I'm not sure how many times I need to point out that I don't own anything that has to do with Final Fantasy, or likewise.
Warnings: Strong language, possible violence, possible adult themes (all of this may or may not appear throughout the duration of this story. If it makes you uncomfortable, don't read it.)
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Rating: R
Pairing: OC/Cloud
Feedback: Please R&R. Constructive Criticism is welcome.
Authors Note: I have paper cuts on the corners of my mouth because my friends are stupid as hell. Please, be kind.
She was sitting outside when I returned, with a small smile on her face, talking to someone inside the bar. The door was open, like we always left it when it was warm out. I didn't know who she was talking to, but then a certain annoying redhead appeared in the doorway and offered Novalee a cigarette.
"No thanks," I heard her say, and she looked up as I stepped off my bike.
"Heyyy, Cloud! What's up?" Reno grinned, and I nodded at him.
"Cloud, I've got news. It could be good or bad, depending on whether or not you want me around," Novalee smiled, standing up and brushing off her backside.
She walked towards me, before turning back to look at Reno, "Excuse us for a second, Reno."
His eyebrows went up. "Ohhh, I get it. Well, don't do anything I wouldn't do. I'm gonna go find Tifa…" his voice faded as he went further into the building.
"So, Tifa offered me a job. Said she needed some help around the bar. I asked her why you don't help her, and she told me that you're in the delivery business. I told her I'd get back to her," she explained, looking up at me.
I didn't know what she wanted me to say, so I said nothing.
"What do you think would be best for me? You're the doctor here, right?" she smirked, putting her hands on her hips.
"Medically, I think you're fine. Tifa does get very lonely, only having the kids to keep her company…" I said, and the second part of it was mostly to myself.
"Kids?" Novalee's eyebrows went up.
"Not her kids. We watch over then sometimes, that's all."
"So you think I should stay to keep Tifa company?" she asked, and I hesitated slightly, before nodding.
"I suppose that's a good enough reason."
And then she turned and walked back inside.
I knew Cloud had ulterior motives.
I could see it in his face. I didn't know what it was, but he definitely didn't want me to stay for Tifa. At least not entirely.
When I walked back inside, I found Tifa and Reno talking and giggling like schoolgirls, Reno sitting on top the bar, and Tifa leaning against it.
"Got yourself a new bartender, m'lady," I told Tifa, and she cheered.
"It's going to be wonderful having someone other than men around all the time!" she exclaimed, and Reno pouted.
"Not you, silly," Tifa giggled, and Reno's jaw dropped.
"Are you saying I'm not a man?"
"NO! Reno, you come here once every three or four days. I meant that it's going to be nice living with another girl my age….wait, Novalee, how old are you?"
"Twenty."
"When's your birthday?" Reno asked, and I told them.
"Heyyy, you're going to be legal drinking age then…I KNOW WHAT I'M GETTING YOU FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY!" he yelled, and Tifa glared at him.
It was a while before Cloud came back inside, and when he did, he went right upstairs. I looked at the clock; it was only six-thirty.
"What's wrong with Cloudy?" Reno asked, and I shrugged, hoisting myself up on the bar with Reno.
"So, Re-Re, how old are you?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.
"Yeah right, like you need to know," he gave me a slight shove and I pouted.
After about an hour of sitting on the bar and talking and laughing with Reno and Tifa, and later a man who Reno introduced as 'his Rude' who didn't do much laughing, I got bored and a little tired, so I went upstairs. Cloud hadn't come back down yet, and I wondered if he went to sleep.
I went up the stairs and knocked on the door quietly, before hearing a pair of footsteps padding across the wood floor. The door was opened, and Cloud stood there. I had to hold back a gasp at his appearance. Up until now, I'd seen Cloud only in his SOLDIER uniform. But now as he stood in front of me, I hoped that I could get my hands on that uniform so I could burn it, and he would be forced to walk around like this.
I noticed his face first, but my eyes quickly moved down the clean, unbroken line of his throat and over his exposed collarbones. His chest was toned but not bulging, and he had the nicest six-pack I'd ever laid eyes on, and I've seen some doosies. His hips were narrow and just peeked over the edge of the pajama pants he was wearing that looked similar to the ones I stole.
"Whatcha doin'? I asked, and his hesitated a moment.
"Thinking," he said quietly, and I nodded.
"Well, I'll leave you to it then," I decided, and he just looked at me.
"Novalee, come in," he said and moved away from the doorway to let me in. I walked past him and stood there awkwardly for a minute, while Cloud shut the door. I looked at his back and found myself amazed again. His shoulders were beautiful, and the curve of his back just above his buttocks was wonderfully smooth. I stopped myself from staring, and averted my eyes to the floor, fighting back the blush rising on me cheeks.
"I needed some company," I said quietly, and Cloud looked at me.
"I mean, other than Reno and Tifa," I clarified, and he laughed quietly, before rubbing his left eye.
"Also, I figured since I'm going to be staying for a while, it'd be nice to know more about the 'infamous Lady Killer Cloud'," I chuckled, before plopping down on his bead, laying across the foot of it.
"Did Reno tell you that?" he asked, falling down next to me and looking at me.
"Yes."
"If there's one thing you need to know, it's don't take Reno seriously," he grimace, and I smiled wider.
"If there's one thing to know about you, what is it?" I asked, and he thought for a minute.
"I'm not a chocobo-head," he grinned, and I laughed.
"I've actually never seen a real chocobo…" I admitted, and Cloud's eyebrows shot up.
"I'll race you sometime," he promised, and I laughed.
"You're…or were, I guess…SOLDIER. What's your weapon of choice?" I asked, and he pointed behind our heads. I looked and saw a huge buster sword leaning against the wall.
"It's…big," I said, not know what else to say.
"You said you got into a fight. Were you armed?" he wondered, and I snorted.
"Not nearly as well as you are when you battle. I have two daggers, that's it," I watched his expression. It didn't change much, just a slight widening of the eyes.
"And you're out there, attacking Shin-Ra rejects?"
"Hey now. I was the one that was attacked, okay bud? But what can I say, I like hand-to-hand combat. When you're tiny like me, it works a hell of a lot better than force," I defended myself, and Cloud thought for a moment, before nodding.
"I'm still going to teach you to properly wield a sword. For soundness of mind, if nothing else," he yawned, and I noticed how cute it was.
"Sleepy, chocobo-head?" I asked, and he glared at me jokingly, before another yawn forced it's way out.
"I'll take that as a yes. This is your bed, isn't it?" I asked, and he nodded.
"Well, there's my cue to leave-" I started, but his warm fingers touched my arm midway through me standing up.
"Yeah right. You're the wounded one. Park it, I've got a cot that's actually pretty comfortable," he said, and he was almost convincing.
"Nope. I refuse to kick you out of your own bed." I went to get up again, and I felt the bed shift before a firm grip was placed around my wrist, holding me in an awkward position of half-standing, half-leaning.
Cloud pulled me back down gently, and my back hit the bed with a bounce, and then it happened very fast. Cloud rolled quickly to his knees before I could react, and before I knew it he was leaning over me, a finely muscled arm on either side of my head, and those mako-blue eyes intense and staring down at me.
"Stay," he demanded, and I was a little shocked. It must have showed on my face, because his expression softened, and he spoke quieter now, a bit of the confidence leaking out of his voice.
"It's a queen sized bed. If we really wanted, we could fit Reno and Tifa, as well as Marlene and Denzel in here with us. Please, stay," he smiled then, and my defenses were shattered.
"Fine, but if I wake up and you're trying to spoon with me, I'll show you how good I am at hand to hand combat," I warned, and he raised his eyebrows.
"Sounds fun," he said seriously, and I stuck my tongue out at him before pushing him to the side. He bounced and rolled right off the end of the bed, and I sat there a moment, before I burst out laughing.
I crawled to the edge of the bed and peered over, and Cloud was laying on the floor, looking a little stunned. I was still laughing, almost hysterically, and nearly wet myself when I caught sight of Cloud's dumbfounded expression.
Then he was laughing too, and I rolled onto my back and continued laughing. Cloud managed to pull himself back onto the bed, only to collapse into a fit of surprisingly girlish giggles, before the door opened and Tifa stood in the doorway.
"I heard a thud and then the strangest thing happened…" she started, and both Cloud and myself tried to slow our laughter enough to breathe and explain what had happened.
Tifa was staring at Cloud like he was a stranger. Her eyes were slightly wide, and I realized that she was shocked about something, though I didn't know what.
"He rolled, and then 'BAM'!" I explained to her once I could compose myself, before cracking up again.
The bed was shaking with our laughter, and then Tifa laughed before leaving the room, shaking her head and shutting the door behind her.
Cloud was laying behind me on his back, taking deep, labored breaths. I let myself rock backward until my hand rested on his stomach. Every now and then, a stray laugh would escape, and I could feel Cloud's frame shake from it.
I wondered why Tifa looked so surprised, but soon forgot when Cloud spoke.
"I haven't laughed in ages," he sighed, and I rolled over, propping myself up on my elbows to look at him. His eyes were sleepy, and I could still see the remnant of his smile on the edges of his pink, pouty lips.
"Do you believe in fairy-tales, Cloud Strife?" I asked, and he shook his head.
"Me neither," I grinned and leaned forward, closing the gap between us. Our lips connected, and I could feel him hesitate, before he was kissing me back. The kiss was gentle, and the softness of those lips of his almost unbearable. It felt incredibly right, kissing Cloud. His hand came up and rested on the side of my neck, his thumb caressing my jaw very slightly.
When I pulled back; rather unwillingly, I'll admit, Cloud smiled, looking a little dazed, and I knew that this was where I wanted to be.
