Cloud Strife x Reader - You're Wonderful

Chapter 19

You hadn't exactly coped particularly 'well' with the news presented to you yesterday, Tifa was the only person who was most like herself but it hit you all pretty hard.

The weather was appalling, rain was hammering down onto the pavement slabs forming puddles quickly. You were currently staring at the falling water while sitting outside under the shelter of the porch. Every now and then water would flick up and land on you somewhere, but you didn't mind. The cold feeling of it in you skin kept you awake - in reality.

"(Y/n)?", you looked up to your right and over your shoulder to see Tifa standing in the doorway. "Why don't you come inside? It's cold out here and we can't have getting ill can we?" She always tried to say things in a cheery way but it had no effect on how you were feeling.

"Don't worry.. I'm fine. I'm waiting."

"Waiting? For who?"

"Cloud", you looked back out at the rain. After you had fallen asleep the night before, Cloud apparently left without a word to where he was going. In you're grief you'd forgotten how much Zack's death would've hurt Cloud, they were so close. They were basically brothers.

"(Y/n), you can't just sit out here and wait for him. He'll be gone for god knows how long, he might be back tonight but he might not come back for a few days, weeks even. You know how he is..."

"I know" They were the only two words that you could conjure up. You just didn't have the motivation to speak like that at that moment and Tifa obviously caught onto your mood as she took her umbrella out and dismissed herself with a small bag saying she would be away for a few days as she was staying with Aerith.

And with that you were alone.

You usually loved the freedom of being by yourself but this time, to be completely honest, it scared you. You could hear every little sound from all around you, it made you feel small compared to everyone else.

After about three more hours of sitting on the cold, hard floor outside you decided to get up and go inside and go to bed.
_________________
"(Y/n)! (Y/N)!!"

You woke up with a start to being rather violently shaken by a concerned Cloud. "Thank god you finally woke up..." He sighed in relief as he let your shoulders go, "I was trying for about three minutes"

"I'm sorry... But.. Why were you trying to wake me up?" You asked as you sat up.

"You were yelling and practically screaming. It sounded like you were in pain."

"Oh... I'm sorry Cloud. Did I wake you up?"

"No, I haven't gone to bed yet..."

You looked over at your alarm clock to see that it was 3:00 am and you rubbed your eyes a little. They stung from the amount of crying you'd done recently.

You looked back over at your blonde boyfriend and you could tell that he was hurting too.  You felt selfish in a way because all you were doing was crying over Zack's passing and you forgot about how much Cloud would've been affected by it.

"Lay with me?" You asked quietly and he obliged getting into the other side of your bed. You laid your head down onto your pillow and faced him taking in his facial features that you could make out in the dim lighting.

You reached your hand out and placed it on his soft cheek, "It's ok to cry y'know..." You heard his breath hitch it his throat and you decided to continue with what you were saying.

"I know you don't like to show much emotion around other people like this but... But it's not good to keep it bottled up inside. I know how much this is affecting you, I can see it, feel it even. I know you're strong Cloud but, sometimes you can be strong for too long and it isn't good for you. So please, please let it out, if not for me then for Zack."

He stared at you, his mind completely stopped by your little speech, and a single tear escaped his eye and rolled down his face. You finally broke down his wall completely. He was showing you all his caged up emotions and you were thankful for it.

You moved yourself closer to him and pulled his head into your chest. You stroked his hair in a comforting manner  and continued to do so even after he'd finished crying.

Cloud's breathing had calmed from being erratic to slightly wobbly at times but, overall it was steady. He then moved and wrapped his arms around you, placing his head above your's.

"Thank you (y/n)" he murmured into your hair.

"Anything for you Cloud."

"I love you so much. I'll always be with you, even when I'm not here physically, I'll be in your heart."

"Cloud... I love you too sweetie. Forever."

He leant down a little to give you a long loving kiss and then hugged you tightly until you were both sound asleep.
_________________________________