Title: Shooting the Moon

Author: Lacey

Rating: T

Words: 378

Pairing: Cloud-centric, ZackCloud if you squint

Summary: In-World. Possible ZackCloud. "Keep your chin up."

Warnings: Pep-talk. :3

AN: Once again, this comes from an OK Go song. But it is also inspired by something that actually happened to me. Let's see if you guys can decide what's the song and what is the real-life event.

Cloud stood behind the curtain of a stage set up in his honor. He had supposedly saved the world from Sephiroth all over again, but nobody knew the truth. His head was in his hands, his heart in his throat; he didn't know what he could tell them. He knew they were out there; Tifa, Yuffie, Vincent, Cid, Barret…they were all out there and they'd all bring down the worst punishment of all upon him; sacrificial silence. They'd all cut ties with him; everyone he loved would leave him and his heart would hurt for forever more.

A hand clapped onto his shoulder and he jumped slightly, turning around to see the face of his best friend standing beside him.

"Cloud, what's gotcher tongue?" He asked with a jovial smile.

"I…couldn't save the world, Zack. Sephiroth…he was too much. I made him leave, but he's out there…I can't do this whole 'hero' thing!"

"Man, Cloud, you've gone to the dogs. You need to brighten up."

"How can I brighten up? This party's for me…I'm supposed to be giving a speech soon and I don't know what to tell them."

"Tell them the truth. Tell them how you were so focused on the negative that you let him get away."

"When you say it like that…" Zack chuckled.

"Cloud, seriously, you should just postpone this and go find him. Kill him like he got rid of us. You know it's what you want."

"Zack…what exactly are you telling me to do?" The black-haired male just smiled and ruffled Cloud's hair.

"Keep your chin up."

"It's hard not to when you're drowning.."

"That's my boy." He smiled, walking off soon after.

Cloud sat up in a cold sweat, blinking a little, tears down his eyes.

"Zack?" He almost expected him to answer, but he knew it was foolish; that had just been a dream. But he was right. He had to keep his chin up, he had to fight Sephiroth…he had to save everyone he loved. And protect those he had already lost. A sigh left his lips as he tossed his legs over the side of the bed, wiping his forehead before heading off towards his bike. He was resilient; he'd do this whether it killed him or not.

AN: Alright…that wasn't much, but I felt it needed to be written. Let's see how many things I can cross off my To-Do list, now. :3