Secret Santa

Secret Santa 2015 - for OnceUponThisTime (Part 3/3)

Modern!AU Cloud/Reader

It was Christmas Eve, and you were still out getting presents. The mall was even more crowded then you imagined, with huge herds of people shuffling in and out of stores. You and Cloud were doing your best to weave through them, but the people were absorbed in their own shopping and it was hard to maneuver through them without running into someone.

"Did you really have to wait until now to get presents for everyone?" he asked

"Well, I only really need the ones for Marlene and Barret because I just found out that they were coming – Cloud?" You turned your head to look back at him, and he was gone? Panic was starting to rise up in your chest and you could feel your face getting hot. If you lost your very quiet friend in this extremely crowded mall, it was possible that you'd never find him (and also he was your ride home).

You immediately turned around and started walking back in the direction that you had come from – maybe he had gotten distracted somewhere back there? You stopped back in the last few stores that you had gone to together. You questioned the sales associates, repeating the same spiel a few times.

"Excuse me, have you seen my friend? He's about this tall-" you gestured with your hand to his approximate height. "-and he's got this spiky blond hair, like-" and you gestured again, this time a few inches off of your head to get the hairstyle across, "-and he probably looks kind of lost?"

Unfortunately, the last time any of them had seen anyone like Cloud was when he was with you.

Maybe someone could page him? Would he even be able to hear it in a mall as loud and crowded as this one?

As you pondered what to do, the crowds of people streamed around you while you stood still. You moved to the side as much as you could, but you were definitely still in the way.

You heard someone calling your name, and when you turned around, you saw Cloud standing a few store window-lengths behind you. You could feel your face light up; you were so happy that you found him again. He caught up with you, looking exasperated.

"Cloud, I've been looking everywhere for you! Well, except for where you actually were, I guess," you said, chuckling a little bit.

Cloud just sighed and took your hand in his. You were a little surprised at his forwardness, but he just patted your hand and said, "I've walked all over this damn mall to find you, and I'm not losing you again."

"What-?"

"Come on, the stores are gonna start closing soon, [Name]."

---

Okay, that's what I came up with! I'm sorry that I didn't write anything for Leon, I couldn't seem to keep him in character :/

But I hope that the other ones are all okay and everyone is enough in character in those ones!

I hope that you had a Merry Chrismas and will have a Happy New Year~!~!