AN: Heyyyyyyy look, an update!
Finals are coming up, so I might go ghost for a while until the end of the year, but I'm glad I can get this update out now. I've also been having a hard time with writing lately, so sorry for any weird typos and such, I tried to proofread the best I could :D
When I originally wrote this chapter, I wasn't planning on using it for fall fest, but it actually worked out pretty perfectly! So here's my entry for #CloTiFallFestival2020!
Day 5: Reunion
"Sometimes I look at the stars
and try to find all the lights
that forge my constellation
and when I can't find mine
I look for yours."
- WT
Cloud's relief at the beginning of the week is short-lived; just as soon as he could expel one of his demons and heal from losing his friend, Rufus shows up to haunt him. Every night this week, he's startled awake, sometimes more than once, fingers itching to pick up the phone and call his mother. As he lies awake, Cloud has to tell himself over and over that she's fine - she's at work, she's asleep, she's eating lunch - and there's no reason for him to worry.
Saturday morning proves to be no different.
Cloud doesn't bother to check the time as he stumbles out of bed and toward the bathroom. It's still dark outside, but there is a hint of light on the horizon - probably somewhere around five in the morning. He splashes his face - no point in trying to go back to sleep. He has a few things that should keep him busy until his appointment later today, anyway.
In his closet, Cloud changes into clothes better suited for outdoor work before heading down into the garage. Mowing the lawn at this hour would only piss the neighbors off, so he works on the old car for a while. The engine needs the most help, and he's finally getting somewhere with it. Cloud straps a forehead light on and presses the lift for the car before sliding underneath with some tools. He takes a few minutes to inspect it and mentally sort the tasks left to get it running again. A grease stained list from his toolbox reminds him of the parts and fluids he still needs to purchase. Maybe he'll pick some of those up after physical therapy.
He's under there for a while before he hears the garage door open. Cloud isn't exactly sure how much time passes, but at least he's made substantial progress on his repairs. The smell of cigarette smoke lingers as Cid moves through the room, mumbling under his breath, but he doesn't seem to notice Cloud's there. Cloud checks a few things off of his list before sliding from underneath the car.
"Shit!"
His uncle jumps, clutching his shirt over his heart, as Cloud lifts himself up. Once he recognizes his nephew, Cid growls and takes his cigarettes out of his breast pocket to examine them.
"What the hell were you doin' under there?"
Cloud takes his forehead light off and tosses it onto the workbench, raising a brow.
"Fixing… the car?"
Cid curses; smoke curls out of his nostrils and toward the fluorescent lights. "I know that. I mean, why are you under there so damn early?"
Cloud washes his hands in the sink to remove excess oil. "Couldn't sleep. Figured I'd do something productive."
"Well, that's a first," Cid mutters. Cloud glares at him but his uncle doesn't notice; he's already making his way to his office, muttering about damaging his precious cancer sticks.
It takes a supreme amount of effort for Cloud's only response to be a deep breath and a clenched fist. Another moment passes before he uncurls his fingers and puts all of his things away. The sun is up now, so better to get started on the lawn than stay and fight with his uncle.
Before Cloud can make it to the end of the driveway, a man bolts out of one of the nearby houses and flags him down.
"Hey there! Cloud, right? I'm John, from across the street."
Cloud looks the man up and down before reaching out and taking his hand. He's seen him around before, and as much as he doesn't care to learn the man's name, Cloud knows it'll stick with him.
"Yeah?"
John pauses with his mouth open, unsure of what to do with Cloud's indifference, before regaining his composure. "Is your uncle in the garage?"
Cloud's eyes narrow. "Yeah."
"Thanks buddy." John pats him on the shoulder before jogging inside; not too long after, his and Cid's voices reverberate through the garage door.
It's not until he's at the gate of his uncle's house that Cloud realizes he'd been muttering under his breath the entire walk there. He rolls his eyes; Cid's rubbing off on him a little too much for Cloud's liking.
The front door is unlocked, but Shera's not there. A note on the kitchen counter thanks him for mowing the lawn and lets him know there's breakfast for him in the oven. Cloud can't help but smile at her thoughtfulness, grateful that at least one of his guardians is tolerable. He digs into the quiche she left for him, washes his dishes, and makes his way for the garage. Shera's back from her errands by the time he's done.
"Good morning, Cloud," she greets as she sets a few grocery bags on the counter.
"Hey. Do you need help?"
"Oh no, this is all I got." Shera spies the plate in the drying rack. "Did you enjoy your breakfast?"
Cloud scratches his stomach. "It was pretty good. You'll have to give mom that recipe."
Shera laughs as she puts the eggs away. "I'll do that. Do you need the car for your appointment?"
"Yeah. I might run some errands afterwards, too."
She waves a hand in the air. "That's fine. I can take Cid's if I need to go anywhere else." Before Cloud can leave, Shera gives him a peck on the cheek. "Hope your appointment goes well, dear."
"Thanks, Aunt Shera."
Cloud takes the keys and makes a stop at home to shower and change, careful to avoid his uncle, before heading to the hospital. Despite all of his chores, he's still early, which gives him time to get lost on the way to the physical therapy wing. When he checks in, however, Cloud is happy to see they aren't very behind, and he's called in not too long after arriving.
"Alright, we'll do one last exercise and then we can wrap it up here. Bend your arm slowly for me and make a fist."
Cloud follows Doctor Valentine's instructions, curling his arm and flexing his fingers in and out of a fist. There's some discomfort, but he's able to move around without difficulty. When the doctor asks if there's any pain, Cloud describes the tingle he feels sometimes and the man nods.
"Very good. It seems like your fracture has healed nicely." Dr. Valentine holds up an X-ray and points along the line in Cloud's bone. "They set it well and you've been taking good care of yourself." After putting the film down and removing his glasses, he turns back to Cloud. "But your primary concern is being able to throw competitively again?"
Cloud nods. "Yeah. I've tossed the ball around a few times in the past week, and my left arm just doesn't feel… the same."
The doctor hums as he considers Cloud's words. Something about the way Dr. Valentine rubs his chin is familiar to Cloud, though he's having a hard time recalling where he's seen it before.
"That's to be expected after an injury like yours. Your arm was nearly shattered from what I can tell from your medical record."
Cloud massages his wrist as he lowers his arm into his lap. "Yeah…"
Dr. Valentine raises a brow. "I'm surprised you don't have more pain than just some occasional tingling. Hopefully, we can do something about that and improve your range of motion to near 100%." He inspects his clipboard for a moment, flipping back and forth between Cloud's files, before writing something down. "Can you come back next Saturday?"
"Yeah, I'm free."
"Good, very good." More scribbling. "I'll see you next Saturday then. I think… a few more weeks of therapy should get you back on track."
Cloud hops off of the bed as Dr. Valentine makes a few more notes. "Thanks."
He glances up from his clipboard with a smile. "No problem, my boy. Have a good week."
It takes Cloud a second to reorient himself once he's out of the room; a sign pointing toward the nurses' station puts him on the right path. From there it should only be a left turn to the elevators, then…
"Hey."
Cloud turns to see Vincent behind the station handing someone a file. The man thanks him and hurries off in the other direction. Vincent approaches Cloud.
"What're you doing here?"
Vincent shrugs. "Just helping my dad. You?"
"Physical therapy." Cloud flexes his arm for emphasis.
Vincent rubs his chin - that's when Cloud remembers the motion. He laughs and only says, "Your dad does that too," when Vincent gives him a quizzical look. Vincent huffs.
"Give me one second."
Cloud leans against the desk, crossing his arms and watching Vincent jog down the hall to his father, who is emerging from the room where he treated Cloud. Their conversation floats to him as they get closer.
"Yes, I'm alright. Thanks for your help, son."
"No problem."
When they stop at the station, Dr. Valentine grins at Cloud.
"I should have asked if you knew my son. It doesn't surprise me he's gotten to know you."
Cloud smirks. "Vincent was one of the first people to speak to me."
Dr. Valentine chuckles. "Yes, well, I'm happy to see it. You two enjoy the rest of your day."
Cloud follows Vincent down the hallway to the elevators (it was a right turn, not a left, but he would have gotten it the next time). When one appears, Vincent asks, "Hungry?"
At the mention of food, Cloud's stomach growls. He must have worked off that quiche.
"What do you have in mind?"
"A diner that has great burgers."
"Sounds good."
They get off of the lift and Cloud leads him around the garage to his car. Vincent navigates once they're out of the garage, but when he says the name of the place, Cloud makes a left turn with no further prompting.
"It's near the animal shelter, right? I think I know how to get there from here."
Vincent sits back with a smirk. "Oh? You've learned the town already?"
"I have a decent sense of direction once I get used to a place," Cloud scoffs. "This town isn't nearly as complex as Midgar."
"You didn't seem interested in Nibelheim before."
"You sound like my aunt."
"Maybe because it's true."
"Whatever." Cloud shrugs. "Not practical for me to live here and not know my way around."
"That's a good point."
The way to the diner isn't complicated, only a straight shot past Vincent's neighborhood. They pull into the parking lot a few minutes later and Vincent gives him a round of slow applause.
"Wow, we got here so quickly. You didn't get lost once."
"Fuck you," Cloud laughs.
As he gets out, Cloud surveys the neighboring playground of the animal shelter. There are several people playing with the animals, some looking to adopt, but one that surprises him is Tifa. She's sitting in a corner surrounded by dogs and cats. Her eyes are closed, but her mouth is open in a fit of laughter. His breath hitches as he watches her in stunned silence - he's never seen her so jubilant. Even though she's out in the open, something about seeing her like this feels like an invasion of her privacy, like he's intruding on something sacred and not supposed to see this. Cloud remembers running into her here a few nights ago - she had been staring at the playground then and seemed so relaxed. In the back of his mind, he marks it as one of her safe places.
Vincent clears his throat, pulling Cloud's attention back into the parking lot. "Don't stare," he says, but when Cloud glances at him, Vincent is watching the playground as well.
Cloud's gaze drifts back to Tifa. There's a reddish-brown cat she's cuddling closer than the others, rubbing her nose against its face and giggling. From the way the cat closes its eyes, Cloud can almost hear its content purring.
"Come on."
The sound of Vincent's shoes crunching the gravel makes Cloud finally tear his eyes away from Tifa and the animals and follow Vincent into the diner. Retro decor litters the walls, with outdated furniture to match. Cloud has a hard time deciphering if this is the theme or if they just haven't remodeled in half a century, but as long as the food is good, he doesn't really care.
They go straight to a booth and a server comes to collect their drink orders - water for both. Once she leaves, it's quiet, save for the intermittent clanking of silverware at other tables. Vincent doesn't offer to start the conversation, but his brow furrows not long after they sit down, and he's rubbing his jaw - that indecisive, pensive look. Cloud gets the ball rolling.
"How long have you known Tifa?"
Vincent's eyes snap up to Cloud's, but instead of the hostility Cloud received the first time he asked about his relationship with Tifa, there's worry and confusion. Vincent wasn't expecting Cloud to ask this question - though he was expecting something - and it looks like he doesn't know how to answer it. Did he expect Cloud to drop the subject after Vincent ignored his question in gym earlier in the week? Or perhaps Vincent realizes he can't get out of answering like he did before.
"A couple of years. We didn't really start talking until the past year or so."
The waitress comes back with their waters and asks if they're ready to order food yet. Vincent sighs.
"I'm sorry, can I get a black coffee too?"
"Sure hon." She eyes Cloud, who shakes his head, and then she retreats behind the counter. Cloud turns back to his friend.
"Has she always been so closed off?"
Vincent waits until the server deposits his coffee before answering. "Not like this… no." He grabs a stirrer from the corner of the table and dips it into the steaming cup. "She was never the type to gossip or share much about herself, but she's never… been like this." He tilts his chin in the direction behind Cloud. Cloud turns and in the window's corner, he can still see Tifa still playing with the animals. "That girl out there is the closest to her old self that I've seen in months."
Cloud takes a moment to digest that information. Bright, energetic, bubbly - he hasn't seen Tifa anywhere close to that since he moved here. Some part of him wondered if she was even capable, or if she was so burdened by her demons that it was too difficult to push past them. It's nice to watch her in a place where she feels completely free and secure, where she can let her guard down. Cloud hopes that one day he can create that space for her - one day she will feel safe enough around him to laugh and be her true self.
As the thought becomes more prominent, to his alarm, Cloud's ears burn. He turns back to Vincent and avoids his friend's gaze. Vincent doesn't seem to notice.
"Her accident must have been terrible."
Vincent grips his cup so hard that a vein throbs on the top of his hand. He takes a generous sip of the coffee and rubs his cheek. "Yeah. You could say that."
Cloud pauses as he reaches for his water. Something about Vincent's words makes the atmosphere shift - things feel darker, heavier, and Cloud sucks in a breath. He wants to ask more about the accident, but he wonders if it's his business. From the way he spoke, Vincent might find a way to avoid those questions, even though there's nowhere for him to escape. Cloud redirects the conversation to something else.
"So you know each other through school?"
The vein disappears as Vincent's hand relaxes around the mug. "I would volunteer to help with injuries at some sporting events, including swim meets. I always thought she was incredible." Vincent takes another sip. "Then we started hooking up…"
Cloud's glass clanks against the table, and he coughs on his water. Vincent raises a brow as the waitress comes back.
"Are you alright, hon?"
Cloud nods, patting his chest. Vincent orders his burger, monitoring Cloud all the while. Cloud points to the burger on the menu and she takes the hint.
"Are you sure?" Vincent asks when she goes back to the kitchen.
Cloud coughs one last time and steadies himself with a slow breath. "Yeah, I wasn't… expecting you to say that."
Vincent blinks at him. "It just slipped out." He runs a hand through his hair with a wistful smile. "But, I trust you. Guess that's why."
Cloud's face scrunches with confusion, but Vincent doesn't elaborate, opting to look around the diner at anything but Cloud. The silence expands for a few minutes before Vincent speaks again.
"Thank you for what you did, by the way."
"What?"
"On Tuesday. Making sure she was okay."
Cloud taps the edge of his glass in thought. "She told you?"
Vincent doesn't look at Cloud again yet, instead reaching for a sugar packet and stirring its contents into his mug. "I text her on Wednesday after she didn't come to school. She didn't give me all the details, but she told me you were there for her." Finally, his gaze lifts. "Thank you for that."
Cloud's eyes widen in understanding. Before, Vincent wasn't sure if he could trust Cloud with anything having to do with Tifa, which is why he wouldn't really answer Cloud's questions. Perhaps Cloud appeared nosy instead of concerned, which put Vincent on guard on Tifa's behalf. Between the things he's said and the way he's reacted to inquiries about Tifa, Cloud can tell Vincent cares a lot about her; seeing how people treat her must be hard for him, and he doesn't want to give someone else the ammunition they need to add to the pile.
But Cloud's actions on Tuesday seem to have solidified Vincent's trust in him. Of course, Vincent's feelings about him were the last thing on his mind at the end of gym - all he wanted was to show Tifa she wasn't alone, though Cloud still wonders sometimes why he cares so much about a girl he barely knows. Either way, he'll take this added benefit. It definitely helps him understand the both of them better.
Cloud nods to himself. "So she's your ex? That's why you're so protective of her?"
Vincent shakes his head. "I wouldn't call her my ex. We weren't dating and we never went too far." He scratches his mug. "But I consider her my friend. She's a good person. She doesn't deserve the shit this town is throwing at her."
There's an edge to Vincent's tone by the end of his sentence, but the server comes with their food before Cloud has time to think about it. Vincent uses the interruption to switch gears.
"Physical therapy?"
Cloud picks at his food, a knot twisting in his stomach as he removes some toppings from his burger. "Yeah. I got into a nasty fight at the beginning of the summer."
"Same fight that got you sent out here?"
"No. That was at the end of the summer. A friend and I were defending this girl being chased by some guys." He chuckles. "That was on my birthday, too."
Vincent whistles. "You've got a protective streak yourself." Cloud huffs in amusement. "So your arm got broken in the first fight?"
"My dad smashed it with my bat."
The friendly atmosphere between him and Vincent makes the words tumble out of his mouth with little thought - now he gets how Vincent said what he said earlier. Vincent pauses in the middle of taking a bite of his sandwich. It's suddenly too quiet around them, like everything in the diner has stopped along with Vincent. Cloud scratches the back of his neck, his rising paranoia making him speak if for no other reason than to have some noise.
"My entire life, my dad was a shithead. My mom and I got away from him about 3 years ago and things were finally good." Cloud squeezes his shaking thigh. "One day, he passed by the park I was practicing in. We got in a fight. He crushed my arm. Wanted to make sure I could never pitch again." A mirthless chuckle slips out of his mouth, though now that he's through the story, it feels good to let that out. "I learned how to pitch with both arms because I was always afraid of… something like that happening."
It takes Vincent a moment to recover and Cloud's nerves fringe as he does. Soon the shock melts away from Vincent's face, replaced with sympathy. "I'm sorry about that."
Cloud shrugs, feigning indifference. "It's…"
He's about to say his usual, "It's fine," but when he meets his friend's eyes, Cloud stops himself. Vincent's concern makes Cloud reconsider his facade.
"Honestly, it was shit."
"I can imagine. How did your mom react?"
Cloud sits back in the booth, forgetting about his food. "She freaked out. Took me to the hospital she works at and wouldn't stop fretting over me until a month after my surgery. But I get it. Sometimes it annoyed me how much she fussed, but when I think about it… I know it scared the shit out of her. It's pretty much only been my mom and I."
"And the friend you got in trouble with?"
"Yeah. I met him in middle school. He came over and helped mom take care of me when he wasn't working." Cloud laughs again, but this time the sound is more genuine. "I probably make a friend every five years. I don't do new people."
At that, Vincent gives him a small smile. "I think this is going well enough."
Cloud nods. "Yeah, I think so."
They fall into a comfortable silence as they enjoy their food. After a few minutes, Cloud spots chipping paint behind Vincent and, remembering the hideous decor, starts to ask about it, but closes his mouth once he sees the snarl on Vincent's face. When Cloud turns around to follow Vincent's gaze out of the window, he understands why.
Rufus and his posse are in the parking lot surrounding Tifa; Cloud's eyes widen as Rufus puts his arm around Tifa's shoulders and leans in close to her. Her face contorts in anger but she's visibly uncomfortably, trying to make herself as small as possible, wrapping her arms around her chest and turning her knees inward.
Cloud growls and rises from the table, but Vincent reaches across and grabs his wrist.
"Don't."
Cloud faces him, nostrils flaring. "Why not?"
Something akin to panic dances across Vincent's face. Cloud can see it's fighting with his urge to protect her.
It has to be Rufus. That's the only person Cloud can imagine Vincent being afraid of in this town.
"It won't end well if we get in the middle of it."
He wants to be understanding of whatever position this could put Vincent in, but when Cloud looks outside again, his concern for Vincent dwindles. "Middle of what?"
Rufus opens a car door, but Tifa shakes her head at his invitation.
"We can't just sit here and let him fuck with her."
Ripping his arm away, Cloud stomps from the table and out the door with Vincent shouting after him. As he crosses the lot, he can hear Rufus insisting on Tifa to join him for a ride.
"Rufus, just leave me alone, alright?"
"You haven't spoken to me since you came back. Why is that, Tifa?"
The lackies notice Cloud first; Reno smirks as he turns to face Cloud, standing shoulder to shoulder with Rude to shield Rufus.
"Hey Spiky."
At Reno's greeting, Rufus peeks over his shoulder to see who approaches. Once he's distracted, Tifa pushes him away from her and walks away. He stumbles against the car and glares at her.
"You—"
"I told you to leave me the fuck alone!" Her voice is shaking.
Cloud reaches for her, but she twists away. He can hear Vincent running up after him and calling her name.
"You need not get involved, Cloud," Rufus threatens.
"What the fuck is your problem?" Rufus's eyes flash at Cloud's defiance, which only fuels Cloud's anger more. "She said to leave her alone!"
"Please don't—"
Cloud glances back at Tifa, who is struggling with Vincent. Only three of his fingers wrap around her wrist in a gentle grip, though it's firm enough to keep her from going anywhere.
"Tifa, just come inside."
"Stop, Vince, I don't—"
"If you walk home, what's stopping him from following you?"
Vincent's words are so quiet, Cloud is sure the others don't hear them. However, they're powerful enough to make her pause. Fear floods through her face, so palpable it makes him wince, but she washes it away a second later. Before he knows it, she's yanking the door open and marching inside.
"Vincent, I thought we had an agreement?"
Cloud turns back to face Rufus, whose smug visage has returned, though marred by an angry gaze. Vincent lines up next to Cloud. A simmering rage radiates off of him, a calm and lethal fury that is familiar to Cloud. It reminds him of the silent kids who keep to themselves and don't show their anger until it's too late for whoever they release it upon.
Kids like him.
"What does our agreement have to do with you harassing her?"
"I know you have a soft spot for Tifa, but I thought I've told you before that she's mine."
Vincent snorts. "I don't hear her saying that."
Rufus's eyes narrow. "You remember your precious doctor the next time you think about interfering with us."
The bell for the diner chimes behind them.
"Y'all aren't causing trouble out here, are you?"
The tension in the air is almost suffocating, but neither party moves until Rufus harrumphs and climbs into the backseat. Rude and Reno take the front and drive off.
"Fucker," Vincent mumbles as they watch them peel away.
Cloud looks at his friend head-on, and the intensity in Vincent's eyes scares him.
It reminds him too much of his own.
"Vincent—"
"We should go check on her."
Vincent turns on his heel without another word and goes back inside. The server is still eying them as they walk to their table.
"Your friend is in the bathroom. She looked a little shaken up. Y'all okay?"
"We're fine. Thank you." Vincent rubs his face. "Can you bring another glass of water for her, please?"
"Sure thing, hon."
Vincent slides back into the booth and Cloud follows suit, grimacing at his burger. By now it's surely cold, and the crash from his adrenaline rush makes it unappetizing. He pushes it away and sips on his water instead, keeping his eyes on Vincent. His friend has reset his features to their usual neutrality, but now that Cloud has become more familiar with him, he can see the anger rolling underneath.
He decides now isn't the time to ask about Vincent's "agreement" with Rufus.
"Whatever Rufus has offered you, forget about it."
Cloud stares at Vincent over his glass and takes another sip. Vincent considers his words for a moment before continuing.
"I know about your meeting with Rufus. I know he's trying to rope you into something. Don't do it."
Cloud's pocket burns, and for a moment he thinks the money Rufus gave him on Tuesday is still there.
"I'm already in enough shit."
"Even if you weren't. Nothing good can come out of working with them."
"Is that why—"
The sound of a slamming door makes them both look up. Tifa emerges from the back and freezes as she meets their eyes. Her teeth gnaw on her lower lip, her hands fidgeting together in front of her, and Cloud can see the gears turning in her head as she weighs her options to join them or just leave. After a few seconds, Tifa unglues herself from the floor and approaches their table.
"Thank you for that," she breathes, glancing at Cloud. "Sorry for yelling at you."
"It's okay. They upset you." Cloud keeps his tone even. He's still furious, but it's not her fault. He won't take it out on her.
Vincent slides over. "Sit with us."
She shakes her head. "No, I… Thank you for convincing me to stay here, but I just need to be… I need to be alone."
Her hesitancy makes Cloud wonder if that's what she really wants or if her sense of self-preservation is taking over, but he doesn't insist. With Tifa, he's learned that respecting her wishes goes a long way, and her face softens when neither of them press it.
"Take the time you need. We'll stick around." When her eyes widen Cloud adds, "I can drop you off at home later. It's not a problem."
Cloud thinks she's going to reject his offer, as that always seems to be her first reaction, but her sigh of relief lets him know she'll think about it. "Thanks again," she mumbles before walking to the other side of the restaurant and sitting at a table.
Cloud watches the waitress ask for her order. Tifa waves, showing she doesn't want anything, and after the server leaves her water, Tifa rests her head between her arms on top of the table. He finds it hard to take his eyes off of her, afraid that if he stops watching her, she'll disappear or she'll be in trouble again. She seems capable enough of defending herself as far as he can tell, but he knows what it feels like to stick up for yourself in the moment and feel cold and alone afterwards. Maybe that's what he wants to help her with - not so much saving her from others, but from that loneliness he's known for too long.
Vincent's plates scrapes against the table, drawing Cloud back to their booth. He grimaces at the noise. Neither of them finish their food nor do they talk about what just happened, falling into silence with intermittent idle chatter. Cloud knows that Vincent's focus is on Tifa behind him, and for Cloud it's the same.
An hour later, Tifa gets up with her water and comes back to their table. Vincent tilts his head toward the booth and she nods, so he makes room for her.
"Better?"
Tifa keeps her arms crossed and her eyes on the table's surface. "A little." Glancing between the two of them, she says, "You really didn't have to."
Cloud's anger flashes; his grip tightens around his cup. There's no way he'd leave her in a situation like that.
"They were being assholes."
Tifa's head snaps up, her mouth hanging open. Cloud must have shocked the words right out of her, and he can only think how much of a shame it is that she's so used to people leaving her out to dry.
"Well, Rufus… he's just…"
At the sound of her possibly downplaying what he did, Cloud's irritation gets the better of him.
"He's a spoiled fucking brat."
This time when Tifa tries to respond, a snort comes out. She covers her mouth, but Vincent's chuckling makes her giggle. Soon, the three of them are quietly laughing together, something Cloud hasn't experienced in a long time. It makes him nostalgic for home, for Zack, but this is nice in its own way.
"Really. Thank you both," Tifa says once she relaxes.
"Yeah. Don't worry about it."
"You don't want anything to eat?" Vincent asks.
Tifa picks up a menu and considers it for a moment. "I think I'll eat my leftovers at home," she muses, putting it back.
They pay for their food and leave. Tifa climbs into the backseat while Vincent takes the passenger.
"Do you know how to get to Vincent's house? I don't live far from there."
"Yeah."
They don't speak for much of the ride except for Tifa's directions. Once there, she leans forward and in-between the front seats.
"Thanks for bringing me home."
"Tifa, you don't have to thank me so much."
Tifa blinks. "Well… okay. I still appreciate it." She slides out of the car and gives them a small wave before walking up to her front door.
Vincent chews on the inside of his cheek before speaking. "I'll get out, too, since I live down the street. See you at school."
At the sound of the car door opening again, Tifa turns around and watches Vincent get out. He doesn't approach her, though as Cloud drives off, he hears Vincent asking her if she's okay. Her answer must satisfy him, because through his rearview mirror, Cloud sees Vincent walking home in the other direction.
Now that he's alone, his thoughts race. Cloud already knows that Rufus thinks he owns this place, but his possessiveness over Tifa, threats to Vincent, even the veiled warnings to himself makes Cloud wonder once more about the extent of Rufus's power. Does his father know his son is this controlling - does Mr. Shinra facilitate it? Rufus can't get all of this information to blackmail people on his own, and he mentioned his father at the beginning of the week. Perhaps Rufus just takes after his old man.
The thought makes Cloud shudder.
His mind is still buzzing by the time he drops off Shera's car and walks home. There's no one in the garage, but Cloud can hear people talking, so he assumes Cid has a customer. Cloud needs something to do with his hands, so he busies himself with the old car. The mechanical work should help clear his head, though as he picks up a wrench, Cloud realizes he was so preoccupied that he forgot to get the supplies off of his list on the way home. He sighs. He can get them later.
After a few minutes, the door to the building opens.
"Lemme know if you have any more trouble!"
"Thanks Cid, really appreciate you taking me at the last minute."
Cloud looks up from the hood of the car as Cid and the man from this morning - John - emerge. A cigarette hangs out of the corner of Cid's huge grin.
"No problem. Just make sure you take care of her!"
John waves to them both before he gets into his car and backs out of the garage. Cid removes his cigarette and blows out a column of smoke before turning to Cloud.
"I thought your appointment was over hours ago. You ain't gettin' into anything, are you?"
Cloud's already splintered nerves flame the irritation that spreads through him. His grip around the tool hardens to the point of pain, but he ignores that, focusing on the fury that bubbles up instead. That's always it, every fucking time - he's always in trouble or stirring shit up. At least Shera assumed he was just being a normal kid the other day, but his uncle never gives him that benefit of the doubt.
Cloud wrestles with a bolt, clenching his jaw as he tries to calm himself and concentrate on the job before him.
"You know, I could just be making friends."
Cid snorts. "Well, wouldn't that be a change. All I ever heard about you was you getting into some shit, so it's only safe for me to assume—"
This time, Cloud can't rein it in.
"If you gave a shit, maybe you'd know more about me."
Stillness settles over the garage. Cloud glares at his uncle, the wrench shaking in his hand, before he turns back and continues to fasten the bolt. Cid only stares back, dumbstruck. The only sign of Cid's recovery is the growl that emanates from the back of his uncle's throat.
"What the hell makes you think we didn't care?"
Cloud stands up straight, his eyes wide in astonishment. "I don't know, Cid. Maybe the fact that I never saw you? I barely know you, barely heard from you, even when Paul was beating the shit out of your sister?"
Cid throws the cigarette into the ashtray and stomps up to Cloud until he's staring he's straight down into his nephew's face. Cloud doesn't move, only letting out a loud exhale through his nose.
"Don't you dare." Cid's voice is low and would be threatening if Cloud gave a shit, but he's too pissed off.
"Dare what? Tell you the truth?"
"Assume I didn't care about Claudia. Or you."
Cloud scoffs, bending into the hood of the car again. "Sure had a way of showing it."
Cid stands over him for a minute longer before muttering a string of profanities and exiting the garage. The door tumbles down after him, and it's quiet again.
Cloud keeps working on the car, but he's no longer in the mood. The wrench makes a satisfying clang against the ground once Cloud throws it down and runs both hands through his hair with a loud sigh. That's how it's always been - everyone jumps straight to "Cloud must be doing something he shouldn't." People don't make a habit out of getting his side. They didn't care that he had a shitty father at home who was using his size to bully him and his mom. They didn't care that he was almost always defending someone or sticking up for himself. That didn't matter - Cloud Strife was a troublemaker, and that stuck. His uncle knows nothing about him except that, and he hates it.
He also hates that he let his jitters from what happened at the diner get the better of him. Fighting with his uncle was the last thing he wanted today, but being accused of getting in trouble again, when he was the one trying to prevent trouble from happening, is one of the quickest ways to send him over the edge.
Even after a long shower, Cloud still has difficulty clearing his jumbled mind. Smoking and playing on his guitar don't get him very far either. Cloud sits on his bed with his head tossed back against the wall and takes a deep breath. Maybe going for another walk will help him. Having that time alone and spending his energy seems to do the trick more often than not these days.
Once he unwinds, he's better able to take in the surrounding sights, and Cloud finds this little town charming in its own way. Without his worries or the people to distract him, he can appreciate all the different colors of the leaves as the seasons change, how crisp the air is, the incredible backdrop of the mountains. He'd never admit it out loud, but Midgar couldn't dream to compare to the natural beauty of Mount Nibel. If he could just find a path up there to get a closer look…
As Cloud nears the edge of town, he thinks about the wooded path he'd seen the other night during his one of his treks. He didn't have time to explore it before, but perhaps this will be the one that takes him to the mountain. Cloud opens the flashlight on his phone, careful to push away any low-hanging branches. Even though this path is overgrown, it seems like someone still uses it with regularity. Cloud finds it easy enough to follow with his flashlight.
A few minutes pass by before he hears something and stills.
"…lights… starry night…"
It's faint, but he swears someone is singing. Cloud moves further in and the words become clearer.
"I see lights when I close my eyes…"
His heart thumps - that can't be right. Those lyrics… they have to be another song.
"So ask me one day… We'll have a starlit dance…"
His blood runs cold and his heart constricts, making it difficult to breathe. He doubles over, catching himself on a nearby tree to stay on his feet. He feels like someone knocked the wind out of him. All this time… all this time…
"You'll give me one more chance…"
Cloud stays where he is for what feels like hours, staring ahead into nothing. He can't distinguish the trees from one another anymore; they're all just inkblots running together now. He closes his eyes and gulps so hard he gasps, but it's enough to help him focus. Cloud opens his eyes and stumbles forward a step, then another.
Please. Please.
"Cause I feel like you're out there… Gazing at the sky…"
The trees become a blur in his periphery as he races for the end of the path. A few branches nick at his face and arms, but he doesn't feel them.
She's—
The path opens up into a clearing, and her voice rings in his ears. It's so much better in person, more beautiful than he's imagined in his dreams, and she doesn't stop; she hasn't noticed him. His blood pounds in his head, but he stops at the end of the path to listen. She's sitting on the other side of an old water tower, so he can only see her legs swinging over the side.
"I know I'll love you too
I'll find peace in your arms
And safe shelter with you."
Cloud's eyes sting and he wipes them with his forearm. She listened to his song - she read his letter.
She's alive.
Locks.
His chest tightens as his body moves forward of its own accord. For weeks - for months - Cloud has felt lost without his friend. They always talked about gazing at the stars together when they finally met, but ever since she disappeared, he hasn't been able to look at them the same way. He's spent too many nights searching for her in every constellation, hoping that one day he would find her.
Now he has. All this time, they've been so close.
Cloud feels too many things at once, too many conflicting thoughts - he wants to meet her, and he knows from their conversations she wanted to meet him, but is that different now? He's afraid to finally see who she is after all this time. There was something safe about the anonymity of being online and never knowing what the other looked like. Cloud knows that was a large part of the reason she trusted him so much - he didn't know who she was, so he couldn't hurt her with the things she told him. Would she trust him now? Would she even want to be friends? What happened to her?
He's dizzy as he climbs the ladder, but despite his anxiety, Cloud can't stop.
He's at the top before he knows it.
Locks…
His eyes latch onto Tifa, and everything clicks into place.
AN: I have been WAITING for this moment - hope you all have toooo!
Thank you for reading, please stay tuned!