Chapter 14: Moved

Tidus' sweet dreams were interrupted when he felt himself being nudged gently in the chest. As he continued to wake, he heard Cloud's quiet repetitions of his name. With a relaxed yawn, Tidus opened his eyes and gave Cloud a gentle squeeze in his arms.

"What's up?" Tidus asked, with a sleepy smile.

"Tidus, I feel weak," Cloud replied, his eyes travelling back to look at the man behind him. Tidus immediately shook his head, freeing himself of the last of sleep's grasp, and propping himself up to get a better look at his friend.

"Like, worse than you were before?" Tidus asked, words stringing together nervously.

"Yeah." Cloud's eyelids fell closed, which only increased Tidus worry. Reluctantly, he pulled away from his companion.

"Okay, listen, I'm gonna go get Lightning. Maybe she can help with some healing magic," the younger man said, getting up from his position and heading for the door of the tent. He glanced back at Cloud in concern when he didn't respond.

"You okay?" Tidus asked, just to make sure.

"Mm-hmm," Cloud uttered, his scrunched up mouth and tightly shut eyes displaying his obvious discomfort. Tidus' stomach turned as he realized he didn't have much time.

Cloud heard Tidus unzip the tent and leave, and all that remained was a painful, empty silence. The warmth of Tidus' body had already begun to fade, and Cloud felt frightened at the thought of being left alone in such a state. He could feel himself continuously growing colder, feebler, and he feared Tidus might not make it back in time to help him. Or to say goodbye. For some reason, Cloud really didn't want to go out without telling Tidus goodbye.

Cloud felt like he should be welcoming the end—he may have been well on his way to Zack—but now that he was here, dying for real, he wasn't so sure he wanted it. This still wasn't the hero's death he longed for. Yes, Sephiroth was gone, but Cloud's heart still felt empty, like his efforts still held no meaning. And that wasn't all.

His mind flickered to the future. There were still so many things he hadn't done, so many unturned stones and unexplored paths. There was still a battle to be fought with Cosmos, even if Cloud sometimes had trouble seeing a reason to fight it. There were still people he cared about back home—his friends and little Marlene. There were his fellow Cosmos warriors who still might need his aid. And once again, his mind travelled back to Tidus—Tidus that he had hurt time and time again. He hoped he would at least have time to make things right. After all, Tidus had stayed with him until the end.

Just as Cloud tried to figure out what he would say when and if Tidus returned, he felt his mind shutting down. Tiny dots danced in his vision. He thought he called out a name, but he wasn't sure whose, or even if he had managed to make a sound loud enough to be heard. He could just barely hear people rushing to his side as he fell once more into unconsciousness.

"Light, I can't—" Vaan protested, withdrawing his tired, weakened hands from Cloud's chest.

The night seemed to be going on forever. Even with both Vaan and Lightning doing their best to bring Cloud back to them, they couldn't get him to regain consciousness. Tidus wanted to be comforted by the fact that Cloud was still breathing, but each breath was quicker and unsteadier than the one before.

"Guys, c'mon, keep going," Tidus pleaded, his throat sounding so tight, like he was trying not to be sick. He stood a few feet behind the healers, along with Tifa, who was fidgeting anxiously. To their dismay, Lightning followed Vaan's lead, and pulled her hands away from their injured companion.

"Why'd you stop?" Tifa choked out.

"Because this is useless. He's too far gone," Lightning admitted, shaking her head.

For the first time, Tidus detected a look of sympathy within Lightning's blue-green eyes. Under the circumstances, it only made him feel worse. If she was upset, there was a reason for it. Their efforts were in vain. Tidus felt his body freeze, his heart sink into the pit of his stomach.

Tifa squeaked out a sob, and covered her mouth with her hand. She felt Tidus clench his fists hard beside her, his body starting to shake.

"There's got to be... something you can do," he said, slowly, taking a step toward the healers. He tried to not to let his gaze linger on Cloud because he knew it would hurt too much. This was Cloud. His Cloud. He couldn't let this end before it even began.

Vaan stared up at him, biting his lip. He understood as well as anyone—perhaps even better than most—the pain of losing those he held dear, and if he had believed there was a chance of saving Cloud, he certainly would have continued to try. Vaan knew in his heart, however, that this was beyond his abilities, and Lightning's. He couldn't help but think back to brother, when he lay dying three years ago. Like in Reks' case, Cloud's cuts were gone, but no amount of healing could ever fix the damage on the inside.

"Tidus? Tifa? I'm sorry," Vaan spoke up.

"As am I. Truly sorry," Lightning agreed, her head hanging low. She got to her feet, and walked with quiet steps toward the door of the tent. She unzipped it, and paused there, giving each of her companions one last apologetic glance before dismissing herself from the tent.

"Vaan, please?" Tifa begged, as Vaan got to his feet. He merely shrugged.

"Guys, I can't," he said, voice trembling. He looked so worn, and so defeated, that when he went to leave the tent, Tifa and Tidus felt too guilty to stop him.

The tent was silent except for the remaining warriors' shaky breaths. Bravely, Tidus turned his head to meet Tifa's gaze. She simply shook her head, hand clasped over her mouth. They stared into each other's terrified eyes, but found no comfort—only despair. With a deep breath, Tifa let her hand fall.

"Tidus, I... I need a minute," Tifa whispered, weakly, stepping quietly out of the tent.

Tidus watched her go, then pulled his gaze back to the dying man before him. Tidus shivered, and hugged himself, rubbing his arms in an attempt to stay calm, but he couldn't. That four-foot distance between him and Cloud was begging to be closed, and Tidus couldn't ignore it. If he waited much longer, his chance could very well be gone.

Tidus fought tears as he curled up alongside Cloud, pulling his familiar, cold body in against his warm one. This time, he turned Cloud to face him and tucked Cloud's head in against his neck. He pulled Cloud's sleeping bag up over his shoulders once again, hoping that by some miracle, the warmth might bring Cloud back to him.

"I'm sorry, Cloud," Tidus whispered. "I wish I knew how to help you."

Tidus closed his eyes, and drowned in the moment. He counted each of Cloud's quick breaths as they warmed his neck. He memorized the feeling of Cloud's heart rapidly pounding against his own chest. He pressed a kiss to Cloud's hair, and rubbed a thumb over the small of Cloud's back through the blankets. So, this was it. This was goodbye.

He didn't bother to move when he heard someone unzipping the tent; he could tell from the footsteps that it was Tifa returning. The girl slipped inside, closing the tent behind her, and she stared down at Tidus with a tender look that Tidus couldn't identify. He wiped at his face when he suspected some tears may have escaped him.

"I was just trying to warm him up," Tidus scrambled to explain, but Tifa didn't seem bothered by the way he was holding Cloud so close. She proceeded further inside the tent and knelt down beside Tidus.

"Is it helping?" the girl asked, with a delicate voice. Tidus shook his head.

"I don't think so. I think we're losing him," he replied, weakly.

His eyes met Tifa's. Both could see that the other was trying not to break down. Tifa eventually shook her head and lay down on Cloud's other side, a hand coming to rest on his side. Tidus forced a weak smile to thank her, and together, they hoped for the best.

Several long, silent moments passed before commotion could be heard outside the tent. Tifa and Tidus exchanged glances when they heard Lightning arguing with someone. With a frown, Tidus got up from his position beside Cloud and went to unzip the tent to take a peek. When he did, he found himself staring at a familiar face.

"Firion!" he exclaimed, apparent surprise etched into his features.

"We've got a cure. Move out of the way, okay?" Firion said, giving Tidus a gentle pat on the shoulder as he made his way into the tent.

"Cecil?" Tidus gave a half-smile to the man who followed behind Firion.

"Good to see you again," he replied. Tifa got to her feet, and moved to stand beside Tidus near the door. Vaan entered the tent a moment later.

"Where's Lightning?" Tidus asked him.

"Keeping watch. Says she doesn't believe this'll work anyway," Vaan answered.

He and Tidus turned their attention to what the newest arrivals were doing. Firion uncovered Cloud from his sleeping bag, then held out his hand as Cecil presented him with what looked to be a glowing ball of white light. Firion stayed still, letting it rest in his palms for a moment.

"What is that?" Tifa asked.

"A gift from Cosmos," Cecil replied.

"You met Cosmos?" Vaan asked, his loud voice full of surprise.

"Shh. I need to concentrate," Firion told him. Everyone went silent.

With a deep inhale, Firion thrust the shining light against Cloud's chest, causing Cloud's back to arch off the ground. He looked like he was in pain, and Tidus instinctively rushed to stop whatever Firion was doing to him.

"Hey, you're hurting him!" Tidus shouted. Cecil put an arm out to stop him.

"It's alright," he assured the younger man.

Tidus was reluctant to let Firion continue, but he glanced at Tifa, who he'd expected would be as panicked as he was. Instead, she met Tidus' eyes with a certain calmness. She was trusting them, and she wanted Tidus to do the same. Tidus bit his lip as he forced himself to stand back and watch.

Before long, the glow went out of Firion's hands, and Cloud fell limply back onto his bedroll. Firion withdrew his hands from Cloud's chest and turned his palms over to stare at them; they were burned bright red. He rushed away from Cloud, and Cecil moved in to start healing his injured hands. Meanwhile, Tidus, Tifa, and Vaan crowded around Cloud, watching, hoping that his eyes would flicker open.

Cloud was dreaming. Or, he was pretty sure he was dreaming, at least. He could see a lot of puffy white fluff. Maybe they were clouds. Or pillows. Finally, the white substance—whatever it was—started to fade in the middle, leaving a narrow circle in which Cloud could see other things. Forms. People. Cloud felt himself blink a couple of times and he tried to focus on those people. The white border around his vision made it so hard to make them out.

He focused on the one on the left. Long dark hair. Red-brown eyes. Tifa. Cloud's spirits fell at the thought that he might be back home. Home, where everything hurt so much more.

Cloud coughed, and closed his eyes. This time when they opened, they examined the figure on the right with white-blond hair. He recognized the face, but it was like a vague memory. That face belonged to someone that Cloud's hazy mind couldn't identify at the moment.

Cloud dragged his eyes over to the figure in the middle, and allowed his gaze to rest there. Before him were blue eyes, sandy blond hair, and familiar pink lips that looked to be repeating his name. Cloud struggled to remember who it was. Whoever it was seemed important. Whoever it was cared about him; he remembered that much. He felt relieved when his brain started to piece together the name that belonged to that face.

"Ti...dus?"

"He's okay!" Tidus said, quickly, his eyes widening a little as he glanced around at his companions. "He's okay!" he shouted this time, throwing an arm around Tifa and pulling her into a quick embrace as she smiled widely along with him. Cloud's eyes still looked a little dazed, but when Tidus put a gentle hand on his shoulder, their gazes seemed to lock.

"Tidus?" Cloud asked again.

"Yeah, it's me," Tidus said softly, unable to stop a grin from settling on his lips. Cloud watched that smile so carefully, and felt himself relax.

"You're going to be fine now," Tidus smiled. "I promise."

"So, Sephiroth is really gone, huh?" Tifa asked. She was kneeling in front of Cloud, hands clenched together in her lap. She still wasn't able to rid herself of the worried look on her face. Cloud nodded.

"Yeah. Managed to finish him off after he stabbed me. He vanished into this purple smoke. I don't think he'll be back."

"Well, that's good, I guess," Tifa said, still eyeing Cloud with a clear look of concern.

"Tifa, I'm fine. I promise," he said, forcing the smallest flicker of a smile. He knew her worries wouldn't be wavering anytime soon.

The two looked up when soft footsteps were heard outside. Thanks to the morning sun, Tidus' silhouette could be clearly seen against the tent door.

"Knock, knock," Tidus said. "Is this a bad time?"

Tifa hid a smile as she glanced at Cloud—Cloud who seemed to perk up at the sound of his companion's voice. He looked almost eager to see him.

"No, come on in," Tifa called out, before turning to Cloud and lowering her voice. "He hardly left your side the whole time, you know?"

Cloud tensed a little, lowering his head in embarrassment as the memories of Tidus holding him played in his mind. Tifa just smiled, and rushed to help Tidus with the tent door when he seemed to be struggling; she realized why when she opened the door and saw him holding a cup of tea in each hand.

"I'm not interrupting, am I?" Tidus asked, as he entered the tent. His eyes went to Tifa first, then shyly to Cloud who gave him a polite—and possibly even a little timid—nod.

"No, you're not," Cloud assured him.

"Tea?" Tidus smiled, offering Tifa one of the cups in his hand. She shook her head.

"That's alright. You keep that one. I'll get one for myself. I could use some fresh air anyway," she said. She hid a coy smile as she left the two to talk on their own.

Tidus and Cloud let their gazes meet only for a second before fluttering away. Tidus' eyes darted all around the tent, but when they came to rest on Cloud again, Cloud looked a little calmer—maybe even curious, like he was waiting to see what Tidus would do next. Tidus pulled himself together, and found his voice.

"Hey there," he greeted, as if he had just entered the tent.

"Hey," Cloud replied, giving him an amused look from where he sat.

Tidus courageously proceeded to Cloud's side, and knelt down beside him. Cloud still looked a little sleepy, especially with his bedroll still pulled up to his waist, but seeing him sitting up with a rosy color back in his cheeks made Tidus feel better than he had in a while.

"Do you want this now, or...?" Tidus asked, raising one of the tea-cups.

"Sure," Cloud told him.

Tidus gave him a smile before carefully handing it over to him. He instinctively placed a hand behind Cloud's back as Cloud titled his head back for the first swig of his drink, making sure he was strong enough to do so on his own. Cloud took a few more sips of his tea, and Tidus eventually felt confident that his strength had returned. Tidus moved to his own spot and swallowed a mouthful of his hot drink before speaking.

"How're you feeling?"

"A little tired, but fine, otherwise," Cloud shrugged.

"So, Tifa was here with you all morning, huh?"

"Yeah," Cloud said, with a nod, placing his cup down beside him. He'd done that just in time. Before he could get another word in, Tidus moved in against him, his arms shooting around his neck. Cloud froze, wondering how to react as Tidus buried his face in against his ear, but Tidus soon spoke again.

"I was so worried about you," he said, weakly, closing his eyes.

Cloud relaxed a little. It had been a while since Tidus had thrown his arms around him like this so casually, like when they had faced that Kain manikin together. Cloud liked to think that the awkwardness between them had passed sometime after his battle with Sephiroth, during his lengthy recovery.

"Thanks," was all Cloud could think to say.

"Just don't make me go through it again, okay? It was scary there for a while," Tidus murmured, his face still nestled in close.

"I'll try not to," Cloud nodded, expression soft. "But... I do appreciate you staying with me all that time."

"No problem."

"But, Tidus, even though we were close, I still don't— I mean, I can't—" Cloud went on, but Tidus interrupted.

"I know," Tidus hurriedly replied, not wanting Cloud to spoil the moment with those dreaded words; Cloud didn't mind not having to say them.

Cloud could feel himself settling further into the embrace. Having Tidus' arms around him was something he'd gotten pretty used to over the past seventy-two hours, and he couldn't deny it still felt pretty good. But was it really fair to let the comfort continue when all he had given Tidus was heartache in return?

Tidus was dismayed when he felt Cloud shrugging him off. He raised his brows as he let his arms fall from Cloud's neck, ending the embrace. When he looked at Cloud now, any trace of his contentment was gone. His expression had become solemn, his gaze downward-cast.

"Why are you still being so nice to me? I don't deserve your kindness," Cloud said, lowering his head, and turning Tidus' expression to one of concern.

"What do you mean?" Tidus asked, sitting back to give Cloud some space, though he feared his gaze would still make Cloud feel crowded.

"The way I've treated you..." Cloud replied, trailing off. "Doesn't seem right that you're still here after all the awful things I..." Tidus watched Cloud carefully, recognizing that look of guilt in Cloud's sad eyes.

"You're not a bad person, Cloud. You've just had a rough life," Tidus interjected, a soft half-smile on his face.

"That's no excuse for me treating you the way I did," Cloud said, sternly. Tidus paused and lowered his eyes. He knew Cloud wasn't going to meet his gaze anyway.

"No. Maybe you're right," Tidus agreed. "But it's enough to make me want to cut you some slack," he added with a smile.

"You shouldn't," Cloud said, causing Tidus to look up at him in surprise. Cloud kept his head low, but glanced up when he felt Tidus scoot in closer to him.

"Don't be so hard on yourself," Tidus told him in a near whisper.

He hesitated in placing a hand on Cloud's leg, still covered by the sleeping bag, but when Cloud didn't look threatened by him, he decided to go ahead with it. Cloud didn't show any signs of objection. They stayed like that for a moment, and Cloud's head fell even lower, making Tidus think he was trying to hide his emotions.

"I just don't think it's fair to you. To be so kind, and not get anything in return," he said, slowly. Tidus tried his best to meet Cloud's eyes, but they were still nowhere near his. Instead, he took in a deep breath, and hoped he could soothe Cloud with his words instead.

"I get lots in return. I like being around you. That's enough for now," Tidus said, finally making Cloud look up.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," Tidus nodded. Cloud watched him carefully. Tidus' eyes were focused on the sleeping bag below him, and he was biting his lip, as if there were more he wanted to say. Cloud debated asking him, but he opened his mouth again before he got the chance.

"Cloud, I have to tell you, um..." he hesitated. Cloud remained focused on him, silently hoping the attention might tug Tidus' gaze toward his own. Tidus continued to sit there, twisting his nervous fingers together, looking like a lost puppy.

"What is it?" Cloud tried, gently. It wasn't like Tidus to be so speechless.

"Cloud?" Tidus asked, with a deep inhale. "I love you."

Cloud's breath caught in his throat. He thought for a moment that he may have misheard. Slowly, Tidus brought his head up, looking so uncertain when he met Cloud's eyes.

"What?" Cloud asked, his voice almost failing him. Tidus exhaled heavily, hoping he would have the courage to say what he felt he needed to. His gaze fell away again as he began to speak.

"I know, it's crazy, and I get that I shouldn't keep feeling this way. I know it may never work out, but taking care of you over the past few days, and holding you, and protecting you... I don't know, I just..." Tidus trailed off, glancing up toward Cloud, figuring Cloud would be giving him some sign to stop. Instead, Cloud's expression was anything but stern. Tidus wasn't even sure he could describe it. Sad? Curious? Stunned?

"You just... what?" Cloud asked, when Tidus remained silent. Cloud's head was cocked to the side slightly, watching Tidus with a vulnerable look in his eyes. He looked a little scared, but he still genuinely looked like he wanted answers. Tidus bravely continued.

"I just feel really close to you, Cloud. And the more time I spend with you, the more real that feeling gets. I guess, the past few days made me realize how important it is to act before it's too late, so now that you're okay, I just... I want you to know that. That I love you," Tidus rambled, hands waving expressively, and his eyes falling away from Cloud's as he finished his rather long explanation.

His heart pounded hard against his chest. He was terrified of Cloud's response. He was just waiting for the fireworks, for the fighting to start all over again, but Cloud only sat there, looking dumbstruck.

Cloud couldn't even begin to fathom how Tidus could feel this way about him. All along, he had been so cold toward Tidus, even when he'd learned of Tidus' feelings for him. hose sentiments had been confusing enough for him to understand, but to think that Tidus could actually love him? It seemed impossible.

How had Tidus managed to look past all the hurt, all the disagreements? How had he been able to embrace Cloud's indifference? How could Tidus love him? If those words had come from anyone else, Cloud wouldn't have believed them, but Tidus was so sincere, and had been so persistent in his advances all along. Maybe it didn't matter how he had come to love him; what mattered was that he did.

Knowing that Tidus felt that way made Cloud feel something, too. He felt warm, safe. He felt needed, and that wasn't something he'd felt in a long, long time. Maybe it was nothing compared to what Tidus felt, but it was something, even if Cloud couldn't fully explain it yet.

"Are you okay?" Tidus asked after a minute, his brows furrowing in concern. Cloud still looked so shocked, his mouth open slightly, his eyes on his lap.

"I... can't return those words," Cloud said, almost instinctively, even though Tidus could hear hesitation in his voice. Tidus tried not to look hurt; he'd been expecting as much, but still couldn't help but be a little disappointed by Cloud's response. At least Cloud hadn't lost his temper.

"You don't have to," Tidus quickly reassured him, forcing a shaky smile.

"But, for you to say them... That means something," Cloud almost whispered.

Tidus' expression softened, and after a few emotional twitches of his lips, he managed a smile. He sat there timidly after that, fidgeting slightly like he didn't know what to do with himself. He met Cloud's eyes, and widened his smile a little before averting his gaze.

"Tidus? It's okay," Cloud said gently, heart pounding as he placed a hand on Tidus' shoulder. Tidus released a breath as he stared at that hand. He moved to embrace Cloud, but hesitated, waiting first for the go-ahead.

Cloud felt his lips fighting against a smile. Tidus' words had touched him, reached a part of him that had been closed off for a long time. That embrace that Tidus so desperately wanted to give him, Cloud would have once shied away from, but right now, he welcomed it. Cloud gave him a nod, and Tidus' face lit up, making Cloud feel so rewarded. Cautiously, Tidus wrapped his arms around him.

"I'm here for you, okay?" Tidus promised, knowing for certain this time that Cloud could hear him loud and clear. He felt Cloud nod against him. Always here for you, he silently promised.

Cloud lay awake with a knot in his stomach. The day's earlier events with Tidus had been shocking, no doubt about it. No matter how hard he tried, Cloud couldn't get it off his mind, and to be honest, part of him didn't want to stop thinking about it. Cloud quickly glanced at the sleeping face beside him—Tidus had fallen asleep after telling Cloud a long story about chocobo racing in Spira's Calm Lands—and heaved a sigh, rolling onto his other side so that he wouldn't have to face him. It was too much right now, and Cloud didn't know how he should feel. His emotions were stuck in a constant battle—happiness against fear, all because of those three words that Tidus had said.

The night Cloud had been attacked by Sephiroth, he had been so sure of himself. He hadn't wanted a relationship. He hadn't wanted to let his guard down to anyone, but Tidus' words made him feel like everything had changed. Tidus' confession had sent his thoughts into disarray, and Cloud wasn't quite sure what he wanted anymore.

Many things remained the same. There was Zack, and Cloud didn't want to do anything that would take his heart any further from Zack. There was the risk of heartache. Cloud had built walls around his fragile heart to keep himself and others safe. If those walls were to come down, who knew what consequences might arise. But the truth was, Cloud was lonely. He knew it, Tidus knew it, and it was starting to become a strenuous fight to keep himself trapped in that loneliness where he felt he belonged; it was all because of Tidus.

The more Cloud thought about Tidus, the more he suspected he might be developing feelings for him in return. His kind actions, his loyal friendship, his cheerful disposition, his warm embraces—all of them made Cloud feel something deep inside his broken heart. If those feelings were to continue, it would surely become less and less reasonable to keep away from him.

Tidus made Cloud not want to be alone. Cloud had already confided in Tidus, told him things that he thought he would never be able to say aloud. Cloud knew it might be crazy, but those three words had taken him off guard, made him see everything in a new light. Crushes, Cloud could ignore, but Tidus loved him; he couldn't take that lightly.

When Cloud seriously considered letting Tidus into his life, however, he felt scared. Terrified, really. He was filled with horrifying thoughts of what might happen if Tidus were to get close to him. Danger was something that always seemed to follow Cloud wherever he went, and if Tidus were to get caught in the crossfire... Cloud shut his eyes tightly. He couldn't let his mind go down that road.

There was also the fear of letting Tidus down, the fear that he wasn't the person Tidus had been hoping for. What do I possibly have to offer that he can't find somewhere else? Cloud kept asking himself. Maybe Tidus was the only one with an answer to that question, but it didn't keep Cloud from trying to figure it out.

He wanted to make Tidus happy, to give him a safe, satisfying relationship—were he to pursue one, that is—but part of him worried he had lost his ability to love. If Cloud wasn't capable of giving Tidus every ounce of love he needed, then perhaps Tidus would leave him. Cloud didn't want to lose him that way either. So, the best solution seemed to be to avoid getting tangled up in a risky situation.

With a yawn, Cloud got up from his sleeping bag and pushed his heavy thoughts aside. It was too much to deal with at the moment—he didn't even know why he'd allowed himself to dive so deep into his thoughts—and his growling stomach wasn't making concentration any easier. Cloud exited the tent and proceeded outside where the smell of campfire smoke greeted him. His companions were seated around a small fire, preparing what looked to be meat and berries.

"Here, Cloud. Take a seat at the fire," Firion smiled, standing and waving a hand for Cloud to sit down beside him. Cloud gave a gracious nod and did as Firion suggested.

"Breakfast?" Tifa asked, walking towards him and offering him some food on a wooden plate.

"Thanks," Cloud answered, accepting the meal and beginning to dig in. Tidus emerged from the tent a moment later, his sleeping bag in hand.

"'Morning, all," he smiled, then proceeded toward Cloud.

"Good morning!" Vaan greeted in a sing-song voice.

"Don't get too cold, 'kay? You're still not at your strongest," Tidus said, stopping behind Cloud and draping his sleeping bag around the older blond. Cloud lowered his gaze when felt the others watching them, but managed to give Tidus a quiet 'thank you' as he took a seat beside him.

"How are you feeling, Cloud?" Cecil asked, glancing across the fire at the other man.

"Tired, but alright," Cloud answered, looking grateful for the concern.

"How 'bout you, Firion? How are your hands?" Tidus asked, leaning forward to get a look at Firion's reddened palms.

"Sore, but they'll heal," Firion said, with a smile. Cloud gave Tidus a confused glance, not understanding how Firion had gotten injured, but Tidus whispered to him that he would explain later.

"Enough smalltalk. Let's tell them," Lightning spoke up, causing everyone to look up at her, though her own gaze remained on the fire.

"What's she talking about?" Tidus asked, glancing around at his fellow warriors who remained silent. Finally, Firion stood up and walked to the centre of the group, near the fire pit, where he was most easily visible by the others.

"Chaos troops have picked up on our trail, and are sending out their leaders," Firion explained.

"Were you recently attacked?" Cloud asked, adjusting the sleeping bag around his shoulders which earned a shy smile from Tidus.

"Yes. By Golbez," Cecil answered.

"You okay, Cecil?" Tidus asked, glancing at his friend.

"I'm fine," Cecil replied, as if he were completely untouched by the incident with his brother, though Tidus doubted that was the case. Lightning stood up, obviously wanting to get straight to the point.

"Vaan, Tifa, and I were attacked a few days ago as well. Garland gave us one hell of a fight," she announced, folding her arms in front of her chest.

"Kuja turned up looking for Zidane not long ago, too," Tidus added.

"What Lightning's trying to say is that we should stick together. Fight Chaos' leaders as soon as Cloud and Firion are better," Tifa explained, gaining the attention of her companions.

"I'm ready to go anytime," Cloud spoke up. Tifa's gaze immediately flew toward Cloud.

"No, you need a few more days to rest," she replied.

"Tifa, I'm fine. The pain's completely gone," Cloud tried to assure her.

"But—" the girl started, but was cut off when Tidus opened his mouth.

"If he says he's fine, he's fine. He'll be okay to fight." Tifa tried not to look offended. Cloud glanced in Tidus' direction for a fleeting moment, just long enough to silently thank him, then his eyes met Firion's.

"If I can have a few more hours of healing, then I should be fine to head out this afternoon," Firion told the rest of the group. Lightning twirled her sword around in her hand before slipping it into her scabbard.

"Sounds like a plan," she said, turning away from the others. "With a group this big, we should have no problem taking 'em down."

"I sure hope she's right," Vaan whispered, as she walked off.

A/N: So, there you have it. The words have been said! Good job, Tidus3

I just want to thank everyone who has been continuing to read/follow this story. It's nice to see the hits keep going up, and know it's still getting some attention, even though I wait a couple of weeks between updates now. I'd love to get them up sooner, but I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so they take me a while before I'm satisfied enough to upload:)

Anyway, just wanted to remind everyone again that if you're enjoying the story, please send me a comment. I'd love to hear from you! I like hearing other peoples' take on the events/characters! Until next time!