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Never left behind, Never Alone	By : SailorPoison Category: Final Fantasy VII > General Views: 740 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy VII, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Never left behind, Never Alone
- 1
Dedicated to Sephygirl1...

I lay claim to none of the characters in this story. Squaresoft has all rights to them

CidxZack story.

To Never Be Left Behind, To Never Be Left Alone

By Sailor Poison

Chapter 1

A man works in the basement of his home. His age is thirty-five now. His dirty blond hair is slicked back with some grease and dirt. Wipes some sweat from his sky blue eyes. His tee-shirt and old pants also have some grease, new and old. His boots are dirty. His hands hold a wrench as he is putting the final touches to a machine. The machine that he hopes will travel time. The machine’s main body of an old car that used to sit in his garage. He took most of it apart and used the parts in a basement that few knew about. Cid sits back, now that his job was done, to admire his work.

Cid, with a smile, “Highwind you &*^%$, this has got to be your best work yet.”

After a victory beer, he takes a long shower to get the dirty and grease of. He combs his hair back and gets dressed in his usual clothes. He puts on some dark green khaki pants, red shirt, his travel boots, and an old flight coat with patches in the sleeves, though he leaves the scarf off. His goggles ontop his head are used hold his smokes under a strap. Grabs a spear and walks back down to the basement. The spear is in case something went wrong. Takes a moment to light a cigar. Usually smokes cigarettes but this day has special meaning. Last act, he slips his gloves on.

Cid, “Yeah... this &*%$ better work.”

His mind always wondered if it was possible to travel back in time and change events. This was his pet project since ShinRa canceled the space program. Originally he wanted to go back and change how that day went. Then his goal changed to something new. He wanted to change the day Aeris died. Yet, even then the goal changed. Hours upon reviewing her death and what it brought to them all he realized that was not possible. That she was lost to them all. Only to live in their memory. By then he was almost finished with his machine. He needed a reason for this machine. Then it hit him. The one pointless death.

Cloud has just wandered towards Midgar, still sick and filled with grief. Body of young man, in his late twenties, lays on the ground bleeding from bullet holes. The sound of machinery is heard. First it is as faint as an echo. Suddenly it gets stronger. A flash of light as an odd machine appears. Rather looked like a car without wheels. Cid growls when he sees that his timing is slightly off. He slides out off the machine and checks out the young man. Blood is in his thick black hair and soldier outfit. Yet, he still possesses a faint erratic pulse. Cid pours some potions into him to keep him alive and, with much care, gets him inside the machine. Puts the controls to his time and hits the button. He knew he barely got there in time and his window of rescue is closing

Cid, “Hang on, Zack. This Calvary may be an old fart but it is all ya got.”

In the same basement, Both Cid and the town doctor work hard and fast on the young man. Zack’s life hung by a narrow chord. They are pleased that combo of magic, tech, and potions finally stabilize him. Doctor wishes the young man luck as he leaves. Cid has no idea what would happen beyond this point. He washes the blood off and waits.

Zack finally opens his eyes. He is disoriented by his surroundings. Dimly ponders where the sky went. He also wonders why it is dark. What little light is a lamp next to Cid. who is snoring softly. Zack looks upon the other man with curiosity. The face is familiar. He tries to sit up. Felt pain from where he was shot. His head also hurts. Memory not quiet clear to him yet.

Cid hears a groan from his patient. This wakes him up from the light sleep he fell into while waiting.

Cid, “Welcome back to the land of the living.”

Zack, “Who are you? Where am I? Is Cloud okay?”

Cid puts a hand on his shoulder and spoke in his rough voice, “You are safe. So is your friend. Now you have to work on resting and gain back your strength.”

Zack, “But... “ He falls back to sleep anyway. He is still hurting from his wounds.

Cid with a smile, “I ain’t gonna let anyone hurt ya. “ continues his watch over the injured man

Chapter 2

At first, Zack isn’t certain how long he slept. He only knows that each time he wakes up, the man named Cid is there. Cid sometimes has soft foods or water. Other times to helps Zack relieve himselfhe mhe magic and potions only saved him from death. Cid has to let nature do the rest of the healing.

Soon, he is able to keep track of time itself. It has been eight days since his arrive in the basement and now that Zack is able get around on his own. Cid, till now, has refused to give details of where he was. During these days of close quarters, Zack finds himself liking this man. He slowly remembers whom Cid. Cid Highwind was an ace pilot for ShinRa. He was also a great mechanic and engineer. Heard about about an airship being built in Junon.

Zack, “So, when are you going to tell me?”

Cid sighs, always tried to be honest to him, “Well, maybe it is time you went upstairs and I told the whole story.”

They go to the first floor of the small home. Zack is amazed by how small the top floor is compared to the basement. There is a small bathroom, a bedroom with a fold out couch, the garage is a makeshift office, and the kitchen merges with the living room.

Cid, “Look outside... “

Zack looks outside to see a town he never laid eyes on before. To the right was the metal that used to keep a rocket upright.

Cid, “That is Rocket Town. You are not exactly in ya own time period. “

Zack looks confused, “What do you mean?”

So Cid gives him the whole story. s his him what happened to Cloud. Tells him the tale of their fight to save the world. He hesitates on the part of when Aeris died. Zack has to turn away a moment. Felt pain in his chest for grief over the girl’s death. Zack was on his way back to Midgar because he wanted to see her. Then Cid Tells him about his time machine and confesses some of his past reasoning. This gets Zack's attention. Fact that he was brought to the future just to be saved also left him with mixed emotions. He thinks about his parents. He thinks about the world he left behind. Same planet but so much has happened. He is partially tempted to go back to his time. e, he, he figured, if I was there I could have reached Sephiroth.

Zack decides to stay in the basement for a while longer. Cid didn’t seem to mind this and left him to his own devices. Zack spends the next few days slowing getting back on his feet. He does some simple exercise and walks around the town. No one in town really recognized him. This is something he prefers. When Cid saw he was going to be okay by himself, he back to doing some of his own things also. Zack then realized that the pilot put alot of hours into caring for him without asking for anything in return. His feelings for the pilot are also growing. Sometimes he will watch Cid with the people. Cid has a tendency to bark and snap at people. But people who know Cid, know his bark is worse then his bite. The idea of going back to his time starts to fade with each day. Truth be told, Zack is falling in love.

Hard for Zack to tell what Cid felt by all this. Cid once told him that his house seemed empty after Shera left. He refused to say what happened to her. Zack is told by the town doctor. Shera lived with the Captain for many years. He treated her rotten and she seemed to accept it. After meteor, he treated her alot better. They were like two young lovers. The summer after meteor was stopped, Shera became ill. Many of the townspeople came down with the same sickness. Cid did his best to help as many people as he could. Shera was the only casualty of the mysterious plague. At first, his friends used to visit Cid alot after that. Eventually they stopped coming. Cid was a hard man to put up with and preferred his space. Zack knew men like that. Sephiroth refused to let many near him. Then again, Cid wasn’t totally as anti-social. Zack wanted to know the sensitive side of Cid.

Cid feels happy to have Zack living with him. It fills a void in his life. He missed Shera alot. Now he has Zack. He wants to know more about the tall fighter. Cid starts to ask him about his life in Soldier. Finds listening to Zack is rather pleasant. Slowly he starts to ramble about his life when Zack proves to be great listener. Cid also tries to stop smoking. Zack helps keep his mind off it as much as possible. This is how Zack spends the time on his road to recovery.

Cid just finished letter to Cloud one day and is sending it off. He is also tempted on sneaking a smoke when Zack walks up.

Zack, “Cid, you did alot for me. I have something else I need to do. I need to see my parents.”

Cid pauses a moment before answering, “Alright. We can go this very minute.”

Cid knew this would come up. Figured Zack was waiting till he wasn’t looking sick to go. He gets his plane warmed up. Zack goes inside the house to freshen up. After another stop, he comes back with flowers. Cid has to smirk at that.

Cid, “Awww, &^*%.... for me?”

Zack grins, though the idea of giving them to Cid is appealing, “Most of them are for mother. “ Picks one rose and offers it to the pilot, “But this is for my handsome and dashing hero.”

Cid accepts it with a slight blush, “Well least someone appreciates my finer attributes! Get your ass in the plane.”

Both get aboard, Cid tucking his rose in the front of his flight jacket before take off. Getting a flower from Zack is rather pleasurable. He flies the whole way to Gongaga with a grin on his face. Lands outside the jungle that surrounds the town. Both walk in together. Zack sees the ruins of the reactor. This sends a shiver of worry through him. Was there an explosion? The town by now is repaired. Not many of the homes have been moved. There are some new additions. Zack finds his parents home in the same location. Cid can see the guy is nervous. Puts a hand on Zack’s shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze. Zack nods back before knocking with a free hand. Older man answers the door. His eyes widen when he sees Zack standing with flowers in hand. Man calls for his wife who also pales at the sight of their long lost son. Both grab Zack in a tight hugged him. Both weeping joyfully. Cid stands back and watches the touching scene. Wipes a tear away and tries to maintain his manly composure.

Zack sheds a few tears that day. He told his parents what happened to the reactor. They don’t fully understand all of Zack’s story, but are just happy to see their only child is whole. They insisted that both join them for a meal with them. This meal was more then a simple meal, it was a feast. Mother was more then happy to talk about Zack’s childhood. Zack took it all well, though he did blush a bit. A man many hours, both men decided to retto Rto Rocket Town. Parents didn’t want to see their son go. Zack would have stayed with them, except for the fact he felt he couldn't leave Cid alone. In his mind, he never wanted Cid to live alone again.

Cid is climbing into the plane, “So, I have to babysit your &*% longer?!”

Zack, “Yeah.. don’t it just bite?”

Cid smiles big, for he was scared Zack would not come back, “I’ll live.”

Chapter 3

The days pass by and Cid lets Zack help him out more. Zack sees more and more of Cid’s smiles. Not the asshole smirk people know him for. The soft, warm smile that he only gives a chosen few. Zack is also learning more about engines then he counted on. He feels even closer to the pilot. Even gets some flying lessons in one of the old planes. Cid is a brilliant pilot. He knows more tricks one can do with a plane then most others. In turn, Zack works with Cid on fighting skills. Both push each other as far as they can. Cid was a good fighter, but Zack knew a few more tricks. Days they spar, they end up on the ground, panting. Seeing Cid sweating in a tee shirt and old pants stirred him. He has trouble not letting on that his grows hard from very sight.

The one day, Cloud arrives at Rocket town. Zack is the one to answer the door. Cloud stands there, staring at Zack. The letter said Zack was alive, but to see the truth before him? Zack hugs him tight and kisses his check. He always seen Cloud as a little brother. Cid arrives in time to see the kiss. He feels his face burn a bit as he quickly goes to the stove to make some tea. He is a bit puzzled by why he was acting like this. Maybe he loves Cloud, heck everyone does, he thought to himself. Then smacks himself for that thought. He loves the kid to death himself. Well, loves him like a son maybe.

Zack, “Hey, missed you Cloud!”

Cloud pulls away, “I heard from Cid you walivalive... I wanted to see for myself. Sorry it took me so long to visit.”

Zack, “Come on it. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Cid. “

Cid turns around, “I got some tea going, so sit down and relax, ya numb skull.”

Cloud smiles and wipes a cheek, “I don’t need a drink.”

Cid growls, “Sit down so I can serve ya some goddamn tea! Never accepted my &*^%$ hospitality.”

Cloud, a bit puzzled, sits down right away, “Tea sounds good.”

Zack raises an eyebrows at Cid wondering what got into Cid, “Cid makes the best tea in town.”

Cid grunts, “Shera made better tea.”

Cloud, “Oh, I proposed to Tifa and she said yes.” Smile on his lips, “I want to invite you both to the wedding. We won’t get married till next year though. Maybe next trip here, she can come see you guys. She didn’t believe Zack was alive either.”

Cid relaxes hearing that, “So, baby girl and baby boy hitching? I’m there with my best clothes!”

Zack, “Mom and dad would love it if I got hitched.”

Cloud, “So, you two been living together?”

Cid, “Yeah, why kick out a good cook?”

Cloud gives Zack an odd glance, “I see your point. “

Cid grunts againhe phe pours some tea for them all. Cloud and Zack ramble about the past. Talk about Tifa and the future. Cid stays quiet as his mind wanders off. Zack notices this but keeps talking to Cloud. He wants to catch up with his little buddy after all. Cloud didn’t notice Cid spacing off because the concept of Zack being alive was too much. Then Zack decides to walk Cloud to the local Inn.

Cloud, “So, why are you really staying with Cid?”

Zack smiled, “I don’t know.... I like to. Maybe because I noticed that Cid is a lonely guy.”

Cloud, “We tried to help him... He doesn’t seem to like having us pester him.”

Zack pauses at the Inn, “Maybe... anyway he seems to like it when I’m around so I’m going to stay. I have no idea how long though.”

Cloud, “Maybe that is it. Well, good night.”

Cloud’s visit is a pleasant diversion from the routine of things. Zack enjoys the time with Cloud. Cid, on the other hand, seems to withdraw himself from the two. Two days later, Cloud heads on his way back home to Costa de Sol with a promise to bring Tifa next time.

Two days later, Cid and Zack have their first fight. Cid is feeling a bit sick. His head hurts, he has a temperature, and he is refusing to admit this to Zack. Zack suspects Cid is ill. Zack tells Cid to go back to bed. Cid claims he is just fine. They argued over who is right and wrong. Cid storms out of the house. Zack decides to make some soap for him.

Then he hears the alarms go off. Zack grabs a sword and hurries outside the town. He arrives to see Cid fighting some monsters. Six beasts lay dead on the ground. Being sick he isn’t at his top fighting skill. There are still eight monsters left and they are quickly wearing him down. Zack comes into the fight as quickly as he can. He cuts two of them in half on his first attack. Cid tries to get more ground but, as he cut one down, another attacks him from a blind side. Cid falls with the thing trying to maul him. From that point on, Zack is hardly aware of fact he was mowing them down. Just that he has to save Cid. He kneels down by the fallen friend. Cid has some nasty wounds. Claw ran across one eye, left side of his face and his ear. Cuts on his neck. Deep bites in his shoulder. Zack just picks him up and hurries back into town. Cid’s blood coating his clothes. The town doctor meets him at Cid’s home. Both of them try to help the pilot as much as possible. In the end, Cid will lose his left eye. His face is fixed pretty good but his left ear now looks a bit ragged. Plus, his illness is getting worse worse. Doctor tells him it is the same illness that killed Shera.

Chapter 4

Zack is by his side, day and night not. The first two days are the worst. Cid is coughing up phlegm with his temperature is around a hundred and five. His body shivering like mad. Skin has purple marks around in the fold of his arms and on both sides of his neck. At one point, Zack fears Cid might die. The third day, he fever breaks. Though his chest is congested still and he is greatly weakened. Zack makes Cid walk around to help his breathing.

On the sixth day, Zack wakes up and the bed is empty. He looks around to find Cid in the back yard. He is standing and staring at the sunrise.

Cid, “Why do you stay?”

Zack walks over to Cid, “Because I want to be with you.”

Cid stubbornly asks, “Why?”

Zack speaks softly in his good ear, “ Because I love you. “

Cid reaches down and plucked a small flower from the grass, “ I love you too.. “ Places the flower behind Zack’s ear and smiles.

The next few days it is Cid’s turn to recover his strength. Takes a bit for him to get used to having only one eye. Zack teased him, saying he looked like a pirate. Cid took it all well. Even joked Zack’s hair. Zack loves it when when Cid fights back. The scars and eye patch was soon accepted as just a part if Cid’s new look. Cid’s friends hear about the attack and visit. Nanaki says their like brothers now because both only have one eye. That prompts Cid the chase him around the house with a broom, more playful then upset. The gang notice the bond between the two men and share secret smiles.

The night Cid is officially back to full health, they have a special dinner. The candles light the table as Cid and Zack finish their food. Both eat silently tonight. Both just enjoying this moment. Zack is wearing a rather nice blue shirt and slacks. Cid is clean shaven for once, also in a clean white shirt and and dark pants. Zack reaches for Cid’s hand as they just stared into each other’s eyes. They step away from the table. First sweet kiss is give by Cid. Both only aware of the tender moments together. Kissing of lips. Touching of hands. Clothes soon liter the floor. Both exploring each other. Finding out what felt good and what felt even better. Zack takes Cid first that night. Sweet bliss of it all. After they both rest and recover, Cid then has his turn on Zack. It is very late when they just lay down together. Both lay naked in the bed, side by side.

Zack, “I.. want to marry you.”

Cid, a bit confused, “Marry me?”

Zack,”Just say yes. “ Zack is scared he may say no.

Cid didn’t answer right away but when he did he said, “Yeah, I’ll marry ya but I ain’t wearing a dress.”

Both feel happiness swell in their chest. Zack thinks, maybe I can get him to change his mind. Cid wondering if he can talk Zack into wearing the dress. Soon both fall into a peaceful asleep as the stars shone down above the small town and the full moon smiled.

The end.
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Never left behind, Never Alone