I do not own anything nor do I make any money from this story. All rights apply.
[A/N - once again players of Crisis Core will notice I've changed a few details.]
The Price of Freedom – Encounter
Finding the river had been great but finding it occupied by people… not so much. At first glance Zack knew they weren't the bandits that had passed them earlier. For starters there were more than four of them, there were also some children and a wagon, bright colours and music. They were travelling entertainers – singers, jugglers, acrobats. Zack had heard of them but never seen a performance. But that was not surprising, travelling entertainers didn't have a good reputation and had to scouring a merge living from backwater towns.
Zack watched them for a few minutes. It looked like they setting up camp for the night. Bed rolls were being taken out the wagon, a fire was being lit, a small cooking pot was being filled with water. The setting sun cast a golden light over the whole scene – happy people, calm river, tranquil forest that line the opposite bank. Of all the people Zack had encountered so far, he knew they would be safe with these people. They were outsiders and distrusted. Even if they did say anything, no one would believe them. Even with that, Zack didn't want to use them to further his own needs. Besides it was unlikely they wouldn't want anything to do with Zack and Cloud – they were SOLDIER after all. But they needed water and the gypsies had camp at the base of the only way down to the river.
Zack thought about going down the collect water by himself but dismissed the idea. He wanted to travel alongside the river. Their tour through the mountains had taught him that they needed water more than security. The river was broad and shallow but still moving – ideal for drinking, bathing, cleaning clothes. And exactly why the gypsies were travelling along it.
Zack crept back to Cloud. His back twinged a bit as he pulled Cloud to his feet. It didn't help that Cloud was more limp than he had been that morning. Zack wondered if there was something wrong with Cloud. He put him back down to check him over. He didn't have a fever and the bites on his hand weren't infected. He did, however, still have a bruise on his forehead from when Zack had dropped him. Zack gently ran his fingers over the area – it was slightly swollen.
"Does your head hurt?" asked Zack.
Maybe that was it – Cloud didn't want to do anything because his head hurt. His hand must hurt as well. Zack briefly wondered if he could get Cloud to take some pain medication. He dropped the idea when he couldn't think how he could get Cloud to swallow two tables.
"Let's just get to the river first, and take it from there, okay?"
Again his back protested a little but Zack ignored it, he hoisted Cloud onto his back – it was quicker and less strenuous than having Cloud hang off his shoulder - and set off for the river.
XxX
Zack made no attempt to hide his approach to the camp. He was about half way there when people noticed and stopped their various activities to watch him come down to them.
Once within a reasonable distance, Zack called out a 'hello'. He wasn't surprised that they gave nothing in return. There were not so subtle movements as he got closer – men moved forward and women moved to the children.
"I'm not interested in trouble," said Zack loudly and clearly. "I want water – we need water."
There were brief glances between the three middle-aged men before one came forward to meet Zack.
"You say you you're not interested in trouble," he said, "but trouble is following you."
"That is true," said Zack after a brief pause. "I do not want to stay, or travel together. I would like to collect some water and be on my way."
"What is your trouble?" asked the man still not moving out of Zack's way.
Zack looked over the group - four small children, five women and four men. Three of the women were more likely teenagers, as was the fourth man.
"ShinRa, Turks," he said.
Unease passed through the group.
"Like I said – I just want water," said Zack again.
His back was beginning to hurt, and standing around wasn't helping.
"ShinRa doesn't care about us," said the man after a while. "The Turks ignore us. You would be safe with us."
"Ah, that may be true but um," Zack paused. "We're wanted by ShinRa. They are looking for us. The Turks are looking for us."
The man nodded in understanding and stepped aside. Zack said thanks and nodded a greeting as he passed the gypsies on his way to the river. He heard the gypsies move together after he passed. He set Cloud down, made sure he was comfortable. Zack fancied he could see an emotion on Cloud's face. His eyes still had the blank gaze but his brows were slightly furrowed. Almost as if he disapproved of something small. Maybe he didn't like the way the gypsies were talking in hushed tones but looking at them. Society didn't trust them and so in turn they didn't trust society. Zack smiled to himself as he got out their water containers, rinsed them and refilled them. Setting them aside he got out a piece of cloth and wet it. The water was chilly but they couldn't be fussy. Cloud's eyes were still half closed – he hadn't really opened them all day. Added to his limp demeanour, Zack took it to mean Cloud wasn't feeling all that well today. As he wiped Cloud's face the man who had spoken earlier came over and crouched down next to Zack.
"We have been talking," he started, "and we decided that if you want to you can travel with us."
Zack looked back the others. They didn't look uneasy anymore, one of the girls even smiled at him.
"It is a benefit to us also," added the man.
Zack looked back.
"These mountains, and the path to Golden Saucer, are full of bandits," continued the man. "We are not fighting men but you two are – you are SOLDIER."
"I am SOLDIER," corrected Zack. "My friend can't fight – he is very sick. He cannot look after himself, we might slow you down."
"The protection you can offer us is worth arriving a little later," said the man.
Zack ran a hand through his hair. Was he being foolish not accepting help? Or would it be foolish to accept?
"You heading to Gold Saucer?" asked Zack.
The man nodded.
Zack looked out over the river for a moment thinking. The river looked surreal in the twilight, it helped him to think. Gold Saucer would be a good place to make some money without anyone knowing. They still needed to cross the sea and for that he would need money, tickets, and possibly bribes.
"We can get you into Gold Saucer as well," said the man.
Zack turned back to the man.
"All that just for protection?" he asked.
The man smiled at Zack.
"This is my family," he answered. "I would do anything to protect the ones I love – family, friends," he added with a pointed glance at Cloud when he said friends.
"Okay," said Zack with a shake of his head. "I get it – we'll travel with you. Thank you."
"I'm Rando," said the man getting to his feet.
"Zack, and Cloud," said Zack shaking Rando's offered hand.
Seeing this, the others made their way over for introductions. Rando introduced his wife Aayuni, his much younger brother Lyle and his wife Mahari and their three young girls, Star, Daphne and Ava. Next he introduced his sister Giselle and her husband Kodan and their son Fry and daughter Tamires. Fry's wife's name was Soma and they had a little boy called Vita.
After being in the mountains for so long, Zack felt a little overwhelmed after the introductions. Aayuni sent Tamires to set out extra bed rolls and Zack rooted around in his pack for extra food rations to offer for the evening meal. Aayuni took them with thanks and headed back toward the camp. The young children hung back with curious looks until Mahari called to them before starting to cook. Rando was last to leave.
"Why don't you guys clean up bit and come on over," he said.
"Sure," said Zack thinking of how lately every time he met new people he reeked and hadn't washed for days.
Deciding he would wash after he had bathed Cloud, Zack set about removing Cloud's soiled clothes. Zack wasn't too keen to strip Cloud naked in front of strangers. He knew Cloud wouldn't know any better but he still didn't feel right about so he left him some pretence of modesty. Not that anyone was actually looking at them, they were too busy setting up camp for the night as light was fading fast.
"Wow, that's cold," muttered Zack as he stepped into the river. "Sorry, Spike, I'll be quick."
Zack hadn't anticipated any problem bathing Cloud – he had helped Mercia bath Cloud during their stay in Arda. After the first bath, the others had gone without incident. In fact, Cloud seemed to enjoy being in the warm water. His whole body would relax and his eyes would drift closed and a peaceful air would settle around him. In his mind, Zack had expected something similar. He hadn't taken into account the cold. And the river was very cold.
Cloud's eyes snapped open as he gasped in shock as Zack put him in the water.
"Sorr-" Zack got no further as Cloud started screaming and fighting.
And that did make every one look at them.
Even as Zack tried to calm Cloud, he was pleased by the resistance Cloud was giving – it was a lot stronger than before and Zack had to actually make an effort to hold him. Cloud's screams subsided when Zack pulled him out the water. Instead he made an awful droning noise between chattering teeth – Zack recognised the sound, he had heard it too often in the Mansion. It was made all the worse that it was dark – they had been locked in the dark. Zack looked up as Aayuni approached with a warm blanket.
"Quick, get him to the fire," she said awkwardly wrapping the blanket round Cloud.
Cloud was no longer fighting Zack as strongly but he definitely didn't like being held nor the blanket. The others move aside as Zack approached the fire side, the young children crowed round their mothers, eyes wide with uncertainty. Aayuni pulled a bed roll closer to the fire and indicated Zack should lay Cloud on it. Cloud stopped struggling when Zack let go of him – the exertion had tired Cloud and his breath came in short quick bursts. As Cloud warmed up he quietened down but continued to make a low groaning with every outward breath.
"Is he okay?" asked Mahari after a moment.
"Um," started Zack. "I'm not sure what started this – sorry."
Mahari watched Cloud for a few minutes before returning to the task of making supper. The soup was thin and even with the rations Zack had handed over, supper was going to be a sad affair. The setting up of camp resumed around Zack as he sat next to Cloud waiting for him to calm down. He was worried about Cloud's sudden outburst and sudden unrest. Was Cloud becoming more aware of his surrounding but didn't understand what he was experiencing? Or had the shock of the cold reminded him of some forgotten nightmare? All Zack had was speculation. And he wasn't all that good at it. Cloud had quieted down and Zack hoped he had gone to sleep but his eyes remained half open, staring at nothing, his body tense.
Movement caught Zack's eye and he looked up to see Mahari offering him a bowl of soup.
"Maybe he's hungry?" she suggest with a kind tone.
"Thanks – smells delicious," said Zack. It was the true. It might not look like much but it smelled so much better. Looking round Zack saw they were all seated round the fire, bowls in hands and chatting quietly.
Zack propped Cloud upright and tried to get him to eat some of the soup, but unlike before when Cloud would swallow whatever Zack gave him, today he made no such effort. Carefully Zack poured a spoonful of soup into Cloud's mouth but he choked on it and threw his head from side to side before going back to the awful droning noise. Zack put down the bowl and tried to calm Cloud.
"Is he okay?" asked Fry who sat closest to them.
At the sound of the man's voice, Cloud started struggling against Zack – his eyes wide with fright and sobbing.
"Cloud," called Zack.
If anything, it made Cloud sob harder. He struggled against Zack, making more of an effort to free himself.
Suddenly, Tamires sat down next to Zack and started to sing. After a moment Cloud stopped crying and struggling, and became quiet. His body was still tense and his breathing harsh but he appeared to be listening to the song.
As Tamires sang Cloud started to relax a little, Zack could tell that he was still awake. But he was quiet and still. Zack found himself becoming quiet and still as well. The words Tamires sang were soft and gentle, full of loving and kindness. Zack decided not to try force Cloud to eat anything tonight, not only would it be traumatic for Cloud, their new hosts were quite alarmed by Cloud's behaviour already and didn't want to worry them further. He would rather try again tomorrow when, hopefully, Cloud would be in a better state. The cold had obviously reminded Cloud of something – Zack didn't know what, but if Cloud's reaction was anything to go by he was sure he didn't want to know. Cloud's eyes were closed but his brow was furrowed when Tamires stopped singing. A peacefulness had settled on the camp and Zack didn't want break it with words so smiled his thanks as Tamires got up and went to her supper. As Zack made to leave and return to the fire to eat, Cloud started crying again. But once again, Tamires was by his side singing and Cloud stopped.
Zack quickly ate his soup and thanked Mahari for cooking. Giselle and Soma gathered the bowls as well as a lantern and set off toward the river to wash them. Vita followed his mother and seeing Vita go, the other children followed. Zack could tell they were scared of Cloud's behaviour. Rando pulled out a pipe and light, Kodan followed suit making himself comfortable as he listened to the singing. Fry hummed along with his sister as he did some leatherwork by fire light. Giselle and Soma returned and began to settle the children for the night. Tamires continued to sing as the children drifted to sleep. Zack guessed that it was close to eleven when Cloud finally stayed quiet when Tamires stopped singing. He could almost feel a sigh of collective relief from the gypsies. Zack volunteered to watch for a bit and let the others rest. There was no resistance as the other bedded down and blew out lanterns, soon the camp was quiet and dark. The fire had died down a bit but Zack kept it from dying. He hadn't manged to get Cloud dressed again and now that he was actually sleeping Zack didn't what to do anything that might wake him. But he was worried Cloud might be cold so added his own blanket to Cloud's and put another log on the fire.
It was almost one when Lyle woke to take watch for a stretch. No words were exchanged as Lyle got up and moved closer to the fire while Zack moved back and lay down next to Cloud. Zack lay listening to the fire pop and burn, the soft breathing of others in sleep. But just as he was drifting off, he heard Cloud start to whimper and cry quietly. It quickly escalated into chocked sobs. Nothing Zack did calmed him down and soon the camp was awake again. Zack wanted to scream in frustration. He didn't know what was upsetting his friend, he didn't know what was wrong, he didn't know how to fix it – he felt useless.
"Cloud, please…" he didn't even know what he was asking of Cloud.
Someone was making their way toward him and from the soft singing, it was Tamires. She nudged Zack aside with her toes and took his bedroll. Once comfortable, she took Cloud's hand and quietly continued singing until he quieted down again. Zack sat and watched them for a bit before turning his attention to the fire. He ran a hand through his hair and tried to ease the tension in his shoulders.
"You might as well go to bed," he said catching Lyle's eye.
Lyle didn't argue but he and Rando exchanged a look as he made his way to his bed roll. Mistake.
Zack tried to ignore it but he felt bad anyway. In the early hours of the morning, Cloud finally drifted off to sleep. Tamires was exhausted and she fell asleep as soon as she realised Cloud was sleeping. Zack hadn't moved from his spot save to put wood on the fire. Once it got light enough to see easily, he picked up the kettle and headed over to the river to fill it. He splashed some of the cold water onto his face and ran his wet hands through his hair. He still hadn't had a wash yet.
Back at the camp Zack built up the fire a bit and put the kettle among the flames. He saw that Rando had woken with his movements but remained tucked in his bedroll. The camp was slow to wake and the mood was very low - glum and sleep deprived. Soma got up first and started making porridge for breakfast. Zack didn't attempt any small talk and nor did she. The children woke soon after but remained in a group on the edge of camp – away from Zack and Cloud. By the time breakfast was ready everyone was up. Breakfast was equally quiet and after eating they started packing up camp without any words.
Rando suggested that once the wagon was packed, Zack could put Cloud inside. That way he could continue to sleep and he wouldn't slow them down. Zack agreed but truthfully he had expected Rando to ask them to leave after last night's chaos. He was surprised again when Aayuni gave him some spare clothes for Cloud. Maybe he had misjudged the look that passed last night. Or maybe… They had made a deal with Rando and his family, and unlike their reputation they were honest people. There had been so much dishonesty in Zack's life recently. Outright lies, lies by omission, hidden truths. Not things he wanted to dwell on now.
Zack wasn't surprised when Tamires offered to help him with Cloud. It was quite obvious she had taken a shine to him and wanted to be with him. Zack didn't make an issue of it, they all knew they weren't going to stay once they reached Gold Saucer.
Zack was at the back of the wagon when quiet suddenly settled on the packed up camp. He knew immediately it was trouble. Pulling his Buster Sword free, he sauntered round the wagon to see four men.
"Morning, folks."
Zack guessed him to be the leader.
"Morning to you," replied Zack stepping into the leader's sight.
The bandits paused. An armed man wasn't want they had anticipated.
"Careful with that thing," warned the leader, forcing bravado in front of his men.
"This?" asked Zack making a show of effortlessly wielding the Buster Sword one handed.
The unease of the bandits gave the gypsies a defiant edge making the bandits more uneasy. Zack took a couple of steps forward while expertly moving his blade from side to side.
"I haven't killed anything for a couple of days," said Zack carelessly. Suddenly he planted his sword firmly in front of him and grinned wickedly, "wanna help me out?"
"I think maybe we're in the wrong place," said the leader. "Sorry to bother."
The others nodded, they quickly grouped together and move past the gypsies and up the riverbank. Zack casually followed them and watched them walk away while the gypsies finished packing and started moving. After five minutes Zack caught up with the wagon, Fry was driving and Tamires was in the back with Cloud and the children. The others were walking but kept glancing back until they saw Zack. Rando stopped and waited for Zack once he saw him.
"I'm going to hung back for a while, make sure they're not going to follow us," said Zack.
"Thank you," said Rando. He looked like he wanted to say something else but Zack left before things got awkward.
XxX
Zack spend all of the morning about an hour behind the wagon making sure no one was following them. After lunch he took a break by the river. The low scrub had developed into a young forest, making the opposite bank. The place was like a dream, he could almost hear Aerith laugh. He shook himself free of such painful thought – this was not a place to be gloomy. He couldn't help but relish the feeling of moving freely and as he pleased without having to look after Cloud. And then he felt guilty. It wasn't Cloud's fault. It was Hojo's – it was all Hojo's fault. Everything. Everything that had gone wrong.
But he knew that was entirely true. There was Hollander as well. He should have killed Hollander when he had the chance. But nothing would have changed – the damaged had been done. He wondered if it could have ended any other way. Had all three of them been destined to end in sorrow?
My friend, the fates are cruel
There are no dreams, no honour remains
Zack closed his eyes as the words crept into his mind. He knew of Loveless – he might have even read it once, pretty sure he had seen the play once – but not enough to recite any of it. And of all the words to remember…
Zack took a few deep slow breaths before opening his eyes. There was no change around but he was no longer at peace, he felt no joy.
"The fates are cruel, indeed."
He got to his feet and started after the wagon.
XxX
In the later afternoon Zack caught up with the wagon. He had managed to catch something to else – once again, he wasn't sure what it was but it was a bird. Of some kind. The catch, such a simple thing, had put in good spirits again. His lunchtime gloom had passed as he walked and he was feeling a little better about his situation.
Once the wagon was in sight, he picked up some speed. Vita, who was sitting on the tailgate of the wagon, noticed him and pointed him out to Soma, who in turn called to Rando.
Zack held up the bird by way of greeting when he got close enough.
"Nice catch," said Rando approvingly.
Zack nodded.
"Is it good to eat?" he asked.
Rando stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter.
Zack stood slightly puzzled as Rando's laughter caused the other to look in their direction.
"Yes," he finally managed. "It is good to eat."
"Lyle!" he suddenly called. "We're stopping here."
Zack frowned. There was still a good hour's worth of travelling. Lyle didn't quibble but directed the wagon to the side and came to a stop. Vita jumped off the wagon and was shortly followed by the other children. Rando took the bird from Zack and headed off calling for Aayuni. This was obviously not out of the ordinary so Zack shrugged it off and headed for the wagon. Tamires had been about to get down but stopped when she saw Zack.
"How's Cloud?" he asked.
"He looks okay," she said, "but I don't really know. He doesn't do anything."
"No," said Zack with a reassuring smile. "He's very sick."
She nodded sadly but Zack didn't think it was because of Cloud's condition so much as what his condition meant for her.
"Is he awake?" asked Zack looking to change the subject.
"Well, his eyes are open," said Tamires.
"Yeah, I think that means he's awake," said Zack with a grin.
"You don't know?" Tamires seemed surprised.
"Let's get all this stuff out," said Zack instead.
Tamires paused but didn't press the issue.
Zack got Cloud out the wagon first. He was surprised at how alert Cloud looked. He held his head higher than he had before and was more steady on his feet and took surer steps. Zack thought he was going to burst with excitement – his friend was finally getting better. The gloom from that afternoon seemed so silly now. Why had he even got so gloomy to begin with? It was a waste of his time.
Zack helped unpack the wagon and set up camp with Aayumi and Soma cleaned the bird and cooked dinner. Before long delicious smells were wafting through the camp. The bird had been roasted and Aayumi had cooked rice to go with. The children had tried to find berries but the season was over and there were none to be found.
Then Zack noticed something that made his head want to explode. Unknowingly Tamires had positioned Cloud away from something he could be propped up against. And he hadn't fallen over. He was sitting by himself. Unaided. Admittedly, it was a very slouched type of sitting but it was sitting. He wanted to jump up and do a little dance. It had been ages since Cloud had made such a big improvement. As he ate Zack felt there was nothing in what so ever in the entire world that could bring him down at that moment. He should have know better.
XxX
After everyone had gone to bed, he and Tamires sat up talking quietly about various light hearted topics. Zack often had to smile at how often Tamires managed to incorporate questions about Cloud into whatever he spoke about. The blond in question had eaten a good amount of food and had gone to sleep quietly. Much to Zack's relief. Whatever had worried Cloud yesterday, didn't have him concerned today.
After a lull in conversation, Tamires mentioned the bandits from that morning.
"Having a SOLDIER is pretty handy after all," said Tamires.
Zack grinned a little self-consciously.
"I hear I'm a bit rare," he added trying to subtly get some information. He had been in the wilderness for some weeks now and Lucas had mentioned the SOLDIER programme had been cancelled. Seeing as Tamires was now comfortable with him, he felt he could ask more in depth questions.
"Yeah, it all fell apart after Sephiroth's death," said Tamires turning her gaze to the fire.
Zack nodded but was no longer crushed by emotion at the memories – he felt them but they didn't dominate him.
"I remember when I heard," said Tamires. "Everyone was talking about it – I was only fourteen but I still felt the shock."
Zack blinked. Fourteen? He gave a tense little shake of his head to clear it.
"Fourteen?" he asked with a slight frown.
"I know, weird. I remember like it was yesterday – time really flies. Four years gone so quickly," said Tamires still looking at the flames.
Zack went very still. Four years? Tamires just said four years. Four years. Four years!? A tremor ran through Zack's body. They had been tormented for four years. He tried to mentally work out how old he was but couldn't count past eighteen. He was supposed to be eighteen. He had to count out his age on his trembling fingers – twenty-two. He was twenty-two. Twenty-two years old.
"Zack?"
Zack jumped at Tamires' voice. He looked up from his shaky fingers to her concerned face.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
Zack opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. Aerith! Would she have waited? It had been four years? Zack suddenly stood and walked away from the fire. Tamires' concern was too much for him, she reminded him of Aerith at that moment and he couldn't take it. These past weeks he had been going on the hope of Aerith waiting for him. He had been waiting for her smile, her touch. But four years? Even if she had waited, would she want the man Zack had become? He had been eighteen when she last saw him, now he was twenty-two. Really? Twenty-two?
Zack stopped walking when he came to the river – he stood staring into the dark. Tears just fell as he stood. Aerith had kept him going, it was the reason they were going to Midgar. They – Cloud! How old was he? Twenty? Yeah, twenty. He had gone from being a teenager to a young man during their time in the mansion. A broken young man. Four years…
Zack stood for a long time by the river's edge not really thinking at all. Not listening to the gently moving river or the little creatures that moved through the night. His mind was as dark as the night surround him. How did he continue now? Where did he go? Would anyone be waiting for him…?
My friend, the fates are cruel
There are no dreams, no honour remains
