After Nibelheim and the loss of everything, Cloud wasn't himself anymore. For awhile he was visibly depressed. He was like a walking corpse.

Then soon as he heard that Sephiroth, the man responsible for all this pain, was missing Cloud had the fire in his eyes again. Except he grew into some sort of obsession. He researched everything he could of what happened and why.

What caused Sephiroth to go off the rails? Why would he murder an entire village? His research brought him into the files on Jenova. However, most of her files were sealed off. What he could find of her, mentioned Ancients.

And so Cloud searched deeper into the Ancients. The Shepard's of the planet. He read into planetology. In his search of the Ancients he learned about Aerith.

He also learned some of the dark secrets of the company that he didn't think were true. He heard whispers of what possibly could be happening under Hojo's department. But reading into Aerith brought forth some of what Hojo was responsible for in the past.

All of this took five years of his life. And Cloud had a new path in mind. And an opportunity rose when he began to hear whispers of Avalanche making a comeback.

"You want me to do what?" Roche raised an eyebrow.

"Quit your job as a Soldier and become a mercenary. Specifically, if the rumors I've heard are true, to insert yourself into Avalanche."

"And the main goal here is?"

"Getting back at the company for being indirectly responsible for my mother's death."

"... Then count me in. You don't even have to bother paying me. I was getting bored of this job anyway."

Through Roche, Cloud became Avalanche's inside man. For his own safety he made Roche swear to never reveal him. As the group grown in their trust in him Cloud provided blueprints, bomb recipes, as well as proficient IDs to pass through the train security checks.

However, the Avalanche leader was growing suspicious. It didn't help matters Roche was a former Soldier. And after finding out that he only just quit his job for Avalanche ruffled some feathers and so he demanded to speak to the inside man.

Cloud refused, up until one evening he called Roche for update on the plans when the Avalanche leader grabs the phone.

"Okay, so I gotta know. What's so special about you that you can't meet us yourself?" A rough voice asked, speaking a little too close to the phone's microphone.

"I will be logged out each time I leave. Which will coincide with working and planning with you. Therefore to ensure I don't lead them to you, I have to remain distant." Cloud explained calmly.

"And is that why you sent in this idiot?"

"Idiot he might be, he is someone I still trust in helping you."

"He's not someone to be traced back to you?"

"Trust me I am in a completely different department. We only met a couple of times, not enough to be close enough that they would suspect me." Cloud was practically rolling his eyes.

"And yet you trust him?" The voice growled.

"He is known to being chaotic. But once he set his mind into something, he is the best I have seen." In truth, Roche was nothing on Zack, but Cloud wasn't going to say that out loud.

"And why would you go this far outta your way to help us destroy ShinRa?"

"To destroy the company that destroyed my family is my goal." Cloud didn't hesitate.

There was a moment of silence as the information sank into the leader. Cloud wondered if that was too much information. But he didn't list any names or locations so he should be fine.

"... I understand. I uh, should hand you back to your man."

After this little talk everything went smoothly from there.

xXx

"Are you sure about your path?" Aerith asked him one day he went to check in on her at the church.

"Is that what the flowers are asking today?" Cloud countered, avoiding the question.

"Oh you. When are you ever gonna stop dodging my questions?" She places her hands on her hips.

"Honey, we been through this before. I won't answer your questions if I don't want to since you won't answer mine." Since she wouldn't answer him anything about the Ancients, then he wouldn't answer certain questions that could get him in trouble. Two can play the same game.

"Well, we both have secrets I suppose. I just wish we could put it all behind us."

This catches him off guard. And for a moment he considered actually telling her. Instead he avoids the worst details.

"I'm about to do something very bad. It could endanger a lot of lives. End a lot of lives. But it's for a cause that's the only reason I'm still around alive and kicking." He takes a deep breath and held it in. When he exhales he glanced at her.

She seemed a little frightened at the sudden admission. So he continued to explain.

"I know it will hurt a lot of people. But I can't help but wish for this. I need this."

"... At what point does revenge become an obsession?" Aerith asked, voice a little shaken.

"Oh I am aware it is an obsession. But I'm already in too deep to pull away. So despite everything that will come out of this I have to see it through."

Avalanche was to make their move later tonight. Their first reactor to become the victim. The first of many, if Cloud had it all his way. But with each reactor going up in flames, then the higher the risks for retaliation. And he wasn't sure exactly what kind of counterattacks ShinRa will pull.

"Will you do me a favor?" He asks her.

"Hmm. As long as you promise me something in return."

"What is it?" He blinks, surprised.

"That should you feel that you've gone too far, don't continue whatever it is you're doing."

"... I promise. So long as you promise that if I send you help to run, then you follow without question. And it won't be the Turks." He had multiple back up plans in mind already.

So many plans. It was almost hard to keep track of them all. But Cloud had them all filed away in his head. One thing for sure was that he wanted Aerith safe in this whole ordeal.

She was a natural healer. Both in magic and spirit. Somehow Aerith will get caught up in this mess. Cloud is about to kick the hornets nest, after all. Only time will tell what will happen.