Archive of Our Own ^beta

“You deserve to feel good.”

Hot and hazy, Cloud can barely believe how he ended up here—in the shadows of his best friend’s apartment, letting himself indulge in something so sinful, so wrong but so good.

He finally made it into SOLDIER, after two failed attempts, with the help of his friend and First Class SOLDIER, Zack Fair. After meeting in Modeoheim, they started talking more and became good friends. Zack took him under his wing and personally trained and prepared him for the SOLDIER exams. It was rough the first couple of times he attempted. He felt devastated, weak, and most of all, terrified that Zack would be disappointed in him. But Zack never had that reaction. Instead, he always cheered him up and encouraged him to keep trying.

“Don’t ever give up on your dreams, Cloud.” 

Zack was too good to him. Cloud didn’t feel worthy of the praise and attention, but Zack didn’t give him any choice but to take it.

The day he passed, the day he finally got accepted and was handed a Third Class uniform, he realized all the suffering—all the blood, the sweat, and the tears—was worth it. The look on Zack’s face that day was like the sun. It filled him with both pride and an indescribable joy. He never thought he’d make it, but he did.

The mako treatments were brutal. It hit some people worse than others, and unfortunately, he suffered the worst of it. He was sick for a while, but Zack was there with him all the way through it. He can’t deny that having a friend around to help him was nice. It made him feel like he wasn’t alone and eased his pain, even if just a little.

After that initial first week, Cloud finally started feeling better. Actually, he started feeling great. He felt energized, capable, strong. And once he was back on his feet again, that’s when Zack took him out to celebrate.

Some of Zack’s SOLDIER friends were there too, like Kunsel and even Zack’s mentor, First Class Angeal. It was surreal, to receive all of the attention, but nice.

Cloud wasn’t intent on getting blackout drunk, because he didn’t want to do that right after being ill for an entire week. Even though SOLDIERs typically have a higher alcohol tolerance due to mako enhancements, he only orders a few drinks. Just enough to get a little tipsy—enough to loosen up some and let any anxieties wash away throughout the night. Many smiles and laughs are shared, and for once in his life, Cloud feels truly happy.

He also starts feeling closer to Zack. They’re sitting next to each other, and Zack’s been more touchy tonight than he usually is. Cloud doesn’t mind, exactly. He was always fond of the way Zack would easily wrap an arm around his shoulders, or how he’d ruffle Cloud’s hair every now and then. Sometimes he'd even pull him into a hug. Cloud was surprised by it at first, but as time went on, he became accustomed to it.

What he was not exactly accustomed to was Zack subtly brushing a hand over his own under the table, or how Zack gently rubs his thigh for a brief moment during a few conversations with their friends. Zack’s been drinking too, and Cloud wonders if Zack’s even thinking much of it. But whether he is or not, Cloud is.

It’s oddly intimate, the subtle under-the-table touches. Warmth spreads wherever Zack’s fingers brush, leaving him feeling a little hot and dizzy. He tries not to focus on it, because it’s probably just Zack being friendly and touchy as always. Maybe just a little clumsier.

But the more their shoulders and hands brush, the harder Cloud’s heart starts to work. If Zack doesn’t stop, the warmth in his gut will turn into a problem. But he can’t exactly say that, or stop him even if he wanted to. Which he doesn’t. Maybe he should, and maybe it’s selfish to take advantage of it, but it just feels too nice. He can’t bring himself to disturb whatever is happening between them right now.

After the night is over, Zack and Cloud make their way back to Sector 0. They're both a little tipsy and engaged in light conversation. But it’s more like Zack is rambling like he does, and Cloud is overly focused on Zack’s warm hand brushing his own as they walk. And whenever Zack says something funny, Cloud probably giggles more than he should, but the energy seems mutual.

When they get to the Shinra building, Zack asks Cloud something he wasn’t anticipating.

“Wanna stay at my place tonight?”

The only time he’s spent the night at Zack’s—which is technically against the rules, if they got caught—was when Cloud was sick. But he got special permission, then. It was an exception. Other than that, he’d only ever stayed late to study, then he returned to the barracks. But tonight, it feels different.

Cloud is silent for a moment too long, because Zack pulls away a little. “You don’t have to. I just, uh…thought it’d be nice to hang out some more.”

Zack seems a little nervous, if Cloud’s not imagining it, which makes him both relieved that he’s not the only one, and more nervous because he’s not the only one. 

Cloud’s pulse is loud in his ears when he looks up at Zack. He tries to keep his expression neutral as he responds.

“No, it’s fine. We can do that.”

Zack smiles at him like an excited puppy, and it’s adorable. He kind of hates how adorable it is, wishes it didn’t make his heart flutter like it does. Cloud can’t tell if it’s normal to feel this way about a friend. He tries to tell himself it is, despite the nagging feeling that it’s not.

“Great!”

They get to Zack’s apartment without anybody spotting them. Or anybody that would snitch, anyway. They run into Genesis and Angeal briefly, who just gave them a smile and some kind of knowing look. Cloud shakes it off, tries to ignore the growing anticipation in his stomach as Zack closes the door behind them.

“You can take the shower first. I’ve got some clothes you can borrow for tonight, just gimme a sec.”

Zack goes into his bedroom and searches for spare clothes, and Cloud is left standing in the living room, nervously fidgeting with his hands. Why is he so nervous?

He’s not so sure about the sleeping arrangements. Zack slept on the couch when Cloud was recovering from the mako treatments, because he was too weak to argue with him about it. But now he’s not.

When Zack comes back and hands him his clothes, Cloud just pushes any questions to the back of his mind. He’ll cross that bridge when they get there.

“Thanks.”

The shower is nice. The warm water eases some of his nerves, makes him feel a little refreshed. But the smell of Zack’s body wash and shampoo keeps his gut feeling warm.

Once he’s out and pulling a shirt that’s a few sizes too big for him over his head and slipping into a pair of underwear and sweats—all of which smell like fresh laundry mixed with Zack—part of him is calm, and the other half is too warm.

He takes a deep breath and walks out, trying to focus more on the calm and comfort and not how his gut twists warmly.

Zack is on the couch flipping through movies on the TV. When he notices Cloud’s presence, he sets the remote down on the coffee table and stands.

“Hey…” Zack pauses for a moment when he turns around to look at Cloud, who freezes, unable to read whatever Zack’s expression is trying to tell him. But before he can analyze it more, it’s replaced with a smile as Zack walks over to him.

“You look…comfy.” Zack lightly giggles, and Cloud can’t suppress a smile. Damn Zack’s contagious energy.

Zack ruffles his damp hair, “I’ll be right back. You can find something to watch in the meantime, if you wanna.”

Zack grabs some clothes for himself out of his bedroom, and when he disappears into the bathroom and the door clicks shut, Cloud settles down on the couch with a sigh, trying to calm his racing heart again.

He picks up the remote and mindlessly scrolls through movies. But all he can think about is…what did Zack say? In the meantime? That’s…kind of unusual. It implies there’s something to do when Zack gets back. But Cloud is having a hard time thinking too deeply about it. It’s only 22:00, but the lingering alcohol in his system paired with familiar surroundings and comforting scents is making him drowsy.

He chooses a movie at random, just to put something on and drown out any lingering thoughts he does have, then sinks into the couch to relax.

At some point, his eyes slipped shut, and he dozed off for a little while. But as soon as he hears the bathroom door open, he’s awake again like he never drifted off. His heart races, but he can’t figure out why.

“Hey, Spikey,” Zack walks up behind the couch and gently runs a hand through blonde hair. “Did I wake you?”

Cloud lets out a soft sigh, relaxing into the sensation of Zack’s warm hand in his hair.

“Mm…no.”

Zack lightly chuckles, like he doesn’t believe him. The sound sends warmth flooding through his body again. Fuck, what is Zack doing to him?

“…Y’know, I was thinking about how to celebrate with you. Getting into SOLDIER is a huge accomplishment.”

Zack’s praise makes his face flush hot.

His voice is soft and comforting, but a little breathy, like he’s nervous. Again. Cloud can’t see his expression, wonders if the drinks are still affecting Zack like they are him.

He feels the cushion against his head sink a bit, and the warmth of his friend is suddenly closer.

“What do you think, Spike? Is there anything you want?”

Zack’s fingers tickle the roots of his hair, sending tingles all the way down his body. The first thought that Cloud has is kiss me. But that’s absolutely not something he can say out loud. Or at all, ever.

“Um…no, not really.” Cloud’s voice slightly shakes, and he internally curses at himself for it. He’s never felt so nervous around Zack. He partially blames himself, that he shouldn’t feel like this, but Zack’s not exactly helping either. The entire night, Cloud can’t tell if Zack’s been throwing hints, or if he just gets like this when he drinks.

“Hmmm…” Zack hums, awfully close to his ear. Then comes a breathy laugh.

“Man, there’s this prank gift I got one time during a secret Xmas exchange that was pretty crazy..." Zack pauses for a second, so Cloud thinks he's going to stop there, but then he continues. "But one day, I actually tried it. It was…surprisingly good. Don’t know if whoever gifted it actually expected me to use it.”

A strong sense of anticipation settles in Cloud’s gut. Something about the tone in Zack’s voice—the way he paused in the middle of it like he was hesitant to even admit it—implies certain things that has his body temperature rising.

“What was it?”

Cloud can’t contain his curiosity after that. It’s way too tempting not to ask.

Zack pauses for a moment, then abruptly pulls back, almost eagerly so.

“Oh, I know! Hold on, I’ll show you,” Zack’s voice gets further, so Cloud looks back to see him walking maybe a little too swiftly to his room, presumably to get whatever it is.

Cloud wasn’t really anticipating him doing all of that. But then again, Zack never ceases to surprise him.

When he comes back out, it’s then Cloud notices Zack is dressed in a fitted white tank top and sweats like the pair he gave Cloud. The tank top shows off his muscles so well it’s almost ridiculous. Cloud has to actively force himself not to stare. He tries to find something else to focus on, so his eyes wander down to the semi-long object Zack is holding. It’s…weird. He can’t quite figure out what it is. The closer Zack gets, the more he can make out a few buttons on the longer piece, and a top piece that’s slightly separate, thicker and rounder.

“It’s this massager thing— Well…” Zack is behind the couch again, but now Cloud is turned around. He reads Magic Wand in small gold print on the object. In his peripheral vision, he sees Zack rub the back of his neck, like he does when he’s sheepish or nervous.

“It’s technically a vibrator. But, uh, it’s also good for other massages! Or just massages in general.”

Cloud swallows. Oh. Guess that’s why Zack’s acting weird. His rambling is kinda cute, though. But that’s not what his brain is stuck on.

Cloud is silent in shock. Zack just brought out a fucking vibrator, a vibrator. A sex toy. And now he’s showing it to his friend after asking him how he wants to celebrate his accomplishments. Cloud can’t wrap his head around it, can’t tell if he’s dreaming or not.

“Spike?” Zack lowers himself to Cloud’s level, meeting his eyes with a slight grin. “You okay?”

Is he okay? Is he supposed to be okay? His face is hot, so he knows he’s blushing. But he can’t look away. Is this a trick question? Is there a right answer? Cloud’s heart is pounding, thoughts racing in all different directions, so much so he’s drawing blanks.

“Cloud?” Zack asks, slightly concerned this time.

“Y-Yeah, ‘m fine.” Cloud responds short and shaky, trying to keep his eyes away from Zack’s lips. He hates himself for stuttering, but he literally can’t keep himself calm after that. The way Zack grins back at him is starting to work him up. His body takes it as a signal, even though he doesn’t actually know if it is.

“Good,” Zack stands up again, but still leans against the couch. “So…d’you wanna try it? It’s charged.”

Cloud looks up at him with shock he can’t hide. Is Zack seriously offering to use a vibrator on him?

Zack chuckles at him, only serving to make Cloud’s ears flush as hot as his face.

“You’re cute when you blush, you know that?” Zack brushes a few blonde strands behind Cloud’s hot ear. This…he can’t process it as anything else but flirting. Zack is obviously flirting with him. Zack’s been flirting with him all night.

“I…” Cloud involuntarily swallows, then turns his face away, unable to fight off his embarrassment or his growing anticipation for something to happen. How can he say no to this?

“We can… I mean, try it, yeah. I think.” Cloud forces himself to shut up before he says anything else stupid.

“Yeah?” Zack sounds both happy and like he suddenly lost his breath.

“Yeah.” Cloud agrees immediately, before the second thoughts can creep in.

Zack walks around to the front of the couch, and Cloud follows his every movement. His gut is hot now. Just the idea of Zack doing this with him is enough to get him half hard. Zack didn’t even specify where he’s going to use it, but regardless, there’s no way Cloud can escape his building desire. No matter where it’s used, it’s going to feel good. Too good. Maybe it was dumb of him to agree to this, but he’s not exactly thinking straight. And Zack was the one who offered in the first place, but he isn’t sure Zack’s thinking straight either.

When Zack’s in front of him, Cloud’s heart roars in his ears. He folds his arms over his lap a bit awkwardly in an effort to hide his half-hard erection. These sweats Zack gave him leave little to the imagination. And so are the ones Zack is wearing, which means Cloud is forcing his eyes to stay up. He starts to wonder if maybe this was all intentional, but Zack interrupts his thoughts when he plops down beside him.

“So, where do you wanna try first?”

Cloud turns his head to look at Zack, and they’re close. Legs touching, arms brushing. Zack’s hair is still damp from the shower. He also smells really nice, like the body wash and shampoo Cloud used, except better. Dizzyingly so. Being this close to Zack right now feels more intimate than it usually does. Maybe everything is enhanced because the only source of light is the TV shining on them. Cloud can see the flicker of the changing scenes on Zack’s skin, a partial reflection in his eyes.

Zack’s eyes…they’re beautiful. And dilated. Cloud is curious if Zack’s heart is working nearly as hard as his own.

“I…don’t know…” Cloud replies shyly, trying to keep his voice soft and steady, but it does little to hide how flustered he’s getting. What the hell is he supposed to say? He’s never done this before. And Gaia, he keeps realizing this is Zack, his best friend and closest comrade. Zack, who he’s actually had a crush on ever since he first laid eyes on him, although he hadn’t fully realized that until recently.

Zack seems to be caught up thinking for a second, then he smiles and leans back, opens his legs and pats the space between them. “Here, just c’mere and we’ll figure it out.”

Cloud can hardly believe they’re doing this, but he nods and moves anyway, despite how surreal it feels. He gets up and carefully settles between Zack’s legs, and it’s the warmth and comfort that brings him back down and grounds him, makes him believe maybe this is real. Maybe.

“Hmm, perfect...” Zack nearly purrs as he wraps his arms around Cloud’s waist. The warmth from Zack’s body floods through his back and around his sides. Zack’s scent gets stronger, makes him fuzzier. All his worries start to fade, and every sensation feels enhanced in all the right ways when Zack’s got him in his arms. He keeps his own arms in his lap and tries his best to hide himself from Zack, despite the implications of the situation.

“This okay?”

Cloud’s voice borders on a whisper, “Yeah, it’s fine.”

Zack’s chin rests on his shoulder as he hugs him tighter.

“Wow…was your waist always this tiny?”

Zack’s breath hits his ear, and Cloud can’t stop himself from shivering a little. His face grows hotter knowing Zack must’ve felt it, because they’re pressed so close nearly everywhere.

Zack’s not wrong, though. Cloud’s muscles have definitely become more toned since the mako enhancements, but nowhere near as toned as Zack’s. Zack is just bigger than him. Taller, too. Cloud won’t say it, but he kind of likes it—how Zack’s hands are bigger than his own, and how his arms are a bit thicker and his veins are more pronounced. Zack bringing attention to their size difference only causes more heat to pool between his legs.

Reluctantly, Zack loosens his arms and softly hums.

“Okay, how about we start…” Zack’s voice tapers as his arms move. To Cloud’s dismay, he pulls one of his hands away from his lap, but luckily Cloud’s other arm hides his growing arousal. For the most part.

A soft sigh escapes him when Zack presses a thumb into his palm, rubbing in slow circles.

“Here… I’ll let you feel the lowest setting first, and tell me if it’s okay. Sound good?”

Cloud’s heart races and his erection actively throbs as Zack says all of that while gently massaging his palm.

“Yeah…” This time, Cloud whispers. He can’t get his voice to work, or more like he’s scared of what it will sound like if he does.

Zack hums softly in his ear, okay, then brings the wand to his hand. His thumb slides on a button and presses, and suddenly the sound of vibrations fill the air. It’s low, but it still feels intense when it first touches Cloud’s palm. Maybe he’s feeling extra sensitive, but it almost tickles. Cloud lets out a quiet sigh, but then can’t stop himself from softly chuckling. Zack makes a curious noise close to his ear, which makes him have to muffle another chuckle.

“Oh, does it tickle?” Cloud can hear the grin in Zack’s voice as he brushes the vibrator over his palm and up his fingers. Cloud tenses and tries not to giggle, but fails miserably. The more attention Zack brings to it, the more sensitive he gets.

“It does!” Zack softly exclaims, moving the vibrator up Cloud’s forearm, only brushing his skin with it while gripping his wrist with his free hand to keep it still.

“No!” Cloud denies it, voice still low despite the excitement in it, but he can’t stop himself from smiling. When Zack barely touches him with it like he’s doing, of course it does.

Cloud doesn’t expect it when he feels the vibrations touch his side. He immediately starts squirming under the feeling because of how sensitive he feels. His sides are really ticklish, and he can’t hide it no matter how are he tries.

“Zack, no, stop!” Cloud giggles breathlessly, trying to pry Zack’s hands away, but Zack won’t budge.

“Nope! I found your weakness, didn’t I?”

“Shut up!”

Cloud squirms in Zack’s firm grip as he feels the funny sensations rush through him. But it starts blending with a different feeling as Zack’s breath hits his neck. He slides the wand lower, down to Cloud’s waist, lets it roam around his belly. Cloud is trying to catch his breath from the giggling, but when he’s hit with those different sensations, a more audible sigh escapes him. He starts to relax, but the warmth pooling in his lower body gets more prominent the longer Zack drags the wand around.

“Does it feel nice?” Zack slowly slides the wand lower, toward his hip. The vibrations start to spread lower as a result—through his belly, his hip, close to where all the heat is pooling the most.

Cloud takes a deep breath and softly hums, “Mmh, yeah.”

“Good,” Zack breathes against his ear. It sends goosebumps prickling down his body, enhancing the sensation of the wand sliding over his hip and down to his thigh. “Want you to feel good…”

Zack’s voice takes on a deeper tone, and that paired with the vibrations on his thigh makes Cloud have to try harder to suppress a moan. Warmth is flooding through his lap, and if he wasn’t before, he’s definitely fully hard now. It’s getting harder to hide it, harder to fight it.

“You okay, Spike? You’re kinda tense.”

Cloud goes to respond, but it’s unfortunate timing, because Zack drags the wand down his thigh, just barely teasing his inner thigh, and he lets out a soft moan instead. No words, just a moan. Cloud’s face has never been more on fire than it is right now.

“Oh,” Zack breathlessly laughs, but it sounds more like he got punched in the gut. His breath shakes against Cloud’s neck, and Cloud gets slightly terrified for a second, until Zack mouths against his neck.

“Feels that good, huh?”

Zack slides the wand a little higher this time, closer to the heat between his legs, but Cloud grabs his wrist. Really he just wanted something to grab, not to stop him, but now his lap is uncovered, which is a whole new problem.

“Want to stop?” Zack asks softly, a little concerned and ready to stop if Cloud really wants him to. But he doesn’t, he wants anything but that.

“N-No, don’t,” Cloud nearly pleads, because even though he’s scared of what Zack will think of him, he also can’t contain how badly he wants to keep going in the heat of the moment.

Zack relaxes some, then his breath gets uneven on Cloud’s neck.

“Oh. You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you? Look at that…”

Cloud grips his wrist tighter, because Zack definitely just noticed how hard he is. Now he’s hot and desperate and scared.

Zack seems to sense his doubts, because he wraps his free arm around Cloud’s waist and pulls him flush against his hips. And oh, Cloud is not the only one getting worked up from this. He feels the outline of Zack, hard against his lower back. The thin clothes make it easier to feel. He can’t stop himself from letting out another hot sigh.

“Feel me?”

Cloud whispers, “Yeah…big.”

He feels a throb against his lower back, and Gods that’s so hot.

“You think so?” Zack asks huskily, carefully moving the wand again, higher, and Cloud lets him. His hand stays on Zack’s, follows his movements, but he doesn’t stop him.

“Mhm,” Cloud half moans as the vibrations spread through his thigh and so close to his aching cock.

“You’re cute when you moan,” Zack murmurs against his neck, leaves a kiss while he slides the wand right next to Cloud’s erection, making him whimper. The fabric covering his cock lightly vibrates, effectively teasing him so good, but not enough.

“Mmhh, please?”

“Hm?” Zack hums and teases Cloud’s neck with another kiss. Fingers brush down his side, all the way to the hem of his shirt to slip underneath. The skin to skin feeling drives Cloud crazy.

“Please what?”

It’s obvious what Cloud is asking for, and he thinks Zack knows that. But he asks anyway, and Cloud is left trying to figure out how to answer that question without feeling incredibly embarrassed. He finds there is no way to do it that way. He wonders if Zack will keep teasing him if he doesn’t answer, can’t decide if that’d be better or worse.

Cloud swallows, nervous and excited and so worked up that he caves. With his hand still gripping Zack’s wrist, he gently guides Zack’s hand and the wand closer to his clothed cock, and his thighs briefly jerk when the wand brushes against it.

“Here,” Cloud breathes, half moans because he can’t stop himself. Feeling the vibrations, even if it’s just a little, rolling through his neglected erection is intense. It’s a feeling unlike anything he’s ever felt.

His face throbs with heat when Zack softly moans next to his ear and he feels an obvious twitch against his lower back.

“You want it here?” Zack moves the wand to the base of Cloud’s cock and slowly guides it up. The pleasure causes his thighs to lightly twitch and tremble. He tries to hold it in, but a whimper escapes him anyway. The hand under his shirt slides higher, firm against hot skin, all the way up to his chest.

“Feels good, doesn’t it?” A thumb circles and rubs over Cloud’s sensitive nipple as the wand moves higher, teasing the head of his cock through soft fabrics. Cloud gasps uncontrollably, feeling hot and dizzy as Zack kisses his neck a little more sloppily.

“Y-Yes,” Cloud whispers, moans and barely resists the urge to move his hips and beg for more. Zack’s breath is hot on his neck, as is his body firmly pressed against his back. If he’s not imagining it, Zack’s hips twitch forward. Maybe it’s all in his head. Everything is blending together into warm pleasure, enough to make him feel like he’s melting.

He feels himself start to leak in his underwear, in Zack’s underwear, helpless to the vibrations teasing him.

Cloud suddenly gasps when the vibrations abruptly grow stronger and roll around the head of his cock. Zack must’ve pressed a button for a higher setting. Cloud attempts to say his name, but he whimpers instead when Zack sucks on the skin of his neck. His thighs tremble, hips twitch, hands grip Zack’s wrist and thigh tightly as he’s overwhelmed by the teasing. He might cum in his clothes if Zack doesn’t stop. He swears he hears Zack groan against his neck, like just making Cloud tremble with pleasure is enough to get him off too.

Zack lets go of his neck with a wet pop, and the cool feeling of his breath hitting the wet spot sends a shiver through Cloud’s body.

“Fuck… You don’t know what you do to me, Cloud.”

Hearing Zack talk like that—curse and say his name like that—makes him nearly cum on the spot. His cock twitches under the wand, desperate and hard against the fabric of Zack’s sweats.

“Z-Zack, I can’t, please, I’m gonna—” Cloud breathes desperately, almost coming undone, but Zack pulls the wand away and turns it off right before he can.

Cloud lets out a heavy sigh, throbbing as the pleasure wanes but still lingers. His gaze falls on the TV as he catches his breath, unfocused and spacey.

Zack’s forehead nuzzles into his shoulder, breath hot through his thin shirt. The strong arm wrapped around his bare waist pulls him impossibly closer.

“Gaia, you’re so fucking hot. Like you so much, Spike. Wanna make you feel so good…”

Zack breathes against his shoulder, vulnerable like a confession and hot like he’s drowning in the lust.

The flush on Cloud’s face spreads down to his chest. Zack just… Zack likes him. Is he serious? Or is he just saying things because he’s slightly intoxicated and hazy from the lust? Cloud doesn’t have the energy to ask, can barely get himself to think coherently after that. All he can think about is how badly he wants more, how he wants to make Zack feel just as good.

It’s hot, and Cloud is starting to sweat. His hand is idle on Zack’s thigh, but he wants to move it. He wants to touch Zack like Zack is touching him. He wants to make him sweat, too.

“Me too…” Cloud says quietly, still a little breathless from how close he was. The hot haze makes him give. He slides his hand further up Zack’s thigh. “It’s hot…can we…”

Cloud can’t get himself to fully say it. His heart pounds as Zack’s breath slightly falters.

“Can we take our clothes off?” Zack asks, filling in Cloud’s words like he can read his mind. But Cloud is grateful, because right now it’s still hard to voice his desires.

“Yeah,” Cloud responds breathily, and Zack sets the vibrator down beside them before grabbing the hem of Cloud’s shirt, pulling it over his head and discarding it.

Things start getting hotter between them. Turn around is whispered into the back of Cloud’s neck, then Zack pulls his own top over his head and throws it off to the side as Cloud does as he’s told. He stands and turns around, tries to climb back into Zack’s lap, but is stopped before he can.

Zack’s eyes rake over his body, and Cloud feels it like a trail of fire.

“Gorgeous…” Zack says quietly, as if in awe. Cloud blushes furiously, having never been complimented like this before. It renders him speechless for a moment. All he can do is stare at Zack, subconsciously letting his eyes wander down and admiring what he sees. His first thought pours out of him as soon as it comes.

“So are you…” Cloud’s voice remains soft, but there’s a seriousness in it that makes it clear he means it. He can’t help it. Zack is too hot not to stare at, baring toned arms, chest and abs. And it’s even better as Zack’s face takes on a darker hue.

“Thank you, Spike.” Zack smiles, then grins, and Gods Cloud could die happy here.

Zack brings a hand up to Cloud's hip, teases the waistband of his sweats.

“This, too?”

Cloud decides—while feeling a little more confident—that this is the time to play with him. As flustered as Cloud can get around Zack, he’s seen Zack get flustered a handful of times too, including the small taste he’s gotten tonight, and he wants to play with that. He’s curious to test the limits of this new side of each other they’re exploring.

“What, gonna make me do it myself?”

And there it is, that’s all it takes. He sees the moment Zack’s eyes darken, feels the shift in the air and the tension between them grow.

Suddenly, fingers slip underneath the waistbands and they’re yanked down. Cloud nearly stumbles, gasps as his cock is set free. He briefly sees Zack pull his own down and off, but it’s all a hot blur.

His heart almost jumps out of his chest when Zack suddenly tugs him down by the hips.

“Come here.”

Zack sounds so dominant like this, power dripping in his tone and in the way he manhandles Cloud into his lap.

Cloud grabs Zack’s shoulders to balance himself as his knees naturally settle on either side of his thighs. Hands slide up his own thighs and grab his hips in a hot rush. There’s nothing separating them now. Skin on skin, bare and hot and Cloud is actually going to melt. Zack pulls his hips close, and they both moan when they press into each other, hot and hard.

“Didn’t know you could be such a little brat,” Zack grins at him, breath brushing against his lips as he talks. They’re so close, touching in so many intimate ways. Cloud is so dizzy he can barely think. He can’t recall how they got this far, but it feels so good he can’t complain.

Every little movement, every brush of skin and breath sends signals down Cloud’s body. He’s lost deep in Zack’s eyes now, black nearly drowning out the crystal blue-greens he’s grown fond of. Thumbs rub his hips, his hands slide closer to Zack’s neck, subtle glances between eyes and lips are shared. The distance between them inches closer, until there is none left. Warm lips brush, experimental and curious, then eyes slip shut, and their lips meet in a soft kiss. Their first kiss.

The new sensation sends warm, thrilling tingles through Cloud’s body. It’s over faster than he wants, even though it was slow in reality. But they’re still close, and one look in Zack’s eyes gives him a rush. Cloud briefly licks his lips before they’re closing the distance again. Their lips meet with more intention, then start to slide together at a steady pace. Fingers start to put more pressure on his hips as the pace picks up. Two kisses become three, then four. It gets slicker, hotter, breaths grow unsteady and someone moves their hips.

Cloud can’t say who did it first, but they both sigh hotly into the kiss as they slide against each other. Cloud starts really feeling the heat again, and he’s desperate after being teased and edged. He moves his hips against Zack’s with more purpose, and Zack softly groans while his hands move lower. Those hands suddenly grab Cloud’s ass, forcing a gasp out of him as his hips twitch forward. Zack pulls away just enough to look him in the eyes.

“Someone’s impatient,” Zack breathes against his lips. Cloud feels the smirk on Zack’s face, and his body burns hotter in return.

“Wonder why,” Cloud tries to keep his voice flat, but it comes out breathless because Zack is making him extremely horny and desperate.

“Fine. How about we change that,” Zack pulls one of his hands away and briefly pats around the couch beside them. When Cloud sees a blur of white in his peripheral, a rush goes straight through his body and into his cock. He twitches, and Zack definitely felt it.

“Mmm, don’t worry. I’ll let you cum this time.”

Cloud doesn’t know where Zack learned to talk like this. He doesn’t have time to think about it, because Zack shifts them so there’s a little more room between them, then he brings the vibrator between them. Cloud’s breath grows shallow as he watches and feels Zack slide the wand around his tip, spreading the pre he’s been leaking and making the end piece more slick. Once he's satisfied, he places it between their cocks.

“Can I see your hand?”

Cloud's heart pounds like it wants to escape as he brings one of his hands down from Zack’s shoulder. Zack smiles and takes it, guides it down and wraps it around both of them with the wand in between. Cloud’s breath is taken from him while Zack hums deeply. He’s holding Zack’s cock. He’s holding both of them together, with a vibrator. Feels himself and Zack throb from the idea of it alone. It has to be one of the most lewd things he’s ever seen, let alone experienced.

“Ready?” Zack asks huskily, voice about as hot and desperate as Cloud feels.

Cloud is barely able to get a hum out before the vibrations suddenly hit. He squeezes them tighter out of surprise, whimpers and twitches while Zack moans. His other hand grasps between Zack’s shoulder and neck, like he can’t take it unless he’s holding onto something. It’s intense like this, with nothing separating them, and feeling Zack break down almost just as much as him when faced with the pleasure.

“Gods, Cloud, that’s so good,” Zack moans breathily as his head falls back against the cushions. They’re eyes meet, and out of habit, Cloud starts to stroke them like he would when getting off by himself. For a brief second, he forgot he was also holding Zack, until he feels Zack’s hips move and his hard cock thrust into his movements. They both moan, and Cloud feels close already when the head of their cocks slide together. Someone’s leaking, maybe both of them, because it’s getting slicker fairly quickly.

“Zack, I’m—" Cloud’s thighs start to tremble as he resists the urge to move his own hips. He’s losing himself in the sensations, it’s too good. Zack pulls him closer by the hip with his free hand, making them slide together against the vibrator again. The sound borders on obscene.

“Close?” Zack closes in and sucks on his neck, using more force this time, and Cloud naturally tilts his head to give him more room to work. He feels Zack’s breath shake, hears the desperation in his voice even as it rumbles through his chest.

“I-I can’t, ‘m sorry!” Cloud doesn’t know why he’s apologizing. Maybe because he wishes he could last longer, or maybe something else. He doesn’t know, but he’s about to break.

“Don’t be sorry, mmh— I'm close too. Feels so good, you feel so good,” Zack thrusts up against his fingers again, pulls back from his neck and brings his face close to Cloud’s. “Wanna feel you around me, fuck— I’d fuck you so good. You deserve to feel good. Would you let me?”

Cloud squeezes them and throbs, moans, nearly cries as the heat and vibrations—and Zack’s words—build up a wave of pleasure.

“Yeah? Would you like that?”

Zack throbs against his fingers while his nails on Zack’s shoulder dig into skin, thighs trembling more as the pleasure intensifies.

“Y-Yes—“

“Yeah... Mmh, you gonna cum, baby?”

“Yes! OhmygodZackplease,” Cloud moans in surprise as Zack kisses him, melts into it and sloppily reciprocates as their slick tips slide together. Zack’s tongue slips into his mouth, fingers dig into his hip in just the right way, and he’s gone. His fingers scratch a line of red across the back of Zack’s neck, toes curl, and eyes roll back as he cums hard. The pleasure hits him like intense waves that never end. He moans as hot white ropes spill out of him in pulses. The vibrations never give, making each moment just as intense as the last. Tears well up in his eyes as he feels teeth pulling his bottom lip, then Zack’s cock pulses under his fingers and against his own. Something hot and slick spills through his fingers with each twitch. Hot moans spill into his ear as he feels the body under him tense and tremble nearly just as much as his own. It’s the best thing he’s ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

Cloud can’t tell where the pleasure ends, but he starts getting overly sensitive after a few seconds. The vibrations are intense and now overstimulating, but he finds he’s slightly disappointed when Zack turns the vibrator off and the overwhelming feeling suddenly dissipates, even though he can breathe easier now.

The wand falls somewhere on the couch beside them. Heavy breaths fill the air as they come down from the high. Warm, strong arms gently embrace him, pull him close, and Cloud lets himself relax into the hold. He settles his head between Zack’s neck and shoulder, allows himself to breathe in the comforting scent, and listens to Zack’s heartbeat as it starts to slow down.

It’d be enough to lull him to sleep, if his legs weren’t getting uncomfortable.

“Zack,” Cloud whispers. It starts to hit him that he just slept with his best friend. But while it tightens his chest with nerves, he’s too tired to really process it.

“Mm?”

Zack sounds as sleepy as Cloud feels.

“My legs…”

Zack seems to realize after a second.

“Oh, sorry. Here,” Zack gently taps his hip and gestures for him to move and sit next to him. Cloud is shaky, but Zack never lets go of him, guides him the whole time, until Cloud sinks into the cushions beside him.

“Hey, I’m gonna go get something to clean us up. I’ll be right back, okay?”

Cloud nods, still feeling a bit hazy and drowsy from the afterglow, and the night they’ve had altogether.

He doesn’t realize he dozed off until a cool, damp cloth is gently wiping his skin. On his forehead, his hand, then his stomach. It’s soft and feels nice against his flush skin. He lets out a soft sigh and opens his eyes, just a little.

The TV is on the home screen, playing ambient music while it waits for someone to pick another movie. It’s comforting in a unique way.

And Zack is lowered in front of him, soft eyes and warm smile, warming Cloud’s heart like it always has.

Zack offers him a glass of water, but the red lines peeking from around the back of Zack’s neck catches his attention first, and then warmth makes its way into other parts of Cloud. Distantly, he wonders if he’ll see any marks on his neck the next time he looks in the mirror. He secretly hopes so.

Cloud accepts the glass of water, and Gods, Zack is way too kind to him. This is so much more than he’d ever ask for, but he’s grateful to have Zack caring for him when he’s this tired. He drinks about half the glass before whispering thank you, and hands it back to Zack, who puts it down on the coffee table and returns his attention to Cloud.

“No need to thank me,” Zack smiles, resting his hand on Cloud’s. “You okay, Spikey?”

“Mhm…”

“Did I wear you out?”

“Maybe.”

Zack softly chuckles. He likes the sound so much. He likes Zack so much.

Like you so much, Spike. Wanna make you feel so good.

“…Do you like me?” Cloud asks sleepily, only realizing what he just said after he said it. His eyes widen and he tenses when Zack meets them.

“I do.” Zack doesn’t hesitate. His voice is steady, like he has no doubts. But Cloud doesn’t know if Zack understands what he means.

“No, I mean…“

“Like more than a friend?” Zack’s voice is a little nervous now, and Cloud can’t tell if he should be scared or not. Regardless, he is. He’s in a vulnerable spot right now to be rejected. Literally. Fully nude in front of his best friend after they just came all over each other. At least Zack is still naked, too.

Cloud finally gathers the courage to give a slow nod, stomach twisting in knots as he gazes into Zack’s eyes.

“I still do.”

Cloud blinks, like he can’t tell if he’s been asleep this whole time or not.

Zack pinches his leg, and he hisses and quickly rubs the slightly sore spot.

“Ow! Why?”

“You’re awake. And I like you no matter what, Cloud.”

Zack brushes a few strands of hair away from Cloud’s eyes, which are starting to feel warmer for a reason he can’t place.

“…What about you? How do you feel?” Zack asks gently, touches him gently, even though his voice slightly shakes by the end of his question. Cloud’s never heard Zack sound so nervous.

Cloud takes his hand, holds it gently as he rests their hands in his lap. If not for Zack’s direct confession, Cloud wouldn’t have ever dreamed of admitting this out loud.

“I…like you, too. More than a friend.”

The way Zack’s face lights up—how his smile just exudes joy—melts Cloud’s heart like ice cream in the sun. The nerves in Cloud’s stomach unravel, and are suddenly replaced with butterflies.

He can’t believe he just confessed to his friend, that they confessed to each other.

Cloud wonders if Zack had ever intended on telling him. Did he have that intention tonight? Maybe that's a question for future and rested Cloud to worry about.

“Really?!”

Cloud nods, unable to keep himself from smiling.

Zack lets his knees rest on the floor and pulls Cloud by his waist into a tight embrace. Cloud is a little surprised at first, but quickly finds himself relaxing into the strong hold.

“I’m so glad, Spike!” Zack’s voice is muffled in Cloud’s stomach, so it feels a bit funny. But he sounds so genuinely relieved it makes Cloud’s heart soften even more.

“Me too,” he says softly.

Zack, albeit reluctantly, pulls away and sets the cloth on the coffee table, then grabs their discarded underwear and hands Cloud his pair.

“Here, wanna put these back on?”

Zack has this look in his eyes as Cloud takes his offer and slips them on. He looks like an excited puppy. It’s endearing, makes Cloud’s heart pick up again. There’s a nervous tension in the air, but a good kind.

When they’ve both slipped into underwear, so they have at least something on, Zack lays down on the couch and pulls Cloud down with him. He softly gasps as he’s pulled into Zack's warm embrace, laying on his belly with his head resting on Zack’s chest.

It’s hard to resist relaxing into the warmth, so he doesn’t. He takes a deep breath and lets his arms wrap around Zack, cuddling him.

“So warm,” Zack sighs and slides his hands around Cloud’s back. Cloud almost giggles.

“Mm…”

“…Hey, Cloud?”

“Yeah?” Cloud mumbles into Zack’s chest.

“Wanna go out tomorrow? Or we can stay here, since we went out tonight… Or, uh, anything you wanna do.”

Cloud hears Zack’s heartbeat rise. It’s adorable, but his own does the same. He lifts his head to look up at Zack.

“Are you trying to ask me on a date?”

When Zack’s cheeks heat up, Cloud can’t help but smile. It turns out Zack really does like Cloud, just as much as Cloud likes him. He thought this whole time Zack was just being friendly because that’s who he is. He is friendly, but Cloud was blind to the fact that Zack has shown more interest in him specifically, and even went out of his way to spend more time with him as time went on. Maybe Cloud was in denial, because he was terrified of losing his only friend. But that fear is unraveling, and instead, his heart starts filling with something warm.

“Yeah,” Zack lightly chuckles. “Am I doing a bad job?”

“I almost passed out from how hard you made me cum. I think we’re past that.”

Zack wraps his arms around him tighter, “Yeah…that was really hot.”

Cloud can’t help but softly laugh.

“But seriously…” Zack’s gazes into Cloud’s eyes like there’s nowhere in the world he’d rather be than right here.

“Will you go out with me, Cloud?”

Cloud feels his eyes warming up again, almost like he could cry, and he can’t figure out why.

He slides up a little, until his face is inches from Zack’s.

“Of course...” Lips just barely brush as Cloud whispers.

They both smile. Someone giggles, and then their lips meet in a warm kiss.

Cloud’s heart has never been so full.

The warmth in his eyes tells him one thing; he will do anything and everything to keep this man—whose soul is so warm and beautiful that love and kindness pours out of him in endless waves—safe.