Chapter 15: Waiting for the ‘Men’

Cloud and I got back home about an hour before Vincent and Cid would be arriving from work. I used my time wisely getting ready and Cloud did the same. The only thing we had a hard time with was finding Cloud something to wear. Cid kept the guesthouse locked so we were left with just Vincent’s closet.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Cloud sighed as we walked towards Vincent’s side of the closet. “He’s at least half a foot taller than I am!”
“I bet you any money he hasn’t cleaned out his closet in years,” he looked at me in confusion as I scavenged through the clothing. “…Meaning he could still have his suits from being a Turk?”
“So? They’ll still be too big,” Cloud laughed.
“I can hem them real quick,” I smiled deviously at him in response.
We spent about 5 minutes shifting through Vincent’s rows and rows of clothes. Sure enough though, we found a suit of his that was probably never even worn before.

“Go put it on, and then I’ll hem it for you.”
“Hem it while I’m wearing it?” he raised an eyebrow at me.
“Y-yes…” I slid past him through the doorway to find my needle and thread.
“And what do you plan on wearing?” Cloud yelled to me as he changed in the bedroom.
“You’ll see,” I smiled as I walked towards him, weapons at hand. “Now hold still. Otherwise you’ll end up with some unwanted piercings.”
“Very funny,” he narrowed his eyes. “Just be careful.”

It took me about 20 minutes to do both the sleeves and the pant legs. When I finished, I stepped back to get a better look at the finished product. Cloud looked downright handsome.

“Wow Cloud,” I was dumbfounded. “When you’re cleaned up, you’re-”
“Good looking?” a voice from the doorway boomed behind me. I immediately swivelled around on my feet to face the person.
“Vincent!” I smiled so widely I feared my face might crack. “You’re home early! Is Cid back too?”
“Yes ma’am, Ms. Ama,” Cid appeared behind Vincent’s shoulder. “By golly, is that Cloud? Spiky head, is that you?!”
“Cid! Man it’s great to see you,” Cloud stepped down from the chair I had him standing on.
“So what’s the occasion, Kimberly?” I shuddered as Vincent spoke my full name. He only did that when I was either in trouble, or when he was worried about me. I figured it was for the first reason this time around. He sounded very cold. “Going somewhere tonight?”
“Yes…” I spoke cautiously. It was almost like I was the daughter and he was my father, and I was trying to talk my way out of trouble. “But let me finish! I want you and Cid to come too! I want the four of us to go out for dinner. I figured you three might want to hang out… Or something…”

I sat down on the couch and stared at my lap. I could feel the burning sensation in my eyes that you always get before crying.
“But if you don’t want to go, I under-...”
I didn’t get to finish what I was going to say because when I looked back up, I realized I was talking to a confused Cloud. Vincent and Cid were already running around getting ready to go.
“Well, Ms. Ama, you better get ready too!” Cid laughed as he rushed by out to the guesthouse.
“Y-yes..!” I said lightly as I smiled.