If Haru thought what had happened in the office was bad, it was nothing compared to sitting in a car with two angry and distraught parents. The tension was so thick, someone could have cut it with a knife. He watched the rain droplets hit the window, dribble into each other to make a bigger drop and finally slide their way off as the family made their way home.
“So what’d he have to say?” Cloud growled out and Tifa hesitantly explained what Sparks had said earlier. Haru could feel that icy feeling in the pit of his stomach as he could hear Cloud’s teeth grinding as the man listen intently to Haru’s fate.
Cloud released an angry sigh through his nose and grumbled “Well, it looks like I won’t have to beat you too badly then, will I?”
“Cloud, that’s enough.” Tifa said softly and that’s when Cloud slammed on the brakes, jerking Tifa and Haru in their seats.
“DON’T TELL ME THAT’S ENOUGH TIFA!!!!! DON’T TELL ME NOT TO BE PISSED OFF EITHER!!! I’ll have you know that we’ve been out there busting our asses and all for what?! So our dumbass son can fuck around and get expelled?!” he thundered and Tifa wasn’t any better.
“HOW DARE YOU CALL HIM A DUMBASS AFTER THAT LITTLE STUNT YOU PULLED BACK AT THE OFFICE?!!!!! I THOUGHT FOR SURE YOU HAD GOTTEN HIM EXPELLED AFTER WHAT SPARKS HAD TO WITNESS!!!! Damn it Cloud…” she fumed as she unfastened her seat belt and wrenched open the car door, stepping out into the freezing rain. Cloud sighed and growled to Haru “Stay in the car and no funny business either, got it?”
Cloud stepped out of the car and Haru watched as he slowly approached his mother. The couple stood side by side in the rain talking briskly until both had finally calmed down enough to pull the other into a gentle embrace. A pang with in his heart welled up and Haru at first didn’t know what it was. Then it hit him, or so he thought.
He believed he was the source of their troubles. Mr. Warren, Mr. Sparks, his father and mother had all been right. He was a big ‘fuck up’ as Mr. Warren put it, and to top it off, he was hurting his parents relationship. Every time Haru had angered his father like he did today, his mother would try to intervene and act as Haru’s shield. There were times Haru wished she wouldn’t do that. He wished he was a better person: stronger, smarter, and better behaved. Alas, his parents got the complete opposite: they got him.
Haru switched out of his thoughts as soon as the car doors open. Both his parents were sopping wet, but better natured, much to Haru’s pleasure. Cloud peered at him through the driver’s mirror only to reply “Consider yourself lucky. You get to live a little longer, so be sure to thank your mother when we get home.” Haru gave a small nod and answered “Yes sir.”
“That’s my boy.”
Without another word, the trip home was much better that Haru had expected. Much better than even he had hoped…
~~~
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!”
Haru was on his feet at the dinner table, the look of disbelief and utter indignity written all over his pale face. Cloud had a smug little smirk on his face as he said “I told you to thank your mother when we got home, because I wouldn’t have even suggested such an idea.”
Haru looked from Cloud to Tifa and then back to Cloud.
“Dad, c’mon!!!! You know I hate roughing it! What makes you think I’ll be any help to you on your deliveries?!”
Cloud looked overly amused as he turned to Tifa and murmured “Should I explain, or do you want to since it was your idea?” Tifa sighed and rolled her eyes.
“Well, I guess I could…Haru, your father and I were discussing this a little while ago. I don’t think you really understand what we have to go through just to make sure you get a good education. I know we seem like a couple of hard asses at times but-”
“We want you to get a decent education, graduate and hopefully go to college to later find a job that you love.” Cloud interrupted and Tifa shot him a dirty look. Cloud rolled his eyes and mumbled “Fine, fine, you talk to him. He’s all yours.”
Tifa sighed and picked up where she left off. “Well, yes, we want you to find a job that you love, but we also want you to be economically stable. Sure, your father and I enjoy what we do, but sometimes the pay can be a little…how do I want to put it-“
“Sucky? Low? A major bummer?” Haru chimed and Tifa shrugged. “That just about sums it up. Anyways, we just want you to be happy and successful. That’s all.”
“However, you can’t do that if you’re too busy chocoboing around with some girl…which reminds me…Why do you always harass her?” Cloud asked and Haru stared at him dumbly.
Haru didn’t see that one coming. His first answer could have been ‘because it’s fun to see her get mad’ or ‘because she’s so easy to get to’, but he definitely thought it was best to keep that tidbit to himself. So he shrugged.
Cloud and Tifa weren’t fooled at all as they looked skeptically at him. “Haru Strife, I’ve known you since you first came into our lives and I know you have a reason behind all of this, so spill the beans mister!” Tifa demanded and Haru put his hands up defensively.
“Okay, okay!!! Jeez, don’t jump me!!!...I like to piss her off…”
“What? I didn’t catch that.”
“I like to piss her off…”
“We still can’t hear what you’re saying. Be a man and speak up!”
“I SAID I LIKE TO PISS HER OFF!!!!!” Haru yelled a little louder than he wanted to. Tifa jumped a little and Cloud snorted.
“I don’t think it’s funny at all Cloud! Don’t encourage him!” Tifa chided and Cloud rolled his eyes.
“Oh c’mon Tifa! There’s nothing wrong with a boy trying to get a girl’s attention!” Cloud argued, but Tifa crossed her arms a frowned. “Of course, then again, setting fire to her hair is a bit much.” He grinned sheepishly and Tifa shook her head.
“Now I know where he gets it from! I’m not so sure sending him with you is such a good idea…”
Cloud rolled his eyes and muttered “…typical…” but was stopped short with Tifa standing up and looking formidable.
“Cloud Strife!”
“Tifa Strife!”
Cloud was on his feet too and both were grinning. Haru had a feeling he didn’t want to know what was going to happen later. He slowly started edging his chair back, preparing himself for a daring escape if they should start kissing. He cringed at the thought. Public Displays of Affection between any parents in front of their children should be illegal, or so he thought.
“Don’t worry, we’re not going to kiss in front of you. We’re above grossing you out…Then again…Your mother looks very tempting-” Cloud breathed leaning in as he went to kiss Tifa.
“I’LL DO WHAT YOU WANT, JUST NO P.D.A.’S IN FRONT OF ME!!!!!!” Haru howled and covered his ears, scrunching his eyes shut and gritting his teeth. Tifa put a hand on Cloud’s chest to keep him at bay.
“You’re horrible.” She laughed.
“I try…Anyhow, pack your bags because we’re leaving.”
Haru looked confused.
“Now?”
“Now.” Cloud confirmed and with a grudging sigh, Haru got up and headed upstairs to gather his things. Cloud looked at Tifa and she looked at him.
“You better bring him back in one piece.” She warned and Cloud pulled her closer to him.
“And you better kiss me, or else, I’ll be very sad and think you don’t love me anymore.” He mused and Tifa giggled before their lips met happily.
“MY EYES!!!!!! MY VIRGIN EYES!!!!! IT BURNS!!!!!!” Haru screeched just as he came down the stairs, only to stumble upon the scene before him. Cloud snorted in mid-kiss and pulled away, running his thumb gently under Tifa’s eye. “I’ll be back later this evening. Take care of the house and I love you.” He murmured to her and she laughed.
“Same goes for you! Now get going! It’s gonna be a long trip to Junon and back.” She planted a quick kiss on his forehead and started ushering him towards the door. With a sigh, Cloud opened the door and both stood waiting for their child to stop making grossed out faces.
“Are you done yet? C’mon, give your mother a kiss and let’s go!”
Haru’s lip stuck out as he marched over, pecked his mother on the cheek and followed his father out the door.
“Be careful you two!!!! Watch out for monsters!!!!” Tifa called to them from the door as father and son mounted a motorcycle dubbed Fenrir. From what Haru could remember, his father had always had that bike since the man was about 20 some odd years of age and here his father was, pushing 40. It would have sounded ludicrous to his peers, but certainly not to him, if a 40 year old man still rode a motorcycle as if he were twenty something.
“Do you have your helmet on? Your mother will have a conniption if you don’t.” Cloud warned and Haru grudgingly put his helmet on, then they were off.
