Drabble #72: Telephone
Summary:
Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot. Characters and places belong to SquareEnix
The others watched Cloud pace up and down the hall, their heads moving as if they were watching a tennis match. Yuffie folded her arms and yawned loudly, earning a glare from the blonde-haired man. She merely glared back.
"She'll be fine Cloud," she assured him, stretching her arms, and yawning again.
"Then why hasn't she answered her phone?" he asked, running a hand through his locks as he glanced out of the window again, hoping for a sign of the flower girl. There was nothing.
"She's probably fed up of you calling her every damn second!" the ninja retorted.
Cloud ignored her. His hands kept crossing over his chest and then falling to his sides in brief second periods and his feet were continuously scuffing at the floor in annoyance. After a few more agonising silent moments, he flipped out his phone and called the Cetra once more. The dull dialing tone echoed through his ears for a moment before he hung up with a deliberate long sigh.
It was then that he caught sight of the pink dress, the brunette braid swinging happily back and forth as Aeris came wandering up the path. She saw him through the window and waved cheerfully but Cloud didn't return the movement. Instead, he took a step away from the window and wrenched the door open.
"Where have you been?" he demanded. She didn't even flinch at his raised tone. She just smiled and responded calmly.
"Looking around and asking for information."
"On your own?" he cried. "Aeris, do you realise how worried we were about you? Why didn't you answer your phone?"
She blinked and bit her lip lightly. "I'm sorry. I didn't realise you would be so worried," she replied. "Anyway, I didn't answer my phone because I didn't realise I had left it until I got into town."
Cloud rolled his eyes in exasperation and pushed the hair from his face. He stared at her for a moment before he sighed gently.
"Just...just promise me you won't do that to me...us again."
She stared back with a small smile. "I promise."
Cloud nodded and stepped aside to let her in. As she passed, she squeezed his shoulder making him glance at her in shock. She smirked as she whispered softly.
"I won't make you worry again Cloud."
He couldn't help the blush that painted his cheeks as he watched the flower girl walk upstairs to get her telephone. He stopped staring when he felt another pair of eyes on him and he turned to look at a smirking Yuffie.
"What?"
"You fancy her!" she squealed. Subtlety had never been her strong point. Cloud's blush darkened.
"Shut up Yuffie," he snapped but all it resulted in was the rest of the Avalanche crew bursting into hysterical laughter. Except Vincent, who hardly laughed at anything. Cloud did see his lip twitch ever so slightly though.
"What's so funny?"
The laughter stopped as everyone looked at the approaching Aeris, who had an interested look on her face. She tilted her head to the side and looked at Cloud. Yuffie looked between them with a large grin.
"Cloud fancies you!" she blurted out, giggling manically at the glare Cloud shot her way. Aeris blinked, her gaze still focussed on Cloud, who had lowered his gaze to the floor.
"Really?" she asked, with the air of someone who didn't really care either way. The room went silent as all eyes focussed on Cloud, waiting for his response. Slowly, he nodded his head, still looking to the floor.
The room erupted with cheers as Aeris threw her arms around him, almost knocking him backwards. Yuffie nudged Aeris in the ribs and winked.
"It would have been quicker for him to say all this on the phone though huh?"