Author's Note: Wow, I'm honestly surprised by the wonderful response I've gotten to this story so far. For those of you wondering about updates, the plan at the moment is to post a new chapter each Friday (it may end up being every other Friday, depending on how busy I get with classes). Also, just to clarify, since someone asked about this, all the events leading up to the moment when Zack would have died still follow the events of Crisis Core (for the most part. I may change a few things...like Genesis being in Nibelheim...cause that just seemed lame to me, lol). So this basically theorizes how the events of the original FFVII game could have been different had the ShinRa army never caught up with Zack and Cloud on their way back to Midgar.
But enough of my babbling. Here's chapter two, and thanks so much for reading!
Chapter 2
Compared to the rest of the Midgar slums, Sector 7 wasn't all that bad. True, it had its share of gangs and general unsavory goings-on, but it also seemed to attract the most families. There was even a little playground nearby. Now Zack and Cloud stood outside one of the larger buildings, staring up at the neon sign that proclaimed it to be the Seventh Heaven bar. Zack glanced over at Cloud, who didn't look particularly happy to be there. He had been against going to check out a job without any real information, but Zack had eventually talked him into it. Nevermind the fact that Zack himself felt a little uneasy about this job. Something in his gut told him that this job was different from the others, and not necessarily in a good way. But they needed to the gil, and Zack liked to make it a point to never turn down a customer (especially a lady)…unless it was that crazy old man from Sector 5. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Cloud starting to turn away, and grabbed his friend's shoulder before he could bolt.
"Come on, you big pansy," he said, his voice teasing. "Let's go find out what we're getting ourselves into."
"I'm telling you, I've got a bad feeling about this," Cloud protested.
Zack steered the reluctant Cloud towards the stairs leading up to the door.
"I know, I know, you've only said that 50 times now."
The door creaked slightly as Zack pushed it open. Seventh Heaven was surprisingly well lit for a slum bar, with a few tables strategically placed around the main room. An old TV hung at an angle over the bar, the newscaster on its screen droning on in a sort of background hum. It was clear that no one was actually paying attention to him. A few of the patrons looked up, one or two nodded at the newcomers, but most simply ignored them. You tended to live longer in the slums if you minded your own business. After a quick glance around, Zack walked over to the bar and plunked himself down on one of the stools. Cloud followed more cautiously, carefully settling himself next to Zack, although he looked ready to move at the slightest thing.
"Can I get you two anything?"
Cloud's head whipped around at the sound of the girl's voice. It couldn't be…could it? Zack's response confirmed it.
"Tifa Lockheart?"
The young woman nodded, and now that Cloud had a better look at her, he could see that it really was Tifa. She'd grown up a lot since he'd last seen her. Of course she has, you idiot, Cloud mentally berated himself. It's been at least four years since you saw her. Probably more like five.
"Are you the guys from Ifrit?" Tifa asked, her voice still as bright and cheerful as Cloud remembered, although it had matured somewhat.
"That's right," Zack said with a grin. "I'm Zack, and the grumpy one is Cloud."
There was a pause as Tifa studied Cloud for a moment, and then she gasped.
"Oh my gosh, you really are Cloud Strife, aren't you?! It's been so long, I didn't even recognize you! It's me, Tifa, from Nibelheim, remember?"
Cloud nodded, glancing briefly at Tifa before turning his head to study the floor.
"Yeah, I remember you."
Tifa smiled.
"It's so good to see you again, Cloud. Although I really didn't expect to find you doing mercenary work."
Zack laughed, and Cloud looked like he was trying to burn a hole through the floor by glaring at it.
"That would be my fault, Miss Tifa," Zack said with a grin.
Tifa laughed as she walked out from behind the bar.
"Just Tifa is fine. Anyway, I'll show you guys to the back room. That way you and Barret can discuss things in private."
"Sounds good to me," Zack said, hopping off the barstool. "Come on, Cloud."
Cloud clambered down from his perch on the other stool and followed Tifa and Zack towards a door near the back of the main room.
The room had a distinctly musty smell, and Cloud unconsciously wrinkled his nose as he walked in. The light blinked unsteadily when Tifa flicked the switch on the wall, prompting the young woman to give the wall a good solid thump. It blinked once more, and then held steady. Tifa motioned to the small table and set of chairs in the center of the room.
"Go ahead and take a seat. I'll tell Barret you're here."
Zack and Cloud nodded and sat down at the table as Tifa left through another door off to on side of the room. Zack leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
"She's that girl you were avoiding back in Nibelheim, isn't she," he said without opening his eyes.
Cloud looked over at Zack, and then nodded.
"Yeah."
"I thought so. She's a nice girl. Pretty too."
"I guess."
Zack opened his eyes and looked over at Cloud.
"I'm sensing some issues here."
Cloud shrugged and once again looked down at the floor.
"It's just…nevermind. It's not important."
Zack studied his blonde friend for a moment, then shrugged and flopped forward, his elbows coming to rest on his knees. The silence stretched on, and Cloud could see Zack starting to fidget. Eventually he let out a frustrated sigh, stood, moved off to the other side of the table and started doing squats. Cloud rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help but grin. That was so typically Zack. He was like a puppy, restless and always moving. The others had always teased him about that back when they were still with ShinRa. Cloud had even heard Sephiroth mention it once. He opened his mouth to make a comment about the older man's restlessness, but the creak of the door opening silenced him. A large, dark skinned man stood in the doorway, giving Zack and Cloud and appraising look. Cloud couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated by him. He was huge, built like a tank and even taller than Zack, with a heavy machine gun where his left arm should have been.
Zack slowly straightened, turning to face the newcomer.
"I take it you're Barret?" he asked.
The large man nodded.
"That's right. You the guys from Ifrit Delivery Service, or whatever you call yourselves?"
"That's us," Zack replied. "So, what's the job? Tifa said she couldn't talk about it over the phone."
Barret walked into the room and stood by the table, leaning on it slightly.
"Our…organization needs a little extra muscle for an upcoming shindig."
"What kind of 'organization'?" Cloud's eyes narrowed as he spoke.
Barret paused, clearly looking for the right way to phrase his answer.
"…AVALANCHE."
The legs of the old wooden chair scraped violently against the concrete floor as Cloud stood. Without a word, he turned for the door. Zack grabbed his elbow before he could leave the room.
"Cloud, wait! At least hear the man out," he said, the barest hint of reprimand in his voice.
Cloud glared at Zack.
"I'm not gonna throw my life away fighting ShinRa for some planet crazy terrorists," he snapped.
"Cloud—"
Zack was interrupted by Barret slamming a hand down on the table.
"What'd you say?!"
Cloud turned his icy glare on Barret, who flinched unconsciously. Mako eyes…is he…? Damn…
"You heard me," Cloud said, his voice dangerously calm. "Or should I say it slower so you can understand? I'm not risking my life to fight for some preachy terrorists going on about how the planet's dying, and mako's—"
Barret lunged across the room and grabbed Cloud by the shirt front, lifting him clear off the ground. Zack shouted in protest, but the large man ignored him as he railed on Cloud.
"You little shithead! You think you're so high an' mighty, passin' judgment on us like that?! ShinRa is destroyin' the planet, but you can't be bothered with that, can ya?! Damn coward, that's what you are!"
Barret flung Cloud away from him, sending him straight into the chair he had been sitting in moments before. Before chair and young man went clattering to the floor. Barret lunged forward again, landing a solid punch on Cloud's face before Zack managed to get between them.
"Okay, okay, I think we all just need to calm down!" he shouted, pushing Barret away from Cloud with one hand while using the other to hold Cloud down. Although he was smaller than Barret, his SOLDIER enhancements made him at least as strong.
Barret backed down, but he was obviously still furious. Behind Zack, Cloud stood, using the fallen chair to help himself up. Wiping blood from his mouth, he glared at Barret.
"Help them if you want," he told Zack through gritted teeth. "I'm out."
Zack turned, reaching out a hand to stop his friend.
"Cloud, wait!"
The door slamming behind him was the only response.
