Through Life

Night fell, and rose again. Yet, Zack did not take Cloud from the mansion. He was worried- his strength was not back to normal yet, but they could not afford to wait much longer. At any time, President Shinra could sent out Security, or worse- SOLDIERs. In this condition, Zack would not be able to defeat more than a few.



He shook his head and grimaced. The food in the mansion was just plain nasty. Yet another reason to get their asses out of there.



"Alright, that's it." He grumbled.



He looked back up at the other chair. "Cloud, you ready to go?"



He chuckled and stood. No matter where he went, he always took Cloud with him. Table, bathroom, whatever.



"Yeah, I agree. Let's go."



Zack lifted Cloud into his arms and carried him to the bedroom. He grasped his sword in one hand, swinging it onto his back.



"I'm packed." He smiled down at the blond.



Zack carried Cloud out to the front door. He opened it, only to meet the barrels of three guns.



"Look, Cloudy, visitors!"



Zack gently placed Cloud on the ground. He said to the Security men, "You know, you coulda knocked. I would've answered."



The men did not blink. Zack gripped his sword and pulled it off of his back. "I don't know know why I bothered. That's rude, ya know, staring at a guy like that."



He swung forward. Two of the men avoided it, but the third was not so lucky. Zack grimaced for the second time in an hour. Blood splattered his face slightly. He went after the other two, carefully avoiding bullets whizzing past him. Cloud, he new, was safe in the doorway.



"I don't have time for this, would you mind coming back later?" Zack growled.



No words from the Security. Surprise surprise.



Zack lunged forward. "Alright, then."



Both men fell. Zack smiled humorlessly down at them before returning his sword to his back and lifting Cloud from the ground.



"Sorry, buddy. We'll go now."



-*-*-*-*-



"Ah, fuckin' ocean."



Zack lamented. He and Cloud sat on the beach under the moonlight. Quite beautiful and romantic- if Cloud wasn't catatonic and they weren't on the run, maybe.



"We make it out of Nibelhiem, over Mt. Nibel, around North Corel, and we're beat by an ocean?!"



He looked over at Cloud. "Any ideas, Spike?"



After waiting a moment, he said. "Ah, you're right! We could catch a ship from Costa Del Sol... 'Course, most of them go straight to Junon. The place is crawling with Security."



He sighed. "Nothing we can do about that, eh?"



Zack stood. "Alright. Costa Del Sol it is then."



-*-*-*-*-



Gil.



Now that was a problem.



Zack searched his pockets for a wallet that was missing.



"200 gil, please." The lady at the counter said again.



Zack gave her a charming smile. At least they had not been caught yet. He gripped Cloud and slowly turned around.



"Sorry." she called after them.



Once they were out of everyone's earshot, Zack whispered to Cloud. "You don't mind sneaking on, do ya?"



"I knew you wouldn't!"



-*-*-*-*-



Zack was more than happy to be on dry land again. Stowing away, while successful, was less than enjoyable. He stretched and carried Cloud from the dock.



Now to gt out of Junon.



To his surprise, they made it right out, no problemo.



Now to reach Midgar.



Zack stopped in the plains for a rest. He and Cloud sat in the grass, Zack looking up to the sky.



"What do I do now?"



"Reach your destination?"



Zack jumped to his feet and turned. "What?"



A blue truck sat not far away from him. "You reach your destination, of course."



"Yeah... how do we do that?"



"Where are you going?"



"...Midgar."



"I'll take you."



"I have no gil."



"Eh, that doesn't matter. You won't be a bother."



"Oh, thank you!"



The man introduced himself as Thaniel. Zack thanked him again as they lifted Cloud into the truck. Thaniel produced a blanket from inside the truck and lay it out for the blond.



"Here." he offered.



Zack smiled as he nestled down beside Cloud. Reaching Midgar would be problem.



-*-*-*-*-



"What the hell?!"



Zack heard Thaniel curse and looked up.



"SOLDIER." Zack whispered.



Not knowing what else to do, Zack shouted. "Thaniel, let me off."



"Wha-"



Zack leapt from the truck, sword at the ready.



Cloud slowly blinked. He saw Zack's retreading back. "Za..ck!"



But Zack did not hear him. Cloud sat up, holding his head in one hand. Where was he? Why was Zack leaving him?



Then he saw the sword in Zack's hand, and the SOLDIERs surrounding them.



"Oh, Gaia..." Cloud whispered miserably.



He watched in increasing despair as Zack fought the SOLDIERs. How many were out there? Too many... way too many...



Cloud crawled weakly to the edge of the truck. He pushed open the tailgate and barely avoided falling out. He eased out as quickly as he could. He made his way towards a fallen SOLDIER... and the man's gun.



Lifting the weapon, he aimed and fired.



Zack heard the bullet whizz past him, then watched as a SOLDIER fell. Who...?



Cloud.



He saw the blond out of the corner of his eye. Cloud was okay!



With renewed strength, Zack fought on madly. There was no way in fucking hell he was letting them die now!



Cloud ran out of ammo quickly. He threw the gun behind him and grabbed another.



Tired. Zack was so tired. He was slowing down... but there were too many SOLDIERS left. Blood dripped from his arm where a bullet had skimmed him.



Yet he fought on.



Cloud saw Zack move slower and sped up. He ran forward, shooting the entire time. Thirty SOLDIERs left. He could do this.



Cloud grabbed Zack's sword. Zack, shocked, released it. Cloud dropped his gun and leaped towards the remaining SOLDIERs. Zack lifted Cloud's gun and began to fire.



"Hey."



Cloud turned to Zack, a small smile on his lips.



They had made it to Midgar.



-T.B.C.-



Survival! I admit, I didn't really do the battle scene justice. But... it would have gone on and on, ya know? Thousands of SOLDIERs... wow. I dunno why I had Cloud steal Zack's sword- I suppose it was all in the name of survival. I mean, come on, Zack had to be tired. Swinging a huge sword around with no rest? Although I suppose there is a reason he was a SOLDIER, First-Class.