Chapter 1: Reckless

"He's getting away!" Tidus shouted, racing after his attacker.

Cloud stood face-to-face with a manikin, a type of enemy that he had fought far too many times for it to worry him. His slim brows sank into a frown as he punished the manikin with a few heavy blows of his blade, then watched as it plummeted to the ground and vanished. Cloud swung his sword over his shoulder with a satisfied nod.

It was only a second later that Cloud heard Tidus give another shout—this one, a great deal more panicked—and Cloud glanced around until he saw his companion. The younger swordsman was pinned against a tree, a Kain manikin at his side with a long spear resting in front of his neck. Cloud quickly analyzed the situation. He could tell from the look on Tidus' face that there was no way he could make a move. A quick dart of his eyes, and Cloud was on his way to devising a plan. His eyelids fell closed, and he thrust a fist out in front of him.

"Fira," he uttered.

Tidus watched as magic flew from Cloud's hand, and headed for the tree. The manikin didn't take its eyes off of Cloud. It tilted its cocky head to the side, as if to mock Cloud's poor aim. Thankfully, Tidus caught on to Cloud's plan before the enemy did. Tidus jumped out of the way as the branch above him caught fire, and the manikin let out a garbled squeal as the burning tree limb fell upon it. Cloud took that opportunity to charge at the creature, and finished it off with his Cross-Slash attack. Tidus—who was on the ground at this point—picked himself up, and brushed himself off as Cloud approached him.

"You okay?" Cloud asked, scanning his companion for injuries.

"Thanks to you. Thought I was a goner," Tidus said, throwing his arms around Cloud's neck. The sudden contact startled Cloud, and he remained still and frozen throughout the awkward embrace. Cloud quickly shrugged his comrade off of him, but Tidus continued to smile.

"We should get back to camp," the older blond said as he placed his giant sword on his back.

"Yeah, alright. Think the area's clear now?" Tidus asked.

"I hope so." Cloud turned his back and started off in the direction of the camp.

"That was a pretty smooth move," Tidus remarked, trotting after Cloud. "You thought fast."

"It's part of the job," Cloud shrugged.

"I guess I have to work on that." Tidus chuckled, trying to get at least a hint of a smile out of Cloud. He knew Cloud's smiles were rare, but he loved the challenge of trying to induce them anyway.

"Ask Cecil. He'll give you some pointers," Cloud replied, and kept walking.

Other people probably would have found Cloud's response a little strange; after all, Cloud himself seemed a perfectly fine candidate to give Tidus some training, but over the past few months of travelling with him, Tidus had learned that that was just Cloud's way. Cloud wasn't the sort to interact with people any more than was necessary, and Tidus had grown accustomed to it, despite the fact that it could be frustrating at times.

"Maybe I will," Tidus nodded, placing his hands behind his head as he followed along. From the sudden stiffness of Cloud's shoulders, Tidus got the feeling he was done talking, and he decided he would let Cloud enjoy the silence. For now.

It was nightfall by the time the two men made it back to camp. Firion looked up from the fire Cecil was preparing, and smiled when he saw his friends approaching. Tidus walked alongside Cloud with a smile on his face, and looked to be making some light—albeit, one-sided—conversation. Tidus smiled even wider when he realized they had made it back to camp, and he took off at a run towards Firion and Cecil. He stopped when he reached them, and rested his hands triumphantly on his hips.

"Hey guys. Miss me?" he asked with a grin.

"Things do tend to get a little dry without your positivity," Cecil said, tossing a few more twigs on the fire.

"That's right. We're always glad to see you two back safe," Firion added, with a smile. Tidus flopped down on his back, the grass tickling his arms as it blew in the wind. Cloud came to stand alongside Firion.

"Did you encounter any enemies?" Firion asked, looking up at his companion from where he sat.

"Manikins," Cloud replied, simply. With a light exhale, he took his sword off his back and carefully lowered it to the ground. Tidus bolted up into a sitting position, causing the others to look in his direction.

"Oh, it was so cool! One of the manikins had me cornered, and Cloud totally caught it off guard with this fire attack!" Tidus exclaimed, imitating Cloud's motions when he had cast his spell.

"Are you alright?" Cecil asked.

"Yes. It sounds dangerous," Firion stated, a look of worry on his face.

"Nah," Tidus grinned, hopping up from the ground. He slung an arm around Cloud's shoulder. "Cloud had my back."

Cloud's discomfort was quite obvious to everyone but Tidus. He scrunched his face up a little as he fidgeted under the younger man's touch. The contact was short-lived, however, as Tidus brought both arms above his head and stretched.

"So, what's for dinner?" Tidus asked, eyeing the growing fire.

"Nothing, tonight," Cecil responded. "We're running quite low on rations."

"You're kidding me," Tidus groaned, his hands dropping to his sides.

"Don't worry. We'll find something to eat soon," Firion said, beckoning Tidus and Cloud to sit by the warmth of the fire. They did so without objection, Tidus settling comfortably between Cloud and Firion. Once Cecil was satisfied with the state of the fire, he sat down on the ground with the others and watched as the flames rose and crackled.

"Seriously, no food? Not even a crumb?" Tidus asked, raising his hand and making a tiny space with his thumb and index finger, symbolizing the smallest amount of food imaginable.

"You'll survive one night," Cloud replied, monotonously.

"If you want to go take a look for something, Tidus, one of us will go with you. I just think we should hang on to the food we have for when we really need it," Firion explained. Tidus took a quick glance at Cloud, one that went unnoticed by the rest of the group. Not wanting to be a nuisance, he decided he would hold out like the others.

"No, it's alright," Tidus said, raising his hands out in front of him to let the fire warm them.

Several minutes passed and the evening sky was quickly darkening. Tidus let out an echoing yawn; Firion chuckled at his inability to suppress such a loud noise.

"Should we consider setting up camp?" Cloud asked.

"I suppose. We'll need our rest for the morning," Cecil agreed. Without another word, the white knight rose from his position on the ground, and proceeded towards the pile of travel gear they had left a few feet away from the fire.

"I'll help," Tidus said, leaping up and following Cecil's lead. Firion moved to help them, but he was stopped by a quiet request for him to wait.

"What is it, Cloud?" Firion asked, staring in confusion at the man beside him. Cloud sat almost motionless, his knee pulled up to his chest and his arm draped limply over it.

"Firion, can I ask you something?" Cloud's tone was flat, as usual, though his eyes were filled with an unusual curiosity as they rested on the blond man several feet away, fiddling with the tent along with Cecil.

"Sure," Firion answered, following Cloud's gaze.

"It's about Tidus. Is he always so... affectionate?"

Firion laughed.

"Are you referring to earlier?" he asked.

"I've just noticed him being a lot friendlier lately," Cloud replied, with a shrug.

"Yes, he can be affectionate, but you should know that by now, Cloud," Firion said, with a smile as they watched Tidus analyzing one of the tent poles, as if he didn't know which way it was supposed to go. After a moment's frustration, Tidus handed the pole over to Cecil, letting him figure it out on his own.

"He's just never been that way with me before. It surprised me, is all," Cloud replied, after a moment.

"He's probably just getting to know you better. What's it been now? Three months? Four?" Firion pondered.

"Four sounds right," came Cloud's response.

"Yes. Travelling together for so long probably has something to do with it."

"I guess so."

Firion decided not to reply as Tidus smiled and made his way towards them, leaving Cecil to tackle the tent by himself.

"What're you guys talking about?" Tidus asked, a grin on his face.

"Just that we should be heading out early tomorrow morning," Firion said, assuming Cloud didn't want their actual topic to be revealed. "Right, Cloud?"

Cloud nodded, still mulling over Firion's words. He'd seen Tidus being chummy with their other comrades as well from time to time, but he'd never been so touchy-feely with him before. Maybe Tidus was just getting comfortable around him.

A screech from behind caused the group to turn immediately and ready themselves for battle. Cloud leapt to his feet and raised his weapon from the ground with ease. The rest drew their weapons a moment later, glancing around in what was almost complete darkness as a water spell from an unknown caster flew towards the fire, putting it out completely.

"Do you see them?" Firion asked.

"No, but I can hear them," Cecil replied. "Manikins."

"He's right," Cloud added, listening hard as crystal feet slunk through the tall grass. "I can tell from the sound."

"Well, if it's a fight they want, it's a fight they'll get," Tidus said, bouncing on the spot, eager for battle.

"Keep a level head. Until we know where they're coming from, they have the advantage," Cloud reminded the boy beside him.

"I know that," Tidus replied, his spirits dampening only slightly by his elder's words of advice.

A rustle in the trees caused Firion to spin to the left. He drew his bow and readied an arrow, waiting for their enemies to draw nearer. Cloud looked behind him as he heard clinking crystal armour. A Garland manikin swung his sword menacingly, though Cloud could only tell it was him from the size of the shadowy weapon. A surprised yelp from Tidus only further convinced the group that they were surrounded.

The fight broke out. Try as they might, the Cosmos warriors' precision suffered thanks to the darkness impairing their vision. Cecil twirled his spear in his hand, attempting to hit the manikins now coming his way. Firion shot arrow after arrow aimlessly into the dark. Cloud backed up as he held his sword in front of him, hoping to block whatever attack his enemy was about to throw at him. He spun rapidly around as his back hit another form. He mustered what he hoped was a threatening grunt as he prepared to strike the unknown being.

"Hey!" Tidus shouted, jumping out of the way as he saw the moonlight reflect off of Cloud's sword. "Careful! It's just me!"

"Sorry," Cloud mumbled, turning back around to face the Garland manikin. Unfortunately, it was one step ahead of him. Cloud fell to the ground as the enemy's large sword collided with his own, knocking him off balance.

"Is everyone okay?" Firion called out to his companions, having heard the thump of Cloud hitting the ground.

"I will be," Cloud answered, attempting to pick himself up as quickly as he could.

"Up you get," came Tidus' voice, and Cloud felt a hand on his arm, helping him up.

"Thanks," Cloud replied, though there was lingering frustration in his voice from the fall.

"Fira," Cecil called out, setting their small campfire ablaze again, giving them a bit more light, and setting fire to one of the manikins standing near it.

"Oh, right! That's their weakness!" Tidus called out, watching as the Kefka manikin he had been fighting went up in flames. The other Cosmos warriors began casting fire spells towards their enemies as fast as they could, now with more accuracy. Taking down their attackers suddenly became a much easier task with their eyes to guide them once more.

"Look! Those two are retreating!" Tidus yelled, pointing off into the distance where a couple of unidentifiable manikins were slithering away.

"Let them go!" Firion called back, as he continued to fight.

"If we follow them, we can find out where they're coming from. There could be more," Tidus argued.

"Let them go, Tidus. It's dark and we are unfamiliar with the area," Cecil replied.

"They'll just ambush us in the night!" Tidus responded without hesitation, taking off at a run.

"Tidus!" Firion hollered, but the boy continued to follow the escaping manikins into the sea of dark trees. Cecil and Firion, still busy with their own manikins, glanced toward Cloud as he finished off the Garland manikin with another fire spell.

"I'm on it," Cloud said, not needing to be asked. He wiped his sweat-covered brow and broke into a sprint, racing after his reckless companion.

After several minutes of running, the woods became quiet. Only the sounds of night birds and crickets filled Cloud's ears as he listened for the runaway. Realizing he had probably taken a wrong turn somewhere and lost Tidus' trail, Cloud let out a frustrated sigh.

"Shh!" shot a voice through the darkness. Cloud stood very still, unsure of where the response had come from.

"Tidus?" Cloud asked.

"Yeah. How'd you know?" Tidus whispered.

"Lucky guess."

"Try to be quiet. I'm listening for the manikins," Tidus explained, glancing around himself. Cloud could just barely make out Tidus' form now, standing right beside him. Cloud looked around, too, his ears focused on every little sound around them.

"I think you may have lost them," Cloud spoke up, quite sure of himself.

"No, they're still around," Tidus answered, taking a few careful steps ahead.

"We should head back," Cloud warned him. "I can't see a thing out here."

"Just a minute. I'm pretty sure..." Tidus trailed off as he heard a stick crack somewhere in the distance. Cloud had obviously heard it, too, as he slowly, stealthily went to draw his weapon. There was no time to react further when a wall of magic flew their way, lighting up the sky as it approached.

"Gah!" Tidus yelled, throwing an arm up in front of his eyes to block the light.

"Look out!" Cloud shouted, giving his companion a hard nudge in the side to get him to move out of the way. It was a wasted effort.

The spell covered more ground than Cloud had been expecting, and it threw both him and Tidus backwards into the air as it hit them. They shouted as painful electric waves coursed through their bodies. They expected they would soon hit the ground, but to their surprise, they didn't. The magic quickly wore off, but the men continued to fall through the air. And fall further. And they kept falling until finally they hit something. Water.

Tidus was the first to surface, gasping as his head rose above whatever body of water they had fallen into. He whipped his head around in all directions, hoping to see his friend nearby. He panicked when he didn't.

"Cloud!" he called out. Finally, a head appeared, accompanied by flailing arms. The moon's reflection on the water was enough so that Tidus could make out Cloud's form.

Tidus held his breath and dove under the water, quickly swimming toward his companion. It was obvious that Cloud wasn't a water dog like he was. He didn't really look like he knew how to stay afloat. Tidus rose up above the water again when he had reached his friend.

"Hold on, okay?" Tidus said, wrapping an arm around Cloud's waist, then kicking his feet out behind him, hoping he would have the strength to carry both himself and Cloud to shore. He didn't have to worry. Countless years of Blitzball had made him a very strong swimmer. He easily managed to reach the bank and aided Cloud in clambering onto the land.

Cloud coughed a few times, ridding his lungs of the water that had made its way in there. Tidus shook his head fast, sending droplets flying in all directions. He watched Cloud for a moment to make sure he was okay before wrapping his arms around himself, shivering.

"That water is freezing," he groaned.

"Yeah," was the only word Cloud could muster. Tidus sighed when he noticed the hilts of his and Cloud's swords sticking up above the surface a few metres away, and he bravely waded back in. He retrieved the weapons as fast as he could, ignoring the water's biting temperature, then returned to Cloud's side. He looked up at the sky and his stomach did an uncomfortable flip.

"Um, Cloud? You don't think there's any way we can climb back up there, do you?" he asked. Cloud glanced up, suddenly understanding Tidus' point. Crystals lined the rock walls around them, giving off a green glow. It was bright enough for the warriors to see their surroundings. They were inside what looked to be a canyon.

"Not a chance," Cloud answered. "Which means..."

"Which means we're lost," Tidus sighed. "Cold and lost."

Cloud took in a deep breath, hoping it would stop his body from shaking. When it did no good, he forced himself to get up. He could feel Tidus' eyes on him as he took a good look around. There was no end to the canyon. In one direction, the deep water seemed to go on for as far as Cloud could see. In the other direction, there seemed to be some soppy land, which looked to be a more viable option, though still not an overly desirable one.

"Come on," Cloud said, lending Tidus a hand and pulling him to his feet. "Maybe if we keep walking, we'll make it out of this canyon."

"Are you kidding? Why can't we just sleep here and continue on in the morning?" Tidus asked. Cloud bit his tongue to prevent himself from scolding the man in front of him. If Tidus had just stayed put in the first place, they probably could have been sleeping in their warm tents by now, but there was no point in arguing about it. They were stuck in this place, regardless.

"The ground's too wet. We'll end up catching colds if we sleep here," Cloud explained.

"I guess," Tidus mumbled, kicking a water-filled boot against the mucky ground.

"Follow me. If we get a move on, we might make it out of here before sunrise," Cloud said, placing his sword on his back and starting off at a good pace. Tidus jogged a few steps to catch up.

"Cloud?" he asked, watching his friend with wide blue eyes.

"Yeah?" Cloud asked, giving him a sidelong glance. Tidus couldn't help but smile at his water-soaked hair all draped over one eye.

"Your spikes are kinda..." Tidus trailed off. Cloud's eyes widened in horror, and he put one hand to his head to find that his hair was, indeed, as flat as a pancake.

"Ugh," Cloud sighed, as Tidus trotted along beside him. "This is going to be a long night."

A/N: Hey there, readers! Well, you made it through the first chapter, so I guess it wasn't horrible:D This is the first of MANY chapters, actually, but the good news is, this is my third or fourth time editing through this story, so I think it's in pretty good shape. That means that I'll be updating pretty frequently; I'm going to try for a chapter a week.

Those of you who have read my other fics on here, or visited my tumblr blog (clidusshrine . tumblr . com) know that I am a huuuuuge fan of Tidus/Cloud, and I think this story really helps to explain how (I believe) a relationship could develop between them. I realize it's not a very common pairing, but my hope is that this will give the boys some new fans:D

Reviews aren't necessary, but they really help my motivation, and make me feel that my two years-that's right, I've been writing this beast for two years-of work has been worth it. That's it for now. Hope you enjoyed Chapter 1, and hope to see you again for Chapter 2!