Darkening Abyss Ch 6
You all are wonderful!
Thanks so much for the reviews! Oh how I love you all dearly! I sure hope you all are still enjoying this fic. Hooray for winter holiday nearing and celebrations included ^_^
Zack and Cloud rekindling.
Some references to Crisis Core.
He'd been waiting there for hours. Cloud had asked the doctors to remove the bindings around Zack. If his best friend awoke to being strapped to a bed... it wouldn't be good for anyone. The only time Cloud left Zack's side was either to use the bathroom or go to the cafeteria with Reno who forced the blonde to eat. If it weren't for the red head's constant natter, Cloud would have simply continued sitting by Zack's bedside. Reno had been discharged a few hours ago, bickering about not being released sooner when Tseng was. Speaking of the Wutai… where was he anyways?
Since Zack returned, Cloud figured that Tseng would be monitoring him 24/7; to make sure that he wouldn't just up and start attacking again. Now that Cloud thought about it, there were no Turks near by (save for Reno who came and went as he pleased).
The blonde's train of thought began spinning memories from the past. Zack was a SOILDER and Cloud was a grunt… A measly foot soldier who just so happened to be graced with Zack's friendship and guidance. That friendship and teaching grew into something more as time went on. Cloud knew that Zack was seeing Aerith and was madly in love with the brunette. The woman was a complete blessing, honestly; her kindness and love was showered on every living thing.
However, that key word in that sentence was was. Zack was completely in love with her but then...
During training sessions, Zack's violet gaze couldn't help but wander up and down Cloud's toning body as he clashed swords with the others during some sparing sessions. The younger cadet was growing fast and was quickly developing into a fine swordsman; one mirroring the scrawny mountain boy who signed up just months before. A strange gripping feeling began forming Zack's chest as he watched the other train. Sweat dripping from the teenagers face, blue eyes shining with mirth and excitement… certain parts on the First were reacting to Cloud and it wasn't good. Not good at all. He'd have to corner the kid in the shower stall again… Zack grinned but then thought of Aerith. They never had a sexual relationship but the brunette held a special place in his heart... He knew it sounded corny and made for a lame excuse but he grew to only like Aerith as a brother would a sister. Zack couldn't keep dragging it on. He had to tell her.
Whenever Zack and Aerith met up at the church, he couldn't help but brag about one of his 'disciples' as Zack put it. The brunette laughed and nodded her head, amused with her boyfriend's complete fondness of the young boy. Her small smile morphed into a devious smirk as Zack went on another one of his rants about Cloud's growth. She knew what he was actually thinking about when he spoke of Cloud. And not surprisingly, it didn't bother the flower girl at all.
"Gods Aer… he's grown so much since he first came to this program. The way his eyes sparkle when he grips his sword and plunges into a fight… it gives me chills. I love hanging out with him. He's such the oddball out of the group."
"Oh Zack… just be honest with yourself, I really don't mind." This was the twenty ninth - thirtieth time was it?- that Zack went off on one of these tangents. She didn't mind it one bit. Happiness was a precious gift and one should cherish it with all their heart.
A mixture of confusion and embarrassment made themselves present on the tall SOILDER. "W-what?"
"You're fond of Cloud. That much is obvious." Her smile encompassed her entire face. "Is that why you've been skipping out on our dates?"
Zack's mind drew a blank. How was he supposed to respond to her? It was true. Gods he loved Aerith with all his heart but there was just something about Cloud…
"I really do not mind Zack. As long as you are happy, I am happy. And I must say, Cloud is quite a cutie." She laughed and knelt down by the small flower patch.
"I love you Aerith, I really do. Hell I think I love you both!" Zack clapped his hands over his mouth.
Her head flipped backwards as she let out a roar of laughter. "And that, my dear Zack, is your one weakness- you love everyone." She stood, grasping a fully bloomed flower in between her clasped hands.
Handing it to Zack she said, "Your heart is just too big for one person. Go to him, Zack. Share your warmth with him as you did with me. I will always love you, but he is now the one your heart desires."
Taking the offered flower, Zack smiled and enveloped her in a tight hug. It was true, his heart was too damn big for just one person. He kissed her cheek and smiled. "Aerith… thank you."
"No thanks needed. Now, stop wasting time here, go on and pester the little chocobo. I've got to tend to my flowers."
Zack nodded and raced off. As the wooden church doors slid shut, Aerith looked up towards the peak of the church altar as a single tear escaped her green eyes. Happiness was meant to be shared by everyone, no one could claim it just for themselves. It was a beauty in its own right.
Cloud grinned as he remembered Zack bringing his ex to meet his new lover. The blonde was prepared for screaming, yelling or whatever Zack assured him wouldn't happen, but when Aerith came through the doorway, Cloud found himself with a face full of brown hair. Her arms wrapped around his middle as she tugged at one of his spikes, calling him baby chocobo. Oh that nickname…
The dinner was perfect. Everyone was happy. The next day: mission to Nibelheim. The mission to hell. Everything changed as soon as they stepped out into the backwater town.
Memories of Zack and him locked up in those god forsaken tubes in Hojo's lab… all those needles continuously poking his body. Zack's cries of pain… his own cries of pain… Cloud could barely recall it but, one of the worst treatments he had received was when felt Hojo cut into his skull. The pain that erupted was unbearable as that bastard… did something…
That's when he heard it. The first distant echoes of her voice.
Darkness soon enveloped Cloud and he lost himself.
Years passed, Zack died… Aerith died… Sephiroth died… the chain of death was never ending amongst the people Cloud held dear to him.
Now, many years later, Zack was back. How was it possible?
"How is it possible?" Cloud put his head onto the bed next to Zack's arm. His eyelids felt really heavy… The next thing Cloud knew, someone was running their hand through his hair.
Cloud… wake my child… find me and release me… That voice…
"Wake up chocobo head."
Blue, groggy eyes opened slowly. "Ngh… Zack? Is it really you?"
"Who else would it be?"
It was terribly hard to believe that Zack was there, in the flesh. It had been so long, so long, since Cloud felt Zack's hands run through his hair like that. Gods how he missed the feeling… how he missed Zack.
"Zack… Is someone else here?" Cloud looked around.
"Nope, just me. Why Spike, you hearing voices?" Zack laughed and ruffled Cloud's blonde spikes, not noticing blue eyes slightly enlarging. "So, what the hell happened? I thought I was dead."
"So did the rest of the world." Cloud quickly shook the whispers in his head and focused fully on his best friend resurrected.
"Why am I here and... shot? Why am shot?" Zack looked down at his bandaged shoulder. Violet eyes glancing around the room, quickly remembering that he was in the Shinra infirmary.
Cloud proceeded to enlighten Zack on the entire event prior to now.
"So I practically fucked up Shinra?"
Nodding his head, Cloud grinned. "Yeah you kinda did. You knocked the shit out of Reno and Tseng."
"That punk is still here eh?" Zack smiled, remembering his red headed Turk friend as well as the Turk leader himself. "Tseng too?"
"Yeah, still both loyal as hell to Rufus. Rude is married to Tifa, finally, and they are both living at Seventh Haven, the bar she owns. I'm currently residing with Vincent." Cloud gave a small smile as he remembered the look on the vampire's face when he appeared at the apartment with his bags, ready to move in. Cloud swore, to this day, that Vincent smiled when the blonde showed up early that morning with an arm load of duffle-bags. So Cloud was a pack rat... so what?
"Who's Vincent?" Zack quirked a black brow, a small gut feeling telling him that Cloud and Vincent were an item.
"He was one of the members who helped me take down Sephiroth and save the Planet. I… I moved in with him a couple months back, right after Tifa and Rude got hitched. Seriously, if I hadn't moved in with Vincent he might just have gone back to his coffin. That guy… I really can't see how he lived up until I began living with him. Y'know, he actually is smiling more which is really weird for him." Cloud adverted his gaze to the floor. He hadn't meant to go off on that little tangent…
"Aaaand? Look Cloud I know I died and all but you gotta tell me more about your new lover." It was only like an hour since Zack woke up and he was already squeezing Cloud out for information on his private life.
Snapping his head up, Cloud's cheeks blushed as he stuttered out, "N-no! No, i-it's not like that Zack! We're just friends!"
"Sure it's not Cloud. I've seen that look before when you and I were together… you've fallen for this guy." How ironic, it was now Zack giving Cloud the 'happiness' pep-talk Aerith had given him ages ago.
The blush was ever prominent on Cloud's face as he squirmed under Zack's gaze and puffed his cheeks. "Zack… I…"
Zack laughed and ruffled Cloud's blonde spikes. "Hey calm down there little guy!"
"I'm not little." Cloud brushed off Zack's affectionate ruffle. "I'm not the same as before Zack. I've changed."
Zack's smile faltered as his violet orbs met hardened blue. What had happened to the Cloud from before? "Sorry… uh… haha… um…"
"After you… left…"
"Died." Zack corrected him. It still felt weird saying Zack died. Cloud could still remember crawling up to Zack's motionless form as the rain soaked through their clothes; the dark haired first's blood mingling with the water pooling around him as Cloud simply looked on at his lover slowly slipping away.
"After you died… things changed, I changed. Everything in this world has changed Zack. I think it's for the better too. Rufus is now the President of Shinra, he and Reno are… together. Tseng is... Tseng, still following Rufus's orders and Reno is like a love sick puppy. I swear that guy... Ugh. And like i said before, Rude and Tifa are sorta settling down. Though I suspect Rude will sooner or later end up back here with the Turks. Once a Turk, always a Turk. If Rufus calls on him I'm positive that he would report for duty. I guess you could say that he's on a small vacation. Um… yeah… that's bout it. Oh, and I run a delivery service and Vincent helps out every so often. He's not one for delivering to people face to face however." Cloud snickered as he remembered a call from an elderly lady who bickered to him about someone ding dong ditching her house and leaving her parasol outside where anyone could have stolen it. When Vincent arrived back at their house, he had assured Cloud that he waited for the 'old bat' to retrieve her item before he left.
"Hey that's not so bad. You've made quite a life here Cloud, as did everyone else. Glad to see that things are really looking up for this place." Zack's contagious smile grew to consume his entire face. The black haired boy was proud for the other. All the kid's struggles, sacrifices, weren't for nothing. And hey, now Zack himself was back to begin anew.
"Yeah I guess." Cloud smiled a toothy grin. "It's good to have you back Zack."
"Hey now I get a second chance and bugging the crap out of you squirt." Again, Zack ruffled Cloud's blonde spikes. "I swear, no matter how many times I do that, your damn hair always goes right back into perfect position."
"Well then stop doing it!" Cloud's left eye twitched as Zack barked in laughter.
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Dr. Mikami entered the room, relieved to see the ex SOILDER awake, vitals healthy. He ran some quick tests and drew blood from Zack, grinning as he watch Zack recoil slightly. "You don't seem to enjoy being taken care of Mr. Fair."
"Not that... it's just the needle bit..." Zack turned his head away from the slightly smiling doctor towards Cloud who gave him an 'I don't know' look.
Mikami pulled the needle from Zack's arm, put a small bandage on it and then departed from the room.
"So, what's the lifestream like, Zack?" Cloud quirked his head to the side as he watched Zack fiddle with his IV cord.
"Hm? Oh, that floating ball of joy." Zack turned and faced Cloud. "Well, it's… something all right. After I died, Angeal came and like… lifted me into it. The next thing I knew, all the pain was gone. I was standing next to Angeal as Aerith, Sephiroth and Genesis walked closer to us. Speaking of Seph, he's not crazy anymore, it's like… when he was brought to the lifestream, all the sins he committed… were forgiven. Everyone's there that deserved it. Well… everyone except those like Hojo who go to… wherever they go to… Aerith said pure souls are taken into the lifestream while others just vanish."
Cloud felt a ping of fear when Zack mentioned Hojo; his best friend still didn't know that Hojo was not dead. What was Zack going to do when he figured out that the freak was still alive?
"It's like another world you could say. Literally we were walking on clouds, no pun intended buddy. The lifestream kept us separated from you all, like a barrier. Anyways, Aerith, damn, she's got some power in her I'll tell you. Remember when you were fighting with the remnants and were 'half dead'." Zack air quoted as Cloud nodded his head.
"Well, she worked her Cetra mojo and we shimmied down to the human world and brought you back."
"But then… how are you here now? Did Aerith send you back?" Cloud crossed his arms across his chest and leaned back in his chair.
"That… that I'm not sure of. I was with Angeal one moment, felt a tug, and the next moment I find myself waking up to your snoring. I don't know why the lifestream decided to spit me back out."
"It's weird… a couple days prior to your return, I was attacked by these monsters when I was coming home from a delivery. They were these wolfish creatures with horns." Cloud absentmindedly rubbed at his stomach where the two horns skewered him. "That's when I…"
Cloud paused, debating whether or not to inform Zack that he was hearing voices in his head. Hearing her voice in his head… And that Hojo was back…
"What Cloud? That's when you what?"
"I lost consciousness and woke up in here in Shinra medical." He couldn't tell him. Later. He'd inform Zack later.
Zack knew that Cloud was hiding something. After all, they were lovers once upon a time. "OK… I'll let you go for now but you will tell me later. No beating around the bush you got me?"
Nodding his head, Cloud's gaze shifted to the noise of the room door opening.
"Holy Odin's balls, you're alive."
"I see you still have that sewer's mouth, Reno. You pompous peacock." Zack smiled as the loud mouthed Turk walked towards the bed.
"Never thought I'd see your ass again puppy."
"I never gave you the honor of viewing it in the first place."
"GUYS!" This was one thing Cloud didn't miss. Zack's crude humor and Reno's potty mouth… together in one room…
Reno and Zack laughed as Cloud rolled his eyes. "Reno, where's Vincent? I haven't seen him in quite some time…" Curious blue eyes scanned the empty hallway, hoping to catch a glimpse of the red tailing.
Zack smiled, fully knowing that Cloud had moved on and was now trying to give his happiness and love to Vincent… Vincent … Why did that sound so familiar? Black hair... red... red cape thing... golden claw...
"Oh he didn't tell you?" Reno dragged a chair from the other side of the room, its metal legs screeching on the tiled floor.
"Damn it Reno, why the fuck didn't you just lift it?" Zack uncovered his ears and glared at the Turk.
Shrugging, Reno humored Cloud on the answer. "Red caped Bat Boy went with Tseng to Nibelheim."
Cloud was about to question it further when-
"THAT'S IT!" Zack's yell startled the other two room occupants, making them both jump in their seats. "I remember Vincent now! When I was snooping around in the underground cavern, I came across these rooms filled with coffins. When I opened one, there was this guy in there. The label read Vincent Valentine. He's got black hair right? Red cape thing?"
Nodding, Cloud and Reno looked quizzically at their bed ridden friend.
"No wonder you called him a vampire. That guy creeped the shit out of me when I opened the coffin… Why the hell was he in a coffin? Cloud… why are you sleeping with vampires?" Zack quirked a brow.
"I'm not sleeping with him!" Cloud's cheeks tinted red.
"Could've fooled me…" Reno let a sly smirk spread lazily across his face as he turned his head away from the yell that was sure to come.
"RENO!"
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"ACHOO!"
"Vincent… Stop sneezing."
"My apologies."
TBC
Well, I hope this was a good chapter.
I felt like I needed to lighten the mood at the end. I was getting depressed myself writing everything about Zack and Cloud's past… hence Reno entering LOL. I love that guy ^_^
Thanks for reading!
Please review, it let's me know if you're enjoying the story ^_^
~ChaosGarden