Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Zack was anxious.

His best friend, Cloud Strife has been missing for a month.
One day he went out with his boyfriends and never came back. Obviously, said boyfriends where interrogated but didn't know anything either. Making it seem like he just disappeared into thin air.

Kunzel has been searching but was getting frustrated because even he could not find the trooper.

Zack new Cloud wouldn't have left willingly. He wanted to be a Soldier after all and needed the money from his trooper job to help his mom in Nibelheim.

There was a brief discussion about the blond dying in a accident and nobody having found the body yet but deep down his guts where telling Zack that he was still alive.

Zack's pack where also anxious... About Zack.
Not being abble to find Cloud was getting on their youngest mate mind. Keeping him up at night, being paranoid, or having nightmares when he finally got to sleep a bit.

Genesis didn't like Cloud. First because when Zack and him became friend he was jealous of another omega being near his mate and now because he wasn't here and it was worrying his mate.

Angeal and Sephiroth didn't like the situation but tolarated Cloud to a certain degree. The trooper had always been respectfull and polite. Refusing to enter their flat because he new his omega pheromone would upset Genesis. He was a nice young man and they too had been worried about the disappearance of the blond. (regarding the working issues it causes of course.)

So here they are. Another day of tension because of a single trooper.

Zack was doing squats again to balance his anxiouness and stay occupied, because Lazard refused to send him on a mission when he was in this state. (The director of Soldier also seemed worried over something now that Zack thought about it.) When Kunzel enterred the Soldier floor lobby.

They both looked at each others, it didn't need words for the "still nothing." Conversation to happen when Zack's phs started ringing.

Unknown number... he picked up.
"-Zack Fair speaking.
-...Z...Zack ?"

Chapter Text

His life became a nightmare.

Cloud followed his boyfriends on a surprise date one day. He was happy about it. The guys where nice with him, loving him and didn't care about the absence of his fated mark, the scar didn't scare them either.
So he didn't question it and went on the date... only to get deceived.

They took Cloud to a small house in sector 4, telling him they owned it and would live here from now on.
He told them he didn't feel confortable about it and wanted to leave but they forced him inside.
It just went downhill from here.

They took his clothes, phs, identity papers and... force bonded him.
He tried to fight them back but to no avail.

When he asked why they did this, their only answer was that it was what he was made for. With no mark he wouldn't be abble to find his fated mates so he better accept his life as their omega slave from now on.
To make sure he couldn't escape, they put him in a metal cage when they went outside. And only gave him a dog water bowl with bread.

Until one day, they brought a woman in the house.
She was an omega and part of their pack. She loved drinking and torturing Cloud, either physically or psychologically.
She stayed in the house all the time. Refusing to do the house chores or preparing food, prefering to use Cloud as her personal servant. She didn't even bother to call him by his name. She would wistle at him for something or call him "slave" taking great pleasure in doing and telling him he would never be anything else now.

One day, he had an idea.

The woman was watching tv when Cloud went to see her. "What ?!" He couldn't stop himself from shaking. "Food... we need to buy some." She looked at him "seriously ?! Ugh i hate doing the groceries..." she tilted her head back and seemed to think when she suddently stood up, went to another room and came back with things in her hands. One where clothes and the other... a metallic collar.

She attached it imediatly to Cloud's neck and closed it with a padlock. "You'll go in my place. The collar has a tracking device inside so don't try anything because I will be watching you from here. And wear this. A slave like you shouldn't have clothes but... i don't want problems." And she went back to the sofa, watching the tv again and opened a beer.

Cloud touched the collar, it was heavy and cold. "Hey hurry ! And get some more beers while you're at it !" He jumped at this and quickly put on the clothes and took the shoes one of his mates left to go outside.

The walk the the store wasn't long, but it didn't stop it from being scary. Cloud feared being found out by his mates or being kidnapped by another alpha.

Once in here he went straight to the counter. "Excuse me." The blond said quietly to the old lady facing him "do you have a phs i could borrow a minute ? Please ?" She silently looked at him and something in Cloud's eyes must have convinced her because she handed him one and say "i won't tell anyone."

He thanked her, entered a number he new by heart and pressed the call button.
". . . Zack Fair speaking." Cloud could barely hol back his tears. "...Z... Zack ?"

There was a fiew seconds of silence before the Soldier on the other side of the line spoke again. "Cloud ?! Oh Gaia is that really you ?! What happened ? Where are you ? Are you ok ?!" Cloud could hear a voice in the back scream "let him speak dumbass !" He let out a small laugh wich caught back the alpha's attention. "Zack it's... my boyfriends they... forced a bond on me..." it was so hard to say it. He couldn't help but glance back at the old lady who turned her back to get him some privacy.
"...where are you ?" Asked the Soldier in a cold voice. "In a store in sector 4. Their other mate put a tracking collar on me... i... i can't take it of. Zack... i'm scared." His voice was starting to shake and the tears he was holding back where now running down his cheeks.

"We'll find you Cloud. I promise ! Kunzel is already running to get your location. Stay strong, i'm coming !" He could only answer with a wet "hum" before hanging up.

The old woman turned back to face him, she gave Cloud a pack of tissues while taking her phone back. "Just take what you need love. I'll pray for your savety." She told him with a sad smile.

Cloud took some food and beers and went back to the house.

Chapter Text

Cloud barely had the time to close the door behind him before he got dragged in the living room by the hair.
"Where were you ?!" Screamed the woman while trowing him on the floor. "What did you do ?!" He pointed to the grocery bag, "just got food." She kicked him "LIAR ! I'm sur you did something else !"

She continued to kick him and by the time she was finished Cloud had a bleeding nose, and his left arm was swelling. She turned around and went to see the bag of food, "undress." Cloud turned his head from the floor to her, "what ?" She just turned to him once more "do I need to repeat myself ?! Undress ! I told you before that slaves like you don't need clothes." He did as he was told.

She laughed at him "it's so funny... oh i got an idea ! From now on you'll call us master and mistress." He looked at her with horror, "aaannd, you'll crawl. No need for a slave like you to walk right ?!" She finished her sentence by bursting of laughter.

Cloud stayed there chocked. His mind had gone blank.
The woman didn't give him time to react and slapped him across the face. "I SAID CRAWL !" she took his hair again and trew him in the direction of the cage. "Get in there. You made me angry, i don't want to see you anymore today. Hurry !" While finishing she tried to push Cloud with her feet but missed and ended up trampling his right ankle instead. Making scream in pain.

"Ugh stop being dramatic already !" She lifted her foot again when someone knocked on the door. "Shit ! That's your fault for screaming like a madman." She spat while going to open.

Cloud just stayed on the floor, trembling and crying from pain, shame and so much more. He didn't listen to the voices and only saw who it was when the boots stopped in front of him. He couldn't find the strength to look up.

"Hey Cloud... i'm here." It was barely a whisper but it made the omega cry even more. He came, Zack came to get him. Just like he said.

Cloud closed his eyes and let himself be lifted after Zack had asked if it was ok. He opened them again when he heard the woman omega scream, asking who and what they were doing. "Well ya see, it turn out the little blondy over here has bros that promised to never involve themself in his life but with how ya treat him... well they changed their minds."

Zack passed by and ignored the woman. "I'm taking him to Gen for healing." He started to say but was stoped by a man in a black suit. "Actually lieutenant Fair, a private clinic was alerted and is ready to take care of him." Cloud looked at the man, Tseng, and then at Zack, clenching his hand in the Soldier shirt. "...you can accompany us of course." Continued the Turk while guiding them to a car. "Reno and Rude will take care of this person and the two others troopers involved have also been arrested, don't worry."

Zack gently put him down in the car seat before closing the door and climbed on the other side.
And like that, he was free.

Chapter Text

The meeting was cut short when director Lazard ran of after receving a text, leaving all 3 Soldier firsts in the room stunned.

Before any of them could react, Angeal phs rang, it was their youngest mate. "You're on speaker." Said Angeal while doing so to let his others lovers hear too. "I found Cloud... He's in an emergency room. Ang it's... i don't know what to do." The 3 older mens looked at each others and Sephiroth was the one to speak this time. "Send us you location and we'll come as fast as possible." With an ok from Zack they ended the call.

They all hurried to the clinic adress Zack had sent them and were, again, surprised to see Lazard here too. With the head of the Turks, Tseng.

"How is he ?" Asked Angeal to the younger man. Wich had everyone in the room turn silent. "...He..." Zack started but was cut short by a door opening, a doctor entered the room and looked at all of them. "Who is the family member ?" Lazard took a step foward, followed by Tseng. "I'm his brother. And this is the mate of his other brother." The Director of Soldier said. The doctor gave them a nod and directed them to follow him to another room.

"Did I hear that correctly ?" Said Genesis looking at the direction of the doctor and Cloud new found brother and second brother mate last location.

"Wait WHAT ?!" Exclamed Zack. "It would seems that Cloud is related to president Shinra." Explained Sephiroth like it was not a big news. "Cloud has told you he never new his father correct ? Then it must be the president, I see no other explanations." Zack shook his head, "yeah but that's hard to digest... How can spiky be the son of that bast... man ? That can't be true..."

"Actually it is. We did a dna test to confirm that." The 4 Soldiers truned their heads in the direction of the voice, revealing the presence of Shinra's vice-president, Rufus. "Of course Cloud doesn't know about it. We had an agreement Lazard and I to not meddle with his life since he has said repeatedly to not need a father or anyone really... But after what happened we cannot stand by anymore." They all looked at the blond stunned, "You never told him ?! Don't you think he had the right to know before this ?!" Screamed Genesis, wich got him a "shush" from a nurse nearby. "Cloud always had a bad opinion of his dad for leaving his mom pregnant and alone... they were never accepted in his mom's pack..." spoke Zack. "It's going to be a chock for him." Was the only thing Angeal said since they all got to the clinic.

At that moment, the doctor, Tseng and Lazard came back. Rufus turned to the doctor to ask for his younger brother condition. "You can say it here, they all know the patient." The doctor nodded. "Well he's stable for now. We had to put his left arm and right ankle in a cast. The peoblem is the bond... Since it was forced his body is rejecting it and that's a problem since the bonding scars aren't healing, resulting in an infection in his neck sent gland."

To make it simple, it was bad.

"What can we do for now ?" Asked Rufus. "He's going to stay here for now. Ar least until his infection is under control. Then he will need rest in a calm environment, it would be ideal for him to stay with his familial pack." The vice-president sighed, "his mother is on the other continent and he doesn't know us..." Zack lifted his hand, "what about friends ? Surely i could help... Or maybe his fated pack." The doctor turned to look at the young man, "It could be an idea. Unfortunately, his mark has been cut of."

Everyone in the room said "what ?" With diffenrent levels of surprise or horror. The doctor explained, "from the scar alone i could tell it was done by another doctor or surgeon. And we didn't find any other marks on him that could be a fated mark."
No one new what to say... or what to do.

"All of you should go home for now and digest everything. The boy is in good hands here." Was the last thing the doctor said before going back to work.

And with this, they were left with no choice but to go back home.

Chapter Text

In the end they all ended up at director Lazard appartment. Waiting in silence. Waiting for what ? Nobody new.
It was actually Reno who broke the silence. "Gonna tell them everything now or... ?" It was adressed to Rufus and everyone in the room turned their heads his way.

The blond let out a sigh. "5 years ago when Cloud first enlisted there was some rumors between troopers about him possibly being some Shinra bastard... So we did a dna test and that when we got the confirmation that he was actually a Shinra." He paused to look at Tseng, "It was Tseng idea to hide it from him and the president to avoid any problems and also not burden Cloud with this." The Turk closed his eyes. "During the investigation we heard Cloud say on multiple occasions that he didn't need his father in any ways, so hiding the true results of the test seemed to be the better option."

No one had the time to say anything back because the phs of Lazard rang. "Lazard speaking.... What ?! How is he ?!" That got everyone to react. "Do.... I see.... Do what you must doctor but is there any other solutions ?" Rufus waved to the Director to put the doctor on speaker. "His condition deteriorated suddently, i'm afraid that unless a miracle happen we'll have to operate." They heard the doctor say. Lazard continued to speak to the doctor while the Soldiers watched Genesis leave.
"-And the operation would be....?
- ... To cut remove his sent gland i'm afraid."
Rufus stood up abruptly, "No ! There must be some other ways." Reno went to hold his mate hand. "I'm afraid our options are limited. Having no sent gland could have some sides effects that would need to be medicated afterwards but it will keep him alive. It's your decision to make but he doesn't have much time..." the doctor finished.

The brothers looked at each others, while Angeal went to hug Zack. He knew his mate was in distress. Wanting to help but being unable to and having no rights to make the decisions in place of the trooper family.

The doctor waited on the phone for what felt like hours until... "doctor ! The patient !" They heard him scream something and then he hung up.

It was over.

Rufus collapsed on the sofa, head in his hands. Lazard stayed frozen, looking at his phone with horror. Zack buried his head in Angeal, searching for even more confort that the bigger alpha was giving him. Tseng and Reno stayed by their mate side, joined by Rude.

And Sephiroth... Made a call. "What did you do ?" Everyone was more or less listening. "... i see." And just like that the call ended. The general turned to his audience, "Genesis killed them."

Silence.

"... i suppose you all know that bonds are broken when one of the mates dies ?" Everyone in the room stayed silent. "Cloud should get better soon."
He just finished his sentence that Lazard phs rang once more, he answered imediatly. " Yes ?! .... yes ? Oh thanks Gaïa. Thank you doctor.... Yes... Yes, thank you." He hung up and let out a sigh of relief, "Cloud is out of danger. They'll keep him in the omega ward for some time but the bond broke suddently and all his vitals went back to normal... I never thought I'd say that but thank you Genesis for being impulsive."

They all went back to their repectives homes after this, with their minds at peace. The worst was behind them, now they had to focus on Cloud's healing.

Chapter Text

Zack looked at his friend through the glass of the room window.

After Cloud unstable episode and the bond break, he was more sensible to pheromones and had to be put in a closed environment to avoid any relapse.

It has been 3 days and he was still sleeping.
"Cloudy please wake up." Whispered the young soldier to the floor. He wanted to be here but seeing his best friend in this condition was hard, so he often looked at the floor rater than Cloud.

"...ack ?" His head shot upright. "Za...ack ?"
The soldier watched his friend slowly open his eyes. "Cloud ?! You're awake ! Doctor he's awake !" Zack shouted. Around him, the nurses and doctor started to get ready to examine the patient. Zack wanted to go in the room with them so bad, but he was escorted to a nearby waiting room instead. Having to wait for the doctor results... again.

"Please be ok." He prayed, over and over.
Minutes passed like hours, the doctor entered the waitingn room and told Zack he could get in Cloud room now that he was stable. Zack didn't wait a minute longer and went to his friend.

He knocked on the door has he opened it. "Hey spikey... How do you feel ?" Zack asked in a quiet voice. The blond turned his head to see him. "Hi.... i'm tired."
Zack sat on the chair beside the bed and theye stayed looking at each others in silence for a while. "Zack." The man smiled at Cloud in responce, "where are Sam and Kaz ?" That got his smile to falter. "They..." he didn't know what to say. How to explain everything. "... I'm sorry." Was all he said.

The room fell into silence once again, and it was Cloud that broke it once again. "Who is paying for the hospital ?" Zack had to pause for a second. His best friend came back from the dead (more or less) and the first thing he ask (well 2nd, but still) is who is paying the hospital bill ?!
He couldn't stop himself from laughing a bit before answering. "Don't worry, we got your bill covered. You won't have to repay anyone either." Zack said without to many details, he just hoped Cloud wouldn't pry to much. "Zack. Who is paying ?" Gaïa dammit Spikey. "Cloud could we talk about it another time ? Please ?!" Cloud turned his head and just whispered an "ok."

One hour passed before Cloud spoke again. "I wanna go home." Zack took his friend hand in his own. "Don't worry, the doc said once your out of danger of your infection relapsing they'll let you out. You can go live with us for your recovery, even Gen said it's ok !" Wich was true, the soldiers talked about this and even started preparing for their guest arrival. "No Zack." The soldier was surprised by this responce. Cloud just turned his head, looking at him with sad, desperate eyes. "I want to go back... Home."
It didn't take longer for Zack to understand.

His friend wanted to go back to his home.

In Nibelheim.

Chapter Text

"Hey Spikey !" Said Kunzel and Luxiere when entering Cloud room. "Hi." The blond said, he looked at the door a while, surely waiting for Zack.

"Ah, he was sent on a mission on the other continent. Don't worry nothing grave." Said Luxiere, he continued. "He told us to give you this in the meantime." He gave Cloud a small chocobo figure and a present. Zack named it "Cloud jr", saying it was like having a mini spikey at home.

"Hum... Could you buy me some chocolate ? Please ?" Asked the bedridden omega to his visitors. "Of course, we got you. There is a store just the other side of the road. I'll be quick. Stay with him Kunzel." And with that, Luxiere was out of room to get some chocolate, leaving the two mens alone.

"Who's paying my fees Kunzel ?" The man sighted, "Cloud i don't" he was cut short by the omega, "i know about the ring" it was Kunzel turn to cut Cloud in his sentence, "the vice president !" Five seconds of silence. "Aaah shit. That's unfair Cloud ! Using my secret proposal against me !" The omega smiled but soon became serious again.

"Why would the vice president pay my hospital bill ?" Cloud asked more for himself than anyone but Kunzel still gave him a stranded look. "I'm nothing to him... unless..." he looked at Kunzel from the corner of his eyes, the soldier was suddently very interrested in the chocobo figure. "...He's my brother." Kunzel froze, "Isn't he ?"

At that moment, Luxiere came back with a grocery bag in hand. Cloud feigned ever having this conversation while Kunzel was visibly shaken. How was he a trooper and not a Turk was behond comprehension for him.

Still, their visit went on normaly after that. They ate chocolate and other sweets, Cloud opened his present that ended up being a portable console with the chocobokart game. The omega heart warmed at Zack gesture (he would thanks him more than once for this.) It would occupy him, for sure.

The two Soldiers stayed for three hours, finding in Cloud check up an opportunity to leave and let the patient rest. It was during that same check up that Cloud decided to ask if he could contact the person paying the hospital. He didn't get an answer to this, so the last thing he could do was lay down and play is new game.

On the other continent.

Zack and Sephiroth finally arrived at their destination and got out of the helicopter.
The journey was long but at last they made it.
To Nibelheim.