Never Tear Us Apart: Part I

by tir-synni

 

Chapter III: On the Road Again

 

            Two days had passed, and Cloud Strife showed no signs of regaining consciousness.  If it wasn't for that, everything would be perfect.

            Zack sighed and stroked a strand of blond hair from Cloud's still face.  Three days!  What had Hojo done to him?  Cloud had never been unconscious for so long since they had revived in their prison.  Fear chilled Zack's heart despite the night's heat.

            Sighing despairingly, Zack turned away from where Cloud laid and turned towards the opening of the cave he had discovered.  From Nibelhelm, Zack had carried his unconscious lover to Cosmo Canyon.  It wasn't hard to find a place to sleep among the many caves.  Miraculously, the monsters had left them alone.

            "Baby," Zack whispered, kissing Cloud gently, "we're away from Nibelhelm.  We're making our way to Midgar.  We'll be safe there.  I'll get you a doctor, and we can forget about those nasty five years.  I'll take care of you until you get better, and then we'll take care of each other.  Everything will be perfect, I promise you."  Zack kissed Cloud's pale cheek again, and then he pulled Cloud's limp body into a tight embrace.  Zack rested Cloud's blond head on his chest and leaned against the wall.  Falling into a fitful sleep, Zack dreamed of Nibelhelm burning and Sephiroth's insane, emerald eyes.

~~~~~

            "Hmm...hmmm...."

            Zack started awake at the low moans, and he blinked at dawn's gentle rays lighting up the mouth of the cave.  "Cloud?" he whispered, looking down at the lithe figure in his arms.

            Cloud was moaning weakly and tossing in Zack's grip.  As Zack watched, Cloud raised his head, then dropped it back onto Zack's chest.  His beautiful blue eyes fluttered feverishly.

            "Cloud!" Zack gasped, hastily checking his lover's temperature.  A little high, but that could be blamed on all his motion.  The dark-haired SOLDIER bit his lip nervously.  What was the matter with him?
            "Ugh!" Cloud groaned, tossing his head before going still again.  By the steady rise and fall of his chest, Zack assumed Cloud was simply sleeping again.

            "Fuck, baby," Zack breathed.  He clutched the youth close.  "It's okay, it's okay.  Shh!  It's all right.  I'm here, baby."

            Cloud rested his head against Zack's neck, and tears burned the older man's eyes before he pushed them back.  Determinedly, the ex-SOLDIER grabbed his bag, slung it and his sword over his shoulder, then picked his lover up.  Holding Cloud close, Zack began jogging from Cosmo Canyon.  Time to get moving.

~~~~~~

            Zack bypassed Gongaga and headed straight for the beach.  Cloud never recovered beyond the quiet, fever groans and shaking his head.  More often than not, though, he remained a deadweight in Zack's arms.  Zack forced the bittersweet memories of his hometown of his head, refused to think of Cloud's lifeless face, and continued trudging on.

            Five years of living in a tube had dulled both his strength and endurance.  Zack gritted his teeth and kept his feet moving.  The monsters left them alone, but the effort of traversing those many miles had drained him.  Still, Zack never released his precious weight.

            Finally, Zack collapsed on the beach, laying Cloud in the sand.  His answer was a low groan, and even in his exhaustion, Zack heard the pained note.

            "Baby," the dark-haired man rasped, rolled to face his lover.  Cloud's lovely, pale face was twisted in pain, and he moaned again.  Before Zack could reach him, Cloud quieted back into sleep.

            For a long time, Zack studied his lover, touching his face with a trembling hand.  "What did Hojo do to you?" he whispered huskily.  "Whatever he's done to you, I'll fix it.  You just have to hang on until we get to Midgar.  Please."

            Kissing Cloud's motionless lips tenderly, Zack rolled to his feet and started a low fire.  The beach was beginning to get chill.  He didn't want his love to get cold.

            "You know, marshmallows would be great right now," Zack chattered, throwing a small stick onto the blaze.  "Or hot-dogs.  Hot-dogs would be great, too.  I bet you've never had any hot-dogs over a fire before.  They're the best type.  Trust me on this.  Back at my hometown, me and my dad used to go camping all the time.  He taught me the best way to roast hot-dogs.  We'll go to Midgar, get everything secure there, and then we'll go camping.  We'll buy hot-dogs, stuff for s'mores, it'll be great, just you see."

            Zack sucked in a breath, forcing himself to breathe.  It has to be great, he thought, glancing at Cloud's prone form.  All the hell we've been through, it has to be worth something.

            "It'll be wonderful, Cloud," he said aloud.  "You'll see."