Two
.
A cold wind made the squad hunch over themselves, shielding their face from the icy air and floating snow.
"Ah! I understand why the enemy buried themselves here!" John shouted over the wind."Nobody in his right mind would come to this area if not forced."
"Zack seems unbothered," said one of their accompanying trooper. His chattering teeth made him hard to understand, but half the party was of enhanced SOLDIER.
"Bah! I like the snow. Never seen it at my home back in Gongaga. I started hating the heat and even prefer a cool climate now."
Some answers at his comment were lost in the wind but he heard Essai.
"He has a star stuck under his skin, that's why he's full of energy and make the snow melt," Essai joked.
"Well, he doesn't melt only snow," Peter muttered, his throat still aching from a cold. "Remember at Icicle Inn? All the girls were love-struck."
"Boys too!" Sebastian shouted.
They laughed in the face of the terrible weather. Zack kept a smile on his face but all his senses searched for potential threats. There was only snow for miles but Genesis did warn them of monsters master in the art of disguise. Without counting the people they were tracking.
"Was your buddy Cloud a bit like you? He lived too long in a freezing place and started hating it, so he ran off to Midgar?"
Zack froze a second before his smile broadened. He liked thinking about Spike and questions about him kept him alive, somewhere in his heart.
"Nah, Cloud wasn't so swallow to hate a season. He liked all of them. That's why he was so homesick at Midgar."
"Because there are no clear-cut seasons," Tony said, nodding.
He saw the smile on Zack stay for a bit longer and ignored the glare of the older SOLDIERs. They kept saying they shouldn't encourage the First to linger on the past. But younger SOLDIER like him realised how talking about this Cloud dude made Zack happy. Joan, who died not a month ago, lived in Gongaga too and said talking about dead loved ones was pretty normal for them.
When Zack tensed, and reached for his sword, his companions reacted swiftly. An attack. Fortunately, it was only some monsters trying to eat them. They weren't smart enough to run for their life when the SOLDIERs wiped them out. Unfortunately, the battle revealed their location for the enemy. Enhanced guys from the bad side where a bit harder to beat into pulps.
The Watchers' uniform was all black, covering them head to toes when in a mission. It was made to hide identities. Enhanced men like normal ones wore it. Which meant the only way to know if your opponent was enhanced was to look them in the eyes.
Don't work if they wear glass! Zack thought.
He shielded himself against Essai and his barrier. He used the breather to scan the status of the men under his command. He scoffed, not pleased. The Watchers surrounded them. They weren't some lowly opponents. Zack jumped anew in the battle, giving all he got, fighting alongside those men he knew for years now. He smiled, satisfied to see that none of the living one backed off or faltered.
"Reyes, did you call for back-up?"
A Watchers dipped his sword into the trooper neck. Blood drowned the answer. Zack hitched to fight the man, but he heard enough of Reyes and knew how bad the situation was.
"Retreat!" he shouted, assuring his men some time.
A second wave of fighters cut their retreat.
"Shit!" Zack barely stopped a sword from relieving some of his useful limb.
Almost like they planned it, thought Zack.
The squad held its ground as much as possible with one SODLIERs for two Watchers. The troopers were since long dead.
Zack was thrown to the ground. He grunted as someone jumped on his back. If they thought he wasn't going down fighting then they were stupid. He rolled over, grabbing one of his army issued blade. It was a tiny thing next to his broad sword, but the lame was sharp and pushed neatly into the neck of his assailant. He heard his men shouting and fighting. It made him grow a feral grin that died the instant a bullet grazed his shoulder. His heart raced as he tried to find the sniper. There wasn't anyone with a gun near them, so it was a sniper. Yet, with the little vision they had, it should be an enhanced man.
Zack grunted, dodging the blade of another Watcher. A sniper. This was new. And not a good sort of new. His men were thrown off their fights by bullets. Another one grazed his tigh. Only because the swordsman made him stay on the trajectory. He staggered then was put on the ground again. A status spell hit him. Even with all his will he couldn't fight the sleepiness overcoming him.
A chuckle escaped him. They weren't trying to kill all of them. This was new too.
Zack woke up his cheek pressed on something icy. The odor identified it as metal.
"You're with us, sir?" Essai asked.
Zack grunted, forcing his eyes open even if a migraine was cracking open his skull. Sleep spells didn't him good. Yet he sat up checking his surroundings and his men. His heart sank in his stomach as he took in the situation. They were in a cell. A cell with bars big enough to hold a SOLDIER, plus the thing holding his hands he couldn't see. On the other side of the cell was what was a lab clearly put together in a rush.
"Well, shit." Soft snickers echoed from his men.
"Our sentiment, sir," Essai answered dryly.
Zack would have wanted that the absence of John and the young Tony were because they were only separated from the group. For whatever purpose the Watchers needed them. But he did see their bodies in the blood covered snow earlier.
"Can you fill me?" Zack asked as he warmed up his shoulders.
"We were dragged there and nobody showed up since," Sebastian answered, looking him oddly as he worked his hand under his ass. "The matter of our bonds is resistant to our force, our weapons are nowhere in sight and we're like, deep down in hell."
Zack slipped his hands around his thighs, grunting as his shoulders suffered his manœuvre. But he managed to end up with his hands in front of him.
"What? Cloud had a course on way of breaking bonds. The teacher let them think before the real thingy. He just did that and munched on the bonds. Thought you need to be a bit flexible if you don't want to dislocate a shoulder!"
He grinned, Sebastian continued.
"We think it's the old electric dam abandoned after the spread of SinRa."
"A dam in an area subject to reapeted freezing," Peter groaned.
"The river don't froze, apparently," Essai commented.
Zack nodded while testing his bonds. He grimaced at his wounds opening up.
"We're still alive, and we're not alone," Zack encouraged.
Tired smiles answered him. His own smile was strained, but he kept it up. His senses noticed the sound of someone approaching, and he urged everyone to stay silent. A simple human entered, lab coat flung on his arm and tired eyes lingering on them all. He didn't speak as he leaned against a metal bed and light up a cigarette.
The SOLDIERs exchanged worried glance but Zack thought the man was simply dissociating. He did jump like he was caught daydreaming when two Watchers all but dragged a struggling third one between them.
"He's having a pull," said one of them. "That's why he wasn't on the field earlier."
They dropped the third without care. They fell on the ground, a whine escaping their lips. One of the standings Watcher gave them a hit in the shin. He scramed away when the ill person moved to grab his leg. A laugh had escaped the second Watcher before they went out.
"You stop that!" screamed the scientist leaning by the door. "Stop interrupting me when him in the lab! You assholes!"
The Watcher in his black uniform covering him head to toes, struggled to rise from the ground. He had to lean on a table to stand, yet wobbled like a young fawn.
"You're covered in … gross things," the scientist said before pointing a finger to another door. "Shower!"
The Watcher obeyed silently.
"What are you going to do with us?" Zack asked. "Because I would prefer to know if I'm not going to make it home tonight. I can't sleep without, Mr. Fluff, that's my teddy bear."
The First grinned when he received only blank and shocked stare from both sides. He didn't know himself why he said the last part but, hey, making connection with people required that he shares some of his personal history.
"What?"
"I got it when I was five and you know at this age we aren't really good at naming things. Well, he is green - who make bear green, uh? - and fluffy. Greeny was a bad name, so Mr. Fluff it is! Did you have a favorite plushie? I bet you have! What's its name?"
Half-way during his story the scientist shook his head then rummaged in dressers. He put some clothes, all dark and new materials. It looked like a Wutainesse ninja outfit. Which was normal as Watcher were dissident from the Wutaian Empire fighting to 'renew his sense of honor and kick ShinRa ass'. Or something like that.
"Yeah, yeah, I had a rabbit named Carotte." The scientist finally caved. Zack was so elated he didn't look when the door of the shower cracked open but he did when the scientist said: "Are you going to put your trousers on or what?"
Zack blinked, his heart racing at the familiar solhouette. A second he tried to rationalise. It was just a spitting image of him. The real one was dead. Six feet under. But his brain short-circuited and rationality was threw to the four winds.
"Cloud?"
The man, because its was man and not a teen still growing, turned his head an inch toward him. Cloud. Or Cloud-lookalike looked ill and thin. Too thin. He mouthed what Zack thought was 'Cloud', his own name, like he was testing it. The man didn't recognise the name; he barely reacted to it. Which confirmed the part of Zack's brain that screamed he wasn't Cloud. But the crazy hair was recognisable. Then he dropped his mako blue eyes on the trouser the scientist held for him. He wobbled on his legs and gripped the metal table next to him.
Zack stayed mouth agape, eyes wide before the sight of Cloud Strife. Alive, if unsteady, and wearing the black camisole going high on his thighs and up his neck. It was mouth watering. In others circumstances. Because now Zack could only try to reboot his brain and not to panic. His men were right here, looking at him with confusion. He needed to be in control for them.
It had to be a clone or something like that. Or else...
Or else Cloud had been in the Watchers all this time. Which would poses others questions like: Was he forced to fight for them or willing?
"I'm having hallucinations," Cloud said, fighting on pronouncing each word.
Zack pinched his lips closes as a sob threatened to come. It was Cloud's voice. It was his Cloud. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. He couldn't be sure. He had to calm his racing heart and uneven breathing. He soudln't panic; he was a dreadful SOLDIER. Even if it was simultaneously the best and worst day in his life.
Breathe, dude, he ordered himself.
"When are you not?" the scientist answered. "What kind?"
Cloud tapped against one ear then his eye before sighing. He put his trousers but stayed oddly still, not looking at the prisoners.
Zack liked his lips, he was doing all his possible to stay calm when he wanted to throw himself at Cloud and hug him out. He couldn't do that in a cell, he remembered. Cloud didn't recognise him apparently. He may be a clone.
"What are you seeing?"
"Friend."
Zack nearly jumped out of his skin. Cloud could remember him; he felt it. He was his Cloud!
"Hey, I'm not a hallucination, Spike!"
Cloud turned his head to him at the surname. He frowned, opened his mouth but didn't say a word. Zack wiggled closer from the bars.
"Like hell you're his friend," the scientist huffed. He puffed a cloud of smoke and crossed his arms. Then turned his head toward Cloud. "It is? The guy is your friend?"
The SOLDIERs behind Zack were tense, observing the scene with the same attention as him. Cloud fixed the scientist. Zack realised the guy was far from Cloud's arm length. In this condition he doubted Cloud could stop the scientist from warning others Watchers. Cloud had trouble standing. Zack bite his lips, guilt overwhelming him. He may have put Cloud in danger.
Zack snorted, his buddy was in the Watchers. The thing was that he had to be in danger a lot. Maybe more than SOLDIERs. After all they didn't know how the inside worked.
"Doc!"
"Argh!" The scientist jumped, hand to his heart. His cigarette fell to the ground as he turned. Everyone imitated him except for Cloud. His eyes fixated on one point.
The Watcher at the door was dressed up in the uniform, but his head was bare of a mask, letting them saw his blond hair, way more normal than Cloud's.
"What are you doing there, Dirk?"
"Heard Sky is having a pull." He pointed to the SOLDIERs. "What are you going to do with them?"
"Experiences," the doc grumbled.
"Experience," Cloud repeated.
"Well, okay. He's having a pull," Dirk chuckled.
"Yeah, also, the First here say he's Sky's friend."
"It's Cloud!" Zack blurted out. His men fidgeted but stayed as silent as fishes as per his order.
The doc lighted another cigarette; he inhaled as Dirk was eyeing them. "How do we know he's telling the truth?"
"Oh shit," Essai muttered. Zack agreed with a nod.
Dirk opened his palms; he expressed his disbelief silently. When the doc didn't answer his silent question, he threw his arms in the air, "Why me? How do I know? Sky has more conflicting memories than emmental cheese has holes."
The doc waved his hand, more concentrated on his cigarette than Cloud standing like a zombie or the exasperated Dirk. Zack eyed him as he looked over the array of strange instruments on a counter. He took what looked a lot like Reno's weapon. Then he sauntered back to the cell, powering the weapon.
Zack smelled the electricity before the little blue arcs roamed the nightstick. Dirk looked at them, then pressed the weapon to the cell. Zack tensed, heart racing. He couldn't have been prepared enough for the shot of pain that tore through him. A scream escaped his lips. Even if he swore to stay strong. His men echoed his pain.
Zack heard bare feet moving. Then a head hit the bars with force. Despite his zombie-like attitude a second ago Cloud moved as fast as a First. He hit then held Dirk on the ground with easiness. It was an instinctive reaction, Zack thought.
"Wow! You win! You win!" Dirk screamed, his face planted on the ground, Cloud holding him with a death grip. One of the SOLDIER emitted a muttered "damn" that echoed Zack's thoughts. The blond released his hold before his attention was drawn to the doc approaching the nightstick. Dirk demanded: "Wow, don't touch that, doc!"
"I'm only turning it off," he said, doing just that. "See?"
Cloud's body became slack, he staggered from his crouched position and fell on his butt. Zack couldn't resist the urge to grab his hand. He observed Cloud, the way his eyes focused on their hands.
"You're real," Cloud muttered.
Zack chuckled. "So are you."
Cloud lifted his head at that, his eyes mesmerised Zack. Though the greenish veil made his stomach coil. He held the hand tighter when Dirk stood up.
"How in hell it is saying if the man is his friend?" asked the doc.
"Oh! I couldn't verify that, but now, I can assure you he won't let you experiment on them!" Dirk exclaimed. Then he approached Cloud, still on the ground. Zack was terrified, their only help in this situation could easily be removed. Cloud was too sick to think clearly, he reacted at stimulus so when Dirk placed his hand on the blond gently he didn't struggle.
"Don't touch him!" Zack shouted, their hands parting. "Cloud don't-! Do something! Fight!"
"Oh, sush!" Dirk muttered, holding Cloud. Zack was persuaded he would remove him from the piece but he dropped him in a chair.
Dirk crouched before Cloud and pressed his knee. "So, yes of no questions, as always." He paused, "He's your friend?"A nod answered. "You don't want him here?"Another nod. "You have a plan?" The SOLDIER held their breath as Cloud nodded. "Please, tell me you had it before your pull."
Cloud had a weak smile, lifted a hand, then made a move that looked like sign language. Dirk hummed and turned his head to the SOLDIERs, "Two weeks. You should be happy he isn't putting it off right now."
"What?" Essai blurted out.
"Well, his escape plan of course!"
Zack glanced at the zombie-Cloud, an alive Cloud. The blond looked straight at him even with mako glazing his eyes. An uncontrolled smile spread on Zack's face.
.
.
so, as you should have inferred I'm already writing some scenes from next chapters and I need you to understand what happened to me, which explain my "oops ASGZC happened" moment, so story time! (again)
me: damn Gen and Cloud are cute togheter maybe I'll write a strifesodos after that
brain: they're in love
me: no, no, just cute and friendly
brain: they're in love now
me: look, Gen is Angeal and Seph soulmate, Cloud is Zack. They're only friend. Plus I don't want to write some complex thing about polyamory with your soulmate but also with non-soulmate. I'll get confused. I confused myself just now. The point is: they aren't soulmate
brain: … or are they? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
me, soflty: holy shit
