I wrote these for the LJ community cloudsmiles, where the "Omnichallenge 2" contest ran from July 19 to August 19 to celebrate Cloud's birthday. They're pretty unedited, as I haven't read any of them since I wrote them (so, error-corrections welcomed!). Some implied shounen-ai and general spoilers abound.
DISCLAIMER: Characters/setting/etc not mine liek whoa. Square pwns your souls.
01. Child
Six-year-old Cloud came home with blood streaming down his chin. He had a determined look on his face as he strode purposely into the house and into the bathroom, getting a clean cloth from the cupboard.
But he couldn't quite reach the taps that turned on the water yet, and he wondered how to turn them on without getting Mama's help. He didn't want her to see the blood on his face; she would scold him again.
Mama knew he was there anyway; she materialised behind him as if out of nowhere, and turned the taps on with one hand while plucking the cloth from his grubby hand with the other. He looked up at her, guilty. She merely smiled at him this time.
"Have a seat, Cloud." He did as he was told, and sat on the edge of the tub, wiping at his bleeding nose with the back of one hand.
"Does it hurt?" she questioned a moment later, gently wiping the blood from his face, taking care not to touch his nose directly. The blood had mostly stopped, which she took as a good sign. His nose didn't look swollen either, so it likely wasn't broken. Thank goodness for small blessings.
"Nuh-uh," he said, voice muffled by the cloth. His blue eyes shone behind dirty blond hair and equally dirty skin.
She took in the general grime of his appearance. "I think we need a bath," she observed, smiling when he groaned at the thought. "Who were you fighting this time?"
He scowled as fiercely as any six-year-old could. "Jinta. He took my toy and wouldn't give it back."
She merely nodded, but inside she was hoping that one day her precious little boy would be able to make friends and settle their differences without resorting to fisticuffs.