Chapter Text
Cloud had memories. Many memories. Sad memories. Happy memories. Hated memories he wanted to share with others. Hated memories he kept personal. He hated lots of those memories, but he could never forget them. Memories about his family. Memories about his village and few friends. Memories about his mother, who has been killed by Sephiroth.
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"Hey, merc. You said you wanted to tell us somethin'?"
Barret was waiting with Aerith and Tifa. Red XIII was sleeping in the inn, as always.
"Yeah, go to the inn. I'll drop by the market, I need to get something."
Barret still didn't trust him.
"What are you thinking now? Is this some of your "genius" plans to leave us behind in this small, terrible village?"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah! That's what I think! I know you and your d*** tricks, merc!"
Good grief. At this rate, I probably will leave him here. He's been like this ever since I met him. Maybe a little nicer, but still. I probably will. I'll think about it.
"I'm watching you, merc. Go to your shop and get whatever you want, but I'm still watching you."
"Fine. Do whatever you want."
Aerith and Tifa went into the inn and told them Cloud let them in. They went up the stairs, which creaked whenever there was weight on it. They saw Red XIII, light a scented candle with this firey tail, and he went back to sleep. Aerith walked over to him and moved him about an inch away from the table, to avoid fire hazards.
Cloud went to the Kalm City Market just to find out that it was closed because of a holiday.
Great. Barret's probably gonna kill me once I get back from a different store.
Some person, who never got holidays in the market was filling up stocks on a shelf when she got up. When she saw Cloud's 1st Class SOLDIER badge, her mouth dropped open, and immediately asked if she could help.
"I'd like to buy some electric materia if you have any."
"Oh, yes. We have lots of it. Come on in."
Cloud walked into the market, and he saw a dog lying next to a table with a scented candle on it.
This reminds me of Red XIII. But no fire on the tail. Well, I guess I should just get the materia and get out.
His eye spotted some materia, and he immediately asked how much it cost.
"2,500 Gil, please."
"Alright."
Cloud walked up to the register and paid for it. He found something suspicious about the materia, though. It had cracks, unlike regular Electric Materia, and had a big dent. He thought about returning it, but he saw a sign that said 'No refunds due to fewer stocks and fewer customers'.
Either this place's a fraud, or that sign is true. Probably a fraud, though. I'm not sure. If I find out more about this place, I'll report it to the guards around here.
"Thanks. I should leave now. My friends are waiting for me. Have a nice day."
"You too!"
He walked towards the door when Barret stomped out of the door.
"Your 5 minutes late from what I expected, merc! Did you go to some other store? Did you contemplate leaving us behind in this d*** village?"
"No."
"Good. Come in."
He walked in, and the old floorboards creaked as he went in.
"Ah, yes, Master Cloud. Come right in. Is this buff guy with a gun on his arm visiting with you?"
"Yea-"
"MY NAME'S BARRET, YOU IDIOT! DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM?!?!?!?"
"Sheesh! Sorry."
"Well, have a good rest of your day! The party is waiting upstairs, on the second floor!"
They walked up the stairs, and yes, it was quite creaky.
"Hey, Cloud! Your late!"
"Where did you go, Cloud? You're late for telling us your story!"
It was too much for him to take in at once.
Give me a break. I just went to the store.
"Ehh, sorry. I just went to the store, to buy some Electric Materia. Hope you don't mind. And sorry for the delay."
"Alright, guess everyone's here now."
"So? You wanted to tell us somethin', right, merc?"
"Right. S-so, where should I begin?? There was s-so much that happened."
Tifa, as she was friends with him ever since Cloud was 8, found out that he was hiding tears. And she was right. He was squinting, blinking away tears in his eyes. "You don't need to tell us if you don't feel comfortable with it, Cloud." Cloud didn't respond. He didn't say a single word. He stayed completely silent. "As I said, you don't need to tell us." Cloud still didn't say a word. Barret, however, was rather impatient.
"MERC! TELL US NOW, OR I'M GOING TO POUND YOUR FACE INTO THE WALL, YA HEAR ME?!?!?! I MIGHT EVEN KILL YOU IF I WANT TO!!!!!!!!!!"
"Stop! Can't you see he's uncomfortable talking about it?"
Oh boy, that d*** merc wanted me to wait all this time, and then he doesn't even tell me anything. I hate 'im. I probably will pound him into a wall.
But, he didn't. Instead, he stomped out of the inn, smashing the floorboards and breaking them in half. He smashed the door shut, nearly breaking it, and he went to the fountain. In his anger, he almost punched it, but he felt something grab both his arms, like handcuffs or something.
"The h***???!?"
"Don't complain or do anything. We caught you trying to break the central fountain, which is a very special part of Kalm City. We're taking you away, behind bars."
"And who the h*** are you anyway?"
"Guards. Can't you tell, giant buff person with a gun?"
"WHY THE H*** DOES EVERYONE CALL ME THAT? DON'T YOU KNOW IT'S BARRET, YOU IDIOTS?!?!?"
"Yeah, if we got called idiots, we definitely need to throw this Barret person into jail."
"I agree."
"Stop right there, whoever you are, guards. Let him go right this instant, or in the next five seconds, you'll be scrambled eggs."
"And who are you, lean muscle person with a sword?"
"Yup, Barret. These people can't say our names. Anyway, I'm Cloud Strife, 1st Class Ex-SOLDIER, and I am demanding you to take your hands off him, or as I said, you'll become scrambled eggs."
Both Barret and the guards were surprised, but before Barret could say anything, the guard already said something.
"A SOLDIER? We have much respect for you, as we also work for Shinra. And a 1st class? Wow! What a great opportunity! Can I have your autograph?"
This guy won't ever stop talking.
Cloud held up his hand, and in an instant, both guards immediately were silent.
"First of all, I don't have an autograph. Second of all, let him go. He just got mad, and he needed to throw his anger on something."
Mad?!? I was furious!
But Barret didn't say it. He screamed it in his head, though.
The weird feeling of rubber gloves on Barret's injury let go, and he was relieved.
"Oi, thanks, merc. I wasn't expecting you to come here and save me. Anyway, just wanted to tell you, I was furious, not mad."
"Just doing my job. By the way, I'm ready to tell you the story, if Aerith and Tifa are still at the inn. If not, then we'll have to call 'em there. Follow me."
They walked into the inn, and the clerk let them both inside, scared to get shot by Barret. They found out that they were gone.
"Where the h*** are they?? I thought they would stay here!"
"I'll call 'em, then."
Cloud went to his room, and opened his computer, specially manufactured by Shinra, and opened an app called 'Midcord'.
MIDCORD PARTY CHAT
Welcome back, CloudStrife108!
CloudStrife108
Where on Earth are you, Aerith? And Tifa? We just got back in the inn!
Flower Lady
Us? We just went for a small stroll around the forest.
CloudStrife108
Well, come back, we're ready.
Person Who Fights With Fists
Yeah, we'll come. Don't mind my name, this was made by the hotel clerk.
CloudStrife108
Welcome to the club. Come back now.
Flower Lady
Yeah, if you can hear the creaking, we're coming.
Cloud closed his computer, and he went back to the living room. He noticed that everyone was waiting.
"Your late again, but it's fine."
"Yeah, I quickly did something on the computer. I'm done now."
He sat down, next to Barret, and started to think. "Gimme a minute. I'll think of where to start."
"Sure, take your time."
"Thanks."
He thought, he thought, and he thought. After 3 minutes, he was finally ready.