Title: Made of Blondes

Rating: M for strong language

Couples: There will be none, except the ones that "exist" in the original story. Story revolves around Cid Highwind and Cloud Strife.

Summary: Takes place after Final Fantasy VII Advent Children. During a meeting between AVALANCHE and WRO, Reeve and Vincent discover something shocking that will change Cid's and Cloud's life forever. But what is it?

A/N:Yeah...it seems I'm not the only one considering the option of Cid being Cloud's father XD
You might find this slightly weird.
For the record, Cid is 40 something, to make the age different between him and Cloud less...disturbing.
Enjoy. Or not

CHAPTER 1

A brunette surveyed the room he just entered, welcoming the loud cheering noises of his companions. Reeve was happy to see everyone together.

It was rare the time everyone would have the time to gather around under the same roof. The lack of space was one of the main reasons of why they didn't organize a reunion. Cid's house was just too small and the little existing space was stacked with machine parts and pieces. Cloud, Tifa and Barret basically lived in the same place, which wasn't that big either. Not to mention it was in Midgar, and some just found Midgar too grey and depressing for a gathering. Nanaki owned a cave that he claimed during his journey, and it wasn't suited for humans, nor had the basic infrastructures. Reeve wouldn't dare to mention the use of WRO headquarters for political reasons, or so he claimed. Yuffie's hometown was incredibly far away for everyone to reach. And Vincent's «home» was none other than the ShinRa's secret research laboratory, also known as the mansion of Nibelheim. But those were all excuses.

Someone had suggested using the mansion for their long-awaited party, and upon everyone's agreement, Vincent had no choice but to comply reluctantly. Of course, before everyone arrived, Vincent had done what most guests would do: to tidy up the place. The mansion became nothing but a ruin since the Sephiroth incident. But Vincent did what he could, using materia in his aid to get rid of the dust and small debris. When his friends arrived, they took over the large living room and stacked it with the couch, many chairs and tables they could find, setting the area like it was an outside camping fire, being the television the "fire".

Reeve smiled, his perfectly sculpted beard curving along with his facial muscles, as he stood watching for a while. The television was pressed against the wall, surrounded by the couch and a few chairs here and there. Just behind the couch was two tables set with food and drinks for anyone to use.

Everyone was busy, playing Tekken on an old Playstation console. The television was older and had no output connection for the console, but Cid managed to assemble the wires with the remains of the basement's machinery, making an extremely clumsy wire-work between the television and the gaming console.

Cloud was sitting in the center of the couch along with Yuffie, and both were tapping furiously at the buttons of the control, oblivious of what surrounded them. They were determined to win, possibly over gambled materia. Tifa was cheering by Cloud's left side, while Barret was sitting by Yuffie's right side, seemingly interested in the match as well, for he was leaning forward, almost falling off the couch. Nanaki was on the floor next to Barret, merely interested in the result of the match between his two battling friends. Reeve had taken a free chair next to Tifa, holding a beer in his hand. Vincent was sitting in a chair just next to Reeve, but he was giving no importance to the happy reunion, as usual. Cid, on the other hand, was behind the couch, leaning on one of his elbows, while the other arm was busy holding a beer bottle.

"Come on, brat, I got money on yeh!"

Cid shouted as he raised his beer in the air in a cheering motion before taking a quick sip.

"I'm trying, geezer!"

Yuffie shouted in frustration, never ceasing her button-tapping actions. Cloud, on the other hand, just stared silently at the screen in full concentration, ever so occasionally making grunt noises.

"Hahaha, yo spiky-head, win this thing, already!"

Barret laughed in full confidence, waiting for the expected winning. The whole gang had set their own bets on the players, just to make things the more interesting.

"Hm…."

Cloud hummed, as he twisted the control around just as much as Yuffie did, as if moving the control would help their character move faster. Reeve could only muse and laugh at the amateurs. The brunette was a fan of video games and he could tell easily that his two friends had never played before in their entire lives, and were merely pressing all of the buttons in hope to win, before the life bar ran out.

"Oh, Yuffie's almost dead!"

Nanaki blurted out suddenly, watching the screen with amusement.

"You're gonna make it"

Tifa squealed excitedly.

"Yes! Cloud, finish her!"

Barret threw a fist in the air, excited as well.

"Watch where yeh throw yeh fucking punches!"

Cid flinched away from the waving fist of the large black man.

"Oh, ohhhhhh!"

Tifa yelled out in surprise, bringing everyone to place their attention to the screen. Silence fell upon the group.

"YES! I WON!"

Yuffie screamed out as she jumped on her seat. Cloud just hung his head in utter defeat.

"H-how…? How did you?"

Cloud looked back up and blinked.

"Naaah, I have no idea!"

Yuffie shrugged, standing in a victorious pose.

"She pressed a combination of a special mortal attack by accident."

Reeve explained while shrugging his shoulders.

"She won by luck…"

Barret groaned, rubbing his forehead, slumping back onto his seat.

"Yesh! Way'ta go, brat!"

Cid high-fived the girl.

"Hell, yeah! Now losers, fork over the materia!"

Yuffie turned to face her defeated friend and waved her hand with a grinning face.

"And yeh money."

Cid stood next to Yuffie, waving his hand as well, waiting for the reward.

"Hold on up, yo! That was just luck! She didn't really win, yo!"

Barret protested, waving his metallic hand in the air in frustration.

"Yes, that wasn't a fair win. I had the upper hand."

Cloud argued back while lifting a finger, hoping to cancel off the bet and maybe have a rematch. He hated losing more than anyone else.

"I want a rematch."

"Noooooo waaaay. Materia, please."

Yuffie sing-songed as she spread out her fingers, awaiting impatiently for her prize.

With a sigh, Cloud reached in his pocket to pick one of his materia, handing it to the young woman.

"Damn it."

Barret cursed as he slapped the money onto Cid's hand, who grinned like a kid in Christmas time.

"Thanks, it's nice doin' business with yeh, hehe."

"Shaddup! You and me, now! I'm'a beat yo sorry ass!"

Barret shouted in frustration.

"You're on, shithead!"

Cid shouted back and took Yuffie's seat, while picking up the control. Barret followed shortly after, quickly selecting his character along with the blonde man.

TBC