Hello everyone! So this chapter I'm a bit torn about, I like it but it feels jumpy and odd so I would like reviews about how you liked it. I don't know what bugs me it's just something that does and it annoys me that it bugs me.
Thanks as usual to my wonderful beta reader FarewellfromFaith! Oh I wanna do a shout out to her story on fictionpress , it's called Pirate Fort and it's a thriller/ horror story, I love it so far and I want you to check it out ;)
To sunflowerspot, thank you for all the cute reviews! It makes me immensely happy that you like them :)
To Reibunriinta, you never leave my side and that makes me so happy, you're almost always the first one to review and I smile as I read what you write, we have a lot of similar opinions about stuff and to be very honest with you it feels like I found a final fantasy friend in you :) I would so like to talk more to you! I had to look this actress up and she actually do resemble Tifa a bit lol
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just the ideas
Happy Reading!
Cloud Strife, ex-SOLDIER, hero from the Jenova war and now a delivery boy. People usually questioned his choice to open up the service, not in a negative way; some did but a lot of Gaia's people were grateful of the service. He'd done it for Zack, the little he could remember from their journey back to Midgar he had a clear picture of the black haired man telling him he wanted to help people. He wanted to do more for the man who saved him and also for the woman who sacrificed her life for the planet. The church came into his head and he smiled as the idea formed in his mind as he was going towards Edge on Fenrir, he was done for the day and just wanted to get home to Tifa and the kids before it was time for bed for their wards.
His mind seemed to wander from different things as he drove on the well known roads. Things like Tifa telling him she had invited their friends and the Turks for dinner this weekend. Cloud cringed at the thought of having to hear Reno tease him, and Yuffie would most likely join the redhead as she would jump at the opportunity to tease the blonde man.
A roar made his train of thoughts crash. His Mako fueled eyes darted to the side and he noticed the big monster running alongside him. A monster this close to Edge? Cloud frowned as the weapons became visible. He pulled out the First Tsurugi and attached another blade to it before steering closer to the big lion-like beast. The monster advanced and jumped at him, the swordsman aligned his weapon and managed to strike the beast by the shoulder blade.
He frowned as he saw it had just created a scratch, what was this beast? Just as he thought that the big animal ran up to him, too close to the bike for comfort. Cloud stared at it, the eyes resembled his own and that made him freeze, why was a monster with Mako this close to Edge? He tried to figure out why as the monster managed to knock him off balance, Fenrir tumbled off the road. The blonde man protected his head as he made contact with the earth. That would be bruises tomorrow. He groaned as he got up and split the blades apart, ready to face the monster.
If the monster now was infused with Mako he should be able to use the same ability. Cloud hadn't fought with the help of Mako since Kadaj and his gang had infested the city, and he felt in every fiber of his body how the energy source needed an outlet. The big black, lion-like beast attacked him and Cloud jumped up to meet the attack with a hit to the neck of the beast; that seemed to make a bigger damage then what he had managed to do before. He landed softly behind the monster and wiped some sweat from his forehead, it was still hot outside.
The battle continued in the same pattern, Cloud getting frustrated that he couldn't get in a proper hit to the big beast. He was weary after a day of delivering and to use Mako again. The sword wielder breathed deeply as he eyed the beast who wasn't backing down. He charged and jumped up to strike its back, too late he noticed how the monster had rose to it's hind feet and was trying to hit him. Cloud winced as two of the big claws managed to scratch his waist. He felt the shirt getting wet and warm.
He landed and pressed a hand at the wound and closed his eyes for a second at the pain. Cloud inhaled and made himself ready to end this monster before he got more hurt; he didn't want to worry his family more. The ex-SOLIDER also wanted to get home because he was tired and wanted to sleep and this monster was in the way. He ran towards it and slid under the monster and pierced it through the abdomen. The monster's pained roar pierced his ears. It finally went down and Cloud got up, wincing at the wound. He wiped off his blades before getting Fenrir up and continued his journey back, holding a hand pressed to his waist.
Denzel jumped from his chair when he heard the familiar roar of Fenrir.
"Denzel, eat up, he can walk in by himself," Tifa giggled.
The boy pouted at her and she sighed, that face always got to her and she waved her hand.
Denzel smiled brightly and with Marlene in tow he made his way to the door as it opened and Cloud leaned against the door frame. The kids eyes widened in shock at his unusual pale and tired face. Marlene shrieked as she saw his bloody hand.
"Tifa!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the walls.
The black haired woman rushed to them and froze, bitting her lip when she saw Cloud. He looked at her and just exhaled looking even more drained then after Kadaj and his brother's had joined the Lifestream and the blonde had died, to later be resurrected by the water from Aeris.
"Marlene, get the first aid kit in the bathroom, Denzel, get a chair down from a table," Tifa ordered the kids who quickly rushed around to obey her.
Tifa went up to her partner and wrapped an arm around him to guide him into the bar. He leaned against her tiredly, she glanced at the wound, it didn't look like he was on the verge of dying. She sat him down and looked him in the eye and that's when she noticed, the always fiercely blue Mako infused eyes that she loved had dimmed in color and intensity. She frowned at that.
"What happened?" she asked as she got his shoulder protection off.
"Monster outside of Edge, I think it had Mako" he mumbled so the kids wouldn't hear and worry even more.
Tifa looked at him with shock written clearly on her face. A monster close to Edge and with Mako. She tried to get to a conclusion on why and how that was as she got his shirt off. Tifa inspected the wound with gentle fingers, it wasn't deep but not just a scratch either.
"We have to talk to Reeve about that," she said and smiled at Marlene as the girl put the big box on the table beside them before pulling up a chair and sitting next to Cloud; on the opposite side was Denzel with a worried expression on his face as he saw the wound. The black haired woman cleaned it and Cloud grimaced through with every stroke of the towel.
"You're such a baby, Cloud," she said in an attempt to lighten the mood.
The kids looked at each other before deciding to help in the little way they could and grabbed Cloud hands. The man smiled at them and squeezed their hands looked at the now clean wounds.
"I think I have to stitch it up," Tifa mumbled, more to herself than anyone else.
Cloud groaned and closed his eyes. He knew Tifa knew what she was doing, all the years with Avalanche had given her a lot of experience with fixing basic wounds. The ex-SOLIDER just didn't like needles. He tried to breathe deeply as his lover tried to stitch it up quickly but carefully. She covered it all up with a bandage and left him to breath and calm down the kids.
When she got back with a fresh shirt for him, they were eating. Cloud, even if he was tired, wolfed down his food. She put the shirt over his head and he got it on properly before kissing her cheek.
"Thanks," he mumbled to her with half a mouthful of food obstructing his words.
She smiled at him and sat down to finish her food. It went quite for a while as the family ate in peace. That made Cloud think of this weekend, and he cringed once again at the though of the Turk and the ninja. Suddenly his head snapped up when a idea he had had before the monster attacked him popped in again.
"I've been thinking," he said. Three pair of eyes turned to him in question at his statement.
"You know the church?" he continued and saw their nods, "I want to restore it."
Tifa looked almost baffled, why hadn't she thought of that before? Of course they would restore the church for their friends. She smiled softly and reached over the table and hold Cloud's hand. He smiled and nodded at her.
"Can we help with the planning?" Marlene asked, nearly bouncing in place in excitement.
"Of course," both grownups said at the same time.
Later that night, Cloud was diving under the duvet and pulled Tifa close to him. They had stayed up late to discuss what needed to be done in the church. Tifa stroked his arm and smiled tiredly.
"They're gonna love it, Cloud," she said gently, sleep creeping into her voice.
Cloud nodded and hugged her tighter; she knew why he wanted to restore the church, not just that it meant much to the whole of Gaia, but because it was the home of two very special persons.
"While we're at it, we should think about something to do with your old room," Tifa said and stifled a yawn.
Cloud nodded with a smile when he recalled the lecture they had gotten from Marlene about the unused room that he used to sleep in.
"I guess there's time for some changes huh?" he asked, tone wry.
Tifa nodded and stroked his cheek. "I think so" she said.
As I said, not so sure about it but I hope you liked it ;) I'm always happy to get reviews even if they're just some words or just a smiley ;)
See you in the next chapter!