[Their apartment was still full of christmas decorations that Zack had made and got despite it already being a tight fit with them and all their pokemon but he didn't mind. He enjoyed being surrounded by tinsel and garland and all the nice scents of the holidays. He had made a point to get some yummy breakfast from Sawsbucks for them both this New Year's eve day and was ready to spend the next 24 hours awake with Cloud.
Their little christmas tree still had unopened presents under it, it wasn't that they hadn't celebrated the holiday but they had both been busy and too exhausted to open them and so decided that they would on New years and Zack was super looking forward to giving Cloud his presents and maybe something more.
His talk with Geddoe had helped him plan the day better for just the two of them and so Zack sat on the couch already changed into his pjs with Bulbaerith in his lap and brodoof and doggo taking up the rest of the couch as he waited for Cloud to get up and join him. ]
Cloud has to admit that it’s nice having all the holiday stuff around, even if his experience with this time of year is usually not great. At home it’s different. He helps his mom find a tree they can chop down and carry on their own, and then they decorate it together and make mulled cider with cinnamon and ginger cookies…he’s not about to say so out loud, but he misses her. At least in Midgar he could call her or get mails from her. Here…
He tries not to think about it too much. It’s easier if he thinks of it like just another tour of duty.
As usual, he wakes up later than Zack and spends a few minutes burying his face in his pillow in a futile attempt to convince the sun to scram. But eventually he does get up and shuffle out to the living room, yawning and still wearing his own pajamas. He takes one look at the couch and snorts quietly at the array of Pokémon taking up all the space, before moving to sit on the floor as CJ sits behind him to make a cushion for him to lean against with his soft, poofy wings.
“What’s this all about? Looks like you’re about to do an intervention.”
Zack is finished with his own drink when Cloud finally wakes up and comes into the living room. He's midway into a bagel with cream cheese when he gives Cloud a little wave and quickly joins Cloud on the floor, going on his knees as he sits next to him.
"Morning Cloud! No intervention here. Just was waiting for you to get up. Promised we'd open presents today, remember?" Has Zack been counting down the days like a child to open presents with Cloud? Oh hell yeah. He's missed 5 years of gift giving to Cloud and really hopes he made up for it with all the gifts he got him.
"I got you a coffee and bagel too if you're hungry by the way. I figure we could maybe spend today together and stay up all night, maybe watch the sunrise in the morning? It's going to be the first sunrise of the new year after all." It's a date, at least Zack wants it to be a date. Their first official one but he's not gonna say the word until presents are opened. That's the first order of business.
"Oh, right!" Cloud tries to shake off some of his lingering grogginess, for the sake of presents. Cloud's excited too, and a little nervous about that third gift...but he's hopeful that Zack will like it.
He accepts the breakfast offerings and nods at Zack's plans for the day. "Sure. Do you wanna start, or should I?"
"Well why don't you eat first and I'll go grab something for you to open and we can take turns?" He knows he got a few things and as he is says that he gets up and passes by Cloud to go to the tree, messing his hair up as he walks by.
He grabs most of the presents and puts them around them at the floor and then goes to put the nearby radio on for some nice mellow background noise. Zack then heads back to his spot beside Cloud and takes another bite of his bagel all while leaning against him.
Cloud nods and starts in on his bagel, ducking with a mild grumble at these hair crimes (joke's on you, Zack, his hair's already messy, he just rolled out of bed!) and watching Zack while he munches.
"Mffr--" No, gotta chew and swallow first. "--uh, Merry Christmas, Zack."
He finishes off his bagel as fast as he reasonably can and then takes his time sipping at his coffee. "Okay, I'm ready."
Zack can't help but chuckle a little at how quickly Cloud seems to wake up for once. Usually it's about a good hour before Cloud is out of cuddly sleepy state and to his normal cheery self but today is different and Zack takes that as a good sign.
"You're so cute Cloud, I can't take it!" His smile widens and he quickly grabs one of the smaller packages he got Cloud and hands them over to him. The wrapping paper covers the gift of the two TMS (safeguard and superpower) but it's got a lot of tape, maybe more tape then paper. He tried his best okay.
Listen, he can't dawdle when there are presents to be opened!
"Pff, shut up," Cloud replies to this talk of being cute, shoving Zack lightly by the shoulder. He's eager enough to open the gift, though, even if he complains about all the tape. Why did you make this so hard to open, Zack??
He smiles when he sees what's inside the package. "Thanks, Zack. I'll have to figure out who should learn these later."
He reaches over for one of the gifts in his own little pile and hands it to Zack. It's light and soft - a warm winter hat that looks like a Bidoof. "Your turn."
Zack truly didn't try to make the packages opening as hard as they are. He just sucks at wrapping gifts, sorry Cloud.
He eagerly takes the light one Cloud gives him and rips the wrapping off of it. His face is a look of shock and enjoyment as he just stares at the hat in his lap for a moment before quickly putting it on and tackling Cloud to the floor in a hug.
"CLOUD I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He quickly calls over brodoof who he grabs after letting Cloud go and holding his pokemon up to his hat. "Cloud they look like twins! This is the best thing ever!"
Brodoof doofs as he is picked up and cuddled and quickly takes Zack's hat off his head to cuddle. It's his best friend now, do not separate.
"Cloud seriously I love it. It's so fun! Now you gotta open...." He looks through the pile of presents for Cloud and pulls out one of the longer boxes, it's the pikachu hoodie dress. It's also wrapped horrible but this one has a bow on it. "Here you go!"
Cloud watches Zack open it with anticipation - this is the fun one and he's hoping Zack will love it.
Getting tackled and hugged is a pretty great way to learn he's right! Even if Zack is yelling directly into his ear.
"Whoa!--oof." Cloud laughs, even while he's hoping Zack won't notice his face flushing a little. He pushes himself back up to a sitting position in time to see Brodoof claiming the hat as a friend. The smile he gives Zack by way of response to it all is just a bit shy.
He looks over the size of the box curiously and then braves the mountain of tape to open it. The first thing he notices about it is that it's definitely Pikachu-related. Too big to be a hat though - then he thinks maybe it's a regular hoodie! Until he picks it up to unfold it and it's too big to be that, too.
Zack is still too busy looking at Brodoof to see the confused face Cloud is makinga t the gift but when he looks over he chuckles a bit and just smiles at him.
"A hoodie dress. I thought you'd look really cute in something oversized so you can be all comfy in it. I mean maybe with some pants it's something cute to wear?" It really wasn't a gag gift even if Cloud might be wondering if it is. He truly thought Cloud would look adorable in the yellow fabric hoodie. It was for Cloud's comfort but also for Zack to enjoy and cuddle him in it.
"Maybe try it on? It's super soft inside! Nice and like fleece or something!"
"A...dress?" If Cloud's face were any more skeptical, he could disbelieve something right out of existence, despite the way his face flushes. "I'm not a girl, Zack..."
Just wait a few years, Cloud, you'll understand.
At least Zack suggests wearing pants with it. But it's so...childish. Does Zack think he's a kid? Cloud inwardly shakes himself - no, obviously not. Zack just tackled him in excitement over a hat that looks like the dumbest looking Pokémon ever, this is just the kind of silly stuff Zack likes.
Still, the thought of wearing this thing is embarrassing. But it's so hard to say no to Zack...he doesn't want to have to face the dreaded puppy dog eyes of sadness. With a sigh, he gives in.
"...okay, but only because you'll pout if I don't." Says the king of pouting.
Cloud doesn't really think about it when he starts unbuttoning his pajama shirt right then. He's used to changing clothes in the barracks locker room where there's zero privacy, and he sees no reason to leave the room just for this. So in a moment he's shrugging off his shirt and putting it aside, then giving the hoodie thing one last resigned look before he pulls it on over his head and adjusts it properly.
When he looks at Zack again, he looks like nothing more than a cat who's been forced to wear something frilly and is less than amused about it.
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winterfish
Be Mine~ For Cloud
Date: 2023-01-31 03:44 pm (UTC)Their little christmas tree still had unopened presents under it, it wasn't that they hadn't celebrated the holiday but they had both been busy and too exhausted to open them and so decided that they would on New years and Zack was super looking forward to giving Cloud his presents and maybe something more.
His talk with Geddoe had helped him plan the day better for just the two of them and so Zack sat on the couch already changed into his pjs with Bulbaerith in his lap and brodoof and doggo taking up the rest of the couch as he waited for Cloud to get up and join him. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-01-31 04:06 pm (UTC)He tries not to think about it too much. It’s easier if he thinks of it like just another tour of duty.
As usual, he wakes up later than Zack and spends a few minutes burying his face in his pillow in a futile attempt to convince the sun to scram. But eventually he does get up and shuffle out to the living room, yawning and still wearing his own pajamas. He takes one look at the couch and snorts quietly at the array of Pokémon taking up all the space, before moving to sit on the floor as CJ sits behind him to make a cushion for him to lean against with his soft, poofy wings.
“What’s this all about? Looks like you’re about to do an intervention.”
no subject
Date: 2023-01-31 04:14 pm (UTC)"Morning Cloud! No intervention here. Just was waiting for you to get up. Promised we'd open presents today, remember?" Has Zack been counting down the days like a child to open presents with Cloud? Oh hell yeah. He's missed 5 years of gift giving to Cloud and really hopes he made up for it with all the gifts he got him.
"I got you a coffee and bagel too if you're hungry by the way. I figure we could maybe spend today together and stay up all night, maybe watch the sunrise in the morning? It's going to be the first sunrise of the new year after all." It's a date, at least Zack wants it to be a date. Their first official one but he's not gonna say the word until presents are opened. That's the first order of business.
no subject
Date: 2023-01-31 05:57 pm (UTC)He accepts the breakfast offerings and nods at Zack's plans for the day. "Sure. Do you wanna start, or should I?"
no subject
Date: 2023-01-31 07:38 pm (UTC)He grabs most of the presents and puts them around them at the floor and then goes to put the nearby radio on for some nice mellow background noise. Zack then heads back to his spot beside Cloud and takes another bite of his bagel all while leaning against him.
"Merry belated Christmas, Cloud."
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 05:50 am (UTC)"Mffr--" No, gotta chew and swallow first. "--uh, Merry Christmas, Zack."
He finishes off his bagel as fast as he reasonably can and then takes his time sipping at his coffee. "Okay, I'm ready."
no subject
Date: 2023-02-01 02:28 pm (UTC)"You're so cute Cloud, I can't take it!" His smile widens and he quickly grabs one of the smaller packages he got Cloud and hands them over to him. The wrapping paper covers the gift of the two TMS (safeguard and superpower) but it's got a lot of tape, maybe more tape then paper. He tried his best okay.
"Here! Open these first!"
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 08:47 am (UTC)"Pff, shut up," Cloud replies to this talk of being cute, shoving Zack lightly by the shoulder. He's eager enough to open the gift, though, even if he complains about all the tape. Why did you make this so hard to open, Zack??
He smiles when he sees what's inside the package. "Thanks, Zack. I'll have to figure out who should learn these later."
He reaches over for one of the gifts in his own little pile and hands it to Zack. It's light and soft - a warm winter hat that looks like a Bidoof. "Your turn."
no subject
Date: 2023-02-02 07:29 pm (UTC)He eagerly takes the light one Cloud gives him and rips the wrapping off of it. His face is a look of shock and enjoyment as he just stares at the hat in his lap for a moment before quickly putting it on and tackling Cloud to the floor in a hug.
"CLOUD I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He quickly calls over brodoof who he grabs after letting Cloud go and holding his pokemon up to his hat. "Cloud they look like twins! This is the best thing ever!"
Brodoof doofs as he is picked up and cuddled and quickly takes Zack's hat off his head to cuddle. It's his best friend now, do not separate.
"Cloud seriously I love it. It's so fun! Now you gotta open...." He looks through the pile of presents for Cloud and pulls out one of the longer boxes, it's the pikachu hoodie dress. It's also wrapped horrible but this one has a bow on it. "Here you go!"
no subject
Date: 2023-02-03 08:13 am (UTC)Getting tackled and hugged is a pretty great way to learn he's right! Even if Zack is yelling directly into his ear.
"Whoa!--oof." Cloud laughs, even while he's hoping Zack won't notice his face flushing a little. He pushes himself back up to a sitting position in time to see Brodoof claiming the hat as a friend. The smile he gives Zack by way of response to it all is just a bit shy.
He looks over the size of the box curiously and then braves the mountain of tape to open it. The first thing he notices about it is that it's definitely Pikachu-related. Too big to be a hat though - then he thinks maybe it's a regular hoodie! Until he picks it up to unfold it and it's too big to be that, too.
"Uh...Zack, what is this?"
no subject
Date: 2023-02-03 03:14 pm (UTC)"A hoodie dress. I thought you'd look really cute in something oversized so you can be all comfy in it. I mean maybe with some pants it's something cute to wear?" It really wasn't a gag gift even if Cloud might be wondering if it is. He truly thought Cloud would look adorable in the yellow fabric hoodie. It was for Cloud's comfort but also for Zack to enjoy and cuddle him in it.
"Maybe try it on? It's super soft inside! Nice and like fleece or something!"
no subject
Date: 2023-03-08 01:44 pm (UTC)Just wait a few years, Cloud, you'll understand.At least Zack suggests wearing pants with it. But it's so...childish. Does Zack think he's a kid? Cloud inwardly shakes himself - no, obviously not. Zack just tackled him in excitement over a hat that looks like the dumbest looking Pokémon ever, this is just the kind of silly stuff Zack likes.
Still, the thought of wearing this thing is embarrassing. But it's so hard to say no to Zack...he doesn't want to have to face the dreaded puppy dog eyes of sadness. With a sigh, he gives in.
"...okay, but only because you'll pout if I don't."
Says the king of pouting.Cloud doesn't really think about it when he starts unbuttoning his pajama shirt right then. He's used to changing clothes in the barracks locker room where there's zero privacy, and he sees no reason to leave the room just for this. So in a moment he's shrugging off his shirt and putting it aside, then giving the hoodie thing one last resigned look before he pulls it on over his head and adjusts it properly.
When he looks at Zack again, he looks like nothing more than a cat who's been forced to wear something frilly and is less than amused about it.
"...okay, it's soft, I'll give you that."