Not much to say, just got attacked by someone yelling monster rabbit at me earlier today and this popped into my head. I don't really know how it is, I've only just written it up and since its nearly 1:30am I'm deciding to just put it up and proof-read it earlier. Anyway, reviews are great to have, and I would gladly appreciate any that I get... cause I know you guys are out there, I see you alerting me and lurking about! Reviews make the world a happier place, and me more motivated to write... yeah? Anyway, it's another little Cloud and Tifa, of course. They're about... 8 or so, younger if you want. Doesn't really matter. So yeah, read and review? Cheerio.
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Monster?
It kept staring at him with unrelenting, blank eyes. Its noise twitched once, twice, before it… hopped forward. What kind of animal did that? None that he knew of…
Maybe it was a monster. Yeah, it had to be! No animal could ever have ears as large as that, could it? And no animal in its right mind would have a ridiculous little pompom thing on the back part of it, and no way could an animal have back legs as humungous as those!
Cloud was watching the monster through the front window of his house, his young face squished right up against the cool glass as the monster hopped around the middle of the town for a bit, its nose twitching every few seconds as it nibbled at random plants strewn around the area. He suddenly sucked in a short lungful of air and pulled his scrawny body back from the window as it hopped over in his direction, and held it until it moved away again. Maybe he shouldn't be sitting in a place it could see him so easily…
He quickly ducked down to the floor for a moment, before slowly pulling his head back up. His spiky blond hair popped up first, his bright blue eyes cautiously following suit. Just what was this thing?
It was fascinating, really. It had probably come down from Mount Nibel, where all the other monsters lived. But… why did it come down to the small village? And since it did… did that mean the others would, too? No! They couldn't, not with his mother and Tifa being down here too…
Tifa!
Oh, she had better be okay! His breath hitched in his throat as he approached his front door, gingerly pulling it open. The monster hadn't seemed to notice yet, and he quickly ducked his head outside. The sun's rays greeted his skin with a warm sensation, pouring all through his hair in an effort to make it even brighter than usual. He swiveled his head around quickly, sighing with relief as he realized Tifa was still inside and safe from the monster.
He was just about to pull his head back inside when he saw two boys on the other side of the well, and they were both pointing at the monster with a wide-eyed look and loud remarks.
"Look at its teeth!" One of them gasped, pointing at two rather large teeth protruding from its tiny mouth. Cloud swallowed nervously, just imagining what kind of horror those two, pointy teeth of terror could inflict on someone… someone like Tifa…
"Woah, it's so furry!"
"Where do you think it came from?"
"Is it from the mountain?"
"I think so…"
Cloud was intently listening to the two boy's conversation in such a manner that he hadn't noticed his next door neighbour exit her house, clad in a pretty blue dress with wine red eyes to match. She quietly shut her door, walking out towards the monster with a face of determination.
Cloud's eyes flickered over to the movement in his peripheral vision, and his eyes widened when he realized what she was doing- she was marching right over to the monster! She… she couldn't do that! She could get hurt!
He stood there for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He couldn't just go up and tell her not to… could he? But… what if she didn't like him? Would she think he was a freak too?
No… no she wouldn't. Because Tifa was nice. She wasn't like the boys she played with all the time, she was different… she was pretty and kind and nice and mature and didn't make fun or hurt him because he was different.
Sucking in a large gulp of air, Cloud mustered up the courage to walk over to Tifa. She looked up at him in surprise – then she smiled that smile that made him go all blushy and fidgety and nervous, but so happy at the same time even though the butterflies in his tummy were trying to fight their way out.
But that was impossible, cause butterflies didn't have claws and how did they get in his tummy if he didn't eat them? He was just being silly.
"Hello," she greeted kindly, brushing a stray lock of beautiful dark brown hair out of her eyes.
"Uhm… hi," he shuffled nervously, balling his fists at his side. What was he meant to say now? He hadn't thought this far ahead!
"Do you want to help me catch my bunny?" She asked pleasantly, smiling when Cloud looked up at her face, and away from her shoes.
"Your… bunny?"
"Yeah. He's right over there," she pointed over at the monster, and Cloud looked at her in surprise. The monster was Tifa's?
"But… it's a monster!" He exclaimed, ducking his head in embarrassment when she started laughing.
"No, silly! It's my bunny that Daddy bought me. Her name is Chance."
"Chance?" She nodded in affirmation at the name she had given it, throwing Cloud's young little mind into a whirlwind of activity… the monster that wasn't really a monster but he thought was one anyway belonged to Tifa? And she called it such a silly name?
"Okay," he mumbled quietly, walking alongside Tifa as she went over to her bunny. He couldn't help but feel proud. He had finally done it, he had finally talked to the pretty girl from next door. And, better yet, she didn't hate him! She didn't call him any names, or tell him to go away; instead, she had asked him to help her. To help her!
He started to smile foolishly, but he quickly pushed it back down.
"Why did you do that?" She asked suddenly, pushing another stray lump of hair off her face.
"Do what?"
"Stop your smile."
It was such an innocent question, but it made Cloud feel guilty anyway. Why did he do it? It was just something he did… he didn't deserve to smile. Instead of answering with words, he just shrugged his shoulders. He was never good with words.
"Well, I think you should smile more," she stated firmly, her hands on her hips as if to scold him. Cloud looked down, fighting a blush.
"Hey there," she said softly, squatting in her dress to scoop up the bunny in her hands. It didn't look so scary close up, he thought, but he still kept his distance. Tifa noticed this, and looked over at him with a small smile.
"Wanna hold her?" It was such a simple question, and even though he didn't want to, he'd never deny Tifa anything she wanted. Even if she wanted him to go catch her a thousand bunnies, he'd do it. But she wouldn't ask him that, she was too nice. He trusted her, so he nodded shyly in reply, holding his hands out as she slipped the bundle of fur into his hands.
"See? It's not so scary," she said encouragingly, giving Chance a pat on the head. No, it wasn't so scary, because he had Tifa next to him and she made everything okay. He gave a shy smile in response, walking back with Tifa to her house. When they reached the entrance, she took the bunny back out of his hands.
"Thankyou, Cloud," she smiled, opening her front door. Cloud nodded in reply, before hastily rushing back to his house and slamming the door shut, his heart beating faster than it ever had. It was all because of that little monster bunny he had a chance to speak to Tifa… a chance to make a friend. He smiled widely in response to the thought, a slight laugh escaping his lips.
Maybe Chance wasn't such a silly name for that bunny after all.
