On Edge
Disclaimer: see Chapter One (and Two)
.. .. ..
The Oncoming Storm Cloud: An Interlude
They'll need your help, when they get here. Say you'll help?
He stared blankly into the white, eyes drifting over the carpet of glowing flowers and brilliant green. He desperately wanted to close his eyes, linger, and just feel the brush of Her soft curls on his neck, but knew She needed an answer.
"I can't help myself, and you want me to help a couple of strangers?"
Cloud didn't need to see Her chiding look to know She was wearing it. He knew Her well enough to know She wanted nothing more than to waggle her finger in his face like she was scolding a naughty child. He, though...He never was one to hold his tongue, and He didn't now.
You wanted to be SOLDIER, a Hero, right? This is your chance, Spike.
"I'm not the same dumb kid I was then. Not anymore." His shoulder jolted as Zack nudged it, even as She tsked in his ear.
Dilly-dally, Shilly-shally. What have you got to lose?
Cloud blinked, leaning back in his desk chair. The wood groaned under his weight as he pushed back from his desk, staring blankly at the piles of request forms, and payment invoices, and bills for the bar. He knew he was just as stubborn as accused to not accept help running his business, but...it was his business. His. He hadn't come from money, or had a wealthy relative to lend him a hand, like Tifa. He'd built what he had through hard work, and was loathe to hand over the reins to anyone else, even for something like filing taxes, and typing up invoices, and such
If it came down to it, he could always call Reeve and ask for some help. He had a good head for business, and seemed determined to lend him a hand, even if it was to throw Cait Sith his way when things got rough. It was a nice thought, that someone wanted to help just for the sake of it. Cloud knew he would probably never take the persistent blonde up on his offers of help, but it helped to know that he could.
He stared at his cold cup of milky tea, grimacing as Mako-enhanced eyes took in the disgusting, filmy layer of cream as it separated from the tea. He poked at the fragile cup with a thin finger, frowning as the milky layer shuddered and split, the slimy skin of cooling cream floating on the surface of the tea.
That...well, that killed any desire he had for tea.
He pushed the cup away from him with a frown. Cloud knew he should get back to work, but what They'd said wouldn't leave him be. He knew, despite what Aer—what She said, he probably had quite a bit to lose, if things went as horribly wrong as they usually did for him. Even so, could he live with himself if he didn't try? He was supposed to be Zack's living legacy, and Zack, well...he was all about the typical Hero schtick—compassion, strength, honor, and the willingness to help whoever needed it; could he really turn his back on that
Cloud frowned, running agitated hands through his hair. He didn't even need to think about that. He'd like to blame the mess of tangled memories his mind had become, but he couldn't. Even without Zack in his head, he couldn't turn his back on his honor, on his desire to help where he could, no matter the cost. As bad as it got at its worst, and he didn't fool himself into thinking that his Bad was anything less than Catastrophic, he wasn't the sort to give in, turn away. Now, all he had to do was wait for whatever, whoever, was coming to get here.
Honestly, it was the waiting that made him hesitate.
Gaia, waiting was the worst. Even when he knew he would be facing down almost-certain death and broken bones, he just wanted it over with. He'd used up a lifetime supply of patience growing up in sleepy, uninteresting Nibelheim, then dozing away a good three, four years of his life in that damn tank. As far as he was concerned, he could have patience enough once he was dead. Gaia knew, if They were any indication, it wasn't as if he was going anywhere once he bit it.
Cloud slumped, resting the back of his head against his chair. "Fine, you win. Just...make it quick? Please?"
There was no answer, but he'd honestly not expected there to be. Still, it would have been nice to get some acknowledgment, even if it was Zack laughing in the face of his misery.
Time seemed to slip by, though he never truly lost track of it. Just one more thing to "thank" ShinRa for. All that damn Mako made it damn near impossible to truly let his mind drift. Even though he'd learned to tune it out, the passage of time was ever present on the edge of his awareness. Minutes...1, 2, 3, 10...slipped by. Voices drifted up the stairs, but he tuned out the words. He wasn't interested enough to want to listen in.
His head tilted, listening as the sound of light, quick footsteps darted up the stairs. Probably Reno. Tifa had this weird "Thing" about running indoors, probably because she was afraid one of the kids would break their necks, trying to copy her. A knock on his office door, quickly followed by the creak of hinges. Definitely Reno.
Only he would be the infuriating sort of person who bothered knocking, but couldn't be bothered to wait for acknowledgment.
"Yo, Cloud." He tsked, turning his chair slowly to face the redhead. Friend or no, the man was just dangerous enough that he'd rather not put his back to him any more than necessary.
"Can't you knock?"
"I did."
"It doesn't count when you don't bother waiting to see if I want you barging in here."
Reno rolled his eyes, and Cloud clenched his fist around the arm of his chair. He wondered if Reno could dodge in time if he threw a pen at his head. "Tifa needs you downstairs, pronto."
"What for?"
"Some people showed up a few minutes ago. They seem alright, but don't speak a damn lick 'a Common, and the kid...well, you ain't gonna believe it til you see it."
Cloud slumped further in his chair, head falling back to stare at the ceiling. He only just refrained from scolding Them for Their dirty trick. Cloud fought back an aggravated frown as She giggled at the edge of his awareness. Well, he had asked for Them to be quick about it, he supposed.
"At least I don't have to wait."
Reno gave him a funny look, before rolling his eyes and slinking out of the room. Cloud scowled. Like he had any room to judge him about, well, anything, that clumsy, infuriating TURK. Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet, rolling his shoulders til his spine cracked, stretching languidly as he headed towards the kitchen. One step, two steps, three...his boots made low, solid thumps against the aging wood, kicking up a bit of dust as they met the dusty bar floor. He shuffled towards the kitchen, following the low chatter and the smell of Gongagan Stew Pot, a recipe He had passed on that He had learned to make with His mother.
Cloud lingered just outside of the open kitchen, eyes darting over Tifa nudging away Reno as he tried to sneak chunks of the stew straight from the pot with his fingers. He smiled, watching her take her stirring spoon to him, before his gaze landed on the two unfamiliar people seated awkwardly in his kitchen.
The man looked bedraggled, pale from exhaustion. His clothes were heavy with what smelled like dried Mako, as were the teenager's. Cloud frowned, confused, but put it aside for the moment. The man met his eyes, and he was startled at the sight of Mako-enhanced green swirling with blues, and toxic, firefly yellows. Dirty, blonde hair clung to the man's forehead and chin, looking matted and greasy. The man smiled, and he was surprised how young it made him look. Honestly, had he not seen him a moment ago, he'd say the man looked around His age when he died, roughly 23, maybe 25. Even so, his age was hard to place.
Cloud took in his ragged clothing, torn and frayed at the edges, though carefully patched around the knees and elbows. He was doing his best NOT to glance at the teenager after that first glimpse. His appearance was a bit too...jarring. Honestly, he wasn't surprised that Tifa had noticed, let alone Reno. Looking at the kid now, he could see why Reno assumed he wouldn't have believed it had he hadn't seen it himself.
But, still...eyes a shimmering, glowing green, like blades of grass, and pyrelights, shone out of a pale, soft, ageless face, a mop of hopelessly mussed, though now matted, black hair. Honestly, it was if he was looking at Their child. He swallowed, hard, against a rising desire to cry. They could have warned him. They should have warned him. Looking at this boy, with his head tilted in curiosity like...like a puppy's, was almost painful.
He was Zack, and he was Aeris. Her eyes, in His face, with His hair.
Gaia.
Cloud braced himself, fighting back the urge to run. He wanted to be angry at Her, so much. He'd wondered why She'd been so insistent, why She'd wanted a promise from him. Now, he knew. He was to be punished with That Face and Those Eyes, a poor thanks in return for a favor to Them.
He tensed, feeling Her at the edge of his senses, her soft hair brushing his neck.
I'm sorry.
Why? Whywhywhy?
He couldn't put voice to it, but he knew She heard it, nonetheless. He needs you. They both do...him, more than the other, and you can help them.
Cloud clenched his jaw, fighting back a cry of distress, even as he nodded. He had sworn, so he would do what he promised. He felt Her linger for a moment, her head leaning back against his in gentle affection. After a moment, his eyes flitted to meet Those Eyes, and froze. They glowed, swimming with hesitant confusion, but were not locked on him. Those green, green eyes set in that dimpled face lingered just over his shoulder, where he felt her leaning into him.
How..? What...this kid. Who is this kid. Cloud watched the boy's face flicker through emotions. Recognition. Confusion. Hesitance. Denial. He wanted to turn to Her, demand She tell him who this kid was to Her, how he knew Her.
Instead of answering his unspoken demands, She merely laughed. Take care of him?
Cloud's eyes lingered on the boy's as he seemed to follow Her movement as she pulled away from him. "I promise."
.. .. ..
So. More of this thing. Hope it is enjoyable to read as it was to write.
