Time
Marcus sighed, glancing back once at his weakening companion. The sun had risen two hours ago, and while he felt they were close to the team, Denzel wasn't fairing well. He was reluctant to stop, but felt that if they didn't, Denzel wouldn't make it much farther. He led Denzel into the shelter of a overhanging rock. Denzel didn't protest as he fell onto the ground, wincing a bit, before relaxing.
"You should sleep some, while we can," Marcus said, passing the water bottle to him.
Denzel took a large gulp before handing it back, "In a bit," he rasped, catching his breath.
Marcus nodded once, "Where you from?"
"Born in Midgar...Edge when I was about nine or ten...been in Corel since I was fourteen."
Marcus nodded his head.
"You?"
"Midgar."
Denzel blinked, "Where'd you go–
"I didn't go," Marcus replied, a bitter tone to his voice, "A lot of people...live there, actually...you'd be surprised. It isn't the abandon ruin everyone made it out to be. There was a little life there, believe it or not," Marcus scuffed his boot across the ground, "Anyways, after Geostigma showed up...it really took out most of what little population was there...and then it was turned into a battle field with Deep Ground. Still, we made it through that...but another battle? That's why I joined...to try and win the city back...guess we failed at that."
Denzel nodded his head thoughtfully, "Yeah...I suppose."
"You left Edge when the heat started picking up around Midgar?"
"Yep...for the best, or at least that's what they told me."
"Your parents?"
Denzel tipped his head to the side, "Sort of...adopted parents, I guess you could say. Mine died when the plate dropped."
Marcus nodded his head thoughtfully, "You've been to the church, haven't you? I mean, you were in Edge–
"I've been," Denzel replied shortly.
"Man, after Geostigma...I hung out there all the time."
Denzel nodded.
Marcus glanced at him again, "What? Bad memories with that place?"
Denzel blinked wide, shaking his head quickly, "No! No...good memories...I guess that's what hurts...knowing that they're there..."
"Yeah, I see what you mean. What kind of good memories?"
"...my guardians...they found me there...and I was healed there, Geostigma–
"You had–
"Yes, I did...my guardians, they spent a lot of time there...too."
"What're they like?"
Denzel smirked, "Well...they're a crew, let me tell you. My...role model, well, he's very quiet...strong, and distant at times...but he's a good guy. And the woman who raised me, well, she's a real mother...I mean, she wasn't when she met me...she is for real now...but...they go good together, and she sure can give a mean right hook," Denzel tilted his head back, counting names off on his fingers, "Let's see...there's Barret...he's...loud, but Marlene calls him a big teddy-bear. And Cid, he had a foul mouth on him, and a temper...but, he was good to Shera and their kids. Um, Yuffie's...well, Yuff's a thief...plain as day. She's fickle, and hyper, but a good person. Vincent...is interesting. Erm, Nanaki, he's probably one of the smartest guys I know. I mean, he'll just go on and on about something and lose you in the first three sentences without even realizing it."
"That's a lot of adopted parents," Marcus smirked.
"Well, I mean...Cloud and Tifa are really more of my adopted parents...the rest are like extended family."
"Hmm."
"What about you? You said you had a brother, right?"
Marcus nodded his head once, "A little brother, older sister. They...they moved to Edge, for the betterment of my little bro. My sister wanted to stay with me, but...I wouldn't let her," he lowered his head.
Denzel remembered what he had said about his sister breaking her promise.
Marcus returned his gaze to the sweltering horizon, the two sitting in silence for a while.
He swallowed, finally speaking, "Who'd you promise?" Marcus asked.
Silence was his answer, and Marcus glanced over, seeing Denzel had fallen asleep.
"What was it like, Cloud?"
Cloud shifted, looking to his left lightly. Denzel was seated on the ground beside of Fenrir as they gazed out across the horizon.
"What, Denzel?"
"Growing up...with parents."
Cloud frowned slightly, the boy never looking at him, "Denzel–
"I'm just thinking...that's all. Sorry."
"No, it's fine. I didn't have a father, but I had a mother. And, around the age of fourteen, I left home."
Denzel turned to glance at him for the first time, "Why?"
Cloud looked away quickly, "It was something I felt I had to do; to help the people I loved."
Denzel nodded once, before facing the horizon again, "I'm around fourteen now, aren't I," he paused, "I want to be like you, Cloud."
Cloud looked at him again, "Denzel. There were a lot of things I did that I'm not proud of. I could've made better decisions, for a lot of things...and maybe things would've been different, for the better."
"I'm glad you made the decisions you did," Denzel stated firmly.
"I kill–
"I know. Tifa's talked to me before about it. She said she's done it too, and I understand; I understand that being a hero, being like you, Cloud...it's more than just fighting. There's more serious things involved, like death. It isn't all about being strong. Tifa...Tifa says she doesn't want me to live like she did. She said I shouldn't have to fight, but I do want to. I want to protect people too, ya know? I want to help, and protect Tifa the way she's done for me," he reached down, fiddling with the grass, "And I also understand that the path I choose might take me towards something I'm not ready to face yet, but...eventually, I will be, because I'll do what it takes to protect the people I love...just like you, Cloud."
He didn't reply.
"And," Denzel started again, "If you didn't make the decisions you did, I might not be here right now," he sighed, "It was wrong of me to ask what it was like living with parents, Cloud...cause, I already know."
Cloud felt a smile tug his lips.
Denzel woke an hour before the sunset. Marcus was seated on the edge of an overhang, legs dangling off. Denzel groaned, his leg throbbing, before sitting up, reaching for the water.
He took a swig, and coughed, dust lodged in his throat.
Marcus turned, glancing over his shoulder once, "Hey," he said softly.
Denzel nodded in his head in return, putting the water bottle down, "How long was I out for?"
"Long enough. We'll move here in a bit, if you don't mind."
Denzel studied Marcus' back, "What about...what about you–
"I'm fine," Marcus stated, glancing back again before smirking, "After all, you're the one with the infected leg."
"Still..."
"I'm fine, Denzel."
"Then," Denzel said, slowly standing, "I'm ready to move."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, we've got to have quite a ways before we catch up with the others..."
If the others were still anywhere around.
The unspoken words hung in the air between the two, before Marcus stood, brushing off his pants.
"We've still got time."
Denzel was stretching after he got off of Fenrir. Cloud yawned, a tired smile spread across his lips.
"Well, that was rather uneventful."
Denzel shrugged, "'s okay. We still have time."
When Cloud didn't reply, Denzel looked up, "We still do have time, right? I mean, with your...seizures and everything... It isn't serious, that's what you told Tifa. Or...was that just–
"It's true, Denzel...it isn't serious. It's just something I have to pay for...all the things I did, this is my punishment."
"But you're a hero, Cloud. You shouldn't have to suffer or pay for anything after everything you've done. You should be happy and healthy–
"I am."
"B-but..."
"You said it yourself, Denzel. Being a hero...it means having more than just that image. You'll do things you aren't proud of, if you choose that path. Sometimes, sometimes it isn't enough to balance it out in the end. Being a hero, if that's what you call me...I'm as much a villain to someone somewhere, as much as I'm a hero to you. It isn't as black and white as you think it is."
A/N: I still haven't decided which is my fav. chapter...it's either the 5th or 6th...I didn't like this chappie too much, pleh. Oh, well, thanks for reviews! And you'll see where Marlene is next chapter. XP