Welp, this chapter's kind of... eh. I dunno, maybe it's just me. I couldn't really think of another way to write it though so here it is. Kind of short again, but there wasn't much of a way to add in more detail. I should stop complaining about a chapter before you've even read it though, so let's revise all of this!
This chapter is clearly the best chapter you will ever read.
There. All better. You may commence to read.
Cloud's moment of confusion was soon interrupted by the others. They had all filed out of the train in their own time, not rushing like the blond had done because, now that they were at the home stretch, there was no reason to rush. Barret and Squall were bringing up the rear in an effort to make sure that everybody was safely off the train at about the same time. They all gathered together, although Cloud didn't quite see why they needed to do so after he heard what Barret had to say.
"Awright you lot. We did good today, but you better not get lazy, y'hear? We still got plenty to do! C'mon, we'll meet back at the hideout." The burly leader barely gave anybody time to even respond, instead charging off on his journey towards their hideout. His three lackeys soon followed, excited about getting back to the bar and congratulating themselves on a job well done. Besides, there were still plenty of new plans that they needed to go over after today's success. Cloud did wonder how they managed to run off so fast whilst leaving him and Squall standing there with the slightest air of bewilderment about them. They were supposed to be the fastest members of the team after all.
"I guess we should get back," Cloud murmured, not wanting to stand there in a repeat of the awkward silence that had befallen them earlier. It always seemed awkward when they were lumped together every single time and he really wasn't in any mood for it when he was brooding like this.
Squall nodded in agreement, deciding to give a response even after their little contest about which of them was tougher earlier. He was hardly going to hold a grudge about it since he'd found it much more amusing than the blond had. The whole affair had been less awkward for him. "Sure. Let's go." He didn't really give Cloud time to follow him though, instead heading off down down to the intertwined streets of the seventh Sector with practised speed.
Cloud had made his way to the bar alone that evening, walking through the dusty, unpaved streets back to their hideout with little complaint. After what had been quite a taxing day it was good to have some time alone amongst the waning light of the street lamps dotted along each of the pathways. The incident he'd had at the reactor still weighed heavily on his mind, as did the conversation with Barret on the train earlier. While he didn't want to let these things get to him and would instead prefer to focus solely on just getting his next pay check, it was hard not to retreat into his mind and have all of these events dwelling on his conscience.
Because of all of this he'd been quite distant when Tifa had greeted him in the bar and had said very little when Barret was telling everybody of his next plan. There wasn't a lot for him to say and he just wanted to hear what they had to do and then get out of there. As soon as they were finished in the meeting room he left the bar, refusing the offer of a drink from his childhood friend on his way out, and instead settled on one of the tables outside. Now that he was sat down he let out a sigh, his body slumping. Probably not the best idea to let his guard down when he was sitting around outside.
"Well you fled pretty quickly, didn't you?" Instantly he was alert again, looking around in bewilderment for the source of the noise. That SeeD was standing there, leaning next to the door that he'd just closed behind himself almost silently. The blond hadn't realised the man had seen fit to follow him outside so he couldn't help but be shocked.
Cloud shook his head, looking away again now that he knew who it was that was disturbing him, "I needed some fresh air." It was true, and it didn't help that all of the people talking in there had given him a bit of a headache. He didn't think he would have been able to spend much more time in there before having to excuse himself regardless of whether or not he had so much to think about.
"Oh? So do I." The slight smirk playing across Squall's lips showed that he wasn't just going to leave the blond alone, that was for certain. The former SOLDIER made more of an effort to sit up and not look so down now that he had company. There was no way he was showing his feelings in front of anyone else. While he'd been hoping that they could just relax into the silence he so craved it seemed that the brunet saw fit to carry on this very bare conversation, "So, you're just in this for the money, right? Even after all that stuff on the train?" When Cloud glanced over at the other man it was obvious that he was watching him, and expecting an answer too.
"I'm in this for as long as they pay me. I've got to live somehow," the blond murmured. After giving his reason he watched Squall for some kind of response with piercing eyes, hoping that this would be enough for him and he'd perhaps stop talking. All he wanted was a bit of peace.
All he had earned was a soft snort with a hint of amusement to it. "So you know the planet's dying, but all you care about is earning enough gil to stay in a dishevelled old inn and be left alone?" After everything the man had done to keep everybody safe years ago he found it was his duty to help out this time. It was hard to understand why someone else wouldn't want to. Taking that stance just seemed selfish to him.
Cloud's eyes narrowed at that. He'd never shared his plans for after he got enough money to split. Did he even have plans? He'd never really thought about it, the only part he'd really got down was becoming a mercenary to get himself some cash. As for what he'd do with it... "I don't know." The blond shook his head and tried to get his thoughts together before continuing, "I just... I want to get out of here." The blond had to look away when he felt Squall's eyes on him again, boring into him.
"Right." The brunet's tone had changed. He didn't seem to favour that answer and Cloud couldn't help but wonder why it wasn't satisfactory. Was it selfishness showing through in his words, or was he just confused? Everything was so hazy right now and it was difficult to think about what it was he really wanted.
They fell into silence for a long while. Neither of them really knew what to say to the other, too unpractised at conversation to come up with anything that could better explain the situation. The slums were getting darker now, the lamps that lit them starting to be extinguished to show the residents that it was time for them to settle into their homes. Squall stretched his arms out in front of him with a sigh and, once he was ready, reached for the door handle. When his hand closed around it he glanced back at Cloud and tried to think of something to say.
"Well, I'll leave you in peace. Look after yourself." The words were met with silence.
Squall shook his head and quickly disappeared into the bar. What had possessed him to say that? It was harder to hide the slight concern he felt for the blond than he'd thought. He knew what had caused it, of course. When he'd arrived the former SOLDIER hadn't looked like he was in at all good shape, and after hearing about the state he'd been in when Tifa had found him he'd wondered whether the man would be cut out for these missions at all. It was stupid of him to actually say something like that though, especially when he knew the blond didn't seem to remember a thing about the way he'd been found a couple of days ago. Cloud's memory was definitely a cause for at least some worry.
The brunet found that he could justify his thoughts with the fact that he was a former commander and had every right to be concerned if one of the people in his team seemed troubled. That was a good enough excuse for now, anyway, enough to help him get to sleep...
Left there in a state of confusion at the other man's words, Cloud sat out in the chilly night air in something of a daze. That little chat he'd had with Squall hadn't helped his poor, aching mind already being weighed down with all kinds of thoughts one bit. All it had given him was another obstacle: What did he want to do if he was to part ways with AVALANCHE? Leap into more and more dangerous jobs as long as the pay was enough to warrant it, stay in grimy, unkempt rooms at inns thanks to that being all he could afford? He could travel, perhaps, but then it would just be the same story all over again in a different place.
Perhaps he really would have to latch onto this group for as long as possible. It was dangerous but that was something he could easily cope with. Maybe he could come around to this ridiculous world-saving idea that the others seemed to be so enamoured with if given enough time. Did he want that, though? Shinra could be a grave enemy and he wasn't sure if he fancied giving his life to such a cause. But then, if they failed they'd all be dead anyway...
The blond shook his head as if to clear his mind of all of the thoughts crammed inside it, slipping down off the table and getting to his feet. It was getting late and he needed his rest if he was going to be fully functional tomorrow. Now that he'd resigned himself to sleep he headed inside quietly to the room he had been staying in for the past few days, being sure not to make enough noise to wake anybody who may have already slipped away to bed.
For Cloud, it was a very long night.
