(Cloud Strife x Reader x Rufus Shinra) A Bolt from the Blue

Chapter 12 - New mission

You return to Seventh Heaven just in time as Tifa enters not long after, so no suspicion arises as it looks like you had just come downstairs. Tifa brightly chats away to you. The girls are planning to go out for lunch and there is going to be an Avalanche meeting later that evening.

You respond as minimally as possible to not draw suspicion that your thoughts are still fully occupied reliving last night and those moments from only a few hours ago in Cloud's arms. Tifa would freak if she found out and you hid your guilty expression from her by busing yourself around the bar.

Lunch comes round quickly. You, Tifa, Aerith and Jessie decide to buy a simple lunch from a vending machine and take the food to a picnic bench next to the children's play area. Again, you have to consciously suppress the wistful memory of Cloud ruffling your hair on the swings at the end of that day with the chocobos.

The four of you settle in and the conversation starts by discussing what each of you thought the Avalanche meeting later is going to be about. However, at the mention of Cloud's name the conversation turns to him.

"Has Cloud been working out? His arms look like they're more cut than usual." Jessie giggles.

"Not sure about his arms," Aerith chimes in. "But I'm pretty sure something has changed about him over the past few weeks."

"What do you mean?" Tifa asks attentively, ruby eyes wide.

Your ears prick up too at the sound of Cloud's name but you feign disinterest, channelling your inner Cloud. He would be proud, you think to yourself amused.

"Well," Aerith continues "He's opening up a lot more. It feels like he's making an effort with others now. I wonder what set this off."

A single glance at Tifa and you can see written on her face what she is thinking. Her confession that night. An unwelcome pang of jealousy runs through your body. You would like to fantasise it was because of you but seeing Tifa's sweet face and now faraway look, you do not dare let your hopes wander in that direction.

"Speaking of when he first met everyone," Jessie says gleefully. "Remember when he was all like 'When this job is done. We're done.' He wasn't even interested in our names!" You all laugh at Jessie's uncanny impression.

"He was quite reluctant when he first met me but it might have been him falling from the Plate and through the roof of the church." Aerith pondered. "But he warmed up to me quick enough."

"It's not a competition, Aerith!" Jessie laughs teasingly. "I kissed him."

Tifa and Aerith stare and gasp in shock, while you choke on the carton of juice you are sipping from. Jessie roars with laughter at everyone's reaction.

"Psych!" She shouts, punching one fist in the air. "It was barely a peck on the cheek, we were on the back of a motorbike and Shinra was giving us a good run around. Wedge and Biggs were also there." Jessie adds reassuringly to Tifa and Aerith.

Jessie changes the subject quickly, asking you what you think of Cloud as the newest acquaintance of the group.

You shrug. Your mind is racing at how you should respond. You obviously could not tell the truth but you also did not want to lie to these kind and genuine girls.

"Well, I guess he is easy on the eyes... I'll give him that."

All attention is on you and you quickly continue.

"But he will always be the guy who knocked me out twice and kidnapped me." You joke lightly and the girls join in giggling.

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Back at Seventh Heaven, you help prepare for the meeting. The girls all come back together after lunch and Wedge arrives shortly after. Biggs follows just ahead of Barret and Cloud. Cloud catches your eye once but his expression gives nothing away.

Humph. You can do a pretty good poker face too.

Tifa almost skips up to Cloud, engaging in conversation so you just continue to play with Marlene.

Barret calls you all down to the basement and the meeting begins.

"We have a request from the mainstream Avalanche. They are planning an attack in an undisclosed city and so have asked for our help in gathering as much materia - preferably healing materia - as we can." He continues. "This is a good chance to show the rest of Avalanche how capable we are and anything to hurt Shinra is a bonus."

"Only issue is where we can find so much materia?" Biggs ponders out loud.

The group is quiet for a few moments as they rack their brains for an answer. You are conflicted. An idea comes to mind. You know where materia is kept, both inside and outside the Shinra headquarters but speaking up now will mean directly going against the organisation you have grown up in. You fidget uncomfortably as you argue with yourself internally. You know you have come to sympathise with Avalanche ideology but you do not completely agree with their way of dealing with some things. However, looking around this room of people, with Marlene sitting on your lap, you have really grown to care for their wellbeing as individuals. Your wandering eyes rest on Cloud, who's countenance is inscrutable. You remember your confession to yourself last night that you would do almost anything for this man. So, if he is part of this cause, then so will you be.

"This is a little difficult," You admit to the group. "If I help you I will be directly betraying the hand that has fed me..."

"No one is asking for your help." Cloud interjects immediately.

The rest of the group stare at Cloud, taken aback at his blunt and almost rude response. However, you see past the sharpness of his words and understand completely that this is his way of protecting you. Preventing you from being put in an uncomfortable position - to have to choose between Shinra and Avalanche.

Unphased, you continue, breezing past Cloud's abrupt remark.

"The most obvious place is Shinra HQ. I know my aunt Scarlet has materia stores full to the brim. Heidegger is arguably hoarding even more."

The whole group is looking at you now and you are glad Marlene is sitting on your lap peacefully drawing, as you would have felt even more anxious speaking to the group.

"However, this doesn't sound like a job that requires as much risk as breaking into Shinra HQ. So I have an alternative idea."

Everyone is now hanging onto your every word. You can see Barret's anticipation through his shades.

"I propose we loot Midgar Prep High School. They have their own collection of materia, privately funded by wealthy donors of the school. We used to use them in class, where they would teach us about different materia properties. I know the layout well too since it's my old school. There is security but definitely not as stringent as Shinra HQ."

You finish your speech and wait with bated breath for the room's reaction.

Barret is the first to respond while the others look contemplatively at each other nodding. He stands up enthusiastically and claps his hands together loudly to exclaim,

"That's the best damn idea I have heard in a long time! I could hug ya!"

Seeing Marlene on your lap, Barret cannot help himself.

"You know what, I'm gonna!" He strides over and puts his huge tattooed arms around you and Marlene, encasing you both in this spontaneous embrace.

"Daddy! You're ruining my picture!" Marlene sings loudly, oblivious to the conversation happening around her. The group laughs in unison and you cannot help but grin broadly too.

"Barret, we need her for the mission." Cloud says matter of factly. You think you can hear a hint of possessiveness in Cloud's voice as Barret releases you and Marlene. She sweetly jumps off your lap and crawls up in Barret's.

"How many people do you need?" Barret asks, now settled back comfortably in his chair with his adopted daughter.

"Not many. The school is a bit of a maze and again security shouldn't be tight. I guess, me, one other person and one to break into the safe for the materia."

"Hmm. Okay. Cloud and Biggs you're up." Barret looks over at them. Biggs smiles and gives an enthusiastic thumbs up while Cloud curtly nods his head, a microscopic wave of relief flashes in his eyes as they meet yours.