[Zack is so handsy. If the past few weeks have taught Cloud anything, it's that if there's a hand available, Zack's going to want to hold it. Hilariously, he was fine making out with Zack in the darkness out in the open, but when it comes to walking down the street hand-in-hand, Cloud's had to train himself out of that initial shyness.
It's still there, a little. The red on the back of his neck isn't entirely from exertion when he claps his hand into Zack's, and doesn't let go when he swings Monarch onto his back as they head for the cottage. But it makes Zack so god damned happy just to hold his hand, what else can he do but get over himself?] Break time. Then we get back to it.
[Zack laughs, happy as ever to weave their fingers together, leading the way back towards their house.]
What's got you so energized today? Not that I'm gonna complain! [They both love a good fight, after all. And of course they both know that.] We can go all day if that's what you want. But I'm not missin' dinner!
I'm getting old, [Cloud quips flatly, letting Zack do whatever he likes with their joined hands because he's fucking whipped for that laugh. Holy's sake.] Need to push myself or I'm gonna just lay around all day.
S'alright, I like older guys, [Cloud says like Zack has silver hair and a shrinking mortgage.
He pulls ahead to get the front door first, holding it open for Zack and locking up after them. Monarch is leaned against the wall in the entryway and Cloud brushes past Zack again to get into the kitchen first, starting on something simple for the two of them.]
[Zack laughs again; it's so easy to do. (He could make silver hair look good.)]
Y'want beefy sandwiches? I've got some fresh streak strips from the smoker, they came out perfect.
[The smoker he FINALLY got around to dismantling and moving to their yard instead of the second house. He's basically 100% moved in at this point now.]
Mm. [Cloud retrieves a cutting board and knife to pass them over to Zack in lieu of a real answer, but that's because he's getting all the other shit they'll need for big ass SOLDIER-appetite sandwiches. He wasn't hungry this morning but now he could eat a behemoth.]
[Zack takes both and gets to carving up the meat, working next to Cloud with a quiet, comfortable ease, sides close, elbows occasionally brushing pleasantly.]
We really worked up some appetites! Feels like I could eat six layers and then come back for seconds.
Aren't you always like that? [Is that why your chest is so massive and pillowy? The layered sandwiches?
Cloud's fingers hesitate when assembling Zack's sandwich as he has to search his memory for his preference (and remembers that first time he'd done so, when they'd made the bond and- yeah) before getting out the honey mustard and cheese. You know what, flicks on the oven while he's at it, Zack will want it toasted.]
[Sometimes he eats a reasonable amount of food! It just so happens that "reasonable" for him is to fuel a SOLDIER's stamina, so. Not that normal.
Once the meat's sliced he slides it in Cloud's direction and fetches a pan for said toasting, then edges closer to Cloud to lean over his shoulder, affectionately annoying.]
[Zack hovers, not quite draping like he's giving Cloud the opportunity to shy away-
Cloud just reaches up and puts a hand in Zack's hair, pulling his head down until his chin rests atop Cloud's shoulder, and then gets back to work on cutting up the tomatoes. Hm, gets out the knife sharpener. These slices are looking ragged.]
[Zack doesn't hesitate at all, setting his chin where it's guided, his arms winding around Cloud's waist, holding him softly. It's a more tender gesture than they normally lean into, something typically reserved for Aerith. They've been energy and heat more often than not, quick experimental touches, heavy make-outs in private. This is new. This is nice.
He's definitely in the way, but since Cloud doesn't seem to mind, he stays like this while Cloud fusses with that knife.]
[Mm, yup. Zack wraps around him, like Cloud had wanted; the weight on his back feels good, like safety, like if he wanted to he could crouch a bit and hike Zack up onto his back, carry him away.
He checks the knife. Sharp enough. Cloud takes one of Zack's wrists and pulls his arm out, carefully pressing the handle of the knife into his hand. Need to get those metal filings off before he finishes cutting up the veggies.] Wash that for me? [A request in tone, but also...a gentle instruction, almost. A respectful order. Testing the waters. Cloud soothes it with a kiss to Zack's jaw, right on that X-shaped scar.]
[Zack's cheek shifts beneath Cloud's mouth as his smile broadens, and he spins the knife deftly between his fingers as he draws back to do just that.]
You got it, boss.
[And maybe he knows what Cloud's doing. Maybe he likes being told what to do, the soldier (SOLDIER) instinct built in deep. Maybe he's just like that. Whatever the reason, Zack slips free, his knife-less hand brushing across Cloud's back - just above his waist, in between all those lithe muscles - before he separates entirely. The request may as well have been rhetorical. That knife is getting so washed.]
[The casual display of skill, the easy, smooth way Zack moves as soon as Cloud asks-
He's already at a simmer when Zack's hand trails across his back. Yeah. This is like the feeling he gets with Aerith. It's working out. You got it, boss. Chills.
Cloud watches Zack for a moment; he has to hunch a little to use the sink, a bit too tall for everything in the cottage, and it makes his shoulders look even bigger. Before he can make a complete dumbass of himself Cloud turns back to what he's doing, a hand over the pan to test the heat before he drops in the slices of bread to toast, layering on the meat and cheese to get everything nice and hot. Zack's first, then he'll feed himself.]
[It's a quick job to wash the knife, clearing off the stray filings and scrubbing away anything that could contaminate the rest of the vegetables. Once finished he rinses it clean, dries it, and offers it handle-first back towards Cloud, shifting closer to bump his hip, trying to nudge him sideways.]
Your knife, sir. [Yeah that one's intentional, too.] Move over, I'll watch that.
[Bit of a bossy britches, himself. But if Cloud's going back to the veggies, may as well make himself useful again.]
[SIR???? Cloud is going to bodycheck you into the lake when they get back out there, Zack Fair. Who do you think you are.
Cloud is moved because he does have to get to these veggies and he is hungry, but like. He's still kind of stunned here. The first tomato slice he makes after that little display is diagonal as shit.]
We're flirting, right? This is definitely- this is like, hardcore flirting? [HE JUST HAS TO CHECK. Flirting is so weird ok, sometimes he thinks he is but he isn't, sometimes he doesn't think he is but then he is. Many more times people are flirting with HIM and he doesn't realize because he's just trying to find the exits.
Not trying to find the exits now. But trying to make sure they're on the same page before he takes this any further like the bedroom or smth.]
[Zack blinks at him for a moment, then laughs, flipping over the bread in the pan.]
It better be flirting! Nobody felt up my ass giving orders before.
[Maybe not an entirely unreasonable question, though. Yes, they're dating now, flirting makes sense, but sometimes Zack just talks to people and they think it's flirting. Or sometimes it is flirting, because he's just like that, with the intent for it to go nowhere.
...Anyway, this is flirting. Going-somewhere flirting. And nobody felt up his ass here either, but maybe that's wishful thinking-]
[Zack just says 'giving orders' and Cloud's neck burns at the realization that not only was Zack willfully engaging in the so-called hardcore flirting, but he was very pointedly doing so knowing that Cloud was exploring with bossing him around, in a potentially sexy way.
Embarrassing. But...not in a bad way. Kind of like when Aerith had cinched that corset at his back and then felt him up.]
Don't mess with me, [Cloud complains, taking a tomato slice and shoving it into Zack's mouth to keep him from laughing again.] You know how many dating rumors you had back in the day? I'd just chat with you and the other guys in my squad would leave boxes of condoms on my bunk.
[There's a muffled, huffing exhale around the tomato as it disappears into Zack's mouth, chewed and swallowed in record time. You can't stop this man's mirth, sorry not sorry.]
On your bunk! At least the guys in Third Class left 'em in my locker. Security's more tight on the SOLDIER level, though.
[He'd probably have gotten in trouble with the science division or the Turks if he and Aerith had been actively sleeping together, though. Ugh, if they were watching- NOPE NOPE, erasing that train of thought. He's here for Cloud today, not to wonder just how much monitoring she was subject to.]
'm not messing with you, though. Someone gave me some real good advice the other day, actually. About you.
[Don't worry Zack, it was the same few boxes of condoms that ended up getting passed around and placed on people's bunks for the joke, because there's nothing else for troopers to do but make fun of each other and gossip.]
Yeah? What was it? [Tries to not look too interested in hearing what other people are telling Zack about him, and wondering who the hell it could be considering the number of people here Cloud talks to even on the semi-regular.]
[Zack knows his man, because the knife goes THOK against the cutting board when Cloud misses the tomato. He stands there for a moment, unmoving...
Puts down the knife. Turns away from the counter.
Reaches over his head and grabs two fistfuls of his shirt to haul it off over his hair, balling it up and flinging it in the direction of the hallway. That'll make its way to the bedroom whenever it happens.
-goes back to ch- chopping up tomatoes. Even though he's cut more than enough slices- u know what, lets ummm cut up the lettuce to make it more. Sandwich-shaped.]
[Oh. Oh wow. He really didn't expect that to happen, like, immediately. But there he is, Cloud Strife, shirtless.]
Holy shit, that worked.
[A moment passes, and Zack's cheeks turn pink as it sinks in and he looks, his gaze roving over bare skin, the arch of a spine, the way muscles roll and shift as he chops-
-oh. Zack swallows, his voice hushed.]
...Yeah I super should have told you that sooner.
[(Cloud does have a nice back. He owes Sharon again.)]
It's not like you haven't seen my back before, [Cloud mumbles, simultaneously preening and melting from embarrassment. Who cares if he's insecure! Zack wanted to see him shirtless more often, so Zack is gonna see him shirtless more often, god damn it!
Cloud clears his throat, pushing the finished vegetables to the side and taking the knife and cutting board over to the sink to wash them.] The, uh. The bread done yet?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
It's still there, a little. The red on the back of his neck isn't entirely from exertion when he claps his hand into Zack's, and doesn't let go when he swings Monarch onto his back as they head for the cottage. But it makes Zack so god damned happy just to hold his hand, what else can he do but get over himself?] Break time. Then we get back to it.
no subject
What's got you so energized today? Not that I'm gonna complain! [They both love a good fight, after all. And of course they both know that.] We can go all day if that's what you want. But I'm not missin' dinner!
no subject
no subject
Wow, if you're old, what does that make me?
[Older, obviously. Lucky to date this hot young thing.]
no subject
He pulls ahead to get the front door first, holding it open for Zack and locking up after them. Monarch is leaned against the wall in the entryway and Cloud brushes past Zack again to get into the kitchen first, starting on something simple for the two of them.]
no subject
Y'want beefy sandwiches? I've got some fresh streak strips from the smoker, they came out perfect.
[The smoker he FINALLY got around to dismantling and moving to their yard instead of the second house. He's basically 100% moved in at this point now.]
no subject
no subject
We really worked up some appetites! Feels like I could eat six layers and then come back for seconds.
no subject
Cloud's fingers hesitate when assembling Zack's sandwich as he has to search his memory for his preference (and remembers that first time he'd done so, when they'd made the bond and- yeah) before getting out the honey mustard and cheese. You know what, flicks on the oven while he's at it, Zack will want it toasted.]
no subject
[Sometimes he eats a reasonable amount of food! It just so happens that "reasonable" for him is to fuel a SOLDIER's stamina, so. Not that normal.
Once the meat's sliced he slides it in Cloud's direction and fetches a pan for said toasting, then edges closer to Cloud to lean over his shoulder, affectionately annoying.]
no subject
Cloud just reaches up and puts a hand in Zack's hair, pulling his head down until his chin rests atop Cloud's shoulder, and then gets back to work on cutting up the tomatoes. Hm, gets out the knife sharpener. These slices are looking ragged.]
no subject
He's definitely in the way, but since Cloud doesn't seem to mind, he stays like this while Cloud fusses with that knife.]
no subject
He checks the knife. Sharp enough. Cloud takes one of Zack's wrists and pulls his arm out, carefully pressing the handle of the knife into his hand. Need to get those metal filings off before he finishes cutting up the veggies.] Wash that for me? [A request in tone, but also...a gentle instruction, almost. A respectful order. Testing the waters. Cloud soothes it with a kiss to Zack's jaw, right on that X-shaped scar.]
no subject
You got it, boss.
[And maybe he knows what Cloud's doing. Maybe he likes being told what to do, the soldier (SOLDIER) instinct built in deep. Maybe he's just like that. Whatever the reason, Zack slips free, his knife-less hand brushing across Cloud's back - just above his waist, in between all those lithe muscles - before he separates entirely. The request may as well have been rhetorical. That knife is getting so washed.]
no subject
He's already at a simmer when Zack's hand trails across his back. Yeah. This is like the feeling he gets with Aerith. It's working out. You got it, boss. Chills.
Cloud watches Zack for a moment; he has to hunch a little to use the sink, a bit too tall for everything in the cottage, and it makes his shoulders look even bigger. Before he can make a complete dumbass of himself Cloud turns back to what he's doing, a hand over the pan to test the heat before he drops in the slices of bread to toast, layering on the meat and cheese to get everything nice and hot. Zack's first, then he'll feed himself.]
no subject
Your knife, sir. [Yeah that one's intentional, too.] Move over, I'll watch that.
[Bit of a bossy britches, himself. But if Cloud's going back to the veggies, may as well make himself useful again.]
no subject
Cloud is moved because he does have to get to these veggies and he is hungry, but like. He's still kind of stunned here. The first tomato slice he makes after that little display is diagonal as shit.]
We're flirting, right? This is definitely- this is like, hardcore flirting? [HE JUST HAS TO CHECK. Flirting is so weird ok, sometimes he thinks he is but he isn't, sometimes he doesn't think he is but then he is. Many more times people are flirting with HIM and he doesn't realize because he's just trying to find the exits.
Not trying to find the exits now. But trying to make sure they're on the same page before he takes this any further
like the bedroom or smth.]no subject
It better be flirting! Nobody felt up my ass giving orders before.
[Maybe not an entirely unreasonable question, though. Yes, they're dating now, flirting makes sense, but sometimes Zack just talks to people and they think it's flirting. Or sometimes it is flirting, because he's just like that, with the intent for it to go nowhere.
...Anyway, this is flirting. Going-somewhere flirting. And nobody felt up his ass here either, but maybe that's wishful thinking-]
no subject
Embarrassing. But...not in a bad way. Kind of like when Aerith had cinched that corset at his back and then felt him up.]
Don't mess with me, [Cloud complains, taking a tomato slice and shoving it into Zack's mouth to keep him from laughing again.] You know how many dating rumors you had back in the day? I'd just chat with you and the other guys in my squad would leave boxes of condoms on my bunk.
no subject
On your bunk! At least the guys in Third Class left 'em in my locker. Security's more tight on the SOLDIER level, though.
[He'd probably have gotten in trouble with the science division or the Turks if he and Aerith had been actively sleeping together, though. Ugh, if they were watching- NOPE NOPE, erasing that train of thought. He's here for Cloud today, not to wonder just how much monitoring she was subject to.]
'm not messing with you, though. Someone gave me some real good advice the other day, actually. About you.
no subject
Yeah? What was it? [Tries to not look too interested in hearing what other people are telling Zack about him, and wondering who the hell it could be considering the number of people here Cloud talks to even on the semi-regular.]
no subject
That I should tell you, I wanna see you shirtless more!
no subject
Puts down the knife. Turns away from the counter.
Reaches over his head and grabs two fistfuls of his shirt to haul it off over his hair, balling it up and flinging it in the direction of the hallway. That'll make its way to the bedroom whenever it happens.
-goes back to ch- chopping up tomatoes. Even though he's cut more than enough slices- u know what, lets ummm cut up the lettuce to make it more. Sandwich-shaped.]
no subject
Holy shit, that worked.
[A moment passes, and Zack's cheeks turn pink as it sinks in and he looks, his gaze roving over bare skin, the arch of a spine, the way muscles roll and shift as he chops-
-oh. Zack swallows, his voice hushed.]
...Yeah I super should have told you that sooner.
[(Cloud does have a nice back. He owes Sharon again.)]
no subject
Cloud clears his throat, pushing the finished vegetables to the side and taking the knife and cutting board over to the sink to wash them.] The, uh. The bread done yet?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)