New feelings
Zack was awake before the alarm had even gone off that morning, his mind already racing over what they had planned for the day. He looked down at the blonde in his arms and smiled happily at the feel of the cadet's warm body against his own, at least he did until another feeling began to make the close proximity to Cloud a little awkward. Carefully not to wake the peacefully sleeping form, Zack slid his arms free of the embrace and quickly got up, grabbing a clean towel on his way to the bathroom.
A cold shower later and the soldier found himself sitting at the small table in his apartment, his body now a little more under control. He gently moved the cup in his hands, swirling the coffee within it, savouring the smell as it wafted towards him. The liquid was still too hot to drink, but at least the pleasant aroma was helping to warm him again after such a necessary drenching. Zack shivered in response to the experience, the chill reinforcing his distaste for cold showers, hating how the icy water could bite down on his skin right through to the bone. He sighed softly, accepting that it had been unavoidable, knowing that the last thing he had wanted was for Cloud to wake up and find the person he trusted poking him in the back with rather private parts of their anatomy. Even if it was the blondes fault for starting those kinds of thoughts and feelings in the first place.
Zack couldn't help but smile as his eyes travelled up to look at the closed bedroom door and consider who was on the other side, the development of their new sleeping arrangement stirring something deep within him and causing a warm feeling to spread through his chest. They had woken that first morning still held tightly in each other's arms, the embrace and positions of their bodies pressed together perfectly, as if they were somehow two halves of the same whole. The morning routine hadn't been uncomfortable, nor had their discussions been awkward, yet neither addressed the issue itself. Cloud had been silent for most of the day as the soldier trained, always appearing deep in thought when he was sitting alone and not joining in.
As the day had progressed Zack had begun to worry, his concern about the cadet slowly growing, a little voice nagging in his head that perhaps Cloud only needed the comfort that one time and wouldn't need it again. In a vain attempt to ignore how the idea of losing that closeness to the blonde was making his heart ache, he had thrown himself into his work with Angeal and focused all of his attention on the challenges set. The soldier smiled as he recalled the memory of that second night, as he had lain awake on his bed feeling as if something were missing, how once again the cadet had come to his room and made the same request. Neither had spoken as Cloud climbed into the bed curling up against the soldier's body and snuggling into the embrace, their actions saying more than words ever could. And that was how it had begun, their nights no longer spent apart in separate rooms, but together sharing the same bed.
The soldier sighed as he realised that things were changing between them now, that the innocence of their sleeping together was beginning to have an effect on his body. The memory of Cloud's comment about being kissed again popped into his head and Zack was pretty sure that this was the trigger for his now embarrassing responses to the blonde's presence. It was is if the cadet had flicked a switch in Zack's body, giving permission for these feelings to be felt, allowing for these emotions to surface freely. But the soldier was unwilling to let Cloud know about them yet, not ready to potentially ruin their tender embraces with other more heated needs. It was because of their previous ups and downs the he had chosen to keep things simple, to make sure that any progress in their relationship was made when Cloud was ready for it. Zack knew he couldn't erase the past, couldn't undo all the things which had gone wrong between them, but he could make sure as hell it didn't happen again.
He was so lost in thought that he jumped slightly when the bedroom door opened and couldn't help but let out a small squeak at the surprise. The reaction brought a small smile to the cadet's lips and he laughed softly making Zack's heart flutter.
"Hey." He greeted the cadet with another squeak, then coughed to clear his throat as a faint blush crept over his features.
"Hey." Cloud replied hesitantly, his smile faltering slightly.
Zack shifted in his seat as Cloud's gaze became questioning and felt his embarrassment slip to be replaced with a sense of worry.
"What's wrong?"
"It's like ... like before." Cloud mumbled softly, his voice trembling slightly.
"Like before, how?" Zack asked feeling confused and hearing an alarm bell ringing in his head.
"You were sitting quietly and then I surprised you and then ..."
"Oh Gaia no, it's nothing like that." Zack stammered already moving from the chair and wrapping his arms tightly around Cloud's body. "I have no doubts about any of this, please don't think that I do." He begged softly against the cadet's head, as he realised what memory had stirred in the blondes' mind.
"Are you sure?" Cloud whispered against his chest, the words laced with fear.
"I know it looked bad, but I swear I was just thinking about things ... about us."
"What ... things?"
"Things which I'll tell you about in time, but not now. Ok?"
"Why, are they ... bad things?"
"Gaia, no!" Zack gasped, pulling away so he could look into Cloud's eyes. "I just don't want to ... You don't need to ... worry about it right now, not that you need to worry about it at all, but ..."
The soldier's words trailed off as he realised he was now rambling and that Cloud's face was becoming even more confused and, Gaia help him, even more determined to find out what the soldier was hiding.
"Zack, talk to me."
"It's ok, really...""
"What were you thinking about just now?" Cloud demanded, his tone clearly indicating he wasn't about to give up.
"You're not going to let this drop are you?"
"No."
"If I tell you I don't want you to get embarrassed and run away, ok?"
"Why would I ..." Cloud began, already pulling away from the soldier.
"Ok?" Zack interrupted, cutting off the words and firmly meeting Cloud's eyes with his own.
"Ok." The cadet agreed nervously, a strange fluttering developing in his stomach.
"I was thinking about what you said yesterday on the track."
"You were?" Cloud breathed nervously.
"Yea, I was." Zack admitted smiling gently, his eyes softening to show Cloud that he wasn't trying to hide anything. "It surprised me, but in a good way."
"I wasn't sure if ... if you would ... if you wanted to ..." The cadet stammered, his voice shaking slightly.
"You didn't think I wanted kiss you?" Zack asked a little taken back by the suggestion. "Why would you think that?"
"We haven't .... since that time and I thought maybe ... because it had ended badly..." Cloud mumbled trying to explain himself.
"And here I was worried about rushing you," the soldier laughed softly.
"Really?" The cadet gasped in surprise.
"Sure. I felt bad after screwing up your first kiss and I didn't want to ruin the next one by pushing you if you weren't ready."
"So me sleeping in your bed wasn't a big enough hint?" Cloud whispered nervously at the confession.
"I was just happy to have you there beside me. I guess I didn't see it that way." The soldier admitted, blushing slightly at his own naivety.
The words had barely left his mouth when it was covered by the soft, warm, caress of Cloud's lips pressed against his own. The soldier's eyes widened slightly in surprise, his breath catching in his throat, and his body momentarily frozen in place by the unexpected reaction from the cadet. It was only when he focused on the blonde's delicate features and realised blue eyes were hidden behind closed lids that he allowed his own to slide shut.
The kiss was soft and gentle as Cloud's lip's moved nervously against his own and once again Zack was amazed at the cadet's courage for making the first move. However much he wanted it, however strong the desire to take this further coursed through him, the soldier didn't push for more. Instead he let himself be consumed by the warmth which was steadily building deep within him, feeling his heart beat that little bit faster in his chest. It only lasted a few seconds, but to Zack it could have lasted hours. It took his dazed mind several seconds to realise that the kiss had ended and he opened his eyes to meet bright blue orbs glowing in front of him.
"Wow." He breathed softly, taking in the blonde's hesitant but happy expression.
He brought his arms up to draw Cloud closer against his body and it wasn't until the cadet physically relaxed into the hold that the soldier realised how tense the blonde had actually been.
"Hey, you ok?" Zack asked gently, adjusting his body so he could look down at the cadet's face without letting go.
"Yes," was the slightly muffled reply.
"Look at me, please."
The body in his arms shifted slightly and a blonde head of hair moved back to reveal crystal blue eyes looking up at him so intently, that Zack's heart actually skipped a beat.
"I'm not expecting anything from you, I need you to know that." The soldier said evenly, his eyes never leaving the cadet's. "I ... I'm not going to rush this thing between us, you're too important to me to risk it, but if ... if there's anything you want to ask me."
"I feel ... things." Cloud admitted softly, his eyes glancing down self-consciously.
"Good things?" Zack asked hopefully.
"Yea, but it's ... I'm not used to ... I don't know how ..."
"It's all new to you, right?" the soldier asked gently understanding the missing words of the broken sentence easily.
"I'm sorry." The cadet replied, burying his head against Zack's chest once more.
"Don't be sorry, just be honest." The soldier reassured gently.
"Zack I've ... I've never..." Cloud began hesitantly, before the sound of a phone ringing cut him off.
"Damn it," Zack swore softly. "Sorry I've got to get that in case it's Angeal." He apologised, pulling away from the cadet to retrieve his phone from the dining table.
Had he looked at the display the soldier would have noticed the caller's ID and left the phone to ring, but his mixed emotions didn't allow this thought to register until it was too late.
"Fair speaking." he answered instinctively. "Oh, hey Reno," he responded in surprise to the Turk's voice. "No I didn't realise it was you, ... yea I guess I should have checked caller ID, ... no its ok go ahead."
Cloud watched as Zack scratched the back of his head becoming caught up in the conversation with Reno and decided their discussion would have to wait a little longer. He waved gently to get the soldier's attention and pointed towards the bathroom to indicate he was going to shower. Their eyes met for a moment and the soldier responded with a nod of his head, an apologetic look on his face, a second before verbally apologised to the Turk for missing something that had been said.
A quick glance at the clock in the living room let Cloud know he had about an hour before they had to leave to meet Angeal, so he showered and dressed quickly. Zack was finished on the phone and had breakfast ready when he emerged from the bed room, the soldier now wearing his uniform as well.
"I hope toast is ok, it's all we've got time for." Zack joked, as he tossed a slice to the cadet.
"It's fine." Cloud replied happily before taking a bite.
"You got your sword?"
"It's by the door ready to go."
"Good, come on then." Zack declared, grabbing the remaining pieces of breakfast and shoving some of it into the cadet's open palms.
They headed out the door with swords strapped to their backs and a piece of toast in each hand, ready to face the day ahead. Cloud smiled as he walked along eating the slightly burnt bread, his eyes constantly glancing over at Zack and watching as the soldier chewed on his own rushed meal. Their pace was quick but not rushed as they hurried through the compound and both sighed in relief when they found that Angeal was not already there and waiting for them.
"So what do we do now?" Cloud asked looking around uncertainly.
"We get warmed up, that way we can get started sooner and Angeal can't moan at us for wasting time." Zack replied smiling brightly.
"Ok" Cloud agreed, knowing that he wanted to make a good impression on the commander.
Angeal arrived a little later than planned, due to a report he had to follow up on, and had been worried that the pair would have been left waiting. He was therefore very pleased to see both soldier and cadet slight hot and bothered from a sparring session, which had ensued after their warm up. He stood to one side and watched as Cloud blocked one of Zack's blows and retaliated with a well aimed returning strike to the soldier's chest. The commander nodded to himself in approval, as the soldier dodged the blow, and noted that perhaps Zack had been right to make this request. The tasks would not only give him a better assessment of Zack's overall abilities, but also a chance to observe the cadet's as well. If Cloud was capable of completing the various challenges over the next few days then Angeal would happily agree to let him go back to classes.