I don't own Final Fantasy nor The Legend of Zelda. Credit for their respective owners. :)
Enjoy.
Cloud's subconscious in bold
Cloud's thoughts in italic.
:D We are almost at the end.
I woke up. Link was still fast asleep though now his head rested on my chest. He looked lovely fast asleep….Lovely?...WHERE DID THAT COME FROM? Oh my! Seems your heart is all-aflutter. All-aflutter? Who uses that nowadays? Dunno. Who falls in love with his slave? That sounds so Shakespearian! Oh shut up! Je Je! Oh look! Sleeping Beauty is waking up! How about a good morning kiss! SHUT IT! "Huh…" His sleepy eyes, his open mouth, his confused look. Damn! He was adorable! His eyes finally landed on me. "Master Cloud…" He whispered.
"Good morning Link." I said and ruffled his hair. I noticed that ever since he came back, I had been less gloomy and moody. I felt livelier, stronger and happier. I felt alive. That was the impact he had on me, the influence he held over my spirit.
"Good morning." He said and then his eyes turned to a surprised look. He jumped off from me and bowed. "I'm terribly sorry!" He shouted. I couldn't be more confused and bemused.
"For what?" I asked in disbelief.
"I fell asleep near you! On top of you even!" He said and knelt. "I'm so sorry!"
"Link, please." I said and took his arm. "You don't have to apologize at all…"
"Yes I do." Link pleaded. "I don't deserve such a good Master like you." He sobbed a bit.
"No. No. No. Link." I said and knelt before him. "You deserve better. So much better."
"No. Master Cloud." He sobbed. "You are too good, too good. Too pure." He whispered.
"No, Link." I said sadly. How could someone like me be good? How could someone like me be pure? "I'm nothing of the sort."
"You are Master." His tear-stained blue eyes looked at mine. "You are the only one that has been kind to me. You are the only one who hasn't been a monster towards me." He smiled. "Thank you very much Master Cloud." I smiled back.
"Not at all." I answered and stood up and aiding him to get back to his feet. "So, what would there be for breakfast? I'm starving." My stomach growled a bit. I got beet red. Link chuckled. "Anything you desire Cloud." He had a charming laugh. I thought for a moment.
"A stack of pancakes sounds good enough."
"Then pancakes would be." Link said and disappeared into the kitchen. I sat on the couch and waited patiently for those succulent pancakes that were soon to be devoured by my hungry rage. After a few, a silent humming began to come from the kitchen. It was a really nice tune. Like a lullaby.
"Dris iz drelitrius."
"I'm glad you liked it." Link said happily and ate a bit of his. "Though I forgot to add a bit more of butter."
"Rike dris iz fine." I took a bit mine from mine. "Graia diz are good." Link giggled. My mouth was agape. He was really cute when he laughed. STOP THINKING LIKE THAT CLOUD! Hmm…You can't deny he is quite a looker. Stop it! Oh come on! Even Zack thought he was handsome. "Urgh!"
"Everything alright Cloud?" Link said worriedly. "Is the food not to your liking?"
"No. No. It's not the food Link. No. The food is delicious." I said and took a big piece into my mouth. "You zee? Yum! Derizious!" I said and looked his way. A scene that made my cheeks get flushed met me. Link's lips were parted. His golden hair being hit by the sunlight from a side shone like gold. His blue eyes looked even more startling. But the thing that made my cheeks even become hotter, was that from his bottom lip a tiny honey drop was making its way. I bit my lip. What was happening to me? WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO ME? It's easy. You like the guy. HELL NO! Yes you do. Please. Man I like Aerith. We know that. Nope. You like Link. I. LIKE. AERITH. How could I like a man? Besides Aerith is the one that my heart beat like crazy. The one that makes me melt when I hear her voice. She makes my world dissolve as soon as she steps into the room. I'll die for her if I had to. And yet she likes Zack. No. Give you a brake. You and I know that. You admitted it the day you went away. You already knew. Hell you even yelled that to him. And he reaffirmed it. No! THAT'S NOT TRUE! FUCK! ARE YOU BLIND THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN REALIZE IT ALTHOUGH YOU YELLED IT AT HIM! STOP IT! "Master!" A shy and known voice brought me back. Link was staring at me, his soft hand on top of mine, which was clenching the fork with force unknown to me. He gave it a reaffirming squeeze and my worries melted away. I sighed. "Are you alright Master?"
"Now I'm fine, Link." I said with a calmed smile and removed my hand from his. "Let's finish breakfast." He nodded, although I could see a slight disappointment in his eyes, and we ate our breakfast.
"So, basically…the mouse outwitted the cat."
"I don't know what the hell you meant but, yeah that's it."
"Damn! No payment until we solve this case. That means no food, no water, no electricity…." A gasp. "No television! That means…" Another gasp. "NO LAW AND ORDER!" Gasp. "CLOUD!" He whined. "YOU KNOW I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT IT! YOU KNOW I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT KNOWING IF STABLER WILL EVER RETURN! CLOUD! WHAT DO WE DO?"
"Calm down Zack. We will solve it one way or another." I said calmly, although from the inside I was dying. I finally came to terms with the crushing reality. Zack and Aerith were a pair, an unbreakable pair. I had no chance with Aerith since the beginning. Deep down I knew it. But I tried to deny the truth, figuring that one way or another I may be able to make Aerith fall for me. But who knew that it was such an impossible task. I blindly and stupidly believed that I stood a chance before Zack. That somehow, it might be I the one would run away with the pretty girl. But…she had fallen for him. I could feel it at times. The looks she would give him, the touches she will share with him, the voice she used when he was around, how she worried over his being, the times she would make the food that he liked and even add a bit of her own touch, how she would greet him before anyone else, how she would dress just for his liking. She loved him. I tried hard to believe otherwise; but I guess sometimes reality likes to slap you hard on the face. That's what happened to me. Reality had been the bitch that she liked to be. She had been the bitch for far too many times. I guess fighting her was like fighting a fiend empty handed…it was just suicide. "Zack…" I said sadly.
"Cloud?" His voice came worried. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?"
"Yes, Zack. Everything is fine." I said trying to sound cheerful. I had let out too much.
"Are you sure?" Zack asked disturbed. "I think not. What's wrong Cloud?" Damn Zack and his woman intuition! He knew me to well! I didn't want to tell him about my finding. That would only make him feel awkward.
"I just had a terrible night. Hardly slept." I lied. That he would buy.
"I see." Bingo! "Oh well, then go to bed right now dude! Remember what my momma used to say…"
"Better sleep today and regret your laziness tomorrow." I quoted and laughed a bit. "I know. She was a wise woman your mother."
"Yup. Indeed she was." He said and laughed out loud. "Well, gotta leave you chocobo. Tell me later what happened yesterday that couldn't allow your eyelids to close." Fuck!
"Okay, puppy. So we go tomorrow first thing in the morning." I proposed.
"Fine by me." He said happily. "Well, see ya tomorrow Cloud."
"See you, Zack." I said and hung. I sighed and fell to my knees. "That was harder to hide than what I thought."
"Hide what Cloud?" Link said and knelt beside me; his eyes a blue turmoil between worry and sadness. "Are you alright?"
"Yes. Thank you." I said and smiled. He smiled back, but soon his smile dropped and his face reflected nervousness. "What is it Link?"
"Well…it's just that…" A knock on the door. "I'll get it."
"Link." I said and tried to hold his arm, but he was too fast and soon opened the door. "Mistress Ted!" He said happily.
"Ted?" I yelled.
"Hello there, honeycomb." She said and ruffled Link's hair. "Hey pumpkin." She saluted me.
"The hospital checked you out." I asked.
"Yup." She said taking her characteristic cigarette. "This morning. And since today it's Wednesday, I figured I could drop by and check out on my sweet tart over here." She winked at Link who looked down in embarrassment.
"Today it's Wednesday?" I asked amazed.
"Yes it is." Ted assured. "And I've been dying for it to arrive. Well, it came many times, but it was kind of hard to get in touch with you guys. Too many things happened that made it impossible for me to check on my beloved muffin." She gave Link a motherly hug. Link blushed.
"Well, if that's the case. Guess I'll leave you guys alone for a while. I'll go and buy some stuff at the market and come back immediately." I said and took my jacket. "See you later then." I said and got out.
"Well then I guess we shall begin." I heard behind the door. I hoped Ted knew what she was doing. I couldn't bear to lose him. Not again.
