Chapter Two

For those that are left behind, the pain can be excruciating. Shouldering the pain and guilt of what they consider their own uselessness. Blaming themselves for their inability to prevent death. The human condition allows us to cope, however unconventional and haunting, most learn to live with the loss. But there are those that allow themselves to be consumed by it.

"Lora! There you are!"

A teenage girl turned at the approach of her ageing father; a man in his late fifties with tall, broad build, greying hair and a kind, wrinkled face. Knowing that her father disliked her reading the type of book she had been, she hid it behind her back. It was a late attempt to conceal her activities, and although her father had noticed, he was partly proud that she'd gone against him. It was the sign of an unyielding and strong-willed mind; a mind that would not easily bend.

"Father. I was just-"

"I know what you were doing." Reaching around her slender frame, he revealed the book. "'The Art of Tactics and Strategy'. I would much rather prefer you reading something more lady-like, but as I can't seem to sway your mind, I've hired you a tutor." Her father stepped aside and motioned to the man behind him. "This is Taran."

She examined the man with impeccable posture, shoulders down and back straight. He looked like a military man but seemed more at ease in the presence of nobles. The man was in his early twenties with short, black hair and long bangs framing his face. His build was lean, but muscular and he easily stood taller than her father. But what drew her most were those glowing blue eyes.

The door opened and while Max didn't bother to acknowledge the intruder, she immediately recognised those blue eyes, even in the dark. She couldn't help but feel a sense of longing whenever she met his gaze, and shame. Cloud closed the door behind him and casted a lingering glance at the woman before silently making his way over to the bed at the far side of the room. After preparations for the journey had been made, Max promptly retreated to her room and not been seen since. Tifa was turned away after an attempt to make conversation and even Barret, who'd taken something for her to eat, returned with tray untouched. Cloud glanced over his shoulder. Max hadn't moved since his arrival and had given no indication that she'd even noticed him. She stared aimlessly out the window, an unreadable expression on her face.

"We'll be leaving in a few hours." She remained silent. "Barret thinks it would be a good idea for you to eat something beforehand."

"I'm not hungry."

There was something about this woman that didn't simply didn't sit right with him. Cloud was confident that she was hiding something important. The way she carried herself wasn't typical of a mercenary and certainly not military. Indeed, there was almost a regality about her stance. It gave him a hunch and he found himself curious. And he allowed his curiosity to get the better of him.

"You said that only the royal family could access Jenova's remains." Max turned her head as Cloud got to his feet. "So," He slowly approached her. "How can you get in?"

"I knew the princess, a long time ago." Max pulled away and headed for the door.

"Lora, are you paying attention?"

Theory lessons were never Lora's strong suit, Taran was well aware of that fact. He watched her zone in and out of his classes with the smallest of smiles on his face. Over the last few months he'd fallen in love with her. His love was reciprocated, of that he was certain, but he couldn't act upon it. And neither could Lora.

Lora raised her head with a tired smile. "I'm sorry, Taran. I know I should be paying attention but-"

"You're bored." He moved to her side, leaning against the desk. The look of panic on her face made Taran chuckle, furthering her embarrassment. "I know you're not big on theory. But it's important that you know this." Lora nodded but attempted a discreet childish pout and Taran could only smile at how easily he was taken in by it. "Alright. Just this once, we'll skip theory." On his feet again, he offered his hand to her. "Let's go."

"Max? Max!" Max's gaze focused on Tifa who stood over her with a small tray of food. The expression on her face conveyed her concern. "Are you alright?"

A brief nod from the woman didn't do much to lessen Tifa's concern, but if her last confrontation with Max was any indication, it was best not to press the matter further. From where Cloud stood in the doorway, he watched their exchange. Max didn't say much, but this time she accepted the food she was offered. Shortly after, Tifa left the woman and moved to Cloud's side.

"She seems troubled." Cloud met her gaze, but quickly pulled away and focused on Max. "I tried to get her to open up, but she's reluctant."

The blond leant against the doorway. "Maybe she's hiding something."

"Well," Tifa regarded Max with an unsettled expression. "We've all got our secrets, right?"

Following a moment of silence, Tifa gently squeezed Cloud's arm and moved into the next room to help a hysterical Yuffie. Cloud continued to watch Max, who had yet to touch her food. She simply sat there with a blank expression, as though lost in her memories. Something he himself was all too familiar with.

"You're grasping it incorrectly, Lora." A hand reached around her waist, resting over her own hand to fix her grip. "Hold it like this."

"Like this?"

The closeness of his body made her smile. His warmth and smell made her feel safe, even if it was only for the briefest of moments. Lora leant back into him, feeling his muscles tense at her touch. Taran was unused to such physical contact, by friends or otherwise, but he found himself enjoying her closeness.

"Lora."

His voice emerging in a huskier tone than he intended. Lora lowered the sword, slowly turning in Taran's arms to face him. She stared up at him, pressing closer against his chest in an attempt to spark a reaction. His arms, already poised at her hips, tightened their grip; the sword left to clatter on the ground. It was utterly silent, only the sounds of their breath and the intensity of their gazes. Taran began to lean forward and Lora closed her eyes in anticipation.

Max turned her head, a poor attempt to rid her mind of memories she wished to bury. The view from the cockpit was bewitching but it wasn't enough to distract her. Max was reluctant, and even now, was regretting her decision in joining AVALANCHE's journey. Their destination was an unfortunate one and the mere anticipation of their arrival was enough to uncover tormenting memories. But somewhere deep, buried under a mount of anguish and misery, was a gladness of sorts. She was returning home.

"You're making this a habit."

Cloud's heavy boots pounded against the aircraft floor as he settled on one of the seats opposite her. "Tifa's worried about you. If you're going to wallow in your memories, at least have the decency to act like nothing's wrong."

Max looked at him. "From what I hear, that's not normally the sort of thing you'd say. Have I done something wrong? Have I riled you?" When Cloud remained silent, she smirked. "Or maybe it's because you're in love with her. Is that it?"

He remained calm, his expression unchanged. "You lied about your reasons for not joining us. You lied about your knowledge of the Ruined Kingdom. And I'm almost certain you're lying about your involvement with the royal family. I can only imagine what you're keeping from us now." He leant forward, deliberately slow. "And you wonder why I'm hostile."

"I wouldn't call it lying, so much as keeping my private matters private. Which is something I'd very much like to continue doing." Max met his movements, resting her elbows against her knees as she moved forward. "As for all that hostility, clearly its sexual frustration. I'm sure your beloved would be more than happy to satisfy your needs."

"Your snide remarks are as much a sign of sexual frustration as my hostility. Regardless, it's beginning to irritate me." Those Mako eyes stared intensely at her and she found herself unable to pull away, despite her strong desire to end the conversation. "Whatever you're trying to hide, whoever you're trying to escape from, there are people who are willing to help you through it."

Her expression darkened and she pulled back. "You force me to repeat myself. My private matters are none of your concern. And I'd appreciate it if you kept gossip to a minimum, as difficult as that might be."

Rising silently to her feet, Max made her way towards the door. The conversation had grown tiresome and she wasn't in the mood to continue. Cloud wasn't so willing to terminate their discussion. For whatever reason, he felt the strong desire to connect with her, despite her disparaging remarks and undisclosed emotions. He reached out and caught her by the elbow, holding her fast and pulling her round to face him. They stood nose to nose, close enough to kiss; his breath was warm on her face, his eyes narrowed with piercing persistence.

"You can't spend the rest of your life running. At some point, you're going to have to stand and face it."

Max's face contorted in a scornful expression. "Tell me Cloud Strife, are you my saviour? Do you plan on rescuing me from the darkness?

Silence fell, but they held each others gaze as though daring the other to look away first. She was testing him, in some twisted way, to see if he warranted her trust. And, observing her now, her halted breath and jeering exterior, Cloud realised that gaining her confidence wouldn't be a simple matter of proving himself. He loosened his hold, enough for Max to pull free. But as she stalked towards the door, his voice called out.

"Remember what I said." Her hand rested on the door handle as she stilled. "Whatever it is. You can't run forever."

Nowhere left to run... Max shook her head violently and clamped her fingers around the handle as though about to snap it off. Cloud knew nothing of her past. The horror inflicted on her behalf. She was Death. And if running from her past allowed her to keep what little sanity she still retained, Max would continue until her legs collapsed from under her. Because the moment she stopped running, was the moment she would truly lose herself. And that thought frightened her.

"Watch me."