Cinch
Zakkura / Clack alt canon fix-it one-shot based on Cloud’s vision in Advent Children
“Tell me what you cherish most," Sephiroth smirked. "Give me the pleasure of taking it away.” He watched with glee as Cloud fell to his knees in pain.
The moment their eyes met Sephiroth closed the distance between them and descended upon him. The faces of the people Cloud loved flashed before his eyes in succession as Sephiroth descended down upon him.
Aerith, Tifa, Denzel, and Zack.
One face lingered longer than the others. When the images stopped, saving Zack’s smile for last, he opened his eyes.
Too focused on the pain radiating throughout his body, Cloud didn’t immediately notice his surroundings had changed.
“So what if it looks hopeless,” a familiar voice said, nonchalantly.
The voice Cloud had longed to hear spoke from behind him. His eyes widened slightly and his breath caught in his chest but he didn’t dare turn around.
“If it were me, I still wouldn’t give up.”
The confident tone was the same as he remembered, cocky, and inspiring. Cloud continued to kneel, frozen in place by disbelief. He lowered his head and focused on the ground, which was suddenly covered in familiar looking yellow flowers.
He could hear Zack lift his sword and could picture him holding it in front of him the way he used to while giving the cadets pep talks before leaving on a mission.
“Embrace your dreams, and, whatever happens, protect your honor as SOLDIER.” The air shifts as he lowers his sword to his right hand side.
“Well okay, you never made SOLDIER...but it’s what’s in here that counts.” Zack’s leather glove creaked as he gestured towards himself with his thumb.
Cloud hesitated, doing his best to swallow past the tightness in his throat and push aside the familiar sting behind his eyes as tears began to form.
“Zack,” he murmured. The single word was laced with so much hopelessness and longing, it was impossible to hide.
“Well, you need a hand with him?” Zack asked with as much confidence and positivity he could muster, praying Cloud believed the act.
After a moment of silence, Cloud finally spoke.
