The Tsviets get a chance to see the ocean.
And someone finally finds a way to relax.
-o0o-
So, this started out because I went walking around the area, found a smaller beach and spent wayyy to much time taking pictures and thought, I wonder if the Tsviets had ever seen the ocean.
Which lead to this.
This is one of three we ended up starting, if it wasn't for Lokir's internet problems.
Disclaimer: Any characters you recognize belong to their respective franchises.
-o0o-
Chapter 14: Beaches And Burns
-o0o-
"So . . . who's up for a vacation?"
The Tsviets practically screeched with delight, while Sephiroth and Keith both groaned at the fact they were going to lose more work hours.
Cloud merely raised an eyebrow as he looked at the two workaholics; Sephiroth hunched over his desk while Keith just rolled his eyes.
Somehow the Tsviets enjoyed staying in Sephiroth's office, as it had the best view, and they liked to drag Keith along because they liked badgering him.
"It's been at least four months since you had that vacation, and I need to go check the Junon base anyway." Cloud continued, ignoring how Sephiroth was steadily getting paler (he had learnt something quite interesting during that last vacation, and getting back into his uniform after that had been quite painful).
The Tsviets were looking at the two of them with eager eyes, the four of them had never seen a beach (living underground for gods knows how many years would do that to a person), Sephiroth could ignore the puppy eyes, but Keith . . . he may have a slight weakness to them. Especially when it's from traumatized kids.
"Fine . . . but it's only for two days maximum."
The last time Keith had been absent from the company without warning and prior arrangements, they found that two days was the limit before the building fell into chaos. They had learned their lesson and everytime Keith had to leave for a few days, he had to spend at least a week to prepare his staff for his absence.
"Two days should be enough." Cloud grinned, already pulling out his PHS to make the arrangements.
-o0o-
They were thirty minutes into the trip, and already Sephiroth was wanting to go back and work.
Keith was doing better than the General, but they all notice how he kept reaching for his phone with twitching fingers.
Weiss was trying to keep Keith distracted by hanging onto his arm and chatting away, Azul just leant against Sephiroth who was attempting to sleep to pass the time.
Somehow during the planning process, Genesis had decided to invite himself; dragging Angeal along with him (and the Puppy in the process). Angeal was not happy with his friend, but once hearing the trip was mostly for the Tsviets, he admitted the idea wasn't a bad one.
Cid of course was the reason they had transport, the tea drinking pilot was chatting away with Cloud at the helm, curse words strewn in every sentence. Keith was doing his best to shield Weiss and Nero's ears from the language, but Rosso was a lost cause already, and Cloud merely shrugged and mentioned Marlene and Denzel knowing worse at that age.
At least two or three hours passed before they finally docked in Junon, exiting onto the landing strip that was the first thing Cloud had built on the base as there were only helipads. Cid was getting a lot more business thanks to this, so no one was complaining.
Cloud and Angeal went off to sort out the business side of things (Sephiroth was forbidden and Cloud needed a SOLDIER with him at least), so that left Keith to drag the rest of them off to the hotel.
In Sephiroth's case, that was literal.
-o0o-
"I hate this trip."
Keith merely stared at his little brother, who was scowling as they browsed the swimsuit section of the clothing store.
Midgar didn't exactly have a selection of swimwear given its central location on the continent, so the only place one could buy such items was on the coast. Rosso was already elbow deep into the clothing racks, accompanied by Genesis who insisted on finding something for Sephiroth since said man was refusing to even search.
Cloud had messaged them earlier and was going to meet them for lunch, which meant Keith was stuck supervising the lot of them.
He had wasted no time, grabbing a pair of board-shorts and a short sleeved button up shirt, before letting the rest run free. Nero and Weiss lingered by his side, watching as Rosso and Genesis practically tear the store apart looking for the 'perfect' outfit. Zack had brought his own swimwear (from previous failed vacations in Costa del Sol), and Angeal had asked Keith to get him something reasonable.
Angeal was the most modest of the lot, so Keith had found a pair of dark green board-shorts and a shirt for the man, although finding one in Angeal's size was a little hard since he was quite broad shouldered, along with his muscular body frame.
The next thing he knew, Cloud was on the phone.
"Rosso sent me the pictures, and I am NOT going to allow anyone to get away with THAT. We are here to have fun, and maybe get some sun. The most modest things I'll allow are the Mumbles. And that outfit of yours better be white if you're keeping it."
"Light blue. White goes horribly with my skin tone." Keith retorted, glaring at Rosso who just grinned impishly as she browsed the shawl section.
"White, or I'm ripping it first chance I get. We don't burn, so you have no excuse. If you were related to our resident vampire then maybe I would have considered, but you aren't so I'm not. Mako takes care of most of that stuff anyway."
Keith's left eye twitched, he couldn't believe he was arguing over colour choices. It was the most absurd conversation he had ever had, and he had gone through a lot over the years (stupid telemarketers).
Why didn't he drag Vincent along with them?
-o0o-
Back in Midgar, Vincent sneezed. The new Turk recruits quickly averted their eyes when he glared at them.
-o0o-
An hour later, they all finally exited the shop, Rosso grinning victoriously, and Keith was ready to murder someone. He thought Genesis was bad, but Rosso was a whole other story.
When they met Cloud at the designated cafe, no one could blame him for kicking Cloud's chair out from under him. The blonde CEO just grinned from where he was sprawled on the ground. It was better to get it over with now then let it escalate, Cloud had learned that during his childhood.
Keith continued to sulk throughout lunch, muttering under his breath as he decimated his burger and chips, Zack giving the blonde janitor a few concerned looks but Cloud waved it off with a smile. It was best to just let Keith get it out of his system.
The Tsviets wanted to hit the beach immediately, Cloud had 'conveniently' booked their rooms in the hotel that was closest to the beach, so the adults were practically dragged along since the Tsviets were so excited.
The younger members of their party were dressed in minutes, Angeal took longer but Keith came out last. He looked very disgruntled as he tugged a thin zip up hoodie over his shoulders, and remained silent the entire five minute walk to the beach.
Junon had apparently learnt that they could make a ton of money off the tourists as the Junon beaches were a bit more calmer than Costa del Sol, so there were lockers for people to store their stuff for a fee. Better than to have someone steal valuables lying around on the sand.
The four teenagers almost threw themselves into the water, but Angeal and Keith yanked them back to remind them about sunscreen.
Something that they all forgot about several hours later.
-o0o-
"Looks like they're having fun. Not going to join them?"
Keith glowered at Genesis (who had been on Cloud's side with the swimsuit debate), the auburn haired man grinning, the towel slung over his shoulders gradually getting damp as his hair dripped seawater.
"I rather enjoy the sun. You don't get much of that in Midgar." Keith muttered as he slunk further into his chair, Sephiroth made no comment from where he was slumped in his own chair (Keith was pretty sure the General was napping). Cloud and Zack were entertaining the teens while Angeal had gone off to find ice for the cooler.
"Your loss." Genesis shrugged, dropping his towel on an empty chair and turning back to the water. However, he faltered midstep, and there was no way Keith didn't miss the smirk growing on the man's face.
"Although, the longer you stay seated, the more attention you might get." Keith blanched at Genesis' words, bolting upright and finally noticing that, those imaginary stares? Weren't just imaginary.
"You've got to be kidding me . . ." Keith sighed, he wasn't in the mood for flirtations (he was aware he had a decent physique, but he was always busy with work so relationships weren't his top priority).
During his mutterings, Keith hadn't noticed how Rosso and Weiss had left the water.
"Uncle Boom, come and swim! The water's great!" Rosso exclaimed, the two teens grabbing his arms and dragging him towards the ocean.
Seeing how the two were so happy, he couldn't put a damper on their spirit, so Keith gave up resisting.
"Give me a sec." The two teens whooped with joy and gave a thumbs up to Azul and Nero, who were watching from the water. Keith quickly pulled the light blue shirt off and tossed it onto his chair, leaving him in the rather tight white shorts and flip flops.
Once the footwear was kicked off, he decided he might as well have a little fun while he could.
Rosso and Weiss screeched when he hoisted the two over his shoulders, their screeches turning into laughter as he jostled them before heading towards the water.
A day out on the beach with the family wasn't a bad idea after all.
-o0o-
"It's nice to see him loosen up."
Sephiroth peered up from under the book he was using to cover his face, noticing the soft smile on Genesis' face as he watched Keith throw the two Tsviets into the waves. His older brother had been stressed ever since JENOVA has been disposed off, even after destroying the last remnant himself, his shoulders tensed as he tried to juggle the Tsviets and work at the same time.
Cloud was able to read his big brother better than Sephiroth could, and for once, he was glad that someone else other than just him and Omael knew when Keith was at his breaking point. Even if that meant he had to postpone work.
"You're not going back in?" Sephiroth questioned as Genesis plopped down into a chair, pushing his wet fringe back just as Angeal returned with the ice.
"I think I'll enjoy the sun like 'Uncle Boom' suggested. It's been a while since I've had any, and I'm dreadfully pale these days."
Sephiroth took a once over of Genesis, and scoffed under his breath.
"Yes, you're practically 'lily-white'."
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Genesis almost fell out of his chair as he shot up, Sephiroth just snickered and tried to go back to sleep. Angeal just chuckled at Genesis' behaviour as he filled the cooler with the ice.
"You're practically pasty, patsy."
-o0o-
Cloud glanced up as he heard an angry shriek coming from the shore, and it was to no surprise that he saw Genesis tackling Sephiroth out of his chair, the silver General letting out a yelp as the two tumbled into the sand.
Not that he blamed Sephiroth for screeching, the sand was baking hot.
"What'd Seph say?" Keith asked, toting Rosso on his shoulders while Zack had Weiss. The Puppy had suggested a game of chicken, Rosso climbing Keith like a tree before declaring war on Weiss. Cloud had to supervise Nero, who had some motor function back in his arms, but he could only use them for a certain amount of time before he got tired.
The teen was just happy to float on the surface with a mechanical arm latched onto Cloud's wrist. Thankfully the mechanical arms had been made waterproof once Scarlet and Reeve took a look at them, they had a few different versions in the works, since Nero's current ones were a little too bulky for his frame.
"Made a comment on Genesis being pale." Cloud replied, watching as Rosso and Keith toppled Weiss from Zack's shoulders for the fourth time. Weiss went down with a shriek and dragged Zack down with him, the two spluttering as they emerged from the water.
Cloud was lucky that Azul just wanted to paddle around with Nero.
"Big Brother? I think 'Geal needs some help breaking Gen and Big Bro up." Nero murmured, gaining Cloud's attention to the two grown ass men trying to wrestle each other into the sand on the shore.
"Ah . . . we probably should help."
Sand in one's mouth was not the nicest sensation, one that he was sure Genesis was about to find out about.
-o0o-
The impromptu match between Sephiroth and Genesis was cut short when Cloud managed to drag the General off his fellow SOLDIER, who was similarly held back by Angeal.
It took Keith dragging the two idiots into the water to get the fight to stop, Rosso and Weiss were a little too eager to splash them in the face.
That started a water war, and in the process . . .
They forgot to reapply sunscreen.
-o0o-
*Here comes the booze*
-o0o-
Five hours later
"Everything hurts."
No one had the heart to laugh at Sephiroth's pain, his normally ivory pale skin was lobster red, the General could barely walk without his sunburnt skin causing him agony. His long hair wasn't helping, the wet mop of silver was pasted to his back. Cloud had tried to peel it off, but Sephiroth had let out a horrendous shriek causing Cloud to hastily drop the silver strands.
Azul was in the same predicament, although he wasn't as burning red as Sephiroth was. Genesis had decided the two of them were done for the day, and was taking them back to the hotel. The Crimson Commander had gained a healthy tan himself (his skin was almost dark brown), but given he and Angeal had been born and raised in Banora, he was safe from sunburn.
Cloud would follow after them once stopping by a pharmacy, as he had a homemade remedy for sunburn, Nero and Weiss would go with him. Leaving Rosso, Zack, Angeal and Keith to grab the rest of their things.
Cloud's skin had gone a dark gold, which went surprisingly well with his colouring. Zack (being a Gongagan native) had no trouble with the sun, proudly proclaiming how his natural tan had returned. Angeal affirmed it, having seen said tan when his student had been a new cadet. Rosso was gleeful to note she had the same colour, causing the two to wonder if she was from Gongaga herself. The burly First though, was the darkest of the lot, his skin almost black with a clear orangish tint. Someone was going to have a heart attack when they returned to Midgar, probably the Keepers of Honour.
Nero and Weiss had somehow gained the exact same colouring as Cloud, both grinning in delight that they had the same skin colour as their Big Brother.
Keith though, his light olive tan had now become a rich olive tone, causing Weiss to ask why their Uncle didn't have the same tan as their Big Brother, weren't they from the same village?
That lead to Keith explaining how he wasn't born in Nibelheim, actually, he had no idea where he was from, but he had lived in the mountain town since he was four. That left him in a solemn mood, and somehow on the way back to the hotel, he got distracted.
The teens were too worried about Azul and Sephiroth to notice, and the rest of them just wanted to wash the sand off.
-o0o-
"OH DEAR GAIA IT BURNS!"
"SUCK IT UP! YOU ONLY HAVE TO LAST UNTIL THE STINGING STOPS!"
Azul whimpered as he watched Sephiroth's reaction to Cloud's 'remedy', knowing that he had to undergo the same treatment.
"This is the one time I hate having enhanced senses." Sephiroth groaned as Cloud dumped another bucket full of oil infused water over his back, the edges of the bathtub were close to cracking from where his fingers dug into the plastic.
"Look at it this way; You want to have your burn stinging for about 15-20 minutes, or about four fucking weeks?"
" . . . . . I'll take minutes please."
-o0o-
The hotel did provide room service, so they ended up eating their respective dinners in their rooms.
It was only until it was time for bed did they notice something.
"Um, Big Brother?"
Cloud was confused as to why Azul was at the door, but answered him all the same.
"Something wrong?"
"Ah, Uncle Boom . . . he, he's not in the room?"
Now the Cloud thought about it, the last place they had seen Keith was at the beach . . .
Given how some of the beach goers had been looking at his big brother, he had an idea of what had happened. Keith didn't really have a preference (or so he was aware of), so he probably was going to filch some free drinks from the suckers.
"Uncle Boom is probably just looking around town for stuff. He'll be fine, I know he had his things, I can always call him if need be. And I have his room keys. You can bunk with me and Rosso tonight though."
Azul gave him a smile before rushing back to his room for his sleepwear, and Cloud pulled out his phone.
Best to just check on Keith though . . .
It took six dials until Keith picked up, Cloud could hear music pounding in the background, and Keith sounded like he was shouting.
"Hey Cloud! Sorry for ditching, but some blokes wanted to buy me a few drinks!"
"That's fine, Azul was just worried."
"Whose Azul?"
"Nephew."
"Huh, how'd we get through half the vodka?"
"You drank like two cups dude! Mountain boy here drank the rest!"
"The hell we get pineapple premix vodka -""Pineapple premix vodka mishka. Appropriate, no?"
"Sounds fruity."
"I am! Thanks for noticing!""Keith, how many drinks have you had?"
"I dunno. This is the what, third- "
"Fourth."
"Fourth bar I've hit."
"Don't overdo it."
"I'm gonna have to hang up Cloud, there's a round of shots going round!"
Cloud just stared at his beeping phone.
He was starting to regret letting Keith loose in Junon.
-o0o-
Keith returned the next morning with a police officer in tow.
Luckily the teens were sleeping in, exhausted from yesterday's swimming, so only Genesis, Angeal, and Cloud were there to witness what happened next.
"Keith . . . why is a police officer escorting you?" Angeal sounded very concerned, Keith's appearance was a bit haggard and he had a much too large shirt around his shoulders.
"Um . . . I may have landed eight different guys in jail? In my defense, I told them I wasn't interested in anything more than drinking . . ."
The officer behind Keith coughed and Cloud took the paper the police officer held out.
It turned out Keith had hopped between twenty different bars, getting free drinks from both men and women who thought they could get lucky. Eight men got arrested for attempted sexual assault, each at different bars. Two were in the hospital for broken bones as Keith was a little tipsy and couldn't control his strength as well as he normally could. But the police officer said the guys had it coming, they were on record for this sort of stuff before, and hopefully their brush with Keith would get them to straighten their behaviour.
In fact, Keith did them a bit of a service, but Cloud was wondering where on earth Keith had gotten the shirt from.
In answer, Keith just grinned and mentioned how the officers were very. . . accommodating, lighting up a cigarette and letting out a cloud of smoke with a blissful sigh. The officer had long since departed, and as Keith leaned against the balcony (the only place he could smoke), none of them missed the distinct teeth marks when the shirt slipped off his shoulders.
As much as Cloud loved his big brother, he did not need to know those details.
-o0o-
OMAKE
-o0o-
Cloud began to notice that after their trip to Junon (and after the fiasco that was the SOLDIER fans reaction to the new tans), Keith spent an awful lot of time on his phone.
And when an executive needed to visit Junon for a security check, Keith practically dove upon the request.
He was stopping by Keith's office to give a folder containing the security measures, but faltered at the door when he heard his brother on the phone.
"I'll be dropping by Junon in a week, so . . . do you have any off days?"
The metal door prevented Cloud from hearing the person's reply, but he sure as hell heard Keith's.
"Great, I'll see you then Shiro. Oh, and let Lance know too, you promised to show me a bar I didn't hit. How many bars does Junon have?"
But after the next sentence, Cloud dropped the folder and ran.
"Oh, you mean one of those clubs~"
HE SERIOUSLY DIDN'T NEED TO KNOW THAT.
-o0o-
A/N: Soooo . . . if anyone sees the reference I made . . . yeah, Keith left Junon with a few souvenirs . . . On a side note, the booze comment? I started drinking fizzy and Chaos broke out the vodka. Somehow the sugar high and vodka escalated the plot into Keith getting laid.
LiulfrLokison out! :3
I don't remember half of what I prompted again... Must of drunk it too fast.