Everything happened so fast. Cloud still had a hard time processing what he had just witnessed. As he made his way towards the helicopter his legs felt as if they were made of lead. Cloud was dragging his feet. And with every step his body didn't want to continue, but he forced himself.
"What happened?" Reno looks over his shoulder as Cloud climbs in.
"She's dead." He manages to say.
Reno and Rude share a look. The redhead processes for a minute then smacks a fist real hard against the side of the cockpit. Rude flinches ever so slightly, but didn't dare open his mouth to reprimand him.
This tense moment was broken when Cloud felt another wave of those headaches. With it came the vision of Sephiroth stabbing Aerith through the heart. As the vision faded away tears escaped.
His phone rings and he didn't have to look at the name. Cloud answers it.
"Cloud speaking."
"You sound like your boss." Barret comments.
"If you're going to insult me, try something else." He wasn't in the mood.
"Nah. Just...meet us out at the Grand Canyon. We need to discuss a few things."
"Discuss or rain a few bullets into my head?" Cloud was suspicious.
"If it were that we woulda shot you down in your tiny ass helicopter."
To the right of them the Highwind appeared. Cloud looks out the window to see some of the members of Avalanche waving at him. The only one who didn't was Barret. Then again he only had one hand.
"What's the date and time?" Cloud gives in.
"Day after tomorrow. Two o'clock sharp."
"Right." Cloud hangs up.
"You really gonna go?" Reno asks with a glance.
"Why not? They've included me as one of them. Besides, we need a plan of action."
"She just died, yo."
"At least you didn't get to witness it." Cloud bitterly spat. Another spasm of a headache. This time he felt dizzy enough to raise a hand to his eyes.
"Is it your motion sickness?" Rude guessed.
"No." Cloud barely whispered.
"Why don't you sit back there with him? I got this from here." Rude offers.
"Thanks, partner." Reno disengages his pilot and moved to sit next to Cloud.
The blonde sensed his presence and flinches. For a split second Reno's scent wasn't his cologne. Instead it was the scent of cold steel with a tang of copper. The scent was intensely invasive.
"Hey, babe. Focus on my voice. He's just trying to get into your head. Don't let him win." Reno's voice was surpisingly soothing.
The scent went away, replaced by Reno's cologne. Cloud leaned against him, and an arm snaked around his waist protectively. They remained like this for the rest of the way back to Midgar.
xXx
"You look dead incarnate, Turk." Barret comments.
"So, you wanted me here. I'm here. What do you want." A very sleep deprived Cloud addressed the group.
In truth Sephiroth had begun his torture once more. He wasn't going to admit to anyone of the problem, although the results were clear as day. His own boss was reluctant to allow him to come here. At least not without a clear from Chadley.
"Cloud, you've changed. Is it...is it what Hojo did?" Tifa was concerned.
It took everything in him not to flinch.
"I got a tight schedule to keep. Why am I here?" Cloud insisted sternly.
"Tch. I can see why you left, Vince." Barret shakes his head.
Why don't you take them up on their offer? Sephiroth's voice coaxed. Cloud ignored the suggestion.
"You're all wasting my time. I'm off." Cloud turns to leave.
"...Wait." When Vincent spoke, the blonde paused to direct his attention at him.
"You can sense him."
In an instant the atmosphere changed. The blonde tenses, one hand itching to pull out his weapon.
"How would you know anything?" Cloud bristled.
"I was one of Hojo's projects once. He has a pattern to his madness. You were associated to have caught Sephiroth's interest, thus it would make sense Hojo would create a bond between you two."
"Hold up. You saying he could be under that man's influence right now?" Barret panics.
"Screw him!" Cloud pulls out his two pronged weapon. "I refuse to obey him. Anyone wanna argue, I'll take on."
"Hold on, let's not fight! We came here to talk!" Tifa keeps the peace.
"Explain then. What the heck does he do?"
"He just talks. And gives me constant nightmares about everyone. How he's going to kill all of you, one by one." Cloud didn't know why he was spilling the beans, but it felt good to finally talk about it. He frowned when he realized Tseng and Rufus were getting front row seats to the camera on his suit.
"Damn..." Barret cursed.
"But that can be used against him. You can reverse the effects on him, and locate him." Vincent encouraged.
"You don't think I tried?" Cloud glared, eyes flashing green. Sensing that Sephiroth had a stronger hold on him, the blonde shakes his head to get rid of the feeling.
"Where do you feel at peace?"
"Certainly not at HQ." Cloud rolled his eyes.
"Where, then?" Vincent pressured.
"..." Cloud thought of flowers. And suddenly he knew. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Reno?"
"What up?"
"Swoop on back. We got somewhere we need to go."
"Gotcha, babe."
Cloud hung up and put his phone away. He could hear the rollerblades of his ride coming closer.
"Wait a minute, where you going?"
"I'll call you when I have the answers." Cloud had their numbers memorized by now.
"Why can't we follow?"
"Where I'm going needs to remain peaceful or it won't work." Cloud had a point.
Reno pulls in close. Avalanche steps away from the gusts of wind due to the helicopter. Cloud entered and strapped himself in.
"Where to, babe?"
"The church."
"You sure? So soon?" Reno casts a look.
"I have to." Cloud knew it.
"Okay, then. I hope you know what you're doing." Reno had his doubts, but he began his ascent.
It won't work, Cloud.
Two can play at this game, Sephiroth.
