Captured Freedom

Chapter 4

x.X.x.X.x.X.x

Cloud stares down at them, the silver haired demon turning away from the expecting gang as frustration morphs his features. The rings on his fingers slam against the brunet's head behind him as he backhands him, Squall crumpling to the ground as concentration ripples over his blank countenance. One of his eyes shut as the blood drips from the cut on his forehead. As the demon turns away and back to the thugs waiting before him as he presents them with proof that he is what he says he is, with a long sword appearing from thin air in his hand, Cloud watches as Squall lifts his head.

Their eyes lock and Cloud feels a pang of relief and fear. Squall barely shakes his head but the message is crystal clear to Cloud. He's not wanted. Help isn't wanted. Being his usual stubborn self Cloud hides himself further as the men scurry off and the demon turns around. An arm loops around Squall's waist, hoisting him and and holding him close as the lunar haired demon's wings take them into the air. He watches helplessly as Squall is taken back to where he's being kept. Determined to find out where, he lets his wings free and hurries after them, close enough to see but far enough away to not be seen.

x.X.x.X.x.X.x

Cloud stands on the roof of a building three down from where Squall had been taken. What makes him sick is the fact that he's been in this area too many times to count. He can't even begin to count how many times he's flown over it to get to his mission. A research facility for cures to deadly diseases is what he's always thought it's been.

Hide in plain sight.

He glances behind him to see Firion and Tidus, the latter rushing over to him. "I can't believe you actually found them Cloud!"

Firion pats Tidus on the head, "We should report to the rest of the Archangels. From there we'll organize-"

"If we wait they could all be killed. There's Damned ones in there. There's no telling what's going on behind those walls."

"It's not our place to go in there without authorization."

Tidus butts in between them, "Why don't we just scope out the place then."

Cloud turns on his heel and jumps off the roof, landing on the ground without so much as a sound echoing from the smack of his shoes to the ground. Firion calls after him, but the blonde Archangel is already barreling through the streets to get to that building, not caring if it's a trap or not. The only thing on his mind is getting Squall out of there.

He looks down the sides of each brick building, finally seeing the one he's looking for. Cutting around the back he finds several dumpsters closed and pushed against the wall. A single door is the only thing beside them and it draws Cloud's attention easily. No guards or personnel of any sort are in sight and he takes the opportunity before he even has the chance to loose it.

A heavy sword morphs into his grasp as he slams the blunt side against the thick door. Coupled with the force of the hit, the door falls inward and the sound echos down the forking hallways. Cloud closes his eyes, letting his mind settle and a calming breath leave his lips. His eyes snap open as he sprints forward, taking a sharp turn to the left.

x.X.x.X.x.X.x

Contrasting to the many corridors he's already been down, Cloud finds himself suspicious of the current one. Low moans of pain and agony slip from various cells that line both sides of this particular hallway. All the others had doors sealed tight and locked with key cards, these are simply shut with an average padlock, nothing more.

Cloud continues forward and strains his eyes to see into each and every cell. Small children ranging to adults litter each cell, some holding up to four occupants. As he goes to pass by one cell in particular a small voice calls for him to stop. Cloud turns around to see a young woman standing on wobbly legs, gripping at her cell bars. "You're not from here. Are you looking for someone?"

"His name is Squall."

She seems to pause in thought for a brief moment before it clicks. She reaches out and points to the one next to hers, "He's two down fro me." Before he can walk off she calls out to him, "Wait! I … they came back and I don't know who they took him or Riku … it was too dark for me to see."

Cloud seems to freeze mid step, surprised that they'd keep an Angel and an Archangel locked beside each other. He shakes his head as he walks away, glimpsing into Riku's cell only to see no form huddled on the floor. A sigh of relief slips from his lips at the same time as he grimaces. Stopping just in front of the one that girl had pointed out, he raises his sword, the sharpened side cutting through the padlock with ease.

Shouts of confusion echo down into the corridor, demands and footfalls hurrying towards him. It figured that the second he got knee deep in the place they decided to hear something. It wasn't like he had been quiet getting in back in the beginning.

After pushes the cell open he kneels down, Squall's form still crumpled on the floor with his blood spotting it. Cloud grits his teeth, disgusted that they would treat him so poorly just knowing what a divine creature he is. In one swift movement Cloud has Squall up in his arms, cradling him close he leans his lips to the brunet's ear. "Hook your legs and arms around me."

Even in such a diluted state, the brunet obeys, hanging on for dear life. Cloud tightens his grip on his sword as the other is secured around Squall's waist. Regret that he had left Firion and Tidus' side rings loud and clear in his head as several men in bleak uniforms rush into the hall, drawing the attention of all the confined subjects.

Cloud's lips draw into a thin line. "Move."

The man in front shrinks slightly at the sight of Cloud's sword, since all workers are only armed with a baton. Yet they brandish those nonetheless and Cloud gives a swing of his sword, knocking the leader of them against one of he cells. "Move." he repeats again, this time with more force.

The others rush to their fallen leader, feigning concern and Cloud runs off as Squall presses his face into the crook of his neck. "You're an idiot Cloud."

"So are you."

"Should have just stayed away."

"You should have just admitted you liked me back."

Squall's retort to Cloud is rudely cut off by Tidus' yell from the hall across from them. "Hey Firion look it's Cloud!" The blonde faces Cloud again as they all meet in the middle of the intersection. "You wouldn't believe who we found while looking for you! But I don't think Firion is happy about it."

Cloud raises a single eyebrow, "Not happy about what?"

Tidus points over his shoulder with his thumb, "The extra cargo."

x.X.x.X.x.X.x

Sooo, I'll admit that I don't know where this is going. Honestly have no idea. And... Cloud is so damn hard to write . This, this is why he's never a main POV.
But, I hope it didn't read to rushed for you all. I mean, I did kinda rush. XD My brain thinks faster than my fingers can type.

Um so.

Tell me what a crappy job this chapter is? ^^;