Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Unrequited Desires ❯ Dear Tragedy ( Chapter 19 )

 

 

Unrequited Desires

 

 

Chapter 19 Dear Tragedy

 

Zack paced nervously back and forth. He didn't know how much more of this he could take. He had thought Cloud being asleep for three days was bad, but this...this was agony. It had started about an hour ago. The blond had started crying in his sleep, and as

time went by the tears had increased into sobs, and those sobs into cries, and finally he had just been screaming for the past 10 minutes.

 

He had tried to wake him…Shiva help him he had tried, but it seemed the more he shook him the harder he cried. The sad thing was that he knew exactly what was happening to him, because he had heard those cries before. He had heard those cries the night he had gone down to the accursed Shinra Mansion's basement and found the love of his life sobbing uncontrollably on the ground, clothes ripped, and covered in blood.

 

What Sephiroth had done was unforgivable. Zack knew very well of the hardships the ex-General had to endure throughout his life, and he knew of the dark and twisted things that lied in his head, but he could never justify what he had done to Cloud. He had broken the boy, shattered his very existence so that he didn't even want to live anymore, and then for him to say that he loved him was nothing short of blasphemous.

 

He just wanted Cloud to wake up. The sooner the Nibelheim boy woke, the quicker he could start putting the pieces back together like he had all those years ago. He had always despised the fact that Hojo had altered Cloud's memory, but now he would have to say he was almost grateful. Cloud never talked after that night. He never said a single word all those years they were in the laboratory, the only way Zack knew he still had the ability to speak was by the endless nights where he would scream out Sephiroth's name in his sleep.

 

Cloud had always been a slightly shy hyperactive kid, and yes he did sometimes do dumb things, but he seemed to always smile and shake it off in the end. …He didn't smile anymore though…not in the same anyways. No, Cloud had given him that heart warming smile that had made him fall in love since Sephiroth had destroyed the last bit of innocence still left in his body. During those years in the lab the blond had never said he hated Sephiroth for what he had done, but he had no doubt in his mind that when he woke up and found out how the bastard had played him that it would destroy him even more and make it so that smile never came close to finding its way back where it belongs.

 

Glancing to the side, he noticed how Reno was staring worriedly down at his friend from the side of the bed, while Rufus held his shoulders comfortingly from behind. Well you had to hand it to the blond, he sure was persistent. He must really like the redhead to go through listening to those screams. There was no chance in hell he would ever leave Cloud's side, and even his mind was starting to ache from having to listen to those pained yells.

 

He rubbed his temples, trying to soothe the ache that had come to him from the noise. “Turk you can leave if you want…who knows how long this will go on.” Reno turned towards him, giving him the fiercest glare he had ever seen. Well…apparently the feisty Turk didn't like that idea.

 

“I'm not leaving his side…I've left him enough over the years, wouldn't you say?” Zack was about to make a smart ass retort, but at hearing the guilt laced in Reno's tone he couldn't bring himself to reply, and so all he did was nod in understanding as Rufus pulled his lover closer.

 

He hadn't realized it before, but he could see where this would take quite a tole on the Turk. Cloud had been so upset before they left to Nibelheim that he was sure that he and his friend hadn't talked, and then the next thing the redhead heard was that the blond had been killed. He had to accept his best friend's death, while simultaneously still trying to get into the Turks.

 

The spiky haired teenager's death had probably shook Reno up more than he ever realized, and yet the redhead had pushed through it and learned how to become the sneaky underhanded and manipulative being you had to in order to make it as a Turk. Then the next time he had even heard of Cloud, he had been ordered to kill him. He had to have been out of touch with reality, after all how could your best friend show up after five years and suddenly be a traitor to the army you work for and have a death warrant on his head? When you got passed the loud mouth, Reno really was a great friend.

 

Zack was brought out of his musings when the screaming stopped. He let out a breath of relief to know that the worst was over, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in curiosity when he heard the soft chanting coming from his love's mouth.

 

“Z-ack…Zack…Zack…Need...” Mainly because he was chanting his name. He rushed over in what seemed like a flash towards the blond's side.

 

He hand rubbed over soft spikes, trying to calm his ex-lover as he continued to call his name. “It's alright Cloud…I'm here…” He leaned down, nuzzling the side of the still sleeping boy's face. “Just please wake up babe…please let me know you're okay…”

 

Crawling up onto the bed, Zack took the small blond into his arms, cradling him against his body as he felt tears begin to form in his eyes at just the small recognition to let him know that Cloud's mind wasn't entirely gone yet. Not only that, but ever since his screams of agony, he had shown him the first sign of affection since he had gotten back. He knew it was foolish, but a little glimmer of hope lit up inside of him that had disappeared the moment he had saw Sephiroth inside of Cloud, and just how much the almost SOLDIER seemed to love it.

 

His eyes flew open when he felt lips against his. Bright blue ones stared into his, though Zack felt like they weren't really seeing him. No, they seemed empty…like Cloud was just a hollowed out shell. “I watched you die…you left me…after promising you'd always be there to protect me.”

 

The heavy mist in his eyes only increased with those words, because it was in that instant that he realized, that even though he was moving and speaking, Cloud was still very much asleep. Not caring that the blond would most certainly object if he were conscious, Zack placed kiss after kiss on his face, feeling more sorrow for the spoken broken promise, then he had ever felt before.

 

“I know I did baby…and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that I couldn't protect you from him.” He started rocking the spiky haired soldier, not noticing how the limbs began to move while in his arms. “I love you Cloud…I tried…” The tears were now freely pouring down his face. “Forgive me, I tried so hard…”

 

His shoulders were shaking as his sobs overtook him, and he kept mumbling nonsense into his love's ear. He was so out of it by this time, that he didn't even notice when a weak pair of arms wrapped around him, or when impossibly blue eyes came back into focus.

 

“Zack…look.” Was what he heard from beside the bed, and he glanced over to Reno who had a slight smile on his face as he stared at the scene below.

 

The dark haired soldier was about to yell at the Turk and tell him to mind his own business, but at seeing his amethyst eyes fixed solely on the blond in his arms, he couldn't help but let his eyes gaze back to him as well.

 

He could feel the arms wrapped around him now, as well as he could see those beautiful eyes staring back into his. “Cloud?” He reached out, rubbing a stray spike from his hair. “Are you alright?”

 

“Not really…” Was the quiet throaty reply as Cloud began to sit up. “But really…did you expect any different?” The desolate tone he used was enough to make the ex-SOLDIER wince.

 

“Did you see…” The outright glare he received at even half that question was enough to quiet him down.

 

Cloud rubbed his eyes, looking more than a little worn out, which seeing as how he'd been sleeping for quite a few days was really a surprise. Though even in his worn out state, Zack thanked the heavens that he was reacting this well. He never in his life wanted to see the lost and forlorn kid that had come into existence the first time the blond had to live through Sephiroth doing this to him…He never again wanted to hear those screams.

 

Blue eyes glanced around; taking in the room he had been in for what had seemed an eternity. He finally settled on the Turk on his blond lover, and he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in question. “Well the two of you have certainly seemed to have gotten close…the things we miss while we're sleeping.” He tried with deadened sarcasm. “…Just how long was I out anyways?”

 

Not wanting to ever let the blond out of his hold again, Zack laid a hand on his slim waist, rubbing soothing circles over his skin. “Almost four days.” He had to say, he was mildly surprised when his hand wasn't slapped away.

 

“Wow…what a waist of time.” He grumbled, getting out of the bed on shaky legs and heading toward the bathroom. “So tell me…Does Barret's hometown have a shower?”

 

In truth he couldn't believe Cloud knew where he was, but then again the spiky haired brat had already been very good at telling his surroundings. Though really, the fact that Cloud seemed to know where he was didn't bother him near as much as how calmly he seemed to be taking this…it was almost as if he had gone numb.

 

“Yeah, it's in the bathroom…though I gotta tell you the water pressure's a bitch.” Reno gave a forced laugh at his comment, obviously just as confused as him. Cloud gave a slight wave in response, pushing through the door, and the spray of the shower started almost immediately.

 

As soon as he was sure that he couldn't be heard, Zack let his head fall into his hands as he shook it back and forth. “Well…that could have gone better.” This was going to be harder than he thought. He had gone through this with the blond before…it was quite a bit scarier than when he would break down into tears. At least then you could tell what was one his mind…at least then you weren't afraid that he had truly lost it.

 

“What do you mean…he seemed fine.” Rufus replied, giving a yawn and stretching his arms before once again wrapping them around Reno. The redhead in question scoffed at his lover's statement.

 

“Cloud is not fine…if you remember correctly he used to be very vocal and expressive when he was at Midgar. You knew every emotion though that came into that head of his head…and now, well now you're lucky if you can get a smile.” He rubbed his head tiredly in the same way Zack had done only moments ago. “He's not fine…he's numb, and I shutter to think what will happen when the numbness fades and finally lets his emotions out.” Zack nodded, not wanting to ever see such a day take place.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

The moment the spray of shower was there to muffle his sounds, Cloud collapsed to the ground, suddenly not being able to support his own weight. He would say it was a lie…really he would, but then again he knew in his heart that those dreams were legitimate. He had tried to convince himself before that they were a trick of the mind, but then that didn't explain how they made perfect sense, or how everybody else seemed to remember the very same events.

 

Which meant that his first time with Sephiroth hadn't been sp degrading as the very day he had murdered Tifa…No, his was much worse. Sephiroth had raped him…Cloud bit back the bile threatening to escape his throat at that. Though when those terrible pictures of memories he had just been made to revisit came back to him, he couldn't stop himself from crawling quickly over to the dingy toilet and retching in the basin.

 

How could he! How could that bastard toy with him like that!? Was it all a game to that sick fuck? Did it give him pleasure to know that he was making the stupid naïve boy he had defiled in every sense of the word love him? If it was a game, then Cloud had no doubt that Sephiroth had won, because even now…even after he had found out the travesties of his past, he couldn't stop himself from wanting to see the man…if only to hear an explanation to how he could do such a thing. After he got that explanation…well then he would get his revenge!

 

That is of course if he could first bring himself from moving off the dirty floor. Steam from the shower began to fill the room, loosening up his chest as he fought as hard as he could to stop the tears from flowing down his face. No, he had cried enough. He had had to go through days upon days of remembering just how much he had cried, and he refused to do it anymore.

 

He had no tears left for the things Sephiroth had done to him. Now there was only one thing left, and that was redemption. They say the revenge is a dish best served cold, well his revenge would be five years cold. But he had to do something first…he had to get off the floor.

 

Scowling at his complete and utter weakness, Cloud curled his toes underneath him and pushed up with his hands, managing to get himself to a standing position. His clothes stripped off him easily as he stepped into the scolding hot spray. He needed it to be that hot though, because he needed to feel it. He didn't care what it was, but he needed something to cleanse him.

 

He could hear the faint whisper of voices coming from outside the door. It wasn't a surprise to hear the worried tone in Zack and Reno's voice…of course they would be worried. Wet blond spikes slowly shook back and forth as he realized something….he didn't hate Zack anymore. Well how could he? The soldier had done everything in his absolute power to protect him. Hell he had even come back from the dead to make him realize his mistake! And how did he repay him?...He treated him like dirt, and stomped on every kind gesture the man had ever thought of showing him.

 

Yet somehow, even after all the crap Cloud had pulled, he had still woken up in Zack's embrace, with the soldier whispering soft words of comfort in his ear. …He didn't deserve him. Sephiroth may have manipulated him and took advantage of his lack of memory, but that didn't excuse him for wanting it. Even if he hadn't known about the rape, he was quite aware of everything else, and yet he had let it happen anyways…all the while treating Zack like he was the bad guy. …He was such a hypocrite.

 

He'd kill himself in shame, if he thought it would do any good. But how would get retribution that way? Besides…he had already tried that once. Cloud winced, while reaching for a wash cloth to scrub at his raw skin. …He had almost forgotten about that, but now…well thoughts of those times were really the only thing that could even make it into his mind. This was his purgatory…forced to forever relive his memories of times when he should have been stronger. If he had been, would things to still be this way…or would they be better?

?????????????

 

“Are they okay?” The blond asked, for what felt like the first time in weeks. He felt pathetic, dejected, but most of all he felt like a traitor. Here he was sleeping with the man that was holding his companions…his friends, captive, and he had yet to even ask about their well-being.

 

He watched the taut muscles of Sephiroth's back stretch as he sat up from the bed, pulling the sheet around his waist. “They're not dead, if that's what you're asking.” That voice was so empty, so emotionless while talking about the lives of seven people.

 

“Well that's a relief.” Cloud mumbled sarcastically, sitting up as well and grabbing for his discarded boxers from beside the bed. Sephiroth was in one of his moods, and the only reason he had had the guts to ask such a question was before the ex-general had come in and made him go down on him before fucking him into the bed.

 

Sephiroth didn't respond. No, it seemed he was much to into his own world to have a common courtesy such as that. In fact no only did he not even bother to acknowledge his existence now that his sexual appetite was fulfilled, but he got out of the bed altogether, grabbing for his pants and shrugging them on without a care.

 

“Are you leaving then?” Cloud asked, trying not to let the disappointment filter into his voice. After all, he should be used to it by now. Sephiroth fucking him and leaving him was a common occurrence. Though for some reason it always seemed to bug him. The act of the man screwing his brains out, and then leaving him feeling filled and yet so very empty always pulled at his heart in a way he knew he would never get over.

 

His lover had still yet to grace him with a response. In fact it seemed he had gotten even more withdrawn as he pulled on his boots, tying them up before grabbing for his jacket. For some reason, that annoyed Cloud more than anything else.

 

He could deal with Sephiroth being withdrawn and cold, he could deal with wanting him only for sex and then leaving, hell he could even deal with the insanity, but he would not be ignored! “You know,” He started, not at all keeping the anger out of his voice. “It is common courtesy to at least acknowledge the person you just tied down and made them beg to let you fuck them.” …The sad thing is he didn't even blush when he said this. No, some of the perverse things that Sephiroth made him do had taken all the modesty out of his blood.

 

Sephiroth paused at the door, and Cloud couldn't help but gulp in nervous anticipation. His nervousness only increased when the man turned around, giving him a cold murderous gaze that sent a chill down his spine.

 

“It also is customary for the person who just begged their captor to fuck them to lie down and behave afterwards before that captor decides to change his mind about being nice and slices the beggar's throat.” Cloud's mouth fell open a little at that. The sad thing was is that his lover wasn't joking in the least. He would as soon kill him as have him show the least bit of passion for his surroundings other than calling the man's name out in ecstasy while they were rolling around in the sheets.

 

Well, it certainly did seem to remind him of his place in the world. Sephiroth's captive…Sephiroth's captive who he seemed to enjoy fucking. There was no love in his words, despite the numerous amount of times the blond had tried to convince himself that there was. He didn't love him…he just wanted to show his superiority, but then again, that was always the case with the precious general of Shinra. He was a god, and all other lowly grunts just had to learn their place in the world under his heels. …The very thought of such egotism made him sick.

 

“Oh, that's right…I forgot my place.” The pads of his feet fell from the bed as he slowly walked over to stand in front of his lover. “Allow me to fix my mistake.” He replied in a deadpan voice, not hesitating in dropping to his knees in front of his cruel bedmate.

 

Sephiroth raised an eyebrow at his actions, yet nerveless let a hand fall to the top of Cloud's head to stroke at his blond spikes. “And just what is it that you think you're doing, puppy?”

 

The nickname almost made him stop his plans right there…almost. After all Sephiroth only used that name when he was himself, and not controlled by that darker part that seemed to live in his soul, and yet he knew that the cruel words he had just uttered to him earlier had also been himself, and so he felt no grievance in reaching out and unzipping his lover's tight leather pants.

 

“Doing what you told me to…I'm minding my place in this world.” He didn't even try to cover his sneer that came to his face as he freed his lover's member, slowly reaching out to stroke him into hardness. He had to love that. No matter how apathetic and cold Sephiroth acted, Cloud could always get his body to react so easily.

 

“Are you trying to tell me that your place in this world is sucking my cock, precious?” Sephiroth huskily replied, not being able to hide the smirk that came to his face.

 

Letting his palms travel up the man's thighs, Cloud reveled in how he seemed to tremble in anticipation. “Of course Seph…this is all you want me for after all.”

 

He was about to touch his tongue to the hardening member, but an angry hand fisted in his hair stopped his descent. Stopping, Cloud slowly raised his head up to turn blue eyes to meet angry green.

 

To put it kindly, Sephiroth look livid. “I don't have time for this.” He hissed, pushing back on the blond's head so that the boy went sprawling backwards. Growling in frustration, Cloud wiped the hair from his face, looking up to glare at his lover as he was zipping up his pants.

 

“Then what do you want from me!” He yelled, beyond the point of breaking by this time. “If you don't want sex…then why do you keep me!”

 

Scowling, Sephiroth looked down in distaste at the blond. “Honestly, sometimes I have no idea…you're worthless.” Cloud's heart clenched at the cold words…Sephiroth's last words before turning around and walking out the door. The blond soldier would have chased after him, but he knew it would do no good. After all, he could already hear the click from the locked door from the other side.

 

Exhaling, Cloud let himself fall backwards, sprawling out onto the cold floor as he let the words Sephiroth had uttered about just how pathetic and worthless he was sink in. Raising a hand to his face, he rubbed tiredly at his eyes as the never ending exhaustion he seemed to be under seeped through.

 

He was so very…very tired. He was tired of fearing for his companions, he was tired of being left alone, he was tired of Sephiroth's uncaring attitude, but mostly he was tired of life. No matter how hard he tried he really couldn't think of one legitimate reason he was still living it.

 

Turning his head lifelessly to the side, he focused dead eyes on the wall, barely focusing on the slowly chipping paint that just begged to be peeled. No matter how much he convinced himself that he loved Sephiroth…this life would never be enough to make him happy. And he couldn't help it, he was selfish…the dead part inside of him that cared about his own wants really wanted to be happy.

 

As he was staring desolately at the wall he noticed something. …Sephiroth had left his masamune. He raised an eyebrow…now that was odd. Sephiroth never left his sword. That sword was like an extension of his self…if there was such a thing. He would never leave it behind, especially if he was going to be gone for days at a time like he normally did. The only thing he could figure is that his lover had wanted to get away from him so very much, that he had even left his weapon behind. …If that wasn't depressing, then he didn't know what was.

 

Rolling over, Cloud crawled over to where the sword lie, fingers tingling in anticipation as they wrapped around the smooth sheath. He had always wanted to touch this sword. It emitted almost as much power as Sephiroth himself. It had always confused him, however, how one piece of metal could smell so much like blood.

 

Taking a deep breath, he unsheathed the six foot long blade, wondering for what felt like the millionth time how Sephiroth could handle such a long sword with such accuracy. The metal glimmered in the pale light coming from the ceiling, and as Cloud twisted it back and forth he caught his pale reflection in the blade.

 

Standing up, he brought the masamune with him, swinging the enormous blade through the air and reveling in just how hard it was to perform just a single stroke. Sephiroth was amazing in every aspect of the word, if only because he could swing this thing with deadly accuracy so as to slice a strand of hair in two.

 

Cloud winced as he swung the blade, bringing a finger up to his mouth from where his hand had slid to low. The crimson liquid fell from his hand, dribbling down the handle and leaking onto the blade, effectively soaking it in even more blood than had already seeped into its depths.

 

For some unknown reason he was completely transfixed with the sight. It was something about seeing the fluid run down the sword, and knowing that if his whole body drained of the liquid that no one would care. It was exhilarating almost. He couldn't help it…he felt so much like giving up.

 

Feeling half crazed, Cloud brought he wrists down to the razor sharp edge, watching in fascination as he sliced it across. …The weird thing was the masamune was so sharp that he hardly felt the cut. Blood poured from his wound, sliding down the sword and dripping onto the floor. …Had he just slit his wrist?

 

His head was spinning as his life-source continued to pour from the wound, making his complexion paler and paler as the blood loss caught up with him. Feeling lightheaded, he barely noticed when his legs gave way underneath him and he collapsed onto the ground.

 

The blond vaguely noticed that he fell in a warm sticky substance, and it took his frazzled brain quite some time to realize that it was his own blood. His head was spinning by this time, and he was sure that he had officially gone crazy, which is probably why he didn't stop himself from letting his other wrist fall to the sword, swiping it across and slitting that wrist as well.

 

Now bleeding quite profusely, Cloud couldn't even support himself as he fell backwards. He could feel his life slowly depleting, and as it did he couldn't help but feel a strange sense of peace. He didn't know why, but he felt that in death he would be whole…like there was someone he had to see. If he did die he would free, and the one he loved could never hurt him again.

 

Everything was starting to go dark, and his wounds didn't even hurt anymore…nothing did. Everything felt numb…as a matter of fact Cloud didn't even know if he could move anymore. Was this what death felt like? Did you really find a moment of peace before everything finally went black?

 

In the back of his mind he thought he heard the familiar jangle of the door being unlocked, but then again he wasn't about to trust his ears. Everything sounded jumbled…though he kind of liked it…it sounded like the ocean. “I came back to get my…sword.” Cloud heard, and that was the only thing he heard before everything began to fade before going black.

 

The next thing he felt was a stinging pain in his cheek. His head felt like it was filled with sand, but he still managed to crack his eyes open to slits. What he saw in his bleary haze made something akin to a smile come to his face. Silver hair touched his cheek, and he couldn't help but reach up an injured arm to slightly touch the cheek it belonged to.

 

His fingers still felt numb as they slid across Sephiroth's cold feeling skin, and as they did Cloud noticed how a trail of blood ruined his snow white complexion. The man grabbed the hand touching his cheek, cradling it as he stared down worriedly into his face.

 

“What the hell did you do to yourself?” He asked panicked, which was odd because Cloud had never heard his lover panicked in his life. “…You've almost bled out…if I had been any later...”

 

The warmth surrounding him faded as his head fell back to the floor as Sephiroth set him down to run to the bathroom. He appeared a few seconds later with a metal box that Cloud had seen kept in the cabinet. He had never bothered to look inside, but he got a good view of just what was inside of it when the ex-general opened it and a make-shift first aid kit appeared.

 

Sephiroth grabbed tourniquets from the box, hurriedly wrapping them around Cloud's leaking arteries to try to slow the bleeding, though the blond knew that he had already lost too much blood for that to help.

 

His eyesight was fading in and out, as he watched Sephiroth fumble around in the box, reaching for a needle and what looked to be tubing. Cloud watched in bleary fascination as he stuck one end into his own arm, before grabbing the blond's and sticking the other into his, creating a make-shift IV.

 

“You're lucky those Shinra dogs found it necessary to make me a universal donor…the mako fusing through my blood should close your wounds in no time.” Sephiroth stated, voice still much more shaky than normal. “…Though just to be on the safe side…” Sephiroth grabbed a green orb from inside the box, whispering out “Curaga” before allowing a green light to envelop the blond and flood strength into his body.

 

“Why?” Cloud asked weakly, knowing that with such healing devices there was no way he would pass on. “Why did you save me?” His voice was still weak from blood loss, even though he could already feel the effects of Sephiroth's mako induced plasma running through his veins.

 

“Why? WHY!?” Cloud winced a little at how hard his shoulders were being squeezed. “Because I love you that's why!” Blue eyes widened at that, he would have to say he was quite shocked to hear such sentiments coming from such a coldhearted and stoic mouth. “You can't leave me…not you…I'll go even more insane.” Sephiroth squeezed him harder.

 

Cloud sighed in contentment as kiss after kiss was placed on his blood stained face. “I'm sorry that suicide was your only alternative…I know I'm not all there most of the time, but I try…I do try for you. I hate the fact that the only love I can show for you involves darkness, but it wasn't always so. Our love was pure once…untainted by madness.” He started rocking the blond. “I swear that love is still there Cloud…buried under the layers that coat my brain and make me do unspeakable things.” He placed a heart stopping kiss on his cold lips. “I know I don't do it most of the time…but I swear I do want to make you happy.”

 

“You do…” Cloud mumbled against his lover's lips, weakly responding in his haze. It was then he vowed never to leave Sephiroth. It was then he vowed to love the man no matter what travesties he committed, because in his heart of hearts he knew that somewhere deep inside of the shattered mind of his that he loved him back…and nothing else really mattered.

????????????

 

Zack rubbed at his temples, getting more and more worried the longer Cloud stayed in the bathroom. He had been in there for over and hour, and he was sure that there was no hot water left…if there had even been any to begin with. God only knew what he was doing to himself right now, and the soldier couldn't figure out if he should continue to give him his space or go in and check on him.

 

Sighing, he finally gave up and walked over to the door, slightly tapping on the dilapidated wood. “Hey Cloud are you alright in there?” He didn't receive an answer, which all things considered wasn't all that surprising, but it certainly did nothing to alleviate his worries. “Cloud…I'm gonna come in alright?” He asked, expecting to get a `Hell no!' shot back at him, but all he received was more silence.

 

Glancing over, he saw that Reno seemed to be just as worried as he was, and with a nod of confirmation from the redhead, Zack reached for the door, turning the handle only to find that it was locked.

 

“Cloud we're worried about you…can you please open the door?” When he was met with stone cold silence this time, a feeling of dread quickly spread throughout his blood. Something was wrong…he could just sense it.

 

Not once hesitating, Zack kicked open the door with ease, busting the crappy lock off the hinges as he rushed inside. Cold steam filled the room, and ignoring the haze he rushed forward, searching everywhere for the blond.

 

Out of the corner of his eye he saw that Reno was right behind him. Though having extra manpower did little good, because it was obvious that Cloud had fled the room through the open window that Zack had completely forgotten about.

 

“Dammit!” He cried, slamming his fist against the molding and smashing the wall to bits. How could he have been so careless? He knew that the boy wasn't in good shape, and yet he had left him alone for so long!

 

Reno shut off the shower, and the steam quickly exited through the open door and window, effectively clearing the room. “Where do you think he went?” The Turk asked, and Zack could only think of one possible answer.

 

Walking over to the now steam free mirror, the soldier breath deeply on it, seeing the words etched out into it like Cloud had always done when he wanted to leave him secret messages. `Sic Transit Gloria' appeared, and Zack clenched his fist even harder in his palms, remembering those exact words uttered over and over by the broken blond after he had found him in the basement.

 

“What does it mean?” Reno asked, obviously not fluent in the dead language.

 

“Glory fades.” He replied in a dead tone, hardly being able to stand anymore in this desolation. Shaking his head, Zack headed out of the bathroom and back into the dingy motel. “…He's gone to see Sephiroth…and this time I don't think he'll make it back unscathed.” Was all he said before leaving the motel all together. He had to stop him before he did something that he couldn't come back from…and knowing Cloud he was sure the soldier was a hairs breath away from doing just that.

,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,

 

 

A/N- Omg was that an update?...I think it was! I know you were all probably like this fic is dead! But it's not! I will not kill it! It will be finished! It has about 3-4 more chapters to go, and I promise you that even if my updates take a while I refuse to abandon it! So please…if all of you haven't already left me…please review…it'll make me really happy!

 

And just think…next chapter is Cloud and Sephy's reunion! YAy!