A/N: I'm telling you, Remake and Rebirth have got me in my feelings. I needed to write this to set something up in Dealing; so bear with me. Also, it's my birthday! AT is getting up there, you guys!

Disclaimer: I own nothing; but I do think the vending machines in Remake and Rebirth were inspired by me. Just saying.

Zack looked out of his office door as his secretary arrived for work, juggling her purse and two venti iced coffees.

"Need help?" He called, just as her purse hit the floor next to her desk.

Cursing, Kandi carefully put the coffees on her desk before bending over to grab her purse, securing it in her bottom desk drawer. "Nah, I got it now," she answered back, casting him a grin over her shoulder.

Zack whistled lowly, rising from his desk and moving toward the door. "That is one seriously, short, and sexy skirt, Babe," he commented with a grin.

She giggled as she passed him his coffee, grabbing her own and her notebook before following him into his office. "I figured it would meet with your approval, Lieutenant Colonel."

"Oh, are we playing naughty secretary and strict boss today, 'cause I am so down for that!"

"I'd rather you be up for it," she winked, sitting down on his desk and crossing her legs, causing the skirt to ride up higher on her thighs.

"Always up for anything with you, Babe, you know that," he answered, grinning widely at her. His smile dropped as he looked back down at her thighs. Setting his coffee on his desk, he moved the skirt higher. "What the hell happened? Are you okay?!"

Kandi blinked, looking down at her thighs. She laughed nervously. "Oh," she said, tugging the skirt down again. "They didn't look that bad this morning."

Zack took her by the waist and lifted her up, turning to check out her other side. "Why are your thighs all bruised to shit?" He asked, voice dangerously low. "Did someone hurt you?"

"No, no one hurt me, Zack," she told him, grasping his hands. "I promise. I bruise super easily. You know that. Remember the black eye the first time we met?"

"That's exactly what I'm remembering and why I'm thinking some cocksucker needs to die," he growled. He dropped to one knee, looking at the bruises more closely. Skin paling, he looked up into her eyes. "These are handprints."

Kandi nodded, eyes glistening with tears, afraid he would be mad at her.

Zack swallowed thickly. "Did I do this to you?"

She shook her head, blinking rapidly to keep her tears back. "Please don't hate me, Zacky," she gasped out, wiping at her eyes. "I'm sorry; it wasn't malicious like that guy at the Honeybee, but—"

"Wait, what?" He interrupted. "Why would I hate you? This isn't your fault."

"I know you don't like it when I let anyone get physical like this with me."

"No, I don't like it when someone hits you or hurts you in any way," he told her, looking up at her and grasping her hands in his. He kissed the shaking fingers and squeezed them reassuringly. "I will never be mad at you over something like that and there is nothing on the Planet you could ever do to make me hate you."

"Really?" She sniffled as she looked down at him.

"On my honor as a SOLDIER," he vowed. He kissed her hands again before standing, wrapping her up in his arms. "Will you tell me what happened?"

She nodded, resting her head on his shoulder. "The other night at Seph's place," she began. "You were with Ak, Seph was with Lily, and I was with Reno. I guess he gripped my legs too tight and he…he may have smacked my thighs a little bit."

He chuckled and squeezed her gently. "You always like a little spanking, don't you?"

Zack shivered as she giggled against his neck. "I like it better when you do it," she admitted.

The black-haired SOLDIER pulled back and looked into her dark, brown eyes, brushing away the tears on her cheek. "I would never leave bruises on you."

Kandi shook her head and smiled. "No, you wouldn't."

Pressing his forehead to hers, Zack closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "He won't do this again," he told her, gently patting her hip. "I'm going to go talk to him."

"Zack, no…"

He kissed her tenderly, pulling away slightly. "I'm just gonna talk to him, Babe."

"Yeah, but you have a tendency to talk to people and make them bleed," she protested, tightening her grip on his hands.

Zack took a deep breath. "I'll leave my sword here," he promised. "But I am going to talk to him about this. All right?"

Kandi nodded, squeezing his hands again before letting them go. "Talk softly."

Zack grinned and kissed her again before grabbing his coffee and walking out of his office. "I'll try."

The elevator to floor 69 opened and Zack strode through the Turk hallways, looking for flaming red hair. Another red head spotted him first, waving sweetly.

"Hey, Zack," Cissnei greeted. "What brings you up here?"

"What's good, Ciss?" He grinned. "I need to talk to Reno real quick about something. Any idea where Fire Crotch is?"

Cissnei pointed down the hall. "He should be in his office," she replied. "He botched the paperwork on his last mission, so Tseng is having him redo it."

Zack winked at her. "Thanks, appreciate it," he said before heading in the direction of Reno's office. He tried the door finding it unlocked and eased inside. He waved at Cissnei before closing the door, the sound of the lock turning echoing throughout the Turks' department.

Reno looked up from his desk, grinning as the SOLDIER entered his office. "Sup, Blackspike!" He called out, leaning back in his chair.

Zack sipped the rest of his coffee up through the straw before removing the lid and tossing it away, the straw still in his mouth as he chewed it to death. He made his way to Reno's desk and dumped the ice and the remainder of the whipped cream over the red hair, grabbing the ponytail and slamming his face into his desk.

"Listen up, you motherfucker," Zack snarled in his ear, his face a centimeter from Reno's. "If you ever leave bruises on Kandi again, I swear to all that is holy and all that is not, I will kill you and dispose of your body in such a way that your own people won't be able to find you."

"Bro, I would never hurt a girl like that!" Reno exclaimed. "Especially one of ours!"

Zack pulled the red head back up, kicking both of his knees in and causing his chin to hit his desk as he collapsed to the ground. "You didn't hurt her, you bruised her," he growled. He shook his head, trying to tamper the rage building inside him. "She was hit a lot at the Honeybee, bruised a lot. I won't let it happen anymore. I know she likes being spanked, but you can do it in such a way that it won't leave your handprints all over her thighs."

Reno spat the blood in his mouth out onto the floor. "Oh, fuck, I didn't mean—"

Zack pulled him away from the desk and kicked his balls, throwing his knee into Reno's face when he doubled over in pain. "I know you didn't, which is why I'm just beating the shit out of you instead of killing you."

He pulled Reno to his feet again and threw him in his chair, leaning over him until their faces were inches apart. "Am I clear?"

Reno nodded, activating his ice materia for his balls. "Yeah, crystal, Man," he whispered. "No bruises."

Zack nodded and patted Reno's cheek affectionately. "Then we won't have to have this conversation again, will we?"

"Not at all."

"Good." Zack's face brightened and he grinned kindly at his friend. He tossed the straw in the trash can and waved over his shoulder as he made his way to the door. "See ya later, Red!"

Kandi looked excitedly at the brownie being placed on her desk, grinning at the glowing violet eyes of her boss. "Thanks, Zacky!"

Zack tweaked her nose and sat on her desk. "You bet," he said. "I know you always get hungry mid-morning."

"Yeah, it's the strangest thing," she told him, stuffing a bite into her mouth. "Lily swears I'm a hobbit; only without the hairy feet."

Zack laughed at that, turning as a colorful blob caught his eye. Reno sheepishly crept forward, a vase of flowers in his hands.

"Hey," he said with a lopsided grin, his eye black and his lip busted.

"Oh, my gods, Reno!" Kandi exclaimed as she swallowed the brownie in her mouth. "What the hell happened?"

"I was careless; no worries, Dollface," he replied. He nodded to the flowers. "Thought your desk could use some brightening. Kind of a dreary day."

Kandi looked from the flowers to the two men. "Uh, thanks?" She said. "Are you sure you're okay? You're limping."

Reno nodded. "Swear down, I'm good," he told her. He winked at Zack. "Have a great day, you guys."

"See ya, Red!" Zack called with a grin. He looked back down at his secretary, snickering at the look on her face. "What?"

"That was talking softly?" She shrieked. "He looks like he was plowed over by one of Scarlet's prototypes!"

"That was whispering," Zack told her, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

Kandi giggled and finished her brownie. "Damn," she said. "I never want to hear you yell then."

He squeezed her shoulder. "Hopefully, you never will."

A/N: Thanks for reading! Reviews are, as always, loved and appreciated!