Chains of Hope
By: Yoshimara
Through-out this fic, there are random stanzas of songs that I just picked up off my computer. Probably too long of a list, so if you want the names of some of them, let me know and I will send the list to you. And also, I do not own FFVII, any lyrics posted in this story (unless otherwise specified), but I do own the scenario and any other characters that show in the story so do not use without my personal permission. And on that note, enjoy!
Chapter 14
After waiting in the cold for half an hour, the sun was beginning to set and he was in a warm car driving away. Staring out of the window, his face completely blank, his eyes having lost their shine once again. Why...can't this just end? "--that you'd call out of the blue like that!" "Huh? Oh, well...you were the first I thought of." Looking to the raven-haired driver, he faked a smile before looking back out of the window. Silence dragged on for him as Zack kept babbling about hiding him in a closet at his room and such. The image of Vincent's face and the pain he saw in those eyes as he screamed at him. I can't believe I...was so horrible to him.
Arriving at another apartment building, both men rode the elevator to the top floor and down the hallway. Entering the apartment, Cloud noticed it seemed bigger than it actually was. "Well, you can take the bed and I'll sleep on the couch. Did you eat anything yet?" Cloud shook his head as they both stepped inside. "No...I didn't have time." "Alright, I'll fix you something to eat then!" Zack's cheerful voice chimed as he walked off to the kitchen. Cloud watched him walk off and sighed softly, "Make yourself comfortable!" the SOLDIER called out from the other room. Cloud walked over to the couch and instead of sitting on one of the cushions, he sat on the floor, folding his legs underneath him. You don't understand! Closing his eyes tightly he bowed his head, Beg for it.
His phone began to ring and he looked at it in his hands. Flipping it open, he placed it at his ear, "Hello?" his broken voice uttered. "Yo! Where you at, Cloudie-boy?" Reno..."Hello, Reno. I'm just out. What can I do for you?" A small silence as he took a drag from a cigarette, "Vince told me to call. Any idea why?" You don't understand! "Not sure, to be honest. I need to go though. I'll talk with you later." "But, Cloud--" Closing the phone, he stared at the floor beneath him. I'm so sorry, Reno. "Here we go, Cloud!" Zack walked in with a steaming bow and looked down at him, "Why aren't you on the couch, silly? What's wrong?" Cloud shook his head when he looked up, but said nothing when Zack placed the bowl of ramen in front of him with a pair of chopsticks. Staring at the food, he nodded once, "Thank you, Zack."
While eating, Zack took his place on a recliner next to him and began babbling to him about how he hates doing paperwork. Finishing his plate, Cloud rose to his feet and went into the kitchen. Setting the dish into the sink, he stared at the floor for a moment. Vince told me to call. Shaking his head, he went back into the living room and sat back on the floor. "Hey!" Cloud looked up, those dead eyes looking into lively violet ones. "What's wrong?" The blonde sighed slightly and looked back to the floor, "...I was wrong." "Eh?" Cloud closed his eyes, folding his hands in his lap, "I don't understand...I was forbidden to see you, Zack. But...I broke the two main rules." His heart sank as he thought of it, "Disobeying him, and loving him." "Why is loving him a rule?" Cloud was silent, his mind completely blank. "So not to hurt myself any more than he would have...to avoid it when he threw me away."
Zack growled, causing the blonde to look up into his face. He saw the anger, "Who hurt you, Cloud? Who is your Master?" Cloud's eyes widened slightly before looking to the floor once again, "Vincent Valentine." Time seemed to stop once again. All he could hear was his own heartbeat mixed in with the ticking of the clock. "The ex-Turk? Geez, I know he dislikes SOLDIERs...but he knows me!" Cloud blinked a few times, then quickly looked back at Zack, "I didn't...get a chance to say your name to him." Realization brought the fog away from his conscious. "He must think...oh, no!" Rushing his hands to his face, he bit his bottom lip. "Cloud," parting his fingers, he stayed silent. "Stay here for the night anyway. I'll take you back home tomorrow on my way back to work, alright?" Cloud nodded once, but kept his hands to his face. How could I be so stupid?
The blonde closed his eyes, feeling that wave of pain pass over him faintly. "Hey, Cloud..." Letting his hands finally fall, he looked up towards the raven-haired man, "Were you injected with Mako?" Furrowing his brow, he stared at Zack. "What? I—I don't know." "I see it in your eyes...did one of your former Masters do it to you, Cloud?" Cloud shook his head, "I just don't know! I know I was in a laboratory once or twice...I'm not sure what they did to me though." "Don't you want to know?" Cloud looked at him, perplexed. Would I? "No!" he quickly stood up, crossing his arms around his stomach, "it's bad enough I live with the pain every day, I don't want the images from the dark! His voice..." The blonde looked to the floor, turning away from Zack. Looking up to the window on the right, he stared at the darkness that began to envelope the world around him. "it never--" A knock sounded on the front door, causing both of them to look.
"I'll get it!" Zack said as he rose from his seat. Walking to the door, he opened it, his body jumping up and into the arms of someone, "Sephy!" Cloud's eyes widened and he turned back to the window, hoping to not be noticed. "Sorry to come at a time like this, but I needed to ask a ques—oh? You have company. Is this a bad time?" Cloud turned his head slightly, the lamplight reflecting the darkness of his blue eyes. He saw Sephiroth towering in the doorway and Zack hugging his shoulders with a grin on his face, "Oh no! Come on in!" Ushering the taller man into his home, Zack shut the door. "Don't mind Cloud, he's just here for the night." Cloud looked back to the window before turning fully around to face the pair, his blue eyes dead but staying on Zack. If I look... "So what did you need, Sephy?" "Where are my keys, Zack?"
"Keys? Oh! Back in your office—aren't they?" Sephiroth shook his head and Zack raised an eyebrow, "I could have sworn--" Cloud tossed a ring of keys from the floor to Zack who, without looking, caught it, "I left them there." Cloud raised an eyebrow and uttered, "Check your hand, Zack." "Eh?" The raven-haired SOLDIER looked in his hand then grinned, "Oh! Here they are, Sephy!" Sephiroth took them from the man and sighed, "I swear, these attempts make me think you're trying to bed me." Zack shook his head vigorously, "Noooo, I would never do that." Both the blonde and the silver-haired man could hear the flirtatious sarcasm in his tone, and Sephiroth rolled his eyes as Cloud looked to the floor. Averting his eyes, those dead blue eyes looked up to the taller man, secretly taking in the sight of his silver hair and bright green eyes. Silver and green. "Well, thank you, Zack. It's best if I get home--" "Aww! You just got here! At least come have a drink or something!" Sephiroth sighed slightly, "Alright, one drink. Non-alcoholic of course." Zack cheered as he ran off, "Sweet! Lemonade it is!"
Cloud turned away from the two as Zack bounded off for the kitchen. Closing his eyes, he saw those crimson orbs in the darkness. "So, you think that everything is fine now that you're not at my side, Cloud?" That dark voice cooed in his ear, slightly above a whisper. Opening his eyes, he stared at the wall across from him, his arms still crossed along his stomach. "No matter, you have my blood running in your veins, now. No matter where you go, I'll always be there." His expression never changed as he turned his head towards the general, "Go where you please, but you don't scare me anymore." A soft chuckle as a tongue rolled along his neck. Feeling a shiver run down his spine, his eyes widened slightly. "Oh really? Well that's just too bad," the general whispered huskily, "because not a day goes by when I don't think of your body writhing and squirming below mine." "Sephy!"
The general moved back as Zack came into the room with a tall glass filled with the lemonade so promised and with a few ice cubes in it. Cloud turned to face Zack who handed the drink over, Sephiroth taking it with a slight nod, "Thank you." "Anytime, Sephy!" Without a word, Cloud walked out to the hallway outside of the apartment. Leaning against the stone wall, he sighed as his eyes gazed on the cellphone in his hands. Master. His body began to tremble at the thought of those crimson eyes accented by his long black hair. Closing his eyes, he gripped the phone gently. No matter where you go, I'll always be there. He whimpered faintly as he flipped open his phone. I have to call him. Pressing the send button, he stared at the floor with the phone pressed to his ear. Hearing the ringing in his ear, his mind pleaded for Vincent to answer the phone. I'm so sorry, Master he thought silently. A rather tired and sad voice answered the phone with a faint, "Hello?"
"M—Master?" Silence on the other end followed, making Cloud's heart sink. "Hello, Cloud." finally came the response. What could he say? "I—I'm--" "Don't mention it!" he whirled his head around to see Sephiroth leaving the apartment with Zack waving him off. As Sephiroth turned, he flashed the blonde a sinister look before heading out. "Cloud! Whatcha--? Oh, right. Just hop back in when you're ready." Closing his eyes tightly, he bowed his head, "Alright," he said after moving the phone away from his mouth. After watching Zack re-enter the apartment, he heaved a heavy sigh. Placing the phone back to his ear, he listened intently for any sound. Satisfied with the even breathing on the other line, he said gently but hurriedly, "I'm sorry, Master. I shouldn't have spoken out of line as so, and I should have obeyed your orders." Biting his bottom lip, he felt his heart begin to race as he waited for an answer. Please forgive me, "Cloud," his voice said softly, this time more alert, "I understand how you feel, you have no idea how well I understand your emotions. But...I have one question to ask." "Yes, Master?" "What's his name?" he could hear the bitterness in Vincent's tone, but he paid no heed. "Zack...Zack Fair."
Silence spread between them as he thought of Zack's grinning face. Laughter filled his ear, "Is that right? I should have known from the start. Then, I lift my ban on your visiting him. However, next time just tell me, alright, little one?" Cloud smiled slightly, "Yes, Master." After saying their good-byes, Cloud hugged the phone to his chest, a small smile on his face. Maybe I shouldn't be so quick to assume anymore, he thought as he wandered back into the apartment. Blinking a few times, he saw Zack completely passed out on the couch, one leg hanging off the back of the couch. The quiet sound of snoring filled the air and Cloud furrowed his brows. He can't be asleep already? Peeking over the couch, he saw a magazine on his face, one hand reaching out to his side off of the couch, the other folded over his stomach. He's just a big kid, Cloud thought has he grabbed a blanket from the recliner and covered him gently.
Walking a little past the couch, he stripped himself of his shirt and slid into bed, curling up with the phone in his hands still. With one hand, he grasped the bullet that hung around his neck and ran his thumb along the cold metal. No matter where you go...He closed his eyes tightly and brought the sheet up around his waist. Darkness enveloped him as sleep embraced his conscious lovingly.
When Cloud opened his eyes again, it was still dark outside. Slowly sitting up, he could hear the soft snore of Zack close by. Sighing slightly, he rose out of bed with a small whimper. A dull ache rose in his mid-back and he furrowed his brows. Oh, one of those days today? Shaking his head, he stretched his body out until his muscles began to quiver before releasing. Padding over to the rather tiny kitchen, he looked through the cabinets to put together a nice breakfast. Hopefully Zack won't mind having a healthy breakfast, he thought before looking for bowls and mixing spoons.
After ten minutes of preparing food, the smell of waffles wafted throughout the tiny apartment, rousing Zack from his deep slumber. Stumbling into the kitchen, Cloud turned around to show the bits of dried batter on his cheek, a spatula in his hand, and an innocent look on his face, his eyes showing their slight shine once again. Zack blinked a few times to get the picture into focus, "Pancakes?" Cloud smiled slightly, "No, waffles, Zack. Thought you'd like a home cooked breakfast." Looking back to the waffle iron, he opened it slightly before closing it again. "Well, if you're the one making it, then sure!" Strong arms wrapped around him making Cloud stiffen slightly. Eyes widening, he looked behind him to see Zack's grinning face pressed against his shoulder.
"Zack," his muttered, "I can't cook with you on me. Go take a shower." Zack nodded feverishly, "Alright!" Bouncing off to the bathroom, Cloud sighed as he prepared another batch of eggs. What is it with people touching me lately? Remembering the little touches that Vincent does on his chest in his sleep, a small blush crept on his cheeks as he served the waffles onto a large plate. Thirty minutes went by and Zack returned from the shower wearing his black SOLDIER pants and nothing else, towel drying his hair, his chest still glistening with a little bit of water. Looking up from his bent position over the table, Cloud set the last piece of dish-ware onto the table and smiled, "Breakfast is ready, Zack! Hope you're not allergic to anything." "Nope! Not as far as I know."
Both men sat down at the small table and Cloud served Zack his plate and his juice before getting his own servings. Silence spread between them as they ate until Zack finally spoke up, "So did you talk to Valentine last night?" Cloud nodded as he finished chewing his bite of bacon. "Yes. I admitted my faults and he accepted them." Taking another bite, he looked up at Zack who was smiling, "I don't see how you were wrong but good! Don't need you upset. What time is it anyways?" Cloud looked to the kitchen clock and rose an eyebrow, "Five. Why?" A sudden crash broke through the air and the blonde looked across the table to see Zack's chair overturned and him on the floor. "S—seriously? I'm never up this early!" Cloud blinked a few times, confusion covering his face as he stood up and rushed to Zack's side, "Are you alright?"
Zack sat up slowly, "Yeah, but why'd you get up at five?" Cloud helped him to his feet, holding onto his strong torso, "Honestly, five is a little late for me. I normally wake at three." Picking up the chair, he looked up at Zack's shocked face. Raising an eyebrow, he questioned, "What's wrong?" Zack cleared his throat and wiped his face of the expression before replacing it with a large grin. "Besides the fact that you're insane, nothin!" They both took their seats again and finished eating. I'm beginning to think that Zack is the one that's insane, Cloud thought as he finished his plate and began to take everything to the kitchen. As he washed the dishes, words fell from his inaudible lips, Start bending me, it's never enough. I feel all your pieces. Moving to the stove, he held the soapy sponge in his hand and began to wipe everything down, Start bending me, keep bending me until I'm completely broken in.
Finally, after everything had been cleaned up and Cloud took a quick shower, Zack was completely dressed in his uniform and had his keys in his hand. "Ready to go, Cloud?" The blonde nodded once, feeling his stomach tied in knots. Please don't let last night be a dream.
Yay! Not such a bad chapter if I say so myself, and you see how I imagine Zack living his life. Me thinks I'm having too much fun, eh? Wee! Chapter 15, here we come!