Ballad of A Fallen Angel

Disclaimer: I still don't own Final Fantasy or any of its characters. Square Enix does, lucky bastards…


Chapter 1

Cloud lay lifelessly on the seemingly endless sea of grass that surrounded Rocket Town. Everything was so calm and peaceful. Almost too clam and peaceful this close to the end of the world.

'It won't end if you do your job right.' Cloud chided himself. But it was easier said than done. All he wanted was not to be noticed, to just fade into the background, but he was thrown into this quest to save the world, playing the part of leader. Not only that, but he had to protect the world from the only man he could say he truly ever lov-

"Yo, Cloud, move yer ass! We're leavin'!" Cid's loud, obnoxious voice was a welcome derailment to his current train of thought. He's been down those tracks countless times before, and it only ended in sorrow, heartache, and longing.

Cloud slowly sat up, eyes still closed in seeming deep contemplation. The sun caught his hair in certain angles, making it shimmer like gold. The crystal blue mako eyes slowly opened, glowing almost sadly. Sooner or later he would have to confront Sephiroth, and the chances of them both surviving were almost nonexistent. Cloud would gladly give up his life to save another's, especially Sephiroth's, but if he did what would become of the world? It hurt to think of all the lives he was responsible for, and Cloud was pretty sure he didn't even like half of them.

He sighed and stood up. No use thinking about that now, it was all too complicated. He would just have to cross that bridge when he got to it.

'Or I could just burn it down.' He thought to himself with a smirk. He walked off in the direction of the beach, preparing to board the Little Bronco. Today they were going to try and get leads about the Key Stone.

"First stop, Gold Saucer!" He could hear Yuffie cry in the distance. She was always so excited to go there, probably all the unwitting victims. He could just visualize Yuffie salivating over the pile of materia she was most likely going to be in possession of by the end of the day.

Cloud's thoughts were cut short by a shiver as he felt a cold hand run down his spine. Quickly he spun around, Buster Sword in hand, ready to take on any foe. Well, almost any. When he turned all he was met with was a slight breeze and miles of open plains. His eyes darted around, trying to find anything that eluded his heightened senses, but there was no one. Seeing no immediate danger, he returned the sword to its proper place on his back. There was still an ominous feeling in the air that would probably not dissipate for a while.

'No one is there,' he told himself, trying to steady his heartbeat. 'Nothing to be all jumpy about.' He sighed and looked down at his feet.

"I really need a vacation." He said to himself. "Wait a sec…" Indented onto the grass in front of him were two footprints. 'Those are to big to be mine.' He thought looking at the prints.

He suddenly felt the strong urge to be around people, or animals, or monsters for that matter, just as long as he wasn't alone. Cloud turned back around quickly and started back to the Bronco at a fastened pace. When the plane turned boat finally came into view he slowed and breathed an audible sigh of relief. Something was going to happen he could feel it.

"Calm and peaceful my ass."


Aeris watched the small black dot on the horizon grow larger until the figure of Cloud could clearly be seen. Cloud. Even the name was enough to make her heart skip a beat. She didn't know when it happened, but she started to harbor feelings for their blonde leader. He was cocky and confident, something that always attracted Aeris.

She started to think about a time in her past when a dark-haired SOLDIER had stolen her heart. Zack was your typical smart ass with an attitude, but at times he could be so sweet and caring. Aeris could almost see Zack inside of Cloud, like they were one in the same. Perhaps that was what attracted her to Cloud, but she doubted it.

Cloud got closer to the Bronco, and there was an emotion in his eyes that she couldn't quite place. Was it fear, sadness, apprehension…? Whatever the emotion was, it certainly wasn't happy. Cloud held many secrets. His entire existence was like a Pandora's box she was itching to open. Aeris couldn't help but wonder what happened in his past that would make him like this. There was Nibelheim, of course, but there had to be something else. And she'd be damned if she didn't find out what.

She waved happily to him as he approached. Cloud seemed to snap out of his thoughts and returned her greeting with a small smile. She watched as he looked over his shoulder on last time, that strange expression flickering back over his eyes. Aeris could sense something wasn't right with their leader.

"Cloud, is everything okay?" She called to him, but he didn't even look at her.

"Yeah," he started, back still turned to the flower girl. "Just saying goodbye is all." Aeris arched an eyebrow. A lie if she ever heard one.

"Why are you saying goodbye? You'll see these plains again." Cloud shrugged.

"You never know…" He said softly, a forgotten memory reentering his mind. Aeris hated when he acted like this. Pessimism didn't suit him in her opinion.

"All right, enough of that." She said. "We're going to the Gold Saucer. We're going to have a great time, and forget all about goodbyes, okay?" There was a pause, but when Cloud finally turned back around a smile was lighting up his face and his eyes shone like stars. Aeris couldn't help but smile back.

"Right, no more moping around. We're gonna have a fun time and get that Key Stone." Cloud declared, falling back into the leader role. Smile never fading he climbed onto the plane. Aeris watched him, still smiling herself.

'About time.'


The trip on the Little Bronco was pretty much uneventful, except for Yuffie accidentally pushing Cid off the plane. Thus earning her several creative strings of curses. AVALANCHE were now finding their way to North Corel to catch the air car up to the Gold Saucer.

The trip to North Corel was also uneventful, except for Yuffie accidentally tripping Cid, thus getting himself a mouthful of sand. This earned Yuffie yet another string of colorful language even more creative then the last. It was sunset by the time they got to the small, rundown town. Seeing the air car had yet to return, they took advantage of the extra time they got and stopped to rest for a while. They wanted to be fresh for the undoubtedly interesting events that awaited them at the Saucer.

They all went their separate ways: Barret was going to catch up on the happenings in town. Tifa went with a group of children that insisted she play with them. Aeris went in search of any townsfolk in need of her healing experience. Red XIII looking for shade, the heat even at sundown too much for his fur covered body to handle. Vincent, well, Vincent just disappeared, and oddly enough, so did Yuffie. Cait Sith just sort of sat there and stared off into space. And as for Cid, he went in search for the closest bottle of alcohol. Cloud was left all alone, the way he preferred it. He wondered around for a while with his only intent to waste time. After a while he found himself at the expansive, rather rickety rope bridge. It looked quite old and worn, but not nearly as badly as the one on Mt. Nibel, so he walked to the center of it and looked down.

Cloud's body swayed with the wind, as did the bridge. He got as close to the edge as he could without falling off. He closed his bright blue eyes and it felt as if he was floating. With his eyes still closed he spread his arms and raised his head to the setting sun, wishing he could just fly away from everything. The bridge shook as another's weight stepped on the bridge. Cloud could hear the sound of footsteps, but he kept his eyes closed, paying no heed to them.

'Let them push me,' he thought to himself. 'It doesn't matter anymore.'

The footsteps got closer but he still did not open his eyes. They stopped just behind him and Cloud waited for the shove. But it never came, instead two strong, warm arms wrapped around him, pulling his body away from the edge and back onto a hard chest. A familiar scent surrounded him, disarming any retaliation Cloud might have had. His heartbeat quickened as he felt a pair of lips brush up against the skin just below his ear. Heat radiating off the other's skin, and Cloud leaned in closer unconsciously leaned back into the embrace.

"Cloud…" The voice breathed. A voice Cloud has heard so many countless times before. He snapped his head around, eyes wide, but found nothing. He was all alone.

'I'm going crazy.' He thought. It must have been a daydream or something, he reasoned to himself. 'But it was so real.' He could still smell him.

"Lilies right after a rainfall…" He whispered. Cloud often found himself in bed wide awake many nights trying to figure out the fragrance. He couldn't help but beam brightly after he figured it out, too. Back then small things like his lover's scent was enough to make him smile and the world seem a little bit brighter.

But Cloud no longer had a lover, and the fragrance now only brought him sorrow. Sorrow for all that he had lost and is about to loose. These days the world couldn't seem much bleaker.

"Cloud!" He jumped as he heard the call from the other side of the bridge. He let out a sigh as he saw Aeris on the other side watching from afar with a worried expression on his face.

"Everything okay?" She asked for the second time that day.

"Yeah, a-okay." He faked a smile and she returned it, although hesitantly.

"All right. Well, the air car is here so we're all about to leave. Don't be long." Cloud nodded and Aeris took one last look at him.

"You sure everything is okay?" She asked yet again.

"Not really…" He mumbled.

"What?"

"Just fine." He called back louder. Aeris nodded once slowly, then turned and walked down the path headed to town. Cloud turned to join her, but stopped. He lifted his hand to the spot where he could still fell the hot lips on his neck.

'Was he really…' He cut that thought short with a shake of the head. Best not to think about daydreams. Cloud continued back to North Corel, but he could still smell the lilies.


He watched from a distance as Cloud made his way back across the bridge. His eyes never left those swaying hips. With a predatoral grin gracing his lips he thought back to the past few moments. He could still feel his angel against his chest, his scent still so intoxicating. And the fleeting taste of his skin! What a high it gave him, and always left him craving more.

'So he's going to the Gold Saucer. Well, far be it from me to deny him a good time.' He thought with a smirk. Oh yes, he would have his angel back. Now it was only a matter of time.


Author's Note: Hey now! Hello again. Hope you enjoyed chapter one. This story is a little AU, but I'm sure you guys could over look that. Also, I have no idea what 'lilies after a rainfall' smell like. I just took two things that I thought smelled good and slapped them together. Chapter two is up next, for it is after chapter one! Yay! R & R!