They'll Be Back

Denzel sat with his head resting against the high walls of the bed of the truck. There was about seven other men in the truck with him, Cameron included. His leg had been bandaged up at a make-shift hospital at the edge of Midgar. Shrapnel had hit it during the explosion, but luckily, it hadn't been that bad.

They all had definitely seen better days, each of them dirty and disheveled. Each of them with less friends and allies in the world today than yesterday.

The assault on Midgar ruins had gone incredibly wrong. The enemy forces had known the ruins better, and maps of the once standing city didn't give much in a city of ruins. Few people had been able to map an accurate version of the battle-torn city. Denzel still thought it strange how a dead city could be fought over.

It'd been wrong coming here.

Cameron sat across from Denzel, his eyes shut, a hand still resting lightly on his holster.

Cameron hadn't been in Denzel's squad, his now decimated squad. Denzel had met him at the base just outside of Junon. It'd been comforting slightly to find another orphan of Midgar, though, Denzel didn't consider himself an orphan anymore.

They'd all be more comfortable once they reached the confines of a base. Rumor had it they were heading straight for Edge's base. It wasn't necessarily the safest base, but it was the closest; while Denzel had been lucky, there were some injured who needed serious medical attention.

People who were still against AVALANCHE, those who were with them; those who were against ShinRa, and those who stood for them...it was getting out of hand, the battles with the remnants of SOLDIER, the remnants of the Turks. Everything was out of hand.

Geostigma, and Deep Ground, wasn't that enough for this world? After Meteor, Denzel figured it would've calmed down, but the world only seemed to get worse.

Denzel leaned forward slightly, peering out the open end of the back of the truck. He watched as the city of Midgar grew smaller on the horizon the deeper they delved into the desert. The two men sitting at the end of the truck bed watched the surrounding area like hawks, eyes open for attack.

There were seven trucks in the convoy, the first heavily armored and loaded with the most powerful machine gun, the last truck much in the same fashion. The biggest truck carrying the most survivors was the second back, the third and fourth where full of those seriously injured. Denzel and Cameron were in the fifth truck, amongst those injured but still able to fight. The same went for the sixth truck.

Denzel relaxed back again as the truck escaped the grasp of looming cliffs. They could've been easy targets for snipers.

Still, even though they had escaped those cliffs, another set was coming up, a narrow valley their only choice. Denzel swallowed.

A loud rush of air filled Denzel's ears as they neared the second round of cliffs. He glanced back towards the first set, and the men at the edge of the truck called out a warning. Denzel narrowed his eyes as a small dot appeared in the sky, growing steadily, a plume of smoke trailing it. His eyes widened as it dived steeply, heading for the seventh truck.

It exploded as it contacted with the truck, sending a gush of air, and a wall of dust speeding towards the sixth truck, and Denzel's as well. The force sent the truck rocking, and Denzel watched in horror as the smoking remains of the seventh truck flipped forward, the sixth dodging it narrowly. Tires squealed as the sixth truck fought for control. Denzel thought he saw one man tumble out the back of the truck, rolling across the dirt.

The entire convoy had picked up speed, the first truck firing at the cliffs around. One of the men had taken to firing back at the edge of the cliffs they'd left behind.

Cameron's eyes were wide open, darting around, taking in their current situation.

"Where'd the fire come from?" he shouted at Denzel.

"The back! They took out the seventh–

Another whirr of air, and Denzel recognized it this time, casting his eyes once again back towards the fading cliffs. It was spinning as it came down, aiming at the sixth truck. However, this time, the truck swerved, avoiding contact as the object hit the ground and exploded to the left. It sent the truck spinning, though, and it slid onto its side, scraping across the desert floor. Denzel could see the men clinging to the walls of the truck.

He didn't have time to take this in for long, though. The force of the explosion also sent his truck swerving, though not as violently. Denzel clung to the walls as the truck leaned to the right, before swerving to face backwards, coming to a rough halt.

They sat there for just a second, breathing, taking in the lack of movement.

Cameron glanced at the truck's window. There was blood spattered across it.

"Everybody out!" Cameron shouted, launching himself upwards.

No one questioned, just grabbed what little supplies they had before jumping to the ground.

"Right cliff, right!" Cam shouted above the noise.

Denzel ducked his head low as he grasped his gun before him, stretching his long legs out as he ran. His heart hammered in his chest as he sprinted, two men to his left, and Cameron in front of him. Gun fire could be heard echoing across the battlefield, the enemy still concentrating on taking out the trucks.

Denzel was thrown forward as the truck behind him exploded. He landed roughly on his face, wincing hard the breath was knocked from him. He lay there for a moment, gathering his bearings, trying to see if anyone else was on the ground.

He felt a rough tug at his right shoulder as someone lifted him by his jacket, pulling him to his feet, and yanking him into a run. Denzel limped as he ran, his left leg aching more now, aware of the pain, and his lungs fought for air. He looked to his left, where he could see seven men running for the cover of the cliffs. The man, however, was leading him more towards the right. Denzel spotted the cluster of tall rocks, and was given a renewed strength as he struggled towards the rocks.

As they reached them, the man practically tossed Denzel down behind the rocks, before scrambling for cover himself.

Denzel glanced at the man. He must've been from the other truck. He was breathing heavily, sweat pouring off his face and marking tracks through the dirt that clung to his skin. Denzel figured he couldn't look any worse.

Another explosion sounded, and Denzel risked a glance towards the trucks. It looked like they hadn't been able to take out any more as they disappeared within the canyon walls.

"They'll come back for us..." the man whispered, more to himself than Denzel.

"They'll be back, Denzel...don't worry," Tifa placed a hand on his head, ruffling his hair.

"Are you sure?" Denzel asked, age fifteen, looking at the woman.

Tifa smiled her sweet smile, "Yeah, I'm sure."

Denzel turned his gaze back towards the retreating figures of Cloud, Barret, and Cid. They were all laughing loudly, and he could hear it faintly as they continued down the street. It was strange to see Cloud laugh that loud, especially with Barret. Normally they were pissing each other off.

Still, Tifa was distracting him as she ran her fingers through his hair once more. Denzel cast a glance at her again, her eyes focused on the distant figures, before she turned slightly, removing her hand and placing it on her bulging stomach.

"They'll be back," she stated softly, before turning completely and heading into the bar.

Denzel frowned slightly, remembering his narrow escape with Cloud on that train about six months ago. He sighed, facing the figures that were no more now.

Tifa believed they were coming back, it was Cloud after all; still, she was worried, and that made Denzel anxious.

The man sighed, relaxing up against one of the rocks in the shade, hiding from the harsh sun. He closed his eyes, and Denzel watched him for a second. He didn't know him. The badge on his left arm said he was with squadron thirty-three. Denzel was in sixty-two. The man had black hair, that hung lose in his eyes, a large scar over his left jaw bone and down his cheek.

"We need to meet up with the others," the man stated, his eyes still closed.

"Right," Denzel stated, "I'm Denzel."

The man cracked an eye, "Marcus."

The man peered around the rock slowly. There was still gunfire echoing through the canyon ahead. It seemed the enemy had followed the convoy in to the cliffs.

"Who'd you promise?" Denzel found himself asking.

Marcus didn't look back, just kept watching his surroundings, "My little brother," he replied nonchalantly before looking back at Denzel, "My sister did too, but she broke it."

Tifa had been washing dishes as Denzel carried in the large boxes from the latest shipment. Normally Cloud did, but he was on the phone with someone. Denzel decided to take on the task. Tifa had thanked him, her even larger stomach preventing her from lifting heavy objects; that and Cloud.

Denzel had been in the back when he heard the loud thump, causing him to poke his head out. Tifa looked up, and then made her way slowly towards the stairs, Denzel behind her.

"Cloud?" she asked softly, moving slowly up the steps.

Denzel hung back as she disappeared into their room, but peered around the door frame.

Cloud was beside of the desk, his hand still on the phone that was now hung up, his other balled into a fist where it had hit the wall, his head resting against the wall beside of it, eyes closed.

"Cloud?" Tifa asked again, her voice shaking.

"He's missing, they said. He was just delivering supplies, keep him out of the main battle...you know...he's just missing. He's just missing," Cloud repeated, and Denzel wasn't sure if it was for Tifa, or for himself.

"Who, Cloud?"

"His airship got shot down just outside of Kalm."

Denzel watched as Tifa's fist balled up tightly.

"If I'd been there..." Cloud said softly, his eyes finally opened.

"Then my baby might be without a father," Tifa stated defiantly, her hand resting on her stomach.

Cloud removed his head from the wall, studying her hard, "He isn't dead. He's missing."

Tifa nodded her head once, and Denzel heard the border-line tears in her voice, "I know."

Denzel only watched for a moment as Cloud wrapped his arms securely around Tifa's form. She seemed so much smaller, which didn't make any sense to Denzel, since she'd gained weight. She shook a bit, and Cloud's grip increased.

Denzel walked away silently.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews!