Chapter Text
Jessie brushes long brown locks up in her signature ponytail with the red headband over her forehead and stares at her reflection in the mirror but her dark brows furrow displeased. “Typical.” Jessie tugs at the red tie forcing her hair down and proceeds to remove the headband to let soft bangs hug her face shape. She frowns again. “Nah, this is a date style. Can’t look like this if the girls catch me.”
These meetings are very-very private and if people were to know then he might never want to do this with her ever again! “Ugh, can’t let that happen!” Jessie decides on the regular hairstyle and attire with just a hint of perfume before heading out of her bedroom in stealth mode. Since she has roommates she has to be quieter than the house mouse, Mortimer! Don’t get her wrong, she loves her roomies but they are gossipers and right now that is the last thing the ex-SOLDIER needs.
As soon as she heads down to the first floor the digital clock on the kitchen counter turns to 9:57 pm. “I’ll be there in a flash.” She whispers with a smirk on her lips.
Jessie locks up and jogs her way through the Sector 7 slum's dirt roads all the way to a very bleak two-story apartment building with limited walking space on the rooftop. She switches to a normal pace once she catches sight of some movement on the roof. Jessie smiles widely and her heart now picks up its pace the closer she gets to the top. Calm down. Be cool! We’ve already done this before. She giggles to herself. Who am I kidding? I can’t help it! This has become the highlight of my everyday life.
On the second floor Jessie begins to climb a small staircase attached to the side of the last apartment and once her eyes see the top a hand in a leather glove comes into view, she smirks taking it. Cloud pulls her up without any effort. “What a gentleman.” Jessie’s compliment makes him slightly blush and turn away in trying to hide it. “Before you wouldn’t even shake my hand.” She reminds him of how cold he was during their first meeting last week. He rubs the back of his neck embarrassed about his cold behavior during their first meeting.
“Didn’t expect to be here for long,” Cloud admitted.
Jessie takes a seat on the thick metal table near them and brightly pats the vacant area next to her, an uneven smile forms on Cloud’s lips as he accepts her invitation. She still couldn’t believe Cloud found a small section of the sky the plate doesn’t cover; their view is limited by some metal and wires but it is beautiful nonetheless. I’m glad he doesn’t mind my presence. Hehe, he was so nervous the first night I discovered him up here. I even shocked him by deciding to stay. I’m glad he never said no… Well, he never said yes either but I can feel he’s comfortable. From the corner of her eye, Jessie can see Cloud’s unwavering half-smile while stargazing next to her. Even if it is just a little, I managed to open you up. You’re a guy with a cold exterior but your heart is warm. I still want to learn more about you though. Her brown eyes begin to intently focus on him. Would you let me in further, Cloud?
“I could’ve sworn we only agreed to stargaze up here.” Cloud’s smirks while side-eyeing her.
Jessie’s doe eyes widened when she got caught before forcing her gaze upwards to the millions of little stars in a clear line. Cloud and Jessie unknowingly share a pleased and relaxed smile while sitting there viewing a variety of blues, greens and whites paint the dark canvas sky.
A breeze passes through and Cloud catches a whiff of Jessie, but it isn’t just her natural scent he smells. Cherry blossoms? He hadn’t smelled any in the longest time and it had a bit of extra sweetness to it too, like honey. In a way, he is trying to decipher all the contents of the perfume and Jessie notices he no longer looked at the stars. Instead, Cloud’s eyes are closed as he concentrates. Jessie takes advantage of the moment to dreamily stare at him. I am going to embed his every pore and feature in my brain because I never want to forget him or the way he makes me feel every time I see him. She attempts to concentrate but ultimately fails when her eyes fall on his lips and her dopamine level heightens. You wouldn’t mind… right, Cloud?
Jessie’s body leans forward, inching closer and closer. She lightly bites on her soft lower lip out of desperation, not even her heart or stomach can handle this. Jessie feels everything: her heart accelerates and her stomach floats with millions of monarchs inside. Being only 50 centimeters away makes her nervously blush and hesitate. What if you hate me after? What if you don’t want to see me ever again? What if you never come up here again? Her teeth release her lower lip and her desires become fears in an instant.
Cloud opens his eyes to see Jessie’s brown orbs stare into him in more personal proximity. Quick to think she grins. “I—I could’ve sworn we only agreed to stargaze up here.” She used his line making him chuckle to her surprise.
A pair of blue and brown eyes return to the sky. There is a silence between them once again until midnight—that’s when they part. Jessie can tell that it is time when Cloud is the first to stand. Midnight was unavoidable. These moments aren’t long enough. She sighs while reluctantly hopping off the table.
Before they officially part on the second floor Cloud turns to Jessie. “You came with a hint of perfume this time. Was tonight special?” Her cheeks blush and she begins to search her head for something—anything!
Meanwhile, Cloud indeed is genuinely curious. Is she seeing someone? Are our nights together coming to an end? His intense gaze searches for the answer but it just makes her even redder.
“Well, I-uh… no.” That ‘no’ didn’t sound at all convincing, she is lying and he can clearly see it. Cloud has an inner desire to pursue more questions but he refrains from doing so.
“Okay, I’ll understand if you never show up anymore.”
“I’ll definitely be here!” Jessie blurts out, Cloud’s baby blues grow in reaction to her sudden outburst before simply chuckling at her strange behavior.
The spiky-haired blonde gives her a nod. “I’ll be waiting.” His words made her heart flip on its face (if it has one?) He gifts her another one of his famous half-smiles before retreating to his apartment.
Jessie lets out a breath she didn’t even realize she held deep within her lungs. “Oh, god. I might end up with heart problems if I continue with this.” She whispers under her breath. Her hand cups one of her red cheeks. “Hee-hee… I don’t mind just as long as he agrees to take care of me for the rest of our days.”
Yes, this heart problem is on him! I don’t mind being his liability just as long as he is with me forever. It’s a lifelong condition, if he leaves I will probably die! Cloud, you wouldn’t take that chance and want that on your conscience, would you?
Her crazy fantasy of being with Cloud in old age plays in her head while she skips on her way back home. Never has she ever been on Cloud 9 until tonight.