Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Guardian ❯ Chapter 4

“Guardian”

Chapter 4

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*Disclaimer: The world that this story is set in and all characters therein 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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They searched for weeks. Rude became moody and withdrawn and Rufus was temperamental to the point where Elena was afraid to interact with him at all. Tseng wasn't intimidated by his blonde lover's sour mood swings. He understood that Rufus was grieving and he had no way to express his pain in a healthy manner. He'd always been like that, thanks to his father and the burdens he began placing on his young shoulders at an early age. Rufus had gone his whole life hiding his feelings behind a cold mask of indifference and the loss of Reno was tearing him up, even if he couldn't say so out loud.

 

“You should get more rest,” Tseng suggested one evening when he noticed the dark circles under the president's eyes. “If we find Reno, you'll be no help to him if you're so deprived of sleep that you can't function. Let me help you, Koibito.”

 

“There's too much to do,” Rufus answered stiffly. He closed his eyes as Tseng moved around behind him and began to massage his shoulders. “I can't be idle right now. I have to be ready for when…when they…” He frowned severely and blinked, unable to complete the sentence. His throat hurt and he wondered if he was going to cry for the first time since childhood. “They have to find him,” he finally murmured. To even suggest that they wouldn't would mean letting go, and he wasn't willing to do that yet.

 

“But you must take care of yourself until they do,” reasoned the Wutaian. “Please, Rufus. Go home, drink some tea and rest. I'll come with you, if you don't want to be alone.”

 

Rufus tried to scoff and ensure Tseng that he didn't need a nursemaid, but the comfort he so desperately wanted to deny he needed was far too appealing to him. He nodded slowly and laid a hand over one of the other man's massaging ones.

 

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

 

A full month came and went since the accident. Cloud was restless and there was nothing Tifa or the children could do to make him feel better. Finally, one night after he'd tucked Marlene into bed and lay down to try and sleep, he had a vision.

 

“That's some frown you're wearing, Cloud.”

 

He was in a field of flowers. He turned to face Aerith and for once, he couldn't give her the smile he normally did. “I know,” he said. “I've lost someone else that I was really starting to care about. I guess I'm gonna spend a lot of time frowning again.”

 

She sighed. “Not if you find him.”

 

“I can't!” He said desperately. “I don't even know where the hell to look!” He winced and lowered his eyes. “Sorry Aerith. I didn't mean to yell at you. I'm just stressed out.”

 

“He's being a dingy blonde again,” a masculine voice said from behind Cloud and to the left.

 

This time Cloud managed a tiny smile. “I'm not dingy, Zack.”

 

“Oh, really?” Zack crossed his arms over his chest and smirked with easy, friendly humor at him. “Then why aren't you using your head?”

 

Cloud gave him an annoyed look. “I am using my head! There's nothing I can do for Reno now.”

 

“You wanna find him, don'tcha?” The lavender eyes were sympathetic on him.

 

“I'd love to, but there's no telling where he'll drift to or if he'll even resurface,” Cloud said stubbornly.

 

“Well, where did you end up when you fell into a Mako stream?” Aerith persisted.

 

Cloud froze, his mind casting back to that day when Tifa found him and helped him snap out of his catatonic state. “Mideel,” he whispered with a dawning expression of hope on his face. “Or rather, Healin now.”

 

“Yup,” Zack nodded. “That's where I'd probably look if I was trying to find someone that got dunked in the Mako stream.”

 

Cloud's heart rate picked up as the possibility of finding Reno seemed less unlikely than before. “It's not a guarantee,” he muttered, but that flare of hope still remained.

 

“Maybe not, but I don't think I would stand around and wait,” Aerith suggested gently. “What could you lose if you looked, Cloud?”

 

“I think you're right,” Cloud said, his depression lifting. “Guys…thanks.”

 

“Get moving, kid.” Zack patted him on the shoulder and the vision abruptly faded. Cloud found himself alone in his room and he sat up with a gasp. There was no time to lose…he had to go to Healin and search the surrounding wilderness where he'd emerged the last time he fell into a Mako stream.

 

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

 

Cloud left a note with Tifa, explaining that he had some investigating to do. He didn't go into details because he knew she'd just worry that he was unnecessarily obsessing over Reno's disappearance and she'd lecture him about hurting himself. He traveled all through the day, taking the ferry from the mainland shore to the island where Healin was. He rented a room at the inn and began searching as soon as he had something to eat.

 

“Come on, Reno…where are you?” Cloud drove his bike through the wilderness and searched with sharp eyes for openings in the earth that would give access to the Mako stream. His phone rang a few times while he was searching but he never picked up. By the time the sun was setting, he hadn't had any luck and he was forced to stop searching for the night.

 

He went back to his hotel room and watched the nightly news without really seeing it. His mind was utterly on Reno and his determination to find him didn't waver. He mentally reviewed the layout of the island and tried to remember where Tifa said they'd found him when he washed up by Mideel. Deciding he should probably ask around in the morning, he sighed and lay down, trying to force himself to sleep.

 

When he finally drifted off, his dreams were filled with visions of Reno and the way the redhead had looked at him as he made love to him.

 

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

 

Cloud called Tifa in the morning and told her that he was fine and he'd call her when he was coming home. He couldn't give her a time range but he assured her that he was safe and everything would be fine. He wished he believed that himself as he hung up with her.

 

~Everything's NOT going to be fine,~ thought the blonde as he cleaned up, changed his clothes and stopped in at the diner for breakfast. ~Nothing's going to be fine until I've got him safely with me.~

 

When Cloud finished having breakfast, he stopped in at the hospital and asked the nurses if they remembered him. One of them recognized him—she'd been helping the doctor care for him when he washed up a few years ago. She brought him to the doctor that had taken care of him and he asked the man where he'd been found.

 

“If memory serves, we found you near the forest's edge, just before it gives way to the wasteland,” the doctor explained. “You should find a Mako reservoir there…but why do you want to see it, if I may ask?”

 

“I've got a hunch that someone I know might surface there,” Cloud answered without hesitation. “I don't know if you saw the news broadcast but a guy fell into the Mako stream by Corel. If he's lucky, he might show up here like I did.”

 

“I see. Wasn't that one of the ShinRa company's Turks that had the accident?” When Cloud nodded, the doctor sighed. “Well, you do know that even if he does resurface here, he's undoubtedly going to have severe Mako poisoning? Unfortunately, we still have yet to find a cure for it.”

 

Cloud nodded grimly. “I know. Even so, I'm going to take care of him if I find him.”

 

“Good luck with that, young man. I do hope you'll be careful. The last thing you need is to fall in yourself again and wind up in another coma.”

 

Cloud thanked him and left to continue his search.

 

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

 

He cursed in frustration and swatted at another insect. Cloud would have thought that the Mako running through his veins would make him less appealing to the mosquitoes, but the ones here on the island seemed, if anything, more attracted to him. The shadows were growing long and he still hadn't found the reservoir that the doctor had mentioned. His stomach was growling and it felt like he had a ball of lead in it.

 

“I'm not going to find him,” Cloud finally admitted to himself. It hurt…more than he ever thought it would. Reno was gone. The fighter's vision blurred with sudden tears and he held his breath to fight back the urge to sob. “Fuck,” he groaned, pressing his hands against his eyes tightly. “What am I doing to myself?”

 

He sniffed and blinked, trying to regain control over his emotions. With a heavy sigh, he tugged his goggles down, started the engine up and turned Fenrir around. He didn't get far before he spotted a green glow out the corner of his eye and his heart leapt in his throat as he turned the bike toward it. There was no mistaking the light of the Mako. The vegetation hid the actual pool from his sight but he kept his eyes on the soft light shining against the trunks of surrounding trees and he came upon it within moments.

 

“Oh, Shiva,” Cloud gasped as he made it through the vegetation and spotted a body lying in the grass. There was no mistaking Reno's vivid red hair. His legs were still dangling in the pool and to Cloud's feverish eyes, he appeared to be breathing deeply and steadily. The fighter pulled his bike to a halt and got off, charging for the limp figure lying several feet away. He went to his knees beside Reno and he pulled him into his arms and away from the pool.

 

“Reno,” Cloud murmured, stroking the Turk's soaked bangs away from his pale face. Reno twitched spasmodically but he didn't answer or give any sign that he'd heard him. Cloud hugged him tightly to his chest before he even realized he was doing it, rocking him in his arms. “I've got you,” he murmured past the ache in his throat. “Keep fighting it, man. I'm taking you home with me, okay?”

 

He didn't expect an answer from the catatonic Turk, but it made him feel a little better to talk to him, all the same. He lifted Reno into his arms and carried him to Fenrir, not caring that the stricken man's Mako-soaked clothes were pressing against him. With patience and care, Cloud got the Turk positioned in front of him on the bike. He kept one arm tightly around Reno's waist as he steered the bike one-handed. Twice he had to stop on the way back to town, when Reno started to slip. He made it back and he carried the redhead into the clinic, yelling for a doctor. The same man that had treated Cloud when he had Mako poisoning set up a room for Reno and had him cleaned up and put in a gown.

 

“I must admit, I'm frankly surprised that you found him,” the doctor said as he checked Reno's vitals. Cloud stood anxiously by the bed and watched. “It's as I feared, Mr. Strife. Your friend has an advanced case of Mako poisoning. I don't expect him to ever wake up from this, but you proved me wrong about that when I gave you the same diagnosis, so there's always hope.”

 

“I want to take him home with me,” Cloud said.

 

The doctor frowned at him. “I'm not sure that's a wise choice,” he argued, “He'll require extensive care now, and that's an awful lot for one person to take on alone. I've had his company informed that he's here and I'm sure that they'll—”

 

“You called them?” Cloud barked, alarmed. He didn't trust ShinRa to take care of Reno. He pictured them using all sorts of experimental, unsafe treatments on the redhead and his jaw clenched. “You shouldn't have done that. All they'll do is make him worse!”

 

“Young man,” sighed the doctor, “I'm not foolish enough to go up against Rufus Shinra and if anything, you should be grateful that the man has the money to give your friend the best treatment possible. If you want this man to have a fighting chance, you'll put your personal feelings aside and let his employer put him in specialized care.”

 

Cloud shook his head stubbornly, his blue gaze dropping to Reno's handsome, drawn features. “I can't trust them. Not yet. I need to know he's safe, not being experimented on in some lab.”

 

“Son, I can't let you leave with him.” The doctor insisted.

 

Cloud suddenly drew his sword in a swift motion and he held the end of it against the doctor's throat. The doctor held his hands up defensively and swallowed as the blonde growled, “Try and stop me. I mean it, doc. I'm taking him the hell out of here before ShinRa arrives. If Rufus wants to talk to me himself, he knows where I live.”

 

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

 

Cloud didn't have much time. He brought Reno to his Inn room and packed his backpack hastily. He knew that ShinRa employees would arrive very soon to collect the stricken Turk. He called Tifa and told her briefly what had happened.

 

“I'm bringing him home with me,” he said firmly.

 

“Cloud, do you really think you can take care of him?” Tifa questioned carefully. “You know I'll help you, but shouldn't he have professional medical care instead?”

 

“There isn't a damn thing they can do for him, and I've been where he is now. He's better off without people poking and prodding him.” Cloud hurried out to Fenrir while he spoke, loading his backpack into one of the storage compartments. “You know ShinRa can't be trusted, Tifa.”

 

“Ordinarily I'd agree with you,” she answered, “but Cloud…Reno is one of them. I really don't think they'd do anything to make it worse on purpose.”

 

“Yeah, but their good intentions always get someone hurt,” Cloud snapped. “I'm bringing him home with me and that's final.”

 

“Okay,” she sighed passively, “If that's what you think you need to do, I can't stop you. Just try to be careful, Cloud. Think of the kids. I don't want trouble from the Turks, okay?”

 

“If there's gonna be any trouble, they'll take it up with me,” Cloud insisted. “I'll see you tonight, Tifa.”

 

He ended the call and rushed back into the Inn to get Reno. He'd just gotten out the door and was carrying the other man to his bike when he heard the helicopter overhead. Cloud stubbornly kept going, pulling Reno onto the bike with him so that he was in front of him. He put an arm around the unconscious man and winced when Reno briefly convulsed, nearly making him lose his hold on him.

 

“Hang in there, Reno,” Cloud murmured as he shifted the redhead and started up the bike. He began to drive out of town but the chopper touched down in front of him. Cloud stopped his bike and reached for his sword as the doors opened and Rufus Shinra himself climbed out, followed by Tseng and Elena.

 

“Just where do you think you're taking him, Strife?” the president asked with dangerous calm. His gray eyes studied Reno and Cloud could see the anxiety flashing in them.

 

“I'm taking him home with me,” answered Cloud firmly. Reno's head flopped back against his shoulder and he impulsively nuzzled his hair. “There's nothing the doctors can do for him and I'm not leaving him vulnerable.”

 

“Vulnerable to what, exactly?” Rufus narrowed his eyes on him.

 

“To your company's twisted experiments,” snapped the blonde angrily.

 

“If you think for one moment that I would allow anyone to harm him, you're sadly mistaken,” Rufus announced. He impulsively drew his gun and took aim at Cloud, the coldness in his eyes fading before uncommon fury. Cloud drew his sword with lightning speed, holding it steady over Rufus's heart. Elena drew her gun as well, looking from her boss to Cloud with anxious confusion and Tseng did the same.

 

Cloud had never seen Rufus Shinra angry before, but the tense set of his jaw and the flash of his eyes proved that the man was just as capable of feeling strong emotions as anyone else. Nobody moved and a silent battle of wills took place. Finally Cloud looked down at Reno, then up at Rufus again.

 

“I'm trying to help him, man,” the blonde murmured, “can't you see that? I know what he's going through. I know how to take care of him. If you really feel anything at all for him, you'll let me do it.”

 

Rufus wavered, his eyes focusing on Reno's pale features. The Turk's blood-red hair straggled over his chest and his ginger lashes fluttered as he struggled against the poison in his system. A brief sound of distress passed Reno's parted lips and he twitched in Cloud's arms.

 

“I'll agree to your terms,” Rufus said softly, “on one condition. You have to allow us to visit him and if my science team can come up with a treatment, you've got to agree to let us try it.”

 

“I'm not going to let you do anything that might make him worse,” Cloud insisted stubbornly.

 

“Damn it, Strife,” Rufus snapped, “No treatment will be given to him without proper testing first! Believe what you like, but I would sooner leave him in a catatonic state than give him anything that would cause further harm. Are you going to cooperate or shall we simply kill one another and leave Reno with nobody to care for him?”

 

Cloud began to lower his weapon and Rufus pressed: “How do you expect to carry him all that way on a motorcycle, in the first place? Do you really think that even with your strength, you can keep him from falling off? You can hardly hold onto him now as it is.”

 

Reno jerked again and Cloud swore softly and held him tighter against his chest. His sapphire eyes lowered and he finally nodded. “Fine. Have you got room in that helicopter for my bike? I'm not letting him out of my sight and I'm not leaving Fenrir behind.”

 

“There's room in the cargo area,” Rufus assured him, putting his gun away. “Now let's stop this foolishness and get on board.” The president stepped closer and reached out slowly to stroke Reno's hair. Cloud nearly shoved his hand away but seeing that he was only caressing Reno, he reigned in his protective urges. The man was capable of love, after all.

 

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

 

“How did you find him?” Tseng asked Cloud when they finished securing Fenrir in the cargo area and boarded the craft.

 

Cloud sat in the chair beside Reno and he checked once more to be certain that the redhead was strapped firmly in. “I went to the spot where I washed up, the last time I fell into a Mako stream. It was just a lucky guess.”

 

“I'm going to call Rude to let him know we've found him,” Elena said with excitement. “He'll be so relieved!”

 

Cloud wondered how Tifa was going to react to the Turks and Rufus coming and going from their house all the time. There was no help for it though; he couldn't very well refuse them the right to visit their comrade and it was the only way Rufus would have let him take him without a serious fight.

 

“Now look,” Cloud said firmly, addressing all of them as Tseng started up the chopper, “I'm agreeing to let you guys come and visit him whenever you want, but I've got some kids in the house and I don't want you giving them any bad ideas about career choices, got it?”

 

Rufus turned around in his chair and smirked at him. “Such as? Being successful, perhaps? Owning one's own company? Do tell, Strife…what precisely is `bad' about my career, or that of my employees?”

 

“Oh, I don't know…how about murder, kidnapping, lies, nearly destroying the planet…stop me if I'm going too fast for you,” Cloud grumbled.

 

“Most of that is a thing of the past,” Rufus insisted, “and I can assure you that my Turks and I have no interest in discussing our work with orphan children. You can relax.” The president's eyes went to Reno again and they softened ever so slightly. “So long as he's taken care of, you'll get no trouble from us.”

 

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

 

Tifa already had one of the single beds in Cloud's room ready by the time they arrived. She watched Rufus and the Turks follow Cloud into the house warily, nervous about their presence but unable to voice her concerns without offending someone. Cloud carried the stricken redhead up the stairs and laid him down in the bed next to his. He covered him and smoothed his bangs out of his eyes before moving away and allowing Rufus and the others to have their visit with him.

 

“Why is he jerking like that?” Elena asked in a quivering voice.

 

“He's fighting it,” answered Cloud softly. “He's trying to wake up and get control over his body again, that's why he's having the spasms.”

 

“Of course, he's fighting it,” Rufus said with satisfaction as he stroked Reno's cheek. “I'd expect nothing less of him.”

 

Tseng stood on the other side of the bed and stared down at the redhead silently for a moment. He reached up and pulled a silver chain out from under his shirt, which had a yen-yang pendant hanging from it. He undid the clasp and bent over his injured comrade to put it around his neck.

 

“Keep this until you wake up, Kitsune. May it help you balance the war inside of you.” Unmindful of the audience, the Wutaian pressed a kiss to Reno's forehead before straightening up and walking out of the room.

 

Elena took his place and she took hold of one of Reno's limp hands and squeezed it. “I'll come and visit as much as I can, Reno. You just get better, okay?” She sniffled and wiped her eyes before leaving.

 

Now Cloud and Rufus were the only ones remaining in the room. The president stood silently over his lover and employee, staring at him as if memorizing his features. “Rude will come and visit you tomorrow,” he whispered. “Reno, I expect you to fight with everything you've got and make a full recovery. I'm trusting Strife to help you do that.” He glanced over his shoulder at Cloud briefly. “Don't disappoint me, Fox.” He was too prideful to show his full affection in front of Cloud, so rather than give Reno a kiss he caressed his face once more. He turned around and walked out of the room to join his Turks downstairs.

 

“You're doing the right thing, Rufus,” Cloud said.

 

Rufus stopped at the threshold of the door and turned to look at him. “I certainly hope so. Don't make me regret this agreement, Cloud.”

 

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

 

Just as Rufus said, Rude showed up the next day. Cloud didn't really mind when the bald man spent most of the day at his partner's side, silently holding his hand and watching him. Tifa felt very sorry for the bald man and she brought him a sandwich and a drink at noon.

 

“You should eat,” she informed him as she set the plate and drink on the nightstand. “Don't make yourself sick over this.”

 

Rude nodded and murmured his thanks as he reached for the plate. “He's laying there because of me,” the big man sighed.

 

Tifa tilted her head. “What makes you say that?”

 

He shrugged and took a bite out of his sandwich. “Because it's true,” he explained after chewing and swallowing. “He saw it coming and he pushed me out of the way. If he wasn't busy saving my ass, he might not have fallen in.”

 

“Look,” she said firmly, “Reno only did what anybody else would have done if their friend was in danger. You would have done the same thing if the situation were reversed and it's not your fault that he's in this condition, okay?”

 

Logically, Rude knew that. Emotionally however, he blamed himself and no amount of reasoning could lessen the guilt in his heart. He worried that Reno would waste away to nothing. “How's he gonna eat?” he asked.

 

“Cloud bought a supply of baby food yesterday,” she answered with a little grimace. “He's been feeding it to him. In fact, he's probably on his way up from the kitchen now to give him lunch.”

 

Rude almost managed a smile. “Red would have a fit if he knew he was being spoon-fed baby food every day. So, he can actually eat?”

 

“It can get a little messy, but Cloud manages to get by. Reno's not really aware of what's going on but he can still chew, swallow and drink. He won't starve to death.” Tifa turned at the sound of the door opening. “Right on time,” she said with false cheer.

 

“Hey,” Cloud said softly as he brought the spoon and the jar over to Reno's bed. “Want to help me prop him up?”

 

Rude nodded and Cloud sat down beside Reno. Together, the bald man and the blonde got the redhead situated so that he was leaning back against Cloud's chest. The fighter put an arm around Reno to support him while he set the jar on the nightstand and spooned up a bit of baby food. Rude watched as Cloud brushed his fingers over his partner's lips, coaxing them apart. The blonde brought the food to Reno's mouth and murmured softly to him. Rude swallowed a lump as Reno instinctively opened his mouth to accept the pureed food.

 

“Good,” Cloud encouraged as the redhead swallowed. A little bit dribbled out and Cloud picked up the napkin he'd brought with him and dabbed it away. “Here comes another bite, Reno.”

 

Rude suddenly stood up and ran a hand over his scalp. “Sorry man, I can't watch this.” He left the room quickly and Tifa caught sight of a glistening tear trailing down his cheek before he was gone.

 

Cloud looked up as the Turk took his leave and he shared a frown with Tifa. “And I thought he was so damned stoic,” he sighed.

 

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

 

Rude stayed for a couple more hours, returning to the bedroom when Cloud was finished feeding Reno. Cloud and Tifa both refrained from saying anything to the bald man about his brief show of emotion, knowing it had to be killing him to see his once vibrant and active partner reduced to such a state. He left a photo of Reno's mother on the nightstand and said his respectful goodbyes to Cloud and Tifa, promising he'd be back later that week to visit him some more.

 

“We'll call you if there are any changes,” Tifa promised him as she saw him to the door.

 

Marlene was staring up at her when the brunette turned around. “Is the man upstairs getting any better?” she asked.

 

Tifa knelt in front of the little girl and shook her head. “Not yet, sweetie. We're hoping he will in time, but it's too soon to tell yet.”

 

“Can I go see him?” Marlene persisted.

 

“Yeah, me too,” Denzel said. He was curious about their guest and he'd never seen anyone with Mako poisoning before.

 

“Only for a little while,” Tifa agreed. “And I want you both to be quiet, okay?”

 

“We will,” promised Marlene. She took Denzel's hand and together, they went up the stairs to Cloud's bedroom. The blonde was sitting in the chair beside Reno's bed when they entered the room. He was staring down at his patient with aching, thoughtful blue eyes.

 

“Cloud, can we come in?” Denzel tactfully inquired, grabbing Marlene by the shoulder to keep her from charging in unannounced.

 

“Sure,” Cloud said. He forced a smile at them as they walked silently into the room and looked at Reno curiously.

 

Marlene jumped a little when the redheaded man's body suddenly tensed and his back arched.

 

“It's okay,” Cloud soothed, “he does that every once in a while. It's just his body fighting the poisoning.”

 

“Does it hurt?” Marlene asked softly.

 

Cloud considered the question for a moment. “Yes,” he answered in a pained whisper. He reached out and stroked Reno's hair again. “But he's not really aware of it. When I had Mako poisoning, the pain was sort of a distant memory, by the time I woke up. I might talk to a doctor tomorrow about getting some pain medicine for him.”

 

“Do you think he'll ever wake up?” Denzel inquired.

 

“There's no way to know for sure,” Cloud answered with a frown. “I hope so, but all we can do is wait and see.”

 

Marlene reached out and patted Reno's limp hand. “I hope he gets better soon.”

 

Cloud forced a smile. “I hope so too. Maybe with us watching over him, his chances are better.”

 

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

 

The next challenge that Cloud faced was bathing Reno. Obviously he couldn't expect Tifa to do it, so he ended up bathing with the redhead. He undressed him and carefully picked him up, situating him so that he was reclined between Cloud's legs with his back resting against the blonde's chest. Cloud talked to him as he bathed him, trying to encourage awareness and ease his mind at the same time. He kept his touch as platonic as possible, getting a sour taste in his mouth at the thought of taking advantage of him. The hair was the hardest part to wash but he managed to get it done without getting any soap in Reno's eyes or mouth.

 

Cloud dressed the Turk in a pair of sweat pants after bathing him, figuring that the Reno would prefer it to an open-backed hospital gown. He eased the redhead into bed and tucked him in. He didn't want to leave him alone but Cloud knew that as the caregiver, it was important for him to get out a little. He went downstairs and Told Tifa he was going for a walk.

 

He only got half a block before the incessant concern for Reno nagged him to the point where he turned around and went back. Tifa looked a little surprised when he returned so soon but she chose not to remark on it. He hurried up the stairs to his room and found Reno sleeping where he'd left him.

 

Cloud sighed and lay down in the bed next to the Turk, watching him silently for a minute. “I can't even leave you alone for a few minutes without worrying,” Cloud whispered. “I never saw a day like this coming.”

 

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

 

-To be continued