A Good Other

Cloud Strife

CLOUD

Tifa Lockhart / Boss Lady

ㅡ Hey [Name], I just wanted to let you know that your paycheck is in.

You blinked a couple of times making sure that you were reading the text message correctly while brushing your teeth.  Honestly you thought that you picked up the said paycheck a couple of days ago when you were working. Shrugging your shoulders, it wasn't like you had a list of things to do today. It was mostly going to be a whatever came to you sort of day.

That's what you considered to be a '[Name]' day.

Stumbling out of the apartment complex ten minutes later, you glanced up to the sky to find a pretty blue staring back down. A couple of puffs of clouds in sight, but it appeared to be a normal day. You stood there underneath the partial gaze of the sun and shade of a tree near by.

Normal, you gave a small huff-chuckle as you began to walk toward the station. Right because being normal was fun and exciting. The subway was quiet, not that you really cared whether or not it was going to be crowded like you usually were.

Things were changing, you were changing.

Like usual, the subway was humid and it felt sticky more than ever. As you stood there waiting for the subway train, you couldn't help but flicker between both ends of the tunnel. Of all places, this seemed like a prime place for Heartless to poke out of.

That night was still in the back of your head, even if you wanted to ignore it. Those creatures were horrendous, something out of a nightmare.  But at the same time, after reading the manuscript of Xehanort's, things did make sense to you. In the back of your head was that terrible nagging feeling that you knew you'd never be able to shake until you figured out what happened.

When the cart came around, you were ecstatic as light filled up the waiting stations. Not too many people were on board, couple of university students from what you noticed ㄧ the university gear gave them away.

You did notice a few high school students, or at least that's what you assumed for them to be. You were growing more accustomed to taking the subway, rather standing instead of sitting down just to get right back up again.

The mall was decent, nothing appeared to be out of place and the foot traffic looked like it was the typical early afternoon rush of people. Yet again further down one you could hear heavy and loud music being played, the same two voices were arguing over the said music. You assumed it was the tattoo shop owner and the store neighbor.

Shaking your head you smiled though before walking into Seventh Heaven to see that it was a little busier than you were expecting it to be. However it was Yuffie's voice that stuck out the most amongst the crowded venue.

"[Naaaaameee]!" The short black haired girl wedged herself between a couple to rush over to you, her hands falling heavily onto your shoulders. "Tifahadtogogetmorethings! Ineedhalp!"

Rapidly blinking those [colour] eyes, it was difficult to understand exactly what Yuffie was trying to say. "W-Wait, Yuff!" When someone began to sound demanding about their drink orders that's when the younger adult ran off to fulfill that order.

Deciphering whatever Yuffie said, you simply shook your head and sighed. "Welp, here we go."

The rush in the bar was rather long in your opinion ㄧIt was almost two hours until Tifa returned to find you sitting at the bar with your forehead pressed against the cool wood. Yuffie was doing almost the same thing, though she had her head stuck into the cooler behind the bar top.

The rush was over and barely anyone else was in the bar except for some casual regulars who were content and didn't want to bother either you or Yuffie. Hell, even Sora was sitting in the corner by the kitchen door trying to fan himself with a plastic menu.

"Busy afternoon?"

Turning your head to one side you saw that one male in your life that made you a little nervous. You didn't want to admit it to anyone because you just realized how nervous you were beginning to feel. It was strange, before this moment he couldn't make you feel that way.

It was Cloud.

His baby blue eyes watched you as he took a seat right next to you at the bar while Tifa was trying to convince Yuffie to pull her head from the cooler. You didn't even realize that he walked in with your boss.

Sighing loudly you pushed yourself off the bar top to lean against the back of the barstool. "You have no idea, I was here to pick up my check when Yuffie pulled me into work."

That's when Tifa paused to look at you curiously. "I didn't text you though... checks aren't ready until the end of the week. I hadㄧ"

That's when all eyes landed on Yuffie who finally decided to look up to all three pairs of eyes. "Oh well um! I'll be right back!" You watched the now revitalized woman bounce to the single use bathroom.

"... left my phone with Yuffie." Tifa finished, rubbing the back of her neck. "I'm so sorry [Name].."

Dumbfounded you stared after your co worker. That's when Cloud released a genuine laugh, one that you didn't even notice that made Tifa surprised. "How about I buy you lunch?"

Turning your head to look at the blond you were still had the dumbfound look on your face. "OㄧOh, yㄧyeah sure."

Tifa smiled watching the two of you in front of her, from the way Cloud chuckled and you appearing even more surprised.

What did people call it? Ah yes, her OTP.