Off Course: The Delivery Boy Saga

Disclaimer: See the ones before... I dislike repeating myself too many times.

Warning: Umm... some angst because it's not Final Fantasy VII without it, but it won't be overwhelming! I think...

Oh, PS: it's almost over!! :gasp:

Chapter Four: Saviors

Cloud stood upon the cliffs of Midgar. He felt silly for expecting Zack's Buster Sword to still be in the same spot from so long ago. Had it really been two years since he had come to the past to change the future? He knew that his other-self was on the truck headed for the recruitment office in Kalm from Junon. He could vaguely remember the boat ride being a hellish blur of seasickness and choppy waters. Cloud grimaced at the fuzzy memory.

The winds were harsh in the summer heat and brought no relief to the cliffs. It was raining hard and thundering in the distance. Foul weather for a foul day of returning to the cursed city of Midgar. Vincent was already in the city slums, checking things out for Cloud and to give the blond man some much needed space. He knew Zack was a SOLDIER Third already from his old memories. The man's ambition for SOLDIER had always remained in Cloud's mind. Once upon a time he had mistaken it for his own because of the jumbled memories from Hojo's experimentations and Jenova's mind-fucking.

Still, taking that first step back into one of the places of his nightmares bothered Cloud. He really didn't want to do it but he had promised Zack. He had promised, dammit. Besides, Jenova was still in Midgar under Hojo's watchful, beady eye. Also, he had to take care of Deep Ground. He had already finished off all of Hojo's little Sephiroth clones and had sent them into the Lifestream to rest from their previously torturous existence. Of course, he couldn't do that to the SOLDIERS but once he got rid of Hojo and Jenova they should be safe. Maybe...

Cloud wondered about the possible future generations of people that would not be born because of his actions. He wanted to feel guilty, really he did. But, he wasn't a superhero. Couldn't save everyone, you know. So he would save whom he could and let fate take over from there. He had thought about it really hard. He didn't belong in the new future. Even Vincent had more of a place here than him. There was already one Cloud Strife, a young one who would have a bright future and strong friendships. There shouldn't be two of them. The world had moved on without him.

Gaia no longer even called to Cloud.

There were only a few more tasks left that he could take care of in this new world. The rest was up to fate, Zack, the other Cloud, Vincent and Rufus Shin-ra. It was strange to know that he had met up with the young Shin-ra heir. The memory of that was quite enlightening...

Cloud looked to the sky and remembered the circumstances that led to him meeting the young Rufus Shin-ra.

000FLASHBACK000

Cloud watched as Vincent went off toward Lucrecia's Cave by the waterfall, disappearing just as dawn broke into the sky. He shook his head. There were some demons that not even Cloud could exorcise for others. He mounted the green Chocobo bareback. The blond headed off to Costa del Sol where he would meet up with Vincent later. The trip on foot would have taken a few days but with Chocobo he would be there in a few hours instead. He let the bird have free reign to run as fast as it wanted. He only had to steer it toward the coast.

When he and the green Chocobo arrived, Cloud dismounted. He quickly removed the reins and bit, slapping its rump lightly. It chirped its goodbye to him and sped off back into the wilds. Cloud wished he could have kept it but he wasn't going to stay long enough in this world to raise, race, and breed it. He had fond memories of his Chocobos from the past, especially his prized black and gold ones.

It was midday in Costa del Sol but it was still crowded with tourists. The sun was bright, almost blinding. Cloud wished he had a pair of sunglasses. The people were loud and their voices made his ears rings. Shouts from adults and children filled the air. The smell of human sweat and the tang of the sea mixing made Cloud's nose sting from the intensity. He could even sniff out small vapors of vomit coming from some trashcans. Sometimes Cloud hated his hyperaware senses, especially smell.

It was also the time of year for the Costa del Sol summer festivals and Cloud grimaced at the thought. He didn't like crowds. It didn't help that he had a small case of agoraphobia, maybe even sociophobia; which would explain why he always had a hard time with people in general. The swordsman sighed and meandered through the throngs of people. He made sure no one touched him. His glowing blue eyes scanned the crowd. He arched his golden eyebrows in surprise at who he saw without an escort. Well, well, well...

000

Rufus Shin-ra sighed in relief. He had managed to lose those rookie Turks that were supposed to be his babysitters. Heh, the young blond reminded himself to report them to Tseng. The Wutainese man would be exasperated with his antics but would be more angry with the rookies for failing their mission of keeping an eye on the young Shin-ra heir.

Still, he didn't need babysitters, really. Of course there were always people with a score to settle with Shin-ra Inc and would try to take it out on him. However, he knew plenty of self-defense on Tseng's insistence. Unfortunately Rufus wasn't watching where he was going and had wandered into the not so nice parts of Costa del Sol.

Cloud frowned as he tailed the Shin-ra heir. The boy was still young and nothing yet like the too shrewd man from his old time. The older blond could sense the innocence still radiating from him. Rufus had to be at least the same age as the younger Cloud, maybe even a year older. That only meant one thing: Rufus Shin-ra was a sheltered boy who should've had better trained Turks keeping an eye on him in the overly crowded tourist hub instead of the panicked rookies that Cloud had spotted near the festival grounds. So he kept to the shadows, doing the Turks' job of keeping the boy safe. Cloud may have never liked Rufus but that didn't mean he was going to leave the boy to the wolves of the red light district of Costa del Sol.

The swordsman briefly wondered if an event during this time from Rufus' old past had shaped him into the cold, ruthless man he had been, the one who didn't cry or bleed. Cloud's eyes hardened. He had made a vow to save as many people as he could. Rufus Shin-ra was going to be one of them.

Rufus realized that he had taken a wrong turn when a group of leering men surrounded him. He cursed mentally. How could he have forgotten to keep an eye on his surroundings? Tseng was going to triple his training for such a mistake, one that the teen couldn't lie about to the Turk. The slick-haired blond wished for his shotgun but apparently his arrogance had gotten the best of him. He had forgotten his firearm too. Perhaps he could talk his way of this situation. He did have a silver tongue...

"Ah, gentlemen, good afternoon," Rufus said with a falsely confident smile. He kept his posture straight and balanced himself in a subtle ready stance. Flight was the best option at the moment. But first he would try to distract these men with his words. "A fine day, is it not?"

One man licked his lips and sneered. "Och, pretty one, a fine day indeed," he slurred. His companions snickered stupidly. "Out for a good time, boy?"

"Something like that." Rufus kept a cautious eye as the group spread themselves out to surround him. He could recognize the lust in their eyes and grimaced mentally. The teen knew what these perverts wanted but he refused to give them anything. "But I believe that I must be going. You see, I have a rendezvous with another and--" He choked on his words when one of the slobs lunged for him. A whoosh of air and a dark blur topped with gold knocked away the man. The would-be attacker hit the brick wall hard and slumped down in unconsciousness.

"Sorry, boys. This one is mine," a soft, baritone voice said. The teen stared up at the back of the blond man that had saved him. The large sword on the stranger's back made Rufus a little nervous. The man looked at the younger blond from over his broad shoulder. Rufus relaxed when he saw the glowing blue eyes. A SOLDIER, one of Shin-ra's men had saved him. The blond looked back at the thugs. "Really, you are quite cliché, surrounding one lone boy in a deserted alley." His voice was conversational, calm, but Rufus could hear the dangerous undercurrent in the SOLDIER's words. "Unfortunately for you, he has friends here and I am one of them. Now scram." Rufus couldn't see the SOLDIER's face but whatever expression he had had frightened the perverts away. He turned to face Rufus.

"Thank you," Rufus said sincerely.

"That was extremely foolish of you, young Mr. Shin-ra," the blond man said. "You shouldn't be wandering away from your bodyguards."

"I don't need babysitters!" the teen said bitterly.

The SOLDIER smiled grimly. "Strange, it appears that you do, young master." He sighed and ran a hand through his spiky, golden locks. "Be glad I saw and kept an eye on you. Come. I saw your sitters rushing around looking for you."

"I don't want to be with them. They're rookies and they smother me." Rufus sounded... like a spoiled brat. He knew it but he had no desire to be kept under lock and key at the Shin-ra Villa. "I'll never get to go out under their eyes. Tseng always lets me go into the festivals..."

Cloud blinked in surprise. The boy just wanted to go to one of the festivals? He couldn't help himself. He softened. The swordsman did not sense an ounce of trickery. This Rufus Shin-ra was genuine and still just a child. "I hear they have some good shooting games..." He smiled a little when he saw the young teen perk up. "Why don't we go play a little then I'll take you back?" This kind of reminded Cloud of his days with Denzel.

"Really?" Rufus then blinked. "Hey, what's your name?" He sounded so guileless to Cloud's ears.

"It's Valentine."

"Just Valentine?" the teen questioned.

"Rufus Valentine."

The teen smiled. "Oh, how strange. We have the same first name. Well then! As you know I'm Rufus Shin-ra. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Valentine." He held out his hand. He looked up at Cloud with expectant blue eyes.

Cloud, who couldn't help but feel ironically amused, firmly shook the offered hand. "The pleasure is mine, Mr. Shin-ra," he said.

"Call me Rufus; that is if it's not too weird for you to say your own name."

"It's your name too," Cloud said smoothly. He clapped a gentle but friendly hand on the teen's shoulder. "Let's go have a little fun."

000ENDFLASHBACK000

Cloud smiled to himself. He had spent four days with Rufus Shin-ra. Four days filled with laughter and sunny smiles from the fifteen-year-old boy. They had made escaping the rookie Turks into a game. It had been the first time in a long time that he had gone to a festival and enjoyed it. Then he sadly looked at Midgar. He wondered about where he would go after everything was done, what he would do. The what-ifs and doubts tried to overwhelm him. Ultimately there was one question that plagued Cloud the most...

Would he play God and intervene when things didn't go the way he wanted them to go?

No, Cloud was too imperfect to be God. He felt too much, hurt too much, was simply just a mortal man stuck in an immortal body. Maybe he would sink himself into the Lifestream. The Planet might absorb him and finally let him die. Cloud shook his head of the thought. It felt too much like suicide and he was surprisingly stronger than to give in the temptation of letting himself die.

"I'll figure it later," he said to the howling rains. He narrowed glowing blue eyes. "Business before speculation."

000

Vincent Valentine was tired.

The crimson-eyed man easily danced around the sticky fingers of the local pickpockets in Sector Five of below the Plate. He had taken off his signature blood-red cloak and his golden gauntlet in order to remain unnoticed. The gloom and desolation of the slums clawed at him with invisible fingers. He hated this city just as much as Cloud. The gray mottled skin of the slum dwellers and their hollow eyes made him feel sorrow for the people.

In the two decades that he had slept Midgar had taken a turn for the worst. He had done research on what Shin-ra had been doing during his travels with Cloud and Vincent could taste bile every time he thought about it. Hojo and Valerian Shin-ra were monstrous beings that did not deserve the title of human. Vincent had more humanity than the both of them together and he had three demons and an extracted summon in his head. The irony was not amusing, at least since they were still alive. He would laugh about it after they were dead.

Still, the gunslinger had to finish up his reconnaissance and call Cloud. Or rather radio him since PHS lines were monitored by the Communications Department in Shin-ra Inc. He quickly finished up the last of Sector Six, carefully avoiding the prostitutes of Wall Market, and made his way back to Sector Seven to head the train station. He was to meet Cloud there by the entrance to the Train Graveyard. He walked with quick, confident steps in order to avoid questioning by the soldiers guarding the station. Just as Vincent neared the entrance he saw the vague outline of Cloud leaning against a dead and derailed engine. The only thing that gave him away was the golden color of his spiky hair and his barely glowing electric blue eyes. The sharpshooter surprisingly still had to learn how to dim his eyes like Cloud could. Vincent reminded himself to inquire to the method later.

"Sorry, Vincent, I came early," Cloud said after the gunman entered the shadows. "I was getting antsy."

"How unusual of you," Vincent commented. "The situation is poor down here. The people are far too downtrodden and sickly to be of any use." The crimson-eyed man sighed. "It really has gotten terrible since the last time I was present within Midgar."

Cloud grunted. "It'll be like this for awhile; at least in my memories." He cocked his head to the side, imitating a curious Chocobo especially with his natural hairstyle. "But I'm quite sure we'll speed up the process of recovery for the people once we eliminate Hojo's influence on Valerian Shin-ra and destroy Jenova."

"And Valerian himself?" the gunslinger asked.

"We'll wait until Rufus is older and wiser."

"Ah, that's right. You're in contact with the son."

Cloud glared at Vincent's skeptical tone. "No, I'm not manipulating him," he said in exasperation. "It's friendship, surprisingly. He's a nice kid." He shook his head. "I'd never thought I'd say that, ever. Weird. Anyway, he insists on calling me at odd hours on this private PHS he gave me; so it's not me, it's him."

"Sometimes I can't help but wonder," Vincent said in way of an apology.

"Me too. I--" Cloud's aforementioned PHS from Rufus Shin-ra rang. "Damn, speak of the little devil." He flipped the phone open. "Valentine here."

000

Rufus Shin-ra had a problem. A big, big problem. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to call Tseng but the Turk Commander couldn't help him for once. He wanted to call Rude but he was on a mission apparently. The other Turks he didn't even like or trust. The rookies? Ugh, he wouldn't get started about the failings of those two. And he hadn't met the newest rookie yet...

The young blond stopped pacing his room suddenly and stared at his PHS laying on the nightstand. Of course! Mr. Valentine! He licked his lips. But maybe this time the older man might get irritated. Rufus had been calling the man off and on for weeks, hemming and hawing about this issue. He was afraid, though he shouldn't be. The swordsman wasn't actually a part of the corporation but had become Rufus' friend and surprisingly his mentor over the phone. A Shin-ra shouldn't be so indecisive. But Rufus was more than just a Shin-ra, right? He was human. He had his share of doubts, questions, and mistakes. Rufus narrowed his baby blue eyes. He quickly strode over to his desk and picked up the phone. He had Mr. Valentine's special phone on his number three speed dial. He pressed the button and waited.

"Valentine here," said the older blond voice over the PHS.

Rufus felt himself relax a little. "Hello Mr. Valentine," he said. "How are you?"

"I'm actually a little busy."

"Oh..." The teen deflated a little. He choked on his own disappointment. Of course Mr. Valentine was busy! He was always busy... Like his good-for-nothing father...

"But I can make time for you. What's wrong?"

The young blond trembled and clutched the phone against his ear hard. "I..." He could hear his father in his head, bellowing that Shin-ra men didn't need help. "I..."

"Rufus, what's wrong, son?"

Rufus began to weep inconsolably over the phone.

000

Cloud jerked the phone away from his ear. He stared in wide-eyed surprise. He looked helplessly at Vincent. "Uh-oh..."

"What?" Vincent could hear the boy's weeping coming from the phone. "That's not good," he said.

The blond swordsman cursed at his partner. He pressed the phone back to his ear and spoke. "Rufus! Rufus, it's okay! Just tell me what's wrong, kiddo," he said soothingly.

000

"I don't know what to do!" Rufus burst out between sobs. "I don't know what to do anymore! I can't do this, Mr. Valentine!" He was furled up in the far corner of the room, facing the door and clutching his legs to his chest with his free hand. He looked so small and so desolate, alone and crying in his bare room. "I can't..."

000

"It's alright," Cloud said calmly. "Just talk to me." He listened as Rufus haltingly spoke of his dilemma. He glanced with worried eyes at Vincent while he listened. The gunman could only shrug since he could no longer hear young Rufus speaking.

000

"Sergeant Major Fair, a message for you, sir," a young military aide said. He handed the sealed note to SOLDIER Third Zackary Fair.

Zack blinked in surprise. He smiled hesitantly. "Thanks. Dismissed." He waved off the required salute and turned to Reno. "Hey man, maybe it's a message from Mr. Valentine!" He grinned excitedly at his best friend. He opened it and read. And reread it twice. He visibly drooped. "Oh."

"What's up, man?" Reno asked. He fidgeted in his black rookie Turk suit. "Well?"

"Something bad came up in Junon. Mr. Valentine had to go back. Said he'll visit next week." Zack felt hurt. He had been looking forward to seeing his old mentor and meeting his mentor's older brother.

"Don't look so down, yo," Reno said. He patted Zack's back awkwardly. "He did say he'd visit next week though, right? Besides, from what you told me, Mr. Valentine wouldn't leave you hanging unless it was really, super important, right?"

"Well... yeah."

"And he did have the courtesy to send a note to say 'sorry, can't make it now but later', you know."

Zack nodded his head and perked up a little. "You're right, Reno. Mr. Valentine's not a dude to leave a man hanging." He looked at the note. "Wonder how he got that aide to give it to me though."

Reno shrugged. "Maybe he's just bad-ass like that," he said.

Zack laughed.

000

Cloud slammed a hard fist into the one of the bastards that had touched Rufus Shin-ra.

All around were Hojo's flunkies, beaten and unconscious or dead by the swordsman's bare hands. Vincent was currently taking care of the electronic files within the secret lab. How could they have missed this lab out of all of them? The last scientist dropped dead. Cloud didn't particularly care. He went over to undo the straps holding Rufus down to the table. The blond man gathered the shaking boy into his arms.

"Valentine. Valentine," Rufus chanted, clutching at the man.

This explained why Rufus had had Geostigma in the old past. Hojo had him injected with Mako and Jenova cells as well. It also explained the faint glow in the other Rufus' eyes.

Cloud held the boy tight and pressed his cheek against Rufus' soft, blond hair. "I've got you, kiddo. I've got you now. It's alright, son," he whispered. "No one's going to hurt you ever again. I won't let them. Hush, hush..."

000

Cloud gently laid Rufus down on the bed at the inn in Lower Junon. He had had no qualms about taking him from under the rookie Turks' noses. No wonder the teen had been assigned rookies. Hojo was obviously behind it all. The younger blond was unconscious at the moment. Cloud brushed a stray strand of hair from the Shin-ra heir's forehead.

"Cloud..." Vincent came up from behind the swordsman. "Let him rest." He pulled his friend out of the room and softly closed the door that led from their room into Rufus' room. "Are you alright, Cloud?"

"I..." Cloud stared at his gloved hand in horror. "I didn't know about this, Vincent. I didn't know about any of this. I was supposed to know! How am I supposed to save everyone if I don't know everything? I'm so stupid! I--" Slap! Cloud looked at Vincent with wide, disbelieving eyes. The gunslinger had slapped him with the hand that didn't have the golden claws. The red mark turned into a bruise then faded because of the Mako in his blood. "You slapped me..." he said in wonder.

"Of course I did," Vincent said harshly. "You were sounding like an idiot." He huffed in frustration. "Do you really think you know everything? Did the Rufus from your past ever tell you about his past? I don't think so. Thus it's reasonable to know that you don't know everything. Repeat after me. I am not God."

"I am not God," Cloud intoned. He paused and thought about it. "I'm not God." He closed his electric blue eyes. "I'm just a man. I am not God."

"Correct. Now then, what will we do now?"

"I'm going to kill Hojo and laugh about it!" Cloud growled. "That sonvabitch! This is the last straw! I'll fucking kill him and feed his heart to Old Man Shin-ra."

Vincent raised his eyebrows. "I meant about Rufus," he said.

Cloud deflated. "Oh." He scratched his head. "I'll take care of him until he's strong enough. And then I'll kill Hojo." He ignored the way the gunslinger rolled his eyes.

000

Rufus Shin-ra stared with wide, slightly glowing blue eyes at the red-caped man. "You're Mr. Valentine's brother?" he asked. "You sure?"

"I'm positive. And I'm going to give you a lesson from the old school of hard knocks." Vincent Valentine smiled creepily. "I'll make you strong."

000

Cloud tried to feel guilty about leaving Rufus in Vincent's not so tender hands. But the boy couldn't be coddled anymore by Cloud. The swordsman had grown too fond of the teen and hadn't wanted to hurt him. Thus Vincent was going to teach the younger blond how to be ruthless and to further develop his natural cunning. Rufus needed to be trained like a Turk and Vincent was the man for the job. From what he had seen, the school of Turks that Vincent was from was harder, meaner, and tougher than the Turks of today. Kind of frightening if Cloud dared to think about it. He purposely avoided the thought.

The swordsman did feel guilty about leaving Zack. He knew the brunette was very fond of him and probably wanted to see Cloud. So he was on Chocobo to get to Midgar faster. He had no time for stealth and he wasn't going to destroy Hojo and Jenova without Vincent. But now they only had two years until everything exploded in their faces.

Sephiroth might be turned against the world by Hojo and Jenova's lies.

Zack might die.

The other Cloud might suffer.

Aeris might sacrifice herself for the Planet.

Meteor might come.

Everything will happen all over again.

Gaia will destroy herself once more and the apocalypse will happen.

Time was running out.

000

TO BE CONTINUED