For those who reviewed: You have no idea how happy you all made me. I had a four hour test a few days ago and a long day planned afterward, but in between the two extensive activities I was able to get on to see how my new story was faring. Looking at it, I noticed I had reviews from you guys and it really made my whole day happier. Thanks for taking the time to say what you liked about it and letting me know you're excited to see more. But before I get too bubbly with happiness on you, I should mention that while this fic is easy for me to write, not all updates will be this quick. I've got an angst FFVII-Dissidia crossover I'm working on too so my attention is split between the two stories.
And I suppose I should fess up before you discover this for yourselves: I don't read romance ('cept for three OTPs I am rabid about) and I don't write romance. Fluff is about as deep as it gets for me. So if Johnny seems like an unusual suitor, it's both due to his limited cannon to draw from and my own inexperience, but this'll still be fun!
Also this fanfiction isn't all about just Tifa and Johnny. No, that would be pretty dull. Instead, you get to read both that AND little bits and pieces from the FFVII crew's daily lives – as always, mostly centered around Seventh Heaven.
Well, I think I'm done with all the personal and relevantly important notes so, on to the story!
Cloud sighed as his mind arose from the blanketing fog of sleep. If he had a say in it, he would sleep till noon. After all, with the crazy trip to Junon and the late night, it was only to be expected. Which was why when he heard the drilling outside his second story window a wave of irritation flared within him.
Twisting himself around to stay in bed and still get maximum surveillance of the room, Cloud attempted to discover the source of the constant noise. From outside the second of his unnaturally large windows, a brown, muscled elbow poked in view along with a silver hand. Attached to the end of the artificial limb was a ridiculously small power driver. Without seeing further, Cloud knew Barret had managed to stand on their one ladder without breaking it and was bracing a screw with his other hand to get it in the right spot.
Of all the times Barret had to fix the leak on his side of the roof…Cloud wanted to go over and snap at him to be quiet, but that meant getting out of bed, and doing that meant exerting effort and energy that he didn't have. Not to mention, if Barret fixed it right this time, Cloud wouldn't have to later.
So ignoring the noise of the world waking up, Cloud pulled the covers over his head and turned onto his stomach. His eyelids closed heavily on weary mako eyes. There was semi-peace for all of three seconds. Then a knock at his bedroom door.
If the world knew what was best for it, the sun might just go back down to let him have a few more hours in darkness because the last thing anyone needed was a sleep-deprived, irritable super SOLDIER. It wasn't like he requested an empty coffin in the basement of an old, private mansion. All he wanted was some sleep without having to fear attacks from monsters or being called to save the world. Again. After killing Sephiroth three times were a few uninterrupted hours so much to ask for in return? Unfortunately, yes. But for once, mildly good fortune lingered long enough for a taciturn voice to call through the wood of his door.
"Cloud! Tifa wants to know if you want breakfast."
Denzel. Why was Denzel home this late? Judging from the sunlight screaming at Cloud through the windows it was at least nine. Shouldn't he and Marlene be at– Oh yeah. Saturday. No school. And everyone slept in a bit on Saturday. Except him, that is.
With a voice dry from recent disuse, Cloud called back, "No, tell her I'll get something later."
The door opened slowly. Denzel put a foot into the room first before his face appeared somewhere above the doorknob. Cloud turned his head toward the boy. He stood timidly just inside the room. Something was wrong. Denzel rarely got shy around Cloud anymore. The boy had gone from stranger to family a long time ago. Seeing him revert back to the defensive, hesitant boy Cloud had found near Aerith's church immediately alerted Cloud to listen up and listen well.
"Something wrong?" Cloud rose to his elbows, trying to ignore the blurriness edging his vision.
"I, um," Denzel looked at the ground. "I know you just got back, but Tifa says we have to do our homework before we can go out today."
A curse came muffled through the wall from outside where Barret had dropped one of his screws.
Cloud blinked slowly, not yet sure what Denzel's homework had to do with him.
Denzel elaborated. "Mrs. Juboski assigned us an essay about a place that has drastically changed in the last twenty years. I mean, since we're learning about world development right now, with all the construction going on. And I thought maybe you could tell me about some of the places you've been, or…" He spoke in a small voice, head facing the wood flooring, "…take me somewhere so I can see it for myself." He finally met Cloud's eyes and rushed to say, "But it's okay if you don't want to. You've been gone for a while, and you're probably really tired right now, and I don't know why I even asked." Shameful, he turned to go, but Cloud called him back without thinking.
With a wince, Cloud moved till he was sitting upright. "Denzel."
The boy turned, eyes on the floor.
"When is your paper due?"
The light brown eyes flickered upward in slight hopefulness. "Friday, next week."
"Did you already ask Tifa permission?"
Sneakered feet scooted the dirt collected from months of filthy boots crossing the threshold. "I haven't asked her yet. I thought I'd see if you would be okay with it first."
"Mm," Cloud nodded, regretting the action when it gave way to a piercing headache.
"Whether she says yes or not depends on how far we go," Denzel concluded.
Narrowing down the options, Cloud asked, "Where would you want to go?"
From outside another Barret let out a steady stream of cursing. Apparently the screw box had fallen when he had inexplicably caught the drill bit in the hole in the side of the building. For better or worse, both Cloud and Denzel were used to the foul words barely reaching their ears inside.
Denzel shrugged in answer to Cloud's question, aware that he should have been prepared to answer. "I dunno. Kalm would be too far to go in one day and get back, right?"
Cloud nodded.
"But maybe if we have time–"
At last drawing their full attention, Barret had yanked his hand so hard to get the little drill bit unstuck that it had come out. That was the good news. The bad part was the way the ladder wobbled in imbalance and began to fall backward with the rather large man clinging to the top rungs.
Cloud watched the event with impassible disinterest since his lingering drowsiness disabled his emotions while his body recharged. Denzel, however, froze between horrified shock and laughter. After all, a guy like Barret would only bruise from the fall, not be seriously hurt. But still, after living with his new family for close to a full three years, Denzel hadn't quite adjusted to the inhuman durability of his caretakers.
"Is he…?" Denzel moved as if to go down and help, but presently, the back door underneath them opened noisily and Tifa and Marlene's squawks of concern shot up into the air louder than any of Barret's previous mutterings.
"He's fine," Cloud assessed, getting up long enough to draw the blinds over the brilliant daylight valiantly rushing in. Denzel watched him sit on the edge of his bed, rubbing his face for a moment before resigning himself to the blanket snare.
Placing a hand on the doorknob, Denzel queried, "You going back to sleep?"
Cloud nodded as he got settled. "You decide where you want to go, and I'll talk to Tifa about it."
Denzel's face lit with a pure smile although with Cloud's back to him, he didn't see it. "Thanks, Cloud!"
Cloud smiled faintly as the door closed behind the eager boy. That childlike enthusiasm hadn't been lost in the horrors of his past. Cloud was glad that of all the strays he could have found loitering near Aerith's church, it had been Denzel.
Okay, didn't mean to go all Cloud on you there, but that's how it happened so…until next time!
-Dante