Chapter 3: Project O
Cloud stared at the door that led up towards the 68th floor where the SOLDIER's apartments were. He had been here for almost 20 minutes now, just staring at scanner for the keycard he knew he didn't have. To be fair, he had tried calling him. He had texted him. Hell, he had even had Reno try calling. This was after, of course, he had given his friend an earful about leaving him down in the slums for one of the worst nights of his life just for some strange.
Zack had left him there after Cloud had been acting like an actual crazy person. He had left him in the hotel room as Cloud proceeded to get himself off so many times that night he felt like he might die from dehydration, and yet it still didn't seem like enough. He had woken up sober and much more within his right mind, but that didn't stop the damage that he had done.
He had gotten drunk and threw himself at Zack, one of his only friends. He had embarrassed himself, and probably ruined his chances of ever getting into SOLDIER with whatever he had said to Sephiroth. He tried to remember what they had talked about after the attack, but all he could recall was those strange glowing eyes staring into his, and how he now knew the way his hair smelled.
He remembered the way Zack's hair smelt too. He remembered everything about the raven haired SOLDIER. In the midst of his drunken debauchery of himself, Cloud had pictured Zack to be the one between his legs, recalling every minute detail in his fantasies as he cried for him in that hotel room. He yowled like a cat in heat for the one he wanted, but Zack didn't come back. He woke up the next morning to find a new keycard had been dropped off at the hotel desk with all of his credentials.
That was a week ago. Zack wouldn't take his calls. Cloud couldn't find him in any of the training halls. He was never in the cafeteria. He could be on a mission he supposed, but somehow he knew that wasn't true either. It was like he could feel him. He rubbed at his stomach as a cramp went through it and he longed to just be able to explain himself to him. To apologize for being drunk and ruining what was between them. There was just something wrong with him. There was something happening to him, and he needed someone to talk to about it.
"Hey Dollface, you going to block the door all night?" a voice spoke from behind him, and Cloud flinched as he realized he had zoned out so badly he had let someone sneak up on him. He spun in his Shinra blues to face the SOLDIER, stumbling into an apologetic salute.
"Sorry sir," Cloud apologized to the auburn haired man who was clad in a dark red leather. He had seen him around before when he had been up to Zack's apartment. Genesis he thought.
"Oh, you don't have to be sorry about anything," Genesis assured him, and Cloud swallowed at the way his eyes roamed him up and down. "I know who you are," he murmured, whistling. "The floor is all a stir about you."
Cloud's eyebrows knitted in confusion. "What are you talking about?" he questioned the SOLDIER, forgetting his station as he shifted in his confusion.
"Well I suppose not the entire floor, but I did get a chance to see Sephiroth's secret project." The words only furthered his confusion as he watched Genesis warily, taking a step back as he didn't trust this man.
"Do you always speak in riddles?" he questioned.
"No," Genesis corrected. "Most of the time it's poetry." Cloud's eyes widened in realization as he remembered Zack walking him to the hotel, quoting LOVELESS to him as he squeezed his hand.
"My friend, do you fly away now? To a world that abhors you and I?" Cloud quoted softly, and he saw a fire spark behind Genesis' glowing eyes.
"All that awaits you is a somber morrow. No matter where the winds may blow/." Genesis continued, grinning from ear to ear. "Not just pretty face then," he stepped closer. "And you are pretty." Cloud stepped back again, trying not to show fear as this man made him nervous.
"Do you know where Zack is?" Genesis arched a finely shaped brow at that as he tilted his head.
"Not Sephiroth?" he questioned. "That's very interesting."
"Why would I be looking for Sephiroth?" Cloud questioned right back, confused.
"Who isn't in some way?" Genesis breathed dreamily, pulling out his keycard. "I shouldn't be doing this, but what the hell? I'm bored, and this poses the possibility of some fun."
Cloud eyed him warily as he said that, unlocking the door as it slid open to the stairway. "Why would you get in trouble? Zack has had me up there before."
Genesis grinned lecherously at that. "Has he?" the SOLDIER questioned suggestively, and Cloud blushed as he realized what he had said.
"It's not like that!" Cloud defended.
"It's exactly like that," Genesis assured him. "Here...let me show you." He motioned for him to walk through the door, and Cloud had a bad feeling about whatever was making Genesis look so smug, but this might be his only opportunity to get up to Zack.
"We're just friends," he argued as they headed up the stairs, glaring back at Genesis as the other snickered. "What did you mean when you said Sephiroth's secret project?"
"Why?" Genesis asked mockingly. "Do you think a cadet has the clearance to hear any of Shinra's secrets?" He laughed offhandedly. "Your mediocrity is distasteful."
"I'm trying to be a SOLDIER!" Cloud defended.
"Hmm," Genesis hummed. "Not trying very hard are you, or are you going for a different approach?" he questioned as they climbed.
"What do you mean?" Cloud asked in front of the door way as Genesis seemed to loom over him.
The SOLDIER grinned almost cruelly down at him. "Well, if you can't beat em...beat em, right? Is it just Zack, or Sephiroth too? I saw your file on his desk."
A coldness spread through Cloud at those words as he stared up into amber glowing eyes. "Why would General Sephiroth have my file?"
Genesis arched a brow in thought. "Why indeed?" he questioned, before walking passed him. "Zack's apartment is the last door on the left, but I'm positive you already knew that." Genesis waved behind him, slipping into the first door on the right.
Cloud glanced around as he tried to digest everything Genesis had been hinting at. One thing was clear, he definitely thought him and Zack were sleeping together. Did everyone think that? No, they were friends, and Cloud had been stupid the other night, but he refused to believe he had tainted things so badly. As for the thing with Sephiroth, he couldn't even consider why he had his folder on his desk without considering his own safety. Something Sephiroth had asked him in his drunken stupor. … "What are you?" Just another of the million reasons he needed Zack. He was scared about what was happening to him, and Zack could help. He always helped.
That's why even though he knew Zack didn't want to see him right now, he had to go to him anyways. He needed him. He just needed to see that he was okay, and then he would leave. It was one of the more innocent lies he told himself lately. His feet carried him down the hallway before he could stop himself, knocking on Zack's door as he tried not to be resentful at the penthouse they were given when he was stuffed in a room with other cadets four deep.
He shifted in nervousness as the door wasn't opened right away, hearing no movement as he knocked again. Was he sleeping? Was he sick? He was about ready to leave before someone saw him up here when he heard the lock turn, and the door slowly opened.
"Zack…" Cloud said a little breathlessly. In part because Zack looked awful. His skin was flushed and sweaty, his hair was greasy and sticking up on all ends, he didn't look like he had showered in days as he rubbed at his blood shot eyes. The second reason was because Zack looked incredible. He was clothed only in loose fitting basketball shorts hanging low on his hips, which revealed a perfect v line leading up to toned abs. His eyes, bloodshot though they may be were glowing an almost electric violet as he practically clutched at the door frame when he saw him on the other side.
"What are you doing here, Spike?" Zack asked, sounding almost pained as he swallowed hard. "You need to go, okay? You need…"
Cloud was already pushing passed him, concern etched on his face. "You look terrible," he grabbed Zack's hand. "Come on, I'll make you soup or something."
"Soup?" The SOLDIER questioned in confusion as he was pulled into the apartment. "I'm serious, Cloud. You can't be here right now." Cloud ignored the plea, even though the rejection pained him as he glanced around the apartment, mouth hanging slightly open.
It looked like a tornado had come through. Zack normally lived in a well kept bros' den full of leather and video games. The couch was ripped to shreds, the tv was tipped over, the glass kitchen table was shattered into a thousand tempered glass pebbles.
Cloud spun to face Zack who looked very much like he was trying not to vomit as he covered his nose and mouth. "Are you okay? Is this because of what happened?" Cloud stepped closer as the SOLDIER stepped away as if terrified. "Zack, I'm sorry."
Zack's eyes knitted at the statement, reluctantly removing his hand from his mouth. "Why are you apologizing?" he managed.
The blond motioned around. "Did I do this?" he didn't understand it all, but he remembered bits and pieces from that night. "Did I make you like this?"
Zack put his hand over his mouth again, before realizing what he was doing and lowering it slowly as he seemed to be struggling to understand the question. "I did this to myself," he assured him, eyes glazed, and Cloud saw how his torso was dripping with sweat. "I signed the contract, and I let them turn me into a monster."
"You're not a monster!" Cloud said in frustration as he saw the self hate on Zack's face. "Whatever is happening to you is happening to me too, and I never signed a contract!"
Zack's eyes went far away at that as he seemed to consider it. "What's happening to me... I heard you in that room. I heard you crying out for me...begging for me, and do you know what I did Cloud?"
Shame and arousal swirled in his stomach as the cramps started again, and he saw as they did Zack once more covered his mouth. It was him. It was the way he smelled. He had heard how much he wanted him, and he was this disgusted over it. "What did you do?" Cloud asked softly, because Zack seemed to be waiting for an answer.
"I went to Honey Bee Inn, and I fucked anyone I could get my hands on until I passed out, and then I woke up, and I did it all over again." Zack told him as Cloud's face hardened into a line of pain. "And I kept finding people, but it never helped. It never stopped the wanting. Nothing ever stops the wanting."
Cloud wanted to say a million things. He wanted to tell Zack he was a bastard for going to others. He wanted to comfort him for the obvious pain he was in. He wanted to run away from this entire situation and never look back. He wanted to scream at how unfair it was that Shinra had done this to him. Instead he said. "You stink. Why don't I run you a bath?"
"A bath?" Zack asked incredulously, laughing. "Did you hear what I said, Spike? Did you hear about how I fucked until my dick was so raw it was bleeding? Did you hear about what I really am?"
His head fell at the reminder. "I heard," he managed, choking on his hurt as he headed back towards the bathroom.
"No!" Zack demanded, stalking forward and grabbing his forearm to spin him around. "You. Need. To. Go."
Cloud spun on him then, hurt being replaced by anger. "Why? So you can go call some more hookers to screw until your dick is bloody?" he yelled at him. "I'm trying to help you!"
"You're not helping!" Zack yelled right back, and Cloud flinched as he had never heard him raise his voice before. "You caused this! Whatever you are...it's doing this to me. I want you so. Badly." Zack breathed out in pain. "All I can think of is sinking my teeth into you as I knot you. I don't even know what that means!" Zack yelled in frustration. "Why would I want to bite you? I'm not an animal, and yet…" his nails dug into his arms as he tried to explain himself. "I'm acting like a rabid wolf."
"Screw you Zack!" he yelled at the frustrated SOLDIER who had never been anything but kind to him. "I'm not leaving," Cloud pointed to the bathroom. "Go." he said sternly. "I did this to you, and so I'm going to help you, and then if you never want to speak to me again you don't have to."
Zack glowered at him from the hallway, obviously debating with himself how set he was on arguing. He gave a sigh, resigning himself to his fate as he stalked forward and passed him towards the bathroom. Cloud gave a slight smile as he heard the water begin to run in the tub.
Cloud waited outside the room until he heard a splash in the tub, and then he steeled his nerves and walked into the room. The spittle in his mouth dried at the sight of Zack in the tub, his toned wet body was enough to make a slight whine leave his throat as he exhaled his frustration.
"Listen…" he managed as he leaned against the doorway, watching the way Zack's eyes were slammed shut as he tried to get his body to stop trembling. "We both know I did this. I don't know why, and I don't know what's happening, but I think I know why it's happening to you."
The SOLDIER gripped the sides of the tub tight, taking a deep breath before violet eyes looked up at him. "Because I'm weak?"
Cloud shook his head. "No, Zack you're the strongest person I know. I know how badly you're hurting right now, and yet you're still talking to me."
Zack snorted. "Yeah, well you didn't give me much of a choice."
The blond smiled. "Yeah, well you're doing it all the same." Cloud stepped closer, ignoring the warning glare from Zack as he sunk down to his knees behind the clawed tub. "You didn't need to go to those girls."
"Who said they were girls?" Zack questioned, causing Cloud to blush as their eyes locked. "You're pushing it being this close."
"You're right," Cloud managed, trying to get over the fact that Zack had been screwing other men. For some reason it felt worse. "I'm going to get too wet." He slipped off his uniform jacket, throwing it across the room as he kneeled in just a white t-shirt and blue trousers. "I don't want you to sleep with other men."
The SOLDIER didn't say anything for awhile, leaning back into the steaming bath. "Why?" He finally asked. "What does it matter who I sleep with?" Bleary violet out turned towards him slowly, as if searching for something on his face.
Cloud's heart was pounding in his chest as he met those eyes, aching from the way Zack was hurting. All because of him. He reached out hesitantly, running his hands through the damp spikes. "You didn't have to go that night in the hotel. You know I didn't want you to go." He knitted his eyebrows, trying to express what he was feeling. "I would have let you...I wanted you to."
Zack shuddered in the tub, looking sick again as he curled up into himself. "Cloud please...I don't have much control right now, and I won't touch you like this."
He shook his head in denial as he watched the struggle on his friend's face. Zack thought he was a monster. He thought this was his doing, but they were the same. "Why wouldn't I want to touch you like this?" Cloud was infatuated with him. He always had been. He stood up, not bothering to remove the rest of his clothes as he swung his legs over the side, sliding into the water as it splashed all over the floor as he pulled Zack to his lips.
Pleasure exploded under his skin as he found those lips, not knowing what made him so bold as he could only go on instincts as he cupped Zack's cheeks, drawing him close as he begged him not to hate himself. He tried to pour how much he wanted this into the kiss, moaning as he pressed against that hard warm flesh that seemed flushed with arousal.
The water sloshed all over the floor as Zack surged forward, grabbing at Cloud to get his hands underneath him. The blond moaned as that same overwhelming feeling of want swept through him, his stomach cramping with need as his cock hardened the second he felt those hands on him. Zack lifted him up into his arms as he stood up in the tub, Cloud not hesitating in wrapping his legs around the toned waste as Zack stumbled out of the bathtub, their lips locked the entire time as the SOLDIER's tongue pushed into his mouth.
Cloud grunted as he was slammed into the wall, Zack moaning with need as he pulled back to look at him. His eyes had flooded that same glowing violet as he watched him, as if studying his prey as hands traveled down his body. "Why don't you know what's good for you?"
Blue eyes scanned those strange glowing ones, and if he had been more coherent he would have been asking what was happening to them both. He couldn't manage though, not when Zack was looking at him like that. "You're good for me." He cupped his face as Zack turned slightly to kiss his wrist. "Look what I did to you though." Why had he come here? Why had he forced his way into the bath when Zack had begged him to leave?
Zack didn't reply, burying his face instead into Cloud's soaked chest, inhaling his scent as he shuddered against him, hands kneading into his buttocks as he held him tight. He seemed to be warring with himself. ...Warring with his own self control.
They ripped away from the wall as Zack kissed him once again, and Cloud buried his hands in those wet spikes as he clung to the SOLDIER, moaning out his wants as he anticipated being thrown on the bed.
Instead a door was ripped open behind him, and he was dropped unceremoniously out into the hall. Cloud grunted in pain as he turned betrayed eyes up towards the other, stomach turning with the refusal as he didn't understand.
Zack's arms were spread, gripping the door frame as his shoulders shook. Cloud's eyes widened when he saw how Zack was practically panting, his teeth sharp and drawn. "Go home. I promise we'll talk when I'm better. I promise I'll help you when I'm better." The SOLDIER was staring down at him in morose. "I know you're hurting Spike, and I want to help you...but I'm not going to do anything now but hurt you. So please...please just go back to your room."
Cloud opened his mouth to respond, but the door shut before he could, slamming in his face and leaving him soaked to the bone out in the hallway. The snickering coming from down the hallway made him flinch, and he turned to see Genesis, covering his mouth with a gloved hand as his snickering turned into all out cackles.
He hid his face in shame, angry tears springing to his eyes as he pushed himself up, stomping down the hall to where the other was standing. "Do you think this is funny!?" he demanded, angry tears spilling down his cheeks as insanity consumed reason and he reached out to slap the other to get that snickering to stop.
Genesis caught the hand, still grinning as he pulled the other close and into his apartment. Cloud struggled against him, shoving him away as he warily pulled back. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Saving you from future embarrassment?" he suggested, amusement still evident in his tone. "You must have really pissed him off. That apartment has been a revolving door for the last week." He eyed him. "You that bad in bed?"
"You always this big of an asshole?" Cloud asked right back, beyond embarrassed as he stood there shaking and dripping all over Genesis' living room.
Genesis shrugged as he thought about. "Probably," he agreed. "I'll get you some dry clothes. You're shaking like a leaf." He headed back towards his bedroom, and Cloud wiped furiously at his eyes as rejection and shame ate at him. What was wrong with him? Should he not have come? Had he pushed himself on Zack?
"Don't be a baby," Genesis murmured, still grinning as he handed over the clothes. "Bathroom is down the hall. There's fresh towels and the like."
Cloud reached out to take the clothes, eyes blurry from tears as he watched him. "Why are you helping me?" He watched him in suspicion, drowning too much in self loathing to be able to act like the Shinra soldier he was supposed to be.
Genesis just shrugged. "Told you, I'm bored. This place is tedious. You'll find that out." He pointed behind Cloud's shoulder. "Go. You're ruining my carpet."
He glanced down at the wet stain he had left. "I'm sorry," he managed, warm tears pouring down his face. "I just wanted to help him."
An exasperated sigh filled the room as Genesis shook his head. "God you're like a kicked puppy." He mumbled to himself about strays before heading into the kitchen and grabbing for two glasses off the bar. "Go change before I have to strip you."
He finally did what he was told, not wanting to get thrown out of two apartments in a row as he went to the bathroom. He was trembling as he slowly removed the wet clothing, watching as it landed in a wet slop on the tiled floor.
The SOLDIER had given him black sweatpants and a black t-shirt. Genesis was thin, but still a bit more bulky than him. That became apparent as he pulled the clothing over his skinny frame, running his hands through his damp hair to fix his spikes. He wiped at his eyes, not wanting to look in the mirror for fear of seeing what a pathetic specimen he made. He balled up his clothing, sticking it in the hamper as he figured if he never saw the uniform again the worst they could do was kick him out of Shinra and put him out of his misery.
Cloud padded across the carpet as Genesis was still in the kitchen nursing a glass of amber liquid. When he saw that he was changed he slid the second glass close. "Go ahead. It'll make you feel better."
"I doubt that," Cloud murmured, remembering that alcohol was what had gotten him into this mess in the first place.
Genesis sighed as he took another sip. "Always works for me." He swallowed, watching him as Cloud picked up the glass for a drink. "Do you know what's happening with Fair right now?"
"He's…" Cloud started right away, before realizing that he had no idea what was going on with Zack. His arousal was obviously heightened as his own was, but he had no idea why. The beast in his blood? How could that even be possible? "I don't know," he admitted with annoyance.
The auburn haired SOLDIER seemed to be debating with himself on what he should say. "They warn us about side effects when we go through the procedure. One of the side effects they label as an 'overactive libido'" Genesis said in air quotes, laughing snidely to himself as he poured another glass. "What they really meant was that when something sets you off you lose your fucking mind for a few weeks."
"Weeks?" Cloud asked with shock, not able to imagine Zack suffering like that any further.
Genesis hummed the agreement in his throat. "I've only ever seen it happen once besides with Fair. They induced it as a punishment." A hand tightened around the glass. "The kid fell in love. Was going to get married and leave Shinra." Genesis' eyes were far away. "They induced the rut as they called it, and they made us all watch that kid rip the girl he loved apart." his voice was haunted with disgust. "It didn't faze him. They just gave him over to warm body after warm body until his wants were sated, as if they were doing him a favor."
Cloud felt sick as all he could picture was Zack down in the slums, not able to help himself at Honey Bee Inn as he fucked himself bloody. "What happened to him?" He found himself asking even though he knew he didn't want to really know.
"He came out of his stupor eventually," Genesis murmured with distaste, before downing the glass. "He saw he had ripped apart his girlfriend, and he shot himself in the face."
Glassy blue eyes looked up toward Genesis in shock. "Why is it happening to Zack?"
Genesis shrugged. "Dunno. They always referred to it as a punishment, but I saw the name on the syringe they stuck into his neck. Project O." he answered, knitting his brows. "I don't know why I'm telling you all of this. They'd probably kill me if they knew...or I suppose they'd try at least."
"Why isn't he under observation, or in the hospital?" Cloud questioned, in physical pain now as he could practically sense the way Zack must be hurting.
Amber eyes narrowed at the question. "Do you honestly think we wouldn't protect him from that? That we would let them find out?"
"You let me up here!" Cloud accused.
"Are you going to tell them?" Genesis asked questioningly, false surprise in his tone.
"Of course not!" Cloud practically growled.
Genesis' eyes were narrowed and mocking as he leaned across the counter. "Than go do something about it."
Cloud watched Genesis, finally understanding what the other was trying to do as he gave a slight nod. "Thanks for the clothes." This was met with a smirk as an eyebrow arched in a dismissed good-bye as Cloud turned and left.
He padded barefoot back towards Zack's door, reaching out and smiling as it was unlocked. He pushed it open softly, not wanting to risk getting thrown out again as he stepped into the disaster that was Zack's apartment.
Following the wet trail on the floor back to the bedroom, Cloud's chest ached at seeing Zack with his head buried in the mattress, writhing in pain on the bed as he clutched at his head as if that would make his suffering stop.
Cloud had done this. Whatever smell they had been talking about...whatever substance was between his legs...it had done this.
Not wanting to risk asking permission and getting thrown back out of the room again, Cloud crawled up onto the bed and behind the writhing body.
Zack actually sobbed as Cloud's hands slid up his burning hot back. "Spike…" he managed, his voice whining out in horror. "I told you to leave. I told you I'd hurt you."
"Sshhhh…" Cloud cooed, rubbing at the burning skin as he shifted in the bed so that he was laying completely behind him, arm wrapping around the other's chest and pulling him close. "You would never hurt me," he breathed into his ear.
"It hurts. I want you so bad it hurts." Zack gasped out, but leaned back into his arms. Cloud squeezed tighter as the other shook, free hand reaching up to card through dark spikes.
"I want you," Cloud managed. "When you get better. It'll be perfect, and you won't hurt me," he assured him. "But now you just need to relax. I'm here...I'm not going to leave you."
"It's another lie. My mind keeps lying to me." Cloud swore he would see whatever scientist had done this to Zack pay. He would shoot the bastard up with whatever Project O was, and let him go through all of this.
"I'm right here," he cooed. "Not going anywhere. You just need sleep." He let instincts take over as he squeezed him tight. "Alpha...sleep…." he used that keening voice he had used in the hotel room, feeling Zack shudder against him, before his spine finally began to relax.
"Cloud…" Zack managed, sounding almost drugged as he leaned back against him.
"That's it," Cloud praised, stroking his hair softly. "Just relax...it's over. It's over now...and we'll get through this." Zack's eyes were shut as his panting began to even out. "My Alpha…" he managed from instinct, fighting his own arousal for comfort as he pulled the blanket over both of them. "Just sleep...we'll figure it out in the morning, okay?" he asked, and Zack made a nonsensical sound low in his throat. "Just sleep." He didn't know if he was commanding himself or Zack that time, but the result was the same as he drifted off, fingers still splayed through the spikes with the SOLDIER nestled in his arms. They would figure it out together.
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