A/n: So, now it's from Cloud's POV - let's just say it's his diary^^ or
maybe journal. Thank you Shinshin for your bestbest ideas for new chapters!
And sorry for not updating for so long!
Cloudy sky - part three
Wednesday, 24 March
The third day of my work! I think I really start to like Lunatic Pandora. It is a nice place - you know, the decorations and the food served here (cooked by Wedge and Biggs, great cooks they are!), and even the rooms where Zell and Irvy have their "guests" are very beautiful - I know because today Mr Loire asked me to tidy Irvine's room before he gets to work. I did it and it was quite funny. Zack helped me. He's a really weird guy! He is talking about anything and then becomes silent and demands me to talk because he's already said that much! But that's really very cool of him. Then, when we went down to the kitchen, I met Vincent - the guy they were talking about yesterday. Nice he is, ne. Red eyes, long black hair. Pale. Looks like a vampire. Zack told me that he once had a dream of Vincent with a metal arm... well, would suit him, but anyway, he turned out to be a bit untalkative. No problem. So... the two of them stayed in the kitchen, talking about something and I went to the hall to take the orders. There was that Seifer Almasy guy again, sitting at one of the tables with a nice boy, looking younger than me. He was flirting with him shamelessly, knowing pretty well that Squall was observing them. So I went straight to that table.
'Would you like to order yet?' I asked as nicely and politely as I only could.
'Yes,' Seifer said. 'I'd like fish with chips, and a big coke. And you, Ariel, dear?'
'Oh, I don't know...' the beautiful lad sighed. 'What would you recommend?' He asked ME. I grinned menthally. Wait, boy, I'll show you... hiehie.
'Chief's special,' I said calmly, not for them to notice my sudden grin, which didn't come out only menthally.
'Well, I'll trust you,' that Ariel lad said and smiled. Hey, he has a nice smile... but well, it makes Squally cry to see you with Seifer, so bye-bye and don't cry.
I went to the kitchen and asked Biggs if he could add something purgative to the meal the boy ordered. He smiled at me and said it was no problem. When the meals were finished, I took them to Seifer and Ariel. Then I returned to the kitchen to watch the show closely. I have to admit, Ariel was a nice guy and all, I even could make friends with him... but that Seifer guy has to learn something and I'm going to teach him. They were eating... Zack asked me why I was watching the two so closely. I told him what my plan was and he laughed his brain off. Then we were watching together.
It happened quickly: the boy suddenly had a terrified expression. He put his hand on his stomach and he squealed. Then he ran to the toilettes, not explaining a thing to Seifer, who was sitting there, quite astonished. Me and Zack laughed so hard we thought our stomachs would burst... Vincent just looked at us and rolled his eyes and Cid joined us. But then I took Seifer's bill and went to hand it to him.
'You gave my friend something not fresh,' he said angrily; oh, Mr I'm-so- clever finally realised his "friend's" strange behaviour!
'That's definitely impossible, sir,' I answered gently. 'We do shopping every morning and our meals are always fresh, sir. Perhaps he ate something earlier and it just choose to reveal now.'
'So maybe you've added something?' he said suspiciously. I sighed and rolled my eyes.
'Would you tell me when, sir? Perhaps while Mr Biggs was cooking it? Or maybe before I handed it to you? I'd have... hmm... Three seconds to do so before you would notice,' I said. I suppressed a small smile when he glared at me angrily.
'Tell me, lad, who do you think you are,' he hissed and I chuckled. 'Perhaps you are working on Squall's orders, hm? He asked you to get rid of my new lover because he wants me so badly. Then tell him I'll never want him.'
'Oh, don't worry, sir. Squall-san has nothing to do with it, though he was crying when yesterday you treated him so impolitely,' I answered and put the bill on the table. 'Want to order anything more, sir?'
'I'll have a small chit-chat with your boss,' Seifer promised me and I smirked.
'Oh yeah, tell him that you're a prick who's making his son cry his eyes out and that I gave your new lover a meal which caused him to go to the loo with stomach sensations. Don't forget to add that I poisoned it or even something worse,' I hissed to his ear while leaning in as if I was taking away an empty plate. He looked at me quite astonished.
'I thought you were a polite waiter like those others are,' he stated and I grinned triumphantly. He needs to know who he's dealing with. 'What's your aim? You want me or what?' he asked.
'Oh, no, never. In fact, I just provide a small revenge from Squall. But he doesn't know,' I replied and turned around. 'Leave the money on the table as you always do. And better the tip be big or Mr Loire will know how one of his clients treats his son.' Now it's me blackmailing him... and imagine first it was he blackmailing me... Oh, his beau was coming back... Poor boy, he looked quite tired and sore. I stopped him before he reached the table and whispered to his ear:
'I'm really sorry. Come tomorrow when Seifer's not here, you'll get a free meal and as many additions as you want.' He looked at me and smiled politely.
'Thank you,' he whispered.
It felt nice, but I had to go. I went back to the kitchen and got attacked by Zack. He was excited as if that concerned him, so I told him every last bit of my nice conversation with Seifer. And when he looked at the hall to see if they were still there, he frowned. I looked behind my shoulder and saw a tall man, entering the hall. He had long, silver hair, strange green eyes and was wearing a suit that had to be reaaaaally expensive. I knew him from the newspapers. In fact, everybody knew him. He was that famous Sephiroth-sama. Zack and Vincent looked at each other, not sure if they should wait for a sign or go there together and ask him what he wanted. And then I felt his gaze upon my face and I knew he recognised me. I lied that I knew him from the newspapers. I knew him personally, perhaps as good as Zack or Vincent did. Because you know what?
He's my brother.
I know that doesn't sound easy to believe: he - a rich businessman who could buy the whole world and he'd have a lot even after, and me - a common thief, who has to trick people to get money, sometimes has to play a woman to steal some pervert's wallet. But though nobody knows it, we are brothers. It doesn't even look like that. I'm not very similar to him, with his handsome features and that starnge charm he has. And we never loved each other, always arguing and so on. That's why I left home when I was fifteen and never came back. I didn't tell anyone, even Tifa while she was my fiancee. She knew nothing about my family. It is because of that she didn't know that I am actually working at Lunatic Pandora. But hey, that doesn't matter. I thought I need to act normally, as if I knew him only from those damn newspapers. But, thanks to my stupidity, I didn't...
Zack looked unsurely at me; he noticed something weird, I think. I smiled at him and... moved to Sephiroth. Vincent tried to grab my hand and pull me back, but I was faster. In no time at all, I was next to my lovely older brother. When you'd look at us, it'd be hard to believe he's actually only two years older. It's not that he looks old, quite the opposite. It's that I look like a child. That makes me mad sometimes but... you know, what man can't change, man has to accept.
'What are you doing here?' he asked me without any emotions.
'Working,' I answered simply. He always wanted the simple answers. No unnecessary talking, asking, babbling.
'Ah. So you finally stopped being stupid and proceeded to find job. What a shame that in a place like this,' he said and I knew he was angry; it was like as if he was saying: you're ruining my fame. Oh, what a pity...
'You don't mind your little toys working here,' I said, trying to sound as emotionless as he was. I always was a shame for him. Nothing changed. So why was I disappointed?...
'You mean Zachary and Vincent? Their place is here. I wouldn't ever take them home or show them to the community. In fact, they are worthless. But you, Cloud, could be better. You could be someone. And now get out of my way and call Vincent here,' he said coldly and I felt my anger rising. What if I only knew Zack and Vincent for a few days, one to be honest? What if my brother would kill me if he only could? I wanted to scream at him, scream so long that he would actually really understand why I hate the bastard so much. But instead, I turned around and went back to the kitchen and told Vincent to go to Sephiroth. I must've looked really mad, because Zack started comforting me. As if I was the one who needed comfort!... but perhaps he thought I was just turned down by Seph. He thought I wanted to get laid. But no... he didn't want to know what really happened between me and my brother... he wouldn't want to know he's my brother, actually... some years ago. And he wouldn't understand.
'Zack... I hate him,' I said forcefully and he just turned his gaze from me to Cid, standing next to the table. 'And I can't understand you two... but it's your lifes. Live it as you want to.'
* * *
I didn't look at Tifa when I arrived home. I felt rather bad. The day started so nicely, but that conversation with Sephiroth got it all messed up. As if I had too few problems, Tifa wanted to know if I met that famous Sephiroth-sama and if I was going on with their plan. And that pissed me off.
'Listen, Tifa: if you're so clever, seduce and blackmail the bastard yourself. I have friends, Zack and Vincent, they're in love with him. Also, I have a life I want to lead, a boy I like and a job I'm starting to get used to. Oh, I forgot: I also have a brother who is a bastard, an ex- fiancee who's pregnant with my ex-best friend and the said best friend sending me to the gay bar to seduce people! So maybe you would think a bit, that hurts only the first time - and try to think of my situation! I hate you!'
I went to my room, packed everything that belonged to me and left without another word. I really wished Tifa and Barret the best, but I couldn't stand them... anymore. Now that I saw what a real, normal life could be. My life is in Lunatic Pandora. And I hope Mr Loire will let me stay there...
Cloudy sky - part three
Wednesday, 24 March
The third day of my work! I think I really start to like Lunatic Pandora. It is a nice place - you know, the decorations and the food served here (cooked by Wedge and Biggs, great cooks they are!), and even the rooms where Zell and Irvy have their "guests" are very beautiful - I know because today Mr Loire asked me to tidy Irvine's room before he gets to work. I did it and it was quite funny. Zack helped me. He's a really weird guy! He is talking about anything and then becomes silent and demands me to talk because he's already said that much! But that's really very cool of him. Then, when we went down to the kitchen, I met Vincent - the guy they were talking about yesterday. Nice he is, ne. Red eyes, long black hair. Pale. Looks like a vampire. Zack told me that he once had a dream of Vincent with a metal arm... well, would suit him, but anyway, he turned out to be a bit untalkative. No problem. So... the two of them stayed in the kitchen, talking about something and I went to the hall to take the orders. There was that Seifer Almasy guy again, sitting at one of the tables with a nice boy, looking younger than me. He was flirting with him shamelessly, knowing pretty well that Squall was observing them. So I went straight to that table.
'Would you like to order yet?' I asked as nicely and politely as I only could.
'Yes,' Seifer said. 'I'd like fish with chips, and a big coke. And you, Ariel, dear?'
'Oh, I don't know...' the beautiful lad sighed. 'What would you recommend?' He asked ME. I grinned menthally. Wait, boy, I'll show you... hiehie.
'Chief's special,' I said calmly, not for them to notice my sudden grin, which didn't come out only menthally.
'Well, I'll trust you,' that Ariel lad said and smiled. Hey, he has a nice smile... but well, it makes Squally cry to see you with Seifer, so bye-bye and don't cry.
I went to the kitchen and asked Biggs if he could add something purgative to the meal the boy ordered. He smiled at me and said it was no problem. When the meals were finished, I took them to Seifer and Ariel. Then I returned to the kitchen to watch the show closely. I have to admit, Ariel was a nice guy and all, I even could make friends with him... but that Seifer guy has to learn something and I'm going to teach him. They were eating... Zack asked me why I was watching the two so closely. I told him what my plan was and he laughed his brain off. Then we were watching together.
It happened quickly: the boy suddenly had a terrified expression. He put his hand on his stomach and he squealed. Then he ran to the toilettes, not explaining a thing to Seifer, who was sitting there, quite astonished. Me and Zack laughed so hard we thought our stomachs would burst... Vincent just looked at us and rolled his eyes and Cid joined us. But then I took Seifer's bill and went to hand it to him.
'You gave my friend something not fresh,' he said angrily; oh, Mr I'm-so- clever finally realised his "friend's" strange behaviour!
'That's definitely impossible, sir,' I answered gently. 'We do shopping every morning and our meals are always fresh, sir. Perhaps he ate something earlier and it just choose to reveal now.'
'So maybe you've added something?' he said suspiciously. I sighed and rolled my eyes.
'Would you tell me when, sir? Perhaps while Mr Biggs was cooking it? Or maybe before I handed it to you? I'd have... hmm... Three seconds to do so before you would notice,' I said. I suppressed a small smile when he glared at me angrily.
'Tell me, lad, who do you think you are,' he hissed and I chuckled. 'Perhaps you are working on Squall's orders, hm? He asked you to get rid of my new lover because he wants me so badly. Then tell him I'll never want him.'
'Oh, don't worry, sir. Squall-san has nothing to do with it, though he was crying when yesterday you treated him so impolitely,' I answered and put the bill on the table. 'Want to order anything more, sir?'
'I'll have a small chit-chat with your boss,' Seifer promised me and I smirked.
'Oh yeah, tell him that you're a prick who's making his son cry his eyes out and that I gave your new lover a meal which caused him to go to the loo with stomach sensations. Don't forget to add that I poisoned it or even something worse,' I hissed to his ear while leaning in as if I was taking away an empty plate. He looked at me quite astonished.
'I thought you were a polite waiter like those others are,' he stated and I grinned triumphantly. He needs to know who he's dealing with. 'What's your aim? You want me or what?' he asked.
'Oh, no, never. In fact, I just provide a small revenge from Squall. But he doesn't know,' I replied and turned around. 'Leave the money on the table as you always do. And better the tip be big or Mr Loire will know how one of his clients treats his son.' Now it's me blackmailing him... and imagine first it was he blackmailing me... Oh, his beau was coming back... Poor boy, he looked quite tired and sore. I stopped him before he reached the table and whispered to his ear:
'I'm really sorry. Come tomorrow when Seifer's not here, you'll get a free meal and as many additions as you want.' He looked at me and smiled politely.
'Thank you,' he whispered.
It felt nice, but I had to go. I went back to the kitchen and got attacked by Zack. He was excited as if that concerned him, so I told him every last bit of my nice conversation with Seifer. And when he looked at the hall to see if they were still there, he frowned. I looked behind my shoulder and saw a tall man, entering the hall. He had long, silver hair, strange green eyes and was wearing a suit that had to be reaaaaally expensive. I knew him from the newspapers. In fact, everybody knew him. He was that famous Sephiroth-sama. Zack and Vincent looked at each other, not sure if they should wait for a sign or go there together and ask him what he wanted. And then I felt his gaze upon my face and I knew he recognised me. I lied that I knew him from the newspapers. I knew him personally, perhaps as good as Zack or Vincent did. Because you know what?
He's my brother.
I know that doesn't sound easy to believe: he - a rich businessman who could buy the whole world and he'd have a lot even after, and me - a common thief, who has to trick people to get money, sometimes has to play a woman to steal some pervert's wallet. But though nobody knows it, we are brothers. It doesn't even look like that. I'm not very similar to him, with his handsome features and that starnge charm he has. And we never loved each other, always arguing and so on. That's why I left home when I was fifteen and never came back. I didn't tell anyone, even Tifa while she was my fiancee. She knew nothing about my family. It is because of that she didn't know that I am actually working at Lunatic Pandora. But hey, that doesn't matter. I thought I need to act normally, as if I knew him only from those damn newspapers. But, thanks to my stupidity, I didn't...
Zack looked unsurely at me; he noticed something weird, I think. I smiled at him and... moved to Sephiroth. Vincent tried to grab my hand and pull me back, but I was faster. In no time at all, I was next to my lovely older brother. When you'd look at us, it'd be hard to believe he's actually only two years older. It's not that he looks old, quite the opposite. It's that I look like a child. That makes me mad sometimes but... you know, what man can't change, man has to accept.
'What are you doing here?' he asked me without any emotions.
'Working,' I answered simply. He always wanted the simple answers. No unnecessary talking, asking, babbling.
'Ah. So you finally stopped being stupid and proceeded to find job. What a shame that in a place like this,' he said and I knew he was angry; it was like as if he was saying: you're ruining my fame. Oh, what a pity...
'You don't mind your little toys working here,' I said, trying to sound as emotionless as he was. I always was a shame for him. Nothing changed. So why was I disappointed?...
'You mean Zachary and Vincent? Their place is here. I wouldn't ever take them home or show them to the community. In fact, they are worthless. But you, Cloud, could be better. You could be someone. And now get out of my way and call Vincent here,' he said coldly and I felt my anger rising. What if I only knew Zack and Vincent for a few days, one to be honest? What if my brother would kill me if he only could? I wanted to scream at him, scream so long that he would actually really understand why I hate the bastard so much. But instead, I turned around and went back to the kitchen and told Vincent to go to Sephiroth. I must've looked really mad, because Zack started comforting me. As if I was the one who needed comfort!... but perhaps he thought I was just turned down by Seph. He thought I wanted to get laid. But no... he didn't want to know what really happened between me and my brother... he wouldn't want to know he's my brother, actually... some years ago. And he wouldn't understand.
'Zack... I hate him,' I said forcefully and he just turned his gaze from me to Cid, standing next to the table. 'And I can't understand you two... but it's your lifes. Live it as you want to.'
* * *
I didn't look at Tifa when I arrived home. I felt rather bad. The day started so nicely, but that conversation with Sephiroth got it all messed up. As if I had too few problems, Tifa wanted to know if I met that famous Sephiroth-sama and if I was going on with their plan. And that pissed me off.
'Listen, Tifa: if you're so clever, seduce and blackmail the bastard yourself. I have friends, Zack and Vincent, they're in love with him. Also, I have a life I want to lead, a boy I like and a job I'm starting to get used to. Oh, I forgot: I also have a brother who is a bastard, an ex- fiancee who's pregnant with my ex-best friend and the said best friend sending me to the gay bar to seduce people! So maybe you would think a bit, that hurts only the first time - and try to think of my situation! I hate you!'
I went to my room, packed everything that belonged to me and left without another word. I really wished Tifa and Barret the best, but I couldn't stand them... anymore. Now that I saw what a real, normal life could be. My life is in Lunatic Pandora. And I hope Mr Loire will let me stay there...