HQ16: After serious editing, and reediting and reediting again This is the first part to the AU. Since it is a continuation of the story with an alternate ending, I decided to just add this to the original story. Nothing would make sense without it anyways. This will probably be only about 3 chapters. But here you are loves. Enjoy.
This picks up in place of Chapter 41.
Words:4,722
The next morning we were moving. I pretended as if I hadn't even heard his whisper and acted as normal as I could. Zack led us towards a main road in hope of finding transportation.
"Zack we're avoiding these roads because Shinra is patrolling them." My face contorted with confused.
"Eves, they're going to catch up to us if we don't hurry up." I said nothing in response, only shuffling Cloud on my shoulder for a moment. His self assurance held me from fighting with him. Whatever we did, there was at least Zack that I could trust. This instance was no different. I chose to take Cloud along, as he attempted to get someone to give us a ride.
Eventually I found Zack taking Cloud from my shoulders and grinning. We were in luck and a small smile of my own crossed my lips. We sat in the bed of the yellow truck Cloud and I on either side of Zack. Zack tapped at the glass, "Yo! Old man! We at Midgar yet?" My jaw dropped at his audacity, and I nudged him. He just grinned at me, laughing a bit as the driver responded.
"Shaddup! You're Lucky I even gave you a ride!" Zack shook his head, the old man turning up some tunes from his radio. I smiled once more, it seemed like a very long time since I last heard music.
"Zack, don't antagonize the guy, we should be grateful," I muttered to him as I noticed restlessness cause him to shuffle around the bed.
"Oh he doesn't mind, if he did he would have kicked us off already," I shook my head at him, enjoying the breeze fluttering through my hair. After a few moments, Zack returned to sitting between Cloud and I. My eyes wandered to the silent head of Blonde hair as a strong arm wrapped around my shoulders. Another smile pulled at my lips as he pulled me to him, a long kiss being left in my hair.
Zack turned to eye Cloud, "So what're you gonna do once we get to Midgar?" Silence answered our ears, but we both paused as if listening to him respond. Zack turned to me a mischievous grin on his lips, "Think she'd still let us crash with her?" My eyebrows furrowing in confusion before I realized what he meant and shook my head.
"No way. She lives with her mom."
"Oh, yeah. Guess that's out," he trailed his blue eyes to Cloud, his hand brushing my arm softly. "Change of plans then. No matter what we do, money has got to be first." Pulling his arm from around me, Zack turned to Cloud excitedly, "Hey, we could start a buisness! What could we do?" There was a pause, as Zack moved away from us again. "Think there's anything I'd be good at?" I watched him with raised eyebrows, he turned towards the front of the truck, shouting over the wind.
"Hey, Old man! What do you think I'd be good at?"
"What're you jabberin' on about? You need to try everything while you're still young. You gotta go through you hardship now, and find a path of your own."
"Try everything, he says, easy for him to say." I fought the smile that crossed my lips. Zack shuffled back to next to me, and pulled me close. I wasn't familiar with him giving so much attention to me, so I just smiled wider at his antics. "Got a lot to leave Eves," he murmured into my ear. I turned to him then confused.
"What do you mean?" A smile pulled at his lips, he dropped a kiss on my lips, but never gave me a verbal response. The silence that followed didn't last very long.
"I got it! I got more brains and skill that other people don't have! I could have a business that does everything!"
A long snort escaped me as the man inside the truck spoke underneath Zack's rambling.
"Hey... didn't you head a word I said?"
Zack crossed his arms, his mind set, "Listen I'm going to do it, and that's that. Boring things, dangerous things, anything. I'm gonna be rich!" He grinned and returned to his seat again, his arm wrapping around me again. I ignored the sound of our armor clanking together as he dropped me another kiss.
My heart raced as he lingered on my cheek fondly. "So, Cloud, what're you gonna do?"
"He's coming with me and we're going to open up a rival business, two heads are better than one Zack," I piped in confidently, looking at Cloud before switching to him.
"What? No. I won't leave you hanging like that Cloud," Zack turned to him, with a nod, "We're friends, right?" Another grin pulled at my lips, as a new round of silence enveloped the back of the truck. Zack rose again, to watch the road, Zack took a long breath and I watched his back as he inhaled and exhaled. The sound of a gunshot hitting nearby, snapped us into action. Zack turned to see if either of us was shot.
I shook my head, grabbing for Cloud as Zack ducked down, "Pops, park us over by the rocks!" he leaned down close to us, "Ride's over." Once the truck was moving at a bearable speed I jumped out, hearing it skid away, as Zack pointed me to a corner behind a few rocks. It got quiet, obviously because they lost sight over us.
"Stay here, and watch Cloud," I turned to him, opening my mouth to protest as he grabbed my face, pressing a long kiss against my lips. As he drew away I stared at him, he knew what he was about to face. He knew what he was doing. He was accepting that, but I wasn't.
"I'm not going to leave you to die," I started.
"Evie, what happens if they find Cloud? All this running, for nothing. Stay here and protect him."
"What if they don't know where to find him, and you die because I'm sitting here watching him? I can sense them, just like you can. Do you know how many there are?" Zack sighed softly and moved to Cloud, ruffling his hair and leaving me without answering. I couldn't call out after him or they'll know where we are. I bit my lip, leaning towards Cloud and leaving him a kiss on the forehead.
"Stay safe friend," I mumbled, my hand pulled Harpenger from my back. As I followed Zack I saw, just the extent of how many there were. Even more than I had guessed. All of their guns were pointed, and some even had swords. I jumped up the rocks, flanking the army's position.
"Hello boys, forgot about someone have we?" Gasps of surprise surrounded me, their eyes were trailed off of Zack and that was all that I wanted. I gazed at the snipers in their hands, they wouldn't do much good unless they hit me. Some were too afraid to stay and fight, I sliced through them first, ignoring the sound of gurgling blood.
I cleaved Harpenger down on a sniper, the barrel of it falling to the ground uselessly, bodies leaving a trail as I moved. Slowly, word spread that I was dicing my way through the back ranks, I saw a fair amount of guns turn to my position. "Game on," I said, gripping the handle firmly. My body reacted to each bullet and sword slash as if it was second nature. I blocked shots from guns with a twist of my wrist, and stopped slices from swords with a turn of my arm. Their numbers gave them a distinct advantage, able to find time and places I could't defend. As I killed one, two more replaced them.
My materia glowed from my arms, as I tried to use magic to defend against the soldiers picking at my defenses. My heart was pounding, and as the battle wore on, I had to chose between trying to heal myself and trying to get rid of the opposition.
The sound of a helicopter drew my attention as something heavy was realesed from it. I eyed the projectile, swiveling, recalling Banora. It slowed as it neared, and just before it hit, i sliced it in half. The two pieces spun away, hitting a couple soldiers surrounding me.
Suddenly I found myself back to back with Zack, he was not pleased to see me, "I told you to wait with Cloud!"
"And let you get sniper bullets through your brain? You're welcome Zackary." I grunted, blocking another gun shot with the broad side of my blade, before spinning the sword into an upwards slice. Another soldier fell to the ground, just as a another helicopter showed up.
"This isn't happening right now," I heard Zack say. I gripped Harpenger's handle tighter unsure of what exactly was about to go down. I could feel the little nicks and bullet grazing wounds pilling up. The blood dripped down my clothing, a breeze brushing against my thigh where a sword had sliced. Behind me, I could feel Zack's fatigue. My eyes roamed to the new helicopter, grateful for the moment of peace. It was hovering and the occupants didn't seem to be focused on us. If they were, they would have shot us down by now.
I dragged my eyes back to the numerous soldiers around us. The numbers would dwindle eventually. At least, that is what I was hoping for. "Steep price to pay for freedom," Zack mumbled from behind me, ducking a moment after and throwing a soldier over his back. Harpenger came down, killing the man with a single stab. Gunshots rang out, I pulled the sword from the ground and deflected the bullets, Zack's earth materia clearing away some of the men lined up to die. We could outfight them like this. however, it seemed that someone else realized this not soon after.
The men still brave enough to fight, attacked in two parts and I quickly realized what they were doing. Just as I was slashing to slice their heads from their torso a pain shot up from my side and back.
Sniper wounds. My breathing grew difficult, and they had succeeding in separating us as I felt Zack roll away from an ice attack, the space between us, swallowed up by enemies. My spine straightened slowly and I gritted my teeth against the new wounds. my focus and senses became hazy as I realized they had wounded my lung. Breathing was bare gasps, but I refused to go down this way. My gloves clenched against the handle of my sword and my eyebrows furrowed in my last effort to go down with a fight.
It almost felt like I was fighting from instinct rather than thought. I noted new wounds on my person rather then the number of faceless people I tore down. My movements stopped and my breathe hitched painfully. My sword digging through the stomach of a soldier, who I promptly kicked away. I lifted my sword to find that there was no more. No more men with guns. No more men with swords. Two figures in black stood before me. Pain shot up my torso and I fell backwards, staring at the overcast sky as black poured in around my senses. My strength crumbled and my breaths were mere shudders.
I couldn't fight the swarm of unconsciousness as my eyes fluttered close. My last conscious thoughts were of Zack.
Confusingly enough, I woke up. Consciousness pulling at my aching body. I struggled to move my limbs, finding resistance and attempting to break free. An intake of breath. The rope around my limbs being tightened. My features furrowed in concentration as I let the rope rip at my flesh in an attempt to free myself. My cuts and bullet wounds were gone. My ability to breathe had returned and my limbs were tired.
Something sharp pierced my skin, a liquid entering my blood stream. The change was instantaneous. I grew tired. Even more tired than I was before. My shoulders sagged and I failed to even lift my gaze from my lap.
My head fell as the very worst of whatever was in my stream hit me. I was tired, sleep seemed promising, until a bucket of cold water plashed over me. I sputtered angrily, my head raising to be struck. I realized what this was. The thing they teach every SOLDIER, every member of ShinRa.
Torture. Give them nothing. Say nothing. What happens in ShinRa, stays in ShinRa. My mind raced to figure out who would even want a fugitive. I was on the run from ShinRa. I could be no help. I had been fighting ShinRa soldiers before I even woke up here. Then.. who was this? Why heal my wounds and then do this? Why not just kill me, you'd get a better price and a better chance of survival if I was dead.
By the time my thoughts were running together, another hit smashed against my face, disorientating me a bit. There was silence, not even the sound of a grunt at the force needed to slap my head around. However, the serum in my body was making me weak, so maybe it wasn't so hard.
My thoughts continued to run rampantly. If they had healed my serious wounds. They wanted me alive. I couldn't understand why. It didn't make sense to leave me alive. There was no logical reason to. Was this Shinra themselves? The black figures? Turks? SOLDIERS? No. SOLDIERs didn't do torture.
But why would the Turks want a fugitive alive? Why would Shinra want us alive? Who had the authority to bring us back alive?
Time passed; how much of it, I was unsure. My face having been pummeled the entirety of the time, now stopped. I rolled my head, figuring it was over for now and the questions would begin... Instead a new fist made contact with my nose, stronger than the last. They had changed the person out. I hissed at the contact my body's need to defend itself increasing.
There was only silence, occasionally the sound of a low grunt hearing my ears. The hits didn't aim for the same spot. A blow to the mouth, the nose, my eye, my cheek. I took a long breath at one point, tilting my head back at the throbbing pain in my facial features. The moment to breath was stopped with a fist into my stomach, effectively knocking my breath out of my system.
An uppercut hand my head snapping back, blood pouring from my nose as I heard a low crunch.
Heh. They're pretty good. The torture stopped and I didn't move as my chair was shifted. I was being moved. I closed my eyes, letting my consciousness fade again.
When I came to again, I noticed the weight of my limbs again. I was still tied up. Apparently hours of punching wasn't enough. I was allowed enough time to gain my thoughts once more. My nose didn't throb, my stomach didn't hurt. Had they healed the wounds again? I wasn't nearly as tired as before and I could control the little freedom my limbs had.
My gaze fell to the floor before me, locking on black shoes, I roamed up long legs, a suit and a familiar face. A heavy weight filled my chest as I stared into that familiar face. I hadn't used my voice once since this whole fiasco began, but now my mind screamed to say something. His eyes stared at me, not a hint of emotion crossing them.
"Tseng..." I mumbled. My eyes scanned him up and down, adding, "You look different." He said nothing in response. Was it his job to finish me off? he backed away from me, the light blinding me and promising that I would not see him anymore.
"Older?" he offered; I nodded in agreement. "It's been five years since I last saw you." At the reminder of our last encounter, a growl rose in my throat. My emotions piling together and igniting a fire of fury.
"Five years since everyone but Zack and Cloud betrayed me? How could you let Hojo take us? Why didn't you do something? Anything!" my voice rose to a shout, as the hot pain of betrayal collapsed on me.
Tseng pulled away, "You don't ask the questions." His voice had turned cold. I watched him, noticing the trajectory of his movements, my arms fought my constraints to protect my face but to no avail. Pain exploded from my cheek, my head snapping at the strength behind the hit.
None of the punches I had received before this moment had ever hurt this much. I realized why instantly. His blows came with the powerful sting of utter betrayal. A feeling, I should have been used to by now. I hissed, tilting my head back to glare at the Turk. "Two words: Fuck you." Brass knuckles locked with my jaw this time snapping my head in the opposite direction as before. I fought again, pain telling me to stop my efforts.
He turned slowly then, his eyes cold and calculating, "I'm going to give you a chance to live Evie, because of who you were before you defected from ShinRa. We'll let you go, you'll rejoin SOLDIER and help us find where Cloud went."
I frowned in response, my brow furrowed, as questions echoed in my head; my wrists continued to strain against the metal despite his words. They stopped once his eyes narrowed dangerously.
My Mako blue eyes glared and I gathered the blood in my mouth, spitting it towards him.
"Go to hell," he stepped away from me, disgusted. What happened next didn't surprise me, I accepted the hit, recognizing finally that my body was too weak to counter the rope tying me down.
A hand grabbed my face, "One more chance Evie, because the president wants to give you a chance. Will you help us?" I glared violently, my eyes narrowing to see an earpiece in his ear.
"I don't help traitors," was my reply.
Tseng stepped back from me and my voice found its strength, "You left us to die, to become so little play toys. What about Zack? What about Sephiroth? What about Cloud? What about Aeirth? What about me?" I took a long breath, "What happened to you Tseng? What happened to the Tseng from before? The Tseng I knew. I thought we were friends!" Anger welled up and I strained once more, growling at my inability to break free.
A crack sounded as another violent punch landed on my cheek cutting it open. Tseng's face was steeled, my eyes dropping from his expression the sting of betrayal filling me once more.
Another hit snapped my head in the opposite direction, followed with more salt water, I could smell it, but more than that I could feel it burn my gash. I cringed, sputtering for a few moments.
"I brought you into Shinra, I'm here to take you from it," my gaze wandered to his face, my expression dark as I glared at him viciously. I'd give him no more satisfaction. Tseng had finally turned into the Turk he was always meant to be. Somehow that very thought was as painful as the reminder of his betrayal.
He pulled the metal away from his knuckles, and pulled out a gun. I stared down the barrel, my eyes running up to his features. Silence filled the room, a kick to my chest knocked the wind out of me, and the descent to the floor made black roam into my eyes. The crack of th noise was inside my head as well as ringing in my ears. Two gun shots rang out, dangerously close to my head.
No pain. No words. No lights. Voices nearby, but I was stuck to the floor, my arms losing circulation and my head was pounding. A door slammed nearby, but as the pain emanated around my skull I stopped any movement. I was bound to be in for another round soon. I needed to recover my strength.
On the other hand, if I fell asleep or unconscious they could put another dosage of that serum in my system. To recover from the torture or to escape. Two hard blows to my skull was making it difficult to really chose as my body tried to make a choice on its own.
Consciousness pulled me yet another time. The sound of voice hitting my ears. I groaned and felt my eyes flutter awake. Black hair caught my vision first, then my gaze landed on those familiar mako infused eyes. Any hostility left me, as I found my limbs were free from constraint to wrap my arms around his form. He returned gesture wholeheartedly.
"I told you not follow me," I chuckled gently.
"I was never good at following orders from anyone," A soft kissed was placed in my hair.
"I've never been so glad that you don't listen to me." A cough interrupted the two of us and we pulled away to glance around to Tseng. His gaze wasn't as it was before. It wasn't cold or calculating, he even kept his distance from us. Zack pulled me to my feet, I even found that my split lip had been fixed. My body wasn't in pain. A cure materia... my eyes narrowed in confusion.
Zack spoke first, "What was all of this for? What are you doing? What's going on?"
"SOLDIERS 1st class Evelia Reinhadt and Zack Fair both declined their offers and therefore sentenced to death by the Head of the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department. Torture did not sway their minds and considered still traitors to ShinRa, were shot. The proof of both these incidents were taped and sent to both the President and Heidegger." Tseng eyed us warily before moving towards a desk. He lifted a box and tossed it towards Zack.
He caught it with ease, eyeing the package. Letters... from Aerith. My eyes dropped to the floor before turning my head way from Zack.
"Your friend has not been found, the only way for ShinRa to have him is now dead," my eyes rose to Tseng. "There is the hope that he is still alive. However, considering you're dead, you shouldn't be showing up in Midgar within the next twenty-four hours." Tseng was telling us to leave. To get away without actually saying it. We had our freedom, however we wanted to take it. He was also asking us to show some respect to the fact he had given us our lives by leaving Midgar.
The details of everything were not said. Details I supposed, we didn't have time to listen to. Not now at least. After all that time being on the run, I could accept not finding out the details of my freedom and being free instead. Free from ShinRa. No surveillance. Nothing.
My thoughts turned to Cloud, he could be anywhere. Now was the time to search for him. But for now, I needed somewhere to go. Considering our plans were to go to Midgar, what were the chances that he was already there? I chanced a glance towards Zack, his eyes were still trained on the letters.
Doubt filled me, I wasn't sure what to expect but now he had 88 letters from his real girlfriend. I stepped away from him and towards Tseng. Before I could take another step a bag was thrown at me. I caught it, eyeing it before looking up to him.
"Be best if you didn't linger," he nodded his head, where our two swords had managed to be transported. Something in me stopped, all those words I had said to him. He didn't remark on them. He didn't even look at us. His eyes were trailed on the city outside, his back straight.
I moved for my sword, wishing to be near it again. The bag was thrown on my shoulder and as I realized that Zack hadn't moved my actions slowed, my head turning to lock eyes with his frame. His own eyes were locked on the box. I couldn't decipher his expression, but my eyes dropped from him, a crawling feeling clawing at my belly.
I sauntered towards the exit, chancing one last eyes were trailing me, as our eyes locked I froze.
He exchanged looks with Tseng, "You... held onto these for me?" Zack voice seemed odd. More than anything I was confused by it.
"Not entirely," he supplied with a short gaze. "For one with such a soft voice..." Tseng trailed off, turning away from the both of us. "Difficult to turn a Turk into a delivery boy." A long silence followed. I wasn't sure what was going through either of their heads, but I was more afraid to find out than anything.
I left, being greeted by a head of orange hair. Cissnei. We owed her... our lives I suppose, but that didn't make me inclined to be nicer to her. I rose an eyebrow as she smiled softly and nodded a bit, defeated. Reno appeared at her side, Rude just behind him.
Silence ensued and I closed the door behind me. I had to let this go. I had to let zack chose how he wanted his freedom. Even if it hurt. I couldn't leave Cloud alone. My brain was frazzled and the only answer I could come up with was to leave. To keep walking forward.
"You two are a serious handful, you know that? Bah... ready to leave?" the red haired man spoke up. I eyed them both, a little more than confused.
"What do you mean?"
"We're going to be making sure that no one spots ya on the way out," he gestured to a doorway.
"Reduced to mere guards Reno?" he scoffed at my words.
"That and mailmen." My smirk fell as I glanced at the way I had come. The door that Zack was still behind, very probably negotiating the terms to Tseng's deal. "Is the other one coming?"
I shook my head, "I don't know." Pain choked me, which sounded about right for a SOLDIER. Got a chance of being happy? Not in this lifetime you're not. "I suspect he won't be leaving Midgar." They other two nodded slowly, and I reciprocated the action.
Reno jerked his head towards the way out, and I followed silently. My thoughts too contorted to think of anything but putting one foot in front of the other. Halfway down the hall, a door slammed close. The three of us turned slowly to see Zack with an odd smile on his lips. Obviously that conversation had gone as he wanted. His lips spread into a bright smile as we locked eyes and I offered him a meek smile before turning away.
"C'mon," I muttered to the two Turks. I didn't dare to look behind me as we left whatever building we were in. Zack wasn't having any of that, he hand grabbed my arm and stopped me.
"Hey, what's wrong?" I shook my head.
"Nothing, we have to get out of Midgar before they figure out he let us live. If they know what Tseng did, that's his head on a plate, and we'll be fugitives again. We can't risk our safety and possibly Cloud's over one talk." My explanation was honest, and I shrugged my arm away from him, not daring to look at his expression as I followed to the Turks out.