Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Proof That Love Never Dies ❯ Love Transcends All Boundaries ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: Not mine. Cloud and Zack belong to SquareSoft.

A/N: This is a companion piece to Rainy Day Memories and Chicken Soup. This happens during the night a couple of days after Chicken Soup. It's just a little thing that got stuck in my head. I'm a hopeless romantic and this proves it. This first part is from Cloud's POV when he wakes up in the middle of the night to prove to himself Zack is still there.

Proof That Love Never Dies

Chapter 1: Love Transcends All Boundaries

He's beautiful when he sleeps. Of course, he's beautiful all the time. But he's more than merely beautiful. I can't really think of the words to describe him. I suppose that angelic would work. Yes, he looks so much like an angel as he sleeps. Or maybe, with his mischievous nature, he's more like a fairy from those old stories. They were supposed to be beautiful beyond words.

I can barely believe that he is truly here, beside me, in my bed. I saw him die, his blood stained my hands. The image of him lying there is burned into my very soul. And yet, here he is. He doesn't look a day older, nor like he's been dead and gone for years after being shot. At least, I guess, that makes him closer to my own age. I smile to myself as he stirs, but doesn't wake.

I reach out, my hand unsteady. I brush the ebony locks out of his gorgeous face. Next to him, my own skin looks so very pale. He's tanned, always has been. I used to tell him he was "kissed by the sun" and that was why his hair was black and he was so tan. I laugh softly at a sudden memory. He used to tease me about having a "moon tan."

He stirs again, and nestles the side of his face into the palm of my hand. He sighs, softly, and I hear him whisper my name, "Cloud."

I nearly kiss him then, but I stop myself. I don't want to wake him. I don't know how it is that he has returned to me. I know Tifa isn't happy about it. I know that she suspects there is something between us. I don't care, let her wonder! Maybe she'll finally realize that I don't want her. Not as anything more than a friend at least. She hasn't realized that yet, even after I once threw her out of my room when I stayed with her before I got my own place. But I can't help but worry sometimes over what she may say to him. She can be cruel when she wants to be, like she was when she pretended I didn't exist in Nibelheim.

He nuzzles my hand again, and I smile. I wonder briefly if he is awake. But he settles down and I go back to thinking.

Barret doesn't trust him yet. But then, Barret doesn't trust anyone when he first meets them. Especially if they are back from the dead. He'll come around though, I know he will. I know they wonder how I can just, accept him, as though nothing even happened and he'd only been gone for a short daytrip to visit his folks in Gongaga.

That answer is simple enough. I love him. He once told me, "love transcends all boundaries, and love can never die." Well, here he is my sweet romantic, living proof of that belief. Love didn't die, because here he is. The lost part of my soul has returned and I hold tight to him. I lay my head on his chest, listening to the strong beat of his heart. I put my arms around him, holding him tightly. I never want to let go. I cling to him, to prove to myself that he is here, in my bed and my arms, and not a dream or only a memory. The sound of his heartbeat and the steady rise and fall of his chest finally lulls me to sleep.

Tomorrow will be soon enough for him to explain.