FF7: ZackCloud "Freedom"
Freedom
Ironically, it was the memory of Cloud’s sleeping face that sealed Zack’s fate.
Zack had the choice, he knew. Life, death, it all dangled on his decision. He could not remember ever having to make such a life-changing decision. For everything else in his life, Zack had been ordered around by others or as he sometimes felt, like back in Nibelhelm, trapped by Fate.
But here . . . here . . . Zack had a choice.
Some part of him screamed that the choice was easy. After five years of hell, his life was his to claim. He could be free, he knew. Shin-Ra would not be able to touch him. Maybe Aeris-beautiful, shining Aeris-would be waiting for him. She would be so brilliant, smiling and laughing as he finally returned to her. He could make his living like he told the truck driver. He was talented, he knew. He could do a little bit of everything. He would be a stunning mercenary, able to support and protect both Aeris and himself.
The choice should have been easy. His whole future, bright and hopeful, stretched out in front of him.
But he could not forget Cloud’s peaceful face.
Cloud, who slept so peacefully, knowing that Zack would protect him, that Zack wouldn’t betray him, that at least with Zack his heart and life was safe.
Even if he never knew the rest of Zack’s feelings, Cloud knew that, and because of that, Cloud could sleep safely.
And in that split-second, Zack made his choice freely.
Ironically, it was the scent of Zack’s blood in the air, coppery and acidic with Mako, that aroused Cloud.
Trapped between life and death, the Lifestream and Jenova, Cloud had a choice. It was his first real conscious moment in years, and later, he would never be able to remember it.
He felt Zack dying, that part of him drowning in Limbo, and knew regret: regret because his weakness had brought Zack to this, his weakness that held Zack from Midgar and freedom, his weakness that stopped Zack from keeping all the promises he had made.
And he knew love, a love so fierce that it caught him by surprise, its heat a dazzling contrast to the numbing adoration he had felt for Sephiroth.
Cloud had a choice, he knew. It should have been simple. He could be free. He could open his eyes and live his life, wounded but free. He would be free to bury himself, hide himself away from the pain Hojo and Sephiroth had caused, live simply and quietly and humbly and leave all the pain and tragedy behind him. He would be free, free from Nibelhelm’s chains, free from Shin-Ra’s control, free from Hojo’s claws, free to live his own life and make his own choices.
But it was because he had that choice, that he could make a choice, that made up Cloud’s mind.
And in that split-second, Cloud made his choice freely.
Cloud never explained to AVALANCHE how he could so easily mimic Zack. He never explained how he could so easily describe Zack’s perspective. He never explained why he seemed so much lighter after Mideel.
He also never corrected them when they thought he was thinking of Aeris every time he looked at the church and smiled.
Ironically, it was the memory of Cloud’s sleeping face that sealed Zack’s fate.
Zack had the choice, he knew. Life, death, it all dangled on his decision. He could not remember ever having to make such a life-changing decision. For everything else in his life, Zack had been ordered around by others or as he sometimes felt, like back in Nibelhelm, trapped by Fate.
But here . . . here . . . Zack had a choice.
Some part of him screamed that the choice was easy. After five years of hell, his life was his to claim. He could be free, he knew. Shin-Ra would not be able to touch him. Maybe Aeris-beautiful, shining Aeris-would be waiting for him. She would be so brilliant, smiling and laughing as he finally returned to her. He could make his living like he told the truck driver. He was talented, he knew. He could do a little bit of everything. He would be a stunning mercenary, able to support and protect both Aeris and himself.
The choice should have been easy. His whole future, bright and hopeful, stretched out in front of him.
But he could not forget Cloud’s peaceful face.
Cloud, who slept so peacefully, knowing that Zack would protect him, that Zack wouldn’t betray him, that at least with Zack his heart and life was safe.
Even if he never knew the rest of Zack’s feelings, Cloud knew that, and because of that, Cloud could sleep safely.
And in that split-second, Zack made his choice freely.
Ironically, it was the scent of Zack’s blood in the air, coppery and acidic with Mako, that aroused Cloud.
Trapped between life and death, the Lifestream and Jenova, Cloud had a choice. It was his first real conscious moment in years, and later, he would never be able to remember it.
He felt Zack dying, that part of him drowning in Limbo, and knew regret: regret because his weakness had brought Zack to this, his weakness that held Zack from Midgar and freedom, his weakness that stopped Zack from keeping all the promises he had made.
And he knew love, a love so fierce that it caught him by surprise, its heat a dazzling contrast to the numbing adoration he had felt for Sephiroth.
Cloud had a choice, he knew. It should have been simple. He could be free. He could open his eyes and live his life, wounded but free. He would be free to bury himself, hide himself away from the pain Hojo and Sephiroth had caused, live simply and quietly and humbly and leave all the pain and tragedy behind him. He would be free, free from Nibelhelm’s chains, free from Shin-Ra’s control, free from Hojo’s claws, free to live his own life and make his own choices.
But it was because he had that choice, that he could make a choice, that made up Cloud’s mind.
And in that split-second, Cloud made his choice freely.
Cloud never explained to AVALANCHE how he could so easily mimic Zack. He never explained how he could so easily describe Zack’s perspective. He never explained why he seemed so much lighter after Mideel.
He also never corrected them when they thought he was thinking of Aeris every time he looked at the church and smiled.