Blind SOLDIER
By BlueFox

Short Sum: After Zack's death, Cloud is lost within himself. With a desperate plea to the heavens to give anything for the return of Zack, he is granted his wish…but he cannot see Zack… NOT YAOI!! …Unless you squint REALLY hard.

Full Sum: At the cliff of the epic SOLDIER battle, when the clouds spew their rain of sadness at the death of Zack Fair, Cloud Strife is lost within himself. Unable to fend for himself on the streets of Midgar, he desperately pleas with the heavens to return his best friend's life. He is answered, and Zack returns, but no matter what, Cloud will never be able to see his friend's face again… NOT YAOI!! …Unless you squint REALLY hard.

Intro: As much of a good idea this may seem to be, it was very hard to start it and get it going. And just to let you know ahead of time, I don't know fully what Zack and Cloud really say, only what they say at certain points. So, if something doesn't fit, it's because it probably isn't said in the game. I don't have the game, but I will be getting it plus the Advent Children PSP this year, so I'll be playing it, and I'll surely be crying…

Anyway, I can only hope people will enjoy this fic, because I am working very hard on it, alongside Prophecies of the Unknown (all Clouna fans should go read it, please!!) and my novel, The Protectors Book II: Battlemage. Updates will hopefully happen quick, but I'm sorry if they happen few and far between. Once I get CC:FFVII, don't expect an update for a LOOOONNNNGGG time.

…Don't forget to submit a review!!

Disclaimer:

BlueFox: (sighs) I believe it is obvious I don't own Cloud, Zack, Sephiroth, Aeris, Tifa, or any of the cast of FFVII. I do, however, own FFVII!

Fang: And by that she means a strategy guide, a copy of the game, and the movie.

BlueFox: And Sephiroth's eyes!! I have Sephiroth's eyes, and I had them FIRST! So THERE! (pauses) OMGWTFBBQ! FAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNGGGGGGG! You're back! (fangirl tackles)

Fang: And that is why I was in the hospital in the first place. On with the fic, PLEASE!

Part I
Prologue

"In heaven, an angel is no one in particular."

Bring Me to Life
By Evanescence

How can you see into my eyes like open doors
leading down into my core
where I've become so numb

It was one versus the multitude. The blond knew it wouldn't end well, and he stretched his fingers toward his friend, who was walking into a great white abyss.

Don't…go…

His mind fuzzily thought out the words, but his mouth and voice would not work. A despair engulfed the young blond once the dark haired, violet-eyes man-his friend-was out of sight. Weakly, his hand dropped. He felt so helpless…

Without a soul
my spirit sleeping somewhere cold
until you find it there
and lead it back home

With his hands on his waist, the 1st Class SOLDIER stepped forward to face down those sent after him. All of their guns were trained on him as helicopters circled above.

Ever grinning, he reached back, taking ahold of the Buster Sword and pulling it out in front of himself, his grin slowly fading. As he held it poised, he whispered something carried away easily on the wind. But one word was clear. "…Cloud."

And with that, he charged, and the epic SOLDIER battle began.

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)

The Shinra SOLDIERs were taken down one by one. No one could land a hit on the 1st Class SOLDIER. He smiled as he annihilated half of the enemies. Maybe… Maybe he and the blond would be all right. Maybe they could make it to Midgar after all. Maybe…

Pain exploded in his leg and he winced, spinning at the SOLDIERs left standing. More shots rang out, this time from a helicopter.

Hope ran thin.

And still he charged.

Call my name and save me from the dark
(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
before I come undone

He staggered back to his friend. He was unconscious, and for a second, he though the blond had been hurt or killed, but he was still breathing, and that's all that counted.

Blood dripped from the Buster Sword, the blood of his enemies, and some of it his own. And then, there was a blast that hit him hard. More of his blood fell upon his sword and he stumbled back to the edge of the cliff. Exhaustion caused him to fall onto his back, the Buster Sword clanging just out of reach.

His vision blurred in and out, and when it fully returned, he was being held at gunpoint.

Thirteen shots sounded in the air, pounding much lead into his body. They soon moved from his blurry vision and he blinked slowly as the Mako within him began to heal his wounds.

But he knew…that it was not enough…

(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become
Bring me to life
(I've been living a lie
there's nothing inside)
Bring me to life

The blond was awakened by a soft drizzle of rain. Slowly, his eyes opened. There was silence, no fighting. The only sound he heard besides his own breathing, was the shallow breathing of another.

Moving his head forward, he saw his friend, the true SOLDIER, laying in a pool of blood, staring at the sky. The blond's breath caught in his throat, and yet he forced himself to crawl over to his friend.

The SOLDIER looked up through his violet eyes and blinked before grinning. "Are you going to be kay?" were the words the blond wanted to say, but just by looking, he knew the answer. The only thing that came from his mouth was: "Zack…"

He knew his friend was going to die.

The black haired SOLDIER lifted his left hand to the blond, wrapping it around the blond's shoulders, gently pulling him down onto his chest, where the blood from his thirteen bullet wound continued to flow, and his heart continued to slow.

"Live," he whispered. The simple word clenched the blond's heart and his eyes filled with rebellious tears. "You are the proof that I lived. So live, okay?" He numbly nodded, and the arm slid off. Slowly, the blond sat up and onto his knees, the SOLDIER's blood in his hair and on his cheek. This was it, and they both knew it.

Frozen inside without your touch
without your love, darling
only you are the life
among the dead

The black haired SOLDIER, still smiling, looked over at the blood-drenched Buster Sword. "Take it," he said, picking it up and holding it to the blond.

He could feel his mind and body go numb as he slowly took the handle of the large blade. Looking down at his friend, trying not to let his lip tremble, he spoke. "I'll live out both of our lives. I promise."

And with that, 1st Class SOLDIER Zack Fair smiled broader, closed his eyes, and let go. Cloud Strife's eyes widened, his breath quickened, his throat ran dry. A rough sob escaped his throat as he turned his gaze upward to the pouring skies. And then, he screamed, his voice full of anguish, his hand holding the sword in a death grip, the tears spilling thickly over his cheeks.

All this time I can't belive I couldn't see
kept in the dark
but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
got to open my eyes to everything
without a thought
without a voice
without a soul
don't let me die here
there must be something more
bring me to life

He didn't know how much time had passed before his tears stopped falling, his voice stopped screaming, his hands loosened. Slowly, he looked toward his fallen friend, breathing hard.

He stared only a little longer before standing and turning. The clouds above him had long since broken up, shining the sun on him as if he was a holy man. He knew that they should instead be shining on Zack, the true hero, who had sacrificed his life for his best friend. His breath caught in his throat as he began his long walk down the mountain side, away from his friend's body.

Zack…

I'm sorry…

I would give anything…

to have you back.

Absolutely

anything.

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside
(I can't wake up)
Wake me up inside
(Save me)
call my name and save me from the dark

Zack's eyes opened. Feathers fell around him as he saw an angel enshrouded in the Lifestream with large, vibrant white wings glided down, stretching a gloved hand down to him.

"Hey," he spoke, reaching up, "I want wings like those." His body began to be lifted up with no effort whatsoever. Once he and the angel joined hands, there was a rush of feathers, and then Zack was gone, taken within the Lifestream.

Take care, Aeris, Spike…Seph.

You guys take care of yourselves.

Zack smiled. He was finally a hero.

(Wake me up)
bid my blood to run
(I can't wake up)
before I come undone
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become

Cloud couldn't remember how he came to the train station, nor how long it had taken him to get there. He had kept a good pace, his feet dragging all along. His dead eyes had stayed on a spot always so distant, his mind always so blank, except for one thought:

He's gone. I can't believe he's gone.

It was nighttime now, a lonely streetlamp illuminating the street. His body finally gave out by the stairs and he fell harshly onto them. Rolling over, Cloud hit the ground beneath the stairs. With a moan, he pushed himself into a sitting position. Looking up, he closed his eyes.

Zack, or whoever up there is listening… I will do anything to have him back. I will give anything, I'd give my life. I'd even go back to Hojo. Just please…give me my friend back.

A lone tears escaped his eye as his head finally drooped and he was lost to unconsciousness.

(Bring me to life)
I've been living a lie,
there's nothing inside
(Bring me to life)

----

End:

BlueFox: It's done! (falls to the floor, breathing heavily)

Fang: It took you long enough.

BlueFox: Yeah! (mutters) It's not like you helped at all… (speaks up) Where's Zack?

Fang: Oh, I see. Edward and I aren't important anymore. Well, thanks. (randomly stomps off)

Zack: (pops on) Heyy! I'm here! Did I miss anything? (watches as BlueFox runs off after Fang) Aww…I'm all alone… (looks down) A PSP!! (plops down and begins to play) Heyy! Look! It's me!

R&R please. They'll be returned, loves!