Chapter Fifty-Two: Not Far to Run
Cloud had been gone for far too long. The building was a mess, but to find a vending machine shouldn't have taken more than fifteen minutes, maybe twenty with having to traverse through wreckage. But he had been gone for over an hour now.
Any other time Ratcliff would have just assumed that perhaps he became sidetracked with conversation, or a SOLDIER spotted him and decided to question him for wandering around; but after how the boy had been acting that day and also for the past two months, Ratcliff began to grow concerned.
He left the barracks after a few attempts at the actual act of sitting up, as his body was protesting anything other than shutting down for the night. First he checked around their barracks and their floor, and then the one above and the one below. But Cloud was nowhere to be found.
He tried the chow hall, but the double doors were locked at this hour. Something in his gut made him check at the infirmary, but it was overflowing with Shin-Ra staff scrambling about and seemed the most disorderly of wherever Ratcliff had went.
Concern turned to worry, and then panic.
Eventually that panic forced him to think rationally. Maybe Cloud had gotten sidetracked by a certain SOLDIER. So he climbed the stairs until he reached the SOLDIER floor and nervously strode down the dark hall until he reached Zack's quarters. He did not knock, as he didn't think he could. Instead he held his breath and pressed his ear to the door to listen.
Silence.
No murmuring, no laughing, nor arguing … no muffled sounds of heated passion …
Ratcliff pulled away, shaking. His worry increased, albeit a part of him having an almost relieved feeling upon hearing no sounds of sexual activities. He didn't think he could handle hearing that …
… Not when that selfish, jealous part wanted Cloud for himself.
What a disgusting monster he was.
His search led him back around the barracks. He checked bathrooms, poked his head into other barracks, rechecked their own barrack, but Cloud was still nowhere to be found.
He was tempted to start at the bottom of the building and work his way up, combing through every place he possibly could, but he had not the energy nor the clearance to roam around certain areas. It was getting very late, and surely their unit would be making their way back to the barracks, and surely Kunsel or Haskin would be expecting them to be tucked away in their bunks. He could care less if he were to get in trouble, as anything that Haskin would throw at him would matter not to him, but for Cloud to get into trouble and be forced to possibly experience the things Ratcliff himself had to experience …
Ratcliff didn't think he could handle that, either.
He started to search at every vending machine that he knew about, but with no luck at first, not until he came upon a young, freckle-faced 3rd Class SOLDIER lingering about one and mumbling to himself over the damages that it had received during the attack.
"I found one looted. Can you believe it? Looted! The bastards," he said when Ratcliff approached warily.
"Are they all damaged like this, yeah?"
The SOLDIER shook his head, tinkering a bit with a loose button on the keypad. "I found a few that survived unscathed."
"Know of any with actual food inside? It's all cigarettes around my barracks, yeah."
"Try four floors down, go past what was the PR department but now is a heap of crap, take a right, then another right, and then it should be in the far right corner of the employee lounge. It has some good stuff. Like my favorite – Tonberry Berry Bar."
That was oddly specific.
"Sent a bubba to that one earlier," he continued, slapping the side of the machine as the inner lights flickered a few times. "Hope he didn't get the last bar. The vendor only brought twelve last shipment. They sell out quickly because it's on the same floor as the executive gym."
Ratcliff tried to stay patient through his rambling. "How earlier, yeah?"
"Why, you lookin' for him or somethin'?" He growled as the lights shorted out, and he slapped the side once more.
"I might be, yeah."
"Just a kid?" Again he slapped the machine. "Blond?" And again. "Short?" Now he slapped both sides. "Blushes easily?" Harder. "Fresh scar on his lip?"
Very oddly specific.
"Yeah. That's him, yeah."
The lights buzzed back on and he let out a triumphant laugh, and then he finally turned to face Ratcliff. "Had to have been over an hour ago. He looked lost. Of course, our floors are pretty damaged. Maybe he got a little turned around."
"Yeah. Maybe."
Ratcliff thanked him and headed four floors down, declining the SOLDIER's offer to help Ratcliff in his search for Cloud.
He found himself standing in a heavily damaged corridor, and unlike the lights in the vending machine, these were burnt out completely with no flickering life left in them. Ceiling tiles swayed above in a drafty breeze, occasionally letting dust trickle down onto the floor. He walked through cautiously, stepping over large chunks of wall and furniture lying about.
"Cloud?" he called out, glancing down a long, dark stretch of hallway to his right. He thought he heard a shuffling noise down the hall in front of him, which was not the correct direction of the vending machine, according to what that SOLDIER had directed. He continued straight for the noise, and that draft began to get stronger, carrying with it the scent of the city. He stopped when he reached a massive hole in the wall. He was astonished at the size of it and the amount of wreckage it had caused. He approached it, hand gripping the edge to brace himself as he looked out.
The city looked peaceful. Lights twinkled from each sector, and the sounds made from the inhabitants did not reach this high. All he heard and all he felt was the wind. He wanted to sit down and enjoy the breeze; to hang his legs over the side carelessly, much like one would do into a pool on a summer day. It was a liberating feeling, and in the moment he savored it, and became jealous of it. To move through the Planet so freely – powerful, yet gentle; ignored, yet admired … underestimated, yet respected. It truly was an entity to envy.
Maybe for a minute he could sit down and enjoy it. Just a minute to be able to leave everything around and let it all be carried away by that wind … it would be so nice to have a minute with such freedom and such peace.
Something shuffled behind him again.
"Za … ck."
Ratcliff whipped around at the voice, nearly losing his footing. He threw himself forward, away from the hole. He stumbled and landed hard on his hands and knees, almost having crashed down onto a pile of debris on the other side of the hallway. He rested there, gulping in frightened breaths and staring wide-eyed at the tile beneath him, the realization of almost falling off the building hitting him.
His eyes trailed along the floor until it reached the beginning of a corridor with large chunks of debris. There was an outstretched arm not a foot away. It was Cloud, lying face down and unmoving.
Ratcliff scrambled over, tossing off debris that was covering the boy. At first he was expecting the debris to be heavy, as it looked to have pinned Cloud down, but it was not. It wouldn't even have trapped a small child.
"What happened?" he said, tossing the last bit to the side and scooping the boy into his arms. Cloud struggled weakly to his knees with Ratcliff's help, and sat slumped and swaying.
"I-I d-dunno," Cloud slurred, voice distant. "Got … lost."
"Lost?" he repeated in shock, dusting Cloud's shoulders and back. "How the hell did you get lost? What's the matter with you, yeah?"
Cloud didn't respond for a while. He only teetered and breathed heavily while Ratcliff supported him from collapsing over again. If Ratcliff didn't know any better, he would have thought that Cloud had been drinking.
"Zack," the boy finally murmured, and Ratcliff caught what looked like tears falling from his eyes, although in the darkness they were only but a flicker of shadow. "… he looks so sad."
He stared at him in confusion. "Zack? Cloud, get up." He tugged at his arm, but the boy did not budge. "Get up now."
"What have I done?" Cloud asked, his voice shaking and sounding delirious. "He loves me, and I ruined it. I'm so pathetic. So fucking pathetic."
"Y-You're not, yeah? I fucked everything up, not you."
Cloud didn't seem to hear him. In fact, by the way he was swaying and the way he sounded, it was as though he was not aware that Ratcliff was there beside him. More and more of his weight began to sink against Ratcliff's arms.
"He loves me." Cloud's voice began to gain in strength, yet his body was growing slack. "He loves me, and I couldn't say it back to him!"
"What's the matter with you, yeah?" His eyes searched Cloud's face rapidly, as though the answer to his question was darting about like a fly trying to evade being caught. He reached up to cup Cloud's cheek worriedly with his free hand and gasped at the feel of his skin. "Shiva's sake, you're burning up, yeah!"
Cloud made no acknowledgment that he had understood or even remotely heard what Ratcliff had said, or that he was starting to slip into unconsciousness. He only continued to ramble about Zack, even when Ratcliff tried to hush him and urge him to get to his feet.
"C'mon, yeah? You need to get up, yeah? Don't fade on me."
"Wanna … say … it," was what he muttered before he went completely limp in Ratcliff's arms.
It took every ounce of strength that Ratcliff had to drag Cloud back. The elevators were shut down due to a maintenance crew inspecting it for any damage during the night so it would be fully functional in the morning during peak business hours. Luckily that 3rd Class SOLDIER had passed by during his long trek back through several floors and wouldn't take no for an answer in helping to carry Cloud to the barrack.
The SOLDIER left once Cloud was deposited onto his bunk, and Ratcliff nearly collapsed on top of him from exertion. For being so thin now, Cloud as deadweight was more than he could handle.
Ratcliff immediately began to tug Cloud's boots off and remove what he could of his clothing to help relieve his fever. He was looking quite similar to the state he was in when they had met up in the elevator the previous day, and now he began to wonder for how long Cloud had been suffering with this fever, and how often it reduced him to be in such a state.
This is all my fault.
It was because of him that Cloud was suffering like this; Mejia was getting exactly what he wanted. Ratcliff was losing everyone he ever truly cared about, and he was powerless to stop it, especially when Shin-Ra was helping with that loss. To fight against Mejia was something he thought he could handle with his friends at his side, but to fight against Shin-Ra – it was impossible when he was now so alone. There was no Elici to give him confidence; there was no Graves to protect him. And now Cloud, who had been his hope and light, seemed to be slipping away.
If he couldn't protect Cloud any longer; if he were powerless against all the horrors that circled around them like vultures, waiting for them to fall, and to feed off them until nothing was left … then maybe the only thing he could do was be the one to distract those vultures. At least then Cloud could be the one to get away.
Yet, salvation seemed but a myth in their world. A fruitless endeavor would await Cloud if he were to run scared and alone. He wanted nothing more than to run with him, but Ratcliff knew he would only drag Cloud down. Maybe he could stay behind and watch Cloud for a little while, just until he almost disappeared out of his sight. He could try to make sure Cloud was safe for long enough, just until he got to where he was going. But … to where would Cloud run?
Finally Cloud gave a massive shudder after about an hour, and the pained look on his face relaxed as his fever seemed to break. Ratcliff tried to rouse him, running his hand across the boy's face tenderly, murmuring to him to try to get some sort of response out of him.
Cloud turned his face into Ratcliff's hand with a small whimper and murmured Zack's name.
Of course … he would run to Zack.
Ratcliff pulled his hand away.
Cloud wouldn't have to run very far, nor run for very long.
He awoke bleary-eyed and shivering. His clothes were damp as well as the hair that was stuck to his face, and even though he looked around he was unable to pull his thoughts together at first to determine anything.
Soon he realized that he was in the barracks, but it was empty. Where his barrack mates were, he didn't know. He felt a sudden strike of panic – was there a mission or an emergency, and had he slept in?
He didn't even know the time.
Cloud lifted his head a bit more, spotting Ratcliff sitting on Elici's bed. His knees were brought up to his chest, and his arms wrapped around his legs tightly. Cloud could barely see his eyes from Ratcliff's face being buried into his knees.
"Morning?" Cloud muttered, his voice weak and it took him by surprise. He felt sweat rolling down the back of his neck as he glanced around.
"Morning?" Ratcliff repeated into his knees. "Morning? Definitely not."
"Where's everyone? What happened?" Cloud propped himself up on his elbows with a bit of effort. He could feel a lingering pressure inside his head; he must have fallen asleep with a headache.
"You don't remember?" Ratcliff finally looked at him, his eyes wide and reddened. "You don't remember what happened!"
Cloud stared at him for a moment, stunned. What was he supposed to remember? They had their mission that went terribly, they came back to the building that had been attacked, then they came back to the barracks and …
"How could you not remember!" Ratcliff said before Cloud could respond; the confused look on Cloud's face must have given him his answer. "You got lost looking for a vending machine! I found you unconscious under a shitpile of rubble!"
Cloud said nothing as Ratcliff yelled, he only sat up fully and mimicked the position Ratcliff had been sitting in. Cloud buried his face in his knees.
"It's all my fault, yeah? This is all my fucking fault," Ratcliff muttered. "Everything. Elici, Graves … you, Zack. Because of me this shit is happening to everyone, yeah. If I had been stronger I could have handled Mejia, and this –" He thrust his hand out towards him in frustration. "– you wouldn't be getting lost and losing your fucking mind in a hallway! They're doing this to you, you know, yeah? Because of me."
Cloud suppressed the urge to sigh and roll his eyes, but he couldn't stop the irritation from coloring his tone. "No one is doing anything to me but my own damn self."
"How long do you think you were gone?" Ratcliff asked curtly.
"I-I don't know."
"An hour. An hour looking for a vending machine! And you were only four levels up, right around the corner from the stairs, yeah! How the hell could you have gotten 'lost' like that!"
"I-I don't know, all right? My headache was so bad; I couldn't think straight."
"I still can't believe you don't think they're poisoning you, yeah!"
"They're not!" Cloud said, his voice becoming louder. "They have faster and more efficient ways of disposing of us!"
Ratcliff's began to match. "Shin-Ra likes to play with their prey, Cloud. I know this! They're fucking with us to drive us crazy!"
Cloud buried his face back into his knees and muttered, "You got the crazy part right."
Ratcliff buried his face back into his knees as well, but said nothing.
The silence between them was thick, and both could tell that each wanted to say something to one another, but they didn't. Breaths would be taken in to speak and heads would turn, but words never came. Cloud mulled about how he had gotten lost and what had happened, and Ratcliff … well, Cloud was unsure what he was thinking. But whatever it was, it had to have been something worrisome.
But how had he gotten lost? He remembered setting out on a search for a vending machine, but it had been difficult in the chaotic state of the building. There were a lack of signs, but even still … had he really been that close to the stairs? How long had he been walking in circles and trying to find a way back to them? Had he even been trying to find a way back? He couldn't remember …
And yet, a familiar hurt resided in his chest – one that was deep and self-inflicted; one that was the perfect mirror to the hurt on a face that had been haunting him for too long now – Zack.
The more that Cloud dwelled, the clearer the image became in his mind. He had been looking for a vending machine, but his head began to hurt more than it ever had in the past. With his body refusing to move, he couldn't even call out to Zack as he walked by, and as he looked directly at him with heartache unchanging.
Now he wished he had not remembered.
Ratcliff finally moved beside him, and the man swung his legs over the side of the bed and leaned against his knees. Cloud watched him from the corner of his eye.
"Do you think … that if we never met, that this would be happening?"
"What're you talking about?"
"I mean …" Ratcliff began, running a hand through his hair, "… if I were no longer here … would they stop messing with you, yeah? They'd have no more reason to do this if I left."
"Are you thinking of deserting …?"
"No."
Cloud dropped his knees and swung his legs over now, sitting on the very edge of the bunk. "Then what …?"
Ratcliff frowned, his eyes darting away. "Then what what?"
"What do you mean … if you were no longer here?"
"I don't know, Cloud. I'm speculating, yeah. I'm desperate and speculating because that's all I seem to be capable of doing. I have no other answers as to what the hell is going on with you. Getting lost and disorientated like that is not normal, yeah."
"This isn't your fault, Ratcliff. Whatever is going on with me is because of my past head injuries, not because of –"
"Which were caused by Mejia, because of me."
Cloud collapsed back down onto his bunk, frustrated and no longer having the energy to keep up with Ratcliff's self-loathing. Was this how Zack felt whenever he talked down about himself or was too stubborn to realize the truth of his words and actions?
Did he make Zack feel this helpless whenever they were together?
Cloud crawled underneath the covers of his bunk, and Ratcliff did the same. Nothing more was said.
He was unable to sleep throughout the night from a mind that raced. There was too much to think about to be able to sleep, even though it was what he desperately wanted.
He couldn't stop thinking about what Ratcliff had said. Shin-Ra playing with their prey was really not all that farfetched. He was more determined now to find out what Ratcliff knew about the company that he did not. He was tempted to wake the man and engage him in further conversation while the rest of the barrack slept, but for once it seemed as though Ratcliff was actually getting a decent night's sleep, so Cloud refrained.
When was the last time he himself got a decent night's sleep?
Yet another thing he couldn't remember.
Before Cloud realized, the lights above flickered on and Kunsel began shouting at everyone to wake up. The men roused and dressed with grumbles, and Cloud felt his bunk move as Ratcliff climbed down to join. When Cloud just couldn't seem to get up, he felt a hand on his shoulder and heard Kunsel's voice beside him telling him to wake.
Cloud forced himself up and winced. His shoulder was hurting from the day before, but he was pleasantly surprised to feel that the pressure in his head was gone upon standing. That was enough motivation to wash and dress himself. Being headache-free was almost enough to put a smile on his face, had he not been so disturbed over the events the previous night. As much as he tried not to, somewhere in the back of his mind he began to worry about himself.
His uniform no longer fit him, and he realized this when he passed by a full-length dressing mirror inside the locker room. His blouse billowed over his belt, and in fact his belt was on one of the very first notches. Even his leather gloves seemed loose on his hands. His pauldrons were certainly too big for him as of late, but now one of the straps were broken from the encounter with the Genesis Copy. He was going to need a new uniform, especially since Haskin seemed meticulous about their uniforms being in perfect order.
He looked closer in the mirror. Even his skin seemed dull and his eyes very tired. And when he glanced over to Ratcliff, who was slowly dressing himself in what looked like discomfort, he started to see how easily they could look like prey.
Could Shin-Ra really be poisoning the both of them?
He tore himself away from the mirror and walked over to Kunsel. The man was readying a seabag on his bunk with 2nd Class Luxiere standing beside him. They were engaged in a briefing, of which Kunsel was explaining the situation in the building and the orders their unit had received in the recovery effort.
Cloud caught his name as well as Ratcliff's being said as he approached, and he tried not to show his unease when Kunsel glanced at him.
Luxiere saluted Kunsel and exited the barracks.
Cloud started to explain about his uniform once Kunsel turned back to him, but Kunsel cut him off before he could even say anything.
"Damn, Strife. What the hell happened on that mission yesterday?" He reached over and tugged at the broken strap on Cloud's armor. "Looks like you got mobbed by girls or something."
"I need new armor."
"You need new everything," Kunsel said, looking his uniform up and down. "You're supposed to be growing, not shrinking."
Cloud forced a smile but ignored that. "Can you find me another?"
Kunsel shook his head with a frown. "It'll have to be specially ordered. You're already the smallest size there is. I can put in an order when I get back."
"Back? You're going on a mission?"
"Yeah, being sent out with Zack on a scouting mission to try and track those Genesis Copies. The Turks are being deployed too, so you have an easier chance at getting more info from Ratcliff."
Cloud pushed his thoughts past the mention of Zack. "I couldn't get much out of him last night. We … fell asleep."
"You guys looked beat. I don't blame you. That's why you two can take it easy again for the day. I put Luxiere in charge instead of Haskin," Kunsel said, a bit of bitterness in his voice; Cloud could tell Kunsel was starting to not like the man having any bit of authority. "And Luxiere knows not to put you two to work so you can rest." He tightened the drawstrings on the seabag and hoisted it over his shoulder with a grunt, then started to move to the double doors.
Cloud followed as Kunsel continued to speak. They exited the barracks into the empty hallway. It was still early, but Cloud could hear the muffled sounds of the surrounding barracks beginning to assemble and ready for their day.
"We should be back Friday night, maybe Saturday morning. This will probably be your last chance in a long while to talk with Ratcliff. Make good use of your time."
The elevator dinged at the end of the hallway and they both looked to see Zack exiting. Cloud looked away immediately and began to inch his way back into the barracks, unaware that the door had opened as Ratcliff had started to follow him out there.
Zack must have spotted them both, for the man stopped and didn't approach any further.
Kunsel let out a frustrated growl, donning his helmet over his head. He didn't say anything at first; he merely observed as Cloud was becoming more uncomfortable by the second, Ratcliff ducked back into the barrack, and Zack took no effort to come over and greet them like he normally would.
"Seriously, what the hell is going on with that guy?" Kunsel finally muttered.
Cloud shrugged his shoulders, and his broken strap caused one of his pauldrons to completely slip off. He left it hanging at his side. "Don't know."
"Maybe he was dumped or something. He certainly has the look of losing someone he loved, doesn't he? Like an ignored dog who made the mistake of chewing a pair of his master's shoes."
Cloud was looking no where in Zack's direction. "Yeah. He does."
"Well, maybe his lover will come around eventually. Love – it's a scary thing, but it can also be unprejudiced. Everyone deserves someone, you know? No matter their faults or their decisions," Kunsel said, turning and placing Cloud's pauldron back where it belonged with a light pat. "In the end, I hope she gives him that chance again. I bet she'd be happy if she did." He suddenly snorted. "Well, she or he."
"H-He!"
Kunsel now reached up and ruffled Cloud's hair with a chuckle and started to walk off. "See ya Friday, Cloud."
Cloud finally looked up, watching them leave towards the elevators. He caught Zack glancing back his way, and in his mind Zack would turn and flash him that smile before leaving. In his mind they would share a secret moment of something more than friendship – perhaps a wink or a coy grin, something to symbolize their feelings and their history together. In Cloud's mind, whatever that little moment shared would take away Zack's pain, and take away his own. It would let them both know that everything was going to be all right.
But all he saw was Zack leaving without anything more.
This wasn't how it was supposed to be.
Cloud took off running towards him, the sound of his frantic footsteps causing both Kunsel and Zack to turn in surprise. He caught a swirl of emotions on Zack's face – confused, expectant, even scared; and that was everything that Cloud was feeling as he neared.
Zack reached out and grabbed his shoulders to stop him from colliding into his chest. And just that single touch after being away from each other for so long nearly sent Cloud into hysterics. He panted and muttered, trying to form thousands of things to say to him, but couldn't speak as fast as his mind was turning.
Kunsel chuckled a little, and Cloud heard him mutter to Zack that he would see him on the helipad when he was ready, but not to take too long. He then left in the elevator.
"Cloud, I don't have the time right now," Zack said before Cloud could get anything out.
"B-but, Z-Zack … pl-please."
"Cloud," he said quietly, "I have to go. Now."
"Z-Zack..."
"I'm sorry." The muscles in Zack's arms flexed to let go, but he didn't. He was reluctant, even as Ratcliff reappeared from behind slowly.
"I-It's not what you think," Cloud finally got out, no matter how clumsy it may have sounded. "You know I-I would never … I could never … I mean, R-Ratcliff and I, we're just f-friends –"
Ratcliff stopped at a respectable distance, but not far enough to be unable to hear everything.
"I-I wanna talk. Please. Let's talk now. D-don't go."
"I know, Cloud. I know," Zack murmured almost sweetly, but there were still hints of hurt in his voice.
Zack's phone beeped, and his fingers tightened on Cloud's shoulders.
"We'll talk tomorrow. I'll be back then," he said, despite Cloud shaking his head repeatedly in protest.
"B-but –"
"Tomorrow," Zack said, and a new expression was on his face now – one that filled Cloud with a bit of hope. It was one that yearned to lean in to kiss him, to capture his lips as his once again, to let go of that hurt … and Cloud looked the same.
The sound of men exiting their barracks burst through the silence in the hallway, and Zack's phone started to ring not seconds later. They both pulled away awkwardly, and Zack left in the elevator.
Cloud waited until the hallway was clear again, unmoving and refusing to step to the side as his barrack mates were forced to walk around him. Some pushed him a little as he blocked the path to the elevators, others ignored him. When they all finally disappeared, Cloud broke down, sobbing silently.
Ratcliff only watched from behind as Cloud's shoulders shook. He did nothing to console him.
… To be continued in Chapter Fifty-Three: Crumbling Secrets.
Ending Author's Note: Ugh, Nodin you are so strange. Again, that was my roleplay OC who has an unhealthy obsession with the vending machines in Shin-Ra. XD
lol Whenever I reread the part where Cloud explains that he got lost, and Ratcliff says "Lost?" I always hear his voice in my head like Angela in Silent Hill 2.
h t t p : / / www. youtube. com / watch?v=5SfhtIjxZmg
Hurray for horrible voice acting!
Fan-art time...again!
Lady-yuna7 drew such an adorable chibi picture of Ratcliff and Cloud all happy and holding hands! It's so darling! (Remove the spaces in the web address, or visit my profile for the link!):
h t t p : / / lady-yuna7. deviantart. com/ art/ Ratcliff-and-Cloud-215722652
And BeforeTheMomentGirl drew several more pieces of fan-art!
This one is of Ratcliff sleeping...so adorable!
h t t p : / / beforethemomentgirl. deviantart. com/ art/ Ratcliff-Sleeping-214468820
This one is of the same picture, but with more detail and some pretty leaves! I love this version:
h t t p : / / beforethemomentgirl. deviantart. com/ art/ Ratcliff-sleeping-2-214468807
And omfg she altered a usable base to turn it into Mejia and Ratcliff gettin' it on. If you don't like explicit pictures, I suggest NOT looking at it. It's very dirty. LOL
h t t p : / / beforethemomentgirl. deviantart. com/ art/ MejiaXRatcliff-216274503
And then for lady-yuna7's birthday, she drew Mejia in various ways to kill him because yuna hates Mejia that much. Lol Here it is for the lulz:
h t t p : / / beforethemomentgirl. deviantart. com/ art/ Present-2-Ways-to-kill-Mejia-217110713
BeforeTheMomentGirl has also created a Ratcliff plushie (about five inches tall...so cute!) and has made several outfits for him. Those can be found in my favorites gallery on deviantART if you want to check those out. There's too pictures of it to list here. Here's the link to the gallery that also contains all Malady fan-art from the past:
h t t p : / / lagunanojutsu. deviantart. com/ favourites/ 39340720
It might be easier to look through that gallery for all the fan-art than to copy and paste all these links that I've provided. Whichever way is easiest for you. And again, most of these are in my profile here as well.
Anyway, a bit of Clack … not what everyone was hoping for, but that'll be sooner than you think. Trust me. :3
Unfortunately that sooner than you think just means chapter-wise. Not time-wise. I need to put this story on hold for a while, I'm sorry to say. I've just learned that my dad has cancer and so a lot of my free time has been going to visit him. I've also injured my neck at work and now one of my arms is going numb and weak, so I'm not sure if I've injured the disks and spinal cord like how I did my lower back. Another malady to add to the already staggering list of personal maladies I have. If it turns out to be my disks, I'm unsure what will happen. I could possibly need surgery. I swear to Gaia if it's not one thing it's another.
But yes, I think I need to take a bit of a hiatus. I haven't even finished the next chapter yet, to tell the truth. I don't know when I will be able. I know what's going to happen at the end, I just can't seem to write it. It's very difficult. So as for right now, I can't give the date of the next update. It will be on a Tuesday of course, but as to which Tuesday in which month I am unsure. If this story is not on your alerts yet, I'd suggest to do so. Or you can always bug me via message, on deviantART, e-mail, Twitter, LiveJournal, wtfever, for the date of the next update.
I'm really sorry about this, everyone. But I can't seem to concentrate lately with all this stuff going on, especially the stuff going on with my dad. I hope you all understand and will be patient. Thank you for your support...all of you.
-Ziggy
