Chapter Text
Zack had never been in such a state of domestic bliss before. Once upon a time he was sure he was going to end up dying at war. That he and all three of his lovers would one day succumb to battle. They couldn’t be in their prime forever, right?
Somehow though, war had almost gotten boring. The never ending fighting had come to an end. At least for them, mostly. There was the rare occasion they left in pairs to take care of some sudden business but for the most part they were home now.
The house was on the large side, but it did house them and a rather large arsenal. The two little boys that had recently been adopted had been a surprise, but a pleasant one. When Zack and Genesis had announced they would adopt the two brothers, Sephiroth and Angeal had stared in open mouthed shock, but they got over it.
The four of them were even figuring out the parent thing. They liked to think that if Cloud could do it, so could they but they had to admit…. Cloud was always going to be a good dad.
“Did your brother call you back?” Angeal asked. The question was directed at Zack but he was busy watching Sephiroth brush his hair out.
“Yeah, finally.” Zack rolled his eyes. It hadn’t taken him long to realize that the work he’d been putting into getting Cloud back into his life could be used in other areas of his life too. Now that he wasn’t working and traveling nonstop, he’d called his little brother to catch up and had been playing phone tag ever since. He hadn’t seen Noctis in close to six years and even then it had been brief. They were nearly estranged at this point but if Zack was going to put in the effort, Noctis would reciprocate.
“He’s young.” Sephiroth commented as if that excused him.
Noctis being young had been the root of most of their problems. Not that there were many. Zack had just been ten years old when Noctis had been born. By the time Noctis had grown to be interesting, Zack was already a cadet. When he’d shown great aptitude for his work, he rose in the ranks quickly and that meant less and less time at home.
He’d write letters and send Noctis money but for the most part, that’s how their relationship had settled.
“Young, right.” Zack snorted. “Then he can be an adult and come meet his nephews. I swear i don’t know what he thinks i’m going to do. Like this is some elaborate trick."
“He’s young.” Sephiroth said again, only this time his tone shifted as if to say young equated to stupid.
“Yeah.” Zack sighed, flopping down on the bed, his head resting against Angeal’s thigh. “Maybe he’s still in an angsty phase. He said he might bring someone with him.”
Angeal hummed, amusement tugging at his lips. “Like a support friend or a girlfriend slash boyfriend?”
That actually dragged a laugh out of Zack. “I think it’s a boy he wants to date but they aren’t yet.”
“Dancing around it.” Sephiroth muttered, pulling his hair around the front of him to braid. There were many who suspected Sephiroth was flippant when it came to his love interests. Being the one pursued, Zack found it laughable. Sephiroth went after what he wanted and maybe some of that would rub off onto Noctis.
“It’s likely mutual dancing.” Zack mused.
“He’s coming tomorrow?” Angeal asked.
“Yeah, around lunch time.” Zack looked up when Genesis wandered in, looking tired but pleased. “Story go over good.”
Genesis nodded. “Yeah. They seem to like the bigger, world building stories.” He stepped into the very large walk-in closet to change for bed. “It’s a good thing.”
Sephiroth quietly hummed his agreement. “How can they not when you’re the one reading them bedtime stories.”
“Keep flattering me, i like it.” Genesis called back.
It was still relatively early, only nine o’clock but they were used to being up at dawn if not earlier. Sephiroth and Angeal got up early to teach at the academy and Genesis and Zack would take care of the boys, getting them to school before getting to their own respective jobs.
Zack was still working for Cloud at the dojo and Genesis was still working on finding foster children permanent homes. It was a new passion he was excelling in.
That meant their bedtime wasn’t long after their childrens.
“Noctis will be a good uncle.” Angeal said, believing it though he’d only met Noctis once or twice himself. “If given the chance.”
“Well that’s what tomorrow is. A chance.” Zack agreed. He’d always appreciated how overprotective Cloud was of his children, but he’d never really gotten it until Zexion and Ienzo were finally home with them. Their well being and health meant more than anything.
“That’s tomorrow? Good.” Genesis said, exiting the closet and gliding into the bedroom to smooth his hand across Sephiroth’s hair. “The boys will like meeting more family.”
“They deserve it.” Sephiroth said quietly. He was definitely still figuring things out but he was charming the children without trying. They were impressed with their new parental figures, even if they didn’t understand what being an Elite Soldier meant.
They wouldn’t for a long time if Zack had his way. They were going to regular school with Cloud’s kids, not the military academy. He understood now what it meant to want to give your children more.
“They do.” Zack agreed, hoping Noctis could set aside his occasional moodiness for a day and make the day special for the boys.
“C’mon.” Angeal dragged Zack up higher onto the bed, the very large bed the four of them usually shared. “Lights out.”
There was almost a collective sigh as there was most nights when they went to sleep. Mercenaries didn’t often live as long as they had. They weren’t taking this moment for granted at all. It took years but they were building that family Zack had never realized he wanted.
~
Zack really enjoyed being a dad, and he could admit now that maybe he was trying to practice a smidge by taking on the children’s class at Cloud’s dojo. Granted, it didn’t actually prepare him for squat but he could pretend it had. Having a nine and seven year old in the house really livened the place up.
It also meant he could have movie time whenever he wanted. Snuggled up on a giant sofa with both his boys was his new favorite way to spend the day.
“Oh, that might be your uncle.” Zack said, passing Zexion the bowl of popcorn as he got up. “If i miss a good part, we’re rewinding it!”
Ienzo cracked a smile and nodded. “Kay.”
Knowing his partners as he did, he was sure none of them could be bothered to get the door themselves when they knew it was Zack’s guest. At least that’s what they’d say. Really they wouldn’t want Noctis to feel put off or like he was at the wrong house because a stranger answered the door.
Zack opened the door and beamed. “Noctis!”
“Hi Zack.” His brother was always a little standoffish but when Zack simply stepped back to let him in, that behavior turned into something a little more suspicious. “Not dragging me into a hug?”
“You hate that.”
“Yeah…” Noctis said, looking perplexed.
Maybe winning back Cloud’s favor had had more of an effect on him than he suspected. Had he run up to Cloud to try and embrace him, he’d have gotten a fist to his solar plexus.
“Lesson in personal space.” Zack mused, offering a grin. “Maybe being a dad has changed me.”
Noctis rolled his eyes. “Sure, if you say so.” He shut the door behind him and gestured to his friend. “This is Prompto.”
Zack glanced at his guest, giving him his attention for the first time. “Oh. Wow.”
Spiky blond. Blue eyes. Pretty boy features. Freckles. Freckles were new.
“Um?” Prompto’s brows flew up. “Hi?”
“Zack.” Noctis hissed, fighting off his embarrassment. “Rude.”
“Sorry. Sorry.” Zack said, not exactly looking apologetic. “You look like one of my best friends. Threw me off for a second. If i didn’t know any better i’d ask you if your surname was Strife.”
In a quick moment he thought he must have somehow shoved his foot into his mouth. He watched as all of the color drained from the guy's face. It was an interesting reaction to be sure.
“Ignore him, Prompto.” Noctis said, his tone meant to be a whisper but anger made him loud. “He doesn’t know anything.”
“Nope. Nothing. Empty between the ears.” Zack said, amused at how quickly this had turned interesting. “C’mon in.” He led them both to the kitchen since the boys were in the living room. He wanted to get this sorted out before children were in the room.
“Well…” The kid looked ten different kinds of nervous, of course Zack used the term kid loosely. He was probably around Noctis’ age, making him around twenty-five or so.
“You don’t have to tell him anything.” Noctis said, ready to be defensive on Prompto’s behalf.
“Nope, he sure doesn’t.” Zack agreed.
Prompto looked like a kid in trouble at school, suddenly terrified a teacher was about to call his mom. “But he could tell him.” He whispered to Noctis frantically.
For a moment Zack was sure he missed a piece of this conversation. He couldn’t have possibly hit the nail on the head the second this kid walked in the door, could he? “Tell who, what?”
Noctis just turned to frown at him as if this was his fault.
“No. Shut it. You’re adults. Don’t act like high schoolers.” Oooh those new dad skills. “What’s going on?”
That seemed to get a reaction, both some combination of bashful and nervous. Prompto because he didn’t know where to start and Noctis just because he seemed to be worried about this friend. It was damn near cute.
“You know Cloud?” Prompto began slowly, the surname Strife obviously swirling around in his head
“Yeah?”
Prompto fidgeted, struggling to get the words out. “So… My last name is Argentum, but Cloud is my half brother.”
“No shit?” Zack grinned instantly. He’d have never guessed he was actually right. “You’re really a Strife, what are the odds?” He didn’t know Cloud had another brother but he was starting to suspect that was the problem.
Prompto shrugged. “We have the same dad.”
“Well no shit.” Zack nodded. Cloud’s mom had died when he was a kid. He and Cloud had once shared those stories. It had brought them closer. He was sure he didn’t mention anything about a half sibling though. The contempt he had for his father was vicious.
Prompto winced and Zack had to wonder if this was his normal disposition or if this topic was just that sensitive for him. “You don’t have to tell him you met me or anything. I don’t wanna piss him off.”
It was Zack’s turn to look confused. “What?”
“Don’t be a pain, Zack.” Noctis frowned. “It’s not our family stuff to sort out.”
Zack almost agreed with that. “Why don’t you want him to know i’ve met you?”
“He doesn’t like us.” Prompto shrugged weakly. “I don’t want to stir the pot.”
“Doesn’t?” Zack frowned. What was he even talking about? “Kid, i don’t think he knows you exist.”
Prompto shrugged again, trying to brush off the whole thing. “He was supposed to come live with us after his mom died. He and his brother disappeared though. Figured he wanted nothing to do with us.”
Zack was wracking his brain, trying to think if he’d just remembered the story wrong but no, he was sure Cloud hadn’t had any contact with his dad for some time before his mom had died.
“What the hell are you even talking about, kid? Cloud ran away because Social Services wanted to separate him and Denzel.” Zack crossed his arms, wondering if he would have to call Cloud about this.
“What? No.” Prompto frowned. “We had papers and everything. Mom said so. I was still pretty little but we were making room for them to move in with us.”
Zack almost felt bad for this kid. Something told him he’d desperately wanted big brothers. “Trust me, that's not how Cloud tells it. I can tell you right now that wouldn’t have gone over well then. Cloud had no feelings for his dad. Not when he was left to watch his ma die. That doesn’t however mean he holds any ill will towards you or your mom.”
The silence that followed was particularly palpable. That was an explanation he'd apparently never considered. The shock of it seeped into Prompto slowly, and Noctis even helped him sit. “He doesn’t know about me?”
“I seriously don’t think so.” Zack said.
“He’d still hate me…”
Zack shook his head. “Cloud’s got kids you know? Seven of them.”
“Yeah, i know.” When Zack just raised an eye, Prompto looked embarrassed. “Seen on social media, and i’ve seen his dojo website…”
Ah, little one was cyber stalking his big brother.
“Well then you should have an idea of the kind of person he is. Seven kids. All adopted. All of them siblings they were trying to keep together. I can tell you right now, his feelings for your dad will stay directed at him. He won’t blame you for shit that happened when you were what? Two? Three?”
“Mm..” Prompto was very much aware that his mother had been ‘the other woman’ and that they were ‘the second family’. He loved his dad, and just couldn’t imagine him leaving his first family the way he had.
He knew his father kept tabs on both Cloud and Denzel. Quietly celebrating their victories with them. Denzel’s recent wedding had been a hard one to miss.
“It’s his choice.” Noctis said softly. “What he will or won’t do.”
Zack nodded. “I’m not saying it’s not. I’m just saying, Cloud would never be mad at you for being born. You should stop by one day and talk to him.”
“Maybe.” Prompto muttered, but he had all new hurdles to get over now. He’d always believed Cloud had just hated him. Now he’d have to puzzle out different complex emotions at Cloud possibly not knowing he existed.
“Just give it some thought.” Zack mused. “And if it makes you feel better, i won’t say anything. I do think you should though.” He truly believed Cloud would want to know.
“Dad, the movie’s over.” Zexion poked his head in, holding the near empty bowl of popcorn as Ienzo peeked in behind him.
“Aw man! I’m watching the second half over again later!” Zack grinned at them, getting a tentative smile back from Zexion. Since they hadn’t gotten yelled at for interrupting, they came in to return the bowl.
“Since you two are in here, i can introduce you to my little brother. That makes him your uncle.” Zack said, with a hand on Noctis’ shoulder.
Both boys looked up at him, each having an eye covered by unruly hair.
“Hello.” Noctis said, oddly nervous. “My name is Noctis.”
“I’m Zexion.” The older stated and nodded his head to the younger. “He’s Ienzo.”
“I’m… glad to meet you both.” Noctis said. He’d never once pictured his brother with kids but watching the little one move to hide behind Zack was… well, it was endearing.
“And this is Prompto.” Zack continued, gesturing to the blond. “He’s your ‘almost’ uncle.”
“Zack!” Noctis growled. Prompto just went bright red, his lips parting as if he had something to say but no words were coming out.
“Almost?” Ienzo repeated softly.
“Probably.” Zack chuckled. “We’ll have to see but it seems pretty obvious to me.”
Zexion seemed to think about it. “Like the way Vanitas has a crush on the girl from the air ship?”
Zack grinned at him. “Yep.”
“We…. We’re…not...” Noctis’ face was pink and that seemed to amuse the boys. Crushes weren’t just for kids.
“Yet.” Zack snorted. “You got time. One of you will hit a jealous wall or something and you’ll work it out.” It worked for Genesis.
“Is having an uncle fun?” Ienzo asked.
Prompto found his voice before Noctis did. “It can be great! What were you guys doing today?”
“We were watching The Incredibles.” Zexion said. “It’s a movie day.” He said the words as if they were foreign to him.
“Movie days are awesome!” Prompto agreed. “What are you watching next?”
“There’s a second one.” Ienzo said, still peeking around Zack. “Can we watch that one?”
“Sure.” Zack ruffled his hair. “But why don’t we have lunch first? What do you say?”
“Yeah!”
Zack smiled a little at his brother. “How about you?”
Noctis was going to have to learn to be a good uncle, but he found himself wanting to. “Yeah. We can eat. Maybe stay for that movie too.”
Zexion’s smile was small but genuine. “Cool.”
Zack beamed, knowing this was going better then he’d hoped. The boys were still getting used to their new family but… He and Noctis were still learning to be a real family anyway. If things continued to go well it looked like both his, and Cloud’s families were going to get a little bigger.