Chapter summary: Cloud needs a moment of peace, and goes to the one place he's sure to find it. But only for the moment, it seems…

Jealousy, Take 8

By Ivy Elise Tanté

A large black bike roared through the ruins of Midgar, zipping past mountains of debris, causing a dust storm to swirl around the area in a shroud of gritty particles. Its rider lay low against the metal body, driving just this side of reckless, handling the massive vehicle with grace and impossible skill until it finally came to a skidding stop in front of a ramshackle building. A church, still mostly standing, that lay in the wreckage of what was once Sector 5.

The man that dismounted was not tall, and possessed a slender but powerful build. The most unusual thing about him was the spiky blonde hair that stuck up around a face that did not match his eyes. The eyes were old, haunted and weary, touched with a sense of desperation to escape a recent happening. Nothing stirred in the debris as he touched a switch, activating wings on either side of the bike, revealing the different sections of a weapon referred to as the Fusion Sword. Selecting the main blade, called First Tsurugi, he thumbed the switch again to retract the wings and strode toward the church. His steps were anxious and hurried until he reached the entrance.

Opening one of the two main doors only enough to slip inside, he stood in the semi-darkness for just a moment before walking towards the front of the chapel. His black boots walked past the shattered pews and tumbled columns, making soft hollow thuds against the warped and splintered floor boards. He came to a stop where the flooring was blasted away, making a crater in the upper left of the room.

In the past, white and yellow lilies had bloomed in profusion in this space, filling the area with their spicy scent; now they grew only around the edges of a pool of cool, crystal clear water. On the far side, propped against what remained of a marble wall, stood a sword that gleamed silver in the weak light, its base garlanded by more lilies. The man stood staring at the blade for several minutes, pain reflecting in the glowing, almost too-blue eyes. Strangely, his irises were stained with green around the pupils.

Giving himself a shake, he laid the sword he carried down on the worn boards, then began stripping off the pauldron from his left shoulder and the dust skirt that enshrouded his left side. Once these were set aside, he sat on the floor and pulled off boots and socks, the leather gloves and the bracer from his right arm. Standing again, the belt was the next to go, followed by the sleeveless cable knit sweater.

Now clad only in the many-pocketed black jeans, with the faint beams of light playing off his pale skin and white scars, he eased himself into the water, hissing slightly at the coolness. When he reached the middle of the pool, he relaxed and allowed himself to lean back, floating peacefully with eyes closed and arms slightly outstretched from his body. Only the faintest of sounds interrupted the silence as he released a sighing breath into the still air.

Long moments passed. Then, softly, a voice sounded. It came from nowhere that could be discerned - almost as if the air itself had taken on life and spoken.

-Cloud Strife, what do you think you're doing?- It was amused, that quiet female voice, and the tone hinted of teasing.

Barely heard, his voice was ruefully as he admitted, "It's quiet here." A slight pause, then the corners of his mouth turned up in a smile more felt that seen, "Or was."

-Something bothering you? - It wasn't the female this time. This was male, and even more amused - the voice gave evidence of a personality that was joyful, playful, and just a touch wicked.

"Two somethings," he stated factually, reaching out a hand to touch one of the protruding floor boards and pushing himself back to the center of the pool. His voice was pleasant and a touch sensual, a soft murmur against the faint sounds of the water. There was a reserve about him that gave the impression he did not speak often.

-He's talking about us again,- the male voice complained.

-Also as usual, so you shouldn't be surprised. What's bothering you, Cloud?- the female asked, shushing the male.

Still floating, but nearer to the sword this time, the man called Cloud frowned briefly before his features smoothed out again. He looked very young, almost angelic in the cast of his face. Dark, sooty lashes lay against his cheeks as he kept those too-brilliant eyes closed. "You are. Just want a little peace here."

The silence lingered for a time. A ray of sunlight pierced the canopy of clouds above and found its way into the church. The beam glimmered on the water, illuminating in greater detail the scars across the man's well-toned chest and broad shoulders. Two deep punctures -one on his right shoulder, the other just below his sternum- and a round impression just above his heart. There were others, not as dramatic, that marred his skin here and there. However he lived his life, he had known violence.

But the peace of the old abandoned church was too soothing; this man named Cloud was in danger of falling asleep as he lay floating in the water. Only the bump of his head against wood saved him. With a sigh he stood up, the water pouring down his body in rivulets that reflected wildly in the lone sunbeam. The pale blonde hair was sadly clinging to his head and neck, giving him an entirely different appearance than when it stood in its gravity-defying spikes. Grasping the worn, rounded edge of the old wood flooring, he sprang out of the pool with an ease that was a bit startling. There was a great strength in him at odds with his slimness.

-Don't think you're getting out of here before you tell me what's wrong,- the female warned grimly, voice determined.

And he spoke a name in a tone difficult to identify. There was exasperation over her tenacity, and over-tried patience. But there was also regret, and just a touch of wistfulness. "Aerith…"

-You know she'll keep hounding you until it comes out. So spill it, Cloud. What's going on?- The male voice was still amused; as if he suspected the subject might be embarrassing to Cloud.

"Look, you two…" he muttered, standing there in the dim light with a frown on his face and jeans dripping water all over the wood floor. "I just needed some quiet, okay?"

-Cloud Strife!- His name rang out, vibrating the dust motes floating in the air. The funniest aspect was both voices had sounded at the same time.

Wearily he sank to the floor, sitting cross-legged right at the edge of the pool. "Okay, okay." It took another moment before he found the courage to whisper the truth to the two disembodied voices from his past. "Tifa is… um…"

-Expecting?!- The female voice almost shouted out again, hope making the tone vibrant.

"Gods, no!" Cloud exclaimed as he sat up straight, looking around him in outrage. "We're not married yet, Aerith," he reminded with exasperation.

-Oh, okay.- The disappointment in her voice was endearing.

-Aerith, will you just calm down and let the man talk? There's plenty of time for that to happen, it's not like they're old or anything. We'll get babies at some point.- The male voice had more than just a hint of mischievousness this time.

"ZACK!" The bellow was proof that no matter how softly Cloud tended to speak, he had considerable lung power to spare in the event it was needed.

-What?- How he managed to sound innocent of any wrong-doing was amazing.

Sputtering, Cloud surged to his feet and started grabbing up items of apparel and armor. "Tifa and her friends are wedding planning." The grimace on his face said everything he hadn't. "Walked right in on it; I barely escaped with my life."

-Okay. That definitely explains the need for some peace and quiet.- Zack spoke gently, obviously agreeing with Cloud over the narrow getaway.

-ZACK!- The very air vibrated with the force of Aerith's voice.

Knowing he was forgotten for the moment, Cloud shucked off his pants and worked to wring out the water as much as possible, for they would chaff on the ride home if he couldn't get them at least partially dry. There was a stormy aspect to the air in the church, as though something intangible was sparking in its very molecules. A faint grin appeared; he had no doubt whatsoever that Aerith was telling Zack a thing or two.

But the argument didn't keep her attention diverted long enough, for a moment later a low whistle sounded. It had Cloud whirling around to glare at the empty church even as Zack's laughter played against the cracked and stained walls still standing.

-You're staring, Aerith. How very rude of you.- Zack's tone was chiding, but his amusement was evident.

-He's just standing there, Zack. As there's nothing wrong with my eyesight, I can clearly see him.- Aerith was giggling, and Cloud could remember how her face would light up when she did.

"Zack, it's okay. Let her laugh," he said softly as he slipped his jeans back on. "I like the way it makes me feel."

-You miss us.- It wasn't a question, and was voiced by both of them again.

"Every day. I… want the two of you to be a part of this." It was hard to admit that, standing only half-dressed in this deserted church.

-Will you ask her?- Aerith wondered quietly.

"Don't have to. Reeve is already working on plans to repair the chapel. Just enough for the wedding," he added hurriedly. "They'll be careful, so don't worry."

-Here? You'll actually have it here? Oh, Cloud!- The faint sound of tears came, and a diffused mist drifted across the pool to sparkle in the sunlight.

-Thanks, buddy. It means a lot that you would include us.- Zack's voice was suspiciously husky, as though he was fighting tears himself.

"I promised to live out both our lives, didn't I?" Cloud reminded as he finished dressing and gathered up his sword. "Can't do that if I don't include you in this." They were his parting words as he quietly retraced his steps out of the church. Stowing the First Tsurugi back into its slot, he started Fenrir and drove off with a smile on his face. Cloud hadn't been at all sure he could speak to them; today had been something of an experiment. But now he could work on keeping his promise to his friends…

…He just hoped all the females involved in the wedding planning had left the bar. He wasn't sure where else he could run if they cornered him again…