Hello everyone! Thanks for reading my story and I hope this chapter won't be too boring! :)

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Whitney: Thank you Whitney for always reading and reviewing! :) It means a lot to me seeing these reviews :3 I'm sorry that not much happened in this chapter, but the next one will be packed full of new things and events, that's why this one is so plain ^^

Enjoy!

Chapter 7: Toy SOLDIER

It was Seventh Heaven alright, but Zack felt a weird sense of danger filling him that was making his skin crawl. He lifted a hand automatically to grasp at thin air, remembering he didn't have his sword strapped on.

He frowned, it seemed like he would, as much as his whole body was protesting, have to trust Reno and Rude as the two men approached the front door to the bar and gestured for Zack to go first.

Sharing a skeptical look with his friends, Zack braced himself and pushed open the door and suddenly, he realized why his stomach was flipping uncomfortably and his senses tingling uncontrollably.

The rest of the Turks were seated at the table in front of the bar, Tifa keeping a close eye on them as she pretended to wipe the counter, locking gazes with Zack. He watched her eyes widen in surprise at seeing him, in his old SOLDIER garb no less, but more importantly, without shackles and chains robbing him of his freedom.

Cid whistled lowly, glaring at the suits, "Tch, now that's what I call a welcome party, eh?" He spat, eyes ablaze with a deep anger for destroying his life along with his friends.

Zack's eyes narrowed, mako blues glowing even brighter, "How did you know where I was? According to Shinra, I'm dead," Zack looked every bit the formidable, lethal First Class he was years ago. A body that went through trial and error, retaining its fit physique, coupled with his glowing mako eyes and the dangerous look about him made for one very disturbing picture.

Reno decided to butt in, intent on adding to the pile leisurely, "Yeah and according to Shinra, we should be dead too," Zack rose an eyebrow at the new piece of information,

"Just what is going on here, Reno? What happened after I got captured?" Zack's question was met with silence as the man snorted. Zack looked back at the people sitting in the booth, but they remained silent, he could have sworn he recognized one of them...

Zack's intimidating posture didn't deter the second in command, the answer was calm, "Shinra collapsed," his voice was even but there was apparent distress in his eyes.

From the corner of his eyes, he could see Tifa stopped moving, listening to their conversation.

"What?" Barret, Cid and Zack all simultaneously asked, eyes wide in disbelief.

Reno shifted his weight looking at Zack directly, "The president had died years back in a explosion caused by a malfunction within the mako reactor next to Shinra HQ. Reports dating back suggested it may not have been an accident, but thus far, we have no evidence to prove otherwise," Reno's own blue eyes stared at startling blues, "His son however, survived and has claimed the seat of president for himself."

"Wait...Rufus is now president?" Zack blinked, remembering the odd conversation he had had with that drug addict in the courtyard, "Say, what happened to Hojo and Hollander? They should be dead too considering the mako reactor was right next to the lab," his eyes narrowed, already suspecting Tseng's answer.

Rude answered just what Zack suspected, "They're still alive and active within the Shinra company," his expression was grim, suggesting his distaste over the fact.

How could he not, after all. The Turks and the science department had never seen eye to eye, especially not with Hojo and Hollander and their crazy personalities. Zack didn't blame him, just about every SOLDIER with a heart and a little shred of sanity hated their guts.

He remembered the Second Class SOLDIER in prison, who had challenged him to a fight in the cafeteria. He also remembered their talk afterwards in the isolation cell as punishment for starting a fight.

Flashback

"Hey, First," the cocky Second Class called out to the man leaning against the wall on his isolation cell, Zack regarded him with blatant distrust and an air of disinterest, two pairs of glowing mako eyes meeting.

Making certain he had Zack's attention, the Second continued, "If you're not responsible for betraying SOLDIER and my buddies deaths...then why are you here?" his voice changed something akin to...sadness, "Why did...they all have to die? We all worked for the same thing, for the same company..." he hissed when he clenched his injured fist, wrapped in bandages.

Zack remained quiet, thinking on the best way how to explain everything that happened before he got sent to this shithole. He didn't know if the Second would even believe him, but he might as well try for the sake of answering the youth's questions.

"Hojo...conducted experiments on some of the Thirds and a select few of Seconds. We started to become suspicious why those SOLDIERS either went missing or died as soon as they stepped foot out in the battlefield." He closed his eyes, leaning his head back against the wall, "We found out Hojo's been injecting them with something. He destroyed any and all evidence so we didn't even know what that stuff was. SOLDIER wanted to kick him out, but..." he sighed, "He promised us he would reveal the location of a captured cadet. Turned out, he had been hiding him in the basement, an underground space located just beneath his lab." His eyes narrowed, "The cadet was barely alive when we found him, pumped full of mako of a strange kind. Following those events, prez Shinra came and took over SOLDIER and made it a part of his company Shinra. SOLDIER would have never allowed for such experiments to continue, but Shinra did. So they did, for a long time." He looked directly at the Second.

"I got captured by that lunatic too and experimented on. When I broke out of the test tube, I had been immune to his experiments due to my high dosage of mako, but the cadet beside me wasn't. He was in a comatose state for months and in that time, Shinra ordered SOLDIER to hunt us down for whatever crazy reason." Zack looked down on the floor, eyes darkening, "We were on the run for a long time, until SOLDIER finally caught up. I hid the cadet and faced them. I thought I would die, but in the end I got imprisoned and my injuries were treated after I killed them all." He looked back at the stunned Second, "I've never heard of Shinra again after that, or the cadet for that matter,"

The Second swallowed audibly and shakily decided to voice his question, "All that trouble for a cadet...just who was he?"

Zack's gaze narrowed and he crossed his arms, "A friend of mine," it seemed he offered no further explanation as he turned and walked to the end of his cell, his back to the door as he remained silent for the rest of the day.

Flashback End

Zack frowned and Rude voiced his thoughts, "You don't seem happy," his remark was sarcastic, of course.

Zack smirked ruefully, "Is there anyone that is?" Rude remained silent, agreeing with him without the use of words.

"Why are you telling me all this? You're still a part of Shinra, even if the prez is dead," Zack found it a shame, he really had wanted to kill the old bastard with his own hands.

Rude didn't miss a beat, "As I said, Rufus is now president. Unlike his father, he seems to be more lenient, even to the point of setting someone like you free," his eyes seem to narrow beneath his shades as he grimaced, "The Turks don't trust him completely, but we are willing to try as long as he doesn't endanger any of us," Rude paused slightly, "He's planning to rebuild Shinra,"

Zack rose an eyebrow suspiciously, "So the president is dead and Rufus took over the throne?" Rude nodded, "And you're saying he wants to rebuild it?"

Reno answered this time, shrugging one shoulder nonchalantly, "Heh, yeah. Haven't been easy, yo. Most stayed loyal to SOLDIER, not Shinra,"

"So, that means SOLDIER will be rebuilt again?" Zack didn't want them to see the slight sliver of hope he felt, he stubbornly pushed it back down.

Reno shook his head, "Not likely, man. Rufus still wants to control it, so don't go getting ideas about SOLDIER as you once knew it, he's still a Shinra, maybe not as bad as his old man, but he's still Shinra,"

"Then why do you follow him?" Zack remembered having already asked this, but this time the answer was different.

A new voice sounded suddenly and Zack shifted his gaze back to the one man he hadn't seen in years, "Because we have no choice,"

He was of average height, still same crisp suit, hair in a high short ponytail, but his eyes were what changed, they seemed darker, wiser, no doubt having seen their fair share of blood and gore.

"Tseng...you..." Zack trailed off, disbelief apparent on his face.

"Are still alive? Yes, you may say that," Tseng stood up to face Zack fully, he smiled after a moment, "It's good to see you, Zack," Zack smiled back, shaking his offered hand.

"Yeah...you too." Smiling at his thought to be deceased friend, Zack composed himself once more, "So, what's the deal with Shinra now?"

Tseng's smile fell, "I'm afraid mako will continue to be used as its primary energy source, however I don't think the tyranny will quite be the same as before. Rufus may be the president's son, but blood is all they share,"

Cid hummed at the remark from behind Zack, "Hm..."

Tseng turned to him directly, "I realize what Shinra has done to you can never be undone nor can it be atoned for, not in a lifetime anyway. I can't say I'm sorry for what happened in the company's name, I can only say I'm sorry about your loss and the years they took from you," Tseng turned towards Barret, "And you,"

Barret snorted, crossing his large arms, "Don't care about no fucking Shinra, all I care about is seeing my little girl again," Tseng nodded and he looked at Reno and Rude.

"Reno, Rude," the two Turks nodded, motioning for a blonde female Turk Zack hadn't seen before to follow them outside.

Now alone with only Tseng in the bar, the Turk stepped toward Zack and retrieved something from the inside of his suit, Zack reflexively braced himself for a concealed weapon even if it was Tseng, but instead, the Wutaian male pulled out a stack of what appeared to be envelopes.

"This is for you," he handed Zack the papers, "These are 89 letters." He looked Zack directly in the eyes, "From Aerith,"

The former SOLDIER's eyes widened, blood turning to ice as a cold shower traveled down his whole body, "When did...-"

Tseng's expression softened slightly, "...Before her death, while you were imprisoned. She...had no knowledge of your imprisonment, she thought you had died in the last battle but she still wrote to you." He placed a hand on Zack's shoulder, "I had wanted to tell her, but I was sworn to secrecy...take your time, Zack," with this, the Turk leader left the bar, the only sound in the room being from the jiggling bell as the door closed.

For a while, it was silent, not even Tifa made a move to turn around and greet them or lighten the mood like she was known to do. Cid and Barret remained quiet as well, staring worriedly at their friend, who was frozen stiff while holding the letters.

Clenching one fist, Zack closed his eyes, breathing deeply.

"She...thought I was dead?" various thoughts swarmed his mind but this one covered the majority of it, his stone heart clenched painfully, "All this time...all these years...she thought I died that day..." that was why she never answered any of his letters while he was in prison, hearing of her death while imprisoned in that hellhole had been the worst kind of pain he had ever felt before, even the physical pain of his body being riddled with thousands of bullets, sword slashes and burns didn't compare.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Zack directed his question to Tifa without turning to look at her back, "Did you...know of this?"

The barmaid stiffened before slowly turning around to address her friends. Her face spelled sadness and pain, "I found out last night, after Reno and Rude visited me." She bit her lip, "Tseng said...he wanted to tell you personally,"

Walking toward the bar counter, she rested her hands against the polished wood, "I've had two rooms be built in my apartment upstairs, I can take the couch while you guys get settled, I have long night shifts anyway,"

All three heads turned toward the woman and it was Zack that spoke first, "Just cuz I killed a bunch of idiots doesn't mean I lack the heart to let a woman sleep on a couch, you're staying in your bed, Cid will sleep on the couch,"

Appalled, the smoker turned to his friend, "What? Why don't you go sleeping on the couch porcupine?!" he waved his fist at the younger man.

Zack smirked playfully, "This is punishment for praying to your cigarette god and trying to poison yourself again," he winked playfully.

And suddenly, Tifa smoothly produced a rectangular box from under the counter, waving it playfully in the air with her hand, immediately diffusing the situation, "Oh Cid," she stretched his name out lightly and giggled when hope shone brightly in the smoker's eyes.

"My babies!" Cid wasted no time to spring toward the counter, just barely managing to give Tifa a crushing bear hug and a friendly peck on the cheek before he snuggled with his cigarettes, cooing softly.

Barret sneered, "Ya know...for an old ass like ya, ya sure can purr like a kitten,"

Cid kicked the man's leg harshly, causing both friends to start seizing each-other up, reminiscent of their old friendly brawls, "You want me ta show ya how an old ass can kick your fat ass?!"

Zack sat himself on a stool in front of Tifa, resting one arm against the dark polished wood of the counter top, watching his friends, "Funny...it almost feels like things haven't changed," he looked at the familiar photos on the walls, of once happy times.

There was one with all of them, Zack, Tifa, Cid, Barret all of their friends, the family photo as they liked to call it.

A feeling of nostalgia hit him suddenly and Tifa sensed the change in mood, smiling ever so slightly, "I miss him too..."

Zack looked at her, "You mean..." Tifa nodded, smiling.

"Mhm...yeah," both individuals turned their attention back to the happy picture on the wall, of all of them.

A younger Cloud was on it too with a younger Zack, before Shinra's betrayal.

They were happy. All of them. With Zack ruffling Cloud's hair playfully and the younger man smiling and looking helplessly at Tifa, who was laughing in the picture, looking as happy as she hadn't felt in years now.

"How is he?" Tifa smiled sadly at Zack's question.

"Good," she lifted her head to look at him, "He was confused when one of the patrons said they wouldn't come here because he used to be a regular here and friends with me," Tifa chuckled, "Cloud asked him whom he meant, but the man just stayed silent, said something that his name was not to be spoken out loudly," her lips quirked in a small smirk, "You're something of a lethal legend by now,"

Zack snorted, drumming his fingers against the hardwood, "Hm...did you tell him?" he rose an eyebrow, already knowing what she would answer.

Tifa shook her head, "No, it's best if you tell him, you know,"

Zack ran a hand through his long hair, "I guess," Tifa watched the thick, ebony strands of spiky hair.

"Need a haircut?" she offered.

"I need more than just a haircut," he grimaced at the stale smell of his old clothes.

She smiled, "I have a washing machine and some of your old clothes,"

Zack smiled back, "I could use a good shower too..." he smelled of sweaty men and horrible prison food.

Tifa continued their banter, "I have a functioning toilet and a shower,"

Zack smirked, "Even a functioning toilet? Lockhart, you live to impress, I see," the two friends chuckled and Zack stood when Tifa gestured toward the back, "Try to make sure those two don't kill each-other, we wouldn't want a scene do we?"

Tifa smirked, "Oh? I think your entrance may have attracted a few onlookers,"

Zack shook his head, "I knew you missed me," Tifa rolled her eyes.

"I didn't miss the smell of sweaty men and prison, thanks," Zack's laugh could be heard as he ascended the stairs.

Sitting on top of the familiar hill he hadn't seen in a while, ever since his imprisonment, he looked upon the stone before him, just under the tree, one of their favorite relaxing spots.

Zack smiled serenely, placing the flowers lovingly on her grave, "Hm...89 letters, huh? I'm sure your hand cramped from so much writing," he chuckled softly, his expression for once relaxed, "I've read all of them..." he hung his head down, hair covering his eyes and tickling his cheeks, "Ever the sweet girl I fell in love with...till the end," his gaze softened when he looked at her grave.

Aerith Gainsborough

Beloved friend, lover and savior

"What did Genesis used to call you?" his eyes softened in recognition, chuckling quietly, "Ah yes...Goddess," silence took over once again, leaves and low hanging branches from the willow tree peacefully brushing her grave in their unhurried motions with the wind.

Expelling a shaky sigh from his body, Zack stood up, "I'll see you later, Aerith," he smiled painfully, "Take care for me," the soft breeze caressed his face and he felt at peace.

Wind tousled his hair and he could have sworn he heard the soothing whisper of the voice he had missed so much over the years flow into his ears, "Take care, Zack,"

He smiled.

Fenrir came to a slow stop just outside of a bakery shop as it's rider killed the engine and dismounted the monstrous motorcycle, kicking the foot rest so Fenrir's weight relied on the carbon leg as the blond man retrieved a package confined within Fenrir's rear compartment.

Hefting the relatively heavy box in his arms, the man grunted as he used his elbow to open the door, the bell chime alerting the elderly gentleman of his presence.

"Ah, there you are, I've been beginning to worry," the elderly man smiled kindly and helped his familiar delivery boy set the package on a nearby table.

"It's alright, I can handle it," came the low voice, now clear without the package in front of his face. Messy blonde spikes partially covered bright blue eyes as they met the wrinkled, dark ones of his customer, "I'm sorry it took so long, I've got caught up in traffic,"

His voice was low and almost monotone, but the sincerity in his eyes was true and that made the man smile, shaking his head, "No need for apologies, young man. The heat is stifling so I've worried you may have keeled over from heatstroke," he laughed lightly, patting Cloud on the shoulder.

"Would you like a refreshment? Surely you must be parched from your deliveries," despite Cloud's polite refusal, he was still handed a tall glass filled to the brim with cool water, the ice cubes clinking together in the glass as the man handed Cloud the cool beverage.

"Thank you, it wasn't necessary," despite his claim, Cloud downed the contents of the glass in one go, letting the cool liquid wash down his admittedly hot and parched throat, finally relieving him of the stifling heat and discomfort he had endured for the duration of his shifts.

Cloud retrieved the small clipboard he brought in on top of the package and the man automatically signed the receipt form.

The old man's eyes twinkled in amusement at Cloud, "Nonsense, I can only imagine what's it's like driving for so long out there, especially in your clothes," he adjusted the collar of his shirt, chuckling when Cloud rose an eyebrow at his own dark clothes, "Perhaps lighter colors may help with keeping the heat at bay," he winked at the youth, smiling.

"Maybe," Cloud prepared to leave and say his goodbye's but the elder man stopped him.

"Hold on my boy," Cloud waited patiently by the counter, watching the man take out a generous wad of money from somewhere within his pocket and holding it out to him with a appreciative, kind smile, "Here, a little something for your efforts," he winked.

But Cloud immediately shook his head, gently but firmly pushing the man's hand back, "It's not necessary, I'm only doing my job," he nodded to reassure the man but he still pushed the money forward to him.

"Take it," there was something serious in the man's eyes that caught Cloud's attention, "There's only so much an old man like me with no relatives can do with all that money." He smiled, "What better way than to pay back a little bit of the patience and kindness you showed me?" he spoke again before Cloud could, "I've heard the whispers in town, you're dealing with a little more than traffic while on the road and knowing how safe my packages are and how often exposed to danger you can get daily makes this old man's heart heavy," he placed the money in Cloud's hands, "You also may be able to buy some toys for those children of yours,"

Cloud blinked slowly, before realization dawned on him and he bowed his head slightly, offering the man a small smile, "Thank you, I..." he struggled to find words, "I will spend it reasonably," he nodded.

The old baker smiled, "I know you will," he winked, "Off you go now, wouldn't want to keep you from your deliveries more than I already have," he ushered him outside playfully and Cloud shook his head, pocketing the money and saying his goodbye's to the man before exiting the sweet smelling shop.

"Wait, Cloud!" Cloud froze, turning his head toward the old baker again.

The old man's face scrunched up in a worried scowl, "There is this talk about a dangerous man out of prison, some folks have gossiped about it today. It may just be rumors, but please take care of yourself and your family,"

Regarding the man questioningly, Cloud held the door opened with his foot, shifting his attention to the man, "A dangerous man? Out of prison?" he rose an eyebrow, "Did he break out?"

The old man shook his head helplessly, "I know not much than you. A few neighbours said he's very dangerous and that was all,"

Nodding and saying goodbye to the baker, Cloud stepped outside, mixed feelings settling in the pit of his stomach. Surely he would have heard about a prison break, definitely if the criminal was as "dangerous" as the old baker said he was. Shaking his head, Cloud cleared his thoughts, surely they were only rumors, it couldn't possibly be true anyhow, maybe he would ask Tifa later just in case.

Looking at the money in his hand, Cloud sighed, feeling a pang in his heart for accepting it so easily. Taking out his wallet and storing the money safely inside in the third sleeve next to his own money, Cloud pocketed his wallet and Fenrir roared to life as Cloud drove away from the familiar shop, entering traffic again as soon as he exited the poor district of Midgar: the slums.

I know, pretty short but I hope I can update soon again! :) Thank you all for reading!