Chapter 6. I hope you like it. Special thanks to LinkFreak210 for if it weren't for such a kind reviewer this story would've ended in the last chapter.
My mother cut the last bandage and Truant ended up looking like a mummy on my bed. The situation, which unfolded an hour ago, my mother and I hadn't spoken a word between us. I hadn't seen her like that since the first months after father's abandoned us to join the land of the dead. I knew sooner or later we will end up talking once more and most likely we will be referring to ourselves in an aggressive manner for a week or so until our fumes went down. Despite knowing that later everything would return to normal, it saddened me the fact that the current state of my mother was an indication of disappointment, embarrassment and such a deep sorrow that I couldn't describe. I on the other hand, felt so numb and empty. I was there, but just in body. Almost like on autopilot, everything I did was mechanic, robotic, as a computer that just responded to commands. I never knew when did I walk to my room, nor when Truant was placed on my bed, nor when my mother began treating his wounds. I just knew I was there, but not there at the same time. My mind looked like a raging war. Voices and thoughts came and went, images flew by and then vanished in the most recondite place of my being. But the outmost yell of them all, the strongest scream of them all that created a resounding echo that was close to driving me insane: why? Why had I allowed my worst enemy to kiss me like a shy teenage girl? Why had I let slip the situation just like that as if it were water? Why did I freeze on spot? Why, as disgusting as it sounds, had I liked the sensation of his lips, warm and soft lips, against mine? Didn't I like Aerith? Wasn't I the most re-known bachelor of school? Why didn't I deliver the well-deserved punch on his face for such an offense? Why? Why? Why did I feel so guilty over something I didn't hold power of? That wasn't my fault? It was on that precise moment that such a thought came to me that my mind cleared up and my soul came back to me with such force that I let out a silent but relieving gasp. I wasn't the one to blame. I wasn't the one to blame! I'M NOT GUILTY! But...if that was the real case...Then why did I feel like this? It was Truant! He had kissed me! I hadn't started this whole imbroglio, he had! He was the cause of my precarious mental stability! He! He! He! But, there existed something that caught my attention even more and that made me think things twice or thrice. Why had he acted like that? Why Truant? Why did you kiss me? Why did you look at me with such tenderness and admiration? Why? Don't you know that I detest you with all my soul? Don't you know that I desire with fervor to see you ten feet below earth? That I can't even digest the mere idea that I breathe the same air that you do? That such thought causes me to heave? My fists clenched and small droplets of carmine liquid flowed down my hand. Damn you, Truant! Damn you!
"Cloud!" My mother's voice broke me from my reverie. For a moment, I believed it had been the product of my imagination and this kind of imagination caused by the sole idea that made my heart ache with despair: that my mother might get to hate me due to the recent events. I was pondering upon such oceans when my mother's, my beloved mother's voice, called for me once more. "Cloud!"
"Mo-Mother?" It was simply amazing. I had until now believed the silence she kept would be a repetition about of our bitter past, but it wasn't like that. Then, if it wasn't as such, why had she looked at me and treated me the way she had while she tended Truant's injuries? Why her silence? Whatever it was, I was more than happy with the change...it was a good indication.
"Cloud! Dinner's ready!" She called once more and I, giving Truant one last fulminating glare, ran down the stairs, the delicious aroma of cooked food reaching my nose.
Dinner went by with no preamble and silence, one of really uncomfortable and agonizing style. The only companion sound being that of the silverware tinkling against the plates and the occasional sip from our beverages, such sound making the moment a lived one, an existing one. My eyes from time to time strayed towards my mother through my lashes and questioning the reason behind the sepulchral silence that I feared. Had she changed her mind?Or, was this dinner just that? Dinner. The discouragement was suffocating and in search of some form of relaxation I let out a profound sigh. The eyes of my mother didn't miss such reaction and I felt her gaze upon me. I felt the need to return such intense looks, but my own inner demons didn't allow me. I feared what I could find behind those cool irises. I feared for the negative and reproach that she could held of my person. It hand't been my fault. Yet, the fact that I had been involved made me as guilty as the evildoer. After minutes that felt like hours, the feeling of being watched disappeared and my world became as peaceful and relaxed as it had been. Even though, it wouldn't last for my mother's voice resounded on the dining hall. I flinched slightly. "Cloud..." She said, close to a whisper. Unconsciously I became as small as I could, barely the size of a mouse, and tried to hide my persona below a napkin in the table. "Cloud..." She called once more, louder this time. I recoiled. "Cloud...look at me, sweetie." I shuddered. "Please." She begged with such a sweet voice, so kind and lovely, that, like a kicked puppy who just finds the master that promises the world of wonders, I let myself go and did as she asked. "Cloud." She smiled with love and affection. Her pale and soft hand caressed my cheek. Such action made me doubt about the dark thoughts that swirled in my head. Then...She wasn't disappointed of me? She wasn't furious, sad or embarrassed by what had transpired between our guest and I? She didn't...hate me?
"Mother?" I sighed and took her hand with both of mine. Her eyes, different from what I had imagined, were filled with infinite love, the maternal love that surpasses time and space. A love that can't be defeated. It is the strongest bond that exists in the world, the bond that lasts much more than life and eternity itself.
"Cloud..." She began and I let go her hand. "W-What...What happened...with your friend..." Her hand took the glass with water before her.
"He isn't my friend mother." I hissed and reflected a cold and furious storm in my eyes.
"Then what is he Cloud?" My mother questioned with the same intensity. "Because...I assure you, what I saw it isn't..."
"Exactly!" I hit the table with my fist. "He isn't my friend! He isn't even close to..."
"I am his classmate." A voice from the stairs forced us to stop looking between us. And there, in the first stair, was Truant. His hand was holding the railing like a lifeline, his knuckles white with the strength he was exerting. I scowled. Slowly, he gave the last step to be officially on the first floor of our humble abode. To his surprise, his strength failed him and he fell on his knees upon the floor with a loud thud. And to mine; he didn't even gasped nor frowned. He was stronger than what I gave him credit for. Seeing the situation our guest was in my mother rushed to his side. Taking him gently by the arms, she pulled him up and led him to the table. "Come. Sit here." She said, giving him the seat at my left. Her brown eyes shot darts at me for such a disrespectful behavior but smiled as she turned towards our guest. How could her mood change so quickly? She was a walking emotional roller coaster, a psychiatrical case. "Now you wait here sweetie, while I bring you a plate. Hope you like ham and eggs." She said tenderly. Truant flashed her a warm smile that made me retch.
"I love them ma'am." Truant answered happily. My mother giggled slightly and disappeared behind the kitchen door, murmuring something about educated and perfect manners. I, on the other hand, glared with deep hatred and rancor. He had hurt me. He had stepped on my pride, stole my mother and even dared to...steal my first kiss. That's right. I, Cloud Strife, the perfect specimen of man, had never kissed nor been kissed. Why? Because, I was waiting for the chosen one that would make my life a heaven on earth. That beautiful person that was to make me feel like the happiest man on Earth, the one that would mesh her lips with mine, had finally appeared. And it was Aerith. Not this brute without brains. But he had taken all aspirations away with his petty kiss. So, you may guess that Truant's game wasn't funny at all. He had stolen my first kiss. My first kiss that was meant for Aerith had been cruelly turned to dust by the lips of the person I loathed the most on this earth. Such was my hatred that I hadn't noticed that Truant had been behaving so...un-Trauntish. He paid attention to every detail. Answered with respect to whatever my mother said, the figure of authority on my home. And, form time to time, the blue light of his eyes would shine on my direction. Its rays warm with passion that I had previously noticed, now passed me by without me knowing due to the intense hatred that I exclusively reserved for him.
"It seems your wounds have healed a bit." My mother said as she cleared the table after dinner. I was helping her obviously unlike our guest, who remained immovable on his seat. Ungrateful man.
"Yes, they are. Thank you very much Mrs. Strife." He said with that disgusting charming smile.
"Oh please!" My mother blushed as she picked the glasses up. "Stop the formalities cause I feel old. Call me Claudia." Her brown eyes landed on Truant and he nodded earnestly. My mother, seeing her deed finished and taking up the last glass at the table, disappearing behind the kitchen door. Angered to a boiling point, I whipped towards Truant and with the deepest, mightiest and most threatening voice I could muster I growled at him.
"I don't know what is it that you are thinking, but let me get this clear with you. I abhor you with my entire being, with my entire soul. In fact, I abhor you like an angel does a devil. Beyond death, eternally. You aren't welcome at now or ever at my home. On this occasion I let it be for you were injured gravely. But, once you set a foot out of here you are banned. You stay out. Don't you ever look at my home, don't you ever direct a word at my mother, in fact, don't even dare to look upon her. I don't wish to see you here ever again. Not even near our neighborhood. If I do, I swear for all that's holy and my life that I'll finish what they started. Do you understand?" Even with my cold and harsh words, Truant simply stared at me with that indifference so characteristic of his. If it was even possible, my blood boiled with more fervor and my anger was close to a volcanic eruption. I was about to land the strongest and painfullest hit he had ever received when my mother appeared on scene.
"Cloud," She began wiping her hands on her skirt. "due to the hour I think your friend should stay the night." The idea fell like a brick on my head. What...What was she thinking? My worst enemy sleeping below my roof? WAS SHE DUMB OR WASN'T MY REPUDIATION TOWARDS TRUANT?! Well...after all what occurred an hour ago..."He'll sleep on your bed for his wounds are still fresh. The sleeping bag is in the closet as always. You know what to do. Oh and sweetie" She addressed Truant this time. "Don't forget to call your parents. It's not nice to leave us worried sick." She emphasized her point by giving me a killing glare. Truant nodded respectfully. My mind stopped working and I entered into a shock phase while she walked my way. "Night, sweetheart." She kissed my cheek lovingly and bidding good night to Truant went up the stairs. What the hell was happening in my life?
"Well..." Truant began lazily, bringing me back to the real world. "I hope my presence isn't an inconvenience for you."
"Don't even think you are welcomed here." I snarled. "Tomorrow, first thing in the morning, you get the hell out."
"Don't be a stick in the mud." Truant chuckled. Damn, I hated him more and more as the seconds ticked. He slowly tried to stand from his chair, form time to time stopping to allow the pain spasms to pass. "Where would I sleep?" He asked. With real doubt or just to rub it on my face that I'll sleep on the floor, I dunno. Either way he was playing with fire.
"Follow me." I hissed between teeth and went up the stairs to my room. He taking his time due to his terrible physical state.
I placed the sleeping bag on the floor and readied myself to go to bed. Traunt had just recently taken a bath and redressed his wounds and now was looking at me with mild interest. His hair was still slightly wet, soaking the shirt and shorts I had loaned him since his were left bloody and torn. I promised myself to burn those once he was out. I had no further use for them anyway, they didn't fit me anymore. His one visible ice cold eye stared at me more intently as I placed my pillow and bed sheet over the sleeping bag. It was giving me the creeps. "Do you need something your Highness?" I seethed.
"Are you usually such a jerk?" He asked a bit offended. "Or are you just an expert on hypocrisy? Because, you certainly aren't like this around everyone else at school." He pointed out and his gaze intensified, daring me to answer to his petty remark.
"Just to those I can't stand." I said flatly and laid on my makeshift bed.
"You can't stand me then?" He asked, managing to sound utterly amazed at my answer. But his one ice cold eye betrayed his voice, for it looked...pained? Why would he? Why do I care? It isn't my problem anyway. Besides, it amuses me to see him so vulnerable and depressed. Serves him right. I realized I still had to answer back.
"I guess I made myself clear enough downstairs." I said as I covered myself with the sheets and turning the lights off with the remote. Sighing I waited for sleep to hold me when his damned voice once more broke the silence of my bedroom. I snarled angrily.
"Really?" His voice sounded entertained with malice.
"Yes. Now go to sleep." I grumbled and settled comfortably on my stone rock bed.
"You rather liked my advances." He said, and chuckled at my gasp of utter shock. How dare he insinuates so?
"Listen that meant nothing!" I growled with rage. "And if you ever...mpff..." I didn't know when but his lips found mine again and I had to feel the disgusting texture of his lips once more. Against my better judgement, for he had wounds all over his body, I hit him square on the face. With fueling anger and trembling rage I managed to let out my voice between a set of perfectly clenched teeth. My whole chest was contracted with madness and I barely managed to let air into my lungs for I wished nothing more than to unleash the beast within me and pound the bastard towards the next world. Containing myself was barely possible. "Don't you ever do that again." I snarled. "Fucking do that again and I swear that I'll kill you. You heard me? YOU HEARD ME FREAK? I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU IF YOU DO THAT AGAIN!" I yelled not caring if I woke my mother in the process. Truant had earned. Truant had earned it good. If it weren't for the sickening sound of the blow he received from me and the fact that he was yet to heal, I would have destroyed his face and body with my berserker fists. I shivered from disgust. He had stolen yet another kiss. The bastard had stolen another kiss! "I FUCKING HATE YOU! YOU HEARD ME! I FUCKING HATE YOU, YOU FREAK! HOPE YOU GET IT THIS TIME!" And saying so I let myself fall upon my sleeping bag, covered myself and tried to sleep. The shivers of anger and hate still present in my body. I had to control myself. Truant was hurt and, besides, I wouldn't want to taint myself with the monster's blood.