Disclaimer: I don't own Final Fantasy VII; Square Enix does. If I did… well, let's just say I think Cloud's prettier than the FF7 girls…

Notes: I blame Benadryl for this.

I'm Sixteen in my Head

1. Victory

"I'd just like to be alone…" I explained. I can see the hurt in Tifa's brown eyes, but…… she doesn't understand. Physically, I'm twenty-one, but inside my head…

That's what happens when five years of your life disappear. Or maybe it's six, seeing as for the past year, I've lived as someone else. Zack…

My first real friend. My best friend. I know what Tifa thinks, but—

"CLOUD! GET YER SPIKEY ASS DOWN HERE!" Damnit. What the hell does Barret want now?

I take the railing of the Highwind, and walk down the stairs. I sigh as I see my chocobo running around loose. Damn that Yuffie… Always letting my—Oh, Gods! What is that smell?

"Choco, what did you do?" The chocobo lifted its head and stared at me. "Don't give me that look……… Fine. As long as we get off before Cid realizes, we're in the clear."

I ruffled my chocobo's feathers before leading him into his airborne stable. I closed the gate, leaving a crew member to tend to my bird. Now, what was I doing?

"CLOUD WHERE THE #$ ARE YOU? YA #&'N' LAZY ASS BASTARD!" Oh, yes. I remember now… My mother would wash my mouth out if I talked like that. Wait… Mom's dead. I forgot again. Damnit.

I walked slowly into the bridge of the airship, dragging my legs as if my boots were made of lead weights. And who's to say they aren't? What I can remember of him, Zack was… interesting?

I enter the bridge and I can feel my mouth drop. A banner proclaiming, "Congradulations Cloud! We Won!" Should I tell them they misspelled 'congratulations'? Probably not.

Tifa bounced towards me and threw her arms around my neck. Her face snuggled into my chest. Should I tell her to get off? With breasts as robust as hers, would this count as sexual assault?

I dunno… Legal stuff never was my best subject when I tried out for SOLDIER… Wow. I remembered something.

"Isn't it great, Cloud?" Tifa looked up at me, smiling.

"Um… Yeah?"

Red XIII—no, it's Nanaki, isn't it?—gracefully slid between our legs, pushing Tifa away from me. What a wonderful—what is he?

The canine-like creature grinned at me, so I began to pet his fur. Someone really should brush him… He's all matted.

Barret and Cid walked up to me. I wish that pilot would stop blowing so much smoke at me; I can't stand the smell… It reminds me of Nibelheim…

"What the #$& took you so #$&'n' long to get the #$& down here?"

I tried my best to look at the ground, taking in the cleaner air near the metal floor. "I was… thinking."

I can see Barret's weight shift to one leg. "What's so damn great 'bout thinkin'?" He probably has his good hand on his hip. It's his 'scary stance'. Too bad he'd only terrify children. The big softy.

I wish Vincent were here. He can get everyone to just leave me alone. He's the only one that seems to understand… If only he'd try to dress a little less creepy… Well, the cape's kinda cool.

I lift my head, so as I can see beyond the field of red-orange fur. Everyone's talking and drinking… Would they mind if I never existed?

In some ways, I guess I really don't. I don't know if I'm me or Zack most of the time.

If I'm me, then I guess they'll understand.

That in my head… I'm only sixteen.

… If you'd like to, please take the time to tell me what you think of this.

Stupid allergies.