Wow... I probably won't be as productive as I am now in the future, but I'm glad I've managed to finish another chapter. And why are the titles always 'underneath' something? Hmm... I wonder...

I haven't played FFVII before (I've only watched my brother play or talk about it) but I've read many fan fictions that implies Cloud was very shy and was often bullied when he was younger. Don't worry, in future chapters I'll make him stronger and more braver.

I do not own anything to do with Final Fantasy VII (That right goes to Square Enix), I only own the original character, Tristis Memoria/Nix Somnium and the twists added to the plot.

Enjoy!

Chapter Two - Secrets Underneath the Clear Blue Sky

Cloud was considered smaller than most of the other boys in his town. He was a weaker and much more quiet, resulting in him being the weirdo out of the whole village. But there was one little girl that was considered weirder...

Tristis.

He had first met the girl by accidently bumping into her when she first arrived at the small country village. She was smaller than him, making her fall to the ground. He had repeatedly apologised while helping brush the dust off her white sundress. He was ready for the angry remarks and bratty huffs... But he only received a giggle and a smile.

"It's okay. I'm Tristis."

"Cloud." He mumbled shyly.

He never understood how mature she could be, even though she was at the same, young tender age as him. They had become friends in just a matter of minutes. Maybe it was because how lonely Cloud felt without anyone to play with. He was, after all, inferor to the other kids. "No you're not. You're better than them." She said firmly.

"No I'm not..."

They were sitting behind Cloud's house on a patch of lush grass. His mother was so estastic about him having a friend over that she basically begged Tristis to come whenever she wanted. Tristis didn't need to be begged, she was Cloud's friend, she didn't need any sweets to tempt her. "Yes you are. None of the other kids would save a poor chick from getting eaten by monsters. You climbed such a big tree to bring it back home. That makes you a hero!"

There was another weird thing about Tristis. She had this way of making everyone feel better about themselves. She told him about how her parents travelled everywhere... How she became friends with two boys from a place called Banora. Their names were Genesis and Angeal. She told him about how much she missed them and how much she wanted them to become heroes. Her stories and adventures of other places made him feel much more curious and outgoing.

"I want to protect the ones I love. Like my mom." Cloud told her suddenly.

He was expecting to laugh in his face, because that's what all the other children would do. But instead, she smiled such a pure innocent smile that it made him smile. "I know you can do that, Cloudy. There's no doubt about it!" She said, twirling around, one of the rare moments when she really acted like a child.

"How about you? What are your dreams?" Her twirls slowed down and soon, her back was faced to him and her head slightly tilted up to peer up into the vast blue sky. She was rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet, her hands behind her back with her long brown hair swaying in the cool breeze.

"An angel." She said, "I want to become an angel."

He scrunched up his face in confusion, "Why?"

She made a 'hmmm' noise as she once again, began slowly twirling though her bright green eyes still stared into the sky above. "Because angels are meant to save people. Angels take care of people and do whatever it takes for their friends and family to be safe."

For some reason, Cloud felt like she had reverted back into her mature persona as she spoke. He could already imagine her as an adult. She would lose the chubby cheeks and instead, have a slim, youthful visage with the same emerald eyes. She would be taller, have a slightly lower pitched voice than the one she had now, yet over all, she wouldn't of changed much. He especially hoped she wouldn't cut her beautiful brown hair. No one in the village had grown their hair to be so long, not even Tifa Lockhart, his neighbour. There was another thing she would not go anywhere without... The bells. He didn't know why she always wore bells somewhere on her body. It was either as a hair ornament, on her clothes or as a bracelet, anklet or necklace.

"My mom said angels are really nice people." He said after a moment.

"I heard that from my mom too." She replied.

"Then, aren't you already an angel?" He asked innocently, yet he couldn't help but let his cheeks tint a tiny shade of pink.

Tristis glanced at him and he stiffened in waiting for her reaction. "W-Well, you are helping me right now, you know. You're my first friend and-" He spluttered.

"Thank you." She smiled.

He froze, seeing a small tear trickle from the corner of her eyes. "T-Triss, you're crying."

"Huh?" She touched her cheek and he watched helplessly as her pink lips began to quiver, "Oh... I must be so happy that I'm crying." She pointed out, her voice cracking slightly.

She opened her small slim arms, "Want a hug?" He knew she was implying that she needed a shoulder to cry on. He had seen many people in the village do that before. He went towards her and wrapped his arms around her small frame, he somehow still couldn't believe that she was smaller than him.

Most of the other children would be barfing in disgust from seeing them together like that. "Girl cooties" they would chant. But Cloud didn't care if anyone would see them. Tristis had taught him a valuable lesson... that he should be more confident in himself and that if he set his mind to it, he could be far more mature than the kids that chant and tease about playing with a girl. Tristis was like that, she cared for everyone and had a open mind, but never stated her opinion unless necessary. She could become friends with anyone and teach them a life lesson that would make them be a better person... He knew because that was what she did to him every second of every day since she had arrived in Nibelhelm.

"Cloud."

"Hm?"

"Do you want to know a secret?" Her eyes gleamed as she glanced at him, pulling back from the hug.

Cloud was stunned because no one really told him secrets. He only had his own. "S-Sure."

"I've met angels before." She whispered quietly, as if someone else was trying to listen to her, "There's five of them."

He couldn't help but smile, the way she mentioned them, her voice soft and far more sweeter than it usually was, expressed that they were vital in her life.

"I've met an angel before too." He whispered back shyly.

Her emerald eyes widened, yet twinkled with happiness, "Who?"

He tried saying it out loud, but it only resulted in incoherent mumbles. She was paitent to hear him, so he gathered up his courage and whispered in her ear...

"You."

It earned him a grateful smile and the best feeling in his heart.

Did this seem a bit... romantic? Because that's not exactly what I was aiming for. I just thought children would act like this because they don't understand the meaning of romance and are blunt about compliments. Cloud only thinks angels are kind people- hence thinking Tristis is an angel, because she is kind.
What are your opinions about this?
I'm also wondering on a pairing. I've let my friend read this story and she already thinks Tristis should go with Cloud... But I think Angeal needs some loving too. Besides, Cloud has Tifa... right?
By the way, Zack is obviously going to go with Aerith because they're just perfect for eachother.

Thanks for reading, have a good day!