This better not turn into a sing-along [Closed]

[de_faulty_hero]

Characters: de-faulty-hero & notaflowergirl
Location: Outside of Shibusen
Rating: G
Time: December 9th - Morning
Description: After this conversation, Cloud gets suckered into acting in a parental way. He goes to pick Marlene up, hoping to both not make her cry and not accidentally step on her.

Comments

[notaflowergirl]

Marlene sat near the doors of Shibusen, watching people filter in and out of the building. The mirror they had given her was resting on her lap and while she did poke at it rather listlessly, she wasn't talking to anyone as of yet. It was more convenient than a PHS, that's for sure, but it was a lot more complicated too.

"I wonder if he's coming." Those were bad thoughts. She shook her head firmly. No, he had to come, he said so.

At her feet was a small bag of her belongings, all newly-bought by the man who took care of her that first night. There was nothing there that could entertain her so all she had to do was wait.

Just when she thought that she was about to burst, she saw his distinctive yellow spikes. "Cloud!" Dropping the mirror where she sat, she took off running, all but latching onto her guardian when she finally reached him. "You're here!"

[de_faulty_hero]

He was a little apprehensive about what he was going to do with Barret's daughter when he found her. He'd have to get her a place to stay, but he never considered himself good with kids. He didn't mind little ones, but he was really not sure of his own strength around them.

Slipping from the main crowd leaving the area, he looked around before sighting Marlene. She was going faster than he would have thought possible for those little legs, and he was fully expecting her to stop in front of him. The fact that she decided to latch onto him was shocking, and he stood awkwardly looking down at her.

Was this what being a dad was supposed to feel like? "Marlene, you're safe," he finally forced himself to say. "No one tried to approach you or anything?"

[notaflowergirl]

None of those had been running in her mind at all. The only thing that mattered to her right now was that she was with someone she knew and recognized. While a lot of people had been nice to her, it wasn't the same.

Reno had said that Cloud was different, but so far, Marlene hadn't seen anything weird yet.

"Mmhmm," she answered, stepping back a little to look up at him. "But they were all nice, so I'm okay."

[de_faulty_hero]

Well, he supposed this wasn't all bad, not yet at least. He hadn't gotten her to cry, though he had been close on the network. There was no one here to help him either if she did start to cry, and Barret would kill him if that happened too.

He remained motionless as he looked down the difference in height. Gaea, he forgot how small she was, though clearly she had put on some height since he last remembered. Two years difference would that to kids, he supposed.

"That's good to know," he murmured, pausing to wonder what he should do. "Are you... hungry? Or would you like to see where you'll be staying?"