Chapter Text
CLOUD STRIFE, STRIFE DELIVERY SERVICE - WALL MARKET
The only thing worse than a Monday is a Monday where Cloud has to unstick his boots from the grimy asphalt outside Wall Market.
He shoves his goggles up into blond spikes and starts toward the gate with a deep breath. Wall Market is a suffocating tangle of doors, stairways, alleys, and people people people. People everywhere, in groups and doorways and corners. Neon signs glare down on everything, gilding scuffed benches and worn railings with hot pink and molten blue.
It’s loud, busy, and Cloud always tries to ghost through as quick as humanly possible.
Someone retches in an alley nearby. Someone urges him to enter their shop. Someone whistles at him while another curses him out. He’s stepping over a murky puddle when someone bumps into him, hard. They flick him off when they feel around and find his pockets are empty. Like he’d bring his wallet here.
He rubs his arm where a dull ache complains under the leather of his sleeve.
Cloud switches the box to his other arm. It’s addressed to the care of Mr. Andrea Rhodea at the Honeybee Inn, and Cloud’s already tense from sensory overload. When he looks up, he’s standing in front of the glistening and glittering building. He hurries inside before a random sidles up to him for who knows what, heading straight to the long reception counter. A receptionist greets him.
“Good evening. Welcome to the Honeybee Inn. Is there a honeyboy or girl whose company you desire?”
Cloud shuffles. Checks the box again.
“Package for Andrea Rhodea.”
The attendant smiles and tilts their head.
“I can take that.”
“No note about leaving it at the desk,” Cloud says, checking his PHS. “It needs to go to Mr. Rhodea directly.”
The glossy smile strains a bit, and the attendant turns to push some buttons on a phone with some force.
“I have a package- yes. Yes. Very insistent on delivering it.” They eye Cloud. “Directly.”
That’s why he’s got decent reviews across the galaxy. Insistent. Persistent. And efficient. People sure don’t hire him for the customer service.
“You can come with me,” the attendant finally says, gesturing as they move out from behind the counter. They glide ahead of Cloud, and he follows down a hall bustling with people in elaborate bee-themed outfits. Some coo and reach out, hands glancing off bits of his outfit that catch the eye. Cloud inconspicuously shelters his left arm from the touching.
His outfit, monotone as it is, stands out worse here- a moody smudge of black against the shiny and glaring gold. The lights catch on his buckles and accents, and he tries not to shrink under the attention. He’s taken the effort to find something that suits him, tried new things after-
A flurry of activity and people moving towards him interrupts his anxious thoughts.
Cloud braces himself. Crowds aren’t his thing. There’s a man in the center of the entourage, dressed in some sort of ornate strappy tunic, all in tones of black and honey (because of course). He’s glowing, sharp makeup and hair shaved skin-short with well groomed facial hair. Everyone is showing him something or asking questions, and he fires off decisions and answers with smooth ease. When his eyes land on Cloud, there’s no mistake- they are hard and glinting like cut gems. Sharp and all business, good or bad.
Those eyes size him up in one sweeping motion before they gleam.
Cloud doesn’t know what to say- usually doesn’t- so he just says the only thing that comes to mind.
“Delivery for Mr. Andrea Rhodea.”
“Online shopping again Andi?” a bee says, giggling and theatrical. “Where will you put him?”
“Stop,” Andrea scolds, a playful put upon expression disappearing with a smile at Cloud. “Your diligence is much appreciated. Cloud Strife, was it? Strife Delivery Service.”
Cloud doesn’t remember telling this guy his name, but he figures it’s not hard to find.
He holds out the box.
“Anytime. Your bill’s settled already, so…if you could confirm receipt.”
One day, when Cloud gets rich, he’ll have a robot to do this part. It’d probably get better reviews for customer service than he does.
Andrea doesn’t seem to mind. He takes the box, bowing his head.
“Confirmed. An absolute pleasure doing business with you.”
“Likewise,” Cloud mumbles, wavering awkwardly. “Have a good day.”
“I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon, Cloud.”
Cloud hurries out with no response after that, followed by a chorus of giggles and goodbyes. He leaves the Honeybee Inn and Andrea and his bees, eager to make his way back to where he left Fenrir.
He gets about ten feet before he gets cornered by two very familiar people. He stares, open-mouthed.
“Tifa? Aerith?”
“Cloud!”
His friends are draped in expensive looking dresses and jewelry and shimmer. There’s a lot of shoulder and biceps and skin on display. They wouldn’t be out of place on a magazine cover. He is very easily manhandled into an alley. Tifa is telling him something.
“Cloud, focus!” Aerith says, looking far too entertained.
Cloud shakes his head to regain his bearings and tunes back in, listening to Tifa.
“So we need to get into Corneo’s mansion- it’s a trafficking operation with ties to Shinra funds, Barrett wants to hit this one hard-”
This sounds like a bad idea. It must show on his face.
“Cloud, it’s two birds with one stone. We get the bounty, and Wall Market can be free of this sicko. Did I mention the bounty?” Aerith is in full salesman mode.
“This is too dangerous,” Cloud says, crossing his arms. “You’re going in there with no backup-”
“We have backup,” Aerith chirps. She makes big significant eyes at Tifa, who, of course, picks it up immediately.
“We do have backup,” Tifa says slowly, stepping closer to Cloud before she says the next part in a rush. “You’re here now, right?”
Cloud shakes his head.
“Where’s everyone else? Barret? Red?”
Aerith cuts in. “Keeping the Shera warm for a super fast getaway- of course they’re already setting everything up. Like Jessie said, ‘they won’t know what hit em’!’”
A headache is setting in. Tifa leans in and brushes his bad arm with a gentle touch, trying to catch his eye.
“You okay? They’re taking care of everything else- we just need to get inside to make sure Corneo can’t slither away. This is a bit of a…test run.”
“Test run?”
“Barret’s checking out that other crew. The anti-Shinra group.”
“Oh,” Cloud says.
He doesn’t know much about all that, and he isn’t sure he wants anything to do with it. He’s made it pretty clear to Barret and Tifa, he doesn’t mind exchanging his services for board on the Shera, but he vastly prefers the simplicity of his delivery side hustle. He doesn’t do long term contracts. At least not with people he doesn’t know.
But he also doesn’t like the idea of Tifa and Aerith toe to toe with human traffickers while they’re stuck in pointy heels.
Aerith takes her opportunity, observant and understanding in one.
“Come on,” she says, linking her arm with his. “I have an idea.”
Tifa grabs his other arm carefully, and they steer him towards a door he doesn’t notice until they’re opening it.
Cloud regrets going through the door.
The proprietor of this establishment has the same big presence as Andrea Rhodea, except where Andrea is surrounded by countless bee people, Madam M is solitary, like a coeurl. She glances at them, demure at first. Cloud thinks she’s a desk attendant until Tifa and Aerith run up to her.
They’re acquainted already. This is the mind behind Tifa and Aerith’s transformations. She’s a lady in a long, embroidered robe, straight out of a painting, the kind of person people write poems about or whatever- but her expressions are scarier than the most rugged outlaws Cloud has met.
As for Aerith’s idea, it’s not great. It’s real bad, actually.
Madam M is circling him, muttering.
“I don’t know why you think I’m just going to work multiple miracles a night. Two wishes are never enough, hm?”
But she’s grabbed Cloud’s chin and she’s turning his head this way and that, her own face an inch away as she observes. Cloud holds his breath, frozen.
Her hand drifts to his collarbone, smoothing out along his sleeved shoulder, ghosting down over his bad arm to his gloved hand. His arm trembles- fuck- and she locks eyes with him.
“A pity.” She turns abruptly. “Since you’re all doing us a bit of a favor though…I’m sure Andrea has a lot of ideas for you.”
An hour later, Cloud mutely stalks towards the Corneo mansion. Tifa and Aerith are flanking him, as close as they can without messing up his new dress.
He doesn’t really know what to think right now, and maybe it’s easier not to. It’s easier to rationalize that the tight (tight) corset isn’t too different from his standard issue bracer, the knee length boots aren’t too different from his usual boots, the skirts that swing against his legs are just like his leather guard he wears around his hips.
It gives him something to focus on while his thoughts settle. Andrea Rhodea certainly did have ideas for him, and seemed delighted to cancel his 7pm to “throw something together”.
‘Something’ is tight at the waist and voluminous at the hips, an elaborate dress that honestly makes him unrecognizable when he caught a glimpse in the mirror. Andrea didn’t comment on the bandages covering his left arm once exposed, but he did tell him something- ‘don’t ever be afraid’. He probably meant it to soothe someone who didn’t usually wear dresses, but Cloud finds himself taking it seriously.
‘Don’t ever be afraid’. That sounds like something Cloud can internalize. It’s a little dramatic and shiny, but no one needs to know he’s filing it away to examine later (both in and out of context).
It’s too soon that they are on Corneo’s doorstep, and Cloud takes a deep breath.
“Let’s do this.”
It’s kind of a shitshow. They’re led into the extravagant manor, ready for anything, but Corneo still catches them off guard with some sort of knock-out gas. They wake up on a cold stone floor, a slightly traumatizing dilemma before they’re lined up and compared.
Corneo is a toad of a man, making a big show of his choice, and Cloud ‘wins’ a tour of Corneo’s bedroom. Corneo must like ‘em mean, because Cloud is being outright hostile and Corneo is practically drooling over it. It takes a while for Cloud to piss him off, and by that time Tifa and Aerith catch up and rescue him. His heroes. They’re threatening Corneo’s virility when the first explosion rattles the room.
Tifa’s frowning. “That’s..bigger than expected.”
Corneo leans against his pile of pillows, stuck between simpering and seething.
“Bombs? Really?”
Cloud scowls. “You’re through, Corneo. This shit’s over.”
Corneo hugs himself with an exaggerated shiver.
“I’m shaking in my boots, kitten. You think this is gonna slide under their radar?”
“Whose radar?” Tifa asks, stomping a foot forward in a menacing sort of way.
“Shinra?” Aerith guesses.
Corneo smiles, small yellow teeth set in a wide grin. There’s another explosion, and the sound of a distant commotion sifting through the walls now.
“After all, there’s quite the bounty pinned on AVALANCHE, courtesy of Shinra. You’ve sure caught their eye, haven’t you?”
Cloud glances at Tifa. “What do you want to do here-”
Another explosion- and the sound of a ship setting down. Is it the Shera?
Tifa still looks like this isn’t what she expected, her brows furrowed together. “What is going on out there…either way, we’re stopping this today, Corneo.”
As if agreeing, a blast takes out the whole wall of the room. Smoke covers everything. As it clears, a huge Shinra tower robot sags into the structure of the mansion, steaming and smoking as it breaks down. Corneo screams, scrambling to escape the room.
When he throws the door open, he comes face to face with two massive guys in visors and outfitted in tactical gear. One holds a rifle and the other hefts a wickedly huge sword.
“Found the target, sir,” one says into an earpiece.
Cloud waves to get Tifa’s attention before their smoke screen dissipates. He jerks his head to the hole in the wall. It’s a bit of a jump, but they manage to get outside and on the ground while the two guys are distracted with Corneo.
“Lemme guess- those our guys? The test run crew?”
“Think so. Pretty intimidating, huh?”
Aerith hums. “I think we’re scarier,” she says.
An incredulous laugh bursts out of Tifa. “Are we?” She asks.
They’re running now. Cloud pulls them into an alcove.
“I just need-” He tugs at a few of the skirt layers. They seem to be removable, so he pulls off several, left with an awkward kind of butt cape thing going on. Luckily, the black stockings are opaque, so he’s not worried about flashing anyone. While he tugs out some of the more annoying hair extensions, Aerith and Tifa adjust their dresses for easier movement. Aerith follows Cloud’s lead and tugs out the heaviest hair piece in her ponytail, sighing in relief at the lightness.
Tifa kicks her heels off. “This will suck, but I need to be able to kick,” she says. “Let’s go.”
They reach the street and it’s chaos. The Shera hovers above Wall Market, and a big Shinra transport hovers above that. The part of Wall Market they can see is thick with panic and pandemonium. People are running and yelling, pushing in crushes to the exits on either end of the district.
There’s another ship on the ground- probably the one they heard landing. It’s not much bigger than the Shera, and there’s a couple people jumping out of it, heavily armed fighters. Their faces are covered with visors. If that’s the anti-Shinra group Barret is working with…they’re very Shinra-esque. If Cloud didn’t know better he’d think it was more Shinra forces. But the ship is run down and well-loved. The people who jump out are mostly solo, bee lining in random directions to engage the Shinra troops and robots already on the ground. There’s about five big robots stomping nearby, plus a bunch of tiny annoying drones flitting around.
“They’ll be helping to evacuate the people here,” Tifa explains, pulling her gloves on. “They’ll cover us too- beat the Shinra down. AVALANCHE will be focusing on dismantling Corneo’s mansion. He’s stolen a lot of stuff from Wutai.”
“Makes sense.” Barret’s mentioned some funding from Wutai. “Guess the trafficking didn’t pay well enough.”
“Disgusting,” Aerith declares.
Cloud’s got more questions, but a small group of Shinra troops is approaching, obviously not viewing them as a threat. The three of them stay quiet until they pass, then Tifa punches the shit out of them in a lightning fast melee. Aerith pulls her collapsible staff out of nowhere, expanding it and finishing them up with a thunderbolt. Barret’s machine gun rattles, not far off.
“I need a weapon or I won’t be much help,” Cloud says. “Meet you at the ship when this is over? Call me if you get in a tight spot.”
That’s when Barret bursts into the street they’re on, spraying bullets at someone behind him. It’s so comforting to have gunfire on his side for once. Maybe that wouldn’t be a thing if he stopped hanging around a notorious crew of rebels, but either way he hopes Barret doesn’t notice Cloud has positive feelings towards him. Too awkward. Cloud frowns up at him to make sure.
“Cloud!? What the HELL are you wearin’?!” Barret yells.
Now Cloud is genuinely frowning.
“I know. It’s a look. Can we ignore this for now?”
They’re running in different directions before Barret can push the issue. Cloud tries to make sense of the situation as he heads towards Fenrir, eyes darting everywhere and taking everything in.
Shinra has troops and robots heading toward the Corneo mansion. Barret had said Corneo was an under the table income stream in Shinra’s pocket, so that much he expected. Still, it’s strange how quickly the transport arrived on top of them, or that they even sent that big of a transport to begin with. It would definitely be out of hand without the added friendly militia group.
It’s gotta be thanks to the rising bounty on AVALANCHE. Barret’s been years at work on this, but it’s only recently he’s had the manpower and resources to raise some real hell, starting with the mako reactor stations orbiting nearly every planet in the system.
Cloud is just a courier, but he wouldn’t lie- he’s been one of those resources. Sometimes a delivery can be a kick in the ass, or a bomb when Barret pays him enough (always shoves him a little or pulls his cheek when Cloud gets too moneyminded). He guesses he might’ve missed the line that marked where ‘errands’ turned into ‘illegal activities’.
He ducks into an alley to avoid a big scuffle. The fray can wait until he’s got his gear back from Andrea- at the very least, he needs his boots. He’ll stop and warn Madam M and Andrea if they’re still around. Least he can do.
Tight timelines and high stakes. Not even a tip waiting if he makes it.
There’s a repeating announcement blaring- “Civilians please evacuate at the nearest exit. We recommend leaving planet.”
Not good. Shinra’s expecting this to get ugly. They have a tendency to go nuclear, as he’s learned in past encounters.
Ironically, it’s AVALANCHE and the anti-Shinra assisting civilians, tackling the Shinra troops in their way.
At last, Cloud reaches the quiet nook he parked Fenrir in. He’s quick, in business mode. Sorts through the blades of his arsenal and picking three of his favorites to snap together. The main blade, his workhorse, the hollow second blade, for multiple opponents, and one of the smaller sword pieces, for emergencies. He likes options.
Back to running. This time feels a little more comfortable with the weight of his sword anchoring him. There’s a small explosion up ahead, between him and Madam M’s parlor- he gets some height on the situation and runs up a stairway to jump along some balconies.
There’s some anti-Shinra pressing a squad of troopers. Wedge is there too, holding his own. The anti-Shinra are beasts in comparison. The ones he’s seen are all tall, strong, covered head to toe and completely wrecking the opposition with swords and materia alone. Shinra’s only seemed to dispatch infantry, and it’s almost unfair how easily they are getting tossed around. The robots are the only challenge.
Cloud trusts they’ll keep it up and books it towards Madam M’s door.
He’s cut off by two men coming out of nowhere, popping out of an alley. Cloud has to skid to avoid ramming into them, and mentally apologizes for fucking up Andrea’s shoes.
The men are incredibly out of place against the active battle in their sharp black suits. The redhead looks like he could be a Honeybee Inn customer, his back slouched and suit open in a deep deep v. Two red tattoos slash across his cheeks, giving him an alarming stare. He turns those sharp eyes to Cloud.
“Hey sweety, it’s not a good time for you to be running around,” he sneers in a thick Midgar accent.
The other guy frowns, an imposing bald man in dark sunglasses and leather gloves. He’d make a great bouncer.
“Nice sword you have there, miss,” he says, and his tone is all threat.
“No time for picking up ladies, partner,” The redhead says, rolling his eyes. “Sorry dollface, we got things to do.”
Cloud stays frozen as they run off down another alley. That’s right. He’s got a face full of makeup and half a gown on. He looks like any random woman. They don’t recognize him, but he recognizes them- from the Midgar reactors. The most aggressive and covert Shinra agents, Turks. Why are they here? He sets his shoulders and keeps going.
When he bursts into the parlor, Madam M and Andrea Rhodea are mid-conversation, like the place isn’t falling apart right outside their door.
“No manners,” Madam M says with a glare. “You ever hear of knocking?”
Andrea’s hand drifts to his chin. “I like what you’ve done with the look, Cloud. Quite rugged. Caught up in the mess out there, hm?”
“You guys need to get out of here,” Cloud says, not bothering with pleasantries. “This is getting ugly.”
“How thoughtful.” Madam M says with a scoff. “Obviously we’d love to, but some of us have obligations to take care of before we can run off.”
Cloud tries not to get irritated.
“They’re evacuating Wall Market. If you stay here, you could get seriously hurt. I’m going out there, once I grab my clothes. Tell me what you need and I’ll get it before I go.”
Andrea is smiling now, and Madam M’s eyebrows are to the ceiling.
“Well well. Aren’t you a good little delivery boy,” she says, the fan she’s holding drifting towards her mouth to hide a smile.
“Yes I know thank you, will you get out of here now?”
“Cloud,” Andrea says. “Thank you for the warning. We’ll be okay.” He grabs something from behind Madam M’s counter- a large bag.
Cloud grabs it and finds his gear is inside.
“You want this stuff back?” Cloud says, gesturing to his outfit and the state of it. He grabs his boots out of the bag for now. “Think some of it I’ll have to pay you back for.”
Andrea shares a glance with Madam M, then shakes his head. “If your friends can take Corneo out, consider it part of our thanks.”
Cloud nods, tightening his boots. He straightens up. He’s still stuck in a corset and the under layers of the skirts and bodice, but he has enough movement to help. His appearance isn’t even a concern right now.
“Go on then- I’m sure you’re dying to join the fray,” Madam M says. She makes a shooing gesture.
And then he’s running again, much more secure with his feet flat on the ground.
Most of the fighting is concentrated near Corneo’s mansion. It was the original target, after all. Cloud stares up at a tower robot lurching tall above him, dispensing bullets and plumes of flame as it spins. It’s making a damn mess, and friendly fire is on- it’s attacking anything in its path. The Shinra troops are giving it a wide berth.
He’s bringing his sword up to strike when someone beats him to it. Lightning pulses through the hulking form, causing it to spark and crackle through a good fry.
“Got this one,” someone says cheerfully. Familiar voice. “You can keep going on!”
Cloud is trying to identify the newcomer when the robot cranks a half turn, one of the arms catching him off guard. It clashes against his sword at the last second and Cloud gets tossed back before he can brace himself.
“Oops, incoming! I gotcha!”
A hand is suddenly at Cloud’s waist, catching him like it’s no effort at all. He’s leaned up in someone’s arm, someone with tan skin and a big grin. Dark spiky hair and eyes covered with a giant protective visor. The way he’s got him caught like it’s safe is ringing bells. It’s all so familiar- Cloud’s let loose and he’s stuck for a second, when the guy does a double take.
“...huh? Wait- are you-“
Whatever he’s about to say gets cut off by a scream. Very close.
Cloud scans the area. A small figure huddles in the middle of the street ahead. They shake under bullets and the aftershocks of explosions and falling debris. A kid, small pale face streaked with tears and a black smear of what might be mistaken for soot on their forehead.
He knows what that smudge means.
Cloud’s sprinting over before he knows it. He’s fast, he’s always been fast. He’s flying and sliding, gravel eating up his boots, shredding up his tights, scraping down as he reaches out. He pulls the kid into himself, and he’s running again.
He’s got the kid all tucked up in his arms and at this point he’s just thinking ‘get back to Fenrir’. He’s just thinking ‘get somewhere safe’. His left arm is burning like hell and he’s sure the kid’s forehead is too.
He’d know the blackened and flushed bruises anywhere, because he has a similar shadow eating up his arm. The kid has geostigma, just like Cloud.
The second they make it to the Shera, Cloud pops the hatch open and hops off Fenrir. He checks his unexpected passenger.
The kid blinks, eyes red and wet from earlier. He’s not crying now, just gazing up at Cloud like he hung the moon. Cloud’s definitely still got a face full of ruined makeup and shredded pieces of the lacy dress on. He hopes he doesn’t look too nightmarish. Kid’s been through a lot.
“You okay?” he asks the kid.
The ship intercom crackles to life, and Cid’s growl fills the entry bay.
“Cloud! Why’re you up here, punk? Fight’s the other way!”
“I don’t remember getting paid,” Cloud bites back. Cid cackles as Cloud helps the kid off Fenrir.
“Don’t worry- that’s the captain, Cid Highwind. We’ll get you back down there soon- my friends are- well…”
Cloud actually has no idea what’s going on. From the way the tears well up, the kid doesn’t care.
“I don’t want to go back,” he whispers.
Cloud blinks. “Huh?”
The kid wavers, hesitating. Then he lunges towards Cloud and throws his arms around his waist.
“They’re gone!”
Cloud’s stomach drops, and he freezes where his hands are hovering over the kid’s shoulders.
“My mom and dad…” and there’s nothing else he can sort out from the sobbing.
Cloud lets his fingers tighten on the kid’s shoulders, not pulling him closer, but not pushing him away.
“Hey,” he says. The kid blinks up at him wetly. “You’re safe now. What’s your name?”
“D…Denzel.”
“Okay, Denzel. We can stay here. Let’s go see if Cid is hiring anymore little guys.”
“I’m not little,” Denzel argues, still sniffling but a little calmer. He takes a deep breath and seems to be shuttering his panic. Cloud knows he needs to keep talking.
“Yeah, yeah, listen, as a little guy, you better get used to hearing it around here. Brutal.”
A laugh escapes Denzel’s mouth like he didn’t mean to, then he laughs again, still teary. His smaller hand finds Cloud’s, and Cloud can’t find it in him to shake it off.