This is my first fanfic and I hope it's to everyone's liking. Please be kind if reviewing and I do accept critism as long as it's positive and anything is great if I need to improve. Thanks for reading!

(This is a yaoi fanfic (male/male). If you do not like this, please don't read.)

Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 7 and its characters

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Die Hard

The sounds of water running echoed throughout the hallway of the darkened bar. Cloud laid in his bed finally opening his eyes and sitting up, running a hand through his soft golden strands of hair. He gazed around the room and noticed Tifa wasn't there which was strange for that time of night, then again, he didn't really have track of time himself. The blond hero rose to his feet and walked over to the door slowly, his boots scruffing lightly on the wooded floors of the room. He figured Tifa was most likely finishing up a few dishes from their earlier arrivals from that day, some old friends and new faces. The usual, nothing thrilling ever seemed to come up anymore. Things have been pretty calm and peaceful after the final battle against Kadaj and his gang, along with an unsuspected appearance from the one winged angel himself, Sephiroth.

Reaching the stairs, Cloud adverted his eyes down the hall before starting down. The air was heavier for some reason and he could feel his chest rise faster, gasping for air which made him suddenly kneel down with his hand clenching his chest. His breaths were short and fast and he closed his azure eyes to try to calm himself down. Why was he feeling this way? This was too strange. After a few moments, his breathing regained itself to a normal rate and he stood up, beginning to continue his way down the steps. With each slow move he made, there came a loud creak from the step below his foot. Cloud wanted to be cautious just in case, but most likely it wouldn't be anything to fret over. No, but what was the sudden shortness of breath and the unfamiliar heaviness in the air? It has to be his imagination...right? He reached the bottom of the staircase and stopped, scanning the room and the tidy bar area. Only light in the small building was emitting from the moon shining in though the windows as it casted a white light, reflecting off of the counter and the glasses and bottles behind it on the shelf. Everything seemed to be in place...except for the running faucet at the sink. Tifa wouldn't be careless enough to let it keep running for a long amount of time. Cloud made his way, taking a slow pace over to the sink. He stood behind the counter and stared at the water as it poured out quickly as if trying to escape from something. He felt a chill down his spine and his mind began to be shrouded with old memories and painful feelings. He lifted his arms to hold himself tight, lowering his head as he slouched over the counter, gasping for air and crying out in pain that pricked at every inch of his cranium. Flashes of Sephiroth's face appeared countless times in a fast rhythmic motion as well as other pictures that played out time and time again. The images died away in a misty-like haze as well as the prickling pain he felt. Cloud sighed heavily before standing upright, reaching over to turn off the running water. He shook his head, trying to forget everything. Why was this happening? It just didn't make any sense. The blond walked over to one of the back rooms they used for storage when they had to hold some of the deliveries and their equipment and supplies.

Opening the large, metal door, he swiftly made his way inside the room. He left the door open with a heavy stopper so at least a little light would show through. Cloud walked over to the light switch on the wall and flicked it up with his pointer finger, no light. Figures something like this would happen along with everything else. He looked at all of the tall shelves that formed narrow isles, filling the room making it crowded and stuffy. The blond shrugged and began his entrance in the room, searching for something, even he was not sure why or what. Perhaps he was just paranoid from the past. The scars that were left behind from many battles and losses. So many losses, yet in the end, he was victorious. Sephiroth was gone and never to return. No more Kadaj and his gang. No more dealing with Shira and the Turks. When it all comes down to it, he still felt as empty as ever. Nothing filled his yearning void of loneliness and solitude, not even Tifa. Cloud ran his hand along the shelves to search for some light bulbs first of all. It wouldn't be fair to just let his raven haired companion do all of the work around there. With a slight smile, he grabbed onto a small box of bulbs, just what he was looking for. As soon as he had them in his grasp, just about to pull the box itself off of the large, metal shelf, another hand suddenly reached out from the other side and roughly took him by the wrist before he could pull away. His blue eyes widened and shifted upwards only to land on an oh so familiar face he wished never to lay eyes on ever again. The blond hero could feel his heart stop and sink so far down as if he already lost and there was no hope to be found. His own eyes meeting with a pure emerald pair, he knew his battles were far from over. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words would escape, just like him. Was there no escape from him?

"Long time, no see...Cloud." A laugh echoed through the cold room.