Cloud And Aerith: The Bodyguard (*On Break*)

Chapter Two

No, Aerith thought as she looked at Cloud through the glass of the chamber she was confined in. Being brought in for experimentation today seemed to have been the last straw for Cloud and she knew it was partly to do with the anger Griever was causing inside him. She watched as Cloud was restrained down on the table, rage and fear like she'd never seen in his eyes. She looked helplessly back at him, it was because of her he'd been dragged into all this. She couldn't let this happen but what could she do. The troops had their guns positioned, while Hojo paced laughing. Aerith began to bang her fists on the glass, she didn't really know what else she could do but she couldn't just do nothing. Hojo stopped pacing as he looked at her, a grin painted his face as he formulated a plan.

"Let the Ancient out, bring her here." he ordered. As the door to her chamber was opened, two guards took her by the arms, bringing her to Hojo and Cloud. "Here, this is what you wanted right, she's out." Hojo said to Cloud as he presented Aerith to him. " You've formed quiet an attachment to the Ancient and she to you it would appear." Aerith knew Hojo too well, she didn't want to risk losing a moment to act. Without giving it thought Aerith suddenly grabbed hold of one of the guns the troops were clutching, the two guards that had hold of her arms were clearly not expecting her to dare a move as they bumbled out of the way. She fought to prize the gun out of their grip, tugging and screaming as she did so.

"Cloud, get out of here!" Hojo had backed away, retreating to the safety of his upper room.

"Let go, before you hurt yourself!" the guard demanded, as the two who had supposed to have had her detained came to assist.

"No, I won't let you do this!" Unintentionally as she was trying to prize the gun away, she threw it up into the guards face. He dropped the gun, covering his nose with his hands as blood began to flow from it. Aerith quickly turned her attention to the guard who held Cloud's restraints. The scene played in slow motion as she dodged the grabbing hands of the other troops, trying to dive towards Cloud.

"Somebody grab the Ancient now, she mustn't come to any harm!" she heard a guard shouting. Suddenly her leg was grabbed from behind her and everything proceeded in normal time. Her chin hit the ground hard as she was swept off her feet. Bodies were instantly on top of her, holding her down. She managed to look up to see Cloud fighting in his chains as the guard fought frantically to keep him restrained.

"Cloud!" Aerith cried. Aerith was stood back up, the guard whose nose she'd broken turned to her. He strode up to her, raised his hand and swiftly smacked her across the face. Her cheek burned as she whimpered.

"Y-you leave her alone!" an aggressive voice commanded. The attention turned to Cloud whose muscles were tensing and testing his restraints. His eyes had an amber glow about them, he was becoming even more angry and agitated.

"Quiet Strife, were running this show not you!" Rage suddenly took hold of Cloud, rage with such power that he pulled his hands and feet straight from their restraints. The troops gasped and panicked as they tried to ready their weapons. Cloud picked up the heavy stone table he had been held to and threw it towards the troops. They were knocked down and Aerith was free. She stood frightened, glued to the spot as hesitantly she looked at Cloud. She knew Griever was beginning to make his presence known. He looked back at her before collapsing weak to the floor.

"Cloud!" she called reaching out toward him. She was about to move as she was grabbed round the middle. Cloud glared as he saw the guard reach a hand around her throat. RUN! she mouthed to him silently as the guard then proceeded in trying to knock her out. Quickly she kicked her foot up high behind her, catching the guard right between the legs. He crumpled to the floor, as did she gasping for breath. Cloud was still bewildered by what had just happened, still trying to get up from the ground. He stared at Aerith, he knew what had to happen now. Calling upon all of his strength, he dragged himself from the floor to stand before her.