Chapter 02 - Crisis of Confusion
Fandom: Compilation of Final Fantasy VII (FFVII, Advent Children, Crisis Core, Before Crisis, Dirge of Cerberus)
Pairing: Established Zack/Aerith, Eventual Sephiroth/Cloud (Subject to possible additions)
Rating: Teen (Subject to change)
Warnings: Violence, Language, Pretty much what you'd expect from FFVII. (Subject to additions)
Genre: Time Travel, AU, Action/Adventure, Drama, Friendship, Romance.
Words: 14,183
Summary: At first it was about preventing tragedy. For Cloud it soon becomes a fight to protect new bonds, tread untrod paths and find happy endings. Second chances aren't always easy in a time where ghosts live and heroes are human.
Special Thanks To: Our darling, amazing beta/guinea pig reader leasspell_dael for all of your help, nightpounce for helping inspire the summary, and the rest of the peanut gallery.
Chapter 01 - Crisis of Circumstance
Masterlist
Chapter 02 - Crisis of Confusion
[ μ ] - εуλ 0001 (December 10th)
Zack didn't stop to think about the consequences of his actions, or what it would mean to himself. If he were perfectly honest, he'd say he didn't think at all. One moment he was all the way across the clearing watching the infantryman fall back into the pool of mako, and the next he was right beside it scouring it for any sign of the guy. The spring must have been deeper than it looked to have swallowed him up the way it had, or maybe it had done just that: Swallowed him up. Then Zack swore he saw the eerie surface of the pool shift, just a little. It was enough for him, and he stepped out into the shallows of the pool. It sizzled against the thick soles of his boots, and then lapped around his ankles. He'd never been more glad for the thick sturdiness of the military issue footwear before. One mako bath in his life time was more than enough for him.
“Come on,” he muttered to himself. Then, just there, he saw it. A sliver of shadow and color. Zack leaned forward and reached out until his gloved hand slid beneath the thick surface of the mako. Almost immediately he felt a responding hand grasp his. He barely noticed the searing burn of mako on his forearm as he yanked the unresisting body toward him and hauled the trooper out of the pool as quickly as he could. A film of green slime sluiced after them, and droplets of mako rained from the trooper's clothing as he scrambled woozily. Zack released his hand to grab him under the arms and drag him the rest of the way free of the pool. He didn't care that he was getting mako all over his bare arms, or his shirt, or even the bit burning oddly cold yet hot against his cheek. He was a SOLDIER; he could deal with a little mako.
Zack fumbled slightly as he yanked off the troopers helmet to reveal a head of wild blond hair and a pair of hazy blue eyes. Even as his mind noted the blond's pupils looked unfocused-something that probably wasn't good-Zack recognized the kid. “Wha-? Cloud! …I didn't even know you were with us.” The last part was muttered half to himself. He couldn't help but think the trooper was giving him an odd look, though that was probably just from his recent mako dousing. In an attempt to keep him from panicking, as well as keep his attention, Zack said, “Is it my hair? I know it's a little weird. My girlfriend laughed at me, you know. How are you feeling?”
If he could get some sort of response... It would probably be a good idea to get him out of those mako soaked clothes and... Cloud's only response was a, “Ngh...” Zack thought it was better than nothing, and gave his shoulder an encouraging squeeze.
“That's the spirit, just-” Zack was interrupted by a sudden terrified scream that cut off abruptly in a death gurgle, followed by a round of gunfire. Something feral shrieked, then was echoed by another. It sounded like there was more than one hippogriff in these woods. He glanced toward where he'd left Buster Sword, and gripped Cloud's upper arm. “You hang on for me, okay? This is going to get rough...”
Zack was once more interrupted as Cloud suddenly jerked in his hold. Cloud's hands scrabbled frantically against his chest and arms, his body twisting as he fought to get himself to his feet. Zack surged up with him, afraid that Cloud would injure himself, and slid his hand under Cloud's arm to steady him. “Whoa! Take it easy.” His head was spinning, and he knew he had to get things under control as quickly as possible. For a moment he was back in Wutai having nearly been flattened by one of their ogres. Angeal had just saved his neck and was standing over him. He'd used the Buster Sword and...
You're a little more important than my sword. ...Just a little…
It was like a physical ache to dismiss his sword in favor of hauling one of Cloud's arms over his shoulders to steady the trooper. “Fall back!” Zack roared. “You lot form up and cover our retreat with gun fire. I want you rookie SOLDIERs up front to cut us a safe passage. Move it!” More quietly, he angled his head down to speak to Cloud, “Just hang on. We'll get you out of those clothes as soon as we're somewhere safe.” He hoped if they retreated they'd find some defensible place.
Around him the scramble and shuffle of personnel following the orders filled the air. They were probably just glad that someone was in control of the situation, or even the illusion of it. Zack just concentrated on directing Cloud to walk northeast along the cliff. In Zack's mind all he could think was that they needed to make their way back toward the rendezvous point and get out a mayday call.
The ratchet of rifle fire exploded into a thunderous roar behind them, and Zack looked over his shoulder in time to see the infantrymen shuffling back. A few of the hippogriffs made an enraged dive for them, but were forced to back off as another hail of bullets tore through their feathers. All of them had the mad glow of mako in their eyes. Zack could see numerous glowing eyes in the shadowy trees, and even peering down from the cliffs. This place, he guessed, had been home to their aerie, and they'd unfortunately gotten into the mako.
“Sir,” a gasping voice called. He recognized it was the gregarious Sparo. “Sir,” he panted out again. “When we were checking the area we found a small canyon in the cliff face. Just over there in the woods.” Zack followed the trooper's gesture, and sure enough he could see the dark scar of an opening in the rock face. “If we...”
Zack nodded sharply. He could already see where this was heading. “Contact the rest of your team and tell them to guide the troops there . The rest will just have to hide where they can.” As soon as he made sure Cloud was alright, he'd make sure the rest of his troops were too. “Come on, Cloud. Let's get over there,” he muttered. All he got was a faint groan in response.
He tightened his grip on Cloud's arm and waist as he hurried them forward. The trees pressed in close, and the underbrush dragged at his clothes and Cloud's as if trying to pull him out of Zack's grasp. Every now and then he could see the flash of materia or rifle fire through the close growing trees. It was darker here among them than it had been in the clearing, though it proved nothing for a SOLDIER's enhanced senses, and even less so since the gathering gloom of oncoming night had given Zack's eyes plenty of time to adjust. Zack kept half turning to catch glimpses of Cloud's lolling head. The trooper's breaths were coming shorter and faster, and he couldn't help but worry.
Cloud seemed to gather himself when Zack paused to reorient, the tangle of trees having blotted out their destination. Though he still seemed weak, he managed to lift his head, and Zack was caught by surprise as Cloud stared at him. He still looked lost and confused and Zack's worry for his condition only doubled when Cloud's eyes tracked off to the side to stare over Zack's shoulder before his head tipped forward again. Zack winced in sympathy as Cloud's chin bounced off his chest, and watched helplessly as Cloud lifted his hand. It only made it to chest height before falling limply again. Zack thought he heard him make a disgruntled little sound.
“It's okay,” Zack murmured, readjusting his grip around Cloud's waist. “It's just the mako making you weak. You're still doing better than a lot of people, though. Hopefully it won't take too long and we can get you some treatment.” When Zack started them moving again, Cloud seemed to wrestle his body under his control and managed a few steps on his own through what Zack guessed was sheer, stubborn determination. Cloud's side bumped against Zack's as he staggered over the rock strewn, uneven ground. The only thing Zack could do was keep up a litany of murmured encouragements as he tried to keep them going in the right direction.
Zack stumbled as a hippogriff flew low over their heads, rustling branches and sending leaves falling around them. He watched it warily and held them both still in the hopes that it hadn't seen them. For a moment he thought it had passed out of range, then it was back, clearly having circled around. A second later it dropped heavily to the ground a few feet ahead of them, beak parted on a raspy hiss, and mad eyes staring straight through them. Zack pressed his lips into a thin line, and stared at the bird. He didn't dare try to make a run for it with Cloud weighing him down. The best solution was to take the hippogriff out. He could deal with this. Just because he didn't have a sword on him didn't leave him helpless. Angeal had made sure of that. Zack backed them up enough that he could guide Cloud to use a tree for support, then slid out from under his arm.
“Wait here,” Zack murmured as he helped Cloud slide to the ground, never taking his attention off the monster. The hippogriff was ripping at the ground with its talons. It seemed almost confused by his behavior. Cloud's head lolled to the side, and he groaned again. Zack chanced a glance toward him to see Cloud's hand lifting, reaching, before it dropped futilely back to the ground. In an attempt to reassure him, Zack added, “I'll take care of this.”
Zack edged slowly away from Cloud, eyes locked on the hippogriff. The sound of his boots as the ground against the rough soil loud in his ears. The beast watched him, its brightly colored feathers trembling. These monsters were known for being able to entrap and bewitch their prey, something about their feathers, maybe. Zack hadn’t really paid the imparted information much mind beyond understanding the effect. So long as he could avoid that, then he’d be fine. He couldn’t help but worry for the other men, though. If they'd been cut off similarly... Well, no time to worry about that. Zack brought his hands up, shook them out, and clenched them into fists so tight the leather of his gloves creaked. “That's right,” Zack said. “Just keep your eyes on me.”
It bristled further as if the sound of his voice was an irritant, and the next thing Zack knew the beast was leaping at him. Its front talons slashed through the air, reaching and clawing for him. He swayed back, boots scraping against the dirt as the hippogriff's claws whistled through the air inches in front of his nose. Zack's wide eyes met the wild gaze of the monster for a second, before he lashed out. His boot slammed into the hippogriff's keel bone and sent it skidding backward with a startled squawk. He snorted out a pent up breath. (Too close, way too close.) There was no Angeal or Sephiroth here to save him if he lost focus this time. His traitorous heart, the part that still hurt now nearly a year after Angeal's death, whispered that his mentor would never be there to help him again.
Zack shoved the ache down and swung his arm up, materia glowing, and unleashed a torrent of electricity just as the hippogriff shook off the pain of his kick. The bird screamed as the thick bolts flowed over and around it, cracking and scoring across the ground and the nearby trees. Zack jerked his hand back, closed his fist, and ended the spell. It left him tingling with the residue of both magic use and the electric charge in the air that was accompanied by the stink of singed feathers.
From where it had collapsed into a twitching heap the hippogriff released shrill little keening sounds. Zack grimaced and walked cautiously toward the downed beast. He leaned over it, face twisted faintly with distaste. He hated not having Buster Sword with him on principle, but this just added another layer to it. If he'd had the sword he would have been able to put the beast out of its misery easily. Just as he started to back away, the hippogriff he'd thought too far gone to pose a threat gathered itself and snapped at his shin. By the time Zack had halted his quick backward stumble it had staggered to its feet.
The hippogriff screamed a shrill, cracked sound that was nothing but rage, pain, and madness, then lunged at him furiously. He was knocked off balance as its claws scraped noisily over the curve of one shoulder guard. It had just missed slicing into the side of his neck. Even now he could feel the warm sensation of a bead of blood sliding down his throat. He was too busy to worry about it as the hippogriff's neck snapped out in an attempt to gouge his eyes with its beak. Zack jerked his head back, just a fraction too slow and felt the tip of the hippogriff's beak clip his hairline.
Quickly, before the blood could have a chance to obscure his vision, or the bird manage a more lethal attack, Zack brought his arm up and socked it in the side of the head hard enough for his knuckles to ache. He heard something crack, but couldn't be sure what it was as the force had spun the bird to the side. Zack didn't give himself a chance to think, or the hippogriff a chance to retaliate; he charged forward and unleashed a flurry of blows on the monster, then finished it off with an abrupt kick to its neck. He heard-felt-the bones crunch under the force of the blow which sent the hippogriff into the dirt again. This time it twitched spasmodically for a few seconds, its neck bent at an obviously broken angle, then lay still.
Zack backed away, then turned his back on the cooling corpse and strode back to Cloud's side. He knelt down beside Cloud, and reached out to grip his shoulder. The trooper's head lolled back until Cloud could look at him dazedly. Zack watched him blink for a moment, and thought he saw some focus, some recognition come back into Cloud's glazed expression. He grinned. “See? What'd I tell you?“ Zack said as he dashed the back of his forearm across his forehead to keep a dribble of blood from getting into his eye. All he really seemed to accomplish was smearing it across his forehead. In the next second, Zack paid for his moment of inattention when he found himself tackled by another of the beasts.
Zack hit the ground on his shoulder, his breath rushing out of him. His ears buzzed, and silence filled his head. He could see Cloud lurch forward, eyes wide, could see him lift his hand and reach out, heard the slurred, rough, “Za...” in what seemed like endless hours as he struggled to catch his breath. It all rushed back as Cloud's supporting arm went out from under him, pitching him forward, and the hippogriff's talons flashed down obscuring Zack's line of sight.
Zack twisted onto his back and brought his hands up just in time to grab the hippogriff's throat with one hand and its beak with the other. His glove slid over the monster's sleek feathers as it strained against his hold. Zack's faced twisted with concentration, muscles bunching and tensing against its power and against the pain of its beak clamped down on his thumb. It almost felt as if it were grinding against the very bone. He decided he was probably just lucky it hadn't taken his thumb clean off.
His breath was stolen from him in a gasp of pain as the monster yanked its head to the side, jerking on his arm. In retaliation Zack dug his fingers into the feathers more firmly, and brought his knee up to slam into the hippogriff's tender belly. The monster grunted, and gave him another wrenching shake. Zack drove his knee up again, and this time the hippogriff released his thumb with an enraged shriek and reared back as far as it could. He could feel the clump of feathers in his fist beginning to tear.
With his now free hand, Zack reached up to grab the other side of the beast's neck, and hauled himself up. He freed up one hand to reach further around the monster's neck for a better hold, even as he dug one boot heel into the ground for leverage and kicked one of the monster's hind legs. The hippogriff staggered, screeching and tossing its head in confusion before Zack kicked its leg again. This time the bones in the beast's hind leg snapped with an audible crack, and the hippogriff screamed in pain as it toppled.
Zack released his hold to scramble out of the way, and came quickly to his knees. Already the hippogriff had managed to get back up, though the broken leg dangled uselessly where it was held a few inches off the ground. The hippogriff had compensated easily enough with its wings spread for balance. It hissed at him, eyes rolling madly, then shoved off the ground in a flurry of powerful wing beats. It drove its wings down again to propel itself higher, and Zack brought himself to his feet, every muscle tense for the next attack.
Before either Zack or the hippogriff could make a move, a sharp whirring filled the air, and a second later a flash of red and silver arced out of the shadows to score a deep wound across the hippogriff's exposed underbelly. The monster screamed and fell heavily to the ground while the weapon arced back into the shadows. Zack lifted his hand as the sharp sound of quick footfalls fast approached, and grimly called up the power of his materia to unleash another torrent of lightning. The hippogriff squealed, body twisting and arching, before it slumped onto the blood soaked ground.
Zack just stood there, staring at the corpse for several seconds until the sound of the footsteps stopped close by. When he lifted his head it was to nod in acknowledgment to Cissnei, though he didn't know whether to be shocked or relieved that she was there. “Hey, Cissnei,” he greeted with a wry grin. “Thanks for having my back.”
“No problem, Zack,” the Turk said softly. She flashed him a fleeting smile then sent a troubled look off to Zack's left. “Is your friend okay?”
Zack turned and made his way back to Cloud's side where the fallen trooper had managed to brace himself up on his forearms again. The hazy expression on his face looked an odd mixture of disgruntled and determined to Zack. Zack glanced over his shoulder at Cissnei as he crouched down beside Cloud. “He will be,” he said easily. As he turned his attention back to Cloud, Zack decided that he would make sure of it. “What are you still doing here, Cissnei?”
“I had an assignment in the area, and heard all the ruckus.” Cissnei's response was just as quiet as her previous words, but somehow they unsettled Zack. It just made Zack's paranoid thoughts about the Turks swim back up. Determinedly, he pushed the matters of Turks to the back of his mind. Right now he needed to focus on Cloud, the rest of his troops, and how to get them out of this situation mostly intact.
Reaching down he gripped Cloud's shoulder, pulled him up enough to slide his arm under him, and hauled the trooper up into a sitting position. Cloud gave a startled cry and looked up at him dazedly. “Whoa, hey, take it easy Cloud. It's just me,” Zack soothed. ”You okay?” Cloud's face relaxed and, after what looked like a momentary struggle with himself, managed a semblance of a nod. Zack's own expression relaxed into a relieved grin. He'd take that as a good sign if there ever was one. The fact that Cloud seemed to understand him and even respond probably meant the mako poisoning he was suffering from wasn't too bad.
Zack looked up from his silent, internal celebration at the faint scuff of a shoe just behind him. Cissnei leaned forward, coppery hair tumbling over her shoulder, and asked, “What about you?” When her eyes flicked up to his hairline, Zack automatically reached up and rubbed his forearm over the still bleeding cut on his forehead. He doubted it'd be bleeding much longer, but head wounds always did bleed more persistently than most other varieties. He shrugged, readjusted his grip on Cloud, then got them both to their feet with minimal staggering.
“I'm fine. That was nothing,” he assured her breezily. He didn't want to mention that he was feeling a bit nauseous himself. “So, Cloud, you think you can make it a little further?” He didn't really wait for an answer, nor did he really expect one. Zack just tightened his grip and began walking with the hope that Cloud could hang on for a little longer. Cissnei followed near soundlessly after them. Their progress was accompanied only by the rustle of trees and the sudden shocking silence that had fallen.
It was into this silence, that Cissnei's next words fell. “I already put a call in to Tseng, so there should be back up on the way as soon as possible.” Relief, the likes of which Zack hadn't felt since Angeal had seemed to be coming around, swept through him. It felt like a great deal of weight had been lifted off his shoulders
“Thanks, Cissnei,” Zack said softly. He took a moment to check their course, and realized he couldn't see the opening in the cliff face they'd been heading for anymore. The woods all looked the same, with it being well and truly night. The cliff face looked like it was made of shallow niches and openings even to his SOLDIER eyes. In the end he decided it didn't matter, so long as they put some distance between themselves and the hippogriffs. “Do you know how my men are doing?”
“Most of them seem to have gone to ground,” Cissnei replied immediately. “I saw a few on my way and advised them to take cover.”
“Good.” That was good. As long as they stayed hidden until dawn they could regroup.
Before he knew it, the forest opened up and spilled them back out onto the open dirt and rock. He recognized the slope ahead of them as the one he'd come down to reach the little wooded area earlier in the day. There was no way he could get Cloud to climb that in his condition. A rustle to their left alerted him to movement, even as Cissnei brought Rekka up.
“Sir, is that you?” The voice was familiar again.
Hurriedly, Zack asked, “Jac?”
“Yes, sir,” the trooper murmured as he emerged from the brush. “I thought I saw someone so... Uh, me and a few others found a thicket that we're using for cover, so, uh... I mean, if you want to come with me, sir?”
“By all means, lead the way.”
It only took a minute or two before they joined a small, rather ruffled looking group of troopers and a couple rookie SOLDIERs. As Zack eased Cloud to sit down against the thick base of a tree he glanced around at them. “Do any of you have your supplies with you? A spare uniform, or spare clothes?” He couldn't imagine those mako soaked clothes were doing anything for the poor guy.
“I do, sir,” one of the troopers muttered. “You can use them for Cloud... I was with his team, so...” Which meant that he'd arrived late and still had all his equipment on him, unlike most of the others who had left theirs in the clearing with the mako pool and hadn't been able to retrieve them in the mad scramble to retreat.
Zack accepted the pack from the man, then crouched down beside Cloud. “Hey, Cloud? You still with me, buddy?” He reached out and tilted Cloud's head back. He looked feverish. Zack's smile took on a worried edge while Cloud's eyes roamed restlessly. He seemed to be tracking movement over Zack's shoulders, and Zack could only wonder if it were the other men in the area, or mako dreams. Then Cloud seemed to pull himself together again and focused on Zack. For a second he merely blinked at Zack with his brows furrowed and a faint frown pulling at his lips. A moment later Zack felt the weight of a hand gripping his arm. It was a surprisingly strong grip.
“Z…a?” Cloud slurred, still apparently unable to form the sharper ‘ck’ sound. Zack forced his smile to be more genuine, more reassuring, and rested his hand on Cloud's head.
“Hey,” he greeted quietly, then to lighten the mood added, “At least you remember me, or am I just getting that famous already?” That got no further response. Zack wasn't really surprised. He reached up to swipe a hand over his hair, only to stop as he caught sight of the green film of mako on his gloves. Zack grimaced, pulled them off, and tossed them carelessly aside.
When he turned back to Cloud, he could see the stuff gleaming faintly on him as well. It was no question what needed to be done. “I'm going to get those clothes off of you, and see if we can get as much of the mako off as possible.” He was no medic, but he knew a bit about mako poisoning and mako addiction. As far as he could tell Cloud didn't seem too badly off. Weak and a bit unresponsive, yes, but he was responsive. Maybe he'd gotten lucky and that mako really had been nicely diluted by the water.
It was easy enough to get Cloud's harness and shoulder armor off. The general infantryman's variety wasn't that different from a SOLDIER's, decoration aside. All of the clasps were in the same place at least. It was after he'd pulled off Cloud's gloves and was starting to help him get his shirt off that Cloud gave a hiss, his muscles convulsing and his back arching. Zack winced as well. “Sorry, sorry,” he muttered under his breath, even as he waited the fit out. When he continued, he did so even more carefully. It didn't take much work, and Zack tossed that aside as well, pulled off Cloud's boots, then leaned over the dazed trooper to start working his belt off.
The others hiding with them were quiet, probably listening for the sounds of an attack, or maybe just trying to give the poor guy as much privacy as could be afforded. It was hard to say. Zack for his part didn't really care what they did, and decided to see if he could get more responses out of Cloud who seemed to be moving better. At least he was able to move his arms and legs enough to facilitate Zack's removal of his clothing. “We didn't get a chance to talk again after Modeoheim. How has Midgar been treating you? I don't think you were stationed there before, because I'm sure I'd have noticed someone like you wandering around the ShinRa building.” Not that he'd really noticed Cloud now either, Zack thought ruefully as he tossed Cloud's pants aside. He spent all of his time these days either loitering around the SOLDIER floor, out on missions, or down in the slums with Aerith.
“Here, sir,” a soft voice muttered. A canteen was thrust over his shoulder, and Zack gladly accepted it. “To help get the mako off.”
Zack offered the trooper a brief smile of gratitude before turning back to Cloud. “You're lucky your underwear don't seem too have gotten it too bad so you won't have to worry about chafing.” Reaching up he pulled Cloud forward so he could pour the lukewarm water over his head, and briefly whisked his hand through Cloud's wild blond hair to work out as much of the clinging mako as possible. He shifted a little more, then let Cloud's head rest against his shoulder so he could see his back and get the mako from there with the aid of more water. From there he moved on to Cloud's arms, chest, and finally his legs. “That ought to do it. You'll dry fine in this weather so we'll go ahead and get you dressed,” he mused, rinsing off his own hands, then reached for the spare uniform the trooper had given him. It took a bit more work getting Cloud back into the clothes, but it was doable. They were a bit big on him, but at least they were clothes and they weren't saturated in mako. When he was done, Zack shifted around to collapse by Cloud's side and lean up against the tree too. “Well, I guess all that's left is to wait for dawn.”
He could see Cissnei lurking silently in the shadows, watching them, and he flashed her a brief grin. Her only response was, “You should make sure to get it off of you as well, Zack.” Zack shrugged negligently. He'd worry about it in a bit, for now he was more interested in keeping an eye on Cloud.
Zack felt Cloud shift until he was slumped a little more against his side, followed by the feel of Cloud's hand fumbling along his leg and arm. Cloud's fingers wrapped around his wrist, surprisingly firm for his apparently disoriented state. Worried that Cloud was trying to get his attention for some reason, Zack leaned in closer as Cloud's grip shifted to his hand. “You okay?” The words had barely left him when Cloud's grip tightened and he made a strange little sound.
“Zack?” Cloud breathed. To Zack it sounded wondering and painful, though he couldn't fathom what would make Cloud say his name like that. Before he could even think on it, Cloud stumbled, haltingly, through more words. “Are... are you... real?”
Zack's heart went out to him, even as his skin prickled with unease. It was worrying, Zack couldn't help but think, if Cloud was having trouble telling reality from mako induced hallucinations. Cloud was obviously seeking some sort of anchor in reality, and Zack would provide him that. They didn't really know each other, but Zack still considered him a friend. Some people told him he made friends too easily. Cloud was his fellow country boy, and they had to stick together, friends or not.
He carefully squeezed Cloud's hand in response to his clutching, and, voice low, replied, “Yeah, I'm real. Just as real as you are.” He glanced down toward Cloud's blond head, then scooted closer to him. Zack had no idea if he was cold, or if the he had a fever, or even how to really deal with him in this condition. He kind of wished they'd wound up somewhere with one of the medically trained personnel, but he could manage. He had enough know how to do it. He had to.
“Say, Cloud...” Zack murmured, “Try to stay awake as long as possible okay?” He was half afraid that if Cloud fell asleep they'd lose him to a coma that he might not wake up from. He was getting all too used to the bitter tang of failing to save someone, and he wasn't going to let another friend fall to his track record. He tossed around for something to talk about, something to keep Cloud's attention focused on, and let the weak blond grasp his hand. If that helped keep Cloud grounded, then Zack was all for it. “The weather is pretty nice here for this time of year isn't it?” It was a terrible attempt at conversation, but it wasn't the topic that mattered, not really.
It was eerily quiet, just as it had been all day. There were no night predators creeping about. Zack suspected that the hippogriffs had run everything and anything off, now. There was barely any light at all, though that hardly affected him. He supposed he'd grown used to the constant glow of Midgar and ShinRa's other cities. It reminded him a bit of Gongaga when he was younger. When night meant a world of pitch black mystery and thrill, where the sky was full of stars and not blocked out by the ambient electric lighting so much.
“You said you were from Nibelheim, right? I bet it's real cold up there this time of year, or any time of year for that matter. But I bet the stars are really nice. They were always blocked out in Gongaga unless you knew where to look.” Because of the dense forest, unlike Midgar. Zack had known this one little cliff though...
Zack could almost feel that he was being listened to, and not just by Cloud, but by the bedraggled group in the shadows around him. Occasionally he could hear someone shift, noted their position from the rustle of fabric and the jangle of metal, but mostly he kept his head tilted back against the tree behind him and watched the breeze rustle the leaves. Sometimes he even caught a glimpse of a star filled sky. From the corner of his eyes he watched Cloud, and across from him he could see Cissnei leaning against another tree. She glanced his way and nodded slightly. He didn't know if she could see him as well as he could see her, but he took the motion for what it was. All was well on her end. Zack lifted his hand in a return gesture. So far so good, but the pale light of dawn never felt so far away.
"Nibelheim…it's kinda nice," Cloud said at last, as though he'd had to gather his scattered thoughts-he sounded hoarse. "The monsters went mad because of the reactor. Too much mako. One of the dragons nearly ate me, though. You would have laughed." Cloud's voice dropped off in a hiss of pain, and Zack mulled what he'd said over.
(Dragons, huh?) He'd heard about Nibel's dragons, and he couldn't help but give Cloud's blond head a slightly incredulous look. He'd nearly been eaten by dragons. How, Zack couldn't help but wonder, did he manage to get out of that one. Then and there Zack decided that if he was ever forced to go to Nibelheim, he'd take Cloud with him. That way the dragon issue would be less of an issue. Maybe. He had no idea how fearsome the beasts really were, but he'd heard stories. There were a lot of scare stories floating around Midgar. Why, he'd heard a funny one involving Gongaga once that had had him laughing for weeks.
He wanted to say he wasn't sure dragons were a funny issue, but on the other hand the mental image of a tiny Cloud managing to best one of the beasts was rather hilarious. Which, for whatever reason, just lead him to wondering what Cloud had looked like as a kid. Cloud, who already stuck out like a sore thumb among the rank and file.
He thought about offering Cloud a Cure, or something. Zack always made sure he had that mastered Cure materia on him-He was a bit put off that he hadn't yet managed to find a Cura-but he was unsure how it would react to Cloud's recent dip in the mako. It would probably be best to wait. Cloud seemed to be pretty lucid for his recent brush with the mako, and he seemed to be getting better by the moment. If he was still in pain come morning, then Zack would worry about it then. Hopefully that would be enough time for the mako exposure to blow over as well. The last thing he wanted was to-
It took Zack a moment to realize Cloud was talking again. Angeal always had scolded him for his lack of focus. "The experiments got loose too. I hope one of the others goes up there first. They're completely gone, now.” (Whoa, wait, back up. Experiments?!) What in the world was Cloud on about now? Across from him, Zack could see Cissnei look up sharply, and he was abruptly worried that Cloud had gotten into something deep that would attract the Wrong Kind of Turk Attention. If any Turk attention could ever be considered good, anyway. Were there experiments up in Nibelheim, and if so, why were they there and why were they somewhere a civilian kid could find them? Or was he...
Zack gave his head a slight shake. What was he thinking? Cloud's mutterings were broken and disjointed. It was more probable that he'd just skipped from the topic of monsters gone mad in Nibelheim from the reactor, straight into a memory of one of the break outs from Hojo's lab that seemed to happen a little too often and conveniently. It was obvious that he and his squad had been dispatched during one break out and had to deal with some of the nasty beasts, right? Right. It was the only logical conclusion, and the only one that didn't send Zack into a fit of worry.
“Aerith…you're happy with her, right? I couldn't save.... But I watch her flowers. The kids like the church, too." Zack's mind scrambled to make sense of Cloud's confusing words even as Cloud fell silent with a faint cough and his head lolled to rest against Zack's shoulder. Aerith? How did Cloud know Aerith? More than that, how did he know about Zack and Aerith? It wasn't exactly like Zack didn't talk about her, but no one really knew who she was. Cloud had mentioned specifics that...were more than a little baffling. Zack could almost feel the tension coming off of Cissnei, which, he guessed, meant they hadn't known Cloud knew Aerith either. Turks didn't like not knowing. Aerith had never mentioned knowing anyone else from ShinRa to Zack, either.
He wanted, badly, to ask Cloud how he knew Aerith, but Zack decided to err on the side of caution. The last thing Cloud needed was the Turks poking around his business, or worse, deeming him a threat that needed to be terminated. Best case, he wound up dead and no one ever saw him again.... Worst case? Zack wasn't even sure what the worst case was anymore after Angeal and Genesis....
“You know Aerith, too, huh? She's great, isn't she? Real nice,” Zack said breezily as if this wasn't something unusual. “You into gardening too? Does she actually let you help with the flowers because, heh, she won't let me help. She says that they only want to be tended by her, but I guess she'd know best. I saw some pretty little wild flowers on the way here and was thinking of taking some back to her. You think she'd like that, or would I just get a lecture about leaving them alone?”
"I'm sure…anything you give her…she'll love," Cloud offered tentatively. Zack didn't say anything as Cloud slumped further, his eyes drooping closed as he drifted off to an obviously exhausted sleep. He didn't let it show, but Zack could swear his heart rate had tripled. He was scared that, come morning, Cloud wouldn't wake up.
[ μ ] - εуλ 0001 (December 11th)
Zack hadn't slept the entire night, too hyped up to bother, and it didn't really matter anyway. He wasn't feeling it, yet, but he probably would be if he didn't get something to eat before too long. Zack knew his limits well enough, knew how far he could push, and he was in no risk of crashing just yet. The night had been spent in a vigilant haze, his attention torn between keeping an eye on Cloud and watching for threats. Both external and internal. He didn't want to think about Cissnei like that, but he had been having creeping doubts ever since Angeal.... Something he didn't want to think about right now. He had to focus on Cloud, and getting as many people out of this mission in one piece as possible.
Zack was honestly surprised at how strong a grip Cloud had. It had been both relieving and baffling the way Cloud continued to cling to him, even in his sleep. Relieving because it probably meant Cloud wasn't gone or lost in his head, and baffling because, really, they barely knew each other. Zack suspected it was that anchor thing he'd been thinking about earlier. Something to hang on to metaphorically leading to physical clutching... It all kind of made his head hurt. He usually let Kunsel do the deep thinking; Zack was more reactionary.
Zack's mind seemed content to skip from one subject to another in his inaction, so he let it. He was sitting with one arm half pinned by Cloud, the other draped over his upraised knee, and listening to the quiet rise in activity as the others woke up. There was still no birdsong, and Cissnei was the only one still really awake. Zack figured he should have scolded some of the troopers and rookies for dozing off, but he couldn't blame them. This entire mission had gone way, way out of control.
Cissnei met his gaze, then looked away again. They had barely said three words to each other all night. Some would say that was a record for Zack, but Zack knew he'd just been too busy tying himself up in knots. Could he trust her? Could he not? Could he trust anyone anymore?
It was times like this that he really, really wished Angeal were still around.
(What should I do, Angeal?)
Then Cloud stirred beside him, and Zack straightened his spine from his slouch. A heartbeat later his phone trilled in his pocket. Zack blinked, momentarily baffled, before trying to tug his hand free to search for the device. Cloud, however, didn't seem to want to let go, and had actually lifted both his free hand and the one clutching Zack's up. He appeared to be giving Zack's hand a rather bewildered look. In the end, Zack let him keep the hand for the moment. After all, he had another in perfect working order which he used to dig his phone from his pocket.
As Zack pulled his phone out at last, Cloud's tentative voice reached him, "…Good morning?" Zack thought he sounded more than a little lost.
“Good morning yourself, sunshine. Feeling any better?” Even as the words left him, Zack flipped his phone open and answered, “What can I do for you?”
His answer was a soft, curious, “Hello?” that made the grin on Zack's face go from distracted to genuine.
“Aerith!”
A quiet laugh answered him, before she asked, “Is now a bad time? You sound distracted.”
“No, now isn't a bad time, not really,” he said, then paused as an idea occurred to him. “But hold on. Do me a favor and talk to my friend while I make sure he's doing alright, okay?”
“Your friend? Is he... hurt?”
Zack blinked. “What? No, he's just a little ill right now.”
“Hmm, okay.” He could imagine her nodding in firm agreement with her decision. “I'll talk to him. You just make sure he's alright.”
“Thanks!” Zack chirped, then he shoved the phone into Cloud's hand, and freed the one Cloud was still gripping. “I'll need my hand, if you don't mind,” he added, scratching at the dried blood on his temple. “Do me a favor and talk to Aerith while I make sure everything is okay this morning, would you?”
Cloud was staring at the phone in his hand as if he'd never seen it before, and even as Zack watched he gave a sudden twitch. Zack reached out for his bowed head, slightly worried that Cloud's seemingly improved condition had taken a rapid fall, only to have his hand batted away. He let himself smile, and listened to Aerith's curious voice as it emerged, tinny and small, from the phone. When Aerith gave a particularly pointed 'Hel-looo', Zack had to stifle a laugh. Cloud hastily brought the phone to his ear.
"…Hello?" Cloud asked softly. Careful not to draw too much attention to himself, Zack leaned forward and captured Cloud's other wrist to check his pulse. It didn't feel thready, nor too slow or too fast. He guessed that was a good thing. "I know," he heard Cloud mumble. Zack glanced up to see his head was still bowed, his attention seemingly focused on the ground between his boots. "It's Cloud." It was hard not to act like he was actively eaves dropping, but he was undeniably curious. Zack only wished he could hear what Aerith was saying as Cloud nodded in response to whatever she'd said.
Suspicions aside, Zack couldn't help but grin like an idiot. He could only take all of this as a good sign. Cloud certainly seemed more animated than he'd been last night. He was still a bit on the quiet side, but he hadn't been all that talkative during the Modeoheim mission either. Maybe he was just naturally quiet, though he hadn't seemed quite this downtrodden when Zack had met him. But, then, Zack couldn't blame him for feeling like crap. He reached out again once he was sure Cloud was momentarily distracted, gripped Cloud's chin, and pulled his face up so he could peer into his eyes. Cloud's pupils were still dilated, and his eyes.... They had that obvious glow, and, if Zack wasn't mistaken, might even be a little brighter than your average SOLDIER. That probably wasn't a good sign.
“Hey, Cloud,” he said to draw attention to himself. He lifted his other hand and waved three fingers in front of the blond's nose. “How many fingers am I holding up?” He'd kind of always wanted to do that.
Behind him, he heard Cissnei murmur, “You make quite the nursemaid, Zack.”
Grinning, eyes never leaving Cloud, Zack blithely said, “Maybe once we get back to Midgar I'll give up my SOLDIER ways and apply to the medical staff.”
Cloud's eyes nearly crossed as he attempted to focus on Zack's fingers. It took everything Zack had to keep from bursting out laughing then and there. It was just too silly an image after the stress of the night before. "…Aerith?" Cloud said at last, clearly having given up on Zack. He paused oddly, which caught Zack's attention. His next words nearly shattered Zack's resolve to keep from laughing. "Zack is touching me.” It was all in the way he'd said it, a sort of dumbstruck confusion.
A few guffaws broke out behind him, and Zack forcibly swallowed his own laughs. He allowed his friendly grin to slide into something like a playful leer and scolded, “Aw, Cloud, you're not supposed to go snitching to my girlfriend!”
Overall, Cloud seemed to be alright. His eyes were still unfocused and he still seemed to be a little, okay, a lot lost and confused, but... Zack was pleased with the prognosis, and that was just fine. Reaching out he ruffled Cloud's hair again, before snatching the phone from him. “I'm going to step over here and patch things up. You lot hang on to your bootstraps.” With a gregarious wink, Zack sidled off far enough that he wouldn't be heard if he kept his voice low. The playful grin slid off his face like water running off rock, and by the time he came to a stop, he once more wore a serious mien. “Hey, Aerith?” Her curious hum prompted him to continue, and he felt a bit silly for asking but... “Before today have you ever talked to Cloud?”
Aerith went quiet and Zack waited, one heart beat, two. “No, I don't think so. Should I know him?”
That's what he thought. Something fishy was going on around here. “Oh, no, I was just curious. I must have mentioned you when I met him and forgot about it. Don't worry. He seems interested in flowers, so I promise I'll introduce you once we're back in Midgar, okay?”
“I'll look forward to it,” she said. There was an underlying, deeper happiness to her voice that Zack couldn't really find a meaning for. After another pause, she added, “You look after him, okay?” She always sounded like she knew more, sounded so wise. It was definitely one of her charms.
“Sure,” he said pleasantly. “So, how is everything in Midgar?”
With that Aerith was telling him about her flowers and the people of the slums, and Zack let it wash over him and ease away more of the remaining tension that had been eating at him. He should be getting back soon; he had troops to round up and a retreat to organize. So, once a lull in the conversation opened up he said, “I need to go, Aerith. Get the troops up and all, but, hey, I'll be visiting again sooner than I thought. We ought to be back in Midgar early.”
“That's good. Maybe you can finally get started on that flower wagon you promised me!”
She was teasing. He knew it, and it made him grin. “Is that all I'm good for? Free labor?”
“Why else would I keep you around?” Zack could easily imagine the slightly shy, but still present, impish smile of her face. Could see the light that seeped under the plate make her seem to glow in her favorite white sundress.
“Oh, I don't know. I kind of hoped you enjoyed my company,” he teased.
“You're sweet,” she replied without missing a beat, “but we both know my flowers are the important thing here.”
“Absolutely,” he said cheerfully. “So you go look after them, and I'll talk to you later.”
“Bye!” she sang.
Zack waited for the line to go dead before he pulled his phone from his ear and snapped it closed. It wasn't far to get back to Cloud and the troops, and then... Time to get them all home. He'd worry about mysteries after that.
Part Two
Pairing: Established Zack/Aerith, Eventual Sephiroth/Cloud (Subject to possible additions)
Rating: Teen (Subject to change)
Warnings: Violence, Language, Pretty much what you'd expect from FFVII. (Subject to additions)
Genre: Time Travel, AU, Action/Adventure, Drama, Friendship, Romance.
Words: 14,183
Summary: At first it was about preventing tragedy. For Cloud it soon becomes a fight to protect new bonds, tread untrod paths and find happy endings. Second chances aren't always easy in a time where ghosts live and heroes are human.
Special Thanks To: Our darling, amazing beta/guinea pig reader leasspell_dael for all of your help, nightpounce for helping inspire the summary, and the rest of the peanut gallery.
Chapter 01 - Crisis of Circumstance
Masterlist
Chapter 02 - Crisis of Confusion
[ μ ] - εуλ 0001 (December 10th)
Zack didn't stop to think about the consequences of his actions, or what it would mean to himself. If he were perfectly honest, he'd say he didn't think at all. One moment he was all the way across the clearing watching the infantryman fall back into the pool of mako, and the next he was right beside it scouring it for any sign of the guy. The spring must have been deeper than it looked to have swallowed him up the way it had, or maybe it had done just that: Swallowed him up. Then Zack swore he saw the eerie surface of the pool shift, just a little. It was enough for him, and he stepped out into the shallows of the pool. It sizzled against the thick soles of his boots, and then lapped around his ankles. He'd never been more glad for the thick sturdiness of the military issue footwear before. One mako bath in his life time was more than enough for him.
“Come on,” he muttered to himself. Then, just there, he saw it. A sliver of shadow and color. Zack leaned forward and reached out until his gloved hand slid beneath the thick surface of the mako. Almost immediately he felt a responding hand grasp his. He barely noticed the searing burn of mako on his forearm as he yanked the unresisting body toward him and hauled the trooper out of the pool as quickly as he could. A film of green slime sluiced after them, and droplets of mako rained from the trooper's clothing as he scrambled woozily. Zack released his hand to grab him under the arms and drag him the rest of the way free of the pool. He didn't care that he was getting mako all over his bare arms, or his shirt, or even the bit burning oddly cold yet hot against his cheek. He was a SOLDIER; he could deal with a little mako.
Zack fumbled slightly as he yanked off the troopers helmet to reveal a head of wild blond hair and a pair of hazy blue eyes. Even as his mind noted the blond's pupils looked unfocused-something that probably wasn't good-Zack recognized the kid. “Wha-? Cloud! …I didn't even know you were with us.” The last part was muttered half to himself. He couldn't help but think the trooper was giving him an odd look, though that was probably just from his recent mako dousing. In an attempt to keep him from panicking, as well as keep his attention, Zack said, “Is it my hair? I know it's a little weird. My girlfriend laughed at me, you know. How are you feeling?”
If he could get some sort of response... It would probably be a good idea to get him out of those mako soaked clothes and... Cloud's only response was a, “Ngh...” Zack thought it was better than nothing, and gave his shoulder an encouraging squeeze.
“That's the spirit, just-” Zack was interrupted by a sudden terrified scream that cut off abruptly in a death gurgle, followed by a round of gunfire. Something feral shrieked, then was echoed by another. It sounded like there was more than one hippogriff in these woods. He glanced toward where he'd left Buster Sword, and gripped Cloud's upper arm. “You hang on for me, okay? This is going to get rough...”
Zack was once more interrupted as Cloud suddenly jerked in his hold. Cloud's hands scrabbled frantically against his chest and arms, his body twisting as he fought to get himself to his feet. Zack surged up with him, afraid that Cloud would injure himself, and slid his hand under Cloud's arm to steady him. “Whoa! Take it easy.” His head was spinning, and he knew he had to get things under control as quickly as possible. For a moment he was back in Wutai having nearly been flattened by one of their ogres. Angeal had just saved his neck and was standing over him. He'd used the Buster Sword and...
You're a little more important than my sword. ...Just a little…
It was like a physical ache to dismiss his sword in favor of hauling one of Cloud's arms over his shoulders to steady the trooper. “Fall back!” Zack roared. “You lot form up and cover our retreat with gun fire. I want you rookie SOLDIERs up front to cut us a safe passage. Move it!” More quietly, he angled his head down to speak to Cloud, “Just hang on. We'll get you out of those clothes as soon as we're somewhere safe.” He hoped if they retreated they'd find some defensible place.
Around him the scramble and shuffle of personnel following the orders filled the air. They were probably just glad that someone was in control of the situation, or even the illusion of it. Zack just concentrated on directing Cloud to walk northeast along the cliff. In Zack's mind all he could think was that they needed to make their way back toward the rendezvous point and get out a mayday call.
The ratchet of rifle fire exploded into a thunderous roar behind them, and Zack looked over his shoulder in time to see the infantrymen shuffling back. A few of the hippogriffs made an enraged dive for them, but were forced to back off as another hail of bullets tore through their feathers. All of them had the mad glow of mako in their eyes. Zack could see numerous glowing eyes in the shadowy trees, and even peering down from the cliffs. This place, he guessed, had been home to their aerie, and they'd unfortunately gotten into the mako.
“Sir,” a gasping voice called. He recognized it was the gregarious Sparo. “Sir,” he panted out again. “When we were checking the area we found a small canyon in the cliff face. Just over there in the woods.” Zack followed the trooper's gesture, and sure enough he could see the dark scar of an opening in the rock face. “If we...”
Zack nodded sharply. He could already see where this was heading. “Contact the rest of your team and tell them to guide the troops there . The rest will just have to hide where they can.” As soon as he made sure Cloud was alright, he'd make sure the rest of his troops were too. “Come on, Cloud. Let's get over there,” he muttered. All he got was a faint groan in response.
He tightened his grip on Cloud's arm and waist as he hurried them forward. The trees pressed in close, and the underbrush dragged at his clothes and Cloud's as if trying to pull him out of Zack's grasp. Every now and then he could see the flash of materia or rifle fire through the close growing trees. It was darker here among them than it had been in the clearing, though it proved nothing for a SOLDIER's enhanced senses, and even less so since the gathering gloom of oncoming night had given Zack's eyes plenty of time to adjust. Zack kept half turning to catch glimpses of Cloud's lolling head. The trooper's breaths were coming shorter and faster, and he couldn't help but worry.
Cloud seemed to gather himself when Zack paused to reorient, the tangle of trees having blotted out their destination. Though he still seemed weak, he managed to lift his head, and Zack was caught by surprise as Cloud stared at him. He still looked lost and confused and Zack's worry for his condition only doubled when Cloud's eyes tracked off to the side to stare over Zack's shoulder before his head tipped forward again. Zack winced in sympathy as Cloud's chin bounced off his chest, and watched helplessly as Cloud lifted his hand. It only made it to chest height before falling limply again. Zack thought he heard him make a disgruntled little sound.
“It's okay,” Zack murmured, readjusting his grip around Cloud's waist. “It's just the mako making you weak. You're still doing better than a lot of people, though. Hopefully it won't take too long and we can get you some treatment.” When Zack started them moving again, Cloud seemed to wrestle his body under his control and managed a few steps on his own through what Zack guessed was sheer, stubborn determination. Cloud's side bumped against Zack's as he staggered over the rock strewn, uneven ground. The only thing Zack could do was keep up a litany of murmured encouragements as he tried to keep them going in the right direction.
Zack stumbled as a hippogriff flew low over their heads, rustling branches and sending leaves falling around them. He watched it warily and held them both still in the hopes that it hadn't seen them. For a moment he thought it had passed out of range, then it was back, clearly having circled around. A second later it dropped heavily to the ground a few feet ahead of them, beak parted on a raspy hiss, and mad eyes staring straight through them. Zack pressed his lips into a thin line, and stared at the bird. He didn't dare try to make a run for it with Cloud weighing him down. The best solution was to take the hippogriff out. He could deal with this. Just because he didn't have a sword on him didn't leave him helpless. Angeal had made sure of that. Zack backed them up enough that he could guide Cloud to use a tree for support, then slid out from under his arm.
“Wait here,” Zack murmured as he helped Cloud slide to the ground, never taking his attention off the monster. The hippogriff was ripping at the ground with its talons. It seemed almost confused by his behavior. Cloud's head lolled to the side, and he groaned again. Zack chanced a glance toward him to see Cloud's hand lifting, reaching, before it dropped futilely back to the ground. In an attempt to reassure him, Zack added, “I'll take care of this.”
Zack edged slowly away from Cloud, eyes locked on the hippogriff. The sound of his boots as the ground against the rough soil loud in his ears. The beast watched him, its brightly colored feathers trembling. These monsters were known for being able to entrap and bewitch their prey, something about their feathers, maybe. Zack hadn’t really paid the imparted information much mind beyond understanding the effect. So long as he could avoid that, then he’d be fine. He couldn’t help but worry for the other men, though. If they'd been cut off similarly... Well, no time to worry about that. Zack brought his hands up, shook them out, and clenched them into fists so tight the leather of his gloves creaked. “That's right,” Zack said. “Just keep your eyes on me.”
It bristled further as if the sound of his voice was an irritant, and the next thing Zack knew the beast was leaping at him. Its front talons slashed through the air, reaching and clawing for him. He swayed back, boots scraping against the dirt as the hippogriff's claws whistled through the air inches in front of his nose. Zack's wide eyes met the wild gaze of the monster for a second, before he lashed out. His boot slammed into the hippogriff's keel bone and sent it skidding backward with a startled squawk. He snorted out a pent up breath. (Too close, way too close.) There was no Angeal or Sephiroth here to save him if he lost focus this time. His traitorous heart, the part that still hurt now nearly a year after Angeal's death, whispered that his mentor would never be there to help him again.
Zack shoved the ache down and swung his arm up, materia glowing, and unleashed a torrent of electricity just as the hippogriff shook off the pain of his kick. The bird screamed as the thick bolts flowed over and around it, cracking and scoring across the ground and the nearby trees. Zack jerked his hand back, closed his fist, and ended the spell. It left him tingling with the residue of both magic use and the electric charge in the air that was accompanied by the stink of singed feathers.
From where it had collapsed into a twitching heap the hippogriff released shrill little keening sounds. Zack grimaced and walked cautiously toward the downed beast. He leaned over it, face twisted faintly with distaste. He hated not having Buster Sword with him on principle, but this just added another layer to it. If he'd had the sword he would have been able to put the beast out of its misery easily. Just as he started to back away, the hippogriff he'd thought too far gone to pose a threat gathered itself and snapped at his shin. By the time Zack had halted his quick backward stumble it had staggered to its feet.
The hippogriff screamed a shrill, cracked sound that was nothing but rage, pain, and madness, then lunged at him furiously. He was knocked off balance as its claws scraped noisily over the curve of one shoulder guard. It had just missed slicing into the side of his neck. Even now he could feel the warm sensation of a bead of blood sliding down his throat. He was too busy to worry about it as the hippogriff's neck snapped out in an attempt to gouge his eyes with its beak. Zack jerked his head back, just a fraction too slow and felt the tip of the hippogriff's beak clip his hairline.
Quickly, before the blood could have a chance to obscure his vision, or the bird manage a more lethal attack, Zack brought his arm up and socked it in the side of the head hard enough for his knuckles to ache. He heard something crack, but couldn't be sure what it was as the force had spun the bird to the side. Zack didn't give himself a chance to think, or the hippogriff a chance to retaliate; he charged forward and unleashed a flurry of blows on the monster, then finished it off with an abrupt kick to its neck. He heard-felt-the bones crunch under the force of the blow which sent the hippogriff into the dirt again. This time it twitched spasmodically for a few seconds, its neck bent at an obviously broken angle, then lay still.
Zack backed away, then turned his back on the cooling corpse and strode back to Cloud's side. He knelt down beside Cloud, and reached out to grip his shoulder. The trooper's head lolled back until Cloud could look at him dazedly. Zack watched him blink for a moment, and thought he saw some focus, some recognition come back into Cloud's glazed expression. He grinned. “See? What'd I tell you?“ Zack said as he dashed the back of his forearm across his forehead to keep a dribble of blood from getting into his eye. All he really seemed to accomplish was smearing it across his forehead. In the next second, Zack paid for his moment of inattention when he found himself tackled by another of the beasts.
Zack hit the ground on his shoulder, his breath rushing out of him. His ears buzzed, and silence filled his head. He could see Cloud lurch forward, eyes wide, could see him lift his hand and reach out, heard the slurred, rough, “Za...” in what seemed like endless hours as he struggled to catch his breath. It all rushed back as Cloud's supporting arm went out from under him, pitching him forward, and the hippogriff's talons flashed down obscuring Zack's line of sight.
Zack twisted onto his back and brought his hands up just in time to grab the hippogriff's throat with one hand and its beak with the other. His glove slid over the monster's sleek feathers as it strained against his hold. Zack's faced twisted with concentration, muscles bunching and tensing against its power and against the pain of its beak clamped down on his thumb. It almost felt as if it were grinding against the very bone. He decided he was probably just lucky it hadn't taken his thumb clean off.
His breath was stolen from him in a gasp of pain as the monster yanked its head to the side, jerking on his arm. In retaliation Zack dug his fingers into the feathers more firmly, and brought his knee up to slam into the hippogriff's tender belly. The monster grunted, and gave him another wrenching shake. Zack drove his knee up again, and this time the hippogriff released his thumb with an enraged shriek and reared back as far as it could. He could feel the clump of feathers in his fist beginning to tear.
With his now free hand, Zack reached up to grab the other side of the beast's neck, and hauled himself up. He freed up one hand to reach further around the monster's neck for a better hold, even as he dug one boot heel into the ground for leverage and kicked one of the monster's hind legs. The hippogriff staggered, screeching and tossing its head in confusion before Zack kicked its leg again. This time the bones in the beast's hind leg snapped with an audible crack, and the hippogriff screamed in pain as it toppled.
Zack released his hold to scramble out of the way, and came quickly to his knees. Already the hippogriff had managed to get back up, though the broken leg dangled uselessly where it was held a few inches off the ground. The hippogriff had compensated easily enough with its wings spread for balance. It hissed at him, eyes rolling madly, then shoved off the ground in a flurry of powerful wing beats. It drove its wings down again to propel itself higher, and Zack brought himself to his feet, every muscle tense for the next attack.
Before either Zack or the hippogriff could make a move, a sharp whirring filled the air, and a second later a flash of red and silver arced out of the shadows to score a deep wound across the hippogriff's exposed underbelly. The monster screamed and fell heavily to the ground while the weapon arced back into the shadows. Zack lifted his hand as the sharp sound of quick footfalls fast approached, and grimly called up the power of his materia to unleash another torrent of lightning. The hippogriff squealed, body twisting and arching, before it slumped onto the blood soaked ground.
Zack just stood there, staring at the corpse for several seconds until the sound of the footsteps stopped close by. When he lifted his head it was to nod in acknowledgment to Cissnei, though he didn't know whether to be shocked or relieved that she was there. “Hey, Cissnei,” he greeted with a wry grin. “Thanks for having my back.”
“No problem, Zack,” the Turk said softly. She flashed him a fleeting smile then sent a troubled look off to Zack's left. “Is your friend okay?”
Zack turned and made his way back to Cloud's side where the fallen trooper had managed to brace himself up on his forearms again. The hazy expression on his face looked an odd mixture of disgruntled and determined to Zack. Zack glanced over his shoulder at Cissnei as he crouched down beside Cloud. “He will be,” he said easily. As he turned his attention back to Cloud, Zack decided that he would make sure of it. “What are you still doing here, Cissnei?”
“I had an assignment in the area, and heard all the ruckus.” Cissnei's response was just as quiet as her previous words, but somehow they unsettled Zack. It just made Zack's paranoid thoughts about the Turks swim back up. Determinedly, he pushed the matters of Turks to the back of his mind. Right now he needed to focus on Cloud, the rest of his troops, and how to get them out of this situation mostly intact.
Reaching down he gripped Cloud's shoulder, pulled him up enough to slide his arm under him, and hauled the trooper up into a sitting position. Cloud gave a startled cry and looked up at him dazedly. “Whoa, hey, take it easy Cloud. It's just me,” Zack soothed. ”You okay?” Cloud's face relaxed and, after what looked like a momentary struggle with himself, managed a semblance of a nod. Zack's own expression relaxed into a relieved grin. He'd take that as a good sign if there ever was one. The fact that Cloud seemed to understand him and even respond probably meant the mako poisoning he was suffering from wasn't too bad.
Zack looked up from his silent, internal celebration at the faint scuff of a shoe just behind him. Cissnei leaned forward, coppery hair tumbling over her shoulder, and asked, “What about you?” When her eyes flicked up to his hairline, Zack automatically reached up and rubbed his forearm over the still bleeding cut on his forehead. He doubted it'd be bleeding much longer, but head wounds always did bleed more persistently than most other varieties. He shrugged, readjusted his grip on Cloud, then got them both to their feet with minimal staggering.
“I'm fine. That was nothing,” he assured her breezily. He didn't want to mention that he was feeling a bit nauseous himself. “So, Cloud, you think you can make it a little further?” He didn't really wait for an answer, nor did he really expect one. Zack just tightened his grip and began walking with the hope that Cloud could hang on for a little longer. Cissnei followed near soundlessly after them. Their progress was accompanied only by the rustle of trees and the sudden shocking silence that had fallen.
It was into this silence, that Cissnei's next words fell. “I already put a call in to Tseng, so there should be back up on the way as soon as possible.” Relief, the likes of which Zack hadn't felt since Angeal had seemed to be coming around, swept through him. It felt like a great deal of weight had been lifted off his shoulders
“Thanks, Cissnei,” Zack said softly. He took a moment to check their course, and realized he couldn't see the opening in the cliff face they'd been heading for anymore. The woods all looked the same, with it being well and truly night. The cliff face looked like it was made of shallow niches and openings even to his SOLDIER eyes. In the end he decided it didn't matter, so long as they put some distance between themselves and the hippogriffs. “Do you know how my men are doing?”
“Most of them seem to have gone to ground,” Cissnei replied immediately. “I saw a few on my way and advised them to take cover.”
“Good.” That was good. As long as they stayed hidden until dawn they could regroup.
Before he knew it, the forest opened up and spilled them back out onto the open dirt and rock. He recognized the slope ahead of them as the one he'd come down to reach the little wooded area earlier in the day. There was no way he could get Cloud to climb that in his condition. A rustle to their left alerted him to movement, even as Cissnei brought Rekka up.
“Sir, is that you?” The voice was familiar again.
Hurriedly, Zack asked, “Jac?”
“Yes, sir,” the trooper murmured as he emerged from the brush. “I thought I saw someone so... Uh, me and a few others found a thicket that we're using for cover, so, uh... I mean, if you want to come with me, sir?”
“By all means, lead the way.”
It only took a minute or two before they joined a small, rather ruffled looking group of troopers and a couple rookie SOLDIERs. As Zack eased Cloud to sit down against the thick base of a tree he glanced around at them. “Do any of you have your supplies with you? A spare uniform, or spare clothes?” He couldn't imagine those mako soaked clothes were doing anything for the poor guy.
“I do, sir,” one of the troopers muttered. “You can use them for Cloud... I was with his team, so...” Which meant that he'd arrived late and still had all his equipment on him, unlike most of the others who had left theirs in the clearing with the mako pool and hadn't been able to retrieve them in the mad scramble to retreat.
Zack accepted the pack from the man, then crouched down beside Cloud. “Hey, Cloud? You still with me, buddy?” He reached out and tilted Cloud's head back. He looked feverish. Zack's smile took on a worried edge while Cloud's eyes roamed restlessly. He seemed to be tracking movement over Zack's shoulders, and Zack could only wonder if it were the other men in the area, or mako dreams. Then Cloud seemed to pull himself together again and focused on Zack. For a second he merely blinked at Zack with his brows furrowed and a faint frown pulling at his lips. A moment later Zack felt the weight of a hand gripping his arm. It was a surprisingly strong grip.
“Z…a?” Cloud slurred, still apparently unable to form the sharper ‘ck’ sound. Zack forced his smile to be more genuine, more reassuring, and rested his hand on Cloud's head.
“Hey,” he greeted quietly, then to lighten the mood added, “At least you remember me, or am I just getting that famous already?” That got no further response. Zack wasn't really surprised. He reached up to swipe a hand over his hair, only to stop as he caught sight of the green film of mako on his gloves. Zack grimaced, pulled them off, and tossed them carelessly aside.
When he turned back to Cloud, he could see the stuff gleaming faintly on him as well. It was no question what needed to be done. “I'm going to get those clothes off of you, and see if we can get as much of the mako off as possible.” He was no medic, but he knew a bit about mako poisoning and mako addiction. As far as he could tell Cloud didn't seem too badly off. Weak and a bit unresponsive, yes, but he was responsive. Maybe he'd gotten lucky and that mako really had been nicely diluted by the water.
It was easy enough to get Cloud's harness and shoulder armor off. The general infantryman's variety wasn't that different from a SOLDIER's, decoration aside. All of the clasps were in the same place at least. It was after he'd pulled off Cloud's gloves and was starting to help him get his shirt off that Cloud gave a hiss, his muscles convulsing and his back arching. Zack winced as well. “Sorry, sorry,” he muttered under his breath, even as he waited the fit out. When he continued, he did so even more carefully. It didn't take much work, and Zack tossed that aside as well, pulled off Cloud's boots, then leaned over the dazed trooper to start working his belt off.
The others hiding with them were quiet, probably listening for the sounds of an attack, or maybe just trying to give the poor guy as much privacy as could be afforded. It was hard to say. Zack for his part didn't really care what they did, and decided to see if he could get more responses out of Cloud who seemed to be moving better. At least he was able to move his arms and legs enough to facilitate Zack's removal of his clothing. “We didn't get a chance to talk again after Modeoheim. How has Midgar been treating you? I don't think you were stationed there before, because I'm sure I'd have noticed someone like you wandering around the ShinRa building.” Not that he'd really noticed Cloud now either, Zack thought ruefully as he tossed Cloud's pants aside. He spent all of his time these days either loitering around the SOLDIER floor, out on missions, or down in the slums with Aerith.
“Here, sir,” a soft voice muttered. A canteen was thrust over his shoulder, and Zack gladly accepted it. “To help get the mako off.”
Zack offered the trooper a brief smile of gratitude before turning back to Cloud. “You're lucky your underwear don't seem too have gotten it too bad so you won't have to worry about chafing.” Reaching up he pulled Cloud forward so he could pour the lukewarm water over his head, and briefly whisked his hand through Cloud's wild blond hair to work out as much of the clinging mako as possible. He shifted a little more, then let Cloud's head rest against his shoulder so he could see his back and get the mako from there with the aid of more water. From there he moved on to Cloud's arms, chest, and finally his legs. “That ought to do it. You'll dry fine in this weather so we'll go ahead and get you dressed,” he mused, rinsing off his own hands, then reached for the spare uniform the trooper had given him. It took a bit more work getting Cloud back into the clothes, but it was doable. They were a bit big on him, but at least they were clothes and they weren't saturated in mako. When he was done, Zack shifted around to collapse by Cloud's side and lean up against the tree too. “Well, I guess all that's left is to wait for dawn.”
He could see Cissnei lurking silently in the shadows, watching them, and he flashed her a brief grin. Her only response was, “You should make sure to get it off of you as well, Zack.” Zack shrugged negligently. He'd worry about it in a bit, for now he was more interested in keeping an eye on Cloud.
Zack felt Cloud shift until he was slumped a little more against his side, followed by the feel of Cloud's hand fumbling along his leg and arm. Cloud's fingers wrapped around his wrist, surprisingly firm for his apparently disoriented state. Worried that Cloud was trying to get his attention for some reason, Zack leaned in closer as Cloud's grip shifted to his hand. “You okay?” The words had barely left him when Cloud's grip tightened and he made a strange little sound.
“Zack?” Cloud breathed. To Zack it sounded wondering and painful, though he couldn't fathom what would make Cloud say his name like that. Before he could even think on it, Cloud stumbled, haltingly, through more words. “Are... are you... real?”
Zack's heart went out to him, even as his skin prickled with unease. It was worrying, Zack couldn't help but think, if Cloud was having trouble telling reality from mako induced hallucinations. Cloud was obviously seeking some sort of anchor in reality, and Zack would provide him that. They didn't really know each other, but Zack still considered him a friend. Some people told him he made friends too easily. Cloud was his fellow country boy, and they had to stick together, friends or not.
He carefully squeezed Cloud's hand in response to his clutching, and, voice low, replied, “Yeah, I'm real. Just as real as you are.” He glanced down toward Cloud's blond head, then scooted closer to him. Zack had no idea if he was cold, or if the he had a fever, or even how to really deal with him in this condition. He kind of wished they'd wound up somewhere with one of the medically trained personnel, but he could manage. He had enough know how to do it. He had to.
“Say, Cloud...” Zack murmured, “Try to stay awake as long as possible okay?” He was half afraid that if Cloud fell asleep they'd lose him to a coma that he might not wake up from. He was getting all too used to the bitter tang of failing to save someone, and he wasn't going to let another friend fall to his track record. He tossed around for something to talk about, something to keep Cloud's attention focused on, and let the weak blond grasp his hand. If that helped keep Cloud grounded, then Zack was all for it. “The weather is pretty nice here for this time of year isn't it?” It was a terrible attempt at conversation, but it wasn't the topic that mattered, not really.
It was eerily quiet, just as it had been all day. There were no night predators creeping about. Zack suspected that the hippogriffs had run everything and anything off, now. There was barely any light at all, though that hardly affected him. He supposed he'd grown used to the constant glow of Midgar and ShinRa's other cities. It reminded him a bit of Gongaga when he was younger. When night meant a world of pitch black mystery and thrill, where the sky was full of stars and not blocked out by the ambient electric lighting so much.
“You said you were from Nibelheim, right? I bet it's real cold up there this time of year, or any time of year for that matter. But I bet the stars are really nice. They were always blocked out in Gongaga unless you knew where to look.” Because of the dense forest, unlike Midgar. Zack had known this one little cliff though...
Zack could almost feel that he was being listened to, and not just by Cloud, but by the bedraggled group in the shadows around him. Occasionally he could hear someone shift, noted their position from the rustle of fabric and the jangle of metal, but mostly he kept his head tilted back against the tree behind him and watched the breeze rustle the leaves. Sometimes he even caught a glimpse of a star filled sky. From the corner of his eyes he watched Cloud, and across from him he could see Cissnei leaning against another tree. She glanced his way and nodded slightly. He didn't know if she could see him as well as he could see her, but he took the motion for what it was. All was well on her end. Zack lifted his hand in a return gesture. So far so good, but the pale light of dawn never felt so far away.
"Nibelheim…it's kinda nice," Cloud said at last, as though he'd had to gather his scattered thoughts-he sounded hoarse. "The monsters went mad because of the reactor. Too much mako. One of the dragons nearly ate me, though. You would have laughed." Cloud's voice dropped off in a hiss of pain, and Zack mulled what he'd said over.
(Dragons, huh?) He'd heard about Nibel's dragons, and he couldn't help but give Cloud's blond head a slightly incredulous look. He'd nearly been eaten by dragons. How, Zack couldn't help but wonder, did he manage to get out of that one. Then and there Zack decided that if he was ever forced to go to Nibelheim, he'd take Cloud with him. That way the dragon issue would be less of an issue. Maybe. He had no idea how fearsome the beasts really were, but he'd heard stories. There were a lot of scare stories floating around Midgar. Why, he'd heard a funny one involving Gongaga once that had had him laughing for weeks.
He wanted to say he wasn't sure dragons were a funny issue, but on the other hand the mental image of a tiny Cloud managing to best one of the beasts was rather hilarious. Which, for whatever reason, just lead him to wondering what Cloud had looked like as a kid. Cloud, who already stuck out like a sore thumb among the rank and file.
He thought about offering Cloud a Cure, or something. Zack always made sure he had that mastered Cure materia on him-He was a bit put off that he hadn't yet managed to find a Cura-but he was unsure how it would react to Cloud's recent dip in the mako. It would probably be best to wait. Cloud seemed to be pretty lucid for his recent brush with the mako, and he seemed to be getting better by the moment. If he was still in pain come morning, then Zack would worry about it then. Hopefully that would be enough time for the mako exposure to blow over as well. The last thing he wanted was to-
It took Zack a moment to realize Cloud was talking again. Angeal always had scolded him for his lack of focus. "The experiments got loose too. I hope one of the others goes up there first. They're completely gone, now.” (Whoa, wait, back up. Experiments?!) What in the world was Cloud on about now? Across from him, Zack could see Cissnei look up sharply, and he was abruptly worried that Cloud had gotten into something deep that would attract the Wrong Kind of Turk Attention. If any Turk attention could ever be considered good, anyway. Were there experiments up in Nibelheim, and if so, why were they there and why were they somewhere a civilian kid could find them? Or was he...
Zack gave his head a slight shake. What was he thinking? Cloud's mutterings were broken and disjointed. It was more probable that he'd just skipped from the topic of monsters gone mad in Nibelheim from the reactor, straight into a memory of one of the break outs from Hojo's lab that seemed to happen a little too often and conveniently. It was obvious that he and his squad had been dispatched during one break out and had to deal with some of the nasty beasts, right? Right. It was the only logical conclusion, and the only one that didn't send Zack into a fit of worry.
“Aerith…you're happy with her, right? I couldn't save.... But I watch her flowers. The kids like the church, too." Zack's mind scrambled to make sense of Cloud's confusing words even as Cloud fell silent with a faint cough and his head lolled to rest against Zack's shoulder. Aerith? How did Cloud know Aerith? More than that, how did he know about Zack and Aerith? It wasn't exactly like Zack didn't talk about her, but no one really knew who she was. Cloud had mentioned specifics that...were more than a little baffling. Zack could almost feel the tension coming off of Cissnei, which, he guessed, meant they hadn't known Cloud knew Aerith either. Turks didn't like not knowing. Aerith had never mentioned knowing anyone else from ShinRa to Zack, either.
He wanted, badly, to ask Cloud how he knew Aerith, but Zack decided to err on the side of caution. The last thing Cloud needed was the Turks poking around his business, or worse, deeming him a threat that needed to be terminated. Best case, he wound up dead and no one ever saw him again.... Worst case? Zack wasn't even sure what the worst case was anymore after Angeal and Genesis....
“You know Aerith, too, huh? She's great, isn't she? Real nice,” Zack said breezily as if this wasn't something unusual. “You into gardening too? Does she actually let you help with the flowers because, heh, she won't let me help. She says that they only want to be tended by her, but I guess she'd know best. I saw some pretty little wild flowers on the way here and was thinking of taking some back to her. You think she'd like that, or would I just get a lecture about leaving them alone?”
"I'm sure…anything you give her…she'll love," Cloud offered tentatively. Zack didn't say anything as Cloud slumped further, his eyes drooping closed as he drifted off to an obviously exhausted sleep. He didn't let it show, but Zack could swear his heart rate had tripled. He was scared that, come morning, Cloud wouldn't wake up.
[ μ ] - εуλ 0001 (December 11th)
Zack hadn't slept the entire night, too hyped up to bother, and it didn't really matter anyway. He wasn't feeling it, yet, but he probably would be if he didn't get something to eat before too long. Zack knew his limits well enough, knew how far he could push, and he was in no risk of crashing just yet. The night had been spent in a vigilant haze, his attention torn between keeping an eye on Cloud and watching for threats. Both external and internal. He didn't want to think about Cissnei like that, but he had been having creeping doubts ever since Angeal.... Something he didn't want to think about right now. He had to focus on Cloud, and getting as many people out of this mission in one piece as possible.
Zack was honestly surprised at how strong a grip Cloud had. It had been both relieving and baffling the way Cloud continued to cling to him, even in his sleep. Relieving because it probably meant Cloud wasn't gone or lost in his head, and baffling because, really, they barely knew each other. Zack suspected it was that anchor thing he'd been thinking about earlier. Something to hang on to metaphorically leading to physical clutching... It all kind of made his head hurt. He usually let Kunsel do the deep thinking; Zack was more reactionary.
Zack's mind seemed content to skip from one subject to another in his inaction, so he let it. He was sitting with one arm half pinned by Cloud, the other draped over his upraised knee, and listening to the quiet rise in activity as the others woke up. There was still no birdsong, and Cissnei was the only one still really awake. Zack figured he should have scolded some of the troopers and rookies for dozing off, but he couldn't blame them. This entire mission had gone way, way out of control.
Cissnei met his gaze, then looked away again. They had barely said three words to each other all night. Some would say that was a record for Zack, but Zack knew he'd just been too busy tying himself up in knots. Could he trust her? Could he not? Could he trust anyone anymore?
It was times like this that he really, really wished Angeal were still around.
(What should I do, Angeal?)
Then Cloud stirred beside him, and Zack straightened his spine from his slouch. A heartbeat later his phone trilled in his pocket. Zack blinked, momentarily baffled, before trying to tug his hand free to search for the device. Cloud, however, didn't seem to want to let go, and had actually lifted both his free hand and the one clutching Zack's up. He appeared to be giving Zack's hand a rather bewildered look. In the end, Zack let him keep the hand for the moment. After all, he had another in perfect working order which he used to dig his phone from his pocket.
As Zack pulled his phone out at last, Cloud's tentative voice reached him, "…Good morning?" Zack thought he sounded more than a little lost.
“Good morning yourself, sunshine. Feeling any better?” Even as the words left him, Zack flipped his phone open and answered, “What can I do for you?”
His answer was a soft, curious, “Hello?” that made the grin on Zack's face go from distracted to genuine.
“Aerith!”
A quiet laugh answered him, before she asked, “Is now a bad time? You sound distracted.”
“No, now isn't a bad time, not really,” he said, then paused as an idea occurred to him. “But hold on. Do me a favor and talk to my friend while I make sure he's doing alright, okay?”
“Your friend? Is he... hurt?”
Zack blinked. “What? No, he's just a little ill right now.”
“Hmm, okay.” He could imagine her nodding in firm agreement with her decision. “I'll talk to him. You just make sure he's alright.”
“Thanks!” Zack chirped, then he shoved the phone into Cloud's hand, and freed the one Cloud was still gripping. “I'll need my hand, if you don't mind,” he added, scratching at the dried blood on his temple. “Do me a favor and talk to Aerith while I make sure everything is okay this morning, would you?”
Cloud was staring at the phone in his hand as if he'd never seen it before, and even as Zack watched he gave a sudden twitch. Zack reached out for his bowed head, slightly worried that Cloud's seemingly improved condition had taken a rapid fall, only to have his hand batted away. He let himself smile, and listened to Aerith's curious voice as it emerged, tinny and small, from the phone. When Aerith gave a particularly pointed 'Hel-looo', Zack had to stifle a laugh. Cloud hastily brought the phone to his ear.
"…Hello?" Cloud asked softly. Careful not to draw too much attention to himself, Zack leaned forward and captured Cloud's other wrist to check his pulse. It didn't feel thready, nor too slow or too fast. He guessed that was a good thing. "I know," he heard Cloud mumble. Zack glanced up to see his head was still bowed, his attention seemingly focused on the ground between his boots. "It's Cloud." It was hard not to act like he was actively eaves dropping, but he was undeniably curious. Zack only wished he could hear what Aerith was saying as Cloud nodded in response to whatever she'd said.
Suspicions aside, Zack couldn't help but grin like an idiot. He could only take all of this as a good sign. Cloud certainly seemed more animated than he'd been last night. He was still a bit on the quiet side, but he hadn't been all that talkative during the Modeoheim mission either. Maybe he was just naturally quiet, though he hadn't seemed quite this downtrodden when Zack had met him. But, then, Zack couldn't blame him for feeling like crap. He reached out again once he was sure Cloud was momentarily distracted, gripped Cloud's chin, and pulled his face up so he could peer into his eyes. Cloud's pupils were still dilated, and his eyes.... They had that obvious glow, and, if Zack wasn't mistaken, might even be a little brighter than your average SOLDIER. That probably wasn't a good sign.
“Hey, Cloud,” he said to draw attention to himself. He lifted his other hand and waved three fingers in front of the blond's nose. “How many fingers am I holding up?” He'd kind of always wanted to do that.
Behind him, he heard Cissnei murmur, “You make quite the nursemaid, Zack.”
Grinning, eyes never leaving Cloud, Zack blithely said, “Maybe once we get back to Midgar I'll give up my SOLDIER ways and apply to the medical staff.”
Cloud's eyes nearly crossed as he attempted to focus on Zack's fingers. It took everything Zack had to keep from bursting out laughing then and there. It was just too silly an image after the stress of the night before. "…Aerith?" Cloud said at last, clearly having given up on Zack. He paused oddly, which caught Zack's attention. His next words nearly shattered Zack's resolve to keep from laughing. "Zack is touching me.” It was all in the way he'd said it, a sort of dumbstruck confusion.
A few guffaws broke out behind him, and Zack forcibly swallowed his own laughs. He allowed his friendly grin to slide into something like a playful leer and scolded, “Aw, Cloud, you're not supposed to go snitching to my girlfriend!”
Overall, Cloud seemed to be alright. His eyes were still unfocused and he still seemed to be a little, okay, a lot lost and confused, but... Zack was pleased with the prognosis, and that was just fine. Reaching out he ruffled Cloud's hair again, before snatching the phone from him. “I'm going to step over here and patch things up. You lot hang on to your bootstraps.” With a gregarious wink, Zack sidled off far enough that he wouldn't be heard if he kept his voice low. The playful grin slid off his face like water running off rock, and by the time he came to a stop, he once more wore a serious mien. “Hey, Aerith?” Her curious hum prompted him to continue, and he felt a bit silly for asking but... “Before today have you ever talked to Cloud?”
Aerith went quiet and Zack waited, one heart beat, two. “No, I don't think so. Should I know him?”
That's what he thought. Something fishy was going on around here. “Oh, no, I was just curious. I must have mentioned you when I met him and forgot about it. Don't worry. He seems interested in flowers, so I promise I'll introduce you once we're back in Midgar, okay?”
“I'll look forward to it,” she said. There was an underlying, deeper happiness to her voice that Zack couldn't really find a meaning for. After another pause, she added, “You look after him, okay?” She always sounded like she knew more, sounded so wise. It was definitely one of her charms.
“Sure,” he said pleasantly. “So, how is everything in Midgar?”
With that Aerith was telling him about her flowers and the people of the slums, and Zack let it wash over him and ease away more of the remaining tension that had been eating at him. He should be getting back soon; he had troops to round up and a retreat to organize. So, once a lull in the conversation opened up he said, “I need to go, Aerith. Get the troops up and all, but, hey, I'll be visiting again sooner than I thought. We ought to be back in Midgar early.”
“That's good. Maybe you can finally get started on that flower wagon you promised me!”
She was teasing. He knew it, and it made him grin. “Is that all I'm good for? Free labor?”
“Why else would I keep you around?” Zack could easily imagine the slightly shy, but still present, impish smile of her face. Could see the light that seeped under the plate make her seem to glow in her favorite white sundress.
“Oh, I don't know. I kind of hoped you enjoyed my company,” he teased.
“You're sweet,” she replied without missing a beat, “but we both know my flowers are the important thing here.”
“Absolutely,” he said cheerfully. “So you go look after them, and I'll talk to you later.”
“Bye!” she sang.
Zack waited for the line to go dead before he pulled his phone from his ear and snapped it closed. It wasn't far to get back to Cloud and the troops, and then... Time to get them all home. He'd worry about mysteries after that.
Part Two