A\N: Here we are! I'll have a longer A\N at the end, but first, a big thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, followed, favorited, and encouraged me! You guys are the absolute best.

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THE STARS WE DREAMED OF

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27

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The world Cloud opens his eyes to is hazy, unknown. There is nothing familiar about the utter darkness enveloping him or the faint promise of light in the distance. He goes to move his arm, but a sharp pain has him hiss. A sudden burst of brightness coming from his right blinds him; the truck goes past and the light it brought dims. As his eyes adjust, Cloud realizes he isn't alone. Someone is crouching across from him—a kid, drowning in a coat too big for him. Cloud takes in the kid's blue eyes before the truck's headlights fade away for good. It comes back then—where he is, what happened. He's still in the alley he collapsed in, still covered in blood—but he's alive.

It wasn't Zack he saw, but this kid.

Cloud groans as he tries to sit up straight; it hurts to do so, but he manages.

"Did you—" Cloud's voice comes out as a croak, and he clears his throat before trying again. "Did you heal me?"

Because there's no other explanation for this—the kid must be a Carrier. He hears the rustle of clothes and tenses, expecting the kid to come closer, but he stays where he is.

"You don't remember me?"

Cloud feels the stiffness in his muscles ease as he moves his limbs slowly, checking for any lasting damage. Despite his injuries being tender and his body having no strength, everything seems fine.

"I can't see your face," Cloud finally replies.

He hears the footsteps indicating the kid's approach, and then he's close enough for Cloud to make out his features in the shadows. There's something a little familiar about the messy, wavy brown hair and the short stature of the kid, but no name comes to mind. It's really the eyes that startle him, a vivid blue that reminded him of the past.

Cloud flexes his right hand, surprised at its mobility. "So who are you?"

The kid huffs as if offended. "You said we had to look out for each other."

"What—" A flash of memory surfaces; a kid running into an alley to escape a soldier; said soldier dead at Cloud's feet; What's your name? I'm Cloud. He'd never gotten the kid's name and hadn't taken the time to memorize his face. "You're…that Carrier kid I saved."

"I have a name," the kid says, his annoyance obvious. "It's Denzel."

Cloud bites his lip as he tries to stand—the burst of pain in his abdomen is too intense. "Okay, Denzel. Help me up, would you?"

"You shouldn't move too much." Denzel doesn't make a move to help. "I don't control my ability that well, it's always painful for a while after."

"I can't stay here," Cloud groans. "I have somewhere I'm needed."

As he says the words, he realizes that the newfound darkness of the city can only mean one thing—Avalanche succeeded with the Reactor plan. And yet, there's something sinister about saying they succeeded when this is the result—an oppressive, all-consuming night where the only beacon of light is Shinra Tower with its back-up generators. Cloud's eyes have adjusted, and now he sees the indistinct shapes of his surroundings. If he'd thought Midgard was mostly made of grays before, he was wrong. Now that's all it is.

"When did the lights go out?"

Denzel retreats to the other side of the alley and sits, his back against the brick wall. "A while ago." He huddles deeper into his coat. "Happened all at once."

"How long was I out?"

"Couple of hours."

Cloud exhales. "I can't stay here."

"Yeah, you already said that."

"You have a lot of attitude for a ten-year-old," Cloud says, wryness dripping from his voice.

Despite the dimness, he sees Denzel's indignant expression. "I'm thirteen."

The declaration strikes Cloud speechless. The kid is so scrawny, so small that he would never have guessed. But then, he recalls living on the streets at the same age, struggling to find food and clothes and shelter. A memory comes back—of Richard and Allana Fair fussing over him, feeding him whatever they could afford because he was so skinny; of Zack and Aerith sharing their food in the beginning so he'd gain weight.

"Alright, sorry about that."

His sincerity must seem strange to Denzel because he grimaces. "Whatever. Why do you need to go?" He gestures at Cloud with a nod, indicating his injuries. "People are after you? You were almost dead when I found you."

"Shinra's after me," Cloud says. He makes to stand again, and this time, gets to his feet, though he has to rest heavily against the wall.

"Aren't they after everyone?" Denzel's dry tone would have pulled a smile out of Cloud any other day. "Is it because you're a Carrier?" There's some fear in his voice now like he suddenly realized what happened to Cloud could happen to him, too, if that was the reason.

Cloud grunts. "No. For something else."

"For what?"

To Cloud's surprise, the kid comes to his side and does his best to support him, taking on some of his weight. Though it's a useless effort because of Denzel's small stature, Cloud doesn't tell him.

"Adult stuff," Cloud says. "You're too young to know."

"Oh, wow, does that mean you did something, like, really bad?"

"Shut up and help me get to Station 3-35."

Cloud winces when he takes his first step away from the wall but grinds his teeth and pushes his body to advance.

"That's too far," Denzel says before Cloud can walk over two meters. "You won't be able to make it there."

"We'll see about that."

It doesn't take long for Cloud to concede the kid was right. They've made it less than three blocks before Cloud has to stop. Not only are there many people in the streets, making navigating them harder, the absence of light works against them. Cloud notes the lack of soldiers, and he guesses they're more concentrated around the Tower or the Sectors' gates in hopes of containing the population. He wonders what Avalanche plans on doing next and then allows himself a brief moment to think of Tifa. Of whether she made it out safely. He'd overheard the soldier on the radio inside Command saying there was no sign of her and Vincent, but that's only a slight reassurance. Once he makes it somewhere safe, he'll decide what to do next.

"Okay," Cloud pants as he collapses on a bench. "You were right."

Denzel says nothing but doesn't hide his smug expression.

Cloud hisses as the wound in his back aches sharply. "You mind helping me find a place to rest?"

"For free?"

Cloud rolls his eyes, but a small smile escapes him. "I'll do something for you in exchange."

"Like what?" Both curiosity and distrust can be heard through his words.

"Why don't you ask first."

"I—" Denzel hesitates, then spits out the request, his words almost jumbling together from nerves, "I want to stay with you." At Cloud's silence, he carries on, more desperately this time. "I'll be safe if I'm with you. People won't mess with you, but they'll mess with me. Whatever is gonna happen next won't be good for kids like me."

"Alright," Cloud cuts him off as he goes to speak again. "You can stick around."

Denzel's eyes widen. "Just like that?"

"I owe you one, so yeah, just like that."

"Cool," Denzel whispers. "Really cool."

Cloud chuckles softly. "I'm Cloud, by the way."

"Yeah, I know." Denzel looks at him like he said something weird. "You told me that time." He straightens as if proud of himself. "I have an excellent memory."

"I see that."

They stay there for a moment, leaving Cloud time to catch his breath. Once he feels fine, they set out again, with Denzel leading. Cloud uses the kid's sudden wordlessness to check what is happening around him. Though it's too early to tell what will become of the city, he already spots a few signs of chaos, like smashed storefronts and vandalized cars. There's the possibility the latter results from the previous riots, but Cloud wagers it's not the case for the stores. People will scramble for supplies out of fear.

After what feels like a long walk to Cloud, they stop in front of a service door for an abandoned convenience store with boarded-up windows. Denzel pulls the door open and motions at Cloud to go in first. The inside of the store is a complete mess; nothing is left other than upturned empty shelves. The dust makes him cough.

"Is this where you live? Could use a good sweeping."

"It's where I stay when I'm in Sector 3," Denzel replies, ignoring the taunt. "I move around a lot to avoid the soldiers. Some of them recognize me now."

Cloud frowns as he sits on the floor, glad to rest. "How long have you been on the streets?"

"A while." Denzel disappears in what appears to be the old back-store and comes back with two blankets. "Here's yours," he says, throwing the stained blanket at Cloud. It hits him in the face, his weakened state having dulled his reflexes.

"Thanks. So how long is 'a while'?"

Denzel lies on the floor with his back turned to Cloud. He pulls the blanket high until it covers his neck. "Too long."

Cloud gets the message and doesn't push further. Instead, he says, "Thanks, Denzel."

The answer is a mumbled, "It's fine."

He stays silent after that; the blanket is scratchy, but it keeps him warm. He lays it in his lap as he sits, watching the door from which they entered. A nervous energy took hold of him, and now he can't sleep despite needing the rest. Images play in his head like a movie. Rufus Shinra's terrified expression as Cloud let him fall, the stars twinkling in the background. The Captain's hatred shining through his eyes before Cloud put a bullet in his head. Reno's begging ceding to blood gurgling as Cloud slit the throat of a man he believed to be his friend. That's not all he sees, though. Eventually, the images shift, leading him to think of Avalanche. He can't help but wonder where they are right now; he can only hope they made it to the designated hideout. Wedge's soft 'good luck' echoes in Cloud's mind, followed by Jesse's parting words. Then Yuffie holding back her tears as she weaseled another promise out of him. Cid saying that, despite Cloud having the odds against him, he'll still be waiting for him to come back. Barret thanking him for what he was about to do; their shaky history only makes the expressed gratitude more real, more sincere. And then—

Cloud closes his eyes. Tifa had been weak and dazed when he'd left her; her soft plea for him not to go had made him waver, but in the end, he'd known there was no other way. If they'd kept on running, the soldiers would have caught up, and reinforcements would have blocked their way out. It was Cloud they'd wanted, anyway—the President's killer. Only now, he has no clue where she could be; he can only think of the hideout or 7th Heaven, and the latter might be difficult to get to as the days go by. He wishes there was a way for him to contact Vincent, but short of going to his apartment, he has no idea how he would do that. And Cloud doubts the Turk went back there after betraying Shinra.

Noise from the street brings him out of his musing, and he keeps his eyes on the door. Nothing happens, but Cloud doesn't relax. Not until his body gives out on him and staying awake is impossible.

—

"Hey!"

Denzel's shout wakes Cloud up, and he grabs his knife out of habit, stopping himself from flicking out the blade as he realizes who's in front of him. Cloud sighs and rubs his eyes, still bleary from sleep.

"What?"

"Are you gonna threaten me every time I wake you up?" Denzel crosses his arm, the gesture almost comical as he gets swallowed by his huge coat.

"If you stop shouting at me, I might reconsider," Cloud grumbles. For the last two weeks, he's taken on the habit of sleeping with his weapon close, something he used to do years ago when he lived in the streets. "So, what's the wake-up call for?"

"You wanted to know when they'd lift the blockade leading towards Station 3-35."

At this, Cloud jumps to his feet, almost tripping over his blanket. "They did?"

Denzel nods. "It's still dangerous in that direction, but we can get through without being stopped by Shinra."

Cloud is already moving. "Let's go."

"You haven't eaten yet." Denzel plunges his hand in his pocket, coming out with a bar of granola and some bread. "That's what I found this morning."

"Thanks." Cloud ruffles the kid's hair as he goes past him to grab the food. "A real lifesaver."

As usual, Denzel rolls his eyes at the comment; as usual, there is no disguising the pleased tilt of his lips.

"Are you coming?" Cloud calls out, already halfway through the door.

They exit into the new Midgard; this reality still shocks Cloud whenever he goes outside. With the Reactors shut down, the pollution has decreased enough that flickers of the sky can now be seen through the leftover clouds; it allows for sunlight to shine through during the day, and for moonlight to illuminate their way at night. Most of the generators have either been turned off to conserve for future emergencies or have simply run out. Artificial lights have become rare now, with battery-powered lamps being a prized possession. There is no more disguising the ugliness of Midgard with neon colors and TV screens playing propaganda—the city has shown its true self, a gray mass of buildings with no life to them.

"Watch out for Shinra two streets down," Denzel says as they leave their temporary home.

"What, they still asking for IDs down there?"

"They ask anyone who gets too close to the Tower."

Cloud lets out a dismayed groan. "Let's take the long way around, then."

Though the hierarchy of the Corp has been annihilated for the most part, it didn't collapse on its own after the blackout. Shinra hasn't announced in any capacity who their new leader is, but it's clear the military has taken control and the soldiers are answering to someone. They've stayed too organized for the opposite to be the case. The thought makes Cloud anxious since Avalanche hasn't manifested for the last two weeks; he can't help but envisage the worst scenario, where everything they did was in vain and Shinra regains control of Midgard.

The way to Station 3-35 isn't an easy one, as Denzel had predicted. Though Shinra has lifted the blockade in direction of the Sector 4 gate, people are still angsty, ready to fight at any given moment. Cloud witnesses a man punching someone who just bumped into his shoulder; Denzel and him stay clear of that side of the street, not wanting to get pulled in. They pass by two women talking, and Cloud slows down when he hears the word 'Avalanche'.

"Cowards," one of them says, obvious disgust in her voice and on her face. "They did all this and now, what? They hide?"

"I don't know. Hassan said he saw their logo two days ago. Freshly painted and all."

Cloud hears her scoffed, "Doesn't mean anything," as he and Denzel walk away.

"What do you think of Avalanche, Cloud?"

Denzel looks up at him with genuine curiosity; it's the first time the kid has asked him this question, and Cloud bites his tongue. Speaking of his affiliation with Avalanche in public won't do any good.

"I'll tell you when we get to Station 3-35."

Denzel grumbles but nods. The remainder of their trek is spent avoiding newly formed gangs and soldiers; those grow in number as they get closer to the hideout near the Sector 4 gate. Whenever they see one from afar, they change tracks. Though Cloud doubts they're still looking for him with everything going on, he prefers to avoid coming face to face with the military if he can avoid it.

When Station 3-35 comes in sight, Cloud tugs Denzel to the right into a side street, and they walk a few more minutes before he stops in front of what he believes is the right building. A quick glance at the address confirms it. They step inside, and Cloud leads them up the stairs.

"Who are we meeting?" Denzel whispers, excited.

"My friends."

"They live here? Even my convenience store looks better."

It's true the building must have seen better days, and Cloud guesses looters mustn't have helped.

"Yeah, yeah."

"You know it's true."

They near the door of the hideout and Cloud signals at Denzel to pipe down and to stay back. He pads to the door and swears when he sees it's unlocked. Knife in hand, he pushes it open and walks in. The abandoned apartment they appointed as a hideout is empty. Turned over chairs and pulled out empty drawers tell him the place must have been ransacked. But as he stops in front of the wardrobe with the drawers and tugs on one that stayed closed, he realizes it's locked. He tries another and another—all yield the same result. And Cloud can't help but think it would be strange for a simple lock to stop looters, especially since he forces the drawer open rather without trouble. Inside are food supplies, clothes, even weapons. A piece of paper on the top of the wardrobe catches his eye, and he grabs it; his breath hitches at the scribbled words.

Cloud,

We proceeded with the plan. I'll try to come back here once it's done. Wait for me.

Tifa

That's when he understands. The place wasn't ransacked but made to look like it was so people would think looking through this room would be worth their time. He goes around the whole studio looking for any more clues but finds nothing else telling him Tifa came through here. Was it even her who made it back to the hideout?

"Denzel," he calls out from the room. "Come here."

He hears light footsteps coming closer. "Where are your friends?"

Cloud takes a deep breath to keep himself from losing control. He also wonders where the hell they could be. "They came by but couldn't stay. Help me gather some of those supplies."

"Woah. Can't we take it all?" Denzel pockets food.

"No, they might come back. Don't touch that," Cloud snaps as the kid reaches for a gun.

Denzel's eyes are wide with both awe and confusion. "Why are there weapons?" At the lack of answer, Denzel asks, "Cloud, who are your friends?"

"I think you already know," Cloud says as he stands up, a canvas bag holding some supplies in hand.

"Is it…" Denzel lowers his voice as if they aren't alone. "Avalanche?"

Cloud nods.

"That's so cool." The astonishment in the kid's voice twists Cloud's stomach. "Oh, shit! Does this mean you're the one who killed—"

"We're leaving," Cloud speaks over him, voice loud. "Now."

"Okay." Denzel drags the word out. He takes his time getting to his feet and following Cloud. "Are we gonna come back? Can I meet them?"

"Yeah, I'll come back." Cloud ignores the second question—after all, he has no answer for him.

"Can I come with you?"

Denzel skips ahead of him, jumping on the mid-level landing of the stairwell. With a sigh, Cloud nods; after two weeks together, he knows it's pointless to argue with Denzel. They exit the building, and thankfully, Denzel doesn't mention Avalanche again. As they're making their way back to the convenience store, a flash of white paint captures Cloud's attention, and he stops in front of an alley. Someone is spray painting the Avalanche logo.

Cloud's breathing speeds up. He's close enough to tell the person isn't someone he knows, so this could be anything—it doesn't have to mean anything. But if it does…

"Denzel." He hands the canvas bag to the kid. "Go back to the store, I'll meet you later."

"Cloud, why—"

"Just do as I say."

Denzel doesn't protest more, only nods and takes off. Cloud watches him go for a second before focusing his attention on the person who just finished spray painting. The result is the exact logo Wedge designed with AVALANCHE painted underneath. Cloud waits for the person to sneak out of the alley; when they do, he follows, keeping a distance. The person leads him far from the convenience store and closer to the center of the Sector until they reach a school. With a wave at someone sitting on a bench in front of the building, the person goes inside.

For a moment, Cloud stays hidden around the street corner, spying on the school. Some windows are boarded-up, the recreation ground looks like it hasn't seen life in years, and the structure itself looks old and abandoned. But it's clear someone is guarding the entrance.

His heartbeat drumming in his ears, Cloud steps around the corner and towards the school. The guard sees him coming but doesn't get up. This close, Cloud can see the man is armed, a handgun holstered at his waist.

"Can I help you?" The man's voice is gruff, annoyed.

Cloud shoves his hands in his pocket, the right one gripping the knife. "Yeah. Is this an Avalanche camp?"

The man gets to his feet, threatening in his stature and body language. It might have worked on someone else. "No clue why you'd think that."

"I need to go in," Cloud says, calling the man's bluff.

"Listen, kid, just turn back."

The man makes to push him away, but Cloud grabs the guard's wrist, stopping him, and lets his ability flow through his fingers. Not enough to hurt, but to warn. A yelp of surprise escapes the man.

Making sure to speak clearly, Cloud says, "I want to speak to Barret. Tell him Cloud is here." He lets go.

With a glare, the man snatches his hand back, but there's a glint of interest in his eyes now. "Alright."

He brings a hand to his earpiece. "I have someone requesting to see Barret. His name is Cloud." He listens to the other person. "Yeah, that's what he said."

Cloud narrows his eyes, suspicion rearing its head. The man is using what looks like a military-grade comms device. Avalanche didn't have those. Then again, they didn't have these people on their side either. They might have recruited whoever will fight with them or raided a Shinra supply. But Cloud keeps alert, sensing something is wrong—different.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'll bring him inside." The man removes his hand from his ear and signals at Cloud to follow. "C'mon, the boss will see you."

As they enter the school, Cloud doesn't loosen his grip on his knife. It's dim inside the building; light leaks from the boarded-up windows, but there are no lamps being used in the spacious hall. Cloud glances at the people he crosses path with, taking in their equipment and obvious discipline. This feels more like a military base to him than anything else. Nothing screams Avalanche here. A few of the classrooms appear to have repurposed into dormitories, with cots and sleeping bags spread on the floor. Another one seems to have become a kind of armory. At the end of the hall, next to a stairwell, the man opens a door, leading Cloud inside.

The room is a meeting room judging by the large table and multiple chairs. Battery-powered lamps illuminate the space; it sheds light on the maps and boards on the walls. Cloud steps forward, desperate for a glimpse of the Avalanche he knew, but everything just looks wrong.

"He said to wait here," the man says before slipping out of the room and closing the door behind him.

Cloud goes to the nearest wall to check the papers tacked on a board. They're a register of names; he skims through it, losing interest when he realizes he doesn't know any of them. He moves on to the next board, this one displaying a map of the city. A handwritten with the words AVALANCHE STATUS catches his eyes. It's partly obscured by other things, and just as he goes to push back a paper to read, the door behind him opens. Cloud draws back his hand; he waits for the door to shut before turning around.

It's not Barret standing across the room. It's Vincent.

Cloud closes his eyes and inhales deeply; of course, he should have guessed—the military-grade equipment, the structure, the discipline showed by the people he saw. It makes more sense now. Once he feels calm, he looks over at Vincent, who has seen better days. A medical eyepatch covers his right eye and one of his arms is in a sling; he's not wearing crisp suits as he did as a Turk, but utilitarian clothes that befit his recent occupation better.

"Hello, Cloud."

"Where's Barret?" Cloud doesn't mask the anticipation in his voice.

Vincent comes up to his side and shows him the sheet he'd been about to read. "I'm sorry."

Cloud's heart sinks into his stomach as he takes it in.

AVALANCHE STATUS

Barret Wallace: KIA

Cid Highwind: alive

Jesse Rasberry: KIA

Wedge Jones: KIA

Yuffie Kisaragi: alive

Tifa Lockhart: KIA (MIA?)

He reads once, twice, then blinks several times like he can't comprehend what he sees. His eyes latch unto Tifa's name and the KIA (MIA?) next to it. Vincent talks, but Cloud only half-listens to him; he can't focus on anything else but the sheet of paper and the names of the people he'd begun to think of as family.

"—make it but his injuries will have aftereffects—the others—"

"They can't all be dead," Cloud interrupts him in a whisper. "That's…"

His fingers brush the paper, settling on Tifa's name.

"I'm sorry, Cloud." There is sincere compassion in Vincent's voice, but it does nothing to soothe him. "We found Yuffie dragging Highwind to safety; he was the only survivor."

"What about Tifa?" His voice breaks as he says her name. After everything, she can't be—she can't... "You swore she'd be safe."

"We got out," Vincent says, "I made it as far as I could with her. Yuffie confirmed she was with Avalanche when they left for the control center. She's the one who placed the bomb."

"Is that why you can't be sure if she's dead?"

Vincent debates his next words before settling on, "We never found her body."

Cloud whirls around, unable to look at the names anymore. "She could have gotten out before it exploded. You know she could."

"What I know," Vincent says slowly, as if he wants to make sure Cloud understands him, "is that her ability was sealed when we parted ways. So, no, Cloud, I don't think she got out in time. But I never rule out a possibility."

As Vincent speaks, Cloud feels his control slip, feels his emotions spiral downwards. Barret, Jesse, Wedge… This can't be real. They can't have made all those sacrifices, worked all this time, succeeded in their plan only to never see the results. And Tifa—if she made it out, but never showed up…

"I have to sit," Cloud breathes out, suddenly aware of his body trembling.

Vincent guides him into a chair and goes across the room to get something out of a drawer. When he comes back, he has a syringe in hand. He places it on the table.

"If you need it."

There's no hesitation in Cloud's movements as he picks the syringe up, removes his jacket, and mechanically injects the mako. Though it changes nothing to his turmoil, at least he knows he won't set anything ablaze by accident. He rests his elbows on his knees and hides his face in his hands.

"A word of advice, Cloud. Don't get your hopes up too much."

Cloud doesn't reply to that, not wanting to fight him over this. "I'm guessing Yuffie and Cid are here?"

He hears Vincent move around, the thumping of his boots getting louder, then quieter. "Yes. Like I said, I found Yuffie trying to save Highwind. We got there on time. He'll make it, but his injuries are grave. Dr. Crescent is tending to him as best as she can considering the limited supplies and equipment."

"I want to see them," Cloud says as he stands, his tone leaving no place for refusal.

Vincent exits the room and Cloud follows, shrugging on his jacket on the way out. As they go down the stairs, they cross paths with a woman, who salutes Vincent.

"What's up with your organization? They act like soldiers."

"That's because a lot of them are former Shinra soldiers. I've been working on building this for a long time. You guys had me speed up my plans," he adds dryly.

They come to a space Cloud figures was a cafeteria before. Beds and salvaged equipment take up most of the room. Only two of the beds are occupied; Cloud feels like someone has punched him as he spots Cid—the relief at seeing the older man really is alive is intense. He makes it three steps when someone barrels into him.

"You're alive!"

Yuffie's shout attracts everyone's attention; a woman with long hair and a mask hanging beneath her chin comes close. Cloud returns Yuffie's hug, holding her tighter as sobs rack through her body.

"Told you I'd come back," he says softly.

The woman halts next to Vincent and puts a hand on his arm, the gesture one of familiarity. "Is he one of Avalanche's?"

"Yes. Cloud, this is Dr. Crescent." Vincent leans in closer to whisper, "He's the one who killed Shinra. And Hojo."

"Oh my." She glances at Cloud and smiles. "You have my thanks for that last one."

He nods, not caring much about her gratitude at the moment. With gentle pressure, he pries Yuffie away from him. Her sobs eased into hiccups, and she wipes at her cheeks as she stares at him.

"Do you know…?" She can't bring herself to finish her sentence, but the question is obvious.

"Yeah. Vincent told me." Cloud ruffles her hair, and she cries harder. "I'm glad you two made it out."

She grabs his hand and drags him towards Cid's bed. "He'll be happy to see you."

Cloud's throat constricts as he takes in the old man. There are bandages around his head and neck, and peeking from the left sleeve of his T-shirt. A blanket is draped over his shoulders.

"Took your sweet time," Cid grumbles as they stare at each other.

Tears well up in Cloud's eyes. His voice is a broken rasp as he replies, "Sorry I kept you waiting."

He sits on the closest chair; he covers his eyes with his hand and lets the tears fall. As his shoulders shake from trying to keep his voice in, Cloud senses a hand drop on his back in comfort; he knows it's Yuffie without having to look. A sob comes out of him as the weight of all the deaths crushes whatever restraint he had over his emotions. Yuffie's hand tightens on his shoulder. Cloud allows himself to feel the pain and the sorrow and the guilt, knowing he won't cause any fire. He remembers Barret telling him they'd need his skills on the mission—if Cloud had been there, would the outcome have different? What would have happened to Tifa, then? The thought she might have died regardless of his choices slams into him, and he understands what Vincent meant about not getting his hopes up. If he clings to that improbable possibility, he'll only drive himself mad. But Cloud knows there's no way he'll be able to let this go, no matter how many times reality reminds him he might wrong, no matter the pain it'll bring. The alternative is too terrifying.

He calms down eventually; Yuffie brings him tissues and stays close. Cid says nothing, letting the wave of emotions roll through Cloud. Finally, once his breathing evens out and he sits up straighter, Cid speaks.

"Kid, you did what you could. Don't blame yourself for what you couldn't control."

Cloud shakes his head. "I could have done more. I know I could have—" His confession comes out as a croak, "I could have gotten out, but I went after the Captain. I wanted my revenge, Cid. And I got it."

"Cloud." Another shake of his head. "Listen to me, goddamn it. Maybe things would have gone differently, maybe they wouldn't have. Everyone is glad you got rid of that fucker. With the way our mission went, if Sephiroth had been there to seize control, Shinra wouldn't be weakened right now."

"Is it even the case? That Shinra is weakened?"

"Yes."

The answer comes from Vincent, and Cloud startles, having forgotten him.

"They're trying to hold a unified, organized front, but they're without true leadership. They've named someone Captain to respect the hierarchy, a man named Tseng." The way Vincent says the name tells Cloud he knows the new Captain. "But the Corp itself is in shambles."

"How do you know?" Yuffie asks.

"I still have a contact inside. Communications are rare, but they give us an edge. Speaking of that." He moves until he appears in Cloud's vision. "You should come stay here. It'll be safer. And I could use your help."

Cloud opens his mouth to respond, but Yuffie speaks first.

"You can't refuse. You have to stay with us."

"I—" He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "I have to go back and get someone." At the questioning looks, he explains, "A Carrier kid saved my life, and I told him he could stay with me. If I'm staying here, he comes too."

"Deal," Vincent says without hesitating.

"But he's not to be a member of this new Avalanche." Cloud stares him down to make his point. "He's just a kid and very impressionable."

"That won't be a problem. I only accept people who know what they want." Vincent smirks. "So you're not part of my 'new Avalanche' either. For now."

"Fine by me," Cloud mumbles. A thought comes to him. "Why did you use our name and our logo, Vincent? Why not have your own?"

Vincent shrugs one shoulder. "It's established. Most people loved Avalanche. It won't be long before we make ourselves known now that we've gathered resources and people. It's a risk," he admits, "since they know the bombing was caused by Avalanche, and the following silence hasn't been well received. But we'll do what we can to right this. It's the least I can do to honor those who opened the way for change."

The mention of the dead Avalanche members spears through Cloud again, but he takes deep breaths to keep his composure.

"You should head back before it gets dark," Vincent says as he walks towards Dr. Crescent. "I'll be waiting for you." He waves his hand over his shoulder in a farewell.

Someone tugs at Cloud's sleeve. "You'll come back, right?" Yuffie asks in a small voice.

"I will, don't worry." It's the truth, and it's a good feeling, having a place and friends to come back to.

Despite this, the air seems empty, quiet—and Cloud realizes that the absence of those who should be here will always be felt.

"I'll be back tomorrow," he promises to those who remain.

—

When Cloud walks back inside the convenience store, it's after dark. He uses his ability to bring up a flame, lighting the inside of the store. Denzel sits on the floor, half-dozing, his blanket next to him. Cloud sighs and extinguishes the fire. He nudges him with his boot, making him jump.

"Good morning," Cloud says with false cheer. "How does it feel to be woken up like this?"

Denzel gives him the finger, rubbing his eyes with his other hand. "You're a dick, Cloud."

"I'm a dick who found us a proper place to stay."

The words catch the kid's attention. "What, with your friends? Is it cleaner than that other place?"

Cloud holds in an eye roll. "Yes, with my friends. We're leaving for that place tomorrow. But first, I have to tell you something." He crouches in front of a wary Denzel. "That place—it's full of ex-soldiers." Denzel stiffens and shakes his head. "Hey, listen. Those soldiers are helping Avalanche, alright? But that doesn't mean they like us." Cloud manifests another flame to make his point. "So you keep it to yourself as always, is that clear? My friends won't care. But you don't take any risks, okay?"

"Okay," Denzel whispers. "Is it really safe there?"

"There's nowhere that truly safe for people like you and me, Denzel. But yes, we'll be as safe as we can be." Cloud mock-punches him in the shoulder. "Now, get some actual sleep. We're leaving early tomorrow. I need to make a stop before we head for our new place."

Denzel yawns and lays down, covering himself with his blanket. "Okay. Good night."

"Good night," Cloud says, standing up to grab his own blanket.

"Cloud?"

"Hm?"

"Thanks."

He smiles in the dark before settling down to sleep. "It's fine."

He falls asleep, waking up reflexively several times to check no one intruded. It's as he is finally getting rest that he hears a shouted, "Hey! Get up!"

Cloud opens one eye to glare at a smug Denzel. At his feet lies all of their belongings, packed into a salvaged backpack and the canvas bag they found at the hideout.

"You already prepared everything?"

It's apparent excitement has taken hold of Denzel, but he tries to tamper it down. "You said we have to leave early."

"Yeah, yeah."

Fifteen minutes later, they make their way outside. It's as sunny as it can get in Midgard these days, with snow drifting down. Cloud leads them towards the hideout, and it doesn't take long for Denzel to notice.

"Why are we going back there?"

Cloud grabs the hilt of his knife in his pocket as three men pass by them; though they don't appear menacing, Cloud doesn't like leaving their survival to chance. He only lets go once they get far enough.

"We're going because I need to leave a note to someone."

"I thought you found your friends."

Cloud holds in the flinch. "Not all of them."

Thankfully, Denzel recognizes the warning in his voice and doesn't ask more questions as they trek to the hideout. Like yesterday, Denzel waits in the hall while Cloud walks into the room, making sure no one is inside. But unlike yesterday, Cloud can tell they're not alone. It's a subtle change, but he notices the way objects have moved and the bathroom door being left ajar when it was closed when he left. Hope bursts in his chest, but he dampens it, knowing it might only lead to disillusionment. Cloud takes out his knife and, as silently as possible, pulls out the blade as he pads for the bathroom. A door slamming shut has him whirl around, knife held out in front of him. But he lowers it as soon as he sees who had been hiding behind the door.

"I knew it," he whispers. "I knew you were alive."

Across of him, Tifa's hands waver, her grip on the gun loosening until her arms fall to her side and the gun to the ground. The sob she lets out has her hunch forward, grasping at her chest, and she slides to her knees as if unable to stand anymore. Cloud runs to her side and kneels before her. He runs his hands along her cheeks, along her hair. "I knew it," he repeats, "I knew it. You couldn't be dead."

"Cloud—" Tifa grips his shirt over his heart. "They're—they're all—"

"Hey, hey, hey. Come here." Tears trickle down his cheeks as she throws her arms around him and he falls backward from the force of her embrace. He stabilizes himself by laying a hand on the floor, using his other arm to hold her close. "I'm here, alright, Tifa?" Cloud hides his face in her neck, brushing his lips against her skin. "We're both here." He gives himself a push so he can sit and wraps his arms fully around her.

Tifa's sobs die down after a minute, but her grip on him stays the same. "You got me out of the lab," she mumbles into his shoulder, her words almost inaudible. "I remember that."

"I couldn't let them have you." Cloud pulls back the smallest amount, just enough that she has no choice but to look at him. He frames her face in his hands and leans his forehead on her. "There was no way I'd have left you in there. You get it, do you? You know why."

She nods, crying quietly. "I know. I love you too," she says, tears and laughter mixing together.

Cloud gives her a slight smile. "Yeah, that's it."

He closes the distance between them to kiss her. Her lips taste salty from all the tears, and he feels her body soften against him. He breaks away, not straying far, only enough to slide his lips down her jaw, then up to her ear. "I love you."

"Woah!"

Tifa jumps away from him at Denzel's shout. "Who—"

"That's Denzel," Cloud sighs.

"Oh." She relaxes a little, keeping a hand on Cloud's arm. "Hi, I'm Tifa."

Cloud doesn't have to turn around to guess Denzel is grinning. "Are you one of his friends?"

"That's none of your business," Cloud says as he gets to his feet and helps Tifa do the same.

"Is she coming with us to our new place?"

Tifa glances at Denzel and then Cloud, a slight, confused frown marring her features. It hits Cloud suddenly that Tifa isn't aware of Cid's and Yuffie's survival, or the new Avalanche. He wraps an arm around her shoulder, tucking her against him.

"There's something you should know—" he starts, but she cuts him off.

"Someone's using the Avalanche logo? I saw that on my way here."

"Yeah, that's one thing. It's Vincent and his organization."

Tifa gasps. "He made it? I wasn't sure…"

"Yeah, he could be in better shape, but he's okay. And—" Cloud gives her a small smile. "Cid and Yuffie made it."

At this, her legs give out; Cloud catches her before she falls.

"I thought... I wasn't sure Yuffie would be fine alone, and I didn't think Cid—I thought they all—" She steadies herself, standing straight again. "Can we go see them?"

"That's where we were headed."

Denzel comes closer and tilts his head to the side. "So she is one of your friends." He drops his voice. "An Avalanche friend. Is she the person you were gonna leave a note to?"

With an exasperated sigh, Cloud nods. The mention of a note reminds him of Tifa's. "Were you alright? In your message, you said you'd wait here, but yesterday there was no one."

"There was a blockade," she says with a shake of her head. "I was stuck near the Sector 4 gate where there are a lot of soldiers and couldn't get through. When they lifted it, I came as fast as I could."

"That's—wait, is your ability fine? Vincent said you couldn't use it."

She smiles a little. "It's fine. It came back, that's one of the reasons I escaped." As she says the words, her eyes widen. She bites her lip, then says, "Cloud, there's something I have to tell you."

Out on the street, yells rise, followed by the telltale sounds of a fight. Denzel tenses at the noise and gives Cloud a meaningful look.

"Can you tell me when we get to Vincent's base?"

Though he notes her hesitation, she nods. "Sure."

"So you're a Carrier, too?" Denzel asks as they stride down the stairs and unto the street.

"Yes, I can be really fast."

"So cool. I can heal!"

They make their way in relative silence. Once they reach the school, Cloud stops before the guard. It's the same man as yesterday. He raises his eyebrows at Cloud's company and relays the info into his earpiece before letting them inside. Cloud isn't surprised to see Vincent waiting for them in the hall.

"Hi, Tifa." He gives her the biggest smile Cloud's ever seen on him, which isn't saying much. "For once, I'm glad to have been wrong."

"Vincent," Tifa says softly. "It's good to know you made it out. Thank you for what you did."

"Happy to have been of any help." He twists around, indicating they should come with him. "Now, come on. Some people are eager to see you."

When they enter the medical area, Yuffie is waiting for them.

"Tifa!" Once again, her scream turns heads. "You made it!"

"I'm glad you did, too," Tifa says, wrapping Yuffie in a hug. "I was so afraid you didn't."

"Vincent found me and Cid. I went back to the hideout after, but no one was there."

Cloud hums, her statement explaining the ransacking set-up. It takes a while for Yuffie to let go, but when she does, a semblance of happiness lights her features. She brings them to Cid's bed, and the old man gives Tifa a wry smile.

"Hey, Tifa."

"Cid." She sits on the edge of his bed and grabs his hand in hers. Her voice is a whisper when she says, "I'm sorry I ran away."

"Nah, don't be. You made the best choice."

Cloud sits on a chair, signaling at Denzel to stay quiet when it seems like he'll speak.

"Not the right one?" Tifa's question is filled with pain and regret. It breaks Cloud's heart to see she might never make peace with her actions.

"There was no right or wrong choice, Tifa." Cid squeezes her hand. "You did what he wanted. Better than that, you fulfilled his dream. You know there was no better way for this to end."

"But—I keep thinking if—"

"Then stop," Cid states firmly. "Nothing's gonna change what happened. Tifa, Barret was the last one standing. A few soldiers got through at the beginning, but then, he would not allow any to get through. He stood his ground until the very end." At this, Tifa begins crying in short, muted sobs. "We both know it wasn't so you'd follow through with the mission, Tifa. It's because he wanted you to live. And you did both." Cid swallows back a few tears of his own. "When he went down, I crawled to him, tried to get us both to safety, but I wasn't strong enough. Jesse and Wedge, they'd already—" He exhales a long breath. "Tifa, in the end, Barret was staring at the sky and he said—" Another deep breath. "He said he wished he'd fulfilled his promise to you. I'm sure that means something to you, and I wanted—I wanted you to know he was thinking of you the whole time. Not Avalanche, not Shinra, not the mission—you."

His words become too much for Tifa, and she folds unto herself, weeping silently, her body shaking from the force of her sobs. Cloud comes to sit behind her; a quick look at Cid reveals the old man is also crying—and Cloud finds himself tearing up, too. He strokes a hand down Tifa's back, a wordless show of support. Yuffie takes the seat he vacated, wiping at her wet cheeks. If Denzel is still around, Cloud doesn't notice him.

"As a kid, he'd tell me—" Tifa forces the words out despite her uneven breathing. "He'd make sure I'd go outside the walls—" A violent sob racks through her. "That I'd see the stars we dreamed of. He promised, he promised we'd go together—" Her words devolved into indiscernible noises as she loses whatever control she had left.

Cloud knows there's nothing he can do to ease her pain; he can only stand by her side. So do Cid and Yuffie. Together, they shed tears for the fallen.

—

"I want to go back to 7th Heaven."

Tifa's whisper resonates through Cloud as they sit outside in the dark. They stayed on the school's territory to avoid trouble. Cloud looks up at her from his spot in her lap. Her hand runs through his hair, the gesture lazy and affectionate.

"Yeah?"

"I want to give Barret, Jesse, and Wedge a proper farewell."

He closes his eyes. "You know there might be nothing left there."

"It doesn't matter. It's the only place I can say goodbye to them.

"Alright, we'll go."

They stay silent for a moment until Tifa's hand stills and she pulls it away from him. "Cloud, about what I wanted to tell you earlier."

Sensing it might be something he won't like, Cloud sits up. "What is it?"

Tifa fiddles with her coat's sleeve, the gesture a nervous sign. Finally, she glances up and into his eyes. "Zack is alive, Cloud," she says with infinite gentleness. "He's the reason I'm still here. He got me out of the control center on time."

"What—" Cloud lets out a harsh laugh. "You're kidding, right? You've never seen Zack. There's no way you'd know."

"Black hair. Blue eyes. Tall." She doesn't waver as she enumerates proof. "His house burned down when he was 16. He lost his memory from the times before. He has burn scars all over his arms. He was fostered in a military family and joined Shinra."

"Stop it," Cloud whispers. "That's not possible."

"He's the one who let me go and told me about the Carrier experiments. He's alive, Cloud."

It's too much to take in, and Cloud jumps to his feet. "That's—it can't be. I saw the house collapse. He couldn't have survived that, it's just not…" Cloud stares at Tifa, and his heart shatters at her solemn expression. "Fuck. Fuck!"

Tifa stays silent, and he's glad for it as his heartbeat escalates and the awareness that Zack was alive this entire time courses through him. It engulfs him in a great wave, and once he comes up for air, he realizes he's feeling a mixture of fear and astonishment and relief. Zack is alive.

"Holy shit," he breathes. "This whole time—he was alive."

"Cloud." Tifa stands and comes to join him. She grabs his hand so he looks at her. The contact brings him out of his shellshocked state. "I promise we'll find him, okay?"

He nods instinctively. Tifa guides him back near the wall of the school, forcing him to sit again. As the minutes go by, his composure comes back, and he's left with a new reality. Though it's not easy to absorb, it's not a terrible one either.

"We'll go to 7th Heaven," he says after a lengthy silence. "Then, we'll look for Zack. But there's a place I want to stop at first."

She nods and rests her head against his shoulder, and they stay silent in the darkness of their own making.

—

The door of the church creaks as he pushes it open. Cloud walks inside the place he used to call home, knowing he won't find anything but shambles. Outside, Tifa and Denzel wait for him, exhausted from their weeks-long trip through the Sectors. With Vincent's and his team's help, they entered Sector 4 and made the rest of the way on their own.

Cloud takes the place in as he walks the central aisle. The dots of color don't register immediately; after all, in Midgard, there are only shades of gray. And yet—rain leaks through the holes in the ceiling, misting the flowers growing haphazardly throughout the church, a miracle granted by the decrease in pollution. The sight saps all strength out of him, and he sits down on the nearest pew. The couch they had salvaged is nowhere to be seen.

"Hi," he murmurs into emptiness. "Hi, Sunshine."

There is no answer, of course. Cloud curses himself for having expected one.

"I—I have no clue where to start." The words echo in the large space despite the hushed tone of his confession. "I guess—with the truth, right?" He takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Aerith. I'm so fucking sorry. For not saving you; for never getting us out of Midgard like we dreamed of; for—" Tears choke him, but he pushes through. "For never apologizing for what I said that day. For not getting to tell you I love you one last time. Instead, I had to—I had to make a mess of everything. If I hadn't—" Cloud doesn't rein in the quiet sob, remorse and sorrow begging to be set free. "I did it, Sunshine. I killed them all—and it did nothing," he ends on a whisper. "It changed nothing. I thought—I really thought it would. But—you're still on the other side."

Cloud falls backward and stares at the hole in the ceiling that wasn't there before. As if to encourage him, the ghost of sunlight twinkles through the dimness.

"I… I think the worst thing in all this is… I didn't do it for you. I did it for me." Cloud shakes his head. "Part of me knew you wouldn't have wanted this. You would never have wanted me to waste away on revenge, and yet—" He exhales. "I needed it, Aerith. There was—is—this impossible darkness in me that had to be fed to stay sane. I thought killing them meant… I don't know, taking control of my life, I guess. I couldn't stand it anymore, couldn't stand being helpless, and I figured if there was a place to start… It'd be with killing the ones who wronged us. All three of us," he adds softly. "I almost died that night. And—and—"

There is no holding back the trembling that takes over him. Cloud hides his face behind his hands, allowing the tears to fall. "I thought Zack was there to take me away—to take me home. And part of me was glad, Sunshine, because it meant I could be with you two again." A sob racks his body. "I miss you, fuck, I miss you."

It takes a long time for the tears to dry and the trembling to lessen. When Cloud finally looks at the ceiling again, the glimpse of sunlight is gone, and he wonders if he didn't dream it.

"But… Zack is alive. I guess if there's an afterlife, you already know that. I'm sure you're thinking of how silly I was this whole time," Cloud lets out a soft laugh. "I can almost hear you say it. Sunshine—that time I told you we can't live with ghosts. That it's not how we survive." Cloud gets to his feet. He runs his fingers over the wood of the pew in a farewell. "I should listen to myself for once, right?" His voice drops back to a whisper. "I love you, Sunshine, and I'm sorry I didn't make it right."

As he walks for the door, he glances back one more time, and his eyes again catch on the bright yellow flowers.

"I know we'll meet again—one day. But until then... Sweet dreams, Aerith."

Cloud's heart skips as he crosses the threshold of the church for the last time, the delicate weight of a yellow blossom in his pocket an anchor to this world.

He doesn't turn back.

—

Seventh Heaven is not what it once was. Though the building itself is fine, the inside has been ransacked and vandalized. Still, there's something comforting about stepping in the main room with Tifa at his side. She takes in the destruction in silence, but a certain peace settles around her. Tifa walks deeper into the bar; she doesn't right the tables or the chairs, letting the current chaos reign. She goes around the counter and crouches, looking for something; he hears the lock to a cupboard turn.

Cloud comes to sit on a barstool. Tifa reappears with a bottle of alcohol in hand. With a weary smile, she grabs two glasses out of the few still intact and pours them both a drink. She slides him his glass, and he catches it in time. Noise erupts from upstairs as Denzel searches through the remainder of their belongings.

"Think he'll be okay?"

Cloud shrugs as he lifts his glass. "It'd take more than the mess of your room to deter him."

The pointed glare she sends him makes him smirk. She clinks his glass against his, the mood suddenly somber, reverent. Amidst the ruins of their old life, they toast to Avalanche.

"To Jesse," Tifa says gently. "She was the bravest of us."

"To Wedge," Cloud says with downcast eyes, "who forgave me when it would have been easier to hate me."

They both take a sip. Cloud looks at her, waiting for the next name. After a few seconds, Tifa finds the courage to lift her glass again.

"To Barret. To the man who found me and could have left me to die on the streets. To the man who wanted nothing but a better world." Tifa chokes on her words but pushes through. "To the man who knew he might never see the future he fought for but never gave up. To the man who was both my leader and father."

"To Barret," Cloud echoes, his heart constricting.

Another sip. Tifa puts down her drink. "I've been thinking… I can't do nothing. I can't do that to Barret." She gulps down the rising tears. "I have to do something."

"You don't have to, Tifa." Cloud keeps his voice soft.

She shakes her head. "You're right, I don't have to. But I want to." She takes a deep breath; her hand reaches across the counter to rest on his. "I want to see the stars, Cloud. I want us to stop living in fear. I want to make the future a safer place. I want to fight."

Cloud brings her hand up to his mouth and drops the whisper of a kiss on her palm. "That's a lot of 'I want's'."

There is no denying the sadness to Tifa's smile, and Cloud smiles back at the glint of determination shining in her eyes.

"Then we better get started."

—

—

fin

—

—

A/N: …or is it? Dun dun dun.

Ah, you guys! I am so overwhelmed at having completed this story! And I am so happy to have made this journey with all of you. And…yes! I have sequel outlined for this, however, it's still in the planning stage and won't be done for a while. I tried to leave this story on a satisfying note since I don't know when I will post the sequel, but of course, we still have some mysteries and moments to look forward to (I'm looking at you, Zack).

On this note, another big thank you to everyone! Your support is invaluable to me.

I'll see you all soon!

S.K. Evans (04.20.2020)