FF7: Sephiroth/Cloud/Zack "Normal"
Title: Normal
Pairing: Sephiroth/Cloud/Zack
Warnings: None, I think
Rating: G
Summary: How to explain this, Zack wondered, without hurting either of their feelings?
Normal
Zack loved his friends, he truly did.
True, sometimes he felt as if they were all from different planets. True, sometimes he felt like he was a diplomat or even a linguist, translating his friends’ words for himself and for his other friends. True, sometimes he felt as if he was a teacher explaining norms to foreign students. Overall, it made things fun and interesting and new, so it was okay.
Watching Sephiroth who was watching Cloud who was watching Sephiroth’s new gift to him, Zack wondered if maybe today had tipped the scales a little too much.
Zack bit back a sigh and tried to figure out a way to explain to both of them that this was a bad idea without hurting any feelings. Generally it was only one of this group at a time. It made things much easier.
“Sephiroth,” he tried. Clearing his throat, he tried again. “Seph.”
Sephiroth glanced at him out of the corner of one green eye, but most of the General’s attention remained on Cloud. “Yes?”
Zack swallowed, trying not to follow Sephiroth’s gaze. He really did not want his reaction to upset either of them. “What brought this on? This seems, ah, flashier than usual for you.”
Something in his tone must have given him away, as Sephiroth turned fully from Cloud. The silver-haired man was frowning; Zack tried not to cringe. Damn, this was going to be harder than he thought.
“I thought Cloud would like this,” Sephiroth replied, his voice deceptively mild. His blank emerald eyes gave away his upset, though. “He seems happy enough.”
Beyond happy: Cloud seemed thrilled. Another reason Zack was refusing to look at him.
“He does,” Zack agreed, meeting Sephiroth’s eyes. He smiled reassuringly-it’s nothing bad, I’m not angry at you, it’s okay-and added, “This just might be a bit much, that’s all.”
A bit much. Right. Of course. When Cloud made that wistful comment, he had forgotten to whom he was speaking: the Silver General, one of the most powerful men on the Planet. Knowing Cloud, he had probably not even realized Sephiroth remembered his comment, nonetheless would do something about it.
Knowing Cloud, Zack thought wryly, he probably still didn’t realize the power he held over Sephiroth.
Or Zack, for that matter.
Zack valiantly resisted the urge to sigh, knowing how Sephiroth would interpret it. The older man seemed distressed enough as it was. Sephiroth glanced back and forth between Zack and Cloud, trying to decide on a good response.
“I already took care of the details,” Sephiroth offered, his voice uncharacteristically tentative. “And I have already spoken with Cloud concerning any problems that might arise.”
Zack compressed his lips and hummed. Undoubtedly. Sephiroth’s efficiency extended beyond military matters. Just . . . just . . . just . . .
Cracking, Zack glanced at Cloud’s shining face. Then he glanced back at Sephiroth, seeing the wariness behind the mask.
Ah, to Hades with normal anyway.
“Even a name?” Zack asked, allowing a hint of teasing to enter his tone. To his relief, Sephiroth instantly relaxed.
“Simba.” The pair glanced over at Cloud. Feeling their eyes, Cloud looked up at them and grinned before turning back to the white tiger cub on his lap. “Cloud decided on Simba.”
Pairing: Sephiroth/Cloud/Zack
Warnings: None, I think
Rating: G
Summary: How to explain this, Zack wondered, without hurting either of their feelings?
Normal
Zack loved his friends, he truly did.
True, sometimes he felt as if they were all from different planets. True, sometimes he felt like he was a diplomat or even a linguist, translating his friends’ words for himself and for his other friends. True, sometimes he felt as if he was a teacher explaining norms to foreign students. Overall, it made things fun and interesting and new, so it was okay.
Watching Sephiroth who was watching Cloud who was watching Sephiroth’s new gift to him, Zack wondered if maybe today had tipped the scales a little too much.
Zack bit back a sigh and tried to figure out a way to explain to both of them that this was a bad idea without hurting any feelings. Generally it was only one of this group at a time. It made things much easier.
“Sephiroth,” he tried. Clearing his throat, he tried again. “Seph.”
Sephiroth glanced at him out of the corner of one green eye, but most of the General’s attention remained on Cloud. “Yes?”
Zack swallowed, trying not to follow Sephiroth’s gaze. He really did not want his reaction to upset either of them. “What brought this on? This seems, ah, flashier than usual for you.”
Something in his tone must have given him away, as Sephiroth turned fully from Cloud. The silver-haired man was frowning; Zack tried not to cringe. Damn, this was going to be harder than he thought.
“I thought Cloud would like this,” Sephiroth replied, his voice deceptively mild. His blank emerald eyes gave away his upset, though. “He seems happy enough.”
Beyond happy: Cloud seemed thrilled. Another reason Zack was refusing to look at him.
“He does,” Zack agreed, meeting Sephiroth’s eyes. He smiled reassuringly-it’s nothing bad, I’m not angry at you, it’s okay-and added, “This just might be a bit much, that’s all.”
A bit much. Right. Of course. When Cloud made that wistful comment, he had forgotten to whom he was speaking: the Silver General, one of the most powerful men on the Planet. Knowing Cloud, he had probably not even realized Sephiroth remembered his comment, nonetheless would do something about it.
Knowing Cloud, Zack thought wryly, he probably still didn’t realize the power he held over Sephiroth.
Or Zack, for that matter.
Zack valiantly resisted the urge to sigh, knowing how Sephiroth would interpret it. The older man seemed distressed enough as it was. Sephiroth glanced back and forth between Zack and Cloud, trying to decide on a good response.
“I already took care of the details,” Sephiroth offered, his voice uncharacteristically tentative. “And I have already spoken with Cloud concerning any problems that might arise.”
Zack compressed his lips and hummed. Undoubtedly. Sephiroth’s efficiency extended beyond military matters. Just . . . just . . . just . . .
Cracking, Zack glanced at Cloud’s shining face. Then he glanced back at Sephiroth, seeing the wariness behind the mask.
Ah, to Hades with normal anyway.
“Even a name?” Zack asked, allowing a hint of teasing to enter his tone. To his relief, Sephiroth instantly relaxed.
“Simba.” The pair glanced over at Cloud. Feeling their eyes, Cloud looked up at them and grinned before turning back to the white tiger cub on his lap. “Cloud decided on Simba.”