A/N: watched an AMV for KH and FF VII and this worked its way out.
/ |||| | He Wouldn't Be Back | |||| \\\
/
'Zack.'
He holds his arm tightly, maybe he'll come back? His blonde hair muddy and wet, clothes soaked.
Where was he? What had happened?
He can remember the generals eyes, flashing and Mako and nothing else, he could remember mother, and maybe an angel?
Where was Zack?
'Zack, Zack… Zack?'
And he wonders where he could have gone, he remembers the black haired man in the back of a truck, remembers laying there and seeing his pale face and blue eyes and black hair against the sky and old truck.
And now he can feel the rain and he can feel the man beneath his fingers and at his side, where did he go?
He pulled at the man's shirt, those standard sleeveless turtle necks, shaking him but his eyes were going to always stay open now.
'Zack, Zack, ZACK!'
And he starts to dig, it takes hours with only his sword, Zack's sword, to dig through the tough ground, the rain helping to soften but making a mess.
When all is said and done, a cool kiss to a cold forehead, unto cold lips and closed eyes, he stands at the grave he had just filled, and marks it with the sword, loyalty above all.
He wanted to stay, sit there and sleep, to serve and be help, even to the now dead man, but life moves on, he stayed for a week, left to fill a promise he had made that man that he loved oh so much.
He found the girl, and stayed there, and really she was sad but he was sadder, she may have gone out with Zack, even loved him, but they both knew who had Zack's true and full attention and affections, and she knew when to bow out gracefully.
He joined Avalanche, remembers the general but not beyond the flashing of eyes, he should have remembered more, but when the girl falls and he is left with the others and Mako meets Mako, it's a clash and destroy and wound and hope to die ever after.
But he wins and he continues to win.
'Zack!..'
And it's a harsh gasp in the early morning light, and he can't stop the dreams, but damn if he felt happy to have them.
The flash of a smirk and knowing blue eyes, of a man with a happy go lucky attitude and wish me luck look on life, always caring and always sweet and loyal.
Tifa will wake later, so would the children, the general was taken care of again, only a few hours ago, but seeing them together, Aerith and Zack, standing so close, he couldn't remember what to think.
He silently waited in the bar as the water boiled, and began the other steps toward his much need coffee.
Is this what life had in store for him, to live while he died each night over and over in his dreams?
And in the quiet morning, Cloud Strife smiled, and a bitter laugh did escape from pale pink lips, as tears tore from his eyes, and the cup broke in his grip, water turned off, and cell phone in pocket.
'Zack.'
He wouldn't be back for a few days.
We wouldn't be back