Alrighty! Here we have chapter twelve! Lots of stuff going on… Enjoy!
Ohh… *Swoons* Nine reviewers this chapter… I can't believe it! I can't belive this is getting so popular! Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, alerted, and favorite-ed Tangled Web! Thank you so much!
Epic Popcorn: I couldn't kill Cloud! At least, not yet. Yes, Aeris watching West Side Story did kind of give away the next step in her life, but it seemed appropriate.
nUmbskuLL: Well… I did say that the Cleris has yet to happen and I did promise some Zack/Aeris goodness… It's still anyone's game.
vx-Luna-xv: I'm glad you're enjoying it so far! See? It's not as soap opera-y as I made it sound… I guess I didn't have to kill Genny, but it seemed to be a good solution.
Deaddude221: Thanks again for writing those lovely poems for me! Sorry! I'll try to update more often! Oh, and Linkin Park makes a nice setting for writing back-alley gang fights.
g2Luvmeh: *Swims through sea of confetti* I know you didn't like the Generis, but was all this really necessary?
Rikku-rebeca: *Hides bright blush* Ohh… You're so sweet! Is my writing really that good? I think everyone wants to see a CloTi ending, but I won't promise a thing…
The Lone Wanderer: You were waiting for Cloud and Zack to meet? Huh… *Scratches head thoughtfully* I'll see if I can fit that in. While I won't be showing Genny's funeral, Zack and Aerith will meet…
caledon: *Screws hiding the blush* Yet another new face! It makes my heart swell so! (You're comment certainly helped that…) I don't intend to end to end Reno end Yuffie anytime soon, so there'll be more of them ahead!
mira ff: w00t! The fight scene worked! Bow-chika-wow-wow…! *Dances like moron* I don't blame anyone for grinning when Genesis died. I did a little myself ^_^ There I go again :) Oops. I'll stop that now…
Thanks to The Lone Wanderer for beta-ing! I meant what I said back in chapter seven! Check out his fics! His new one, Take a Bow, looks pretty promising… (Hey! Lone Wanderer! Update!)
Chapter XII
Thursday evening…
The following takes place between 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
(Cloud, 9:38 p.m.)
Cloud sat on one of the three mattresses in their base in his boxers, his pants removed to clean his wound. Biggs sat on the floor by the moth-eaten bed with a piece of Restore Materia in his palm. The blond closed his eyes and laid down, "Damn it…"
"I know. I wanted to see him die, too."
"How is it?"
"Masamune went straight through."
"As if I didn't know that."
"Geez. Let me finish. You're gonna be fine. The Cure spell oughta close the wound, anyway."
He spoke between clenched teeth, "Why don't you find out?"
"Oh, sorry." He held the orb over Cloud's wound and closed his eyes, focusing the spell into the other man's gash. The flesh began to mend slowly under the pale green light of the materia.
Cloud let out a grunt as the pain subsided and twisted to drop his feet over the edge of the mattress, "Where'd my pants get off to?"
The black material slapped him in the face as Biggs threw them at him, "Right there."
"Gee, thanks." He pulled them up, wincing upon standing, and limped his way over to the stained sofa.
Vincent sat on the armrest, perched like a gargoyle statue with his arms crossed over his knees. Cloud dropped onto the cushion right behind him in an effort to stay off his leg. He sighed, "Vincent… You saved my life."
He was silent for a long moment before replying, "I…" he held his hands up to look at them, "killed a man."
"You didn't have a choice."
"I'm no worse than they are."
"The fact that you think that is enough to prove you're not."
He turned slowly to glance over his shoulder, "…What?"
"You're different from them because you're beating yourself up over it. If you weren't, then I'd be worried."
He slouched over again, "I killed someone, kid. What do I do now?"
"Only one thing you can do." He slapped the other man on the back, "Stand up straight and forget this ever happened."
"Easy for you to say."
(Zack, 10:12 p.m.)
Zack walked into his hotel room with a sigh and dropped down onto his bed. He lay in the silence for a few minutes, waiting. He sat up and looked around, 'Where's Angeal? He always pesters me the second I walk in the door… Oh… That's right… He said he was meeting up with some friends tonight… Forgot about that. Eh, I'll just go to bed… I don't have anything else better to do…'
(Aeris, 10:20 p.m.)
A knock sounded at the door, forcing Aeris awake. She jumped up from her place on the couch, looking around, "Huh?" The knocking persisted and she stood, pulling her bathrobe around her, "Genny, did you lose your key?" She stood on her tiptoes to peer through the peephole, confusion swirling through her mind. She opened the door, "Sorry, Angeal… Genny's out right now."
He stood solemnly, his head bowed and hands holding red material, "I know. I'm… here to talk to you. Can I come in?"
"Uh, sure…" she stepped to the side to let him in, "What's up?"
"You…" he swallowed, "should probably sit."
She moved to sit on the couch, "Angeal… I don't like where this is going…"
He sat down next to her, "Here…" He held out the red fabric for her to take.
She wrapped her small hands around it, immediately recognizing it as Genesis's coat. She felt something hard folded inside, and pulled Loveless out, red stains now decorating the cover. She felt tears well up in her eyes, "No… Angeal… Tell me this is some sick practical joke…"
He averted his gaze, "I'm sorry…"
Her tears fell freely from her sparkling green eyes, "No… No… No… No… No!" She shook her head back and forth, "He promised! He promised he'd come home…! Why!? Why did this…"
He gently moved a hand to wrap around her shoulders as she dropped her forehead to his chest, "I'm sorry…"
"How?"
"What?"
"How did it happen?"
"He… protected a friend. He jumped in the way to save his friend…"
Her shoulders shook with her constant shudders, "Genny…"
"He died… to save me…"
"Where is he?"
"What?"
"I want to see him!"
"…Come with me."
(Tifa, 10:32 p.m.)
Tifa woke up with a start to the sound of the front door slamming open. She clambered out of bed and wandered into the kitchen to find Yuffie sitting on the counter and Cloud's friend Jessie shifting through the cabinets, the former hissing, "Not that one! The next one!"
Tifa blinked against the lights, "What are you doing?"
Yuffie froze, "Um… Go back to bed! This is all a dream… When you wake up, none of this will have been real…!"
"Nice try, Yuff, but the door woke me up. You're not getting off this time. What are you doing?"
"Um… I needed a place to clean my cut and my apartment was way out there… Sorry… I didn't mean to wake you…"
"Let me see…" Tifa moved closer and almost passed out on the floor when she saw the gash running down the other girl's arm. She had a shoelace tied around her upper arm acting as a tourniquet.
Jessie came over with a wad of paper towels soaked down with water and three potions in the other hand. She set everything but one cloth down on the counter and moved it next to Yuffie's arm, "Okay, this is gonna sting…"
"Oh, it can't be that ba-AAD!!!" she screamed as the towel made contact with her wound.
"Did I mention there's antiseptic on the rag?"
"No, you did not!"
Tifa pulled herself onto the counter next to Yuffie, "What can I do to help?"
"Hold her down."
"Alright…" Tifa set one hand on Yuffie's shoulder, the other on her free, unwounded arm in an attempt to keep her from hitting Jessie. Intentionally or otherwise.
Yuffie let out a whimper as the cloth touched her cut again, "Please make it stop…"
A new thought occurred to Tifa, "Are you gonna be able to play?"
"I sure as hell better! There's no way I'm missing that!"
"Good." She turned to address Jessie, "Are you almost done? I want to go back to bed…"
(Cloud, 10:43 p.m.)
Cloud stumbled inside his home, his left leg sending painful jolts through his body. He managed to get himself upstairs by applying most of his weight to his right leg and balancing carefully on the railings. He struggled to get to his room, wanting nothing more than to fall into bed and sleep. He groaned, falling against the wall when his sister's oh-so-excitable voice called out, "Cloud! You're home!"
He turned, still leaning against the wall, left foot off the floor, "What?"
"Oh, nothing." She seemed to just notice the sword on his back and his awkward position, "What happened?"
"Nothing."
"I don't believe that for a second."
"I tripped on Yuffie's big feet and landed on my sword. Happy?"
"No, I'm not. What really happened?"
"None of your fuckin' business."
"Goddess… I hope you either make up with or forget about Tifa soon… I'm getting really sick of your language."
"Get used to it… I don't see either of those happening anytime soon."
Cloud ignored whatever she said next and stumbled into his room and grabbed hold of his dresser for support. He caught his balance and glared when his eyes focused on the small box resting next to his charging station. Without really meaning to, he reached out and picked it up, keeping himself steady with his other hand. He opened it to find the wolf earring Tifa had given him just days ago. He grit his teeth and closed the case, setting it back on the dresser. He staggered over to his bed and fell on it, cringing when his injured thigh made contact with the queen-size bed that used to be his mother's. Seconds later, sleep overcame his tired body.
(Aeris, 10:57 p.m.)
Aeris climbed out of Angeal's sedan and he led her to the door of the dilapidated apartment building. She hugged Genesis's coat more tightly around her body and moved forward, the red leather dragging on the ground a little ways. Angeal walked to a particular door and knocked. Scratching sounded on the other side, and then the click of locks as a man with long silver hair opened the door. Angeal set a hand on Aeris's shoulder, "This is Aeris… Genesis's fiancée. Aeris, this is Sephiroth, a friend of mine and Genesis's from way back."
She nodded slowly, "He," she chocked on her tears, "told me about you."
The tall man's eyes followed her as she walked in, "Likewise."
Angeal led her over to the couch where Genesis lay, coatless and pale. Aeris ran over and dropped to her knees beside him, tears falling freely down her cheeks. She ran a hand over his hair repeatedly, "Genny…"
Angeal sat in the musty chair, rubbing a hand over his mouth and trying not to let his emotions run wild. He looked up, "Sephiroth… Let's give them some time alone."
He nodded, "Very well." He walked back into the bedroom and closed the door behind him.
Angeal set a hand on Aeris's shoulder, "I'll be in the car when you're ready…"
She gave a short nod against Genesis's shoulder and choked out, "Okay…" She shuddered against her fiancé's arm, one hand resting in his hair, the other quickly staining red from its place on his still chest. Her body trembled with the overwhelming sorrow that occupied her mind and soul.
Two weeks later… May 22nd
Friday…
The following takes place between 12:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
(Tifa, 12:35 p.m.)
Tifa walked through the room with the polished wooden panels for flooring. She mused, 'This is where we'll be performing tomorrow… Cloud… I wanted to perform your song especially for you… I guess this will have to do…' She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see Yuffie there.
The young girl bit her lip, "Hey, Teef? You gonna be okay to sing tomorrow?"
She feigned confusion, "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Reno told me you were blowing chunks this morning… and yesterday, too. You comin' down with something?"
"I'll be fine… Minerva knows I've gone onstage while sick before."
"I suppose…"
"How's your arm?"
"Pft! It's been fine for weeks!"
"You just hurt it two weeks ago yesterday…"
"Oh, fine! But I'll be okay to play!"
"I still don't believe you tripped and fell on glass…"
She waved her hands, almost frantically, "That's what happened!"
"Whatever…" she sighed, "I don't really feel like getting into a Yuffie argument right now…"
"Teef?" she watched her friend walk away, "Huh…"
(Aeris, 12:48 p.m.)
Aeris trudged down the stairs of her apartment and dropped into Angeal's car. He looked over at her, "I'm sorry for dragging you down to the studio, but I have to work and I promised Genesis I'd take care of you."
She sniffled, "I'm okay… It's probably a good thing I'm getting out of the house…"
"Mm…" he shifted gears and pulled away from the curb, "Aeris…"
"Hm?"
He shook his head, "Nothing."
"Okay…" she pulled the red coat tighter around her shoulders and settled into the seat, missing the leather smell of Genesis's car.
(Cloud, 1:31 p.m.)
Cloud groaned as the buzzing of his cell phone on the nightstand jerked him awake. Keeping his face in his pillow, he grabbed the phone and glanced at the I.D. out of the corner of his eye. He let out a low of moan of annoyance and pushed his face out of the pillow before flipping the phone open and speaking, "What is it, Biggs?"
"Sephiroth is back."
He jumped straight up, "What!?"
"Thought that'd catch your attention."
"Just tell me what the hell is going on already!"
"Why? You gonna crawl through the phone and force it out of me?"
He spoke with warning in his voice, "Biggs…"
He laughed for a bit before stopping abruptly, "Kadaj said he's planning to attack -in public."
"Where?"
"The Sector Four Community Center. Some party or something. He's gonna crash it and kill as much as he can."
"Typical Sephiroth."
"Yeah."
"I'll be at the base in a few. Vincent still a wreck?"
"Yep."
"Damn it… Think we'll be able to hold off Sephiroth and his goonies without him?"
"Well, he is down one member…"
"Doesn't mean he hasn't picked up more since."
"If he has, we're frickin' screwed."
"Yeah." He shook his head, "I'll be there in an hour."
"Got it."
(Biggs, 1:46 p.m.)
Biggs snapped his phone shut and turned to face Jessie, who sat on the couch with her teeth clamped firmly around her lower lip. Biggs sighed, "What?"
She twisted a finger through her reddish-brown hair, "Think you should've told him?"
"He'll be fine…" he paused before adding, "I hope."
"Oy… This is gonna get messy."
"Yep."
(Zack, 2:03 p.m.)
Zack walked through the halls of the filming studio, running a towel over his hair in attempt to dry it. He opened the door to his dressing room and almost screamed when he caught sight of the small, brown-haired woman sitting on the neat couch. She stayed curled up into a ball, face resting on her knees and shoulders shaking. He walked over to her, shirtless, and sat next to her, "Aeris? What're you doing in my dressing room?" He ran a hand over her back in what he hoped was a comforting motion.
She looked up slowly, "Angeal had to go somewhere and he thought I'd be left alone in here…"
"Angeal? What are you doing with him for?"
"After…" she swallowed, "After Genny… Angeal's been… I guess you could say he's been taking care of me…"
"Oh, yeah… Angeal's good friends with Ge-" he cut himself off, "He told me what happened. I'm sorry."
She sniffed in a failed attempt to keep her nose from running, "I'm okay. Really."
He handed her the tissues from the coffee table, "You're being really strong… I give you full credit for that."
She managed a slight smile, "You think so?"
He wrapped an arm across her shoulders, "I do."
She sank into his side, "I just… I loved him so much… How in Gaia am I supposed to go on without him?"
He swallowed, "'Sometimes, when you least expect it, someone you love gets taken away… Absorbed into the Lifestream. When that happens… The only thing you can do is find a special place in your heart for them and keep them there. Move on, accept new people into your life, but never forget the ones you lost…'"
She looked up at him with wide, tearful eyes, "Zack… That was beautiful…"
He shrugged slightly, "And not my words. That's one of Ty's lines in 'Shattered.' He says it to Scarlet's character after Rufus's meets his untimely demise."
"Oh… What happens after that?"
He hummed in amusement, "You'll see. The premiere is in two weeks."
"Mm…" she settled in against his side again.
He tightened his grip on her shoulder and struggled to keep his emotions in check. He felt her shudder under his grasp as she started to cry again. Unable to fight his heart any longer, he looped his other arm under her knees and lifted her onto his lap, resting his chin on the top of her head.
(Tifa, 2:34 p.m.)
Tifa walked out of the building, pulling her tote bag up onto her shoulder as she went. A voice called out from behind her, "Hey, Teef!"
She turned to find Reno walking out behind her, "What's up?"
"Leavin' already?"
"Yeah… I have some shopping to do and then I wanted to see if I could get a nap… Make sure I'm at my best for tomorrow."
"You sure? We're havin' one hell of a party in there…"
"I'll pass, Reno. I just want to sleep."
"If yer sure…"
"I'm sure."
"Hey…" he took a step closer, resting a hand on her shoulder, "How are you doing after the, um, Spiky incident?"
She touched the bracelet on her wrist, unable to bring herself to wear his mother's earrings, "I'm… doing better."
"That's good. Take care of yerself, 'kay? He didn't deserve the glory that is… Tifa Lockhart." He spoke with a fake dramatics, trying to make her laugh.
He received a small chuckle in reply, "Thanks for trying, Reno, but I don't think I'll ever fully get over him."
(Cloud, 2:41 p.m.)
Cloud stumbled over to where Vincent lay on one of the mattresses and poked him at the base of his spine. The blond waited for a reaction and dropped down next to him. He rubbed the still-sore spot on his leg and slapped Vincent a few times on the back, "Look, Vincent… It's been two weeks. You gotta crawl out of your self-pity and get with it."
The raven-haired man turned slowly to face him, "Oh, Goddess… I'm getting this lecture from you?"
"What the hell is that supposed mean?"
"That you were a pathetic pile of spikes barking everyone's heads off just three weeks ago."
"Tch!" he stumbled to his feet, "I don't need this. Screw it." He found his way back to the couch and dropped down, waiting for the 'briefing' to start.
Jessie walked over, slipping her phone into her pocket, "Yuffie can't make it. She's busy with-" she caught herself in Cloud's presence and finished, "She's busy with work."
"Alright," Biggs stood up, "Since she's not showing, let's just get started."
Jessie spoke up first, "Okay, all of you guys know what the deal is, right?" After various nods, she continued, "Alright, thanks to Kadaj, we know he is going after the Sector Four Community Center. A band is performing there tomorrow, and, given our resources, I think we can assume that's when he's going to attack."
Wedge spoke up, "Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why can we assume they're attacking then?"
"Um…"
Cloud looked up, piecing the puzzle together, "Because the band is called Seventh Heaven… Am I right?"
(Zack, 2:52 p.m.)
Zack held the petite brunette on his lap, stroking her shaking shoulders in an attempt to ease her sorrows. He held her close, knowing in his heart this would be his only chance, or reason, anyway, to do so. He heard the distinct sound of the door opening from behind him but chose to ignore it. Angeal's clearly angry tone sounded, "Zack! What in Minerva's name are you doing!?"
He glanced briefly over his shoulder, and then turned back to the sobbing woman in his arms, "Shut up, Angeal."
"Zack… I thought you knew better."
His grip tightened on the now-curious woman's shoulder, "Look. She was crying. She looked like she needed someone to listen."
Aeris's eyes widened, "You're mad at Zack because of me?"
Angeal sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "I promised him I'd take care of you. Zack doesn't exactly have the best reputation going for him. I was worried, that's all."
She cracked a small smile, "Thanks, Angeal."
He shook his head and mouthed to Zack, 'Hurt her and I'll see to it your career is ruined.' At least, that's what Zack thought. It might've been, 'Order me a cheeseburger or your career is ruined.' He figured it was the first one. He replied to his agent with a short nod.
He cocked his head, and, just to make sure, called out, "You want fries with that?"
Angeal shot him a confused glance, "I'm sorry?"
'Guess it's the first one…' he shook his head, "Never mind."
(Angeal, 3:47 p.m.)
Angeal reached for the doorknob and paused, 'Aeris could probably use some more company… And Goddess know Zack has cheered me up before… I'd never tell him that, but he has. Hmm… Maybe… Ah, what the hell…'
(Aeris, 3:54 p.m.)
Aeris sat on the couch in Zack's dressing room as the owner of it stood in front of her, hands on hips, mocking dark look in his eyes, and said, "Geez, Aeris, I was just trying to tell you the epic story of my big break…"
She laughed harder than she thought possible, "Oh… That dance… What is that? The Chicken-Walk?"
He gave in to his impending laughter, "I have no clue…"
She clutched at her stomach, trying to catch a breath, "I never imagined you got your break over a bet!"
He moved over and dropped down on the couch next to her, "That's the truth of it. I'd wanted to be an actor for as long as I could remember, but I ended up getting my break over something as stupid as that." He turned to face her, "You know, I don't regret any of it."
"That's a good thing… right?"
"Yep. I think so, anyway."
A knock sounded at the door and Angeal let himself in, "Hey, Zack. Something's come up and I have to go… Could you take Aeris home?"
"Uh, sure! No prob!"
He turned to the brunette, "I'm sorry, Aeris."
"It's okay. Zack was just in the middle of telling me about his big break."
Angeal let out a snort, "Now there's a story and a half."
"I know. I'm enjoying it."
"Good. Well, I have to go. See you tomorrow, Aeris."
"'Bye!" She watched him go and turned to Zack, "I should probably get home… I have to get ready for work…"
"Oh!" he scratched the back of his head, "Sure thing!" He dug in the pockets of his jeans and came out with a set of keys, grinning.
She stood, grabbed her backpack and followed him out the door and down the halls until they found their way outside. He led her over to a freshly-polished silver sports car and climbed in, waiting for her to follow. She bit her lip at the memories of Genesis's car, which she still had, and sat down in the passenger seat of Zack's car. She sifted in her seat a little, "Angeal… didn't really have anything to do, did he?"
"Huh?"
"He wanted me to talk… and he saw I was getting along with you, so he sent me home with you…"
"Sounds like something he'd pull."
"Hm…" she hummed her agreement, "Zack…?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you even know where I live?"
"Not a clue."
(Reno, 4:47 p.m.)
Reno walked into the front door of his home, desperately yearning for a shower after the party, and moved in the direction of his room. He stopped on his way as he passed the bathroom door when he heard muffled cries from behind the closed door. He silently pressed an ear to the door, confirming his suspicions. He knocked lightly and called, "Teef?"
A stronger burst of tears was his only reply. He cringed, knowing his friend probably needed him, but also fully aware of the fact she was in the bathroom. He swallowed the lump in his throat, "Teef? I'm coming in… Goddess, I hope you're dressed."
He cracked the door open, slightly surprised to find it unlocked, and found Tifa sitting on the edge of the shower-tub wrapped in a towel, damp hair cascading down her back, face resting in her hands as her shoulders shook uncontrollably.
He took a few steps closer, "Teef? What's wrong?"
She said nothing, likely because she couldn't, and moved one hand to point towards the counter. Her visible eye was red, the skin around it glistening from her constant tears, signaling that she'd been crying for awhile.
He watched her for a minute before following her finger. He picked up the small, plastic object on the sink and examined it for a minute. When he finally figured out what it was, his eyes widened and he said the first thing that came to mind, "Oh."
She looked up slowly, "Reno, I'm pregnant. With Cloud's child."
To caledon: a Cloud, Tifa, Zack, or Aeris plushie of your choice for guessing Tifa's predicament!
To mira ff: You get one of each for catching on way back in chapter eight!
Yay! *Throws confetti* I'm so glad that came out on a somewhat guessable level…!
For the record, I have no idea how long it takes to make a movie or put together a concert, so those two events might seem a little rushed. *Shrugs* Oops.
As always, please review!
-Valk
