Revive

Alone

Orphans.

Cloud always felt two ways about them. He felt sorry for them for losing their parents, but he was jealous of them. He's heard different stories about how children became orphans; parents left them or they died from diseases. Sometimes Cloud forgot that he was an orphan and he hated being in a different category from everyone else. The poor boy whose parents died an accidental death.

Cloud hasn't had that dream in ages. He really couldn't.

Just two weeks ago, he defeated Sephiroth, so of course he didn't have time to think about his past. But now, with his injuries holding him back, all he has ever done is sleep, eat and complain.

Cloud felt like a baby.

Poor Tifa. When the 7th Heaven opened again, she been working full time and she also had to make sure Denzel and Marlene were off her back, not to mention she also decided to help with the massive clean up around town after Sephiroth was destroyed. And now she has to help Cloud heal faster.

The door of the room opened just a crack, but Cloud could see Tifa's dark eyes.

"Morning, Cloud," she called when she saw that he was awake. "I made pancakes. I got you a plate before Denzel and Marlene wolfed the rest down."

When Tifa laughed, Cloud always wanted to join her but he'd be in pain by the end. When Tifa noticed that he was feeling the stings of the wounds, she would do nothing else but be in his aid.

"Cloud," she whispered. She placed down the pancakes on his bedside and knelt down in front of him. She reached out to cradle his face in her hand but Cloud pushed her away. He hated looking into her eyes. It was like a trap, one that you quickly get seduced by before she forces the truth from you. And that's all that Tifa wanted from everyone.

"Cloud," she repeated, a bit louder. And firmer. "Your wounds aren't the only thing troubling you,"

He just turns to the side, avoiding eye contact. Tifa mumbled something that Cloud ignored.

"If you're not gonna talk to me, why do I waste my time caring for you? I have other things to deal with, so I'll go do things which I'm good at and you stay here and mope and push people away because that what you're good at!"

A second later, the door slammed, causing the plate of pancakes to shake.

"Idiot," Cloud cursed himself. He hated making Tifa angry, and he caught her in a bad mood. He just didn't want her in his own share of problems. But she does work hard and he felt weak so now he had to start trying.

Cloud pulled the thin covers off and turned to the side of his bed. He took a breath as he stood on the cold timber floor. He was staring at Tifa's neatly made bed and itched his eyes to the door.

Cloud mentally counted how many steps he had to take to grab his trousers and t-shirt, but as soon as his stood up again, a sharp sting struck his lower back and he stumbled to the ground. He swore under his breath as he started to rise. He felt so weak and it tortured Cloud. To everyone who knew him, he was thought as a tough hero who could take any blow, but now he's being babied over like he can't even talk. But he refused to crawl back into bed like a loser.

Cloud held on to the drawers to support himself and reached for the door knob, reacting with a satisfied grunt when he heard the click.

As Cloud limped down the stairs, several conversations, arguments and clattering dishes rang in his ears. As soon as he landed on the bottom, he saw Tifa's head jolt up in surprise.

"Cloud you're up," she strode towards him holding a heavily stacked tray of food. Sausages, fried egg, pancakes and waffles. It made Cloud drool.

Tifa gave him a small, apologetic smile. Cloud nodded in response and Tifa turned away, ready to serve a young man who was studying a newspaper. Cloud continued to stumble into his office.

The office was a mess. Cloud hasn't been keeping up with the orders that were given to him. In fact, he's almost forgotten about the Strife Delivery Service. Many orders that he has scribbled on a note pad are now torn and scrumpled into balls. The floor was fairly clean except for the occasional sticky note stuck to the ground. And his bin was overflowing with trash. The room was dim, the way Cloud likes it. The window's blinds were tattered and scratched with dust, that it almost made the room pitch black.

When the door squeaked, Tifa appeared, staring in interest as Cloud sorted through old notes. Cloud smiles as she slid next to him to sort through the mess.

"I'm looking for a job," he mutters after several minutes.

Tifa almost choked on the stale air in the room, but she was surprised at Cloud's comment. "You're injured. You can't go out, now!"

Cloud didn't even hear her, but if he did, she'd be right. The stab wounds have barely healed - not mention have clotted. The gun shot didn't make it any better. Cloud's chest was in pain every time he moved. But he was stubborn. And Tifa knew it.

She sighed and sorted through the expired orders, looking at Cloud puzzled.
"I got a call from a customer," Tifa said, waiting for a reaction. "Her name is Greta," she added when he said nothing.

"She sounds old," Cloud said. He gave up on the papers and slouched down on the office chair.

"She is," Tifa admitted. "She said she needed a bucket load of elixir. Probably enough to help twelve people in a group."

Cloud rose an eyebrow at that. "Do you know why?"

"I don't know, but she sounded desperate..."

Cloud stood up. "Where is she?"

"Midgar," Tifa said, concerned.

"Alright. I'll be back by tonight,"

Tifa grabbed his arm to stop him from heading out the door. "Are you crazy?! You are not fit to go deliver this. You can't even go down the stairs!"

Cloud just looked back at Tifa and stretched his hand for the knob.

"Let me come with you," she whispered. "You can't protect yourself in this condition and you know that,"

Cloud grunts in annoyance, then looks to smile at Tifa. "Fine,"

The door slams open. As it does it whacks Cloud in the nose making him stumble, but since he can't hold himself, he falls with a big thud on his back. Marlene and Denzel rush into the room, helping Cloud up when they realize their mistake.

"Sorry, Cloud, " Marlene says when she helps him sit up. "Denzel and I were just excited because you said we were going out,"

Cloud's eyes widen then instantly frowned. "No, no. I said nothing about you coming along. You're staying here."

Marlene was disappointed at the news but Denzel stood up. "How can you leave us alone? There's no one to take care of us and we don't know how to cook," he responded.

Cloud mentally cursed himself. He looked at Tifa for support but was defeated when she smiled at the fact that they were right.

"Alright then, everyone," she announced. "Let's get ready for the family trip."

The kids started screaming in joy as the left the office to get their shoes.

So much for being alone. Cloud thought. But the he realized that he has been alone for most of his life. So alone.