Feels Familiar

Part of 2018 FF7 Fanworks Exchange

Tifa sighed as the sound of shattering glass reached her ears…again.

They'd come to Costa Del Sol for some relaxation, a quick break before they continued their slog after Sephiroth. They deserved that, right? There was only one problem…

"Which one of ya mudderfukkers wanna to drow 'ands!?"

Yuffie.

As it turned out, their resident ninja was a mean drunk. They'd discovered this fun fact by accident at camp one night, while passing around a kettle of Cid's 'tea,' which she was pretty sure could double as rocket fuel. There were more than a few hurt feelings, and black eyes, to go around that night.

Since then, they'd tried to moderate the girl's intake, but she had a talent for lifting more than just materia, and as often as not, they'd be left to deal with the mini-typhoon.

"Son of a bitch!" Barret growled as he ducked under a glass. "Just once I'd like to NOT get kicked out of a bar that we don't own."

"You're telling me." Cid grumbled, lighting up a cigarette as he watched the teenager hoop and holler. "Goddammit Yuf, calm the fuck down!"

"Make me old man!" She cried back.

Aerith sighed as she swirled the remnants of her cocktail. "She'll tucker herself out eventually, she always does." She winced as the sound of shattering glass filled the air. "Hopefully sooner rather than later."

Cid knocked back the last of his whiskey. "Yeah, fuck that." Her turned to the bar, where a familiar crop of blond hair was gathering a fresh set of beers. "Spike! Do your damn job! You're on damage control!"

The ex-SOLDIER gave the pilot a two-finger salute, before vaulting over a table on the way Yuffie.

He gave the girl a small smile. "How you feeling Yuf?"

"Like Imma bout ta kick your azz." She slurred.

He raised an eyebrow. "That good, huh?" He motioned her forward. "Come and get it then."

Her first swing was wide and wild, and he easily slipped under it as he moved behind her, gently bouncing on his feet.

"Aww come on Yuf, you got better than that." He teased.

"Hellz yeah I do!" She growled as she surged forward again, throwing haymaker after haymaker, as he bobbed and weaved through the strikes, grinning all the while.

"Stayy stilllll." She whined as she swung again.

He slipped inside, planting a fist in her stomach, doubling the girl over. "That looked painful." He observed helpfully.

She roared as she threw a wide hook that the blond caught, pulling her head down towards the floor with the other, leaning his weight into the smaller combatant to tire her out. She flailed, trying to knock his hand away, and he calmly switched from one arm to the other each time, jerking her down sharply with every change of hand.

He leaned forward into her ear. "Where you at Yufs!? Where you at!?"

"Ryyht here!" She snapped, slamming an elbow into his face, driving him back.

He wiped the blood from his freshly split lip, laughing as he took in the sight of the heavily panting girl. "There she is! That's my girl, come on!"

She howled as she charged forward. The others observed the now familiar ritual with interest, watching as the two taunted and threatened, Cloud slowly tired the girl out, till she lay panting on the floor.

"Strife…I swear…to Leviathan...Imma kill you." She huffed.

He shook his head and nudged her with his boot. "In the morning Yuf. Go to bed. Good fight."

"Ya bet your azz itz a gud fiyght." She slurred as she slowly made her way to her feet. "Bess damn fiyght ya ever had."

He chuckled. "Best damn fight I ever had." He agreed. "Night Yuf."

"Night azzholes." She shot back as the stumbled her way towards the stairs.

Cid shook his head as the man walked back over to join them. "Dammit Spike, how do you do that?"

"Do what?"

The pilot spat. "Wrangle that brat. It's uncanny."

The blond smiled as he accepted a cloth and ice from Aerith. "She young, just wants to prove herself. Give her a little bit of attention and some room to vent that energy, and she'll calm right down."

Tifa laughed. "And 'a little bit of attention' means a fist fight in a bar? Where'd you come up with that?"

Cloud grinned back as he pressed the ice to his lip. "I don't know, it just feels…familiar, you know?"

Cid snorted. "Buncha fuckin crackpots, that's what I signed up with."

Aerith held out a hand proudly. "Hi pot, I'm kettle!"

It wasn't the best joke, but that night? It killed.

Years Ago, In a Bar In Midgar

The sound of shattering glass filled the air.

Kunsel groaned. "Dammit! Strife's drunk again! Zack, you're on damage control!"

The dark-haired SOLDIER grinned as he vaulted over a table.

"How you feeling little buddy?"