Chapter Text
Cloud realises that something is different as soon as the leaves the underground carpark.
It would be hard not to considering the time of day has drastically changed. Sunlight streaming through the windows of Shinra tower and a bustling crowd moving through the entry of – all too well dressed to merely be going to work.
Cloud turns around to find Tifa and Barret no longer there. They must have been left behind when Cloud got transported wherever, or whenever, he is now.
Hopefully they’re not freaking out too much from his sudden disappearance.
Trying to push through the crowd Cloud wishes he was still with them. He would much rather be about to face off against the entirety of Shinra’s might than deal with this many people so close to him.
Cloud thinks he sees Tifa in the crowd, wearing a much nicer dress than the one she wore for the Don, so Cloud starts to head towards her.
“Hey- Cloud!” a voice calls through the crowd. A voice Cloud recognises from his memories even if he can’t place from where.
He turns to see a SOLDIER jogging over to him. The crowd now watching them from the corner of their eyes.
Cloud feels his heart contract when looking at the SOLIDER. The feeling of sadness washing over him despite not knowing why.
“What are you doing out here?” the SOLDIER asks. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready right now?”
“Getting ready for what?” Cloud asks.
“Uh – you’re wedding,” the SOLDIER says. And- Zack. Cloud thinks his name is Zack. He still doesn’t understand why he feels like crying just looking at him. “Don’t tell me you forgot.”
“Uh, I’m sorry?” It’s probably better to play along. Maybe he can figure out why his head and heart hurt if he does.
“Not getting cold feet are you?” Zack asks.
“No just – the crowd.” Hopefully the response fits with what Zack expects of Cloud.
“Huh?” Zack says, looking around. “Yeah I guess there are a lot of people here. Seph did try and have it be a private ceremony, but I guess Shinra wanted the publicity too much.”
“Seph – you mean Sephiroth?” Sephiroth was here. Cloud feels his heart pick up at that. Ready to fight wherever the General comes from.
“Yeah, are you sure you’re feeling okay Cloud? You seem kind of out of sorts.” There’s genuine concern on Zack’s face and for some reason Cloud wants to reassure it away. Wants to see the SOLDIER smile again.
“I’m fine. Just nerves.”
“If you’re sure,” Zack says, glancing behind to the time displayed on the screens in the Shinra entry. “We should probably go finish getting you ready.”
“Right.” What other choice does Cloud have but to go with it? He just hopes he returns to Tifa and Barret before it becomes time for his wedding night.
Zack practically drags Cloud to the elevator. Punching in a floor that Cloud thinks he remembers being the First’s private quarters. And once they arrive Zack drags him into one of the apartments.
Cloud looks up at the white tux hanging on the rack in the main part of the room and all he can think is that he’s grateful it’s at least not a dress.
With Zack clearly not leaving Cloud wasn’t going to be climbing out the bedroom window to escape either.
Right. Hopefully whatever version of himself belonged to this world wrote his vows down because it looked like Cloud wasn’t making it back to Tifa and Barret until after he stood at the altar.
The door opens and Cloud hears Zack gasp.
He turns to see Sephiroth standing there. And the fight or flight comes in strong.
“What are you doing here?” Zack demands as Cloud backs himself up looking for a weapon. “Don’t you know its bad luck for the two of you to see each other before the main event?”
Sephiroth just stares past Zack and Cloud can’t help but feel like a rabbit in the gaze of a wolf.
“I merely wanted to check that everything was okay in here,” Sephiroth says not breaking his gaze from Cloud. “May we have some privacy for a moment?”
Zack glances back to Cloud who just shakes his head. He doesn’t want to be left alone with Sephiroth.
Apparently Zack doesn’t pick up on that message.
“Alright, but no spoiling the fun of your wedding night by having desert early.”
“I promise that is not my intent,” Sephiroth says.
It’s apparently enough for Zack who just grins and leaves the room.
“You are not my Cloud,” Sephiroth says when the door clicks shut.
“Huh?” Cloud fears that fact is likely only going to put him at greater risk from his apparent husband-to-be.
“You are a different Cloud,” Sephiroth says again. “Not of this world.”
“How do you know?”
Sephiroth gives a dry smile.
“My Cloud wouldn’t be reaching for the cake-knife with his back against the wall.”
Cloud drops the aforementioned knife. He should have known Sephiroth wouldn’t have missed it.
“I suppose the me you are accustomed to is a monster intent on destroying the world?” Sephiroth asks. He’s staying where he is standing, not moving any closer – giving Cloud his space.
“And if he is?” Cloud says before wincing. Way to sound like a cornered animal.
The smile Sephiroth gives in response is bitter.
“May I show you something?”
“Sure.” It’s not like Cloud can say no. He’s in this Sephiroth’s universe. And it appears everyone here trusts Sephiroth.
Sephiroth picks up a framed picture from the entry table and holds it out for Cloud to take. He doesn’t seem to care that Cloud only leaves the corner he’s backed himself into to grab the offered photo before returning to having at least his back guarded.
“Zack took it,” Sephiroth says with a nod to the photo.
When Cloud looks at the photo he realises that it’s of him and Sephiroth sitting on the couch of the apartment they are currently in. Cloud’s legs resting over Sephiroth’s lap, Sephiroth’s hand lightly resting on top. Neither of them are looking at the camera – Sephiroth focusing on a report while Cloud texts someone.
They both look content in a way Cloud hasn’t felt in almost as long as he can remember.
“I’ll have the wedding postponed until you return to your universe and my Cloud returns here,” Sephiroth says and somehow he doesn’t seem possessive even while calling the Cloud of this universe his.
“You don’t have to.” Cloud is sure Shinra will be less than pleased that the wedding they clearly planned has been delayed.
“Its fine,” Sephiroth says with a small smile. “It might cause some of the crowd to get bored and leave.”
“Right.” Cloud says. Still not sure if he can or should trust this Sephiroth.
“Perhaps I will see you again,” Sephiroth says with a nod. And, when it’s clear Cloud doesn’t know how to respond he leaves.
Leaves Cloud in an apartment that when he looks around he realises is clearly lived in by both himself and Sephiroth.
And Cloud would never want to marry his Sephiroth. Not after everything he destroyed in Cloud’s life.
But he also can’t help but find himself thinking about how lucky the Cloud that belongs to this life is.