sorry if I'm not master of breaking and entering like some people." He shot back, sounding like a teenaged girl. He rolled his eyes and then went to Zack's desk to start looking for things while Reno's gaze went to the bag on the bed, and then slowly upwards to Zack in the small kitchen.
"You know I fucking hate how he hides everything," Kadaj spat out as he continued to shuffle around and pull out drawers. He seemed oblivious to the fact that Zack was in the apartment. "God damn faggot can't even use a file folder or anything!"
Reno growled and smacked the back of Kadaj's head before roughly grabbing his jaw and forcing Kadaj to look at Zack in the kitchen.
"Fuck, let me go, fuck, shit!" Kadaj shoved Reno away roughly and stood up strait. He glared at Zack and straitened his suit. "Oh, it's you."
"Yeah, it's me." Zack said, coming out of the kitchen to stand across from them in the room. "Nice bruise."
Kadaj's bruise that Zack had given him had spread across his eye turning green and yellow, making it seem as if Kadaj had been infected with something. Cool green eyes narrowed as Kadaj stared Zack down.
"I could say the same about yours." Kadaj hissed back, a smirk on his face as he looked over Zack.
Reno continued to stay silent and stood with his hands at his sides as he just stared at Zack. For a moment, Zack and his eyes locked, and Zack thought he could see a brief hint of sympathy before it was quickly masked by well controlled disdain.
"So, where did you put all your files on past hits? Because Sephiroth needs them back before you know… you die or whatever." Kadaj said, going back to rifle though the drawers.
"I burn them you fucktard. You think I would leave something like that lying around for the cops to find?" Zack said, as his eyebrow rose slowly. He crossed his arms carefully over his chest in a defensive matter, and wouldn't let his eyes flick over to Reno even for a second.
"Well…" It was obvious Kadaj was trying to come up with something clever before Reno cut in.
"Sephiroth didn't really send us for that shit, Kadaj. God damn you're dense, yo. He sent us to see if Zack had come back."
Kadaj sighed and straitened up again and looked over at Reno through his bangs. "Fuck you."
Kadaj swearing a lot was a clear sign that he was trying to cover something up, whether that was a mission he had, or a fumble showing off his clear stupidity.
"So you're back I guess… good. Why are you back anyways?" Kadaj asked as Reno went back to his silent ways and wandered in the direction of the window.
"I don't know… Sephiroth came and talked with me after I got my ass kicked because you snitched on me." Zack said, glaring at Kadaj.
"Ha, you think I snitched?" Kadaj asked, pacing back and forth in the room. "God, no. You fucked up my face and… well fuck, I didn't want anyone to see my face after what you did to it!" He actually looked embarrassed; something Zack had never seen the younger male feel.
Zack paused, eyebrows furrowed. But if Kadaj hadn't said anything, then…
"I did." Reno said, finally talking to Zack directly. Their eyes locked at that moment, and any sympathy that Zack had thought he'd seen in Reno's eyes before was gone completely.
"You… you did?" He asked, voice cracking as he did so. No… no, he knew Reno was pissed but… but this? As if to show his discomfort, Zack backed up slightly, shaking his head. "No, you couldn't have. W-we're friends still… r-right?"
Reno snorted softly and sneered at Zack. "If that's what you want to think, then go ahead and live in your lies."
Kadaj leaned against the desk and smiled, clearly amused by what was taking place in front of him. He tilted his head to the side, as if waiting to see who would make the next move.
"You're so fucking… trusting and gullible, you know that?" Reno spat out as his fists clenched and unclenched. "You should just go back to your blond whore and forget about us, alright?"
For the most part, Zack was ready to back down, but the sound of Reno calling Cloud a whore made the blood in Zack come to a boil.
"What did you just say? Did you just call me a gullible whore fucker? If you hadn't forgotten, your mom was whore and you probably came from the union of a slut and a whore fucker!" Zack was breathing heavily while his mind raced.
Reno just stood there, not saying anything again, but he too looked ready to burst. His hand twitched slightly upwards, and Zack caught site of the gun resting on his side. If it hadn't been for Kadaj pulling out his own gun quickly to point at Reno, Zack would have thought Reno would actually pull his out.
"Now now, Reno…" Kadaj said his voice low and condescending as he held the gun strong and steady at Reno's temple. "Sephiroth doesn't want any violence."
Zack continued to look at Reno, and Reno continued to look at Zack, neither of them taking a chance to look at Kadaj.
"Hey… Kadaj. Tell Sephiroth I'm coming back," Zack said quietly, staring Reno down. "Tell him I'm coming back and I'm ready to take back whatever I lost before."
Kadaj smirked and withdrew his gun slowly, sliding it back into its holster. "Good to know… now come on Reno."
Reno let out a huff of air before turning around to take off out of the room. Kadaj watched him go before looking at Zack.
"Hang in there… and see you around." He winked and left as well, shutting the door softly.
Zack stood rooted on the spot for a while until he sat down heavily on his bed, all the adrenaline gone for the moment, leaving him weak and shaking.
He was going to prove to Sephiroth, Vincent, Kadaj… even Reno, who was really in control of things.
XX
Cloud swirled the clear liquid around in his coffee mug as he looked out at the city from his office. Yuffie had brewed him some cold medicine tea, hoping to make him feel better, but Cloud hadn't even taken a sip.
He didn't have a cold, or if he did that was one thing to add to his problems. No, ever since he had come back from the motel his mind had been racing about what to do, and what all of these emotions running through him meant.
He had left the motel shortly after Zack fell asleep, not wanting to stay there any longer. He found the entire environment and situation suffocating. He couldn't explain his actions at all, but he could explain his attraction to the dark haired assassin.
He was everything Cloud wished he could be. He had that freedom to tell the world to go fuck themselves, and do what he wanted. He was… brave. He wasn't afraid to go against everything with the chance to gain something, but an even larger chance of losing everything.
Cloud knew he was too cowardly to do any of that.
Cloud continued to swirl the mug, thinking of all the opportunities he had been handed over the years that he refused to take because of one reason or another. But now… now he had an offer that he could take… not because of his parents or wanting to run away. No, he could take it and run with it. Go to the United States and do what he wanted to do.
It was an appealing thought, and it was one that made Cloud smile softly. He could stop thinking about it like it was a chore, or something that his parents wanted him to do, and start thinking about it like it was something good for him.
"Why the smile?" Yuffie asked, walking in to look at Cloud's mug. All of its contents were still in it.
"Just thinking…" Cloud whispered, still looking out the window.
Yuffie crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. "Awe, not gonna tell me about it? Oh… is it a new boyfriend?"
Flashes of deep purple eyes skirted across Cloud's mind, making him look up at Yuffie quickly. "It's nothing important. Just… happy for a change."
Yuffie raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly. "Well that's certainly… odd. Did you take any medication while I was gone?"
Cloud shook his head. "No, it's nothing. I have to go speak with Rude." He stood up and left the cooling mug on his desk as he headed to Rude's office, leaving Yuffie to wonder what had made Cloud smile for a change.
Knocking on the large oak door, Cloud fiddled with his tie before walking in when a deep voice answered his knock. He was nervous, but he was also intent on what he was about to do. Cloud was going to take control of his life, once and for all.
Looking up, Rude pushed his sunglasses down slightly to look Cloud over, a little surprised to see his clothes ironed and in usual order.
"What can I-?" Rude was cut off by Cloud, his voice a little lighter than it had been for weeks.
"I'm going to take the offer to go to America."
XX
Smoke slowly coiled out of Zack's lips as he gazed out at the ocean, arms resting casually on the bars meant to prevent midnight drunks and smaller children from going over. The wind blew across his face, bringing him the sharp smell of salt, fish and pollution.
Another puff was taken while footsteps were heard approaching from behind, only stopping when they were a few feet behind from Zack. A smirk appeared on Zack's lips as he flicked the half finished smoke into the ocean.
"Didn't think you would actually show." He said, still looking out at the ocean.
Footsteps could be heard again as the person approached the railing. Zack saw Cloud out of the corner of his eye and watched as the blond male rested against the bars mimicking Zack.
"I always show up for my appointments." He replied softly as he too gazed out at the ocean.
They stood in silence for a while, just enjoying the moment before Zack spoke up.
"I'm going back to the Yakuza."
"And I'm going to the United States."
Silence overcame them again, only broken by the sound of a freight ship blowing its horn off in the distance, complete with the screech of a bird.
"Be careful." Zack said, looking over at the blonde. He met Cloud's gaze and tried to read his expression.
"You too." Cloud replied softly, continuing to look at Zack. A small line appeared between his eyebrows as he slowly moved forward to kiss Zack softly.
Zack kissed Cloud back, their minds just trailing off to enjoy the kiss for what it was. When they broke, Cloud's eyes opened slowly to see Zack had turned towards the city, eyes closed.
"I'm not expecting to live long but… if I make it through what I'm going to do, I'll visit you some time in America."
Cloud nodded and looked the opposite way towards the ocean. "I'm counting on it."
Authors Note: Bad news, guys. I am going to Egypt for two weeks come November 4th. So that means no updates until after I come back (around the 19th). Buuut, I also have College work to catch up on… and yeah… So I am going to try REALLY hard to get the next chapter out for you guys, but it could take a while! Please bare with me! Secondly, I didn't get many reviews for the latest chapter, and I don't write for reviews but I would like to know if I'm doing something right, or wrong! Feedback is always good, so if you get a chance, a review would be wonderful! Anyways, thank you for reading, watching, favouriting and reviewing!