Daaaaay-O, Daaaaay-O, daylight come and we wanna go home…sheesh, that's how I feel like the past few days. My internship has been stressful to say the least, one of the biggest reasons why I can't write fanfic as often as I'd like but do not fret!

Coming July I will have a whole month free! That means definitely faster updates with shorter intervals between chapters! :D Enjoy everyone!

ANSWERS TO REVIEWS: Astrid Midnight: Ho, "another awesome chapter" huh? Why thank you! Haha I aim to please! ;)

AkaiArashi1: Thanks buddy, I could definitely incorporate it in future chapters when I want to write more light hearted scenes! Maybe I will even write one with everyone from AVALANCHE and the Turks involved, that would be hilarious! :D

Numinous-Alqua: Hehe you'll see in this chapter just what his awesome mission was! Haha Thanks for the review!

Chapter 37: The Wake-Up Call & Memories

"My own heroes are the dreamers, those men and women who tried to make the world a better place than when they found it, whether in small ways or great ones. Some succeeded, some failed, most had mixed results... but it is the effort that's heroic, as I see it. Win or lose, I admire those who fight the good fight."
― George R.R. Martin

Tifa slowly woke up, feeling unnaturally warm and well-rested, usually she would be tired but this time she felt as if she had the best sleep she could remember ever having.

As all her senses started to function again properly, she felt a heavy, strong arm resting on her stomach, calloused fingers splayed over the surface. A hard, warm body was pressed closely to hers from behind, practically trapping her in a cocoon.

She felt someone's chin resting atop her head, the man's steady breathing and heartbeat against her back had a calming effe-

"Would you look at that Cid, our dear innocent Tifa said she didn't expect anything from their little date. Hmm…I wonder if he was any good?"

Cid almost choked on his own spit, "The hell?! Oh no, this pilot's too old to be having these conversations while sober!" he exclaimed gruffly, crossing his arms.

"Suit yourself, Cid! Well, I heard SOLDIERs have enhanced senses and everything from the mako in their bodies. Who knows? Maybe something else is enhanced too? Or their stamina is greatly increased?" Yuffie said this with a minx smile, a hand rubbing her chin in thought.

Cid dragged a hand down his face in exasperation, "Why don't you ask Vince that?"

"But he's not a SOLDIER!" Yuffie whined, stomping her foot childishly and pouting, "You know…I chose the right man for the job. Vincent did an excellent job of carrying them here and putting them like this on the bed! It's perfect! Too bad he didn't take off their clothes…"

Cid rolled his eyes and grabbed the back of her shirt, "Come on kid, let the people have their peace." He dragged a protesting Yuffie out of the bedroom.

Tifa's face was pink, she managed to partially fight down her blush, keeping her eyes closed and her breathing as even as possible to not alert either of them she was awake until they fully exited and closed the door behind them.

She slowly opened her eyes after a few moments, exhaling softly in relief,

"So, have I been any good?" Tifa's eyes widened in shock she almost jumped if the arm on her stomach hadn't pulled her back toward him, her heart beat erratically from the deep, husky voice right behind her, too close to her ear for comfort.

Zack chuckled softly when she turned her head around to shoot him a glare, he grinned innocently and stretched on the bed like a cat.

"Geez, never knew you would be a screamer Lockhart" Zack grinned devilishly when Tifa turned her back to him and buried her face in her pillow, trying to hide from the far too handsome man beside her, dressed in a plain, black short sleeved shirt, his hair even messier than usual and his voice entirely too husky, the evidence of him just waking up.

Suddenly Zack sat up, his feet touching the floor as he moved a arm back to scratch at his neck bashfully," Um…I…just so you know I uh…I didn't do anything, " he turned his head away from her, having just initiated a staring contest with the wall. He lost.

A soft, warm smile grew on Tifa's lips, "It's a-alright Zack…I know you didn't…thank you for yesterday," he seemingly perked up at this, his awkwardness forgotten for the time being.

"Heh, you're welcome. That was a blast, wasn't it?" he grinned widely and Tifa giggled at his excited face.

"Yeah, it was. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun," she blushed in embarrassment, Zack scratched the back of his neck before he stood up to stretch.

Tifa pointedly ignored the visible muscles stretching and bulging beneath his shirt, instead she stood up as well, "Um, I'll go to the bathroom to change,"

Zack hummed in reply, still busy stretching his stiff limbs as Tifa grabbed fresh clothes from her closet and hurriedly walked inside the bathroom and locked it.

The minute the click sounded, both simultaneously slumped to the floor and muttered:" Damn it…"

Zack ran a hand through his hair, leaning against the bed on the floor, his heart pounding in his chest. In truth, he hadn't woken up just a few minutes ago, oh no.

He had been awake for far longer than that, while in his mind, it was far too cheesy for his taste, he had spent it occasionally watching Tifa sleep.

Oh great, now he felt like a creep.

It wasn't particularly in the way she slept, though that had been interesting too – the first position he caught her in was snuggling his arm, practically hugging it like a pillow to her and resting her cheek against his shoulder, the second position had been even more interesting.

Either way the dream – whatever the hell it was he would try to find out and get her to dream it more often – had been pretty good for Tifa, because her leg, oh so long, strong but elegant at the same time, managed to suddenly rest across his legs, her arm draped over his chest and her nose softly pressed against the crook of his neck.

If he hadn't already been awake that would have caused quite the interesting dreams for him too.

Ahem…the third position was possibly the cutest of all. Zack had been forced to shift onto his side, her hands were suddenly starting to become too questioning in his opinion, as if she were searching for a blanket or a stuffed toy to hold onto, and just like that she had curled into a ball and snuggled into him.

She had the cutest half smile on her face he had ever seen. He was sure even stoic, all business, pre-madness Sephiroth would have cooed, or something close to it anyway, at the adorable sight.

That was also the position which made his heart rate pick up alarmingly, as if he had run for miles on end, because Tifa's hand, which had been on his shoulder, had grabbed his.

And she didn't let go.

Not even when he had tried to gently pry away her hand, they interlocked with his, obviously intending to stay like that.

Zack's blue eyes were stuck like glue to them, gazing intensely at them. While he knew the gesture had been unintentional, it had stirred something within him.

Something he thought he had lost when he heard of Aerith's passing.

It was that…fondness…he wasn't sure he could call it…love quite yet, but he knew, the feelings, however mixed up they were, were strong.

And that was when his mind drifted onto Cloud.

Zack shook his head, running his hand through his spiky hair again.

He wondered what Cloud was doing, if he was alright, where he was now…was he still with the remnants or did he manage to gain control and escape somewhere?

"Cloud…" Zack looked at the picture of Cloud, Tifa, Denzel and Marlene. He noted the particular sad look on Cloud's face, as well as Denzel's.

Zack's guess was, it was taken at the time Cloud had adopted Denzel, a boy with Geostigma and predetermined fate, and had contracted the disease itself.

Through years and years of honing his skills and extra meditation, Zack had learned to be more perceptive than his past "puppy" persona. However subtle some people, Tifa included, tried to be, Zack had picked up on the slightest shift in mood or atmosphere.

He knew Tifa felt embarrassed about…well…waking up next to him in the morning, but he also knew she didn't seem particularly disgusted either…or maybe it was his ego getting to his head.

Angeal had told him how much of an airhead he had been and how his ego was sometimes bigger than his sword.

Angeal…

Zack clenched his fist, he sighed and rested his closed fist against his forehead, trying to create a few possible back up plans when Genesis and Vincent return.

Depending on what the outcome will be, they either immediately storm straight inside the Forgotten city, though that was the more reckless and foolish approach or they track the remnant's movements for a few weeks and storm the hideout when they aren't there.

That would also mean Hojo would be alone.

However…

"What if the crazy bastard has some lackeys there? Trust a mad, paranoid scientist to have some guards stationed at the entrance or at least with him at all times in case break ins happen. Hojo isn't dumb, he knows we are here, he must know I'm alive as well, this will just make things more difficult!" Zack stood up and looked out the window, "What's more, they threatened to kidnap Marlene and Denzel. That wasn't an empty threat, trust Hojo to do anything from defiling a young woman to kidnapping kids,"

Zack ran a hand through his hair again, a nasty habit he had picked from his father and later Angeal.

"If you continue doing that your hair will look worse than a bird's nest," Tifa's voice teased him, he turned around to look at her, she was fully dressed in her casual attire.

Zack grinned easily, for now pushing his thoughts aside, "Heh, yeah I guess." He smiled at her

"Ready to go?" Tifa looked at him expectantly,

Zack nodded, motioning for her to exit the room first, Tifa giggled at his gentlemanly behavior and was the first, much to her embarrassment, to be greeted from none other than the Turks, all sitting at the bar.

Eh?

"Oh…what are you guys doing here yo?" Tifa tried to imitate Reno, winking at the surprised redhead, who wasn't expecting that from her.

Reno grinned like the devil, "Oh nothing, don't worry there, we arrived late enough so we didn't have to hear your screams and moans all the way down here yo," he winked, sipping from his glass, filled with water.

Tifa blushed bright red, lightly pulling on Reno's pony tail, releasing it from its usual confines, making the pilot fuss about it and frantically try to redo his pony tail.

Tseng couldn't help but smirk, before he cleared his throat, "Apologies for intruding so suddenly here, Miss Lockhart, but Genesis called us last night,"

That immediately caught Zack and Tifa's attention, "Last night? Why didn't he call us?" Zack asked confused, scratching the back of his neck,

"He did, several times. He said you didn't pick up," Tseng rose an eyebrow, an obvious question behind his closed mouth.

"Probably been busy dirtying the clean laundry-ow!" Reno yelped, glaring at Rude, who was shooting him such a menacing look that even Reno grumbled and pointedly ignored his aching head.

"Thank you Rude, here you go," Tifa smiled sweetly and refilled Rude's glass, the tall, intimidating Turk muttered a shy 'thanks' and wished he had something stronger than water in his glass to further mask his blush that was thankfully almost invisible beneath his dark complexion.

Zack glared playfully and shook his head at Reno's words, before he leaned his hand against the counter, "Weird…we didn't hear anything last night did we Teef? We've stayed up late playing cards," he smiled,

Tifa smiled back, "Yeah, we did. Oh! Did you know one of our neighbors dreams of Choccobo chicks at night?" Tifa smirked widely, winking at Zack, whose face turned an interesting color of pink in a matter of seconds as she addressed the Turks.

"Huh? Are we talkin' about real chicks or the big, feathery chicks that look like Spike's hair?" Reno cocked an eyebrow, eyeing the Zack and Tifa with a mixture of suspicion and confusion, "And how the hell do you know that yo?"

"Well, last night Zack-"

"Oh look, it's Denzel and Marlene!" Zack announced quite loudly, making Tifa giggle behind her hand as Zack practically tackled the still sleepy children. That had forced them awake.

"Ugh…easy there…" Marlene muttered, almost instantly falling asleep, resting her head against Zack's shoulder, her little hand lazily petting Zack's head, as if he were a puppy. Denzel was snoozing on his other shoulder.

Zack blinked, he wrapped his arms around both of them and carefully straightened himself, cradling them against his chest, their heads touching and resting against his chest comfortably.

He looked at Tifa questioningly, the woman frowned and whispered to the sleeping children," Marlene, Denzel, wake up. Breakfast will be ready soon," she gently shook them, trying to gently rouse them from sleep but they barely budged.

Denzel yawned, nuzzling Zack's shoulder and gripping his shirt, Zack smiled warmly.

"Let them sleep in, seems like they had a rough night. I'll put them to bed and come down again," Zack quietly whispered, lovingly cradling the orphans in his arms and slowly walking toward their room to put them to sleep.

Tifa couldn't help but gaze at Zack's back as the former SOLDIER carried Marlene and Denzel up the stairs, like a father carrying his sleeping children to bed.

Reno whistled quietly, "Now that's what I call husband material, yo." Tifa shook her head and ignored his remark, taking Reno's mug away from him.

"Hey!" the redhead protested, before Tifa placed his mug in front of him again, filled with milk, "What am I a runt now?" Reno rose an annoyed eyebrow

"You still have to grow, now shut up and drink your vitamins Reno," the red haired pilot grumbled something under his breath about "moody females in the morning" before he drank his milk.

"Back to the mission," Tifa was all business again, "Did Genesis tell you anything important?"

Tseng straightened his jacket, "Vincent and Genesis have watched the remnants the entire night, after they retreated to inside their hideout, they dared to go any closer. They…" Tseng looked extremely uncomfortable, "They saw Hojo…and Cloud,"

Tifa tried not to look panicked, she took deep, calming breath, "…What did they see?"

The Turk's expression turned grim, "Hojo has a lab, a large and well equipped one at that. He…he has been infusing mako in Cloud's body, probably to grant Sephiroth easier access to his mind and let him take control for longer periods of time. However…"

Tifa bit her lip, "They saw other people there….civilians."

"No…" Tifa suspected the worst, unfortunately she was right.

Tseng nodded, the atmosphere turning frosty, "Hojo is injecting mako into them as well, but that's not all. Genesis reported they…turned into monsters…Shadow Creepers, Behemoths…anything. Hojo isn't just giving them mako, it's something else as well. The mako is either tainted or he is infusing a second dosage of his own mixture, we can't be sure."

This was even worse than what Tifa initially thought, she gripped the counter tightly, her eyes wide and shocked.

"That bastard," Zack's voice rang through the deathly silent bar, his gaze was furious, "What the hell is Hojo thinking? Turning innocent civilians into monsters now? Has he completely lost it?!" the former SOLDIER grit his teeth, his mako blue eyes glowing fiercely.

"Zack, you mustn't let your emotions dictate your actions, we must proceed carefully, the remnants have threatened you directly-"

"Bullshit Tseng! I don't care if they threatened me, you and the others will stay with Tifa from now on, I'll personally go and hunt down those bastards, I have to save those people somehow! Dilly-dallying here won't get us anywhere, that just means that more people will be turned to monsters!"

"Zack…Tseng is right, if we get too ahead of ourselves we might make a wrong move and offer a opportunity to the remnants, we can't have that." Tifa tried to calm the angry SOLDIER, but that didn't work.

His fist tightened, a shadow passing over his eyes, "Marlene…just now when I tucked her into bed…she asked me if something bad will happen, if we will all be alright…" Zack's blue eyes were sharp and clear when he lifted his head to look at Tifa,

"I promised her that everything will be alright and I don't break my promises. I know how Hojo ticks, if those remnants are anything like Sephiroth as their roles suggest, then I won't have much to fuss over concerning figuring out his mind. They fight similarly like Sephiroth on the battlefield, I can devise a plan to lure them away from the Forgotten City and take Hojo down. The only problem would be Cloud if he is in Sephiroth's control…"

"Woah, there, slow down porcupine." Zack glared mildly at Reno, "We don't even know if there are any other guards except for those leather cosplayers and Spike. What if you're outnumbered? I know your story, hell I've seen the bloodbath you can create with that big ass sword of yours, yo, but I don't think it's clever to approach this one head on. Let's call the boss for this,"

"I already talked with Rufus, his men are limited, in fact, only you guys remain loyal to him. AVALANCHE is preoccupied by training for when the remnants attack, I may get Genesis and Vincent as backup but otherwise I'll handle those bastards myself," Zack smirked, "After all, I defeated an entire division of SOLDIER, that counts for something right?"

"Need I remind you that you were struck down and were just barely alive when we found you?" Tseng dryly reminded the former SOLDIER, crossing his arms.

"That time I had to ensure Cloud was safe, but now there is much more at stake," he chanced a quick glance at Tifa, "More importantly, Cloud and other innocent people are in danger, in Hojo's lab no less, I won't let that monster lay a harming hand on anyone else," Reno's eyes widened as Zack's expression turned darker at the thought of Hojo.

"You really despise the guy huh?" Reno couldn't help but ask, his gaze calming slightly.

"He experimented on us for three years, treated us like rats, sent Cloud into a fucking coma, destroyed Sephiroth's chance at having a normal life with friends and he pulled the strings in everything, the mako injections, Genesis and Angeal's defection from SOLDIER…Nibelheim…" Zack didn't need to look at Tifa to know she swallowed at the mention of her destroyed hometown.

Rude and Reno shared a look, Tseng sighed and took a sip from his water, mulling over Zack's words.

Zack didn't have a chance to place one foot forward before Tifa stopped him, "Where are you going? It's still early,"

"I need to arrange something with Aaron, should be back by supper. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine, I promise," he sent her a reassuring smile, but Tifa saw how troubled he truly was.

Nonetheless, she nodded, offering the Turks some breakfast to which they gladly accepted and thanked her for kindly.

"Zack?" Aaron blinked, seeing the troubled young man in front of his garage, a determined, fierce aura about him.

"Aaron…I need your help,"

"I'm all ears, boy," it was funny how Aaron occasionally called him "boy" when Zack was an adult, but that didn't bother the country boy in the least.

"I want to ask you if you could give Lycana a tune up, make her more resilient against bullets and swords, think you can do that?", immediately a look of concern flashed across Aaron's face.

"Zack…what are you planning?" he crossed his large, muscular arms, a stern glare set into place. Zack scratched the back of his neck under his scrutiny.

"I just want to protect my family and friends, is all,"

"Zack,"

"If I want to protect them successfully I need all the help I can get,"

"Then why don't you ask your friends for help? I've heard of their fighting prowess. Why are you charging straight into battle alone? Again," the implication of the old man's words didn't fall on deaf ears, Zack shifted from one foot to the other.

"I want to protect them and keep them away, I don't want the same outcome I had with Cloud,"

"You won't. Now you have friends to back you up, use that opportunity." Aaron was quite for a moment, before a thought hit him.

"Aaron, if you don't wanna help me just say so-"

"I never said I didn't want to help you, Zack, I just said to accept help from your friends. If you had had friends at your side back then, the outcome would have been different," that same grim look overtook Aaron's features.

Zack shrugged, "I'm still alive aren't I?"

"After almost being shot to death and been in a coma for months after," Aaron retorted dryly, glaring sternly at Zack.

A sigh escaped the former SOLDIER, "You're right but… after Angeal died, I learned not to trust everybody like I used to, I learned that not even the company you work for can be completely trusted. In the end they stabbed me in the back and betrayed me," Zack's tone turned bitter, the fire in his eyes resurfacing.

"But you didn't stray from the right path, Angeal helped guide your way in the world, your friends help you maintain that path even when your mentor is gone," Aaron's smile was soft but small.

"I guess so…" Zack cleared his throat, feeling it suddenly constrict with his raging emotions.

"Come on, let's look at her now," Zack quickly focused and followed Aaron into his garage, pushing Lycana inside as well.

"Yuffie, that wasn't funny…" Tifa sat with her arms crossed over her chest, a bright pink covering her cheeks as she turned her back to her best friend.

"Aw come on Teef, you can't tell me you didn't enjoy waking up beside that handsome devil…" the Wutai ninja winked playfully, patting Tifa on the back.

"It was embarrassing…the worst thing was Zack had heard everything that you and Cid said at the door!"

"Everything?"

"Everything!"

"Oh….so, was he good?"

"Ugh!" Tifa wanted to rip her hair out, she playfully shoved Yuffie's shoulder, quickly getting up and setting a couple of bottles on display on the higher shelf of the bar.

"What? It was just a question…" Yuffie waited for a few minutes but Tifa stubbornly get silent, "So…you won't tell me any juicy details huh? I swear Tifa, getting juicy details from you is like pulling teeth from a Faeryl…" Yuffie shook her head

"There are no juicy details Yuffie! Nothing happened! We are not teenagers high on hormones you know? Sometimes I think you're still stuck being sixteen," Tifa placed her hands on her hips

Yuffie rolled her eyes," Oh please, what grown, hot blooded woman wouldn't revert into a teenager crazy on hormones when being even near the guy? Let alone waking up next to him in the freaking morning!"

"Don't think I didn't know you sent Vincent after us for spying! You're such a sneaky little-"

"Ah-ah-ah, be lucky I just sent him spying," she winked playfully

"Zack and I somehow woke up wrapped around each-other in the same bed," Tifa deadpanned with a straight face

"Hey, hey, hey! I ain't responsible what sort of positions you crazy weirdos try out when I'm not there!" Yuffie defended herself with sticking out her tongue at Tifa playfully

"At least tell me this – did you enjoy yourself? Were you happy?" the innocent nature of her questions startled Tifa a bit, as well as the genuine curiosity and concern in her friends eyes.

"I…yeah…I did…a lot actually…" Tifa cleared her throat

"Would you like to experience it again?" a smile was growing on Yuffie's face,

"….I suppose,"

"Hell! Lock him up in your room naked and don't let him come out!" Yuffie's sudden, perverted retort made Tifa hurl a plastic cup from nowhere at her head, the ninja ducked and laughed.

"Yuffie!" Tifa's red face was enough evidence for Yuffie that the woman was beyond embarrassed, her growing feelings for Zack were only more apparent.

Zack returned by the time supper was set, surprising Denzel and Marlene with sweets he had bought on his way home.

The children immediately leaped at him, hugging him tightly, showering Zack with hugs, kisses and nuzzles.

Their moods throughout the day had dampened, they told Tifa they had a nightmare of Zack leaving them and when they didn't see him later on in the afternoon when they woke up, they had went into a frenzy to try and find him.

It took both Tifa and Yuffie quite a while to calm the two children, reassuring them that Zack was alright and that he would be back in no time, thankfully that managed to at least ease their worries slightly.

Now that he was back, Marlene and Denzel were cheery once again, sucking on the lollipops Zack had bought for them.

They couldn't suppress giggles from escaping them as Zack sheepishly strolled over to Tifa and held out a white lily, along with a cherry lollipop for her as well.

The barmaid of Seventh Heaven rolled her eyes playfully and delicately placed the beautiful lily inside a small, white vase, while she happily sucked on the lollipop.

"Since when did you revert to the candy man?" Tifa teasingly asked him after he had given her the lollipop.

Zack shrugged, "I realized I can't do things my way all the time." He looked at her seriously, "I'm sorry for being such an ass…I guess I went overboard with the protective thing…" Zack scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

Tifa shook her head in amusement, "It's alright, I understand. Now why don't you dig in? I made pancakes," Tifa smiled sweetly, offering Zack a full plate as Marlene and Denzel ate their own fill on either side of him.

Zack felt a warmth fill his chest, it chased away his demons of the day and made him believe that he was a good man, a man worthy of this…of a family. He pushed those thoughts away for now and instead did as he was told, eating the pancakes with vigor as he watched Tifa smile and laugh out of the corner of his eyes.

He smiled when he thought Tifa wasn't looking.

Those demons that plagued him by day returned stronger than ever when night fell across the sky and covered the sun's brilliant rays with its impending darkness.

Zack was flat on his back, dressed in a simple, white sleeveless undershirt and shorts, staring at the ceiling.

Vincent and Genesis were yet to be back, Zack suspected they needed some time to return here by foot, after all, it wasn't like the Forgotten City was a park's walk away and Genesis couldn't carry Vincent with his one wing.

Zack had closed his eyes for what he thought was a minute but the next thing he was aware of, he felt chained, constricted, captured.

The leering face of Hojo suddenly filled his vision, the filthy stench of lab made the contents of his supper rise up, he immediately tried to move his arms and legs but to his growing horror, he found he couldn't.

He was restrained, bound to a examination table by thick, wide leather restraints. Hojo was leaning over him, a disgusting leer on his face as he rubbed his chin in thought, no doubt thinking of what to do with his subject laid out before him like on a silver platter.

Zack noticed Cloud was also restrained, but he was unmoving, his eyes were dull, uncomprehending, not acknowledging his surroundings at all.

"Hojo what the hell did you do to him?!" Zack desperately tried to free himself, anything get away from this horrible nightmare.

He couldn't.

Hojo grinned sadistically, moving away from Zack and standing now next to Cloud, the large white examination table standing vertically instead of being parallel with the ground like Zack's was.

It was indeed Hojo's lab where Zack found himself at, he remembered the place well, unfortunately. All sorts of grotesque instruments were either strapped precisely to walls or working desks, large tubs filled with mako and other liquids lined one wall while the other held-

No.

It couldn't be.

No!

"Tifa!" Zack shouted, now trying only harder to break from his restraints.

The woman gained her bearings after hearing Zack calling her, she looked at him, fear present in her eyes, blood was dripping on one side of her face, her shirt was slightly torn, bruises covered her arms and legs, her face was slightly dirty from battle, her lip was busted and she had a swollen spot on her cheek.

Zack's hatred for the mad scientist only intensified and he only thrashed harder against his restraints, he felt his veins bulging, felt how his restraints pressed against him and tried to compress his blood flow.

"Hojo!" Zack snarled the vile name as if he was spitting out venom, "Let her and Cloud go! Do whatever the hell you want to me! But let them go!" Hojo's smile only grew

"I can't possibly do that, my dear test subject…there is so much to do and so much time as well…let's see…shall I start with the little ones first? I've already set them up to be ready for the real testing,"

Wait….

Little ones?

Zack quickly turned his head this way and that, before he focused on two, small containers, tubes filled with mako, that though wasn't what made Zack see red, rather, it was exactly who was inside…

"Marlene! Denzel!" Zack thrashed, his growls growing in volume and intensity as he couldn't free himself. He looked back at Tifa, tears were running down her cheeks as Hojo ran one of his bony fingers against her bloody cheek.

"Don't you dare touch her you bastard! I'll cut your arm off and beat you up with it!"

"Such rude words…my, my, hasn't your mother taught you how to behave properly? For your disobedience, my pet, I shall start with this lovely subject," he grinned as he held Tifa's chin between his fingers.

"No!" Zack shouted, desperately thrashing against his restraints, it was no use, he couldn't escape.

He watched with widened, horror-filled eyes as Hojo took a injection, filled with the disgusting, green liquid and went towards Tifa with it.

However, the mako inside the injection wasn't purely green, it was tinted yellow as well.

Wait…

"Hojo! Are you using this to turn humans into monsters?! Tell me you fucking bastard!" Zack grit his teeth, his shouts for Hojo to get away from Tifa increasing.

"Correct, my pets are far more valuable when turned into those powerful, magnificent creatures…don't you agree?" the hot tears continued rolling down Tifa's cheeks as she tried to get away from the sick scientist as far as she could with her restraints.

Her burgundy, panicked eyes met those of Zack's terrified, electric blue ones as her terrified scream pierced the air, "ZACK!"

Zack's blue eyes opened in alarm, he shot up in bed with a start, breathing heavily, his now bare torso sweaty as he flung his sweaty shirt away, his skin feeling clammy and cold. His heart was beating rapidly, his blood was rushing loudly in his ears, he needed a few seconds to refocus on reality.

Tifa was alright..she was sleeping in the other room, safe and sound, Marlene and Denzel were alright too. Cloud was alright, he could hold his own.

Zack heard Hojo's phantom voice, taunting him, "Monster. Killer, killer, you killed them all. You enjoyed it, my subject. Killer…killer!"

He looked down at his open hands, he blinked, seeing blood, he blinked again, it was gone. He shook his head, "Have mercy!" Zack shook his head violently, willing the memories away.

He grit his teeth, tears forming in his mako blue eyes.

Were the iconic glowing eyes really the only trademark of SOLDIER?

Was killing a part of it too?

It had been his goal to protect people, not kill them. In his time at SOLDIER, he had killed people, it was something every SOLDIER needed to go through.

Male, 26, killed by Zack Fair. Reason for killing target: unknown.

Zack gripped his head, trying to ban the thoughts away, those memories…

Male, 45, killed by Zack Fair. Reason for killing target: killed a large division of SOLDIER.

Female, 33, killed by Zack Fair. Reason for killing target: assassination attempt at President Shinra.

Male, 23, killed by Zack Fair. Reason for killing target: causing a reactor to explode, killing a whole village.

Female, 22, killed by Zack Fair. Reason for killing target: unknown.

"No…" Zack grit his teeth, tears streaming down his face.

Female, 20, killed by Zack Fair. Reason for killing target: unknown.

Male, 48, killed by Zack Fair. Reason for killing target: unknown.

Male, 25, killed by Zack Fair. Reason for killing target: unknown.

"Please stop! Make them stop!" Zack half shouted, biting his pillow hard to not alert the others. He didn't want the memories to be back…the memories of him being a monster, a killer.

He remembered their faces, each of their faces, but he never knew a name to those faces, rarely knew the reason why he needed to end their lives.

It was eating away at him, tearing at his emotions, tugging at his heart. He convulsed as if to vomit, but he held the bile that rose back, swallowing roughly.

He breathed deeply, panting like a dog, he tried to gather his bearings, he needed to be strong.

"But I'm alone now…I can be like this…even for a little while" Zack shut his eyes tightly closed, the screams not stopping.

Killed by Zack Fair…

Killed by Zack Fair…

Killed by Zack Fair…

Traitor…

Zack!

Zack, focus!

You're a monster!

SOLDIER is like a den of monsters, don't go inside.

Zack!

Traitor!

Fool!

No, please don't-I-I have family!

P-please, have mercy! Please! I'll pay Shinra just don't-

Murderer! Monster! Scum!

You don't deserve to live.

Scumbags like you don't deserve to see the light of the day

Zack!

Focus!

Zack!

ZACK!

Zack's blue eyes blinked rapidly, until they finally focused on Tifa's panicked expression.

Tifa…she was here..alive, well..unharmed…

Killer

Zack trembled, sobbing hard, choking on his own shaky breaths.

"Zack! What happened? Are you alright?" Tifa wiped away his tears, he was disorientated, frightened, he looked like he had seen a ghost.

Night terrors

Tifa realized with a start.

"Zack…" she embraced him tightly, lightly kissing away his tears, running her hands through his hair, "Shhh….everything is alright, we are all alright…Zack…" Tifa held him tightly, feeling the tremors wracking through his body and into her own.

Zack, weakened from the emotional roller coaster he just experienced, wrapped his arms weakly around the woman holding him, comforting him.

"Tifa…Tifa…Tifa…" Zack whispered her name like a prayer, clutching her tightly, as if she were his only connection to reality now.

At this moment, Zack wasn't the hero, he wasn't the strong, formidable, nearly invincible SOLDIER First Class that escaped death by a hair's breath and defeated all and any threats.

At this moment, Zack was a broken man, a man scarred by war and death, a man who used to be classified as a SOLDIER, one of the elite, a man used to battle and blood, a man who had seen his fair share of blood and gore…

A man who just a man. Just a human.

…So…WHAT DID YOU GUYS THINK!?REVIEWS are VERY appreciated! Thank you!