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Revival of the Departed	By : Jdee Category: Final Fantasy VII > General Views: 1194 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Title: Revival of the Departed

Author: J’dee

Series: Final Fantasy VII

Rating: Mature – NC-17

Pairs: Cloud X Zack / Zack X Cloud

Story: Alive and well, Zack has returned… but he’s not alone. Hojo’s experiments on him have caused some schizophrenic side effects that even Zack doesn’t realise. Sephiroth and Jenova are alive and well… inside him, plotting their return and destruction of the planet. Will Cloud be able to kill Sephiroth again when he’s housed inside the body of his best friend and mentor who doesn’t even know what’s going on?

(Het/Yaoi/Non-Con, Con)

Disclaimer: Make no money yadda yadda yadda, not my characters ect ect

Chapter Eleven

Zack was finishing the beer as Cloud cleaned up in the kitchen. Zack watched the younger man. They were finally alone and were able to talk like they had to. But Cloud really had turned in to a man of few words. He knew something was bothering the guy. He just knew by Cloud’s closed off mannerisms they way he was stalling with little things like cleaning a spotless counter or cleaning the same plate three times over as if trying to scrub an imaginary spot away.

Zack stood up walking in to the bar area making Cloud stop for a moment. Zack saw the younger man’s cheeks heat up his eyes closing.

Zack sighed placing his mug on the ‘to be cleaned’ rack. “Cloud… what is it? This is going to drive me insane… just out with it already.”

Cloud let the cloth drop in to the sink. “ImsorryZack…” He blurted out almost so fast Zack didn’t catch it and he felt Cloud shove him so fast that he didn’t see it coming and the wall and his back connected before a mouth was over his.

Zack gasped, realization hitting him on why Cloud hadn’t really had much to say. He let the younger man have his moment. But what he didn’t realize was how much of a grip Cloud had gained in the past three years.

Zack definitely got lost in the kiss. The intruding tongue wasn’t as invading as he’d thought it would be. Zack inwardly groaned at the tongue stroking the inside of his mouth.

The younger man’s hands gripped his arms tightly like he was scared Zack would vanish any moment now. He slipped his arms round Cloud soothing the younger man’s anxiety down. Letting Cloud break the kiss first he felt the trembling as a head landed on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry… I just… it’s…” Cloud sighed defeated.

Zack felt the grip loosen as a hand moved to the top button and slowly the hands began to work the fabric undone. Cloud was still shaking like he was mentally unsure.

“I’m sorry…” Cloud repeated.

“Shhh easy.” Zack’s hand moved to the top of Cloud’s head fingers moving through blonde spikes.

Cloud felt the comfort of Zack’s hand in his hair and he let his eyes close. His fingers quickly making short work of the buttons that were left on the shirt before pulling it off Zack’s shoulders.

All he could see and feel was the last moment before Zack left him to die. His hand moved over skin that he thought he would never get to touch again.

“Don’t… leave…” Cloud whispered. Words he had wanted to say at that moment before Zack left, but he had been too weak to say them then.

“I’m not going anywhere Cloudy.” The words came out as a whisper the hand moving to the back of Cloud’s neck.

Cloud felt the hint as he looked up at the older man. “Zack… I…”

“I know its okay. Everybody is friends now it’s okay…” Zack smiled.

It was that reassuring smile that no matter what everything was going to be alright. Cloud slipped his arms round Zack pulling him closer.

Zack wrapped his arms round Cloud in return. “Relax… I know what you want to say and express… but we better not do it in Tifa’s kitchen.” He chuckled. “Imagine trying to explain those stains.” He added the smirk alone told Cloud that Zack wanted to laugh.

Cloud went bright red pulling back clearing his throat. “Sorry I wasn’t… thinking.”

Zack slung an arm round Cloud’s shoulder and led him out of the kitchen and he looked round the bar. “You waited up because you were worried I was going to leave again didn’t you?” He asked.

Cloud looked down. He couldn’t tell the truth to Zack it would push him away, yet he couldn’t lie either. There were so many conflicting factors in this whole thing.

There were also memories that he didn’t want resurfacing making it hurt like a fresh wound. Cloud looked to Zack’s black bang he wanted to question what Tseng had done to cause some of Zack’s hair to return black but he kept quiet.

There was still the issue that he had to finish seducing Zack, swallowing, there was a time when it was all he could think about what he would do if the man was still alive and now knowing he was. The actions just wouldn’t come willingly. There were complications, too many complications. Zack and Cissnei being one and then Tifa…

Zack moved to a corner booth sitting down and he looked at Cloud and just smiled resting his arm along the top of the seat.

The image rung memories in his mind, flashes in the back of the yellow pick up truck. Zack had been talking to him; telling him about his home along with other things, his previous missions, his moments spent with, his own mentor Angeal and then Sephiroth. While Cloud couldn’t move let alone breathe properly, all he could do was listen.

Cloud moved to the booth slowly his mind reeling on how he could follow Tseng’s orders and lend his strength to Zack to help him fight Sephiroth later.

Zack looked at him curiously. “Ruined the moment by shifting us didn’t I?”

Cloud looked down. “No it’s just the way you are sitting reminds me of in the back of that truck.”

Zack looked at his arm then pulled it from the back of the seat. “Sorry Cloudy… I guess I just keep forgetting. Old habits and all.”

Cloud looked down. When it came to a fight he was all action, but when it came to talking to Zack he just couldn’t figure out what to say. The issue of seducing Zack was also a difficult one. He had one night to do it in… tonight.

“Cloud if it makes you uncomfortable we don’t have to do this you know? It could complicate things.” Zack spoke as if he picked up on Cloud’s earlier thoughts.

Cloud shook his head. Complications were never meant to helpful to begin with. They were just an obstruction in the way of the main goal…

Cloud held up his hand pulling the one long glove off then the other one. He unfastened the buckles for his weapons lowering them to the ground before undoing the wolf brooch and then pulling the single sleeve and armor from his shoulder. His hand moving to his waist undoing the buckle for the back of the skirt and letting it all drop to the ground behind him.

He could feel Zack’s eyes watching him carefully. He looked up catching the mako blue eyes in his own. Zack smirked. “I stand corrected… nothing’s more complicated than that outfit. No wonder you don’t get laid much taking it off will give anyone time to go limp.”

“Zack shut up.” Cloud stated.

Zack chuckled he had to make a comment. Not that the outfit didn’t do Cloud justice, it did, but he guessed getting dressed in the morning Cloud probably took twice as long as Tifa did.

“Shutting up.” Zack held his hand up grinning. He caught Cloud’s smile as the younger man moved towards him and Zack blinked it was definitely a look he wasn’t used to seeing on Cloud’s face almost a predator.

‘He’s definitely grown up. I missed out on so much in three years.’ Zack realized in thought.

He lent back as Cloud moved over him. Their mouths meet and Zack let the younger man lead the way, he would rather Cloud instigated this he didn’t want Sephiroth’s memories of taking Cloud slipping through his mind.

Still his hand moved to the zip of the turtle neck pulling it down opening the top up for his eyes to wander over as their mouths seemed to dance.

Groaning in to the kiss it was less conflicted as the last one, letting his eyes close he felt Cloud’s hand moved down his chest to the jeans as the hand flicked the button fly open before slipping in.

Zack gasped in to the kiss feeling Cloud’s bare hand slip round his length. Admittedly he had actually gotten aroused by Cloud stripping. There was just something about Cloud stripping for him that had caused him to stir. Of course he had hidden it behind a quick remarked quip. But now that the truth was out he was waiting for that remark back. But nothing seemed to happen apart from Cloud’s hand moving up and down his aroused length as if he was testing waters.

Zack gasped again as he felt Cloud’s hands pull the jeans down and Zack’s hips moved up allowing the younger man to pull them clean off.

Zack watched s Cloud pulled back from the kiss before shrugging out of the turtle neck, Zack swallowed, taking in the pale chest showing Zack how much Cloud had grown really in the past three years. Blinking in shock his hand moved up to Cloud’s waist and he just grinned.

Eyes closing as Cloud’s hand pushed Zack’s shirt off.

Zack felt Cloud vanish from his touch for a moment the lack of contact made him almost want to worry and he opened one of his eyes wearily.

Lips made their way round the tip of his arousal startling him and his hips jerked up off the seat shocked as he gasped.

“Cloud…” Zack felt Cloud’s hands move over his thighs, there was hardly a sound from the other man. He was several times stealthier than Zack remembered.

The mouth moved along the arousal devouring more of it with each movement, Zack felt a hand move to his face as he groaned hips slowly moving up in to the mouth more, the urgent need starting to build up. It was unfair his body was tortured so much in one day.

Zack peeked through fingers watching as blonde bobbed over his arousal, the sight alone made him swallow had as he shivered. He felt bad for letting Cloud go through with this, but he couldn’t stop him either, not that he wanted to. There was so much pain and guilt and sorrow he had built up in three years, if this was what it took to make it go away then Zack would allow it. His hand slipped from his face moving to Cloud’s head his fingers interlocking with blonde spikes lightly urging him on.

Cloud had no words and for once Zack seemed speechless. Though his moans were anything but silent and that was enough for Cloud to know he was doing something right. He felt Zack’s groan move through his body and Cloud slipped back to pause to breath, Zack moved quickly catching Cloud off guard pulling him up capturing his mouth urgently. Zack’s hands moving over his body like a man starved.

Cloud felt Zack tug at the trousers and he smirked letting the kiss go.

“Will this take as long as the rest of your clothes?” Zack asked.

“Hardly.” Cloud replied and undid the buckle of the belt slipping it off.

Zack’s hand moved to the fly unzipping it and pulling the fabric down Cloud’s hips, he closed his eyes as the older man stripped the rest of his clothes and he gasped as he felt the cool air of the bar pierce his skin, then the warmth of Zack’s hand engulfed his own arousal.

“Zack…” Cloud hissed as the older man pulled him down on top of him.

Zack just grinned a him. “I kinda like you like this… it’s a new side I never thought you had.”

Cloud felt the blush, and he felt Zack’s fingers move over his skin the soft touches were enough to edge him on. One hand stroked along his arousal making Cloud buck in to his hand.

Cloud’s head dropped to Zack’s chest as he gasped in the air and scent of the man under him. His hips moving with the older man’s strokes along his length. Eyes closing the last time his head had touched Zack’s chest like this was when he thought Zack was dying and Zack had forcibly pulled Cloud’s head down.

“Zack…” His breath came out in a whisper.

“Shhh… I’m not going anywhere… and if I am you’re going to come with me.” Zack whispered. Cloud caught the perverted undertone of the message and he let his lips touch Zack’s chest before they made their way up the chest slowly along the curves and contours of the older man’s body. Before moving to the neck then along the jaw line before settling on the mouth his tongue moving past lips as the older man let him inside.

Zack moaned in to the mouth he could feel the trembling of Cloud’s body his arousal swelling in his hand. Finger’s moved along Cloud’s back moving down pulling the younger man closer to him. The way they lay was so close to the last memory he had of Cloud before waking up in the Jenova tank and he let his eyes close as his hand memorized the blonde’s body. There probably wouldn’t be another time where they could freely express how glad they were that the other was okay. He hated the fact that Sephiroth had used his body to gain access to Cloud for his own means but at the same time, some part of him a small part of him wondered if perhaps Quinn was in fact hinting that they could save his old friend.

Eyes closed as he let the memories slip through the feeling of Cloud trapped under his body he wanted to repeat it, he wanted to shower Cloud like that, but he couldn’t do it, he wanted Cloud to know it was him not Sephiroth.

Cloud’s hand moved Zack’s down and Zack saw the subtle hint behind words unspoken, even when it came to sex Cloud was a man of few words.

Zack’s fingers found the entrance to Cloud’s heat and slipping one finger in he felt Cloud gasp in to the kiss. Soothing the younger man he let his tongue move along the inside of Cloud’s mouth, as the single digit slowly curled stretching the ring of muscle.

Cloud’s hips began to move, the need was surfacing, to be buried inside the younger man. He nimbly let a second digit slip in and repeated the processing, both digits curling round moving in and out of the heat, in a slow thrusting like motion.

Zack felt Cloud moan in to his mouth. Running his tongue along lips as he pulled back he watched Cloud’s face as a third digit moved in to the heat stroking inside the younger man’s body preparing him, showing him exactly what he wanted hopefully in Cloud’s language of motion not words.

Cloud gasped his back arching at the feeling of being filled fingers curling round then rotating in then out in slow thrusts. Zack was so close and he felt his hands grip strong muscled arms as he tried to catch his breath.

“It’s okay Cloud…” Zack whispered.

Just hearing Zack’s voice saying his name was a comfort of its own. Eyes closed as he felt one hand guide Cloud’s hips and he felt Zack’s arousal move between his thighs. Cloud let Zack’s fingers continue to stroke inside him till his hips seemed to move of their own according following the rhythm of Zack’s body.

Zack slipped the fingers from Cloud’s heat. Cloud let the older man maneuver his hips and guide them down on to Zack’s waiting arousal.

Cloud sucked in a breath as he felt his body slowly being impaled on to Zack’s length. Zack moved him with such care letting Cloud pause to adjust them move lower to adjust more, until he felt Zack buried to the hilt inside him. Zack lay still studying his face carefully. Cloud caught the mako blue glance, his hand moving to Zack’s chest and all he did was just nod.

It was all Zack needed for confirmation to share this first and probably last moment they would have like this.

Zack’s hips began to move slowly at first rocking up and Cloud moved with the motion letting the older man under him guide his hips with the rhythm that would eventually lead them both in to a climax.

Zack suppressed a moan at being captured in to such a tight warm heat. He knew how much Cloud had looked up to him, how much Cloud had missed him dearly. Eyes closing he let his hips move. Rolling his hips round and back arching up until he heard the moan he was looking for knowing that he’d found the place of Cloud’s hot spot.

Keeping the location memorized he continued to move his hips up and down leading the younger man in the rhythm and setting the pace.

Zack refused to rush this it was too much to just pound his way up and risk hurting Cloud or having Cloud mistake him for Sephiroth, he would not do that. This would be that moment that they shared and kept between them. Plus he had locked the door which was a good thing preventing any red headed paparazzi Turks showing up unannounced.

Cloud adjusted to the intrusion and he watched Zack’s fac. The older man was taking it so slow as if savoring the moment. Cloud was thankful for that, but soon he would probably have to let Zack know it was okay to unleash his true strength. They couldn’t hurt each other. Both had mako and Jenova buried in their genes it was alright he wouldn’t break. Only emotionally and even then he’d make sure to do it alone where Zack wouldn’t see.

Cloud’s eyes watched the older man’s body move and it moved with such grace and strength that was true SOLDIER. They never had this moment within their time together in ShinRA. Though Cloud had thought about it often as an underage teenager, he had kept it hidden amongst his confusion his feelings for Tifa and his feelings for Zack had often overlapped and he had no idea on what to do. He felt bad now that he had them both. It was complicated, but at least they had this moment right now. Tseng’s request was being fulfilled, but that was the last thing on Cloud’s mind.

His hands moved over the sculptured chest down muscled arms touching what he could of the man as he slowly began to hint at the need the pace he wanted. The strength and power he wanted to feel move inside him.

Zack groaned his hips caught the hint as Cloud began to pick up the pace the blonde riding him in to a wave of pleasure and lust. Hands stroked his skin as if setting out a mental map of his body. Zack’s hand moved to Cloud’s neglected arousal and he began to stroke the length feeling the trembling member in his hand he knew if he wanted Cloud like this again he would have to wait and continue to wait until Sephiroth and Jenova were free of his body. But even then he doubted there would be a time where he could.

He felt Cloud’s hips jerk in to his hand and his own arousal hit the spot in Cloud’s heat again making the younger man groan and before Zack knew it, Cloud’s head was thrown back as he gasped in the air hungrily.

Watching Cloud move over him hips rode him faster taking him in deeper. Zack started to feel his own arousal swell within the confined heat.

“Cloud…” Zack breathed.

Cloud as if urged on by Zack’s voice moved his hips lower taking Zack in deeper, blue eyes locking on to his own they just watched each other’s faces for that moment hips moving in a rhythm that only SOLDIER knew let alone could keep up with.

The seat of the booth squeaked slightly with each thrust. Zack’s hand moved over up and down Cloud’s arousal as if performing a dance down the length to the tip then back to the base before fingers touched base slightly under, before moving up and down in the urgent thrusting that was being performed on the corner booth in the darkened corner of the booth. The only light came through the window milking their bodies in a pale glow of the moonlight. It was the only light they needed to see thanks to their mako enhancements.

Cloud groaned at the motion of Zack’s hand his arousal buried so deep inside he was going to get lost if Zack didn’t reach his peak soon.

“Hnnn… Cloud…” Zack moaned out his name. It was enough to hear that tone let alone in his voice. But the combination of the hand on his swollen arousal, the man buried inside his heat let alone its strokes hitting that spot and hearing his name in a way he’d only privately dreamed of hearing from his friend’s mouth. It just did it for him and he gaped as he spilled the climax over Zack’s dancing hand.

He heard Zack groan before his hand moved to Cloud’s hips and he held on and Cloud felt the motions, hips met hips urgently, Zack’s breathing becoming ragged as his body thrust up and rotated round finding that hot spot inside his heat.

Zack hissed out a breath back arching up again and Cloud felt the climax of the older man. Hands loosened their grip as Zack tried to catch his breath.

Cloud looked down and he blinked a large part of Zack’s Sephiroth infected hair had returned to its normal raven and his eyes widened.

“Zack…”

Zack looked up at Cloud blinking. “I’m still here.”

Cloud swallowed. ‘Tseng was right.’ He realized. He moved his mouth down capturing Zack’s if Zack needed his strength to fight Sephiroth then he could have it. But he knew Sephiroth would catch on quick to Tseng’s plan.

“I… I’m sorry…” Cloud cleared his throat, he wanted to move from the older man but he found the strength in his arms couldn’t support him. He fell forward.

Zack caught his body quickly. “Cloud… hey easy…”

Zack blinked seeing Cloud looking ready to pass out and his eyes widened. He heard the beeping noise of a text message and looked to the ground. Cloud’s phone and he raised a brow seeing Tseng’s name on the received message on the outside screen. His eyes narrowed.

“Damnit Tseng… don’t tell me you set this up?” He growled sitting up and holding Cloud up on his lap, he pushed the blonde bangs sticking to Cloud’s forehead to the side slowly and carefully he eased Cloud off him.

Zack glared at the phone and he sat Cloud down in the seat letting the younger man lean up against the window. It was all Zack needed to catch his reflection, his hair it was seriously a large enough chunk of black that he had to do a double take his hand moving to slip through his hair to double check. Tseng’s word reverberated in his ears.

Your hair color obviously depicts who has the most control…

Zack let out a growl and he picked up Cloud’s phone checking the message.

‘Mission accomplished… Quinn has reported Jenova’s hold is weakening…’

“Damnit Tseng… stop using me like this!” Zack shouted at the phone slamming it on the table then he glanced at Cloud who looked at Zack apologetically. Zack froze looking at Cloud flashes of the mako poisoning rushing through his head. “Shit Cloud… I’m sorry… hang in there… I’ll get you upstairs to rest.” Zack slipped one of Cloud’s arms round his neck. “I’m going to have to cancel Denzel’s plan’s tomorrow and you are not going in to work like this…” He began to help the younger man upstairs to clean him up and get him in to bed.

~*~*~*~

It was a good two hours after Cloud fell in to a deep sleep that Zack finally moved downstairs to clean up before Tifa got in. He started with the booth before moving Cloud’s weapons up in to the room he shared with Tifa. Then he started on his mess he made in the kitchen finishing with his beer mug before placing it on the rack.

He looked to the mirror behind the alcohol bottles looking at his hair. He knew what Tseng was planning which meant now Sephiroth knew. Zack had only once choice confront Tseng and just yell at the Turk for setting him up with Cloud or find Genesis. He would yell at Tseng but he doubted the Turk would be in this early for work and he had Zack on his cellphone so he probably wouldn’t answer if he called anyway.

Giving up for the moment Zack headed up the stairs moving to Cloud and Tifa’s room he took a seat by Cloud’s bed and sat down just watching the blonde sleep. He would be out of it for the next eleven hours he guessed. Grabbing the spare blanket he pulled it over himself and decided he would try to sleep then go for the next best thing after Tseng. His second in command… Reno.

~*~*~*~

Vincent had sworn it was his last visit to Lucrecia. But for some reason he found himself sitting at the base of the crystal staring at the form of his frozen love interest inside. He couldn’t understand why he so desperately needed to return here so soon. He was sure he was past that point in his immortal life.

One leg was pulled up his right arm slung over the knee while his clawed hand rested on the ground by his side slightly propping him up.

Yet he seemed to find comfort to just look at her, this was the woman who had helped bring Sephiroth in to this world.

He heard the footsteps from behind they were casual with a touch of grace and his brows lowered. He didn’t even bother to look at the approaching Turk.

“Vincent.” Tseng’s voice was calm. “I thought I might find you here.”

Vincent didn’t even turn round to acknowledge the younger man. “Where else could I possibly go where you could find me?”

He heard the chuckle. “For once you wanted to be found… unusual. For you, if I was feeling lazy I could have just called you.”

“Your normal style would be to call but you know as well as I do, this place has barely any reception.” Vincent stated. “What do you want?”

He heard the movement of a light gliding through the air that made him look over his shoulder. He found himself staring at another Turk, one he wasn’t familiar with at all. Eyes narrowing he looked at Tseng.

The Turk wasn’t walking but he moved through the air a few feet off the ground he looked at the younger Turk.

“Vincent this is Quinn, Quinn this is Vincent.”

“He has brother’s scent over him…”

Tseng nodded slowly. “You should have listened to me Vincent.”

Vincent blinked looking at Quinn. “I should have but that can’t be changed now.” He looked at Tseng. “What does he mean by brother…”

Tseng smiled. “Quinn is infected with Jenova cells through an eye transplant… in fact the eye of Jenova to be exact.”

“A remnant?” Vincent questioned.

Tseng shook his head. “No like Zack, he had a life before Jenova was placed in to his body. He was injured in a battle a year ago and lost his eye. Someone in the company thought that Jenova’s eye would be a good transplant. By the time we got to him, it was too late.”

“An experiment…” Vincent looked to Quinn who merely nodded. “Why did you bring him here?”

“He can sense and smell anything relating to Jenova and Sephiroth.” Tseng explained.

Vincent looked back to Lucrecia. “Well you now know I failed. I helped Sephiroth gain the ability to manifest when ever he pleases.”

Tseng walked up to Vincent standing to the side next to the seated former Turk. “Even so, we have found a way to repress Sephiroth’s ability. Quinn is working on a way to cleanse Jenova from his system, once he has we will be using it on Zack.”

Vincent looked up at Tseng. “So you found a way to repress Sephiroth… why are you here?”

“Once Zack has repressed enough of Sephiroth that we’re happy with, we will be putting him in to a sleep. It will lock him and Sephiroth on the same mental plain to fight. An inner battle but I know Zack. If Sephiroth wins he will want Cloud to kill him. But you know as well as I do what will happen there.”

“Cloud will refuse to do it. You want me there to make sure he does.” Vincent stated.

“Exactly. Sephiroth can not be allowed to awaken again.” Tseng remarked.

Vincent looked at Tseng. “What does Zack have to do to repress Sephiroth’s power?”

“Exactly what brother has to do in order to gain power.” Quinn replied.

Vincent frowned. “And how did he take that?”

“Not to well… but we let Cloud know…” Tseng replied.

“What do you want me to do? I’m not sleeping with Cloud’s mentor.” Vincent stated.

Quinn shook his head. “No Tseng has a different request.”

Vincent could have laughed at the word request, he was no longer a Turk yet here they were seeking him out wanting him to do their dirty work for him.

“What?” Vincent asked.

Tseng smiled. “I thought you’d never ask… I would like it if you could find someone for us… he’s proving to be elusive.”

Vincent sighed. “Who?”

“Genesis.” Tseng replied and looked at Vincent. “Another ShinRA experiment, he’s one of Hollander’s little creations.”

Vincent blinked. “Genesis…”

“The last experiment linked to Project G.” Tseng replied. “Like Zack and Cloud are the last experiments linked to Project S.”

Vincent stood up with a sigh. “Give me the details and I’ll see what I can do.”

Tseng smiled. “We thought you’d see it our way.”

“One question…”

Tseng looked at him. “What’s that?”

“What do you want with him?” Vincent asked.

Tseng looked at Vincent. “We want him to help repress Sephiroth.”

~*~*~*~

It was late morning by the time Tifa arrived back to the bar. Zack and Cloud both hadn’t been answering any of their phones.

Stepping inside the bar she stopped seeing Zack’s usual clothes laying in a pile near the corner booth his cellphone on top of the table flashing. She noted his pillow and blanket was missing though.

She was glad Denzel and Marlene were going to stay with Barrett for the rest of the week so Zack didn’t have to go back to the church.

Tifa made her way to the stairs and she heard the phone ring. She sighed and made her way up the stairs.

Stepping in to the room she shared with Cloud she was shocked to find Zack asleep in a chair the blanket pulled over him and pillow behind his head as he slept.

“Strife Delivery service, you name it we deliver.” Tifa answered.

“How does he look?” She heard Tseng’s voice on the other end.

“Tseng…” She whispered. “Cloud’s asleep right now.”

“Not Cloud… Zack.”

Tifa looked to Zack and she gasped seeing a large part of his hair black. “Tseng… his hair…”

“That’s good to hear.” She blinked and looked at the phone. Tseng sounded amused.

“What did you do?” She asked.

“What needed to be done. Cloud wasn’t responding to my messages and no one answered there until you picked up.” Tseng replied. “I was taking it as a good sign, but I needed confirmation that Sephiroth is being repressed.”

Tifa sucked in a breath her fist clenching. “Stop toying with them like that!” She covered her mouth seeing Zack stir in his sleep. “You have no right.” She whispered turning her back on the sleeping two.

“We have every right to prevent any future reunions or manifestations.” Tseng stated.

Tifa let out a low growl. “We can handle this so just stop it.”

“It’s important, now is not the time to let childish emotions get in the way.” Tseng commented like he was a parent telling off a child.

“It’s concern for your information.” She hung up the phone and blinked turning round when she felt a hand touch her shoulder.

Tifa looked at Zack and he just smiled at her patting her on the shoulder. “I’m sorry… I just wanted to make sure he was okay. I’ll take the kids room if you want to sleep.”

“Zack…” She watched him walk out. She followed him quickly in to Denzel and Marlene’s room and grabbed him by the arm looking at him. “What’s going on?”

Zack sighed letting his head drop. “Tseng keeps playing me. I’m getting so annoyed but I can’t… I can’t seem to do this on my own… I’m not strong enough. He set Cloud up to lend me some of his strength.”

Tifa let her hand slip from Zack’s arm. “Zack… you mean…”

“Yeah… I’m sorry. The last thing I want to do is hurt you two. I already hurt Cissnei… I can’t… I can’t hurt anyone else.” He moved to the bed sitting down.

Tifa sighed. “You’re not hurting anyone. I’m mad that’s understandable. Cloud cares for you. But he’s old enough to decide on his own.”

“I’m not going to let him choose Tifa. If he even things about it I’ll knock some sense in to him.” Zack looked at her. “I’m not going to come between you two.” He shook his head. “You have to embrace what you both have… because you never know when you might loose each other.”

Tifa moved to sit next to Zack. “You miss her don’t you?”

“Like anything. She was just always there you know.” His eyes closed.

Tifa touched his arm lightly. “It took Cloud two years to get over her death, he forever blamed himself, he would never come home for days on end. Please don’t let it eat you up like it did Cloud.”

Zack just smiled at her. “I promise I’ll be alright. We’ll wait till Cloud wakes up then I have a certain Turk I need to visit.”

Tifa nodded. “You slept on that chair all night. Just sleep in here I’ll come wake you when Cloud wakes up.”

“Thanks Tifa.”

Tifa smiled standing up. She headed to the door and watched as Zack flopped back on to the bed his hands moving behind his head.

She shut the door leaving the former SOLDIER to rest in private.

“Tseng… I hope you know what you’re doing messing with their lives like that.” She sighed to herself before heading down the stairs to set the bar up for opening in a few hours.

TBC
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Revival of the Departed