He shivered as he looked around the large clearing. Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide out on this expanse of land. Rocks, a few shrubs and maybe a tree here or there, but not nearly enough to conceal anyone.
Two anyones actually. Zack sighed as he pulled the grubby blanket over he and Cloud, trying to shelter their heads from the rain. The reason wasn't because of the water drops pounding on their back- he welcomed them. They washed away some of the grime plastered to him. It wasn't because he detested the rain either. Be it any other day in any other condition he would have most likely stripped off his clothes right down to the shorts and ran about in the wet. It was chilling, though. the rain would surly not help Clouds condition any.
A sigh escaped his lips as he looked across the expanse again before he shifted his vision to the dusty road yards and yards away and back to the small forest. It had been years sense this stretch had last been crossed by him, but it felt like days. The whole incident in the Shinra lab felt like forever- and yet when he looked back on it, it appeared to be a only a string of boring nights.
"Best get going then, eh Cloudy?" He asked his friend. The blond shuddered and moaned, head tipping back. He was standing at that moment, but the moment didn't last long. Soon he found himself dropping to he ground. Zack grabbed the man, dragging him back up. "To hell if I'm going to carry you all this way. You need to help me out here pal." He muttered, slipping his arms around Cloud in an attempt to hold him up. "You're just too heavy for this trek."
And a trek it was. Long, grueling, and utterly exhausting. Zack did not remain true to his word- he did end up carrying the blond, enjoying the rain the most he could and cursing it all the while. The water sank into their clothing, causing Cloud to gain even more weight. Zacks arms were strained by the time he got to Costa Del Sol. If they had approached a vehicle- there was none- then the long walk would have lasted only a few hours at most. Both men would have been somewhat comfortable. Instead one shook and shivered and the other one rambled and cursed, stumbling and becoming more weary as the day progressed. They had set out after dawn some time- a few hours after at most. Now the sun was sinking behind the horizon as they approached their destination.
No SOLDIER. Not Shinra. No one to be found but children squealing and jumping in puddles, parents screaming at them to get inside before the caught cold. Zack could see them all from outside the small towns gates. He sat Cloud down then, collapsing next to his friend and a palm tree.
"Oh whoa." He muttered, breathing in deeply, tipping his head to the sky. Rain danced against his skin. He felt cleaner now, and was sure he had to have been. Any muck he carried had probably run to his clothing and boots(which, thankfully, he had been intelligent enough to grab before leaving the Shinra labs). "My arms are tingling. My head hurts too. Damn. I didn't think it was so far off, this place."
He closed his eyes against the gray cast sky, hopping to shut off the pounding and spinning in his head. No good. Slowly he took another breath, feeling Cloud tremble next to him. Keep pushing, Flame. Keep breathing. Walking. Grinning. Talking. Anything. Cloud can hear you. You know he can. You saw that last night. His eyes- hell, he tried to look at me. I know he was trying to focused on me. He isn't broken. Dammit, no. He is not broken.
That thought repeated itself many times before Zack shoved himself from the ground reluctantly, just as night crept into the sky. He knew he was saying it over and over to convince himself of something he desperately wanted- needed- to believe. If he didn't, then there was no need to keep dragging Cloud along. He would die anyway, sooner or later. No. Zack had to believe his friend was okay. He was starting to see it now.
Carefully he picked up Cloud from the ground and nearly dropped him. He was too weak to keep carrying him. He had almost dumped the younger man into the mud a great many times during the long walk. The streets here were all tiled. To try and carry Cloud through this and manage to let him slip from his arms would end up a mess. Eyes tired, body screaming, Zack was forced to merely drag the wet moaning mess.
The children had returned to their homes then. Tourists went to their hotels. The only people wondering the streets were couples going to hide on the beach for some evening mischief. Zack paid them little mind, and they did the same in return. Lamps had already been turned on, burning bright in the steady downpour. Enchanting was the only word Zack could find to describe it. He smiled to himself. Cloud would have certainly agreed. He would describe the scene later to him. Laughing suddenly, Zack remembered something.
"Funny. Last time we were here it was raining too. So much for the Capital of Sunshine and women in bikinis, eh Cloudy my friend?"
Now, though ,was no time at all to think about that. They needed baths, and a place to stay. The only place to go was back to the Inn. The inn or the beach. "fuck it." He whispered, dragging Cloud towards the Inn. "so what if they find us. I'm not so tired that I cant take them. I'll buy a ship pass or something tonight. Found some coin on the way. Stole a bit of it too…but that was necessary. I'll nick more if I have to. Just if I have to. I hope you realize this is for you blondy." He teased, pulling his friend along. "Hope you know."
With that said- whispered, really - he picked open the door to the Inn. It was empty, save for the owner playing pool. His head didn't even turn to him. Suddenly Zack regretted coming in. The man was the same one from five years before. He clamped his eyes shut and wrinkled up his face, silently cursing himself, and began to back track-
He didn't get far.
"Ho! If it isn't SOLDIER!" the man declared aloud. He was still plump, though had thinned considerably. Still had a head of messy dark locks. Eyes were still wide and innocent seeming. Greed was not in any part of him it appeared- of course, Zack would believe that about anyone at that moment. "And- Goodness me."
"Play dumb, cloud." Zack whispered. "If he asks questions, deny anything. Everything." His reply was a moan, and Zack nodded taking it as an affirmative.
"Are you behind the other lot sonny?" The man asked, leaning on his pool stick. Zack blinked. "Other lot?" he asked slowly. The man nodded.
"Yes. There was a group that left here not two days ago, heading for somewhere. Rocket Town, maybe. Sounds bout right. Probably already there or something. I cannot believe you are behind."
"A-actually, sir…" Zack said slowly, trailing off. The man was bounding up the steps that led to the sunken pool room. "Well, uh. I mean- you see-"
"no trouble. Thought it was kind of fishy that SOLDIER would overpay. Then refuse to take the money back. Oh, fishy business indeed. They probably were expecting you then. Well, I can see why they didn't realize you were not coming. Probably thought you were still on a ship or being flown in- drunk, the lot of fools. Begging your pardon, sir."
Zack just blinked. What is he talking about…? But slowly, slowly, it dawned on him. Bless my luck and may it never run out. Shinra- the fools! SOLDIERS! I bet they were all young! Young and stupid and- drunk! Over paid! Oh, hell!
Suddenly he burst out into laughter, hugging Cloud out of pure happiness. The Inn owner just stared at him like he was mad. "You hear that Cloud? Hah! They paid for us! The idiots- those blessed men! Saints! Fools! Hah!" He let out an inner sigh. One less thing to worry about. The night was good as thunder slammed beyond the warmth of the Inn. "Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you. Whoever is responsible- thank you."
Note: We kill stuff soon, I promise. -.-;; have a feeling the other chapters where people bashed things will be better then the next though. Riene-Became too reliant on you helping ;; So-improvise time.
