I seriously need another FF7 icon up in here. THIS IS NOT A SADFIC.
Title: Catching Up
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Characters: Cloud, some OCs and stuff.
Genre: General
Rating: PG-13 for Tony's mouth. :|
Summary: Cloud is delivering stuff and meets up with someone unexpected.
Cloud knew once the door opened that today wasn't going to be a very good one.
"...Cloud? Cloud Strife?" The man's voice was incredulous and there was a grin on his face born of its parents anxiety and awe; Cloud could tell without even a look. Sometimes he would get these reactions, but thankfully they were few or far between; most people either didn't know him, didn't care, or checked themselves so they wouldn't be a hassle. Something he was grateful for, since he really just didn't want to deal with the social complications of being known by a stranger.
"That's the name," Cloud replied in a bored monotone, the line obviously thrown out in an effort to be polite while still remaining indifferent.
"Cloud, it's me. Remember me?" ...now that was a deviation from the usual. Cloud paused in filling out the information on the delivery receipt and raised his eyes to take a better look. The face was...familiar, but Cloud couldn't place him. Luckily, the man was more than willing to job his memory, smile wavering with nervousness. "It's Tony. Tony Schwann. Remember?"
"All the boys are leaving town nowadays..." Recognition dawned and Cloud's brows drew slightly together. Oh. One of Tifa's friends. He quite suddenly wished he was anywhere but here, and returned his attention to filling out the receipt as quickly as possible after giving Tony a brief nod. "Yeah."
Tony carried onward, catching Cloud's less-than-enthusiastic response but determined to spark some kind of conversation. "Oh man, I- Well, my wife made the delivery order and she said someone famous would be coming, but I didn't think- She doesn't know about me being from Nibelheim, after all, I mean, I don't really tell that many people. I never thought I'd see you again, though, but- Well, I mean, of course I knew you were still alive, and everyone knows what happened with- that, and in Edge a month ago. But-..." He trailed off, discouraged by Cloud's silence and the sharper-than-necessary pen scratches. Sifting through his hair awkwardly, he abruptly switched tracks. "Er...how's Tifa doing? Have you seen her lately?"
"Tifa's fine. Sign here, please." Cloud held the clipboard out and it took Tony a second to realize what was expected of him, but he started and signed with a hurried apology before handing it back sheepishly. Cloud tore the pink customer copy from the bottom of the form stack, shoved the board into his bag -he'd hated the damn thing ever since Barret laughed and called it a "man purse," but it had its uses- and held out the box, eager to leave.
Tony took it, but stopped Cloud with an inviting gesture that seemed almost pleading. "Cloud, won't you come inside, have some coffee or something? I can introduce you to my wife, we can catch up a little-"
"I gotta get back home," Cloud cut him off coldly, turning back to Fenrir with every intent of doing just that.
"Cloud, I'm sorry. Look- we were kids, you know? People do stupid things when they're kids, and I'm sorry for it, I am. You didn't deserve it."
Cloud looked at him and folded his arms, unimpressed. "Are you apologizing because you mean it?" Or because I'm famous now?
Tony heard the unspoken continuation in Cloud's tone and winced; it was a fair question, after all. "Because I mean it. I meant it years ago, I mean it now." Cloud didn't move but he didn't leave either, eyes drifting off to the side. "...just for a minute? It's cold as Shiva's tits out here, just for a cup of coffee and to warm up. Would you?"
It would be so easy to just hop on his bike with a curt "no" and drive straight back to Edge. He had a jacket, he wasn't cold and he did not want to talk about Nibelheim or his childhood. But...this man was also a paying customer, and possibly one that would continue to give them business. The delivery service wasn't exactly lucrative, and he and Tifa would have to start saving some serious money with Denzel growing as fast as he was; their savings was almost gone, after all. "...all right." He didn't miss Tony's relieved smile but didn't return the gesture, just following him inside, stomping his boots on the welcome mat to rid them of snow and leaving his jacket on the coat rack when Tony directed his attention to it.
"Cloud, just have a seat at the table, I'll call my wife down- Angelina!" Tony left the package on the countertop, leaning over to shout up the stairwell as he banged about in the cupboards for the coffee tin. "Angie, geddown here! I want you to meet someone!"
Cloud didn't sit, feeling awkward and out of place in the surprisingly cozy home; most of the shops in Kalm operated that way, with the stores on the upper level near the stone walk and the homes below, accessible from behind. If Cloud had his bearings right, Tony ran a patchwork business; the shoe and clothing repair shop.
Tony dumped the coffee and filter into the cup, pushed it into place and flicked the coffee maker on, glancing over his shoulder to check on Cloud's progress. "Sit down, go ahead! I know it's not the most welcoming- I'd offer you the couch, but the supports busted and until I can sit down to take a look at it it's really just not a good idea." Cloud nodded again and hesitantly slid into a chair with the poise of one clearly uncomfortable. "You like cream, sugar?"
"Uh- just sugar. Thanks." Cloud's tone had softened now that the situation had evolved into something far out of his comfort zone and he slowly worked his gloves loose, just to give his hands something to do.
There was a thud of feet stomping down the stairs and a woman in her late twenties rushed into the room, brown hair caught up in a messy bun with wayward wisps giving her something of a crazed appearance. "Tony I swear if you yell for me like I'm some kinda dog one more t-" She cut herself off with a muted gasp when she spotted Cloud, though, and stared as if he'd grown a second head. Cloud recognized her accent as that of a Kalm native, thick and deceivingly slow.
There was a moment of silence -brief, thankfully- before Tony cleared his throat. "Angie, this is-ow, woman, what the hell's the matter with you?!" Angie had flung her hand out and swatted him soundly across the arm, expression furious.
"Tony, you- you tell me when we got company, you stupid man!" Angie smacked him again for good measure and started to pat down her hair, face red with embarrassment. "He probably thinks I'm crazy now!"
"I told you I had someone I wanted you to meet, it's not my fault you came tearing down here like a goddamn banshee-ow!" Angie had swatted him over the head with an oven mitt this time, and he fended her off with a wave of his hands, backing away. "Woman! Stop that!"
"Don't call me woman! And watch your language when we have a guest!" Angie huffed and flung the oven mitt onto the counter before crossing out of the kitchen and over to Cloud's side, holding out her hand and giving him a robust smile. "I'm Angie, nice to meet you. 'Course I already know your name, I don't suppose you can blame me for that, can you?"
Cloud hurried to his feet and shook her hand carefully, feeling more shy than put out at this point. ...although he was a little irritated that she appeared to be an inch or two taller than he. "No, not really. Thank you for your business, Mrs. Schwann."
"Oh, you charmer you." Angie reddened and -much to Cloud's surprise- swatted his arm too, though not with the vehemence and indignation she had her husband's (who was now grumbling to himself as he pulled down three mugs and refilled the sugar bowl). "You call me Angie, sweetheart, I'm not that much older n' you."
"Angie, don't flirt with me standin' right here, woman. I hear you." Tony's voice had started taking on a bit of a twang now that he was relaxed, and Cloud recognized it with a pang of sadness and nostalgia as the accent of those who grew up in Nibelheim. Briefly, he wondered when he'd lost his.
"You call me woman again Tony and I'm gonna kick you out and have coffee with Cloud all by myself." When Tony didn't answer with anything more substantial than a grumble and a slam of the fridge door after retrieving the cream, she gave a huff of satisfaction and took a seat across from Cloud, which he assumed was his cue to sit back down. "You didn't gotta indulge my husband like that Cloud, though that's mighty sweet of you to. He sometimes gets too excited for his own good."
"Oh...uh, no, it's not that." Cloud hesitated, wondering if he should mention Nibelheim, but finished lamely, "We grew up in the same town. I know him."
"Well, I'll be!" Angie thumped the tabletop with an open palm and twisted to reprimand Tony soundly. "You didn't tell me you grew up with Cloud Strife, Tony!"
"I didn't think it relative information for our marriage, Angie." Tony's tone was defensive, but Angie only laughed, seeming to have caught on to his teasing.
"You don't think about a lot of 'relative information' about a lot uh different things, Tony, but I guess I can let this one go." Tony shot her a look and she laughed again as he brought the small pitcher of cream and the sugar bowl to the table. "So where's this town at? Somewhere north?"
"...it's, um-"
"Nibelheim, Angie, little mountain town." Tony's voice was soft, and Cloud knew that he knew. Nibelheim wasn't the same Nibelheim anymore. He shot Cloud a glance and Cloud nodded, Angie having missed the exchange in favor of stirring the coffee her husband plunked down before her.
"That's a strange name, isn't it? Never heard of it though." Angie sipped her coffee and watched the two men as Tony slid into a chair with his own mug and offered Cloud the sugar bowl, which he politely took. "So Tony, you left town when you were fifteen, didn't ya? I'll guess you left sometime since your business is in Edge, huh Cloud?"
"Ah...yeah. I left when I was fourteen." Cloud sipped his coffee; not the best he'd ever had, but good. Good enough for the conversation and to warm up.
"You two're friends?"
Tony suddenly looked uneasy and hurried to correct her. "Ah, Angie, tha's not quite-"
"We knew each other," Cloud interjected, wanting to avoid the story all together. "Both friends with Tifa Lockhart, but we didn't really hang around together too much." It wasn't quite a lie, just...the "friends with Tifa" part. At least, on his behalf. Nobody needed to know that he was a creepy stalker even at seven years old, it was bad enough that one other person at this table already did.
"Oh, I see." Angie's tone was understanding, but her face clearly showed that she wasn't fooled. She thankfully didn't press him for answers, though, and Cloud heaved an inward sigh. "Well, that's still nice. Tony, you didn't tell me you knew Tifa Lockhart neither. How come you wanna keep all these celebrities to yourself?"
"Angie, they're not chocobos at a bird show-"
"Oh you know I'm foolin'. Shaddup already." Angie swirled her coffee in the cup and -much to Cloud's great relief- changed the subject onto herself. "Me an' Tony met almost a year after he left town, then. I ran this shop with my papa and he was fresh from Midgar; said he hated it there."
"I can tell him myself what I said, woman."
Angie raised a brow and inclined her head, a gesture for him to continue where she left off. Tony coughed and sipped his coffee, clearly not expecting such an easy victory. "...yeah, I hated it there. I mean, you know how most of us were leaving to go find work?" At Cloud's nod, he continued. "I went to Midgar, but the only jobs available for an uneducated minor like myself were grunt work and the Shinra army." Tony's eyes met Cloud's and he knew he was looking for the glow, because he glanced back down at his mug once he'd found it. "No offense, that's just not my type of career."
"None taken. Wasn't mine, either."
Angie and Tony's glances were curious, but when Cloud refused to look up and only sipped his coffee, Tony began again. "Well, since I couldn't find decent work in Midgar, I headed over here to Kalm in hopes that something would be available. Angie's father gave me a job as a clerk, and I've been here ever since. We got married once I turned eighteen, and I don't regret it." Cloud was glad they didn't coo or hold hands or something mushy like that; he wasn't sure he could gracefully hide an eye roll.
"So what about you, Cloud?" Angie had decided to revisit the topic after all, and Cloud scoured his brain for a good excuse before just settling on the vague approach.
"...I left Nibelheim, joined the Shinra army. That...didn't work out well, so once my contract was up I...found work elsewhere." Tony and Angie were obviously puzzled, having spotted the glow and probably having heard the story that Cloud was an ex-SOLDIER from someone or another, but seemed to understand his reluctance to speak and didn't press for details on that.
"How'd you get in the army? I mean, you weren't that tall -no offense, Cloud- there's no way they've believed you were sixteen." Tony tapped his fingers on the table curiously.
Cloud flushed. "...I picketed the lobby entrance."
Tony choked back a laugh and Angie didn't bother, smacking the table with her palm again and making their mugs rattle as she roared. "Little fourteen-year-old thing picketing the great Shinra Inc., and you won?! That's rich, that's so rich. How'd you do it, what'd you do?"
"I uh...I slept outside the doors and...harassed the employees. Security tried to put me in jail, but since I was a minor they couldn't keep me there. ...and since my family was in Nibelheim, all they could do was throw me on a train to the slums; I just snuck off out the window before the train departed and went back." Now that they were off the subject of his supposed stint with SOLDIER, Cloud was feeling more relaxed in telling the story. After all, it was a little funny, a tiny kid bullying the mighty Shinra into giving him a job.
"Oh Shiva, Cloud, I didn't know you had it in you! You were always so quiet, didn't think you'd do something that crazy." Tony wiped his eyes and rubbed Angie's back as she laughed, grinning sincerely.
Cloud warmed up a bit and managed a small smile in return, but the moment was interrupted when his phone gave a shrill wark! and proceeded to play a midi version of the theme song from the children's cartoon Chicobo Steve. Flushing red at their snickers, Cloud fumbled for it in his back, hastily trying to explain his choice in ring tones. "Marlene -a little girl we look after- she likes the show, she must've- hang on-" Thankful for the distraction and ignoring the couple as they muffled their laughter with their mugs, Cloud answered. "Hello?"
"Cloud? Are you almost done with the deliveries?"
"Yeah, I'm almost done, I should be home in a few hours if I rush."
"I hate to rush you, but Barret said he's going to be in tonight instead of tomorrow. I was going to get the guest room ready myself, but the bar's slammed -I think there was a party down the street- and the kids are bouncing off the walls-" Tifa sounded haggard and tired, and Cloud felt guilty for sitting around and enjoying coffee with someone he hardly knew instead of rushing back to help.
"Sorry, I'm sorry Tifa; I'll leave right now. I uh..." Cloud paused.
"...Cloud? Hello?"
"I'm still here. I'll tell you when I get back." Tifa made a small noise and Cloud hurried to reassure her. "It's nothing bad, everything's fine. It's good news, but a long story and a long talk. I'll tell you when I come home."
Tifa didn't hesitate with her answer, voice warm again. "All right. Thank you Cloud, I'll see you soon."
Cloud waited for the click on her end of the phone before hanging up and standing. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. It was very nice meet you, Angie, Tony."
The couple rose with him, and Angie shook his hand again with sparkling eyes. "Nice to meet you too, honey. I hope we can do this again, you're nice company to have."
Cloud was a little taken aback at the thought, but nodded a bit as Tony circled around to lead him to the door. He shrugged into jacket and slipped his gloves back on, yanking on the leather to make sure they were on tightly enough. "Look, Cloud...don't be a stranger, okay? I know we're not friends and never were, but-"
Cloud cut him off as he opened the door with a hand to the shoulder- a quick touch, but enough to get his attention. "It's fine. I'm not much of a talker, but you have my number. Call me if you want."
Tony considered this thoughtfully and gave him a slow nod, expression grateful. "...all right. I'll do that; maybe talk to Tifa, too."
"Yeah." Cloud gave a short, jerky wave, heading back over to where Fenrir was parked and digging the key out of his jacket pocket. He wasn't particularly fond of the idea of returning to a packed bar to fish the children out of the crowd, but maybe he could convince them to help with the guest room. Marlene, at least, since she'd want to lay a mattress down so she could sleep in the same room as her father.
It wasn't until he'd hit the highway that it occurred to Cloud that maybe just forgiving himself wasn't enough; maybe he had others he still needed to forgive. Tony was right though, they were just kids. Cloud had wanted to ask him why he and his friend hadn't tried to stick up for him when the adults blamed him for Tifa's fall, but if he were honest for himself, he didn't care anymore. They'd been kids, they'd all made mistakes, and they felt guilty for them.
...somehow, that made him feel just a little bit better.
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII
Characters: Cloud, some OCs and stuff.
Genre: General
Rating: PG-13 for Tony's mouth. :|
Summary: Cloud is delivering stuff and meets up with someone unexpected.
Cloud knew once the door opened that today wasn't going to be a very good one.
"...Cloud? Cloud Strife?" The man's voice was incredulous and there was a grin on his face born of its parents anxiety and awe; Cloud could tell without even a look. Sometimes he would get these reactions, but thankfully they were few or far between; most people either didn't know him, didn't care, or checked themselves so they wouldn't be a hassle. Something he was grateful for, since he really just didn't want to deal with the social complications of being known by a stranger.
"That's the name," Cloud replied in a bored monotone, the line obviously thrown out in an effort to be polite while still remaining indifferent.
"Cloud, it's me. Remember me?" ...now that was a deviation from the usual. Cloud paused in filling out the information on the delivery receipt and raised his eyes to take a better look. The face was...familiar, but Cloud couldn't place him. Luckily, the man was more than willing to job his memory, smile wavering with nervousness. "It's Tony. Tony Schwann. Remember?"
"All the boys are leaving town nowadays..." Recognition dawned and Cloud's brows drew slightly together. Oh. One of Tifa's friends. He quite suddenly wished he was anywhere but here, and returned his attention to filling out the receipt as quickly as possible after giving Tony a brief nod. "Yeah."
Tony carried onward, catching Cloud's less-than-enthusiastic response but determined to spark some kind of conversation. "Oh man, I- Well, my wife made the delivery order and she said someone famous would be coming, but I didn't think- She doesn't know about me being from Nibelheim, after all, I mean, I don't really tell that many people. I never thought I'd see you again, though, but- Well, I mean, of course I knew you were still alive, and everyone knows what happened with- that, and in Edge a month ago. But-..." He trailed off, discouraged by Cloud's silence and the sharper-than-necessary pen scratches. Sifting through his hair awkwardly, he abruptly switched tracks. "Er...how's Tifa doing? Have you seen her lately?"
"Tifa's fine. Sign here, please." Cloud held the clipboard out and it took Tony a second to realize what was expected of him, but he started and signed with a hurried apology before handing it back sheepishly. Cloud tore the pink customer copy from the bottom of the form stack, shoved the board into his bag -he'd hated the damn thing ever since Barret laughed and called it a "man purse," but it had its uses- and held out the box, eager to leave.
Tony took it, but stopped Cloud with an inviting gesture that seemed almost pleading. "Cloud, won't you come inside, have some coffee or something? I can introduce you to my wife, we can catch up a little-"
"I gotta get back home," Cloud cut him off coldly, turning back to Fenrir with every intent of doing just that.
"Cloud, I'm sorry. Look- we were kids, you know? People do stupid things when they're kids, and I'm sorry for it, I am. You didn't deserve it."
Cloud looked at him and folded his arms, unimpressed. "Are you apologizing because you mean it?" Or because I'm famous now?
Tony heard the unspoken continuation in Cloud's tone and winced; it was a fair question, after all. "Because I mean it. I meant it years ago, I mean it now." Cloud didn't move but he didn't leave either, eyes drifting off to the side. "...just for a minute? It's cold as Shiva's tits out here, just for a cup of coffee and to warm up. Would you?"
It would be so easy to just hop on his bike with a curt "no" and drive straight back to Edge. He had a jacket, he wasn't cold and he did not want to talk about Nibelheim or his childhood. But...this man was also a paying customer, and possibly one that would continue to give them business. The delivery service wasn't exactly lucrative, and he and Tifa would have to start saving some serious money with Denzel growing as fast as he was; their savings was almost gone, after all. "...all right." He didn't miss Tony's relieved smile but didn't return the gesture, just following him inside, stomping his boots on the welcome mat to rid them of snow and leaving his jacket on the coat rack when Tony directed his attention to it.
"Cloud, just have a seat at the table, I'll call my wife down- Angelina!" Tony left the package on the countertop, leaning over to shout up the stairwell as he banged about in the cupboards for the coffee tin. "Angie, geddown here! I want you to meet someone!"
Cloud didn't sit, feeling awkward and out of place in the surprisingly cozy home; most of the shops in Kalm operated that way, with the stores on the upper level near the stone walk and the homes below, accessible from behind. If Cloud had his bearings right, Tony ran a patchwork business; the shoe and clothing repair shop.
Tony dumped the coffee and filter into the cup, pushed it into place and flicked the coffee maker on, glancing over his shoulder to check on Cloud's progress. "Sit down, go ahead! I know it's not the most welcoming- I'd offer you the couch, but the supports busted and until I can sit down to take a look at it it's really just not a good idea." Cloud nodded again and hesitantly slid into a chair with the poise of one clearly uncomfortable. "You like cream, sugar?"
"Uh- just sugar. Thanks." Cloud's tone had softened now that the situation had evolved into something far out of his comfort zone and he slowly worked his gloves loose, just to give his hands something to do.
There was a thud of feet stomping down the stairs and a woman in her late twenties rushed into the room, brown hair caught up in a messy bun with wayward wisps giving her something of a crazed appearance. "Tony I swear if you yell for me like I'm some kinda dog one more t-" She cut herself off with a muted gasp when she spotted Cloud, though, and stared as if he'd grown a second head. Cloud recognized her accent as that of a Kalm native, thick and deceivingly slow.
There was a moment of silence -brief, thankfully- before Tony cleared his throat. "Angie, this is-ow, woman, what the hell's the matter with you?!" Angie had flung her hand out and swatted him soundly across the arm, expression furious.
"Tony, you- you tell me when we got company, you stupid man!" Angie smacked him again for good measure and started to pat down her hair, face red with embarrassment. "He probably thinks I'm crazy now!"
"I told you I had someone I wanted you to meet, it's not my fault you came tearing down here like a goddamn banshee-ow!" Angie had swatted him over the head with an oven mitt this time, and he fended her off with a wave of his hands, backing away. "Woman! Stop that!"
"Don't call me woman! And watch your language when we have a guest!" Angie huffed and flung the oven mitt onto the counter before crossing out of the kitchen and over to Cloud's side, holding out her hand and giving him a robust smile. "I'm Angie, nice to meet you. 'Course I already know your name, I don't suppose you can blame me for that, can you?"
Cloud hurried to his feet and shook her hand carefully, feeling more shy than put out at this point. ...although he was a little irritated that she appeared to be an inch or two taller than he. "No, not really. Thank you for your business, Mrs. Schwann."
"Oh, you charmer you." Angie reddened and -much to Cloud's surprise- swatted his arm too, though not with the vehemence and indignation she had her husband's (who was now grumbling to himself as he pulled down three mugs and refilled the sugar bowl). "You call me Angie, sweetheart, I'm not that much older n' you."
"Angie, don't flirt with me standin' right here, woman. I hear you." Tony's voice had started taking on a bit of a twang now that he was relaxed, and Cloud recognized it with a pang of sadness and nostalgia as the accent of those who grew up in Nibelheim. Briefly, he wondered when he'd lost his.
"You call me woman again Tony and I'm gonna kick you out and have coffee with Cloud all by myself." When Tony didn't answer with anything more substantial than a grumble and a slam of the fridge door after retrieving the cream, she gave a huff of satisfaction and took a seat across from Cloud, which he assumed was his cue to sit back down. "You didn't gotta indulge my husband like that Cloud, though that's mighty sweet of you to. He sometimes gets too excited for his own good."
"Oh...uh, no, it's not that." Cloud hesitated, wondering if he should mention Nibelheim, but finished lamely, "We grew up in the same town. I know him."
"Well, I'll be!" Angie thumped the tabletop with an open palm and twisted to reprimand Tony soundly. "You didn't tell me you grew up with Cloud Strife, Tony!"
"I didn't think it relative information for our marriage, Angie." Tony's tone was defensive, but Angie only laughed, seeming to have caught on to his teasing.
"You don't think about a lot of 'relative information' about a lot uh different things, Tony, but I guess I can let this one go." Tony shot her a look and she laughed again as he brought the small pitcher of cream and the sugar bowl to the table. "So where's this town at? Somewhere north?"
"...it's, um-"
"Nibelheim, Angie, little mountain town." Tony's voice was soft, and Cloud knew that he knew. Nibelheim wasn't the same Nibelheim anymore. He shot Cloud a glance and Cloud nodded, Angie having missed the exchange in favor of stirring the coffee her husband plunked down before her.
"That's a strange name, isn't it? Never heard of it though." Angie sipped her coffee and watched the two men as Tony slid into a chair with his own mug and offered Cloud the sugar bowl, which he politely took. "So Tony, you left town when you were fifteen, didn't ya? I'll guess you left sometime since your business is in Edge, huh Cloud?"
"Ah...yeah. I left when I was fourteen." Cloud sipped his coffee; not the best he'd ever had, but good. Good enough for the conversation and to warm up.
"You two're friends?"
Tony suddenly looked uneasy and hurried to correct her. "Ah, Angie, tha's not quite-"
"We knew each other," Cloud interjected, wanting to avoid the story all together. "Both friends with Tifa Lockhart, but we didn't really hang around together too much." It wasn't quite a lie, just...the "friends with Tifa" part. At least, on his behalf. Nobody needed to know that he was a creepy stalker even at seven years old, it was bad enough that one other person at this table already did.
"Oh, I see." Angie's tone was understanding, but her face clearly showed that she wasn't fooled. She thankfully didn't press him for answers, though, and Cloud heaved an inward sigh. "Well, that's still nice. Tony, you didn't tell me you knew Tifa Lockhart neither. How come you wanna keep all these celebrities to yourself?"
"Angie, they're not chocobos at a bird show-"
"Oh you know I'm foolin'. Shaddup already." Angie swirled her coffee in the cup and -much to Cloud's great relief- changed the subject onto herself. "Me an' Tony met almost a year after he left town, then. I ran this shop with my papa and he was fresh from Midgar; said he hated it there."
"I can tell him myself what I said, woman."
Angie raised a brow and inclined her head, a gesture for him to continue where she left off. Tony coughed and sipped his coffee, clearly not expecting such an easy victory. "...yeah, I hated it there. I mean, you know how most of us were leaving to go find work?" At Cloud's nod, he continued. "I went to Midgar, but the only jobs available for an uneducated minor like myself were grunt work and the Shinra army." Tony's eyes met Cloud's and he knew he was looking for the glow, because he glanced back down at his mug once he'd found it. "No offense, that's just not my type of career."
"None taken. Wasn't mine, either."
Angie and Tony's glances were curious, but when Cloud refused to look up and only sipped his coffee, Tony began again. "Well, since I couldn't find decent work in Midgar, I headed over here to Kalm in hopes that something would be available. Angie's father gave me a job as a clerk, and I've been here ever since. We got married once I turned eighteen, and I don't regret it." Cloud was glad they didn't coo or hold hands or something mushy like that; he wasn't sure he could gracefully hide an eye roll.
"So what about you, Cloud?" Angie had decided to revisit the topic after all, and Cloud scoured his brain for a good excuse before just settling on the vague approach.
"...I left Nibelheim, joined the Shinra army. That...didn't work out well, so once my contract was up I...found work elsewhere." Tony and Angie were obviously puzzled, having spotted the glow and probably having heard the story that Cloud was an ex-SOLDIER from someone or another, but seemed to understand his reluctance to speak and didn't press for details on that.
"How'd you get in the army? I mean, you weren't that tall -no offense, Cloud- there's no way they've believed you were sixteen." Tony tapped his fingers on the table curiously.
Cloud flushed. "...I picketed the lobby entrance."
Tony choked back a laugh and Angie didn't bother, smacking the table with her palm again and making their mugs rattle as she roared. "Little fourteen-year-old thing picketing the great Shinra Inc., and you won?! That's rich, that's so rich. How'd you do it, what'd you do?"
"I uh...I slept outside the doors and...harassed the employees. Security tried to put me in jail, but since I was a minor they couldn't keep me there. ...and since my family was in Nibelheim, all they could do was throw me on a train to the slums; I just snuck off out the window before the train departed and went back." Now that they were off the subject of his supposed stint with SOLDIER, Cloud was feeling more relaxed in telling the story. After all, it was a little funny, a tiny kid bullying the mighty Shinra into giving him a job.
"Oh Shiva, Cloud, I didn't know you had it in you! You were always so quiet, didn't think you'd do something that crazy." Tony wiped his eyes and rubbed Angie's back as she laughed, grinning sincerely.
Cloud warmed up a bit and managed a small smile in return, but the moment was interrupted when his phone gave a shrill wark! and proceeded to play a midi version of the theme song from the children's cartoon Chicobo Steve. Flushing red at their snickers, Cloud fumbled for it in his back, hastily trying to explain his choice in ring tones. "Marlene -a little girl we look after- she likes the show, she must've- hang on-" Thankful for the distraction and ignoring the couple as they muffled their laughter with their mugs, Cloud answered. "Hello?"
"Cloud? Are you almost done with the deliveries?"
"Yeah, I'm almost done, I should be home in a few hours if I rush."
"I hate to rush you, but Barret said he's going to be in tonight instead of tomorrow. I was going to get the guest room ready myself, but the bar's slammed -I think there was a party down the street- and the kids are bouncing off the walls-" Tifa sounded haggard and tired, and Cloud felt guilty for sitting around and enjoying coffee with someone he hardly knew instead of rushing back to help.
"Sorry, I'm sorry Tifa; I'll leave right now. I uh..." Cloud paused.
"...Cloud? Hello?"
"I'm still here. I'll tell you when I get back." Tifa made a small noise and Cloud hurried to reassure her. "It's nothing bad, everything's fine. It's good news, but a long story and a long talk. I'll tell you when I come home."
Tifa didn't hesitate with her answer, voice warm again. "All right. Thank you Cloud, I'll see you soon."
Cloud waited for the click on her end of the phone before hanging up and standing. "I'm sorry, but I have to go. It was very nice meet you, Angie, Tony."
The couple rose with him, and Angie shook his hand again with sparkling eyes. "Nice to meet you too, honey. I hope we can do this again, you're nice company to have."
Cloud was a little taken aback at the thought, but nodded a bit as Tony circled around to lead him to the door. He shrugged into jacket and slipped his gloves back on, yanking on the leather to make sure they were on tightly enough. "Look, Cloud...don't be a stranger, okay? I know we're not friends and never were, but-"
Cloud cut him off as he opened the door with a hand to the shoulder- a quick touch, but enough to get his attention. "It's fine. I'm not much of a talker, but you have my number. Call me if you want."
Tony considered this thoughtfully and gave him a slow nod, expression grateful. "...all right. I'll do that; maybe talk to Tifa, too."
"Yeah." Cloud gave a short, jerky wave, heading back over to where Fenrir was parked and digging the key out of his jacket pocket. He wasn't particularly fond of the idea of returning to a packed bar to fish the children out of the crowd, but maybe he could convince them to help with the guest room. Marlene, at least, since she'd want to lay a mattress down so she could sleep in the same room as her father.
It wasn't until he'd hit the highway that it occurred to Cloud that maybe just forgiving himself wasn't enough; maybe he had others he still needed to forgive. Tony was right though, they were just kids. Cloud had wanted to ask him why he and his friend hadn't tried to stick up for him when the adults blamed him for Tifa's fall, but if he were honest for himself, he didn't care anymore. They'd been kids, they'd all made mistakes, and they felt guilty for them.
...somehow, that made him feel just a little bit better.