A Heart's Second Chance

Cloud watched as two second class soldiers darted out of his way as he walked through the hallway looking for Sephiroth. He was pissed having heard from Zack that said General had another appointment with Hojo this made the sixth one in the last two months. He had tried to talk to him before but Sephiroth had cut him off or distracted him with his body. Now he was going to find him, gag him, tie him up and give him a piece of his mind. Cloud had already searched Sephiroth’s office, the training room, and even the training grounds. Coming around the corner he nearly ran into the very person he was on the hunt for.
“There you are.” Cloud growled.
“Cloud.” Sephiroth said raising an eyebrow at the hostility in the younger mans voice.
Looking around Cloud saw a doorway to the right, grabbing Sephiroth by the arm he started pulling the man into the room, “We need to talk.”
Sephiroth felt his blood begin to boil from being dragged into the room by Cloud. Crossing his arms over his chest, he stared down the seething blonde. In a menacing tone Sephiroth asked, “What do you want to talk about?”
“You need to stop Hojo’s experiments on you that bastard is using you with no care to your health.” Cloud growled with his hands fisted at his sides. Sephiroth had wondered when Cloud would finally snap, but Cloud needed to know this topic was not up for discussion. This was something he was required to do as a member of soldier and as the son of Hojo.
“This is none of your concern.” Sephiroth said in a low deadly voice.
“Not my concern?” Cloud asked taking a step back, “I have been the one taking care of you when you were unconscious.”
“If caring for me is an inconvenience, then do not come over anymore.” Sephiroth said coldly. Cloud felt his lungs shut down and his heart constrict violently at those words. Looking into Sephiroth’s eyes he saw no emotion there, could it be that Sephiroth didn’t have any feelings for him? Nodding Cloud walked from the room not knowing what else to do.
Sephiroth watched Clouds eyes dim after what he had said, then walk out of the room defeated. Rubbing his hand down his face, he knew he could have handled that better but he knew his duty and Cloud needed to accept it.

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Lilly sat on a tree stump taking an afternoon break. Today’s training had not been much of a challenge now that Vincent would not let her use her swords, guess he was afraid she would cut off his head. Seriously, she thought with a sigh, she hadn’t even swung her sword that hard, he just stepped into it. During the last two months she had gotten much stronger, Vincent would not say it but she knew she was close to matching his strength. During their fights, the only thing that kept him wining was his intelligence and skill. She still let her emotions get control over her, do something stupid and then be defeated. She looked across the clearing at Vincent as he leaned against the tree with his arms crossed over his chest. She could feel something just out of her reach every time she fought with Vincent. It was frustrating. Leaning back on her hands she looked up at the tree branches hanging over her.
Be patient you’re progressing well. Lucrecia said.
Lilly sighed. Whatever.
She was getting tired of being told to be patient.
“We are done for today. I have some business I need to attend to.” Vincent said startling Lilly.
“Business?” Lilly asked. “Where? There is nothing around here other than Midgar and you told me we need to stay out of the city.”
“It is nothing you need to concern yourself with.” Vincent said stepping away from the tree.
“How long are you going to be gone?” Lilly asked, sounding a little panicky. She had not truly been alone since she woke and the thought was scaring her.
“Two days.” he replied.
Lilly’s heart stopped, “Two days. You cannot be serious. What am I supposed to do for two days?” She practically shouted. Standing from her perch on the tree stump, she held her fists to her side wanting desperately to grab him and beg him not to go.
“Rest.” He said walking away. Lilly watched him go. Rest, that was not going to be possible, she knew she was being silly but she really didn’t want to be alone. Growling in frustration, she decided that she would follow him, at least then she would have something to keep her mind occupied.

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Cloud was wondering the slums lost in thought when he found himself standing in front of Aerith’s church. Looking up at the one place he had felt content, he wondered if this Aerith would know him. Pushing the door open, he walked in and looked around the empty church; guess she wasn’t here. Walking up to the bed of flowers, he stopped at the edge of the floor. In the center of the flowers was a large stone. Frowning he approached it but stopped when he saw the writing on it. Dropping to his knees, he ran his hand over the letters that spelled out Aerith’s name what was going on.
“Did you know her?” Cloud turned to see Zack standing by the pew. Cloud didn’t answer as he turned back to the headstone.
“She died about a year ago. No one knows how or why.” Zack said sitting.
“Did you know her?” Cloud asked already knowing the answer.
“Yes. She was a very kind woman.” Cloud turned when he heard the pain in Zack’s voice. “I was gone when it happened.”
“I’m sorry I just saw a church and came in.” Cloud said standing and walking over to sit by Zack.
Zack nodded, “So you want to tell me what happened today?”
“Not much.” Cloud said. Zack looked at his friend and knew that he blonde would not open up at this time. It was frustrating knowing both his friends were suffering and he had no way to help. Sighing he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Aerith please help my friends I think you’re the only one who can help calm their souls.

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Lilly stood in the street looking around. Where had that raven-haired bastard went to? Lilly had been following Vincent with no problems until she had stepped around the corner and he was gone. Not the kind of lost in the crowd type of gone, because the street was empty, but the vanished into the air type. Turning around she saw the towers of what looked like a church peaking over the buildings. Curious she walked in that direction. As she came around a building she gasped, it was an impressive sight.
She began to approach the church when a dark haired man walked out of the double doors. He briefly looked in her direction then turned the other way and walked off. Peaking through the doors Lilly saw a blonde haired man sitting on one of the pews. Opening the door Lilly was overwhelmed by the sadness radiating from the man causing her heart to ache for him.
“Um. Excuse me?” Lilly said quietly. The man turned to look at her over his shoulder, his sad blue eyes never really met hers.
Turning away he said, “This church had no minister. It’s empty.”
“You’re here.” Lilly said, she thought she heard him whisper ‘am I?’ but it could have been her imagination.
“I was wondering if you could help me. I’m kind of lost and need help getting out of the city.” Lilly said walking up to the hole in the floor where dozens of yellow flowers were growing. Squatting she inhaled their lovely calming scent.
“I can’t help you.” Cloud muttered, watching the dark haired girl reach out and touch one of the flowers just as Aerith did in his other life. When she turned to look at him over her shoulder, he stared into her blue/green eyes. Surprise pushed back his sorrow for a moment as he realized she had been exposed to high levels of Mako. “Who are you?”
“My name is Lilly.” She said smiling, standing she walked over to where he sat. “What is your name?”
“Cloud.” He said looking up into her face. He didn’t know her, had never seen her, where did she come from? “It is nice to meet you.” She said holding out her hand. Cloud took it reluctantly. “So Cloud, if your last name is Strife, your mother sends a message. She’s safe and hopes you’re doing well.”
“You know my mother? Where is she? Were you the one who took her away from Nibelheim?” Cloud demanded jumping to his feet. Lilly took a step back and looked away a moment.
“Yes I know you mom. She is a real nice lady. She’s safe in a hideout, and no I didn’t take her away from Nibelheim she helped me and a friend escape Hojo.” During her last statement, she met his eyes daring him to call her a liar.
“Hojo.” Cloud growled. Why did that bastards name always come up? He was and always would be the center of all that was wrong in the world.
“Is there something wrong?’ Lilly asked.
“That bastard is hurting someone I care for and I can’t get him to see it.” Cloud said dropping onto the pew.
“I see. It hurts you watching his suffering.” Cloud looked up at Lilly and nodded. “Have you told him how it hurts you?”
Cloud looked away. “He told me to leave if I couldn’t handle it.”
Lilly squatted in front of Cloud and tapped her finger on her bottom lip, pretending to be in thought. “You love him that’s the reason it hurts so much.”
Cloud closed his eyes. Was it really so obvious to a stranger what his feelings for Sephiroth were.
“Maybe you should express your feelings without the anger and maybe play on his sense of duty.” Lilly stood and crossed her arms, “You know ‘if you keep this up you will be to weak to do your job’ or something like that”
Cloud let out a laugh at her antics. She did have a point, “I’m such an idiot.”
“No you’re not. You just couldn’t see it through the pain.” Lilly said lacing her fingers behind her back and leaning forward a little. Closing her eyes, she smiled brightly at him.
“Thanks.” Cloud said standing, “So you needed help out of the city, just follow me.”
“K. Oh and would you like my phone number so we can keep in touch? That way if I’m lost again you can come rescue me. Also I can keep you updated on your mother.” Lilly said skipping towards the door of the church behind Cloud.
“Sounds good.” Cloud said looking over his shoulder at her. It was strange, he may not recognize her from his past, but she felt very familiar to him.
As Cloud lead Lilly to the outskirts of Midgar they had chatted comfortably about nothing in particular. She had finally gotten him to admit that Sephiroth was the one he had fallen in love with. She had told him of her escape from the lab in Nibelheim and his mother’s part in it. When they had finally reached the border of the city she had wished him luck with Sephiroth and gave him a giant hug. As he watched her walk away, he realized he may have just gained a new friend and if his mother had any say, a new sister.
Returning to Sephiroth’s apartment Cloud decided he would try Lilly’s advice.

Sephiroth rode the elevator up to his apartment. His treatment had been exceptionally painful today. The dark Mako still burned through his veins like fire. Leaning forward he rested his hand on the wall fisting his shirt above his heart. He wasn’t sure he could make it home as his vision began to darken. “Cloud,” he whispered as he slid to the floor, but he knew Cloud would not be waiting this time, not after the way he had treated him.
Cloud was sitting on Sephiroth’s couch petting Nichodemus. Somehow, they had become friends during these last months. Sephiroth had even called the cat a traitor a few times when he had followed Cloud around the apartment. Nichodemus was purring loudly while he rubbed his head into Cloud’s hand.
Cloud felt something wrong, even Nichodemus‘s head snapped up, staring at the door. Gasping Cloud ran to the door and jerked it open. Darting into the hallway as the elevator doors opened, Cloud saw Sephiroth on the floor inside, “Damn it.”
Cloud rushed into the elevator just as the doors started to close. Forcing the doors open Cloud pulled the half-conscious man to his feet. Wrapping Sephiroth’s arm over his shoulders he half-dragged Sephiroth back to the apartment as Nichodemus mewed from the doorway.

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Sephiroth woke with a groan, looking around he realized he was in his room. Frowning he tried to remember how he had gotten into his bed, the last thing he remembered was the elevator. Rolling over with the intention to get out of the bed he was surprised to see Cloud asleep at his bedside sitting in a chair. He had not expected to see him here not after the last time he had seen the blonde. Reaching out he gently brushed Cloud’s hair from his face seeing the tears still clinging to his eye lashes.
Cloud sighed then opened his eyes; blinking a couple times, he looked up at him. Sephiroth watched Cloud as he shut down his emotions then sat up in the chair, “You have been unconscious for five days. Do you need help into the shower?”
Sephiroth reached out to grab Cloud’s chin but the blonde leaned back out of reach. “What is the matter? I can tell you have been crying.”
“It does not concern you.” Cloud said closing his eyes.
“Cloud.” Sephiroth warned reaching out again.
“No.” He said standing. “I’ll have something ready for you to eat after your shower.” Then Cloud turned and left the room. Sephiroth sat up with a groan, his body was still weak even after five days of sleep. Rubbing his hand down his face, he stood heading for the shower to wash away the haze that was still fogging his mind. As he walked into the bathroom Nichodemus sat on the counter staring at him with his eyes narrowed. Walking up to his cat, Sephiroth reached out to pet his head only to draw his hand back with a hiss. Looking at the four long scratches on his hand, he looked back at Nichodemus in surprise. With a growl, the white cat hopped of the counter and pranced out of the bathroom like a war hero.
“Traitor.” Sephiroth whispered as he turned the shower on and entered.

Cloud heard the shower turn off and soon the bathroom door opened. Grabbing a plate, he scraped the contents of the pan onto it then turned and handed it to the man standing at his back.
“Why are you here?” Sephiroth asked a little harshly.
“I’m here because I care about you.” Cloud answered.
“But you still do not approve to the treatments.” Sephiroth added.
“No I don‘t. Not only because I hate seeing you suffer, but because the greatest General in Shin-Ra’s army can not do his duty while he is lying unconscious in bed.” Cloud said crossing his arms and fighting to keep his heartbeat steady.
“Excuse me.” Sephiroth said.
“What would happen if a war broke out while you were here? Or if there was an assassination attempt on the Shin-Ra president? Who do you think would be the ones to take your place?” Cloud watched Sephiroth’s face as he answered each question in his mind, running through all the scenarios. Then Cloud witnessed an emotion come to Sephiroth’s eyes he never thought he would see. Absolute despair.
Sephiroth felt pain in his heart as Cloud’s questions made him think of every possible outcome to each scenario. All of them ended with the two people that meant the most to him broken, gone from his life forever. Looking up at Cloud he sat his plate down and pulled the blonde into a tight hug as emotion’s he had not felt in a long time flooded his system. Grabbing the hair at the back of Cloud’s neck, he pulled his head back and covered Cloud’s mouth with his.
Cloud pressed his hands on Sephiroth’s chest pushing lightly. Sephiroth pulled back staring down into cloud’s eyes.
“No.” Cloud said as he pulled away turning he left the kitchen.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.” Then cloud left the apartment.