Chapter Text
The days were already getting longer and longer. Summer was approaching fast.
Nibelheim’s sheriff had agreed to let Cloud take the deputy’s role, at long last. Cloud knew, it was partly because it had been years since the small village had any trouble, so it was safe enough. As if he was a child and they were letting him play pretend so he wouldn’t throw a tantrum. It didn’t matter; he didn’t care why or how he was given this title. He finally had it, and he’d take his duties seriously, no matter whether the most important thing he had to do was stand around outside the bank during opening and closing time.
He wasn’t selfish – he wouldn’t complain about how peaceful things were, how little trouble they ever got. He had been old enough back then to know and to remember what trouble meant. He wished nothing like that ever came their way again.
It was sunrise. He was standing outside the bank, his hand touching the top of the gun in the holster, always on guard and ready to react. He was already wearing his hat, brim long to cover his face and neck from the sun when it’d finally come up, his leather boots’ thick soles’ protecting his feet from the hot, dry land of the village. The white, wide and long-sleeved t-shirt he wore and tucked into his jeans, ensured the sun wouldn’t burn his arms or feel too hot, the fabric letting the air circulate easily.
It was getting hotter and hotter, already.
“C- Deputy Strife! I reckon the bank owes you its gratitude, having you guarding it!”
Cloud was pulled from his thoughts suddenly, head turning to the man who addressed him, hold tightening around the gun’s handle before relaxing again.
“Mayor... you know simply Cloud is fine. I know this post is but a formality… still I’m grateful for the opportunity you and the sheriff have given me. Thank you.”
He knew Mayor Lockhart since he was a child after all. His daughter, Tifa, and he grew up together after all. She was the only one he ever managed to get along with.
“I will call you Cloud when you finally drop the titles as well, son. Don’t even mention it. No one deserves to be the deputy of this here village but you,” the man smiled widely, and clapped a hand on Cloud’s shoulder in support. Cloud nodded, lowering his head in respect and watched silently as the Mayor walked in the bank. That meant Cloud was relieved from his post outside.
The day was slow. He spent it mostly sitting with the sheriff at the jail – which of course had been empty for years. Even the occasional thief was usually a foreigner and thus was moved to another jail after a while. The sheriff took his fair share of naps, and at some point a friend of his, one of the farmers, dropped by to play cards.
“Would you like to join, Deputy? It’s poker.”
Cloud shook his head with a friendly smile. “No thanks. I’ve never been too good at that myself.”
“Well you know what I always say,” the Sheriff said, looking through the cards he had been dealt, “don’t trust a man who’s too good at poker. He probably practices the art of lyin’ regularly.”
It was funny to hear him say that while he was playing. But then again, the Sheriff turned out to be a pretty bad player – so maybe he only had that saying as a way to make up for his losing streak. Excuse it by saying he was just too honest for this game.
When he got too bored of watching the two play cards, he decided to go around the town, see if anyone needed help.
“Cloud!”
The blond turned at the call of his name, the voice familiar.
Of course, it was Tifa. He stopped walking, waiting for her to catch up to him.
“Oh, look at that flashy badge. Deputy Strife, huh?”
She grabbed his arm between her own two and pulled it against her body in a vice grip. Cloud looked away in mild embarrassment. Tifa had been his friend since they were children. She knew everything about him – and he felt transparent in front of her. It felt like a costume, almost, wearing that ‘Deputy’ badge. Like it wasn’t really for him, like he wasn’t worth it.
“I thought you were leaving today,” he said, trying to avoid the subject as they kept walking together.
“Well yeah, but later. I already prepared my things. How’s the Deputy life?”
“Fine,” he sighed, exasperated. “It’s fine. You know there isn’t really anything for me to do. It’s slow. Quiet.”
“And you better keep it that way, Deputy Strife,” she said teasingly, grinning. “This town better be in tact when we come back.”
“How long will you be gone?”
“Oh, a couple of days or so. Definitely less than a week. Depends on the weather I s’ppose.”
He nodded as they came to a stop and he silently looked at the horse barn in front of them. Tifa would usually go horse-riding during the afternoon, to practice.
She let go of him and stepped away to face him properly. “We leave pretty late. We’ll have a couple of drinks at the saloon before that, if you would join us.”
Cloud sighed. “You know I don’t like going to the saloon.”
“Well, I think that will change now, Deputy Strife.” She winked at him, and went towards the barn for her daily horse-riding.
He fixed his hat, the sun not burning as intensely anymore. He’d do one last round and drop by the Sheriff again, before retiring for the night.
***
His mother wasn’t too thrilled about him picking up the Deputy’s duties, he knew. He could tell, because she went to join the Lockharts at the saloon even though she tended to avoid that place, firmly believing it was solely for men. Tifa was an exception of course – what with being the Mayor’s daughter.
She would join the Lockharts too, on their trip; the Mayor had offered to take her along, for a change of scenery. It would do her good, he said. It wasn’t a bad idea; but the house was empty now. Lonely.
Cloud laid in bed in the dark of the night, wide awake. It was too quiet for him to sleep. He had waited years to be Deputy and now… now he had made it. But had that changed anything? Around him, within him? Was his father proud?
Was there a point in it, in the end?
***
It was no surprise that he hadn’t managed to sleep a lot. It had taken him quite some time to quiet his brain and fall asleep.
The house felt empty – it was the first time his mother had left him alone in all those years, even though he was an adult now. It was strange. Had more time alone with his thoughts, too.
So he decided to just start settling into his new routine. He made himself some breakfast – scrambled eggs – and dropped by the jail, bringing coffee for the Sheriff. Then, took up his post outside the bank, a place he’d have to stay daily from dawn until the time they were fully opened.
And then he saw him. A man, boots and jeans like his own, a seemingly heavy, thick fabric over his clothes and around his body, like a blanket but with a hole around the collarbone, riding on a black horse past him, past the bank.
Cloud knew that cloth – it was called a poncho. Travelers usually wore it, for the cold of the night and the rain.
There was no rain in Nibelheim. In fact, this fabric would probably be unbearably hot 30 minutes later. Cloud had never seen that man before.
The man didn’t see him – didn’t spare him a glance, too much in a hurry, it seemed. Cloud’s blue eyes trailed up to his face, eyes brown and focused intently ahead, as if there was nothing else around him. A shiver went through him. He had never seen anyone look so much like he had a purpose in this village. His eyes followed the man until he disappeared behind a corner. Black, spiky hair were coming out from under his hat, the hat itself seemingly rolled a little at the brims on the side, probably from overuse and the weather.
It wasn’t rare for travelers to pass through Nibelheim. It was the safest passage from locals of both north and south to get to Costa Del Sol, either as a final destination or to cross to the new Gaia. More and more people moved there lately. The big city was there, after all.
The day was slow. He was stranded at the sheriff’s place, the sheriff himself away on business for the day now that he finally had a stand-in, to the town in the north. He should be back before the sunrise.
Cloud would never complain for the lack of action – he was thankful for it. But Nibelheim was getting more and more deserted; young people of his age kept leaving for something better in the big city. It was lonely. It had been lonely for years.
So no one could blame or judge him, when after the sun set, he paid a visit to the small saloon of the town. Deny it as he might, it was the only place bursting with people for the sake of entertainment. Cloud had taken the table in the corner by himself, like always, enjoying the people-watching more than he could ever enjoy gambling. He sipped on his glass of whiskey, slowly; even before being given the title of the deputy, he had sworn to himself to never be caught drunk and unable to act if something happened.
In his corner, it was easier to remain hidden from familiar faces. The last thing he wanted was to have someone try to have small talk with him.
Then, he walked in. The man from before, on the black horse, everything on him the same, minus the thick fabric. Cloud's eyes caught him the moment he stepped through the wooden door, the two lids flapping against each other behind him, his leather boots stepping loudly against the hard-wood floor. He took his hat off, revealing wild black spikes and a bright face.
Cloud shouldn’t be able to hear the steps. It was noisy, and besides Jessie was playing the piano cheerfully now. But it seemed in his mind, every one of the man’s steps were deafening.
The man grinned, a daring grin that screamed trouble. Eyes dark, sharp, scanned the room over before landing on Cloud himself. His breath caught in his throat, their eyes meeting, the man pinning him with just his gaze.
Cloud averted his eyes, aware he was admitting defeat to whatever challenge the stranger posed to him. He looked at his glass instead, taking another sip of his whiskey. It didn’t surprise him when he heard creaking across him, the raven sitting on the free stool, hat openly placed on the table.
It also didn’t surprise him that the man didn’t speak a word until he raised his own eyes again to meet with brown ones, the grin now only discreetly playing on his lips.
“Pardon my intrusion but,” the man started, not looking at all remorseful, “you look in need of some company.”
The voice wasn’t exactly what he had expected it to be – the man must have been younger than he originally thought. Maybe a little over Cloud’s own age. The tone was playful, eyes sparking with intrigue.
Cloud only raised an eyebrow in response, not accustomed to such bold advances. Especially not so openly and publicly from another man. He allowed his eyes to leave the other for a moment, looking around. The bar’s patrons were all engrossed in their alcohol or gambling. He sat back in his seat. “I’m not,” he said sternly, trying to keep some distance.
The waiter stood over their table, on his tray having a glass of whiskey and a glass of beer. He pointed at the drinks, looking at the stranger questioningly.
“Whiskey, thanks,” the man said, watching the waiter leave before downing a good amount of his whiskey. Cloud raised his brows impressed. After putting his glass back down, brown eyes were once again pinning him with their intensity. “I don’t aim to be overly bold or come across as impolite. But the moment I looked at you...” he felt the other’s eyes examine his face and he had to avert his eyes again. It felt like too much. His voice dropped a couple of octaves and it sent shivers down Cloud’s spine. “I knew I gotta have you.”
“And I don’t aim to sound downright unfriendly, but talk like that isn’t acceptable here,” Cloud narrowed his eyes, even though the words made him feel hot. It was dark enough to hope his flush wasn’t visible. “You strike me as a whole mess of trouble,” he added, eyes meeting with the brown pair again, this time starting a challenge of his own. The other kept it up for a moment, the grin widening once more in excitement before surrendering by taking a drink of his whiskey.
“You’ve got the kind of eyes that can size up a canyon. I’m willin’ to bet nothing escapes them. I’d surely loathe to be their target in a bad manner.”
Cloud watched as the man’s eyes traveled down as if taking in as much as his sitting form allowed him to see, a shiver going through him. The stranger had such unmistakable charm and a way with words that Cloud could never win against it, and his so ‘keen eyes’ would rather turn blind than keep a guard up before it.
“Excuse me for being so rude as to not have even introduced myself already,” the man said after their silent exchange. “Name’s Zack. I’m hopin’ it will be somethin’ to remember.”
Inexperienced as he may have been due to living in this small village, Cloud wasn’t stupid or naive, neither fully inexperienced, and he was fully aware where this all was going. Fully aware he should have put an end to it before it even began. But it was an important day, and a painful one all the same, and it was lonelier than usual. The man’s dark eyes and smart words were roping him in like a wild mustang, and he was going willingly.
“Well Zack,” he said, testing how the name felt falling off his lips. He found that he quite liked its sound. “My name is Cloud,” he added, his eyes watching him expectant.
“Cloud,” the man, Zack, let his name roll off his tongue and finished it with a smile. He took a moment of silence, eyes flickering playfully. “Your folks named you well. I reckon your beauty would easily cover up even this village’s scorchin' sun.”
At this, Cloud couldn’t hold back and finally burst into surprised laughter. “Ever get tired of throwing those lines around?” he asked with an amused grin.
Zack responded in kind, with a grin as playful as the spark in his eyes. “Not really. The company inspires me,” he said suggestively, and Cloud sighed and looked away. It was hard to keep up. This man was well-versed in the world of flirting, and Cloud was not.
“So Zack,” he started, turning back to eye him carefully. “What is someone like you doing in a place like this?”
“You have to be more specific, Cloud. Someone like me? In a place, where, Nibelheim? Or the saloon?” the man piled on, and Cloud raised an eyebrow, sipping some of his whiskey. Stalling, is what he would call this.
“A man of your wits,” he said, for lack of better words. “You don’t strike me as a farmer.” He sat back against his chair, daring to raise his voice a little so it wouldn’t be drowned out by all the noise. “Wherever. Nibelheim, the saloon. What is it you seek here?”
Zack smirked and downed a good amount of his whiskey. “I’m no farmer, no. Just passin’ through, I guess,” he hummed and leaned forwards where Cloud had leaned back. “Here, in the saloon? I’m not seekin’ anymore. I’ve already found it.”
Zack’s words were spoken in a steady voice and despite the commotion around, Cloud didn’t miss them. The leftover grin from before faded completely from his face and he leaned forward abruptly, hands on the table and eyes pinning the brown pair.
“You better not be playing, stranger. I do not take kindly to that,” he said sternly. Not anymore. And Zack had been throwing too much stuff at him for it to be funny any more.
But the other didn’t flinch; instead, he leaned forward just a little further, eyes glinting with mischief. “Reckon by sunrise we’ll have seen whether I’m playin’ or not.”
Cloud scoffed, nearly indignant. “You’re very full of yourself.”
At that, the other leaned back against his chair again, grin playful as ever. “Maybe. Maybe I have a reason to be.”
“Used to getting your way?”
“Somethin’ like that,” the man said enigmatically, playing with his glass absently.
“Are you going to give me any straight answers?”
“I’m more interested in askin’ than answerin’, if I’m honest.”
“Why would you believe I’m in a mood for giving answers to a stranger?”
The other tapped his glass with a finger, and then raised it to his lips, downing the rest of it with a swig. He slammed it down on the table, exhaling as if enjoying the burn of it. He feigned thoughtfulness for a moment, bringing his index finger up as if to count. “Well for one, you were sittin' alone when I walked in, watchin’. You enjoy watchin’ others. But you wouldn’t be in the loudest place in town if you wanted to be left alone.”
Cloud quirked an eyebrow as the man asked for another glass of whiskey, which was brought to him promptly. He didn’t look it, but… this man was observant. He was observant and he played it aloof. That was something to watch out for. “Maybe there’s more to me than meets the eye.”
Zack chuckled in response, the sound deep and inviting. “I’ve always been one to appreciate hidden depths,” he said, taking another sip from his drink. “And for two,” he went on, holding a second finger up. “You haven’t taken swing at me yet for any of my words.”
Cloud really wanted to wipe that shit eating grin off the man’s face. But his words were true.
“I say,” Zack started but paused for a tiny moment as if weighing his words, if Cloud wasn’t always so attentive he would have missed it. “I say we mosey outta here for a spell.”
It was stupid. Cloud had just met the man – he only just became deputy that day and was he already going to act reckless? If anyone in town saw him…
But Zack’s brown eyes were magnetic. Every sentence out of his mouth sounded like from a stage-play, rehearsed, and something about him was off altogether. However… he was the most exciting thing that had happened to Cloud, to this town, in years probably. And Cloud hadn’t stopped thinking about him eversince he saw him ride on that horse early in the morning. When he smiled, his charm was undeniable. If he refused now, Cloud knew he’d kick himself for it later. Maybe he’d kick himself for agreeing, too.
But what was the harm if the man was just a traveler passing through? He would probably never see him again but he’d have a good memory of that night to keep him some company in the future. Not like there were many… like-minded men his age in Nibelheim that he could choose from.
Without responding, Cloud downed the rest of his glass and reached into his pocket, slamming a few coins down to cover his bill before wordlessly getting up and turning away, towards the door. He didn’t need to check behind him and ensure Zack was following. He knew he would.
He didn’t miss the way Zack hurried behind him like an excited child who was led towards a surprise birthday party, eyes glinting.
Cloud guided him to his home, him walking in front, Zack following him a few steps behind in the dark, as if to somehow be a little more discreet. Cloud lived with his mother, but his mother was gone for the weekend, and he had never been so grateful she was away.
The moment Cloud closed the creaky, wooden door shut, Zack was on him. He grabbed him by the shoulders and span him around, nearly slamming him against the wooden wall and kissed him with passion so fierce he wouldn’t have expected it from someone he had just met, but a long-time lover he hadn’t seen in years. The loneliness and longing in Cloud were immediately triggered by the touch, and he wrapped his arms around the other’s neck and kissed him back just as fiercely, eyes tightly closed to block the reality of yesterday and tomorrow from his brain, the reality that this loneliness and longing would return, only the present, the now, remaining at the forefront of his consciousness.
They broke the kiss to breathe, and instead Zack moved to his neck, peppering kisses on it before sucking hard in a way that Cloud knew he would get a bruise. He pushed away the nagging in his brain that told him to stop that from happening, because if anyone saw it’d be trouble. It didn’t matter; he could cover it up with a bandanna or something. Zack’s lips moved up to his ear and he couldn’t stop the moan that escaped him, hand reaching up just enough to pull at short, black spiky hair in retaliation.
“Bed,” he managed to whisper, “I’m not doing any of this against the damned door.”
Zack laughed brightly, more honest than Cloud had seen him so far. “Alright, wildflower,” he responded, taking a step back so he wouldn’t be pinning him to the wall anymore. Cloud gazed at him thoughtfully at the term of endearment, trying to figure out in what way the man meant it. But Zack’s brown eyes were warm and sincere, his smile earnest. “Lead the way.”
So Cloud took his hand to guide him to his bedchamber, feeling his heartbeat quicken at the tender touch, feeling vulnerable for having initiated it. He felt like he was putting all his cards on the table, his neediness evident.
He had never been good at poker. That’s why he hated playing.
But Zack let himself be pulled along, his own hand closing around the one Cloud’s, entangling their fingers in reciprocation. It did something to calm Cloud’s sudden self-consciousness, but nothing for his quickening heartbeat.
When they entered his bedchamber, he closed the door behind them despite having the house to himself. Having the door open made him feel even more vulnerable. Then he turned to Zack, and decided he would regain some control, pushing him down against the mattress.
Zack blinked laid on the bed, for a moment too stunned to get up. He recovered quickly though, pushing himself up on his elbows.
“Hey –”
But Cloud cut him off, straddling his lap and diving into another kiss, hands holding on from the man’s elbows for dear life. His sudden assertiveness seemed to catch the other off guard, although he was quick to respond to the kiss, eyes squeezing shut and hands cupping Cloud’s cheeks.
Then he pulled away, gently, hands still gingerly touching the blond’s face.
“Hey, hey. Slow down. There’s no need to hurry,” Zack said softly, smiling.
It was Cloud who got caught off guard this time, looking into the brown eyes inches away from his own. He nodded carefully, silently, and was rewarded with a deep kiss, the tongue in his mouth making him relent, hands moving to the small of his back and pulling him closer.
“Do you have uh… anythin’?”
Cloud nodded, feeling some embarrassment as he reached to his bedside table and opened the drawer. He grabbed the small bottle of oil he had been keeping there and handed it to the other, all the while avoiding his gaze.
He couldn’t not hear the sharp inhale however.
“I’m gonna make it good for you, if you let me,” Zack sounded serious in his words, for once not teasing. So he nodded, heart nearly beating out of his chest.
Bottle of oil was placed next to the pillow carefully, and then a pair of hands was all over his body. He grunted and helped the other remove the shirt off him, quick to return the favour.
They took a moment to admire each other’s physique – Zack was well-toned, maybe a little bit more than Cloud himself. He took it all in. There were scars on the man’s arms and chest. He wondered if there were more on his back. Some of them seemed to be burns, others welts.
He ran a finger over one of them, eyes looking at the other in question.
Zack shook his head dismissively. “You know how travelin’ is. Full of fools and half-wits that wanna grab your stuff.”
Like many of the words the man spoke, this sounded like a rehearsed explanation. But at the moment, the fire burning him from inside, he didn’t care enough. And then there were hands on his hips, unbuckling his belt. So wordlessly, he did the same. His hands were shaking, which slowed him down a little, but he was throwing the belt away from them shortly after Zack did the very same.
Before he could act, the pair of hands was on him again, caressing down his bare back and slipping in his pants, groping his behind all the while pushing the clothing off him.
He felt horribly exposed, but then Zack was reaching for the oil so he screwed his eyes shut and let his forehead drop on the other’s chest. He panted against scarred skin, anticipation rising as he heard the bottle cap open, and soon enough there was a finger prodding at him.
It’s not that he had never done this before. But it had mostly been him exploring himself, shame always slamming into him after. He had never realistically expected to do this with anyone else, not while he stayed in this tiny town.
Whatever little experience he’s had – it was either with travelers like Zack, or the times he had traveled to nearby towns by himself. But he never let it go this far.
The way Zack did this – he knew what he was doing. It felt so much better than it ever had before, and when a second finger was added, he relished the burn of it. His head was pulled back gently, and lips were over his own once again. He let himself be kissed, too weak to do more than move his lips in response.
It apparently didn’t take long for Zack to get impatient, because he was withdrawing pretty quickly, and Cloud raised his body up to look at him. He wondered if he looked nearly as needy as Zack did.
“’m sorry, I can’t hold back anymore,” the man murmured, reaching for the oil again. Cloud helped him lower his trousers, face flushing just a little bit more when he saw just how hard the other had gotten. He watched, curious more than anything, as Zack lathered oil up and down his length, his own cheeks flushed with arousal.
Cloud let himself be guided down by the hips, moaning softly as he felt hot hardness press up against him. Nearly desperate, he shifted before sinking down on it, glad the house was empty.
He started riding him, clumsy and uncertain, panting with exertion. It was harder that he’d expected, and he wished he could go faster. It felt good, but he was hesitant about picking up the pace, still getting accustomed to the foreign feeling.
But Zack grunted and tightened his grip on his hips, and then he was thrusting up against him, picking up the pace. A gasp escaped Cloud, the air knocked out of him and he fell against the other’s body, muffling his moan against his skin.
Suddenly, the man pulled out and he whined at the loss. It didn’t last long, though, because he was manhandled on his stomach. He let himself be pulled up by the hips, pressing his forehead against the sheets when he felt Zack behind him, press into him once more.
In this position, he had no control over the pace and he felt the other deeper than before, every thrust forward making him exhale harshly, fighting to catch his breath. He shakily moved his hand to his front, trying to find some relief, and all it took was a few pumps before he was tightening around Zack, spilling underneath him with a muffled, keening moan.
He felt the other use his body for a few more thrusts, chasing his own pleasure, and then he was coming inside him, the hot feeling making Cloud grunt.
***
Cloud let himself relax against the side of Zack’s body, pulling the blanket over their naked forms to regain some modesty. He felt gross and sticky, and he really wanted to wash himself, but he was too content to move just yet. Zack reached out to the floor for a moment, pulling the blanket with him slightly, searching for something in his clothes before settling back in place.
Cloud watched as Zack opened a bag of tobacco and started rolling a cigarette. It was obvious he had been doing that for years – he rolled it pretty quick and his eyes seemed to be elsewhere, not really looking at the paper in his hands as he rolled the cigarette.
Then, one arm was draped around Cloud’s shoulders while another put the cigarette in the mouth Cloud got so accustomed with during that night. Still watching intently, Cloud reached over to take the lighter from the other’s hand before he had the time to light up his cigarette. Zack, cigarette in mouth, hummed questioningly, before the blond reached out with the lighter in his hand and lit up the cigarette instead. Zack inhaled deeply, brown eyes focused on blue ones, before he raised his hand to take the cigarette out of his mouth and exhale a big puff of smoke.
“Thanks,” he said simply.
Cloud watched him for another moment as he took another inhale, now holding the cigarette with the hand that wasn’t around him. “Why wildflower?”
“Huh?”
“You called me that, before,”
Zack smiled, the stiff look on his face eversince they had finished finally disappearing. “Oh, I thought it suit you. You’re beautiful, like a flower. But not one of those that need constant care or they die, like a rose. You’re like a wildflower. Like a dandelion, or a cactus. You’ll take to any soil, any weather, and keep on standin’,” he murmured, tendrils of smoke curling around him and the dimly lit room.
Cloud wanted to snort, mostly because he felt uncomfortable. Seen. But Zack didn’t seem as if he was just saying lines, like at the saloon. From the moment they had stepped into this house, he had been pretty honest. At least, Cloud believed so. Instead, he turned slightly, laying his head into the crook on Zack’s neck to get more comfortable. Closer.
“How’d you figure?”
Zack gave him a puzzling smile at that, shrugging slightly, enough for Cloud to feel it. But then the pensive look was back on his face, smile fading, eyes once again faraway.
He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Did Zack regret what they did? Was this why he was being distant? But he wasn’t leaving – in fact, other than being lost in thought somewhere, he seemed comfortable and relaxed pressed against Cloud, smoking absently and in no way seeming as if he was in a hurry to get out of there. So Cloud let himself shag against the other again and enjoyed the moment of silence, having the time to collect his thoughts a little.
"Reckon you'd share some tales 'bout Nibelheim?"
Cloud startled at the sound of the other’s voice, and turned his head slightly to look at him. He pondered the request.
"What's on your mind?"
"Anythin’ really. How's life in this town, what keeps folks busy? Is it a perilous place, or… Seems a mite peaceful."
"Well,” he reached out and took the cigarette out of the other’s mouth, stealing an inhale of nicotine for himself. He didn’t make it a habit to smoke, but he enjoyed sharing moments like this one. “You're right 'bout the quiet. It is now anyway. Though, there's been a time that…” he reconsidered, talking about… that time. Despite Zack’s encouraging, questioning hum, he went on. “Mostly, it's farmers and the local shopkeepers who call this place home now. We got ourselves a sheriff too... and that's 'bout the extent of it, I think." He offered the cigarette back to Zack, a few inhales left in it. Zack took it back carefully, inhaling once deeply and dropping it in the cup he had been using as ashtray. “How ‘bout you, traveler? Where’s your home?”
“Here an' there,” the words seemed bitter coming out of his mouth. Dismissing the question. Avoiding the subject. “How ‘bout you? What do you do ‘round these parts?”
The blond thought for a moment, letting go of how the focus was back on him, Zack not speaking about himself. He seemed like he wanted to avoid that, for whatever reason, so Cloud shrugged it off. He didn’t really want to say he was the deputy. Mostly because he just started and it felt a bit presumptuous; but also, maybe Zack would think it was weird. The deputy, going off like this with another man, a stranger, after exchanging just a couple of words.
“Nothing much just yet, just lending a hand ‘round the house and giving a bit of assistance with the farmers.”
Zack regarded him for a long moment, as if he could see right through him. But then he just nodded. “It’s nice of you to help your mom. Family’s important.”
Cloud shrugged, feeling guilty for taking advantage of his mother’s absence the way he did.
“Where’s she now?”
“Just… outta town, for a couple of days. Visiting.”
“An’ uh… your father?”
The blond pursed his lips, looking away. “He’s not around.”
Zack was silent again, as if processing the meaning of those words. But Cloud didn’t want either of them to dwell on it, so he changed the subject.
“Feeling any regret?” then, quickly, he clarified. “About this?” He gestured between them. He couldn’t completely discard the insecurity.
He had half expected a dismissive laugh and some sort of self-assured line. But Zack kept surprising him.
“When I stepped into that saloon,” the man started, pulling his head away just a bit so he could make eye contact, prove he was being sincere. “I was drawn to you immediately. Like a moth to a flame.” The words made Cloud’s face heat up, a faint blush dusting his cheeks. “If I hadn’t approached you… Reckon I’d have regrets for the rest of my life.”
Cloud didn’t know why, but he understood. It should seem ludicrous, that the man would say this and believe it; they just met and they had barely talked, Zack himself had barely given any information about himself. However…
“I've never met anyone like you before. It’s kinda foolish. But… I feel like I've known you for much longer than just tonight."
The raven smiled, a smile so sweet Cloud had to look away. But his chin was turned towards the other again from a firm hold of two fingers on it. They moved closer to each other, their faces mere inches apart. Then their lips met and he was being kissed, a kiss as sweet as that smile, a soft, lingering kiss. It felt stranger, kissing like this, now. More intimate. Before, it was all about lust, all about a specific outcome. But this was almost tender. Unhurried, soft. Cloud savored it.
Zack gently ran his fingers through Cloud's hair, his voice filled with warmth. “I don’t know if you believe in destiny, but if it’s what brought me to you, I owe it my thanks.”
Cloud laughed under his breath, earning a questioning hum from the other. “It’s just – it is kinda foolish, isn’t it? Destiny,” he chuckled, amused. Cloud didn’t believe in destiny. Things just happened because of other people’s choices. Sometimes, those things were bad. A concept like destiny would never be able to explain the bad things that had happened. Then he shook his head, not wanting to offend the man. “It’s nice to believe in something bigger than us. Something positive.”
Zack hummed, pulling him closer and kissing his head, wordless affirmation that he hadn’t been offended. “Don’t you? Believe in somethin’?”
Cloud sighed, letting himself be held for once. “No. I don’t think I can believe in anything like that anymore.”
“Why?”
“You know. Bad things happen and… when you give the credit to some ‘destiny’, you let the ones that made their choice off the hook. You try to give some meaning and greater purpose to something shitty and… sometimes, shitty things happen. They don’t happen for some greater reason it’s just – some people choose to do something bad. Or sometimes, your horse will just stop listening to you and jump off a cliff with you saddled on it. I dunno,” he said dismissively, aware he had just gone off a tangent that wasn’t particularly pleasant.
Zack didn’t laugh, but he did remain silent for a few seconds, as if he was mulling those words over. "No such thing as a reckonin' then?" Cloud shook his head in response, enough for the other man to feel it against his chest. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a pessimist.”
And Cloud decided to laugh it off, because what else was there to do? “Drinking whiskey on my own at the saloon didn’t give you a hint?”
Finally, the raven laughed, and shifted to get more comfortable. “I should go.”
“You can stay the night.” The words escaped him before he could stop them. “You can leave at dawn. Save yourself the money for a room at the inn.”
“It’s honestly not so costly.”
Cloud laughed again, enjoying the fingers now just tracing his back, touch feather-light. “That’s because it’s wretched. Bedding past its prime.” Lips were pressing tiny kisses on his head, and he turned to the side to expose his neck. Zack took the invitation, kissing his neck again and again, sucking the skin between his teeth, sure to leave a bruise. “You don’t seem to be making haste.”
Zack hummed against his neck, and his breath as he spoke made the hair on his arms raise. “What can I tell you,” he murmured, and if he kept this up Cloud would get worked up again. “You got me hooked. I’m a slave to vices.”
The words made another wave of embarrassment and arousal go through Cloud. He’d do something about it, too, if he weren’t so tired. Instead, he turned towards the other and pressed a kiss on his hair.
It seemed to be the push Zack needed, and he pulled away at last, leaving Cloud feeling cold. He sat on the bed, fixing his trousers and reaching down for his belt, buckling it back on with quick movements.
“You never told me where you’re heading.”
Zack looked back to him for a moment, but quickly averted his gaze. “Few towns over.”
“By your lonesome?”
Wordlessly, back still turned to him, the other reached down to grab his shirt. After he was sufficiently dressed, he stood up and looked at Cloud. “Not quite, I s’ppose,” he said vaguely and bent down to place one last kiss on Cloud’s lips. “Thanks for tonight, wildflower. 'Least I have something to show for my visit here.”
Just like that, he was out the door, leaving Cloud by himself, clutching the blanket against his body.
***
It didn’t make it harder to wake up, despite his exhaustion. He had just made it deputy, he wasn’t gonna blow it by sleeping in.
So he changed back into his jeans and white, long-sleeved shirt. He smiled fondly when he noticed – this wasn’t his belt. That man – Zack – must have accidentally gotten his instead. At least he had evidence he hadn’t just dreamed the whole thing.
He got his gun from his drawer and put it in its holster, his hat the last thing he grabbed before leaving the house. The jail was just a few minutes away. He had to pass by the sheriff every morning before heading to his post at the bank.
He was surprised to see him standing outside in the sun, in the company of other people.
“Ah, Cloud – I mean, Deputy, here you are.”
Cloud looked up at the sheriff, but quickly had to mask his surprise as he approached and could clearly see a tall man, with long silver hair reaching down to his waist and… Zack?
“This is Mr. Fair and Sephiroth,” the sheriff went on, gesturing to the two men. “They will be staying with us for a while. They’re from the big city, you know? Midgar! They came on behalf of the bank’s headquarters, y’know, based in Midgar.”
The sheriff went on about the bank but Cloud couldn’t focus on his words, eyes continuously darting to a pair of brown ones. To his credit, if Zack was as surprised as he was, he didn’t show it at all.
“Nice to make your acquaintance, gentlemen,” he said, shaking hands with the other man, Sephiroth, before extending his hand to Zack. He hoped his face didn’t betray the turmoil going on inside him as he faced the man, even if he felt his cheeks heating up. “I’m Deputy Cloud Strife.” Zack regarded him a minuscule of a second too long, before offering his disarming smile along with his hand, grasping Cloud’s own firmly.
“You can call me Zack.”
That lying, wretched son of a bitch.