Chapter 3
"Could you run any slower?"
Kairi scoffed and jumped up over a large rock. "I'm sorry I wasn't blessed with super SOLDIER speed."
Zack cringed at that, noting to himself it was only because of the Mako Injections and then being bathed in a tub of the stuff for five years was probably the only reason why. It was a considerable achievement that Kairi could keep up with him the way she was. It was much faster than any normal human should be able to run. But when he thought about it, Namine wasn't really normal either, and if this girl was sent with him because of Namine, then she wasn't normal either.
"So, Kairi, How do you know Namine?"
Kairi chuckled and formed a heart with her hands, curling each finger and placed it to her chest. "Namine and I are lovers."
Before he knew it he was face down in the sand outside of Midgar with a laughing Kairi standing a few feet ahead. "Lovers?!"
She laughed and flipped her hair. "Is it really that surprising? I mean you love Cloud."
"Well ya, but you and Namine are," he searched for his words. "Well, you're like polar opposites. She's south, you're north. Ya know?"
She thought about it for a few seconds then nodded. "I guess so. I mean she is quite shy compared to me. Also, I'm the more cheerful out of the two of us."
"Exactly, it's hard to imagine the two of you…bumpin' uglies."
Kairi stared at him with a wide eyes and her mouth formed in and O shape that reminded Zack of a gaping fish, but then seconds later she appeared like she was going to kill him. Or at least permanently injure him or something. " 'bumpin' uglies!' that's what you think me and Namine are. Fuck buddies?!"
Zack brought his hands up, frantically waving them. "NO! It was just an expression! Oh, god, you're gonna kill me. Come on, I just got back and- Wait, what the hell are you laughing at?"
Kairi was practically dying of laughter, tears forming at her eyes, and her hands clutching frantically at her sides as she took in the state of a frightened Zack. And now, a very, very confused Zack. After she had finished she helped Zack to his feet, while suppressing a fit of laughter that was trying to return to her. She shook her head and glanced toward Midgar. It was nighttime now, and they had been running since Zack's return, which had been early morning.
"I suppose we could rest now, if you wanted." She said, gesturing to cave that had formed in a rock formation near them.
"But if we keep going we'll get to Cloud by morning." Zack protested, he really, really wanted to see Cloud.
"Yes. Yet, if we keep going there will be monsters about, and neither of us are currently armed at the moment if you haven't noticed. Although you took Sephiroth out, I'm not sure you could take out a couple of Behemoth's out with your bare hands." She explained.
"Oh, I see. Well then I guess we could rest. But only till sunrise."
Kairi smiled and nodded. They made their way to the cave and Zack was surprised to see Kairi pull out a fire materia. She explained that Namine had actually given her several materia, since her blond lover hadn't wanted her to be totally helpless while traveling this planet. She then searched the cave for some wood, and brought back a sizeable amount, laying it in the center of the cave. Casting a level one fire spell, she lighted the wood and laid herself down on the ground.
"Hey, Zack?" she whispered.
"Yeah?"
"How did you meet Cloud?"
The sudden question caught him off guard. No one except Aerith had ever asked him that, and she had listened patiently as he explained that he and Cloud were on a mission together were they had conversation about their hometowns and where they were from and such. He had said that while he may have been having a normal conversation with the blond, he was really imagining that he was screwing the blond senseless in the snow. Aerith had blushed pink at that and had looked away, stating that Zack was a pervert and that he shouldn't discuss his same sex fantasies with women.
He smiled kindly at Kairi and glanced at the fire as memories that had been blurred during his time in the Mako tanks, swam back to him. Suddenly he remembered several things at once. Like the first time he had wanted to kiss Cloud, but had held himself back because he hadn't wanted to ruin their friendship over his feelings which were, most likely, not mutual.
"We were on a mission. He was the only one who was keeping up with me on the snow, even Tseng, of the Turks, wasn't keeping up. Man, was he tired. Anyways, I told him that at least someone was keeping up with me, and he said 'well I'm a country boy too,' and then our first conversation was about our homes and Mako Reactors."
Kairi nodded, a faint interest in her eyes. It looked like she was far away, in her own world, and in that world probably sat Namine, with her sketch book. Then it hit him. He didn't know anything about Kairi, but he was practically following her lead as if they knew each other for years. He had just met her, yet for some reason, he found her completely trust worthy. It was like when he had met, Cloud. Although he hadn't known him, he felt compelled to trust Cloud with everything.
Zack sighed and took of his shoulder pads and boots, and then his shirt, letting the warmth from the fire touch his skin. He was paler than usual, but that could be because he'd just risen from the dead. It wasn't like he was expected to be in top shape. Yet, he still had his toned body and he could feel the SOLDIER strength emanate from him like a water faucet. He lay onto the cold surface of the cave floor and closed his eyes, hoping that all of this hadn't some dream and he wouldn't wake up in the morning and figure out that he was in the life stream.
Cloud sat abruptly. He'd fallen asleep and had slept through the whole night. No interruptions. That was weird, he hardly ever slept at all, yet he had slept a whole night without a peep. He hadn't dream, yet that might have something to do with the fact that he had fallen asleep lying in Earth's flowers. Sighing, Cloud brought his knees to his chest as he buckled First Storage onto his back. The six different hilts splayed around him, making him look a bit more threatening than he would with just one sword. He walked over to a chest in the side of room where he kept his belongings and pulled out his PHS.
Frowning, he noticed that there were no calls from Tiff. She always called him at night. Although he never answered. He had never gotten over the fact that although, Tiff never liked him as a teenager, and had only had a conversation with him once, she know was constantly proclaiming her undying love for him. He figured it was probably just because he was a hero now. He had killed Sephiroth three times now, and although it pained him deeply to do so each time, he would do it again today. Should the One Winged Angel show. Sephiroth wasn't exactly fond of him, but the man was his hero, and he would give anything to go back into that time in Nibelheim and try to change everything that happened. Although it was probably impossible to do so.
A ringing filled the hall and Cloud sighed, looking at the number. Reno. Flipping open the phone he lifted the mouthpiece to his face. "Strife."
"Yo, Cloud. How's it goin'?"
Cloud raised an eyebrow, wondering why he could her gunshots in the background, and why the Turk would call him, of all people, while on a mission. "What do you want, Reno?"
"I can't just call you to say hi? That's a little-" he heard Reno yell obscenities at some gunner as he probably, most likely, killed him. Finally there was a bit of static and yet Reno could be heard breathing on the other line.
"Reno?" he asked, wondering whether or not talking would give away the Turks position to someone.
"I'm here, yo. I just got…hurt a little. 's all."
"What did you call for, Reno?" he whispered, concern edging his voice at hearing the redhead was in pain.
"Because I wanted to hear your voice."
The whispered reply had almost caused Cloud to drop the phone. He had hurt Reno. He had given Reno the thought that he actually had a chance, and then had ripped his heart in two. He felt so guilty for it, and he had never forgiven himself, just like he had never forgiven himself for Earth's inevitable death. Or the Death of hundreds of people in Midgar, or even for the Death of the beloved General and his Remnants. Goddess, he felt like he had carved the headstone for Reno's grave.
"R-Reno…I'm-"
"Don't say you're sorry, yo. Cause it's not your fault. Shiva, it's probably my fault to begin with." Reno cut in. Cloud's hand shook as he fought to control himself. He hadn't meant….he didn't want to….
"God, Reno…I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault…Cloud?" he whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Have a good day, buddy."
Reno laughed and Cloud sighed, showing his obvious discomfort. "You too, Reno. Bye."
"Bye, and Cloud….can I….uh…come over, tonight?"
Cloud sighed. He did owe Reno, after all the pain and heartbreak he'd caused him. Reno most likely hadn't been involved with anyone, and Cloud was willing to oblige Reno in his needs. Weighing his options he ended the conversation with a hesitant 'yes' and clicked his phone shut. It would be another hour till Reno got to his own apartment, and Cloud would meet him there. It took 30 minutes to get there from Seventh Heaven, so he would make stop and see the kids, talk to Tifa and then head to Reno's.
"Cloud!" Marlene ran to him, clutching something very shiny in her hands. Well it looked shiny to Cloud anyway.
"Hello, Marlene. What do you have?"
Marlene smiled, her hair and sweet innocent features reminding him, once again, of Aerith. "It's a necklace, for you! Vincent asked me to give it to you. It's really pretty. He said he wanted to give it to this girl but didn't have the chance to. I asked him if I could give it to you and he said yes."
Cloud nodded and took the necklace from her hands. He gasped at the beauty the object held. It was a simple silver chain with a jewel encased in silver at the back, and at the front it was a beautiful green. Reminding him, with a shiver, of the eyes of the man he'd cut down three different times. Turning, he settled onto his knees and put the necklace over his shoulder.
"Could you put it on Marlene?" he asked, his voice soft and full of tenderness.
Marlene nodded quickly and put the necklace around his neck. He moved a few spikes out of the way and let her click it in place before lowering his hands. She smiled at him, mirth showing in every essence of her being.
"Tifa wants to see you, and Denzel told me to tell you hi, he's spending the night at a friend's."
Cloud nodded, his whole being seeming to tense at the knowledge that Tifa was inside. Sighing, he patted Marlene on the head and walked into the bar. Tifa sat on a stool, one hand holding a piece of paper, and the other wrapped around a glass filled with vodka. A drinking Tifa, was never a good Tifa. It was a horrible, scary, impossibly strong Tifa, who would kill anyone who pissed her off. This meant that he would have to be very careful of what he said. Or he might just die.
Tifa glanced up, and waved solemnly at him before looking back down into her glass. She downed the poor liquid in one gulp and slammed the glass down onto the table, cracking it down the center, but not breaking it.
"How are you today, Cloud?" she asked, her voice wavering slightly.
"Good, and yourself?"
"I've been better."
"Ah.."
Cloud nodded, seemingly to himself and crossed the room, taking a place on a stool to the left of her. She glanced up, he could smell her breath. It stunk of her best liquor. "Any calls for the delivery service?"
She nodded and handed him a piece of paper. It had the number of Reno's apartment and a time, which was 40 minutes from now. It was his excuse. Reno gave him an excuse so that he could leave and visit him without anyone being suspicious. Thank god Reno was a Turk.
"Thank you. Bye Tifa."
He stood, waving a little and left Seventh Heaven on a straight road to Reno's apartment.
