I do not own anything nor do I make any money from this story. All rights apply.
The Price of Freedom – Duty and Friendship
Zack stood watching the bright lights of Gold Saucer in the distance. They would reach it tomorrow afternoon and this phase of their journey would be over. The last few days had blurred a bit for Zack. He had battled with himself – his despair, his heartache, his sudden loss of hope. He couldn't even feel joy at Cloud's recent accomplishments. He sat, somewhat, by himself, he had started to turn his face away when he had enough to eat and turned to toward Tamires when she sang to him.
Huge accomplishments that couldn't scratch let alone break the despair Zack had fallen into. All he saw when he looked at Cloud was a young man, not a boy anymore. It felt crueller to him. He had felt adrift these last few days, not sure why they were heading to Gold Saucer – not even sure if there was any reason to head to Midgar. Would it not be better to find a quiet town and live? Maybe travel with the gypsies. What would be waiting in Midgar for them after four years?
Gold Saucer, the end of this phase of their journey. But not where their journey stopped. He would take them to Midgar, to Aerith. She would be waiting for him. He knew it to be truth – it had to be true… He looked back at the bright lights, the twinkling promises, the next phase of their journey to Midgar. Their journey – he was not alone. He had Cloud, and he was getting better. He didn't just have Aerith waiting for him, he had Cloud needing him. Turning on his heel he strode back to camp feeling lighter than he had in days. He had known from the beginning that the journey would not be easy, he couldn't afford to be disheartened by everything. And a four year loss was the biggest thing that could hit him. He survived that, he survived the Mansion, he survived killing Angeal – he was strong. Time to be it.
XxX
Aayuni had unearthed from the wagon some old clothing for them to use as disguises. Zack through an old ruddy coat over Cloud's clothes and donned an equally finished jersey and floppy brimmed hat. There was no hiding the sword on his back so Zack made no effort to do so. Getting into Gold Saucer was quite painless, he and Cloud were packed into the wagon along with the bedrolls, tents and cooking equipment. They were stopped for 'checks'. Zack could hear the exchange and a 'search' was conducted as someone peered into the wagon and poked a few items before letting them continue. Zack knew it had nothing to do with the search for them so he waited it out calmly. It was a bit concerting to be able to hear many things but not see anything. It wasn't long before the wagon stopped and Rando opened up the back.
"Well, we're in," he said.
Rando planned to spend at least three weeks in Gold Saucer so Zack helped them with all the heavy lifting as they set up semi-permanent tents and a stage of sorts. Zack didn't linger long after helping to set up the camp, he thanked Rando for letting him and Cloud travel with them and thanked Aayuni for the clothes before setting off. The last few days of travel had been burdensome for the gypsies. In his funk, Zack hadn't caught anything for them to eat. To his secret shame, he hadn't even tried. Their initial business deal had now concluded and it was time for them to be away. He had wanted to thank Tamires for all her work with Cloud but she was nowhere to be seen. He felt a bit sorry for her but thought it might be harder for her if he sought her out so he quietly and quickly got Cloud to his feet and left the camp.
Finding cheap accommodation in Gold Saucer was near impossible. They had come to Gold Saucer to make some money but it looked like a fruitless endeavour – any money made would go on rent and food. He would have to make a decision about a hotel soon – Cloud was tiring. Even though Cloud took on a fair amount of his own weight, he still needed Zack's help to remain upright. And seeing as Zack hadn't walked him round the camp at night as he had planned, Cloud's stamina just wasn't up to scratch yet.
A small place caught his attention so he headed over and asked for a room. The guy demanded full payment up front and gave an almost endless list of rules before sliding a key across the counter. Much to Zack's relief, he had no interest in conversing with Zack and barely looked at him throughout the exchange.
The room was spartan but cleaner than Zack had anticipated. The bathroom was communal at the end of the passage but in the room there were two beds and a narrow table and chair under the window. Zack sat Cloud on the bed but as soon as he stepped back Cloud fell over. As Zack stepped forward to help Cloud upright, he noticed that Cloud appeared to be savouring the softness of the mattress. He relaxed into the mattress and Zack thought he could see a smile on his face. His frown was definitely gone. Another accomplishment – Cloud now frowned intentionally when in discomfort or tired.
"Those bedrolls were a little on the hard side, hey Spiky," chuckled Zack.
Zack positioned Cloud more comfortably on the bed.
"You catch some zzzz while I look into our finances – deal?"
As he spoke Cloud moved his head against the pillow and Zack pretended he was nodding in agreement. He realised with a start that he hadn't talked to Cloud all the much the last few days of travelling with the gypsies and felt a little bad about it. But all that was in the past – time to move forward. He had made mistakes, he had learned.
He thought about ditching their disguises but they might need them to leave Gold Saucer. There was no cupboard in the room but there were three hooks by the door where he hung their clothes. He still had the matches, first aid kit and water bottle that Alice had given him along with the medical items Mercia had given him. Lucas had also given him a good knife which was also in the pack. Money on the other hand was scarce – he had some for a few meals but he would need a lot more. Given that he had had to pay for their week's stay in advance, at least he didn't have to worry about accommodation. He didn't like the idea of leaving their only cash in the pack so he pocketed it and hung the pack on one of the hooks.
He and Cloud had eaten lunch at the camp so he didn't need to buy any food for today but he could do with a shower – a hot shower. He glanced over at Cloud and saw he was sleeping peacefully. He appeared, unlike Zack, to have got over his nightmares. Or maybe, they no longer manifested themselves in screaming and crying. Whatever the case, he was calm now so Zack decided to risk hitting the shower.
And it was heavenly – it had meant for it to be a quick shower but the water was so warm, so calming, he lingered longer than planned. The room was bathed in warm evening light when he returned. Zack sat at the table and watched the evening progress as he thought of what sort of work he could do. He wasn't sure what he could do in Gold Saucer so abandoned the thought and watched the holiday people instead. After a while he headed off to bed and sleep.
XxX
When Zack woke he was surprised at how late he had slept. And how well. He ran through some more exercises before taking Cloud to shower. On their return he sat Cloud in the chair looking out the window while he headed to the foyer and bought some pastries for breakfast.
"Do you like berries?" he asked as he propped himself against the table and proceeded to break off pieces of pastry for Cloud. "Not that is matters if you don't, it's all they had."
It was only as he finished up feeding Cloud that he noticed Cloud was watching his hand. He was watching the movement of Zack's hand as he broke off a piece, gave it to him and moved back to break off another. More accurately, he was watching the food in Zack's hand. With a grin of excitement, Zack broke off a piece and moved it to the left. With the pattern broken it took Cloud a second to follow but he did. Zack moved it to the right and again, Cloud followed. He didn't move his head much but his eyes were defiantly following the piece of pastry.
Dropping to his knees Zack positioned himself in Cloud's line of sight. He was both elated and disappointed when Cloud looked at him but showed no recognition of what he saw. It wasn't that he didn't recognise Zack, it was that he didn't know what he was looking at. It was disturbing, but also exciting – his friend was waking up.
"Right," said Zack getting up and dusting crumbs off his fingers, "you keep waking up and I'm going to get a job. Let's fast track our journey to Midgar."
Zack left Cloud sitting in the chair and headed for the door, cramming the hat onto his head as he passed by. He left his sword under his bed, he didn't want to scare off a future boss before he even had a chance to speak. He planned to look for a couple of hours, get something for lunch and then head back out again. A good morning, a good plan – it could only lead to a good day.
Only it didn't. Looking for work proved to be substantially harder than Zack expected. Interest was lost when Zack couldn't accurately say what he could do or when people caught sight of his eyes. Strangely SOLDIER wasn't the first thing to come to mind, it was Mako addition. It helped Zack stay anonymous but it made it harder to convince anyone that he was quite capable of working. By the time one o' clock rolled round, Zack was feeling rather despondence. Maybe a day job wasn't something he could get but surely he could get work as a bouncer. He found the notion of being a bouncer silly but if it paid… But first some lunch.
Zack wasn't surprised by the quiet when he opened the door to the hotel room. He hadn't been expecting anything else. But he was surprised by the lack of anyone in the hotel room. The chair was empty, Cloud's bed was empty, the room was empty. His eyes darted round the room checking he was in the correct room – no doubt there. He took a couple of tentative steps forward to see if Cloud had got up, moved around a bit before falling over but not so. He glanced at the window, it was still closed. He couldn't have got up and walked out as Zack had locked the door. Turning on his heel, he headed toward the bathroom to check – it was a stupid thing, Cloud couldn't have gone there but he had to make sure. But it was just as empty as the room.
He went back to the room and stood looking around. He wanted to call out to Cloud but was afraid of not hearing an answer.
Zack didn't even realise he had sat down till he felt his hand clench at his hair. He couldn't form the any coherent thoughts – one ran through his mind without end.
Cloud's gone… Cloud's gone… Cloud's gone…
XxX
Zack stood watching the world outside the window. He had searched the room and bathroom again before moving the table away from the window and studying the people that moved through the streets. If Cloud hadn't walked out the room then someone had taken him. It wasn't the Turks – they would have been waiting for him. Ditto with ShinRa. So that left it to a private individual, but for what purpose? Zack had no money, there was no price on his head, or Cloud's for that matter. Cloud wasn't capable of doing anything for anyone even if somewhere in the fog of his mind he wanted to.
So if it wasn't for money – what was it for? Leverage? Had someone seen them and wanted to use a SOLDIER for something? And that was why Zack was watching the people that moved about the streets. Someone had to be watching the hotel, Zack wasn't a Turk but he had picked up a few things from watching them. Of course, this didn't mean he knew what he was looking for. Gold Saucer was full of holiday makers and travellers, drifters and thrill seekers, watching the streets for patterns or out of place people was going to take more than fifteen minutes of observation. But Zack had to do something while he waited for someone to contact him. It had to be someone in person, his PHS number wasn't readily available.
Something prickled at his mind – maybe there was nothing in the streets because it was in the room? He shifted his gaze from the window and almost immediately spotted a piece of paper on the table. He had missed it in his earlier frantic search and now he pounced upon it.
23h00
Kill my friend, I'll kill yours
Zack could feel rage building in his chest. So Cloud was a hostage, what kind of person would use a sick… Zack almost laughed in disbelief. He had firsthand experience of one of the worst men in the world, hell – the worst man, and yet, he was still surprised by the cruelty and indifference of others.
And then he felt strangely calm, an almost pleasant sensation spread through him as he realised Hojo hadn't destroyed him at all, he was still Zack. Somewhat abused and traumatised but still Zack Fair. He was still himself – Hojo had stolen four years of his life but he hadn't stolen his identity. The realisation was like a weight being lifted from him, he felt truly free and unburdened. He hadn't even realised he was worried about it until he wasn't worrying about it.
A slow smile spread across his lips – he was Zackary Fair SOLDIER First Class.
Zack blew out a sigh as his elation left him. Some SOLDIER First Class – he had failed to keep his friend safe.
"Well, I'll just have to get you back, Spikey."
XxX
Zack opened the door at a little past eleven. A young man had been about to knock, he was startled by the sudden opening of the door but recovered quickly. He made to step inside but Zack remained in the doorway regarding him coolly. It unnerved the young man further. Zack had seen Sephiroth employ similar techniques to great effect. Keep silent and people start to babble to fill the silence and say many things they wouldn't normally.
"You got our note?" he asked.
Zack nodded once.
"Well, er, the boss wants you to help with a problem."
So he was right, someone wanted him to do something. It was ridiculous really, here he was looking for work and now someone had kidnapped Cloud to make him do something. The only reason Zack didn't laugh at the absurdity of the situation was because whatever they wanted done couldn't be good – it must be something no one wanted to do.
Zack stepped out, made a little bit of a show putting the Buster Sword on his back and indicated with his head that the young man should lead the way.
The young man, not much older than Zack, didn't look all that keen to have Zack walking behind him. But he didn't really have a choice – Zack wasn't going first. He was dying to question the man, grill him for answer to Cloud's whereabouts but seeing how nervous the man was getting, Zack forced himself to be quiet.
Eventually, they headed off with the young man setting a fast pace. While Zack had succeeded in unnerving the young man, he hadn't yet managed to make him say anything with his silence. Maybe there was more to the trick than he knew, or more likely, this lackey probably didn't know anything.
The young man took him to a small somewhat rundown office close to the hotel. A tired looking receptionist smiled brightly as the door open but she dropped it as soon as she saw who it was. She didn't even spare Zack a glance. There was only one other door and it was open. As they entered a man wearing very expensive clothes stood up from behind his desk and came forward.
"So glad you could come. My name's Lyle," said the man extending his hand.
Zack ignored it.
"Where is my friend?" Moody silence be damned, it wasn't him.
"He's alive," said Lyle dropping his hand, "for the moment."
"What do you want?" asked Zack not bothering to hide his annoyance.
"Tomorrow morning I need you help getting some cash from a er, customer," he said with a business smile.
Zack stared at him for a moment.
"And you need a SOLDIER for this?" he asked.
"Difficult customer," lied Lyle smoothly.
Zack snorted softly under his breath. It was a trial run to see if Zack would do and then Lyle would give him the job he wanted done. Transparent. Lyle was a big fish in little Gold Saucer and a small fish in big Midgar. But Zack did need some cash.
"What time?" he asked.
Lyle smiled again, looking very pleased with himself.
"Be here at ten," he said.
Zack turned to leave brushing past the young man on the way out.
"And no authorities," grinned Lyle as Zack left.
The receptionist didn't lift her head as he passed and Zack didn't look her way.
XxX
Zack stood outside the closed office at ten. He hadn't slept much the night before – he had been thinking. Thinking that maybe he hadn't been thinking when he decided to go to Gold Saucer. Thinking that he was a damn good SOLDIER but an abysmal Turk.
At half past ten Lyle came strolling down the street, strutting like a peacock, nodding helloes to various people. Not many were returned.
"You're late," said Zack.
"Oh, er, well, time got away from me," said Lyle. He didn't stop, making Zack fall into step behind him.
Zack knew it to be a lie. He thought he had Zack. The thing was, yeah, Zack would make a terrible Turk but not because he was stupid. He just wasn't devious enough, not able to lie convincing on the fly, he wasn't sneaky nor did he live in a morally grey world. And Lyle didn't know that.
They headed a little further into the sadder part of Gold Saucer and stopped before a hotel. Zack thought the word was generous – a pile of bricks would be more accurate. There was no one at reception – didn't look like there was ever anyone at reception. Lyle walked through the place like he owned it – Zack suspected that he did. It was confirmed when he took a key from his pocket and opened the third door. There were no numbers on the doors.
Inside a small middle aged man sat sleeping in an armchair in front of the TV. His clothes were dirty as was the flat. The man woke when Lyle pulled the remote from his hand and switched off the silent TV.
Zack didn't need to say anything, the guy took one look at him and threw his hands in the air.
"I have the money, I have the money," he yelled in panic.
"Oh, I like it when things go so well," said Lyle as he watched the guy scramble for the cash.
He tossed a wad of cash at Lyle and bolted from the room. Lyle raised his hand to catch the money but Zack was faster. Lyle licked his lips, the first sign he gave of unease.
"What are thinking of doing with my money?" he asked. The bravado from before gone.
"I'm thinking I might take your money, then take your life and go look for my friend," answered Zack as he leafed through the cash.
Lyle chuckled.
"Yeah, that's why I am a business man and you are muscle," he said. "Gold Saucer is large – you will not find your friend in time. Three days without water will kill a SOLDIER just as easily as anyone else."
Zack fought for control of his emotions at the implication that Cloud had been left somewhere to die.
"What you say is true, and I could attempt a bluff that your money and death would be compensation for the lost of my friend's life. But I'm not that good a liar," said Zack.
Lyle smiled a satisfied smile and reached out his hand for the money.
"So what I'll do instead," continued Zack, "is tell the Turks" Lyle faltered "that you know where I am."
"Turks?"
"Yes," said Zack definitely. "Because you see, the real reason I didn't go to the authorities is because I'm wanted. By ShinRa. So the Turks are looking for me."
Lyle's eyes narrowed.
"You're bluffing," he said eventually.
"Maybe," said Zack. "But have you ever heard of a retired SOLDIER First Class?"
Zack knew it was because they tended to die before retirement, or in some cases go insane, but Lyle didn't know that. Zack could see Lyle thinking hard, his gaze fell to the floor as he thought. Zack could see him thinking about all the things Zack knew and had recently heard – rumours of Turks, SOLDIER experiments, Sephiroth, Genesis, Angeal, ShinRa cancelling the SOLDIER programme, four years and no new SOLDIERs, ShinRa control beginning to fail.
He suddenly focused hard on Zack while Zack looked back, confirmation on his face. His shoulders sagged in defeat.
"He's in a warehouse on the western side of Gold Saucer – it's the only one there, you can't miss it," he said.
Zack peeled off a number of bills before he tossed the cash to Lyle and walked out.
"Know I will kill you if you are lying," said Zack as he paused by the door.
"I'm not," muttered Lyle tucked the remaining cash into a pocket.
Zack was greatly relieved to find Cloud where Lyle said he would be. His relief, however, was short lived. Cloud sitting against a pillar at an odd angle, his hands bound behind the pillar. It was obvious from the smell of urine and sweat that Cloud hadn't been looked after very well. As he got closer, his heart sank further.
Cloud was not in a good way – his face was dirty, his lips were dry and cracked, dust covered his clothes. Red welts ran round his wrist where some effort had been made to get free. His eyes were open but void of life, even his breathing was slow and shallow.
He had been left to die.
Zack had to carry Cloud back to the hotel. He tried to get CLoud to drink some water but it ran down his chin. Zack chose to ignore that and focused on cleaning Cloud up. Maybe Cloud was just tired, but there was no expression on his face. After some effort he managed to get Cloud to swallow some water – teaspoon by teaspoon. He tucked him into bed and washed his clothes but once that was all done he had to face the fact that Cloud had regressed. Alarmingly so. He heard a sob and wasn't all that surprised that he had made it. Cloud needed him and he let him down – did Cloud think that Zack had abandoned him? Did he think he had gone back to the Mansion?
Coming to Gold Saucer had ended up being a mistake. Yeah, Zack had a bunch of cash but it had cost him – it had cost Cloud more. It wasn't a fair trade. The wilderness would be harder but the monsters were better than the people. The next city Zack walked into would be Midgar.