Told ya chapter 3 wouldn't take as long!
Ok, here we have the third installment, keep me going – don't let me stop, I have to finish this and I've barley just begun! After this, hopefully it should be more entertaining; we can meet faces such as Reno and Don Corneo (hate that guy) and up until the completion!!!
Here we Have Chapter Three.
The Promise
Enjoy!
It was a relatively small bar, a few tables and chairs, a corner occupied by Biggs, Wedge and Jessie, already tucking into some food, and downing their fill of drink. There was an old Pinball machine to the side that didn't play and forever held an "OUT OF ORDER" sign to the public.
"Papa! Pap - !" The high pitched squeal rang out as a tiny pitter – patter of feet ran up to Cloud to freeze, and the tiny little girl with the dark hair in a pink dress realized that he was not Barret. Her face went red and she turned and ran back as the woman behind the bar stepped forth and took her into her arms.
"Hey, Marlene, it's ok, it's just Cloud! You remember Cloud, our friend don't you?"
The little girl, Marlene however stubbornly forced herself behind the young woman's frame as she got to her full height to greet Cloud with a smile.
She was tall, willowy with long and soft dark hair that hung behind her head to be tied near the bottom. Her skin was clear with wide brown eyes. As well as this – it was pointless to deny that she had an awesome figure, and an incredibly huge pair of…
Cloud coughed formally before making his greetings.
"Hey Tifa!"
The pretty girl before him dressed in the mini skirt and white shirt grinned at him, blinking her wide eyed.
"Hey Cloud – how are you?" she smiled. "Other than in desperate need of a bath!" she giggled jokingly as Cloud rolled his eyes with a smiling sigh.
"I'm fine – and how about you?"
"I'm good – better than the junkies Barret just chased outside."
"You can say that again…" Cloud muttered, knowing that she was oblivious as to what the specific Junkie had said about her and exactly how her burly friend Barret had reacted.
"So, assuming the mission was a success, can I just ask…" she paused, putting her hands on her hips in mock accusation. "Did you and Barret get into another fight?"
Cloud looked towards Marlene before replying. She blinked her innocent wide eyes up towards him.
"Nope – not this time!" he smiled, lifting his hand to the back of his head with a smile as he looked back towards Tifa. Tifa's face melted into a look of pleasant surprise.
"Really?" she asked as though it was an answer unexpected. Her smile broadened. "My, my! You really have matured!"
He caught sight of the pink Flower upon his breast, and his eyes traveled to his friend.
Why not? After all she had just given him a compliment, and was it not only polite to present a flower to a lady?
Plucking from his shirt he saw Tifa's eyes light up.
"A flower? For me?" she smiled, as Cloud grinned back, all set to hand it over courteously before he caught a glance of Marlene staring up at him with her huge eyes, and he thought of Barret.
Perhaps it was the time to begin to put their differences aside… It really was immature to continue, and as an apology to his comment on Marlene earlier on, he felt a change of mind coming along.
His eyes traveled to Tifa before sliding down to Marlene to giving her signals to understand and finishing off with a wink. Tifa smiled and nodded in understanding, winking back.
Cloud came into a sudden bout of pantomime that Biggs, Wedge and Jessie turned to watch with interest.
"Tifa!" Cloud said loudly and accusingly. "I only give flowers to my FAVORITE girl! Everyone knows that Marlene is my favorite girl!" he said before crouching down to Marlene's level and holding the flower out as though offering food to a timid animal.
Marlene giggled, darting in to take the flower and to rush back behind Tifa, but now watching Cloud with a pleasurable smile.
"Awww – no fair!" Tifa pretended to huff, stamping her foot and folding her arms over her chest. "Everyone likes Marlene better!"
"That's 'cos Marlene's the cutest little girl in the universe, so there!" he replied sticking his tongue out towards Tifa, and Tifa could not help but come into a fit of the giggles, as well as Biggs, Wedge and Jessie, whom Cloud had forgotten where there, suddenly feeling very embarrassed at his little act, knowing that he had just utterly blown the tough guy image he had tried to maintain over them.
The door slammed open and Barret stormed in suddenly.
"Fuckin' jackasses, the hell they think they're doin…"
"Papa!!" Marlene cried out, dodging Tifa and Cloud as she sprang like a little cat and over to meet her adoptive Father, arms outstretched, ready for a hug.
Barret became suddenly animated, crouching down to his knees and his face lighting up and coming over without seriousness or anger as he held out his arms for his adoptive daughter and swept her high into the arid, tossing and catching her lightly.
"Hey there Baby Girl! Your Daddy missed you so much he got back as fast as he could to see you again!" he smiled planting a kiss of fatherly affection into Marlene's cheek as she giggled.
"Papa your face is all scratchy!" she pointed out smilingly, referring to his beard and rubbing the area of her face of which his beard had been pressed.
Barret laughed as he gently hoisted her into the air to place her upon his shoulder, and there she sat perched happily as she and Barret exchanged tender glances until Barret noticed something.
"Hey, where d'ya get the flower Baby Girl?"
"Cloud gave it to me!" Marlene nodded happily. Barret slid Cloud a glance.
"Did you thank him?" Barret asked next, and Marlene suddenly looked guilty as it had only been two night's previous that Barret was teaching her the importance of saying "Please" and "Thank You".
"Thank you Cloud…" Marlene smiled nervously as Cloud smiled back, unable to help himself with this child.
"You're welcome Marlene." He nodded once towards the four – year – old. Marlene turned to her Father once again.
"Cloud say's I'm his favorite girl!"
"Oh yeah Barret!" Wedge chipped in. "You missed the…"
"Ahem," Cloud cut in with a vicious throat clearing and a warning glance towards Wedge who suddenly shrunk back into his meal, Cloud's cheeks burning pink as Tifa giggled.
Barret smiled in understanding as he approached the "Broken" Pinball machine and pressing on both flipper buttons. The pinball machine and the space of floor within a foot's radius around the game machine began to sink to a lower level.
"AVALANCHE meeting is now in order – everyone downstairs." Barret instructed as Marlene gave a jaunty little wave as she disappeared down to the lower level as she and her Father sank.
Biggs, Wedge and Jessie sprang from their seats and leapt suddenly into the hole, following their leader as the Pinball elevator made its way down as Cloud watched.
He didn't personally count himself as a member of AVALANCHE and felt he was entitled to miss out on these little meetings.
Tifa walked calmly behind the bar with a steady pace.
"Want a drink?"
Cloud turned to face her as he walked over and sat on the seat opposite of where Tifa stood on the opposite side of the bar.
"No thanks."
"That was a really sweet thing you did for Barret and Marlene."
"Yeah, well…" Cloud mumbled, going red again as Tifa came to rest her arms on the bar. Cloud came to notice the pair of red Sparring Gloves she wore. Tifa was a Martial Artist – and a pretty damn good one, going onto being a mistress of a choice couple of styles.
"You sure do embarrass easily…" Tifa pointed out towards his heated face. "And that's just not like the Cloud Strife I know."
"How many Cloud Strife's do you know?" Cloud pointed out, trying to counter her comment.
"I'm asking you, with your Multiple Personality Syndrome! Tough guy one minute, sweet kiddies man the next!" Tifa giggled.
"So my favorite girl isn't entitled to one stinking flower??" Cloud teased, giving her a soft poke and Tifa smiled towards him, deciding to change the subject. "So, the mission went well I take it?"
"Pretty much," Cloud nodded. "Had a little commotion with a Guard Scorpion but me and Barret kicked its ass."
"Good to hear!" Tifa smiled, cocking her head to the side. "…So, are you going to stay and become a member of…"
"Nope."
"Why not?" Tifa asked, frowning suddenly and staring into his Mako Mutated eyes. "Please Cloud, we really need the help, and I've missed you so much and…"
"Cloud, c'mere for a second, will ya?" Barret called up towards him as the Pinball elevator began to rise.
Tifa sighed, and indicated the machine.
"Go ahead, I'll wait here for you." She said with an air of sadness in her voice that hurt Cloud to his heart to hear it.
Heaving himself to his feet, he walked across the floorboards to reach the Pinball elevator and flicking the flipper buttons as he suddenly began to sink with the heavy grinding motion of it's decent.
Cloud soon found himself in a large and spacious room, messy with empty food containers and cans, a large and heavy table and a huge TV screen took up the wall next to what Cloud assumed was Jessie's computer. The light was brighter than it had been upstairs, and the atmosphere was one of safety and friendship, the walls painted white and with the light and the cosines.
Jessie was tapping away frantically at her keyboard, and Cloud suddenly saw his face flash up on screen along with the lettering "ID CONFIGURATION". She was working on his Fake ID. Best leave her to it.
Wedge sat at the end of the table, watching the TV screen, a news report on the AVALANCHE bombing. Cloud smirked. They'd made the first page of papers all over the continent – that was for damn sure.
Biggs stood alone with his loner thing going for him that just wasn't fooling anyone.
Barret stood next to him, fists flying into a heavy punchbag with such impressively speedy velocity. Marlene sat next to him on a large cabinet, kicking her feet playfully, watching Barret train with fascination.
"What is it Barret?" Cloud asked, coming straight to the point. Barret continued with his punching, didn't even turn to look at Cloud as he replied.
"Wanna ask ya's somethin'." He said aloud as his muscles finally came to a halt as he held the bag to a halt, wiping a thin sheen of sweat from his brow as he turned to Cloud.
"Well, what is it?"
"Was there any guys from SOLDIER fightin' us today?" Barret asked in a serious tone as he looked at Cloud, awaiting an answer.
Cloud sniggered, casually tossing his blonde hair from his eyes.
"No – trust me, you guy's would all be dead if anyone from SOLDIER had interfered."
Barret's jaw tightened and his fist clenched tightly, his brow furrowed in fury.
"Think you so great cos you was in SOLDIER???" he growled towards the Ex – SOLDIER of Nibelheim. "I'll show ya great, ya motherfu…"
As he advanced towards Cloud's cold and cruel stance, Biggs snatched Barret's wrist pulling and tugging to keep the peace as Cloud did nothing but stare coolly towards the scene before Barret viciously spun around and smashed his fist into Biggs' head, and the smaller framed man was sent hurtling backwards into the ground, and Cloud blinked in surprise to see that Biggs had instantly been rendered unconscious. He lay still save for a few occasional twitches, but there was no doubt that he was indeed out cold.
Marlene gave a sudden whimper, and Barret quickly came to realize that he had frightened his little girl.
"I'm sorry Baby, c'mere…" he coaxed gently, lifting the four – year – old from the cabinet and held her tightly in her arms as she shivered. "I didn't mean to frighten ya's sweetheart," he hushed as Marlene wrapped her tiny arms around Barret's neck. "Ya know I'd never hurt you, don'tcha?" he asked as Marlene gave a vigorous little nod. "I ain't never gonna let anyone hurt you, Baby Girl…"
Cloud rolled his eyes and headed back for the Pinball Elevator, deciding for himself that the meeting was over.
"Cloud wait…" Jessie called over, only to be cut off by Barret.
"Just leave it Jess," he spat, still cradling his daughter in his arms, both of his flinty eyes upon Cloud. "Look's like he still has feelings for the Shinra…"
Cloud spun around on his heels sharply.
"Barret – Shut up!" he snapped angrily, becoming pretty weary of Barret and his obsession with Shinra. All eyes where on him now – save those of Biggs who still lay motionless upon the floor. Cloud did not enjoy being the center of attention, but seeing as he held that current status he decided to rebuild his persona they had been meant to know. "I don't give a damn about Shinra Incorporate! I couldn't care less about SOLDIER…" he paused for a moment, all eyes and ears still aimed towards him. "But don't me wrong," he added with an air of superiority in his voice. "I don't give a flying fuck about AVALANCHE either…"
Then there was silence, tension thick and anger in the air as Barret and Cloud held their glances.
They could almost see the sparks flying between their faces.
Until Marlene yawned in Barret's arms. He looked down to see his sleepy child and sighed, deciding that Cloud wasn't worth his frustration.
"Think it's time you was in bed sweet thing." He smiled softly as Marlene, having calmed down since her parental guardian's outburst, smiled back up at him.
"'Kay Papa…" she yawned tiredly. "Can Jessie tell me a Story before I go to sleep?" she asked tiredly. Barret looked up to his young female Computer Expert and Teammate.
"Well, we'd better ask Jessie huh?" Barret pressed on, indicating that Marlene further try out her recently learned manners.
"Jessie? Could you please tell me a story please?"
Cloud had to admit – Marlene really was the sweetest kid he knew, and honestly couldn't see her growing up to being a raging Warrior like Barret as he had unfairly predicted on the Train to Sector One.
"Sure thing Sweety!" Jessie smiled. "I'll be in after your Daddy tucks you in, alright?"
"Okay – Thank you Jessie!"
"You're Welcome Marlene!" Jessie gave a small wave as Barret gently carried her into a room just behind Biggs' body – presumably the sleeping quarters.
Cloud – having decided that he really didn't want to listen in to Children's Bedtime Stories approached the Pinball Elevator and activated the switch.
He was leaving. He'd collect his pay in the morning.
As he began to come level with floor of the Bar Room, he was not surprised to find Tifa sitting there, awaiting his arrival.
"So, what's happening?" she asked as soon as the Elevator came to a halt and Cloud stepped off, not noticing the Elevator going back downwards into the Headquarters.
"I'm gonna check into the local Hotel for the Night." Cloud explained simply as Tifa got to her feet and ran up to him, snatching his hand. Cloud blinked, taken aback by this action as Tifa's big brown eyes begged into his mutated blue / green ones.
"Cloud please stay, you can do a lot of great help for AVALANCHE, if not for me…" she pleaded almost tearfully. Cloud was awestricken. This was none other than blackmail! It was what girls did, tricked you into doing what they wanted, or they would cry and make a guy feel so rotten about himself and so guilty until he did what they wanted.
The nerve of those damn females!
"Tifa…"
"Remember the Promise!" she cut in suddenly, tightening her grip on his hand and giving him a sly smile. Cloud reeled. He knew it! Blackmail! "You didn't forget the Promise, did you?"
"No I didn't forget, it was… it was…"
"You've forgotten the Promise!" Tifa accused, giving him a dig in the ribs. Cloud blinked, suddenly feeling nervous around his childhood friend. "It was seven years ago…" Tifa went on and looked out to the window. "Back in Nibelheim. It was dark, and the sky was all starry and beautiful…"
"I remember…" Cloud said with a smile of nostalgia to his tones. "I was to meet you at the well – yeah I remember…" he nodded. "You where late and I was getting cold…"
…
Three – fifteen AM. Tifa was late, and the fourteen – year – old Cloud was getting cold as he sat on the ridge of the well, his blonde spikes swaying gently in the nighttime breeze.
He knew if his Mother caught him out at this time of night he'd be grounded. And knowing that all she had to do was wake up and look out of the Window and call on him.
The thought didn't bother him too much though. He wasn't scared of his own Mother – she tried to be scary, but it just didn't work. And anyway, she slept as though drugged. It practically took a miracle to wake her up before morning's light.
Cloud leaned back and looked up to the sky. It stretched for countless miles, dotted with tiny sparks of stars in a haphazard arrangement. The moon was fat and dipped over the mountains like a huge orb of frosted glass.
It sure was a pretty sight to behold.
But as pretty as it was, it couldn't take away the freezing and knifing winds that cut into Cloud's bare arms and legs. He had come to realize that wandering around in the early morning even in late summer wearing shorts and a t – shirt was a mistake.
"Grow Up – Sephiroth isn't put off by the cold…" he firmly told himself, and a warm smile spread across his face at the thought of his Hero.
Sephiroth, the top Elite of SOLDIER. A tall and dominating man of around twenty - three years of age. An enigmatic man of mystery, his Mother said to be a woman known as Jenova, his Father – well, his biological Father was unknown. Some said that his Father was a brilliant scientist – stupider rumors involved a Vampiric Mutant, or a Zombie Turk both said to have lived in Nibelheim Mansion, only a five minutes walk from where Cloud sat this very moment.
Personally, Cloud was willing to make a wager on the scientist being a more likely Father. But then again, a Vampire Mutant (and let's face it, anyone who has a Vampiric Mutant for a Father is instantly awesome!) would give more suitable reasons as to why Sephiroth had such incredible power! This was only Cloud thought of when he was being silly.
There where no such thing as Vampire's. Or Zombies, let alone a Zombie Turk – why a Turk would be living in Shinra Mansion, Cloud had no – idea. Turks always had some occupying job to take care of such as stealing invaluable items or slitting someone's throat for getting on the wrong side of Shinra…
Sephiroth wasn't one to dwell upon his passed anyway. He was a man of unreal power and strength, nothing could survive when Sephiroth had his sights set on it, armed with his deadly Masamune, modified or so it was said that only he could wield it, any enemy he approached had its fate sealed to doom.
Sephiroth – in Cloud's opinion, was the most awesome guy in the world!
"Cloud, are you here?"
Cloud sat bolt upright suddenly and swung his legs over the edge of the ridge, folding his arms silently upon hearing her voice, making the casual sitting stance as he heard Tifa Lockheart approaching.
All too soon she peered over the edge of the well and caught sight of him, and she stepped forth to sit by his side.
She wore a pale blue dress with matching shoes.
Cloud looked up to her with a smile, and she smiled back as they sat together in the moonlight before Cloud elected to speak.
"Got something to tell you Tifa…"
"So I figured," Tifa shrugged with a small smile trying not to shiver. It looked as though she too had learned the hard way about proper clothing choice for outdoor gallivanting at this time.
"Tifa – I'm leaving Nibelheim." He announced loudly, erecting to his feet. Tifa's smile vanished completely.
"You're leaving??" she gasped, unable to contemplate what life would be like without her friend. "But why?"
"I'm going to join SOLDIER and surpass even Sephiroth!" he nodded, enthusiasm in his voice as he wandered around behind the Well to climb up upon it's hulk.
"The Great Sephiroth!" Tifa mused. "You'll get to meet Sephiroth…"
"Yup, I leave in a month or two!" Cloud informed as Tifa sat down by herself at the ridge, head lowered and facing into her lap. Before snapping upright, a fake smile flashing across her face.
"That's great! Really cool! You'll be fighting and helping people and you can do all this cool stuff!"
"I know, can't wait!"
"You'll get to meet Sephiroth!" Tifa repeated in a whisper. "I'd give anything to meet him – he is such a babe!"
"Eh?!?" Cloud's surprised squawk sounded from above the well as Tifa looked up into his puzzled face.
"Oh come on Cloud – you can't say he's not good – looking, with his deep greenish blue eyes, and his long silver hair, and my God – the body that guy has, its just…"
"Ok, enough of Fangirl Tifa!" Cloud interjected with a soft smirk. "I doubt Sephiroth's into fourteen year olds, that'd make him a criminal!"
"No it wouldn't!" Tifa protested with a giggle. "Not if he has my consent to…"
"Hel – LO? Earth to Tifa, it's called Statutory Rape these days!" Cloud laughed at her and her fantasies of the brilliant warrior…
"Well, you get your Dream of going into SOLDIER," Tifa smirked with folded arms. "Why can't I get mine of shacking up with Sephiroth?"
"Tifa, at least choose a dream that's more likely to happen!" Cloud reasoned with a friendly smile. Tifa thought silently for a few moments, gnawing absent - mindedly on her thumbnail before turning around to Cloud swiftly with an answer.
"I've always wanted to be rescued by a Hero!" Tifa smiled. "If I ever get into trouble – you have to come and save me!" she announced loudly, and Cloud rolled his eyes.
"A Dream that's more likely to happen I said, you can't…"
"No, I'm not changing my Dream – you are in a Bind as of now Cloud Strife!" Tifa laughed and pointing up at his face. "I hereby announce that by law if I – Tifa Lockheart am to get into any threatening situation and am unable to escape, you – Cloud Strife am to come to my immediate and dramatic rescue!"
"By Law?"
"Yes! It is now official – Promise me that you won't break this official Law!"
Cloud sighed with rolling eyes as he held out his hand to shake on it.
"Okay Tifa, I promise to obey this new official 'Law' and hereby promise that if you come into any threatening situation, I Cloud Strife will come to your immediate and dramatic rescue!"
…
"What's the penalty for breaking your 'Official Law?"
"Cloud!"
The pair came into a sudden bout of laughter at the silliness of it all, Tifa holding onto Cloud's shoulder with one hand and trying to hide her giggles with the other whereas Cloud just stood his stance as he laughed. It was indeed a rare moment, when Cloud could ease up and laugh like he would around Tifa.
His best friend was sweet, kind – hearted, intelligent, was an incredible fighter, and a beautiful woman! Oh – and she was an awesome cook too!
He knew that Barret showed no sexual interest in her. His relationship with Tifa seemed to give him the role of a caring older brother to her. But he had overheard him say on one occasion that Tifa was quite possibly the perfect woman and that the man she chose to marry would be one lucky son of a bitch!
It was one of the few things that he and Barret agreed on.
It was Barret who caught his attention again as he heard a small commotion behind him coming from the shaft of the Pinball Elevator, turning to see Barret climbing up a set of pipes grunting as he shifted and pulled his entire weight with his one hand before being able to pull himself to the upper level.
"What was the point in that when you could have used the elevator?" Cloud couldn't help but inquire as Tifa ran around Cloud's frame to gently help Barret to his feet, not that he needed it, but more of a friendly gesture.
"Damn thing's busted – Jessie'll get to work on it after Marlene's asleep – here's your money." He added sourly tossing Cloud a slack bag of Gil. Cloud opened it suspiciously and almost choked upon seeing how little Barret had actually given to him.
"Is that all??" he asked looking back up into Barret's face with a demanding air to his voice, shaking the bag before Barret's dark eyes. Barret remained cool.
"The price we agreed on. S'all there, count it if you want."
"Christ…" Cloud muttered, looking into the bag again with disbelief having a feeling in his gut that he had been severely ripped off. Coming to a decision he shot a quick glance towards Tifa before facing Barret once more. "I'll do the next mission for double!"
Barret gave a sarcastic smile towards the upstart that stood before him.
"Yeah – you can go fuck yourself, there is no way in hell that…" he was immediately hushed by Tifa, rushing up to him and spilling forth urgent sounding whispers that Cloud could not hear. Barret's sarcastic grin vanished and a look of frustrated contemplation replaced it, before he gently moved Tifa out of the way and spitting back the final verdict. "Done…" he was very reluctant to do so, but Tifa seemed to have worked her magic on him and Cloud felt a smile merge into his face.
"Well, that's that!" she grinned, rubbing her hands together. "Well, I think we better get us some sleep, we've all got a big day ahead tomorrow!"
"What do you mean 'we'?" Cloud asked curiously towards his friend as she turned to him on her heels.
"I'm coming along too – that's not a problem is it?"
"Uh – no, not at all!" Cloud returned feeling slightly embarrassed as Tifa grabbed him by the shirt and dragged him by the hole of the Elevator shaft as Barret watched curiously.
"The Bathroom is right next to the sleeping quarters – take a shower and I'll get your clothes cleaned up!" Tifa offered as she edged Cloud dangerously until he was teetering over the shaft, held only by her fist. "Then we go to sleep!"
"Train leaves at nine o'clock sharp – do NOT oversleep." Barret added in threateningly as he wandered behind the bar, rummaging around in need of a glass of scotch.
"You heard him – nine sharp!" Tifa smiled, letting Cloud go and slip into the shaft to giggle as he cried out as he dropped.
…
Cloud opened his eyes rather sleepily, stretching out his rather lithe muscles as he lay on his back before rubbing the dust from his eyes. A loud yawn scoured his lungs as he brought himself to sit up, stretching once more.
"Hello Cloud!"
"Hm?"
It was Marlene, standing before him in a set of pink pajamas and holding out to him a steaming mug of dark potable liquid bearing the rich and pungent smell of coffee.
Cloud felt his heart warm up as he took the offered cup from the little girl and she smiled as he ruffled her hair in thanks to her morning greeting.
"Thanks Marlene." He smiled as he lifted the hot cup to his lips to take a sip. His eyes widened as soon as it touched his tongue and he could taste the full force of the seven heaped spoonfuls of coffee powder she had used and it was all he could do not to spit it out.
But Cloud was strong willed and forced himself to swallow it.
He felt he owed it to the girl who was only trying to be hospitable. The little girl who at least knew how to cook certain foods and concoct drinks…
"Just the way I like it!" Cloud told her hoarsely as he pulled it away from his lips, glad to see that Marlene couldn't tell that he was lying.
"That's just what Biggs and Jessie said!" she giggled turning away and skipping up onto the Pinball elevator and activating it, now showing to Cloud that it had been repaired.
She waved merrily at him as she went to disappear and Cloud waved back with a smile upon his face, waiting eagerly for the moment for her to leave entirely.
As it happened, and Cloud felt it was safe to express his true feelings for the coffee, he gagged, shoving the cup aside and searching around desperately for something to take away the coffee taste from his tongue. Finding none, he finally opted to lifting the scruff of his shirt that had been washed and dried before he had went to sleep wearing it, and dragging his tongue along it desperately – anything to shift that horrific taste!
Finally satisfied – and thanking any passing Gods that no – one had seen him – Cloud got to his feet, lifting the cup of black liquid with him and wandering into the bathroom and pouring the contents down the sink. The water here was good to wash in – but not to drink. Drinking Water had to be bought, or the water from the taps had to be boiled. Cloud didn't feel there was time before his taste buds would die under the monstrosity that was Marlene's coffee.
But it was the thought and the trouble she took that had touched his heart, even though he knew he would now forever have phobias of suspicious hot drinks…. Never had he thought anything could taste so bad!
He left the bathroom after cleaning out the rancid cup and answering nature's call – now fully awake and glad to see that the Elevator was back down to the lower level, he tread carefully throughout the headquarters, avoiding the mess left by the usual inhabitants of the area before reaching the elevator and slamming on the flipper buttons to be lifted up to the Bar.
There was a happy chatter and a smell of Tifa's cooking and Cloud came to see Marlene sitting behind the bar, her face set in concentration as she worked at a piece of paper with a set of wax crayons, Tifa and Barret engaged in conversation as Biggs, Wedge and Jessie ate in the corner they had eaten in the night before, gobbling down the food like a pack of ravenous wolves, avoiding three cups of what Cloud assumed was black coffee.
Very black coffee…
Cloud hopped off of the elevator and placed the empty cup he had been presented with down on the bar.
"Marlene, you make a mean cup of coffee!" he complimented to humor her as he knelt over the customer side of the bar. She looked up at him with a grin full of childish wonder and pride. She had placed the flower he had given her in a clear glass of water and placed it by a stack of wine bottles behind her.
"What are you drawing?" Cloud asked, trying to peek into the piece of white paper she was working on.
Marlene gasped, suddenly throwing herself over the top of it and shaking her head frantically.
"Not yet! Almost done!" she shot back and Cloud decided that it was best not to invade her private drawing session any longer, picking himself up and wandering casually over to Barret and Tifa engaged in a hearty conversation involving Space Travel.
"I'm serious! It was canned 'cuz the guys wife was too busy inspecting things, and unless he wanted to cremate her, he had to shut it down!" Barret informed as the avid listener of Tifa had both ears locked into his conversation. "The idea of Space travel went right outta fashion after that…"
"Couldn't they have got her out and started over?" Tifa enquired in interest. "Would it have been that big a problem?"
"Beats me…" Barret shrugged causally towards her inquiry. "But that's what really happened! The even call the place Rocket Town now since the Rocket's still there – Damn thing hangs at a tilt!"
"Highwind's failure!" Cloud stated loudly as Tifa and Barret acknowledged his presence. "The Shinra weren't happy with the poor guy!"
"Shinra aren't happy with anyone that doesn't follow through wit' there stupid dreams…" Barret put in folding his rather huge arms over his chest. "Good mornin' by the way."
"You too," Cloud yawned, stretching once more on this fine morning. "How ya doing Tifa?"
"Great! All ready to blow Reactor Five to Kingdom Come!" she nodded with enthusiasm, flexing her muscles, her sparring gloves ripe for the enemy.
"Reactor Five is it?" Cloud took in the information slowly as it was spoken before turning to Barret. Barret seemed to be in a very good mood this morning, all smiles and all uneasiness invisible in his features. Perhaps it was a fresh new wave of confidence after the victory the day before.
"Yup – Big Mission no.2 – Reactor Five. Haphazard pattern that they ain't gonna recognize!" he announced proudly before looking around as though suspicious that someone was watching him before turning back to the blonde – spiked mercenary. "Uh, Cloud man… D'you remember that fight yesterday – that motherfuckin' Scorpion – I told you that I can't use Materia?"
"Uh, yeah – pretty much." Cloud replied quietly, working out upon his own as to what Barret was angling towards.
"Well – I got some Materia here… I was wonderin' if you could uh…?"
"Show you how to use it?" Cloud finished the sentence for him, arms folded and eyebrow raised up towards him as Barret withdrew a few shining orbs of glassy substances that shone like fire.
Cloud sucked in his breath for a sigh, a witty comment on the subject of refusal ready to trip from his tongue before he caught Tifa's stony glance towards him as she anticipated what he was to say and tapped her foot impatiently. Cloud cleared his throat and turned back to Barret.
"Tifa?" Marlene called over from the bar, waving over her drawing. "How do you spell AVALANCHE?"
Tifa abandoned the men right there and then, trusting Cloud to be an adult in the situation as she approached Marlene in order to aid her in her spelling Crisis.
"Materia – ok, y'see these little slots in your gun arm and in your armor and stuff?" Cloud asked, pointing the circular little grooves in Barret's gun. "You shove them in there, and then you can concentrate energy directly from them by channeling your energies through them – it sounds difficult – but really, it's not!"
Barret blinked at him, his mouth opened slightly, and Cloud knew that he had not understood a single word of what he had just said.
"Ok – this is Lightning Materia," Cloud explained, slamming a tiny glass ball taken from his sword and ushering Barret outdoors. Barret sighed placing a meaty hand on the back of his head as he walked, eyes locked upon the glass ball inside his Gun Arm.
Upon leaving the bar, Cloud looked around before pointing to a faded old sign, paint peeling from its rotten surfaces.
"That is your enemy – we want the sign to die," Cloud began and Barret glared at him before speaking, addressing Cloud in a rather hostile tone of voice.
"Dun patronize me man," his dark eyes on him like a set of twin lasers as fire burned within his deep brown pools. "Jes 'cuz I dunno how to use Materia dun make me stupid!"
"Yeah - well, that's debatable…" Cloud muttered under his breath, rolling his Mako – mutated eyes wildly out of exasperation, deciding to cut the insults as Barret violently snatched him by the scruff of his shirt in threat, his face staring loathingly into Cloud's own.
"Christ Barret!" Cloud yelled out viciously twisting in Barret's grip to free himself and doing so rather easily as Barret did not hold a tight grip upon him as he twisted loose and landed with a soft thud upon his feet. "D'you wanna learn to use the damn things – which you shoulda done along with tying shoelaces – or ya gonna…"
"Get on with it…" Barret grunted, folding his arms across his disturbingly well – built chest and glaring daggers towards the young blonde warrior before him.
Cloud cleared his throat in a kind of formal – sounding manner before pointing towards the sign, still staring vacantly back towards them.
"Direct all thoughts towards it and link your mind with the Materia. To dispel it – well, people just do their own thing and it works for them. I find aiming both hands towards my target rather easy, but each to his own…"
Barret blinked, feeling embarrassed that he still did not grasp this concept that Cloud though so blatantly simple, but determined to try and be successful, he turned towards the sign with Cloud's words in mind – to direct all thoughts towards it – keeping his mind on the Materia – Lightning Materia.
He didn't notice that he had begun to glow with a green flame. He did not hear Cloud's complimentary statement. All he knew was that in his blood flowed a sensation completely new to him, and Magic was in his hands.
He snapped both legs together, his stance jutting up to straight stance before thrusting a single hand in the air and an almighty clap sounded and then there was a flash.
The sign in question – a pile of smoldering Charcoal.
"Was that so hard?" Cloud asked with a roll of his eyes as he smiled and gave Barret a companionable pat on the back. Barret smiled, unable to not feel proud of himself and accomplished. Cloud had been right – there really wasn't much to using Materia at all. He turned as Cloud continued to speak. "When using Recovery, or any Status boosting Materia, focus on yourself or friends – or whatever need's healing or boosting, lest you want to give the enemy the Advantage."
"I got it!" Barret grinned, all smiles now on this particular morning as though it was now Guaranteed that Shinra where all set to be demolished because Barret had demolished a withering old sign. Casting a smile upon the ex – SOLDIER Barret sighed. "Thanks man…"
"Uh – yeah, no problem or whatever…" Cloud dismissed, set to turn around and walk back into the bar had not Tifa decided to exit along with the rest of AVALANCHE as Marlene stood in the doorway cheerily. Tifa held out a piece of paper towards Cloud and Barret as Marlene giggled and blushed in the background.
"We've to take this with us!" Tifa smiled, a pink tinge to her cheeks with her happiness and both of the warriors craned over to look at the sheet of paper.
It was a rather clumsily drawn picture of seven people, the media of artistry being Wax Crayons, but the characters where recognizable at least and Cloud couldn't help but grin.
Grouped together with circles for heads, dots for eyes, upside semi – circles for lips, and crude scribbles for hair, with rather awkward looking boxes for bodies finished off with two lines and circles for arms, legs, hands and feet.
Above the seven warriors, in red crayon, was scrawled "Avalanche" serving as a canopy under the wax – on – paper effigies of Cloud himself, Jessie, Biggs, Wedge, Tifa and Barret – with a little self portrait of Marlene on his shoulder.
Barret, with a proud smile, neatly folded the parchment and placed it in the breast pocket of his waistcoat before walking passed his allies, also smiling in favor of the drawing, and lifted his daughter up into the air and kissing her cheek and she giggle once more.
"Papa! Scratchy face!!"
Cloud wondered if she always said that when Barret kissed her.
"That picture's a masterpiece Baby Girl – When you're a famous Artist it'll be worth a lotta Gil!" Barret told her with a big love in his voice. He was a different person around his adoptive daughter as Cloud noticed – not a big and brash fighting machine, but a parent. A caring and loving man who would give the head off his shoulders if it would do her any good.
"I'm not going to be an Artist! I'm in AVALANCHE – see?" she indicated, pointing to the slight bulge of Barret's breast pocket. "And then we can beat up the Bad Shinra man!"
Barret's smile wavered. It was obviously not within his plans for her to grow up to live a lifestyle like his own. But he said not a word, and Marlene hugged him around the neck, and Barret's smile was reborn in its glory once again and he hugged her back, deliberately doing it a little too tightly – doing so without hurting her and she coughed slightly and laughed.
"Papa! Too tight! You're hugging me too tight!" She squealed happily, kicking her tiny feet and trying to free herself by trying to force herself to push herself out of his arms.
"Oh? Too tight? I'm sorry Baby Girl," Barret laughed, his deep voice sounding so much more youthful as he loosened his grip and Marlene gave an exaggerated gasp for air before a wicked smile flashed across her face and she hugged Barret around the neck, obviously trying to hug him as tight as he had hugged her.
There was no possible way that Marlene could have hurt Barret – but he played along, pretending to choke under her puny grip and whilst holding her steadily with one overly capable arm, flapped the other madly, almost laying upon Jessie what would promise to be a shiner if she hadn't dodged.
"Gak!!! I give up! I give up! You win!" he gasped, not caring what anyone thought of him for loving his child so openly. People looked on from within the AVALANCHE team and from just ordinary people of the Sector Seven Area. Barret couldn't care less of what they thought of him, what they thought of the fearless warrior, so rugged and burly to be seen playing childishly with a girl of four years old that wasn't even his biological spawn.
As long as Marlene knew that he would always love her, in case something were ever to happen to him, something that would mean he could not return to her, she would know that she was Barret's Heaven and Earth. Because that was Barret's worst fear, to be lost and to leave her lost with no – one to be the true parents she lacked.
Marlene loosened her grip and flexed her tiny arms before the group, and they laughed warmly, even Cloud – feeling his heart melt for the two. He still didn't like Barret – but he was beginning to see some form of truths in what Tifa had told to him…
Barret gave her a final kiss and set her down on her feet.
"I want you to go into the underground base, and don't come up until one of us gets back alright? Barret instructed gently and quietly as so none of the common villagers didn't hear him speak of the underground base that the Pinball Elevator would lead to.
"Okay!" Marlene smiled up at him sweetly as Barret fondly ruffled her dark hair.
"I'll be back for you alright?" he smiled into his child's face as she grinned back.
"I know!"
"I promise I'll be back Marlene, so don't you go worryin' about me or nothin' you got it?"
"No – one can beat you Papa! You're the strongest man ever! Your this strong!" she demonstrated by swinging out her fell arm span and leaning backwards as Barret blinked his deep, dark eyes. If only it where so… Then he could give her the life she deserved, rather than a stinking Midgar Slum…
"Barret, we've gotta go, the train leaves shortly." Wedge pointed out almost hesitantly, but Barret nodded, taking in the fact without anger, only regret.
"Gotta go now Sweetheart." He told his daughter sadly. But she didn't frown, and only hugged him again.
"I love you Papa,"
"Love you too Baby Girl," Barret gave back softly, kissing the top of her head before standing up to his full height. "Now you get back inside and do as I told ya's – we'll be back later on, okay?"
"Okay – Bye bye!" she grinned and waved merrily before disappearing behind the doors of the "7th Heaven" to follow her parent's orders.
Barret turned swiftly on his heels to meet his full team of AVALANCHE.
"Let's go ya'll – we got a train to catch."
Ok – I know the Marlene scenes where very out of character for Cloud, but I personally adore kids (I want 4 at the very least in future!) and thought it would just be too darn cute not to write! And I figured I should bring out the loving Fatherly figure of Barret we only see – what – twice in the game??
Sorry about the subtle references to Vincent and Cid – but I love those guys – I couldn't contain myself…
Anyway – we're getting up to the more fun parts of the story, and if I keep getting reviews, I'll keep writing!
Until Next Time!