You decided to take the ride back to Edge as your chance to test your boundaries with Cloud. Once you were safely out of Kalm and had gotten over the initial shock of how disgusting those mechanics were you held onto Cloud a little tighter and rested your chin on his shoulder as you watched the road ahead. When you first did this Cloud seemed to tense for a moment before relaxing, and every so often you would catch him watching you, but once you looked at him, he would turn away. Part of you hoped that this was a sign that he had feelings other than friendship for you but you quickly dispelled that thought, its probably because he feels obligated to protect you.
You like to think that you know Cloud pretty well, especially after all the secrets the two of you shared yesterday, but the Spiky-haired blonde's feelings were still a mystery to you.
Cloud had stopped in another small town on the way back to Edge where filled up Fenrir as it was running low on gas. He also stopped in the small auto body shop connected to the gas station and was able to sell the parts he was suppose to deliver to the shop in Kalm. It made you feel a bit better about ruining his delivery. Before you knew it the two of you were back on the road and once again you decided to test your limits. This time as Cloud sped out of the town, you wrapped your arms around his torso but you rested your hands on his hips, pulling yourself a little closer as you tucked your legs in and rested your head on his shoulder, it was surprisingly more comfortable this way. This time you noticed Cloud tense up and sit a little straighter, he took a deep breath before turning his head towards you with a curious look.
"I"m sorry is something wrong?" asked innocently.
You could feel Cloud's body relax once again, he shook his head, "Comfortable?" he asked.
You nodded, "Its a little chilly" it was a lie but you were pretty embarrassed about how forward you're being but you're trying to take Alyssa's advice.
"We'll be back in Edge soon, only about another hour" he told you as he directed his attention to the road ahead.
The two of you rode in a comfortable silence though the wasteland. Once in a while you'd see some animals but for the most part it was sand, tumble weeds and small amounts of shrubs and vegetation. The sun was just starting to set, though you still had about another hour or two of daylight. You shifted again this time in discomfort, you still kept your leg tucked up and your hands on Cloud's hips but you moved to rest your head on his back rather than his shoulder.
Cloud glanced back at you, "Do you want to stop for a little bit?" he asked.
You shook your head against his back, "Lets just get home" you told him. He looked at you a moment as if making sure you were really ok to just keep going before he turned away satisfied with your answer.
Thats when you saw in the distance, heading towards you was a behemoth, the monster was running extremely fast heading right for you and Cloud. As it neared you saw two others on either side.
"Cloud!" you warned, the sense of urgency clear in your voice.
Cloud glanced back at you with a worried expression confused at first but then he saw the behemoths approaching. He looked back ahead with determination clear in his eyes and sped up trying to outrun the monsters but they were still catching up to you. realizing this Cloud parked, a bit shocked and unsure what he was planning but you released him. He pressed a button on Fenrir and which opened a compartment that held a bunch of knives. Cloud dismounted and helped you to your feet before he quickly assembled a buster sword out of several of the knives and swords.
"Don't worry I'll protect you" he told you sincerely, he showed no signs of fear in his intense blue eyes. He motioned for you to stay near Fenrir, as he headed towards the behemoths, buster sword in hand. You helplessly watched on as Cloud fought the behemoths. At first he had no problem expertly slashing the beasts, he made it look easy, but after several minutes of a struggle, Cloud slipped up and one of the behemoths broke through clapping its jaws around Cloud's sleeveless arm.
"Cloud!" you yelled in worry.
"I'll be alright" he tried to reassure you as he freed himself and jumped away, you could see the teeth marks and the blood forming on his arm. But once again the Behemoths surrounded him and he was struggling to avoid being bitten. Without thinking you looked back at Fenrir and found a knife about the size of a machete, you took it and surprised one of the behemoth's slashing at a tendon in its leg. The beast instantly turned to attack you but fell to the ground before limping at you because of its ruined leg.
"Autumn!" Cloud yelled his voice full of worry as he dealt the final blow on one of the Behemoth's before turning his back on the other and rushing to protect you from the last one. You slashed at the beast trying to make each swing count but even in its injured state you couldn't land a single slash, you only got lucky on the first one because it was too distracted trying to take bite out of Cloud. Just as the beast was about to snap at you, Cloud dealt the final blow and as the behemoth's body faded into the lift stream Cloud took out the last one. You tried to catch your breath as Cloud sighed in relief catching his as well. Then Cloud spun the sword around a few times before allowing it to rest on his back.
Confused you asked, "Was that necessary?"
"Force of habit" he replied simply then turned his attention to you, "What were you thinking?" he asked, he wasn't mad, just worried about you.
"I wasn't" you admitted sheepishly as you looked away blushing in embarrassment, realizing you probably put both of you in even more danger.
Cloud sighed as he approached you, "You're ok?" he asked almost timidly as he examined you looking for any signs of injury.
"I'm ok" you confirmed, realizing he's not you nearly jumped at him as you carefully grabbed his arm and examined it. Cloud had several deep puncture wounds where the teeth pierced his skin, there was a bit of blood but your main concern was the high potential for infection. Behemoths are super gross especially their saliva. Cloud tried to protest saying he'll be ok, but you quickly shushed him, reminding him that you're a doctor and that he did just save you again, taking care of him is the least you could do.
(Cloud)
Autumn led you back to Fenrir and took out her bag, she searched through it for a moment before pulling out a first aid kit. She had you sit on the ground and she knelt next to you, hovering over your wounded arm as she examined it.
"Autumn I'm ok really" You protested again. But part of you welcomed her close proximity you just wished it was under different circumstances.
"Silly stubborn SOLDIER" she mumbled before gesturing to your arm. "See this, its the beginning of an infection" it did look a bit yellow around the punctures, but you've had worse. "Just let me help you" She said as she began looking for something in the first aid kit. "You didn't protest when you nearly sliced your finger off" she mumbled.
"I told you I couldn't cook" you mumbled back playfully, or at least you hoped it sounded playful.
"You can slice up those behemoths like a pro but you can't handle a simple kitchen knife?" she questioned with a laugh. Your lips twitched into a smile for a moment before you winced as the peroxide cleaned the puncture wounds. Once the wounds were cleaned she washed away the peroxide with some water and dried off your arm. She carefully felt several places on your arm, a few spots were pretty tender, she frowned and looked at you, "Its definitely going to bruise."
You shrugged, "I've had worse"
"No doubt, but this time its because of me" She replied. She always seems to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders, kind of like what you do.
"Autumn, I'm going to protect you whether you want me to or not"
"I know because Jace and Zack would have wanted to you."
You nodded, but she was wrong, at first it was because Jace and Zack would have wanted you to, but now its because you care about her. Autumn is the most important person in your life, you hoped one day you finally build up the courage to tell her that and with each passing day you feel less guilty about your feelings for her. She had finished wrapping your arm and told you to try not to aggravate it for a few days to let it heal and that she'll check up on it tonight.
(Autumn)
The two of you headed back home to seventh heaven again, now you're less than an hour away but because of that fight its dark now. Once again you cuddled up to Cloud, smiling at how tense he got before relaxing and saying a casual comment on your comfort. The rest of the ride was uneventful.
You waited for Cloud to put Fenrir away before the two of you headed towards the entrance to the bar but before you could get inside, Riley ran out and jumped into your arms and Tifa ran out an annoyed expression clear on her face.
You and Cloud gave each other a look before bracing yourselves for Tifa's wrath.
"I was worried sick about you two!" she scolded, "I was expecting you back a few hours ago! Would it kill either of you to pick up your phones once in a while!?"
Cloud was about to speak when one look from Tifa silenced him, "Oh no you don't, I expect you to disappear without warning, but you can't do that with Autumn, I thought something happened to her" Tifa continued to yell at Cloud.
You looked at Riley, "Was it really so bad we're a few hours late?" you whispered to him.
"Tifa got really worried, some guy named Reno called a few hours ago looking for you" Riley told you as you placed him on the ground.
You sighed in annoyance, "What could he want now," you gave a sympathetic look to Cloud who still couldn't get a word in as Tifa yelled. he seemed to be used to this. "I better go save him" you told your brother who enthusiastically agreed. "Tifa is this about Reno's call?" you asked.
"Oh well yes" she admitted giving you curious look.
"What did he want now?" you asked in annoyance. as Cloud said, "Wait you trusted Reno over me? Tifa come on!"
Tifa ignored Cloud and turned to you, "he said you looked really upset when you two left Kalm, he wanted to make sure you were ok. How do you know Reno anyway?" she asked.
"Its a long story" you sighed, then said, "Did he neglect to mention it was because Cloud had to save me yet again?" you asked.
Tifa's faced flushed with embarrassment before it quickly turned to rage, "That little prick!" she yelled. "Oh he's gonna get it at Alyssa and Jeremy's wedding!"
You laughed as you approached Cloud, "Which was worse the behemoths or Tifa's rage"
"Tifa's rage" Cloud answered instantly earning himself a glare from the angry women.
"Wait what behemoths?" she asked the concern clear on her face, then she noticed Cloud's wrapped up arm, "what happened to you?" she asked.
"We got attacked by three behemoths on our way back" Cloud stated simply as everyone walked into the bar.
"One of them tried to take a bite out of Cloud" you added.
Tifa turned to him, "You ok?" she asked.
He nodded, "Autumn took care of it"
"yeah after he fought me about it" you mumbled.
"Stubborn as ever Cloud" Tifa laughed.
Realizing he was outnumbered and unwilling to be made fun of or yelled at anymore, Cloud excused himself to shower. While you and Tifa went into the kitchen to catch up. Its become sort of a routine for you and Tifa to catch up at the end of the day, the two of you have taken to making either coffee or tea and talking about your days, the kids, plans for the next few days and whose going to do what chores.
"So how was Skylar's mom?" Tifa asked knowing it would annoy you.
You sighed in frustration, "That awful women." you mumbled. "I at least got her to agree to let Skylar come visit."
"I know" Tifa replied with a smile, you gave her a curious look, "Marlene and Skylar were talking on the phone for hours before I made her go to bed."
You smiled. It seems this little adventure had a happy ending and strong friendship. Then Tifa asked the question you were dreading.
"So how do you know Reno?" she asked curiously.
"We've crossed paths a few times in the last few years."
"It sounds like he has feelings for you." Tifa said with a sly smile. The thought made you want to gag. "I take it you don't like him" Tifa said upon seeing your expression.
You shook your head, "He doesn't take no for an answer" you mumbled, you decided not to mention the few times you've been captured, you didn't see the point.
"You got that right," she agreed, "but he's pretty harmless."
"harmless and annoying" you mumbled.
"He did seem really worried about you when he called earlier." Tifa told you.
You felt bad, maybe he trying, "I'm trying to be nicer to him, it would be easier if he wasn't such a perv" you told her.
Tifa nodded thoughtfully, "hey its reasonable," she assured you. "But what happened to make him so worried" She asked.
"It wasn't a big deal, it was just at Cloud's last delivery, the mechanics were being jerks, they just made me uncomfortable, Cloud took care of it and got me out of there" you admitted.
"Oh no, I'm sorry" Tifa said, even she's noticed how often you get sexist comments while working at bar, but now just out in public too.
You shrugged, "its alright, it actually only happened because I was trying to get away from Reno, it was kindof worth it because he ran into a glass door" you giggled.
Tifa just smiled. The two of you talked a bit kids behaved while you were gone, everything at the bar went smoothly. Plus theirs only a few days until, Tifa, Cid and the kids leave for Costa Del Sol to see Jeremy and Alyssa to make sure all their clothes for the wedding fit. You were surprised to hear that Vincent will also be joining them, then again it made sense, you figured Alyssa would never let him wear his usual clothes and you know lurk around like a vampire.