Secrets

by Tir-synni

Prologue

            Everything was so dark, so cold. Cloud Strife shivered, but he refused to step out of the rain. The icy spray kept him awake; he did not dare go back to sleep.

            Wearily, he wiped away his drenched golden bangs away from his forehead and glanced at the alarm clock with his sharp, Mako-enhanced eyes. 3:00AM. Yippee. Another sleepless night.

            The alternative is worse, he reminded himself, closing his eyes and tilting his head up to the rain. The dreams...he couldn't handle them. Cloud laughed bitterly, wiping moisture from his face. Was it tears or rain? The young ex-SOLDIER did not care. He deserved the pain. He had killed one of his best friends, an old lover, an innocent. If he could handle omnislashing Sephiroth, then he could handle the resulting guilt.

            Sephiroth...This time Cloud knew they were tears. He was one of the few...who understood. Sephiroth had understood what he was going through. What he was still going through. The others, though they treated him kindly, could never understand. They had despised Sephiroth for what he was. Would they hate him, too? Vincent was perhaps the only one who could understand, but Cloud refused to burden the dark man with anything else. That was why Cloud had left them one day, giving no warning. He was pretty sure they were looking for him, but he knew it was better for all concerned if they never found him. So many people had looked upon him with hatred and disgust; he could not bear it if they looked at him like that, too.

            With shaking fingers, Cloud slowly pulled off his omnipresent right glove. He opened his eyes slowly to gaze upon the damning mark, the one he had been graced with since birth, the one that made him deserving of so much hate.

            It was a tattoo of a number three.

~~~~~~~

Chapter 1: From the Shadows of Death She Calls

            "5,000 gil, and that's my final offer!"

            Cloud Strife glanced in utter boredom at the mobster. One of Don Corneo's cronies who had successfully created his own business in Midgar. That wasn't the best recommendation. The young mercenary had never forgiven the old pervert for revealing to Tifa just how feminine he actually looked. One strike against the bastard. Second strike was the idiot being so stupid as to mock Don Corneo before he had fully emerged from his shadow. Third strike was--

            "You're not even offering half of what my skills are worth," Cloud drawled softly, brushing a silky, golden spike away from his forehead. "You won't find another mercenary with my skills, even in the darkest alleys of Midgar. And you pissed off a very powerful mob boss. If you want me to knock him off for you, you're going to have to offer more than that."

            Icy, Mako-blue eyes burned through the mobster's sunglasses, searing him. The brunet blinked, and Cloud smirked coldly at the man's weakness. Inside his chest, behind a wall of steel, his heart gave a small plea for compassion. With two years' worth of experience, Cloud ignored it.

            "Make it fifteen, and it's a deal," Cloud continued coolly. At the mobster's hesitation, unnoticeable to all but the sharpest senses, Cloud continued, "Unless, of course, you don't think your life is worth that much." The blond flashed him another smirk, his eyes blazing with all the heat of the Great Glacier. This was too easy.

            "Agreed," the mobster returned, attempting to keep the illusion of control. "15,000 gil. And you must return with the head so I know you got him."

            Cloud was already on his feet, gliding gracefully towards the door. Actually, he wanted nothing more than to get out of that loser's presence, but he had learned that many things could intimidate someone--including showing off the ability to walk without the slightest sound. He did not even have to turn around to see the sweat dampening the mobster's collar.

            As usual of late, rain poured from the sky in steady, soaking streams. Cloud grunted as his unruly spikes were once again plastered to his forehead. He had a hell of a lot of hair, and it tended to get heavy when wet.

            The memory of the masked look of fear in the mobster's eyes sent a chill up Cloud's spine that had nothing to do with the rain, and he stopped in the middle of the deserted street. Why had he done that? Why had he not accepted the 5,000 gil and been done with it? He had plenty of money, some stored in his apartment, most hidden in secret spots. Money had nothing to do with his actions. It wasn't in his nature to torture people, to scare them. He preferred to get the job done quickly and be done with it. And yet...

            That couldn't offer him the escape he so desired.

            His career as a mercenary was dangerous, his skills affording him the most profitable and perilous jobs. No one in Midgar could come close to his skills, but Cloud knew all it took was one good blow, one correctly aimed weapon, to end his life. To survive, Cloud's concentration could never waver. He had to focus solely on the job, nothing else. It let him tone everything out, and that was all Cloud wanted.

            *Child....*

            Cloud scowled fiercely and began walking again. No, no, no. He did not hear it. He had to focus. This job was important, he did not--

            *Child....*

            His steps sped up until he was almost running down the slick street. He did not hear it, he did not hear it, it was gone, he did not hear it!

            *Come to me, my child. Come to mother.*

            Cloud bit his lip until the blood began to stream down his chin. He began thinking about the mobster, the mobster's frightened brown eyes, the way he had been so smug when Cloud had first sauntered into his office. With all his strength, he focused on those images, and soon, the voice, the voice he had heard all his life, began to fade away.

            "Thank you," Cloud breathed, willing his heart and feet to slow. He had escaped her again. He wouldn't end up like his beloved. If he did, who would be left to remember his rare, but brilliant smile? Who would remember the way his emerald eyes would light up whenever he spotted Cloud? No one.

            Besides, he had promised Zack he would never let that bitch win.

            Softly singing a song his mother always used to lull him to sleep with, Cloud continued down the street towards his target.

~~~~~

Chapter 2: Calm Before the Storm

            "I still haven't found a trace of him, Tifa," President Reeve sighed, leaning back in his chair. The brunette flashed him her wide, crimson eyes ation!" Reeve flared. He severely hated losing his temper with her. It made him feel like he was kicking a crippled puppy. Still, Tifa insisted on barging into his office on a regular basis, demanding he find a guy who obviously did not want to be found, and began to whine and carry on when he refused to look for Cloud with all of his ability. Personally, Reeve considered Cloud the smart one. At least the blonde was probably getting work done.

            Staring into those wide, trembling eyes, Reeve forced himself to calm down and take several deep breaths. He would not call security, he would not call security, he would just reasonably explain the situation so even Tifa could understand it, and hopefully, she would leave.

            "Tifa," Reeve began again, his voice gentler, "Cloud was promoted to SOLDIER 1st Class before the disaster with Sephiroth began. He may not have been there long, but to have been promoted at all was a major accomplishment. If he was able to succeed in that, then he can surely take care of himself now. While the monsters caused by the Lifestream's flow are certainly dangerous, they have secluded themselves far away from human civilization. All of Hojo's work--including paperwork and experiments--are being closely guarded and examined to guarantee no more mad scientists are going to replicate his findings. Wherever Cloud is, I don't think we have to worry about him."

            Tifa stared at him for a long moment, and Reeve held his breath. Then, to his relief, she nodded shortly and stormed out of the office.

            "Thank you," Reeve breathed to the Planet. "I won't have to endure this for hopefully another month."

            Cid and Vincent were just on their way in to see Reeve when Tifa stomped out. Cid hastily pulled his dark-haired lover out of the angry woman's way. Tifa did not even notice them.

            "Damn," Cid whistled. "Guess Reeve didn't tell her where Cloud was again."

            Vincent simply raised a sleek eyebrow, then glanced down at the strong hands encircling his waist. "The fiercesome harpy has fled, O' mighty one," he commented drolly. "You can release me now."

            Cid grinned at him. "And who says I want to?"

            Vincent smiled at him, but pulled away, anyway. They were standing in the middle of a hallway with people bustling all around behind them. Whatever Cid was thinking, this was not the place for it. "You have an appointment to talk with Reeve about the new Air and Space program," Vincent reminded him softly.

            The pilot snorted and muttered under his breath. Whatever he was saying, it sounded rather colorful to Vincent.

            The ex-Turk gave Cid a gentle shove towards the doorway. "I'll meet you downstairs. I'll be waiting on the couch."

            Cid gave Vincent a long-suffering look, but Vincent was already gliding down the steps. He had a feeling that if he did not leave now, they would be making out in the hallway, and he did not particularly want Reeve to see that.

            Even after all this time, Tifa still crushes after Cloud, Vincent mused to himself, gracefully settling his lithe form on one of the soft couches. People scuttled all around him, doing one task or another, but Vincent only noticed them long enough to note they weren't a danger. Some things never change.

            Cloud...Vincent had to admit, he missed the young man. Out of the whole group, Vincent was the only one who knew that Cloud had been an experiment of Hojo's for five years. He was the only one who knew where Cloud had been when Sephiroth had been wreaking havoc on his hometown. Cloud had confided in Vincent, seeing someone else who could relate to what he had been through. Immediately, however, Cloud had sworn Vincent to secrecy. No one else could know. Cloud had many more secrets, Vincent knew, recognizing that by the shadows in those glowing blue orbs. He had a feeling they were worse than the ones Cloud had revealed. However, just the fact Cloud had trusted him with those secrets had formed a bond between them.

            Absently, the long-haired man glanced at one of the large windows adorning the room. Rain fell in steady streams. There was no lightning, not a hint of it even on radar, but Vincent could still feel the electricity in the air. Vincent shivered, surprising himself. Everything's so calm, he thought, looking at the people running around him. So normal. For them, nothing is out of place. For once, everything was starting to go right.

            Yet Vincent found his eyes wandering back to the window, waiting for lightning to strike.

~~~~~~

Chapter 3: And the Thunder Rolls

            Cloud was just walking back to his apartment after receiving his money from the mobster when he heard it: thunder in the far distance. As if on cue, the rain began pouring down harder, straightening his wild mane of spikes into limps locks around his face. Cloud growled but refused to walk faster. Instead, he tilted his head up to receive the rain and put a determined swagger to his steps. Fuck nature; he was going at his own pace.

            Lightning flashed above him, in a clear warning, but Cloud ignored it. Thanks to Hojo's experiments, he was practically immortal. Besides, if he got struck, it would probably help his screwed-up noggin more than hurt it.

            Still, all Cloud's haughty resolution did was get him extremely soaked by the time he reached his apartment. His long hair--still straight, miraculously--dripped, drenching the rug leading up to his door. If he was anyone else, the other people on his floor would be at his doorstep the next morning harrassing him about good manners and the such. But he wasn't. Cloud was the strange, silent young man with the eerie, glowing blue eyes. Mako eyes. That was usually enough to shut everyone up. If that wasn't enough, Cloud's cold, hard glare finished the job.

            Soundlessly, Cloud unlocked his door and crept into his dark apartment. He never left a light on, so he always returned to shadows. It seemed fitting somehow, but Cloud did not deliberate on the 'how.'

            Cloud was just slipping off his Buster Sword when lightning flashed outside, lighting up his small apartment thanks to the clear balcony door. It reflected off the icy steel, and Cloud stared longingly at the blade in his hands.

            Zack...this was your blade...yet now I hold it....

            Sephiroth...you were the one who helped teach me how to use this sword...and I used that knowledge against you.

            Lightning flashed again, highlighting a silver droplet on the otherwise dry metal, and Cloud realized he was weeping silently. His wet face had not even acknowledged his tears, and it was too dark to notice the faint waver in his vision anyway. Cloud roughly wiped the tears away, holding the sword's hilt with one hand.

            Stupid lightning, he thought viciously, forcing his mind away from Zack and Seph. Those fucking weatherman can never get the weather right. What are those idiots getting paid for, anyway?

            Letting his mind drift, Cloud gently put the sword back in its usual place, a special holster beside his bed. It kept it safe, and made it easy to reach if he had to.

            *Why do you ignore me, child? Can you not hear me? I am here for you.*

            Cloud mentally jerked away from that soft voice. Damnit! There was a reason he didn't daydream, and that damn voice was it!

            *Come home to me, child. Come home to mother.*

            It was tempting to give into that gentle voice. When he had been younger, he used to hide away and listen to that voice's stories. That voice would tell him so much. But, thanks to Sephiroth's tragedy, Cloud had learned the dangers of that voice and now fought it at every turn. 'Coming home' and 'dying' were all the same in the eyes of Death.

            Sephiroth...Cloud drew his attention away from that voice and instead concentrated on remembering his lover as he prepared for bed. AVALANCHE had known his sexual preferences, had known that he had once had a male lover, but they had never imagined that it had been their worst enemy. But Cloud had known the truth concerning his green-eyed lover, and while it had shredded the last remains of his heart, he had willingly struck Sephiroth down for it. He knew Sephiroth would not hate him for it, but it made Cloud's own self-hatred ease any, or warm his bed at night.

            Haunting, emerald eyes lulled him to sleep, where the nightmares immediately took him away.

            Reeve cursed the lightning fiercely as he rummaged through the piles of paperwork. Damn those stupid weathermen. And they're getting paid more than I am....

            The president of Shinra glanced at the pile of paperwork indicating the findings on Hojo and sighed. Might as well read that first. Get it over with. Besides, with Hojo, he might find something important.

            As he was reading the top paper, the phone hidden somewhere on his desk rang. Reeve cursed, then froze as lightning flashed, lighting the whole room far brighter than his miniscule desk lamp. Well, damn, that was ominous.

            Reeve followed the ringing under a large pile of sheets to discover the golden laden phone. After the required nose-wrinkling at it--why would Shinra find it necessary to put gold on a phone?--he picked it up.

            "Hello," he greeted wearily, "President Reeve of Shinra Inc. speaking." Then immediately he was awake. "What?!...What else did you find in Hojo's things?...Oh, by Holy, do you know who?...Of course that bastard wouldn't name his experiments, just calling them labels...You found what?!...Shit!...I thought it was...You thought so, too...And what?...How can she?....All right, all right, I believe you...I have to make some calls, please keep me updated...Yes, thank you. Good-bye."

            Reeve did not notice his hands were shaking until he dialed his secretary. "Ms. Hamilton," he barked, "get me AVALANCHE! Tell them it's an emergency!"

            He slammed the phone down on any of Ms. Hamilton's questions and leaned back in his chair. "Well, Tifa, you got your wish," Reeve breathed. "I guess I'll be using all my resources to find Cloud Strife after all."

            *Do you remember me, child? I was always there.*

            //"Come on, bud, just tune it out. Come on, Cloud! You can't surrender! Don't give into that bitch! Come on!"

            "Tell me what she is saying! I have to know!"//

            \I remember...Zack...Hojo...I clung to your voice, Zack...You were my lifeline....\

            *I was always there. I watched you. I watched you fail your protector miserably, and cost him his life.*

            //"Cloud! Look, there's Midgar! We'll find you a doctor, and everything will be all right. We'll become mercenaries, and--What was that sound?"//

            \No, please, I don't want to remember this again. Please, Holy, I can't!\

            //"Take care of yourself, Cloud. Holy, please watch over him."//

            Zack, oh Zack, please don't leave me again! No!

            //"Hah, we got the punk. Just ignore the other one. He's as good as dead, anyway. Let's go collect our money."//

            \I couldn't move, I couldn't move until they were gone, and it started raining. You were so cold, so still...\

            //"Zack? No, please, Zack. Wake up. Zack? Zack? Nooooo!!"//

            Zack....

            *And I was there, watching as you killed your beloved. His blood stains your hands. You'll never be clean. I watched you kill him not once, but twice. He was insane when he killed your mother. What was your excuse?*

            //"Sephiroth...?"

            "Cloud, this world can still be ours. We can still find a way. Come, Cloud. We can be together forever...just join our side."

            "Sephiroth...please...forgive me! Omnislash!"//

            \I remember crying...I was crying when I killed you. You were my greatest enemy, and my only true love. And while I lost tears, you lost blood. That wasn't a fair exchange.\

            *Why don't you wish to remember the rest, child? Why don't you wish to remember your blade ripping into his flesh? Remember throwing him off of the bridge?*

            \No. Nonononono! Nooo!!\

            And Cloud woke up sobbing once again.

~~~~~~~~

Chapter 4: The Bell Tolls Two....

            When the lightning began to flash above them, Cid had immediately pulled Vincent into a protective embrace. It was several hours later, and the two soaked lovers had finally managed to climb into the Highwind. Cid had yet to let Vincent go. For once, Vincent wasn't commenting on Cid's overprotectiveness, and the gruff pilot noticed.

            "What's the matter, darlin'?" Cid asked softly, leading Vincent into the bathroom. "You're not acting like yourself."

            Vincent leaned into Cid's arms for a moment. "I have a bad feeling," he admitted. The dark-haired man looked up, and ruby and sapphire clashed as their eyes met. "Something is wrong. I fear the Planet agrees with me." He gestured his clawed hand as thunder crashed above them. "This storm...it is not a natural occurrence. I believe this is the Planet's way of giving warning."

            Three years ago, Cid might have mocked Vincent for his words. Three years ago, he had not seen Meteor, or the power of Sephiroth. "What do you think it is, darlin'?" he questioned, pulling Vincent close. They were still dripping, but Cid did not give a damn in the slightest. "Sephiroth is dead. The kid killed him himself. What else could threaten the Planet?"

            Vincent sighed. Cloud's anguished words of two years ago ran through his mind.

            "I was there! I watched Sephiroth go insane before my eyes. I knew him while I was in SOLDIER, and the being we are fighting is not the Sephiroth I knew..."

            "Then who is he, Cloud? Who are we fighting?"

            "Ask me anything you want, Vincent, but don't ask me that. Please...."

            "I do not believe Sephiroth was the true evil we were fighting," Vincent murmured. "I believe--"

            The PHS ringing cut him off. Cussing profusely, Cid reluctantly broke away from Vincent and stalked out of the bathroom towards the stand where he left it. Vincent clenched his claw nervously and glanced at the nearby clock. 2:00.

            It was 2:00, and Cloud was awake again. The sobs wracking his slender frame finally began to cool, and he sniffed and wiped them away. He had gotten less than three hours sleep, and he wasn't eager to go to sleep again. One good thing about Hojo's experiments: he didn't need much sleep.

            Another good thing about Hojo's experiments; he couldn't get lung cancer. Sighing heavily, Cloud climbed out of bed and grabbed a carton of cigarettes off of his nightstand. He couldn't get a buzz worth a shit, but it gave his hands something to do. Something besides grabbing his sword and running something--or someone--through. Not that that sounded really bad at that moment.

            "Fuck!" Cloud cursed, following with a stream of words that would have made Cid proud. A flash of lightning outside seemed to agree with him, and Cloud glared at it. "And fuck you, too!"

            The thunder was his only reply.

            Growling low in his throat, Cloud angrily lit the cigarette and inhaled deeply. He couldn't get a buzz, and he couldn't get drunk unless he drank a bar out. No wonder the Turks were always drinking. That was the only way to get any feeling out of it at all!

            "What's going on?" Cloud wondered aloud, twiddling the cigarette between his fingers. "I've never been able to hear her this clearly. Not even when I was a kid. Not even when Seph--" He cut himself off immediately. No, don't go there. But still, what was going on? Even during the time with Meteor, her voice had always been faded, almost as if she was singing to him from underwater. After he had left AVALANCHE, Cloud had still heard her, but it was still distant. Now it was crystal-clear. It rang through his head, trying to shatter his mind.

            Cloud shivered and almost dropped the cylinder in his hand. Noticing this, the blond pulled it up again and smoked it. Something was calling him, like it had called him so many years ago. Whether it was fate, the Planet, or just all those damn chemicals Hojo had shoved into him, Cloud could hear its call. And he was afraid he was going to answer it.

            "Damn," he cursed. "Why can't I just be left alone?"

            From his place in Cosmo Canyon, Nanaki heard the Planet's cry long before his PHS rang. He did not have to glance around to discover the time, either. 2:00. His internal clock was far more specific than that of the humans around him.

            With all the inventions ShinRa Inc. has made, one would think they could invent a PHS for paws, Nanaki thought dryly, staring hard at the PHS. Barret had obviously not thought it through when he had given it to him.

            Nanaki huffed wearily and sauntered over to the PHS. With a practiced swipe, the PHS was knocked over to lie beside him, and another swipe had it turned on. "Hello," he greeted politely.

            "Nanaki, thank goodness I was able to get a hold of you," Reeve's relieved voice came over the line. "I'm trying to get AVALANCHE gathered together. My secretary is calling Vincent and Cid now."

            Nanaki growled. "I hear the voice of the Planet, Reeve," he commented softly. "It has to do with that, doesn't it?"

            A sigh was audible. "Yes. It's urgent, otherwise I wouldn't be calling you so late at night. Please, hurry to Midgar. I'll be waiting for you."

            Nanaki almost nodded before he realized the human couldn't see him. "I'm on my way."

            "Thank you, Nanaki. Please, hurry!"

            It wasn't until Nanaki had started running outside that he had a startling thought: if all of AVALANCHE would be needed, how would they contact Cloud?

            And why did he have the feeling that the young SOLDIER was at the heart of it?

~~~~~~~

Chapter 5: The Shit Hits the Fan

            AVALANCHE was not able to get gathered until almost 5:00 in the morning. Needless to say, everyone was tired and pissed.

            "This had better be good, Reeve!" Barret snapped, slamming a brawny fist down on the table. Reeve winced, grateful he did not use his gun hand. "You call us all on the phone, jabbering about danger to the Planet and come immediately and all that shit, and drag our asses here before sunrise. The Planet better be in danger! You dragged me away from Marlene!"

            Reeve was barely able to stifle another wince. Maybe Barret would drag out his gun arm after all.

            "It is an emergency, Barret," Nanaki soothed him. "I can hear the cries of the Planet. Whatever is happening, it is truly important."

            A yawn emerged from behind Barret's massive form, and a slender young woman trotted lazily into the open. "It better be," Yuffie yawned again. "I need my beauty sleep."

            Vincent managed to shush Cid before he commented.

            "If it's a major emergency, we'll need to find Cloud, right?" Tifa chirped hopefully. "He's our leader, and his Omnislash is deadly. We'll need him."

            It was getting harder and harder for Vincent to quiet Cid's smart mouth.

            Reeve sighed and ran a hand through his messy dark hair. His hand shook from weariness and anxiety. "It is an emergency," he confirmed solemnly. "Jenova, the creature that made Sephiroth so deadly, is beginning to revive. She is able to call upon monsters or make her own, and many have been sighted near Nibelhelm. Many others are approaching Midgar."

            This time, Vincent was too shocked to stop Cid. "Jenova!" the pilot exploded. "We fought that bitch! We fucking fought her a piece at a time! And if she's so fucking nasty, why haven't you blown her to smithereens yet? If you can't do it, I'll swing the Highwind by and blast that bitch to pieces all over again!"

            Reeve shook his head impatiently. "You don't understand. Jenova was dead. There was nothing, no life to revive. But now for some reason we can't fathom, she's reviving herself. It's like she's drawing from some other source whenever she is down."

            Barret snorted. "So that's the major emergency? Let's just go blast those monsters all to hell and back, and then I can go back to Marlene. No big deal."

            "Yeah!" Yuffie added. "I want to--"

            "Queep!"

            Silence reigned. All eyes swung around to stare at an embarrassed Nanaki. "I sneezed!" he retorted defensively to their shocked looks.

            "Sneezed?" Yuffie said in disbelief. "You went queep!"

            "Queep!" Cid snickered. "Lions go queep!"

            Vincent cleared his throat loudly, distracting everyone from poor Nanaki. "Reeve, why exactly is Jenova so dangerous? Why is the Planet panicking at her revival?"

            Reeve sighed. "It is now believed that Sephiroth was not solely responsible for his actions. Hojo apparently used Sephiroth for experiments when he was growing up. Sephiroth was one of several that had Jenova cells injected into his body. From our reports, Sephiroth showed no unusual actions until after meeting with Jenova in Nibelhelm. It is presumed that that close proximity with Jenova's body allowed the Jenova cells to seize control of Sephiroth's body."

            Vincent flinched and clutched his claw. Instantly, Cid had a comforting arm around his shoulders.

            "You mean it wasn't Sephiroth's fault that he destroyed Nibelhelm?" Tifa exclaimed. "Or killed Aeris?"

            Reeve nodded. "I supposed you could say he was possessed. Jenova controlled Sephiroth, or manipulated him so fully he would have no true say in his own actions."

            *...The being we are fighting is not the Sephiroth I knew...."*

            "The being we are fighting is not the Sephiroth I knew," Vincent breathed, his eyes wide. "Jenova controlled him," he said, his voice loud enough to carry over Yuffie's excited one. "Someone...someone who knew him before the Nibelhelm incident insisted that Sephiroth had changed."

            "Yes," Reeve agreed. "Now there is someone left on the Planet who has Jenova cells in their body. Hojo never gave his experiments' names, only their labels. It is believed it is because of that person that Jenova is now reviving."

            Nanaki finished the train of thought. "We could have another Sephiroth on our hands."

            "So what do we do?" Barret burst out. "Do we kill the person, or try to get the cells ou' o' im?"

            Before Reeve could respond, the phone rang. The president of Shinra gave it an evil look before answering. "He--What?!?...The monsters are in the city?...Wake the Turks up! Get them there immediately!"

            He slammed down the phone hard, then looked up at AVALANCHE. "The monsters are here," Reeve explained. "You have to stop them."

            After smoking three cigarettes, Cloud settled down for the night. With a silent prayer to a power he did not believe in for no more nightmares, he drifted to sleep...

            ...Only to awaken to the sound of screams down the hall.

            "Shit!" Cloud snarled. Another scream echoed, followed by a roar. "Double shit! What are monsters doing here?"

            Cloud leaped out of bed, only to be faced with a dilemma. Should he put some pants on, or grab his sword and materia? Cloud growled, lunging for his blade. He had a shirt on. He was decent.

            There was an explosion as his bedroom door was shattered, and Cloud cried out as something hot pierced his hand. He threw himself backwards, narrowly avoiding another claw.

            "Triple shit!" Cloud roared. Another claw snaked out of the darkness at him, and he almost fell over the bed dodging it. A large, black demon hissed at him, standing between him and his weapons. Why the hell did he put all of his weapons on one side of the room?

            There was another crash from outside the bedroom, and Cloud darted a glance at it. His long golden hair tumbled in his face, and a new string of curses emerged. Attacked without his weapons in only his shirt and underwear, and to make things worse, his hair had yet to go into its usual spikes. What else could go wrong?

            Stupid question, Cloud decided a moment later as yet another onyx demon entered the room, followed by another. He took a cautious step back, and the three creatures glared at him, daring him to try anything. All right, his weapons were over there, his pants were over there, and the only way out of the room was over there. Thank you, Murphy, for clarifying that stupid law!

            No, Cloud realized, sneaking a quick look behind him. There was another way out.

            As one, the three demons lunged towards him, but Cloud was already moving. He backflipped once, twice...

            And three times over the balcony rail.

~~~~~

Chapter 6: Enter the Turks

            Cloud was falling. Not only was he falling, but he was falling pretty damn fast.

            He threw his head back and stared at the frustrated faces of the demons. Through his wildly flying blond hair, he could see them clawing at the air. If they were shrieking, the wind in his ears drowned out the sound.

            Cloud tore his attention away from them and looked down. His apartment was on the sixth floor. If he was a normal human, the fall would kill him. As it was, he wasn't planning on hitting the ground straight off anyway.

            "Ugh!" he grunted. A gloved hand snatched at a metal rod sticking out of the wall. It gave, and Cloud's stomach went topsy-turvy as it dropped, then threw him back into the air. Cloud kicked his legs up. They flew over his head, and he pulled them into his chest. Cloud gripped the bare skin tightly and closed his eyes. His senses shrieked at him, and Cloud's eyes snapped open. His legs extended, and he landed on the roof of a small building.

            "Guess that trick works for more than just getting away from crowded elevators," Cloud quipped. His bare feet did not get the joke.

            A roar cut short Cloud's mirth, and he whirled around. Behind him, another large demon was crawling its way on the roof. The black creature bared knife-like fangs at him, and Cloud swallowed hard. He made to move backwards, but another hiss stopped him. He darted a look behind him. His big blue eyes met a pair of icy red ones. Another set of claws scratched at the roof, and another. To his left, a muscular onyx beast was stalking him. Cloud quickly decided that they all wanted him.

            "First Hojo, then Sephiroth/Jenova, now these freaks," Cloud grunted, growing tense. "What's with me and attracting the monsters from beyond?"

            "Hey, you two!" Elena yelled. "We have a job!"

            Reno and Rude both leaped to their feet. Reno knocked down his chair. Rude knocked down the table they had been playing cards on, plus the whiskey bottles they had been drinking. They had been doing their damnedest to get a buzz, and they had been failing miserably.

            "What's going on?" Reno perked up. Rude looked up hopefully, too. Much as he loved Reno, the lovely redhead was horrible to be around when he was bored, and lately he had been bored out of his mind. Thus he had been using Elena and Rude for entertainment, and Rude was getting tired of pulling grenades out of the young woman's tense hands. Perhaps this venture would give Elena another target besides the capricious redhead.

            "Monsters, attacking downtown," Elena informed them excitedly. "Don't worry, I know this isn't our usual job; Reeve's secretary said he offered to pay us a bundle to help get it under control." She paused, remembering something. "Oh, yeah. Almost all of AVALANCHE will meet us there--Hey! Wait for me!"

            While Elena was chattering, Reno and Rude was already scooping up their weapons and materia and heading out the door. "Even Cloud?" Reno tossed over his shoulder. Rude glared at him, an admirable task when you're at a dead run. He did not like the way Reno looked at the blue-eyed ex-SOLDIER. Reno was his, dammit!

            With a spurt of speed, Elena caught up to them. "Nope! He's been missing for the last two years!"

            Reno smirked. "Well, maybe this will flush him out of hiding."

            "Holy shit!" Cloud cursed, diving to one side. A long claw scraped his bare, muscular thigh, and Cloud almost lost his balance before landing in a neat roll. Another reached for him, but Cloud was too fast. He dived between one demon's legs, his lithe, slender body easily slipping through the gap, then tore into a run.

            "They don't want to kill me," Cloud gasped, his strong legs sprinting over the rooftop. With one push, he leaped to the ground and continued running. "They just want to capture me. Otherwise they'd be a lot meaner. But why does a bunch of monsters go around trying to capture people? It doesn't make sense!"

            Another demon sought to cut off the blond. Instantly, Cloud made to backtrack, but a second was behind him. Their ruby eyes dug into his, and for the first time, Cloud noticed the Mako glow. "Oh, fuck."

            Just give in, my child. Go with them and help bring around a new millennium.

            Cloud flinched and darted another look around. Nonononono....By Holy, this couldn't be happening.

            "Jenova," he whispered. "I will not be your puppet again. I would rather die."

            Cloud shifted to one side, his large shirt scraping against the gash in his thigh. The youth hissed, and the demon in front of him responded with a roar. It lunged towards him, and Cloud hastily ducked and dived. He heard the thud as it slammed into its partner.

            "Bully for you," Cloud breathed, taking off again. He had to circle around and try to get to his apartment again. If he was going to get charged at by some of Jenova's toys, then dammit, he was charging back armed!

            From the corner of his eye, Cloud saw another demon diving at him. He jumped away, but he was too late. A large claw snatched his ankle and pulled.

            "SHIT!" Cloud shrieked before he hit the cement. The wound on his thigh collided hard with the ground, and he gasped. The demon took advantage of his momentary paralysis and yanked hard on his ankle. Pain ricocheted up his leg as the claws dug into his flesh. Frantically, Cloud tried to kick away, but the demon was too strong.

            "Kid, down!" a strangely familiar voice shouted, and Cloud heard the blast of an Ultima spell being cast. The demon screamed, and then the pressure on his leg was gone. Dazed, Cloud glanced up to see his rescuer.

            "Reno!" Cloud yelped.

            To say Reno was surprised at seeing Cloud in the middle of the mess was an understatement. To say he was surprised at seeing the ex-SOLDIER half naked with his long spikes in wild waves down his shoulders was definitely earning the title Understatement of the Year.

            "Kid?" Reno gasped, kneeling beside the youth. Cloud gazed at him from behind loose bangs in equal astonishment. "What the hell are you doing here?"

            Cloud grimaced at the stupid question. "You mean lying without any pants on in the middle of Midgar's streets, or with a monster attacking me?"

            Reno shrugged. "Either/or. Rude and Elena are taking care of the rest of the creeps, and AVALANCHE is going to be here soon. Can you stand?"

            A returned shrug was his only response. Then Cloud carefully eased himself into a sitting position and glanced at his leg. His right leg was sliced up badly and stained crimson with blood. Cloud made a face. Maybe it was a good thing he wasn't wearing any pants. Blood stains were a bitch to get out. After a quick glance at Reno's admiring face, however, he quickly changed his mind. Being fully dressed in public was always good.

            "Damn, kid," Reno whistled, even as he offered Cloud a helping arm. "You should dress like this more often."

            Cloud helped define Killer Glare for him.

            Reno decided to change the subject. "How the hell did you get your hair down, anyway?" Reno asked. He wrapped his arm around Cloud's waist and carefully pulled him to his feet. "I mean, I thought it was a permanent thing."

            Another one of those ever-popular Killer Glares. Cloud was actually well-versed in the art of Glaring. Plenty of practice.

            "I was just curious!" Reno defended himself. "Geez!"

            Cloud growled, but nonetheless leaned on Reno. His right leg was faltering under him, and he could not walk on his own.

            "Come on," Reno sighed. "Let's get back to where Rude and Elena are waiting. AVALANCHE should probably be here soon."

            Was it just Reno's imagination, or did Cloud go pale?

~~~~~~~~

Chapter 7: Reunions Weren't Meant to be Sweet

            Reeve had generously offered the young man a spare bedroom to rest in, and Cloud had eagerly leaped onto the opportunity. He had had to get away. Away from all the eyes staring questioningly at him, accusingly at him, pityingly at him. Everything...it was too much to take.

            So now Cloud was laying prone on a soft, pristine bed staring at the ceiling. The bedroom, ShinRa furnished, was lavish and lush in only a way the rich could make it. The gentle coloring was meant to be soothing, relaxing, and if Cloud had noticed it, it might have improved his mood. As it was, he had been staring at the ceiling for the past half hour, and he still could not identify the color.

            It was too much to take!

            Cloud had thought his nightmare was over. Yes, he could still hear Jenova's voice, but he could block her out. He had been doing so well ignoring the bitch! Everything had been all right. He had been surviving. Cloud could never forget his past, forget his sweet beloved, but he had been surviving. The pain had not been so bad.

            Now Jenova was a threat once more. Jenova was planning on making him like Sephiroth.

            His beloved Sephiroth....

            Unbidden, a single tear trickled down his cheek, dampening a golden strand resting there.

            AVALANCHE, Jenova, the Turks, ShinRa...too much.

            Sephiroth, where are you when I need you?

            *Cloud leaned heavily on Reno's arm. His right leg was injured, and he simply dragged his left one. No, he did not wish to see AVALANCHE again. He had been running from them for the last two years, dammit. Now, when things were getting worse, he was forced to face them again. No! By Holy, he had been doing it for their protection! And his own. Why did they have to fuck it up so badly?

            Wearily, he closed his eyes and rested his head on Reno's shoulder. Cloud felt the Turk start in surprise, but he really did not give a damn. It was either that or cry, and Cloud had long ago made a vow that he would never shed a tear in the presence of others. This was a promise he had made to himself in Nibelhelm, and not even Hojo and his experiments had made him break it. He wasn't going to break it now.

            Reno raised his free hand and began to stroke Cloud's golden hair tenderly. It was now just starting to spike again, but for the moment, it was still falling in wild waves about his head and shoulders. "We'll be someplace safe soon," Reno spoke up. "You can rest there and get some more clothes on."

            If he wasn't so tired, Cloud would have laughed. Reno had no idea why Cloud was so upset; he thought it was because of Cloud's present situation. The young ex-SOLDIER was still running around in only a shirt and underwear, and if it wasn't for all the Mako in his system, he would be freezing by now. Already his thin blood was struggling to keep him warm, but Cloud was used to the chill. Jenova would not allow him to fall ill anyway. Still, the youth thought the redhead's actions were nice, if in vain.

            Reno tucked a strand of hair behind Cloud's ear. "Look, when we get settled, I got some good stuff to calm your nerves," he offered. "It'll affect even your SOLDIER system."

            Finally, Cloud raised his head. "Like what?"

            "Black mushrooms from near Icicle Inn. Rare as hell, but damn, they pack a punch!"

            Cloud smirked. "If you're offering, I'm accepting. I need a good smoke...or my sword. One of the two."

            For the first time, Cloud realized how they must appear to the people staring out of their apartments. He and Reno were walking down an empty, torn-up street, with him half-naked and leaning into Reno. Cloud's eyes lit up with dark humor. He hoped they were enjoying the view.

            Apparently, Reno was thinking along the same lines. "Too bad your shirt wasn't ripped off in the fight, kid," he quipped. "Then these peeping Toms would really be falling out of their windows."

            Cloud flashed a look at a young man leaning out of a two-story house window. "They might fall out anyway."

            Reno laughed softly, then steadied his grip on a faltering Cloud. "Or fall forward. Look up ahead."

            The young man went stiff as a board against Reno, and he knew the well-trained Turk had to feel the difference. However, Cloud could not help himself. Up ahead, he could see a helicopter landing near his apartment, with Rude and Elena waving it down. Inside that helicopter, his Mako-sharp eyes could clearly see the distinctive forms of AVALANCHE.

            "Shit," Cloud cursed, drawing Reno's eyes his way. Later, Cloud wondered what Reno had thought of his actions, but at the moment, he did not give a flying fuck what anyone else was thinking. The reunion he had been avoiding for two years was coming up, and he wanted to kill something.

            "CLOUD!" Tifa's shrill, painfully familiar voice resounded, and both Cloud and Reno cringed. She sounded worse than a dying cat.

            The long-haired fighter jumped from the helicopter before it even touched the ground, and she ran full-sprint to where Reno was easing Cloud to a shitty-looking bench. After a whispered apology, the Turk backed away from where Tifa was heading.

            Smart man, Cloud thought wryly, looking at Tifa. I'd be scared, too.

            Cloud knew Tifa liked him. She had liked him ever since they had met up again in Midgar. However, before then, he had been too unworthy for her to even look at him, nonetheless like him. Cloud had never forgotten that. When he had had no friends, when he had been the village outcast, Tifa had utterly ignored him. When all he had wanted was a friend, Tifa had looked down her nose at him. She was the mayor's daughter, while he was the son of a rumored whore. Then, when he had returned as a first class SOLDIER, Tifa had totally changed her mind about him. Cloud might have forgiven her, considered her actions a sign of her youth and thought maybe the destruction of Nibelhelm had helped her grow up, but she tried to get down his pants too often. That was not the actions of someone who had grown up.

            "Cloud!" Tifa shrieked, almost throwing herself at him. "Oh, by Holy, what happened to you? Are you all right? Where have you been these last two years...?

            Damn. He had not even seen her for a full minute yet, and he was already getting a migraine.

            "Fuck, Tifa, leave the kid alone. Get the hell away from him so everyone else can say hello."

            The hovering Tifa pouted, and after flashing Cloud another view of her full breasts, she bounced off. Cloud managed a small smile for Cid. He was actually happy to see the gruff pilot, though it was a bittersweet happiness.

            Damn, Cid, I did not want any of you in the middle of this....

            Cid plopped down on the bench beside Cloud and gingerly wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Fuck, kid, nice clothes. Ran out or something?"

            Cloud glanced down and winced. Yep, everyone was going to get a chance to see him in his underwear today. And check the time. The day had just started. Nope, there was no chance it could get worse from here.

            As Cid would say: Aw, fuck!

            "He is hurt, Cid. Did you bring a Cure materia?"

            Another small, but genuine smile was flashed at Vincent. Cloud had missed most of the members of AVALANCHE. Seeing them again was a painful joy...except for Tifa. That was just painful.

            "Hi, Val," Cloud greeted softly. "It's nothing, just a scratch."

            Vincent kneeled down beside Cloud's wounded leg. The bloody gashes were clear to view, all the way up his leg to his thigh. Now that Cloud could actually look at them, they were kinda bloody looking. Yum. Wasn't this about the time everyone got up to eat breakfast?

            "I got a Cure materia!"

            "Big surprise there," Cid commented under his breath as Yuffie ran up. "It's probably mine."

            Vincent looked like he wanted to admonish Cid, but he kept him mouth shut. Cloud betted it was Cid's, too. Heh. He had missed Yuffie.

            Cloud stared down at Yuffie's head as she cast Cure on him. Those monsters...he would bet anything they were sent by Jenova. Which would mean that she was reviving and wanted her puppet back. Jenova...the creature that had the ability to control him, to turn him into the same killing machine that--

            No. Don't go there.

            But he knew grave danger was up ahead. Not just from Jenova's creatures, but from himself. This was what Cloud had been dreading for so long. Endangering his friends, the few people who had given a shit about him for who he was. No.

            "Cloud!"

            "Spike!"

            Cloud wearily smiled up at the last two members of the group. "Nanaki, Barret. Long time no see."

            Nanaki made a soft purring sound and rubbed his head against Cloud's hand. Obligingly, Cloud stroked between his ears. "We have missed you, Cloud."

            Cloud scratched behind one ear. "I've missed you guys, too," he confessed.

            "Then why haven't you fuckin' visited, Spike?" Barret demanded, even as he pulled Cloud up for a massive bear hug. Cloud heard Yuffie yelp as she concentrated on doing her Cure spell on the moving limb, but he was too busy getting his breath back to care.

            "Because I like my lungs in working order," Cloud shot back when he finally was able to breathe.

            Cid laughed and hugged Cloud, too, just not as roughly as Barret did. Cloud was grateful. "Shit, kid, it's good having you back."

            Cloud sucked in a deep breath at those words, even as he hugged Cid back. You might not be saying that when you realize why I went into hiding, Cid, Cloud thought miserably.*

            You weren't looking so happy after that meeting with Reeve, Cloud thought bitterly, huddling on the bed. Hell, I can't blame you. I wasn't so fucking happy, either.

            Why won't you leave me alone, bitch? What did I ever do to you?

            You were born.

~~~~~~

Chapter 8: Realizations

            The sun was struggling to shine over the sweeping clouds. While the rains had finally stalled, the darkness still was dominant in the sky. Even the sun's brilliant light could not pierce it.

            Cloud prayed that was not a symbol of what was to come.

            He had given up on trying to go to sleep and instead stood by the window. Unfortunately, the room Reeve had offered him did not have a balcony, so the window had to do. At least it had a good view.

            Can you not see the mountains from here, Child? Do they not bring up bittersweet memories?

            No. The bitch wasn't going to make him remember that. No.

            Mountains...it took place there, did it not? Can you remember his eyes? Do you not wish to recall the look in his eyes?

            Cloud tore his gaze from the window and slammed a fist onto his thigh. The Cure materia had stopped the bleeding and healed the gashes somewhat, but the pain still remained. His fist magnified it so it felt like a hammer had struck him. Jenova's voice faded for a moment, but then it was there once more.

            His eyes...he never looked away. He was watching you. He was watching you, like he had done so many times before.

            "Stop, you bitch," Cloud snarled, striking his bruised thigh again. "Just shut up! Go away!"

            Cloud forced himself to concentrate on something other than Jenova's siren call. Once again, he remember the trip back to the tower...

            *"What the fuck were you doing there in only a shirt, kid? Without a weapon or hell, even materia? That's pretty fucking strange even for you, Spike."

            Cloud cringed mentally at Cid's expected question. He had been waiting for it, but that did not make it any easier.

            Avoiding it for the moment, Cloud looked away from where everyone was cramped in the helicopter to look out the window. The monsters had ripped Midgar up pretty well before they had found his location. He clenched his fists unconsciously. So much destruction just to find him.

            Disturbed, Cloud looked back inside the helicopter. Reno was sitting to his right, having quickly hopped there before Tifa could reach. The youth bit back a smile, even as he was confused by the strange glint in the Turk's eyes every time the redhead looked at him. Cloud was grateful to him for that, but he could see the expectant look in Reno's eyes as he, too, waited for the answer to Cid's question. Cloud could not blame them for wondering. Hell, he still didn't have pants on.

            "They were attacking the people on my floor," Cloud answered finally. "I was asleep when it happened. When I went to grab my weapon, one burst in and stopped me. They never gave me time to grab anything, clothes and weapons included."

            Neither Cloud nor the Turks missed the troubled look AVALANCHE exchanged. Cloud suddenly had the feeling that, no matter how bad things were now, they were going to get a lot worse.

            "You think they were coming for you, Cloud?" Vincent questioned quietly.

            Yep. A lot worse.

            "I suppose so," Cloud answered hesitantly. What did they know that he did not? "They chased me for too long for me to assume otherwise. Or maybe it was the fact that I was the only one with a weapon nearby, the only one that could be a threat. These were intelligent creatures, with Mako in their bloodstream. They would be able to clearly distinguish a threat."

            Barret let out a breath in a loud swoosh, and Cloud felt his blood chill at his words. "Yeah, that had to be it. You were a threat, they wanted to take ou' the threat. That it."

            They were getting closer to Shinra tower, Cloud noticed distantly. Mainly, he noticed the relieved expressions of most of AVALANCHE. All but Nanaki and Vincent. Something was happening--

            *Just give in, my child. Go with them and help bring about a new millennium.*

            The memory of Jenova's words hit Cloud with all the force of a truck. His beautiful blue eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed. "What the fuck is going on?" His Mako eyes pierced AVALANCHE one by one. Only Vincent met his gaze. "Don't tell me it's nothing. You guys know something about the monsters that attacked me. You guys were almost immediately on the scene, and what's more, you were together. I don't think you just happened to be gathering together for a picnic."

            Tifa flinched back from Cloud's harsh tone, but the young man did not give a damn. He cornered Barret with his eyes, using his will to intensify the Mako glow. The large, black man cringed.

            "Reeve knows all the facts," Barret explained hurriedly. "He can tell it to you."

            "All of us," Reno added, and everyone turned to look at him. Cloud noticed Reno had scooted a little closer to him. He reminded the blonde of a protective mother cat. "We have the right to know, too."

            Elena nodded quickly. "Because we're probably going to be dragged right in the middle of it. As Turks, we have the right to demand the name of who it is we're fighting and the rest of the details." For the first time, she seemed to notice Reno and Rude shaking their heads. "What? What?!? What did I say this time? I didn't say much, now did I?"

            To Cloud, it seemed like Elena was ready to stick her tongue out at the other two Turks. If the situation wasn't so grim, he might have smiled.

            "Approaching Shinra Tower now," the pilot announced.

            Cloud braced himself. Damn, but he had a feeling this wouldn't be good.

            "Cloud, it's good to see you again," Reeve greeted him warmly, extending his hand over his messy desk to the mercenary. He raised an eyebrow at Cloud's shirt and bare legs. "Though I will have to admit, I expected you in different attire."

            Cloud managed a small grin for him as he shook his hand. "You're telling me. I was caught at a bad time, what can I say?"

            The rest of AVALANCHE waited impatiently behind Cloud as the two said their hellos. The Turks were waiting out in the lobby for a private briefing. For the moment, it was simply an AVALANCHE thing.

            Too well-trained to show a sign of weakness, Cloud ignored his skimpy clothes for the moment and sat across from the Shinra president. "Perhaps now someone can tell me what the hell is going on? Do you know something about the creatures that had attacked me, Reeve?"

            Reeve blinked. "Attacked you?" he murmured. His sharp brown eyes strayed to Cloud's gloves. Cloud saw the motion and tightened his lips.

            "Yes, attacked me. Start talking."

            Reeve swallowed heavily. It seemed like he was about to stall, but Cloud's glare put a stop to that. With a sigh, Reeve unfolded the same story he had told the others, telling about Sephiroth, Jenova, and Hojo's other experiment. Cloud's beautiful face did not change as he heard what he had already known for several years. Inside, however, he was screaming.

            You fucking idiots! This was what I was trying to keep from you. I didn't want you, any of you, to know this!

            The urge to look behind him, to look at his friends' expressions, was horrible. Would they be disgusted with him now? They had to know by now that that alien freak Jenova was inside of him, just like she had been inside his love. Vincent and Nanaki had probably figured it out the moment they had seen him with Reno. The others had not let themselves.

            But they don't know everything, yet. They only know certain pieces of the puzzle. Hojo would have hated it to be so simple as Reeve believes it to be. They don't know the full truths of Jenova, Sephiroth, and his father. Surely Vincent knows there's more, but he'll never ask. That'll unbury his own secrets. I know he'll respect my privacy and won't challenge me.

            "What do you know of the person who has Jenova cells in them?" Cloud questioned calmly, reclining in his chair. He wished he had a smoke. He had to meet up with Reno later to get some off of him.

            Reeve shook his head regretfully. "Unfortunately, not much. It was simply mentioned in an old file concerning Jenova that there was two living people with her cells successfully incorporated into their systems. Sephiroth it mentioned by name. The other was only given a label."

            So Zack probably didn't have Jenova cells in him. It would explain why I was always weak, and Zack wasn't. Hmm...

            Cloud nodded to Reeve's unspoken question. "Yes, I am the other one with Jenova cells in them," he admitted. "It happened while I was in SOLDIER, towards the end. The old president gave Hojo free reign with his experiments, so Hojo was never punished for his actions. President Shinra believed that these experiments would help get him to the Promised Land." He shrugged negligently. "He was wrong."

            Nanaki growled low in his throat behind him. Senses heightened with emotions carefully hidden and the Mako flowing through his veins, Cloud could hear every patter of Nanaki's paws as the creature walked over the carpet to get to him.

            "I knew Hojo was a monster, but to do this..." Nanaki bared his teeth angrily before nudging Cloud's bare leg with his head. Cloud's eyes softened, and he scratched behind Nanaki's ears.

            "I got out of there as soon as I could," Cloud assured him. There, not a single lie said. Omitted truths do not a lie make.

            "But the damage is done," Vincent spoke up quietly, moving to stand beside Cloud. He rested his flesh hand on Cloud's shoulder. His crimson eyes did not look at the youth's face; they were studying his gloves.

            Yep, Val knows.

            "These monsters were not assigned to hurt Cloud," the vampire addressed the others of AVALANCHE. "That would be detrimental to Jenova's plan. If she wishes to make him into another Sephiroth, she would need him in one piece and brought to her."

            Cloud cringed inwardly. Into another Sephiroth. That used to be his dream, until he fell in love with the older man. After that, he was content to be himself. Now, he was fighting for the right to be himself. He loved the way life worked.

            "You keep talkin' 'bout her like she's a thinkin' thing!" Barret shouted. "She's just a...a--"

            "Thinking thing," Nanaki assured him, "and we must treat her as such. She's the mastermind behind the Meteor plot. We must remember that. She sought to destroy the world once, using Sephiroth as her puppet. If she captures the one strong enough to kill Sephiroth--"

            Another hidden cringe.

            "--then she would have extreme power. Cloud was the only one who was able to beat Sephiroth. Who would be strong enough to beat Cloud?"

            It was Cloud's turn to blink. Damn, I hadn't thought of that.

            A chill raced up Cloud's spine. Oh, by Holy....For a moment, the young man was positive he was going to be sick. No. Sephiroth's blood stained his hands. That was a fact that would haunt him for the rest of his days. His beloved had died at the end of his sword. If Jenova had her way... Shaken, Cloud glanced up to study his friends' faces. Vincent, Cid, Nanaki, Yuffie, Barret, Reeve, even Tifa. He would rather die than hurt them, too.

            Reeve must have noticed his sudden pallor, for he stood up and walked over to Cloud. "You've had a hard night," he said softly. "I have a room where you can get some rest. Don't worry. Everything will be all right."

            Cloud wanted so badly to believe him, but if that was true, why wasn't Sephiroth and Zack and Aeris and his mother still alive? Was it all right for them to have died the way they did?

            Vincent squeezed his shoulder. For some reason, Cloud had the feeling Vincent of all people knew how he felt.*

~~~~~~~

Chapter 9: Jenova Strikes Again

            Cloud sighed wearily and ran a hand through his golden spikes. Reeve had led him here an hour ago, and he was still awake. Tired as hell, but still awake. Damn insomnia.

            Rubbing heavy blue eyes, Cloud glanced longingly at the bed behind him. Maybe he should try again. Maybe this time he would be able to sleep.

            Yes, my child, try once more. You are sleepy, are you not, little one? Just lay down and close your eyes. Do not worry; when you wake once more, you shall be well rested.

            Cloud yawned. Yes, he was sleepy. Just lay down and close his eyes...that was simple... why hadn't he thought of that before?

            On suddenly shaky legs, Cloud stumbled towards the bed. The room swam before his eyes. Sleep...it sounded so good.

            Cloud barely managed to make it to the bed before he fell into a deep sleep. Jenova's voice cooed a loving lullaby in his mind, even as it trembled with hidden laughter.

            You are mine, child.

            "You are kidding me, Reeve!" Reno burst out as the president finished his tale for the third time. "The kid...no, he can't be turning into another Sephiroth! No way!"

            Rude walked up behind his lover and rested a gentle hand on his shoulder. Instantly, the hotheaded redhead calmed down, but his lovely eyes still flashed. Reeve swallowed. His own team would probably end up killing him before Jenova's monsters could.

            "If Cloud gets too close to Jenova, the Jenova cells in him will revive totally, and Jenova will be able to possess him," Reeve sighed, gulping down some coffee. That was the only thing keeping him going. He was wiped.

            "But if it is Strife that is keeping Jenova alive, how will we be able to defeat her?" Rude questioned quietly. "As long as Strife lives, Jenova will always be a threat."

            Reeve sighed wearily and leaned back in his chair. After AVALANCHE had left his office, the Turks had entered and demanded--well, Reno had, anyway--a briefing concerning the monsters. Reno had taken the news the worse. Apparently, the redhead had become rather protective of the young man. It was only Rude's silent presence that kept Reno from lunging across Reeve's desk. Elena had, strangely, stayed quiet throughout the conversation. He noticed she kept looking at him worriedly. Maybe this story had frightened the female Turk.

            Growling low in his throat, Reno gently shrugged off Rude's caring hand and started pacing back and forth. His slender legs ate up the distance to the right, then to the left, then to the right again. "There has to be a way to kill the Jenova cells inside him without killing Cloud. If we do that, we can kill Jenova, right?"

            Reeve shrugged tiredly and bowed his head. His dark hair fell, hiding his pale face. "I don't know," he murmured. He ran a hand over his face. "I honestly don't know."

            A small hand touched his shoulder, and Reeve jumped. Startled, he turned around to meet Elena's concerned gaze. "Hey, it's all right. Why don't you get some sleep. You look tired."

            Reeve waved an expansive hand at the paperwork on his desk. "I would love to, but I have too much work to do yet. I have these papers on Jenova and Hojo to review, I have to work on those new power source plants, yet, and--"

            "--And if you don't get some sleep, you won't even be able to read the writing on the paper," Elena scolded. "Don't worry, I've been taking care of the paperwork for the Turks for the past two years now."

            Since Tseng died, Reeve thought, but he didn't say it aloud.

            "I'll look through your papers and see if I can find the information we need," Elena continued. "Also, Reno and Rude can patrol the area and see if they can find some more info on the monsters. Go. Leave it to us Turks."

            Reeve leaned back in his chair, and for the first time, he actually looked at Elena. The young woman had grown up since Tseng's death. No longer was she some junior Turk. Working alongside Reno and Rude had helped mature the blond. Her bright eyes shone with intelligence, and she held herself proudly.

            How long has she been like this? Reeve wondered. How come I didn't see it before?

            "Shoo!" Elena made a show of grabbing Reeve's shoulders and pulling him. "If I can drag Rude and Reno to bed, I can drag you, too."

            Reeve laughed but relented. "You do this to them, too?" he teased. He got up with a lazy stretch. How many steps would it take from here to his bedroom...?

            Elena nodded. "All the time. Don't worry, I'll wake you up if I find something important. Now shoo!"

            Reeve smiled warmly at her. "Well, 'night then, Elena."

            Elena grinned at him and shooed him for the third time towards the door. " 'night."

            Reno and Rude watched this unfold before them with wide eyes. "Did I miss something?" Reno murmured to his large lover.

            Rude only shrugged.

            "Let's go to bed, darlin'," Cid coaxed Vincent, keeping step with the vampire. "Reeve gave us a room with a kingsized bed. I know you must be tired. Come on, let's go to bed."

            Vincent smiled beneath his bandanna but did not slow his steps. "I simply wish to check on Cloud before we go to the bedroom. He seemed disturbed earlier." He peeked at Cid from the corner of his eye. "Besides, if we go to bed, I doubt we would sleep."

            Cid grinned merrily. "Later we would."

            Vincent's delicate nose wrinkled in a sniff, but Cid could see his ruby eyes sparkling. Happy, Cid wrapped an arm around Vincent's slender waist and pulled him close. Cid matched the vampire's steps, and they walked towards Cloud's room side by side. "All right, all right, let's go check on the kid. You shouldn't worry about him so much, though. He's a tough little mother fucker. He'll come out on top."

            Vincent sighed. "I know, but--" Suddenly, the brunet stiffened against Cid's arm. His wide eyes staring at Cloud's closed door, the vampire made a low hissing sound. "Cloud."

            Cid blinked before releasing his lover. Pulling out the Venus Gospel from its sheathe on his back, he ran the last couple steps towards Cloud's room. At his side, Vincent held the Death Penalty, and together, they kicked the door open.

            Nothing. There was nothing in the room, besides Cloud. Lying on the bed, the sleeping youth seemed oblivious to their presence as they carefully walked over to him.

            "Cloud?" Vincent called quietly.

            No answer.

            "Cloud?" Vincent called again, reaching out and shaking the youth's slender shoulder gently. The youth fell with the motion lifelessly. His head lolled back onto the pillow.

            "Cloud!" Cid shouted. Vincent shot him a sharp look.

            "Guard the window!" he snapped. "Start yelling for help. Hurry!"

            Without a word, Cid obeyed, even as Vincent struggled to awaken his unconscious leader. He pulled Cloud into his arms and began gently slapping his voice, calling his name with growing desperation.

            "Someone, get your fucking ass in here!" Cid roared, braced before the window. Shadows darted before the glass. Those monsters were back! "Get your fucking ass in here now!"

            A low shriek sounded beside the window, followed by another. There was several of them.

            "Someone, hurry the fuck up!" Cid screamed, right before something slammed into the window.

~~~~~~

Chapter 10: Voices From the Past

            "This is some pretty interesting junk," Elena murmured, flipping through the papers on Jenova. "I just wish Hojo has actually written out some of this stuff, instead of using shorthand."

            Grunting in displeasure, the blond Turk scanned another paper. "Duh-dah, duh-dah--hello! What's this?"

            Holding the paper closer to her face, Elena carefully read its contents. "This is one of the papers concerning the test subjects...shit! There was that many?" She glanced at some numbers at the bottom of the paper. According to that, none of the subjects mentioned survived the tests. Yet, for some reason, Cloud and Sephiroth survived. Was it just because they were stronger than the others, or--

            A piercing gunshot interrupted her. She hadn't heard that certain gun for two years, but the trained Turk still recognized it.

            "That's the Death Penalty! Valentine's gun!"

            Reno and Rude was the first one to hear Cid's shouts. Without a word, the two took off towards Cloud's room. Their weapons were out by the time they reached the door, in time to hear Vincent's gun fire. A throbbing shriek answered, and Cid yelled.

            The two Turks burst into the room with weapons bared. A large, winged, crimson lizard almost flung them back out. One of its wings slammed into Reno. As he fell, he swung his electro-rod, striking the same wing that had struck him. The beast shrieked, then was silenced as Rude blasted it with his gun.

            Protectively, Rude stood before his fallen lover, and swept the room with his sunglasses-covered eyes. Vincent was crouched on the bed, holding an unconscious Cloud against him with his clawed hand. His flesh hand was holding the Death Penalty, and he was shooting the monsters that was flying in through the large window. Cid stood several feet to Rude's right, a bloodied Venus Gospel in his hands. Crimson stained the stubble on his left cheek, a stain from the gash on his cheekbone.

            "Shit!" Reno cursed, scrambling to his feet beside Rude. Another monster flew in, only to be taken down by Vincent. The one that immediately followed ducked under the bullet and dived towards the dark-haired gunman.

            "Oh no, you don't!" Cid roared. He lunged forward, spearing one of its wings to the wall. Vincent finished it off.

            Two more exploded through the shattered window. A wild tail snapped Rude in the jaw, sending the tall man flying. The other tackled Cid, and they both dropped.

            "Rude!" Reno shrieked, pulling out his materia. "Eat this, you bastards! Bolt 3!"

            "Ice 3!" Vincent added, adding a wintry chill to the thunderstorm blazing in the room. The monsters screamed and collapsed in frozen, blackened chips.

            "Ultima!" Reno shouted, aiming his hands towards the window. A brilliant haze of green threw three more monsters back.

            "Fire 3!" Rude joined in.

            "Leviathan...Summon!" Yuffie screamed from behind them, and water splashed outside the window. As the two Turks and the two members of AVALANCHE watched, the mighty creature of Wutai wiped out the rest of the creatures heading for the window. Then it vanished, and Yuffie jogged into the room.

            Reno wrapped an arm around Rude's back and pulled him to his feet before anything else could happen. He allowed himself the luxury of a quick hug before pulling away. Fortunately, the others were too busy to notice his momentary lapse.

            "The last fuckers are getting away!" Cid shouted, pointing out the window. Half a dozen of the winged monsters were darting from the Shinra building, their crimson wings pushing them swiftly away. Cid growled and made to use one of his materia.

            "Cid, don't!" Vincent snapped. Immediately, his lover halted. "From this distance, you cannot accurately control the summon. You may take out several buildings and not even touch the creatures!"

            The gruff pilot growled but put away the materia. Carelessly, he wiped the blood from his cheek. "Is the kid all right?" Cid asked, jogging to Vincent's side.

            Cloud Strife had not moved once during the whole incident. Sagging lifelessly against Vincent, his eyes remained closed. The vampire frowned and raised a hand to finger his neck. He found a pulse in the slender column, slow but steady.

            "I think he's asleep," Vincent announced as Yuffie and the Turks made their way to the bed. "But I can't wake him up."

            Reno's fine features were screwed up in a frown. Squeezing Rude's hand, he kneeled by the bed beside the unconscious blonde. "Jenova might've knocked him out, to make capturing him easier," he offered, studying Cloud's slack face. His rosy lips were parted, revealing white, even teeth. His beautiful blue eyes refused to open.

            Yuffie plopped on the bed next to Vincent. "But if she can do that, what else can she do to him?" she wondered, touching Cloud's cheek.

            Cid shook his head. "I don't even want to know."

            \Aeris, did you see that?!? Jenova almost got him that time! We have to help!\

            \\I know, I know. I'm worried, too. AVALANCHE and the Turks are tough, but they aren't prepared for what they're facing.\\

            \Precisely! They don't know what they're facing! They need help!\

            \\\Aeris, please. We have to help them. If not the Planet, we need to help Cloud. He needs us now. Let us help him.\\\

            \\Oh, you guys...I know how you feel about him. I know you want to protect him. But the others....\\

            \Just tell them that if Jenova gets her scrawny, bitchy, slime-covered--\

            \\\Hmm!\\\

            \(Cough!)--claws on him, the Planet will probably be destroyed. Now they don't want that, now do they?\

            \\Ha! That just might work! Keep watching over him. With any luck, we'll be able to help him soon.\\

            \\\Thank you, Aeris.\\\

            \\Don't worry. We'll save him.\\

            \If we don't, there'll be hell to pay.\

~~~~~~

Chapter 11: Memories

            Under Jenova's spell, Cloud could only dream for the moment. His past swarmed up to meet the present, and he remembered another time. A time when Sephiroth was there, alive and sane. He could remember that, so clearly.

            He remembered....

            *"No training today!" fifteen-year-old Cloud Strife cheered, leaping around his bedroom. "My day off! No nasty drill sergeant, no bullies thinking they can beat me up, and no standing out in the hot sun in that damn uniform! Ha!"

            Dancing around the apartment he shared with his mentor, General Sephiroth, Cloud wondered what he would do. He had given up trying to sleep in. Over six months of training had ruined that for him. His day off, and he woke up at seven! How horrible!

            Maybe I could call Mom, Cloud thought, glancing at the clock. Or maybe I should make breakfast. I've been up for two hours already, and I haven't eaten yet.

            At that thought, Cloud's good mood faded somewhat. Up for two hours, and I haven't seen Seph yet, either. I thought he was supposed to be back from his assignment sometime last night. Did it run late? My day off, and I won't even see Seph. Cloud's shoulders slumped. Damn, it probably did run late. And Zack is with him, so I can't hang out with him, either. Maybe having a day off isn't as much fun as I thought it would be. Without Seph and Zack, there's no one I can talk to, or just hang out with. I guess I'll be calling Mom after all.

            The bounce to his step faded, Cloud walked over to the small kitchen to fix himself some breakfast. After years of it being only his mom and himself, Cloud could cook rather well. After all, someone had to cook for his mom when she was sick, or hurt. Cloud smirked to himself. And he could clean, too. Perfect little housewife.

            Cloud had not even opened the first cabinet when he heard the door swing open. Immediately, he stiffened. The fact that he heard the door open chilled him. That ruled out Zack or Seph opening the door. Who else would come in here?

            "Hojo said the papers should be on the desk," Cloud heard as he crept towards the kitchen door. "We just find the papers, and we can scram."

            Hojo? Cloud wondered, taking a small peek around the corner. Papers? What's going on?

            His eyes fell on a large, burly man leaning against the wall in the living room, talking with a tall, dark man. He could see shadows in his and Seph's bedroom. At least two more in there, probably of decent size.

            "What if the General finds us in here?" the tall one asked nervously. "He would kill us, no problem!"

            There was a snort from the bedroom. "He's in a meeting with President Shinra at the moment," a deep voice replied. "Nothing to worry about."

            That's where he is, Cloud realized. But if he's in a meeting with the president, it shouldn't take him long to escape it and come up here. He's always quick about--

            "Holy shit! There's someone else here!" the burly man roared, catching sight of Cloud's golden spikes.

            "Well, don't just stand there! Deal with him!"

            Shit.

            Cloud dived backwards, narrowly missing being tackled by the large man. The tall one caught Cloud around the waist before he could exit the room, however, and the stranger threw the slight blond to the ground. Cloud cried out, even as he was kicking the dark man in the groin. The stranger collapsed like a ragdoll, but that still left Cloud with the other three. Desperately, he took off for the door, but was tackled before he even made it halfway.

            The youth turned on his captor like a wildcat. His fist flew out, catching one in the jaw. He scratched another in the face. His lithe legs were kicking out, catching the first one in the balls. Two down, two more to go.

            "You little prick!" Cloud heard behind him, then a stinging pain raced up his neck and down his spine. Stars exploded before his eyes, and he fell in a heap on the floor.

            Pressure point. You prick, the guys back in Nibelhelm never used that trick.

            When Cloud recovered his wits, he found himself flat on his back, someone behind him holding his hands down while another was sitting on his stomach. The one sitting on him leered at him, his brown eyes bright with lust.

            "Must be a whore for Sephiroth," the man sneered. "Funny. I didn't think Sephiroth was into that kinda shit."

            The one holding his hands scoffed. "This kid's too pretty to be a SOLDIER recruit. Has to be a whore. Or maybe he is a SOLDIER recruit and is just fucking the main man, trying to get on his good side. What do you think?"

            Brown Eyes snorted, eyeing Cloud's heaving chest. "Doesn't matter. Anyway you look at it, he's still a whore."

            Cloud bared his teeth in an angry snarl. Whore! I don't whore myself out to him. I make love to him, not whore myself out to him. Creeps!

            Brown Eyes laughed merrily, and Cloud's anger was washed away in a sea of fear as he leaned back and began playing with Cloud's zipper. "Look at that mouth! Just made for blowjobs, doncha think? I get the bottom if you get the top. Sound good?"

            No! They can't be thinking what I think they're thinking! No way in hell!

            Cloud opened his mouth to scream, but he ended up choking instead as a cold hand crept down his pants. Wildly, he began to buck, but by the growing bulge in the man's pants, that just turned him on more. A single finger crept down to Cloud's crack, stroking it until it found Cloud's tight pucker.

            "You fucking bastards!" Cloud began to scream. OhHolynopleasedon't-- "Get off me! Get off me!"

            The other man changed his grip so he was holding both of Cloud's hands in one of his own, using the other to unzip his pants. The expanse of pale flesh Cloud saw only made him scream louder.

            The finger in Cloud's pants began to press into his entrance. Cloud choked and began tossing his head wildly in denial. He could feel it. The very tip entered, moving slowly inside--

            "Get the fuck off of him. Now."

            Cloud barely recognized that cold voice. It was so different from what he was used to. Through his lashes, Cloud watched at the two men practically leaped away from him. The finger was pulled roughly away from him, and Cloud released a sobbing gasp.

            Strong arms scooped him up and carried him towards the couch. Gently, Cloud was laid down, and then the protective embrace was gone. Dimly, Cloud could hear the sound of swords slashing through flesh and the dull thumps of bodies hitting the floor. He ignored it, curling up into himself.

            Bastards, he thought viciously. Hope Seph and Zack rip them to shreds.

            He did not know when he began to tremble. He only became aware of it when the strong arms returned to hold him tightly. He could hear Zack shouting at someone, and then those arms were carrying him once again. This time, Cloud was carried to the bedroom and placed under the blankets on the bed. The last thing he was aware of was gentle lips brushing against his forehead before he passed out.

            When Cloud awoke again, it was evening. At first, he thought it was a dream. He did not have to open his eyes to become aware that he was wearing his normal nightclothes, a simple, large shirt. By the smell, one of Seph's. His body felt fine, not feeling bruised at all. It had to have been a dream.

            "Cloud, kid, you awake?"

            Nope, it wasn't a dream. Zack wouldn't sound so concerned if it was a dream.

            Cloud moaned weakly and opened his eyes. Both Zack and Sephiroth was hovering over him, and for the first time, Cloud noticed his hand was tightly clasped in both of Sephiroth's. He met Seph's worried emerald eyes.

            "Yeah," Cloud said. "What happened? Those men--" Against his will, Cloud shivered.

            Sephiroth squeezed his hands tenderly. "Are dead. Zack and I killed them ourselves. So far, the matter is hush-hush. Only a doctor has come in here, and that was to check on you. Are you all right? Do you know what the men were looking for?"

            Cloud swallowed. "I-I'm all right. I heard a little of the men's conversation. They said something about Hojo telling them that the papers were on the desk. Find the papers, then leave. That's what they said."

            Sephiroth and Zack exchanged disturbed looks before the black-haired SOLDIER leaned down to give Cloud a comforting hug. "Sorry we were so late coming to the rescue, kid. At least you were able to drop two of those bastards on your own."

            Cloud pouted. "The last ones cheated. They used pressure points."

            Zack smiled warmly at him. "Don't worry about it. We'll talk about it later." Zack gave him another hug. "I'll leave you and Seph to say hello. I have to go tell some people I'm back, anyway. I haven't left this apartment since I got here."

            Cloud hugged him back. "Yeah, yeah. Don't go getting into trouble."

            Zack laughed and sauntered towards the door. "Me, trouble, never! See you guys later!"

            " 'Bye!" Cloud called, then turned back to his lover. Sephiroth's emerald eyes were intense in a way Cloud had never seen before, and reassuringly, Cloud brushed his lips against his. "Don't worry, Seph, I'm fine. You guys were able to stop them before they did anything."

            Sephiroth looked him over searchingly before pulling him in a crushing grip. "When we walked in," he murmured into Cloud's hair, "and those two men were pinning you down, I thought--"

            Cloud stroked his back lovingly. "I'm fine. Don't worry."

            Sephiroth held him for a moment longer before pulling away slightly. Cloud opened his mouth to protest--it had been so long since he had last felt Seph's touch!--only to be silenced by Sephiroth's lips. Cloud's moan was muffled as Sephiroth hungrily devoured his mouth. His tongue swept over every inch of the hot cavern, and Sephiroth pulled him closer. Cloud raised his hands to bury them in Sephiroth's silvery mane, moaning heatedly into the kiss. He felt so hot...only Sephiroth could make him feel this way. Seph and no other.

            Groaning, Sephiroth pulled away again, only to hurriedly divest them both of their clothes. They were flung to the otherside of the room, and then Seph was pinning Cloud to the bed with his naked form. Cloud cried out as the hard erections grinded against each other, and he arched his back. Sephiroth took advantage immediately and lowered his head, suckling on Cloud's rosy nipples. Cloud wailed at the sensation. Sephiroth's moist lips, moving around his flesh...his teeth nibbling on his nipple, pulling at it.

            "Baby, baby, baby...." Sephiroth groaned, trailing heated kisses down Cloud's tight stomach to his naval. His wet tongue licked there eagerly before continuing downwards. For a moment, Sephiroth did not move, only stared at Cloud's proud erection sticking out of the pale curls. A little bit of precum moistened the tip, and Sephiroth licked his lips. Cloud sobbed at the pause, and the sound got Sephiroth moving. He lowered his head once more, taking the head of Cloud's cock into his mouth. He sucked the salty liquid away. With the tip of his tongue, he delved into the little opening at the tip. His teeth raked the head, and Cloud shrieked, his body arching.

            It's been too long, Cloud thought deliriously, pleasure flowing through his body. He moaned and arched into Sephiroth's awaiting mouth. Sephiroth took it, opening his throat and working it against Cloud's rigid arousal. He swallowed, and the sensation made Cloud scream again. His mouth and throat worked Cloud hungrily, and the young man sobbed. A strong, slender hand snaked downward to cup his balls, working them even as the other began playing with Cloud's taut nipples. The feeling drove Cloud over the edge, and with a choked sob, he came in Sephiroth's mouth. The older man drank the salty/sweet fluids eagerly before rising up to let Cloud taste himself in his mouth.

            Cloud moaned into the kiss as he felt Sephiroth's hand trail down to his crack. A finger pushed into his entrance, joined by another, and hopelessly aroused again, Cloud began pushing back against Sephiroth's hand. For a moment, Sephiroth finger-fucked the blonde, and Cloud gladly allowed it. Then Sephiroth pulled away, replacing his fingers with something much bigger and harder. Cloud cried out again as Sephiroth plunged inside his body. Cloud wrapped his legs around Sephiroth and held him closer, all the while pushing back as Sephiroth thrust inside of him. Cloud tightened his body around Sephiroth's cock, and the mighty General threw his silver head back with a cry. The gentle thrusts turned rough, and Cloud began to writhe under him as Sephiroth slammed back into his body. His hard thrusts found something inside of him that had Cloud screaming wildly. That spot...Seph drove hard into him, hitting that spot...again and again and....

            It was too much. Once again, Cloud felt the rush claim him. Everything went white as Cloud exploded, shrieking as pulses of pleasure swept over him in a dizzying storm. He could feel something hot and wet soaking his insides as Sephiroth came with a scream above him. Then he was in Sephiroth's arms, and the exhausted lovers snuggled together.

            "I love you," Sephiroth whispered, holding him close. "You are everything to me. If anything should ever happen to you...."

            Cloud silenced him with a drowsy kiss before snuggling back into Sephiroth's arms. " 'You are my moon, my sun, my starlit sky,' " he quoted sleepily. " 'Without you, I dwell in darkness....' "

            In his beloved's arms, Cloud drifted off to sleep.*

~~~~~~~

Chapter 12: Awakening

            "How is he?" Barret questioned, subdued.

            Vincent sighed. "Still no change."

            The object of their worries lay still beside Vincent, as he had for the last several hours. As before, Cloud simply appeared to be sleeping, the easy rising and falling of his chest helping the fiction. However, Cloud was a light sleeper, and he should have awoken long ago.

            Cid walked in, balancing a tray with several mugs of hot tea on it. "Nanaki's with Elena, trying to find out anything on Jenova," he reported, handing his lover a mug. Vincent's eyes warmly thanked him. "The other Turks are doing something in Reno's room; I don't wanna know what."

            "And Reeve?" Barret asked gruffly, snagging some tea.

            Cid shrugged. "We decided to let him sleep a little longer. He's out."

            Vincent scooted over from where he was sitting beside Cloud, and Cid plopped down beside him. "Fuck, kid, when are you going to wake up?" Cid grumbled, but his true blue eyes were dark with worry.

            Vincent surreptitiously squeezed his hand but didn't say anything. All he did was stare at Cloud's unusually peaceful face. He wondered what the younger man was dreaming of.

            "Holy fucking shiiiitttt..." Reno murmured, waving a hand around slowly. His vivid eyes followed it, enraptured. "Look at it go!"

            Rude inhaled deeply on his joint and watched his love with an amused expression. Despite all that Mako in his bloodstream, these black mushrooms still could pack a punch to Reno. Or maybe it was just the fact that that was Reno's fifth so far.

            "Whooo..." Reno cooed, wiggling his fingers. "Hee! I have...three...six...no, no, ten fingers! Look!"

            Rude muffled a chuckle at the expression of pure awe on Reno's face. Perhaps it had not been such a bad idea to lure Reno in here after all. The young redhead had been pacing beside Cloud's bedside ever since the unconscious ex-SOLDIER had been found. This had been the only way Rude had known to get Reno's mind off of Cloud. Apparently, like it has always done since the first time, it had worked.

            Reno laughed with sheer delight and brought up his other hand. "Ha ha! Look at this, Rude! Ain't it something?"

            Also, it strengthened Reno's accent, Rude noticed. Someone who didn't know Reno would probably have no idea what he was saying.

            "Gibbon monkey!" Reno chortled happily, swinging his hands around.

            Or just wouldn't believe it. "I think you should lay down now, Reno," Rude coaxed, smoking the last of his joint and standing up. "Why don't I help you to bed?"

            Reno lowered his hands and cocked his head at Rude. A laviscious smile played on his lips, and he batted his long, crimson lashes. "Is that an offer?"

            Rude rolled his eyes. Reno being horny wasn't exactly something he could blame on the mushrooms. "Come on, Reno."

            "You comin'?"

            Rude sighed, but he couldn't help a small smile. "Maybe."

            Reno's grin lit up his face. "Then let's go!"

            \Look at that! And we're depending on these people to protect Cloud!\

            \\\....\\\

            \Two of them are getting smoked off their asses and are about to screw each other--\

            \\\You of all people are getting pissed about that?\\\

            \--And the others are completely lost! And I never--\

            \\\--Don't make a liar out of yourself.\\\

            \Well, almost never did that on duty. And never when my friends were at stake. There, no lie.\

            \\\(Sigh.)\\\

            \Oh, come on! You can't honestly say you're not worried. This is your lover in danger after all! And my best friend! How can we just sit on our asses and do nothing!\

            \\You don't have to.\\

            \Aeris!\

            \\\Elaborate. Now.\\\

            \\Ha! Well, I was talking with them, and it is agreed that they need help, especially Cloud, so we're going to do something a little radical.\\

            \\\Go on.\\\

            \\Unfortunately, at the moment, you can do nothing. You still haven't recovered from the damage Jenova did to you. You, on the otherhand...\\

            \Whoo-hoo! I'm on the case!\

            \\\...How long will it be before I can see him again?\\\

            \\Soon. Don't worry, he'll be in your arms again, soon.\\

            \Don't worry, bud. I'll protect him. You know that.\

            \\\I know. I trust you to take care of him. Watch over him for me, please?\\\

            \Of course. Can I go now?\

            \\Yes. Please, take care.\\

            \I'll protect Cloud, and I'll come back to you. You don't have to worry about that.\

            \\\Be careful.\\\

            \I will.\

            \\Come on. It's time to go.\\

            |'Bye everyone! I know you'll all miss me! Bye!\

            At the same time Cloud's eyes opened in Midgar Tower, a silver pair opened on the bluff overlooking Midgar.

            "Cloud..." Zack whispered, "I'm coming."

~~~~~

Chapter 13: Coming Home

            "Zack...." Cloud breathed. Instantly, Barret, Cid, and Vincent stiffened.

            "Wha' did he say?" Barret wondered.

            The vampire shrugged. "It sounded like Zack. I've never heard him mention the name before. Perhaps his old lover...?"

            "Who cares who he is!" Cid snapped, silencing them both. "The kid's waking up!"

            True to Cid's words, Cloud's eyes slowly drifted open. Dazed Mako-blue eyes took in the scene around him. He blinked once, as if unable to take it in. "Guys?" he muttered. "Wha--"

            Vincent put his mug of tea down. "We found you passed out," the brunet said softly. "Creatures were attacking through the window, apparently aiming for you. We were able to fight them off."

            Cloud frowned, and Cid reached over and ruffled his hair, attempting to coax a smile. He failed.

            Vincent looked at Cloud's young face, disturbed. There was a haunted gleam in Cloud's eyes that was intensifying as time went by. As the youth heard what had happened, his vivid eyes went dark and cold, and Vincent's worries intensified.

            "What happened before you went to sleep?" the vampire dared to question.

            Cloud's eyes were ice. "Jenova," he said tonelessly. By the look on the youth's face, Vincent knew questioning was done.

            "That's it!" Cid exploded, slamming a fist down on the bed. Vincent's hot tea remained even in his graceful, metal hand. Barret's did not. The steaming, hot liquid splashed in the black man's face, and howling he dropped the mug. It landed in one piece on the carpet, rolling innocently away as Barret hopped and held his face. Vincent sighed and shook his head. Cid flat-out ignored him. "You need a bodyguard, kid. A good one. One that can scare away Jenova's goons!"

            Vincent glanced at Cid indulgently, noticing out of the corner of his crimson eye that Cloud's face had darkened dangerously. "Would Chaos do, perhaps?" he offered. He raised an eyebrow to Cloud, who had calmed slightly at the suggestion. "I do not think in of 'Jenova's goons' wish to pass him."

            "Chaos will be fine," Cloud cut in before Cid could say a word. "However, I don't need to be watched over while I'm getting dressed." He glanced down at himself. He was still wearing what he had been wearing earlier. "Probably a shower, too. I'll meet you guys in Reeve's office."

            Vincent nodded for them all and dragged his protesting lover out of the bedroom. Cid snagged a dazed Barret and pulled him along, too.

            Cloud watched them leave silently, then reached down and picked up the fallen mug. Gently, he laid it down on a table nearby. Without a word, a thought, Cloud started for the door to his right that led to the bathroom.

            "Why the hell did they have to start me off here?" Zack whined quietly, looking around. "This bluff kinda brings back bad memories, you know."

            There was no answer. With a dramatic sigh he was positive both Seph and Aeris heard, he began looking at the equipment he was given. To his great relief, he was allowed to come here fully dressed. If not, there would be hell to pay when he returned. He had two mastered materias on him--where they got them from, he would never know--and his regular Buster Sword. He was grateful for that, but last time he recalled, Cloud had had it. If he had it now, then did Cloud have his?

            Shrugging--thinking too much outside of battle was Seph's thing, not his--Zack began hopping down the mountainside. In the distance, he could see Midgar Tower. He knew Cloud was in there.

            "You know, kid," he began chattering, not caring that his audience was too far away to even possibly know of his existence, "I gotta give you credit. Your ass needs saving almost as much as mine did. Here soon, you'll surpass my record! I'm beginning to wonder on Seph's choice in friends, if you know what I mean. Totally addicted to danger, he is. It shows! I mean, he chose us as his friends, didn't he? Anyway--"

            Talking up a stream, Zack hurried to Midgar, where his best friend was waiting. It never crossed his mind how Cloud would react after seeing him die several years ago. Thinking ahead on such things was not his style.

            "I don' wanna wake up!" Reno grumbled. He tossed his blanket back over his head. "G' 'way!"

            Rude stared indulgently at his lover. Some things never changed. "Turk meeting with Reeve," he announced. "Cloud and the rest of AVALANCHE are going to be there."

            A lazy emerald eye peeped out from the blanket. "The kid's awake?"

            Rude nodded. "No ill aftereffects," he reassured him.

            Sighing dramatically, Reno tossed the blanket at Rude. The large man negligently knocked it at the foot of the bed. "I'm coming, I'm coming," he grumbled.

            Rude smiled warmly at Reno as he slowly began getting dressed. He wondered if this was how it was going to be twenty years from now. He bet it was.

            Zack's long legs and SOLDIER endurance quickly got him to Midgar. The chattering had stopped the moment he had entered the city. Only one thought was left in his mind.

            "Cloud, I'm coming."

            After bumming a smoke off of Reno, Cloud lounged back on the couch, watching the heated discussion taking place. Go after Jenova, don't go after Jenova. Bomb the bitch, no reason to bomb the bitch. Take SOLDIERS in to wipe out the monsters, don't take the SOLDIERS in to wipe out the monsters, etc. etc. etc. The blonde inhaled deeply on the cigarette and ignored them all.

            You aren't discussing what really needs to be discussed, he mentally scolded them. What to do with me? That evil will exist as long as I will. You all know that. If Jenova dies in me, then Jenova and her creatures die as well.

            Cloud took another deep smoke and stared out the window. I know I promised you, Zack, that I would never give up, never lose to Jenova, never take my own life. But if this keeps us, I'm not sure if I'm going to have that option.

            Pained, Cloud closed his eyes. I'm sorry, Zack.

~~~~~~

Chapter 14: Innocence Shining

            After hearing for the fiftieth time that they should just "blow that fucking bitch into the Crater," Cloud sighed wearily and bugged Reno for one of his special cigarettes. He knew the redhead had them. Even this conversation could not cause the glaze in Reno's eyes.

            "No," the redhead refused, shaking his head briefly. Immediately, he froze, tipping over in his seat. Cloud steadied him.

            "So you're leaving me to face this meeting sober?" Cloud questioned. He narrowed his Mako-blue eyes, and Reno hastily sat up. Once again, Cloud caught him.

            "Well, it is concerning your future," Reno informed him drolly, glancing at his hand.

            "It's still there," the youth informed him. "And in case you haven't noticed, they haven't said a damn word about me. They're doing their best to avoid mentioning me. While I have to be here, that doesn't me I have to be aware of my surroundings. Now stop being greedy and share."

            Reno grumbled, but willingly handed one over. Cloud had just lit it and inhaled the rising fumes when they heard security yelling down the hall.

            "Mine!" Cloud declared viciously, holding his smoke tightly between his fingers even as he reached for his sword with the other.

            Behind him, AVALANCHE and the rest of the Turks were responding to the yells.

            "What the hell is going on?!?" Cid snapped, leaping to his feet. His lover was by his side in a heartbeat, and Cloud noticed with amusement they were both armed. Heh. Lovely couple. Had so much in common.

            "More of Jenova's goons?" Yuffie offered.

            Tifa flashed a worried look at Cloud. The blonde rolled his eyes.

            From behind his desk, Reeve slowly arose. Elena was at his side, materia ready. Nanaki's tail swished swiftly, only to calm down. The creature padded over to where Barret was aiming his gun at the door and nudged him.

            "It is not Jenova's creatures," Nanaki assured them quietly.

            Reeve nodded. "Nanaki's right. Otherwise security would be far more excited than that."

            Vincent was already slipping Death Penalty into its holster. Cloud watched his sharp crimson eyes sweep the room, from where Rude sat upright and tense on the couch, past Tifa, to where he and Reno were standing. Cloud also noticed that Reno, despite his buzz, still seemed alert and aware of the situation. He wondered if the older man had much experience with this type of situation.

            "It's a person," Vincent announced, "causing all the commotion. I hear only human voices, no other sound."

            Reeve patted Elena's shoulder, then walked over to the door. He waved at Rude, Barret, and Nanaki. "Might as well figure out why the person is causing such a problem," he pointed out.

            A security guard met them at the door. "A man wishes to meet Mr. Strife," the dark-haired man announced, standing stiffly in the frame. "A SOLDIER, 1st Class."

            Reno raised an eyebrow at Cloud. "I didn't think you still kept in touch with other SOLDIERS."

            Cloud frowned. "I don't," he murmured. Besides Seph and Zack, he really did not have much friends in SOLDIER. Many of them thought he was too small, too delicate, and altogether too pretty. It was a common thought that Cloud had slept his way to his rank. While Cloud had been sleeping with the General, he was proud of the fact that he had been able to achieve such an ambition rank on his own. Still, not many other SOLDIERS believed that, thus his isolation from them.

            The ex-SOLDIER mentally shook those thoughts away. "Let him in, Reeve," Cloud called. Might as well discover who the mystery man was. Might be one of Jenova's, after all.

            The president nodded and turned back to the guard. After a few words, the guard moved aside.

            The breath froze in Cloud's chest. He could not breathe, could not think. The shock that was choking him inside, however, did not touch his porcelain face as the SOLDIER walked through the door.

            "Who the fuck are you?" Barret demanded suspiciously. "How do you know Cloud?"

            That handsome face smiled brilliantly, so familiarly. "I'm a friend of his, of course."

            Barret growled; the SOLDIER ignored him. Instead, he glanced over the large, black man's shoulder. Instantly, his beautiful silver eyes lit up.

            "Hi, Cloud!" Zack greeted him. "Long time no see!"

            Cloud's expression did not change. No surprise moved his face. He simply looked at his dead best friend--and dropped like a rock.

            "Holy shit!" Reno exploded, barely able to catch Cloud before he cracked his blond head on the ground. The slender youth went limp against him. "Cloud!"

            Instantly, everyone was there, surrounding them. Hands carried the unconscious warrior onto the couch, checking his temperature, his pulse, waving around wildly in alarm. Tifa shrieked and made a move to grab Cloud's hand. Reno slapped her away.

            Away from the frenzied crowd, the SOLDIER watched the scene, grinning. "Well, at least I know he recognized me!" he chortled.

            Nanaki stepped away from the others and looked at him in amazement. The SOLDIER shot him a hurt look. "What? What?!?"

            Shaking his head in growing confusion, Nanaki turned back to his unconscious leader. "Everyone, give him room to breathe!" he barked. "His pulse his fine, his temperature is fine, his breathing is fine. He simply fainted. He should come around here soon."

            Vincent's lovely eyes were narrowed. "Was it Jenova?"

            Out of the corner of his eye, Nanaki saw the SOLDIER's face harden momentarily. Then the cheerful grin was back.

            "My bad," the spiky-haired man called. He put one large hand behind his head, and his smile turned sheepish. "I don't think he was expecting me."

            The SOLDIER moved through them to kneel beside the couch. Gently, he brushed the back of his hand against Cloud's smooth cheek. "Hey, Cloud!" the stranger called quietly. "Hey, wake up now. It's me, Zack! Wake up!"

            Vincent's eyes widened. "Zack," he breathed. "That's the name Cloud said when he awoke earlier!"

            Zack smiled cheekily at him. "Told you I knew Cloud. Won't his lover get jealous when I tell him my name was on Cloud's lips, and his wasn't!"

            While everyone just gaped at him, Zack turned back to Cloud and resumed patting his cheek. Soon, his Mako eyes fluttered open.

            At first, Cloud remained silent, staring at the other man in shock. Then his delicate nose wrinkled, and he glanced at the cigarette he had dropped on the carpet earlier.

            Zack saw the motion. "Nope, can't blame this on the drugs, kid," he informed him cheerfully. "It's actually me, Zack. Sent to protect you from Jenova and the forces of evil and all that fun stuff."

            For a long moment, Cloud gaped at him. Then the momentary silence was shattered.

            "Zack!" Cloud Strife shrieked, throwing himself into Zack's arms. "Oh, by Holy, it's really you! Zack!"

            Everyone watched in stunned amazement as their cold, proud leader hugged Zack tightly. In that moment, they did not see the Cloud Strife they were so used to. They saw someone younger, someone happy, someone unscarred by Fate's heavy fist.

            They saw, for the first time, someone...innocent.

~~~~~~

Chapter Fifteen: By Your Side

            ///....///

            //Calm down, Seph. He woke saying Zack's name because that's the moment Zack returned to life. He must have sensed it.//

            ///....///

            //Seph? Are you okay?//

            ///Why did he say Zack's name?///

            //Huh?//

            ///Why can't he say my name? I want him to say my name!///

            //Seph, are you pouting? You of all people...pouting!//

            ///Shut up.///

            //Ha ha ha! You're pouting! The Great General--//

            ///Shut up.///

            //--pouting because his dear lover--//

            ///Shut up.///

            //--was saying someone else's name! Ha ha ha ha!//

            ///...Grrr...///

            //Ooh, this is good. I can't wait 'til I can tell Zack this! He'll love it!//

            ///You...wouldn't...dare.///

            //Hee!//

            ///You would. Bitch.///

            //Hey, I may be a Cetra, but I can do this, too!//

            ///When can I be with him? I want to be with him again.///

            //Don't worry, Seph. You two will be reunited. This is my promise to you.//

            ///My Cloud...///

            "Zack!" Cloud managed, burying his face against the man's shoulder. "You're okay! You're here!"

            Zack smiled tenderly at him and pulled him close. "Yeah, I'm here. Don't worry, I'm here for you. The Cetra decided you needed a special guardian, and since your lover could not come, I came for you. I'm your guardian, remember?"

            Cloud raised his tear-filled eyes. "Oh, shit. I can't believe it. Shitshitshitshit...."

            Zack gave him a rough hug. "Yeah, yeah, that was a lousy way for us to part, I know. Still pisses me off that I had to leave you like that. But hey, don't worry. Me and Aeris are together, and we get to tease your lover on a daily basis." The black-haired man grinned wickedly. "And when I see him again, I'm going to laugh at him. I got to hug you, and he didn't."

            Immediately, the blonde's eyes widened, and two tears slipped down his cheeks. Cloud didn't notice. "Why couldn't he come, anyway? I mean, I'm happy to see you and everything, but is he all right? That bitch didn't hurt him, did she?"

            Zack shot him a lopsided smile. "He's fine, just still recovering. He told me to watch over you, by the way. If I don't, he'll kick my ass."

            Reno whistled shrilly, and the best friends paused. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Will someone tell me what the hell is going on here?!" He pointed at Zack. "Who the fuck are you, how do you two know each other, who is his lover, how are you and Aeris together--"

            Zack's laughter cut him off. "Oh, I'm Zack. Former SOLDIER, 1st Class. We met in SOLDIER. I helped get the kid to 1st Class, too. His lover is the third member of our trio. Aeris and I are together because I just returned from the Lifestream. They all thought that Cloud needed a special guardian from the Planet to protect him from Jenova, and I insisted on going." He grinned mischievously at Cloud. "I seemed the best choice."

            Nanaki was gaping at him again. Zack frowned at him. "Will you knock that off? That's starting to get annoying. I feel like I have something stamped on my forehead or something." Then his silver eyes widened. He swung his head to face Cloud. "I don't, do I? That would fit Aeris perfectly, sending me here with STUPID stamped on my face. I haven't seen any mirrors or anything, so--"

            Laughing silently, Cloud shook his head. "No," he snickered. "But I think I'd better explain." He turned to everyone. "You see, Zack was with me before I met AVALANCHE. We met in SOLDIER, and he helped mentor me. He also introduced me to my lover..." His smile faded somewhat, and Zack took over. From spying on Cloud, he had an idea of what Cloud wanted them to know and what he wanted to hide from them.

            "I was SOLDIER 1st Class, at that point," Zack recalled. "I saw him, noticed his skill, and took him under my wing. He was the best in his class, and made SOLDIER quickly. It wasn't long before he was 1st Class. We was going on a mission to Nibelhelm--"

            Cloud hastily interrupted. "Zack and I was chosen to meet Sephiroth in Nibelhelm. We were currently away on a mission, with orders to report to Sephiroth immediately afterwards. When we were able to join him, Nibelhelm was already in flames. We couldn't do anything besides stop Sephiroth from doing any more damage. We succeeded, but we were both severely injured. That's when Hojo arrived."

            Zack snarled beside him. "We were his prisoners for five years before we were able to escape. I was subject to only Mako experiments. Hojo saved Jenova for Cloud. When there was finally an opportunity to escape, Cloud was ill because of the Jenova. I hauled our asses out of there and headed towards Midgar. I was going to get a doctor for Cloud, and we were going to be mercenaries. It didn't work out that way."

            Something dark and feral lit up in Zack's silver eyes, and his grip on Cloud screamed of protectiveness. The blonde squeezed his hand comfortingly, and continued with the short version of the story. "Hojo's creeps found us on the hill overlooking Midgar. They caught us by surprise, and Zack was killed. They left me alone because they thought I was a goner anyway." Cloud's eyes narrowed coldly. "But I survived, and managed to make my way to Midgar. That's how I met AVALANCHE."

            "I, on the otherhand, went to the Lifestream. I died regretting that I couldn't protect Cloud more, so I never truly passed on. I continued watching Cloud from there, helping a little whenever I could." Zack shrugged. "Aeris and I had been lovers before the Nibelhelm incident. We were even considering getting married. When she died, we were reunited again, and together, we watched over Cloud. It was partly because of her influence that the other Cetra allowed me to return to protect him."

            Silence descended, Cloud still cradled in Zack's arms. Yuffie and Elena exchanged glances, then a short nod.

            "Come on!" Yuffie announced, grabbing Cloud's arm. "It's been a long day, and you guys need some rest. Cloud, you know the way around. Why don't you show Zack to one of the guest rooms?"

            Cloud blinked at her, then nodded. "Right. Come on, Zack. This place is a bit different than the last time you were here."

            Elena cleared her throat loudly, attracting everyone's attention to her. "All right, back to the subject. Now that we know the Planet's on our side, things should be a little easier."

            Cloud led Zack out by the hand, the others' conversation beginning again behind him. They didn't say a word until they were safely in one of the guest bedrooms.

            "So Seph's really all right?" Cloud whirled on Zack, his eyes entreating.

            Zack smiled comfortingly at him. "Seph's fine. He misses you very much."

            Cloud's earlier smile returned, and he hugged Zack again. "I've missed him, and you, too."

            Zack raised a wicked eyebrow. "Does that mean when us three are together again I can convince you into another threesome? That was awesome, last time."

            "You horny bastard!" Cloud stepped away and shook his head in mock disgust as Zack. "You never change, you know that?"

            Zack laughed, then sobered. "While they have their conversations, we better have ours. I think we both have some stories to tell."

~~~~~~

Chapter Sixteen: Promises to be Kept

            * "Sephiroth? Seph? What are you doing?"

            The silver-haired SOLDIER tensed at the sound of Cloud's voice, but didn't turn around. Disturbed, the youth took a step forward. It wasn't like his lover to ignore him like that. Sephiroth had a nasty tendency of pouncing on him after a long day. Even if he didn't, Seph always gave him his undivided attention when Cloud first came into his room. What was wrong with him?

            "Seph?" Cloud questioned softly, taking a hesitant step forward. "Is something wrong? Did--"

            The last dying rays of the sunlight caught on Sephiroth's long, gleaming hair, shining in Cloud's eyes, and the blonde froze, feeling oddly nauseous. He stumbled, any words he might have said catching in his throat as the world spun around him. Before he could move any farther, Sephiroth's strong arms were around him, supporting him.

            "I know," Sephiroth whispered in his ear, his voice strained. "I've been feeling it, too. So has Zack. He's waking her up, and all of us are reacting. That's all Zack and I know."

            Cloud's brilliant eyes were wide. "I don't get it. She's been sleeping for so long--"

            Sephiroth scowled darkly, even as he scooped Cloud up in his arms. "I don't 'get it,' either. Who knows what that madman is planning now. All I know is, we are involved somehow."

            A shiver raced up the youth's spine. Throwing his arms around Seph's neck, Cloud buried his face in his lover's shoulder. A graceful hand stroked his back; a kiss brushed his ear.

            "He's going to kill us all," Cloud whispered, horrified.

            Cloud could feel Seph's nod. "We must keep this among us three, Cloud. It's dangerous enough for us. You know they will involve everyone they can in this intrigue. As long as there is one of us standing...."

            ...One of us standing....Cloud gripped Seph's shoulders. He didn't even notice when his lover lay them both on Seph's large bed. "There's not going to be a happy ending, is there, Seph?"

            A slender finger raised Cloud's chin, and his lips were claimed in a quick kiss. "I used to think there wasn't, until I was reunited with you. Don't act like this. You're a fighter, we all are. We'll make a happy ending, you'll see."

            Cloud pushed forward, bruising Seph's lips with his own. "You and me," he breathed, "Aeris and Zack. Am I right?"

            A low chuckle rumbled against his flesh. Then Seph fell quiet for a moment. "I swear, yes," the SOLDIER murmured. "We'll have our happy ending, you'll have your happy ending. But we can't involve any others. They wouldn't understand. You must know this. Just as the people in Nibelhelm didn't understand, neither will any others. They're outsiders, Cloud. You must understand this. Zack, Aeris, and I will be there for you. No others must know. All right?"

            Cloud fell quiet. He remember how they were in Nibelhelm. No one understood. They all thought he was a freak. Everyone was always harassing him and beating him up. And his mother...she had known the truth. She was the only one who had known the truth...and look what that had gotten her. She was as much an outsider as he was. She was just as scorned and mocked. Cloud adored his mother, and seeing her suffer like that had broke his heart.

            "No one should know," he agreed softly. "I promise you, I'll tell no one about this." Liquid blue eyes stared beseechingly up at Seph, a moment of vulnerability that he hated showing. "You'll always be here, though, right? You and Zack and Aeris?"

            Seph's smile was tender. "Of course. I would never dream of leaving you." And the somber mood was lifted with a zealous kiss. *

            Cloud was facing away from Zack as he finished up his story. His fists were clenched into tight balls at his sides. "He promised," Cloud ended bitterly, "as I promised. I kept mine; he broke his. All of you, all of you, left me behind. I couldn't tell anyone, and I couldn't join you. These past two years, I have lived as a mercenary, too scared to be with my friends. I didn't know what to do, Zack!"

            Zack stayed quiet for a moment. Well, he thought sadly, this explains a lot. Seph did the right thing making him promise, but when he did that, he never knew what was waiting for all of us.

            "You guys left me alone," Cloud whispered, sounding suddenly exhausted. "Cid, Vincent, Barret, everyone! I couldn't confide in them. And I could always hear her, speaking to me. I've missed you guys so much. And Seph...Does he know how much I still love him? How I've been waiting for him?"

            Zack smiled sorrowfully at him, walking up behind him. He wrapped his arms around Cloud, and the young man let him. Zack had been the one who had helped him and Seph get together. He had supported them, stood by them. When Jenova had driven Seph insane, it had been Zack that had kept Cloud safe.

            "He knows," Zack murmured in his ear. "We've been watching you from a distance. You've never been alone, Cloud. We've always been there. Seph's promise hasn't been broken yet. We'll all be together. Just wait a little longer."

            As Cloud rested uncomplainingly against his muscled chest, Zack reflected on the young mercenary's promise to his beloved. At the time, it had been the most rational thing to do. Now, that Jenova was seeking to wreak havoc once more, perhaps it was time for the truth to come out.

            "Cloud," Zack said eventually. "I release you from Seph's promise. It's time to let everyone know the deal, and to let them know what they're fighting against."

            Cloud's eyes widened. What?!?

            "What?!" he choked out. "But--"

            Zack silenced him with a finger to Cloud's lips. "Just listen. Though Hojo's project wasn't actually a Shinra assignment, the bastard was still working for Shinra at the time. There must be notes concerning Jenova lying around. We tell them our story, and AVALANCHE will know what to look for. Besides, we're not alone in this. It's time for them to know the full deal."

            Cloud blinked at him in astonishment. "Everything?" he questioned faintly. "First experiments...everything?"

            Zack nodded solemnly. "It's the only way to make sure they understand. They need to know what exactly Jenova is, as well. Also, I want to talk to them about security measures. Seph and I have been watching from the Lifestream, and Seph's starting to get pissed. A pissed Seph is not exactly a Seph I want to return to. Whatever SOLDIER training you have is going to be nixed by Jenova, and you need someone with you at all times to protect you for when she attacks."

            Instantly, the dazed look faded from Cloud's crystal eyes. Golden eyebrows narrowed dangerously. "Zack--"

            "No buts, Cloud. Why do you think the Cetra agreed to me coming back? Even they agreed you weren't be guarded well enough. Remember what Jenova forced Seph to do? That's exactly what's going to happen to you if her goons can snatch you. This time, however, there won't be anyone to stop her. Jenova learned from the last experience, Cloud. She's going to be a hell of a lot harder to beat if we allow her to get a foothold."

            A shadow passed over Cloud's eyes, and Zack noticed a minuscule shudder shake his slender frame. "Define 'guard,' " he requested weakly.

            Zack couldn't help a smug grin. "By the time we beat Jenova, you're probably going to be going after us with the Ultima Sword."

            Cloud groaned.