A/N: Welcome to chapter two of Freedom! This chapter is longer than the first one. The truck driver is my OC and he will only be here to transport Cloud. This story might end up going over 4 chapters. Again this story switches PoV's and this means thought and this means writing. Now, that's enough of the author's note, time for the story!
Disclaimer: All characters besides the truck driver are Square Enix's
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Chapter 2: Restoration
Cloud PoV
I awoke to find that I was still in the truck, but the scenery had changed significantly. There were metal buildings everywhere and where the sky should have been there was a giant plate. I could only see in black and green but I guessed that the plate was a dull gray. I must be in the slums I thought. I felt the gentle rumble of the truck lulling me back to sleep but, I was determined to stay awake long enough to see where we were going.
It wasn't long until I heard the car come to a stop and the engine cut off. Then I heard the truck door slam as the driver got out. He went to the other side of the truck and opened the door. I felt myself falling backwards, but the driver caught me. He dragged me out of the truck and threw me over his shoulder. I couldn't hear what he said next but, he sounded sad. I couldn't see where I was going. All I could see was the ground beneath me.
Suddenly the older man stopped and took me off his shoulder. He placed me horizontally on some kind of porch. Now that I could see the building, it looked ancient. It was some sort of church. I was parallel with the door, just sitting there on the concrete, my head propped up against the concrete railing. Then used the metal knocker on the big oaken door and ran away. I wonder why he did that. I asked myself.
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Aerith PoV
I kneeled beside my flowers, tending them as usual. Just as I was about to give them some water, there was a knock on the door. I wonder who that could be. I put the watering can down, got up and walked to the door. When I got finally got the huge door open I was shocked at what I saw. It was a grown man lying on my doorstep as if he was an orphaned baby. I kneeled beside him and looked into his eyes, my own were filled with concern. I gasped when I saw that his eyes were mako blue.
"Just like his…" I whispered under my breath. Then I looked at his hair, yellow and spiky all around. If he was ok, I would have laughed and called him a chocobo. But I knew he wasn't because his eyes told me. They had look of pain and sadness to them which I had never seen before. They were scanning me for some sign of comfort, some reason that he had to trust me. So, I put the sweetest smile I could manage.
"Are you hurt?" I asked. Nothing. So, I tried another question
"Can you talk?" Again he said nothing. His eyes were looking sadly at the ground though. I took that as a 'no'
"Can you at least walk?" I asked my last question because I knew I needed to get him inside. His eyes answered for him again and I understood. I got up and struggled to lift him up. It took a while, but I managed to drag the SOLDIER inside. I laid him on the bench nearest to the flowers. First thing I did was take his temperature. I felt his forehead. He felt warm, but not feverish. Then I checked his limbs and upper torso for wounds. I didn't find any. Then I gave him some water from the bottle that I always took with me. After that he said one tiny word that made up my mind once and for all.
"Z-Zack?" He uttered weakly. I was shocked; this guy was one of Zack's friends!? I thought Zack was long gone. After days of waiting for him I had almost given up hope that someday he would walk through those doors, tears streaming down is eye, yelling 'Aerith I love you!'
"Where is he?" I said urgently leaning over the blonde "Is he ok? Is he hurt? Does he remember me?" Surely if he can say Zack's name, he can answer my questions. But he was already asleep. He looked so peaceful while he was sleeping. I couldn't help it; I reached up and ruffled his hair. A tiny smile spread across his lips. I smiled too.
Once I was sure he was comfortable I turned back to my flowers. I can't believe it I thought Zack's alive.My hands absentmindedly weeded the flowers while I thought. Suddenly they came together in a prayer. "Hope Zack find's his way back here" I whispered to the great gods that dwell within the lifestream.
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Tseng PoV
I just received conformation from the other Turks that the blond specimen was located in Aerith's church in the slums but there was no sign of Zack. I knew that Zack wouldn't hesitate to come here to see his girlfriend, yet he hasn't come. He might avoid Aerith's church because he knew Turks were there. But, as far as I knew, Zack escaped with the blond one. Then why would he just leave his friend. I knew that wasn't a very Zack-like thing to do. There must be a reason... It just didn't add up. I took a folded piece of paper out of my paper and unfolded it
Dear Zack, It read
How are you? Any luck on you're mission? I hope you would be able to come see me soon, I miss you. The wheel broke off my flower wagon and I need you to come fix it. Tseng has offered to fix it for me. But I refused, saying that I would rather wait for you. Oh, and the flowers are selling well. The people of the slums seem happy now. I often see little kids running around the slums holding my flowers. It makes me so happy! The angeal clone is doing fine too. He often helps me out. Anyway, I'll see you soon!
Love,
Aerith
I looked up from the paper. This was Aerith's first letter, which she sent to Zack just after he went to Nibelhiem. I had just folded his paper up and put it back in his pocket when I heard Cissnei's voice through the communicator.
"Tseng, Tseng come in" she said. I picked up my communicator and put it in my ear. "What is it Cissnei?" I asked.
"Zack has just been spotted near Kalm. He is in really bad shape and he has a bad wound on his right shoulder" I didn't know weather to be happy that we found him, or worried that he is hurt. I knew that the Turks weren't allowed to interfere with the people they were tracking and that whatever happens, happens for a reason. I decided to have Cissnei come pick me up in her helicopter and take me to the site where Zack was spotted. We will do as we are supposed to, track without interfering.
"Ok, I'll meet you in sector 7" I said as I turned off my communicator not allowing for anymore conversation. I took one more look at Aerith's church and then started off in the direction of Sector 7.
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Cloud PoV
The mysterious girl, whose name I later found out was Aerith, took care of me from that day on. In the mornings, she would take me to her church. Then when the sun set, she would take me to her house. She was always prepared. She always brought some water with her in case I get thirsty. She made sure to buy a thermometer so she could regularly take my temperature. And she had a small cooler that she kept near the bench. It contained washcloths which were used whenever I got a fever.
She also bought a pillow and blanket from home for me to lie on and watch her tend her flowers. She regularly talked to me. She told me about Zack. She told me about their first meeting, the time he got his wallet stolen, the building of the flower wagon, and their last goodbye. She said I was good at listening because I never interrupted and then she smiled at me and picked me up and took me to her house.
The first night she left me alone in her church while she went and told her mother about me. I didn't like that very much. I moaned all night until morning, when she would come. She got the message that I don't like to be alone and promised to stay with me until I was cured of my sickness. Weeks went by. Until one day I was running a particularly high fever, and someone I had been longing to see came for a visit.
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A/N: Next up will be a Zack PoV. But I will be gone for Christmas so I will not be making the next chapter until after Christmas. This story is really fun to type though. Please review. Even if I won't be here, I'll check my reviews when I get back.