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rainbowcarousels · 4 years

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hope you feel better, take it easy and just thought of a funny fluffy idea. cloud is just so short, when was the first time each one of them had the realization? like all of them are generally tall so it's normal for them others being shorter right? but like cloud is short on average not just compare to them

I could so easily cry in my three-inches-short-than-Cloud despair here, but instead, I bring you this. Since we see everyone but Zack and maybe Angeal have that realisation in JBSWM’s main text, I picked a moment for each where the realisation was important. Hopefully this still fits the bill!

“Okay, I see what you're doing,” Zack said. Feedback was going to be helpful if he could pinpoint what was going okay and what wasn't. It was their third time in the training rooms and every time Zack put himself into a position to strike, Cloud would move himself out of reach by pacing back or to the side. “But you can't always dodge your way out of a fight. Sometimes, you just gotta get in there and fight.”

“Quit being so slow then,” Cloud shrugged.

Oh, how much a couple of months changed things because he wasn't even a little bit of a mumbly mess around him now. It was just easier to telegraph what he was doing if he went slowly and Cloud wasn't enhanced. He didn't want to hurt him!

“Okay, try to block me,” Zack lunged low and made a pleased noise when Cloud did in fact block him with the sword forced onto the ground. “Let's try that again!”

This time, he aimed high and was surprised to find himself spinning around in a circle in place. Confused, he looked at Cloud who stared blankly at him.

“I said not to dodge,” Zack reminded him.

“I didn't,” Cloud said. “I barely moved and you missed.”

“No way!” It was harder to get an accurate pinpoint of movements because his hair did give the appearance his head was further up, but he wasn't that bad. Right? “Really?”

“You got some of my hair,” Cloud pointed to the ground, where yep, there was some strands of blonde hair. “Remind me never to come to you for a haircut.”

“Just stand your ground so I can get a better idea of your defense, okay?” Zack said.

“Sure,” Cloud said. “I just didn't realise you wanted me to go easy on you.”

That led to all thoughts of defensive work being abandoned in favour of getting him into a headlock he wouldn't let him out of till he said he was the greatest or it was time for dinner. Whichever came first!

---

“What are you doing?” Genesis asked, as if he couldn't guess from the current angle that Cloud had pulled himself up onto his knees on the kitchen counter.

Cloud must not have realised he was coming, because he almost immediately lost balance and Genesis could thank his excellent reflexes for the fact he managed to catch him moments later. Cloud looked at him owlishly, then to his arms currently supporting him more on his ass than his legs, then back at him.

“Cloud?” Genesis prompted, more out of worry that he was still having processing difficulties than discomfort from the position. Not unexpected at this early stage, but having had no one he cared for severely incapacitated by the SOLDIER process or maintenance, it was easy to get caught up in a flurry of worry of for him. Besides which, he really was frightfully small and weighed nothing. Hopefully this was normal for him and not a glaring sign of decreasing resources.

“I'm okay,” Cloud said, shaking his hair out of his face with abundant fury.

“What were you doing?” Genesis looked up to see a precariously placed plate. “Did you do the dishes?”

“You won't let me contribute in any other way,” Cloud said. “I was trying to help.”

“Because you're recovering which is a full time occupation,” Genesis chided lightly. “I would have done them when I returned.”

Cloud gave him a look he usually saw on Angeal, which was both surreal and a little funny. “You would have done the dishes.”

Had they really reached the point he noticed that? “Eventually,” Genesis amended. “Those cupboards were not made for someone of your stature. If you insist on doing them, I can put them away.”

“Are you calling me short again?” It shouldn't have been so endearing to see him huff and puff in his arms like that, but it was.

“I believe we settled on travel sized,” Genesis corrected, moving reluctantly to get him back on his feet. “Let's take a trip back to resting before you fall and crack your head open. Blood would be murder to get out of this carpet.”

Cloud's feet didn't even reach the end of the sofa.

While Angeal had suspected they might not as he had sat with him on his lap while Genesis helped Zack make up a bed on his couch, it was still startling to see it. It made him seem small and vulnerable, so Angeal did as best he could to get him into a comfortable position and put the blankets over him. At least when his awareness returned – which it had at this point given the upset that would happen if he did not – he would be cosy and comfortable.

Someone would have to retrieve either his clothes. Genesis had made noises about simply buying some more but there was something that felt safe about wearing something that was your own. Or someone you loved, as evidenced by the fact half of his clothes seemed to be co-oped by his partners in what was more likely a fiendish scheme to make him do their laundry.

All they could do now was wait.

---

Sephiroth was caught. Given the still early nature of their relationship, he was unsure of what the etiquette regarding Cloud having fallen asleep when he didn't want to was. With Genesis, it wasn't a good idea to wake him because he became 'stabby' without enough sleep so it was always helpful to let him get some if he needs it but Angeal liked to be woken provided he wasn't in bed in case he positioned himself badly.

Cloud was technically in bed, but he had said he didn't want to sleep. But he also needed sleep and didn't seem to be having any intense sort of nightmare. He was a deep enough sleep that Sephiroth had reached over to remove Zack's PHS from his hands and not only had his grip been slack, but he curled into Sephiroth's side and pushed his head close into his chest so much that Sephiroth could feel his eyelashes moving against his skin.

It was oddly pleasant.

Perhaps this is what felt safe during sleep for Cloud. It had taken him a while but he could also admit to feeling at his most safe when Genesis, Angeal and even Zack were so close he didn't even have to open his eyes to know they were there. If Cloud liked it, perhaps it would help keep nightmares at bay. Sephiroth pulled himself closer, letting his chin rest on the tips of blonde spices.

When Angeal had come in later and compared him to using Cloud as a teddy bear – a soothing device for children to simulate affection so their caregiver could do other things – he could hardly deny it. Being able to wrap himself so completely around his small form had felt good, warm and safe for him too. That even tired and emotionally wrung out, he could still protect him and keep him until he awoke.

Sephiroth hoped that he wouldn’t awaken too soon.

#askbox fic #agszc #final fantasy 7 #fic: just be still with me #(loosely)#kualamon

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