Chapter 10
'Damn, one would think this would get easier the more I try.' Cloud said, fatigue building in his arms and legs, his weapons weight finally taking its toll. In front of him are none other than a tired Zack, Peringo, Sephiroth, and Lightning. This final test has pushed Cloud to his breaking point. While things started out fine, the hardest thing about this exercise was the teams he faced. Having to face off Against Sephiroth and Peringo at the same time took so much effort that Cloud already used Lucky star to mach Peringo's Transformed states power and Sephiroth's finesse all at the same time suffering a lot more than a few Cuts and bruises. And once Sephiroth was satisfied and withdrew Peringo and himself from the fight, Cloud didn't have time to rest. Because immediately after he had to face Zack and Lightning. While Cloud was plenty of confident to face Zack alone, the Addition to Lightning's fast paced combat and ranged attacks forced Cloud to use all the Energy he could muster. And For the short bouts of Combat Cloud was covered in a blue flame. Cloud always had difficulty bringing out the flame that covers his body, only really able to use it in desperate moments. But Cloud remembered what Sephiroth told him, just before the match.
"That Flame around your body comes from the Jenova cells, Normally the Cells cause some sort of minor transformation on humans normally because the Cells reject the inferior DNA, But There are a few who can Coexist with the cells, and you managed to be one of them. Once you achieve your own transformation….My work will be done."
'Much easier said than done Sephiroth, it seems no matter how hard I train or what I learn from you guys I just can't.' Cloud thought raising his blade in a ready stance as the four in front on him put away their weapons. Confused he looked at Lightning's face as her eyes where focused behind him. Following her eyes Cloud saw a large White angelic wing, much like Sephiroth but coming out of his right shoulder, looking twice in shock he also noticed a Black wing coming from his left shoulder and both of them, along with his body; have a blue ethereal flame glowing around it. And if he had a mirror his pupils became slit like Sephiroth's.
"Surprised, you were so Focus in the fight you never notice them grow out of your back, or the fact you were flying towards the end making it difficult for Lighting to shoot you while Zack desperately followed." Sephiroth said, with a smug look on his face.
'I was flying?' Cloud thought as he looked at his feet and noticed he was still hovering slightly off the ground.
"Can't say I like this new look of your buddy, but I guess it proves we made you a lot stronger." Zack said with a smile as he placed his weapon over his shoulder, not liking the resemblance to Angeal and Genesis.
"I'm sort of tempted to face you head on with my own transformation." The Red Glow slowly starting to emanate from him, His image slowly reminiscing of when his father transforms into Chaos. Right before Sephiroth knocks him out of it with a kick smack to the head.
"You better stop there; you can't control your full transformation." Sephiroth said recalling one of the training sessions when Peringo transformed, taking the form of Chaos and almost destroying the training grounds before Sephiroth managed to knock him out. "If we had more time I would gladly instruct you in how to control your power." Peringo simply laughed and hiding his nervousness at the mere thought of being Sephiroth's student.
"Ok, I get it; Ha I just wanted to see if I went all out, that he could match the raw strength of Chaos." The young man said.
"Regardless we are done for today, hit the showers and rest up. I trust you can practice transforming on your own." Sephiroth said as the simulation ended and he exited the room. Zack and Peringo following suit. Leaving Lightning and Cloud in the room.
"A shower doesn't sound bad right now, that was an intense work out." Lightning said as she pulled at her top, trying to cool off.
"Not a bad idea, think there's room for two?" Cloud said as he walked up to his Girlfriend, going for a kiss. The display of affection lasted a brief moment before Lightning lightly pushed him away and slapped his chest.
"Not that I don't like the idea, but the showers here are public." Claire said placing a hand on her hip, her eyes keeping contact with Clouds. Getting lost in his blue orbs that reflect the same affection she has for him.
"My apartment is not too far." He said with a small smirk Causing Light to laugh as she walked passed him.
"Maybe next time, I'm still upset with you." She said Causing Cloud to sigh.
"Fair enough, what you want to do after?" Cloud said following her out the room.
"Sorry Cloud I already promised Serah we'll hang out today, it's not every day we can hang out like sisters, you know with Snow and…"
"Me, I understand just let me know if you need something, just call me."
"Cloud you like never answers your phone." Lightning said with her hands crossed.
"Yeah but I always check the messages." Cloud responded with a Smirk.
Lightning just rolled her eyes as she walked away from her boyfriend, leaving Cloud to wonder what to do for the day. By the time the Blonde got back home he took a shower and got dressed in a black turtle neck and some blue jeans as he finally figured out what he wanted to do. Heading over to one of the hotels in the area Cloud selected the floor he was looking for and made his way to the door. He was about to knock before some hesitation settled in. 'Was it really ok for him to be back here?' Cloud stood outside Tifa's room. He wasn't really planning to talk to Tifa about anything he just wanted to check up on Denzel, the kid Cloud sort of took as a son… with Tifa.
"Maybe this isn't the best idea." Cloud sighed to himself as he turned away walking down the hall before he stopped. Cloud thought back to when he was a kid and remembered the times he wished he grew up to know his father for his mother never told him who or why he left them. 'I don't want Denzel to experience the same longing, even though I'm not his real dad, I'm the best he got.'
Cloud marched back up the hallway and steeled himself for whatever may come, 'No matter what she says I can't leave without Denzel,' With that mentality cemented into cloud, the Savior of Gaia knocked on the door and shortly after came face to face with an unpleasantly surprised Tifa.
"You must be lost no Lightning here," She said about to close the door before Cloud stopped her,
"I came to see Denzel," This visually made Tifa flinch as a look of anger appeared on her face.
"You think you have the right to see him after what you did to us."
"Tifa he's my son too, I still want to be in his life."
"You could have easily done that by staying home."
"Don't do this; this is not about us this is about Denzel."
"Oh now it's about Denzel after you already left him behind for a new life on a new planet!"
Once again the Guilt settled over Cloud making him sick to his stomach, Tifa noticed his small signs of hurt, knowing that no one criticizes him better than himself. She knows saying these things are unfair and low blows, but him leaving her was just as bad so she didn't care.
"I didn't come for your permission," The statement caught Tifa off guard, She was expecting him to start losing his resolve but looking in his eyes now she saw a familiar look… Determination. The same look why Tifa fell in love with him so hard. The Look that let her know that no matter how broken Cloud could get, he will achieve his goal, she always loved watching the determination as he looked at every obstacle the same way. But the was the first time she watched the look on the receiving end of his glare and for the first time Tifa saw what it was like to face off with Cloud. She saw all the pain and hurt in his eyes but they only fueled his passion, his anger being well refined.
"I won't continue to stand here and be judged by you any longer. I came to talk with my son." The Shock in Tifa's eyes hurt Cloud, he never spoke to her with anger and never flexed an authoritive voice at her outside of combat. He knew that this moment will eat him up later but he came with a purpose. And Cloud will be damned if anyone tried to stop him from speaking to Denzel now.
"And I'll only leave after I spoken to him." Cloud stated as Tifa backed down, allowing Cloud inside. Immediately Cloud noticed Tifa' sadden stature as she went into the kitchen to do busy work, unable to look back at Cloud Causing the Blonde to lose his swagger and walk towards the bedroom Denzel should be in.
Cloud knocked on the door before walking in and saw Denzel reading a book, Cloud's face softened the moment the boy looked up and made contact with his. Immediately the kid smiled as he tossed aside the book and rushed the man.
"Dad!" He said as father and son embraced, "What are you doing here, Mom said you where busy with Work?"
"Well she isn't wrong technically, I have a lot of work to do….but I think it's been a while sense we did something cool. What do you say I heard there is an amusement park not too far from here."
Denzel smiled and cheered a little before asking Cloud a question that hurt him, "Is Mom coming too?"
"I don't know, that's up to her really." Cloud just couldn't say no.
"Oh, then I'll go ask."
"You do that Denzel; I'll call Barret and see if Marlene can come too." This Made Denzel cheer as he left to talk with Tifa, while Cloud stood up and looked around the room and noticed a picture of him and Tifa after the Geostigma crisis. Denzel was standing in-between them smiling extra hard finally cured.
'Am I doing the right thing, or am I being selfish?' Cloud thought before he took out the phone a made a call.