Disclaimer - I claim no rights to Final Fantasy VII/Crisis Core. Enjoy the chapter
Chapter Two - Seventh Heaven
The City of Midgar was located on the Western Continent and home to thousands if not millions of people with more than forty percent being Guides and Sentinels. To people who lived in the outer villages such as his own Nibelheim and Cosmo Canyon, Midgar was regarded as the City of Dreams. It was a place that people came to achieve dreams of becoming SOLDIER-a multitask force with the mission of protecting not only Midgar but surrounding areas, or wanting the join the Medical Guide Corp, a special task force created by the departed Ifalna Faremis and was now resided over by her daughter, Aerith Faremis. It was Gaia's Hot-spot and one would be stupid not to visit at least once, but Cloud didn't just have the intention of visiting just for the sake of visiting. No, he had plans to make Midgar a home where he could be happy and forget. Forget about the fact that he was the last remaining Strife. Forget that he no longer had a family. He didn't know if Midgar would be a right fit, but it couldn't hurt to try, right?
Which was why he found himself standing outside Seventh Heaven no more than a month later with a letter clenched in his hand and a pinched look. Seventh Heaven was located in Sector Eight or Odin Town and it was loud to the point where his ears were ringing lightly. People drifted in and out wearing skimpy to reserved clothing with covered plates or six packs of beer or wine in their hands. It looked fun and Cloud felt excited at the thought of working here, but would he fit in? Unlike Tifa, Cloud wasn't the best conversationalist and even worse, he was as shy as a lamb on a good day. It was most likely that Tifa needed someone who could flirt their way into a tip and balance a plate on their hands-none of which Cloud could do but maybe he could wash dishes or sweep the floor? Surely she needed help keeping the place decent with this many people floating around?
Hitching his pack on his shoulder, Cloud entered the bar and he was hit with a blast of noise and barbecue. If he thought it was noisy outside, then it was ten times worse on the inside. People were crowded together on the tables and drinking from mugs and pitchers while others were watching what looked like a football game on the flat screen television. He huddled closer to himself when a group of men and women brushed past him smelling heavily of alcohol and tobacco. He was never going to find Tifa in this crowd-."
"You look really out of place." a deep, smooth voice spoke quietly into his ears making Cloud startle and turn to find himself staring into a pair of amused violet eyes that shined underneath the dim lighting. "Are you lost?"
Cloud took a careful step back, tightening his grip on the strap of his pack. The man that was standing behind him was tall with broad shoulders and a face that needed to be carved out of marble. If Sentinels had a specific look then this man was it. He was dressed in a well-made button down black shirt and a pair of tight pants that showed just how muscled his legs and thighs were and Cloud couldn't help but stare at the man's forearms-one of which had a tattoo of a wolf wrapped around. It was a beautiful.
"Staring allowed were you're from?" the man asked with a small chuckle, folding his arms and making the shirt stretch just a tad. "If it is, well, I don't mind, as long as I get to stare too, yeah?"
"I-I'm sorry." Cloud's face heated at the amused smile he received. He was the brunt of a joke today wasn't he? "Um, do you come here often?"
The man raised an eyebrow at the question, tilting his head to the side as if Cloud was a wonder in itself. "On occasion, why?"
"I'm looking for a woman named Tifa Lockhart, she's the owner of this bar-"
"You're looking for Tifa?" the man smiled, his eyes lightning up at the name. "Good ol Tifa. You're not an admirer are you? She gets plenty of those."
"No-no, she's an old friend of mine. We're from the same town-Nibelheim."
"Nibelheim?" the man stepped closer, as if Cloud's very words were drawing him like a moth to a flame. "On the West Continent, right? Just North of Cosmo Canyon?"
"That's right." Cloud was internally impressed by the man's geography skills. Nibelheim wasn't a well known village and they got few visitors. "You know of it?"
The man shrugged, making Cloud's eyes drift to those broad shoulders. "My mother always said that it doesn't hurt to know the world around you. I've never been but I bet it's nice and quiet, right? Not as loud as Midgar."
"I admit that it's crowded and little bit noisy, but there's nothing wrong with Midgar per se. I'm liking it so far, but I didn't think it would be this big." Cloud's shoulders slumped a little. "I just wish that you could see the stars a little bit more, you know? They're so clear at night back at home."
The man stepped closer, nudging him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. I know a place that you can see stars. It's a walk, but-Tifa?" the man stepped away with a smooth smile. "What a surprise."
Cloud whirled around and his breath caught in his throat at the sight of his old friend. Tifa Lockhart looked every bit as the Beta Sentinel that Cloud remembered, but now she was definitely mature
In all areas.
No doubt that she was beautiful with her hair flowing past her hips and her slightly pale skin looking luminous even from the dim lighting. She was dressed simply in a pair of cargo carpi's, a short sleeved black shirt and neon green apron.
"Cloud? Cloud is that you?" Tifa stepped closer, tapping on the nose and bright smile pulled at her painted lips. "It is you! What are you doing here?"
The thought of his mother and her last words, along with the letter in his hand caused the joy to sap from him and bile to rise in his throat. He merely handed her the letter with a watery smile.
"It's a long story."
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The silence in Tifa's office was heavy and Cloud didn't have the strength to make it disappear with light-hearted words. The man-whom Cloud had yet to learn his name- had followed him to the back and was now leaning against the door with a tight frown and sympathetic eyes.
"Clarissa and Crimson." Tifa sniffed and placed her hand over her eyes, she shook her head sharply when the man moved towards her. "Gone. Goddess I'm so sorry, Cloud."
"Thank you."
"Papa said that you were looking for work?" Tifa placed the letter on the desk and looked Cloud up and down. "Well, I know you can cook but can you mix drinks? Do you know anything about liquor?"
"Uh, a bit." Cloud mumbled, his father was a connoisseur of Nibel wines but he was known to dabble in Cosmo Canyon and Gongagan as well. However, judging from his liquor cabinet he left behind, he had a definite love for Midgar-if the gil he spent on the delivery fees were any indication. Mom was always pissed that more than two hundred gil went to it on occasion.
"I could teach you during our closing hours and I think Jesse and Wedge can teach you about the kitchen and floor." Tifa placed her hand in her chin. "I think this could work, but you need a lot of polishing so it'll be a while before you can start serving in the bar or the kitchen, but I'll pay you for your time. So, do we have a deal?"
"Yes. Thank you, Tifa."
"Also, I have a guest bedroom upstairs if you want it-free of charge, of course." Tifa smiled in the face of Cloud's shock. "Don't you worry, I'm going to take good care of you."
"I-Thank you, Tifa. Really, this saves me so much trouble." even with the money he had in his pocket, it wouldn't last for long with the hotel rates on the Plate, but the Slums were perfect, but his last visit didn't go so well. He rather stay up here with Tifa and-
"I'm sorry," Cloud turned toward the man with a small smile. "I never got your name?"
"Huh?" Tifa blurted out, causing the man to give a sharp look. "Oh! This is Caelum, he's a good friend of mine. He showed me the ropes when I first came to Midgar and even offered me seed money to start up the bar-all paid back in full and with interest I might add."
"Which I told you I didn't want back, but do you listen? No." Caelum grinned, his violet eyes shining before they turned to Cloud. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Cloud was it?"
"Yes, Cloud Strife." Cloud rose and held out his hand for Caelum to take. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Caelum."
Caelum grinned, meeting Tifa's eyes over Cloud's hand as they shook hands not surprised when he was met with a withering glare. "I can say the same, Cloud." Caelum held on to his hand for a margin longer before allowing Cloud his hand back. "I hope you enjoy Midgar. Maybe I can give you a tour one day?"
"Sure, that sounds nice." Cloud turned his attention back to Tifa who was quick to put on a smile for her old friend. "Is it okay if I go unpack?"
"Sure." Tifa nodded toward the stairs just outside the office. "Just go up those stairs and to the right and you'll find the guest bedroom. Your first day starts on Sunday."
Tifa waited before the sound of footsteps on the stairs faded and the door closed before whirling on her guest with a nasty frown. "What. The. Hell. Was. That?"
Caelum shrugged, before a chuckle escaped his lips. "What did I do that was so wrong? Was it really my fault that he didn't recognize me? I mean, my picture is plastered all over Midgar."
"He probably didn't connect the name to the face. I didn't know who you were until Jesse told me and she still laughs about it." Tifa shook his head. "And Caelum? Really? Can you be anymore obvious, Zack?"
Zack shrugged, his lips still holding that mischievous grin. "I just wish I could see his face when he finds out. It seems like he'd be pretty cute when startled."
"Oh?" Tifa smiled, her eyes turning teasing. "You caught on to his scent, Alpha? Do you have wittle crush on Cloud?"
Zack smirked, wanting to lick his lips at the thought. That Cloud certainty was a looker. "It's a little more than that-"
"You can possibly want to fuck him already?" Tifa stared, incredulous at the Alpha of Midgar. "That's quicker than usual."
"Are you implying that I'm a whore, Tifa?"
"I'm not implying, I know it." Tifa chuckled at the glare she received for her cheeky comment. She best calm it down a little. She could only get away with so much considering how serious Zack was on a good day.
"Look, if you really want Cloud-in bed or in a relationship-then you're going to have to woo him. Properly. He's from Nibelheim where his parents went through this whole courtship process. He doesn't realize that Midgar doesn't hold the same rules. Sentinels and Guides screw and bond after about a year. If want Cloud, then you're going to have to work for it."
Zack looked contrite, then smug before finally settling on curious, as if the whole process would be fun. Goddess, she knew that Cloud was going to turn her life upside down. He had a bad habit of bringing trouble with him.
Still, poor Cloud, devoured by the Wolf of Midgar and he hadn't even been here for a solid day.
Welcome to Midgar, Cloud, or what I like to call the Den of Wolves. Good luck.