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cielsosinfel · 1 year ago

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reading log #1100111 1100001 1111001

I was keeping reading logs of books and comics I'd completed here, and then on Dreamwidth... but I think I'm gonna end up doing them here first again before archiving on Dreamwidth lol. I have had a very bad time following up on things like this the last few months but I HAVE been finishing books (or giving up on them in frustration.) So, here's some recent ones and some meandering thoughts (if I had typed these up closer to finishing the book I would have much more to say, but alas, memory is a sieve)

CW for mentions of CSA/incest in the "Angels Before Man" section.

A Man of Lies by Ben Crane: This came up in the library database when I searched for Queer Fiction, and it was described as a heist novel with a gay lead. It's the author's first novel, too- he was a film screenwriter (none of his movies seem to have been very successful, though.) It sure is a heist novel! The MC, Barret, is an enforcer for the biggest mob boss in the Midwestern states, and falls in love with the boss' top accountant, Mickey. They want more out of life than the criminal underworld, and hatch a plot to steal shitloads of cash from their boss and flee together. But the plot is of course found out, and Mickey is killed right in front of Barret, and now Barret is forced to pay off the debt or be killed himself. But he has a better idea- one more risky scheme to to make millions and live the life Mickey wanted for them.

I actually enjoyed this one a lot!! It's very fast-paced. There are way too many POVs- it switches characters every chapter, and the narrator PoV shifts from first-person when it's Barret to close-third-person for everyone else, so it felt hectic at times. I think you can definitely tell this was written by someone used to writing film scripts- so many scenes are written in such a way that feel like they'd perfectly translate to a film scene (I got the feeling the author might be wanting to turn this into a film at some point?) There's also some flashback fuckery near the end I found kind of obnoxious but oh well, it didn't detract from the book.

It's a super ridiculous book at it's core and definitely leans hard into the tropes of its genre. Some things made me roll my eyes, especially with Barret's narration (I'm a liar! You'll never know when I'm telling the truth!) but there were some sexy moments with his suffering. I REALLY liked Cass (long-time petty criminal with a bitterness toward the world, looking for her big break), Johnny Boy (Cass' pacifist friend who just wants to do right by everyone and keep his friends safe, but can never meet Cass' expectations and is always the target of her anger), and Pickens (long-suffering genius lockpicker who just wants to get paid without getting dragged into other peoples' bullshit. He is, dare I say it, my poor little meow meow.)

It ends in a ridiculous but good plot-twist that actually makes me want to read the sequel when it comes out (this is rare. I have very low patience for multi-book series anymore lmao.) So yeah. Quick, easy, fun read, excited for more.

Idol, Burning by Rin Usami (tl. Asa Yoneda): This is a book about a high school girl's life in idol fandom, but so much more than that. I wasn't sure what I was expecting going into this- I only heard about it because I saw someone talk about an essay they wrote on this, about how it shows how idol fandom could be considered feminist- but it really was not what I expected just going off that!!

This is about a girl who is being failed by many people around her. This is a girl who has undiagnosed dyslexia and learning disabilities; a girl who is very depressed, suicidal and self-harming; a girl with a worsening eating disorder; a girl with a total disconnect from the people around her. She falls into idol fandom for a particular idol, a boy who she has been obsessed with since she was a young child watching him as a 12 year old, performing as Peter Pan, and it becomes her solace, her refuge, and a crutch. She doesn't understand herself or her life, so she obsesses over trying to understand every ;ittle detail about her oshi, from the smallest facial movements to the tone of his social media text posts.

When her idol is suddenly in a media storm for hitting a woman- a woman he may have been secretly dating- it's like a spiderweb of cracks in a dam are suddenly broken through and she's struggling to tread water.

I feel like what this book really captures is how being deeply involved in fandom, and being super passionate for a hobby, and online communities of likeminded fans, can both help and hurt. The more depressed Akari gets because of her family life, of failing in school, of being treated as an idiot because of ableist barriers she doesn't even realize are blocking her path forward, the more she fixates on her idol- constantly watching and rewatching shows and interviews to try to see beyond her oshi's public persona, updating her blog with in-depth reviews of albums or summaries of interviews, buying up all of the merchandise she can for what amounts to an all-consuming shrine in her room filled with trash and uneaten food.

Her oshi becomes the only reason she gets up and leaves the house, the only reason she gets dressed (always in blue, her oshi's official color), the only reason she continues to work (she needs the money to support her oshi), the only reason she interacts socially outside her family (with fandom, with other obsessed fans who understand why she's so emotionally reliant on a celebrity that she'll nvver truly meet). But this hyperfixation is undeniably a large part of why her life is stalling and backsliding, even if it's not the /root/ cause, but a symptom presenting an out-sized impact.

Anyway, it like, resonated with me as someone who was also once a young girl with undiagnosed dyslexia/learning disabilities, with all-devouring depression, with suicidal urges, with eating disorders no one recognized. And no support structure but my hyperfixations on fictional characters and the friendships I had with other fans via internet communities. It's just such a painful, painful book to read because even though the cultural context and fandom context is so completely different (I was born and raised in the US, I have no idea what girls in Japan go through), it resonated SO MUCH.

The ending is also something I like a lot- it's not a Happy Ending(TM) at all, but I found it much more impactful in its realism. Akari is not "better," she is still in such a bad place, but she's taking these small steps to break the self-destructive cycle she's ended up with. And that's what's important- is the small steps, and the acknowledgment that there are steps to be taken at all.

Also, the ending of the English edition has a letter written by the author addressing her younger brother, who has dyslexia, and discussing the failures of the Japanese education system regarding disabled students. She says in the letter herself, that her brother will never read it because it's in English, and she'll likely never say any of what she wrote to him, but the letter was still so, so, so affecting... Just, this acknowledgment of both her brother's struggles, and how she added to those struggles when they were younger and she understood less. Much like how Akari's older sister in the novel can't understand why Akari struggles so much, and takes out her own frustration on Akari- her frustration at bearing so much responsibility in a family with a single, over-worked mother, and no matter how much she tries to steer her sister in the right direction and help her (taking on the role of a mother for her), nothing seems to help. It's not something children can help! It's the adults refusing to see that the system they set in place is not helping these children!!

But the letter also says that though the Japanese education system almost failed the author's brother, he was able to go to a school specifically for children with learning disabilities, and he excelled and now leads a happy, successful life. Akari doesn't get that in the book; Akari's story is the other side of the coin. But where the ending of Akari's story is not quite happy, it's like a soothing balm to read that the author's real, living, breathing brother got his own happy ending.

Angels Before Man by rafael nicolás (Did Not Finish lol):

OK. OK I SUPER HATE THIS BOOK SO MUCH JESUS CHRISTTTTTTTT OK. Ok. So this is a "queer retelling of the fall of Lucifer." Right? And I, being an ex-catholic trans faggot, am totally into reclaiming Lucifer in the name of being a filthy dirty gay heathen? Right??

But this book is sooooooooooooooo

I'm gonna make a bullet point list

It's extremely unimaginative when it comes to what Heaven and angels are like, for one.We have some mentions of chariots and ophanim who are these otherworldly beings, but 99% of the cast are just regular Joe Schmo cis dudes with wings. They live in a very run of the mill pseudo-Roman town with regular buildings and colisseums and bathhouses and stores. It's very uninspired imo. They pass their time talking, lounging, bathing, trading fruits and eating, and competing in the colisseum, and just... not very Angelic??

The first 150 pages is some of the most repetitive writing I have read in years. I kid you not, the book starts with Lucifer's creation and then for the next 150 pages it is just variations of: Lucifer is lost and confused; Lucifer cries; everyone compliments Lucifer's beauty; Lucifer cries over being beautiful; they eat some fruit and walk to see people; they go on flying lessons; repeat. repeat. repeat. EVERYTHING IS DESCRIBED WHEN ITS NOTE VEN NECESSARY FOR ANYTHING BUT PADDINGGGGG

Also Lucifer's shame over being beautiful: WHY is he ashamed? Every single time he gets attention because of his beauty and being God's favorite, every time someone compliments his beauty, we get a paragraph about how ashamed he is of his beauty and his body, but never WHY. There are no details about what is causing him this shame. And if God made him to be beautiful, to embody beauty, why would he have any shame over it? Why is he ashamed of the being he was made to be, the attribute he was hand-crafted to embody? We're not given anything deeper than "Lucifer is so ashamed and he cries and cries and cries." Stop crying over being pretty god damn!!

Basically none of the characters have any voice or personality except for like, Uriel and God. Lucifer's personality is crying and being confused and having a crush on Michael. I'm not even kidding. Maybe some hyperbole but everything in this book is so FLAT and LIFELESS.

Also Lucifer is created not knowing a single thing about existence- he doesn't know what roads are, or what water is, or what air is, or what creation is- but this is also close-third person POV and his internal narration is constantly making reference to things you'd assume he'd be unaware of. Sometimes there will be some metaphor or comparison to an object, that a few pages/chapters later Lucifer will be introduced to for the first time. It just really takes you out of the story, you know?

OK the big thing though

the thing that pissed me off the most?

The entire thing that brings about the fall of Lucifer is being raped by God.

lmao

lmao!!!!

OK see I could see this kind of narrative being potentially compelling and meaningful in the hands of a good, experienced writer but that's not this writer. No. It just is such utter fucking garbage that, to me, personally, was outright offensive as a survive of CSA/incest. This is horrible writing, and horrible handling of the subject matter. It's just, so poorly thought out in so many ways.

Literally the mainstream opinion in Catholicism already is that child sexual abuse survivors are sinned, stained, ruined by the abuse and violence they have suffered. This does not add a single new thing. ugh. ighhhhh!!!

On top of that the writing of the CSA itself and Lucifer's emotional interiority in the aftermath were really fucking shallow for a book that has this as the traumatic pivot of the narrative and Lucifer's character arc into becoming a fallen, corrupted being. It's literally "he's this poor shaking crybaby everyone loves->God violently abuses him->he has violently gone off the deep down and lost his mind in some of the most cliche writing I've seen yet"

And to top it off the writing is full of spelling errors, grammar errors, punctuation errors especially-- I do not say this lightly because I am someone who writes fanfic and holds it near and dear to my heart, but this reads more like someone took a fanfic directly off Wattpad or AO3 and slapped it into a book with no editing. It is so. Bad. good lord!

If this was just porn I would not care nearly as much, like whatever gets your noncon kink rocks off, but this isn't porn, this is trying to be a deep insightful exploration on sexual trauma and incest and I can't deal with how bad it was.

#reading log #mine poste #it took me over a week to finish writing this whew #two rambling reviews for books i loved and one rambling review of a book i LOATHE #this is probably the last of these i will write this year lmao

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notoriousbigwallace · 9 months ago

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There wasn't any harm whatsoever from his stance of her flaunting her sexiness to him. She had nothing to prove in return for his heart and attraction, his heart belonged to her shortly after meeting her and his attraction to her solidified shortly before they made love the first time.

When Barret reflected on the inception of their relationship he remembered cursing a few lustful creeps out of the bar every so often...but now that he was in love with her he noticed the stares and lust came in all shapes and sizes, and he had his defense antennas raised ready to protect her. He dreamt about filling Johnny with lead at least twice a week.

"Yeah...that sounds cool," he remarked softly. Dyne still laid on his mind, it was evident in his eyes so a break wouldn't be such a bad idea. Though her mention of Marlene snapped his back to reality. Her bikini helped ground him from drifting too far off as well.

"Maybe after all this shit does down, we'll bring her here. That's what all this about anyways. A better future for her in a healthy planet that ain't cryin' out in pain."

"Nah, I'll just roll like this." Standing, he hooked an arm around her waist and led her towards the door.

Barret's enthusiastic assurance brought a smile to Tifa's face. Even if she knew he only had eyes for her, knowing this both logically and in her heart, she liked to hear it. "Maybe I just wanted to give you something to look at then." Tifa had always gotten stares, ever since she was young, some nasty, some lustful, but Barret's was the only one she cared about now.

"Of course," she replied with a nod, her tone suddenly more serious. Tifa knew the stakes. "We're here for now, though, so we might as well make the most of it." Once they left, these moments would go with them, and Tifa wanted to cherish the time. The future wasn't promised to anyone. They knew that better than most.

"Do you need to change?" For a brief moment, her eyes wondered down his body, and then swept back up toward his gaze. "It's too bad Marlene isn't here with us. She would have loved it."

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yourcoolfriendwithallthecandy · 4 years ago

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Why So Jaded Chapter 11

Oh it’s getting to be a family affair now. AO3, FFN. The chapter is called The Give For The Take for a very good reason. Enjoy.

Why So Jaded?

Chapter 11

“So were you good for Vi?” Helen asked Jack when Violet dropped him off at home on Sunday night.

“Yeah! We had a great time. We got to hang out with Barret the whole time.” Jack gleefully informed her.

“B..who?” Helen asked.

“His full name is Bartholomew Maximillian Pine, Mr. Pine, my other asset at work? We call him Barret for short.” Violet tried to honestly yet vaguely answer.

“Oh, but I thought he was on house arrest at SEB for the bet he made?” Helen asked.

“He is, so we hung out with him. He helped Jack with his school project about radio waves because the Lord knows I couldn’t.” Violet informed her mother.

“And he’s friends with Evan’s mom! You know Evan- he usually goes to Milham park with his little brother Alex and his little sister Kaely? Tammy has short bobbed hair cut, brown hair.” Jack tried to jog his mom’s memory.

“Oh yeah! Tammy. She’s really nice.” Helen recalled.

“Well I got invited to Evan’s birthday party in a couple of weeks, can I go? It’s on the 18th. They’re having it at Scene It.” Jack pleaded.

“I could take him if you already had plans.” Violet offered as Helen looked at her calendar on her fridge.

“Yeah, that would be nice.” Helen appraised.

“We’re supposed to be taking Jr and Dillion that weekend.” Bob said as he came over and looked at the calendar.

“Yeah who did Dash spend his weekend with anyway?” Violet asked as both of her parents just shook their heads with a defeated sigh.

“Who knows.” Bob grumbled as he got a beer from the fridge.

“So tell me about Barret, Jack.” Bob invited.

“He’s awesome! He cooks so good, like Bobby Flay, like he made us all these amazing dishes from scratch and he showed me how to make a risotto, he’s a genius and an inventor and he explained radio waves to me and I should be getting an A on this project. And he’s actually really nice and sucks at cards. I demolished him at rummy but he was a really gracious loser and a good sportsman, he has no ego and he’s not the most handsome guy but his personality is awesome, just a really nice, easy going guy.” Jack appraised honestly.

“And that’s why we’re friends.” Violet added.

“Aww, that’s sweet.” Helen cooed as she got dinner ready as Bob simply nodded and retreated to the living room with his can of beer as Jack followed his dad and continued to sing Barret's praises, in an effort to get his dad to at least like the idea of Barret.

“Can you stay for dinner Vi?” Helen asked hopefully.

“I’d love to. Here, let me help.” Violet offered as she grabbed some potatoes and started to help peel them.

“So what’s Barret really like?” Helen asked as they stood side by side over the trashcan peeling potatoes.

“He’s genuine. And a gentleman. We ended up staying really late Friday because we just got caught up talking and getting to know each other, and by each other, his company and myself. Jack obviously knew Barret’s company and played nice with the other kids and it was just a nice dinner that I got to stay for and it was just...hanging out with friends. They’re just normal people. Like normal normal, with kids and mortgages and student loan debt. Anyway, Barret didn’t want me to drive home exhausted so he let Jack and I take his bed while he took his own couch. He was just..really nice. He never pushes for closeness or intimacy of any kind, he's down to earth whereas with Phil it’s just one head game after another when his head isn't crammed so far up his own ass it comes back out the other end again or when his head gets so big, it can't be contained inside Madison Square Gardens because it's a freaking blimp and his ego is as fragile as a hanging nut sack, it's a very nice and welcome change of pace. It was actually almost fun to just be casual and hang out and not watch the clock to count down the minutes until I’m free. And not having to always watch my back and watch the exits and think of exit strategies or expecting attacks every other second or worrying about doing or saying the wrong thing that’ll bite me in the ass later, like turning off for once instead of always being on you know?” Violet answered honestly.

“Well I’m glad you had a good weekend and it sounded like you spent it with a friend. You need more of those.” Helen noted as she smiled at her daughter.

“Thanks, so. How was your weekend?” Violet returned.

“It was so fun. We ended up doing a gig upstate and after we got a cabin and just got to relax after, it was great.” Helen sighed happily as Violet simply smiled, albeit a little sadly. Because she doubted she would ever get to enjoy the wedded bliss her parents enjoyed. If she lived long enough to get married that is.

Just then Dash came into the house.

“Oh good, I didn’t miss dinner.” Dash smiled happily as his stomach started to growl.

“If you’re gonna help eat it, you should help make it.” Violet urged.

“But you two do it so well, I would only be in the way.” Dash excused himself as he grabbed beer from the fridge and started chugging it.

“You look really nice by the way Violet, green is definitely your color.” Dash praised as she squeezed by them to get to the box of cookies on the counter.

“I’m not giving you any more money, you still haven’t paid me back from the last three times I gave you money.” Violet immediately insisted when Dash tried hugging her from behind.

“Who said anything about money?” Dash pretended to be appalled that Violet would insinuate that.

“No one, and it will not be brought up again.” Violet insisted and she could only smirk smugly when he huffed and pulled away from her sullenly.

“So which underwear catalog model were you with this weekend Dash?” Violet asked.

“Victoria’s Secret, with Bianca.” Dash grinned cheekily with a click of his teeth as Violet visibly gagged.

“For the love of God and all that holy, please tell me you wore a condom.” Helen urged.

“Uh I think we should be asking Violet if she’s been wearing condoms when she was with Phillip in Vegas of all places, I’m surprised she didn’t come back married as Mrs. Sebastian.” Dash snidely returned as he began to walk away and Violet’s eyes glowed ultraviolet for a moment as her anger started to build.

“First of all, that’s none of your business, second, that was work and well within the parameters of my contract, third, considering my track record, as opposed to yours, who has not one, but two children already by two different women? And they’re only six months apart? And don’t you pay enough in child support already? You really want to add a third payment?” Violet spat back.

“Well some of us don’t roll around in money Violet! Besides, aren’t you paying enough in rent at Sky Way?” Dash sneered condescendingly.

“Oh for fuck’s sake, you know if you could keep it in your pants for more than five minutes, you’d be able to afford to live there too, don’t you get enough in endorsements between Nike, Body Armor and all your White Lightning merch and endorsements? Just up your appearance fees or better yet, if you- you know, invested some of that money instead of spending it faster than you’re making it, you’d be able to live wherever you wanted to.” Violet returned defensively.

“I do invest it, it’s just not getting the same returns your money makes apparently.” Dash returned.

“Oh my God, will you two stop it! Ugh, aren’t your kids supposed to get along once they leave home?” Helen complained.

“Dash, just go to the living room, dinner will be ready in a bit.” Helen decided.

“Stuck up.” Dash muttered under his breath.

“Leech.” Violet spat back.

“If he moves back in you better be charging him rent.” Violet insisted to her mother.

“Oh trust me, he’ll never move back in because I would never let him bring home another woman other than the two he's already impregnanted and when he wasn’t working, he’d be watching his own kids.” Helen reassured her.

“And heaven forbid he not have a revolving door on his bedroom.” Violet spat.

“I’m still holding out hope that he’ll find the right girl and settle down.” Helen confessed.

“Yeah, somehow, I get the distinct impression that will happen to Jack before that ever happens with Dash.” Violet ventured as she took her now peeled potatoes and rinsed them off in the sink before she got a cutting board out and started cutting up the now peeled potatoes into bite sized chunks.

“Well it just might happen with you before it could happen with Jack.” Helen teased as she bumped Violet’s hip with her own as she put her own peeled and rinsed off potatoes next to the cutting board.

“Ha! No.” Violet returned.

“Well I mean Barret sounds promising.” Helen shrugged and all Violet could do was laugh even harder.

“Yeah, no, I sincerely doubt that’s ever going to be a possibility.” Violet shook her head no.

“Why not?” Helen asked.

“Uh, well, he has quite the storied past. Granted, he isn’t the same guy he was, say, a decade ago, but uh, there’s too much history there.” Violet hinted.

“Like what kind of history?” Helen prodded.

“The kind that got him...really really hurt. In every conceivable sense. He made some really bad decisions in early youth, youth, teens and early adulthood and granted he pays for them, just about every day. But…it’s very complicated.” Violet tried to choose her words carefully.

“Everyone has history Violet. Doesn’t mean it has to haunt us the rest of our lives.” Helen insisted but Violet just huffed a mirthless laugh again. If that were the case, she wouldn't have such a hard time sleeping in the first place, or wake up in a cold sweat screaming her head off half the time.

“How old is he again?” Helen asked.

“He’s 31, seven years my senior.” Violet answered.

“Well that’s not that big of an age difference, especially once you pass your early 20’s, now if he was like 15 or even 20 years older than you, then yeah, that would be an eyebrow raiser of a difference.” Helen figured as she went into her fridge and got a wine cooler and offered Violet one who gladly took it and opened it and started drinking it.

“So what makes it so complicated?” Helen posed.

“Uh, well besides the history. Just our...positions. Phillip keeps me on a short leash and it’s only because I’ve “mixed business with pleasure” that I have any breathing room now. Phillip is jealous and possessive enough that...to pursue anything with anyone while I’m still under contract is a very bad idea and too dangerous. Phillip has a way of reaching out and touching people, and not in any kind of good way. And Barret is also under contract and his contract is even longer and more severe than mine. But we are…” Violet paused as she tried to decide on the best words to use.

“We’ve grown close to being friends because we’re just...two birds, in side by side gilded cages.” Violet finally murmured lowly as she finely diced the potatoes as she realized they should boil these and make mashed potatoes.

“So what has he done to incite you to view him like that?” Helen posed as she rinsed off some asparagus in the sink as another vegetable for dinner.

“He’s healing me.” Violet answered honestly.

“Like emotionally or physically?” Helen asked.

“The latter, the former is probably impossible.” Violet specified.

“Like with your central cortex?” Helen posed.

“Yep, he used his genius and formulated my current medication, he got me in front of the curve instead of always chasing behind it. It’s like I’m a teenager again, before any of it ever hurt and I can use my powers for hours instead of mere minutes before the pain sets in and the longer I'm on it, the better. I’m actually sleeping at night because of the sleep aids he’s made for me, granted for anyone else, they’d put them into a permanent coma but for me, they’re just right. I’ve shared them with Tali and they’re curing her too and even all the other Supers at The Agency with the same problem. Grated Phillip makes The Agency pay through the nose for theirs but for now they’re free for me and Barret is risking everything to get me my own protected supply that Phillip can’t touch or better yet, control, just in case Phillip tries to hold them over my head to keep me in line, which I wouldn’t push past him. Barret even made a suit that should protect me and everyone I protect that has features that every Super will want and every Super who is a handler will need. And he gives without any thought or want or need to be paid back. Even when he has so little, he’d give it all before ever being asked. He’s helping me with Dragon Eye, he’s...he’s an unlikely ally and an even unlikelier friend.” Violet explained as Helen’s eyebrows rose in surprise to hear of these developments. Granted, she didn’t like Phillip as far as she could punt him either. Something about Phillip put her on edge and had her own intuition telling her something was wrong with him and that he was much more dangerous than he looked but she couldn’t put her finger on it or explain it. She got the sense he was a sleezeball and Helen would have never forgiven Violet if Violet had come home from Vegas as Mrs. Sebastian.

“Sounds like a pretty awesome guy to me Vi.” Helen shrugged with a knowing grin.

“He is. He just...has an unfortunate past.” Violet answered.

“Was he in the mob or something?” Helen guessed lowly.

“Uh, no, not that I’m aware of.” Violet shook her head.

“Is he a serial killer?” Helen teased as Violet huffed a mirthless laugh again.

“Technically I’m a serial killer Mom.” Violet answered in all seriousness and honesty.

“Oh no you’re not. You’re a Super, no Super has clean hands, on either side but you're on the good side. Guilty blood saves innocent blood, and it's because of that guilty blood that you've saved countless innocents which more than makes up for it.” Helen assured her daughter.

“Even if my hands have the blood of other Supers on them?” Violet posed.

“Yes.” Helen insisted.

“Not all Supers are good people, and not all Supers are heroes. You’ve gotten your hands dirty trying to keep the world safe and everyone else clean, you’ve had to make the tough decisions and the hard choices. But they were the right ones. If it was easy, everyone could do it. But you’re special and you’re one of the good guys, if not one of the best. You’re the best kind of hero, one that doesn’t need to constantly be in the spotlight and have every good deed praised by the masses, unlike others we know.” Helen reassured her as Helen gave the living room a dismissive glance.

“I doubt you’d give Barret the same speech because his hands have just as much Super blood on them that mind do.” Violet posed with a disbelieving look as Helen was taken aback.

“Ok, now you’re scaring me. Who is Barret?” Helen asked in all seriousness.

“Google him, Google- Bartholomew Maximillian Pine, just don’t scream or yell when you find out and don’t tell Dad, the last thing I need is for Dad to go Papa Bear and kill him before I can get Dragon Eye off my plate.” Violet answered before Helen got her phone out of her back pocket and googled it.

“Why does he look familiar?” Helen asked as she looked at the images of him that came up.

“Cross reference Buddy Pine, aka Syndrome.” Violet said before Helen sharply inhaled through her nose as her eyes got impossibly wide.

“See? Do you see why I didn’t want tell you? Because of this reaction right here.” Violet insisted.

“I...I thought he was in a wheelchair? After the accident with the jet turbine.” Helen finally spoke.

“He was in a wheelchair, he was in one for a few years after that accident and had to be put together and get surgery after surgery to be made somewhat whole again, it was why he didn’t go to prison after Syntech crashed and burned as did Syndrome. But Barret has assured me that Syndrome died in that jet turbine and it’s beyond clear to me that he is telling me the truth and he shows me that that's the truth by his actions that he is nothing like what he once was, except for the genius inventor thing, that never changed but everything else did, you'd barely recognize him now but hearing him talk might jog your memory. Or even Dad's especially. Barret has suffered enough from all of that and especially how Tali helped tear apart and break down the very empire she helped him build and left him with nothing where he had to start from an all new low. Not only did he barely have a dollar to his name, he was left in literal pieces that had to be sewn together and be ripped apart piece by piece in every way before he put himself back together again. It’s actually impressive how he’s managed to make it this far despite all that. And even with all that history. He’s...he’s surprisingly not bitter or holding any grudges, even against Tali, because he got his ass into some much needed therapy. Here, watch this with your headphones.” Violet urged as she handed her phone to her mother and had her watch the video that she had saved to her phone as Helen put her headphones in her ear and watched the video as Violet watched her mother carefully, watching how she started off wearily then gradually went from weary to understanding then sympathetic as the video progressed.

“So, you ready to take all that back?” Violet questioned when Helen finished and handed the phone back.

“Nope. Who else has seen that?” Helen asked.

“Tali, she cried when she watched it. She said that if he had been like that a decade ago, she never would have left him, or betrayed him and has asked me to help Barret and take care of him to the best of my ability, which I have happily agreed to and Barret makes it easy for me to do so. I don't do so strictly out of obligation or because it's owed or expected. I do it because I want to. Which is a first for me, especially in this job.” Violet answered.

“Well, it’ll take some time for everyone to come around to the idea of just you being friends. I think it should only matter what people are in the present. Obviously, he’s suffered the consequences of his actions.” Helen appraised.

“He has suffered, more than enough.” Violet insisted.

“Then I trust your opinion of what he is now.” Helen insisted.

“Really?” Violet posed disbelievingly.

“Like I said, the past shouldn’t haunt us forever. And if you said Syndrome died all those years ago. And he’s a changed man, then I will trust you on that. You aren’t one to trust anyone easily. And every ounce of your trust is hard earned and if he’s earned it, and if you trusted him enough to let Jack hang out with him, because it's no secret he's your favorite, much less yourself, then that’s enough.” Helen insisted.

“So you’re not pissed that I let Jack hang out with him?” Violet asked.

“You let Jack hang out with Barret. And Barret is a good guy. That’s all that matters.” Helen insisted before Violet quickly enveloped her mom in a tight hug.

“Thank you Mom.” Violet thanked her, not realizing how much her mother's approval would mean to her or how assuring, reassuring, validating and vindicating it was to have it.

“You’re welcome.” Helen reassured her. Ever so thankful and grateful that Violet let her in on even this much.

Truth be told, Helen was resentful to The Agency for turning her daughter from a good but shy teen to a stone cold killer. When Violet had come home from a stint that took almost a year, Violet just came home and held Jack and didn’t let him go for weeks. And often took him to bed with her and cried herself to sleep holding him. Violet wouldn’t breathe a word of what really happened and what she had been doing was top secret and only the highest of higher ups even knew about it, but after that, Violet was never the same and she was fiercely protective of Jack who was only 3 at the time and she was only 17, almost 18 herself at the time as well. Thus why the two shared their current super close bond. All Helen could think of is that involved children. Maybe the target had little children that Violet left orphaned, that was the only thing that made sense to Helen and to Bob. But after that, Violet just did mission after mission, back to back to back and started earning more than her parents ever did combined. And each time she came home, less and less of herself came home with her and when Violet moved out at 18, Helen feared she would lose all contact with her, and Helen had never been more devastated when her fears proved true.

When Violet was 21, she did another really, really long mission that took over a year and Helen didn’t hear from Violet that whole time and all The Agency could tell her was that she was on mission and undercover, wouldn’t say where or with who. But whatever it was, it didn’t end well. Helen and Bob had been watching the news and three major catastrophes seemed to happen at the same time, complete with natural disasters on top of political upheaval. And then they had gotten a call from Violet from a burner phone, saying that she was done. And she was disappearing for good and that she was just calling to say goodbye.

That had been the worst of it.

To beg and plead with your only daughter to just come home, where it was safe, where she would be protected. And to have that same, oh so precious daughter inform you that she would put them in too much danger if she did that. That she couldn’t protect them. She couldn’t even protect herself. And that the danger was bigger and stronger than anything they had ever known. And that if they only knew what had really happened, they would never welcome her home anyway. And that this was for the best. And it was going to be better this way.

Then silence.

And it didn’t matter how many times Helen and Bob went back to The Agency and rallied the troops and threatened to bring hellfire down on all of them if they didn’t give them their daughter back or at least tell them where she was. They were going to hang every last person at the agency on their own bullshit lies tied into a noose around their necks. No one would tell them anything, mostly because the people there didn’t know and everyone who did was unreachable and "conveniently" overseas and completely unreachable. Bob and herself had even officially quit and retired. And had even tried looking for her on their own but never did find her because Violet had been trained to never leave a trace. And Violet was always- successful.

It wasn’t until Phillip and The Agency found her and brought her home a little over a year later that they got to see her in the flesh. And while it was a blessing having Violet back home, working a ‘normal’-ish job that was mostly 9-5 through the week with the occasional overseas trip, it still kept her here in Metroville, and kept her close and brought her back into the fold so to speak. But the real Violet, Helen feared, never did come back. Or at least the Violet that Helen could remember or recognize.

But then, about a couple of months ago, Helen noticed she started seeing glimmers and glimpses of the real Violet again, like Violet's spirit was slowly returning to her body. She was still incredibly guarded, and secretive. But she was easing up, Helen supposed, at least smiling more, and being more accessible, at least physically, emotionally though, that was another matter entirely.

But Violet did take to Dash’s kids really well when she first came back. Feeling sorry and sad that she missed out on them. It wasn’t unusual for when Helen and Bob had them for the weekend- Violet would ‘drop by’ for the weekend too, with clothes and toys in tow and doted on them the way she doted on Jack when Jack was that age since Dash Jr. was three and Dillon was two and a half at the time and now Dash Jr. was four and in preschool and Dillon was now three and a half and she got along remarkably well with Ashley, Dash Jr's mom who was Dash's high school sweetheart, and Amy, Dillon's mom, Dash's first college love. But Violet got a lot harder on Dash, making sure he always paid his child support and spent quality time with his kids and even chipped in financially with their mothers, making sure that Jr got into an amazing preschool and made sure that Dillon would too, and helping them as much as she reasonably could. And with Jack, she usually bought the bulk of his school clothes and fabrics and trim which she happily took him to the garment district and let him go nuts in the fabric warehouses, bringing home yards and yards of fabrics for his ‘creations’ and even paid for her parents to put on an addition to their house so Jack had his own studio to create in and was super encouraging to Jack with his interests, and often did all she could to help them out, either physically or especially financially and made sure to give them heads up on her schedules of when she was going to be in town or out of town so if they needed to, they could depend on her, or invite her to their own social things that they had going on.

But right now, it was Helen’s intuition telling her that the reason she was seeing more of the real Violet, was because it was Barret of all people bringing it out in her, and for that she was grateful and it was because of that, she could learn to forgive him for the past.

Monday morning Violet came into work and was surprised to see a woman in Phillip’s office already, and it was someone she didn’t recognize as she was sitting in his lap as he showed her something on his computer as her giggle got on every nerve Violet had.

“Mr. Sebastian?” Violet posed politely.

“Oh, Ms. Parr, good morning.”

“Good morning. Do we have anything new for Mr. Pine today?” Violet asked formally, since he was obviously otherwise engaged as Violet’s glasses revealed to her exactly who was sitting in his lap and so intimately embraced in it. Another ballerina. Cheseray Wilkenson, prima dancer for Villefort Dance Company.

“Yes, actually.” Phillip said as he picked up his tablet and did a swiping motion from his own tablet to hers before her tablet got the new data and Violet froze when she saw it as she blinked in surprise from her tablet then back up to Phillip.

“By the way, how is the new suit?” Phillip asked and Violet actually did well keeping the dread and fear from her eyes and her face.

“Good, so far.” Violet answered.

“Excellent. I’m happy it’s working out for you.” Phillip offered and Violet simply smiled politely in view of his ‘company’.

“Is there a problem Ms. Parr?” Phillip baited.

“No, no problem at all, will that be all Mr. Sebastian?” Violet asked.

“Yes.” Phillip nodded.

“Very well,” Violet nodded as she then went to her own office and opened her own computer case from The Agency and accessed her files before pulling up Dragon Eye and did a search for when the last time someone accessed it and her heart dropped when she saw that Phillip was the last one to look at it, Saturday night. After herself, Barret and Jack had been working it as she remembered the wave pattern from the cameras. She had been in the apartment side of the space most of the time where the cameras had only come on in a wave a few times but she had thought nothing of it, since it was going to be Nelson, Pike, Leland and Smith in the security booth but there was no way for Jack and Barret to know that they were on a wave pattern and it obviously happened way more frequently for them to figure out what they were up to. That’s how Phillip knew that they had made progress.

He knew. But she was sure she’d be forced into trying to slit her own wrists if he knew that Dragon Eye was really him.

She closed it out and looked more closely at what her tablet had received as she tried to see what was really there. Was this a test? A trick? A trap? Or just Phillip keeping up with her? Her gut was telling her something was off and something was wrong. She needed Tali’s advice and she called her on her phone.

“Yes?” Tali answered.

“Hey, can you meet me for lunch today? Please?” Violet proposed.

“Uh, yeah, sure, where did you want to go?” Tali answered.

“Don’t care, somewhere uh, private and spider free.” Violet proposed.

“Luigiano’s.” Tali suggested.

“Yup, see you at say...11:30?” Violet proposed.

“Yes, of course Dear, see you then.” Tali answered.

“Thanks.” Violet said before she hung up and quickly went to Barret’s floor.

“Good morning Ms. Parr,” Barret greeted.

“Good morning Mr. Pine, uh, you have a few new items for your agenda this week.” Violet informed him as she couldn’t wipe the confused frown off her face or the fear from her eyes to save her life as she did a wiping motion from her tablet to his and then looked at him pointedly to make sure he actually saw what was in front of him.

“Oh, huh.” Barret finally murmured as he looked it over himself, and also frowned in confusion before he looked back over to Violet before they had a silent conversation with just their subtle facial expressions before he finally reached over and tapped her hand with his knuckle three times but tried to make it look like some random twitch.

“If you don’t have any questions, I’ll leave you to it then. See you this evening Mr. Pine.” Violet formally said before she left and went back to her office before she went into her bathroom and became invisible, her clothes she had been wearing, transforming into her suit before she marched from her bathroom to Phillip’s office, only to walk in to seeing Phillip balls deep in his new ‘pet’ on his desk before she sarcastically gagged then marched straight to Barret’s floor and tapped him again, three times, in rapid succession on the shoulder when she had made it back before he ‘casually’ decided to go to the bathroom himself and once in it, he blew out a breath of relief when a forcefield suddenly enveloped them both as she reappeared before him.

“So what’s going on?” Barret asked.

“He knows we were working on Dragon Eye. I was able to see who saw Dragon Eye last. And it was him. He saw it very late Saturday night. He’s out to exploit you even more than he already is.” Violet answered anxiously as she started pace inside the bubble of the forcefield.

“Yeah but a Super would need your powers to make them invisible too. The suit is meant to work as an extension of yourself and it takes machines that take up most rooms to turn it invisible without your powers. To put the same suit on any other Super, it’s not gonna work. And even if it did, unleashing a small army of completely invisible Supers who don’t have the same moral compass you do- is dangerous, like Supervillain level of dangerous. No offense.” Barret offered.

“Oh none taken, I completely agree. Just having one of me is already too dangerous. I mean it would be nice for The Agency to have someone else for my kind of work but even I would have no way of seeing them.” Violet worried.

“Well...not...not necessarily, when you’re in the suit, when you’re invisible, if you’re wearing the hood, you could see them, you could see, in theory anything you wanted to see. If I make your suit for anyone else. There’s ways I can make them that even you can see them, all I need is to reconfigure the visor section of your suit and even reconfigure your glasses when you don’t wear the suit over your head or give you special contacts or make it so that the the nanos always recognize each other, even from a distance, even from each other’s invisibility. Like x-ray vision but I guess...not. It can be done. It’ll be tricky, but it can be done.” Barret realized as his spark was working into overdrive figuring it out.

“Here’s my other request. While you’re doing that- make my suit EMP proof. Because one of my powers is to mimic an EMP signal, it’s one of the ways I can “burn” the cameras and listening devices and other electronics. But if you could make it so that the EMP signal, knocks out other’s invisibility but keep mine intact. But I also need a way for my own SOS signal to be EMP proof. Like I want to be a thousand feet underground in a copper mine or a lead mine and the right people would still be able to find me and rescue me.” Violet proposed.

“You got it.” Barret immediately agreed.

“Thank you.” Violet thanked him as she stopped her pacing to hug him tightly.

“I think it’s a trap.” Barret confessed.

“Oh I know it’s a trap. But at this point, I need to put my bloody feet in the water to attract the shark and I need a way to set my own trap for it and to spring it at the right time. Springing it too soon and we’ll never catch him. We need a trap of our own.” Violet answered as she just clung to him as he did the same to her.

“But the thing is, if he knew Saturday night, at the time he checked, that was the time Pike was getting off and Leland was getting on, Nelson got Friday night and he made sure to destroy the evidence of the uh, incident. And all he wants is when and if you ever get to leave here alive, to take him with you.” Violet conveyed.

“Oh, yeah, that totally works, it was Nelson that got you the necklace.” Barret immediately agreed.

“Figures. But that leaves Pike or Leland to spill the beans. Pike was in the same boat that Nelson was in when I talked to them Saturday morning and according to everyone, everyone in the security detail is ready to follow you out of here. But I don’t know if Pike was just saying that to curry favor with me or if he was genuine. Nelson I believe is genuine. Pike and Leland, I wouldn’t put it past them to be two faced. So we’re just going to have to be extra careful from here on out and choose our steps carefully. And anyone’s loyalty who can be bought isn’t worth having.” Violet murmured to the crux of Buddy’s neck and shoulder as they just hung onto each other, Barret refusing to let go before Violet would and was perfectly content to just enjoy this, plus he couldn’t chance endangering her by engaging her romantically or at least emotionally when she had so much to lose before Violet finally reluctantly let him go.

“I better get out of here, just in case I’ve been gone too long.” Violet excused herself.

“Thank you.” Violet whispered as she stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek just as she vanished and just as Barret was about to go ‘fuck it’ and reach out and really kiss her back, she was gone, phased through the walls and he even reached out and tried to feel for her but she was already gone.

“You’re welcome.” Barret finally breathed as he reached up and rubbed the back of his neck anxiously before he sat down and actually used the bathroom as he held his head in his hands and thought of all the ways to give her what she asked for. Electronics that were EMP proof. Ways of seeing the invisible that he had worked so hard to make invisible in the first place. But at the same time, make her own SOS beacon a lighthouse among flashlights all while doing it under Phillip’s nose and off his radar, and off The Agency’s radar.

Meanwhile Violet came back into her office’s bathroom just in time to hear Phillip calling for her once he came into her office, “redressed” in her original clothes she had been wearing before.

“Yes Phillip?” Violet asked as she held her lower belly, pretending to have just had a huge bowel movement.

“Oh, there you are. I apologize for having company earlier and not letting you have freedom of speech in front of her.” Phillip began.

“Thank you.” Violet said simply as she took her seat behind her desk.

“But now that you’re here, I take it I’m free to speak to you now?” Violet posed.

“Yes of course.” Phillip agreed as he took a seat on the other side of her desk.

“About the new suit's possible release for The Agency. I will insist that we bring Edna Mode on onboard, otherwise no Super will have anything to do with it for fear of offending her and Edna Mode is a dangerous enemy. I will take on a thousand Dragon Eyes before I piss her off and you should have the same fearful respect for her that I do, to do otherwise is to court death and social suicide in this business. Edna has been designing super-suits since supers became a phenomenon and into popularity for the last 40 years, every Super, hero and villain alike has always used Edna. She is one of a kind and she’s neutral. This will feel like a betrayal and it will feel like we’re “stealing” this from her. And if The Agency pushes this on their Supers, that will mean that the only Supers to use her will be villains and that’s a recipe for disaster. Also my suit that Mr. Pine designed, was designed with me specifically in mind, specifically for dealing with Dragon Eye. The suit's capabilities will not be available should anyone else try to put it on. So unless you plan on cloning me, which I will never agree to, it won’t work. However, let’s say Mr. Pine does devise a way to get other suits to mimic what mine can do. Do you really think that’s a good idea to hand over truly invisible suits to an Agency that could hold the entire world hostage? The Agency already controls every Hero practically world wide. Or worse yet, if just one suit falls into the wrong hands and gets replicated, every enemy now has a way to waltz into any building, into any place they wanted to and kill you or me or anyone else without a trace. One of me in the world is dangerous enough. Imagine ten of me, a hundred of me, an army of me but without my moral compass and without my ethics. There could be thousands, millions even. All invisible, all uncontrollable and pure chaos and disaster. And all of it would have your fingerprints. Can you imagine the already delicate stock market crashing and sending the whole world into a recession that we’ve never seen before? Is making a few million off of new suits for The Agency worth all your billions that you already have?” Violet posed skeptically.

“Well, when you put it like that, no.” Phillip realized.

“Now I do agree that Mr. Pine’s new suit does have certain features that would be helpful for every Super that are non power specific. Instead of selling invisible suits. Sell the features that are non power specific, sell them individually and let the Supers and The Agency pick and choose and custom build their own- with of course- Edna’s approval, and Edna's control if she would agree on redesigning anyone’s suit. Also, Edna is used to having 100% of the profits of all super-suits and working all on her own before Jack was born. Mr. Pine made mine for free as a favor to Jack and myself because he’s a good person and because we asked nicely. Well, begged and pleaded because Jack and I are desperate to get Dragon Eye because he’s been on my roster for forever but because of his own powers, no other Super but me will touch him and I would prefer to keep it that way. Dragon Eye has the ability to make people commit suicide, imagine his own army equipped with my suit. Me and every single Super at the Agency would be in danger, including you because you have clearance at The Agency, you’d be just as big of a target that I am. Do you really want to risk it?” Violet posed skeptically as she leaned back into her chair and folded her arms over her chest and crossed her legs and fixed him with a look.

“No.” Phillip decided.

“Then change this in the roster.” Violet said as she handed him her tablet.

“Also you do realize that he would have to go to The Agency and to Edna Mode’s house to work on those super suits and every moment he’s off doing that- he won’t be here working on SEB stuff so his own output for SEB will wane to a degree as will his focus since it will be divided too. However it will prove fruitful in the long run because you’ll have an in with every other Super and you’ll be even father on The Agency’s good side and an even closer bedfellow and the chances of getting premium contracts will grow. It’s just a matter of do you want the money that would usually go straight to your pocket to change hands a few times before it does?” Violet posed.

“I think it's worth it for any profits made with any endeavor with The Agency to change hands and have a chance to multiply before it comes back to me will be sizable.” Phillip answered.

“Fair. But know that you will only have a limited time for that to occur. Because once Mr. Pine is no longer under contract with you, he’ll have his own in with The Agency because of this. He used to be the most powerful and influential non Super before his fall from grace and you effectively took his place. Once he leaves, he may want a bigger piece of their pie. Be prepared to share.” Violet warned.

“Well there’s a lot of time between now and then, and accidents happen, besides you’re his heir apparent, I wouldn’t mind sharing all the pie you wanted with you.” Phillip offered and all Violet could do was huff a laugh and grin crookedly as she just shook her head. Violet would sooner slit his throat before she would slit Barret’s as Phillip mistook the roguish curve of her grin as her delight at the prospect which only made him happy that Violet was still on the ‘murder’ side of things as far as Mr. Pine was concerned. Which meant that if she did get closer to Mr. Pine, it would be purely to undo him and further devastate him in the end. Which meant he could fully trust her with him.

“Also, I noticed that you loosened up the safety protocols for Mr. Pine’s outings. Why?” Violet asked since she had him right there.

“Uh, it was a Raid Day thing. I thought you’d feel better knowing he wasn’t “crawling with spiders” too, besides, I completely trust you with him and I know your specialties, the less “evidence” of any kind of friendly relationship, the less can be used against you, in the case you have to do the deed. However, if you are seen by his friends being with him all the time and getting cozy, that will place you well outside the realm of suspicion to them. Especially since you have more than one connection to them.” Phillip answered and Violet realized Phillip’s trap. He was trying to trap Barret, using herself as bait.

“Ok. Well thank you, that’s very sweet and thoughtful of you, I really appreciate it.” Violet thanked him before a thought occurred to her.

“By any chance, is that why you are hanging onto Miss Cheseray Wilkinson for longer than a weekend? Because if you’re “engaged” with her, that may seem to appear to free me up to get “cozy” with Mr. Pine?” Violet asked as she uncrossed her arms and simply let her arms rest on the armrests of her chair.

“You always were so clever Violet.” Phillip beamed proudly as Violet simply leaned forward on her elbows of her desk as Phillip did the same.

“God you’re despicable.” Violet praised, despite her grin, she wanted to throw up when he leaned across the desk and kissed her. But she swallowed it down, along with her disgust for him. Barret’s life and survival hung in the balance, she needed to protect him. The money- she could care less about, she had more than enough just from The Agency, any money from Phillip was always extra. But for Barret's sake, it would be worth it. But for now, she needed to get Phillip right where she needed him and keep herself above suspicion in order to keep her own head from rolling. She couldn’t protect Barret, let alone anyone else if she was dead. And Phillip still held the power to pull the trigger so to speak. She still needed to finesse the gun from his grasp. And she still needed to figure out a proper trap for him too. One that he would be willing to release Barret from his if it meant his own freedom, much less his own life to be exchanged.

“Well Mr. Pine and myself are barely now only friends, for anything romantic is to happen, it is going to take some serious time and some very convincing measures and greater freedoms for both of us and he will not only have to be enticed, but feel free to pursue me without the fear of any backlash or danger of any kind. And I’ll need it in my contract that no retaliation or counter measures will be taken for any romantic entanglements for either of us because his fear of you may always outweigh any desire he has for me and it is that fear that keeps him in line and behaving for us so we need to balance it. And of course the occasional, if not quite frequent unsupervised time spent while in contract would be most helpful and if any of my enemies become his by association, I can’t be held responsible for that. But at the same time, if anyone is going to take him out, it will be me and me alone that will do it. No one else is to ever interfere and whether he lives or dies, will be a matter that me and only me will ever decide one way or another and who knows, he may prove to be useful to me for many years to come, decades probably, why should we prune a bush just as it begins to flower? Why not let it bloom it’s heart out and enjoy it’s fruits for the long run? Granted you get to enjoy the fruits of his labor for the next two years. I would hate to kill the golden goose before it gets a chance to lay it’s best golden eggs a few years from now? Because while I will inherit everything he has, why not let that bush flower and fruit to its absolute fullest and ripest before it’s harvested?” Violet specified with a flourish of her hands.

“Oh of course. I absolutely agree with you on that.”

“But again, all of that will take time. Are you patient enough for all of that?” Violet posed.

“Oh don’t worry about me. I won’t grow bored if that’s what you’re worried about. Cheseray will do quite nicely as a good distraction.”

“Well if that distraction ever gets serious, I wouldn't hold that against you Phillip.” Violet cooed, because honestly, Cheseray and the rest of her dance company could take their turns with him, she didn’t give a fuck.

“Oh I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you.” Phillip reassured her.

“Well, if my hands are going to be full with Mr. Pine for the foreseeable future. I may need help with the position of your handler. And I fear for bigger trips like the ones to Tokyo and Hong Kong and the like, you're going to need an official handler since I’m going to be Mr. Pine’s for those engagements and well every engagement and outing from now on, because closeness does breed fondness after all.” Violet proposed and subtly consciously nodded which got Phillip to nod subconsciously as well.

“Of course, consider this your reassignment to him then. I believe I can enlist others to stand in for your post for the time being while you are otherwise engaged.” Phillip offered.

“Would you like me to arrange for that or did you have someone in mind?” Violet posed curiously.

“Oh I have a few in mind. I’ll take care of it myself. Your hands are already so full from handling Mr. Pine for me. I couldn’t possibly ask for you to find your stand in too.”

“Well if I may make a suggestion?” Violet offered.

“Oh I’m all ears.” Phillip grinned giddily.

“Don’t get Veronica Andrews. She’s a little too strictly business for your tastes and you will lose ground with her for the same things that gained ground with me. May I suggest perhaps a man, who is perhaps- familiar, accepting and incredibly accommodating for all of your needs who will use the same foresight and thoughtfulness I possess and will pleasantly surprise you?” Violet offered.

“Oh do go on.” Phillip urged her.

“He has a bit of a wild reputation and may have been in a scandal or two himself. But, he should be a good fit for you. His name is Leopold Traeger. Also known as Mysterio.” Violet recommended.

“Really? Mysterio?” Phillip posed.

“Most think he’s just a second rate Super, but those in the know- know differently. He’ll be perfect for what you need him for.” Violet cooed.

“Then I will take your recommendation.” Phillip grinned which got Violet to smile victoriously.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a lunch date with Mirage. I’ll need all the insights and tidbits I can possibly harvest from her.” Violet excused herself as she got up and smoothed out her skirt.

“Oh of course, please do send her my best.” Phillip offered as he mirrored her.

“One last kiss then, besides, I would hate to be the reason you and Cheseray were to ever have a disagreement, let alone an argument or for her to feel any kind of jealousy towards me or feel threatened by me and our closeness. I can’t go ruining your relationships can I?” Violet cooed as she gave him one last kiss. Kissing the last of any emotional attachment with him goodbye with it.

“Goodbye Phillip, or should I say, Mr. Sebastian?” Violet slipped back into her handler voice as she sauntered away.

“Goodbye Ms. Parr.” Phillip called after her wistfully.

Violet went to Luigiano’s for lunch early and happily realized that Tali had already made a reservation under Octavia for a private booth. The restaurant was owned by The Seven Kings Mafia, so there was absolutely no cameras or listening devices and there were completely enclosed private booths in one of the private dining rooms that were bulletproof and sound proof and if you needed to discuss any kind of business, Luigiano’s is where you went. Plus they had one of Metroville’s best wine selections and the staff that worked in the kitchens turned out some of the best Italian food in the area that was on par with any Italian grandmother's cooking mostly because the kitchen was full of real grandmothers from all over Italy that were brought over by the seven families that made up the Seven Kings of the Seven King's Mafia and you had to be an important somebody to even be on the list of guests allowed to make reservations and thankfully both Violet and Natalia were on that list. Violet sat down and ordered her favorite wine and some antipastos before Natalia came a few moments later, turning heads like she always did, because even after being a mother of two, her figure had morphed from slim and trim to dangerously curvy but still undeniably sexy and Natalia was still a head turner wherever she went, wearing one of her more couture outfits and looking more like a mob boss’ wife more than anything before she was shown to her booth before her own order was taken then the doors of the booth were closed and secured as Violet and her happily dug into the antipastos that had been delivered already.

“Violet Darling, I was surprised to get a call from you, what’s going on?” Tali asked.

“What do you make of this?” Violet asked as she handed Tali her tablet as Tali took it and read through what was on it before she let it set on the table and got her glass of wine and began to drink it before she looked back down at it, holding the chilled glass of wine to her cheek as he cheeks flushed as she stared down at it as she did her best to school her features to stay composed as Violet could still see the real fear behind her gorgeous green eyes.

“It’s one hell of a trap.” Tali noted.

“I know. It’s a trap for Mr. Pine, I’m the bait.” Violet offered before Tali shook her head no.

“No, you have that backwards Dear. Mr. Pine is the bait, you’re the prey. This is a give. The real question is- what is Phillip taking?” Tali asked.

“Phillip still thinks I’ll kill Mr. Pine at my earliest convenience.” Violet answered.

“Nope, that’s not it. That was a term already agreed upon and understood under the previous terms. These are new terms. Which means new stakes. This is the give, what is the take?” Tali repeated emphatically.

“My sanity?” Violet guessed. “I told him about the creepy crawly spiders. He agreed to kill them for me and that Mr. Pine is like a big can of Raid to me. Phillip hasn’t killed them yet, but he put them to sleep for now.” Violet revealed.

“No. That’s not it. Did Phillip propose? And more importantly did you accept because this is a big “leap of faith and trust” there’s no way Phillip would take this leap, without either knowing for certain that you will catch him, or, more importantly, know for certain that his leverage against you outweighs this, it’s like gambling, and he’s the house, the house is always going to win and this is your first pay out. But there’s no way you get to leave the casino. It’s way too early and the night is way too young, again, what are the stakes, what is the take? The real take? Are you going to be Mrs. Sebastian?” Tali asked plainly.

“No, uh, in fact he has a new squeeze in order to free me up for Mr. Pine.” Violet answered.

“Well it’s clear he’s “loaning you out” like a pimp trading hoes or an exhibit at a museum. What is Phillip taking to keep you loyal to him? To keep you obedient and in line? What is more precious to you than your heart that Phillip knows you'd give up everything to keep safe?” Tali urged her.

“Jack.” Violet breathed in horror as that realization hit her like a brick to the face.

“It was Jack who came to SEB to redesign the suit. It’s Jack who has been working with Edna on Dragon Eye. But Jack is at home, Jack would know if there’s spiders at home or at school and Jack is so far- immune. Unless... Phillip found a way to make himself more potent. Oh God. I told Phillip he needed a new handler while I was “reassigned”. I suggested Mysterio because Mysterio would be able to give Phillip all the freedoms he wants, without too many constrictions of ethics or morals, much less codes or laws. Mysterio has had issues with drugs in the past. If Phillip gets ahold of...any number of things he’ll be too strong. Even for me. Maybe even for Jack or my parents, or anyone.” Violet realized.

“I gotta go.” Violet realized as she took the tablet back and got her things together.

“Thank you for lunch, sorry to eat and run, I gotta…”

“Just go.” Tali waived her off as Violet quickly walked out of the restaurant, doing everything in her power not to cry in public as panic whirled in her chest and she went straight to Jack’s school and had him come to the office while she did her best to wait patiently for him to come before Jack came into the office in confusion before he looked into the office to see Violet before his eyes got wide to see her expression.

“What’s wrong?” Jack asked.

“Oh, uh, you have an appointment with Dr. Pine today that Mom forgot to call the school and let them know you had.” Violet offered.

“Oh yeah, uh, let me go get my backpack.” Jack said as Violet went with him and ordered her secret bike to meet her at a doctor’s office where she managed to find- a Dr. Pine on staff. He was an orthopedic surgeon, who specialized in pediatrics. Perfect.

“What’s going on?” Jack whispered.

“Phillip changed the stakes. We need to strategize with Barret.” Violet urged him.

“Shit.” Jack cursed under his breath.

“That was fast. We were just there for the weekend, we left Sunday afternoon, it hasn't been 24 hours since we last left. How did he change it so fast?” Jack asked in a hushed whisper as he got back to his locker and got his stuff along with work from his teacher before he followed Violet out of his school.

“Read this.” Violet said as she handed Jack her tablet as she drove like the wind to the doctor’s office as she checked her phone to see where her bike was en-route to her.

“I just got done with lunch with Tali, she said that since I’m not officially engaged to Phillip, that that is the give and asked what the take is. I think because you were at SEB, that Phil plans on taking you as leverage against me. I don’t know when or how, but you need to make sure that at school and especially at home, that it’s spider free. But since I officially got reassigned, I suggested Mysterio as my replacement. Mysterio has a history with drugs, more-so with weed than coke but I wouldn’t put it past him. If Phillip gets back on coke- he’ll get too strong, even for me and I’m afraid even for you.” Violet insisted.

“Yup, that tracks.” Jack nodded in agreement before she parked her car and hit a remote on her keys before an enclosed motorcycle slid it’s enclosure back as Violet quickly changed into a pant suit so she could ride the bike astride as Jack got on it with her and got the second helmet and put it on before he hung onto his sister tightly from behind her on the bike and rode with Violet back to SEB in the cloaked bike, weaving through all the traffic, like a thread through a tapestry and once in the SEB parking lot, Violet enveloped through her forcefield as she ran into the building, phasing though the walls and such to get to Barret’s lab before she got Jack safely into Barret’s bathroom before she went up to Barret and tapped his arm three times before he lifted his head and took the cue and went into the bathroom and blinked in surprise to see Jack in there before the three of them were enveloped into Violet’s forcefield.

“Ok, now what’s going on?” Barret asked before Violet repeated what had happened with Phillip and then again with Tali as both Barret and Jack had to sit on the floor as Violet sat with them as all three of them simply held their heads in their hands as they sat cross legged on the floor in a triangle.

“How do we get out of this?” Jack asked.

“Other than in a casket.” Barret specified.

“Or me in a wedding dress answering to Mrs. Sebastian for the rest of my life, however long or short that may be.” Violet groaned as she raked her nails over her scalp.

“Wait.” Jack breathed in softly as an idea bloomed in his head.

“Is there a way to measure someone’s individual brain wavelengths, like a taking a stamp of a fingerprint. And is there a way we can inject, something like a dye, like the kind of dye they inject you with when you have an MRI, but it can stick to foreign wavelengths, like dusting for fingerprints, but on the brain, to see if Phillip has had his “fingerprints” on other brains. Like I know Violet’s brain is going to look like a joint passed around at a party.” Jack began which got Violet and Barret to snort a laugh at his allegory. But he had a great idea.

“But if we can find actual evidence of this suicide seed. It should show up right? And even if it got removed, there might be evidence, like the water stains left behind in a flower vase. It’s worth a shot right?” Jack offered.

“Definitely.” Barret readily agreed.

“And if we can make it so that once it’s found, the dye can act like nonstick spray on a pan, to keep any further ‘fingerprinting’ from happening to the brain itself but make his efforts still show up?” Violet ventured as Jack and Violet looked to Barret hopefully.

“In theory yeah, but it would take images and I need Phillip’s biometric data. And that’s not going to be easy to get.” Barret began.

“Well, we’ve used Dragon Eye as our cover so far, I’d have offed myself already if Phillip knew he was really Dragon Eye. We can use that as our in. We can use the Agency and I can get you set up with passcodes and ways to use The Agency’s databases and super computers so that you can work on stuff that even Phillip can’t see and we can hide it in plain sight because anything secret or top secret or whatever Phillip always likes to poke his nose into. We can even use your cipher to code it. Make it so that IRize and your other companies can get read into it and at least they can keep a second copy of it as a back up and Jack, I hate to do this to you so but get you another back up, keep it with Edna, no one in their right mind would go after her or invade her space, they’d be making an enemy with every Super world wide on both sides.” Violet mused.

“Yeah, that works.” Jack said before Violet got a nosebleed.

“Fuck, I’ve used too much of my powers today, we gotta cut this short. Jack I gotta get you back and get you off at home.” Violet realized as she grabbed some toilet paper to stuff it into her nose to stop the bleeding as Buddy noticed that the blood itself seemed to pulse in and out of invisibility within the tissue, like a cuttlefish strobing it’s lights and colors which he thought was peculiar.

“Ok,” Jack readily agreed before Violet got Jack back and managed to hack into the real Dr. Pine’s medical computers to fake a note for Jack before her bike drove itself back to her secret hideout apartment before Violet took Jack home and lied to her parents about how she had made the doctor’s appointment for Jack because he was complaining of pain in his feet because the real Dr. Pine was an orthopedic surgeon and they were getting a consultation.

Then Violet returned to work as usual and went to check in with Phillip for the evening check in and stopped dead in her tracks when she saw someone with Mysterio in Phillip’s office.

White Lightning- none other than her brother, one Dash Parr.

Fuck. Wrong brother. It wasn’t necessarily Jack that was the take. It was Dash.

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devilfic · 4 years ago

Text

❝leather-bound hands❞

plot: you have a strange obsession with cloud’s hands. pairing: cloud strife x gn!reader. cw: humor, mutual pining, cloud is touch-starved but so are you. suggestive content because cloud’s gloves are really sexy and I like them a lot. words: 5.6k. rewritten: 3/15/24.

No matter how you felt about physical intimacy, battle never allowed your boundaries to stay uncrossed for long.

Cloud had a... habit of manhandling. His mind moved faster than most of you, and so when you were up against a particularly nasty enemy and Cloud really needed one of you to be anywhere else than where you were, he took it upon himself to move you. Barret was the only one free from this habit of Cloud’s (based on the fact that he was far too bulky to maneuver), but the rest of you? It was fair game.

His habit couldn’t be stopped but it could be reformed, which meant that if Cloud was getting ready to fling one of you out of the way, you had to make the most of it. You, specifically, learned how to anticipate when he was about to reorder your party.

If he tossed Aerith next to you, you knew that you could rely on her shielding spells to amplify your attacks. If he shoved Barret in front of you, you knew that a barrage of attacks were about to be unleashed against your party, and you needed to guard immediately. While the others often complained about the tricky little habit of Cloud’s, you couldn’t bring yourself to do the same. After all, he was ex-SOLDIER. If anyone in your group were to know everyone’s strengths and weaknesses best, it was going to be Cloud.

It had taken some time for the early members of Avalanche to get used to the new setup, yet you were probably the only person who could keep up with Cloud’s battle-trained mind. That meant that he very rarely needed to move you... until the one day he did.

You were being hounded on by a few infantrymen, somewhere on the outskirts of a sector you’d never been to. It hadn’t taken long for your suspicious group to catch the eyes of prying Shinra dogs.

You’re about five seconds from knocking a smug grin off the face of one of your assailants when you feel something firm and leathery take hold of your upper arm, flinging you out of the way of the infantryman’s eyesight. The touch only lasts a moment but the sudden change of scenery throws you way off balance. You stumble into Tifa, shouting an apology to the brawler just in time to catch your bearings, and send your nail-ridden bat into the helmet of one of her attackers, laying them flat out.

You can’t stop thinking about that feeling, though.

After shaking off the infantrymen, all of you had huddled into a dilapidated motel to rest and hide out from any other people looking to cause trouble. It was up to you and Cloud to head out and get dinner. You’d both been instructed by Barret (perhaps unnecessarily) to not draw any attention to yourselves. “You two look like a couple,” Aerith had offered unhelpfully, a sly smile on her face for reasons beyond your frazzled mind, “people hate looking at couples in love!”

The foot or two of space between you and Cloud did not exactly spell out “IN LOVE”, but it would have to do as you both walked through the crowded sector, searching for somewhere to eat that would arouse the least amount of complaints from everyone. Your upper arm is still tingling.

“You okay?” You ask, a small attempt to make friendly conversation with your introverted companion. Neither of you were exactly the type for small talk, but it beat the awkward silence you felt looming over you.

Cloud shot you a quick glance before focusing on not getting knocked over or separated from you. He’d left his buster sword back at the motel in exchange for discretion, much to his discomfort, “Fine. You?”

That wasn’t much to work with. “Yeah... that encounter earlier threw me off, is all.”

“Why’s that?” You could hear the palpable confusion in his voice, even over the bustling nightlife, “It wasn’t any worse that what we’ve dealt with before.”

You don’t really know how to articulate that the battle itself wasn’t what had flustered you without making him feel weird. Or making you look weird. It was such a simple touch after all. He’d done it to everyone. It was going to happen to you eventually. You shouldn’t have been so shocked.

Except, out of everyone, Cloud’s was the only one whose touch had never graced your skin before. Barret would give you proud claps on the back, Tifa was no stranger to taking your hands in hers from time to time, Aerith never hesitated to throw her arms around you for hugs, and Red would brush up against your leg all the time. Cloud often kept to himself until a fight broke out—not the type for physical affection—but even then, he very rarely felt the need to push or pull you anywhere. It just felt... new.

You don’t realize Cloud is calling your name until you feel that same leather against your skin again. Only, this time, it’s wrapped firmly around your hand. You’ve found yourself standing off to the side of the giggling crowd, Cloud’s gloved hand clenched around your own almost hard enough to hurt. When he sees the recognition flash in your eyes, he releases. “Sorry,” he mutters, immediately retracting his hand, “you weren’t reacting to anything else... are you okay?”

Your hand is tingling, flexing at the missing touch. It feels so... strange. You had never really considered yourself the type to miss touch. You were fine without it, had grown up fine without it.

Why was this any different? “I should be apologizing. My mind is all over the place right now and we’re nowhere near safe enough to enjoy that luxury.”

Cloud frowns, stepping a little closer, “You sure it’s just the ambush that’s got you shaken?”

Of course not. You nod, “I think there’s a BBQ place nearby. I can smell the meat. Red’ll love it.”

Cloud looks you over for a moment longer, seemingly unconvinced, before he allows you to lead by your nose. That night, the topic doesn’t come up again.

Except it does. It doesn’t come up in conversation, but at some point, you awaken in the middle of the night in a feverish sweat. You can feel that leather disappearing from your thighs the moment you look out around you in the motel room, your chest heaving as you take in gulps of air. You haven’t had a dream like that since...

You feel so ashamed, sluggishly dragging yourself out of bed as quietly as possible as to not wake the fast asleep Aerith beside you. She doesn’t stir and you’re thankful that she’s too tuckered out to react, a first for the light sleeper.

Your first stop is the bathroom. You splash your face with tap water and look over yourself in the grimy bathroom mirror, trying to gather your exhausted thoughts. All you could remember was the burn of freezing metal against your stomach, leather gloves dragging up your knees... and a blurry figure, practically a mess of shapes, but undeniably-

You don’t finish that thought lest it stick with you for the rest of the night, so you slip out of the bathroom and head for the door, deciding that you’d do well to get some fresh air. The clock on the nightstand tells you that it’s around witching hour, so it’ll be quiet out at least.

The motel hallways are cold and carry a distinct smell with them, the mark of generations of travelers finding refuge here, and focusing on that distracts you from the vestiges of your dream.

By the time you get outside, you find only one other person straggling outside the motel. It’s an older man with a cigarette between his teeth. He nods to you with a nonchalant eyebrow raise, and then goes back to staring out at the street with little interest.

Not a moment passes before you’re bombarded with Cloud’s phantom touch again.

Why was this fucking with you? There was no heat, no passion behind either touch. Nothing special. Nothing remarkable. He did it to get your attention, that’s it. You’ve been touched plenty of times by the others. It was nothing new to you! Cloud was nothing new to you.

His hands on you just felt... really good.

You chalked it up to the leather. Perhaps you just liked the feel (and you ignored the fact that you’d never reacted as bodily to Tifa’s leather gloves). There was no reason for you to be standing out here, in the middle of the night, ignoring a normal (abnormal), silly (unnerving) dream that did nothing but steal precious, precious sleep from you. All because you liked the feel of Cloud’s hands—leather-bound hands.

You feel like the silence outside is only making this worse for you.

With a defeated grumble, you decide that maybe you’ll grab a drink from one of the vending machines. Maybe these were the ramblings of a dehydrated mind?

As you greedily gulp down a bottle of some fancy Sector 8 water, you’re aware of the pulse in your throat and the curiosity to feel leather against it.

It’s been a few days since your dream and you’ve since come to terms with the fact that you are not immune to the allure of Cloud Strife, no matter how... humbling that is to admit.

Cloud hasn’t touched you since then despite the fact that you’ve seen your fair share of brawls in that time. You tell yourself it’s a compliment: that you’re good at fighting. You know where to be and when, so much so that Cloud doesn’t feel the need to intervene. You’re happy he leaves you alone. It makes you feel like you’re doing a good job.

It’s just that when Cloud’s hand reaches out to touch Tifa, and it’s so close to touching you too, you lean in if only to feel the brush of his fingers before he’s snatching away his childhood friend instead. The moment you realize what you’re doing, you growl, swinging your bat extra hard at a lingering Monodrive that dares look at you the wrong way. Your rational mind knows it isn’t, but your irrational mind? It just really wants to feel something again.

The first encounter with craving Cloud’s touch had left you nervous, out of it, but now you felt a strange, unjustifiable anger. Yes, Cloud was undeniably handsome and yes, there was some weird, primal part of you that quite liked the idea of being touched by him (however briefly), but that didn’t give you the right to be as upset as you were. Even you knew, in your hazed mind, that you were acting childish. But still...

You wished you had the balls to just reach out and grab him like Aerith and Tifa did, but you lacked the excuse of having known him long enough for it not be weird. If you tried to touch him out of the blue, it’d freak you both out. Even accidental brushes were few and far between with the two of you. You were always hyper-aware of his presence, managing to stay out of his way just fine. If you thought too long on ways you could encourage physical contact with him—just to put your mind to rest—you’d end up overheated and frustrated. You could tell it was already taking everything in Aerith not to be nosy.

But you know everyone can sense something’s wrong with you when you say that you’re going out alone that evening, not even bothering to say for how long or where you’d even be going. But you’re thankful that you don’t hear anyone following after you; some time alone might clear your misguided mind, after all.

The town you were squatting in ended up being near the sea, and the faint crashing of waves at the shore draws you near like a moth to a flame. Some time here would help you gather yourself. Then, you’d make up for your weird mood back at the motel with a round of cards and gambling that overly-competitive Barret would try (and fail) to win. Everyone would forget your bad attitude. Everyone would move on. You would move on.

Yeah. You just needed to get Cloud’s hands off your mind.

Sinking down into the sand several feet away from the lapping waves, you let the wind cool your nerves. You busy your mind with making errand lists, thinking about the group’s next stop, mending the tear in your shirt, the works. For a while, it actually helps.

“You like the beach, too?” You’re startled out of your thoughts by someone coming up beside you. Aerith has appeared at your right, grinning out at the water as she tucks her dress beneath her to sit. “I’ve been telling Barret we should have a beach day, but nobody wants to put their weapons down for a second!”

“I don’t think we’re in a position to enjoy a day at the beach, Aerith.” You chuckle, tossing some sand into her lap.

She huffs but doesn’t deny you, gently shaking off the skirt of her dress, “Perhaps... but everyone needs to loosen up. We’ve been on edge for weeks, it’s not good to be this... pent up, you know?” Your eye twitches at her choice of words, and suddenly you feel a chill down your spine, “...I’m assuming that’s what’s up with you?”

“Sure.”

“Come onnn,” the girl shoves you with her elbow, barely moving you an inch, “talk to me. We share a bed! We should share our thoughts too.”

You’re almost certain that Aerith would want nothing to do with your thoughts if she knew what they really were. How could you tell her about your measly, insignificant, basically-not-even-worth-talking-about crush on Cloud (or rather, his hands, because that was as much as you were allowing yourself to entertain right now) without her making it a big deal? At the moment, you were very satisfied with the opposite.

You also know that she won’t let up when she feels she’s got her hook in a good catch, and so you choose your next words carefully, “I’m just getting used to all this. Being a vigilante, being on the run, all that.”

“But weren’t you already part of Avalanche? This shouldn’t be new to you.”

“I was, but... I had always seen myself staying in Sector 7. Never leaving. I’d do my part from home where it was safe and charted territory. Now, I’m with you guys, and while I’m having a blast-”

“You never expected it to get this far. I understand how you feel. I never thought I’d be doing this either. It all seems so fun! Like an action movie, you know? But our lives and the planet are on the line... it’s a big ask for all of us to try and protect that.” Wise as ever, Aerith manages to top her reply off with a pout, “Would you like to go home?”

You shake your head, then rest your chin on your knees. You feel bad for hiding behind your homesickness in order to save face, but it is shockingly therapeutic to get it out, “I miss home but... I like you guys more. I mean, only an idiot would pass up a chance like this.”

Aerith giggles, “Glad to hear it! We would all be very sad if you didn’t stay. Some more than others.”

You raise a brow, “What? Like you?”

“And others.”

That catches your attention for sure.

You raise your head and turn to Aerith, facing her fully, watching the way the sunset behind you both frames her cheeks in a knowing, pink glow. There’s a tiny smile on her face that speaks volumes that you unfortunately cannot understand. “Aerith-”

The girl suddenly jumps up from the sand, brushing off her dress, “Would you look at the time!” She shouts, startling some other beachgoers nearby. She points toward the sun, “We should get back before nightfall. Wouldn’t want to get lost, would you?”

You frown, trying to decipher her meaning, “I’ll catch up later.”

Aerith just winks at you and walks away. “Don’t be late!”

An hour has passed before you start making your trek back, hoping that Aerith wouldn’t be too upset with you for being out so long. At least now you could say that your head was much clearer than it was hours ago. Maybe after a nice night’s rest, you would be in a better mood.

Whatever progress you’d managed to accomplish quickly dissipates the second you turn the corner.

Standing up against the brick wall of a closed bakery, you recognize Cloud’s silhouette instantly. He’s in his usual getup, buster sword and all, and is illuminated by a nearby streetlight that turns his hair molten gold. He’s got one leg crossed over the other, same with his arms, and his eyes are shut as if taking a nap. Stepping closer to the ex-SOLDIER, he rouses to attention, blinking at you calmly, “Wanted to walk you home.”

Did he have to be so dreamy looking when he said that? “...Oh, Cloud, I didn’t know you... did Aerith make you come out here? How long have you been waiting?”

He ignores the real question completely, pushing himself off the wall and nodding for you to follow him, “Aerith didn’t make me do anything. Feeling better?”

Not anymore is what you want to say, but in order to keep the spotlight off you, you just nod, “Sort of. I’m sure I’ll feel better in the morning. It’s just one of those things.” Cloud makes sure to keep that same foot of space between you even as you itch to break it.

He hums, “I was going to ask if you wanted to spend time with me in the morning.”

“W-With you?” If you weren’t already concerned about your mental state around Cloud, you’d honestly mistake the warm lighting of the city for a blush on his cheeks. Whatever it is, he refuses to look you in the eyes as you both continue to walk.

“I need a sparring partner. We haven’t really had time to practice in peace for a while. Might be good for us. Could learn about each other better. Maybe take your mind off whatever’s bothering you.” Learn about each other’s bodies better, more like.

Perhaps he’d realized you were frazzled about the manhandling the other day? Maybe he wanted to get you used to it in a controlled setting? “That’s a great idea, Cloud,” you shoot him a nervous smile, “I’m sure-”

You don’t have time to react when Cloud suddenly yanks you toward him by the waist, only for a cyclist to rush by with a half-assed apology thrown your way. You don’t know whether to be pissed that they were biking on the sidewalk or focused on the very real lack of space between you and Cloud right now. His fingers twitch on your lower back and you quite instantly make your decision.

Your arms are tucked awkwardly against his chest while he’s got his left arm snug around your hip and his right hand bracing against the wall behind you to keep from crushing you against it. The proximity only freaks you out for a moment, and then you find yourself subconsciously leaning into the touch with a whimper of a “thank you” slipping past your lips, not at all inclined to move.

Cloud stares down at you with those giant, brilliant eyes of his, muttering a “no problem” even as he makes no move to release you. You can’t tell if it’s stranger that you aren’t pulling away yet or that you’re perfectly fine he hasn’t pulled away either.

Curses. As soon as you thought that, you feel his hand peel from your back so that you can stand upright on your own two feet, “Sorry,” he whispers, “it was quicker to grab you-”

“Don’t apologize for that.” You blurt out before you can review how that might sound coming from you, all flushed and still invading his personal space, “Feel free to... uh, I mean, I don’t mind if you touch... me. Sometimes.” You really could have said all of that better.

At least you know for sure now that there is a definite blush on his cheeks, “Sure thing,” he stammers, actually stammers, “same here.”

Well, you weren’t as bold as Tifa and Aerith, but if he was giving you permission...

You hook your arm around his before you can talk yourself out of it, spurred on by the adrenaline in your veins, “Probably best we stick a little closer to each other in case someone tries to mow me down again.”

Cloud does not refute your reasoning at all, taking care not to crush your hand at his bicep against his side. The added tingly feeling trickling down his skin where you touch him isn’t unwanted, after all.

You had never slept better and it shows in how Cloud stumbles back from a hit in shock, “Not bad.”

You grin over your balled fists and let them fall to your side as he walks back to the center of the fighting ring, adjusting the gauze wrapped around his wrists. His signature gloves have been removed in order to give you a fair fight, and you can’t say that you despise the look of his bared hands to you at all. Even layered in white. “But don’t you think Tifa would be a better boxing partner?”

Cloud flashes his eyes at you with a tiny, nervous laugh, a rarity to see from the ex-SOLDIER, “Tifa would put me in a coma. You’re the only other person who likes to fight melee style, so it makes sense that we’d train together.”

“Okay, but you have the advantage of being ex-SOLDIER. I’m just some backwater rebel.”

An unreadable look crosses his face as he shakes his head, “I’m rusty. You’ve seen my sword. I rely on it too much.”

He had a point. The thing was riddled with scars, double the amount of the man who wielded it. Your bat was starting to look the same for you as well.

“And,” he starts, getting back into a fighting stance, “you’re not just some backwater rebel.”

You trade a few blows instead of answering him, although your heart skips a beat at how he tries to defend you.

The small gym is scarce this early in the morning, save for the obvious early birds who make coming here their personality. You still had some energy left, but since you’d both been sparring for a good hour now, that energy was waning... unlike your partner.

You blamed it on the mako, but he looked like he could go several more rounds with or without you. You imagined what it would be like to be inside Cloud’s body. You’d heard what mako could do to one’s senses, let alone humanity. You imagined that he felt everything ten times as much as the average person and twice as fast, which made him an invaluable teammate and daunting foe. You had seen Cloud when he was really angry before. Needless to say, you never wanted to go up against him as an enemy.

Thanks to his experience however, he knows how to temper his strength to spar fair. He never truly overwhelms you unless you slip up. A misstep, a distraction... the latter of which were abundant when Cloud was inches away from you.

Skin covered in a sheen of sweat, he practically glows under the gym’s fluorescent lights. Blow after blow, you take them in stride, trying your best to keep focused on his next move. You’d only managed to catch him off guard twice today, and if you could manage a third before he called it quits, you’d be satisfied with yourself. Now, to distract him.

Cloud was fairly good at seeing through ruses, but growing up as a “backwater rebel”, you knew how to play tricks on the eyes. Most of your tricks were foiled by Cloud immediately because he wasn’t exactly dense, but those past victories weren’t anything to sneeze at. If you were going to pull this off, you had to be smart about it.

Cloud’s fist connects with the side of your head and his eyes shoot open wide. He’d surely given you enough time to react to that, right? He’s proven wrong when you double over, gripping your head with a cry of pain. “Shit. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

Then, just as you’d planned, you wrap your arms around his middle and knock him off balance, throwing him to the ground of the ring with relative ease. You scramble up his body as soon as he’s knocked over, taking his wrists in yours and pressing them down beside his head with a grin, “I only half-thought you’d fall for that one, you know.”

The ex-SOLDIER looks somewhere between exasperated with you and impressed, letting you pin his wrists if only for a moment to catch his breath, “That was cheating.”

“Was not! In a real fight, anything goes.”

“Oh, I had no clue this was a real fight. I could have finished you off an hour ago.” He deadpans, writhing experimentally underneath you.

You tilt your head to the side, “You think I wouldn’t have knocked your ass out like a home run before you could even get that sword off your back? You give yourself too much credit.”

Or, maybe not.

You let yourself get so caught up in the banter that you don’t process his next move quick enough: he thrusts his thighs apart at once, effectively knocking off your balanced straddle. Shifting his hands to gripping your own in each, he uses the force of his core to twist you onto your back. Only this time, you know there’s no chance of you catching him off guard the way he did you. Those thighs of his were immovable.

“For your information,” he leans down with the barest hint of a smile on his face, “I earned that credit. Cute trick, though. Might work better on the next guy.”

Oh, how you’ve fantasized about this very moment. You’re getting more than just his hands on you: you’re getting all of him on you. And, if you were honest with yourself, even if did have the chance to knock him off you, you weren’t in any rush to make it happen.

Could Cloud see the way he was affecting you? Maybe he’d learned how to hide it and this was all just a joke to him. You weren’t by any means an expert at keeping a straight face in his presence.

“Who said getting you pinned down was the only part of my strategy?” Your attempt at bravado does nothing to sway him this time either. Figures; it was a cheap trick anyway.

“What else did you have in mind?”

Honestly, this was already fulfilling your wildest dreams and then some. You’d be going home a happy camper for sure. Instead of answering his question, you look up to where your hands remain intertwined, “You have really nice hands.”

Cloud furrows his brows, “Huh...?”

You gulp, realizing that you’ve exposed your neck to look up at said hands, and that same fantasy from nights ago comes back to mind. Even if he wasn’t wearing the gloves in question, it still skyrockets to the forefront of your brain like a reflex. “Yeah. I don’t know why you hide them in those gloves of yours all the time. They’re rough but they still look delicate. Maybe it’s a... SOLDIER thing? Really nice hands in exchange for mako poisoning?”

He laughs in disbelief, peeling away from you to examine his own hands with curiosity, “I think it’s just a you thing, but thanks. Ready to call it a day?”

Your fatigued body is screaming yes, even as your hands itch to be pinned back down by Cloud’s again. Maybe you’d have to put those backwater tricks to use again. “Aching to.”

Perhaps Cloud’s tendency to roll over and show his belly whenever Tifa and Aerith poked him had now extended to you too. That classic foot of space between the two of you gradually broke in half over the next few days, and on the rare occasion that Cloud had to manhandle you during battle, you had a much more receptive reaction that your initial one. You didn’t abuse your newfound permission to touch Cloud, so when you did get those little moments, you found that Cloud was more than willing to comply.

And so did Aerith. Actually, so did everyone.

“It took me nearly all night to convince Cloud to high-five me when we first met, and somehow you’ve managed to halve that.” Aerith pouts, watching as you continue to knead the meat of Cloud’s palm. After he’d complained of it cramping up in battle, you had offered your novice knowledge of massage (and jumped at the chance to have his fingers between yours again).

It had been a hot minute since Tifa left to get dinner, and if the grumble of Red’s belly was any sign, her presence was dearly missed. It seemed you all were always waiting around for food these days. It beat waiting around for Shinra, at least.

You look up at Aerith over the crowded breakfast table, the girl in the midst of a heated card game with Barret, “What do you mean?”

“Kid wouldn’t let anyone touch him,” Barret grunts, “‘cept Tifa for the longest time.”

Cloud’s head is thrown back over the back of his chair, arm resting comfortably in your lap as you massage his hand as he quips, “I’ve known Tifa longer than I’ve known any of you.”

“Still!” Aerith pouts.

“I can give you a hand massage too, Aerith. Twirling that staff around all the time can’t be good for your joints.” You offer with a smile.

At that, Aerith lights up and nods. At the same time, she sets down a pair of cards that has Barret dropping his head into his hands in defeat. “Hey, do you know Madam M by any chance?”

At the mention of the name, you feel Cloud stiffen in his seat. “Can’t say that I do...?” You answer, confused.

“She runs a pretty fancy massage parlor up at Wall Market in Sector 6. Me and Cloud went to her for help getting us into Don Corneo’s bridal auditions,” you let all of that information hit you at once in order to keep up with her, “she was going to kick us out since we hadn’t come for a massage, but one look at Cloud and her tune changed real quick. She gave him a hand massage to remember! I don’t think he’s been the same man since that night.”

“Aerith.” Cloud hisses through his teeth, no intended malice present but a fair warning for her not to continue. All the girl does is grin right back at him. You try not to shiver at the commanding tone.

“He got the luxury package since we had enough gil for it-”

“Yeah?” You ask, thoroughly interested. Your hands hadn’t paused as they continued to massage Cloud’s hand, even as he began to squirm in your grip.

“Aerith!”

“-I thought I might need to leave the sector, he was so loud-!”

“I’m back!” Tifa’s entrance shocks you all out of the conversation, something Cloud was entirely thankful for. The ex-SOLDIER jumps up to retrieve the food from Tifa’s hands and busies himself setting out everything, encouraging Tifa to ramble about the townspeople she encountered on her way back from the restaurant. It isn’t until he’s sat beside you with dinner that you notice the hand you were massaging trembles just so.

“I hope you don’t think... that massage thing was creepy.”

Cloud corners you after dinner as you clean up the mess, the others immersed in a much more competitive card game than the one from earlier. You drop the food boxes off at the kitchenette with a smile, “Of course I don’t think that! Your hand was in pain. It didn’t hurt me any to help.”

“Right,” he mutters, looking adorably bashful, “but I don’t want you to think that I was getting... something else out of it.”

“I would never think that of you, Cloud. I offered it in the first place after all.” You assure, though you can’t help wishing that perhaps he did get something else out of it. After all, you wouldn’t mind if he felt just as eager about having you touch him as you did.

He looks a little relieved, still avoiding eye contact, “Well... Thanks. For earlier. My hand feels a lot better.”

You nod, watching as he turns to rejoin the others at the table for their next round. However, before he can get very far, you call out to him, emboldened by the gods or desire or the hopeful look in Cloud’s eyes when he turns back to you, “Just... if you ever want to get something else out of it, let me know.”

Cloud calls it an early night.

#cloud strife x reader #cloud strife imagines #cloud strife scenarios #cloud strife fanfic #cloud strife fluff #cloud strife #final fantasy vii remake #ffvii remake #ffvii imagines #ffvii scenarios #final fantasy imagines #final fantasy scenarios #mjwrites

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iaintyourbro · 4 years ago

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I find it so cute how close aerith and tifa get in the game. Honestly Aerith probably has more of a crush on Tifa than Cloud considering Tifa actually gives her way more affection than cloud ever did. Cloud you better watch yourself man Aerith may be on a mission to steal your girl

Hey there! Thanks for the ask!

I AGREE 100%

Cloud better watch, cuz Aerith coming for his girl.

Let’s do an Aerti appreciation post. I collected screenshots for it, and you gave me an excuse.

In my view, Cloud was Aerith’s bodyguard until Chapter 9 when you get Tifa back, then Tifa almost pretty much takes over except for a few scenes. I think this is an AWESOME way to:

1. Shut down the haters/antis on each side against each girl.

2. Shut down the LTD early

3. Show strong female relationships

Sadly 1 and 2 haven’t fully worked, but I’d say the groups that contain haters and antis are small... they’re just loud.

#3 was important to me, because it’s not something we see a lot. We see a lot of focus on the relationship between the main character and his love interest, generally. Though they do that in Remake, because there are a LOT of scenes with Cloud and Tifa, they have the relationship between Tifa and Aerith a bigger focal point later on, once the two of them meet.

I think an interesting point about how Remake handled the two with Cloud: In the OG, I’d say there was very little “affection” shown. I mean, yes, it was definitely hard to do some of the level of affection that they can do with sexy HD characters, but they could have shown some hugging/hand holding/whatever. None of that happens, really. There’s a few scenes where it seems to be implied, but they didn’t focus on affection.

There is a major difference in how Cloud interacts with each girl, and to your point, he doesn’t really show any affection towards Aerith. His interactions with her were very “this is my job”.

Tifa and Aerith, however, hit it off almost immediately. Aerith is so excited to see Tifa in Corneo’s basement. I honestly wasn’t sure how that was going to go. In OG, that’s what seems to spark the rivalry between the two, since Aerith doesn’t say she’s just a friend. In Remake, she introduces herself as a friend of Cloud’s, and puts all of her focus on Tifa.

Then we get to the sewers... and that’s where Tifa really starts to shine as a bodyguard. They’re crossing the poop river and Aerith is about to fall. Cloudy tells her to jump. Tifa grabs her and holds her. (Cloud gets his own action - what a sly fox he is).

Look at that love on her face. She’s so impressed. Cloud was RIGHT THERE. He didn’t move. I’m honestly not sure why. What is odd is, right after she grabs Aerith, the whispers go away. Barret even comments on how weird it is.

Cloud peeking through Aerith’s hair like “Aerith, stop stealing her...”

I mean, to be fair to Cloud, Barret and Red were just chillin’ too. Guess they figured she could handle it.

So she looks at Tifa when she says this. She actually starts addressing Tifa directly towards the end of the game. She sees her as the one she can rely on. This also probably hints at the fact that Aerith knows Cloud is very unstable. She relied on him too much in the OG and he completely beat the crap out of her. I do NOT think that will happen this time. Not with Tifa being her primary support.

I mean, get you a girl that looks at you the way Aerith looks at Tifa.

#aerti #bff aerti #baerith #imma steal your girl #cloud is gonna get jealous again #i think aerith is winning so far #ff7r #ffviir #ff7r spoilers

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lowritesthings · 4 years ago

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Resonance

Part 2 of ?? << Previous // Next >>

You’re finishing your day at the Leaf House when it happens. The kids are just stacking freshly-cleaned dishes from supper when Ms Folia drops her coffee mug in the next room. It shatters and you dash over to keep the younger kids away from the shards of porcelain, but she grabs your arm and points to the old television. It’s tucked into a corner and has terrible resolution, but you make out signs of chaos and fire.

“It’s a bombing,” Folia tells you in an unsteady voice. “Someone bombed Mako Reactor One.”

Your lungs seem to freeze, and that chill spreads through your whole body. You watch as Shinra reacts exactly the way Cloud had predicted they would, and now you notice how the response is just a little too quick to be spontaneous.

Is Biggs okay? You force yourself to take a breath, then another one. He had Tifa’s ex-SOLDIER friend with him...they’ll be alright. All of them.

You’re trying to convince yourself, but you know that you won’t be able to stop worrying until you see the whole team.

The kids are watching the TV now too, and some of the younger ones are crying. This probably has more to do with the fear on the adult’s faces than the images on the screen, as scary as those are. You finish cleaning up the broken mug and gather your personal belongings, intending to run to the train platform and head straight to Seventh Heaven...but you check the urge. You showing up half-panicked isn’t going to help anything. You’ll only scare Marlene and amplify Tifa’s own fears. The team probably won’t be home for a while yet. There’s time to finish your duties here before you make your way to the Sector Seven undercity.

“This is just...how could anyone do something like this?” Folia asks one a dazed, horrified tone. She’s followed you into the kitchen. You have to bite back your knee-jerk reaction, which is of course to defend Avalanche and its operatives. Instead you shake your head and spread your hands.

“I guess they felt there was no other way,” you say. Folia makes a face but before she can argue, you press on: “We should get the kids ready for bed. I think it’s best if we keep the routine as normal as possible, especially for the younger ones. It will help them feel safe.”

“Yeah,” Folia says as the wisdom of the suggestion sinks in. “Yeah, okay. Let’s gather them up.”

It seems to take forever to get the kids settled in bed and to turn over with the night staff. The house mother lives there full time, but most of the rest of the employees switch off between day and night shift. You’re just grateful that this week, you’re on day shift. You collect your bag, glad that you’d been carrying your first aid kit with you ever since the Shinra raid on Seventh Heaven. Then you make your way to the train station and hope your anxiety won’t seem out of place.

Once the train stops in the Sector Seven slums, you make your way through crowds of shell-shocked residents gathered around grainy TV screens. All of the conversation you overhear is about the bombings, and you concentrate on your breathing to soothe your own fears. You keep picturing your friends dead or badly injured, so the breathing exercises help keep you grounded. Letting your imagination run wild won’t help anyone.

The stairs up to the bar are empty, so you push open the door to the building. You can hear Barret talking to Marlene through the wall. He seems to be trying to convince her to go to bed. He sounds calm enough, which helps to convince you that nothing is catastrophically wrong with anyone on the team. You set your bag down and glance around for Tifa, but she isn’t here.

Ten minutes later, Barret emerges from Marlene’s room. He catches sight of you and your medical bag.

“Hey girl,” he says. “Guess you heard?”

You laugh, though it still sounds a little tense. “I think all of Midgar heard,” you reply. Your fingers tighten in the fabric of your bag as you ask, “The team?”

“I think Jessie’s leg is gonna need your tender love and care,” he tells you, but a huge grin is spreading across his face. He clenches his fist in a gesture of victory. “Other than that, we got a couple scrapes and burns, but it’s Shinra that got hurt bad today!”

You can’t help but smile back at his unbridled enthusiasm. Relief floods through you as you realize that none of your friends are badly injured.

“I better swing by Jessie’s and take a look at her leg. Where’s Tifa?”

“She took her pet merc up to Stargazer Heights.” Barret is behind the bar, digging out a cold beer. “You need a place to stay?”

You nod. The last train has come and gone, and you don’t fancy your chances against the monsters between here and home, at least not without backup.

“Well, if Tifa can’t put you up, you can crash in the hideout. You know how to get in?”

You nod. Wedge had shown you once after you’d had to go down there to help Barret with a broken leg.

“Good, guess I’ll see you in the mornin’. Thanks for seeing to Jessie.” Barrett’s hand comes down on the top of your head and he ruffles your hair. “We owe ya.”

You wave that off. “No talk of debts, okay? Just keep bringing everyone home safe. See you tomorrow.”

You head out into the night. There are less people out now, but the ones that are stay clumped into groups. You get a suspicious look or two, but you’re familiar enough around town that no one bothers you.

Even though it’s out of your way, you swing by Bigg’s house before heading to Jessie’s. The light blazing through the curtains comforts you. No doubt he’s in there getting cleaned up and having a quick meal. You long to knock, but it’s late and Jessie’s the one that needs help.

Just as you continue toward Jessie’s, his door opens and Biggs steps out onto the doorstep. A blush immediately floods your cheeks—you would get caught lingering around his house like a creep. But when he spots you, a smile spreads over his face.

“Making your rounds?” he asks, gesturing to your bag.

“I—yeah, I was just heading to Jessie’s. Barret said she hurt her leg.”

“I’ll walk you.” He locks his door and comes to your side. His hair is still damp from his shower and he smells deliciously clean against the backdrop of polluted air. “I was just gonna go see if Tifa has anything edible at the bar. I’m not much of a cook and the pantry is a bit bare.”

“There might be food, but if you don’t hurry Barret will drink all the beer,” you tell him. He laughs, and you can tell his mood is jubilant. The mission had been a success and he’d survived—you bet he’s feeling far too amped to go to sleep.

“Guy probably has a tab taller than he is,” he quips, and you grin at the mental image of Tifa unrolling a huge list of Barret’s debts to the bar.

“He’s lucky Tifa’s such a softie,” you agree. “Is Wedge okay?”

“At home snuggled up with his cats,” Biggs confirms with a nod. “He didn’t even get singed.”

“And you?”

He stops and spreads his arms so you can see for yourself that he’s not hurt. “What, you think I’d be the weak link? Oh ye of little faith.”

You laugh and shove him a little. “A bomb went off in your vicinity. I’m allowed to be concerned.”

“Well in that case...I’m honored,” he says, and his smile softens into something more personal. Your pulse throbs and you automatically run through calming techniques before you say something embarrassing.

You continue walking to Jessie’s. Your pace is slow, almost meandering, because you know when you get there he’ll say goodnight and head to the bar. It’s rare you get moments alone with him and you’re savoring this one, but a guilty corner of your mind reminds you that your other friend is hurt and you should really get a move on.

“Sticking around until morning?” Biggs asks as you reach Jessie’s.

“No trains,” you explain. “I’m going to take advantage of Tifa’s hospitality if she isn’t too busy with Cloud. If she is, I’ll crash at the hideout.”

“Ah, good. Glad you’ve got a place to stay. You know, if you ever need to—my door is always open.” He rubs at the back of his neck, flustered in a way you’ve rarely seen him before. He almost seems bashful. “Just an option. It’s more comfortable than the hideout, anyway. I’ll even be a gentleman and take the couch.”

You grin at him. How can someone be so sexy and so adorable at the same time? “Thanks. I'll keep it in mind.”

You both look over at Jessie’s door. It’s time to say goodnight, and you let out a long, internal sigh. You wish moments like this could last longer or come around more often.

“Well…” You turn back to Biggs. “Thanks for walking me. I’ll see you soon?”

“Count on it,” he tells you. He hesitates, almost seems to lean toward you...and then he checks himself, gives you a little wave, and turns to jog off toward the bar. You watch him disappear into the darkness for a moment, then you spin around and lift your hand to knock on Jessie’s door.

It swings open before you make contact. Jessie is standing in the doorway with a shit-eating grin plastered on her face. She rolls her eyes at you when you meet her gaze. “Could you two be any more pathetic? All the longing glances and lingering goodbyes...it’s cavity-inducing.”

You try not to stick your tongue out at her...and fail. You also fail to stop the blush that creeps into your cheeks. “If you want decent painkillers, you’ll be nice,” you warn her, and she laughs and steps aside so you can come in.

Her leg isn’t too bad. There’s a deep, tender bruise and some bloody scrapes, but nothing requiring any serious treatment. You clean the wounds, wrap her leg to keep any swelling down, and hand her some painkillers and ice packs.

“You know the drill,” you say to her as you pack up your supplies. “Elevate it, try not to put weight on it if you can avoid it, and don’t over ice it.”

“You got it, doc.” Jessie leans back in her bed and stretches her arms up over her head. “So, about Biggs—”

“Oh no,” you say, waving your hand in front of you to ward her off. “None of that. You blew up a mako reactor tonight, that’s got to be more interesting than my love life.”

“You’d think...but you’re just so cute when you blush, I can’t help it!”

“Jessie, please? I really don’t want to be teased tonight. I know I’m being ridiculous.” You sigh. “I can’t seem to help it.”

“Would it help if I told you I think he’s interested too?”

You groan even as your hopes shoot sky high. “No,” you say firmly. “Now take your pills and get some rest. Maybe you can give me a hard time tomorrow.”

She winks at you. “Oh, that’s happening for sure. Come to the bar and have a drink with us. We’ve still got to celebrate.”

“I’ll think about it,” you tell her, but you both know you‘ll turn up. You wish her goodnight and head out, turning toward Stargazer Heights. It’s time for you to get some rest as well.

——

Waking up at Tifa’s had been a bit disorienting, but she heads out early so you get the tiny bathroom to yourself. There’d been some sort of commotion during the night and Tifa had rushed out, but it quieted down quickly and you had decided not to ask.

You step out into the sunshine and catch sight of Cloud making his way down the road to the bar. Perhaps you should too; Biggs isn’t the only one with an empty pantry. Tifa must eat most of her meals at the bar or nearby shops.

You head down the stairs but only make it a few steps before Marle calls out to you.

“What do you know about this Cloud guy?” she asks you.

“Next to nothing,” you admit, “but Tifa’s known him a long time.”

“Hmmm…” Marle’s lips purse. “Should we trust him with her?”

You remember his quiet but very serious threat to the Shinra squad leader. “He seems pretty protective of her.”

“But will he break her heart?” Marle demands. “He seems like the nomadic type. I don’t want her to count on him only for him to disappear one night without so much as a see you later.”

You frown a little. “I guess we’ll find out,” you say slowly, “but I think he’s going to stick around, at least for now.”

You bid the old lady goodbye and continue down the lane toward the bar, but change your mind at the last minute. Instead, you grab breakfast from a nearby shop and decide to head back to Sector Five early. That way no one will protest too much when you cut out early to join the gang for a celebratory drink later.

You start for the train station. Just as you round the corner, you spot Wedge heading in the opposite direction. You smile as he approaches: his friendly, cheerful attitude is always welcome.

“Hey, morning! I didn’t know you were in our neighborhood,” he says to you as he jogs over.

“Good morning and congratulations,” you counter, smiling at the look of pride that comes over his face. “You didn’t get hurt, did you?”

He pats his chest and shakes his head. “Me? No way, nothing even came close.”

You smile wider at his bravado. “Where are you headed so early?”

“Oh, me and Biggs are on watch today. I just hope it's not too busy, I’m still running on empty from yesterday. If you’re gonna be around, you should stop by.”

It’s a tempting thought, but you shake your head. “I’ve got to head back to Five, but I’ll be at the bar tonight to celebrate. Would you mind letting Tifa know I made it home okay when you see her?”

“Sure thing, pal!” Wedge gives you a thumbs up and then a quick hug. You have to jog the rest of the way to the station to make your train, but it’s worth it. It’s hard to feel anything but happy and comfortable around Wedge, and that’s not a bad way to start the day.

Next >>

#biggs x reader #cloud x tifa #ff7 biggs #cloti #ff7 remake #ff7r #fic update #fic: resonance #lo writes things

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reppin-avalanche-archived · 4 years ago

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Tifa

Jessie

Yuna

Rikku

Paine

Lightning

Yuffie

My Barret is a slut 😂😂😂 Though he's sexy as hell so when you got it you got it. The Wallace Kingdom reigns supreme.

#ooc tag.

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spyder-m · 4 years ago

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Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Summary: "Could use a shower." For anyone else, it seemed like a perfectly innocent comment. Cloud, however, couldn't help his mind from wandering. Cloti shower-sex.

A/N: Special thanks to Marle_Nadia and 04JETTA of the Once Upon a Star Dischord for helping out and betaing this for me!

Ao3 / FF.net / Twitter

“Could use a shower.”

Tifa's chest jutted out as she stretched her arms over above her head, sighing contentedly with the crack of stiff muscle.

Unable to shift his gaze quickly enough, Cloud was drawn to the way the movement accentuated her breasts; struck by a particularly vivid memory of that same flesh, pressed bare against him. The moan, even more wanton and throaty, that broke from her swollen, kiss-stained lips was burned into his memory.

His gaze lowered, thankful for the loose fit of his standard Soldier trousers that managed to conceal the blood flowing to his crotch.

Cloud scowled, meeting Tifa’s eyes with a glare. She blinked, raising a brow at him, but the curl of her lips revealed her true intentions. On the surface, it may have seemed like an innocuous comment, but she was definitely doing it on purpose at this point. It had reached the point that simply hearing the word, or even the sound of running water would stir an ache in his loins, the images flashing back.

And Tifa... Tifa wasn't helping.

Lately, she had been acting differently. Much bolder than usual. It was a prospect as alluring as it was dangerously frustrating.

Anytime she caught him watching her; an unconscious habit he found himself falling into more and more often; her eyelashes would bat over wide, sultry eyes. When they discussed different battle or infiltration strategies, she would bite her lip, coyly, in concentration, her tongue occasionally reaching out of her mouth to dance across her lips.

Whenever she needed to examine a map or sign nearby him, she would lean unnecessarily close, deliberately melding herself against his back or shoulder. As they maneuvered and crawled through tight spaces, she would duck her head under his own; the fragrant scent of her hair catching in his nostrils. It was one he recognised, the shampoo he recalled rubbing into her scalp with slack, spasming fingers.

Tifa it seemed, was trying to take over his every waking thought, to flood his every sense. Perhaps not realising, foolishly, that she already had long ago.

Cloud sighed, scratching the back of his head. It was lucky Barret didn’t seem to suspect anything.

They had been cooperating well on the mission, becoming familiar enough with the other’s fighting style to cover their blind spots. Still, he couldn’t imagine the man would take kindly to finding what he and Tifa had been up to in private. Not when he had a young daughter around. Not if he knew how dangerous it potentially was to their mission, how distracted it was making Cloud.

He'd already slipped up earlier, getting hit by a water spell from a Shinra grunt. Had he been focused, it was a blast he could have easily dodged. His pride was bruised badly enough without Barret chewing him out over it.

"What the hell's your problem?!"

"N- nothing. I'm fine."

Cloud flinched at the stammer in his voice. Even with the dark glasses shielding his eyes, Cloud could sense Barret leveling him with a hard, measured stare.

"Hmph. Never thought I'd say this, but I think I liked it better when you were acting like a cocky, little prick. At least then you got things done."

Cloud growled as the man passed him, but found he couldn't argue the point. Any chance of a sarcastic retort dying on his lips before he could even think of it. He hadn't been performing to his usual standard, and it showed.

Even worse, the spell had left his hair sodden, blonde locks falling into his eyes. It reminded him of being underneath the shower head, dripping to his bones.

With a chuckle, Tifa approached him to rest a hand at the base of his neck, carefully sifting the fringe away from his eyes. Cloud swallowed, struck by their proximity, the soft weight of her body. Impulsively, his fingers splayed out over her waist and the laughter flickering in her eyes darkened almost imperceptibly.

Cloud stilled at the sound of Barret's voice, as he waved his big, dumb arm about, calling for Tifa to come check on something with him. He cursed, an icy glare shot towards the Avalanche leader for having interrupted them.

Nudging him back with a playful flick of her wrist, Tifa's lips pouted, a kiss ghosting his cheek. Cloud, to his horror, flushed, turning his head to the side. Though, it did little to disguise the colour that lit his pallid face.

How was she able to fluster him so easily? Cloud wondered. What was he, regressing back into a bumbling, awkward teenager again?

He prided himself on being unflappable and cool under pressure, never losing composure. Not when Barret raised his voice at him, not when they were jumped by enemies. It alarmed him that Tifa, somehow, had so effortlessly been able to find the chinks in his defenses.

She could read him, could tell how often she occupied his thoughts. The soft spot he'd already kept for her in his heart, growing, spreading throughout his entire being. It was written in the mischievous, knowing smirk she offered him.

It was her fault for being so gorgeous, so… captivating.

Ever since their first night together, that first taste, he had been snagged helplessly.

It had been going on for a while now, a routine they were both well practiced in.

At the end of each mission; once they'd arrived back at the station; Avalanche would split up, taking their own separate routes home. It was a precaution. If they weren't in a group, they were less likely to draw attention to themselves. They would shower and change, washing away all the dirt and sweat that built up on their skin, before returning back to Seventh Heaven for a briefing.

Cloud and Tifa, however, would stay together.

It didn't stick out as unusual to the others; they lived next door to one another and were headed in the same direction anyway. Though, what the group didn’t realise was that the two relished that time in between meetings as one of the few opportunities they had to be alone together.

It was something they planned to take full advantage of.

Tifa’s fingers would brush against the back of his palm as they walked through the marketplace, struck by the temptation to close the last vestige of distance and take his hand.

She wanted to blend seamlessly in with the rest of the couples and happy families around them, but knew better, of course. Word spread quickly around the slums, and if she was seen sharing affection with the new merc in town it would garner attention.

All she had to do was hold off a few more minutes. For now, standing close to him, basking in his calming presence, was enough. He would sense the weight of her fingertips grazing past, his eyes flickering softly towards her, soaking her in an endless stream of blue.

They would need to rein their temptation in, somewhat. As much as they wanted to devote the rest of the night to each other, they couldn't keep the others waiting without raising suspicion. They couldn’t forego showering, as it would be obvious something was amiss if they returned to the bar still filthy from the mission. So, they needed to find a middle ground, a way they could get sufficiently cleaned up while still taking advantage of this rare, private moment together; still being able to alleviate their pent-up urges.

It was fortunate that Marle wasn't normally around this late, making it easy to sneak into her room without raising questions.

The moment Tifa had the door locked behind them, Cloud engulfed her in a tight, heated embrace, no longer able to stave off the longing that clawed inside his gut. Fists clenching into the fabric of his turtleneck, Tifa's mouth greedily sought his. Her tongue probed eagerly at his lips, encouraging him to take her.

It became a scramble as they frantically tore each other's clothes away. Their lips intertwined, fingers catching at buckles and buttons and holsters. Still riding the adrenaline from their mission, bodies caked with sweat and dirt. It was rough and carnal, an excitement and urgency carrying through their every movement.

Yet, there was an unspoken efficiency to their actions. Much like in battle, they had come to follow each other's flow. As they stumbled under the shower head, their hands would blindly clasp at the taps, starting the stream of water. They had since memorised the exact place they fit into the wall. On reflex, Cloud's arms lifted as he felt her tugging at his shirt, sliding it promptly over his head.

It was at this point that Tifa would draw back momentarily, her eyes dripping over the planes of his scarred chest. She had come to deeply appreciate the way Cloud's body had filled out over the years, no doubt the result of rigorous Soldier training.

While the sleeveless turtlenecks he favoured highlighted the sculpted muscle of his arms; bulging and relaxing with each arc of his Sword; this peek of flesh teased only a small offering of his lean, toned physique. Sensing Tifa's lingering gaze, Cloud smirked, deciding to give her a show. His hands fell flat against his hips as he threw his head back, jutting his chest in dramatic fashion.

Tifa couldn't help the flutter of laughter that rose from her throat at the childish gesture. Still, she reveled in how the pose made him seem taller, his posture straight as he stood confidently in his own skin. As endearingly cute as Cloud had been at a younger age, his growth from a skinny, withdrawn teen into the strong, capable man before her was incredibly sexy.

Tifa's tongue traced her lips, hungrily, her hands unconsciously reaching out towards him.

Of all things, it was the pad of Cloud's rough palms that woke shivers up her spine as he guided her back into his arms. Though, not a stranger to Cloud’s touch, it was usually blanketed by the gloves he wore so often. Without them, there was a new, startling intimacy to the contact, as she could make out the nicks and calluses littering his fingers, the uneven pulse radiating through them; a sense that there was nothing between her and Cloud.

A harsh gasp ripped between the gaps in Cloud's teeth as they collided once more, her warmth singing his suddenly hyper-sensitive flesh. Instantaneously, Tifa felt his reaction to her touch, his erection brushing against her inner thigh. She whimpered, the tip barely grazing her extremities.

Despite the pleasure pulsing through him, Cloud was rapt momentarily by a pang of guilt, conscious of how close they were already. For as important as Tifa was to him, it didn't feel right. He wanted to take things slowly and lavish her with the love and care she deserved.

Sadly, between running the bar, looking after Marlene, Avalanche missions and working as part of neighbourhood watch, Tifa had rarely a free moment to herself. At any other time, breaking away from the rest of the group would raise suspicion.

Steam began to rise from the tiled floor, catching Cloud's attention. It curled around their ankles, letting him know that the water had heated up. Hands settling on Tifa's arms, he guided them under the stream.

Cloud grunted as the cool water lashed over his back, bolstering the feeling of the soft, warm body in his arms.

Their breaths caressed through contented exhales, the water soaking their aching muscles.

Cloud fumbled for the band at the end of Tifa's hair, making a deliberate effort to stop and fleetingly savour the sight of her as those voluminous strands were freed, draping over her clavicle, around her waist in midnight waves.

It was an image he wanted to last him as long as possible, unsure of when their next chance together would be.

For someone who did not wear his emotions blatantly, there was an ineffable thrill for Tifa in finding his eyes blanketed by haze, softening as they fell to her. She turned her head slightly, a fleeting shyness resurfacing under the intense affection of his gaze. It was an endearing sight. His unruly, blonde spikes were damp, drooping over his eyes.

Fanning the ember of bliss sparking within herself, her teeth gnashed at his ear, tonguing the stud that hung from his lobe.

Clasping the bar of soap, Tifa pressed it firmly against Cloud's pectorals, letting suds build and ooze tantalisingly over the planes of his chest. Her open palms dragged slowly, lightly peppering kisses along the clean patches of skin they left. She kneeled lower, eventually following the pale line of hair under his belly button, drawing teasingly close to the heat pooling from his loins. An almost pained expression overcame Cloud’s face, his breaths growing shorter and harsher as he sucked them in between his teeth.

Abruptly, Tifa’s hands drew away, moving instead to coat suds over his strong shoulders. Cloud shuddered at the loss of her touch where his body ached most for it, but did not cease in lathering his affection upon her. His lips descended from her jaw down between her breasts, lapping at the water pooling there.

He took care in washing her, reaching every crevice of her body with a loving caress of his fingers, a flicker of his tongue.

He would linger deliberately over the firm angles of her legs, the taut ridges of her abdomen and up her neck. He tended to the muscles she had exerted over the course of their mission, kneading the tension from the taut flesh. Eventually he reached her face, the familiar eyes that regarded him differently, wanton and needy. He'd cup her cheek and shift forward with a chaste kiss, placing his hands warmly on her shoulders to keep her place.

Reaching for her shampoo, Cloud drizzled a healthy amount into his palm, sweeping the mass of hair from her shoulders and massaging his fingers deeply into her scalp.

He watched, transfixed, as he unfurled the heavy, shining mass of hair, sifting his fingers through each strand of her dark locks. Tifa's eyes rolled back, his name spilling from her lips in a series of long, low moans.

It wasn't long before the sound left him panging with arousal, his penis prodding stiff against her back. Cloud winced, wanting nothing more than to enter her, to finally relieve himself of this ache. Yet, he wanted to be selfless, devoted to Tifa's needs first and foremost. His hands slithered underneath her arms, reaching to cup the full weight of her breast, teasing her nipples.

Tifa's harsh, ragged breaths descended into pleading whimpers as, from behind, she felt his fingers pierce the juncture between her thighs, slipping easily inside of her. It came completely by surprise, a shock wave ripping through her body, almost buckling her knees out from under her. Her body arched forward with an unrestrained cry, opening herself more to the relentless, methodical thrust of Cloud's digits.

He could feel that damp, pent-up arousal clinging to his fingers, sensing that she was already close to breaking. As with anything, Cloud remained focused and thorough in his task; knowing the exact strategies to push her closer. His mouth latched onto the juncture between her neck and shoulder blade, trailing bites and kisses, his tongue dragging over every inch, all the while steadily increasing the pace of his fingers, drilling in and out.

Just as Cloud could sense the last of her restraints ripping away, Tifa caught his wrist with uncanny speed, whipping around to face him. Swallowing, he felt his erection throb as he was engulfed by narrowed, dark red eyes, pinning him down. His own eyes bulged as Tifa's hands abruptly clasped him by the ass, hoisting him off his feet and roughly grinding his crotch against her own.

The air was torn from Cloud's body at the sudden burst of pleasure tearing through his abdomen. A shiver up through his spine, the nerves in his groin twitching eagerly, as they sensed the relief they had longed was near.

Tifa, it seemed, was stubborn in her refusal to finish without him.

As weak as the orgasm brought on by his fingers left her, it didn't compare to the hot flow of him coming inside her. She didn't want to detract from that feeling, to waste any modicum of her release on anything less.

Dipping her stance to get the right angle, she moaned as his dick skimmed the burning ache of her folds. Cloud's voice, low and throaty, covered hers as he was enveloped by the tight, familiar heat of her. The bliss sparked low in his body, steadily pooling throughout his veins as his tension and unresolved urges began to ebb away. The mutual release they had been yearning to find in one another. A feeling only exacerbated by the fleeting affection they had been able to share openly, sparking memories of the more tender caresses they were missing. Finally returning to her felt more heavenly than Cloud could have imagined. Like so much with Tifa it felt like home; warm and comfortable. Burying his face into her neck, Cloud inhaled the soap and shampoo mingling with her distinct scent as she adjusted his position in her arms.

She'd taken to doing that more often, lately.

He wondered if she'd noticed the effect it had on him. The way feeling her strength, the muscles in her forearms tensing against his thigh, left Cloud even harder, an intense, bleary-eyed climax flowing through him.

In truth, Tifa reveled in the control she had over his body, finding it exhilarating to hold that power over someone as strong and stoic as Cloud.

She delighted in the whimpers, the unrestrained moans that ripped from his throat. In feeling the way his body sunk boneless, into her arms as he reached his climax, knowing that she had been the one to reduce him to that quivering bundle of nerves. It was intoxicating.

Cloud's legs wrapped around her waist, trusting in her secure grasp. He was thankful for the squats he routinely did, as his hips surged forward, drilling forcibly into her. Her face flushed, swollen, stained lips parting as her breaths grew shakier. Cloud gritted his teeth as the pressure started building, urging himself to hold on, determined to bring her to the same burning intensity that she gave him. Tifa cried out, her head throwing back as she rocked her hips to match his rhythm.

Cloud didn't feel the need to restrain himself with her. He knew her strength intimately, and that she could take the brunt of his efforts. If anything, she seemed to revel in the sensation it woke in her. In the past, he had only valued his body as a tool, something he fixated upon improving, all in the hopes of achieving his dream and becoming closer to her.

Now, he was growing familiar with the ways his body could bring her to heights of ecstasy, connecting them on a physical, spiritual level. The places he could touch to make her weak in the knees, leave her quivering and weak in his arms.

That knowledge was invaluable.

Tifa's arms tightened around his back, muscles clenching in a vice around him. With a final, powerful thrust, that strain building deep within him, burst. Cloud groaned, feeling himself spill inside of her.

Strength drained, Tifa braced herself against the wall, settling back onto the tiled floor. Cloud collapsed into her embrace, the full weight of his body bearing upon her, his slowly softening member still joining them. Her cheek was cushioned against his chest, lulled by the erratic pulse of his heartbeat as it steadily settled.

All the while the water continued to flow, a gentle stream that massaged their twitching bodies, as the two found their bearings, righting themselves back to the plane they had just been elevated from.

Slowly, Cloud’s vision began to refocus, his disoriented senses rooting back to the curve of her head at his shoulder, strands of her hair brushing against his skin. Drawing back, his hand lifted her chin, drowsy, pools of red easily finding him.

"Hey..." he uttered.

"Hey," she answered back.

"I hate to break this up, but… we should probably get going."

Cloud frowned, wanting nothing more than to hold her in the afterglow of their love making. Even with the hard, uncomfortable floor, Cloud would have been content to lie there for hours.

He longed for something like their first time together. The night after he'd snuck out with Jessie, Biggs and Wedge, when Tifa had visited him in his room.

It had been a little clumsy and apprehensive, at times, but there was a genuine affection guiding them forward. A mutual want to bring out the most blissful feelings for the other. Tangled up with her in that cramped bed, Cloud slept more soundly than he could remember; never once disturbed by eerie voices. Even if it had ended prematurely, with Tifa waking up early to return to her own room.

Their current arrangement did, however, have its own advantages. They had been able to explore so much more of each other, building up their confidence to the point where they no longer felt hampered by shyness. They were growing ever more familiar with the other’s wants and urges, bringing each other to increasingly pleasurable heights.

With what they had learnt, Cloud could only imagine the slow, steamy sex they would be able to share when they had a proper moment together.

"Hey! Ya hear me? Pay attention!"

With the obnoxious voice invading his consciousness, the memory faded and Cloud looked up, noticing Barret staring him down impatiently. Scanning the area, he could see that the others had managed to open the door and were waiting on him to make their way through to the next room.

Shaking his head, Cloud moved into step behind them.

Realising his mind was plagued with alluring thoughts of Tifa, Cloud decided to try and distract himself.

His eyes darted around the surrounding perimeter, hoping he could find something that would calm him down. The more mundane or unappealing, the better.

Tracing the broad back of Barret in front of him, Cloud snapped his fingers.

Right. Barret. He could rid those thoughts from his mind if instead of Tifa he pictured Barret… in the shower.

Wait.

…

Oh Gaia, why?

That’s an image that would forever scar his brain.

No, that won’t work, Cloud thought, shaking his head. I need something else.

Adjusting his gloves, Cloud was drawn to the glow of the Summoning materia he’d slotted into his bangle.

Perhaps focusing on his gear could take his mind off of it?

Willing to try, Cloud reflected on how much he’d come to rely on the materia recently. How useful it had been in helping them out of dire situations in battle when the odds were stacked against them.

He basked in the vibrant red glow, holding unique power, the same colour he’d seen reflected in hazy, lidded eyes as he rutted breathlessly into-

No! No, that wasn’t going to help either.

"Hey! Merc! We don't have all day! What are you waiting for?"

Eyes refocusing once more, Cloud turned towards Barret with a blank expression. He shook his head with a scoff before moving past.

Tifa winked, beckoning him to follow with a flick of her hand. There seemed to be an almost deliberate swivel to her hips as she moved away from him, her ponytail bouncing hypnotically against the curve of her backside with each step.

With a sigh, Cloud discreetly adjusted the crotch of his pants.

Looks like he was just going to have to hold out until they made it back.

#ffvii #final fantasy vii #ffviir #final fantasy vii remake #cloti #cloud x tifa #cloud strife #tifa lockhart #fanfiction

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theclosetpoet7 · 5 years ago

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Golden Saucer Delights

A CloTi fic by theClosetPoet7

Rating: MA, inspired by our chat group where Senigata gave me an idea to take my inappropriately-worded sentence to the next level. Thank you to Denebola Leo for being my amazing Beta. :D

Summary: "Whew, hot damn, I know I have Shera and all but that Tifa can be sexy." Cloud's eye twitches, resisting the urge to punch the guy. Barret doesn't waste any time in grabbing hold of the pilot's shoulder. "Come again you motherfucker?" [Set during the Original Game]

Perhaps he should berate himself for losing control like this.

Perhaps he should stay away from her for a while lest he ends up scaring her away.

Or perhaps he should just let things be, let his intentions be known so that she doesn't get the wrong idea.

Of course, how could she even think otherwise? When he has only had eyes for her since the beginning. Wasn't their first rough and tumble back in Seventh Heaven proof enough? Hadn't he claimed her as his woman a few nights after he joined AVALANCHE?

But then again, since his date with Aerith the night before, he honestly cannot fault her for avoiding him today. Especially because he had almost taken things too far last night.

Spotting her at the bar, drinking alone after he accompanied the flower girl back to their room, stirred his emotions initially in the same way he has always favored her. But, upon seeing her strained grip on the pink drink she was nursing, and noting the way she had a subtle glare in her scarlet eyes; made the guilt he had been denying come to life. And all he wanted to do was show her that she's the only one.

It's only ever been her.

So he had taken her back to his room, and he had touched her with the intent to go further than what was right. And he had let her feel the want he's been holding back, wanting to be inside her again for it had been too long since that night back in Midgar. Unfortunately though, touching her, as good as it felt, as heavy as the desire to bury himself in her was…touching her, only made him think of the other girl sleeping soundly a few doors away, only made him recall her innocent smile as the fireworks drowned out the words she wanted to say.

He thinks it's the same for Tifa, because she had pulled away and begrudgingly whispered that he had just come from a date.

He wants to tell her that he's sorry but like usual, he couldn't find the right words. What could he say anyway?

Cloud had never felt like a jackass until that night, especially when she snapped her suspenders back in place and left him sitting on the edge of the bed, hips still heated because she had straddled him moments before.

And when she shuts the door without another word, it took all of his strength to not go after her.

That night, his dreams were filled with dark brown strands cascading over smooth shoulders as she resumed her previous stance and rode him the way he wanted her to, in the way that told him that she is his just as much as he is hers.

Today though, she doesn't speak to him. And by not speak, he doesn't mean in the silent treatment kind. She still said good morning, still replied when addressed, but she has closed off her heart in some form. In a way that reminded him of the time he first revealed his connections to Sephiroth.

And she stays away.

She veers off from his side as they walk around the Golden Saucer, marveling at the colorful lights above while Aerith holds onto his arm. Her eyes subtly regarding them is not one he can miss because he had been looking at her the whole day.

The others haven't noticed the tense atmosphere yet. Well, except for Vincent, who while retreating back to his quarters for the night had casually muttered.

"You have some fixing to do." before closing the door in his face.

She's laughing at something Barret said, playfully smacking his arm when she nods her head enthusiastically as they turn the corner and find that game of test of strength. A surge of pride fills him when she breaks the record on the contraption, a silly grin on her face as their gun-wielding member tries to reach her score with just one arm.

Of course, Tifa had the most amount of brute strength out of all of them, except for him of course, who carried an enormous sword the majority of their travels.

She's given a giant chocobo as a prize and she leans down to give it to a little girl who had been watching them shyly. It reminded him of how kind she truly was, and how good she was with children, being the only one Barret trusts to take care of Marlene while they were away on missions, her gentle eyes regarding him with that look of affection when he returns to the bar.

Her legs wrap around his hips as he fucks her behind the counter.

"Cloud?"

Her green eyes peer up at him, some concern there. He shakes his head at the image of him and Tifa back at Seventh Heaven and shifts his attention to the flower girl. She also has that expression of delicate warmth. One that makes him wonder from time to time about how Aerith really feels about him, if he's reading the signals wrong. And it wasn't like he felt nothing for her at all. He might have been interested once. But, Tifa exists. It was that simple fact. Still though, he feels a sense of ease around the last Cetra for she just has that sweet quality about her.

"Is there something you want to do?"

His eyes are directed at Tifa once again, who is smiling widely until she feels his stare on her. There's a hint of emotion in those red orbs, for she quickly averts her attention and has her hands bunching at her pleated skirt, in a way that he's always known means that she's frustrated.

"Cloud?"

"I want to go chocobo racing."

"Oh, how fun!"

Aerith lets go of his arm and scampers off to wrap them around Tifa instead, capturing the others' attention.

"Cloud says he wants to go racing."

"Well, Chappy has been well rested for a while now." Tifa was the one who named their racing bird and she knew as much as he did about taking care of him, coming from a small village where there was a chocobo farm nearby.

He is nervous in her presence, like he is waiting for his mother to give him permission to go play. But she grins instead and instantly warms his heart when she says that it would be fun.

So here they were, standing near the stalls as they prepared Chappy for the race up ahead. The track is painted in its usual rainbow colors, neon lights shining bright and large tv screens flickering with the latest advertisements.

Chappy had already made a name for himself after coming in first several times before and the competition they have tonight isn't anything new. Easy money is all it is.

"Cloud, I've been thinking."

He almost jumps back when Tifa appears by his side, soft hands running over their bird's feathered mane, a light smile on her face when she leans her forehead against its beak.

"What is it?"

He wants to say more, wants to ask more, wants to know what's on her mind, if she is upset with him about last night or if she's okay now. Or if he's been overthinking again.

"Can I do the race tonight?"

She's biting into her lower lip, a careful anticipation evident on her face while she waits for his consent. He is the main racer and owner after all.

"Yeah."

"Really?"

"Of course, Teef."

The happiness in her is enough to help him conclude that it is a good decision to let her do as she pleased. After all, Tifa is always good at what she's doing.

His eye twitches.

"Whew, hot damn, I know I have Shera and all but that Tifa can be sexy."

Cid's words nearly rewards him with a glare and a punch to the face, but Cloud tries with all his might to remain apathetic. Besides, Barret doesn't waste time in grabbing hold of the pilot's shoulder with his very own menacing gaze.

"Come again you motherfucker?"

"Barret! Language!"

Aerith has her hands on her hips, lecturing the two men as they continued their friendly banter, though Barret honestly looked pissed at Cid for even glancing at his surrogate daughter the wrong way.

Cloud doesn't miss the way the other men ogle at her positioned so gracefully atop the chocobo; long lean legs settled with purpose around the saddle, gloves holding the reins with confidence as she bends closer into a racing stance.

He almost breaks the glass he is holding when he gets a peak of her black shorts beneath her leather skirt. Sure he's always seen those tight shorts, she had a knack for kicking monsters, but there was just something about her riding a chocobo that has him all hot and bothered.

"Oh Cloud, your head looks like a chocobo!"

He clenches his fists at the memory of those very words and the fact that she had been all over him last night.

"It's about to start."

Red XIII's voice is almost indistinguishable, what with the way he sets his mind on his childhood friend, mouth dry at the sight of her, heart pumping, because her eyes are focused with absolute determination as she waits for the gunshot to signal the start of the race.

"Tifa is so gonna kill this!"

"I bet she is, those other racers might wanna stay behind on a count of the view they will be having."

"That's it, I'm kicking you out."

"Come on guns, just teasing here."

"The stars say that Miss Tifa is going to lose."

"That just makes me question your validity, kitty cat."

"I believe in Tifa."

Aerith's is the last voice he drowns out when the gun fires, and she's off then, directing Chappy in the way he had taught her before, legs clenching hard when she picks up the speed, hair blowing in the wind and ass…

Wait.

Ass

Ass...

Her pretty ass bouncing, and her breasts, though confined by the sports bra she is donning, tantalizing him with their...liveliness.

Up and down.

and

Down.

Cloud can't seem to think anymore. The spectacle before him is too much. And hearing all the hoots and cheers from the number of men in the stadium, Cloud knows that he isn't the only one.

A hint of possessiveness overcomes him and he couldn't help but focus his eyes on her and only her during the course. Counting the minutes until she crosses the finish line. And she's back here.

With him.

So he can show everyone here that she isn't available.

She wins, of course. But purely based on her skills and not because of what Cid had been implying. She's jumping up and down with excitement, a big grin on her face when they hand her the trophy, running excitedly back towards the team.

"Did you see that? I won! I won!"

Before she can say any more, however, he's taking her hand in his. She must have been caught off guard because she nearly stumbles when he tugs her to him.

"Let's get out of here."

"What?"

"Wuhoo! Get some girl!"

Yuffie must be dead drunk. He doesn't care though, doesn't care about what the others are thinking. He just wants to be alone with her. He pulls the barmaid through the crowd, head set on where he is taking her. Tifa follows him with no fight in her, though she occasionally asks where he's taking her.

But he wants to get there as fast as he can.

He can no longer wait for even a second.

The kiss he gives her is deep and aggressive when he pushes her against the closed door of the room he had rented. She's returning it with equal fervor and wraps a leg around his hip, trapping him to her slim body. Already he is nearly hard for her, so he pushes his desire against her core and smirks when she gasps at the contact.

"Cloud."

"I want to fuck you, Tifa."

He's always been crude when it comes to this act. Coming from soldier, he had been exposed to various profanities and innuendos that gave him ideas about what sex would be like once he eventually had the chance to do it. And he knows she loves it when he uses that word.

"Then fuck me."

She is just as eager for some reason, the event last night probably being one that she has decided on letting go for now. So he kisses her then. And he slides her suspenders off and wastes no time in taking off her white tank top, lips already finding their way to her neck as she grabs his shirt's zipper and pulls it down, exposing his chest and rewarding him with her soft touch as she pries it off him, smoothing her hands over his pectorals and pulling at his neck to direct him to her lips again, fingers tangling in his chocobo locks.

Yes, perhaps he should have more control than this.

But, when she's pushing him onto the bed and she's pulling his pants off, leaving him in his dark blue boxers while she settles her legs over him, Cloud thinks screw control. He had Tifa on him right now. With her long legs mounting him like last night, only that she had already taken off her training shorts underneath.

It is such an erotic sight.

Tifa Lockhart, wearing just her blank tank top and mini-skirt, still in her thigh highs, while he's leaning backwards on his elbows, half-naked and in only his boxers, with so little between them.

He pushes himself up, meeting her cherry lips while he runs his hands over her thighs, rubbing them softly, thrusting his hips once in a while, already hard with want. He puts his hand under her skirt, flicking her through her moistened panties while he pulls one side of her sports bra down, popping out one breast which he takes in his mouth and starts sucking on.

"Hgnn...Cloud."

Her gasps of pleasure encourages his attention and he pulls briefly away to take her whole bra off as he strains his muscles against her hips, pushing up while he continues to touch her.

"Take them off."

"Cloud."

"Take your panties off."

She gets on her feet and bends down, breasts following her movement that only serve to make him rock hard with eagerness, head filled with what is about to happen next.

He backs into the center of the bed and watches her as she follows him and meets his lips once more. His hand angles her chin to him as he probes his tongue deeper and plays with hers until he crosses the point of no return. She is still wearing her pleated skirt, as well as her dark thigh-highs, and it is then when he realizes a new kink he has for her.

"Ride me."

Hands press onto her thighs, stroking her smooth skin as he meets her eyes when he makes the lewd suggestion. She doesn't even shy away from that because the next thing he knows, Tifa is grabbing his boxers and yanking them off of him, taking hold of his hardened cock while she guides it inside her.

"Fuck."

She's always been warm and tight for him, taking his whole shaft while she bites her lips to stop from screaming out his name. When he's completely inside, Cloud grips her hips to prevent her from moving. Because he wants to feel her first, all of her, wants to savor this moment of profound connection.

With her.

Only with her.

So with one hand, he tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, then traces her warm cheeks, her lips, following the path down her middle where he passes the scar between her breasts, onto her belly, until his finger makes contact with the tiny nub he knows is one that brings her immense pleasure; never breaking their eye contact.

He starts rubbing.

"Cloud!"

He lets her move then, and he watches.

Watches as she moves her hips to her own beat, riding him as hard as she could, taking him in and then pulling out only to slam back down before he can fully slip out. He keeps flicking her clit, his grasp on her right thigh tightening when a new wave of pleasure washes over him.

Her hands rest on the headboard behind him, sweat sliding down her forehead and onto her chest while she goes harder and faster, moving to her own release until he could no longer just let her do all the work, so he runs his hands over her waist and thrusts up, assuming an upward jerk that increases the wetness that had engulfed him. He slams his hips up, meeting her again and again, giving in to his desire to claim her, giving her all of him, as much of himself he can give. Fucking her with an animalistic pounding, driving in and out, hard and fast, until something inside her snaps and she suddenly arches into his hard body and opens her arms up to him.

Cloud could not help but accept her embrace, sitting up to return her hold as she quivers around him, grip tightening when he suddenly releases into her. The heat of their mixed fluids teasing the threads of his desire as he pumps her to prolong this feeling of absolute bliss, breaths coming out in harsh pants as they slump against each other.

Yes.

Fuck control.

______________

He watches the rise and fall of her chest. Her face is directed to the other side but he knows she's already awake. Last night's tryst has given him courage, so he doesn't stop himself from reaching out to her, gently pulling her against him while greedily resting his front between her butt cheeks and kissing her shoulders as he laces their fingers together.

Tifa accepts his touch and leans further into him.

"About the other night." He starts.

"Mm."

She shakes her head, and he pictures a sexually satisfied smile on her face when she does this.

"I'm sorry, though."

She tightens her hold on his fingers.

"It was just a date."

He buries his face in her hair, rewarding himself with the smell of her cherry shampoo.

"But I wanted it to be you."

He suddenly feels her stiffen, and if it wasn't for the way he loved the position they are in right now, Cloud would have rolled her onto her back so he could see her face. He gives her the time to reply, strong thighs pressing closer to her when his embrace becomes more intimate.

She kisses his fingers...

"Then take me out next time."

AN: For shame, oh my goodness, the inner pervert is winning today. Thank you for reading!

#cloti #cloti fanfiction #cloti fanfic #cloud x tifa

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