Chapter 1: Where some morons need to be reminded that there is someone stronger than them
Cloud swore softly, ejecting another infantryman from his immediate surrounding. Why had he agreed to accompany these morons already? Ah yes, to find explosives. And for that, you needed someone strong to play the big arms and make a diversion. At least that way, Jessie wasn't in too much danger. And Biggs and Wedge had destroyed the high machine guns, leaving him free to focus on the danger at ground level... even if the infantrymen were more annoying than dangerous. The biggest problem was that they kept coming! Between them and the Guard Dogs who accompanied them, he wasn't about to finish, despite the help of his two companions... even if they weren't that useful. Well, Wedge had at least made him snickers when he used himself as a distraction for the Guard Dogs. He had been ridiculous, but it had allowed him to take care of the animals without being overwhelmed, because Gaïa, those bites stings!
He swore louder when the Swippers came out of their hangar. Fabulous, as if these horrors weren't already complicated enough when they were two competent fighters against only one of these machines, but there, there were two facing him, and he was alone!
Cloud dived to the side to dodge an attack, trying to lure one toward the electric mines Wedge had placed on the ground. He had to summon Ifrit in the process, but he had managed to get rid of at least one of the machines. It was already easier with just one, he told himself while methodically tearing down the second machine. He had just finished, and hoped to catch his breath, when a new congregation of infantrymen invaded the yard, and he groaned. Again? Couldn't they leave him alone for two minutes?
Of course, he knew it wasn't going to be the case. Even a 1st Class SOLDIER like him could be worn out… despite the fact that it was a waste of lives, he told himself angrily, reluctantly getting back in guard. Before blinking in surprise when he heard a motorcycle growls... long before the others heard it. The noise quickly increased in volume... before the motorcycle in question passed over the wall, eliciting cries of surprise from the infantry, Wedge and Biggs. It landed just behind the circle of soldiers, rushing forward as soon as its wheels touched the ground, the infantrymen dodging the bike just in time. And there... Cloud groaned when he saw the biker.
This stupid Roche again. Which howled with laughter, throwing at Cloud that he knew how to set the mood. The blond gnashed his teeth as he watched him turn around, supremely annoyed. They hadn't raised Chocobos together, for the love of Minerva! Well, Wedge and Biggs either, not to mention Jessie, but Cloud found them infinitely more tolerable than this moron. And he didn't really want to see them get hurt by this dumbass. Fortunately, they backed away without protest, taking cover a little further, the infantrymen almost completely ignoring them. After all, the blond was the most dangerous of the trio right now, and if they could get rid of him, the other two would be easy prey. But Cloud had no intention of losing.
He attacked him without respite, trying to force him to back off a bit, even succeeding in making him stagger briefly. The blonde hoped he had had enough, but no. Roche laughed, declaring that it was time to go into overdrive! Cloud was starting to get tired of his bike metaphors. Okay, after the little "ride" with Jessie and the others on one of those, he could understand that one could like it, but not to the point of talking about it EVERY fucking sentence!
Grunting in annoyance as Roche raised his sword, preparing to attack, Cloud prepared to parry, hoping to finally be able to silence him once and for all! On the other hand, he didn't expect to hear this voice literally ROAR in the small courtyard!
"DILIDO!" Roared a hoarse voice, the cry echoing in the courtyard, freezing everyone, infantrymen like SOLDIERS. "WHAT CRAP ARE YOU FUCKING PULLING THIS TIME!?"
"Oh shit," Roche squeaked, staring at the door through which the infantrymen had entered, suddenly white as a sheet.
Cloud followed his gaze, bewildered to see his opponent seemingly terrified, while taking advantage of his opponent's distraction to move away, retreating towards his companions. Before swallowing instinctively when he saw the man coming out of the building. Despite the fact that he limped slightly, everything in his attitude shouted "danger" to the blonde's instincts. Advancing in the light, the man revealed that he was almost covered in scars, unconsciously making Cloud move away with more speed, joining Biggs and Wedge without really thinking, wanting to avoid drawing attention to himself.
"Did he say Dildo?" Whispered the more heavy of the two terrorists in an incredulous tone.
Cloud's response was almost covered by the sounds of dispersing infantry boots, obviously unwilling to stay around longer than necessary, forcing him to raise his voice slightly.
"I think he said Dilido (AN: supposed to be pronounced Di-ly-doo in fact) actually."
Unfortunately, his whispered response caught the attention of the old SOLDIER, who turned his head in his direction, his bright blue eyes landing in Cloud's, who swallowed again, instinctively terrified. Oh hell... not Lieutenant Chuck Nokia! At this point, the blond would almost have preferred to face a Behemoth, or even Sephiroth himself, with his bare hands! Everything except the sadistic SOLDIER instructor!
"Hey, hello Spikes," said Chuck, his tone almost kind as he spoke to him. "It's been a long time, kid."
"Ye... yes Lieutenant," the young man almost stuttered.
Cloud normally got upset when people referred to his hairstyle, comparing it to a Chocobo, or when he was called a kid. Facing Chuck, however... the blond would have agreed to be called just about anything... as long as he didn't insult his mother. He could say whatever he wanted about him, he could take it, but Cloud wouldn't tolerate insulting his dead mother. Even if it meant jumping into a Mako pool after that to avoid the instructor's wrath.
"I hope you're not doing any bullshit around here, mmmmh? Right, Cloud?" He asked, raising an eyebrow in his direction.
"NO SIR!" Almost yelped Cloud instinctively, wanting to run away from there as quickly as possible.
Chuck chuckled in response, grabbing Roche by the collar when he sneaked next to him, clearly trying to get his bike back, not even looking at him for that, getting a terrified squeak from the 3rd Class.
"Good Chocobo. Now run along, I have things to do."
"YES SIR!" Yelled the blonde.
Before turning heels and rushing towards the door. He was willing to face monsters, if he was rewarded after that. Punch Shinra's face? Same, as long as they paid him he'd agreed. Kicking infantrymen? A walk in the park. Face the legendary Lieutenant Nokia? No thanks, no way. A Hell House was easier to kill. Legend has it that he ate Guards Hounds modified by Hojo at breakfast... and that he picked his teeth with Monodrives after that, without them protesting. Cloud had no idea what was true and what was not, and he had no intention of lingering to find out.
Biggs and Wedge paused when they saw him running away, taken aback. Exchanging a look, they glanced towards Roche and the old SOLDIER, who smiled like a shark towards the 3rd Class, who whimpered in terror, trembling like a leaf, before deciding that, whatever happened with these two, it wasn't worth it to linger to find out. They were encountered by other members of AVALANCHE, the main branch of the group, who immediately opened fire on the two SOLDIERS, making Chuck roll his eyes. Releasing Roche, he drew his sword, rushing at the terrorists without hesitation, much to their surprise. Changing direction without warning, he literally plunged into the middle of the group, sending men flying with cries of pain and surprise. Cloud's two companions paused, hesitantly wondering if they shouldn't be helping their colleagues, before the blond almost literally materialized behind them, grabbing them by the collar to drag them behind him, moving away as quickly as possible with two dead weights and not necessarily cooperative.
"But, Cloud!" protested Wedge, coming to his senses first. "We need to help the others!"
"Believe me," replied the blond with messy hair, stuffing them into the narrow space behind a truck to protect them from the reinforcements, "You do NOT want to face Nokia. It's suicide."
"Even with his disability?" Asked Biggs, taken aback, slipping along the truck on the side opposite to Cloud, to free himself.
"NEVER," replied the latter, following them to make sure they wouldn't try to go back to where they came from. "Don't even think about fooling around with him. Even Sephiroth wouldn't have dared do that. Even after going crazy. If I am given the choice between facing Nokia or Sephiroth naked and bare handed, I would take Sephiroth any day of the week."
"Are you serious?" Growled Wedge, struggling to move between the truck and the wall behind them.
"Very serious, now move your ass and show that you really lost weight," Cloud ordered, glancing back to make sure they weren't followed.
"Not cool Cloud," whined Wedge, before sighing as he finally came out from behind the truck.
The blond pushed them in front of him to make sure they wouldn't go back, ignoring their protests, until they joined Jessie, who watched the scene with some amusement
"Did you guys have a good time?" She chuckled, watching her friends grumble towards Cloud.
"If you want, do you remember this guy with the bike?"
"Roche?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, surprised. "Yes why? Don't tell me you met him again?" She groaned then.
"Yes," replied Cloud. "And Lieutenant Nokia too."
Jessie blinked several times, taken aback.
"Wait, the famous Lieutenant Chuck "The Invincible" Nokia? That one?"
"In the flesh," confirmed the blond, relaxing now that they were out of danger. "At least he let us go without problems. On the other hand, I'm afraid that your little friends of the main branch have lost quite a few members in this story."
Jessie groaned when she heard that.
"Ah shit... well, that's their problem afterwards," she sighed. "Come on, let's join the others. If we delay too long, Barrett will freak out."
Cloud followed them without a word, rolling his eyes when he heard them bickering. At least people weren't really paying attention to them, that was that. They were more focused on the mess they had made at the base, thinking it was a Wutai attack. And Shinra was strong when it came to propaganda, he told himself with a grin.
To be continued…
And there you go, another little chapter done.
The next one will involve a certain time jump on the other hand. And things will really change from there.