A/N: phew. I'm back after a longer-then-I-would-have-liked hiatus. My attempt at a story with a more action-y plot. Haven't worked out all the details yet (I'm barely halfway through part 2, ugh.), but I decided to post this just to establish interest?...or something

anyway, this is just the foundation for what is to come. don't expect any crazy drama (I just can't do that to them...not yet at least), but look forward to some eventual romance/indication of something like that. I love my fluff too much to totally ignore that genre XD

Disclaimer: again, FF7 isn't mine (well at least not the characters and plot. I do own a very, very old PS game and strategy guide though...)

enjoy!

His hands rubbed the inner corners of his eyes, frustrated with the constant noise disrupting his sleep.

"CLOUD!"

The voice was young, sounding almost frightened. It made him turn over in his bed and finally drag the sheets off of his striped pants. His hand left his face and moved up to his hair, feebly trying to flatten out the contorted mess.

The noise persisted, "ehhh…Cloud!"

The blonde shifted through the large pile of dirty clothes on the floor, not exactly remembering which were clean and which weren't. He settled for an unstained white t-shirt that smelled like oil.

"Please come…Oh!" The little brunette smiled as the door to Cloud's room swung open. "There you are!" She gave him a cute smile and grabbed his hand, "Tifa left, and the phone won't stop ringing."

Cloud followed the little girl through the hall, "You can't answer it, Marlene?"

Marlene stopped. "I'm not allowed to, remember?"

So I have to? "Where's Denzel?"

"Shower…" The noise was getting closer. "Go, go Cloud! Maybe it's Tifa!"

Hopefully it is. He didn't really feel like speaking to anyone else. Cloud grabbed the white portable phone on the bar counter, settling himself on one of the stools. He gave a light sigh and pressed the talk button. "Hello?"

"…Whoa Tifa, did you catch some kind of a cold?" The voice on the other end was a man's.

Cloud rolled his eyes when recognition came, "Reno, it's Cloud."

The Turk only laughed, "Ha yeah, I know! No way would Tifa ever sound that depressed. You actually answering your own phone now?"

"Are you actually calling for a good reason?"

"'Course! Business from President Shinra himself."

Cloud grunted, "Not interested."

"I don't get you Cloud. Saved the world so many times, and you can't even do one teeny favor for Rufus?"

The blonde scooted away from the counter, noticing Marlene's growing interest. "What does he want?"

"Ah, knew you'd agree."

"I'm not agreeing to anything yet." He lowered his voice, not wanting to provoke Marlene anymore, "What is it?"

"How about we set up a meeting with you and AVALANCHE?"

"Tifa's the only other one here."

Reno just chuckled, "We'll see who else we can get. Say at your place, around 2?"

His gaze went up to the clock, already displaying 1. I need to stop sleeping so late. "Fine." Cloud hung up, not waiting for another sneer Reno comment.

He turned to face the bar, his back no longer facing Marlene.

"Are you leaving again, Cloud?" Her eyes read desperation.

Cloud scratched his temple awkwardly, not really knowing how to deal with little girls---any girls. "No, Marlene. It was just Reno."

She didn't seem satisfied. Marlene grabbed his flannel covered pant leg. "We missed you so much… Denzel and me. And Tifa…"

"What, Marlene?" Tifa herself appeared at the front door, confused at Marlene's display of affection. Cloud noticed her bright smile as her gaze fell on his face. "You're finally up! Sorry I had to leave you alone with the kids for a while. Just needed to get something from the store."

He vaguely smiled back at his friend. "Reno's coming over at 2. He apparently needs to talk to us."

"Oh?" She placed the brown paper bag on the counter, Marlene rushing over to offer her help. "Just Reno?"

"Probably not." His Mako blue eyes fell back to the little girl. Did I really hurt her so much when I left? The first time he met Marlene in the Midgar slums, she was afraid of him. His face focused on her brown braid, her pink bow—only bringing up another person he had disappointed.

Don't…you can't think about that again. Cloud looked back up at Tifa, his face remembering how to smile. "He said he wanted to talk with AVALANCHE, about a favor."

"Favor? That doesn't sound good. The last favor you did for Reno involved the Remnants." Her light expression faded, "Well you better get changed. I'll make some food for them." She shifted through the bag, pulling out some cheese and crackers.

Cloud left Tifa and Marlene in the kitchen, only to be met with Denzel in the hallway. "Hey, Cloud!"

The older man ruffled Denzel's drying hair. "Little late for a shower."

"..Marlene spilled juice all over me. And you're still in your PJ's!" Denzel looked up at Cloud, glowing with admiration. He never really understood it himself, but Cloud was always a role model to the young boy, ever since he found him in Aerith's church. He lost his father. Cloud lacked any memories of his own dad, so he really didn't know what it would have been liked to loose one. Maybe if I had a father figure in my life, I wouldn't be so screwed up.

"I'm getting dressed right now. Go help Tifa in the kitchen."

Denzel nodded, "Sure. I'll help clean up, but why?"

"The Turks are coming over."

"Oh…" Denzel paused, "Is Reeve coming?"

"Maybe? Why? You can't join the WRO, Denzel." Cloud shook his head at Denzel's ambition. He's been through so much. He doesn't need to prove anything. It half-reminded him of his own youth.

"I know…I just want to help out."

Cloud opened the door to his room, "Then help Tifa." The young boy nodded and left the hall.

The eternal grey clouds of Edge were slowly brightening his room. He kicked away old clothes and went to his dark dresser, rummaging through several plain looking outfits. He settled for his trademark blue sweater attire, and slowly slipped off his white shirt.

Cloud's forward motions stopped as he caught his image in the floor length mirror. He never really found the need to look at himself often-- his hair spiked on its own, and he could really care less about his clothes.

But this time, his reflection made his thoughts flicker. Gunshot wounds on his chest from SOLDIER, sword and magic scars from 2 years ago, and that one invisible mark that was now gone forever. Cloud slowly traced his upper arm, relishing in its pure white complexion. No more…you can relax now. He pulled off his pajama pants, replacing them with his black ones. Cloud left the shoulder armor off for now, figuring that Reno wouldn't be coming over to attack.

His return to the kitchen seemed to go unnoticed. Tifa was placing platters all along the bar counter, filled with crackers and other hors d'oeuvres. Denzel and Marlene were wiping tables fervently. "Think Papa will come, Tifa?"

"Maybe, Marlene. He is busy finding workers for the oil fields…but don't worry. He'll be back soon." She swiftly recovered, seeing the little girl's disappointed face. Her hand caressed the little girl's cheek, "Stay upstairs with Denzel when they get here, okay?"

Denzel was the one to protest, "But why?"

"I don't need a reason, Denzel. Just play in your room."

And that was where they were when the doorbell rang, revealing the red-headed Reno with his always stoic partner. Rude shifted his sunglasses, gesturing kindly to Tifa and Cloud.

"Nice, food!" Reno immediately went towards the counter. As always, his Turk uniform hung sloppily on his lanky form, and he smiled a tad goofily. "Seriously stuff's so great here. Too bad Rufus doesn't give us longer lunch breaks, eh Rude?"

Rude only sat down at one of the tables, unfazed by his partner's informal demeanor.

Can we get this over with? "What's the favor?" Cloud glanced to Tifa, who was placing a pitcher of water in front of the red-haired Turk.

"Are there more people joining us?" Tifa set down some mugs.

"The ninja, Yuffie. She's coming with that pilot."

Cid and Yuffie? "And my question?"

Reno held up his hands, taking a break from eating. "Now, now. We'll just wait for everyone to get here. That way I don't have to repeat myself, yo." He stretched his arms behind his back, becoming rather comfortable on the counter.

Tifa was busily handing out a cold drink to Rude, and Cloud stood by the stairs, a tad annoyed. "You said it was important."

The more restrained Turk nodded, "It is important."

"Then just tell us."

Tifa's hand touched his shoulder, "Cloud, it's okay. I'm sure Yuffie and Cid will get here soon. Sit."

He did, across from Rude, but the motion failed to relieve him of his edginess. The air was still with silence, Reno obnoxiously chewing, Tifa trying to conjure up more of the disappearing food, and Rude and Cloud incredibly reticent.

"So guys…" Reno apparently found it necessary to take a breather. "Haven't seen you for a couple of months."

It only earned a smile from Tifa and a glare from Cloud.

He tried a new strategy, "You know, Lockhart, Rude here used to have a crush on you."

…what?

The bald man immediately went red and looked away from the fighter in front of him. Cloud though, couldn't lower his gaze. "…You what?"

The statement seemed to catch the woman off guard. She hesitantly dropped a plate down and looked up, a little baffled "Oh look! I hear the Shera…be back!" Tifa rushed out of the bar.

Rude left his place at the table and joined his partner at the counter.

"Hey, hey!!!" Reno's hand immediately went to the back of his head, where Rude's fist made contact. "What was that for, yo?"

The bulky man huffed, "You're an idiot. You don't see me telling Elena in front of Tseng, do you?"

Reno kept rubbing his wounded scalp, "Tell Elena what?? Come, on Rude! Don't be like this. Not like Cloud over there cares."

Cloud's eyes glanced over from the door back to the Turk. He really is an idiot.

A/N: end part 1. I know, I know, nothing special yet, but somethign interesting will arise! I swear! Reviews=one happy and addicted-to-fanfic author. especially because I'm using some new characters in this one. Love to know what you think :D