Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Shattered Ice Redux ❯ Into the Night ( Chapter 5 )

AN: The conversation in the last part of this is somewhat different from the game but is based upon the script. I am well aware of this, thank you.

 

Chapter Five: Into the Night

 

They barely made it to Gongaga, limping their entire depressed group across the ocean in the Tiny Bronco turned boat, and it had been up to the brawny Barret to carry the unconscious Cloud over his shoulder. A nice sized lump had already formed on the ex-SOLDIER's face from where Vincent had struck him, and the gunman cursed to himself inwardly as he remembered what had happened. Damn Cloud for forcing that action upon him.

 

The entire foray into the Temple of the Ancients had been a disaster from the moment their set their feet on the wooden plank bridge connecting the temple to the main area of the island. Aeris had immediately begun to act oddly, hearing the voices of the Ancients and continuously pushing ahead of them so that he and Cloud were forced to run to catch up.

 

In the entranceway of the Temple, they had received what was their first, but certainly not last, surprise… a nearly gutted and almost dead Turk Commander hunched over beside the altar space. It had obviously been the work of Sephiroth, and Tseng had been on his last limbs. He had used his last vestiges of strength to give them the keystone and explain how it worked before dragging himself off to the side. His fate had seemed to depress Aeris, who turned melancholy after that, but Vincent had seen the wound for himself. Tseng wasn't completely done for if he could get some aid. Yet, judging from their location, he hadn't known if that would be happening anytime soon.

 

He hadn't have any more time to ponder on this, however, because in the next moment, Cloud had placed the keystone on the pedestal, effectively dropping them into what would be a most annoying labyrinth of ridiculous proportions. It had been fraught with huge, powerful creatures and nearly impossible to kill status-changing monsters. Further, it had been a long and hard journey as they fought their way through the maze, chasing after what appeared to be a continuously disappearing mute spirit.

 

Vincent could barely contain his joy the entire time.

 

Making their way through a rock-rolling trap, which had nearly taken off Vincent's only flesh arm, they had managed to get a glimpse of what awaited them ahead via use of a reflecting pool, which had shown a room they hadn't yet discovered. What had been most important was the vision of Sephiroth, only serving to spur their eclectic group forward. They had learned just how Tseng had been injured, and having once been a Turk himself, Vincent had felt the smallest stab of sympathy. Still, it had hurt far more to see the child of Lucrecia in such madness. Regardless, it had been then that Cloud acted even more strangely than usual, something that Vincent had noted but not cared to point out.

 

Perhaps he should have, though he doubted it would have made much of a difference.

 

Their next travels had taken them to a huge clock, which predictably lead to twelve different rooms, and Kami forbid, they should fall downwards into the gloom. It had come as no surprise when the ever-so-graceful Cloud had managed to knock them down into a battle with two voracious Ancient Dragons.

 

And for their troubles what did they receive?

 

A Nail Bat… probably Cloud's most ridiculous weapon yet. That wasn't even mentioning another long trip through the maze. It had only gotten more and more fun from there, and Vincent had been forced to bite his lip from saying his sarcastic thoughts aloud. His two companions had seemed lost enough as it was.

 

Predictably, the rooms in the clock area had led to dead ends or useless items more often than not. Finally, however, the pathway marked VI had taken them into yet another maze. This time, they had to chase around a different mute Ancient, who got his jollies by leading them on a wild goose chase through several doorways, all of which were enchanted and never led to the same place.

 

After successfully catching the old man with Vincent reminding himself he was not allowed to strangle the ghosts of the Ancients, they had been given a key. This key had opened the locked door, no surprise there, which took them to a room shown in the reflecting pool earlier. There, Sephiroth had awaited them.

 

In true evil guy fashion, he had begun to tell them his entire plans for world domination in explicit detail, pointing to the series of hieroglyphs on the wall to enunciate his point. The former General had proceeded to fuck with Cloud's mind, and generally make Vincent doubt his leader's sanity even further, before disappearing into obscurity, leaving them a fun present in his wake.

 

A battle with a Red Dragon.

 

Killing that creature turned out to be easier than it had first appeared, and the trio had then continued forward, Vincent again noting his leader's strange behavior. But oddly, Aeris had shot him a look, one he hadn't quite understood. She could obviously see how Cloud behaved but chose to ignore it. However, she had probably been more versed in the younger man's eccentricities, and though he was annoyed by the obvious falsity, Vincent had chosen to keep his mouth shut.

 

From there, they had found the Black materia, only to realize that it would require a sacrifice on one of their parts to retrieve it. No one had seemed inclined to do so until Cait Sith called, somehow psychically sensing their difficulty. In order to make up for his betrayal, the stuffed mog had been more than happy to sacrifice his artificial body. With that minor roadblock taken care of, the three companions had made their way towards the exit… or what they assumed to be one. Either way, the damned pieces of the clock hadn't let them go any other direction.

 

Vincent had definitely smelled a trap.

 

Therefore, it had come as no surprise when the fucking wall suddenly attacked them, growing a head and two arms that had attacked with deadly accuracy. It had been perhaps the most difficult enemy they had to fight in the Temple. Once they came through slimly victorious, they had limped out of the rapidly shrinking Temple. And just in time it had seemed as not long after, Cait Sith completed the puzzles and the Temple had become the small globe of Black materia.

 

Predictably, the moment all the dirty work was done, Sephiroth had reappeared. To add insult to injury, all of Cloud's weird behavior had escalated then, and he had given over the Black materia to his foe and then had proceeded to attack Aeris as if she was the enemy. Horrified at Cloud's behavior, Vincent had done the only thing he could, and since his words had not pierced the insane fog of their leader's brain, he had socked him in the face, trying not to feel so very satisfied as he did so. At least, he had successfully put the ex-SOLDIER into a blissful state of unconsciousness, and the chance that he might have broken the blond's nose had been a definite plus.

 

Thinking back, that had been the only thing about the damned Temple of the Ancients that was even worthwhile.

 

Though part of Vincent cursed Cloud thoroughly for what he had been forced to do, especially since the others chose that exact moment to show up. If Cloud hadn't gone insane… then the gunman would have never had to stop him from hurting Aeris, the woman Cloud seemed to love.

 

Had Sephiroth truly fucked with the boy's mind that much?

 

And now, their leader was unconscious. They were holed up in Gongaga's pitiful excuse for a hotel. The Black materia was in Sephiroth's hands, and Cait Sith had been destroyed by the shrinking of the temple. Was there anyway possible for the situation to get any worse?

 

The ex-Turk sighed then as he leaned against the wall, thinking that he had probably just jinxed them as he surreptitiously watched his companions. A solemn air had taken over the group, encompassing even the normally hyper Yuffie. She was lying on a bed nearby, playing toss and catch with a few materia that were probably not her own. The sight of Cloud clobbering Aeris had upset her greatly, and she had been rather subdued since then, not that anyone was complaining.

 

Barret and Tifa were talking in low tones over at a close by table, her worried brown eyes occasionally darting towards the doorway where Cloud's unconscious body was just visible. The gun-armed man wasted his glances on glaring at Vincent, as if blaming him for everything that happened. However, the ex-Turk ignored him easily as Barret had yet to vocalize any of his idiotic thoughts. The two true members of AVALANCHE were, outside of Aeris, perhaps the most concerned about the decline in Cloud's mental state.

 

The flower-girl, predictably, was sitting at the blond's side, one slim hand wrapped around his. Worry was etched into her features, never minding the way her body more than likely ached from the few successful blows he had managed. She had yet to leave his side and seemed to be contemplating something as well, but Vincent had yet to out figure what.

 

The fire-wolf, Nanaki, was currently sleeping, curled up on the floor of Yuffie's bed. He had been agitated earlier, pacing across the floor with his ears consistently twitching. It was enough to make anyone antsy, and Vincent was glad when Nanaki finally ceased his nerve-wracking motions.

 

And then, there was Cid. The man, if Vincent was going to be completely honest with himself, that had been overtaking his broody thoughts more and more lately. He knew that the pilot was still angry with him, which he also knew he deserved. He had treated Cid very poorly… to be honest, he had been an ass. He had his reasons, of course, but that didn't make it right.

 

It wasn't that he was drunk, though that certainly quieted his inner self-hatred for his failure in restraining himself. For some reason, Vincent found himself attracted to the brash and vocal pilot. Cid wasn't afraid of him, nor did the man seem upset by his rather… frightening appearance. He did not treat the ex-Turk like glass or like a traitor, and perhaps in many ways, Cid was everything Vincent was not. He was free with his emotions, living with dreams, following his heart, as silly as that sounded.

 

And Vincent had been alarmed. He hadn't left the coffin to start a relationship, to find happiness when Lucrecia had suffered, and he knew that Cid wanted to help him, to befriend him if anything. He could see it in those blue eyes every time they ventured his direction, even now with the anger that the pilot was practically radiating. Or as Yuffie so eloquently put it, he was “more pissy than usual.” And it wasn't fair to Cid, not when his heart still belonged to Lucrecia.

 

And it had happened in such a short time. He had known the pilot for less than two weeks, and yet, somehow, the man had managed to do what few others had. He had see the man, Vincent Valentine, rather than the mask.

 

It was rather unnerving… if not a bit welcome, and that was a fact that frightened him, resulting in the tense atmosphere between the two of them at the present moment. He hated losing what was perhaps his only true friend of the companions gathered about him, but it may have been what he deserved. After all, if he couldn't save the woman that he loved, what good was he?

 

His broody thoughts were disturbed when the sound of footsteps floated to his ears. The steps were too light to be the overweight innkeepers and too determined to be just a random passerby. Vincent's entire body tensed as he shifted his gaze to the bottom of the door, seeing the shadow move across the small gap. He quietly reached for his Silver Rifle, thinking that somehow ShinRa had found them.

 

His motions were noticed, but he quickly shushed them with a wave of his claw as he shifted his body towards the exit, eyes locked on the shadow. The stranger outside stopped directly in front of the door, seeming to consider something. Vincent raised his gun, silently cocking the weapon as he saw the doorknob begin to turn slowly, and everyone behind him had their eyes locked on the door as well.

 

The door opened, swinging inwards very slowly, and the ex-Turk reacted instantly. He darted forward, grabbing the spy and shoving him against the wall face forward, the barrel of the Silver Rifle pressed into the back of his head. The door was slammed shut as his captive immediately went still with shock, face pressed tightly against the wall.

 

“Why are you lurking outside our door,” Vincent demanded coolly, one finger curled around the trigger. He hated shooting people this close; it created quite a mess.

 

The man struggled to breathe, but it was rather difficult with one cheek pushed firmly against the wall, the strength of the altered human keeping him still. Vincent noticed the stranger was wearing a blue suit, tailored in an expensive fashion. He took note of black hair and amber eyes, but he wasn't quite ShinRa material. He was possibly a Turk, but no Turk worked alone unless the rules had changed in his long absence.

 

“I… wasn't lurking… per se,” the man answered, attempting a slightly nervous chuckle as he swallowed thickly. “I was just… oscillating.”

 

“Oscillating?” Vincent questioned with a nervous twitch of his brow, the word being growled more than asked.

 

The man nodded. “I really had no choice. That last stunt put me on their traitor list.”

 

Traitor list? Confusion began to settle into Vincent's mind, succeeding in irritating him further. He hauled on the back of the stranger's tailored suit and forced him to turn around, sticking the barrel of the gun directly into the amber-eyed man's neck.

 

“Who are you?” he demanded at the same moment that he felt a presence approach him on his left side.

 

“Reeve?” Cid asked with shock, cigarette dropping from his mouth. “What the hell?”

 

Amber eyes shifted towards the pilot, attempting a nervous smile. “One and the same.” His gaze moved to Vincent, darting between the gun and the rather painful claw that was pressing him against the door. “Would it be all right if you let me go?”

 

Out of the corner of his eye, Vincent saw the pilot narrow his eyes and shake his head in confusion. “What the fuck're you doing here, Mr. ShinRa?”

 

Reeve sighed and lowered his head. “I thought for sure you'd recognize my design, Cid.”

 

Sky blue eyes widened. “You were the one behind Cait Sith?” he questioned in surprise, sudden understanding dawning behind him. There was a sound of two chairs being shoved backwards as Tifa and Barret stood.

 

“You knew that Cait was my first invention. I thought you guys already knew who I was,” Reeve replied, still a pale color from the gun pressed against his neck. He swallowed thickly, amber eyes darting from person to person as he was subjected to many angry glares. “I… uh… had to leave ShinRa. They found out I turned on them by helping you guys and put out a death warrant for my head. I remembered Cloud saying something about meeting up at Gongaga if anything went wrong so… here I am.”

 

It was then that Vincent chose to finally release Reeve. The ex-Turk didn't trust him, perhaps still thinking he was a spy, but didn't think that the rather non-threatening man could hurt them faster than Vincent could shoot him. He holstered the Silver Rifle and took a step back, allowing Reeve some breathing room but never took his questioning gaze off of the dark-haired man.

 

“You're trying to tell us that you're on our side now?” Tifa questioned with a snort, obviously not believing him for one moment. She put her hands on her hips as she regarded him with a sneer.

 

Reeve's eyes fell, staring at the floor. “I know I made a mistake with the keystone, but there are… circumstances.”

 

“Circumstances?” Barret sneered. He pointed an accusing finger at the executive… well, former executive. “You used my own damn daughter against me, and you expect that you can come to us for help? How do we know this is not just another damn trick?”

 

Cid cleared his throat, garnering everyone's attention though Reeve did not raise his head. “I believe `im,” he interjected. “He ain't a true ShinRa like that %$#$ bastard Rufus. I doubt he could even lie to our faces like he could through Cait Sith. Besides, he'd never really hurt a kid… likes the little runts too much for that. Reis'd probably skin him alive if he ever did.”

 

“You mean, they really tried to kill you?” Yuffie inquired, her voice registering her surprise. Her brow furrowed in confusion as she regarded Reeve, wondering what use he would be in his present state, not that Cait Sith had been very useful to begin with. “Always knew ShinRa was a bunch of lying, backstabbing bast--“

 

She was cut off, however, when Nanaki cleared his throat, gathering everyone's attention with his solemn look. “I think, perhaps, that it is best if we wait until Cloud wakes up and let him decide what to do about Reeve.”

 

Amber eyes raised, looking startled. “Wakes up? What happened to Cloud?”

 

Barret waved a hand of dismissal. “Nothing for you to worry about, ShinRa boy.” He pointed towards a corner. “You jes sit your ass down over there until we decide what to do with you. Can't let you go now. You might go running home to daddy Rufus and tell him all you know.”

 

The ex-executive opened his mouth to say something, his entire body going rigid before sudden understanding flickered in his eyes. He slumped, gaze again falling to the floor.

 

“I deserved that.”

 

Tifa snorted. “And more… but that will do for now.”

 

Vincent heaved a barely audible sigh of relief as Reeve moved away from the door, inching slowly. The gunman felt the sudden urge to escape from the torrent of emotions flying around the room, and immediately, he headed for the now free passageway, ignoring the looks that were sent his way as he slipped outside and closed the door behind him with a quiet click. Only then did he feel he could breathe easily. His ears twitched at the sound of more conversation beginning within, but he no longer wanted to hear it. The more Barret repeated his idiotic accusations and blustering, the more annoyed Vincent became at his own choice of traveling companions.

 

He quickly made the decision to go outside and seek some solitude. Silent and swift steps took him through the deserted foyer of the inn and out the main entrance, stepping into the welcoming coolness of early evening. He paused just outside the doorway, pondering where he would find his isolation. However, he quickly spotted a small overhang over near the cemetery. It was secluded and gave him a clear view of the entire town. It would suit his purpose just fine.

 

Vincent swiftly made his way over to his selected location, making himself comfortable on the small ledge. One foot dangled over the side, the other drawn up so that he could lean an arm on his knee, his clawed hand digging into the grass beside him. It was quiet and cool, almost peaceful, a far sight better than the tense and emotionally charged atmosphere he had left behind in the inn. And he finally had his thoughts to himself, not that they were that pleasant to begin with.

 

The ex-Turk continued to run the through the same topics in his mind, over and over: Lucrecia… Hojo… Sephiroth… Cid… the demons… It was a continuous cycle of pain and regret and hatred, all boiling into a seething pile of emotional mess that he only pushed further and further into a distant part of his mind. If he didn't, if he allowed any of those emotions to take root, he feared losing his sanity. And he had little enough of that left as it was.

 

He had failed Lucrecia. She was the woman that captured his heart so easily, even after years of him trying to prevent that trap. Her easy smile, innocent eyes, optimistic personality… it all seemed to blend into the perfect woman for him. Still, he had failed her. His pride, his naïveté, had caused him to go against a madman unarmed. His memories were crap, but that much he remembered. And he literally burned with hatred for that… monster… Hojo.

 

He couldn't remember much of his time spent in the mad scientist's… care. For all intents and purposes, Vincent knew it was somewhere around three years before he was sealed away, but he could only recall fleeting glimpses. Pain, agony, despair, crawling and clutching at him, twisting taloned fingers into his soul and refusing to release him.

 

He remembered the day his arm was dissected from his body and the agony that followed, the feeling of his blood rushing from his body. It left him cold. Yet, he couldn't recall the day he had been given the claw, nor could he remember just when or how Hojo had given him his demons, the vile parasites that invaded his body and shared his blood.

 

He could hear them, always whispering in the back of his subconscious with their blood-soaked lullabies and calls for destruction. They spoke of the glory in murder, the ecstasy in taking life. He ignored them as best he could, sickened by what they described in horrifying detail. He had grown numb to the sight of slaughter by now. Gore and blood were so familiar that he barely even reacted to them now, and every day that passed he felt that he was becoming less human. Every time he changed into one of those things, he returned to his human form with a feeling of distinct loathing for himself.

 

Except… there was now a new and strange ingredient to the crazy concoction of his life. Cid was forcing his way beyond Vincent's icy barriers and, by Kami, making him feel like there was actually a human beneath the monsters. And he had done so in so very little time. It was no wonder he wanted to believe it was the fault of a love spell or something equally trivial and fantastical.

 

A sudden movement caught the gunman's eye, bringing his thoughts to an abrupt halt. He turned, putting his full attention on the door of the inn, noting a flash of bright pink and then auburn before the door slid shut, enveloping the person in darkness once more. However, he had already recognized who it was.

 

Aeris.

 

But what was she doing? Why had she finally decided to leave Cloud's side?

 

He curiously watched her as she started on the path that would lead her out of town, making her inevitably pass directly by where he sat.

 

Vincent considered calling out to her, perhaps asking her where she was going or what she had planned, but the words dies on his lips as she suddenly turned, green eyes glinting as they fell directly on him, piercing the darkness. It was like she had heard his unvoiced question.

 

Aeris paused beneath where he sat, her head tilted to look up at him. “I should have known to expect you out here,” she said softly, beginning the conversation as though nothing out of the ordinary was occurring. “Reeve's appearance was certainly unexpected.”

 

He narrowed his eyes. “Where are you going?” Blunt and straight to the point was definitely his style.

 

She shook her head, gaze shifting to the sky as her eyes took in the many stars. The staff at her side, the Princess Guard if he remembered correctly, tapped in a slow and steady rhythm against the ground.

 

“To stop Sephiroth,” the Ancient responded, her voice bordering on playful.

 

Now, he was intrigued… and confused as well. “What do you mean?”

 

She still faced the heavens. “Cloud knows. When he wakes up, I'll be long gone, but he'll know why. He won't really understand, but he'll know.” She sighed, one hand fidgeting with a button on her dress. “He really shouldn't have to face Sephiroth again. I hate to say it, but he isn't strong enough yet.”

 

Vincent snorted in response. Against Sephiroth, Cloud was little more than a mindless puppet. Her words were an understatement of epic proportions.

 

“That explains nothing.”

 

Aeris shrugged listlessly, finally returning her gaze back to him. “You can't stop me from leaving,” she informed him, like she believed he had been about to jump down and physically restrain her.

 

Truthfully, the thought had never crossed his mind. She was her own woman. It wasn't up to him to tell her what to do, especially when he looked at her and saw a familiar gleam to her eyes. It was resignation and determination, as if her mind had been made and nothing was going to stop her. Whatever the flower-girl was doing, it had long been chosen in her mind. Even if he had originally thought to, he wouldn't have stopped her after seeing her expression.

 

Instead, he remained silent, leaning perhaps a bit more forward on his knee. She smiled briefly in response, lowering her gaze to the ground.

 

“Thank you,” Aeris replied softly. “The others… would not have understood.” Their eyes met, understanding passing between them before the Ancient continued on her way without another word, leaving him to his own contemplations.

 

She was right, of course. If it had been anyone else to notice her leaving, Aeris would have been stopped. They would have offered to go with her, to protect her, to wake everyone else and join along. They wouldn't have been able to see that whatever the Ancient was doing, she needed to do alone.

 

He also knew that they wouldn't understand why he had let her go either. Vincent had the feeling that when Cloud awoke and realized that Aeris had departed that somehow everyone would try to place the blame on him.

 

The ex-Turk exhaled with exasperation, content to remain outside until the “shit hit the fan” so to speak.

 

He didn't have to wait long.

 

- - -

 

“Aeris…” He spoke quietly, the name barely passing his parted lips as his eyes opened slowly, blinking in the harsh light overhead. He was disorientated, dizzy, completely unaware of his location or what had happened. The dream was still fresh on his mind. Had Aeris… had she truly gone?

 

“Yo, Spike!”

 

Confused mako eyes rolled to his left as his head turned, landing on two people who were watching him intently. He recognized them vaguely, Bifa and Tarret… or was it Tara and Baffet… or maybe Tifa and Barret. His head throbbed painfully as he tried to decide which was correctly. His entire body ached fiercely, a spike of pain racing across his nose as he lifted a hand to it. He tapped a finger on the bridge, wincing at the motion, even as he noticing that there was a faint bump under his fingertip. He wondered how it had gotten there.

 

And then, he remembered.

 

Sephiroth. The Black materia. Attacking Aeris. Vincent knocking him out. And then the dream.

 

Urgh.

 

“You alright?” Barret questioned, garnering his attention again. Cloud's eyes snapped open, not that he even realized they had closed. “You look like you was havin' a nightmare or sumthin'?”

 

Cloud smiled weakly, the pounding in his head miraculously lessening to a dull twinge. “Or something.”

 

Nightmare, dream, premonition… Honestly, he didn't know what the hell it was.

 

Tifa shifted uncomfortably. “You know, Cloud… Aeris is gone. We can't find her.”

 

The ex-SOLDIER nodded, his head swimming for a moment before he pushed himself into a sitting position. He winced at the crick in his neck and spine.

 

“The City of the Ancients… Aeris is headed there,” he explained, finger tracing over his nose again. “Only… only she can save us from Meteor.”

 

Cherry-brown eyes widened in surprise as Barret floundered in shock. “But… alone? What if something happens to her? Like Sephiroth? You aren't--“

 

The blond shook his head, cutting her off. “Sephiroth… already knows.” He remembered, the leather-clad man in his dreaming. The man had talked to him, smirking at him, as if they were comrades in some foul plan.

 

“%$$@$?!”Barret demanded. “Then why the fuck are you still sittin' around here for?”

 

The swordsman shook his head again, gaze falling to the ground as he tangled his hands in his spiky locks, clutching onto them as if they were a lifeline. “No. I might lose it again. If Sephiroth comes near me, I could…” He sighed loudly, aggravatedly as he pulled at his hair again. “I can't do this! I'm afraid. If this keeps up, I'll go insane. I'll…” He huffed loudly once more, eyes squeezing shut as he trailed off.

 

Barret snarled, kicking at a chair as he stood. “Just a damn jackass; that's what you are,” he spat angrily, ignoring the woman's surprised look. “You think runnin' away is going to solve anything? You just goin' to sit here and let her face your own fears for you? You stupid motherfucker!” And with that, he stormed from the room, the fierce echoes of his own footsteps nearly shaking the Inn.

 

Thankfully, Tifa took a calmer approach. She rose to her feet quietly, seemingly contemplating him with something akin to pity.

 

“You know what needs to be done,” she said softly. “You won't stand by. You promised, remember?” And with that, she left the room as well, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

 

Cloud moaned to himself, hands clutching at his hair as he rocked back and forth on the bed, images of what he had done, what Sephiroth had caused him to do, replaying back and forth in his mind. “I'm… what am I supposed to do?” he questioned softly, rhetorically, wishing that Aeris was right there to answer him. “Pull out of here? Pull out? To where?”

 

He growled angrily, releasing his spikes and jumping to his feet as he kicked at the same chair Barret had assaulted earlier, splintering the frail wood with ease. “I'm afraid to find out the truth. I'm afraid to face Sephiroth. I can't… but… dammit, why?” he asked the air.

 

It didn't respond.

 

Would he always be this way? This weak, this indecisive when it came to the things that truly mattered to him. What sort of man was he if he couldn't face his own troubles to go after the woman he cared for? What sort of person did that make him, for her to face Sephiroth and the threat of Meteor alone? What did that say about him, his courage, in the face of her serene bravery?

 

Barret was right. He was a jackass of the worst kind. He couldn't… no, wouldn't… he wouldn't let Aeris face Sephiroth on her own. Sephiroth was his enemy, his weakness and his darkness. If he couldn't stand on his own two feet, then what was the use in living after all?

 

With that in mind, Cloud gathered what was left of his senses, slung his weapon over his shoulder and opened the door, now recognizing that he was at the inn in Gongaga. He walked through the doorway… and stepped into a full blown argument, which seemed to be directed towards one person in general, an impassive and steadfast Vincent. With one quick sweep of the room, he registered that everyone other than Aeris was there and accounted for… and that somewhere along the way they had picked up another companion.

 

Cloud frowned.

 

“Why didn't you stop her, Vampy?” Barret demanded as he pointed a beefy finger in Vincent's face. “If she gets hurt, I'm blaming it on you.”

Crimson eyes narrowed into slits, but before Vincent could respond, if indeed he had been planning to do so, Cloud decided to reassert his control. Honestly, if he wasn't there these people would tear each other apart until was nobody was left to defend Gaia.

 

“Barret, enough,” the blond ordered, stepping into the center of the room. “We both know how stubborn Aeris is. It wouldn't surprise me if she had cast Stop and then ran while she could.”

 

The dark-skinned man huffed, but he looked to be seriously considering his leaders words. He could just imagine the flower-girl doing that.

 

Vincent didn't even give him a word of thanks for ending Barret's angry tirade. The gunman's eyebrow merely twitched before he moved out of the line of fire, content to skulk back to the shadows.

 

“Aeris has gone to the City of the Ancients, so we're going after her,” Cloud declared when he was met with silence. Seven pairs of eyes locked on him.

 

Nanaki frowned in puzzlement. “Why did she leave?” he inquired, tail flicking around.

 

The swordsman shrugged. “I'm not sure. Something about her being the only one who could stop Sephiroth and Meteor. But we're not going to let her do it alone.”

 

“That's right!” Yuffie cheered loudly, pumping a fist into the air. “She can't have all the glory. I wanna kick some ShinRa ass, too!”

 

Barret snorted. “Yeah. And you should start with Mr. Spy over there.” He jerked a thumb in the direction of Reeve, who was doing a good impression of Cait Sith, standing very still like he were nothing more than a toy. Yet, now that all the attention was focused his way, he grimaced.

 

Cloud raised a brow. “And you are?”

 

“Reeve Tuesti, former executive of ShinRa,” the amber-eyed man answered softly.

 

“Former?”

Cid interjected before Reeve could speak, surprising everyone with how he continued to stand up for the other man. “They found out he double-crossed them and tried to kill him.”

 

Tifa humphed, crossing her arms over her ample chest. “And for some reason, he expects us to trust him.”

 

Cloud's eyes flickered over to her with a bit of confusion. Tifa wasn't normally so… vindictive. What was it about Reeve that rankled her? He could understand Barret's fury; after all, Marlene was his daughter. Tifa and the girl were friends, but still, it was strange behavior for her.

 

His brow furrowed in thought.

 

“I didn't say that,” Reeve said quietly. “I really had nowhere else to go.”

 

The ex-SOLDIER rolled his eyes, folding his arms over his chest. The more they stood there arguing, the further Aeris was getting away. They would have to bring Reeve with them anyways. Even if they left him behind, if he was really in league with ShinRa, his bosses would instantly know their next destination.

 

Shouldering his Nail Bat once more, Cloud quickly bypassed everyone, motioning for them to follow him. He assumed there would be no argument.

 

“Reeve comes with us, and that's that. No arguing.” He stepped outside. “Let's go.”

 

He sighed in relief when no one protested and followed after him. He only hoped that they would get there in time. For what, he didn't know, but with Sephiroth involved… time was of the essence.

 

* * *