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juevos rancheros

Zack still remembers all the good places. Fresh eggs from Weddell's. One big, fluffy loaf of Junon-style bread from Furioso's, the kind with the thick, cloudy (heh) crusts. The bacon, now you wanna get that from the Costan bodega on the corner of W 57th and Station Drive, along with, if you're lucky, a pair of cowboy boots hand-painted with tableaus depicting running bulls and the bright blue Costan sky. Zack doesn't have enough scrap left from the paltry cleanup jobs he's been running to kinda sorta pay his way as of late, but he gives them a good eyeing, promises them, "Someday," and tosses the paper wrap into the backseat of the Beaufort with all the rest of his bounty.

He's up early early early, mostly because he always is. It's easy, when you cat nap most of the day. And what better way to spend a morning alone than crafting Absolute Perfection in a pan for the ones you love, love so much that no matter what they do, no matter how they fight and fuss, nothing in this world could ever compare to what a complete and utter joy it is to get to be around them. Now if only they'd get that into their thick skulls and just be happy for once. Not that it matters. Zack's got this, he's handling it. He's gonna wake them both up for breakfast and not even recognize them when they're through, they're gonna be so stoked through the goddamn roof.

He's wielding sea salt and fresh-crushed pepper like a fucking wizard. Bam! Fresh coat of butter. The pan is spitting like a spooked alley cat. The kitchen? Smells divine. Too bad he doesn't know Sephiroth's tastes the same way he knows what country boys like, or he'd be slathering everything in hot sauce. That's fine; once everything's plated, he slips the bottle of Red Lord 52 into the back pocket of his shorts and tiptoes his way into the bedroom.

"Breakfast in bed," he announces, ruffling Cloud's hair as he slips into the crowded bed. There's always just space enough between these sleeping cuties for him to fit right into. Imagine that! "G'mornin', babe." And Sephiroth... Naw he's gonna ruffle his hair too. "Wake up, darlin'. Hope you like bacon."

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Cloud still has absolutely no fucking idea how he wound up in this... whatever this is. Mess? He might call it a mess if not for Zack. Actually, no—sorry, best friend, but it's still a mess even with his most favorite person involved. An even bigger one, in fact, because of just how bafflingly senseless it all is. There's not really anyone to blame but himself, though, he knows. In trying to sort out why on earth he's done some of the things he's done recently, his brain just hits a brick wall. How could he be such an idiot? I mean, sleeping with Sephiroth, really? Is he that hard-up for attention? Does he really think that's gonna, like, fix him, or whatever? No answers. None. His mind draws a blank and folds, empty-handed. But then Zack comes along and makes him feel like every choice he's making is the right one, boosting his confidence, amping him up, and he can't find himself feeling any regret.

Not even... you know. In the morning, when there's no heat of the moment to lose himself in.

That doesn't mean he's completely accepted it yet, though.

Another thing Cloud can't fucking figure out is why they both are just, like, here all the time, though. Zack, he thought he said he'd found somewhere he was living, did that fall through, or is he just kinda bumming off him because it's convenient? Can't say he minds that part, at least. They have so much time to make up for, so much to catch up on. He could sit and talk to Zack for hours, and uh... other things that involve a lot less talking, too. Don't even fucking get him started on Sephiroth though. Like when did "come over" turn into "never fucking leave"? So like, okay, fine, they have interesting conversations, too, and... things that involve a lot less talking—ugh. How did this happen?

Don't know, but he isn't doing much to stop it. He wakes up clear on the other side of the bed, out of Sephiroth's reach as usual, as he's still stubbornly refusing too much physical contact from him unless it's on his own terms, to Zack making a ruckus and a smell that reminds him of living back at base. His hair's a mess, hanging in his face, and the half-conscious, confused snort he lets out isn't attractive in the least, but a bedraggled half-smile manages to cut through the sleepy-grumpy squint in spite of himself. "Mmgh...? You cooked? —You can cook?"

Sephiroth does not fully understand how this entire situation happened either. Sure he made Cloud the center of his entire being, but that is a far reach from what he originally meant and well, this. Not that he minds it ... other than the two of them picking at the walls he's carefully surrounded himself with revealing that underneath it all he may still in fact have feelings. Ugh. Hate. Anger. Rage. Those are the only feelings he wants to hold onto. But with every day that's growing increasingly more difficult and it's not even those moments of ... less talking that really has anything to do with it, it's more just being around the two of them on a constant basis.

Maybe that's why he stays. Though at first it was totally a test to see how long it'd take before Cloud made him leave. He's not shy about his general distaste for his presence even near his house. Which is amusing how puffed up he gets about it all.

And now Zack is also here ... who is very, very fortunate Sephiroth realized it is him by the voice otherwise he'd have broken the hand that dared to touch his hair. He briefly wonders how a single person can hold onto this much energy and enthusiasm, not to mention optimism, and just never seem to run out. And then he reminds himself it is Zack and he's always been this way. Even with a large portion of his memories being either scattered or lost, he hasn't forgotten that.

With that said, he still bats away the hand that dares touch his hair before sitting up with a stretch. He'd say it's too early to be awake, but he usually tends to get up early anyway. The fact that Zack seems to be up to something is what is concerning. Of course he'd jump into bed between them, Sephiroth doesn't mind and simply eyes them both and the fact that Zack apparently made them breakfast.

"You're energetic today," is spoken with a mild yawn. Though Zack is always energetic so it's pretty much stating the obvious at this point. He should expect nothing less.

How fucking cute is that?? Sephiroth batting his hand away like they don't smooch on the regs. He's so adorable when he's grumpy. But that's fine! Zack has the fucking panacea for his woes right here. He starts delivering plates to laps the second his grumbling buds are conscious enough not to spill.

"What?" he scoffs. "You kiddin' me? Of course I can cook. Country boy, remember?" That, and momma would kick his ass up and down Loveless Ave if she knew he was living off of fried food and cheap noodles. No way. He spent his whole childhood lugging around pith trees and fighting with the other kids for dibs on stirring those big steel cauldrons. A measly little cityfolk breakfast is small beans in comparison.

Anyway, Cloud should know. He's sure they had... food, in Nibelheim. His recollection of the town is mostly trying to get laid and fire, and one of those things he really doesn't want to think about, so he'll leave it there. Besides, Sephiroth obviously needs some help.

"Make sure you mush it all around in the bread," Zack says, demonstrating helpfully. "It's fresh, the good stuff. Better if you soak it in hot sauce— Cloud, here." He's gotta angle his body up a bit, lean into Sephiroth to tug the bottle free, but voila! Freak that shit, amigo.

"Mm—oh, thanks." Aw, he remembered. Cloud reaches to take the bottle, and isn't it funny that he's less concerned about eating this messy shit in his bed than he is about things that are considerably less messy, like Sephiroth just existing and sitting on it at all? Right now, though, he's unbothered. Maybe he's finally getting over that particular hangup, where he literally threw out his mattress three times just because he didn't want his gross germs on it. There were bloodstains! And then... other stains! Ugh!! But bacon grease and hot sauce, that's fine.

Cloud dumps some sauce on his food and mixes it around, looking less than half-conscious and bleary as he shovels a bite into his mouth and glances over. This bed really wasn't meant for three people of their size to be in, but somehow they've made it work. Zack's so close he almost feels like he's chewing right in his face, and over his shoulder Sephiroth's hair is kind of a mess, which is pretty funny, but it's way too damn early for him to be laughing so he settles for a snort at his expense instead. "Didn't you make yourself any? ...What's the occasion?" Shit. Did he forget something?

Sephiroth is always grumpy, though admittedly at times somehow less so than Cloud here. He pokes around at the food for a bit before finally taking a bite. After so many years of not having to eat or feel hunger, the fact that he's had to fall back into the habit of doing so is still a strange concept.

Not as strange as how Zack and Cloud both act around each other, but close. He resists the urge to roll his eyes at the comment about how to eat instead focusing on the process of doing so instead. He'll just sit here and eat in silence while the two of them ramble about the country or whatever.

He does, however look up when Cloud snorts -- don't think he misses that -- and gives him a dry look ... which is not the easiest with the ray of sunshine and happiness sitting directly between them.

Though Cloud raises a point. Why isn't Zack eating?

Because he ate while he was cooking, duh. Have you met this fuckin' guy? You think he has the patience to not steal scraps from himself? Hard goddamn no, broheim.

Sephiroth is getting most of his attention right now, mostly because he eats like he doesn't remember how to. You open wide and shovel it all in together. Jeeze, even if Zack became a god himself, he wouldn't forget that.

"Occasion?" Zack asks, distracted for a moment while he practically force-feeds Sephiroth a strip of bacon. What, doesn't everyone make breakfast in bed for their boyfriends for no reason at all? "I dunno. Just got the sense you guys needed it. 'Specially you, what's that look for?"

It's fine, Seph. Make faces all you want. Zack's gonna nuzzle in close until it melts away. "Aren't you happy?"

It's so fucking baffling to see this. Zack, who's been gone for so long, alive and well. And Sephiroth, which don't even get him started on all that complicated shit. Both of them in his bed. Zack snuggling right up to him and cramming bacon in his mouth. It's so... what the fuck. Cloud stares, eyes a little glazed over, and then blinks hard. Is it real or just him falling back on old habits and hallucinating again? Nope, real. Probably. Maybe? Just to be extra sure, he gives Zack's arm the faintest of nudges where he can reach it. Solid. Real. Nope, that sure is a thing that's happening, then.

"Better be," he mumbles, then, since this is not in fact some crazy fever dream he just can't seem to wake up from. Most of his muttering is lost in how he stuffs his face full of eggs, minding not to talk with his mouth full. Mama didn't raise a nasty boy. Maybe a brat with bad social skills, but he's no barbarian. "This was really nice of you."

He fixes Sephiroth with a leer. Thank the man for his thoughtfulness, you damn outlaw. "Wasn't it?" Pointed. Prompting. Flat as a pancake. Give him a break, he's still tired.

Maybe he'd be thankful if Zack would stop getting right into his face while he's trying to eat -- which he does not need any help with! And stop trying to force feed him. Before he can even grumble bacon is shoved into his mouth so all he can do is sigh, well eat it and sigh.

This entire situation is so absurd, Sephiroth would agree with Cloud on that. -- Whose look he catches out of the corner of his eye while he's busy attempting to finish this breakfast without Zack's interference. Which isn't easy because he keeps trying to get involved.

"Yes," he says in agreement mostly because Cloud will probably lunge across the bed and strangle him if he doesn't say anything. That's all he's getting though.

He's silently showing his appreciation by letting Zack nuzzle him and not just stabbing him with the fork. Not that he'd currently do that, but that isn't the point.

Stab me daddy.

Or don't, because Zack's attention is already displaced. It's difficult not to look at Cloud when he's flashing those bright blues all around, even if they're not the same pastel sky that he remembers. He's getting used to it, just like the solid, pretty muscles and all the bruises that dot him up like a dalmatian every time Zack gets too familiar with them.

"You're not smiling either, Cloud," he says, but he's grinning so hard, like something particularly juicy and challenging just occurred to him. "Bet I could make you."

Ask him one day what kind of special heaven it is, retreating from the warmth of Sephiroth's side and into the welcoming heat of Cloud's skin. There's not even an instant of chill between them. He wraps himself like an octopus around Cloud's shoulders and rubs his lips up the back of his neck, over the fine hairs he finds there, his jaw swishing side-to-side to make it tickley.

"You're so fuckin' gorgeous, Cloud Strife."

Cloud's eyes go round as Zack pins him with that grin, and he knows he's screwed up right then and there. If he had kept his mouth shut and not pestered Sephiroth, he wouldn't have this to contend with. There's no running away, though, not when he's tangled in the blankets and precariously balancing a plate on his knee. His lips pull down, cheeks flushing as he's glommed onto, tense and embarrassed in a way he probably wouldn't be if not for the audience.

"Zack, quit, I'm eating. You're gonna make me spill it." Yeah, because that's the issue. No, it is! Really! He hangs onto the plate with both hands, lifting his shoulders to protect his neck where Zack gets at it. Ticklish? A little bit, but he'd rather chew his arm off than let that show now, which he's pretty sure is exactly why he's doing it. Catch him bothering to try and pull away, though. Really. He doesn't. "And I'm not smiling because it's early."

Oh for the love of -- is he really going to have to sit here and bear witness to the two of them acting like children? Or rather Zack being his normal self. He can't stop himself from a mild roll of the eyes. Though don't worry Cloud, he's doing his best to ignore Zack's antics.

His gaze slips over towards the doorway and wonders if he should just chance it and leave before Zack gets any other grand ideas. It's possible he'll be too focused on bothering Cloud that he won't get tackled to the ground the moment he gets up.

... Which he's totally going to do. Slowly attempt to slip out of the bed, plate in hand and just leave.

"Early? The sun is out, lazybones, what the hell else do you wa—"

Oh no. Zack's spidey ~~underwear~~ senses are tingling. Someone is trying to escape.

That's an easy enough fix. He doesn't even have to get off Cloud to do it, just lean a little at a different angle and stretch out those oh-so-long legs of his and quickly bow them around Sephiroth's chest. Look back and you'll see the sternest, no nonsense old country stare ever worn by a mortal man.

"Where are you goin'? You ain't been excused from the table." Hold on, Cloud, he's gotta— Just a second here while he wriggles down a little further and reels Sephiroth in closer. Here's to hoping your heart breaks when he says, soft and incredulous at the very idea, "You tryin' to leave us?"

Dude, can you... okay. Fine. He can begrudge Zack absolutely nothing, including flailing around all over him while he's trying to eat, and be conscious, and be aware of two other human beings at the same time when all he really wants is to roll over and slam his face back down in the pillow and go back to sleep. Cloud lifts his plate to keep it from being knocked off his knee and protects the bacon'n'eggs with his life. That's the priority. Sorry, Sephiroth, you're on your own.

All he does on Sephiroth's behalf is level him with raised eyebrows and a pointed glance as Zack captures him with his legs. Those are some strong legs, he knows. Not just physically strong, but like... you try having them wrapped around you and actually finding the strength within you to escape them. Go ahead, try. "Best not to make him upset," he advises, "Or it's only gonna get worse for you." As he's sure they all know already, but still. If you think he's going to beg Sephiroth into staying... Zack can do the work for him. Too tired. Not interested.

So close. Except not really.

"That was the general idea." Zack just had to go and ruin it though.

Would it be worth the effort to still keep trying and just drag Zack off the bed with him? Probably not. He'd just pout the rest of the day at Sephiroth. So not worth it. So he settles back down with a drawn out sigh.

"Fine," he mostly grumbles through a grated breath, though he also shifts Cloud a glance. He supposes he can put up with this for a little longer. But he's not entirely happy about it.

Zack sighs and flops down flat on his back. His head is still kind of squnched against Cloud's side, and he doesn't really care to release Sephiroth from the anaconda grip he's slithered around him, but man, is the prevailing mood in this bed starting to harsh his mellow.

"What is up with you guys?" he asks, to no one in particular. He's looking up at the ceiling like Ramuh will pull away the roof and give him some answers. "I heard you banging all night and it sounded like a good time. Did somethin' happen—oh shit, are you jealous?"

The thought never occurred to him. Color him surprised. He worms his way back up, and at least this time he's a little more measured when he edges his way into Sephiroth's personal space—y'know, aside from still having his legs wrapped around him. That's just insurance. He reaches out to page one of those long bangs back behind Sephiroth's ear, which is absolutely the cutest thing ever. He'd die right now except he's never gonna die. "You want me to go, I'll go. You deserve this. I didn't mean nothin' by it, I just wanted to be with you. Both of you."

Dude can you not bring that up??? Cloud's face flushes all over, and try as he may to rearrange his features into complete annoyance, it's just not happening. "It wasn't all night," is his only defense. I mean, what constitutes all night, anyways? Four or five hours is not all night if the sun goes down at eight and rises at six. That is most of the night, and there is a fucking difference.

But here we are back in the uncanny valley, where Zack is cuddling up to Sephiroth and showing him the sorts of tender gestures Cloud utterly refuses to. Don't get him wrong—if he were that repulsed by Sephiroth, he wouldn't be sleeping with him at all. He's just really not good at that sort of thing at all, in the first place. Zack can wrangle it out of him, but Zack is Zack. He also just doesn't fully trust himself, never mind Sephiroth, and it's just. Easier. To not. Or to be aggravated when it kindasorta happens anyway. He can't comment on the jealousy thing, because if that's seriously it, he just... is ending this party now, everybody out. But he can say, "Don't leave," brow furrowing with concern at the look on his face. "We want you here. Both of us."

The right? is implied, but it doesn't come attached with an or else sort of glare. He looks at Sephiroth like he's actually asking him to back him up. Whatever it takes to make Zack not upset.

Why must Zack be like this? Especially cuddling right up against him. -- Not that he hates it. He just wanted to move into the other room that is all. Why a big deal be made out of his actions?

"I'm not jealous. If I were why would I try and leave the two of you alone?" Zack might be a little right as Sephiroth does have this problem with ... obsession when it comes to Cloud. But if it were that big of a deal Zack would no longer be breathing.

Even if he won't admit he cares about, well, either of them ... he does, it is just complicated. And he'd rather just pretend to be annoyed at everything and everyone instead.

Besides looking irrated at the universe is Cloud's default setting so he doesn't know why Zack is so surprised by that.

"You're jumping to conclusions, Zack."

While he doesn't exactly verbally state some sort of agreement with Cloud, he also doesn't dispute it either.

Uh-huh. Sounds a little thou doth protest too much to his ears. Lucky him, Zack's got the fix for this shit right here in the flame-stitched pocket of his cargo shorts.

"Maybe I'm the jealous one," he says, grinning big and toying with Sephiroth's hair between his thumb and forefinger, twirling it like a pretty silver pinwheel. "Cloud's cute 'n' all, but don't forget I'm the one you're bendin' time and space for."

He's expecting the eyerolls, the lectures, the cold shoulder, the rebuking. Maybe even a sword or two. But before Sephiroth can decide which weapon he's going for here, he surges forward to press a kiss to Sephiroth's lips, using his captive hair like marionette strings, all but glowing with satisfaction.

Ah.

The jealous type? Not really. The type who isn't sure how he feels about all this? Really.

Cloud does one or both of them the solid of looking away, the uhh, fuck visible on his face. You'd think he'd have mentally accepted this by now, but he's a shy kid and there are a lot of factors at play here. The last thing he wants is Sephiroth to see him looking embarrassed, though, so he wills himself to get over it and glances over again. Even raises his fork to his mouth and takes a bite like he's watching a show. If Sephiroth acts badly about it, he's holding the plate just the right way to throw it at his face, so there's that. Except for the part where Zack's face is in his face... dammit. Whatever. He'll make it work. Zack will get that sucker in line, and Cloud can just sit there and look smug about it like he is without having to lift anything more than his fork.

Oh he certainly goes to protest, say just how wrong Zack is, but said person it is right in his face before he can do any of that. He never should have given him that piece of information ... well, it's more like they both came to a conclusion about time being altered.

Zack just took it a step further. And keeps doing so. How does Zack keep finding these little things to use against him? He can't even fully rebute it as it is not something thats happened for him yet. So he still doesn't know the why. But he's sure its not that.

... Mostly anyway.

He pries Zack away just a little, still staying close.

"Again with the assumptions ..."

He pays no mind to Cloud watching even if he finds having an audience awkward. He'll just ignore it.

What does 'away' mean in this case? Because Zack is like an octopus, that long reach that put him at the forefront of all those hand-to-hand seminars double-timing it as an unshakable grip here. And now he's just forced to get creative, dipping his head to drag his lips over Sephiroth's shoulder, his fingers splaying over his chest. The slow, pleased sound he makes says it all.

"You gonna set me straight?" he asks, shifting subtly on the bed. He walks his fingers up the dips and hills of Sephiroth's muscles, lets the calloused pads of them go sweeping. It's not subtle, how much he's enjoying this, and he wouldn't mask it even if he wanted to. His eyes narrow, lashes drawing low, and his next breath is quiet and sharp. "Right here, in front'a Cloud?"

"That wouldn't be very fair to him, now would it?" His eyes shift back over to Cloud ... who is apparently still watching and eating.

One hand slips up trailing along Zack's body until it reaches his face, where he directs it back in Sephiroth's general direction. He leans in close, and then completely distracts from the moment by bringing the plate of mostly eaten food up into Zack's vicinity.

"Besides -- Shouldn't we do something about this first before making an even bigger mess?"

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