Silmeria - Happy reading.

Disclaimer - I claim no rights to Final Fantasy VII

Chapter Twenty-Three: Silence of the Planet

Cloud woke to the sound of his monitor and the sunlight washing over his face, both of which were mildly pleasant, but a surge of relief flowed through him at the thought of being able to feel and hear such unpleasantness. It meant that he was still among the land of the living and that he was given a second chance at life.

A second chance that involved a task from the Goddess.

"Cloud?" Tifa's hushed tone echoed in his ears forcing a smile to pull at his cracked lips. "Are you awake?"

Cloud turned his head, wincing as the pain sliced through his head at the motion before opening his eyes to see Tifa staring down at him with such relief that it brought tears to his own eyes. "Tifa?" he greeted with a mild grin when the older woman released a small sob at the sound of his voice. "You look awful."

"You look like shit." Tifa returned, burying her face into his shoulder and grasping his hand with her own. "I knew that if I prayed hard enough that Minerva would listen. I knew that She would bring you back to us safe and sound and whole, Cloud."

Cloud closed his eyes, his heart, and throat tightening when Tifa released another small sob that shook her shoulders. He caused her so much trouble and pain. "I'm sorry," he whispered, two lone tears trailing down his face and joining her own on the pillow. "I've caused you so much trouble-"

"You've caused me nothing but heartache." Tifa interrupted softly, raising her head and hushing him with a watery smile. "Yet, I'm glad that you're still here with us, Cloud. I'm glad that you're here still causing me a headache. I wouldn't know what to do without you." Tifa looked down, her look shameful and it drew Cloud's curiosity. What could possibly make her-?

"I might have called you several names while the doctors and nurses were trying to save you." Tifa blurted out, her cheeks deepening to a scarlet red. "I'm sorry."

"It's-" Cloud let out a small chuckle that earned him a small pinch on his side. "I heard you before I passed out, Tifa and it was so normal for me at that moment that I didn't really think bad of you. That's Tifa alright was what I thought before I blacked out."

"Sweet Minerva," Tifa uttered, removing herself from the bed and turning to the window, all but ignoring Cloud's gentle laughter. The brat. "And here I was, worried about your sorry ass, Cloud Strife."

Cloud beamed but decided that it would be best if he stopped Tifa, considering that she was out of her mind with worry at the thought that he wouldn't survive.

"...thank you, Tifa," Cloud whispered, watching with a touch of amusement when Tifa turned to him with a look of surprise. "You saved my life and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you and Zack." And speaking of Zack. "Where is he?"

At his question, Tifa stilled and turned back to the window so that Cloud couldn't see her expression, an action that forced the drowsiness out of Cloud's mind and put him on full alert. The sudden silence was damning and sent his heart into overdrive.

"Tifa? Where is my Sentinel?"

Tifa turned back to him when she noticed how panicked he sounded and rushed back to his bed, her hands on his shoulders as she tried to push him back on the bed.

"Cloud, you need to-"

"Where is my Sentinel-"

"At a War Council." Tifa snarled back, forcing Cloud into a swift and cold silence. "Your Sentinel is at a War Council." Tifa pulled away, a painful expression painting her features as she continued, her tone soft and mournful. "You can't imagine how he felt when he saw you being attacked by Rosso, Cloud. To not know if you were going to live or die. You don't know he felt as he handed you over to me not knowing if he was going to see you again. I'm sorry, but you can't imagine what he's feeling right now." Tifa lowered her head, unable to look into Cloud's mournful eyes. "Rosso almost killed you, and the entire world is going to pay price, Cloud. Zack-" she cut herself off, a hollow laugh escaping her throat, sounding so empty that it ran a shiver down his spine. "He's going to burn this world to the ground, Cloud. He's so angry-I've never seen him this angry or in so much distress."

"Tifa-" Cloud reached and pulled her into a tight embrace. "I-I didn't know. I'm so sorry." Cloud pulled her tighter, fighting back his own tears at the situation placed at his feet. He had to get out of this hospital and to Zack before it was too late. "You have to help me."

"Huh?" Tifa lifted her head, staring at him in confusion and before she could question him further, the door clicked open and a nurse stepped in, her smile bright when she realized he was awake and talking. She quickly informed them that she would be getting the doctor and walked back out, her light voice calling for the physician. With the short time that he was given, Cloud lifted himself away from Tifa, her soft protests ignored as he slipped out of the hospital bed, his legs unable to hold him as he fell to the cold floor, hissing as the cold seeped past his hospital clothes and to his skin. He turned back to Tifa who was rushing to get him off the floor, his voice confused when he asked how long he had been in the hospital.

"You've been asleep for two weeks," Tifa replied, irritated at his stunt. "You've been in a medically induced coma and the doctor just pulled you out of the medication two days ago. This is the first time you've woken up naturally. Do you honestly think that you can get up and walk out of here after being stabbed?" Tifa settled him back on the bed, her movements firm and Cloud felt irritation pressing against his shields and he winced at the force of it. He moved to apologize when the doctor slipped in, his relief palpable when he saw that Cloud was awake and aware.

"You gave us quite a scare, Guide Strife." the doctor approached him and urged him to lean back and take a deep breath. "I just want to see how you're doing and I'm not dreaming due to my exhaustion."

"Exhaustion?" Cloud probed, taking a deep breath as instructed, shivering when the cold metal of the stethoscope was pressed against his heart. "Do you have a lot of patients...?"

"Wilson." the doctor responded, moving the stethoscope over the right side of his chest, urging Cloud to take another deep breath. "It's due to the protests and riots."

"What?" Cloud shot Tifa a panicked look and in the distance, he could hear the rapid beating of his heart monitor. "Riots? What riots?"

"You need to calm down, Cloud." Dr. Wilson pressed a button near Cloud's head, placing a hand on Cloud's chest to stop him from moving erratically.

"What's happening?" Cloud struggled against the doctor, trying to turn his head to see Tifa and when he finally managed, he saw the horrified look she bore as the nurse raced in with a needle that most likely held a sedative. Cloud hissed when he felt the sting of the needle pressing against his skin and the cool rush of liquids flowing in his veins. The sedative didn't take long to slow his movements and force a wave of drowsiness to overcome him before he slumped over on the pillow, his limbs heavy and before darkness entered his vision, he saw Tifa staring down at him with what he could only describe as pity.

The next time Cloud woke, darkness covered his room with the light provided coming from the window and the monitors. It took a moment for him to become aware of what was around him and even longer to realize that he had a visitor sitting near his bed. He turned his head, flinching when he spotted Zack staring at him with an intensity that forced heat to rise to his cheeks.

"...Hi."

"Hello." Zack reached out with a black, gloved hand and took Cloud's smaller hand in his own and pressing a small kiss to the back of it. "You're awake."

"Yeah."

It was quiet for a moment, a small pause of awkwardness settling between them considering the last time they saw each other was when Cloud was on death's door. But, just as a quick as it appeared, the silence that settled, vanished, and Zack was leaning forward and pressing his lips against Cloud, the motion firm and forcing a squeak to escape Cloud's mouth. He reached and wrapped his arms around Zack's neck, forcing him closer and opening his mouth when Zack's tongue demanded it forcing a shiver of pleasure to run down his spine.

Cloud's hands slid down Zack's back and before he could pull the Alpha closer, pull him onto the hospital bed, Zack pulled away, keeping his mouth close to Cloud's. He met Zack's eyes and was shocked to see tears welling in them.

"Baby?" Zack whispered, burying his face into Cloud's neck. "Are you okay?"

"Yes." Cloud returned, smiling sadly when Zack made no move to remove himself from his neck. "I-I'm okay. I'm sorry that I worried you-"

"I'm sorry too." Zack moved to face him. "I shouldn't have said those horrible things to you and I-I should have found you sooner." Zack turned away, ashamed and Cloud reached up and cupped his cheek, turning the elder man's eyes back to his own.

"I don't want you to blame yourself about what happened with Rosso." Cloud looked eyes, the pain of Zack's expression flashing through his mind. "You came for me and that's enough - you did enough, Zack."

"If I did enough then you wouldn't be sitting in this hospital bed." Zack sat up and ran both hands through his hair, a frustrated look settling on his face. "If I did enough then I wouldn't have had to summon a war council."

Cloud said nothing, eyes turning away as an uncomfortable silence settled over them. So, what Tifa said was true and Cloud could have felt more guilty for it. If he and Zack had discussed their problems, then Rosso would have never found him.

No

If Cloud never opened his mouth, defended himself against Rosso, then she would have never tried to kill him-

Zack huffed, shooting him a sad look that would have broken Cloud's heart if it wasn't already in the process. "You're telling me that it's not my fault, but here you are, blaming yourself for a situation that was beyond your control."

"I-" Cloud flushed, embarrassed that Zack could read him so easily. "You don't understand. If I hadn't said anything to her then this would have happened-"

Zack gave him an incredulous look, reaching over and grasping his hand. "You know that you couldn't have controlled what she did, right? Rosso lost her fucking temper if you coughed wrong-"

"If that's the case why are you taking responsibility for what she did to me-"

"Because I'm your fucking Sentinel, Cloud." Zack burst out, irritated that they even had to have this argument. "And I'm Alpha of Midgar. What's it look to have a foreign Guide that's out of control roaming in my city and hurting one of my Guides? Especially the future Alpha Guide?" Zack pulled away, trying and failing to control his anger, but it came out, restless. "I promised myself that I would never put my people at risk, not after what happened with my grandfather. I promised them that there would be nothing but peace and prosperity as long as I was in control and I kept my promise for so long, but-" Zack swallowed, looking down at his hands as if he could see the blood that had been stained with Rosso's blood. "I killed her. I killed a Guide." He turned to Cloud, eyes stinging and a sob emerged from his throat. "I killed a Guide-"

"She was already gone, Zack." Cloud shuffled closer, placing his head on Zack's shoulder, listening as this sweet, sweet man ripped himself shreds over a decision that was best for his people, but in the end, wasn't best for his soul.

"She hurt you." Zack took a shuddering breath. "I didn't have a choice, but a Guide. She was a Guide, Cloud. She was supposed to-" Zack stood up, escaping the warmth of Cloud's embrace as if he couldn't bear the touch, let alone felt like he deserved it.

Cloud swallowed the lump in his throat as the emotions were pushed against his mental shields. He knew that Zack was a strong man, but he didn't expect to feel this level of turmoil, but Cloud understood the welling emotions in Sentinel's heart and that final piece was holding his own together, cracked, causing two tears to slide down Cloud's cheeks. He was on his feet and in Zack's arms before his mind could process the action and he buried his face into Zack's chest, hiding his face as tears continued to slide down his cheeks unbidden and said seven words that would change their dynamic and shift their relationship for better or for worse.

"You did the right thing, Zack." Cloud held Zack tighter when the Sentinel tensed in his arms. "I love you."

"Cloud...?"

"I couldn't begin to understand what you felt when you took her life." Cloud continued, his heart racing against his chest, afraid to look up and see rejection. "The emotions you felt when her life slipped away would have driven a normal Sentinel to the brink of insanity but you're standing here with me: safe and sound." Cloud looked up, smiling into Zack's eyes. "You saved me and I can't thank you enough."

Zack's distraught expression shifted and Cloud watched as a small, bitter smile took its place. "You don't hate me? For what I did? For what's going to happen?"

"Never," Cloud reassured firmly. "I could never hate you, Zack Fair. You didn't hear me before? The whole I love you part?"

"I heard." Zack chuckled in disbelief, pressing a kiss on Cloud's forehead. "You love me, huh?"

"Yeah." Cloud closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of Zack's touch on his skin and his mind and committed it to memory. "I do, but Zack?"

"Yeah?"

"I-" Cloud stepped back, instantly missing the warmth, but forced him not to step back. "We have to talk."

"Four words in the dictionary no one wants to hear, sweetheart." Zack joked, but it faded when he saw how serious Cloud looked. "What about?"

Cloud opened his mouth, closed it, and furrowed his brow, not sure about how exactly he could go about this. How did one tell his Sentinel that the Goddess gave him a mission? Told him to go to Edge? So, Cloud took his mother's old advice and blurted it out:

"The Goddess Minerva told me to go to Edge." Cloud stopped, twisting his hands and started to pace, his nerves fraying at the thought of Zack not believing him - not that the could him, the whole thing sound crazy. "I met this woman, Ifalna-"

"You met Ifalna?" Zack's sharp voice cut him off. "You met Ifalna in the Lifestream?"

"I did, she was the one who told me to go to Edge. She told me that Minerva was wary of Edge and Weiss."

"And she picked you to do this mission?" Zack looked and sounded skeptical and again, Cloud didn't blame him. "Alone?"

"She wasn't exactly specific on the details," Cloud admitted, flushing to the tip of his ears when Zack shot him another skeptical look. This isn't going well. At all. "I have to go-"

"No." Zack rumbled, towering over Cloud in a mix of dominance and scent that had Cloud shuddering. "You're still hurt and going to Edge is the last thing I want for you, Goddess be damned." Zack held up a hand to cut off Cloud's protests. "I will bring this up to the war council, Cloud, but until then, you need to stay here and recover. Besides, going into Edge is dangerous at the moment."

"Dangerous?"

The prodding got him a look of disapproval which Cloud only met with a disarming smile and it seemed to work, but the answer he got was far from one that he wanted.

"The people of Edge are rioting." Zack murmured. "We officially sent them a declaration of war twelve hours ago and the people are up in arms about it. For years, they've wanted Rosso out of power and the spotlight, but Weiss wouldn't budge and thus the riots emerged once word got out about our declaration and riots emerged in our own city because there is a number of people who migrated from Edge after the war and still consider it their home." Zack shrugged, but Cloud wasn't fooled, the man was worried. "So, Edge is off-limits, are we understood?"

"Yes, of course," Cloud mumbled, his heart going out to their people and Edge's, but Cloud couldn't sit here and wait until he was healed. He had a promise to keep to Ifalna. "Are you staying?"

Zack looked regretful, and Cloud knew his answer and it brought a rush of relief. He didn't have to look Zack in the eye as he left under the cover of darkness and towards Edge. He didn't have to see the betrayal and the hurt in his Sentinel's eyes as he left the city, but he was doing this for them-for the world and in time, he hoped Zack would understand.

One day, he hoped that Zack would forgive him.