#Cloud Strife x OC

[writingsoftarnishedsilver]

Breaking Rules | Cloud Strife x Reader

Part Two

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Summary: Days after your initial meeting, Cloud finds himself drawn back to Wall Market, unable to explain his motives even to himself. Against all odds, he sees you again and, despite the transactional nature of your relationship, invites you over again.

Words: ~5,100

Tags: Cloud Strife is Bad At Feelings, Strangers to Lovers, Slow Burn, Reader Insert, Female Reader, Plus/Midsize Reader, No Y/N

Cloud stood by the window of his apartment, staring out at the sprawling mess of Midgar’s undercity, his mind far from the dull hum of the streets below. Normally, when he wasn’t on a mission, his thoughts stayed focused on his next task, keeping him grounded in the predictable rhythm of his life. But lately, his mind had been elsewhere—on you.

It had been a few days since that night. He should’ve forgotten you by now, moved on like he always did. Yet every time he closed his eyes, he saw you—your calm gaze, your teasing smirk, the way your voice wrapped around his name like you’d known him longer than the span of an hour or two.

Cloud’s fingers curled around the windowsill, his knuckles whitening as he gripped it tighter. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d had numerous other encounters before, other nights that blurred together into something forgettable. Why was this different?

His eyes dropped to the faint reflection of himself in the glass, the glow of the city’s neon lights casting sharp shadows over his features. He looked as tired as he felt, the weight of his sleepless nights etched into his face. Nights where your name, your laugh, your smirk haunted the edges of his mind.

The sound of his phone vibrating on the table behind him pulled him from his thoughts. He turned slowly, dragging his feet as though reluctant to break the stillness of the room. Picking up the device, he glanced at the screen.

A message from Tifa. "You okay? Haven’t heard from you all day."

Cloud hesitated, his thumb hovering over the keys. He wanted to type something simple, something that would put her at ease without inviting more questions. Instead, he set the phone back down, the message unanswered.

Cloud shook his head, grabbing his jacket from the chair. Maybe he just needed some air. Something to clear his mind. But as he stepped out into the street, his feet didn’t carry him to any random part of the city.

They carried him toward Wall Market.

Cloud told himself it was coincidence. He hadn’t meant to end up there—it wasn’t like he was searching for you. That would be ridiculous. Wall Market was sprawling, chaotic, a maze of noise and neon lights. The odds of running into someone twice, especially someone like you, were slim. Practically nonexistent.

And yet, as he pushed through the crowded streets, his eyes darted to every corner, scanning the shadows, searching the face of every figure that leaned against a building as the hum of the market surrounded him—vendors shouting over one another, laughter spilling from nearby bars, the faint buzz of electricity from flickering neon signs, and there in the distance: The Rusty Chocobo.

Cloud shoved his hands into his pockets, his jaw tightening. He hadn’t meant to end up here. He told himself that again, as though repetition might make it true.

His eyes darted to the figures moving in and out of the bar, scanning faces without meaning to. A woman stepped out, laughing loudly with her companions, and for a split second, Cloud’s chest tightened. But it wasn’t you.

Of course it wasn’t you.

His lips pressed into a thin line, his shoulders stiffening as he turned his gaze away. What did he expect? Even if you frequented this part of Wall Market, there was no guarantee you’d be here again tonight. And even if you were—what then? What was he planning to say?

But before he could force himself to turn and walk away, the door to the bar swung open again. And as if the universe had decided to intervene—for better or worse, Cloud couldn’t tell—there you were.

Tonight, you looked different—still captivating, but in a way that caught him off guard. Gone was the sleek, alluring outfit from that night, replaced with fitted jeans that hugged your hips and thighs, paired with a simple black tank top that hinted at the softness of your chest. A light, oversized jacket hung loosely off your shoulders, the sleeves pushed up to your elbows.

Your hair was slightly tousled, and your makeup—if any—was subtle, just a faint sheen on your lips catching the dim light. A small crossbody bag rested against your hip, your movements unhurried and relaxed as you stepped into the street.

You glanced in his direction, and for a moment, he thought you hadn’t seen him. But then your eyes locked on his, and the faintest flicker of surprise crossed your face before smoothing into something more familiar. That knowing smirk curved your lips, subtle and teasing, your head tilting slightly as if you’d caught him red handed.

“Well,” you said, your voice carrying just enough to reach him over the hum of the market. “If it isn’t my favorite Storm Cloud. What are you doing here?” you asked, stepping closer.

Cloud managed to hold your gaze, his jaw clenching as he forced his expression into something neutral despite his shock at seeing you again. “Just… needed some air,” he muttered, his voice low, almost gruff.

Your smirk deepened, your eyes glinting with quiet amusement. “Sure,” you said, drawing the word out like you didn’t believe him for a second. You stopped a few feet away, your gaze sweeping over him with that same calm, steady confidence that had been etched into his memory. “Wall Market’s a funny place to go for air. Guess you’ve got a thing for overpriced drinks and questionable company.”

Cloud’s lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smile threatening to break through, but he forced it down. “What about you?” he countered, shifting his weight awkwardly.

“I just finished work," you said, your tone tinged with dry amusement.

The way you said it—matter-of-fact, unflinching—made Cloud’s chest tighten. Of course, that was why you were here. What else would it be?

Still, the words settled uncomfortably in his chest. It wasn’t judgment—Cloud wasn’t the kind of man who thought less of someone for what they did to survive. But the reminder of what "work" meant for you stung, a sharp and unwelcome thought gnawing at the edges of his mind. You’d been with other men tonight—men who weren’t him.

It wasn’t his place to feel anything about it, and he knew that. This wasn’t supposed to matter. He wasn’t supposed to care. And yet, the idea of those nameless men, their hands on you, their voices in your ear, left a bitter taste in his mouth. A pang of something—resentment? jealousy?—twisted in his chest.

You watched him, your smirk fading slightly as though you caught the shift in his expression. “Relax,” you teased, trying to break the tension. “It’s not like I’m going to charge you for standing around.”

Cloud’s jaw tightened, his gaze flicking away as he struggled to find the right response. "So... you're done for the night?"

He wasn’t sure why he’d asked—it wasn’t like him to pry, let alone care. And yet, the words had tumbled out before he could stop them.

You tilted your head, studying him. “What’s it to you?”

Cloud shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “Just asking,” he muttered, his voice rough, almost defensive.

Your smirk deepened, a teasing glint in your eyes. “Why, got plans for me?”

Cloud’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t look away. "How much?"

For a moment, you didn’t answer, your brow knitting together as though you were carefully weighing your response. Then, after a beat, you shrugged lightly, the motion almost dismissive.

“Same as before,” you said.

Cloud didn’t hesitate. He reached into his pocket, pulling out the gil without a word. His movements were deliberate, mechanical, as he counted out the amount and handed it over. You took it without comment, your fingers brushing his briefly as the exchange was made.

“Come on,” he said, already turning on his heel and heading down the street.

You followed, slipping the money into your bag.

Cloud’s mind was a tangle of contradictions as he walked. He didn’t want to fuck you—not tonight, anyway. He wasn’t even sure why he’d asked, why he’d paid. This wasn’t supposed to be part of his day, part of his life. Yet here he was again, leading you back to his apartment like it was some inevitability he couldn’t fight.

What the hell was he doing?

The thought churned in his chest, a low hum of frustration mingling with something he didn’t want to name.

When they reached his apartment, Cloud paused at the door, glancing back at you. You met his gaze with that same calm confidence, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of your lips as if to say, Your move, Storm Cloud.

He unlocked the door without a word, stepping inside and holding it open for you. You walked past him, your steps measured, your gaze sweeping over the dimly lit room before you turned to face him.

Cloud stiffened the moment you slipped off your jacket, the fabric sliding from your shoulders and pooling over your arm. His chest tightened as you reached for the hem of your shirt in one swift, practiced motion, ready to peel it off.

“Wait,” he said, his voice sharper than he intended.

You froze mid-motion, your fingers still gripping the edge of your shirt, and looked at him with a mixture of curiosity and surprise. “Something wrong?” you asked lightly, your tone calm, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in your eyes.

Cloud’s jaw worked as he tried to find the right words, the tension in his shoulders refusing to ease. His hands stayed shoved in his pockets, fingers curling into fists as he wrestled with the impulse that had driven him to speak. He wasn’t even sure what he wanted to say, just that the sight of you preparing to undress sent a pang of something through him that wasn’t desire—at least, not entirely.

“I didn’t…” He hesitated, the words catching in his throat. “That’s not why I brought you here.”

“But you paid for it,” you said after a long pause, your tone matter-of-fact.

Cloud nodded, the tension in his chest tightening as he struggled to find the right words. “I know.”

“Then what do you want?” you asked, your voice suddenly measured, cautious—like you weren't sure if you wanted the answer. Cloud’s gaze flicked toward the window, unable to meet your eyes for a moment. He didn’t know what he wanted. That was the problem.

He sighed, unfolding his arms and running a hand through his hair. “Why don’t you just… take a seat."

The silence that followed stretched longer than it should have, heavy with something unspoken as you stood frozen in the middle of the room. There was no smirk on your face now, no playful teasing, just a sharp, watchful expression as you moved toward the couch. You sat and crossed your legs, resting your hands lightly on your knee, your gaze flitting briefly around the room before settling resolutely on him.

And that’s when Cloud realized, with a start, that you were nervous.

No, more than nervous. You were…afraid. Of him—not because of anything he’d done, but because of what he could do.

Of course, you were on edge. Why wouldn’t you be? He’d shown up out of nowhere, tracked you down, handed over gil without a shred of explanation, and brought you back to his apartment. And now, after all that, he didn’t want to have sex with you? The very thing you’d thought he hired you to do?

The whole thing must have seemed like a setup.

Cloud didn’t blame you. He wasn’t naïve—he knew how most men looked at women like you—like objects, toys for their amusement, tools to satisfy whatever desire, sex or otherwise, they brought to the table. But the idea that you might think he was one of those men made his stomach churn. But he didn’t know how to fix this—how to erase the guarded look in your eyes or the wary set of your shoulders. Words had never been his strength, and right now, the ones he needed felt impossible to find.

“I know how this looks,” He managed, trying, and likely failing, to sound gentle and reassuring. “But I’m not… I’m not trying to scare you or… or anything.”

You tilted your head slightly, your eyes narrowing as you studied him with a sharp, assessing gaze that made him feel like you were peeling back layers he wasn’t even aware of. Searching for something—cracks, dishonesty, danger.

“I didn’t think this through,” Cloud continued, the words coming out low and halting as he tried to force his scattered thoughts into something coherent. “I’m not here to push you into anything. I just… wanted to see you… I guess.”

The words tasted unfamiliar, even as they left his mouth, yet they rang with a truth he could no longer deny.

He’d told himself he hadn’t gone looking for you, that heading back to the Rusty Chocobo had been nothing more than a coincidence. But now, standing here with you, the words slipping out like they’d been waiting all along, he couldn’t ignore the truth any longer.

He had gone looking for you.

Your posture stayed tense, though the sharpness in your expression flickered briefly, replaced by something he couldn’t quite read. Curiosity, maybe. Or skepticism.

“You came all the way to Wall Market, paid me, and brought me back to your place… just to see me?"

“Yeah.”

You blinked at him, your brows knitting together as though you were trying to solve a puzzle. “You’re serious.”

Cloud nodded, his shoulders stiff as he resisted the urge to look away. “…Yeah.”

Another pause, longer this time, stretched as you studied him, weighing his words. You were still wary, trying to piece him together, to figure out whether the man standing in front of you was safe or dangerous. Cloud couldn’t blame you. The situation was absurd, and the fact that he’d handled it so poorly wasn’t helping.

Finally, you tilted your head slightly, your voice calm but edged with suspicion. “Alright. Let’s start with the basics. What do you do?”

Cloud’s shoulders stiffened slightly. He knew how his answer would sound—knew it wasn’t exactly the kind of response that screamed trustworthy. But he also knew better than to lie. “I’m a mercenary,” he said evenly, his voice low.

Your eyes narrowed, the words clearly not putting you at ease. “A mercenary,” you repeated, your tone carefully neutral. “Guess that explains the big-ass sword. So, what… you get paid to fight people?”

“Sometimes,” Cloud admitted, watching your reaction carefully. “Sometimes it’s other things. Body guarding, retrievals, odd jobs. Whatever needs doing.”

“Doesn’t quite make me feel better,” you muttered, crossing your arms over your chest. “You’re not exactly selling yourself as the harmless type, you know.”

Cloud’s lips twitched, a faint flicker of dry humor slipping through. “I’m not harmless,” he said honestly. “But I’m… I wouldn’t hurt you. I don’t want to hurt you and I won’t.”

Your brows furrowed. “So… nobody sent you for me?”

The question hit him like a bucket of cold water. Cloud’s own curiosity flared at the implication—why would someone be looking for you? What kind of trouble might you be caught up in? But he forced himself to push the questions aside. The last thing you needed was him prying into your life when you didn’t trust him to begin with.

“No,” he said firmly, his voice steady. “No one sent me.”

Your gaze stayed locked on his, sharp and unyielding as you searched his face for any sign of dishonesty. Cloud held it without flinching, letting his sincerity show. He needed you to believe him, even if he couldn’t admit to himself why it mattered so much.

“Alright,” you said at last, the word measured and cautious. “I’ll… take your word for it.”

Cloud nodded, relief flooding through him, though he didn’t let it show beyond a subtle loosening of his posture. It was progress, no matter how small. You weren’t running out the door or accusing him of ulterior motives anymore, and that was enough for now.

The silence stretched between you, no longer as heavy but still charged. Finally, you leaned back against the couch, tilting your head slightly as you studied him. “So,” you began, “if no one sent you, and you’re not here to… hurt me, then what exactly do you want?”

Cloud hesitated, his jaw tightening. “I told you,” he muttered after a beat. “I wanted to see you.”

Your brow arched at that, skepticism flickering across your face again. “Right,” you said slowly.

Cloud sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I know how it sounds,” he admitted, his voice low, almost apologetic. “But it’s the truth.”

You watched him for a moment longer before leaning back a little further. “You’re a weird guy, you know that?”

Cloud huffed, the corner of his mouth twitching in something like amusement. “Yeah,” he muttered. “I’ve heard that before.”

You hummed absently in response, your gaze flicking around the room as though you were searching for something.

When you spotted the dusty old chess set tucked away on a shelf in the corner, you tilted your head, curiosity lighting up your expression. Pushing yourself up from the couch, you crossed the room, your steps deliberate

"You play?” you asked, reaching out and running a finger along the top of the board, leaving a clean streak in the thin layer of dust.

Cloud blinked, caught off guard by the question. He hadn’t thought about that chessboard in ages. It had been a gift from Tifa years ago—something she’d said would help him “unwind” during his downtime. But it had sat there untouched ever since, a relic of an idea that never came to fruition.

“Used to,” he muttered.

“Used to,” you echoed thoughtfully, your tone neutral. Then, you picked it up and carried it over to the coffee table in the center of the room.

Cloud frowned slightly as you set it down and began wiping the dust off and arranging the pieces.

“Well,” you said, your tone hesitantly teasing, “since you’re not in the mood for… other activities, how about a game?”

Cloud hesitated, his gaze flicking from the board to you. “Are you serious?” he asked, his voice skeptical.

You shrugged. “Why not? Unless you’re afraid of losing.”

That made Cloud huff softly, the barest hint of a smirk ghosting across his lips. “I don’t lose,” he said gruffly as he made his way to the table.

“Guess we’ll see,” you said, folding your legs as you finished setting up the last of the pieces. “Because I don’t go easy on anyone—not even weird, broody mercenaries.”

Cloud rolled his eyes, settling on the floor opposite you, resting his elbows on the table as he studied the board.

The game began in silence, save for the soft scrape of pieces sliding across the wood and the occasional hum of thought from you. Cloud’s focus sharpened as it always did when he had a task in front of him, his eyes scanning the chessboard with the same intensity he brought to battle.

But he couldn’t help noticing the way your demeanor shifted as the game progressed. The guarded edge that had been so sharp continued to dull slightly with every move, the wariness in your eyes, now tempered by something else—curiosity, maybe even amusement.

“Not bad,” you remarked after a particularly clever move on his part, sliding your bishop back to block his knight. “Didn’t peg you for a strategist.”

Cloud huffed softly, leaning back in his chair. “You don’t get far in my line of work without learning how to think ahead.”

You raised an eyebrow, the corner of your mouth twitching. “Right. Mercenary,” you chuckled. “I should have known. From the whole ‘silent and brooding’ vibe you’ve got going on.”

Cloud hummed, watching you consider your next move on the board. “Am I that transparent?

“Kinda,” you admitted, your tone light as you slid a rook into position. “You’ve got the look down—tough, quiet, mysterious. I’m surprised you don’t have a cape.”

Cloud shot you a sidelong glance, his lips twitching in the faintest hint of a smirk. “Not practical.”

That made you laugh—a soft, genuine sound that caught him off guard. He looked up just in time to see the tension in your shoulders ease a fraction, warmth returning to your expression.

“Fair enough,” you said. “Your turn.”

The banter came easily now, a back-and-forth that felt almost natural, and Cloud didn’t feel like he wasn't second-guessing everything he said or did anymore. The tension that had gripped him earlier was still there, lingering at the edges, but it was quieter now-manageable. You weren't just testing him anymore. You were engaging, talking to him like a person instead of a client.

“So, you work alone?” you asked after a while, moving a pawn forward to threaten one of his bishops.

“No,” Cloud replied, his voice low and even. He considered the board for a moment before sliding his rook to a safer position. “Usually with a team, but… depends on the job., I guess.”

You hummed thoughtfully, leaning forward to study the board. “Is that so? You don’t strike me as the ‘team player’ type.”

“Depends on the team,” he countered, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

You grinned back at him, your fingers lingering over your pieces. “Fair enough.”

The small talk continued as the game progressed. You asked him about his favorite places in Midgar (“Nowhere”), whether he ever had downtime (“Rarely”), and what he liked to do when he wasn’t working (“Does sleeping count?”). He answered each question without hesitation, surprising even himself with how easily the words came. In return, he learned a few things about you—your preference for quiet corners in noisy places, a passing interest in old books, and a vague history with someone who’d taught you chess a long time ago.

But even as the conversation lightened, Cloud’s focus on the game remained sharp. His pieces were in good positions, his rooks and knights effectively cornering your queen. He leaned back, his confidence growing as he watched you deliberate your next move.

“You’re in trouble,” he said quietly, his voice tinged with the faintest trace of amusement.

You tilted your head, your lips curving into a slow, knowing smirk. “Guess we’ll see.”

The next few moves were quick. Cloud advanced his pieces aggressively, forcing you to retreat while maintaining control. Victory felt imminent, his position on the board nearly unshakable. But before he could move his queen to deliver what he thought was the final blow, you made your move.

Your bishop slid into place with a deliberate, almost casual motion. “Checkmate,” you said, your voice calm but carrying an unmistakable note of triumph.

Cloud froze, his gaze snapping to the board. His eyes scanned the pieces, disbelief tightening his jaw as he realized what had just happened. Somehow, in the chaos of his offensive, he’d overlooked the trap you’d been building. His king was boxed in—no escape, no counterplay.

He leaned back in his chair, his arms crossing over his chest as he stared at the board in silence. “How?” he muttered, more to himself than to you.

You grinned, leaning forward to rest your elbows on the table. “You got cocky,” you said lightly.

Cloud huffed, the sound a mix of frustration and reluctant admiration, his lips twitching into the faintest smirk despite himself. “Not bad,” he admitted grudgingly.

You laughed softly, the sound warm and unguarded, and for a moment, Cloud found himself watching you instead of the board. There was something about the way you sat there that made the sting of defeat feel oddly… tolerable.

As you started putting the board and pieces back in their place on the shelf, his eyes traced the details of your face—the curve of your lips, the slight furrow in your brow as you concentrated on organizing the pieces, the way a loose strand of hair fell against your cheek before you absently tucked it behind your ear. The way the faintest smile lingered on your lips, like you were quietly pleased with yourself for beating him.

It struck him, then, with a force that made his chest ache—how beautiful you were. Not in the way he'd thought when he first saw you, dressed to kill and wearing that confident, teasing smirk. This was different. There was something about the simplicity of this moment, of seeing you like this, that made his chest tighten in a way he wasn’t used to.

And then it hit him: he was doing this all backwards.

He’d seen all of you a few days ago, every curve and inch of your body, felt the warmth of your skin, the softness of your form. That should’ve been the most intimate part, the peak of knowing someone. But now… Now he was noticing the smaller things, the way your lips pursed when you were focused, the soft hum in your throat as you worked, the way you seemed to radiate life in a way that felt both effortless and disarming.

This wasn’t how these things were supposed to go. You didn’t meet someone, sleep with them, and then start peeling back the layers. It was backwards, completely illogical.

Cloud’s chest tightened further, realization creeping in like an unwelcome guest. This wasn’t just attraction, wasn’t just a fleeting interest in someone who’d caught his eye. No, this was deeper. He could feel it in the way his gaze lingered too long, in the ache that stirred in his chest when you laughed, and in the inexplicable pull that had led him back to you in the first place.

He was undoubtedly falling for you.

And Cloud Strife wasn’t supposed to fall for people. Attachments were dangerous, messy, a risk he couldn’t afford to take. That was what he told himself. That was how he lived.

You finished putting the chessboard back on the shelf, brushing your hands together as if to rid them of invisible dust. Turning back toward him, you tilted your head, an amused glint in your eyes. “You okay over there?"

Cloud blinked, pulling himself out of his spiraling thoughts. “I’m fine,” he muttered.

You smirked, crossing your arms as you leaned against the wall, your posture relaxed in a way that only added to the quiet confidence you carried. “You sure? I don’t want you losing sleep over your loss."

“Not losing sleep,” Cloud replied, but his tone lacked its usual edge. His eyes flicked toward the chessboard briefly before settling back on you. “You’re good. I’ll give you that.”

You grinned, the smile warm and teasing. “I know.”

Cloud shook his head, a faint breath of air escaping him that could almost be considered a laugh.

You tilted your head, studying him with a playful curiosity. “Well, Cloud... I suppose that concludes our time together."

The words hit him like a cold gust of wind, snapping him out of the strange sense of ease that had settled between you. His faint smirk faltered, his expression shifting as the reminder of the transaction between you settled heavily in his chest.

You were right, of course. He’d paid you to be here, and now your work was done. This wasn’t supposed to be anything more than an exchange, a business arrangement. And yet, sitting here with you, playing chess and trading small talk, it had started to feel like something else.

Cloud’s gaze flicked away, landing somewhere on the floor as he tried to muster a response. “Right,” he muttered, his voice gruff. “Guess it does.”

You leaned down to pick up your jacket from where it had been discarded earlier, shaking it out before draping it over your arm. Cloud pushed himself to his feet, the motion stiff and deliberate, his gaze flicking to you and then away. For a moment, neither of you spoke, and Cloud just stood there, his hands hanging uselessly at his sides, his eyes darting to yours and then back to the floor like he couldn’t decide where to look.

But then, as if the weight of the silence pressed too hard on you, you broke it. “You know,” you said, your voice quieter now, stripped of the teasing lilt you so often used. “I had fun tonight.”

Cloud’s gaze snapped up to meet yours, his eyes narrowing slightly in surprise.

You offered a faint, almost shy smile, and for the first time, you looked... open. Vulnerable in a way he hadn’t seen before. “This was… nice,” you continued, hesitating as though choosing your words carefully. “The best job I’ve had, honestly.”

Cloud’s chest tightened as the meaning of your words settled over him. The implication was clear: most of your nights weren’t like this. The life you lived wasn’t one you chose—it was something you endured. And yet, here you were, smiling at him like this had been some kind of reprieve from whatever your evenings usually looked like.

Cloud clenched his fists at his sides, resisting the urge to say something, to ask questions he knew he shouldn’t. He didn’t have the right. All he could do was nod, the motion stiff and awkward.

You stepped toward the door and Cloud moved instinctively, his hand brushing against the edge of the handle, but you stopped him with a light touch on his arm. He froze, his breath catching as he turned to face you.

You leaned in, your lips brushing against his cheek in a gesture so soft and fleeting it barely registered before you pulled away. “Take care of yourself, Cloud,” you said, your voice gentle.

And then you were gone, slipping out the door and into the night, leaving Cloud standing there, his cheek tingling from where your lips had touched it, his chest aching with a mix of emotions he couldn’t begin to untangle.

The room felt impossibly empty without you.

[shooting-star-hearts]

♡•Glitter For Skin•♡

✰ • 𝓟𝓐𝓘𝓡𝓘𝓝𝓖 ⇢ Cloud Strife/OC(Astrid Lovelyn) ✰ • 𝓣𝓗𝓔𝓜𝓔𝓢 ⇢ Fluff/comfort, Angst ✰• 𝓝𝓞𝓣𝓔𝓢 ⇢ Considering that this is oc x canon there will be...some things I changed that differ from canon ff7, such as Highwind scene...yeah I was a bit scared to add that one in sooooo no hate please? Thank you. Also I have horrible writing so I apologize for having to go through this if you choose do so 🥲 Anyhow...I wrote up this fic because it's been three years I've had this lil ship so...Happy Anniversary Cloustrid 💖(I'll also tag as x reader for anyone that wants to use as inspiration I'll allow it) ✰ • 𝓦𝓐𝓡𝓝𝓘𝓝𝓖𝓢 ⇢ Heartaches, Mention of a cut/blood, Suggestive at some point(implied nsfw) nothing explicit but do be mindful that this is 16+, no proofread(?), Cloud is a bit...ooc I think, he talks a little more than usual

Now playing - golden hour by JVKE

“Ouch!”

As a reflex, the paper flew from her grasp and was gently curled over the thin cut.  Her thumb soothed over the little red slit with her brows furrowing slightly; the cut was small but admittingly it did cause a bit of an annoyance to her finger. 

“Astrid~”

Tifa’s voice was followed by the jingling of the bells over the door, signaling someone’s entrance in the bakery. Astrid’s eyes left from her cut momentarily to flash a smile at her.

“Hey Ti! Closed up early?” 

“Mhm…You alright?” The dark-haired woman made her way around the counter, her eyes followed down at Astrid’s finger.

“A-ah- yeah! Just a paper cut! Hang on..” Astrid didn’t want to further concern Tifa. She opened up one of the cabinet doors under the counter, shuffling around items in search of band-aids. 

Tifa was already ahead of knowing what she needed.  “Need band-aids? I believe there’s some upstairs” “Actually that won’t be necessary, I’ll deal with it late-”

Before Astrid could reply, she heard the bells ring again and the door closing. Chuckling, she smiled at how sweet Tifa was being despite the case not being serious.

. . . . .

“How was business today? I’m guessing busy telling from how they were visiting my bakery immediately afterwards~”

“You bet!” Tifa wrapped a small, thin band-aid around Astrid’s ring finger. 

Evening on a weekend, perfect for when these two want to hang out after their shorter shifts. It had been two years and a half since Astrid’s official opening to her bakery, Promised Land, and since then she had been extremely happy over the fact that both her and Tifa’s business had brought them closer.

“You weren’t too overwhelmed I hope?”

“Tifa…you’re asking as if this is the first time I’ve dealt with a large crowd!” She laughed. 

“I know you’re capable but…being how you’re the only one working for yourself…you know you could always ask Fiona to help out, right?”

“I know! But you two seem s~o happy together even when you’re working! I can’t take that away~” The brunette shot a friendly tease at her.

Tifa simply averted her eyes and chuckled, a faint blush painted on her upper cheeks. “I don’t think one day of not being around me would kill her.”

“Oh c’mon, have you seen how clingy she is with you? I’m not lying when I say there isn’t one conversation I have had with her where she doesn’t mention your name~” Astrid’s teasing was full on Aerith-like at this point.

The more the brunette teased about Tifa’s love life, the more red on Tifa’s cheeks became visible from her smiling. 

“Alright, tough cookie…but seriously, I just wanna be sure you have the help you need, at least let me help out with tidying up some things around here?”

“Well, there isn’t much more to be done but…I know you won't say no either.” The girl titled her head.

Tifa pointed a finger gun at Astrid and clicked her tongue. “You know me~!” She went on to pick a broom and started sweeping away.

A new source of warmth entered the room as the sun set, pointing right at Astrid across the room as she stared at her band aid once more. Upon noticing the change in atmosphere, her green eyes softened at the new color that painted the walls of the bakery interior, her favorite color at that.

Gold.

The color of the sunset.

The color of their deal.

…And of course, the color of his hair.

Sunsets never failed to make her think of that one person during these times of the day. Ever since the first day of their budding friendship, a friendship that was sealed by their own hearts and a deal. Some may say childish for such a silly thing, but it wasn’t like anyone would understand how much that alone affected each other throughout their life. Even when starting out as outcasts, it didn’t take much for them to mean the world for one another. 

“Hey…did Cloud happen to text you?”

Tifa stopped in her tracks, a smile tugged her lips without facing the shorter lady.

“He…did say he’d come back early but…”

“Don’t worry.”

She turned around, flashing a reassuring grin, remembering the short conversation she had with Cloud earlier.

“...He’ll be here soon.”

. . . . .

Orange sunset: “Warmth and comfort”

“...You’re really good at that.”

Any kid—or adult for that matter—in this village would recognize that voice as the weird kid, or one of them at least. It was a strange interaction for the two children to face each other after all those times of visiting and having their moms bond since they were just babies, but now? It felt as though they had just met for the first time. Except by this point, they were longing for a friend to talk to, so one would say….it was only natural that they’d end up like this, somehow, someway.

The young brunette’s lips parted from the flute, cutting off the soft melodies that escaped from it. From the corner of her eyes, she saw him. His blue eyes—non-mako at the time—glistened widely in fascination with the girl’s talent. Then again, in all his years of knowing who Astrid Lovelyn was, he didn’t really know her.

“...Cloud?”

The same could be said for the brunette herself, or as 10 year old Cloud would know as the girl that feared him. He expected nothing more than seeing her run off to her room whenever she was aware of the boy’s presence.

…Or so he thought.

“...Thank you…!”

…So when he heard those two words ring in his ears, this took him by surprise. He’d ask her to repeat again but seeing he had gotten this far, he was pulled to talk further with her.

Except he couldn’t gather the words to create another sentence, he just…stood there, findling with his fingers.

♪Pink and orange skies, feelin' super childish♪

Cloud had only one plan: Ask her why she was being attacked by Tifa’s friends and go back to his lonesome self for the rest of his day, instead it felt like he was confronting a kitten that needed to be handled with extra care; one wrong move could cause some serious consequences.

Wait…why was this kid worried? I mean, he’s seen what this girl is capable of doing, she did scold the kids that lied about him convincing Tifa to endanger herself on Mt. Nibel. Albeit she isn’t violent as Cloud is but seeing her stand up for him deepened his curiosity of what else she was on about.

“Hey…are you okay?”

The tables had turned with who was the shy one in this case.

Cloud’s upper body moved back slowly at Astrid leaning forward to take a look at his expressions better. When the hell did she stand up? He hadn’t even been able to process the fact that he was standing the closest he’s ever been to her. The blonde was desperate to form words to tell, but nothing could rip from his throat to respond besides the common “uh..”

Oh shoot, is she smiling? Was it because he had just embarrassed himself in front of her by being such a dork? Or maybe the blonde just hadn’t considered how lovely he looked with tangerine hues glistening up his miniature spikes and blue eyes yet.

His eyes drifted from the young girl’s emerald orbs, finding himself staring at books leaning against each other. 

“What are…” His finger finished the rest of his question while pointing, intentionally diverting Astrid away from him before she could notice his blushing.

The brunette’s pigtails swayed in rhythm whilst turning her head, following the direction he was hinting at. “Oh..those? They're just…boring stuff.” 

She walked back over and picked up one of her books, showing off the cover to Cloud, “Growth in Gardening” it read.

“Stuff on gardening…stupid, I know.”

It was fast how Astrid instantly dissed her own interest. “...But you like it, right?” Was simply how he could respond. He wasn’t about to lie and pretend he knew anything about gardening, I mean, boy thinks flowers all look the same.

But, judging by how lush and flourishing the plantation had grew near Astrid’s house, this was definitely her biggest passion, or at least, one of possibly many others

“I do, but others think it’s weird for a girl to be working outside just to get all muddy and sweaty…” She sat down, flipping over a few pages to the section of yellow lilies. “So…I don’t really have anyone else to talk to about them besides my mom and…”

“…who?” Cloud tilted his head.

“...The plants that I grew.” She chuckled to herself. She must’ve felt like a freak in front of him. Guess all that outcasting really affected how she saw herself too.

“...Oh.” 

That was the only thing Cloud could murmur before letting the crickets fill in the rest of the silence. Astrid noticed his eyes averting from the corner of her eyes. By this point, the young blonde had completely forgotten the entire reason why he had come to visit her in the first place. He had considered leaving before things got more awkward–

“So…why did you come see me?”

Oh, that’s why he was there.

“Not that I don’t want you to be here but…you haven’t come to visit in so long…”

“...Why were those kids bugging you?”

“Oh…that…” She sighed, recalling how foolish she had put herself into trouble, only for Cloud to get pulled in just to defend her. “I overheard how they lied about you getting Tifa into danger, they were being jerks to you. It’s not fair how they’re doing this to you…I couldn’t just…stand there…”

“But you would’ve gotten yourself hurt.”

Astrid blinked at how Cloud saw it. ”I don’t….think they would’ve went that far-”

“Doesn’t matter. They shouldn’t have talked to you like that. They talk about you all the time and I just wanted them to shut up.” He blurted without thinking.

Okay now she was confused. “...Huh?”

“Yeah. They said some nasty stuff about you so many times. About how you’re weird and ugly and…all that.” 

Her eyes widened, the realization stunned her. Yeah she knew he was reckless and getting himself into trouble but…for her though…?

He fought them…because they were saying stuff about me…?

“Cloud…you shouldn’t have…why..?”

“Cuz….even if you hate me…they were still being mean about you.”

“Huh?!” Well that didn’t sound right. “Hate you?! What made you think I hate you Cloud??”

Cloud was just as surprised to figure out that he may have judged her wrongly. “...You always ran to your room each time I came to visit…”

…Oooh…

“C-Cloud I…I didn’t hide because I hated you, I did that with everyone! I was just…scared of people, but that didn’t mean I hated them!”

“I-”

Cloud choked up, both of them did. For a while Cloud had assumed that he was cursed with others taking a dislike to him but ... this was just a misunderstanding between these two kids all along?

One was overthinking on what to say and the other was underthinking, not the most ideal conversation if you can even call it that now. All in all, it was embarrassing, and it would’ve been rude if Cloud had just walked away without saying anything.

I guess the only thing left to do is…to apologize? For misunderstanding? For judging her past fears? Maybe?

“...Sor-”

“Ugh! I can’t take this!” 

Astrid stood up, stomping the ground in frustration. “This is dumb, we’re both being dumb!” Walking over back to the confused blonde, she had an idea in mind. “We can’t just keep beating around the bush like this! So if we don’t want that happening anymore, we’re gonna make a deal!”

“A-A deal…?”

“Yeah! A friendship deal!”

The little brunette extended her arm out, fingers widely open. “I can’t keep running away in fear and you can’t keep your own feelings hidden! So I’ll stick by you whenever you’re in a rough patch no matter how bad things get, but you have to be honest with me.”

“But…I-I don’t want you getting hurt because of me…”

“Well someone’s gotta be by your side! You can’t do everything on your own all your life, y’know?”

Yup, that sentence alone settled his decision. 

His eyes widened, he never really thought of himself as the type to be looked after. Again, lone wolf, lone life, it was what he was used to up until now. Spending way too much time trying to fit into a friends group didn’t even give him a chance to realize that there would be someone to genuinely be accepted by all along.

“...Deal.”

His hand glued onto hers, Astrid gave it a shake to seal the deal. He never saw her smile so brightly before either, it was a lovely complement to the orange glow on her face. Cloud’s lips tugged upwards into a half smile. The truth is, he would’ve been honest with her with or without this deal the moment he realized that he meant something to her.

This is childish….but she’s happy.

This wasn’t just a friend. This was the soul he vowed to stay close with and protect for the rest of his life.

Cloudy sunset: “Splitting relationship”

“Cloudy!!”

The brunette’s head turned over. Standing before her, his eyes stumbled upon the girl smiling up at him. For a moment, he had almost mistaken her for an angel, she never failed to look like one in these golden hours while the sun was setting. The sky was painted full of clouds, all surrendering the warmth of the sunlight that shone onto the kids’ faces.

The gentle zephyr breezed through the strands of her curly, long hair as he made his way to sit next to her on the dock. Both of their gazes fall upon the miniature wave of the water drifting into the light red thread in the sky.

♪Missed call from my mother, Like "Where you at tonight?" Got no alibi♪

“Are you okay? You seem like…”

The boy turned his head to face Astrid next to him. “Like what?”

Astrid tilted her head. “I dunno…you look like there’s a lot you wanna say…”

Her legs kicked back and forth, slightly hesitating to ask.

“What’s on your mind, Cloudy?”

There wasn’t an answer for several seconds, Cloud was equally hesitant, but after all, this was Astrid, a dear friend who’s been visibly obvious in her support for him. He sighed.

“...I wanna be a SOLDIER.”

“SOLDIER? Wouldn’t that mean you’d…have to leave off for Midgar…?”

The girl’s eyes softened, a hint of sadness hidden within her green eyes. She knew what that meant.

“..We won’t be seeing each other for a while.” Cloud’s head remained low, avoiding eye contact.

“..Yeah…” Astrid sighed. “Well…is it what you want to do? To become a hero?” 

“…It’s not just that.” The blonde picked up a knee and leaned against it. “I wanna impress someone.”

The girl’s head tilted to the side. “Hmm? I-Impress someone?”

“Yeah…I want to impress her. So I thought that becoming a hero as good as Sephiroth would finally make her notice me in…a new way.”

“R…really??” The smile widened on Astrid’s face. “May I ask…why?”

“..Because...” Cloud hesitated with a sigh, pink painted faintly on his cheeks. He was quite open with Astrid, so why not be honest with her? “..I like her.”

This was it.

Those three simple words made Astrid’s heart rush faster.

He didn’t even have to say that he felt the same for her. She just…knew it.

Was he finally going to confess? Was he finally going to tell his love for her? He’s always been so unusually affectionate to her even if it was just as a “friend”…she knew this was going to be it.

…This was it, wasn’t it?

She made up her mind: She’ll go in for the first move.

“You know, Cloudy…” Her legs swung in a light rhythm, the excitement within her heart felt like bursting out of its cage like a wild animal. Cloud turned his head to her as she spoke. 

“...You’re great with the way you are…you don’t need to prove or impress anything to anyone. I think you’re amazing and already a hero to me just by being an amazing friend but…I like you, for you and you only Cloudy~.” 

The smile remained brightly on her face, a warm glow of red flushed to Astrid’s cheeks. She could’ve sworn the blonde shot a momentarily smirk for a second.

But then…he turned back to face the sunset and…and then came back in silence.

…What went wrong? Did the words come out too weird and awkward? Was he trying to find his own words to express his feelings?

“Thanks Astrid, but…I don’t know if she’ll think the same as you.”

Wait…what?

“Wh…wh-what do you mean…?” Astrid’s smile slowly faded.

“I like Tifa but…I don’t think she’ll feel the same. That’s why I wanna impress her.”

[...]

Oh.

“I know it’s…surprising. Especially since Tifa and I aren’t the closest.”

Astrid didn’t even realize how widened her eyes were. Surely it wasn’t only surprising, but shocking. Her little heart remained at that same speeding pace, but this time, it was all for the wrong reasons. Had she misread his signals? Shouldn’t she be happy either way? Shouldn’t she have known this all along? Where was the part she had missed about Cloud’s feelings for Tifa?

…Does…Tifa like him as well…?

There were too many questions buzzing in the girl’s head. She couldn’t think straight.

“...That’s okay.”

Stupidly, those were the only words she could put together. Nothing more, nothing less.

The boy looked at her, he noticed how awfully quiet she’s been since he told her his crush.

“...The heart wants what it wants Cloudy…There’s…” She forced a soft smile. “...nothing…wrong with that.”

They both were one with the silence. The sun was slowly fading into the clouds, and so was Astrid’s fake smile; she badly wanted to cry her heart out but…this is her friend, her happiness, and if this was how he felt…then she knew well that she should be happy for him too.

“...When will you tell her?” The brunette spoke up, her green eyes glued on the sun’s disappearance.

“Hm?” Cloud’s turned to her.

“Your feelings for her…” Likewise, Astrid’s eyes met his blue ones. “When will you tell her?”

He looked away momentarily, this had him thinking of what time would be the perfect time to confess to Tifa. “I’ll be telling her about it tonight but...do you think it’d be best to confess when I come back?” He looked back at her. “Do you think…she’ll like me too…if I became a SOLDIER..?”

“I…I-I don’t know….” The tone was hinting at her breaking apart. Even she realized she couldn’t keep it together for long..

Cloud stuttered a bit on her response, he didn’t expect her to know but…it did in a way made him insecure about his idea.

It took all her strength and force to spark a small smile back onto the corner of Astrid’s lips.

“B-But….no matter what….”

Astrid faced Cloud with that radiant happiness she always carried around him, hoping that it wasn’t forced this time though.

“...I-I’ll be there for whatever happens between you too…just like what we shook on.”

“Thanks Astrid…and if I haven’t said it…” Cloud itched the back of his head shyly. “...You’re a great friend too.”

It never existed.

His feelings for her.

His protection for her.

His love for her.

…Only to realize they were merely just feelings for a very, dear friend.

And that those feelings…had been built off of imagination.

It got darker soon, as the sun sunsetted early behind more dense clouds that surrendered the remaining light left. The young blonde knew it was time to head back home. 

“Before I leave…I want to give you this back.”

As they stood facing each other, Cloud took off the gold necklace that hung from his neck from under his shirt, handing it in Astrid’s palms.

“You…don’t want it anymore?” She looked up at him with hurt hidden in her eyes.

Cloud shook his head. “I just…don’t want to lose it somewhere in Midgar. I think it’s safer with you.”

She looked down at the necklace. “D-Does it…still mean something to you…?”

“Of course it does.” Cloud responded softly. “That’s…why I’m scared to lose it.”

“...Yeah.” Her fingers curled on top of the jewel before looking back up to him. “...I’ll keep it safe…for us.”

Astrid could feel her eyes water up, and as a desperation attempt to hide her emotions, she hugged him suddenly. 

It took Cloud by surprise, not being used to affection that comes out of nowhere. “A-Astrid…?”

He could sense something was wrong, her grip refused to let him go. Eventually the young blonde relaxed. This was Astrid after all…a girl of nothing but love to give for others. His arms gently wrapped around her slowly. 

“Calm down...you’ll see me again.” Cloud awkwardly muttered.

Astrid was having a hard time focusing on what he said, being that she was in between keeping her breathing from becoming shaky and not letting him see the few tears that failed to stay behind eyelids. 

She was able to eventually clear her mind temporarily from his comforting touch, although she knew she had to let him go at some point, so she did.

“S-Sorry…I-I….I don’t know why I did that…” She looked down, a bit ashamed of herself.

“Hey….don’t worry ‘bout it, K?” Cloud reassured her before having to make his farewell to her. “Well…I gotta go now…”

Cloud began walking away from her.

“Cloudy..”

Until she called for him for one last time.

He turned over to look at her, standing under the spotted, clouded sky, her hands held closely to her heart. Her smile was as sweet as it could look.

“I….wish you nothing but the best for you.”

. . . . .

Her hand hurt so much when clutching hard on the jewel of the necklace.

Well….Astrid definitely knew what a heartbreak was now if she wasn’t gonna feel it later.

Describing her as a sobbing mess would be an understatement, it was hard to make less noise but she just had faith that no one would check on her. 

She felt ridiculous, crying over a boy after teaching herself not to care about what others think of her, and yet the thought of her own crush not feeling the same way she does for him bothered her?

Astrid, grow up…you’re better than this.

The young brunette sat up, caressing her cheek dry from the rest of her tears. Looking out from her window, the stars faced down on her brightly. She remembered how Cloud was supposed to meet up with Tifa tonight, just thinking about it made her hear their voices, but it was just difficult to imagine how they’d be together. Would they be happy? Would it work out? Would she….finally notice him like he had hoped for?

It was what he wanted, after all. And she knew.

That night before sleeping, Astrid had vowed never to fall for her friend like that again.

Pink sunset: "Budding romance"

“Cloud…I think you should talk to Astrid. I mean…really talk to her.”

“...You’re right, Tifa.”

. . . . .

The moment she felt fingers curl around her hand, all the thoughts and worries blurred the instant her gaze met with stunning, angelic blue eyes. She was so caught up in her own thoughts, Astrid hadn’t even noticed Cloud’s presence crawl up from behind whatsoever.

“Astrid…”

The blonde softly muttered from his lips, almost sounding like a whisper. Astrid struggled to talk, he could see how hard she was trying to either talk or not break down in front of him. She truly looked as if she knew that the world was gonna end that night.

Well.

That’s because the world is ending.

She was clearly scared as a result. A part of her was trying its best to be strong, something that her own cousin, Aerith, would do, but she felt as if she wasn’t brave enough, then she’d have to carry the burden of disappointment. Well, it wouldn’t have mattered anyways if the planet’s life was coming to an end, would it now?

Cloud softly sighed, he acknowledged her suffering and saved her from the trouble of responding to him. He got closer to her, his eyes looking down at her in empathy. He softly spoke in his lowest tone.

“..Let’s get off the Highwind for the night. Just…the two of us.”

He didn’t need to hear her say ‘yes.’

Her eyes said it all.

♪Can you even imagine fallin' like I did for the love of my life?♪

Their hands remained stuck together. Each moment that passed they held on slightly tighter, giving a few squeezes every now and as they walked onto the rocky mountain, decorated in patches of green here and there. They stopped at the top, their skin basking under the warm, pink-casted light of the sunset that they were both facing. They stood there, soft wisps of wind fluttering the tips of their hair gently. Their eyes locked gaze with the beautifully painted sky, the rosie scenery that resided in their nostalgic memories and hearts. 

It was exactly why the image of it being ripped and wrecked by the giant meteor beast scared them. They both flinched. It was clear that they were thinking of the exact same thought.

“I-It always felt like…the sunset either brings us closer or…drags us apart…each time we bask in its light…”

Cloud turned to her, watching her slowly walk away from him and creating more distance. It felt like a wave of relief washing over him upon hearing the brunette’s soft voice, but he can feel her worries and sadness louder than her own words.

“...But r-right now…I can’t tell what it feels like…” Her green eyes shift down to the ground. “...A part of me feels like….all of this…is my fault…”

Cloud mouth slightly parted, blinking in disbelief.

“The reason for how we got here and…why we’re here…you know well that I don’t deserve a moment like this Cloud…”

She sighed gently, then turned back to face Cloud with slightly watery eyes.

“...You didn’t just take us down here for the scenery…didn’t you?”

“...No.”

Cloud paused before continuing.

“...But you know well why I brought you here, and all I want…is to hear you say that reason.”

But here she was.

Eyes slightly widened at him, the state of shock was clear as crystal on her face. Her breath hitched as she immediately looked away, the red hotness creeping up her cheeks. She knew it’d only have been a matter of time until Cloud finally found what was in the depths of her heart, the feelings that she’d been trying her best to kill. The guilt was catching up, and the woman was at her limit of excuses to make.

She couldn’t tell if it would’ve been better for her to finally fess up to it, or if the world should’ve just ended right then and there.

She had been so lost in her doubtful thoughts she hadn’t realized Cloud standing right in front of her, her hands resting on his palms. She looked up through her lashes, and the blonde knew how fearful she was to tell him.

“Don’t be scared..” He gently gave her hands a few faint squeezes. “I’m not letting you do this alone. So…let’s both promise to be honest this time…deal?” Cloud tilted his head.

A deal huh.

If anything, maybe things would’ve been different had Astrid not come up with that similar scenario when they were younger. But even god knew they both needed it at some point in their lives.

Astrid seemed to calm down, nodding softly. Yet, the pit of anxiety in her stomach still rested comfortably, and it would only grow bigger the moment she opened her mouth. She’d have to, eventually.

“They all told me.” The blonde started.

“The lifestream….Tifa…Aerith…”

“They all wanted me to know about your feelings, Astrid.”

“In the lifestream…Tifa took me to you…during the time after I left…”

Astrid looked as if she had a million words to say, but she just couldn’t bring herself to even say a single word. She just looked away, the memories forcing her to relive the young pain she once swore to get over.

The blonde’s crystal eyes softened. “...I hurt you badly…didn’t I…” 

Astrid’s hand wrapped around her arm, her chest elevated and softly fell back down as she sighed through her nose.

“...I never blamed you, Cloudy.” She let out a sigh-chuckle while humming to herself. “If it was never meant to be then….”

Once again, she couldn’t find the words. Cloud blinked, finally hearing Astrid’s inner feelings, as if she had another hidden heart that she had just revealed to him. A heart that’s been hurting…and he blames himself for it all.

Astrid looked over to his guilty expression, one that can be rarely seen. And this…just devastated her more.

“C-Cloud…i-it’s not your fault..” She looked up at him with pleading eyes. “...I promise…i-it really isn’t..”

“If there’s one thing that can put me at ease right now…it’s to hear you talk to me, Astrid.” Every one of his words filled to the brim with sincerity. “You’ve always had an ear to everyone else…but there wasn’t once anyone’s returned the favor for you…I wanna change that, right here, right now.”

…He had a point.

“Please Astrid…you don’t have to hide your feelings anymore…especially not with…me.” His hand reached up to her cheek and lifted her head up to look at him. “...Please.” Cloud whispered gently.

…And he was right.

It had to be said at one point. All those feelings. Those memories. Those heartaches…

She took a deep breath, sighing away the small emotional rock that was stuck in her throat.

“...I-If anything…it’s my fault.” She looked off to the side, ashamed. “I should’ve never fallen for you in the first place…”

She shook her head.

“...but even so…it was like I was never allowed to get over it completely…even when I saw you again I…I wasn’t even sure how to be myself around you like I used to…” The brunette bit her lip.

The blonde started to realize. “...When I changed, so did you…”

She looked back at him to face him.

“But….no matter what…there were always those feelings we had for each other that stuck with us, huh…”

. . .

F…

Feelings…?

Our…feelings…?

Does he….also…?

“C-Cloud…”

Her body had a mind of its own.

Not realizing the closed-in space between herself and Cloud, her hands rested upon his chest, fingers curling into a hard grip at his shirt. Her form was kept still by the strength of Cloud's arms wrapped around her, hands resting up on her lower back. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the blonde’s crystal blue orbs. 

So full of emotion…

So full of feelings…feelings that can’t be put into simple, plain words…

It was a naturally magnetic feeling. Each second pulled each other closer, both having the strongest urge imaginable to get even more closer. It was like..they were both revealing their true selves to each other…

Oh…

How much she missed him…

How she missed his true self…

The Cloud she once knew and fell in love with all those years ago…

…

“I promise….never to fall for you again.”

The remembrance of that oath gave Astrid’s heart a sudden jolt. She snapped herself awake from the sweet dream that clouded her thoughts, finally gaining back control of her senses and only to realize that the real she knew Cloud didn’t feel like this for her.

He never did, never would either.

Those thoughts alone made her pull herself away from his arms. Tears overwhelmed her eyes, making them glossy and brighter to the reflection of the light. It was clear she wanted to cry, but something held her back, not allowing her to let the droplets escape from her eyes.

“I…I-I shouldn’t…I can’t…!”

Her hands formed into fists, a sign that she was still clenching hard on her remaining hidden feelings.

“...I can’t fall in love with the boy whose heart was never meant for me…a-again…”

She was scared, afraid to fall in love with him, only to have her heart crushed to pieces all over again with the unfortunate truth.

It was deja vu to the both of them.

But this time.

Cloud could see…her. 

His heart was at its fullest with his honest feelings for her.

And he wanted her to know.

Every. 

Single.

Bit of it.

“Astrid…”

Cloud’s eyes gave the softest look, he badly wanted to make amends with the fear he caused in Astrid’s heart. He wanted to prove his feelings innocent, that they were honest, from the bottom of his heart, and from his own real self, the same one who had been too blind to see how all of her past efforts were all out of nothing but the love she had for him. It was the same love for him that’s trapped in her but..

Only he had the key to unlock the trust of her love for him again.

“Whether this may be the last night we’re together like this…or we’ll have more nights to talk…just to get closer each time...it wouldn’t matter. I feel the closest to you at this moment, but if I’m never able to fix the trust of your feelings for me…then I’ll always be afraid…”

He drew closer.

“...Because I now know…I hurt the one girl that’s always understood me…”

His hand cupped her cheek once more. A single tear rolled softly down her cheek.

“...And it was the biggest mistake I could’ve ever made..”

“....C….Cloud…”

“...Is there any way I can fix this…?”

More tears started to spill, slowly. Cloud’s voice becomes a soft whisper. Astrid’s lips quivered, the more she looked into his eyes, the more she saw how serious he was about her.

“B-By knowing how I feel, Cloud…. th-that’s all I want…all I need..” Her voice was shaken up. “I-I never wanted to say a thing to you, I vowed not to…I-I knew I could never be the one for you…I kn-knew that there was always g-going to be someone else for you…. a-anyone but me…”

It was clear he was fighting for her trust again, and it was equally clear that it’s working. It was stinging Astrid’s heart in so many ways at the thought of this finally being her moment to finally accept her own feelings for him.

Their moment.

“No…you convinced yourself that Astrid.” Cloud brought himself closer to her slowly, trying to break her walls break by break at an unrushed pace. “...You were always there in my mind even when I didn’t realize it..”

“You understood my feelings for the longest time…but I hadn’t known about your broken heart that you were trying to fix by yourself..”

 He slowly leaned near her ear, blonde strands brushed against Astrid’s cheeks softly..

“You can’t do everything on your own all your life….y’know?”

He….remembered….

Finally, Astrid was speechless through tears, her arms thrown around Cloud’s form as she stuttered through her sobs. It was all going so fast yet time seemed to slow down to a halt.

Being in Cloud’s arms felt like a lifetime, despite all the times they lost together had she fessed up earlier…it didn’t matter now though. She felt like a huge weight was washed down even through the crying.

Soft lips were planted on her head…but Cloud knew they were far from being done.

. . . . .

♪She's got glow on her face, a glorious look in her eyes♪

By now the sky’s hues were radiating with magenta-purples, a sign of nighttime approaching. 

He held her close, laying on a soft patch of grass with his hands entangled in her reddish-brown waves of hair. To the sound of his gentle heartbeats, Astrid’s breathing did its best to regulate itself after crying.

Once she was ready…she spoke up.

“Cloud..I…I’m ready…”

The man’s arms loosened around her waist, facing the emerald eyes that reflected the remaining light of the sunset. Some hair rested upon her nose, to which he brushed off slowly and tucked it behind her ear.

“I never really cared about what others thought of me but…after that growing connection we had…it really stung upon realizing how I had conjured those memories as romantic when…it wasn’t true. After that I promised never to fall for you again but…” She chuckled. “...I guess fate didn’t like the idea of me truly giving those feelings up, when your true self was starting to melt from the ice…so did my feelings…and it hurt even more knowing how I knew I fell over again for someone who was….already in love…”

“Maybe I was, but…”Cloud’s hand rested still on her cheek. “...in the end, it all led me back to you.”

Seeing him move closer, she was at her last chance at resisting.

Instead however, as her mind reeled every memory.

Every memory of her heartaches…

Every memory of him…

Every memory of the times he’s spent with her…

Oh, Astrid…

You’re not just childly in love; you want to spend the rest of your days and nights with him, don’t you?

She wanted to spend her evenings with him outdoors and watching every glorious sunset with a feeling of reassurance, knowing that tomorrow she’ll wake up to see the same loving, blue eyes that glowed in her own times of darkness. To hold him gently through his pains, watch him smile when he knows that everything will be okay…

Yes…this was what she wanted to fight for….

The only sounds that they could hear were each other’s heartbeats as their lips interlocked.

♪My angel of light…♪

Red sunset: "Passionate love"

Soft glows of red streaks filled the bedroom across through the blinds. She closed the door, soaking up the serenity atmosphere as she faced her lover that she hadn’t seen for a week, an apologetic look at his face spoke for itself.

“Astrid…I-I’m sorry..”

“I know you are, Cloud..”

The brunette walked over to the bed, sitting next to him as he avoided eye contact. He felt ashamed abandoning her ever since geostigma had caught up to Denzel.

“I also didn’t know how to fight that battle…all those years of…mourning over her put me off from learning anything more of my heritage.” Astrid sighed, she too was in deep regret of how she had handled things. “...I’m glad to know that we’re getting stronger now…and to know that we have others that I can call…family…”

Family…

Oh how lovely that word sounded…something they both hadn’t heard since they were little, something they had longed for once more.

“....That includes you, Cloudy…” Astrid reached for his cheek, turning his head gently to face the loving look in her eyes. “...so we’re not letting you go off to face the impossible alone no matter what…got that?”

“Yeah…”

A faint tint of red appeared on his cheeks. He felt warm from her words and lingering touches, her thumb brushing some of his blonde spikes behind his ear. Cloud took his gloves off before removing her hand from his face, taking a good look at her palms whilst caressing its softness…

So soft…

“They wouldn’t have cured if it wasn’t for you…~”

The blonde smiled, his heartbeat steadied at a relaxed pace. She didn’t wince or feel any pain when he applied some pressure onto it with his thumbs, unlike when it was infected. The look of joy on his face was unforgettable upon washing away the geostigma from her hands, knowing that he’d be able to hold her hand again.

“This is a future that we fought for…” His hands held Astrid’s, looking into her eyes. “...so I won’t let it go to waste again. I promise.”

“Cloudy…you don’t have to promise…because you already know it’s what we want…” 

♪I was all alone with the love of my life♪

Astrid closed the leftover gap between them with a tender kiss. Saying that they missed the feeling of locking their soft lips with one another was an understatement, they practically yearned their touch after what they had been through. They couldn’t keep their hands to themselves no matter how hard they tried to resist. They separated in between kisses for air but they had no plans on stopping any time soon. 

Slowly, they ended up laying together. Cloud crawled on top of his petite girlfriend while cradling her legs up his thighs, his hand caressed up her waist tenderly under her shirt. 

At some point their loving stares locked with each other, Cloud’s thumb rubbed her bottom lip with a strip of red light streaking over it as well. It was obvious how much he wanted to take things a step further, telling by the look in his eyes that she knows all too well how to read. 

“I missed this…I missed you…” He absolutely longed to reveal his unconditional love to her. 

Sparks burned brighter with each kiss that led to a more passionate connection. Fire prickled at Cloud’s fingertips all the more as he stroked further up her form, craving to hold her smaller body into his loving embrace, it felt like his whole world was in his very arms…

It was a fresh breath of air to know he was in the same room as her, the same bed as her again…just like how it should be…

“...C-Cloudy…~” The pace of the girl’s heartbeat quickened from the euphoric state, she wanted him as much as he wanted her that moment. 

. . . . .

The warm lovers were tied up together in cuddles and kisses. Cloud’s mouth buried on Astrid’s head whilst tangling his fingers through her wavy hair. 

“Astrid..?”

♪She's got glitter for skin, my radiant beam in the night♪

He didn’t get a response from her, she must’ve been tired out. He smirked while giving a tender peck on her head. Just from that, she snuggled up closer to his chest which earned a chuckle from him. She was the absolute cutest in every way possible in his eyes, he could feel the fireworks in his chest go off with happiness to have her warm and safe in his arms again…

“I love you…~”

He slowly dozed off to the sound of a muttered "I love you too."

Golden sunset: “Long-living love”

Ding ding!

The bells rang in rhythm with sounds of footsteps that followed.

“Ah! Sorry but we’re closed..” Astrid’s eyes didn’t leave her focus on organizing the money in the cash register.

Tifa giggled in the back when she realized that her own friend hadn’t even noticed who just walked in. “Astrid…look up silly!”

“Huh?” She hadn’t even taken notice of the shadow approaching her until a familiar gloved hand was placed on the counter in front of her. “Cloudy~!!” The young brunette raced around the counter and threw her arms around her boyfriend gleefully, having him return the affection with his left arm while his right one was holding a small decorated box.

“For a moment I was worried that I wasn’t welcomed back~”

“Don’t worry I was just distracted…Tifa and I were just tidying up some things. I just need to bring the rest of the tools upsta-”

“Allow me!” Tifa hurried over to grab the rest of the stuff before Astrid could get to it. She giggled and winked at the two. “Gotta let the couple of the night have their deserved rest~” Tifa winked and walked out of the room before either two could reply.

“She seems…oddly chipper all of a sudden…” Astrid remarked, it confused her to how Tifa had just rushed out so fast. She looked back up to Cloud after hearing a soft chuckle escape from his throat, he had a smile that screamed he was hiding something as he averted his eyes. Astrid noticed and got even more confused. “Hey, why the mischievousness? Do you two…know something that I don’t?”

Astrid placed one hand on her hip and the other on the counter beside her, leaning towards Cloud with an eyebrow lifted to interrogate him. He didn’t reply, instead he simply placed the small box that was in his and pushed it towards her. The girl’s green eyes widened at the beautifully detailed box with a gold ribbon and a red rose attached to it. 

“...I think this package will answer your question~”

She let out a soft giggle and shook her head at his attempt at distracting her.

But as she carefully peeled at the wrapping, her heart slowly increased its pace. 

“C-Cloud…” 

“Open it Astrid…”

♪I don't need no light to see you shine♪

This girl could’ve been shaking from the excitement upon lifting the box open, facing a glittering golden ring, a mold of the yellow lily’s petals was circulated around a shining blue gem, reflecting the golden light off of its flat sides. 

“Oh my…C-Cloud…I-I..!” Her mind was still reeling at the fact that Cloud had just proposed to her and she didn’t even acknowledge how much she was crying her eyes out, not until her now-fiancé reached to caress the tears off of her cheek with his thumbs gently. 

“Astrid..?”

Through tears, Astrid lunged herself in a hug with him. “Yes Cloudy! I will marry you!! You mean the world to me!! I love you so so s~o much…!” Her arms tightened around him, it caused his heart to flutter with a loving smile that followed up.

Hearing a tap on the door window that Tifa had left from, Cloud could still see her presence whilst she raised two thumbs up and a wide grin plastered on the woman’s face for encouragement. The man smiled, he was the happiest in that moment. He wanted to see her excitement last for the rest of their days, to hold her like this forevermore…

That wasn’t the only thing that Cloud is giving however. 

“Ah right, I almost forgot…” He gently held Astrid’s arms for her to loosen her grip, allowing him to pull something else from his bag.

A pen and a marriage certificate.

“Just sign here…Astrid Strife~”

♪It’s your golden hour~♪

[cosmoboba]

Don't even begin to ask me why it took way too long to do these but. Cloustrid family comeback is worth it❤️🐥

The inspo!!⬇️

[cherryscribs]

What’s a girl gotta do to get a solid final fantasy 7 fanfic / roleplay ?

[ichilemonwritruoo]

Please do not steal, copy, or generate to Ai, reblogging is fine.

Here's the art @purity-ringuwu drew for our art/fanfic trade! My heart is in shambles, I love it so much.

This is my selfship with Cloud, called SolarFlare (Cloud x Me)

A theatrhythm style wedding

2. Me taking care of Cloud, he needs a little rest after a long day and a long journey back home

3. A Advent Children Family portrait featuring our sweet little boy Graceson Strife!

I had such a wonderful time writing for Purity and her art is beautiful, it's so nice to trade with someone who values your creativity even if you can't draw! Writing takes just as much effort as drawing! 🎀

It's always a pleasure to trade, I'm going to go sit and cry over these.

[cl0udy-wolf]

After Hours

cloud strife x masaru maizono (ffvii oc)

trigger warnings?: none :) takes place in advent children era.

Masaru was surprised to see Cloud at his doorstep. Usually, Cloud would at least try to call before showing up, but there were other times when he'd show up out of the blue.

Masaru never had an issue with it. In fact, this very evening, he had a nagging feeling someone would come to visit him, so he began to prepare a bit more food than usual.

Now, he couldn't even think about dinner. He only thought about how badly he missed Cloud, even if they lived a few blocks away, and Masaru visited frequently. A week without him felt like far too long.

And all Cloud could think about was Masaru. He felt his breath hitch as soon as he caught a glimpse of the other man. Masaru was so handsome. Even with his hair messy and his eyes sleepy.

“Cloud!” Masaru exclaimed, a bright smile on his face. “How are you? Everything okay?”

Cloud rarely wanted to break his facade of stoicism, even now, having become more in touch with himself. He hated the feeling of having to rely on people, of being a so-called burden, though he knew it was unhealthy to think like that.

And yet…

“I missed you,” Cloud said, somehow not regretting his words despite his hesitancy.

Masaru's smile softened. “Then come inside,” he replied, “I was just making dinner.”

He reached out for Cloud's hand, and Cloud instantly took it in his own, intertwining their fingers as he was led inside. The familiar scent of vanilla and roses filled his lungs, accompanied by the smell of a delicious stew cooking on the stove. Music was playing on Masaru's radio, and it was a song Cloud recognized as one of his favorites.

“Wash your hands and help me cook,” Masaru said. “Here, I'll help you with this.”

He told Cloud to stand still and began stripping him of the more uncomfortable parts of his armor, mainly the shoulder pad and the belts. Cloud let him, with little reservation. It was often this way. Cloud didn't mind the touch when it was Masaru, which seemed to surprise some of the other people in their lives.

Masaru just wanted Cloud to relax. He put so much stress on himself. Whatever they were, whatever was going on between them, Masaru just wanted to help him feel more at ease.

After the two washed their hands, they got to preparing the other ingredients for Masaru's chicken stew. It was relatively easy to make, and Masaru made it often, so Cloud pretty much knew everything that went into it already. It was the perfect dish for the rainy, slow evening.

Masaru finished before Cloud. He washed his hands again and while he was drying them, he glanced at the other man, admiring the focused furrow of his brow, hardly noticeable, but then again, Masaru could detect even the smallest change in Cloud's mood, as if it were second nature.

He came up from behind him and wrapped his arms around Cloud's waist, and watched him cut some vegetables as he rested his chin on his shoulder. Cloud huffed in amusement.

Masaru gently swayed to the music in the background, which made Cloud move a little, too, and a soft smile appeared on the former mercenary's lips.

“Why don't you stay, stay here after hours?”

Masaru's singing was but a whisper in Cloud's ear, which brightened his smile and made his heart race all the same, no matter how much he'd deny it later.

“I know you don't wanna leave,” Cloud continued, “stay here after hours.”

“Tell your friends to go, you can stay for a little while.

“Stay the night, Cloud,” Masaru added.

“Don't I always?” Cloud replied, which urged Masaru to kiss his cheek.

~

After eating and doing dishes, Cloud and Masaru found themselves on the couch following a shower and spending around a half hour deciding what to watch.

These were the moments that made Cloud question things. With Masaru on his chest, fingers tracing shapes into the skin of his arm, how couldn't he think about- well, them?

He wanted this to work, he really did- he wanted to spend his days by Masaru’s side; his mornings waking up next to him, his afternoons cooking beside him, and his nights soothing him to sleep.

He just didn't know how to approach it other than playful banter and a few kisses here and there; there was cuddling, too. Obviously.

Cloud stroked Masaru's hair and smoothed his curls away from his face, which prompted Masaru to look up at him.

“Go to sleep,” Cloud murmured, “you need to rest.”

Masaru was more prone to fainting if he didn't get enough rest, something they both knew, of course- but Masaru wanted to stay up as long as Cloud was up.

“Don't wanna,” he mumbled.

“Well, you should.”

Masaru sighed. “I know…”

“Go back to sleep.”

There was a pause. Then, Masaru spoke.

“You know I love you, right, Cloud?”

The words made Cloud's gentle ministrations pause for a moment. And then his response tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop it.

“Love you too.”

Masaru smiled and closed his eyes again.

[mintdragonmagic]

Final Fantasy VII OC Angel Storme! I made her to ship with Cloud in the FFVII Universe!

Tragic Backstory, will be posting it on ToyHouse, but she's a sweetheart of a character who is afraid to fall in love.

[elisalsaa]

ok so if any limbs look dislocated sorry LOL i had to stop abruptly to do hw - but thanks to @girl-named-matty and @pheexblack answering the anon who reached out to them about posing NPCs, I CAN MAKE THEM LOOK HAPPY, lol! yippee!

so i tried seb and elisa :) 💕

and then just Liam. bro is looking at someone or something quite fondly

...and unnamed pretty babe! (update the bff i modeled her after is a directioner still and has requested i name her rachel horan LMAO so ig thats her name now)

i will poke around and try to get more familiar w the program as I go, so probably more screenshots in the future. but just excited to at least kind of know how to start! 🥰💘

[suixen]

hello !! I'm Suix I mostly draw illustrations and character art.

I want to get on Vgen ✨ I would like to join so i could do commissions, I need 20 RT's and 100 likes, or if yall have any spare codes please help 🙏❤️ thank you !!

VGen ✷ vgen.co/suixen | for comms ✷ suixen.carrd.co

[bardic-tales]

Title: So This is Christmas?

Pairing: Bianca (f!OC) / Sephiroth (Sephica), Cloud / Tifa (Cloti)

Characters: Aurora (f!oc), Lucien (m!oc), Barret Wallace, Marlene Wallace, Aerith Gainsborough, Zack Fair, Angeal Hewley, Genesis Rhapsodos, Vincent Valentine

Rating: General

Word Count: 1679

Fandom: Final Fantasy 7

Setting: Redemption!AU

Warnings: Mild Language, themes of found family, holiday celebrations, children engaging in festive activities, and moments of warmth and healing. Readers who prefer darker or more action-driven narratives or dislike depictions of happiness and redemption might not enjoy this.

Summary: On a snowy Christmas Eve in the mountains, Sephiroth, Bianca, their twins, ex-SOLDIERs, and the AVALANCHE team come together in a cozy safe house to celebrate the season, sharing laughter, decorating a tree, and finding solace in the bonds of their makeshift family.

Author's Note: My redemption AU reimagines Final Fantasy VII with a canon-divergent storyline set in the author-created town of Rinnos. Sephiroth and Bianca meet as children and endure Hojo's experiments together. Bianca uses her demonic powers to shield Sephiroth from Jenova’s influence, preventing the Nibelheim Incident and shifting the timeline as they join AVALANCHE to fight Shinra. This AU explores themes of redemption, identity, and the power of emotional bonds, featuring altered character dynamics, such as Zack’s survival and a deeper alliance with AVALANCHE, while Hojo remains a central antagonist.

🎄🎅Merry Christmas to all my amazing followers and mutuals! Wishing you a wonderful holiday season (if you celebrate it) and an awesome 2025 filled with love, success, and boundless creativity.

Snowflakes danced in the crisp night air, blanketing the quiet village of Rinnos, high in the mountains between Junon and Midgar, in pristine white. The soft glow of lanterns lit the cobblestone streets. Their warmth reflected the spirit of Christmas Eve in the sleepy little village. Green wreathes hung on the front doors of each home, as the families that dwelt inside celebrated the coming of the holiday and the safety that their unusual mercenary troup which moved in years earlier provided from the monsters lurking higher up in the hills.

Inside a safe house nestled on the outskirts of town, laughter and the scent of mulled cider filled the warm, cozy living room. The holiday was always the same, even more so since the arrival of the twins, as the unusual group of friends and allies celebrated the holiday season together.

A massive fir tree stood proudly in the corner, its branches stretching upward as though eager to embrace the make-shift family gathered around it. The smell of Christmas wafted around the room: cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, vanilla, ginger, orange, wood smoke, and honey drifted from the pot simmering on the stove in the kitchen.

“Mama, can I put the star on top?!” Lucien, Sephiroth and Bianca’s raven-haired, indigo-eyed son, tugged on Bianca’s hand, his small frame bouncing with excitement. As he bounced, his tiny wings covered with black, white, and purple feathers swayed with his excitement.

“Not until we finish the ornaments, cherub,” Bianca replied with a smile, her indigo eyes twinkling from the dim light of the brass lanterns scattered around the room. She adjusted the white ribbon in her wavy black hair and gently placed a glittering silver snowflake on a branch.

“Then I want to do the shiny balls!” Aurora, Lucien’s twin sister, piped up, laughing. Her voice was as bubbly as her giggle. She gripped a red glass ornament in her tiny hands, her feline-like pupils shimmering under the tree lights. Her long, grayish-silver hair flowed down her back, curling around the black Christmas dress with silver angels embroidered on it.

“Careful, Aurora,” Sephiroth warned, his calm voice carrying a note of protectiveness as he crouched beside her. Dressed in a simple black sweater, his silver hair framed his striking face. He watched over his daughter and her exuberance that would even put Zack Fair to shame. “If it falls, it will shatter.”

Aurora pouted but nodded, holding the ornament close to her chest. Nearby, Marlene clapped her hands with excitement, her dark locks bouncing after she dug through the box of baubles. “I found one that looks like a bunny!” she exclaimed, holding up a white ceramic ornament.

“Let’s hang it together!” Aurora said, running over to her friend. The two girls giggled as they carefully placed the ornament on the tree. As the young angel and human girl raced towards the tree, Aurora’s silver ribbon wrapped around her waist fluttered behind her. They carefully placed both ornaments on one of the lower branches.

“Shit.” Across the room, Barret grumbled as he untangled a mess of stringed lights with help from his prosthetic hand. “Damn Shinra can build a reactor that sucks the life outta the Planet, but they can’t make lights that don’t get all knotted up.”

Zack chuckled, his spiky black hair shaking as he crouched beside Barret to help. “Don’t worry, big guy. We’ve got this. Angeal taught me how to handle a mess. Back in the day, he called it ‘puppy duty.’”

“Puppy duty?” Tifa asked, raising an eyebrow as she handed Aerith a box of ornaments. The martial artist wore a red sweater adorned with snowflakes. Her dark hair tied in its usual thick, elaborate ponytail with the strands being held by a red ribbon at the bottom.

“It’s a long story,” Angeal said. He stood by the fireplace, carefully hanging colorful stockings and counting the number of them: one stocking for each member of their family. His calm demeanor and broad shoulders brought an air of stability to the bustling room.

“LOVELESS speaks of this very moment,” Genesis declared dramatically from the sofa, where he lounged admiring the tree with the well-worn book with its faded red cover laying over his stomach. “‘Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess; we seek it thus, and take to the sky—’”

“Genesis, we’ve heard it a thousand times,” Bianca interrupted, though her tone carried a hint of amusement. She turned from the tree and looked to the man who became like a brother to her. “You’re going to scare the children.”

Lucien gasped, his eyes wide. “What’s LOVELESS, Uncle Gen?”

“It’s a poem!” Genesis replied with a flourish, as though presenting a grand revelation. “A masterpiece—perhaps too advanced for you little one, but one day you’ll understand its brilliance.”

Aurora giggled. “You’re funny, Uncle Gen-Gen!”

“Can you teach us the poem, Uncle Gen?” Lucien stared at the red-headed ex-SOLDIER with his puppy-dog eyes and his rosy, cheeks that still were round due to baby fat. “Please.”

Genesis looked to Angeal and Sephiroth, smirking. “At least someone appreciates my talents.”

“That’s because you haven’t beaten it into their heads yet,” Sephiroth scoffed.

Aerith knelt by the twins and Marlene, offering them ornaments shaped like tiny animals. “Here, you can hang these next. Just pick strong branches, okay?”

“Thank you, Auntie Aerith!” The twins chorused, each carefully placing an ornament. Lucien approached the tree, a determined look on his face as he picked the perfect branch to hang the white chocobo ceramic he was given. In that moment, he looked like a tiny, darked-haired Sephiroth with his black dress suit and matching leather boots.

Barret snorted. “Kids are already callin’ you aunt and uncle, huh? Guess y’all really are part of the family now.”

Sephiroth met Barret’s gaze, a flicker of surprise in his cyan eyes. “It’s… appreciated,” he said, his voice softer than even its usual softness.

“Well, don’t get too cozy,” Barret grumbled. “Still ain’t forgiven Shinra for what they did. But I’ll admit. You’re doin’ right by AVALANCHE now.”

Bianca watched the exchange. A spark of gratitude warmed her chest. After their escape from Shinra, she never thought she and Sephiroth would have found a place to call home. Now, they had their friends and their children: a dysfunctional at times family but family, none-the-less.

“It means a lot, Barret,” she said sincerely. “We’re trying to make things right.”

“Mommy, Daddy, look!” Lucien and Aurora exclaimed in unison, pointing to the tree. The lights Zack and Barret had untangled now sparkled across the branches, reflecting off the ornaments with a magical glow.

“It’s beautiful,” Tifa said, her voice filled with wonder, stepping closer with Cloud beside her.

Cloud smiled softly, his bright blue eyes twinkling in the warm light. His usually shy demeanor was absent tonight, the joy of the season evident in the way he watched the children and their excitement.

“Yeah. Looks great.”

“We’re not done yet.” Bianca picked up the shining gold star and handed it to Sephiroth. “Would you do the honors?”

Sephiroth hesitated, his gaze flickering to the twins, Marlene, and then to Bianca. Slowly, he nodded and lifted Lucien onto his shoulders. “Hold on tight,” he instructed, his hands steady on Lucien’s knees as Zack guided the boy to place the star atop the tree.

“I did it!” Lucien cheered as Sephiroth lowered him back to the ground. Aurora and Marlene hugged him. The three children giggled with joy.

Cloud chuckled softly, stepping closer to Tifa. "You think they'll remember this when they're older?" he asked, his voice soft as he watched the kids play.

“I think they'll always remember this night," Tifa replied, her hand resting gently on his arm. "It's a new beginning for all of us.”

Vincent Valentine, standing quietly near the fireplace with Angeal, regarded the scene with a subtle smile on his lips. His crimson eyes, usually so distant and guarded, softened as he observed the laughter, the love, the joy that filled the room. It was a warmth he hadn’t experienced in a long time, and it stirred something deep within him.

His once solitary path, marked by loss and regret, had changed since meeting this group. Bianca, especially, had reminded him that there could still be hope, that redemption was not as out of reach as he’d believed.

“Everything looks wonderful,” Vincent said in his low, gravelly voice, drawing the attention of the others. His presence had become familiar over the years, and though his words were few, they always carried weight.

Bianca smiled warmly at him. “Thank you, Vincent. You’re part of this too, you know.”

The former Turk inclined his head slightly, a small, rare acknowledgment of her words. “I don’t deserve such kindness, but it’s appreciated.”

“I think you deserve it more than you know,” Bianca said, her voice gentle. “You’ve helped us all so much.”

Vincent’s gaze lingered on the children. His thoughts drifted. He had a past of his own, one marked by dark memories of being used as a weapon, of being trapped in an endless cycle of vengeance and mourning his love. But here, in this moment, there was peace. There was a family. He had come to see all of them as his own, especially Bianca and Sephiroth, whose struggles mirrored his own in so many ways.

“You’re part of our family now,” Aerith chimed in from across the room. “None of this would’ve been possible without you.”

Vincent nodded but didn’t speak. His heart was full of something he hadn’t allowed himself to feel in a long time. It was a sense of belonging.

“Merry Christmas everyone,” Bianca said, her eyes filled with sincerity.

“Merry Christmas,” the others echoed.

And as the night wore on, with laughter and joy filling the room and the snow continuing to fall outside, it was clear that this Christmas—this moment—was one they would all carry with them. It was a reminder of the family they had become and the love they had found in each other.

tagging some fellow mutuals. Happy holidays. Thank you all for showing interest in my Bianca. I can't wait to see what 2025 has in store for each of you.

@asirensrage @themaradwrites @whatwedointhecraft @serenofroses @megandaisy9

@watermeezer

@seastarblue @prehistoric-creatures @creativechaosqueen

@chickensarentcheap @arrthurpendragon

[lime-sketches114]

Welp...FF7 Rebirth came out and ummm....I have this ship with an OC called Raven and I put her with Sephiroth...Ravenroth??? Idk

I'm debating on what prompt to do them with but we'll see with the actual story. This may also tie into a painting I did~

(they also have a kid named Mercury, he's a sweetie and I made Sephiroth a sister named Seri...yay) (Mercury is not in this story but Seri is!)

Without further adoooo let's get started.

May I Have This Dance?

Rating/Warning: minimal stuff but also AWWWWW

★★★★★

Ever since I can remember, I've always been by his side. Sephiroth. The Golden Child of SOLDIER. Ever since we were young we'd be teamed up together. He was there when my father died in that freak accident. There i remained in SOLDIER. Even as a First Class rank I didn't care much for the formalities or the perks of being this popular. I always thought myself a medic and only that.

Genesis or Angeal will always tease us as teenagers. Teasing about dating, who would win in a fight, best aim, you name it. As the years passed by, I found myself trying to answer why. It had been years since Genesis and Angeal disappeared and I still hear their voices egging me on. I had things, priorities, to attend to, especially one that was his very sister, Seri.

"Raven!!! What do you mean you're not coming to the company ball?! Everyone will be there!" Seri whined as I checked her vitals on the screen and took some tests.

"I told you Seri, I have my duties to the hospital and you. Sephiroth will have a conniption, you know he doesn't dance anyways" I replied.

"well I'm going with Zack! He invited me in Aerith's place because of her circumstances! She insisted!" She fussed as she crossed her arms.

"Oh are you? Then I guess I have no choice~" I rolled my eyes playfully as I gave her medicine and a change of clothes from her closet and helped her put them on.

"Yay! Dress shopping!!!" Seri squealed. I helped her onto her wheelchair and we walked to the elevator to get to the bottom floor.

We walked along the streets of Midgar to a dress shop nearby. I was never really into girly stuff even as a kid. The only girly thing I wear is earrings bc my face still says masculine. I guess looking more like my father was half of a good thing. I'm glad I developed nicely up top and got ass for days. My dad would try and get me to wear hair berets or make up to make me look more feminine but I was a part of SOLDIER. I couldn't/it would run or snag in the field.

Seri and I walked through all the clothing racks. Seri picked out a few dresses her size. She kept on pointing to other dresses that might look good on me but none were speaking to me. Seri started scanning the whole store. I know those eyes too well, just like her brother's, always on target and ready to pounce. Then she grabbed a dark colored dress and snuck it under her picks, thinking she was sneaky. I only caught a glimpse of the color but not the style. I was worried but not in a scared way.

As we made our way to the changing rooms, she picked out a cute pink dress because she told me Aerith liked pink and wanted to respect her favorite color. Seri really has grown fond of both Zack and Aerith these past few years. I've never seen her this excited unless it was Sephiroth coming home to take her to a fancy dinner and toy shopping. She's 7 years younger than him yet they're both a spitting image of each other. They definitely are siblings.

I remember the day my father showed us her, so small and frail. It was devastating to see her health decline when she reached 10 years. My dad did so much for her, even as he got up in age, he was like a father to her. His death put a toll on all of us, I stayed with Shinra because I had nowhere else to go. That's when I became on call for SOLDIER and mostly full time at the Hospital. I made a promise to my dad and myself.

Seri showed off her dresses and then from underneath she revealed the dress she swiped for me. It was a long sleek slender gown with a slit up the leg that stops at the thigh and has one strap. It was a dark blue with shimmers.

"oh no...that's no me..." I deflected.

"Come on Raven just try it on! You never wear dresses so how can you know?!" Seri pouts and shoved the dress and shoved me into the changing room, "imma go find ya shoes! Be right back!" With those parting words she wheeled herself away and I was alone. In the changing room. With a floor to ceiling mirror...

I placed the dress over me to get a feel then I started to undress from my uniform into this dress. Once it was on I saw myself. My figure helped but I had muscle. Was that sexy? Appealing? I even posed with my leg out the slit.

"Raven! I'm back with shoes!" Seri snapped me out my thoughts and shoved the shoe box under the door. I looked inside. They were black high heels...

"You sure about this Seri?" I called out.

"trust me!!!" Seri giggled.

I gulped and tried on the shoes. I looked at myself again and was amazed. Everything...matched me... Was Seri some kind of fashion genius? Maybe those fashion magazines around the hospital didn't help.

"come on out I wanna seeeeee!!!" Seri whined and scooted her wheelchair back.

I opened the door and revealed myself. The look on Seri's face said it all. She looked like she saw an angel.

"you look...amazing!!!!" She took a picture with her phone. "Sephi will FLIP when he sees you in this dress!!!"

"you think so?" I blushed.

"I know so! And with your silver earrings to match him it'll be perfect!!! Zack is already matching me with a pink tie already. He is not scared of pink!" Seri laughed.

I smiled, "then I'll get this dress. And maybe a necklace for both of us"

I quickly got unchanged and went to go pick out some necklaces. I got matching silver bang necklaces for us. I paid for the shopping spree and we headed on home to the apartment. Only god knows what will happen tonight...

---------------

The ballroom of the venue was packed with higher ups and other important people. I adjusted my dress. My hair and make up fixed up to match my dress. I touched my necklace and took a deep breath and walked into the venue. Seri already left earlier with Sephiroth for the venue. She was adamant Sephiroth doesn't see me get dressed in my pretty gown. My heels clicked along the floor as my presence started to turn heads and unwanted whispers. Why am I so nervous?

Then I saw Seri and Zack talking it up in the SOLDIER section of the venue with our names on the tables on the outside of the dancefloor.

"well look who decided to show up!!" Zack chuckled, "you look pretty good in a dress and is that a clutch?!"

"yes Zack...and you look stunning in that suit. Really brings out your eyes" I teased. Zack's cheeks turned pink. "And your cheeks~"

Seri chuckled, "he at least has some good dance moves."

"Seri where is your brother?" I asked.

"over there next to the corporates and higher ups. He's been sipping champagne for an hour with them..." She pointed.

I rolled my eyes and walked over to them. The drunken fools started whistling at my appearance. I deflected their looks and focused on Sephiroth.

"Look who finally decided to wear make up after so long" Sephiroth commented as he left the drunken old men to come to me.

"you don't look half bad yourself" I adjusted his blue tie. I knew Seri would make him match me.

"Shall we go out to the balcony? Away from these fools and noise?" He suggested. I gladly accepted and we walked outside.

"I'm so used to the sound of the battlefield and hospital. Yet I always get nervous around other people." I chuckled. "At least Seri and Zack are having a great time."

Sephiroth chuckled and held Raven close, "who says we can't have our own fun out here? May I have this dance?"

I blushed and smiled, "you may" he soon pulled me in and we began slow dancing on the balcony to the muffled music of the ballroom. The moon shines full and bright above us.

We swayed back and forth and he spun me a few times. I knew he wasn't much for dancing but he learned to cheer me up when we were teenagers. He knew my father loved to dance with me. Even Genesis and Angeal got on the bandwagon. They were all my best friends. Well now I only have Sephiroth. Ever since we were young we were glued to the hip, even in battle we had each other's backs.

My heart started pounding faster at the thought of feelings for Sephiroth. Are we allowed? I'm not in SOLDIER anymore by default but I work with Seri now so it might be?

"you're making that face again~" Sephiroth spoke softly and snapped me out of my thoughts.

"what face?"

"the cute face you make when you're deep in thought or worried." Sephiroth smirked. Cute? Cute?!

"oh...sorry..." I chuckled embarrassingly.

"don't be sorry, I like it, besides you're beautiful tonight. Seri picked out a nice dress" he placed a hand on my hip, trailing his fingers against my exposed back, "and don't worry about the muscles, I like that about you, you're not dainty or fragile like Seri. Strong and stubborn."

I wrapped my arms around his neck, "you think so?"

"I know so" Sephiroth placed his other hand on my hip, leaning in closer to where we're almost nose to nose.

"I'm glad you said that, because I like a man who can keep me on my toes and always had my back for the past 25+ years" I stared into his eyes as the moonlight hit them.

"then I'll hold you to it for the rest of our lives. You've done too much to just be rewarded once" he leaned in closer.

"it's a promise" I closed the gap and kissed him. We held each other. He lifted me a bit to get one last jab at the toes statement. His chapped lips were soft and his hair was like silk. He even put it up for once in a low pony with a small braid.

We separated with a few good breaths between us. Was dad always right that I might end up with Sephiroth? I don't care, if it is true, I know where my heart lies tonight. It's definitely with him. Soon we were surprised to see Seri and Zack. Seri looked like she was about to lose it at the fact we finally kissed. Zack was dumbfounded that Sephiroth knew how to be romantic.

"I did it! I knew you guys would come out here! And you kissed!!!!" Seri squeaked out giggles and stumbled to her brother and I.

Sephiroth held her steady, "I guess your constant nagging about me staring and smiling paid off, little sister."

Seri smiled, "it's only a matter of time till I hear wedding bells! I wanna be the maid of honor! Can we invite Aerith?! Cloud?!"

"Slow down Hyperactive Kitten, it'll be way down the line for that possibility. What if we just eloped?" I chuckled.

"don't care! I still get wedding bells!" Seri smiled as Sephiroth twirled her around in his arm. She brought him so much joy. I don't remember a day where he tried to visit her and play with her, even being a muse for her paintings. She loved him just as much.

"maybe once I retire, we'll see about that" Sephiroth smiled.

Zack gasped, "you're leaving me all alone no fair! It'll just be me and Cloud!" He pouted playfully.

I laughed at his expression and we had a fun night for the rest of the evening. My feet were sore and tired from dancing. At the apartment I helped Seri get ready for bed and hung her cute dress up for her to look at in her room. I made my way to the other bedroom and got undressed into pajama shorts and a tank top. I wiped off all my make up.

Sephiroth was just in sweatpants as he looked at me with soft eyes. I walked to him and gave him another kiss. Memories of sharing a tent or a bed together on trips, even into older age, came into my mind. Entangling our bodies together to stay warm. Him placing his head on mine. Even in uniform it was comfy. Like we were two sides of one coin. We laid down in the large bed, embracing each other, with me laying my head on his chest. Listening to his strong heart. His strong arm wrapped around my figure. My olivey complexion is a clear difference from his pale skin.

"Goodnight Sephiroth" I yawned softly.

"Goodnight Raven...I love you" He smiled.

"I love you too"

[writingsoftarnishedsilver]

On the Run | Cloud Strife x OC

Summary: Sable’s routine intel exchange turns deadly when she’s ambushed by Shinra forces, only to be saved by Cloud. In the aftermath at her bar, The Rook’s Roost, an unguarded moment reveals Cloud's softer side.

Words: 7,981

Tags: Final Fantasy VII, Cloud Strife x OC, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Protective Cloud Strife, Hurt/Comfort, Minor Injury, Soft Moments, Unspoken Feelings, Mutual Pining, Action and Tension

It was supposed to be a quiet job—just a quick meeting for an information exchange on the Midgar plate. Sable knew the risks all too well, but the promise of intel from a former Shinra engineer was too valuable to ignore. She had slipped into the shadows of Sector 3, her steps silent against the rain-slicked pavement, keeping close to the walls and avoiding the pools of flickering light cast by dying street lamps. The rendezvous point was close—an old storage lot on the edge of Shinra's usual patrol routes, the kind of forgotten place no one would glance at twice. Still, her instincts were on high alert.

Sable’s grip tightened on the small knife in her pocket, the only weapon she’d dared to bring. It felt flimsy and insufficient in her hand. She checked the comm device in her ear, feeling a surge of comfort as Tifa’s voice crackled to life, linking her to AVALANCHE and reassuring her that backup wasn’t far off.

“All clear so far?” Tifa asked, her calm voice steady against the tense silence.

“Almost there,” Sable replied, her tone clipped as her eyes flicked around the darkened alleyways. “I’ll check in as soon as I reach him.”

Creeping around a stack of broken crates, Sable approached the meeting spot. But when she turned the corner, she froze. Her contact lay slumped against the wall, his coat stained dark and his head lolling to one side. She stepped closer, her pulse spiking. Shinra’s reach was faster—and deadlier—than she’d anticipated.

“Damn it…” she muttered, crouching to inspect him. He’d died clutching a crumpled piece of paper. She carefully pried it from his hand and flattened it out, catching the warning scrawled across it in smeared ink: “They’re watching you.”

Her skin prickled with a familiar instinct of danger. She activated her comm, keeping her voice low. “Tifa, it’s a setup. The contact’s dead, and I think I’m being—”

The sharp stomp of boots echoed behind her, and she spun around to see Shinra soldiers moving into position, their helmets reflecting the dim light as they closed in. They had every exit covered, boxing her in.

"You need to move, now." Tifa’s voice shot through her earpiece, tight with urgency. "Head northeast—there’s an abandoned warehouse nearby.”

“Understood,” Sable replied, forcing her voice to remain steady despite the tightening in her chest. She was a seasoned fighter, but more than outnumbered—there was no chance she was winning this fight.

Sable turned and bolted down the nearest alley, rain pelting her face as she sprinted. Behind her, the heavy thud of Shinra boots grew louder, their calls echoing in the narrow streets as they pursued her. The Shinra squad was relentless, with drones hovering above, sweeping the area with cold, unfeeling searchlights.

Sable darted through a rusted gate and entered a maze of discarded machinery and broken pallets, each twist and turn designed to throw them off her trail. Her breath came in controlled gasps as she heard Tifa’s voice in her ear again, steady but filled with tension. “Take a right at the next intersection, then a sharp left. You’ll hit a dead end, but there’s a fire escape to your right.”

“Copy,” Sable muttered, adrenaline sharp in her veins. She pressed herself flat against the wall as she turned sharply, nearly colliding with two officers coming from the opposite direction. With barely a second to think, she slipped into the shadows, watching them pass by mere inches from her hiding place. She continued on, heart pounding as she counted the steps to the fire escape.

But when she rounded the final corner, dread washed over her. She’d hit the dead end Tifa had warned her about, and the fire escape ladder hung tauntingly out of reach. She jumped, her fingertips brushing the cold metal but failing to grasp it. Cursing her height, she jumped again, this time with a growl of frustration as her hand just missed the edge.

Behind her, the sound of Shinra soldiers closing in filled the alley. She was trapped.

“Fuck,” she hissed, pressing her back hard against the rough brick, feeling the chill of the damp stones bite through her jacket. She flattened herself as much as possible, slipping deeper into the shadows, hoping to blend into the dim, grimy corner of the alley. Her breaths came shallow and controlled, and she strained to keep them silent, her heart pounding as the heavy footsteps drew closer.

The beams of flashlights swept over the alley entrance, casting harsh lines against the walls as the Shinra soldiers moved closer, their voices low and tense as they relayed instructions to one another.

“Can’t have gone far,” one of them muttered, his voice carrying down the alley. “She’s around here somewhere.”

She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to stay perfectly still. This was no place for a confrontation—All she had was the small knife in her pocket and her instincts, and as good as they were, she knew she wouldn’t last in a head-on fight.

Just a few more seconds, she thought, biting back a curse as a flashlight’s beam skimmed uncomfortably close to her. She needed a break, a second of distraction—anything that would give her the chance to slip away unseen.

But luck was rarely on her side.

A flashlight beam finally swung her way, landing square on her face, illuminating her in sharp relief against the shadowed alley wall. She heard the muffled gasp of one of the Shinra soldiers as he recognized her, and immediately, her mind kicked into high gear.

“Stop right there!” one of them shouted, his voice cracking through the damp night. She didn’t waste a second; if she was caught, she’d never get out of here alive.

With a curse under her breath, she whipped her knife from her pocket, holding it out in a defensive stance. “Shiva, if you’re listening—hell, if anyone’s listening—Aerith made me pack that damn materia, so you better make it count.” She could practically hear Aerith’s laugh in her mind, soft and sure as she’d insisted Sable slip a Luck Up materia into her jacket just that morning, saying, “For a little extra luck, you know?”

The first soldier lunged, and Sable sidestepped, catching him off-balance as she drove her knee into his gut, then spun and swung her knife, clipping his arm just enough to make him stagger back. Another Shinra officer advanced, baton raised, and she dropped low, sweeping his legs out from under him in one swift motion. Her small size, usually a disadvantage, let her duck out of their range with ease. It wasn’t much, but it was giving her just enough time to stay one step ahead.

But they were relentless, more Shinra soldiers advancing from the alley’s end as their voices barked out commands.

“Don’t let her escape!”

Sable’s heart hammered as she ducked around another punch, twisting as she lashed out with her knife. Her grip was starting to slip, and exhaustion was beginning to drag at her limbs. There were too many of them, and without her gear, she knew it was only a matter of time before they overpowered her. She clenched her teeth, her mind racing. This is it, she thought. No other way out.

A baton swung toward her, and she barely managed to sidestep, but the movement left her exposed. Another soldier lunged, his fist catching her right in the side, knocking the wind out of her. Pain exploded through her ribs, and she staggered, clutching her side as she tried to stay on her feet. Before she could recover, another blow struck her shoulder, sending her reeling back against the cold, wet brick wall.

Sable gritted her teeth, pushing through the pain, but her breaths were coming in shallow gasps. Her grip was starting to slip, her fingers slick with rain, and exhaustion began to drag at her limbs like dead weight. Every movement felt slower, her reactions a beat too late, and the Shinra soldiers were circling her like wolves, their eyes glinting in the dim light. She could see it in their stances—they knew they had her cornered.

She forced herself to focus, raising her knife as she prepared for the next attack. She had no intention of going down without a fight, even if her body was screaming in protest. She slashed wildly at the nearest soldier, grazing his arm before he stepped back, his face twisted in anger.

“Shinra scum!” she spat, her voice raw, though it trembled with exhaustion. She hoped she looked more defiant than she felt. In truth, her strength was nearly gone, and her mind was racing with one desperate thought after another. If this is it, then I’ll make sure they remember me.

But her bravado wasn’t enough. Another soldier came at her from the side, his fist slamming into her ribs where she’d already been hit. She let out a strangled cry as she doubled over, barely managing to stay upright. Her knife slipped from her fingers, clattering to the ground as she wrapped an arm around her aching ribs.

She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think—just pain, raw and all-consuming, as the soldiers closed in on her. One grabbed her by the collar, yanking her forward with brutal force, and she stumbled, barely keeping her balance.

“This is the one causing us all that trouble?” the soldier sneered, tightening his grip. “Doesn’t look so tough now.”

Sable’s vision swam, but she managed a weak glare, her lips curling in defiance. “You’ll regret that,” she managed, though her voice was little more than a rasp. She struggled against his grip, but her strength was gone, her arms heavy as lead. She could feel the world slipping away, a cold, sinking feeling settling into her stomach as she realized she had no fight left.

But then, a blur of movement came from above—a flash of steel slicing through the narrow beam of light. In a split second, one of the soldiers dropped with a startled grunt. Sable barely had time to register what was happening before a familiar figure landed in front of her, his Buster Sword gleaming even in the alley’s dim light.

Cloud’s entrance was like a shock of clarity in the haze of pain and exhaustion gripping Sable’s mind. She watched, dazed, as he dispatched the soldier dragging her with ruthless efficiency, the massive blade cleaving through the man’s defenses in a single fluid motion. The soldier crumpled, releasing his grip on her, and she slumped to the ground, her legs too weak to hold her weight any longer.

Sable gasped, her hand pressing instinctively to her side. When she pulled it away, her fingers came back slick and dark with blood. She hadn’t even realized she was bleeding, though every breath felt like fire, her ribs throbbing where the Shinra soldiers’ blows had landed.

“Hang tight,” Cloud muttered, his tone steady but laced with an unmistakable urgency. He shifted his stance, positioning himself between Sable and the approaching soldiers, a silent promise in his posture: No one was getting past him.

The remaining Shinra officers faltered, a mix of fear and anger flashing in their eyes as they took in the infamous Buster Sword and the unyielding look in Cloud’s gaze. But they were trained not to back down, and after a brief, tense pause, they advanced, weapons raised, determination steeling their features.

Sable watched through half-lidded eyes, struggling to stay conscious as Cloud met the first soldier head-on, sidestepping a baton strike with lethal precision. His sword moved in a blur, blocking attacks and countering with devastating blows. One by one, the soldiers fell, unable to keep up with his speed and strength. It was like watching a dance of controlled fury, each strike calculated, each movement precise.

With the last soldier dispatched, Cloud finally turned to her, his expression softening as he knelt down, his gaze sweeping over her injuries. “Sable,” he said, his voice low but steady, “can you stand?”

Sable managed a shaky nod, though the effort sent another sharp bolt of pain through her ribs. She tried to push herself up but faltered, her legs unsteady beneath her. Cloud was there in an instant, slipping an arm around her and lifting her gently to her feet.

“I… thought you were on recon,” she managed, her voice a hoarse whisper.

He gave her a faint, almost amused smile. “Tifa sent me when things went south. Lucky I got here in time.”

She let out a dry laugh, though it quickly devolved into a wince. “Aerith’s ‘luck’… finally paid off, huh?”

Cloud’s brow furrowed, concern flickering across his face as he tightened his hold on her. “We need to get you out of here before they send reinforcements.”

Sable couldn’t shake the surge of insecurity even as Cloud’s arm supported her weight. She was used to taking care of herself, handling her own struggles. The idea of leaning on someone, of letting him carry her weight, felt uncomfortable—not to mention her self-consciousness about her size. Her pride flared up, and she forced herself to straighten, attempting to walk without relying on him.

“Cloud, I’ve got it,” she murmured, though her voice was strained, each step sending a jolt of pain through her ribs. She grit her teeth, determined to make it on her own, even if it slowed her down.

But Cloud didn’t let go. His grip on her remained steady, his face unyielding as he glanced at her, an eyebrow raised. “We don’t have time for that,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

She wanted to argue, but the urgency in his voice held her back. And somewhere beneath her pride, there was a warmth—an unexpected relief. He simply adjusted his hold, letting her lean into him as they made their way through the maze of alleyways.

"Fine," she muttered, though her voice was softened by a hint of gratitude. She forced herself to relax, feeling the tension ease slightly as she accepted his help. Despite the bruising pain with every step, Cloud’s steady support made each movement a little more bearable.

As they reached the edge of the sector, the faint sounds of Shinra backup echoed in the distance—barking commands and the clattering of boots drawing closer. The direness of their situation tightened around them, a reminder that Shinra wasn’t done with them yet. They needed to move faster.

Cloud’s eyes flickered to Sable’s face, catching the strain etched into her expression, her breaths shallow and labored. He shifted his gaze lower, noting the way her hand kept pressing against her side. Then, he saw it—a dark stain spreading across her jacket, glistening wetly under the dim streetlights. Blood.

“Sable,” he said, his voice sharper now, eyes narrowing in concern as he registered the extent of her injury. “You’re bleeding.”

She managed a tight, humorless smile, her voice a bit too casual. “Guess they got a lucky shot in.”

Cloud’s expression darkened, a new layer of urgency flashing in his eyes. “We need to stop that before you lose any more.” He glanced around, spotting an alcove in a crumbling building nearby. Gently but firmly, he guided her toward it, his movements decisive.

Once there, he helped her sit on a piece of concrete jutting out from the wall, then dropped down to one knee, shrugging off his own pack. Sable gritted her teeth, biting back a hiss of pain as she adjusted her position, her pride warring with the reality of her condition. She wanted to tell him she could handle it, that she’d be fine. But the truth was, her head was beginning to feel light, her vision a little blurry.

Cloud rummaged through his bag, pulling out a roll of bandages. He glanced up at her. “Let me see.”

"We don't have time for this right now," Sable managed through gritted teeth, a hint of irritation masking her discomfort.

Cloud’s expression hardened slightly, but he didn’t argue, reaching for the bandages. “I’m not leaving it as it is. Let me just wrap it up enough to stop the bleeding,” he replied, his tone firm.

She hesitated, her mind racing. She didn’t want to make things complicated by taking off her jacket, by letting him see just how vulnerable she was beneath the layers. Even in the dark, the thought of Cloud seeing her that close up, feeling the weight of his gaze on her battered body, made her want to pull back.

“Just... just wrap it over the jacket,” she insisted, her voice tight. She could see him calculating her words, his eyes flicking briefly from her wound back to her face, but he nodded.

“Alright,” he relented. Cloud was methodical and gentle as he began wrapping the bandage over her jacket, just tight enough to slow the bleeding. His hands worked swiftly, each motion careful but precise, avoiding any unnecessary pressure.

Sable held her breath, fighting the urge to squirm under his touch. She could feel the warmth of his hands even through the bandages, his steady focus unwavering. He was close—closer than she’d ever let him be to her—and the proximity made her pulse race in a way that had nothing to do with fear or pain.

She stole a glance at his face, noting the intense concentration in his eyes as he worked, the subtle furrow of his brow. Her own feelings for him were a guarded secret, one she’d tucked away beneath layers of duty and self-preservation. Cloud was… well, Cloud. She wasn’t sure if he even saw her that way, let alone if he’d notice the way her heart sped up when he was near.

In the dim light, every slight brush of his fingers against her sent a shiver through her, her cheeks warming despite the cold. It was ridiculous, she thought, almost laughing at herself, feeling these emotions in the midst of a life-or-death situation. But she couldn’t help it. For all her resolve, the closeness stirred something inside her she’d fought hard to keep buried.

“There,” he murmured, breaking her thoughts as he tied off the bandage with a secure knot. His gaze flicked up, meeting hers, and for a heartbeat, she wondered if he could sense what she was feeling, if he could read the hints of vulnerability in her eyes.

But he didn’t say anything, just offered his hand to help her up, his expression gentle but unwavering. She took it, her fingers brushing his briefly, and for a second, she allowed herself to hold on just a bit tighter, a quiet acknowledgment of the feelings she wasn’t ready to speak aloud.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said, helping her get back onto her feet.

They moved carefully, each step heavy with the urgency of their escape. Cloud’s arm stayed steady around her, keeping her balanced as they wound through back alleys and ducked into shadows, his eyes constantly scanning for any sign of danger. Sable kept her gaze forward, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other, but she was hyper-aware of his presence—every subtle shift in his posture, every slight tightening of his hold when she stumbled.

The distant sounds of Shinra soldiers echoing through the sector grew louder, and she felt her pulse quicken. They were running out of time.

Finally, they rounded a corner and spotted the maintenance elevator shaft embedded in one of the massive support beams. It was rusted and long out of commission for any official use, but AVALANCHE had discovered it months ago and rigged it for emergency escapes like this. Cloud helped her into the narrow metal box, quickly punching the worn control panel. The ancient gears groaned to life, sending a shudder through the elevator as it began its descent.

As they descended, Sable leaned back against the wall, catching her breath. Her ribs throbbed beneath the bandages, but at least they were a safe distance away from Shinra for the moment. She glanced over at Cloud, his expression tense as he kept an eye on the floors ticking by through the grated doors.

“Guess we cut it close,” she said, attempting a smirk despite the ache. The adrenaline was starting to fade, and with it came the creeping exhaustion of everything they’d just been through.

Cloud turned to her. “Close calls a seem to be your specialty.”

She scoffed softly, but a genuine smile tugged at her lips. “You say that like you’re not right in the middle of them with me.”

“Guess I don’t mind it,” he replied, his tone low, almost thoughtful. The softness in his voice sent a quiet thrill through her, and she felt a flutter in her chest.

The elevator clanged to a halt as they reached the Sector 1 slums, the sound echoing through the empty shaft before fading into the muffled silence of the lower levels. The doors creaked open, and Cloud stepped out first, scanning the surroundings before offering her his hand to help her down.

Sable took his hand, feeling the roughness of his leather gloves beneath her fingertips. The cool night air filled her lungs, carrying with it the faint, familiar scent of the slums—a mix of iron and damp concrete. For the first time since the ambush, she felt herself beginning to relax.

As they made their way through the maze of alleyways, her earlier exhaustion began to settle in fully, each step taking a little more effort than the last. She bit back a groan, trying not to lean too heavily on him, even as her strength wavered. But Cloud’s pace was unhurried, his steady presence beside her as much an anchor as his arm around her shoulder.

“Almost there,” he murmured as they neared The Rook’s Roost, the familiar facade of the bar coming into view around the corner, its dim lights glowing warmly in the night. Sable felt a surge of relief at the sight—her place, her sanctuary. It was as if the very walls of The Rook’s Roost were welcoming her home, offering a safe haven after the chaos she and Cloud had barely escaped.

Cloud kept his arm around her as they crossed the threshold, guiding her gently toward one of the cushioned seats in the back. The bar was quiet at this hour, just the low hum of the night lights casting long shadows across the worn tables. Sable sank down into the seat, finally letting out a shaky breath she’d been holding.

Cloud moved behind the bar, searching the shelves with practiced ease until he found a clean glass and filled it with water. He brought it over, setting it down in front of her, his gaze never wavering from her face.

“Drink,” he said simply, his voice low but steady.

“Thanks," She took the glass, offering him a tired but appreciative smile. "Feels strange, being the one getting looked after for a change.”

Cloud’s expression softened, “Doesn’t hurt to let someone else help once in a while.”

Sable looked down, feeling a warmth spread across her cheeks despite herself. There was something about the way he said it, that calm certainty in his tone, that made her heart beat a little faster. She took a sip, letting the cool water soothe her parched throat, trying to ignore the quiet thrill that his presence brought.

After a few moments, he leaned back, watching her carefully. “You should let me take a real look at that,” he said, nodding toward her side.

Sable’s eyes dropped to the glass in her hands, her fingers tracing its rim as she felt a flicker of discomfort. She hadn’t expected him to bring it up again, and the thought of him looking at her wound—at her, up close—sent an uneasy twist through her stomach.

She forced a smile, trying to keep her tone light. “The others will probably be here shortly. And you know Aerith—she’ll want to take a look. Healing’s her thing, and I wouldn’t want to… take that from her.”

Cloud opened his mouth, as if to press the issue further, his gaze unwavering. But before he could say anything, the door to The Rook’s Roost swung open, and hurried footsteps echoed into the quiet. Barret, Tifa, and Aerith entered in a rush, their faces alight with relief as they took in the sight of Cloud and Sable, safe but visibly worn.

“Damn, y’all look like hell,” Barret muttered, crossing his arms with a heavy sigh. “Didn’t expect that intel job to turn into a whole ordeal.”

“Are you okay?” Aerith asked, her tone gentle as she stepped toward Sable, her eyes softening with concern when she noticed the dark stain on her side. She let out a small gasp. “Oh, that’s worse than I thought—come on, let me have a look.”

Sable felt an immediate sense of relief that Aerith was here, but a twinge of nerves fluttered in her chest at the thought of revealing her wound in front of everyone. Forcing a smile, she nodded, meeting Aerith’s gaze. “Sure. Let’s… head to the back,” she said, nodding toward the narrow hallway that led to the bathroom.

Aerith didn’t hesitate, her healer’s instincts kicking in as she followed Sable down the hall. Cloud’s gaze lingered as they walked away, and Sable caught the hint of frustration in his expression—a quiet resolve that seemed to hang in the air. She gave him a small, grateful nod, and he returned it with a faint, unreadable look before turning to join Tifa and Barret.

In the dim light of the bathroom, Sable leaned against the sink, feeling a wave of exhaustion catch up with her. Aerith shut the door gently behind them, her voice soft and reassuring. “Don’t worry, I’ve got you,” she murmured as she took out a few small vials from her bag.

Sable took a steadying breath before carefully peeling her jacket off, her fingers working gingerly at the edge of her shirt. She bit back a wince as she lifted it just enough to expose the wound, the cool air brushing against her skin as she finally let herself relax in the privacy of the small room.

Aerith’s eyes widened slightly, her expression tightening with concern. “Oh, Sable… this is deep,” she said, her voice quiet yet firm as she began inspecting the wound more closely.

Sable forced a small smile. “Guess I took a bit of a beating back there.”

Aerith shook her head, already concentrating as a warm, gentle glow began to emanate from her hands. She pressed them over the wound, her touch light but precise, and Sable felt a soothing warmth spread through her side, dulling the sharp ache of pain. It was as though Aerith’s magic was melting the tension from her muscles, slowly unraveling the exhaustion that had settled deep into her bones.

As Aerith worked, Sable let her head fall back against the wall, feeling the weight of the night finally lifting. “Thanks, Aerith,” she murmured, her voice soft with relief.

Aerith smiled, her hands still glowing as she continued to heal. “That’s what friends are for.”

When she’d finished, Aerith stepped back, giving Sable a reassuring smile. “You should be good for now, but try to rest up, okay?”

Sable nodded, tugging her shirt down as she straightened. She felt lighter, her pain receding, and the lingering gratitude for Aerith’s quiet care settled over her like a comforting blanket. “I will. Thank you,” she said sincerely.

"Looks like these clothes might be done for, though." Aerith said

"Looks like these clothes might be done for, though," Aerith remarked, glancing over Sable's torn and blood-stained shirt with a sympathetic smile.

Sable let out a soft chuckle, eyeing the rips and smudges from the night's chaos. "Guess that’s one more thing Shinra owes me for," she joked, though her voice carried a hint of genuine frustration. The night had taken a toll on more than just her energy.

Aerith’s smile softened as she dug into her bag, pulling out a folded piece of fabric. "Here, I always keep an extra in case I end up somewhere I didn’t plan to be," she said, handing it to Sable. “It might be a bit different from your usual style, but it’ll do for now.”

Sable swallowed thickly, looking down at the shirt. "You really do think of everything, huh?"

Sable swallowed thickly, looking down at the shirt, a bright pink t-shirt that was distinctly Aerith’s style—soft, feminine, and entirely unlike anything she’d normally wear. But her concern went deeper than just the color. Aerith was so much more petite, and Sable was immediately worried that it would be tight, maybe even uncomfortably so. The thought made her hesitate, feeling an awkward flutter of self-consciousness.

Still, she didn’t know how to refuse. Aerith was watching her with such warmth, and after all the kindness she’d just shown, it felt wrong to turn her down. So, taking a deep breath, Sable forced a smile and nodded.

“Thanks, Aerith,” she said, hoping her voice didn’t betray the nervousness she felt. “Guess I’d better try it on.”

Aerith smiled, nodding encouragingly. “I think it’ll look nice on you.”

Sable unfolded Aerith’s shirt, giving it a once-over, and held in a resigned sigh. There was no avoiding it now.

Pulling the shirt over her head, she tugged it down, feeling the fabric cling snugly around her shoulders and chest.

Sable studied her reflection, her frown deepening as she took in the sight. The shirt hugged her in all the places she usually preferred to keep hidden, and the bright pink was so unlike her usual, muted tones that it almost felt like she was staring at a stranger. She looked like she was borrowing clothes from a younger sibling, the fabric emphasizing her curves in a way that made her feel more exposed than she was comfortable with.

She sighed, forcing herself to push down the self-consciousness and reminding herself that this was only temporary. Aerith had gone out of her way to help, and it wasn’t like she could walk around in her ripped, bloodstained shirt. Besides, the kindness behind the gesture made it feel a little easier to accept.

Steeling herself, Sable stepped out of the bathroom and back into the main room. Aerith’s face lit up immediately, her eyes sparkling with approval.

“Oh, Sable, it looks lovely!” she said, clapping her hands together in delight. “Pink suits you!”

Tifa looked up from where she was seated, her smile warm and encouraging. “Aerith’s right—it’s good to see you in something different. It brings out a softer side of you.”

Sable managed a small, awkward chuckle, glancing down at herself. “Yeah, well… I’m not sure ‘soft’ is exactly my style.”

Sable tried to brush off the compliments, even as warmth crept into her cheeks. It was strange, being on the receiving end of this kind of attention, especially when she felt so out of her element. She adjusted the hem of the shirt self-consciously, willing herself to focus on the relief of clean, dry clothes rather than her own discomfort.

But when she looked up, she found Cloud’s gaze on her. He hadn’t said anything, just stood with his usual quiet intensity, but his eyes lingered. The longer he looked, the more her insecurities flared, and she felt her cheeks heating up again, that uncomfortable self-consciousness tightening in her chest.

Unable to bear the silence, she cleared her throat and quickly turned to Tifa. “So, uh, how much of Shinra’s tail did we shake off?” she asked, forcing her voice to sound casual, anything to shift the focus away from herself.

Tifa, ever the perceptive one, gave her a knowing smile but mercifully played along. “You two left quite the mess back there,” she replied, a hint of admiration in her tone. “Between Cloud’s swordplay and the trail you led them on, Shinra’s going to be sifting through the wreckage for a while.”

Barret let out a gruff chuckle, crossing his arms. “Gave ’em a run for their gil, didn’t ya?”

Sable managed a small smile, relieved as the conversation steered away from her appearance. "Next time, you guys are gonna let me bring my staff with me and not just a flimsy little pocket knife."

Tifa chuckled, nodding in agreement. “We’ll definitely make sure you’re better equipped next time. You’re too good with that staff to leave it behind.”

Barret let out a hearty laugh. “Damn right. Ain’t no reason for you to be out there swingin’ that tiny thing around like you’re pickin’ your teeth.”

Sable smirked, feeling her confidence creeping back with each of their easy, familiar jabs. “Glad someone sees my point,” she quipped, leaning back in her seat, the tension from earlier easing as she fell back into the comfort of AVALANCHE’s camaraderie.

Cloud, who had been quiet through their banter, gave a small nod. “Could’ve used it, yeah,” he murmured, his voice soft but approving. “But you handled yourself well. A lot of people wouldn’t have gotten as far as you did.” His eyes met hers, and though his tone was calm, there was a subtle respect in his gaze that made her heart skip.

She swallowed, a little taken aback, and managed a shrug. “Well… guess it was just luck,” she said, deflecting as her cheeks warmed slightly. “Aerith did make me bring that Luck Up materia, after all.”

Aerith, returning with the tea, gave her a playful nudge. “I told you it’d come in handy! And here you are, safe and sound—and looking fantastic, if I do say so.”

Sable rolled her eyes, laughing softly as she took a cup from Aerith. “Guess I owe you one, then.”

They continued chatting, swapping stories of close calls, half-finished plans, and daring escapes, their voices filling the quiet warmth of The Rook’s Roost. Sable found herself easing further with each passing minute, the tension of the night gradually giving way to the familiar sense of belonging that only her AVALANCHE friends could provide.

Barret was in the middle of recounting one of his infamous run-ins with a particularly irate Sector 7 shop owner when Aerith glanced at the clock, letting out a small sigh. “I hate to cut things short, but I should probably get back to Sector 5 before Yuffie finds more mischief to get into.” She gave Sable an apologetic smile. “You know how it is. She’s been eyeing the materia shop again, and I’d rather not have another incident on my hands.”

Sable chuckled, shaking her head. “Better hurry, then. Last thing we need is Yuffie trying to haggle her way into owning the place.”

Aerith laughed, nodding in agreement as she gathered her things. “Exactly. I’ll check in with you tomorrow, alright? Just make sure you rest up.” She gave Sable’s shoulder a gentle squeeze before standing, her gaze lingering for a moment. “And don’t worry—pink suits you,” she added with a wink, causing Sable to roll her eyes, though a small smile crept onto her face.

Barret stretched his arms above his head, letting out a satisfied groan. “I told Cid and Vincent I’d be back by midnight. Cid’s supposed to help me work on that fuel regulator, and I don’t trust him to keep his hands off it without me there. Plus, Vincent’s been muttering about ‘responsibility’ or whatever—never thought I’d see the day.”

“Those two are probably waiting for you with a list of grievances,” Tifa teased, standing and gathering her own things. “Cid’s not the patient type, and Vincent… well, he’s always got something to brood over.”

Barret laughed, giving her a shrug. “Ain’t that the truth.” He turned to Sable, giving her a quick nod. “Rest up, alright? Don’t want you at anything less than full strength next time we’re out there.”

“I will,” she replied, a hint of gratitude in her voice. “Thanks, Barret.”

He clapped Cloud on the back as he passed, grumbling something about “keepin’ an eye on her,” which made Sable roll her eyes again, though there was a warmth in her chest at the care her friends had shown.

As Aerith and Barret left, Tifa lingered a moment, glancing between Sable and Cloud with a small, knowing smile. “I’ll see you both tomorrow at HQ,” she said, her tone light. “Get some rest, okay?” She gave Sable a quick hug before following the others out, leaving her and Cloud in the quiet stillness of The Rook’s Roost.

Sable felt her pulse quicken, suddenly hyper-aware of Cloud’s presence beside her. The quiet seemed to magnify every small detail—the way he leaned back in his chair, his gaze shifting to her with that calm, unreadable look that always left her wondering what he was thinking. In the lingering warmth of their shared space, she could feel her cheeks heating up, her nerves prickling with a mix of anticipation and self-consciousness.

Cloud’s steady gaze lingered on her, and after a beat of silence, he tilted his head slightly, “How are you feeling? Ribs any better?”

Sable looked up, surprised by the question, and found herself holding his gaze longer than she intended. She managed a small, reassuring smile, though the ache in her ribs was still a dull reminder of the night’s events. “A bit sore, but… better than I expected, thanks to Aerith.”

Cloud nodded, his expression softening as he continued to study her face. “Good. You took some hard hits back there.” There was a subtle intensity in his eyes, an unspoken protectiveness that made her heart skip.

Sable cleared her throat, glancing down as she absently brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "Not as hard as our intel contact..."

Cloud's mouth quirked slightly, a flicker of amusement in his eyes as he leaned back. "True," he murmured. "Guess you were luckier than he was.”

She let out a soft chuckle, though there was a heaviness to it, the memory of her contact’s lifeless body still fresh in her mind. “Yeah. Lucky,” she echoed, though she felt a pang of guilt for how things had turned out. “I’d hoped he’d give us something solid. But with Shinra… you know how it goes.”

Cloud’s gaze shifted, the faintest hint of understanding in his eyes. “Yeah,” he replied quietly. “Sometimes it doesn’t feel like we’re even making a dent."

Cloud’s words hung between them, and Sable found herself studying him, hoping to read some glimmer of what he might be feeling. But, as always, his expression remained guarded, that same quiet intensity in his eyes that kept her guessing.

He shifted slightly, his gaze dropping as he rubbed the back of his neck, a subtle gesture that always surfaced when he seemed unsure. It was a rare break in his composure, and she felt a flicker of hope rise within her, even if she tried to stifle it.

"So you... always lived in Sector 1?"

Sable nodded, her gaze flicking downward. Cloud’s question was a gentle but unmistakable reminder that he held her at arm’s length, always keeping just enough distance between them to prevent them from getting too close. He doesn't really even know the first thing about me.

She’d been with AVALANCHE for months now, long enough to feel like family with the others after all the shit they'd been through, but with Cloud, it was as if she was still trying to find her way through a fog.

“Yeah,” she replied, her voice softer. “Sector 1… it’s where I grew up. Not much to look at, but it’s home.”She tried to meet his gaze, searching for a flicker of anything deeper, but his expression remained carefully neutral. “Guess I know this sector better than anyone,” she said. “Can’t even count how many alleyways I’ve ducked through over the years to avoid trouble.”

“Sounds like you knew how to take care of yourself, even back then,” he said, his voice low, almost like he was speaking more to himself.

She laughed softly, a hint of pride sneaking into her tone. “Had to. Growing up around here, you learn to be quick, stay out of sight… or you end up on Shinra’s radar.” She paused, watching him carefully. “Not too different from you, I’d imagine.”

Cloud’s gaze wavered for a second, a shadow crossing his features, and she wondered if she’d touched on something deeper. He opened his mouth, as if to respond, but then his jaw tightened, his expression shuttering once more. “Yeah,” he replied quietly, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Guess we have that in common.”

She bit her lip, glancing up at the old wooden clock on the wall. "Um. It's a bit of a trek back to Sector 5, and it's getting pretty late... you should probably head out soon if you want to catch the last train."

The words were leaving her mouth, but Sable didn't want him to leave. Far from it. She wanted Cloud to sit there under the soft bar lights all night, letting her admire the way the shadows caught the edges of his face, the deep blue of his irises. But she swallowed those thoughts, forcing herself to sound casual, as if the idea of him leaving didn’t matter as much as it did.

Cloud hesitated, glancing toward the door, and for a second, she thought he might actually go. But then his gaze drifted back to her, "I can stay a bit longer. It's not so far when you know the shortcuts."

Her heart gave a little leap at his words, and she quickly masked her reaction with a casual nod, as if his staying was no big deal. But inwardly, she was relieved, grateful for even a few more minutes in his company.

“Shortcuts, huh?” she teased lightly, leaning back in her chair. "Heard from the others you're not from Midgar. You must pick things up quick."

Cloud’s gaze flicked downward for a moment, and she watched him struggle to answer, his fingers tapping idly against the edge of the table. “Yeah,” he finally said, his tone softer. “Tifa and I, we're from Nibelheim.”

He gave a small, almost awkward smile, and the unexpected softness of it struck her. She could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen Cloud smile like that, and the sight stirred something warm and bittersweet in her chest. She’d heard snippets of his past—stories filtered through Tifa or murmured by Barret, but never from him. To see him so close, relaxed, felt like a small victory.

“Doesn’t really hold a candle to Sector 1, though,” he added, his tone almost teasing. He looked at her with a quiet amusement, and she felt her face heat up at the unexpected attention.

“Well of course no,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes with a grin. “Sector 1’s got… rust, broken-down shops, and enough potholes to keep you tripping for hours.” She chuckled, though she felt a strange thrill at the fact that he was joking around with her.

They fell into a brief silence, one that was both comfortable and a little charged, and she could feel her cheeks warm as she wondered if he felt even a fraction of what she did. Then, out of nowhere, Cloud cleared his throat, his eyes shifting to her shirt. His gaze was hesitant, almost as if he wasn’t sure if he should bring it up.

“That… uh, shirt,” he started, his voice a little rougher than usual, “it’s… different for you.”

Her hand instinctively moved to the fabric, which was snug and undeniably bright pink—so unlike anything she’d ever wear, and now, sitting here under Cloud’s curious gaze, she felt her cheeks flush even more. She’d completely forgotten about the shirt, but his mention of it brought her self-consciousness rushing back.

“Oh,” she mumbled, laughing awkwardly as she tugged at the hem. “Yeah, well my clothes… well, they didn’t really make it through tonight.” She forced a small smile, trying to play off her discomfort.

Cloud hummed in acknowledgement, eyes flitting back down to his hands, "You don't normally wear bright colours."

"Neither do you," Sable countered, hoping to hide her nerves behind a playful jab. “In fact, I think we might have the exact same colour palette—black, gray, and… more black.”

Cloud’s mouth twitched, “Guess that’s true,” he admitted. He shifted in his seat, glancing away briefly, “Though… maybe we both could stand to branch out a little.”

Sable chuckled, leaning back in her seat, trying to ignore the heat creeping up her cheeks. “Branching out, huh? I don’t know, I’m not sure I’d recognize myself in anything bright and cheerful.”

"I probably wouldn't recognize myself either in bright pink, but that's because it would look terrible," he replied, shrugging. Then, after a pause, he added, "But for you... it's not a bad thing."

The words came out quietly, almost as if he hadn’t meant to say them aloud, and Sable felt her heart skip a beat. She blinked, caught completely off guard.

"What?"

Cloud cleared his throat, shifting in his seat, “I mean… not that you need it or anything. It's just… different. In a good way.”

Sable’s mind went blank, her usual quick wit nowhere to be found. She stared at Cloud, trying to process his words, her heart hammering so loudly she was sure he could hear it. In a good way. She replayed his words over and over, feeling her cheeks heat up even more as she searched for something—anything—to say in return.

But nothing came.

She managed a small, awkward smile, but her voice caught in her throat, leaving her utterly speechless. Cloud’s gaze flickered to her, his expression softening ever so slightly as he took in her stunned reaction. For a moment, his own face seemed to lose its usual guarded look, as if he was just as surprised by his words as she was. There was a vulnerability in his eyes she hadn’t seen before, and it made her heart flutter even more wildly.

Then, almost too quickly, he cleared his throat and shifted back, his expression settling back into his usual, composed demeanor. The subtle warmth in his eyes faded as he glanced toward the door.

“Anyway… it’s late,” he said quietly, his tone slipping back into the familiar, cool detachment she was used to. "I should go. Let you get some rest."

Sable blinked, her mind still reeling from his unexpected compliment. She managed a nod, though confusion clouded her thoughts as she watched him move toward the door. For a guy who’d just said he could stay longer, Cloud sure seemed eager to make an exit now. So much for those shortcuts, she thought.

But she didn’t press. Something in his expression told her not to; he’d already retreated behind that wall of quiet distance he carried around like armor.

“Right, um. Yeah you should get some rest too."

Cloud gave her a slight nod without meeting her eyes, "Goodnight, Sable."

She swallowed hard. "Goodnight, Cloud."

He lingered just a fraction of a second longer than necessary before slipping out the door. The bar felt emptier in his absence, the silence almost echoing around her as she sat, replaying his words in her head.

In a good way.

She let out a quiet sigh. What did he mean by that? The question lingered, filling her with uncertainty. And as she glanced down at the bright pink shirt, she couldn't ignore the warmth of his words settling in her chest.

Sable didn’t know if he’d ever say anything like that again—or if she’d even get another glimpse of that softer side. But tonight, she’d seen it, and it was enough to give her a sliver of hope that maybe there was more beneath his guarded exterior than she’d ever imagined.

[shooting-star-hearts]

We're gonna pretend like I didn't forget to post Halloween scenarios on the day of Halloween but personally fun is fun idc

so!!!! Childhood Halloween with the mainie shipiessss

Axelise!

On both sides of the coin- both didn't participate in Halloween at first, Annise's reason being that her father was too protective to let Annise go out to trick or treat, and for Axel, well, since Hell is where he was from, Hell had....a rather disturbing way of celebrating it(be it cult rituals, awakening evil spirits and sacrifices....it'd be a lie to say it freaked him out a bit, hence resenting both Halloween AND his birthday since he was born on that day).

Anyhow, once Axel got to Heaven things changed for the two. Annise's father had figured out how harmless Axel was for a demon so this resulted into letting his guard down in limiting Annise in things. Hence, she was able to celebrate Halloween for the first time with Axel!!! As well as it being Axel's first normal and fun Halloween and birthday

Annise thought up of fancy snazzy idea for costumes, esp since she was still curious about Axel's existence as a demon: being each other's bestowals, so Annise was a demon princess while Axel was an angel prince.

Cloubri!

As a kiddo Cloud was always teased for being a target of the dark army, and, sadly it kinda was true since the boy himself had bad feelings that he harbored from being outcasted. And for that m'boy wears a wolf costume to symbolize a lone wolf every year.

...so like, I doubt the story "little red riding hood" exists in the ff7verse but fear not for my bitchass made an ff7 version of that story where she's referred to as the "crimson caretaker." Why am I bringing this up? Cuz that's what Aubri would dress up as even though she knows very well that the costume itself is not a good disguise to blend in with monsters.

With that in mind, Cloud notices that and realize she's not protected, he then spending the rest of the night by her side while going tussle or treat'ing. When he asks why she isn't dressed scarier, she then answers that the autumn harvest should be spent enjoying it rather than living in fear over the dark army, so staying happy and having fun wouldn't allow the monsters to attack her.

From that point on whenever the two of them went out for the pumpkin fest, Cloud always wonders if he was protecting her or was protecting him from his own troubles that make him vulnerable.

And since Cloud chooses tussle the majority of the time, Aubri has to share him her candy because he doesn't have as much as her by the end of the night ;;

[cosmoboba]

CHRIST. IN. MY. AS-

The whole lighting was supposed to represent a sort of...dream/flashback effect ig..?

Sadly I'll be be busy for the next few months due to drawing for portfolio hence idk if I'll be making full art like this for...a while. Sketches will appear once in a while tho, bc, that shit's a human need for me

soooo Claubri drawings like these won't appear forrrr a bit...which is . a bit upsetting for me bc I really wanted to practice on this style to get better but . yk . long way there I suppose

[projecthypocrisy]

Helena: Do you ever think of him?

Cloud, hand placed on his sternum where Sephiroth stabbed him during the Nibelheim incident: Can't not think of him.

Helena: Yeah, it's what he wants.

[ichilemonwritruoo]

I commissioned the lovely Yumiartx on Instagram for some selfship artwork and she did an amazing job!! I wrote a little tiny something to go along with it because I just love them so much 💕

"Stay Back!"

The words came out fierce with a bite to them. If there was a bad mistake one could make it would be angering one of Shinra's Super SOLDIERs. A sharp inhale came from the blonde as he drew his sword.

The woman in subject quietly stood back, battered in worn after fighting her way out of the Shinra army's clutches. Years if battle were worn into her fists; Shinra had no problem tracking down people who they deemed a threat. But this time they had to get through Cloud Strife.

"You're not leaving with her now back off."

The bunker was quiet and desolate. Being apart of AVALANCHE and on the run from Shinra meant having to do things quiety and undercover. Which didn't always mean comfortable circumstances.

"Almost there my love." Her voice was soft and gentle, offering as much peace as she could.

Cloud shifted into her arms almost naturally, even though it came across more as a stumble. It was obvious he was not doing well. Sweat beaded his forehead and his cheeks had flushed to an unusual pale color. His hands trembled as he wrapped them around her waist.

She wished she could do more to ail his suffering through the journey but the most she could offer was a comfortable hold and sweet nothings to mutter into his ear until the train stopped moving.

The Highwind casting its shadow over the ocean made almost a perfect background, a setting most girls would dream. However, the background was the least important thing to her. At this moment, all that mattered was Cloud's promise of eternity. He didn't have a ring at the moment, as often the group couldn't afford such luxuries. However, Sephiroth awaited them at the Northern Crater and no one knew what the future held. But no matter the outcome they would see it through together, hand in hand. It was their special promise, one to be together forever and she couldn't have wished for anything more.