[ open ] Storms draw something out of us that calm seas don’t

[makoglow]

Who: Cloud Strife & You
Status: Open
Where: Various
What: Catch all if needed; questboard things mainly
Warnings: TBA





🌩️ Seahorse Midwife

[ Thankfully after the first time being around the seahorses with Tifa, the creatures aren't as keen to knock Cloud over. They are, by far, less rambunctious. But maybe that's because Cloud has been coming as often as he can slip away to check up on them. Maybe to feed them, but don't tell anyone if you had managed to catch him in the act.

Either way, Cloud is here today like any other. Too bad that today is going to be much different than the others. Being requested to help the seahorses give birth.

Well he is standing there with a look about him like a vacant chocobo. Excuse him what? He is supposed to what?

Please save this dumbfounded boy man. ]

🌩️ Unconventional Couture

Not happening.

[ Meaning that Cloud is standing there, with his hands across his chest. Going undercover is one thing. Cloud will gladly go undercover to deal with illegal trade and whatever. The issue here it is starting to look like a situation that he had gotten himself into years ago. Aerith had been there to help him at the time and both she and Tifa had been witnesses to the results.

It had been downright embarrassing the first time. Now they want him to what again? Dress in gowns yet again? Cloud is about ready to walk out that door instead of deal with this. Again.

In a brothel. Again. ]

🌩️ Latte Love Story

[ Cloud's already got his hands full here. There's a man in the gondola. Shouting. Clearly drunk on something but Cloud isn't really paying attention to the full story here. Rather, the blonde stands with his finger pressed firmly between his eyes. It's as if he's trying to will away a potential headache - evaluating on whether or not this is really something he wants to deal with right now.

The problem is that the man is trying to stand. And he's not steady on his feet. So that means that the boat is rocking and there's the potential for the man to just up and fall out of it. ]

Cut it out. You're going to fall and then you'll really be sorry.

🌩️ Wildcard

[ My plotting comment can be found here! If you'd like to do something with Cloud then by all means go ahead and hit me up. I'm happy to write closed starters or just go with something you feel like throwing at me. Also would be happy to do the headless pumpkin if anyone is interested. Otherwise, Cloud will be avoiding ships as much as possible. So he can be found loitering around on any of the leviathans. ]

Comments

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack takes the drink and takes the last sip. The warmth and sugar warm his throat. And it makes him smile at Cloud.]

Hey... I can safely say you're one of the only people I managed to do right by, so.

[...]

Thanks for letting me be a hero.

[Even if it cost Zack his life.]

[makoglow]

One of the only people... No, I don't think so.

[ Zack has touched a lot of lives - whether he realizes it or not. Just that small bit of impact can be enough sometimes. Can do a lot to change someone's outlook or path. ]

Zack...

[ Cost him his life. Yeah, Cloud knows that. Remembers it and wishes it had been different. ]

How can you thank me? Because of me you...

[activatingcombatmode]

Cloud...

[He knows there is a lot in the small words that Cloud says. So, for a second he just shifts and ... opens his arms.]

Come here a sec.

[makoglow]

[ There's a lot that he wants to say. A lot that he doesn't say in those words. And Zack seems to already know some of it.

And how can he not just. Walk into those open arms? ]

[activatingcombatmode]

[There are a lot of profound feelings that Zack feels for Cloud. Things that have kept him going for years. Things that got him through the roughest part of his entire life. The painful things, the fuck ups, the what ifs... It all made sense so long as Cloud made sense.

He wraps his arms around the blond and hugs him close. Close enough that there's not a single gap between them, just wrapping Cloud up like he used to do when Cloud couldn't even keep his eyes open.]

It's alright.

[He doesn't want Cloud to blame himself for anything. He doesn't want Cloud to think anything Zack did was his fault. Zack made his choice for a reason.]

It's alright because it's you. Okay. Don't say sorry.

[makoglow]

[ Zack is the touchy person. The one that likes physical contact. That initiates it. And honestly? That's fine by Cloud. He's never really been big on doing the same back. Always awkward and easily embarrassed.

But not this time. This time he latches onto his taller friend. Now Cloud knows that it's not really his fault. Zack made a choice and Cloud isn't to blame for the fate of Zack or Aerith. Cloud has to let that go and forgive himself. He knows that but - ]

It's not all right. [ Because neither one of them deserve what happened to them. What it resulted in. ] I've done my best but...

[ It's just... ]

You could have handled it all better. Been better.

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack frowns for a moment. He lets himself sag just slightly while still hugging Cloud as close as he needs to right now. Whatever Cloud wants to say to him, he'll accept it.]

Yeah. I know.

[Zack did what he could. Fuck, did he try everything. But maybe it wasn't enough.]

[makoglow]

[ Cloud doesn't really know what's gotten into him. Some of those thoughts have been in the past. Things that he had thought but never spoken out loud all those nights he had spent at the church rather than the room he has at Tifa's bar. Survivor's guilt and his inability to save others. Where he had blamed himself for what had happened to Zack and Aerith both.

And he has grown beyond it. A little. He doesn't beat himself up over it as much now. But it is a process and now that Zack is here. He is HERE and warm and solid. Holding the blonde as tightly as he is latching onto Zack in return...

It's all kind of slipping out. To one of the people that Cloud just can't seem to keep it together around. ]

Two years. I spent two years blaming myself for not being strong enough. Not strong enough to get us out of the reactor. For not being able to help you.

[ And he knows that Zack will probably lecture him a bit for that. Tell him that it's not his fault and that there's no reason for Cloud to hold onto things like that. And he knows. Cloud knows that but he still feels that need to say it - ]

So this time around, I'm going to watch out for you too.

[activatingcombatmode]

[And he absolutely wants to shoot back that all the things going through Cloud's head are all circumstances. Everything that happened to them- It was Zack's responsibility to keep Cloud and everyone in Nibelheim safe. He was supposed to help Tifa and her dad. He was supposed to be able to stop Sephiroth. And he couldn't.

It weighs heavily on his shoulders.

But maybe this time... In the light of the sun setting and the heaviness of the latte they shared... He'll let Cloud say that. This time.]

This time around.

[He sighs and hugs Cloud firmly. Like it's a reminder that Zack is alive and here.]

Then, this time around, watch my back.

[makoglow]

[ Part of him wants to know what Zack thought of it all. Everything that they had been through. What had been the thoughts that had went through his mind when he had made those sacrifices. Had Zack really had anyone? Cloud feels like he has and that, over all, is what had helped him more than anything. Cloud wouldn't have been able to accomplish anything without the people around him.

Cloud's hug tightens as well. Fingers dig into the fabric of Zack's shirt. It's fine. Because he'll be that person. He'll be someone that his friend can rely on here. ]

I was gonna. Even if you told me not to.

[activatingcombatmode]

[If Cloud is ready to ask those sorts of questions then Zack would probably tell him. But he's not the type to bring it up first, more than ready to leave the darker memories out of his brain and to keep those thoughts out of Cloud's too.

But he still hugs Cloud tightly. Like all of the shit they went through was something that happened but they are here. And alive.

He's got Cloud now.]

Yeah, you've grown into a brat like that. [He smiles into Cloud's hair.] Not that I mind. That protectiveness suits you.

[makoglow]

[ The problem here is that he doesn't know if it is okay to ask those questions. How much does Zack know. How much doesn't he know? What parts are okay to talk about and what ones aren't...

But no matter what there is this one truth - that they have one another. Make up for the time that they didn't get to have. For the time that they lost in those years in those tanks. ]

Had a good example to follow. Just not all sunshine and smiles like you though. I don't know how you do that.

[activatingcombatmode]

[It's ... bittersweet. Zack lets out a small laugh that rumbles in his chest that Cloud might be able to feel.]

I'd argue you're a different sort of shine. Let's see your smile right now.

[He gives Cloud a little nudge to let go enough to look at Zack.]

[makoglow]

[ He does feel it. The chuckle radiates warmth that he is ashamed to have forgotten. A warmth that made him feel welcomed and accepted. Cloud's heard that laughter so many times and the absence of it in his present life is now more obvious than ever.

Cloud wants to protect that laugh.

But he's sort of taken by surprise by the comment. To smile. Zack giving him that slight shove only means that he's been met with a confused expression. ]

I can't just smile on command, Zack.

[activatingcombatmode]

Sure you can.

[Zack observes Cloud's face with a smile of his own almost like he's demonstrating. There were so many times that Zack held onto Cloud and wondered when he would see Cloud's smile again. So... Maybe he's being a tad selfish right now. But he's here for this.]

Give it a try. Or will you smile if I tell you that I'm so damn proud of you and that I'm the luckiest guy in the world to be able to see you again? To see you figuring yourself out and moving forward even after everything we went through?

1/2

[makoglow]

Zack...

[ See, he is going to try to wiggle free now. Try not to look at Zack because there might be some embarrassment. A little pink in the face from it too. It's like he's attempting to make an escape.

There's no need to say all of these things? Why - ]

[makoglow]

[ Zack is so ridiculous. Extremely so.

By turning away, he's hoping to hide the smile that Zack is managing to get out of him. ]

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack lets Cloud push and step away and turn to hide. But he doesn't let Cloud get too far away. Instead bending just enough so he can reach out and touch his hand to Cloud's cheek, his thumb just barely brushing up against Cloud's lower lip.]

Come on, let's see. I know you've got it.

[makoglow]

[ Well it's not like he thought that Zack would really let him get too far. Especially not when Cloud isn't actually mad - so yeah he knows that his friend is going to pull him back some way.

It's just - he doesn't expect the method. The hand to his cheek, that is. It's not pinching or grabbing. Instead, Zack is gentle. That touch is barely there but oh is Cloud hyper aware of it.

What is he supposed to be doing again? Because any quip he had is kind of lost. ]

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack gently tugs Cloud to look at him and...

And???

... Where's the cute smile?? But the sort of surprised look on Cloud's face is a pretty decent face too. Zack waits a moment more before putting both hands on Cloud's cheeks.]

Cloud? You there?

[makoglow]

[ Thankfully, Zack putting hands on his cheeks helps. The distraction of pressure against his lip disappears and brings with it a bit of clarity. ]

Uh. Yeah. Yeah.

[ Might be trying to, like, look off to the side. ]

[activatingcombatmode]

[Zack grins.]

Yeah? So... Where's the smile?

[And he'll give those cheeks just a little squish.]

[makoglow]

...You're. Not going to let go until I do, huh?

[ He's all squish right now. Huff. Huff. ]

[activatingcombatmode]

Nope.

[Zack's grinning. He's not letting go. Come on, give him the goods.]

[makoglow]

[ Cloud is going to be stubborn for a couple more minutes yet. He won't try to get away, but he's not going to actively do anything to actually smile either.

Mostly because he is trying to work out HOW to. How do the muscles work on command like that? Cloud doesn't know!

But slowly... Something tries to grin? It's small. Barely there. But still... ]