Running Water

There are certain pains that can pretty much drive a person to insanity. Cloud Strife was apparently experiencing something of the sort.

"I have to go to school, Cloud! Open the door!" Marlene pounded on the bathroom door with a clenched fist. "I'm gonna be late!"

"Just five minutes! Give me five minutes!" Cloud shouted back, his voice quivering with the occasional grunts and yelps. Marlene had no idea what was causing such a panic, but her attention was currently fixed on the ticking hand of the clock. "Cloud! I'm calling Tifa!"

"C'mon, Marlene, I'm in serious pain here!"

"What're you doing in there?" she could hear running water. The sink was apparently turned on at full power.

"Look, I'll be out in a sec!"

"I don't have a sec, Cloud! I need to brush my teeth!" her impatience was slowly graduating to an irritated annoyance. "At least tell me what you're doing!"

There was a brief pause, and all Marlene could hear was the running water. Moments later, there was a sharp grunt followed by an "Ow! Gaah!"

"Cloud! What's going on?!" she pounded her fist against the door.

By now, all the noise and commotion had woken up Denzel, who slowly joined Marlene with drowsy eyes. "What's the matter?" he mumbled.

Marlene smacked the door again. "Cloud's not opening up!"

"Why?"

"He won't tell me why! Cloud! Open the door!"

The door swung open. Marlene and Denzel gasped as Cloud peered out at them from the bathroom, clutching the left side of his face with a hand, while leaning his weight onto the sink with the other. His hair was damp, his teeth clenched, his arm trembling.

"Cloud?" Marlene stuttered. "Wha-What's wrong?"

"My eye…"

Denzel stepped back, obviously frightened.

"My eye…it…it hurts…"

"Why?"

Cloud winced, gritting his teeth and splashing a handful of water into his left eye.

"Did something get into your eye?" Marlene asked.

"I think it's a lash," Cloud muttered, rubbing maniacally. "All I know is it hurts!"

Marlene leaned closer, peering at the blonde man with curious eyes. "An eyelash got into your eye. And that's what's been causing all this?"

"Hey! It hurts, okay?"

Denzel shook his head. "What a pansy…" and with that, he waltzed back into his room; he still had another fifteen minutes till he needed to get ready for school.

Marlene fisted her hips. "Get out, Cloud! I need to wash up for school!"

"Goodness, show some pity! You don't understand how much pain this stupid lash is causing me!"

"Whatever, go downstairs and use the kitchen sink!"

"It's too dark down there! I need to find this stinkin' lash!"

Marlene scoffed. "You're being selfish, Cloud! I need to go to school, but first I need to get washed! But you're in there whining about your eye and you won't let me get in the bathroom!Stop crying and get out!"

Cloud paused. It was happening again. He was being scolded by this little girl. But this time, he wouldn't have it. He was going to retaliate.

"I'm not being selfish, Marlene! I'm trying to get a lash outta my eye, so I can see and go to work! To go to work, Marlene! I'm doing this for you! No, see…you're the one that's being selfish!"

"I hate you!" Marlene screamed. It was a bit abrupt, and Cloud surely didn't see that one coming. "I hate you, Denzel hates you, and Tifa hates you! Yeah, Cloud! Tifa hates you! She told me two days ago! She said she can't stand you being around! All you do is just fuss, fuss, fuss! She cooks your lunch, she does the dishes, she works, she does everything! She took the time to give you a haircut, and all you did was get all grumpy about it! Everyone hates you, Cloud! So just…just…go away!"

Cloud watched, perplexed, as Marlene stomped away into her room, arms crossed and back stiff. He didn't know how to react, what to say, or even what to do. So all he did was stand there, listening to the running water of the sink, and tousling his hair in confusion.

Truth be told, he was a bit shocked at Marlene's outburst. She had said things she usually would never say, even if they were true.

Cloud felt sick.

He turned the water off, and in a matter of about seven minutes, he was out the door, dressed for deliveries. Fenrir gave a loud roar before Cloud Strife drove off, pondering deeply about Marlene's eruption.

---

When evening came and the sky darkened, he returned home exhausted. He had eaten lunch and dinner at a marketplace near Kalm. By now, everyone was probably asleep, he was hoping. Another confrontation with Marlene would just be awkward, and he didn't know how he felt about talking to Tifa tonight.

The door creaked slightly as he entered, but he made sure not to make any abrupt noises. The bar was dark. He had to blink a couple of times to adjust his eyes, and slowly crept over to the staircase. He noticed a plate on the table with spaghetti and meatballs. Tifa probably left it there for him to eat when he got back.

Cloud climbed the stairs, wincing at the creaks and moans of the old wood. All the doors were closed, which meant everyone was sleeping.

He walked into his own room, tossing his bag onto the bed and sighing in exhaustion. He flicked the light switch on. The first thing he noticed was that his desk was unusually clean. There weren't any papers scattered all around, no pens and pencils abandoned near the corners. His eyes shifted a small card placed in the center.

He picked it up.

Cloud,

First of all, I'm sorry for lying to you today. Of course, everything I told you was a lie, and I was just trying to make you cry so that your lash would come out! That's how Papa helped get the dust out of my eye back in Midgar. He'd always say something really mean to try and make me cry, and it worked! Then he'd say he's sorry and give me a big hug. I hope I didn't hurt you, but I'm sure you knew I was just acting, right? Hope your eye is better!

Love,

Marlene

PS. Tifa actually told me the complete opposite of what I told you earlier!

Cloud read over the last line a few times, trying to figure out what it meant. Then, he placed the card back down and looked back towards the door. That Marlene was one smart kid. He had to admit it. She was smart.

That's when it struck him. The pain in his eye had vanished. He didn't remember crying at all. Or maybe he did. Regardless, he'd have to thank Marlene tomorrow.

When Cloud Strife climbed into bed, he rested his head on his arms and stared up at the ceiling. The last line of that card was all he could think about.

He was going to have a pleasant sleep tonight.

A/N: Okay, if you've ever had a lash get into your eye, you would know well that it HURTS. It doesn't matter if you're a five-year-old kid, or a blonde ex-SOLDIER who killed a billion baddies. Those lashes kill.

And I'm thinking that this fic is turning into a big glorification of Marlene's intelligence. Heh…