Chapter 38: The Ask

Cloud stretched, arching his back as his fingers flexed above him while sleep slowly left him. He felt so warm as he fought through the haze that was the massive hangover he knew he was going to have. He smiled to himself, turning onto his side as he nestled into the hard chest he knew would be waiting for him.

Married.

They were married.

Cloud and Zack had celebrated with their friends until the moment the plied food and drinks had gone too much to their heads to keep their hands off each other. Tifa had shown them down towards the secret room below the pinball machine, and they had proceeded to rip each other's clothes off. Being frantic for each other wasn't anything new. In fact, that was the one constant in their six year long relationship, but this was the first time in five years that they had been allowed to wake up together.

It was still hard to wrap his mind around. They were out of that horrible place, and Sephiroth was gone. They'd be leaving for their new life soon, and waking up together would never be a worry again. Fingers trailed down his back, and he practically purred at the feeling as he snuggled even closer.

"Good morning," he breathed, lips pressing to Zack's peck as his eyes finally opened, glancing up to see Zack tiredly rubbing his own.

"Morning, Spike," Zack yawned, hand traveling up his spine, fisting in his hair instead as he pulled him up to meet his mouth. Cloud's heart pounded the moment their lips met, opening up lazily for his mate as he pulsed love and comfort down the bond while his arms wrapped around Zack's neck.

He tried to gauge the level of soreness through his body as they kissed, remembering quite clearly all four rounds they had gone the night before. It didn't matter. Pain was irrelevant when he felt this happy and insatiable. Cloud pulled back enough to crawl up onto the alpha's lap, groaning as his thighs brushed Zack's erection. "Can we have morning sex?" he requested, hands trailing up Zack's chest as his thumbs swirled around each nipple. "Or did I tire you out too much last night?"

Zack's brows arched in question, that brilliant smile breaking out across his features and making him look even more gorgeous than he already was. "Are you questioning my stamina?"

Cloud felt happiness bloom across his own face as he spread his legs to drag the erection between his spread legs. "I didn't let you get a lot of sleep. Could understand if my poor overworked alpha needed a break."

Violet spread across Zack's scleras, and Cloud watched the way he cracked his jaw before hands came to his hips to drag him across his cock yet again, thrusting between his cheeks as Cloud felt his arousal pour down his thighs. "Do you remember when we first got together?" Zack asked lowly, one hand going down his lower back to thrust two fingers inside of him. "You'd get so soaking wet that I didn't even need to prep you." Cloud moaned as those digits spread inside of him, and his hand pushed down between their bodies to begin to pump his mate's sizable cock. "We'd fuck from the time I got back to that hotel to the time I had to leave the next morning." Cloud panted, burying his face in Zack's neck as those fingers pistoned inside him, squelching as they were met with the dripping wetness that was his need for his mate. "You'd beg so prettily, and I could never ever deny you a thing."

"Fuck me," Cloud obliged in a beg, kissing at Zack's mating mark as he moved his hips back to thrust on those fingers. "I'm ready…I'm so wet…" A growl vibrated through Zack's chest, causing even more slick to wetten his thighs as he pushed himself up. "Can I do it?"

"You want to ride my cock, Spike?" Zack questioned dirtily, removing his fingers as he brought them to his own mouth. Cloud moaned lewdly at the sight of Zack sucking the arousal from his fingers, nails digging into his mate's chest as he nodded. Zack pulled those fingers from his mouth, trailing the wet appendages down Cloud's forehead and nose, thrusting into his mouth before dragging down his lower lip. "Don't just nod your head at me. You want me to fuck you? Ask me nicely."

Cloud's breath hitched as his cock ached in need as he stretched his hand to grip both his and Zack's. He tried to ignore how much this dirty talk reminded him of the way Sephiroth would always make him beg, pushing down any thoughts of comparison as he did his best to play along in the game. "Please let me fuck myself on your cock." He sucked as those fingers pushed back into his mouth, tongue wrapping around the digits as he pumped them quicker.

"You're good with that tongue." Zack withdrew his fingers, gripping for blond spikes as he twisted Cloud's head to the side. "I want to cum down your throat first." He reached down between them, ripping Cloud's hand away as he shoved his head down. "It'll go in easier that way."

"Zack…" Cloud pleaded, shifting down in the bed as he was shoved, stabilizing himself on either side of his mate's hips. "I'm so wet…can't we just…"

"Weren't you the one questioning my stamina?" Zack asked, and Cloud's eyes locked on the precum leaking down his tip. "Restrain yourself and show me how well you can use your mouth."

Cloud nodded, not able to deny his alpha anything as he kissed his way down his stomach, moaning at the sizable organ he wrapped his hand around before he leaned down to take him into his mouth.

He pulled up, kissing his way along the shaft as his tongue lapped along him, locked with Zack's now glowing eyes. He took him back into his mouth, the head pressing at his cheek as he lapped at the sensitive vein, tonguing at the tip before shifting the angle to take him all the way down his throat. He worked him in the way that he knew drove Zack insane, moaning around him as precum poured onto his tongue.

Zack groaned, both hands now in his spikes as he thrust his hips up as he hit the back of Cloud's throat. "You're so fucking good at this." Cloud struggled to relax his throat as hips thrust up to push down it as he buried his nose in Zack's groin, inhaling deep to capture his scent. "So perfect…My perfect omega." Zack's leg shifted, sliding up along the mess between Cloud's thighs. "How close are you, baby? You going to cum the moment I push inside you?"

Cloud's throat vibrated around Zack in a moan, nodding while wrapped around him as he felt no need to cover how far gone he was. He moved faster, knowing Zack was close as well as they kept their eyes locked. Zack moved his hips up a few more times, throwing his head back into the mess of pillows and blankets they had been allotted before warmth shot into Cloud's mouth and he struggled to swallow every drop.

He gasped as he pulled up, wiping with the back of his hand as he panted from the effort. "Zack…now." His hand came down to that spit soaked cock, pumping the swollen organ back to full hardness as he crawled back up to his lap. "Now," he demanded, no longer asking for permission as he positioned the alpha at his sopping wet entrance as he sunk down before his mate even had the chance to recover.

The alpha let out a hiss of pain as Cloud sunk down to the hilt, and he knew he must be sensitive from his orgasm, but he couldn't wait. Cloud leaned back, moving his lithe body up and down on that swollen organ, reaching down to grip his own cock to prevent his orgasm as the tip began to sputter and threatened to push him all the way over the edge.

Zack slapped Cloud's hand away, and he screamed without the stoppage, entrance clenching as those hips pushed up deep into his stomach. He came hard, splashing between them as his entrance convulsed, releasing from both sides as his mate didn't give him an inch, hands coming to his hips as he moved him the way through his orgasm as he began to truly drag their bodies together.

"Wait…" Cloud managed, entire body thrumming with sensitivity as he pressed on Zack's chest, rearranging the alpha inside of him before he slowly began to move his hips on top of him. "You're going to pierce my stomach," he moaned, hands coming to feel the mass inside him, breath hitching in his chest at the look of sheer stricken panic that had covered Zack's face. "Babe?" Realization hit him as his words washed back over him. His fingers dug into his own flesh, directly over the scar of his stomach. "Don't think about it," he begged his mate. "Zack please just…just fuck me."

Cloud let out an 'oof' as he was flipped around. Zack slammed him onto his back, grabbing for his thighs as he laid them over his shoulders, using the new angle to push back into the hilt and force Cloud's legs up over his head. Drool leaked from the corner of his mouth at the absolute deep feeling, wrapping his arms around Zack's neck as the other began to move inside of him.

Pleasure coursed through every inch of his body as his back was bent at a further and further angle with every thrust, the other hitting deep inside of him as wanton moans and begs escaped his stuttering mouth. "Zack…" he begged, ripping for the back of his neck. "Kiss me….I want…I want…"

He ripped at his mate, yanking him to his mouth as they kissed sloppily, tongues sliding together as Zack pounded over and over again into his prostate. He was so close again. …How was he already so close again? Cloud screamed as he was hiked even further up, feeling his orgasm approaching as he clung to his mate, opening up their bond as he poured everything he was feeling through it, moaning at Zack's need and love reverberated right back.

"Cloud?" Zack questioned, hosting him up so he was moving in his lap. "Can I bite you? Just this once? I swear I won't ever ask again."

Cloud nodded, head lolled back as he couldn't think of anything beyond his pleasure as he bounced on top of the other, yanking at Zack's spikes to drag him to his neck. Teeth didn't even hesitate in sinking into his flesh, biting directly over his mating mark as Cloud cried out for his alpha, before shooting once more between them as his entrance milked out everything Zack gave him while those teeth bit harder.

He let his entire body collapse back, falling onto their nest of blankets as he rubbed his thighs together, completely messy, yet sated as he struggled to catch his breath. "That was amazing."

Zack's body covered his own, gentle kisses pressing to the bleeding mark. "I'm sorry. I promised I never would."

"It's fine…" Cloud assured him, not having the strength in his body to even reach up and comfort his mate. "It was hot. Married sex is incredible."

His mouth twitched at the laughter that escaped the alpha, sighing exhaustedly as his lips were claimed. "I love you, Spike."

"Love you too," Cloud managed to get out between lazy kisses, smiling over at Zack as they other flipped off of him, panting out his exhaustion as well as he stared up at the ceiling. He rubbed at his stomach, ignoring the stickiness in favor of the way it growled. "I'm hungry."

Zack nodded, still panting. "Just give me a second and I'll go get you something." He wiped at his bloody mouth. Zack took a few more deep breaths, rolling over onto Cloud to kiss him one more time before forcing himself up to his feet as he dug through their mess to find his clothes. "They have a shower down here, why don't you clean up so you don't get too sore?" He pulled on dark grey sweatpants, slipping a dark tank over his head. "Then we can talk once you don't smell so tempting."

Cloud groaned, throwing an arm over his eyes as he remembered the fact that Zack had agreed to something no doubt extremely stupid in order to get them out. "Can't we just screw all day? And the next day? And the next one?" He added for good measure.

Zack laughed at him, head cocked as he stared down at him in amusement. "I wish, babe." He held out a hand in offering, and Cloud reluctantly took it as his sore body was pulled to its feet. Zack pecked his lips, trailing to press a secondary kiss to his forehead. "I'll be back soon."

"Bring me bacon!" Cloud called after him, not bothering to cover his nudity as Zack moved towards the elevator. "And eggs! And scones with clotted cream!"

"I'll do my very best, my ravenous omega," Zack saluted him, hitting the elevator going up as he blew him a kiss. Cloud smiled fondly at the sight, already missing his mate as he headed to the bathroom they had installed down in their hideout in order to wash up.

Cloud managed to search through the bags of clothes Zack had bought while they were in Kalm, throwing on a pair of jeans and the black sweatshirt before heading up to see what was taking his mate so long with the food. Tifa had said she would keep the bar closed until they could leave Midgar to prevent any sort of suspicion.

It was odd to think how they had all ended up in this place. They were all connected by the carefully woven thread that was the Nibelheim incident, and how Cloud had inexplicably messed everything up for all of them. Tifa wouldn't have lost her home. Reno wouldn't be indebted to the Turks. Genesis and Kadaj wouldn't be on the run. Sephiroth and his child wouldn't be dead. Zack would have five years of his life back that weren't filled with isolation and torture. He wrapped his hands around his stomach as he finally got to the top, familiar pangs pulsing through him at the emptiness that now permanently lingered inside of him. He would never get that part of himself back. The part that was so utterly in love with Sephiroth. The part that could think of no better life in the world than having his child. He knew it was mostly instincts. Of course now he realized the manufactured life that had been built around him, but it didn't make him miss them any less.

"He's not going!" Was the first thing Cloud heard hissed from his mate once he reached the top, feeling pulsating anger through the bond as he took in the sight of him and Rufus Shinra sitting across from each other and staring each other down.

"Well he seems to be up now," Rufus pointed out, glancing lazily over at him. "Cloud, sweetheart, you're positively glowing. Come over here and thank me properly for saving you."

Like hell he would ever thank him.

Cloud sneered at the Vice President of Shinra, wanting to slap that cocky look off his perfect face. He could both see and feel how on edge Zack was, and knew he was upset he had come up here. But he was so tired of being locked away. Besides, if his mate had to do something for this prick, then he wanted to know exactly what it was. "Eat shit and die, Rufus," he greeted, not about to lick the boots of one more member of Shinra ever again in his life. "Zack, did you make breakfast?"

This wasn't a moment for him to be scared. He had spent too long being scared—being the damsel. Rufus had broken all protocol in helping them escape. This wasn't someone with Shinra as his backing. This was a spoiled little rich boy who was acting on his own devices to get what he wanted.

"Behind the bar," Zack answered, voice stiff as he didn't once look away from Rufus.

Cloud let him stew, far too hungry to be concerned about the shit show they were more than likely walking back into. He piled up a plate high with the huge amount of food Zack had prepared, pouring two cups of coffee before making his way over. He didn't see Tifa anywhere, and Genesis and Kadaj had said their good-byes the night before at their reception. He wondered if Reno and Rude were keeping her busy.

He carefully carried the food and drinks over, placing one glass in front of Zack, before setting the plate between them as he kissed the top of the alpha's head. "And where is mine?" Rufus asked, eyeing the cups and food as Cloud slid in and grabbed for a slice of bacon.

"I'm not your server," Cloud snipped, pressing his thigh against Zack's as he sipped at his coffee.

"My pet is so rude to me. No manners whatsoever," Rufus' tilted his chin on his hand as he watched him.

"I'm not your damn pet," Cloud bit back, already annoyed with this situation. "What do you want? What more could we possibly do for you people?" Though in the back of his mind, he already knew. Hadn't he been the one to bait Rufus with it? Hadn't Zack done the same?

Zack's fingers slid into his as they rested on his thigh, squeezing his hand as he sent calming vibes down the bond. "Cloud, Rufus helped us get out of there, as you know. He wants—"

"I know what he wants," Cloud interrupted, not willing to even entertain this farce. "You must be truly desperate to have sprung us. Daddy issues still got you down?"

The alpha snorted into his coffee, squeezing his hand even tighter. Fondness spread through him at that, because Zack had never tried to censor him. Sephiroth had always made him behave in front of these sadists. He had made him obedient.

"It's an irritation I would like to rectify," Rufus conceded, grabbing for Cloud's coffee as he took a sip, almost instantly making a face. "That's terrible."

"Nobody told you to drink it," Cloud pointed out, grabbing for another slice of bacon. "Get someone else to do it."

"That's not how quid pro quo works. I got you out of that basement. He will do this for me, or I'll remove the massive amount of protection I have on you both ensuring you won't be caught. In fact, I'll just tell Hojo exactly where you've gone."

Zack's chest vibrated in a growl, ripping the coffee cup from Rufus' hands as he handed it back to Cloud. "Don't threaten us."

"Or what?" Rufus questioned, eyes lingering on the ring on Zack's hand. "What leverage do you have? You had one thing to offer, and it was your murderous skills." He motioned to Cloud. "And him. I bought and paid for him, and I'm willing to keep him safe. Say thank you, the both of you arrogant twats."

"I'd sooner bite off my own tongue," Cloud assured him, seeing a cold danger flash behind Rufus' eyes. "I hope someone assassinates you. I hope you die alone and in agony."

Rufus sneered at him, hand drawing back, but pausing as he glanced over at Zack. He sighed, lowering his arm as he sat straighter up in his chair. "You're normally more pleasant, but inevitably it doesn't matter if you bite the hand that feeds you—you still belong to me."

"The hell he does," Zack bit back, and Cloud noticed how stiff his spine had gotten as he stared the vice president down. "I'll do it. Now where are our papers?"

Sighing, Rufus pulled a manilla envelope out from the inside of his white jacket, sliding it across to Zack. "Two new identities, the deed to a house in Mideel, passage on a ship, and 250,000 gil to get you started. Your new life together."

Cloud blinked, trying to process the words Rufus had just spoken as he stared at the envelope that contained everything they needed to be happy. "Mideel?"

"Yes," Rufus twirled his wrist. "Zack mentioned you wanted to be near the water, and I want you near the lifestream to hone your abilities. It seemed the perfect compromise as you train."

"Train?" Cloud asked right back, not able to take his eyes off the envelope. He wanted to reach for it, but he was terrified that if he did, Rufus would just yank it back and away from him before informing him this was all a trick and they were going back to that basement.

"Your Ancient abilities. You're going to hone them. They belong to me now." He smirked at him, and Cloud was so anxious about the envelope that he couldn't even muster the will to want to hit him. "We can see who is really stronger between you and your sister."

Aerith.

Cloud flinched at the reminder of his sister omega who Zack had met. She had the same abilities as him. They shared the same mother. He didn't even know her enough to miss her, but somehow he could feel her.

Zack grabbed for the envelope, staring warily at Rufus. "What's to stop us from leaving before the job's done?"

Rufus grinned at them. "Your untimely demise. I'll make sure you die alone and in agony." He reached out, ruffling Cloud's hair. "Be a good boy for me and I'll keep giving you plenty of treats." He stood up then, dusting at his jacket. "As I said, it would be easier if you brought him because he could charm any SOLDIERs that got in your way. You want to do it by brute force? That's your choice. Just get it done by tonight or I will burn your entire world to the ground." He grabbed for a hat, sliding it as far over his eyes as he could as he waved. "Until next time."

The back door had barely shut before Cloud ripped the envelope from Zack's hands, opening it with trembling fingers as he proceeded to pour out all of the contents Rufus had described. His breath hitched, grabbing for their new IDs. "Cal and Tristan Whitlock." He handed the ID to Zack. "He gave us the same surname."

"Well—we are married now." Zack kissed his cheek, examining his ID. "He really spared no expense. It's everything Genesis told me he promised to deliver."

"And all you have to do is sneak back into Shinra and kill the president," Cloud sulked, laying his head against Zack's shoulder. "I hate this."

"I know, Spike. I hate it too," Zack assured him, lips pressing to the top of his head. "Just one more day. By this time tomorrow we'll be on that ship."

"He's right you know," Cloud managed, clinging to Zack's arm as he snuggled closer. "It'd be safer for you if I went." The words were like acid on his tongue. The thought of ever stepping back into headquarters again made him want to die, and he knew his mate was very much aware of that fact.

"I promised you'd never have to go there again," Zack reminded him, inhaling the scent of his hair. "The thought of leaving you again makes me feel like I've been gutted. I can't have you anywhere near that danger. I can get in and out. This is just another mission."

"Promise me you'll be safe," Cloud murmured, squeezing tighter around that arm. "Promise you'll come back."

"I promise," Zack replied, no hesitation in his tone. He reached out, tilting Cloud's chin up to look at him, and he saw the sincerity behind those kind eyes. "I promise that I'll never be apart from you again. This is the last time we ever have to be in this place." Cloud's eyes fluttered as lips pressed against his own. "That life on the table is ours now. We don't have to be heroes. We don't have to be SOLDIERs. We just need each other."

Zack buried his face in Cloud's neck, kissing at the newly bitten mark as arms wrapped tightly around him. Cloud, for his part, did his best to hug back as he never wanted the alpha to leave his arms. He especially didn't want him to leave them to go to headquarters. "I'm worried. What if Hojo's there?"

The alpha snorted against his neck. "I hope he is. I very much am looking forward to seeing him again."

Cloud pulled back in shock, gripping Zack's shoulders as his forehead crinkled in worry. "Don't joke about that! You swear to me right now that you're not going to go anywhere near Hojo's laboratory. Swear it to me!"

"Spike," Zack started placatingly. "He tortured us for five years. Hell, he tortured you your entire life. He deserves it."

"Then you can't go!" Cloud bit out, not caring if he was being unreasonable as tears filled his eyes at just the thought of Hojo once more laying hands on his mate. "You either promise me you won't, or you can't go and we put targets on our backs."

"Hey…" Zack breathed out, sending calming vibes through their bond as those strong hands rubbed up and down his back. "Sshhhhh…I didn't mean to upset you. I won't go looking for Hojo. I promise."

"Swear it," Cloud bit out, upping the stakes as he felt like someone had stabbed him at just the thought of Zack in that horrible place. "Swear on our bond that you'll leave it alone. Swear it!"

Zack yanked his face forward, and Cloud did his best to kiss back even between all of the tears as he was pulled fully into his lap. His arms wrapped around Zack's neck, their tongues sliding together in desperation as the raw panic inside of him began to ebb with each one of his mate's kisses.

"Cloud, we just have to get through today." He cupped both of his cheeks as he kissed him one more time. "Now finish your breakfast. I need to go get prepared. Tifa should be back soon. She mentioned something about water filters." Zack lifted him up off his lap, patting the top of his head reassuringly, pointing to the mostly filled plate. "Breakfast. Focus."

He did his best to do as Zack said, but he only got a few more bites down before pushing the plate away. His appetite was gone, and all the food now tasted like ash. He thumbed through the materials from the envelope, tracing over all the letters on the deed to their new home, and their fake names on two credit cards. Zack was an ex-First Class SOLDIER. He knew how talented his mate was. He knew he could do this and come back to him, but that didn't make him any less worried. To think that just the day before they had been so happy.

By the time Zack returned, he had worked himself into such a worried state that all he could do was pace around the room as he tried not to hurl up his breakfast. Zack laughed at the state of him, coming up behind him dressed all in black as he wrapped arms around his waist. "You're so adorable when you worry. I think you're going to burn holes into the floorboards with your pacing." He kissed his mating mark. "It's going to be okay."

"I should go with you," Cloud blurted, heart hammering in his chest as he was getting light headed from his nausea.

"No," Zack replied.

"But —"

"I said no!" Zack snipped, pressing his lips once more to his neck before spinning Cloud to face him. "You're staying here. Period. This isn't up for debate, Spike. I will lose my mind if you go anywhere near that place."

Cloud threw his arms around his neck, jumping up to wrap fully around him as Zack's hands gripped his ass as he easily held him. "I love you so much." He kissed him then, desperately licking into his mouth. "I love you, Zack. I love you," he spoke between kisses. "I love you."

Zack did his best to keep up with the kisses, pulling back finally as he laid their foreheads together. "I love you too. It's going to be okay, Spike. I promise I'll come back to you."

He managed a singular nod, before bursting into tears as he clung to his mate. Zack just held him, allowing him to bawl his eyes out into his chest. He rocked them until the crippling fear and panic finally stilled.

After a while, Zack slowly lowered him to the ground, and Cloud composed himself enough to let his mate back away from his arms. Zack placed one last kiss on his cheek. "Stay safe. I'm going to get up to the plate through an old AVALANCHE passage. I talked to Tifa about it. They won't have any idea I'm there. We can slip out when everyone is panicking up on the plate. It will be the perfect diversion. Be ready to go by tonight." He lifted up Cloud's hand, kissing each one of his fingers, and lingering on his wedding ring. "I'll be back as soon as I can." Zack took a deep breath, looking like he had to force himself to pull away as he grabbed for his gear, drawing a hood up over his head. "I love you, Spike." he said one more time, waving as he headed out of the same way as Rufus Shinra, and Cloud barely heard the door close before he collapsed down to the floor in his wake.

,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.

A.N- WHOAH. This is the chapter before the finale…I don't know if I'm ready for it to end. They're like crushingly sweet. I adore them. I will try to get the final chapter out as quickly as possible. I hope you enjoyed!