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Mistakes and Misgivings ~ Chapter 12
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Turning the water on, he let the steam warm the bathroom while he undressed. Staring blankly at the tiled walls, he slid the shower door back and stepped into the tub, ducking under the steaming water. Closing the door behind him, he shivered as his hair quickly became plastered to his head. He stood, eyes closed, mind drifting towards sleep. The shower door scraped in its tracks and he started awake. Reaching up with one hand, he wiped water and hair off his face as he turned. A warm body pressing close against his back stopped his movement. His breath caught in his throat. Seph.... Zack shivered as strong hands roamed over his shoulders and down his chest. Leaning back into his lover's embrace, he relaxed and closed his eyes again. "Awfully trusting of you," Sephiroth murmured against his ear. "Knew it was you," Zack mumbled, getting more water in his mouth than words out of it. Sephiroth's hands caressed him, massaging tired muscles. Zack sighed, losing himself in the sensation of falling water and Sephiroth's touch. "Seph," he whispered. "Shhh...." One hand trailed slowly up his neck and across his check. A single finger traced the outline of his lips and he parted them to lick it gently. The finger danced with his tongue, thrusting teasingly into his mouth, only to retreat and brush his lips again. Zack moaned, pushing his hips back against Sephiroth. Water streamed down over them, soaking Zack's hair flat against his head, half-blinding him. He closed his eyes, surrendering himself, as his lover pushed him forward. Zack stretched his arms out, placing his hands against the shower wall, as Sephiroth's hands massaged their way down his back to his buttocks. Hot water trickled between his cheeks as Sephiroth spread them apart. Sephiroth pressed against him teasingly, penetrating him smoothly. Zack shuddered and moaned as Sephiroth pushed deep inside him. Rocking his hips, he coaxed his lover into a fast, hard rhythm that brought them both quickly to a star-sparkled climax. "Oh Seph, I missed you," Zack sobbed, as they slid slowly to their knees in the tub. Sephiroth buried his face in Zack's hair, shaking with more than just release. Wrapping his arms tight around Zack's chest, he held him as if afraid to ever let go. His tears fell unnoticed. They stayed that way for several minutes, until cramping muscles forced them to move. Sephiroth helped Zack wash his hair, complicating the process with frequent stolen kisses. Eventually, Zack was as clean as he was going to get, and Sephiroth's hands and lips were thoroughly reacquainted with his lover's body. Drying off took several minutes more, before they made their way slowly to the bedroom and curled up together. "Missed you..." Zack murmured, burying his face against Sephiroth's chest. Strong arms wrapped around him, holding him as he drifted to sleep.
"S-seph?" His lover closed his eyes, reaching out to tangle his fingers in Zack's hair before he opened them again. "Mmm?" he murmured. Huffing out a sigh, Zack flopped down on his back. Throwing one hand up over his forehead, he stared at the ceiling. "What's wrong?" Sephiroth asked, rearranging himself alongside Zack. "Dreams. Really strange... whacked out, weird dreams." Lost in his thoughts, Zack barely noticed the way Sephiroth tensed. "Tell me," his lover said softly. Zack shook his head. "I don't remember much. Just vague images.... Fire, endless streams of blue-green water, flowers, eyes in the dark. Sometimes...." Sephiroth waited, his left hand stroking the smooth skin of Zack's chest gently. "Sometimes I see Hojo, and a mountain, and I feel this incredible... terror. I can't explain it. Other times..." he sighed softly as Sephiroth's fingers brushed across his nipple. "Other times," he continued, clearing his throat. "I see nothing but an endless darkness, and then a spot of white light. And I hear you calling me, but there's another voice, too, a woman, maybe --" Fingernails scratched his skin as Sephiroth's hand clenched into a fist over Zack's chest, startling him. "Ow," Zack muttered, more reflexively than out of real pain. "What's that about?" He turned to look at his lover, who refused to meet his questioning gaze. "Sorry," Sephiroth murmured, stretching his fingers out again. "It just sounds a little like... some nightmares I've had. Don't worry about it." Raising himself up on one elbow, he leaned over Zack, smothering his questions with kisses. Zack was more than willing to be distracted, so he slid his hands across Sephiroth's back, pulling him gently down on top of him. As his lover settled his weight, Zack sighed contentedly. He hadn't realized how much his body was aching to be touched until now. Six months in Nibelheim with no one but Hojo around had left him starved for physical contact. Sex was bliss, but even this was heaven. Sephiroth's tongue traced a thin line down his neck and he melted into the bed. * * * The next time he awoke, Sephiroth was gone. Sighing wistfully, Zack stretched and crawled out of bed reluctantly. Once mobile, he showered, uninterrupted this time, and dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. According to Hojo, he had a full day of leave before he had to return to active duty, and he was going to take advantage of it. After a moment's debate, he left his sword where it was racked, and strapped on a hip-holster for his standard-issue pistol. He wanted to go visit Aeris, but he'd be damned if he was going unarmed. Pulling on a jean jacket over top, he stepped out the door. He left a message for Cloud, sealed and tucked under his door, inviting the boy to meet him at the Dragon's Zoo for dinner. He really hoped Cloud could make it. Then he headed out into Midgar, intent on breakfast at his favourite restaurant. An hour later, sipping at a coffee, he boarded the train for below the plate. No one bothered him, though a pair of young punks looked like they were considering it until they caught sight of his eyes. The pale blue glow of Mako made them think twice, and they decided on a strategic retreat. By the time the train reached the Sector 7 station, he'd finished his coffee. Tucking his hands into his pockets, he strolled past the guards at the sector gates, nodding to them. Whether or not they recognized him, they said nothing. They looked like they were asleep on their feet anyway, Zack mused. The Sector 6 playground hadn't changed. Inside the gates, he paused, looking towards the path to Wallmarket. He thought about getting something for Aeris, but had no idea what. Still, after the frequent and chatty letters she'd sent him over the past few months, he felt like he owed her something. He wished he'd thought of it sooner, though, as he didn't really want to waste time poking around Wallmarket. Chewing on his lower lip thoughtfully, he decided to just head to Aeris's house. Thankfully, the sector seemed to be free of creepie-crawlies and other nasty creatures. He crossed the abandoned highway section quickly, sticking to the only clear - if somewhat convoluted - route through. Ducking through the arch into Sector 5, he headed to his left, into the residential area. The only sign of life was the same noisy dog, barking angrily at him as he walked by. As soon as he turned the final corner and caught sight of Aeris's house, he stopped and drew a long, slow breath. The air was cool, still sweet with the scent of flowers, though it was past their peak season. He could hear running water and, walking to the stairs leading up to the garden, he gazed back at the waterfall. It looked so clean and pure... he wondered where it fell from. Reluctantly, he turned away and went up to the front door. Gathering his courage, he rang the doorbell. A short woman, with her greying hair in a bun and wearing an apron, opened the door. Her brown eyes raked over him sharply. "May I help you, young man?" Her tone was polite, but guarded. Zack shifted his feet. "Uh, I'm here to see Aeris -- " "ZACK!" The woman stepped hastily aside as Aeris came bounding out the door, straight into Zack's arms. Caught off-guard and not knowing what else to do, he returned her hug, though without the same enthusiasm. "I wondered when you would get back! You hardly ever wrote! Oh, come and meet mom!" Overwhelmed by her energy, Zack nodded numbly, letting her take his hand and lead him into the house. "So this is the young man I've been hearing so much about?" the woman asked with a smile. "Elmyra, this is Zack, my boyfriend." Aeris beamed up at him. Zack stared down at her, completely at a loss for words. "You work for Shinra?" Elmyra continued. "Uh... umm.. yeah. Yes, I am, uh. SOLDIER." He couldn't tear his eyes from Aeris's delighted face, couldn't bring himself to believe that she had really called him that. Her boyfriend. Curling up under a rock and dying of humiliation sounded like a really good plan right then. "I see." Elmyra's tone became slightly cold, and he forced himself to look at her. "Is that a problem?" he asked, carefully removing Aeris's hand from his arm. She was not easily dissuaded, and reached up to tug his jacket off instead. "Stay for tea?" Distracted by Elmyra's calculating look, he helped Aeris with his jacket. "Umm...." "Oh!" Aeris gasped. "Is that gun loaded?" Elymra demanded sharply. He glanced down. "Uhm, yes." "Take it off," Elymra commanded. "No weapons in this house, please. Leave it there." She pointed to a table to the left of the door. He complied readily, as Aeris hung his jacket up in a closet on the other side of the door. "Now then, would you care for some tea?" Beaming brightly at him, Elymra turned and led the way into the kitchen. Zack followed slowly, letting Aeris's cheery babble wash over as he tried to sort out how to react to the situation. This is going to be awkward, he realized, suppressing a groan. A second thought hit him a moment later, and he shivered. Seph is going to kill me for this....
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