Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything from FF7 and I unfortunately never will.
*Insert wording here* = people talking about the flashback within the flashback 'Insert wording here' = Thought
Chapter 4
Hunter had no idea how long he had slept. He knew that it had been for sometime a day or so perhaps; the beating Tifa had laid upon him early had knocked his senses into a flurry not to mention the throbbing pain that had over thrown his body.
Carefully the young warrior rolled over making sure his clothing wouldn't cause any noise against the coarse floor. It's not that he cared whether he woke his "guests", it was evident by the loud banging against the rock slab and the giggles of a small child that they already were. It was just he was too sore to be yelled at quite yet.
'WHY?!' He thought to himself 'Why is this so incredibly hard?! Guardian warned me! Oh did he warn me but I didn't think he was serious! .Wait this is Guardian.he's always serious.' He began to mentally smack himself before sorely standing up. "Will you PLEASE stop that?!" Turning he saw Cloud stop slamming himself against the "door" and glaring flaming daggers in his direction.
At first Hunter thought nothing of it that was until Cloud walked over and grabbed him by his jacket, lifting him off the ground and slamming him against the wall. "Tell me what's going on or let us go!"
"Hey, hey calm down pal I can't do that." Hunter stated calmly in replied, receiving another slam against the wall.
"Fine then I'll just find someway you can! Now talk!"
Growing angry himself the young biker returned the harse glare through his silver lenses and stated a little less calmly "Look spike I can't and there isn't a thing you can do that'll change that."
Cloud never broke eye contact while slamming him several more times against the wall seeming to ignore the last statement from Hunter "I'm growing impatient"
"No @#$^ing duh!!! Listen Jackass put me down before I go stark raving ballistic on you! Besides you can't leave here without my help."
Shocked at the sudden outburst but not showing it, the angry mercenary roughly threw the young biker to the ground and walked over to his family who had just woken up from the small scuffle.
Slowly Hunter stood back up and lightly brushed himself off before walking over to the large piece of wood and pushing it aside revealing a small passageway hardly big enough for his bike to fit into. Quietly motioning to the small family to follow he walked over to his bike and pushed it into the passageway. After a moment he realized they weren't following and turned around letting out a frustrated sigh, "Look. I'm trying to help you guys. Not for my sake, for yours. I was asked, ASKED! Not told to help you people by Guardian and even if I bloody well die trying I AM going to do it. So damn well common!!!"
Looking at the small family all he received was a malevolent glare from Cloud and a hesitant stare from Tifa. Sighing he shook his head and continued through the passageway.
Looking between his "Uncle" Hunter and his parents Daniel felt somewhat confused at what was going on. And like any good obedient child he stayed by his parents.for the whole of 5 seconds. Deciding, on that very moment, that he wanted to follow the young man he had only met days before the boy hopped off the cot from his perch beside his mother and ran towards the opening in which the biker had disappeared "Uncle Hunter! Wait up!!!"
"Daniel?! What are you doing?" Cloud called out to his son, a slight edge to his voice but to no avail as the young boy disappeared from sight. Letting out a frustrated sigh, the ex-soldier kicked the vacant cot in his frustration and looked at his wife "What are we supposed to do Teef? I just don't know what to do anymore."
Standing Tifa hugged Cloud lightly "I don't know but we've gotten through worse than this right?" He nodded quietly and lightly pulled away from the hug looking at her with a serious gaze.
"That doesn't change that I still don't trust that guy."
"I know but he hasn't hurt any of us and our son seems to trust him good enough.isn't that enough for now?"
"For now I guess." Nodding slightly Tifa gave him a small kiss on his cheek and slowly started towards the opening, Cloud following a few feet behind. Upon rounding the blind corner they saw their son jump onto the seat of the bike, surprising Hunter who turned and looked at him
"Well it's nice to know I have at least one friend in these tunnels."
Hearing this Cloud walked over to Hunter, an untrusting glare upon his face "Tunnels? As in more than one?"
"No spiky, I meant one but I put an 's' on the end to confuse you. Look around you blond doltz!"
Steaming at the insult, Cloud forced himself to look about and nearly gasped in shock. There were Tunnels everywhere!!! Some smaller than others, some quite a ways off the ground, there only access a rope ladder. Cloud was amazed the mountain was still standing.
Un-like her husband however, Tifa did gasp but more out of dull awe then shock. "Did.did you make all of these?"
"Nah, most were old mine shafts but some were made by we and Guardian.And I swear if you ask who Guardian is again I'll tie you up and drag you the whole way."
With a growl Cloud almost challenged Hunters offer but thought better of it when Tifa elbowed him sharply in the ribs.
Resisting he urge to sneer at Cloud, Hunter turned into one of the larger tunnels, still pushing Daniel and the G-bike and waved for Cloud and Tifa to follow him. Of course they followed, Tifa a little more willing than before but Cloud was still as resistant as ever glaring at Hunter the whole time.
Gradually the tunnel widened a bit more as they when and a short while later they stopped at a small opening in the side of the tunnel wall.
"Now what." Cloud grumbled angrily as Hunter disappeared into the opening. A few seconds later hurried noises were heard from where the young biker had disappeared as the others watched more or less patiently. A muffled yelp from in the opening brought a small smirk to Cloud's face causing Tifa to give him THE look, which instantly wiped the smirk off his face.
Several moments later Hunter emerged from the opening tossing Cloud the Buster Sword and Tifa a pair of Tiger Claws. Both looked down at the weapons and much to their surprise they looked exactly like the ones they had used oh so long ago. The two looked in shock at what had just been given to them then slowly to Hunter
"Where did you get these?! We lost them in the crater the only one's we managed to keep were the ones we were using!" Cloud exclaimed
Slowly the biker walked over to his bike "That's not all you lost in the crater.was it?" At that comment Cloud and Tifa fell completely silent.
Seeing their reaction he quietly continued "AVALANCHE had nine members.one was killed by Sephiroth and after his defeat only 7 returned.am I right?"
Quietly, Cloud turned his eyes to Hunter, anger, sorrow and regret flashing through his icy blue orbs "Yeah your right." Stalling on his words for a moment he simply just stared at Hunter who silently stared back and waited patiently for the Ex-Soldier to continue.
With a heavy sigh and downcast look he did eventually continue, "After we defeated Sephiroth the crater began to collapse in on its-self .hastily we retreated to the upper caverns and made our way to the exit.
~*Flashback*~
*As we ran the tunnels and caverns all around us were beginning to cave in but we still managed to make it to the exit.*
"There's the exit! Everyone out now!"
Quickly Cloud helped the others out one by one for the hole was only big enough to do it that way. As he rushed however he didn't notice the ground crumble out from underneath him.
With a surprised yelp he fell and waited for his doom but was jerked to a sudden halt as something grabbed the back of his shirt. Looking up he saw the last person he ever expected, there hanging by one arm off the newly formed ledge was Vincent Valentine firmly grasping his shirt.
With a mighty heave Cloud found himself on the narrow ledge between the gap and the cave exit, looking down upon the dark man. "Go on Cloud.their waiting for you."
"No way Vince! You helped me I'm going to help you."
"Listen Cloud.that ledge is going to give out.there is no use in us both dying." With a sudden crack the thin rock Vincent was holding gave way, as did the rest of ground around Cloud. Instinctively the Ex-soldier jumped through the exit hole, landing face first in front of the rest of his friends.
"Cloud!" they all yelped in surprise as he came flying through the hole. Sitting up he punched the ground and yelled a sorrowful "DAMMIT!!!"
"I am glad you are here but where is Vincent?" Red asked pointedly with a trail of worry in his voice. Soon after Yuffie spoke up "Yeah Cloud where is he?"
The young mercenary stood up and muttered quietly "Gone."
Everyone turned a pale color before a jerk from the crater snapped them all back to reality. Sad but not dismembered Cloud looked at everyone "It's sad I know but we have got to get out of here." Nodding in agreement they all headed towards the Highwind.
~*End Flashback*~
After he finished, Cloud shook his head, trying to rid himself of the memory but he couldn't. It was clear as day in his mind now.
"Oh geez.I'm sorry man I had no idea."
During all of this Tifa had moved to sit with Daniel on the G-bike, remembering her comrade silently swearing she'd never forget him or what he did.
Rubbing his eyes lightly Cloud again looked at Hunter "Could we just go now?"
Nodding the young biker walked over to his G-bike and resumed pushing it down the tunnel; Cloud walking slightly behind while Tifa and Daniel remained quietly on the bike.
*Insert wording here* = people talking about the flashback within the flashback 'Insert wording here' = Thought
Chapter 4
Hunter had no idea how long he had slept. He knew that it had been for sometime a day or so perhaps; the beating Tifa had laid upon him early had knocked his senses into a flurry not to mention the throbbing pain that had over thrown his body.
Carefully the young warrior rolled over making sure his clothing wouldn't cause any noise against the coarse floor. It's not that he cared whether he woke his "guests", it was evident by the loud banging against the rock slab and the giggles of a small child that they already were. It was just he was too sore to be yelled at quite yet.
'WHY?!' He thought to himself 'Why is this so incredibly hard?! Guardian warned me! Oh did he warn me but I didn't think he was serious! .Wait this is Guardian.he's always serious.' He began to mentally smack himself before sorely standing up. "Will you PLEASE stop that?!" Turning he saw Cloud stop slamming himself against the "door" and glaring flaming daggers in his direction.
At first Hunter thought nothing of it that was until Cloud walked over and grabbed him by his jacket, lifting him off the ground and slamming him against the wall. "Tell me what's going on or let us go!"
"Hey, hey calm down pal I can't do that." Hunter stated calmly in replied, receiving another slam against the wall.
"Fine then I'll just find someway you can! Now talk!"
Growing angry himself the young biker returned the harse glare through his silver lenses and stated a little less calmly "Look spike I can't and there isn't a thing you can do that'll change that."
Cloud never broke eye contact while slamming him several more times against the wall seeming to ignore the last statement from Hunter "I'm growing impatient"
"No @#$^ing duh!!! Listen Jackass put me down before I go stark raving ballistic on you! Besides you can't leave here without my help."
Shocked at the sudden outburst but not showing it, the angry mercenary roughly threw the young biker to the ground and walked over to his family who had just woken up from the small scuffle.
Slowly Hunter stood back up and lightly brushed himself off before walking over to the large piece of wood and pushing it aside revealing a small passageway hardly big enough for his bike to fit into. Quietly motioning to the small family to follow he walked over to his bike and pushed it into the passageway. After a moment he realized they weren't following and turned around letting out a frustrated sigh, "Look. I'm trying to help you guys. Not for my sake, for yours. I was asked, ASKED! Not told to help you people by Guardian and even if I bloody well die trying I AM going to do it. So damn well common!!!"
Looking at the small family all he received was a malevolent glare from Cloud and a hesitant stare from Tifa. Sighing he shook his head and continued through the passageway.
Looking between his "Uncle" Hunter and his parents Daniel felt somewhat confused at what was going on. And like any good obedient child he stayed by his parents.for the whole of 5 seconds. Deciding, on that very moment, that he wanted to follow the young man he had only met days before the boy hopped off the cot from his perch beside his mother and ran towards the opening in which the biker had disappeared "Uncle Hunter! Wait up!!!"
"Daniel?! What are you doing?" Cloud called out to his son, a slight edge to his voice but to no avail as the young boy disappeared from sight. Letting out a frustrated sigh, the ex-soldier kicked the vacant cot in his frustration and looked at his wife "What are we supposed to do Teef? I just don't know what to do anymore."
Standing Tifa hugged Cloud lightly "I don't know but we've gotten through worse than this right?" He nodded quietly and lightly pulled away from the hug looking at her with a serious gaze.
"That doesn't change that I still don't trust that guy."
"I know but he hasn't hurt any of us and our son seems to trust him good enough.isn't that enough for now?"
"For now I guess." Nodding slightly Tifa gave him a small kiss on his cheek and slowly started towards the opening, Cloud following a few feet behind. Upon rounding the blind corner they saw their son jump onto the seat of the bike, surprising Hunter who turned and looked at him
"Well it's nice to know I have at least one friend in these tunnels."
Hearing this Cloud walked over to Hunter, an untrusting glare upon his face "Tunnels? As in more than one?"
"No spiky, I meant one but I put an 's' on the end to confuse you. Look around you blond doltz!"
Steaming at the insult, Cloud forced himself to look about and nearly gasped in shock. There were Tunnels everywhere!!! Some smaller than others, some quite a ways off the ground, there only access a rope ladder. Cloud was amazed the mountain was still standing.
Un-like her husband however, Tifa did gasp but more out of dull awe then shock. "Did.did you make all of these?"
"Nah, most were old mine shafts but some were made by we and Guardian.And I swear if you ask who Guardian is again I'll tie you up and drag you the whole way."
With a growl Cloud almost challenged Hunters offer but thought better of it when Tifa elbowed him sharply in the ribs.
Resisting he urge to sneer at Cloud, Hunter turned into one of the larger tunnels, still pushing Daniel and the G-bike and waved for Cloud and Tifa to follow him. Of course they followed, Tifa a little more willing than before but Cloud was still as resistant as ever glaring at Hunter the whole time.
Gradually the tunnel widened a bit more as they when and a short while later they stopped at a small opening in the side of the tunnel wall.
"Now what." Cloud grumbled angrily as Hunter disappeared into the opening. A few seconds later hurried noises were heard from where the young biker had disappeared as the others watched more or less patiently. A muffled yelp from in the opening brought a small smirk to Cloud's face causing Tifa to give him THE look, which instantly wiped the smirk off his face.
Several moments later Hunter emerged from the opening tossing Cloud the Buster Sword and Tifa a pair of Tiger Claws. Both looked down at the weapons and much to their surprise they looked exactly like the ones they had used oh so long ago. The two looked in shock at what had just been given to them then slowly to Hunter
"Where did you get these?! We lost them in the crater the only one's we managed to keep were the ones we were using!" Cloud exclaimed
Slowly the biker walked over to his bike "That's not all you lost in the crater.was it?" At that comment Cloud and Tifa fell completely silent.
Seeing their reaction he quietly continued "AVALANCHE had nine members.one was killed by Sephiroth and after his defeat only 7 returned.am I right?"
Quietly, Cloud turned his eyes to Hunter, anger, sorrow and regret flashing through his icy blue orbs "Yeah your right." Stalling on his words for a moment he simply just stared at Hunter who silently stared back and waited patiently for the Ex-Soldier to continue.
With a heavy sigh and downcast look he did eventually continue, "After we defeated Sephiroth the crater began to collapse in on its-self .hastily we retreated to the upper caverns and made our way to the exit.
~*Flashback*~
*As we ran the tunnels and caverns all around us were beginning to cave in but we still managed to make it to the exit.*
"There's the exit! Everyone out now!"
Quickly Cloud helped the others out one by one for the hole was only big enough to do it that way. As he rushed however he didn't notice the ground crumble out from underneath him.
With a surprised yelp he fell and waited for his doom but was jerked to a sudden halt as something grabbed the back of his shirt. Looking up he saw the last person he ever expected, there hanging by one arm off the newly formed ledge was Vincent Valentine firmly grasping his shirt.
With a mighty heave Cloud found himself on the narrow ledge between the gap and the cave exit, looking down upon the dark man. "Go on Cloud.their waiting for you."
"No way Vince! You helped me I'm going to help you."
"Listen Cloud.that ledge is going to give out.there is no use in us both dying." With a sudden crack the thin rock Vincent was holding gave way, as did the rest of ground around Cloud. Instinctively the Ex-soldier jumped through the exit hole, landing face first in front of the rest of his friends.
"Cloud!" they all yelped in surprise as he came flying through the hole. Sitting up he punched the ground and yelled a sorrowful "DAMMIT!!!"
"I am glad you are here but where is Vincent?" Red asked pointedly with a trail of worry in his voice. Soon after Yuffie spoke up "Yeah Cloud where is he?"
The young mercenary stood up and muttered quietly "Gone."
Everyone turned a pale color before a jerk from the crater snapped them all back to reality. Sad but not dismembered Cloud looked at everyone "It's sad I know but we have got to get out of here." Nodding in agreement they all headed towards the Highwind.
~*End Flashback*~
After he finished, Cloud shook his head, trying to rid himself of the memory but he couldn't. It was clear as day in his mind now.
"Oh geez.I'm sorry man I had no idea."
During all of this Tifa had moved to sit with Daniel on the G-bike, remembering her comrade silently swearing she'd never forget him or what he did.
Rubbing his eyes lightly Cloud again looked at Hunter "Could we just go now?"
Nodding the young biker walked over to his G-bike and resumed pushing it down the tunnel; Cloud walking slightly behind while Tifa and Daniel remained quietly on the bike.