I do apologise for not getting this out yesterday, but I was distracted by a little Babylon 5 mini-marathon last night, ah, the days of kicking Vorlon and Shadow butt!
Any ways, here is the fic, I hope you enjoy!
Title: 1988 - 03 - Trouble
Author: Scrolls
Rating: PG-13?
Fandom/Pairing: FF7/None (eventual Aeris/Cloud/Sephiroth/Zack)
Disclaimer: SqaureEnix Owns, I'm just having some fun.
Notes: Three hours in and they already had him in trouble!
Summary: What if Momma Strife had taken Cloud and Aeris and gone to Wutai, what would be the same, and what would be different?
Constructive criticism will be hugged while flames will be used to line the bunny hutch.
Enjoy Ladies and Gentlemen.
1988 - 03 - Trouble
It was an all-too familiar feeling for Cloud, being gripped by the back of his collar, pushed and pulled in turns by an irate servant, noble, or guard.
This time it was some minister’s flunky and his aide.
It was Yuffie who had suggested going to the arch, and Aeris who had started the game. It had all snowballed from there. The arch was a major thoroughfare leading from outside the pagoda, to inside. They had actually managed to amuse the guards.
The outer wall of the Royal Pagoda was meant to repel attackers even if the city was taken. As such, each entryway was two gates, an outer and an inner, both could be closed and any attackers that got inside the outer gate before it shut would have a variety of sharp pointy object aimed at their heads from murder holes in the ceiling of the tunnel between gates.
Boiling oil was also an option.
The game had been to utilize one of those holes and drop pebbles into the fanciful hats of various passersby. Bonus points if they didn’t even look up, double bonus points if their bodyguards didn’t react.
He didn’t know if it was a guard’s snicker or one of the girls giggling, but something had clued the man to look up at just the wrong time to get a pebble right between the eyes. He had of course made a huge hue and cry about it.
Cloud had hesitated, the girls had not.
Each had grabbed one of Cloud’s hands and run for it, the trio easily dodging guards not really interested in giving chase.
There was something to be said for amusing the guards.
And they would have gotten away, if the flunky hadn’t gotten to the stairs from the battlements so fast. With him in sight the guards were forced to act, albeit slowly.
They were still caught.
The aide had him and Aeris, the flunky was ‘escorting’ Yuffie. Meaning of course that she wasn’t going to have bruises on her arm or a ripped collar.
Darn it, and he’d managed to go six months without getting in trouble, there went that new sword.
***0***
While Aeris and Cloud were caught up in being caught, Yuffie was already making plans for an escape. It was obvious to her that the other two had forgotten the first rule of Making Trouble, always have an escape planned. And the second rule, once your caught, stop thinking about being caught and start thinking about an escape, preferably without any later consequences.
The idiot flunky who had her in his grip, pffft, grip yeah right, also had the bag of pebbles in his other hand. The aide had Cloud and Aeris, but his hold was that of the bully and those smaller than him.
No guards, the flunky Mr. So-and-so hadn’t thought to have those guards who had been in the room with them come with to testify. The fool hadn’t even left the pebble in his hat; it was now back in the sack with the others.
So, get the sack, there’s any evidence. No guards, no testimony, and by the time anyone tracks them down they can easily say they forgot.
Meaning if they could get away, with the sack, then they would be free.
And judging by the look of smug satisfaction on the flunky’s face, along with the vicious looks he was shooting Cloud, getting away would be a good thing.
Right, now to wait for just the right spot…
***0***
One moment Cloud was being hauled down a hallway, the next was filled with smoke, the sound of the aide coughing, of startled and pain filled swear worlds, and then a closer yelp.
And Cloud was free, his collar no longer held in the aide’s hand.
Confused, his eyes starting to blur, cloud took a couple steps forward, hand out to find the wall.
Another step and he touched something; it was a hand, smaller, and familiar. And pulling him in a different direction.
Moving with the younger girl, Cloud kept his eyes closed, trusting that Yuffie would get him out of the smoke. Beside him he could hear another set of footsteps, Aeris’s, from the pace.
A shallow left turn and he could feel the clearer air as they left the smoke cloud. Yuffie tugged on his hand, running faster. Cloud could hear the wood beneath their feet, more wood in the echoes, paper wall scrolls that moved in their wake.
Finally they slowed, stopped; there was the sound of a door opening, and then closing after they had gone in. then the feeling of light suddenly upon his face.
Cautiously he opened his eyes, Aeris was by the window, pulling open the covering on it a sliver to let in light. Yuffie was at the door, ear against the crack, listening. Both were slightly panting.
Cloud wiped his face of moisture, he hated when his senses reacted like that.
After a few moments Yuffie came away from the door. “Sounds clear, but it’d be best if we were out of sight for a bit.” Then she gave them the Are You Alright look.
Aeris smiled at her, Cloud just nodded.
It was at that moment that the dark haired girl giggled like mad.
“Yuffie! What are you laughing about! When they show up-” He sputtered
“But that’s the beauty of it, they won’t!”
“What are you on? They caught us!”
“Yep, and that’s all they did! Catch us and drag us off!” Cloud shot at worried look at Aeris, hoping she would help him explain to Yuffie why they needed to worry. Instead the brunette had a thoughtful look on her face.
“Yuffie, We Were Caught, and We Ran Away, when they arrive at the emperor’s office and tell him that-“
“They’ll look like jealous idiots.” Yuffie interrupted, giving him a frustrated look. “Look, yes they caught us, but besides us and the bag of rocks they pulled of Aeris, what else do they have to prove their story?”
“The guards-“
“Were highly amused by our antics, and none of them were brought with us to corroborate the story, and by the time that flunky gets back tot eh wall, those that saw us will be long gone to other posts.”
“But the rocks!”
“You mean these rocks?” She asked, holding up a bag. “And even if I hadn’t grabbed them, a sack of rocks does not evidence make, anyone can have a bag of rocks.”
“But when they ask those people who we dropped rocks onto, they’ll be able to prove it!”
“Ask who? No one else caught us, and no one realized they had a rock dropped on them. And even if they did realize it, they certainly aren’t going to say anything, it would be too embarrassing to admit that they hadn’t noticed.” He opened his mouth to say something else but was interrupted by Aeris.
“Cloud, she’s right, with no evidence that can be proved ours, no witnesses, and no one else to come forward to say they also suffered the same, there’s nothing to prove their claims. And everyone knows they are in the camp that doesn’t like you or your mother, if they go to the emperor with what they have, a story and maybe a pebble, he’ll laugh them right out the door.” She paused slightly then continued.
“There’s nothing to prove his story, we are not getting in trouble.”
For one long moment Cloud just starred art the two as his mind processed what they had said. No evidence, no testimony, no them….
They really weren’t going to get into trouble.
The girls took one look at his gobsmaked expression and burst out laughing.
Slowly Cloud smiled.
Have a Good Week All!