Note: And thus I am back again. Last chapter was whacky, but don't expect anything less. Thanks for the reviews, as always, guys. I always feel bad whenever I leave you hanging after a chapter. And all you nags, I love you. I call you "nag" with love because your constant reminders keep me from forgetting this story. Checking my email at school and seeing I have a review from you guys, telling me to get a move on, always lifts and sinks my heart because they are my little e-inner voices that tell me to start ficcing. Thanks again, guys. Keep throwing your rocks at me. I notice.
----
The Complete Opposite
Chapter XVIII
----
Overwhelmed by the secret he had just found out, hidden by his greatest enemy to make it worse, Cloud do little but be dragged by the fact. ...The fact that Sephiroth -- Sephiroth! -- had feelings for him. Feelings! He couldn't understand how, or more importantly, why. It just didn't make any sense to him. Of all things for Sephiroth to harbor, it was love that had birthed in the steel-natured man. Normally known for his negativity, perhaps even impassiveness towards everything in general, it simply boggled Cloud's mind to witness, nay even be the target of the man's fluffy emotions.
It felt like a curse! Was this what he was meant to do? Be subject to some mad-man's fantasies? And probably sick, perverted fantasies at that. He was supposed to help this man, not become his sex toy! Gaea must have had her bolts screwed in wrong when she decided he would be signed up for this mission.
Why? Why?!!
Of course, no one could or would provide him with an answer. No one, except Sephiroth. He was the only one who could possibly hold the answers and Cloud was certainly not going to confront the man on it. What would happen when they actually talked about it? Would Sephiroth take Cloud's curiosity as an invitation and take advantage of him? Would Sephiroth instead decide that he, not the same as the man who was born of this world, was not worthy enough to be labeled his lover and kill him? Would Cloud be fed to the wolves? Whatever the result was, that's exactly what he would be doing to himself: signing his own death wish.
So here he was, sitting at the edge of Zack's bed, drowning in his own thoughts while the man riffled through his closet for something to wear. The man was always kind, no matter the world displacement, and this time he was generous in offering more clothes. Once, he pulled out a large yellow shirt with a bunch of little chocobos running around it in a haphazard pattern, and Cloud loudly rejected, probably the only violent reaction Zack received.
And it didn't unnoticed by Zack that Cloud was a little too quiet. Before, he got even just a little noise from the blond man, but now, it seemed like something was holding onto his tongue, keeping him from speaking whatever it was that was on his mind.
The only way to make sure that Cloud was even partially mentally here was to brandish that ugly chocobo shirt. It was a gag gift from his time in SOLDIER, the only thing that could get on his or Cloud's nerves. Well, at least this world's Cloud; though it seemed even alternate worlds couldn't keep certain nicks out of people's character since Cloud reacted just as he predicted: loudly and very much against the idea of wearing the shirt.
But other than that small peep, Zack barely got a grunt as response. It bothered Zack; no matter what world this guy came from, because he looked and reminded him so much of his comrade and best friend in the barracks, he felt the need to interfere. He felt that old need to be concerned, especially when that familiar frown settled on the man's lips and a crease formed unconsciously between his brows. Perhaps it was this brotherly instinct that had grown within him since the day he first met that scrawny little kid named Cloud Strife that made him act this way toward what should've been a stranger, but instead felt like the same person he knew all those years ago. Or perhaps it was his heart telling him to treat this character named Cloud the same way and forget all the technicalities. Whatever it was, it stabbed his insides repeatedly and demanded compliance.
Biting the inside of his cheek. Zack tried to instead focus on just simply getting Cloud some clothes. The man needed them, and soon, before the blood completely dried and tried to stick fabric to wound. Aeris had yet to return with the bandages for dressing the blond's wounds. Without her medical expertise, they couldn't really tend to Cloud's other needs. But at least, Zack figured, while his gentle girlfriend took her time finding everything, he could hand over some pants or whatever bottoms that fit the skinny man.
Looking over his shoulder to reexamine him, Zack was once again reminded of Cloud's physique: tiny. Sure, he was not the same stick he was several years ago, and in no way the same boy, but some of the same traits still remained. He was still small boned and wirey. His muscles, though well defined and perfect evidence of the man's hard training and days of fighting, still did nothing to buff up his image.
If he dared to guess, Zack would say that the man could still fit into a small tee, medium at the largest. The only difference was that an extra-small would no longer fit him.
Zack chuckled at the memory, almost forgetting to stifle the noise. Wouldn't do to confuse the kid more.
He pulled out the smallest shirt he could find, another old shirt he kept from his days in the past. He held it out for Cloud to see, but the man barely noticed. Quirking a brow, he tossed the shirt onto the blonde's head.
Cloud made a noise of protest and pulled the offensive object off his face. He would've thrown the shirt back, had he been in the mood, but instead he just looked at it blankly before he tossed it to the side and stripped of his other shirt in order to put the new one on.
Zack watched over his shoulder for a moment then turned his back on the man again to look for some bottoms. He heard the shuffle of clothing, and the soft hiss from Cloud when he accidentally brushed against his open wound.
"Careful," Zack told him without looking. "Aeris would be mad at me if I let you mess up your wound even more."
"... Ah."
That was probably as close to a "thank you" Zack was going to get, let alone response. But it was improvement, so that made him happier. Just... not quite happy enough.
Little by little, though, I'll get it.
Hiding the beginnings of a smile, Zack shoveled through his closet for more clothes, preferably those pants the blond needed. Everything would be too long, even the small stuff from back in the day, but if he could just get something that was much more suitable than the first pair (that Cloud didn't even bother to keep on, he noticed) then if ever they went into sudden battle again, the man wouldn't be half as embarrassed as he was when eh was flying through the air with naught but a loose shirt on.
If Zack had a choice he'd just send Cloud out like that, with just a shirt, but not only would the small man clobber him, Zack highly doubted anyone else would enjoy his humor. Gee, was he really to blame if he thought the guy looked pretty nice with that big wet shirt clinging to him? It wasn't like Zack held any discrepancies toward sexy men, even best friends or best friend look-alikes, in this guy's case.
Go out with a bang, he figured.
But then again, not everyone agreed with him, most especially Sephiroth. The man disliked his little quirks the most. It was a wonder why they were such good friends sometimes. Maybe it was because they were polar opposites. Well, it was the only explanation Zack could hazard to guess.
...And speaking of, Zack wondered how the man was doing right now. No doubt he was doing the same thing as Cloud, drowning in his own sea of thoughts.
What with that last weird occurrence and all... What were they going to do with Cloud now that they had a better understanding of what was going on between him and the Planet? And what more: what was going on between him and JENOVA. Everything they had come across pointed against their original theories that associated him with the witch. Cloud was powerful, just as they originally feared, but he did not harbor alien powers like he did when he was the puppet of JENOVA. And his eyes told the story of a wary, weary warrior that traveled down his own river of trials and hardships very much unlike the childish Calamity Son that they knew of.
Everything was wrong. Or maybe, everything was right. Maybe, Cloud was actually on the side of good, and they should appreciate and take advantage of it.
If only... Not everyone is so accepting. Most especially our leader. He'd be the least resilient of us all. Jeez...
Zack paused in his thought when he came across a small -- well, small to him -- pair of pants. He pulled them out and held them up. Well, with a little cutting and hemming at the bottom, they just might fit Cloud.
Turning back around to face the blond, now sporting the new shirt, he held up the pants, whistling to the man for attention.
Cloud looked up from his lap and saw the pants in Zack's possession. He barely studied it before he shrugged in acceptance. He really wasn't going to choose to be picky at a time like this.
"If it's too long, we can just cut off the ends," Zack informed him a little too cheerfully for his liking.
He was in far too stuck in his mental and emotional turmoil to go along with the older man's bucket of cheer. He only nodded and stood up to take the pants.
Zack grinned at him and snapped the pants in his direction playfully. "Oh, c'mon, Cloudy-boy," he said, "put a little smile on your face. You're getting free clothes! If I could, I'd just send you out like that. Or better yet, naked."
Cloud frowned deeply at the man. "No."
"Well then? I'm not handing these over until I see a genuine smile. And I mean I need to see some teeth."
Teeth? Okay, fine.
Cloud sneered at Zack in contempt.
"... Well, that's a start," the violet-eyed man laughed. "But seriously, Cloud, you need to pull your head out of that hole called depression. You look like you just found out your worst enemy is in love with you or something, geez."
Cloud actually groaned aloud at that. I swear, Zack, you and your irony. If only you knew...
...Actually, he probably did. Cloud stopped and looked up at his former SOLDIER comrade look-alike. It was a wonder why Cloud didn't connect with Zack earlier. Out of all the people he would trust first in this gang, it would be Zack. The man was like a brother to him; their pinkies were probably tied together with a string. And if they lived in the same village, they would probably have been neighbors, talking to each other in the night through handcrafted, cup-and-string telephones. If Zack relationship with this world's Cloud was anything like his relationship with the man in his world, then Zack probably knew the ins and outs of his whole life. There were practically no secrets between them whatsoever. And if Cloud opened up to this man, and befriended him just as much as he did with the original Zack, then perhaps he could confide in him these strange feelings that were coming from Sephiroth, and what they meant. He didn't want to surrender himself to mental trauma over this thing; it was the last thing he wanted to worry about, he could swear on it.
"Zack..." he said before he could take it back.
Zack lifted his brows in question. "Yeah?" He was all ears.
Cloud frowned. He wasn't sure, though, if he really should get cozy with Zack. If he was anything like the one he knew then this guy was also great friends with Sephiroth. He would also know Sephiroth's secrets and blab to him. Befriending him could backfire on Cloud and instead of just simply getting this thing off his chest, it could draw the green-eyed man to him and make the confrontation that much faster and that much worse.
"May I ask you something?"
Okay, apparently his mouth was going to decide for him before his brain thought up a logical conclusion.
Zack smiled. "Sure. Do we need to sit down for it?"
Cloud paused, then nodded. Any answer Zack gave him would be better taken with his body solid against something, not standing when he could very well keel over in an embarrassing faint.
The two went to Zack's bed and sat at the edge. Zack leaned against the headboard with one hand behind his head, the other still holding the pants in his lap. Cloud returned to his spot from the moment before.
"So, what d'ya need, Cloudy-boy?" he asked, smiling.
Zack's jovial and near-carefree nature almost softened Cloud's panic. The man could command a depressing crowd to laugh if he wanted to, and at this moment, Cloud appreciated that little trait.
...Just... if only his mouth would move and say what he wanted to say.
Zack watched him struggle with his words. Just like the boy he knew, he still had the same habits of looking like a fish whenever he wanted to say something important but couldn't get the words out. His tongue would always be tied in a not and Zack would have to probe around for the right question in order to start the conversation. He wondered if he had to do that with this man? His reaction could very well be just as negative as it was positive for the boy he knew in the past. In fact, it surprised him when Cloud relaxed, if only just slightly, when Zack put on that idiot act. Just like his mother told him, a smile could make a person's day better. Just a smile. So when he used it on this man, just like he used to for old Cloud, it caught him off guard that he could react just the same. All it took was a smile and a laugh and Cloud would feel better, and that much more open to talking.
"Wait, let me guess." He was going to try and old tactic. "You... found out that you like wearing skirts instead of pants, right? That's why you didn't like wearing the first one."
Cloud looked up sharply and glared at him. "No."
Zack chuckled. "Then... You want to dye your hair black, like mine, and finally decided I'm so dashing, you want to imitate me in every way!"
"No!" That last thing Cloud wanted was to be a bumbling idiot like Zack, no matter how good of a friend and fighter he was. His attitude sometimes irked Cloud. This world or the next's, they were all the same.
Zack pretended to think and brought his hand up to tap his chin. "Hmm... then, did you find out you were gay? That's always really shocking for people. One of my roommates, Joshie, he found out he was gay and was always afraid he'd attack me in my sleep so he quickly requested to switch rooms. Gee, I miss that guy, he was fun to talk to. So, if you just found that out--"
"NO!!"
Zack looked at Cloud and laughed. The man's eyes were wide and leering at him like he wanted to kill him. Zack figured he wasn't far off from that guess. He flapped a hand at him. "Okay, okay. No joking. What is it? I promise, I won't make any weird comments."
Cloud glared at Zack, reminded once more how ridiculous the man could be. His heart pounded at Zack's last comment; that was the last thing he needed running through his head right now. No, he just wanted to know about Zack's relationship with Sephiroth. He needed to know if the man was just as tight with him as he was in the other world. If he was, then Zack, if he valued this friendship that Cloud was trying out, would know about Sephiroth's feelings, and if they talked about it Zack could keep their discussion a secret.
This little setup he threw together in not even a second in his head sounded like some pathetic girls-only secret. He despised the idea of making this out to be some kind of sleepover, tell about your crushes, teenager party or whatever they were, but that was exactly what it felt like.
Taking a deep breath and letting out slowly, Cloud tried to compose himself and look at Zack seriously. He hoped the man would be serious as well once he saw how uncomfortable Cloud was.
"H... How close are you to Sephiroth?" And hopefully, Zack would take the question the right way.
Zack blinked. Twice. Four times. He was silent for a moment until a chuckle escaped his lips. He held up a hand when Cloud looked at him dangerously. That was it? He just wanted to know about Seph? Well that's easy enough.
"We're buddies, really close buddies. Ever since I was stationed under his personal command and worked with him on a couple of missions, we've been like this." He crossed his index and middle fingers. "But, y'know, depending on what kind of relationship you're talking about, I can tell you two different things. If you're interested in our sex lives--" Cloud shook his head. "--Okay, then you're not. But just so you know, we're not. Curiosity died a long time ago. Hehe. Anyway, we're like brothers. We're comrades, through and through. We've always looked out for each other's back. Even if Seph sounds and looks like a pole's always stuck up his butt, he's decent enough, even around a goof like me."
Zack grinned. "Did that answer anything for ya?"
Cloud hesitated a second before he nodded. "Yeah."
Zack closed one violet eye and some sort of wink. "Now, my turn: Why 're you interested in knowing?"
Cloud startled, though he should've seen in coming. "W-Well, I was wondering if you..." A knot formed in Cloud's throat. He almost couldn't continue and it bothered him. It wasn't a hard question, or really that embarrassing. The only thing he was actually worried about was the answer and what happened then on. "Does... Does Sephiroth ever tell you what he's thinking or feeling?"
Zack paused before he answered. Gee, this kid is just like I remember him. How cute. "Well, sometimes, when he feels like surrendering to my insistent ways. I never leave him alone, so yeah, I guess by now he's learned to come to me instead of me having to chase after him and try to yank out a few words from him. Why, think he wants to kill you or something? I mean, I can understand that, considering who you are and what sides you were on once upon a time ago. A guy can be suspicious, y'know."
"I know that. I would not expect Sephiroth to treat me any other way. In fact..." Cloud swallowed. "I would fear it if he felt anything other than hate for me."
"What?" Zack couldn't believe his ears. What made the blond think this way? If he allowed the theory of parallel realities to play here, then something must have gone on with the two in the other world for Cloud to act this way. If this was the real Cloud, then Zack could call it weird and wonder if the boy was running some fever or something because last he remembered, the little blond was head over heels for their General. But this wasn't the same guy; this was someone entirely different. For all Zack knew, Cloud and Sephiroth could've been worse than mortal enemies (if that was possible).
And what more: what made Cloud so fearful and jittery about Sephiroth showing emotion? What kind of emotion did Cloud see from the normally stony-faced man that caused him to freak? ...Zack would have to confront said man later to see what was going on.
Sephiroth would probably be the only one even slightly willing to speak about it. Cloud's silence sure showed he didn't want to talk about it.
Zack shook his head and tossed the pair of pants at Cloud's chest. "Y'know what? When you feel like it, talk to me. In the meantime, let's see if these fit you before Aeris comes in. I don't want her rethinking about being with me."
Cloud looked up at Zack and gave him a weak smile before he took the pants and stood up.
"A-hah! See, I knew there was a smile in there somewhere!" Zack exclaimed behind him while he wiggled his legs into the pants. Once he fastened the button and pulled up the zipper, Zack spoke again. "You probably still need a belt but it's not as bad as the other ones, is it?"
Cloud shook his head and turned to face Zack, careful not to trip over the bottoms of the pant legs. They were long enough to cover his feet.
Zack got up from the bed and pulled off a black belt from his rack on the back of the closet door. "Here. As soon as Aeris comes back in, I'll go out and get some scissors for those pants."
"I'm here now."
Zack turned to the open doorway and smiled at Aeris as she came in with a first aid kit. "Perfect timing, Aeris. I'm gonna go grab some scissors. Keep this fella company for me, please?"
The flower maiden nodded. "Don't run coming back," she teased lightly when Zack bounded out the door. And when she turned to Cloud, she nodded at him as well in greeting. "Could you sit down and remove your shirt, please?"
Cloud stared at the woman he knew originally to be dead but did as he was asked. He put the belt off to the side, dumping his newly borrowed shirt on top once he got it off. In silence he watched Aeris get to work, opening the small box full of medical supplies. She was gentle in the way she touched him, like a faerie with magical powers. But one thing that was not the same between her and the deceased Aeris in his world was her face. Her eyes were less bright, darkened by sorrow and contempt, scars from previous battles and hardships evident. Her mouth, as well, did not hold that cheerful smile, ever so present like Zack's in his world. It pained Cloud to see her this different, this foreign. He only knew of the young woman who was always optimistic, no matter the dilemma; and whenever she was traveling, even if she came across a big scary monster that was beyond her skill of fighting, she would always have a glint of excitement in her eyes. She had no fear or regrets whenever she traveled with him and rest of the AVALANCHE. She knew sorrow and pain, of course, because of her connection to the Planet, but she always looked forward for a better solution. Only one decision brought forth her death, and even then it was the better solution, something she anticipated and welcomed with all her heart. If she had to do it over again, she probably wouldn't change a thing.
However, this woman was not the same. Whatever battles or pain she has experienced has stuck to her, killing her soul yet making her harder. She was a different woman, a warrior of her own kind. She probably had some regrets that she wished she could do over, and she probably was not so bright and cheerful in battle either. She probably worried more and worked harder than was necessary, a great aid that always sickened herself with overload. But she was still very much the same woman, in many of her characteristics, no matter how differently she handled each situation, and that was what bothered Cloud.
It was difficult to look at her because of all the standing similarities she had to the other Aeris. And when she looked up at him suddenly, he had to look away.
"What is it inside you that doesn't allow the Cure materia to heal you?"
"I don't know."
"You do." Unlike her gentle tone from earlier that she used on Zack, this time her voice was slightly edged. "Even if you do come from another Planet, the magic of Gaea would still bind your wounds close. Yet when I tried to earlier, your body rejected it. Why?"
Cloud shook his head and forced himself to look at the woman. "I don't. Perhaps my chemical structure has been altered by the events that went on in my world, but I don't know that for sure, or why for that matter. I don't know why the materia here cannot heal me. Maybe only my own materia can do it."
Aeris stared at him another moment before she returned to her task.
Cloud relaxed when she retreated from the verbal bombardment. The last thing he wanted to do was have an argument with her. All her questions couldn't be answered anyhow; he didn't know more than any of them, besides the mission that Gaea gave him. That was probably the only thing they didn't know about, as far as he knew. But then again, he couldn't speak with this world's Mother. Maybe the few who could knew. Did this world's Gaea even know why he was there, or did she see him as a threat? Perhaps that was why Gaea's magic did not agree with his body.
"I'm back!"
Cloud looked over Aeris' head to see Zack burst into the room with a pair of scissors in his hand.
"And lookie what I found: scissors! Almost done, Aeris?"
Aeris looked over her shoulder at him and nodded. "I just need to close the end of the gauze then I'll be done," she replied and then turned around to do just that. Then she stood up, putting her supplies back in the box. "There, I'm finished, Zack."
Zack grinned and wrapped an arm around her shoulders in a light hug before he let her leave. once the door closed behind her, he looked back at Cloud and grinned, playing with handles of the scissors. "Yay, cutting time! Looks like you're all taken care of anyhow, so surrender the pants!"
Cloud snorted at Zack and got off the bed, shedding his pants. He handed them over to the taller man as he sat back down. He pulled his shirt back over his head and waited for Zack to do screw up the pants.
Zack sat down on the bed and started snipping at the fabric. He was only guessing the length he needed to cut off, never mind actually measuring the man for proper height. While he worked at the heavy-duty material, he spoke. "You know, I was thinking. You should hang out with Seph some time. I don't know, just spend the day together and get to know each other." He paused to glance at Cloud who stared back at him with bewildered eyes. "Well, you seem so interested in the guy -- he is an enigma, I know -- but instead of asking me, you should just ask him yourself."
Cloud shook his head. "I can't." He accepted the pants back from Zack and put them back on, slipping the belt in the loops while he was at it. Instead of smothering his feet, the frayed edge (courtesy of Zack's bad cutting skills, surprising as that was considering the man was a swords master) only touched the top of his feet, leaving him better mobility.
Zack grinned. "Hah! Am I good or am I good? Just stick on those boots of yours and you'll be fine. You'll have to wait for your other clothes a little longer until the house is fixed." He slid off the bed and kneeled at Cloud's feet, checking the length. "...Why can't you? Seph may be a prick sometimes but in all seriousness he is a good listener. He's probably the most blunt of us all, so he'll set you straight if you're confused about anything."
Actually, that's what I don't want. I don't want the truth from Sephiroth. Because if he does lo-- ...if he does have -- feelings... for me... I don't want to know what that means. I don't want to know what I'll have to do in response. I'd... I'd rather not hear it.
Cloud bit the inside of his cheek. Talking directly to Sephiroth was the last thing he wanted to do. "D...do we even have the time to do that?" he changed the subject instead. "What of JENOVA?"
"JENOVA?" Zack repeated, looking up from his spot on the floor. "You mean fighting her? Why? Are you willing to fight your mother?" It was a weighted question to ask, because the answer Cloud gave would show what side he was on. If Cloud hesitated and showed that he was not so willing fight against the alien witch that once again threatened to bring havoc upon the world, then Zack would have to fight against his best buddy once more and forget any hope of establishing ties with this stranger. But if Cloud instead proved he was supportive of their fight and would aid them in the battle, then... well, heck, that meant a whole new range of possibilities between them! It would mean a dream come true if Cloud worked with them, just like the old days in the Academy. But Cloud's answer...?
Cloud's expression twisted into one of hatred. "That monster is not my mother; she never was and never will be. Of course I fight her. I will not let her poison this earth any longer."
Zack stood up and stared at the man before him. He studied his expression, and when he found no holes in it, no signs of deceit or doubt, he threw his arms around the man and gave him a big hug. "Whoo!" he cheered. "I knew you would, Cloudy-boy! Welcome back!"
Cloud protested and pushed away from Zack. "S-stop!" It had been many years since he had last received such affectionate and bodily contact. He couldn't take it now after such a long absence. "And what do you mean, welcome back?"
Zack relented and let go of Cloud. "Ah, sorry. That's right, you're not the same kid."
Cloud saw a twinge of sadness in Zack's eyes as he remembered the boy named Cloud Strife of this world. "No, I'm not," he said, frowning.
Zack chuckled, though it held an undercurrent of remorse. "Ah, yeah, you're right. ...What's your world like? Anything like this?"
Cloud stared up at the Zack in question. The question caught him off guard. Did Zack believe him to be from a different world, not just any world, but another Gaea? Did Zack guess his origin? And what more: did it matter if he did? Would it hurt to tell?
Nothing told Cloud that he couldn't, so he did. "It's similar, but certain buildings don't exist, or maybe they changed, and the people... they're different too. The faces are the same but their state of being and attitudes are different. Not everyone, though." He paused to smile at Zack. "You're still the same."
Zack looked at him with a frown. "But here I'm alive. There, I'm dead." He watched as Cloud's eyes darken at the memory. When the man stuttered out a question addressing how Zack knew about that, Zack only gave him a sympathetic smile and said, "Because of that memory machine back in Junon. Remember? We used it to look inside your head and see your memories."
Cloud's eyes widened.
"It's one of the few ways we can accurately dive into a person's conscience and extract images of the past without messing too much with a person's brainwaves. Without resorting to hypnotism or some sort of mind-numbing magic, we used technology. Usually, it's used on criminals."
"And am I to be considered a criminal?"
Zack placed a hand on Cloud's shoulder and shook his head. "No. To those of us who know, you are a friend and ally. The others, meaning the rest of the world, may not accept this change, because you -- or at least a person with the same face and name as you -- were once considered the Son of the Calamity and a harbinger of destruction. Because of your relation to JENOVA, many will reject you and become hostile toward you. I'm sure you know this already."
Cloud nodded. "But now? How am I supposed to convince everyone that I am not that same person?" he asked, that frown deepening on his face.
"Well..." Zack sighed, "we haven't quite figured that out yet. And until we do, you should just think about playing friendly with the rest of the gang." He shook his head sadly. "Though I say you're an ally, some of them are still adjusting to the idea so not everyone is all that accepting yet. But you can handle it, right?" He gave Cloud's shoulder a squeeze. "You're strong, I know it."
Cloud only stared back at Zack, unable to say yes or no to him. Dropping into this world, learning about this new place, and suddenly living this new life... It would be hard for him to adjust as well. Never mind those strangers whom he'll never meet, if he couldn't even get these people who he once knew as his friends and greatest comrades to accept him, then he had no hope of redeeming his image before the rest of the Planet. And so far, against all of them, perhaps three persons as most had the least problem with him, Zack included.
Speaking of, Zack gave his shoulder another squeeze. "Hey, c'mon, let's not think about that right now. 'Later' always sounds good to me. For now, let's go downstairs and see what needs to be done."
Without waiting for a response (which most likely would've turned into a protest), Zack led Cloud out of the room, smiling at the man as he shuffled his socked feet down the hall and a flight of rickety stairs.
Once they hit the first floor, Zack called out to the rest of the patrons in the room. "Hey, lookie what I found! It's another warrior waiting and willing to kick some alien butt! And also, he's been wanting to lend a helping hand around here so if someone needs it, holler before he gets snatched away."
"Shut tha hell up, Fair," Cid grumbled from the broken wall. He had a share of nails in his mouth instead of his cigarette, and a hammer in his hand. He was putting up support boards for the wall.
Zack chuckled. "I guess Cid doesn't need your help, Cloudy-boy, so let's try someone else." He nudged the blond through the living room and into the kitchen. Marlene was at the stove, tinkering with something or other. "Mm-mm-mmm! That smells great! I swear, who makes a better breakfast: you or your Ma?"
Marlene laughed lightly and glanced at Zack. "Don't let Mom hear you say that," she told the raven-haired man. "She'll hit you for sure." She flipped what looks like some sort of fluffy, eggy substance before she turned her attention to the two men, noticing Cloud for the first time.
"Oh. Hi," she smiled at Cloud. "Good morning, Mr. Cloud."
Cloud smiled back. Aside from Zack, she was the only other person he knew to completely be at ease with him. After she spent her time with him and began conversing with him, sometimes at different times of the afternoon, or sometimes after dinner up in his borrowed room, he had come to appreciate her presence and become comfortable around her, even if it was only her at first.
"I heard Zack yell that you want to help out? Or is he just pushing around?" she asked, turning her attention back to her cooking.
"A bit of both," Cloud replied, which caused a scoff of disagreement to rise out of Zack.
Marlene laughed sweetly and nodded. "Okay. Well, I guess you can help me here, then." She handed Cloud a spatula and set him to work, smiling over his shoulder at Zack who winked at her in thanks.
Marlene was one of the few people who harbored little animosity toward Cloud and was more than willing to bend her ways to accommodate to his special needs. In the years that he'd come to know the spirited girl, he saw her grow and mature into a wonderful young woman. She still had many more years to go, but already she was like a gentle maiden, optimistic and always searching for the right route. She was Aeris is almost every way, just younger and with a lot more smile despite her own set of hardships.
Trusting her to keep the blond occupied and comfortable, he left the kitchen, promising Cloud he'd be nearby, and ventured back to where Cid was hammering and hugged the man from behind. Cid shrieked madly and nearly dropped his hammer, holding onto it at the last second to swing at the other man's head.
"ZACK!!"
-----
Swish swish. Swish swish.
Red's tail made lazy arcs in the air as his single good eye watched the movements of a certain green-eyed ex-General. The man did not move around so much in a pace, but he was so obvious in his restlessness that Red picked it up like a truck heading straight for him.
"It has been a while since I've seen you this worked up, Sephiroth," he commented.
Sephiroth looked over his shoulder at the talking lion. "...Perhaps."
Red's lips pulled back in an animalistic smile. "Did you let something loose by accident?"
Sephiroth stopped his jitters to stand still, turning his attention away from Red. "Yes. It is probably the worst mistake I have made yet."
"And how is that possible?"
The ex-General frowned. He trusted the mountain lion with his secrets, just as he did with Zack, but it was the embarrassment that welled within him that kept him from saying anything. It was hard to believe that such a little thing like embarrassment would hold back his words and keep his worry bottled. And yet, that's exactly what was happening: he felt that knot in his throat rise and halt his speech, all due to his embarrassment of the matter.
"I wonder, does it have to do with our fair-haired captive?" Red inquired as he scooted up next to Sephiroth, looking up at his face. He could sense the strain in the man, so he hazard a guess. It was a confident guess too, because there was little that ever bothered him so deeply.
Sephiroth looked down at Red and sighed silently. He nodded.
Red nodded to himself. I thought so...
"I believe I have gotten ahead of myself this time." He did not say much more than that, but for Red, as he looked in the man's eyes, he understood well enough.
"And do you know how he feels in return?" the lion asked in return. They both knew who he was talking about.
Still, Sephiroth had to reiterate. "Cloud? ...No, I do not. But I am certain it is not the same way."
Red sat up and shook his head of the dirt that accumulated from the ground. "Are you sure about that? You have not even seen the man today, let alone since after the attack. Perhaps he is taking it better than you think."
"Useless optimism," Sephiroth snorted, "but thank you." He paused a long moment before he shook his head. "...He will be more cautious around me, whether he believes it or not."
"But with watching eyes he may see quickly the difference between you and whom he thinks you are. You can see it, can't you? The thick layer of fear in his eyes. He uses indifference and silence as a guard, just as you do, but he has yet to control the emotions in his eyes." Red chuckled and whipped his tail around to hit the back of Sephiroth's leg. "You are not that much better but at least you are not like the glass case he is."
Sephiroth returned with a light chuckle of his own. "You're right," he admitted. "But..." His expression fell to seriousness. "If, when we fight JENOVA again, he chooses to flee from me and the rest of AVALANCHE instead..."
Red used his head this time to hit Sephiroth in the legs as chastisement. "It will not be your fault. It will be his own undoing if he chooses then to side with Her. But I don't think we will have to worry about that; Cloud Strife -- this new man we have come to live with now -- does not have any warm feelings for the Calamity. He does not see in her a potential mother or source of comfort. His actions up until now have proved that."
The man nodded, surrendering his worry to Red's logic. He was silent as he stepped back into his thoughts again, his eyes staring out at nothing in particular. The wind from the valley played with his hair, making it shine under the noon sun. The grass of the open field before him tickled the edges of his boots. Compared to last night, today seemed so much brighter and full of hope and new horizons and all that corny stuff.
For Sephiroth it was another trip into the past and a dream of sweet lips against his in a long, heated kiss. The bright sun overhead reminded him of perfect golden locks of hair, pushed up in a disarrayed fashion that no one could copy. Soft and brilliant... he loved touching that precious head.
A smile dared to show on his face as he fantasized about a lithe body under his, arching into him as they shared a moment of passion.
...But it was only a dream. Sephiroth couldn't even hope to share another one of those again until the day he died and finally moved on to the world where his true love was waiting. Not the replica that he now had to become accustomed to, and not the puppet that JENOVA had pulled the strings of; no, his real lover, already waiting on the other side of the Lifestream.
There were many times when he wished a monster could take his life, or his foot would slip on the side of a mountain cliff and immediately end his life, but he knew in the end that forcing his own end wouldn't make either of them happy. He had to keep living; he would die when the time was right, and then -- only then -- would he receive reprieve and be reunited with the person that mattered most.
Sighing, he pulled himself out of his thoughts as they started to take a turn for the worse. He looked down at Red and the lion met his gaze. He nodded at him and they both turned away from the peaceful scenery to return back to Kalm and also home.
The walk was quiet and relatively short. Sephiroth enjoyed the small moment for as soon as they got near Tifa's house, he could hear uproar from within. Cid's back was to the partially covered hole he was supposed to be patching and was currently yelling at someone.
Sephiroth shook his head in disappointment, feeling strangely like a mother walking in on her children fighting. He was about to enter the house when his PHS vibrated in his pocket.
"Yes?" he said into the receiver.
"Sephiroth."
Said man recognized the voice to be Rufus ShinRa. He gave the greeting back. "Rufus. What is it?"
A tired sigh came from Rufus' end. "Well, You may have already seen evidence of this but there has been a sharp increase of monsters. Some of my men have been saying that they have been coming from the Northern Crater, coming out in the dozens. It started last night."
Sephiroth sighed in return. "Actually, last night a handful came to attack Cloud here in Kalm. We believe they were after him, probably to take him willing or not to JENOVA. If She really wants her son back, then we can't stay here any longer. I don't want the town in danger if those monsters come for Cloud again."
"I know what you mean. ...Well, if you're leaving (and you're probably going to do this today, aren't you?) then where are you guys planning on going?"
"We won't go until we at least fix up most of the damage to Tifa's house, but once we do, anywhere that isn't populated will work for the time being. Just until we sort out the details of JENOVA's plan and can perform a counterattack."
Red looked up at him from the side and cocked his head as he listened. "No matter where we go, the monsters will come to us, searching for Cloud. JENOVA will know when we move and will follow us. Being in an unpopulated area is not necessarily a better choice."
"...Was that Red?"
"Yes."
"Well, in a sense he's right, Sephiroth. Why don't you guys come back to Junon? At least here you have a navy and working militia to back you up if things turn out rough." There was scuffling on Rufus' end of the line. The man was probably pacing around his desk. "Besides, I would like to talk with you personally to discuss these plans for a counterattack. And... if Strife needs to be retrained we will be able to do so more effectively here than anywhere out in the open that you might've gone to instead."
"Alright," Sephiroth agreed. "As soon as we are done here we'll head back for Junon. I'll call you when we're on the way."
"Sounds like a plan. Bye."
Rufus disconnected the call before Sephiroth could even think of responding with a courtesy return farewell. He closed the PHS and pushed it back into his pocket. When he heard another yell from Cid inside the house, he frowned and shook his head.
"It sounds like they're destroying her house rather than fixing it."
Red chuckled. "Indeed."
Sephiroth opened the front door and entered his comrade's house, that frown still present between his brows and on his lips as he witnessed the mess his allies were making.
"You know I don't like you hugging me, Fair!" Cid screamed. He swiped at Zack's head again.
Zack made a quick duck, laughing as he moved out of range. "But it was a friendly hug!" he protested, holding his hands up in a surrendering fashion. "I told you this already, it's friendly!"
"Friendly my ass! Now get over here so I can brain you!"
"Guys, please don't mess up Mom's house," Marlene pleaded from the doorway leading to the kitchen. Behind her stood Cloud who looked on with an amused expression. It was the first Sephiroth saw on the man's face since his arrival.
"I ain't letting go until this idiot gets his head bashed in. Ya don't ever come up behind me and hug me, fairy!"
Zack jumped out of the way again and danced around the sofa, dashing over to Marlene and hiding behind her.
"Zack," Sephiroth warned, stepping into the living with Red behind him.
"What, what?" the black-haired man whined. "I didn't do anything, Cid just started hyperventilating, is all."
"I'll show you hyperventilating!!" Cid roared and swung the hammer again. Only, this time, he lost his grip and the tool flew through the air, right where Zack, Marlene and Cloud were.
Marlene yelped in surprise and ducked to the floor. Zack, who had made his way behind her, dove to the side as well, leaving Cloud wide open. The blonde's eyes widened, but he too knew to move. However his reaction was slightly delayed with Zack's interference and got nailed in the chest, despite his attempt to at least shield himself from the flying object.
"Shit!" Cid cursed and hurried over to Cloud who doubled over and rubbed at the spot on his chest where he was hit.
Cloud wheezed out a breath. It hurt, the dumb old fart! If his rib and arm weren't broken then they were at least badly bruised.
But, ugh, I think my arm's fractured...
Zack scrambled to his feet and immediately came to Cloud's side. "Cloud, are you okay? Jeez, Cid, temper much? We're lucky it didn't hit him in the head!"
Cid was red with anger and embarrassment. "He should've known to move!"
Zack opened his mouth to argue back but then Sephiroth chose the moment to step in. "Quiet, Zack. It's both your fault." He looked at Cloud who cradled his arm and struggled to catch his breathing. Despite the differences he knew were there between his beloved and this man, a spark of concern overtook Sephiroth as he came forward and gently straightened Cloud, looking down at his injuries. Over his shoulder he glared at the two men who caused it.
"Cid, Zack, you two are responsible for cleaning up and finishing fixing the house. I don't want anything out of order when Tifa comes back. And where's Aeris?" He had expected the woman to be here to control them.
Cid made a face at the order he was put under and answered, "She went out to go buy some things for Marlene."
"I asked her to get me a few groceries," the girl explained when Sephiroth looked at her. "She should be back in about half an hour."
"Not soon enough." He turned back to Cloud. "Come, let's fix your wound."
"Wait, wait, let me," Zack offered. "I'm responsible too."
"That's why you're going to clean up this mess," Sephiroth returned, irritated. "I'll take care of Cloud."
Zack glanced at the mentioned blond and looked at him in worry. Cloud shook his head, too caught up in his pain to really say anything to Zack.
"Well... alright," Zack surrendered and stepped away from Cloud. He was worried about leaving the two together on top of caring for Cloud. He hoped the smaller man could handle himself for the time being.
Sephiroth led the willing blond to the upstairs bathroom where he knew a first aid kid to be. He motioned the blond to sit atop the toilet seat cover while he opened the cabinet and pulled out the little box.
For the second time today Cloud had to be bandaged. He waited and watched as Sephiroth pulled out the necessary materials. Once it was all scattered on the sink counter, the silver-haired man turned to him and fiddled with the band at his wrist, pulling out a green materia.
"Your arm," Sephiroth said, holding out his hand as he stood before him.
Cloud complied and lifted his arm. He half expected Sephiroth to break his arm further, but the man surprised him when he was gentle and carefully massaged his fingers over the tender skin, searching for the worst of the injury. Then he activated the magic in the materia, weaving the Cure into Cloud's arm and wrapping it around the fractured bone.
Cloud winced as the bones moved on their own and tried to settle back together. But just as before, the magic only did so much and instead of completely healing like it should've, a black bruise still colored Cloud's skin while underneath a very weak bone lay unfixed.
Sephiroth frowned inwardly as he felt the magic fail where it should've worked. Aeris told him briefly of this last night, but he didn't quite believe her. Now that he had tried it himself, he saw her to be right. Cloud's body rejected the healing magic. Why? It was another mystery that Sephiroth had yet to figure out about the man.
He pulled back and set the materia back into the slot of his bangle. He pretended not to notice anything wrong as he touched the sensitive skin again, measuring the damage that was still unfixed. Then, without warning, he touched Cloud's chest and pressed lightly at the bruise there. Luckily, no bones were damaged there -- the head of the hammer probably hit Cloud's arm rather than his chest -- but it would still need a bit of salve to quicken the healing.
"Take off your shirt," he said as he pulled back and went back to the countertop to retrieve the things he needed. He glanced over at Cloud when he heard the man shuffling.
He saw Aeris' handiwork around the man's torso. And soon, Sephiroth would be adding another bandage onto the man's body.
Once Cloud shed his shirt, he returned and continued to tend to the injuries.
He was surprised that the man did not protest to each touch, or even their close proximity. He knew it was uncomfortable for him, even Sephiroth himself was unsettled to some extent. But while he worked at Cloud's wounds, the man did not so much as make a peep, only watching his hands as he pulled off his gloves and applied the medicine.
It was no doubt the man saw his ring, but he made no comment about it. In fact, except for his quick breathing and faintly stained cheeks, probably a reaction to the medicine and the overwork of his body (but could easily be something else), Cloud just simply sat there.
Once Sephiroth was done wrapping up Cloud's arm, he laid it down in the man's lap and quickly turned his attention to the blooming bruise on his chest. The man tried holding his breath while he worked in the medicine, but it didn't hold out long.
Cloud's breath gave out after a minute and returned to quick breathing. His bright blue eyes shifted to look at his face, and Sephiroth caught that gaze with his own. His hand automatically did its job as he stared into those conflicted blue eyes.
"It will take a few days until your arm will be fully healed," he said to beat the silence that threatened to fill the room awkwardly. "Also, soon we will be heading back to Junon. If the attack from last night is any indication of what may happen in the near future, then to avoid involving civilians, we'll be leaving. Probably later today."
Cloud's mouth opened and held there as he worked out his sentence. "And... what will you do with me?"
Sephiroth stared into those familiar, yet equally foreign crystalline blue eyes. "For now, nothing. We will just keep a close eye on you -- you will be at my side most of the time -- until we find the need to constrain you. Hopefully it won't come to that." His hand stopped its final circle around Cloud's bruise and stayed there against his chest.
Cloud stared back at him. Just as Red said, Sephiroth could see the man's whole world in his eyes despite the impassiveness of his face. There was practically nothing he could hide if Sephiroth stared at him long enough. There were many emotions and visible thoughts swimming in his eyes and if he wanted to he could drown himself in those pools of life.
But Sephiroth blinked and pulled back, dropping his hand from Cloud's chest before he did something stupid. He retreated with the excess medicine and wrapping and put everything back in the white box before he washed his hands. Cloud pulled on his shirt as he did so.
Sephiroth had a feeling that they wouldn't have to go to great lengths to keep Cloud under control or out of most trouble. But until JENOVA was defeated and this matter between them was straightened out, he would have to stick close to the blond. ...Perhaps even let him into his personal world if that was necessary.
And... it would be much more pleasant if I didn't have to feel like I'm watching out for a knife in my back all the time...
Glancing at Cloud, he nodded to the blond after he put the box back in the cabinet and headed for the door. Cloud followed him out, looking up at him and meeting his eyes once before he looked away and simply stared at his shadow as they descended the stairs back to the living room where the others were.
Sephiroth spotted Zack helping Cid with the wall, Aeris accompanying Marlene around the living room as they sweeped and rearranged the furniture that had been moved during the men's roughhousing.
Zack looked over his shoulder when he heard Sephiroth and Cloud coming down and half waved at them with a fist of nails. "Hey, Cloudy-boy, feeling better?"
Cloud, from behind Sephiroth, looked up to meet Zack's gaze and nodded.
Sephiroth glanced at the blond before speaking his turn. "We're leaving this evening. Once everyone comes back and the house is fixed we're setting out for Junon."
"Huh?" Zack garbled out.
"Why 're we heading back there?" Cid complained, turning his attention to Sephiroth as well.
Sephiroth regarded the two men. "I'll explain once everyone returns. So once you're done fixing the wall, call them up."
Zack frowned and looked at Cloud who was barely visible behind Sephiroth's tall frame. He immediately guessed it had to do with him. Here we go again... Shaking his head he turned back to the broken wall and continued to hammer in more nails, not wanting to figure out what was going on just yet.
For all I know Seph could just be overreacting. ...Yeah, right. I just hope it's nothing too drastic.
-----
Afterword: I cannot believe Zack's real last name is "Fair"! Of all the words you could pick, Square, you had to pick "Fair"?! (cries) And how did I find this out? Well, duh, looking up Zack on Crisis Core which is soon to come out in Japan, yay! I can't wait to buy it, even if it means I also have to buy the console, too, since I don't have one. I might buy both Japanese and English version, just to hear their pretty voices in Japanese. (Lord knows I hurl whenever I hear dubbing. Very few animes / games have not grated on my ears.) Or maybe if people complain enough, they'll make it an option to hear the Japanese voices on the English version. (I'm praying for the possibility...)
But anyway, there's the end of the chapter! I hope I caught all my spelling typos and whatnot, but hey, we're not all perfect. Hehe.
-----
Request: Y'know, I had to keep glancing at the previous chapters to keep this one straight and I must say, once again I am unsatisfied with everything up to this point. I feel the huge urge to revise the whole thing over again, even the stuff I revised already. Haha. If I solely worked on just rebuffing this thing you guys would probably kill me, so I won't. But I am In dire need of someone to help me go back and edit my work. I need suggestions and notes on consistency. Seeing as how I'm making this up as I go (I think I originally planned it out once upon a time ago but after cleaning my house, I think I accidentally threw out my notes... I know: stupid.) I need to see where the holes are so that when I actually do go back and fix everything, I can fill those holes. If anyone is up for the job and is willing to deal with my irregular schedule and stick with me through and through, then please step up. Give me an email if you think you want it (check my profile for that bit of info). And I'm serious about sticking to me; I don't want a beta that'll suddenly disappear when I finally need them to check a late chapter. Oh, and a nagger wouldn't be too harmful either; I tend to forget myself so if you could prod me periodically that would be nice too. But anyway, like I said, drop me a line if you're interested. I'll pick whoever based on how they rip apart my first chapter (since, logically, it's the first thing I want fixed).