MonthlyWritingChallenges, February 2025, Prompt 14: Love in Unexpected Places
Cloud was surprised and somewhat taken aback when Sephiroth awkwardly appeared at his desk at the end of the work day. "Hello," the man greeted.
"Hey," Cloud said. "I'm about done." He saved the current document and leaned back. "What's up?"
"Well . . ." More awkwardness. "Do you know what day it is today?"
Cloud shrugged. "February 14th. Oh." An equally awkward frown. "Valentine's Day."
"I realize you probably have plans with Tifa," Sephiroth said slowly, "but perhaps we could also do . . . something?"
Cloud looked up at him in surprise. "Like what?"
"I . . . don't know," Sephiroth confessed, turning red. "What do people do on Valentine's Day?"
"Eat . . . see movies . . . I don't know." Cloud got up from the chair.
"I don't want to interfere with any plans you already have," Sephiroth said again.
"Actually, I . . ." Cloud went red now. "Don't have any plans. . . . Tifa and I don't really celebrate Valentine's Day much."
"Really?" Sephiroth blinked. "She seems like the type who would want to."
"She is, you're right," Cloud said.
"I know Zack's already left to do something with Aerith," Sephiroth said. Smiling a bit, he added, "After leaving chocolate hearts on my desk."
"Mine too," Cloud said. He smiled as well.
Sephiroth shifted. "I feel like it would hurt Tifa if I took you out to dinner," he remarked. "Perhaps . . . a walk?"
"Maybe," Cloud said.
Sometimes it was still strange and surreal, interacting with a sane Sephiroth. This awkwardness and concern and caring for others was so vastly the opposite of his insane self. Cloud could imagine that Sephiroth showing up with a confident smirk and whisking him off somewhere. This Sephiroth was more concerned about Tifa's feelings than his own.
It was nice, but it seemed sad too.
". . . If I did take Tifa out, what would you do?" Cloud asked as they headed back up the corridor towards the elevator.
"Stay home. Work," Sephiroth answered.
Typical answers Cloud would expect from him.
". . . And Tifa would be staying home if we did something," Cloud frowned.
Sephiroth suddenly chuckled. "Zack would say the solution was so simple—we should all go out. But Valentine's is for couples, first and foremost. I would be a third wheel."
"Sephiroth . . ." Cloud sighed. He wasn't sure what to say. He hadn't even planned on doing anything today. But now that Sephiroth had brought it up, Cloud was starting to worry about Tifa himself. What if she was hoping they were going to do something? Now he didn't feel he could say he'd do something with Sephiroth until after they went home and checked on things there.
"Don't worry about me," Sephiroth was quick to say as they went down in the elevator. "It's alright."
"Hey." Cloud hesitated, then said, "If you really want something, don't give up so easy."
"It makes it hard when there are others in the equation," Sephiroth said. "I don't want to hurt Tifa. I've done that so much already."
"Let's wait and see what's going on at home," Cloud said. "Maybe Tifa's already got plans . . . or maybe she'd be fine with all of us doing something. Nobody should have to be left out, right? I mean, what fun would that really be for anyone?"
Sephiroth smiled a bit. "It's a nice thought, Cloud."
"We celebrate other holidays together, so why not this one too?" Cloud said.
"It's just . . . it usually doesn't seem like that type of holiday," Sephiroth said. "Even if it should be."
"It should be," Cloud insisted. "I wouldn't have any fun knowing you were home alone . . . or that Tifa was. It should be all of us together."
Sephiroth looked doubtful that Tifa would agree. But he said, "I would like that."
"There's the kids too," Cloud said. "They shouldn't be left out."
The elevator stopped and they both got out.
"You've really never celebrated Valentine's?" Sephiroth asked as they climbed into the limousine waiting by the front doors.
"Not since I was a kid, anyway," Cloud said. "It was just me and Mom then. . . . I was too shy to ask Tifa to do anything with us."
"And Tifa hasn't asked you to do anything in the last several years?"
". . . She kind of . . . pointed out when it was Valentine's," Cloud said. "And then I'd try to get her something . . . be with her and the kids. . . ."
"So it was always all of you together?" Sephiroth looked interested at that.
"Yeah." Cloud hesitated. "Did you . . . never celebrate it?"
"Not until Zack wanted to." Sephiroth fondly smiled at that. "He would bring chocolates and assure me the holiday was for all kinds of love, not just romantic. With him, I really felt that was so."
Cloud smiled too. "Zack's always been great at including people and making them feel welcome."
"Yes," Sephiroth agreed. "He is."
"So Angeal and Genesis weren't really into it?" Cloud wondered.
"Angeal liked doing things with his mother on Valentine's," Sephiroth said. "Genesis . . . usually went out to the theatre. He didn't seem that interested in doing anything with me. Of course, Hojo said Valentine's was nonsensical tripe."
"He would," Cloud grunted.
"As for myself, I . . . liked the idea of having a holiday to celebrate love, as long as it wasn't squarely focused on romantic alone," Sephiroth said. "Although at the same time, I felt love should be celebrated every day, not just on a holiday dedicated to it."
"Of course," Cloud said. "It wouldn't even mean anything if you only celebrated on a holiday."
Sephiroth smiled a bit at that.
"Maybe that's why I never think about it much," Cloud said on reflection. "Seems like people get bent out of shape if they don't have a romantic partner to share it with and aren't grateful for the love they've already got. But I guess Valentine's can be nice if they appreciate what they've got and want to celebrate it."
"Yes, I think so," Sephiroth said.
"And I like that you want to celebrate with me." Cloud smiled. "I want to celebrate too." He looked out the window as they approached their home and went through the front gates. "Let's see what we've got going on in there."
They were promptly greeted by the sight of a paper heart chain in the front window. "Looks like Marlene's been busy," Cloud remarked.
Sephiroth nodded. "It's good that she can still find joy in simple things like crafting after all she's seen."
"Yeah," Cloud said. He was certainly grateful for that.
And Tifa was right there when they opened the door and walked in. She smiled, admiring a second paper heart chain Marlene was holding up. "Hey, you two," she greeted.
"Hey," Cloud said, smiling back.
"Cloud! Sephiroth!" Marlene ran over to them. "Happy Valentine's Day!"
"Happy Valentine's Day to you," Cloud said.
Sephiroth nodded agreement. "Are you planning anything special?"
"Tifa thought we could have a Valentine's party!" Marlene beamed. "Just all of us! Zack and Aerith will be back for it too! They went out to get stuff for it!"
"Really," Sephiroth said in surprise. He had thought sure Tifa would hope to do something with Cloud alone. And that Zack and Aerith were off doing something romantic.
But Tifa smiled at him. "Is that alright, Sephiroth? I know you're not the biggest party fan."
"It's fine," Sephiroth smiled back. "I . . . would like that." And he honestly would. He wanted to be included without taking away from anyone else.
Cloud smiled too, in relief. Tifa had thought along the same lines as Cloud.
The door flew open again. "We're back!" Zack called, waving several shopping bags.
"We've got everything for a delicious meal," Aerith said. Impishly she added, "Courtesy of our favorite take-out restaurant. Today we can just relax and not slave over a hot stove." A wink.
"Sounds great to me," Tifa smiled. They were both fine with cooking, but it was nice to take a break, especially on a holiday.
Sephiroth looked to Zack. "I thought you were taking Aerith out for a romantic evening," he said, still surprised.
"Hey, we wanted to be with everybody, Seph," Zack grinned. "And we were pretty sure you'd end up all alone if we didn't make sure there was something special for all of us to do. Nobody wanted that!"
"Of course not." Aerith linked arms with Sephiroth, to his shock. "So we're having a big family Valentine's party, just as it should be!"
"This is because of me?" Sephiroth said, still reeling.
"And Marlene and Denzel too," Aerith smiled. "Tonight is for all of us."
Sephiroth slowly smiled, deeply touched. "Thank you," he said softly. "This is more than I could have hoped for."
And really, with all of them there together, celebrating all kinds of love and not just one, it ended up being the best Valentine's it ever could have been.