Stormy Skies
Chapter 1
"Well, I'm glad that's over," a very drunk Barret drawled to his companions. It had been his idea to party, now that everything was back to normal and Sephiroth was dead. The four (Tifa and Yuffie had separated from them as soon as they had entered the bar) now sat around, relaxing and releasing all the pent up that had been hidden for the last few years. Cloud paused a moment to reflect that thought which was really hard considering how drunk he was.
Barret slapped him roughly on the back, causing him to go flying across the room. "Sorry bout that, Clooods," Barret hiccuped. He drowned down a shot glass of whiskey. "Hey, why, why are yoou so quiet Clou?"
Cloud blinked, trying to focus his sight. 'Everythiings moving!" he thought happily. Cloud looked over at his large friend and smiled. "Jus thinkin, I think," he said sleepily. 'Never drink this much again,' he thought to himself while trying to hold back a yawn.
"Bout what? Nothin needs to be thinkin bout right now," Barret drank another glass. His head began to droop suspiciously low. When it bumped against the counter, he jerked it back and accidentally hit a waitress behind him. As she went flying, Barret chuckled and said "Sorry bout that."
"Oh, jus bout everythang," Cloud replied, ignoring the whole waitress thing. His eyes began to gloss over. "Like that Seph, Sephi, oh whatever, that dude we killed." Cloud drank a shot glass, ignoring all the weird looks he was receiving from passing strangers. He turned and stared at Barret. "You, know," *hiccup* "That guy was a reeeaaaalll BASTAARD!!!" He fell into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, whispering "bbbasssteaard" every once in awhile.
"Oh yeah, yeah, yeah," Barret hummed softly, paying no attention to his drunk friend. He too began laughing at a stupid joke Yuffie had said a few months before. "A PIG!!! Hahahahahaha, it was a pig!! Hehe haha hhaaa."
Across the room, Tifa and Yuffie looked at the two male members of their group in disgust.
"Why do guys even get drunk?" Tifa muttered disdainfully. She sipped at her cocktail and looked at Yuffie. Yuffie just shook her head. Taking Yuffie's silence as a cue to keep talking, Tifa continued, "I mean, they're such great guys when they're somber but once they go into a bar it's like *bam!* and they're animals!"
She glanced at Yuffie. Yuffie, ignoring everything, suddenly screeched at the top of her lungs, "VINCENT!!!" She jumped up and ran into the vampire-like man's arms that had just entered the bar. The waitress Barret knocked stood up to clear her head. Once she got a look at her new 'customer,' she screamed and fainted.
Vincent looked vaguely uncomfortable with all the frightened looks the other customers were giving him. Yuffie scoffed at them and put her arms around him. "Don't worry about them, Vinny! They're just jealous 'cause ya got the prettiest girl on your shoulder!" She gave them all the dirtiest look she could muster before ushering Vincent away to where Barret and Cloud were.
"Vinnceennt! How ya doinn?" Barret roared happily. He glanced over to see Cloud asleep and snoring loudly. A line a drool fell from his mouth and was collecting near his chin. "Wake upp, ya dum bbloonnd," Barret hit him on the back with a loud *smack.* Cloud jumped up and reached for the sword that wasn't there. The bar owner had a rule that anyone who entered the bar had to leave all weapons at the front. After swaying around in a daze for a few moments, Cloud fell to the ground and began to sleep again.
Tifa walked over to him and checked his pulse. "He's still alive," she said with a relieved sigh, not that anyone there really cared other than her. She scrowled at Barret who was busy chugging down a bottle of beer. Sighing, Tifa attempted to lift Cloud but only managed to slip in the puddle of drool on the floor.
Cid walked in at that moment, smoking yet another cigar and humming a tune as he handed over his weapons to the bar owner with a wink. He walked over to his group with a smile and said "Guess what!" When everyone ignored him, he repeated the question louder. With still no response, Cid slammed his fist into the counter and yelled "Guess What!!!"
Everyone in the bar stopped to look at the pilot in shock. Clearing his throat, Cid smiled widely. "Is anyone going to guess?" When no one answered, Cid sighed. "Fine, be that way," he muttered darkly. Yuffie, taking the bait, asked in a tired voice, "What is it Cid?"
He immediately perked up. Smiling, Cid began by saying "Well, nothing really." When he realized that his friends weren't interested, he cleared his throat once again and boomed "The Highwind's getting some upgrades!"
Tifa gave him a blank look and tried to pick up Cloud before slipping again. Yuffie was hanging onto Vincent who was standing around impassively. Barret was drinking like a fish and giving the waitresses little winks as they walked by. Cloud was still out cold.
'Jeez, these guys really know how to ruin a special occasion,' Cid thought angrily. Ordering a shot of beer, he sat down to reflect on everything that happened. Forty minutes later, Cid snapped awake as the bar tender began calling out for last orders. He stood up and swayed to the door. Grabbing his gear, Cid left the bar and somehow got to the hotel the AVALANCHE members were staying.
The night passed by and the first thing in Cloud's mind the thought of his brain splitting apart. Grabbing his head in an attempt to keep it together and stop the pounding, Cloud stumbled over to the bathroom. After puking up the remains of everything he'd eaten in the last month, he stumbled down the stairs.
Already up, Cid gave loud one look before handing the spiked blond an ice pack.
"Uh, what hit me?" Cloud managed to whimper. "Whoever hit me is gonna me in some deep shit when I get through with them."
Cid chuckled. "Don't tell me you've never drank before? Nobody hit you kid, you just got a really bad hangover." He winced as he felt the results from his own drinking and pressed the ice pack harder onto his forehead.
Someone upstairs roared and the two downstairs could hear heavy footsteps leading to the bathroom. With it came the sounds of someone puking up everything they'd ever eaten. After a few minutes, Cid chuckled again. Lighting up a cigar, he muttered "That'd be Barret. Old fool. That black bear knows better then to drink that much in a single night."
Moments later, the huge black man stumbled down the stairs, eyes blood red as he looked around for Tylenol. Puffing on his cigar, Cid threw another ice pack at the man and went back to relaxing with his smoke.
"You really should stop that," Tifa muttered as she passed Cid. Reaching for a bowel of cereal, she smiled sweetly at Barret. "Good morning, sunshine! How did you sleep?" Barret gave her a death glare that only brightened her smile. "Aw, that's too bad! Maybe if someone didn't drink 5 bottles of beer, they'd be feeling much better right now?"
She walked around to the windows that Cid had gracefully covered up. "It's much too dark in here," Tifa murmured as she opened the blinds. The three men all groaned and moaned as sunlight hit their weakened eyes. "Babies," she said as she left the room to watch TV.
"Jeez, you guys are lazy!" Yuffie came bounding down the stairs to see everyone moving around like slugs. They all glared at her, each trying their best to stop her perky attitude with will alone. When that failed, they reverted back to their old selves and tuned her out.
"Well, aren't we the happy crowd today," she said bitterly. Grabbing a bowl of cereal, she looked up suddenly. "Hey, you guys," Yuffie said between bites, "has anyone seen Vinny-I mean Vincent? He left my room this morning and I haven't seen him since."
Tifa's head snapped up. "What was he doing in your room?" she asked slyly?
Blushing, Yuffie replied indignantly "None of your business."
"Will you guys keep in down," Barret whimpered, pressing the pack onto his head. "Some of us aren't feeling fully functional this morning and it would be easier for you guys to shut up than us to make you." Cid and Cloud nodded
"Humph" Tifa got up and began to leave. She turned back quickly. "By the way, what would you guys do if we were suddenly attacked? Just something to think about as you enjoy your hangovers and all." Yuffie stuck out her tongue and left with Tifa.
"Women," Cid began. He noticed the looks his friends were giving him. "Hey, don't give me that! I mean, paranoia isn't a good thing and we deserve a night off every once in awhile. I mean, we saved the Planet and all. Sheesh, you guys are worse than them."
Vincent suddenly barged in with a look as close to panic as anyone had every seen him. "You shouldn't begin your celebration just yet," he said darkly.
-Black Rebel