Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy 7 or anything associated with it. I am simply a fan who created a fictional story based of Final Fantasy 7. Hints the term fanfiction. So, we good bros and sisters? Awesome. "Stay thirsty, my friends"- Most Interesting Man in the World, Dos Equis commercials.
Summery: An old friend of Tifa is coming for a visit. Cloud remembers how much he hated Tifa's friends growing up. Will this one be the same? Will she be able to pass the test and get along with the members of AVALANCHE?
new character added. The name Liesl is pronounced LEE-zull. "Lee" rhymes with "See" and "Zull" rhymes with "Dull"
also, noted that I may be sprinkling in bits and pieces of our own world into the world of Final Fantasy 7. Such as fast food restaurants, song artists, etc. nothing too major...
The Test:
Tifa was running around like a maniac cleaning up the bar, muttering to herself, and seemed to over all be in a panic when Cloud arrived with more cleaning supplies as ordered. She was so focused on her task she didn't notice the blond come in.
"Um here's your stuff." he said hoping not to startle her.
"Oh! Thank goodness. Took you long enough! She'll be here any minute and I gotta get this place clean.'' Tifa said slightly out of breath.
"She?"
"Liesl! She's an old friend of mine that I haven't seen in years."
"Oh. "
"If you're just gonna stand around in here the least you can do is help."
...-o-...
It was a beautiful day today and she was going to see her old friend. Liesl was in a good mood and she was just outside of Edge where Tifa's bar was located... um somewhere.
Luckily it didn't take long to find her destination. Some helpful locals pointed her on her way. Next thing she knew Tifa was throwing herself on her and practically shrilling "LIESL!" Pulling away, Tifa blushed at her own silly behavior.
"Sorry. I'm just so excited that you're finally here! I can't wait for you to meet everyone! It's a shame you just missed Cloud. He has a few more deliveries to make then he'll be back to meet you."
"He's the emo kid you were telling me about right?"
"Liesl! Play nice! He's been my friend since we were kid. We grew up together. Besides, you haven't even met him yet."
"Ok I'll be nice." Liesl noted Tifa seemed to be studying her as if they had never meet before.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Sorry. It's just... You look so different than I remember. Last time I saw you, your hair was much shorter, like to your shoulders and curly. Now it's touching the top of you pants and it's straight... and I think its gotten darker... I didn't know black hair could get darker."
"I guess my hair has changed a lot in the past 5 years. You've changed too. Your hair is much shorter than it was last time I saw you, you no longer look like a stripper, and you've grown... in the chest area... I didn't think those would get any bigger." Liesl looked down at her own smaller C cup bosom then again at Tifa's... 'those cant be real' she thought to herself.
"You've grown, too. But you've actually gotten taller. You're taller than me now."
"I've always been taller than yo-"
"HI! I'M YUFFIE! YOU MUST BE LIESL! I'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT YOU!" Screamed a much younger girl? She sounded like a girl anyway. And where did she come from for that matter. Liesl suddenly became aware of the three men walking in behind this Yuffie. One was holding hand with a little girl. One by one they were introduced to Liesl by Tifa each indicating they've heard a great deal about her. She assured them she had heard about them too but not to expect her to remember which face went with which name.
"Where's Cloud?" asked Marlene
"He has a few more deliveries to make. He should be here soon, sweetie. Denzel's in his room, though." answered Tifa
With that, she ran off to join him.
...-o-...
About an hour or so into their little gathering Tifa spotted a certain blond sneaking in. Dragging Liesl away from the group by her arm Tifa hurried over to him before he could disappear.
"Cloud! It's about time you showed up! This is my friend Liesl." said Tifa finally releasing Liesl's arm from her death grip. As Liesl turned to face him he eyes widened in terror just for a second and before either woman could see his reaction he quickly concealed it. It just couldn't be her of all people. Maybe she wouldn't remember him after all, he hoped. He would die of humiliation, again, if she remembered. Despite the whirlwind of thoughts now filling his mind he managed to find his voice, "Hello, Liesl."
"Hello, Cloud, is it?" she replied smiling and looking suspiciously close to laughing.
'Oh no she remembers!' he thought while panic threatened to overwhelm him, "Yeah, I'm Cloud. Tifa's been talking about you all day today. Though, when she described you she didn't quite do you any justice." he said unable to stop the words from coming out. Feeling embarrassed with himself, for acting the same way he had the last time, he looking away.
"Well, I could say the same about you" Liesl flirted back "Tifa has told me a bit about you as well but I must say she didn't mention you were this attractive."
Cloud could feel his face getting hotter and awkwardly ask "H-How about we get a drink at the bar?"
"Sure"
Not really sure how to feel about the exchange she just witnessed between her two best friend Tifa walk with them to the bar and served them their drinks. Cloud took his and disappeared in the group of men. Yuffie came and join the pair of women.
"So... what was that all about?" asked Tifa
"Yeah! I could totally see you guys from over there and Cloud looked like he was either about to run screaming or have a heart attach a die" Yuffie added, half yelling.
Liesl laughed "I don't know...I don't know him yet... But he sure is gorgeous."
...-o-...
Across the room Cloud found himself completely captivated by Liesl once again. Her black hair had grown longer than the last time, she was taller than she was that summer so many years ago, and somehow, though he didn't know it was even possible, she grew even more beautiful. Everything else about her was just as he remembered, her enchanting emerald green eyes, tan skin from being out in the sun all summer with just a hint of pink on her cheeks and shoulders, the hypnotic sound of her laughter, and even her clothes were similar to the way she was dressed that day. A loose fitted light gray tank top with a picture of a sugar skull with orange flowers in the eye sockets and on the side(so it looked like a girl with a flower in her hair) hung from her shoulders, black athletic shorts, that showed off her toned legs, were long enough so she didn't look slutty but short enough so they didn't quite reach the middle of her thighs. Just below her ankle a bit of her black and orange striped sock were visible, and she wore dark gray and black running shoes.
Cloud still wasn't certain if Liesl remembered him, but he was thankful his face and shirt weren't covered with blood from the broken nose he suffered that day, or else she's recognize him for sure. The thought of that made him visible shiver and he could not bare the humiliation a second time.
"Cloud? Are you cold?" asked Vincent interrupting Cloud's thought, snapping him back to the present.
"Um... no I'm fine."
"You just shivered."
"It was nothing."
Following Cloud's gaze, Vincent realized he wasn't staring off into space as the group of males all thought after all.
"She's beautiful." noted Vincent, watching Cloud for his reaction.
Looking away quickly, knowing he'd been caught, "Yeah... I..."
"You haven't taken your eye off that girl since you got here, fool. The hell's that all about? You like her, huh?" added Barret.
Cloud could once again feel his face getting hotter and before he could react Cid and Barret were laughing, slapping him on the shoulder and rustling his hair. Even Vincent looks amused.
"Bout damn time you got yourself a girl." laugh Cid.
...-o-...
Hearing all the commotion coming from the group of guy, the women watch silently as they all seemed to be poking fun at Cloud.
"I wonder what that's all about..." spoke Yuffie, for once not yelling.
"I think it because he's been staring at Liesl all night." answered Tifa.
"He has?" asked Liesl all but blushing.
"Yeah! I'm pretty sure he's totally in love with you. I mean the way he's been staring at you he looks like he's forgotten how to breathe. It's cute really, and I've never seen him like that." Tifa said eyeing Liesl almost suspiciously.
"I have." Liesl reviled casually, still watching the guys horse around as they started to make their way toward the girl, pushing Cloud in front of them.
Both Tifa and Yuffie stared at her blankly, not really sure what to make of her comment.
"When?" They asked in harmony
Just then the men had gotten close enough to hear the conversation the women were having.
"At least, I'm pretty sure it was him... it's hard to say without all the blood all over his face."
"OH NO!" Cloud interrupted "You do remember! Please! I'm begging you, don't say anything else! Please!"
"It WAS you!" announced Liesl in between laughing fits. Cloud could no longer bare to make eye contacted with anyone and kept his gaze firmly fixed on the floor.
Everyone stared at the pair in shock and wonder for what felt like hours.
"What did you mean earlier all the blood and stuff?" Yuffie asked Liesl, finally breaking the silence.
Cloud groaned and looked like he wanted to die. "Well... Cloud?" Liesl responded not really sure what to say, seeing how miserable he looked.
Feeling everyone staring at him knowing they'd never leave him, or Liesl for that matter, alone about this until they got their answers, he figured he might as well tell them.
Sighing heavily, he began, "It was about 10 years ago, back when I was still with Shinra. Zack and I were out on a mission and we stopped in Gongaga, and at the market I saw this girl and I got so caught up staring at her I... ran into a pole... and broke my nose... and got knocked flat on my back."
The group broke in to laughter. The females, despite their best efforts, tried to conceal it but were unable to do so. The males laughed uncontrollably, even Vincent chuckled just a bit.
"Oh come on! There's got to be more to the story than just that!" Tifa managed still laughing.
"No! There's not!" snapped Cloud feeling embarrassed and angry.
"Yes there is." admitted Liesl "my father's a medic and I was his apprentice at the time, so we ended up taking him back to my house to fix he's broken nose and wash his clothes before he and my brother headed back out on their mission."
"Brother!?" several of the group members asked in unison.
"Yes, brother. My full name is Liesl Fair. Zack Fair is my older brother. And I'm still not sure how he felt when he caught Cloud staring at me." Liesl laugh at the memory. "We didn't exactly get to properly meet that day though, did we Cloud?"
"...sorry." Cloud mumbled still looking at the floor.
"Oh come on Cloud! Cheer up! We're not laughing at you... we're laughing with you." Cid said elbowing him.
"Kill me now!" muttered Cloud no longer feeling angry, but still humiliated.
"I thought it was adorable." said Liesl, looking to the girls, knowing they'd agree. "It makes a girl feel pretty when a guy isn't watching where he's going because he's too busy watching her."
"Sweetheart! If a guy isn't watching were his going because he's caught up looking at a girl, 'specially when he runs into something looking at her, it's not because he thinks she's 'pretty,' it's because to him she's perfect and there ain't another girl like her anywhere." Cid informed her.
Finally Cloud took his eye off the floor and allowed himself to look at Liesl who was smiling at him. This time he didn't look away, seeing her smile at him like that he couldn't help but to smile just a little bit, too, but only for a brief moment.
Leaning over the bar Tifa whispered in Liesl's ear "I think you passed the test. I have a feeling everyone will want to see you again... particularly a certain blond."
Looking back at Cloud Liesl asked "Would you like to grab a bite with me some time? Maybe you can even show me around town."
Feeling everyone staring at him for the millionth time tonight he answered "Sure. How 'bout tomorrow at 7?"
"Sounds perfect." Liesl replied just as the group erupted into cheering.
