Chapter 6 - Boy Problems
"Oh, man." Len worked furiously at trying to wash his underwear. "Oh, goodness, it's still sticky."
"Len, is something wrong?"
"YEA!" Len squawked, accidentally tossing the wet garment, which landed itself on the head and face of the speaker. He turned, only to see it was Cloud. "I . . . it was all sticky . . . I woke up with it like that, and . . . I wanted to get it clean, and . . ." His face turned red as he tried to explain himself.
Cloud peeled the garment off his head, noting the smell. He knew what happened just by the smell, and to see Len so flustered about it meant this was the kid's first time having it happen. "Len, it's alright."
"Huh?"
"I know what happened." Cloud replied, handing the underwear back to the boy. "It's called a wet dream. They happen as you grow up."
"It still stinks." Len replied, returning to his task of cleaning his underwear.
Cloud sighed. "It's probably time I tried explaining some things to you two."
Len finished with the task at hand and hung the underwear up to dry. "What's that?" he asked.
"Let's get Rin, first." said Cloud. "Saves explaining twice."
"Ok." Len went over and knocked on his sister's bedroom door. "Rin?"
"I'm in here!" she called from the bathroom.
"Ok. Cloud said he wants to talk to us." Len said.
"Alright. Be out in a minute." Rin called. She was out a moment later, and the two came to the livingroom, where Cloud was sitting.
"So, what did you want to talk about, Cloud?" Rin asked.
"Uh, well, you're both growing up, so, uh . . ." Cloud's face started to turn a little reddish with embarrassment.
This is almost funny, thought Rin. He turns red for almost anything that relates to a girl.
"Well, getting older can cause changes and, umm, different urges to . . ." Cloud paused when there was a knock at the door. With a sigh, he got up and answered. "What now, Tifa?"
"I'm here for the twins." Tifa said.
"First of all, call before coming over, we were in the middle of something." Cloud said. "And secondly, they aren't going with you."
"I've heard how many times you've had to call on Elena for help." Tifa snapped.
"At least I'm asking for help this time!" Cloud snapped back. He heard more than saw the twins come over.
"You'll never be a fit parent!" Tifa snapped back. "They'll only end up like Denzel in the end."
"I won't make that mistake!" Cloud returned.
Tifa looked past Cloud to the twins. "Come here, you two. You're coming home with me."
"No." said Len. "We're not going with you."
Cloud swallowed, but remained with his arm across the door to keep Tifa from entering his house.
"He may be awkward and clumsy, but Cloud is trying to do his best for us." Rin added.
"He's as dumb as they come." Tifa snapped. "Fine, stay with the chocobo-head. But don't come crying to me when one of you ends up like Denzel." She grinned slightly when she saw their confused faces. "He hasn't told you about Denzel, has he?"
"Get out." said Cloud. When she made no motion to leave, he wet his mouth and pursed his lips as though to whistle for the dogs.
"I was just leaving." Tifa said with a smirk.
Cloud slammed the door behind her in an effort to make his point. With a sigh, he turned to face the twins, almost afraid of what they were going to say. He was right.
"Who was Denzel?" Rin asked.
"Sit down." Cloud said softly. "I'll tell you about the son I used to have."