Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Alliance ❯ Chapter 35

“Alliance”

Chapter 35

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(Warning: Possible spoilers for all FF7 game/movie titles)

*Disclaimer: Final Fantasy and all related characters belong to Square-Enix. This fiction piece is strictly a non-profit exercise of creativity and entertainment for people (like me) who can't get enough of this world and the characters.*

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“So, this is where you want to live?” Reno looked out at the landscape and did his best to keep the dismay out of his voice and expression. It had been a couple of days since they went to the nightclub and Cloud had insisted on showing him the land he was eying once he was off the clock. Reno flew them there in his chopper and the three of them stood together outside the abandoned farm.

 

The place wasn't too far away from Junon—only an hour or two outside city limits by road and ten or twenty minutes by chopper. If his lovers picked this piece of land to live on, at least Reno wouldn't have to travel far to visit them and vice-versa. There were several acres of land—some of it fenced in near the barn, where the pond was. The rest was a combination of overgrown fields and woods. There were foothills and mountains in the distance to the northeast, where the old Mythril mines were. Reno guessed the winters would get cold here and he hoped Cloud and Zack had the funds to build a decent house on this property after buying the land. He had a sinking feeling his lovers were going to end up living in a cheap shack for a while.

 

“Yeah, this is the place,” Cloud answered with a nod of certainty. “I know there's a lot of weed growth but the barn's not in bad shape at all. With a little work we can probably fix it up ourselves and stay in it until the house is built.”

 

Reno's eyes popped open wide and his ponytail whipped against Zack's shoulder as he turned to look at Cloud incredulously. “Tell me ya didn't just say that, baby.”

 

Cloud looked puzzled. “What, that we're buying the land?”

 

“No, I mean about the part where you and Zack live in a barn,” Reno explained. “Hey, I'm trying to be supportive here and I know you two wanna raise chocobos here eventually but that doesn't mean you've got to live like `em yourselves!”

 

Zack and Cloud exchanged an amused look. “We're going to furnish the hayloft,” explained Cloud, “it isn't like we'd be sleeping in straw, Reno.”

 

“What are you gonna do about food, huh?” persisted the Turk. “How about plumbing? What, are ya planning to bathe in the pond and shit in the woods? You guys are taking this `roughing it' attitude too far, man. I'd rather ya come live with me `till your house is built.”

 

“The first thing we're going to do is have the plumbing put in,” soothed Zack. “There's still a working system under the foundation where the old house used to be. We'll eventually have electricity too but we can use a generator if we've got to. As for where we're going to shit, I've got no plans on wiping my butt with leaves. The bathroom's going to be the first room built and we're not moving in until it is.”

 

“We can keep a fridge in the barn and catch our own game,” Cloud went on. “Come on, Reno…you've seen me cook over an open fire. It's not that hard. The barn's just going to be where we sleep until the house is done and like Zack said, the bathroom's going to be the first room built. The kitchen's going to be next and after that, we'll focus on the laundry room.”

 

“We'll be fine, Red,” Zack finished with a smile. “Really. Stop worrying.”

 

Reno looked at both of them in turn, his mouth twisted with doubt. “What are you planning on doing about laundry, smartass?” he asked Zack, growing frustrated with their bullheaded insistence on doing this.

 

“That's what Laundromats are for,” Zack answered dryly, crossing his arms over his chest. “We're only a couple of hours away from Junon so we'll just drive to town a couple of times a week to do our laundry. I'm going to buy a piece of shit car to fix up for myself in the meantime and when it's road-ready we'll use that as the supply and laundry mule.”

 

“You're both fucking crazy,” Reno sighed, shaking his head and rubbing his forehead. “Why do ya want to live like that? You could live with me or with Tifa and Denzel in Edge, but noooo, you guys wanna sleep with the rats and fleas instead! Just stay in Junon and keep on the payroll, yo.”

 

“We just want to supervise the construction and do some fixing up ourselves,” Cloud said patiently. “Zack's going to stay on call with ShinRa for now and I'm going to keep doing deliveries. I've already told Reeve that if something comes up and I'm needed, I'll go back on active volunteer duty. I'm not going to take money from the company when I'm not doing anything and unless it's an emergency situation I'm not going to make myself regularly available. We should keep enough money coming in to take care of the contractors, that way.”

 

Reno started to open his mouth again but he paused and regarded Cloud thoughtfully. “How much is this gonna cost, Blondie?”

 

Cloud shrugged. “The land's pretty cheap since most people are trying to live closer to civilization these days. The house is going to be the big money burner. It's going to cost us a couple hundred thousand gil to build what we're thinking of but we don't have to have two bedrooms and bathrooms right away anyhow. We want it for Denzel and other guests but we can improvise until we've got the cash inflow.”

 

“Hmm.” Reno scratched his chin and looked at the spot they were planning to build the house on. “That's not too bad. With the right leverage you might have the place done in a year, yo.”

 

Zack crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head, having come to know Reno well enough to guess what he was thinking. “Nuh-uh, Foxy. You're not paying for this and I don't want to hear about our contractors getting threatened by the Turks.”

 

“Who said anything about threats?” Reno said innocently, with a shrug. “And I didn't say I was gonna pay for all of it. I might as well pitch in though.”

 

“There's no need for—” Cloud started, but Reno interrupted him.

 

“Look Strife, I'm gonna be staying here sometimes too and I'm not sleeping in a damn barn, crapping in an outhouse or sitting around a campfire singing folksongs while I roast some mystery meat over it for my dinner. I've got my own selfish reasons for wanting to contribute and `no' ain't an option, got it?”

 

Cloud hid a smile behind a cough. “I should have guessed,” he said apologetically. “I guess there's no stopping you.”

 

“Now, wait a minute,” Zack protested, “I'm all for cinnamon buns here to be in on it but I thought we agreed we were taking care of the funding, Cloud. He's already got his hands full.”

 

“My wallet's just fine, yo,” Reno insisted. “Better than fine. I'm so freaking busy most of the time I don't get to splurge what I earn. The paychecks come out and most of the gil sits in the bank, man. Let me help with this so you and Blondie can have your dream house sooner and I can come visit without fumigating myself every morning. The chocobo ranch is all you, I just wanna help put a real house here.”

 

Zack looked at Cloud for support, unable to refute the Turk's logic. Cloud shrugged and smiled quietly at Reno. “If we say `no', he'll just go behind our backs and front the builders some money. You know how he is when he wants something, Zack.”

 

Reno nodded enthusiastically. “He's right…I will, ya know.”

 

Zack sighed and looked at the redhead with exasperation that was laced with amusement. “You're really not going to let this go, are you?”

 

“Nope.” Reno winked at him. “I'm not letting my favorite harem boys live like yetis out here if I can help it.”

 

“Yetis?” Repeated Zack with a chuckle.

 

“Favorite?” Cloud said with surprise. He'd never known Reno to openly express favorites in his circle of lovers before and by the stricken expression that bled into the Turk's angular features, he was just as surprised by his own admission.

 

Reno averted his gaze and tried to downplay his comment. “Well, when I say `favorite' I mean `most fun', yo. I can kick back more with you two and work hardly ever comes into it when we shoot the breeze.”

 

Zack grinned and Cloud gave one of his quiet little smiles. Reno shifted uncomfortably in the face of their pleasure. The words had left his mouth before he realized he was speaking them and it sparked a revelation that made his heart slam against his rib cage.

 

~I'm still Reno, still a Turk. Yeah, things have changed but that doesn't mean I've got to.~

 

The thought tasted like a lie to him. He had changed, whether he wanted to or not. The devotion he'd once only harbored for his organization and the president had extended outside the circle and enveloped Cloud and Zack. He was a creation of poverty, abuse, determination and passion. While the events that had shaped his life hadn't changed, his attitude had. Sometimes innocent people got wrongly punished and sometimes the guilty got away. He was one of the “guilty”, himself. Things that used to not even make a blip on his radar kept him awake at night sometimes. It didn't stop him from doing his work but it certainly made it harder and for the first time he suspected Cloud and Zack both saw that. He wondered if any of his other companions noticed it, or if the two of them were only able to spot it because they were more familiar with the workings of the conscience than the other Turks and Rufus were.

 

“Wow, you're deep in thought,” Zack commented. He reached out and stroked Reno's hair, his playful expression sobering with concern. “Are you okay, Reno?” Beside him, Cloud also looked worried.

 

~Fucking boyscouts. It's all your fault.~

 

He knew that wasn't true, though. It wasn't their fault anymore than it was the fault of the elements for corrosion on a car engine. If the owner didn't practice maintenance on the engine and keep it clean, it was his fault when it stopped running properly. The weather and time might have caused the corrosion but the owner allowed it to settle instead of cleaning it off.

 

~Here I go with the car comparisons again. Once a mechanic, always a mechanic.~

 

Reno started grinning, feeling a bit better. Yes, he'd changed a bit in the way he thought and how he did things, but the core of who and what he was still remained intact. He gave his lovers a leisurely scan, admiring both of them and taking further comfort in the fact that there weren't many people that could boast a collection like his.

 

“I'm fine, man. I'm just doing some number crunches in my head and working out what it's gonna take to get this place livable, yo.” He checked his wristwatch and sucked his teeth. “We're going to have to head back to town soon. I've got some things I've still gotta take care of and I don't want to get Tseng on my ass…at least not in the way he'll be if I don't do my job.”

 

Cloud nodded. “Wouldn't want you to get in trouble. Thanks for coming out here with us and being supportive, Reno.”

 

The redhead shrugged and turned to head back to the chopper, throwing a wink and a smile over his shoulder at Cloud. “I just don't want to sleep in a barn when I come to visit you guys, yo.”

 

Cloud started after him but Zack caught hold of his arm and stalled him. “Hey Cloud, there's something I want to ask you.”

 

Cloud stopped and Reno tactfully kept walking, to give the two of them a little privacy. The blonde looked up at his taller lover and he saw the tension lurking in Zack's blue-violet eyes. “What's up?”

 

“I…I think…before we get started on this, there's something I should do. I need help from you and Cissnei though, if she's well enough to do it.”

 

Cloud caught on to what he was hinting at and his features softened. “You want to visit your parents.” It wasn't a question.

 

Zack nodded and lowered his eyes. “I just need someone they know to talk to them first…you know, to ease them into it so I don't scare them to death.”

 

“You know I'll help,” Cloud soothed. “It would be easier with Cissnei there since she knows them better than I do, but if she's not up for it I can do it alone. I don't think they even know you died, Zack. You know the media never announces things like that and ShinRa obviously never bothered to contact them and tell them they killed their son. All we've got to do is explain why you haven't been in touch with them for so long.”

 

“Well, I don't know what they've heard and what they haven't,” Zack sighed. “I haven't had the chance to talk to Cissnei about that and ask her what she's told them. She's had her own problems to deal with and I wasn't about to hound her with mine, but I think she's well enough for me to talk to her about it now.”

 

“We'll go see her together when we get back,” Cloud said. “If she's up for it and we can get the doctors to give her a pass, we can figure out how we want to deal with this and ask Reno to fly us there when he has the time.”

 

“Thanks, buddy.” Zack said with relief. He gave Cloud a brief, appreciative kiss before the two of them followed Reno back to the helicopter.

 

~*******************************************~

 

As planned, they visited Cissnei first when they got back. She told Zack she hadn't informed his parents of his death so as far as they knew, he was still missing in action. She said she'd be happy to come with them for a visit, though she couldn't stay on her feet for very long without getting tired. They organized a two-day leave for her over the weekend and made plans with Reno to take the trip to Gongaga.

 

Meanwhile, Rude was moving steadily along in his relationship with Genesis. On the days he clocked out early enough, he went to the training facility to pick the redhead up. He took him apartment hunting and helped him get settled in at his new place, which was a few blocks away from Rude's apartment. Reno only saw him when they went on assignments together but he didn't mind, knowing that his partner was happy. Few things could upset the redhead when it came to his lovers getting what they wanted, but at the end of the week he was getting ready to turn in a report to Rufus and as he entered the president's office, he overheard the last part of the conversation he was having with Tseng.

 

“I've spoken with a doctor about amputating it and having reconstructive surgery afterwards,” Rufus was saying as Reno walked through the door.

 

Reno dropped the folder he was carrying and he stared at his boss, aghast. “You're getting rid of the tail? You can't!”

 

Rufus broke off his conversation with Tseng and looked at the redheaded Turk levelly. “And what makes you believe you have any authority over what I do or don't do with my own body, Fox?”

 

Reno struggled for words, at a loss. Finally, he went with what he knew. “Don't you like the things that tail does for you, boss?”

 

Rufus appeared to consider the question. “I must admit, there are some sexual benefits,” he agreed.

 

“There's also your exceptional balance,” Tseng added, no happier over the prospect of his lover removing the tail than Reno. “You enhancements won't vanish with the tail but the appendage does provide a counterweight that allows you to leap onto things that would otherwise send you toppling.”

 

Rufus sighed. Both of his Turks made a good point and he couldn't refute that. Honestly, he wasn't as eager to have the tail removed as he was before. He'd gotten used to it and he knew it would feel strange to not have it there anymore. The recovery was going to be painful as well.

 

“How seriously do you think people are going to take me when they discover I have a big cat's tail?” Rufus said in a tired voice.

 

“If it was some other guy I'd say you've got a legit worry there,” Reno countered, “but you're Rufus Shinra. A tail isn't going to make a damn bit of difference. If anything it might even make you more imposing to some folks.”

 

Tseng nodded with agreement. “I share Reno's feelings on the matter. You are a man that people know to take seriously and I sincerely doubt the presence of a cougar tail will decrease people's respect for you.”

 

Rufus regarded both of his subordinates slyly. “I suspect you both have your own reasons for protesting my decision.”

 

Reno and Tseng glanced at one another. The Wutaian kept a straight face but Reno smirked helplessly and shrugged.

 

“He's onto us, yo,” said the redhead. He sobered and looked at Rufus again. “Look, I'll admit I had a lot of fun playing with it and you've got even more staying power than before. There ain't no dispute, the tail's made the sex even hotter with ya, boss. It's not just about that, though. If it was causing problems for you I'd understand but so far, that thing's been nothing but handy and not just in the bedroom. Think about it; if you'd been kidnapped while ya had that tail, you might have even gotten away on your own. I know getting rid of it won't muck up your new senses but like Tseng says, the tail's there for a reason.”

 

Rufus clasped his hands together on the desk and he nodded with a thoughtful frown. “You've certainly said a mouthful, Reno. I'll give it more time before I make the final decision. Would that please you?”

 

Reno's head bobbed as he nodded enthusiastically. “Yes Sir, it would.” ~And I think with a little more time you'll get even more attached to your tail and ya won't be so willing to get rid of it.~

 

“I think that's a wise decision, Sir,” agreed Tseng. His stance relaxed a bit, giving away the tension he'd been hiding before.

 

“Well, now that we have that settled,” Rufus said dryly. Tseng's relief wasn't lost on him and he found it frankly amusing. “Reno, you can give me your report now. After that, we can all go home for the night.”

 

Reno handed the paperwork over, thankful to have it out of his hands. The paperwork was his least favorite part of the job. He despised doing it, in fact. Over the years he'd learned to be more professional about it and save it for later if his mood was too bad for him to do it properly. Rufus looked it over and Tseng read over his shoulder. Evidently, they were both satisfied with it and Rufus opened a drawer and placed it in there. Just as the president stood up, Reno remembered something else he'd meant to say to his superiors.

 

“Oh yeah, Rude's going on call for me this weekend,” explained the redhead. “I'm taking Zack to Gongaga to see his parents and Cloud and Cissnei are coming too.”

 

“I see,” Rufus answered. “I suppose it's past time for them to know that he's alive.”

 

“If Cissnei feels strong enough for the journey, I see no problem with it,” Tseng commented.

 

“I've already talked to her and she wants to go,” Reno shrugged. “She kind of misses Zack's folks. They unofficially adopted her, I guess.”

 

“It makes perfect sense,” Tseng said softly. He quietly regretted the life that the organization had pushed on Cissnei. As if being an orphan wasn't hard enough without being yanked out of the foster home to become a trained killer, whether she wanted to or not. Tseng had many secret regrets, but he gave away none of them.

 

~***********************************~

 

Tseng flew Tifa and Denzel back to Edge just before the weekend. She and Cloud agreed that it was best for him to go back to his normal life, with his regular school and friends. He exchanged phone numbers and email address with some of the new friends he'd made in Junon but he wasn't unhappy to be leaving. He seemed a little sad that Cloud wouldn't be going back with them but he understood that his adopted father figure and Zack had their own lives to start together, and he knew that there would be plenty of visits.

 

The day after Tifa and Denzel left, Reno checked Cissnei out of the medical ward and got the chopper ready. Zack and Cloud met them at the airport with their packed duffle bags and Reno noticed the added pallor to Zack's face.

 

“What's wrong, Wolfy?” queried the redhead as Cloud put their bags into the cabin. Cissnei was already on board waiting. “I thought you'd be excited about seeing your folks again, yo.”

 

“I am,” Zack acknowledged. “I'm also scared shitless. What am I going to say to them? Mom's going to be so pissed off that I haven't contacted them in all these years.”

 

Cloud paused and looked over his shoulder at his lover. Zack's concerns weren't unfounded, he knew. When Cloud had spoken to them last, they thought Zack was just blowing them off and his mother hadn't been very happy about it.

 

“We're going to stick with the story,” Cloud said. “Cissnei told them she didn't know where you were and it's not exactly a lie for us to say you were in a coma. I mean, that's practically the way it was when Hojo had us anyhow.” He hopped out of the cabin and put a hand on Zack's shoulder. “Everything's going to be fine. I've got a feeling they're just going to be happy to see their son again.”

 

Zack took a deep breath and nodded, forcing a weak smile. “Thanks, Goldie. You're right, I wouldn't be lying to them…just leaving out the part about being dead and coming back. I'm ready to go.”

 

Cloud and Reno stepped aside to let the sable-haired fighter climb into the cabin. On impulse, Reno pinched his ass as he passed and Zack jumped a little and grinned over his shoulder at him.

 

“Couldn't resist,” Reno smirked.

 

~****************************************~

 

“Okay, I'll come pick you guys up again in a couple of days,” Reno said as the chopper touched down. “Come here, Blondie.” He reached across to the copilot seat and cupped the back of Cloud's head, pulling him towards him for a deep “goodbye” kiss.

 

“You could stay with us,” Cloud murmured after they broke apart again. “We could book a room at the Inn so we aren't crowding Zack's folks.”

 

Reno considered the offer, his blue-green eyes scanning the dense jungle forest. After a moment, he frowned and shook his head. “Nah, I'll pass. It's too hot and humid here for my blood and ya know I'll get bored and start driving you crazy before we've even been here a day. Besides, his parents know you and Cissnei and I don't think a Turk would be well received, man.”

 

“They don't know about the Turks,” Cloud argued.

 

“Sure they do,” Reno scoffed. “Even country people know something about us, Strife. It's not like they don't get TV reception or the news out here in the boonies.”

 

“I guess so,” Cloud sighed. Reno made a good point…he would get bored here. There wasn't much to do in Gongaga and as much as Cloud wanted to include Reno in this, he could tell that the Turk didn't feel alienated. “I'll call you tomorrow to let you know how it goes.”

 

“Talk to ya then, Cloud.” Reno turned in his seat and pushed the door open that led from the cockpit to the cabin. “You getting your stuff together, Zack?” He called.

 

“Yeah, I've got it handled,” Zack said as he dragged the three bags out of the cargo compartments. “Cloud, can you grab these bags while I get Ciss into her wheelchair?”

 

“I can walk,” protested Cissnei. “Not for long, but I don't need the chair right away.”

 

“By the time we make it to town, you'll be exhausted,” Zack told her firmly. “You can walk once we get there. You know it's kind of a hike through the forest.”

 

Cissnei sighed, forced to concede the point. Cloud got out of the front and came around to open the door and take the luggage from Zack. After the black-haired fighter got the wheelchair onto the ground and set up, Cissnei allowed him to carry her out of the cabin and place her into the chair. Once everyone was out and they had all of their belongings, Cloud shut the cabin doors and the copilot door with a little wave at Reno.

 

“At least let me wheel myself,” the Turk girl protested when Zack started to push the chair. He chuckled and let go, letting her push herself forward beside him and Cloud.

 

Reno waved at them from inside of the chopper and the rotaries increased in speed to lift the vehicle back off the ground. They watched him lift off and turn the chopper around back the way they had come from. As the chopper flew away, they started toward the path leading into the forest. The air was rather thick and it only seemed to grow thicker the further in they went. Cloud wondered how in the world Zack could have had an active lifestyle as a kid in this humidity. He'd grown up in the colder climate of Nibelheim and the humid warmth of Gongaga was uncomfortable to him.

 

As they walked, Cloud noticed that the heat was bothering Cissnei as well. Like him, she had a sheen of perspiration on her skin and she took out a handkerchief from her vest pocket and began to wipe the sweat from her face. While he was glad he'd worn a muscle shirt, a sleeve would have been handy for him to wipe his face off. He glanced at Zack and shook his head with a wry, quiet smirk. Zack was hardly sweating at all and he was breathing the damp air easily. The taller man noticed Cloud's gaze on him and he looked back, frowning a little when he saw the way his lover's hair was dampened with sweat. He heard Cissnei panting softly and saw that she was equally sweaty, so he stopped.

 

“Let's take a little breather and have some water,” Zack suggested. He dropped his duffle bag and opened it, searching for the insulated bottle he'd put in there. “It should still be pretty cool. I stuck it in the freezer last night, so it was frozen through when we left this morning.” He slid the bottle a little way out of its insulating jacket and nodded with satisfaction. “Yup, there's still a chunk of ice floating in there. Here Cissnei, ladies first.”

 

She was too thirsty to turn the offer down. She took the bottle gratefully and unscrewed the cap, drinking with sharp thirst. She made herself stop after several swallows but when she tried to hand the bottle to Cloud, he shook his head.

 

“You're still thirsty,” the blonde said with a little smile. “Drink your fill, first.”

 

“I don't want to go through it too fast,” she argued, “we've still got a ways to go.”

 

“Don't worry about it,” insisted Zack. “I put another bottle in Cloud's bag, so we've got plenty to last us `till we get there. Drink as much as you need, dollface.”

 

She shrugged and took several more swallows, thinking cool water never tasted so good. She much preferred the drier heat of Costa Del Sol over the humidity of Gongaga but she was eager to see Mr. And Mrs. Fair again, so it was worth the discomfort to her. She went through a fourth of the bottle before she was quenched. She handed the bottle to Cloud with a nod and he took it and drank just as thirstily as she had. Zack went last and he only needed a few swallows.

 

“Feel better now, guys?” Zack questioned as he replaced the bottle in the duffle bag.

 

They both nodded and just as Cissnei was about to start pushing herself again, she noticed a huge spider on the sleeve of her shirt and she shrieked so loud it startled both of her male companions into swearing.

 

“Ugh, get it off!” Cissnei hopped out of her wheelchair and shook her arm wildly, spinning around in a panicked circle.

 

“It's okay,” Cloud said as he caught her by the shoulders. “It's gone…I think you scared it more than it scared you.”

 

“Not likely!” Cissnei disagreed shrilly.

 

Zack covered his mouth to stem his laughter as the girl looked herself up and down, her brown eyes huge in her petite face. When she saw that the spider was indeed gone, she heaved a sigh of relief and sat back down in the wheelchair, breathing heavily.

 

“It's just a bug,” Zack chuckled. “Nothing to freak out over.”

 

Cissnei and Cloud both looked at him and their eyes shifted to something behind him and widened.

 

“Would you say that bug is nothing to freak out about?” Cissnei gasped as she pointed.

 

Zack whirled around to find himself face-to-face with something that resembled a giant preying mantis. It was a head taller than him and he recognized the species. He gave a shout and hopped away as it lunged at him, reaching for the sword strapped to his back as he went. Cloud likewise drew his weapon and Cissnei reached for the gun concealed under her vest.

 

“This bug's something to freak about,” Zack confirmed with a grunt as he dodged a stream of sticky goo that the creature spit at him. “Stay back while Cloud and I take care of this ugly guy, Ciss.”

 

“I don't have to get close to use my gun,” she informed him as Cloud closed in and she took aim and fired before he got in her way. The shot was true and the insect staggered as green blood splattered from the hole Cissnei had blown in its thorax. Zack took advantage of the distraction and swung at one of its flailing pincers. His sword rang against the hard exoskeleton, not penetrating but bludgeoning enough to make the insect forget about going after Cissnei and focus on him, instead. Cloud leaped and swung his weapon at the same time, striking the bug on the other side.

 

“It's going to take a little extra force to put the hurt on him,” Zack grunted as his second blow was deflected again. “His shell's too hard.”

 

Cloud jumped away and clicked the catch on his sword to form it into a thicker weapon. Cissnei fired another couple of rounds, one of which went shy of its mark and the other ricocheted off the hard surface of the creature's exoskeleton. Zack cut loose with a mighty series of blows, forcing the mantis back off the road and cracking its shell in a few places. Cloud followed up with a violent strike and his thicker weapon did a lot more damage…in fact, it worked a little too well. He broke the thorax open and Zack took the brunt of the resulting spurt of bug guts.

 

“Oh, man,” Zack gagged as he kicked the dying bug's mandibles away from his leg with his combat boot. “Gross! I'm going to see my parents for the first time in years, covered in bug goo!”

 

“Couldn't make it cleaner,” Cloud defended. “Sorry you got most of the goop, though.”

 

Zack wiped at his now-slimy shirt with a disgusted grimace. “I think I'm just going to take this off,” he said. “Hopefully it'll wash out.” He unbuckled his scabbard and dropped it to the ground so he could get the shirt off.

 

Neither Cloud nor Cissnei protested when the dark-haired swordsman stuck his weapon in the dirt and pulled his shirt over his head. They were both a little disappointed when he dug through his bag and produced a clean shirt to put on, rather than just going bare-chested. Zack noticed the looks on their faces and he chose not to tease Cissnei over it. Cloud, however, was fair game.

 

“What's the matter, chocobo? Don't like the shirt I picked out?” Zack grinned playfully at the blonde as he tugged the wine-colored crew shirt down, hiding his chest and stomach from view.

 

“It's fine,” Cloud mumbled, his cheeks flushing lightly as he averted his sapphire eyes.

 

Zack kept smirking at him as he buckled his scabbard back on and replaced his sword. He searched through his duffle bag for the plastic bags he'd brought for food disposal until they reached town. After getting one out, he balled up his soiled shirt tightly and slipped it into the bag with a grimace.

 

“I hope Mom's washing machine still works,” Zack muttered.

 

~***************************************~

 

“Cissnei!” Mrs. Fair had a delighted expression on her plump face when she answered the door to find Cloud and Cissnei standing there. “Isn't this a great surprise! You haven't written or called in a while and we were starting to worry about you!” She frowned at the wheelchair. “What happened to you, dear?”

 

“I was in a car accident,” Cissnei fabricated with a smile. “I'm getting better though. I can walk, I just get tired fast. Do you remember Cloud, Mrs. Fair?”

 

The woman looked Cloud over and nodded. “I do remember you, young man. It's been a while, hasn't it? Around four years, I believe.”

 

“Yes Ma'am,” Cloud agreed politely. “My friends and I stopped through here.”

 

“Who is it?” Called a rough male voice from deeper inside the house.

 

“It's our wayward Cissnei,” answered Mrs. Fair over her shoulder. “She brought a friend with her!”

 

“Well don't just stand there, woman…invite `em in!”

 

Mrs. Fair chuckled at her husband's gruff response. It was just an act and most townsfolk knew it, though she wasn't sure the young man at Cissnei's side could tell if the frown on his face was any indication.

 

“He's really just a sweet old fart,” Mrs. Fair assured Cloud. She stepped aside and motioned to them. “Come on in, you two! Cissnei sweetheart, I'm sure you could use some rest after hiking your way here! I'll get some iced tea for you.”

 

“Just a moment,” Cissnei pleaded, “there's something we need to tell you first.”

 

The older woman stopped and looked at both of them. “Are you two getting hitched?” She guessed.

 

“Uh, nothing like that,” Cloud said hastily. “You see Mrs. Fair, the last time we saw each other, you and your husband asked if I knew your son, remember?”

 

She nodded. “Yes, and you said you'd never heard of him.” Her expression was slowly becoming suspicious.

 

“I actually did know him,” Cloud tried to explain. “I was just…my memories were damaged back then. I'd had Mako poisoning and I really didn't remember Zack until much later. The thing is…” He trailed off and bit his lip, at a loss for how to continue.

 

Cissnei picked up for him. “The thing is, Cloud was with Zack when he went missing,” explained the Turk. “Both of them were in critical condition and they were taken to a confidential medical facility. Only a few people knew about it and Zack…well, he stayed in there after Cloud got out.”

 

“I don't understand what you're saying,” Mrs. Fair said faintly. There was a light of hesitant hope in her eyes and she was tense with anticipation. “Did you find out what happened to my Zackary?”

 

“Yes,” Cissnei confirmed gently. “Mrs. Fair…he never wrote because he was in a coma for years. He only recently woke up and, well…” She looked up at Cloud and nodded, and the blonde stepped aside. Standing several feet behind him was Zack. The black-haired man gazed at his mother eagerly and he wore a slightly sheepish expression on his handsome face.

 

Mrs. Fair stared at her son and her lower lip trembled as he approached slowly. “Zackary?” She whispered.

 

Cloud moved further aside as Zack approached the open doorway and smiled down at his mother. “Hi Mom,” Zack murmured. His throat felt tight and he knew it wasn't going to take much for him to start crying. “How's your pottery going?”

 

With a soft cry, Zack's mother lunged at him and hugged him tight enough to squeeze the breath from him. “Oh, my baby,” she whispered brokenly. “We didn't think we were ever going to see you again! How long have you been out of your coma? What happened? Did they do something to you while you were under?”

 

“I'll tell you all about it after we get inside,” Zack said with a broken little laugh. He looked up and saw his Dad staring at him and he swallowed. “Dad? Don't freak out, okay? It's me. I don't know how much you heard but I just woke up from a coma.”

 

“Who said I was freaking out?” Mr. Fair answered. His eyes devoured Zack with the same parental love his wife's had. “Come here, boy. Give your old man a hug.”

 

Zack grinned. “Yes, Sir.” He walked into the house and embraced his father. While Mr. Fair still had all of his hair, his body was thinner than Zack remembered. “How's your health, pop?” Zack murmured as they hugged. His father was patting his back and running his hands over his shoulder blades, which made Zack frown in confusion.

 

“Oh, can't complain,” answered Mr. Fair. He pulled back and turned Zack around in place. “You're taller than you were when you left, son. So, where are your wings at?”

 

Zack froze and so did Cloud and Cissnei. The three of them stared dumbly at one another while Mr. Fair crossed his arms over his chest and waited for an answer.

 

~*************************************~

 

-To be continued