Run to You
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy itself. I only own a cartridge of Crisis Core and the CD of FF7 on PS. Yeah, I'm outdated, bite me. I do own Yomi though…
I also do not own Run to you by Whitney Houston, written by Jud Friedman and Allan Rich.
Bold=Song lyrics
Italics=thoughts
"Quoted=Speech"
Chapter 1
It was the weekends again and lucky for Zack, he had no scheduled missions, which means he has the weekend off for a party. Good thing too as a certain eastern-born cadet was having one of those casual parties. He was known to throw parties with slow songs but lots of good food and lots of guests. Almost all of inhabitants of the Shinra building go to the party of this influential cadet. Who knew the President had an eastern born nephew? Zackary Fair was going there along with his former classmates when he was still a cadet. Kunsel was also going along with many others. Bouncing his way out of the bath, he made his way toward his closet and rummaged for anything to wear that wasn't too formal but not too casual either. He was never one for fashion but he does try his best to look decent. After a few minutes of headache, he opted for the usual 1st class uniform. After all, they weren't allowed to wear anything else inside the Shinra building for any given reason other than direct orders from the higher powers, quite in a literal way. With a big smile on his face, he closed all the windows, switched off and unplugged all appliances, turned any faucets off the closed the lights. With that he was off.
It was never that easy being a stand out blond cadet. He was always getting picked on for his minute size and eye sore of a blond hair. It also doesn't help that his quiet attitude is often mistaken for smugness and so, he gets into a lot of fights, not that he even bothers to really fight back. All he does is defend himself and run away at the any given chance. It was one of those nights when he was cornered by a certain white haired individual. Yutaka Yomi, one of those mediocre persons in class. He tries his best to stay invisible, avoiding being outstanding on all occasions. If not for Cloud, he would have gotten away with it too. He silently curses Cloud for his keen observing skills. They were something like some sort of friends though they would never admit. They just refer to each other as preferred acquaintances rather than friends. And this night, as Cloud was on his way back to his room, the individual cornered him with a smirk on his face.
"Hey Angel, wanna have some fun?" he teased, anticipating all too well the smirk and the raised eyebrow he got as a reaction. The blond's cold voice broke apart those all too sealed lips.
"Hn." Was all that Cloud would say. Yomi understood that as "what". With a big smile on his face, he squealed.
"Uncle gave me permission to have a party at the rooftop. Wanna come?" he said, sticking his tongue out at the side of his mouth, signifying mischief. Cloud knew that he had no choice in the matter now.
"Nine O'clock." Yomi knew the figure was the blond's self-imposed curfew. 'You're such a stuck up ice bastard.'
"The party starts now. There is no way in hell that you are going to let me endure all those fake smiles in the hopes of climbing up the social rankings. Two O'clock?" he negotiated, hoping for some sort of agreement.
"Ten." The blond propped himself up against the wall, folding his arms in front of him.
"Err, one O'clock?" Yomi clasped his hands together, bowing in front of the blond in hopes of getting the blond to stay more. "I'm closing the party as soon as you leave, so please?"
Sigh. 'If only he wasn't such a brat, maybe I won't end up babysitting him all the time.' The blond thought, eyeing the bowed position of the white one's head, resisting the urge to smack that head of his.
"Twelve Thirty." He said, finality emanating from his tone.
Later on that night, the two were sitting on black leather corner couch. In front of them was a rounded rectangular table filled with Rice balls, Donuts, Sushi, Soufflés, Iced Teas, juices, and cheesecakes. On Yomi's side of the couch were heaps of chocolates, candies, and lollipops in all varying sizes. Many came to their table just to nod at him, he would just wave and continue grazing on his stack of chocolates.
"Yum." He said, munching on Caramel Chocolate bars. Cloud, on the other hand, was looking at one of the guests, 1st class soldier, Zackary Fair. Everyone liked and idolized the soldier for being approachable and funny. Cloud, on the other hand, has had the largest crush on the soldier, not that he would admit it. He would often spend long hours asking Yomi for pictures and news about Zack from the higher ups. Yes, he had tendencies but that didn't stop Yomi from befriending him, mostly because Cloud was the one who asks the numbers of women whom Yomi likes and never fails. Not even once. Yomi even curses Cloud's looks for stealing all the women away from him. While the white hair continued munching, Cloud continued staring as Zack gets dared to kiss the blond, if he could, and a slow song started to play.
I know that when you look at me,
There's so much that you just don't see.
But if you would only take the time,
I know in my heart you'll find,
In wide strides, Zack quickly closed the gap between him and the blond. Cloud's eye widened as the man he has a crush on was walking straight toward him, eyeing him. Beads of sweat started appearing as his muscles tightened and his body tensed. A mischievous smile on the first class soldier flashed on his face and held the blond's head with both hands, looking at those lips. He licked his lips before crashing it unto the awaiting blond's.
Oh, a girl who's scared sometimes,
Who isn't always strong.
Cloud could almost feel his heart skip a beat when he realized something. Men were staring at him and laughing, smiling with their mischievous smiles. It was then that he knew he was being toyed with. A tear fell from his eyes just as Zack pulled away. The song held its own as it went its own way.
Can't you see the hurt in me?
I feel so all alone.
I wanna run to you, ooh,
I wanna run to you, ooh.
It was ironic how the song was telling Cloud to run toward the person who just toyed at his feelings. He felt used. The song, innocent in its playing, did not mean any harm but the blond still felt pain slice through his very being. His eyes started to water. Zack smugly went back to his friends, oblivious to the effect he had on the blond. Cloud ran away, pushing people away, including the man who had just ruined his very life as a human being. 'It doesn't mean that he is Soldier that he can just toy with anyone's feelings, does it?' he thought to himself. All he knew is that he wanted to run. Where to? He doesn't know. He doesn't. He just doesn't know.
Won't you hold me in your arms
And keep me safe from harm?
I wanna run to you, ooh. (I'll run to you, ooh)
But if I come to you, ooh,
Zack was pushed aside as he was chatting with his friends. They were teasing and tossing jokes around. They were very happy and were the epitome of a typical gang of male friends. They continued laughing and joking happily, that is, until they saw a blonde haze pass by them, tears falling. Their faces turned from happy to shock to shame to blame. Zack's face went pale, as if it had dried off of blood. Without any plans or thinking whatsoever, he went to chase the blond. Somehow, he recognized the kid. He was familiar with him. It was then that it hit him. The kid was that blond cadet, Cloud Strife, top of the class cadet. He was Cloud who saved his ass once Strife. It was Cloud stoic sensitive, gay person who had a crush on him strife. 'Shit! I gotta go explain to him and apologize.' He thought to himself. Running and running, that is what they two did. One wanted to the other to go away whilst the other wanted him to stay and be explained and apologized to.
Tell me will you stay,
Or will you run away?
Chasing after the blond kid, Zack racked his memory for anything useful. Another terror struck him. Cloud had suicidal tendencies, the cadet said so to him in one of those one on one training sessions. The boy's abilities were nice and all but they were all at the expense of the boy's social life and emotions. Cloud was a depressed person and if Cadet Strife dies because of his heartless act, he would never forgive himself. The song ran on, never tiring of letting the people hear its beauty.
Each day, each day I play the role
Of someone always in control.
Tears continued to drip from his face. Zackary Fair was chasing him. On other occasions he would have been very happy for this opportunity but for the moment, he just wanted the earth to consume him or to get away from here somehow. The soldier was gaining on him and he knew he had to use all his abilities to get away. Glasses overturned, people bumped into but he showed no signs of stopping. Zack was almost to him. Almost touching. Almost close to hurting him once again. No, not again. Not this time, not again He won't live through it this time and he knows it.
But at night, I come home and turn the key,
There's nobody there, no one cares for me.
Oh what's the sense
Of trying hard to find your dreams?
Without someone to share them with
Tell me, what does it mean?
The soldier was gaining ground on the cadet fast and he knows it. He just hopes that the cadet can forgive him and won't think of killing himself or else, he, Zackary Fair, would very much chastise and blame himself for the rest of his life. He couldn't forgive himself if he was the reason that life was sucked out of the promising beauty. His eyebrows almost met in confusion. Did he just think that? Right now all that matters is that he gets to the boy and make him understand. He always dreamed of being a hero but how can he be when he crushes those of his subordinates. 'Shit. Shit. Shit.' He cursed himself over and over again. Finally, he caught up with the kid, tackling him from behind.
I wanna run to you, ooh,
I wanna run to you, ooh.
Won't you hold me in your arms
And keep me safe from harm?
I wanna run to you, ooh. (I'll run to you, ooh)
But if I come to you, ooh,
Tell me will you stay,
Or will you run away?
Run away,
No, I need you here,
I need you here to wipe away my tears,
To kiss away my fears.
No, if you only know how much...
"No! Get away from me! Let me go! Let me go!" Cloud shouted, kicked, punched jumped, snarled, even scratched. He was willing to try anything just to get away from that cursed man. He wouldn't have been feeling this way if only Zack had just let him be. He used to think he had a chance of snagging the soldier, even in dreams he kisses the raven haired first class but now, he loathes him. He doesn't want anything to do with him. Hell, he even wants him dead. He stared daggers unto the man's eyes to try and get the message across but boy did he make the mistake of his life. The man's eyes were pleading, filled with guilt and remorse. He saw a hell lot of regret and sadness. The man could easily be forgiven without even asking anything. The next thing he knew, the man was whispering things to him, holding him close and apologizing. He then saw Yomi passing by. In truth, he wanted to stay within the man's arms but his pride won't let him. 'He must suffer.' Is what his mind is saying to him. Then, he closed his heart and called out to the man.
"Yomi! Let's go somewhere else." He said. Soon, the two were back to their place, leaving a very sad puppy behind. Zackary Fair, the first class soldier, is now officially a heartless Soldier. He watched in regret as the two conversed from afar. He picked himself up, his friends gathering around him, telling him things but they don't register. All he saw was Cloud Strife and how he wanted to say sorry and be forgiven. He stared at the blond. The depressed man couldn't help but feel all the more depressed as the song seemingly aroused his conscience, telling him he was wrong, telling him how the cadet felt and he just tore that person apart. He really was sorry. So very sorry.
I wanna run to you, ooh,
I wanna run to you, ooh.
Won't you hold me in your arms
And keep me safe from harm?
I'll run to you, ooh
But if I come to you, ooh,
Tell me will you stay,
Or will you run away?
"…I'm so sorry, Cloud Strife." He muttered
Author's Note: This will be a kind of fanfic whose chapters are woven around songs. Next chap? Memories. It's a song by Within Temptation. Look it up so you will have quite an idea as to what is going to happen next. Jan e!