Author's Note: This is a complex story, and I'm feeling my way through very cautiously. I hadn't really considered how hard it would be to alter the world of SOLDIER into something that goes against the very grain of that division. And Cloud isn't exactly the most insightful of beings. So quite of bit of introspection going on here…
Chapter Summary: After being released from his chains, Cloud is given dinner. Then Ifalna calls her in her own physician, wanting to know just how bad his injuries might be before he uses his curative spell to heal the damage. Once the nerve-wracking exam is over, he is allowed to take a shower, then shown to a small bedroom so he might get some rest. But a midnight visitor interrupts him…
Transference, Part 2
Ivy Elise Tanté
After sending for Idril, Ifalna rose and walked over to Cloud. She watched as the young man sat up and straightened his shoulders, tilting his head to look up at her. The move was a little jerky when compared to his former grace. This called to mind all he had been through and the memory pinched her pride. He had saved the lives of both of her daughters at great risk to his own. And yet the only comforts offered had been a glass of water and treatment for the cut above his eye.
She found it hard to keep the shame from showing as she said gently, "I have been remiss in my duties, Cloud. Surely you are tired, sore and hungry. If you give your word that you will do no harm to me or my daughters, I will have Idril remove those chains." How she knew he would keep that promise she wasn't sure. Perhaps it was the respect she could see in his eyes, or maybe it was the way he was trying to conform to their world, their laws. Whatever the reason, a part of her knew she could trust him. The feeling was unsettling but there was little she could do about it at that moment.
Those strangely intense eyes gazed at her for a long moment. "I give you my word I will harm none of your kingdom," he swore solemnly in his low, quiet voice.
Ifalna blinked in surprise, for his oath was not just to her and her daughters - he would not harm any of her people. In one simple sentence he laid many of her fears to rest. Yes, a very intelligent man.
Idril entered the room just in time to hear Cloud's promise. An arched eyebrow was her only reaction, however, as she knelt and awaited her ruler's command. "You sent for me, my Queen?"
Smiling down onto the tousled blonde curls, Ifalna chuckled softly and ordered, "Remove his chains." When she saw how her Champion's eyes narrowed, the Queen actually laughed. "He could do it himself, I suspect. But the fact he respects my authority enough to remain shackled speaks highly of his integrity."
Looking up, Idril saw -to her surprise- that Cloud seemed far more embarrassed than prideful about that statement. So, she rose and drew the key from where it hung on her belt and unfastened the locks without another word.
Cloud made no comment upon being released, his only move to rub lightly at his wrists.
Aerith and Tifa stood a short distance away, and Idril did not bother to hide the way she placed herself before them. Something like a smile touched his lips at her protective stance. "I don't give my word lightly," he said in a low murmur, "but when I do, only the direst of circumstances could make me break it."
And she, too, was forced to believe him.
The meal Idril had ordered delivered was brought in then, as well as clothing so his own could be washed once he bathed. Cloud made no comment when he was placed at the far end of the table away from the women and seemed content with the simple food set before him. Dinner was served and eaten while the Queen spoke quietly to her daughters and Idril.
There was no need to request his silence, as he felt he had nothing to say.
And although the servers exchanged some startled glances at a male being allowed to eat with the royal family, they were too well trained to say anything about the unusual dinner guest.
Once the meal was finished, Ifalna sent for her personal physician to examine his injuries. Dreeanne arrived promptly, listened to the Queen's concerns, then motioned for Cloud to strip to the waist so she could see the wounds for herself.
For the first time he balked, obviously unwilling to remove his shirt in their presence. "I can heal the bruising myself," Cloud insisted, his voice a bit sharp. He didn't retreat from the woman standing before him with her hands on her hips, medical bag at her side, but the faint blush showing said loudly that he was unsure of how to respond to the situation.
Trying to remind herself that he wasn't raised in the manner of their men, Ifalna forcefully curbed her irritated reaction and took a deep breath. When she spoke, her tone was careful but firm. "You risked your life to save my daughters. I would know how badly you were injured doing so."
Cloud turned his face to the side. For a long moment the only sound in the room was his uneven breathing. Finally, almost against his will, he gritted out, "The… experiments performed on me left a lot of scars. I don't… like for people to see them. I survive Hojo's brutal research and the pity others feel for me when they see the marks is... degrading."
Shaken by his words, the Queen nodded in understanding. But her mind was set. "Nonetheless, I would see how you paid for defending them. You are a part of my kingdom now, and I will not allow you to suffer for your brave actions."
There was a spark of amused defiance in his eyes as he turned and stated, "You're not even sure you can keep the others from executing me." It was a careless comment, one he intended as a jest.
Nothing could have prepared him for how the women in the room reacted.
The physician hastily darted out of the way as Idril's never-too-certain temper snapped. Anger blazing in her eyes, the Queen's Champion backhanded him hard enough to send him into a spin, causing him to crash onto the settee even as Ifalna leaped forward in an attempt to stop her from hitting Cloud.
Aerith gave a cry and rushed to him, reaching out to grasp his shoulder but yanked her hands back at the sight of blood streaking down the side of his face. At first Tifa thought the blow had split his lip.
Cloud carefully sat up, wincing at the sting of shards embedded in the side of his face and exposed arm from the fragments of the glass shattered earlier.
The Queen could only stare at him, still holding Idril's arm.
Though she was thoroughly shaken by the sudden action in the room, Dreeanne motioned for Aerith and Tifa to help Cloud to another chair. Taking up her medical bag, she fished out a pair of tweezers and started to carefully remove all the tiny slivers. No matter how hard she had to dig at some of them he never flinched. Tifa held the tray out for her to drop the glass shards onto. For a long time, the only sounds in the room were those fragments hitting metal.
When all had been removed, Cloud nodded to Dreeanne in thanks, then closed his eyes and concentrated. A soft, radiant green light lit up the room briefly - when it faded, all the marks on his face and arm were healed. Even the slice through his eyebrow was gone.
Queen Ifalna took a deep breath and finally released Idril. Her Champion sank to her knees in abject misery and hung her head in shame. A soft glimmer against her cheeks made all realize she was crying.
There was little pity to be had by her ruler. "As well you should weep," Ifalna snapped out. "Never have I seen such appalling behavior! A stern word as punishment, perhaps even a few added chores would be commonly meted out for a disrespectful comment. But he was jesting, Idril! Did you not see the teasing light in his eyes?" She motioned to the two servers standing near the table, both looking shocked. "If Rayun or Vanin had spoken in such a manner you would have merely scowled at them to mind their manners. Yet you felt entitled to slap Cloud for such a mild offense?"
A soft sob escaped Idril as she covered her face with her hands.
Bending to pick up a length of chain left lying on the floor, Ifalna held it out to Cloud. He took it from her with a puzzled expression on his face.
"You can break that, can you not?" she asked. One of the blonde eyebrows rose and then he nodded. "Do it," Ifalna commanded.
For a long moment he stared at her with narrowed eyes, as though trying to see her reasoning for such a demand. Then he shrugged, gathered the chain into a heap in his hands, and stared at it for a time. Knowing that if he wrenched the forged links apart there was a chance of flying shrapnel injuring anyone close, he instead squeezed with all his might. There was a faint -renk- sound that seemed to reverberate throughout the room. When he opened his fingers to reveal the links, they were now smashed together in a lump. When he dropped it to the floor it made a very solid thudding sound.
Tension crackled through the room as everyone stared in disbelief at what he had done to the chain.
Cloud took a deep breath that echoed in the silence. "That is what Hojo made me," he said quietly. Then he looked up at the women around him, "What you have seen is what I made myself. I won't harm any of you for any reason. Hojo intended for his experiments -they call us SOLDIERs- to be soulless, mindless, merciless killers whose only concern is forcing all to bow to the power of the company that paid him for his work." His glowing eyes narrowed to slits of blue flame as he swore, "And as long as I have free will, I will never be what he wanted."
With her head still hanging, Idril whispered, "I am so sorry, Cloud."
He shrugged again, but his tone was curious as he asked, "Are your men not disciplined that way?"
Surprisingly it was Aerith that answered. "Our men may be secondary citizens, but they are not slaves. Disciplined when they step out of line? Yes. Struck in such a manner for a simple infraction? No. Abuse is not allowed."
Cloud blinked at the coldness in her voice. Glancing at Idril, he queried in a serious manner, "Then she will be punished for what she did?"
"As I should be," the Queen's Champion said in a miserable tone.
When Ifalna would have spoken, Cloud continued in a way that drew all eyes to him. "I would like to request -if I can- that she not be. I'm… a new and unusual subject guilty of a crime that carries the penalty of death. There's a lot of room for mistakes here." Then he suddenly grinned, "Besides, I've taken harder hits during sparring matches. Although not by much." That last comment was added ruefully as he rubbed his jaw.
Still staggering from the wicked smile that had turned his face from very attractive to absolutely stunning, Ifalna waved a hand in the air and stated, "You can request such a thing. It is allowed. And I think she has beaten herself up enough as it is. Rise, Idril." When her Champion gained her feet, Ifalna reached out to lightly touch her shoulder. "You are forgiven. But should it happen again, all of Cloud's counsel will be for naught, understand?"
"Yes, my Queen."
"Good." She then turned back to Cloud with narrowed eyes. "I asked you earlier to allow Dreeanne to assess your wounds. This time I am not asking." The firmness of her voice made it very clear that if he refused, he was willfully disobeying her order.
Cloud shuffled his feet. He didn't know how to convince her to drop the subject, because he didn't want her to see the scars on his back. Something told him they would upset her, and he saw no reason to cause her and her daughters even more distress. Reaching out, Tifa touched his cheek with gentle fingers, causing him to look at her with wary curiosity.
Trying to ignore how strange it felt to look up at a male, even though he was only a couple of inches taller than herself, she pleaded, "Please, let us see your bruises. Even though I know you can heal them as you have stated, I want to see."
Blinking in surprise at her earnest request, he finally acknowledged there was no hope of getting out of this situation and grudgingly nodded. Once she stepped away, he turned his back to them and began removing his gloves, arm bracer, pauldron and dust skirt. There was a slight pause before he unzipped his shirt as though he was bracing himself, but he shuddered once then shrugged off the garment.
Idril hissed out a breath even as Dreeanne gave a soft cry. Deep welts ran from his right shoulder down to his left hip, the skin around them lashed with angry black, red, purple and blue splotches. And against the barbaric symphony of color white scars stood out, fanning across his shoulders and running down his spine to disappear into the waistband of his pants. A ridged mark several inches long stood out sharply in the center of his back as though a blade had been thrust completely through him at some point.
But the marks, bruises and scars did not, in any way, hide the breath-taking musculature of his broad shoulders. His figure was trim, lean and toned, narrowing from those wide shoulders down to slim hips. Most of his height was in his legs, which proved longer than expected now that the dust skirt had been removed.
Hands shaking, Dreeanne dug a bottle out of her bag and removed the cork. Producing a wad of cotton, she wet it with the clear solution within and began gently swabbing the bruises. "This may help with the healing," she said as she carefully worked down his back. "And should keep it from becoming infected," she added as she noted there were wooden splinters embedded in his skin. After thoroughly cleaning the injury, she dug out her tweezers again and began removing the fragments.
Once Dreeanne was finished, Ifalna asked quietly, "Will you use that healing power again? I would like to see how well it treats the injury."
The green light flared again, stronger and brighter this time. The glow wasn't brief like before, instead lingering for some time before fading away.
Cloud knew not even Full-Cure could heal all the bruises, for the materia was meant for wounds and exhaustion. But the powerful spell at least reduced the swelling and muted much of the stiffness. With a sigh he rolled his shoulders, relieved that the bone-deep ache had subsided to a dull roar.
Stepping up, Dreeanne laid a careful hand on his back. The deep welts were gone, faded into faint pink marks. A lot of the bruising had disappeared as well, and the little that remained tinted his skin sickly yellow on his right shoulder and left hip. The scars, however, hadn't been affected.
"Idril, if you would show him to the bathing chamber?" Ifalna ordered, her tone thoughtful. Watching as Cloud snatched up his shirt and clutched it to his chest as he followed the warrior, she gave her head a shake.
"He is…" Aerith started, then threw up her hands helplessly as she couldn't figure out how to describe the man. "He is so powerful, both physically and magically, and yet…seems so innocent," she murmured.
"Even with everything that was done to him," Tifa's quiet voice added. The sight of the scars on his back had her struggling with tears. Who would willingly do that to another human being? And if Cloud's words were anything to go by, he wasn't the only one so scarred.
Ifalna had to smile even as she ran a hand over Tifa's hair to comfort her. "You make him sound like a little boy trapped in the body of a man. He is not." Her voice was firm, making both of her daughters look at her in surprise. "The truth is he is not used to dealing with women very much. He is not sure how to respond to us, especially in this world where men have no power. But I have a feeling even Idril would have a hard time besting him were the circumstances different." She stopped speaking, glancing at the archway Cloud had followed her Champion through. "If we cannot save him, if the Council tries to have him executed…"
"Mother!" Both Aerith and Tifa cried out.
"Do not fear for him. I believe Cloud is fully capable of protecting himself. If he survived the tortures of that villain, the one he called Hojo, he is in no danger from us, no matter what they decree." She handed a bundle of clothing to one of the servers and instructed gently, "Give this to Cloud, please. If he requires assistance, help him." Then she smiled, "Though I think he will insist he can do for himself easily enough."
Ducking his head, the young man darted out of the room toward the bathing chamber.
"Mother…" Aerith started once more, only to shake her head. There was so much going on in her mind she still couldn't decide which question to ask first.
Tifa gave a soft sigh and sank into the nearest chair. "So much upheaval. And all because of a male, no less."
The remaining server shifted slightly; his gaze pinned to the floor.
The move made Ifalna laugh as she gently raised his chin so his eyes could meet hers. "And what do you think of him, young Rayun?"
Knowing the Queen would not ask for his opinion if she didn't want to hear it, he said honestly, "He is so powerful, yet so quiet and shy. I feel… I think… I believe…" It took courage to speak so freely even with Ifalna's permission. Finding his voice again, Rayun finally admitted, "For all that he is, I have the feeling his life has been very difficult, with little joy or happiness. I think duty is all he really knows."
Nodding in approval, the Queen said quietly, "Yes, that is exactly right. He has never really had the chance to live." Dismissing Rayun, she turned as Idril stalked through the archway and had to smile at the mulish expression on her Champion's face. "Let me guess; he did not care for Vanin's assistance?"
"He did not say a word. He simply blushed all shades of red at the offer and stared at his boots until we both left. Vanin is preparing the smallest guest chamber for him," Idril snapped out as she snatched up the glass of wine Cloud hadn't touched and tossed the contents back as though it were a life-saving elixir.
"And the reason for your sudden irascible attitude considering your temper from before?"
It was a good thing both her daughters were behind her and couldn't see her stunned expression because Idril rapped out "Hunger" in such a tone that it left absolutely no doubt as to just what type of appetite she was referring.
Tilting her head to the side, Ifalna asked sweetly, "Then I should call for another to guard him this night? As he would not be safe from you, it appears?"
The Champion's reply to her intentions was gritty and very much to the point, making all three of them laugh.
"Well." The Queen's eyes were twinkling. "That sounds rather adventurous. But for all his strength and power, he needs sleep to recover from all that has happened. As do we. This kingdom will face a great challenge tomorrow, and I can only pray wiser heads will prevail." She slanted a look at Aerith and Tifa before ordering, "And if either of you should choose to go wandering during the night…"
Tifa looked shocked that her mother would think she would do such a thing, but Aerith just grinned at her. "Yes, mother," she said, giving Tifa a nudge with her elbow. "You know we will behave like good little girls." The muted noise her younger sister made was probably a strangled giggle at her audacity.
Rolling her eyes towards the ceiling in exasperation, Ifalna sighed. "Idril, I think we will need a double guard at his door as a precaution…"
Idril merely grunted an affirmative as she poured herself another glass of wine.
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After a bracingly cool shower, Cloud inspected the clothing left for him and sighed in relief. The tunic and leggings were of suitably tough materials in dark grays, and neither were cut to be overly snug. Included was underwear and an undershirt that was fashioned a little differently than what he considered normal, and a thick pair of socks. He slipped them on, finding the leggings slid easily into his boots and the tunic didn't bind in uncomfortable places when he bent or stretched.
Taking a moment to lean against the stone wall, he closed his eyes and breathed deeply. The world into which he had fallen was confusing and complex; every move since arriving was nearly the opposite of what he had known all his life. SOLDIERs were trained to take command of whatever situation they walked into. It was difficult to check his every thought and reaction to make sure it complied with the rules of the kingdom he now inhabited.
Ruefully, he admitted he was his own worst enemy in this place. His interactions with women were few and far in between, and for the most part clumsy. Only by considering the female Turks as simply combatants in arms allowed him any ease in his dealings with them. He was totally out of his element here and knew that backhanded slap wouldn't be the last he received, as he was bound to misstep through sheer inexperience.
Sighing again, he pushed himself away from the wall.
After rubbing the towel over his hair, he gave his head a shake that caused the spikes to settle into their normally exuberant style, more or less. Giving the polished oval of brass on the wall only the briefest of looks, he arranged his belongings into a bundle and hesitantly stepped into the hallway.
Idril waited for him, her eyes raking over his frame in a way that made him tense.
There was a predatory look on the Champion's face that he didn't know what to do about. Cloud wasn't an innocent, but the few encounters he'd had were because he was SOLDIER and that fascinated a certain type of woman - and he simply didn't have the knowledge or experience to refuse them. This one, however, knew exactly what she was about.
"This way," Idril snapped, turning to lead him in the opposite direction of what he assumed were the living quarters of the Queen and her daughters.
He followed along behind, never realizing that he made her nervous because his footsteps were silent.
In one part of his mind, he noticed all the details; how wide the corridor, the number of doors they passed, the fact the sconces mounted on the walls weren't the burning torches as he expected but rather like electric lights. The walls and hall were stone but ground smooth so no rough edges remained. And although he remembered the heat of the day when he arrived, it was pleasantly cool inside.
Ahead of him Idril strode along, long legs eating up the distance in an angry pace, blonde curls bobbing around her hips with each step. She was at least six feet tall, which made him about four inches shorter. Ifalna was his height, while her daughters weren't quite as tall as him. Neither of the servers at dinner were much above five feet. It made him feel strange to be so much taller than some of those around him.
They finally arrived at a door guarded by two females in armor. He noted the chain and lock and assumed it was to keep him from escaping. It never occurred to him that the Queen was taking such steps to keep him safe.
At a nod from the Queen's Champion, one of the guards removed a key from the pouch at her side and slid it into the padlock, unwrapping the chain from the doorknob. She opened the door and stepped to the side as Idril entered, gesturing for Cloud to follow.
It was a simple chamber; a bed with a small nightstand beside it, a table and two chairs in the corner, and a small chest at the foot of the bed. But there was a wide window in the side wall, letting in the late afternoon sun. A brightly colored circular rug in the center of the floor kept the room from being stark.
"You will stay here until you are summoned in the morning," she said as she gave the comforter covering the single bed a tug to straighten a wrinkle in the fabric. "If you should need to use the bathing chamber, knock on the door and wait for them to address you. If they unlock the door for any reason, be sure to stand respectfully to the side to see what they want. Do not speak to them without being given leave."
Solemnly he nodded. Idril huffed out a breath and started for the door. But something caused her to stop short and whirl around to glare at him. Cloud remained standing, saying nothing, making no move.
"I wish you were mine," she finally gritted out, the emotions in her voice making her shake slightly. "I wish I were powerful enough that I could offer for you without angering my Queen."
Knowing he would never learn about this world unless he asked, he quietly questioned, "Since you are the Queen's Champion, surely you do have that power?"
Some of the anger drained away to be replaced with… sorrow? "Perhaps I might have the position, but as for magical ability? Nay, that is not my strength." With a sigh she walked to the table and pulled out a chair. After a second or two, she motioned to the other one in an invitation to sit.
He did so, closely watching that gorgeous face, searching for any emotion that might give him a clue as to her mood.
A snort indicated she realized how much respect he was giving her temper. "I can assure you that what happened before will not occur again. My Queen does not threaten lightly, and I have no intention of testing her patience further." After she tapped her foot on the floor a couple of times, she continued, "You do not know what I speak of when I refer to claiming you." The slight shake of his head barely stirred the wild spikes in his hair. "As Aerith told you before, our males are not slaves. They cannot be sold or given away arbitrarily. Despite their secondary position within our society, they have rights. One of those rights is not to be taken as a consort without consent. We will not stand for such degrading actions. And if a woman desires one particular male to be her mate, and thus the father of her children, we claim them after receiving acceptance from the male. That acceptance cannot be forced; coercion cannot be used to obtain his agreement."
"So, he can make a choice," Cloud said quietly. "And he won't be punished if he refuses."
"That is correct. We are not barbarians, though you might think otherwise because of our reactions to your presence. Our males are small and weak because they made themselves that way. Bioweapons," and she spat out the words as though they were curses. "One kingdom attempting to gain advantage over another through foul means. It ruined our world, turned our progressive society into what you see now."
A raised eyebrow indicated he was beginning to understand why their world had such laws regarding only the men.
Smiling grimly at him, she stated factiously, "The virus was eradicated centuries ago, but its effects are still carried in the DNA of every male on this planet. You, however,do not have those altered genetics."
He blinked as the implications finally set in and his face lost what little color it had. "The Queen mentioned possibly pairing me with one of her daughters in an effort to save me. And now you tell me that the end result would be for me to father children unaffected by the bioweapon. Idril," he reminded cautiously, "you were in the room when I told them of the experiments Hojo conducted on me. You saw the scars from all the procedures he performed. I don't know how they would influence any children I might father… assuming I can even create children. With everything he did to me, I could very well be sterile."
It made her pause. But her next question caught him off guard. "You can perform, correct?" The deep blush spreading over his cheekbones had her laughing. "Yes, you can. And there are tests we can run. We have not lost all our technology in these centuries since the Fall."
She surprised him by reaching out. When he guardedly placed his hand in hers, she gave it a gentle squeeze then released him. "If I should ask, what would be your answer, I wonder?"
"Ah…" And he rubbed at the back of his neck, his expression sheepish.
"I have not asked, so you do not have to wonder. Sleep well, Cloud. Tomorrow will be a difficult day." Rising, she surprised him again by giving his hair a tousle before banging on the door to be let out.
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Round and round he walked, following the edge of the circular rug on the floor. Cloud knew it was well past midnight but neither his feet nor his thoughts would shut down enough to let him sleep.
The dinner served to him a few hours ago was a repeat of what he assumed was lunch; meat, bread, cheese, some kind of steamed vegetable he didn't recognize, and fruit. The guard that brought in the tray hadn't spoken to him. She simply walked in, placed her burden on the table and left. But her eyes said plenty during the brief time she was in the room. Worry, concern… and a restrained type of hunger.
Idril returned twice to escort him to the bathing chamber, and both times were filled with awkward silence and tension. Though she replied to his comments, it was evident her mind was miles away.
And here he was again, pacing, pacing, pacing the small room with anxiety driving him on.
He had no clue what was to happen once the sun came up. Idril didn't know either; he could tell the lack of knowledge was upsetting to the Queen's Champion. At least he would be able to watch the proceedings - they were going to smuggle him in as a retainer so he could hear the arguments presented to the Council.
That thought alone kept him from making a break for it. That, and his given word, of course. His world, his friends, his way of life… Dreams, expectations, hopes, wishes - everything was whirling around his brain. Including the way his stomach had fluttered when Tifa touched his face and made her quiet request.
Rolling his shoulders in an effort to shrug off that unsettling feeling, Cloud continued to walk in a circle.
If the Council ordered his death, what would he do? There was something inside of him, buried deep in his heart and soul, that howled in outrage at the thought. But the rest of him, the side that was tired of running, tired of being an outlaw, tired of just struggling to survive, tired of putting one foot in front of the other…
That part was truly tired of living without a purpose.
With all that was running through his head at that moment, it was understandable that he missed the soft knock on the window at first. The second tap, harder this time, finally broke the vicious cycle of his thoughts and had him turning. The sight of Tifa standing outside had his eyebrows winging upward even as he walked over and pushed up the sash.
Breathlessly she asked, "Can I come in?"
Cloud was stunned by her request, but the anxious look she shot over her shoulder had him replying, "Yes." He would have helped her climb through the window, but she moved so quickly he didn't have the chance.
"Cut the light off," she ordered, crouching down so no one could see her if they happened to look inside.
"You shouldn't be here," he warned even as he flicked the switch, plunging the room into darkness.
"Neither should you, but you were still transported into our crazy world anyway," Tifa pointed out, rising to step towards him. "Somehow, I knew you would not be sleeping. The Council being held this morning will decide your fate, and you will need rest to face whatever comes. I… hoped you would allow me to stay with you for a time, to try and help comfort you so you can get some sleep."
There are many ways to comfort, he thought with a blink, remembering the intentions of the other women in his world. Which could she mean? He was so inexperienced in such matters he was afraid of her right at that moment. "Ah, Tifa…"
The smile she gave him was soft… and sad. "Please," she asked, holding out her hands.
And just as before, her beseeching manner completely disarmed him. "Um, okay."
Tifa gave a soft laugh as she stepped a little closer, just barely within arm's reach of him. "I am not asking to do anything other than hold you, Cloud. Would you mind that so much?"
"I… guess not." Clearing his throat, he added nervously, "I'm very clumsy in situations like this, Tifa."
The comment had her laughing quietly again. "Surely you are not that clumsy. You seem quite intelligent to me, and I would like to spend some time with you that does not include my mother, her Champion, or my sister. Relax, Cloud."
Cloud really didn't see how that was possible, since just standing with her in a darkened room was playing havoc on his nerves. What would happen if the guards came in and saw her? How much trouble would she be in if she were found with him? For that matter, just how much trouble would he be in if she were found with him?
"Tifa…" he tried, but his voice betrayed him by cracking halfway through her name. The slight fluttering in his stomach had turned into a thundering herd of chocobos. The sound seemed to echo in his head right along with his heartbeat.
Tifa drew back, suddenly realizing he was terrified. "Cloud?" she asked, carefully taking a step away to give him more space. She wasn't sure what was the matter.
Trying to get his thoughts into something cohesive, he closed his eyes and took a breath to calm himself. "You shouldn't be here. And I don't know what you want from me. I wasn't raised here and there's so much I don't understand."
"You are scared," she breathed out. "Of me, or the situation?"
"Both. What do you want from me, Tifa?" he repeated a little desperately.
Reaching out, she took one of his hands in hers and smiled. "A little time to get to know you. I do not have any nefarious agendas in mind." The smile she gave him was so dazzling he didn't resist as she pulled him towards the bed. "It is late, and you need rest. Do you think I could lay down with you for a while? I cannot be gone long before I am missed."
Still befuddled by her request, he could do little but nod. It didn't sound like she was asking a lot, but he was so unsure of himself in this crazy place…
"Cloud," Tifa giggled with a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. "You have to take off your boots first."
Ducking his head, hoping the darkness would hide the blush, he unzipped his boots and set them to the side. Watching her turn down the covers had his stomach knotting this time. Was she really going to sleep with him? The thought had his heart doing cartwheels in his chest, but he still climbed onto the bed.
But once they were settled on the surprisingly comfortable mattress, her head nestled on his shoulder, he closed his eyes and drifted off immediately…
