Author's note: I know it's not much, but for some reason I felt this next part needed a chapter of it own. Poor Cloud, things just keep getting worse, don't they.
Cloud spent the next three days watching over Zack though not once were they disturbed. Finally he was awake and well enough to swim outside the cave. They changed back into their ShinRa uniforms, and then started on the laborious hike which Zack said would eventually take them to the rest of the ShinRa force. Sure enough, while wandering through the forest, the two were finally caught by a ShinRa unit looking for Dentari stranglers. After much explaining and showing of ID, the soldiers lead Cloud and Zack to their commanding officer. The officer, in much less time, positively identified the two men and soon after they were flying back to ShinRa on a transporter.
If Zack was aware of the kiss Cloud had given him beneath the river he wasn't saying. A fact Cloud was grateful for as he had decided to bury it as best he could, lest the memory do more harm to his heart.
Minutes passed in silence within the helicopter as the two soldiers flew home. Finally Cloud worked up the courage to ask a question that'd been lurking in his mind for days.
"Zack?"
"Hm?" Zack responded. He was sitting on the bench opposite Cloud. His head leaning against the aircraft's side as he gazed out the front window, Aearith's promise lily in his hand. Cloud bit his lip in hesitation.
"What did you say to me after we saw the burning bodies?" Zack continued to stare out the window, but Cloud saw him smile as he replied softly,
"I promised that I'd never let you die."
Cloud could have never guessed that words so soft could hurt so much. Like a sledge hammer crushing a walnut, all the emotions he'd been trying to stifle for the last week suddenly bursting forth. Clutching his chest, the younger man turned away so Zack wouldn't see the silent tears of unrequited love tumble from his eyes.