Set Against the Grain
Drabbles following the exploits of Zack and Cloud, via Final Fantasy VII/Crisis Core.
NOTE: This part connects with chapter 26 of A Day in the Life, except, you know, this is Cloud's perspective. Go read it first. In fact, go read that entire collection.
--6--
Cloud gazed unsurely at the young woman in front of him. He didn't think he recognized her, but the expression on her face pulled helplessly at the part of his mind that was shadowed and out of focus. It was as if she were a part of the puzzle that was creating itself in his head. Her name was almost within reach, but he could never seem to catch hold of it quick enough to utter the sound.
"Aerith," she spoke as if she had known his thoughts all along. The odd smile gracing her innocent face only furthered his guess that maybe he wasn't very good at keeping his expression clear.
But her name did nothing more to jog his memory. He was almost one hundred percent sure he had never met her before, but something was trying to tell him that he was wrong. That she was ultimately important to finding out why part of his mind was locked.
----
"Actually, I don't get much business down here under the plate."
He stared at the young woman standing before him, her blue dress causing her irises to shine brighter than he'd ever seen them, though the angle of her brows forewarned him of her disappointment. She was holding a basket of flowers, ribbons tied innocently around the stems. The flowers were in full bloom, the colors complementing her dress perfectly.
"I'll fix that."
"How?"
----
Lost in thought, he hadn't noticed when several soldiers filed in through the back doors of the church and a blue-suited figure stopped ten feet away from them. His appearance was uncharacteristically laid back, yet his expression was solid. And just like the woman standing next to him, this man stirred up similar feelings of knowing that caused Cloud to become more unsure of everything.
Why was he standing in the middle of a church talking to a flower girl as if he'd known her his entire life? More importantly, he figured, why were there flowers blooming in such an odd place, and how could it be possible?
----
"Three thousand."
"I'll raise you five hundred."
"Call. Let's see it, yo."
Confidently, he laid down his five cards.
"Pair of jacks to open, trips to win, right?"
"That's a sweet ace you got there, yo."
"Shut the fuck up and show 'em."
The redhead sitting across from him lounged back in his seat, staring nonchalantly at his hand. He was purposely drawing this out. Before the silence actually became unbearable, the redhead laid his own cards upon the table and left them there. They sat innocently next to the healthy-sized pile of winnings waiting to be claimed.
"Well, shit."
"Never knew you had such a potty mouth, Fair."
"That's a lot of fucking gil on the table."
"And it's all mine."
The redhead casually reached forward and scooped it up. Pocketing most of it, he tossed a few denominations toward the lonely SOLDIER sulking across the table.
"Cheer up, you'll win next time."
"Right."
Eyeballing the clock, the redhead made to stand, his chair screeching mercilessly across the tile.
"Draw—always a favorite. You should learn to quit while you're ahead."
---
Dazed, Cloud's vision went in and out of focus for a moment as he tried to collect himself. He couldn't shake the feeling that this man before him was someone he should remember—the suit, the hair, the confident persona. Though, as Cloud continued to stare at him, the redhead's expression began to falter.
"Reno," he stated. It wasn't a question, and it fell effortlessly off his tongue as if he'd spent years practicing those two syllables.
I know you.
