Author's Note
Li: Hi, guys! I'm back!
Voice of Reason: Someone, save us all.
Li: Shut up! Okay. This is my first attempt at a true story for the FFVII section. This is a two-shot songfic of Zack and Cloud's escape from Nibelheim. This was written way before I saw Last Order, so don't have a fit if some things are off.
Roy: Li does not own FFVII or any of the awesome Bon Jovi songs used here. She is merely an obsessive fan, awaiting Advent Children...
Li: Thanks, Roy. All right, here goes...
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Zack sat silently in the cold cell in the basement of the Nibelheim Mansion. After five damn years of being tortured and experimented on, they had finally gotten him out of that awful Mako tube and locked him in a cell.
This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
Zack was ticked. No, that was the understatement of the year. Zack was full of blind fury. How dare Hojo think he could use them for an experiment! How dare he keep them locked up in this godforsaken mansion! He and Cloud were SOLDIERs. Well, he was at least, and Cloud was under his protection. "Hojo has no right to do this to us!"
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud
Zack reached a decision. He was getting out of here, and he was taking Cloud with him. Anything was better than this half-life, trapped in Hojo's web. They weren't truly living, and the longer they stayed here, the higher the chances of their deaths climbed. Zack got up, ramming his shoulder into the door. It shouldn't have budged, but Zack had Mako enhancement, and Hojo obviously hadn't bothered to reinforce the doors. He slammed into it again, and the hinges gave way.
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
He ran down the hall, before coming to another cell. The guards weren't there, for whatever damn reason they had. But they had left the key on it's peg on the wall. They weren't expecting Zack to break out. Zack seized the key and opened the cell door.
His blonde friend was lying on the cot inside, tossing and turning with fever. Zack groaned. Of course. Mako poisoning. He had received mild Mako treatment upon admittance to SOLDIER, but Cloud had never had such treatment, and his body was reacting negatively. Zack moved to his friend's side, placing a cool hand on his burning forehead. Cloud flinched away from his touch, weakly trying to move away.
"No. No more tests... please..." Cloud whimpered, not opening his eyes. Zack wanted to cry. Five years of torture had reduced his stubborn friend to this. He put his hand back, saying gently, "Cloud... C'mon, Spike, it's me. Zack."
Cloud opened one eye. "Zack? What are you...?"
"I'm your knight in shining armor, here to save you."
"But, that's fairy tales. I'm not a princess..." Zack sighed. Even ill, Cloud still had no trouble being sarcastic.
"Fine. SOLDIER in dingy uniform, then. Come on, we're getting out of here." Zack reached over and seized Cloud's arm, dragging him from the bed. Cloud leaned on him, weakened by the Mako sickness. Zack grinned as he hefted Cloud onto his back. "Hold on, Spike. I've always been one to do things my own way."
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
Zack carried Cloud down many hallways. Cloud remained limp against his back, head resting on Zack's shoulder. Zack felt sorry for his friend, but concentrated on getting out alive. He had gotten by so many Shin-Ra employees, but it would get worse as they got near the exit. But he would never give up.
This is for the ones who stood their ground
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tomorrow's getting harder make no mistake
Luck ain't even lucky
Got to make your own breaks
Miles and miles from Nibelheim, they finally managed to hitchhike in a truck, to get them passage to Midgar. Zack's old girlfriend's house was there. They could start over, nurse Cloud back to health, start a new life...
It was in the back of this truck that Zack was now lounging. Cloud was leaning against him, half-asleep.
"So, what will you do when we get to Midgar, Spike?" Zack asked his friend. "Spike?" Cloud had fallen asleep, curled up in his lap. Zack smiled, running a hand through the soft, gold spikes. At least his fever had broken. Rest was the best thing for him, now. "That's right, chocobo-head. Just sleep now. We'll get to Midgar and start over..." Zack wasn't sure, but he could have sworn Cloud smiled in his sleep.
It's my life
And it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
Cause it's my life
Damn Shin-Ra. Damn them and all their stupid minions. Zack stared at the advancing wave of SOLDIERs. "Spike, get behind me. You're sick."
Better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
"I can help!"
"Now, Cloud!" Zack shoved the boy behind him, still facing the SOLDIERS. He didn't know what would happen now, but with his own life and Cloud's to protect, he sure as hell wasn't going down without a fight.
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
And it's now or never
'Cause I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I'm alive
Cause it's my life!