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Chapter Text

“Would you guys mind if I ordered Hawaiian?”

“If you dare order a pizza with pineapple on it, I will kill you, Roche!” Kunsel yelled, a frightening tone lingering in his voice.

It was an average Saturday night for Zack and his friends. Usually on these nights, it meant pulling an all-nighter playing video games, getting drunk and eating calorific food. What started out as a one-off causal meeting has become a weekly ritual.

“Have you never had something sweet and salty?” Roche asked, his voice laced with attitude.

“Pineapple does not belong to pizza! It’s unjust, it’s a sin, it’s immoral!”

“What about pepperoni?” Zack suggested, hoping to make a compromise between the two.

This happens almost every night when they order takeout food. Roche and Kunsel get into an altercation about what takeout they’re going to get that night and once they’ve decided on one, they then fight about what they’re going to order.

While this sort of bickering would amuse someone outside their friend group, frankly it has driven Zack near insane now. Sure, it was funny the first few times it happened but after that, Zack has to resist the urge to bash his head near comatose the moment the two of them start fighting.

“Pepperoni pizza is for boring and indecisive people, Zack.” Roche bickered.

“Hey, classics are called classics for a reason. Can’t ever go wrong with a classic, right?”

“I agree, besides” Kunsel looked at Roche. “Only psychopaths eat pizza with pineapple with it.”

“You calling me a psychopath!?”

“Well, I’m not calling you sane if that’s what you’re asking.”

“All because I like something you guys don’t.” Roche throws his hands up in bitter defeat. “Alright, you two win. Zack, you’re going to cover the bill, right?”

“Seriously, Roche, again?” Zack asked, irritated.

Usually, Zack is a generous person and would not mind paying for things, seeing as he has never had to worry about financial difficulties his entire life. However, to say Zack was not annoyed with how many times he has been made to pay for everything is an understatement. Whether it was they were out having a drink at a bar, watching a game live at a stadium, or watching a concert, Zack is always expected to pay for everything with the normally empty promise that they will pay them back. Granted, people like Kunsel and Aerith honour his word and pay Zack back within a reasonable time.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for some of Zack’s other friends, if he can even label them as friends. Sometimes, he feels as though to people he is not a genuine friend to him but an ATM ready to dispense money whenever they feel like it. He thinks of these people like mosquitoes. They constantly buzz around your ear, sink the life out of you and once they have their fill, they pay no attention to you until they inevitably need another supply. It sickens him to the core and makes him wonder how they would treat him if he did not have a single penny to his name. Would they still adore and admire him?

“C’mon, bud. I’ll cover it next time, I promise.”

“That’s what you said last week.”

“And the week before that,” Kunsel added

“Okay, okay, next time I promise. Just cover for me this one time, please, Zack?” Roche pleads, grasping his hands and pleading to Zack.

He lets out a deep sigh, rolling his eyes. “Fine, but you’re paying for food next time. Even if it means Kunsel and I holding you down to the ground and taking your wallet.”

“Yay, thank you so much, Zack. Whatever you want after tonight, name it and I’ll stop at nothing to get it for you!” Roche proudly exclaimed. “Be it your rival’s head on a platter or beautiful, divine women at your doorstep. Whatever your heart desires, I will provide for you.”

Zack and Kunsel looked at each other, puzzled before bursting out in laughter. While they were very much used to Roche’s theatrics, that did not make it any less amusing.

“Roche, you couldn’t even get a girlfriend for yourself. How in the hell are you going to do that for Zack?”

Roche turns to them, confused. “I mean, Kunsel, do you have eyes? Have you seen Zack? Not that I swing that way, but even I can admit that Zack is quite the catch. Girls would line up for hours just to have a chance with such a delectable alpha.”

“Sorry, I’m just laughing because no offence, but Zack does not need your help to pick up a girl. From what I’ve seen, all he needs to do is say hi and immediately, they melt into his arms. It’s like he doesn’t even have to try.” Kunsel explained, still catching his breath from laughing.

“Still, I appreciate the sentiment, buddy.” Zack wraps his arm around Roche’s shoulder, chuckling slightly. “But let’s worry about getting you a girlfriend first.”

“Hey, just so you know, I went on a date with that girl from Drama Club.”

Kunsel turns to Roche, surprised. “Oh, and when was this?”

“Last week, her name was Stella. Ever since then, not a day has passed where she hasn’t crossed her mind. Her radiant smile, her platinum blonde hair, her enchanting giggle. There is nothing that I wouldn’t give just to be in her presence again.”

“Wait, Stella as in Lunafreya’s sister?” Zack asked.

“Cousin, actually.” Kunsel corrected. “Though I wouldn’t blame you for making that mistake. The two of them look so similar, and they’re so close, that any average person would assume they’re siblings. Say, have you considered joining the Drama Club?”

“Yeah,” Zack agreed, “We’re all on the rugby team but Kunsel and I have other clubs we attend. Kunsel’s part of the Quiz Club because the dude’s a brainiac. And I mean that in a nice way, Kunsy.”

“Thanks, Zack, but please don’t call me Kunsy again.”

“Okay, duly noted.” Zack laughed. “But for real, Roche. I’m in the Flower Club, albeit because Aerith practically dragged me into it. But I came around to enjoy it after a while. Not to mention, you enjoy speaking in little monologues about the good and bad things that happen in your life.”

“I do not.” Roche disagreed, shaking his head.

“Dear Gaia, you literally did not long ago. Zack, what was it the other day that he was complaining about?” Kunsel giggled.

“Oh, about a bird shitting on this shirt? ‘Oh, why do not the gods smite me down instead of bearing on me this heavy burden?’” Zack and Kunsel laughed erratically. “‘Who have I wronged so horrifically to be gifted with the decrements of a carefree swan?’ Seriously, dude, sometimes I wonder if you were a poet in a past life!”

“Okay, I get it, you two. You can stop laughing now!” Roche pouted.

“We’re only joking around with you, Roche. But seriously, give the Drama Club a try. I think Stella would appreciate her potential mate is making an effort for her affection.” Zack smirked.

“Alright, but only because you guys think it will get me closer to Stella.” Just as they finished this conversation, the doorbell rang, oddly like it was on cue. “And like that, the pizza arrived!”

“Great, cause I’m fucking starving!” Kunsel exclaimed.

Cloud heavily sighed as he set down the last box he had to move into his new apartment. The last hour was nothing but hard work for Cloud and his mum, lifting what felt like an endless number of boxes into what would be his home for the next few years.

“Are you sure you don’t need me to help you unpack these boxes for you, love?” Claudia tenderly asked her son. Given how much she and her son have brought up, she thought it would be best if both she and Cloud unpacked since it could be done in half the time than it would take Cloud on his own.

“Mum, you still need to drive back home and Nibelheim is a long drive from here. Don’t get me wrong, I would love for you to stay and help me out, but you still have to make it to work in the morning.”

“I can still cancel, Cloud. Besides, I told all the other staff I may be late as I’m helping you settle into university. And once I leave you today, who knows when I will be able to see you again?”

“I do get holidays, Mum. I’m not going to spend the entire year holed up in my small apartment when I have the chance to come and see you again.”

“Yeah, but this will be the first time you’re away from me for more than a week.” Claudia pulled Cloud for a tender hug, “I can’t put into words how proud I am of you, Cloud. You’ve made it into one of the most prestigious universities and earned a scholarship with nothing but your hard work and dedication.”

“Please stop, you’re going to make me emotional, Mum.” Cloud jokingly chuckled, although truthfully, he could not stop the subtle tears forming in his eyes.

For all his life, there has only been one person that he could truly depend on. Whether it was falling on his face while chasing butterflies as a child, the children telling him he couldn’t play with them because they didn’t want to play with ‘sissies’, or he was struggling to figure out how to solve a math problem, any problem or concern Cloud encountered in his life could always be solved by his mother’s comforting words and profound guidance.

Cloud knew he owed so much of his life to his mum so it seemed fair to him that he tried to be the best person he could be - to make his mum the proudest mum on the planet.

“I just knew you would go on to do great things. You’ve always had it in you, Cloud.”

“Only because you always brought out the best in me.”

“You were all I had so all I could do was try my best to navigate you.”

“And I couldn’t have asked for a better mum.” Cloud pulled out of his mum’s embrace. “I guess you still have time for a cup of tea. Or coffee, whichever you prefer.”

“Coffee, love. I’ll need the caffeine for the long drive back.” Cloud chuckles as he fills the kettle with water.

A benefit from his scholarship was that the apartment he was provided with would also come with the small necessities like a toaster, kettle and a couple of coffee mugs. They weren’t the best that money could buy, but Cloud could tell that the things they provided for his apartment were still of exceptional quality - far more luxurious than the things he was used to in Nibelheim.

Once the kettle finished boiling, he poured water onto each mug. Cloud decided to have tea to save himself from staying up all night. He needed as much sleep as he could get since he had a packed week ahead of him, being a fresher at university. The two of them sat at the coffee table, scanning the campus map.

“So do you know where the nearest pharmacy is?” Claudia asked.

“No, I don’t. To be honest, I didn’t really think of where the closest shops would be from here.”

“Not to worry, dear, I’ve done a bit of research and asking around. So, there is a pharmacy around here called Toshi’s Pharmacy. It’s about a three-minute walk from here, or a one-minute run if it’s urgent. If you pop in there within the week, I’m sure they’ll accept your prescription for heat suppressants, birth control and all that.”

“Do we really have to talk about this again, Mum?”

“Yes, we do, Cloud.” Claudia exclaimed, “At the end of the day, you’re still an omega. Unfortunately, that comes with knowing when your heat periods are and being on top of them, so you don’t end up being in a vulnerable position.”

Cloud nodded, taking in his mother’s guidance. While society does not fully exclude omegas and treat them as lesser people than alphas and betas, they are still seen as scientific malfunctions – a confusing error in nature. They are generally viewed as being incapable of handling their own pheromones and stereotypically viewed as promiscuous people. Most omegas are also naturally susceptible to an alpha’s pheromones, making omegas incredibly vulnerable to hostile alphas.

To put it lightly, for decades, omegas were either severely sheltered or left to the mercy of alphas and even betas at some times. Fortunately, scientists in modern medicine have recently developed medication for omegas that provides them with better control of their pheromones and heat cycles. It didn’t take long before omegas were able to live their lives without the looming threat of an alpha wanting to take advantage of them.

This development was not met without pushback, however. Some activists detested the idea of an omega being more than an alpha’s housewife and advocated for the medication to be strictly regulated. Some even demanded it to be outlawed. However, their cries fell on deaf ears and shortly after their development, the medication was approved by regulators and is widely accessible.  

“I know, Mum. Sometimes, I wish life was easier for omegas like me.” Cloud sighed.

“I know, dear. But remember, anything worth having in life is not easy to get.”

“But don’t you ever think that I’m being too ambitious? That maybe my goals are a little too far for me to grasp?”

Claudia sighed, taking hold of Cloud’s hands. “Cloud, I don’t think you’re too ambitious at all. Just because you see most omegas not attending university or working low-level jobs, does not mean you’re destined for that same fate. And even if you were, you fight when you know you can have better in your life. Don’t ever accept a life that you don’t deserve.”

Cloud nodded. “Thanks, Mum, I really needed that. Who am I to turn to when I start doubting myself like that again?”

“You have a phone, don’t you?” Claudia remarked. “I’m always just a call away and I’ll drive to be here for you if need be. Now, where were we?”

“Talking about medication for omegas?”

“Yes! So, what does a heat suppressant do, dear?”

“What it says on the bottle, it suppresses my heat period?”

“Good, now what is a pheromone inhibitor?”

“It protects me from succumbing to alpha pheromones.”

“And why is that important?”

Cloud releases a deep sigh, he really did not want to have this conversation with his mum. “Because there are awful alphas who will use their pheromones to try to hurt me and that won’t happen if I use the inhibitor.”

“Fantastic, now when would you use the pheromone inhibitor?”

“Only when I’m out in public or where I’m likely to be surrounded by alphas?”

“And the heat suppressant?”

“Not earlier than a day before my heat cycle is projected to start.”

“Well done, dear. But I’m not surprised, I taught you well.”

“That you did, Mum, that you did.”

Claudia smiled, looking out the window. She was surprised to see that it had become fully dark outside.

“Well, would you look at that? We were only talking for a short while and it’s already dark outside. I should probably get going then.”

“Will you call me when you’re at home safe?”

“Dear, you’ll probably be fast asleep by the time I’m back at home. Don’t worry, I’ll text you once I’m home.” Claudia gives him one final hug. “Hope everything goes well while you’re settling in here. Call me as soon as you have a problem or need someone to talk to.”

“Will do, have a safe journey back, Mum!”

“Say, Zack. Did you ever call back that girl we met at that club? The one that would not stop grinding on you every time you hit the dancefloor?” Kunsel asked. “What was her name again?”

“I think it was Tiffany. No, I didn’t. Wasn’t my type, dude.”

“What the hell? She seemed really into you.”

“So do a lot of boys and girls. Doesn’t mean I have to give them my time.”

“Damn, that’s cold, Zack.” Roche remarked.

Zack simply shrugged. “I’m not looking for anything permanent, and even if I was, I wouldn’t be looking for it in nightclubs and bars.”

“Zack, do you have any ideas how many married couples were at a bar the first time they met? You can’t just assume you need to be at some luxurious hotel or social event to find the one.” Kunsel said.

“Kunsel has a point, Zack. Love doesn’t follow a script, it may come to you in the most unexpected places.”

“Gaia, I hate it when both of you are right.” Zack sighed. “Fine, I’ll text her later saying I’m not interested.”

“We’re not saying that you can’t be cold, Zack. Just if you know you don’t want their attention or company, just say so.” Kunsel said.

“I tried that, Kunsel. If anything, it can make them more persistent to get in my pants.” Zack sighed. “Hey, Roche, can you pass me another beer please?”

“Sure, no problem.” As Roche shifts through the fridge, Kunsel and Zack switch on Zack’s Nintendo Switch for a game of Smash Brothers.

Being the son of the CEO of Midgar’s biggest tech company, Zack has been blessed with what seems to be a bottomless bank account. He always has the latest and greatest technology in his arsenal, sometimes even before it gets released to the public. Unlike many people in this city, Zack and his family have never fallen victim to the disease known as financial difficulties. Though he has never experienced it, he has seen the extent to which that disease could affect someone. He sees it a lot when he visits one of the many factories that his father owns and how coldly his father views and treats them. He made a promise to himself that wherever he ended up in this life, he would not be cold or as harsh to people as his father was. 

Nonetheless, he views his endless wallet as both a blessing and a curse. Ever since he was a child, people have hovered around him like bees to honey or flies to shit, always demanding his attention. They always appeared cheerful and beaming around Zack, acting like they were friends with him their entire life. Truth is, Zack was no fool. He knew exactly why these people, these vultures flocked to him at every opportunity he got. To them, Zack was the perfect friend or future husband and none of it had to do with his personality or outlook on life. It had to do with his looks, his wealth and most importantly, his prestigious family.

Anyone who is married into the Fair family was practically set for life, they would never need to lift a finger ever again. Likewise, those with connections to the Fair family always found a way to extraordinary wealth, status and influence. It was to no one’s surprise that when Zack enrolled at Midgar University, this ruthless burden would follow him here. Fortunately, Zack could always tell when someone genuinely wanted him for his friendship or his wealth. That is why he only regards a small number of people as being close friends with him.

“So, what do you guys think about being in our second year at uni now?” Roche asks.

“I mean, it’s whatever.” Zack shrugged. “We got the first year over with. Now, it’s just a couple more after that.”

“Then, we have to face the cruel reality that is being employed.” Kunsel sighed. “I can already see the gruelling struggles of job applications.”

“That doesn’t apply to Zacky, though.” Roche chuckled. “Dude’s got a high-up, boss man position lined up for him after uni.”

“Not really, Roche.” Zack corrected. “I still have a bunch of training and development to do before I assume my dad’s job.”

“Knowing your dad, he’ll probably make you do all that ‘training and development’ while you’re here at uni.”

“Even then, I have to wait until my dad steps down before I become CEO, Kunsel.”

“Doesn’t matter. Even if you’re not appointed straight to CEO, you’ll probably be on the board of directors or some shit.”

“Yeah, no doubt my dad’s already preparing for me to take on a shit ton of work the moment I graduate.” Zack holds his beer up in the air. “So might as well enjoy my time here while I can!”

“I’ll drink to that!” Roche cheered. “Hey, haven’t the first years started moving in?”

“Yeah, I think they started moving into their dorms or apartments the other day. I’ve heard their inductions start on Monday.”

“What do you guys say about us pulling a little prank on the new students?” Roche smirked, mischief laced in his voice.

Kunsel rolls his eyes at Roche’s childishness. “Roche, we’re not in high school where pranking and terrorising the freshmen was cool and hip. Also, all those new students are likely already scared as hell. They’re away from their parents, they have to live independently, cook, clean and look after themselves. All the while attending lectures and studying endless hours. They already have a lot on their plates as it is.”

“You think that these newcomers are worried about living on their own? Sure, a good chunk of them who didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in their mouths are 100 per cent going to have a hard time adjusting. But we all know Midgar University is known for being rich students who sometimes bring their butler or servant from home so that they don’t need to do shit.” Roche rambled with clear distaste. “And here I thought university was where people learn to be an adult! Not here, apparently.”

“Roche, Zack is exactly right here. And you don’t see a butler or servant around him, do you?”

“Well, that’s because he’s one of the few who don’t treat university like an afterthought and knows how to take care of himself.”

“Thanks for that, Roche. That’s very kind of you.” Zack grinned. “But for real, we’re not pranking the newcomers. I’m sure a bunch of other second or third-years are concocting something already. There’s no need for us to participate as well.”

“Besides, Roche, you barely passed the first year as it is. You know things here are proper cutthroat, right?” Kunsel asked while taking a sip of his beer.

“Thank you for reminding me of that, Kunsel.” Roche snickered, flipping out Kunsel in the process. Kunsel rolls his eyes in response. “Just so the both of you know, I don’t need to be reminded about how I was almost kicked out of here.”

“It’s the harsh truth though, Roche. You don’t want the university staff breathing down your neck because you almost failed a test.” Zack said.

It was no secret that as prestigious and acclaimed as Midgar University was, it was notorious for how unforgiving it was when it came to assignments and grades. Not only did you need to have excellent academics to even be considered for a place here, but you were also expected to perform profoundly well throughout your studies.

The university did have an infamous reputation for only teaching the best of the best. After all, numerous graduates from Midgar University have gone on to become CEOs, award-winning musicians, world leaders, the list goes on. Needless to say, the university will not hesitate to toss out a student if they are shown to continuously fail their assignments or constantly commit truancy without a reasonable explanation.

Granted, they did have an appeal process in the event a student feels they have been unfairly expelled. However, it was known for being incredibly long, grovelling and exhausting to the extent that students find it easier to just study in hopes of passing to prevent themselves from being in that kind of predicament in the first place.

“If you think about it, Roche. Once you graduate from here, your degree basically becomes a golden ticket to anywhere you want to work at. Hell, you show that degree to any company and they’ll have you in a managerial position in no time. Not everyone gets this kind of opportunity, you know.” Kunsel explained.

“Exactly, plus it’s not like they don’t have an endless number of prospective students. If they feel you’re no longer worthy of being branded a Midgar University student, they’ll rip it away from you and give it to the next person in line.”

“By person, you mean unfortunate soul?” Rocke remarks.

“I can’t disagree with you, dude.” Zack chuckled. “I don’t think any amount of preparation or advice could prepare someone with the brutal trials of Midgar University.”

“Clearly not, I’ve heard several people were kicked out simply for failing a surprise test.” Kunsel said.

“If this is about Rude and Tseng, I’m pretty sure I’ve seen them around campus the other day so they haven’t been kicked out?” Zack questioned.

“Probably because Rufus went to his big shot of a dad and made him use his power over the school board to reverse that decision.”

“To be fair, it was only that one time they failed a test. And it was a surprise test.” Zack carelessly shrugged. “Pretty sure they only expel you if you break the rules too many times.”

“Still, it didn’t hurt that Rufus’ father is there to force the school board’s hand when he wishes.”

“Yep, perks of being the son of one of the university’s biggest funders.”

“Okay, it’s been fun gossiping about this place and its stupid and absurd rules, but I really want to kick your asses at Smash Bros.” Roche smirked.

Zack and Kunsel exchange a look of disbelief at Roche’s boldness. “You? Beat us? Roche, when was the last time you beat us?” Kunsel asked, laughter echoing through his question.

“Well, uh…” Roche scratches the back of his neck, desperately trying to find an answer to what is a simple question.

“Exactly, that’s what we thought. Every time we’ve played Smash, it’s either Kunsel or I who win. But who knows? Today might be your lucky day.”

“Damn right, just you two watch! I shall be the one to claim victory tonight!” Roche exclaimed, a newfound sense of confidence could be found in his words. Kunsel and Zack looked at each other again, shrugged and picked up their controllers, ready for the impending brawl ahead.

Cloud scanned through the schedule for the coming week with curiosity. Granted, the coming week had no lectures or classes since it was meant to be an introductory week to allow the newcomers to get to know the area and breathe a little before being thrown into the deep end.

Before he allowed himself to get absorbed into his deep thoughts again, his phone began to ring. Curious, he lifts up his phone to check who was calling.

Incoming call: Tifa

Cloud grinned to himself before pressing the answer button.

“Hey.”

“Hey, Cloud. Thought you would’ve been asleep by now?”

“Nah, Mum and I finished bringing up my stuff about a half hour ago. I’m just looking through my schedule. What about you?”

“More or less the same. Can you believe we’re here at Midgar University!? This feels surreal!”  Tifa excitedly exclaimed.

“I know, sometimes I need to pinch myself to remind myself this is real.”

“I bet it feels more unbelievable for you since you’ve gotten that scholarship. Seriously, Cloud, only a few students are granted that scholarship and you’re one of them!”

“I know, now it’s just the case of proving to the university that they chose the right person for it.”

Cloud still remembered the day he got the email confirming him as one of the very few students to receive the Shinra Scholarship. For days on end, he was refreshing the email to make sure it was legit or for another email to say it was sent in error.

It was only when he directly called the university faculty for him to find out it wasn’t a fraudulent email or sent in error to him. In that moment, a million emotions ran through his very core. Shock, happiness, disbelief but most prevalently, relief.

“Cloud, you and I both know that you’re going to excel here. Trust me, getting that scholarship was no easy feat.”

“I know but I’m sure you’ve heard about how Midgar University basically demands perfection from all their students?”

“Yes, Cloud. If there’s one thing I have heard constantly on repeat, it has been their strict rules and that they’ll expel you if you don’t get an A+.” Cloud let out a slight chuckle. “But seriously if there is anyone who could do well here, it’s you. I mean, I barely got the grades to make it here and I’m still hopeful I’ll do well here.”

“Gaia, I wish I had your optimism, Tifa."

“If it helps, I’ll remind you every single day that you’re brilliant if that will bring your hopes up.” Tifa laughed.

“Somehow, you always know how to say to cheer me up. Don’t you, Tifa?”

“Please, I’ve known you since we were kids. If I didn’t, I would probably be the worst friend someone could have.”

“So, how was moving into your dorm? Got nice dormmates?”

“It was okay, Dad obviously was doing most of the heavy lifting but I carried whatever was doable for me. As for my dormmates, they’re pretty cool actually. They’re also very into that board game we played a lot back in school.”

“You’re telling me they’re into Queen’s Blood too?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Tifa excitingly told Cloud. “Maybe you can come around for a few games sometime?”

“You know I’m always down for a game of Queen’s Blood!”

“Tell me, Cloud. Whereabouts is your apartment building? I remember you saying it was around the west side of campus?”

“Oh, yeah. Yeah, the building my apartment’s in is on the west side of campus. Why?”

“No way, my dorm is in the west too. Wait a second,” Cloud could hear scrambling noises and the sounds of things being shuffled and moved. “Okay, when you were on your way, did you notice any shops or cafes near where you live?”

“Gaia, no I didn’t. Mum asked me the exact same thing when she was here.”

“Okay. Thankfully, I paid attention to my surroundings unlike you. So, there is a coffee shop, a pharmacy and a convenience store near my dorm. They’re all about an eight to ten-minute walk from me.”

“Wait, Mum brought up the pharmacy. Is it Toshi’s Pharmacy that’s near you?”

“Yeah! Yeah, it is! Thank the Gods, we live near each other! Shiva’s tits, I’m not gonna have such a hard time at uni after all.”

“Tifa, it doesn’t matter whether we were on opposite sides of campus. I’m just grateful you and I can be here together.”

“As am I, Cloud. You know, since that coffee shop is a few minutes away from us, you wanna grab a coffee tomorrow morning and have a little walk around Midgar?”

“Sounds good to me, Tifa.”

“Cool, see you tomorrow then.”

After hanging up, Cloud plugs the charging cable into his phone and rests it on his bedside table. He lays back on his bed, thinking about how his life has been leading up to this point. It would be a lie to say Cloud’s life has always been peaches and rainbows. Though his mother was viewed in Nibelheim as a shining light and pillar of the community, Cloud was viewed as a ‘black sheep’ by his peers. It wasn’t until Tifa decided to talk and play with him that the other kids would give Cloud the time of day and even then, they were always cautious around him.

That is why he views Tifa with such high regard. She looks out for him, and he does the same for her. He could always depend on her whenever the kids back in Nibelheim were giving him trouble. But Midgar isn’t Nibelheim. He hopes that with this new chapter of life, things will be different for him. That he’ll make a plethora of new friends and become more confident with himself. This time, he was not going to allow anything to stand in his way. Not his background, his financial status and certainly not him being an omega. No, this time, things were going to be different. 

Chapter Text

As the early morning began to make its descent to Midgar, the city was blessed with the delicate rays of sunlight. Unless you were Zack Fair in which the rays are harshly beaming in his face. So much so, that it began to stir him awake. As he slowly opens his eyes, he can clearly see the aftermath of last night. His living room looked like an absolute disaster, to put it lightly. Empty beer bottles, sweet bags and soda cans were scattered across the floor.

There were various stains on the carpet. Some of the stains were of pizza, some of spilt drinks, and a couple that Zack could not tell what it was for the life of him. Roche laid on the floor face down, with a slice of pizza caressing his face while Kunsel laid on the couch, hugging an empty beer bottle like a child would hug their teddy bear.

As Zack gradually starts to get up from the floor, a soaring pain strikes within his head. He hisses in pain as the agonising headache settles in. You would think that after the countless times he has partied and drunk himself blind, Zack would be accustomed or even immune to hangovers. But no, he has to suffer like the majority of people who dare to drink tremendous amounts of alcohol in a single night.

Feeling a slight and seemingly abnormal breeze across his body, Zack looked down to find that he was wearing nothing but his Dior boxers. Where the hell did his clothes go? Having a scan around the room, he could see his jeans draped over the table and his V-neck shirt was being used as a blanket by Roche. It seemed stranger seeing that both Roche and Kunsel remained fully clothed. What in the hell did they get up to last night? 

“What a great way to start a Sunday morning,” Zack mumbled, rolling his eyes. He walks over to Roche, shuffling him with his foot. “It’s time to wake up, Roche.” Despite his best efforts, Roche still could not be awoken. Zack deeply sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. He did not have time for this.

He needed to meet his parents later for Sunday lunch, and there was no way that his parents - especially his dad - were going to be seen out with him looking like a total wreck. He walked over to the sink to pour a glass of water and relentlessly poured it over Roche. Roche instantly awakened, jumping up in shock and surprise at the unexpected water assault. After gaining his composure, he turned to Zack distraught.

“Was that really necessary?” Roche irritably asked.

“You weren’t waking up when I was trying to shake you. I was starting to worry you might have died.” Zack said, his voice reeking of sarcasm. “As much as I have enjoyed your company, I need to clean up as much as I can before I head out to see my parents.”

Kunsel began to wake up, rubbing his eyes and stretching. “Aw, don’t be so quick to kick us out. We can help clean up!”

“It’s fine, I got a lot of shit to do today anyway.”

“Exactly, which is why if we stay behind, we’ll get this place squeaky clean in no time! Ain’t that right, Kunsel?” Roche cheered.

“That’s true. Plus, it’s not like you made this mess on your own. It’s only fair that we help you tidy up.” Kunsel agreed.

Zack was pleasantly surprised. Normally, Roche would rush out the door by the time Zack and Kunsel were awake leaving them both to clean up the mess. Most of which would usually be made by Roche. Maybe it had to do with the fact that Zack was the first to get up, making him unable to get a quick getaway this time.

“Okay, but before we get started. Roche, can I have my shirt back? I ain’t cleaning my house in my underwear.”

“Oh, sure.” Roche balls up Zack’s shirt before throwing it to him. “And there’s nothing wrong with cleaning your house in your underwear. I know of people who do it ass naked.”

“And how would you know that?” Kunsel asked, with an eyebrow raised at Roche.

“Look it up on Moogle, Kunsel. Tons of people do it.”

Sure enough, as soon as Zack put on his clothes, the three of them got to work cleaning up Zack’s apartment. Roche was tasked with picking up all the trash from the floor, Kunsel with cleaning the kitchen and Zack with rubbing the stains out of the carpet.

“Shiva’s clit, how much did we drink last night? My head still hurts.” Roche hissed, rubbing the temples of his head for pain relief.

“Not only that but how did you almost get naked?” Kunsel asked directly to Zack. “This is the first time this has happened.”

“I don’t know, maybe the alcohol made me feel hot or made me hallucinate about spiders or some shit?”

“Zack, it was booze. Not shrooms, or LSD. You know, the hard-hitting shit that makes you see things?”

“Okay, booze can make people see shit or distort their perspective. I mean the number of times I’ve heard of people thinking they’ve slept with a top model or something. Only to wake up to someone looking like a monster out of a horror movie. Gives me chills just thinking about it.” Roche explained.

“You don’t need to say they look like a monster, Roche. It’s a bit much.” Zack scolded, prompting a pout from Roche. “But I have to agree with him. I mean, people drink booze to find the power to talk to someone or do something they’re normally too scared to do. What was it called again, Dutch coverage?”

Kunsel sighed. “Dutch courage, Zack. And if you need alcohol to mutter up the courage to do something, maybe you should work on yourself so you can do it sober like the rest of us?”

“If only it was that simple, Kunsel.” Zack sighed, furiously scrubbing the carpet. For some reason, one of the stains Zack has been trying to get out of the carpet is puzzlingly persistent.  “Gaia, the fuck is this on my carpet? I’ve been scrubbing this same spot for the past five minutes and it’s not coming out!”

“Shit, I think the best thing you can do is mix some baking soda with vinegar onto it and let it sit for a bit. Hopefully, that should be enough to lift the stain out.” Kunsel advised, with Zack nodding at him.

Zack scanned through his cardboard to find the two ingredients that would hopefully remove this stubborn stain on his carpet. Kunsel and Roche curiously observed Zack as he poured on the baking soda first before splashing the vinegar on top.

To their surprise and amazement, the stain was starting to disappear. Zack decided to scrub it with the detergent he had been using to finish it off, sending the stain back to the hell it manifested from.

“Wow, it actually worked. Thanks for that, Kunsel!” Zack beamed, a wide grin painted across his face.

“Don’t worry about it. Sometimes, it’s good to have a couple of life hacks to hand.”

“Well, now that my apartment has been sorted out, I need to make myself presentable before the parents come here.”

“Which means it’s our cue to take our leave. Let’s go, Roche.” Kunsel sat up, waiting for Roche so they could make a move.

“Are you sure we can’t stay and meet your parents? I’m sure they’d love us!” Roche exclaimed.

Kunsel rolled his eyes. “No, trust me, you don’t want to meet Zack’s parents. No offence, bud.”

“None taken, I’m well aware of the kind of people they are.”

“Right, now let’s go.” Kunsel pushes Roche to the door, leading both of them out of Zack’s apartment.

Zack heavily sighed as he started to get ready to see his parents again.

A loud, ear-piercing alarm echoes through Cloud’s apartment. He slowly opens his eyes as the alarm pulls him out of his blissful slumber. He groaned in irritation, rapidly tapping his phone to turn off the grating noise. As soon as the alarm is turned off, he unplugs his phone from the charging cable to check the time.

‘8:46’, it read. Good, it gave Cloud more than enough time to make himself presentable before meeting with Tifa for a coffee. Cloud pulls the sheets off him and makes his way to the bathroom. He brushes his teeth and takes a brief shower.

Back in Nibelheim, Cloud and his mum were always conscious about how much electricity and water they used in their daily activities. It is a habit that Cloud was taught from a young age so it was unsurprising that he would apply that consciousness here as well. The last thing he wanted was to be surprised with a hefty bill for his excessive use of water when it was not necessary.

His scholarship did cover most of the financial problems Cloud would’ve had to endure had he not been granted the scholarship, but it did not grant him the opportunity to take the piss either. No doubt that if he were to do such a thing, Shinra would be knocking on his door to give him a stern warning or worse, revoke the scholarship from him.

He also doesn’t forget to take his pheromone inhibitors. If there were one thing he did not want to happen, it was to enter pre-heat unexpectedly in the middle of the city. He’s heard numerous chilling stories of omegas entering heat out of nowhere and were subject to horrible ordeals orchestrated by alphas and betas.

While Cloud knew he would follow the scheduling of his medication well, the horrific content of those stories never fails to send chills down his spine. As he remembers those stories, bizarrely he notices that he is running low on heat suppressants. He makes a note that he will need to see the pharmacist to have his prescription sent there. He'll probably try to do it today since he is already going to be out with Tifa.

Stepping out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, he moves to the boxes where he packs his clothes. Because he and his mum spent a lot of time moving the boxes last night, it, unfortunately, didn’t leave him with enough time to unpack them and organise the contents into their appropriate places. He made a mental note that he would gradually unpack and organise his belongings over the weeks. Not now, though. Today was for spending time with Tifa and exploring the city that would be his home for the next few years.

He moved through the clothes he had packed for himself, eventually settling for a long-sleeved green T-shirt and black jeans. He paired this with a white cardigan that his mother gifted him not too long ago. Not the most fashion-forward outfit but simple and effective. Unlike most of the students who attend Midgar University, Cloud was not fortunate enough to have a bottomless pit of money.

So, he could not afford to wear luxurious brands like Dior, Burberry or Louis Vuitton, the stuff that he saw countless people wearing when he moved in. But it wasn’t like he needed it, of course. Cloud had become far too accustomed to wearing second-hand or department store clothes that wearing something like Burberry would seem alien to him.

He applies a subtle amount of moisturiser on his face and once satisfied, makes sure that all the windows are closed before leaving. Though in Cloud’s opinion, there wasn’t much in his apartment that would be worth stealing, the last thing he wanted to see once he got back was to see his new apartment completely torn apart. Before closing the door to his apartment, he checks his pocket to find that he still had the key. Now that he was living on his own, he did not have the courtesy of being able to call his mum to unlock the door after realising he forgot his keys to the house.

After walking for a little while, he could see the coffee shop and Tifa standing outside in the distance. Funnily enough, Espresso was the name of the coffee shop. It wasn’t the most innovative name one could come up with, but it stayed true to its branding and what it sells which could not be said for other shops.

He waves his hand to her, hoping to catch her attention. Sure enough, she waves back with a bright smile on her face. She was wearing a white jumper with a dark denim skirt, accompanied by a pair of trainers. If there was one thing Cloud could confidently say about him and Tifa, is that they share a similar fashion sense. They never dressed to impress unless they needed to, they always opted for something practical, simple and charming.

“Hey, Cloud!” Tifa yelled, running to him and engulfing him in a tight hug.

Cloud smiled, hugging her back. “Hey, Tifa. I’m so happy to see you.”

“Same to you too. I know it has only been a few weeks since I last saw you, but it feels like it’s been forever!”

“Yeah, you and I have got a lot of catching up to do.”

“Should we head in and catch up then?”

“Of course.”

As they made their way inside, they took in the ambience of the coffee shop. It looked very simplistic with its black-and-white aesthetic. The baristas wore more or less what an ordinary person would expect a barista to wear, a white button-down shirt with a brown apron. Nevertheless, the shop looked very welcoming and had a comfortable and easy atmosphere. Cloud knew that he was going to visit this place a good number of times while embarking on his studies.

“So, what are you thinking of ordering?” Tifa asked.

“Normally, I get a plain white americano. But I’m not gonna lie, that pumpkin spiced latte sounds cool as well.”

“Yeah, I heard that is a limited-edition thing so if you were going to try it, now would be the best time before they move on to the next seasonal thing.” Cloud is not much used to overly sweet things. But this time around, he wanted to be a bit more adventurous.

“Yeah, guess I’ll give it a try. What about you?”

“You know what? I’ll give it a try as well. Anything to eat?”

“I was just going to grab a croissant. I didn’t want anything too heavy for now.”

“I was thinking the exact same.” As they made their way to the counter, the server greeted them with a smile.

“Good morning, welcome to Espresso. What can I get for the both of you?”

“Can we have two of the pumpkin spiced lattes and two plain croissants please?”

“You most certainly can, are you paying separately or?”

“No, I’ve got it.” Tifa cheerfully said, much to Cloud’s surprise. Before he could protest, Tifa already held her phone to the card reader. It made a pinging sound, indicating the payment was successful. Tifa turned to Cloud smiling, who simply rolled his eyes in response. When their order was ready, they made their way to a table and sat down.

“You didn’t need to pay for my stuff, Tifa. I’m not broke, you know.”

“Of course, I know you’re not broke, Cloud. Is it wrong for me to treat my friend every now and then?”

“It’s not, I just don’t want to be a burden to you.”

“Cloud, it was a coffee and a croissant. It wasn’t like I was breaking the bank to feed you.” Tifa shrugged.

“Okay but next time, I’m paying for it.”

Cloud took one sip of his latte and felt the impulse to spit it out. He knew that coffee syrups tend to be sweet but this was far too sweet for his liking. Apparently, Tifa shared a similar sentiment although she has more of a sweet tooth than Cloud.

“Too sweet?”

“Yeah, I think I’m gonna grab another shot of espresso. You want one too?”

“Yes please, if you don’t mind.”

Less than five minutes later, Cloud returned with two separate cups of espresso. “Guy said it was on the house since he could see from over here that we weren’t too keen of it.”

“I mean it’s not bad, maybe he put in too much syrup?”

“Whatever, at least the extra espresso will tone down the sweetness a tad.” Sure enough, the added espresso made the latte much more enjoyable to Cloud since it no longer tasted like a pile of sugar mixed in with a dash of coffee.

“Cloud, you didn’t forget to take the medication today, did you?”

“No, I didn’t. And for the record, I already have my mum reminding me constantly. I don’t need you doing the same.” Cloud laughed.

“This is just me looking out for you. And I was only asking since you know I always carry a backup supply in my bag in the event you need it.” Ever since the day Cloud discovered that he was an omega, Tifa took it upon herself to ensure Cloud was always safe and protected. Claudia had informed Tifa of the medication Cloud was currently prescribed to, and so Tifa made sure she carried a spare set if Cloud urgently needed it or was unable to acquire it for whatever reason.

“Gaia, why did I have to be an omega?”

“Being an omega isn’t as much of a bad thing as people make it out to be. As long as you keep your pheromones under control, you’ll be fine.”

“It’s easier said than done, Tifa.” Cloud sighed. “It’s not only having to take the medication at the correct times but also remembering not to go over the recommended doses. And sometimes, I have to let a heat cycle happen otherwise my cycles become fucked.”

“Yeah, I forgot about that.” Tifa shrugged. “So, what do you do about your heats then?”

“I go to a brothel and let a dozen alphas shove their cocks in me.” Cloud sarcastically scoffed. “I stay in my room and let it happen.”

“Are you at least comfortable during it?”

“I can’t really be comfortable when my ass is constantly leaking out slick and staining my underwear, shorts and even my sheets at times.”

Tifa shook her head. “TMI, Cloud, TMI.”

“You asked!”

“I didn’t ask about your ass leaking.” Tifa laughed.

Just as Tifa was about to continue, screaming and distraught yelling could be heard by the counter.

“I thought I told you clearly, I wanted three shots of espresso in it. This tastes like it hardly has any coffee in it!” The customer furiously yelled at the cashier. Judging from his looks and clothing, they could infer that he must be one of the many rich students attending their university.

“I’m sorry, sir. If you’d like another shot of coffee, I’m more than happy to give it to you.” The barista shakingly muttered.

“No, forget it! It tastes like raw shit anyway. Hope your boss enjoys having this business for a few more days cause I’m going to make sure this place gets shut down!” He roared, throwing the coffee at the barista. Thankfully, it narrowly missed him as he ducked in time. But it did hit the wall behind him, creating a behemoth of a mess.

The angry customer marched out of the coffee shop, smirking at the disaster he had caused. Cloud and Tifa shook their heads in both disbelief and disgust. The poor barista made a simple mistake that could have been easily rectified, had that customer been considerate and understanding.

Instead, he had to make a scene that left the barista nervous and trembling. Never in their lives have they seen someone treat a worker so poorly. As far as they were aware, no one in Nibelheim would dare treat a worker with such disrespect.

They both hoped that this was just one bad apple, that not every rich person in this city was as stuck up as that customer. Because if they were, maybe their time at Midgar University would be much tougher than they anticipated.

Zack gave himself one more look in the mirror to examine his chosen outfit before heading to his drawer to pick out the cologne he wished to wear today. As much as Zack would love to wear a graphic shirt and jeans today, he knew that his parents would not take kindly to him wearing that kind of clothes while he was out with him.

So, he opted for something more smart and sophisticated. He picked up a silky, royal blue long-sleeved button-down shirt with a pair of black slim-fit trousers. He always liked how slim-fit trousers would hug his ass, and it didn’t hurt that he would catch people staring at his ass too without fail.

Looking through the drawer where he kept various colognes, he opted for the new Eau de Parfum Chanel recently released. It had a good level of strength to it, one could scent it from a reasonable distance but it wouldn’t cause those near him to start coughing and choking.

Zack pulled out his phone and finds a message from his mum.

Mum ❤️

Good afternoon, dear. Sorry, there has been a slight change of plans. Are you okay to meet Dad and I by the restaurant? The traffic has been horrific x

Me

Morning, Mum. Sure, I can. How long do you reckon you and Dad are going to be?

Mum ❤️

If I had to guess, possibly about 20 mins, darling.

Me

Got it. I’ll start making my way to the restaurant now. Love you. x

Mum ❤️

Okay, darling. Love you too. See you in a bit. X

Zack scrolls through his phone as he nervously waited for his parents outside the restaurant they wanted to eat at today. To be honest, Zack has not heard of this place before. All he heard from his mum was that dad went here with a few of the directors and enjoyed their food and ambience.

While he was ecstatic to see his mother, the same could not be said for his father. His mother never failed to spend time with Zack while his dad rarely ever spares a few minutes for him so the fact that he has been able to clear his work schedule to have lunch with Zack seemed like a miracle. His mother has always been so caring and loving to him while his father always found things to criticise him on, and rarely if ever applauds him when he seemingly does something right.

Zack still has a slither of hope that his father could change and be a tad more considerate to him. But that small fragment of hope has only gotten smaller with each passing day. And since he’s in his mid-20s and has not seen any significant change in his dad’s behaviour, he doubts he’ll ever change.

As Zack looked up from his phone, he could see his parents making their way to him. He isn’t surprised at seeing his mum with a bright smile while his dad sported a nasty and frankly repulsive scowl. Come to think about it, has there ever been a time when his dad was happy? Realistically, Zack would probably have more luck finding a needle in a haystack than recalling a moment when his father experienced the exhilarating emotion that is happiness.

“Good afternoon, my sweet boy.” Michelle pulled her raven-haired son in for a hug. “It’s so lovely to see you!”

“It’s really nice to see you too, Mum.” Zack returns the hug. As he pulls away, he turns and bows to his dad. “Good afternoon, Dad.”

 “Afternoon, son. For how long you’ve been away from home, I’m grateful you have at least remembered to be polite.” Hugo sternly remarked. Zack had to fight the urge to roll his eyes at his dad’s backhanded compliment.

“Hugo!” Michelle slaps her husband on his right arm. “You really couldn’t even greet our son without making a rude comment, could you?”

“Honey, that was a compliment.”

“A compliment?” Michelle laughed. “Don’t take too much offence, Zack. He recently found out a client of ours has had some difficulties working with one of our teams at the company.”

“Difficulties!?” He exclaimed. “Some of them can’t do a decent job if their lives depended on it!”

“Love, we can continue this conversation while we’re having lunch. Let’s head in.” Michelle sweetly suggested as they made their way inside.

“Hey there, welcome to Leonardo’s Bistro. A table for three, I presume?” The server asked, with a shining smile painted across her face.

“Yes, and preferably a table by a window.” Hugo coldly asked, not a shred of politeness noticeable in his voice.

“Of course, sir.” The server nervously mumbled. It was apparent that the poor girl was shaken by Hugo’s coldness. Then again, any average person would be if they were dealing with a stubborn customer. They were shown to their table and sat by the window as per Hugo’s request. As they scanned through the menu, that same server made their way to them, pen and notepad in hand. “Could you guys like to start off with drinks?”

“Yes, could we please have a bottle of champagne?” Michelle politely asked.

“Absolutely, ma’am. Will everyone be having a glass?”

“Yes please.”

“Coming right up, ma’am. And are you all ready to order or do you need a few more minutes?”

“We need more time. Go get the champagne.” Hugo commanded. He turned to Michelle, feeling his hand being squeezed. He was met with his wife giving him a very chilling look. Even Zack was caught off guard. “Please.”

“No worries, sir.” With that, the server left the family for the moment.

“May I ask why we’re having champagne, Michelle? Not that I mind, but normally champagne is reserved for celebratory occasions. Is there something we should be celebrating?”

“Actually, there are several things we should be celebrating today. For starters, we were finally able to get that new television patent approved by those environmental regulators.”

“You mean the one with the vibrant display, Mum?” Zack asked.

“That’s right, dear.”

“I see, what did you guys name that product again? Luminate?”

“Luminous, dear. And you should know these things since you are going to inherit the business someday.”

“Sure, mum, my bad.” Zack sighed. “But I remember you guys have been working with those regulators for months. What was the problem?”  

“Those pesky regulators from the Agency of Environmental Affairs were constantly breathing down our necks. Making up all kinds of nonsense like the product would consume too much energy and would lead to high electricity bills. As soon as we fixed one issue, they immediately came back up with another. They’ve always been a thorn in our sides.”

“They’re a thorn in most companies’ side, Mum. It’s their job to look out for the average Joe.” Zack said.

“You’re speaking like a politician, dear.” Michelle laughed.

“I’m being honest, something politicians would never be.” Zack chuckled. “Wait, don’t tell me you paid them off like you did with the other patent?”

“No, we did not bribe them, dear. And we didn’t bribe them those past occasions either.”

“Why did it say we did on Channel 6 news then?”

“Because they love to spread all sorts of nonsense for an ounce of attention and laughs. Bet they weren’t laughing when our legal team sued them.”

“I remember that. Is that why Channel 6 only shares the news on the internet then?”

“Yes, after our lawsuit against them, their budget took such a hit, that they could no longer afford to have the recording equipment or filming set anymore.”

“Yikes, wasn’t that a bit too harsh, Mum?” Zack asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Dear, the company’s share prices were falling after the news broke. It was only a slight fall, but in our world, falling share prices can cripple a business into oblivion. We couldn’t stand by and let those heinous snakes misconstrue our business affairs and get away with it.”

“Sorry about the wait, guys.” Before Michelle could explain any further, the waiter arrived with their bottle of champagne along with a glass for each of them. “Are you guys ready to order?”

“I am, I’ll have the scallops to start with. And for the main, I’ll have the sirloin steak with the French fries cooked medium rare. Not medium! If it’s cooked any further, you can say goodbye to the tip you need to pay your rent!”

The server shakingly nodded. “And for you, madam?”

“I’ll have the calamari to start with and the salmon for my main, please,” Michelle said, smiling as to be courteous to the server.

“I’ll also have the calamari to start with. For my main, I’ll have the rack of lamb please.”

“And how would you like it cooked?” The server enquired.

“Medium, please. And don’t worry if it’s a bit overcooked or underdone.”

The server nods and takes their menus. Michelle thanked the server and eagerly opened the bottle, pouring the bubbly beverage into each of their glasses.

“One day when you inherit the company from us, Zack, you’ll come to realise that the more successful you are, the more eager people become to watch you fail. They’ll try to either outdo you in their innovation or productivity, or they’ll resort to more foul tactics. Be it spreading false rumours about the company or leaking our products before they are ready to be revealed to the public. You need to be ready and willing to take whatever you need to do to keep the company thriving.” Michelle explained.

“Even if it means ruining someone’s livelihood or wellbeing?” Zack asked, the conversation clearly making him feel unsettled.

Michelle shrugged. “Surely, they are aware of what consequences await them should they still proceed to sabotage our business? If they still move forward with it, they shouldn’t be surprised if their life takes a turn for the worse. Maybe they ought to be a bit wiser not to screw with us. But enough about business, we also need to celebrate you, dear.” Michelle smiled, raising her glass to Zack.

“We do?” Zack curiously asked.

“Yes! I mean when your first-year results were released, you were in the top 10 for highest performers. And we never got the chance to congratulate you for that stellar achievement.”

“The reason we didn’t celebrate it was because it wasn’t worth celebrating in the first place.” Hugo scowled. Zack once again tried not to roll his eyes and maintain a calm and composed demeanour. He was used to receiving this kind of treatment from his dad, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.

“Hugo, that is incredibly impressive! What do you mean it’s not worth celebrating?” Michelle angrily questioned.

“Because I didn’t raise you to be in the top 10, Zack, I raised you to be number one!” Hugo exclaimed. Michelle rolled her eyes and laid her hand over her face in disappointment towards her husband. She knew her husband was always hard on their son and tried to pull him back, but her efforts usually were futile.

“I still did well, Dad.”

“And yet there were several other students who scored better in their exams than you. Several other students that may be a better fit for the CEO position than you.” Hugo spat.

“Hugo, don’t you think you’re overreacting here!? He’s only in his second year now.” Michelle tried to reason with her husband.

“Okay, Dad. This year, I’ll try to make the top five. Would that make you happy?”

“No, I want you to be number one on the list. Top of the podium, the best of the best. I don’t want you to ever settle for being one of the greatest when you can be the greatest. Full stop!”

“Sure, Dad, I will do my best.” Zack sighed.

As much as Zack wanted to argue with his dad, to tell him that he wasn’t a failure, that he was more than capable of taking over his company in the future, there was no point in doing so. Trying to argue with Hugo was like arguing with a brick wall. Like a wall, he would make no movement to compromise or hear the opposite side out. He was better off enjoying the lunch he is having with his parents since moments like these tend to be so far and in-between.

Chapter Text

Once the commotion by the counter had settled down, Cloud and Tifa got up to leave the coffee shop. They collected their cups and plates and placed them by the counter, so as to be mindful of the workers here. Before doing so, Cloud decided to leave a couple of Gil in the tip jar and gave the barista a comforting smile. They could only hope that his boss was understanding and wouldn’t suspend him because of one inconsiderate customer. Then again, in this city, all it takes is a handful of bad reviews before people decide that they would no longer support a failing establishment.

As the day progressed into the early afternoon, what was a quiet and peaceful street quickly became flooded with numerous people of different backgrounds and walks of life. Cloud and Tifa take a stroll on these streets, taking in the different buildings and structures. It almost felt like they were on a different planet, with Midgar being different from Nibelheim. Carts with horses attached were replaced with automobiles. Giant carts used to carry cargo were replaced with cargo trucks. And as far as Cloud was concerned, there were more shops in that one street than Nibelheim had in the whole town.

As much as Cloud and Tifa hated to admit it, they were ecstatic that they wouldn’t be entrapped in the outdated ways that the people of Nibelheim seemed to enjoy so much. Hell, they were lucky enough to have a single-cell tower. And that took a lot of debate and discussion, despite the plethora of good that cell tower has done for the town. When Cloud came to Midgar yesterday with his mother, she was struggling to navigate through the vast city to get to Midgar University.

So, Cloud took it upon himself to look up the directions and was amazed by how quickly the directions showed up on his phone. He was so accustomed to the frustratingly slow speed back in Nibelheim that he was pleasantly surprised to see Midgar doesn’t share the same problem. Then again, though it was a small town, it still had a considerable number of people relying on the single cell tower. Cloud was more surprised by how the tower was still standing and fully functional. He almost expected it to be toppled down, unable to keep up with the constant and never-ending use from all the townspeople.

After walking for a while, Tifa spotted a park. “You want to have a wander around the park, Cloud?”

“Sure, it will be like we were kids again.” Cloud chuckled. They made their way through the park, observing all the different flowers and plants that inhabit this space. They find an empty bench that overlooks the lake. They sit down, laughing at the empty worry they had that someone was going to seize the bench before they had. Their eyes scanned across the lake, observing the different ducks and swans floating effortlessly across the water.

“Have you found a part-time job here yet, Cloud? Or does your scholarship rid you of all the monetary worries?” Tifa playfully asked.

“It covers quite a bit but I’m still looking to find a job in the meantime. You know, in case I’m hit with some unexpected money problems. What about you?”

“Oh, I’ve already found a job and start next week.” Cloud turned to Tifa, both amazed and confused.

“How? You literally moved in yesterday, the same as me. How were you able to find a job so fast?”

“My dad knows someone here in Midgar who was looking for a few extra hands. He got in touch with the owner, we had a chat and now I’m officially employed.”

“Nice, well done Tifa. What’s the name of the place?”

“It’s a bar called Seventh Heaven. From what I’ve heard, the owner’s still looking for a couple more people. If you want, I could put a word in for you?”

“Only if you don’t mind. I don’t want you to overstep in case the owner’s feisty or something.”

“Oh no, the owner may look feisty but he’s a nice guy. Tell you what, how about we go over here later today? With how cute you look, he’ll see the tips you may potentially get and decide to hire you on the spot.”

“I’m not cute.” Cloud objected.

“Yes, you are. Don’t you deny it.” Tifa cheerfully said, laughing.

“So, who’s the owner? You know him personally?”

“His name is Barret. I don’t know him personally, but he and my dad are good friends. And they’ve always looked out for each other.”

“Barret? He’s never lived in Nibelheim because I’ve never heard of him?” Cloud asked. With Nibelheim being a small town, everyone pretty much knew everyone there. So it was a given that Cloud would question whether this man lived or at least visited Midgar in recent times.

“No, he lived in a village called Corel before residing here in Midgar.”

“Corel? The village that is close to the Gold Saucer, right?”

“Well, it is the closest place to the Gold Saucer but I wouldn’t say it’s close. The tram ride from there to the Gold Saucer is a long one.”

“Have you ever been to the Gold Saucer, Tifa?”

“I have not but I would like to go at some point.”

“Well, if I get this job at Seventh Heaven with you, how about we save together?”

“Cloud, do you have any idea how much a trip to the Gold Saucer costs?”

“You just said that with how cute I allegedly look, I would make a lot of tips so…” Cloud trailed off.

“Uh, not allegedly. A lot of people back home think you are pretty. Even some of the boys we used to play with.”

“Oh yeah, if that was the case, why did they always want to exclude me when I wasn’t around you?”

“You know how boys can act when they’re around someone who makes their heart flutter.”

“You saying they had a crush on me and that is why they treated me like some abomination?”

“C’mon, Cloud, I’m sure you know that to boys, the idea of love is yucky and disgusting. Naturally, when they felt those feelings around you, they could only respond with hostility.”

“But Tifa, you’re a beautiful girl. Why didn’t they treat you like that?”

“Because I was born a boss bitch.” Tifa jokingly said. “Honestly, I don’t know. But what I do know is when you weren’t around, they would always have a little blush on their cheeks talking about you. They would say things like ‘Wow, he looked like an angel who came straight down from heaven’ and ‘Cloud looked prettier than usual today’. So, if you ever think they hated you, now you know they hated you because they loved you.”

“Wow, I guess that makes me feel a little better. Still, it hurt when they wouldn’t let me play football with them.”

“Knowing how epic you are at football, Cloud, I think it was for the best. Speaking of football, you going to try out for the football team?”

“I would love to, but I’m worried that they won’t allow me on the team since I’m an omega.”

“Then they would be the stupidest people on the planet! Seriously, Cloud, you’re phenomenal when it comes to football. If you try out, I’ll do my best to be there when you do. Cheer you on and give you confidence, you know.”

“Okay, since you insist, it wouldn’t hurt to try.”

“That’s the spirit!”

Zack was pacing across his apartment, wanting the day to end already. He had just come back from having lunch with his parents and frankly, he wished he never did.

- 2 Hours Ago -

After Hugo gave him that stern and uncalled-for scolding, he excused himself to go to the toilet.

“Why does it always seem like nothing I ever do is good enough for him, Mum?”

“Believe me, dear. I was taken aback by this when he first scolded you while you were a small child. This is something he grew up with from your grandfather. And your grandfather was treated the same by your great-grandfather. What I’m trying to say is that this is something that has been passed on from generation to generation. So, you’re not the only one who must endure such relentless expectations, dear.”

“But I will be the last, that’s for sure.”

“I’m not saying you need to man up and tolerate it. I want you to understand that Dad thinks this is what led him to be the brilliant businessman that he is today, and he wants the same for you.”

“But Mum? So, I wasn’t the top performer in my cohort this year? The way he talked about it just now, I should be sent to jail for that.”

“Dear, I cannot tell you the number of times I have argued with him about this. Every time he does this to you, we butt heads.”

“And what is his response?”

“The same ones he has been using for years. ‘My father did the same for me and look where I am now.’, ‘he needs to toughen up’, and ‘he’ll thank me when he’s surviving and thriving’. It’s like listening to a broken record with him at times.”

“And let’s hypothetically say I do become the top performer. Would he say something nice to me for once?”

Michelle shook her head, letting out a slight playful chuckle. “Knowing him, he’ll get disappointed at how close behind other students were to you. Or that it took a long time.”

Zack sadly nodded at his mother. She wasn’t wrong after all. Every time Zack improved or corrected something, his father would simply point to something else instead of saying he was proud of his son.

“What I will say, dear, is-” Before Michelle can continue, Hugo promptly arrived from the bathroom.

“And what were my darling wife and son speaking of while I was away?” Hugo asked, wrapping an arm around Michelle’s shoulders.

“We were just talking about Zack’s rugby team, love.”

“Yeah, the coach said I stand a good chance at being made Team Captain.” Zack beamed.

“Now isn’t that wonderful, love?” Michelle smiled at her husband, hoping this would help elicit a positive reaction from him.

“And I suppose this rugby team is not the reason you are not performing as well as the other students, Zack?”

“No, Dad. I need to maintain a high GPA for me to even be in the team.”

Hugo hummed in response. “In that case, I suppose this will help build your leadership skills. That is if you make Team Captain.” Hugo remarked. “We can’t have the future leader of Fairlight not knowing how to lead a team, can we?”

“Trust me, Dad, I’ll be the best CEO you’ll have when you pass Fairlight down to me.”

“You’d better. Your grandfather and I have spent years building Fairlight to what it is today. The last thing I want to see is all that progress, all those years of endless work to go to complete waste.” Hugo snarked. 

It was well-known to everyone in Midgar and beyond that Hugo’s company, Fairlight, was the industry leader in modern technology. For many years, they have pioneered the cutting-edge technology used in most homes. While Hugo was the CEO and face of the company, Michelle was second-in-command, Hugo’s right hand and public speaker for the company. Many publications regarded the pair as an untouchable power couple and have dubbed them the ‘Fire and Ice couple’. While Hugo was cold and calculating, Michelle was beautiful and brilliant.

It was no secret that Fairlight was the subject of envy for many other companies, especially those within the same sector. Many have attempted to topple their success, either by spreading false rumours about the company through news outlets or trying to push their products out first before Fairlight.

Needless to say, most of these attempts end up failing and even damage the competitor’s reputation. Perhaps that is why Michelle and Hugo never show any concern when one of the competitors tried to hurt their business. They know they’ll always have the last laugh. And while Fairlight will continue to thrive, its competitors will cling to dear life to survive.

Other companies have taken a different approach. If they could not beat them, why not join them? Michelle and Hugo have had the pleasure - displeasure from Hugo’s perspective - of having different executives showing up at their door, proposing a merger between their companies. They offer many different propositions. Michelle and Hugo would be the majority shareholders, that they would receive a handsome sum upon the deal closing, that the merger would further their stronghold on the industry. However, Michelle and Hugo are not idiots. They know that a merger would only drag Fairlight down, not uplift it. They also know that these fools only propose a merger because they’re conceding to a race, knowing full well they never had any hope of winning.

Suffice to say, every merger proposition is swiftly shut down by them. They had no interest in having a monopoly. It simply stood to reason that Fairlight prefers to grow their company through their own means rather than merging with every other company under the sun. Michelle remembered hearing on the grapevine that one of their competitors made a breakthrough in their smartwatches having omega heat cycle reminders. Upon hearing this, she made a prompt visit to their Research and Development team. They made numerous visits to hospitals, enquiring them about how they could potentially help omegas beyond a simple heat cycle reminder.  Once they gathered all the necessary information, they went straight to work on developing their new smartwatches with these new features catered to omegas.

It was no surprise to the world that when their competitor revealed their new products, Michelle was ready to publicly announce their new lineup as well. Not only that their new lineup of smartwatches has heat cycle reminders for omegas, but it also keeps track of their scent and pheromones they were radiating. Once the smartwatches were released to the public, there was only one lineup that was constantly being sold out and it wasn’t Fairlight’s competitors.

This is what separates Fairlight from all their other competitors, is that they never cared to be the first to have certain features on their products. When it came down to it, they would always integrate the features better and seamlessly than their competition. Not to mention, the brand loyalty to Fairlight was no joke either. Most of the public usually turns to anything that Fairlight manufactured because of its reliability and durability. From an outsider’s perspective, it seemed Fairlight was the perfect blueprint for how to run a business successfully.

“Have some faith in our son, love. I have no doubt that he’ll shape up to be a marvellous leader.” Michelle smiled.

Soon, the server presents the family with their starters. Zack thanked the server before she let them be.

“That’s strange, the scallops do not have that lovely of a sear on them as they did the last time I was here.” Hugo scowled.

“I’m sure it will still be as delicious, love.” Michelle said.

Hugo simply hummed in response as he began to consume the luxurious delicacy.

“These calamari are absolutely divine! How did they get the crust so crispy and golden? I’ll have to ask the chefs at home to make this sometime.” Michelle beamed. “What do you think, Zack?”

“Yeah, it’s really nice. The sauce really complements it too. It looks familiar but I can’t remember the name?”

“Tartar sauce, dear. It’s a staple for seafood dishes like this.” Michelle answered, turning to her husband. “How’s your scallops, love?”

“Horrid. It’s lacking any form of seasoning and it’s cold in the middle! I’m calling that girl over!” Hugo exclaimed.

“Dad, you can’t call that server ‘girl’! It’s disrespectful.”

“What’s disrespectful is thinking that I’ll sit back and eat this sad attempt at fine cuisine!” As soon as the server was within his vision, Hugo frantically waved her over.

“Yes, sir. Is everything okay?”

“I don’t know. Look at this plate, can you tell what’s wrong with it?” Hugo asked, directing the server to examine the plate.

“Is the food not to your liking, sir?” The server trembled. Zack turns his head away to look at the window, unable to watch as his father berated an innocent person.

“The scallops are ice cold in the middle and haven’t been seasoned properly. Send this back and have the chef make me an adequate one.” The server simply nodded, took his plate away and made her way to the kitchen.

Michelle gave her husband a look of disapproval. “Do you have to speak to every server like that, Hugo?” Zack raises his eyebrows. It is very rare for Michelle to address her husband by his name. The only times she does this is if she is trying to get his attention or when he angers her.

“Yes, I do, Michelle! They need to learn that you can’t put out garbage and your customers will just eat it up.” Michelle shook her head in disdain and finished eating her starter.

It wasn’t long before the server came up with another plate of scallops. Thankfully, this one looked much more divine and to Hugo’s liking. Michelle thanks the server before she walks away.

“Are you so above them that you can’t even say thank you, love?”

“Why should I thank them for doing their job properly?” Hugo remarked, taking a bite of his scallops. “See, this one is much better.”

“Unbelievable,” Michelle muttered under her breath.

“Before I forget, I need to talk to you about something, Zack,” Hugo said, wiping his mouth with his napkin after he finished eating. “Do you remember Friedrich?”

“One of your friends from when you went to university? The one who went into medicine?” Zack asked, looking puzzled. Surely, his dad didn’t expect him to remember all his connections. However, Zack has come to learn over the years that his father can be unpredictable with his expectations. Being the renowned businessman that he was, Hugo had friends across every industry you could think of.

“Yes, his company recently launched a new line of vitamin products, and he will be holding a launch party in his estate near the East side of Midgar next Friday. Naturally, my busy schedule means I am unable to attend. That is why you are to attend in my place.” Hugo explained.

Zack makes a confused expression as he tries to process his dad’s request. Usually, it is his parents who will attend these business parties and conferences. And while he has attended business parties before, his parents were usually alongside him. And the most he would need to do is stand there and smile, with his parents doing most of the talking.

“Okay, is Mum going to be there too?” Zack enquired.

“I’m afraid not, dear. I have a meeting with the President of Shinra that evening.”

“Can you not reschedule it for the next day or something?”

“The President of Shinra is a very busy man, dear. Plus, we have always managed to abide by our scheduled meetings. Now is not the time to attempt defying that.” Michelle sighed. “You know how crucial Shinra is to our business, dear.”

Zack nodded. Shinra has had a close partnership with Fairlight for years. Like Fairlight, Shinra was a highly regarded company in Midgar. They were mostly known for their pivotal role in turning Midgar into the metropolis that it was today. Naturally, when Shinra announced that they would be working closely with Fairlight, the news took the world by storm. Their stock prices skyrocketed, and it has only increased since then. It is this partnership that has allowed both parties to achieve exceptional profits and results annually. Unsurprisingly, Hugo wants to keep this partnership as intact as possible.

“No worries, Mum. Can’t be losing an important business partner, could we?” Zack chuckled.

“Precisely, dear. That is why we need you to attend this party in place of us.”

“But Dad, you’ve known Friedrich for years. If you were as good a friend as you suggest, you’d make time to attend yourself.”

“Okay, listen here, my darling boy.” Hugo condescendingly snarled. “I am the CEO of Midgar’s biggest tech company. I have meetings to attend, teams to oversee, contracts to be signed and so much more. Would that I had only a fraction of time to spare, I would see to it that I attend this party. Alas, I cannot and with you as the future CEO, it would be wise for you to start putting your face out there. Show the world that Fairlight’s future is bright. Or is that too much for you?”

“No, Dad. I’ll go.” Zack sighed. He was not in the mood to get into an altercation with his dad right now, especially not in a public place.

“Good,” Hugo smirked, rolling his arms over his chest. “Now, the party will begin at 7 o’clock. Do not be late! I could care less if your car breaks down or whatever happens before, you will be there on time. And remember that this is a public event. Tabloid reporters will be roaming in abundance, taking pictures everywhere. Make sure you are never caught frowning or looking disgusted. Always wear a smile, even if it is forced. And this is self-explanatory, but don’t you dare get into any fights or arguments. If you so much as get pissed off or punch someone, I will not hesitate to do what must be done to save our company. Understood?”

“Just out of curiosity, what would you do if I punched someone at this party?” Zack asked.

“I won’t spoil the surprise. But know this, I never make threats I don’t plan on carrying out, young man.” Hugo shrugged.

“Sure, Dad, I’ll do my best.”

“Good, I trust you’ll make a fine representative of Fairlight’s future. Wouldn’t you agree, dear?”

“Of course, I know you’ll do well, my son.” Michelle smiled at her son. Zack returned the smile, although it was more out of courtesy than being authentically happy.

“I don’t feel too good about this, Tifa.” He shakily muttered, clinging to Tifa’s arm. They stood outside their hopefully future workplace. Once they were finished at the park, Tifa thought now would be a good time for Cloud to apply since Seventh Heaven isn’t usually busy during the late afternoons. To say Cloud was scared about applying for a job here was an understatement of how he was feeling. Though applying for jobs now would be good practice for when he needs to do it after he graduates, he hates the idea of having to present yourself as competent enough to do a simple job.

“Cloud, I already told you. If you at any point freeze or don’t know what to say, I’ll be there to jump in for you.”

“And what if I’m not recruited?”

“Then I’ll bully Barret into recruiting you. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll quit, and we’ll find a new place to work at together.”

“Tifa, I can’t ask you to do that.”

“Listen, we’re in this together. We’ve always been! I will say this until I literally lost my voice: you have got this!”

Cloud took a deep breath, exhaled and nodded. “Okay, let’s go!”

They step into the bar, with Tifa making a beeline towards the counter. “Barret, can you come here? I got a new recruit for ya!”

Promptly, a tall, brawny man walked up to the counter. As Cloud observed the man, he began to slightly tremble. Though it isn’t intentional, Barret tends to give off an intimidating aura.

“Tifa! How are you, sweetheart? It’s good to see you.”

“I’m doing good. Barret, this is Cloud.” Cloud awkwardly waved at him, with a friendly but forced smile. “Listen, if you’re still short of hands to help run this place, Cloud would be happy to work for you!”

“Is that so? Well, Cloud, if you could take a seat, we can have a chat if that’s okay with you?” Cloud hesitantly nodded as he took a seat at the closest table to him. “Could you grab me a black coffee, Tifa?”

“Sure, did you want anything, Cloud?” Tifa asked.

“Can I have a cappuccino please?”

“Coming right up.” Tifa excuses herself to the bar to make their hot drinks.

“First off, what is your availability?” Barret asked.

“I have the weekends off, and I can work most evenings. But if you need someone last minute, I’ll be able to cover that shift at most times.”

Barret nodded. “Good, most of our business happens during weekends and evenings. And some of our staff likes to cancel at the stupidest times.”

“You won’t get that from me, sir.”

“Please don’t call me sir. It makes me feel older than I already am. Just call me Barret. Is there a certain number of hours you want to get weekly?”

“Preferably between 15 to 20, but I am alright with however many hours you are willing to give.”

“For now, I’m happy to put you down for 15. But I’m happy to give you more hours depending on how well you work and interact with the customers. Okay, the starting pay rate is 15 gil per hour, but again depending on your productivity, I’m willing to increase it. Is that okay with you?”

Cloud gives a surprised look. “Yeah, it’s just that was more than I was expecting.”

“Also, customers may tip you if you do a great job or if they like you. What is your secondary gender?”

Cloud hesitates before reluctantly answering. “I’m an omega.”

“Dominant or recessive?”

“I don’t know. I’ve been to the doctors a dozen times, and they still haven’t been able to figure that out. All I know is that I’m an Omega. Will that be an issue or?”

“No, not at all. It’s so we can take the necessary precautions, so you are protected from any unwanted advances.” Cloud was pleasantly surprised. He’s heard stories about some places not recruiting people solely because they were an omega. To see an employer being open to not only recruiting omegas but to going as far as to protect them made Cloud feel at ease.

“Final question, how soon can you start?”

“I’m good to start whenever you need.”

“Great! Since Tifa is starting next week, you might as well. Welcome to Seventh Heaven, Cloud.” Barret reaches his hand out, which Cloud eagerly shakes. “Because it’s really quiet at the moment, how about I show you around the place and you’ll be working?”

“Sure, I’d like that.”

“Tifa, I know I’ve already shown you around. But did you want another tour?”

“Sure, I could do with a little refresher.”

Barret gently smiled as both he and Cloud got up. He leads both Tifa and Cloud to the kitchen, directing their attention to the equipment.

“As you see, these are the usual kitchen appliances. Hobs, ovens, you name it. And don’t worry about cooking proper meals and stuff, we’ve got a chef who covers it. The closest thing to cooking you guys will be doing is using the ovens to bake pastries and bread rolls.”

“Where is the chef now?” Cloud asked.

“Good question, give me a minute to go find him for you.” Barret briefly disappeared, before emerging with a tanned, red-haired man. “Cloud, this is Johnny.”

“Hey there, Cloud. Nice to meet you.” Johnny greeted, holding out his hand.

Cloud smiled, before politely shaking his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Johnny.”

“And what a pleasure it is to see you again, Tifa.”

“Yeah, yeah, Johnny.”

“Aw, Tifa, my love, my darling, why don’t you know what my heart yearns for you?” Johnny sings, getting down on one knee.

Barret rolled his eyes and slaps Johnny over the head. “Enough of the stupid theatrics, Johnny. You have work to do.”

“Please, Tifa, what am I to do without my heart now that you’ve stolen it?”

“I’ll cut the pay in half if you don’t cut it out this second. And don’t think I won’t, Johnny.” Barret warned. Almost instantly, Johnny profusely apologises and turns his attention to the vegetables he was cutting prior to Tifa and Cloud’s arrival.

Cloud lets out a quiet chuckle, turning to Tifa who rolls her eyes with a hefty sigh. “Looks like you have an admirer.”

“Yeah, shame the message of his feelings not being reciprocated hasn’t been delivered,” Tifa remarked, quiet enough for only Cloud to hear.

“And how many times have you tried to deliver the message?”

“More than a million times. Yes, I’ve counted, Cloud.” Tifa giggled, prompting Cloud to chuckle along with her.  

“Are we gonna continue the tour? Or is there a joke you both would like to share with the class?” Barret sarcastically asks, with his fists against his hips.

Cloud clears his throat. “No, Barret. Tifa was just telling me about something funny she saw earlier today.”

“Oh, and what was the funny thing you saw, Tifa?”

“It was really stupid, just two ladies fighting over a watermelon. Nothing special.” Tifa causally says, desperately trying to suppress her laughter.

“Fighting over a watermelon? Why?” Barret asks, puzzled.

“How the hell should I know? Something they thought that particular one was sweeter or something.” Tifa laughed. “Enough about watermelons, don’t you have a tour to be doing, Barret?”

“Right, continuing with the tour. You may have to chop up fruit for some of the desserts. Be sure to use the green cutting board and green knife. If you’re ever in doubt, refer to the cutting board poster here.” Barret said as he pointed to the poster in question that was plastered on the wall.

Barret then points to the industrial-sized dishwasher. “You’ll be expected to keep cups, plates and glasses clean at all times. Luckily, this contraption is quick at washing dishes so if you’re uber busy and need clean stuff quickly, this will be your best friend. But if you are closing one night, you make sure everything is washed and appropriately put away. Under no circumstance, do I want to come in first thing in the morning and see it filled up. Am I clear?”

Tifa and Cloud both nod, showing that they understood what was expected of them.

After that, Barret guides them out of the kitchen and leads them to the counter.

“This is where you will be spending most of your time. I’ve already shown Tifa, but Cloud, this is the till.” He directs Cloud’s attention to a computer, with a monitor that displayed numerous buttons that varied in colour. “It’s pretty self-explanatory, when someone orders something, you press on the appropriate button. The different groups are on the left: Food, draught beer, soft drinks, snacks, you get the idea.” He then turns to the state-of-the-art coffee machine on the opposite side of the counter. “This is what we use to make most of our hot drinks.”

“Cool, you going to demonstrate how it works?”

“Not today, I’ll show you a full demo of it on your first day next week.”

He directed their attention to the beer taps that were next to the computer. “Have you poured a pint before?” Cloud shakes his head. “Not to worry, I’ll show you how to do that on your first day too. Do you have any questions?”

“Not right now. But thank you for hiring me. I’ll do my best not to let you down.”

“You’re welcome, bud. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders. I have a feeling you’re gonna do great.”

“Honestly, Barret, I was going to bully you to oblivion if you didn’t give Cloud a chance.” Tifa cheekily grinned.

“Girl, I knew you since you were a child. You think you could intimidate me?”

“Don’t underestimate Tifa, Barret. Her mind is sharper than her fists, and I’ve seen her knock a guy out with one punch.”

“Seriously? I’ve never seen Tifa do anything like that?” Barret asked, surprised.

“In fairness, he wouldn’t stop asking me for my number. When I told him to piss off, he grabbed my arm, and I gave him a good right hook.”

“Damn, remind me to never get on your bad side. See you both next week for your first shift, and feel free to pop in if you ever have any questions.” Barret said, with a nervous chuckle.

With a final goodbye to Barret, they both made their way to the exit. Once they left, Cloud lets out a deep breath while Tifa hugs him from behind.

“What did I tell you? I told you, that you had nothing to worry about.” Tifa grinned.

“Yeah, you were right. I shouldn’t have doubted you.” Cloud hugs her back. “So, what do you want to do now?”

“It’s gotten close to dinner time. There’s a really nice burger joint called Jimmi’s near where we live. You up for grabbing a burger?”

“You bet!”

Chapter Text

It was a beautiful night on the streets of Midgar. The stars and the moon above illuminated alongside the glistening city lights as the cold air slithered through the city. Zack walks alongside Kunsel, as they make their way to their local gym. After today’s encounter with his father, Zack felt it was best to pump some iron and shed a bit of sweat to take his mind off things. They make their way through the sliding doors, greeting the receptionist with a gentle smile.

“Evening, gents. Here to use the gym facilities again?” The receptionist politely asked.

“We sure are, Nancy!” Zack beamed.

“Where’s the other guy? The one with the blond hair?”

“Roche, he couldn’t make it this evening. Started watching a TV series and says he’s too into it. He’ll probably join us once he’s finished watching it.” Kunsel said.

“Is it that new drama on Netflix?”

“Now that you mention it, he did say something about a new drama coming out on Netflix that got rave reviews or something.” Zack grinned.

“It’s not like that series will disappear into thin air. That’s not a good excuse to skip the gym.” Nancy scoffed.

“Ah well, at least we made the effort, right?” Kunsel asked.

Nancy nodded. “Indeed. I hope you two have a nice workout.”

“Thanks, Nancy.” Zack and Kunsel said in unison, before making their way to the gym.

They were pleasantly surprised to see that the gym was mostly empty, apart from a couple of guys on the treadmills that they regularly see. Not that the gym being empty was a problem.

It was incredibly vast, with dozens of machines and equipment with most of them being new and highly advanced. But this kind of gym wasn’t accessible to everyone in Midgar. A membership at this gym would cost the average person their monthly salary.

However, Zack wasn’t an average person. Being from a prestigious family like his, he could afford a hundred memberships here and barely make a dent in his wallet.

“So, what you wanna do first? Stretch or warm up?” Kunsel asked.

“Let’s warm up first, get our blood pumping.” They both jump on their respective treadmills, starting their exercise at a moderate pace. Loud, electronic dance music blasts off the gym speakers as the two began to lightly jog. “How has your day been, Kunsel?”

“It’s been okay, for the most part. To be honest, I studied a lot since the semester started in a weeks’ time. What about you?”

“It was okay, until this afternoon.”

Kunsel looks at Zack, puzzled. “Why? What happened this afternoon?”

“I had a lovely lunch with my parents,” Zack said, with a wide grin.

“And I’m going to hazard a guess that it didn’t go well.”

“No, it didn’t.” After several minutes passed, the two disembarked from the treadmill. They moved to the stretching section, engaging in a little active stretching. Zack heard that this kind of stretching was better to do before working out.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to.” Kunsel informed Zack, who sighs before shaking his head.

“No, I need to talk to someone about it. Otherwise, I’m just gonna suppress my feelings and blow up on the next person I talk to when it gets too much.”

“Well, I’m all ears.” Kunsel smiled.

“To kick things off, Dad is an absolute asshole to pretty much all the staff at the restaurant we were at. He made a big deal about his scallops not having as nice a char as it should.”

“Great, he couldn’t have just eaten the scallops in peace and left the poor workers alone?”

“No, he could not! He made such a commotion, that everyone was staring at us! I’m probably banned from eating here now!”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Rest assured, that server encounters entitled people on a regular basis, so they’re used to it at that point. Also, if it was only your dad behaving that way, they’d only ban him if necessary. Unless you and your mum were rude too?” Though he was confident that Zack and his mother don’t share the same trait as Hugo, he just wanted to be sure.

“Not at all! Every time Dad went off at the server, Mum kept apologising and told her not to take it personally. Poor girl, she must’ve felt like she couldn’t do anything right with the way Dad was acting.”

“Yikes, you think people are recording it and posting it on Twitter?”

“I spoke with someone on the social media team an hour ago. A couple of people did post about it since it popped up on Moogle but they were able to get it swiftly taken down.”

“I mean, if this was your mum, I’d be concerned. But your dad isn’t known for being the nicest person on the planet.”

Zack nodded in agreement. As brilliant and productive of a businessman as he was, Hugo was not blessed with having the kindest soul. Many ex-employees of Fairlight have gone on to various tabloids and posted on social media about their horrid experiences meeting or working with Hugo. Using foul language, throwing things in anger, and enforcing unrealistic deadlines. These are a small number of things that people over the years have accused Hugo of doing.

Any company with a CEO as repelling as Hugo would have gone bankrupt by now. However, like the intelligent woman she was, Michelle was the one to save Fairlight’s public reputation. In a live stream broadcast through Moogle, she swiftly apologised to the public for her husband’s disregard for the employees he had caused distress to and promised that she would do her best to create a positive and inclusive environment for their workers.

Hugo was surprised to learn that this public apology did wonders for the company, with many commenters stating that Fairlight was lucky to have an executive like Michelle. While he still bears a heavy ego, Hugo is not afraid to admit that his wife indeed saved Fairlight from what could have been an absolute PR disaster.

“But it’s not the first time he’s been caught being an asshole. And I doubt it will be the last.” Zack sighed.

“And there’s a reason why they call it the World Wide Web. Anything that is posted on there is stuck forever, and never truly be taken off.”

“That’s true. Anyways, sorry for venting to you about this.”

“Hey, that’s what friends are for. And when your dad pisses you off again because I know it’s going to happen again, you have my number.” Kunsel smiled, and Zack nodded in response.

As they finished stretching, they moved to one of the bench presses available. Zack was beaming with excitement as he was determined to break a few of his personal records today. He takes off his hoodie, revealing the white stringer vest he was wearing. 

“Alright, how much weight do you want to start off with?” Kunsel asked.

“Let’s do 60 kilos first as a warmup set.” They load up the bar, and Zack braces himself on the bench. He grabs a hold of the bar, and slowly lifts it off the rack before gradually making it descend to his chest. He repeats the movement for a few reps before re-racking the weight, causing Kunsel to look confused.

“What, was it too heavy?” Kunsel chuckled.

“The opposite, actually. Let’s pump it up to 110!”

“Gaia, Zack. Quite the jump, is it not?”

“Please, that 60kg was nothing.” Zack shrugged. “Plus, I did 110 kilos for 8 reps last week so I should be able to pull off a couple more reps tonight.” They load the barbell with more weight. Kunsel looks down at Zack as he lays on the bench.

“And don’t forget to breathe. I don’t want you choking on the barbell.” Kunsel chuckled.

“Don’t tell me you’ve seen that happen before.”

“A couple of weeks ago, actually. Some dude was trying to impress this gorgeous-looking girl and severely underestimated how heavy 80 kilos was.”

“Was he built?”

“Like a string bean,” Kunsel remarked, causing Zack to let out a loud, hearty laugh.

“Okay, let’s do this.” Zack lifts the bar off before repeating the same slow movement he did before. He was able to do this eleven times before re-racking it. “Alright, let’s do 120!”

“Before you do, can I at least get one set in please?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry. I was so focused on reaching a new PR, I forgot about you. Sorry, dude.” Zack chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “What weight you wanna do?”

“Let’s do 80 since I’ve stuck on 70 the past few weeks.”

“Excuse me.” Before Kunsel could lay back, they looked up to find two young women had approached them. One of the women had light brown hair while the other was blonde. Judging from their expensive attire, Kunsel could deduce that they had attended the same university as them. They also possessed small waists, gorgeous faces and voluptuous. In summary, the kind of women that are Zack’s type.

“Hey there, what can we do for you, fine ladies?” Zack greeted, wearing a charming smile.

The brunette spoke first. “We don’t mean to intrude on your workout, guys. But my friend and I think you two are very good-looking.”

“Why, thank you. And you ladies aren’t too bad yourselves, quite the sight for sore eyes.” Zack smirked, making the girls slightly blush.

“We were wondering if we could have your guys’ numbers? Maybe go out for a drink or something?” The brunette asked.

“Sure, if you give us your names. Can’t be saving a number on my phone without knowing who it belongs to. Wouldn’t you agree, Kunsel?”

Kunsel simply nodded. Though he could attest to the fact that Zack has at least a dozen numbers on his phone named ‘Cute girl’, he’s not about to throw a close friend of his under the bus. Not when he has a shot at dating one of the girls too.

“Y-Yeah, this is Alice and I’m Rebecca, but you can call me Becky.”

“I’m Zack, and this is Kunsel.” Kunsel waved, and the women eagerly gave them their phone numbers. “If you ladies don’t mind, my friend and I would like to get back to our workouts. But it’s a pleasure to meet you both and I’m sure we’ll see each other soon.”

“Course, see you guys later.” The girls wink at them before walking away.

“You’re so full of shit sometimes, Zack.” Kunsel laughed.

“The fuck? Why?”

“You have a ton of numbers on your phone saved as ‘Cute girl No.1’, ‘Cute girl No.2’”

“I don’t have that many girls saved with that name on my phone.” Zack lied.

“Dude, the other day I saw it went up to ‘Cute girl No.43’. Do you even call these girls back?”

“Usually, no.” Zack shrugged. “Alright, let’s get back to working out!”

Cloud lets out a hearty laugh as he observes Tifa desperately struggling to attach one of the legs of the chair to the base. After they had a lovely dinner by the diner at the diner that resided close to them, Tifa invited Cloud over for a cup of coffee. In the midst of the conversation they were having, Cloud noticed behind her a box from a local furniture store. He learned that Tifa ordered a chair from the furniture store several days ago but has yet to properly assemble it. Cloud, being the thoughtful friend that he was, volunteered to lend Tifa a hand in building it. She initially refused the help, saying that the store designs their products to be easily assembled.

But Cloud insisted. Since he was already there, he might as well help her put the chair together. To this, Tifa surrendered and allowed him to assist her. However, 30 minutes had passed since they started working on the chair, and they had barely made an ounce of progress.

“Tifa, you’re trying to attach the wrong leg to the chair!”

“What the fuck do you mean, Cloud!?”

“That leg is supposed to be attached on the top-right corner, you’re trying to attach it on the bottom-left.”

“Aren’t they more or less the same?” Tifa asks, unmistakenly puzzled.  “What if I try to force it in?”

“No! You’ll only break it.”

“So? I’ll tell them it’s broken, and they’ll send a new one, won’t they?”

“They won’t if they find out you didn’t correctly follow the instructions.”

“Ugh! I need another coffee. You want one too, Cloud?”

“Yes please, but decaf if you have. I don’t want to be up all night.”

Tifa puts the kettle on while Cloud scanned over the instructions. He imagined most students are having the same problems as them. Quickly, Tifa approached Cloud with a cup of coffee that he happily accepted.

“I still can’t believe you paid for our dinner without me knowing, Cloud.” Tifa said, irritated. “We could have split the bill, you know?”

“I did say I would cover the next bill we got.” Cloud shrugged.

After the two had eaten their burgers, Tifa excused herself to the bathroom. Sneakily, Cloud called their server over for their bill and quickly settled it, hoping that Tifa not be finished before he could pay. When Tifa returned, he was already packed up and ready to go. Tifa looked at him with disbelief, worried her friend was about to commit a dine-and-dash.

Worried, Tifa swiftly gestured for a server only for him to inform her that the bill was settled and were free to go when they wished. Cloud couldn’t suppress the laugh he was holding back when Tifa glanced at him, confused and baffled.

“Cloud, all you had was a cheeseburger, fries and a soda. I had a double bacon cheeseburger, animal fries and a milkshake! It feels unfair that you paid for everything, considering you didn’t have as much as me…” Tifa trails off.

“Honestly, I wasn’t that hungry. And isn’t that the gentlemanly thing to do?” Cloud laughed.

“And they say chivalry is dead.” Tifa rolled her eyes. “Remind me to not go to the bathroom once we’ve eaten.”

“No promises.” Cloud dryly said. “Where have all your roommates gone?”

“They sent me a text earlier, saying they’ve gone out.”

“On a Sunday night?”

“Hey, I’m not going to judge them on their party habits, okay? And they did ask if we wanted to tag along.”

Cloud raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Really?”

“Yes, they wanted to meet you since you’re a good friend of mine. Trust me, they’re pretty chill and I think you’d have a lot of fun with them.”

“Next time I come around, be sure to introduce me to them.”

“Course I will. There’s three of them: Biggs, Wedge and Jessie.”

“They sound like stage names of a garage band,” Cloud said, plainly.

“Okay, well, they’re not a garage band. They can play music really loud at times though.”

“I was dreading university, thinking I was going to be stuck with that kind of roommates. Thankfully, I don’t have to worry about that.”

“Breaking news, Cloud. Not all of us are able to secure a well-regarded scholarship like you.” Tifa snickered.

“You’re welcome to stay with me in case your roommates get too rowdy.”

“I’m pretty sure that would go against the tenancy agreement, would it not?”

“It’s not like they’re going to do daily routine checks.” Cloud remarked.

“Still, this university is notorious for punishing its students for the littlest things. And given that you’re here on a scholarship, you’re on thinner ice than all of us.”

Cloud nodded in understanding. “Okay, Tifa, got it.”

A long moment of silence follows before Cloud speaks up. “Tifa, can I talk to you about something?”

“You always can speak to me about anything, Cloud. What’s on your mind?”

“Do you remember Zack?”

“Zack Fair? I remember you were good friends with him for a while before you stopped hearing from him. Why, has he reached out to you?”

“No, but I wish he would, though.”

“Have you tried looking him up on social media?”

“I have, but all I find are articles about his parents and their company. No way of contacting him directly.”

“My guess is that his social media stuff is private, or his parents don’t allow him to have it. I wouldn’t be surprised either way, from what I have seen on the news, his dad is a real piece of shit.”

“Tifa!” Cloud gasped. It was unusual for Tifa to speak of someone like this, leaving Cloud equal parts stunned and amused.

“What? It’s the truth. How their company is still making money is beyond me.” Tifa shrugged. “Anyways, if you want, you could always go to Fairlight’s headquarters and ask for Zack directly.”

“And get thrown out or possibly shot on sight? No, thank you.”

Tifa chuckled. “That’s ridiculous, Cloud! I don’t think you’d get shot on sight.”

“Okay, that would be a little over the top.”

“INCREDIBLY over the top!” Tifa corrected. “And wasn’t Zack like, five years older than you?”

“Yes, and? It’s not like he was the same age as my mum.”

“So, was he like an older brother to you?”

“Yeah, in a way.”

“Maybe you clung to him because you wanted a sibling at the time and Zack was the closest thing you were going to get in that regard?”

“No, I didn’t want a sibling. I was quite happy being an only child, actually.” Cloud remarked, with attitude. “What I mean is I would always go to him if I had a problem at school, or I needed someone to talk to when I was down.”

“You trying to say something, Cloud?” Tifa accused, shooting a vicious glare and pointing a finger at Cloud.

“Okay, don’t go pointing your finger at people, Tifa, it’s rude,” Cloud remarked. “What I’m trying to say is because Zack is a bit older than us, I thought he was also a bit wiser so if I needed advice from a grown-up that wasn’t my mum, he was the closest person I could think of.”

“Alright, in that case, I will forgive you.” Tifa sighed in relief, prompting Cloud to roll his eyes. “So, what is it about Zack that has been keeping you up at night?”

“It’s not keeping me up at night, you cheeky girl,” Cloud remarked, both him and Tifa laughing. “It’s just, well, I don’t know how to describe it.”

“Just say what’s on your mind, and I’ll help you piece it all together.”

“Alright, here goes.” Cloud took a deep breath, then exhaled. “I remember the day I was separated from him, I didn’t feel great for the next few days afterwards. Mum said I was just feeling unwell and that it would get better. Course it did, but ever since then, I have felt…empty?”

“Empty?” Tifa repeated, trying her best to make some sense of what Cloud was saying.

“Yeah, like a part of my heart, my soul was ripped away from me.”

Tifa deeply sighed in sadness. “Cloud, why haven’t you told me about this before?”

“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal at the time.”

“So, what else happened?”

“One time in math class, I fainted. My mum was called to come pick me up and we went straight to our doctor. They gave me painkillers for the day and I was sent home. Weirdly, I felt fine the next day and didn’t have a problem since then. Until recently, that is.”

“Wait, what happened recently?”

“Well, I’ve been feeling a pull in my chest. Something that I only felt when Zack was nearby.”

“So, what you’re trying to tell me is that you think Zack is here, at Midgar University?”

“I know I sound batshit crazy, but I don’t know how else to explain it.”

“And what are you going to do? Are you going to go around searching for him or something?”

Cloud shakes his head. “No, not now at least. I’m not here to find a lover, I’m here to get my degree. And even in the one in a million chance Zack is here, I doubt he remembers me.”

“What I will say to that is never say never. But for the time being, let’s settle into this new environment we are in, and once that is sorted, we can go about finding a way to navigate through this, ok?”

Cloud smiled. “Yeah. What degree do you think he’s doing?”

Tifa shrugged. “From what I’ve seen on the internet, he’s in a family that owns and operates a gigantic tech company. My guess is he’s being forced to do a business degree, or his parents let him do whatever degree he wants to enjoy university life.”

“And knowing his parents, it’s probably the former, right?”

“Without a doubt!” Tifa laughed, prompting Cloud to do the same. That was something Cloud enjoyed about their close friendship, that they could find new and unexpected ways to make each other laugh. “And he’s most likely not the quiet type, is he?”

“Gaia, no! There was never a moment where he wasn’t full of energy.” Cloud laughed. “I’m confident he’s super popular. But then again, I haven’t heard anyone speak of him so…” Cloud trailed off.

“Cloud, we’ve been here one day. Give it a week, and we’ll know for sure if he is around.”

Cloud nodded. “Good idea.”

“But yeah, I mean what do you remember him looking like when you were younger?”

“From what I can remember, he was tall, like really tall. He also had a sharp jawline and very cool-looking emerald eyes. Every time I looked into his eyes, it was like looking at the ocean.”

“Kind of like your eyes then?”

“Well, no. Mine are royal blue, like the sky.”

“You know, I can see where you’re coming from now. You also seem to have a good memory, seeing as you remember a lot about him.” Tifa smirked, making Cloud slightly blush.

“He was a great guy, Tifa. I would’ve got along with him if you were to meet him.”

“In that case, on the off chance that he and I meet and we butt heads, I will be blaming you for it.” Tifa smiled, with Cloud lightly nodding in response. “Now, are we going to finish building this chair or what?"

Cloud looks at Tifa with wide eyes in disbelief. “Crap, we were so deep in conversation, we forgot about the chair.”

“Come on, let’s get to work, mister.”

“YES! I DID IT!” Zack loudly exclaimed, his voice echoing through the streets. He and Kunsel were coming out of the gym, after finishing their workout. Zack was grinning from ear to ear since he was able to set a new personal record for himself on his bench press and deadlift.

“Reel it in, dude. We get it, you’re a strong-ass man.” Kunsel remarked.

“Oh, am I detecting some jealousy from you, dude?” Zack questioned, with a mocking smile painted across his face.

“You wish.” Kunsel scoffed. Before Zack has a chance to make a rebuttal, he feels his phone vibrate in his pocket. Pulling his phone out, he sees that a new message was sent to him.

Aerith 🙄

Evening, Zachary. What are you doing?

Me

Good evening to you too, Aeris. Just came out to the gym with Kunsel and set a new PR on the bench press. Feeling pretty proud of myself.

Aerith 🙄

Call me Aeris again and I will kick your ass, you sly asshole.

Me

You called me Zachary first :P

Aerith 🙄

Fair enough. Anyway, I can’t sleep and I’m in the mood for a night drive. Are you up for that?

Me

Hell yeah, I’m up for that. Give me a few mins to have a shower and change.

Aerith 🙄

It’s okay, I was on my way to your apartment now. I’m like two minutes away.

Me

Wait, you were already on your way to my home?

Aerith 🙄

Yeah, in case you didn’t want to do the night cruise. Then I would’ve made you drive me home.

Me

You’re mischievous, you know that?

Aerith 🙄

You bet your ass I am. See you in a bit.

“Who are you texting?” Kunsel asked casually, snapping Zack out of focus.

“Aerith, she wants to go for a night drive. Wanna come along?”

“Nah, I’m too tired. Maybe next time, though?”

“Sure, dude. See you soon.” After bidding Kunsel farewell, Zack began to jog back to his apartment lightly. When he arrived, he searched for his keys only for the door to be opened. He looked bizarrely at Aerith who simply smiled at him.

“Hey there, stranger.” Aerith giggled.

“What the hell did you get into my apartment?”

“You know I carry a spare set of keys.” Aerith shrugged. “You should know this.”

“Sometimes, I don’t know what the hell to expect from you, Aerith,” Zack remarked.

“You should, you’ve known me for years, Zack.”

“Whatever.” The raven-haired athlete moves past the flower girl. “I desperately need a shower.”

“Aren’t you going to give me a hug? I’m your only best friend, you know?” Aerith asked.

“You really want to hug me when I’m covered in sweat?” Zack sarcastically asked back.

“Good point.” Aerith began to push Zack into the bathroom. “Go have a long shower, you smell horrible.”

“And for the record, I have other friends apart from you and you should be-” Aerith slammed the door shut, maliciously laughing at the fact she cut him off before he could finish his sentence.

While Zack takes his time in the shower, the brunette sits on his sofa, casually browsing the internet on her phone. She scrolls through numerous posts on the university forum site. She enjoys learning all the gossip around the university and seeing who or what were the hot topics going around campus. Then, she trembled upon one particular post. She narrows her eyes as she explores the post.

Why are omegas at Midgar University so rare?

Posted by: Anonymous

Since this is an Anonymous post, I’m going to put this out there. There have only been a handful of omegas that have enrolled at this university and I can’t understand why. Not that I’m one myself, it’s only been an observation. What do you guys think?

Comments:

 (+87) Probably because there aren’t that many omegas in the world, to begin with, dumbass.

(+78) I don’t think many of them apply to come here in the first place.

(+55) I heard that one of the uni’s directors loathes omegas, and thinks of them as abominations. But I don’t think he’s part of the board now.

(-104) Omegas have no place here at Midgar University. The only things they’re good for are being filled with cum and making a good sandwich.

Aerith sighed in irritation at the last comment. Why is it that people are fixated on the assumption that omegas are worth nothing more than being a breeding housewife? Granted, society is slowly becoming more progressive, but it did not stop those who had their minds fixated on the past.

“Hello, hey, earth to Aerith? Talking to the planet again?” Aerith slaps the hand waving in her face, turning to Zack who was standing behind her. He had come out of the shower, smelling like he dove into a pool of cologne.

“You know you’re only supposed to spray a bit of cologne on you, Zack. Not dump the whole bottle on you.”

“But I did do a couple of sprays,” Zack stated, clueless. “Is it really that strong?”

“Have you forgotten you’re not a regular alpha?” Aerith asked. “Because you’re a dominant alpha, your pheromones make your colognes smell ten times stronger than they are.”

“Then why hasn’t anyone been kind enough to tell me?”

“Probably because they adore you and they love you wearing a crap ton of cologne, or they didn’t want to hurt your feelings.” Aerith laughed. “Not me though. I don’t give a shit about your feelings.”

“Wow, you’re always such a charmer.” Zack grinned sarcastically.

“Look on the bright side though. A bottle of cologne that would last a regular person a few weeks could last you two or three months.”

“Aerith, you know damn well that money has not, is not and will never be an issue for me, right?”

“Damn, hitting me with the past, present and future tense. At least be grateful you were born an alpha. I wish I was born an alpha.”

“I cannot imagine you being an alpha.” Zack laughed, earning a death glare and light punch from the flower girl. He then points to her phone. “Anyways, what has got you so deep in thought?”

“Nothing, I was just looking through the university forums.”

“Did one post really intrigue you or something?”

“Someone asked why there are barely any omegas here?”

“Alright, and what were some of the people’s answers?”

“One person said that they’re rare in general, so it was stupid to ask a question like that.”

Zack lets out a slight chuckle. “I won’t lie, they have a point.”

“One person made a ridiculous comment that got downvoted to oblivion.”

“Love when that happens, what they say?”

“They said omegas don’t deserve to come here, and they’re only good for being knocked up.”

“Fuck, that’s insane. Why would they say something like that?”

“If I were to hazard a guess, it was an ideology their dad or grandad passed down upon them.”

“Most likely, I don’t understand people sometimes.”

“You and me both, buddy.” Aerith chuckled. “Okay, you ready to go?”

“Yeah, let me grab my car keys.”

Zack was driving along one of Midgar’s vast motorways, with Aerith in tow. Zack had an array of high-performance cars he was able to choose from. Tonight, however, Aerith insisted they take his brand new, silver-coloured Porsche 911 GT3. Like all of his cars, the Porsche was custom-built with a V12 engine and customised with high-end speakers and leather seats.

Aerith sees a McDonalds on their left and smiled. “You mind if we stop over by McDonalds, Zack?”

“You got McDonalds money?”

“No, but I know you do.”

Zack sighed before indicating to the left.

Chapter Text

“Okay, what do you want?” Zack reluctantly asked as he observed Aerith scanning through the menus.

“I don’t know, I’m debating getting either the chicken nuggets or the Big Mac?”

“Shiva’s tits, Aerith, just choose something!”

“Fine, I’ll get the chicken nuggets then, Mr. Grumpy.”

“Hi there, can I take your order please?” The server asked through the speaker.

“Hey, can I have a medium 10 chicken nuggets meal please?”

“You certainly can, and what drink will you be having?” He turns to Aerith, who mouths to him what he believes to be cherry coke.

“A cherry coke, please.”

“No problem, anything else for you?”

“Can I have a grilled chicken wrap meal with a side salad please?”

“Of course, and what drink would you like with that?”

“A Coke Zero, please.”

“No worries. Does that complete your order?”

“Yes, thank you.”

“That will be 15 gil, if you could drive to the next window please?”

“So, what made you decide on the chicken nuggets then?” Zack asked.

“Less potential to be messy than a burger. What made you choose a grilled chicken wrap? And side salad instead of fries?” Aerith asked with a horrified expression on her face.

“I literally came from the gym not long ago, I want to spoil my progress.”

“It’s called a cheat meal, Zack. It’s good to indulge every now and then.”

“It’s not a cheat meal if I have one every day, Aerith.” Zack remarked.

“I guess you have a point.” Aerith agreed. “And it cost 15 gil for the both of us, that’s nothing to rich people like you.”

“Don’t tell me you want me to cover it.” Zack said,

“Has there ever been a time when I didn’t pay you back for our nights out?” Aerith asked, glaring at Zack.

As he thinks to himself about times this has possibly happened, he is stumped to realise that despite how annoying Aerith can be at times, she is one of the few people he can wholeheartedly say that they’ll pay something back and truly mean it. She smiled, taking Zack’s silence as the confirmation she was aiming for.

He hands the food to Aerith before quickly driving through the exit. Zack continues to drive through the night until he finds a hill that was tall enough to oversee most of the city. Once he drives to the top of the hill, he parked the car, so it is facing the city. The two get out, and Zack decides to sit on the car’s hood.

“Is that not going to break the hood of the car?” Aerith worriedly asked.

“Nah, I had it built so that the hood was uber durable. And if it does, I have more than enough money to fix it.”

“You mean your parents have more than enough money.” Aerith corrected.

“I get allowances all the time so it’s still mine,” Zack remarked. He flipped Aerith off, who then flipped him off in return. We sat beside each other, silently consuming their respective meals as they looked towards the glowing city lights.

“So, I had lunch with my parents earlier today, and my dad is being rude to the staff.”

“That sounds on brand and normal for your dad but okay.”

“That’s not all. Next Friday, one of his friends from university is having a launch party and he wants me to go in place of him and Mum.”

“Why are you so upset about that? Did you have something planned that day or...?”

“I didn’t. It was just the fact that he expected me to follow his command all the time. And when I dared to ask him why he couldn’t make the time for his friend, he made a thing about how he got contracts to sign and all that bullshit. Not to mention, I’ve never been to a party or event on my own like this before and I’m worried I’ll mess things up.” Zack rambled.

“If it upsets you that much, I could tag along with you,” Aerith suggested.

“I’ll have to ask my dad if it is possible to bring a plus one. If I can, I would really appreciate it if you could come.”

“Anything to help my best friend.” Aerith smiled, with Zack returning the smile. “But I’m going to be real for a minute, Zack. I think your mum and dad are gearing up to retire. After you’re finished with university, they are definitely going to go all out to ensure you want every little thing about the company before they eventually pass all those responsibilities down onto you. Sooner or later, you’re going to take all that weight your parents have been carrying for years and carry it all by yourself. If they can start with the little things like representing the company at parties or grand events, taking on the serious stuff won’t be as daunting. Now, I’m not trying to say that your dad is not a bitter asshole because he is most of the time. But I must give credit where credit’s due and your father is one of the most, if not the most phenomenal businessman out there right now. And your mum is not far off. Seriously, how did a wonderful and gorgeous woman like your mum end up with someone as egoistical as your dad?”

“Believe me, my dad is like a completely different person when he’s with my mum. He’s gentlemanly, considerate and kind when she’s around. He never fails to treat her like a queen. Maybe my mum secretly loves that she is the only one who doesn’t get treated like shit by him.” Zack remarked, chuckling.

“I wouldn’t be surprised. But anyway, what I’m trying to say is that they’ve spent countless hours making Fairlight the stronghold empire that it is and just want to make sure you are able to stand on your own when the time comes for you to inherit the CEO position.” Aerith reasonably explained.

“I didn’t think of it like that. I just took it as my dad being unreasonably harsh on me.”

“Don’t get me wrong, he comes across that way all the time. But I want you to know that I think you’ll make an exceptional CEO in the future but it’s not going to be an easy road.”

“I know that.” Zack sighed. “It’s just that I wish Dad could say he was proud of me, even if it is only one time. I try really hard to impress him, but no matter what I do, nothing’s ever good enough for him.”

“Have you told him about it?”

“No, I talk to Mum about it.”

“And I assume she has forwarded your thoughts to your dad?”

Zack lightly nodded. “They always argue about it. Apparently, it’s something my grandad used to do with Dad, and he attributes that stern and almost dismissive attitude to what shaped Dad into the man he is. And he wants the same from me.”

“Then, it should be obvious that your dad only does this to mould you into a great businessman like him.”

“But is it too much to congratulate me if I do well just once? Deadass, when we were having lunch, Mum wanted to celebrate me being in the top ten best performers but Dad said it wasn’t worth celebrating and I should aim for number one.”

“Okay, I can’t justify that mindset because making the top ten in a cohort consisting of a couple hundred students is a great achievement. All I can say is don’t take it to heart.”

“Yeah, sometimes I wish I could be the perfect son for him.”

“Zack, no one’s perfect. We all have our shortcomings, and we either embrace them or let them consume us. Once all is said and done, I think he is proud of you. Even if he never says it to you out loud.”

“Yeah.” Zack nodded. “Sorry Aerith, I didn’t mean to vent too much of my life to you.”

“Just so you know, I’m always here if you want someone to talk to. I know I can be annoying to you, but I’ll never abandon you or leave your side. You have a friend in me, now and forever.” Aerith beamed. Zack smiles back at her as he pulls her in for a close embrace. The brunette lightly giggled, laying her head against the athlete’s broad chest.

“You know, since we’re here, there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Sure, what’s up?” Aerith asked.

“It’s, well, I’m probably going to sound crazy saying this.”

“If you’re going to say you want to date me again, I will headbutt you. I’m not going through that again.”

“Woah, not that crazy!” Zack chuckled. “Do you remember me talking to you about a boy named Cloud?”

“Cloud?” She asked. “That boy from Nibelheim you met when you were a teen? Weren’t you guys’ mums like close friends?”

“Yeah, him. I haven’t told anyone, but he and his mum vanished before I finished high school. One day, he told me that day he was going to have his secondary gender examination. I told him we would go to the park and get ice cream afterwards. I showed up to the park that day, only for him not to show up.”

Aerith glances at him sadly, rubbing gentle circles on his forearm. “I’m sorry to hear that. So, what happened after?”

“I ran to Mum, and she too was desperately trying to get a hold of Claudia. That was Cloud’s mum. But for some reason, she couldn’t get a hold of her either. Day and night, she would constantly be by the phone, trying to get a hold of her to no success.”

“Okay, that is incredibly weird. What do you think happened to them?”

“I have no clue. All I know is it took Mum a long time to be alright after Claudia disappeared. Claudia was a really close friend to her, and they regularly spent time with each other. We try not to talk about her since each time Claudia gets brought up, she makes her emotional.”

Aerith looked to the night sky, trying to formulate an answer. The way Zack spoke for Claudia alongside his mother’s reaction, one would believe Claudia had passed away. But she refused to ask such a question, as to avoid Zack being emotional.

“She even debated visiting Nibelheim, but Dad advised her against it. He said that sooner or later, Claudia would be in touch and that the constant worrying would be for nothing.”

“She never called or got in touch, did she?” Aerith asked, knowing full well what the distressing answer was.

“No. Eventually, the responsibilities she had as the co-CEO and public representative consumed her daily life. On one hand, she kept her so busy to the point where the only worries she had were about the company. But I could always see in her eyes and the way she carried herself. She was struggling.”

“So, how about Cloud?”

“Not a day has passed without Cloud running through my mind. No matter how hard I try to forget about him, he slithers his way into my head all the time.”

“This Cloud must have been really special to you, wasn’t he?”

“He meant the world to me. Since the day I lost contact with him and Claudia, I…didn’t feel well. I thought that maybe I did something to scare him away. And I felt sick for the few days that followed. I couldn’t eat, I had trouble sleeping, I was quick to get angry. I didn’t feel like myself.” Zack tenderly caresses Aerith’s shoulder as he painfully recalls these memories. “Our doctor came and gave me medicine. It took a while, but I was fine afterwards. Still, my memories of Cloud still lingered and after a while, I gave up any hope that we would see each other again.”

“But something must’ve happened recently?”

“Kind of. Since the day we were separated, I’ve been feeling a strange sense of emptiness. Like a part of me was abruptly taken for me. Now, that emptiness that I have been feeling for years is gradually fading. Something is telling me he must be here.”

“What if it’s only your heart allowing you the capacity to move on?”

“Not to be rude, Aerith, but that should’ve happened a long time ago. Trust me, I’ve slept with numerous women, tried all kinds of drugs, chased every kind of euphoria to get rid of this emptiness.”

“I didn’t need to hear about the many women you’ve slept with, you slut.” Aerith remarked, Zack lightly slapping her on the head in response.

“Anyways!” Zack exclaimed. “I have an inkling, Cloud is here in Midgar. Maybe he’s gonna study here at Midgar University.”

“Zack, you and I both know that this university is painful to get into.”

“You trying to say Cloud is stupid?”

“No, not at all! I’m saying is you need to be rich, smart or both to survive here. Given this place is as elitist as it is, a boy from a small town like him making it here in Midgar? Seems pretty far-fetched, wouldn’t you say?”

“I know I sound crazy, Aerith but I need you to believe me.”

“Zack, we live in a world where Twitter, Instagram and all these social networks exist, right? Have you never thought to look him up on any of those places or even Moogle?”

“I can’t. My parents monitor my internet usage like fucking Big Brother. My dad particularly doesn’t let me on those sites in case I ‘say something stupid’ that could ‘damage Fairlight’s reputation’.”

“Call me crazy but I’ll have to side with your dad on that. He knows how quickly things can spread online. The second you say something controversial, or a scandal erupts, down goes your investors, stock prices and all that shit.”

“Yes, Aerith, I get it. It only took my parents a million and three times of educating me about my social media presence can make or break the company.”

“A million and three times?” Aerith asked, glancing at Zack with a confused expression. “Gaia, I know you’re slow but fucking hell! You really need to work on that.”

“And you need to work on your detection of sarcasm!”

“No, you need to work on your sarcasm!”

“Whatever, Aerith.” Zack rolls his eyes.

“So, what was Cloud to you? A younger brother or something?”

“Pretty much. He would come to me for advice, and he never failed to put a smile on my face.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll get your answers in time. Hopefully, it’s the ones you desire.” Aerith smiled.

“Yeah, you want to go home now?”

“Yes please, it’s getting rather chilly now.” Aerith giggled, causing Zack to let out a small chuckle.

Cloud exhaled a deep breath as he closed the front door to his apartment. After spending the past two gruelling hours, he and Tifa were finally able to put her chair together. They decided then and there that no matter what path their lives took, one thing they were not cut out for was being handymen.

He looked at the clock hanging over the moon, surprised at how late it was.

11:39, it read. Deciding that it was time to go to bed, Cloud went around his apartment, making sure every light was turned off save for the one illuminating his moderately sized bedroom and bathroom. He went into his bathroom and brushed his teeth. His mum had entailed into his mind when he was young that he only had one set of adult teeth and that he needed to take immense care of them.

He changes into his pyjamas, which consisted of a blue striped football shirt and dark blue cotton shorts. Since he was a child, he has worn pyjamas and has never outgrown the habit. Not that he saw anything wrong with it. He checks the phone one last time for any messages, seeing one from his mum.

Mum ❤️ ️

Hey sweetheart. Hope your first day away from home hasn’t been too bad. Remember, I’m always a call away. Love you xx

Me

Hey Mum, yeah it wasn’t bad. Spent most of the day with Tifa which was nice. Will text you tomorrow. Love you too x

As he pressed send, the phone began to glitch and stutter before randomly turning off. Cloud sighed, inserting the charging cable into the phone before setting it aside on the bedside table. Cloud was over the moon when his mum presented him with a brand-new phone, an iPhone 5C.

Though it was second-hand, Cloud was so grateful to his mum for getting him a new phone since the one he had prior was practically unusable. But this was six years ago. And while this phone has served him well over the years, it was becoming increasingly obvious that the phone was barely clinging to life at this point.

Now that he had a job and a scholarship that took care of most of his bills here, Cloud thought that alongside a holiday to Gold Saucer, he would try to save up for a brand-new phone. He wasn’t going to aim for something overly extravagant or expensive like a Galaxy ZFold or an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Not only were those phones way out of Cloud’s budget, but he was also never into the most expensive and costly things anyway. Maybe something practical and long-lasting.

Cloud thought to himself that he’ll look more into this another time as his eyelids began to drop ever so slightly. He also lets out a deep yawn, further indicating his tiredness and need to retire to bed. He slides into bed, silently looking through the window. He stared at the the night sky, with the illuminating stars being the last thing he saw before his vision faded into black.

Cloud slowly pierced his eyes open, still in a slight daze. His eyes widened at the realisation that he was no longer in his bed. He felt the gentle tingle upon his body and turned to see endless arrays of grass, indicating he was in a field. He looked up to see the moon luminously shine alongside the many vibrant stars crafted across the night sky. Radiant fireflies dance in the air, as the fragrant lilies around him are moved seamlessly by the gentle wind. Though he can feel the cold breeze of the night gently caressing him, he strangely feels hot. Like a gentle fire was blazing through his body, with its flames gradually becoming larger and fiercer.

Suddenly, he feels strong hands wrap around his petite waist and a heavy body slowly makes its descent onto his own. The stranger’s fingers slowly trail across the lower half of his body, igniting sparks through his body. The littlest touch caused Cloud to jolt in pleasure, silently begging for more. It was then that Cloud realised that all his clothes were stripped from him, leaving him as bare as the day he was born. He doesn’t question when, how and why he has ended up in a mysterious field. For the only thing that occupied his mind was that this euphoria this stranger was giving him was intoxicating and he needed more. Now!

He lightly moaned as the stranger peppered little kisses across his neck and collarbone. He arched his back, reaching out to grab what felt like strong biceps. The stranger continued to move his hands up Cloud’s body before they stopped at his nipples. Cloud feels the stranger lightly tug on the small buttons, making him yelp in ecstasy.

“P-Please, more,” Cloud begged.

“More?” Cloud almost stopped breathing. That voice. It was deep, and almost coarse but it sounded all too familiar to him. The stranger lifted his head from his neck to look at his prey. Cloud didn’t have time to suppress the gasp once he looked at the person giving him immense pleasure. He could recognise that handsome, charming face and cross-shaped scar anywhere.

Zack.

“W-what are you doing?” Cloud muttered, breathless.

“Isn't it obvious?” Zack asked, before making his way to Cloud’s neck, once again leaving little marks across and gently caressing them with his tongue. Cloud couldn’t hold back the high-pitched moan as Zack continued to assault his body with his skilful tongue. He felt like what they were doing was almost sinful. But something sinful would never feel this good. And if it was, Cloud would never want to be a saint.

“Please, Zack. I want more!” Cloud loudly moaned, reaching up to tangle his fingers into Zack’s black hair.

“Patience, Sunshine.” He whispered into Cloud’s ear, sending chills down his spine. “I want to take my time with you. It’s been so long. And now that I have you in my arms again, I’ll never let you go.”

Cloud desperately tried to control his breathing as Zack continued to toy with him. As Zack lifted his body from him again, he took his time observing what his childhood friend looked like after all these years. He had to stop himself from salivating over the sight. He didn’t think it was possible, but Zack has become more handsome and captivating.

His emerald eyes held a sparkle of admiration that made Cloud’s heart skip a beat. He also noticed how those eyes were darkened in lust and possession, as he stared back into those green eyes. He began to feel like a pray in the wilderness, trapped and left at the mercy of its predator.

However, unlike most prey who would wish their suffering was quick and swift, Cloud welcomed his predator’s ferocious embrace. His eyes moved down to Zack’s mouth which was forming a slight grin. He couldn’t tell whether this grin was meant to be mischievous or cheerful. Nevertheless, it made Cloud almost melt on the spot.

Looking further down, he could see how Zack built his god-like body over the time they’d been apart. His shoulders have become incredibly broad, looking as if he had boulders for shoulders. His eyes wandered further down to his chest. He playfully wondered if Zack had ever worn a bra of any kind, given that it had grown immensely.

His eyes drift further down to his chiselled abs, with each abdominal muscle being significantly outlined showing little to no body fat on his body. Cloud knew Zack was a prominent sportsman, participating in all kinds of sports when they were younger. He also vaguely remembers how Zack would constantly spend numerous days at the gym.

The fact that Zack could possess such a muscular build does not surprise Cloud. But he wasn’t about to start complaining, not when his sinful body was bestowing upon him pleasure. Such heavenly pleasure, that Cloud thought he had ascended to a blissful afterlife.

Finally, he looked further down and nearly fainted. Zack was, for lack of a better word, hung like a horse. His cock was incredibly long, with Cloud wondering if anyone had ever survived a sexual encounter with Zack and if so, if their internal organs were both intact and where they were supposed to be.

It was also prominently thick, promising to stretch out his tiny hole beyond belief. The head of his cock looked incredibly angry, with a large drop of precum aggressively pushing its way through the slit. He could see the dangerously bulbous knot forming at the base of it, promising to fill him all the way up. Zack surely wasn’t thinking about putting this monster in him, was he?

As an almost instant answer to his question, he feels a long, thick finger gently touching his entrance. Cloud hisses as the single finger breaches his entrance. After slowly thrusting the one finger inside him, Zack soon adds another finger.

“Zack-mmm-it, it feels strange.” Cloud gasped.

“Shh.” Zack quietly instructed, his divine lips hovering over Cloud’s ear before delicately pressing his lips against his earlobe. “Need to prepare you.”

“Prepare me?”

“Yeah, wanna make you feel so good,” Zack whispered. Cloud shamelessly moans as he feels Zack’s two fingers scissoring his entrance. “You’re so wet, Sunshine. Want me to fill you up that badly?”

It didn’t take long before Zack added yet another finger, pushing three of his fingers into Cloud’s entrance. Cloud let out a high-pitched moan, running his fingers through the alpha’s thick, jet-black locks as Zack placed one of his sensitive buds into his mouth. He lightly sucked on the bud like a baby while relentlessly thrusting his fingers into Cloud’s wet cavern. He couldn’t stop the seemingly endless amounts of slick pouring out of his hole as Zack thoroughly prepared him.

Nothing could prepare Cloud for the sudden beam of pleasure when Zack’s fingers pressed against his prostate. Zack grinned to himself, making it his mission to ruthlessly thrust his fingers against Cloud’s button of pleasure. Cloud is close to losing his mind at this point. Between the warm bathing of Zack’s provocative tongue against his nipple and his thick fingers stretching him open and brutalising his prostate with incredible accuracy, the flames that roared within the bottom of Cloud’s stomach were about ready to erupt.

He sneakily removed one of his hands from Zack’s jet-black hair and slowly guided it to his own aching cock, desperately crying out for attention. Suddenly, he felt Zack’s strong hand gripping his own, pinning it above his head. Cloud whined, with Zack removing his wicked tongue from his chest. He shakes his head at Cloud whose eyes are filled with tears.

“No, no, I want you to cum on my cock.” Cloud feels incredibly empty once he feels Zack’s fingers leave his entrance. He holds up his fingers to Cloud’s face before bringing each one into his mouth, licking up every morsel of Cloud’s slick. Cloud profusely blushed as he watched Zack slurp up his slick like it was the sweetest dessert in Gaia.

“You taste so sweet, Sunshine. I always knew you were gonna taste so good.” Zack whispered into his ear. He feels Zack’s fingers once again hovering over his entrance, gathering up slick. Cloud helplessly stares at Zack as he spreads the slick against his hot, throbbing cock. He was in such a trance, that he doesn’t notice how the tip of Zack’s cock was rubbing against his entrance.

Then, it hit him like a truck.

Zack wanted to put his behemoth of a cock inside of him.

Fuck.

“Wait!” Cloud exclaimed. “Y-You can’t!”

Zack pulled away, worried. “What’s the matter?”

“W-Well, y-y-you’re really big. I’m scared it’s going to hurt.” Cloud put his hands over his face. He was so embarrassed, silently sobbing. Zack gently held his hands and pulled away from his face, placing delicate kisses across each of his fingers.

“I’ll take it slow, Sunshine. You know the last thing I wanna do is hurt you.” Zack whispered, laying tiny kisses across Cloud’s knuckles. The sentiment caused Cloud to possess a harsh blush that travelled from his cheeks down to his neck. He knew Zack would never willingly hurt him and would prioritise Cloud’s pleasure over his own. “I won’t do anything you don’t want to. If you tell me you want to stop, I will.”

Cloud took a deep breath before letting it go. “Do you promise?”

Zack lightly pressed his lips against Cloud’s forehead. “I promise.”

“Okay, you can-” Cloud abruptly stopped speaking, staring at Zack’s throbbing cock.

“Sunshine, can you stop staring at my cock? You’ve got one as well.”

“Mine can’t be used as a weapon like yours, though.” Cloud remarked, pouting. “Why is it so big?”

“Guess I’m just lucky.” Zack grinned, pressing his lips against Cloud’s neck, covering it in more marks. “You ready, Sunshine?”

“Yeah, please just…just take me.”

Zack smiled, before pressing the tip of his cock against Cloud’s wet entrance. He rubs it against Cloud’s hole several times before slowly pushing it in. Cloud gasped in pain, as the thick cock inches its way through his entrance. He hissed in slight agony, overwhelmed by the sheer girth of Zack’s cock.

“Are you doing okay, Sunshine?” Zack concerningly asked, his cock halfway inside Cloud’s drenched hole.

Cloud subtly nodded. “Yeah, it’s so deep, so big, I’m losing my mind here.”

“You and me both, Sunshine. You’re so damn tight, I can barely move my cock inside you.” Zack whispered, harshly breathing inside his ear. Zack grasps his hands with Cloud’s, pushing his thick shaft further inside Cloud’s soaking entrance. It didn’t take long before Zack was fully seated inside Cloud. Cloud was struggling to breathe properly with Zack’s thick cock stretching him wide open and reaching deep inside him, the tip of his cock already pushing into his prostate and tapping on the door that was his womb. Zack didn’t dare to move yet, not until he felt Cloud’s hole become comfortable enough with his intrusion.

“How are you feeling, Sunshine?” Zack coarsely asked, barely able to keep his composure.

“Full, so full. It’s so deep.” Cloud whispered. Zack looks down and almost loses his breath at the sight. He could see a great bulge in Cloud’s stomach, likely made from how deep his cock is residing inside him. After what feels like an eternity passes, Zack could feel Cloud’s hole slightly relax. “Okay, you can move now.”

“Are you sure?” Zack asked, not wanting to add any unnecessary pressure onto Cloud.

“Yeah, just don’t go too fast too soon.”

Zack nodded, pulling out only by a small fraction before pushing back in. He made gradual movements, trying his best not to go feral and tear Cloud a new one. Cloud anxiously turns his head away from Zack, not wanting him to see him cry. He then feels Zack’s rough hand tenderly rub against his cheek, cupping his head to face him.

“Don’t shy away from me, Sunshine.” He gently whispered into Cloud’s ear, sending shivers down Cloud’s spine.

“It’s embarrassing.” He whined. The pain soon subsided, granting Cloud nothing but bliss. “Z-Zack, please.”

“Please what?” He teased. “You need to tell me what you want, Sunshine.”

“Ah! P-please, I need more!”

“More of what?”

“Your monster dick!” Cloud squealed, not caring how vulgar he sounded in the moment.

Zack grinned down at him, pulling out almost all the way before savagely pulling back in. He soon began a smooth rhythm, rolling his hips. His movements progressively got wilder and unhinged. His emerald eyes glance down at Cloud’s rosy lips, slickened by saliva and faintly parted letting out a delicious moan every time he thrusted against Cloud’s sweet spot. He leaned down to Cloud’s teary face, pressing his lips against Cloud’s. He relished at the realisation that Cloud’s lips felt as good as, if not better than, what he imagined.

“F-fuck, Sunshine, you’re taking my cock so well!” He praised while delivering a deep thrust, causing Cloud to involuntarily squeak. Cloud then feels his rough hands beneath my knees, before feeling his legs being flung over Zack’s strong shoulders. His ankles dangle against Zack’s solid back as he relentlessly pushed his cock deeper into Cloud.

Cloud sharply gasped, though no sound came out of his mouth. Right when he thought Zack couldn’t push deeper into him, he managed to do exactly like that with ease.

Cloud moves his hands to softly caress Zack’s face, who was staring down at him with lustful, passionate eyes. “A-Alpha”

“My omega.” Zack moaned. “I’m getting close, Sunshine. Gonna fill you up so much, gonna knock you up with all my pups.”

“K-knot, need your knot.”

“Gonna give it to you, my omega.” Zack gritted his teeth, staring down at Cloud’s pale neck. His eyes travelled down to Cloud’s weeping cock and smiled as he noticed how it pulsed with every roll of his hips. “You getting close, Sunshine?”

“Y-yeah, I’m-ahhh-I’m not going to last…mmmm.” Cloud stuttered, having lost their ability to form coherent sentences, being completely consumed by the euphoria caused by Zack fucking him so well.

“Don’t hold it back, let it go.” All it took were those sinful words being whispered into Cloud’s ear, that he sent the blond into a feverish haze. He let out a loud moan, shooting ropes of come across his chest and stomach. Witnessing the delicious sight before him, Zack was unable to hold back anymore. He buried his cock deeply inside Cloud, his knot aggressively expanding. Cloud sharply gasped as Zack’s member penetrated into his womb, shooting out ribbons of semen. It didn’t stop immediately either, with Cloud whining that he was beginning to feel too full.

While Cloud was still impaled on his knot, Zack stared down at his pale neck once again. His tongue brushed against his canines, before descending his teeth onto Cloud’s neck and biting him. Cloud hissed in pain but moaned at the careful caress of Zack’s tongue smoothing over the fresh wound. It was only when the euphoric daze no longer clouded his eyes that he realised the sheer magnitude that Zack biting his neck had on him. He was now bound to Zack, now and forever.

“Finally, you’re mine. All mine.”

Cloud jolted up, his eyes wide open. He was astounded to see that he wasn’t in a field, or underneath the radiant heat and bulk of Zack but under the covers of his bed inside his own bedroom. He pulled the covers off him to see that his shorts were undoubtedly drenched in both cum and slick.

He deeply sighed before falling back against the sheets. “Fuck my life.”

Chapter Text

Cloud smacked his hands over his face, harshly cringing to himself. He had a wet dream last night. A wet dream about his childhood friend, Zack. He blushed to himself as he remembered every detail. He remembered the way Zack left trails of kisses along his neck, the way he tenderly held his body, the way he thrust his well-endowed cock into his entrance, gradually getting deeper with each thrust and the way he filled up his womb with immense amounts of come that it was sure to knock him up. It all felt too real to have been a mere dream. His body must’ve felt the same, seeing that his lower half was nothing but a swamp of his own come and slick.

He made his way into the bathroom and turned the hot water tip, letting a stream of water flow through the shower head. He stripped off the pyjamas as the water gradually grew hotter. He jumps into the shower, being sure to wash off any trace of slick or come plastered on his body. In all the years he has been on this planet, never before has he experienced a wet dream so livid. He makes a mental note to thoroughly wash his pyjamas and his sheets. He wasn’t sure what the source was for that dream to manifest.

It could’ve been from his reminiscing of Zack or perhaps he was unknowingly sexually frustrated. Cloud was a virgin, not for saving himself for marriage or for being unattractive. Cloud simply did not feel comfortable giving something as treasured as his virginity to some random stranger. He has always wanted to gift his virginity to someone special to him, someone who held a special place in his heart.

Using the washcloth he had lathered up with soap, he carefully moved the washcloth over his body. Almost instantly, moments from his livid dream come to life. Cloud starts to think he was going crazy as he begins to see Zack’s hands tracing over his slender body. He remembers every touch, every grunt, every breath that Zack laid against his hot, needing body. Abruptly, he turned off the tap and fiercely looked around. Seeing no one in sight, he sighed stepping out of the shower.

He moves over to his wardrobe, intending to pick out a fashionable outfit for himself. Since the weather was starting to become chilly as they transitioned into the autumn season, he wanted to make sure his outfit accommodated for that. He then decides on a white long-sleeved henley top and a burgundy cardigan, paired with his trusted black jeans. He puts on the black and white Converse shoes he has been wearing for years and laced them up. He remembered the day his mum came home, saying she had a surprise for him.

His eyes lit up when his mum revealed she was able to purchase a pair of Converse shoes for him during a clearance sale. Working with a tight budget usually meant Claudia was unable to shower Cloud with extravagant gifts and could only buy him a decent thing every once in a while. Cloud didn’t care though. He was grateful for everything his mum got him, and always showed gratitude and appreciation. He knew his mum worked hard for both of them, so he tried his best never to make her life more difficult than it needed to be. Hell, now that he’s got a decent job and a scholarship, maybe he could afford to return the favour to his mum now.

He turned to his phone, unplugging it from the charging cable. He looks at the notifications, mostly consisting of recent posts on Instagram and a couple of emails in his student mailbox. He tapped on the notification, scrolling through the few unread emails he had received before stopping at one that stood out to him that was sent to him a handful of days ago.

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: Meeting with the President  

Dear Cloud,

I hope this email finds you well. On behalf of all the faculty at Midgar University, I would like to wish you a warm welcome and a huge congratulations on being one of the few exceptional students to secure the prestigious Shinra Scholarship. As a token of this remarkable achievement, the President of Midgar University wishes to have a chat with you.

Please do not worry about this meeting. The Dean simply wants to talk to you about your studies, ambitions, and how we can help you in reaching your goals. Your meeting is scheduled for Monday, 18^th September at 10:30 am. You will find the President’s office in the JENOVA Building on the 5^th Floor.

Please note that the Dean is an incredibly busy person and as such, does not have time to waste so do not arrive late. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,

Lynette

Secretary for the President of Midgar University

Cloud read the email over and over again, horrified. He glanced to the top of his phone displaying the time, becoming more horrified.

9:54 AM, it read. He had barely over half an hour to get to the President’s office. Hurriedly, he grabs his keys, glances over his apartment and making sure everything that needed to be turned off was in fact turned off before leaving. He lightly jogs to the President’s office, making sure that he didn’t bump into anything or anyone as to not delay his journey any further. Cloud couldn’t believe his luck today.

Not only did he fail to check his emails for anything important, but he also failed to check his planner in case there was anything important that he needed to attend. Perhaps he shouldn’t blame himself too much, since his planner was designed to automatically make a reminder for any future meeting. He will have to look over his phone to see if there were any technical issues after his talk with the President.

Twenty minutes later, heavily breathing after feeling like he had run a marathon, he was facing the JENOVA Building. He takes a moment to compose himself, as to not wanting to appear in front of the President like a fool, unruffled and careless. After regaining his composure, he straightens out his posture and walks into the building, the sliding doors permitting him almost instant entry. Cloud was amazed, to put it lightly. The interior of the building looked outerworldly, futuristic, like something out of a science fiction novel.

Shaking himself out of his trance, he looks over to the reception desk where a pale woman with curly brown hair sat at. He walks up to the receptionist who politely smiled at him.

“Good morning, how can I help you today?” The receptionist asked.

“Good morning, I have a meeting with the President today at 10:30 am.”

“Oh, you must be Mr. Cloud Strife. I’m Lynette, the President’s secretary.” She warmly said, grabbing her tablet before standing up. “If you could follow me, please.” He followed her into an elevator, watching her press the button to the fifth floor.

“So, how long have you been working for the university?” Cloud asked, both curious and wanting to eradicate the awkward air.

“In a few weeks, it will mark three years since I’ve started working here.”

“And do you like it here?” He asks, as the elevator doors open, indicating that they had reached their destination.

“Yes, it pays fairly well, and the job isn’t too straining.” She smiled as they made their way through the halls. “By the way, I wanted to personally congratulate you on being awarded the Shinra Scholarship. That is not an easy thing to achieve.”

Cloud nervously laughed. “Thank you, I’m really grateful for both Shinra and Midgar University for affording me this grand opportunity. I’ll do my best not to let everyone down.”

“Try not to put too much pressure into yourself. You wouldn’t have been given an opportunity like this if we didn’t think you were capable of great things.” Lynette stops before a French door, meaning they were standing outside the President’s office. As the brunette raised her hand to knock on the door, Cloud tries his utmost best to not collapse. He was about to meet the President of Midgar University.

“Come in.” The voice roared before the doors opened.

Zack kept his breaths steady as he jogs around the rugby field. The early morning brought with it the beginning of a new week, and Zack was determined to start the new week on the right foot. With the new academic year being around the corner, came a new season of rugby tournaments and trophies for his acclaimed team to collect. Zack didn’t want to come across as egotistical or arrogant, but he thought of his rugby team as being the best.

Over the many years that Midgar University has participated in these tournaments, they have culminated in a mountain of awards and titles, proving their determination, resilience and prowess. It is this consecutive winning streak that the university board decided to award them with seemingly endless funding.

But this heavy stack of achievements and acclaim came with a heavier sense of dread and responsibility. Every year, the university board expects them to perform as well as, if not better than, the team that came before them.

These outlandish expectations, however, didn’t deter Zack at all. He has always been the kind of person who sets their sight on a goal and stops at nothing to achieve it. Later in the week, his coach and the team were going to be deciding on a new captain to lead the team into what they hoped (and the university board expected) to be an influx of victories.

The captain who oversaw the team for the past year had recently graduated, leaving the position of team captain vacant. Knowing that he held each of his teammates in high regard and that his teammates felt the same to him, Zack thought he had what it took to be a great leader for the team. He knew that he wasn’t the only one on the team that desired that coveted position.

Being the captain of the rugby team brought with it a new level of popularity and praise from students and faculties of the university. They become the hot topic of almost every conversation and a magnet to attractive men and women alike. It was clear that many of Zack’s teammates desired the attention that this position brought with it. But Coach Heidegger has been able to see through the players’ intentions, time and time again.

Zack remembers a time before Heidegger became the coach for their team, the position had to be re-elected six times for every time a new captain was elected, it turned out that they could not care less about the team’s performance and cared more about the women that were flocking into their arms, thanks to the prestige the role had given them. Now that Heidegger was the coach, he has never failed to elect a captain whose main focus was being an anchor for the team and pushing them to be better players. 

Zack was in the middle of his dynamic stretches when he saw Kunsel and Roche making their way to him, wearing the same rugby kit as he was.

“I can’t believe you both have convinced me to get up this early.” Roche groaned, rubbing his eyes. Before Zack had gone to bed the previous night, he texted Kunsel and Roche to see if they were up for a little casual practice. At first, Roche disagreed, saying that it would be criminal to wake up before the sun. However, he and Kunsel convinced him that a bit of practice before the team got together later for the new season would do the three of them some good.

“Hey, there’s no better way to start off a glorious morning like this than with a bit of light exercise Am I right, Kunsel?” Zack grinned.

“I can think of a million ways to start the morning that are better than this.” Roche snorted.

“Yeah? Name them.” Zack pressed Roche, raising an eyebrow.

“Having a plate of steaming pancakes in bed or enjoying the company of a fair lady beside me.”

“Of course, you would say that.” Kunsel rolled his eyes. “You enjoy their company until she comes back to you several weeks later and tells you she’s pregnant. Right, Zack?”

Zack sighed, rolling his eyes at Kunsel. “Don’t even get me started on that.”

Zack was as responsible as he was hypersexual. Every woman he had bedded, he had never skipped on wearing protection. And given how blessed Zack was when it came to his endowment, he would occasionally have trouble finding condoms that fit him. This didn’t stop many of his sexual partners coming up to him and making a scene, screaming about he had gotten them pregnant, and how he needed to take responsibility.

His parents were never impressed by these women’s attempts at forcing their way into their family. They usually demand that Zack marry them so their child can grow up in a happy home. The problem is, that they tend to take Zack’s goofiness and joyful attitude for stupidity. They often go blank when Zack asks them to provide a pregnancy test to prove there was a growing child inside them in the first place.

When they eventually come in with a positive pregnancy test, he requests that they do a paternal test to prove Zack really was the father. At this point, the accusers threatened to go to the tabloids if he didn’t take responsibility then and there.

But he wasn’t afraid of the papers. Instead, he encouraged them to do it. That way, when they realised that they couldn’t keep up the façade any longer, he would smile in satisfaction at the sight of them falling apart along with their plan. And his parents were less willing to cooperate with these accusers than he was. Most of the time, they threaten to sue them beyond oblivion for defamation and for trying to manipulate their son into a forced marriage.

“I still can’t get over that one girl, what was her name?” Roche wondered.

“Beverley, she was a second year at the time,” Kunsel replied, joining Zack in his dynamic stretching. “I still remember her screams echoing throughout the diner we were at.”

“Yeah, I thought you learned not to stick your dick in crazy, Zack.” Roche laughed.

“She seemed like a cool person.” Zack shrugged. “And she was an alright fuck.”

“Until she went around Midgar, saying that you like to knock people up and not take care of your offspring. Did your family end up paying her to keep her mouth shut?”

“The opposite, actually. My parents threatened to sue her family for harassing me and spreading false rumours. Her parents went through all the effort to pull her out of our university.”

“Fucking hell, bet she regrets spreading her legs to you.”

“A lot of them do when they wake up the next morning, and they can’t walk at all.” Zack smirked, making his two good friends cringe in disgust.  

“That’s so gross, Zack.” Kunsel snarled.

“Well, it’s the truth.” Zack shrugged. “Why do you think I get girls lining up for hours to ride this dick?”

“Stop being so crude!” Kunsel exclaimed. “We get it, you’re hung.”

“Damn, Kunsel, if you want to give Zack’s dick a go, all you need to do is ask.” Roche chucked, causing Kunsel to angrily blush.

“I don’t want to fuck Zack, you fuckwit.” Kunsel hissed.

“He’s right though, Kunsel.” Zack teased, wrapping an arm around Kunsel’s shoulder. “I’ll happily get you to heaven if you like.”

Kunsel shoves Zack off of him. “You know I don’t swing that way, dude. But thank you for the offer.”

“No problem, but know the offer still stands if you ever want to take it up.” Zack winked.

“Didn’t we come here to practice rugby?” Kunsel asked, wanting to swiftly change the subject. “I didn’t get changed into my rugby kit to stretch all day.”

The three athletes finished off their stretching before they got to practice.

Cloud stepped into the office with Lynette. The President stood by the window, watching over the campus. He became increasingly anxious as he observed the incredibly tall man. He noticed how his long, silver hair was in a low ponytail, securely held by a black ribbon.

“Sir, Mr. Strife is here for a meeting with you,” Lynette spoke. Upon hearing her voice, the man turns around, revealing his handsome face. He turned to Cloud with his piercing eyes, causing Cloud to momentarily freeze, afraid he may do something or behave stupidly.

“Thank you, Lynette. You may leave us now.” Lynette bows, before excusing herself. He motions to the seat beside him. “Please take a seat, Cloud. You’re a student, not a soldier.”

“Y-you know my name.” Cloud shook nervously.

“Course I do, you’re one out of the small number to be awarded the Shinra Scholarship. The least I can do is remember your name.” He chuckled. “Did you want anything to drink? Perhaps tea or a coffee?”

Cloud mentally kicked himself. He was in such a rush this morning that he forgot to have a good cup of coffee, let alone a filling breakfast. He prayed to the gods above that his stomach wouldn’t start to growl in front of this man.

“Could I have a white coffee please, sir?” Cloud politely asked.

“Please, call me Sephiroth.” He smiled. “Any biscuits or something light?”

“I wouldn’t mind a shortbread biscuit but if not, don’t worry about it.”

Cloud watches as Sephiroth pressed a button on his intercom. “Lynette, can you bring up to my office a white coffee, a black coffee and a few shortbread biscuits please?”

“Most certainly, sir. I’ll bring those up to you right now.” He hears Lynette reply. “You’ll have to forgive me, Cloud, I have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Sephiroth Valentine, and as I am sure you already know, I am the President of Midgar University.” He holds his hand out to Cloud, who gulped before nervously engaging in a handshake with him.

“I’m Cloud, it’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

“Sephiroth.” He corrected. “I told you it’s okay to address me by my name. Sir makes me feel older than I am.”

“I’m sorry, Sephiroth.” He struggled to say. To Cloud, it felt alien and unusual to be addressing a man of such high importance by his name like he was a friend or a colleague.

“Apology accepted. Now that we have gotten introductions out of the way, I would like to give you a warm welcome to Midgar University. I hope that the journey here was not too exhausting.”

Before Cloud could answer, he heard the doors open to see Lynette coming in with a tray, with their coffees and biscuits.

“Thank you, Lynette,” Sephiroth said, taking his black coffee from the tray.

“Thank you so much, Lynette.” Cloud repeated.

“You’re both very welcome. Can I get you gentlemen anything else?”

“No, thank you.” Cloud politely declined.

“Not at the moment, Lynette. You are excused.” Sephiroth reaffirmed. Lynette bows again before making her departure. “Do you take any sugars?”

“Yes, but not a lot.” Cloud helps himself to a couple sugar cubes, stirring them into his coffee before taking a small sip.

“Anyways, you were saying?”

“Yeah. No, it has been okay. My mum drove me here from Nibelheim. It was a fairly long drive, but we drove through all kinds of towns, so it wasn’t boring.”

“I am glad to hear that. And you’ve settled into your new accommodation well?”

“Yes, I did. I’m still kind of in disbelief that I get a whole apartment to myself. I’ve always envisioned myself being in a small dorm room with untidy housemates so I’m thankful that this scholarship can afford me that kind of accommodation.”

“But of course. You are going to be putting countless hours studying here at Midgar University, the least we could do is give you an environment where you are safe and comfortable as you embark on your journey here.” Sephiroth warmly explained. “So, it says on the system that you are studying Mechanical Engineering?”

“Yes, I’ve had a passion for all kinds of automobiles since I was a kid. Cars, motorbikes, you name it.” Cloud said, excited.

“And what it is that you want to do in the future? What career path are you hoping to go down?”

“Honestly, I’m hoping to work for a big carmaker. Like Ford, Ferrari or Porsche.”

“And at what level do you want to work for them? Just a Sales Officer? Or somewhere in the executive sector?”

Cloud lightly bites his bottom lip before responding. “I want to be on the executive level someday.”

Sephiroth notices Cloud’s unease, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. “Do you feel like, for some reason, that that ambition is out of reach?”

“A little. It’s because, well, how do I put this?”

“Because you are an omega?” Sephiroth asked, catching Cloud off guard.

“How did you know?”

Sephiroth let out a small chuckle. “Cloud, I scan through all the students’ applications, especially those who are awarded scholarships. I knew you were an omega the day you applied to study here.” 

“I see.” Cloud uttered.

“Tell me, Cloud, why do you think being an omega is going to stop you from achieving what you want to achieve?”

“I’ve done research into every automobile manufacturer. Almost all the executives have either been alphas or betas, but never omegas.”

“And?”

“And?” Cloud repeated, confused.

“Almost all the executives at these carmakers have been alphas or betas. Do they specifically prohibit omegas from these executive roles?”

“Well, no they don’t. But-”

Cloud saw Sephiroth abruptly stood up, before walking over to the window. The anxiety Cloud had been gradually losing has now returned to full capacity. Had he said something to offend Sephiroth?

“Cloud, I will not lie to you. Most of the councillors on the university board are progressive and have come to view omegas as more than possessions. Others, however, are old-fashioned, their heads stuck on the ideology of the past. When they saw that you were a candidate for the Shinra Scholarship, they demanded your application be immediately thrown out. Hell, they wanted to stop you from attending this university altogether. They thought that omegas could not handle an intensive university such as ours.”

Cloud sat there, trying to digest Sephiroth’s words. He knew that some people still held revolting opinions about Omegas, but to see those people in vital positions at the university sent chills down his spine.

“Ultimately, as the President, I have the final word and decided for your application to progress. I have seen how you performed in the aptitude tests, how you’ve conducted yourself on the playback of your interviews.” Sephiroth continued. “I must say you are excellent, you have a mountain of potential and I would hate to see it go to waste because of some pigheads’ opinions.”

Cloud tries to hide himself blushing at what Sephiroth had just said. He repeatedly pinched himself to affirm that this wasn’t a dream. That Sephiroth meant every word he had said.

“But unfortunately, I need to be direct with you. The university will do all that is within our power to protect you. As rumours suggest, the number of students we have that are omegas is low. Far lower than we anticipated, and much lower than we desire. We cannot protect you all the time, that responsibility is unfortunately yours to bare.”

“I understand.” Cloud simply responded. “I keep a close eye on my heat cycles, and a tight schedule on my medication.”

“Good, have you spoken to the doctor nearest to you?”

Cloud shakes his head. “You mean Dr Valentine? No, I haven’t. I was planning to visit her this week. But I will see if she is available today.”

“I will take care of that, give me a moment.” Sephiroth excused himself out of the room, pulling out his phone and making a call.

Cloud looked around Sephiroth’s office, waiting patiently for him to return. He realised that he might have misjudged Sephiroth. Growing up, he watched countless movies and TV shows that portrayed presidents as money-hungry people who did not care about others. And yet, Sephiroth was the complete opposite. Maybe he should learn that everything in movies is often exaggerated and does not mirror reality at all. It only took a moment before Sephiroth walked back into his office.

“Lucrecia has made an appointment with you for 2 o’clock.”

“Thank you, Sephiroth. I highly appreciate that.”

“No problem, Cloud. If at any time you need advice or someone to talk to, you can pop into my office. Of course, if that will depend on if I have a prior commitment. Do you have any questions?”

“Yes, do you allow all the students to randomly visit you?”

“I allow students who are awarded the Shinra Scholarship such as yourself that courtesy. I simply do not have the time for all the other students. Anything else?”

Cloud looked down, biting his lip. He knew this question was a bit out of the blue, but his curiosity overpowered any rational thinking he had. “Do you know Zack Fair?”

Sephiroth perked up in curiosity. “Zack Fair?”

“Yeah…” Cloud trails off, now wishing he never asked the question. He never considered that maybe Zack was never here and that feeling that has resided in his heart was all but a pitiful illusion.

“Why yes, I do know a Zack Fair. He’s about to start his second year here.”

Cloud’s eyes instantly lit up. “Black hair, and a scar on his left cheek?”

“Sounds like the Zack Fair I know. Why, do you personally know him?”

“He was a close friend, before I lost contact with him.”

“Well, as much as I would like to tell you where he lived, I am afraid that would go against privacy policies.” Sephiroth chuckled.

“No, no, it’s fine. I just wanted to know since…well, I-I don’t know what to put this.”

“You had a feeling he was near you?”

“Yeah, how did you-”

“I have heard of all the myths and legends, Cloud. Most people these days dismiss it as fantasy, but I believe there is some truth to it.”

“Oh, okay.” Cloud stood up, making his way to the door. “I’m sure I’ll see you around, Sephiroth.”

“I’m sure we will, Cloud. Now, you take care of yourself and try not to run into trouble.”

“No promises.”

“No, Roche! You were supposed to pass to Zack!” Kunsel exclaimed.

The three athletes had been spending the last 30 minutes practising their passing of the ball.

“Does it even matter, Kunsel?” Roche shot back.

“Yeah, it does. Because…” Kunsel then points out the distance between him and Roche and then that between Zack and Roche. “I’m further away from you than Zack is, and you give the opposition a good opportunity at intercepting the ball. Now, let’s try that again.”

The three rugby stars then started to slowly sprint, gradually gaining speed before running at full speed. With the ball tightly gripped in his hands, Roche scanned around in his peripheral vision. He could see Kunsel was growing closer to him. He imagined an enemy player making a rapid charge toward him, and so he launched the ball to Kunsel with a slight spin as to narrowly avoid an interception from the opposition. They all slow down and come together, with Kunsel holding the ball tight in his hands. 

“You see why it made more sense to pass the closest player you see?” Kunsel asked.

“Yeah, I can see why it mattered. I can’t imagine making this mistake in a proper game.” Roche sighed.

“Don’t beat yourself up over it, dude. That’s why we’re practising, so when we’re on the playing field for real, our team is less likely to make those mistakes.” Zack said, trying to put Roche at ease. “Speaking of our team, who do you think Heidegger is going to make Captain?”

“To be honest, I don’t have any interest in being Captain.” Kunsel shrugged.

“Neither do I. I mean, the influx of gorgeous women and the phenomenal praise is quite tempting. But alas, I don’t think I possess the leadership skills necessary for such a title.” Roche sighed.

“I think you are a shoo-in for Captain, Zack,” Kunsel said.

“Really?” Zack asked in disbelief.

“I have to agree with Kunsel. All the teammates already flock to you for guidance, and you always seem to have the best strategies going into every match we play.” Roche agreed. “Even Heidegger occasionally sings your praises to the other coaches, and he is a tough nut to crack.”

“But I have heard Gladio is thinking about putting himself up for consideration,” Kunsel said.

“Gladio? Don’t get me wrong, he seems like a lovely guy. But something about him is telling me he doesn’t have what it takes to lead, you know?” Roche remarked.

“I’ll give credit to him in that he is one of our best players and a good team player. As for being a leader, I’m not really sure.”

“Look, at the end of the day, all we can do is give Heidegger our input, but the decision usually falls into his hands. And knowing how he thinks of you, I’d say it’s more a case of when you’ll be announced as Captain rather than if.” Kunsel explained.

“We’ll just have to find out when the time comes.” Zack shrugged. They decided to end the casual practice session for the day since Kunsel had a tutoring appointment with a couple of teens and Roche just wanted to go home. As Zack rummaged through his bag, he found his phone and on it, there was a new message waiting for him.

Aerith 🙄

Morning Bestie, did you sleep well last night?

Me

Good morning Darling, yeah I slept alright. Wbu?

Aerith 🙄

Like a baby. Are you busy today?

Me

Not really, why?

Aerith 🙄

Need your help with something.

Me

Assistance with what? If it's something stupid, I will slap the shit out of you.

Aerith 🙄

What!? First, you wouldn’t hit a lady! Second, I wish you would. See what happens.

Me

Are you threatening me?

Aerith 🙄

It’s a promise. Anyways, it’s nothing extreme. Just wanted to run some errands today and could do with some company.

Me

Sure, I’ll help you out.

Aerith 🙄

Great, I’ll meet you at that coffee shop. I think it’s called Espresso.

Me

No problem, but bear in mind I just did a session with Kunsel and Roche so I’m a bit sweaty and need to freshen up a bit. I’ll meet you there in half an hour.

Aerith 🙄

Okay, I did NOT need to know about your sexual escapades, Zack. I’ll see you later.

Me

We were practising rugby, not having a threesome! Whatever. See you later.

“I blame myself. I should’ve worded it better.” Zack sighed to himself, running his hand through his hair.

Chapter Text

The day had now progressed into a chilly afternoon and Cloud stared at the doctor’s office, anxious and hesitant to go inside. He felt ashamed that he still felt this way. Ever since he was young, he has found going to the doctor anxiety-inducing and clung to his mum every time they visited. But he was no longer a child. He was an adult, barely grown out of his adolescence. Plus, he couldn’t afford to avoid them for the entirety of his time at university. Eventually, he would need to seek their help and guidance, and he didn’t want to wait before it was too late.

Letting go of the breath he had been holding for the past few moments, he makes his way inside. He was greeted by a nurse, who kindly smiled at him.

“Good afternoon, are you here to see Dr Valentine?”

“Yes, I have an appointment at 2 o’clock.”

“Please have a seat, Dr Valentine will see you soon.” Cloud nodded, then took a seat close to the window. That way, overlooking the lively streets could calm his nerves. He expected Midgar to be far livelier and more energetic than Nibelheim, but it seemed the city had energy in abundance. There never seemed to be a quiet moment on these streets, even at the dead of night. Cloud hated to think how the streets would look like on Friday nights, they probably would be crowded with drunk students and horny deviants hoping to score.

“Cloud Strife?” He turns his head to meet the eyes of a brown-haired woman with a warm smile.

“Yeah, that’s me.” He nervously responded.

“If you could follow me to my office, please?” Cloud followed the kind doctor closely before they reached her office. She opens the door, gesturing for him to enter first. He thanks her, before taking a seat. “Good afternoon, Mr. Strife. I’m Dr Lucrecia Valentine, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Cloud muttered.

“I trust you’ve had a good day so far?”

“Yeah, it’s been average for the most part.”

“That’s lovely to hear. So, what is it that I can do for you?”

“Well, I’m a new student at Midgar University and I wanted to get registered at a doctor’s straight away. My mum would’ve talked my ear off if I didn’t.”

“Thankfully, I have the capacity for one more patient so I’m happy to pencil you in today.” Dr. Valentine smiled. “You know Sephiroth was insistent on me registering you here.”

“Yeah, is Sephiroth a relative of yours or?”

“Mr Strife, Sephiroth is my son.” Lucrecia smiled.

“Oh!” Cloud gasped in shock. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know. Then again, you bear a close resemblance to him.”

“A lot of people say that.” Lucrecia beamed. “Now, I would like to go over a few questions with you before I conduct an examination with you. Is that okay?”

“Please just call me Cloud. And yeah, that’s fine.”

“Good. Firstly, what is your secondary gender?”

“I’m an omega.”

“Okay, and are you a dominant or recessive omega?”

“To my knowledge, I don’t identify with either, Dr Valentine. Other doctors have tried, and they weren’t able to make a definite conclusion.”

“Please, call me Lucrecia. And not to worry, Cloud. We will perform an examination later and might be able to form a decent conclusion.” She smiled, with Cloud smiling back at her. Somehow, this woman is actually making an effort to make him feel more comfortable, unlike previous doctors. Like she genuinely cares for her patients.

She continued. “How are your heat cycles? Are they regular?”

“Yeah, it usually happens on or close to the last week of the month. It never really happens outside that timing though.”

“That’s great to hear. Recently, a lot of omegas’ heat cycles have become irregular. It makes it difficult for doctors like me to administer the appropriate dose of medication.” She explained. “And what strong are these heats, usually?"

Cloud blushes. “They usually last five to six days, but it hardly ever happens when I take the heat suppressants.”

“That leads me to my next question. How often are you using the heat suppressants? Is it every heat cycle?”

“I use it for most heat cycles. I try not to use them every once in a while, you know, not to screw up my body.”

“By every once in a while, do you mean every two months or?”

“Every six months,” Cloud affirmed.

Lucrecia gives Cloud a stern look before responding. “I’ll be frank with you, Cloud. I’m surprised that your heat cycles are still consistent with how often you use the heat suppressants. I’m sure you have been informed about the side effects of using that kind of suppressant too often but letting your heat cycle run its natural course every six months isn’t good for you. I would recommend that you try to make it every two months, or at the very maximum, every three months.”

“But what if I wait three months and then I have an important exam or assignment to do?”

“Simple, I will write a doctor’s note and have it verified by my son. Your faculty will have no choice but to move your exam until after your heat cycle has concluded. My advice to you would be if your heat cycle is approaching and you don’t have much scheduled, it would be best to let the heat cycle run its course then you can do the suppressants at times where they truly matter.” She explained.

“That sounds doable.” Cloud shrugged.

“And remember, if you have any questions, you can pop in here on Mondays and Wednesdays. Moving on, I apologise in advance as these questions will be more invasive. Have you recently engaged in sexual intercourse with an alpha?”

Cloud blushes, recalling the dream he had about Zack. But dreaming of having sex does not count in this case. “No, I haven’t.”

“Have you engaged in sexual intercourse with anyone in the last 12 months?”

“No, I have not.” Cloud repeats.

“Are you sexually active?”

“No, I-I’m a virgin.”

“There’s no shame in being a virgin, Cloud.” She chuckled.

“I know, it’s just I know a lot of people my age have already lost theirs, so it does make me feel uneasy a little.”

“Don’t feel obligated to lose your virginity because most people have, Cloud.”

“I just want my first time to be memorable and special. I don’t want to lose it in some drunken mishap.”

“I think that is very mindful of you. Don’t worry, I’m sure your time will come sooner than you think.” She smiled. “Now, have you recently experienced any form of flare-up?”

“Flare up? No, I haven’t experienced that recently.”

“I’m relieved. Flare-ups are becoming a rising issue in omegas nowadays.”

“Would you mean telling me more about them?”

“Certainly! So, a flare-up is where an omega goes into a state similar to heat but doesn’t fall completely into heat. Many people get it confused with going into heat since they bear a lot of similarities, but you are unlikely to fall pregnant in a flare-up than a heat cycle. It is normally caused by a large influx of alpha pheromones, particularly dominant alphas. It usually always renders the omega into submission, hence why we have medication like pheromone blockers to prevent such a catastrophe."

“In other words, it makes an omega go into heat but not at the same time?”

“That’s the best way to put it. It makes you self-lubricate at a similar level as you would in heat but again, you are less prone to becoming pregnant in this state than in heat. The best thing to do when this happens is to retreat to your home as soon as possible.”

“What if I encounter an alpha-”

“Who wants to take advantage of you? Your keys, your phone, a nearby plank of wood, defend yourself in any way you can. Don’t forget to scream, the last thing a predator wants is unwanted attention from bystanders.”

“Yeah, my mum gave me the same advice.”

“That’s because your mum is clever, Cloud.” She spoke. “Now, onto your medication. You mentioned taking heat suppressants. What about pheromone inhibitors?”

“You mean scent blockers?”

“That is the common name given, but yes. Do you take this medication?”

“Yeah, but only small doses. I’m not usually exposed to alphas a lot.”

“Well, I think you may need a bit more than a small dose. A good chunk of the students at Midgar University are alphas.”

“I know, that’s why my mum gave me the talk when I first moved into my accommodation.”

“The talk?” She asked.

“She showed up the different kinds of medication, what their purpose was and why I needed to take them.”

“Again, it shows your mum adores you and wants you to protect yourself. It may be hard to believe because things are becoming more progressive, omegas are still very much vulnerable to unsolicited advances from alphas and betas and without the proper protection, you could find yourself unwillingly mated with or worse, marked!”

Cloud’s skin crawled at the idea of an alpha marking him against his will. He has heard of horror stories about a lonely omega who had been forcibly claimed by an alpha, most of which involved domestic abuse. And in the past, omegas were not legally protected from this as authorities often viewed claimed omegas as an alpha’s possession.

“Trust me, Doctor, I’m fully aware of what dangers I am at risk for.” Cloud spoke. “I’m just glad I live in a generation where we’re given more protection.”

“Indeed, life for an omega back then was nothing short of a nightmare.” She nodded. “Alright, I’ll take a full body scan and we’ll be finished for today.”

Cloud nodded as he stood by the scanner, trying to almost imitate a statue as the laser scanned rapidly scrolling up and down his body. “Have you got much planned for today?”

“Not really, but tomorrow, the football team is kicking off their tryouts for the junior team.” Cloud excitedly said

“I’ll hazard a guess you’re a big fan of football then?” She laughed, amused at Cloud’s enthusiasm.

“Yeah, I played it a lot when I was younger. I just hope they’ll be accepting of me being an omega. People I’ve played with said that I could never be as good as an alpha player.”

“Some of the best football players out there aren’t alphas, Cloud.” She shook her head. “Besides, they only say that because they don’t want to be outplayed by an omega.”

“Oh, I outplayed them, alright!” He laughed. “And they would always say that I was cheating.”

“I’m not surprised, the last thing they’ll want to admit is they’re worse at a sport than an omega.” She shrugged. “Okay, the scan is all done! I’ll examine the results and go through it with you as soon as possible. In the meantime,” She handed him a business card. “Here’s my number and pop in hours. If you have any questions or concerns, give me a call or pop in between the hours listed.”

“Thank you, Dr. Valentine. It was nice meeting you.”

“Likewise, and I wish you luck in your tryouts. I’m sure you will do well!”

With a final wave, Cloud leaves the brown-haired doctor’s office.

“Great, now that we’ve got everything, let’s get to work!” Aerith exclaimed, tying an apron around her dainty waist.

Zack rolled his eyes, sighing. After he met with Aerith at the coffee shop for a coffee and a light breakfast, she then dragged him around a busy supermarket, filling the trolley with all sorts of household staples. Right when Zack thought he was done being put through what could only be described as an effort to stretch his psychological stability, Aerith then decided that he was going to carry all the bags. With no assistance from her in the slightest. When they made it all the way to her apartment, the moment Aerith handed him an apron too showed she was not done utilising him as her personal slave just yet.

“Unless you want to get flour and butter on your limited edition Gucci sweater, I would suggest you put this on.” Aerith snickered, giving Zack the side eye.

“You make me carry all your groceries all the way from the shop! Now, you want me to do more work?”

Aerith pointed to her front door. “Last time I checked, I’m not keeping you captive. There’s the door, you are welcome to leave. I’m more than happy to do all this by myself.” Zack opened his mouth, only to close it immediately after. “Well?”

“You know it’s hard for me to say no to you sometimes.” Zack crosses his arms.

“So, you’ll stay and help me?” Aerith pouts, looking at Zack with puppy eyes.

“Fine, but you owe me one.”

“Yay!” Aerith cheered.

“So, what are we doing with all this stuff?” Zack gestured to the abundance of ingredients that covered most of the counter space.

“We’re going to be making beef stew, bread rolls and chocolate chip cookies!”

“Fucking hell, Aerith! Who are you making a feast for?”

“You’ll find out later.” She winked. “Okay, let’s start with the stew since it will need time to cook slowly.”

“Okay, what do you need me to do?”

Aerith hands him a handful of white onions and a sharp chopping knife. “Can you dice these onions for me, please?”

“Sure!” Zack exclaimed, enthusiastically. Zack wasn’t exactly sure how one could dice onions. Most of the time, he and his family had an array of world-class chefs who prepared their food daily. So, he never felt it was necessary to prepare meals for himself when he had become so used to having at least one chef on standby to cook him whatever delicacy he wanted. But he was willing to give it a try.

“Zack, that’s not how you dice onions. That’s how you brutalise onions.” Even if it meant what he was doing was completely wrong. Aerith snatched the knife away from him. “First of all, you need to slice vertically with the root end up, so you have two equal halves. Then, you make parallel cuts vertically, but don’t cut through the root end.”

Zack watched with amazement as Aerith expertly demonstrated. “Rotate the onion and make horizontal cuts across the onion, again stopping by the root end. Then, very carefully, slice it vertically again. Once you’re done with that half, you repeat with the others.”

“Wow, I didn’t know a lot of work went into cutting one vegetable.”

“I’m not surprised, when was the last time you properly cooked for yourself?”

Zack turns away from Aerith as he tries to think. “I don’t know to be honest. The past year, I’ve been living off takeouts and ready meals.”

“Said every university student ever.” Aerith rolled her eyes. “And you never thought to ask me how you could make a decent meal?”

“Why would I when I can pay people to do it for me?”

“Dear Gaia.” Aerith shook her head in both disbelief and disappointment. “Let’s say your future wife hypothetically wanted breakfast in bed one morning. Is it going to seem more romantic and thoughtful being cooked by you or by someone you ordered to cook?”

“I mean it would still come from me if someone else cooked it?”

Aerith deeply sighed. “Never mind, forget I ever asked that question. Just keep dicing the onions the way I showed you.” She then adds a touch of oil to the deep cooking pot before adding chopped bacon into it. “Have you finished cutting up the onions yet?”

Zack nodded with teary eyes. “Yeah, but why do they make my eyes stain so much?”

“Because they are the saddest vegetables, they like to spread their sadness to whatever poor soul decides to cut them.” Aerith chuckled, taking the tray of diced onions from Zack.

“Very poetic, Aerith.” Zack sarcastically muttered, watching her replace the bacon in the pan with the onions. “What do you want me to do next?”

“Slice up these carrots, thank you.”

“You want me to dice them like the onions?”

“No!” She shouted, startling Zack. “Cut them diagonally into chunks.”

“Okay. No problem.” Zack hesitantly uttered, before doing as Aerith instructed. “What made you decide on beef stew then?”

“It’s a simple and hearty dish. Since we’re approaching the colder seasons, now would be the perfect time to have a dish like this.” After frying and removing the onions from the pot, she begins to sear off the fat-trimmed beef in batches, making sure to get a good sear on them. “Wait, have you ever had a stew before?”

Zack shook his head, shrugging. “Whenever one of our chefs would suggest it, Dad would fall an absolute tantrum. He would say that stews are peasant food, and they are too sophisticated for such a low-class food.”

Aerith’s mouth was on the floor in shock. “A lot of fancy bistros I know serve stew as an entrée. Sometimes, I swear your dad talks out of his ass.”

“I know that all too well.” Zack laughed, looking at Aerith pouring some red wine into the pot. “What, you want the people eating this to get drunk too?”

“No, red wine not only adds a ton of flavour, but it also tenderises the meat. Unfortunately, people in the working class can’t afford the best cuts of meat that are already tender.”

“Hey, you’re not exactly poor, Aerith. Did you forget where your mum works at?”

“Yes, Zack, I’m aware Mum works on the board of directors at Fairlight!”

Indeed, Aerith’s mum and Zack’s parents have worked closely together for years. After all, this was how the raven-haired athlete and the brunette flower girl met each other. Elmyra’s husband, Clay, had worked as an independent contractor alongside his father, Gabriel. Though he resented their relationship at first, Gabriel had come to adore Elmyra. She and Clay worked alongside each other and frequently assisted in projects facilitated by Shinra.

However, when Clay had to attend a business meeting with some Shinra executives, she was devastated to hear he was involved in a car crash on the way there, a crash that killed him instantly. Though she tried with every ounce of strength she had, running the business without Clay proved too harsh a task and retired the business.

And as luck would have it, Shinra came by to tell her that a up and coming company that they were working closely with required someone of her expertise and profound knowledge. She was then appointed to be one of the few directors at Fairlight, mainly in charge of Human Resources.

“Yeah, which means you can’t put yourself with the people in the working class since your mum makes a lot of money!”

“Not as much as yours do, though.” Aerith pointed out, handing him a bunch of Maris Piper potatoes and a plastic bag. “Now peel these potatoes and cut them into chunks, please!”

Zack laughs as he gets straight to work. He gleefully peels the potatoes, using the plastic bag to catch the stray peels from falling on the floor. “But I’m thankful for your mum coming to work for my parents. We wouldn’t have met otherwise.” He smiled.

“Yeah, I hate to admit it, but you’ve become a really good friend of mine. And I may not say it often but I’m happy to have a reliable companion like you in my life.” Aerith says softly while she returns the beef to the pot along with the beef stock and herbs. She was caught by surprise when she felt two strong arms wrap around her, pulling her into a tight hug.

“Aw, I knew behind that brick wall of sarcasm, you loved me!” Zack exclaimed, with a wide grin on his face. “I love you too, Aerith! Not romantically, but platonically.”

“Yeah, what did I say about us dating again?” Aerith asked, raising an eyebrow at Zack who looked away in response. “Yeah, we’re not doing that again. Now, pass me the potatoes you’ve chopped up.”

Zack hangs his head low while he gives Aerith the chopped potatoes, who added them to the pot. She covers the pot with the lid, before lowering the heat to a slight simmer.

“Great, now we leave it to simmer for two hours!” Aerith proudly exclaimed.

“Nice, so what do we do now?”

“Let’s start on the bread rolls now.”

“What? Are we not going to have a break or something?”

“No because we can have both the bread and cookies done by the time the stew finished simmering.” She hands him flour and a jug of water. “Now, let’s get to work, soldier!” Zack rolled his eyes, mentally preparing for the sheer amount of work Aerith was going to put him through.

Cloud looks towards the sun making its slow descent into slumber as he walks along the streets of the metropolitan city. The skies above are painted in a delicate amber colour as daylight was gradually reaching its conclusion for the day. Dozens of cars and buses drive along the roads as all the schoolchildren and workers retire for the day, preparing to do it all over again tomorrow. Looking back at today’s events, Cloud feels that he has had a productive day. The highlight, of course, being that he now knew that Zack, a close friend who he suddenly lost contact with, is a student at the same university as him. He thought of himself what he might look like now, since it has been a long time since they’ve seen each other.

Would he be muscular?

Would he be slender?

Would he be quiet and reserved?

Would he be charismatic and popular?

From what he could remember from the time he spent with Zack, he would certainly be tall as he always towered over Cloud in height. And he was always popular with other kids with his carefree and outgoing personality so it’s likely he’s popular here too. He could already see the flocks of students running beside him and craving his attention.

“Patience, Sunshine.” Cloud sported a heavy blush as he remembered the Zack he manifested in his dream. The Zack he envisioned was brawny, strong and to Cloud’s shock, well-endowed. What if this was what Zack looked like now? Cloud tries to shake the perverse thought out of his head. Until now, he never envisioned Zack as anything more than a friend or brotherly figure and he still scratches his head, trying to understand how such a dream came about in his sleep. However, another dark thought plagues Cloud’s mind.

Even if Zack was a student here, would he even remember him? It had been eight years since the two of them were separated. And eight years is quite a substantial amount of time. Cloud wouldn’t be surprised if in the short time he has been in Midgar, he may have walked past Zack once or twice and may not have noticed him. Thinking of that simple possibility depressed Cloud. Though, he simply hoped that wherever Zack was that he is living a good life, free from stress and anxiety.

Cloud is in such a level of deep thought, that he is snapped out of it by the sound of his stomach violently growling. He has been so busy today, that he had forgotten that he hasn’t eaten anything other than a couple of biscuits, courtesy of Sephiroth. He contemplates going to Jimmi’s again, but he has eaten out the past couple of days. If he is going to survive university without going into gruelling debt, he needs to cook for himself and not eat too much takeout. Before he could make his way to a convenience store, he felt his phone vibrate. He looked at his phone, seeing he has a new message from Tifa.

Tifa

Look behind you.

To her instruction, he does turn around. He almost throws his phone into the air, seeing Tifa close up to him with an ear-to-ear grin. He clutched his hand against his chest, breathing deeply.

“Surprise!”

“Damn it, Tifa! You scared me half to death!” Cloud exclaimed. “What are you even doing out this time, anyway?”

“Uh, it’s six in the evening, Cloud. Not the dead of midnight. And for your information, I could ask the same question to you.”

“I was out, needed some fresh air. Wanted to get in the sights of the city, get used to my surroundings.” He shrugged.

“And you didn’t call or come over to ask if I wanted to tag along?”

“I wasn’t sure if you were doing anything, and I didn’t want to disturb you, okay?”

Tifa opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Cloud’s stomach growling again.

“Shiva’s tits, Cloud, sounds like your stomach is crying out for help! Did you eat at all today?”

“Only a couple of biscuits.” He admitted, earning a stern glare from Tifa.

“We talked about this, Cloud!” Tifa shouted. “Just because you need to work on a budget, doesn’t mean you need to starve.”

“I was going to get myself something from here, anyways.” Cloud says as he points to the convenience store, they are standing in front of.

“Please don’t tell me you weren’t thinking of buying a single Cup Noodle and just eating that.”

“Um, well…”

Tifa sighed, before grabbing Cloud’s arm and pulling him into the store. “If you’re gonna have something like this, at least have it with some sort of meat. I’ll help you out.”

Together, they surfed through the compact shop. Tifa was behaving like a mother to Cloud, pulling him away from the sweets and cakes in the shop. After Tifa picked out a few things, she brings up the basket to the counter, where the cashier promptly takes payment from her. As Cloud opens his mouth in protest, Tifa interrupts him by holding out her hand in front of him.

“Before you say anything, you can transfer me half the money if it will make you feel better.”

Cloud nods in acceptance.

They soon find themselves outside of Cloud’s apartment. As soon as they are inside, Tifa makes a beeline to Cloud’s small kitchen.

“So, what have you been up to today?” Tifa asked, as she put on the kettle and heated a frying pan on the hob.

“A few things. I met with the President of Midgar University and-”

“Wait, wait, wait! Hold the fucking phone!” Tifa shouted, diverting her attention from the stove straight to Cloud. “You met the President of our university!?”

“Well shit, Tifa, it’s not like I met the Mayor of Midgar, for Gaia's sake.”

“Still! So, what sparked this meeting, if I may ask?”

“Tifa, I’m a Shinra Scholar and I was granted a meeting with him as a sort of reward?”

“Well, if I knew getting that scholarship would give me that kind of opportunity, I would’ve fought tooth and nail to get it!” Tifa exclaimed. “What did he look like? Is he handsome?” She chuckled.

“Very, but he’s not my type.”

“Is that so?” Tifa teased, cracking a couple of eggs into the scorching hot pan. “You think you could give me his number or anything?”

“Tifa, I don’t have his number.” Cloud bluntly stated. “And even if I did, him getting into a relationship with one of his students would erupt a massive scandal.”

“You make a fair point.” Tifa shrugged. “And Cloud?”

“Yeah?”

She pointed to his bedroom. “Your bed, it looks like a hot mess. Why isn’t it made up?”

“I, well, this is going to sound crazy.”

“I’ve known you since we were kids, Cloud. And in that time, you have told me a plethora of crazy things. What difference would one more make?”

“I had a dream about Zack last night.”

Tifa looked baffled. “Cloud, I have dreams about everyone. You, your mum, even that barista who served us the other day. It’s probably just your mind trying to comfort you or something.”

“No, Tifa, he was-” Cloud hid his face in his hands, as to prevent Tifa from seeing the growing blush on his cheeks. “It was a wet dream.”

“Oh. Oh!” Tifa gasped. “Are you saying in this dream, Zack-”

“Yeah, yeah, he fucked me. Knotted me. Bit my neck-”

“Okay, okay, okay! I get it.” Tifa exclaimed. “It’s just - I thought – I mean, Ifrit’s flaming dick. Cloud, I don’t know what to say to that.”

“I know, I’m trying to keep my head around it myself.”

“I know I’ve asked this before, but are you sure you don’t have any romantic feelings towards Zack?”

“I’ve never really thought about it, okay? I have always looked up to him and considered him a close friend, but I don’t recall having those kinds of feelings for him.”

“Could it be your body, or your mind is trying to tell you something?”

“Like what?”

“Maybe you did love Zack that way, but you never wanted to admit it?”

“N-N-No, I don’t-”

“Hey, I’m not trying to catch you out or anything. I wouldn’t think too much about it, sometimes we simply have wild dreams. There’s nothing gross, or repulsive about it.”

“I know, I just didn’t know what to make of it.”

“Well, if you find out later down the line that you don’t have feelings for him, we’ll strike that dream out as a fluke and that will be it. But if you do feel that way about him, then we’ll figure out what you want to do about it.”

Cloud nodded. “Thanks, Tifa.”

“No worries.” She smiled as she brought over two Cup Noodles, topped with grilled beef and a fried egg. “Now eat up, you’ve been starving all day!”

“Thought you said no Cup Noodle?”

“I meant to say, don't eat Cup Noodle on its own. Adding meat or an egg helps it to be a complete meal.” She smiled.

“Okay, I’ll remember that for next time.” Cloud laughed as he began to eat his noodles. “Speaking of Zack, I asked Sephiroth if he was a student here.”

“Okay, are you sure you didn’t fuck him or something?”

“No, Tifa!”

“Then why are you talking about him using his first name?”

“Okay, let me correct myself: I asked the PRESIDENT of our university if Zack was a student here.”

“And is he?”

“Yeah, he’s in his second year!”

“Great, now it’s just the case of finding him.”

“Yep, it’s not going to be easy.”

“But you know I love a challenge.” Tifa teased. “Who knows? Maybe you’ll naturally cross paths with him."

Cloud nodded in acknowledgement before returning to his noodles.

Chapter Text

“Couldn’t you have chosen a better time to do this other than now? Why couldn’t we do this during the daytime?” Zack complained.

Zack walked alongside Aerith, wearing a Christian Dior hooded jacket to combat the unnerving cold breeze. Aerith didn’t bother wearing anything designer for the night, opting for a simple coat from H&M. After spending the last few hours cooking and baking, he was about ready to head home when the flower girl made it clear she was not done with him yet.

Now, they are strolling the freezing streets of Midgar, with Zack holding an abundance of containers, each one containing a portion of the food they had made earlier. Aerith made it a habit to every now and then, cook a massive meal to give to a few homeless shelters and anyone else who slept on the streets. And tonight happened to fall into that now and then.

“Because it is around dinner time now, and I know they are going to be starving. Also, every time I’ve given them food during the day, stupid kids or heartless adults smack and kick the food out of their hands.”

“Wow, that’s disgusting.”

“Legit, I spend all that time making them food and these inconsiderate pieces of shit come by and take the food from them like it’s nothing.”

“Yeah, I can’t imagine working hard doing something like that and someone ruins it for no reason other than to be a dickhead.”

“One time, I saw someone snatch a meal I cooked from one homeless man and throw it against the wall. I was so mad I found a foldable chair and hit him around the head with it.”

Zack looked at Aerith, shocked. “You didn’t!”

“I did. He said he was going to get the surveillance footage and sue me. I told him the footage would show him throwing the food I gave the homeless man against the wall. He was embarrassed and said he wouldn’t say anything.”

“And was that it?”

“No, I made him go into a hot dog stand and buy the homeless man a hot dog since he tossed my home-cooked meal.”

“Damn, and here I thought you were a polite, well-mannered flower girl.” Zack snickered.

“I am, but I can also be a badass when needed.” Aerith laughed.

They head into the homeless shelter, where Aerith was greeted by a familiar face.

“Aerith!”

“Evening, Moira. How is everyone?”

“They’re doing okay.” Moira smiled, casting her eyes towards Zack. “And who might this be? Your boyfriend?”

“Oh, no. He’s just a friend, Moira. This is Zack. Zack, this is Moira, she is one of the people in charge of taking care of the homeless here.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Moira.” He nodded.

“And you. I see you’ve come with another delivery, Aerith?”

“I sure did. Zack?” He then handed Moira a stack of containers.

“Thank you. Some of them were constantly asking when you were going to make a return and bring them another one of your delicious meals.” Moira laughed.

“Well, here I am. Hopefully, I won’t take too long to bring them another meal.”

“Please don’t force yourself to do it. We appreciate that you are able to spare a small fraction of time to help us out.”

“Don’t mention it. It’s my pleasure.”

With that, Aerith and Zack wave Moira goodbye. They take to the streets once more, handing out warm meals to any homeless person they stumbled across. Eventually, they come across someone Aerith has encountered in the past.

“Hi there, Mitch.” Aerith greeted the man, who looked up to her with a cheerful smile.

“Aerith! It’s so nice to see you.”

“This is the guy that had his food thrown against the wall.” She directs to Zack, then looks back to Mitch. “I trust you haven’t been bothered by any passersby?”

“Thankfully not, the folk recently pretend I don’t exist. It’s better than getting spit on or having stuff thrown at me.” Mitch shrugged.

“Well,” She took the last container from Zack and gave it to Mitch. “Here’s a nice meal to warm you up. If someone comes around and takes it from you or stomps on it, you let me know so I can hit him over the head with a chair.”

“Darling, there is no need to put yourself in danger like that.”

“I’m much stronger than I look, Mitch. You don’t need to worry about me.” She laughed. “Enjoy your evening, Mitch. I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah, thank you for the meal, darling.”

“Need me to walk you home?” Zack asked.

“Um, no, I’m good.”

“But what-”

“If someone tries to make advances towards me, I’ll hit them with a chair.” Aerith shrugged. “I’ll see you soon.” She waves at him as she walks away.

“Okay, text me when you get home!”

“Will do!”

Zack made his way to his apartment, wanting nothing more than to get into his warm, comfy bed and venture off into dreamland. Soon as he entered his apartment, he threw his backpack in the corner of the bedroom and stripped down to only his boxers. He deeply yawned as he slid into bed, his eyelids dropping before the world faded into black.

When Zack opened his eyes, he was surprised to see that he bizarrely wasn’t in his bedroom. Instead, he was sitting in the middle of the woods, his back pressed against a tree. He could hear the grating noise of crickets near him, and the murky smell of the woods around him sneak into his nose.

Unsurprisingly, he felt at peace. He is surprised, however, when he felt something or someone lightweight rest on his lap. Their slender fingers run up Zack’s broad chest before stopping at his neck, softly caressing it. Their breathing was soft and steady, but Zack could feel every breath land subtly on his neck. Their waist was petite, with Zack wrapping his hands around it and he was astounded to see that his hands could touch.

Here, Zack wondered if he had died in his sleep and ascended into heaven. There was no other possible reason that could explain how he was blessed with an angel straddling his lap. He looked down to see both he and the angel were naked, with not a single piece of clothing visible in his sight.

“H-help, alpha.” The strange being whimpered desperately. Zack froze at that moment. That voice. He knew who that voice belonged to. To his surprise, the strange being revealed his face, confirming Zack’s suspicions.

The deep blue eyes. The spiky blond hair.

Cloud.

His sunshine.

“Sunshine,” Zack husked, moving his hands down Cloud’s waist, landing on his plump ass. “I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too – my alpha.” He whispered, caressing Zack’s face with his soft hands. Zack didn’t notice he was crying until he felt Cloud wiping his tears away. “Why are you crying? A-Am I not good enough?” The omega asked, his voice shaking, tears filling his eyes.

“No!” Zack exclaimed, bringing up his hands to lay on Cloud’s to soothe the crying omega. “I’m not crying because I’m upset. I-I always dreamed you would come back to me.”

Never has a day passed since their abrupt separation, where Cloud did not plague Zack’s mind. But with each day that passed, Zack’s hope would gradually swindle. At that point, he knew he should give up. That he needed to let go of this blind optimism that had been haunting him for years.

But he could see with his own eyes that the hope he had wasn’t in vain. That every prayer he made to the Gods above hadn’t fallen on deaf ears. Cloud was here, in front of him. In his arms.

“You’re here, you’re really here.” He whimpered, resting his head on Cloud’s chest. Cloud rubbed his delicate hands along his strong back, trying to calm down the wailing alpha before him. “Where have you been all this time, Spike?”

Cloud giggled at Zack using that nickname. This was a nickname only Zack could call him without repercussions. When other people tried to use it, Cloud would shoot them a disapproving glare. Zack would do the same, spitting that it was a nickname only he had the privilege of using.

“I can’t really say, but it doesn’t matter. We’re here now, only you and me.” Cloud smiled. Zack returns the smile, moving away from the blond’s chest to observe the omega.

Though some chubbiness on his cheeks remained, his face had become slimmer than it was during his early years on the planet. His skin remained pale as he remembered, but as the moon bore its shining light onto the woods, it made Cloud’s skin look more vibrant and enticing.

Zack licked his lips, eager to leave the porcelain skin marred with various marks. His eyes looked up to see the blond’s eyes. They held a charming glimmer of purity and innocence as they shined down at the captivated alpha.

“A-Alpha, I-I’m burning up. Help…” The whimpering omega begged. It then struck Zack like lightning. Cloud was in heat, and urgently needed his help.

“What is it you need, Spike?” Zack teased, gaining a slap on his shoulder. “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what you need, Sunshine.”

“N-Need you,” Cloud begged.

“Need me for what, Sunshine?”

“Need your cock, your knot, everything! Please!” Cloud screamed, moaning as he felt Zack’s mouth close in on his neck, gently biting him.

Though Zack has had the pleasure of enjoying the company of many women, he had not once bedded a male before, much less an omega at that. That didn’t mean he did not know what to do, however. He has been through enough classes of sex ed to know how to adequately prepare a male for sex. The problem was, he’s never had to put that knowledge into practice. Much less to his distant childhood friend.

Nonetheless, he would need to use what he has learned in the past to help the whimpering omega desperately yearning for him. He slowly guided his fingers to the omega’s entrance, only for it to be slapped away.

“Sorry, Cloud, do you not want that?” Zack asked, worried. That worry soon went out the door when Cloud ferociously shook his head, grabbing Zack’s hardened cock and positioning it at his entrance.

“Want this.” Cloud was about to sit down on his cock before Zack quickly pulled him off. This prompted Cloud to wail, bawling his fists and rapidly hitting Zack on his chest.

“No, no, I can’t do that, Cloud. Not yet.”

“Why not?” Cloud wailed, bringing his balled-up fist to his cheek and fiercely rubbing away his tears.

Zack did his best to suppress the impending laugh. When has Cloud ever been this cute?

“I can’t just plug it in, Cloud. It will hurt you.” Zack whispered, trying to soothe the sobbing omega. “If I prepare you with my fingers, it will make you more ready.”

“Okay.” Cloud sniffled, nodding. “I trust you, my alpha.”

Zack smiled, before whispering into the omega’s ear. “Don’t worry, baby. I’m gonna make you feel so good, you’ll be seeing stars.”

He slowly slid his hand down Cloud’s body, before stopping at the omega’s entrance. Gaia, Cloud’s entrance was soaking. Zack rubbed a finger against the entrance before pushing it in. Cloud let out a loud moan, causing Zack’s cock to harden even more.

“Please, Alpha, m-more,” Cloud begged, bouncing on the alpha’s finger. Zack was more than happy to comply, pushing two fingers into Cloud’s entrance.

“How are you feeling, Spike?”

“Good, so good.” Cloud breathed, his hips eagerly bouncing against the alpha’s.

“Yeah, you want more?” The alpha teased, with Cloud responding with an eager nod. Not wanting to keep the omega waiting, Zack pushed in three fingers into the drenched entrance, scissoring them viciously. Zack looked up to see the blond omega’s eyes were tightly shut, mouth wide open letting out numerous aching moans.

Just the sight of Cloud this way was enough to drive Zack close to a feral state. He prayed to the Gods above that no other person, man or woman, has had the privilege of witnessing Cloud in such a euphoric state. He looked down to see the omega’s weeping cock, gushing out pre-come non-stop. Cloud slowly opened his eyes to look down at the handsome alpha, being met with a teasing grin.

“P-Please, Alpha, I can’t t-take it anymore.” Cloud moaned, feeling himself melt every time the alpha’s fingers pressed against his prostate.

“You think I’m ready for my cock now, Sunshine?” Zack whispered, the omega eagerly nodding in response.  

Zack removed his fingers from Cloud’s entrance, with the needy omega whining at the feeling of emptiness. He saw the alpha flash his fingers soaked in his slick, before trailing each finger with his tongue. Cloud heavily blushed at the sight of Zack lapping up his slick.

Zack felt Cloud impatiently caress his thick cock, angling it towards his entrance. Only to be stopped by the alpha once again.

“Why won’t you fuck me already?” Cloud whined.

“Baby, I don’t have any protection.”

“And?” Cloud asked, tilting his head as to show his confusion.

“I don’t want to do this without a condom, Sunshine,” Zack said softly.

Cloud’s bottom lip starts to quiver before his lips form a pout. “But I want your pups, Zack.”

For a brief moment, Zack’s brain short-circuited. His patience was already holding on by a thin thread, and it was really close to snapping.

“Y-You what, Cloud?” Zack asked in disbelief.

Cloud lightly nodded, putting a hand over his stomach. “I want you to fill me up with your come, Zack. I want you to knock me up, to carry your pups.”

Those sinful words were enough to cut that last thread of Zack’s patience. He was done suppressing his urges. Done deluding himself into thinking he didn’t want to take the omega on top of him and make him his.

Zack’s hands reach behind Cloud’s plump ass, seeking out his entrance. He found the omega’s entrance in no time and ran his hand against it, gathering up enough slick to cover his cock. Once Zack’s cock was thoroughly coated in the omega’s slick, he angled Cloud, resting his entrance on top of his cock.

“Last chance, Sunshine. You can still run away from here, from me. There’s no turning back if we continue here.”

Cloud shook his head, smiling blissfully at the alpha. “I’m all yours, Alpha. P-please take me.”

Zack smiled, pressing his lips against the blond’s. Cloud’s lips were much softer than Zack had anticipated. And when the blond pulled away to catch his breath, Zack used this opportunity to deepen the kiss.

The alpha slowly began to make Cloud descend onto his cock, feeling the tight entrance resist a little before succumbing to his cock’s persistence. Cloud gasped, unable to breathe properly as he was lowered more and more upon the alpha’s cock.

“Z-Zack, it’s going in so d-deep.” Cloud moaned.

Zack rubbed circles on Cloud’s back while nestling against his neck. “It’s okay, Sunshine. You’re doing so well.”

Cloud relished on the alpha’s soothing words as he is lowered even more onto Zack’s cock. Soon, Cloud was fully seated on Zack’s thick endowment, feeling the alpha’s coarse pubic hair brush against his rear.

“Y-You’re so big, Zack.” Cloud tearfully whimpered, running a hand over the lower half of his stomach to feel the alpha’s humongous cock slightly bulging through. “It’s really deep.”

“Yeah. Fuck, you take my cock so well, Sunshine.” Zack moaned, resting his head on Cloud’s shoulder.

As badly as he wanted to grab the blond’s hips and move him up and down his cock, he knew he had to give the aching omega time to adjust. The alpha peppered butterfly kisses along Cloud’s neck down to his collarbone in an effort to appease the desperate omega.

“We have all the time in the world, my beautiful Sunshine. There’s no need to rush it.”

“Sorry, y-you’re the only person I’ve done something like this with.” The blond admitted, heat rapidly rushing to his cheeks.

“W-What?” Zack asked, wanting the omega to repeat so he knew for sure he heard what Cloud had said.

“I-I don’t trust anyone else the way I trust you.” The omega shyly whimpered. “There’s no one else I would want to give my first time to, apart from you.”

He felt the alpha’s cock go rock hard at this. Cloud looked down to see the alpha wearing an almost ear-to-ear grin. Zack’s heart was close to pounding out of his chest. Not only Cloud had been a virgin all along, but he was also saving himself for Zack. Good.

“I’m flattered, Sunshine.” Zack seductively whispered into the omega’s ear. “But you should know that I’m not only going to be the first, but I’ll also be the last and only person to see you this way.”

Cloud feverishly nodded. “I don’t want anyone else.” The omega whimpered, before lifting his hips and coming down on Zack’s cock.

Zack clenched his teeth, feeling the omega moving his hips up and down his cock, setting a reasonable pace. Cloud could not stop himself from increasing the speed of his hips moving. Now that he has had a taste of the ecstasy the alpha’s thick cock was giving him, he was desperately seeking more of it.

In turn, Zack was finding the sight before him hard to comprehend. The Cloud he spent a good part of his childhood with was reserved, composed and quiet. He never expected in a million years that the same blond would be ruthlessly bouncing on his cock, like he needed his cock to live. The alpha couldn’t resist it anymore. The omega’s heaving moans, and his intoxicating hip movements had driven him close to the point of insanity.

He grabbed the omega’s hips, lifting Cloud up so only the cockhead remained inside before slamming him back down. Cloud gasped as he felt Zack moving his hips to join his. His eyes widened at the brute force of Zack’s thrusts.

“A-Alpha” The blond whimpered, his chest heaving.

“Yes, my gorgeous omega?” Zack teased, his tongue slithering on one of Cloud’s sensitive nipples before taking it in his mouth.

“O-Oh,” Cloud moaned, wrapping his arms around Zack’s head. “I-It feels so good, please don’t stop!”

“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it, Sunshine.” The alpha moaned before turning his attention to Cloud’s other bud. The blond runs his hands through Zack’s jet-black hair, arching his back.

“Tell me, Cloud, are you going to kiss another alpha?” Zack asked, harshly slamming the blond onto his cock.

“N-No, never.” Cloud whimpered.

“Are you going to fuck another alpha?” The alpha asked, slamming Cloud down with every word he spoke.

“No!” The blond yelled when the alpha’s cock went particularly deep, the head punching his sensitive prostate.

“Who do you belong to?” He grits his teeth, feeling the omega’s hole tightly clenching his cock.

“Y-You!”

“Say my name, Cloud. Let the world who you belong to.” Zack roughly whispered into the blond’s ear.

“Zack! Oh Gaia, Zack!” Cloud loudly screamed.

Zack held Cloud close to him as he ruthlessly thrust up into Cloud’s entrance, making the omega squeal in pleasure. The euphoric moans and loud squelches echoed through the woods as the pair desperately chased their release.

“Z-Zack, I’m going to-” Cloud moaned, biting his lip.

“You getting close, Sunshine?” The alpha breathed into Cloud’s ear, with the omega feverishly nodding. “Don’t hold it back, gorgeous.”

Cloud shook his head, pouting. “I want my alpha to come too.”

“You dare to defy your alpha, Sunshine?” Zack warned, his eyes darkening and glaring into the blond’s eyes.  The omega was visibly startled by Zack’s tone, almost halting movement. Cloud looked back at the alpha, suddenly feeling small. Like he had gravely disappointed his alpha.

“I-I’m sorry.” Cloud whimpered, quietly sobbing.

“Don’t cry, my love.” Zack softly whispered, trying to soothe the crying omegas as he wiped away the omega’s tears with his thumb. “Alpha’s not disappointed in you.”

“I-I don’t want to be the only one feeling good, alpha. I want you to feel good too.”

“And you are, angel.” The alpha murmured into Cloud’s ear. “The way you pull me close when you’re feeling good, the way your hole clenches around my cock when I thrust in so deep. Gaia, I can’t get enough of you.”

“R-Really?” Cloud asked, a bright smile full of joy and adoration spread across his face.

“Really.” Zack affirmed before placing his hands on the blond’s hips. He gently lifted the omega before slamming him down, causing Cloud to let out an ear-piercing moan. Zack did not wait before he started to move the blond into his cock, setting a rapid pace.

Cloud looked down to see his own cock weeping, on the dangerous edge of eruption. “A-Alpha, please. I-I-I can’t-”

“What did I say? Let it happen, Sunshine.” The alpha groaned. It took one more thrust that hit the omega’s prostate to send him into an unfathomable feeling of delight, shooting thick ropes of come. It mostly landed on his stomach and chest, with a slither of it landing on the alpha’s cheek.

“Damn, Sunshine, you must’ve been really pent up, haven’t you?” Zack grinned. The omega made an unexpected gasp as Zack continued to ferociously rut into his tight entrance. Cloud cried at the overstimulation, tightly gripping the alpha’s shoulders.

“T-Too much.” Cloud barely whimpered, the never-ending thrusts making him lose any ability to form a coherent sentence. Zack grinned before pressing his forehead against the omega’s, pecking the omega’s rosy lips.

“You wanted to make me feel good too, didn’t you?” Zack questioned, licking the omega’s tears away. “Tell me what you need, baby.”

“K-Knot, I need your knot, Alpha. Please!” Cloud begged, no longer caring about the overstimulation. The only thing he was fixated on doing was satisfying the handsome alpha.

Zack grits his teeth, feeling his knot start to balloon at the base of his cock. “I’m getting close, Sunshine. You ready for my knot?”

“Yes, yes, please!”

“Oh, fuck!” Zack’s jaw clenched, as his orgasm sent electric sparks through him. His bulbous knot fully expanded, firing long ribbons of semen into the omega’s awaiting entrance. Cloud cried at how his hole was being painfully stretched, the alpha peppering small kisses along his neck and whispering delicate apologies for the immense pain.

Soon enough, the knot ceased to grow any further, locking the two into a tight embrace for an uncertain amount of time. The pair’s heaving and rapid breaths often slow to a mellow pace. Zack rests his strong hands on the omega’s dainty waist while Cloud’s arms were wrapped around the raven-haired’s neck.

“How are you feeling, Sunshine?” Zack asked, looking up at the ethereal omega above him.

“Full, really full.” Cloud whimpered, pressing a hand against his stomach that was quickly ballooning with Zack’s constant release of semen filling the blond’s womb.

“Sorry, we’ll be stuck like this for quite a while.” Zack chucked, already feeling himself about to come again. “Are you happy that you spent your first time with me, Sunshine?”

“Yeah, thank you so much, my alpha.” Cloud beamed, Zack’s heart skipping a beat at the enchanting smile painted on his omega’s face.

Zack hoped, pleaded, and prayed that if he were to die in this moment, the blond’s smile would be the last thing he saw. He was enthralled at what had become of Cloud.

His flaccid cock laid flat, with his stomach and chest painted with the pearly streaks of his release. Zack bit his lip, incredibly tempted to lick the blond clean of the streaks. Bruises began to form on the blond’s hips in the shape of handprints, showing Zack’s rough demeanour. Lastly, the blond’s usually porcelain skin grew a rosy shade across his face, neck and chest.

“Shiva’s tits, you’re so beautiful,” Zack whispered, holding the blond close as he felt himself rush into another orgasm, shooting more ropes of cum into Cloud’s eager hole.

“How many times are you going to come?” Cloud asked, surprised. He was already full of Zack’s seed, but the alpha seemed determined to give him all he had to give.

“You wanted me to knock you up, didn’t you?” Zack asked, grinning at the blond who had a firm pout stamped on his face. “You wanted me to give you lots of pups? I’m giving you more than enough baby batter, so your body has no choice but to bear my children, Sunshine.”

“A-Are you going to bite me, Alpha?”

“You want that, beautiful? Want me to sink my teeth into your neck so you’re only bound to me?”

The omega nodded. “I only want you, no other alpha.”

Zack’s eyes darkened as he stared at Cloud’s neck. The blond omega’s words awoke something in Zack he never knew he had.

Possessiveness.

He so badly wanted to paint a deep mark onto the blond’s neck, so no matter who may cast their lustful eyes at Cloud. Man or woman. Alpha, beta or omega. Dominant or recessive. None of it mattered. They would see, they would smell, they would tell the blond is off limits. And the alpha would undoubtedly lash out at anyone who dared to test the bond between the pair.

Zack licked his sharp canines, positioning his mouth against the side of Cloud’s neck. “Last chance, Sunshine. Once I do this, you’re mine now and forever.”

“You think that’s a bad thing?” Cloud joked with a slight giggle.

“I mean it, Cloud,” Zack warned. “You’ll be bound to me, and no one else can have you.”

“I know.” The omega nodded. “I want you, Zack. I’d rather be alone the rest of my life than settle down with another person.”

“But what if you fall out of love with me? What if I can no longer make you happy?”

“There is no universe, reality or world where those things could be true, my love.” Cloud smiled. “I may as well be dead if I live in a timeline that I can’t love you.”

Zack felt his heart leapt out of his chest upon hearing Cloud’s endearing words. The alpha couldn’t stop the tears that built up in his eyes from falling. “You really mean that, Sunshine?” Zack questioned, slightly sniffling.

“Every word, my Alpha. I have spent far too long away from your touch, your embrace, your heart. I don’t want to waste another minute of my life being away from you. Please mark me, claim me as your own so that our souls, minds and beings are intertwined until time ceases to exist.”

Zack didn’t need to hear anything further from the omega awaiting his claim. It was now or never, and the alpha knew deep in his heart he never wanted to be separated from his omega ever again. Yes, HIS omega. Wasting no time, Zack’s teeth sunk into Cloud’s neck. The omega moaned as he felt the pressure of the alpha’s teeth puncturing his neck, creating an imprint – a mark that would remain there until the day he died.

Zack released his mouth from Cloud’s neck, licking the blood seeping from the fresh wound. A brief number of minutes had passed, and the wound was no longer bleeding. He looked up to the glowing omega smiling down on him.

“Looks like you’re all mine now, Cloudy.” Zack lowly muttered.

Cloud lazily smiled. “I’m all yours, my alpha.”

The sun began to make its gradual ascend over the bustling city of Midgar. Zack slowly began to open his eyes. Well, more like forced to as the sunlight pierced through his bedroom’s window, shining directly in his face. He rubbed his eyes, and slowly sat up stretching. Something felt odd, however. He felt an intense warmth around his groin. Pulling up his covers, he was greeted with a bizarre scene.

“What in the actual fuck?”

Every inch of his boxers was completely drenched, some of the fluid piercing onto the duvet cover. He was unquestionably rock hard, his cock still relentlessly twitching against his underwear. Zack was puzzled, to say the least. Millions of questions rushed through his brain, all at once.

Did he just have a wet dream?

A wet dream about his childhood friend, Cloud?

A wet dream so intense, so enthralling that he caused him to severely cream his underwear?

He ran his hand through his hair, unable to make sense of this. It was true that he had been missing Cloud more than he usually did. But maybe he didn’t know just how much he was missing the blond?

The wetness around Zack’s crotch was beginning to irritate the alpha beyond belief. Grunting in frustration, he took off his soiled boxers, leaving himself bare in the middle of his bedroom. This wasn’t a new occurrence in Zack’s apartment. There have been at least a dozen times where he has paraded in his apartment nude. He looked down to see his cock was still rock hard and madly throbbing. Fantastic. Not only did he have the wildest dream he has ever had about Cloud, but he also had an intense case of morning wood.

“You’re not gonna go down, are you?” Zack jokily spoke to his erection, as if it had its own conscience. Sometimes, that question would pop up in Zack’s head. To no one’s surprise and Zack’s horror, the erection showed no sign of softening. Zack sighed, taking his firm erection onto his hand. Rarely, does he start his day with a jerk-off session. He’s more accustomed to having a morning session with the gorgeous woman he had the pleasure of fucking the previous night. Alas, his right hand would have to suffice for this morning.

He groaned, as he slowly began to jerk his aching erection. He began to picture beautiful women he’s seen on campus, on television, and in movies. Hot voluptuous women with petite waists and pretty lips.

“Alpha…”

Zack clenched in shock as he began to envision the omega in his dream. Cloud. His hand movements started to gain speed as he pictured Cloud on his knees in front of his aching cock. He imagined how Cloud would fail at trying to wrap his hand around his cock, needing to use both hands to cover the sheer girth.

“F-Fuck,” Zack groaned, his strokes now frequent and merciless. His filthy imagination pictured Cloud running his delicate tongue over the alpha’s cockhead, lapping up the precum that leaked. He could see the angelic being trying hard to take his thick cock inside his warm mouth.

“Oh Gaia, I’m so close.” Zack breathed heavily. His chest was badly heaving as he sought after his much-needed climax. In time with his strokes, he imagined Cloud’s mouth tightly wrapped around his cock, bobbing up and down his happy erection. He felt his balls tighten, signalling his impending release.

“Alpha, I want you to come down my throat.”

“Fuck!” He shouted, before positioning his boxers on his cockhead. He cursed as ropes of thick semen shot from his cock, drenching his underwear even more. He sighed in relief and thanked the Gods above that his cock was finally starting to soften after that orgasm.

It was only after the euphoric sparks that Zack experienced from the orgasm, that the post-nut clarity kicked in. He did not jerk off to a woman, a hot busty and curvy woman. He jerked off to Cloud, a man, someone he hadn’t seen in years. He didn’t know whether to feel ashamed or confused. It didn’t help that when he looked down at his releasing onto his boxers he envisioned covering Cloud’s face with his seed. It didn’t help that he imagined Cloud looking up to him with a wide grin on his face while covered in the alpha’s seed.

What was happening to him?

“I really need to get laid.” Zack groaned, before heading off to his bathroom to have a shower.

Chapter Text

Cloud’s eyes gradually opened, awakening from his slumber. It had been a while since the blond had had a fairly decent sleep. After he had dinner with Tifa, she stayed behind to help Cloud change his sheets. Being the resourceful person that she was, Claudia knew that her son would need more than one set of sheets to get by the hustle and bustle of university life. 

He made a mental note to himself that he would need to make a trip to the laundromat at some point in the week. The omega sighed to himself at the sight of the sheets almost filling up his laundry basket already. He told himself that to save money, he would visit the laundromat when and ONLY when the basket was full. And upon inspection of said basket, made it apparent to the blond that the laundromat trip would be much sooner than he thought. 

But Cloud had other things to prioritise today. He was going to go to the university’s state-of-the-art sports centre for the tryouts for the junior football team were to commence this morning. And the young blond was more than determined to be a part of the team. Football was something Cloud has been fond of. It has been a stress reliever for him. A place for him to let go and forget about the seriousness of life. His finger taps on his phone, with the display illuminating with a new message notification. Cloud unplugs his phone to look.

Mum ❤️

Good morning, my son. The best of luck during the football tryouts! I already know you’re going to make it into the team, but a little extra luck never hurt anyone. Let me know how it goes. Love you lots xxx

A million emotions run through Cloud’s mind as he reads his mother’s endearing message. He is beyond happy that his mum not only remembers that the tryouts were today, but she wished for it to go well for him. But it also made him feel sad. It has now sunk in that only a few days had passed since he moved into his new apartment, and he was already missing his mum. 

Whenever he had a football game he wanted to watch, his mum would put it on the television for him, regardless of how intrigued she was about a drama she was watching. When he played for his high school team, his mum was always there in the bleachers supporting him. The blond was beyond grateful that he had a mother who had put him above anyone else. When it came to Cloud, there was nothing Claudia wouldn’t do to protect her son or give him a better life. 

Jumping out of bed, he made a beeline straight to his bathroom. After taking a shower, he dug through his drawers for his football kit. Before she left, Tifa decided to help the omega put away all his clothes from his boxes into the drawers that were already built and organised in his bedroom, courtesy of the university. She saw it as a way to thank Cloud for helping her build her wooden chair a few days prior. After sifting through the neatly folded clothes for several minutes, he found what he was searching for. 

It was a royal blue football shirt with a matching pair of shorts. This was something his mum got for him as a reward for getting into Midgar University. After getting dressed, the blond moved to the kitchen counter where he put on the kettle, wanting to make himself a cup of coffee. He was not going to make the same mistake he did yesterday and leave his home without eating something. 

Looking through his fridge, he was not surprised to find there was barely anything in there. He hadn’t paid any shop or market a proper visit since he arrived to have enough food to fill out the small fridge he had. His eyes zero in on a small container, grabbing it for further inspection. He finds that it was a microwave sausage and cheese omelette, with a small, pink note on it.

I didn’t want you to go hungry like you did yesterday, and we can’t have it on an important day like this. It’s not the most healthy or nutritious breakfast out there, but at least you won’t starve.

- Tifa x

The blond let out a light chuckle, popping the container with a fork several times before putting it in the microwave. Of course, Tifa would do something like this. She has always looked out for him, and this time was no different. He took the omelette out of the microwave and grabbed his cup of coffee, before sitting at the coffee table. 

The omelette was incredibly salty, almost to the point of unbearable. Then again, most microwave meals tend to be like that. It also felt a tad rubbery, like it had been cooked a million times. Still, it was better than nothing. Especially since if tryouts are going to be anything like what he endured in high school, he will need the energy boost. 

After finishing his breakfast, he placed the empty mug in the sink and the empty dish in the bin. He poured himself a glass of water before finding his pheromone blockers in the bathroom. The omega quickly put the pill in his mouth and washed it down with a glass of water. While he was grateful to Tifa for saving him from starvation, the blond did not want to be like many university students who lived off instant meals. His mum did not drag him into the kitchen to practice his cooking skills and compiled a bunch of easy recipes for him to use, only for him to use none of them. 

Cloud threw on a black hoodie over himself. He knew that the mornings were getting colder, and while his bare legs would be at the mercy of the chilling air, he could at least save his arms from suffering. Grabbing his backpack and throwing it over his shoulder, he checked everything was turned off before leaving. As he came out of his apartment building, he was greeted by Tifa wearing a bright smile on her face. 

“Good morning, my star player,” Tifa exclaimed, bringing the blond into a tight hug. “Are you ready for today?”

“As much as I can be.” Cloud shrugged, rubbing his arm. He was equal parts excited and nervous. Football was a popular sport around Midgar. Everyone loved to watch it, many young people loved to play it. He was sure that there would be a high turnout at the tryouts. 

“Come on, Cloud. I can tell you’re nervous.” Tifa spoke as they began the journey to the sports centre. “You’re going to make it into the team, I know it.”

“You don’t know that, Tifa. There’s probably going to be a ton of guys there wanting to make the team.”

“Well, what I do know is that you’re a damn good player. I also know that the more you keep doubting yourself, the more it’s going to stop you from performing your best. You’re going to do great, and if you need some encouragement, I’ll be by the bleachers cheering you on.”

Cloud gently smiled, nodding. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ve got this.”

Cloud and Tifa were surprised to see the sports centre when they arrived there. It was less the size of a centre and more the size of a village. They knew they shouldn’t be surprised by this. The prestigious status of Midgar University has granted them many donations and sponsors from various companies, allowing them to provide facilities that were unmatched by competing universities. After all, they wanted to provide the best facilities for the best students. 

They looked at the directions board, seeing that each sport had its own dedicated space. Football, archery and tennis, just to name a few. They followed the directions to the football space. Once they arrived, they stood in awe at the size of the place. The football space was almost the size of a small stadium. Naturally, the university would want their athletes to train in a similar environment, but this was astounding. 

“Looks like we’re not the first ones here,” Tifa whispered, pointing at two people happily chatting. One of them was of a similar height to Cloud, albeit a little shorter. He was also blond like Cloud, but his hair was more on the curly side than spiky. He was dressed similarly to him as well, in a football kit but in black. 

The other was towering over the blond, to put it lightly. He was tall – really tall, around 6 foot 4 and had long, jet-black hair. He wore a bomber jacket with a white t-shirt that clung tightly to his body. The chatty pair stopped their conversation and turned around, seeing Cloud and Tifa. 

“Hey there, you here for the football tryouts too?” The blond in the black kit happily asked.

Cloud nodded. “Yeah, I’m guessing you’re here for the tryouts too?”

“You bet!” The smiling blond exclaimed. “Sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Prompto, and I’m in my first year here.” He greeted, holding his hand out.

Cloud took Prompto’s hand, engaging in a friendly handshake. “I’m Cloud, and I’m also in my first year.” 

“And this…” Prompto said, wrapping his arms around the tall, broad’s man arm. “Is my boyfriend, Gladiolus but you can call him Gladio.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Gladio. Are you here for the football tryouts too?”

“Nah, I’m already on the rugby team. I’m just here to support my gorgeous boyfriend.” Gladio said, placing a tender kiss on Prompto’s cheek. He then turned to Tifa. “And you are?”

“I’m Tifa, also in my first year. So, Gladio, are you in your second year or something?”

“Yeah, I started studying here last year,” Gladio affirmed. “You guys from around here?”

“No, we come from Nibelheim, it’s a small town around the countryside,” Cloud said.

“Nice, we come from Insomnia. It’s a massive city, kinda like Midgar.” Prompto smiled.

“Wait, so if Insomnia is as massive as Midgar, how come you guys didn’t want to go to their university?” Tifa asked. 

“Well, I’ve been in Insomnia since the day I was born. It kinda got stale staying there after a while, hence why I decided to study here.” Gladio shrugged.

“And I couldn’t stand being away from my handsome boyfriend for longer than a year.” Prompto giggled. “Plus, I liked how the place looked when I visited him so here I am.”

Tifa giggled at their displays of affection. “You two been dating for long then?”

“It will be our second anniversary in a few months.” Prompto beamed. “I was really scared when he first moved here. Whenever we are out, I would hear girl after girl catcalling him and trying to chat him up.”

“Babe, you know I only have eyes for you, right?” Gladio smirked, causing heat to spread across Prompto’s cheeks. “Those other people can look at me, but you’re the only one who gets to touch.” 

“Guys, please keep the pillow talk in the bedroom. Not out there, in front of us.” Cloud remarked, making Tifa giggle. 

It wasn’t long before a small crowd was formed. Cloud could also see who he believes to be the football coach, in his blue tracksuit with a whistle dangling on his neck.  Cloud turns to Tifa, feeling her tug on his arm. 

“Okay, I’m going to go to the bleachers. Remember, you’ve got this!” Tifa encouragingly whispered. Cloud nodded, taking off his jumper and handing it to her.

“I’ve got this.” Cloud repeated, smiling. He watched as Tifa moved to the bleachers that oversaw the pitch. 

“So, Cloud, that is your name, right?” Prompto asked. 

“Yeah.” Cloud uttered. 

“Cool, I was about to call you Claude.” Prompto laughed. “Is Tifa your girlfriend?”

“N-No, she’s my best friend. Honestly, she’s like a sister to me.” 

“Then, are you gay? Bisexual?” 

Cloud blushed at Prompto’s questions. “W-Well, I’m not sure, actually. I’ve been attracted to women, but I haven’t really thought about my sexuality lately.”

“You’re an omega, aren’t you?” Prompto asked out of the blue.

Cloud froze, beginning to panic. He knew he took his medication unless he didn’t take enough? “H-How did you know?”

“If you’re thinking you’re leaking pheromones, you’re not. I just had an inkling.” Prompto shrugged. "Plus, I’m an omega too.”

“Really?” Cloud asked, surprised. Omegas as a whole made up a small proportion of society. Omegas in Midgar University were even rarer as the university was infamous for having almost all its students be alphas or betas. Then again, he did hear from Sephiroth that some of the board members firmly opposed omegas attending. If that were the case, how many omegas would be attending if not for the backward thinking of those board members? Either way, Cloud welcomed making friends with another omega. 

“Yeah, Gladio actually tried to put me off coming here several times.” Prompto shrugged. “But like him, I got tired of seeing Insomnia day in, day out. Also, being an omega, he didn’t want to see other alphas try to” he air quoted with his hands, “‘take what belonged to him’.”

“I mean, you don’t like the idea of other people looking at Gladio that way?” Cloud countered.

“That’s different, though. Gladio isn’t that susceptible to pheromones and isn’t easily swayed by someone. Whereas with me, you know what it’s like being an omega. We need to take all sorts of medication otherwise we’re screwed.” 

“I know.” Cloud agreed. “It doesn’t feel fair that most people can get on with their lives without worrying about something like heat cycles like we do.”

“I’m just lucky that I’m dating an alpha. A dominant one at that.”

“How is that lucky?” Cloud asked, puzzled. The taller blond could not deduce why an omega would be happy with someone possessive. From the things he’s seen on television, you would try to steer clear of possessive people. 

“Because he fucks me really good, and I always come out stinking of his scent, it’s almost like he’s marked me.” Prompto nonchalantly said, causing Cloud to let out an embarrassed cough. Several people turned to him asking if he was okay, to which he simply nodded so as to not turn any more attention to him. 

“You can’t just blurt out something like that, Prompto. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy you’ve found a partner you love so much and that you have what sounds to be a great sex life. But I literally just met you a few minutes ago.” 

“Sorry, you’re just the first omega I’ve met here so far. I haven’t been able to share with anyone how I’ve been able to go about my daily life being an omega, you know.”

“I know but – wait a minute, what do you mean it’s like he’s marked you?” 

“Well, I won’t go too deep into it, because you seem to hate the gross detail. But Gladio likes to pull me close when we fuck. Somehow, his smell rubs off on me and I’ve seen it happen where other alphas stay away from me because his scent lingers on me for ages.”

“Really? I never knew you could do that.”

“I won’t lie though. There have been times he has been close to biting me and as much as I want to be his permanently, he’s not ready to mark me yet.”

“Why? You two seem to be really in love.” 

“He doesn’t want to mark me until we’re at least married. Doesn’t want to tie me down to him yet since marking me would mean I’m devoted to him now and forever.”

Cloud nodded in understanding. An alpha claiming an omega was essentially the former imposing a life sentence on the latter. And as advanced as modern medicine is, they have yet to find an antidote or way to reverse an alpha’s marking. Sadly, this was a world riddled with power imbalances and omegas were given the short end of the stick while alphas basked in power and glory. 

However, an omega marking an alpha wasn’t uncommon either. Though it did not carry the same level of effect, an alpha being marked by an omega still worked wonders. Mostly, it acts as an encouragement from the omega that they want to have their alpha mark them. Other times, it affirms the bond between them when the alpha has already marked them.

“Do you reckon you two might get married in the future?” Cloud curiously asked. 

“I hope so!” Prompto cheered. “I don’t think I’ve loved anyone as much as I love him. I mean, apart from my family but that’s a given.”

“Well, I’m sure that day will come sooner than you think.” Cloud smiled. 

“Okay, everyone! Attention, all eyes and ears on me now, please!” A loud voice roared through the pitch, everyone’s attention turning to the brawny man with the light stubble. “I’m Cid Highwind, the football coach of Midgar University. Thank you for coming today on this lovely sunny day. As you all know, tryouts for the junior football team kick off today and over the next few days, I will be picking a group of you to represent our university in junior leagues and tournaments. By Thursday, I’ll pick the players I think did the best. Does someone have any questions about that?”

“I do.” One of the boys asked raising his hand. “You see those two blonds over there?” He said, pointing to Cloud and Prompto. 

Cid stared back at the boy, puzzled. “Of course, I can see them, I’m not blind!”

“They’re omegas.” Immediately, murmurs started to form amongst the group.

“Shit, we actually have omegas here? At this university?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me, ain’t no way they’re serious about this.”

“Why did they even bother coming here?”

“They kind of look like the coach. Maybe they’re his sons?”

Though Prompto was able to keep a cool head, he noticed how Cloud was beginning to shake, becoming visibly uncomfortable. The shorter blond quickly grabbed Cloud’s hand, trying to calm him down. 

“Hey, it’s okay,” Prompto reassured. 

“Okay, they’re omegas. What do you want me to do about that?” Cid asked, shrugging.

“I don’t think they should be allowed to try out for the team, sir.” The boy said.

“Okay, what I will not have on my team is a brain-dead fuckwit who has his head stuck in the past’s ass!” Cid exclaimed, shocking the group with how crude his language was. “Where on the posters promoting today’s tryouts did it say, ‘No Omegas Allowed!’? Now, if you don’t like the idea of working with a couple of omegas if they make it into the team, by all means, leave now. And that goes on every one of you.” 

Most of the group hung their heads down in shame and embarrassment. 

“T-Thank you, sir,” Cloud muttered though it was loud enough for the coach to hear.

“Don’t thank me for doing the bare minimum, kid. Now, let me be clear. I will not tolerate any bullshit from you guys. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever! If you so much as make a stupid remark like that boy over there, you’re done. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!” The group yelled in unison. 

“Um, also I would like to point out something. Do you guys see that huge, brawny guy over there?” Prompto asked, pointing towards Gladio who was sitting close to the pitch. The group turned to look at the rugby player sitting on the belchers. “Yeah, that’s my boyfriend. Come for me or my friend and he’ll hunt you down. And trust me, you do not want to mess with him.” Most of the group went pale at the sight of Gladio, who wore a threatening smile as to confirm what Prompto had said. 

“Great, now over the next few days, I will be assessing you on things like your passing, ball control, teamwork and speed. Now, to kick things off, I want all of you to do a couple of laps around the pitch. There’s no point in kicking a ball if you don’t have the agility to bring it near the goalpost.” 

Everyone just silently stood here, waiting for some sort of signal to start. “Are you guys deaf!? GO!” 

Like a ray of lightning, the group bolted with Cloud and Prompto somewhat leading. The pair caught a few guys giving them a filthy glare. Cloud could not deduce whether the glares were of lust or of condescending. Either way, the blond didn’t care. Sure enough, the two blonds began to outpace the others, unintentionally putting a slight gap between them. Cid seemed to notice this too, looking at the two of them intrigued. 

After the group ran over the pitch four times, Cid blows his whistle, calling the group to stand before him. He rummaged through a huge sack, pulling out enough footballs for there to be one between two people. Prompto quickly pulled Cloud in, as to prevent anyone else from snatching up his new friend.  

“Now, I want to see how fast you guys are at passing the ball between each other. So, from here to the other side of the pitch, I want you to pass the ball to each other as fast as you can. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Okay, go then!” Cid exclaimed, blowing his whistle for emphasis. 

The two blonds promptly accelerated on their feet, making sure to pass the ball rapidly between them. They both shared equal possession of the ball, all while making it to the other side of the pitch quicker than everyone else. They observed how others were faring and tried to hold back chuckles as they did. Most of them were struggling to equally share possession of the ball with one hoarding it over the other. Some were just failing to juggle moving forward and passing the ball. 

Ten minutes had passed, and Cid blew his whistle, signalling the end of the activity. Once again, the group moved to join the coach. 

“Okay, I think I’ve seen enough for today. When I point at you, I want you to move to either my left or my right.” Cid made quick work of allocating the group to either side. When it was Cloud and Prompto’s respective turns, they were not surprised to be moved to the coach’s right side. As the coach made a few adjustments with his allocation, Cloud noticed that most of the players were allocated in the same place as him and Prompto and weren’t sure what to make of it. Had most of them done that poorly that Cid didn’t want most of them to proceed?

“Alright, if you are standing to my right, congratulations! You’ve made it into the next stage of the tryouts! If you’re standing to my left, sorry guys, I wasn’t impressed enough to warrant putting you through to the next stage.”

Loud cheers began to erupt from those who managed to succeed, with Cloud and Prompto high-fiving each other with wide smiles. In contrast, those who didn’t wore frowns of disappointment and disbelief but one in particular looked frustrated and angered. 

“Are you actually serious!? The two omegas made it through but I didn’t? That’s some bullshit!” The disappointed player exclaimed, kicking the dirt beneath him.  

Cid stared down at him, raising an eyebrow. “Okay, little boy. Let me tell you how serious I am. The two ‘omegas’ performed far better than you did. Which is why they’re proceeding with the tryouts, and you are not! Now, you can question my choices all you want but I know talent when I can see it.” 

The player subtly shook as he looked down in shame. Cid sighed before turning his attention to the whole group.

“Anyways,” he continued. “Thank you everyone for coming today. Those of you who made it to the next stage, I will see you tomorrow. And those who didn’t, I wish you nothing but the best and better luck next time.” 

With that, everyone began to take their leave. The two blonds were about to follow suit but were stopped by a rough hand grabbing each of their shoulders. 

“Sorry you two, may I have a word?” Cid asked the two omegas. Cloud and Prompto gave each other a nervous look before nodding. “So, I didn’t want to say it in front of everyone but both of you did really well today.” 

“Thank you, coach. We really appreciate that.” Cloud smiled.

“Please just call me Cid. Speaking of names, I didn’t get either of yours?”

“I’m Prompto.”

“I’m Cloud.”

Cid nodded. “Cool, I didn’t want to refer to you two as omegas because you’re much more than that. What I want to say is that personally, I think you have a good chance at making the team but as you know, most teams often consist of alphas and a few betas here and there.”

“Don’t worry, Cid. We’re aware of omegas being uncommon in sports and stuff.” Prompto shrugged. “That isn’t going to stop us, right Cloud?”

“Yeah, we don’t see us being omegas as a disadvantage to us,” Cloud affirmed.

“Boy, am I glad to hear it. Say, are you two brothers? Cousins?”

“No.” Cloud chuckled. “We actually only met today.”

“Really?” Cid asked, shocked. “It’s just – well, you both have blond hair, blue eyes, similar height. Maybe you were siblings separated at a young age?”

“Cid, if I had a long-lost brother, my mum would’ve told me so,” Cloud remarked.

“Sorry, it was just an observation I made. I won’t keep you long. Well done for today and keep up the good work because I think you two will make fantastic players if you pass.”

“Thanks, coach.” The two omegas said in unison.

“Cid.” He corrected, and the two blonds laughed before waving him goodbye. 

Cloud saw Tifa and Gladio approach them. Prompto jumped into his boyfriend’s arms, wrapping his legs around his waist. 

“Babe, I passed!” Prompto exclaimed. 

“See, I told you that you could do it!”

“What about you, Cloud?” Tifa asked. 

Cloud nodded, smiling. “Passed as well.”

“See? I told you all your worrying was for nothing.”

“Shame some of the other players didn’t see it that way.” Cloud sighed.

“Pay them no mind, Cloud. They’re just bitter you can outplay them any day.” Tifa chuckled. Before Cloud could respond, Tifa’s phone began to ring. Excusing herself, she took the call.

“Hold on, babe. Cloud, can you give me your number?” Prompto asked, holding his phone. 

“Sure!” The two blonds exchanged their numbers, with Prompto sending Cloud a simple ‘hello’ text to make sure the numbers were correct. 

“I’ll see you tomorrow then, brother?” Prompto joked. 

“See you tomorrow, brother.” Cloud chuckled.

Gladio looked at his boyfriend, confused.

“The coach thought Cloud and I were related, babe.” Prompto rolled his eyes.

“I don’t blame him, you guys do have a striking resemblance.” Gladio chuckled. 

“Whatever, take me home. I’m tired.” Prompto asked with a soft pout.

“Alright, you big baby.” Gladio smiled, walking away with Prompto still in his arms.

“But I’m your baby.” Cloud laughed at himself as he heard Prompto say in the distance. 

Cloud turned to Tifa, who looked distraught. “Everything okay, Tifa?”

She sighed. “Not really, one of my housemates clogged up the toilet and now the RA is pissed because they made a disgusting mess of the situation. So, they need me back asap.”

“Gross, I’ll see you later then?”

“Yeah, and I know it sounds boring but we’re gonna go food shopping. I’m not letting you live off Cup Noodle and microwave things.” Tifa scowled, prompting Cloud to roll his eyes. 

“Yes, Mum.” Cloud sarcastically muttered. 

Aerith sighed to herself as she made her way to the vast library of Midgar University with a mocha in her hand. Of course, today of all days, her laptop decided to play up and refuse to turn on - leaving Aerith to have to use the university’s computer facilities to put together her presentation. 

The members of the Flower Club that she was a part of had decided to elect her as the President despite constant protests from the flower girl that clearly fell on deaf ears. She sighed, looking up to the sky. It was such a gorgeous, sunny day. The brunette did not want to spend the day held up indoors, she wanted to enjoy the sun while it had its time to shine. 

Alas, perhaps the flower girl paid a little too much time looking up to the sky as she ended up bumping into someone, spilling her mocha and dropping her books to the floor. Great, like her day could not get any worse.

“Oh Gaia, I’m really sorry!” The stranger exclaimed. Aerith looked up annoyed before looking in surprise. Why did this person look familiar? “Are you alright? I’m so sorry, I spilled your coffee!”

“No, don’t worry about it. It was my fault too, I should’ve looked where I was looking.” Aerith shrugged, dusting off her dress. She decided to wear her signature outfit today, a light pink dress with her red short-sleeved jacket.

“I’ll buy you another coffee if you like?” The stranger asked. 

Aerith did consider it for a second. She could reject it and go about her day like this didn’t happen. Then again, something in the back of her head was nudging her to take the offer. It was telling her that this person was familiar. She looked at the stranger closely, trying to look for certain details. 

“Is everything okay?” He asked. 

Spiky blond hair.

Deep blue eyes. 

“Yeah, everything’s fine. Sure, you can buy me another coffee. I’m Aerith, by the way.” The brunette politely introduced herself.

“It’s nice to meet you, Aerith.” He smiled. Aerith unintentionally looks at him puzzled, people are usually only this polite when it comes to business events and things of that nature. Rarely is a stranger polite to her for the sake of it. “I’m Cloud.”

And just like that, it dawned upon the flower girl. Zack wasn’t going crazy. His childhood friend really was here – in Midgar. 

“I’ll be damned,” Aerith muttered under her breath. 

Chapter Text

The blond walked alongside the flower girl on the lively streets of Midgar. He only hoped that wherever Aerith was going to get her coffee, it wasn’t an overly expensive place. The mortification at bumping into the brunette still crept within him. He thanked the Gods above that the coffee landed on the floor and not on her dress or her jacket. They were likely designer-branded and cost a fortune, and the blond didn’t have the money to buy himself a designer shirt, let alone replace someone’s outfit that consisted of nothing but designer clothes.

“Okay, we’re here!” Aerith smiled. Cloud looked up to the sign and was pleasantly surprised. They had come to Espresso, the same place he and Tifa had gone to several days before. “What? You think I was going to take you to an extravagant coffee place or something?”

“I mean, kind of.” Cloud laughed.

They made their way inside, pleased to see it was fairly quiet. Looking up to the counter, Cloud was happy to see that the server who served him and Tifa not so long ago was still working there.

“Hey there, it’s good to see you again.” The server smiled.

“Likewise, I’m glad you weren’t fired because of that guy,” Cloud said.

“I almost was. That guy made a complaint to my manager, but some customers came forward to say he was being inconsiderate so naturally, he decided against letting me go.” The server explained. “But enough about my struggles, what can I get you and the young miss?”

“Can I have a mocha please?” Aerith politely asked.

“A white americano for me, please.” Cloud wasn’t interested in having one of those lattes on the menu that tasted so sweet, they were probably laced with more syrup than coffee. A straightforward coffee was more up the blond’s alley. Cloud tapped his phone to pay, and the server ushered them to take a seat.

“So, I noticed you’re wearing a football kit. Are you on the football team or?” The brunette asked.

“No, at least not yet. I was at tryouts. I’m hoping to be on the team though.”

Aerith nodded. “I see. So, are you new here?”

“Yeah, I came here a few days ago. I’m starting my first year soon. What about you?”

“I’m going into my second year.” The server brought over their coffee, placing it on the table. Cloud thanked the server before he walked away.

“Again, I’m really sorry about spilling your coffee earlier. I probably made your day have a shitty start, huh?”

“I won’t lie. I was initially annoyed but now, I’m glad you did.” Aerith laughed.

“Why?” Cloud asked, puzzled.

“Because you seem like a friendly guy. And I’d like to be friends with you if you like?”

“S-Sure, honestly I didn’t expect to make friends that quickly.” Cloud smiled.

After they had their coffees, the flower girl was debating whether she really wanted to go to the library today. On one hand, she wanted to get this presentation made, over and done with. On the other hand, she had just made a new friend today and didn’t want to appear like a stuck-up bitch.

Fuck it. The presentation can be done tomorrow or some other time. She’s going to spend as much of today as she could to get to know the blond. After all, he was Zack’s childhood friend.

“Have you been shown around the university then?”

“Well, not fully. I’ve only seen like half of the place so far.”

“Great, then I’ll show you around the places that you’ll probably spend most of your time here.” Aerith beamed, pulling Cloud’s arm.

Cloud smiled, letting Aerith drag him along. He was so used to being the quiet introvert that he has been since he was young. Making friends often proved a trial to the blond but not here for some reason. He made two friends in a single day, which must be a new record for him.

The two of them soon stood in front of a long, wide building with Cloud being shocked by its size. At this point, it shouldn’t surprise Cloud when every building at this university has been both huge and high-tech. Maybe he was too accustomed to the quiet and small nature of Nibelheim that being in a metropolitan city like Midgar was still sinking in for the blond.

“This building here is the main library,” Aerith said.

“Main library? You’re telling me there are other libraries here as well?”

“Obviously, the place gets rammed when it’s exam season. And it’s not like they’re strapped for money here. They could afford to have a million libraries if they wanted.” Aerith shrugged. “Shall we head in then?”

“S-Sure.”

Aerith giggled as Cloud followed her inside the library. She wondered how Zack would react if she introduced Cloud to him as her boyfriend? The blond is rather cute and a sight for sore eyes, she will admit. Plus, the blond seemed to be a caring and kind person. He’s an easy person to love. But the flower girl shook those thoughts out of her head. The way Zack recently spoke about the blond, he extremely valued Cloud. She knew that she could be the one to reunite the two at long last.

Not yet though. Not when she has the chance to know more about Cloud herself. Somehow, she knew that if she reunited Cloud with Zack, the raven-haired male would be all over the blond the second they met.

Aerith took out her library card and popped it on the scanner. They both go through into the library, with Cloud looking around in awe.

“This is where you’ll likely be spending most of your time here. They have tons of computers, books, and newspapers. Everything you need to get a great grade on your assignments. And trust me, you’re going to need it.” Aerith explained as they walked through the vast library.

“Since you’ve been here for a year, is what they say true? About failing once and then you’re kicked out or something?”

“You’re not immediately kicked out if you fail. At least, not in my experience. One time, I accidentally sent the first draft of an essay to my tutor instead of the final one. She was close to going to the councillors and asking for my dismissal until I sent her the correct file. She was about to object, saying that I did this to get more time to work on my essay until I pointed out the time it was last edited.” Aerith recalled.

“So?”

“So…she let it slide. The point I’m trying to make is this place is strict but only to an extent. As long as you do your work and don’t fuck around, you’re golden.”

Cloud was relieved to hear this. Rumours are always spread around and exaggerated by young people and the blond should know better than to always believe them. Then again, he had heard of people being dismissed for the littlest things.

“And if you ask me about the rumour of people being dismissed for missing a curfew or a deadline or something little, it’s only because they had a plethora of other misdeeds that built up.” She continued.

Well, that answered that question. Once the flower girl was done showing the blond around the library, they made their exit.

“I don’t know about you but I’m starting to get a little hungry so I’m going to head home now.”

“Alright, no problem.”

“Say, can I have your number? Up for doing something tomorrow?”

“Sure!” Cloud smiled, pulling out his phone. This prompted Aerith to give him a look that was equal parts amazed and disgusted. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, how have you got an iPhone 5C?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Um, it’s old. It’s old enough to be in elementary school, Cloud. Why haven’t you gotten a new phone?"

"My mum and I don’t exactly have the funds to afford me a new phone. Even if we did, I don’t want her wasting money for me.”

“You’re better than me. If my phone did the slightest malfunction, I go out and buy a new one. Anyways, when are you free tomorrow?”

“Well, tryouts are at 10 am and if it lasts as long as it did today, I’ll be done at 11.”

“Nice, so tomorrow we can celebrate our newly found friendship!” Aerith cheered.

“You bet!” Cloud smiled back at the flower girl.

Zack took another sip of his beer as he sat with Kunsel in the booth table. Roche made the great suggestion that they needed to go to a nightclub. When Zack and Kunsel asked why he would want to go to a nightclub on a Tuesday, he shrugged and said he just wanted to party.

Now, the raven-haired alpha was an outgoing and lively person, and he enjoyed partying for the most part. Tonight, however, he was not feeling it for some reason. Maybe it had to do with the fact that it wasn’t Friday or the weekend so the dancefloor was not as lively as it normally would be. Either way, Zack still came to the nightclub with a smile on his face, no matter how forced it was.

“How come you’re not on the dancefloor, Zack? Normally, you’re a party animal in these sorts of places.” Kunsel asked.

“I don’t know, I’ve been feeling off lately.”

“Have you gone to the doctor’s or a pharmacist?”

It wasn’t that Zack was dramatically ill, but it is awfully close. That empty feeling in his heart, usually a dull inconvenience has become a full-blown nuisance lately. It’s like some part of him is crying out for help but he doesn’t know what to do about it.

“I’ve been to a pharmacist, but he said, ‘I don’t make medicine for broken hearts’.”

Kunsel chuckled. “I can’t imagine that happening. Zack Fair, star rugby player and Midgar’s most eligible bachelor got his heart broken. Sounds like a newspaper headline.”

“Funny, Kunsel, really funny.” Zack scoffed. “And for the record, no one has broken my heart.”

“So, what’s the problem then?”

“I don’t know. I’ll see a doctor at some point, but I’ll ignore it for now.”

“Try not to ignore it for too long though. If it gets worse, go to the doctor’s as soon as you can.” Kunsel advised.

“Okay, Dad.”

“Also, don’t compare me to that uptight asshole you have the misfortune of calling a father.” Kunsel scoffed, making Zack laugh.

“And what are we laughing about, gents?” Roche asked, heavily breathing after being on the dancefloor for a while.

“Nothing important, just Zack’s declining health.”

“Oh, that can’t be good. Will you join me on the dancefloor, Mr. Fair? A little swing of the hips is sure to lift your spirits?” Roche asked in a charming tone, making Zack roll his eyes.

“Okay, but you’re not taking my ass home, Prince Charming,” Zack remarked. “You wanna join, Kunsel?”

“Nah, someone needs to keep an eye on our drinks in case someone decides to spike them.”

Zack and Roche jumped onto the dancefloor, moving their bodies to the loud, electronic music that pumped through the speakers. As they got into the groove, two women decided to step closer to them, moving in time with the rhythm of the song. Zack looked over to see one of the women dance in front of him and decided to move in sync with her.

That dream he had last night replayed constantly through his mind. The way he held Cloud as the blond rode his cock. The way Cloud clung to him. Every little detail ran through Zack’s head endlessly.

He snapped out of his trance when he felt the woman’s hand brush against his crotch. He looked up to meet the lustful woman before him. She was a stunner, he’ll give her that. She had luscious red hair and enchanting brown eyes.

“Is this for me, handsome?” She asked, desire laced in her voice.

“Handsome has a name, you know. It’s Zack. And yours?”

“Crystal. You come here often, Zack?”

“Not really, but if your pretty face shows up here a lot, I might have to,” Zack smirked.

“You wanna get outta here? Have some real fun?” She whispered, the strong scent of alcohol apparent in her breath.

“Sounds good to me. Let me go tell my friends I’m leaving early, beautiful.”

Zack didn’t care. He needed to get that dream of Cloud out of his head and if it had to take fucking some random girl’s brains out to erase it, so be it.

“Ah fuck, harder!” Crystal loudly moaned as the raven-haired alpha ruthlessly thrust into her dripping pussy.

Since Zack’s apartment was closer to the nightclub, they decided to head there since the redhead was incredibly eager to get into Zack’s pants. Once they were in, she wasted no time, wrapping her arms around Zack’s neck and pulling him down for a kiss. Clothes flew out of their bodies as their mouths moved in a lustful waltz. He rummaged through his drawers, desperately searching for a condom before quickly wrapping the latex around his thick shaft.

She was now on her hands and knees, using the bedsheets for tight purchase as Zack relentlessly fucked her.

“Oh Gaia, I’m getting close!” She screamed, unable to keep her voice down.

Zack grinned at how unravelled the woman had become. As his movements became quicker, his mind started to drift. The long red hair the woman had slowly became spiky blond hair. When she turned around, her brown eyes morphed into deep blue. Did someone slip something into Zack’s drink? Because it was no reasonable explanation as to why he was suddenly picturing Cloud while having sex with his current hook-up.

“Damn, you’re so big!” She moaned. He must be going crazy. Now, he’s starting to hear Cloud’s voice in her moans.

“A-Alpha”

Zack looked down to see the blond omega smiling up at him. He moved his hips at lightning speed, trying to reach his peak as fast as possible.

“S-Slow down! Gaia, it’s too much. Please!” She pleaded. Her cries fell on deaf ears as Zack’s pace did not slow.

“Please, Alpha. N-Not so fast.” He heard the blond whimper, causing him to slow his movements, opting for deeper thrusts instead.

“Yeah, just like that. Fuck, it’s so good!” Crystal moaned, gripping the pillow tightly. The alpha had enough of the slow speed he was currently moving at, deciding to pick up the pace.

“Oh Gaia! So good!”

Zack felt his stomach turning, signalling his impending orgasm. With one final thrust, he spilt into the latex prison.

“Cloud!” He screamed. It doesn’t immediately hit him what he yelled until the redhead turned back on him, visibly appalled.

“Cloud? Cloud!? Who the fuck is Cloud!?” Crystal screamed, kicking the alpha off her and scrambling to find her clothes, throwing them on angrily. “You think I’m some whore you can fuck to take your mind off an ex or something?”

Fucking hell. Zack ran his hands through his hair in disbelief. Did he really just scream Cloud’s name like that? So much for trying to forget him through fucking someone else, it turned out he needed thoughts about the blond to even bring himself to completion.

“I’m very sorry, Crystal. Please – let me explain.” Zack tried to reason, putting on his boxers and going over her but the redhead was having none of it.

“Thanks for nothing, asshole!” She yelled before slamming the door, leaving Zack alone. Zack groaned in frustration at himself. Never before has he had a girl he hooked up with abruptly leave him like this. But he has never envisioned the person he was having sex with as someone else before either.

He didn’t need a doctor. He needed a psychiatrist, a therapist. Hell, with how much the blond has been haunting him, he might as well call a ghost whisperer. Why must his mind play tricks on him like this? Why must Cloud invade his every single thought?

He angrily marched to his fridge, cracking open a cold bottle of lager and turned on his television. He took a large gulp of beer and put the television on a late-night comedy channel. Might as well laugh himself to sleep, given how much of a joke the night has turned out for him.

Cloud sat on the bottom row of the belchers as he waited for Prompto and the other players. It was a cool morning, the sun slightly peeking through the white clouds and the freezing breeze making him lightly shiver. Thankfully, he brought his hoodie to prevent him from freezing to death before tryouts began.

He feels his phone vibrate, pulling it out of his pocket to see a new message.

Prompto

Morning! Where are you? I’m waiting by the front and I can’t see you.

Me

Hey, I’m sitting on the belchers.

Prompto

Cool, I’ll head in now.

Cloud saw Prompto approaching him with a warm smile painted across his face.

“Morning, brother.” Prompto greeted, taking a seat next to the other blond. “Ready to kick some ass today?”

“You bet I am.” Cloud chuckled. “You think we’re going to get crap for being omegas again?”

“Definitely! You know the other day I was in the library with my best friend Noctis, and I overheard some of the guys who were at the tryouts yesterday talk shit about us.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. They said shit like they couldn’t believe we made it through and that we should quit while we have the chance.” Prompto scoffed.

“But are we going to quit?”

“The hell we’re not!”

“Exactly, they’re probably jealous that the coach praised us and not them.” Cloud got up to move down to the pitch, prompting Prompto to do the same. “And I don’t want to brag but we did pretty good yesterday.”

“We didn’t do ‘pretty good’ yesterday.” Prompto disagreed, air quoting with his fingers. “We did phenomenally. We might as well be selected for the team now.”

Cloud shook his head as the two stood in the middle of the pitch. “We can’t get too cocky. Who knows what the coach will throw at us today?”

Prompto nodded as they saw a couple of other players approach them.

“Look what we have here, a couple of omegas who don’t know their place.” One of them snickered.

“And what would our place be, exactly?” Prompto mockingly asked, folding his arms over his chest.

“Dylan, leave them alone.” The other player said. “I’m sorry, he’s just hung up about one of our friends not making it through the next stage yesterday.”

“Yeah, I’m hung up about it, Charlie! He was a good player back when we were in high school, and the coach decided to progress these two instead of him.” Dylan scoffed.

“He progressed us because we did well. Now, if you’re so upset about it, you’re more than welcome to take it up to the coach. But berating my friend and I isn’t going to do anything but prove that you’re an uptight asshole.” Cloud confronted. Prompto hung his mouth in shock, laughing hysterically.

“You think you have the right to speak to an alpha like that?” Dylan remarked, standing close to Cloud’s face. However, the blond remained unfazed.

“Look, I don’t want to start a fight. If we end up being selected for the team, I want to get along with you.”

Dylan mockingly laughed, turning to his friend. “You hearing this clown, Charlie? He thinks he has a chance at making the team.”

Charlie rolled his eyes, hitting his friend over the head. “Dylan, would you cut it out? He has a point, it’ll be better if we learn to get along.”

“I’m not getting along with an omega like we’re equals.” Dylan seethed.

“I don’t have time for this.” Cloud sighed, walking away from them. Prompto shook his head at them before following the other blond.

Soon enough, the rest of the players turned up along with the coach, wearing a black tracksuit instead of the blue one today. The group waited around as Cid quickly set up the equipment needed for today. To the two omegas’ surprise, some of the players went up to them and started complimenting them.

“The two were amazing yesterday!”

“With you two on the team, we’re sure to leave our competitors in the dust!”

“Sorry for thinking you guys couldn’t play because you were omegas. You were brilliant yesterday!”

Truthfully, Cloud was a little overwhelmed. He didn’t expect to be met with this level of praise, deciding to simply nervously smile and nod. His eyes looked over to the confrontational alpha he spoke of a few minutes ago, who bitterly groaned and rolled his eyes.

“Alright, everyone, settle down!” Cid roared, bringing everyone’s full attention to him. “Well done on making it to this stage. Today, we’ll be focusing on your ability to defend and work effectively in a team. Now, I want you to split into six groups of four. Go!”

As everyone rumbled around to make a team, Cloud and Prompto saw Charlie pulling his friend with him.

“No! I don’t want to be in a group with those omegas!” Dylan quietly seethed.

“Tough 'cause I do.” Charlie countered, standing with the two omegas. “I’m really sorry about my friend, you guys.”

“Don’t be, it’s not like you’re his dad or anything.” Prompto shrugged.

“Sometimes, it feels like I am,” Charlie muttered, causing his friend to shoot a begrudging glare at him.

“Great! Now that everyone’s in a group.” Cid pointed to the two small goalposts. “Two teams will go head-to-head with one person being the goalkeeper and the other three as defenders. Here, I won’t be looking at keeping score but more at how you are able to defend your opposition from scoring and how well you can keep possession of the ball. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!” Everyone said in unison.

“Great, now can I have the team with the two blonds up first?” Cid asked, pointing to Cloud and Prompto’s team. They walked up as the coach brought up another team to compete with them.

“I don’t mind being the goalkeeper, guys,” Charlie said, with Cloud and Prompto nodding in response.

“Alright, I need someone from each team to stand in the middle.” Cid requested. Cloud decided to volunteer, standing in the middle along with someone from the other team. “When I blow my whistle, I will throw the ball into the air, and you must try to get the ball to your side. Got it?”

They nodded as the coach blew his whistle, throwing the ball into the air. While the other player was quick to jump up, Cloud jump elevated him a bit further, allowing him to hit the hall with his head towards Prompto. The other blond caught the ball and moved at lightning speed. Cloud moved swiftly around his opposition, signalling to Prompto that he had an opening.

Before Prompto had a chance to pass the ball to the other blond, he felt the ball was kicked away from him and was surprised to see that it wasn’t someone from the other team but instead Dylan. Has this guy ever heard of the word teamwork? Probably not.

Dylan fired his shot at the goal but was expertly blocked by the other team’s goalkeeper.

“Remember, teamwork!” They hear the coach shout, but it probably fell on some deaf ears. The goalkeeper threw the ball at one of his players but Cloud, light on his feet, swiftly intercepted it. One of the other players tried to kick the ball away from him, but the blond omega swirled around him with finesse. Seeing a clear shot, he launched the ball at the goal. He added a subtle spin, causing their goalkeeper to misjudge the direction it was going and the ball floated past his attempted interruption, scoring a point for Cloud’s team.

The other players watching loudly cheered, causing Cloud to develop a slight smile. The ball was once again in the opposition’s grasp, with one of their players moving past Dylan and Prompto quickly. The opposer tried to pass the ball to another player but Cloud once again was able to intercept it, passing the ball to the other blond. Prompto waltzed around the opposition and shot the ball with great precision past the goalkeeper, gaining another point for their team.

Before they could continue, Cid blew his whistle, signalling the end. Prompto ran up to Cloud and the two high-fived with wide smiles on their faces. They sat down as the other groups took their respective turns on the field.

“You and I did really well!” Prompto grinned.

“Yeah, we did.” Cloud agreed, looking over at Dylan and Charlie, the former shooting two blonds an ugly glare. “It would’ve been nice if we had some help from our teammate though.”

“Legit, did you see how he stole the ball from me? We were on the same team, and he does that!”

“Don’t let it get to you. I’m sure Charlie is giving him a real scolding for that.”

“You’d never scold me, would you?” Prompto asked, smiling.

“Not unless you deserve it.” Cloud chuckled, causing Prompto to slightly pout.

The two casually chatted away as the other teams played. It wasn’t long before everyone had gone up and Cid approached the whole group.

“Okay, everyone. Now that I’ve seen how you can play defensively, it’s time to move on to shooting.” The group followed him as he led them to a larger goalpost that was more in line with the goalposts you’d see in major football games.

The group watched as the coach took off his jacket, revealing the white t-shirt he was wearing.

“As you all know, when a match ends in a tie, penalties are usually the go-to tiebreaker.” He continued. “So, today I want you guys to practice your shooting abilities from varying distances. I’ll be the goalkeeper and you simply need to get the ball past me into the goal. First up, ah, you there.” The coach pointed at Dylan who made a sly smirk upon being picked.

Before going up, he turned to Cloud and Prompto. “I’ll show you overrated peasants how it is done.”

Prompto rolled his eyes while Cloud sighed in disbelief.

Dylan’s starting distance was fairly close to the goal. He should have no problem getting the ball into the goal. But he wasn’t the best shooter on the planet, unfortunately. He took his shot, launching the ball way off target and missing the goal entirely. Some of the group began to snicker, with Cloud shaking his head in disappointment. If Dylan’s goal was to show them how to drastically fail at the simplest task, he’s done a phenomenal job.

“What are you laughing at?” Dylan challenged the group.

“Okay, stop laughing!” Cid roared, causing the snicker to come to an abrupt stop. “Now, let’s try that again. With this distance, you don’t need to kick it at full force. Pay more attention to where you are shooting, alright?”

Dylan nodded as the coach passed him another ball. He took a deep breath before shooting the ball again. There was less forceful than his previous attempt but it still lacked a sense of direction, missing the goalpost again. The coach simply sighed, telling the embarrassed alpha to move back with the group.

Cloud and Prompto waited as each player was brought up to take a few shots. Soon, Prompto was brought up and Cloud was amazed at the other blond’s profound ability to fire the ball with immense spin, curving over the coach and flawlessly hitting the net.

Then, it was Cloud’s turn as Prompto walked past him.

“I’ve got a tough act to follow.” Cloud chuckled.

“You’ve got this.” Prompto winked.

Cloud braced himself, observing the distance between himself and the goal. The coach flashed Cloud a sly grin, attempting to fire him up. A moment passed and after taking in a deep breath and letting it go, he launched the ball at an astounding velocity. The coach barely had enough time to react before the ball brushed past him, into the goalpost.

The group loudly applauded the blond, save for one stubborn alpha.

 “Alright, how about you try that from a bit further, eh?” Cid challenged Cloud, smirking.

The blond shrugged before moving back a considerable distance as the coach threw the ball back to him. Cloud looked forward to assess the distance between him and the goal. He won’t lie to himself, if he was able to score a goal from here, he would be near unstoppable in a proper match.

The group waited in anticipation as the blond readied himself. Taking note of the wind’s speed and direction, he finally shot the ball. The wind carried the ball towards the left, and it barely brushed Cid’s hands before landing against the net. Cid shook his head with a light chuckle as the group screamed in applause. Cloud carried a tiny smile as he walked up to the group.

“Damn, I can’t believe I missed it.” Cid sighed in frustration.

“You guessed the direction it was going correctly, though.” Cloud countered, not wanting the coach’s effort to seem in vain.

“But with how fast it was coming at me, I barely had time to catch it.” Cid chuckled. “I gotta get to you, kid. You’ve got a gift.”

Cloud smiled as Prompto ran up to hug the other blond.

“Okay, everyone. That concludes today’s tryout session. Some of you have some work to do. But at this point, I think everyone did great, so I won’t eliminate anyone today. But rest assured, tomorrow will be your last chance to impress me enough to make it into the team. See you all tomorrow.”

Cloud and Prompto began to make their way out before being stopped by the alpha has constantly been a pain in their asses.

“Don’t get so smug now. You both were just lucky today.” Dylan hissed.

“Okay, well I haven’t got time to deal with your superiority complex now. Maybe spend more time learning to kick the ball and actually know where it’s going.” Prompto snickered before walking away. “Have you got any plans today, Cloud?”

“I’m meeting up with a new friend of mine after this. What about you?”

“A movie date with Gladio. Bless him, he’s been really pent up lately.”

“From what?”

“What do you think? I told him no sex until I was finished with tryouts. He keeps trying to get me riled up. I mean it’s been hard for me too.”

“If it’s been hard on you, why don’t you just fuck and get it over with?”

“Because Cloud, the last time we had sex, people mistook my limping for a broken leg. It was only until they came close to me and smelled Gladio’s strong scent on me that they realised the only thing broken was my asshole.”

“Okay, okay, gross, gross, forget I asked,” Cloud said in disgust.

“Zack, Zackkkk” The raven-haired alpha opened his eyes as he was awoken by a mysterious person. Suddenly, he was pulled into reality once water splashed onto his face. “Wake up, bitch!”

“W-What? What the fuck happened?” He frantically asked, looking around to find the flower girl he grew up with, standing over him with a disapproving scowl on her face.

“Finally, you’re awake. Get up, I’ve made pancakes. Maybe that will cure your hangover.” Zack got up from the couch, forgetting that the last thing he was doing was watching television. “Why were you sleeping on the couch anyway? Had a guest over or something?”

“I did but she left in the dead of night.”

“Wow, what happened? You didn’t hit her or something like that?”

“No, I called out someone else’s name during sex.”

Aerith dropped the spatula she was holding. “You did what?”

“I know, I was really embarrassed.”

“Whose name did you scream out?”

 “Who do you think?” Zack asked in frustration. Aerith knew who he was referring to but decided to hold her tongue. “Every day he’s been on my mind, Aerith. And I don’t know what to do. I’ve tried everything to get him off my mind, even fucking some other woman but somehow, he creeps into my head like a parasite. Am I going crazy?”

“Zack, it sucks that you haven’t been able to talk to him for a long time, but things will get better.”

“How do you know that, Aerith?” Zack asked, helping himself to a stack of pancakes and a few rashers of bacon. “For all I know, he could be dead, and I could be yearning for someone who isn’t alive anymore!”

“Alright, let’s not go that far.” A feeling resembling guilt starts to creep into Aerith’s mind. She knew for a fact that the blond was very much alive, and she really wanted to let Zack know that. But as far as he was aware, the flower girl has never met Cloud so anything she says would at most come across as wishful thinking.

“Whatever.”

Aerith glanced at the time, seeing that it was closely approaching 11 o’clock. “I would love to stay and chat with you but I’m meeting a friend of mine in a bit.”

“A friend? Who?”

“Oh, you’ll get to know him soon enough.”

“Him? You’ve made another friend who’s a guy?”

“What can I say? I’m a very likeable person.” Aerith shrugged.

“Wait a minute, you’re just going to leave me to clean up all this mess?”

“Who else was going to come over and fix your hangover for you? Show some gratitude.”

“I’d be grateful if you could clean all this up.” Zack rebutted.

“Can’t right now. I’m running late, bye.” Despite Zack’s protests, she waved goodbye before making her way to see the blond who had unintentionally been driving her good friend insane.

Chapter Text

Cloud waited outside the library where Aerith told him to meet her. Soon, he could see the flower girl approaching him from a distance. As the brunette came closer, he could make out the outfit she decided to wear today. She opted for a light blue dress similar to the one she wore yesterday.

“Hey there.” Aerith greeted with a smile.

“Hey, Aerith. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m doing great. All the better for seeing you.” She smiled, causing heat to lightly spread across the blond’s cheeks. “Aw, you’re even cuter when you blush!”

“Please stop! I’m not cute!” Cloud laughed, covering his face.

“Yes, you are.” Aerith teased with a cheeky grin. “You want to go celebrate our newly found friendship then?”

Cloud nodded in agreement. “Let’s”

“Aerith, I thought you would take me somewhere like McDonald’s. Not a high-class place like this!” Cloud quietly exclaimed.

“Last time I checked, McDonald’s doesn’t do afternoon tea.” She remarked.

Cloud sighed in defeat. The flower girl ended up taking him to a really fancy hotel, filled with numerous chandeliers and expensive art pieces. Aerith casually sipped on her Earl Grey tea while they waited for their food to arrive.

Cloud’s eyes widened in shock as he scanned through their menu.

“Aerith, this is insane! 9 Gil for a single scone? I could go down to the shops and get a pack of five for not even half the price!” Cloud exclaimed.

“Wait until you try the scones here. You’ll discover that they are worth the price.” Aerith calmly said. “So, what subject are you studying then?”

“Mechanical Engineering. And you?”

“Geology. Why did you choose mechanical engineering then?”

“I’ve always had an interest in vehicles like cars and motorbikes. It was right up my alley.”

Come to think of it, Aerith recalled a time when Zack was talking about the blond’s fascination with cars. Then again, the raven-haired man would always find ways to talk about the blond.

“What about you? Why did you choose geology?” The blond asked, sipping on his English breakfast tea.

“Always been interested in the planet and flowers. It seemed like a no-brainer to be honest.” Aerith shrugged. Before she could continue, the waiter came around with the sandwiches, scones and the other trimmings the brunette had ordered. She thanked the waiter before handing Cloud a scone.

“Go ahead, try it. You’ll see that it was worth every Gil.” She grinned. The blond shrugged before slicing it in half with a knife. “Wait a second. Do you put the jam or cream on first?”

“Jam first.”

“Thank you! I don’t understand why people can put the cream on first.”

“I mean does it matter which you put on first if you end up eating it anyway?”

“Good point.” Aerith agreed.

Cloud nodded before taking a bite of his scone. His eyes widened as his mouth savoured the crumbliness of the scone paired with the sweetness of the jam and silkiness of the cream. The blond has had many scones over the course of his life but none of them couldn’t dare compare to this one.

“Gaia, it is good!” Cloud exclaimed.

Aerith giggled, a sly smile plastered across her face. “See, I told you so.”

“Out of curiosity, do you like wearing only dresses or what? Cause I’ve never seen you wearing something other than a dress.” The blond asked.

“I wear other stuff, you know. Plus, you met me yesterday so of course you haven’t seen the full extent of my incredible wardrobe. And I could say the same to you, I haven’t seen you in anything but a football kit!” The brunette countered.

“Touché.” Cloud admitted. “I wasn’t trying to offend you, it’s a lovely dress!”

“Aw, aren’t you sweet?” Aerith chuckled. “

“Oh yeah, I never got to ask yesterday. Have you been in Midgar for your whole life or not?”

The blond shook his head. “No, I come down from a small town called Nibelheim.”

Aerith curiously looked at the blond. “Nibelheim? I’ve never heard of that town.”

“It’s a pretty remote town, not much happens there and not many people know of its existence.” Cloud giggled.

Aerith fell into a deep ocean of thought. She remembered Zack telling her about Cloud abruptly leaving Gongaga. Not that she had any doubt this was truly his long-lost childhood friend, but something did feel off.

“Hey, you okay?” The blond asked, waving his hand in Aerith’s face to snap her out of her daydream. It must’ve worked as the flower girl jumped out of her trance, blinking profusely.

“Y-Yeah, I’m good!”

“Are you sure? Is there something on your mind that’s bothering you?”

“No.” Aerith lied. Truthfully, she wanted to know more about Cloud.

She didn’t want to tell Zack this to his face but when she first met the raven-haired boy, she could tell from the get-go that he was deeply saddened by something. Initially, she thought someone close to him had passed away, but she was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was just a friend of his who suddenly dropped contact with him without so much as a reason or explanation.

But she was not so stupid to believe that Cloud has something to do with this. He would’ve been far too young to make such a decision. So, naturally, Aerith’s mind fell on the blond’s mother. Maybe she didn’t think fondly of the raven-haired boy or his family, perhaps?

“Well, I have a question that has been bugging me and I don’t want to seem out of line if I ask it.”

“What about you ask the question and then I’ll tell you if it’s out of bounds or not?”

“This is going to sound like a weird question but - have you always lived in Nibelheim?”

“That? That was your question. I thought you were going to ask something inappropriate or something. No, I moved there when I was 12.”

Bingo.

There it was. She felt a sense of accomplishment like a detective who finally cracked a cold case.

“It was the day I got my secondary gender examination. Mum was frantically going around the house packing up all our things.” He continued. “She told me we couldn’t stay in Gongaga anymore.”

“You seemed really deflated about it.”

“It’s…well…I had a friend in Gongaga. He was a few years older than me, but I really liked him. We would always go to the park together and I’d always go to his house, and we’d play video games and stuff.”

“It sounds like he was a close friend of yours.”

“He was. He didn’t seem to mind having a friend much younger than him, but he was very popular. Lots of kids wanted to be around him but he always stuck by me.”

“So, what happened? You guys have a falling out?”

“I wish we did.” Cloud sighed. “Then us falling out of contact would’ve been easier to cope with. No, we just dropped contact out of the blue. When my mum and I moved to Nibelheim, I would constantly ask her about him, but she would tell me his family moved somewhere else and it was best I forgot about him.”

“But you didn’t, did you?”

“No, but that’s just life. You have your own path, and when your paths no longer align, you naturally drift apart.”

“Yeah, but sometimes, paths can align again when you least expect it.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Fate and destiny are funny things, Cloud. They work in mysterious ways, but one thing is for sure. Fate always reigns supreme no matter who or what tries to stand in its way.” Aerith assured. “Who knows? You might run into this person sooner than you think.”

Cloud smiled. “Yeah, he knows he’s a student here at Midgar University. The only problem is it’s been a long time since I’ve seen him so I’m not sure what he would look like.”

“I might be able to help you out, what’s his name?”

“Zack, Zack Fair.”

“Zack? I’ve definitely heard about him.” Aerith grinned. “Real popular guy. Everyone either loves him to bits or envy that they’re not him.”

“That sounds like the guy I knew back then.” Cloud chuckled to himself.

The flower girl couldn’t help the smile blossoming on her face as she observed Cloud. How she longed to reunite the pair after their long, agonising period of separation. She could see why Zack treasured the blond as a companion.

He was a very friendly and charming person, albeit a little shy. The blond’s smile was bright enough to light up a whole room.

But beyond the sense of happiness also came the inevitable flood of confusion. Seeing firsthand how the two of them treasured each other so much, why was it that they were torn apart so suddenly? Maybe like with most questions in life, time will provide the answer.

“Anyways,” He continued. “It could be that I’ve walked past him a million times and I wouldn’t have known now.”

“I doubt it. He has a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek that’s kind of hard to miss. Also, he’s a tall ass motherfucker, he would’ve stuck out like a sore thumb.”

Cloud nodded. “That’s true. To be honest, even if I don’t meet him again, I just hope that he’s well. And happy.”

The flower girl’s sub-conscience was really knocking on her head now, telling her to just spit out that she knew where the raven-haired man was.

That he was okay.

That he yearned for the blond’s company just as much as he did, possibly even more so.

Her heart flattered when the blond wished for Zack’s happiness, even in his absence.

But she refrained, not out of cruelty or to annoy Zack like she likes to do. It was rather that the flower girl believed that their reunion needed a bit of flair. However, she did not plan to keep the two waiting much longer.

“Okay, enough about the past. Let’s talk about the future. Like are you going anything tomorrow?” The brunette smiled.

“Oh, tomorrow is the final day of tryouts so I’ll find out if I’ve made the team or not.”

“What about in the evening?” Aerith asked as she called the waiter over for the bill.

“I don’t have any plans. Why?”

“You want to go out somewhere?” The flower girl made quick work paying the bill with her credit card, leaving Cloud baffled.

“Okay, but I’ll pay for it. Swear to Gaia, you’re just like Tifa.”

“Tifa? Who’s she? Your girlfriend?”

“No, she’s my best friend. Grew up together in Nibelheim. Every time we go out, she sneaks her way to paying the bill without me knowing.”

“I don’t know about you but if someone paid for me, I wouldn’t complain.” She shrugged.

“Sadly, I can’t relate to that. Did you want to meet by the library again?”

The brunette smiled, giving the blond a thumbs up. “Sounds good to me. Maybe six o’clock?”

Cloud nodded. “Sounds like a plan!”

Cloud stood next to Prompto as they awaited the coach’s arrival. Today was the final day of the football tryouts and thus their last opportunity to prove that they deserved a spot on the team.

Though Cloud tries his utmost best, he could not tame the anxiety that resided in the deep pits of his stomach. He has already made it this far, he couldn’t afford to fail in these final moments.

Soon, Cid appeared before the group. He didn’t have much equipment like he did the previous day, only carrying with him a single football.

“Good morning everyone, I hope you had a good night’s sleep because you’re going to need all the energy you got! I’m gonna keep our final day as simple as possible. For today, you’ll be split into two teams and you’ll participate in a twenty-minute match. Again, I’m not looking for who scored the most goals or does the best tricks. I’m looking for who has good control of the ball, who demonstrates great teamwork and who is quick on their feet.”

“Yes, sir!” The group shouted in unison.

“Right, now…how do I split you into teams?” Cid wondered before casting his gaze towards the two blond omegas. “I got it! I’ll split it down the middle. So, the guys next to the spiky blond, you’re on his team. And the guys next to the curly blond, you form a team.”

“Didn’t think we’d play against each other.” Prompto sighed.

“I won’t hold back if you don’t.” Cloud chuckled.

“Like hell my team and I are holding back. Give us your worst!” The shorter omega exclaimed before moving to his team.

Cloud turned back and was shocked to find Dylan, someone who has made his and Prompto’s time here a living hell, on his team.

“Look, I don’t want trouble today. If you and I want to make it into the team, we have to work together.” Cloud tried to reason.

Unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears as the alpha scoffed. “I don’t need to work with you. I’ll prove to the coach why I deserve to be on the team on my own.”

Cloud rolled his eyes as the rest of his team shook their heads in disapproval. Cid decided that Prompto’s team kick off first and everyone assumed their positions. Cloud observed the other team and where they were positioned, assessing where the best place to press forward would be. Their defenders were really spaced out on each side. He could dash through the middle for a decent shot. But it could also be a trap. Both of them could easily ambush him or at least catch him off guard.

Before he could fall too deep into his thoughts, Cid blows his whistle with Prompto quickly advancing towards his team’s goalpost. He tries to pass Cloud with finesse, but Cloud easily intercepts him, gaining control of the ball. Seeing an opening where Dylan was running, he swiftly passed the ball.

Now, Cloud wishes he didn’t do that as his team spreads out for Dylan to pass the ball to any of them. He instead tries to go for the goalpost himself, quickly being intercepted by one of the opposition’s players. None of Cloud’s team understood the alpha’s motives. Was he trying to impress the coach or show up Cloud? Either way, he was failing…miserably.

Because most of Cloud’s team was on the other side of the pitch, this gave the other team a golden opportunity to score a goal. The opposition took a shot and was miraculously saved by Charlie who passed it back to Cloud. Learning from his mistake, he instead passes it to another one of his team. Once they were on the opposition’s side, he passed the ball back to Cloud who finessed one of the defenders and kicked the ball towards the ball, launching it with a curve that caught the goalkeeper off guard, scoring his team a goal.

His team was quick to celebrate but he shut it down.

“Don’t celebrate yet, the game isn’t over!” Cloud roared, with all but one player nodding.

Soon, it was half-time and the teams switched sides. Cloud scanned the pitch to see where his teammates were positioned. Dylan stood to his right and was the closest player to him, but he immediately refrained from passing the ball to him, given the alpha’s incessant need to outdo him. Instead, he passed it to a teammate who was a little further out, making sure there was little room for interruption.

Sadly, he was intercepted by Prompto who blazes through his team’s defence and scored his team a goal. The smaller omega flashed Cloud a cheeky grin that was returned with an eye roll from Cloud. He began to dribble the ball, slowly jogging towards the goalpost. Suddenly, he feels a blunt force push him, knocking him to the floor. He looks up to see Dylan gazing down at him with an insidious grin as he moves forward with the ball.

Cloud was never the type to wish ill on people, even those who seek to make his life an unbearable mercy. But he was coming awfully close. What was the alpha’s deal with him? It seemed that Cloud’s presence alone was triggering for him.

He got up, shaking his head. Now was not the time to dwell or get into his head. He needed to remain focused if he wanted to prove himself to the coach and to the other players.

Dylan had decent control and had a good shot at the goalpost. Unfortunately, Prompto blazed in front of him and swiped the ball from him. The smaller omega was able to get past most of Cloud’s teammates with ease and was closing in on him. However, Cloud had been around the other blond long enough to counter his tricks. When he tried to breeze past Cloud, he was shocked when he saw Cloud was able to gain the ball from him.

The spiky blond made quick work, passing to other teammates who passed back to him. With a clear opening at the goalpost, he launches the ball with precision. It blitzes past the goalkeeper’s attempt at stopping the ball, earning another goal for his team.

Cid then blew his whistle, signalling the end of the match. Everyone came together, standing before the much older male.

“Well done guys, most of you showed some impressive skills! Now, I will be assessing each of your skills and your performance today and throughout the tryouts. Hopefully, I can decide on a cohesive team by 3 o’clock today so if you could meet outside the locker rooms at 3, you’ll find out whether you made it or not.” Cid explained, with everyone nodding in acknowledgement.

“But thank you everyone for coming for the past few days. I know it’s been exhausting but if you’re on the team after today, know that this is only the beginning. It will only get harder from here.”

Cloud anxiously stood outside with Prompto, having washed and changed into casual attire. The clock was approaching three quickly and most of the group had met at the specified location, eagerly awaiting the results.

“You know, I never asked what you were studying, Cloud?” Prompto curiously asked.

“Mechanical Engineering.”

“Really? I never pictured you as someone who likes cars and stuff. I thought you would’ve done something like Mathematics.”

“Absolutely not, that’s not up my alley.” Cloud laughed.

“Well, I do photography. I’ve always liked taking pictures and capturing precious moments.”

The two were happily talking before being rudely interrupted.

“I don’t know why you two are here. You’re not gonna make the team anyway so you’re better off getting the hell outta here.” Dylan hissed.

“What is your problem, buddy?” Prompto tested the alpha. “Did an omega like us decide you weren’t worth their time?”

“Dylan, just leave them alone,” Charlie advised, trying to cool down the tension. The venomous alpha was about to speak but saw the coach walking towards the group with a piece of paper, and quickly composed himself. Cid stuck the paper on the wall with a grin, watching the group scan over the results. Most of them were elated to see they had made the team.

Cloud and Prompto moved through the crowd to see the results. Upon reading them, the omegas lit up in excitement.

Midfielders: Cloud Strife and Prompto Argentum

“We’re on the team!” Prompto exclaimed, hugging Cloud tightly.

Cloud returned the hug. “Yeah, we are.”

Unfortunately, the burst of excitement was short-lived.

“The fuck is this? I’m a reserve, so I’m not on the team?” Dylan roared.

“No, you’re on the team but only if someone drops out or is injured.” Cid corrected.

Dylan turned to the two omegas, fire in his eyes. “So, the two omegas are on the team and I’m a reserve? They shouldn’t even be here!”

“Dylan!” Charlie shouted. “Stop this! You’re embarrassing yourself.”

“Boy, the ‘two omegas’” Cid air quoted. “Did miles better than you. They’ve done more than enough to earn their spot on the team.”

“And what if one day, we have a big game and the two star players go into heat? Are you gonna be happy you chose them when they spread their ass on the pitch, begging for cock? Are you gonna be happy when the opposing team rams them full of dick?” Dylan seethed, causing the group to react loudly in disagreement.

“That is honestly disgusting.”

“Why would he say something so out of pocket like that?”

“Guys like him give alphas a bad name.”

“You should be happy you’re even on the reserve list. You’ve got some skills, I’ll admit. But your teamwork, especially when working with those two,” He gestured to Cloud and Prompto. “Has been appalling. I’ll only warn you once. Behave like that again and you’re off the team. Full stop.”

Dylan shook his head, walking away.

“Never mind him, guys. Congratulations on making the team, you guys more than anyone deserve it.” Charlie smiled.

“Thank you, you did great too,” Cloud said.

“With you two as our midfielders, we’ll be unstoppable!” Charlie cheered.

Cloud turned his head to see Gladio approaching them. Prompto sprinted to his boyfriend with an ear-to-ear grin. He jumped into his arms, wrapping his legs around his waist.

“I’m on the team, babe!” Prompto exclaimed.

“Congratulations, babe. I knew you could do it.” Gladio smiled, before he pressed his lips against the blond, causing him to blush. “Let’s go home.”

“Wait, I want to say bye to Cloud.”

“Babe, it’s taking all of my restraint not to rip your clothes off now and fuck you bare in this hallway.” Gladio breathed into the blond’s neck. “I’ve been pent up like fuck the past few days, and I know you feel the same.”

Heat spread across Prompto’s face as he turned back to Cloud. He had to suppress laughing at Prompto’s embarrassed face.

“It’s fine, Prompto. I’ll talk to you soon.” Cloud chuckled as he saw Prompto being carried away by his boyfriend. He pulls out his phone to text the flower girl about today.

Me

Made it into the football team.

Aerith

Yay, I knew you could do it. Let’s celebrate tonight! Where did you want to go?

Cloud tried to think about what he wanted to do with the flower girl. He didn’t know her well enough to know her likes and dislikes. For all he knew, she could detest all the things he adored and vice versa. But from what he did know of her, she seemed like a bubbly person who was open to anything.

Me

How do you feel about arcades and roller skating?

Aerith

Love them! See you at 6!

Aerith stood in her room, wrapped in a velvety towel after taking a shower. She didn’t want to stand out too much since she and Cloud weren’t going somewhere extravagant. She also doubts that wearing a dress when roller skating is sure to end in disaster. She debated wearing a pink tweed coat with a matching skirt but an outfit like that would make Aerith look like she was going to dinner with a prince or something.

Instead, the brunette decided on a pink button-up vest along with a black miniskirt. She made sure to have a small pair of shorts underneath the skirt to prevent any perverts from trying to sneak a peek. She completed the look with her signature red jacket, something she wore almost daily.

The flower girl was shaken when she heard loud banging coming from her door. She walked up to her front door, opening it to reveal the raven-haired athlete.

“And why are you so dressed up?” Zack asked, lightly chuckling.

“Did you need something, Zack?”

“I’m not doing much tonight, want to see a movie?”

“Can’t. I’m sure you can tell, I have plans with a friend.”

“Don’t tell me it’s the friend you met yesterday.”

“It is, why?”

“Mind if I tag along?”

“Not tonight, maybe some other time.” Aerith shrugged as she made her way to the elevator, Zack following close behind her.

“C’mon, please. I’m gonna get bored holed up in my house.”

“What about this? I’ll see my friend and if they’re okay hanging around you, you can meet us. Okay?”

“Fine.” He conceded.

“Cloud, I’m a little scared.” Aerith shakily muttered.

After the two met by the library, they took an Uber - that Aerith paid for, much to Cloud’s dismay – into another part of Midgar where the arcade and roller rink resided.

The music was loudly pumping through the speakers, the neon lights waltzed around the room and everyone on the roller rink was having a good time. It had been a long time since she had gone roller skating and she was worried she was going to hurt and embarrass herself.

“It’s alright, take my hand. I’ll guide you through it.” The flower girl placed her shaking hand into the blond’s confident one. He smiled at her as he gently grasped her hand, pulling her along the rink.

“The most important thing is that you keep your balance. Lean forward a bit, but not too much.” He advised.

The flower girl tried to control her breathing as Cloud helped her glide along. He giggled lightly at her nervousness.

“Stop laughing at me!” She demanded, pouting.

“I’m sorry, it’s just funny. You’ll get used to it. I promise.”

Sure enough, it didn’t take long before the brunette got used to the roller skates. Her smile radiated through as she glided alongside the blond. After a considerable amount of time had passed, the two left the rink and sat on a bench. Aerith was untying her skates while Cloud was fastening up his sneakers.

“I’m gonna grab a coke, do you want something?” Cloud asked.

“A cherry coke, please.” Aerith smiled, finally removing her skates and slipping into her Converse shoes.

As the blond skated to the food and drink stand, Aerith felt her phone vibrate. She looked at it and saw Zack had sent her a message.

Zack 🤪

Aerith, please! Can I please come out to see you and your friend? I’m so bored at home!

Me

 I still need to ask him if he’s okay with that.

Zack 🤪

Thank you! What are you guys doing anyway?

Me

Roller skating. Then we’re going to go to the arcade.

Zack 🤪

That is such bullshit! How come you get to have all the fun while I rot here at home?

Me

Okay, fine! Let me ask him if he’s okay with you hanging out with us.

Almost on cue, Cloud held up a bottle of cherry coke in Aerith’s face. She smiled, accepting the fizzy beverage.

“Something on your mind?” Cloud asked.

“I have a friend who wants to hang out with us. Are you okay with that?”

Cloud nodded. “Sure, I have no problem with that.” If her friends were half as nice and kind as her, he would welcome them with open arms.

“Sweet, besides it’s someone I want you to meet. Let’s send him a selfie so he knows what you look like.”

Holding up her phone, she and Cloud brightly smiled as she took a picture and sent it to Zack.

Zack laid on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Words could not describe how bored the raven-haired alpha was. He wondered who Aerith’s friend was. Normally, it was either someone Zack already knew or Aerith would introduce her friends to him in less than a day. The fact that she was keeping the friend a secret made him a little anxious.

What if it wasn’t her friend, but rather her boyfriend? That would possibly explain why the flower girl was being so secretive.

His phone buzzed, showing Aerith had sent him a message as well as a photo. He opened the message.

Aerith 🙄

He said it’s fine.

But it wasn’t the message that shook him, it was the picture. Next to Aerith stood a person Zack was very familiar with.

The spiky blond hair.

The deep blue eyes.

The bright, shining smile.

He didn’t have a single doubt in his mind.

Cloud.

His childhood best friend.

Someone he has desperately wanted to see again.

He frantically scrolled through his contacts, tapping Aerith’s name and waited for it to ring. The flower girl had a lot of explaining to do.

Aerith felt her phone violently vibrate as she and Cloud was sitting on the bench drinking their sodas. She looked at her phone to see Zack was ringing her.

“Cloud, I’ll just be a second. I need to take it.”

“No problem, I’ll be right here.” He smiled.

Once she was a fair distance from Cloud, she pressed the answer button. “Hello?”

“Aerith Gainsborough, you better be shitting me right now!”

“Wow, I desert my friend to take your call and that’s how you speak to me!?”

“Tell me right now. Is that who I think it is?”

“And who do you think it is?”

“Cloud. My best friend that I haven’t seen in years! That’s who you’re hanging out with, doesn’t it?”

“Possibly. Look, I can explain -”

“I’m coming over. I can’t believe you! You had Cloud with you all this time and you didn’t tell me!?”

“I know, I’m sorry, okay? I only met him the other day and I just…well…”

“What? You wanted him for yourself?”

“I knew that once you saw him again, you would hoard him all to yourself!” She countered, hearing a mad-sounding engine in the background. “Don’t tell me you’re speeding!”

“Yeah, I would keep him to myself because that’s my childhood bestie! And yes, I am speeding! I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“Okay, try not to get stopped by the police on the way here.” Aerith sighed before hanging up.

“How long is your friend going to be?” Cloud asked as they exited the roller rink.

“A couple minutes.” She winked.

“Is he a good friend of yours?”

“Yeah, knew him since we were younger. You’re going to be real good friends with him, I’m sure.”

Soon, Zack pulled up his BMW and slammed the door shut, dashing towards the two.

Cloud saw a figure dashing towards them and his heart almost stopped as the figure came closer. He felt his eyes water as he looked at the man standing before him.

That cross-shaped scar on the left cheek.

Those piercing teal eyes.

“Z-Zack?” He shakily asked, his voice cracking.

“Cloud,” Zack responded, his voice trembling as well.

Cloud pinched his hand really hard. This felt too good to be true. It had to be a dream. But the harder he pinched himself, the more he realised this wasn’t a dream.

Zack was really in front of him. After so many years they have being apart, they were finally reunited.

Chapter Text

Cloud wished he could move, but he remained frozen on the spot. His eyes were fixated on the tall, black-haired man, tears rolling down his face like a never-ending waterfall. He wanted to run to Zack, to tightly wrap his arms around him. Luckily, Zack felt the same as the raven-haired man closed the distance between the two, tightly wrapping his strong arms around the blond.

Cloud returned the hug as he felt his shoulder getting wet, likely coming from Zack’s tears. It was as if time stopped for the pair. Cloud couldn’t hear anything apart from the beating of Zack’s heart, his heavy breathing and his soft sobbing. At that moment, it felt like only the two of them were on the planet.

Eight years it had been since they last saw each other. Never had a day passed since their separation that neither of them didn’t think of the other. They spent so long wishing for their reunion. There were times they thought of giving up. After all, days turned into months, months turned into years, and years turned into an uncertain amount of time. Every passing minute after their separation was truly agonising. Now, it seemed all the wishful thinking, every second they spent yearning for each other wasn’t in vain in the end.

“Y-You’re really here. Gaia, I missed you so much, Cloud!” Zack sobbed, bringing the blond as close to him as he could.

“I…I…I didn’t think I’d see you again. I-I thought you had forgotten about me!” Cloud cried into the taller man’s chest. Cloud felt Zack pull away a tad before resting their foreheads together.

“Forgotten about you? Sunshine, you were the only thing on my mind since the day we parted.”

“Really?” Cloud breathed, a radiant smile spread across his face. “You’re real, right? This isn’t a dream?”

“I’m wondering the same thing too, Sunshine. But I don’t think this is a dream.” Zack smiled, holding the blond to his broad chest.

“I dreamed a day like this would come for years.”

“So did I, Spike. So did I.” Zack smiled, and his heavy sobs turned into light whimpers. “Gods, you don’t know how fucking happy I am to see you. You’ve grown so much.”

Cloud looked up to Zack with a wide smile. Though he had grown a lot over the years courtesy of a growth spurt and puberty, the raven-haired man still very much towered over him. Not that he minded, of course.

The two heard sobbing and turned to the source of it. Aerith was crying as well, trying to wipe her tears with her palms.

“Now why are you crying?” Zack joked.

“Sorry, this has made me really emotional.” Aerith cried. “I’m so happy you two are reunited at last.”

“I don’t know whether to comfort you for bringing us together or smack you for keeping him away from me.” Zack chuckled. Cloud made the decision for him as he pulled away from their embrace to hug the brunette.

“Comfort her now, smack her later.” Cloud chuckled. The raven-haired man let out a small laugh as he too hugged Aerith. They remained in this tight embrace for several minutes before splitting apart.

“Wait a second, you told me yesterday that you’ve only heard of Zack? You not only knew about him the whole time, but you’re also practically best friends with him and you didn’t think to tell me!?” Cloud exclaimed at the flower girl.

“I did, but I only wanted to make sure you were Cloud and not some other blond who resembled him.”

“Aerith, I’m not an idiot. I would’ve been able to tell if it was really Cloud or not.” He said, turning to Cloud. “She told me that she was just meeting a friend, not that she was meeting up with you specifically.”

“Yeah, because I know you would’ve kept him to yourself.” She pouted.

“Obviously, he is my childhood friend, Aerith.”

“Wait, you didn’t tell me earlier because you wanted to spend more time with me?”

Aerith smiled. “Of course, you’re a fun guy to hang out with and I wanted to savour it before I reunited you with this enormous alpha hunk over here.” She playfully slapped Zack on the arm.

“In that case, I guess I can forgive you.” Cloud giggled.

“I don’t,” Zack interjected. “You kept me away from my Sunshine, you poisonous flower.”

“Hey, you’re together now, aren’t you?” Aerith shrugged. “Now, let’s go to the arcade! I haven’t forgotten we need to celebrate you making the football team, Cloud!”

“Oh Gaia, yeah! You loved to play football on the playground when we were younger, didn’t you, Cloud?”

Cloud nodded, laughing. “Yeah, you would always be the goalkeeper whenever I wanted to practice shooting.”

They both knew that they had a lot of reminiscing and catching up to do. But they didn’t mind. In fact, both of them were beyond eager to learn what had become of their lives since their separation.

They made their way to Zack’s BMW.

“I call shotgun!” Aerith exclaimed.

“You ain’t calling shit! Not when Cloud and I could’ve been reunited a day before if it wasn’t for your selfish desires.” Zack hissed.

“I wasn’t being selfish, you asshole.” Aerith spat.

“Whatever, Cloud is sitting in front. You can sit in the back.”

“How the fuck are you so good at this game, Aerith?” Cloud questioned in shock. Once they got to the arcade, Aerith pulled Cloud in to play this zombie game she liked to play. The House of the Dead, it was called.

“You need to look out for crates and stuff like that. Sometimes, they hide coins that can boost your score.” Aerith explained before they embarked on to the next stage. “Also, you can’t go all trigger-happy, shooting everywhere otherwise you won’t have enough time to reload and by the time you do, a zombie has already bitten your face off.”

Cloud felt Zack standing behind him as his hands gently overlapped his own. “Cloud, can you see the crosshair at the end of the gun? Use that to aim at the zombies, you’ll get better accuracy that way.”

“Hey! You can’t show him how to play the game, that’s not fair!” Aerith pouted.

“You’ve played this game hundreds of times, Aerith! I want to give Cloud a fair chance.” Zack shrugged, causing Aerith to roll her eyes at him.

Cloud took up the raven-haired man’s advice and was shocked to see his accuracy drastically improve. Sure enough, when the blond and brunette finished the game, Cloud’s score managed to surpass that of Aerith’s. Zack high-fived Cloud while Aerith scoffed at them.

“Thanks, Zack. That really helped.” Cloud smiled.

“Anything for my Sunshine.” Zack tightly hugged the blond, ruffling his hair. Cloud laughed as he returned the hug.

“Why do I feel like a third wheel here?” Aerith sarcastically asked. “I still exist, you know.”

“Shut up!” Zack interjected, his arms still holding the blond close. “You’re ruining the moment.”

Cloud pulled away from Zack, still laughing. “Does Zack hug you this much, Aerith?”

The flower girl let out a loud laugh. “I’d be lucky if he decides to hug me at all.”

“Because you don’t deserve it.” Zack joked.

The three of them moved around the arcade, playing all sorts of video games. Being the athletic man he was, Cloud wasn’t surprised when Zack performed exceptionally well in the basketball game. The machine dispensed the tickets for so long, it seemed almost endless.

“I think you broke the machine, Zack.” Cloud nervously said.

“No, I beat the high score on this thing. Of course, it’s going to dispense a zillion tickets.” Zack chuckled. Sure enough, the machine stopped dispensing the tickets, leaving a mountain of them for Cloud to pick up.

“Any idea what you want to do with them?” Cloud asked.

“Let’s head over to the prize stand and find out.”

Once they got to the prize stand, they scanned over the prizes that were up for grabs. Given the mountain of tickets that Zack single-handedly earned from the basketball machine, they already had enough to acquire most of them. But the raven-haired man was eying something else.

“What have you got your eyes on, big guy?” Cloud asked.

“Big guy? Are you saying I’m fat?” Zack accused, holding the blond in a gentle chokehold and ruffling his hair.

“I’m not saying that! I’m saying you’re tall and bulky!”

“Okay, if you say so.” Zack laughed, pulling the blond close. “You see that massive wolf plushie?”

Cloud’s eyes followed where Zack was pointing. “Yeah, the thing that’s worth like a billion tickets? What about it?”

“I’m gonna win it.” Zack grinned, causing Cloud to look at him puzzled.

“I thought you hated stuffed animals and plushies?”

“Not for me, Sunshine. For you.” Zack smiled.

“For me? And where am I going to put that massive toy in my apartment?”

“Apartment? You have an apartment here, Sunshine?” Zack asked, surprised.

It wasn’t unusual for him to have an apartment since his family had money in abundance. That and he didn’t like the idea of sharing a house with a bunch of other people. But Cloud? Zack didn’t want to come across as condescending, but the blond’s family was not well off from what he remembered. So, how could he afford to have an apartment in an overly expensive city like Midgar?

“I’ll explain everything later.”

“Cloud, promise me you didn’t get into drug dealings or shady business.” Zack sternly warned the blond.

“No, I’m not part of a drug cartel, Zack!” Cloud retorted.

“Come on, Zack. You seriously think Cloud would be doing shady business with this angelic face?” Aerith joked, pinching Cloud’s cheeks.

“I don’t know, looks can be deceiving.” Zack teased the blond.

“Stop teasing me, Puppy!” Cloud pouted. “Trust me, if I was in that kind of business, you would know about it.”

“Puppy? You’re really going to use that nickname for me?” Zack asked, a light blush spreading across his cheeks.

“Aw! Look, Aerith, he’s blushing!” Cloud laughed, causing the flower girl to join in.

“Great, two of my friends are ridiculing me.” The raven-haired man pouted.

“We’re not laughing at you, Puppy.” Cloud hugged the sulking man. “It’s just when we were younger, you were always so happy and full of life and energy like a puppy. Hence the nickname.”

“I’m aware of that, Sunshine.” Zack chuckled, hugging the blond back.

“So, are you still going to win me that big wolf plushie then?” Cloud asked, displaying a cute pout on his face.

“Okay, okay, I will.” Zack chuckled. “But only because you’re so adorable!” He gently held Cloud’s face who smiled radiantly at him.

“I’m actually going to throw up, this is too much fluff!” Aerith exclaimed, making fake gagging noises.

The raven-haired man then got to work, playing through numerous games to acquire enough tickets for the plushie. While Zack was in the middle of playing a game of whack-a-mole, Cloud felt his phone in his pocket vibrated. He pulled his phone to see he had a new message from Tifa.

Tifa

Hey there, Cloud. You doing anything right now?

Me

Hey, Tifa. Yeah, I’m out at the moment. Is there something you needed?

Tifa

Out? With who?

Me

A girl I met the other day.

Tifa

Fuck off! I know you didn’t replace me, you snake!

Me

I didn’t replace anyone, Tifa. You’re more than welcome to meet her if you like.

Tifa

Maybe I will. But I’m happy you’ve made a new friend. I wanted to text you because I’m bored at home and all my flatmates went out.

Me

And they didn’t invite you? Rude.

Tifa

I know, right!? But no, they did invite me. I just didn’t want to go out and be blackout drunk. Especially considering you and I will start working at Seventh Heaven tomorrow.

Me

Well, if you want, you can come join my friend and I. We’re at an arcade around the north side of Midgar.

Tifa

Sure, I’ll only be a few minutes. See you then.

“Texting your girlfriend or something, Sunshine?” Zack asked, startling the blond.

“N-No, my best friend is going to be here in a few minutes.”

“Best friend? So, you have replaced me?” Zack pouted, starting to fake sob.

“Why is everyone thinking I replaced them?” Cloud whined. “No, you haven’t been replaced. She’s a good friend of mine. You’ll love her.”

Cloud excused himself, stepping outside to look out for his best friend. He wasn’t sure how Tifa would react seeing Zack for the first time. Knowing Tifa’s outgoing and friendly demeanour, he would assume she would welcome the raven-haired man with open arms.

He looked ahead to see Tifa jogging towards him. The blond smiled, holding out his arms as Tifa hugged him.

“Hey,” Cloud simply said, lightly chuckling.

“Hey? I haven’t seen you all day, and all you can say is hey?” Tifa pulled away from Cloud and noticed the blond’s eyes were a little puffy. “C-Cloud, have you been crying?”

“Oh, um…” Cloud began to stutter. It wasn’t long ago that he and Zack shed tears of joy but naturally, someone on the outside would know that.

“Okay.” Tifa began, her face once joyous turned into a stern, vengeful glare. “What bastard do I need to beat the shit out of? Who the fuck made you cry?”

“Tifa, no one hurt me-”

“Or was it this new friend of yours?” Tifa interjected. “Spit it out, Cloud Strife. Who hurt you!?”

“Yes, I cried, Tifa. But it wasn’t from fear or sadness, it was joy.”

Just as Cloud was going to explain, Zack and Aerith stepped out of the arcade, with Zack carrying the massive wolf plushie.

“There you are!” Aerith exclaimed, wrapping her arms around the blond. “I was wondering where you had gone. I asked Zack and he said you got tired of me!”

Tifa looked at them, amused. “Is this your new friend, Cloud?”

“Oh yeah, Tifa, this is Aerith. Aerith, this is-”

The flower girl pulled away from Cloud and moved toward the raven-haired woman. “It’s nice to meet you, Tifa.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Aerith. And you are?” Tifa looked at the tall, black-haired man.

“Zack,” he said, making Tifa gasp.

“Hold on, Zack? As in Zack Fair? THE Zack Cloud was friends with years ago?” Tifa excitedly shouted. Zack chuckled and turned to the blond who was blushing hard.

“You been talking about me to a lot of people? Huh, Cloud?” The raven-haired man grinned, hugging the blond from behind and resting his head on Cloud’s shoulder. The blond turned away from Zack, refusing to let him see his blush.  

“Yeah, he talked tons about you.” Tifa teased.

“Aw, Sunshine, I’m flattered.” Zack smiled.

“It’s been a nightmare for me the past couple of hours,” Aerith complained to Tifa, pouting. “It’s like they’re in their own little world when they’re together.”

“Aw, that’s a shame. I wouldn’t mind having your company.” Tifa said.

“Really? Well, you don’t seem like bad company at all.”

“Well, in that case, how about we let the reunited friends catch up while you and I get to know each other a bit more?” Tifa suggested.

“Great idea!” Aerith shouted, taking Tifa’s hand. Cloud and Zack watched as the two women walked away from them.

“Wait, don’t you guys want a ride or something?” Zack shouted.

“No thanks, we’ll get an Uber!” Aerith exclaimed, holding up her phone.

Zack sighed, shaking his head. “Was she as much of a pain in the ass to you as she is to me?”

Cloud playfully shook his head. “No, quite the opposite actually. But I’m sure she still cares about you.”

“Cares about me? She kept you away from me!” Zack whined.

“It was only for a day or two. Also, she had a point.” Cloud didn’t mean for Aerith to feel like a third wheel. On the other hand, he was reunited with someone he thought he would never see again. Naturally, he wanted to spend time with Zack given that it had been forever since they saw each other.

“Okay, did you want to head back to mine? We can play video games, and I’ll order us takeout. Plus, I really want to catch up on everything.”

Cloud happily nodded. “Let’s go!”

Cloud and Zack arrived at the latter’s apartment in somewhat good timing. Granted, Zack was eager to get back to his home and tried speeding at certain parts of the journey. However, the blond actively discouraged it, not wanting Zack to obtain a ticket or worse, a criminal record.

Cloud was shocked to see the size of Zack’s apartment. It was at least double the size of his own, which already had a considerable amount of space. He looked over to the living room to see Zack had almost every high-end tech product on the market.

“Woah, you have the PS5 Pro!?” Cloud asked in disbelief. “How? It’s not even out yet!”

“Sunshine, you know I come from a well-off family who has connections.”

“Wow, I’m lucky enough to have a PS4, let alone a PS5.”

“I’m happy to buy you a PS5 if you like.”

“Don’t be lazy, Puppy. You don’t need to do that for me.” Cloud affirmed. 

“Whatever you say, Sunshine.” Zack shrugged. The raven-haired man didn’t see the problem. He was set for life, he was so loaded that he could set thousands of Gil on fire and he would still be financially stable. Also, he wouldn’t mind buying Cloud a few things here and there. Hell, he would buy the entire world for the blond if he could. If he could make the blond’s life more bearable and stable, he would stop at nothing to do so.

But Cloud never usually liked it when people bought things for him. He didn’t want to be perceived as a liability or a gold digger. So as much as he would love something extravagant like a PS5, he would rather work his ass off to get it than accept a handout from someone.

“Anyways, what do you feel like eating tonight, Sunshine?”

“I don’t know, I don’t really mind.” Cloud shrugged.

“Okay, I’ll order pizza. Got any preferences?”

“BBQ chicken if they’ve got.”

“BBQ chicken it is!” Zack cheered, placing the order on his phone. Zack sat alongside Cloud on the sofa, handing the blond one of the controllers. “Are there any games you wanna play?”

“Do you have Gran Turismo?”

“Do I have Gran Turismo?” Zack repeated, laughing. “Of course, I have that game, Sunshine. You think I’ve forgotten about your obsession with cars?”

“Whatever.” Cloud huffed.

“I bet I can beat you in a race.”

“The hell you can!” Cloud loudly disagreed.

“Okay then, you’re on.” Zack cheerily winked.

“Told you I would beat you.” Cloud grinned.

The pair played a few races on various tracks, and Cloud reined victorious every time. Annoyed, Zack checked his controller for any defects, refusing to believe the blond had bettered him. To his mortification, it turned out the controller was in fact fully functional and void of any technical issues. He turned to see the blond laughing at him.

“You’d better stop laughing at me!” Zack playfully shouted.

“Do you think the controller’s the problem?” Cloud laughed. “Face it, Zack. It’s because you aren’t good at the game.”

“Last warning, Sunshine.” Zack darkly warned in a low voice.

Despite the raven-haired man’s warnings, Cloud’s laughter never came to a stop. Suddenly, Zack lunged at the blond, pinning him to the floor. His fingers hovered around Cloud’s sides and started to relentlessly tickle the blond.

“Z-Zack, stop! I’m s-sorry.” Cloud exclaimed, erupting in continuous laughter.

“Now, you’re saying sorry, huh?” Zack teased. “You think I’m a joke, huh? Do you, Sunshine?”

“N-No!” Cloud laughed, kicking his legs in a futile attempt to get the man towering over him to cease his attack.

“Say I’m good at video games.”

“Y-You’re good at video games!” Cloud repeated, his face bright red from laughing too much.

“What was that? I couldn’t hear you.”

“You’re good at games, Zack!”

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Zack grinned, finally ceasing the blond’s torture.

He laid the hands beside Cloud’s head as the blond frantically tried to catch his breath. Zack looked down at the blond who was blissfully smiling at him. The raven-haired man couldn’t stop the smile from manifesting on his face as he pulled the blond close to him for the hundredth time that evening.

“I still can’t believe you’re here, Cloud.” Zack breathed. “I keep waiting to wake up, thinking this must be some kind of wonderful dream my brain refusing to let go.”

Cloud rubbed Zack’s back, trying to comfort the taller man. “I get how you’re feeling, Zack. I really do. I didn’t think I would be able to hug you again or see your vibrant smile again. And it took us too damn long but we’re finally here now.”

“I’m gonna chain you to my bed so you never leave me again.” Zack joked, prompting Cloud to slap him on the arm.

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

“You want to spend the night here?” Zack nonchalantly asked.

Cloud raised an eyebrow. “It’s not that late. I can have dinner here and still make it home.”

“Please?” Zack begged. “I wanna spend more time with you.”

“I don’t even have pyjamas or a change of clothes.”

“Don’t worry, I can sort that out for you. Pleassseeee?” Zack begged, looking at the blond with puppy eyes.

Cloud bit his lip, trying not to burst out in laughter. “Okay, okay, I’ll stay the night.”

“Yay!” Zack cheered. “I get to spend more time with my Cloudy!”

Cloud playfully rolled his eyes as Zack got up. “Let me go find you a change of clothes. In the meantime, you’re welcome to jump in the shower while we wait for the pizza to arrive.”

Cloud nodded in acknowledgement as Zack went into his bedroom. As he heard Zack rummaging through his room, he pulled out his phone to quickly call Tifa.

“Hello.”

“Hey Tifa, everything okay with you and Aerith?”

“Cloud, I cannot tell you in words how much I love this girl!” He chuckled as he could hear Aerith cheering in the background. “She is so fun to be around!”

“Yeah, tell that to Zack.”

“Well, tell him I’m beyond grateful to you both for introducing me to my new bestie!”

“Okay, ouch. That hurts.”

“Aw, I’m only joking, Cloud. You know I love you to bits! By the way, where did you and Zack go off to?”

“We’re just in his apartment, about to have pizza. What about you and Aerith?”

“We went to a bar near that arcade you guys we’re at.”

“Okay, don’t get too pissed.”

“I think it may be a little too late for that. Aerith and I have had a few bottles of wine between us and people keep sending shots our way.”

“In that case, I’ll stop by the pharmacy to get you painkillers for the painful headache you’re going to have in the morning."

“Yeah, and you’re going to need painkillers for your gaping asshole once Zack rips it apart with his dick!”

Cloud gasped in shock. “Tifa, I only reunited with Zack this evening. There’s no way that is going to happen tonight, IF EVER!”

“Whatever you say. And please don’t forget protection. I don’t want my bestie getting preggers at this tender age."

“Tifa.” Cloud sighed. He might as well appease the woman while she’s drunk off her mind. “Okay, I’ll use protection.”

“That’s a good boy.” Tifa giggled. “Oh, looks like some guy is trying to chat up Aerith and she’s getting visibly pissed off. Sorry, gotta go beat a bitch up.”

“Okay, don’t land in prison.”

“No promises, bye!” As he hung up the phone, Zack emerged from his bedroom with a towel and clothes for the blond.

“I don’t know if the stuff will fit you, but they were in the smallest size I could find.”

Cloud was highly doubtful that the clothes would fit him. Not only was Zack much taller than him, but he was also much broader and more muscular. The blond couldn’t help but feel a little envious.

“Thanks, am I okay to use your shower now?”

“Of course! From now on, this is your home too, Sunshine!”

“Thanks for the sentiment but I do have a place of my own.”

“Then now you have two places!” Zack beamed.

As Zack could hear the shower running, he was fighting a battle with his curiosity. He had to fight the urge to burst out into the bathroom and invade the blond’s privacy. His mind wondered if Cloud’s body looked the same as it did in his dream not too long ago. The filthy, perverted thoughts began to plague his mind, and the raven-haired man knew he needed to do away with them before Cloud stepped out from his shower.

He was no stranger to one-night stands. Hell, he had many of them in his time. But he couldn’t allow Cloud to be another name on his long list of one and dones. No, he would have to keep his perverted ambitions towards the blond confined in his fantasies and pray that they don’t drive him to the brink of insanity.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Zack thanked the Gods above that the pizza delivery guy came in time to snap him out of it. He dashed to the door and took the pizza from the delivery man who thanked him for the generous tip he left on the app.

“Z-Zack” He heard Cloud whimper.

“Just in time, Sunshine. The pizza just arrived.” He smiled, before turning to the blond. Zack swore he almost dropped the pizza upon glancing at how the blond was looking. To no one’s surprise, the clothes he lent the blond were too big for him. Cloud was only wearing his shirt, which went down just above his knees.

“I tried to put on the shorts but no matter how much I tried to tighten them, they would just fall down.” He muttered.

“Sorry, Sunshine. I promise next time you sleep over, I’ll have a set of pyjamas that fit you perfectly.” He assured Cloud.

“N-No, it’s fine,” Cloud muttered.

“I hope you’re hungry 'cause I ordered an extra-large.” Zack chuckled. “Did you want to eat by the table or the TV?”

“The TV. Let’s put on a movie or something.”

The pair sat by the TV, watching the credits of the movie roll. Zack decided to put on a psychological thriller on Netflix that had both him and Cloud on the edge of the sofa. Their empty plates laid idly on the floor as Zack browsed through the different movies.

“Cloud?” Zack asked abruptly.

“Yeah?”

“Can I ask a personal question?”

Cloud nervously shuffled on the sofa, turning to the raven-haired man. “I guess.”

“What happened eight years ago? Did I do something to scare you off?”

“No! Of course, you didn’t!” Cloud quickly assured the taller man. “All I can remember from that time was that I had done my secondary gender examination. Mum and I got my results but that day, Mum was frantically packing my things. She told me we needed to move out quickly. I told her I wanted to at least say goodbye to you and your family before we went but she said we had no time.”

“I remember. You were so excited to learn what you were going to be.” Zack sighed.

“I told Mum I was going to see you for ice cream. I was really excited about it too, but Mum said we needed to leave now.”

“By the way, what did you come out as?”

“I came out as an omega,” Cloud affirmed.

“Dominant or recessive?”

“I swear I’ve been asked that question too many times. I’m neither, I’m a rare kind of omega.”

“Okay.” Zack nodded.

“You’re an alpha, aren’t you? You told me when we were younger but I’m not too sure.”

“Yep, a dominant alpha to be exact.”

“Of course you are, you radiated that kind of energy.”

“So, did you ask your mum about me?”

“All the time. Every day I asked her where you were, she would tell me you were fine and not to bother her about it so much.”

“Weird, my mum did the same thing about you,” Zack said, puzzled.

“What about you?”

“I ran to my mum, asking her where you and your mum went. She said she didn’t know and was trying to get a hold of her. I went to my dad, and he said he didn’t know either and carried on with his work. How is your mum? Is she okay?”

“Yeah, she’s doing well. She’s running a bakery in Nibelheim that gets quite a lot of business.”

“I’m really glad to hear that. At least next time I see my mum, I can let her know Auntie Claudia is alive and well.” Zack chuckled. “Oh yeah, how have you got your own apartment here? Midgar is an expensive city to live in.”

“Yeah, I am one of the few Shinra Scholars.”

“Fuck off! You always were smart though. You always used to run to me, showing off all your A+’s and your 90 percents.”

“Yeah, so I hope it puts you at ease that I’m not in some drug cartel or illegal business that pays me crazy money.”

“I’m relieved,” Zack muttered. “I won’t lie, Cloud. I wasn’t in the best condition after you abruptly left. I had to go through a ton of therapy, I would get a ton of headaches, and I would cry to my mum all the time. The day you suddenly left, it felt like a piece of my heart was ripped away from me.” His voice cracked as he revisited the horrible memories.

He stopped once he heard sniffling coming from Cloud. He looked up to see the blond crying and rushed to comfort him.

“I’m so sorry, Zack.” Cloud sobbed, crying into the alpha’s chest. “I missed you so, so much. I-It hurt so much! If I could go back, I would’ve fought tooth and nail not to leave.”

“I know you could, Sunshine.” Zack breathed, tears rolling down his face as he gently stroked Cloud’s soft locks. Pulling away from the blond, he rested his forehead on top of Cloud’s.  

“But that doesn’t matter now.” He continued. “I’m here for you, and you’re here for me now. Nothing and no one will pull us apart again. Okay?”

Cloud nodded, wiping his tears away. “Yeah, the planet brought us together when we least expected it.”

“And may the planet ensure we never get separated again.” Zack smiled as Cloud yawned. “You can take the bed tonight, I’ll sleep here on the sofa.”

“How big is your bed?”

“It’s a king-size bed, but I want you to feel comfortable.”

Cloud got up, pulling Zack with him as they made their way to his bedroom. “Zack, if it’s a king-size bed, it will fit both of us and leave a lot of space.”

“You’re okay with sharing a bed with me?”

“We did it a lot when we were kids, why would it be different now?” Cloud shrugged as he got under the sheets.

Zack gulped, lying next to the blond. “Just so you know, I have a tendency to hug the closest thing to me when I sleep. So, don’t be alarmed if you sleep up to me hugging me.”

Cloud laughed, turning to look at the alpha. “It’s okay, I won’t run away.”

Zack smiled, happy that the last thing he saw before his world faded into black was the omega’s angelic face.

Chapter Text

The sun blessed the streets of Midgar with its angelic sunlight as it rose from its nightly slumber. Cloud started to pierce his eyes open and stared out the window. The skies were an amber hue with very few clouds to be seen. The blond was grateful to see that it wouldn’t be a gloomy day today.

Come to think of it, he was weirded out to realise that there hadn’t been a rainy day since the day he arrived in the city. But he was only in Midgar for just short of a week and was sure a rainy day was imminent. He tried to stretch his arms, only to discover he was being held down by two strong, bulky arms.

He turned his head to see Zack’s peaceful sleeping face. The alpha had snuggled up to the blond’s neck and was sleeping soundly. He wasn’t surprised – the alpha warned him the night before this was likely to happen. But he didn’t mind. In fact, he welcomed Zack’s endearing and almost possessive embrace.

The omega fully turned around to see Zack was slowly beginning to awake. He let out a slight giggle as the raven-haired alpha opened his eyes. Their eyes met and Zack swore he almost melted on the spot.

“Good morning,” Cloud whispered.

Zack blushed as he felt his arms wrapped around the blond. “Morning.”

The raven-haired alpha hoped that he wasn’t struck with morning wood this time. The last thing he wanted to do was make Cloud uncomfortable. However, judging by the way the omega was smiling at him, it was safe to say he wasn’t hard, or Cloud didn’t mind it if he was.

“Sorry, I’m not suffocating you, am I?” Zack playfully asked.

“No, not at all,” Cloud assured, placing his hands on the alpha’s broad shoulders. “Your bed is very comfy.”

“You’re welcome to sleep here any time, Sunshine.”

“I might have to take you up on that offer, Puppy.” Cloud chuckled as he began to make his way out of bed. Zack whined, pulling him back. “Zack, I have to get up.”

“Five more minutes.” Zack pouted, making Cloud laugh.

“Okay, fine,” Cloud said in defeat as Zack grinned into his neck. Cloud laid with Zack under the covers of his bed, basking in the warmth of Zack’s body. “Are you always this cuddly with your other friends?”

“Nope, just you. Because you’re special and I’m making up for eight years of cuddles I could’ve had.” Zack affirmed.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but I really want to have a cup of coffee,” Cloud whined.

“Okay, I’ll let you go.” Zack sighed, letting the blond shift out of his embrace. He watched Cloud as the blond put on the jeans he was wearing yesterday.

“Don’t worry, Puppy. You’ll get more cuddles later.” Cloud promised before moving to the kitchen. He scanned through the cupboards looking for the coffee, only to find there was none.

“Zack! Where’s the coffee?” Cloud called out. The raven-haired alpha emerged from his bedroom clad in only his underwear, causing the blond to display a feverish blush across his cheeks. “And Shiva’s tits, put something on!”

“What? It’s my apartment, I could walk around ass naked if I wanted to.” Zack shrugged. “And I ran out of coffee yesterday.”

“Great.” Cloud pouted. “Now how am I meant to stay awake the entire day?”

“Fine, we can stop over at Starbucks before I drop you off.” Zack leaned in close to the blond, staring directly into his blue eyes. “That okay for you?”

Cloud gulped, turning away from Zack’s intense gaze. “Y-Yeah”

“Sweet, I’m going to take a shower then we’ll go.” Zack smiled before moving to the bathroom.

Cloud tries his best to slow his racing heart and to get his breathing under control. Seeing Zack almost naked reminded Cloud of the erotic dream he experienced a few days ago. It didn’t help that Zack in reality possessed a similar body to what he envisioned in his slumber, albeit a little bigger.

The omega sat on Zack’s sofa as he waited for the alpha to finish washing up. He looked around the apartment, taking in all the novelties Zack had. It was evident to Cloud that Zack was clearly rich. Every appliance he owned here was likely the most advanced in the market.

The coffee machine the blond had would pale in comparison to the one Zack currently had. It had all sorts of settings: temperature, milk frothiness, and coffee strength. Cloud didn’t understand the use of such appliances. He was a simple person who used simple things to live a simple life. He didn’t need to have overly complicated things.

Soon, the alpha emerged from the bathroom. He was wearing a simple outfit: a dark blue V-neck t-shirt with denim jeans. Maybe it was watching all those dramas with his mum but Cloud thought being from a rich, elite family as he was, Zack would always wear nothing but designer clothes.

“You wanna go now, Sunshine?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

“Sweet, let’s go down to the garage and I’ll let you decide what car you want to ride in.” Zack said as he pressed the button to go down, shutting the elevator’s doors. “By the way, I don’t think we exchanged numbers, did we?”

Cloud shook his head. “No, I don’t think we did.” The alpha handed him his phone, to which he put in his phone number.

“Good. Now, in the unlikely event we get separated again, we’ll be able to contact each other at least.”

They descended in the elevator, leading to Zack’s personal parking floor.

“I can’t believe you have your own floor for your cars. How many do you have?”

“You’ll see soon enough, Sunshine.” He winked. Once the elevator doors opened, Cloud’s jaw dropped near to the floor. He could see several different cars, all from high-profile manufacturers. He could see a Lamborghini, a Porsche, a Ferrari and the BMW they drove in last night. 

“Do you really need all these cars, Zack?”

“Do I need them? No. Do I like to have them? Absolutely.”

“What if someone comes by and steals them all?”

“Sunshine, you don’t think I have security tags on these cars?”

“And what? Does it self-destruct?”

“It has that feature.” Zack shrugged, with Cloud turning to him with a shocked expression. “Don’t worry about it too much, Sunshine. This place has the best security money can buy. Now, which one do you wanna take a spin at?”

Cloud never thought he would say this but for once in his life, he was spoiled for choice. He always dreamed of driving in one of these cars.

“And don’t worry, I’ll make sure you get to ride in every one of these cars,” Zack assured, ruffling the blond’s hair.

“Can we ride in the Lamborghini Centenario today?”

“Sure, you can!” Zack exclaimed, getting the keys to unlock the car. They both got in as Cloud watched around the car in awe. “Excited, Sunshine?”

“Abso-fucking-lutely!” Cloud exclaimed with a wide grin on his face. “I never thought I could be inside a Lamborghini!”

“You know, I’m happy to get you one,” Zack smirked.

“Don’t be stupid, Zack. Cars like this cost hundreds of thousands of Gil.”

“So?” Zack shrugged.

“So!?” Cloud repeated. “You can’t waste that kind of money like that for me.”

“Would having a Lamborghini make you happy?”

“Well, yeah. Course it would make me happy.”

“Then, it wouldn’t be a waste.”

“Really? Why?”

“Because I’d exchange all the money I have for just one smile from you, Sunshine.”

Cloud blushed immensely. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”

“Nope, just you.”

“Just drive us to Starbucks, Puppy. I need my coffee fix!”

“Ugh, my head really hurts.” Tifa groaned.

Cloud chuckled as Tifa laid her head against the book she was reading. “I told you not to drink so much.”

After Zack dropped him home, he decided to put on a fresh new change of clothes before heading to Tifa’s. He was shocked to see that she was suffering from a horrendous hangover but that didn’t stop him from dragging her to the library with him. He gave her a few painkillers to dull the headache, much to Tifa’s disdain.

“Come on, Tifa. The vacation phase is almost over and we’re going to have lectures and classes thrown our way. Now, we need to study.”

“You’re such a villain.” Tifa hissed. “What kind of friend drags their hungover friend to the library to study? I’m trying to recover from last night! Why are you making me suffer?”

Cloud covered his mouth in an attempt to conceal his snarling. “The kind of friend who is mean to be kind. And I told you not to get hungover 'cause we start at Seventh Heaven tonight.”

“Oh, a hangover only lasts several hours, Cloud. I’ll be as fragrant as a daisy by then.”

“Sounds like something Aerith would say.”

“Sounds like you had a nice time with your childhood bestie, huh Cloud?”

Cloud shrugged. “Of course it was nice. Turns out we didn’t need protection.”

“What?” Tifa asked, puzzled.

“You don’t remember what you said over the phone to me?” Cloud asked back with a raised eyebrow.

“Shiva’s tits, please tell me it wasn’t anything embarrassing.” She pleaded.

“Well, if you must know. I told you that I would have painkillers ready for your hangover. Then you replied saying I would need painkillers for the sore asshole Zack was going to give me.”

“Gaia, did I really say that?” Tifa asked, mortified. “Wait a second, you didn’t use protection? Cloud, you could get pregnant!”

“No, Tifa! We didn’t use protection because we didn’t have sex!”

“Oh, thank Gaia. So, what did you guys do then?”

“Played video games and watched movies, Tifa.”

“I’ll just say this: if you jumped into bed with him, I wouldn’t blame you.”

“Tifa!”

“What? I’m not blind, you know. He’s a very attractive guy.”

“If you want me to set you up on a date with him, all you need to do is ask.” Cloud chuckled, prompting Tifa to quietly chuckle, rolling her eyes.

“Hey guys, look over here!” Cloud turned to see what the commotion was, to see it was Dylan with some of his other friends. “Here’s the omega I was telling you about.”

Cloud rolled his eyes and started to pack up his things. “Can we go study somewhere else, Tifa? I’m not in the mood to put up a fight right now.”

“No, no, stay there. I was just talking to my friends about you.”

“I’m glad to know I’m a great topic of your conversation,” Cloud muttered, his voice reeking of sarcasm.

Tifa looked at the alpha trying to mock her friend, and it was as if the hangover she was suffering went away all of a sudden. She stood in front of the blond, ignoring the pain in her head from moving so quickly.

“Have you got a problem, tough guy?” Tifa mockingly asked.

“Yeah, I do. Thanks to the omega friend of years, I’m not on the football team.” Dylan snarled, turning to Cloud. “Can you believe this guy got into the team?”

“Yeah, I can because he probably played miles better than you did. How about you do everyone a favour and swallow your alpha pride? Nobody cares if your inflated ego got burst by an omega.”

“Watch your mouth, you stupid bitch.”

“I wouldn’t call her names, Dylan. The last guy who called her a stupid bitch ended up being sent to the hospital for several months.” Cloud warned.

“Oh, I would love to see how this skinny ass girl could kick my ass.” Dylan scoffed.

“Go ahead, little boy. Make my day.” Tifa said in a low voice. Cloud looked around to see people were staring at the altercation and wanted to defuse it before it got worse.

“Tifa, stop. It’s fine. Let’s go somewhere else.” Cloud tried to soothe the girl, but Tifa wasn’t having any of it.

“Alright, I’ll let it slide just for you. But let me tell you, you piece of shit.” Tifa pointed to the alpha. “You better watch your tongue, or I’ll rip it out with my bare hands.”

“And for the record, Dylan, you made the team,” Cloud said matter-of-factly. “You’re just a reserve, so if someone drops out or is injured, you’ll be able to play.”

“You know who should be on the reserve list? You and that other twink omega.”

“Dylan, just say you want to fuck us,” Cloud said coldly. Everyone in the vicinity gasped as Cloud uttered those words.

“The reason you’re so mad is that you want to fuck Prompto and me and you can’t. Want to know why? Because Prompto has a boyfriend that he is committed to, and I’m not interested in a relationship. And even if I was interested in getting together with someone, you wouldn’t exactly be my first choice. But I can’t fathom why you insist on taking your sexual frustration out on me. My advice is to find something productive to do. Read a book, watch a movie, play video games. Frankly, I don’t give a flying fuck what you do but whatever it is, it is bound to be more resourceful than trying to bring Prompto and me down.”

Everyone stood in silence while Dylan’s face got increasingly redder in equal parts anger and embarrassment. He clenched his fist before raising it. “You-you-you disrespectful little fuck!” He gritted before swinging his fist.

Cloud shut his eyes and flinched, waiting for the blow to strike him down. Except, the blow never came. He gradually opened his eyes to see Zack had caught Dylan’s hand. The raven-haired alpha stared down at the trembling alpha with a look that if looks could kill, would render Dylan deceased within a second.

Everyone in the room gasped as whispers began to circle around.

“Oh Gaia, is that Zack Fair?”

“He is such a hero, saving that poor omega.”

“That’s husband material right there.”

“Zack?” Dylan ripped his hand away from Zack’s tight grip. “What are you doing? I’m trying to teach this omega a lesson.”

“This omega is my best friend, you dipshit.” Zack sneered, standing in front of Cloud and Tifa. “If you wanna hurt Cloud, go right ahead. But I won’t hesitate to fuck you up within an inch of your life.”

“A-Are you threatening me?”

“No, I was making a promise.” Dylan trembled in Zack’s presence. Though he was an alpha as well, Zack’s height and muscular stature trumped his own. Feeling absolutely humiliated, he ran away with his group chasing after him.

“You okay, Sunshine?” Zack asked in concern, holding Cloud’s face and checking for any injuries.

“No, Zack, I’m fine,” Cloud assured the alpha, though he didn’t seem convinced.

“Who was that dickhead?” Zack whispered, remembering they were in the library and had to keep his voice as quiet as possible.

“He was just some asshole I met at football tryouts, don’t worry about him.” Cloud shrugged.

“I’ll worry about anyone who tries to hurt my Sunshine.” Zack smiled, moshing Cloud’s cheeks.

Cloud looked around to see people were still looking at them, whispering among each other.

“No way, is that Zack’s lover?”

“Guess I have to tell my friend Zack is off the market now.”

“Ain’t no way a lowly omega like him bagged an alpha like Zack.”

“Zack, people are staring at us,” Cloud whispered. “Can we get out of here?”

“Oh, sure we can.”

The three of them left the library shortly after. Zack carries Cloud’s backpack, much to the blond’s dismay.

“What were you doing at the library anyways, Zack?” Cloud asked.

“I tried calling you a dozen times, I wanted to know if you wanted to grab lunch or something.” Cloud looked at Zack, confused and checked his phone to find he did have a lot of missed calls from the alpha.

“By the way,” Zack continued. “What phone is that? Looks ancient.”

 “It’s an iPhone,” Cloud said matter-of-factly.

“Yeah, but isn’t it an old one? Can it even get updates anymore?”

“Okay, Aerith grilled me about this phone the other day. I don’t need you doing it too.” Cloud growled, digging his finger into Zack’s chest.

“Alright, I’ll lay off.” Zack threw his hands up.

“I have to agree with Zack though. You’ve had that phone since you were 12, Cloud. I think you’re overdue for an upgrade.” Tifa said.

“I guess you both have a point.” Cloud sighed. “Hopefully, we’ll work a lot of shifts at Seventh Heaven so I can get the money for a new phone.”

“Or I could buy it for you, Sunshine,” Zack suggested, prompting an eye roll from Cloud.

“Zack, we’ve been over this,” Cloud warned.

“Cloud, if he wants to buy you a phone, let the poor man do it.” Tifa laughed, looking at her phone. “I wish I could stay and chat, but Aerith wants me to accompany her for afternoon tea. And she sent an Uber, and I think it’s over there already.” She waved the two of them goodbye before dashing into the car.

“So, where do you want to have lunch, Sunshine?”

“Subway.” Cloud deadpanned.

“Subway!?” Zack repeated. “Why?”

“Because that’s what I’m craving!”

Cloud and Zack sat around the blond’s small dining table, eating their sandwiches in peaceful silence. Though the alpha insisted on them going to a nice restaurant, Cloud asserted that he wanted to have something inexpensive.

“It’s a nice place you got here, Sunshine.” Zack causally said.

“Thanks, it’s all thanks to the Shinra Scholarship.”

“Oh yeah, I wanted to ask. Where did you move to with your mum?”

“Nibelheim.”

“And did you like it there?”

“It wasn’t easy. A lot of the kids there made fun of me for being an omega.”

“Gaia, if I were there, I would have beat the shit out of those brats.”

“Don’t worry about it. If it’s any consolation, Tifa told me the reason why they did those things was they supposedly thought I was cute and wanted to get into my pants.” Cloud shrugged.

“I don’t blame them. You’re a sight for sore eyes, Sunshine.” Zack smiled, making the blond blush. “So, have you got much planned for today?”

“Yeah, tonight’s Tifa and I’s first shift at this bar called Seventh Heaven. I’m pretty excited to start there.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to depend on me for everything?” Zack pleaded, pressing the blond’s hand against his cheek and giving him puppy eyes. “You know I wouldn’t mind.”

“You really are a puppy sometimes, Zack.” Cloud giggled. “And yes, I’m sure! I know you mean well but I don’t want to be a burden to you.”

Zack feverishly shook his head, grinning. “I could never be a burden to me, Sunshine!”

“What about you? Got any plans?”

Zack sighed, leaning back against the chair deflated. “Yeah, Dad has me attending some stupid launch party that one of his friends is throwing since he can’t go!”

“What’s so bad about going to a party?” Cloud asked.

The blond thought parties were meant to be grand, celebratory and fun to attend. Then again, the perception of parties was one that stemmed from movies and television. He never really got to experience a party in real life since the kids in Nibelheim didn’t really invite him around for their parties. While anyone would have been hurt by such unfounded cruelty, Cloud was undeterred by this. He never liked the kids in his hometown other than Tifa so he felt he didn’t miss out on much.

“It’s because he ‘has meetings’ and other bullshit to do!” Zack groaned. “And I’m pretty sure the old man is planning to retire soon because he wants to start pushing me as the new face of the company.”

“I mean when you eventually become the new leader at…what’s the place called again?”

“Fairlight”

“Fairlight,” Cloud repeated. “You’re going to have to do a lot of things that you don’t want to do. But being the CEO is bound to come with a shit ton of responsibilities, and you’ll need to know how to deal with them accordingly. Think of this party as the first stepping stone because, after that, it’s only going to get harder.”

Zack deeply sighed. “I wish I wasn’t born into wealth.”

“A lot of people would disagree.” Cloud laughed as he got up from his seat. “Anyway, I’m going to have a cup of tea. You want one?”

“Of course, I’ll have one if it’s made by my Sunshine.” Zack grinned, hugging the blond from behind. “Is it okay if I can use your bathroom quickly?”

“Sure, it’s just through that door there.” Cloud said as he pointed to the door next to his bedroom. Zack quickly did his business and washed his hands. He couldn’t help but peek into the blond’s bedroom.

He glanced at the omega who was preoccupied with making their drinks, so he took the opportunity to quietly slip into Cloud’s bedroom. As he scanned through the small bedroom, he smiled at the wolf plushie that resided on top of Cloud’s bed. Unable to resist the urge to snoop around, he looked through the wardrobes and drawers to see that Cloud had very few clothes. Of course, Zack understood that not everyone could afford a walk-in closet full of clothing made by prestigious designers. But it was clear the blond was working with such a limited range of clothing.

“Curiosity killed the cat, Puppy.” Zack jumped, turning around to see the blond with his arms crossed.

“Geez, Sunshine. You scared me.”

“What are you doing in my room?” The omega asked, glaring at the tall alpha.

“Got a little nosey. Sorry, Sunshine. Wait, you’re not hiding anything, are you?” Zack smirked, bringing his face close to the blond’s.

“No, I’m not. Even if I did, it’s none of your business.”

“Yes, sir!” Zack saluted, causing Cloud to laugh. Zack always knew how to make the omega crack a smile. “So, Cloud, you don’t have many clothes…or much at all, don’t you?”

“Yes, and?” Cloud shrugged. “Unfortunately, I’m not like most people here and can afford to have a billion different outfits for every minute of the day.”

“Oh, I wished I knew you and your mum had financial difficulties, Cloud.”

“Mum and I got by fine. Sure, I could nag her to buy me new stuff, but I didn’t want to bother her. Besides, what’s the point of buying new things when I’m content with what I have?”

“Wow, I wish I could have that kind of mindset.” Zack frowned. “I’m so used to having everything I want that it never occurred to me that there are people like you who are content with whatever they have.”

“Don’t beat yourself up over it, Puppy. At least you don’t throw your money around acting like some arrogant piece of shit who treats poor people like pieces of shit.” Cloud assured.

“Anyways, your tea is getting cold.” Cloud continued, handing the alpha his mug. The two sat on Cloud’s bed, silently drinking their tea. “Do you have a date to this party?”

“Aerith. I wish I met you earlier though, otherwise, I would’ve invited you.”

Cloud scoffed. “I wouldn’t be any good communicating with these business guys anyways.”

Zack pouted, resting his head on Cloud’s shoulder. “Yeah, but it would’ve been nice to have you around. I’m really hoping I don’t make a fool of myself there.”

“You’ll be fine,” Cloud assured the alpha.

“I hate being here!” Zack aggressively mumbled into Aerith’s ear.

The two of them stood against a wall as they observed the scene before them. The grand hall was decorated with numerous shining chandeliers and banners showcasing the new health products to which Zack and Aerith thought it was shameless advertising for the most part.

With this party being a grand event, everyone was dressed to the nines. And Zack and Aerith were no exception. The raven-haired wore a three-piece black suit that hugged his overly muscular figure while the brunette wore an elegant, long black dress that fell just short of her ankles. Her hair wasn’t confined to a ponytail, letting her long, luscious brown hair flow down her back.

Aerith sighed. “I’m going to get another glass of champagne. Do you want one too?”

“Please. Get me the bottle if you can.” Zack begged, making Aerith giggle.

Zack fought the urge to pull out his phone. His dad told him just before he left that he could not be caught on his phone as it would portray him as not caring and being disrespectful. But at this point, he had made his greetings to everyone at the party and spoke to several people about his dad’s company. He had fulfilled his purpose so why must he waste any more time being here?

“Hey there, Zack.” Zack heard a sultry female voice next to him and as he turned to her, he had to stop himself rolling his eyes.

“Hey, Kyrie.” He deadpanned, refusing to look at her.

Since he had a one-night stand with Kyrie over a year ago, the woman has never stopped bothering the alpha. Over time, she has deluded herself into believing they were meant to be together.

“How is my soulmate doing this evening?”

“I’m not your soulmate, Kyrie.” Zack seethed. At this point, the alpha’s patience is hanging by a thin thread that could snap at any given moment. “Can you please leave me alone?”

“Don’t be like that, Zacky.” She moaned, clutching onto Zack’s arm. “I gave you my heart that night. Don’t break it like this.”

“I was drunk and horny!” Zack hissed at her, ripping his arm away. “I don’t know what you think happened between us, but the way I see it, we had a drunken night of sex and that was it.”

Since that tragic night, Zack had lost count of how many times Kyrie had ambushed him, begging for his attention. Sure, the alpha has encountered women like her who believe their one-night stand was more than that but none of them have been as persistent as her.

“Am I interrupting something?” They turned to see Aerith holding two glasses of champagne. She moved to Zack and handed him his glass which he gladly accepted.

“Yes, you were actually.” Kyrie spat, making Aerith raise an eyebrow. “Zack and I were having a private conversation about our future marriage. Now, if you don’t mind, we would like to resume it. Don’t we, Zacky?”

“No, we were not!” Zack rejected, moving to stand beside Aerith.

“Listen here, you inconsiderate bitch.” Aerith growled towards the other girl, with a deadly glare. “Zack is my date for this evening, not yours. And I’ll be blunt with you: you’re making him feel uncomfortable with your insistent love confessions. Now, get the hell out of my sight before I use violence.”

Kyrie was seething with anger, clenching her fists. “Fine but it isn’t over, Zack. We were meant to be.” She said before walking away.

Zack let out a deep sigh of relief. “Thanks for that, Aerith.”

Aerith shined a bright smile at him. “Of course! We may get into playful conflicts, but I’ve always got your back.”

“Same to you.” Zack smiled. “You think we could sneak out of there unnoticed?”

Aerith did a quick scan around the huge room. “Everyone seems distracted enough. Why? Are you tired of this party?”

“Yeah, I hate it here.” Zack shrugged, sipping his champagne. “I miss Cloud.”

“Shiva’s tits, you can’t stay away from that boy for a single day, can you?” Aerith remarked.

“Don’t forget, I haven’t forgiven you for keeping him from me for that one day.”

“Gaia, Zack, get over it!” Aerith scoffed. “You want to blow this joint then?”

“Yeah, let’s get out of here. I know somewhere where our time would be better spent.”

“Order for table 12 is ready!” Johnny called out from his window. Cloud frantically ran over, grabbed the food and rushed to the table.

Cloud and Tifa’s first shift at Seventh Heaven so far has been nothing but hell. Barret barely had enough time to show them around the equipment they would be using while working here before crowds of people began to rush into the place. The two of them had no choice but to begin serving the customers immediately.

Thankfully, Cloud and Tifa were not alien to customer service, so it wasn’t as daunting to the pair as it could’ve been. Cloud covered half of the dining area while Tifa covered the other, with Barret helping in between them. The hulking man wished more staff could’ve come in to help but each staff member he called either didn’t answer or said they were busy.

“Here’s your food.” Cloud politely said, placing down the food for the couple. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”

“Yes, a bottle of the finest white wine. It’s my wife and I’s anniversary tonight.”

“Of course, I’ll bring that over right away.” Cloud smiled before moving to the wine fridge behind the bar. “Barret, what is our ‘finest white wine’?”

“That would be the Chablis.” Cloud nodded as he was about to take the bottle to the couple before being stopped by Barret. “Remind me to go over the wine list with Tifa and you.”

Cloud was so busy that evening, he didn’t realise the closing time was rapidly approaching. He was ringing up another couple about the bill when the lady stopped him.

“Excuse my directness but you’re really handsome.” She smiled, causing Cloud to have a slight blush.

“Thank you.” He muttered. He wasn’t used to people complimenting him. Well, unless it was Zack since the tall alpha would always have something nice to say to the omega.

“Have you considered modelling? You have the perfect face for adverts.”

“Alice! You’re embarrassing the poor boy.” Her husband interjected as he settled the bill. “My apologies, son. My wife can be incredibly direct.”

“No, no, it’s fine. I hope you two enjoyed your evening with us.”

“No, thank you! The food here was amazing! We’ll definitely come here again in the future.” She beamed. “And this is for you, for your incredible service.”

Cloud’s eyes widened as the lady gave him a tip of 30 Gil. “M-Miss, I can’t accept this. It is too much.”

She shook her head, putting on her coat. “Nonsense! You deserve it. Shall we get going, love?”

Her husband nodded as they held hands. “Have a good evening, son.”

“You too, sir.” Cloud smiled as the couple left.

“No way you got a massive tip on your first day!” Tifa exclaimed.

“I think I was just lucky today.” Cloud shrugged. “But it means we’ll be much closer to our trip to the Gold Saucer!” Cloud happily shouted.

“Well done, the both of you,” Barret said, flipping the sign from open to closed. “You held your own incredibly well. I might have to fire a whole bunch of the others if all I need is the two of you to run a good service.”

Cloud shook his head. “I wouldn’t be too dependent on us.”

Barret chuckled. Before he could speak, they heard the door open.

“We’re closed!” Barret shouted. Cloud looked past the brown-skinned man to see Zack and Aerith dressed in fancy attire.

“What are you two doing here?” Cloud grinned, running up to Aerith to hug her.

“We got bored at the party, so we thought we’d stop by to see how our favourite people were doing.” Aerith giggled, returning Cloud’s hug.

“And where’s my hug, Sunshine?” Zack pouted, sadly looking at Cloud.

Cloud sighed before hugging Zack. The alpha grinned and stuck his tongue out to Aerith who rolled her eyes, folding her arms.

“Also, the night is still young. What do you guys say to having a chilled evening somewhere?” Aerith asked.

“I’m up for that.” Tifa nodded. “Cloud?”

Cloud pulled away from Zack to speak. “Yeah, I’m good with that.”

Zack frowned before pulling the blond back into his arms. “I missed you, Sunshine.”

Aerith sighed. “C’mon, Tifa. I’m over this.”

“Wait a second,” Tifa interjected, turning to Barret. “Are we alright to go home now, Barret?”

“Sure, you guys can go now. I’ll see you both soon.” Barret informed them. Cloud and Tifa said their goodbyes before the four of them left.

“Can I drive this time, Zack?” Aerith asked.

“Fine but you drive on the curb once and you’re off the wheel,” Zack warned her.

“Whatever. By the way, Tifa gets shotgun.” The brunette causally said before they got into Zack’s BMW M4.

Chapter Text

“Shiva’s tits, Aerith!” Zack shouted, shocked at Aerith’s almost reckless driving. “Watch what you’re driving!”

It was a gorgeous night in Midgar. The moon and the stars illuminated their light across the city’s skyline as the four young adults embarked on a drive in the dead of night. The streets were unusually quiet with no pedestrians walking or vehicles on the tarmac road. Most of the city’s habitants must’ve retired for the evening or sensed the impending danger they would’ve been in as Aerith showed no mercy behind the wheel of Zack’s luxurious BMW.

Aerith and Tifa were having the time of their lives, excitedly laughing like they were on a roller coaster. Meanwhile, Zack was clutching upon Cloud, not out of fear but out of wanting the blond to be safe. Zack had lost count of how many times Aerith had driven on the curb and the brunette showed no indication of trying to drive safely.

“You think this car is a go-kart or something!?” Zack shouted.

“This is so much fun!” Aerith shouted, disregarding Zack’s comment completely. “We should do this more often.”

“I second that.” Tifa agreed.

“Like hell, we’re doing this more often! Not in my car!” Zack exclaimed.

“Not going to lie, I didn’t have much to eat at the party so I’m feeling a bit hungry. What about you, Tifa?” Aerith asked.

Zack rolled his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. It was as if he and Cloud had evaporated into thin air, with the two women completely blanking them out.

“Yeah, I’m feeling a bit peckish too.”

“Right, off to McDonald’s we go!” Aerith shouted, turning the car sharply to the left. The sharp turn caused Cloud’s head to land on Zack’s broad chest. The omega was about to lift his head when Zack pulled him closer.

“You okay, Sunshine?” Zack softly asked.

“Yeah, I’m good,” Cloud assured the raven-haired man.

The four of them ended up in the same place Zack and Aerith were not long ago, sitting near the grassy cliff that had a stellar view of Midgar’s skyline. Aerith and Tifa shared a box of chicken nuggets while Cloud and Zack each had a cheeseburger. They all looked towards the glistening metropolis as they ate.

“I really love this dress, Aerith!” Tifa complimented.

“Aw, thanks, I got it the other day. It’s from Chanel’s winter collection last year.”

“Chanel!? So, you’re like ultra rich?” Tifa asked, amazed.

“I mean I like to spoil myself every now and then. I wouldn’t buy an expensive dress like this every day.” Aerith shrugged.

“You cold, Sunshine?” Zack asked the blond.

Cloud shook his head, smiling. “No, I’m okay.” He tried to assure the alpha, though his shivering arms told a different story.

“Cloud” Zack sighed, taking off his jacket and draping it over Cloud’s shoulders.

“You don’t need to give me your jacket, Zack. I was stupid for not bringing a jacket.”

“First of all, you’re not stupid, Sunshine. You’re the one here on a scholarship which means you’re smart.” Zack said. “Second, I don’t mind lending you my jacket if it keeps you warm.”

“What about you though?”

Then, at almost lightning speed, Zack pulled the omega in for a hug. “Then, you’ll have to share your body warmth with me.”

Cloud laughed as Zack shined one of his signature goofy smiles down at him. The two were surprised by a sudden flash in their direction. Rapidly blinking, they looked to the brunette who took a photo of them hugging.

“Aerith, what are you doing?” Zack asked.

“I’m going to send this picture to all of your exes, especially to the ones who want a second chance.”

“Aerith, don’t you dare! They’re gonna think Cloud and I are dating.”

“Yes, and?” Aerith shrugged. “I’ve never seen you cling to someone this much like ever! Not even Kunsel or Roche.”

Zack pouted, leaning on Cloud’s shoulder. “That’s because Cloud is special.”

“Are you seeing the same shit I’m seeing, Tifa? Or am I delusional?” Aerith asked.

Tifa raised an eyebrow, seemingly in suspicion. “I think you might be onto something. You two seem awfully close.”

“To be fair, we were this close when we were younger so it’s nothing new.” Cloud tried to reason with them.

“Exactly. As a matter of fact, let’s focus on you two!” Zack exclaimed, flipping the conversation onto the two women.

“What about us? Tifa’s just my new bestie. Aren’t you, Tifa?”

“Yeah, we’re good friends.” Tifa agreed. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Um,” Zack glared at them, unconvinced. “I don’t buy it. You think they’re just ‘friends’, Sunshine?”

“No, I think there’s something more about you two.” Cloud shook his head.

“Okay, well, you two are the ones hugging, snuggling, and cuddling over there,” Aerith interjected. “And, FYI, I’ve sent the picture to all your exes.”

“You did not!” Zack exclaimed in disbelief. Aerith chuckled, showing the raven-haired man her phone and much to his horror, the brunette stood by her word. “I can’t believe you, Aerith! What if they spread it around campus?”

“With how often you two engage in your hugs and cuddles, they’re probably going to see it fairly soon anyway.” Aerith rolled her eyes. “Oh, one of them already replied. She said, ‘They’ll last a week tops.’”

“A week!? That bitch!” Zack shouted while Tifa and Aerith chuckled between themselves. “Why do you even have their numbers?”

“I don’t seek them out, they come to me. Do you really think they’ll leave you alone if they block them?”

“Okay but why don’t you block them?” Zack asked.

“I love to fuck with them.” Aerith snickered. “One of them asked me where you were. I told her you were in the library on the second floor. This dumb bitch sent me a whole video showing she walked around the entire floor and told me she couldn’t see Zack anywhere. I swear you date the freakiest women on the planet, Zack.”

“You have a point, Aerith.” Zack agreed. “I did date you after all.”

Cloud and Tifa gasped while the flower girl shot a deadly glare at the raven-haired alpha.

“Wait, you two dated?” Cloud questioned.

“Briefly,” Aerith answered. “We quickly realised that we were better off friends than lovers.”

“It looks like we butt heads a lot, but that’s our way of saying we express our friendly love.” Zack smiled.

“Yeah, Tifa and I aren’t like that at all!” Cloud laughed.

“Yep, we don’t bicker like you both.” Tifa giggled.

“It’s nice to know you and Cloud don’t have a destructive friendship,” Aerith remarked.

“Okay, I don’t know about you guys but I’m pretty tired.” Zack yawned, stretching. “Wanna stay around me tonight, Sunshine?”

“Not tonight. If I keep staying around yours, the uni’ll think I don’t need my apartment and give it to someone else.” Cloud joked.

They all moved into Zack’s car as the raven-haired man sat behind the wheel.

Cloud was forcibly pulled out of his slumber as the ringtone on his phone persistently played. He groaned in irritation as he sat up and ripped his phone off of its charging cable. Glancing down at his phone, he is equal parts unsurprised and annoyed at the person causing his phone to almost blow up.

6 Missed Calls: Zack 🐶

Incoming Call: Zack 🐶

The omega sighed, pressing the answer button. “Hello?”

“Sunshine! I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for the past ten minutes.”

“I can tell! Is it urgent?”

“I’m standing outside your apartment. Can you let me in please?”

“You’re outside my apartment!?” Cloud exclaimed as he read the time on his phone. “Zack, it’s 8 in the morning.”

“I know, so could you let me in, please? It’s a little chilly out here.”

Cloud hung up the phone, rolling his eyes. He aggressively pulled out the duvet and marched to the front door. He opened the door, revealing Zack with a goofy smile.

“Good morning, Sunshine!”

“Zack, what are you doing here so early?”

“I know I should’ve asked you last night. But do you have plans today?”

“I have to go to work at 5 in the evening. Apart from that, I’m free for most of the day. Why?”

“Great! Cause I wanted to take you out today. I need your help with something.”

“Okay, sure, just give me a few minutes to get ready.”

“No problem, Sunshine!” Zack beamed as he sat by Cloud’s coffee table.

“Feel free to make yourself coffee while I make myself decent-looking.” Cloud pointed to the kettle and mugs on the kitchen counter.

“Don’t mind if I do.”

The raven-haired alpha sipped his coffee as he patiently waited for Cloud to finish. By the time he finished his cup of coffee, the blond emerged from the bathroom. He was wearing his usual pair of jeans and an oversized blue hoodie, something Zack thought was cute.

“Ready?” Zack asked.

“Yeah.” Cloud nodded.

They rode through the increasingly busy streets of the city in Zack’s stylish Porsche.

“So, what did you need help with?” Cloud asked.

“My cousin’s birthday is coming up soon and I wanted to buy him something nice.”

“And why did you need my help?” Zack parks his car in front of a restaurant.

“Because you and him have a similar body type so I’m gonna need you to try on some of the stuff for me. That okay, Sunshine?”

“I-I guess.” Cloud shrugged.

“Cool! Let’s get some breakfast here before we do that though.”

Suffice to say, Cloud has spent enough time around Zack to know he lives a lavish lifestyle and has exquisite tastes. But it still shocks the blond when they go out to the places the alpha adores.

“Zack! It’s 25 gil for pancakes here!” Cloud quietly exclaimed, as not to draw attention to himself. “I’m not paying that much!”

“Who said you’re paying for it, Sunshine?”

Cloud gives Zack a puzzled look. “Please don’t tell me you’re paying for this.”

“Of course I am! I dragged you out of bed to be with me now, the least I could do is treat you to breakfast.”

“Treating me to breakfast would be cooking the breakfast yourself or maybe McDonald’s if I was hungover. Not a lavish restaurant like this.”

“Well, we’re here now.” Zack shrugged.

Before Cloud could provide a rebuttal, he was cut off by the waiter who promptly approached their table.

“Good morning, gents. What can I get you to drink?” The waiter politely asked.

“I’ll have a cappuccino.” Zack requested.

“I’ll just have a latte please,” Cloud asked.

“Absolutely, and are you two ready to order?”

“Yes, I’ll have the full English breakfast please,” Zack said.

“Can I have the Eggs Benedict please?” Cloud asked.

“Of course you can! I’ll be back in a moment with your drinks.” The waiter beamed.

“So, do you eat out a lot?” Cloud asked.

“Not as much as I used to. The first few months I studied here, takeout and eating out were the only ways to get food in my system. Aerith didn’t like how often I was ordering food, so she helped me with my cooking skills a little.”

“My mum left me a book full of easy recipes to use. If you want, you could come to my place, and I can show you how to cook a few recipes from it?”

“Aw, I would really appreciate that, Sunshine.” Zack smiled.

“Yeah, Mum didn’t want me ordering takeout or living off instant meals while I was here so the ingredients that I use in that recipe book are affordable and easy to get.”

“Your mum always was a resourceful woman, wasn’t she?”

“She’s the most resourceful person I know.” Cloud laughed.

Not long after, the waiter arrived with their food. Cloud wasn’t surprised to see Zack’s plate hardly had enough space to fit in all his food. On the other hand, he was surprised to see his plate. He chose Eggs Benedict not only because it was one of the more reasonably priced items on the breakfast menu, but it also had a lot of what Cloud loved in a good breakfast. While it said on the menu the eggs would be drizzled in hollandaise sauce, his eggs looked like it was drenched in the sauce. On top of that, what was supposed to be a sprinkling of chives ended up being a pile of them scattered across the eggs.

In spite of all this, Cloud simply shrugged and started to eat it. After all, he wasn’t about to complain when he wasn’t paying for it.

“Do you come here often?” Cloud asked.

“Yeah, I come here with my mum regularly,” Zack answered. “They make an amazing mac and cheese if you wanna try it sometime.”

“Do you spend more time with your mum then?”

“I won’t complain. I love my mum to bits, but I wish my dad would spend a bit more positive time with me.” Zack sighed.

“Positive?”

“Every time I see my dad, he’s always got something to criticise me about. I try not to let it bother me but it’s becoming more difficult.” Zack sighed.

Cloud frowned at Zack’s saddened face. From what he remembered from their younger days, Zack was always great at school. He wasn’t a top student like Cloud was able to blossom into, but he still had good grades. It truly was upsetting for the blond to see his best friend distressed by his father’s aggressive expectations and absurd demands.

The omega reached out to hold the alpha’s hands, prompting Zack to look up to see his friend gently smiling at him.

“I wish I had more comforting words to say.” Cloud beamed. “But you’re already doing well for yourself. Honestly, from the sounds of it, your dad isn’t going to be satisfied with how well you do. So, there’s no need to push yourself into exhaustion just for the small chance that your dad will be impressed. Try to think of all the people who are proud of you and who you are. Your mum, Aerith, me.”

“You? You’re proud of me?” Zack asked in disbelief.

“I’ll always be proud of you!” Cloud smiled.

Zack smiled back at the omega as his heart filled up with adoration. Cloud has always had this superpower to make him feel better when he is sad or upset. The blond needed to just smile or laugh and all of a sudden, Zack’s worries and concerns vanished into thin air. He had made numerous friends and companions over the years since his abrupt separation from Cloud, but none of them could make him this joyful, this cheerful - this happy.

“Thanks, Sunshine. It means a lot.” Zack smiled, squeezing the omega’s hands.

“No worries!” Cloud nodded. “But if you want to bring me here another time, can you tell them not to go too berserk with the sauce? It felt like I was eating a bowl of sauce with a side of eggs.”

Zack snickered, before bursting out with laughter. “Why didn’t you say something, Cloud? I could’ve told the waiter to send it back and make you a new one.”

“I didn’t want to be a bother and come across as demanding and bothersome.” Cloud shrugged.

“Sunshine, it’s not rude to say you’re not happy with something. Say you ordered a plate of eggs and they gave you a plate of hot shit instead of the eggs, are you gonna eat the hot shit?”

Cloud was sickened by Zack’s comment and had to stop himself from throwing up. “That is disgusting, Zack.”

“But would you?”

“Obviously not!” Cloud rasped.

“Exactly! So next time you’re not happy with something, tell me and I’ll sort it out for ya!”

“Sure.” Cloud nodded, smiling.

After they had finished their breakfast, Zack made a beeline to the first of likely many shops they would be visiting. Cloud wasn’t shocked when the first shop they visited was Chanel. As Zack spoke with one of the workers, Cloud looked around to the store’s vast inventory.

The blond omega will admit most of the things they had looked captivating and enticing. But truth be told, a single shirt from here would be enough for him to buy a whole new outfit at the department store. Maybe even two outfits if he was lucky.

“What can I do for you today, Zack?” The worker asked, a wide smile stretched across her face.

“It’s my cousin’s birthday soon so I want to get him something nice. Thankfully, my best friend is a similar build to him, so he’ll model some of your stuff for me if that’s okay?”

“Absolutely! Feel free to look through what we have today and when you’re all set, I’ll ring you up!” The worker smiled.

Soon as the worker left the two, Zack was quick to shove a shirt into Cloud’s arms. The blond looked up to Zack, bewildered.

“What are you waiting for? Go and try it on!” Zack exclaimed, pushing Cloud into the changing room.

Cloud was sent into the changing room what felt like a billion times to him, a different thing to try on each time. The blond tried on numerous shirts, jeans, shorts, pyjamas, the list went on.

“What do you think of those jeans, Sunshine?”

“I guess they’re comfortable. I think your cousin would like them.”

“Do you like them?”

“I mean they look nice. Yeah, I like them. Why does it matter?”

“You and my cousin have similar tastes so if you like them, he’s really likely to like them too.”

“Is everything okay, gents?” The sales clerk asked courteously.

“Yeah, can I buy everything my friend has tried on please?”

Cloud fired a gobsmacked look at Zack as the sales clerk beamed with happiness. “You certainly can, and as a token of appreciation, we’ll have it delivered to your preferred location!”

“Great!” Zack handed him his black credit card. Cloud recognised that card, he’s seen it in movies before. And in every single one of them, it symbolised the person’s sheer wealth and status. It shouldn’t surprise the blond but it’s times like this where Cloud comes to realise his best friend was not loaded beyond belief, but also held a prestigious status that was sought after by some and envied by others.

“Would you mind waiting outside, Sunshine? I’ll be out in a second.”

Cloud nodded, making his way outside. It didn’t take long before Zack emerged out of the shop.

“Right, let’s go to the next store!” Zack beamed.

Cloud turned to him, puzzled. “Zack, you just bought your cousin a whole new wardrobe!”

“Yeah, and? I need to have a backup present in case he doesn’t like it. Now, let’s go.”

Over the course of a few hours, Zack had taken the blond to practically every high-class brand he could think of. Gucci, Burberry, Dior, Louis Vuitton, you get the idea. And every store they went to, Zack would buy a grand pile of clothes, and the salesman would offer free delivery to his house for his patronage.

Nothing could’ve prepared Cloud for where they would head next.

“Apple, Zack!?” Cloud asked in shock.

“Hey, what’s wrong with Apple? Need I remind you, you have an iPhone too?”

“What do you want to get him? A pair of headphones or something?”

“Close,” Zack said as he brought Cloud’s attention to the phones on display. “Which of these phones do you think he’ll like the most?”

“You can’t be serious, Zack. A phone!?”

“Just humour me for a second, Sunshine.”

Cloud sighed. “He’ll probably want the latest and greatest. So, probably the iPhone 16 Pro Max.”

“Well, if you had to choose a phone from this lineup, what would it be?”

“None of them since I can’t afford it.” Cloud shrugged.

“If you had to choose, Sunshine!” Zack insisted.

“Fine!” Cloud sighed in defeat. The blond examined the lineup. He knew he wouldn’t choose the more advanced phones since they were filled with features and mechanics that the blond honestly didn’t need. So, he cast his gaze on the other models.

“Probably this one.” He pointed.

“The iPhone 16 Plus?” Zack asked. “Why not the Pro Max?”

“Because I wouldn’t need a phone as fancy and lavish as that one.” Cloud shrugged. “Besides, I can’t afford this kind of phone even if I wanted it, but you insisted that I humour you so there’s my answer.”

“Fair enough.”

“Why are you thinking of buying your cousin a new phone anyway? You must really love him.” Cloud chuckled.

“Yeah, he’s a really great guy.” Zack smiled.

After spending numerous hours around the mall, Cloud and Zack were at their final destination: the shoe store.

“By the way, Cloud, what size are your shoes?”

“A size 7, I think.”

“Nice! That’s the same as my cousin.” Zack smiled.

Cloud couldn’t help but feel a little suspicious. Zack has said he adored his cousin and that he shared a lot of similarities to Cloud but has yet to call his cousin out by his actual name.

“Zack?” Cloud asked while he tried one of the pairs of Vans Zack had picked out for him to try on.

“Yes, Sunshine?”

“It’s kind of scary how similar I am to your cousin.” Cloud snickered. “I’m the same height, same build, even the same shoe size.”

“I know, it’s actually kinda scary.” Zack chuckled.

“Are you sure he’s not my long-lost twin or something?” Cloud joked. “Or a secret clone you’ve been hiding from me?”

“Gaia, Cloud, your imagination’s running wild!” Zack laughed. “Seriously, it’s just a massive coincidence that you share a lot of similarities to my cousin.”

“Yeah? What’s his name?”

“His name’s Eric.” Zack shrugged.

“Eric?” Cloud questioned as they walked to the counter. “And why haven’t I heard about this Eric before, Zack?”

“I never felt the need to bring him up.” The alpha shrugged as he paid for the several pairs of shoes. “By the way, what time is it now?”

“3:36” Cloud read from his phone.

“Shit! Don’t you still need to get ready for work?”

“I mean I still have a bit of time, and the bar isn’t far away from my apartment anyway.” Cloud shrugged.

“Sure, I’m gonna pop to the bathroom real quick if you don’t mind waiting out there?”

“Yeah, go ahead. I’ll be waiting for you here.”

Zack flashed him a cheeky grin, causing the blond to shake his head with a slight chuckle. The omega waited for Zack to come back, looking up to the sky as it began to transition into an amber hue. He began to reminisce about the time he had spent with Zack so far. It had only been a couple of days, but the blond couldn’t help but feel content and assured. His childhood friend hadn’t changed a single bit. He was still the goofy, charming and charismatic person he met so many years ago.

“Excuse me?”

Cloud turned his head to see two women, both brunettes, had approached him. “Can I help you?”

“Are you Zack’s new plaything?” One of the girls snickered.

Cloud recoiled at the girl’s distasteful question. “Oh, I’m sorry. What did you say?”

“You heard me. You Zack’s new toy?”

“Beverly, leave him alone.” The other girl tried to reason.

“No, 'cause that asshole got me pregnant and pushed me away like I was nothing!” Beverly roared. “Look, I’ll only warn you once: stay away from that piece of shit alpha!”

“I don’t know what you think Zack and I are but we’re not like that.” Cloud tried to reassure the spiteful woman.

“Oh, please! I saw the picture Aerith sent me. I’m not an idiot, I can tell you two are a thing. Listen, he’ll only break your heart when he’s had his fill.”

“We’re only friends!” Cloud shouted.

“Sure, I believe you.” Beverly hissed. “But I’ll be real. You’re beautiful. Like, very pretty. So, I can see why Zack chose you for his next victim.”

“Thanks?”

“And I think you can do so much better than him. Yeah, he’s rich, very good looking and has a massive dick.” Cloud’s mouth hung open as his cheeks turned a rosy pink. “I’m just trying to give you a word of advice, pretty boy. Zack is nothing but trouble.”

“What’s going on here?” Cloud turned to see the raven-haired alpha standing beside him.

“I was trying to warn your new plaything about the kind of cold-hearted piece of shit you are, Zack!” Beverly hissed.

“And what kind of person am I?” Zack scoffed.

“The kind who knocks up people and throws them on the side once you had your fun!”

“Beverly, we already dealt with this. We did a dozen paternity tests, all of which concluded I was not the father!”

“Yeah, because you probably paid off the hospitals to say that!” Beverly interjected.

“Please, you and I both know the tests came back that way because it was the truth! Besides, every time we had sex, I wore protection. And I know for a fact the condom didn’t tear.”

“Whatever. I just thought your plaything should know the type of person you are before he gets his hopes up.”

Zack rolled his eyes. “I don’t have time for this. And don’t call Cloud a plaything!”

She ignored Zack and turned to the blond. “I’m telling you right now: his friendly demeanour is nothing but a front. He’ll drop you soon as he doesn’t want you anymore.” She warned Cloud before she and her friend started to walk away from them.

“Hey, you okay, Sunshine?” Zack asked as he looked over the blond, looking for any injuries. “She didn’t hit you, did she?”

Cloud shook his head. “No, I’m good.”

Zack let out a sigh of relief. “That’s great. Had me worried for a second. I hope she didn’t tell you any lies about me.”

“Well, she said you were rich, good looking and had a massive dick. I know that you’re the first two but I’d rather not know about the last bit.”

Zack chuckled. “In that case, all of those things are true.”

“Okay, Zack.”

“What? You wanna verify that fact?”

“Zack!” Cloud exclaimed, trying to stop the heat rising in his cheeks.

“I’m only joking with you, Sunshine.” Zack chuckled. “But being real for a second, you don’t believe I think you’re some plaything, do you?”

“Of course not,” Cloud answered.

“Good, because you’re not. You’re my bestest friend!” Zack tightly hugged the blond. “And I wouldn’t dump or trade you for anyone else!”

“I think of you the same way.” Cloud uttered, hugging the tall alpha back.

“Okay, let’s get you back home so you can be at work on time.”

Cloud let out a heavy sigh as he looked out the window. He and Tifa had run off their feet from just another busy night at Seventh Heaven. Thankfully, they were down to the last two tables for the night. He was warned by Barret that weekends usually were really busy but this was close to unbearable for the blond.

Cloud was busy restocking the fridges when Johnny approached the window above him.

“Hey Cloud, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure, go for it.”

“You’ve known Tifa for a long time, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, I knew her since we were kids.”

“So, you know the kind of guys she’s into, right?”

“Kind of. We haven’t really had this discussion. And on top of that, she and I haven’t properly dated anyone.”

“What? A beautiful goddess like Tifa has never dated anyone!?”

“I can assure you, it’s not because she isn’t pretty. Tons of guys and girls ask her out and she says no to every one of them.”

“Oh, so her standards are quite high then?”

Cloud shook his head. “No, it’s not that either.”

“What do I do then? I want to ask her out on a date next week, but I’m scared she’ll reject me.”

“You won’t know until you ask her. And even if she rejects you, she won’t hurt your feelings about it.”

“Have you asked her out?”

“Gaia, no. I value her too much as a friend to pursue anything more with her.” Cloud shrugged.

“Is there anything I can do to…you know, impress her when I ask her out?”

“I wish I knew, but I’ve seen people give her all sorts of things: Flowers, chocolates, cards. The whole slate, really. But her feelings towards that person didn’t change, and she still let them down.”

“Damn, I was hoping to feel more confident after talking to you. I didn’t think it would be the opposite.” Johnny frowned.

“Believe me, I wish I could be more helpful. But all I can say is just tell her how you feel and let whatever happens happen. Whether she accepts or denies, at least you had the courage to tell her how you feel. Regardless of what happens, I know she’ll appreciate that you think of her fondly.”

“Wow, I didn’t think of it that way.” Johnny beamed. “Thanks for that, Cloud.”

“No problem, Johnny.”

“So, has anyone in Midgar caught your eye lately?”

“Not really, no.”

“Come on, the university is full of gorgeous women and handsome men. You’re trying to tell me not one of them has piqued your interest?”

“I’ve only been there for a week. Give it a bit more time, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry, you’ll find a lover soon enough.”

“Thanks for the encouragement. Hey, don’t you have a kitchen to clean? C’mon, get to work! I want to go home on time.”

The blond omega was beyond ecstatic to finally see the front door to his apartment. From the moment he woke up this morning, he had constantly been on his feet throughout the day.

Cloud was very much looking forward to changing into his pyjamas, having a nice cup of tea and relaxing after such a long day. He unlocked the door with his house key and turned the lights on. The omega froze as his eyes bore witness to a shocking scene.

Inside his living room was what appeared to be a mountain of luxury bags. After shaking himself out of his frozen stance, he powerwalked to examine the bags. Cloud was shocked to see that logos of numerous luxury brands plastered these bags.

Suffice to say, the blond started to frantically panic in profound confusion. Did someone break into his apartment? But why would they leave all these expensive things?

His blue eyes zeroed in on a pale blue envelope right in the middle of the mountain of gifts. He hesitantly picked it up before reading the letter enclosed in it.

For my Sunshine,

Saw that you didn’t have many clothes so I thought you could use a few things. Hope you love them!

“What the actual fuck!?” Cloud exclaimed.

Chapter Text

Cloud couldn’t believe it, his mind working overtime to make sense of what the fuck is happening. Setting the card aside, he sieved through the different bags, his jaw dropping further and further to the floor as he progressed.

Clothes from every designer brand the blond could think of, a few pairs of shoes, a pair of football boots. Little did Cloud know, this was just the tip of the iceberg. Thinking he had gone through all the different bags, his eyes glared at the last one. He curiously picked it up, seeing that it was from Apple. Gaia, no. He almost dropped the bag in utter disbelief. From the bag, he pulled out a box that contained a brand-new phone - an iPhone 16 Pro Max.

He searched for his old phone, frantically searching for Zack’s contact and pressing his number to call him. Cloud pinched the bridge of his nose as the phone rang, his patience became increasingly stretched with every ring. The alpha had a lot of explaining to do. Finally, Zack answered.

“Hey, Sunshine!” Zack cheerfully greeted.

“Zack, what is all this stuff in my apartment?”

“Oh, it’s all yours, Sunshine.”  

“Do you have any idea how much all these things cost, Zack!?”

“Yes, and? Do you like it?”

“Wait, isn’t this stuff meant to be for your cousin?”

“Yeah, about that. I lied.”

Cloud rolled his eyes. “Of course you did. You don’t have a cousin named Eric, do you?”

“Nope.”

“So, me trying on all those clothes and shoes…”

“Yeah, it was all for you.”

“And a phone!? You bought me a phone!?”

“Sunshine, the phone you have is barely clinging to life. You were overdue for an upgrade anyway.”

“You went and bought me the expensive model when I even said I wouldn’t get such a phone for myself.”

“Well, I was already going to buy you a phone. I thought might as well get you the top-of-the-line one.”

“Okay, let’s forget about the gifts for a second. How the hell did you get into my apartment?”

“Your spare key.”

“My what?”

“Yeah, you know when you come into your home, there’s that fruit bowl. The spare key was in here.”

“So, you just helped yourself to the key while you were here?”

“Well, yeah. How else was I going to surprise you with all those gifts, Sunshine?”

“Whatever. I hope you’re a very patient person because it’s going to take me a long time to pay you back for all of this.”

“Who said you had to pay me back, Sunshine?”

“Y-You seriously think I’m going to have all of these things and not pay you a single Gil back?”

“I just said they were gifts. Last time I checked, you don’t pay someone back for a gift.”

“Zack, my idea of a gift is a phone case or chocolates. Not a whole new wardrobe filled with designer clothes and a brand-new phone!”

“But that’s my idea of a gift. Well, to you anyway.”

“So, you wouldn’t do this for someone else?”

“Gaia, no!”

“And what makes me so special?”

“Because you’re my best friend, Sunshine! You meant a lot to me back then and you mean a lot to me now. That’s what makes you special.”

“And what would you do if I returned all this stuff?”

“You would need a receipt for it, wouldn’t you? Plus, I’m the one who paid for all that so technically you can’t return it.”

Though he didn’t see it, Cloud could feel Zack’s triumphant grin through the phone. “This is really too much, Zack. What am I to do to pay you back for this?”

“Sunshine, I bought you all those things to enjoy them. So, just enjoy having them. That’s how you can pay me back.”

“Basically, just wear the clothes and use the phone. That’s it?”

“Yep.”

Before the blond could utter a word, he was interrupted by the doorbell ringing. He opened the door to see a deliveryman holding a large package.

“Evening, are you Mr. Cloud Strife?”

“Y-Yes, how can I help?”

“Great, this is for you.” He handed the package over to Cloud who had difficulties carrying it.

“Thank you, have a good evening.”

“And to you too.”

It then hit him that he hadn’t ordered anything to his house. “Zack, did you order something to my home again?”

“Oh, yeah, there was one parcel that was delayed. Think of it as one last surprise.”

Cloud rolled his eyes and opened the package, revealing the heavy item to be a PlayStation 5. His left hand balled into a fist as he brought the phone to his ear.

“Zack!” He roared.

The blond walked along the quiet paths of the university, taking in the peaceful atmosphere. It was Monday, and freshers’ season was now officially over. This meant now began the gruelling trials of lectures, classes and endless studying. Cloud was on his way to one of the university’s many lecture theatres, to attend his first lecture. The omega was equal parts excited and nervous.

He didn’t know what to expect. Then again, he imagined the majority of his coursemates would feel the same way. It was a new environment for everyone who joined recently so naturally almost everyone would be feeling some kind of anxiety.

Today, he decided to wear something smart but casual. He wore a long-sleeved white shirt with a beige sleeveless jumper alongside a pair of new jeans, all from Burberry courtesy of Zack’s generosity. The blond couldn’t help but feel that though this outfit didn’t stray too far from his usual aesthetic, it still felt unknown to him. Perhaps it was because, for the first time in his life, he was wearing clothing from a designer brand.

He arrived at the lecture theatre, unsurprised to see he was the first one to arrive. The lecture was scheduled to start at 9 and the blond arrived at 8:35, leaving a good amount of time for other students to make it on time.

The blond omega spent most of the day prior putting away all of Zack’s gifts. He couldn’t be bothered to deal with it that evening, so he simply went to bed, opting to deal with it the next morning. He also spent a bit of time setting up his new phone, transferring all the data from his old phone onto his new phone. At least he could finally put his old iPhone 5C to rest now.

Becoming bored, he decided to scroll through the university forums on his phone. He saw that someone had made yet another post about Zack. He learned the other day from the raven-haired alpha that a group had made a Fanclub about him, which slightly amused Cloud. Though he wasn’t surprised, Zack was to most people the perfect guy. He was rich, tall, muscular and – allegedly – well-endowed. Most girls wanted to be with him and most guys wanted to be like him.

He opened the post to shock, seeing that it contained a picture of both him and Zack, the one Aerith took of them the other day.

Looks like Zack Fair is off the market.

Posted by: Anonymous

To the people who are crushing on one of Midgar University’s most sought-after Alphas, which I’m sure there are a lot of you. Seems like he’s got himself a new lover, and it’s a guy! Don’t believe me? Here’s a photo of you two cuddling.

Comments:

(+67) Aw, that’s so adorable! I don’t blame Zack, his new boyfriend is really cute.

(+65) I remember seeing the blond in the library the other day. Some recessive alpha was being a rude asshole, but blondie put his ass in his place. Right when he was about to punch him, Zack showed up out of nowhere to protect blondie. Knowing how different blondie is from his past lovers, safe to say I wouldn’t harass blondie or Zack will kill you.

(+59) I mean, if I saw that blondie on the street, I would happily ask him out. Zack has really good taste.

(+48) I know his Fanclub are going to be pissed seeing this. 🤣

(-3) Give it a few weeks or so, Zack’ll move on to another. His new lover doesn’t look special anyway.

(-15) Really? Don’t know why Zack decided to go for that lacking blondie. He can do much better.

(-83) Heard that blond is an omega. Wonder once Zack had his fill if he’ll share blondie with the rest of us.

• (+19) What the fuck is wrong with you? Regardless of him being an omega, Zack isn’t some piece of shit who’d do a horrible thing like sharing his boyfriend without his consent, you tramp.

Cloud was both confused and disgusted by this forum post. He and Zack were best friends and nothing more. Besides the cuddling, they usually behaved like normal best friends do. Unless Aerith said something that implied otherwise, people were taking the picture way out of context.

Slowly, more people started to flood into the theatre hall. Cloud gave them nothing more than a small glance of acknowledgement as they pass by him. Given that none of them have approached him about the forum post, it was safe to say either they didn’t know about it or respected his privacy and decided not to press him about it. The omega was happy either way.

“Excuse me?” Cloud turned to see a girl softly smiling at him.

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“My friend over there told me you’re dating Zack Fair, is that true?”

So much for the brief respect for his privacy.  

“N-No, we’re not dating.” Cloud shook his head. “We’re best friends, that’s all.”

“Really?” She asked, surprised. “Because my friend has a big crush on Zack, so you can imagine she was kind of disappointed about that post going on the forum.”

“Well, you can tell her Zack is still single, at least to my knowledge.”

“Oh, great! I’ll tell her the good news.” She waved as she joined back with her friend. He decided to text Aerith briefly before the lecture began.

Me

Hey, Aerith

Aerith 🌸

Hi, Cloud. What’s up?

Me

You doing anything after 10?

Aerith 🌸

Not really, why? Do you want to hang out or something?

Me

Yeah, wanted to grab a cup of coffee or something?

Aerith 🌸

Sure, you mind if Tifa comes along?

Me

Of course she can come along. Meet you outside the library?

Aerith 🌸

You got it!

The blond looked up to the clear blue sky above him as he waited for his friends. His first lecture wasn’t as frightening as he thought. It was merely an introduction to the course and what to expect for the rest of the semester.

Cloud shrugged, at least he had the rest of the day off. He looked towards the distance, a bright smile spread across his face as he saw two of his favourite people quickly approaching him.

“Hey, Cloud!” Tifa exclaimed, hugging the blond.

“Hi, Tifa.” He replied, returning the hug.

“Hi -” Aerith spoke before pausing, looking the blond up and down. “Uh…”

“Everything okay, Aerith?” Tifa asked, curious.

Suddenly, the brunette engulfed Cloud in a tight embrace which Cloud happily returned. She slightly pulled away from the blond, gently pinching his cheeks. “You look so cute today!”

“Aerith…” Cloud laughed as the flower girl teased him.

“Cloud, that jumper you’re wearing. It’s Burberry, isn’t it?” Aerith asked, surprised to see the blond wearing something expensive.

“Oh, yeah, um…” Cloud uttered, unsure how to explain this to the girls.

“Not trying to say you’re a thief but this jumper alone costs like 900 Gil.” Aerith said casually.

“900 Gil!?” Cloud and Tifa exclaimed.

“Okay, I can explain.” Cloud continued. “It’s a long story.”

“Alright, you can explain when we’re having tea,” Aerith said, already starting to walk.

“Wait, I thought we were getting coffee?”

Sure enough, Aerith took the group to the same place she and Cloud had afternoon tea a few days ago. Cloud was starting to think this hotel was one of the flower girl’s favourites to go to, considering this was the second time in roughly a week that they visited. While she and Tifa shared a pot of tea, Cloud asked for a simple white coffee as they waited for the sandwiches, scones and other delicacies to arrive.

“Okay, spill. How did you get that jumper?” Tifa asked. “Because I know you told me a million times that you would never wear any designer brand.”

“Zack got it for me,” Cloud said simply.

Tifa and Aerith looked at each other, puzzled before casting their puzzled gaze upon Cloud. “Zack…got the jumper for you?”

“Yeah, among other things.” Cloud nervously uttered, looking at his phone for the time.

“Woah, woah…” Aerith exclaimed, snatching Cloud’s phone away from him. The blond fired an annoyed glare at the flower girl as she examined it. “What happened to your other phone? Because this phone is one of Apple’s latest! And last time I checked, you had an iPhone from the medieval times.”

“Okay, insult me more while you’re at it.” Cloud snickered before letting out a heavy sigh. “Zack got this for me too.”

“Alright, explain,” Tifa said.

“So, yesterday Zack asked me to go with him to a few stores because he wanted to get a birthday present for his cousin.” Cloud began to explain. “He made me try all sorts of clothes, shoes and stuff.”

“Okay?” Tifa and Aerith said in unison.

“But the thing is, whatever I liked or tried on, he would buy it. I was under the impression that he was buying all these things for his cousin.”

“Okay, and what happened?” Aerith asked.

“I come home after an exhausting shift at work, only to find a million bags in the middle of my apartment!” Cloud exclaimed.

“And I’ll hazard a guess the bags all included designer clothes like you’re wearing now?” Tifa asked.

“Well, no. Some included shoes, and obviously one included this phone.”

“And you spoke with Zack about this?” Aerith questioned.

“No, Aerith, I just assumed I was on Santa’s nice list and that I was so nice this year, he decided to pay me an early visit,” Cloud remarked sarcastically. “Of course, I called Zack.”

“What did he say?”

“He said these were all gifts, and that I didn’t need to pay him back for it.” Cloud sighed. “Obviously, I’ll wear these clothes so that it keeps him happy and so they don’t go to waste. I just don’t understand why he felt the need to do this for me.”

“He buys you a jumper that expensive and says you don’t need to pay him back!? That bastard! He bought me McDonald’s last week and insisted I pay him back.” Aerith pouted.

“Cloud, maybe he just wanted to do something nice for you.” Tifa smiled.

“But did he have to buy me a whole new wardrobe, Tifa?” Cloud questioned.

“I think it’s something else.” Aerith raised an eyebrow.

“What?” Cloud asked.

Aerith suggestively looked at Tifa, who realised what the brunette was alluding to.

“I think he’s courting you.”

“Courting me?” The blond asked.

“You know, when alphas or betas show an interest in someone – usually an omega - they buy him gifts and take them out to show that they could be a great mate for them.”

“Yes, Aerith, I know courting is.” Cloud deadpanned, causing the flower girl to roll her eyes. “But…it doesn’t make sense.”

“Why wouldn’t it? I’ve heard of alphas trying to court an omega hours after they met them.” Aerith shrugged.

“I mean, Zack is…well, he’s got everything anyone could want in a mate.”

“Okay, and?” Aerith asked.

“I don’t know why he would choose someone like me.”

Aerith and Tifa share a shocked expression. “Because he probably sees something special in you that he doesn’t see in anyone else.”

“Gaia, if I hear that I’m special one more time.” Cloud gritted.

“Let me guess, Zack said you were special to him?” Aerith questioned.

“Yes, why?”

“Cloud, I’ll be blunt: Zack missed you – a lot. Maybe he just wants to show that he cherishes you greatly and was unsure how to demonstrate it. My advice is to try not to overthink it, and this idea of Zack courting you stays between us.”

“Yeah, especially since everyone at this university thinks Zack and I are dating.”

Aerith spit out her tea while Tifa gasped in disbelief. “Why are people thinking that?”

“You should ask your new bestie, Tifa.” Cloud remarking, glaring at the brunette. “That picture you took of us and sent to all his exes is spreading like wildfire!”

“Oh, I only meant to do it as a joke. I didn’t think Zack’s exes would be a bunch of bitches about it.” Aerith nervously chuckled.

“Yeah, and someone at one of my lectures came up to me and asked if I was really dating Zack.”

“You guys seemed very close in that picture so…” Aerith trailed off, expecting the silence to complete her sentence.

“I don’t know what to do.” Cloud sighed. “If people find out he bought me all these clothes, any doubt they have about us being a thing is out the window!”

“They don’t need to know Zack bought you those gifts,” Tifa said lowly. “Just keep it cool and lay your head low.”

“Yeah.” Aerith agreed. “Knowing Zack, he’ll probably find some girl anyway and people will forget this ever happened. I’m sorry I caused you all this ruckus.”

“It’s fine.” Cloud smiled.

Zack stood in the middle of the university’s rugby pitch, stretching his limbs as he waited for his teammates to arrive. Today was the first practice session of the year, and the raven-haired man was keen to start it on the right foot.

It didn’t take long before he could see Kunsel and Roche approaching him.

“Hey, guys!” Zack greeted them, waving.

“What’s up, dude?” Kunsel asked.

“Hey, congratulations on your new relationship!” Roche beamed.

Zack looked confused. “What…relationship?”

Roche pulled out his phone, showing Zack the picture of him and Cloud. “You know, with the cute blond. I must admit, he’s quite the catch.”

“Yeah, didn’t you say last week that you weren’t looking for something permanent?” Kunsel questioned, raising his eyebrow.

“Guys, Cloud and I aren’t dating,” Zack stated matter-of-factly. “We’re just best friends.”

Kunsel and Roche looked at each other, puzzled. “But…Zack, you two are very close in this photo.”

“Okay, and?” Zack shrugged.

“And!?” Kunsel repeated in irritation. “Zack, people are endlessly talking about this picture. Look, someone posted this on the forum.”

Zack looked at the comments. “Alright, who are the dickheads saying Cloud is lacking and isn’t special? He is to me!”

“You’re really not helping your case, dude.” Kunsel sighed. “So, you guys are not dating?”

Zack shook his head. “Nope.”

“So, if I asked him out, you wouldn’t object?” Roche smirked.

“Don’t try it,” Zack warned, shooting a deathly glare at Roche. “Besides, aren’t you dating Stella?”

“Not yet, but she very much is interested in me.” Roche grinned. “I’m gonna see her at Reno’s party this Friday.”

“Oh yeah, Reno is throwing a massive party in one of his many houses. Well, houses that his family owns. You’re gonna come?” Kunsel asked.

“You bet I am!” Zack beamed.

“Are you going to bring that cute blond as your plus-one?” Roche questioned.

“Only if he wants to.” Zack asserted. “I don’t know if Cloud is into parties, but I’ll ask him if he wants to come.”

“Is that his actual name or is that a pet name you gave him?” Roche pressed.

“That’s his actual name, Roche,” Zack said. “Trust me, you’ll learn more about him on Friday – if he decides to come along.”

The rest of the team shortly arrived, with coach Heidegger appearing in front of them. As usual, the bearded man sported an unpleasant scowl that would make the average person tremble. Luckily, the rugby team had spent enough time with the coach to get used to his face.

“Alright, you wimps. Hope you had a wonderful break because the new season starts soon! Now, today is important because I am to elect a new Team Captain today.” Heidegger began, his eyes scanning through the team to see anyone missing.

“Now, I have tallied all your votes.” He continued. “But obviously, that is only half of the procedure. Of course, my opinion is the other part so without further ado.”

“Oh boy, here we go.” Zack quietly chuckled at Kunsel’s whisper.

“I must admit, you lot have been an absolute pleasure to work with. I see immense potential in all of you but one of you has really impressed me. Your work ethic, ability to communicate and work with others and leadership skills are remarkable.”

“And so, your Team Captain for the upcoming season will be…” Heidegger trailed off, leaving the team in silent anticipation. “Zack Fair!”

The team loudly cheered as Zack made his way next to Coach Heidegger with a wide grin spread across his face.

“Any words you’d like to share with the team?” Heidegger asked.

“Yes. Thank you to everyone who voted for me to be the new Team Captain. I know this upcoming season is going to be a tough one, but I know you guys are gonna do yourselves and Midgar University proud. You all are incredibly skilled, talented and motivated and I hope that with my guidance and leadership, we’re gonna snatch all the trophies from every competition and tournament we compete in!”

Zack’s speech was met with loud applause, with all of the players clapping and cheering.

“And there’s one more thing. With your permission, coach, I would like Gladio the vice-captain.”

Everyone looked at each other surprised, with Gladio looking shocked at Zack, his arms folded over his vast chest.

“Are you for real, Fair?” Gladio asked.

“Course I am! I think you’d be a great second in command. What do you say, coach?”

“I’m fine with it. It’s up to Gladio if he wants to take it.”

Gladio nodded, smirking. “I would love to be vice-captain, Zack. Thanks for that.”

“No problem!” Zack beamed as Gladio stood beside him. “Besides, I need someone to keep the team in line when I’m absent and you’re the best person I know to do just that.”

“Alright, that’s enough cheering for today! Let’s get to practice then. Captain,” Heidegger shouted as he tossed the ball to Zack. “Kick the practice off then.”

Cloud shot the football towards the goal with incredible precision. With the ball speeding towards him, Prompto was unable to stop it in time.

“Uh!” Prompto shouted, kicking the dirt. “That is why I’m a midfielder, I’m shit at being a goalkeeper!”

After having afternoon tea with Tifa and Aerith, Cloud got a text from Prompto shortly after, asking him if he wanted to join him for a little casual practice. Wanting to blow off a little steam, Cloud accepted. Now that the team had been finalised, it would not be long before training for the upcoming season fully commenced. Plus, he wanted to spend a bit more time around the only omega he knew.

“Don’t be like that, Prompto!” Cloud shouted as Prompto passed him the ball. “I’m not that great at goalkeeping either.”

“By the way, I saw that picture of you and that guy from the rugby team. Congratulations!”

Cloud sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Prompto, Zack and I are just friends.”

Prompto looked at him confused. “Are you sure about that? Because it doesn’t seem that way in the photo.”

“Yeah, I’m sure!” Cloud gritted. “Gaia, I wish Aerith didn’t take that picture and send it to Zack’s exes.”

“Well, I would probably recommend you say something on the forums about it because some people are not taking the news well.” Prompto chuckled.

“Believe me, I’ve already read through that post. I know what a lot of people are saying about me.”

“Honestly, I think they likely do this to every man or woman Zack dates from the looks of it so you’re not the only one who has gone through something like this.”

“I mean I’m not stupid, I can see why people are shocked about this rumour. Zack is so perfect, and I’m so….”

“So what?”

“Average.”

“Oh, so tell me what makes Zack so perfect?”

“What do I start? He’s really tall, like 6 foot 3 tall. He’s incredibly brawny too, I swear his muscles have muscles. On top of that, he comes from a really rich family so he’s loaded.”

“Okay, and is that what makes him perfect, Cloud?”

“Well, yeah.” Cloud shrugged.

“Because first of all, nobody’s perfect, Cloud. Zack may seem really put together and stuff but even he has flaws. He might be good at hiding them, but that doesn’t mean they’re not there.” Prompto explained.

Cloud nodded as Prompto continued. “But most importantly, are you really going to think you don’t deserve someone like him just because people say so?”

“I mean when you put it that way…”

“Exactly! If it wasn’t obvious enough, it all stems from the fact that they would love to be in your position. They would kill to be as close to Zack as you are right now and because they aren’t, they’re going out of their way to make you feel bad about it. And you’re playing right into their bullshit.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re right.”

“Tell me, is Zack happy when you’re around?”

“Gaia, yeah! Granted we’ve only seen each other for a few days, but I’ve never seen him anything other than happy.”

“There you go! Don’t let the thoughts of some bitter students here get you down. Let them be jealous. Now, I want you to promise me you won’t beat yourself up about this.”

“Okay, I promise.” Cloud chuckled.

“And you’re not average either! I don’t want you to call yourself that or any word similar to or references being average, understood?”

“Yes, sir.” Cloud joked.

“By the way, Gladio got invited to a party on Friday and he’s bringing me along as his plus-one. You gonna come to it?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never been to a party before.” Cloud sighed.

“Really!?” Prompto exclaimed. “Well, I heard from Gladio that the entire rugby team got invited so Zack may ask you to come with him?”

“I don’t know, I’ll let you know on the day.”

“Sure! Hey, do you mind if we call it a day? Gladio wants me to come over to his to celebrate something.”

“Yeah, no worries! We should do this again sometime.”

“Definitely!”

The blond looked in the mirror as he washed his hands. After parting with Prompto, he decided to pop into the changing rooms before he headed home. He began to reflect on Prompto’s words of advice about Zack.

Sometimes, Cloud had to remind himself how lucky he was to have such a loyal and kind person like Zack as a friend, and he was beyond grateful to him for it. But it’s not like he coerced the raven-haired alpha into being his friend. No one knew the true extent of their friendship, nor did they need to know.

If people were so envious of Cloud being close friends with the alpha, that wasn’t something he had control over. Frankly, why should he give a damn about what they think? Cloud’s phone vibrated, pulling him out of the deep sea of his own thoughts.

Zack 🐶

Hey, Sunshine. You wanna come around mine to watch a movie?

Me

Sure, what time?

Zack 🐶

Where are you now? I’ll come pick you up.

Me

I’m in the Sports Centre, the football facilities.

Zack 🐶

No way, I’m also in the Sports Centre. I’ll only be a few mins then.

Me

Cool, see you in a bit.

Putting his phone away, he grabbed his backpack ready to leave when three young men walked into the changing rooms. Cloud offered them a warm smile before moving towards the door. Suddenly, he feels a rough hand grab his wrist before being thrown against the lockers.

“Guys, check it out. It’s Zack’s new plaything!” One of them laughed, roughly grabbing Cloud’s face.

“Damn, I thought he looked cute in the picture but seeing him in person, he’s a fucking angel!”

“W-What do you guys want? I-I don’t have much…but…” Cloud whimpered, pulling away from the rough hand holding his face.

“When we heard Zack had another toy, we had to see for ourselves and I have to say, he must have great taste.” He tried to grab Cloud’s wrist again, but the blond dodged it in time.

“Come on, dollface. Don’t be like that.”

“I don’t know who you think I am, but I’m not some plaything. Let alone Zack’s! He and I are friends, that’s it!”

“Please, I know your type, dollface. You omegas can try all you want to put up a confident front when really all you can do is crave a nice dick.” One of them slowly crept towards Cloud who was actively scanning the room, hoping for an opportunity to make a swift escape.

“P-Please, leave me alone. I-I won’t tell anyone about this.” Cloud tried to plead.

“Ha! You think we’re going to leave without having a little taste of you? Calm down, we just wanna see what Zack sees in ya.”

Suddenly, Cloud heard the door swung open. Cloud looked past his tormentors to see Zack, staring menacingly at them. The three would-be assailants froze upon Zack’s chilling gaze. Though the blond was overjoyed to see his best friend had come in time to save him, he was slightly terrified upon looking at Zack’s eyes. The alpha’s eyes, usually a pale green colour, had turned into a deeper, darker green. Seizing the opportunity, Cloud slipped through them and stood behind Zack.

“Z-Zack, how’s it doing, buddy?” The leader tried to laugh the tension away. Unfortunately for them, Zack could see right through their bullshit.

“Cloud, did they hurt you?” Zack asked.

“No! We didn’t hurt him, we were just playing!” The leader trembled, gesturing Cloud to go with what they were saying. But Zack wasn’t stupid. He couldn’t explain what he was feeling, but somehow he sensed Cloud was in danger and the fact these three were trying to play it off like some kind of joke baffled him.

“I’ll say it once more, Cloud: did they hurt you?” Zack glared down at the blond. Cloud showed him his wrist, showing that he was roughly handled for a moment.

“You call this playing?” Zack hissed, holding up Cloud’s wrist for them to see.

“Look, we don’t want any trouble.”

Zack quickly strode to the leader, throwing a punch to his left cheek. The leader fell to the floor from the impact as Zack kneeled over him. “You got trouble the moment you tried to hurt my Cloud, you piece of shit!”

“Zack, stop!” Cloud tried to stop the raging alpha, but it was in vain. The raven-haired alpha stood up and kicked the leader in the stomach. His buddies were frozen on the spot, too frightened to intervene. They could look on at their friend getting hurt by Zack, unable to do anything but look on.

“Zack, please stop!” Cloud hugged the alpha from behind, trying to pull him away. Thankfully, this was enough to pull Zack out of his aggressive stance. He breathed deeply as he looked down at the badly bruised assailant.

“Just you wait, Fair! You think you’ll still be a student here after how badly you beat me up!?”

“No, you won’t.” Cloud spoke, surprising everyone in the room. “If you tell anyone about this, I’ll tell them about how you wanted to force yourself on me. Then, they’ll see Zack’s attack simply as someone looking out for their friend. Especially when it’s a bunch of alphas who wanted to have their way with an omega.”

“Cloud -” Zack tried to speak, but was met with the blond shaking his head, smiling up to him.

“I won’t say anything if you don’t. Besides, what if Zack didn’t come to my rescue?” Cloud asked. The three of them stayed silent, confirming Cloud’s suspicions.

“That’s what I thought.” Cloud snarled, shaking his head in disgust.

“I don’t want to see any of you near my Cloud again. If you so much as breathe near him, I will do much worse!” Zack warned, before pulling Cloud with him out of the changing rooms.

Chapter Text

The car ride back to Zack’s apartment was chillingly silent, with neither Cloud nor Zack uttering a word. Frankly, Cloud did not know what to make of the situation. Every time he thought about it, more and more questions would form in his head.

How was Zack about to get to the changing rooms in virtually no time? Why, at that moment, were Zack’s eyes darker than normal? Why did he refer to Cloud as his?

Cloud simply stared out the window, basking in the city lights as Zack drove. He slightly glanced over to the alpha, who seemed deep in concentration. Maybe he was having the same thoughts as the blond was?

It didn’t take long before Zack had pulled into his usual parking lot. The silence continued to persist when they reached the alpha’s apartment. Turning his key, they slowly entered.

Zack decided to speak first. “You want something to drink? Like a beer or coffee? I made sure to get some the other day in case you came over.”

“Tea if you have, please.” Cloud said quietly, Zack nodded in response.

“Any sugars?”

“Just one.”

The awkwardness between them is borderline unbearable. Cloud really wanted to put this little moment behind them, but to do that, they needed to address it properly. Something Cloud nor Zack wanted to do.

The blond sat on Zack’s couch, staring at the flat-screen TV with his lips firmly pressed. Zack soon came after with Cloud’s tea and his coffee, setting it on the table.

Cloud flinched when he felt Zack’s hands caress his wrist.

“They didn’t hurt you badly, did they?” Zack questioned, worried. The blond could tell Zack’s concern had not waivered since they left.

“N-No, you came just in time.” Cloud smiled.

“Something on your mind, Sunshine?”

“Uh…well,” Cloud stuttered, trying to find the words to say.

“Come on, Spike. It’s written all over your face, just say whatever’s bothering you.”

“Zack, I just said I was in the Sports Centre. I don’t remember telling you I was in the changing rooms. How did you know I was there?”

Zack was visibly taken aback, deeply sighing before speaking. “I don’t know. Somehow, some part of me felt you were in trouble so I followed wherever that part of me was leading me to.”

“It’s just…I’ve never seen you like that. So feral and…primal, like you were a completely different person.”

“I wish I could explain what happened, Sunshine. I really do, but all I could think about was if I didn’t get there in time, you were gonna get hurt.”

“I’m not mad at you, Puppy. Quite the opposite.” Cloud smiled as he set the tea to the table and hugged the alpha. “I’m glad you saved me.”

“Of course!” Zack beamed, hugging the blond back. “You know I’ll always be there to protect you!”

“Also, you referred to me being ‘your’ Cloud. Care to elaborate?” Cloud asked, his eyebrow raised at the alpha.

Zack laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “I-I don’t know how to explain that either.”

Cloud rolled his eyes, jumping onto Zack’s lap and looking him dead in the face. “Tell me, Zack. Am I yours?”

The alpha prayed to every God in the sky and beyond that his cock would remain idle as the blond straddled his lap. “I was trying to say you are my best friend. That’s what I meant by that. I promise I didn’t mean to imply I owned you or anything!”

Cloud glared at the raven-haired alpha with a distasteful scowl before abruptly bursting out in laughter. Zack looked at the blond baffled as Cloud hugged him.

“I’m just kidding, Zack.” The omega laughed.

“You cheeky little minx.” Zack gritted, tackling Cloud onto the floor. Once again, the omega was defenceless against Zack’s ticklish assault.

“Z-Zack, s-stop!” Cloud pleaded, though his cries fell on deaf ears.

“Say you’re sorry.”

“No!” Cloud tried to kick the alpha away from him. It was in vain, however, as Zack pinned his leg to the floor and resumed his tormenting.

“Come on, Sunshine. Tell me you’re sorry and I’ll let you go.”

“F-Fine! I’m sorry!”

“For what?” Zack pressed.

“For teasing you and faking being mad at you.”

Zack grinned triumphantly as he pulled away from the omega, who was desperately grasping for air. The two stayed looking at each other as they continued to laugh lightly. Cloud’s face and neck had turned a rosy hue from laughing so much. Zack couldn’t help but admire the blond beneath him who dawned a subtle smile.

“Something on your mind, Puppy?” Cloud asked.

“N-No, it’s just…I really like spending time with you, Sunshine.” Zack smiled.

“Aw, I like spending time with you too, Puppy!” Cloud beamed. “By the way, I think our drinks are getting cold.”

“Oh yeah, that reminds me. There is a party happening this Friday night, and the whole rugby team is invited. Do you want to come along?” Zack asked.

Cloud took a moment to think. “I don’t know, I’ve never been to a party since I was a kid.”

“Really? Not even during high school?”

“The football team back in Nibelheim would have parties and stuff but they always excluded me.” Cloud shrugged.

“Okay, that’s bullshit. They were probably jealous you did better than them.” Zack scoffed. “Anyways, if you don’t want to, it’s fine. You and I can do something else instead.”

“But won’t people be expecting you at this party?”

“100 percent but I couldn’t give a shit about if they badly want me there.” Zack shrugged. “I much prefer spending time with you, Sunshine.”

Cloud shook his head, smiling. “Nah, I want to go. Besides, my friend from the football team will be there so if you ever get pulled away, I’ve got someone to chat to in the meantime.”

“Oh, and who is this friend?”

“His name’s Prompto.”

“Prompto? You mean Gladio’s boyfriend? I hate to disappoint you, Sunshine but your friend is probably gonna be busy getting kissed or railed by Gladio.”

“So, what am I going to do when your teammates pull you away from me and you leave me all alone?” Cloud pouted.

Zack chuckled. “That’s not gonna happen. I’m gonna be glued to your side for the entire evening. Besides, that way I can introduce you to all my other friends.”

“And if they don’t like me?”

“Then, they’re no longer my friends.” Zack smiled.

“Here are your drinks, guys.” Cloud said as he put the drinks on the table. “Are you guys ready to order or would you like a few more minutes?”

It was an average day at Seventh Heaven, though it was likely to become busier in the evening. Thankfully, for Cloud, since he already had plans tonight, he didn’t need to worry about the impending rush of customers that were sure to flood the bar later. Though, for now, he would have to deal with the less daunting afternoon rush instead.

“No, we’re ready to order. May I have the cheeseburger, hold the tomatoes please.” The gentleman requested. “And for you, darling?”

“I’ll have the chicken Caesar salad, with extra croutons.”

Cloud nodded and smiled as he took their menus away from them. He remembered the numerous horror stories he heard from people working in hospitality, from customers making unreasonable demands to their employers firing them for the littlest thing.

Suffice to say, the omega was grateful that he could not relate to those stories at all. For the most part, the customers he has encountered have been far from unreasonable. On top of that, he received good tips most of the time. All in all, the blond was thankful to Tifa for bringing him here.

“Johnny, I’ve got another order for you,” Cloud called out.

“Coming right up!” Johnny beamed, sounding more happy than usual which confused Cloud.

“You sound happier than usual. Did you win the lottery or something?”

“Better than that! I have a date with Tifa next Friday.”

To say Cloud was shocked was an understatement. The blond has seen countless people approach Tifa with their affection towards her, only to be shot down. Naturally, Cloud thought Johnny wouldn’t be an exception and would suffer the same fate.

Perhaps, he had underestimated Johnny, or maybe this time, Tifa thought she could give someone a chance. Either way, Cloud was happy for the man.

“Nice! You know where you’re gonna take her?”

Johnny pressed his pointer finger to his lips. “Can’t have you spoiling my plans for our date.”

“Come on, I won’t tell her.”

“Nuh uh, I want to surprise her and that means no one but me can know.”

“Fair enough. Well, I hope it goes well!”

No doubt Cloud was going to bombard Tifa with a million questions once her shift began. She had a lot of explaining to do.

Sure enough, while Cloud was busy cleaning tables, he saw the raven-haired woman walk through the entrance. She smiled brightly at Cloud and winked at Johnny, who blew her a kiss.

“Hey, Cloud.” Tifa greeted.

“Hi, Tifa. You good?”

“Yeah, heard you got a date next Friday.”

“Oh, yeah. Johnny asked me out the other night.” Tifa said as she helped Cloud clear the empty tables.

“Wait, you’re actually into him?”

“Gaia, no.”

Okay, if Cloud was already confused, then he was utterly bewildered at this point.

“So, you’re not into him, yet you agreed to go on a date with him?”

“You don’t understand. We were in the middle of a busy street and he got down to one knee with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Everyone was staring and I didn’t want to humiliate him like that."

When she put it that way, Cloud couldn’t help but understand. Tifa has always been a thoughtful and kind person, often putting others’ feelings before her own. Understandably, Tifa just couldn’t allow Johnny to become a laughingstock in front of everyone.

“So, you said yes?”

“Yeah, and everyone around us cheered and clapped.”

“Probably because it looked like a marriage proposal.” Cloud laughed. “But seriously, Tifa. You couldn’t tell him afterwards that you said yes to not hurt his feelings?”

“I’ll tell him after our date that I don’t see their relationship going any further than friends.” Tifa shrugged. “And enough about me, let’s talk about you because I heard from Aerith about a group of guys threatening you.”

“Alright,” Cloud said as he carried a pile of dirty dishes to the kitchen. “What about it do you want to talk about?”

“First of all, I want to know: are you okay? You’re not too shaken, are you?”

“No, besides Zack miraculously came to my rescue that day.”

“But what did they want from you?”

“Well, I’m an omega and given the social stigma and how rare we are, they probably wanted to know how I am in bed. Even if I openly objected to it.”

“That’s awful, did you report it?”

Regrettably, to Tifa’s shock and horror, Cloud shook his head.

“You can’t be serious, Cloud!?” Tifa exclaimed. “They tried to force themselves onto you and you say nothing to anyone?”

“Because -” Cloud abruptly paused, taking a deep breath and letting it go. “It’s complicated.”

“Yeah, how?”

“Because…Zack beat up one of them, like really badly.”

Tifa shrugged. “And? Sounds like Zack gave him what he deserved.”

“I can’t disagree with you there, but you know how ridiculous our university is. They catch a huff about Zack assaulting another student the way he did, he would be expelled on the spot.”

“So what now? Are you just going to live constantly looking over your shoulder?”

“No, I promise I’ll be more careful in the future.”

“Oh no, that’s not good enough. I’m going to teach you some Martial Arts so when another alpha tries to make an unsolicited move on you, you can kick his ass.”

Cloud chuckled. “Thanks for that, Tifa.”

“Of course, is there anything else you wanted to talk about?”

“Now that you mention it, there is something that has been bugging me lately.”

“Sure, fire away.” Tifa encouraged.

“Well, when Zack saved me from that group of alphas, he looked…strange.”

“Strange?”

“His eyes…they were a darker shade of green than they normally were. He looked feral.”

Tifa nodded. “Has he told you about when his rut cycles were? You know sometimes when alphas are near their rut cycle or are uber possessive, they become more aggressive and shit.”

“No, he hasn’t. But if it is close to now, it would be a bit strange since my heat cycle was around this time too. Well, it would be if I didn’t take my heat suppressants.”

“I’m just saying that could’ve been a sign his rut is near. He didn’t hurt you unintentionally, did he?”

“No.” Cloud shook his head. “If anything, he was more protective than he usually was. He also said, ‘Don’t hurt MY Cloud’.”

Tifa’s eyes grew to the size of saucers upon hearing that. “Sorry, he called you his?”

“When I spoke to him about it, he meant it in a platonic way. You know, since he’s my best friend and everything.”

Tifa shook her head in dissatisfaction. “Zack can say that till the cows come home but I don’t believe that bullshit for a second.”

“I don’t want to overthink it, but -”

“Cloud, we’ve been best friends for years and not once have I called you MY Cloud or alluded to something like that.”

“I—” Cloud tried to come up with an explanation, but truthfully, he couldn’t think of anything to defend the raven-haired alpha.

“Look, I like Zack. I do, he’s a nice guy and from the looks of it, he adores you. But I spoke to Aerith who has known him for years and she told me the way he acts around you, he never acts that way around anyone else.”

Cloud shrugged. “So, he’s more cuddly with me than other people? That doesn’t mean he’s into me romantically.”

“Whatever.” Tifa rolled her eyes, feeling that this conversation was going nowhere. “When are you next seeing him?”

“Tonight, there’s a party happening at some guy’s house and he invited me to go with him.”

“Wait, is it at Reno’s house?”

“I think that’s the guy’s name. Did you get invited too?”

“Aerith did, and she invited me to go with her.”

“Oh, what about we talk about you and Aerith? What’s going on there?”

“What’s going on, you nosey brat, is that she and I are friends. And unlike you and your ‘puppy’, we don’t cuddle and snuggle in public. You know, things couples do.”

“I’m sure you two are having a very enlightening conversation,” Barret interjected, surprising the two workers. “But I have a business to run. So if you two are finished with your conversations, Johnny over here is waiting for you to deliver the food to our guests.”

“Sorry, sir.” They both apologised.

“What did I say about calling me sir!? It’s Barret, damn it!”

Cloud laid on Zack’s couch, browsing through his phone as he heard the shower running. When his shift was drawing to a close, he was surprised to see Zack coming into the bar. Slightly amused, the blond told him that unless he wanted to buy a drink or something, he needed to wait outside.

Undeterred, Zack sat at a table and ordered himself a beer. Cloud looked at Tifa, who simply shook her head and rolled her eyes at the display. The whole time, from Cloud serving him his beer to him asking if he wanted anything else, Zack’s eyes stayed fixated on the blond. Even Barret got somewhat baffled by it, to the point where he allowed Cloud to end his shift five minutes before it was initially scheduled to end.

Now, the blond was waiting for Zack to be finished in the shower so that he could start getting ready for the party. Since this would be the first party Cloud ever attended for a long time, he wasn’t sure what to expect or what was expected of him. Was this a birthday party? If not, were they celebrating something? Did he need to bring a gift?

Then again, if he did need to bring a gift, he’s sure Zack had it covered. He continued to go through his phone, browsing through the internet. It had only been a few days since Zack’s surprise supply drop, and he still wasn’t used to his new phone. Compared to his old phone, his new phone was lightning-fast, and its display was vibrant. Not to mention, it wasn’t glitching every other second. Zack was right, his old phone was probably on its final days and it was a miracle that it lasted him as long as it did.

He just wished the alpha didn’t go out of his way to pay him a phone, especially since Cloud set buying a new phone for himself as a goal for himself. That way, the blond could find thorough enjoyment as a result of fulfilling that goal. Oh well, he had a new phone now thanks to Zack. And if he decided to not use it, he might as well spit on the alpha’s face if he wanted to be disrespectful.

He heard the shower stop running and turned to see Zack clad in a towel wrapped tightly around his waist.

“Shower’s all yours, Sunshine.” Zack winked before moving into his bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Taking the towel and clothes that Zack laid out for him on the couch, he walked into the bathroom and locked the door behind him. While he trusted Zack not to burst into the bathroom in the middle of his shower, he still wanted to be sure.

Stripping himself of his clothes, he stepped into the shower and let the warm water rain down over his porcelain skin. The blond insisted on getting ready in his own home and wanted Zack to either pick him up or meet him at the party, but the alpha was stubborn and wouldn’t stop pouting like the puppy he was until the blond reluctantly agreed.

Cloud will admit though his apartment was nice and comfy, it couldn’t be compared to Zack’s humble abode. While Cloud’s bathroom had a shower head fitted over the bathtub, Zack’s had the shower and bath in separate parts. Then again, the blond didn’t need a fancy bathroom like Zack’s. As long as it didn’t run cold while he was washing and was fairly clean, Cloud couldn’t really ask for more.

After giving him a thorough wash using Zack’s fragrant shower gel, he turned off the tap. Stepping out of the shower, he wrapped the soft, cotton towel around his waist. He opened the bathroom window, wanting to let the steam escape instead of letting it reside in the vast bathroom.

“You all done, Sunshine?” He heard Zack call out.

“Yeah!”

“Sorry, is it okay if I can pop in just for a second? I really need to pee!”

“Sure, give me a second.” Cloud walked over to the door. Upon unlocking it, Zack clad in only his black underwear made a beeline to the toilet. The blond rolled his eyes as he exited the bathroom while Zack sighed in relief.

Cloud moved into Zack’s bedroom, laying his clothes on the bed. Quickly drying his body, he puts on his chocobo-patterned boxers. He remembered when he and Tifa went shopping and was surprised she had bought him a pair of boxers, with chocobo and cactuar patterns as a joke. She was more surprised when she saw that he actually wore them.

“Right when I thought you couldn’t get any cuter.” Zack chuckled, the blond quickly turning to see his best friend checking out his underwear and smirking. His face quickly reddened and tried to find the towel he discarded. Seeing the towel, he moved quickly to grab it, only to be pulled back by Zack into a bear hug. He felt the alpha’s broad chest press against his back, causing his blush to deepen.

“Come on, Sunshine. You don’t need to be so shy around me.” Zack assured him. “Here, let me dry your hair for you.”

Cloud sat down as Zack grabbed a small towel from his closet. He felt the alpha tenderly run the towel through his damp hair, causing him to smile out of habit. He began to reminisce about whenever he and Zack would come home from the playground in the rain, the older man would rush them to his house and always make sure the blond was dry before worrying about himself.

It was one of many things Cloud had come to adore about the alpha.

“Is something funny, Spike?” Zack questioned.

“No, it’s just…remember when we were kids, sometimes it would rain, and you would rush me to your house.”

“Yeah, I would rummage through the linen closet to find you a towel to dry you.”

“No, you would throw it over me and scrub the towel over my head until it wasn’t a single drop of water in my hair.” Cloud laughed.

“Yeah, I didn’t want you to get sick!”

They continued to laugh while Zack finished drying Cloud’s hair.

“Now, why aren’t you ready? I was in that shower for like ten minutes.”

“Aerith called me, telling me she and Tifa were gonna meet us at the party. I told her to just give us a few minutes but she said and I quote ‘I’m not going to wait for two losers to finish fucking each other. You guys can make your own way here.’”

“Who the hell does she think she is, calling us losers?” Cloud remarked in disgust.

“What did I tell you? She’s not always peaches and rainbows.” Zack sighed. “Anyways, let’s finish getting dressed.”

Once Cloud was fully dressed, he went over to Zack’s mirror to observe his outfit. He didn’t want to appear overdressed but at the same time, he didn’t want to look like he didn’t give a shit about his appearance or lacked fashion sense.

He opted for a light blue jumper that wasn’t too baggy or too tight around his figure with a pair of dark chino trousers. It wasn’t far from what he would normally wear but it showed he made somewhat of an effort.

“Hey, guess great minds think alike.” Cloud was shocked to see in the mirror that Zack went for a similar outfit to him. Zack was wearing a dark blue V-neck t-shirt, the sleeves tightly hugging his strong muscles, and the deep V-neck was sure to bring people’s gaze to his brawny chest. He also wore a pair of jeans that hugged his bulky legs.

“Are you trying to one-up me or something?” Cloud playfully accused, digging his finger into Zack’s chest.

“One-up you? What are you trying to imply, Spike?”

Cloud stayed silent, pressing his lips together tightly. Sensing something was wrong with the younger man, Zack hugged him from behind, resting his head on his shoulder.

“Have I upset you, Sunshine? Whatever it is, I can fix it. I promise!”

“No, it’s fine. I’m just being stupid.” Cloud sighed.

“No, you can tell me anything.”

“It’s just - I won’t lie, Zack. You’re a really attractive guy, and I feel like if I stand next to you, I’ll become like your shadow. Everyone will rush over to you while I’ll just be in the background.”

Zack sighed, pulling the blond as close to him as possible. He had no idea Cloud felt this way, nor did he want him to be like this. Never in a million years would he want Cloud to feel so insignificant or inferior to him.

“Sunshine, you’re not my shadow nor will you ever be. Even if everyone ran over to me and wanted my time and attention, Gaia knows that I’ll shove every one of them to the side if it means I can spend more time with you.”

“I know. It’s only because our outfits are so similar, I was afraid people were going to think I’m trying to copy you.”

“Oh no, it’s me that’s copying you. I wanted us to at least somewhat match.” Zack chuckled.

“And in doing so, I look like I got my clothes from a 1-Gil store while you look like you stepped out an exclusive fashion runway.”

“Hey, this,” Zack pinched on Cloud’s jumper, “was made from Chanel so I know for a damn fact it ain’t from some 1-Gil store.”

“That’s not the point I’m trying to make.”

“Then what are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying you look hot!” Cloud shouted, covering his mouth after uttering the words he tried so hard to suppress.

Zack raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Ha, I look hot?”

“What I meant is, you’re probably going to pull a lot of women at this party looking like that.”

“Well, like I said, I don’t intend on leaving the party with some fling for the night. I want to have a good time with you, Tifa and Aerith.” He smiled.

“Same for me.” Cloud agreed, smiling.

“Just let me take my medication, then we’ll be good to go!”

“Medication? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, it’s…like when you have your heat cycles, my rut cycle is coming up soon and I need to take my rut suppressant.”

“Oh, that’s weird.”

“What is?” Zack asked, confused.

“My heat cycle is coming up soon as well but I already took my heat suppressant this morning so I’m okay.”

“No way our cycles overlap, that’s actually kinda crazy. Anyways, our Uber should be here in ten minutes. I’ll take my suppressant then we’ll head down.”

“Uber? What about the dozen supercars you have in your personal garage?” Cloud chuckled.

“Because, Sunshine, I want to drink alcohol at this party, and I can’t be a responsible driver if I drink,” Zack remarked as they left his apartment and headed to the elevator. “Besides, if you were in the car with me, I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you because I stupidly decided to drink and drive.”

“Wow, that’s…really thoughtful of you, Puppy.” Cloud smiled at Zack, who charmingly smiled back at him. “I’m guessing we’re getting an UberX?”

Zack scoffed. “UberX? When I hit rock bottom, maybe. Nah, we’re taking Uber Black.”

Cloud sighed. “Of course we are.”

When the two arrived at the party, it was clear it was already in full swing. Dozens of people were all moving sensually on the wide dancefloor situated in the living room, there were red plastic cups plastered all over the floor and the EDM club music was pumping loudly through the bass-boosted speakers.

Safe to say, Cloud felt a little out of place here. He was more used to the quiet, reserved atmosphere of a board game night or the relaxing ambience of a movie night. The hyper, chaotic atmosphere of a frat party was far from what the blond omega considered enjoyable.

But he still made the effort of getting ready and coming here with Zack. He wasn’t going to back out now when he had already made it this far.

“Zack!” Cloud hears someone with long, red hair loudly exclaim, dashing to the raven-haired alpha. It was evident the man had a few to drink already. “How are you, you sexy son of a bitch?”

“Hey, Reno! I’m good! What’s up?”

“Yo, this party is hella lit! Thanks for coming.” Reno then turned to Cloud. “Wait a minute, why do I feel like I’ve seen you before?”

“I-I don’t think we’ve met before, I’m Cloud.”

“Oh, I remember! You’re Zack’s new boyfriend!”

Cloud chuckled, shaking his head. “No, we’re friends.”

“Aw, did you guys break up then?” Reno pouted. “But you two look so cute together!”

“No, Reno, Cloud meant to say we weren’t dating in the first place.” Zack clarified.

“Oh!” Reno understood. “Ah well, can I get you guys something to drink?”

“Sure, what you got?” Zack asked as Reno led them into the kitchen.

“The usual suspects. I got beer, wine, champagne. Oh, but I made this amazing punch before everyone came here and they all love it! I call it the Hunch Punch, you guys wanna try?”

Zack and Cloud shared a curious glance before nodding. Beaming with energy, Reno filled two large red cups with the reddish liquid.

“Cheers!” The three said in unison before they all took a sip. Almost instantly, Cloud began to cough at the drink’s sheer strength.

“Woah, woah, you okay, Sunshine?” Zack asked.

Cloud rapidly nodded. “Yeah, it’s just…this is really strong.”

“Yeah, I can handle booze quite well, but you should’ve named this drink Gut Punch 'cause that’s what people are gonna feel when they drink this,” Zack remarked. “What did you put in this anyway?”

“Not much. A couple of bottles of rum, a bottle of tequila, a lot of gin, some of that strawberry vodka too -”

“I’m starting to see why everyone loves this then.” Cloud joked, making Zack chuckle.

“So, what did you mix this with?” Zack asked.

“What did I…? Oh, lemonade, pineapple juice, cranberry juice…a shit ton of cranberry juice, actually. Does rose wine count as a mixer?”

“If you want it to be.” Cloud smiled.

Reno grinned from ear to ear, throwing his arms around the blond. “You’re very funny, can I be your best friend?”

“Sorry, Reno. He’s already my best friend.” Zack grinned. He tried to pull Cloud away from the redhead, but Reno pulled Cloud closer to him.

“No fair!” Reno exclaimed, pouting.

“Reno, stop. You’re making Cloud uncomfortable.”

Reno looked at Cloud who didn’t look the slightest bit uncomfortable. Funnily enough, the blond found the entire debacle amusing.

“I’m not making you uncomfortable, am I?” Reno asked, his puppy eyes fixated on Cloud.

Cloud shook his head, smiling. “Not at all.”

Reno beamed, sticking his tongue out at Zack. “See, I’m his new best friend now!”

“Reno, stop it.” Cloud turned his head to see a tall, bald man pulling Reno away from him. Why was he wearing sunglasses indoors at night?

“But babbbeeee!” Reno whined. “I made a new friend tonight! Isn’t he as cute as a button?”

“Sorry about him, guys. Think he had a bit too much of his punch. I’ll get him out of your hair.”

“It's alright,” Cloud assured the man. “It was nice meeting you, Reno.” He smiled as the man threw Reno over his shoulder.

“Nice to meet you too, new bestie!” Reno yelled, waving Cloud goodbye.

“You don’t need to finish that, Sunshine. I can grab you something else if you’d like.” Zack tried to take Cloud’s cup away but Cloud stepped back, giving the alpha a stern look.

“When did I say I didn’t like this?” Cloud remarked. “It may need a bit more mixer but it’s kind of nice.”

“Whatever you say, Sunshine.” Zack shrugged, grabbed a bottle of lemonade from the fridge and diluted their drinks.

“You know, once you get over that first sip, it’s actually real nice!” Cloud beamed. “Should we go try to find Aerith and Tifa then?”

Zack nodded. “Let’s go!”

Chapter Text

It didn’t take the two boys long before they were able to find the two ladies they were seeking. Aerith and Tifa were sat on the swinging couch by the patio, happily giggling to each other.

“What’s so funny?” Zack joked, making his and Cloud’s presence known to the girls. They both turned their heads and widely smiled upon seeing the two men.

“Cloud!” Aerith beamed, getting off the couch to wrap her arms around the blond in a loving hug. “I’m so happy you could make it! And you look so hot tonight. You’re going to pull so many girls here.”

“Thanks, Aerith! You look very gorgeous tonight.” Cloud smiled.

“Aw, stop it. You know exactly how to flatter a girl.” The brunette giggled.

“Wow, and hi to you too, Aerith,” Zack remarked, feeling as though he was being completely ignored.

The flower girl rolled her eyes, directing her attention to the raven-haired alpha. “Yes, hi to you too, Zack. So, are you having fun, Cloud?”

“Yeah, I made a new friend so it's safe to say, I’m off to a good start.” Cloud laughed.

“I’m not surprised, you’re very easy to like.” Aerith beamed. “Woah, you’re having some of Reno’s punch?”

“Yeah, I mean Zack and I added a bit more lemonade to it, so it doesn’t hit as hard.” Cloud shrugged.

“You are really brave, Tif and I settled on the champagne.”

“You know, because we’re classy bitches!” Tifa cheered.

“Tif? You guys have nicknames?” Cloud questioned.

“I mean, it’s not as adoring as Sunshine or Puppy.” Aerith mocked, causing Tifa to erupt in laughter much to Cloud’s dismay. “But yeah, our friendship has evolved to nicknames now.”

“Anyways, Cloud! You’re a really smart person, aren’t you?” Aerith asked.

“I wouldn’t say I’m the smartest person on the planet but…”

“But you’re a Shinra scholar which says it all.” Aerith shrugged. “Basically, there’s this piece of shit fuckwad-”

“Woah, here I thought you were a lady, Aerith.” Zack mocked, grinning.

“I grew up in the slums, you asshole. The only thing ladylike about me is my vagina.” Aerith remarked before turning to the blond. “Anyways, there is this dickhead who’s showing up people with some sort of poem riddle bullshit and he’s being a real asshole about it.”

“Okay, and what do you want me to do?”

“I want you to beat him at his own game! We’re going to go over to that asshole and show him he ain’t shit!” Aerith grabbed Cloud’s hand and began to pull him with her but was swiftly pulled back by the raven-haired alpha.

“Oh no, you don’t. First of all, I know you’re not trying to pressure Cloud into doing something he hasn’t even agreed to. And second, I promised him I would stay by his side.” Zack rambled.

“Fine then. Cloud, could you please use your immense brainpower to smoke a stuck-up asshole to pieces?” Aerith asked.

Cloud looked at the raven-haired alpha and shrugged. “I’m up for it.”

“But -”

“You’re more than welcome to watch, Puppy.”

Zack sighed, smiling down at the blond. “Fine, I’ll be in the back supporting you.”

“Yeah, yeah, come on, Cloud,” Aerith uttered, pulling Cloud alongside her.

The blond and the brunette rushed to the dining room, which looked like a battleground. Crowds of students pooled around the dining room table while two pairs of people fired words of poetry at each other. Reno stood by the head of the table, seemingly as the spectator.

“Hey everyone, look, it’s the new captain of the rugby team: Zack!” Reno called out, directing everyone’s attention to the raven-haired alpha. Everyone in the room loudly cheered, screaming words like ‘congratulations’ and ‘well deserved’. Zack simply smiled and thanked everyone for their kind words before looking down at Cloud.

“I’m gonna grab another cup of punch. You want one too, Sunshine?” Zack asked.

“If you don’t mind.” Cloud smiled.

“Course, I won’t be long,” Zack assured before making his way to the kitchen.

“Okay everyone, Edgar and Locke remain undefeated with a 6-win streak! Who dares to challenge the reigning champions?”

“We want to go next!” Aerith exclaimed, holding Cloud’s arm tightly.

“Ah, ladies and gentlemen, our next challengers are Aerith and Cloud, who is my new best friend by the way.” Reno giggled as the pair took their seats on the table. “Okay guys, place your bets. How much are you putting on the table?”

“I’ll let you go first,” Edgar smirked.

“I’m putting down 50 Gil,” Aerith remarked, slamming her money on the table as to show she meant business.

“20 Gil from me, I’m just here to have fun.” Cloud shrugged.

“I’m here for fun too, but I’ll put down 30 Gil.” Locke smiled.

“Bunch of pussies, you two. I’m putting down 200 Gil.” Edgar grinned. Everyone around them gasped in amazement as the man threw his money into the middle. “What can I say? I’m feeling charitable tonight.”

“Yeah, I don’t care about the money, asshole. I care more about kicking your ass in this game.” Aerith spat.

“Okay, let’s keep things civil.” Reno tried to stop the situation from escalating. “I’ll explain the rules: this is a limerick battle, in your teams you need to come up with a funny and witty limerick. I’m the spectator but the people around us are the judges. If they cheer or laugh loud enough, I’ll give you a point. If, after ten seconds, neither one of you have said anything or the crowd doesn’t like your limerick, you don’t get a point, and we’ll move on to the other team. First to three points wins, got it?”

“Got it.” Aerith coldly said, dawning a poker face.

“Great! Edgar and Locke, as the reigning champions, you’ll decide who goes first.” Reno said.

“We’ll let the challengers go first,” Edgar remarked.

“Alright, Aerith and Cloud, the floor is yours.” Reno grinned.

“You got this, Cloud!” Cloud turned to where the loud cheer came from, lightly chuckling when he saw Prompto cheering him on.

The raven-haired alpha wandered into the kitchen, grabbing two red plastic cups from the counter. He whistled happily to himself as he helped himself to the gigantic bowl of punch.

“Hey there, Zack…” A sultry voice spoke, one that Zack could annoyingly recognise anywhere.

“Hi, Kyrie,” Zack uttered.

“So, I heard rumours that you have a new boyfriend with spiky, blond hair. Please tell me it’s not true!” Kyrie whined with a stern pout on her face.

“No, I don’t know how many times I need to say it, but Cloud and I are best friends, nothing more.”

“Really!?” Kyrie exclaimed, happily wrapping her arms around Zack’s strong bicep, much to his dismay. “I knew you wouldn’t betray me like that!”

“Betray you how!?” Zack scoffed, ripping his arm away from the whiny girl. “Kyrie, I don’t know the number of times I need to say this before it gets through to your head. I was drunk off my ass that night and we had sex. I’m sorry if it meant more to you, but I don’t want to have anything romantic with you.”

“B-But we’re meant to be. You can’t toy with my heart like that and expect me to chalk it down to a hook-up.”

“But that’s what it was, Kyrie! Gaia, if I’d known fucking you would lead me to this, I would’ve never gotten drunk that night. Hell, I probably wouldn’t have even gone out that night!”

“I’m not some whore you can throw away after you have your fun, Zack!” Kyrie exclaimed. Zack rolled his eyes, thanking the loud music in the living room that drowned out Kyrie’s voice since she was clearly trying to make a scene.

“I never said you were! Look, I need to get this drink to Cloud.”

“Is that his name?”

“What?”

“Your best friend, oh so you say,” Kyrie remarked. “Are you going to have fun with him too? Toy with his heart?”

“I’m not gonna toy with anything, Kyrie. Look, I’m done with this conversation. If you will excuse me, I need to get back to Cloud.”

“Hey, Zack!” A black-haired woman wearing a revealing dress ran up to him. “You mind if my friends and I can get a quick picture with the new rugby team captain.”

“Can it wait? I need to get back to my friend.”

“Come on, it will only take a second. Please?”

Zack grinned and let out a light-hearted sigh. “Fine.”

Kyrie clenched her fists, looking down at the cups Zack had accidentally left behind. Her blood boiled, her eyes blinded by rage and dissatisfaction. What was so special about that blond in the picture? Why couldn’t Zack love her the way she loved him? What more did she need to do for the alpha to see that she could be everything he wanted and more?

She was tired of this constant cat-and-mouse game. She was fed up with being disregarded by Zack only to see him bag another unsuspecting woman in his arms. She needed to make him hers.

Digging through her pockets, she pulled out a small vial that contained a greenish liquid.

“What are you doing?” She jumped, looking up at the brown-haired gentleman suspiciously glaring at her.

“I-It’s not what you think.” She tried to pass off her suspicious actions as something trivial.

“Hey, I’m not gonna judge. I’m more used to weed and cocaine, but whatever drug that is, I’m sure it bangs.” The man shrugged. “I’m about to leave anyway.”

“Leave, why? The party only started half an hour ago.”

“Because someone is here that I don’t want to see.”

“Who?”

The man sighed. “Cloud.”

“Cloud? You mean, Zack’s best friend?”

“If you mean spiky blond hair with blue eyes, yes I mean that guy.”

“Why?” Kyrie was curious as to why someone could hate Cloud so much. Maybe like Zack, he too was a heartbreaker? If so, she would gleefully run to Zack, expose Cloud and have the handsome alpha all to herself.

“Since the day I met him, he has been a thorn in my side. I’m an alpha and he’s an omega yet he thinks he’s better than me. And what’s worse is he seems to have everyone wrapped around his fucking finger!”

“Geez, did he murder your dog or something?”

“He might as well have done it! He’s the reason why I’m not on the football team. Someone ought to put that twinky omega in his place!”

“Maybe you and I could help each other?”

“Yeah, how?” The man raised an eyebrow.

“Zack just ran off to take some pictures with the cheerleaders. I was gonna sneak this in his drink.”

“Yeah, what is that?”

“It’s a heat and rut imposer.”

“The fuck!? How’d you get that?”

“I know a guy.” Kyrie shrugged.

“Do you have any idea how dangerous using an imposer is?”

Indeed, heat and rut imposers were infamous and heavily frowned upon. While their initial purpose was to help impotent omegas try to get their heat cycle back on track, other people began to use them as a way to force both alphas and omegas into entering their respective cycles earlier.

This drug has caused severe harm to both alphas and omegas as when wrongly administered, it can cause alphas and omegas’ future cycles to be thrown off kilter. In extreme cases, it can render alphas and omegas’ pheromones severely imbalanced.

Naturally, the government saw the impending danger and swiftly prohibited the use of heat and rut imposers. However, those in the black market were able to retain a sample large enough to replicate it and sold underground in intense amounts of Gil.

Thankfully, the imposer used today was a shadow of its authentic predecessor. It functioned on a similar level as an aphrodisiac. It no longer could harm their heat or rut cycles, but it did make the subject unbearably horny.

“I know, but I have no choice. I need Zack to understand I’m the only one for him.”

“Okay but how is this going to help me?”

“I have enough in this vial to use on both drinks.”

“Alright?” The man was eager to know more about the woman’s plan.

“You said you wanted to teach Cloud a lesson? So, it takes around 20 minutes for the imposer to take effect. I’m sure Cloud will try to take refuge in one of the many rooms upstairs. Once he does, quickly follow him in there and lock the door. Meanwhile, I’ll be in another room, ready to seduce Zack and finally make him mine.”

“Damn, you’re dangerous.” The man smirked.

“So, you in or not?”

“Oh, definitely. Cloud won’t know what hit him.”

Kyrie smirked as she poured an equal amount of greenish liquid onto both drinks.

“By the way, I’m Kyrie.”

“Dylan, nice to meet you. Shit, I think someone’s coming.”

They both quickly slipped out of the kitchen. Zack wandered into the kitchen, surprised no one was there. He could’ve sworn he heard muttering coming from here. The alpha shrugged, finding he and Cloud’s drinks were on the counter, seemingly untouched. Either he was going crazy or he needed to warn Reno that this house may be haunted.

“There was a man named Rick,” Cloud started. “Who used dynamite as a pleasure stick. Needless to say, he died that day, and his corpse was nothing more than a burned asshole and a charred dick.”

Edgar looked disgruntled as the crowds around them roared with laughter.

“And that is one point to Cloud and Aerith,” Reno shouted. “Your turn, Edgar and Locke.”

“There once was a man named Dave, who dug up a prostitute from her grave. Her hair was grey and reeked of decay, but plenty of money he did save!”

As the room once again echoed in laughter, a triumphant grin dawned on Edgar’s face which aggravated the flower girl.

“Nice one, asshole,” Aerith remarked.

“Okay, it’s 1-1. Aerith and Cloud, you may proceed.”

“There was a girl named Adore…Adore, Adore…” Aerith repeated, desperately trying to find a word that rhymed.

“Adore, door, floor…” Cloud whispered in her ear, as to aid his teammate.

“Who was a dirty ass whore.” Aerith smirked. “Dicks big or small, she’d fuck them all, and her sex life was never a bore.”

As the room erupted with laughter once again, Aerith folded her arms with a sly smirk.

“Match point to the challengers. I bet you’re regretting letting them start, don’t ya, Eddie?” Reno smirked.

“Isn’t it supposed to be our turn, you flame-haired drunk?” Edgar hissed.

Reno held his hands up. “Indeed, the floor is yours.”

Edgar put his hand to his mouth as he entered into his deep thoughts, trying hard to think.

Reno raised an eyebrow at the uncomfortable silence that rapidly grew. “Time’s ticking, boys. 5…4…3…2…”

“There was a girl from Midgar,” Locke began. “Midgar….who liked to come inside a jar. She hit a bump in the road and her come ended up covering every inch of her car.”

If the silence was uncomfortable, it was damn near suffocating now. Everyone looked at each other more in disgust at Locke’s attempt at a limerick. Edgar’s eyes threw daggers at his teammate who shrunk into his chair.

“Shiva’s tits, this guy stinks!” Someone from the crowd shouted, causing everyone to laugh at Locke.

“Sorry, guys. People are laughing but not at your limerick but at the absurdity of it so no point for you. Aerith and Cloud, this is your chance to win. Go ahead,”

“There was a man named Jock,” Cloud began, turning to Aerith. “What rhymes with Jock?”

“Glock, flock, cock…” Aerith whispered.

“Who was blessed with a massive cock. A terrible thing, would make every pussy sting, and he would use it to go fishing at the dock.”

Everyone in the room, including Reno, burst out laughing. Some of them had tears rolling down their faces, some were clutching their stomachs and others were struggling to breathe from laughing too much.

“Think the crowd have made their decision loud and clear. Ladies and gentlemen, Aerith and Cloud are now the reigning champions of the limerick battle!” Reno shouted.

Everyone applauded the blond and brunette while Edgar and Locke discreetly moved from their seats and out of the room in humiliation. Aerith helped herself to the money on the table as everyone dispersed to other parts of the house.

“Congratulations, Sunshine.” Zack grinned, handing Cloud his cup. “Didn’t know you had such a filthy mouth.”

“Hey, there was money on the table. I did what I could to retain it.” Cloud shrugged, taking a sip of his drink. He made a grimaced face upon tasting it. “Did you add something to this?”

Zack shook his head. “No, I tasted it as well and it did taste a bit weird. Maybe someone snuck in a bit more booze into the punch?”

“Zack, if anything, the punch needs more mixer, not booze.”

“You want me to get you something else?”

“No, no, I don’t want this to go to waste. Besides, I don’t think my new bestie would appreciate me throwing away his concoction.” Cloud giggled.

“Hey Zack, can I have a word if that’s alright?” Tifa asked.

“Oh, yeah.” Zack nodded. “Will you be fine, Sunshine?”

“No, Zack, I’m going to get kidnapped.” Cloud mocked, his tone reeking of sarcasm. “I’ll be okay.”

“Yeah, besides he has me.” Aerith grinned, resting her head on the blond’s shoulder. “If you want to know where we are, we’ll be on the dancefloor.”

Tifa led Zack out into the backyard, sitting down on the comfy grass. They stared up at the shining stars that lit up the night sky.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” Tifa casually spoke.

“Yeah, it’s a lovely night.” Zack nodded. “I’m not in trouble, am I?”

“I don’t know, are you?” Tifa looked at Zack with her eyebrow raised.

Zack nervously chuckled. “Did I do something wrong?”

“I’m just fucking with you, Zack.” Tifa laughed. “I figured that since Cloud and Aerith got to spend time together, it only felt fair that you and I did the same.”

“Oh.” Zack smiled. “Sure, I’d love that.”

“So, I heard from Aerith that you are quite the ladies’ man?”

“Ah, yeah. I won’t lie, I have had my hand in one too many cookie jars.” Zack laughed, causing Tifa to laugh as well. “What can I say? I can’t resist the company of a young maiden.”

“Yeah, and you should be careful about whose cookie jar you dip your hand in,” Tifa remarked. “Aerith told me about all the crazy bitches you hooked up with.”

“In my defence, they’re not crazy until after I’ve fucked them.”

“Are you trying to say your dick has the ability to drive people crazy?”

“Maybe,” Zack shrugged. “You want to give it a try?”

“No, thank you.” Tifa shook her head. “Did you see Cloud has a new phone now?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“Did you have something to do with it?”

“N-No, I didn’t. You know Cloud works hard at that bar and -”

“We’ve only been working at Seventh Heaven for like a week, Zack,” Tifa said matter-of-factly.

“Um, well…”

“I know you bought him that phone, Zack.”

“Yes, and? It’s not like I wanted it to be a secret.”

“That’s not the only thing you bought him though, is it?”

“I’m sorry?”

“You bought him a whole load of clothes, all from designer brands, didn’t you?”

“Is this an interrogation? Why are you asking me all these questions?”

“Because regardless of what you two were before you were separated, Zack, Cloud is still a good friend of mine. I just want to know, are you trying to court him or something?”

Zack turned to Tifa, confused. “Me trying to court Cloud?”

“I know it’s none of my business who Cloud dates or is romantically interested in. I’m just looking out for him.”

“Yeah, I also try to look out for him,” Zack interjected. “Look, I know it seems like I’m trying to court him but I’m not.”

“Then why did you buy him all of those gifts?”

“Because I wanted to!” Zack exclaimed.

“Thing is, Zack, Cloud is a very modest person. The other day, he didn’t like it when I paid for both of our coffees. I’m not going to front, he may be feeling some type of way because he might be feeling indebted to you.”

“I don’t want him to feel bad for this, Tifa.” Zack sighed. “I know he’s a modest person but I just wanted to treat him to something nice.”

“I know you meant well, it’s just the way Cloud is.” Tifa smiled. “Trust me, I appreciate all you’re doing for him.”

“I just…really missed him. Maybe I unintentionally made him uncomfortable by buying him all those things.”

“He did throw a fit to Aerith and me about it, but he warmed up to it eventually.” Tifa laughed. “So, you’re not courting Cloud, just to be clear?”

“No. It’s just me trying to be a generous friend.” Zack grinned.

All of a sudden, despite being outside in the chilly air, Zack began to feel a little heated.

“Tifa, is it me or is it getting kinda hot out there?”

“Hot!?” Tifa asked, flabbergasted. “It’s not remotely hot out there. It’s actually kind of cold.” She turned to see Zack who was starting to breathe heavily.

“Zack? Are you feeling alright?” Tifa questioned, concerned for the alpha’s wellbeing.

“I don’t know.” Zack breathed. “I’ll be back in a second, I’m just gonna use the bathroom.”

“You need me to tell Cloud?”

“No, no, I’ll be alright.” Zack tried to assure the raven-haired woman who seemed unconvinced.

“Alright, I’m gonna go find Cloud and Aerith.”

The music boomed loudly throughout the living room as Cloud and Aerith swayed next to one another. Their hips moved seamlessly to the beat as the groove flowed seamlessly between the two.

Cloud smiled widely at the brunette, taking her hands as they carelessly danced. The blond couldn’t recall a time when he had this much fun in his life.

“Has someone ever told you your hair looks very pretty when it’s down?” Cloud asked out of the blue.

“Not really, why? Do you not like my hair tied up?”

“No, no. It just looks really beautiful tonight.”

“Aw, you’re such a gentleman, Cloud.” Aerith smiled, putting her arms around the blond’s neck. The omega moved his hands onto Aerith’s hips, moving in unison to the rhythm.

“Damn, Cloud, who taught you how to move?”

“Honestly, I’m copying things I saw people do in movies. Why? Am I a bad dancer?”

“On the contrary. I need to take you out to nightclubs more often.” The flower girl giggled. “Unless I need to ask Zack for permission?”

The blond gives the brunette a puzzled look. “Why would you need to ask Zack? He’s my best friend, not my dad or my parole officer.”

“I know that, it’s…well…sometimes, I want to spend time with you and only you. Don’t get me wrong, I love Tifa and Zack to bits but I like it when it’s only the two of us.”

Cloud tenderly smiled at the flower girl. “Aerith, I’m sure they’ll understand if we decide to have a day to ourselves. I like spending time with you too.”

“Hey, I want to step outside for a bit of fresh air. You coming?”

“Sure.” Cloud smiled. As the blond walked with the brunette, he was unable to see the large hand coming to grip his wrist.

“Where you going, pretty little thing?” The raspy voice said. Cloud tore the man’s hand away, looking disgusted.

“Do you mind not grabbing things that aren’t yours?” Cloud hissed.

“Oh come on, I’ve been staring at you for the past few minutes and I finally mustered up the courage to talk to you. Shouldn’t I get a reward for that?”

Suddenly, Aerith’s fist made contact with the drunk student’s cheek, causing him to almost fall on the floor.

“Buddy, I don’t think my friend is interested in you so why don’t you find another guy or girl to annoy?” Aerith said, a tone of disgust lingering in her voice.

“Fine then, find yourself another dick since you ain’t getting this one!” The drunk student exclaimed.

“I doubt I’d be missing out on much.” Cloud clapped back. “Let’s go, Aerith.”

The two headed out back, seeing Tifa sitting on her own. Concerned, they rushed to her side.

“Everything okay, Tifa? Where’s Zack?” Cloud asked.

“He went to the bathroom, but something didn’t seem right with him.” Tifa bit her lip in worry.

“I’ll go find him.”

“Okay, I’ll stay here with Aerith while you look for Zack.” Tifa shrugged.

“No worries, I’ll go find Zack and see if he’s okay.”

The girls nodded to Cloud before the blond set out to find his best friend. As he went upstairs, he began to feel funny all of a sudden. Butterflies started to flutter in his stomach and he began to breathe heavier than usual. What the hell was going on?

Cloud shook his head and ignored the sudden plague that ran through his body. The only problem was the house was huge and with how Cloud felt more and more sick with each passing minute, it wouldn’t be long before he needed to take a break.

Undeterred, he pulled out his phone and began to dial Zack’s phone number. As the ringing echoed through his phone, he scanned through the hallway trying to listen for Zack’s ringtone. His eyes lit up when he could hear Zack’s familiar ringtone come through a particular room to his left.

He opened the door, somewhat surprised that it wasn't locked.

“Zack? A-Are you in here?” Cloud called out.

“Sunshine…” Cloud turned to see a tall, brawny figure sitting on the end of the bed. He moved over to the side of the bed, turning on the lamp to see his best friend’s face illuminated by the light.

Immediately, distraught set in for Cloud as he observed his best friend. Like him, Zack was breathing heavily, his cheeks were a rosy hue and drops of perspiration formed on his forehead that began to slowly roll down his face.

“Z-Zack, are you okay!? Do you need me to call for help!?” Cloud rushed to Zack’s side, carefully caressing his face with his hands. To Cloud’s surprise, Zack blissfully smiled, rubbing his face against the blond’s soft touch.

“Your hands are so soft, Sunshine.” Zack giggled, bringing his large hands and laying them on top of Cloud’s. The blond was so flustered, that he was unaware of the growing blush that spread across his cheeks.

“What’s happening to us, Zack?” Cloud scarily asked.

He couldn’t help but notice these were symptoms similar to that of an impending heat cycle. His heat cycle was to start either today or in the coming days. But…he took his heat suppressant and he made sure to check the bottle so it wasn’t expired.

“I-I don’t know, Sunshine. All I know is that I’m unusually fucking horny and you being in the same room as me isn’t helping!” Zack gritted.

Before Cloud could utter a word, someone had burst into the room with them. To their shock and disgust, it was Dylan.

“The fuck are you doing in here?” Zack exclaimed.

“I wanted to talk to Cloud. Alone.”

“Yeah, that ain’t happening, buddy.” Zack shook his head, trying to push Dylan off of the room. “Whatever you want to tell Cloud, it can either wait or you can say it in front of me.”

“What’s your problem, dude?” Dylan snickered.

“What, you don’t think I remember you giving him shit the other day for being an omega? Unless you’re here to apologise for being a piece of shit, you can get the hell out!”

“Zack, calm down.” Cloud tried to soothe the alpha who looked ready to rip Dylan to pieces. “Can’t it wait, Dylan?”

“No, it can’t. Can’t your alpha best friend wait outside for a second?”

“Absolutely fucking not!” Zack exclaimed.

“Fine! I wanted to say I’m sorry for being an asshole for you, Cloud.” Dylan shrugged.

“Okay, is that it?” Cloud asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Well, no but -”

“Great! You can leave now -”

Suddenly, Dylan shoved past Zack and tried to grab Cloud. However, Zack was a tad lighter on his feet than Dylan and speedily pulled the recessive alpha away from the blond and shoved him against the door, holding him roughly by the collar of his shirt.

“Listen up, you asshole. I don’t have time for this.” Zack growled. "I don't know what you want with Cloud but you ain't gonna get it! Not if I had anything to do about it!"

“Zack, stop!” Cloud pleaded, making Zack let go of the recessive alpha.

Stupidly, Dylan tried once again to grab Cloud. This time, not only was he stopped by Zack, but the dominant alpha went as far as to slam his fist into his left cheek. The impact was so powerful, it practically sent Dylan flying to the wall.

“Fuck!” Dylan screamed, holding his nose for dear life. Things were only going to get from bad to worse for him since Zack wasn’t done with him yet. Gripping his shirt, Zack opened the door and threw the recessive alpha out of the bedroom.

Dylan scrambled to find his way back into the bedroom, but Zack promptly slammed the door in his face and locked it.

“What the fuck, man?” Dylan slammed his fist against the door.

Zack sighed, running a hand through his wild black hair. “Can you believe that guy?”

Cloud smiled lightly, shaking his head. “That apology reeked of bullshit.”

“You okay, Sunshine?”

Cloud bit his lip and shook his head. “I don’t feel good. I-It feels like I’m about to go into heat.” The blond’s blush deepened when he felt slick had started to leak out of his ass.

“And I feel like I’m about to go into a rut. Someone slipped something into our drinks, I just know it.” Zack gritted. The alpha bit his lip, looking at the omega who was clutching the bottom of his jumper like a child. “Cloud, I’m sorry but you need to get out of this room.”

“W-What?"

Chapter Text

Cloud stared at Zack with teary eyes, as if he was about to cry. He didn’t understand why the alpha suddenly became cold to him.

“Please, Sunshine, it’s for your own good.” Zack tried to reason, but Cloud feverishly shook his head.

“My own good!? Sending me out there with all those alphas and betas looking to score tonight is for my own good!?”

“Cloud, you don’t understand,” Zack growled.

“No, you don’t understand! I’m suffering the same thing as you, yet you want to be here by yourself and basically throw me to the wolves! What am I supposed to do?” Cloud ranted. “If I go out there, some horny alpha or beta is going to see me being all vulnerable and t-they’ll hurt me.”

Zack had his eyes glued onto the ground, unable to look at the blond. It was only when he heard soft sobs that he looked up to see the omega silently crying.

“D-Don’t cry, Cloud. Please, I didn’t mean -”

“No, Zack. I-I get it.” Cloud nodded. “If me being here bothers you that much, I’ll leave…”

“No, no, Cloud! Don’t take it that way!” Zack urged, but Cloud shook his head with a slight smile.

“It’s okay, Zack. Don’t worry about me, I’ll leave you alone.” Cloud said as he made his way to the door. His hand rested on the knob and was about to turn it before being pulled back into the alpha’s warm embrace. He could feel Zack’s hot, rugged breath on his pale neck.

“D-Don’t go, Cloud. I swear, I only want to protect you from myself.” Zack breathed.

“How is sending me out of here going to protect me, Zack!?”

“Cloud, please -”

“You’re not making any sense!” Cloud accused. “You say you want to protect me but the minute I’m in distress -”

The blond’s words were cut off as the alpha slammed him against the wall before resting his hands beside his head.

“Fine, I’ll tell you the problem, Cloud. All I can think about is ripping your clothes off your body, throwing you onto the bed and fucking you until you can’t move!” Zack growled, catching the omega by surprise. “And it is taking me every last bit of restraint not to do it.”

Cloud looked back at Zack, stunned. So that was why Zack wanted him to leave. The alpha couldn’t bear the thought of hurting his best friend so naturally, Zack wanted him to stay clear of him.

But the more Cloud thought about it, the more sinful his thoughts grew. There was no denying that Zack was a really handsome guy with a toned, built body. Cloud had to stop himself from salivating at these dangerous thoughts.

“Sunshine, you still with me?” Zack asked, tenderly placing his hand on Cloud’s cheek and wiping away the stray tear that fell from the blond’s eye.

“W-Why don’t you?” Cloud questioned.

“Don’t what?”

“Fuck me…until I can’t move…”

Zack scoffed. “Cloud. You can’t be serious.”

“I am! Look, Zack, do you really think I’m going to survive getting out of here unscathed? The moment I leave, I can guarantee you an alpha or beta will force himself on me whether I consent to it or not. If it’s with you, I can find solace in that I trust you enough to know you won’t hurt me.”

“You don’t know that though, do you, Cloud?” Zack growled. “I – I might hurt you -”

“At least it will be you, Zack! I don’t care if you hurt me, I’ll be okay as long as…as long as it’s you.” Cloud whispered the last part.

Zack laughed at himself and sat on the bed. “I know you trust me a lot, Sunshine. I just…wish it could’ve been different.”

“How so?” Cloud curiously looked at Zack.

“I would’ve taken you out to dinner, like a fancy steakhouse or maybe a nice seafood restaurant by the seaside.” Zack sighed. “I would’ve treated you like a princess before we got down to business…”

Cloud laughed. “I know you would’ve treated me well before something like this. But who’s to say you can’t wine and dine me afterwards?”

Zack sighed. “I just don’t want you to feel like this is gonna be some random hook-up. You mean so much to me, Cloud.”

Cloud nodded, pulling the alpha close to him. “And you mean just as much to me, Zack.”

“Promise me things won’t change between us after tonight.” Zack pleaded.

“I can’t promise you that, but just know that you’ll always be my Puppy.” Cloud smiled.

“And you’ll forever be my Sunshine.” Zack grinned. “Please say you want me, I can’t do this if I don’t have your permission.”

Zack was fighting with his primal urges to bed the blond already. As bad as he wanted this, he didn’t want to force himself onto the blond nor did he want to rush him into saying yes. He wanted Cloud to feel comfortable and free in his decision.

That way, in the event Cloud still wanted to go through this, he could find comfort in the fact that the blond made his decision with a clear, sound mind.

“I-I want you, Zack.” Cloud breathed.

Cloud felt Zack’s large hands wrap around his waist, pulling him close. Their bodies were so close together, Cloud could feel Zack’s throbbing cock against his own. Cloud forgot to breathe for a second, realising that Zack’s cock felt massive, like everywhere else on his body was big.

“Last chance, Sunshine,” Zack whispered, resting his forehead on top of Cloud’s. “I’ll give you one last chance to leave, and we’ll pretend this night never happened.”

“And if I don’t leave?”

“Then I’ll give you a night of passion so surreal, you’ll never forget about it,” Zack warned. “I’ll fuck you so good, you’ll be begging me for more and more. So…what will it be, Sunshine?”

Cloud didn’t need much time to make his decision. “Do as you wish with me, Zack. I’m all yours.” He seductively whispered into Zack’s ear.

Dylan wandered down the hallway, clenching his nose as it ruthlessly bled. He scanned around the house, hoping to find his partner in crime. His hand clung to his nose as blood gushed out of his nostrils.

He thought Kyrie had the plan all thought out. How the hell was Zack able to tend to Cloud in such a short time?

Soon enough, he found the girl sitting on a couch, scrolling through her phone.

“Kyrie?” He called out. The girl instantly looked up and gasped at the sight of Dylan’s bloodied face.

“What the hell happened!? Aren’t you meant to be with Cloud?” Kyrie exclaimed, her annoyance evident in her voice.

“Yeah, about that…” Dylan said before hissing in pain.

Kyrie rolled her eyes, pulling him into the kitchen where she searched for a first aid kit. Dylan sat down on a stool while Kyrie looked through the kit for bandages.

“Are you going to tell me what happened or what?” Kyrie irritably questioned.

“If you must know, I waited for Cloud to go into a room like you instructed. When I followed him in there, surprise surprise, Zack was already in there with him.”

“Yeah, and? Why didn’t you pull Cloud away from Zack?” Kyrie shrugged.

Clearly, the girl was oblivious to the kind of bond Zack and Cloud share.

“Are you kidding me? I tried to do that twice!” Dylan exclaimed. “Why do you think I have this bloody nose and badly bruised cheek?”

“Oh, don’t be silly, Dylan. Zack may be strong and jacked but he wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Dylan’s mouth opened wide in shock and disbelief. There was no way this girl could be considered medically sane. No words could appropriately describe the level of delusion that plagued her mind.

“He fucking punched me! He hit me so hard, I literally flew into the wall.” Dylan whined. “Fuck, it still stings.”

“I’m sorry but I refuse to believe my Zack could behave like such a brute.”

“Are you some kind of psychopath?”

“Are you!?” Kyrie rebutted. “Last time I checked, you practically wanted to rape Cloud because he showed you up at football.”

“Oh, like you’re any better?” Dylan seethed. “You wanted to seduce Zack.”

“Yeah, at least we would both be consenting…somewhat. You wanted to force Cloud into sex with you because what? He’s an omega or you don’t get much action, do you?”

“I don’t appreciate your fucking sass,” Dylan growled, hissing in agony as Kyrie tended to his hurting nose.

“What am I supposed to do about my Zack?” Kyrie pouted.

“If it gives you any consolation, he’ll probably thank you in the morning after he fucked Cloud.”

“What!?” Kyrie squealed. “That’s not going to happen!”

“Wow, I don’t know if you’re more delusional or dumb.” Dylan rolled his eyes. “Run it through your brain! The two of them drank an imposer that has likely made them horny beyond belief and they’re in a room that has a massive bed. Sounds like the recipe for a good fucking, don’t you think?”

“N-No, Zack wouldn’t hurt me like that. At least not on purpose -”

“Gaia, I’m not entertaining this.” Dylan got up from the stool.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“I’m going wherever is the further place from your delusion.” Dylan started to walk away from the kitchen. Quite frankly, he regretted ever teaming up with the girl. Had he known she was going to be this level of irritating, he never would’ve participated in this plan with her.

“Delusion!?” She gasped, following the man outside. “I’m not delusional!”

“Yes, you are!” Dylan yelled. “You really think Zack doesn’t fuck around? He’s doing it right now, Kyrie!”

“Do you fuck your best friend?” Kyrie remarked, exuding sass and attitude with her hands firmly on her hips.

“No, I don’t. But my best friend isn’t an omega. Also, I don’t know if you know this but Zack is hella possessive of Cloud. My advice: move the fuck on from him and find someone else.” Dylan advised her before walking away.

Zack’s mouth formed a wide grin before his hand on Cloud’s waist moved up to caress his face.

“C-Can I kiss you?” Zack asked, staring at Cloud’s rosy, soft lips.

The omega did not hesitate to nod his head.

Slowly, they inched closer until their lips met in a blissful kiss. The alpha growled into the omega’s mouth as their mouths waltzed.

Cloud felt his mind melt as he savoured the roughness of Zack’s mouth. Cloud pulled away with his mouth open, trying to take a moment to catch his breath. Zack used the opportunity to shove his tongue into the omega’s mouth, excitedly exploring Cloud’s warm cavern.

The blond felt Zack’s tongue invade every inch of his mouth as Zack dominated the kiss. He let his eyes shut as Zack took control of the kiss, carefully caressing his face. When neither of them could breathe, they pulled away, leaving a thick string of saliva dangling between their lips.

“Fuck,” Zack growled before he shoved Cloud onto the king-sized bed. The blond let out a cute squeak as his body collided with the duvet. Zack jumped on top of Cloud, eclipsing the omega’s lean body with his toned one.

“Do you have any idea how fucking delicious you look?” Zack smirked as he began to pepper kisses along Cloud’s neck. Cloud let out a strangled moan, stretching out his neck as to encourage Zack to leave more kisses along his neck.

The fire inside Cloud’s stomach grew more and more as Zack slid his warm hands across his waist.

“Ah. Ah, Zack. Please…” Cloud pleaded.

“Patience, Sunshine. I don’t want to rush this.” Zack whispered into his ear, sending tingles down the omega’s spine. “I wanna take my time with this.”

Zack’s hands ruffled with Cloud’s jumper, beyond eager to remove it. Sensing Zack’s eagerness, he lifted his arms and allowed Zack to pull off his jumper. Zack bit his lip as he stared down at Cloud’s lean body. He knew that Cloud’s time playing football would obviously cause the blond to be toned with slight muscle but seeing it illuminated by the bedside lamp’s subtle light only turned him on even more.

He ran his thumb over Cloud’s erect nipple, causing the omega to arch his back with a sinful moan. His grin almost looked malicious as he pulled upon Cloud’s nipples.

“Real sensitive, aren’t you, Sunshine?” Cloud blushed as Zack spoke so lustfully into his ear.

He felt Zack’s tongue toy with his earlobe while his fingers played with his delicate buds. Cloud couldn’t suppress the moans from coming out of his mouth, nor could he stop the slick that pooled around his entrance, already leaking through his underwear and threatening to soak his trousers and even the bedsheets.

Cloud’s breathing started to come to a steady speed once Zack removed his hands from his tender chest which grew red from his constant assault. However, the relief would only be short-lived as Zack’s skilful tongue descended onto his nipples, swirling it around the sensitive bud.

“F-Fuck!” Cloud screamed as he buried his hands in Zack’s wild black hair. While his mouth played with Cloud’s left nipple, his hand wandered to play with the right. Cloud felt his vision going hazy.

“Z-Zack,” Cloud moaned. The alpha paused the blond’s torment, only to cheekily grin up at him.

“Yes, Sunshine?”

“S-Stop teasing me.” Cloud pouted.

“As you wish.” Zack conceded, unbuttoning Cloud’s trousers. He looked up to meet the blond’s blushing face. “May I?”

“You may.” Cloud smiled. The omega raised his hips to make removing his trousers easier for the alpha. Once Zack pulled out his pants, he threw them to the side of the room. He couldn’t help but chuckle a little upon seeing Cloud’s chocobo boxers.

“Stop laughing at me,” Cloud whined.

“I’m sorry, it’s just…really cute.” Cloud rolled his eyes before witnessing Zack’s eyes had darkened in desire. The alpha’s eyes zeroed in on Cloud’s throbbing cock that wept through the underwear. A damp spot formed through the underwear, indicating the blond’s shaft desperately cried for release.

Zack bit his lip as he quickly gripped Cloud’s boxers, just about ready to rip them off. Cloud kicked Zack away, causing him to look at the blond, confused.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s not fair.” Cloud pouted. “I’m the only one in my underwear and yet you’re fully clothed.”

“Oh, you want me to get naked? Is that what you’re trying to say?” Zack grinned, his fingers hovering over his shirt.

“N-No, I -” Cloud stuttered. Zack bowed his head down, smirking as he placed a chaste kiss on the omega’s lips.

Zack gradually raised his t-shirt over his head, making sure Cloud had glimpsed over every inch of his chiselled body. As the alpha discarded his shirt, Cloud’s blush deepened as he observed Zack’s muscular body in admiration and lust.

Zack’s chest was so broad and fleshed out, and his abs and V-line were thoroughly defined. As much as the sight turned on Cloud, he couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.

He knew that alphas, especially dominant alphas like Zack, had an easier time building muscle because they naturally had far more testosterone than betas and omegas. Though Cloud couldn’t help it, he felt a bit angry that omegas like him had a tough time gaining muscle while alphas like Zack probably built muscle in his sleep.

Zack frowned, pinching the blond’s cheek to snap him out of his thoughts. “What’s on your mind, Sunshine?”

“I-It’s nothing.” Cloud shook his head.

“Cloud,” Zack’s face darkened. “I know when you’re lying to me. Come on, what’s wrong?”

“It’s…I wish I could have a body like yours.” Cloud pouted, feeling like he was pouring his heart out to Zack.

To his surprise and dismay, Zack started to laugh.

“Sunshine, I think you’re already quite toned for an omega.” Zack softly said.

“I know, I’m just being silly.” Cloud laughed.

“Ain’t nothing wrong with dreaming, Sunshine but if you won’t point out things you love about your body, then I will.”

“Like what?”

“Where do I start?” Zack whispered lustfully into Cloud’s ear, tracing his fingers across Cloud’s small waist. “Your waist is so small, it’s making me about to go crazy. I could wrap my hands around it and my fingers could touch.”

The omega tightly gripped the sheets, feeling slick rush out his entrance as the alpha ran his hands over his body.

“I also love your slightly toned stomach, and you got a nice six-pack coming through!” Zack continued. He decided to omit the obscene thought that Cloud’s stomach was so thin, he would likely see his cock poking through when he buried himself deep inside the omega.

“I wish you could see what I see, Sunshine. You’re so beautiful, and I don’t care if you get fed up with hearing it, I’ll say it to you every single day until the day I die.”

Cloud turned his head away from Zack’s captivating eyes as his blush spread beyond his face, down to his neck and chest. The alpha always had a way of making him feel better when he was down and now was no exception.

“I don’t know what people said about you when we were torn apart but I promise you whatever harsh words they threw at you, they aren’t true at all,” Zack assured.

“T-Thank you, Zack. That means a lot coming from you.” Cloud smiled, still trying to hide his face from embarrassment.

Zack happily sighed, holding the blond’s face and turning his head so his blue eyes would meet his teal ones.

“Don’t shy your gorgeous face away from me, Sunshine.” Zack soothed before resting his hands on Cloud’s underwear. As much as he wanted to tear the boxers to shreds, he knew the blond wouldn’t take kindly to that.

“Y-You can take them off,” Cloud muttered, raising his hips.

Zack’s breathing became ragged, biting his lip as he saw how soaked the omega’s boxers had become. Not wanting to waste another second, Zack peeled off Cloud’s underwear, leaving the blond bare.

Cloud tried to hide his face with a pillow, but his wrists were abruptly restrained by Zack’s forceful hand. The alpha stared down at the blond, licking his lips at the divine sight. Subtle sweat encased the blond’s skin, and his dick stood at full attention, a small bead of precum leaked through the slit.

Zack looked further down to the omega’s entrance, and damn, it took the alpha every fibre of his restraint not to immediately pounce on Cloud. Cloud’s entrance continuously clenched as it constantly seeped out slick, drenching his ass cheeks and the sheets.

Right now, Cloud was looking like a luscious feast and Zack had never been so hungry in his life.

His jeans began to feel like a torturous prison as his thick cock throbbed relentlessly against them. Unable to bear the friction, he unbuckled his belt and pulled off his jeans and threw them to the side, leaving him only in his jet-black boxers.

Cloud nearly froze at the sight. Even confined in his boxers, Zack’s cock looked to be of a monstrous size.

“Don’t be scared.” Zack tried to reassure the quivering omega. “I’ll make sure you’re well prepared to take my cock.”

The blond’s dazed eyes were fixated on the alpha’s as he pulled off his boxers. The omega’s eyes widened, amazement and fright showered over him as he stared at Zack’s rock-hard erection.

Somehow, the alpha’s member looked bigger than what his dream some nights ago portrayed. If Zack’s size scared him in his dream, he downright petrified him in reality.

Zack could sense how uncomfortable the omega was feeling and leaned down to give him a peck on his lips.

“I know it looks scary, Sunshine…”

“Scary? SCARY!? I-It won’t fit -”

Zack sighed, pulling away from the omega. “I won’t force you into this, Cloud. If you don’t wanna do -”

Cloud shook his head, sitting up and grabbing the alpha’s biceps in a feeble attempt to pull him back into his embrace. “N-No, I’m sorry. It’s...Zack, it’s really big.”

Zack chuckled, lowering Cloud down onto the bed. Cloud bit his lip, feeling Zack resting his well-endowed cock against his smaller one.

“Thanks, Sunshine.” Zack moaned, thrusting his endowment over Cloud’s, causing them to find delight in the friction. “I promise I’m gonna make you feel real good.”

The blond soon felt Zack’s finger hover over his entrance, rubbing against it gently.

“Z-Zack, before you do that, I-I need to say something.”

“Of course! What is it, Sunshine?”

Cloud didn’t know how he wanted to voice to Zack that he was a virgin. Granted, the blond never thought he was going to lose his virginity to Zack in these circumstances but now that this was happening, he wanted to be transparent with his best friend.

“I…I’ve never -”

“Y-you’re a virgin?” Zack questioned. Cloud could only nod, too embarrassed to say anything. His face reddened, feeling Zack’s cock throb at the confirmation.

“Fuck, Sunshine. You have no idea how much that turns me on.” Zack breathed. “I don’t mean to brag, but I should warn you: I’m a tough act to follow.”

“W-What?”

“It’s true, no other guy could fuck you as good as me, make you feel as good as me and won’t make you come as hard as I could. Once you’ve had a taste of me, you’ve already had the best there is.”

“I wasn’t planning on -”

“Oh, I know, Sunshine. Just thought I’d warn ya, is all.” Zack winked. His hand once again pressed against Cloud’s entrance. “I’m gonna start preparing you, Sunshine. You good with that?”

Cloud only nodded, before feeling Zack’s finger breach his entrance. He lost his breath for a moment at the sensation. Zack’s finger was much longer and thicker than his own, a single finger from the alpha filled out his entrance more than two of his own.

“Fucking hell, Sunshine. You’re really wet.” Zack moaned, witnessing how Cloud’s entrance leaked out more slick as he moved his finger in and out of the alluring hole. “Gaia, I really want to taste you.”

Cloud moaned loudly as he felt Zack add another finger, thrusting two fingers into his entrance. His cock ached badly, the simulation becoming a lot for the blond to bear.

“This is driving me crazy, Sunshine.” Zack gritted, peppering kisses down the blond’s neck as he pushed his fingers into the omega’s entrance, scissoring them inside Cloud. “All the things I want to do to you.”

“Zack,” Cloud spoke but was promptly interrupted when Zack decided to add another finger into his entrance, thoroughly stretching him out.

“I wanna fuck you until you lose your mind, Sunshine. Wanna plaster you with so many marks that anyone else who touches you knows they won’t fuck you as good as I do!”

“Zack!” Cloud exclaimed, wanting to snap Zack out of his lustful haze.

“S-Sorry, Sunshine, I just never felt this way about anyone else,” Zack whispered, adding a fourth finger into Cloud’s hole. He slammed his head beside Cloud, smothering himself against the blond’s pale neck. “You’re driving me mad, and I don’t know how to deal with it.”

Cloud giggled, running his hands through Zack’s untamed black hair. “Calm yourself, Puppy.”

The omega’s moans seemed endless as the raven-haired alpha relentlessly fingered him open. Suddenly, the blond arched his back, jolting upwards and an obscene moan slipped off his tongue. He looked up to the alpha to see a malicious grin spread across his face.

“Found it.” He lustfully whispered before shoving his fingers against that same spot.

“T-That? What w-was that?”

“Oh, Sunshine. You’re so innocent, you didn’t know that was your prostate?” Zack grinned. Cloud’s moans and Zack’s grunts flooded the room as the alpha expertly moved his fingers inside Cloud, working him open.

Cloud whined, his cock throbbing on the verge of release.

“Z-Zack, please stop! I’m going to come!” Cloud pleaded.

“Then, come. I won’t stop you, Sunshine.”

Unable to suppress the pleasure any more, Cloud let out an echoing wail as he surrendered himself to his orgasm. The omega’s cock let out ropes of pearly come across his stomach and chest.

Cloud’s breathing was deep and quickly paced, desperate to calm his fast-beating heart.

“Shiva’s tits,” Zack moaned, removing his fingers from Cloud’s entrance. He flashed his slick-coated fingers in front of Cloud before bringing them to his mouth, licking the slick off his fingers. Cloud turned away, heat rushing to his face while Zack lapped up the omega’s slick like he was starving.

“Damn, Sunshine, knew you’d taste sweet.” Zack grinned.

Cloud ran his fingers through Zack’s hair as the alpha licked across his body, licking his come off his body. He felt Zack’s warm tongue trail up his body before licking up the tiny smudge of come that somehow made it onto Cloud’s chin.

Once he was done, Cloud saw Zack going down until he was facing Cloud’s dripping entrance.

“Zack, what are you doing?” Cloud nervously asked.

“Gaia, I wanna eat you up, Sunshine.”

“Z-Zack, don’t! It’s dirty!”

“Aw, nothing about you is dirty. But if you want us to skip to the good part, I'm happy to do that." Zack winked. "Hang on a minute, need to find something.”

Cloud watched as Zack sat up, shifting through the bedside table’s drawer.

“No. No, no, NO! FUCK!” Zack frustratingly growled.

“What’s wrong?” Cloud asked, wanting to appease the alpha.

“Sorry, Sunshine. I forgot to bring a condom and normally, there would be some in people’s bedside drawers so…”

“Are you telling me you steal other people’s condoms?” Cloud giggled.

“No, I’m not saying that. I…”

“And even if they had condoms, you think they’ll have ones that can cover your monster dick?”

“I usually make it work.” Zack shrugged, placing a light kiss on the blond’s lips. “And thanks for saying I have a monster dick. It means a lot coming from you.”

Cloud rolled his eyes. “You don’t want to do this anymore then?”

“Gaia knows I do, Cloud, but I don’t want to risk getting you pregnant.”

“I’m on birth control. Plus, you know I’m a virgin so I’m clean.”

“You…you want me to do it raw?”

“We’ve already made it this far, Zack. And I need this as badly as you.” Cloud hopped onto Zack’s lap, feeling his thick cock against his ass. A gentle smile bloomed on the blond’s face as he tenderly left kisses along Zack’s cheek down to his collarbone. “I need you so much, alpha.”

“W-What?” Zack asked in disbelief.

"Please, I need you to make me feel good, Zack," Cloud smirked, rubbing his ass against the alpha’s well-endowed cock.

“Cloud, you’re really turning me the fuck on!” Zack growled, his large hands gripping the blond’s ass. He pinned the omega down, spreading his legs as far as he possibly could. Thankfully, Cloud was incredibly flexible.

Pressing his hand against Cloud’s entrance, Zack gathered up as much slick as he could before lathering his thick shaft with it.

“Z-Zack, are you sure it’s going to fit?” Cloud nervously asked.

Zack gently kissed the blond to calm him. “Don’t worry, I promise you tell me to stop, and I will.”

“O-Okay.” Cloud nodded, feeling the tip of Zack’s thick cock pressing against his entrance.

“Just relax, I’m not gonna hurt you,” Zack assured.

“Y-You can…um…” Cloud’s nervousness rendered him unable to speak further, his words stuck in his throat.

Thankfully, Zack understood what the blond was trying to say. He laced his hands with the blond’s, pressing gentle kisses along each of his knuckles.

“I’ll be gentle,” Zack whispered. Once the blond gave him the nod of approval, he nudged his cock against the soaked entrance before slowly pushing in. Cloud and Zack breathed heavily as the alpha pushed his cock further inside Cloud.

“You holding up alright, Sunshine?”

“Y-Yeah, I’m good.” Cloud nodded, his hands squeezing Zack’s tightly. Zack stopped pushing in when he was about halfway in, wanting to give the omega time to properly adjust. He so badly wanted to shove his entire length into Cloud, but he didn’t want to scare his best friend, nor did he want to hurt him.

Zack looked up to see the blond who had started to cry, tears rolling down his rosy cheeks. Worry washed over the alpha as he cradled Cloud’s face.

“What’s wrong? Does it hurt?” Zack asked, concerned.

“A-A little.” Cloud nodded. “I’ll be okay - just need time to - adjust.”

Zack smiled pitifully at the blond, kissing his tears away. “You’re doing well, Sunshine. Remember what I said, we can stop any time you want.”

Cloud feverishly nodded, resting their foreheads together. “Sorry if I’m turning out to be the worst fuck you’ve had.”

“Don’t be silly! Trust me, I’ve had some disastrous encounters that were hard to beat.” Zack laughed, kissing Cloud’s neck. “Gaia, Cloud, you’re really tight!”

“And you’re really big! Seriously, am I even going to have a functional asshole after this?” Cloud laughed.

“I can’t guarantee that,” Zack smirked, pushing his cock in a tad further into Cloud. It didn’t take long before Zack was fully seated inside Cloud and they both had to breathe deeply from the sensations.

Zack was known around campus to be a ladies’ man and had taken many women to bed before. And yet, the way Cloud’s ass clenched around his thick cock so tightly, it was something that he never felt before.

Unsurprisingly, Cloud didn’t have any previous sexual encounters apart from his own hands to adequately compare to Zack. However, the alpha’s large cock filled him so deeply, he felt the cockhead brush slightly against his womb. He looked up to see the alpha was staring at him intensely, his tongue peeking out of his mouth.

Licking his lips, he pulled the alpha down for a feverish kiss. Their lips waltzed with passion, Zack placing his hands beside Cloud’s head as to anchor himself above the blond while the omega kept his hands fixated around Zack’s neck.

“It doesn’t hurt, does it?” Zack asked.

“A-A little but it’s slowly fading away.” Cloud nodded.

“Gods, you’re taking my cock so well, Sunshine!” Zack groaned, biting Cloud’s neck just shy of pain before running his tongue over it. “Am I okay to start moving?”

“Y-Yeah, just be gentle, please.”

“Of course,” Zack tenderly kissed Cloud before withdrawing himself slightly and pushing back in. His movements were small and unhurried, not wanting to hurt the omega. Cloud shut his eyes, favouring the euphoric sensation Zack’s thick cock provided him. His entrance still felt a sense of pain, though it was dull and nowhere near the level it was when Zack first pushed himself inside.

However, Cloud would be lying if he said the pleasure didn’t surpass the pain by a far margin. Soon enough, the pain almost vanished, leaving room for pleasure to completely emerge.

“Z-Zack?”

“Yes, Cloud?” Zack asked, worried he might be hurting his best friend.

“C-Can you give me more?”

“More?” Zack raised an eyebrow. “More of what, Sunshine?”

“Y-You know…”

“Cloud, I can’t give you more of something unless you tell me what it is," Zack pressed.

Cloud let out a loud whine. “Don’t make me beg!”

“I’m not making you beg, Sunshine.” Zack lowly said, pressing his lips against Cloud’s forehead. “You’re clever, aren’t you? Use your words and tell me what you want.”

Cloud could no longer keep his obscene demands at bay anymore. “Please fuck me! Mess me up! I need your big dick to make me feel good!” Cloud cried out, not caring who heard him.

Zack smirked, before pulling out almost entirely before pushing back in, startling the blond.

“Your wish is my command, gorgeous,” Zack whispered into the omega’s ear.

Chapter Text

Cloud’s knuckles began to turn white, his fingers tightly gripping the pillow his head was resting on as Zack relentlessly pounded into his ass. The omega’s mouth hung open, unleashing vocal, sinful moans that were sure to be heard by anyone walking outside the room.

“Z-Zack! Fuck, it’s -” Cloud screamed. “So – so good!”

Zack grinned, drabbles of sweat painted his forehead as he stared down at the whimpering omega.

“Gaia, Cloud, you’re still so damn tight!” Zack groaned. “Every time I pull out, your ass clenches like it wants my cock so bad. Are you that desperate for my cock!?”

Cloud feverishly nodded, kissing Zack’s cheek. “Love it, I love it so much!”

The blond’s legs dangled against Zack’s cut waist as the alpha pistoned his large cock with harsh accuracy. Deep in the back of Zack’s mind, he secretly wished that this wouldn’t be the last time he and Cloud had sex.

It was something about how the blond tried desperately to move his hips to meet his deep thrusts, the way his screams and pleads for more were so loud he was sure people were bound to hear them through the thin walls, the way his usual porcelain skin was now painted a rosy hue, littered with various love bites courtesy of Zack.

“M-More! Please, Zack, I want more!” Cloud begged.

“When you beg like that,” Zack grinned, delivering a harsh thrust that caused the omega to let out a loud squeal. “It’s hard for me to say no!”

“Gaia, s-so big!” Cloud squealed.

Zack grabbed Cloud’s legs and pinned them beside the blond’s head.

“Damn, you’re so flexible. Makes me wonder how many ways I can make you take my cock.” The alpha groaned, marvelling at the way his cock was able to go deeper inside the blond.

“F-Fuck! Zack, I-it’s really deep.” Cloud moaned loudly. He tried, and he really tried to try his noise to as little as possible. But with how Zack expertly used his thick cock to fuck him so well, he couldn’t help but let his moans run free.

“Look down for me, Sunshine.” Zack rasped.

“W-What?”

“I said…look down for me,” Zack commanded, his low and raspy voice doing nothing but turning on the omega even more.

Not wanting to upset the alpha, he obeyed his order and almost wished he didn’t. He saw how Zack pulled out his thick cock and pushed back in, going in as deep as he could. Cloud’s face reddened seeing the alpha’s cock bulging through his stomach.

“See how deep my cock is inside you, Sunshine? See how well I fuck you?” Zack moaned.

“Gaia, are you trying to get me pregnant?” Cloud joked, giggling.

“Not tonight, but fuck, I’d love to try.” Zack groaned.

Cloud arched his back, obscenely screaming as his best friend constantly filled his aching entrance with his thick cock. Truthfully, Cloud couldn’t think of someone better to give his virginity to than Zack. He had always hoped that his first time wouldn’t go to some random stranger in some drunken mishap or be taken against his will by a brute alpha.

He couldn’t be more thankful that his first time could be with Zack.

It was Zack pushing his thick cock into his tight entrance, pressing against his sensitive prostate and making the blond see stars in his eyes.

It was Zack’s hands that roamed around his pale body, leaving numerous handprints on his body.

It was Zack’s mouth that plastered many hickeys across his neck and chest.

“Fuck, I still can’t believe I’m between your legs, feeding you this big dick, Sunshine!” Zack groaned.

The bed creaked terribly, on the verge of breaking as Zack’s thrusts remained brutal and primal. It didn’t occur to the two that they were having sex on someone else’s bed and were likely going to have to pay for the sheets to be thoroughly cleaned. Not that they particularly cared for now, they could worry about that later. For now, they could only focus on each other and chasing their release together.

Zack bit his lip at the sight of Cloud biting his rosy lips, his eyes rolling back in ecstasy.

“You remember who your first kiss was, Sunshine?” Zack rasped, rubbing his thumb across Cloud’s bottom lip.

Cloud blushed as he reminisced. “Y-You.”

“Yes, I was your first kiss,” Zack confirmed. “Come to think of it, I was your first for almost everything. Your first friend, your first hug, your first kiss…seems only fitting that I steal your first time too.”

“Z-Zack, I’m getting close. Oh, fuck! Please tell me you’re close too!”

Zack smirked, debating whether to tease the blond. He would be lying if he said he wasn’t close but who could blame him? Cloud’s entrance wrapped around his cock like a tight vice.

“And if I said I wasn’t close?” Zack teased, grinning.

“D-Don’t tease me, you bastard!” Cloud whined. The blond’s hand sneaked down to his rock-hard cock, wanting to stroke himself. However, his hand was seized by Zack who laced their hands together.

“Absolutely not! The only way you’re coming tonight is from my cock.” Zack growled.

Cloud’s bottom lip quivered, forming a sad pout. “S-Sorry, alpha.”

Zack grinned, sending a deadly deep thrust against the blond’s prostate, making him shiver and blissfully moan.

“Such a good omega for me.” Zack praised. “Getting close, Sunshine. Want me to fill up your ass with my hot come?”

“Yes”

“Wanna be stuck on my knot, Sunshine?” He sensually whispered into Cloud’s ear.

“Yes!” Cloud moaned.

Zack’s thrusts were fast and deep, punching the blond’s prostate with precise accuracy. Cloud’s walls started to clamp tightly on Zack’s cock, indicating that the blond was getting close. Zack could feel his knot slowly beginning to swell and his balls tighten, his own release drawing near.

He could see the blond hopelessly trying to withhold his release, not wanting to finish before Zack. The alpha smiled, leaning down to Cloud’s ear.

“Don’t hold yourself back, Sunshine. Let it go, let everyone know how good you feel.”

As soon as those lustful words entered Cloud’s ear, he let out a loud wail while his damp walls tightly clamped around Zack’s cock. His own cock erupted, once again shooting ropes of pearly white come across his stomach and chest.

Gritting his teeth, Zack continued to fuck Cloud through his orgasm until his own release came crashing down. His knot had ballooned into full potential, trapping his cock inside the omega and firing hot come into the blond. Cloud cried at the knot stretching out his entrance much further than he anticipated. Zack peppered tiny kisses across Cloud’s rosy face to apologise for the pain his knot was surely causing.

Their breathing was in sync after their heated session, the air humid and their bodies glistening from the subtle sweat that formed on their bodies.

Out of curiosity, Zack pulled away from the blond to observe his body and almost lost his breath at the sight.

Cloud’s usually porcelain skin has been stained with a rosy colour, and love bites were plastered throughout most of his body, from his neck down to his stomach. Speaking of the blond’s stomach, Zack bit his lip hard upon seeing his cock was so deep inside Cloud that it made a decent bulge through his stomach. Ropes of white come stained Cloud’s pale stomach and chest, adding to the sinful display.

Zack felt his heart almost jump when he looked up to see how the blond blissfully smiled at him.

“Damn, you look like an angel, Cloud.” Zack breathed.

“T-Thank you, Zack.” Cloud smiled.

“Anything for you, Sunshine.” Zack nodded.

“H-How long are we going to be stuck like this?”

“I’ll be honest -” Zack groaned, feeling himself coming again, filling the blond up further. “Sorry, Cloud. I’ll try to give you a warning next time it happens.”

“Back to my question. How long -”

“I don’t really know, every time I’ve had sex, my knot has never really popped like this. Guess my cock thinks you’re special enough for it.” Zack chuckled, prompting Cloud to smack his shoulder. “So, how was your first time?”

“It was more than I could’ve asked for.” Cloud smiled up to the alpha. “Thank you, Zack. I don’t think I would’ve wanted to give my virginity to anyone other than you.”

“Aw, Cloud, that’s really – sorry, about to come again.” Zack groaned, burying his face into Cloud’s neck as he shot another few ropes of come into the blond.

“Fucking hell, Zack! You say you don’t want to risk me getting pregnant but you’re coming buckets inside of me!”

“Sorry about this, Sunshine.” Zack laughed.

After half an hour of interval ejaculation, the alpha was relieved to find that his knot had shrunk enough for him to pull out of Cloud. After being filled for so long, the blond felt it was alien for his entrance to now be empty.

However, to his shock and horror, Zack remained as hard as he was hours ago.

“H-How are you still hard!?” Cloud asked before being moved onto his hands and knees, his face buried into the silk pillow.

“Oh, Sunshine, you thought we were gonna be finished after one round?” Zack rasped into Cloud’s ear, licking his earlobe and lightly biting it. “We’ve barely even got started.”

He felt Zack’s cock probing against his entrance once again, fully erect like they hadn’t just had an intense session mere seconds ago.

“Zack, w-wait.”

He felt Zack still, pulling his cock away from his entrance.

“S-Sorry, Cloud. If you don’t want to do anymore, I won’t push you.”

Cloud internally debated it in his head. On one hand, if one session with Zack lasted a couple of hours, it would practically take them the whole night for the alpha to be thoroughly satisfied. On the other hand, Cloud could feel his erection starting to form as well, and the ache in his stomach returned, indicating his need to be filled again.

It was then he realised, he needed to be fucked as much as Zack needed to fuck. He didn’t care whether he was going to regret it the next morning. He needed Zack and Zack needed him.

“N-No,” Cloud turned to face the alpha. “I n-need it too, alpha.”

An almost sinister grin painted across Zack’s face as he pressed his strong chest against Cloud’s pale back. Cloud moaned into the pillow, feeling Zack’s large cock press against his entrance again.

“Hope you’re ready to go all night, Sunshine.” Zack groaned. “Cause we ain’t gonna stop until we see the sunrise.”

Cloud moaned loudly, feeling Zack push his thick cock into his entrance again.

“What is this game called again?” Aerith asked, puzzled.

She and Tifa sat in the small library, finding joy in that no one occupied the room apart from them.

“It’s called Queen’s Blood, you haven’t heard of it?” Tifa asked.

“I have, quite a few people talk about it in my class.”

“Okay,” Tifa began, handing the flower girl a deck of cards. “So there are several rows. In each row, you can place a card and whatever card you put on, you’ll receive a number of points.”

“Alright, I’m following.” Aerith nodded.

“Whoever has the most points on that row takes the points, and the goal is to have more points than your opponent. Got it?”

“Question. Some of these cards have a different number of people on them. Some of them have one person, some have two -”

“I’ll explain it to you as we go along, Aerith. Tell you what, we’ll have a practice match and we’ll only start playing properly once you got the hang of it.”

“Oh, thanks.” Aerith beamed.

“Since you’re new to this, I’ll go first.” Tifa placed a Security Officer card in the middle row, the board lit up indicating a new match had begun. “See how some tiles went up from having one person to two?”

Aerith nodded, showing she understood.

“Those who are called pawns. You know, the people on the cards you were talking about? If a tile of yours has one pawn, you can only play a card equal to that rank.”

“So, this card with a cool grim reaper riding a motorbike, I can’t play it yet?”

“Afraid not, Aerith. That requires a tile with three pawns.” Tifa laughed. “Okay, it’s your turn now.”

“Okay, I think I’ll play this card.” Aerith copied Tifa, playing the same Security Officer card on her side. “Do you and Cloud play this game?”

“We sure do! Every now and then, I’ll go around his or he’ll come around mine, and we’ll have a few games between us. It seems a bit daunting at first but once you get the hang of it, it’s really fun to play!”

The two women went back and forth in turns before Tifa was able to outsmart the flower girl on a particular row, granting her victory.

“Of course, you won.” Aerith sighed.

“Yeah, I won’t lie, you almost beat me if you hadn’t played that Cactuar card in the bottom row.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m going to grab myself another glass of champagne. You want one?”

“Please” Tifa nodded.

As Aerith went away to grab them another drink, something eerily popped up in the raven-haired girl’s mind. She hadn’t seen Cloud or Zack in the past couple of hours. Surely, the blond didn’t leave without telling her. She decided to text him, wanting to ensure his safety.

Me

Hey, Cloud. Just realised I haven’t seen you since you and Aerith had that poem battle bullshit? Everything okay?

Tifa looked at her phone, equal parts confused and concerned. Several minutes had passed and the blond omega had yet to respond.

Me

Cloud, is everything okay? I just want to know you’re alright.

Can you please just answer me?

“I’m back!” Aerith exclaimed, holding up two glasses of champagne. Her smile immediately was replaced with a concerned frown upon seeing Tifa’s worried expression. “What’s up?”

“It’s Cloud…”

“What about him?”

“He’s not answering my texts. I’m a little scared.”

“Have you tried calling him?”

“No, I’ll try that in a second. It’s just not like him, normally he’s quick to respond so I’m a little worried he may be in trouble.”

“He could be with Zack.” Aerith tried to assure her friend.

“What if he isn’t? You know he’s an omega, what if someone is taking advantage of him?” Tifa worriedly asked.

“Let me call Zack, hopefully, he’s with Cloud.”

Surprisingly, Aerith’s call was answered after two rings.

“Hello?”

“Zack? Tifa and I haven’t heard from you or Cloud for some time. Are you guys okay?”

“Oh, yeah. Cloud wasn’t feeling too good so he and I went back to mine.”

“Alright, good to know.”

“Want to talk to Cloud for a second?”

“You know what, let me pass the phone to Tifa. She’s worried as hell about Cloud.” The brunette passed the phone to Tifa.

“Cloud? Are you okay?” Tifa asked urgently.

“Y-Yeah, I’m g-good.”

“Are you sure? You don’t sound it.”

Tifa’s worry was only amplified when all she could hear was a solid two minutes of silence.

“Aerith, I think something’s wrong with the connection.”

“Oh, like it wasn’t magically working three seconds ago.” Aerith scoffed.

“I promise I’m okay!”

Tifa was about to press Cloud further but the blond abruptly hung up.

“See, I knew they’d be okay.” Aerith shrugged. “Now, should we have another game then?”

“Fine but I’m not holding your hand through this one,” Tifa smirked.

To Tifa’s surprise, Aerith had managed to beat her by one point.

“What the hell!?” Tifa exclaimed. “Beginner’s luck, I’ll bet.”

“Come on, let’s have another game now that it’s tied.” Aerith beamed.

Before they could begin, someone abruptly burst through the door. To Aerith’s annoyance, it was Kyrie.

“Aerith! Just the person I wanted to see.” Kyrie smiled.

“What do you want, Kyrie?” Aerith sighed, clearly annoyed at the girl’s presence.

“I have to ask you a question -”

“The answer’s no.”

“I didn’t even ask my question.”

“I don’t need to, I already know it’s going to be about Zack. Unfortunately, I am not his secretary nor will I ever be, so please bother someone else.”

“Just hear her out, Aerith.” Tifa sympathised.

Aerith let out a sigh in frustration. “Fine, ask your stupid question.”

“Have you seen Zack? I’ve been looking all over the house and I can’t find him.”

“He went back home, something about Cloud not feeling well.”

“So, Zack left with Cloud?” Kyrie pouted.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying, and with that, I think I’ve answered your question so please leave Tifa and I alone,” Aerith commanded.

“Hey, everyone!” Reno burst into the room, with two bottles of champagne. “Oh, I know you beautiful girls aren’t having one small glass, come on, have the bottles!”

“I think we’re good with the glass…” Tifa awkwardly declined, but Aerith disagreed.

“Tifa, this isn’t some dollar store champagne, it is champagne from high-end, exclusive places. We’ll just have one bottle, Reno.” Aerith smiled. “By the way, where’s Rude?”

“He’s been chasing me for the past five minutes and I was only able to lose him just now.”

“Why are you running from him?” Aerith laughed.

“Because he’s stopping me from being a great host! And I’m pretty sure he’s horny.”

Aerith raised an eyebrow while Tifa almost choked on her champagne.

“Hey, Reno. Have you seen Zack?” Kyrie asked, prompting Aerith to roll her eyes.

“Oh…no, I haven’t.” Reno shook his head, frustrating the young woman. “By the way, guys, have you gone upstairs?”

Tifa and Aerith looked at each other before simultaneously shaking their heads.

“Because…I don’t know who, but somebody is getting fucked really good in one of the bedrooms upstairs! Like, someone is screaming to the high heavens up there and it’s kinda turning me on.”

“No, we haven’t been upstairs, Reno. And honestly, that sounds gross.” Aerith cringed.

“Hey, I’m just saying -”

“There you are.” They turned to see Reno’s bald boyfriend glaring at the redhead. Reno didn’t have enough time to react before he was again thrown over Rude’s shoulder.

“No fair, babe,” Reno whined. “I’m trying to be a good host.”

“No, you’re way too drunk to be a good host. You need to sleep it off.” Reno ferociously swung his legs and fists while Rude removed him from the room.

“Well, that was…something.” Tifa laughed.

“Yeah, now let’s get back to our game!” Aerith smiled.

“Aren’t you guys gonna help me find Zack?” Kyrie whined, prompting Aerith to roll her eyes so far back, one would think she was possessed.

“Kyrie, let me put it in the bluntest way possible.” Aerith began.

“Aerith, please -” Tifa tried to interfere.

“No, Tifa! I have tolerated this bullshit for long enough! I’ve had it and someone needs to tell her straight. Kyrie, Zack isn’t into you. He just isn’t. He has explicitly voiced it to you more times than I can count. You are better off finding another gentleman because I’m telling you right now: Zack is not, nor do I think he ever will be attracted to you.”

“B-but that night…he -”

“He what? Had sex with you? Kyrie, if he didn’t take Cloud home, he would probably be having sex with someone else. News flash: you aren’t the only one who wants Zack romantically. The man literally has a whole Fanclub dedicated to what he does, where he eats and who his friends are. The number of times I have spotted one of them spying on me, I have had to have my mum’s lawyer issue them a restraining order to get them to stay the fuck out of my business!” Aerith ranted.

“Look, I didn’t want to be harsh but at this point, it is the only option I have to make it clear to you. Find another guy to have a crush on. I’m sure you’ll be able to find someone else but Zack is off-limits.”

Kyrie was shaking, tears bawling in her eyes. She ran out of the room, full-on sobbing.

“Don’t you think that was too harsh, Aerith?”

“No, I don’t. Tifa, she has been harassing Zack for literally a year. She has deluded herself into believing she and Zack are soulmates. Someone needed to tell her the truth.” Aerith sighed. “Anyways, let’s have another game!”

“F-Fuck!” Cloud moaned, feeling Zack’s cock plunge deeper inside him. With every harsh thrust Zack made, Cloud felt his legs grow weaker and weaker. He tried his hardest to stabilise his arms and legs but Zack’s deadly thrusts against his prostate rendered the blonde more unstable.

“You alright, Sunshine?” Zack questioned, seeing how the blond was shaking.

“Y-Yeah” The blond shakily nodded. To Cloud’s surprise, he felt Zack completely pull out. “Zack, I-I promise I’m fine -”

The omega was swiftly interrupted when Zack moved them both to their sides.

“I know, Sunshine. I didn’t like that position much.” Zack shrugged.

This was a lie, doggy style was a position Zack liked to use for many of his previous sexual partners. However, when he tried it a few moments ago with Cloud, it was like he was reducing Cloud down to one of his casual hookups. Something that the alpha wouldn’t dream of doing. He also much preferred to look at the blond’s face, watching every expression Cloud made while he fucked him well.

Zack laced Cloud’s hand with one of his while the other hand rested beneath the omega’s leg, lifting it high in the air and leaving his entrance wide open. He laid a light kiss on Cloud’s cheek before plunging his cock into the blond, prompting him to loudly squeal.

The alpha set a brutal pace, relentlessly thrusting his large cock into his best friend’s entrance. Zack growled into Cloud’s ear with every roll of his hips.

“S-Shit, harder, please – Zack!” Cloud screamed, surprised that he hadn’t lost his voice given how vocal he had been for the past several hours.

“Harder, you say?” Zack smirked, hiking the blond’s leg higher. Cloud swore Zack’s cock was so deep, it must’ve tapped on the door of his womb at some point.

Cloud’s mouth hung open, revelling in the euphoric pleasure that was Zack’s endowment. He felt the alpha sensually kiss his neck, his skilful tongue trailing up and down his neck, catching the beads of sweat that formed.

“You taste so damn delicious, Sunshine!” Zack grunted.

“S-So good – Zack! Fuck, ah – ah!”

“Are you gonna fuck another alpha after this?”

“W-W-What?” Cloud asked, surprised. He turned his head to see Zack gritting his teeth.

“Are. You. Gonna. FUCK. ANOTHER. ALPHA?” Zack growled, each word was emphasised by a harsh thrust against the blond’s overstimulated prostate.

Cloud didn’t know how to respond to Zack’s question. Truthfully, after tonight, Cloud wasn’t sure how he and Zack’s friendship would stand. He has never heard of best friends who fuck each other on a regular basis with no complications. Not to mention, there was the incredibly unlikely chance that he may meet an alpha that could somehow capture his heart.

On the other hand, given how good at sex Zack is, Cloud honestly doubted that whoever may tempt the blond into bed next would be able to live up to the good and thorough fucking that Zack was giving. And the way Zack growled possessively about him, he was ashamed to admit it greatly turned him on.

Turning his head to face the alpha, he placed a cheeky peck on his lips.

“No, you’re the only alpha for me.” Cloud smiled, seeing that he might as well play along.

Zack growled. “Say it again.”

“Y-You’re my only alpha.” Cloud repeated.

“Again!”

“A-Alpha! You’re my only alpha!” Cloud screamed, feeling Zack’s hand tightly gripping his leg.

“That’s right. No other alpha will fuck you as deep as I do, no other alpha will make you feel as good as I do, no other alpha will make you feel as loved as I do!”

Cloud didn’t know where all of this was coming from. He knew Zack was somewhat possessive of him, seeing the way some people tried to occupy his time and Zack stepped between them, wanting to keep the blond to himself. But saying that no other alpha would love him as much as he did makes him feel worried.

Has someone broken his best friend’s heart? Was Zack suffering from insecurity?

Cloud gently placed his hand over Zack’s cheek, lightly stroking the scar.

“You’re right, no one else will make my heart feel as whole as you do, Zack.” Cloud smiled. “All those years of wishing to the Gods above that I could come back to you weren’t for nothing. I was meant to be by your side, and I promise I will do all I can to ensure I remain beside you.”

Zack’s cheeks blushed harshly at Cloud’s sincere words, descending down to capture the blond’s lips in a feverish kiss. The blond moaned in absolute bliss while their mouths danced, with Zack leading the kiss. Zack ran his tongue across Cloud’s lips, prompting the smaller man to eagerly open his mouth and allowing Zack to plunge his decadent tongue into it.

Cloud pulled away, and a thick string of saliva lingered between their lips. “Z-Zack, getting close again.

“So am I.” Zack rested his forehead on top of Cloud’s. “Wanna fill you up again.”

“Y-Yes! I want it so bad, alpha.”

“Beg for it, then,” Zack growled.

“Please, alpha. I want my come in me so badly, please fill me up with your delicious come!”

“Fuck,” Zack grunted, rubbing his thumb against Cloud’s bottom lip. “You sure do have a filthy mouth. I wonder how this filthy mouth would feel on my cock.”

Zack could feel his knot gradually forming, his thrusts growing harder and faster as to chase down his euphoric high quickly. Cloud was basking in sheer bliss and delight at the varying sensations the alpha dawned on him. From his strong hand lacing tightly with his own, his expert mouth gnawing on the delicate neck with numerous markings, to his large cock filling him up so deliciously.

Cloud had never in his life felt such pleasure before, and he couldn’t thank Zack enough for exposing him to it.

Suddenly, Cloud could hear Zack’s phone ringing on the bedside table. Curious, the alpha picked up his phone, seeing that Aerith was calling him.

“You’re not seriously going to answer that, are you?”

Cloud was shocked when Zack pressed the answer button, pressing a finger on his lips as to tell the blond to be quiet.

“Hello?” He spoke, Cloud covering his mouth to hide his heavenly moans as Zack still thrust into him.

“Zack? Tifa and I haven’t heard from you or Cloud for some time. Are you guys okay?”

“Oh, yeah. Cloud wasn’t feeling too good so he and I went back to mine.”

“Alright, good to know.”

“Want to talk to Cloud for a second?” He smirked down at Cloud who ferociously shook his head. 

“Cloud? Are you okay?” Cloud shot Zack a distasteful look as the alpha handed him the phone.

“Y-Yeah, I’m g-good.” He muttered, trying his utmost best to suppress his moans while Zack continuously punished his prostate with his brutal thrusts.

“Are you sure? You don’t sound it.”

Cloud could feel Tifa’s concern through her voice and he desperately wanted her to know he was okay. Sadly, he quickly pressed the mute button just in time to scream out a loud moan from Zack shoving his cock deeply into his entrance. Zack moaned deliciously into Cloud’s ear, lightly biting his earlobe.

“Come on, Sunshine.” Zack soothed into his ear. “You can’t leave Tifa hanging like this.”

“Then stop fucking me for a moment, will you!?” Cloud hissed.

“How can I do that, Sunshine?” Zack whispered, his lips hovering dangerously close over the blond’s. “You’re so hard to resist…”

Cloud couldn’t help but close the gap between them, pressing their lips together. His eyes fluttered shut, letting Zack work his tongue explore his warm cavern. They let themselves get lost in their sensual sensations, their hands remained tightly clamped together while Zack’s tongue thrust into Cloud’s mouth at the same pace his cock pounded the omega’s ass.

“Aerith, I think something’s wrong with the connection.”

Cloud could hear Aerith making some sarcastic remark in the background. Pulling his lips away from Zack’s, he quickly regained his composure, unmuting the phone.

“I promise I’m okay!”

Before Tifa had time to press further, Cloud ended the call.

“Fuck, that was hot.”

“Hot!? You expected me to coherently talk to our friends while you have your massive cock lodged inside my ass!” Cloud whined.

“I’m sorry, Cloud. Please forgive me.” Zack pouted, tempting the smaller man with his puppy eyes.

Cloud rolled his eyes, smiling. “You know I can’t stay mad at you, Puppy.”

They laughed between each other for a bit, somehow forgetting the compromising position the two were currently in. After their laughs subsided, they just looked at each other, smiling.

Suddenly, Cloud’s back arched as Zack started to jackhammer his thick cock into Cloud once again.

“Surely, you didn’t forget what we were in the middle of, Sunshine?” Zack husked into the blond’s ear.

Zack’s brutal pace has now become supersonic, fiercely pounding his best friend’s hole almost like he was trying to damage it.

“Zack! F-Fuck, ha! S-So big, so good!” Cloud screamed. “D-Don’t stop! I’m so close!”

“Fuck yeah!” Zack growled, feeling his knot starting to swell again. “You want my come again, Sunshine?”

“Yes! Please, Zack!”

“What a well-mannered omega you are.” Zack breathed, licking the blond’s neck. “Such good manners deserve to be rewarded, don’t you agree?”

“M-Mmm” Cloud moaned while rapidly nodding, unable to form incoherent sentences thanks to Zack fucking him so well.

“What? You need to use your words, gorgeous. What should your reward be?”

“Kn-Knot”

“My knot?”

“Yes!” Cloud moaned. “P-Please, Zack!”

Zack gritted his teeth, feeling his balls tightening, his impending release drew hazardously close.

Cloud felt his voice crack, letting out probably his loudest moan that evening and painting his body with his release yet again. Witnessing how Cloud felt his orgasm so intensely, Zack couldn’t hold back his release either. The knot at the base of his cock expanded, stretching Cloud’s entrance madly and dispensing long ropes of come inside the blond.

Their bodies were covered in sweat, unsurprisingly from the sheer length of time they had spent having sex. The sheets beneath them were beyond drenched, as their sweat and Cloud’s slick leaked onto the sheets below them.

Zack rested his forehead on top of Cloud’s, closing his eyes and loving the way Cloud’s damp entrance constantly clenched around his cock.

“Reno’s going to kill us.” Cloud uttered. “We’ve made a mess of his sheets.”

The remark caused Zack to chuckle. “Don’t worry, this is one of many bedrooms in this house. I’m sure he’ll be okay with it.”

“Still, I wouldn’t want to upset my new best friend, would I?” Cloud teased.

The blond almost regretted saying that once he saw Zack’s expression darkened.

“New best friend, my ass.” Zack growled.

Cloud whined into Zack’s neck, feeling the alpha flooding his insides with his come again.

“Just how big are your balls to be producing this much come!?” Cloud whimpered. The alpha already flooded his insides the first time, but it seemed he was far from done with the omega. Though the knot was secured tightly within Cloud, the sheer amount of come was simply too much for the blond to contain, some of it leaking out and landing on the sheets.

“I thought you would’ve wanted me to make new friends?” Cloud pouted.

“I do but not a new best friend? You want to replace me?” Zack pouted back.

Cloud shook his head, softly touching the larger man’s face. “Of course not, you know you’ll always be my number one, Puppy.”

“I think the same of you, Sunshine.” Zack smiled. “Damn, I’m coming again.”

“F-Fuck!” Cloud arched his back, feeling the alpha’s cock vibrate directly against his sensitive prostate and his scorching come filling him up again.

Cloud could already tell he had a long night ahead of him, and prayed to the Gods above that he wouldn’t be too sore in the morning.

Chapter Text

Cloud’s blue eyes started to pierce open, gradually stirring out of his slumber. Scanning across the room, he began to feel more and more puzzled. This wasn’t his bedroom. He knew that from the get-go since this bed was larger and more comfy than the one he was used to. He also couldn’t see the giant wolf plushie Zack won for him the other day.

Where was he?

The blond was startled to find that when he tried to move, he was held back by two bulky, strong arms tightly embracing him. Redness spread across the omega’s face upon seeing his clothes scattered across the wooden floor. Slowly turning his head, he was greeted by the sight of his best friend, wide awake and gleefully smiling at him.

“Good morning, Sunshine,” Zack whispered.

Cloud tried to move away, only to be met with mild resistance, feeling a dull pain around his backside.

“Woah don’t move so quickly! I don’t wanna hurt you.” Zack said, pulling the blond closer to him.

“W-W-What was that?” Cloud questioned.

Zack sighed before pulling the covers off of him, revealing to Cloud a rather unsavoury scene. He and Zack were completely naked, with his best friend still very much buried inside him. Well, at least that explained his backside’s dull pain and his clothes being on the floor. Then, realisation rained down on him like a bucket of ice-cold water, and the memories of his and Zack’s activities came flooding into his head.

He had sex with Zack last night.

A lot of sex.

He vividly remembered how Zack took him in so many different ways, his blush quickly deepening the more he thought about last night. And now, he had to deal with how Zack’s well-endowed shaft was still sitting inside him at full potential as if he was dealing with morning wood. Cloud curiously ran his hand down to his stomach, feeling a bulge caused by his best friend’s cock sitting there.

“How long have you been awake?” Cloud asked.

“Only a few minutes.”

“I-Is that your knot that’s -”

“Yep,” Zack confirmed. “Sorry, it may be a while before I can take it out. Is it uncomfortable?”

“Well…” Cloud wanted to say yes since it was. Anyone would be uncomfortable if they had a dick sitting in their ass, especially if it were as large as Zack’s. But for some reason, Cloud didn’t want to voice this to his best friend. Perhaps he didn’t want to make the situation more tense than it already was. Or…in the back of his mind, Cloud did enjoy the feeling of Zack’s endowment filling him up so deeply.

“Cloud? Sunshine? I promise I’ll take it out, it’s only because if I pull out now, I’m scared you’ll get hurt.” Zack whimpered, resting his head against the omega’s neck.

“N-No, it’s okay.” Cloud nodded. “I’m sure it will fade.”

He was caught off-guard when Zack decided to hoist the blonde up, moving himself to sit at Cloud’s side of the bed. Cloud bit back a loud moan as he was moved onto Zack’s lap. This new position made his best friend’s large cock press further against his prostate.

“I wasn’t too rough on you last night, was I?” Zack asked, concerned.

“No,” Cloud shook his head, smiling. “No, you were really considerate.”

“Sorry again.” Zack apologised, resting his head on Cloud’s shoulder.

Zack knew how he could be during sex, especially when he was in a rut. And even though he had possessed explicit thoughts of his blond best friend before, he never thought the obscene thoughts would manifest into reality.

And yet, here Cloud was. His damp ass was clutching around his thick cock like it needed it to live and Zack couldn't lie to himself and say it wasn't tempting him to indulge in the blond again.

The omega was surprised when he felt the larger man’s cock grew stiffer inside him. He turned to see Zack smirking up to him.

“On a second thought, you up for a little morning round, Sunshine?” Zack murmured, trailing kisses up Cloud’s neck.

Cloud genuinely could not believe what was happening right now. He and Zack barely got a wink of sleep, mainly because they simply couldn’t get enough of each other. Once Zack’s knot subsided, it didn’t take them long before their bodies clung together again. He was shocked to see Zack was raring to go so soon.

“Y-You’re not still drugged, are you?” Worry started to plague Cloud’s mind.

“Nope,” Zack smiled. “Whatever we were drugged with, I’m pretty sure it stopped affecting us some time ago. This time, it’s just me being horny and needing you.”

Cloud breathed a sigh of relief, before pausing to process what his best friend just said.

“Besides, I have a habit of fucking the morning after.” Zack continued, placing his hands around Cloud’s narrow hips.

Cloud blushed, his own cock coming to life upon feeling how Zack carefully caressed him. At least with last night, they could blame whoever drugged them for the subsequent events that followed. But now that they were both sober and with a clear mind, they didn’t have much else to blame other than their own lust and sexual attraction.

“Please don’t feel forced into doing this -” Zack began, starting to worry for his best friend. However, Cloud gave him a coy smile, resting his small hand on Zack’s cheek.

“No, I’m alright for one more round if you like,” Cloud whispered, lightly pressing his lips against Zack’s cheek to solidify his confirmation.

Zack grinned against his best friend’s lips, raising him off his engorged cock once the knot subsided a tad before slamming Cloud back down.

Cloud covered his mouth, as to stop an ear-shattering wail from escaping. However, Zack was having none of it. He ripped Cloud’s hands from his mouth, pinning them behind his back.

“No, no, don’t you dare hold back, Cloud. I want to hear every little moan that comes out of your pretty little mouth.” Zack whimpered, starting to thrust his hips upwards.

It wasn’t that Cloud didn’t want to be loud and proud. With how loud he was the night before, it was safe to say almost everyone was acquainted with how he sounded in bed. However, with how early in the morning it was, he didn’t want to cause anyone to be unnecessarily woken up, annoyed to hear people getting it on with the sun itself barely having enough time to wake up.

Stubborn, Cloud wrapped his arms around Zack’s neck, pulling him in for a kiss while the alpha bounced him on his large cock. The raven-haired alpha didn’t contest the blond, eagerly eating up his moans as their tongues slithered. Cloud looked into Zack’s eyes when he pulled away and sensually licked his lips, sending shockwaves down to his cock.

Zack growled, his fingertips digging deep into the omega’s thighs, sure to leave a mark or two. Cloud was unable to do much with his legs spread wide and groped upon Zack’s strong hands and forearms and his arms tightly wound his best friend’s neck. All while being subject to the sheer brutality of Zack’s huge cock, the tip of it continuously punching his prostate with fierce intensity.

“S-So good! More, more!” Cloud pleaded.

“Fuck, it’s like you can’t live without my cock, Cloud! You that hungry for more?” Zack grinned.

Cloud feverishly nodded, causing Zack to look at him in a way that sent chills down his spine.

“Use your words, Sunshine,” Zack murmured darkly.

“Yes! I want more! Please give me more!”

Zack smirked, before harshly slamming Cloud down, causing the blond to arch his back.

“Good boy,” Zack soothed. “What a good omega you are, Sunshine. Always saying please, not like all those other ungrateful whores I’ve fucked before.”

Cloud shook his head, tears blooming in his eyes. “N-No! Want to be good for a-alpha!”

Zack chuckled, placing a small kiss on the blond’s lips and wiping away the tears that rolled down his cheeks. “Don’t worry, my Sunshine. You’ll never be those other useless bitches. You’re special…”

Cloud brightly smiled. “R-Really?”

“Of course,” Zack breathed. “Now that I’ve had a taste of you, I can’t help but want more and more.”

Cloud breathed heavily, feeling his impending release was about to erupt from him.

“Z-Zack, I-I’m close.”

“Me too, Sunshine,” Zack grunted, holding the base of Cloud’s shaft, as to deny the blond his orgasm. "Want us to come together. You can hold it back for me, can't you?”

Cloud nodded, burying his head into Zack’s neck as the alpha thrusted up into him, going deeper, faster and harder.

“Fuck, Sunshine! You ready?”

“Yes!” Before he could scream in gratification, Zack slammed his lips against the blond’s. Cloud moaned into the alpha’s mouth, his orgasm suddenly crashing down on him. His weeping cock erupted, shooting ropes of come across his body, some of it landing on the wooden floor below them.

Zack met his release in sync with his best friend, filling the blond’s wet cavern with his hot come. Once again, his knot exploded around the base, trapping him and his best friend again.

“Damn, that was so hot.” Zack casually commented, breathing heavily. “You alright, Sunshine?”

“Y-Yeah, fuck, I didn’t think I could come again.” Cloud breathed, looking down at the mess he made.

“Same, I’m more surprised you don’t have a little baby bump considering I came buckets inside you last night.” Zack laughed.

“I think most of it went onto the sheets.” Cloud chuckled, looking beside him to see how the sheets were soaked beyond belief with their bodily fluids, stains of his slick and Zack’s come splattered along the blankets and covers.

“Yeah, I’m surprised you didn’t soak up most of it because my knot should’ve made it difficult for it to escape.”

“Probably because my body knows I don’t want your baby yet.” Cloud rolled his eyes.

“Yet? So there’s a chance?” Zack grinned, Cloud turning away from his best friend upon realising what he just said. “Don’t ignore me, Sunshine. I’m only joking.”

“I know.” Cloud pouted. “Now we’re going to be stuck like that again and -” Cloud was interrupted by Zack’s cock pulsing inside him, shooting more ropes of come inside him.

“Zack, I’m not even going to be funny now. How in the fuck have you not gotten someone pregnant yet?”

“Like I said last night, you’re the only one I’ve had sex with without protection.”

“Wow, I’m so honoured,” Cloud remarked sarcastically.

“Hey, watch your tone.” Zack gritted, his cock pulsing as it fired more hot semen inside Cloud. “But then again, none of them have felt my knot before.”

“Wait, how did you suppress it then?”

“I don’t know, my knot usually only popped out during my rut so…again, you’re special.” Zack soothed. “But you said you were on birth control, right?”

“Yeah, but if I feel funny at any point, I’ll go see my doctor.”

“Obviously, with how much I’ve come inside you, your birth control might not be enough to stop all my troopers.” Zack laughed. “And speaking of come…”

Cloud gripped Zack’s neck tightly while the alpha subjected his best friend’s insides to another flood of his come.

The spacious house was quiet for the most part. Most of its occupants slept in various spaces, some slept on the table, some on the couch and others slept on the floor. Reno happily moved around the kitchen, whisking the pancake batter while dancing to whatever the radio put on.

Zack walked down the staircase, carrying his blond best friend on his back piggyback style. Zack tried to hold back his laughter, looking back at Cloud who sported a rosy blush on his cheeks. Once Zack’s knot died down, he and Cloud moved off the bed and started to get dressed. Except for Cloud, when his feet touched the ground, it was as if his legs couldn’t support his own weight, or he lost his centre of gravity since he fell to the floor.

He tried desperately to get back up, only to fail at it. When he appealed to Zack for help, the larger man couldn’t help but laugh at Cloud’s misfortune. The blond looked up sadly at his best friend, pouting. Thankfully, Zack took pity on the omega, helping him up onto the bed and getting him adequately dressed.

Seeing that the blond was not fit for walking just yet, Zack crouched down and allowed his best friend to hop on his back. Cloud cutely clung to him like a koala, reminding Zack of how he used to carry his best friend countless times when they were younger.

When they made it downstairs, they saw Reno gleefully dancing in the kitchen. The redhead jumped in shock upon seeing the two of them staring at him.

“Nice moves” Cloud commented, prompting Zack to let out a slight chuckle.

“Thanks, bestie.” Reno smiled. “Wait a minute, why are you carrying him, Zack?”

“Well, he doesn’t feel too good to stand so that’s why -”

“Bullshit,” Reno interjected. “Put him down and have him walk to the island counter.”

“Why?” Zack asked.

“Because some people in this house are really going at it last night and even from where I’m standing, you two reek of sex. So, come on.”

“Zack, it’s fine,” Cloud assured.

“But -”

“You heard him, Zacky boy,” Reno interjected, folding his arms against his chest. “Let him down.”

Hesitantly, Zack crouched down, letting Cloud gently descend onto the ground. Since not much time has passed for Cloud to adequately recover, he found himself only able to walk three steps before inevitably collapsing to the floor.

“Knew it,” Reno smirked, Zack scrambling to pick his best friend up from the floor, now carrying him bridal style. “Aw, now you guys look like a newlywed couple.”

“Shut up,” Zack growled.

Reno held his hands up in defence. “Hey, I won’t tell anyone but only if you pay me for the mess I’m presuming you made on the sheets.”

Zack rolled his eyes, leaving a few 10 Gil notes on the table. “There, that should be more than enough.”

“Thanks. Oh, and Cloud?” The blond turned to look at the redhead, curious about what he was about to say. “It was like that for me the first time Rude fucked me. Dumb alpha has the cock of a horse and left me limping for days. Eventually, if you do it enough, you’ll be moving around like nothing happened.” Reno winked.

“Okay, we’re leaving,” Zack announced.

“Hey, don’t you want to stay for breakfast? I’m making pancakes!”

“No thanks, we’ll get breakfast elsewhere.” Zack shook his head.

“Come on, not even for a cup of coffee!?”

“Nope!”

“Hold up!” Reno stood in front of the front door, preventing Zack and Cloud from leaving. “Cloud, can I have your number?”

“For what!?” Zack interjected.

“Hey, I’m his new bestie! We’re going to hang out and do cool shit, aren’t we, Cloud?”

Cloud pulled out his phone, much to Zack’s dismay. Reno stuck his tongue out at the raven-haired alpha, putting in his number.

“I’ll see you soon, bestie.” Reno smiled at Cloud before turning to Zack. “I’m sure our paths will cross at some point, Zack.”

“Whatever, our Uber’s here and I’m taking Cloud home,” Zack remarked, pushing past Reno.

“Don’t tell me you’re gonna fuck him there too. Give blondie a break, will ya!?” Reno yelled, Cloud hiding his reddened face in embarrassment.

Cloud stared out the car window, looking up to the morning sky. He and Zack were in the backseat of yet another Uber ride, en route to Zack’s apartment. Cloud thanked the Gods above that he had a day off today, the soaring pain in his lower body still had yet to fully subside and he still found difficulty standing up on his own.

He turned to his best friend who goofily smiled back at him, as if he didn’t just fuck him into oblivion mere hours ago. Cloud’s phone buzzed, startling the young omega. He pulled it out to see a new message from Aerith.

Aerith 🌸

Good morning, Cloud! Zack told Tifa and I that you weren’t feeling well last night. Are you feeling better now?

Me

Morning, Aerith. Yeah, I’m feeling much better, thanks for asking.

Aerith 🌸

Great! Tifa and I are going to have breakfast down at Jimmi’s. Did you want to come with?

Me

Sure, do you guys mind if Zack comes along?

Aerith 🌸

If he must 🙄 I’m just kidding, of course he can. Meet in a few hours?

Me

Sounds good to me 👍

“We’re here, Sunshine,” Zack said, thanking the driver before getting out of the spacious car. Cloud quickly followed, the pair making his way through the gigantic apartment building. The younger man couldn’t help but notice that the journey from them entering the lobby to the front door of Zack’s apartment was incredibly awkward. He and Zack had yet to share a single word, let alone have a conversation since the moment they exited their Uber.

“Zack, is everything okay?” Cloud asked, the two entering the older man’s apartment.

“Y-Yeah, I’m good.” Zack tried to assure his best friend, but Cloud remained unconvinced. The alpha made his way to his coffee machine. “You want a cup of coffee or something?”

“Yeah,” Cloud nodded, sitting on Zack’s dining table. “Also, Aerith invited us for breakfast at Jimmi’s later.”

“Sweet, I’m fucking starving!” Zack chuckled, joining his best friend with two cups of coffee.

“Zack, are you sure you’re okay?” Cloud asked, worried. “You look like you have a lot on your mind.”

Zack sighed, placing his hand over the younger man’s. “It’s…well…fuck, why is this so hard?”

“What is?”

“About last night…”

Somehow, Cloud knew this would happen. He knew Zack would either feel guilty, disgusted, or both. Now, he wishes he had left Zack alone in that bedroom. There was no turning back once they started, and Cloud knew that well. Their friendship was never going to be the same after last night, but Cloud hoped and prayed that Zack could look past it and pretend it never happened.

Cloud sadly smiled at his best friend. “It’s okay, Zack. If you want, I can give you some space and we can pretend last night never happened.”

“What!?” Zack gasped. “No, no, Cloud! I don’t want to pretend it never happened.”

“T-Then what is the problem then?” Cloud shakingly asked. He stood up and moved away from Zack, still feeling that dull pain. “I wasn’t that good, was I?”

Zack strode towards the blond, pinning him against the kitchen counter. “No, Cloud, that’s the problem! It was the best sex I’ve ever had!”

Cloud stared back at Zack, surprised. “Sorry?”

“Yeah, I don’t know how to explain it. But damn, I’ve never felt that good during sex in my life before.” Zack breathed, caressing the younger man’s face carefully with his large hands.

“I didn’t ruin our friendship, did I?”

“No, Sunshine. Don’t forget, I’m just as much to blame for last night so don’t feel like all the weight is on your shoulders.”

“S-So what do we do? How do we go on from here?” Cloud asked.

The younger man was unquestionably puzzled about the direction he and Zack were heading towards. Would they chalk up last night and this morning as a one-and-done? Or did Zack want something…more?

“I don’t know about that. All I know is I don’t want to see you in another person’s arms, I want to be the only one who can fuck you.”

A rosy blush spread across Cloud’s cheeks as Zack inched closer to him, leaving little to no space between them.

“What do you want then? Friends with benefits?”

“Can we not call it that?” Zack shook his head. “I…don’t want to date. At least not now.”

“Why? Did something happen?” Cloud asked, a growing sense of concern evident in his voice.

“I won’t get into it now, but just know I gave my heart to someone, and they gave it back to me, absolutely shattered.”

Cloud frowned upon hearing that. He slowly moved to hug his best friend who looked like he was on the verge of tears.

“Don’t cry, Puppy. No one is going to hurt you like that again.” Cloud assured.

“S-Sorry, I didn’t mean to get emotional like that.” Zack sighed, wrapping his arms around his best friend.

“It’s alright, I’m sorry if I brought up unpleasant memories for you.”

“No, I should be over it by now.” Zack half-heartedly laughed. “But yeah, sorry I’m not ready for a relationship.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Cloud smiled back. “So from what I’ve gathered, you want us to have sex - causally?”

“Well, yeah but – How do I put this? Don’t our cycles overlap?”

Cloud nodded, remembering how he and Zack’s respective cycles weirdly happened on the last week of the month.

“Wouldn’t it be in both of our best interests if instead of taking suppressants, we spend our cycles together?”

Cloud nodded, seeing the logic behind Zack’s reasoning. “Yeah, so we would only have sex during our cycles then?”

Zack chuckled, resting his forehead on top of Cloud’s. “I was hoping we could do it outside our cycles too but know that all you need to do is tell me ‘No’ and I won’t do anything to you.”

“I’m okay with that.” Cloud nodded. “But if you don’t want to do this anymore or you fall in love with someone, tell me right away, okay?”

“Of course, Sunshine.”

“And you don’t need to be locked down to me, okay? If you’re out and find a pretty girl you want to take home, you can. I won’t stop you.”

“Sunshine, I don’t think I made myself clear. After last night, I can’t envision myself taking anyone but you home with me.” Zack murmured.

“Okay, but I wanted to let you know you’re not pressured to be exclusive to this situation we have,” Cloud assured. “I think our coffee’s getting cold.”

“Shit, sorry about that, Sunshine.” Zack hurried to the dining table, grabbing their cups of coffee. Cloud lightly laughed, moving to sit on Zack’s big couch.

“Also, I was thinking,” Zack continued. “Since you’re an omega, you get a lot of unwanted attention, don’t you?”

Cloud nodded. “It happens more times than I would like…”

“In that case, I’m not sure if you can tell but I can smell some of my scent on you. If I rub enough of my scent on you, it will push away other alphas since they hate to bed an omega that reeks of another alpha.”

Cloud then remembered what Prompto said to him a couple of weeks ago, about how his boyfriend smeared his scent over him and how this tactic did in fact work. The more Cloud thought about it, the more logical and sound everything seemed. He wouldn’t need to use heat suppressants, Zack smearing his scent on him could deter other alphas and on top of that, the sex with Zack wasn’t bad either. It all seemed picture perfect but Cloud still wanted to be sure his friendship with the taller man remained a priority between them.

“I only want you to promise me one thing, Zack.”

“O-okay?” Zack uttered, slightly scared and worried.

“Whatever happens between us, I want us to remain best friends. If there’s any animosity between us for whatever reason, we agree to try and work it out. That’s all I ask.”

“I promise, Cloud. We’ll remain best friends no matter what.”

“So – what are we then, if not friends with benefits?”

“I don’t know, I was just gonna let us be whatever the hell we wanna be.” Zack shrugged.

“I can live with that.” Cloud shrugged. “Hey, do you mind if I use your shower? I can’t be showing up in front of Aerith and Tifa looking like a mess."

"Sure, you can! Oh, wait here for a second.” Cloud remained seated while Zack bolted to his bedroom. The blond was surprised when Zack returned, holding a change of clothes in his hands. “I may have ordered a couple of things your size in case you happened to pop in without anything else to wear.”

“Of course you did.”  

The hot water rained down Cloud’s warm body, the young omega basking in the relaxing sensation. He had told Zack he could use the shower before him, but the alpha insisted Cloud went first. That was one of the many things he adored about his best friend, he always prioritised others’ needs over his own.

That didn’t stop the omega from worrying though. If the alpha keeps prioritising others over himself, how long does it take before his own needs are met? He heard from Aerith that people often floated around Zack, asking him to pay them drinks or take them out somewhere fully at his expense. It didn’t feel fair to Cloud. Sometimes, Zack needed to be reminded that he can’t be a people pleaser all the time and that it’s okay to be a little selfish at times.

Cloud was so deep in his thoughts that he failed to realise someone had stepped into the shower with him. He only registered the other person’s presence once he felt two strong hands wrap around his dainty waist, causing him to jump nearly out of his skin.

Shocked, he turned around to see his tall best friend grinning goofily down at him.

“Zack, you scared me half to fucking death!” Cloud scolded, digging his finger into Zack’s broad chest.

“Sorry, Sunshine. I tried calling your name, but you didn’t respond.”

“You couldn’t wait until the shower was free before you came in?”

“Well, if we use the shower at the right time, we can actually save on the water bill.”

“Since when did you need to worry about saving?” Cloud questioned, raising an eyebrow at his best friend.

“Hey, it’s a good habit to have.” Zack smiled. “Since I’m here, let me get your back and you can get mine.”

Cloud sighed, nodding. Zack smiled, happily scrubbing his best friend’s back.

“So, what was it that had my Sunshine with his head in the clouds?”

“It’s okay to be selfish sometimes, you know.”

“What?” Zack asked, baffled.

“I know you like to please everyone around you. I get that, but you don’t need to be like that all the time.”

Zack sighed. “I get where you’re coming from, Sunshine. I do but people have gotten used to the idea that since I come from a rich family, me paying for things won’t be as detrimental to me as it would be for them and -”

Cloud turned to Zack, shaking his head. “That doesn’t matter, Zack. They probably do it because you have never said no.”

“Yes, I have!”

“Okay then, tell me the last time you’ve said no.”

Zack opened his mouth, only to close it after some time. He nervously laughed at his inability to remember the last time he uttered the word ‘No’, all while his omega best friend stared at him, patiently waiting.

“O-Okay, maybe I have a problem with saying ‘No’.” Zack laughed.

Cloud rolled his eyes, bringing the alpha close to him. “I’m not saying you can’t treat people now and then. But what I don’t like and won’t tolerate is them expecting you to pay for everything when they are more than capable of footing the bill themselves.”

Zack subtly nodded, smiling down at Cloud. “Thank you, Cloud. I’ll try not to be everyone’s doormat now.”

“And like I said, it’s okay to be selfish sometimes.” Cloud smiled, only for it to gradually fade upon seeing Zack’s growing grin.

“It’s okay to be selfish, huh?” Zack repeated. “Then would it be selfish if I asked if we have a quickie here in the shower?”

Cloud looked down, surprised to see Zack was fully erect. His eyes travelled up Zack’s body, admiring how the water ran down his best friend’s tanned, solid muscles, meeting Zack’s face that dawned a grin that almost looked sinister.

The younger man gulped, backing himself against the shower wall, trembling in the alpha’s predatory gaze. Zack quickly closed the gap between them, his heavy erection resting against the blond’s stomach.

“C-Can I touch it?” Cloud asked, his eyes locked onto his best friend’s solid erection.

“Gaia, Cloud, yeah.” Zack groaned, leaning down to Cloud’s neck and laying delicate kisses across it.

Cloud hesitantly laid his hand over Zack’s hard endowment, becoming equal parts amazed and frightened. Amazed because much to Cloud’s surprise, Zack was somehow able to fit his endowment into Cloud without severely injuring him. Frightened because he realised that Zack’s cock was so thick, he couldn’t even wrap one hand around it to cover it completely. Shyly, he brought his other hand towards Zack’s shaft, holding the erection with both his hands.

“F-Fuck, that feels nice…” Zack moaned, moving his hips, thrusting himself against Cloud’s hands.

“You have a really big dick, Zack,” Cloud commented. “How were you even able to put this inside me?”

“Not gonna lie, I was just as surprised as you were,” Zack sneaked down to Cloud’s plump rear, finding his damp entrance and slowly began to finger it open. “But damn, you take it so well.”

Cloud adorably squealed as Zack lifted him up against the wall, wrapping his slim legs around Zack’s waist.

“Are you always this horny?” Cloud asked.

“Not really, no.” Zack shook his head. “I try to hold it back, Sunshine, I really do. But no matter how much I try, I can’t stop wanting -”

“Don’t worry about it, Zack,” Cloud assured, resting his forehead against Zack’s. “I-I’m not faring any better than you.”

Zack directed his eyes down his best friend’s body to see Cloud was just as eager as him, sporting a hard erection as well.

“So, don’t feel like you need to hold yourself back for me.” Cloud smiled.

“Fuck, Cloud. When you say things like that,” Zack groaned, positioning his cock against Cloud’s entrance. “It damn near drives me crazy.”

“Zack, please,” Cloud begged. “Just fuck me already…”

“My, my, what a dirty mouth you have.” Zack gritted. “You kiss your mother with that mouth?”

“No, that’s why I kiss you.” Cloud giggled. The blond’s giggles shortly turned to soft moans as Zack began to sheathe himself inside Cloud. Zack lightly bit on Cloud’s neck as to mimic a marking on the blond and licked the bite mark, feeling his best friend clench tightly on his cock.

“Shit,” Zack moaned, burying his entire length inside Cloud. “You’re still so damn tight.”

“Gaia, Zack, please – move!” Cloud pleaded.

“Anything for you, Sunshine.” Zack pressed his lips against the blond’s, eating up all his lustful moans as he started to move inside Cloud.

Loud chatter and sizzling sounds echoed throughout the diner. It was incredibly busy with nearly every table being occupied with patrons, most of which were students desperately needing food to cure their hangover.

In one of their booths sat Aerith and Tifa. Tifa was constantly refreshing her phone for new messages from Cloud while Aerith sat there, seething. It was now 10:45, Cloud and Zack were supposed to meet them at Jimmi’s at 10.

“Remind me to never invite those two for food ever again.” Aerith gritted.

Chapter Text

Aerith aggressively tapped her finger against the table, her patience hanging on by a fine thread. Tifa wasn’t faring any better than her close friend, shaking her head in disbelief.

“I can’t believe they’re late.” Tifa sighed. “Cloud has never been late.”

“Sorry, ladies. Did you want to order now or—” the server asked, a smile drawn across his face. However, they could tell the smile was more forced than authentic.

“I’m very sorry, our friends are stuck in traffic,” Aerith assured the server. “I promise, we’ll order as soon as they come.”

“No problem, I’ll be back whenever you’re ready.” The server bowed before leaving the girls alone.

The entrance door rang, and the girls looked up, hoping the two gentlemen in question were the ones who had entered. Sure enough, Zack and Cloud hurriedly approached the girls, wearing nervous smiles. Their nervousness only grew as they saw the death glares both of them had dawned upon them.

“Hey guys, what’s up?” Zack asked, hoping to lessen the tension between them. Unfortunately, it was in vain since the girls only got more aggravated by it.

“What’s up? What’s up!?” Aerith mocked. “We were to meet here at 10. It’s 10:47, what the hell happened?”

“Sorry, sorry, we were stuck in traffic.” Zack tried to reason.

“Oh yeah, traffic so bad it delays your journey by almost an hour.” Aerith laughed, reeking of sarcasm.

“Guys, we’re really sorry for how late we are. It won’t happen again.” Cloud said.

Aerith sighed deeply, relaxing her shoulders. “Oh, I can’t stay mad at you.” She smiled, pinching the blond’s cheeks before glaring at Zack. “You, on the other hand, have a lot of ass-kissing to do before I consider forgiving you.”

Zack rolled his eyes as both gentlemen took their seats opposite the girls. “You guys ordered already?”

“No, we were waiting for you two.” Tifa shrugged.

“Sorry about that, guys,” Cloud said.

“It’s fine, you’re here now…” Tifa trailed off, her eyes zeroing in on Cloud’s neck which displayed various hickeys on it. She thought Zack told her the young blond was sick?

“I’m just gonna go to the bathroom. If the server comes back, tell him I want the Big Breakfast please.” Zack said, pacing to the bathroom.

“Cloud?” Tifa spoke up, causing the blond to look up from his phone.

“Yeah?”

“Did something happen last night? Were you hurt?” Tifa asked, concerned.

The blond fiercely shook his head. “No, what made you think that?”

“Cloud, have you looked in a mirror? Your neck is riddled with hickeys.”

“And I didn’t want to say it in front of Zack, but you really reek of his scent,” Aerith remarked.

“It’s probably because I slept around his last night.” Cloud shrugged.

“Cloud, we’re not idiots!” Tifa pressed, angrily glaring at the blond. “You’ve slept over at Zack’s apartment several times and not once did you smell like Zack. Tell. Us. What. Happened!”

Cloud nervously bit his lip. He looked around, making sure that his best friend was nowhere in sight before speaking.

“I-I – heat -” Cloud uttered, his mind thinking too fast to reasonably piece words into a coherent sentence.

“You went into heat last night!?” Tifa exclaimed in shock.

“No, I think someone slipped something into my drink last night.” Cloud sighed. “And Zack’s too. But the thing is, we both took our medication before we left so -”

“You don’t think your drinks were laced with an imposer?” Aerith worryingly asked.

“I don’t know, it’s possible.” Cloud shrugged. “I’m going to see my doctor later and hopefully she’ll tell me if my cycles are still intact or not.”

“I’m back!” Zack loudly announced, drawing the attention of other patrons much to the group’s dismay. “So what were you guys talking about?”

“Cloud thought someone slipped something in his drink last night,” Aerith said. “It would explain why he felt sick.”

“Yeah, I was worried we had to pop into the hospital to have him checked out.” Zack chuckled.

Before anyone else could speak up, the server dashed to their table.

“Sorry guys, is everyone here now?” The server asked.

“Yes, everyone’s here now, thank you.” Tifa smiled.

“Great, are you okay to order now?”

“Yeah, my friend and I’d like to share a plate of pancakes please.” Tifa requested, handing him her and Aerith’s menu.

“And for you gentlemen?” The server turned to Cloud and Zack.

“The Big Breakfast, please.” Zack smiled, handing his menu to the server.

“Can I have the Small Breakfast please?” Cloud asked.

“Of course you can, and is everyone okay with filter coffee?” The server asked, everyone nodding in response. “Great, I’ll go put your order through and come back with the coffee.”

They all thanked the server in unison before he made his way to the kitchen.

“Okay, I can’t do this anymore,” Aerith began. “Zack, Cloud has hickeys scattered across his neck and he reeks of your scent. Is there something you’re not telling us?”

Zack’s eyes widened, clearly taken aback. He looked to Cloud who simply nodded before speaking. “Yeah, we think someone may have slipped an imposer in our drinks.”

“But who would do that? And why would they do that?” Aerith asked. She knew as good as everyone else imposers were not easy to get your hands on. You’d have an easier time obtaining cocaine or crack than imposers. If someone wanted to use an imposer on Cloud or Zack, it was likely they didn’t have the best intentions towards the two boys.

“Well, I popped to the bathroom, but I still wasn’t feeling great. So I decided to rest in one of the bedrooms for a bit and then Cloud started to call me. Right when I was about to answer, he walked into the room, equally as feverish as I was.”

“And then what happened?”

“Some douchebag burst into the room, trying to grab Cloud.”

“What!?” Aerith and Tifa exclaimed in unison, both in disbelief.

“Yeah, he said he wanted to apologise to Cloud for being a dick to him but his apology stank of bullshit.”

“I’m pretty confident he was the one who spiked Cloud’s drink.” Tifa nodded.

“But Zack’s drink was spiked too. What if he was working with someone?” Aerith suggested.

“Yeah, maybe he wanted to get to Cloud and someone else wanted Zack?” Tifa chimed in. “Anyways, what happened to the douchebag?”

“I did what any rational best friend could do, punched him square in the face and threw him out the room.” Zack shrugged.

“Yikes, bet he’s real scared of you now.” Aerith chuckled.

“Good,” Zack remarked.

“So, what happened after that?” Tifa asked.

Zack and Cloud sat there in silence, awkwardly looking around the restaurant, unsure whether to continue the story.

“Well?” Aerith pressed.

“I-I don’t think we need to continue the story,” Cloud muttered.

“Why? The fuck happened?” Aerith asked, annoyed.

A vibrant blush began to spread on Cloud’s face, hiding his face in his hands while Zack rubbed his neck nervously.

“Don’t tell me the two of you fucked.” Aerith joked. However, the answer became apparent as the two boys remained silent. “Oh Gaia, you did…”

“Okay, and?”

“Oh, wait until I tell your Fanclub about it.” Aerith giggled.

“Don’t you dare!” Zack exclaimed. “You’re not gonna put Cloud in any more crosshairs, okay?”

“So, what? You guys dating then?” Aerith asked.

“We’re not talking about that.” Zack shook his head.

“Fine, we won’t pry.” Tifa laughed.

“We’re gonna see the doctor. You know, to make sure our cycles haven’t been harmed by this.” Cloud informed the girls.

Before either girl could press the boys with further questions, the server returned with their respective dishes.

“No way you have the same doctor as I do!” Zack exclaimed.

When Cloud told Zack who his doctor was, the alpha was surprised to find out Cloud had the same doctor as he did. After they finished their breakfast at the diner, Zack drove the two of them to Dr Valentine’s office.

“Last time I checked, her patient list was booked up! How did you manage to get a space?” Zack asked.

“The President of the university referred me to her.” Cloud shrugged.

“The President, huh? How did that happen?”

“Scholarship granted me a meeting. He’s not as scary as I thought he would be.”

“Nah, Sephy looks intimidating but he’s a great guy.”

“Do you call him that in front of him?”

“Not usually.” Zack shrugged, parking the car in front of Dr Valentine’s office.

As they made their way into the office, they were pleasantly surprised to see it was not that busy. They were greeted by the receptionist who wore a welcoming smile.

“Hello, do you gents have an appointment?” The receptionist asked.

“Well, no, we don’t but it’s urgent.”

“Oh, because Dr Valentine is quite busy -”

“Hello, Cloud and…Zack?” Lucrecia interjected, smiling at the two boys. “Are the two of you friends?”

“Yeah, Cloud is his best friend, Lucy.” Zack grinned.

“Well, I’m happy that Cloud was able to make a friend with someone like you, Zack.” Lucrecia smiled. “Is there something I could help you two with?”

“Yes, it’s urgent, Dr Valentine but if you’re too busy, Zack and I can go to the hospital nearby instead.” Cloud chimed in.

“Thankfully, my schedule cleared up a bit so I can squeeze in a check-up with both of you.” Lucrecia smiled.

“Ah, thank you so much, Lucy. You’re the best!” Zack beamed as they made their way to Lucrecia’s office.

“So, what seems to be the problem, gents?” Lucrecia asked, sitting at her office and the two boys sitting opposite her.

“Last night, we went to a party and we think someone may have spiked our drinks,” Zack said.

Lucrecia’s eyes narrowed, equally curious and concerned. “And why do you think that?”

“Because Cloud and I, we took our medication that prevented our cycles from springing about. But despite that, we felt funny during the party.”

“Would you mind describing how you were feeling?” Lucrecia asked, her fingers ready on the keyboard.

“After some time passed, I had this weird feeling in my stomach. It really felt like I was about to go into a rut, but I knew it wasn’t supposed to happen.”

“Did you feel the same sort of symptoms, Mr. Strife?” Lucrecia asked.

“Y-Yeah, I felt the same.” Cloud confirmed. “That’s why we came to you, to make sure our health wasn’t in danger or anything.”

“No worries, I can do that for the both of you. Firstly, from what you two have described, I believe it was likely someone or some people may have laced your drinks with an imposer. However, since you both took your medication prior to consuming it, the effects of the imposer may have been reduced significantly.” Lucrecia explained.

Cloud and Zack both took a sigh of relief.

“But” Lucrecia continued. “I would still like to go through a few things first. So, what did the two of you do after feeling ill? Did you both go home?”

Cloud fiddled with his fingers, awkwardly alternating looks between Zack and Lucrecia. Zack wasn’t faring any better, tapping his fingers on his thighs and his eyes locked onto the floor.

“Remember, boys, patient-doctor confidentiality. Whatever you say within this room stays in this room.” Lucrecia assured.

Cloud nervously looked at his best friend who nodded at him before he spoke.

“W-We had sex,” Cloud muttered.

“I see.” Lucrecia nodded in understanding. “I trust that you used protection?”

“Well, I’m on birth control and…I was desperate, so we didn’t use a condom.” Cloud said, feeling Lucrecia’s eyes glare at him and Zack.

“While birth control is known to be effective the majority of the time, it still would’ve been wise to wear a condom, Mr Strife. Nonetheless, what’s done is done.” Lucrecia sighed. “Was it just the one time?”

Cloud and Zack shook their heads.

“Twice?”

“S-Six” Cloud muttered.

“My dear Gaia,” Lucrecia gasped, pinching the bridge of her nose. “No protection and six times!? That’s one hell of a way to lose your virginity, Cloud.”

“Thanks, Dr Valentine.” Cloud uttered.

Lucrecia soon directed her gaze onto the alpha. “It will be a miracle and a half if you don’t get him pregnant, Zack!”

“I-I’m sorry, Lucy!” Zack bowed his head.

“Don’t call me Lucy, it’s Dr. Valentine, young man.” Lucrecia gritted. “Now, if you both don’t mind, I would like to take a blood sample and run it through some tests.”

Cloud and Zack both nodded while Lucrecia pulled out two syringes. The boys respectively cringed at the slight sting of the needle puncturing their skin, their blood quickly filling the syringe.

“While that is processing, I would like to have a quick examination of you, Cloud, if you don’t mind.”

“Oh, yeah that’s fine.” Cloud agreed.

“Great, if you could take off your pants and underwear and lay on the examination table,” Lucrecia instructed, slipping on blue medical gloves and a medical mask.

Cloud silently removed his pants and undergarments, leaving him naked from the waist down. He turned to Zack who was smirking at him.

“Don’t get any ideas, Zack,” Cloud warned, probing himself on the table and laying back.

Before Zack could get a decent look, Lucrecia pulled the curtains, concealing both her and Cloud.

“Okay, Cloud, I just want to do a quick examination to see if everything is okay and nothing got complicated by the imposer. Is that okay with you?”

“Y-Yeah” Cloud nodded.

“If, at any point, you feel uncomfortable, raise your hand and I will stop.”

Cloud blushed as he opened his legs, exposing his entrance to the doctor. A slight blush dawned on his cheeks as some of Zack’s residue from this morning began to seep onto the examination table.

“This morning as well?” Lucrecia asked.

“Um, I -” Cloud stuttered.

“Were you sore at all this morning?” Lucrecia asked, examining the omega’s entrance, searching for any tears or complications.

“Yeah, I couldn’t walk right.” Cloud blushed.

“Deary me, but it is to be expected when you have intercourse consecutively for six times,” Lucrecia remarked. “I’m sorry, Cloud, I will need to thoroughly clean you before I can make any further progress.”

“I-I’m sorry, Dr Valentine.” Cloud uttered, feeling Lucrecia using a damp wipe to effectively clean him out.

“No, I’m not angry at you. Well, I am but most of my anger is directed towards your friend.”

“What!?” Zack gasped.

“Um, I can’t seem to find anything abnormal,” Lucrecia said. “Seems like everything is in order, Cloud.”

Cloud breathed a sigh of relief, Lucrecia removing her gloves and mask, and disposing them in the medical bin.

“You can now redress yourself, Cloud.”

Cloud silently puts his clothes on while Lucrecia goes over to her computer.

“The results from your blood have come back. Nothing seems to be abnormal, everything appears to be fine, gentlemen.” Lucrecia smiled.

“Thank Gaia.” Zack breathed.

“Yeah, I would say you both had a lucky escape. I’d also say that since you took your medication in time, it must’ve stopped the imposer from doing too much damage.”

“So, how do we go on from here?” Zack asked.

“Well, my advice would be to carry on your lives as normal and don’t be afraid to give me a call should anything arise.”

“Dr. Valentine, I have a question.” Cloud spoke.

“Of course, Cloud. By all means.” Lucrecia nodded.

“So, Zack and I - We’ve decided to help each other through our cycles since they overlap.”

Lucrecia nodded. “So, instead of using the heat and rut suppressants, you both will help each other through our cycles instead?”

“Yeah, and we wanted your advice about it,” Zack spoke.

“I mean, it is definitely a more effective remedy compared to your suppressants. I would exercise caution, however, since an omega’s heat cycle is when they are most fertile and thus more susceptible to pregnancy. I can prescribe Cloud with a stronger birth control pill in the unfortunate event you decide not to use protection but I can't guarantee it will be fully effective.” Lucrecia explained, Cloud and Zack both nodded in response.

“I would recommend you use condoms since only they can absolutely ensure Cloud doesn’t fall pregnant.” Lucrecia continued. “Any other questions?”

“No, I think we’re good. Thank you for your time, Dr. Valentine.” Cloud smiled.

“Of course, Cloud. Enjoy the rest of your day.” Lucrecia smiled as both boys waved her goodbye, exiting her office.

Lucrecia sat back at her desk, shifting the test results, finding something rather obscure in the examination. Before she had time to process the obscurity, her phone started to ring.

“Dr Valentine, someone’s here to see you. Says he has an appointment with you.” The receptionist informed. Strange, Lucrecia didn’t have a meeting until later on in the day.

“Okay, send them in,” Lucrecia responded.

The doctor frankly thought nothing of it. Maybe like Cloud and Zack, they were a patient in need of urgent help, or a colleague needing to verify something with her. Unfortunately for Lucrecia, the person who made their way into her office were none of those things. In fact, it was someone she dreaded to see.

“Hello there, my dear sweet wife.” Hojo sinisterly remarked.

Lucrecia rolled her eyes. Why today, of all days, did her crazy ex-husband decide to pay her a visit? She understands that they didn’t break things off in a friendly and neutral way but what other choice did she have? She was ready to move on, Hojo wasn’t.

“Last time I checked, Hojo, I was no longer your wife. We’re divorced, remember?” Lucrecia crossed her arms over her chest, irritated.

“Oh, don’t be like that. I know you miss me.”

Lucrecia scoffed. “If anything, my life has been nothing but better since the day I left you.”

“Are you not going to give your loving husband some sugar?” Hugo snickered, holding his arms, expecting Lucrecia to jump into them.

“Sorry, I only give sugar to Vincent now.”

“Oh, your new boy-toy?”

“That ‘boy-toy’ is my husband, actually and I would appreciate it if you called it as such.”

“Don’t forget, you chose me first but of course, he would be standing at your doorstep the moment word goes out about our divorce.”

Lucrecia shook her head, disappointed in herself. Had she known her once loving husband would become nothing short of psychopathic, she never would’ve entertained his affections, let alone married him.

“I made a mistake,” Lucrecia murmured. “But I love Vincent with all my heart and you and I are over.”

“That’s what they all say, darling.”

Lucrecia recoiled, disgusted. “Hojo, what do you want?”

“Oh, it’s not what I want, it’s what you need.”

“I don’t follow?” Lucrecia shook her head.

“It has come to my attention that one of your patients is a delicate omega?”

Lucrecia’s eyes widened at Hojo’s words. At no point did she mention to anyone about taking in Cloud as a patient. How could he have found out?

“Where have you heard of that?”

“Ah, so it’s true.” Hojo maliciously grinned.

“Hojo, I will stand by my patients’ confidentiality which means I will not tell you whether or not any of my patients are omegas or not.”

“Oh, because I’m sure our son referred a student to your care recently, did he not?”

“Sephiroth wouldn’t tell you anything,” Lucrecia remarked.

“No, he didn’t but he didn’t need to.”

“Okay, hypothetically let’s say I did have a patient who was an omega. How is that any of your business?”

“How is that any of my business?” Hugo mocked. “Lucy, surely you know how rare omegas are?”

“I’m aware, and what of it?”

“That’s what I am here to propose. Since your patient list is clogged up, how about I take that omega patient out of your care and into mine?”

“Have you lost my mind!?” Lucrecia furiously shouted.

“Quite the contrary,” Hojo began. “I’d argue that the omega would be better in my care than you.”

“Are you hearing yourself? No human is safe in your care, Hojo, let alone a frill omega!” Lucrecia exclaimed. “Hojo, please leave my office. Now!”

“So you won’t transfer the omega into my care?”

“Like hell, I would do that, Hojo! For the record, I never confirmed nor denied having an omega in my care. Unless you have a court order or something that could legally force me, I’m not obliged under any circumstance to disclose any information about any of my patients to you! Now, leave before I call the police.”

“Fine, but I’ll have you know I’ll find out who this omega is. Such a rare specimen would be a treasure to experiment on.”

“Get out.” Lucrecia hissed.

Hojo blew her a kiss before leaving Lucrecia alone. The woman pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a dull headache beginning to manifest. She sat back on her desk, breathing out a heavy sigh. She couldn’t wait for the day to be over.

Cloud breathed heavily, pacing quickly around the busy bar. The blond honestly wished he could go back in time and tell Barret he was unable to come into work today. He was originally meant to have the day off, but low and behold, one of his coworkers cancelled last minute and Barret was desperate for someone to fill in for the night.

On one hand, Cloud thought about the extra money and potential for tips, especially considering it was a Saturday night. On the other hand, though he was more or less healed from the damage Zack’s cock did to his ass, it still nagged here and there while he walked. Reluctantly, he agreed to come into work today, seeing that the positives outweighed the negatives albeit by a small margin.

Now, the bar was packed full of patrons and once again, it was only Cloud and Tifa who were available to serve them. Cloud was starting to think that he and Tifa were the only ones to come to work, both on time and whenever it was urgent.

While Cloud was busy putting an order through, Johnny popped through the kitchen window.

“Hey Cloud,” Johnny began.

“Yeah?”

“Did you get mauled by a wolf or something?”

“What? What gave you that idea?”

“Um, have you seen your neck? It’s littered with -”

“I know what it’s littered with, Johnny. You don’t need to remind me.”

“So, who was the lucky guy?” Johnny smirked.

“None of your business,” Cloud remarked.

“I’m just saying, the amount of people who I’ve caught looking at your neck.”

“And out of all those people, I can guarantee you most of them have had sex before.”

“I don’t think they’re looking at you in shame, I think it’s more curiosity.”

“Curiosity?” Cloud questioned.

“I don’t think you’ve noticed but some of the people here tonight are regulars. I’m sure you’ve served them once or twice.”

“Okay, and?”

“I’m not gonna lie, you did radiate an image of purity, innocence, essence of an untouched virgin.”

“I did not!” Cloud gasped.

“So now, I, like everyone, was shocked to see you to not only see your neck riddled with hickeys, we’re also shocked that you haven’t made any attempt to cover them up.”

“Yeah, like Barret would allow me to wear a scarf to work.” Cloud scoffed. “Now, unless you want to be fired, make whatever is on this order ticket. On the double!” Cloud shoved the ticket into Johnny’s hand before moving to tend to the other tables.

“Excuse me, waiter. Can you turn up the TV please?” Someone asked Cloud. He nodded and grabbed the remote from the bar, turning the volume as the TV played the news broadcast.

“Good evening, everyone. In today’s news, we report that a Shinra factory in the North side of Midgar, one of the power company’s many factories, has exploded today, causing a considerable amount of damage to the factory as well as Shinra’s wallet today. Thankfully, the explosion only left a few people injured and no causalities occurred from the incident.” The female news reporter spoke.

“It was recently confirmed by the terrorist group known as AVALANCHE that they were the ones responsible for the attack today. We’ll play you the clip that was published on the internet today.”

The news then cut to the scene of a hooded individual, standing behind a brick wall.

“Hello, we are AVALANCHE and we take credit for the explosion that happened at the Shinra factory earlier today. We intentionally made it to be a small explosion as to avoid anyone falling victim to being at the wrong place at the wrong time. However, may this be a warning to Shinra and their facilities with their rancid practices.

We know all about that company’s manipulative business practices, their swift ways at tax evasion and your money laundering efforts. We also know about SOLDIER, that programme you have concealed for far too long, training young, susceptible boys into becoming killing machines under your instruction. Rest assured, Shinra. Your days are numbered and all the wrong you have done to the people, to the earth and to the economy will be brought into the light.”

“We now turn to Scarlet, one of the directors at Shinra, who made a video addressing the situation.”

“Good evening, everyone.”

Cloud could hear some of the patrons making comments about Scarlet, mainly about how attractive she was and how they would love to bed her. Typical.

“I am here to address the recent attack on one of our factories as well as the allegations brought forward by AVALANCHE. Firstly, I am thankful to say no causalities were suffered from this attack. Several staff members have been injured and are currently being attended to in hospital. We are grateful that no one else was harmed from this, we are fully aware that an attack this scale could have had a far more devastating impact.

Secondly, Shinra is a company that values integrity, equality and ethics just as much as hard work and productivity. As with their many other videos, this terrorist group who have named themselves AVALANCHE had made another bold accusation to Shinra without providing any evidence or supporting documentation that backs up their unfounded and frankly repulsive accusations. The notion that we have some kind of secret private army we train to be weapons of destruction is absolutely absurd and bogus.

We have tolerated their tomfoolery for long enough. We could handle their baseless accusations and bold attempts to drag our name through the mud. However, once you escalate to violence and begin to endanger our property and put the lives of our staff members and nearby civilians at risk, that is where the line is crossed. We will be conducting a thorough investigation and will be working closely with the local police force to find out who is responsible for this barbaric attack.  

You can hide in the shadows no longer. Whoever was behind this attack, you will be found out and you will be dealt with.

We ask the civilians of Midgar to remain safe and vigilant. If you know anything about this attack or know someone who may have played a part in it, please come forward. Shinra will pay you handsomely for any information that could help the investigation. That’s all from me, keep safe, everyone.”  

“We reached out to the local police who have said they haven’t been able to find any leads so far but have told us they will be working day and night to find out the preparators responsible. In other news…”

Cloud didn’t know what to make of the news. Sure, he was thankful for Shinra since he wouldn’t be at Midgar University thanks to their scholarship programme and wouldn’t have been able to reunite with Zack. But like most companies, Shinra probably does have a dark side to them, skeletons in their closet that they would fight tooth and nail to keep buried from the public eye.

Nonetheless, maybe this AVALANCHE group wanted to cause mayhem and just wanted someone to blame to justify their reckless behaviour. Cloud listened in to hear what people in the bar were saying about this.

“I hope those reckless pieces of shit are brought to justice.”

“Imagine if there were causalities? This AVALANCHE group are insane if they think exploding up factories is going to solve anything.”

“Damn, I’m already on Shinra’s side since they have exquisite taste in women. Did you see the pair of knockers Scarlet has? They were practically bursting through that dress.”

Cloud rolled his eyes at the last comment. Leave it to someone who only thinks with their dick to focus more on the sexuality of someone rather than the real problem.

Once the commotion about the news report died down, everyone returned to their respective conversations and Cloud resumed his navigation around the bar, scanning around and making sure everyone was okay. He was soon flagged down by a couple, quickly pushing a smile onto his face.

“Everything okay, ma’am?” Cloud asked.

“Yes, please give my compliments to the chef. The fried chicken was cooked to perfection.” The lady smiled.

“O-Of course, can I get you guys another drink or are you okay for the moment?”

“Yes, could I have another glass of champagne please?”

“Of course you can! And for you, sir?”

“Another beer please, with a dash of lemonade on top.”

“No worries.” Cloud bowed before leaving the couple.

Soon, it was approaching closing time and the only table that remained was the one couple Cloud was serving. He approached them with the bill when the lady spoke up.

“Sorry, do you remember us from the last time we were here?”

“I think I remember. You two were celebrating your anniversary, weren’t you?”

“Yes, we were! Such stellar memory you have, doesn’t he, dear?”

“Alice, please. I’m sorry, she’s not usually like this with waiters.”

Cloud shook his head, smiling. “It’s okay, it’s really nice when the people serving you actually respect you and don’t treat you like rubbish.”

“I know, some people can be really disrespectful.” The lady shook his head, before gesturing to her husband to pay. Sighing, he gave his credit card to Cloud who used it to cover the bill. Before leaving, the lady leaves Cloud yet another 30 Gil tip.

“Keep up the good work, sweetheart.” The lady smiled before leaving with her husband.

“I swear you make the best tips out of everyone, Cloud,” Johnny remarked.

Cloud shrugged. The doorbell rang, causing both Cloud and Johnny to turn to whoever decided to come in while they were on the brink of closing. Cloud was relieved to see it was his best friend.

“Zack, what are you doing here?” Cloud asked.

“Since it’s closing time, I thought I would come to pick you up.” Zack smiled.

Cloud nodded. “I’ll only be a few minutes then we can go.”

“Don’t tell me it was Zack who deflowered you.” Johnny chuckled, causing Cloud to freeze on the spot.

“And if I was?” Zack remarked.

“On second thought, I’m leaving now. Barret, can I leave now?” Cloud called out to his boss.

“Yeah, thanks for coming in, Cloud. See you soon.” Barret called out from the kitchen.

“Thanks! Bye, Johnny.” Cloud didn’t give him enough time to respond before he was out of the bar with Zack.

Chapter Text

Cloud shifted through the grocery bags, taking out the things he and Zack bought from the supermarket. Once the alpha had picked him up from work, he asked his best friend where he wanted to go out for dinner. To this, Cloud shook his head, telling Zack he couldn’t order takeout or dine out every evening and that he needed to start learning how to cook for himself.

Zack initially disagreed, remarking that if he had the money to order food whenever he liked, he didn’t need to learn how to cook. It took an immense amount of nagging and a sad pout from Cloud for the young alpha to crumble to the blond’s suggestion.

The alpha reluctantly drove them to the nearest supermarket. With Cloud sitting in the trolley, Zack joyfully dashed them through the tills like they were children. Most people looked at them with varying expressions, some were happy, some were puzzled, and others were mildly annoyed.

But the two boys paid them no mind, for they were living in their own little world. They didn’t spend much time in the supermarket, only spending enough time to acquire all the ingredients Cloud needed to make their dinner.

Now, Zack stood behind the blond, curiously watching him as he unpacked the bags.

“So, we’re going to make something simple tonight,” Cloud began.

“Okay, we have chicken, soy sauce, rice, honey and broccoli,” Zack observed.

“Yep, we’re going to make soy-glazed chicken with rice and broccoli.”

“And we couldn’t order Wutai instead?” Zack questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“No, we could not!” Cloud exclaimed, shooting a fierce glare at his best friend. “I told you: I want you to start cooking for yourself and this dish is simple, quick and beginner-friendly.”

“Whatever you say, Captain,” Zack remarked, grinning.

Cloud rolled his eyes, handing Zack an onion. “Okay, listen to your ‘captain’ and slice up this onion.”

Zack nodded. “I can do that, Aerith taught me the other day!”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, she taught me how to dice an onion.” Zack smiled, peeling the onion and throwing the peels into the bin.

He was about to start cutting when the young omega swiftly interrupted him, taking a sigh of relief when he saw Zack hadn’t started cutting the onion yet.

“We’re not dicing the onion, you’re slicing it. Just cut it in half, and then cut it horizontally.” Cloud explained.

Zack hesitantly nodded before starting to cut the onion, his hands shaking as the blond’s gaze remained fixated on the knife. He followed Cloud’s instructions, slicing the onion horizontally. Meanwhile, Cloud was dusting the chicken thighs with flour before laying them on the hot pan, the chicken making a scorching sound once it made contact.

Once the raven-haired alpha finished slicing the onion, his eyes watched over Cloud who effortlessly drizzled over the chicken a glaze he made in a matter of seconds.

“Um, Cloud, is food gonna be finished any time soon? I’m really hungry!” Zack groaned.

“Will you be patient!?” Cloud shouted. “It’ll only be a few more minutes.”

“This is why I suggested we go out for dinner.”

“What, so we can wait around for 30 minutes before we get the food? Food will be done soon, I promise.” Cloud assured.

Zack nodded, sitting on the dining room table and waiting for Cloud to be finished.

While Cloud waited for the chicken to be thoroughly cooked, he checked on the rice and broccoli, happy to see that they were fully cooked. True to his word, Cloud plates for himself and Zack, laying Zack’s plate in front of him.

“Wow, it smells really good, Sunshine,” Zack commented, amazed at how delicious the meal looked.

The dish admittedly didn’t look as aesthetically pleasing as a dish from one of those 5-star restaurants Zack has become accustomed to going to but it more than made up for it with its rustic character and its hearty aroma.

Zack didn’t hesitate to start eating, bewildered by the explosive flavours in his mouth. How could something so simple taste so delicious? The dish brought a flavour that Zack hasn’t been able to taste in a good while. He was fortunate enough to have chefs cook for you at home all the time and could afford to eat out at the finest restaurants daily. However, none of them had the same homey, comforting taste that Cloud’s food had managed to provide for him.

“I know it’s nowhere near the quality of food you’re used to, but -” Cloud shrugged.

“No! No, Sunshine, this tastes great!” Zack interjected, happily eating away. “Where did you learn to cook like this?”

“My mum,” Cloud laughed. “Before I left for university, she was adamant that I learned how to cook a handful of things so I didn’t end up like one of those students who ate instant noodles all the time.”

“But Gladio comes from a rich background, and he eats Cup Noodle all the time.”

“That’s because he loves them, Zack. And Prompto is trying his best to reduce his boyfriend’s consumption of those noodles.”

“And how is he gonna do that?”

“Apparently, for every day Gladio restrains from eating Cup Noodle, Prompto lets him eat his ass instead.” Cloud shrugged. “It seems to be working, he hadn’t touched a single Cup Noodle for the past week.”

“Wow,” Zack said, bewildered. “I didn’t think anything could tear Gladio away from a good Cup Noodle.”

“Yeah, speaking of Gladio, I heard he beat up Dylan after the party.”

“Yeah, I heard that from Reno. Apparently, he left the party for a short while only to come back. Gladio left Prompto to go to the bathroom and Dylan tried to make a move on Prompto.”

“The bloody nerve of that prick,” Cloud muttered under his breath. “I had a feeling the reason he harassed Prompto and me at football tryouts was because he had a thing for us.”

“Yeah, and get this. The moment Prompto screamed for Gladio’s help, that giant beast nearly burst through the door and stared Dylan down. He tries to make it out like Prompto was coming down to him but Gladio saw right through that.”

“Was that when Gladio decided to pummel down to the ground?”

“Yep! Apparently, it took a dozen people to hold him back.”

“Damn,” Cloud started, placing his cutlery on the plate after finishing his meal. “And I thought the forceful punch you gave him was bad.”

“Gladio wasn’t fucking around, he wanted to make sure that dude never touches Prompto ever again.”

“I think he got the message. Clearly, he has a type.” Cloud shrugged.

“Back to your mum teaching you how to cook,” Zack began, his plate being empty for some time already. “I’m guessing you guys didn’t have fast food a lot?”

Cloud scoffed. “In Nibelheim, we hardly had space for a McDonald’s and even if we did, the townspeople would’ve fought tooth and nail to keep it away from us. To my knowledge, apart from the occasional food festivals we had, there was one burger place and my mum’s bakery. That was it.”

“Damn, no wonder you love burgers so much. That’s all you’re used to.” Zack laughed. “Tell you what? I know a place in Midgar that makes amazing fried chicken. I can take you there tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Cloud agreed. “I can wash the dishes if you like.”

“You’ve cooked for me and you wanna clean? You’d really make the perfect housewife for someone, Sunshine.” Zack smirked.

“Is that a marriage proposal?” Cloud teased, taking his and Zack’s plates to the kitchen sink. Zack hastily followed behind him, laying his hands beside Cloud, his solid chest pressing against Cloud’s back.

“Possibly.” Zack teased back. Cloud growled, shoving a tea towel into Zack’s hands.

“I’ll wash the dishes, and you dry them.”

Cloud cradled the comfy pillow, the sound of rapid movement and shuffling of drawers gradually stirring him awake. His eyes peeked open, seeing a rough silhouette of Zack looking through his drawers.

After they finished washing the dishes and putting them away, Zack decided to watch a movie. Cloud agreed though he knew he was likely to fall asleep halfway through it. The alpha chose to watch an action movie which rapidly became boring for Cloud. Every minute, there was an explosion and every other minute, there was someone getting their ass slapped. At least Cloud knew if he ever was suffering from insomnia and needed a movie to put him fast to sleep, he knew what movie to put on.

Cloud must’ve fallen asleep since he doesn’t remember moving into Zack’s bedroom. Zack likely carried him to bed after the movie finished. He looked down to see he was stripped down to his boxers. His best friend once again was probably responsible for this unless a mysterious ghost resided in Zack’s apartment.

Zack turned to see his best friend starting to awaken. He smiled, walking towards Cloud and ruffling his hair.

“Good morning, Sunshine.” Zack smiled.

“Morning,” Cloud replied, slowly sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

“You want a cup of coffee?”

“Yes, please.” Cloud nodded.

“No problem.” Zack chuckled, before moving to his kitchen. Cloud got out of bed, raising his arms to stretch.

“Ain’t that a sight for sore eyes.” Zack grinned, holding two cups of coffee. Cloud rolled his eyes, taking his cup from Zack and savouring the taste of the caffeinated beverage. Cloud pulled back the curtains and looked out the window only to see that it pretty much was still somewhat dark outside, the sun’s rise barely imminent.

He looked at his phone to find it was only 6:30 am.

“Zack, why are you up so early?”

“I wanted to go to a morning run, hence why I’m dressed like this.” Cloud noticed that Zack was dressed in a pair of black running shorts and a green stringer.

“I wish I could go with you but I don’t have any clothes to run in with.”

“No worries, Sunshine,” Zack smirked, going through his drawers and pulling out a running outfit. “It should be your size.”

Cloud sighed, rolling his eyes. “And how much did this cost you?”

“Didn’t I say I like spoiling you, Sunshine? And you’d better get used to it!” Zack remarked, handing the outfit to Cloud.

“Are you going to give me a bit of privacy then?”

“C’mon, Sunshine. It’s not like I haven’t seen everything already.” Zack teased, causing Cloud’s face to redden.

“Fuck you.” Cloud hissed, putting on the stringer and shorts. It was similar to Zack’s, only his stringer was a light blue compared to Zack’s vibrant lime green.

“No, thank you. I much prefer fucking you, though.” Zack remarked.

“Dear Gaia, I don’t remember you being this horny when we were younger.” Cloud shook his head, moving out of the apartment and making his way to the elevator.

“Obviously,” Zack began, walking beside his best friend. “You were still a kid when I was a teenager. Ain’t no way I was gonna put my hands on you when the last time I saw you, you had barely started puberty.”

“I know, I was only kidding.” Cloud chuckled.

“Still, puberty was really kind to you. You’ve bloomed into a fine-looking guy, Sunshine.” Zack smirked, pressing a button causing the elevator doors to close.

“And you’re a fine piece of ass too.” Cloud returned the smirk, getting closer to Zack and pressing his pointer finger into Zack’s chest.

Zack gulped, feeling his cock begin to rise against his shorts. He slowly took a step towards Cloud who took a step back. They did this dance until Cloud found himself backed up against the elevator wall, Zack quickly closing the distance between them. “Gaia, Cloud, you’re making me want to stop this elevator and fuck you right here.”

Cloud felt his breath start to quicken, feeling Zack’s growing erection rub against his own. He turned away from Zack’s predatory gaze, only to realise he had given Zack an opening to his neck. Unable to stop him in time, Cloud could only whimper and moan while Zack assaulted his pale neck with his mouth. The blond flinched slightly upon feeling Zack’s warm hand slither beneath his stringer.

Admittedly, the young omega didn’t want Zack to stop what he was doing. However, they weren’t in the private walls of either of their apartments but in an elevator that was very likely to open, potentially revealing their compromising position to unsuspecting bystanders.

Cloud braced his hands against Zack’s strong chest, causing Zack to halt his lustful assault on the younger man’s neck.

“Z-Zack, not in here.” Cloud shook his head. Zack growled, returning his mouth onto Cloud’s neck, leaving the blond’s neck freshly painted with new hickeys.

‘Let alpha do as he likes with us.’

Cloud heard a weird voice echo through his head. It almost sounded exactly like him, but at the same time, not exactly.

‘Waited so long for alpha’s touch, for alpha’s comfort. Don’t push him away.’

It was as if Cloud’s inner thoughts had manifested a mind of its own. Nonetheless, Cloud knew he needed Zack to snap out of it.

“Zack, I can’t run if you fuck me here!” Cloud exclaimed.

Zack gritted his teeth, letting out a slight snarl before pulling away from the blond.

“Sorry, I got a bit carried away there.” Zack hung his head down, embarrassed at his lack of control.

Cloud stood on his tiptoes, patting Zack’s head. “It’s okay, Puppy. You can do whatever you like to me after our run, okay?”

“You promise?”

“Promise” Cloud nodded.

Once the elevator doors opened, the boys made their way through the streets of Midgar. It was quiet, though unsurprisingly since it was a Sunday. Cloud didn’t give Zack a heads up and just started to lightly jog down the street. The raven-haired alpha momentarily stood there, baffled before jogging, quickly catching up to his best friend.

“A little warning next time?” Zack gritted, the two of them now jogging beside each other.

“Nah, it’s more fun to be a little spontaneous.” Cloud teased.

They soon jogged their way to a park, standing in front of the entrance. They were still catching their breath, walking into the park and taking in the majestic scenery. The morning sunlight pierced through the subtle tree leaves and butterflies fluttered their wings through the crisp air.

“So, what made you want to join me on my run?” Zack asked.

“Cid said it’s good to do a little cardio every now and then to keep up my stamina levels.”

“Cid? Who’s that?”

“My football coach.”

“You get to call your coach by his name and not Coach?”

“Well, not in front of the team otherwise they’re going to accuse him of favouritism. But yeah, as far as I’m aware, only Prompto and I get to call him Cid.”

“Wow, if I called Heidegger by his name and not Coach, he makes you do 100 laps around the rugby pitch. I’m not even joking, he hates when we call him by his name, even when it’s just him and I.”

“Well, some tutors are just like that.”

“I was about to say, calling your coach by his name. You seeing him behind my back, Sunshine?”

“Ew, no! Cid is old enough to be my dad.” Cloud shook his head in disgust. “And what do you mean ‘behind your back’?”

“Oh look, a playground!” Zack said excitedly, already jogging.

Cloud shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, deciding not to press Zack further on the topic. He joined Zack in the playground, surprised to see it was void of any parents or children.

“You wanna come on the swing? I’ll push you.” Zack smiled.

“Zack, I’m not a kid!”

“Never said you were, and adults do this all the time! Come on, it’ll be like when we were kids.”

Cloud sighed, slightly amused by Zack’s bubbliness. He looked up to the clear blue sky, sitting down on the swing. The young omega held on to the chains beside him while his best friend lightly pushed him. Gradually, his momentum became faster, gliding through the crisp air much quicker. Cloud began to frantically giggle as Zack struggled to push him any further. The blond took a quick glimpse behind his shoulder to see Zack dawn a smile just as big as his.

This brought him back to his younger days when he and Zack were very much close. After Cloud had finished school, the older boy would be waiting outside his house to take him to the park. Back then, he and Zack had little to care about with school being their only concern.

Cloud gradually slowed down, unable to stop his laughing by the time the swing became stationary.

“What’s so funny?” Zack asked, despite him laughing just as much as Cloud.

“Nothing, it’s just, this reminds me of when you would push me on the swing when we were younger.”

“Yeah, and I remember one time you tried to impress me and jumped off the swing when you were like 10 feet in the air!”

Cloud cringed. “Yeah, you said I was lucky to end up with just a scrap on my knee.”

“Because you were lucky! I was panicking and praying to Shiva, Ifrit and all the other Gods above us that you didn’t break your leg.”

“Then it must’ve worked because apart from that scrap, I came out unscathed. Admit it, you were a little impressed.”

Zack sighed, rolling his eyes. “You do a lot of things to impress me, Sunshine.”

“I guess you’re easy to impress then, huh?”

“Maybe I am.” Zack chuckled. “Okay, that’s enough fun for you. Let’s get back to jogging.”

Cloud nodded, moving off the swing. They began to jog around the park, Zack being slightly ahead of Cloud due to his faster pace. However, Cloud had no problem keeping up with Zack, albeit barely. After a short while, they both came to a stop, taking time for a breather.

“Damn, I’m hot.” Zack breathed, peeling off his stringer and tugging it in his shorts behind him.

“Careful, Zack. A sight like that is going to make women leave their husbands to chase after you.” Cloud chuckled.

“You flirting with me, Sunshine?” Zack smirked, closing the space between them.

“No, I’m pointing out a fact,” Cloud said, returning the smirk. “You know what? Now that you mentioned it, it is actually pretty hot.”

“In that case,” Zack pulled out Cloud’s stringer, exposing the blond’s moderately toned upper body.

“Zack!” Cloud scolded.

“What? You said it was hot so I took off your stringer to cool you off.” Zack shrugged, tugging the stringer in Cloud's shorts. “Oh look, there’s a coffee truck. I’ll race you to it!”

“Zack -” Cloud didn’t have time to finish what he was saying as Zack already took off, giving himself an unfair advantage. Not wanting to be cheaply beaten, he sprinted, quickly closing the gap between himself and Zack. He bolted past Zack who was surprised to see the blond fly by him.

Cloud made it to the coffee truck first, leaning on a lamppost as he caught his breath. Soon, Zack joined him, applauding his best friend.

“Nicely done, Sunshine,” Zack remarked.

“Next time, don’t give yourself an unfair advantage like that,” Cloud growled.

“Hey, you did the same thing to me. I was just getting even.” Zack said, holding his hands up. “Anyways, what did you want?”

“Can I get an iced coffee?”

“Sure, you can.” Cloud’s eyes wandered around the park while Zack was occupied giving them drinks.

“Here you go.” Zack smiled, holding up a large cup of iced coffee to Cloud.

“Thank you.” Cloud smiled back, accepting the cold drink with gratitude. The two boys stood by the coffee truck, silently enjoying their coffees.

“Hey there, Zack. Nice to see you again.” A brunette woman spoke, walking up to the boys, wearing a pair of workout leggings and a sports bra. She was accompanied by a younger blonde who Cloud presumed was her friend.

“Hi – uh…” Zack greeted, clearly unsure of who this girl was.

“Rebecca, Becky? We met at the gym last week?” She remarked, sassily placing her hands on her hips.

“Oh, Becky! Yeah, how have you been?” Zack grinned.

“I’m good, would’ve been better if you called me and asked me out on a date.” Becky pouted.

Zack couldn’t pay attention to Becky, not when Cloud was happily chatting with her friend.

“I haven’t seen you around Midgar University. Are you new?” The blonde asked Cloud.

“Oh, yeah, I only moved in a couple of weeks ago.” Cloud nodded.

“Cool, I’m Alice by the way.”

“Cloud, it’s nice to meet you, Alice.” Cloud smiled.

“So, do you always run with your shirt off? Make all the girls turn their heads for you?” Alice teased.

“Well, not really. It’s the first time I’ve done something like this.” Cloud chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

Zack unintentionally clenched his fist, gritting his teeth at the scene. Anything Becky was saying fell on deaf ears as Zack’s eyes remained locked on his best friend conversing with the blonde.

“Do you do any sports? You seem like you could be one of those famous athletes.” Alice said.

“Aw, thanks.” Cloud smiled. “Yeah, I’m part of the junior football team at university.”

“Nice, when’s your first game then?”

“I don’t know, I’m sure it will be soon though.”

“Maybe I might come to watch you play? See if you’re any good?” Alice smirked, resting her hand on Cloud’s arm.

“I think my friend’s got a little crush on him.” Becky teased. “Are you even listening to me?”

‘Stop her.'

Zack abruptly heard a voice in the back of his head whisper.

‘She’s going to take omega away from us. Don’t let her take what is ours.’

Zack quickly strode to Cloud, wrapping his arm around the blonde’s waist.

‘Omega belongs to us!’

“Cloud, didn’t you say you had something urgent to get to?” Zack interjected.

Cloud looked up to his best friend, confused. “What?”

“Yeah, something at 10, you said. It’s now 8:40, we need to get you home so you can get ready.”

“Zack, what -” Cloud wasn’t able to finish his sentence as Zack started pulling him away from the two girls who simply stared back at them, equal parts bewildered and intrigued.

“Sorry, we’ll see you ladies soon. Have a good morning!” Zack called out.

“For fuck’s sake, I was about to get Cloud’s number.” Alice pouted. “He seemed like a nice guy.”

“If he’s anything like Zack, I wouldn’t worry about him too much.” Becky shook her head.

“We’ll bump into them another time, I just know it.” Alice shrugged.

Cloud was equal parts confused and frustrated at Zack’s abrupt interruption, dragging him along back to his apartment. He didn’t know what was going through Zack’s mind when he saw him and Alice talking. Cloud was really close to making another friend and Zack likely ruined it. They soon reached Zack’s apartment with the alpha closing the door behind him.

“Zack, what has gotten into you?” Cloud asked, trying to figure out why his best friend was behaving this way.

Zack didn’t respond, he only powerwalked straight to Cloud who was caught off-guard. The blond was trapped against the dining table, the alpha’s body pressed against his own as Zack once again peppered kisses upon his neck.

“Zack, for fuck’s sake, talk to me!” Cloud shouted, lightly pushing Zack away to face him. “If I did something to upset you, you need to tell me what it was.”

“Do you like her?” Zack growled.

Cloud looked at his best friend, confused. “Who? Alice?”

“Do you like her? Answer me, Cloud!” Zack exclaimed.

“Zack, I only met her today a-and we were just getting to know each other.” Cloud tried to assure the raging alpha.

Cloud was beyond surprised when Zack ripped off his shorts and underwear off him, leaving him naked apart from his socks and running shoes.

“Zack, I promise -”

“She can’t have you.” Zack snarled, trailing his lips on Cloud’s chest, moving his lips down the blond’s body before he was faced with the blond’s slightly damp entrance.

“Z-Zack, what -” Cloud’s thoughts were interrupted upon feeling Zack’s sinful tongue starting to lap across his entrance. The young omega loudly moaned, arching his back while the alpha held his legs apart, eagerly licking at his entrance.

Cloud decided not to say anything anymore, opting to run his fingers through his best friend’s hair. Slick rapidly flowed out of his entrance and Zack was more than happy to eat up every last drop of it.

Zack soon pulled away from Cloud’s entrance, grinning at the way Cloud looked like such a mess. Cloud laid on his dining table, his shaft fully erect, laying below his stomach and weeping out beads of precum. The alpha shifted his eyes up to see Cloud profusely blushing, breathing heavily.

Zack swiftly pulled off his shorts and boxers, throwing them to the side. The alpha licked his lips before descending them onto Cloud’s, engaging in a frantic kiss. The kiss was nothing but filthy, with Cloud quickly surrendering his mouth to Zack’s tongue. The alpha impatiently shoved his tongue into Cloud’s mouth, mapping out the wet cavern. He pulled away, making a thick thread of saliva that connected their mouths.

Cloud felt Zack push his legs beside his head, feeling the alpha stuffing his entrance with a single finger.

“Tell me she means nothing,” Zack commanded, moving his finger in and out of Cloud’s entrance.

“W-What?” Cloud asked in disbelief. Surely, Zack didn’t believe Cloud was hitting on Alice. Did he?

“Tell me she means nothing!” Zack harshly repeated.

“She meant nothing, Zack!” Cloud complied. “W-What do you want from me? I don’t understand…” Cloud flinched, feeling Zack had added another finger.

“You don’t know how irresistible you are, do you, Sunshine?” Zack smirked, another finger joining the two already in Cloud’s damp hole, his fingers scissoring the delicate hole and using his other hand to stroke himself.

“I waited so long for you to be beside me. I won’t lose you to some average bitch.” Zack growled.

Now, Cloud could see what was going through Zack’s head.

‘Alpha feels inadequate. Show him we care for him.’

Smiling, he gently cradled Zack’s face, rubbing his thumbs against his sharp cheekbones. The blond slowly brought Zack close to him, bringing their foreheads together.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going somewhere,” Cloud assured. “They can look, alpha. But they cannot touch. Only you have that privilege.”

Zack’s eyes sparkled upon seeing Cloud’s enticing smile.

“C-Cloud” Zack muttered.

“I’m always here for you, alpha.”

Zack blushed, angry at himself for letting his primal side get the better of him.

“S-Sorry, Sunshine. I-I don’t know what came over me.” Zack shook his head.

“Don’t worry about it.” Cloud smiled before holding his legs up, exposing his slick-ridden entrance. “Now, are you going to finish what you started or should I?”

Zack’s cock immensely stiffened at the sight of Cloud’s damp entrance. Biting his lip, he gathered slick from Cloud’s wet hole and spread it across his thick, aching erection. He flung Cloud’s legs over his shoulders, positioning himself over Cloud’s entrance.

“You ready, Sunshine?”

Cloud nodded, grunting as Zack’s large cock started to fill him up. The blond’s voice sang choruses to the high heavens, feeling his best friend’s cock seat fully inside him.

“Gaia, I almost snapped in that elevator.” Zack groaned, his cock basking in the warm sensation of Cloud’s damp walls. “It took me every last bit of self-control not to hit the stop button and just fuck you there in that elevator.”

“You’d let people find us fucking?” Cloud asked in disbelief, biting his hand upon feeling Zack’s cock brushing against his prostate.

“Then they’d know who I belong to, and vice versa. Fuck, I’m gonna start moving, okay?” Zack moaned, bringing Cloud’s hand to his face and kissing each of his knuckles.

“O-Okay,” Cloud nodded, blushing.

Zack pulled out by only a fraction, before pushing back into the omega. The alpha did his best not to just pull out all the way, so as to not hurt his best friend. It didn’t take long before Cloud got used to Zack’s cock again.

“You c-can go harder now,” Cloud muttered.

“You sure?”

“Y-Yeah” Cloud nodded.

Pulling out almost completely, Zack snapped his hips back against Cloud’s, eliciting a high-pitched moan from the blond. Cloud desperately tried to cling to something as Zack set a brutal pace, ruthlessly thrusting his cock into the blond, the tip constantly punching his prostate.

“Z-Zack, it’s s-so good!” Cloud moaned.

“Fuck,” Zack groaned, resting his hands on Cloud’s hips. “You’re so damn sexy, Sunshine.”

Cloud’s legs dangled over Zack’s shoulders like a ragdoll while Zack grinned down at him, sweat forming on his forehead while his cock effortlessly sent the blond to the heavens above. The dining table creaked loudly beneath them, Cloud worried that Zack’s reckless movements would snap the table’s legs and send them both crashing down to the floor.

“Zack,” Cloud moaned, feeling Zack’s cock press against his delicate prostate. “T-The table –”

“Don’t worry, it’s been made to be – really – sturdy.” Zack whimpered, his tongue slithering across Cloud’s earlobe.

Cloud’s breathing grew heavier with every deathly thrust Zack gave with his godly shaft. The blond could only close his eyes, feeling Zack’s fingers rest on his waist while his mouth descended onto one of his sensitive nipples. Cloud arched his back as Zack’s mouth gently sucked on his nipple, swirling his tongue upon the tip of it.

The blond couldn’t take it anymore. He needed to come, and he needed to do it now. Carefully, he sneaked a hand down to his pulsing erection, only to have that hand pinned above him by his best friend.

“What did I say before?” Zack growled. “You will only come on my cock, or not at all.”

Cloud pouted but this only aggravated Zack even more, delivering more powerful thrusts into Cloud’s soaking hole.

“I’m getting close, Sunshine.” Zack whimpered into Cloud’s ear. “You gonna come with me?”

“Y-Yes! Dear Gaia, yes!” Cloud squealed.

It only took a few more thrusts directly against his prostate that caused Cloud to succumb to an intense orgasm, spraying ropes of come across his body. Zack gritted his teeth, his orgasm soon following his best friend’s. His knot swelled, pumping the blond with copious amounts of come.

They breathed heavily, Cloud bringing his legs down to wrap around Zack’s waist. Their eyes locked together for a moment before their lips followed. Unlike the kisses that preceded their sex, this was a soft and subtle kiss. Zack’s lips gently pressed against the blond’s for a moment before disconnecting them.

“You couldn’t wait until we got to your bedroom? You just had to fuck me on your dining table?” Cloud asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Sorry, like I said, I barely got out of the elevator without fucking you there. It was a miracle we made it to the dining table.” Zack laughed.

“Since we’re going to be stuck like this for a while, might as well air any animosity we have.” Cloud suggested.

“Cloud, I’m -” Zack stopped what he said, feeling his balls tighten, firing another thick load into Cloud.

“I’m really sorry,” Zack continued. “I genuinely don’t know what came over me.”

“Zack,” Cloud sighed. “You know we’re going to have to apologise to Alice and her friend for that, right? It seemed like she and I would’ve got along.”

“I know.” Zack nodded. “I want you all to myself, though.”

“Okay, then put a ring on this finger then.” Cloud sarcastically remarked, pointing to his ring finger.

“Alright then. Which do you prefer, Tiffany’s or Cartier?” Zack questioned, causing Cloud to laugh.

“But seriously, Zack, you don’t need to get jealous about me being friends with other people. You’ll always be my number one.”

“I know,” Zack nodded. “It’s just, you haven’t seen you in years. I’m scared you’ll suddenly slip away from me the way you did.”

Cloud shook his head, pulling his best friend close. “I won’t leave you, not now or ever. But Zack, you have your friends so let me have mine.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry I’m so possessive of you, Sunshine – sorry,” Zack gritted, his cock pulsing, filling his best friend up even more. “All I want is to protect you and it’s not because of you being an omega, if something bad were to happen to you, I could never forgive myself knowing I could’ve prevented it.”

“I appreciate the sentiment, Zack, but you can’t protect me all the time. I’ll do my best not to give into trouble, but I need you to trust that I can take care of myself.” Cloud assured, resting his tender hands upon Zack’s face.

Zack nodded, smiling. “Of course, I trust you! I can’t promise that I won’t be overly protective but I can promise that I’ll try to knock it down a notch.”

The two boys were so lost in their own world, that they didn’t hear the front door opening, revealing Tifa and Aerith, each of them carrying a paper bag.

“We brought breakfast!” Aerith shouted, before turning to the dining table and witnessing the explicit scene in front of her. “What the actual fuck!?”

Chapter Text

It was a very busy morning in Midgar University’s central library, with almost every corner of the building being occupied by a group of students either calmly revising or aggressively cramming for their imminent tests.

Midterms were swiftly approaching, and to say students were overcome with unease was an understatement. Though these upcoming exams didn’t count towards their final grade, that didn’t stop students from worrying that a single failing grade in this could mean the end of their studies here.

Cloud sat with Aerith and Tifa in a secluded corner on the upper floor, sitting by a window overlooking most of the campus. Luckily, the blond’s first midterm was only a week from now, meaning he had enough time to go over everything he needed to. He looked up to see the two girls suspiciously looking at him, prompting him to groan in irritation.

It had been a week since the girls had unintentionally seen him and Zack on his dining table. Since then, they were relentlessly bombarding him with numerous questions and dirty looks. Cloud knew most of them were in jest, but that didn’t make him feel any less uncomfortable.

“Can you guys stop looking at me like that?” Cloud asked.

“Nuh uh,” Aerith shook her head. “I’m still judging you for the mental scar you’ve caused Tifa and I.”

“I didn’t know you had a key to Zack’s apartment!”

“Oh, so it’s my fault?” Aerith put a hand to her chest.

“Ever heard of knocking first?” Cloud remarked with a raised eyebrow.

“I still can’t wrap my head around this.” Tifa chuckled, shaking her head. “The other day, you were this sweet little virgin, untouched and full of innocence. Boy, did that image of you quickly shatter!”

“I mean, I get that it’s a dining table, and Zack probably thought of you like a snack, but people still eat actual food on that table.” Aerith snarled.

Cloud’s cheeks were burning up, his hands quickly moving to cover his face. “Aerith -”

“You know, the first thing I noticed when I walked into the apartment was… the stench. It was the stench of hot, sweaty sex.” Aerith remarked, causing Tifa to burst out giggling and Cloud to slam his head into the table in shame.

“And I thought to myself, ‘it was really cheeky of Zack to bring someone home and fuck them while you were probably sleeping in the other room’, only to find out: he was fucking YOU!”

“Ifrit’s flaming dick, Aerith, can you let it go?” Cloud asked, embarrassed.

“You’re also surprisingly very flexible. How the hell was Zack able to do that with your legs?” Aerith questioned.

Cloud was in utter turmoil at this point. Here, he was trying his best to study for his midterms, and two of his best friends were attacking him with invasive questions.

“Wait, he isn’t paying you for sex, is it?” Aerith asked, donning a serious expression.

Cloud profusely shook his head. “What!? No -”

“Good, because if I heard Zack was paying you for sex, I would’ve beaten the living shit out of him.” The flower girl warned.

Cloud rolled his eyes, deciding to focus on his revision.

“I’m going to grab a coffee downstairs, you guys want something?” Tifa asked.

“Flat white, sweetie.” Aerith winked.

“My usual please, Tifa.” Cloud said.

“White coffee it is, I’ll be back in a second."

“By the way, where is Zack? This is probably the first time I’ve seen you without him clinging to your side in a while.” Aerith said.

“He’s out with Kunsel and Roche, something about planning for the upcoming rugby season.”

“There he is!” Cloud and Aerith look at each other weirdly before turning their heads to see where the absurd voice came from, learning that it must’ve come from one of the three girls who were approaching them now. They were all wearing the university’s cheerleading kit, making Cloud wonder how they weren’t feeling cold.

“Uh, can we help you ladies?” Aerith asked, her tone bordering on sarcastic.

“Not from you,” The girl in the middle, presumably the leader, spat back at Aerith before turning to Cloud. “You.”

“Okay…” Cloud trailed off, slightly weirded out but nevertheless continued. “How can I help you?”

“You’re Zack’s best friend, aren’t you? Or one of his close friends?”

“Yes…” Cloud honestly didn’t know where this conversation was leading.

“Can you pass him a message from me? Tell him Natalie is still available this Saturday.”

“Sure, I’ll let him know.” Cloud nodded.

“Cool because he hasn’t been answering my texts, so his phone must’ve been broken or something.” Natalie shrugged, causing Aerith to laugh under her breath. “Something funny?”

“No, it’s – Zack’s phone isn’t broken,” Aerith said matter-of-factly.

“It has to be, there’s no reason why he would ignore my texts or calls!”

“Cloud, call Zack right now,” Aerith instructed.

“I’m not getting in the middle of this.” Cloud protested, wanting to let the conflict reside only between the flower girl and the cheerleader.

“No, no, call him now! I wanna prove this dumb bitch with her tacky pink ribbon wrong.” Natalie hissed.

Sighing, Cloud reluctantly looked for Zack’s number and pressed the call button, putting it on speaker. To no one’s surprise, except for the cheerleaders, the raven-haired alpha picked up almost instantly.

“Cloudy! What’s up?”

Aerith tightly clutched her mouth with her hands, trying to contain her urge to burst out laughing. Natalie hung her mouth open while her friends worryingly looked at each other.

“N-Not much. How’s everything with Roche and Kunsel?”

“It’s going great! Say, got anything planned for this Saturday?”

Cloud looked up to Natalie, who looked at him with sheer horror. If looks could kill, her glare would’ve sent Cloud straight to his grave.

“Not that I know of, why?”

“There was this horror movie I wanted to see in the cinema. I was wondering if you wanted to go see it?”

“I thought you already had plans with someone else?”

“Well, I did, but I wanted to spend more time with you.”

Aerith laughed silently like a maniac while Natalie became red in the face, equally embarrassed and angry.

“Give me the phone!” Natalie commanded.

“Cloud? Who was that?”

“The girl you made plans with, for this Saturday…”

“Oh…if it’s Natalie, tell her I’m not interested.”

Cloud gasped, taking note of how appalled Natalie looked upon hearing that.

“Okay, I – will do that.”

“Anyway, I’ll see you later, Sunshine.”

“Bye!” Cloud said before hanging up. “Sorry, his phone’s working just fine…”

“Yeah, I got it! Now, let’s talk about why you’re stealing Zack from me!”

“Stealing!?” Cloud gasped. “Look, I’m sorry, but Zack said it himself: he’s not interested in you. Regardless of if we go out on Saturday or not, he’s still not going to go out with you.”

“Hey,” One of the other cheerleaders piped up. “You were in that picture with Zack a few weeks ago? Aren’t you guys dating?”

Cloud sighed, realising this was going to be the millionth time he needed to correct this.

“No, we’re best friends. Nothing more.”

“I don’t know about that.” Everyone turned to the mysterious voice, only for Cloud to groan loudly in disbelief and irritation.

There stood Dylan, to irritate the blond yet again. Did this man have nothing else to do apart from getting into his and Prompto’s business?

“I think Zacky boy is a bit too protective of Cloud for them to just be best friends.” Dylan remarked.

“And why do you care?” Cloud asked, evidently annoyed.

“Come on. Do you think these girls are the only ones gunning for Zack? At least half of the girls in this entire university want that boy’s ass.”

“Okay. One thing, you forgot to tell me how that’s my problem.” Cloud bit back. “I don’t blame you, though. Between Zack punching you and Gladio beating the shit out of you, I wouldn’t be surprised if your brain got severely damaged.”

Dylan clenched his fist, his face reddening in both anger and embarrassment as everyone gasped at Cloud’s savage comeback. The recessive alpha opened his mouth to say something, only to close it after realising he didn’t have a witty remark to throw back at the blond.

Feeling a large hand caressing his shoulder, Cloud nearly jumped into the air. He turned around, relieved to see it was only Zack standing behind him.

“Zack? Weren't you with Kunsel an Roche at the Sports Centre? How did you get here so fast?”

Zack looked at him weirdly before gesturing to the flower girl. “Aerith texted me about people were giving you a hard time at the library.”

Cloud looked at Aerith who simply grinned at him gleefully before turning back to his best friend.

“I’m fine, Zack,” Cloud assured.

“I’m not!” Natalie whined. “We had a date planned, and you blow me off for – this!?” She motioned to Cloud, making a repulsed face.

The raven-haired alpha’s eyes darkened, and his jaw tightened. “This – is my best friend, and as far as I’m concerned, he’s my number one priority.”

Natalie gasped, evidently offended. “Fine, hang out with your ‘best friend’ then. See if I care.” She shouted before storming away from them.

Soon, Zack’s venomous glare was directed at Dylan, who was trembling. “And you. Haven’t I already told you to leave my Cloud alone?”

“Um – uh…” Dylan stuttered, legs shaking. One would think the recessive alpha was an omega, with the way he was easily intimidated by Zack.

“Seems like I wasn’t clear last time, so I’ll warn you one last time: Don’t. Fuck. With. Cloud.” Zack growled.

Dylan subtly nodded before gradually moving away from them. Cloud looked around to see people were staring at them, growing nervous as they murmured amongst themselves about the commotion.

“Z-Zack, people are staring,” Cloud whispered, pulling on the alpha’s sleeve.

“Yeah, wanna head out?” Zack suggested.

Cloud opened his mouth to speak, but his best friend was already pulling him, eliciting a look of disbelief from Aerith.

“Sorry, the queue was long as shit -” Tifa spoke, noticing how the blond was already leaving. Cloud briefly smiled at her, taking his coffee while being dragged away.

The raven-haired girl sighed, turning to the flower girl. “How the hell did he know we were here?”

“Texted him when Queen Bitch was giving him shit but I should’ve known he would drag Cloud with him.” Aerith rolled her eyes.

The blond was startled awake, hearing loud banging coming from his front door. Groaning in annoyance, he marched to the door, an unpleasant scowl dawning on his face. Opening the door, he was happy but confused to see it was his best friend standing there with his signature goofy smile across his face.

Observing the tall alpha, it was clear Zack was not about to embark on a morning run. Zack was dressed in a velvet red button-up shirt that clung tightly to his broad muscles, tucked into a pair of tight black trousers.

“Why are you dressed like that?” Cloud asked, rubbing his eyes.

“Like what?” Zack chuckled.

“Like you’re going to a business meeting.”

“Because I have a busy schedule full of ‘business’ and I can’t be looking like I just came from a rave, Cloudy. My parents would kill me!”

“Okay, so why are you at my apartment?”

“I wanted you to tag along and give me company. Otherwise, I’m gonna be bored out of my mind.”

“You woke me up at -” Cloud took a brief moment to check the time, his jaw hitting the floor upon glancing at the clock. “At 6 in the morning for this!?”

“Well, yes. My first activity starts at 9, I wanted to have breakfast before then.”

Cloud sighed, before widening the door to allow Zack inside. “Fine, let me take a shower, then we can get breakfast.”

Zack smirked, pulling Cloud in for a tight hug. “Thank you so much, Sunshine! Tell you what, jump in the shower, and I’ll pick out your outfit for the day.”

Cloud nodded, smiling before moving to the bathroom.

“Good morning, Zack!” The receptionist beamed, shaking hands with the tall alpha. “I trust you made it here safely?”

Cloud stood a few steps away from his best friend, silently observing him. The blond wasn’t surprised when he found that the outfit Zack picked out for him was very similar to his, only his shirt was a pale royal blue, contrasting with Zack’s vibrant red. It was funny to the blond how the colours they wore represented their personalities to a T. While Zack was very outgoing and energetic, Cloud was more mellow and quiet.

One would assume they wouldn’t be good friends because of how opposite they were. Then again, they also say opposites attract.

“Yeah, my friend and I didn’t have much trouble getting there.” Zack smiled.

The receptionist directed her attention to Cloud. “Hi there. Have you been friends for long?”

“Kind of.” Cloud shrugged. He has been friends with Zack since they were kids, but they also reunited and rekindled their friendship a few weeks ago. He wasn’t sure how he would voice this to the receptionist and just hoped that she wouldn’t press further.

“Okay, I’ve signed you both in. Take the elevator to the 15^th floor, and someone will direct you to Mr Relf’s office.”

They both nodded, making their way to the elevator. As they started to ascend, Cloud looked over to Zack, who had a red smudge on his mouth, presuming it to be tomato ketchup.

“You’ve got something on your face, Zack.”

“Where?”

The blond pulled out a tissue from his pocket, delicately brushing over the alpha’s mouth. The raven-haired alpha took Cloud to the same fancy breakfast place he had taken him a few days ago. This time, they had a breakfast buffet instead of a set menu, and Zack, having a bottomless pit for a stomach, couldn’t help himself from loading his plate with a mountain of food. Cloud recalled watching his best friend in both awe and slight disgust as Zack stuffed his face.

“Can’t have you looking unsophisticated in a professional establishment,” Cloud remarked, playfully smirking.

Zack stared at the blond, subtly blushing. His finger hovered over the red button that would halt the elevator before Cloud smacked it away.

“Not here, Zack.” Cloud scolded.

“But Cloudy -” Zack whined.

“Zack, don’t forget you’re here on business. Imagine what the papers would say if they caught wind of us fucking in an elevator belonging to Vogue. And if that’s not scary enough, imagine what your parents would say.”

Zack momentarily froze upon the mention of his father. “O-Okay, you have a point there.”

Cloud victoriously grinned. “Don’t worry, once the day’s over, you’re free to do whatever you wish to me.”

“You promise?” Zack asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Promise.” Cloud nodded.

They feel the elevator’s movement come to a stop, the doors opening shortly after. A Vogue employee guided them to the journalist’s office, telling them Relf would be there shortly. Cloud examined the room, taking note of all the paintings from famous artists that were plastered all over the room.

“Ah, Mr Fair!” The boys both turned to see a middle-aged man with glasses entering the room.

“Good morning, Mr Relf.” Zack politely greeted him, shaking his hand before taking a seat on one of the man’s vintage couches.

“Good morning, sir,” Cloud repeated, though with less conviction than his best friend.

“Oh, morning, young man. Is this a cousin of yours, Mr Fair?” The journalist asked.

“No, no! This is Cloud, my best friend.” Zack grinned. “Is it okay if he stays in the room with me?”

“Um, I don’t see any problem with that.” The journalist chuckled, placing his notepad and pen on the small table. “Would you gentlemen care for some coffee, tea…?”

“Yes, please.” They both said in unison. After they were supplied with their caffeinated beverages, Cloud awkwardly stood behind Zack, afraid he wasn’t allowed to sit anywhere.

“You can have a seat, son. Please…” The journalist gestured to the empty seat next to Zack. Cloud subtly nodded, setting his coffee on the table and sitting next to his best friend, who flashed him a wink and a gentle smile. “Now, shall we start the interview?”

“Sure.” Zack nodded.

“First of all, I would like to thank you for taking the time to make this interview, Mr Fair -”

“Actually, is it okay if you call me Zack?” Zack requested. “Mr Fair is my father, I would prefer being addressed by my first name, please.”

“Oh, of course.” The journalist chuckled. “So, Zack, I’m safe in assuming you are to inherit your family’s behemoth tech company, Fairlight once your parents retire?”

“That is correct. My parents are well underway preparing me for all the trials and tribulations I am likely to face when I become the new CEO of Fairlight.”

“Fascinating. And how do you envision the future of Fairlight under your supervision?”

“I hope to keep Fairlight the way it is, an innovative company that isn’t afraid to push the boundaries of technology and isn’t scared to take risks. My mum and dad have built Fairlight into becoming a household name and a brand that many people rely upon, and I only hope to continue their legacy.”

Cloud sat there, surprised. He had no doubt his parents sat him through millions of hours' worth of lessons on public speaking and how to present himself to interviewers. Suffice to say, those endless lessons weren’t in vain, as the raven-haired alpha had been nothing but professional in this interview so far.

“Speaking of your parents, it was alleged by one of Fairlight’s employees overheard your father say some horrid things about omegas. For example, how they were a genetic mishap and have no place in society. Is there any truth to these claims? Do you agree to them?”

Cloud stiffened upon hearing those words. He knew a lot of people still held barbaric views about omegas, he just didn’t think it would come from someone like Zack’s father.

“I’m afraid I cannot confirm those claims since I wasn’t with my father during that time. However, my dad remains firm in that he never made those derogatory remarks to omegas, nor does he think of omegas in such a way. And for the record, I think omegas deserve a place in society as much as everyone else.”

“Fantastic.” The journalist nodded, pulling out several photos from his folder. “I wanted to talk about your charitable prospects. Someone photographed you handing out meals to homeless folk on the streets a couple of weeks ago. Is providing for the homeless a passion of yours?”

Zack was slightly taken aback by the photos. He should’ve known, as a future CEO, that photographers would stand at the ready to capture whatever he does, whether it be something good or bad.

“Yes, I think sometimes we forget that many people are homeless due to bad circumstances or simple bad luck. My friend and I try to do it as often as we can, but you know, being a university student leaves me with little to no spare time on my hands.”

“I think it’s remarkable, really. I don’t know if you know, but many people online are singing your praises.” Mr Relf said, showing Zack some of the comments people left on Twitter about this. “Safe to say, everyone is rejoicing that Fairlight is going to thrive in your hands.”

“Well, it’s a bit too soon to say that.” Zack chuckled. “But I will do my best.”

The rest of the interview touched upon several topics like politics, the looming threat of AVALANCHE and recent business deals. Things Cloud has kept a slight eye on since the radio in his apartment has access to a business news broadcasting channel. But he decided not to throw his input in during their conversation. Because one, the journalist wasn’t here for him, he was here for Zack and two, he didn’t want to appear rude or inconsiderate, trying to participate in something not meant for him.

It was only before Mr Relf unexpectedly directed a question at Cloud that the blond paid attention.

“So, Cloud, was it?” The journalist questioned.

Cloud simply nodded.

“Tell me, how did you come to meet Zack?”

Cloud looked at Zack, who simply nodded. “We’ve been friends since childhood.”

“Has he always this eligible bachelor when you were younger?” The journalist chuckled.

Cloud laughed. “Yeah, he was always very popular. But I could see why, he's so easy to adore.”

Zack laughed alongside the blond, their eyes fixated on each other, temporarily forgetting about the journalist still in the room.

Mr Relf cleared his throat, bringing the two boys back into reality.

“Am I safe to say that the two of you aren’t seeing each other?”

They both shake their heads, chuckling. “No, we’re really good friends,” Cloud assured.

The interview lasted only a small fraction of time before the two said their goodbyes to the journalist, thanking him for his time. They found their way out of the building and made their way to Zack’s next scheduled activity.

The moment they arrived, Cloud wished he had never let Zack convince him to join him. The raven-haired alpha was currently in the changing room while Cloud sat on a chair a fair distance from the shooting location.

When they arrived, Cloud was surprised to see Alexander, one of Midgar’s highly acclaimed photographers, greet Zack.

“Zack, my dear boy!” Alexander beamed. “How are you doing?”

“Great, Alex! It’s nice to see you!”

The bright man then turned his attention to the blond, nervously rubbing his arm. “And who is this beautiful vision?”

“Oh, this is my best friend, Cloud.”

“Nice to meet you, s-sir.” The blond bowed, his legs feeling like jelly.

“Please, none of this ‘sir’ nonsense! Call me Alexander, or Alex for short.”

They were both escorted to the swimming pool, the area fitted with an impeccable camera set-up. When they initially arrived, Cloud assumed Zack must’ve had swimming lessons or just wanted to go for a swim here. It was only once they entered the lobby that Zack filled him in on what he was to do here.

It turned out someone from Speedo was in awe of Zack’s godlike physique and bombarded Michelle with calls, emails and letters, endlessly asking that the raven-haired alpha would model for their new lineup of swimsuits.

After some consideration, Zack agreed to do it. For one, they offered to pay the tall alpha an immense amount to do it. Also, his dad patronised him like usual, saying that he could put his toned body towards something useful for once.

Now, Cloud was waiting by the swimming pool, mindlessly scrolling through his phone while Zack got ready. Soon, Zack emerged from the changing rooms, and Cloud had to stop his jaw from dropping.

Zack was wearing nothing but a dark blue speedo that was tightly fitted around his crotch and a pair of goggles that hung around his neck. The blond swore he could see a faint outline around Zack’s soft length, piercing through the thin material of the swimwear. Cloud looked around to see several of the camera crew biting their lips, staring at his best friend with lustful eyes.

“Right, everyone! Let’s get to work!” Alexander exclaimed, everyone scrambling to do their respective jobs.

The omega continued to use his phone, playing all sorts of games and browsing through social media, trying to keep his eyes off Zack. The problem was, no matter how hard he tried to keep his eyes fixated on his phone, they seemed to effortlessly wander towards Zack’s direction.

Cloud had to fight the urge to bite his lip and shiver in his seat, looking at how enticing his best friend looked right now. Right now, Alexander was taking pictures of the raven-haired alpha, freshly out of the pool and running a hand through his dripping black hair. The blond’s eyes were hooked on the water droplets that lingered on Zack’s solid chest, watching how they gradually moved down, slithering between the tight cavities of his solid abs before hiding away inside the speedo.

The blond looked up to see Zack flashing him a shit-eating grin, shooting him a cheeky wink. Cloud felt heat travelling to his cheeks, staining his face red.

“Where is that other model!? He was meant to be here 20 minutes ago!” Alexander shouted to his assistant.

The photographer’s assistant approached him, evidently nervous. “S-Sir, Eric called. He said he was too hungover from last night to come in today.”

Alexander gritted his teeth, his face glowing red with anger. “Hungover? That fucking clown can’t do his job because he’s hungover!?”

“Sir, please. Let me call him again -”

“No, no! Don’t call him again! In fact, send him a message. Tell him he can forget about this job and any other job where I’m on the team. This is the last time that inconsiderate brat does something like this to me!”

“O-Okay” His assistant croaked.

“Dear fucking Gaia!” The photographer screamed, echoing throughout the swimming pool. “Where am I meant to find another model now?”

“Sir, I’ll contact the agencies right now -” The assistant muttered.

“You don’t understand, Speedo need these photos done today!” Alexander shook his head. His eyes soon fell on the fair blond, happily scrolling through his phone. A wide grin spread across the photographer’s face, swiftly approaching Cloud. “Excuse me, was it Claude?”

“I-it was Cloud.” The blond corrected, resting his phone on his lap to look at Alexander.

“My apologies. Cloud, how do you feel about modelling?”

Cloud looked at the photographer, puzzled. He didn’t know why the man would ask such a question out of the blue like this, but he answered regardless. “I mean, I’ve never done it before, but I’d be willing to try if it was urgent. Why?”

“I’m sure you’ve just heard, but the other model that was meant to join us today has unexpectedly cancelled. I wouldn’t be asking this of you if I weren’t desperate, but alas, I am.” Alexander explained.

“You want ME to model for YOU?” Cloud asked, shocked. He thought that with someone as awarded and highly regarded as Alexander, the man would be spoiled for choice if a model was unable to make it. The man must be really desperate to ask an average civilian like Cloud to model for him.

“I will make it worth your while, my dear boy. Please…” Alexander pleaded. The man rarely ever begged, if anything, he was used to the luxury of models and their managers in their knees, begging to be photographed by the prestigious photographer. But truth be told, Alexander had a perfect track record of meeting deadlines and providing phenomenal photos for his clients. He was not going to tarnish that report card now.

Besides, he couldn’t understand how someone as alluring and handsome as Cloud hadn’t been picked up by an agency. A face like that deserved to be plastered across billboards and posters around Midgar and the world.

“Is everything okay, Cloudy?” Zack asked, approaching the two. “Alex here isn’t giving you a hard time, is he?”

Cloud shook his head. “No, he was asking if I could – model – for him.”

Zack turned to the photographer with a raised eyebrow. “Oh, I hope you’re not asking Cloudy to do charity work, are you?”

“Heavens no, I told him I am happy to compensate him for this. Didn’t I, Cloud?” Alexander turned to the blond.

“Y-Yeah” Cloud nodded.

“And how much were you willing to pay him, Alex?” Zack pressed.

“I – haven’t gone through those details with him yet but -”

“Great, let’s make it simple then. Cloud gets paid the same amount as me.”

“Same amount!?” Alexander shouted. “Don’t get me wrong, the boy’s gorgeous but -”

“But what? Last time I checked, you’re not only paying for Cloud’s time, but you’re also paying him for saving your precious track record.”

Alexander let out a deep breath, nodding. “Okay, you’re right. Fine.”

“I’m happy to negotia-” Cloud tried to speak.

“No, it’s a done deal, Sunshine.” Zack smiled. “Ain’t it, Alex?”

“Yes,” Alexander agreed. “Please follow my assistant, she’ll show you what you need to wear and will take care of anything else. Thank you.”

Cloud nodded, smiling as he followed Alexander’s assistant into the changing rooms. The assistant handed him a light blue speedo and goggles. The blond blushed, realising that he had to wear something so revealing.

He was too accustomed to wearing swimming trunks, something that would cover his lower half down to just above his knees, that wearing something like a speedo felt alien to him.

Nonetheless, he stood by a bench in the locker room, cautiously stripping himself to change. As he progressed further, his eyes would glance over at the assistant, hoping she would respect his privacy and not turn to look at his exposed body.

“Thank you,” The assistant spoke. “If you hadn’t agreed to this, I probably would’ve gotten an earful and a half from Alexander.”

“It’s no problem, it’s better than sitting there and playing on my phone.” Cloud chuckled, handing his clothes to the assistant, now fully changed.

They walked out of the changing rooms together. The assistant looked down at her phone, seeing numerous missed calls from the missing model’s manager.

“Boss, he’s ready!” The assistant called out.

Zack stopped his conversation with Alexander to look at Cloud. Upon first glance, he prayed that he wouldn’t pop a boner at the pleasant sight. Cloud’s pale chest and slender waist were on full display, the speedo hugging his crotch area oh so subtly.

The raven-haired alpha gulped, hoping that his cock would stay still. The speedo already barely held his endowment, if he risked getting an erection, it was sure to pierce through.

“I-I don’t look weird, do I?” Cloud asked, a blush dusting his cheeks.

“No, Sunshine! You look – really good.” Zack gritted his teeth, fighting his desire to pull Cloud into the nearest room and make a mess of him.

“Alex, Eric’s manager called. He said -” The assistant tried to speak.

“I don’t give a flying fuck about his manager!” Alexander interjected. “Tell him he can kiss my ass and that I gave his job to someone far more capable than him.”

“Right, I will – pass that along to him.” The assistant nodded.

Chapter Text

Cool water lightly brushed Cloud’s hands, staring at his subtle reflection in the pool as he sat in the shallow end. He leaned back slightly, letting his chest puff out a tad, Alexander taking what seemed like an endless number of photos of the blond.

“Beautiful! Gorgeous!” Alexander sang, his finger fiercely pressing on his camera.

Cloud was now standing against a wall of lockers, wearing a lightweight jacket that perfectly fit his figure.

“Let the jacket hang loose around your waist, show off those creamy shoulders of yours!” Alexander commanded.

Nodding, Cloud gradually slid the jacket down, letting it caress his waist.

“Perfect!” Cloud looked over to Zack who was looking like a nervous wreck. The blond flashed him a quick smile, causing the alpha to blush. Cloud couldn’t hold back his laughter, heartily giggling, unaware that the photographer was still taking pictures of him in this moment.

“Alright, now I need photos of the two of you together,” Alexander said.

Zack stood close behind Cloud, both of them smiling at Alexander as the man took their pictures.

“Uh, Zack, could you put your hands on Cloud’s hips?” Alexander requested.

“W-What?” Zack breathed.

“What? You heard me, boy, rest your hands on his hips. Like this!” Alexander rested his hands on his assistant’s hips as to demonstrate what he was asking for.

Zack gulped, hesitantly resting his hands on Cloud’s lithe waist, pulling him slightly close to him.

“Not too close! We still need to showcase the swimwear, gentlemen!” The photographer shouted, getting to work with his camera. Zack discreetly leaned over Cloud’s shoulder, his eyes still trained on the high-spec camera.

“You have any idea how sexy you look right now?” Zack muttered.

“Don’t start,” Cloud whispered.

“You look so delicious with this tiny speedo, Sunshine. I just wanna eat you up.”

Cloud fought with his mind to stop his face from reddening, alas it was in vain. He could feel Zack’s prominent bulge subtly pressing against his backside, the alpha’s ragged breaths upon his neck. He looked down to the floor, looking like he was about to be sick.

Alexander lowered his camera down, his face showing great concern for the blond.

“Cloud, is everything okay?” Alexander asked.

“I think Cloud is about to be sick. Don’t worry, I’ll take him to the bathroom.” Zack assured.

“Should we call for a doctor? An ambulance?” Alexander frantically asked, panicked. “Assistant! Call a medical professional!”

“No, there’s no need for that.” Zack insisted, holding Cloud close. “Cloud hasn’t been to a swimming pool in a while. Sorry, I should’ve known the chlorine would affect him a little.”

Despite the photographer’s objections, Zack pulled Cloud into the changing rooms. Once they were a fair distance inside the room, the raven-haired alpha didn’t hesitate to pounce on Cloud, shoving him against the lockers and pushing his rough lips against the blond’s soft ones.

Cloud was just as eager as Zack, throwing his arms around the alpha’s neck and wrapping his legs around his waist. When he felt Zack’s tongue slither around his bottom lip, he opened his mouth, surrendering himself to the alpha’s offence.

Without breaking their lip lock, Zack moved them onto a bench, carefully laying the blond down. The alpha growled into Cloud’s mouth, aggressively pulling the lightweight jacket and speedo off the blond, leaving him nude.

Cloud’s blush intensified, looking up at how Zack’s predatory gaze sent chills down his spine. The alpha’s gaze soon trailed down to his moist entrance.

“You that eager for my cock?” Zack gritted, firmly grasping his cock through his speedo. “Want me to stuff this needy hole with this monster dick?”

Cloud nodded, hooking his hands underneath his knees, exposing his hole even more to the pent-up alpha.

Zack snarled, ripping Cloud’s hands away from his legs and replacing them with his own. Cloud looked down, shocked to see Zack’s prominent erection was poking out of his speedo. The alpha smirked, pulling away from his best friend to pull off his own speedo and throw it to the floor.

“I have been so damn pent up since this morning!” Zack gritted, his finger hovering over Cloud’s sensitive entrance. “I wonder what would happen if I just shoved my cock in without preparing you?”

“P-Please don’t.” Cloud pleaded. “I-It will h-hurt.”

Zack smiled, pressing a gentle kiss on the blond’s forehead. “Don’t worry, I wouldn’t dream of hurting you like this, Sunshine.”

Cloud winced, feeling Zack push a finger inside him, invading his insides. Zack looked down to find his best friend’s cock stood fully erect, steadily spurting pre-come onto his stomach. Biting his lip, he descended onto the blond’s lower half, lapping the clear fluid off Cloud’s cock.

The omega arched his back, feeling Zack’s warm mouth engulf his shaft while two of his fingers found their way inside his entrance, gradually stretching him out.

“Z-Zack” Cloud whimpered, running his hands through Zack’s hair. The alpha popped off Cloud’s aching erection, much to his dismay.

“Careful, Sunshine,” Zack warned, his face dangerously close to the blond’s. “Can’t have you screaming with everyone else still outside, hm?”

Cloud nodded, bringing his hands to his mouth. Zack smirked in response, picking up where he had left off, licking Cloud’s reasonable shaft before popping it back in his mouth. Cloud sang heavenly choruses into his hands, his joint sensations of his cock being pleasured and his entrance being filled were almost overwhelming to him.

Zack was now moving three fingers inside the blond, burying them down to the knuckle. The alpha smirked down at the quivering omega, who grew increasingly anxious, staring back at Zack’s possessive stare.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Cloud whined.

“Like what, Sunshine?” Zack smirked, jabbing the omega’s prostate, almost sending him flying.

“Like you want to devour me.”

“Oh, but I do, Sunshine.” The older man growled, pulling his slick-coated fingers out before lapping off the slick with his tongue. “You taste so fucking delicious, it’s hard not to salivate over you.”

Cloud couldn’t help the feverish blush from spreading across his face and neck. He watched as his best friend spread more of his slick across his well-endowed shaft before positioning himself.

The omega gulped, Zack’s solid cock nudging at his entrance. Zack rested his forehead on top of Cloud’s, looking directly into the omega’s eyes before finally pushing inside his best friend.

Cloud winced, feeling the pressure of his entrance trying to accommodate Zack’s cock.

“Gaia, how the fuck are you still so tight?” Zack snarled, stopping halfway inside Cloud to give him time to adjust.

“In case you didn’t know, it’s not easy getting fucked by you.” Cloud whimpered.

Zack raised an eyebrow, pushing further into the blond. “You trying to say you don’t enjoy our sex, Cloudy?”

Cloud pouted, shaking his head. “Zack, you’re r-really well e-endowed. It’s a lot to take, you know.”

“I know.” Zack nodded, placing a chaste kiss on his best friend’s lips. “And Gaia knows I love to give it all to you.”

Cloud moaned into Zack’s shoulder as the alpha bottomed out, feeling his heavy balls brush against his ass. His head rested against the bench, Zack’s cock excitedly twitching inside of him, eager to start moving inside of him.

Some time had passed, and Cloud couldn’t feel the sting that came from Zack breaching his entrance anymore and began fucking himself on the alpha’s cock, indicating to Zack it was okay to move.

Smirking, Zack’s hands soon found purchase on Cloud’s hips, setting a relentless pace. Cloud quickly brought his hands to his mouth, stopping the array of moans from spilling out and alerting everyone outside the changing rooms.

Zack pulled Cloud’s hands away from his mouth, pressing his lips against the blond’s. The alpha ate up Cloud’s moans that continuously slipped out his mouth, the sounds of hips smacking subtly echoing throughout the room. Zack hoped that nobody would burst into the room and see him and Cloud like this.

The display of Cloud laid out in utter bliss, face totally flushed and biting his lip. Zack decided that only he would have the pleasure of this and no one else. No man, woman, alpha or beta, no one else was allowed to see Cloud in this state.

“Z-Zack,” Cloud whimpered into Zack’s ear, trying to suppress the urge to claw his best friend’s back.

“Y-Yes, my beautiful Sunshine?” Zack teased, staring down at his best friend.

Cloud whimpered, pressing Zack’s heavy hand against his cheek. “S-So good, I love it s-so much!”

“Gaia, Cloudy, I don’t want to lose my mind, but you’re making it really hard not to.” Zack breathed, rubbing his thumb against Cloud’s soft cheek. “Hey, Cloudy, look down.”

Cloud obeyed, seeing how Zack’s thick cock maneuvered inside him, shocked that how it made a decent dent in his stomach.

“This,” Zack pointed to the omega’s stomach, particularly where the dent from his cock resided. “Is where our pups will be.”

“Stop trying to make me laugh when you’re fucking me, Zack!” Cloud giggled.

A light layer of sweat started to form on their bodies as they relentlessly chased their releases. Cloud’s legs were strapped tightly around Zack’s cut waist while the alpha continuously pressed his cock against the omega’s prostate with deadly accuracy.

“I-I’m close.” Cloud moaned, pressing his lips against Zack’s scarred cheek.

“Me too, Cloudy. Wanna come together?” Zack rasped.

Cloud feverishly nodded. Zack bit his lip, his knot gradually starting to form. He fiercely chased his high, bringing the blond’s legs off of his waist and bending them to either side of Cloud’s head, allowing him to thrust deeper inside.

Cloud’s eyes rolled back, his lips stained with saliva hung open as Zack sent waves of ecstasy and thrill through his lithe body with his thick cock. After several deep thrusts, Cloud pressed his lips roughly against Zack’s, succumbing to his orgasm. He fired ropes of come across his body, some of it even staining Zack’s stomach.

It didn’t take long before Zack followed, his knot fully forming inside Cloud, locking them both. He gritted his teeth, his cock letting out strings of hot come inside of Cloud, filling the omega up.

“Fuck! That was so hot.” Zack casually commented, enjoying the sight of his best friend’s afterglow.

“Great, now we’re stuck like this for Gaia knows how long.” Cloud groaned in irritation.

“Aw, don’t say that. It’s like you don’t want to be near me, Sunshine.” Zack pouted.

Cloud rolled his eyes, caressing the alpha’s face. “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

Zack goofily grinned, kissing the blond’s hand. “I know, Cloudy. I just like to tease you sometimes.”

Suddenly, they could hear the doors to the changing rooms open and the sound of footsteps echoing through the room as they inched closer to them. Hastily, Zack pulled Cloud into his arms, Cloud quickly wrapping his legs around the taller man’s waist. The alpha slowly moved them into one of the many toilet cubicles and locked the door.  

“Zack?” A voice called out, them immediately recognising the voice belonging to Alexander’s assistant.

“Yeah?” Zack replied.

“Sorry, are you with Cloud?”

“Yes, I am.” Zack pulled the blond close to him, feeling his balls tighten, firing another load into Cloud.

“Is everything okay? You guys have been gone for nearly an hour.”

“Y-Yeah, Cloud – he felt a bit nauseous, but I’ve given him some medicine, so he should feel a lot better now.” Zack spoke, giving Cloud a subtle wink, causing the blond to blush.

“Oh, okay. Well, come out whenever you guys are ready then we can finish the shoot.” They could hear the assistant’s footsteps getting quieter before hearing a door opening, indicating they were alone once again.

“That was so embarrassing,” Cloud whined, burying his face in Zack’s shoulder.

“Hey, at least she didn’t see us having sex.” Zack shrugged, Cloud smacking his shoulder in response.

“Can I ask you something, Zack?”

“Sure, just – one minute. I’m coming again.” Zack choked, his cock twitched, shooting another load into his best friend.

“How in the hell am I not pregnant?” Cloud remarked.

“I don’t know,” Zack shrugged. “Must be some highly effective birth control you got if you ain’t pregnant by now. Huh, Sunshine?”

“Back to my question,” Cloud said matter-of-factly. “We never do doggy style or positions where I’m usually facing away from you. Why is that?”

“You have no idea how damn heavenly you look during sex, do you, Sunshine?” Zack shook his head, wearing a coy smile and tenderly rubbing Cloud’s cheek with his thumb. “I don’t like doing those positions with you because I want to see every time you roll back your eyes, every time you moan when I roll my hips at just the right spot, and every time you reach your peak and come on yourself.”

“So – I’m different…from your other – partners?”

“Of course you are! Cloud, people I’ve hooked up with in the past were one-and-dones. Not to mention, they were never my best friend. When I had sex with them, I didn’t mind those positions because it wasn’t like I fully cared for them anyway. But with you, you mean so much more.” Zack explained sincerely.

Cloud smiled. “Thank you, Zack. But if I wanted to do a position like that, you wouldn’t oppose to it?”

Zack shook his head, lightly kissing Cloud’s lips. “Anything for you, Sunshine.”

Alexander sat back in his director’s seat, angrily tapping his foot. It was only when his assistant emerged from the changing rooms that he stood up to give the poor girl an earful.

“What is taking those boys forever!?” The photographer exclaimed, veins in his forehead throbbing on full display, adding to his frustrated expression.

“S-Sorry, sir. Zack is still tending to Cloud as we speak. He informed me they’ll be out shortly.” The assistant quivered.

Alexander sighed in frustration. This wasn’t the first time he has run into difficulties during a photoshoot, and as much as the gentleman would prefer to avoid them, it was natural that at times, these delays were inevitable.

He only hoped those boys would soon come out so they could resume the photoshoot as soon as possible. He did not want to negotiate with the owners of the swimming pool to extend their rental time for the place.

“Alexander?”

The photographer and his assistant both turned to see the origin of the soft and delicate voice, the assistant dramatically gasping and Alexander almost dropping his camera, both in awe and disbelief.

“M-Michelle,” The photographer breathed.

The elegant woman simply smiled, removing her sunglasses like she was a supermodel, showing off her enchanting blue eyes. However, this wouldn’t be far from the truth since Michelle had walked for several fashion shows in her younger days.

“It’s lovely to see you again, Alex,” Michelle said.

“Did you want something to drink? Water, coffee, champagne?” Alexander shakily asked.

“I would love a black coffee.”

“Assistant! Black coffee.” Alexander commanded. “Now!”

His assistant pushed herself together and rushed down the hall, hoping to find a coffee machine or café nearby.

“So what do we owe this pleasure to, my darling?” Alexander asked.

“I just wanted to pop in and see how my son was doing,” Michelle smiled. “I was hoping after this, he and I could have some lunch together.”

“You are more than welcome to stay and wait until Zack finishes up, but it may be a while.”

Michelle looked at the gentleman, confused. “How so? He was scheduled to finish around 1.”

“We had a bit of a mishap at the start.”

Michelle’s eyes darkened, folding her arms like she meant business, her motherly instinct kicking in. “I hope that you’re not telling me Zack got hurt during one of your shoots, Alex.”

“Heavens, no! You see, the other model that was meant to model alongside Zack couldn’t make it. Luckily, he brought a friend with him that took that model’s place -”

“Alex, what are you talking about?” Michelle asked, flabbergasted at the gentleman’s weird ramblings. She turned to the assistant, graciously accepting the coffee from the timid woman. “You allowed someone who has never modelled before to model in a high-profile shoot like this? That’s so unlike you.”

“But you should see this boy. I’m still in utter disbelief how he hasn’t been scouted by an agency before.” Alexander grinned. “Also, Zack may look more like you, but he has the stubbornness of your husband.”

Michelle scoffed, shaking her head. “Zack isn’t stubborn most of the time, Alex.”

“He was today. When I propositioned his friend to take the other model’s place, he insisted I pay the boy the same amount.”

“That’s my son, alright. He wouldn’t stand for someone getting paid half the amount for the same job he was doing.”

“We’re back!” Zack shouted, a wide grin spread across his face. His smiling face soon turns puzzled upon gazing at his mother. “Mum, what are you doing here?”

“Now, that’s no way to greet your mother, Zack,” Michelle remarked with a raised eyebrow. “I thought I taught you better than that.”

“Sorry.” Zack cleared his throat as to signify a restart. “Good afternoon, Mum. How are you doing?”

“Now, that’s too much.” Michelle shook her head, chuckling. “But since you asked, I’m doing well.”

Zack pulled his mum in for a hug. Sometimes, it still felt weird remembering how when he was younger and hugging his mum, his head would rest on her stomach. Now, it was pretty much reversed, only Michelle was tall enough to rest her head against Zack’s chest.

“I wanted to stop by and see what you were doing,” Michelle explained. “Also, I wanted to go out for lunch.”

“I’m happy to do that, but I’ll need to bring my friend along.” Zack shrugged. “He’s just coming out now.”

“I’m back, everyone! Sorry about the delay.” Cloud exclaimed.

Michelle gasped in shock upon looking at the boy. His spiky blonde hair, his alluring blue eyes, his pale and milky skin.

“My dear Gaia,” Michelle slowly inched forward, hoping this wasn’t some kind of cruel joke. “C-Cloud?”

Cloud was also surprised to see Zack’s mother, not to mention how the woman seemingly recognised him instantly. He could see the woman’s eyes bawling up tears that threatened to fall. Cautiously, she laid a hand on the blond’s face.

“I-Is it really you?” She asked, her fingertips crumbling, her voice choking.

“Y-Yeah,” Cloud nodded, trying not to choke up as well. “It’s so good to see you again, Mrs Fair.”

Michelle chuckled, despite the subtle stream of tears rolling down her cheeks. “Darling, how many times have I told you to call me Michelle?”

She hesitantly pulled the blonde into her warm embrace, her shaking arms wrapped around Cloud’s lithe frame. Everyone stared at them, bewildered at how Michelle knew Cloud in the first place.

Pulling away from Cloud, Michelle swiftly rummaged through her purse and pulled out a tissue, riding herself of the tears that stained her face.

“Sorry, Mum. I forgot to say the friend in question was Cloud.” Zack nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.

Michelle playfully hit Zack on his arm. “It should’ve been nice to have known that before he appeared like that and made me partially ruin my makeup.”

“I am so sorry to intrude like this,” Alexander interjected. “But I have a photoshoot to proceed with, and now that my two models are fine and well, break time’s over!”

Cloud sipped on his Coke, staring up to the clear night sky. It was far from a gloomy night, the moon was crescent with no clouds staining the sky, allowing the stars above to effortlessly illuminate.

However, since they were going into the colder seasons, the nights remained somewhat chilly with Cloud wrapping Zack’s spare jacket around himself. The two of them were in the middle of an abandoned parking lot with no life form stepping foot on the territory for the past hour. They sat atop Zack’s custom Porsche 911 GT3, enjoying drinks Zack bought for them from McDonald’s and basking in the quiet night.

“I can’t believe you made my mum cry.” Zack blurted out.

“You make it sound like I did it on purpose.” Cloud scoffed.

“Sorry, it’s – been a while since I’ve seen my mum cry like that.” Zack sighed.

-  5 Hours Ago -

The two boys sat opposite the charming woman inside the luxurious restaurant. Cloud fidgeted beneath the table, finding the atmosphere a tad uncomfortable.

The photoshoot went smoothly after their little escapade in the changing rooms. Alexander told them that he was able to get a whole portfolio’s worth of pictures to present to the swimwear company. Michelle, of course, sang her praises towards her son, telling him how proud she was of him.

Now, changed back into the attire they were wearing earlier, Michelle decided she wanted to treat them to a delightful lunch from one of her personal favourite restaurants in the city. Cloud politely shook his head, expressing that he was fine with In-And-Out or something cheap and cheerful. The woman insisted on it, and well – there they were.

“Tell me, Cloud. What degree are you doing at Midgar University? When did you move in?” Michelle asked.

“I do Mechanical Engineering, ma’am -”

“Are you really going to keep calling me ‘Mrs Fair’ and ‘ma’am’?” Michelle interjected. “Heavens, call me Michelle.”

Cloud let out a slight chuckle and nodded. “Okay – Michelle, I’m in my first year.”

“Fantastic,” Michelle beamed. “You always struck me as a bright person, Cloud, so seeing you attend a university like Midgar’s doesn’t surprise me.”

Michelle then probed Cloud with a million questions, overwhelmingly curious about the blond’s whereabouts after all these years. She asked him all sorts of things like where he and his mother had been residing all these years and where he went to school, amongst other things.

“The kids back home would rarely play with me. They only would if Tifa was there alongside me.” Cloud shrugged.

“It’s because those boys envied your potential.” Michelle smiled. “They will likely live and die in that tiny town while you and your friend were destined for much more, and I think they knew that too.”

Cloud nodded. “Thanks for that. I never thought of it that way.”

Michelle cleared her throat, her hand slightly trembling, evidently anxious. The look on her face told the boys she wanted to ask a question but was afraid to know the answer.

“How’s your mother doing?” She abruptly asked.

Cloud blinked in surprise. “M-My mum?”

“Yes,” Michelle nodded, her voice shaking. “I-Is she okay? She’s – not ill, is she?”

“No, no, my mum’s doing fine.” Cloud affirmed. “She runs a bakery back in Nibelheim and it’s doing great. She’s doing alright.”

Michelle let out a huge sigh of relief, clutching her chest. “Thank Gaia, I was scared she had passed or fallen ill.”

Cloud shook his head, smiling.

“How long has it been since you two reunited?” Michelle questioned.

“Almost a month, I think.” Zack spoke.

“And you didn’t think to tell me this?” Michelle gritted, a petrifying glare set upon her son. “Sorry, I’m still trying to process this. Gaia, Cloud, you were but a little boy when I last saw you and you’re all grown up now! Oh, how I wish I could’ve been there alongside your mother watching you grow.”

“Mum missed you too…” Cloud sighed. “I can give you her number. I’m sure you would love to hear from you.”

“Would you!?” Michelle exclaimed in excitement, shooting up from her chair. She slowly sat back down in embarrassment, noticing how people from other tables turned to look at her.

Cloud and Zack looked at each other, fighting back the need to laugh.

“Sure,” Cloud smiled, pulling out his phone. Michelle cheerfully copied Claudia’s contact information from Cloud’s phone, feeling like she had won the lottery.

- Present Time -

 “I swear to Gaia, I haven’t seen Mum that happy since I started university.” Zack chuckled. “I knew Claudia meant a lot to her but damn…”

Feeling the night had become too chilly, the two boys moved to sit inside the car. The taller boy had reclined the seat almost all the way back, laying his legs over the steering wheel.

Cloud awkwardly chuckled, his eyes darting everywhere but at Zack. The alpha noticed this and sat up, looking curiously at his best friend.

“Everything okay, Sunshine?”

“Y-Yeah,” Cloud shakily nodded, but the alpha remained unconvinced.

“Cloud, c’mon, I’m not stupid.” Zack sighed, taking Cloud by surprise, putting him upon his lap. “Whatever’s bothering you, you can tell me. I’m all ears.”

Cloud breathed, putting his arms over the alpha’s neck. “Sorry, it’s just – today was more emotional than I thought. I didn’t think your mum missed me that much.”

“Course she did,” Zack beamed, moving his hands to rest on Cloud’s hips. “She missed both you and Claudia a ton. I think she’s more relieved to hear that Claudia’s doing fine. She just wished she had a way to keep in contact with her, it would’ve saved her all those nights of crying and panic, wondering the worst.”

“They’ll see each other soon, I’m sure.” Cloud shrugged.

“But enough about our parents, let’s talk about us,” Zack smirked, his hands sneaking underneath the blond’s shirt.

“Oh, and what about us do you want to talk about?” Cloud giggled, unbuttoning his shirt slowly as to prolong the alpha’s torment.

Zack bit his lip, swiftly ridding himself of his shirt, the car all of a sudden feeling too hot for clothes. Cloud was only halfway unbuttoning his shirt before the taller man grew tired of the tease and undid the rest of the buttons rapidly, throwing it to the side.

Cloud hummed delectable moans as Zack slithered his tongue across one of his delicate nipples, a hand sneaking up to pinch the other. The omega’s fingers found themselves tangled into the dark, thick locks while Zack ran his other hand down Cloud’s pants and stroked the blond’s cock.

Zack darkly smirked as the blond desperately whined, crying out for relief as he thrust up against the taller man’s hand. Thinking he had put his best friend through enough torture already, he pulled his hand from out of Cloud’s pants, opting to remove them entirely along with his boxers, leaving the omega naked.

Cloud’s face dawned a rosy blush, feeling Zack’s possessive gaze bore onto him. Seeing his best friend’s face contorted into a devilish expression turned Cloud on greatly, causing slick to run through his entrance quickly and dampening the alpha’s pants. 

Zack bit his lip, staring at the sight of Cloud’s naked body. The fluorescent light from the surrounding lampposts shined on the blond’s body, encased by a subtle layer of sweat. Cloud looked like an angel that descended straight from heaven.

Pure.

Delicate.

Innocent.

Zack was beyond elated to worship this divine being that the Gods above blessed him with, peppering Cloud’s pale neck with kisses and hickeys that were sure to be on full display for everyone to see.

Cloud let out an urgent whine, grinding his soaked entrance against the taller man’s pants. Taking the hint, Zack pulled off his pants and boxers, becoming as bare as his best friend. His large, rock-hard cock rested against the omega’s entrance, grunting as he felt Cloud’s endless grinding persisted. Zack laid his hands on Cloud’s hips, eager to switch positions albeit with the very limited amount of space the car provided them, but Cloud shook his head.

Zack tilted his head, as to show confusion.

“I-I want to try something,” Cloud weakly said.

“Oh?” Zack raised an eyebrow.

“I – want to try to ride you.” Cloud whimpered, his blush deepening upon those words leaving his lips.

Zack’s eyes widened, his cock stiffened. A cunning smirk spread across his face as he laid back against his seat.

“How could I say no to such a request?” Zack playfully questioned, sneaking a finger inside his best friend. Cloud jolted at the intrusion, holding onto Zack’s shoulders for dear life. “At least you’re still a bit loose from earlier.”

Cloud let out a symphony of moans while Zack quickly stretched out his entrance, three fingers brutally jabbing against his prostate. Tears bubbled up in the omega’s eyes, threatening to escape down his cheeks, the pleasure feeling almost too much for him to handle.

“Zack! P-Please!” Cloud screamed.

“What?” Zack shrugged, opting not to stop the torment.

“I-I’m ready! I need it!” Cloud begged.

“Fine,” Zack nodded, pulling his fingers out, leaving Cloud feeling somewhat empty. That didn’t matter, for he knew something bigger awaited him, something that would quench his thirst.

It then dawned on the omega that, frankly, he didn’t have a clue what to do at this point. Granted, all of the times he and Zack had sex so far, it was the older man who took charge every time. Naturally, now that he took it upon himself to lead, Cloud couldn’t help but look like a deer in headlights.

Funnily enough, Zack was able to catch onto this quickly.

“Feeling lost, Sunshine?” Zack smirked, running his hands up and down Cloud’s hips.

“Maybe,” Cloud blushed.

“Just grab my cock, angle it to your hole and sink down,” Zack instructed.

Cloud nodded, nervously gripping Zack’s cock and positioning his entrance just above it. His teary blue eyes locked onto Zack’s emerald ones whose daze was that of both assurance and predaciousness.

The blond felt his best friend’s thick cock nudge against his entrance before slowly lowering down, bracing himself against Zack’s broad chest. Cloud silently whimpered, feeling Zack filling him up more and more as he sank down further. By the time he has sunk down onto the alpha’s cock fully, he was having trouble catching his breath. For some reason, Zack felt much bigger in this position.

“Take your time, Sunshine,” Zack whispered, trying to soothe his best friend. “No need to rush this.”

Cloud nodded as Zack brushed away his tears he didn’t know had fallen. The taller man reclined his seat back up, wanting to close the distance between him and the blond, wrapping his strong arms around Cloud’s lithe waist.

After enough time had passed, Cloud began to move his hips, bringing himself up to slam himself down. His breathing became more uneven for every time he lowered himself onto Zack’s endowment, the immediate punch his prostate received sent electric tingles through his body.

“You alright?” Zack asked, resting his forehead on top of Cloud’s.

“Y-Yeah, it feels so a-amazing!”

Zack soon started to thrust up, not wanting Cloud to do all the work anymore. It caught the blond by surprise initially, feeling the thick cock reach even deeper inside him than he thought. It didn’t take long before Cloud enjoyed the momentum.

Their bodies glistened with sweat as their mating became so frantic, with Zack ferociously moving up his hips to meet Cloud’s as the blond rode Zack. The alpha’s hands found their way onto Cloud’s ass, squeezing it tenderly.

“Zack! I’m close!” Cloud screamed, his arms clinging to Zack’s neck.

“M-Me too.” Zack gritted before pressing his lips onto Cloud’s. The omega closed his eyes, opening his mouth and allowing Zack permission to deepen the kiss.

Zack’s grip tightened on Cloud’s ass, aggressively slamming the blond down on his cock, desperately chasing their release. The alpha pulled away from the kiss, only to assault Cloud’s neck with more kisses, eliciting divine moans from the omega. His balls tightened, and his knot started to gradually swell, signifying his peak was imminent.

“Z-Zack!” Cloud moaned. “I’m going to -”

“Come, then, my beautiful angel.” Zack whimpered into Cloud’s ear.

Hearing those words must’ve set the blond off since he let out an ear-piercing moan, his orgasm crashing down onto him. His entrance clamped down around Zack’s erection, his angry cock shooting ropes of pearly come over his and Zack’s torsos.

Feeling his best friend’s damp walls clamp down on his cock so tightly, Zack couldn’t hold back his release either. His knot expanded to full potential, copiously filling the blond up with his come.

Their uneven breathing synchronised as they sat in Zack’s car that has fully steamed up due to their heated activities. Cloud smiled, wrapping his arms around his best friend’s neck, enjoying the warmth of Zack’s body.

“You doing okay, Sunshine?”

“Yeah, just – a bit sleepy.” Cloud yawned.

Zack chuckled. “Go to sleep then.”

“But I’m naked and stuck on your damn knot!” Cloud whined, pouting.

“I’ll dress you soon as my knot goes down, then we’ll head home,” Zack assured.

“Okay,” Cloud nodded before laying a soft kiss onto Zack’s scarred cheek. “Goodnight, Puppy.”

“Goodnight, Sunshine,” Zack whispered, returning a kiss upon the blond’s cheek.

Chapter Text

Cloud and Zack laid on the older man’s silky couch, with the omega’s legs draped over Zack’s lap. A massive bowl of salted popcorn was held in Zack’s hands as he decided for them to watch a horror movie. It’s not that Cloud minded horror movies, but for some reason, he couldn’t help but notice that they had started to become the same thing.

Be it a house, a person or even an animal, every recent horror movie had something possessed or haunted and frankly, Cloud was over it. Where was the creativity? The innovation? Nowadays, it seemed movie producers had gotten scared of the idea of failure and decided to stick to everything being supernatural.

Zack insisted that the movie he picked out wasn’t like anything the blond had seen recently and was sure to leave him petrified. The alpha decided that they would watch Terrifier and suffice to say, Cloud was more disgusted than scared by the movie. It definitely would strike a chord with people who hated gore and especially those who hated clowns.

“You’re not scared by this at all!?” Zack exclaimed, baffled as the movie played a death scene.

Cloud shrugged, shaking his head. “It’s too gross to be scary.”

“Dang,” Zack sighed in defeat. “I heard people left the theatre when this scene played. I’m surprised you’re not begging me to turn it off.”

“He looks creepy, I’ll give him that.” Cloud scoffed.

Zack set the popcorn down on the coffee table and pulled his best friend onto his lap, burying his head against Cloud’s pale neck.

“You love snuggling, don’t you?” Cloud chuckled.

“I love snuggling YOU!” Zack emphasised, wrapping his arms around Cloud’s waist and pulling him close. “You still smell like chlorine.”

“Yeah, you mind if I use your shower again?”

“How many times do I need to tell you?” Zack cheekily asked, pinching Cloud’s cheek. “You don’t need to ask! My home is yours too.”

“Is that why I haven’t been to my own apartment recently?”

“Hey, you’re welcome to go back anytime you want. I’m just saying, I like sharing my place with you, doesn’t feel as empty with you here.”

“But Aerith told me you live in your own apartment because you hated the idea of roommates?”

“I do, not you, though. You’re special.” Zack smiled.

“Fair enough. Can I go shower now?”

“Not yet,” Zack pouted. “I wanna snuggle with you a bit more.”

Cloud rolled his eyes, grinning before pulling the alpha closer.

The omega let out a blissful sigh, feeling the hot water run down his exhausted body. Grabbing Zack’s strawberry shower gel, he lathered up a little before spreading it across his body. Cloud was so lost in his own world that he, once again, didn’t notice the tall alpha sneak into the shower with him. He was only made aware of his presence when Zack wrapped his arms around him again.

“Ah!” Cloud jolted, turning around to see Zack grinning widely at him. “Damn it, Zack! Can I not have one shower in peace!?”

“Nope.” Zack deadpanned, a big goofy smile spread across his face. “Besides, I kinda smell a bit too so -”

“And you couldn’t have waited for me to finish?” Cloud pressed.

“S-Sorry, Sunshine, I didn’t mean to intrude -” Zack was about to step out before being pulled back by Cloud.

“I’m just kidding,” Cloud giggled. “At least if we shower together, you’ll save on the water bill.”

“I’m – not too sure about that.”

“Why?” Cloud questioned, puzzled before turning to the bathtub, seeing it has already been filled up almost to the top. Judging by the immense amount of bubbles, Zack had added a ton of bubble bath into the water.

“I – wanted you to have a relaxing bath when you got out of the shower.” Zack shrugged, washing Cloud’s back.

“You mean you wanted US to have a bath?”

“I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” Zack smirked, pouring a considerable amount of strawberry shampoo onto his hand. “Let me wash your hair.”

Cloud simply made a coy smile, nodding as the older man’s hands ran through his golden locks with shampoo-laced hands.  

After they had finished washing in the shower, Cloud gradually inched himself into the bathwater. Zack must’ve used some kind of rosy bubble bath, seeing that the colour of the water was a subtle blush hue. Once he had settled into the water, Zack followed, slipping behind him.

Cloud laid back against Zack’s body, opting to lay his head against Zack’s shoulder, closing his eyes.

“Tired?” Zack asked.

“Not really,” Cloud said, shaking his head. “The water’s just really nice.”

Zack chuckled, hugging the blond from behind. “I still can’t believe you’re here with me.”

“Neither can I,” Cloud agreed. “I’m really glad we met again, now I don’t feel as empty as I did before.”

“Yeah, I felt the same strangely.” Zack cradled Cloud’s head towards his chest, placing a soft kiss on his forehead. “So, did you date at all during our time apart?”

“No, I didn’t really have an interest in anyone at Nibelheim, and they seemingly didn’t have an interest in me.”

“I find that really hard to believe.” Zack scoffed.

“What’s so hard to believe about that?”

“Cloud, have you seen yourself? You’re so damn attractive! No way not one person didn’t fancy you.”

“Maybe they did, but they never came to me about it, and even if they did, I’d shut it down instantly.”

“Damn, aren’t you cold?” Zack scoffed.

“What about you? You talk about me being attractive like you’re not a tall drink of water yourself. I’m sure you had a bunch of boys and girls lined up to get with you. Who was lucky enough to do so?”

Zack remained silent, something that didn’t sit right with the omega. Normally, Zack was quick to open his mouth and chat his ear off. Did he say something wrong?

“Y-you don’t need to answer that -” Cloud tried to assure.

“No, I-I wanted to talk to you about this, but I wasn’t sure how to bring it up. Now that we’re on the subject, there’s no better time for me to tell you.”

“I’m all ears,” Cloud assured.

“It was the last year of high school, about a year since you and I were separated. We had a new girl transfer into Gongaga High, her name was Katrina.”

Cloud nodded, showing he was following the story.

“I have to say, she was quite a beauty. Long, silky, burgundy hair, beautiful hazel eyes, a lovely smile, she really had it all.” Zack continued. “Everyone wanted to be around her, she was like honey, and every guy and girl wanted a taste of her. Can’t say I wasn’t an exception, I was smitten by her and thank the Gods above, she seemed to have an interest in me too.”

“So?” Cloud questioned, sieving his hand through the water.

“She came up to me and asked if I wanted to go on a date with her. I obviously said yes since I was crazy about this girl at the time. After a handful of dates, I asked if she wanted to be my girlfriend, and she said yes. We were quite the hot topic at school, guys were jealous of me, and girls were jealous of her.”

“But you didn’t care, did you?” Cloud smiled.

“No,” Zack grinned. “We went to a lot of dates, and everything was going great. I genuinely felt like I had found my soulmate in her, and I was so excited for our future.”

Cloud nodded. From the way Zack spoke to her, it was evident he had a very fond outlook on this girl. How could it have possibly gone wrong?

“I remember telling her I was going to apply to Midgar University, but she wanted to study somewhere else. Whenever I had to go with my parents to parties and stuff, she always asked to come with. Naturally, my dad said no but being the dumb teenager I was at the time, I rebelled and brought her along. People crowded around us and – Gaia, Katrina loved the attention, smiling to the cameras.”

“My dad wasn’t impressed at all. After the party, he kept hitting me over the head, asking me how I could’ve been so stupid but I didn’t care. Everyone in town and beyond talked about us and particularly Katrina. But…”

Cloud felt Zack’s arms tighten around him, turning his head to look up to see the alpha’s jaw tightening.

“I-It’s okay, Zack. Just take your time.” Cloud soothed, tenderly rubbing his hand over Zack’s arm.

“I was walking through school once and everyone was gossiping about Katrina, about how she was seen making out with one of my friends at the time. I asked her about it, she told me it was all a lie spread around by some girl jealous of her. I was so dumb that I actually believed her. Little did I know, it would be the tip of the iceberg.”

“I – I remember one day, I was late from school after rugby practice, and I remember walking through the park. And – there she was, making out with another guy. I was so shocked. My girlfriend - someone I loved so dearly, someone I saw myself marrying and starting a family with – had betrayed me. I marched up to her and asked her to explain herself. She turned to me, and I swear – she looked like a completely different person.”

Zack fought a vicious battle trying to hold back his tears but right now, it was a battle he was devastatingly losing. Cloud somehow felt something similar, tears started to bubble in his eyes too.

“She looked so evil, so despicable. She looked at me and laughed – she just laughed in my face! Then, she said that she wasn’t really in love with me, that she was only with me so that she could have an easy way to fame and fortune. S-She said I was insufferable, that if I wasn’t good-looking or didn’t have money or the status I had, no one would give me a second glance. I never felt so betrayed, so hurt in my life. She told me she had been seeing that guy for several months and that once she was done using my name for fame, she was gonna drop me.”

“I ran home and told my mum all about it. She let me take a week off school despite finals being around the corner. My dad detested me, saying that I was stupid for letting a girl like that into my life. I was scared to come out of my room, I didn’t want to face my father’s disappointment.”

“You can continue some other time…” Cloud tried to assure him, but Zack shook his head.

“No, I-I’m good.” Zack insisted, though the crack in his voice suggested otherwise. “I was going through my drawers, and I stumbled upon a photo of you and I. Remember our trip to Costa Del Sol, we would play on the beach every day for the entire holiday? Suddenly, my heart shattered to bits, and I started to break everything in my room. My mum came bursting into my room trying to calm me down, and all I remember was screaming, ‘Where is Cloud? Where is my Sunshine?’”

Cloud’s teary eyes widened at the revelation.

“I recalled how every time I was upset or angry or sad or just feeling down, you would always pat me on the head, smile at me and tell me everything was okay. You always had this natural ability to put me at ease, and I guess I was upset even more when I realised I couldn’t turn to you for comfort like I did before. I cried in my mum’s arms, she whispered that everything was going to be okay while I was clenching the picture.”

“I-I’m so sorry you went through that, Zack.” Cloud whimpered.

Zack’s lips quivered, holding Cloud tightly as he fought back the tears that threatened to fall. His efforts were in vain, however, the tears breaking free and running down his face.

“She – she broke my heart, Cloud! I loved her so much, and she threw it back in my face!” Zack sobbed.

“Zack,”

“I don’t understand why Katrina would do something like that to me. A-Am I a bad person? Did I deserve to have my heart savagely broken like that?”

“No!” Cloud shouted, moving his body to face Zack fully. The alpha was shocked to see his best friend in tears. “You didn’t deserve that! She was just a – heinous person.”

“Cloud,”

“I – I could’ve been here for you. I should’ve been here for you!” Cloud sobbed.

Zack feverishly shook his head, wiping away the blond’s tears. “You didn’t know this was happening, Cloud. There was nothing you could’ve done!”

“Z-Zack, people like her are so fucking stupid! They don’t see beyond the wealth and influence you have, they don’t see the lovable person I know!”

“Cloud -”

“You’re such an easy person to love, Zack!” Cloud cried. “You’re so kind, considerate and selfless. What more could she have wanted from you?”

Zack rested his forehead on top of Cloud’s, kissing away the blond’s tears. “It’s okay, Cloud, she remained a part of my past, I’ve gotten over it.”

“I’m sorry, I just got emotional there.” Cloud sniffled. “Is – she the reason why you’re reluctant to date someone?”

Zack sighed heavily, nodding. “I know it’s been years and I should’ve been fine by now, but I’m afraid that I let someone close to me like her, I’ll only get hurt.”

“You’ll find someone in time, Zack,” Cloud assured. “But you had your heart smashed to pieces by someone you thought you could trust. It’s okay if you don’t want to let anyone in to let your heart heal.”

“That’s the problem, Sunshine!” Zack cried. “I want to fall in love with someone so badly! But I’m scared they’ll leave me, and I’ll be all alone.”

“You won’t!” Cloud exclaimed. “I – I know I wasn’t able to support you then but now, I’ll always be there for you. You know you can turn to me for anything – you have my promise!”

“Thanks, Cloud.” Zack tearfully nodded, smiling back at his best friend.

“You won’t feel alone again, I won’t allow it.” Cloud vowed, pressing Zack’s hand firmly against his soft cheek. “I won’t let someone hurt you like that again and if they do, I’ll be there to support you.”

More tears bubbled up in Zack’s eyes, hearing Cloud’s devotion and pulled the blond in for a tight hug. Cloud eagerly returned the hug, smiling as he rested his head on Zack’s shoulder.

“I really missed you, you know.” Zack sobbed, taking Cloud’s hand and peppering soft kisses across his knuckles.

“I missed you too.” Cloud whimpered.

“And you know I’ve got your back too. You can depend on me for anything.” Zack assured, running his back up and down Cloud’s back.

Cloud started to slowly pull away from the hug, wiping away Zack’s tears. The alpha reached up behind Cloud’s neck, pulling him down for a tender kiss with the blond happy to return the kiss. Zack’s other hand slithered down to Cloud’s ass, firmly gripping it, invoking an erotic groan from the omega.

“You want me to ride you in this bathtub?” Cloud seductively whispered into Zack’s ear, causing the alpha’s cock to stiffen.

Zack thought about it for a second. Though the offer was incredibly tempting, he more so wanted to see Cloud panting underneath him, face beet red and begging him for more.

“Nah, not tonight,” Zack uttered, abruptly rising from the bathtub, startling Cloud, who on reflex, wrapped his legs around Zack’s cut waist. The blond clung to Zack’s frame like a koala as he carried him to his bedroom.  

Cloud adorably squealed after being thrown onto Zack’s bed, the alpha swiftly joining him, hovering over him.

“Zack, we’re going to soak the bed!” Cloud exclaimed.

“You bet your sweet ass we are.” Zack gritted. “I’m gonna paint these sheets with your juices and smear your scent all over it.”

It wasn’t long before Zack pressed his lips upon Cloud’s again. The omega was even quicker to kiss Zack back, resting his hands on Zack’s face. Zack pulled away, moving to trail kisses down the blond’s neck, collarbone and chest, leaving numerous bite marks across Cloud’s upper body. He stopped at one of the tender nipples on Cloud’s chest, his mouth biting gently on the small button before caressing it with his tongue, his hand fiddling with the other.

“F-Fuck,” Cloud cursed, arching his back as to entice his best friend further. Zack decided to provide the same treatment to the other button, his teeth lightly grazing the tip before caressing it entirely with his mouth.

“Mmmh,” The omega moaned, running his hands through Zack’s dark locks. The alpha grinned, pulling away from the blond’s chest to observe the damage he had inflicted.

Zack lifted up Cloud’s legs, spotting the sinful entrance that clenched like it was in urgent need of cock.

The alpha bit his lip at the divine sight, beyond eager to pleasure the angelic omega below him. Zack was quick to prepare the omega, filling the damp hole with three fingers and scissoring them.

Thinking the slick-filled entrance was prepped enough, Zack pulled out his fingers and folded Cloud’s legs over his chest, spreading them far apart.

“Damn, Sunshine, how the fuck are you so flexible?” Zack growled.

“I-I don’t know!” Cloud whimpered, the alpha’s cock brushing against his stretched entrance.

“I ain’t complaining,” Zack assured, kissing Cloud’s forehead. “It really turns me on. You ready?”

“Yeah, take me.” Cloud nodded, smiling.

The blond couldn’t help but groan at the sensation of his damp hole trying to accommodate Zack’s ample shaft. Once the alpha was halfway inside him, he felt Zack’s hands move away from his legs, letting his legs rest upon his broad shoulders and grasping their hands together.

“How you feeling, Sunshine?”

“I-I’m okay,” Cloud whimpered.

“Fuck, you’re really tight.” Zack gritted, his balls brushing against the blond’s rear, sitting fully inside Cloud. “It’s like I didn’t fuck you a few hours ago.”

“I feel r-really full,” Cloud groaned, his hand descending to the lower part of his stomach where Zack’s shaft poked through. “C-Can you wait a second before you m-move?”

“Sure,” Zack nodded, placing a soft kiss upon the blond’s cheek.

Though Zack wanted to prioritise Cloud’s pleasure over his and not get carried away, he couldn’t say he wasn’t tempted to immediately start pacing in and out of his best friend. They had only had sex a handful of times but unlike his past encounters, Cloud was someone he wanted to go back to constantly.

Maybe it was the way Cloud’s damp walls clenched so badly around his cock like it needed it to live.

Or the way the blond screams to the high heavens every time Zack pushed inside him at a wild pace.

Or the way Cloud wrapped his arms and legs around Zack’s broad frame, begging for more.

Not to say Zack’s previous endeavours wouldn’t do the same but for a reason unknown to the alpha, it felt different coming from Cloud. It invoked a sense of euphoria and fulfilment he had never felt in anyone else. He couldn’t get enough of Cloud, even if he tried.

“O-Okay, you can m-move now.” Cloud whimpered.

“You sure?”

“Y-Yeah,” Cloud replied, beginning to fuck himself on Zack’s cock, having grown tired of waiting.

Zack grinned, placing his hands beside Cloud’s head, pulling out almost entirely before jamming his cock fully inside the omega, stabbing his prostate.

“So impatient, aren’t you, Sunshine?” Zack gritted. “You just had to help yourself to my cock, didn’t you?”

 “N-Need it. Need your cock so bad!” Cloud screamed, his hands clenching the sheets below him.

“Don’t worry, I’ll give you what you want,” Zack whispered, moving his hands to caress the blond’s pale hips.

Cloud sang choruses of divine pleasure, echoing across the room with every pound of Zack’s otherworldly cock. The blond swore he saw stars each time his prostate was bruised.

“P-Please! More!” Cloud screamed, running his hands behind Zack’s muscular back.

Zack leaned down onto Cloud’s neck, once again delicately biting on his milky skin, leaving an abundance of marks across his neck. Cloud was needy for more, stretching his neck and allowing his best friend to inflict more marks on him. The omega’s cock wept profusely, leaking continuously onto his stomach from the heavenly assault of Zack’s thick shaft.

The alpha constantly pistoned into his best friend, both of their bodies becoming sweaty from the hot fucking. Zack’s eyes landed on Cloud’s rosy-pink lips, how they were slickened by the omega’s saliva.

Biting his lip, he leaned down to capture Cloud’s lips with his, engaging them in a delightful kiss. Their tongues tangled with each other as for the first time, Cloud playfully tried to subdue Zack’s mouth in submission. However, Zack refused to lose, wrestling Cloud’s tongue, making the blond to lose the battle and allowing the alpha to dominate the kiss. A strong hand warmly held the omega’s face, contrasting with the animalistic kiss.

Once the taller man pulled away from their lip locking, he looked down at his best friend with an unimpressed grimace.

“You really thought you could outdo me in a kiss, didn’t you?” Zack seethed, slowing down his thrusts in favour of placing more force into them.

“It was worth trying.” Cloud giggled, his laugh cut short when Zack delivered a forceful thrust directly against his prostate.

The bed creaked ruthlessly with the alpha picking up the pace again. Cloud’s blunt nails relentlessly clawed against his best friend’s back, breathing heavily with every thrust of Zack’s thick cock.

“S-So good! Fuck!” Cloud moaned.

Zack gritted his teeth as the blond’s damp walls started to tighten around his cock.

“You getting close, Sunshine?”

Cloud feverishly nodded, but Zack wasn’t pleased by this.

“Use your words, Cloud.” Zack pressed.

“Y-Yes! I’m close! Please let me come.” Cloud pleaded, crying out for his release.

“So am I. Let’s come together, yeah?” Zack grinned.

“Y-Yeah! Oh, Gaia!”

Right when Cloud felt he was on the edge of coming, Zack leaned down to Cloud’s ear and whispered something that sent chills down his spine.

“My beautiful omega.”

Those words were enough to send Cloud over the edge, succumbing to absolute pleasure as his orgasm dawned upon him. His pale stomach was painted by streaks of his come shooting from his aching cock.

It didn’t take long for Zack to follow with his own release, his knot fully swelling, locking him inside his best friend and shooting vast amounts of come inside Cloud.

The air in the room had become heated but that didn’t stop Cloud from clinging desperately to his best friend. Zack must’ve thought the same, nestling his head against the blond’s neck and wrapping his arms around Cloud’s lithe frame.

“Woah, Sunshine, look at the mess you’ve made,” Zack smirked, looking down at the blond’s stomach painted with his come.

“And you’re to blame for it.” Cloud snickered, causing the alpha to let out a slight chuckle.

“Not to worry, I’ll clean this up for you.” The taller man winked before trailing his tongue over Cloud’s stomach, lapping up every remnant of come. Cloud’s face reddened deeply in mortification, covering his face with his hands.

Once he finished cleaning Cloud, Zack anchored himself above the blond, blissfully observing him. He noticed how Cloud’s face would always have a subtle glow after sex, something he had come to adore greatly.

Another thing Zack couldn’t help but notice was how shy Cloud acted after sex. Granted, Cloud, for the most part, was quite a shy guy but sometimes the alpha would need to turn the blond’s head towards him since he must’ve developed a tendency to look away in embarrassment. Truthfully, it was an adorable thing to witness.

“You’re so adorable, Cloud!” Zack widely grinned, pinching the omega’s cheek.

“Stop that!” Cloud whined, trying to shake off Zack’s hand, to no avail.

“I will not!” Zack teased, caressing the blond’s face, rubbing gentle circles along his cheeks. “You used to have such pinchable cheeks. What happened to them?”

“I went through puberty.” Cloud deadpanned, though he couldn’t stop himself from laughing alongside Zack. They clung to each other as their laughter echoed through the bedroom. It gradually went from light laughter to slight chuckles before a delightful silence.

However, an uneasy expression formed on Cloud’s face, something that doesn’t go unnoticed by the alpha.

“Something on your mind, Sunshine?”

“No!” Cloud objected but Zack saw right through it.

“There’s something nagging in your head, Cloud. I just know it!” Zack pressed.

Cloud bit his lip nervously. “I-It’s just…”

“Cloud, whatever is bothering you, you can tell me anything. But if you don’t feel comfortable saying it -”

“You know what you said earlier, about your ex calling you insufferable?” Cloud interjected.

“Y-Yeah?” Zack confirmed, scared of where this conversation was going.

“I – I wanted to say that,” Cloud spoke, laying his forehead on top of Zack’s. “You’re the total opposite of insufferable. At least to me.”

“Cloud-” Zack tried to interject, but Cloud pressed on.

“Never once has there been a time where I found you annoying or irritating. Not when we were kids and certainly not now. You’re – you’re always so considerate of everyone. You always have a way of lighting up the room, and everyone loves being around you. Yeah, you’re a really good-looking guy and have tons of money, but there’s so much more to you.”

The alpha’s eyes filled with tears that threatened to fall, his heart swelled with relief and happiness at Cloud’s words.

“Katrina’s problem wasn’t that you were a nuisance. You’re the furthest thing from that. No, it was because she couldn’t see beyond your looks and money to see the gem of a person you are. She was so blinded by greed and her own selfishness that she couldn’t see that a guy with a heart like you are rare and honestly, I’m glad she broke up with you because she didn’t deserve you!”

“C-Cloud,” Zack sobbed, tears rolling down his cheeks.

“There’s so much more to you than your attractive looks and money and I wish people would see what I see in you. A kind, lovable and trustworthy guy with a big heart.”

He and Zack both had tears running down their faces, sobbing profusely.

“And I know it’s hard to put your trust and heart into someone after enduring a cruel ordeal like that. But Zack - you can’t let that experience deter you from loving someone. What if the right girl or guy comes along for you and they may slip away because you’re afraid of falling in love?”

“I’m sorry, Cloud, but you know how my family are loaded. How am I supposed to know if they love me for who I am rather than what I have?” Zack sobbed before feeling his cock pulsing. Awkwardly, he nudged his cock inside Cloud, firing a couple loads into his best friend. “S-Sorry about that.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Cloud shook his head. “As for that last question, unfortunately you’ll have to trust your gut on that. But you also have me to gauge whether they want you for you or your money.”

“You promise?” Zack cheekily grinned.

“Promise.” Cloud nodded.

“Just out of curiosity, if I didn’t have any money or fame, you’d still be friends with me?”

Cloud looked at him, puzzled. “Of course I would! Zack, I didn’t befriend you because of your money or fame or your looks. Sure, it’s a nice thing to have but you’re such a fun person to be around. That’s the person I adore.”

Zack’s mouth quivered, pulling the blond in for a tight hug.

“T-Thank you so much, Cloud!” Zack whimpered. “You have no idea how much that means to me!”

Cloud sadly smiled, returning the hug. “You don’t need to thank me for liking you for who you are, Zack. That’s what friends are for.”

They remained entangled in their close embrace for what felt like hours. Once Zack’s knot had simmered down, Cloud expected him to pull out. He didn’t expect the alpha to still sit inside him, fully erect as if they didn’t just have sex mere minutes ago.

“D-Do you wanna -”

“No,” Zack interjected. “I think we’ve had enough for today. But can I –” Zack wanted to ask but truthfully, it was a tad awkward to ask his best friend if he could sleep with his cock lodged inside him.

“I guess…” Cloud trailed.

“Cloud, if you don’t want me to, it’s fine -”

“No, I -” Cloud bit his lip, unsure of how he wanted to put his thoughts into words without sounding like an idiot. “I-It feels good so…”

Zack goofily smiled, pulling out before turning both of them into their sides. They both let out a collective groan as Zack pushed his cock inside Cloud. The alpha didn't dare move once his thick member was encased in Cloud's heat, opting instead to engulf the omega in his strong arms, pressing his pale back against his broad chest. 

Pulling the duvet over their naked bodies, Zack laid a tender kiss on Cloud’s cheek and laid his head against the blond's shoulder.

“You have a really nice view of the city from here, Zack.” Cloud casually commented, somewhat to interrupt himself from the fact that the alpha had his large cock still inside him.

“Yeah, it’s really nice at night when all the skyscrapers still have their lights on,” Zack replied. “Did you mean it? About me being a lovable person?”

“Of course I do.” Cloud smiled. “I meant every word.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You’re also very good at sex.” Cloud uttered, covering his mouth upon realising his mouth spoke thoughts that were supposed to remain in his head.

Zack turned to look at the blond, a devilish grin spreading across his face. “I’m good at sex, uh?”

Cloud cringed to himself. How could he have let this vulgar thought to verbally manifest? Heat swiftly travelled to his face and neck, reddening at the speed of light.

“Mind exactly telling me I’m good at sex, Sunshine?” Zack playfully teased, cock stiffening inside the blond in gratification.

Cloud pouted, shaking his head in response.

“C’mon, Sunshine, you said it.” Zack pressed, biting on the blond’s earlobe lightly. “Now, I need an explanation.”

“Okay,” Cloud conceded. “You – you’re so big, it fills me up a lot. It almost feels like too much, but it always hits all the right places…”

Zack grinned, peppering kisses on Cloud’s cheek, invoking a pitiful whine from the blond.

“I’m glad to hear that, Sunshine. I always aim to please. And you’re not so bad yourself.”

“That’s really thoughtful of you.” Cloud spoke, his tone riddled with sarcasm as he rolled his eyes.

“You’re welcome.” Zack smiled, choosing to ignore the sarcastic tone. “Anyways, I’m going to sleep now.”

“Goodnight, Puppy.”

“Sleep tight, Sunshine.”

Before letting himself succumb to his tiredness, Zack quietly thanked the Gods above for bringing Cloud back to him. The blond had this natural way of calming him down and making him feel at peace. He vowed not to let the blond out of his embrace again, to protect him from people wanting to harm him. The omega would remain beside him forever, even if he had to put his life on the line for it.

Chapter Text

Morning had fully set in on the streets of Midgar with many people starting their usual daily routines. Vibrant sunlight shined on the city and little to no clouds promised the people a clear, sunny day, albeit with the chilly winds of the winter season.

Cloud dribbled the football towards Prompto, who joined him on a little early morning practice before the rest of the team and Cid arrived for their proper practice session.

“When do you think our first game is gonna be?” Prompto asked, gently passing the ball to Cloud.

“I don’t know,” Cloud shrugged. “We’ve been doing a lot of practice recently so I’m sure it must be soon.”

Prompto nodded. “Everything okay, Cloud? It looks like you’ve got your head in another void.”

Cloud pressed his lips together, unsure whether to tell Prompto or not. It had been a few days since Zack had confided in him about his ex-girlfriend and Cloud was still feeling a million emotions from it.

He was angry because he couldn’t figure out how someone could do something so wicked to someone as kind as Zack.

He felt pity because he could see how that ordeal left Zack afraid to fully trust and love someone.

He was overcome by bewilderment because he didn’t realise that most people were so shallow to only see Zack for his prestige and looks to care about his personality.

But the most predominant emotion was remorse. Though Cloud wouldn’t help that he was forced to be in another town far from Zack, a looming sense of guilt remained present. Some part of him told him he would’ve prevented the alpha’s outburst. No matter how many times he assured himself that he couldn’t have done anything, he wished he could’ve been there for Zack to tell him everything was going to be okay.

“It’s nothing.” Cloud shook his head.

Prompto remained unconvinced but decided against pressing further.

“If you say so.” Prompto shrugged. “By the way, I didn’t know you were good friends with Zack Fair. I know a lot of people who would love to be in the position you’re in.”

“Yeah, we were friends when we were kids and we’ve rekindled that friendship.”

“Oh, you guys have a falling out or something?”

“No,” Cloud shook his head. “We got separated but you know, we couldn’t contact each other so…”

“So, you two aren’t boyfriends then?”

“Well, no. We’re best friends.” Cloud said which only made Prompto much more curious.

“Hypothetically, if Zack were to get on one knee and ask you out, would you say yes?”

“What!?” Cloud asked in disbelief.

“I said -”

“I know what you said!” Cloud interjected, a rosy blush turning his normally pale cheeks red. “I – I wouldn’t know how to respond to that, honestly.”

“I think you’re lying to me.” Prompto cheekily grinned. “I think you and Zack are a thing!”

“We’re not!”

“What are those marks on your neck then?” Prompto asked, eyeing the love bites that painted Cloud’s milky neck red.

Realisation abruptly rained down on Cloud, remembering what transpired the day before. He and Zack were in the middle of playing video games at the alpha’s apartment before Zack pulled the blond on his lip. What was supposed to be playful cuddling turned into a heated make-out session which would’ve led to them being intimate had Cloud not needed to attend football practice.

Being the passionate (and frankly, possessive) friend that he was, Zack loved to leave the blond with dozens of marks across his neck and collarbone, to the point where no scarf or turtleneck stood a chance at hiding them. Not that Cloud minded them, the sweet sensation of the alpha’s mouth running across his skin was too good to resist.

“Um, well -” Cloud stuttered, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation. “I was – um-”

“You were at Zack’s.”

“Okay, we may or may not have done some things -”

“I fucking knew it!” Prompto laughed.

“Look, Zack and I are just friends, nothing more.”

“Fine, but you can confide in me when those ‘friendly’ feelings manifest into something more.” Prompto teased, prompting Cloud to roll his eyes.

The two blonds continued practising shooting at the goal when they noticed a girl quickly approaching them. They turned to each other, mirroring looks of confusion since they couldn’t decipher what this girl was doing there.

“Uh, can we help you?” Prompto hesitantly asked once the girl came close to them.

“Your name’s Cloud, isn’t it?” The girl snarled, blanking out Prompto as her focus remained fully on the taller blond.

“Y-Yes?” Cloud uttered.

“Hi, I’m Kyrie.” She introduced herself which did nothing to reduce the boys’ confusion whatsoever.

“Okay – is there something you needed or?” Cloud asked.

“I’ve heard you’re good friends with Zack Fair?”

“Um, yeah, he and I are best friends.”

“Great, because you see, I have a massive crush on him and I’m fairly confident he and I are soulmates and meant to be.”

“I see,” Cloud trailed, unclear how this conversation was going or what this girl was expecting him to do. “Is there something I can do to help?”

“Yeah, you can start by staying the fuck away from him.” Kyrie abruptly hissed, both blond boys being taken aback by this.

“E-Excuse me!?” Cloud gasped in shock.

“You heard me,” Kyrie snarled. “I know you’re telling everyone you’re only friends with him, but I can see right through your bullshit! I can tell you want him all to yourself.”

“Okay, slow down,” Cloud interjected. He didn’t know what this girl was expecting of him but she sure as hell wasn’t going to come up to him and tell him what to do like she was his mother.

“Zack is mine, understand?” Kyrie hissed, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I don’t know what you think of Zack and I’s friendship and frankly, I don’t care but you have no right to tell me to stay away from him!” Cloud shouted, fed up.

“Just throwing this out there, have you asked Zack out at all?” Prompto curiously asked.

“Of course I have! Many, many times.” Kyrie confirmed.

“And he said no every time, correct?”

“Well, not exactly…”

“Not exactly. Yeah, that means no.” Prompto mocked.

“Can you get lost!?” Kyrie hissed, dismissing Prompto before turning her attention back to Cloud. “Listen, I love Zack, and I know he loves me too. He just doesn’t see it yet.”

“Do you even hear yourself, you dumb bitch?” Prompto remarked, looking at Kyrie disgusted.

“And how does me staying away from Zack help you?” Cloud asked.

“Isn’t it obvious? Since the two of you became friends, he’s always like ‘Cloud, this’, ‘Cloud, that’. It’s like his entire world revolves around you.” Kyrie complained.

“Let me put this bluntly,” Cloud began, moving closer to Kyrie as if to look threatening. “You asked him out already and he said no. For the love of the Gods above, let it go. He’s not interested in you.”

“He’s not interested in me because of you!” Kyrie protested.

“Okay, how long have you had a crush on him?” Cloud tested.

“Since I started here, so a year?”

“And I started here over a month ago. See, me being friends with Zack has nothing to do with him not reciprocating your feelings.” Cloud smirked, causing Kyrie’s face to redden with anger, her hands balling into fists.

“Well, you’re not helping!” Kyrie yelled.

“Why don’t you mind your own business?” Prompto interrupted. He was so irritated, he was dangerously close to kicking the ball right into the annoying girl’s face. “If Cloud is telling you he’s just friends with Zack, then it is what it is. You wanna believe it’s something else? Fine but don’t project your delusions onto people who don’t deserve it!”

“Why, you -”

“What’s going on here?” A booming voice interrupted. They all turned to see Cid, looking unimpressed at the girl. “You harassing my star players?”

“N-No, I was -”

“Yes, sir,” Prompto interjected. “She’s giving Cloud unnecessary grief and it’s making us uncomfortable.”

“Is that so? If that’s the case, I’m gonna have to ask you to leave, young lady.” Cid said.

“Wait, there’s just been a misunderstanding -”

“Cloud, is this girl giving you a hard time?” Cid asked, wanting to confirm what he could already assume was the situation.

“She hasn’t said a nice thing to me since she came here. So, yeah, she is.” Cloud confirmed, leading Cid to menacingly glare down to Kyrie.

“Then you need to be on your way, lady.” Cid gritted, pointing towards the exit.

Kyrie let out a huff, shooting Cloud and Prompto a deathly glare before storming away.

“The fuck was her problem?” Prompto questioned, repulsed by the girl’s behaviour. Just as she left, other members of their team started to gradually arrive.

“Who cares?” Cloud shrugged. “Come on, practice will start soon.”

After their practice session, everyone began to disperse, heading off to many different directions. Cloud and Prompto, being the good Samaritans as they were, helped Cid pack up the equipment.

“What you doing after this then?” Prompto asked, putting on a varsity jacket that looked too big for him.

“Zack forgot his rugby varsity jacket at my apartment so I was going to return to him after he was finished with rugby practice.”

“No way! I was about to head there too!” Prompto beamed. “Say, why don’t you put on Zack’s jacket?”

“Probably because it will look massive on me.” Cloud scoffed.

“Gladio likes it when I wear his varsity. Check it out,” Prompto turned around to show Gladio’s engraved name on the back. “Come on, it’s freezing.”

Cloud sighed before conceding, taking his best friend’s varsity out of his bag before throwing it on. He had to roll up the sleeves several times so his hands could peek through, and the lower part of the jacket reached down to above his knees ever so slightly. Cloud wasn’t surprised by this at all. Not only was Zack much taller than him, but the man was also built like a tank. His arms were arguably bigger than Cloud’s thighs which in itself said it all.

“Aw, don’t you look precious?” Prompto mocked, heat rushing to Cloud’s cheeks. “Come on, let’s go meet our boyfriends!”

“YOUR boyfriend!” Cloud corrected. “Zack and I are just friends.”

“Sure.” Prompto nodded though he did not believe Cloud for a second.

Breathing heavily, Zack ran a hand through his sweat-slicken hair. He and his teammates had been practising for the past two and a half hours, a half-hour more than what they would usually do. Heidegger seemed to be having a bad day and decided to take it out on the rugby team for some reason.

Everyone was taking a breather while Heidegger excused himself for a few minutes.

“Is that man okay?” Roche snickered. “The fuck has he got up his ass to be such an asshole?”

“I know,” Kunsel agreed. “He’s more of an asshole than usual.”

“I’m sure it will be over soon.” Zack shrugged.

“Say, Zack. You know you’re trending on Twitter, right?” Roche said.

“What?” Zack scoffed.

Roche looked around for any sign of Heidegger before pulling out his phone, showing pictures of him and Cloud modelling for Speedo.

“By the way, the blondie next to you. Ain’t that your bestie? Dude is a sight for sore eyes!” Roche remarked, causing Zack to clench his jaw slightly.

“Y-Yeah, that’s Cloud. It wasn’t originally meant to be him, but the other guy couldn’t make it.” Zack affirmed.

“And they let Cloud model for a big brand like Speedo just like that?” Kunsel asked.

“Alex was desperate, alright?”

“I don’t think the other guy would’ve measured up to your bestie anyway, Zack. Gaia, look at his waist, that face, those lips.” Roche said in awe, showing the pictures to Kunsel. “Is he dating anyone?”

“Roche!” Kunsel exclaimed.

“What?” Roche shrugged. “Come on, Zacky.”

“I thought you were into Stella?” Zack questioned with a raised eyebrow.

“Hey, I can look at a map. Doesn’t mean I’m going on a trip. It’s just out of curiosity.”

“No, he doesn’t,” Zack confirmed. “But he isn’t looking for one.”

“Damn, you really shut that down,” Kunsel remarked, a bit surprised at Zack’s harsh tone.

“Alright, you rotten peasants!” Heidegger roared, marching back to the team. “We’re practising scrams, let’s go!”

The team collectively groaned in irritation, much to Heidegger’s dismay.

“I know you lot didn’t groan at me! Zack, this is your team. Tell them to cut the bullshit!” Heidegger commanded.

“Alright guys, I know this is kinda tedious. I get that. But we’re gonna start playing matches soon and we all know we have one hell of a reputation to uphold. That means no half-stepping and no slouching. Every minute of practice is a step towards success.”

“Remember, guys. We’re in this together.” Gladio chimed in, standing alongside Zack. “Let’s get it together and we can go home afterwards.”

They all sighed before joining the two leaders who smiled at each other.

“You’ve got this, Gladio!”

Everyone turned to where the cheerful voice came from, with Gladio bashfully smiling since he knew who the voice belonged to.

Prompto waved from the bleachers, jumping up in excitement. Cloud stood beside him, waving towards Zack and shooting him a cheeky wink.

Zack let out an amused chuckle, seeing Cloud wearing an abnormally large jacket. It then dawned on him that he hadn’t been able to find his varsity jacket anywhere in his apartment. Cloud was wearing his jacket.

Normally, this would piss him off if it was anyone else. But since it was Cloud, it strangely made his heart swell. Unfortunately for Zack, he wasn’t the only one staring at Cloud. Almost all the team were throwing suggestive eyes towards the blond, some even making comments under their breath.

“He looks prettier in person than in the photos.”

“I mean if Zack ain’t hitting that, I wouldn’t mind having a taste.”

“If he isn’t dating someone, I’m sliding into his DMs.”

Gladiolus couldn’t help but notice Zack’s sudden change in demeanour, his fists clenching and mouth morphing into a repulsed growl that seemed borderline possessive. Laying a hand on Zack’s shoulder was enough to snap him out of his feral stance.

“Don’t worry, I get it,” Gladio assured. “I don’t like it when they throw eyes at my Prompto either.”

“Um, Cloud and I aren’t dating. He’s my best friend.” Zack shrugged, trying to play it cool.

“Oh, because I’ve never seen someone possessive of a ‘best friend’ before.” Gladio chuckled.

“Alright, come on, guys! Let’s go!” Zack called out.

After another half an hour of gruelling practice, Heidegger finally took sympathy on the rugby team and told them they were finished for the day, the team rejoicing in loud cheers. Most of them dispersed almost instantly, with only Zack, Kunsel, Roche and Gladio remaining.

Prompto ran down from the bleachers, jumping into his boyfriend’s arms with an ear-to-ear grin plastered on his face while Cloud trailed closely behind him. Zack started to walk towards the smiling blond but was cut off by Roche who bolted towards him. Cloud was startled by the man who flirtatiously smirked at him, his eyes hovering to Zack who merely rolled his eyes.

“How do you do, my fair sunflower?” Roche bowed, rendering Cloud confused.

“Um, hi?” Cloud laughed before walking past Roche, going straight to Zack. Everyone bar from Roche burst out laughing, even Kunsel couldn’t suppress his chuckling at Roche being not so subtly rejected.

“Sorry, you left this at my apartment the other night,” Cloud said to Zack, starting to peel off the jacket. He was startled when Zack abruptly put it back on him, going as far to button it up for him.

“Keep it on, it looks good on you,” Zack smirked. “Did you come to support me during practice?”

“Maybe,” Cloud playfully grinned.

Zack smiled back at Cloud, wrapping his strong arms around him. Cloud nestled his face into the alpha’s chest, returning the hug.

“That’s not fair!” Roche pouted. “How come all the gorgeous ones go to Zack first?”

“Hey! This is my bestie, not some random girl from the club.” Zack remarked, holding Cloud closer to him as to say the blond was off limits. “By the way, Cloud, this is Kunsel and Roche. Kunsel and Roche, this is Cloud.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Cloud.” Kunsel smiled.

“Likewise.” Cloud nodded.

“Hey Cloud! You gonna tell Zack about that bitch who threatened you?” Prompto asked, still dangling in Gladio’s embrace.

Zack’s arms tightened around Cloud, his body stiffened, and his eyes darkened as he looked down at his blond best friend, a million questions running through his head.

Who had the audacity to threaten him?

What were they threatening him with?

Why were they threatening him?

“Cloud,” Zack muttered, tone dark and commanding. “Who threatened you?”

“Um, you see -” Cloud tried to respond.

“Some girl named Kyrie, talking about how she and Zack were destined for each other,” Prompto exclaimed, eliciting an irritated groan from Zack, Kunsel and Roche.

“Seriously!?” Kunsel exclaimed, baffled. “That girl is obsessed with you, I swear!”

“She didn’t hurt you, did she!?” Zack questioned, scanning Cloud’s body for any bruises or cuts.

“No, I’m good!” Cloud assured.

“Good,” Zack sighed in relief. “If she comes near you again, you tell me, okay!?”

“Yeah,” Cloud nodded. “Anyways, I need to get going if I want to be on time for my shift at work.”

“You’re not gonna turn up to work in your football kit, are you?” Zack asked.

“Obviously not, Puppy.” Cloud chuckled.

“Puppy,” Roche mocked, receiving disgusted glares from Zack and Cloud.

“Before I was rudely interrupted,” Cloud snickered, sticking his tongue out at Roche. “I was going to stop by at my house for a quick shower before work. Can’t be looking all sweaty after practice, can I?”

“Guess not. I’ll walk you there.”

“Hey!” Roche shouted. “Didn’t we agree to go out after practice?”

“I’ll join back with you guys after I take Cloud to work,” Zack yelled back, waving them bye.

“I can’t believe this!” Roche remarked.

“Come on, this is the happiest I’ve seen him since I met him.” Kunsel shrugged, starting to walk away.

“Hey, wait up!” Roche shouted, jogging after Kunsel.

Gladio looked down to his boyfriend who had an almost mischievous smirk painted on his face.

“Babe,” Gladio spoke. “Why are you smiling like that?”

“You close with Zack at all, big guy?”

“Kind of, we’re not super close but I can hang around him and have a good time. Why?”

“Does he – date much?”

“Not that I know of,” Gladio shook his head. “But the way he looks at your teammate,”

“That’s what I’m saying!” Prompto exclaimed.

Seventh Heaven was buzzing with chatter, the bar almost completely filled with paying patrons, making Cloud’s job much more tiring than usual. Like most days, everyone bar from Cloud and Tifa had either cancelled their shift or just decided not to come in at all. Needless to say, Barret was beyond furious, promising to fire those workers and give him and Tifa a raise for their hard work.

“Hey, waiter!” A customer yelled at Cloud, the blond immediately turning to the gritty voice. “Turn up the telly, would ya?”

Cloud nodded, turning up the TV to see the news had moved on to business stories. While the blond kept somewhat to date with the news, he couldn’t say it was a priority of his. Nonetheless, he decided to pay attention to what was being said.

“In other business news, swimwear company Speedo’s stock prices have skyrocketed after the campaign photos for their new swimwear line going viral. People on social media cannot stop buzzing about the models, one of which is Zack Fair, son of Fairlight’s CEO and owner, Hugo Fair.”

“Admiring your boyfriend, Cloud?” Tifa cheekily asked as the TV showcased solo pictures of Zack, receiving a dirty look from the blond.

“However, the hot topic of discussion is the blond model. From his enchanting face to his mesmerising physique, everyone is working overtime to find more photos of him. They were only met with disappointment to find no other photos of him exist on the internet. Nevertheless, a representative from Speedo released a statement, saying that they were pleased with the positive reception and expressed their interest in following up the campaign with more photos.”

Cloud was taken aback once the TV started to display pictures of him modelling. He turned to Tifa who looked more shocked than him.

“C-Cloud, am I going crazy or is that you on TV posing in a speedo?”

“Um, that is me. But -”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to become famous!?”

“I didn’t think they’d post the photos so quickly. Zack and I literally took them a few days ago!”

Before they knew it, the day had quickly progressed from the early afternoon to late evening. Cloud and Tifa finished serving the last two customers and were cleaning up the bar when Barret approached them, holding his slightly outdated phone.

“Um, Cloud, have you seen what people are saying about you on the internet?” Barret asked, passing the blond his phone.

Looking through the comments, Cloud was both pleasantly surprised and disgusted at the same time.

‘I just know modelling agencies are scanning through every inch of Gaia to find this blond beauty.’

‘Well, here’s another one for the Spank Bank.’

‘The amount of money I would pay to see Zack fuck the living shit out of that blond.’

Cloud recoiled at the last comment. The internet has always been made up of a million voices and opinions. Some were reasonable, some were aggressive and some were perverted. It was just bad luck that perversion would make up the majority of the comments about Cloud.

“Some of the things they say about you,” Barret remarked in disgust. “I wouldn’t say that to someone’s face!”

“Good thing it’s the internet, Barret. Where you can hide behind a mask of anonymity.” Tifa shrugged.

“They’re saying similar things about Zack too.” Cloud observed.

“Oh, like what?” Tifa asked.

“Things like ‘Damn, that speedo is really struggling to contain that big dick of his!’. Now, that’s just gross!”

“Okay, that’s enough internet for everyone,” Barret said. “You guys head on home, I’ll finish up here.”

Cloud sat by his desk, sipping on a cup of decaf coffee as he went over his notes for his next class. Time had really flown by for Cloud, feeling like it was just yesterday that he began his journey at Midgar University. Now halfway through the first semester, Cloud couldn’t help but reflect on his time here so far.

While he found happiness in that he was able to find several friends here, the true highlight was reuniting with his childhood friend, Zack. Speaking of the alpha, Cloud turned to his bed where several gifts from Zack had resided.

Upon arriving from his shift at Seventh Heaven, Cloud was shocked to find a big box on his coffee table. Hesitantly opening them, he was relieved to find it wasn’t a bomb or anything that could threaten his life. That relief was swiftly replaced with bewilderment, seeing that within this box was a brand-new beige backpack and a pair of headphones. Upon closer inspection, Cloud was able to discover the backpack was from Hermes and the headphones were a pair of AirPods Max in blue, his favourite colour.

Cloud searched his phone for Zack’s contact before aggressively pressing his number. Unsurprisingly, the alpha picked up after one ring.

“Sunshine!”

“Zack, did you buy me gifts again?” Cloud asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Do you like them?”

“Zack, how do you have the money to keep buying me stuff like this?”

“You know as well as everyone else how wealthy my family is, Sunshine. I could buy you a lot more if I wanted to.”

“You don’t need to keep doing this, Zack.”

“You don’t think I know that? I do it because I treasure you, Sunshine.”

“I appreciate it, I really do! But how am I supposed to pay you back for this?”

“Don’t worry about that. Besides, your old backpack was practically falling apart.”

“Zack, one tiny hole doesn’t qualify as falling apart.”

“It does to me. Oh, argh…”

Cloud noticed Zack groaning over the phone, worry and concern pulsing through him.

“A-Are you okay?” Cloud asked, his voice shaky from worry.

“N-No, I – I think my rut might be approaching.”

Cloud looked over to his calendar, suddenly realising the day. The last week of October started today, meaning his heat cycle was fast approaching. Surely, if Zack’s rut was coming, his heat was soon to follow. Frankly, it was a miracle that his heat hadn’t struck, given that for the first time in a while, he hadn’t taken his heat suppressant or pheromone blockers.

“Sunshine, you still there?”

“Y-Yeah! What makes you think it’s your rut?”

“I’m getting those dull aches in my stomach. That surely happens before I become aggressively horny.”

“You’re always horny though.” Cloud laughed.

“Okay, but my horniness is like a hundred times worse during my rut.”

“I’m guessing you didn’t take your suppressant, then?”

“No, didn’t we agree that we’d help each other instead?”

“I know, I just wanted to make sure. I – haven’t taken my suppressant either.”

“I’m gonna try to sleep it off. Might be a false alarm if you’re not feeling anything.”

“Might be too early to tell.” Cloud tried to assure the alpha, but he was just as unaware as Zack. “I’m going to go to bed now. If it worsens, give me a call and we’ll work it out together.”

“Okey dokey! Night, night, Sunshine!”

Shutting down his laptop, Cloud turned off his bedroom light before tucking himself into bed, shortly heading into the land of dreams.

- 2 Hours Later -

Glistening moonlight shined through Cloud’s bedroom window, the omega slowly piercing his eyes open. Cloud sat up, feeling that something was amiss. His mouth was dry, yet his body was sweaty, his stomach was in knots and his ass couldn’t stop leaking.

Oh no, he was going into heat.

Turning on his bedside lamp, the blond shuffled through his drawer, pulling out his book. Maybe if he occupied his mind with something else, he could distract himself from his heat before it consumed his consciousness whole.

He had only read through a few pages before coming to the realisation that this was pointless. The more he tried to distract himself, the more his heat fought against him. Normally, when his body and mind were at odds, his mind would prevail. At times like this, however, his body and mind were one and the same.

Truthfully, this was Cloud’s first heat in quite a while, the last heat cycle being almost six months ago. Then again, constantly taking heat suppressants would have that kind of effect on any omega. Nonetheless, the blond couldn’t bear the way his underwear clung to his ass, pulling off everything from the waist down.

Bringing the bottom of his t-shirt to his mouth, he bit it gently, his fingers travelling down to his drenched entrance. His teeth gritted against the cotton, breathing a sigh of relief, plunging a slim finger inside himself.

Fiercely fingering himself, Cloud let out a depressing whine. His own fingers aren’t satisfying him the way they used to. Four of his fingers ruthlessly thrusted in his damp hole but Cloud grew frustrated and upset at how he couldn’t find his prostate.

Suddenly, his phone started to ring. Bringing his other hand to his phone, he was ecstatic to see Zack’s name lit up on the screen, answering without a shred of hesitation.

“C-Cloud!”

“Zack?” Cloud sobbed.

“A-Are you crying? What’s wrong?”

“H-Heat. My heat’s h-here and -”

“Hush, my beaming Sunshine. What do you need?”

“I – I can’t…” Cloud whined.

“Calm down, Sunshine. Tell me what’s the matter?”

“M-My fingers – they’re not enough. I need – I need you! I need your fingers, your cock, anything as long as it’s you!”

“I’m on my way now, Cloud. Hang tight, okay?”

“Please hurry!” Cloud pleaded.

After what felt like decades for the suffering omega had passed, his head perked up when he heard a light knocking from his front door. Pulling his shirt down as far as it could go, he opened the door slightly, smiling brightly to see that it was his best friend. His happiness quickly turned to worry upon closely inspecting the alpha’s state.

Zack looked utterly dishevelled, his breathing ragged and heavy, and his forehead was touched with sweat. Cloud couldn’t suppress biting his lip at how Zack was only wearing a plain white t-shirt and grey sweatpants, his prominent erection twitching through the fabric. A colossal wave of alpha pheromones hit Cloud, almost instantly making him crumble to the floor.

Opening the door wider to let his best friend in, he was shocked when Zack slammed the door closed and roughly held Cloud in his arms, leaving wet, sloppy kisses across his pale neck. Moving towards the bedroom, the alpha had already stripped Cloud of his t-shirt, leaving him bare. He pushed Cloud into his bed before aggressively removing his clothes.

“D-did you go commando?” Cloud asked, surprised to see Zack hadn’t put on any underwear.

“Didn’t have time.” Zack groaned, towering over Cloud like a predator. “Didn’t want to waste a second getting to you.”

The blond didn’t hesitate to spread his legs, revealing his entrance that was drenched with slick. Zack salivated at the sight, dragging his fingers to gently probe Cloud’s clenching hole. The alpha’s pheromones had a profound effect on Cloud, making his breathing harsher than normal, his cock painfully hard and his entrance overflowing with slick, staining the sheets beneath him.

“Shiva’s tits, you’re soaking, Cloud.” Zack groaned, pushing a finger inside, making Cloud arch his back in pleasure. “Look at the mess you’ve made on your bed.”

“Nnnn – fuck,” Cloud moaned, tightly gripping the sheets beneath him. “M-More, I need more!”

“My poor omega, so needy,” Zack teased.

“P-Please, alpha!” Cloud begged, wrapping his arms around the alpha’s neck, and pulling him close. “I – I need you!”

“Be a good omega and wait, Sunshine,” Zack instructed, scissoring his fingers inside Cloud. “As you can see, I’m not doing any better than you.”

The omega looked down and his cheeks instantly turned a rosy pink, looking directly at Zack’s thick cock. It looked thicker, bigger – angrier than usual.

“Believe me, all I wanna do is take you to heaven again and again with this monster cock. But I don’t wanna make this more painful than it needs to be.” Zack reasoned, kissing Cloud’s earlobe.

“I-I know you’d never hurt me, Zack.” Cloud smiled, kissing the alpha’s cheek. “At least not on purpose.”

“Fuck,” Zack gritted, feeling Cloud’s entrance clenching around his four fingers. He abruptly pulled out, causing the blond to whine pitifully, his entrance now feeling empty and shallow.

“Don’t whine, Sunshine,” Zack assured, positioning himself against the warm entrance. “I’ll give you what you want.”

All Cloud saw was a cheeky wink from Zack before loudly gasping as the humongous cock began to fill him up.

Chapter Text

Glistening stars and glowing moonlight decorated the night sky, shining down on the peaceful residents of Midgar. The night was dead, little to no movement occurred on the streets since almost everyone was sleeping. It was currently 2 am so surely, no one could possibly be up this late, right?

Wrong because Zack and Cloud were both very much awake.

The blond was spread across his bed, pale legs wrapped tightly around Zack’s waist while the alpha ruthlessly rammed his large cock inside him.

And with how loud the blond was being, his surrounding neighbours were likely to awaken too.

Cloud couldn’t help it. As much as he tried to suppress his voice so as to be courteous to everyone else in the building, any effort was inevitably in vain. Whenever he tried to cover his mouth, his best friend would viciously growl, pulling his hands away from him. And every time Zack’s cock pressed against his prostate, it sent colossal waves of pleasure coursing through his body, ultimately transpiring into noisy choruses that echoed across his apartment.

“Z-Zack,” Cloud moaned. “Ngh”

“Feels good, don’t it, Sunshine?” Zack grinned.

Cloud vigorously nodded, hands moving down from the alpha’s neck to grasp the pillow behind him, his knuckles turning white.

“S-So good! Gaia!”

Zack smirked, taking a hold of the blond’s legs, pressing them against his pale chest before moving them on top of his shoulders. Cloud looked down to see his stomach had a considerable bulge.

“H-Have you gotten bigger?” Cloud asked, shocked.

“I-It’s because of my rut,” Zack answered, kissing the blond’s cheek before trailing his lips down his milky neck. “Is it – too much?”

“N-No,” Cloud shook his head, back arching when Zack’s mouth encased his tender nipple. “I-I can take it.”

“Such a good omega, aren’t you?” Zack praised, pressing his lips against Cloud’s soft ones. “Squeezing my cock so tightly…”

“Zack! A-Alpha!” Cloud screamed, unable to keep his voice down. Zack kept hitting his sweet spot over and over, making the omega melt in the alpha’s embrace. To this day, Cloud still couldn’t figure out how Zack was able to slip his well-endowed cock inside him. But he wasn’t about to start complaining, not when it has given him such divine pleasure, something his own fingers couldn’t achieve.

The headboard banged aggressively against the wall, the bed creaked loudly, threatening to fall apart amidst the pair’s frantic fucking. Cloud held Zack close to him, their foreheads dozed with sweat pressing against each other.

“Zack! I-I’m close,”

“Go on, then.” Zack whispered into the blond’s ear, gently biting his earlobe.

Cloud’s back arched towards the ceiling, letting out a high-pitched wail, succumbing to his orgasm. Hands tightly clenching the sheets, Cloud shot string after string of hot come over his body. Zack bit his lip, continuing to fuck Cloud through his orgasm and staring at him in awe. In his eyes, Cloud was truly stunning, a work of art.

Pale, milky skin decorated with various marks, marks he alone made.

His blushing face basking in the afterglow of his orgasm, glossy eyes staring right back at the alpha.

His decent-sized cock, pushing itself to hardness despite its release being mere seconds ago.

Everything about Cloud begged to be tainted, to be marked, to be possessed. Something that Zack was more than happy to do. But not while the blond’s mind was somewhat incapacitated by his heat.

Zack’s brutal pace had slowed to a moderate speed, wanting to allow the omega time to recover from his orgasm. Cloud must’ve thought otherwise, however, since he started to fuck himself against the alpha’s thick cock.

“D-Don’t stop.” Cloud breathed. “Need m-more.”

Cloud was slightly startled when Zack’s hands abruptly found purchase on his narrow hips.

“As you wish,” Zack smirked, his voice dark and cunning.

Cloud sang a symphony of moans as Zack started to fiercely roll his hips into him again. The bedsheets got more and more drenched with his slick with each time Zack pulled out almost all the way before filling him up again.

Zack’s fingers dug deeply into Cloud’s skin, promising to leave bruises afterwards. Moving his hands to underneath the blond’s knees, he folded the blond, his knees pressing beside his head as the alpha tried to shove his cock as deep into the blond as possible.

The omega struggled to keep his breathing under control as Zack’s thrusts became barbaric, hitting Cloud’s ball of nerves with so much force, it ascended him to the skies above.

“A-Alpha, please -”

“Yes, Sunshine?” Zack husked, licking Cloud’s subtle tears away.

“N-Need it.”

“Need what?” Zack teased, smirking.

“K-Knot, your knot.” Cloud pleaded.

“Say please.”

“P-Please!” Cloud begged, a brutal thrust from his best friends making a tidal wave of pleasure rain down upon him. “I need your knot! Please, Zack!”

Zack gritted his teeth, feeling Cloud’s damp walls clamp down. He knew he was close, and Cloud was nearing his second orgasm for the night. Perverse thoughts started to plague his mind.

How many times could he make Cloud come before it became too much?

How much come could he fill Cloud up with before the blond couldn’t take anymore?

How many rounds could they go before the night was over?

“Fuck, I’m about to come.” Zack groaned, ruthlessly thrusting into Cloud’s soaking entrance. He stared down at the blond’s weeping cock, throbbing angrily. His emerald eyes moved up to meet Cloud’s blue, teary ones. Smiling, he leaned down to meet Cloud’s rosy lips in a blissful kiss, eating up the blond’s euphoric moans.

The alpha tightly held Cloud close, feeling his orgasm was vastly approaching, his knot starting to swell.

“S-Shit! Fuck, I’m coming!” Zack roared, shoving his cock into Cloud as deep as he could. The blond loudly squealed, painting his stomach and chest with more ropes of come. However, the delightful feeling of his orgasm was soon overthrown with the pressure of Zack’s knot becoming greater.

Cloud began to panic as Zack’s knot didn’t seem to stop growing. He began to slam his fists against the alpha’s chest, desperately trying to grasp his attention as he felt his hole being stretched out more than he was used to.

“O-Ow! OW! Z-Zack! I-It hurts!” Cloud cried.

Zack kissed away his tears, softly rubbing his hands down the blond’s sides as to soothe him.

“I know, just breathe, Sunshine.”

Cloud was trying, he really was. But the trouble was taking his best friend’s knot outside his rut already was a difficult challenge that he thought he wouldn’t overcome. Now, it felt like he was back to square one with the alpha’s knot during his rut proving to be a much more difficult thing to overcome.

Zack let out a satisfied groan as his knot had finally stopped growing, deciding to look down at his best friend. His eyes widened at the sight of Cloud’s hole trying to accommodate his bulbous knot. Admiration quickly turned to guilt, unaware that his knot was causing the blond pain.

“S-Sorry, Cloud.” Zack apologised, placing a kiss on the blond’s forehead. “I didn’t think it would hurt you that much.”

“I-It’s okay,” Cloud assured, rubbing circles on Zack’s cheeks. “I’ll get used to it.”

The two of them laid there in blissful silence, Cloud quietly observing how his best friend behaved in rut. Not only was the alpha’s knot much larger, but he also seemed to dispel much more come during rut.

Half an hour had passed, and Zack’s knot had yet to deflate, much to Cloud’s amazement and dismay.

“Zack?”

“Yeah?”

“How long are we going to be stuck like this?”

“I-I don’t know. Honestly, you’re the first person I’ve spent my rut with. So I’m just as clueless as you.”

“Oh, okay.” Cloud nodded.

“It doesn’t hurt anymore, does it?”

Cloud shook his head. “Not as much as it did before. Actually…”

Zack raised an eyebrow at Cloud whose face began to turn a rosy hue. “Actually?”

“I-It feels good…” Cloud muttered, placing his hand on his stomach where the alpha’s cock bulged through.

Zack couldn’t stop himself from blushing, leaning down to capture the angelic omega’s lips with his own.

Cloud slowly opened his eyes, his vision initially blurry but quickly becoming clear. He groaned at the state of his bedroom. It was a mess, clothes were scattered across the floor and one of the blankets was thrown across his drawer.

Letting out a heavy sigh, the blond tried to sit up, only to be abruptly pulled back. Turning his head, he saw his best friend still very much asleep and very much inside him. This couldn’t be happening right now. His throat was parched from all the screaming he did during the night, likely upsetting his neighbours in the process. He grabbed his phone from his bedside table to check the time.

11:48 AM, it read. Great, that meant he and Zack only got two hours of sleep. Luckily for Cloud, though Zack was fully hard, his knot had subsided enough for him to gradually slip him out, albeit with much difficulty.  Sadly, things would only go from bad to worse as once his feet touched the floor, the omega fell face-first onto the floor. Sporting a heavy blush, Cloud turned to see if Zack was still asleep after his loud fall, thankful to the Gods above that the alpha remained fast asleep.

Limping towards his kitchen area, Cloud rummaged through the cabinet, looking for a glass. He knew about how alphas behaved during their ruts, but no amount of knowledge could prepare him for what would actually entail. Being in their respective cycles, no amount of sex seemed to be enough for them. Just when Zack had pulled out after filling him up with his hot come, it was only mere seconds before they had initiated another round. Strangely, Cloud didn’t grow tired until the – seventh round?

Truthfully, they had sex so many times during the night, the blond lost count. It kind of reminded him of the first time his best friend bedded him, at Reno’s party. He wondered what could’ve happened if he and Zack hadn’t drunk that punch? No doubt they wouldn’t have explored each other’s bodies sexually and would’ve remained the close friends they always were.

Then again, someone would’ve taken advantage of him, and Cloud knew Zack wouldn’t be able to live with the guilt that he could’ve done something to stop it, even if it was outside his control.

Nonetheless, here they were, and Cloud couldn’t say he regretted drinking that punch. Though whoever did lace their punch likely had nefarious intentions, the incident has only brought him and Zack closer than they ever were. Not to mention, they learned a valuable lesson to never leave their drinks unattended. Maybe it was luck that prevented the disaster that could’ve potentially happened. Or maybe it was the calm yet chaotic hands of fate that protected them. Regardless, the omega was grateful and made a mental promise to the planet that he’d be more mindful.

Glancing at his front door, he noticed a folded piece of paper upon the floor. Moving carefully so as to not fall over again, he crouched down to pick it up. He unfolded the paper to reveal its hidden message.

Hi Blondie,  

Hope this letter finds you well because I wasn’t well writing it! Just so you’re aware, the walls in this building are pretty thick but by the grace of Shiva’s frosty tits, your moaning managed to pierce through them and woke me up!

I got no sleep thanks to you. Fucking Gaia, the dick must’ve been extraordinarily great for you to be screaming like that and you’re either in heat, hypersexual or both because you were fucking for hours!

How am I supposed to explain to my boss why I am so sleep-deprived?

‘Sorry, sir, I didn’t get much sleep last night because my neighbour and his partner wouldn’t stop fucking!’

Please, I’m begging you, book a hotel room, go to his house, I don’t care as long as you don’t bring him back to this apartment building! I can’t go another night with little sleep again. Show some consideration to your neighbours. Thank you.

Cloud’s face turned beet red upon reading the last sentence. He should’ve known his neighbours wouldn’t take kindly to his screams last night. Still, he couldn’t help but feel irritated by the letter’s tone.

In case they didn’t know, people have sex, and Cloud was not an exception. Unfortunately for his neighbours, his best friend has a huge dick and knew how to use it. Cloud scowled, balling the paper up and throwing it into the bin. Frankly, the blond could give a fuck less about whether his neighbours were annoyed at him. If they had dick half as good as Zack’s, they would scream as much as he did. It was possible that this neighbour hadn’t had good sex in a while or ever and decided to vent their frustrations at Cloud for whatever reason.

Moving to the sink, he picked up a glass, filling it with tap water. He downed the cup of water within several gulps, trying to quench his heavy thirst. As much as he hated to admit it, Zack was merciless during his rut.

His usually calm emerald eyes turned several shades darker. While his emerald eyes invoked a sense of warmth and kindness, the darker green eyes left Cloud frozen but weirdly compelled to be closer to the alpha.

His teeth noticeably become sharper, evident by how some of the alpha’s hickeys and bite marks drew a little blood. Zack made sure to lap up the blood every time, making sure his best friend wasn’t badly wounded. But Cloud could tell Zack was holding back, suppressing with all his strength the urge to bite into his nape and making him Zack’s entirely.

Cloud’s mind entertained the idea of being Zack’s mate, but that idea quickly got thrown out the window when Cloud remembered how his best friend didn’t want to be tied down to anybody, not now at least. Maybe Zack holding back was more for his own benefit rather than the blond’s? Nevertheless, he was happy that Zack had learned to still be in control during his rut, something a lot of alphas had yet to understand.

Cloud went to pour himself another glass of water when his entrance started to trickle slick again. It must’ve been his perverse thoughts of Zack that turned him on. He laid his hands against the counter, desperately trying to collect himself, debating to himself what to do.

On one hand, in his bedroom laid a sleeping brawny alpha who agreed to help Cloud get through his heat cycle. What was stopping him from going into his bedroom and riding Zack in his sleep?

On the other hand, he didn’t want to disturb Zack’s slumber. It seemed improper and disrespectful, coupled with the fact that he was unsure how the alpha would react to being forcibly awoken.

All that rational thinking would become pointless when Cloud was abruptly pulled into Zack’s embrace, bulky arms holding him close, his back pressed against a broad chest. Cloud was momentarily surprised before beginning to shudder, the influx of Zack’s pheromones causing him to grow even hornier.

“C-Cloud,” Zack muttered. “Why did you leave?”

“I-I didn’t,” Cloud stuttered, struggling to form coherent words as the alpha’s cock rubbed tenderly against his dripping entrance. “I – I was thirsty, I needed water -”

“If you wanted water, I could’ve gotten it for you.” Zack gritted, rubbing his face against Cloud’s porcelain neck. “You didn’t need to get up and leave me alone in there.”

“Z-Zack, please,” Cloud pleaded, bracing himself against the counter as the alpha positioned himself.

“Cloud,” Zack warned. “When you disappear like that, I feel like I’m gonna go insane.”

The blond’s hands clenched into fists, his teeth clenching together, groaning in utter delight at the feeling of Zack’s thick cock penetrating his wet entrance again. Large, rough hands came to grasp Cloud’s own, the alpha pressed his lips against the blond’s cheek then gently bit his earlobe.

“You’re not gonna leave me, are you, Sunshine?” The alpha growled, allowing Cloud only a fragment of a second to adjust to his intrusion before setting a savage pace, leaving only the tip of his cock inside Cloud before slipping back in.

“N-No!” Cloud squealed, the alpha’s thick shaft punching his prostate, sending electric tingles across his body. “I – ngh – I was thirsty – ah!”

“Thirsty, huh?” Zack smirked, grabbing the glass that was halfway filled with water. “Okay then, open up.”

When Cloud obeyed his best friend by opening his mouth, he wholeheartedly expected him to bring the glass to his lips and allowing him a drink. What he didn’t expect was for Zack to take a big mouthful of water and press his chapped lips against his soft ones, flooding his cavern with water. Because the blond was caught by surprise, only a fraction of the water made it down his throat with most of it dripping down his body, sending chills down his spine.

“Come on, Cloudy. You can do better than that, can’t you?” Zack questioned, pressing the smaller man closer to him. “Should we try again?”

Cloud impatiently nodded and Zack’s mouth formed an almost sinister smirk. Bringing the glass to his mouth again, the omega opened his mouth wide and let his best friend kiss him again. Cloud let out a satisfying moan as the water from Zack’s mouth travelled down his throat, relishing in the refreshing sensation and letting the cool water soothe his scorching hot body. Just as he thought Zack wouldn’t surprise him, the alpha always seemed to find a way to turn him on even more.

Suddenly, Cloud was pulled away from his kitchen counter. Turning to Zack in confusion, he was surprised to see the alpha maliciously grinning down at him, his hard shaft still inside him. The taller man’s hands slither beneath his knees, lifting Cloud up in the air, hooking his arms around Cloud’s legs and lacing his fingers behind the blond’s head. Scared he was about to fall, Cloud quickly wrapped his arms behind Zack’s neck, clinging for dear life.

The omega was equal parts amazed and terrified by this. He was amazed by Zack’s sheer strength, lifting him up like he weighed nothing.

Cloud let out a euphoric wail as Zack started to pound his wet hole again, holding the blond’s legs tightly as he fucked him well.

“Fuck,” Zack growled into Cloud’s ear. “I love fucking you like this. When you’re so helpless, all you can do is hold onto me while I stuff your needy hole with my cock!”

“Yes! YES! Oh Gaia,” Cloud screamed, biting his lip just shy from bleeding, his eyes rolling back in sweet pleasure.

“What a good omega you are, Sunshine. Swallowing my cock whole like it’s a real treat.”

Cloud nodded, looking into Zack’s dark green eyes. “F-Feeding me so well, alpha.”  

The air in the room was humid, grunts and moans continuously left the pair’s obscene mouths as the harsh sounds of hips snapping reverberated deafeningly. Zack took great pleasure in being the only person to see Cloud in such a blissful state. To see the blond looking up to him with such lustful eyes, moaning like a common whore, pleading for Zack to fuck him stupid. As far as Cloud was concerned, Zack was going to make damn sure he was the only man in the blond’s life to see him in such a way.

Though Zack was well into his rut cycle at this point, he tried his best not to let his wild side slip out in fear of it scaring Cloud away. Unfortunately, the blond wasn’t making it easy for him since merely being in Cloud’s presence was enough to make him crazy. Every time he pulled out of Cloud’s drenched entrance, copious amounts of slick dripped out, falling either on his heavy balls or onto the carpet and by Gaia, did it turn Zack on.

“Ah! Z-Zack!” Cloud moaned, his own cock spurting out precum.

“Yes, Sunshine?”

“I – I’m close,” Cloud shuddered.

“M-Me too,” Zack gritted, fastening his pace, desperate for his and Cloud’s release. His knot started to bubble up, indicating his orgasm was imminent.

Unable to hold back anymore, the blond clung to Zack’s neck, his back arching as his throbbing cock pushed out ropes of pearly come, painting the carpet below them white. Zack groaned into Cloud’s neck, breathing harshly as his knot gradually expanded, spilling huge loads inside his best friend.

Zack’s legs started to feel weak from practically benching Cloud on his cock for the past hour, pulling out a chair from the omega’s dining table and carefully sitting on it, being mindful of Cloud being in a sensitive position. Slowly, he let go of the blond’s legs, letting them rest. A layer of sweat encased their bodies and the room was silent, apart from their rapid breathing. But honestly, Zack enjoyed the silence between them, it gave them time to rationally think in case either of them (mostly Zack) might say something stupid.

“I’m really hungry,” Cloud pouted.

“I’ll order us some food.” Zack smiled.

“Can’t I make us -”

“Sunshine, if last night and just now is anything to go by, you ain’t gonna have any time to cook.” Zack smirked, snuggling against Cloud’s neck. “Also, I don’t think you’re gonna be able to walk properly after this.”

“I hate to admit it, but you have a point.” Cloud sighed.

“What did you – fuck,” Zack hissed, holding the blond close as his shaft throbbed, filling Cloud up with more come.

“H-How much come do you have!?” Cloud complained. Usually, when he was stuck on his best friend’s knot, Zack would only come three to four times between intervals. Now, the alpha had already came seven times and showed no signs of stopping, given his knot was in full effect.

“S-Sorry if it’s too much,” Zack apologised.

“Don’t worry, it can’t be helped,” Cloud assured, pressing a soft kiss on Zack’s cheek.

“So, what did you want to eat?” Zack asked, surfing through the food delivery app on his phone. “I was thinking maybe, burgers and shakes?”

“Yeah, I’d love that!” Cloud beamed, causing Zack to let out a slight chuckle.

“You’re so cute! You know that, don’t you, Sunshine?” Zack teased.

“I’m not cute.” Cloud pouted.

“Yeah, you are! Look at the way you’re pouting!” Zack laughed, poking the blond’s cheeks.

“Stop it!” Cloud playfully commanded.

“Since we’re gonna be stuck like this for a while, anything you wanted to do?”

“Can we watch a movie or something?” Cloud asked shyly, unable to get over the fact that his best friend’s cock was currently buried inside him, securely fastened by his knot.

“Yeah!” Zack beamed, carrying Cloud over to his couch and turning on the TV.

After half an hour had passed, the food finally arrived, much to Cloud and Zack’s excitement. Only problem was, Zack’s knot hadn’t yet subsided, rendering the blond unable to move without the risk of serious injury.

The delivery man’s knocks progressively became more aggressive before shouting from the door.

“Hello!? Your food’s here!?”

“Can you leave it by the door, please?” Cloud asked.

“No can do. Last time I did that, I didn’t get paid because the dickhead had the gall to say I didn’t deliver their food.”

Cloud turned to Zack, worried. “What do we do?”

“Let me talk to him. Don’t worry, I’ll sort this out.” Zack assured, carefully picking up the blond and walked over to his front door. Making sure that Cloud remained out of view, he slowly opened the door to see the delivery man holding out their food.

“Thanks a lot,” Zack smiled.

“Thanks for the massive tip, buddy.” The delivery man expressed with gratitude. “I can buy my girlfriend something nice for once.”

“No problem, take care now.” Zack nodded, shutting the door. Moving to the couch, he carefully sat back down, taking care not to make any sudden movements that could startle Cloud.

“Thanks for that,” Cloud said, rummaging through the paper bag for his burger.

“It’s alright. Can’t have my Cloudy going hungry, can I?” Zack grinned. Suddenly, the alpha once again sensed another impending orgasm as his stomach started to churn. “Um, Cloud -”

“Yeah?” Cloud turned to his best friend, his mouth full. The omega jolted against Zack, back arching from the sensation of his best friend coming inside him again. Concerned, Zack made sure his best friend swallowed his food before he choked on it.

“Sorry, Sunshine!”

“Seriously? While I’m eating?”

“Hey, I can’t help that.”

“Guess not.” Cloud shrugged, taking another bite of his burger before setting it down on the table.

“Here,” Zack held up a bunch of fries to the blond’s mouth. “Say ah.”

“I don’t need to be fed, Zack.” Cloud snarled but still ate the fries, prompting Zack to smile up to him.

“Good boy,” Zack praised.

“Watch it, puppy.”

It was now day four into Zack and Cloud’s sexual escapade to relieve themselves of their respective cycles and they were as insatiable as they were on day one. The omega’s entire apartment reeked of sweat and sex, unsurprisingly since the pair had spent the last few days fucking like rabbits.

Ever since that fateful morning, Zack made double sure not to leave the blond out of his sight, not even for an ounce of a moment. When Cloud needed to wash his face, make coffee or needed to pee, his best friend was always there beside or behind him.

Neither of them bothered to clothe themselves during this ordeal either. Right when they had finished a session of heat induced sex, Zack was already fully hard, and Cloud was desperate to be fucked within seconds, making the need for clothes useless.

The day had advanced to the late afternoon, with the sun preparing to descend to its nightly rest. Like most recent days, it was a moderately nice day with little clouds floating among the sky. Not that Cloud and Zack would know nor would they care, all they cared about was appeasing their sexual cravings caused by their individual cycles.

Zack has had a fair share of sexual partners in the past. Some were good, some were okay, but none of them were memorable or left an impression on the alpha. All of that would change when he reunited with Cloud because if there was one thing he won’t forget, one thing he wanted stitched into his mind until the world’s end, it was the sight of Cloud bouncing himself helplessly on his large cock.

The alpha watched with pure amazement and satisfaction as his best friend planted his hands against his broad chest, his knees fastening himself on the sheets while he helped himself to Zack’s thick shaft. Zack had to pinch himself in hopes that this wasn’t merely a dream, that this ethereal vision of Cloud wasn’t an illusion. Such a beautiful display made Zack’s cock rock hard, the heavenly choruses of the blond’s erotic voice every time the thick shaft pressed against his sensitive bundle of nerves turning him on more and more.

“Ah fuck! Look at you,” Zack rasped, his hands finding purchase on Cloud’s narrow hips. “So needy, so eager to please, aren’t you?”

“Y-Yes,” Cloud moaned. “W-Want alpha to f-feel good.”

Zack growled, his grip on the blond’s porcelain hips tightening. While part of him found the display of Cloud riding his cock ravishing and divine, a more prominent part of him loathed the idea of not being in control, likely due to his dominant alpha genes. Cloud was startled when he was no longer in control of the pace, instead being subject to Zack’s hands roughly holding his hips and forcing him up and down his cock.

“A-Ah! A-Alpha!” Cloud screamed, trying powerlessly to regain his composure. Unluckily, this was in vain as Zack continued to move the blond up and down his thick appendage like he was a ragdoll. It couldn’t help that Zack decided to thrust up when he pulled Cloud down, the pressure becoming more devastating to Cloud’s prostate.

“F-Fuck! You love this cock, don’t you, gorgeous?”

“Y-Yes!” Cloud nodded. “L-Love it so much! So good! Ngh -”

Keeping a firm hold of his best friend, Zack sat up and moved them off the bed, slamming the blond against the wall. Zack wrapped the blond’s legs along his waist, not slowing down the pace. Cloud could only fling his limbs over the alpha and hold him close as he was subject to the brutal yet delicious savagery of Zack’s colossal cock.

“M-More! Please, I need more!” Cloud pleaded, his hands nestling into Zack’s thick black locks as the alpha left tender kisses along his neck, gently biting it at several points.

“More?” Zack teased, keeping his best friend steady against the wall as he grabbed a hold of the legs wrapped around his waist and moved them onto his strong shoulders.

Cloud emitted a loud wail of satisfaction, feeling the alpha’s thick cock reach deeper inside of him, pressing against his prostate more deliciously.

“O-Oh! Z-Zack!”

Zack ran his tongue along Cloud’s neck and jawline, catching the subtle beads of sweat that formed on his milky skin. Everything about Cloud screamed decadent to Zack, and he has never in his life been so starved before. Every moan Cloud made was a sweet symphony to his ears, every kiss they shared was almost like a revitalisation to his heart, every taste of Cloud’s sweat, tears and saliva made the alpha’s tastebuds soar. Cloud was such a delicacy that Zack badly wanted to savour. But at the same time, he couldn’t bring himself to stop. Not until he got enough, which seemingly felt impossible.

“Mine, mine, mine.” Zack chanted against Cloud’s neck.

“Yours,” Cloud sensually whispered into Zack’s ear with a smile, a smile that got swiftly evaporated when the alpha’s cock harshly pressed against his prostate.

Cloud’s cock throbbed painfully and his walls started to firmly clamp against Zack’s cock, his orgasm inching closer.

“Z-Zack! M-My alpha, I’m – I’m going to –”

Zack’s eyes perked up, his gaze turning possessive and feral.

“Your alpha?” Zack repeated. Cloud soon realised what he said, trying to hide his face in embarrassment. The raven-haired man wasn’t having it, making his best friend look at him.

“I – I didn’t mean –”

“Nah, don’t feel embarrassed – my omega,” Zack soothed, sending tingles down Cloud’s back.

“Y-Your omega,” Cloud smiled.

“Mine,” Zack growled, his pace quickening, fervent to reach his peak and fill his best friend again as his knot once again began to swell. “And I’m your alpha.”

“M-My alpha,” Cloud blissfully nodded. “Oh, Gaia…”

Cloud’s back arched, his hands violently gripping the alpha’s hair as his orgasm descended, firing white come between his and Zack’s bodies. It only took Zack several thrusts before his knot fully expanded, shooting long strings of hot semen inside his best friend.

Zack slowly slid them down onto the floor, the blond’s legs that were once dangling on his shoulders had now resided against his waist. Once they had caught their breathing, they looked at each other with Cloud gleefully smiling at his best friend. Zack couldn’t suppress the blush from spreading across his face, his heart thumping against his chest.

His body must’ve moved on its own accord since he didn’t register kissing Cloud until he felt the blond’s soft lips press against his own. Initially surprised, Cloud smiled into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Zack’s neck as he returned the kiss. 

Chapter Text

Cloud and Zack laid naked in the omega’s bed, the sheets hanging loosely around their lower halves, their hands awkwardly fiddling with each other. It was the morning of the eighth day, marking the conclusion of their respective cycles. The omega’s head rested on Zack’s chest while the raven-haired man’s arm was wrapped around Cloud’s petite waist.

Cloud has never been more exhausted in his life. Then again, spending a week having non-stop sex with a hypersexual alpha like Zack is likely to render anyone fatigued. Zack felt the same tiredness as Cloud, which was unusual since the alpha normally had energy in abundance.

“How are you feeling, Sunshine?” Zack asked, wanting to break the awkward silence between them.

“I’m okay,” Cloud affirmed, his blue eyes looking up to meet Zack’s green ones, noticing how they were no longer dark green.

“You sure? I didn’t hurt you?”

Cloud bit his lip, trying to rationally put his thoughts into words that would tell his best friend the truth but wouldn’t wound him. Once the exhilarated sensations of his heat that made him immune to pain had worn off, his lower half roared in agony. Not only that, but his whole body was plastered with love bites from Zack. Stomach, back, legs, ass, you name it, Zack put a love bite or two there.

The blond couldn’t say he didn’t do the same since he couldn’t suppress the urge to place love bites across Zack’s chest and neck, not to mention the ferocious scratch marks he inflicted onto the alpha’s back. But he wasn’t as aggressive as Zack who seemed to love painting his porcelain body with as many love bites as he could.

“Cloud? I hurt you, didn’t I?” Zack sighed, feeling guilty.

“Don’t feel upset, Puppy.” Cloud softly spoke. “I still enjoyed every minute of it.”

“Really? But you’re sore?”

“No shit! You think I’m going to take a dick as big as yours nonstop for days on end and not feel anything afterwards?”

“When you put it that way…”

“Yeah,”

“I haven’t scared you off from doing this again?”

“No,” Cloud shook his head. “I’ll be honest. I was a little worried you were going to force me into sex even if I said no, but you didn’t.”

Zack stared at the blond, baffled. “Of course not, Cloud! Just because my rut makes me horny as shit, doesn’t mean I lose my rational thinking.”

“B-But I’ve heard stories about alphas in their rut cycles, most of them said if they mate with an omega –”

“Cloud, those alphas were probably already dead set on prioritising their pleasure over the omega’s wellbeing anyway. I’m sorry if those stories made you scared of alphas but we’re not all like that.”

“I know,” Cloud nodded. “I mean, you’re an alpha and you always let me come first before you did.”

“That’s because seeing you come on my cock turned me on,” Zack whispered. “You doing anything today?”

“I was meant to go to work this evening but –”

“You’re not gonna be able to walk, are you?”

“Yeah, no thanks to you!” Cloud exclaimed, prompting Zack to dawn a cheeky smile. “I’ll need to call Barret to tell him I can’t make it today.”

“Does that mean I’ll get to spend another day with you?”

“Aren’t you sick of me yet?” Cloud cheekily asked.

“I’ll never get sick of you, Sunshine.” Zack beamed, hugging the blond. “What did you wanna do today?”

“I want to have a bath, I feel really gross. And coffee.” Cloud whined, pouting.

Zack hugged Cloud tightly with a wide grin. “Why are you so adorable!?”

- One Week Later -

It was an energetic Saturday evening and Seventh Heaven was once again packed full of customers. Cloud and Tifa were rushed off their feet, serving dozens of tables between them.

It had taken Cloud three days of being bedridden before he was able to move again. Barret was surprisingly understanding, telling him that he could come back to work once he was ready. Cloud honestly was expecting to receive an earful from the bulky man, given how he has reacted to some of his workers not showing up in the past.

Thankfully, Zack was beside him the whole time. He bathed, fed and cared for the blond, much to Cloud’s disdain. Once Cloud was able to finally walk, he and Zack cleaned up his apartment, which looked nothing short of a pigsty. Since the only thing they were doing besides fucking was eating, it left them no time to cook or clean, leaving an assortment of different empty takeout boxes scattered across Cloud’s humble abode.

“By the way, Cloud,” Tifa spoke as Cloud stood by the till, sorting out a table’s bill. “Weren’t you supposed to have your heat last week?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Is that why you were out of commission for so long?” Barret asked.

“Maybe,” Cloud muttered.

“Hey, I ain’t try’na shame you.” Barret teased, playfully nudging Cloud.

“Wait,” Tifa interjected. “Cloud, you normally take some kind of heat suppressant that stops your heat from happening?”

“Y-Yeah, I –” Cloud paused, trying to thread carefully. “I spent it with someone.”

“What!?” Tifa and Barret exclaimed in unison, causing some of the guests to turn their heads at the two. Cloud glared at the two, unimpressed while Barret cleared his throat and Tifa stared at the ground.

“Sorry,” Barret apologised.

“Who did you spend it with then?” Tifa questioned.

“Who do you think?” Cloud replied.

“Zack?” Tifa asked, shocked when Cloud nodded, confirming her suspicions.

“You mean that guy who picked you up from here some time ago?” Barret asked.

“Yeah”

“I’m sorry, Cloud. Last time I checked, best friends don’t fuck each other, let alone spend an entire week doing that!” Tifa pressed.

“Zack and I are different, Tifa.”

“Different how? Cloud, I’m only looking out for you.”

“I appreciate that but trust me, it was something he and I both agreed on doing.”

“And how was it?” Barret asked, curious.

“Barret!” Tifa exclaimed.

“It was nice.” Cloud shrugged.

“Nice?” Barret repeated.

“Okay, it was really good!” Cloud said, mortified that he was even discussing this with his boss.

“But what if you fall pregnant, Cloud?”  

“I won’t, I’m on birth control, remember?”

“Wait, so your friend didn’t even bag it up?” Barret asked in disbelief.

Cloud nervously rubbed his arm in embarrassment. “W-Well, it’s hard to find condoms for him since – his size is kind of –”

Tifa gasped, and Barret’s eyes widened.

“You mean he’s –” Barret asked.

“What are we talking about?” Johnny peeked through the window, wanting to join in on the conversation.

“Cloud’s best friend got him through his heat,” Barret said casually, Cloud’s jaw dropping to the floor.

“The same dude who picked him up the other day? Dang, you lucky bastard.” Johnny remarked.

“I’m not doing this anymore,” Cloud sighed, getting back to work.

They were down to several tables, one of which comprised of loud girls from Midgar University, looking like they had just come from a party. Cloud was pretty sure one of them looked close to passing out, fluttering her eyes and swaying constantly.

Cloud only shrugged, giving the girls the chicken wings and potato wedges that they had ordered. Like a group of starved vultures, they drove into the food instantly, tearing away at the food like animals. The blond simply sighed and shrugged, walking away. There was no point in asking them if they needed anything else when they were already preoccupied.

Returning to their table after five minutes, he was surprised to see the food they had ordered had already been finished. He put on his ‘customer service’ smile before clearing their plates.

“Would you ladies like anything else?” Cloud politely asked.

“Yeah, can we get another plate of those wings? Oh, and the mac and cheese balls?” One of the girls blurted out.

“Sure.” Cloud was about to leave but one of them grabbed a hold of his arm, roughly tugging him back.

“Hang on, I know you from somewhere.”

“We go to the same university. Maybe we saw each other in passing.” Cloud reasoned, clearly not wanting to be near the girls for longer than necessary,

“No, no – Oh! You’re that guy from that photoshoot!” She exclaimed, excited. “In the swimsuits! Why are you working here when you make a lot more money modelling?”

Cloud shrugged. “It was a one-off thing.”

“But they literally said to the press they’re doing another shoot unless they’re lying?” Another one chimed in.

“I haven’t heard anything about it yet.” Cloud insisted.

“Say, are you friends with Zack? You know, the other guy you modelled with?”

“Yeah, he’s my best friend, actually.”

“I told you guys!” She shouted. “We’re part of the Zack Fair Fanclub!”

“I see,” Cloud nodded in understanding.

“Since you’re his best friend and everything, is he dating anyone?” She asked, taking Cloud by surprise.

“Not that I know of.” Cloud shook his head, though he knew the answer fully. He wouldn’t have slept with the alpha if he was seeing someone after all.

“Oh, that’s great! Because my friends here have a major crush on him and wanted to know if they had a chance.”

“Zack is a very understanding guy. Just make your move on him and he’ll either say yes or let you down easy.” Cloud smiled.

“Not gonna lie, I was like them, fixated on Zack. But then,” The girl stood up, running a sly finger down Cloud’s arm. “I saw you and I must say, you don’t look so bad yourself.”

“I appreciate that, but – um…” Cloud started to blush. He’s rarely, if ever, been hit on. If it were Zack, no doubt the alpha would know the exact words to say. But with Cloud, it was like his voice was trapped in his throat. Unable to make a sound.

“Hey, Cloud! Can you give me a hand?” Tifa called out.

“Sorry, I need to help my friend out.” Like a saving grace, Tifa provided Cloud with the perfect excuse to walk away from the girls. He noticed from the corner of his eye as he walked away, the girl sadly pouted, making him feel bad.

They were now down to their last table before they could close. Unfortunately, that last table was filled with rowdy students – also from Midgar University – and from their looks and the little eavesdropping Cloud and Tifa did, they were seniors in their last year before graduation.

Unluckily for Cloud, he was left to serve them, much to his dismay. Thankfully, they only ordered a round of beers, indicating that they wouldn’t be there for long. When Cloud rang them up, he was relieved that they could finally start closing when one of them grabbed his wrist. Seriously, what was up with people grabbing him for his attention? He wasn’t deaf, a simple ‘Excuse me’ would suffice.

“Hey, pretty little thing.” Cloud could already tell off the bat from their demeanour that this lot were alphas.

“Can I help you?”

“I don’t know, can you?” The man – presumably the leader of the group – remarked.

Cloud sighed, rolling his eyes as he pulled his arm away. “What do you want?”

“Couldn’t help but notice you look awfully familiar. You that model who wore that cute lil’ speedo?”

“And if I was?” Cloud asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Ey, I knew it!” He exclaimed to his mates before turning to Cloud. “Say, doll. You up for a little fun after your shift tonight?”

“Sorry, I have plans tonight.” In truth, Cloud wasn’t doing anything tonight, but these guys didn’t need to know that.

“Okay, no problem. How about your number so we can arrange something?”

“Not interested.” Cloud uttered before walking away.

Surprisingly, the group of men left shortly after they had their beers. Once everything was clean and put back in place, Cloud and Barret left the building with the latter locking the door. Tifa had left not long ago, something about going to the movies with Aerith. Speaking of the flower girl, Tifa seemed to be spending a lot of time with her, raising the blond’s suspicions. And to have the nerve to question his and Zack’s friendship.

“You sure you don’t wanna lift home?” Barret asked. It was already pitch black, and he didn’t want to risk anything happening to Cloud who he had thought of fondly.

“I’m sure, I don’t live far, anyway.”

“Okay, well, you have my number. Text me when you’ve arrived safely.”

“Will do.”

Cloud wandered through the streets as he headed home. He pulled out his phone as it began to ring, showing Zack was calling him. He answered the call without hesitation.

“Hey,”

“Hey, Sunshine! What’cha doing?”

“I’m on my way home now. You?”

“Went out on an evening stroll. Where are you now?”

“I just finished my shift at work. On my way home now.”

“Ay, I think I’m near your workplace. You want me to meet you?”

Cloud was about to reply before pausing, seeing in a window’s reflection a figure following him closely. He tried to shake off the thought that this person had malicious intentions. More often than not, people can be going to a similar destination or route, which gives the impression that one may be followed when that isn’t the case.

However, Cloud had been walking for several minutes and every turn and crossing the blond came across, this person would remain behind him.

“Cloud? Sunshine? You there?”

“Y-Yeah -”

“You don’t sound okay. Listen, I think I’m close by. Hang tight, okay?”

“I’m not in any danger, Puppy.” Cloud tried to assure his best friend, but his tone didn’t sound convincing in the slightest.

“Pretend to end the call. I’m on my way.”

For a reason not yet known to Cloud, he complied, saying bye and putting the phone in his pocket. Sure enough, when he passed by an alleyway, another figure emerged while the other from behind remained, both of them inching closer. He recognised them as the seniors he had served moments ago. Of course, they weren’t going to take no for an answer. Alphas often take what they wanted, regardless of what others think. Especially when what they wanted was an omega.

Thinking quickly, Cloud dashed through the alleyway, only to be met with a wired fence. He turned around, seeing the seniors inch closer to him.

“Come on, pretty face. Just give yourself to us, and we’ll make you feel real good.” The leader husked. Cloud’s eyes were drawn to the leader rubbing himself and covered his mouth, almost bursting out in laughter. Perhaps being around Zack had raised the bar a little too high, but from what Cloud could make out, the man’s size paled in comparison to Zack’s. His best friend did say that he was a tough act to follow. Cloud thought Zack was saying that in jest, but now there may be some truth to those words.

Cloud’s eyes scanned around for something to defend himself.

A bin. No, too heavy.

A box. No, too light. Won’t hurt the potential assailants enough to get away.

A pipe.

A PIPE!

It didn’t look too heavy that the blond would have trouble wielding it, but it didn’t look so light that any impact from it would feel like a feather to them.

Swiftly, Cloud grabbed the rusty pipe and held it like a baseball bat, ready to strike whoever pounced at him first.

“Stay back,” Cloud warned, trying to sound confident though part of him slightly trembled at how outnumbered he was.

‘Don’t be scared. Alpha will protect us.’

Cloud’s head pounded a little, the weird voice once again returning to plague his mind.

The leader turned to his friends, unfazed. “Okay, here’s what gonna happen. You’re gonna put that pipe down before ya hurt yourself and my friends and I are gonna have a taste of you.”

“The only thing you’re going to taste is this pipe down your throat if you don’t leave me alone!” Cloud shouted.

That clearly ruffled the leader’s feathers, seeing that his face turned from a darkly charming grin to a ferocious scowl. “I’ve had enough of your bullshit! If you’re not gonna give us what we want, we’ll just take it!”

Just as the leader made an attempt to grab him, Cloud had his eyes shut as he swung the pipe at the assailant. He became greatly worried when he didn’t hear the sound of the pipe hitting someone and slowly opened his eyes to see the leader face first on the floor.

Equal parts pleasantly surprised and puzzled, he looked up. To his surprise, it was Zack, standing above the leader with his foot planted firmly on his chest. He was more surprised to see the other two men against the wall, clutching their stomachs, their mouths painted with their own blood.

When did Zack get here? How did he know Cloud would be there? How was he quick enough to beat up the two guys before moving on to the leader?

Moving the leader to the side, Zack rushed up to Cloud, checking him vigorously for any injuries.

“You okay, Sunshine? They didn’t lay a hand on you, did they?” Zack hurriedly asked.

Cloud could hear his best friend’s eyes had again turned a dark green but was slowly returning to its normal hue.

“N-No, I’m okay.” Cloud shook his head, dropping the pipe he forgot he was holding.

“You think you’re gonna come out of this unscathed, Fair?” The leader angrily husked. “I’m gonna go straight to the cops about this! Oh boy, you’re gonna be so fucked!”

“Hey, asshole.” Cloud snarled, pointing to the cameras surrounding the area. “Are you guys that stupid that you’ve forgotten there were cameras around? Go to the police if you want but once they review the footage, they’ll see that all Zack did was protect his friend from a bunch of disgusting alphas who would force themselves onto someone.”

“If I ever see you near Cloud again, I’ll do much worse,” Zack warned, pulling Cloud along with him out of the alleyway, leaving the alphas grunting in pain on the floor. At this point, the only thing more bruised than their ribs was their egos.

- One Week Later -

Cloud took another glance in the mirror, examining his outfit once more to make sure there weren’t any rips, tears or stains on it. Tonight, Reno was hosting a Halloween party. Yes, Halloween was several weeks ago, but the redhead was beyond irritated when he couldn’t host a party when the holiday actually rolled around.

When he sent out invites for the party, Cloud was shocked to see he was personally invited to come, given that he was Zack’s plus-one at the last party. Nonetheless, the blond was excited to go, not that Reno gave him a choice. The redhead insisted Cloud go to this party, wanting to get to know the blond more.

In fact, Reno was so eager, he asked Cloud to come an hour before the party was meant to start.

Reno

Yo, Cloud!

Me

Hey, what’s up?

Reno

Mind coming round mine an hour before the party starts? Need your help with decorating and stuff.

Me