#ff vii fanfic

[bardic-tales]

Chaos Incarnate - FWC / FF 7 Alternate AU Story

Summary: Sephiroth marches through the ruins of Midgar to the Shinra Building, slaughtering anyone in his path to reclaim Bianca, who has been imprisoned and experimented on by Hojo and Shinra in this alternate world within the FWC. This is set in an alternate timeline within the Remake games.

Pairing: Bianca Moore (f!OC)/Sephiroth

Other Characters: Hojo (deceased), various Shinra personnel (deceased), implied presence of Shinra executives and SOLDIER operatives

Possible Trigger Warnings: Blood, body horror, canon divergent, captivity, death, experimentation, gore, main character death, medical abuse, mind control, murder, non-consensual medical procedures, physical restraint, PTSD, torture, violence

Author's Note: This short story was written upon for a request by requested by @craftyhal. The concept, characters, and specific plot elements were provided as guidelines for the piece.

Sector 7

Midgar, Gaia

1.

This time will be different, the silvered-haired man thought. They will not take her from me.

The streets of Midgar were silent. A stillness had settled in the wake of his destruction. Sephiroth walked through the smoldering wreckage of Sector 7 over smoking debris. His boots echoed against the charred, twisted remnants of the fallen plate. The air reeked of burnt steel, flesh, and mako: an intoxicating mixture of death and rebirth.

His Masamune, still slick with the blood of those who had tried to stop him, dripped crimson onto the cracked pavement. He had dropped the plate himself. Not AVALANCHE. Not Shinra. Him. It was only fitting for what humanity had done to her. Not Mother. Her.

The weight of the massacre did not burden him. The screams had been fleeting. No, he thought. They had been almost liberating, as those insects were crushed beneath tons of steel. They were necessary casualties: pawns in a grander scheme. The fools who served Shinra had stolen from him. They had taken her.

"Stay with me," he whispered as he gazed up at the Shinra Building standing like a beacon before he begun his march once more. He knew the President was looking down upon the destruction: ruin that he thought the Turks had caused. Reno and Rude had been the first to fall under the man's blade. Their blood still wet the console that dropped the plate, and after that, he had descended to Sector 7 to finish exterminating those insects.

The timeline had tried to resist, but his will would not be denied. Never again.

A low, whispering wind stirred around him, though the air was still. Shapes coalesced in the periphery of vision. Like smoke given form, their tattered cloaks of shifting black weaved through the air. They slithered between collapsed beams and broken buildings. Each were drawn to him like moths to flame.

The Black Whispers.

They trailed after him in silence. Neither guiding nor obstructing. No longer arbiters of fate, but puppets bound to his will. He smiled. How much they resembled Cloud and his puppetry. His persistence had not been mere defiance of death. It was a rewriting. Destiny itself had bent at the knee.

And why shouldn't it? After all, he was the Chosen One, future ruler of Existence, itself. The Whispers obeyed him now.

His fingers flexed around the hilt of his ōdachi as his pace quickened. He was being drawn to her. The pulse of their bond grew stronger. He could feel her. It was faint, almost drowned out in the suffocating energy of the city, but unmistakable. She was here. His Bianca.

Shinra had dared to keep her in their grasp. Sephiroth would tear their tower apart to rectify their mistake now. Midgar already was drowning in the blood of her citizens for their audacity.

2.

As he approached the Shinra Building, the Whispers gathered in a dense formation behind him, swirling like a living tornado. Their forms writhed and merged into him as he passed through the lobby. Flesh and shadow became indistinguishable for a moment. Here, in this timeline, Sephiroth no longer needed to hide within the bodies of robed men. He was whole. They were him.

Bodies lay in his wake. Some still warm. Their blood painted the grey floors of the lobby. The elevator panel was shattered. Its buttons slick with gore and bits of brain matter from the man whose head he had caved in with his boot. How his eyeball had popped out before Sephiroth's final stomp: a glorious symphony of red and bits of stringy black.

He had carved a path through security, through SOLDIER, through anyone foolish enough to stand in his way. As he scraped the gray globes off of his boot, Sephiroth thought about one thing and one thing only. He would not be denied her. She was close. He could feel it.

3.

Now, the hum of mako engines and the sterile scent of antiseptic filled his nostrils. It brought back memories of his time here. The R&D floor. Sephiroth was close now.

As he moved, his scar itched: the telltale half-healed wound where Cloud had buried the Buster Sword in his back. The boy had tried to kill him, but he had failed. He had slaughtered all of that village and the SOLDIERs and troopers who accompanied him on his last mission. Everyone, except the Head Scientist who had found his beloved in the Underground Library and transported her to Midgar.

Sephiroth had risen from the flames of Nibelheim stronger, reborn under Mother’s will. And now? He was in control of destiny’s jailers.

The doors to the laboratory were twisted off their hinges with their metal laying on the sterile floor. His Masamune having split them apart like paper. Sparks rained from the shattered overhead lights, casting eerie shadows over shattered glass tubes and overturned medical carts. Without any expression on his face, he stepped over the remnants of the door. Glass crunched under his boots.

The scent of mako was stronger here. Thick and suffocating. They had kept her in a containment chamber.

He stepped inside, and the Whispers followed.

His breath hitched.

There she was.

Bianca lay curled within an empty mako containment chamber. Her porcelain skin marred by lingering traces of glowing residue. Her indigo eyes, once alight with fire, were dim, hazy from whatever sedatives Hojo had forced into her veins.

Clothed in little more than a torn hospital gown, her body bore the evidence of their cruelty: restraints had dug into her wrists and ankles, her skin raw where she had fought against them. And there, peeking beneath the fabric, was her scar. The mark of her suffering. The mark of what they had done to her.

The Whispers stirred behind him. Their low hissing hum vibrated through the air. Not the white ones that the flower girl had tried to stop him with. No. These were his. They were twisted, corrupted, and black as the void between stars. Their presence filled the lab, pressing in on every surface like a second skin.

One of them reached toward Bianca, dancing before the tank, but Sephiroth turned, and it dissolved into smoke at his silent command.

She was not theirs to touch.

Rage twisted inside him. The white-hot fury pulsed in his temples.

Bianca stirred, blinking sluggishly as if emerging from a deep abyss. Her gaze found his, and a flicker of recognition passed through the bond they shared.

“Sephiroth.” Her voice was weak, hoarse from disuse. But he felt her relief. He felt the way her body unconsciously reached for him even in her half-lucid state. She had called out to him in their shared dreamscape; he had responded immediately.

He crossed the distance in an instant, kneeling before her. His leather-clad fingers brushing against her cheek.

“I’m here, Bia.” His voice was quiet, but there was a promise beneath it. Humanity would pay for its sins against her. He would see to it himself.

She exhaled shakily, pressing into his touch as if to ground herself. His free hand moved to the restraints. Thick fingers curled around the cold steel. With a flick of his wrist, the metal crumpled like paper. She fell forward into his chest.

He caught her effortlessly, wrapping an arm around her waist as he stood. As he cradled with his right arm, Bianca was light. Too light, he thought.

They had drained her, siphoned her blood, experimented on her like she was nothing more than another of Hojo’s grotesque projects. Once more, rage bubbled beneath his calm veneer.

The scientist’s fate had already been sealed.

Sephiroth turned, his gaze shifting toward the far end of the room. A shuffling sound, the faint wheeze of breath. Hojo.

The man was slumped against an overturned desk. His white lab coat stained with the dark blood that pooled at his stomach. Sephiroth had left the Masamune embedded in him, pinning him to the desk, before he had searched for Bianca on the R&D floor, ensuring the scientist would not slip from his grasp.

Now, as Sephiroth approached, the dying man lifted his head. His glasses were cracked and his breathing ragged, yet there was something in his gaze: a perverse satisfaction.

“She . . . is . . . magnificent, isn’t she?” Hojo’s voice was a rasp, gurgling as blood filled his throat. “Our greatest creation . . . angel strengthened with the beauty of . . . Jenova. You should thank me.”

The Whispers circled around him like vultures, pressing close, feeding on the last flickers of the mad scientist's life. Sephiroth did not grace him with a response.

With a slow, deliberate motion, he pulled the Masamune free. The wet popping sound of steel sliding from flesh was followed by a final, gasping choke as Hojo slumped forward. His blood soaked the manila folders beneath him, blurring the lines of the last project of the Jenova Project: Project N.

A fitting end.

Sephiroth turned away, as he held Masamune in his left hand. Bianca still cradled in his right arm. The glow in her eyes was returning, and the strength in their bond rekindling now that she was free. He felt the way she clung to him. Her fingers tightened around the fabric of his coat.

“Shinra will pay for this,” Sephiroth murmured. It was not a threat. It was a certainty. "They all will pay for this."

Bianca’s lips parted, a slow, wicked smile curving them despite her exhaustion. “Burn it.”

Oh, he would.

As he strode from the ruins of the lab, stepping over corpses and shattered glass. Flames ignited in his wake. The Whispers followed. Black tendrils coiling along the walls. The air was thick with the promise of vengeance, of ruin, and of fate rewritten.

By the time the fires consumed the Shinra Building, the only thing left of the corporation would be ashes and the soundless echoes of destiny screaming in reverse. This time, Sephiroth would not be defeated. He would make sure of it.

@themaradwrites @craftyhal @megandaisy9 @watermeezer

@prehistoric-creatures @creativechaosqueen @chickensarentcheap

@inkandimpressions @arrthurpendragon

[dragonsoulage]

What are you looking at?

feat. Cloud Strife, Reno, Sephiroth, Zack Fair, Rufus Shinra

What are these gorgeous men looking at while they taking you over and over again? What part of you makes them blush or going feral when sinking into you?

Hello friendos, it was time to make something for Final Fantasy again 🤌🏻🤌🏻 after my Baji fic is done I thought this could it be 🤣💀 was playing Remake and was suddenly in the mood to ✨🌚 so here enjoy my little smūt when we talk about what they are looking at while they having fun with you 🌚🤌🏻

Wordcount: 2,6k

Warnings: smūt, missionary, pet names, doggystyle, s*x in front of a mirror, slight choking, tummy bulge, riding, spanking

Cloud Strife ~ So shy when he looks in your face…

Well, he is stoic yes, not too open about his feelings.

But when he fucks you, that boy is whipped trying to keep his mouth shut. Too embarrassed to let out too much noise.

Although it is quite sexy to listen to these deep shy grunts, when he is balls deep inside you.

Always making you shiver and pull him even closer.

Cloud is someone, he mostly fucks you from an angle where he can't see your face, simply because he loves your face.

Loves the way your lips parted for him just to moan his name.

The way that delicate blush on your cheeks spread, these eyes looking at him, adoring him.

He struggled not to just cum when you look at him.

Especially difficult it was when you grabbed his hand just to take his thumb in your mouth, making his thrusts stutter.

So when he fucks you he mostly likes to watch your cute expression when you are about to cum, when he holds your hips just to feed you with his thick inches over and over, to have these pretty orbs rolling back. Making himself groan, and his cock throb.

"Look at me, baby." you cooed in his ear, when you felt the blond nuzzled your neck, hard planes of muscles looming over you, two large, rough hands spreading your thighs open.

"N-no...you're just going to tease me." Cloud said firm, with a ragged breath while he bullies his cock right between your puffy folds.

So wet and warm, and so fucking velvety.

"Please, just one look, give me one look, pretty boy." you urged so sweetly, he was sure when he would not see your face he could get off on your voice alone.

Calling the 1 rank SOLDIER 'pretty boy', as if it would not make his dick any harder, making his balls draw up tight.

"No funny business, yeah?" Cloud repeated before finally getting up, still holding your thighs apart as you squirmed under him. With a smirk, wiggling your pussy down his shaft a little more, clenching around his base. Your pussy was always killing him.

"See, it's not that hard." you replied, and then he just gave you one mean thrust, mako blue eyes locking with yours, his gaze over all had roamed from your pretty pussy, stuffed full of him up your torso, your perfect tits, to your kiss bitten neck and then your gorgeous face. Your expression a little too cocky, but with that mean thrust there you had these big eyes again, jaw fell open, your expression just so full in need of him.

And hell, he was gone, he was so gone, groaning from only the fact how your eyes rolled back, the way he continued to pound into you.

One hand came up to tenderly cup your cheek, making your head that fell back in pure bliss, so he could just admire your pretty face.

"You are so....fuck, so pretty. Taking me so well." he praised you, he was just so in love with you and your expressions, making him nearly spill his load into you...

Reno ~ Mirror, mirror on the wall…

Reno is nasty, like when he could, he would have an eye on every part of you. Fucking you raw and that stamina, girl, you need to run away when you can't take it anymore.

Not that he would let you.

After all you are his 'sweet thing' adoring you in every position he folded you into.

Even when he is more of a tits guy, but when he could, damn he fucks you in front of the mirror.

Reno got confidence in buckets, he knows he is hot, he knows you think he is hot.

And for some reason he enjoys to not only make you watch yourself, how good you were taking his dick. But also how he fucked you, how his abs tensed when taking you from behind.

How the veins on his lower arm and on the hand popped up when grabbing your throat to make you look in the mirror.

And of course, how helplessly cute you looked when getting your cunt pounded like it would be the only goal in his life.   

"Nah, no looking away, babygirl." he snickered, always playful while being so deep inside you, you thought you would have been split open. Your cheeks already flush, his hands had grabbed your arms, hooking his hands underneath your elbows, to pull on you, just to bury a further inch inside your snug pussy.

Your pussy was pure heaven for him, dripping down his shaft, no one else could make you this wet, and he fucking knew it.

Always a shy girl, but so nice and wet when his dick was inside you. Moaning and crying, stating it would be too much, although it was just right.

"Re-reno, it's weird." you puffed out of your plump lips, when you looked at him through the mirror. Still, his pace restless and fast. Just slowing down now a little, to gave you something to breathe.

"Weird you say? So weird to watch that cute pussy getting parted for me? I love how we look like that, sweets." he stated, tilting his head, before letting one arm of you loose. You had such a nice deep arch for him.

"I mean, look at that... See how I enjoy fucking you?" he bends slightly forward just to lick a stripe up your neck to whisper it in your ear. Making his tip hit your cervix, what made you squeal, so cute, he swore you were so cute like this.

"Fuck...you're so...ahhh naughty." you tried to act up, a weak attempt on the fact how your walls grabbed his length.

"Oh, believe me, when I wouldn't be a turk, we would be porn stars, sugar." he joked, before grabbing you more firmly and steady to continue you to fuck you into oblivion in front of the mirror.

"Now give me a cute face, yeah, just like that. Look how good we look, how well you take me." he praised you with that damn sneer in his face, the damn grin and these turquoise eyes that now landed on you and him in the reflection. 

Sephiroth ~ Eyes on your pussy…

He is not really known to be so close with anyone. Expect you, one of the assistants from Hojo. Always so cute and your thoughtful expression. Alone, the care you took to ask him if he is fine, after a mission. Something he enjoyed, something that made him want to have you. And indeed he had you, all so possessive, all so rough.

Just enough time to have you on the desk in some office.

But what he adored to look at, green mako eyes fixed on that pink slit between your thighs.

Spreading your pussy lips apart, just to watch how deep he sunk into your welcoming heat.

He wasn't that good to look into your face, not that he wouldn't manage that at all. But it made his heart a weird movement, a weird feeling he didn't know how to put. So fixing on your wet cunt instead, seemed like a plan to him. Something he grew a little obsessed with.

Watching every little twitch your pussy made, how your clit throbbed when being neglected. How your hole clenched when he split you open.

Damn, it fascinated him, how he could stretch your pretty cunt out. And how it made your core flutter. Especially when you had this tummy bulge because he was so big, when he could watch how he rearranged your insides.

These low moans and grunts that came from his throat, not just because you felt absolutely divine, no because your pussy was like a pretty flower blooming for him.

A flower he wanted to squirt all over him, to gush out in pure ecstasy.   

"Look at that, so eager to take all of me, hm?" he teased with a calm voice, before his tip vanished inside you again, making your spine curve up.

"Please...faster." you whined nearly, but that plea fell on def ears, his eyes only watching your puffy folds. A hand of yours reaching down, wanting to rub your clit, to get that feeling of being high on pleasure. But before you could even touch your nub, his hand slapped yours away.

His handsome features shortly came to look in your eyes.

"Not without permission, little one. But I guess you lost that privilege now." he said to you, pushing his thick girthy cock further inside you.

The way your eyes rolled back, was something he may want to look more often, maybe when he had enough of watching that cute cunt try to milk him.

"But, Sephiroth... I just...hmm, just want-" you tried to say something with sense, although he literally fucked your brain out before.

"Sweet girl, got a greedy pussy. You just want, to cum, no other thought in that pretty head of yours." he taunted you nearly, making you blush, although he was right.

Wanting to cum so badly, you nearly could taste it on your cunt.

One hand from him moved down your belly, feeling how deep he was inside you, pressing down slightly, what made you cry out.

"Oh god..." was all you could let out, as he watched in awe how you clenched around him, how these juices spilled out of your cunt, making your legs shake. How he, the strongest SOLDIER, made you shake.

"Yeah, that's what I thought...pretty girl, with an even more pretty pussy." he murmured before finally picking up his pace.

Zack Fair ~ Shutting up when seeing tits…

Zack has a body that bangs you until the sun goes up and a face that wants to make you breakfast. But he couldn't help to have his girlfriend on top of him. Propped up on his thick cock. His mako eyes just loved to watch your tits bounce for him, how soft they were. How good your mounds looked when he gave them a little hickey sometimes because he sucked a little too eager.

Creamy skin, and pretty nipples, just so alluring to him. Always having them in his hands, always looking at them. Nearly as if he was cast with a spell, so in trance.

And the way you dragged your cunt up and down his pulsing cock, making him groan.

Eyes sometime fluttering shut, only to open again, afraid he might miss one of your cute bounces and the way your tits moved with it.

That puppy, gone, totally gone.

He was always a tits guy, no matter how yours looked, how big or small they were, he just loved them. Squished them, and he always had this endearing blush on his cheeks, when you caught him being totally transfixed to your chest.   

"God, yes. Riding me so good, you are such a...a natural in this, aren't you?" he babbled, he never could keep his mouth shut, not at all. The way your insides grabbing him, making him buck his hips up a little, just to bully his pink tip back inside you, against your sweet spot.

Then you took off your shirt and this was the moment, it made him shut up.

Just a groan and a moan slipping out of his lips.

Spiky hair messy when he reached one hand up to palm your tit.

"Suddenly so quiet." you joked while grinding against him, making his abs tense underneath you. Supporting your weight on top of his torso, sometimes fingers dancing over these muscles, you liked so much.

"Let a man adore his girlfriends, boobs. Can't help when....ah fuck...can't help when they are so perfect." he tried to listen, indeed he tried. Besides the fact that every blood was in his rock hard cock, now your unpacked, stunning tits on display for him. A thumb brushing over your nipple, before he gently tugged on it, making you gasp.

"Zack..." you moaned, your cunt dragging along his shaft in the most delicious way, the hips of you in a circle motion.

When you suddenly felt how his other palm came up grabbing you and pushing you forward, his hands on your ass. Making your upper body fall into him. As he decided to pound into you while his face being smashed with your tits.

"I love your tits, damn, so fucking perfect. Baby, I just could cum from looking at them." he confessed, hold back a whimper before his lips found the sensitive nipple from your right breast to suck in it. Making him groan even more, making his cock disappear even faster inside you.

Rufus Shinra ~ Got a thing for your backside…

Oh, every time you walk by, every time you turned around so he could see your pretty backside.

Rufus Shinras mouth went dry, that perfect curve of your ass, the way your hips swayed slightly when you walked.

The shape, alone the fact it looked so...just so good. Nearly made his serious composure fall.

After all, he was a busy man, a powerful man.

The president of Shinra companies was not only in love with you, but hell, did he is in love with your ass.

Having you bend over his desk whenever he could, not that he would have many opportunities in his leadership position. And every time he fucking loved to watch your soft skin yield under his touch, how your ass bounced back against him. How it looked when he grabbed a chunk of it.

Not to forget, he just couldn't help then to smack it while fucking his cock inside your tight pussy.

Alone, the fact you always arched your ass up for him, how it made your cunt clench when he smacked your ass.

The red hand print that was left there, before he would soothe it with a sweet caress.   

"Keep the arch, pretty. Need to be deep inside you, after that...urghh meeting." his voice strained, his blue orbs fixed on your flesh. The way your back was curved, how you knew he liked your butt that much, how you shamelessly wiggled it back onto him. Before moaning so pretty.

It was like a long needed break, every time he plunged his needy cock inside your heavenly cunt.

His hands grabbing your waist, just to watch the skin jiggled every time he thrusted inside you, feeling every vein that drags along his cock.

"Spank me, please." you urged him then, already could tell he wanted, just how his fingers before had danced over your skin, grabbing a good chunk of your ass. Holding back, not wanting to overwhelm his pretty lady so soon. Although, the way your ass bounced back against his pelvis, had something hypnotic and satisfying. Making him calmer, reducing his stress level. But when he could smack your ass, spank it, making you whimper and clench down on him. This had the Shinra president, going.

You heard a deep breath and a slight growl, just by how good he was fucking you. His palm caressing your sensitive skin, in a gentle motion.

"You play your cards just right, hm? Exactly knowing what I wanted, before I even bend you over." you heard him chuckle, and just as soon as you wanted to reply a sharp spank was heard, making your chest lay flat against the wooden desk. It had you cross-eyed, pussy drooling.

"Look at that, as if my hand print would be your personal branding, darling." he cooed before he leaked pre-cum right inside you, hitting that spongy part with such precise.

"Then brand me, baby." you moaned, wanting more of it.

"Good girl..." Rufus smirked before the next print of his hand landed on your other ass cheek.

[monstertreden]

「RUFUS'S EXPENSIVE CAKE ORDER 」

-Reader: Written with a female reader in mind -TW: none -Character: Reno (Final Fantasy 7) -Summary: Rufus decided to purchase a unique tower cake to celebrate his successful new board meeting, leaving Reno with the task of safely retrieving it. -Word count : 774 -A/N: This is my first time writing, thus forgive me for some grammatical errors or if I didn’t exactly nail Reno’s character🧍‍♀️I'm open to any feedback! I need to get back on my FF7 old hypetrain

It’s another lazy afternoon at the Turks’ headquarters in Midgar. Everyone else had been dismissed hours ago and, since then, you’ve been texting Elena about the new shop you recently visited. Just now everything seemed so peaceful— oh so peaceful—until Reno bursts through the door, stumbling over his own feet and nearly crashing into the meeting table. His signature red hair is messier than usual... was that sour cream on his goggles..?

 As soon as he stumbled, he quickly recomposed himself and adjusted the stray strands of hair that had fallen in front of his face, trying to look cool despite his grand entrance. "Alright-, listen- up pretty! We... got abitofasituationonourhands." He catches his breath and sits up beside you on the comfortable leather sofa, his arm draped over the backrest as he crosses his legs.

The gears in your head take a moment to process his words, then it hits you. You glance at him “Reno… shouldn’t you be working, instead of—whatever this is?” You gesture to his dishevelled appearance, plucking a strawberry from his hair. “Did you crash a wedding?”

“Pssh, nahh, plus I’m always workin’, no time for weddings...Heyy, listenn, hear me out, 'cause this is extremely serious” He leans in closer, a very exaggerated, overly dramatic, stare painted on his face, hands inching closer to the sides of your head, before impulsively shaking it.

“It’s the cake!”

“The hell are you talking about-“

"-A cake emergency!” Reno cuts you off “Rufus ordered this, like, super deluxe, tower cake from that fancy bakery in Sector 1, right? It’s that kind of cake that costs more than our week's pay combined! But here’s the thing—Tseng’s definitely gonna kill me if I bring this to him."

"Wait, you’re delivering cakes now? Did Tseng promote you to be Rufus’s personal Uber driver?"

“It’s not ‘delivering,’ alright? It’s more like escorting— see, it’s a top-priority mission.”

He says it with an air of importance, puffing out his chest, but then quickly deflates as he realizes the state of the cake box he put on the table, the bakery label on it is so faded it’s unreadable.

"But I... kinda...smashed it..."

Reno sulks, holding the slightly crumpled cake box like it’s a priceless treasure, while you burst into laughter.

“You’re kidding, right? Ohhh, he’s going to be soooo mad.”

“Look, it’s still edible!” He taps the wrinkled package “It’s just, you know... restructured.”

He opens the box, revealing the once-perfect cake in a state of complete chaos. Macarons and strawberries are scattered everywhere, and the longer you stare at it, the more it resembles an abstract art piece than a cake.

"Yeah, good luck explaining that to Tseng—let alone Rufus.”

Reno, completely unfazed, grins at you as if he has a brilliant plan.

“That’s where you come in! You’re good at talking to people, aren't you? My favorite schemer! You just gotta, you know, help me spin this whole thing. Maybe we can blame Rude or something. He won’t mind. We could smash the cake on his bald head..."

He says it with a casual wave of his hand, as if throwing his partner under the bus is no big deal.

“Yeahh, no thanks. This one’s all yours, buddy. Have fun with that. I’m not taking the blame for your mess if we get caught.”

The redhead groans and slumps back on the sofa. "Man, I was hoping you’d go along with me. How can you not agree to this?”

Just then, your phone buzzes. Expecting another text from Elena, you glance down, only to see a message from Rude pop up instead:

Rude: "That idiot dropped the cake, didn’t he? Rufus is getting impatient with each passing minute"

"Rude’s onto you."

"Of course he is..."

With a sigh and a big cat stretch, Reno stands up, grabbing the cake box with a determined look, despite its sorry state.

"Alright, alright, I’ll fix this. Maybe if I just... slap it back together? Yeah, yeah, that’ll do. Thanks for the pep talk. You can keep whatever fell out of my hair! …Maybee give me a call if I don’t make it back in, let’s say... 40 minutes, m’kay?"

And with that, Reno rushes out of Tusk's headquarters, shouting back as the cake box nearly slips from his hands. “But if this works, you owe me a nice, expensive dinner!”.

.

.

.

.

His plan was bound to fail, regardless of what he attempted.

[shitpostingkats]

Does Shinra just. Not have age requirements on when you can sign up for the military?

[strifebloom]

Loveless

Part 1.

Summary: In Midgar, everyone has a soulmate. Except of course, the woman who could never find hers - and the man who never bothered to look. Who knew that forcing the two onto a mission would be like a moth to a flame.

Tags: Cloud Strife x Reader, Soulmate! AU, Avalanche Member! Reader, hurt/comfort, slowburn, heavy angst, pining, unspoken feelings, temporarily unrequited love

Note: I recently picked writing this back up after a 2 year hiatus so I thought I'd finally post it on tumblr too!

Ao3 link

The rain was heavy that night. 

People poured out of the doors of Shinra corp, rushing to the station to catch the last few trains for the evening. Thunder sounded in the evening sky, deep murmurs brushed past you as people complained of Mako reactor failures within the country. You slowed your pace, hanging slightly behind the crowd that were leaving the Shinra building, hugging yourself slightly in the rain. It had been the worst downpour of the year, and of course the one day you would forget to bring a damn umbrella or any decent type of coat. Working for Shinra within the day was hardly a dream, in fact - it was merely an excuse. After all, what good would the mole of Avalanche be if they couldn’t get themselves a high-up job within Shinra. 

As you walked behind the other employees, your eyes scanned the crowd with intent. He was supposed to meet you today.

A slight fog hung in the air, lowering the visibility that was already hardly there in the first place. Footsteps rushed past you, splashing in the puddles on the concrete as they made their way to the trains. In and out. You followed behind the crowd, making your way to the station amongst those who were on their way home for the evening - to see their loved ones and family. 

As you boarded, your eyes slipped down to the wrist of the woman next to you; the small tattoo-like initials indented in small print as plain as day. They say that once your paths cross, and the connection forms between two soulmates - the initials of the lovers fade onto the wrists of both lovers. The train swayed slightly, you glanced down to your own wrist - a discontented sigh left your lips at the bareness.

Sure, there had been no complaints at the course of your life, so far. With such an important job as playing the part of Avalanches mole from the inside of Shinra itself. You lived a comfortable life, not a soul from Shinra suspected you and your facade upon the plate. However, that’s all it was. You were no business woman from a lavish background living on the plate of sector 4, you lived in the slums, commuted daily to work and then to the cells to give out any information that could’ve been of importance. A small sigh left your lips as you glanced out the window of the train, watching as different sectors passed you by the minute. All these people you’d met throughout the years, and still no spark. 

Still no soulmate.

Snapping back to your senses you realised the man you had been waiting for hadn’t appeared at the station. A slight wave of anxiety brushed over you as you stood in the middle of the crowded last train. Perhaps he’d forgotten, perhaps you’d missed him and left him stranded waiting on the platform. You chewed on the inside of your lip, what the hell would you tell the splinter cell say if you’d lost their merc? In the carriage, your colleagues pointed glances of curiosity at your sudden irritation as you shuffled impatiently - bothered by your thoughts. Flashing an apologetic smile for pushing past someone, you moved to the next carriage - Cloud Strife would stand out if he was on the train, there would be no way you’d miss the SOLDIER uniform and spiky blonde hair. 

The next carriage was just the same, lined with grey suits, sodden from the rain. People with crossed arms and drained faces either babbling about their day or trying their best not to fall asleep. You walked down the middle of the carriage, grimacing slightly at the feeling of your blazer clinging to your shoulders. The train was warm, only reinforcing how damp you were after the rain. Small puddles were only the metal floor from the people gathered - a small line of them moving to the next carriage. With no sign of the blonde ex-SOLDIER, you decided to follow them, hoping you’d encounter Cloud sooner rather than later instead of having to write an apology letter to Tifa. 

An echo of metal bashing against itself could be heard as the train manoeuvred the railway. The next carriage was emptier, mainly pedestrians and hardly any from Shrina corp. Your shoulders slumped in relief, glad to be away from the crowd of equally damp employees.

“You look like hell.” A blunt, unapologetic and hardly audible voice sounded from behind you.

Almost immediately, you glanced to your right. Cloud stood against the corner of the train. Arms crossed in front of him, head leant back. Apart of you wanted to be mad at him - he’d obviously followed you on board but never made any mood to greet you. But you were far too tired for that, this evening at least. 

“And you’re trying to say that you don’t?” You replied in a voice of similar tone, moving to stand next to him - assuming almost the same position. 

That was the thing you found you liked about Cloud. The two of you were very similar in your approach to all things avalanche: no nonsense get it done. Unlike Tifa, who could be known to be a darling, Cloud was scarcely liked and known for having a temper. But it wasn’t entirely off putting. A part of you highly admired his approach to most situations and yet you never had enough time to speak with him. The only times you see each other were days like this - for a transaction.

The ex-SOLDIER looked down at you. His mako-infused his subtly assessed the position you’d taken before a small grunt left his lips. Something that appeared much more endearing to those who knew him. 

“Never said anything.” He replied after a moment, shifting his gaze to the door across from him. 

“You know, I meant at the train station - not on the train, right?”

You raised your brow, a slight hint of frustration in your tone. Cloud simply blinked, like he was trying to process your annoyance. 

“We were both going this way, there was no point in standing in the rain all day.”
 He replied, that matter-of-fact tone making your blood boil. Although you couldn’t exactly reprimand him for being wrong. 

You brushed your hair out of your face as the train slowed, arriving at Sector 7. Most of the news you had been overhearing at work as of recent was of no use to Avalanche HQ - they were far too hesitant to make any rushed moves. However, the splinter cell were always prepared to accept you, and whatever news you’d bring. Your feet echoed against the metal of the steps as you made your way towards Seventh Heaven, mentally preparing yourself incase Aerith was hanging around this evening. Her energy brought a glisten to your eye and a genuine smile to your face, however you admittedly could get burnout by her energy fairly quickly. You were much more of a ‘straight-forward tell it how it is’ kind of person.

A small sigh left your lips as the two of you walked. The woman from the train’s wrist was still on your mind, out of selfishness it had forced you into a terrible mood. As the two of you walked, the ground crunched underneath your feet. You looked over at Cloud, his face unchanging as he walked next to you. A part of you wondered if he had met his soulmate. No one was probably aware if he had, the ex-soldier was a very private person and those leather-bound gloves he wore never seemed to leave his hands.

The man felt your eyes upon him, he glanced over at you as you walked - raising his brow slightly. 
“You need something?”

Mulling over his rhetoric, you decided there would be no better time than to press him about his personal life whilst the two of you were alone. At the bar, Cloud spent most of his time with Tifa, and whilst she was lovely, you didn’t feel right pushing Cloud for questions in front of the person who knew him best. Perhaps she’d find you silly for even thinking to ask such simple things. 

“Do you believe in soulmates, Strife?”

Cloud scoffed slightly, a smile threatening to pull at his lips. 

He looked up, eyes studying the underside of the plate as the two of you walked. His side profile was illuminated by the dim streetlamp of the Sector 7 slums, highlighting the sharpness of his facial proportions. In this light, you supposed he looked quite pretty. After a moments pause, he furrowed his brow, like he a foul memory had resurfaced - something he wanted to forget.

The man shrugged “Not like you can’t believe in them.”

He fell silent for a moment, still lost in his thoughts .

“Not in Midgar.”

You frowned slightly at his words, trying to understand what he meant. People say that when you lose your soulmate, you lose apart of yourself. Cloud had always seemed so…distant - you’d always wondered if there was something more than just the horrors he endured in SOLDIER behind his demeanour. 

He kicked a stone, swinging his arms slightly as the two of you made your way through the back alleys - taking the shortcut towards Seventh Heaven.

A million thoughts rushed through your head, a million questions you felt the need to ask. You looked over at Cloud again, a heat rushing to your face due to the anxiety of needing answers.

“Have you met yours? Your Soulmate, I mean.” 

You asked hesitantly, voice growing quiet before you finished your sentence - your stomach dropping slightly with the feeling of overstepping. 

Cloud clenched his jaw, his body stiffening slightly as he walked next to you. You slowed your pace, moving away to give him room. 

“Don’t be stupid.” 

Was all he said, as you both walked into the night. 

The door to the bar creaked slightly as you pushed it open, revealing the small knit group of the splinter cell in their usual places. Tifa behind the bar, chatting to Aerith and Jessie, Biggs and Wedge laughing at something indiscernible and Barrett talking with Marlene. 

You looked over at the man who had walked with you, a small scoff leaving your lips as you pushed him into the bar. The two of you had walked back mostly in silence after the minor soulmate conversation, it was comfortable - Cloud was someone who didn’t need to make conversation to let you know he enjoyed your company. 

You would be a fool to deny that Cloud Strife wasn’t someone of interest to you. The mako-infused blue eyes that could almost read your soul as he looked you over. He was fascinating, and the two of you had a smilier mindset. When you had first met, a part of you had hoped that he would be the soulmate you’d been searching for - with your similarities. 

But things are never as simple as that. 

His brows knitted together slightly as he felt your eyes on him, those blue eyes shifting to meet yours. Cloud nodded slightly at the others, a small grunt leaving his lips. A greeting that was far more endearing to those that knew him. 

Tifa’s eyes shifted from Aerith to the two newcomer’s within the bar, her eyes brightened at your presence briefly but then shifted to a state of worry as she hurried past the counter towards the two of you. Her hands immediately moved to your shoulders, a disapproving huff leaving her lips as she felt the wetness from the rain. Sure enough, a pool of droplets followed your trail. Quiet rain droplets fell from your coat as you stood in front of the bar owner, who was absolutely mortified at the state you were in.

“Oh my god, how bad is it out there?” The woman asked, her voice gentle and filled with genuine worry.

The man next to you tutted, crossing his arms over the front of his chest as he met Tifa’s gaze.

“Take a guess.” His reply was blunt yet again, but he was hardly one to complain. Cloud himself for the most part was in a far better situation than you - the weather hadn’t caused his hair to flop miraculously at least.

Tifa shook her head, ushering you towards the counter and she mumbled quiet thoughts of worry. 
“No this won’t do, what if you catch a cold?”

She scolded you gently for hanging around for so long, but her smile was still bright and loving. A part of you wanted to protest, if it wasn’t for Cloud’s expertise in hiding in plain sight, you wouldn’t of had to wait for so long outside the station, and furthermore maybe you would’ve avoided the worst of the downpour. Despite your protests, she urged you towards the spare room in the back of the bar to change. Jessie spared something clothes, joking about how much nicer they’d smell due to your perfume. You smiled and shook your head as you changed into the new, far warmer garments.

Regardless, you had witness reports to share, and information to give. Once you had changed, the members of the splinter cell had rearranged themselves around one of the larger tables in the bar. You took a seat between Cloud and Aerith - smiling warmly at the woman who nudged your shoulder in greeting. 

“Right.” Tifa hummed, flipping to a fresh page in her notebook “shall we get on with it?”

You spent a good few hours telling the sector 7 Avalanche members what you had learnt from your job within the day. It was nothing of high importance to HQ, however their plans to renovate the warehouses in sector 2 meaning they would be left unattended for a few days was something that definitely took the interest of Barret. The man nodded his head, tapping his fingers against the desk as he watched Tifa write down her notes whilst listening to you. As expected his focus snapped entirely to you once you’d mentioned the warehouse opportunity. 

“For how long?” Barret asked, leaning forward slightly with an eagerness.

As you were about to answer, Cloud cut in.

“They won’t leave it for more than three days” he stated bluntly, his eyes flicking from Barret to the annoyed expression on your face “If you wanna get in, gotta do it quick.” 

You sat back in your chair, watching the cogs in Barret’s head turn as he thought things over. The table grew silent, everyone knew not to interrupt Barret’s thoughts if you didn’t want an ear full. Even wedge had placed his snacks back on the table - an air of tension settling over everyone. 

“Will we go?” Cloud asked, tilting his head to the side slightly. His tone was a balance of confidence and boredom, like he wanted Barrett to hurry his decision, like he had somewhere else to be. 

From across the table, Tifa shot him a warning look as she shook her head slowly. Her eyes shifted to yours, a small smirk forming on her lips. You knew her cue and were more than happy to take the opportunity. Swinging your leg slightly, you rammed your boot into Cloud’s ankle; a warning to shut him up. The man’s brow furrowed, he instinctively hunched over slightly in pain before glaring at you in childish manner. Cloud swung back, aiming his own foot for your ankle. An eye for an eye - as he would casually say when you went to reprimand him. 

Once the meeting had ended, the two of you stood up almost immediately. Like two children who couldn’t stand to be near each other after a fight. 

“Sit..” A soft voice chimed, trying not to let out a giggle as they watched.

Aerith was laughing at the two of you and your childish display, Tifa still at her side. You’d been kicking each other throughout the rest of the meeting - both too stubborn to give into the other. As you looked down at Aerith, you noticed the slight shadowing on her wrist. Your eyes widened in surprise, the woman had never spoken about her soulmate before, you had never realised she had one.

Aerith wasn’t an entirely private person, you knew almost everything about each other. But as her arm rested on the table, revealing the darkened lettering, a small feeling bubbled inside and you wondered if you really knew her at all.

Her eyes followed yours, a knowing smile playing upon her lips.

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” She hummed, her voice quiet and knowing. 

Cloud raised his eyebrow, leaning back in his seat slightly as you sat forward. The lettering hadn’t bled, like a tattoo, still fresh - still permanent. 

Z.F.

The others had departed and the bar was now quiet, a soft yellow glow filled the room from the lights that had been left on within the main room. Tifa sat with her hands in her lap, her eyes had also shifted to the initials marked on Aerith’s wrists - a gentle frown pulling at her brow like she too had been entirely in the dark until now. 

“I didn’t know you’d met your soulmate..?” You hummed, a small grin of curiosity spreading across her face.

It was a wonderful thing to see but also, entirely confusing. You’d never once met anyone Aerith had been remotely romantically interested in, or had at least appeared to be. In the past, you’d potentially considered Cloud as you’d observed the duo upon your various meetings, but had then concluded that her playful nature was far too sibling like to be the soulmate type. In this world, soulmates were head over heels, it wasn’t uncommon for them to be joined at the hip. Glancing over to the ex-SOLDIER, you noticed he too was now leaning forward. His brows were knit together, a look of both frustration and confusion painting his face as he stared at the initial on her wrist.

You gave him a slight glare, it was unlike Cloud to be so obvious when snooping - let alone so annoyed with something he hadn’t at least tried to comprehend. A part of you thought he was potentially jealous, but there wasn’t a soul he had seemed to have interest in. 

The woman glanced down at her wrist, her jaw clenching subtly as she looked down at the mark. Something in her eyes changed, that sparkle fizzled out slightly. Aerith’s entire demeanour shifted within those brief moments - catching the attention of Tifa who gently lifted her hand to her should. Her posture slouched slightly as she chewed on the inside of her lips. You couldn’t tell what she was thinking, but a rush of worry shot through you, like you’d overstepped. Like you’d never noticed the mark of her soulmate for a reason.

She laughed softly, albeit it was entirely half hearted. Aerith subtly turned her wrist over, hiding the mark of her soulmate as she looked up at the two of you.

“Had.” 

The woman mumbled, her voice carrying a wave of sadness and defeat. You hardly had anytime to pick up on what she had said before she was clearing her throat, shrugging off whatever burden was weighing on her soldiers. 

You sat back slightly, a wave of guilt washing over you. Next to you, Cloud uncrossed his arms, face softening slightly as he watched her. Aerith shook her head and laughed slightly.

“That’s not why I asked you guys to stay, Barrett wanted us to ask you both to carry out the next mission.”

You frowned slightly, sitting forward with your mouth open to say something. That wasn’t your role in Avalanche. You were just the messenger, you didn’t take part in the missions - not that you’d never been interested in doing so; but you’d never had the training. The bar was silent as a million thoughts rushed through your head - only interrupted by the sound of rain against the roof. 

“I’m sorry but that makes no sense, that’s not my role..?”

You didn’t want to sound selfish, but you knew your lack of experience would only irritate Cloud. The blonde ex-soldier wasn’t the kind of person to be patient, especially not on a mission. He nodded in agreement at your words, a small hum leaving his lips. Of course, you’d be no help to him, surely Tifa would be a much better fit?

Aerith nodded, her smile brightening once again as she leant forward.

“Exactly! No one will know who you are! That’s why you’re perfect.” She chimed, clapping her hands together softly.

The man frowned slightly, the sound of his leather gloves tapping gently against the wooden table. Cloud’s eyes shifted to yours once again, his expression blank and unreadable - but you could tell he was trying to work out what value you could bring.

Aerith watched for a moment silently. She had always been aware there was some sort of connection between the two of you on your side, however, in truth she was nervous about about the mission herself. The whole team had been. No one knew how you would react, let alone how convincing the idea would be. 

Next to her, Tifa cleared her throat as to cut in. It was like she could read your mind, she could tell that a fear was brewing - not just because of your lack of experience, but also your reputation. You were both well known and well respected in Shinra, a primary reason for your value to Avalanche and one slip up on a mission could ruin everything. 

“Cloud has some undercover work on the plate next week,” Tifa began, her voice lowering to an almost whisper “but he can’t go on his own - and the rest of us would look far too focused on the mission..”

His brow furrowed, a small scoff leaving his lips.

“You? Focused?”

The woman gasped and playfully leant forward to slap him on the shoulder. She shook her head, swinging her legs due to the height of the stool slightly. 

“No, the point is... We need two people to pretend to be soulmates and, to my knowledge, neither of you have one - right?”

Tifa’s voice was as kind as her smile, but there was a hint of teasing behind it.

Cloud’s eyes widened slightly, obviously taken aback at the proposal. You had no idea what he was thinking. He stiffened slightly, shooting you another glare like a child would do after a scolding, in response, you simply rolled your eyes - a heat rising to your cheeks in embarrassment. 

Clearing your threat, you avoided eye contact with almost everyone in the room in those next moments. 

“Well I mean, yeah.” 

It was embarrassing to admit, most people had met their soulmates by your age, if not at when they were younger. The women across from you shared a teasing giggle yet their eyes remained sweet. Tifa leant forward slightly, her aura reassuring as she rested both elbows on the wooden table of the bar.

“Can you play this part for me? I promise it won’t get in the way of anything else, plus! There’s obviously an incentive” Tifa added, knowing that the extra money would be like music to the ears of the blonde mercenary.

A million thoughts rushed through your head. Was this really a good idea? You’d never heard of people convincingly pulling off faking soulmates, and whilst you and Cloud had similar attitudes neither of you were the romantic types. 

Out of curiosity, you glanced to Cloud. He too seemed to be in thought. The man’s arms were crossed, his gaze focused on the large wooden doors of Seventh Heaven. There was a slight twitch to his brow as he felt your eyes upon him. Cloud glanced your way, a small hum leaving his lips. 

He shrugged, raising his eyebrow slightly.

“I’m up for it if you are.” His voice was unphased, if not seemingly interested - the money was definitely sweetening the deal.

For a moment you simply stared at him out of utter surprise. You weren’t really sure if it was the selfish part of you that knew there was money up for grabs, or maybe the curious side that wanted to see how successful this mission could be…but before you knew it you were slowly nodding.

And god, the two of you had no idea what you were getting into.

[cloudluvrrr]

Would u guys be interested in my like drabbles/ oneshots for cloud? Not like x reader but like stuff ab his psychology, and his relationships w others. I post ab it on ao3 idk if it’ll be popular here tho ty ^^

Also if u have any ff7/15 requests feel free to share too ^o^

[rune-writes]

Blissful Serenity

Fandom: Final Fantasy VII

Word count: 1189

Rating: G

Pairing: Cloud Strife/Tifa Lockhart

Summary: Cloud returns to Tifa's bar and finds her asleep on the table.

Notes: written for @clotiweek 2024 Day 5: Gentle.

Read on AO3.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Tifa sat, propped on a stool with her head on the bar counter and her arms folded beneath it as cushion, so when Cloud entered the store and the bell jingled, he reached up with his hand to still it. It was only half past ten. While there were still people up and about, the street outside was mostly empty. The lights at the storefront were still on, but the sign had been flipped to ‘CLOSED’. Judging from the kitchen towel loosely held in Tifa’s fingers, she had probably been in the middle of cleaning the counter when she fell asleep. He wished she had locked the store up. He could have used the back door. 

Quietly, Cloud shut the door, gently avoiding the bell so as not to make a sudden noise that would jerk her awake. It still let out a faint tinkle, but nothing more than that. 

Cloud weaved around the cluster of tables and chairs then, once he arrived at the bar counter, placed the grocery bag on the table surface. He looked at her sleeping posture. Tranquil; her shoulders rose and fell in steady rhythms. 

Cloud pulled a chair from under the counter and sat. Then he set his elbow on the table and propped his face on his fist. Then he folded his arm and rested his face side-ways, looking at her. 

The light cast shadows on her face. With each breath she took and every one she exhaled, her long ebony bangs fluttered. He reached up and stroked her hair, attempting to move the stray strands out of the way, but his fingers caught on her forehead, and she stirred. 

Cloud froze as Tifa groaned. She shifted her head in her sleep, her lips smacking quietly in the silence. With bated breath, he watched—waited—until Tifa nestled into the crook of her arms again and her breathing grew steady once more. A half-sigh, half-chuckle escaped Cloud’s mouth. He cocked his head and peered into her face. When he was certain the deep lull of slumber had pulled her under, he carefully slipped his fingers beneath her bangs and moved them out of the way. 

She was beautiful. The thought came unbidden but familiar now. He’d lost count how much it had jumped at him every time he beheld the full view of her profile. It settled in his mind and inside his heart, a puzzle piece finding its snug fit within the chaos of himself. But that night, something felt different. 

Cloud’s eyes traced the lines of her jaw to the smooth contours of her cheek, up the curve of her brows and back to her slightly parted lips. She looked so… serene, so unguarded. On his last visit, Barret had mentioned how Tifa looked different. Cloud hadn’t noticed it but Barret had said how she’d gotten a lot more relaxed.

“Seems the store’s doing you good,” he’d said with a nod. 

She’d smiled, sweet and small, and Cloud hadn’t thought much about it then, but seeing her like this now, he couldn’t help wondering if perhaps Barret was right. If anything, her countenance was devoid of the quiet agitation he would sometimes spot when she thought no one was looking. Her face looked softer now, her posture a tad more peaceful with herself. She had even left the store unlocked while she slept at the bar. Cloud knew she could defend herself should any unsavory people find their way inside, but the thought that she had to defend herself made his blood boil. 

She shouldn’t. She’d gone through so much. From Nibelheim to Midgar and now here, at the edge of what had been the capital of the world’s leading nation, finally finding the place where she could finally be. 

Cloud’s fingers hovered over her face for a split moment before his knuckles touched her pale porcelain skin. Then he paused, waiting for her reaction. She didn’t stir, so, with feather-light strokes, he caressed her cheek. 

She was so soft; so strong; and yet so fragile. 

What had he ever done to deserve her? 

Tifa groaned again, but this time Cloud didn’t still his hand. He watched her eyelids flutter open. Her ruby gaze glazed over before locking sleepily on him. “Cloud?” Her sleep-laden voice murmured. Cloud had to fight off the smile creeping into his face. 

“Good evening, sleepy head. Sorry I’m late.” 

Her own smile bloomed across her features. She closed her eyes again, and he could see that she was savoring the gentle, soothing touch his fingers brought.

“Hey,” he said. “Come on, let’s not sleep out here.”

Tifa responded by reaching up with her hand and slipping her fingers in-between his. She let their intertwined hands drop onto the table counter. “I’m tired,” she mumbled. “Five more minutes.” 

“We still need to clean up and close the shop, put the groceries away.” Her responding moan drew a chuckle out of him. “You’ll catch a cold.”

“No, I won’t.”

He scoffed, light-hearted in manners. Tifa wasn’t sleeping—at least, not yet. Her brows were knitted in a way that told him she was pretending to be asleep. And if not that, then the curve of her lips gave her away. 

Cloud pushed himself off the table then began stroking her head. She seemed to relax even more. 

“Had a long day?” he asked. 

She nodded. “Busy. Customers wouldn’t stop coming.”

“I guess that new pizza recipe really took off.”

Tifa chuckled under her breath. “It was sold out halfway through our rush hour.”

“No wonder you asked me to get more of the stuff. Yuffie made a good marketing manager, huh?” 

At that, Tifa laughed. She finally raised her head and met Cloud’s mirthful gaze across the counter. Sleeping on the side of her face for the past half hour or so had made some strands of her raven hair stick to her cheek and some to her lips. Cloud pried those strands away, then he straightened her bedhead and patted the side of her head for one good measure. As his hand lingered on her face, Tifa leaned into his touch. 

No word could ever properly explain the swelling in Cloud’s heart every time he witnessed her peaceful expression—as though it seemed to say that all was right again in the world. They still had ups and downs and some days could’ve been better, but those mundane trivialities seemed trifling at the face of all they had had endured. God knew how much she had done for him and sacrificed for him and part of him wondered how he could ever pay her back. Perhaps, one day, he could learn how to console her the way she had always consoled him. But until such time came, he would do what he could to make sure her smile never lost its luster. 

He brought her hand to his lips and planted a soft kiss on the back of her hand. A touch of pink colored Tifa’s cheeks, but her eyes crinkled in delight. 

“Come on,” Cloud said. “Let’s close up for the night so we can rest.”

Tifa nodded. “Sure.” 

~ END ~

[tifa-simp]

The day the English localization team can translate FF7 with some respect for the source material is the day I know peace. JP dub and Eng dub Rebirth are 2 different game fr. How can we still have mistranslation this bad in the hellish year of 2024????

[tonberry-yoda]

Hi , tonnberry may i ' ve request for final fantasy 😄 for Claude and Noctis with they married female s/o until they had children. I wonder how the two of them became a father to their children like what kind of activities?whether they can spare their time?, and how will they cope when their teenage son acts like a Brat ?

That's all from me , anyway i'm really like your blog don't forget to tag me in your update please!!!🥹🌹😩

Thank you so much for this , love your dear 😘

Cloud and Noctis as Fathers (f!reader)

notes - AHHH HI! Sorry this took so long, I've just been swamped with a ton of stuff, but I cleared out a bunch of requests and am more than happy to do this one for you! It's funny that I don't get a lot of requests even though my name is literally Tonberry lolol. Thanks for much for the request my dear! I hope you enjoy and have an amazing day <3 tag list - @cerezzzita (I remember you being interested in this one love <3), @kawaistrawberry21

CLOUD

he wasn't expecting to be a father when he was young

like being a father was the last thing on his mind

but after everything chaotic in his life, he finally decided to settle down and found the perfect partner, you!

only then was he fully prepared to become a father

you talked about it a lot and told Cloud that he would be a wonderful father

he thought you would be a wonderful mother, so after a while, you found that you were going to have a child! (or if you prefer to adopt, that would be super cute for the two of you)

at first, raising a child was very difficult

it didn't matter that Cloud had nearly fought god in his lifetime, raising a child had to be one of the most challenging things he ever faced

this also made him a little self concious

he was helping, but saw you doing a lot of the work

^ he would always step in though to help, no hesitation

his favorite thing was teaching his child how to grow into a lovely human

lots of playing and just being a kid, which neither you nor Cloud really had, so it meant a lot to be having that with a child of your own

lots of family adventures and traveling

for the first time in a long time, a smile hasn't left Cloud's face <3

NOCTIS

he would be TERRIFIED

he would be prepped, but terrified

you two talked about having a child, but even after talks, it was still scary

and you were a more natural mother, ready to help the child at any cost and already knew what to do

he just felt like some idiot in the back watching you

lets just say he spoiled you a little more than the baby because he felt bad for everything you had to do

he would still be a fun dad though

and the baby would have all their uncle chocobros to hang around

ignis teaches Noctis how to make food for the baby and through trial and error, he actually makes some pretty damn good food for the lil thing!

but having friends around makes raising the baby more fun, especially because you can trust them when you're too tired some days

Noctis though would love napping with the baby

^ you would walk into the kitchen to tell him that dinner's ready and find him napping with the baby on his chest and you definitely tear up and take TONS of pictures

he would be ecstatic, but he was more of a scared dad at first lol

he knew a baby would come eventually with him being king and all later, but he didn't know it would be such a hard thing

he's just thankful to you and his friends for being patient and helping out <3

~~~~~

final fantasy masterlist | pinned post | ko-fi

2023 @tonberry-yoda – do not repost or claim ANY of my work as your own! likes, reblogs, and comments are not only welcome, but appreciated

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[larkawolfgirl]

Distant Scent of Flowers (Clerifa)

Rating: General Audiences Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/F, F/M, Multi Fandoms: Compilation of Final Fantasy VIIFinal Fantasy VII (Video Game 1997) Relationships: Tifa Lockhart/Cloud Strife, Aerith Gainsborough/Tifa Lockhart/Cloud Strife Characters: Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockhart Additional Tags: Grief/Mourning, Developing Relationship, Feelings Realization, Canonical Character Death

Summary: Cloud and Tifa bond through grief, confessions, and a promise.

Read on ao3

The river continued playing its happy murmuring song despite the sorrow flowing from its banks. A silent Cloud and Tifa sat on the bank with their shoulders almost touching gazing out at the wildflowers dancing in the breeze across the water. The blossoms, vibrant against the green landscape, seemed a world away—just as Aerith was.

Cloud watched Tifa’s fingers trace a pattern in the dirt. Without a word, he reached out, covering her hand with his own, attempting to offer her any semblance of comfort he could. Their fingers laced together, a silent pact of support through their shared grief.

As the light began to fade, turning the open sky purple, the pair remained still, anchored in place by the weight of their loss. Cloud could feel the tension in Tifa’s grip, her strength mingling with his own, and in that touch, an unspoken understanding passed between them. They were fighters, but in this quiet moment, they allowed themselves to be vulnerable.

His eyes met Tifa’s, seeing his torment reflected.

Cloud wouldn’t have dared allow himself to falter if it was anyone else—save Aerith herself—but this was Tifa. Cloud rarely felt secure enough to let down his hardened persona, but ever since their reunion, Tifa had assured him in not so many words that she was a safe space. Besides, she had already seen him cry—they all had—his feelings having ripped him open from the inside out.

But Tifa also cried. As did the others, but that wasn’t important.

The cool breeze carried the scent of flowers and it recalled an image of Aerith tending to her flower garden back in Midgar. She had been so happy, so carefree, so beautiful. He could clearly see her smile which would never again light up the dark places in his heart. His heart ached knowing that one day he might forget how she looked, let alone how she smiled.

“Remember how she would always talk to flowers as if they might talk back?” he asked, hoping Tifa’s voice would soothe the tightness in his chest.

The fighter nodded, her lips curving in response as the memory surfaced. “I asked her once and she said they were alive, so they deserved the same common courtesy as anyone else.” Tifa let out the ghost of a laugh. “Not sure if courtesy and asking how their day’s been are the same thing, though.”

Cloud’s gaze returned to the flowers dancing in the breeze. The way they moved; it almost did look like they had sentience. “Maybe she had a point. She would know better than any of us.”

Tifa hummed, and when Cloud looked at her again, her expression had softened. “Yes, she was... extraordinary. Sure, she was an Ancient, but she was special just because of who she was.”

“Yeah. She never cared what anyone else thought.” A far cry from himself. She had shown him what freedom looked like.

“She was brave.”

Cloud squeezed her hand. “So are you.”

Tifa shook her head. “I’m strong, but she was never afraid to do what needed to be done. Not when she infiltrated the Don’s mansion or sacrificed herself for Marlene or even now.” She paused, swallowing a fresh wave of grief. “Remember the first time it rained after we left Midgar?”

Of course, he remembered. How could he forget? The way Aerith had shrieked in surprise at the first raindrop. Even though she claimed to hate the sky, she grinned when she saw it covered in misty clouds. Rain had soaked through her dress, leaving her cold and drenched, even so, she grinned and spread her arms wide to catch as many droplets as she could. She had twirled around, creating her own version of a rain dance, laughter spilling from her throat.

“I’ve never seen her look so alive.”

“Me neither.,” Tifa said. “I wish I could be like her. She lived life to the fullest, always knowing that it might be her last day of freedom, and she was willing to give it up for the sake of others, even people she never met.” The martial artist paused, rubbing her fingers over a strand of grass. “She was…a hero.”

There was a moment of silence as if the air itself held its breath for her next words. “She was more than that for me, though.”

Cloud studied her, sensing a shift in her tone.

Her hands fell into her lap, and she drew a deep breath, steadying herself. Her voice could barely be heard over the murmur of the river. “I didn’t just admire her,” she confessed. “She was more than a friend. I didn’t understand, but now...”

Cloud’s body froze, unsure how to respond. His brow furrowed as a battlefield of emotions played out—empathy, remorse, loyalty, loss, affection—all clamoring for recognition. He had always been the sword, the protector. That role was straightforward. Figuring out what role to play now was obscure.

The stillness of the riverbank seemed to absorb her words, leaving a silence so profound that even the rustling wildflowers hushed their whispers. The unfinished revelation hung between them, a delicate truth that needed to be handled with care.

“Cloud?” The sound of Tifa’s fragile voice sliced through his introspection.

Slowly, he took her hand again, this time with a soft, loose grip. “I understand,” he said. “I think, maybe, she was the same for me.”

Tifa leaned closer and tilted her head. “Maybe?”

Cloud turned back to the wildflowers, suddenly feeling too shy to see her immediate reaction. “I wasn’t sure either. Because…of you.”

Then she was there in front of him. She was close, so close he could feel the warmth of her breath. “And now? Have you figured out your feelings?” Her hand trembled slightly within his grasp, but she did not pull away. The question hung in the air, as delicate as flower petals.

Cloud felt the weight of her gaze, heavy with hope and fear. He could see the subtle tremble of her lips, the vulnerability she rarely showed. It was more than a question; it was a plea for understanding, for solidarity.

He knew what he felt for Tifa was real, just as real as the pain and affection they both harbored for Aerith. But putting that mixture of sentiment into words was the greatest foe he had faced. Time seemed to slow as Cloud’s pause stretched into eternity. His eyes, clouded by the emotions warring in his chest, searched Tifa’s face for guidance. His chest twisted tighter with each passing second, and in the silence that followed her question, his gaze lingered on the soft worry lines that framed her eyes—eyes that had seen too much pain yet still held a glimmer of hope.

“Before,” Cloud started, his voice barely audible, “everything was... unclear.” He shook his head as though to clear away the fog of uncertainties hanging over him. His eyes anchored themselves to Tifa’s, finding a steadfast trust in their depths. Almost involuntarily, he lifted their entwined hands, almost touching her cheek before catching himself.  “I still don’t have everything figured out, but I know what I feel for you, Tifa. Losing Aerith... it’s sharpened everything, made me see what’s been in front of me all along.” Although soft, Cloud’s voice carried the weight of newfound clarity.

Tifa’s breath caught, her eyes, wide and shimmering with a hopeful sheen, never left his face, seeking out the words yet unspoken.

Turning toward her fully, Cloud allowed a rare, gentle smile. It softened the hard lines battle had etched into his youthful face. “Losing Aerith without ever fully expressing my feelings... it tore something inside of me.” His blue eyes darkened with regret. “Losing her made me realize life is too short to question yourself. I don’t want to lose you the way I did her, especially without having told you the truth.”

A slow exhale escaped her lips. “Which is?”

He chose his words carefully. “That you mean more to me than a friend.”

She returned his gentle smile. “So do you. You both did.”

His voice lowered again, this time with sincerity rather than doubt. “Having feelings for Aerith doesn’t change the feelings we have for each other. I understand that now.”

“I always knew how I felt about you,” she began hesitantly. “But with Aerith... it was different. I only realized what she meant to me now that she’s gone.” Her voice trailed off. “But you seemed to understand you had feelings for both of us for some time now.”

Cloud’s free hand clenched at his side. “I suppose I did. But no matter how much I tried to I couldn’t choose between you two.”

Tifa’s brow furrowed with the unspoken truth that he couldn’t choose now. Her voice was comforting when she replied, “What matters is that we’ve shared something special with Aerith and we still have each other. We don’t have to measure our feelings. Aerith brought out the best in us. We’ll carry her with us, together.”

Cloud felt his barriers melt beneath her profound words.

Tifa moved closer, resting her head against his shoulder. The weight of her grounded him in the present moment. It hurt, but their love would move them forward.

A breeze swept through with the scent of Aerith’s favorite flowers—ones absent from the riverbank. It was as if the lifestream, or Aerith herself, was assuring them of her eternal presence. She would never truly be gone. She would live on within the lifestream, within the beauty of the world she had loved, and within the hearts of those who cherished her memory.

Cloud’s arms wrapped around Tifa, drawing her into an embrace. She held him back with a firm grasp. The warmth of their bodies served as a reminder of the life they still held.

“Let’s promise,” Tifa’s voice was a whisper, yet it carried conviction, “to honor her memory in everything we do. To strive to live our lives with the same courage she did.”

Cloud felt the vibration of her words through his chest, sparking a flame within the void left by grief. “And we’ll protect each other with all of our strength,” he agreed.

As their promise was made, the river flowed ceaselessly beside them, a symbol of time’s relentless march. Yet as Cloud and Tifa sat there, locked in their embrace, they found a sense of permanence. As long as they had each other, they would love, they would endure, and they would remember.

[pilichainartandmemes]

FFVII fic - What Howls Inside Your Head

The way out of that basement of horrors is just a stupid poorly light corridor. It’s easy: Zack only has to prove he still trusts Sephiroth and not turn back. A Doubt Comes In, Hadestown songfic.

I had brainworms listening to Hadestown and somehow only waited a year to write it. Enjoy!

Crossposted on ao3

No warnings except it's Hurt no Comfort.

“So what’s the first thing you’re gonna do when we’re back in Midgar? Me? I’m thinking takeout! Cissnei handed me recs as a thank you for being ‘a delight to shadow’. Probably not a good thing but hey I’ll take the nice food. Oh by the way! There’s this kid in infantry, he hasn’t had great luck with the SOLDIER exam and I was wondering… well if you could give me a tip or two?”

Only the walls and echoes of footsteps answer Zack. That’s completely fine! What kind of friend would he be if he couldn’t handle Seph being out of sight? It’s that stupid basement, that stupid library and that stupid lab rattling his nerves. Once they’re outside, he’ll be able to focus. Then the only thing they’ll have to worry about will be-

SOLDIER is like a den of monsters. Don't go inside.

Shinra. It was bad when they left but now… with what they learnt… Still he couldn’t just leave Kunzel or Aerith like that. Could he convince Sephiroth to stay? …Yeah, right. Zack’s attempts with Genesis and Angeal had worked so well after all. No. Seph wouldn’t stay only for one guy. Not for Zack.

Would he just leave alone then? Sure, he mentioned it on the way to Nibelheim… then what? Maybe the demon of Wutai would be fine living on the run but for how long? He used to see Shinra’s Firsts as pinnacles of strength, all of them. One impaled himself on Zack’s sword, another is dying and set on taking as many as he can with him, the last is this close to flying the coop.

Deep breaths. Deep breaths… The buster sword is a familiar burden on his back. There may be no meaning in fighting for Shinra. Still Zack can fight for his friends, including those he can yet save. He can do this. He has to. No one else has got as close of a shot.

“All that ancient stuff flew over my head, you know? But Guess what! I know a girl down in the slums who is ALSO a Cetra. Maybe you two could bond over the planet and talk about your moms.”

In retrospect spilling that secret of hers wasn’t the smartest thing. Tseng and Aerith will rightfully scold him if, no when they go back, but it’s FINE! Sephiroth wouldn’t do anything harsh, would he?

What about Jenova? Didn’t Hojo say she was not an ancient but a calamity from the sky? After being trapped by Shinra for so long, would that monster give up so readily on Sephiroth? No and neither would Zack put in the same spot.

… He is out of ideas. Still there has to be something, anything! Maybe the hippies at Cosmo Canyon could help out. He’ll take the guy snoring in the coffin at this point. Well he would if he wasn’t afraid of more skeletons from Shinra’s closet falling onto the two of them. And in the middle of that storm a thought stops Zack dead in his tracks: he can’t hear any footsteps.

No, no, no. Sephiroth can’t have just left without him noticing! All of these enhancements, all that training, all that fighting and he can’t even keep an ear out for a friend. Where is the silver lining that kept him going despite Shinra’s bullshit? Where is Sephiroth?

He can’t breathe. He can’t see the end of this tunnel. He can’t hear anything but his own stupid thoughts and his heart hammering in his chest. Fuck it. He has to make sure his friend is here. He has to-

 “No matter what you cannot let your companions see your doubts.” A memory of a lesson with Sephiroth rises above his dread, a glimpse of a far off star in cloudy skies. “They are counting on you to keep calm even as death takes their friends. As long as their leader stands, the formation will hold. You stick the course and do not look-“

Zack turns around.

“Seph, I-“ But he doesn’t get to finish as Sephiroth’s icy glare shoots down any further excuses. Without another word the general heads back towards the library. The last thing Zack hears is that damned door slamming shut once and for all.

[bardic-tales]

My Old Friend,

On this day, when many take the time to reflect on the people who matter to them, I find myself thinking of those who have been a constant in my life. I am not one to engage in the typical traditions that others may celebrate, but there is something to be said about loyalty and the bonds that form between individuals who share experiences, regardless of the circumstances.

We have both seen much, and through it all, I have come to appreciate the strength in standing together. It is not always easy to find people who understand the weight of our journeys, but your presence has been one of those rare constants. In this world, there are few who remain grounded, and I acknowledge that you are one of them.

Though words can often fall short of truly expressing gratitude, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the unspoken bond we share. It is built on shared experience and respect, and it is one that has withstood the challenges that both of us have faced. The distance between us is irrelevant, for the understanding we have remains steady.

There is nothing more to say other than this: I value the friendship we have. It has been a steady source of strength, and I remain grateful for it.

Regards, Sephiroth

[sephinova]

Rating: Mature

Archive Warning: Major Character Death

Fandoms: Final Fantasy VII (Video Game 1997)

Words: 458

Characters: Sephiroth

Additional Tags: Sephiroth Clones (Compilation of FFVII), Horror, Body Horror, Transformation, Blood and Gore, Vomiting, Sephiroth (Compilation of FFVII) Being An Asshole, Sephiroth Appreciation Week 2023, Not Beta Read

Language: English

Summary: My entry for Sephiroth Week 2023. Day 4: Free Day.

Mother's powers are a marvel to behold.

[shitpostingkats]

For years now, I've had an ffvii fic on the backburner that I would swear up and down to whoever asked me that it was not abandoned, just put on hold. Well, today's finally the day I update! I'm really, really proud of this chapter, so feel free to check it out here

Or, if you're just now hearing about this fic and want to begin at the beginning, you can start reading here

Plain links under the cut

Latest chapter: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36330163/chapters/164767393

First chapter: https://archiveofourown.org/works/36330163/chapters/90572623

[catboyriku]

I'm at that point where reading and writing nsfw fics doesn't satisfy me anymore, it doesn't give me the thrill it used to. After all, I've been doing it for a long time. Can anyone recommend me some good fics, not necessarily nsfw, that can help me get through this moment? Of any fandom, but perhaps in particular final fantasy. Thanks

[cloudluvrrr]

Faint memories.

He often thought about the Cetra, if she was happy in the livestream. Reunited with Zack once in for all .

He never knew how he felt about aerith, her final words to him at the church didn’t help either.

She always spoke about him, how his eyes, his position in solider, everything pointed at something he couldn’t remember. How him and Zack were friends and he took what little Zack had left.

His love and memories of Aerith.

—

He continues to stare aimlessly around the church, his eyes following the details, as his thoughts continue to consume his reality.

“And I’m trying so hard to find you”

Her soft voice rung in his head as he often replayed those words.

He remembered those words, at that point he didn’t even know who she was trying to find in him. Whatever crumbs were left of Zack? Or cloud, the former infantry man who was never who he said he was?

“Damn it” he uttered staring at the ceiling, looking up at the wooden beams him and aerith once walked through. His insecurities and doubts were showing again.

He always thought about aerith, thinking of any and every possibility of what he could’ve done to save her from the hands of fate.

Yet all came to the same conclusion,

Masamune through her heart. Piercing it as if his own. When he realized the reality of what happened.

Aerith is always meant to be with Zack and die at the hands of Sephiroth, only living in clouds faint memories, and the flowers she’d left.

No matter the reality or universe she will always die.

It shattered him, but she was happy with Zack in the lifestream.

They could finally be together, and here he was suffering as he stared at the Lillie’s in her church.

Waiting silently, for his end.

So he can see her one last time

—

:P repost from ao3