Title: Alma Mater
Prompter/Prompt: Chiisarin; Make a Clouffie with my school song.
Author: Hearts.Pocky
Pairing(s): Clouffie, if you squint
Canon: AU-ish
Pages: 2; 512 words
Notes: Yeah, that's my school's alma mater, though I changed our mascot and colors. Fun fact: it's never been sung. Ever.
Disclaimer: Kingdom Hearts © Disney and SquareEnix; Final Fantasy © SquareEnix
Cloud didn't know how Yuffie always got him into these things.
It all started innocently enough. They were taking a math test, when all of the sudden the mischievous brunette leaned over at her desk.
"Psst."
He couldn't see her (she sat just behind him) but he knew her eyes were gleaming as they always did when she was up to no good.
No, Cloud was not going to reply this time. He was not going to take the bait.
"Psst, Cloud. Cloudie. Cloudina."
"…What?" He whispered finally, giving in, instantly regretting it.
"What's the answer to number 6? I got 'A', but I think it's wrong."
"No, I got 'A', too." The boy lied. He didn't get A. He got C. Hopefully, he wished, that letter wouldn't reflect the grade he got on this test.
It didn't matter if C was the right answer, or if it were A or B or D. When the teacher heard the--respective-- high, musical sounding and low, rumbling whispers, she knew those two were up to no good. She sent them straight to the principal's office.
Talking during a test? They must have been cheaters.
Nothing got past the teacher.
Cloud sighed. This was definitely going on his permanent record. The boy looked up at the wall. The awards, the trophies, the plaques. Shining, perfect. Whoever earned those were probably never accused of cheating on a math test.
None of those people knew Yuffie then, probably.
"I just wanted to know if I got number six right." The girl sighed. Cloud looked up at the banner hanging over his head. All printed in the school colors. Green and gold. Kind of like vomit.
Radiant Garden Boarding School
We stand and sing our praises
To our dear green and gold
We proudly give allegiance
With a spirit strong and bold…
Okay, that was enough. Cloud looked away, back at Yuffie. At some point she had pulled a small Ziploc bag of popcorn out of her messenger bag and began eating. Cloud watched-- whether out of fascination or disgust, he didn't know. She really chomped on those kernels. She never was exactly ladylike. Even when they were little kids she would play in the mud, grabbing handfuls and throwing mushy globs of the stuff on the other girls who were just trying to have a tea party in peace, dammit: Aerith and… what was her name? Kylie? The one who had moved away, or something like that.
He smiled to himself. Yuffie was Yuffie.
"You know, I really don't care if I get kicked out of this school or anything. I want to be a ninja. You don't need to have a high school diploma for that. Cloud? Cloudie? …Cloudina?"
And suddenly, the fact that they were now getting called in to meet a very angry principal didn't matter to Cloud at all.
Warm friendships and tradition
Grow stronger day by day
With pride the Leopard spirit strong
Goes with us on our way!