Chapter Twelve

Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with this world; I'm just playing with them a little

A/N: I know Tifa isn't everyone's favorite, but I love her so she's coming. Now- do I put her with Rude, or Angeal? Both hand-to-hand fighters by choice. I may like Tifa, but I don't like her with Cloud.

On a side note: I may kill Zack before the end of this! He is not cooperating with me at all! Everyone else is playing nice but not Zack! He's going to get punched in the face if he doesn't start working with me here!

.

Cloud let the group out of the Shinra Mansion with Vincent guarding the rear. It kept Tseng and Zack bracketed between them. Cloud thought it was exactly what Vincent intended. They didn't plan it that way, but years of working closely with the taciturn man allowed them to work as a single unit without needing plans to lay out their actions.

Cloud often led the way as there was very little that could go through him; Tifa would cover his back with Barret followed by Cait Sith, then Cid and Vincent rear-guarding the back. Nanaki would either pace next to Cloud, or go ahead scouting. When Yuffie wasn't pestering him or scouting with Nanaki she hung out with Vincent. Over time they became the most unlikely duo.

The journey out of the mansion had surprisingly few attacks from the local monsters. Zack seemed to take a great deal of pleasure taking out what few decided to attack. Cloud left him to it only backing him up if he needed it. They did come across another of those pendulum riding monsters…Cloud still couldn't remember what they were called.

He felt for his friend. Zack had taken several large blows in a very short amount of time. Cloud understood Zack's silence as he worked through everything; after all he was the runner-up in deep silences with Vincent being the King. It hurt though, that he was a part of his friend's problems. However, Cloud couldn't worry about that right now. Zack was resilient and nothing could keep him down long before he bounced back up. The First will either accept him or he won't and so long as he kept his word, Cloud will abide by whatever Zack chose.

What really worried Cloud was Tseng. He should never have used the Turk's real name and family. Their names were the most important secret a Turk carried almost sacred, and to speak it out loud was almost cruel. Cloud knew it would hurt the man to hear his name and Cloud hated himself for striking such a delicate area. It was the only way to get the trust and obedience he needed…fast.

A Turk's loyalty was to Shinra first and second to their own; there was no third for a Turk. Cloud had to over-ride that so he used the man's core nature to do it, and in the process he had shaken Tseng down to his foundation. A name was such a simple thing, everyone had one. Yet it could wreak such havoc on someone's psyche when used wrongly. Yet another necessary sacrifice and the second most painful one he's made.

Cloud paused just inside the entrance to the manor. Now that they were all safely outside there was one last task to take care of.

"You can either wait here or head for the copter. There's one last thing I have to take care of." Cloud told them.

Vincent nodded understandingly while Tseng simply waved at him. Zack on the other hand stubbornly move to Cloud's side.

"You're not going anywhere without me." Zack told him.

Cloud nodded in acceptance. He didn't feel like arguing right now. He just wanted away from this Hel forsaken town. Cloud turned around and headed back into the belly of the manor. Zack was right at his side. He couldn't deny how good it felt to have Zack with him for this and at least in his mind, Zack had just as much right and reason to be apart of what he was about to do.

We'll be back in a moment. Shouldn't take too long." He called out over his shoulder.

Thankfully Zack stayed silent as they made their way down once more to Hojo's secret labs. They were once again exactly how he remembered them…what little memory he had left. He walked over to the row of mako tubes that lined the one wall. Cloud stopped in front of his and stared at his reflection in the glass.

"Why are we back here Cloud?" Zack asked from a few paces away.

"I spent four years in there." Cloud said gesturing at the tube in front of him.

"The first two I was tortured and experimented on as they tried to make me into something else. After that I was deemed a failure and left alone in that tube full of unrefined liquid mako. For the next two years I never once left it."

"Cloud…"

Cloud pointed towards the one next to it "That one was yours."

…

Zack gasped in horror but Cloud didn't turn around. He just stood there facing his prison. He couldn't believe it…he just could not believe what Cloud was saying.

"I don't know how you did it, where that strength came from but somehow you did it. You got free and got us out. I was completely useless…half dead with mako poisoning."

Cloud half turned to face him "You should have left be behind."

"Cloud…" Zack didn't know what to say.

"Instead you spent the next year crossing the planet and dragging me around behind you trying to escape Shinra. You wanted to go to Midgar and become a mercenary for hire."

Cloud finished turning to face him head on. It tore him apart to see the hell echoing in the other man's eyes. He couldn't imagine what had happened to him…to them.

"You almost made it."

Without any warning Cloud spun around and put his fist through the tube shattering the glass completely. Zack leapt back with a shout as Cloud unhooked his sword and started slashing mindlessly at everything the blade reached. Nothing was spared from Cloud's rage. Not the books nor the jars of bodies, none of the furniture or lab equipment…all of it was destroyed. Zack backed away into the doorway to give Cloud room to rampage. Cloud seemed mindless to everything but destroying every last thing that was in that room.

It was over in a matter of minutes. Zack crept back in as Cloud stood panting in the center of the chaos he created. There was nothing left unbroken.

"Come on." Zack said softly as he came next to his quivering friend "There's nothing left, let's get out of here."

Cloud nodded and harnessed his sword again. He allowed Zack to guide him to the door but balked before leaving. Cloud turned back to stare at the mess he created. Zack took his fira materia and set the room ablaze. He pulled Cloud back and shut the firmly, the automatic digital locks securing it.

"Leave me behind if it happens again Zack." Cloud said as he turned to leave.

"I can't promise that." Zack whispered as he followed behind.

.

Vincent and Tseng were where they'd left them as Cloud and Zack approached. Cloud looked at Vincent to see if the man had anything further to say but thankfully he didn't. Cloud was more than ready to leave this place behind him. As he stepped out of the mansion he felt a great weight leave him.

They left the grounds without looking back and headed up the road towards the helicopter. The sun was touching the peaks of the Nibel Mountains casting strange and familiar shadows over everything. Cloud couldn't figure out how long it's been since they left Midgar. The quick jumping of time zones made it difficult to calculate it. Regardless, it still equaled to more than a few days without any sleep and it was starting to catch up to him.

As they approached their ride Cloud could see Reno and Rude loitering next to it. Reno was leaning against its side facing the open side door with Rude on the other. They were too busy to pay attention to the group's approach, and the reason why became very clear in the form of a tiny brunette in a skimpy cowgirl outfit sitting on the floor of the helicopter chatting with the two Turks.

Cloud stumbled to a halt. He ignored the looks the others gave him as he took in the sight before him. Tifa Lockheart, his most beloved friend was only a few yards away. He wanted to run and grab her up and never let go. She always stood by and him supported him, and knocked sense in him when he was being too big of an idiot. She gave him everything she had, and never asked for anything he couldn't give. Cloud had depended on her for his very sanity. She always put him back together whenever he fell apart. She was very good at putting people back together.

She looks so young now.

He wasn't supposed to deviate from the plan. He knew that he'd already screwed up with Tseng and Zack and he couldn't keep making changes. In a split second, Cloud made a decision he was sure he would hear an earful about later from Vincent and possibly Hojo later on. He started walking again and caught the trio's attention. Tifa looked up smiling sweetly at them before her mouth dropped in shock. Cloud knew she recognized him - and just how different he looked.

"Cloud?" she asked as she slowly stood up and moved forward. The two men she was previously holding court over completely forgotten.

Cloud smiled shyly "Hello Tifa."

She stared at him flabbergasted and Cloud smirked to himself. It wasn't often he was able to shock the martial artist. This was the meeting he imagined he thought he would have when he left. He might not remember what had happened then but she did, and he had her memories of that night.

"You look…different." She said and walked around him. He caught Zack and Tseng share a look. He chose to ignore it.

"Two years of army life can do that." He said posing a little for her. His hands on his hip and his chin tilted in an upward angle. Tifa giggled as he knew she would. She always got his weird humor. That never changed.

"Yes" she replied nodding "I can see that. You look every inch the proper Hero." Cloud stuck out his chest in an even more exaggerated heroic pose and Tifa's lips twitched until they both started laughing. He turned to the others. Vincent and Tseng were as impassive as ever, but Zack was trying to fight of a smile at their antics.

"Give us a moment will you?" Cloud asked.

Tseng nodded and headed to the helicopter. Vincent followed and grabbed the back of Zack's vest to drag him when he opened his mouth. Cloud led Tifa away from them. They wouldn't be out of Zack or Vincent's hearing, but it would have to do.

"This is a new look yourself." Cloud commented.

Tifa crossed her arms and rubbed them, it was cold in the mountains and there wasn't a lot of her covered. The Tifa she would become preferred sturdier materials later in life but no one could deny that she was a beautiful woman and she had no problem using her beauty as a weapon just as easily as she used her fists. Just like him, there wasn't anything about her that wasn't honed down until it was a perfect killing machine. She softened up a bit after meteor but sadly that didn't last very long.

This younger version still had a long way to go before she reached her potential but Cloud could tell she was already well on her way. Everything about her was calculated for the desired effect.

"Yeah, I'm going through a 'rebellious teenage faze' right now." She said candidly.

"How's it been goin' for ya?" Cloud asked, his accent slipping a bit.

"Not as well as I hoped it would." Tifa grumbled.

Cloud felt for her. Since her mother died and she almost joined her on that damned bridge her father kept her on a very short chain. Every move she made was tightly controlled by the mayor. Even the people she talked to was limited. Her friendship with him was only possible because they were neighbors and strictly clandestine. As well as her lessons with Master Zangan. It seemed that in the two years since 'he' left, Tifa has gone on a more overt form of rebellion.

Cloud pulled her into a hug, knocking her cowgirl hat off "I guess dressin' like a 20gil harlot can't stop people from thinking you're the village princess."

The Tifa he knew would have punched him out for that remark. It broke his heart just a little bit that this one just accepted it.

"Or 'Daddy's Little Girl'." She grumbled into his shoulder. "If something doesn't change soon, I'm goin' to explode."

Yup, Vincent was going to kill him. Cloud pulled her closer into his warmth.

"You could always do what I did." He offered.

Tifa snorted, "Yeah right, they would never let me go."

He smiled into her hair "I have a helicopter, three Turks, a Soldier First Class, and a seriously badass gunman. I'd like to see them try." He really, really would.

"My hero, rescuing me from my cage." She giggled sadly.

"I did promise so why not?" Cloud pushed her back so he could look into her eyes "After all, I might someday need you to return the favor. Don't think I didn't know you were sneakin' off to study under Master Zangan."

"What would I even do there?"

"Anything you want. You could…open up your own bar and let me drink for free."

Tifa grinned "I could open up my own dojo and kick your ass for free."

"You could work for Shinra and kick everyone's ass for money."

They were both grinning at the silly possibilities. It was a game they played before when they were young. They would curl up together and imagine all the things they would do if they ever left Nibelheim. Neither ever believed they would leave. Tifa would marry whomever her father picked out for her and Cloud would fall for some town girl and that would be that.

Then Cloud left.

Tifa suddenly frowned, "I don't know Cloud. I can't just walk away like that. I'm not as strong as you."

"Tifa" he gently cupped her face with his hands "you are far stronger than I will ever be. I couldn't stand it here so I ran. I didn't try to fight and make a place for myself - you did. But Tifa, you deserve so much more than to be trapped here and forced to conform their expectations. You should be able to live as you want to. Not as they want you to."

A few tears escaped down Tifa's cheeks and Cloud wiped them away smearing her makeup. He leaned forward and rested his head on hers.

"Let me be your hero." He whispered softly.

"Okay."

Cloud wanted to sigh in relief. It went against the plan, but his friend was back with him. She might not be the Tifa he left behind, but she was still Tifa. And he still loved her. He held her close as she got herself back under control. By the time she pulled back her face was a mess but there was fire in her eyes.

"Is there anything you want that you can't live without?"

"A few things my mother left me, and I should probably leave a message for my father so he doesn't start tearing everything apart trying to find me."

"Are you going to tell him where you're goin' or just that you'r leavn'?"

"Donno. Does it matter?"

"Not reallly."

Tifa nodded then took off in a run. Cloud let her go and watched as she headed down the path to the village proper. He already felt better than he had since coming back. There was just one thing he had to take care of before she returned and he didn't want her around to witness it.

.

Zack watched Cloud walk towards them as the girl took off to get her stuff. More and more puzzling his new friend became. He played with the girl like he played on the mountain, lighthearted, shy and yet quietly strong. How could someone like that also be so cold and callous? How could he smile with so much rage inside of him? It was too much to think about right now.

"Who is she?" he finally asked hoping for a distraction.

"Tifa." Vincent answered.

"And?..."

"…"

"Come on man! You can give me more than that!" Zack whined.

Vincent stared at him at him. Zack really wanted to shift like a school boy under the red gaze. He felt like he was being measured against some unknown criteria and not quite meeting par.

"Please?" Zack tried his puppy-eyes hoping for success.

"She is to Cloud as you are."

Huh?

Before he could question the man further, Cloud reached them. The blonde walked right past them and straight to Rude. Without hesitating he pinned the bald Turk to the side of the helicopter with his forearm across his throat. Reno and Tseng moved forward in alarm and Vincent immediately positioned in front of them his normal hand held out in a calming manner. Zack was frozen in place. Cloud wasn't even looking a Rude, he was watching the path. Zack turned and saw the girl was already coming up with a duffel bag.

"Tifa is a grown person" Cloud said it calmly, almost personably to his captive "She makes her own mind, and can protect herself without my help. However, she is like my sister and if I ever hear the rumor that someone didn't respect that 'no means no' I will drag that individual down to Hojo's labs and personally help with any experiment the good doctor would like to try."

Cloud finally turned and faced Rude head on, his mako glow bouncing off the Turk's trademark shades.

"Do we understand each other?"

Rude visibly swallowed and nodded slightly. Cloud smiled the unfriendliest smile Zack had ever seen in his life and backed away just as Tifa reached them.

"Is everything alright?" she asked. Zack noticed she changed out of the skimpy cowgirl look and into a sturdier black cargo shorts, about three tanks of various lengths and combat boots. Zack preferred the former but thought the latter suited her better.

Zack answered instead "Everything's just fine sweetheart. Are you ready go get out of here and see the big world?" He smiled disarmingly at her.

She grinned back "Not really."

"Great!" Zack took her duffel and locked into the cargo hold, "let's mosey then!" He gallantly offered his hand to her and she accepted it like royalty, before giggling.

Cloud smiled at them and grabbed one of the outer seats next to Tifa and Vincent took the opposite one. Tseng selected the middle seat across from Tifa. That left two seats to choose from. Does he sit next to Tifa and across from the still scary Vincent, or does he sit across from Cloud? Zack saw Cloud watching him with a tense, almost scared glint in his eyes. He knew then that this wasn't just picking a seat, it was time to decide. Would he follow Cloud with his insane story? Will he let Cloud become a real friend? Or should he walk away from it and go back to his normal (for him) life?

Cloud lowered his eyes and slumped back. Zack realized that Cloud fully expected him to reject Cloud. Reject all the promise they had, and he would just let him go without a fight. Zack narrowed his eyes and set his jaw. He had enough of people letting him go like he was nothing. If Cloud wasn't willing to fight for their future, then by Ramuh he would! Without further ado, he climbed into the seat facing Cloud and buckled in. He turned back just in time to see a small smile flitter on Cloud's face before it went back to his usual passivity.

Reno's voice came over the headsets they were all wearing, "Well now that Slick has finished dithering, let's get th's show movin' Yo." With that, the helicopter took off and left Nibelheim behind.