Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ A Touch of Christmas ❯ A Touch of Christmas ( Chapter 1 )

A Touch of Christmas
by Fat Cat Buyo
a Christmas fanfic for Setoness ^_^

Author’s notes: Takes place before the Nibelhiem incident. ZackxCloud, put Sephiroth in there too just because. There’s weirdness, and stuff and it’s when Zack and Sephy are first class SOLDIERs and Cloud’s just normal XD because he’s special like that. And he gets to be all small and shy and squeaky >D MUWAHAHAHHHA innocence corrupting! Actually, I don’t write lemons for Christmas fics XD just shounen-ai , so bleh. Oh and Sephiroth’s story later on in the chapter is true >.> Not for him though! x.X

Warnings: Slight OOCness on Sephiroth’s part XD, uh... oh and Christmas trees. Lots of angry Christmas trees >.> Beware. Oh and I swear there’s dialogue x.x just not in the beginning

Disclaimer: In no way do I own FFVII. This is just for fun. If I owned the game, Tifa would’ve died in Aeris’s place >.> And maybe there’d be some gay sex (ahaha what an understatement XD)

*~*

Cloud bit down on his lower lip as he attempted to steady the footstool. Hopping on top of it, he grabbed the star and wobbled a bit as he tried to put the star on the very tiptop of the Christmas tree. With a squeak, the footstool gave way beneath his feet and he fell backwards, clutching the star of dear life. Luckily, the couch was right there and he only twisted his leg on the way down.

Determined to get the star up onto the top of the three, Cloud got up again, this time standing on the leg of the couch. Just as he was about to put the star in its rightful place, he felt his knees buckle and he started to fall toward the decorated tree. Luckily, strong arms wrapped themselves around Cloud’s waist. Poking his tongue out of the corner of his mouth, he stuck the star where it belonged and grinned triumphantly. He opened his mouth to say something when he was picked up bridal style. Cloud squeaked and came face to face with none other than Zack.

The older man leaned down to kiss Cloud when there was a beeping from the kitchen and black smoke started pouring out of the door. “Aw crap, not the turkey.” He groaned. Dropping Cloud (gently) on the couch, he bolted toward the kitchen. Cloud picked himself off and dusted the back of his pants before admiring his work. The tree was finely decorated with little coloured glass balls, some sparkley silver stuff, and a pretty golden star at the top. Beaming, Cloud sat back down on the couch and looked out the window. The snow was falling softly and it practically stretched on forever. All of the other houses and apartments in Midgar were blanketed in snow as well. For once, the dirty, polluted town looked... nice. Breathing in what he thought would be fresh air, he inhaled some of the smoke from the kitchen and started coughing violently. Zack poked his head out of the kitchen and watched Cloud a bit before going back to his burnt turkey.

After Cloud calmed down, he looked out of the window again and noticed a black van-like thing pull up in their snow covered driveway. Smiling, he got up and wandered into the kitchen. Zack had cracked open a window and all of the smoke had been sucked out into the open. There was a charred lump of what was once a turkey sitting in the garbage and Zack was rummaging through the pantry. Tugging on the older man’s sleeve, Cloud opened his mouth to speak when Zack attempted to kiss him once more. Key word: Attempted.

The door bell rang and startled the first class SOLDIER into dropping the box of uncooked pasta he had been holding. Cloud laughed and picked it up while Zack wandered over to get the door.

“Sephiroth!” Cloud heard Zack say warmly as the door opened and snow began blowing into their small home. Cloud poked his head out of the kitchen and saw Sephiroth. He couldn’t help but smile. Sephiroth looked as stoic as ever, but he was holding a few parcels and a bag. The silver haired man walked over to the tree, set the parcels down and then set the bag on a table. Pulling something out, he showed what it was to Cloud.

“I brought a cheesecake!” He said, his stoic expression turning to a very pleased one. Cloud smiled and took the cheesecake from Sephiroth and put it in the fridge. Sephiroth turned to Zack and muttered, “Does he ever talk?”

“Not really.” Zack whispered back. When Cloud wandered out of the kitchen, Sephiroth stuffed a Santa hat on the boy’s head. It was lopsided, covering one of Cloud’s eyes. Zack smiled and poked Cloud’s nose.

“Nice tree.” Sephiroth commented, looking at it. “Looks too nice to be done by you, Zack.”

“I did it.” Cloud said, giving Sephiroth a half smile.

“It speaks!” Zack teased, wrapping his arms around Cloud’s waist from behind and resting his chin on a head of chocobo-coloured hair. Zack hummed a little tune and Sephiroth wandered over to the stereo that Zack had set up. Pressing a few buttons, he frowned and then pressed one more before Christmas tunes started pouring out of the little music box.

Zack tilted Cloud’s head and smiled, leaning toward him before Sephiroth violently grabbed Zack’s arm and they started to dance around in circles to songs like “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman.” Cloud covered his mouth with his hand. Checking the clock, he realized that it was only 6:00 PM and that he should start on making something that... wasn’t turkey.

Making his way into the kitchen, he grabbed some uncooked pasta and started boiling water. The doorbell rang and Cloud set the box down and went to get it. Sephiroth and Zack were still dancing in the living room. Opening the door, all he saw were two dark blobs as snow started pouring in through the open door. Ushering them in, he closed the door and rubbed his freezing arms.

“I brought the beer!” A familiar voice said as none other than Reno himself staggered into the living room, holding a pack of well... beer. Rude adjusted his sunglasses and wiped some snow off of his shoulders. Zack waved from where he was still dancing, arm linked with Sephiroth’s as they skipped around in circles. Reno dropped the beer in Cloud’s arms and then bounced over to go join them. Rude nodded to Cloud and went to sit down on the couch, admiring the tree on the way. Cloud put the beer in the fridge and then continued working on his pasta dish for dinner.

There was a crash as a tired Zack fell onto the floor, bringing Sephiroth and Reno down with him. The Turk was laughing hysterically and Sephiroth had to leave to fix his hair in the bathroom.

Zack wandered into the kitchen to get a water bottle when he spotted Cloud making the pasta. There was one of those window-like things that one could open to see out into the living room, but Cloud had them closed. Pushing them open, Zack smiled and took a sip of his water, waving at a very hyper Reno. Sephiroth waltzed back into the room singing “Silver Bells” in a low, baritone voice. Cloud moved to work on the pasta once more when Zack cupped his cheek in one hand, turning the younger boy’s head toward face his.

“THINK FAST!!” Someone shouted, before a rubber ball was chucked at Zack’s head. Wincing as it made contact with his skull, he turned and saw Reno, doubled over in laughter as Rude just sat there and Sephiroth was still trapped in his own little world where he was singing in front of a live audience of millions of fans as it snowed large, delicately designed snowflakes.

Hopping over the gas stove, through the little window and over the small bar-like table, he pounced Reno and started strangling him. The Turk, however, was not easily dominated and threw Zack off before running through the house to another room.

“It’s Christmas time in the city~” Sephiroth sang, waltzing his way into the kitchen. Cloud’s eyes met with Sephiroth’s for a brief second and he could tell that the older man was amused. Picking up the rubber ball, he tossed it at Rude, who caught it without even moving his body. All he did was extend his hand. Cloud’s eyes widened and he turned immediately back to what he had been doing before.

A very messy Zack marched into the kitchen, his hair sticking up in random places. Grabbing Cloud, he pulled him in for a rough kiss when the doorbell rang yet again. He would’ve just kissed Cloud and then deal with the person later, but a very determined Reno pounced Zack and pulled him toward the door.

Zack whined as he was violently pulled away from the younger boy, who was giggling uncontrollably at that point. Opening the door, Reno grinned maliciously as Zack straightened himself up and smiled pleasantly as a very emotionless Tseng stood at the door. What an interesting bunch there was tonight, Zack thought, sighing. There was Reno, who was insane and cocky, Sephiroth who had multiple personalities, Cloud who was practically mute, Rude who didn’t move and Tseng who was completely and utterly devoid of emotions. He was holding a silver tray of gingerbread cookies. Zack, because he didn’t know the Turk well at ALL, reached for a gingerbread man. Something smacked his hand away when Reno’s hands were stuffed in his pockets and Tseng’s were firmly gripping the silver tray. Zack’s eyes widened and he backed off, letting Tseng into the warm house. As the Asian Turk entered the room, he looked at everyone, nodded and then sat down next to Rude.

“Is that everyone?” Reno asked, turning up the dial on the heater.

“Pretty much.” Zack nodded. ‘And thank the higher beings above.’ He thought to himself, exasperatedly. Cloud poked his head out of the window-thing and smiled.

“Pasta’s done.” He said, pleasantly. Zack grinned.

“Go ahead and take a seat at the table.” He said to everyone. Most of them nodded. Sephiroth smiled brightly and went to one of the heads of the table because he was all-powerful like that. The other head was reserved for Zack because he was the host. Helping Cloud put the tortellini-angel haired pasta-ravioli pasta mix into bows, he took the tray of bowls out while Cloud took out the three or four bowls of sauces. There were two meat sauces, one with onions, one without (for Reno), alfredo sauce and melted garlic butter. Setting them down amongst the candles and Christmas decorations at the center of the table, he took a seat near Zack and put his napkin on his lap. Smiling at Tseng, he noticed that the Asian Turk was holding what appeared to be a silver tray of some sort of cookie underneath the table.

After passing out the bowls, Zack sat down at the head of the table.

“So, we’re supposed to give thanks, right?” He asked, looking around at the band Shinra misfits. Sephiroth shrugged, Reno gave Zack a weird look and Tseng and Rude just stared at him (Rude only moves one body part at a time). Cloud tapped Zack’s shoulder, gaining his attention.

“Actually, this is just a time for family and friends to get together and enjoy the winter holidays with presents. So, whether or not you want to give thanks is entirely up to you.” He said, before smiling and adjusting the napkin in his lap. Reno, who had never heard Cloud say so many words at one time, eyed the boy incredulously.

“Well, alright.” Zack said, nodding once. “I know it was really last-minute to call all of you guys here for Christmas, but I was told it was a time to celebrate. So, I decided that, though we’re all of different rankings and place in ShinRa, that doesn’t stop us from coming together on this holiday and doing what we do best!” Zack said, with a nod and a grin.

“And that is?” Sephiroth asked, with a tilt to his head.

“Getting drunk!” Reno shouted, throwing his arms above his head. Sephiroth made a face. He was too good to drink alcohol. Zack slapped his forehead and and shook his head.

“Actually, I was going to say something along the lines of eating food, but whatever floats your boat. Now, eat before I shove the food down your throats.” He threatened, halfheartedly and everyone slowly dug into their food.

Reno started pouring sauces on it like no one could believe before shoveling the pasta into his mouth. Tseng didn’t let go of the platter of gingerbread men he was holding, so he just kind of... stared at his bowl. Zack looked at him pathetically before watching Rude slowly and robotically spoon pasta into his mouth. Sephiroth whined from his seat at the table as he attempted to put on alfredo sauce without getting it in his lovely hair.

Zack and Cloud shared a glance before they both started laughing and digging into their own food.

It had taken a while before everyone had successfully eaten. Zack moved everyone over to the couch to share some stories while Cloud cleaned the table. The black haired SOLDIER felt incredibly bad about leaving Cloud to do all of the work, but the young blonde had volunteered wholeheartedly and refused any help from Zack.

“It was this one time, on a mission into a town that was being overrun by fiends, right?” Sephiroth started, his legs crossed, gripping at the leather of his black boots. “I was getting ready to leave because we had just finished the job, but I was in dire need of the bathroom. So,” He grimaced, “I had to use the woman’s bathroom, but since the place was crowded, there were some women banging on the door, calling me Mary. I was so creeped out that I finished and then snuck out through the window.” Sephiroth hung his head and Reno fell off of the couch laughing hysterically. Zack had brought out the beer and everyone was drinking, and by everyone, that was Zack and Reno. Rude was too much of a robot to drink and it pained Reno watching him drink, so he refused to give the bald man any form of liquor. Tseng was usually a drinker, but his hands were still glued to the platter of gingerbread men that he wouldn’t share with anyone, he couldn’t exactly have a beer and Sephiroth refused to ruin his lovely brain by drinking. Little did he know that later on, he’d actually decide to taste alcohol, enjoy it and destroy the entire town of Nibelheim because he was so drunk that he started looking for someone named “Mother.”

Reno eyed Tseng and then quickly made a grab for a gingerbread man, his eyes on Tseng’s hands. And yet again, for the fourth time that night, his hand was slapped away. Frowning and rubbing the bruised flesh, he continued to eye the gingerbread men with a passionate lust.

After Cloud had finished the dishes, he grabbed some paper plates and Sephiroth’s cheesecake and cut it up into pieces, putting pieces on plates for Reno, Zack, Sephiroth and Tseng. Passing them out amongst the guests, he stood in front of Tseng and smiled warmly. The Turk’s expression never changed.

“Lemme take that from you.” Zack offered, holding out his hands for the tray. Tseng gave him a steely gaze. Cloud pushed Zack aside and held out the cheesecake to Tseng, still smiling. Reno shook his head before taking another huge bite out of the cheesecake.

“Do you want some cheesecake?” He asked, pleasantly. Tseng nodded and let go of the tray before taking the cheesecake. Cloud put his hands on the tray. “Can I take this?” Tseng nodded. “Can I have a cookie?” Tseng nodded once more. Everyone watched as he Cloud took the tray into the kitchen, took a gingerbread man and then put the tray in the oven to keep it warm. Smiling pleasantly, he walked back into living room, ignoring the stares he got from everyone who weren’t Tseng and Rude. Biting off the gingerbread man’s head, he rested against the end of the couch.

They continued talking and drinking until Reno was starting to feel warm and fuzzy and Zack felt sick (because of his low tolerance for alcohol). Cloud had eaten multiple gingerbread men and after Tseng had finished his cheesecake, gave him a stuffed panda to clutch (because it was the only thing he could find that wasn’t a burning hot tray of cookies). As the night slowly drew to a close, the clock finally struck midnight.

“Happy Birthday!” Reno said, his words rather slurred together. Zack whapped the drunk Turk upside the head and he, Sephiroth and Cloud started handing out the presents that were under the trees. All the ones that were for Zack and Cloud were left because they were for the following morning. Tseng let go of the panda and grabbed his stack of presents, eying them suspiciously.

Rude only got one present, and that was because Zack felt bad for him. Reno didn’t really get him anything, and he followed the redhaired Turk around obsessively, giving him money to fuel his drinking habits. So, Zack had purchased him this meditative music that would probably loosen up those robotic muscles of his (and maybe even remove the rather large stick up his bum). Reno and Sephiroth got one from everyone, and were extremely pleased with their large piles of presents. As soon as everything was passed out, the first class SOLDIER and the drunk Turk began to open their presents, ripping at the wrapping paper. Zack had to help Rude get his present open and Tseng was opening his with some kind of... sick obsession, Cloud noted as he watched. He took each present, pulled off the tape and opened the wrapping paper, careful not to rip it.

After present opening was done, Sephiroth sang Silver Bells again, and Reno joined him, attempting not too sound drunk, when he was really getting worse by the minute. Zack and Cloud looked at each other before smiling. Zack joined in himself as he was perched right next to Sephiroth on the arm of the couch. Cloud yawned cutely, noticing that the clock said around one o’clock in the morning.

When they left, they all left at the same time. Cloud gave Tseng his tray back and thanked him for the wonderful cookies. Sephiroth had to help Reno out to his car and Rude trailed behind, moving in his scary robotic way that would soon be gone because of Zack’s nice present. Cloud and Zack watched all of it, smiling. Cloud yawned and stretched as Sephiroth’s car (the last car) pulled out of their snow-covered driveway and drove away.

“Finally.” Zack sighed, as the turned and faced Cloud. His shoulder’s slumped a bit out of tiredness and he looked like he was fighting to keep his eyes open. Cloud wrapped his arms around Zack’s neck before pulling him down for a kiss. Zack grinned when they pulled back and kissed Cloud once on the forehead.

“Merry Christmas.” Cloud whispered.

For a while, they just stood there on the doorstep to their small house in the better part of Midgar, watching the snow fall on the ground. It was so dark that Cloud could barely see the silhouettes of the other apartments and houses. Finally, Zack dragged Cloud inside.

“Well, we better start cleaning.” Zack groaned, looking all over the messy house. Cloud grabbed a bag and quickly picked up the stuff in the living room before putting the bag in the kitchen. Kissing Zack once more, he dragged him toward their small bedroom.

“Tomorrow.”

*~*Owari*~*

~ XD This fanfic made me insanely happy! It also helped me to procrastinate and NOT study for my history exam, but OH WELL because I loved it so much! ^__^ I hope you all enjoy this little piece that I put together, because I loves it very, very much <333<3<3<3<3<3<3!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Love, Buyo