Chapter Text
It was time to go to work.
Zack was sitting in front of Aerith’s vanity table, releasing heavy sighs now and then. Running his long, nimble fingers through his inky locks, smoothing and ruffling his long hair back and forth. Unsure which way to style it best.
His hair was a menace. Thick and spiky, always sticking out and getting tangled in all the wrong places.
“You look fiiiine! Stop worrying so much,” called a bright, chipper female voice behind him, causing him to furrow his dark eyebrows.
Aerith, who was currently fussing over which outfit to pick for Zack for work that day. ‘Today’s special,’ she had earlier explained, then remained close-lipped about her true reasons when Zack had actually questioned her about it.
“I think this would look nice on you. What do you think, Zack?”
Zack turned around in his seat. Aerith stood straight, holding two pieces of clothing—one large black crop top in one, and a pair of light blue jeans that were ripped at the knees in another. Her big green eyes stared at him with anticipation—pleadingly, almost.
Zack’s teeth found his lower lip. He felt himself starting to sweat. “Uh. I think that’s—”
“Too much?”
“Well… I guess?”
“I see. We’ll pick something else for you, then.”
Zack clapped his hands against his knees and, with a quick shrug, let out another, rather impatient exhale. “Couldn’t you at least tell me why you’re so persistent in dressing me up for tonight? What’s so special about tonight, anyway?”
Unlike most workplaces, Seventh Heaven was probably the most lax workplace when it comes to dress code he'd ever worked so far. Considering Tifa, the owner of the joint, wore short skirts and crop tops on most nights, Zack couldn’t be arsed to worry about what he wore for work, as long as it looked clean and decent enough to wear.
“You do realize I’ll be working my ass off and sweating bullets, especially on a hot day like this? There’s no need to doll me up for whatever you have in mind, Aerith. I mean it.”
“Oh, will you be quiet, Zackary? So dramatic.” Aerith completely dismissed him and his complaints, only to turn around with another top and a pair of bottoms. “How about these, then?”
Zack frowned, giving them a brief look, then rolled his eyes. "Whatever.”
He wasn’t convinced but knowing that once Aerith had set her mind on something, it was difficult to change her mind. To his great annoyance, in some things at least, they had almost too much in common.
Hearing his response, Aerith practically leaped in the air with a small ‘yay’, then hurried to place his new clothing on her bed—ready for him to try them on. “This is gonna be so great, trust me.”
Zack scratched at the back of his head, torn between mild curiosity and slight dread for whatever was ahead. “I still don’t know what’s going on, and it worries me.”
Aerith placed her slender hands on his shoulders to give him a gentle, reassuring rub. Zack wanted to relax and allow it to just happen, but he could already see her beaming through the mirror—that radiant, carefree smile of hers that could light up a thousand suns, and it was dangerous.
“You worry too much, babe.”
It did not put his mind at ease.
“I do?”
“Yes. There’s nothing to worry about, mister. I've got everything under control. Here.” She smoothed her fingers through his inky locks and fixed one wild strand that refused to sit together with the others. “Much better.”
“Thanks,” he muttered, almost sheepishly. “Though soon I'm gonna be late for work, so could you…?”
“Of course!” Aerith near chirped and already half-cantered towards the door. Pausing at the doorway, she gave him one last look and a wink before she closed the door after her.
Zack rolled his head and shoulders a few times, trying to ease tension, but he couldn’t help cracking a smile at his cute friend's enthusiasm and silly little antics.
Aerith always seemed to have that effect on him, no matter what.
And not just Zack. Everyone, really. It’s like, no matter what, it was hard, practically impossible to stay mad at her for a very long time.
Like she was magic itself. Pure, powerful, irresistible.
Zack soon pushed himself onto his feet and lowered his gaze at the bed, where Aerith had carefully picked and laid down the new clothes for him.
A light blue, T-shirt with an ample v-neck and a pair of black, slim jeans that looked snug.
“Man, I don't know about this…”
Feeling defeated and like he had not much a say in this matter anyway, Zack pulled off his shirt and tossed it at the other end of the room.
—
A few minutes later, he met Aerith at the hallway, close to the stairs.
She was waiting for him, leaning against one of the guestroom doors, looking as smug as ever at the mere sight of him.
It earned a soft grunt from Zack. He felt exposed in his blue shirt, showing off too much skin, and his jeans felt like they were riding up between his ass cheeks and digging into his crotch. “Ready to go?”
Aerith instantly perked up, pushing herself off the door. Taking a few languid steps toward him, like a predator stalking her prey, she quietly assessed him and his outfit for good measure. Making him instantly feel a little hot and shy under her gaze.
Zack swallowed thickly when her hands were placed over his ribs, feeling him up and down his sides. “So handsome,” she half-whispered; voice low, almost seductive. “I could eat you up.”
“Stop,” He near giggled and gave her a little push. “You’re making me blush.”
“Aww,” Aerith cooed and hooked her arm around his, then pressed her slender, shorter body up against him. “Shall we?”
They continued their journey downstairs and greeted Elmyra on the way, where she sat in the kitchen and read some book. Grabbing their jackets from the hanger and waving her a quick farewell, she told them to ‘drive safe’—mostly to Zack, who gave her a small nod in reassurance.
He would always protect Aerith, no matter the circumstances, no matter the cost. There was no question about that.
As they walked through the green gardens surrounding the Gainsborough house, planted with flowers of all kinds—such as the yellow ‘reunion flowers’ that were Aerith’s favorite—Zack quietly took it all in. Appreciating every second of it, breathing it in like it was his last one, while Aerith hardly paid any attention to any of it. Sticking to his side like glue—still mysteriously gleeful about something.
Whenever Zack decided he needed a break from his small, cramped flat in Sector Seven, to visit Aerith and Elmyra here in Sector Five, this strange feeling of calmness and relief always seemed to wash over him. Like all his worries had suddenly been erased and washed away; allowing him to wander and exist here, without a care in the world.
Staying at their house, bunking in their guestroom, sometimes for days on end, it never ceased to amaze him.
After everything, they still offered him a place to stay. A second home.
A place he could rest peacefully every night, without annoying neighbors. With a breathtaking view of a flower garden, and the smell of freshly grounded coffee and delicious home cooking waiting just downstairs.
A fort he could settle in after a long day—rest his weary feet, lay his head on a soft, fluffy pillow. Besides Tifa’s cooking, eat homemade cooking made by Elmyra that reminded him so much of his mother’s cooking back home in Gongaga.
To look at a breathtaking view outside his window every morning after he woke up—to walk through these gardens carefully cherished and tended to by Aerith and her power of love.
A safe haven where he could feel at ease, and well-protected, and…
Zack grimaced and then grunted, shaking his head.
Aerith gave him a look of concern, which he gracefully ignored.
Soon, he would have to return here for another matter and stay locked inside his guestroom for days, maybe even a full week while writhing in pure agony. His body would crave, scream, and beg for a release that would not come, over and over again, and yet—it would not be enough.
That itch could never be fully and thoroughly scratched unless… unless—
Soon, he would have to succumb to it once again. Let the course of nature take over and seize his body. Against his own wishes, he would once again have to accept help from those who could never truly understand him. Who could never truly heal him or satisfy his deepest craving. He would not be truly safe unless he came here and locked himself in.
It was something that Zack simply had to accept and deal with over and over again it seemed.
Sometimes, it majorly sucked ass to be an Omega. An unwanted, needy, male Omega at that.
“Are you okay?” Aerith finally stopped at his side, peering at him with her big green eyes.
Zack's gaze instantly fell down and he began chewing his lower lip in a nervous manner.
To say he was okay would be a lie. She could see right through him, he knew it already, so there was no point in even trying.
However, as always, Zack was adamant about staying positive or at least keeping up the positive façade for everyone else. Not wanting them to worry about him or fuss over him and his problems too much, or cause them too much trouble.
He promptly lifted his head and rolled his shoulders in a carefree shrug, offering her an almost innocent smile in return. “I’m fiiiine. Don't you worry your pretty lil’ head over it, okay?”
Aerith squinted her eyes and pursed her lips. “You know, I’m really not sure if that’s the kind of thing you want to say to me, Zack.”
Zack resisted rolling his eyes back at her. Trying to appear as cute and innocent as he possibly could instead. “How about... a pretty lil’ head with a big, beautiful brain?”
Not a hint of amusement was showing on Aerith’s face at his lame comeback. With her crossed arms and an impatient foot tapping against the soft ground, she quickly began to remind him of an old, cranky housewife.
Zack suppressed his grin. Just barely.
“You know cheap flattery won’t work with me, mister.”
This caused Zack to burst into laughter that was bright and vibrant; full of life, so unique to him. With a swift swing, he wrapped his arm around Aerith's petite shoulders and leaned in to peck the top of her head.
“Alright, settle down, princess. Your girlfriend will have my head if I show up late for work again.”
Aerith relented slightly under his arm, especially when he heard Tifa. Her mock hurt still quite hadn't subsided, though. “You know I don’t like to be called that.”
With a hearty chuckle, he pulled her along. “Well, like it or not, I’ll always think of you as a princess. And coming from me, that’s a huge compliment.”
“Coming from you, huh? Like you don’t say that to literally every pretty girl you meet.”
“Come on. Now you’re just being mean.”
“You know I’m right, though. You’re a hopeless flirt, Zack. You see, a little bird once told me you tried to slither under my girlfriend’s skirt before you knew she’s mine and while I don’t actually blame you for that, I—“
Their playful banter then ensued for a few good minutes, their voices and laughs echoing far in the slums until, at last, they'd made it to a spot near the orphanage where Zack’s army green bike stood in wait. Untouched since the last time and awaiting familiar passengers.
No signs of foul play by the local kids from the slums this time either, which instantly put Zack’s mind at ease. He pulled out a helmet and passed it on to Aerith who then accepted it graciously.
Straddling his bike with ease and patiently waiting for Aerith who was quietly securing the helmet's strap under her chin, Zack wordlessly stared at worn-out the buildings ahead of him, and the depressing steel sky above him.
Once Aerith had climbed behind him and adjusted the hem of her skirt, not wanting it to get tangled or shredded, she leaned forward and pressed her body firmly up against Zack's back, wrapping her arms around his waist.
“You know, Zack... I keep telling you this, but you should really wear a helmet, too. You'll hurt yourself—might even get yourself killed.”
Zack’s only response was a soft hum, then complete ignorance towards her friendly suggestion. Starting the bike with a loud roar, he shouted over the sound of the engine:
“You good back there?”
Her arms instantly squeezed tighter around his midsection.
“I’m good! Let’s go!”
And with that, they were soon headed toward Sector Seven… and Seventh Heaven.
—
Cloud had barely wasted fifteen minutes inside Tifa's pride and joy, located at the heart of Sector Seven, when already he felt a strong, pressing urge to turn back around, never to return.
A few too many people crowded inside the same, cramped space—tables full and filled with loud voices, the smell of cigars and cigarettes, and spilled alcohol—forcing him to sit closer to the bar where Tifa was working.
Even now, someone kept playing heavy metal from the jukebox over and over again. Another small group were having a darts contest in the corner, making far too much noise for Cloud’s personal liking.
It was almost 10pm, and the atmosphere was getting intense.
Whether it was Cloud's nerves teetering on edge after a long travel and ceaseless hot weather, or because he was basically a loner and appreciated quiet and personal space, thank you very much, it was still unpleasant and a lot to take in. His senses felt overloaded and assaulted from different directions all at once: the loud music, the shouting, the drunken singing, and a wild cocktail of different scents simultaneously blended in the heady, stuffy air, made Cloud feel a dizzy and a tad unfocused.
Many Betas there that night: their scents rather dull, even sterile, some of them—possibly under some kind of pharmaceuticals. Nothing to make a song about, or pique Cloud's curiosity. Two, maybe three other Alphas as well, with their musky, earthy scents, spicier than the rest, stood out and tickled Cloud's senses. Something which undeniably put him a little on the edge and more cognizant of his surroundings; his muscles already taut and his jaw clenched.
He had, in fact, already met one of his kind earlier that evening—the very moment he'd set foot in this place and greeted Tifa.
Barret.
Tifa’s big, burly friend. Tall and broad like a mountain—big muscles, dark skin, and a scruffy beard—wearing sunglasses, and… a fucking turret for an arm.
Undoubtedly, Cloud had hesitated to approach him at first. Having worked as a merch for quite some time, having met all kinds of people along the way, good and bad, he had learned the hard way to be suspicious and not to trust people. Working a dangerous job like that, seeing the ugly side of people was unfortunate but part of the job.
Even so, Cloud had never actually met anyone with a gun for an arm before—at least not anyone like Barret.
The man was truly a sight to behold. Imposing and intimidating. A force of nature.
The moment Cloud had stepped forward—a little awkward and shy like he used to be—and reached out and offered his hand for a handshake, Barret had slowly lowered his sunglasses, met his big baby blues with a pair of piercing brown and spilling venom, and then spat out:
“Who the hell are you?”
Even his voice… it had rumbled and boomed, like an erupting volcano.
It had startled Cloud. How embarrassing.
Fortunately, Tifa had quickly stepped in and saved the day—a true heroine that she was. Having flashed them both her most charming smile and introduced them to one another like it was nothing—like they weren’t just two brooding Alphas standing in her bar and having a metaphorical dick-measuring contest right in front of her.
With her stepping in, the tension and awkwardness of the moment had subsided for a good half a minute, at least.
Until Barret had decided to open his big damn mouth, that is. Becoming fiercely protective of Tifa, for one thing—wanting to know Cloud's business with her—and then becoming incredibly pushy about his work as a merc for another. Bombarding Cloud with all kinds of questions, pushing him and wearing his patience thin in a matter of a couple of minutes.
Having been so viciously assaulted, not by fists or weapons, but accusing words and a series of colorful insults flying out of the bigger Alpha's mouth. The mighty Alpha called Barret that Cloud was apparently supposed to work with and expected get along with because he was a friend.
Once again, Tifa had had to cut in and step between the two quarreling Alphas—fearless like always—and snap Cloud out of it, who had already reached for his sword and seriously considered running it through this dumb, big loudmouth. Quickly embarrassed by his own behavior and a near loss of control, especially at his good friend's bar, he had eventually settled with looking away and muttering a half-assed apology to Tifa.
Perhaps even to Barret, though he wouldn't swear on it.
Barret had merely grunted at him, got up and left Cloud alone, disappearing somewhere for the rest of the evening. Leaving Cloud with his thoughts and regrets, pondering about his own behavior and ashamed of Tifa having to stop him.
Sometime after that, more customers had started flooding in, quickly turning the bar into a busy, noisy place, keeping Tifa well-occupied. Practicing that carefully polished smile reserved only for customers, which never seemed to falter—not even when she had to stop every once in a while to have a glass of water or wipe large beads of sweat from her forehead.
Cloud observed her carefully from his spot. He admired her hard work and resilience.
Nevertheless, he felt sorry for her and about his earlier bad behavior and had offered her his help. No matter he really wasn't the customer service kind of guy, he still couldn't leave a friend in trouble. But Tifa had politely turned him down, assuring him she was going to be fine, with that friendly smile still on her face, and urged him to sit back down, order another drink and at least try to enjoy himself a little more.
Though Cloud bitterly admitted he had difficulty finding it enjoyable to relax in a place like this, in a motley crew like this—too many different smells, sounds and voices—he still felt bad for causing her trouble and upsetting her. So, he sat down and quietly nursed his whiskey.
He soon noticed Tifa glancing at the wall clock sporadically—as if she were anxiously waiting for something or someone. Then he remembered that another bartender worked at Seventh Heaven as well. Zack; that was his name, right? Cloud wondered whether Zack was the one that Tifa was clearly so anxiously waiting for.
And, like clockwork, the bar’s double doors opened behind them.
Cloud barely had the time to react or turn around, without a warning when he was suddenly assaulted from behind and roughly pulled against another warm, slender body. A gasp left him as two petite arms swiftly encircled his neck, nearly choking him, and followed by a pillow of soft, fluffy hair pressing against his cheek.
He was a mercenary, a professional, and yet he not prepared for this.
“So good to see you again, mister. I hope you didn't forget me?”
A bright, delighted female voice half-whispered in his ear. A familiar, flowery scent that Cloud hadn’t smelled in a long, long time quickly followed and filled the air, causing his eyes to widen and his pupils dilate. Rapidly bringing back those memories from days of long past.
“Aerith!?”
“Aww, you still remember me. I’m flattered,” Aerith cooed with a honeyed voice and straightened herself. She placed her hands more firmly on his shoulders, so she could turn him and face him properly. “Took you long enough.”
“S-sorry.” Cloud stuttered a little as he quietly took her in and studied her face.
She was just as beautiful as he had remembered her being—only now a little older and grown up.
She looked ethereal, almost celestial.
Like an angel.
“Long time no see.”
“Yup,” she replied with a sharp ‘p’, lighthearted as always, then turned him back around by his shoulders, so she could have him face the other direction instead. “And this guy here is Zack. He works here, and you should know, Zack's also my best friend. Zack. This is Cloud, Tifa’s good friend, my good friend also from the good ol' days.”
Cloud blinked his eyes at her fast-paced and rather confusing introduction, then tilted his head up to take a good look at the other man accompanying Aerith.
“Cloud, huh?”
Came a friendly reply, and all Cloud could see was a perfect row of pearly white teeth grinning at him, and a big hand with long fingers reaching out to him, offering for a friendly handshake.
Cloud sucked in a breath and then nervously took his hand in his own, shaking his hand.
Zack’s hand was bigger than his, but it felt soft and somehow even more delicate in his grip. The man in front of him had striking blue eyes, plush lips, a straight, prominent nose, and a chiseled jawline. His hair was long, jet-black and spiky, and looked soft enough to touch. He looked very tall, with broad shoulders and toned arms, yet a small waist and legs for days.
Flawless, sun-kissed skin. Tiny freckles dusted over the bridge of his nose.
A small diamond earring glinting in his left ear.
The scent of him—the brown leather jacket, and something else that Cloud could quite not comprehend—filled the air, like a hurricane, taking over his senses and made him swoon.
Zack had the strong, prominent appearance of an Alpha, but he didn't smell like one—not musky or earthy. Neither did he smell faint nor sterile like a Beta.
More like... a cinnamon apple on a Christmas day and... cardamom coffee? Fresh linen, perhaps?
Whatever it was, to Cloud, Zack smelled simply amazing. It made the blond mercenary feel cozy and strangely relaxed—like there was not a force, not an evil powerful enough to strike him down as long as Zack was with him. And his body, Cloud's body, started to feel... strangely tingly, too.
He'd never felt like this before.
When their eyes met, Cloud's breath hitched slightly. Zack's eyelashes were long and dark, casting shadows over his high cheekbones. His eyes were bright and cool, the color of the sky, with a bit of green in there, but his gaze was warm and friendly—genuine, no hidden malice behind it.
Not only his hand felt soft, it also felt warm in his grip. Radiating the kind of heat and electricity that Cloud also quite had never felt before. The feeling lingered and caused small electric shocks up and down, left and right, right beneath his skin—even moments after Zack had slowly pulled his hand away and taken a step back.
Shit.
Even after their hands had disconnected, their eyes never quite had. With the way Zack's blue eyes held their gaze in Cloud's, and his mouth lightly twitched at their intense eye contact, Cloud almost swore Zack could see right through him. Like the other man knew exactly what Cloud was thinking and quietly sneered, celebrating a small victory.
Fuck.
Cloud’s face felt hot, so did his neck. His body still oddly tingled from their prior handshake, desired even. Simply looking into Zack’s eyes made Cloud's stomach twist in knots, but the feeling wasn't unpleasant.
What the fuck is wrong with me?
Even the girls had stayed quiet around them, for once, which was oddly suspicious of them. No 'hellooo' or 'uh are you okay', just pure silence. Cloud didn’t know if he liked it, but what he did know is that there was something seriously off about him today, and it was concerning.
Finally daring to break his eye contact with Zack—one that had felt like an eternity between them—Cloud averted his gaze and forced himself to look anywhere but there.
It was difficult, though.
Brushing off a couple of stubborn blond strands from his face.
“Yeah, so, nice to meet ya I guess,” he muttered awkwardly. As if anything out of the ordinary hadn't just transpired between them.
Zack let out a soft, boyish laugh in return, as if catching on an unspoken secret, and it made Cloud’s feel something again.
Gosh, even his laugh was attractive.
“ Yeah, real nice meeting ya too, Cloudy. The girls told me you’re cute, and that your hair looks like a Chocobo.”
Hello darkness, my old friend.
Cloud's stomach instantly sank.
“And man, I gotta say, your hair kinda does loo-”
“Beat it, hedgehog.”
It had come out a lot faster than Cloud had intended and a lot meaner than he’d wanted it to sound.
It had stopped Zack in his tracks, his mouth formed a surprised 'o'. The shocked gasps both from Tifa and Aerith also echoed in the air—carrying well into Cloud's ears even through all that noise and booming music filling the bar.
He instantly cringed. “Uh…”
Zack let out another soft laugh, albeit more nervous and awkward this time. Anxiously rubbing at the back of his neck, the other man had quickly excused himself and made his way behind the bar, avoiding any further eye contact with him.
Cloud felt a prompt slap hit the back of his head. “Ow.” It didn't actually hurt, but he knew it had to be Aerith since she was still standing behind her. Trying to turn around and give her some attitude, Tifa was faster again. She stood before him, hands planted firmly on her hips, leering at him like she wanted to burn extra holes in him.
“What.” He tested, giving her some attitude instead. Knowing full well he'd screwed up big time and what she was going to say next.
“Be nice,” she scolded him, fierce, and then tapped her forefinger against his chest. That hurt a little bit. “Behave yourself or else.”
“Or else? Why, you gonna kick me out or something?”
“I might.”
She gestured with a hand smoothly cutting across her throat, making her point loud and clear. Cloud responded with a simple roll of his eyes but decided to drop it, giving her a small, almost a timid nod after. Tifa soon followed Zack behind the bar, and Aerith followed her as well, leaving Cloud to sit alone there and think about it.
Cloud huffed. He downed a glass of whiskey in one go and thought about ordering another, but decided against it for now. Knowing full well, he was the villain of the story here, right now.
Beginning to grow increasingly annoyed with himself and his own behavior today, Cloud actively battled between leaving the bar and not showing his face unless called or needed, or then just staying there until the last call and waiting for the storm to blow over. While trying his very best not to sneak any obvious glances at the other hot, dark-haired bartender at this bar, who smelled incredible and was probably, and understandably, upset with him right now as well.
So... that was Zack, huh?
Cloud quietly observed as Tifa and Zack had quickly embarked on a lively conversation behind the bar. He could barely hear them, with what all the surrounding ruckus, nor could he read their lips, but it sounded like they were catching on.
Their smiles were wide, and their eyes were pretty—Zack’s blue eyes, the color of the sky, contrasting with Tifa’s warm ruby ones. He looked so tall and strong standing next to the girls, and the indoor lighting that cast on his tan skin made him appear almost golden there.
“I’m sure you’d like him.”
Zack’s laugh was loud and vibrant when Tifa said something that amused him. His big, firm hand planted on Tifa’s shoulder, whereas Tifa’s hand was placed on his firm chest, rewarding him with a playful push in return. Her feminine giggles were adorable, and she looked like she was truly enjoying Zack's company—as was Aerith.
They sure looked like they were having fun together.
And they looked good together, too.
Something about that made Cloud’s neck suddenly itch and prickle. His chest clutched, ached while his stomach twitched in knots once again. This time, the feeling was unpleasant.
He couldn't tell why.
—
Meanwhile, Zack was cleaning one of the coffee machines, Tifa and Aerith had all but subtly crept closer to him and surrounded him on both sides. Feeling their inquisitive eyes on him, a smile slowly crept upon Zack’s lips. Whenever the girls teamed up on him like this, they were usually up to no good.
“So, Zack…” Tifa started, drawling on her 'so' like a yawning cat.
Zack bit his lower lip hard, trying to suppress his laugh. She wasn’t smooth at all.
“What’d you think of Cloud over there?” Aerith’s voice promptly asked from his left side, forward and straight to the point as always. Sitting on the surface next to the spot he was currently working on, she was actively seeking his attention.
Zack sighed, slightly amused. Finishing his cleaning and tossing the dirty rag into the sink, he planted his palms firmly on the table. His lower lip once again caught between his teeth, he pretended to look deep in thought just to entertain them for a moment.
“I dunno. He’s easy on the eyes, definitely, but also kinda mean, you know? No bullshit, cut-to-the-chase-kinda guy. Not someone who likes to hang around with other people for fun. But then again, he’s a merc, so that only makes sense, right?”
“Uh-uh. Anything else?” Tifa pressed on, growing more curious.
“Hmm. He’s… short, I think? I mean, he was sitting there, but yeah, I’m taller than him, definitely. He’s blond, like, really really blond. As blond as they come. Even his eyebrows and eyelashes are blond like, man, what's up with that? And his eyes? They're like, so big and blue, like a baby. Color of the sky, right? So yeah, like damn.”
Tifa and Aerith stared at him wordlessly, clearly waiting for him to continue and say more. When Zack, however, continued saying nothing after that, just stared into space with a small, dreamy smile caressing his lips (he was still trying not to laugh at them), Aerith finally grew tired of it and broke the silence.
“That’s it?” She huffed, sounding more than disappointed.
Zack turned his head with a snort, rather pleased with himself. “Well, what would you like me to say?”
“Well-”
Zack raised his eyebrows, curious and playful. His face was taunting her, challenging her. “Yes?”
Tifa cleared her throat, already guessing which way this was headed. “Well, we were just thinking if…”
“Yes?” Zack repeated his question, raising his voice a pitch and blinked his dark eyelashes innocently. Tifa and Aerith were being all but subtle about it, clearly insinuating something there, but Zack still wanted to hear them say it.
Yes, he was totally making fun of them now.
When no answer came and the girls still looked like they wanted to say something, holding themselves back like they were about to spill some dirty, forbidden secret, Zack finally ended the silence with a hearty laugh.
"You want me to hook up with him, is that it?"
Tifa broke into a series of coughs and excused herself for a moment, whereas Aerith settled with simply rolling her eyes and shaking her head, as if telling him ‘congrats you dummy, you finally figured it out’.
“So, that’s what this was all about, wasn’t it?” Zack continued, gesturing toward himself and the outfit he was currently wearing, carefully chosen for him by Aerith and insisted he wear it today. “That’s what you were dressing me up for.”
“Pretty much,” Aerith responded—her eyes clear as a day and not a hint of shame in her face. “I thought he might fancy you.”
“Seriously? You really think I'm that desperate?” Zack chuckled. Crossing his arms over his chest, genuinely amused and even a little bit curious now. Aerith cocked her eyebrow, answering his question. “Sweets, just because the guy's an Alpha, that doesn't—”
“Wait, you knew?” Tifa cut in, genuinely surprised. “I mean, Cloud isn’t very—”
“Alpha-like, yeah, I noticed, thank you very much. But there were signs and I can tell.”
“Umm, what signs exactly?” Aerith pressed on, visibly annoyed with him now.
“Signs that only I and a certain Blondie know about, and something you nosy Betas can just stay up and think all night about.”
“Oh yeah? Because I think you’re seriously underestimating what I can—”
“Guys,” Tifa finally cut in, with a nervous chuckle and a pained expression on her face. Zack's and Aerith's faces were getting a tad too close to one another as they argued with each other, and their voices started to raise too high, and Tifa was already feeling quite done with everyone's fighting today. “Aerith, honey. You see that group sitting on that table over there? They ordered these chips, so why don't you take them there, okay? And Zack—" She turned around and grabbed something from behind her—a glass of red drink that Zack was all too familiar with. “Take this Cosmo to Cloud. I think he might need it.”
Zack pointed her a suspicious look and tilted his head. “Really?”
“Please?” Tifa pleaded, giving him the puppy eyes that he could never truly resist.
Zack sighed dramatically and gave it a quick thought. To disobey his boss and get his ass kicked (he was strong, yes, but Tifa was skilled in martial arts), or do as he was told and keep his job.
He finally relented, pushing himself off the counter in a lazy manner. “Fine. But just because you’re my boss, and I actually really really like you, Tifa.”
“What about me?” Aerith pouted. She was still a little upset from their previous bickering, but not looking quite so annoyed with him anymore.
Zack grabbed the Cosmo Canyon from Tifa's hand and responded to Aerith with a quick, mischievous look, wiggling his eyebrows. “I could say a thing or two about you, but since your girlfriend is here, and I don’t wanna make her jealous, I-”
Tifa slapped his ass, interrupted him. "Right, off you go now, Casanova. Cloud’s waiting.”
Zack jumped a little, thankfully not spilling the drink, and chuckled at her. Doing as he was told, he obediently made his way toward Cloud who was still quietly sitting in front of the bar, all alone.
Grinning, mostly to himself this time, Zack placed the tall glass on the surface of the counter and then smoothly slid it towards Cloud—not spilling one single drop.
“There you go, good sir. Our house special, a Cosmo Canyon.”
Cloud looked up slowly, shyly. His fingers rapped nervously against the wooden surface, and already there was a slight pink dusting on his cheeks. “I didn’t order that.” He stated, dryly.
Sheesh, is this guy allergic to smiling or what?
Zack flashed him a soft grin and then leaned a little closer, resting against his elbows.
Putting on his trademark Zack Fair charm; giving the other man sultry eyes.
“Oh I know, sweetheart. It’s on the house. Compliments from Tifa.”
Cloud's face suddenly felt five degrees hotter, and he seriously hoped Zack wouldn't notice.
“Yeah?”
His eyes involuntarily dropped to Zack’s chest. Like it was something that couldn't be avoided to look at.
His pecs, revealed by the ample V-neck shirt that he was wearing today, gently squeezed together by Zack’s current position. They looked almost... squishy.
Cloud swallowed thickly. Something started to throb, and it wasn't just his heart. Not good.
His gaze got dropped even further and got fixated on a small, dark spot in the middle of Zack's chest, right between the squishy parts. There was a tiny mole or a freckle—which one, Cloud couldn’t tell for sure.
And again then there was this… strange, sultry smell? Emanating from this guy, lingering all around him?
Zack shifted his position, never fully breaking the eye contact between them. As if he were challenging Cloud, testing his limits. His subtle change in position ended up squeezing his pecs even closer together, which unfortunately, had another, rather awkward effect on Cloud's body, which caused it to react in a way that— shit shit shit —made him wish there was a cliff or a mountain high enough somewhere where he could jump right off.
In other words, he was hard.
Didn't take that much teasing from this guy to get him into that state apparently, which, embarrassingly, Cloud didn't know what to make of. Maybe he didn't really even want to.
Zack pursed his nose and twitched it cutely, as if he was trying to sniff something new. This weird, soft, almost self-satisfied smile spread across on his face, and Cloud still didn't quite know whether he hated it or not.
He stubbornly held his gaze, figuring Zack had probably already caught a whiff of his arousal, but Cloud remained calm—refusing to give him the satisfaction of victory.
The taller, dark-haired man with striking blue eyes eventually seemed to give in. He slowly straightened himself, gave him one last look that was nothing short of smug, and started drying some beer glasses next to him. Humming some cheerful tune that Cloud distantly recognized and also found irritating, but at least this hot stranger was no longer pestering him.
Staring straight into his eyes, like he knew his deepest secrets. Allowing the blond mercenary to take deep some deep breaths, at least.
Cloud knew he needed to calm himself—his stupid, treacherous dick above all—, and focus and pay no further mind to whatever wicked games this Zack guy was trying to rope him into.
Zack was a player, that much was clear, and he needed to be careful.
The bliss of not talking or acknowledging each other, unfortunately, did not last for very long.
“You know, it’s usually Tifa that gets those kinda looks from guys.”
Cloud nearly choked on his Cosmo.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Hmm. What’s the color of this drink?”
“Fuck you.”
Zack chortled, his head tilted back from the sheer force of it. “You sure?”
“Uhh.”
“It’s alright, Cloud, really. I’m flattered. It’s not often I get those looks myself, but I’ll take it.”
Another wink followed before Zack once again returned to his prior task, smooth as ever.
Cloud made a face. This guy was so full of himself, holy shit. But since he could not offer this smarmy jackass any witty comeback for once, and he doubted it would shut him up for long anyway, Cloud thought it was best not to say anything at all. Just keep drinking and thinking about his next move, much better.
He was anxiously waiting for Tifa to end her shift, so he could discuss his future work here more—maybe even get to know her better and catch up with her after so many years, like she'd promised him.
However, spending the next few weeks here, at least, especially with this guy hanging and joking around and being an insufferable flirt… should be interesting.