Comin' Home...(Denzel, Invite)

[cloudyboy]

A lot of things raced through Cloud's mind...as usual. Well, for one thing, he was finally back in his own world. He didn't know how he came back but he came back. He should have been back as soon as he was done with what happened with Chaos but that didn't happen. Instead he had been transported to another universe where he was reunited with Squall, his comrade-in-arms during the Thirteenth Cycle of War; Yuffie, Cid, and Tifa, who had fought by his side when Sephiroth tried to destroy Gaia, and last but not least...Aerith...who had been revived...which was something that Cloud didn't think to be possible in any way, shape, or form. When he came back home, he found Vincent, Genesis, Rosso the Crimson and not only that...he found himself in the heat of battle. Ruby WEAPON had been revived...along with Scarlet...a major player on the game board that was Shinra Inc. How did she come back? Who revived Ruby WEAPON? Were they revived in the same matter that Aerith was? Could Sephiroth have something to do with it? Was Sephiroth even in Gaia as well? After that battle, Cloud told Vincent that he had to get to Edge before anything else, for there were two other people that were important to Cloud...people that Cloud had to make sure were safe and sound and taken care of.

As Cloud rode into the city of Edge upon his motorcycle, Fenrir, it was as busy as ever. Car horns sounding off on the streets, people talking and laughing among themselves, Cloud rode through traffic to head to the 7th Heaven Bar to see Denzel and Marlene. Cloud wasn't sure if Reeve or Barret happened to see that Cloud and Tifa gone and just happened to take Denzel and Marlene under his care. He had hoped that if the bar was empty and void of human life, it was because Reeve or Barret were the reason and nothing else. Cloud continued to make his way to the bar, weaving through traffic to get to where he wanted to go. The city hadn't changed one bit...not even a tiny bit...but then as Cloud thought about it, it was more like the people changed rather than the city or the surroundings. As Cloud looked at the people around him, he saw more smiles than usual. Because there was no foreseeable threat to the Planet...because Geostigma was gone and Meteor and Deepground had seen its end...people seemed to be...well...happier. However, due to the revival of Ruby WEAPON and Scarlet...due to Sephiroth's status being in question, Cloud had to be wary...it would seem that the evil that he and his friends had destroyed was slowly returning.

After a while, Cloud finally arrived at the 7th Heaven Bar. He slowed down to find a parking space, once he did, he turned into it and parked his beastly motorcycle. He turned off the engine and kicked out the kickstand to keep his motorcycle up. He dismounted his motorcycle and his legs carried him to the doorstep of the 7th Heaven Bar. Cloud took a deep breath, wondering if Tifa ended up here too. Cloud grasped the door handle and pulled the door open, resulting in the small bell letting off a small ring upon Cloud opening the door. Cloud walked through, the semi cold and breezy air hitting him in the face much like a heavyweight boxer would his opponent that was in the unfortunate position of not keeping his hands up. He looked around to see the bar empty. The radio was off, the seats were empty, and the bar counter had been devoid of any empty glasses. Cloud sighed and as he looked at the various portraits that were hung on the wall. He then turned around and walked toward the staircase, figuring that he might as well get to seeing if Marlene and or Denzel were here.

"Denzel, Marlene...You guys here?"

[denzel]

Alot has happened in the world known as Gaia... Many foes threatened the planet, ranging from psychopathic wannabe gods, to a disease, to a deadly group of killers. Time after time the planet was threatened, and to stop these threats were the heroes of this world. Once just a group of Terrorists, through a huge journey they ended up becoming heroes. Stopping the mad man from becoming a god. Curing the disease, stopping the evil organization. They saved the world countless times- the members of AVALANCHE. However- who may be the greatest hero of all of the world was a man Denzel looked up to. Idolized, and wished to grow and be like one day.

His name was Cloud Strife.

During the outbreak of the disease geostigma, Denzel like many others had fallen ill due to this blight. Many had already died from it and it was only getting worse. For Denzel who had lost everything, the geostigma only made it worse for him. He was dying and there was possibly no way to stop it. But he was saved. Cloud saved him took him in and gave him a home and what he needed most... A family. Cloud and Tifa became his new parents and along with Marlene he even had a little "sister". It was a wonderful feeling. Knowing that there were people there for him, people who cared. With the disease gone everything seemed like it would return to normal right? Wrong.

Not too long after that a group from the depths of Midgard appeared.. They were one of Shinra's deepest and darkest secrets. Though Denzel was brought to a safe place along with Marlene by Cloud and Tifa, he knew the world needed saving once more. Now three years later Denzel felt something else was stirring. Something bad... But the youth couldn't really tell. It was just a gut feeling that turned his stomach. He really hope it was just a feeling and nothing more...

Suddenly the sound a familiar engine roaring down the street caught Denzel's attention. Pulling from his thoughts as he sat in front of the seconds story windowsill the young teen's face lit up his blue eyes shining a wide grin on his face as he rushed down the stairs as fast as his legs could carry him. Cloud was here! Running towards Cloud he ran and latched on to him, giving the imaginary SOLDIER a strong hug before pulling back a smile on his face still. "Cloud! Welcome home!" After everything that has happened Denzel could always rely on Cloud to come home...

Because he promised.

[cloudyboy]

Cloud heard some footsteps upstairs so he was sure that someone was here...it could be Tifa, Denzel, and or Marlene...or it could be someone that was not supposed to be here, especially since the bar was not open. When Cloud walked toward the staircase, he saw a familiar young, brown haired boy run down the stairs and latch onto Cloud. Cloud smiled as the young boy ran down the stairs to hug Cloud. This young boy wasn't just another kid. This kid was one of the people that Cloud held dear...Denzel... Cloud met this boy in the ruined slums of Midgar. Cloud had stopped by at Aerith's church during one of his deliveries to reminisce and think about Aerith and the time they shared. Cloud found Denzel at a dark time in his life; while at this church, he began to blame himself for everything. He blamed himself for Aerith's death...for Zack's death...for the disease known as Geostigma...he blamed himself for everything that was wrong under the sun.

Cloud found Denzel when the seeds of despair, guilt, and depression buried themselves in Cloud's mind, body, soul, heart, and spirit. When Cloud exited the church, he had found Denzel and his phone in his hand. When he saw that Tifa was on the line, Tifa had told him what happened and Denzel told Cloud about himself. That was when Cloud decided to take him home with him and cure this disease but...he couldn't find a cure and Denzel's condition got worse. This plus the guilt that he had felt for all that had happened prompted Cloud to leave, for he felt that he couldn't protect or help anyone. However, because of Tifa and Aerith, Cloud was able to rebuild himself and his heart and he came back to protect the city of Edge alongside his friends and thanks to Aerith, not only was Cloud healed of his Geostigma, which he contracted after he left Tifa, Denzel, and Marlene, he was also able to heal Denzel. Denzel was a special person to Cloud and he always will be...he's his son after all.

As Cloud hugged Denzel, Cloud didn't hear or feel anyone else here...it would seem, to Cloud, that Denzel was the only one here. Cloud figured that Marlene was staying with her father Barret and since Tifa was back in Sora's universe...Denzel was staying by himself. He had to have been...had he been taking care of himself or had Reeve, or Barret or any one of Cloud's friends been helping Denzel. Denzel taking care of himself wouldn't be an unusual guess...he was an orphan...he learned out to survive on the streets so it wouldn't be unusual to think that he had been able to keep the bar and himself in order. It was then that Cloud began to think about Denzel's current situation. He didn't want to leave Denzel here by himself but, Cloud knew that the places that he was going would be very dangerous and perilous. Cloud hid his thoughts away from Denzel. He didn't want to worry him. Cloud gently broke the hug and got down on one knee so that he was at eye level with Denzel. Cloud gave a gentle smile and put his right hand on Denzel's shoulder.

"How you been, Denzel? How's everything, you've eaten, right? Where's Marlene?"