Okay but Noct and Prom being Clack twins seperated at birth is such a cute and cool idea. Like both kids naturally look like one but take after the others personality without any influence from the other is such a concept love it. Also I can just imagine Zack bawling and hugging them with all his strength when reunited with his babies and Noct just having a questioning face like Cloud and slowly hugs him while going "there there" and Zack cries harder and being like "you're just like Spike!"
It really is an interesting case of nature over nurture. They might not have been raised by their parents but they sure STRONGLY inherited one of their personalities (also it’s fun to think of them getting the opposite personality to the one they take after looks wise).
Zack and Prompto are both bawling over the family reunion. Because THEY’RE BACK TOGETHER (even if Prompto doesn’t really remember what he’s missing the idea of having parents that clearly love him completely breaks him). And Noctis is just so awkward and unsure and so is Cloud on the side.
Of course Zack isn’t letting one of his kids just go without a hug so he’s pulling Noctis in as well and crying on his shoulder and Noctis is almost shooting Cloud a ‘help me’ look because he seems to also be looking awkward about this as well? But Cloud is not help and instead just joins the hug as well (albiet a lot more gingerly).
Honestly Zack probably gets almost comprehensiveness in his babbling because he’s so happy to have them back and so amazed to see them all grown up. So he’s babbling about how Noctis is just like Spike, but looks just like him, and how Prompto is just like him but looks just like Spike, and he loves his two babies all grown up - they are good grown-up babies.
Alright so is Prompto's 'uncle Zack' really just code for 'Cloud's new boyfriend'?
So I’m torn.
Because ON ONE HAND I think it’d be really funny if they weren’t and everyone (including Prompto once he gets old enough) just assumes they are. Like they share a bed whenever they’re both home at the same time - but that’s just because they didn’t want to pay for a bigger apartment with another bedroom and really they’re both out of the house so much doing jobs they don’t see the point of purchasing another bed? They’re often randomly go out together late at night - but that’s because they’ve heard rumors that might be some sort of threat (or Sephiroth) and want to check it out with each other as back up just in case. Zack is constantly hanging off Cloud - Zack is just like that.
Everyone just thinks they want to keep it a secret, not that anyone understands why because clearly nobody cares? Even Prompto has long gotten over his step-parent anxiety because... well... Zack’s been around since before he was born - Zack is as much of a parent to him as Cloud is at this point.
But they’re not. They are just friends and are not together and don’t understand why people keep saying weird things about them because they honestly haven’t realised that everyone thinks they are together?
But ON THE OTHER HAND there’s a part of me that just wants nice things for Cloud and Prompto. And Zack is such a good dad to Prompto and he’s the one person that actually knows what Cloud went through before he escaped. The one person that understands those Cloud is mourning for. And Cloud feels like he can drop his guard around him - doesn’t have to keep up the front of the Resilient Single Parent. And it’s just sweet to think of them getting together.
Zack as Cloud's Manic Pixie Dream Friend is... the greatest thing. Prompto would totally ship them and so would the rest of the Squad.
Yep and like a bit of it is that’s just how Zack deals with his own trauma - trying to be overthetop in friendly and helpful. But everyone just takes him as this super nice but a bit ditsy person who is trying to make Cloud’s life more fun.
When Prompto was really young he probably just assumed Zack was his dad. Hell even as he gets older he views Zack as other-dad even if he realises other-dad is apparently “”not in a relationship”” with Cloud. He has his doubts about that and honestly would actually like if Zack and Cloud got together if they weren’t (or stopped hiding it if they were).
The others all probably have the same “think Cloud & Zack are in a relationship” -> “be informed their not” -> “think Cloud & Zack should be in a relationship” thoughts about it. And even then they’re sometimes like “are we entirely sure they’re not in a relationship and have just forgotten to tell everyone else about it?” because... well... they basically live in sync now.
I remember seeing this fanart one time of Cloud seeing Noctis in Dissida for the first time and Noct is brooding in the corner because he misses his car and Cloud goes sparkly eyes and is like "My son" while Leon goes Cloud no! But honestly I can see Noct be Zack and Cloud kids in an Au because he looks like Zack but has Cloud's personality. Have you ever thought of doing an au about that as well along with Cloud being Prompto's dad?
I have!
Part of the thing with Noctis is he does have a canon dad. And I do actually like Regis. But I have played with him being Cloud & Zack’s kid in my head because yeah he’s like the inverse of Prompto - Zack’s look with Cloud’s personality.
I’ve also done the like... twins separated at birth thing with him and Prompto both being Cloud & Zack’s kids. Look Star Wars has had an Influence on me.
Me: I’m going to write omega/omega Zack/Cloud; also me: it’s going to be about Genesis talking about them in heat together begging for an alpha. I will write some nice omega/omega Zack/Cloud I swear.
Pairings: Zack/Cloud (in Genesis’ head), AGSZC (in Genesis’ dreams)
Warnings: omegaverse, sexism but against dynamics, vulgar language,
“Has anyone else noticed that the puppy seems to have picked up a protégé of his own,” Genesis asks. Nodding over to where Zack is talking to a blonde Cadet.
Yes, Angeal had noticed that Zack seemed to spend a lot of time with that specific Cadet. And, yes, he had figured that it was probably some form of mentoring going on.
Sure enough, Zack turns and clings to the blonde cadet. Face pressed so close he could be scenting the other omega if those watching didn’t know better.
“What are you getting at?” Sephiroth asks, clearly wanting to get to the point of the conversation. Likely so he can leave.
“Do you suppose they spend their heats together?” Genesis asks.
“Now you’re just being crude,” Angeal says. Just because Zack is affectionate with the Cadet doesn’t mean anything. Zack is affectionate with everyone – something Angeal would have chalked up to him being an omega if he didn’t know better.
“Come now ‘Geal, you know omegas are more open with others of their designation than those outside it. And it would be unsafe for the adorable blonde to spend his heats in the cadets’ quarters.”
Angeal may concede both those points. Still.
“Even if he does have his heats in Zack’s apartment, that doesn’t mean anything happens between them.”
“Maybe,” Genesis says but Angeal has known him for too long to think he’s conceded the point. “But Zack likes to help people however he can – do you really think he would let another omega suffer a heat alone when he could help? Sephiroth – what do you think?”
Sephiroth just grunts. And Angeal has known him long enough to know it means that he doesn’t want to take part in the conversation, but is considering what is being said.
“Of course neither could give each other what they really want,” Genesis says, apparently just continuing on without a real response. “They can do a lot but they aren’t the alpha, nor can provide the knot, they really need. That they are begging for.”
“Stop being crass.” Angeal won’t remind them that there is a market of devices designed to solve the exact problem of omegas lacking alphas for their heats. It feels too much to lowering to Genesis’ level. Or perhaps, giving him ideas.
“I’m not,” Genesis says, all mock-offence. “What I am talking about is a beautiful part of the natural world and something that should be given the appropriate praise.”
“And you’re the alpha to give it that praise?” Sephiroth asks, joining into the conversation again. There’s something about his expression and tone that Angeal can’t quiet read.
Going by Genesis’ expression, he reads it as a challenge and honestly this has gone on long enough without the two of them firing up by a completely fictional scenario.
“Zack is merely mentoring the Cadet. That is all.” And this conversation is exactly the reason it is so important to get more omegas into high ranking positions within SOLDIER.
But Prompto being Cloud's biological kid, who Hojo or someone disappeared early on? And Noctis going missing as a baby, and Cloud and Zack find him not knowing who he is and adopt him. Prompto a nd Noctis manage to meet when they're older and fall for each other, and Noctis brings Prompto to meet his parents. He's confused on why Cloud is crying. (Maybe Gladio and Ignis go on a road trip trying to find Noctis/what happened to him around this time, and are surprised to find him perfectly fine...)
Yeah having Hojo (or someone else) basically vanish Prompto would absolutely have Cloud walking away from Niflheim. And honesty even if Zack wasn’t in a relationship with Cloud at that point with everything else happening around the same time it would be the last push Zack needs to leave too.
Of course with the loss of Prompto still so fresh in their minds when they do find baby!Noctis there is no way they’re leaving him. They have no idea how important he is and just assume he’s another orphan of the escalating tension happening around Niflheim’s borders. When they don’t find baby!Noctis’ parents easily they decide to just take him with them. And raise him wherever they end up settling down.
Flash forward some years and honestly Zack and Cloud are probably somewhat worried about meeting Noctis’ boyfriend. They want to make a good impression but also want to be good parents and get a good read on this person he is dating.
They are not prepared for when Prompto walks through the door and the immediate recognition that goes through Cloud that this is his child. And Zack who knows how to read Cloud immediately realises as well and probably sucks up his own emotions to be the one to actually explain what is happening when the usually fairly stoic Cloud just breaks down into tears.
Of course they want to know what happened to Prompto after he was taken and probably all end up in the living room as Prompto also starts babbling because wait - this is his dad (I’m assuming he ends up with his canon kind of shitty foster parents).
Poor Noctis feels a bit awkward and like maybe he shouldn’t be there but also wants to know about what happened as well. And funnily enough both Noctis and Prompto probably end up feeling unsure about whether they belong with Zack and Cloud and whether they’re just a placeholder for the other in this verse.
(That just adds another layer to it tall. And everyone feeling even more uncertain. Should Cloud and Zack have put more effort into finding out who Noctis really wast to get him home? How is Noctis supposed to just become the prince when he has never experienced a life anything like that? Can they all stay together or does Noctis have to leave them (including Prompto) to return to his birthright? Just a lot of questions with no clear answers).
The temptation to make the very last line of this Cloud asking Zack if he wanted to try and have a baby was really high. But considering how every FF7 omegaverse fic I’ve written so far somewhat involved Cloud having a child I thought to just focus on the other bits of omegaverse for this one. Also was tempted to have it continue into porn but I like this as cute – might do a second part which is the morning after porn.
AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24001006
“Oh, it’s good to be home,” Zack says, his muscles finally relaxing at the scent of his and Cloud’s apartment.
Relaxing at the mixed scent of them both the fills the space. Although, now it mostly just smells of Cloud. A reminder that it’s not just a proper bed that Zack has been craving something shocking for the last few days.
“Cloud!” Zack calls because Cloud should be home by this point in the day. “I’m home!”
There isn’t an immediate thudding of footsteps, but honestly Zack wouldn’t expect it. Cloud isn’t like that – both in temperate generally and from a definitive conscious effort not to appear a clingy omega. Not that anyone really had any doubts about that – Zack’s the clingy one of the two of them.
Still, there’s no sound of footsteps at all.
Which is a bit odd. It’s too early for Cloud to have likely gone to bed.
“Spike?” Zack calls, putting his pack down and going into the bedroom. Confirming that the bedroom is empty and Cloud hadn’t gone to bed yet.
Zack sticks his head out of the room to check the main bathroom of the apartment. The door of that open, so the room also empty.
“Huh.” So Cloud wasn’t home yet.
Well that just means Zack can unpack his stuff before Cloud gets back.
Of course it’s as he has that thought that the front door opens. Cloud walking in with a bag of shopping, obviously lost in his own thoughts.
Cloud’s nose twitches in the cute way it does when noticing a new scent. A second later he apparently realises whose it is.
“Zack?” Cloud asks, his eyes darting to where Zack is. “You’re home?”
“Yep, called in a favour to get an earlier flight scheduled and- off.”
Cloud knocks the wind out of Zack in how hard he tackles into him. But Zack isn’t going to complain as Cloud’s face presses against his neck. Blonde spikes tickling his nose as Cloud takes in his scent.
“Missed this,” Cloud mutters against Zack’s neck.
Zack smiles at it, wrapping his arms around his mate and pressing his face into Cloud’s hair.
“I missed this too, you have no idea Spike.”
Gods Zack hated longer missions when the marks of bonding started to threaten to wear off from time. But it’s not like he can exactly say no to all of them.
“We should probably move this to the couch,” Zack says after they stand there just taking in each other’s scents to calm down the worst of the needing itch for each other. It is easier to properly scent each other somewhere they can settle for a couple of hours if wanted.
“Not to the bed?” Cloud asks with a teasing smile. And, sure, that would be an effective way to make sure they both smelt of each other.
“Don’t tempt me Spike. I think I’d pass out as soon as I touched the sheets. Don’t wanna’ do that ‘till I smell like you again.” And made sure Cloud smells like him.
“Alright,” Cloud says.
Zack wraps his arms tighter around Cloud’s hips to bounce his mate up. Grinning when Cloud laughs and wraps his legs around him. Sure, Zack’s too tired for anything too strenuous but he’ll always have the energy to show off how well he can carry his mate.
The rumbling purr Cloud gives at it makes it worth any protests Zack’s tired muscles give.
They make it to the couch easily – Zack dropping Cloud onto it and collapsing on top of him in an undignified heap.
“Zack – you’re heavy,” Cloud protests from under him.
“Huh? Oh right.” Zack rolls them over. His back sinking into the soft couch, Cloud a warm weight on him.
“You know I was joking,” Cloud says, burying his face into Zack’s chest like he’s embarrassed about it.
“Well now you’re on top you might as well take over the scenting, yeah?” Zack says, shifting so one of his arms is propping up his head. The other resting comfortably on Cloud’s ass.
“Lazy alpha,” Cloud grumbles, but they both know he really doesn’t mind.
“Tired alpha,” Zack corrects with a yawn.
Cloud sighs but shimmies up to better press his face against Zack’s neck. The movement rubbing and pressing against Zack in all the right places to make him wish he had more energy to get them smelling of each other in the way only sex can give.
Maybe in the morning.
Cloud settles again with his face buried into the crook of Zack’s next. His hair once again tickling as Zack’s face as he nuzzles against the scent-gland on Zack’s neck. And Zack just let’s himself relax into it.
“You have no idea how much I missed this,” Zack says. The hand he had on Cloud’s ass moving up and under his mate’s shirt to rest against the bare skin of Cloud’s back. “How many times I thought of just saying fuck it to the mission and just coming home.”
He’s babbling, really, but it’s partially true. There had been some nights when the itch of missing his mate go so strong he started to question why the hell he was even there in the first place.
“I did too,” Cloud says, muffled against Zack’s neck.
Zack doesn’t really have much to say to it – he figured Cloud would be feeling the same for all the omega tried not to let it show.
“I’m home now though,” Zack says, bringing the hand he’s not resting on to comb through Cloud’s hair. “And should be for at least a couple weeks.”
The rumbling purrs start up again from Cloud. And Zack knows it isn’t put on like some omegas do when trying to get an alpha sweet on them. The first time Zack ever having heard it being nearly a month after they moved in together after over half a year of dating. A sound that only comes out when Cloud truly is content.
Zack feels content as well. The warmth of his mate above him and the gentle, slow, scenting between them the most relaxing feeling he’s ever experienced.
Zack feels himself starting to drift off at it all.
“We should head to bed.”
“I though you said you were too tired for that,” Cloud asks, his head resting against the peak of Zack’s chest. Blue eyes staring up. And Zack so wishes he wasn’t too tired but he is.
“Maybe in the morning we can.” It’s not like Zack’s expected anywhere until the lunch-time next day anyway with his expected arrival being 2AM. “But for now I mean for us to sleep.”
“Right,” Cloud says with a yawn.
“So you gonna’ get up Spike?” Zack asks when Cloud doesn’t move for a solid minute.
Cloud hums. Nuzzling against Zack’s neck one last time before pulling himself up and off the couch.
The move to the bed is fairly quick. Despite the want to keep scenting each other the call of sleep is strong.
They collapse on the bed similarly to how they were on the couch. Zack resting between Cloud’s thighs, their legs tangled together, as his nuzzles against Cloud’s neck to take in the omega’s scent.
He falls asleep to the scent of his mate and the warmth of their shared bed.
