First Class

A.N: Hello and welcome to the first official chapter of “First Class”. I do believe we’ve made it safely together so far. Let’s continue to do so for many more chapters. I was getting a little down-hearted at the lack of Zack/Cloud fics that weren’t angsty and death-ridden, so I decided to write my own. I’m hoping to encourage any fellow authors to take up the torch and write some fiction for this lovely pairing. We need more Zack/Cloud appreciation, peoples! We fanatics are in this together.

For those of you who are new to this pairing, welcome! Please enjoy the fiction as you see fit and yes, flames are welcome. No, I won’t use them to roast marshmallows, as most authors are fond of saying. I take you reviewers’ advice seriously, even if it comes out as a string of insults. And by ALL means, if you have idea, tell me! I might be able to work it into the fiction.

Warnings for this chapter: masturbation, wet dream, penetration

Empty spaces,
Fill me with up with holes.
Distant faces,
With no place left to go.
Without you within me,
I can find no rest;
Where I’m going
Is anybody’s guess.
I try
To go on like I never knew you.
I’m awake
While my world is half asleep.
I pray
For this heart to be unbroken;
But without you
All I’m going to be
Is Incomplete

(“Incomplete” by Backstreet Boys)

Chapter One
Return to Me


The train rattled and shook as it sped along the track, scenery whipping by through the blurry tint of the window. Zack reveled in the feel of the vibration against his long legs before he jumped to his feet. He had never been the type to deal well with long periods of inactivity. Back when he had still been a wet-behind-the-ears cadet, his commanding officer had jokingly referred to him as an energetic Chocobo on crack.

Not too far from the truth.

Zack ran a hand through his hair, his mako-enhanced eyes locked onto the sleeping figure before him. Cloud lay tucked in between the end of a seat and the side of the train, his arms wrapped tightly around Zack’s buster sword. His sleeping face looked so innocent; so very sad. Blonde eyebrows scrunching up, he whimpered softly.

“Zack…”

The ex SOLDIER crouched down, his heart rate speeding up minutely. The only thing that stood between the two of them was a few seats. He had been spotted?

He risked a glance over at Cloud and sighed in relief. The kid was still asleep; a dream and by the looks of it, a pretty intense one. He was moaning frantically in his sleep, grinding out Zack’s name between each pause. It must have been a nightmare.

Zack frowned. He hated having to hide himself like this. Every fiber of his being called out for him to take the blonde in his arms and never let go. He ached to feel his best friend’s body pressed reassuringly against his own, proving that he was, indeed, still alive. He had to constantly remind himself that it was for Cloud’s own benefit. If he appeared now, out of the blue, Cloud would fall apart even further. The kid was fragile enough as it was. He didn’t want to be responsible for a nervous breakdown.

Which led to the sneaking around.

Zack snorted. He had to give his friend credit. There had been a few moments over the course of the last three days that he had almost been spotted. The only things that had prevented it were luck, a strategically placed man with an afro, and Cloud’s own mental state.

A bell rang, echoing throughout the cramped quarters of the small train car. Cloud’s stop would be coming up next and from the way the small blonde was curled up, it didn’t look like he would be waking up anytime soon.

If there was one thing Zack was certain of, it was that Cloud needed to complete this trip to Midgar. It just felt… right. There was only one problem. How the hell was he supposed to wake him up without giving himself away?

He would have paid off someone to do it for him but he needed his last few gil to get him to a nearby bank in Midgar. There was only so far an ex SOLDIER, who was supposed to be dead, could go without funds.

The bell rang again, alerting it’s passengers of the three minute deadline. His mind racing, Zack looked around the train for a clue as to how to wake up the incapacitated blonde.

An older woman sat on one of the older seats, blowing smoke rings in the face of an acne-covered youth. Fire? Nah, the guards would be on him faster than flies on shit. Sure, he didn’t doubt he could fend them off but it would only prove to be a hindrance in the long run.

A group of teenaged girls sat towards the rear of the train, giggling amongst themselves as an old man’s gaze lingered on their short skirts with obvious enjoyment. Interesting but not helpful.

Fuck.

Zack ran a hand through his hair once again, frustrated. Where was a clue when you needed one? Something bumped into his legs and he looked down. A pair of big brown eyes stared back at him.

“Damn! You is one huge bitch,” the little boy proclaimed, proudly. He smiled up at Zack, a few gaps showing in his teeth. The ex SOLDIER blinked once before grinning back at him.

“Funny. That’s what my mom said when she was giving birth to me,” he joked, winking at the little boy. They stared each other down for a few seconds before the moment was interrupted by a flustered woman.

She ran up to them, her short brown hair falling into her eyes. Grabbing the little boy’s hand, the woman flushed with embarrassment. “That was very bad of you, Zackary! You know better!” She scolded the little tike, her face still a bright shade of red.

So, the kid’s name was Zackary, too? He stifled a chuckle. Why wasn’t he surprised?

She turned to him, bowing deeply in apology. “I am so very sorry, sir. Zackary has a nasty habit of getting himself into trouble. He repeats things he shouldn’t, not that I said, um, that,” the woman corrected hastily.

Zack grinned. If it had been another time and place, he would have enjoyed teasing the woman to no end. But right now he needed to concentrate on Cloud. “Nah, I’m pretty much used to-”

He cut himself off. An idea was forming in his head, and a smart one to boot. He had a way to wake up Cloud!

“Say, Ms.…?”

“Allisha, sir,” she replied, blushing.

He smiled. “Ms. Allisha, would you mind if I borrowed this little guy for a second?” He gestured at the little boy with his chin. “It’ll only be a moment, I swear.” Throwing every ounce of charm he had into it, he smiled and held his breath.

It must have worked because the woman smiled back at him and nodded, turning an even deeper shade of red.

Zack knelt next to the little boy. Bending down, he whispered in his ear, pointing over at Cloud’s slumbering form. “And don’t tell him, okay?” he said out loud, his face mockingly stern.

The little boy stared at him for a second before running towards the sleeping blonde. Licking one small finger, he jammed it into Cloud’s ear. He wriggled it in before deciding to shout his declaration to the entire train.

“Wake up, Chocobo Head!”

Damn. That kid had a voice that would put any drill sergeant to shame. At least he’d done as Zack predicted.

“Zack!” Cloud cried, jerking awake. His hand tightened protectively around his sword, pulling it close to his chest. He seemed to pause a moment, looking around himself in disorientation. After several long moments, Zack saw his face turn an intense shade of scarlet; the kind of red he turned if he was extremely embarrassed about something. One free hand went to cover the front of his pants, drawing a raised eyebrow from the older man.

‘What does he have to be so embarrassed about?’ Zack wondered, belatedly remembering to keep himself out of sight. ‘And why the hell is he clutching his slacks?’

He watched in amusement as the little boy stuck a finger in his mouth again, prepared to make another attack on Cloud’s ear. The blonde still looked embarrassed but it was starting to be won over by a look of confusion.

The ex SOLDIER watched little Zackary’s lips move and he narrowed his eyes. That hadn’t been part of the plan. What was he saying? He turned his focus to Cloud, trying to gauge the importance of what was being said through his facial expressions. When he saw the blonde’s face pale and his big blue eyes widen, he knew he was in trouble.

Stepping back, he ducked behind Allisha, ignoring her questioning look. Placing one finger to his lips to indicate silence, he watched Cloud look around, his face desperate. Guilt gnawed in his chest and nearly made it hard to breathe.

Just then, a voice came over the P.A system, announcing the train’s arrival, distracting the blonde. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have now arrived at destination Midgar. Once again, destination Midgar. Please remember to take all pieces of cargo with you. Thank you.”

Perfect timing.

Cloud looked up at the flashing sign. Zack saw him sigh once before clambering wearily to his feet. Not once had his hand moved from in front of his pants. Still weird but not the most pressing matter at the moment.

The ex SOLDIER’S heart lurched as he watched the blonde give the little boy a strained, bitter-sweet smile. Now was one of those moments where he wanted to say, “fuck it” and soothe his best friend.

His cock lurched at the thought and he mentally cursed himself. Restraining his body, never mind himself, was getting more and more difficult now that he realized Cloud felt the same way about him. That little confession had been the cause of Zack waking up achingly hard each and every morning since his “death”.

His damned mind couldn’t stop thinking of what it would feel like to have Cloud spread out beneath him and before him; riding him or on all fours. He’d bet his last gil that the blonde would be tight. And hot. Yeah, so very hot, milking his cock until he-

‘Whoa, down boy!’ Zack shook his head, clearing it of the mental images. Looking up, he cursed as he realized Cloud has already departed off the train. There was a time and a place, and right now, he needed to find Cloud.

Turning toward Allisha, he grinned at her. “You have no idea how much your help was appreciated.” Zack offered her a clumsy bow before turning to leave.

“And by the way, you can call me Zack if we ever meet again.”

Before she had a chance to reply, he exited the train, eyes already scanning the crowd for his best friend.

~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~


Sweat beaded on Cloud’s skin, drenching him. Why was it so hot? Fingers trailed down his heated flesh as hips bucked helplessly. He mewled as same said fingers teased the outer edge of his nipple, pinching it lightly. The tiny bud pebbled sharply, drawing an involuntary mewl from his throat.

“Oh Gaia, please!”

A deep, throaty chuckle sounded from above him. Opening his eyes, he gasped as he met an amused blue-green gaze. “No, I’m not Gaia but thanks for the compliment.”

Zack’s full mouth curved upward into a mischievous smile, lighting up his handsome face. Cloud watched captivated as the man licked his long fingers slowly, a lascivious look in his eyes. Saliva-slicked fingers trailed down Cloud’s torso, drawing goose bumps. The digits trailed farther down, swirling around his belly button before tugging at his pants.

“Tell me you want this,” Zack whispered, his voice low and husky. He dipped his fingers into Cloud’s pants, brushing against his erect penis teasingly. The blonde moaned, bucking his hips up, seeking more.

“I-I want this… Oh Gaia, Zack!” He threw his head back as the SOLDIER slid his whole hand inside, wrapping his large palm around Cloud’s aching member. Zack gave several languid strokes, ghosting one calloused fingertip against his cock’s slit. Cloud cried out at the overwhelming sensation and clung to his best friend’s wide shoulders, panting. He buried his face in the SOLDIER’s shirt, trying to muffle the sounds of his moans.

It was so embarrassing. He was ready to come just from the brief hand job alone. It wasn’t fair.

“You’re so hot for me, aren’t you Cloud?” Zack murmured, breathing hotly against the side of his head. He ran his tongue around the outer shell of his ear, nibbling lightly on his lobe. One hand continued teasing Cloud through his pants, making the blonde lose himself in the sensation.

“Your cock is so wet. I bet you’d go crazy if I touched you again here…”

He emphasized “here” with another lazy sweep of his digit over Cloud’s tip, pulling the foreskin down simultaneously. His thumb swept back and forth across the slit, teasing him. Cloud shook with pleasure, trying to bury himself against his friend’s well-muscled chest.

He didn’t think he could last much longer.

“ Z-Zack,” Cloud groaned out, shakily, trying not to clench his thighs together in wanton desire. Sure, the dark-haired man was acting different than he usually was but he wasn’t about to question the change. Not when it felt this good.

He felt the SOLDIER grin cockily against his ear. “Or here,” the man said, moving a different finger to swirl around Cloud’s puckered entrance. The tip of the digit slipped in, caressing his inner walls. It probed lightly around the confines of his anus, stroking gently.

Cloud moaned at the sensation. Why did it feel so good?

Zack crooned against his ear, sliding his finger farther into his hole. This time he took it all the way to the second knuckle. It felt so strange and full inside of him but he ached for more; something larger. Much, much larger.

His eyes traveled to the front of the Zack’s pants and settled on the prominent bulge straining against the loose material. Mouth going dry with desire, he could feel his face begin to turn red. From the looks of it, extreme fighting skills weren’t the only thing the SOLDIER had to be proud of. The man was hung like a behemoth.

The older man caught him looking and smirked, his eyes glowing with a combination of mako and lust.

“You’ll come for me,” he commanded, absolute conviction in his voice. He slipped a second digit in beside the first one, beginning a slow thrust. When Zack gave an order, Cloud usually followed it. There was nothing he loved more than pleasing his best friend and secret crush, but this would just be too embarrassing. He couldn’t let himself come so soon or he would never be able to face Zack again. Too bad his body didn’t agree with him.

“N-no,” Cloud managed to grind out, shoving at the older man’s hard chest. It did nothing but cause the SOLDIER to smirk. His hand sped up on Cloud’s imprisoned penis, milking it hard.

“What do you mean, ‘no’?” Zack asked, tauntingly. He pinched the head of his erection lightly, drawing a startled cry from the blonde. His hand tightened around Cloud’s length at the same time his long fingers thrust hard into his entrance.

It was too much. Cloud came with a strangled shout, burying his face into Zack’s shoulder. The force of the orgasm ripped through him and caused his limbs to quiver with its intensity. He could feel rather than comprehend the older man whispering words of nonsense in his ear. A large hand rubbed his back gently, stroking calming circles.

“Yeah, that’s it, Cloudy. Let it all out. Show me how much you love me.” Zack’s voice was husky and crooned softly, stoking a nameless urge in Cloud.

The blonde lifted his face up to Zack’s, parting his lips. Right now, he needed to taste the man, have his flavor forever imprinted on his tongue. He needed a part of Zack that he could never lose.

Wait. Lose? But why would he be afraid to lose Zack? Wasn’t he right in front of him?

~“My life and my dreams… Have them all.”~


Cloud felt something wet trail down his cheeks. He brushed a hand against the moisture and was startled to realize he was crying.

He stared at his hand, lost in the shimmer of the teardrops. Was he… sad? Did it have something to do with Zack?

~Blood. There was so much blood. It covered Zack’s face…~

Cloud jerked back, crying out. Where had that image come from? For a moment, it had seemed so real. The image tugged at his mind, beaconing to him; a siren’s song. No. Zack was right here in front of him. It was by ZACK’s hand that he had come. It was ZACK’s scent that he was currently breathing in; the acrid scent of gun powder and mako, mixed with a subtle musk that was all the SOLDIER’s own. And it was ZACK’s warmth and strength he felt pressed against him.

~“Cloud, run!” The steady rattling of the machine guns sounded around the two men, engulfing them in a spray of bullets.~

Cloud gasped, one hand flying in front of him. This was all a dream. Everything in it, including this realistic Zack, wasn’t real. No, Zack was dead. He would never be coming back again.

The once real and solid Zack before him began to fade, his image blurring around the edges until it eventually faded into nothingness.

Unable to contain his pain, Cloud wept.


~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~

Cloud jerked away with a startled yell. It took him a few moments to realize where he was. His blurry vision took in the vague images of torn seats and rows of people packed into a small space. It looked like some sort of subway.

That’s right. He was on a train. If his mind wasn’t quite as fragmented then he could recall where exactly it was he was heading. All he remembered was the weight of his weary limbs dragging him across the desert. They had seemed to move on their own, guiding him into an unknown place and away from the scene of destruction. Away from Zack.

Zack… He was gone.

Which meant the whole… thing had been a dream.

Zack was still dead- the word stuck in Cloud’s throat, threatening to choke him- and even if he had been living, there was no way he would have looked at Cloud in that light. The blonde knew his best friend had only seen him as a younger brother figure; someone who always needed to be protected. Someone as weak and pathetic as he was didn’t deserve a great man- ‘No, a great SOLDIER,’ Cloud mentally corrected himself.- like Zack.

His heart heavy, he shifted forward in his seat. His pants made a “squelching” sound, causing Cloud to grimace. “What the…” Rubbing his legs together, he tried to determine the slightly sticky, viscous liquid sticking his appendages together. Did he have a wound he wasn’t aware of? It felt sort of like blood but had the same scent as semen. The answer hit him like a ton of bricks. An erotic dream followed by a suspicious dampness between his legs…

There it was then. He had come in his pants.

Cloud felt himself turn what he knew would be a rather unbecoming shade of red before he reached one hand over to cover himself. He didn’t need anyone else witnessing his embarrassment.

Distracted, he didn’t notice the little boy staring intently at him until he heard a small giggle.

If he could have died of embarrassment right then, he would have gone willingly. Did the little kid witness his immature plight? Was that why he was grinning so wickedly at him? The kid had his finger stuck in his mouth, looking like he was going to use it as a weapon.

“Wake up, Chocobo-head,” the little boy said simply, removing his finger from his mouth. His brown hair stuck up in devilish little spikes and his violet eyes were full of mischief.

In a strange way he reminded Cloud of what Zack must have been like as a child. He felt his heart lurch and he had to choke back a sob. No. He wouldn’t allow himself to fall apart in such a public place. That could wait until he was alone in a hotel somewhere.

The mini-Zack’s smile faded slightly and he gazed at Cloud with child-like worry. “You aren’t supposed to cry! That man said it would make you wake up, not sad!” His voice was petulant, bordering on pleading.

Cloud touched a hand to his cheek. So, he was crying. It seemed to be a reaction he couldn’t control. If he kept this up, he’d need to put himself in a mental hospital just to keep from publicly humiliating-

‘Wait,’ he thought, cutting himself off. The boy had said man. Why would a man he most like didn’t know want to wake him up?

“Man?” He asked.

The little boy nodded, happy to be off the topic of Cloud’s sadness. “Yeah, yeah! He was this reeeaaally tall man with all this black hair that was spiky, right? And he had weird glowing eyes. Hey! They kind of looked like yours.”

Cloud felt his heart lurch and he couldn’t help the surge of hope that swelled up in his throat. Black hair? Eyes just like his? He knew it was a ridiculous reaction but he couldn’t stop himself from looking around the train, eyes straining for a sign of this “Zack”.

Just then, the unloading spiel played over the train’s speakers. They had arrived in Midgar. For some reason, the city seemed to call to him. This was as good a place as ever to start over; to go on without Zack.

Zack was dead and no amount of childish wishing could ever reverse that fact. He offered the little boy a small, empty smile and stood up. Cloud’s right hand tightened around of the Buster sword, reminding him of the weight of his burden. He was Zack’s legacy now.

And he would live up to that… right after he found somewhere safe to fall apart.


A.N: Thank you so much for all of your wonderful reviews. I made a little section at the end to allow us to communicate back and forth. Hells, feel free to talk about what you want to.

Next Chapter Preview: a hotel, an emotionally unstable Cloud, an attempted rape, and a Zack kicking some serious ass…

ZacksTenshi: OMG is right! *hugs you* You’re my very first review for this story. Whoooooo! We’re always going to share that bond lol. And I know what you mean! All the stories that I’ve come across are either uke!Zack, dead Zack, or uke! Dead Zack… *sighs* Hopefully this story and the recent release of Crisis Core will change all of that. I certainly hope so. Thank you so much for the compliments, btw. You stroke my ego like to know end! Hopefully this satisfies your urge for more?

Frizz: This happens next! Lol Hopefully it was okay? I’m more than willing to take suggestions. I think of us Zack lovers as one big, happily family… and hopefully one that will extend, ya know? And as for not-knowing Zack, you should get to know him! *nods frantically* He’s got many interesting sides to him that will keep you entertained for hours. Thank you so much for your review!

Toushikku: You think it’s beautiful? *get’s all teary-eyed and hugs you* Thank you so much for that! And yes!!!! Josh Groban is THE way to go when you want to kick someone in the proverbial balls with sadness. His voice is heavenly. I hope you liked the update. And please, if you want some ideas put in the story, tell me. I can’t promise EVERY idea will get put it but… I’ll sure as hell try.

BlueBlaze: You reviewers sure know how to make a person swell with pride! I made you cry?! Getting that kind of emotion out of a reviewer is like the biggest compliment you can get in the writing world! And I agree with you! Zack NEEDS to live. His death was absolutely pointless, causing a lot of emotionally stress for everyone. He was such a beautiful person. It just kind of makes me upset to know that people still want him to die in fanfiction. Meh, but so is the rantings of a fan. Yes, of course I’ll write! And might I add, you have very good writing skills… Your review is very put together.

Moonlit dew: Love, even? *hugs you* No, no. You’ve got it backwards. It is YOU who is the love of this writing. All of you reviewers! I feel proud to have developed such an awesome following so soon in the story. But it seems my cry for more living Zack was heard. I’m wicked excited to know my story has a fan. You have NO idea! Please continue to support this story and all of the future Zack fictions that I hope will start springing up. Kisses from your newest writer. lol




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