WARNING - This chapter has yaoi in it (BoyxBoy) so if you don't like that kind of thing then please don't read. It's not all the way but does get a little hot and heavy so if it's not your thing you might want to miss this update and wait for the next one. Sorry.
No more regrets
Pale moonlight shone through the window as Cloud woke to find himself in unexpected surroundings, his sleep filled mind slowly logging the unusual items which filled his blurry vision and leaving him feeling momentarily confused. Instead of the beside cabinet he saw a coffee table, the wall which should have been directly in his line of sight not only the wrong colour in the faint light but also obscured by a table and set of chairs which stood against it. Cloud gasped softly as he suddenly worked out where he was, the realisation that he'd unintentionally fallen asleep on the sofa causing him to panic slightly and instantly try to scramble to his feet.
"Hey, take it easy." Zack's calm voice soothed, as one strong arm easily caught the cadet and then pulled him gently but firmly back down against a well toned chest. "If you're not careful you'll trip over something and hurt yourself." He warned tenderly, the limb which had snagged the blonde around the waist tightening a little more and drawing Cloud's attention to it immediately.
"Zack?" The cadet choked, all traces of sleep now gone as his racing heart began to calm once more. "Zack what's ... going on? Why aren't we ... in bed?" He stammered in confusion, as he twisted around within the embrace to see the soldier better.
"You looked so peaceful after you fell asleep that I didn't feel like moving." Zack admitted with a casual shrug, the cheeky grin he gave only making the warm sparkle in his eyes even more dazzling. "I guess I drifted off watching you and so here we are." The soldier finished lazily, the curve of his lips altering so that his expression became a slightly embarrassed one.
"What time is it?" Cloud asked softly, as he smiled happily in response to the confession.
"A little after one." Zack answered lightly, his hand now moving to recreate the gentle caresses which had eased the cadet into his deep sleep in the first place.
"I'm sorry." The blonde whispered, as he settled himself against the soldier's larger frame. "I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."
"It's ok, you were tired." Zack replied affectionately, his position shifting a little so that he could place a brief kiss on Cloud's brow. "And this sofa's pretty comfortable, so it's not like I suffered in any great way." He added with a light chuckle, the joyful sound making the cadet feel a rush of warmth inside.
"Good." The blonde sighed, his forehead tipping forward while a slim arm moved confidently around the soldier's waist so that his body was curled up tightly against Zack's larger frame.
To this action the soldier couldn't help but smile happily, his own head dipping down so that his chin could rest upon a crown of soft golden spikes as his other arm came up to rest on Cloud's back and pull the cadet in firmly against him. There was something so right about the way they now held each other, the silence around them not being awkward or uncomfortable as they continued to sit side by side on the sofa. It was only after a few minutes had ticked quietly by that Zack began to notice a slight tension forming in the blonde's shoulders, the muscles which had been calm and relaxed only moments ago now slowly tightening within the smaller frame.
"Hey, you ok?" The soldier whispered, his voice remaining low so as not to startle Cloud if he was feeling unsettled about something.
"Yea, I was just ... thinking." The cadet replied softly, the hesitation in his response making Zack feel a little uneasy.
"About what?" The soldier asked, as casually as he could manage.
"Did you ... was there anything ..." Cloud began, the question hanging between them unspoken as the words became stuck in his throat.
"There were a couple of things I wanted to ask." Zack admitted, as he held the blonde in place against him. "But some of it I've worked out while you were sleeping, so you don't have to worry about it now." He added, the cadet's relief at hearing those words very evident in the way he gradually began to relax again. "There are still a few things I want to know more about, but I think we can talk about them later."
"What kind of things?" Cloud breathed, his heart skipping a few nervous beats as he forced himself to ask a question he wasn't even sure he wanted to know the answer to.
"Things which can wait for a better time, like after we've both had more sleep and something to eat." The soldier explained gently in an attempt to ease the cadet's rising anxiety, his response in fact only making things worse as they gave Cloud something else to fret over.
"Oh Gaia, I made you miss dinner." The blonde gasped as he pulled away from the embrace, his whole body twisting round and attempting to rise from the sofa once more as he spoke. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'll cook you something now." The cadet offered quickly, the words barely leaving his mouth before they were followed by a soft 'oomph' sound as he was instantly pulled back down again.
"Not hungry." Zack stated before Cloud could speak again, the large blue eyes which now held his own violet ones showing the cadet's surprise and disbelief at his reaction. "And even if I was it's too late for dinner and way too early for breakfast."
"But I ... but you ... I ..." The blonde stammered, the sapphire orbs blinking in confusion as he tried to argue.
"Besides ..." The soldier added coyly, the sparkle in his glowing lavender spheres revealing a heat which hadn't been there a moment ago. "If I was hungry for something, it would be a kiss from you."
The line was beyond cheesy and they both knew it, but still the desired affect was achieved and for that Zack was more than grateful as Cloud's stumbling protests gave way to a radiant and adorably embarrassed smile.
"That's really dorky." The cadet mumbled bashfully, as his cheeks took on a rosy hue and self-conscious pools of blue became hidden by lowered eyelashes.
"But you still love me anyway, right?" The soldier teased, as he gently placed a finger under the blonde's chin and lifted his head up so that their faces could meet. "And you wouldn't deny a starving man his meal, would you?"
"Gaia, that's even worse." Cloud breathed huskily against Zack's mouth, which was now only an inch away from his own.
"Don't I know it." The soldier replied cheekily as he drew them even closer together, the vibration of his voice playing along the cadet's lips and making the blonde shiver in excitement and anticipation.
As if the faint tremble had been his cue to act Zack closed the distance between them, the tender flesh which had been barley touching now pressed firmly together and the joyous connection instantly pulling them both into a void where only they existed. Humour gave way to desire while embarrassment gave way to pleasure, the feel of soft delicate skin joining as they kissed making both feel a sudden rush of need flow through their veins. Once again the intimate interaction moved past being just a sweet and innocent show of affection, the want which began to steadily build within their bodies forcing them to take the experience further than it had ever gone before.
Slowly arms began to move so that hands could touch and explore the other's body, Zack's larger more muscular limbs gliding sensuously over Cloud's smaller frame while the cadet's slim delicate ones moved carefully over and around the soldier's powerfully built one. Neither rushed as their hands enjoyed the new surfaces they were discovering, strong fingers tracing carefully over developing contours beneath a cadet uniform and soft gentle digits hesitantly feeling along the plains of a well defined physique under a soldier uniform. Without even realising it their bodies began to shift against one another's, the position of sitting side by side being pleasing but no longer enough to satisfy their needs.
Without even thinking about it Cloud began to reposition himself on the chair, his supple body rising up and twisting round to face Zack completely so that he now knelt on the sofa as they kissed. Sensing the change in height the soldier's passion filled violet eyes opened briefly, his lips curving up into an even more joyous smile as he deepened the kiss and gently placed his hands on Cloud's hips. As second later and the cadet was adjusting his posture again, his legs spreading a little wider to keep him balanced as he was encouraged to straddle Zack's thighs and take up a new position above the soldier's lap. Within the time it took their hearts to beat again the blonde had lowered himself down to rest more comfortably as the kiss between them intensified, his narrow waist now resting squarely over the soldier's lower body and bringing their shared arousals together in a way which made them impossible to deny.
Both broke away from the kiss to draw in a gasping breath as their concealed erections meet, the few layers of material which separated the hardening flesh doing nothing to hide what both knew was happening between them. But this time neither pulled away from the closeness of how they now sat, their chests heaving as they drew in desperate breaths of air and hearts raced in excitement and anticipation of where things were about to go.
"You .. you don't have to ... do this." Zack managed, his words coming out a little breathlessly as he found himself unable to look away from smouldering blue spheres.
"I want to Zack ... I want to." Cloud panted encouragingly, his arms swiftly wrapping themselves around the soldier's neck and quickly pulling their mouths together once more.
Zack groaned softly into the deep and passionate kiss which was being forced upon him, the heat which now radiated off of Cloud's body making his own feel like it was on fire. He moaned again as the blonde shifted slightly against him, the small movement pushing their swollen flesh together and causing him to pull back slightly to catch his breath again.
"Cloud, I love you." He began, the words pausing so that he could draw in another precious breath. "And I know you love me too." He panted, his hands taking up a firm grip on the cadet's waist so that he could hold the lithe frame still. "So you don't have to do this to prove it to me, not if you're not ready yet."
"I'm not asking to go all the way, I know it's still too soon for that ... for both of us." Cloud managed as he continued to breathe heavily, his mind struggling through the fog of desire within him to find the right words. "I've lived my whole life hiding what I feel and I don't want to do that anymore." The blonde explained, his head dipping forward so that his lust filled blue eyes were hidden behind a curtain of blonde hair. "I had to tell you those things so you would understand me better, so that you could see why I did what I did and why I am who I am. " Cloud breathed softly, his voice now holding a slight tremble as he spoke. "I regret so much Zack and I ... I don't want that to happen with us." The cadet stammered, the reasons being spoken so hesitantly now that they were almost a whispered prayer. "You said I could ... that it was alright to want things for myself." Cloud reminded him, the nervous pause causing the soldier's heart to skip a beat as he waited to hear the request which he knew was coming. "I want to know what it feels like to do more than just kiss you, I ... I want to feel it when I ... when we ..."
"I understand." Zack soothed, as the blonde's plea became broken and fell away into silence. "And I'd like that as well." He reassured gently, as he encouraged Cloud's face to look up at him again.
"I'm sorry." The cadet mumbled, his sapphire orbs now a sea of emotions as they remained connected with softly glowing amethyst spheres.
"Don't be sorry." The soldier replied gently, the distance between them lessening as he lent forward once more. "I don't want there to be any regrets between us either, which is why I won't rush what we have. But if you feel ready to ... feel more, then I won't argue because it's something I want to feel as well." Zack reassured, the loving tone he used easing the last of the nervous tension of out the blonde's body.
And then before Cloud could say anything else the soldier's lips pressed against his once more, the soft tender flesh sealing in the words he'd been about to say and opening the flood gates to the passion which both had been holding back while they spoke. Neither fought the rush of emotions as they became lost to the deep and needful kisses which consumed them, their gasping breaths echoing softly in the dimly lit room each time they were forced to part to draw in precious air.
It took a few minutes for Cloud's body to catch up with his mouth and begin to move as well, Zack's hands slowly relaxing their hold on his slim waist so that they could support rather than restrain his supple body as it began to gently rock back and forth. Quickly the steady motions began to cause their desires to reach new heights, the sounds of heavy panting breaths promptly mixing with soft heated moans of pleasure and echoing loudly in the air around them. Neither felt the need to hold back as the friction began to cause a delightful pressure to build within them, the need which now flowed though their veins leaving both oblivious to the rest of the world around them.
Thankfully the soldier still had enough common sense in him to keep things under some control, as the palms of his hands began easing down and around Cloud's backside to cup the soft firm cheeks through the cadet uniform trouser. His fingers quickly spread out to maximise the amount of surface area they could touch, the tips carefully digging in just a little to re-establish a tender grip on the blonde's lithe body as it continued to grind torturously against him.
"Cloud." Zack breathe heavily, as he pulled his lips away enough to try and speak. "I want to move us, is that ok?" He managed, before a soft mouth once again found his and silenced the words being spoken.
For a moment the soldier lost all train of thought as the cadet dominated the kiss, as a familiar warm muscle eagerly pushed its way into the cavern of his mouth and began to move against his own tongue almost demandingly. He couldn't help but moan into that glorious sensation and tighten his hold, his strong hands instantly sliding down to rest near the tops of the blonde's thighs and unconsciously pull their shared arousals even closer together. He barely caught himself as he began to thrust up against the wonderfully addictive body which now seemed to ride him, his blood replaced with a liquid fire which tore through his veins and pooled low down where their pelvises met in a very intimate way.
Growling softly the soldier moved and effortlessly flipped the cadet's smaller frame off of his lap and down on to the sofa, a small startled gasp escaping Cloud's lips as he suddenly found himself on his back and looking up in to bright violet orbs which glowed with a primal heat.
"You ok?" Zack breathed, as he quickly placed several feather-light reassuring kisses down along the cadet's jaw and neckline.
"Yes, just ... caught me... by surprise." Cloud panted, the broken reply being followed by a deep moan of pleasure as the soldier's mouth latched on to the base of his neck just behind his ear and began to do something which made the cadet's heart rate increase tenfold.
Zack growled again but this time for a different reason, his attack having caused the blonde to squirm beneath him and once again press their erections against one another. There was no denying the pressure which was now building within him, the heat which consumed his body quickly taking over the remaining control of his mind, as he carefully held the glorious body down against the sofa and began to rub their shared arousals together in a more demanding rhythm.
The added friction was like electricity through Cloud's nervous system and he cried out as something within him sparked to life, as the muscles within him suddenly began to tighten and coil in a way which promised pleasure beyond his wildest dreams. And then it was all he could do to breathe as agonizingly slow movements were made against him, as the firm roll of strong hips pushed his lower body back and down into the soft material of the sofa, and the soldier's concealed erection began to press down and massage against his own contained swollen flesh. His need for air gave way to the desire of calling out Zack's name, the word repeating over and over in a pleasure-filled mantra, with each gasping breath becoming more desperate in pitch and pleading in tone as it passed his lips.
The soldier groaned and felt his body begin to respond demandingly as the blonde's voice began to change, the breathless way his name was being spoken altering to become deeper and more drawn out with each gentle thrust. He quickly noticed that there were other signs which now gave the approaching orgasm away, the tension which had begun to form in Cloud's body being an obvious one as well as the rise in his body temperature and the catching sound in his throat each time he tried to draw a breath. But it was the hands which held on to his sides that had Zack's attention now, the slim fingers curled tightly around his hips and firmly pulling him down harder and faster. And then there was the pelvis which rose up against him as much as it could, the opposing upward thrusts which meet his downward ones rocking their bodies together in an almost bruising way.
The rush came before he could truly prepare for it, the joyous sound of Cloud crying out his name in ecstasy as he came pulling Zack into his own orgasm as well. And for a minute they simple rode each other's bodies as they jerked, bucked and convulsed against each other, neither willing to give up on the wondrous sensations which now flowed through them like liquid gold. Heated breaths were panted against hot flushed skin and shaking limbs held onto trembling bodies as both refused to let go of the other, the twitching and occasional spasm rocking their spent flesh together again as the satisfying ripple of muscles continued to play through them.
Eventually the moment passed and both collapsed against the sofa in exhaustion, the soldier being careful to support himself above the body he was now lying on so as not to crush it completely. Zack couldn't help but feel a rush of happiness from what had happened, the joy he felt not only being the result of his own release but from what he was currently seeing. Normally pale cheeks were now glowing with a deep red blush, one which came from the pleasure of their intimacy and not embarrassment of it. Then there were the soft pink lips which always tempted him, the delicate flesh now looking fuller and if he was honest a little bruised from the harsh and demanding kisses which had been shared. But what really caused the soldier's heart to skip a beat was when Cloud's eyelids fluttered open to reveal bright blue orbs, the sapphire gems still clouded with pleasure and being accompanied by the most wondrous smile he'd ever seen.
"Are you ok?" Zack managed to ask after minute, surprised by how breathless his own voice still sounded.
"Yes." Cloud replied hesitantly, a small embarrassed smile gracing his delicate features as they continued to glow radiantly in the faint light.
"Are you sure, I mean ... it didn't ... it wasn't ... too much." The soldier found himself asking nervously, as he balanced himself on one arm so that the other was free to let fingers run through slightly damp blonde hair.
"No, it was ... perfect." The cadet whispered shyly, his cooling cheeks igniting with colour once more as their eyes met and became connected in a way which neither had expected.
And at that moment time itself stood still, the rest of the world ceasing to exist for either of them as one became lost in deep pools of pleasure filled blue and the other began to drown in passionate fires of violet. There was no need for words as both said what they felt through heated gazes, as the burning desire they had been consumed by left behind it a deep seated warmth and sense of peace within their bodies, minds and souls.
"You're amazing." Zack whispered softly, his fingers once again running though golden spikes to push them out of the way before trailing the tips over Cloud's flushed skin.
"No, we're amazing." The cadet corrected him, leaning into the touch as it gently moved down along his cheek.
"Alright." The soldier chuckled in agreement, as he lent down to place a chaste kiss upon the blonde's soft lips. "We're amazing." He reaffirmed, the smile which greeted his words making his insides flutter happily.
It only took a minute tough for his heart to flip flop suddenly as Cloud's face developed a small frown, the cadet's delicate features scrunching up in a cute but unnerving expression as he quickly looked away.
"Spiky." Zack began, his head tilting to one side to catch the blonde's eyes again. "What's wrong?" He asked cautiously, his violet spheres having seen the poorly concealed look of discomfort and unease.
"It's nothing, I just ... it's ... uuuuummm ..." Cloud stammered timidly, the slight blush which had lingered on his fair skin now becoming the colour of rose petals. "I just ... need to ...sort myself out." The cadet mumbled nervously, his sky blue orbs hesitantly coming back round to try and meet the soldier's concerned gaze.
It took Zack's slow mind nearly a minute more to work out what Cloud was talking about, his own face warming as he realised that the material between them which had caused such delicious friction before was now feeling cool, damp and a little sticky.
"I guess we should get cleaned up." Zack agreed with a soft chuckle, as he slowly rose up to his knees and moved away from the cadet's body. "Why don't you go first." He offered affectionately, as the slight blush on his own handsome features darkened a little more. "I'll wait here till you're done."
"Alright." Cloud replied softly, with a shy and clearly self-conscious smile.
Then without further prompting the blonde quickly stood up and made his way through the apartment, his movements across the room being a little clumsy in the dim light as he walked with some embarrassment towards the bathroom. Zack couldn't help but smile brightly as he watched the cadet go, his lips quirking up at the edges as he fought to keep the soft laughter trapped inside. He knew exactly why Cloud's movements were suddenly less graceful than normal, his own problem in that area reminding him that he would soon be making his own uncomfortable walk to the bathroom.
Sighing with an amused acceptance of the situation the soldier lent back against the sofa and looked up at the ceiling, his heated skin now cooling nicely as he sat in the quiet room and listened to the sound of his own heart beating happily within his chest. The evening had not gone exactly as he'd expected but there was nothing he would change if given the chance to do it again, the things which had been said and the emotions which had been shared between them taking what they already had and making it so much stronger than it had been before. The passion which they had shared only moments ago was still running like a drug through his body, a silent craving for more mixing with the realisation that they would be able to have that time again because it was something they both wanted and were clearly ready for now.
The sound of the bathroom door opening drew Zack's attention to it immediately, his legs forcing him to rise and stand as Cloud emerged from the room and raised nervous shy questioning eyes up to look at him.
"Are you ok?" The soldier asked gently, as he approached the blonde and raised a hand to affectionately cup the cadet's cheek. "I can see something's worrying you, what is it?" He added softly before Cloud could protest the initial question, his fingers moving round and down through golden spikes to rest at the nape of the cadet's neck and knead the area gently.
"Was it ... was I ..." Cloud murmured hesitantly as his brow dipped forward to rest against Zack's chest, the slight tension beneath the soldier's palm warning of the cadet's mixed emotions about what they had done.
"I don't have the words to describe what I'm feeling right now, but I promise you it's all good." Zack replied tenderly, the warm breath which escaped his lips drifting past the blonde's ear and making him gasp softly in response.
"I ... it felt ... amazing. Thank you ... for letting it happen." Cloud stammered breathlessly, his face instantly heating up so that the unseen deep blush which rose on his fair skin could easily be felt through the material of the soldier's uniform.
"Hey, no need to get embarrassed, it's ok." Zack soothed, as he desperately tried to hold in the rush of excitement and delighted shouts of joy that the cadet's words had formed within him. "And you don't have to thank me for anything. It's something we both wanted, remember?"
"Yes, I do." The blonde mumbled, his stance shifting slightly as he settled himself into the loving and tender embrace they were now sharing.
The soldier couldn't help but smile even more as he felt the cadet relax against him, his face practically splitting in two by the grin which had formed across his handsome features at how things had turned out. At no point had he dared to hope that their evening would end like this, the happiness of just having Cloud let him in being enough to make his heart fill with pleasure, the strong muscle deep within his chest now beating out a joyous rhythm as he felt something within him click into place. And suddenly Zack could feel the connection which had formed between them become stronger, the emotional ties which had bound them from the start now more secure in their hold because of the honesty and trust which had been shared between them.
"Zack." The cadet whispered, the unexpected sound drawing the soldier away from his pleasant internal musings. "Am I different to you now, do you ... see me differently?" The blonde dared to ask, his voice so soft and cautious that if it wasn't for his enhanced hearing Zack doubted he would have heard the question at all.
"Yea, actually I do." He replied tenderly, his insides knotting slightly as he felt Cloud tense again just before he was able to explain properly. "I see someone who was brave enough to overcome their greatest fears and learn to trust again, a man who realised he was loved and could express that love in return." The soldier began to say, his words causing the blonde's heart to skip a beat and his next breath to catch in his throat as the reasons began to sink in. "I see a cadet that will one day be the greatest soldier ShinRa has ever seen because he was strong enough to follow his dreams and leave the past behind to build himself a better future." Zack stated calmly, his arms tightening the embrace as he heard the soft relieved stuttering breath being released.
"Do you ... really ... see me that way?" Cloud stammered, as he pressed himself in even closer to the soldier's body and let the material of the dark uniform begin to absorb his silent tears.
"Yes, I do." Zack replied lovingly, as he felt the revealing dampness against his chest and fulfilled the blonde's unspoken wish by holding him in an even tighter embrace. "What I feel for you is so much stronger than it was before and it has nothing to do with what just happened between us." The soldier confessed as he held the trembling cadet close. "It's because you let me in completely earlier and I know how much that took for you to do it, what it meant for you to be that honest and share yourself with me." He explained, the reasons slowly washing away the lingering fears which seemed to cling to Cloud as strongly as he now held on to Zack's protective embrace. "You wanted me to understand why and now I do, just like I also know who you were and how you got there." The soldier began, the tone he used becoming softer, tender and more caring as he spoken. "But it's time for you to let go of that now and see what you have become, to know who you are and work out where you want it to take you."
To this Cloud had no words to reply as fresh tears broke free and spilled gracefully down over his damp cheeks, the things which filled his head unable to form a coherent thought or even a voice as they struggled to rise past the emotional lump which now blocked his throat. Instead he looked up and found himself staring into Zack's wondrous eyes in silence, the things he wanted to say suddenly seeming unimportant as the looks being shared somehow declared it all for him. Within those amethyst gems there shone a love which he knew was reflected in his own sapphire orbs, the connected spheres glowing brightly like twin suns to reveal not only the pleasure which had been felt in their moment of passion but also the certainty of commitment which had accompanied it. Within the mirrored worlds of blue and violet there were no clouds of regret to darken the skies, no doubts or uncertainties to block out the light which filled their souls, as the sureness of each man's faith in the other allowed the emotions within their hearts to be seen clearly.
"I love you." Cloud whispered, the next words falling of his tongue before he could stop them. "Please don't ever leave me."
"I'd never leave you Spiky." Zack reassured tenderly, his hold on the cadet once again becoming a gentle embrace close to his body. "We're going to grow old together you and me, two grumbling old fools griping about the way life used to be when we were young." He joked with a deep rich chuckle, the sound drawing a small happier breath from the blonde in his arms. "And if the fates decide it's my time to go before that, then I'll find a way to stay with you, somehow." The soldier added reluctantly but as lovingly as he could, the truth of who he was and what that entailed very clear in his head.
"Just don't do anything stupid which could risk that." Cloud replied softly, his words almost an echo of Kunsels and hitting the soldier in the chest a little harder than he wanted to admit even to himself.
"I won't." Zack agreed quickly, his need to move them on from the sombre mood pushing him to change the topic back to more immediate things. "Now stop worrying about it and get yourself into bed." He ordered gently, the light-hearted tone helping to ease the remaining tension within Cloud's trembling frame. "You've still got classes tomorrow and I'll be damned if I'm going to explain to Angeal why you're so tired. Unless of course you want a speech about the birds and the bees and then I'd be more than happy to tell him." The soldier teased with a soft chuckle, his attempt at humour earning him a small sniffling snort of shocked amusement from the cadet.
"You wouldn't dare." Cloud challenged back hesitantly, his words being slightly muffled against a firm chest and causing delicious vibrations to travel through Zack's nervous system.
The soldier would have replied to the comment with more of a mischievous comeback if it weren't for the two factors which now gave him reason to pause, his mind thankfully having some control over his mouth before the banter between them was able to continue. First the little voice in his head was quick to make him very much aware of the nervous tone the blonde had spoken in, the slightly more confident reply still being tainted with uncertainty in case the joking threat had been in anyway serious. Then there was the other warning which flowed through him loud and clear, the one which said that he was once again responding to the closeness between them in a way which made his current problem even more uncomfortable and was certainly not appropriate so soon after their last encounter.
"No, I wouldn't." Zack agreed softly, as he shifted his hips back a little to put a bit more space between their lower bodies. "It's something I'd rather avoid for a while as well." He added, as a way of reminding the cadet that he wouldn't be the only one to get a mini lecture about what they were doing. "So do me a favour and get that cute behind of yours into bed, alright." The soldier pleaded with a faint whine, the blonde's shinning blue spheres looking up again just in time to see the trade mark puppy pout slip into place.
"Alright." The cadet breathed happily, his smaller frame relaxing within the arms that kept him safe and letting the happier things he felt rise to the surface so that they could be seen.
With one last quick chaste kiss Zack released Cloud's lithe body and spun it to face away from him, a gentle push against the blonde's back forcing him to begin the short walk towards their bedroom where he needed to go. Sighing in mock annoyance at the soldier's actions Cloud spared a glance over his shoulder to look back at the raven haired teen to roll his eyes, the fake put out look losing all of its effect due to the soft contented smile which graced his delicate features.
"Go." Zack urged with his own version of false exasperation as the blonde's progress faltered, his violet eyes twinkling with repressed laughter as he also failed to look serious.
The curve of Cloud's lips increased a little more at what he saw, the desire to say something else barely holding its place on the tip of his tongue as he realised that he was now indirectly keeping the soldier from sorting himself out. Blushing with embarrassment at the not so innocent thoughts which came with the small revelation the cadet quickly turned and walked away, his retreating figure quickly disappearing into the bedroom and leaving Zack to wonder what could have possibly entered Cloud's mind to produce such an entertaining reaction. With a faint chuckle the soldier decided that he'd let whatever it was go this time, his warnings about the cadet being tired in the morning now seeming to apply to his own weary state as he made his way into the bathroom.
It was closer to two in the morning by the time both soldier and cadet found themselves tucked up in bed where they belonged, their bodies curled up against one another's as they lay beneath the sheets together. Already the sleep which had been pushed aside earlier in favour of a more intimate experience had returned, the sandman quickly approaching and not only dusting them with his magic but in Zack's opinion burying him in the stuff. He stifled yet another yawn with the back of his hand and shifted a little more to get comfortable on the mattress, his arms instinctively going back around Cloud's body and pulling the smaller frame in against him.
As if sensing the slight change in position the cadet's limbs began to move as well, the semi-conscious blonde automatically hugging Zack's muscular arms as they held him firmly around the waist and somehow managing to entwine their legs together at the same time.
"You know you're pretty amazing Spiky." The soldier whispered softly, afraid that anything louder might disturb the blonde as he began to drift off.
"Why?" Cloud hesitated to ask, his voice thick and a little muffled as his foggy mind barely held onto reality.
"Because only a few months ago I could barely get you to smile at me and now ... now we're so much more than that." He replied fondly, his voice remaining low so as not to rouse Cloud any more than he already was.
"I'm different now and that's because of you." The cadet murmured faintly, as the promise of a deep and peaceful sleep slowly pulled him away from it all.
"Me?" The soldier questioned breathlessly, as once again the blonde revealed something he hadn't expected to hear that night.
"Yes you." Cloud confirmed happily, the affectionately spoken words being the last ones he would speak that night as he slipped away into a world of limitless dreams and endless possibilities.
"You've been through so much and I'm so proud of you." Zack whispered gently against the slumbering form in his arms, the cadet's soft breaths which ghosted over his bare arms stirring the protective feelings of love he felt deep inside. "And I promise to make you proud of me too, to show you that I'm worthy of your trust and feelings for me."
And with that the soldier placed one finally kiss against Cloud's temple and settled himself back amongst the sheets, strong arms never once letting go of the person they held dearly, as Zack drifted away into his own deep and peaceful sleep.