Chapter 2: All This Nonsense
I heard .. ill. I see. When will .. be ava..le? Ah, I see. Well, .. sure to inform .. condition.
Cloud's head was full of everything but comfort after his encounter with his Sephiroth. He could hardly hear what they were saying about him. Everything seemed to be going by too quickly. The days melted into one another making life seem like one continuous dream. He often wondered why he was the chief topic of conversation. Couldn't they talk about something normal? The door flung open and slammed against the back wall. Cloud bolted upright.
"Rise and shine princess! Let's move it!" Barret flung his black, leather weapons case on a wooden stool and stomped over to where Cloud had lain back down, his arms supported his reclining figure. The sun hadn't fully risen yet. "Get up! We've got work to do. All you've been doing is lazing around the place and Tifa's been workin' her ass off down in the front."
"Alright," was all he said before completely sitting up. He slung his legs over the side of the bed, his body feeling a little heavy. Barret, content with Cloud's reaction, grabbed his belongings and made his way out being sure to leave the door wide open so Cloud would have to walk over and shut it at the very least.
Cloud pulled on a pair of heavy boots and leaned on his knees, thinking aimlessly on a non-existent topic. He dressed himself quickly after he had closed the door. Descending the stairs with great force, he arrived in the main area of the bar.
"Cloud! You're awake!" Marlene smiled happily and threw her arms around his waist as he approached. Cloud gave her a half-hearted pat as he continued walking to where Tifa stood cleaning the counters.
Her apron is tied so tightly he thought. How can she breathe with it like that? It's maroon too. I thought she hated that color. Its designer must've been extremely bored when he made it because Cloud couldn't tell one flower from the next. Cloud.
..Cloud
"Cloud!" Tifa's eyes straining slightly from worry, she stared intently at him from behind the table. He did not snap his head in her direction but merely turned it slowly as if trying to pull attention away from a deep thought.
"Hm?"
"What's up with you today?" She moved the bell-cupped glasses to a compartment under the counter.
Cloud collapsed into the nearest chair. "Nothing."
"I need you to go down to the town square. Denzel and Marlene need their new clothes from the market and I've arranged to have them available for pick up. And in case you're wondering, I'm going down to the church. Someone keeps re-arranging my flowers."
"More like defiling." Vincent crossed his arms as he entered and halted in front of Cloud's drifting figure. "I've not been able to discover the culprit as I've been away. I'll make my way there tonight."
Cloud trailed remaining dishwater on the table as they spoke distantly, staring at the liquid that distorted his reflection.