AN: A very short chapter here, this is because I didn't want to embellish it too much and basically most people know what happened at this point. I want to keep this bit short and sweet. I hope everyone is enjoying this story, despite my issues with uploading the chapters, spelling and grammatical errors and all the other rubbish.

Chapter Fifteen: Pride and Honour

Cloud watched intently, lips parted as Zack sat back on his knees and undid the clasps of his armour. He threw it to the floor and lifted his top over his head. That too was cast aside. His chest was muscular and wonderfully familiar as Cloud ran his hand over it, moving down to his belt and yanking him down to his lips again. Zack was gentle, whispering comforting nonsense into Cloud's ear as he slipped Cloud's top off. The memory of Sephiroth slowly faded to the back of his mind as Cloud focussed entirely on Zack. On his tongue, his lips, his body. Cloud's back arched a little as Zack's lips found their way down his chest to a nipple. His hand, now gloveless, slid up Cloud's thigh and slowly undid the zip of his fly. Cloud watched him, memorising every facial expression, every soft word, every inch of him. He licked his lips and sat up, wrapping his arms around Zack's neck and kissing him deeply. His hand rose and he placed his finger tips just beneath Zack's sky blue eyes. He looked into them for a long time. "I love you." he whispered, voice hoarse as he put every ounce of feeling into it he possibly could.

Zack smiled. "I know." He replied. "I love you too." He held Cloud close, burying his face in the crook of his neck as he pushed one hand into his hair and closed his eyes, he shivered a little as a chill ran down his spine. The moment almost felt like good bye. His heart ached and an undeniable sadness seeped into his very bones.

"Z-Zack?"

"Yeah?"

"Make love to me." Cloud's voice cracked a little as he untangled himself from Zack's embrace and lay back, he slid his trousers down his hips and continued to keep eye contact. "I-I need you." Zack let out a slow breath before pulling off his own trousers and once again moving in for a kiss. Zack moved slowly, one arm wrapped around Cloud's waist as he thrust his hips forward. He watched Cloud's face contort, his back arch and leaned down to breath in his scent.

I'll never leave you.

He gasped, body trembling as he ran soft kisses down Cloud's exposed throat. He closed his eyes and drank in the moment. Every sense heightened to painful proportions. Heat. Pleasure. He swore under his breath, his hand moving to Cloud's leg and lifting it up slightly to give himself better access. "Zack!" Cloud's voice rose and Zack smothered it with a kiss.

I love you.

A small frown creased his brow as he pulled away enough to adjust his position again. Cloud moaned, eyes fluttering closed, hands reaching for him. He made him cry out again, he tipped his head back as sweat trailed down his spine.

Smile for me. Always smile, Cloud.

He leaned down again, bracing himself on his hands, gripping a handful of the sheets as he thrust deeper, pressing his forehead against Cloud's and sharing his breath. The room filled with the soft sounds of heavy breathing, panting, groans and muttered whispers. He kissed Cloud's jaw, tasting his sweat and muttering his name over and over until it formed a nonsensical litany.

Please, let this last forever. I don't want to let him go.

Cloud wrapped both legs around his waist and drew him deeper. Their lips met again and their tongues tangled. Zack felt the tension rippling through Cloud's body and knew he was close. He let himself go completely, moving harder and faster and forcing Cloud's voice from him in ever increasing volume. Cloud's eyes finally opened, his lips were parted, swollen from so much kissing. They searched Zack's face and then went slightly blank, a soft hiss of air escaped his mouth and he trembled. Zack watched Cloud come undone, enjoying the sight and recording every second. As he gazed into Cloud's eyes he felt himself fall over the edge himself.

This is it. This is my dream. To be with him forever.

Finally Zack's arms gave way and he collapsed, panting and exhausted onto Cloud. He took a deep shaking breath and slowly pulled out, hearing Cloud mumble something sleepily. "Love you too." He replied, rolling over and pulling Cloud close to his chest, holding his head right next to his heart.

Cloud closed his eyes and fell asleep, wrapped up in Zack's arms, listening to his steady heartbeat. A smile curled his lips, Sephiroth, ShinRa, human experiments, all a distant nightmare. With Zack he was safe, he was loved and he was not alone.

XXX

Everything had gone horribly wrong. Zack stood in the door way to the Inn and stared out at the burning town, eyes wide and uncomprehending in his pale face. He saw people screaming, running back and forth in sheer panic. How had this happened? Why was it happening? What was he supposed to do? He swallowed and turned to find a collapsed infantry soldier on the floor, groaning a little. So he was still alive. He didn't have time to check his wounds. He turned towards the steps leading to the path into the mountain and there he was, shrouded in flame, silver hair shining red and gold. A smile curved his mouth, but it was far from friendly, his sword dripped blood and he spoke...

"Now is the time for the reunion."

Zack had no idea what that meant but he wasn't about to just let Sephiroth get away with this...the slaughter of innocents. This was not what SOLDIER honour was about. This was not supposed to be happening. It was cruel, too cruel. He flew after Sephiroth, panic and terror mingling with his anger. His feet pounded the path before him, his thoughts utterly focussed on Sephiroth.

XXX

"Mother let's take this planet back together. I've thought of a very good plan. Let's go to the Promised Land together. Mother."

"Sephiroth! Why did you kill the villagers? Why did you hurt Tifa? Answer me Sephiroth!" He was stood behind the general, shouting to gain his attention, demanding answers to the tragedy of flame and smoke.

"Ha ha ha. Mother those people have shown up again. With mother's strength and knowledge she should have been this planet's ruler. But those people...those people who took everything. The planet was taken from mother wasn't it? But, don't be sad anymore mother. Let's go together..." Sephiroth pulled the front of the monstrosity free, bringing with it spurts of liquid. "Finally we meet mother..." He gazed upon the creature he had been born from, a vaguely humanoid female with strange silvery-blue skin and a headdress covering her silver hair. The voice in his head laughed with pure, unadulterated joy. He had done what he had been born for, he had taken possession of his new toy in the dank basement of ShinRa mansion, the place it had all begun. He now stood on the precipice of his...no, his mother's, ultimate goal.

Come, my son.

"Sephiroth! What's gotten into you?! Sephiroth I trusted you..." Zack shouted again, it was becoming more and more difficult to contain the fury rushing through his veins. "No...You're no longer the Sephiroth I once knew."

"I am the chosen one, the chosen one to rule over this planet." Slowly Sephiroth turned to face his enemy, this pathetic, weak little human. What chance did he have against strength such as his? Together once again with his Mother, he was unstoppable.

XXX

Cloud ran up the steps to the reactor, once he got there he had no idea what he would do but he was angry. Furious. His town. His people. His mother. Tifa. Everyone he had ever known had been hurt or killed. Sephiroth had ripped everything from him and sent it crashing down around his ears, in fire and heat and smoke and choking, cloying death. Everything gone. Everything. His shattered soul screamed for revenge, his heart pounded in his ears until it obliterated everything, as he drew closer up the metal stairs he could hear fighting within. Zack. No. He couldn't take that from him.

Not Zack. Please, not Zack.

Panic threatened to overwhelm him but a soft voice laughed at him and his anger returned, overpowering all other emotion, overpowering the voice. He ran. Zack came flying out of the room, he fell down the stairs and crashed into one of the strange pods. He lay there, head back, gasping, struggling for breath. Cloud ran past him, grabbing the incredibly heavy buster sword from where it stood by the door, he charged without thought and used his anger to drive his strength. The blade pierced Sephiroth like a hot knife through butter. Blood stained the silver hair, the glass container he was stood before cracked and leaked and Cloud yanked the sword back out. He turned and fled, crashing down the stairs as he went to check Tifa first, he knew Zack was alive, he could hear him breathing. She seemed unconscious, her eyes closed, her hair falling in front of her face which was twisted in pain. He hadn't been there, he should have saved her. Guilt broke through his anger, a sharp stab of ice that took his breath away. Gently, almost lovingly he set her aside, out of the way as Sephiroth stumbled out of the room, gripping something in his hand and the anger was back.

He heard Zack urge him to finish it, he took up the sword once again. It was oddly light in his hand, despite its incredible length. He ran at his enemy again, screaming a name as he went. Anger. Pain. Hate. Hate. Hate. He wanted to kill him. He wanted to see the blood staining the steel of his sword, he wanted to scream and cry and end everything here and now. For Tifa. For his mother. For the town. For Zack.

He barely noticed the agony searing his chest as a slither of pure ice invaded his body. He was choking on coppery blood, he could feel it soaking into his clothes. The pain was bright, exquisite in it's vibrancy. He was alive. Alive and pumping crimson everywhere. And Sephiroth's face was cruel, it was smirking and beautiful and he wanted to be kissed again but no...he wanted to end it. He had to. For Tifa. For his mother. But most of all for Zack.

Do you see? You need to find your reason for living; find it and fight for it.

His hands closed around the cold metal, the blade pierced through his gloves, leaving matching wounds over both palms and he tightened his grip. He gritted his teeth, red covered them as he used his weight to regain the floor. Tears of pain, of rage and betrayal all sprung to his eyes and then...

"Impossible." Sephiroth gazed at him in surprise, eyes wide and uncomprehending as he was hoisted into the air by the tiny boy. Cloud's eyes burned brightly in his face but remained their bright blue. Cloud dredged up the very last of his waning strength, he threw Sephiroth into the side of the reactor. Bursts of bright light. The sound of smashing metal and then silence. Pulling the sword out sent another wave of agony flaring through his body, his nerves tingled and he could feel himself losing the battle to stay on his feet. He gasped in a deep breath and moved towards the exit of the strange room, barely even listening as the voice laughed in his head. He finally collapsed and slid down the stairs, each thud barely felt as darkness scattered his mind to the four winds. His vision blurred and he vaguely saw Zack through the haze. He reached for him, arm rising only to fall back to his side as conciousness fled. The last thing he heard was Zack's voice, a soft comfort as pain and anger drained away.

You did good, Cloud.