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[imjustaman]

Hello, this is Sephiroth. I am sorry I missed you. Please leave a message and I will get back to you promptly.

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[cloudsenior]

Cloud felt his face heat up a little. He knew Sephiroth didn't mean it that way, but out of anyone else that was a clear way of saying, "Hurry the hell up, Cloud." Listen, proper footwear was important! Bad footwear meant you were going to deal with aches and pains, or worse, tears in your skin!

He let out a breath, before settling on a pair of casual boots, placing both in the cart with a sheepish look on his face.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth understood about proper footwear. He wished he had thought about getting the groceries after the apparel.

He smiled at Cloud and started heading for the checkout lanes. “Shopping together is … nice.”

[cloudsenior]

Cloud followed behind, peering back at him. He... wasn't wrong; dare he say he actually had fun? It was... nice, seeing how different they were when it came to the things they liked, and how they planned a shopping trip.

"It is," he agreed softly, glancing away almost shyly.

[imjustaman]

He smiled more. "Perhaps we can ... do it more often."

He was certainly more of a practical person, but now that he was sane and free, he was curious to know about other things normal people did, like going to the mall, even. He might like to try it, at least once.

[cloudsenior]

"Yeah," Cloud agreed. "Whenever you want; just give me a call."

...there was that inner 16 year old, squeeing in excitement over the fact that Sephiroth really wanted to spend time with him. He missed his 16 year old self. He had to wonder what happened in those missing five years that made him just so... bitter.

"Thanks... for doing this with me."

[imjustaman]

"I'll do that," he smiled.

He looked slightly amused. "I needed to shop as well. It made sense to go together. It's been ... much better than shopping alone."

Which he had usually always done, except for times when Zack had dragged him somewhere to look at things.

[cloudsenior]

Cloud let out a faint sound of agreement, and a small smile just might have crept up on his face.

With their goods paid for and everything bagged, Cloud lugged his stuff outside, both arms weighed down with everything he purchased. He paused as they made their way to the end of the store's parking lot, looking around.

"I think... I should probably head home," he said, part of him not really ready to say goodbye, even if it was just for now. But it would be impractical to go back to Sephiroth's place, just because he wanted to be near him for a little while longer.

[imjustaman]

"Yes, you should get the food in the refrigerator," Sephiroth said. "I should as well." A pause. "Of course ... if you would like, we could ... then share a meal, perhaps? Unless you have other plans...."

[cloudsenior]

"A meal sounds good," Cloud found himself replying quickly. He paused a moment to look embarrassed, before he coughed, looking away.

"Uh... my place or yours?"

[imjustaman]

"Either way is fine," Sephiroth said. "Although I probably have more ingredients to make various dishes."

He saw what Cloud had purchased, after all.

[cloudsenior]

Listen...! He had perfectly good food for a single twenty-one year old man!

"Okay, sounds good," he said, before offering Sephiroth a faint smile. "I'll... see you in an hour or so?"

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth smiled back. "Yes, that will be fine."

He headed home to put things away and decide what to make. He had been intrigued by cooking ever since he had been able to have a place to live away from the lab and had had control over his meals. He liked that freedom.

[cloudsenior]

Cloud went home to put his own things away, and... then panicked a little. He should probably actually wear his new clothes, which meant they needed to be washed first. He hauled the load down to the building's shared washing machines, taking advantage of the fact that someone had left some detergent "free for emergencies". He quietly urged both the washer and dryer to hurry it up, but it still took longer than an hour for it all to wash and dry enough to be worn.

He rushed back up to his apartment, taking the fastest shower he had taken in his life, before grabbing the first pair of jeans and shirt that he could get his hands on. It was then he realized, as he saw part of his knees and calves in the mirror, that he had accidentally gotten one of the pre-ripped jeans by accident.

...

With the baggy shirt he chose and the casual boots, it honestly wasn't a bad look. He saw the appeal.

He was taking off for Sephiroth's place soon after, certain that the walk back and forth would be enough to break in the boots he had fussed over. It wasn't long before he was heading up to Sephiroth's apartment, knocking on the door.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth had also decided to wear the new clothes. He had washed and dried them while showering and working on the food, and was a bit relieved when Cloud didn't arrive quite on time since he wasn't ready. By the time Cloud did come, he was ready, wearing the black slacks and the black shirt ... unbuttoned, of course.

He opened the door with a smile. "Hello, Cloud. Come in." He hadn't quite noticed the jeans yet.

[cloudsenior]

Oh but Cloud noticed the unbuttoned shirt. His mouth worked a moment, his face pinking and he had no idea why. It wasn't like he never saw Sephiroth's bare chest before; he always had himself out on display. Something about the casual slacks and shirt was just somehow more indecent, and he had a moment where he almost reached out to touch, before he caught himself.

"Y-yeah," he managed to get out of his mouth, shuffling inside and trying very hard not to turn a fresh shade of pink.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth looked amused but pleased. "These clothes are very comfortable," he said. "I will like wearing them."

As Cloud walked, now he noticed the holes. "... You were so intrigued by the concept of the ripped jeans that you decided to purchase them?"

[cloudsenior]

"I-it was an accident, I swear," he replied sheepishly, before he turned back to him, shrugging casually as he slipped his hands into the pockets of the jeans. "It's... not a bad look."

[imjustaman]

"Hm." Sephiroth studied him, pondering. It might take some getting used to when it was unlike how either Cloud he knew tended to dress, but it was interesting. He couldn't say he liked the concept of ripped clothing as a style, but he had liked Cloud's explanation about it, and if that was why Cloud liked the look, he could understand and respect that.

"It is intriguing," he mused. "Come into the kitchen; dinner is ready."

He smiled, gesturing at the kitchen. He had the table set and the food available.

[cloudsenior]

Intriguing, hunh? He didn't say he hated it, so Cloud would take that as a win.

He peered around Sephiroth to see what was on the table before he started over for it.

[imjustaman]

Sephiroth was diplomatic and polite, but he honestly was trying to find something to like about a style that was so strange to him in general.

There were baked potatoes, some type of rice and cheese and vegetable casserole, rolls, and squash.

[cloudsenior]

Cloud let out a hum of appreciation as he sat at the table; it was a nice spread, and the smell was amazing.

"I honestly didn't peg you as someone that could cook," he confessed, waiting for Sephiroth to sit as well, despite how anxious he was to dig in.

[imjustaman]

He smiled. "I learned partially because it's a useful skill to have on missions," he said. "And also because I liked deciding for myself what I would eat and seeing it be made step by step."

He sat down and started to dish out the food.

[cloudsenior]

Cloud tilted his head curiously at that. Deciding for himself what to eat?

"You mean... you didn't choose your own meals at Shinra?" he asked.

[imjustaman]

"Not as a child," Sephiroth admitted. "Hojo decided."

[cloudsenior]

Cloud made a face at that.

"Ugh... Hojo," he muttered. He could only imagine what he would make Sephiroth eat; probably some gruel that had no taste, just all the nutritional values that a growing young man needed to survive.

Gross.