Hey! I'm back :)
For this chapter I wanted to go a little more indepth about Cloud and some of the mental scars he have. I hope I managed to do it :) the numbers on his wrist is from Hojo, sort of the caprives at the concemtration camps in WW2, 'you don't have a name, you're number( test subject in this case)'
To Reibunriinta, I was thinking something along the same line. Barret just isn't father material to me, it's hard to explain his pursuit of oil when he know he has Marlene. And also, Marlene is practically living with the others so for me she's alredy adopted but like I don't know, I could go on forever with this hehe :) I dig into these sort of things to easily.
Thank you FarewellfromFaith, you're so amazing and kind :3
Disclaimer! I do not own the game nor the charathers, sadly
Don't be afraid to review, I love reading your thoughts :3
I'm putting everyrhing up here because I'm doing this update via phone
Happy Reading and see you in the next update! :D
He was running; running up the stairs to the big reactor. Why hadn't Zack told him he was going up here? Cloud found Tifa on the floor, bloodied and bruised. Zack laid sprawled across the stairs some feet away from him. Cloud Strife was late once again.
That's when the picture shattered and he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Hojo was experimenting on him again. He didn't know how he knew, he just did. His brain too infected by mako and Jenova cells to be fully conscious of what happened to him. He heard Zack's voice in the background, calling out to Hojo or to him. Cloud would tilt his head to find his best friend strapped down with a panic in his eyes, a fear of losing the blonde man.
It went black and the next time he opened his eyes they were at the end. His whole body ached when he saw Zack walking away form him. Cloud reached out for his brother knowing what would come. His breathing sped up as he watched helplessly when Zack fought for him, putting up a good fight but he was destined to loose. Always the same, never once would the hero win. Cloud jerked when he saw the black haired SOLIDER fall to the ground, the Shin-ra guards kicked him to be sure he was on the edge of death before leaving. That's when the painful grip let Cloud go, the young sword wielder tried to get to his comrade as fast as he could, dragging his heavy body to the fallen man.
Zack shared his last words and thrust his heavy sword into Cloud's hands. The younger watching him wide-eyed, tears forming as a small smile ghosted on Zack's lips before the life left him. Tears were now flowing freely from mako fueled eyes and a pained scream erupted from his torn throat.
Cloud shot up from the bed with a pained scream, he was sweaty and breathing heavily. The blonde swordsman looked around the room. He was safe in Seventh Heaven, Tifa lay beside him. In the next room he knew that Denzel and Marlene were sleeping. He tried to calm down when a slender hand was placed on his arm, her warmth shot through him like small jolts of electricity. He glanced at Tifa over his shoulder, meeting her concerned gaze. The second their eyes locked she knew and she scooted closer. Tifa snaked her arms around his shoulders and brought him close, Cloud turned and let himself be held by her. His head resting on her shoulder, he could feel her heart beating steadily. She was slowly stroking him, managing to calm him down.
It wasn't the first time the memories from his past made an appearance in his head at night. Tifa was used to getting woken by him tossing and turning and then screaming out in pain. It pained her knowing she couldn't take it away, knowing that the memories would be forever etched into his brain, the scars from Hojo being a constant reminder what he was made into, an experiment. And for what? Tifa never dared to read through the documents the Turks had given them. She felt Cloud's warm breath on her skin as his breath finally slowed. He never needed to explain himself. He had told her the first time it happened and he didn't have to tell her everything.
"Thank you," he whispered huskily.
Tifa hugged him tighter. His arms wrapped around her waist and brought her closer, their legs tangling together. She placed soft kisses on his scalp, inhaling his scent, husky, fresh and that scent that was only Cloud's. She couldn't describe it better, it was his scent, the one making her feel safe and at home; if that scent disappeared she wouldn't feel at home. Strange how a scent could mean so much.
A small knock on the door made both adults look up and notice Denzel and Marlene standing just outside the door frame. Denzel twisted his fingers while stifling a yawn.
"We're okay, guys, Cloud just had a nightmare," Tifa said soothingly.
Cloud sat up, his eyes being the only thing giving him away. They were red and puffy from crying. The ex-SOLIDER never cried in front of others, so when he cried in front of her the first time Tifa freaked out, not knowing what to do or how to help. Now, on one hand, she knew exactly how to handle it, the kids, on the other hand, had never seen their guardian cry, so they rushed to the bed and crawled up in his lap. Marlene wiped some remaining tears away from Cloud's cheek. Cloud hugged them close.
"I'm alright," he whispered to them, a reassuring statement for everyone.
Denzel looked up at him with worried eyes, Cloud smiled lightly at the sight. They really cared about him, all of them. He meet Tifa's gaze, of course they did.
"You should sleep," he said to their wards.
"But Cloud, if you had a nightmare wouldn't you want us to be here?" Marlene asked, canting her head to the side in the way only she could.
Cloud got up and lifted Marlene. Denzel grabbed Tifa's hand as the martial arts fighter got out of bed. The young adults lead the kids back to their beds. Cloud put Marlene down and stroked her cheek.
"I would much rather have you and Denzel in your own beds, dreaming happy dreams," he said.
Marlene smiled at him and laid down, snuggling into the comforter. Cloud went over to Denzel and tucked him in.
"Cloud," Denzel called.
The boy had sat up and gripped the warriors scarred hand. Numbers were tattooed into his wrist. Denzel frowned, there was a lot he didn't know about his adoptive father. Cloud sat down on the bed and looked at the younger.
"What was your dream about?" he whispered.
That struck a sensitive chord and Denzel regretted asking at once. His held on to Cloud's hand grew tighter.
"You don't need to answer." He hurried to say to try and smooth it over.
He never wanted to hurt his dad by stirring up old wounds. Cloud squeezed Denzel's hand. He knew he had to tell them someday but not tonight.
"My brother...friend" he said and got up.
The kids watched him leave, both looking equally puzzled by his answer. Tifa sighed and tucked them in, kissing their foreheads.
"That's a big old wound," she said and turned to light off. " Goodnight"
"Night, Tifa!" the kids chorused.
Tifa went back to her bedroom were Cloud stood, leaning against the window looking out at the empty street. She went up to him and hugged his waist pressing closer, leaning her head against his chest. Cloud absentmindedly wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I need to tell them," he mumbled and buried his face in her silky black hair.
"Not now." Tifa replied and kissed his shoulder.
Cloud breathed out, like he needed to hear the words from her before he could decide if he should tell them or not. Not now, no, they were still to young to know what happened.
"Let's go to bed, Cloud," Tifa whispered.
Cloud nodded and Tifa gripped his hand and lead him back to their bed. They snuggled close, so close you couldn't see where one ended and the other started.
"You're safe here, Cloud," Tifa whispered and kissed him softly.
Cloud kissed back. She always knew what to say and do to put his concerns at rest. To calm him and reassure him that he was capable of protecting others. With that in mind the blonde man fell asleep, holding his lover. Tifa watched him fall asleep. She petted away some of the unruly bangs from his face and smiled, following the small scar above his eyebrow. They were all safe here.