Lean On Me (FF7)

9

"We sound like a bunch of middle schoolers arguing over crushes or something."

"No, it's stupid because..."

I roll my eyes and walk away. This is ridiculous. Just because I saved my friend's life and she took what I said wrong, doesn't mean I'm interested in anyone like that. That'd just be weird.

"Yo Cloud, where's the box of materia?"

"How am I supposed to know?" I laugh at Barret, who is completely oblivious to Yuffie running out if the room, the chest tucked under her arm. He sighs and continues searching. I turn on my heel and silently follow the small girl. She turns into the chocobo room and stuffs to box under the hay.

"So that's where you keep it," I smile, leaning against the door frame.

"Holy poo!" she shrieks, jumping. "You scared me!"

"Why are you stashing it anyway?" I push off and poke at the haystack.

"Hey, hands off!" she swats my hand away. "And because right when I get the stuff high leveled, someone comes in and takes it."

"It's all of ours," I point out. "Don't you know how to share?" I tease her. She rolls her eyes

"Of course I know how to share," she scoffs. "Don't lecture me, mom."

"I am clearly not a woman," I pretend to my offended as I move my arms up and down around my body.

"Clearly isn't the word for it," Yuffie giggles.

"Yeah, okay" I scoff, crossing my arms and blocking the doorway.

"Hey, let me out!" she squeaks, trying to push past me. I shake my head.

"Not until you admit I am the prettiest man alive."

"Um, no thanks," she raises an eyebrow, trying to get by me still.

"Then no entry," I shake my head. I guess hanging out with Yuffie can be pretty fun. She's a few years younger than me, so on easy days, we can mess around and be kids again. Not that we grew up together, but I guess it takes my mind off things.

"Fine," she sighs, exasperated. "Cloud, you are the prettiest man alive. Happy?"

"No, you have to scream that I am the prettiest man alive to the whole world," I tease. This is cracking me up.

"CLOUD STRIFE IS THE PRETTIEST MAN ALIVE, EVERYBODY!" she yells over my shoulder. "There, happy?" she raises an eyebrow at me.

"Good enough," I tease.

"You owe me," she rolls her eyes and ignores the stare she gets from Cid, who walked down the hall when he heard her yelling.

"Um... That was odd.." Cid shakes his head.

"Kids these days, right?" I tease.

"Totally," he nods, pulling out a small map from his back pocket. "But on a more serious note, we've located Sephiroth."

"Really? Where?" I walk over to his side and look at his map.

"A shop keeper in Kalm just reported a tall man with long gray hair to us. Dressed in black, super long sword thing, mean looking."

"How did he get there that fast," I frown, confused.

"We also got a report that one of the old Shinra aircrafts was taken."

"Are you sure they're not reporting you super late?"

"Positive, they couldn't care less about this old thing."

"So, let's go then!" I begin to walk to the cockpit.

"The thing is," Cid sighs, making me stop. "You can't come. Barret's orders."

"What!?" I yell, spinning to look at him.

"Your little break downs I guess..."

But I'm already gone, taking long, angry strides toward to cockpit.

"Barret!" I yell, getting the attention if everyone, including the man I want to see. "What the heck!?"

"Cloud, we can't have one of yo little control issue things happen in the middle of the fight."

"You won't have to!" I yell.

"Listen, Cloud..."

"I'm the best chance you've got!" I yell in his face, ignoring all the looks I'm getting. I don't even know why I'm this mad, I guess I've just been bottling it up.

"No, you're not! In case you haven't noticed, you've been away for three years, and we've been protecting the city. You're probably already rusty at your fighting skills," he shoots back.

"What do you think I was doing all those years!" I shout, picking him up by his collar and slamming him against the wall. Since when can I carry this dude so easily?

"Moping about your dead girlfriend," he glares at me. "Which you couldn't save because you were too busy moping about your life."

"Cloud don't!" Tifa screams but I've already connected my fist to his jaw.

"For your information, Barret," I growl, picking him back up from off the floor. "I was living out in the real world, where there is no happy ending or peace."

I kick him on the stomach and he winces, not bothering to fight back.

"I fought for my life out there everyday! Don't you think I realize how weak I can be or how much my life sucks?! I struggle through it everyday! Don't rub it my face!" I push him down again before stepping back, satisfied and breathing heavily. He looks up, his nose bleeding and a bruise on his jaw.

"This is why we're not taking you," he spits before shoving me over and leaving the room.

OOO! CLOUD AND BARRET GOT IN A FIGHT! NOW I HAVE THAT P!NK SONG STUCK ON MY HEAD... WHATEVER. VOTE BECAUSE YOU LOVE ME! OR CLOUD, WHATEVER. I STILL NEED WHO YOU GUYS SHIP! PLEASE!