victory_road | [Two ∞ Log] -- [Reunions]

Entry tags:

[Two ∞ Log] -- [Reunions]

Who: Zack Fair & Cloud Strife
Where: Cherrygrove
When: 7/23/2016
Summary: A chocobo finds a lost puppy.
Rating: G
Log:

Three days, in the grander scheme of things, had never seemed like that long of an expanse of time before. Five days had never seemed to crawl by so incredibly slowly it felt as if seconds had turned into minutes and those minutes had stretched on for hours. Patience wasn't a virtue that he came by naturally, but one that had been taught, slowly, over years of hard work and discipline. And it was all that kept him from setting out from Cherrygrove and trying to find Cloud himself.

But Cloud had told him to wait, to trust him, and so Zack had. Even if it felt like a stone had been dropped inside of his heart, weighing it down with endless questions. That pained look in Cloud's eyes haunted him, and he couldn't stop himself from wondering what had put it there. What could possibly have happened between the last moment he'd seen him and the moment Cloud had come from to make things change so much? Cloud had always been happy to see him, always smiling and excited.

Maybe they weren't friends anymore. Maybe time had separated them. Maybe Cloud had left the army and they'd lost contact. There as an endless list of possibilities that constantly cycled through his mind. It had strayed, briefly, into the idea that maybe, perhaps, he hadn't made it through those seven years. SOLDIERs were designed to be a one man war machine, to be able to live and fight and take as much pain as was dished out.

But they weren't invincible. Angeal had proven that.

It was growing late on the fifth day, the sun settling low in the sky, casting long shadows over everything. Somewhere along the way, he'd discovered that Angel was quite adept at finding her own food, if she was allowed to do so. With the addition of Chocobo, he didn't see much wrong with letting them wonder off together for a bit to forage. Keeping a close eye on them both, he'd found a comfortable resting place beneath a tree, back pressed against the trunk and knees drawn up in the front of him, eyes falling closed, enjoying the little pocket of peace.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Cloud had, ultimately, been very grateful that Basch had made the trip back with him. He hadn't planned on talking about any of it, not really, but ultimately the emotional wear and tear had been too much for him to hide. So Basch had been treated to the story of Zack, Cloud rambling on, unable to stop himself, as he just unloaded everything that was weighing him down. He knew he was still going to have to face it all again once he found Zack but it did help to tell someone and Basch handled it all ~~like a proper dad~~ without any complaint.

Once they reached Cherrygrove the pair had found themselves a hotel to stay in and Cloud had lingered long enough to settle his stuff, leave most of his Pokemon safe inside their pokeballs, and then headed out to find Zack. Gongaga and Buster both accompanied him, neither having really left their master's side over the past five days and Cloud didn't even try to fight it; one way or another they would have tagged along and having them there would...oddly enough, it would give him a bit of support.

It was his Sylveon that found the man they were looking for, the bubbly pink..canine thing bounding over to where the young man was underneath a tree and twilling happily. Cloud wasn't entirely sure how he had managed it but he had talked a lot about the other the past few days--

Apparently pokemon were a lot smarter than he realized.

The blonde stopped in his tracks as Gongaga looked back at him, ears perked and fleshy appendages waving about, Buster pausing Cloud as the blonde felt everything he'd been building up crumble at the sight of Zack. He was real. He was there. It hadn't been some horrible trick or dream. His voice was lost for the moment as he stared at Zack, that sadness creeping back into his eyes but there was a hopeful look there as well; a look that made it clear just how glad he was to see the other. To see him alive and well.

Gongaga didn't seem to like the fact that his master wasn't moving and promptly turned to Zack, grabbing at his pant let with his teeth and giving a tug.

Come on other human! You first!

There was something tugging on his pant leg, something small and without any real force, but it was enough to grab his attention. At first, he'd thought it was Angel, sassy little thing that she was, wanting him to move his leg and allow her to climb up into his lap as she had taken to doing.

Only when those bright eyes opened, he didn't see the small vulpix staring up at him with annoyance etched upon her features, but instead a fleshy little creature he'd never seen before. Was it normal for wild pokemon to just aimlessly wonder up to people? Were they always this adamant and determined?

"Well hey there, little guy." Reaching downwards, he attempted to pull the Sylveon from his pant leg, gently wrapping his hands around it's middle and tugging. Once it had come free, he shifted his grip, holding it up in an attempt to get a better look. "Now, repeat after me: Zack's are friends, not food."

Angel, having heard the familar whirling, had come out of the tall grass near by, and was standing there looking at her human in confusion, head tilted to one side as if she was trying to figure out exactly how the scene playing out in front of her had come to be. Like Gongaga, she too was the first to notice Cloud, and realizing that Zack was far too preoccupied to actually notice, took it upon herself to do something about the situation.

Bounding over, she promptly butting her head against Cloud's leg, emitting a soft sound to grab his attention, before standing there stubbornly, glaring up at him before repeating the motion, as many times as it would take to get her point across.

Please help her endlessly oblivious human. She's been trying but she's small and can only do so much.

Gongaga twills in delights at being picked up, back legs kicking as he looks at Zack and gives him a soft chirp in response. He wasn't going to eat you, silly! The sylveon's tendrils reach out to take a hold of the man's face and turn it towards Cloud, Gongaga giving another happy twill.

See!

The blonde has been momentarily distracted by the vulpix at his feet, scoffing lightly at the little thing as he slowly kneels down. It gives him a chance to pull himself together and steel himself for actually...for..whatever is about to happen, offering his hand to Angel in an offer for a pet.

"Frustrating, isn't he?" he murmured softly, fondly, still unable to look over at Zack again. Behind him, Buster let's out one of his odd, metallic hums, drifting past his human and closer to Zack, ribbon hand waving about.

You two are morons.

Emitting something akin to a soft huff, Angel glances back at her still oblivious human, before promptly glancing back up at Cloud, head slightly cocked. Zack had spent the entirety of the past five days endlessly going on about his friend, and now that he was here he didn't even notice.

Frustrating didn't even begin to cover exactly what Zack was. But this was her unfortunate lot in life, and she was determined to bring these two idiots together, even if she had to drag one of them herself.

Butting her head against the offered hand, letting out another soft chirp before scampering off, stopping a few feet ahead, staring over her shoulder, intent on ensuring Cloud actually followed her and didn't just stay where he was.

Meanwhile, there were fleshy ribbons on Zack's face - and even he had to admit that definitely took the sylveon's cuteness factor down a few points - touch insistent and urgent, as if trying to force his attention in that certain direction. Reaching upwards, he carefully removed both of them from his skin, trying to not hurt the little guy's feelings in the process. "Hey now, no need to get pushy. What's so important?"

A strange metallic hum sounded over head, one he didn't quite recognize, enough to finally draw his attention away from Gongaga, turning instead to find Buster floating near by.

And Angel, starring stubbornly up at a certain blond. So that's what was so important.

"So that's where you guys came from. Guess you belong to Cloud, huh?" Tucking Gongaga securely into one arm, he pushed himself up with the other. stopping for a moment to admire the honedge currently twirling above them.

It wasn't that long of a walk from his place beneath the tree to where the blond currently stood, but it seemed as if the journey took forever. And even once he was standing in front of Cloud, he didn't know what to say.

How do you say hello to someone who's suddenly seven years older than they should be and kept looking at you with that amount of pain in their eyes?

"Hey." Voice quiet, arms still securely wrapped around the sylveon, Angel shifting to sit as close as humanly possibly, taking turns glancing between the two humans who currently stood before her. "You really know how to keep a guy waiting. I was starting to think you were never gonna show up."

There's something amusing about the fact that Zack's pokemon partner is such a pushy and demanding little thing, Cloud unable to hide the smile turning his lips up as he straightens and starts to take a step forward--

Only to stop once he realizes that Zack has focused on him now.

Gongaga let's out a happy chirp as the man holding him guesses correctly, an adoring look set Cloud's way as the Sylveon squirms about in Zack's hold. It's mostly just excited squirming, though, because Gongaga makes no real effort to get away, seemingly more pleased that the two were finally paying attention to one another.

The time it takes Zack to clear the distant between them feels like an eternity, Cloud unable to take his eyes off the other just in case this was some sort of trick. Some sort of dream that he'd gotten caught up in. It isn't until the other man is standing before him and speaks that Cloud reacts at all, his expression torn between sadness and elation as a choked, huff of a laugh escapes him.

"Sorry," he murmured, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides before he's moving forward--an action that prompts Gongaga to finally squirm out of Zack's hold and jump down to the ground just in time for the blonde to wrap the other man up in a tight hug. He's trembling and he knows it but he can't bring himself to try and collect himself right now, burying his face in Zack's shoulder as a shuddering breath leaves him.

"...It's so good to see you."

Zack wasn't entirely sure what he'd been expecting.

For them to greet each other, all happy smiles and quiet excitement. Maybe do the little forearm bump they always did whenever they'd happen to spot one another. To take a moment to introduce their various array of pokemon. To laugh about how weird this entire situation was, that Cloud had suddenly become the older and wiser of the two, when that position had always belonged to Zack.

One thing was for certain, he hadn't been expecting the reality.

Hadn't been expecting for Gongaga to wiggle from his arms, leaving them empty for the barest of moment's before they were filled with Cloud. Hadn't been expecting the blond to be trembling, hadn't expected that shuddering breath to leave him. Hadn't expected those quiet words that make his heart stop and his eyes squeeze shut.

Drawing in a deep, inwards breath, he tried to calm the sudden anxious pounding within his chest, the nervous buzz of his mind as the possibilities flowed endlessly. It was getting harder and harder to believe they'd had some sort of falling out, that they simply hadn't seen each other for some period of time. Would Cloud have even wanted to see him if that was the case? And what would have made them so angry with one another that they'd separate for any real length of time?

Having spent the last five days trying desperately not to think about it, trying to keep the worst of those thoughts at bay, it was more difficult to do so now, with Cloud in front of him, to see those eyes for himself, those expressions. It was easier when he had been alone.

But doing what was easy often meant doing what was selfish, and Zack had rarely been that.

Strong arms lift, wrapping tightly around Cloud's waist, around his shoulders, drawing him inwards, as if forming some sort of protective cocoon with his very being. Chin rested in the mess of blond spikes, fingers moved in slow, soothing circles, content to hold on for as long as it took for those trembles to subside.

"Hey, everything's okay. I'm here."

Oh Zack. If only it were something that simple. If only it were a case of them simply falling out and not talking for an extended period of time. Cloud would have, honestly, taken that over the alternative. The reality.

I'm here.

Those words, that embrace, draw a muffled sound out of Cloud, something that's verging on sob territory as his fists clench in the back of Zack's shirt and he finds himself clinging even tighter to the other man. When was the last time he let himself do this? When was the last time that he let himself give into his emotions--Cloud wasn't sure he could name a time in recent years. There wasn't much that could get him to this point and he'd been working hard to come to terms with things; with his past.

But seeing Zack. Feeling Zack's heartbeat, the slow rise and fall of his chest with each breath--it was undoing years of carefully constructed walls.

He's not honestly sure how much time passes before his head stops spinning and he's able to breath normally even with his face still pressed into Zack's shoulder. His hands slowly relax as he's able to settle in realty again, dragging himself out of memories and thoughts that he had tried so hard to overcome in the past. Slowly but surely he starts to pull back, forcing himself to let go of the other with one hand so he can wipe at his eyes instead before pinching the bridge of his nose.

Deep breaths. In and out.

When his hand finally slips away Cloud focuses on the other, blue eyes dulled with a torrent of emotions but there is happiness there; a longing that he hadn't realized he'd been squashing down so badly.

"Sorry, I--" His voice sounds strange and Cloud frowns a bit--though it's a weak one--glancing away in a moment of self consciousness. "...Sorry."

It's like having your worst thoughts, your worst fears silently confirmed, without a single spoken word. Inherently knowing that something terrible is going to happen, that there's likely nothing at all you can do to stop it, despite how hard you may try. Knowing that it's going to hurt those around you, is going to bring them pain.

Is going to make them break down in your arms and you're powerless to do anything to change a future that they've been living in while you're trapped in the past, before the fated moment occurs.

Everything stops within that moment, everything except the racing beat of his heart and the sound of blood rushing within his ears. Only Cloud.

Only Cloud and those near sobs he keeps emitting. Only Cloud and the way he's clinging to Zack as if he's suddenly found something he'd thought had been lost forever. Only Cloud and the knowledge that what ever had taken place to put that pain in his eyes, Zack probably hadn't been there to see it.

Arms tighten, protective and comforting, strong and able, head dropping and cheek becoming buried in those blond spikes. Even when Cloud finally seemed to calm, attempted to pull away, those arms didn't want to let go, ached as though it was painful to allow the other to slip from them.

But he did, allowing Cloud to take his time, to move at his own pace, to pull away as little or as fully as he wanted. Leather clad fingers lifted, pressing against an eye, rubbing at his gently before repeating the motion on the other, determined to hold whatever emotions that were threatening to rise up at bay. Refused to let Cloud see his own pain, not wanting to add anymore to his shoulders.

"Don't worry about it." There's a soft smile in return, hand lifting, hesitating for a moment, as if he wants to do one thing but then decides on something else. Fingers grip Cloud's shoulder lightly, before coming to rest there, as if the weight of it alone will be comforting. "It's good to see you too, Spike."

The weight of that hand on his shoulder helps reassure him that this is real, though that doesn't stop him from lifting his right hand to cover Zack's. Gloved fingers curl around the other's hand slightly though he does his best not to seem too clingy--at least no more than he already has--glancing down at Gongaga who gives him a reassuring chirp before he's focused on Zack again.

"...It's good to see you too, Zack," he murmured, voice cracking towards the end before there's sincerity there, a true happiness that he hasn't felt in awhile. During his last fight with Sephiroth, Zack had been there. His presence had been there and he had given Cloud the strength he needed--helped him find it.

But this was different. This was something real and solid and kind of screwed up given the fact that this Zack was obviously from an earlier point in time. He hadn't wanted to believe Cecil when the other explained this all too him but here was proof, right in front of him.

Gods it was strange to think he was older than Zack right now.

"Did..was your trip here alright?" he asked, trying to steer the conversation and his thoughts to something lighter for the moment. The other probably had questions, probably knew that something was wrong given how Cloud had reacted but the blonde couldn't deal with that just yet. He needed to recollect himself a bit more before that. "You didn't have any problems, did you?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle." Of course, that very much depended on if you considered running into a very determined and difficult little bird as a problem. Thankfully, he and Angel had handled their first capture together like the bumbling armatures they were.

And somehow he'd still ended up with said bird noisy contained within that pokeball, chirping until he was released and then promptly deeming his hair as a suitable nesting spot.

"What about you?" It felt strange, to be standing here talking about their respective trips, as if no time at all had passed since the last moment they had seen each other. As if they had just returned from separate missions.

As if those seven years that created a forceful barrier between them didn't exist.

A soft rustle of grass, followed by a series of chirps sounds near by, Chocobo finally making his way towards the reunited pair, a small bundle of berries clutched in his beak. Which was promptly dropped in front of Angel, like an offering or reminder, before fluttering upwards, perching perfectly on Zack's shoulder.

"You been doing okay? I kind of get the feeling it's been a while since we've seen each other." Which was even more strange to think about, considering, to him, it had only been a few days since the last time he'd seen Cloud. But he was pretty - okay, entirely sure that the other wouldn't have reacted as he had if that had been the case.

"Same. Between my pokemon and Basch, the trip was easy," Cloud said with a slight shrug as he glanced towards the source of the chirping. By that point, Buster had settled closer to them and was eyeing the bird wary, as if expecting the small thing to do something it didn't like. When it didn't, the Honedge let out a metallic sounding huff and drifted close enough that he could bump into Cloud.

The blonde rested a hand on it--away from the ribbon because no--in a soothing gesture before he was focused on Zack again.

"I'm....I've..." He'd been terrible. Wonderful and confused. Depressed and then alright. At some point in time all of those had taken a hold of him and made it hard to make sense of things; hard to want to go on. Even now, in the wake of accepting things and finally dealing with Sephiroth (hopefully) he still had a lot of questions and worries.

And now, seeing Zack? He just felt lost and unsure of what to do.

"...It has been awhile," Cloud admitted, unable to hold the other's gaze as he looks away now. "A lot happened. Things I don't..that I'm pretty sure you have no idea about."

It has been a while. A lot has happened.

They were answers that weren't truly answers, explanations that didn't really explain anything. Cop outs, glossing over of facts. Seven years could be an entire life time, could separate one person from another.

But even now he wasn't quite sure what he had been expecting. For the entire story to just come spilling forward? For Cloud to laugh and smile and regale him with some fantastic tale, the sort of which normally only came from children's books?

"So tell me about them." He wanted to know what had happened during all of that time, wanted to know what had caused them to part, for Cloud to live how ever long he had been without him. Wanted to know the reasons why they hadn't seen each other, wanted to know all of the things his friend had experienced.

"Come on, Cloud, don't leave me hanging." There was a cheerful edge to his voice, one that bordered on teasing, as if trying to lighten the mood without knowing what had darkened it. On his shoulder, Chocobo chirped in agreement, cocking his head first to look at Zack, and then turning his attention to Cloud, so that there were two sets of eyes peering at him expectantly.

So tell me about them.

The instant those words leave Zack's mouth Cloud can feel his self control crumbling again as memories start to surface that he doesn't--that he can't deal with right now. It prompts him to shake his head quickly before he catches himself, stares at Zack for a moment then looks away again.

"...I'm..not sure..." He wasn't sure right now was a good time. They had just found one another again and there was so much to tell Zack. So much that he was going to have to relive in that moment that Cloud wasn't entirely sure he wanted to deal with it, as much as he knew he owed Zack the story. At his feet, Gongaga chirps softly in worry, bumping up against his leg and wrapping his tendrils around it. Cloud manages to focus on his Sylveon for a moment and slowly kneels down, Gongaga backing off to allow it before crowding into his trainer's personal space and licking his cheek.

"...We fought Sephiroth. In Nibelheim. You were..I...we almost died. Both of us. And then Professor Hojo found us."

It felt like the world was exploding. Like it was shattering, falling to pieces around him and there was nothing that could be done to slow it's descent, to stop what already was. Each word caused overly bright eyes to widen a little further, shock and disbelief etched into the depths, flickering across features slowly, lips falling apart with the force.

So that's what was to become of them. Sephiroth had found the truth behind his existence which had alluded him all of his life and would allow the madness to conquer. Those wheel's were already in motion, already spinning wildly out of control. Sephiroth had walked from that reactor and disappeared, locking himself in that dusty old mansion and refusing to leave, even when Zack himself had asked.

Another person he would have to fight, another friend he who's end he would have to watch, would have to live with, would have to carry inside of him just as he had Angeal's.

SOLDIER really was like a den of monsters. No one should ever be allowed inside of it.

Taking a deep breath, trying desperately to calm the rapid pounding of his heart, and now more than ever he missed the ever present comfort of the buster swords weight pressed firmly against his back.

"Sephiroth..." But the words died upon his lips, because it wasn't a matter if Sephiroth would, it was the fact that he had.

Gaze falling, shifting and turning away, taking a few steps in one direction before retracing them and repeating. Angel remained steadfast for a moment, eyes following her human, before giving into worry and rushing forward. Front paws lifting, weight balancing upon Zack's leg, head butting against it, trying to gather his attention. Mindlessly reaching downwards and scooping her up, Zack lifted her easily, hesitating for a moment, torn between tucking her into his arms or placing her upon his shoulder in her favored position.

In the end, he allowed his forehead to come to rest against hers, a gentle movement that only lasted a few moments, but it was enough to calm the storm that was raging inside of him. Once Angel was perched carefully did his attention turn back to Cloud.

"And then what happened?" Because as much as he didn't want to know the answer to that question, it would only fester and eat him alive if only it was allowed to.

Cloud stays quiet, allowing Zack to have his moment to take it all in. Even if he tried he's not sure he'd be able to get any words out right now anyway. It's so rare for him to actually talk about any of the things that happened and doing so now, even to Zack, is still bad enough that his stomach is in knots and he feels a bit light headed. He keeps himself grounded with Gongaga's help though, stroking a gloved hand over his ears and allowing those tendrils to wrap around his wrists.

"...He had us for four years." Despite how he's feeling he still manages a slightly bitter tone when he says it, a part of Cloud forever upset that there are four years of his life that he'll never get back. "You broke us out--carried me around for a year after that because I was basically catatonic. Mako poisoning." He can't get into details because he doesn't have them; wasn't aware enough to be able to explain it all.

But the part he can explain...

"After everything we headed back for Midgar." His voice has gone soft now, eyes closed as he ducks his head and puts himself a bit closer to Gongaga who promptly licks his cheek. "ShinRa found us before we could make it back. I was still...you...there were several battalions..so many gunshots." Most of it was still a blur in his mind but he remembered the noise. He remembered how it seemed to go on for hours on end.

His hands are shaking as he brings one up to rub at his forehead, knees resting on the ground now as he gives up on trying to stay in a kneeling position.

"You took them all on...you protected me and then..." HThe blonde's voice breaks and Cloud can't go beyond that, shaking his head as he let's his hand drop, eyes a bit distant as he looks at Gongaga. "...You never...I.."

Suspecting was different than knowing, even if the truth was painful. A searing, unbearable pain that settled deep within his chest and made it difficult to breath, as if prematurely feeling the sting of dozens of bullets riddling his skin.

Four years. Four years of his life - and their lives - gone. Four years, and there was nothing he could do to change what was coming, nothing he could do to stop it. Would he even remember what he was being told when he returned to their world? Would he even carry this memory with him? Would he have any hint of what was coming other than what he already felt?

"So that's why." Why Cloud hadn't seemed himself when they'd first spoken over the device. Why he was so much older than he should have been. Why that haunted look never seemed to quite his leave his eyes. Why he'd clung to him as if he was something that had been lost with no hope of ever being found.

At some point, five years from now, he was going to die. He was going to die and from what he could gather, Cloud was going to be there to witness it.

There's probably some sort of emotion he should be feeling, some sort of anger or disappointment. If he'd been a different person, a selfish person, would mention how unfair the entire thing seemed. Losing four years of his life because of someone else's actions, leaving those who he cared about behind to wonder. Running for a year from a company who he had once dedicated everything to, who had betrayed him at the first possible chance. Had died trying to protect someone else, someone who, by their own words, was catatonic.

But Zack wasn't that person. Maybe things would have been different if he had been. If he wasn't so trusting, if he wasn't so selfless, if he hadn't cared more about Cloud's well being then his own. Standing there, knowing what his future would hold, knowing of his own death, knowing that his sacrifice had allowed Cloud to survive, all he could feel was a strange sense of calm, of acceptance.

Breath had sped up, heart pounding within his chest, but his attention had never faltered, bright eyes remaining upon the blond as he had spoken. Until finally, silence reigned between them, dragging on for long moments as the truth settled.

Zack was the first to move, closing the distance between them, lowering himself down, one knee digging into the dirt as the other bent in front of of him. "You got away, right?" Own voice quiet, barely above a whisper, even if there was no one around who might have heard. "That's all that matters."

Cloud doesn't even seem to realize that Zack has moved until the other speaks and that voice is so much closer now. It startles the blonde out of his haunted thoughts, dull blue eyes blinking and shifting to focus on the other man.

That was all that mattered? No. No it--they both should have--

"..It should have been me. You should have...you deserved to live," Cloud said softly, voice barely above a whisper as he shakes his head and can feel the burn of tears starting up again. "It should have been me."

He'd always thought that. Since the day he'd gotten his memories back and on, he'd always wondered why him? Always thought that it would have been better if he'd died and Zack had been able to live. Zack would have been able to deal with everything so much better than he had. Less people probably would have been hurt; Aerith may not have...

It should have been him. Not Zack.

Maybe.

Maybe Zack would have been able to deal with everything better. Maybe he wouldn't have allowed so many people to get hurt. Maybe Aerith would still be alive. Maybe the world wouldn't have reached the sorry state it's currently in.

But maybe wasn't a guarantee. Maybe he would have broken down and crumbled when everything started to fall upon his shoulders. Maybe even more people would have lost everything, their lives and their families. Maybe more people would have been injured, would have suffered even more greatly. Maybe Aerith's fate was to die, no matter who was at her side.

"Cloud." Reaching outwards, taking Cloud's chin between this thumb and fore finger and lifting, allowing their eyes to meet. "No one deserves to live more than anyone else. Do you really think I would just leave you behind?" Even if he should have, in the eyes of everyone else. It would have been impossible to live with himself knowing he'd left a friend behind, or had allowed one to die in his place.

"We're friends, right? Protecting each other is what friends do. And if only one of us could survive, then I'm glad it was you."

The blonde's expression crumbles further at the touch and the words the other speaks, the guilt he'd carried for so long feeling even heavier now. He'd been a liability to Zack; he'd been the reason the other hadn't been able to get back to Midgar safely. Sure there was no guarantee that anything would have been different had Zack left him behind but that guilt would always be there.

A shaky hand comes up to take a hold of Zack's, gloved fingers curling around the other man's hand as Cloud let's out a shaky breath.

"No...you're too stubborn to do that," he murmured, managing a faint smile though it's quick to slip away again.

I'm glad it was you.

That hurts in a way that Cloud can't really put into words.

"..I wish it could have been both of us." It comes out in a whisper, like Cloud's nervous--scared--to admit it, his eyes closing as he ducks his head and turns it against Zack's hand a bit. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, Zack."

Everything feels like it's been broken, like it's shattered into a million pieces that can never be put back together. Like nothing is ever going to be okay again.

How long would it be before the world exploded once he returned home? A day? A week?

It was a reality that would settle into his heart, would take hold upon it and never let go. A reality that Cloud had already lived, had already survived. Those wounds that lie waiting in his future had already been torn open in Cloud's past.

"Hey, don't apologize. It wasn't your fault." Leather clad thumb stroked against the warmth of a cheek, drawing slow, soft lines across it's expanse.

I wish it could have been both of us.

"I'm here now. I know it's not the same, but I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

"But what if you do?" What if this place tore Zack away from him just like before? What if he lost him for a second time? Cloud wasn't entirely sure he could deal with something like that; not again. He didn't want to get his hopes up but just seeing Zack was...it made everything feel so much better. It had been one thing to feel the other's presence close by when he fought Sephiroth again. To see him momentarily at the door of the church alongside Aerith. But this?

The warmth of the other's hand against his cheek, the lull of his breathing, the smell that was so entirely Zack...

It was real and that was the part that scared Cloud the most because what if he lost the other again?

"I don't...I don't want to lose you again, Zack."

There. At least he was able to say it, as soft as it was.

As much as he wanted to promise that wasn't going to happen, wanted to promise that there was nothing anyone could do to take him away, no force strong enough to make him leave Cloud behind, he knew he couldn't. Because there had been a force strong enough to rip him out of his own world and time, and if it was powerful enough to bring him here, it could also send him him back without notice.

And then Cloud would be alone again, only this time he would have to suffer the pain of a broken promise. And that was the very last thing Zack wanted. To see that look in Cloud's eyes and know he was the reason behind it, to know there was nothing he could do to change it or make it better.

All he could do was be there for him while he could, and do everything within his power to never leave Cloud's side.

"Hey. I'm here, aren't I? And I'm gonna stay here with you for as long as I can. But sometimes, you just gotta make the best of the time you've been given." The words are soft, gentle, one of those those bright, genuine smile crossing his features, despite the way he can feel his heart practically shattering inside of his chest.

"So that's what I'm gonna do. You with me?"

They had to be realistic about this. There was a chance that one or both of them could disappear from this place at any given time, if what Cloud had heard from others was true. He didn't like the idea of it and it made his chest ache just thinking about losing someone he'd lost once before--especially Zack--but he...they just had to make the best of it. Just like Zack said.

The blonde let's out a slow breath and finally manages to nod, lifting a hand to curl it around Zack's.

"..Yeah..Yeah I'm with you."

Since when had Zack ever been realistic about anything? Every single thing he'd ever reached for in his life had been unrealistic, had seem unattainable. Joining SOLDIER and climbing the ranks as quickly as he had. Becoming a hero. All of it was completely outside of the realm of what should have been possible.

But it had never stopped him from trying, from reaching for his dreams, and it wouldn't stop him now either.

"That's my Cloud." Face transforming from one of seriousness to a soft smile, eyes lighting up with the new set of emotions, transferring from sadness into joy. And completely unable to resist getting in one more hair ruffle while Cloud's defenses were down.

"So, are you gonna introduce me to your friends?" Especially that stubborn little one who'd decided the best way to get his attention was to try and eat his pants.

True. All of that was pretty impossible in a sense...but then again, this place had small creatures that fit into tiny red and white balls and they could use all sorts of strange abilities to fight. Something like this generally seemed impossible but, yet, here they were.

My Cloud.

That earns Zack a bit of a flustered look, which is good since it distracts Cloud from the other emotions that had been tripping him up. The hair ruffle doesn't help and he ducks his head now, reaching up to bat the other's hand away.

"You're being a jerk," he murmured in a not so serious manner, offering the faintest of smiles before he looked over at his traveling companions, motioning to the Honedge first. "That's Buster and that--" He motioned to the Sylveon who sat up proudly, chirping in recognition. "--is Gon....that's Gongaga."

Yep. That's right. He named one after your hometown, Zack.

There's definitely some sort of retort that was supposed to happen, one which was waiting right at the tip of his tongue in response to being called a jerk. Some proclamation that sure, maybe, he was being a bit of a jerk. But it had gotten Cloud to smile and that was exactly what he had been aiming for.

But it becomes lost in the next moment, as Cloud begins to introduce his two companions, only interjecting with a "Nice to meet you, Buster." when the Honedge is named first, before turning his attention to little Sylveon.

And whatever name he had been expecting, it definitely wasn't that.

"Nice to meet you, Gon... wait." It was a delayed sort of realization, one that made his eyes go wide with surprise and his smile brighten in pride. "Aaww, Spike, you named him after my home town? You shouldn't have."

If you honestly thought there was anyway you were going to tell him that and he wasn't going to be ridiculous, you thought completely wrong.

Leaning downwards, he quickly scooped Gongaga up, holding him above his head for a few moments, as if trying to ascertain that he was worthy of such a great name, before deeming that he indeed was, and cradling him close, scratching behind one ear. Congrats, he is officially going to be the most spoiled pokemon ever.

"Guess this means I have to repay the favor and name one after you. Nibelheim is kind of a mouthful though."

The Honedge let's out a metallic hum in response to Zack, ribbon hand waving a bit in greeting. Gongaga's up next and the Sylveon is already perking up prepared to give his greeting--

But what's this? His master is blushing?

Cloud clears his throat and glances away, rubbing at the back of his neck.

"It...I.." The moment he met Gongaga as an eevee he had known what to name the other. He hadn't expected Zack to ever show up here so he hadn't considered what to do when he had to tell the other man that he'd named his companion after him.

Gongaga let out a happy bark as he's scooped up, squirming about in delight and reaching for Zack with his tendrils, looking absolutely delighted with the attention. And the cuddles! Oh did he like the cuddles!

Cloud can't help but watch them, despite how embarrassed he is, a faint smile playing on his lips before he let's out a scoff.

"You really don't have too..it was just...it fit. That's all."

You just had to name the one with the weird, fleshy tendrils after him, didn't you? It couldn't have been some heroic looking snake with a scar over one eye? Or maybe a giant, angry looking bear with a heart of gold?

No. You saw an Eevee and somehow that was the thing that made you think of Zack. He'd be mock offended if he wasn't so proud of his namesake right now. And, if he had to admit it, more than a little delighted that Cloud thought enough of him to actually name one of his pokemon after something associated with him.

Still, strange ribbon appendages aside, the little guy was pretty cute. And obviously had a thought of heart, if the way he'd originally come bounding over to Zack without fear was any indication.

There's a soft little sound from the area around his feet, where Angel is currently sitting patiently, staring up at the two intently. Introduce me to your friend, human. I have a feeling I'm going to need all of the help I can get with you.

"Angel, this is Cloud. But I'm pretty sure you already knew that." He had been talking about the blond for the entirety of their journey there. "And this little guy," Nodding to the tiny little bird currently resting happily upon Angel's back, chirping away in excitement. "Is Chocobo. He's pretty feisty for being so small. In fact, he kind of reminds me of you."

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[Two ∞ Log] -- [Reunions]

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