He set the cup down into the sink as his eyes drifted over the city. It was so quiet, so still at night. For once, Midgar was actually peaceful. There was no war, no battle. Just people with ordinary lives.
Then there was just him as well. A man who saved this world a few times. Though, not many knew. He was just a stranger to them, like they were a stranger to him. But he wasn't alone, he had his family. Turning around he went to the front door. His hand came to rest on the knob and the loud click assured him it was secure. With that he turned and walked up the steps.
Her door was open slightly; just a small crack between the frame was all. He gave in to his wants and walked to her door. His hands had minds of their own as they slowly lifted and touched the door. It moved an inch then stood still.
He saw her sleeping. She had probably hurried to her room and slammed the door, which didn't latch on properly. Must have been from the holding of their hands that had startled her. Who knows? He didn't care, he just wanted to watch her sleep. He had never done this before, but he didn't think twice about retreating to his room.
She slept on her side, with the blankets lazily draped over her shoulders. She was simply breath taking. His heart had stopped in that moment, she was beautiful. The way her hair fell down her shoulders, and that contented smile slept on her lips. The way her eye lids closed, everything. Every inch of her, was beauty to him.
Yes, he loved her. He really did and he'll never run away again, because he needed her. He needed to see her each day. Even if she didn't love him, he wanted to be there for her and if she fell in love with another man, he would be there, always. He would protect her, just like he promised so long ago.
His eyes fell onto the pillow that sat under her head. It was striped with brown lines and blue. Hey, wasn't that his pillow? It was his pillow. His sheets, they were his. Why was she, sleeping in them? She wanted to smell him, did that mean she loved him too?
Shaking his head he snapped away from his thoughts, 'She's just using them, maybe she didn't have any others to use,' he told himself.
She shifted around suddenly in the blankets. Startled he stepped back, worried that she may wake and find him staring. What would she think if she caught him staring at her whilst she slept? Her blankets stopped and her face was peaceful again. So he stared, leaning against the door frame this time. Just staring.
He wanted so much to be there beside her. Holding her, smelling her sweet scent of the flowers.
Then he realized, he was watching her for almost a quarter of an hour. What possessed his mind to keep him standing there? Whatever it was he soon forgot his troubles as he continued to stumble across his breath as he watched her.
He was aware of his steps as he neared her but somehow could not pull himself together to stop. His hand reached down onto the blankets, he could not help but smile warmly at her peaceful face. She looked happier, as she slept with that smile on her face.
He pulled the blanket up to her and tucked it into her neck before snatching his hand back and staring down at her again. The hand which she had left sitting on her pillow near her head moved a few times as she slept. She must be having a dream. What did she dream of anyway?
Before he could pull back, his hand had found its way over to hers which sat comfortably in her hold. It was too late to turn back now, if she woke she would definitely see him, there was no place to run. But he didn't care. There was no running from this anymore. He had to face it sooner or later, whether or not she would wake up was up to her now. He took his step and was ready for anything, because the past was behind him now, and for once he took the road blindly.
It surprised him at first when her hand tightened around his. His eyes latched open fully awake now as he stared at her, waiting for her to open her eyes. But she didn't. He closed his eyes as he ran his thumb over the place where her thumb and forefinger met. The skin that sat behind her palm. It was so soft.
She would surely wake up right? If he wanted so badly for her not to find out, then why did he keep brushing her hand?
A small poke to his side awoke him from his dream and his face went pale. Did she wake up? Was it her who poked his side?
He opened his eyes and looked down. Michi stood there sleepily, his eyes just barely open. He gave the adult a smile as he looked over at her.
"I'm hungry," he said softly to him.
Cloud sighed and looked back to Tifa. She was still asleep. She didn't even feel his touch, did she? Even in the presence of this child he didn't care about what Michi thought of him holding her hand. He slipped his hand out from her grasp and looked down at Michi who had sat himself up sleepily beside Tifa. He took the child in his arms and stood up fully. Michi had instantly tucked his hands neatly between his chest and Cloud's. His small head was snuggled into Cloud's neck.
Before going and getting Michi some food, Cloud stood there for a moment as he gathered up his thoughts. This was a perfect picture when one thought about it. There he was, standing there with child in his arms and the one he felt for, sleeping on the bed. They did seem like a family. Just the three of them.
He looked down at the child in his arms to see that Michi was already asleep. Should he wake the child or let him sleep? He made his choice and decided no. Michi was far too tired to even think about eating. Besides, he had quite the plate of food at dinner several hours ago.
The warmth from holding a child so close was really getting to him. It was comforting to know that by simply carrying this child, you were giving so much security to it. That was all Michi wanted, a secure adult who could look out for him and he found that, in Cloud.
He had stared for so long that he didn't even remember leaning up against the wall and closing his eyes. All he could re call was his back sliding down the wall and his consciousness seeping away into the child that sat on his chest.