Chapter Five: Into the Slums
As they entered the Wall Market, Cloud and Aeris were greeted with the very dingiest place of the Midgar slums. The market was a disgrace to humankind. Poor vagrants wandered around every corner. Junk was scattered everywhere. The place was a complete dump. Cloud looked around himself in awe, relatively sure that he had never seen a trashier place in his life. The only reason he didn't turn around and leave as soon as he got a glimpse of the filthy place was that Tifa was caught somewhere in the market.
"What a dump." Cloud remarked to Aeris, knowing full well what an understatement it was. She nodded, but didn't say anything. She seemed to be captivated, looking around at all of the people scurrying through the market. One particular corner seemed to be especially popular. It was a building with flashing lights and signs everywhere. There was a line of men in front of it.
"Bet I can guess what that building is used for." Cloud said dryly. "I'm gonna go find out if that's where they were taking Tifa."
Again, Aeris nodded. The place seemed to intimidate her a little.
Cloud walked over to the man who was taking tickets in front of the door to the building.
"Excuse me." He said, as politely as possible. "Can you help me?"
"Get in the back of the line!" The man sneered at him. Cloud tried to contain his anger.
"I'm looking for someone." He said.
"Oh? A particular girl you want, huh? You'll have to pay extra for that." The man answered, paying him very little attention.
"Her name's Tifa."
"Damn, you're quick. We just picked her up today, but she isn't here yet. She's probably at Don Corneo's mansion. He's looking for a new bride, and he's been trying out three girls every day…if you know what I mean. I think she's one of today's three."
Cloud nodded, and turned around in disgust. He walked back to the fence where Aeris was waiting patiently.
"Well?" She asked.
"She's at Don Corneo's mansion. If I remember this guy right, he's a real scumbag. I've heard things about him that would make your blood curdle."
"Well, we have to go rescue her then!" She said, already heading into the mass of people busily scurrying around the market. Cloud ran after her. As they both cleared through the initial group of vagrants near the entrance to the market, they could see the mansion ahead of them. It was relatively big, considering how trashy everything else around it was, and it was ornately decorated.
The front of the building only had one doorway, which didn't actually have a door but rather had cloth draped over it. Aeris pushed aside the cloth and walked inside, disregarding the fact that she was walking into a very dangerous place. Cloud ran behind her, and entered the building with her. He was sure that she didn't realize the trouble she could be getting herself into.
There was some sort of a reception desk at the far end of the building, and on the sides were two staircases that led to a balcony and a few second story rooms. It was a small building, and the walls were mostly red, giving the inside a semi-regal look. Aeris approached the reception desk.
"Can I please speak to Don Corneo?" She asked politely. The man at the reception desk chuckled and looked at her strangely.
"Well, you got a nice ass so I guess he'll talk to ya. But your guy friend over there's gotta get the hell out. We don't let men in here." He said, giving Cloud a cold stare.
"Oh, well forget it then." Aeris replied, a little annoyed. She turned around to talk to Cloud.
"Well, how are we gonna get in now?" She asked, obviously worried. Cloud shrugged.
"They wouldn't let me in unless I was a girl. I guess we'll have to do this the hard way." He answered, reaching behind his back to unsheathe his sword. Aeris put her hand on his arm to calm him.
"No, I have a better way." She said, laughing.
"What's so funny?" He asked, wondering what she could possibly find amusing in their current situation. She kept laughing for another moment or two, and then gathered the breath to answer him.
"We'll dress you up as a girl!" She answered, still smiling. Cloud shook his head furiously.
"Oh no! Don't even think about it!"
"It's the only way, Cloud. You want to help Tifa, don't you?"
He looked at her dumbfounded. He was sure there had to be a better way. It was too late to make a decision, though. Aeris had already walked over to the reception desk and informed the man that she would return with a cute, female friend.
As they left the building, Cloud shook his head in disgust.
"Are you out of your mind?" He asked her angrily. "I'm not dressing up like a fucking woman! In case you haven't noticed, I take pride in my masculinity!"
She turned to him, looked him right in the eye, and smacked him in the face.
"That's for swearing in front of a woman." She said indignantly. "Now, do you want to get Tifa or not? Because if you don't care about her enough to dress up like a woman in front of a bunch of scumbags that you don't even know, then why the Hell are we even here?"
Cloud put his hand to his face where she had smacked him. He turned away from her, and then turned back to look into her face.
"You're right." He admitted. "If we're gonna do this, then let's go. I think I saw a tailor at the front entrance to the market. We'll see if there's someone who'll make something for a cross-dresser." He turned on his heels and started to head in the direction of the tailor he was almost sure he'd seen. He took a few steps, and then felt compelled to say something else.
"And never hit me again. That hurt." He added.
She cracked a grin.
"See. I'm stronger than I look." She said, flashing Cloud her trademark smile.
***
It didn't take them long to reach the tailor that Cloud had indeed seen before. Aeris was quick to run inside and immediately begin a conversation with the woman standing behind the counter.
"Do you sell women's clothing?" Aeris asked excitedly.
The woman chuckled a little at Aeris's anxiety.
"Yes we do, miss. Are you looking for something in particular?" She asked.
"Well yes." Aeris answered, smirking. "But it probably isn't something you're commonly asked to make."
"Oh? Well my father makes the clothes here, and he's always willing to accept a good tailor's challenge. What would you like him to make?"
"I need you him make a dress for my friend here." Aeris answered, pointing to Cloud. Cloud was standing quietly by the door, his face to the ground. His cheeks were red with embarrassment. The woman turned to him.
"You're a cross-dresser?" She asked politely.
Cloud opened his mouth to vehemently deny it, but Aeris quickly answered the question for him.
"Yes! He's always wanted to dress as a woman, and he thought maybe you could hook him up with a good dress."
"Well, whatever floats your boat I guess." The woman said, still chuckling to herself. "I'm sure my father would love the chance to do something a little different."
She looked at Cloud, taking in his size and shape with the skill possessed by the best of tailors. "You are a strong man, I can tell. It will be hard for him to make you look feminine, but I'm sure he can do it. The only problem is that he isn't here right now. My guess is he's out getting drunk of his ass right now. If you search the local bars and find him, I'll make sure he makes the dress for you."
Aeris nodded.
"Sure! We'll find him!" She answered, and then grabbed Cloud's hand and dragged him outside.
As they walked away from the tailor, the nearest pub caught Aeris's eye.
"That bar is pretty close. He's probably in there." She said.
Cloud nodded but didn't say anything. He didn't like how this situation was working out. He was willingly finding someone to dress him up as a woman, and he was taking orders from a girl that he had only met the day before. He was always one to keep in control of himself, and he was quickly finding that control slipping out of his hands. If Tifa wasn't in such danger, he would have stopped all this nonsense already. But Tifa was in danger, and as much as he didn't like it, Aeris was right. They had to do everything in their power to help her.
Aeris was again the first to enter the building, with Cloud following close behind. The bar was dark inside, and there weren't many people inside. The few that were appeared to be just as trashy as most of the people outside that seemed to love this market so much. Cloud wondered how anyone that looked as poor and unskilled as the men sitting at the tables inside could possibly be a talented tailor.
Aeris's attention was grabbed by a lone man sitting at a bar on the far end of the building. He was hunched over and had his head in his hands, and there were four empty beer mugs next to him. Aeris walked up to him and put her hand on his back. He jumped a little, but then smiled when he saw who she was.
"Hello there, miss." He greeted her, trying to be polite but slurring the words slightly.
"Hi." She greeted him back. "My friend and I were wondering, are you the man who owns the tailor shop near the entrance to the market?"
"Yes I am." He answered. "But I'm not in the mood to be making clothes right now. I'm tired of making clothes. There's no challenge in it anymore, hon. I think you'd be better off finding someone else."
"Well, we thought maybe we could present you with something challenging. Something you might enjoy making." Aeris said, gesturing for Cloud to approach the man. Cloud walked toward him, still facing the floor as though doing so would save him some of the embarrassment.
"I want you to make me a dress." Cloud said to the man. The man simply stared back at him, puzzled.
"A dress? As in a woman's dress?" He asked.
"Yeah, but one that would fit me." Cloud answered, gaining a little confidence back since the man didn't seem to find anything unusual about his request.
"Well, yes! Yes, that's perfect!" The man said, excitedly. "That would be a challenge. I've never done something like that before."
"Do you think you could make us something like that?" Aeris asked.
"Yes, of course!" The man answered. "Come back to the store with me so I can take your size, young man. I'll have a dress ready for you by tomorrow."
Cloud nodded, then stayed back with Aeris as the man got up to leave the bar. The man approached the door and gestured for them to follow. Cloud mouthed "just a sec" to him, and the man nodded and headed outside. Cloud turned to Aeris.
"Do we really want to leave Tifa alone overnight?" He asked nervously.
"We don't have any other choice, Cloud. Let's get you this dress and find you some shoes and a wig, and we'll be all set for tomorrow. Until then, we'll find an inn somewhere in the market and get some sleep while that guy makes your dress." She answered.
"Oh, an inn? And who's going to pay for that?" He asked, smiling playfully.
"Well, since you are my bodyguard, consider the cost as part of your protective duties." She said, giggling.
Cloud laughed, and the two of them made their way back to the tailor shop arm-in-arm, giggling the whole way.
***
It didn't take long for the excited old man to take Cloud's size and begin work on the dress. Aeris was able to find a suitable dress for herself, as well as high-heeled shoes for the both of them. She also picked out a blonde wig for Cloud, which he disgustedly agreed to wear. When all was done, Cloud rented a room at the market's one inn, which was considerably cheaper than he'd expected (and also considerably trashier.) However, despite the prostitutes that were hanging around outside of it and the drug dealers that seemed to be hiding in every corner, it presented a welcome enough rest for the both of them.
When morning came, Cloud felt invigorated and he was anxious to help Tifa, even though it meant dressing as a woman. Aeris was anxious to see how Cloud looked in the dress, and she was also anxious to meet Tifa (although she hadn't mentioned that to Cloud.) Cloud took an hour or so to sharpen his sword and to check up on his materia, and then the two of them headed back to the tailor shop once more.
When they arrived, the man had showed them the finished product. He had been up all night long fashioning it, and he claimed it to be his finest and proudest work. He thanked them for giving him the idea that allowed for his creative juices to start flowing again, and gave it to them free of charge. Cloud tried it on, and to Aeris's delight he looked quite good in it. With the shoes and blonde wig, he made a convincing and even attractive woman. He absolutely hated it. Aeris put on her dress, and then they were ready to once again enter Don Corneo's Mansion. This time, however, they didn't plan on leaving without Tifa.
Cloud found it rather difficult to walk in high-heels, and he fell down more than once on the way to the mansion. Aeris tried her best to conceal it every time he fell, and they made it there without incident. When they entered, Aeris approached the desk, behind which was the same man that she had talked to the last time that they had come.
"I'm back, and I brought my friend with me." She said to him.
He lifted his gaze up from some papers on the desk to take a good look at the both of them.
"You're cute." He finally said to Cloud. "You two want to go up there and let the Don decide if he wants you for his bride?"
"Yes we would." Aeris answered politely.
"Aright then." He answered. "And cut out that cutey-cutey polite shit. You're a broad, dammit. And the Don hates that kinda shit."
Aeris nodded sheepishly, as though to say she was sorry without actually saying anything.
"Aright, follow me." The man said, and led them up a flight of stairs. Cloud remembered the red color motif that percolated through the entire room. Even the rug beneath them was red, and appeared to be made of soft velvet. The man led them to a door near the left side of the building on the second floor. He opened it, and pointed downward.
"Go downstairs and wait until we call for you. Try to make yourselves at home. Oh yeah, and no bitch fights! I had to break that shit up last week. You girls can really fuck each other up with them nails of yours." The man said. Cloud and Aeris entered the doorway, and the man immediately closed the door. The stairway was poorly lit, and they got an eerie feeling as though they were walking into a dungeon of some sort. That was not far from the truth.
The basement was dark and dank, and very smelly. It was also cold, and Aeris shivered on the way down. It was quiet, and they could hear their footsteps echoing down the stairwell as they descended. Aeris decided to break the silence.
"That guy was a real winner, huh." She said sarcastically.
"He was just as trashy as the rest of the scum in this market. I can't wait to get out of here."
As they neared the bottom of the stairs, they got a full glimpse of what their exact accommodations were going to be until the Don was ready for them. There was a tattered couch on one side of the room, with a spring popping out of one cushion and stains all over it (of questionable origin.) There was a television on top of an old cardboard box in the far corner, but from a glimpse it didn't appear to work. There was junk all over the room, and an old table in the middle with a bunch of boxes and trash on top of it. Standing on the other side of the room was a young woman wearing a long blue dress. She was facing away from them, apparently observing a picture hanging on the wall. It took Cloud a second to realize who it was, but as soon as he did he was filled with excitement.
"Tifa!" Cloud yelled.
"Cloud?" Tifa answered the call excitedly. She turned around, only to be greeted by two women.
"Where's Cloud." She asked, puzzled. "I just heard him."
"I'm here." Cloud answered her. "But not quite the way you're used to seeing me."
"Oh Cloud!" She yelled again, laughing aloud. She ran to him, and hugged him tightly. She practically jumped on top of him as she did so, and he almost fell over. "Thank God you're okay! I thought I lost you!"
"I was alright. Her church's roof broke my fall." He said, pointing to Aeris who was standing right next to him.
In her excitement to see Cloud, Tifa really hadn't even noticed that there was someone else with him. She extended her hand, which Aeris shook.
"Tifa, meet Aeris." Cloud said, introducing them to each other.
"Nice to meet you, Aeris." Tifa greeted the young woman.
"The pleasure is all mine." Aeris said, smiling. "I've heard a lot about you."
"All good things, I hope." Tifa joked. Aeris chuckled, and the two of them walked over to the chairs under the table in the middle of the room. Cloud followed, but stood since there were only two chairs.
"So Cloud, how did you manage to get yourself dressed as a woman?" Tifa asked.
"Aeris and I saw you on a cart into the market, and we followed it. We tried to get in here yesterday, but they wouldn't let me in because I'm a guy. So we found a guy to make me a dress, and when we came in a few minutes ago they let us both in." Cloud answered.
"So you're here to rescue me? Oh, you're such a sweety." Tifa said, smiling.
"That was the plan, yeah. What are you doing here anyway?" Cloud asked.
"Well, after you fell into the slums, Jessie was able to get the door open and we escaped the reactor just as it was about to blow." Tifa started, and then cupped her hand over her mouth. "Does she know?" Tifa asked Cloud, pointing to Aeris.
"Not yet." Cloud answered, looking at Aeris's puzzled face. "But she's with us now. We can trust her."
"You guys are in that Avalanche terrorist group?" Aeris asked, surprised and scared at the same time.
"Yeah, we are. But don't be afraid, we're the good guys here." Cloud assured her.
Tifa nodded.
"We're fighting for the good of the planet, Aeris. We've been destroying those reactors because they suck the Mako out of the planet to use for the energy. The Mako…"
"I know." Aeris interrupted her. "I know more about that than you could ever imagine. Yes, I believe that you are the good guys then. Please Cloud, if I could join you…"
"You would be welcome to, but you'll have to take that up with Barret. He's the leader of the group. Speaking of which, you were speaking about how you got out of the reactor." Cloud said, turning back to Tifa.
"Yeah." Tifa began again. "After we got out of the reactor we met up with a few people on the streets that seemed to know what they were talking about. Somehow they knew who we were, and they said that they supported our cause. They told us that if we wanted to find out about the Shinra, we should talk to Don Corneo."
"That asshole? What could he possibly know about the Shinra?" Cloud asked, not quite understanding why they would take the word of a few vagrants on the street.
"That's what I'm here to find out. Barret sent me to dig up as much as I could from the Don. He's at the bar right now with everyone else, planning our next attack I think. I was waiting for the next two women to show up so the Don could pick one of them to, well…you know. I was gonna try to be the one he picked, so I could get some information out of him before escaping."
"Well, there's three of us now so no matter who he picks we'll still be able to get information out of him." Aeris said.
"What if he picks me?" Cloud asked.
"Just make sure he doesn't get his hand down your pants before you ask the questions." Tifa answered, laughing.
"Well, I don't like this. It puts the both of you at risk, and I hate to do that. But if Barret thinks that this is the way to go…" Cloud trailed off.
"Do I sense a hint of respect for him, Cloud?" Tifa asked, smirking. Cloud didn't say anything, but she saw a sneer form on his face.
"So, how long have you two known each other?" Aeris asked, changing the subject.
"Since we were kids." Tifa answered. "We were friends back then, but we hadn't seen each other for a long time until Barret hired him to start destroying the reactors."
"Oh, well that's nice that you got reunited again." Aeris said.
"Yes, it's been good catching up with you." Cloud said to Tifa, who smiled and turned her head to Aeris.
"Do you think they're gonna call us up soon?"
As if on cue, the door opened, and the man from the reception desk called down to them.
"Come on girls, get up here. The Don is ready to see you."
"This is it, guys." Cloud said. "Be on your toes, and watch out for his thugs. Whoever he doesn't pick will come up to help the one he does as soon as possible."
The girls nodded, and then all three of them walked up the stairs. The man led them to another room on the second floor, and escorted them in.
Don Corneo was sitting behind a large desk. He was wearing a long, red robe that matched the rest of the mansion. He had a blonde pony-tail and a blonde beard, and he appeared to be at least 50 years old, if not more. He was also quite plump, and he had sort of a round shape to his body. To his right and left were two large bodyguards, watching attentively at what was going on around them. He rose from his chair, and walked around the desk to stand in front of the three of them. The man from the reception desk lined them up next to each other, and then turned to the Don.
"Enjoy." He said quickly, and then left.
Don Corneo gave each of them a cursory glance. He stroked his beard, as though in intense thought. And then he finally spoke.
"You are three very beautiful women. It will be hard to pick just one of you."
And then he was silent again. He paced back and forth, casting a scrupulous eye on each of them, searching for assets and flaws. He stopped in front of Tifa, turned his head to examine the nape of her neck, and then continued pacing again. Next he stopped in front of Cloud. His eyes closed the slits, and for a second Cloud's heart stopped in his chest. But he was suspicious of nothing, and once again continued pacing.
"You, my dear…" he spoke again, looking at Aeris, "are a fine young woman. But I believe you may be too young for me." He walked to Tifa, and then faced her. "Likewise, you are also young and beautiful. I think I do like you quite much, my dear." He walked over to Cloud, and then faced him. His eyes again turned to slits. "I find you compelling, my dear." He said to Cloud. "You have features that I have never experienced before. You are…beautiful, yet strong."
He nodded a few times, and then added, "Yes, I have made my decision. I shall take you." He said, looking at Cloud.
Cloud was taken aback. He had not expected that at all. He held back laughter as he thought of what a fool the Don had to be. To make sure, he pointed to himself and gave an inquisitive look.
"Yes, you. Follow me into my bedroom. The other two shall be brought back downstairs. I may call upon them later."
The Don opened the doors to his bedroom, which was in the back of the room they were already in. He gestured for the two bodyguards to leave, and they did so. Holding Cloud's hand, he entered his bedroom, and then closed the doors behind them.
"You have strong hands, too. I love that in a woman. And oh how your eyes glow!" The Don commented. Cloud simply smiled and nodded.
"The strong silent type." He observed. "I see. Well, I am a busy man. If you don't mind, my dear, I would like to get started." He sat down on the bed and took his robe off. He was wearing a tunic and loosely fitted pants. He began to remove his tunic, and he gestured for Cloud to unclothe himself as well.
Cloud laughed. He had tried to hold it in, but he couldn't help it.
"What is funny, my dear?" The Don asked, insulted that the person that he had given the honor of sleeping with him was laughing at him instead.
Cloud just shook his head, still laughing, and then in one swoop removed his dress and with it, his wig. Beneath the dress, he was wearing his normal attire. He removed his sword from its sheath, and pointed it towards the floor.
"Hello, Don Corneo." Cloud said, using some of the sheets on the bed to remove the makeup on his face.
The Don simply stared at him in disbelief.
"How…how did you…?" He tried to ask, stumbling over the words.
"Please shut up. I'm tired of hearing your goddamn voice." Cloud interrupted. "I'm asking the questions now you scumbag."
At that moment, the door burst open and Tifa entered with Aeris at her side. They looked first at Cloud, and then at the robeless and shirtless Don sitting on his bed. He stared at all three of them in complete horror. They just laughed.
"Good job, Cloud." Tifa said. "Did you ask him anything yet?"
"Not yet. I was just about to start." He answered.
"What is all this?" The Don asked, pulling himself together enough to ask the question.
"Hey shut the fuck up, asshole!" Cloud yelled at him. "I told you already, I'm asking the questions here. Now tell me, fat ass, what do you know about the Shinra?"
"I don't know anymore than the average person. What could I possibly know, I'm just an…"
"I don't buy that." Cloud interrupted. "I have it from a reliable source that you know more about the Shinra than anyone else in the slums." He said, which was a flat out lie, but he hoped it would encourage the Don to tell them what he knew.
"Yes, Don. Tell us about what the Shinra plan to do about Avalanche." Tifa said. She had a few questions planned that Barret had told her to ask, and she was hoping to get some answers.
"I don't know anyth…" The Don started.
"Tell me or I'll rip your goddamn dick off!" Tifa yelled at him, losing her patience.
Cloud held up his sword.
"If you don't tell us, then I'll just save her the trouble and slice it off." He said, menacingly.
"Okay, okay! Please don't hurt me!" The Don pleaded.
"We won't hurt you, you little pansy. Just tell us what we want to know." Aeris said, trying to add her own contribution of menacing threats to the conversation.
"The Shinra…the Shinra said something about striking back at Avalanche by getting them back at their own game. I haven't heard much about it, they don't tell me a lot. I have some people that work for me, and I get some information from the Turks, but only to a small extent." He answered.
"How do they plan to strike back?" Tifa asked.
"The President's got something big planned." The Don said. "But I really can't tell you…" He trailed off, but Cloud raised his sword, and he suddenly felt compelled to speak again. "Well, the President wants to destroy the pillar that holds up the plate over Sector 7. He's decided that if he destroys a part of the slums and blames it on Avalanche, then he can make them really seem like the bad guys. But this is only tentative planning that I got from a mole inside the headquarters. I doubt that's it's been set into motion yet."
"Oh my God." Tifa gasped. "They're going to destroy the pillar? That would kill tons of innocent people!"
"We have to get back to Sector 7." Cloud said. "Everyone is in danger. We have to make sure that they're warned before the Shinra show up!"
"Yeah, you're right. Our work is done here. We have to get back to the bar and warn Barret. Are you going to come with us, Aeris?" Tifa asked.
"I'm with you guys all the way." She answered. "I love the Sector 7 slums just as much as everyone else, and I have no intention of letting the Shinra destroy it. I may not have been fighting for your cause before, but I promise you that I have no love for the Shinra."
"Alright, let's go then." Cloud said, heading for the door.
"Not so fast, young…ahem…man." The Don said. "I applaud you three for tricking me. It was quite ingenious of you. But no matter what, I always have the last laugh."
"Oh? And how's that?" Cloud asked.
"You'll see. I hope you don't mind the smell of the sewer too much.
Cloud made a puzzled look on his face, but he didn't have a chance to demand an explanation. The Don pushed a button on the side of his bed, and a trap door that spanned most of the room opened up, plunging Cloud, Tifa, and Aeris into the depths below. The Don laughed, and then sat back on his bed, relieved that he had still gotten the last word.
"Well that was interesting. Amusing even." He said to himself. "But I still would have preferred sex."
As they entered the Wall Market, Cloud and Aeris were greeted with the very dingiest place of the Midgar slums. The market was a disgrace to humankind. Poor vagrants wandered around every corner. Junk was scattered everywhere. The place was a complete dump. Cloud looked around himself in awe, relatively sure that he had never seen a trashier place in his life. The only reason he didn't turn around and leave as soon as he got a glimpse of the filthy place was that Tifa was caught somewhere in the market.
"What a dump." Cloud remarked to Aeris, knowing full well what an understatement it was. She nodded, but didn't say anything. She seemed to be captivated, looking around at all of the people scurrying through the market. One particular corner seemed to be especially popular. It was a building with flashing lights and signs everywhere. There was a line of men in front of it.
"Bet I can guess what that building is used for." Cloud said dryly. "I'm gonna go find out if that's where they were taking Tifa."
Again, Aeris nodded. The place seemed to intimidate her a little.
Cloud walked over to the man who was taking tickets in front of the door to the building.
"Excuse me." He said, as politely as possible. "Can you help me?"
"Get in the back of the line!" The man sneered at him. Cloud tried to contain his anger.
"I'm looking for someone." He said.
"Oh? A particular girl you want, huh? You'll have to pay extra for that." The man answered, paying him very little attention.
"Her name's Tifa."
"Damn, you're quick. We just picked her up today, but she isn't here yet. She's probably at Don Corneo's mansion. He's looking for a new bride, and he's been trying out three girls every day…if you know what I mean. I think she's one of today's three."
Cloud nodded, and turned around in disgust. He walked back to the fence where Aeris was waiting patiently.
"Well?" She asked.
"She's at Don Corneo's mansion. If I remember this guy right, he's a real scumbag. I've heard things about him that would make your blood curdle."
"Well, we have to go rescue her then!" She said, already heading into the mass of people busily scurrying around the market. Cloud ran after her. As they both cleared through the initial group of vagrants near the entrance to the market, they could see the mansion ahead of them. It was relatively big, considering how trashy everything else around it was, and it was ornately decorated.
The front of the building only had one doorway, which didn't actually have a door but rather had cloth draped over it. Aeris pushed aside the cloth and walked inside, disregarding the fact that she was walking into a very dangerous place. Cloud ran behind her, and entered the building with her. He was sure that she didn't realize the trouble she could be getting herself into.
There was some sort of a reception desk at the far end of the building, and on the sides were two staircases that led to a balcony and a few second story rooms. It was a small building, and the walls were mostly red, giving the inside a semi-regal look. Aeris approached the reception desk.
"Can I please speak to Don Corneo?" She asked politely. The man at the reception desk chuckled and looked at her strangely.
"Well, you got a nice ass so I guess he'll talk to ya. But your guy friend over there's gotta get the hell out. We don't let men in here." He said, giving Cloud a cold stare.
"Oh, well forget it then." Aeris replied, a little annoyed. She turned around to talk to Cloud.
"Well, how are we gonna get in now?" She asked, obviously worried. Cloud shrugged.
"They wouldn't let me in unless I was a girl. I guess we'll have to do this the hard way." He answered, reaching behind his back to unsheathe his sword. Aeris put her hand on his arm to calm him.
"No, I have a better way." She said, laughing.
"What's so funny?" He asked, wondering what she could possibly find amusing in their current situation. She kept laughing for another moment or two, and then gathered the breath to answer him.
"We'll dress you up as a girl!" She answered, still smiling. Cloud shook his head furiously.
"Oh no! Don't even think about it!"
"It's the only way, Cloud. You want to help Tifa, don't you?"
He looked at her dumbfounded. He was sure there had to be a better way. It was too late to make a decision, though. Aeris had already walked over to the reception desk and informed the man that she would return with a cute, female friend.
As they left the building, Cloud shook his head in disgust.
"Are you out of your mind?" He asked her angrily. "I'm not dressing up like a fucking woman! In case you haven't noticed, I take pride in my masculinity!"
She turned to him, looked him right in the eye, and smacked him in the face.
"That's for swearing in front of a woman." She said indignantly. "Now, do you want to get Tifa or not? Because if you don't care about her enough to dress up like a woman in front of a bunch of scumbags that you don't even know, then why the Hell are we even here?"
Cloud put his hand to his face where she had smacked him. He turned away from her, and then turned back to look into her face.
"You're right." He admitted. "If we're gonna do this, then let's go. I think I saw a tailor at the front entrance to the market. We'll see if there's someone who'll make something for a cross-dresser." He turned on his heels and started to head in the direction of the tailor he was almost sure he'd seen. He took a few steps, and then felt compelled to say something else.
"And never hit me again. That hurt." He added.
She cracked a grin.
"See. I'm stronger than I look." She said, flashing Cloud her trademark smile.
***
It didn't take them long to reach the tailor that Cloud had indeed seen before. Aeris was quick to run inside and immediately begin a conversation with the woman standing behind the counter.
"Do you sell women's clothing?" Aeris asked excitedly.
The woman chuckled a little at Aeris's anxiety.
"Yes we do, miss. Are you looking for something in particular?" She asked.
"Well yes." Aeris answered, smirking. "But it probably isn't something you're commonly asked to make."
"Oh? Well my father makes the clothes here, and he's always willing to accept a good tailor's challenge. What would you like him to make?"
"I need you him make a dress for my friend here." Aeris answered, pointing to Cloud. Cloud was standing quietly by the door, his face to the ground. His cheeks were red with embarrassment. The woman turned to him.
"You're a cross-dresser?" She asked politely.
Cloud opened his mouth to vehemently deny it, but Aeris quickly answered the question for him.
"Yes! He's always wanted to dress as a woman, and he thought maybe you could hook him up with a good dress."
"Well, whatever floats your boat I guess." The woman said, still chuckling to herself. "I'm sure my father would love the chance to do something a little different."
She looked at Cloud, taking in his size and shape with the skill possessed by the best of tailors. "You are a strong man, I can tell. It will be hard for him to make you look feminine, but I'm sure he can do it. The only problem is that he isn't here right now. My guess is he's out getting drunk of his ass right now. If you search the local bars and find him, I'll make sure he makes the dress for you."
Aeris nodded.
"Sure! We'll find him!" She answered, and then grabbed Cloud's hand and dragged him outside.
As they walked away from the tailor, the nearest pub caught Aeris's eye.
"That bar is pretty close. He's probably in there." She said.
Cloud nodded but didn't say anything. He didn't like how this situation was working out. He was willingly finding someone to dress him up as a woman, and he was taking orders from a girl that he had only met the day before. He was always one to keep in control of himself, and he was quickly finding that control slipping out of his hands. If Tifa wasn't in such danger, he would have stopped all this nonsense already. But Tifa was in danger, and as much as he didn't like it, Aeris was right. They had to do everything in their power to help her.
Aeris was again the first to enter the building, with Cloud following close behind. The bar was dark inside, and there weren't many people inside. The few that were appeared to be just as trashy as most of the people outside that seemed to love this market so much. Cloud wondered how anyone that looked as poor and unskilled as the men sitting at the tables inside could possibly be a talented tailor.
Aeris's attention was grabbed by a lone man sitting at a bar on the far end of the building. He was hunched over and had his head in his hands, and there were four empty beer mugs next to him. Aeris walked up to him and put her hand on his back. He jumped a little, but then smiled when he saw who she was.
"Hello there, miss." He greeted her, trying to be polite but slurring the words slightly.
"Hi." She greeted him back. "My friend and I were wondering, are you the man who owns the tailor shop near the entrance to the market?"
"Yes I am." He answered. "But I'm not in the mood to be making clothes right now. I'm tired of making clothes. There's no challenge in it anymore, hon. I think you'd be better off finding someone else."
"Well, we thought maybe we could present you with something challenging. Something you might enjoy making." Aeris said, gesturing for Cloud to approach the man. Cloud walked toward him, still facing the floor as though doing so would save him some of the embarrassment.
"I want you to make me a dress." Cloud said to the man. The man simply stared back at him, puzzled.
"A dress? As in a woman's dress?" He asked.
"Yeah, but one that would fit me." Cloud answered, gaining a little confidence back since the man didn't seem to find anything unusual about his request.
"Well, yes! Yes, that's perfect!" The man said, excitedly. "That would be a challenge. I've never done something like that before."
"Do you think you could make us something like that?" Aeris asked.
"Yes, of course!" The man answered. "Come back to the store with me so I can take your size, young man. I'll have a dress ready for you by tomorrow."
Cloud nodded, then stayed back with Aeris as the man got up to leave the bar. The man approached the door and gestured for them to follow. Cloud mouthed "just a sec" to him, and the man nodded and headed outside. Cloud turned to Aeris.
"Do we really want to leave Tifa alone overnight?" He asked nervously.
"We don't have any other choice, Cloud. Let's get you this dress and find you some shoes and a wig, and we'll be all set for tomorrow. Until then, we'll find an inn somewhere in the market and get some sleep while that guy makes your dress." She answered.
"Oh, an inn? And who's going to pay for that?" He asked, smiling playfully.
"Well, since you are my bodyguard, consider the cost as part of your protective duties." She said, giggling.
Cloud laughed, and the two of them made their way back to the tailor shop arm-in-arm, giggling the whole way.
***
It didn't take long for the excited old man to take Cloud's size and begin work on the dress. Aeris was able to find a suitable dress for herself, as well as high-heeled shoes for the both of them. She also picked out a blonde wig for Cloud, which he disgustedly agreed to wear. When all was done, Cloud rented a room at the market's one inn, which was considerably cheaper than he'd expected (and also considerably trashier.) However, despite the prostitutes that were hanging around outside of it and the drug dealers that seemed to be hiding in every corner, it presented a welcome enough rest for the both of them.
When morning came, Cloud felt invigorated and he was anxious to help Tifa, even though it meant dressing as a woman. Aeris was anxious to see how Cloud looked in the dress, and she was also anxious to meet Tifa (although she hadn't mentioned that to Cloud.) Cloud took an hour or so to sharpen his sword and to check up on his materia, and then the two of them headed back to the tailor shop once more.
When they arrived, the man had showed them the finished product. He had been up all night long fashioning it, and he claimed it to be his finest and proudest work. He thanked them for giving him the idea that allowed for his creative juices to start flowing again, and gave it to them free of charge. Cloud tried it on, and to Aeris's delight he looked quite good in it. With the shoes and blonde wig, he made a convincing and even attractive woman. He absolutely hated it. Aeris put on her dress, and then they were ready to once again enter Don Corneo's Mansion. This time, however, they didn't plan on leaving without Tifa.
Cloud found it rather difficult to walk in high-heels, and he fell down more than once on the way to the mansion. Aeris tried her best to conceal it every time he fell, and they made it there without incident. When they entered, Aeris approached the desk, behind which was the same man that she had talked to the last time that they had come.
"I'm back, and I brought my friend with me." She said to him.
He lifted his gaze up from some papers on the desk to take a good look at the both of them.
"You're cute." He finally said to Cloud. "You two want to go up there and let the Don decide if he wants you for his bride?"
"Yes we would." Aeris answered politely.
"Aright then." He answered. "And cut out that cutey-cutey polite shit. You're a broad, dammit. And the Don hates that kinda shit."
Aeris nodded sheepishly, as though to say she was sorry without actually saying anything.
"Aright, follow me." The man said, and led them up a flight of stairs. Cloud remembered the red color motif that percolated through the entire room. Even the rug beneath them was red, and appeared to be made of soft velvet. The man led them to a door near the left side of the building on the second floor. He opened it, and pointed downward.
"Go downstairs and wait until we call for you. Try to make yourselves at home. Oh yeah, and no bitch fights! I had to break that shit up last week. You girls can really fuck each other up with them nails of yours." The man said. Cloud and Aeris entered the doorway, and the man immediately closed the door. The stairway was poorly lit, and they got an eerie feeling as though they were walking into a dungeon of some sort. That was not far from the truth.
The basement was dark and dank, and very smelly. It was also cold, and Aeris shivered on the way down. It was quiet, and they could hear their footsteps echoing down the stairwell as they descended. Aeris decided to break the silence.
"That guy was a real winner, huh." She said sarcastically.
"He was just as trashy as the rest of the scum in this market. I can't wait to get out of here."
As they neared the bottom of the stairs, they got a full glimpse of what their exact accommodations were going to be until the Don was ready for them. There was a tattered couch on one side of the room, with a spring popping out of one cushion and stains all over it (of questionable origin.) There was a television on top of an old cardboard box in the far corner, but from a glimpse it didn't appear to work. There was junk all over the room, and an old table in the middle with a bunch of boxes and trash on top of it. Standing on the other side of the room was a young woman wearing a long blue dress. She was facing away from them, apparently observing a picture hanging on the wall. It took Cloud a second to realize who it was, but as soon as he did he was filled with excitement.
"Tifa!" Cloud yelled.
"Cloud?" Tifa answered the call excitedly. She turned around, only to be greeted by two women.
"Where's Cloud." She asked, puzzled. "I just heard him."
"I'm here." Cloud answered her. "But not quite the way you're used to seeing me."
"Oh Cloud!" She yelled again, laughing aloud. She ran to him, and hugged him tightly. She practically jumped on top of him as she did so, and he almost fell over. "Thank God you're okay! I thought I lost you!"
"I was alright. Her church's roof broke my fall." He said, pointing to Aeris who was standing right next to him.
In her excitement to see Cloud, Tifa really hadn't even noticed that there was someone else with him. She extended her hand, which Aeris shook.
"Tifa, meet Aeris." Cloud said, introducing them to each other.
"Nice to meet you, Aeris." Tifa greeted the young woman.
"The pleasure is all mine." Aeris said, smiling. "I've heard a lot about you."
"All good things, I hope." Tifa joked. Aeris chuckled, and the two of them walked over to the chairs under the table in the middle of the room. Cloud followed, but stood since there were only two chairs.
"So Cloud, how did you manage to get yourself dressed as a woman?" Tifa asked.
"Aeris and I saw you on a cart into the market, and we followed it. We tried to get in here yesterday, but they wouldn't let me in because I'm a guy. So we found a guy to make me a dress, and when we came in a few minutes ago they let us both in." Cloud answered.
"So you're here to rescue me? Oh, you're such a sweety." Tifa said, smiling.
"That was the plan, yeah. What are you doing here anyway?" Cloud asked.
"Well, after you fell into the slums, Jessie was able to get the door open and we escaped the reactor just as it was about to blow." Tifa started, and then cupped her hand over her mouth. "Does she know?" Tifa asked Cloud, pointing to Aeris.
"Not yet." Cloud answered, looking at Aeris's puzzled face. "But she's with us now. We can trust her."
"You guys are in that Avalanche terrorist group?" Aeris asked, surprised and scared at the same time.
"Yeah, we are. But don't be afraid, we're the good guys here." Cloud assured her.
Tifa nodded.
"We're fighting for the good of the planet, Aeris. We've been destroying those reactors because they suck the Mako out of the planet to use for the energy. The Mako…"
"I know." Aeris interrupted her. "I know more about that than you could ever imagine. Yes, I believe that you are the good guys then. Please Cloud, if I could join you…"
"You would be welcome to, but you'll have to take that up with Barret. He's the leader of the group. Speaking of which, you were speaking about how you got out of the reactor." Cloud said, turning back to Tifa.
"Yeah." Tifa began again. "After we got out of the reactor we met up with a few people on the streets that seemed to know what they were talking about. Somehow they knew who we were, and they said that they supported our cause. They told us that if we wanted to find out about the Shinra, we should talk to Don Corneo."
"That asshole? What could he possibly know about the Shinra?" Cloud asked, not quite understanding why they would take the word of a few vagrants on the street.
"That's what I'm here to find out. Barret sent me to dig up as much as I could from the Don. He's at the bar right now with everyone else, planning our next attack I think. I was waiting for the next two women to show up so the Don could pick one of them to, well…you know. I was gonna try to be the one he picked, so I could get some information out of him before escaping."
"Well, there's three of us now so no matter who he picks we'll still be able to get information out of him." Aeris said.
"What if he picks me?" Cloud asked.
"Just make sure he doesn't get his hand down your pants before you ask the questions." Tifa answered, laughing.
"Well, I don't like this. It puts the both of you at risk, and I hate to do that. But if Barret thinks that this is the way to go…" Cloud trailed off.
"Do I sense a hint of respect for him, Cloud?" Tifa asked, smirking. Cloud didn't say anything, but she saw a sneer form on his face.
"So, how long have you two known each other?" Aeris asked, changing the subject.
"Since we were kids." Tifa answered. "We were friends back then, but we hadn't seen each other for a long time until Barret hired him to start destroying the reactors."
"Oh, well that's nice that you got reunited again." Aeris said.
"Yes, it's been good catching up with you." Cloud said to Tifa, who smiled and turned her head to Aeris.
"Do you think they're gonna call us up soon?"
As if on cue, the door opened, and the man from the reception desk called down to them.
"Come on girls, get up here. The Don is ready to see you."
"This is it, guys." Cloud said. "Be on your toes, and watch out for his thugs. Whoever he doesn't pick will come up to help the one he does as soon as possible."
The girls nodded, and then all three of them walked up the stairs. The man led them to another room on the second floor, and escorted them in.
Don Corneo was sitting behind a large desk. He was wearing a long, red robe that matched the rest of the mansion. He had a blonde pony-tail and a blonde beard, and he appeared to be at least 50 years old, if not more. He was also quite plump, and he had sort of a round shape to his body. To his right and left were two large bodyguards, watching attentively at what was going on around them. He rose from his chair, and walked around the desk to stand in front of the three of them. The man from the reception desk lined them up next to each other, and then turned to the Don.
"Enjoy." He said quickly, and then left.
Don Corneo gave each of them a cursory glance. He stroked his beard, as though in intense thought. And then he finally spoke.
"You are three very beautiful women. It will be hard to pick just one of you."
And then he was silent again. He paced back and forth, casting a scrupulous eye on each of them, searching for assets and flaws. He stopped in front of Tifa, turned his head to examine the nape of her neck, and then continued pacing again. Next he stopped in front of Cloud. His eyes closed the slits, and for a second Cloud's heart stopped in his chest. But he was suspicious of nothing, and once again continued pacing.
"You, my dear…" he spoke again, looking at Aeris, "are a fine young woman. But I believe you may be too young for me." He walked to Tifa, and then faced her. "Likewise, you are also young and beautiful. I think I do like you quite much, my dear." He walked over to Cloud, and then faced him. His eyes again turned to slits. "I find you compelling, my dear." He said to Cloud. "You have features that I have never experienced before. You are…beautiful, yet strong."
He nodded a few times, and then added, "Yes, I have made my decision. I shall take you." He said, looking at Cloud.
Cloud was taken aback. He had not expected that at all. He held back laughter as he thought of what a fool the Don had to be. To make sure, he pointed to himself and gave an inquisitive look.
"Yes, you. Follow me into my bedroom. The other two shall be brought back downstairs. I may call upon them later."
The Don opened the doors to his bedroom, which was in the back of the room they were already in. He gestured for the two bodyguards to leave, and they did so. Holding Cloud's hand, he entered his bedroom, and then closed the doors behind them.
"You have strong hands, too. I love that in a woman. And oh how your eyes glow!" The Don commented. Cloud simply smiled and nodded.
"The strong silent type." He observed. "I see. Well, I am a busy man. If you don't mind, my dear, I would like to get started." He sat down on the bed and took his robe off. He was wearing a tunic and loosely fitted pants. He began to remove his tunic, and he gestured for Cloud to unclothe himself as well.
Cloud laughed. He had tried to hold it in, but he couldn't help it.
"What is funny, my dear?" The Don asked, insulted that the person that he had given the honor of sleeping with him was laughing at him instead.
Cloud just shook his head, still laughing, and then in one swoop removed his dress and with it, his wig. Beneath the dress, he was wearing his normal attire. He removed his sword from its sheath, and pointed it towards the floor.
"Hello, Don Corneo." Cloud said, using some of the sheets on the bed to remove the makeup on his face.
The Don simply stared at him in disbelief.
"How…how did you…?" He tried to ask, stumbling over the words.
"Please shut up. I'm tired of hearing your goddamn voice." Cloud interrupted. "I'm asking the questions now you scumbag."
At that moment, the door burst open and Tifa entered with Aeris at her side. They looked first at Cloud, and then at the robeless and shirtless Don sitting on his bed. He stared at all three of them in complete horror. They just laughed.
"Good job, Cloud." Tifa said. "Did you ask him anything yet?"
"Not yet. I was just about to start." He answered.
"What is all this?" The Don asked, pulling himself together enough to ask the question.
"Hey shut the fuck up, asshole!" Cloud yelled at him. "I told you already, I'm asking the questions here. Now tell me, fat ass, what do you know about the Shinra?"
"I don't know anymore than the average person. What could I possibly know, I'm just an…"
"I don't buy that." Cloud interrupted. "I have it from a reliable source that you know more about the Shinra than anyone else in the slums." He said, which was a flat out lie, but he hoped it would encourage the Don to tell them what he knew.
"Yes, Don. Tell us about what the Shinra plan to do about Avalanche." Tifa said. She had a few questions planned that Barret had told her to ask, and she was hoping to get some answers.
"I don't know anyth…" The Don started.
"Tell me or I'll rip your goddamn dick off!" Tifa yelled at him, losing her patience.
Cloud held up his sword.
"If you don't tell us, then I'll just save her the trouble and slice it off." He said, menacingly.
"Okay, okay! Please don't hurt me!" The Don pleaded.
"We won't hurt you, you little pansy. Just tell us what we want to know." Aeris said, trying to add her own contribution of menacing threats to the conversation.
"The Shinra…the Shinra said something about striking back at Avalanche by getting them back at their own game. I haven't heard much about it, they don't tell me a lot. I have some people that work for me, and I get some information from the Turks, but only to a small extent." He answered.
"How do they plan to strike back?" Tifa asked.
"The President's got something big planned." The Don said. "But I really can't tell you…" He trailed off, but Cloud raised his sword, and he suddenly felt compelled to speak again. "Well, the President wants to destroy the pillar that holds up the plate over Sector 7. He's decided that if he destroys a part of the slums and blames it on Avalanche, then he can make them really seem like the bad guys. But this is only tentative planning that I got from a mole inside the headquarters. I doubt that's it's been set into motion yet."
"Oh my God." Tifa gasped. "They're going to destroy the pillar? That would kill tons of innocent people!"
"We have to get back to Sector 7." Cloud said. "Everyone is in danger. We have to make sure that they're warned before the Shinra show up!"
"Yeah, you're right. Our work is done here. We have to get back to the bar and warn Barret. Are you going to come with us, Aeris?" Tifa asked.
"I'm with you guys all the way." She answered. "I love the Sector 7 slums just as much as everyone else, and I have no intention of letting the Shinra destroy it. I may not have been fighting for your cause before, but I promise you that I have no love for the Shinra."
"Alright, let's go then." Cloud said, heading for the door.
"Not so fast, young…ahem…man." The Don said. "I applaud you three for tricking me. It was quite ingenious of you. But no matter what, I always have the last laugh."
"Oh? And how's that?" Cloud asked.
"You'll see. I hope you don't mind the smell of the sewer too much.
Cloud made a puzzled look on his face, but he didn't have a chance to demand an explanation. The Don pushed a button on the side of his bed, and a trap door that spanned most of the room opened up, plunging Cloud, Tifa, and Aeris into the depths below. The Don laughed, and then sat back on his bed, relieved that he had still gotten the last word.
"Well that was interesting. Amusing even." He said to himself. "But I still would have preferred sex."