Chapter Text
"Sector 5?" you ask, lifting the basket of baked goods from the counter, its weight a comforting reminder of your daily routine.
Rose, your boss, nods, her expression alight with excitement. "Yes, the restaurant in Sector 5 wants to start serving our dinner rolls. If things go well, we might need to deliver a fresh batch every morning!"
As much as the prospect of more business for the bakery excites you, the thought of trekking all the way to Sector 5 in the sweltering heat dampens your enthusiasm. “I won’t be back for quite a while going all that way,” you warn, raising an eyebrow at her.
Rose waves off your concern with a smile. "That's fine. Cassandra is in today, and she'll help me fill orders while you're gone." She folds her arms, a teasing glint in her eyes. "Besides, aren’t you glad you’re getting paid to go for a walk?”
You laugh, brushing a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “Well, when you put it that way.”
Rose steps closer, resting a hand on your shoulder as she walks you toward the door. “I know it’s pretty hot out today, so if the walk gets to be too much, take one of Sam’s chocobos. I’ll cover the fare.”
Stepping out into the sunshine, you turn back to her with a playful roll of your eyes. “Don’t be silly. Those carriages are way too expensive to be worth it—it’s only a thirty-minute walk.”
“Thirty minutes?” Rose tilts her head, her tone dripping with mock disbelief. “You planning on sprinting?” She laughs and waves you off. “See you in a few hours—and be careful, you hear?”
You descend the steps of the bakery, adjusting the basket in your hands, and turn onto the bustling street heading south. Along the way, you wave to familiar faces—friends and neighbors who make up the vibrant patchwork of Sector 8. Having grown up here, you’ve come to see the community as your extended family, especially after losing your parents. The warmth of their smiles and the occasional shouted greeting always make your days a little brighter.
As the lively hum of central Sector 8 fades behind you, the road ahead grows quieter, the path leading toward Sector 7 stretching out in the heat. The thought of Rose’s offer about a chocobo carriage briefly crosses your mind again as the oppressive warmth presses down. Maybe I should’ve taken her up on that, you muse, glancing up at the cracked metal plates overhead. The sunlight filtering through them feels magnified, radiating heat that clings to the air.
“Hey, you!” a familiar voice calls out, pulling your attention back to the road. You spot Charlie, a good friend from the neighborhood, jogging toward you. His usual carefree grin falters as his eyes land on the basket in your hands. “What are you up to?” he asks, gesturing to it.
“Delivery to Sector 5,” you explain, lifting the lid to show him the neat rows of dinner rolls. “The restaurant there wants to start serving these.”
“Sector 5, huh?” His grin fades into a slight frown. “Not surprising—they’re probably dying to get their hands on those. But…” He scratches the back of his neck, hesitant. “I heard some monsters from the scrapyard wandered into the street between Sectors 5 and 6.”
Your heart sinks, and you glance down at your feet. “Oh.”
“Just be careful, alright?” Charlie says, patting your shoulder reassuringly before continuing on his way. “See you later!”
“See you,” you reply, though your voice is distant, your thoughts already consumed with his warning. Monsters are nothing new in the slums, and growing up here, you’ve handled your fair share. The only one who’ll look out for you is you, as the saying goes. But ever since leaving the neighborhood watch to work at the bakery, your fighting skills have grown rusty. You haven’t so much as thrown a punch in months, and today, of all days, you’re wearing a flowing dress instead of anything remotely practical for combat.
Pushing those thoughts aside, you continue toward Sector 7. Familiar faces greet you as you approach the bustling streets, their smiles a small comfort. Delivering here regularly has earned you recognition, and your work with the neighborhood watch years ago left you with connections you still treasure.
Just as you enter the heart of Sector 7, you catch sight of a familiar figure—Tifa Lockhart. She’s walking alongside a man you don’t recognize, his massive sword slung over his back catching your attention immediately. What the hell is up with that thing?
Quickening your pace, you call out to her. “Tifa! Hey!” After a few attempts, she finally turns around, her expression brightening as she spots you.
“Hey!” she exclaims, stepping toward you and pulling you into a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you! What brings you here?” Her gaze drops to the basket in your hands. “Bakery delivery?”
You smile warmly. “Yeah, just passing through on my way to Sector 5. Dinner rolls for a restaurant there.”
Tifa nods, then gestures to the man beside her. His blonde hair and cold, disinterested expression stand out as much as his sword. “This is Cloud. We grew up together. He’s an ex-SOLDIER and Sector 7’s newest mercenary.”
Meeting his gaze, you manage a polite smile. His glowing, mako-infused eyes and muscular build leave no doubt about his background. “Hi, Cloud. Nice to meet you. I’m—”
He nods curtly, crossing his arms and looking off to the side. “Hi.”
“Do you want to stop for something to eat or drink while we’re here?” you ask, the idea of taking a short break sounding nice. “You’ve got to be thirsty in this heat, right?”
“Nah,” Cloud replies without hesitation, shaking his head. “Thought you said you were on the clock.” Without waiting for a response, he resumes his brisk pace toward Sector 5, clearly uninterested in lingering.
You sigh, glancing at the massage parlor as it comes into view on your right. “Hmmm. Maybe I should stop by and give Madam M a bun.”
Cloud stops abruptly, turning to look at you. Though his face remains mostly blank, there’s something faintly uneasy in his mako-lit eyes—like you’d just brought up a topic he’d rather avoid.
“I get a lot of tension in my hands from kneading dough all day,” you explain, confused by his sudden reaction. “It used to happen when I was fighting too. Honestly, I bet you’d benefit from her help, carrying around that massive sword all the time. Haven’t you heard of her before?”
Cloud avoids your gaze, his discomfort all but written across his face. “I’ve… heard of her,” he mumbles, then turns sharply and picks up his pace, clearly eager to move on.
“Are you okay?” you ask tentatively, jogging a little to catch up. His reaction was so strange, you couldn’t help but wonder what exactly his issue with Madam M was.
“I’m fine,” he says curtly, and that’s the end of it.
As he walks ahead, you swipe at the beads of sweat forming on your forehead, grateful that Cloud wasn’t the type to glance back. The heat was doing you no favors, and the last thing you wanted was for him to see you flushed and shiny with perspiration.
“We’re on the path to Sector 5 now,” Cloud says over his shoulder. His eyes scan the area ahead, sharp and calculating. “Keep an eye out for those monsters you mentioned.”
“Right,” you reply, your attention snapping back to your surroundings.
It doesn’t take long before you spot movement along the path—at least a dozen hedgehog pies scrounging through the scrap metal. Before you can even open your mouth to warn Cloud, he’s already unsheathed his enormous sword, the blade gleaming as he leaps into action.
The sheer speed and precision of his movements leave you frozen in place. Cloud cuts through the creatures like they’re nothing, his blade carving arcs of destruction through the air. His control is impeccable—every step, every swing calculated to perfection. The hedgehog pies barely have time to react before they’re wiped out, their bodies disintegrating into nothing as they return to the planet.
You watch in stunned silence, your jaw practically hitting the floor. He moves like a predator—no hesitation, no fear, just fluid, practiced dominance. You’ve seen fighters before, but nothing like this. By the time it’s over, Cloud’s already sliding his sword back onto his back, turning to face you with a calm, almost smug expression.
It’s only then that you realize you’re gaping at him. His lips quirk into the faintest of smirks, and your cheeks burn with embarrassment.
“Come on,” he says, turning on his heel and continuing down the path like nothing happened.
“Uh… yeah, right,” you stammer, jogging to catch up. “That was… incredible. I’ve never seen anyone fight like that before.”
He shrugs, barely sparing you a glance. “Yeah, well, I’d be surprised if you had.”
The arrogance in his tone catches you off guard, and your initial admiration sours. Sheesh. Cocky much? You’d been patient with his attitude up until now, but his dismissive response stings enough to make you reconsider your efforts to engage with him.
The rest of the path to Sector 5 is clear, and the two of you arrive without incident. As you step into the sector, a few people wave in Cloud’s direction.
“Hey, merc!” a shopkeeper calls out. “Come by later—I’ve got some jobs for you!”
Cloud acknowledges the man with a nod before gesturing toward a side street. “The restaurant’s down that road,” he says. “I’ll wait here.” Without another word, he sits down on a nearby bench, adjusting his sword so it doesn’t scrape against the backrest. He closes his eyes, his body going still as if he’s fallen asleep on the spot.
You sigh and make your way toward the restaurant. A man standing outside greets you warmly. “Hello! Looking for a table?”
You laugh, shaking your head. “Not today. I’m here to deliver these dinner rolls from the Sector 8 bakery.” You lift the basket in your hands.
His face lights up. “Oh, fantastic! I’ve been looking forward to these.” He takes the basket eagerly, then disappears inside for a moment. When he returns, he hands you a small pouch of gil. “Here’s a tip—it’s a long walk from Sector 8. Treat yourself to something cold on the way back!”
Thanking him, you pocket the gil and head back toward the bench where you left Cloud. You’re surprised to find him surrounded by children, their excited voices overlapping as they chatter and tug at his arms.
“Cloud! We beat the monster all by ourselves!” one boy exclaims, beaming up at him.
Another girl clings to his sleeve, giggling. “You’re so strong! We’re gonna grow up and be just like you!”
“What’s going on here?” you ask, approaching the group with a mix of amusement and disbelief.
The kids turn to you, their eyes lighting up. “Who’s your pretty friend, Cloud?” one of them asks, grinning mischievously.
“Is she your girlfriend?” another chimes in, earning a round of giggles.
Cloud sighs, visibly uncomfortable. “No,” he says flatly, ignoring the teasing. “And you shouldn’t be fighting monsters on your own, no matter how many of you there are. Next time, get Aerith. Promise me.”
The kids groan in unison but nod reluctantly. One of them mumbles something about being late for a lesson at the Leaf House, and they scatter, leaving you alone with Cloud once more.
“Well, you ready to go?” you ask, your tone flat as you turn back toward the path. “I’m sure you’re eager to get back to Sector 7.” You don’t wait for his reply, setting off without him.
Cloud follows a few steps behind, his silence heavier than before. Ahead of you, a man perched on a ladder fiddles with an electrical pole, stripping wires with shaky hands.
As you pass, you hear him curse. “Shit!” The ladder wobbles, and before you can react, the man loses his balance. Both he and the ladder come crashing down—directly toward you.
Your mind blanks, and all you can do is squeeze your eyes shut and brace for impact. “Fuck,” you whisper under your breath, frozen in place.