#ffvii ficlet

[zimithrus]

63 and 14 for the mashup prompts! 👀

Rules: Send me two (2) tropes from this list + a ship and I’ll describe how I’d combine them in the same story.

14. Bodyguard AU 63. Everybody Knows/Mistaken For A Couple

I'm gonna go with Clack/Zakkura for this one! Tis my fave and the easiest for me to write lol! 🥰

Zack always wanted to be a hero - it was his greatest dream for as long as he can remember! But he had no idea that once he became a hero the publicity would absolutely skyrocket! Like, he thought the crowds of people and fans flocking and ogling over Sephiroth was bad, but for himself? Someone much more happy, bubbly, friendly, and approachable?

Good Gaia he was drowning in fans!

So much to the point that even leaving the Shin-Ra compound to go buy groceries required an infantry escort to keep them off him. So, naturally, he was assigned a near 24/7 escort with how often he needed to leave the compound. Among this escort was a cadet named Cloud, who seemed very small and timid at first glance, but get too close and those eyes would go sharp and he'd practically start growling. Try to skim a touch of Zack? Cloud would promptly knock them back and bark about space and distance. He was very serious about his role and about keeping unwanted touches and sights off Zack, which, Zack appreciated, because as nice as he could be, some of those fans just got too crazy! Like that one time when a fan actually managed to tackle Zack and almost knock him to the ground, but Cloud was able to catch him and promptly raise hell on that fan! "Back up!" He growls at them. "You could have hurt him! I said back up! Don't make me get the mace!!"

So, the fans starting calling Cloud 'Zack's little Pomeranian', but learned not to get too close or he'd bite!

And over the course of time, Zack and Cloud having been paired together for a long time, grew close and formed a fast friendship, and eventually the fans started talking (as they always do) and eventually rumor got out that the puppy and his Pomeranian were an item. Zack's constant flirty teasing when they were out in public definitely didn't help that! Of course, it would get denied and brushed aside by Cloud, telling them it's not like that, but you better keep your distance!

Though one sleepy morning, Cloud and Zack cuddled up to each other, tangled in the sheets and each other's warmth, Zack smiles.

"If only they knew just how gentle my little Pomeranian could be after a few treats and pets."

Cloud rolls his eyes at that, "Shut up," he huffs and kisses him.

Ahh thank you so much for the ask!! This one was so much fun!! II hope I followed the prompts well! 💚💚

[secondarysefikura]

Wanted to add a bit more to the Cloud and Sephiroth dating before Sephiroth went insane since Cloud does get his memories back with Tifa’s help. Cloud having to process that Sephiroth was in fact not lying all those times he claimed they dated. They really were dating, and they were also each other’s first love! Sephiroth was the even the person Cloud had his first kiss with! And from what Cloud can remember the relationship was good, Sephiroth never tried to coerce him into doing anything he wasn’t comfortable with, they were both just happy to have each other. Upon finding out that Cloud remembers their relationship Sephiroth is very happy and thinks that Cloud will finally join him and they’ll be together again! But obviously Cloud is not going to take him back, he loved him and maybe deep down there’s a part of Cloud that still does, but he’ll never willing be with Sephiroth after what he did. And of course Sephiroth is blaming everyone else but himself for this.

I think I ought to write a little ficlet for this!

When the Lockhart girl repairs Cloud's mind, Sephiroth feels a slight twinge of hope.

He'd rather the girl had failed, of course. Although he knows that with time he will be able to sneak past Cloud's new mental security and control his puppet once more, it's still incredibly frustrating to be blocked from Cloud's mind. And for the one to have stolen Cloud's mind away from him to be the damned childhood friend?

Tifa Lockhart will suffer a thousand deaths before Sephiroth forgives her.

Still, despite all the downsides of Cloud's mind being repaired, Sephiroth can't deny that he's not entirely upset by the outcome. Because with his memories returned to him, Cloud can no longer deny that they were are dating.

It could almost not matter that he can't control Cloud anymore because Cloud remembers that they are in love. Cloud remembers him--their joy and their happiness and how perfect they were--and Cloud will be his again!

"I don't belong to you," Cloud growls.

"What?"

If Sephiroth was capable of it, he thinks he might cry.

"I don't care if we dated once; I'll never join you, and I most certainly will never belong to you!"

Cloud is....lying. He's lying or confused or just spewing whatever nonsense his so-called friends forced him to say!

"You don't know what you're talking about," Sephiroth says very carefully as he slowly approaches, "You remember everything Cloud--you know that we are dating."

Cloud doesn't move from where he's planted his feet, even as he subtly shifts his weight as if he's preparing for a fight.

"Were," Cloud corrects, "We were dating. Like, past tense, no more, never again! The moment Nibelheim started to burn we broke up."

Sephiroth doesn't respond, instead closing the last bit of space between them as he wraps his hands around Cloud's wrists while leaning in for a kiss.

It's a beautiful moment, even as Cloud knees him in the groin.

"What the hell! Were you even fucking listening to me?" Cloud demands when Sephiroth stumbles back.

Truthfully, he stopped listening the moment Cloud stopped making sense. They're dating, and there is nothing Cloud's "friends" can make Cloud say or do that will ever change that.

"Do not worry," Sephiroth promises as he unfurls his wing, "I will deal with those who get in our way. Soon your "friends" will be gone and we can continue our life together."

"Don't you fucking dare!" Cloud screams.

Sephiroth merely smiles.

Soon. Soon he and Cloud will be together again.

[strayheartless]

Angst prompt:

Kunsel finds out the truth about Zack...when he's sent to find out what happened to that battalion of missing troopers.

… I asked for this. I must remember I asked for this as I write this from under a blanket in the fetal position.

***

Screaming at the sky feels dramatic, but right now Second Class Kunsel Zelda doesn’t care.

Using his enhanced strength to break Roche’s nose, when he points out they’ll likely be getting a promotion out of this, feels like too much of a reaction -A mistake even- but he really doesn’t care.

There’s other bodies in the pit but they could rot and fertilise this barren waste of desert for all he cared. All Kunsel could see was the body they’d dragged from the bottom. The one wearing the first class uniform. All Kunsel cared about was the bloodied broken body at his feet and the choking guilt and grief trying to crack his chest cavity in half.

He’d failed. Zack had been counting on him to find him… to find them and he’d failed. Again.

The evidence all pointed to a Turk cover up on a massive scale. This would have been a big job, ten maybe fifteen Turks all in one place… somebody would have noticed. Though out here there wasn’t many to notice a group of men and women in suits dragging body after body into a giant hole in the ground. Maybe he was wrong, maybe it was just Reno and a crane.

Somehow that thought makes Kunsel furious.

He’s shaking so bad his teeth are clacking together and it’s defiantly not the 100 degree heat.

“HQ wants us to wrap this up and burn the bodies,” second Class Adams says coming up behind him, looking at his phone.

“Anyone of you touches this body and I will kill you where you stand, do you understand me Second Class Adams?”

Adams flinches and looks up at Kunsel Shocked. He knows it’s because he’s not the confrontational type. The second Class that’s never climbed up the ranks. The soldier who just wants to work in the background. Kunsel Zelda, the second class soldier with first class clearance simply because he doesn’t wait to be told no. Nobody expected violence from him. Nobody expected aggression from the man who was best friends with Zack fucking Fair.

Because Zack fair didn’t do needlessly violent people.

“Sir, may I ask, who-“

“That’s classified.” He snapped.

“But you know who that is don’t you.” It’s not a question. Still, it sets Kunsel alight with the need to get in Adam’s face and snarl at him about who exactly lay at their feet. There was a sheet across the body now but he should know. They should all know who sacrificed himself for something larger than all of them.

Angeal had once said that the price of freedom was steep. Kunsel wished he’d slapped him right there. Because what a stupid thing to say to a starry eyed kid who just wanted to be a hero. A stupid, air headed, hyperactive idiot who believed that he was indestructible as long as he believed that to pay the steep price was to receive the desired result.

Such a naive idiot! A idiotic fucking dumb ass who payed a price that was too damn steep.

Kunsel doesn’t get in Adams face. Instead he crumpled to the ground and sobs with such force that his throat feels like it’s being torn apart. He cries and screams in rage and sadness because this isn’t RIGHT!

He should be here! He should be here helping Zack put this right. He should be standing beside him looking off at the skyline and mumbling about ‘what would Angeal do’ while Sephiroth stands in the distance looking like he always did when he saw death. Silent, deadly, but with that echo of great sadness behind his eyes.

Zack should be here. Cloud should be-

Kunsel’s head snaps up.

“Has a body been found that matches the description the professor gave of the escaped specimen?” He says as though he hadn’t just been balling.

“Er…” Adams looks through the list of bodies and their identifying features. “Not that I can see sir,”

“5’7, chipped back molar, childhood clean break on left femur and ulna indicating a fall from hight. Any bodies with DNA matches to the western region, Nibelhiem?”

“No sir, not a one from that area, not even neighbouring villages” Adams says puzzled.

“There are no neighbouring villages to Nibelhiem Adams the closet town is several miles out by plane. It’s isolated.” Kunsel walks down the line of Bodies that have been pulled out, then watches as the last are lifted. Not a single one looks like Clouds when he orders the shrouds to be lifted.

“He’s not here,” he whispers to himself. It should make him happy but all he feels is crippling worried. Not here means somewhere else, which means either he escaped, Zack left him behind (Kunsel scratches that one off of the list immediately,), or he was recaptured…

Kunsel looks towards Midgar. The sun was going down on them here, they’d have to move out soon.

“Cloud…” he whispers, “where the hell are you man?”

[professional-sephiroth-scrungler]

~Short Angst Drabble~

The rare times he shared a bed with Genesis were some of the times he actually slept well, slept peacefully. Sephiroth wished those moments could’ve been fit in more but between their busy schedules, the war in Wutai, and anything else that came up, it was difficult to say the least. But the lulls in their schedules did have somewhat of a pattern and that became the closest thing to routine they would get.

It had been a while since Sephiroth had gotten a semblance of good sleep and tonight was supposed to be a night they were spending together. He rolled over and felt the other side of the bed for Genesis. It was cold.

He had forgotten in his sleep deprived haze… Genesis had been MIA for several weeks now. The sterile whites, grays, and blues of Shinra Tower felt at least a little warm when Genesis was around. But now, even his own bed felt uninviting. And he was cold; so cold…

Sephiroth wraps himself up in the blankets tighter and rolled away from the empty space. He reaches for his PHS on his nightstand and flips it open, scrolling to Genesis’s contact. He hesitates for a moment before pressing CALL. He doesn’t dare let himself hope, especially not at this time of night but still, anxiety and desperation rush through him for Genesis to pick up.

He doesn’t.

He never does.

[chthontoya]

Cloud is a werewolf AU. Strifesodos week "Rot". @strifesodosweek

Warning, if you do the math, you'll notice there's an underage relationship, but that's not what story is about at all, thank you.

TW: cannibalism, death of secondary character, child neglect mentioned

Werewolfs are old almost extinct race with a curse on them left by Gaea for their traitorous nature. Strifes are the last family alive. To be precise, Cloud is the only one left. Cloudia died few years prior as a lone wolf without her mate. Even after she burnt her fur coat to stay with Cloud and grow him up, she couldn't live for too long. Cloud is traumatized by his mother's death and own wild nature, he is gloomy and sarcastic.

This has consequences for every SOLDIER with J-, S- or G-cells. All Genesis' clones die. Many of SOLDIER first and second class die too, most are in coma. The whole company is in chaos.

Date: early Autumn. Cloud as his initiation into adulthood kills Jenova completely (details later).

Genesis himself flew to help Jenova from the Eastern continent at her first call but was too late. He fell before an abnormally large black wolf and fainted from psychotic pain caused by Jenova dying.

Genesis condition was terrible. He wasn't tending his wounds properly after Angeal's death. Cure was barely working on him and most of his regenerative abilities depended purely on J-cells which all were mutated, similarly to cancer. With Jenova's death all Genesis unhealed or mutilated wounds opened anew.

Genesis wakes up in a cosy house in a small room with old but well kept wooden furniture. It's warm and smells with dry fur, which is a lot around him.

Through a headache, foggy feeling and hurting in the whole body, Genesis finally realises what have woken him up. The commotion outside, well heard even through a closed window. People fighting and screaming but two persons in the centre of attention: a blond man with a heavy looking black wolf fur on his back and much older one who looks like a victim and a villain in the same time.

The crowd is forced apart and people leave, what seems to be, the main square. The blond man with the coat comes closer to the house, accompanied by a beautiful woman of the same age.

Genesis finally meets Cloud properly. He's overwhelmed with how heavenly Cloud looks, and the man's aloof attitude doesn't worsen the situation but gives some exceptional charm. Genesis himself doesn't notice how he calls the man an angel. Cloud, though, looks like he's used to it - Genesis couldn't memorize his name during past weeks and was calling him this way.

The name "Cloud" is so unearthly that Genesis see it as a sign from Goddess.

Cloud tends Genesis' wounds and says the SOLDIER is lucky he wasn't killed by the black wolf. Or that Cloud found him earlier than any other predator.

Cloud have taken Genesis in and with help of local medics and nurses, he was able to heal the SOLDIER at least a bit. Cloud isn't going to release Genesis anywhere, until Genesis won't be able to leave the place through Cloud (physically fighting him).

Cloud explains the commotion that was outside: one of a local drunkheads, a widower, the last night almost lost a daughter to the local wildlife because he was too drunk to properly close his house. Cloud is full of killing intent talking.

Nibelheim is dangerous by itself with aggressive and powerful creatures roaming in mountains and in the mansion. O-whisps, hypnotic lights, make locking up in a house for a night a mandatory, especially for families with children.

The worst thing around Nibelheim however is the black wolf. The creatures have been seen only at night. There's always one in each generation. They are big, strong, drink mako like it's water, can use magic (presumably because of mako), and they eat people. There was no a generation in Nibelheim that not suffered from the bad wolf. At least, they rarely eat children for some reason.

Genesis has to stay for a few more days. Genesis learns more about Cloud, his family. Cloud is a hunter but he also watches the town's children in his free time which is a lot (the hunting isn't main priority for the town and Cloud earns enough money for a small/average family while living alone in his family property).

Both man find each other enchanting, but despite absolutely shameless flirting atmosphere between them, both proceed with care. Genesis doesn't stop calling Cloud an angel. The SOLDIER can't help but feel happy and needed when Cloud respond to his poetry reciting as if Genesis talked normally, even if there's so much salt and poison in the sarcastic responses that it makes Genesis wonder.

To the deep amusement of the Cloud's only friend, Genesis trains Cloud to use active-effect materia who is really bad at it. Cloud's problem, to Genesis' surprise, is that he tries to fully skip materia while drawing at the livestream. Cloud himself refused the training, knowing how bad he is. Genesis persuaded Cloud, though, promising to gift one of his summoning materia if he won't hate the time spent.

However Genesis wouldn't be himself if he would have not messed up here too, being a product of ShinRa, albeit not of the sorts they needed him to be.

The life with Cloud would be a good end for still gradually physically degrading Genesis. Cloud wouldn't hold him in the house or near, as soon as he is healed enough. They proved already that they are fine in mundane life together. And obviously for anyone staying around, Cloud and Genesis are romantically attracted to each other.

But it wasn't enough for Genesis. The SOLDIER, the Bloody General of Wutai craved revenge. And he hated himself for this.

With time Genesis was becoming more and more agitated, especially with rumours about few ShinRa SOLDIER first class sent to investigate the reactor.

So Genesis left. Slipped into the night during one of Cloud's hunting hours and decided to not to return until he'll make a hell for ShinRa.

Genesis is flying above Nibel mountains when he hears human screams and gun shuts. Genesis comes down. And he sees it.

The black wolf. A big, coal black creature, could easily bite off Genesis' head by the neck. Enraged. Blue mako eyes were glowing in the night. How much mockery of the "SOLDIER visit card".

The beast's nuzzle in blood and flesh. Seconds ago it had half of its head deep into some Nibelheimer's guts. Its paw, as soaked in blood, is on the place where the victim's hip bone should be. Judging by mess around the paw, the beast just squashed human there with its weight, maybe not even intentionally. The beast snarls.

The man's friend was now behind Genesis' back, and Genesis stops the other from firing again. The situation changed for the townfolk to act as mindless before. The morning is close and the beast might run away but to give the civilian a chance to escape, Genesis would have to engage it into the battle. Well, it's something Genesis is famous for.

The beast snarls warningly the moment Genesis gets out the rapier. The snarl intensifies when materia in the weapon start resonate. They launch into each other. Fire and blizzard power fill the air immediately.

In pure kill or die situation, Genesis would have died. Luckily for him, he just needs to hold off the beast long enough and this means he has enough power to spare on defence. They lock again and again. Air full of magic: smell of melt water, ozone and fresh dirt.

Finally Genesis sees an opening and slashes harshly at the beast's front. The creature howls agonizingly. It looks even more enraged now and somehow betrayed.

The beast runs away.

Genesis sinks down to the ground. The healed wounds hurt from the inside. The bitch on his shoulder burns especially viciously.

Genesis looks down. The beast's dead victim is the drunkhead from the scandal at the first coherent day in Nibelheim. Genesis wonders if Cloud will take his daughter in now, when both of her parents are dead.

Cloud. Should Genesis see him? Panting the SOLDIER gets up. He should've said his goodbyes properly, not fleeting like with Angeal.

The thought of Angeal makes Genesis get up, panting from the pain, and go back to the familiar house. The light from morning sun isn't warm but pleasant.

Genesis lands in the backyard. He opens the door and goes inside. There's so much blood. A lot of it. Too much. It was as if Cloud returned with a deep injury. Genesis doesn't like his conclusions.

A click of Cloud's gun. A grunt to get the fuck out and never return. A sound of a slight uncharacteristic for Cloud trembling in the hand, as if fighting with himself.

Genesis finally rises his eyes at Cloud. Yes. Deep shoulder-chest cut of his rapier is there and still bleeding even through rapid healing - Genesis isn't "Bloody" for his hair colour. Genesis laughs hystericaly and leaves. Of course, he fucking would. Injuring his dear people engraved into his soul like a rot that started from a seed.

Genesis gets on Cloud's roof to finally say his goodbyes. In autumn air of Nibelheim some red orb slips to the flue of Strife's house. Genesis sets off into the brightening sky.

P.S.: Okay, knowing it's a much shortened version of what I planned for a first of seven chapters, I really was too harsh on myself expecting me to write it all in a month, planning included.

P.p.s.: Yay! I'm finally not late for the event, even if it less than what I was hoping for

[shioaoi]

So I was taking photos of all the Costa Del Sol outfits for future drawing references and noticed this small charm on the back of Aeriths swimsuit 💕

[goddessofroyalty]

Fandom: Final Fantasy VII

Verse: Cloud is the Remnant’s carrier

Opened the scribble book to write another thing and found this in there that I kept meaning to type up and forgetting to. It’s also been long enough where I feel like this isn’t in the spoilers territory (which it still kind of isn’t because of how the game actually ended vs this being if Zack’s universe did get merged with the main one)

Tags: mpreg, omegaverse, implications of science fuckery

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

It’s weird returning to Elymira’s house after everything.

Aerith and Cloud aren’t upstairs comatose in their recovery from what happened to them. Instead they are right there in the living room – Aerith leaning on Cloud to whisper something in his ear that makes his eyes go wide and glance up at the stairs and back at Zack.

She seems to know what happened in the alternative timelines before they collapsed in on each other so Zack figures she is just telling Cloud about how Zack looked after them both. He pays it no mind how she puts her finger in front of her mouth in clear indication for Cloud not to say anything before grabbing hold of Tifa’s arm and leading her upstairs. She probably wants to show Tifa something in her room. Five years ago Zack wouldn’t have assumed the two of them would be friends but they seem to almost share thoughts at times with how close they are.

It’s nice to know Aerith isn’t as alone anymore.

“Thank you again for looking after my Marlene,” Barret says to Elmyra, drawing Zack back into the conversation as Cloud leans against one of the walls.

“It’s no bother,” Elmyra says. “She’s a sweet girl. A pleasure to look after. Unlike some other children.”

She looks over at Cloud at the comment and Spike just shrugs his shoulders not even meeting her gaze. Zack feels, far from the first time, like he’s missing out on something important.

“Well what do you expect with where they came from?” Barret jokes. “Ain’t no way they weren’t gonna’ be handfuls.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Elmyra says with the same awkward humor and Zack is about to ask what it is they are talking about when footsteps rush down the stairs.

“Daddy!” Marlene calls, throwing herself into Barret’s arms and the tough guide façade of his immediately melts as he wraps his daughter into a tight hug.

“Oh my baby girl I’ve missed you so much,” Barret practically sobs. And it’s sweet to see just how much he cares about his daughter.

The two eventually separates and Marlene goes over to where Cloud is. Waiting for him to kneel down to her height so she can talk to him at mostly the same leave.

“I made sure they were safe,” she says.” Nobody came after them.”

A flicker of surprise crosses Cloud’s face before it settles on a serious one.

“Thank you.”

Marlene nods at it before returning to her dad. She clings onto his leg before finally noticing Zack.

“Who are you?”

“What do you mean who am I?” Zack asks before remembering this isn’t the Marlene he lived with while waiting for Aerith and Cloud to wake up.

He kneels down in front of her because while she may not be the Marlene he remembers she clearly also likes when people talk to her at her level instead of down at her.

“I’m Zack Fair,” he says holding out his hand. “And, well, I don’t know if you will understand but I come from a world where things happened differently.”

“And you knew me?” Marlene asks, curious but firm.

“Sure did! I was kind of like you’re… uncle Zack.” Or close enough to it. And he kind of likes the idea of being called that.

“Uncle huh?” Cloud says and Zack’s a bit surprise he has any comment on it. “Want to meet your nephews then?”

“My nephews?” Zack doesn’t remember there being any other kids staying with Elmyra and even with all the timeline confusion he’s pretty sure he would.

Aerith and Tifa returning downstairs clarifies some of his confusion. Aerith carrying one crying silver-haired baby and Tifa two, more settled, ones.

“Wha-?”

“They’re mine,” Cloud says as he takes the baby off Aerith so she can relieve Tifa of one of the other two. His tone short in the way he talks when he doesn’t want more questions asked. “Hojo.”

“I-“ Zack doesn’t know if Hojo is a better explanation than the one he had immediately thought of when told that Cloud had three silver-haired babies. “Shit Spike.”

“No swearing around the kids!” Barret snaps like this situation doesn’t deserve much stronger curses than shit.

If Zack could he would revive even piece of shit scientist just to kill them himself. Hell, he might see if Aerith can pull some timeline strings so he can go kill some other version of the fucker to see if it will make him feel slightly better at not being able to prevent the asshole from ever getting his hands on Cloud.

Cloud just shrugs.

Zack supposes that’s the only response to give. What else is there to do with three babies clearly made from Sephiroth’s DNA? Give them back to Shinra for whatever lackeys of Hojo’s that are left alive to poke at and try and turn into the next generation of Shinra Super SOLDIERs?

“Okay.” It’s not like Zack’s gonna’ just leave them for Cloud to deal with alone even if it’s clear the others don’t plan on it either. “I’m not sure what to do with a baby but I’ll be the best uncle around.”

And maybe doing that will relieve him of his guild for everyone he failed.

[rottenpumpkin13]

Onomastics

⏤ crisis core: final fantasy vii.

⏤ fluff; ;in which a certain baby boy needs a name.

⏤ wc: 900

⏤ a/n: i like to hc that genesis's parents aren't complete assholes. so i wrote this fluffy scenario as a small writing exercise :) p.s. i'm pretty sure his parents' names haven't ever been revealed in canon, but i read somewhere that they're called Uriah and Seraphina so that's what I've been calling them in my head all along

✏︎ on·o·mas·tics (noun): the study of the history and origin of proper names, especially personal names.

⏤

“Angeal?”

The red leather creaked as he leaned back, sinking into the chair and bracing his head on his open palm. The name reverberated back into his pool of thought, stretching and molding itself as he considered it. No, he thought, Angeal Rhapsodos doesn't sound right either.

A miffed huff from the female voice at the armchair redirected his attention. Seraphina Rhapsodos sat with her legs pulled up to her chest, balancing a notepad on her knees where she now crossed off the name from the list.

"I know, I know," she furiously scratched the pen against the paper, "but it's the name Gillian suggested and I don't have the heart not to consider it."

The corner of Uriah’s lips quirked upward at the sight. She wiggled her bare toes, scratching her head with the back end of the pen and entangling her messy, brown hair with the utensil.

Seraphina had been a sight to behold for the past two days. She had foregone her fashionable clothes and finery for whatever garbs she saw first, briskly throwing them on. She didn't want to waste even a second away from the baby.

Gillian had a complicated pregnancy and an even more tumultuous delivery. The culmination of monitoring the surrogate's unstable health, then worrying for the child's life had drank up all their attention up until they welcomed the baby. A healthy baby boy.

A nameless, healthy baby boy.

"Maelstrom?" Seraphina suggested.

Uriah immediately grimaced. "Maelstrom Rhapsodos. He won't be able to spell his name."

"Wallace?" She tried.

"Goddess no, that's horrid."

"Azariah?"

"No. Remember my late uncle Azariah? He was a drunk with a gambling addiction."

Seraphina looked up, pulling a face. "What in Gaia's name does that have to do with…" She shut her eyes, breathing deeply before shaking her head. "Nevermind. What about Constantine?"

Uriah pulled one leg up on the chair, continuing to flip through one of the many books littering his desk. "Sera, dearest, if you want our son to be bullied, kindly refer back to your mother's suggestion."

"Wha—?" Seraphina slammed the notepad on the coffee table, uncurling her body as she sat up. "D'Artagnan Rhapsodos sounds very noble!"

"And batshit insane, might I add," Uriah smirked.

"Fine then!" She rose to her feet, crossing her arms and delicately stepping over the books strewn on the floor. "What about Gibson? Plain and Simple."

"Gibson?" Uriah choked on the name, clutching his copy of LOVELESS. "The boy's not even three days old and his mother is condemning him to a lifetime of being called Gibby."

"You're insufferable," she threw her head back, attempting to drown out her husband's laughter.

"I still think it should have a religious connotation," he flipped through the book, scanning it for any possible names. "It'll sound fashionable."

Seraphina paced the room, her head still reclined as she traced her eyes over the patterns on the ceiling. "Hm…I'm trying to recall the chapter titles in that religious text…Matthew, Joshua, Peter…"

"Boring, bland, flavorless," Uriah echoed. He leaned forth, propping his elbows on the desk.

"Psalm, Chronicle, Leviticus, Genesis, Exodus, Roman—"

"Wait, go back," Uriah snapped his fingers.

Seraphina froze in place, leveling his widened gaze as she turned to face him. "Exodus?"

"No, before that!"

"Genesis?"

A sharp knock at the study door interrupted their banter. It creaked open as a nurse peeked her head inside. "Ma'am, I'm sorry to interrupt. You ordered to see him as soon as he woke up."

Seraphina's previous frustration dissipated quickly, being overtaken by pure joy as she gasped. "Yes, yes! Where is he?"

The nurse opened the door, making way for another one, who held a bundled ball of red blankets in her arms, gingerly meeting Seraphina halfway.

"Hello, my darling," Seraphina's voice was a hushed lullaby as she reached for the baby. Her hair fell over her eyes as she looked down, taking the infant in her own arms and immediately rocking him.

Uriah rose from the chair. "How's Gillian doing?"

"She's doing much better, sir," the other nurse answered. "Professor Hollander says she'll be free to go home tomorrow morning, if all goes well."

"Nonsense," Uriah waved his hand dismissively, approaching his wife. "Tell her she's welcome to stay until she fully recuperates."

Once the nurses took their leave, Uriah and Seraphina were left completely alone with the baby. Seraphina couldn't hold the tear that spilled down her reddened cheeks.

The baby looked utterly peaceful. His eyes were partially opened, the faint glow of the Mako meeting her gaze, which in turn was wrought with joy. Soft cheeks. A twitching nose. Small hands clutching the red blanket, and a tuft of russet hair peeking out from his little cap.

"Genesis," Uriah's soft voice whispered. "Genesis Rhapsodos."

Seraphina looked up, finding her husband smiling at the baby, a glint of wonder in his eyes as he looked from her to his newborn son.

"Alright," she nodded shakily. "Well then. Hello, Genesis…" She giggled. "Aren't you the most darling thing?"

A muffled coo was the baby's reply.

Uriah rested his hands in the pockets of his trousers, leaning back on his desk. He watched her sink into the plush seat, rocking Genesis in her arms.

Uriah reached for the nearest book behind him.

"Infinite in mystery is the gift of the goddess," he began to read to them. "We seek it thus, and take to the sky…"

[ladyemberswrites]

AeriSeph

[A little Au where Sephiroth doesn't go insane and actively tries to escape from Shinra's hold]

Bitter accusations sat on her tongue, but in spite of herself she swallowed them, her throat tight, her heart hammering angrily against her ribcage, her mouth dry as the blood coating his dirtied hands. 

How many innocents had fallen beneath the weight of his hands and infamous blade.

"I left Shinra" he swiped his bloodied nose with the back of his gloved, blood stained hand. 

Aeris blinks at the admission. Too good to be true. Why would he, as he is and what he is, why would he leave. A change of heart? It seems too implausible. Then again, she frowns at herself, but it's not as if she knew him. She's heard the stories, the rumors that float around the slums, but that doesn't mean they offer any amount of truth.

"Why?" 

"I'm no more than a dog to them, probably less than that…." He paused glancing at her with those inhuman eyes that shot chills up her spine "but what does it matter, I knew that from the start" he wipes his still bleeding nose with the back of his hand again.

"Of course they didn't take my resignation lightly." 

"So….you…." 

"I ran President Shinra right through. Though I have no idea if the blow killed him or not. Don't know if they'll come after me or just let sleeping dogs lay" 

Aeris placed her hand across her mouth, to think….? She grimaced at the thought of imagining cool sliver tearing through weak human flesh. 

".....I don't know anything now that I left. What do I do now? Where should I go? I have no masters any longer?" 

Aeris sighs. It's getting late. Nights were dangerous for a young girl like her to wander "How should I know that?

"I don't know." He stops again to look at her, she can't pinpoint what he's thinking "you're a cetra-" 

"Half-cetra." She feels the need to point out, but has no idea why he's brought it out.

"Your kind are considered wise beyond human integrity. I don't know, I thought perhaps you might hold the answer I search for" 

Aeris isn't sure whether she should feel commended or insulted. Commended that he thinks a simple flower girl like her could soothe whatever existential crisis he was currently having. 

Insulted by the assumption.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I can help you, General-" 

"Sephiroth. I am no longer employed by Shinra" 

"Right" she pushes some hair behind her ear "but in all seriousness I doubt I have any wisdom to offer you, I'm just a simple flower girl, I'm no wiser than anybody else here" 

-

[allthatmay]

OMG hope you don't mind me running away with this... (seriously it really got away from me)

Genesis' Most Elaborate Prank:

Sephiroth was thirteen minutes early to his meeting. He'd calculated the moment of his arrival exactly, wanting to ensure that his favourite seat couldn't be usurped by one of the Turks—as usual.

The red-headed one, Reno, seemed to farm some quiet delight from inconveniencing Sephiroth in the most unusual of ways, although how he could tell his antics bothered Sephiroth was a mystery. Sephiroth, after all, was not known for his transparency; theories abounded that he gave his first smile at age thirteen, which could very well be the truth, for all he knew.

"Ah, Sephiroth. You're as punctual as ever."

Director Lazard strode in the meeting room, flanked by the Turks—Tseng, Rude, Reno, and Cissnei. They settled at the end of the table next to Sephiroth, giving Reno the unfortunate opportunity to flop down in the seat beside him, limbs sprawled carelessly, smile crooked and teasing.

"Hey, Sephy," Reno cooed, fluttering his fingers in greeting.

Sephiroth simply inclined his head and took a short sip of coffee. He wished he had opted for an extra shot of espresso.

"Knock it off, Reno," Tseng said.

Reno idly saluted him.

Next in the room were Scarlet and Heidegger, bickering with each other. It was an unfortunate insight into how the rest of the meeting would go; Sephiroth prepared himself for the worst.

"Oh? And where are the other SOLDIERs, darling?" Scarlett asked when she caught sight of him. "I thought all of the First Classes were to attend today."

Sephiroth weighed the truth on his tongue. "Busy," he curtly replied.

"A shame. I do so love putting them in their place."

Heidegger chortled. "As if you could, witch."

As Scarlet lunged to wring Heidegger by his neck, Palmer scuttled in through the door, followed by Reeve. Reeve, upon seeing the commotion—Lazard chatting with the Turks; Reno smiling at Sephiroth; Heidegger and Scarlet in a fight to the death—sighed long-sufferingly and sat in the farthest chair he could, directly beside the president's. He and Sephiroth briefly caught each other's gazes.

"President Shinra will be arriving shortly," Reeve intoned. "Do settle down, all of you."

"Gods damn you, woman, I shall have your head!" cried Heidegger.

"And I will crush you with the might of my machinery, you hoplophile!"

Reno, at Sephiroth's side, leaned toward him with furrowed brows. "I think we've got a problem here, Sephiroth."

Sephiroth considered him. "Oh?"

"Yeah." Reno got close enough to whisper. "You're in my seat."

That was It. Sephiroth stood abruptly, coffee in hand, completely finished with whatever was happening. Reno, having derived a response from Sephiroth, looked entirely too pleased with himself. Both he and Tseng made to speak, but were silenced by the arrival of the president—at last.

President Shinra ambled into the room like he knew they would wait however long he bade, although it simply wasn't true—not in Sephiroth's case, anyhow.

"Sephiroth," he said, entirely neutral. "Sit down, please. We are about to begin."

Yet he made no mention of Cissnei playing games on her PHS, or of Scarlet and Heidegger competing to strangle one another. They all stopped acting out by the time Shinra reached his seat, so Sephiroth simply sat back down, hoping to accelerate the proceedings.

"Now, let's get started," Shinra said. "Reeve, in regards to your new proposal on public housing—"

"Oh, I wanna dance with somebody! I wanna feel the heat with somebody!"

The sudden, shrill burst of music interrupted the President, who frowned. He looked around at them all, as if he expected them to be singing.

"What is that?" Shinra asked. "Is that a phone?"

Reno gave a shit-eating grin. "Uh, yes sir, yes it is! Sephiroth, you wanna silence that, bud?"

Sephiroth blinked at him. He removed his phone from his pocket and stared down at it as the music grew even louder in the open space, entirely certain now that Reno was right—it was his phone. The screen flashed 'Genesis'.

"Ah," Sephiroth said. "Excuse me for one moment." He picked up the call without bothering to leave the room. "Genesis, I'm in a meeting."

Genesis sounded almost giddy when he spoke. "Yes, I know, of course. What, dearest, you think I butt-dialled you? How precious."

Sephiroth frowned. "If you know that I am in a meeting, why—?"

"Why else do you think? I thought everyone should hear how very much you yearn to dance with somebody."

Sephiroth rose from the table, turning his back on the array of watching eyes. "I presumed that was Zack's doing."

Genesis scoffed. "Zack's pranks have been lacklustre since he convinced everyone I was a mermaid. So, do you?"

"Do I what, Genesis? I told you, I am in a meeting."

"Do you want to dance with somebody? Feel the heat with somebody? Perhaps someone very handsome, and magnificent, and very good with his tongue..."

Sephiroth didn't allow his control to slip. "Perhaps when I am done."

There was a silence on the other end of the line. Then:

"Boo, you whore," said Genesis, and hung up without another word.

Somewhat confused, but pleased with his apparent win, Sephiroth settled back into his seat. "Apologies. Genesis has poor timing."

"He has great timing, if you ask me," replied Reno in delight. "Do you sing it in the shower?"

"I am more partial to 'A Total Eclipse of the Heart', if you must know."

While everyone gaped at Sephiroth, the phone burst to life for a second time: I wanna dance with somebody! Sephiroth immediately hung up. It rang again, and again, with no sign of stopping; so Sephiroth, without an ounce of hesitation, lobbed it through the reinforced glass window.

"I'll pay for that, of course," he said.

Yet with the way Reno was looking at him—like he'd just discovered a whole new trove of irritating gimmicks—Sephiroth couldn't help but feel like he was paying for it now.

(ok that was it! it's not perfect but omg it was fun. hope you enjoyed.)

Angeal’s most elaborate prank: Switching the salt and pepper shakers before setting the table. Also knock-knock jokes.

Sephiroth’s most elaborate prank: Putting out a wet floor sign on a dry hallway and gaslighting people into thinking it’s slippery

Genesis’s most elaborate prank: Changing Sephiroth’s ringtone while he’s the bathroom to I Wanna Dance With Somebody, setting his volume to max, and calling him 35 minutes later while he’s in a meeting.

Zack’s most elaborate prank: Notoriously dubbed “The Day Everyone in ShinRa Was Convinced That Genesis Was a Mermaid.”

[zimithrus]

Tag game!

Rules: In a new post, show the last line you wrote and tag as many people as there are words.

Tagged by: @aerisleis-fics , thank you so much for the tag!! I love these tag/ask games so much! 💚

The last line I wrote:

They’ve been poked and prodded and injected and modified, cut off from the world, isolated, and subjected to torment for 4 years?

This is from a new fic of mine about Cloud and Zack being on the run, but instead of heading to Midgar, they head to Wutai instead 👀

Tagging: Uhh 22? That’s far too many people!! 😅 I will tag peeps that I know might be game to try this though! @secluded-delusions @up-sideand-down @enide-s-dear @sommarmorgon I could tag more but I think I would feel like I’m being too much of a bother! 😅 And also for those I tagged no pressure to play along if you don’t want to! 💚

I hope you all have a wonderful, fun, and safe new year!! 🎉

[redsixwing]

🍒🍈🍇🍓

🍒 What’s your favorite character dynamic to write? (Can be romantic or platonic, specific or general!)

There are so many and I have to pick just one? QwQ

Okay, since it's on my mind today: I love seeing a character choose a change and commit to it. It can be two steps forward and one back (or one step forward and two back, depending). It can be painful. It can be awkward. It can, in the right state of mind, be cathartic or ruinous or tender or funny.

But they have to commit to it.

🍈 Who’s your blorbo and what are some of your favorite headcanons/ideas about them that repeatedly show up in your fics? Free pass to rant about blorbo opinions.

I have not finished enough fic about this particular blorbo to get patterns (YET.) but.

Gwyndolin is my blorbo in SUCH a big way. The gender stuff, the godawful family dynamic, the lunar symbolism, the bloody-handed bloody-minded solitary enduring! The sin and the avoidance of sin!

The uniqueness in all sorts of ways... oh, and the excellent character design, too.

I like writing Gwyndolin as a terrifying, barely comprehensible force of vengeance, as a caring deity who wants followers to improve and excel, without contradiction between those facets of self.

🍇 Is there a particular scene/episode/book/etc that you want to just write a million fics about, over and over? Which one?

I have *mumble* Dark Souls fics planned. (Uh, one in draft, one more in outlines, a possible third being rotated. All of those are multi-chapter and complex. And then there's the supporting small scenes, and random little ficlet ideas that would help flesh out worldbuilding, and things in different time periods, or focused on canon characters, or...)

Two of the three that have any sort of effort put into them are pre-canon and have to do with the height of Anor Londo.

🍓 What’s a fic you’ve written you feel is underrated?

I wrote "Urchins" for a FFVII exchange, featuring Rufus Shinra vs. the ocean. This one doesn't get a lot of attention, but I honestly enjoyed writing it, and its recipient liked it too.

[strayheartless]

The wobble:

Flo copes? Flo copes…. *sigh* this can’t be how I get back into the writing game. It just can’t be.

CW for: apparent panic attacks that are actually mild serotonin syndrome.

+++++++++++

Angel face: sosmthandh wrong. Don no whdkt I’m doing orsn wfy.

Mr perfect: Angeal?

The Hero: my love, are you well?

Angeal face: Idntknw.

Mr perfect: do you need assistance?

Angel face: ??

Sephiroth placed his phone in his pocket and got out of his seat, cutting Heidegger off mid stride.

“I apologise gentlemen, there is an emergency that requires my attention. Lazard would you inform second Class Fair that his training mission has been cancelled?”

Lazard blinked a few times in confusion but nodded, looking down at his phone to see if he had gotten the same alert the general had.

“Yes alright,” he replied looking concerned. “Is everything alright?”

Sephiroth strode to the door, reaching for the handle. “I’ll tell you when I know director,” and with that he was out of the door and bypassing the elevator in favour of flinging himself over the emergency stairs banister. He catches himself at the forty-ninth floor and darts across the hall as quickly as possible.

Their offices have always been next to eachother, Sephiroth’s at the end of the hall, Genesis at the head. Angeals office sat snuggly between the two in a rather witty (on Lazards part) recreation of how their friendship often worked; Angeal being the buffer between he and Genesis’ more destructive behaviours. He had expected to walk in and find Genesis already there, but the dull click of heeled boots on marble flooring told him that Genesis must have been out.

Turning he caught sight of the red head looking harassed and slightly winded.

“Did you run here?” The general asked

Genesis huffed a stray hand out of his face, “I was in sector three.” He complained. “Since you were to busy to deal with the weapons factory infestation, I had to deal with it!”

Sephiroth stared at him. “You’ve been in my office again?”

To Genesis’ credit he didn’t so much as flinch at the accusation. “Get better locks. Now can we please check on Angeal?”

Sephiroth nodded curtly as they both headed for the door, nothing was likely to stop Genesis from searching through his files when he was bored. Given that it was one less thing of Sephiroth’s own mounting ‘to do list’, he wasn’t about to push the matter. Besides he doesn’t think it really matters given what he’s just opened the office door to.

Angeal is sat at his desk, hands hovering over the keyboard. He’s shaking badly and seems to be staring through, rather than at, his computer monitor. Sephiroth notes the palor to his skin and the fact that, as they round his desk, nothing totally life shattering seems to be displayed there.

“‘Geal?” Genesis calls, kneeling next to the man’s chair. “Love are you well?”

“I- I don’t-“ he can’t seem to finish a sentence so Sephiroth places a hand on his shoulder as the distress seems to speed his breathing up. He did not really know what else he could do. As Genesis reached to turn the monitor off and take Angeals hands he almost feels as if his presence is more of a hinderance than a help.

“Darling, I’m going to coach you through some breathing exercisesc can you look at me?” Genesis cooed, tilting his head to see Angeals face clearer. “Sephiroth dear, will you grab some water for us?” Sephiroth stumbled to do as he was told, feeling completely unprepared to deal with whatever this was.

While Gen coached Angeal, he grabbed the glass pitcher from atop the coffee table and filled a glass with water. Maybe Genesis thought he was better off out of the way during this, maybe he was right. However as he came back and handed the water to Angeal, the usually solid Commander slumped into his chest while Genesis rubbed his hands soothingly against his knees.

Sephiroth’s natural reaction was to place a hand on Angeal’s shoulder but he didn’t feel the urge to push him away like he usually would. Angeal seemed somewhat delicate and in reality Sephiroth felt a small amount of pride that he had leaned on him specifically. Genesis let his lips twitch up at the sight but didn’t point it out.

“What happened here Hm?” He said, not unkindly. His voice was still that soft coo that let Angeal know nobody was mad at him. Sephiroth imagined it was the voice mothers used when soothing their children… though how he knew that he was unsure of. He absently moved his hand to Angeal’s head and began to stroke his hair as he listened to it.

“I-“ Angeal sucked in a breath and leaned heavier on Sephiroth. “I was- I was working and all these emails started piling in an-“ Genesis placed a hand on his face and absently stroked his thumb across Angeal’s cheek.

“It overwhelmed you?” He prompted.

“N-no. I mean- I don’t know. I- how did you know to come here?” Angeal suddenly sat up away from Sephiroth who let his hand fall away. He looked between the two of them confused.

“You sent us a message?” Sephiroth said making his own confused face and looking across at Genesis who’s face was concerned.

“Did I?”

Genesis pulled his phone from his coat pocket and showed Angeal the text massage.

“I don’t remember sending it.” He blinked at the screen.

“That’s okay, it’s likely you were dissociating and have lost some time. We’ll figure it out.” Genesis looked at Sephiroth again and the worry was plain on his face.

“Angeal,” he said, keeping his tone as neutral as possible. “Are you functioning at optimum levels?”

Genesis rolled his eyes. “Nicely handled,” he deadpanned. He placed a hand on Angeal’s forehead and tsked when no fever became apparent.

“Well it could simply have been a panic attack.” He muttered. “But you’ve never had one before.”

Angeal blinked blearily. I looked as though he needed a lie down.

“You think I should go to Hollander?” He shudders a little making Sephiroth reach out and grip the back of his neck reassuringly. Angeal reached around to hold onto his wrist greatfully.

“I think it’s up to you dove.” Gen nudged his cheek with his knuckle.

“I think I just want to go to bed,” Angeal replied meekly.

Sephiroth gripped his neck again.

“Then that’s what we’ll do.” He said.

[reeveapologist]

Will write a ficlet for FFVII pairings if you send me your faves, and a number!

Ficlet Starter Lines

Send me a number and a character or ship and I’ll write you a ficlet!

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

“Nice try.”

“The world doesn’t care.”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“What the hell did I just walk into?”

“That makes absolutely no sense.”

“Are you trying to tell me something?”

“That’s just not fair.”

“Who said anything about fair?”

“Wow. That’s low, even for you.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“What? I have never-”

“How could you do this to me?”

“Is that really what you think?”

“I do not have an answer for you.”

“What kind of question is that???”

“Ok, well… Fuck.”

“Settle down, there, drama queen.”

“In my defense, I really wanted to.”

“At least I didn’t break any laws.”

“What did you do this time?”

“Boom! That’s a victory in my book!”

“It looks the same on paper.”

“Oh no, what have I started…”

“And yet, that is not the weirdest thing that’s happened to me today.”

“Please. I need you to believe me.”

“How do we get out?”

“I don’t hate you.”

“Don’t call me that.”

Freebie! Send me your own dialogue starter!

[goddessofroyalty]

Fandom: Final Fantasy VII

Can you believe it’s finally canon confirmed that the Shinra Infantry is Co-ed?

Anyway, if Cloud’s an omega he’s rooming with Tifa and Aerith when there's only 2 rooms available. They decide that for him. (And I'm starting to play around to re-remember how I write everyone's voices)

Tags: omegaverse

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

“I’m very sorry,” the Innkeeper says, looking up at the group of them after closely checking over his records. “We only have two rooms available.”

Cloud winces at it because he knows he’s the reason two rooms would be a problem. It not considered appropriate for omega men to sleep in the same room as either men or women that aren’t their family or mate.

Even Shinra would always sleep them separately. Which often left Cloud rooming alone when out on missions. Something he would have been grateful for if not for feeling like he was being kept segregated from the rest.

At least once he made SOLDIER the separate room felt like a privilege not a punishment.

“That’s okay,” Aerith says.

Cloud expects her to say that he can share with Barret and Red XIII. It may be improper and dangerous in the eyes of most for an unmated alpha and omega to share a room even if they both are men but Cloud feels completely comfortable with the idea of sleeping in the same room as Barret. If the situation was really pressed he would be comfortable with the girls sleeping in the same room as well. He knows Barret would never even think of taking advantage of them.

Hell, Barret is always the most offended when people misinterpret their group as him being a very lucky alpha.

Arranging the rooms that way will save them some gil as well.

“Cloud can room with us,” Aerith continues in the exact opposite of what Cloud expected, grabbing hold of his arm and grinning up at him when he turns on her to argue.

“Wha-?” is all he actually manages to get out in protest.

“Uh – if you’re sure,” the Innkeeper says, looking awkwardly at them.

Would he have handled Cloud’s idea that he share a room with the alpha of their party instead better?

That thought doesn’t matter now as Tifa steps forward to grab hold of Cloud’s other arm. He has yet to figure out a way to escape when the two girls agree on an idea no matter how much he doesn’t want to take part.

“Yep, we’re sure,” Tifa informs the Innkeeper with a sharp nod. Her and Aerith’s grips feeling like shackles on Cloud’s arm.

“We’re all omegas anyway,” Aerith says. And Cloud knows she isn’t ignorant of the well-documented differences between omega men and women. She’s just choosing not to care in this instance.

He opens his mouth to try and protest the decision but only manages an Uh before Barret is slapping their gil onto the counter and the Innkeeper handing over the keys. The girls all-but frog-marching him up the stairs to the room they’ve decided is theirs. Barret’s laughter trailing after them.

“Don’t look so unhappy,” Aerith chastises, poking at the side of his face. “It’ll be fun – just us omegas.”

“You agreed to be our bodyguard remember,” Tifa says before Cloud can say anything. Not that Cloud understands how that fact has anything to do with the situation at hand. “Just think of it as part of that. Staying with us to keep us safe.”

That argument does make it marginally better.

“Fine.” He’s not going to change their mind anyway. Might as well stop wasting his energy fighting it.

The girls grin at each other around him before shoving him first into the hotel room.

Of course once they discover there’s only two beds they quickly decide he gets the couch.

[moonlightpastime]

Hmm gonna throw Mistaken for Couple + Sleep intimacy Zakkura your way for whenever you might want to play with it. :3 (Also possibly revealing my secret identity with this prompt lol)

Oooooooo! Delicious lil combo indeed.

(also sorry. it’s me. of course this turned into basically a mini-ficlet on it’s own lol)

Hmm...okay. Imma be a basic, trope-y bich then lol. Scenario I’d probably play with in a canon-ish setting would be Cadet!Cloud and Zack kinda bumping into each a couple times- maybe brief mission overlaps or something after Modeoheim? And since they’d hit it off so quick that just continues. And of course people take notice. For one thing it’s weird for a First Class to be hanging around and all. And sure Zack’s got a reputation of being pretty chill and outgoing. What surprises the other Cadets is Cloud. Because Strife’s always been stand-offish and stuff.

So of course the rumours start flying. And there’s the mix of usual nasty ones “Sleeping with Fair to climb the ladder.” ect. But there’s also some squad-mates of Cloud’s who don’t think that’d really be the case. Maybe there’s something more genuine there- though it’s still a bad idea considering Zack’s basically one of their CO’s.

So one mission comes along and Zack kinda meets up with the tail end of this little sortie that the cadets were off training in. It runs later than they planned so they all just decide to camp it out and head back to HQ the next morning. Being the country boys they are- and with that ‘weird’ chemistry Cloud and Zack are pretty quick to get things organized and get a legit pretty cozy camp.

Only a sliiiight problem in that they don’t actually have enough space in the trooper tent. Meant for a four man squad, not five. So of course, SOLIDER Fair slings his arm around Cloud’s shoulders and says, “Then I guess this guy’s bunking with me.” since Zack’s been packing his own small tent for his mission. Cloud flails and blushes a bit. “O-oh. No I can do watch duty.”

Zack just rolls his eyes and jostles the blond. Puts on his friendly ‘commander’ voice. “We’ll do it in shifts Cadet. Just like always.” So they work out a quick schedule. Couple hours each so they can all get some rest after their busy training. Cloud’s got first shift since he ‘volunteered’. Zack takes the last one- because he’s slightly evil and loves being the one to wake up/break down camp.

Of course once they turn in, Zack isn’t really tired- always too much energy- so he wanders over to keep Cloud company. He’s sitting a way off from the camp. Away from the fire they decided to keep burning. Tends to help deter monsters anyway. Zack nudges Cloud with a knee as he comes up behind him.

“Aren’t you cold man?” He asks. Eyeing the wind tugging at the cadet’s clothes. Cloud shakes his head. Something almost wistful on his face.

“This is nothing compared to home.”

“Nibelheim right? That’s out west ain’t it?”

“Mm.”

They shoot the shit for a while, before Cloud gets a little flustered. Tells Zack he should rest since he’s waking up the earliest. And Cloud needs to focus on his job. So Zack puts on a little show of stretching and yawning- and NO. Cloud is NOT staring. He’s keeping WATCH.

Eventually Cloud gets tapped to head to bed. Hesitates for like an HOUR outside the tent. Or at least that’s how it feels like to Zack who of course isn’t sleeping. Scares the living day lights outta Cloud when he finally scoots over and tugs open the flap. Grinning up at the cadet, one eyebrow raised.

“You coming?”

Cloud shuffles in obediently, takes another age getting outta his boots, gloves combat gear. Just leave him in those baggy navy fatigues. The space is still pretty small, but Zack figures it’ll be fine. Cloud isn’t exactly a big person. (not that he says that. Out loud.).

Eventually Zack whines at him enough to get the other settled down anyway. The bedrolls really aren’t the most comfy thing, but they’d found pretty even patches of ground to set up their tents over so it could definitely be worse. Zack wiggles his closer to Cloud’s when the other very, very stubbornly won’t move himself. Logically it’ll keep them warmer and Cloud’s gotta be at least a little cold from watch right? Just makes sense. They tussle a bit, before Zack actually gets Cloud to relax again. Even crack a smile and it makes Zack’s chest feel warm. Cloud’s the first one yawning. Long, very busy day and he doesn’t have the same ridiculous energy as a SOLIDER (pointed look at Zack.) So Zack quite bugging him- as much- and they both settle in. Can hear the distant crackle of the fire and the two squadmates talking quietly outside. Thanks to his enhancements he catches little snippets of their conversation on the wind.

It surprises him a bit. Hearing people speculating him and Cloud are a ‘thing’. He shrugs it off more or less because he’s been around enough to realize Cloud’s kinda isolated. Honestly he feels bad for the people who don’t give the blond a chance. They’re missing out. Bit time, in Zack’s opinion. Cuz Cloud’s nice. And smart. And honestly just fun.

Warm too, now that the night time chill’s starting to fade from his skin. Zack snuggles up closer to soak some of it in and share his own. Habbit. Jungle kid after all. Prefers the heat to the cold any day.

He’s not really tired, not yet, still got that vague adrenaline pumping through his veins. Always kinda is. But there’s something kinda...mellowing about Cloud. Gives him something to focus on other than that constant itch to ‘get up, move, do something’. It’s nice. And pretty cute how Cloud’s hair falls in his face when he shifts. Can tell the other’s drifted off for real now. All those senseless little twitches and sounds. Used to freak Zack out a little bit when he first got enhanced. How he could catch the rhythm of someone’s heartbeat if he tried. But Cloud’s is nice.

Zack wasn’t really expecting to sleep that night. Usually has a tough time of it when he gets sent on missions that are way too easy. Takes a lot to tucker him out. But the next thing he knows he’s catching a voice. Snapping out of sleep. Something kinda soft brushing his face. Tickles a bit.

“U-uh. Sir?”

Hm. Cadet sounds weird. Almost nervous but Zack’s used to that. People act odd around him. SOLIDER status and all. Even Cloud gets kinda jumpy about it sometimes. But not as often as others.

“It’s nearly four a.m. Sir.”

“Oh right. Thanks. Go catch a few winks. We’ll be oughta here before long.”

“Sir!”

The tent closes again in a faint rush of chilly air and Zack yawns.

Gets a mouthful of hair for his efforts and sputters a bit. Blinks open and.

Oh.

Huh. Well that’d explain the extra warmth. He’s honestly not sure from the tangle their in if he’d moved in the night or if it’d been Cloud. Maybe a collaborative effort. But Cloud’s all tucked up against his front. One slender hand curled in the front of Zack’s heavy shirt. Zack’s got Cloud all wrapped up in a mix of their bedding and his arms. He’s done that since he was a kid. Grabbin’ up pillows and stuff to cuddle.

He thinks he prefers having someone to snuggle up with instead.

It’s super dark out. That weird hour before the sun starts to come up. Still enough to make out that funny little wrinkle of Cloud’s nose as the other grumbles in his sleep. Zack chuckles, leans back a bit so he doesn’t end up with another mouth of hair.

“You’re okay Spike. Get some more sleep.”

Takes a bit of careful shifting and wiggling to get them somewhat untangled. Doesn’t really succeed in keeping Cloud asleep either. Blue, blue eyes blinking open heavily. Makes a little mumble that could be Zack’s name. All confused and tired. Makes the SOLIDER chuckle again.

“At ease.” He says with a grin. Maybe a bit softer than his usual. If Cloud was like, actually awake, he’d grumble at Zack for real. Running joke with them. Started the first time Cloud thought he had to be all ‘formal’ and stuff around base. Dumbass.

They’re...friends.

...right?