Chapter Six: You What..?
Two days after Marena arrived at the Junon hospital she was ready to go home. The doctor allows her to leave on the afternoon of the second day, but with strict orders to stay out of fights and rest.
Cloud walks behind Marena in case she falls or trips and he has her sit in front of him as he drives. When they reach the area where Cloud found Marena, he stops beside her motorcycle.
"Are you strong enough to drive?" Cloud asks as he looks down at her.
Marena nods and says, "Sure, but can you pick up my phone and my weapons? We left them behind because we were in a hurry the other day."
Cloud nods as he gets up and picks up Marena's stuff. Marena walks over to her motorcycle and gets on, pulling her safety goggles over her eyes.
Cloud hands Marena her weapons and phone saying, "Be careful. I'll be following behind you just in case."
"I'm not a child, Cloud. I can take care of myself," Marena says as she puts her stuff away.
Cloud huffs and says, "Well, you're not proving anything by getting yourself hurt."
Marena glares at him and says, "I can't believe you would say that!"
"Well, it's the truth, Marena," Cloud says as he walks over to his motorcycle.
She shakes her head as she starts up her motorcycle and speeds away, back toward Midgar. Cloud follows her.
They reach Midgar by night fall and go to the Seventh Heaven. When they park, Marena pulls off her goggles and puts them on a handle bar. She leans forward against the handle bars and sighs tiredly.
"I feel so tired, Cloud. Do you mind carrying me?" Marena asks with a slight blush.
Cloud nods and puts Marena's bag over his shoulder, and then he picks Marena up bridle style and carries her into the bar. The bar was closed when they arrived, so there wasn't a child or person in sight except Tifa who is sitting on one of the couches.
She sees them and jumps up saying, "You're back! How is Marena?"
Marena looks up at Tifa and grins saying, "I'm just a little tired, Tifa. Do you mind bringing me up a glass of water?"
Tifa nods saying, "No problem!"
Cloud takes Marena up to her room and stops at the door. Two pieces of paper are taped to her door and they each have a drawing on it. One has a drawing of two stick people. One of the stick people is tall and the other is short. Denzel's name is at the bottom of the paper with a 'get well soon' note at the top. The other drawing is of the Seventh Heaven bar with a stick person holding a microphone and a group of shorter stick people standing around her. Marlene's name is at the bottom of the paper and a note saying 'get well soon so you can sing to us again' is at the top.
Marena smiles as a few tears fill her eyes and she says, "This is a drawing of the first time I met Marlene. I was singing to her and a few other kids in the street before I left."
Cloud smiles and goes into the room saying, "They care a lot about you, Marena. Tifa told them you'd be back, so I'm glad I came after you or you may not be here."
He sets her on the bed and goes to her closet getting clothes for her to sleep in out. He tosses her some pajama bottoms with a tank top, and she catches them.
"Yeah, well I would have come back if I had known Trae was far beyond my help," Marena says as she changes.
Cloud keeps his back to her and says, "You met him, so tell me what are his plans?"
"He plans to destroy Shinra and anyone who stands in his way. I have to call Reno in the morning when I don't sound like I've been through hell," Marena says as she lies down.
Cloud sits on the other bed and says, "It could be too late by then. Why don't you call him now?"
Marena thinks about it and says, "You're probably right. I don't know where he's going to start."
Marena picks up her phone and calls Reno's cell.
"Hello?" a voice asks on the other line.
"Hey, Reno, it's Marena," she says.
"Well, I knew that, Rena. What is it?" Reno asks irritably.
"My brother's name is Trae McLowd. He's planning on destroying Shinra and anyone who gets in his way," she says.
"What..! You mean you met him?" Reno asks.
"Yes, and he beat the hell out of me. I was in the hospital for two days. When you find him, be careful. If he almost killed me, you know he's going to be trouble for you and Rude alone," Marena says as she adjusts the phone to her other ear.
Reno replies, "Thanks, Rena! Do you know where he's heading?"
Marena sighs and says, "I last saw him in Junon."
"Alright, thanks, Rena! Bye!" Reno says.
Before she can reply the line goes dead.
"I hate it when he does that!" Marena says as she slams her phone shut and throws it at Cloud.
Cloud catches it with one hand and says, "Temper..?"
Marena sighs and says, "Sorry, Cloud, I forgot you were sitting there. I've gone through over ten phones because of him."
Cloud sets the phone on the nightstand saying, "It sounds like you have an anger issue."
"I've always had an anger issue, Cloud. Where is Tifa? I thought she was bringing me some water," Marena asks.
Tifa suddenly walks in with a glass of water and two pills in her hand.
She gives them to Marena and says, "Sorry it took so long. I misplaced the pills. I knew you were probably feeling bad, so I brought them for you."
Marena smiles as she takes them and says, "Thanks, Tifa."
"No problem. Since I know you're okay, I'm going to bed. We can talk some more tomorrow, goodnight," Tifa says as she walks to the door.
"I'm sorry, Tifa," Marena says before Tifa shuts the door.
Tifa pauses and looks at her saying, "For what?"
Marena looks her in the eyes and says, "For saying those awful things to you. I didn't mean them. I was upset."
Tifa smiles and says, "Thanks for that. I was worried there for a while, Marena. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Tifa," Marena says as Tifa shuts the door.
Cloud looks at Marena and asks, "What did you say to her that was so awful?"
"I told her she was blind, and that she could never understand what its like to not be normal. I told Tifa her words wouldn't help me and to stay out of my business. I really hurt her feelings. I know I did," Marena says as she looks down at her hands.
Cloud puts his hand on her hand and says, "I think we've all been blind to what you're feeling, Marena. If you talk to me, maybe I can understand a little better. I may not be able to help you any, but maybe I can comfort you better. I'm tired of letting you down when you need me the most. I've always been weak in that area. I may not be any good at helping people, but I want to start trying."
Marena looks at their hands and says, "Are you prepared for the truth, Cloud? The truth about me and who I really am?"
Cloud nods and says, "I want to know."
Marena sighs and begins to tell Cloud everything Trae told her about the SOLDIER-X project. When she finishes, Cloud's face is blank of emotion.
He suddenly looks angry and says, "After what they did to Sephiroth, they still haven't learned a thing. Shinra has been going behind everyone's backs to do this."
"Cloud, wait a minute. I want to stop Trae. I don't want him to kill anyone else," Marena says.
"But what about what they did to you and your family?" Cloud asks with confusion.
Marena shakes her head and says, "My parents wouldn't want Trae to get revenge. They would say 'what's done is done'. They never believed in killing people for revenge. At first they were angry at Shinra for making them retire, but then they were happy because they had a family. They wouldn't go back to killing people no matter what happened. I believe they would have wanted peace. They were always talking about how unfortunate everyone else is, when they needed to think about themselves. Cloud, I don't want their legacy to be tainted by Trae's plans for revenge. We must stop him, and I can't do it alone."
Cloud looks thoughtful for a moment and then nods.
"I would want the same. Alright, here's the plan. I'll have Tifa call Cid and Cait Sith and get a location on your brother. Trae won't be hard to find if he's destroying Shinra bases. I'll call the others and have them report here for further instructions. In the meantime, we should think of a plan of attack," Cloud says as he stands.
Marena looks up at him and starts laughing. He looks at her oddly and puts his hands on his hips.
"What's so funny?" he asks.
She laughs and says, "I haven't seen you this serious in a long time, Cloud; not since Sephiroth was here."
Cloud relaxes and scratches the back of his head saying, "Well, you said you wanted him stopped."
She sits up and says, "I do, its just I never thought you would go this far for me."
Cloud sits on her bed and pulls her into a hug saying, "I would do anything for you if it made you happy."
Marena blushes and her heart beats fast. The smell of Cloud's hair fills her nose, and his blond locks tickle her cheeks. She relaxes into his arms and leans her head on his shoulder.
"Cloud..?" Marena asks.
"Yes..?" he wonders.
She closes her eyes and says, "Do you love, Tifa?"
He pulls away a little to look at her face and asks, "Why do you ask?"
"Because it seemed you two were close before I came along. I didn't make you feel different about her, did I?" she asks.
Cloud looks at her with understanding and says, "Before you came along, Tifa and I were just friends and partners in business. At one point, I thought I loved her, but then I thought I loved someone else. Then once that someone else died, I realized I didn't love either of them. We were just really strong friends. But when I look at you..."
When he pauses, Marena looks up at him expectantly.
"When you came along, I felt I had a reason to feel again. At first I didn't feel I could trust you or like you at all. Now, I trust you with every word I speak. If it had been Yuffie or Tifa who had taken off like you did, I would have let them go. But I went after you, and I don't understand it," Cloud says as he looks up at her.
Marena blushes and becomes nervous saying, "Cloud, I'm really tired. Please, could you leave?"
"But..." he starts as he reaches out for her shoulder.
When she backs away a little, Cloud leaves her alone.
He stands and kisses Marena's head saying, "Goodnight."
When Cloud gets to the door, Marena whispers a goodnight to him, too. Cloud looks back at her and nods with a smile. When he shuts the door, Marena feels an overwhelming feeling in her chest. It feels likes thousands of butterflies are fluttering within her self. The only love Marena had really felt was from her parents and her brother, Trent. She was beginning to feel something similar to love for Cloud, except it was a different kind of love.
"I don't understand it either, Cloud," Marena whispers as she lies down and tries to get some sleep.
Later that night, at almost midnight, Cloud comes into Marena's room and stands by her bedside quietly. He reaches out to touch Marena's shoulder but hesitates for a moment.
"What am I doing?" Cloud thinks to him self.
He takes a deep breath as he gently shakes Marena's shoulder. Marena slowly wakes up and looks at Cloud.
"What's wrong, Cloud?" Marena asks tiredly.
Cloud takes her hand and says, "I know you need rest and everything, but I need to tell you something."
"Can't it wait till morning?" Marena asks as she sits up.
Cloud shakes his head and says, "If I don't say it now, I won't be able to say it later."
"Say what..?" Marena asks him.
Cloud pauses for a long moment before he says, "I love you..."
Marena freezes as she stares at him and asks, "You what..?"
