Disclaimer: I do not own FF VII or any of the characters from it. However, I did create the character of John.

Once again, thanks to all who read the story so far and a special thanks once more to DragonessWarrior and now to Malefactior for taking the time to review.

Testing Fate

Chapter III

John and Tifa approached the spiky-haired man in the SOLDIER uniform who was lying on the ground as a guard looked over him, wondering if he was ok. Tifa wanted to be sure that it was really her childhood friend that she hadn't seen for seven years. Tifa went ahead of John and knelt down in front of the blond man and found her voice to speak,

"A-are you all right?"

John watched as the man opened his bizarre bloodshot mako blue eyes to look at Tifa.

"Tifa?"

"Cloud? Oh Cloud, it is you!" cried Tifa in happiness.

"Yeah…" Cloud replied rather uneasily and getting up, "I'm Cloud."

Tifa was surprised by his strange words as was John, despite knowing that he would say that. Tifa chose to ignore it and rose as well, continuing to talk to Cloud.

"You don't look that well Cloud."

"It's okay Tifa, don't worry about it. It's nothing…"

"I can't believe it's really you! How long has it been?"

John watched as Cloud suddenly started to shake his head rather violently for about a single second before finally saying the false truth,

"Five years"

Tifa's eyes slightly widened before she regained her composure.

"R-really?"

"I know, I can't believe it's been that long."

"Cloud... What have you been up to all these years? What happened after you left Nibelheim?"

"I'll tell you Tifa, but do you have a place where I can stay for the night? I'm really sorry for asking this so suddenly."

"Hm? Oh don't worry Cloud; I know where you can stay. It's not far away from here."

Cloud smiled and Tifa and said "Thanks," before noticing John for the first time.

"Who's this Tifa?" he asked his childhood friend who seemed to have gone into a trance as she stared at the spot where Cloud had been laying a short while ago.

"What? Oh, I'm really sorry for not introducing you. Cloud, this is John. John, this is Cloud, we grew up in the same town."

"It's nice to meet you," said John trying to hide his worry as he shook Cloud's hand.

"Likewise I'm sure. How long have you known Tifa?"

"Only for a day to tell you the truth. I happened to walk into her bar yesterday."

"A bar?" Cloud asked, chuckling while slightly annoying Tifa, "Tifa owns a bar here?"

"And just what is so unbelievable about that Cloud?"

"Well it's nothing, but I just um… never saw you as a future bar hostess whenever I saw you as a kid."

"Well, you weren't the only one that changed since you left…" Tifa said looking down at her feet.

"Yeah, I know Tifa," said Cloud, his voice taking on a sadder tone, "I'll never forgive Sephiroth for what he did to you in that reactor."

At that moment Tifa's head shot up and locked eyes with Cloud.

W-what? How does he know that? He wasn't even there. You weren't there Cloud, I waited for you to save me, but…

Tifa lightly shook her head and decided to play along for now, her gaze relaxing and leaving Cloud.

"…Thanks Cloud."

John decided that this was a good moment for him to turn on his fake innocence of the subject matter, so he summoned up his best surprised tone,

"What did you say? Sephiroth? Y-you two knew Sephiroth? The Great General Sephiroth?"

Tifa and Cloud both looked down again and tried to keep their minds from reliving that horrible memory.

Great? Yeah, you could say he was great. A great murderer! But I shouldn't be angry at John, hell, I idolized Sephiroth as a kid, and look where it got me…thought Cloud.

"Sorry, I guess I shouldn't have asked" said John.

"No, don't worry about it," said Cloud, "It wasn't your fault. Isn't that right Tifa?"

She looked John and nodded, giving a reassuring smile.

"Cloud's right, you don't know what happened. I don't know if you can say that I knew Sephiroth, but I did... encounter him if you could say that"

John nodded and tried to change the subject.

"So should be head back to the others now?"

"I guess we should," said Tifa, "Cloud probably needs to rest."

And with that, the three began an uneasy and silent trip back to Seventh Heaven.

When they arrived, Tifa went into the kitchen to quickly whip something up for Cloud, despite his protests. Cloud was also introduced to the other members of AVALANCHE to whom he gave little more than a wave, which upset Barret to the point that he stormed out. While Tifa was in the kitchen, this left Cloud and John alone in the bar. John wanted to initiate some sort of conversation to get on Cloud's good side, but he didn't know how to.

What do I say to a guy like this? No matter what he says, there's a big chance that it's almost all a lie that he's living without his knowledge, but I know what happened and why he's like this. I wish I could make him see the truth right now to make him avoid what he's going to go through, but I can't or else who knows what might happen. Plus I'd never hear the end of it from him and Tifa if they found out that I knew what happened to Nibelheim. Hell, I even know more than they do most likely. I have to keep things going like they're supposed to for the most part, at least until we get out of Midgar and are farther away from Shinra. Thankfully, I have some time until that time comes. Well, here goes nothing.

"Cloud?"

"Hm?"

"Are you in SOLDIER or something?"

"… I used to be in SOLDIER long ago, First Class, I just kept the uniform. I'm a mercenary now."

That was an example of a lie.

"Oh, ok. Can I ask something else?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"Is that how you met…him? Was he your commander or something?"

There was a long silence afterwards before Cloud replied,

"Yes, Sephiroth was my commander while I was in SOLDIER."

John decided not to press the matter any further when Cloud decided that it was his turn to ask a question.

"Where are you from anyway John?"

Damn, what should I say? I can't exactly tell him the truth now. Quick, think something up.

"Oh you know, here and there."

"Here and there eh?" said Cloud smiling.

"Yup," replied John who was also smiling.

Well I guess this is some progress, thought John as Tifa came in with some food similar to what she made John that morning.

"Here you go Cloud, enjoy!"

"Tifa, you really didn't have to."

"I don't mind, now hurry up and eat."

While Cloud was eating, John decided that Tifa would want to ask Cloud some private questions after he was done and decided to bow out.

"Well, I guess you two will want to catch up on old times. See ya tomorrow," said John as he headed towards the elevator.

"Bye John, thanks for what you did for Jessie!"

"Bye"

Once John got to the bottom floor he waved good night to Biggs, Wedge and Jessie (who gave him many thanks for what he did again, along with many apologies) and went over to the corner where he slept the previous night and lied down, slowly drifting off to sleep.

This was quite a day, Cloud seems to be okay with me being here, I'll try to talk to him again tomorrow. I hope Aeris managed to get home safe…

Meanwhile upstairs, Cloud had finished his dinner and Tifa was reluctantly ready to ask him some questions.

"Cloud, can you please tell me what happened after you left Nibelheim seven years ago?"

"Sure. Basically within the next two years I got into SOLDIER and quickly rose up the ranks. The mission in Nibelheim was my first after becoming First Class. I remember I was so excited about coming back."

But you didn't come back Cloud, I never saw you! I waited and waited, but…

Tifa was silent for a few seconds before asking another question.

"Cloud, what do you exactly… remember from the trip to Nibelheim?"

"I remember going to see my mom and going to the reactor, you were our tour guide. The bridge broke and you weren't allowed inside the reactor. I remember afterwards as well when Sephiroth went mental and torched the whole town. I also remember… finding you after he had slashed you."

"…anything else?"

"Actually, no. I don't remember much else, I remember going up to fight him, but I don't know what happened after that, somehow I ended up alive and so did you."

This isn't making any sense. How can he know what happened in that reactor? I never saw him! And some of the other stuff is making no sense whatsoever, why doesn't he remember what happened after Sephoroth injured me? We never found out what really happened to Sephiroth either, we can't trust what Shinra says.

"How did you end up here in Midgar?"

"…I don't remember exactly."

"What? Cloud, we only found you two hours ago."

"I know, but I'm telling the truth. I don't know why I can't remember, I just know that I don't."

Tifa was silent again after this.

Cloud…what's wrong with you? What really happened to you during these seven years?

"… so now what Cloud? What are you going to do now?"

"I'm a mercenary now, so I guess I came here looking for jobs. I don't think I'll be able to find one though, so I'll leave soon."

"Leave?! When?"

"Tomorrow probably"

"But you just arrived Cloud, can't you stay a little while?"

I can't let him go like this, there's something not right with him. I can't quite put my finger on it, but…

"Tifa, it's not like I would be able to stay anyway. Barret wouldn't have it and he'd kick me out."

"I can talk to him, he'll listen."

"Thanks for the offer Tifa. It was great seeing you again, but I'll be leaving tomorrow. I gotta find a job don't I?"

Cloud got up and started walking towards the elevator to get some sleep and Tifa started to panic before she hastly came up with an idea.

"We can hire you Cloud."

"Excuse me? Who's we?"

"We as in AVALANCHE, we're a resistance group against Shinra and we'll be attacking the No.1 Mako Reactor here in Midgar the day after tomorrow. We can pay you to help us, I'm sure your fighting skills will be useful."

Please Cloud, stay!

"…What about Barret?"

"I'll talk to him. He knows that we could use another fighter and he'll be prepared to pay you."

Yes, that's it!

"…"

"…"

"Okay Tifa, you win. If I'm hired, I'll stay until the end of the mission, but I'm gone right after that."

"O-okay…"

"Good night Tifa," said Cloud as he headed to the bottom floor to get some sleep.

"Night…" Tifa said silently.

I've got to find out what happened to him and why he's like this, even if it means letting him believe what he thinks is true for a while.

Next morning came sooner than Tifa would have liked and before she knew it, she was standing in front of Barret after breakfast asking him to hire Cloud and trying to get him to keep his voice down, which resulted in failure.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO PAY HIM?!"

"Barret please, keep it down."

"Grr damn it Tifa. What is it with you lately? First you recruit that John guy without asking me and now you want Cloud as well? When did I stop being the boss of this group?"

"Barret, you know as well as I do that we would benefit from having Cloud with us on the mission and besides, I agreed to stay and look after this place tomorrow, so I can't go."

"An' what about the No. 5 reactor the next day? You wanna have him come along then too? Huh?"

"Barret, let's not jump ahead, we all have to get out of this one alive first and Cloud will help us."

"I understand Tifa but… does it have to be HIM? He has shown no respect around here and expects me to give him &#&+ MONEY for it."

"Barret please, hire him for this job, for me…"

"Ugh, dammit Tifa. Fine, where is he?"

"He's somewhere outside with John from what I remember, John decided that he should leave the bar while I asked you."

"And why would John think that?"

"Because he thought that you would go on and start yelling at him for no apperant reason."

"Mutha&#, I'm gonna go find them."

As Barret went outside shouting profanities, Tifa smiled to herself for her small victory.

There, this gets me more time, maybe I can get Cloud to stay for the No. 5 Reactor attack as well.

John had led Cloud to the Beginner's hall and now they were sitting on top of a pile of boxes.

"How much longer do we have to wait here John?"

"What would you prefer Cloud? Sitting here with me or being back at the bar where Barret would come up to you and start yelling while Tifa was trying to talk to him?"

"…"

"There, I knew I was right. Come on admit it, this was a good idea."

"…yeah I guess you're right. Pretty much anything would have been better than staying there with Barret," Cloud said as he smiled.

"There we go, that's the spirit!"

"John?"

"Yeah?"

"What do you plan on doing after the reactor bombing?"

"Well, Tifa told me that we'd attack the No. 5 Reactor the next day, so I guess I'll stick around for that. What about you?"

"I'll probably leave."

"…Tifa wouldn't like that."

"I guess Tifa will have to deal with it. I know she wants me to stay here, but I can't."

"I'm a mercenary and I would like to take advantage of that and not be held down in one place."

"I guess I see that," said John, "but still, you can stay a little longer can't you? At least for Tifa's sake."

"Tifa's… a big girl now, she doesn't someone to look after her, especially me."

"Are you sure about that Cloud?"

"…Why are you asking me these questions anyway, you've only known her for two days."

"I see things Cloud, things that don't have to be spoken to be understood. She's worried about you, you just turned out from nowhere after so long and now you're about to leave her again, she'll be lonely."

"Then you can do her a favor and look after her John after I leave."

"Geez Cloud, you can at least try to understand her."

"…"

"Hm?"

"…I will miss her," said Cloud before quickly adding, "but that doesn't mean that I'll stay."

John slowly nodded in understanding before asking a question that he already knew the answer to.

"Cloud, where did you come from?"

"What do you mean?"

"Where were you before Midgar?"

"…I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"…no. I know it sounds crazy, but I don't."

Cloud…

"Do you know how you might have lost your memory?"

Cloud shook his head with some sadness on his face.

"I see…"

They stayed silent like that for a few minutes until John decided to break the silence.

"Well then, I think Tifa should be done with Barret by now I think, let's go back and hear him yell."

Cloud gave a light chuckle before jumped off the pile and stood besides the door.

"You got it, let's go."

John jumped off too and when he landed he saw two things on the floor. One was a vial with red liquid which must have been an Ether and a blue materia which upon closer inspection showed two spheres connected together.

"This must be an "All" materia," said John, "here catch, Cloud."

John tossed the materia at Cloud who caught it and looked at it,

"Why are you giving this to me?"

"I saw that your sword has linked slots, so you'll be able to use it."

"Oh, thanks," said Cloud.

After leaving they went into the weapon shop where Cloud bought an iron bangle and then they were heading back to the bar when they saw a very tired looking Barret walk up to them with an annoyed look on his face.

"THERE YA ARE! Listen up Spike-head, you are so lucky to have Tifa on your side. Thanks to her, you're hired for this mission tomorrow, so you should be thankful."

Cloud gave a nod before asking, "What's my pay then?"

"PAY? THAT'S ALL YOU CAN THINK ABOUT?! DAMMIT, YOU'RE GETTING PAID WHEN WE RETURN, WHATEVER I GIVE YOU AND NOT A GIL BEFORE THAT!!!"

With that, Barret walked away shouting even more curses than before. A few minutes later, John and Cloud started walking back towards the bar as well.

"You know what?" asked Cloud as they were walking up the steps.

"Hm?"

"I think yelling was an understatement."

When they got into the bar, they were both laughing which made Barret even angrier and shout more random curses and punch the wall and eventually Biggs which made John and Cloud holler even more.

During all this Tifa just sat at the bar and watched her friends.

At least Cloud is laughing, that's good. I gotta be thankful to John for cheering him up.

They ate a very disorganized dinner that night as Barret kept swearing into his food which resulted into pieces of chicken flying off and hitting everyone in the face, leading to everyone carrying their plates as they walked around the room to eat.

The one who seemed to be enjoying everything the most was John, who eventually broke down in laugher at the whole situation and was soon followed by Tifa and eventually the rest of AVALANCHE, finishing off with Barret himself.

Around noon the next day, the entire group gathered at the train station. Marlene was hugging Barret good-bye and Tifa was telling everyone to stay alive.

"John, you watch yourself and you too Cloud. I don't want to hear news of anyone dying."

"We'll be okay Tifa, don't worry," said John who was soon backed up by Cloud with a nod.

Barret then stood in front of the entrance to the train to make a short speech,

"Alright y'all, this is it. We're gonna go and kick some major Shinra ass and come back victorious. Everyone knows what they have to do. Let's move out!"

With that, everyone aside from Tifa and Marlene boarded the train as it departed for the No.1 Reactor. After it left, Tifa and Marlene stood on the platform for a few more minutes before starting to head back to the bar.

Stay safe Cloud, there's still so much you need to know.