It's just a flesh wound

Goodbye Hero - Chapter 47

2024-10-06T03:55:44Z

Round We Go

Summary: Cloud and Genesis finally have a room to themselves… and time to enjoy it.

“I’m sorry but Eau d’Engine Oil doesn’t do it for me," Genesis said.

Cloud gave the redhead a narrow look. “Yes, it does.”

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/151746133

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/47/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero: Chapter 46

2024-10-06T03:53:20Z

Life in a Northern Town

Summary: Tifa enjoys driving - it's meditative. It lets her think, or maybe it just lets the subconscious thoughts bubble to the surface. (Working title: Tifa levels up.)

Tifa agreed to drive the Hauler the next day, as the only person in their group who'd had a full night's sleep. Driving in snow gave her an excuse to not speak into the tense atmosphere that filled the cab. However, an hour later, the tension was getting to be unbearable.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/147236701

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/46/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero - Chapter 45/? [ffvii AU - rated M]

2024-05-20T20:24:41Z

Which Side Are You On?

Summary: Aerith tries a new thing, has many deep and troubling thoughts, followed by a couple disturbing conversations. (Also, Zack is the Best Boyfriend Ever™)

It took them another hour to reach the cliffs. Aerith’s breath was taken again: There was colour!

Grass, shrubs, trees… Even the leafy trees, stripped down to bare branches by winter, weren’t greyish-brown!

Not that there wasn’t life in Corel’s desert, but it was sparse and hidden. This was lush.

“Ohhhh,” she sighed and a tension she hadn’t even been aware of flowed out of her shoulders.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/142365493

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/45/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero - Chapter 44/? [ffvii AU - rated M]

2024-03-16T20:52:48Z

Across the Sky

Summary: Cloud's practicality saves the day and Zack's imagination causes upset. But, in what is a mostly boring trip across the Corel desert, Cloud makes a couple exciting realizations.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/138123292

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/44/Goodbye-Hero

Cloud had goals that he aimed towards but when he gambled with his own future, he kept the stakes fairly small.

His last big dream had been getting into SOLDIER. In fact, his only big dream had been getting into SOLDIER. When that hadn’t happened, he’d picked himself up and set himself some more realistic ones.

Goodbye Hero - Chapter 43/? [ffvii AU - rated M]

2024-01-27T07:55:04Z

They're Only Memories

Summary: The information Zack shares with the team give them all a lot to think about. Tifa especially, finds that she has a lot to consider about her past and her future and how the one affects the other.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/134959099
On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/43/Goodbye-Hero

When she'd decided to not give up living, she'd stopped looking at the frills and the colours and the heels. She hadn't wanted to impress anyone except with her competence and determination.

Goodbye Hero – Chapter 42: The Road Is Long [ffvii AU - rated M]

2023-11-13T19:57:10Z

Summary: Zack sleeps. Zack eats. Zack stares at the sky…. Zack tries to figure out why he doesn’t feel better now that Hojo’s dead.

Dreams came and went, unremembered for the most part except the smell of mako and a braying laugh that faded into the mists.

He woke up feeling both better than he had in a long time, and groggy as a Sahagin's curse.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/130353556

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/42/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero – Chapter 41: Eye Spy [ffvii AU - rated M]

2023-10-08T19:26:03Z

Summary: After following Zack around the coastal plains, watching him kill the monsters he didn’t want to turn into, Cloud was looking forward to a shower, food, and sleep. That’s not what happened.

“Cloud Strife the Unattainable!” Reno dropped his feet to the floor and leaned over the table. “I’d luuuve to talk to you.” He cupped his chin in his hand and fluttered his eyelashes. Cloud sighed and gave the Shinra flunky an unimpressed look.

Dangerous flunky, he reminded himself.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/128024146

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/41/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero — 40/? [ffvii AU — M]

2023-09-04T18:36:45Z

Chapter 40: : Do I Have To?

Summary: Aerith is a lot more worried than she lets everyone see, but maybe, at last, she's found a solution.

She didn't need to worry. Not about Zack's safety and not about the anger he felt, either. She'd known it was there; had felt it behind his "jokes" about killing Hojo.

No, what worried her was Zack's belief that someday he'd turn into a monster, too.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/125874616

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/40/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero - 38/? [ffvii AU] - rated M

2023-01-23T20:23:23Z

Chapter 38 – Possibilities

Food plus exhaustion plus heat meant that Cloud's brain was operating at low speed.

It was the only explanation for why he was halfway across the room before he realized that Genesis was on his bed, watching him.

Summary: Sometimes you have to grab onto possibilities as soon as they are presented to you. (A.K.A. Cloud and Genesis have the house to themselves.)

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/111903661

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/38/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero - 37/? [ffvii AU] - rated M

2022-11-11T17:35:54Z

There was a rhythmic hollow “whump” that came from a hovercraft crossing waves, but that wasn't what woke Tifa. It was the broken whimper, the choked cry, and the helpless “no”.

Goodbye Hero – Chapter 37 – Surf ‘n’ Turf

Summary: Tifa's parents had honeymooned in Costa del Sol. It was THE dream vacation of her childhood. This is her second time here, and she's not enjoying it this time either.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/107371662

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/37/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero - 36/? [ffvii AU] - rated M

2022-05-29T05:02:35Z

Chapter 36 – Third Verse, Same As the First?

Summary: Aerith is worried. And she misses her garden. But mostly she's worried. (An indulgent side-trip yields unexpected knowledge.)

Aerith tried to recapture her excitement at seeing an actual live phoenix, but she hadn't slept well despite Zack's strong arms and warm body. Finding another of the misshapen materias had shaken her. She hadn't been prepared, and its whispering had pulled at her all night.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/98320680
On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/36/Goodbye-Hero

Quick reminder that you can listen to the story's playlist on Spotify

Goodbye Hero - 35/? [ffvii AU] - rated M

2022-04-17T19:26:24Z

Chapter 35 – Staring into the Flames

Summary: Cloud worries that he's not taking enough care of the team. Someone unexpected turns up, and something as well.

They'd been forming into a good team – everyone familiar with their places and comfortable with each other – but yesterday had wrecked that. It had filled the team with worry, suspicion, arrogance, and anger.

It was his fault Zack had gotten so badly hurt; that Genesis had been forced to reveal his mutation, and the team had splintered. Bad decisions, wishful thinking, no thinking….

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/96072916

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/35/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero - 35/? [ffvii AU] - rated M

2022-04-17T19:19:12Z

Chapter 35 – Staring into the Flames

Summary: Cloud worries that he's not taking enough care of the team. Someone unexpected turns up, and something as well.

It was his fault Zack had gotten so badly hurt; that Genesis had been forced to reveal his mutation, and the team had splintered. Bad decisions, wishful thinking, no thinking….

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/96072916
On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/35/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero - 34/? [ffvii AU] - rated M

2022-02-20T21:27:19Z

Chapter 34 Confusion

Summary: Tifa is a small-town girl. How's she supposed to react when a team member mutates?

Tifa didn't know how they could be so calm about this: Genesis had wings!

Sure, okay, Zack had mentioned that his mentor, Angeal, and Genesis had developed wings, but hearing about it was a lot different from seeing it.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/92973766

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/34/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero - 32/? [ffvii AU] - rated M

2021-12-15T06:29:22Z

Chapter 32 – Watching for the Storm

Summary: Tifa always believed that she was confident and sure of her purpose, whether it was to leave Nibelheim or take down Shinra. However, this trip is causing her to realize she's not as fearless as she thought.

Tifa didn't like the hospital in the Junon base. There were a hundred soldiers, a locked door, and what felt like kilometers of narrow corridors between them and any kind of freedom.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/89064403

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/32/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero: 31/? [ffvii AU/M]

2021-11-07T04:34:32Z

Goodbye Hero: Chapter 31 – Next Dance, Please!

Summary: Poor Kryffin. He didn't ask to become Sephiroth's avatar, or is it Jenova's? Either way, they have to stop what he's become before people get hurt.

"Where's Zack?"

Cloud looked at her, saw her rubbing her forehead, and frowned. He stepped away from the counter. "He was making a call."

"I'm going to go find him," she said, stepping towards the doors.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/87118042

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/31/Goodbye-Hero

Goodby Hero: 29/? (FFVII AU)

2021-08-18T03:36:52Z

Chapter 29 – It's Who You Know

Summary: It's a day of celebration in Junon! Cloud's hoping to avoid all of it. He doesn't have that kind of luck.

What met them at the elevator's exit platform at the top of the cliff wasn't empty space or a packed crowd (either of which Cloud had expected) but the short, red-headed Turk, Cissnei.

"Bad news," he said over his shoulder to the rest of the group.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/82757971

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/29/Goodbye-Hero

Listen to the playlist on Spotify

Goodby Hero: 28/? (FFVII AU)

2021-07-09T21:51:31Z

Chapter 28 – Ups and Downs

Summary: Tifa grapples with the lessons of her childhood. Cloud exposes some of his.

Tifa thought she was the only one who felt awkward going into Londa's house and finding Genesis lounging on the couch. Nobody else mentioned it. Didn't mention that Londa was dressed in a completely different outfit than she'd worn before.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/80534173

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/28/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero: Chapter 27/? (FFVII AU fic)

2021-06-18T22:57:13Z

Goodbye Hero: Chapter 27 – Goodbye, Hello

Summary: Arriving at Junon is bittersweet, weird, and downright dangerous. Kinda fun, though.

The road (called that because technically people could drive on it) was ridiculously narrow and rocky, barely maintained. It was like they were actively discouraging people from going to old Junon, and looking at the run-down buildings once they reached the bottom, Zack thought he was probably right.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/79347373

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/27/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero: 26/? (FFVII AU fanfic)

2021-05-23T02:18:53Z

Chapter 26 – Miles to Go

Summary: They've finally left Midgar, and Aerith is finding it hard. Also, Zack hears from an old friend.

They were three hours out of Midgar, sitting on the train to Junon. They didn't have a private car, but most of the other passengers had taken one look at their group and decided to sit elsewhere.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/77833691

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/26/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero - Chapter 25/? [FFVII AU]

2021-05-08T16:36:01Z

Chapter 25 – Obligatory Shopping Episode

Cloud had spent a lot of time thinking about what the SOLDIER supplies store would look like. In fact, when he'd still wanted to join SOLDIER, he'd spent an embarrassing amount of time daydreaming about the moment he would step into it to choose his SOLDIER weapon.

Summary: Cloud finally gets a peek into the life as a SOLDIER. It's not as exciting as he thought it would be. He makes the best of it.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/77031929
On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/25/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero: 24/? [FFVII AU]

2021-04-18T21:24:13Z

Goodbye Hero: Chapter 24 – Meeting of Minds

Summary: They meet at the Honeybee Inn. It's the first visit for most of them, and it doesn't disappoint.

An amazingly chatty chapter, but the surroundings are fun and the snacks are delicious.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/75932000

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/24/Goodbye-Hero

AN: Sorry it took so long to get this up, but have more plotting and character development.

Goodbye Hero: Chapter 23/? [FFVII AU]

2021-03-27T17:04:26Z

Goodbye Hero: Chapter 23 –What Going Down Under There?

Summary: Machinations and double-talk at Shinra. Then Cloud gets to deal with Genesis who has his own verbal flair.

In other words, things are discussed, plans are made, and chocobos are tracked down.

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/74683143

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/23/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero: Chapter 22/? [FFVII AU]

2021-03-06T23:45:30Z

Not Far At All

(It's been a while, but here it is)

Summary: Aerith watches as the team navigates Shinra's tricky hospitality. Discoveries and confessions are made. Also showers are taken (enjoy picturing the nekkidness).

On AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/26342719/chapters/73553586

On ff.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13691240/22/Goodbye-Hero

Goodbye Hero - Chapter 21/? [FFVII AU]

2021-02-17T06:06:14Z

Chapter 21 – Finish Her!

Summary: If they want to get out of Shinra Tower, they need to win the battle against Jenova Dreamweaver, and Tifa's had enough of being left in the back.

Read it: On AO3 | On ff.net