DISCLAIMED: (07/08/09)
Characters/Pairing: Cloud/Yuffie, mentions of Yuffentine & CloTi, all of AVALANCHE, Rufus & the Turks, Marlene & Denzel
Rating: M for language and mature content.
Genre: Romance/Angst/Bit of Humor
Warnings: There be lemony warnings here. If sexing makes you blush in a bad way, this may not be for you.
Summary: Cloud never thought of himself as a leg man. Not until Yuffie unwittingly made him see the light.
A/N: Yeah, so I caught a Clouffie bug and started this amidst writing Courting Cloud. Just got the urge to finish it, so I thought I'd post it in between updating CC. Just a silly three chapter thing, making it a ginormous one-shot, that was inspired from reading a Tin Man fic and a Yuffie/Cid fic, can't remember which ones at the moment. It's more angsty then I like, but not so much that all you want to do is cringe (me hopes).
Anyroad, this takes place about five years after the game – I always hate when I'm given no time setting for a fic so there ya go. And it's during Christmas. Blame my going to see the promotional train for Jim Carrey's new movie "The Christmas Carol" in 3-D=P
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:: ℓ€ğ§ ::
Part I of III
Cloud was a leg man. Before, he'd never really thought about what he liked in a woman. Growing up, he'd been happy if one bothered to talk to him. And now he still didn't quite grasp the kind of appeal he held for women, which was just as well since part of his charm was his obliviousness.
He was in 7th Heaven – the bar, not the emotional state he'd yet to experience. He'd been wrangled here by Yuffie with Cid's assistance of his ship. Ever since Tifa had married Reeve, Cloud had kept himself scarce. However it was Christmas and Yuffie had practically dragged him by the hair to join in the festivities, claiming he needed to "grow up and accept he had to deal with things like an adult and not like a whiny-ass angst muffin."
He'd been disgruntled, sure, being forced onto the ship and having to leave his bike behind to ensure he wouldn't leave prematurely. He'd been equally annoyed at his reaction to Yuffie and uncharitably ignored her dry heaving during the flight. She wasn't particularly different looking from the time they first met, but the subtle enhancements in her figure proved she was no longer a little girl.
He was now considering her more feminine curves as he slouched back indelicately in a wooden chair, the place booming with customers as it was happy hour. He watched her as she moved swiftly through the tables, carrying drinks and empty glasses to and fro, as he sipped his own drink. He didn't normally imbibe, but his chaotic thoughts and libido were making it a must. He knew he was close to outright glaring at his former teammate, but that's how it was.
Still disgruntled over her dragging him here, to see the love of his life with her new love her life, Cloud looked as petulant as he felt. To elicit thoughts that he had no business thinking just made it personal. He knew some of his anger wasn't helped by the alcohol, but he was past caring.
She was always leggy and wore those skimpy shorts to prove it. However, instead of the chocobo like sticks she used to have, they were now shapely and entirely too interesting. She passed with a tray full of drinks, bringing her legs with her. She caught his glaring eye and winked at him snarkily, probably just happy that she managed to get him here. He threw back the rest of his drink. Thoughts of running his hands up her smooth skin, to grip her thighs and spread her beneath him to explore her soft skin to his heart's content had him standing. Rather unsteadily, he made his way to the stairs hoping for some relief in distance from those incredible legs.
Reaching the bottom of the steps however, he paused hearing a familiar voice cry out. Turning, he saw red. A soused customer, a big man with impressive muscles, had pulled Yuffie into his lap and was laughing up at her whilst she tried to pry herself out of his grasp. She looked pissed, but not half as much Cloud felt.
He was across the room before he realized he'd moved, a path of customers shoved aside in his wake. He didn't have his sword, but he didn't need it. Lifting Yuffie easily out of the man's grasp, she gave a yelp as he set her down behind him. Pulling back his fist, he let it fly into the larger man's face. Shocked, the drunk man felt backwards in his chair. Stepping forward quickly, Cloud placed a booted foot over the man's crotch. The man grabbed for his offending appendage as he winced in pain. His nose was gushing blood.
Through his rage, Cloud could feel Yuffie tugging on his arm, saying something while Barret, Cid, and Tifa were pushing their way through the crowd around them. But he was focused on his target. Someone to take out his anger on.
"If all you can think with is your dick, then I'll make sure you can't think at all." His voice was rough with emotion, coherent with purpose. It seemed to get through to the man as he shook his head and apologized. That or the fact he ground his heel into the man's junk as he spoke.
Cloud shook his head. "Not to me." He jerked his head to Yuffie at his side. "Apologize to her." The man looked at Yuffie, his eyes pleading as he apologized. Yuffie glared down at him but nodded.
Only then, did Cloud remove his heel. But he kicked the man's chair for good measure as Yuffie pulled him away. He saw the man's friends hesitate before going to their friend's aid. Everyone knew Cloud was the only one to defeat Sephiroth twice along with numerous Weapons around the world and wisely kept their distance. At least when he was in a mood. Like now. And always.
He allowed Yuffie to pull him out the back door and into the alley. The cooler air outside helped clear his rage a bit but not much.
"Cloud?"
He turned to look at her, his face still pulled into an angry frown. His muscles clenched as she stepped closer to him.
"What?"
She blinked at his sharp tone, cocking an eyebrow. "Mr. Charming tonight, aren't we?"
He snorted. "What'd you expect when you dragged me out here?"
"Well, obviously I expected you to act like the eight-year-old you're being." She cocked a hip, resting her hand on it. His eyes rested on the skin above her shorts there a little too long. "Da Chao, Denzel is acting more mature than you."
Cloud merely looked away from her. She huffed.
"Fine." She threw up her arms. "If you're going to be such a fuckin' rag while you're here, you might as well just go." Hanging around Cid had certainly sharpened her vocabulary.
Cloud made a rude noise. "Maybe I will." He turned to stalk off down the alley. She sighed however and he heard her calling for him to stop. He did, listening to her run up behind him. He didn't turn, but he moved his head to the side to show he was listening.
"Look," she huffed softly. "I know…I know this can't be easy for you. That it downright sucks. Fuck, I wouldn't have come if I were in your place."
Cloud turned at that, his eyes lit up with renewed anger. "Then why did you force me here?" She took a step back from the force of his ire, but he caught her elbows, holding her in place.
Looking totally at a loss at his unusual display of anger, she could only answer. "Because you're stronger." Cloud blinked at this. He was suddenly afraid he was hurting her and dropped her arms. She took a step towards him, reaching out a hand to put on the arm where he still wore Aerith's ribbon. "You've been through so much crap and have so many reasons to just give up, but you don't." Her thumb was brushing back and forth over his skin and it was distracting as all hell. Molten lust leapt under his skin, spreading from where she caressed him, seemingly oh-so-innocent.
Her eyes finally lifted from where they watched her own movements, to meet his darkening gaze. "You loved Tifa, right? Still do?" He had trouble breathing then. He always got like this when discussing his childhood crush. And Yuffie was expecting an answer. He'd give her whatever she wanted as long as she didn't stop touching him. At his short nod, she continued. "Then you'd want her to be happy, right? Even if it wasn't with you." She looked away then and he had the impression she wasn't just talking about him anymore. "I mean, that's the mature thing to do, right? The strong thing?"
She looked up at him with intensely vulnerable eyes, something he'd never seen on her face. At least not without any immediate danger upon them. His anger towards her melted instantly but that left only his blinding desire to finally overwhelm him.
Yanking her forward, he swallowed her small exclamation of surprise as he met her soft lips with his own. She made a noise as he angled his mouth over hers, his hand cupping her cheek as he finally allowed himself to feel. Backing her up to the side of the building, he was lost in her curves, fitting snugly against her.
Through his hazy focus, he realized she was kissing him back. It gave him the encouragement to slide his hand down her side to her hip before hooking his hand under her thigh and hitching it around him. She gasped, breaking the kiss as he pressed her to the wall, fitting intimately between her thighs. He simply moved his lips to her neck, kissing and biting his way up to her ear, nibbling on her lobe.
Her skin was as soft as he imagined as he gripped her smooth thigh. All he wanted to do was thrust deep into her and get lost in her warmth. His buckle was undone before he realized it and that's when he heard a gasp.
"Cloud?"
Yuffie's head whipped around before ducking against his neck. Cloud slowly turned his head, his chest heaving as he saw Tifa, staring at him in utter shock. She was holding a black plastic garbage bag in her slack grip. He allowed Yuffie to slide down, setting her on her feet. She looked anywhere but him and kept her head down as she scurried past Tifa, whom stared after her, mouth agape.
Cloud finished buckling himself back up as Tifa turned back to him. He didn't look at her, knowing he really didn't care what she had to say about what she saw.
"You're with Yuffie then?"
He gave her a look at that.
"You're not? Then what—"
"Leave it alone, Tifa."
That seemed to make her mad. Well, Bully for her.
"I'm not going to 'leave it alone'. Especially when it's Yuffie you're messing around with. She deserves better, Cloud. A lot better."
He whirled on her, looking furious. "Is that what you thought? You deserved better than me?"
Shock covered her face. "No—that's not—I wouldn't—"
"Am I so low in your eyes that you couldn't help but throw yourself at Tuesti? Am I so unredeemable to you? The woman who takes in strays and misfits at the drop of a hat?"
Tifa flinched, looking hurt and guilty and a whole myriad of things he didn't care about. Not when it came to her. Not anymore.
She gritted her teeth however, and told him off, something he really didn't think she was capable of. "No. I don't think you're unredeemable. But right now, you're drunk and Yuffie's our friend. She doesn't deserve being pawed at in some dark alley just because you're miserable."
"What if I said I was in love with her?" He'd sobered some since saving Yuffie from the drunk earlier, but the alcohol had still loosened his inhibitions. He took pleasure in the surprised blink Tifa gave him at his words.
However, she recovered quickly. "I'd still say she deserves more than a quick tumble next to the dirty garbage bin. This isn't you, Cloud. If you want Yuffie, show her but in the proper way."
Cloud snorted. "And what exactly is the proper way?"
"Ask her." Tifa gave him a sad look as she slung the garbage bag into the bin before heading inside, leaving Cloud to his muddled thoughts.
:: ℓ€ğ§ ::
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Cloud had woken up on his stomach in his bed where he'd passed out with the mother of all hangovers the next day. Yuffie had been there sitting on the edge of his bed, to his utter confusion, and then understanding as he remembered the night before. She had handed him a remedy and some water, letting it take affect before speaking.
"I talked to Tifa." Cloud suppressed a groan, despite feeling his headache disappear. "She seems to think we're on the verge of some great romance, but I set her straight."
Cloud peered at her from his pillow.
"I told her you weren't thinking straight and that you didn't mean it and you were sorry." She gave him a look. "What? It's Tifa. If I didn't tell her you were sorry, we'd never hear the end of it. So no worries."
She got up to leave then. He was too tired and confused to stop her or say anything.
Now he sat at his table, like the night before, nursing one drink. Tifa was keeping an eye on it, but truly he didn't feel like drinking all that much. They were only open until midnight tonight as it was Christmas Eve, but it was buzzing with business like usual. The only way Tifa'd be able to close so early was because of her extra muscle, having Cloud, Barret, Cid, and Reeve to clear out the place for her. He supposed she normally had Vincent too, but he was strangely absent this year. Totally unfair in Cloud's opinion.
Like he should have to be here, tormented by Tifa happily married to someone else as well as Yuffie's killer legs, while Vincent could kip out without a word. For he was indeed in anguish as he watched Yuffie moving quickly around the bar, like the night before. However now, he didn't have to imagine what her smooth skin felt like, or how right it felt to have her silky thighs wrapped around him. It was possible that her skirt was even shorter tonight, which only made him shift more in his seat whenever she strode by.
Reno sat with him tonight, though for what reason he couldn't imagine. Possibly the man thought since he ran deliveries for Shinra and Reno guarded the former president, they were kindred. Cloud really didn't care. All he could think of was Yuffie and her impossibly long limbs.
It amazed him how much she'd changed. How mature she handled their little tête-à-tête. How she even carried herself more regally and assured. She'd always been confident in her abilities, but now it was softened by responsibilities. According to Reno, she'd taken up the reins of her Empire and was becoming a hell of a diplomat. He wasn't really listening to him go on about negotiations between Reeve and Shinra with Wutai, as he kept most of his attention on Yuffie.
Really, he couldn't figure out his singular interest in her all the sudden. He'd never been so intent on one person like this, nor had he ever felt immediate lust for someone. He knew his gaze on her must look psychotic, but really he couldn't help it. And he couldn't even blame alcohol this time. Not with his enhanced metabolism and less than one drink under his belt.
It wasn't until Reno mentioned Yuffie again that he caught his attention.
"…I'm amazed how well Kisaragi looks after that thing with Chaos boy."
Cloud turned his head with a frown. "Vincent? What about him and Yuffie?"
Reno waved his hand. "Oh you know. Just their little engagement and how he left her, claiming he was still in love with that dead chick. Or somethin' like that."
Cloud's head was reeling as Reno continued on, listing the merits of getting out of a relationship with a royal and how Vincent had dodged a big one.
Except for the occasional texts from his former teammates, he hadn't kept up with any of them since Tifa and Reeve's wedding. He'd stayed away from the media as well and didn't know Yuffie had decided to become the official princess of Wutai. And he definitely hadn't realized she was dating Vincent. He hadn't even realized there were feelings between them. During Meteor, Yuffie had always been the loud obnoxious materia thief and Vincent the cold reserved gunfighter. They were polar opposites. It didn't make sense to him. That Vincent had left her wasn't a surprise as the man was as introverted and self-loathing as they came. But how they got to the point of being engaged was the real mystery. He suddenly recalled her words last night.
You loved her, right? Still do? Then you'd want her to be happy, right? Even if it wasn't with you.
His feeling she was talking about someone else was right. She was talking about herself. And Vincent. Suddenly, he felt like a total douche for mauling her. He knew she'd all but forgiven him and had responded eagerly to him anyway, but that wasn't the point. She'd merely brought him here as a last ditch effort to regain her faith. To know that one can move on after losing the one. That everything wouldn't always suck. That we could move on.
Because you're stronger.
She thought him the fearless leader he'd projected back then. The one he'd never saw himself as. He felt horribly inadequate to meet the challenge, though at the same time wanting to do anything to raise her esteem of him. He swore inwardly. All because her legs were driving him crazy.
"…Though I have to admit, she's pretty easy on the eyes, all grown up now. And she should be prime for some hot rebound sex about now. Especially since it's the holidays."
Cloud turned to glare at the other man. Reno saw and lifted a brow. "You okay, Spike?"
"Touch Yuffie and you die."
The red-head's eyes widened in disbelief before he scooted back as that seemed to anger Cloud more. He held up his hands. "Whoa, whoa! Alright, yo. Kisaragi's off-limits, I get it."
Cloud turned away with a scowl, his eyes finding Yuffie immediately in the crush. Her face looked more drawn to him, more tightly wound than he'd ever expect of her. He wondered how he hadn't seen it before. Of course, it was probably because he was too busy admiring her limbs to concentrate overmuch on the rest of her.
When she came by his table with an over-large tray of drinks, looking more worn than he'd ever seen her, he stood. She blinked up at him, her expression startled before it turned to a frown.
"Watch it. I could've—"
Carefully, he took the tray from her. "Where's this go?"
She blinked up at him with a confused frown. "Uh, over there. Table four."
He nodded and headed towards one of the larger tables. While he was still half-courting Tifa, he'd helped out here between deliveries and knew the layout by heart. Yuffie followed him.
After serving the table their drinks, Yuffie asked candidly if the group needed anything else, before following Cloud to the bar.
"What was that?"
Cloud sighed inwardly, setting the serving tray on the counter. Yuffie leaned forward against the bar to look up at his face. He shrugged. "You shouldn't have to work. It's your holiday, remember?"
She snorted. "You know I ain't a real princess. What do I care about serving a few drinks."
He rolled his neck to look at her guardedly. "That isn't the point."
"Well, what is?" She drawled, having decided he was being ridiculous. The next instant, she inhaled sharply as he turned on her, leaning close.
Giving her a fairly intense look that he was sure made him look just this side of sane, he spoke impatiently. "You're welcome."
Before she could respond, he skirted around her and headed upstairs.
:: ℓ€ğ§ ::
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It was Christmas morning. He stared down at the gifts he'd procured for his comrades. He frowned, still not sure if he wanted to give them to them. To share this part of himself so openly. But he had nothing else to give, so he'd have to be okay with it. That or end up royally disappointing everyone. Or worse, living up to their expectations by doing so.
With a heavy sigh, he picked up the box holding several smaller boxes and headed downstairs. At the bottom of the stairs, Marlene spotted him immediately. She and Denzel rushed over to wish him a Happy Christmas and to inquire about his box. He smiled and fended them off. Tifa came in from the kitchen then and told them to go set the table so everything would be ready once they were done opening presents. Amidst groans they left, with Tifa following close behind.
Cloud moved to the tree set up on the karaoke stage installed sometime during his absence. He'd just set his box down under the tree when he heard the clatter of quick steps on the stairs. Straightening, he turned to see Yuffie at the bottom of the stairs. Her eyes lit on him, but before she could speak, the front door opened letting Cid, Red, and Barret in.
The kitchen door opened and Tifa and Reeve entered, followed by the kids.
"Ah, good, we're all here." Reeve spoke amiably, the bastard. "How bout we open the presents before the children explode?"
Marlene giggled as she raced after Denzel to the tree where they knelt to peek at the name-tags on the gifts. The adults followed more slowly. Cloud moved out of the way and took up the spot on the wall closest to the scene. In front of him, Yuffie sat facing away from a table, with Cid and Red. At the table over, Barret and Reeve had taken seats while Tifa kneeled on the floor with the kids.
"Alright, just pass them out for now, guys." Tifa told the kids, watching them as they moved around the room handing out gifts. The adults took them graciously, with a few exclamations here and there.
"What the fuck?"
"Cid!"
"What? What the hell is with all these gifts? I don't need this much shit."
"Could you please watch your language around the kids."
"You guys live in Edge. I'm sure they hear worse daily with them city kids runnin' around here. Besides, you don't want Denzel here to become a pussy, do ya?"
"Cid!"
"Marlene, cover your ears."
"It's Christmas."
"Give it a break, old man. Or no more cancer sticks for you."
"Yeah, yeah."
Apparently, Wutai made Cid's favorite kind of smokes and seeing as Yuffie now controlled commerce over there, she could cut him off on a whim. Cloud took it all in with a bit of fascination and a bit of nostalgia. He recalled many arguments, also with no heat, during the Meteor crisis. He hadn't realized he'd missed it until now. With a start he realized he'd become Vincent in the scenario. Cold, reserved.
He knew none of them now saw the man the same way they did when they first met, but it irked him that he bore any resemblance to the man that supposedly broke Yuffie's heart. Straightening, he let his arms unfold and drop as he moved discreetly to take a chair next to Yuffie. She glanced over and gave him a weird look, but otherwise ignored him. He recalled the way they parted the night before and he really couldn't blame her. Didn't mean he had to like it though.
Cloud watched as his pile of gifts grew and became more and more anxious as the kids got to his gift.
"Alright, everyone open your gifts." Tifa smiled around the room before accepting a hot mug of cocoa from Reeve who'd gotten up to grab some for everyone.
Cloud concentrated on his presents, rather anything else. From the kids, he got a poem from Marlene and a rather intricate drawing of himself and the whole team from Denzel. Seemed the boy had real talent for drawing. He got a scarf and matching gloves from Tifa (and Reeve), a package of cigars from Cid, a tool set from Barret (as well as some hentai mags that he quickly hid for the kids' sake), a book on Cetra's history from Red and an authentic sword-sharpening stone with a Wutainese character engraved on one side from Yuffie.
"Koufuku." He glanced over at Yuffie. She was watching him with a guarded expression. "It means 'happiness'." She pursed her lips like she wanted to say more but was interrupted as Marlene squealed in delight. Apparently, Yuffie had gotten her an authentic Wutainese staff. The middle was ivory with Wutainese characters engraved on it and the ends were bladed, but were covered in a thick rubber coating until she learned to use it.
Cloud noted Tifa frowned slightly, before Reeve spoke in her ear and she seemed to turned away.
"What's this?" Yuffie was examining the small rectangular box Marlene just gave her. The rest of the group received similar boxes.
"They're from Cloud." Marlene spoke up.
Cid had opened his and pulled out a small wooden figurine. The cigarette in his mouth went slack. It was a perfect wooden miniature of him, Dragon Lance, cigarette and all.
Barret frowned at that, before pulling out a similar figure of himself, his Missing Score fully extended and upraised as if he were amidst using it.
Denzel and Marlene opened theirs and found miniature of themselves when they were younger, when Cloud first met them. With Yuffie's help, Red got his out of his box. His replica showed him with his head upraised, howling.
Tifa also received a likeness of herself, the detail of her Premium Heart, though only gloves, was astonishing. Reeve opened his own box, surprised to have received anything from the swordsman, and pulled out a replica of Cait Sith.
Yuffie had opened hers after that and was fingering the points of the Conformer her miniature held. Carefully she stood it on the table. Despite none of them having platforms attached, they all stood upright perfectly.
Turning to Cloud, she tilted her head in wonder. "This totally rocks, Cloud. You made these?"
Cloud looked away uncomfortable, before nodding slightly.
"It's really beautiful." Tifa was also looking at him in awe.
"No shit. I mean," Cid shot Yuffie a wary look. "This is damn fine work—oh hell."
Denzel and Marlene giggled, before turning to Cloud. "These are cool. We didn't know you could make this kind of stuff."
Cloud looked away, shifting uncomfortably. "I always had a knack for it. I just didn't care to pursue it."
"This is real craftsmanship." Reeve commented, impressed. "If you changed your mind, you could make a real profit with this."
"Thanks but no." That was as civil as he was going to get with that man.
Tifa cleared her throat and rose before things got too uncomfortable. "Alright, well kids why don't you take your new things up to your rooms and then clean up for breakfast."
The front door opened then. The men rose as one, wary as was their nature since Meteor and watched the Turks enter, led by Reno.
"Well, well, well." He drawled. "Did we miss the fun?"
"What the fuck you little shits doing here?"
"Cid!"
"Sorry."
Tifa turned to the kids. "Go on, now." The entire group of Turks had entered, along with Rufus as Denzel and Marlene disappeared up the stairs.
Reeve came forward to greet Rufus. The men shook hands. "Glad you could make it."
"You invited this scum?" Barret's tone was incredulous.
"Aw, lighten up Gramps." Yuffie came over to slap the large man on the back. "I recall a whole city giving you a second chance." This elicited an unhappy grunt. Yuffie smirked and turned to the others. "Besides, Turkeys gotta eat too."
Reno made a face at her, which she returned. It abruptly turned wary when Rufus stepped up to her and took her hand. Cloud frowned.
"I thank you for your words, Lady Yuffie." He bowed over her hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it. Cloud moved a step before realizing what he was doing.
Yuffie jerked her hand away and rubbed it off on the back of her shorts as Rufus straightened. "Uh, yeah." He didn't appear fazed as he turned to Cloud.
Nodding at the swordsman, he spoke respectfully. "Cloud."
Cloud couldn't help the small frown as he met the other man's gaze and his own nod was nearly imperceptible.
Tifa came forward then. "I was just about to start breakfast, so you're right on time. Reeve, will you get them something to drink."
Reeve nodded amiably. "Gentlemen, and lady what can I get you?" The rest started to move about, collecting their things and straightening up the area, seeing as there was nothing they could do about their new guests.
"A Scotch."
"It's eight o'clock in the morning, Reno." Elena sounded exasperated.
"Thus the need for Scotch."
"I think we'll all need a round if we're going to be sharing a meal with you." Cloud smirked at Yuffie's droll tone, as he picked up his things.
"That's the spirit." Reno clapped an arm around her shoulders as they headed for the bar. He let go quickly when she grabbed his offending appendage and pressed on the pressure point on his palm. Shaking his arm out, he frowned. "Fuck. I keep forgetting you're a shinobi bitch."
"Reno." Rufus's tone was sharp.
"Princess. Shinobi princess." Reno quickly amended.
"Luckily, I never forget you're a good-for-nothin' Turkey." Yuffie replied with narrowed eyes and a tilt of her head.
Cloud looked up to see Reno's eyes flash as he took a step towards the slender ninja. Cloud moved before he thought, but Rude held Reno back. Reeve appeared with drinks then and the situation diffused. Cloud found himself at Yuffie's shoulder.
She turned to go past him. "Yuffie." Her eyes flicked up to his and his breath caught at the intensity of her gaze. He didn't quite understand it and frowned. But then it was gone and she moved past him. He felt bereft for some reason and was at a loss as to why.
Despite the awkwardness with their new guests, once they finally all sat down to breakfast, it was rather pleasant. Barret and Cid debated with Reeve and Rufus about politics and the economy while Reno allowed Marlene to show him her current picture of choice and took turns coloring it. Tifa and Elena spoke shop and made small talk, while Rude stared at them. Tseng was merely quiet at Rufus' side. Denzel was listening to Red tell stories of his home.
This left Cloud sitting quietly at the end of the table with Yuffie, where Tifa had sat them. He sat at an angle from her so their legs kept brushing. The third time it happened and he once again tensed, she gave him a frown.
"You okay?"
He gave her a sharp look before looking away. "Fine."
She rolled her eyes, but left him alone. He continued to eye her surreptitiously, but she paid him no attention. Finally, she huffed and leaned forward on her elbows, arching her eyebrows at him.
"How're things with you, Cloud?"
He blinked at her. "Alright."
"Bull. It's Christmas. You're not allowed to lie."
His brow furrowed. "Is that a rule?"
She nodded. "It's mine. There's no reason to spare my feelings or put a brave front on for me, so why bother?"
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm fine, Yuffie. What do you want me to say?"
"How you really feel." She tilted her head at him. "Believe me, I'm not going to judge."
Working his jaw, he looked anywhere but at her. Finally, he gave in, even though he knew proximity to her wasn't going to help his little problem. Leaning forward, he rested his arms on the table same as her and met her gaze.
"I'm in a room full of people who don't know me anymore and I really don't know them. And in the middle of it all, is my ex and her husband. Along with the group that nearly brought down the entire world and made my life hell. How do you think I feel?"
She tilted her head as if she was actually thinking. But since there wasn't a lot of artifice to Yuffie's mannerisms, she probably was. "Well, if it were me, I'd be pretty pissed. I'd also feel really inadequate and lonely." Her gaze focused on him then. "But I could also feel numbed to it all and just wish to make everything right. So which are you?"
Trust Yuffie to make him feel like an ass. And righteously so, since that was what he was being. But she did it in a way that he could recover gracefully if he wished. He decided he wished.
"I'm pissed and inadequate."
"Well, don't be and you aren't." She shook her head. "If you simply showed that you are above all that, we'd all stare in wonder and forgive you instantly. You're what we all aspire to be, Cloud. Without the self-loathing and tendency to wander, of course."
He frowned in confusion at her before moving his eyes to the table, unseeing.
"We're all blind and you will always be our one-eyed king."
"But I don't want—"
She sighed heavily cutting him off. "Alright that's your problem." She straightened, quirking a brow at him. "You don't just accept things. I'm just stating the facts for you. This is how you appear to us and how you always will appear to us. You think I wanted to be princess and the next heir to the throne of Wutai? It's a crapload of responsibility and protocol that just seems ridiculous to me. But it's expected of me so I deal." She jabbed a finger at him. "You need to accept that you will always be our leader and that Tifa is no longer the woman for you. She's frickin' happy, Cloud. Isn't that what you want for her?"
Everything she said made sense, but that didn't mean he had to like it. Frustrated, he pushed back his chair and stood. All conversation stopped as they watched him stalk out the front door. Yuffie pursed her lips and stood as well. She glanced around at the others.
"He thought he lost a shoelace in the alley. I'll just go help him look." She turned then and followed after him. She followed him as he turned into a random alleyway.
"Cloud."
He stopped. His shoulders felt tight, his muscles coiled uncomfortably and his fists were clenching. He wanted to be out of his body and just somewhere else.
"Cloud." She repeated softer.
Feeling a light hand on his arm, he whipped around and shoved her back up against the wall. His eyes sparked in barely concealed rage as he took in her wide frightened gaze. However, her lips looked soft and were parted invitingly. He dipped his head to hover close to hers. He swore he felt her shudder as his breath fanned her face.
She shifted against him. "You're hurting me." His grip on her upper arms loosened immediately, having tightened to keep himself from kissing her and making another fool of himself.
Instead, he rested his hand on the wall next to her, bowing his head. She poked him in the chest, gaining his attention.
"I'm sorry I was so harsh."
He let out a snort before he could stop himself. "Forget it. I deserve it."
"Well, at the time, yeah. But it wasn't meant to be harsh. We're friends and that what friends do. Tell you when you're being a douche. At least, that's what Marlene tells me."
Cloud quirked an eyebrow at that.
"Okay, fine. Maybe she didn't use those exact words, but the message is the same." She waved a hand. "But I know what I'm talking about."
"Because of Vincent." She gave him a startled look. "Reno told me." Her lip curled in disgust.
"What the fuck does that Turkey know about anything?"
Cloud didn't think she meant it as a real question but he answered just the same. "Vincent used to be a Turk."
She huffed. "Whatever. The point is we can't keep pining for the people that don't want us. It's pathetic and degrading."
Cloud quirked a brow. "Degrading?"
"Vince used a lot of fancy words when he became verbose." She waved another dismissive hand. "Can we stop talking about him? I may have moved on and let him go, but that doesn't mean I want to talk about him."
"And how have you 'let him go'?" Cloud asked, half-curious and half just wanting to see if she hurt as bad as he did. "Have you seen him since you broke up?"
She frowned. "No."
"You haven't spoken to him?"
"No."
"Then how do you know you've moved on?"
"I…" She gave him an angry look. "Look, I'm just not pining after him like a lost puppy anymore. I get that he's gone and never coming back. I've accepted that I'm not the one he wants. It doesn't mean it doesn't still hurt. I told you I'm not as strong as you, so stop being a jerk."
She shoved past him and headed for the entrance of the alleyway. Cursing under his breath, he called after her, but she wouldn't listen. Feeling even worse than before, he slumped back against the wall, his head bowed. She was only trying to help and he couldn't help but want to make her hurt as bad as he was. Which she probably already was.
Despite her brave front, she still missed Vincent and was just as broken as he was. She was simply better at hiding it. Of course, she had to help run a country as well, while he could wallow in complete solitude wherever he felt. He was a complete ass.
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A/N: Please review;)