Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cloud had come to terms with the constant refusal. Year after year he tries only to be denied. But his recent letter told him something new.

High mako intolerance.

He stares at the paper, swallowing past the lump in his throat. Well, now he had a reason as to why he was being rejected instead of the normal speech of ‘sorry but no’. He couldn’t go back to Nibelheim and admit to his mama, who supported him the entire time, that he failed to do what he set out for.

Cloud knows he would need to talk to his mother, there was no way he could hide it from her. But to return home… he couldn’t. His contract for the infantry was almost up- a 5 year contract. If he wanted to, he could sign on for another 5. But he was tired. Every year he tried for Soldier, and every year he was denied.

The mental stress was starting to get to him…

“Sorry, Strife.” Someone pats him on the back and he looks up, finding his bunkmate Leo standing over him with a somber expression. “Guess they finally cut you off, huh?”

“Yeah… they did.”

Leo sighs and sits beside him, staring at his own letter. While Cloud knows it read of his success into the program, he could tell Leo was apprehensive now.

“Can’t believe I’m gonna be leaving your dumbass alone down here.”

A sharp snort escapes his nose and Cloud digs his elbow into Leo’s ribs.

“More like I won’t be around to keep your dumbass out of trouble.” Cloud grins when the other shoves his shoulder, clapping his hand onto Leo’s back. “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself. Might finally take a break for once…”

“Are you done sounding depressing?”

They look up and find someone dangling their head over the top bunk. Ashe had joined the infantry 2 years prior at 16, a little spitfire from the Slums, and clung to Leo the first week and that soon bled over to Cloud. Leo reaches up, poking the teen’s face and snickers when Ashe scowls and tries to smack his hand.

“You have no tact, kiddo.” Leo scolds lightly.

“And you’re acting like the world is ending.”

Cloud sighs as Ashe slips from the top bunk, moving to let him sit on his opposite side. Leo and Ashe sandwich him in and he finally folds the letter back up, tucking it under his pillow to be forgotten for now. He lets his two friends drag him up and out of the barracks. For the rest of the day, Cloud thinks of the alternatives he could do.

The obvious is to go back home and he already pushes that onto the back burner. He knew his mama would let him come back, but Ashe and Leo would drag him back kicking and screaming. The other was to continue his contract here and move up in the infantry, but never reach Soldier. The last was to leave Shinra, but stay in Midgar.

And the last one was looking far too tempting.

Chapter Text

The apartment is small, but perfect for him. A bedroom, an open kitchen connected to the living room, and a view of the theater. He collapses on the couch once he puts away the last of his things, miniscule as they were, and just stares at the ceiling. The past month had been a blur for him.

His resignation from the infantry (a lot more paperwork than he expected), slipping his address to the few friends he made, and looking for work around Sector 8. He patrolled it often enough to know each tiny shop and places for work. A few places stuck out in his mind and he rolls the ideas around as he stands back up, moving to his tiny kitchen.

As he looks over the small amount of groceries he had placed on the tiny kitchen island, he thinks of the market only a train ride away. It was like a farmer’s market and most of the people were nice but he knew it didn’t go on all year- and while Wall Market was full of bustling businesses he quickly shut that idea down as well.

There was the bookstore on the other side of Sector 8, but he doesn’t know if the slower flow of business would keep his brain stimulated enough. He glances over at the small collection of books he brought from Nibelheim. He would definitely pay the bookstore a visit to expand his library and hopefully fill the empty shelves.

The last idea dances front and foremost once the others get cast aside. A café he would stop by at the end of his patrols called The Chocobo Stop, popular amongst the civilians and Shinra alike. It was a warm looking place, and the people behind the counter were friendly. The fast pace would keep him stimulated and busy enough.

Cloud turns around and looks around his near empty apartment. It wasn’t home yet, and probably wouldn’t be for a while. But with this new start and hopefully new job, he could slowly build a steady foundation for a fortress he could call home. A tiny smile appears on his face. Home.

Nibelheim had always been his home, and he never felt like Shinra would be that either- but here in this tiny apartment on Loveless Ave… he could see it happening. The familiar chime of his PHS cuts off his warm fuzzy thoughts and he huffs, slinking over to where he left the device. It chimes again, buzzing against the coffee table.

He clicks it on and sees two messages, one from Leo and the other from Ashe.

Ashe: Istg sunshine, if you don’t let me know when we can come crash I will break in.

The blonde wheezes at the mental image of 5’3 Ashe trying to slip into his window on the 3rd floor or even break down his door and manage to succeed. Leo would either stop him or find a way to help that wouldn’t reveal his part in it. Cloud switches to Leo’s message.

Leo: You settled in yet?

He snorts.

Cloud: Yes you can come over.

Leo: Thank Gaia, Ashe has been hounding me about seeing your new place.

Leo: He wants to do a movie night the first night.

Cloud: Just let me know when you’re here so I can hide my stash of hard cider before Ashe gets to it.

Leo: Noted. We’ll be there in like, 20 minutes. Maybe longer cause Ashe saw some of the Thirds sparring and was drooling over them.

Cloud: I’ll see you in an hour then.

Leo: It’ll take more to drag him away from the tower.

Cloud shakes his head fondly and puts his PHS down, already missing the back and forth between the three of them. He can only imagine what trouble Ashe would try to get into without him there. Leo would no doubt keep him updated. The thought makes a smile slowly creep onto his face.

Moving around the living room again, he picks up empty boxes and shoves them into the tiny closet next to his bedroom. He could take care of them later. It was only another 15 minutes before Leo texted him of their arrival and another 5 for a rapid knocking to ring out.

He quickly moves to open the front door and briefly sees Ashe standing there, breathing heavily as if he ran a mile. Ashe rushes in past him, immediately diving around the corner right as Leo skids to a stop in front of the door. Cloud blinks at him, then steps to the side to let Leo inside.

The brunette grins and darts past, a delayed shriek being heard as Leo no doubt finds Ashe hiding somewhere. Cloud enters the living room and stops at the doorway, already laughing as he sees Leo holding Ashe in a headlock on the couch.

“Sunshine help me- mercy!” Ashe yelps, legs kicking the cushions. “Get this guy off me!”

“I dunno, it’s hard to get you to sit still. Maybe this will help you chill out.” Cloud hums, arms crossing as he plays up a thoughtful look.

“CLOUD!”

Leo finally relents and the trio all crowd onto the lumpy couch, surrounding the laptop Ashe had brought. Leo raided his cabinets to find snacks, which now litter the coffee table and the couch around them, and attempted to hoard most of the popcorn from the other two.

Cloud dragged his blankets from his room to curl around the three of them. Like they used to in the barracks during their movie nights. Ashe, of course, demanded to have first pick. Cloud and Leo groan when the youngest picks a cheesy horror movie.

“Can’t you ever pick something good?” Cloud teases, getting a bony elbow to the thigh.

“Could say the same about your interior design.”

“Shush.” Leo huffs, throwing a kernel at Ashe.

They didn’t make it through that movie and quickly switched to an action film. Not that they paid it much mind.

“Have you found a new job yet?” Leo asks around his drink, eyes locked onto the laptop.

Cloud hums: “I’ve found a few options. Not a lot of interesting things, but I’ll find something.”

“I know you’ll find something good. You’re smart as hell and know what you need.” Ashe mutters, almost muffled by his hand as he rests his chin on it.

“A break is what I need.”

“Heard that.”

They fall silent again, a more intense scene coming on and catching their attention. When the credits roll, Cloud jumps at the opportunity and puts on a movie he made his favorite after seeing it for the first time. A witch’s curse, a hopping scarecrow with a turnip head, handsome warlocks and a girl who felt insecure.

It had even Leo, who wasn’t one for animated movies, watching intently. They make it through that and then one final movie before Cloud notices himself starting to drift. He yawns and shifts on the cushions, nudging Ashe when the teen doesn’t move. Leo has to drag a sleepy Ashe from the couch to make it back to the barracks before curfew.

It wouldn’t be hard to sneak back in, but it would be a bitch if caught. Cloud sends them off with a tired smile and the promise of doing this next weekend, before he drifts off to his room. Comfy pajamas and warm, soft blankets that had a few drops of soda staining them cradle him as he lays down and stares over his head.

Today was tiring- from unpacking everything and hanging out with his friends, so he finally lets himself relax. Muscles go lax, his brain muddling as his eyes close and he turns onto his side. Cloud curls around one of his pillows, burying his face into the soft pillowcase. While exhausted… he felt happy.

That warm fuzzy feeling sticks with him as he falls asleep, a tiny smile on his face.