The Shali World

“Darkness before Dawn”
Chapter 19
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(Trigger warnings, game spoiler warning, angst and fluff warnings)
*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can't get enough of this world and the characters.*
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Zack continued to steadily improve as the days went by and Cloud continued taking delivery jobs that didn't require him to travel too far. Tifa came to visit again a week after the trip to Kalm and Rude came with her. The Turk was quiet but polite, as usual...preferring to fade into the background while his love interest visited with “her boys”, as Tifa affectionately referred to them. Seeing the platonic way she treated them, Rude's mild stirrings of jealousy were quelled and he relaxed.

Tifa brought a set of new socks for Zack and Cloud, correctly guessing that they both neglected to keep up a supply of decent ones. She made them both throw their old worn socks out afterwards, which amused Rude slightly. Truthfully, Tifa had more of a “big sister” attitude toward Strife and Fair—almost to the point of being motherly. He studied Zack curiously during the visit, wondering how the man could live through so much and spend years in a psych institution without hardly changing at all. Rude noticed a few new quirks but otherwise, Zack seemed normal to him.

They had a nice visit before Tifa and Rude returned to Edge together. Before they left, Tifa pulled Cloud aside and informed him in a low whisper that she'd picked up Zack's Buster Sword from the weapon smith and she was keeping it safely wrapped and boxed in the attic. Cloud thanked her and inwardly wondered when his lover would be stable enough to reclaim his weapon. He made a mental note to speak with Dr. Clark about the possibility later on down the line and he hoped the doctor wouldn't forbid Zack from ever taking up arms again.

Poor Dr. Clark became overworked as more patients were brought in to the fourth floor. Many of them were survivors of the Geostigma and Deepground events. They'd witnessed and experienced things that traumatized them to the point of instability and many of them were admitted at once, after the WRO found a remote community of survivors. The doctor didn't have as much time to dedicate to supervising Zack's progress as he would have liked, as a result. Zack took it in stride and Cloud helped as much as he could, helping him with his mind activities and encouraging him as the time for his next evaluation drew nearer.

It was difficult for Cloud to resist telling Zack that this one could be his last evaluation if he did well enough, but he reminded himself that Zack's performance could suffer if he felt pressured. Oddly, Zack seemed to sense that an opportunity for change was in the making. Cloud observed that every time he returned from a delivery, he found Zack in his room. At first he thought it was just a coincidence but eventually he couldn't help but see a pattern. The next evaluation was only a little over a week away and Cloud finally decided to ask Zack about it one night, as they lay down for bed.

“Zack, is everything okay?” Cloud searched his face in the moonlit darkness as Zack embraced him.

“Sure, why?”

Cloud worried his lower lip with his teeth as he thought it over. “Well, you're usually really social but lately it seems like I find you in the room every time I come back. I used to have to look all over for you but now all I have to do is come to your room to find you.”

Zack grimaced. “You noticed that, huh? Don't worry, Sunshine. Everything's okay.”

“If it's 'okay' then why did you make that face?”

Zack gazed at him quietly for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. “Maybe this sounds stupid, but since I've been doing so good I don't want to risk anything screwing up my progress. I know I haven't freaked out in a while but it could still happen without warning, you know? It's cool when you're around to watch my back and help me get back to the room before I make a scene, but I thought about it and I decided that when you're out, I'm just going to stay in here to be safe. I just do some of the stuff in my exercise book or play our video games.”

Cloud felt the stirrings of guilt. “I can put off doing deliveries for a while if you—“

“No,” interrupted Zack with a brief kiss. “Don't do that, kiddo. I'm fine.”

“But if you're afraid to leave the room when I'm not around—“

“Hey, who said I was 'afraid”?” Zack interrupted again with a grin. “I'm just trying to be careful.”

“Why?” asked Cloud. Did Dr. Clark say something to him about the evaluation?

Zack lowered his eyes and shrugged. “I don't know if you'll believe me if I tell you.”

“Zack, you've never lied to me,” Cloud persisted. “At least, you've never lied to me except when you were trying to protect me. I'll believe you, whatever it is.”

Zack regarded him silently for a moment, as if gauging whether he was being sincere. Finally he shrugged again. “Okay, here goes: A couple of nights after our weekend in Kalm, I dreamed about Aerith. Only, it wasn't like a regular dream. It felt real—like she was standing right here in the room talking to me while you were sleeping. She told me to be strong and be on my best behavior. She said if I did that, I could get out of here for good. I swear I smelled flowers for a whole week after that.”

Zack paused and looked at him warily, waiting for Cloud to dispute what he'd said. When the blonde merely nodded and smiled a little, Zack continued. “It could have been my imagination—especially when my head's still screwed up and I'm on all those meds. Even if it was, it just made good sense to me for me to try and avoid any public scenes. The less tantrums I have, the better my chances are of getting a good...uh...prog...prog...what's it called again?”

“Prognosis,” supplied Cloud softly.

Zack nodded. “Right. Prognosis. If I don't have any major episodes and take good care of myself, maybe the doc will put in a good word for me and I can be out of here in a few months.” He looked wary again. “You don't think it's too weird, about Aerith?”

Cloud shook his head and stroked a wayward lock of hair out of Zack's eyes with his fingers. “Everybody dreams, Zack...sometimes vividly. Um, I also don't think it's impossible that Aerith actually spoke to you, but don't tell Dr. Clark I said that or he might put me in here too.”

“What do you mean?” Zack looked intrigued.

Cloud responded slowly, trying to explain what he meant coherently. “I've...had a few...encounters myself. They usually happened in a crisis situation but she's come to me in my dreams before, too.”

“So do you think Aerith is really talking to us from the afterlife?”

Cloud shrugged. “Hope so. If not then I'm worse off than I thought.” He smirked. “She's an Ancient so I think if anyone can do it, she can.”

Zack grinned at him with relief. “I won't tell if you won't,” he murmured. “We'll just keep it to ourselves.”

Cloud nodded in agreement. “You've been eating though, right?”

“Yeah, don't worry about that,” Zack assured him. “When you're gone I just bring my food in here to eat. I'm not starving myself or anything.”

“Good.” Cloud gave him a slow, leisurely kiss. He'd meant it to be a simple “goodnight” kiss but Zack had other ideas. Despite the yawn that broke past his lips as Cloud pulled away, the brunet ignored the effects of the night meds he'd taken and he initiated further contact with another kiss. Cloud returned it instinctively and the next thing he knew, their tongues were caressing and Zack's hands were slipping into his boxers to cup his bottom.

“I love this ass,” Zack droned against Cloud's mouth before claiming it again. He squeezed the firm butt cheeks admiringly before rubbing his palms over the smooth, soft skin. “You know, I didn't get a 'hello' fuck when you got back, sexy.”

Cloud snorted. “Didn't know it was customary to greet people that way.” Despite his sarcasm he was hardening in his underwear and he sighed as Zack's thigh pressed between his legs and rubbed against the spot.

“It is when you're committed to someone,” insisted Zack with another grinning kiss. He pulled his smaller companion more tightly against him and enjoyed the faint little moan that emitted from his mouth.

“If it worked that way, guys wouldn't complain about their wives not putting out enough,” Cloud argued against the velvety lips caressing his.

“If you and I were married,” Zack persisted, “we'd show 'em how it's done.”

“So which one of us would be the 'wife'?” asked Cloud with a small grin of his own.

Zack chuckled and brushed his lips over the blonde's jaw and throat. “Isn't it obvious? Who's on top most of the time, eh?”

“I am,” Cloud answered without missing a beat.

Zack paused thoughtfully. Cloud wasn't actually wrong about that, now that he considered it. A lot of the time he did end up riding Zack until the brunet's eyes crossed with pleasure. “Okay,” he said aloud, “I'll give you that, but who's inside of who when we do it, hmm?”

Cloud smirked and slid his hand down Zack's body to rub the prominent bulge in his boxer briefs. “Doesn't matter,” he answered huskily, “You might get your way most of the time but I still call most of the shots.”

“Plenty of wives do that,” argued Zack with a low groan of need. He pushed into Cloud's stroking hand and squeezed his bottom again. “Being the 'wife' doesn't make you a pushover, man.”

“True,” Cloud agreed. “But I guess it doesn't really matter anyhow. If we could ever get married we'd be husband and husband, since neither of us is a woman.”

“Then why'd you bring it up?” asked Zack.

“I don't know...I guess I wanted to find out if you'd try to turn me into a girl or something.” A hint of a teasing smile adorned Cloud's lips as he said it.

“Hey, if I wanted a girl I wouldn't be with you.” Zack pressed his lips against Cloud's again and delved into his mouth with his tongue, silencing any further banter on the subject.

Cloud's pulse quickened and his desire rapidly grew as Zack's tongue thrust and caressed suggestively inside of his mouth, while his hands fondled his backside. When the sable-haired fighter's mouth broke away from his to glide over his throat to his chest, Cloud blurted something without even being conscious of doing it and Zack suddenly stopped and looked at him with surprised amethyst eyes.

“Wow, when you kick into slut mode it doesn't stop right away, does it?”

Cloud stared back at him in confusion, his breathing heavy and his groin aching in his boxers. “Uh, what did I say?”

A slow, white-toothed grin spread over Zack's mouth. “How about I just show you by doing what you asked me to do, Chocobo?”

Cloud swallowed nervously and his eyes went blank as he turned the last few moments over in his mind and tried to remember what he said. His face was delightfully hot with embarrassment and he muttered a bashful protest as Zack pushed him down and started worshipping his chest and stomach with his lips and hands.

~What did I just get myself into? THINK! Damn, why does my mouth get disconnected from my brain so much around Zack?~

He blurted another protest when Zack flipped him over onto his stomach with ridiculous ease. The bigger man's hot breath stirred the fine hairs at the nape of Cloud's neck as he pinned him down with his weight and brought his mouth close to his ear.

“Relax, Cloud. I'm just doing what you asked me to do.” Zack's teeth grazed the shell of the blonde's ear when he finished speaking, making Cloud shiver involuntarily with lust. Zack's rigid sex was pressing intimately between Cloud's butt cheeks through the barriers of their underwear and he chuckled when the smaller man impulsively raised his hips to press his bottom more firmly against the bulge.

“Yeah, you keep protesting, baby,” Zack murmured against Cloud's ear as he ground his hips against his ass. The other man groaned softly and turned his head more to encourage Zack's lips. The brunet complied with a smile, kissing and nibbling his lover's ear and jaw. “It's not very convincing when you rub that hot little ass against me like this.”

Several minute's later, their underwear lay forgotten on the floor and Zack had the blonde sheathed in a condom and ready for him. He urged Cloud to lift his hips so he could slide a pillow underneath to raise his ass higher and then he checked the other pillows to be sure there was enough support for his head. When he was satisfied with his lover's position, Zack eased his thighs further apart and settled between them. He supported his weight as best he could with one arm while he positioned himself and as he eased into Cloud's tight warmth, the pleasured moan he got in response nearly undid him.

Cloud put his face into the pillow and bit down as Zack rocked carefully over him, driving his thick length shallowly into him before withdrawing and pushing forward again, a bit deeper. He did it gradually—which incidentally drove Cloud crazy with need and pleasure. It was tantalizing to the point of frustration the way Zack's cock entered him a little deeper each time without going all the way in.

“Quit...teasing!” Demanded Cloud after the fourth thrust didn't penetrate him more than half way. He knew exactly how long Zack's cock was and he could tell how far the man was going with each thrust. The low, breathy chuckle he heard from his partner made Cloud's frustration soar to greater heights and he lifted his head and craned his neck to glare over his shoulder at the mischievous brunet.

“You're doing that...on purpose,” accused Cloud in a raspy groan. The velvety hardness gently eased into him again with excruciating slowness and he moaned, his eyes losing focus.

“Doing what on purpose, Sunshine?” Zack's teeth flashed in the dim light as he smiled at him with fake innocence.

“H-holding back,” answered Cloud with a gasp. The hardness withdrew again and he clenched his teeth and rocked upwards and back with a growl. “You're asking for it, Zack.”

“So how do you want me to give it to you, then?” Zack had a feeling he knew but he was having too much fun making Cloud go into his “pushy” mode to act on it, just yet. “Just tell me what you want and I'll do it, sexy.”

Cloud bit his lip as Zack pushed into him again, a little deeper but not much. “You know...what I want,” he panted.

“Think so?” Zack's voice was husky and breathy with pleasure as well. “Then why aren't I doing it?”

“Because you're a pest, that's why!” Cloud spouted, near the end of his rope.

Zack pressed his lips together to hold back another laugh. “Well...if I'm a pest then I guess you don't want me rutting over you.” He started to withdraw teasingly but Cloud bucked beneath him desperately and got halfway to his hands and knees, pushing backwards onto his cock to keep it from leaving his body.

“Don't you...dare!” gasped the blonde.

“Then tell me what you want, then.” Zack held himself back to keep his lover from sheathing him further in his snug warmth as he waited for the response he wanted.

“Fuck me,” Cloud sighed in defeat, collapsing back onto the mattress as if saying it aloud sapped his strength. “Happy now?”

“Yup,” admitted Zack with a wink as he let his weight settle more firmly atop the blonde. “And I'll try to make sure you are too, baby.”

He withdrew again and when Cloud opened his mouth to protest, Zack clamped a hand over it and drove forward again, hard and deep. Cloud's breath was hot against his palm and his muffled groan hummed against his skin. Zack pushed forward until he was fully seated inside of his companion and then he withdrew and did it again, rolling his hips smoothly as he began taking Cloud with firm, deep thrusts. His rhythm was slow at first, to give them both time to adjust. Cloud whimpered behind his stifling hand as his angled strokes nudged his internal gland firmly with each pass.

“How's that?” Zack droned breathlessly, brushing his lips over Cloud's flushed cheek as he turned his head to rest it weakly against the pillows.

“Muhmfh,” came the distorted, moaning reply. The nod that followed ensured that the response was a positive one. Cloud's bright, sapphire eyes were dazed and wide, while his golden brows were furrowed as if in concentration.

Zack took it as a signal that he'd adjusted and he picked up the speed of his thrusts, bucking his hips harder to shove his dick in with more force. Cloud's eyes squeezed shut and his nostrils flared as he made a hoarse exclamation into Zack's hand. He moved desperately under Zack, humping the pillow beneath his hips as he synchronized to the bigger man's pumping and matched his pace.

“You're so good,” Zack groaned, further excited by his lover's show of lusty approval. He gave up his efforts to hold back on his urges and took his hand away from the blonde's mouth, trusting Cloud to let him know if he got too rough.

Cloud grabbed hold of his top pillow with both fists and hollered before he could stop himself as Zack began to take him with vigor that made the bed squeak with protest. He quickly bit down on the pillow again as one of Zack's hands burrowed under his hips and grasped his erection. The strong, confident grip squeezed with just the right amount of pressure and began to pet the length of his arousal, magnifying his pleasure. Cloud was forced to lift his head long enough to draw a few ragged, panting breaths as the his pillow biting threatened to smother him, but once he got enough oxygen he swiftly bit down on it again because he couldn't stop his moans of pleasure from rattling in his throat.

“Oh shit,” Zack grunted, pushing in deep and stopping for a moment. He shut his eyes and panted in rapid, shallow breaths as he waited for the warning pressure in his balls to fade to a less risky level. Cloud whined in frustration and rocked under him impatiently, prompting Zack to release his cock and smack him sharply on the right cheek of his ass.

“Hold still a minute,” Zack advised through gritted teeth. Evidently, his sudden smack put sufficient weight behind his command because the blonde went utterly still beneath him. Zack looked down and saw the bewilderment on Cloud's face and he chuckled breathlessly through his teeth. “Let me guess: You're usually the one giving the spankings.”

Cloud squirmed a little and nodded, still shocked by the abrupt swat. Zack had given him playful pats on the rear before but until now, he'd always been the one receiving the bare-bottom smacks. Cloud had never asked him to reciprocate because he didn't think he'd personally enjoy it the way Zack did and the thought of requesting it was too awkward for him. Almost as surprising as the unexpected slap was the oddly gratifying way it made his skin tingle.

“Hey, did it bother you?” Zack queried when his level of passion cooled to a more bearable level.

A fresh bloom of color spread over Cloud's face and Zack knew it wasn't his lust responsible for it. The blonde shrugged before mumbling; “Not really.” He squirmed again, trying to urge Zack to move. “You okay now?”

Zack smirked and rather than answer his companion verbally, he resumed fucking him soundly. The response was apparently satisfactory for Cloud because the blonde drew in a ragged breath and buried his face in the pillow. His muffled cries were irregular and they grew louder with each forcible thrust. Zack slipped his hand between the Cloud's hips and the pillow to stroke his cock through the condom again and he put more of his weight on him to murmur breathy encouragement in his ear.

Just when Zack feared he'd blow his load before Cloud got off, the blonde shuddered beneath him and groaned his name into the pillow. Zack smiled in relief and panted softly as Cloud's sex twitched in his stroking hand and filled the condom. He distantly thought it was a good thing Cloud had insisted on wearing the latex. Too often, they forgot about it or brushed it off and ended up with the choice between sleeping in a wet spot or changing the bedding before going to sleep.

Now that he'd given his boyfriend his release, Zack strove for his own. It didn't take much effort on his part because he was already close when Cloud had his orgasm. After several more thrusts, his balls tightened and his breath expulsed with a groan as he tensed. He twitched heartily inside of his prone lover, filling him to the brim before his trembling arms couldn't support his weight anymore.

“Sorry Cloud,” gasped Zack as he crumpled on top of the blonde. “Hope I'm not smushing you.”

“You're fine,” Cloud sighed in a satisfied tone. He was breathing as heavily as Zack and he moved his head to kiss the other man's forearm that was closest to his face. Zack rested his head on his back, between his shoulder blades. His cock pulsed one last time inside of Cloud—an aftermath of his orgasm. The blonde smiled sleepily, finding the sensation gratifying somehow. He felt Zack's penetrating organ losing its stiffness and girth as it began to soften and the ache of the fullness eased up to a pleasant throb.

When Zack recovered enough to move, he rolled off of Cloud and onto his back. The other man scooted close to lay his head on his chest and Zack caressed his shoulder and back, closing his eyes and sighing with the bliss of the afterglow. They were both too spent and lazy with satisfaction to speak but by now, they no longer needed conversation to assure one another they both enjoyed it. Zack drifted off to sleep first, as his release of tension made him more susceptible to his medication. Cloud followed him shortly, lulled by the comforting sound of his heart thumping against his ear and his steady breathing.

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

The day was finally there for Zack's evaluation and Cloud was running late. He'd left to make his delivery in the early, dark hours of the morning so that he'd have plenty of time to return and watch the evaluation with Dr. Clark, but he ran into a storm on his way back and it caused some complications. He grimaced as he carefully parked Fenrir in his usual spot in the garage and turned the engine off. Not wasting any time, he dismounted the cycle and hurried through the garage to the entrance into the clinic. His arm hurt like crazy but he refused to let it stop him from being there for his lover.

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

“Zack, I want you to come with me.”

Zack stared at Dr. Clark with his mouth open, interrupted before he could invite the man through the threshold of his door. He blinked and found his voice. “What's wrong?”

Dr. Clark looked somber as he replied. “Nothing's the matter. You're getting an evaluation today and we mustn't keep your assessor waiting.”

Zack was again struck speechless for a moment before he regained his power of speech. “An evaluation? Why didn't you tell me before?” He sputtered. “I haven't had any time to get ready for it!” He followed the doctor out the door, having the sense to cooperate despite his protests.

“I know,” the doctor answered in an apologetic tone. “That's the point of this particular session, Zackary. If you can get through this one without preparation or rehearsal, it may be the last one you'll ever have in this place.”

Zack stopped in his tracks. “Doc, are you saying what I think you're saying?”

Dr. Clark stopped as well and looked up at him. “If you think I'm telling you that this evaluation could lead to your release from this hospital, then yes...I'm saying what you think I'm saying.” He smiled fondly at the younger man and reached out to take him by the arm, gently coaxing him to keep moving. “It all depends on you, Zackary. I can't be in the room to coach you and neither can Cloud.”

“Where is Cloud, by the way?” Zack looked around with a frown and checked his watch. “He should have been back, by now.”

“I'm sure he's just running late,” soothed the doctor.

“But what if something happened to him?” Zack's concern didn't fade with Dr. Clark's assurances. Cloud was usually right on schedule when he said he'd be back by a certain time and he was nearly an hour late, now.

“I think he would have called if he'd gotten into any trouble,” answered the doctor with confidence. “Mr. Strife has always been meticulous about keeping you updated or checking on you when his schedule changes. Try not to worry about that now, son. You need to concentrate on getting through this evaluation.”

Zack sighed and tried to take his advice. They walked together to the elevator and Dr. Clark flashed his ID at the guards so they could board it. They ascended to the fourth floor and walked the familiar hallways to the observation rooms. Dr. Clark stopped outside of room five and looked up at Zack again with a sincere, encouraging expression on his face. He reached out and patted Zack on the arm in a fatherly gesture before speaking.

“Remember, it's up to you now, Zack. Stay focused and stay observant.”

Zack squared his shoulders and nodded with determination. “Will do, Doc. Wish me luck.”

Dr. Clark swiped his keycard to unlock the door to the room and he twisted the knob. “If you keep your wits as I've come to expect of you, there's no need for luck. Make me proud, Zackary.”

Zack gave another nod. “Yes, Sir.”

Dr. Clark smiled faintly and opened the door, gesturing for the young man to go inside. Zack obeyed and walked into the room. As soon as his eyes settled on the man sitting at the table waiting for him, his adrenaline began to pump and he impulsively turned around to tell his doctor there had to be a mistake. The door shut and he heard the click of the lock. Zack grasped the handle and jiggled it anyhow, his first instincts being to either retreat or attack. The door was locked securely and the only way he was going to get through it was to break it down or convince the doctor on the other side to unlock it.

“Why don't you have a seat, Mr. Fair?” Said the man at the table calmly.

Zack went still and remembered Dr. Clark's instructions to stay focused and observant. The man at the table was obviously his evaluator. He recalled seeing him once before since coming to this place and he shut his eyes and tried to calm his racing heart. His voice was...wrong. It didn't sound like Hojo's nasally, oily voice.

“Zackary,” the waiting doctor said, “If you can't even look at me without having an episode, I'm afraid this evaluation will be declared null and void. Is that what you want?”

Zack bit his lip and shook his head. He turned around slowly and raised his eyes bit by bit from the floor, scanning the doctor's lab coat and dragging his gaze up. His eyes briefly settled on the nametag pinned to the coat. Apparently this doctor's name was “Matthews”. Zack's gaze climbed slowly from the tag to the doctor's face and he made himself study him...really look at him. The glasses were hauntingly similar in style and shape but the long hair bound in the ponytail wasn't dull or unkempt. There were strands of grey mixed in with the raven locks and the hair was carefully groomed and obviously well cared for.

“You...really aren't him, are you?” Zack said uncertainly as he took one hesitant step after the other toward the table.

Dr. Matthews shook his head, knowing exactly whom the patient was referring to. “I'm glad you've retained enough control to figure that out, this time. Still, you should be aware that security is watching and should you decide to take out your anger at Hojo on me, they'll be in here within seconds.”

~Though I sincerely doubt you'll need more than seconds to snap my neck, if you do choose to attack me. Oh hell, why did I agree to this? I hope you're right, Allen.~

He'd been reluctant to approve of Zack's release even if the patient passed the evaluation, but Dr. Clark made a deal with him that was too intriguing to resist. He reasoned that if Zack could sit down with Dr. Matthews and get through the evaluation without mistaking him for Hojo, it would prove that he was no longer a significant threat and should therefore be released. Foolishly perhaps, Karl agreed to it in the name of psychological curiosity. Now he stood to lose his life if his colleague was wrong about Zack.

Zack's face was lightly beaded with perspiration as he took a seat across from the doctor at the table. He clasped his hands on the surface and licked dry lips as he shook his head. “I'm not going to attack you. Now that I've really looked at you and listened to you, I know you're not him. Uh, those glasses don't fit you though. You ought to think about trying some oval or round frames.”

Dr. Matthews raised his eyebrows. “Are you sure your opinion isn't influenced by your dislike of another man who wore frames like this?”

Zack shrugged. “Maybe. I'd be lying if I said they don't freak me out. H-hey, can I have some water or something? My mouth's a little dry.”

Dr. Matthews took pity on him. Zack was a likeable fellow when he wasn't trying to kill someone and he knew that even though the young man realized now that he wasn't Hojo, his look was still causing traumatic memories to surface. The doctor glanced at the two-way mirror and gave a nod, knowing that there were personnel behind it other than Dr. Clark observing the session.

“Someone will bring a pitcher of water shortly,” Dr. Matthews assured the patient. He reached up and took his glasses off, folding them and placing them in his vest pocket. Next, he freed his hair from the ponytail and loosened the strands with his fingers. “Does this make me less intimidating for you, Zackary?”

Zack blinked. Those two small changes made a dramatic difference to Dr. Matthews' appearance. Without the distasteful glasses to distract from it, the doctor was actually a nice-looking man. Zack guessed there was Wutaian blood in him, if the shape of his eyes and the shine in his dark hair were any indication.

“That's a lot better,” admitted Zack, “but you don't have to compromise your sight on my account. I can...deal with it...if I have to.”

“I'm only a bit near-sighted,” Dr. Matthews said dismissively. “Not blind. I can see you just fine from this distance. Now, shall we begin?”

Zack nodded and firmed his resolve.

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

“Sorry I'm late,” Cloud huffed as he was let into the observation room by one of the guards. “Ran into a little trouble on the way back.”

Dr. Clark turned from the window and looked at the young man. He stiffened when he saw the state Cloud was in. The blonde had splotches of mud smearing his jacket and pants and he'd tracked some of it in. Even though his hair was wet, it still managed to retain some of its gravity-defying spikes and they stuck out in damp, uneven shoots. None of this caused him undue alarm but the makeshift sling around his neck that cradled his left arm to his chest was certainly cause for concern.

“What in the hell happened to you, boy?” Dr. Clark sputtered as he closed the distance between them. The three other staff members present also looked at Cloud with curiosity and worry.

“I had to drive through a storm,” explained Cloud in a low voice. “The rain was pretty heavy and I couldn't see very far. Had to swerve to avoid a truck and I lost control of Fenrir and skidded off the road.”

Dr. Clark could see torn bits on the leather jacket now that he was closer and he suspected the young man had some road rash in places, too. “Good gracious...here, sit down.” He put an arm around the blonde's waist and herded him toward a seat that the nurse pushed over to the window. “Let me look at that arm, son.”

“I'm okay,” Cloud objected as he was practically dragged to the chair.

“Nonsense,” argued the doctor briskly, “you look like a bruised turd. If your arm is in a sling I doubt that you're 'okay'.”

“I just sprained it a little,” Cloud said dismissively. He was more worried about Zack than his own condition and he tried to ask the doctor how it was going so far, but the man didn't let him get another word in edgewise.

“Are you a doctor, Cloud? No, I don't believe you are,” Dr. Clark went on with concerned annoyance, “you may think you only sprained it but you could have easily fractured or broken it. This needs to be taken care of.”

“I'm not going anywhere until after Zack's evaluation is done,” Cloud said firmly before the doctor's rambling could continue further.

Dr. Clark sighed. “Very well. As soon as Zack is finished up here, I want you to come with me to the first floor to have one of our general physicians look at it.”

Cloud nodded. “I can agree to that. So how is Zack doing so far? Has he been in there long?” He looked through the glass and immediately stood up when he saw who was sitting in the room with his lover and recognized him after a moment. His eyes went round and he gave Dr. Clark an incredulous look. “What's he doing in there with him? Are you crazy?”

Dr. Clark raised an eyebrow at him in response to his choice of words and Cloud cleared his throat and flushed. “I...I mean...why would you put Dr. Matthews in there with him, after what happened the first time Zack saw him?”

“Dr. Matthews and I chose to do it this way because of how Zackary responded to his appearance that day,” explained Dr. Clark calmly. “Observing how he handles his own reactions to the sight of Dr. Matthews is a key element to this evaluation, Cloud. If Zack can prove that he's capable of reasoning before reacting—especially when faced with something that triggers his emotions—then Dr. Matthews may agree to his release. My colleague's largest concern is whether Zack can be exposed to the world outside without losing control and hurting anyone in a moment of psychological unrest. Look at him, Cloud. While nervous, Zack is handling himself very well. It's a good sign.”

Cloud watched his lover and listened to the conversation he had going on with Dr. Matthews. Zack was sipping a cup of water occasionally as he answered the doctor's questions and did the tests laid out before him. He did seem to be okay, if a little shaken up. “What happened to his glasses and ponytail?” asked Cloud with a gesture at Dr. Matthews.

“He removed them as a courtesy, once Zack passed the first test.” Dr. Matthews bore an expression of faint pride on his face as he gazed at his patient. “To tell you the truth Cloud, the remainder of this evaluation isn't as important as the way he coped when he walked into that room and saw Dr. Matthews in his regular style. There's more room for error, now that he's proven he has enough mental fortitude to endure such a drastic trigger to his psyche.”

Cloud felt a different kind of anxiety as his concern over Zack being alone in the room with Dr. Matthews faded. This was it...the future that he and Zack both wanted together was only a signature away from becoming a reality. Cloud watched his lover and silently willed him to give it a hundred and ten percent.

“So if he passes this one, I'll be able to take him home?” Cloud asked for reaffirmation. He wanted to be sure he hadn't misunderstood Dr. Clark when they'd discussed this the month before.

“If Dr. Matthews is satisfied enough with the results, yes.” Dr. Clark nodded. “Let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet, though.”

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

“Thank you, Zackary.” Dr. Matthews put the documents away and gave the patient a nod. “You may go, now.” He'd given the nod to the mirror just before finishing up and there was a click as one of the staff members unlocked the door from the other side.

Zack stood up and paused, looking at the doctor searchingly. “Did I do okay?”

Dr. Matthews looked up at him in a considering manner. “You didn't do poorly. You'll have the final results after I've gone over everything and discussed it with your doctor.”

Zack nodded and swallowed as his heart climbed in his throat. It wasn't exactly a confirmation of excellence, but it was heartening to know he didn't do badly either. “Thanks, Doc. Uh, I'll just see myself out now.” Zack walked out of the room at a quick pace, without looking back. When he was in the hall again and the door was shut behind him, he breathed a sigh of relief. Dr. Matthews didn't possess the creepy mannerisms of Hojo but his initial reaction to the sight of the man in the glasses and ponytail had lingered through the whole evaluation. He was glad it was over with, even though he knew he wouldn't sleep until he got the results.

The door next to the one leading to the room he'd just come out of opened and Zack turned to see Cloud come out, followed by Dr. Clark. His smile and greeting died on his lips when he took in the sight of his lover and noticed the sling holding his arm. Cloud's eyes met his and the blonde smiled softly and shook his head.

“Don't worry about me,” Cloud said as Zack approached him and looked him up and down anxiously. “I'm fine. Dr. Clark is taking me downstairs to get some x-rays done and have my arm looked at. I just ran off the road and got a little banged up, is all.”

“You look like you've been through a tornado,” Zack said as he put an arm around the smaller man supportively. “I guess that explains why you were late. Lean on me, Sunshine. I'll go with you.” He raised his eyebrows at Dr. Clark. “That is, if I'm allowed to?”

“I don't see a reason to forbid it,” answered the doctor readily. “Let's get Mr. Strife patched up.”

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

Dr. Clark's concerns turned out to be legitimate. Cloud had a minor fracture in his radius bone and the physician applied a brace to it, gave him a proper sling and told him that as long as he kept it immobile and didn't do anything to make it worse, there would be no need for a hard cast. He prescribed pain medication and skin ointment to the blonde and Dr. Clark phoned it in and had it waiting for Cloud at the nurse station when they returned to the third floor.

“Try to get plenty of rest tonight,” advised Dr. Clark as he walked them to Zack's room. “I won't have any news about the evaluation results until tomorrow. Stressing yourselves over it won't do anyone a bit of good.”

Cloud nodded. “I'll keep that in mind. Goodnight, Dr. Clark.”

“Thanks, Doc,” Zack said with a smile. He ushered Cloud into the room and said goodnight to the doctor before shutting the door and approaching his lover.

“Zack, what are you doing?” Cloud griped as the taller man immediately started unfastening his sling and removing his clothes.

“Getting you naked for a shower,” answered Zack with a shrug. “You need to get cleaned up and into something comfortable.”

Cloud sighed but he was too tired from his ordeal and the stress of worrying over Zack's results to argue. He allowed his lover to undress him and he smiled a little when Zack followed up by undressing himself. The former Lieutenant joined his former cadet in the shower and helped him bath, lavishing some sensual attention on his body in the process but refraining from taking things too far. When they finished showering, Zack applied some of the skin ointment to the places where Cloud had some road rash and then he helped him into his pajama bottoms before securing the sling again.

As much as they both would have enjoyed fooling around a little, Cloud's injuries and their mutual exhaustion prevented them from indulging in more than an exchange of kisses and caresses. The pain pill Cloud had taken had a sedative effect that was almost as strong as the sleeping pills Dr. Clark had given him a while back.

He spiraled into a heavy sleep soon after cuddling up to Zack in bed. His dreams were filled with memories of the past, only they were off. In his dreams, Zack was at his side fighting with him during the struggle against Geostigma, the remnants and Deepground. That wasn't how it happened but the dreams were surprisingly vivid to him and he frowned in his sleep.

Zack watched his expression of discomfort and he stroked his golden bangs away from his eyes and murmured that everything would be okay. He kissed Cloud's frowning lips and sighed.

“Hang in there, kiddo.”

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

-To be continued