A/N: Trying to look at Cloudy through his son's eyes. Not always easy, let me tell you. Denzel is a complicated character to get into sometimes...

Chapter Summary: It's time for the end-of-year projects to be turned in. And Denzel is ready. But the subject matter is sensitive, and he knows it's going to get him into all kinds of trouble with Cloud and Tifa. But he wants the world to -just once- look at the ex-SOLDIER as his father, not a hero...

Jealousy, Take 15

Ivy Elise Tanté

Denzel Strife crept down the stairs, praying his father was only half-awake this early in the morning. Just one more shot, and my project will be finished, he thought, clutching the camera tightly in his sweaty hands. He knew if Tifa Lockhart and Cloud Strife had any idea of what he was attempting; Denzel would be grounded for the rest of his mortal life -and perhaps even beyond- never to be forgiven for his transgressions.

Of course, if he succeeded the penalty could be even worse. But you only live once, right?

The inspiration for his end-of-school project had come the day Cloud had spoken to his math class. Sitting there on the floor, surrounded by not only his classmates but some of their parents as well, listening to his father speak of the mundane happenings behind the heroic war against Sephiroth - the event had taught him how blind people could be to reality.

When they looked at Cloud, all they saw was an image of the quintessential hero - perfect, handsome, self-sacrificing, and nearly immortal in his invulnerability. Granted, his father had the self-sacrificing part down to a fine science, having risked his life countless times to save those he loved. And he was fairly attractive as long as one could ignore the fact that his hair resembled to the backside of a chocobo. But as for the rest...?

Eh, not so much.

Hidden in his room was a small collection of photographs showing what Denzel thought of as the 'real' Cloud Strife. Twenty-three snapshots that proved his father as human and flawed as any male of the species tended to be. He wasn't trying to belittle Cloud with the pictures; he was trying desperately to share the precious memories contained within each image. Denzel had carefully typed the story behind each shot, trying to keep the descriptions as simple -and thus as powerful- as Cloud had for his classmates.

Cloud was already set apart from everyone by all the horrific experiments conducted by Hojo; the last thing he needed was for this wide-spread hero-worship to make the distance even greater.

Peeking around the doorframe, he saw Cloud sitting at the kitchen table, over-sized mug of coffee clutched in both hands. It was perfect for the last image; his father leaning on both elbows as he sucked up the caffeine-loaded coffee as though it were a life-saving potion, eyes half-closed, expression blissful, hair an absolute rat's nest that seemed to be exploding with blonde spikes sticking up every which-a-way. It also didn't hurt that he was shirtless. Most of the girls in his class would go absolutely nuts over that impressive chest, but even they would notice the scars after the initial screams.

Denzel would be sure to note where each and every one of them came from, as well as who had carved them into his father's flesh.

Quickly framing the shot, Denzel pressed the button and heard the shutter click quietly as he captured the image. He lowered the camera in time to see Cloud blink at the sound, but a second later he was halfway up the stairs, making a conscious effort to avoid the step that always creaked as he made his getaway.

Once in his room, he connected the cord from his PC to his camera and downloaded the picture. And it was perfect - just perfect. Denzel hadn't used the flash, and the early morning light nearly high-lighted each mark on his father's skin. Because of his posture, his eyes were in shadow so the soft glow from the Mako was especially noticeable. The size of the coffee mug had him smiling; it usually took two or three of those huge cups to get his father going in the morning.

Printing out the picture, he carefully placed it in the folder containing all the others and sandwiched it into his backpack. During the day he would jot down his thoughts on the image, and refine and type them tonight. All he needed now was four large pasteboards to display the shots and some colorful construction paper to frame them and he was finished a full two days ahead of time. The supplies were readily available in the school store, and Mrs. Vimbrose would be more than happy to let him keep the finished assignment in her classroom's closet until it was time for it to be displayed.

Cloud and Tifa had promised to go see his project on Friday, when the school would place the student's work in the gymnasium so everyone had a chance to look them over. The parents could vote for their favorite, and the one with the most votes would get extra credit towards their end-of-year grade.

Denzel didn't care about the points. He just wanted his father to stop having all the nightmares that kept him awake half the night to the point he so desperately needed that caffeine to get him going in the morning. And he wanted everyone to understand that acting so nervous around a 'hero' was part of the reason Cloud didn't know how to communicate so well with others.

-0-

The family was about to leave when Marlene forced Denzel to sit down at the desk and take a deep breath. "If he kills you, it will be quick. Cloud isn't one for torture," she assured her brother, looking with pity at his pale face and shaking hands.

"I just..." Denzel started, and shuddered at how squeaky his voice came out. "I just don't want him to feel I betrayed him, Marlene. I'm scared to death." It was humiliating to realize it was nothing more than the truth - he was nearly frightened out of his wits. He wasn't afraid of Cloud - there was no reason to be. He was terrified of seeing disappointment, or worse, hurt in his father's eyes. Cloud was a private person and the pictures, however benign, exposed the man behind the silent, expressionless mask he presented to the world.

Letting out a huff, Marlene bopped him playfully on the head and stated, "If Cloud gets upset Tifa will calm him down. I've seen the pictures, Denz. None of them are..." and she paused, trying to sound out the word in her head, "in-va-sive. Yes, that's the right word! It's not like you took a photo of him and Tifa all snuggled together in the altogether." Denzel found himself blushing to remember the time he and Marlene had found Cloud and Tifa all curled around each other, naked and fast asleep, on the roof terrace right outside Cloud's office.

"Okay, okay. Let's just go and get this over with. At least I can still go to school after they ground me for eternity." Squaring his shoulders, he headed downstairs with Marlene hot on his heels, eager to see the project. She had helped Denzel with the descriptions for each picture, and even come up with the title for it: Father and Hero - A detailed look at Cloud Strife.

The final picture was living proof that Cloud was both.

-0-

The gymnasium was packed with parents looking owl-eyed at the displays and kids running around in packs, pointing at the projects and giggling. Denzel found himself clutching Tifa's arm to the point she glanced down at him with a slight frown and said seriously, "You're cutting off my circulation. Why are you so nervous?"

But Denzel didn't answer her, because he could see where most of the people were gathered, and he was pretty sure he knew why. There was a lot of giggling going on, as well as shocked looks and delighted smiles. More than once, Denzel heard the remark, "Never knew he had that in him."

And a woman, trying to calm her excited teenaged daughter down, told her sternly, "He's happily married; anyone can see it right there in his eyes. So you'll just have to wait for his son to catch up." Oh, Denzel did some blushing over that one.

At last the four of them made it to the front of the huge, echoing room. And there, in a place of honor, was Denzel's project. Twenty-four pictures, six to each frame, were displayed along with the typed comments. Cloud stopped dead in his tracks and stared at them in shock, totally oblivious to the numerous people crowded around the table holding the decorated pasteboards.

Certain ones stood out more than others. There was Cloud wrestling with the broken dishwasher, the expression on his face one of murderous rage, hand gripping the wrench as though planning mayhem upon the inanimate object. Another revealed him with Denzel tucked under his arm, Marlene tossed across his shoulder as he calmly stepped into a flowing stream on the outskirts of Healin, mischievous smile hinting at the soaking to come- both kids were laughing and waving their feet in an effort to escape. That one in the corner showed him with his brows furrowed as he studied a large book in front of him, the ingredients for the mixed drink lined up like troopers awaiting inspection while Tifa looked on in amusement. At the bottom of the first panel was Cloud handing a customer a package, a soft smile showing at the man's obviously delight at receiving the item. And there was Denzel's personally favorite in # 14; Cloud and Tifa just sitting together at the bar, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her waist - both of them relaxed and happy in the presence of the other.

On and on the memories marched, drawing a picture of the warm, caring man Cloud actually was. And the last was blown up larger than the others, the scars and glowing eyes making a statement. It seemed to scream out, 'Here is what I am - I was made into something not altogether human against my will. Here is who I am - a man who loves his family and will take on anything necessary to keep them safe. Look at me and see the truth'. I am so much more than just a hero.

"Denzel," Cloud said, awe in his voice. "When?" He crouched down, feeling as his son wrapped thin arms around his neck and clung tight.

"Most of them I picked out from this summer. A few more after you told those stories to my math class. Marlene helped me with the descriptions. I tried to keep them as you would, nice and simple." Denzel snuggled close, breathing in the scent of his father, steeped in the warmth that always radiated from Cloud.

Gathering his son in his arms, Cloud rose and stepped up to see the pictures better, not noticing as everyone around him moved to give him room. Reaching out, he ran a finger over the one of Denzel and Marlene on Fenrir, both acting as if the bike had a mind of its own and was getting ready to run away with them. Cloud was in the background, laughing at their antics while Tifa stood with hands on her hips, trying to look stern and failing miserably. The sheer joy on all their faces couldn't be mistaken. He touched another showing him clapping a hand over Cid Highwind's mouth before the profane pilot could curse a blue streak over losing a hand of poker. Cloud had moved so fast there was a bit of a blur to the image of his hands, and a couple of chips hung suspended in the air by the timely snap of the shutter.

"Happy," Cloud whispered, stunned. "I look... so happy. Why didn't I realize that before now? I am happy." A tear streaked down his face as he sank to his knees and held Denzel close. "My family. Just look at us, Denzel. Against all odds, we made ourselves a family. I love you. I love all of you." And overcome, he buried his face in Denzel's soft hair.

All Denzel could do was hold tight as Marlene wormed her way under Cloud's other arm. Then Tifa was there, her arms around all of them, head resting against Cloud's. For a long moment there was only the quiet breathing and warmth of his family twined around him.

Then the applause broke through as everyone in the crowd started clapping their hands.

Unable to help himself, Denzel traced the blush spreading over Cloud's cheeks with his finger while Tifa brushed away the tears streaking his face. "I love you," she repeated. "I love all of you."

Once Cloud got himself under control, he rose to his feet and managed an embarrassed smile for the people gathered nearby. Then, to Denzel's immense gratitude, Cloud read the descriptions included with each photograph, noting inwardly that the boy had not exaggerated on any of them - the story presented was the unvarnished truth. It made him reconsider his life as it was now, and the son fate had given him. There was so much to be thankful for.

But that last photo, however fitting it might be for the project, simply could not go unpunished.

"Guess who is going to be grounded for the rest of his natural life?" he muttered to Tifa as she inspected the photographs just as closely as he had. Cloud motioned to the offending picture with considerable ire. "I don't even have a shirt on, for Shiva's sake! You know I'm not comfortable going around half-naked in public."

It was with narrowed eyes that Tifa pointed out # 17, which showed Cloud polishing the granite countertop of the bar. "You are the one grounded. That's one of my good hand towels, Strife! How could you use it to wipe down that filthy bar top?!" The entire gymnasium watching in amazement as Cloud ducked his head and shuffled his feet, blushing as Tifa playfully -oh, how she grinned at him!- chewed him out for using her good linens as a bar rag.

One of the teachers chuckled and said in a voice that carried, "How just like a man..."

And Denzel just beamed. Someone had gotten the message!