Chapter Text
Cloud digs around in his pocket, looking for the lighter he knows is somewhere in there. He was going to try and stop smoking, but now that he’s got a job at Club Shinra, there doesn't seem to be a point–everyone smokes all night anyway. He'll try to quit again later. Maybe. For now, he needs something to take the edge off.
When he finally finds his lighter deep in his back pocket, he sighs and stops walking, pausing at a corner to light up. The first drag hits his lungs and he takes a deep breath, sucking in as much nicotine as he can. He holds it for a few moments and then lets it go, watching as the smoke dances in front of him for a moment before it disappears.
Today is the first day of Cloud's new job as a host. It's not like it’s a hard job to get; really, anyone who wants to try it can probably get a host job somewhere. Still, Cloud was genuinely surprised when he had gotten hired at Club Shinra. It’s the biggest host club in Midgar, and it’s rumored that Shinra hosts bring in millions of Gil every night.
Cloud never thought he would get a job working as a host, but times had been hard, and working as a bartender wasn't paying the bills anymore. He knows what people think of hosts, he knows that it isn’t as glamorous as some people make it out to be, but it isn’t like he has much of a reputation to keep anyway.
Both of his parents are dead, he had run out of money to study for his mechanic's license, and most of his friends had moved on to bigger and better things. He had started working as a bartender a few months ago, and after having a long conversation with one of his regulars, who was working as a host, he thought he would give it a try.
He had gone home that night and scrolled through pages and pages of the different host clubs in Wall Market, Midgar’s red light district, trying to decide which one looked appealing. On every page, there was an advertisement for Club Shinra. Cloud decided that he would start at the top and work his way down. He was sure he wouldn't get hired, but after going in for an interview, he was hired on the spot.
Admittedly, he doesn’t know a lot about being a host. Talk to women, drink a lot of alcohol, and make some money. Beyond that, he doesn’t know what he’s getting himself into. The thought of making millions of gil is appealing though, so why not give it a go?
He throws his cigarette on the ground, stepping on it to put it out, and then continues his walk towards the club and his new life as a Wall Market host.
~~
He calls the elevator on the ground floor. Club Shinra is on the 8th floor of a huge building covered in billboards and lights. There are buildings like this all over Wall Market, most of them housing a couple of different clubs, but this building is definitely one of the grandest.
The elevator doors open and Cloud is instantly blasted with a mix of scents that he will come to understand is so uniquely “Host Club”. It is the scent of women’s perfume, alcohol, and tobacco. There is no other way to explain it, but every single elevator in Wall Market smells the same and serves as a good reminder to Cloud about what he is about to get himself into.
~~
The elevator dings and Cloud takes a deep breath. It's now or never. The smell is even stronger when he approaches the doors, but it isn't as musty as in the elevator, and Cloud thinks it almost smells good.
He walks into the club expecting to hear music, but it is still pretty early, so it is almost dead silent but for some voices. He glances over at the poster on the wall right by the entrance that displays the current top players. He pauses for a moment to take a closer look.
Displayed at the top is the infamous Sephiroth. He’s the biggest earner in all of the eastern continent, not just Midgar. His long silver hair and striking green eyes are just so… alluring. It's easy to see why he's number 1.
Honestly speaking, it had been Sephiroth that really pulled Cloud's attention in the first place. Cloud knew he was bisexual from a very young age, but he's sure that even a straight guy would be able to understand why Sephiroth was the best of the best. He looks like he was made in a lab.
“Are you Cloud?”
Cloud jumps at the voice coming from behind him and swirls around to see none other than Sephiroth standing in front of him.
Cloud opens and closes his mouth a few times, trying to find words to answer this stunning man in front of him. He is so much taller than Cloud had realized, and the pictures didn't do his body justice at all. The way his suit hugs all his muscles shouldn't even be allowed. And his skin… He must be wearing makeup or something. Cloud can practically feel how soft and smooth it is just by looking at it. How is this guy even real?
“A host that can't talk? This shift might be your first and your last.”
The scoff in Sephiroth's voice is not lost on Cloud, bringing him back to reality. Shit. He’s blown it already.
Cloud mentally shakes himself and finds his voice, feeling like a complete idiot.
“Sorry. Just… trying to take it all in. Yes. I’m Cloud,” he finally manages to say.
Sephiroth looks at him with a raised eyebrow, clearly not convinced at all. Cloud shifts nervously on the spot, not sure what he is supposed to do now. After a few excruciating moments, Sephiroth sighs and turns his back.
“Follow me, Newbie.”
Cloud doesn't say anything but quickly follows behind him, silently kicking himself for being such a moron right in front of such an important person. Unable to help himself, Cloud notices that Sephiroth looks good even from the back, his suit moving with his shoulder blades, and a whiff of delectable cologne follows after him.
The hallway they walk down has a few doors along the way; washrooms, the kitchen, and a utility closet. Cloud tries to take it all in and make some mental notes as to where everything is. He knows that as a new host, he will likely be doing a lot of running around until he gets some of his own regular customers to tend to.
He also notes the variety of keep bottles decorating the walls. Locked behind big glass cabinets that line the hallway, customers often buy “keep bottles” to show off their wealth. Many of the bottles come in stylish shapes like shoes, stars, and diamonds. These bottles are kept at the table every time a customer comes to the club, and they signal to other customers, “I have money.” Cloud squints as they walk by and tries to read some of the tags hanging on the necks of the bottles. Most of the tags have Sephiroth’s name on them, and he isn’t surprised—he’s number one after all.
Suddenly Sephiroth speaks, making Cloud jump slightly.
“Your hair looks awful,” Sephiroth says, not looking behind him or breaking his stride.
What the fuck is this guy's issue? Isn't he supposed to be charming? Cloud knows that his hair doesn't look great, but starting as a host had cost way more money than he thought. He knows that most hosts get their hair done at a salon before work, but there is no way Cloud can afford that yet.
He had spent most of the money he had on two new suits and his business cards. The guy at the shop had shown him all the different business cards he could get made, but they were way more expensive than Cloud had ever predicted, so he just went the cheapest route and used the basic design for Club Shinra and got his name printed on it.
Hosts never use their real names, so Cloud decided that his Host name would be Sky—original right?
After the business cards and the suits, there was nothing left, so Cloud did what he could with his hair by himself. His spikey blonde hair is almost untameable, but he doesn’t think it looks awful.
Cloud huffs quietly but doesn't say more, not wanting to give Sephiroth any more excuses to point out how bad he is at this already.
Finally they make it to the backroom, the same room that Cloud had interviewed in. A handful of guys are hanging out there, getting ready for their night.
“Puppy,” Sephiroth calls from the doorway. A young guy with dark hair styled into spikes looks over at the doorway and smiles. Cloud recognizes him from the interview, he's one of the hosts that helps manage the club, and Cloud is pretty sure that he saw him on the wall of top players.
“Your new chew toy is here,” Sephiroth says with a coy smile before he gracefully turns on his heel and saunters off back down the hallway, one hand lazily in his pocket. Cloud scowls after him for a moment before returning his attention to the man now approaching him.
What was his name again? Zack but… in the club, he goes by something else. Something really cool, something that Cloud recalls thinking didn't match his friendly and outgoing personality—but hosts tend to have their personas while on the job.
“Hey!” The man says as he holds one arm out in greeting. Cloud awkwardly slips into his side hug, and he is soon being pulled further into the room. “How are you feeling? Ready to get started?”
Clouds eyes dart around the room trying to take in his surroundings. One might think that host clubs would be dark and grimy, but the fluorescent lights are bright, and the entire place looks clean and orderly.
On one wall there are a bunch of black lockers, some of them hanging open, and Cloud can see some bags, clothes, and umbrellas stowed inside. There are some tables to one side as well with mirrors on the wall.
“This is the staff area. Here, you can use this locker.” Zack’s voice brings him back to the present. He keeps getting lost in his own head. He really needs to stop doing that.
Cloud nods as Zack leads him to an empty locker. As Cloud is putting his bag inside, some guys walk up to him. Maybe Sephiroth was right about his hair… Everyone looks stylish. Like models.
“Hey Newbie! I’m Angeal, but around here I'm known as The Stallion.”
Cloud gazes at the man in front of him. He's tall and broad, his arm muscles as big as a small tree trunk. Cloud gulps as he takes the outstretched hand in front of him, doing his best to not seem as intimidated as he feels. He doesn't need to ask why he's called The Stallion. You know what they say about big hands.
“I’m the supervisor of this club, so I’m not working out on the floor too much, but I’m always around if you need anything,” The Stallion says warmly as he releases Cloud’s hand and walks back to where he had been sitting. Cloud didn't notice that there was a desk in the corner with a computer, which is now being used by Angeal.
Cloud’s attention is quickly diverted back to the men who had come over to introduce themselves. Cloud feels a little overwhelmed at that moment, but mentally reminds himself that he has signed up to do a job that is mostly just talking to people. This feels different though. He feels like he's a new menu item and everyone's gathering around to take a look. Do they all think his hair looks awful, too?
“I’m Rude, and this is Reno.”
Cloud looks between both of them and does his best to flash a smile. “Hey,” he manages to breathe out as he shakes both their hands.
Is everyone here ripped? Rude looks like he never misses the gym, either. Although his muscles aren't as huge as The Stallions, they’re nothing to laugh at either. He was a bit taller than Cloud, bald, and for some reason was wearing sunglasses even though they were inside.
Reno looks a bit slimmer but very clearly hits up the gym, too. He has vibrant firetruck red hair that Cloud first thinks is short until he realizes that a majority of it is in a ponytail falling down his back. He has two tattoos under his eyes, two black lines that Cloud thinks look pretty cool, actually.
He had been told that it is better not to have such unique features like dyed hair or tattoos when you become a host because it makes you polarizing to certain customers, but Reno may never have gotten that memo.
“You’re gonna be hanging out with us and Zack fer awhile, bud,” Reno says, clapping his hand on Cloud’s shoulder. “We’ll show you the ropes,” he adds with a wink.
“I look forward to it,” Cloud says, willing himself to relax and lean into everyone's warm welcome. He doesn't miss that neither of them gave him their real name, but he assumes that maybe some people want to keep it private even from the other hosts.
He next turns to the man standing next to them. He looks even bigger than Angeal somehow. Who was this? The Goliath? Cloud smirks despite himself.
“Somethin’ funny newbie?” The man says. His voice is deep and Cloud isn't sure if he's being playful or serious, so he quickly fixes his face and gives a more apologetic smile instead.
“No. Sorry, I just think I’m gonna have to get a gym membership to keep up with everyone around here. I’m Cloud–er—Sky, I guess.”
At that, the man lets out a barking laugh. “You definitely could use s’more meat on those skinny bones! The name’s Barret, but I go by Duke around here. Prolly best t’just remember our host names while you’re new. Don't wanna be slippin up in front of customers.”
Cloud nods. The only host that Cloud knows of who doesn't use a fake name is Sephiroth. It’s pretty common knowledge for anyone in the nightlife. Sephiroth has a very famous father who works for a big pharmaceutical company, and the word on the street is that Sephiroth uses his real name to spite his father, whom he doesn't have a good relationship with.
He makes some small talk with Zack and Duke for a few minutes before Duke says he needs to go finish getting ready and Cloud watches as he makes his way over to one of the tables. Cloud frowns and looks down at himself. He thought that he looked okay when he left his place earlier, but now he's thinking maybe Sephiroth was right—and it isn't just his hair.
Expensive suits aside, everyone is wearing designer watches, earrings, rings and necklaces. Their hair is perfectly in place, so they all probably pay for their hair to be done before work every day, Cloud thinks. He needs to start making more money before he can do that, so what he has will have to do for now. Surely they all started the same way he had.
“There are a few more people you need to meet, but they’re out with customers right now,” Zack says, leaning against the lockers next to Cloud’s, looking pensive before suddenly perking up. “Oh! That reminds me! My hostname is Fenrir! I can’t remember if I told ya!”
Ah. Yes, that's what it was.
Zack reaches his hand to nervously scratch at his hair. “Everyone calls me puppy, so I figured Fenrir would be a cool dog name, ya know?”
Cloud smiles. Zack really does give off puppy vibes, but Cloud is thankful for it. He can feel himself relaxing the longer he stays with Zack and hopes that he can stay away from Sephiroth for the rest of the night if possible.
“Sephiroth wanted me to name myself Hachiko, like ya know the dog?? But Fenrir is way cooler don't you think?”
Letting out a small laugh, Cloud shakes his head. “Fenrir is definitely a better choice.” He ponders for a moment before continuing, “Sephiroth is kind of…well.” He instantly regrets saying anything about Sephiroth because now he doesn't know how to explain that Sephiroth is kind of terrifying without looking like a total twat.
Thankfully, Zack has mercy on him and lets out a small laugh. “Sephiroth is Sephiroth. You’ll get used to him!”
Cloud gives him a weak smile and closes his locker door, quickly changing the subject. “So, what now?”
Zack taps his chin for a moment. “Well, like I said, you still have a few people to meet. There’s Rufus, who is the owner, but he probably won't be in today. He doesn’t come by often and mostly just leaves things to Stallion and I,” he explains.
That makes sense. Most owners don't have customers or hang out much. Their job is to mostly deal with the behind-the-scenes stuff.
“Then there is Roach,” Zack continues, “He’s a really colourful guy, super friendly!”
Cloud can't exactly imagine what he means but he doesn't interrupt. “And then Genesis, he’s a bit moody but he’s a nice guy, too!”
Cloud is beginning to think that anyone is a nice guy to Zack.
“Both of them had Douhan1, so you won't meet them until the club opens.”
The amount of names he is trying to remember at that moment is getting to be a lot, so Cloud is secretly grateful for the break in introductions.
“Before I start showing you around, did you want to fix your hair or…” Zack says gesturing towards the tables with mirrors. Cloud can feel his cheeks flush slightly as one of his hands nervously finds itself in one of his spikes.
“Does it really look bad?” Cloud says barely above a whisper so only Zack can hear him.
Zack hesitates for a moment. “Here. Come sit down and I’ll help you.”
Okay so yes, it looks bad.
Cloud lets out a small sigh, following Zack over to the table and sitting down in front of the mirror. Silence falls between them as Zack starts busying himself with Cloud's hair. Cloud watches intently as he shapes his spikes into something more cool than unkempt, and he tries to make some mental notes so that he can do the same thing tomorrow. He is already embarrassed enough that Zack has to help him today, he never wants this to happen again.
Suddenly Zack speaks up. “Once you get some customers, you’ll make enough to get this done professionally every day. I’ll give you the address of where I go.”
Cloud shoots him a small grin. “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
“No prob! We all support each other around here. Some clubs ya know they are so competitive, but we are really like a family. You’ll see!”
Zack's words make Cloud wonder why he was chosen for the job in the first place. Their staff wasn’t even that big compared to some of the other clubs in Midgar, so Cloud can only assume they are careful with whom they let on board.
Cloud doesn't think he is much of anything special. The more he thinks about it the more self-hatred and unease creep through his bones, threatening to take hold if he ponders this too much longer, so he stops.
“You alright?”
Cloud looks up to see Zack's face scrunched up in concern. Doing his best to fix his face of whatever depression he had just been wearing, Cloud smiles again.
“Yep. Just a little nervous.”
Zack looks relieved to hear that.
“It can definitely be a little nerve-wracking, but just stick with me tonight and everything should go fine!”
Cloud nods as he stands up, brushing his clothes off and trying to straighten up his suit, which he thought was high quality, but looking around now he feels like maybe it isn’t so fancy afterall. These guys really go all out. Everyone had left the room by now, their voices ringing through the halls as they set up for the night.
~~
Cloud is doing his best to focus on the woman sitting in front of him. She is pretty enough, with long brown hair and large round green eyes. When she had told him her name was Aerith, Cloud had clumsily pulled out his business card and handed it to her. She had taken pity on him and pretended not to notice how green he was, leading the conversation by asking him questions about himself.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, Cloud knows that he should be trying to lead the conversation. It is the perfect chance to practice and get used to talking with customers since he has nothing to lose. Aerith is Zack’s customer. One of his first, Zack had explained proudly when they first sat down, and once a customer chooses their shimei2, there is no changing it.
So, there is no possibility of Aerith or any of the other customers here ever becoming his regular. Zack had explained all this at what felt like lightning speed while he showed Cloud around the main floor of the club.
For today, Cloud is just shadowing Zack and meeting some of the regulars. But starting tomorrow, Cloud would have the opportunity to try and get his own customers if anyone came for a shokai. 3
Cloud tries to focus again on what Aerith is saying. He needs to nail this because starting tomorrow he will be thrown overboard and he hopes to gods he will be able to swim.
“----day?”
Cloud realizes that she is asking him a question a moment too late and all he manages to get out is a pathetic “Hmm?”
Aerith and Zack must have noticed that he was panicking because they both chuckled softly. Cloud feels a warm flush creeping up his face. He doesn’t want to ask her to repeat the question and thankfully he doesn't have to because Aerith spares him yet again.
“Are you enjoying your first day?”
Cloud tries his best to keep his face straight, not wanting to show any of his nervousness. “It’s a little hectic but I’m getting the hang of it.”
They exchange some more idle chit-chat, and now Cloud makes sure to hang on her every word, offering small quips where he can, mentally making some notes about the topics she mentions so that he has some questions to ask her if a lull in the conversation happens.
“Excuse me, I need to use the washroom,” Aerith says after a short time, adjusting her outfit so that she can slip out of the sofa-styled booth.
Cloud looks over at Zack and gives a small nod. Zack had told him about what to do when customers went to the washroom and now was his opportunity to perform the ritual.
“Sky will take ya!” Zack says as they all stand up. Aerith gives him a knowing look and then smiles softly at Cloud. After returning the smile, Cloud sets off towards the washrooms, with Aerith walking behind him.
He does his best to open the washroom doors gracefully. The way Zack did it made it look like art.
“Here you are,” Cloud says as he ushers her inside. He smiles until she closes the door behind her.
As soon as the door closes, he's off. Speed-walking to the back room, Cloud finds the heating box where the oshiboris 4 are kept.
“I like to call them BROshiboris. Get it? Cause we’re all bros?” Zack had said when he showed Cloud where they were. Cloud had actually cracked a smile at that. He really likes Zack and is happy that someone so friendly and outgoing is training him. Today anyway.
Cloud rushes back to the washroom area. All customers get an oshibori when they come from the bathroom, and it was the hosts’ duty to make sure they get it as soon as possible.
He tries to look casual, standing outside of the washrooms with the warm towel in his hand. He feels a presence behind him and slowly looks to the side. He has to tilt his chin slightly to meet the eyes of the person standing next to him.
“Why are you standing here like a moron?” Sephiroth asks blankly.
Before Cloud can answer, the doors open nearby and the sound of shouting fills the halls of the club. At the same time, the door to the washroom opens, so Cloud quickly escapes the conversation, though not without shooting Sephiroth a glare.
“Here you are,” Cloud says as he falls into stride next to Aerith, handing her the oshibori while they walk back to the table, and away from the shouting.
Cloud darts his eyes around the club and sees that Stallion is heading towards the voices with a frustrated look on his face. A few customers look concerned, but a few of them look unbothered, as if they are used to it.
Aerith sighs as she sits down at the table again. “They’re always fighting.”
Cloud’s eyebrows raise in curiosity. “Who is, they, exactly?” he asks, looking around for Zack. He finds him quickly, sitting with another customer, but their eyes meet for a moment and Zack mouths “One sec”.
“Genesis and his customer. I don’t know her name but they always fight like that. Don’t worry, they’ll surely head to the VIP room.”
Cloud nods and turns his head in the direction of the entryway. The shouting is starting to die down, and Cloud can’t hear them talking over the music. Maybe it’s his imagination, but he’s pretty sure someone turned the music up.
A few moments later, a host Cloud has not met, who he assumes is Genesis, walks by. He looks furious and irritated, but not nearly as much as the woman stomping along behind him.
Another host that Cloud hasn’t met is following both of them, holding what Cloud recognizes as a particularly expensive keep bottle in the shape of a glass slipper and a bucket of ice.
Cloud and Aerith both try to engage in small talk while they walk through the club but Cloud notices that her eyes also keep flickering to the parade making their way to the back where the VIP rooms are.
It feels like ages before the VIP doors open, the second host making his departure soon after setting the drink and ice bucket on the table, quickly shutting the door behind him. The VIP rooms have glass walls covered in black decals with the club's logo on them, all save for about a metre at the bottom, where Cloud can see nothing except for two sets of feet.
Cloud forces himself to look away from the VIP room, and is quickly saved by Zack returning to the table with the host who had been holding the ice bucket.
“Hey, Sky, this is Roach. He had just gotten back from his own douhan when those two arrived. They always have to make a scene, that's for sure,” he said, shaking his head as he chuckled.
“Indeed! Two furious flames of passion, they are. It’s a pleasure to meet you Sky. I am sure we will become great friends,” Roach says with a wide grin as he sits down. “But for now, I need to catch up with Shinra’s most beautiful customer. How are you doing, Miss Aerith?”
Cloud notices Zack gesturing at him to follow so he scrambles out of his seat and leaves Roach to talk with Aerith.
“Sorry about that, you’ll get used to it though. Scarlet is a handful but she's one of our biggest spenders so you know how it is,” Zack says nonchalantly as they make their way to another one of his tables.
Cloud does not know how it is, but he supposes that he will learn sooner than later.
He spends a few hours with Zack, shadowing him around the club. He finds it gets a little easier as the night goes on to talk to customers, although he is sure that the alcohol is probably helping.
Customers always buy the host's drinks. Cloud notices that even when the customers themselves aren't drinking, they will still buy drinks for the hosts. A few times throughout the evening, Zack had Cloud go with Reno or Rude to make drinks in the back. Cloud wasn't surprised to learn that most of the drinks are watered down, and the prices are insanely inflated.
One of the most fascinating things he sees is the famous Champagne call. Whenever someone in the club buys champagne–at an extremely hiked up price–all the lights in the club go dark, and all hosts on the floor head to the table of whoever buys it.
One host brings a mic and starts chanting, almost like a ritual, and his voice blares through the speakers to call all of the hosts to the table.
“All hosts gather, gather, gather. Come come come.”
Once everyone arrives, the chanting changes.
“Everyone’s here, everyone’s here, everyone’s here, it’s time to start our toast. Thank you to our dear customer. 3 2 1………… ”
The chanting stops, and the MC holds the microphone up to the champagne bottle, while another host opens the bottle with a loud POP.
The club bursts into applause as the hosts all start passing the champagne around, taking sips straight from the bottle while the MC resumes his chant.
“Drink! Drink! Drink! Chug! Chug! Chug!”
As the bottle is passed around, Rude has a towel to put under the lip of the bottle, to ensure that nothing spills onto anyone's clothes. Cloud can't help but think it's a little funny to see what a grand spectacle it is to drink champagne that you could buy for a couple of thousand gil at the supermarket.
Finally, the last drop is gone and the lights come back on, the familiar top hits radio resumes playing over the speakers. It is over before Cloud can even really register what just happened.
He is glad that he didn't have to drink any of it, as a newbie he just has to watch and learn.
~~
A few hours into the night, Cloud is feeling a little tipsy. A few of Zack’s customers buy him drinks while they talk, and everyone seems to be excited to meet the new host, so Cloud is feeling pretty good.
Every time a customer enters, their shimei goes to the entryway to get them and bring them into the club, announcing loudly that a customer has arrived, while the rest of the club echoes a welcome. Cloud is so amazed with how interactive things are, and yet at the same time, customers don't mingle. It is a delicate balance of making sure every customer feels special and taken care of, while also avoiding jealousy.
It’s all a little overwhelming, but at least the alcohol helps.
Cloud hears a familiar voice, calling that a customer has arrived, just as Cloud is returning from the back room. He almost runs right into said customer as he rounds a corner to enter the club again.
“I’m so sorry!” Cloud blurts out instantly. He lets out an internal groan when he sees that the customer belongs to Sephiroth.
“I’m totally fine! But you should really watch where you’re going!” The customer says playfully, brushing her clothing off. She is short and slender, with a cute bob haircut. She wears a crop top and very short shorts. Cloud is surprised that Sephiroth has such a spunky-looking customer.
Despite the playful tone in her voice, Cloud winces. He peeks at Sephiroth and internally groans at the sight of him glaring. How many times was Cloud going to make an ass of himself in front of this man?
“Wait, are you a newbie? He’s so cute, isn’t he Seph?” the girl says, grabbing Sephiroth’s arm to stop him from turning away.
Cloud tries to keep his composure as Sephiroth’s eyes meet his. Those stunning green eyes piercing into his own.
“If you find a baby horse struggling to stand on their own cute, sure,” Sephiroth says with a shrug, breaking eye contact with Cloud and turning to take his customer away again, but she stops him.
“I do! Look at him, he's more like a baby chocobo than a baby horse!”
Cloud scowls at her. He is sure he will never escape the chocobo jokes. Just because he has spikey blond hair!
“Enough playing with the chocobo, let’s go Yuffie,” Sephiroth says with a smirk.
“You’re so boring Seph! Come on, come to VIP with us!” the girl named Yuffie says with a grab of Cloud’s hand and drags him through the club. Cloud does everything he can not to look at Sephiroth. He could barely even keep up with what was going on.
One minute he’s helping clean up some tables, and the next he’s being dragged to VIP.
Zack had shown Cloud the VIP rooms when he gave him the tour of the club, but it looks even cooler when all the lights are off. There is a big TV with a karaoke set up, extra blankets and pillows, and tons of glowing lights that make it look like a gaming room or something.
Yuffie happily sits down in the corner seat of the big sofa and drags Cloud to sit next to her. Sephiroth enters shortly after them, followed by Reno with some oshibori and an ice bucket, as well as a few keep bottles that looked unopened. Many customers buy things just to support their shimei, but sometimes don't even bother opening them. A sign of true wealth.
“Wow, VIP on your first day!” Reno says with a wink.
“You guys always get the cutest boys, I swear! Wait, what’s your name again?” Yuffie says so quickly that Cloud can barely catch her question.
“Sky.”
“Ha! Sky… even your name is cute!”
Cloud is starting to resent being called cute so much. But, he knows he can’t make a bad impression on his first day, and certainly not on one of Sephiroth’s customers.
Reno takes her drink order–some plum wine for the table. Cloud really doesn't want to drink anymore, but of course, he cannot refuse, so when the plum wine arrives, he takes his glass with a smile.
Every time Sephiroth suggests that Cloud leave to do something, Yuffie stops him and insists he stays in the VIP room with them. That is the power of a VIP customer, she really can have whatever she wants.
Cloud tries not to show how nervous he is, and responds to her small talk as best he can, but really, she mostly seems happy to talk about her life and does not need much input from either of them. She is either ignoring or completely unaware of the awkward tension between Sephiroth and Cloud, but Cloud is so aware of it that he feels himself sweating a little bit.
He does everything that Zack has been showing him. He wipes condensation off of the glasses from time to time, nods along to what Yuffie is saying, keeps eye contact with her–which is easy since no part of him wants to meet eyes with Sephiroth right now.
His mind wanders slightly as Yuffie tells them a story about an annoying person on the train earlier that week. Sephiroth seems like the type of host who would have sexy or elegant types of customers, their clothes, make-up, and even perfume screaming “I am rich”. But Yuffie is different. She is silly and brash, some might even say a little childish. She definitely has a youthful charm about her. He is amazed to see the type of banter she has with Sephiroth, too. She talks to him like he is her big brother or a really close friend. Cloud knows that not all relationships between hosts and their customers are pseudo-romantic, and a lot of customers are just looking for someone to talk to, but these two seem genuinely close.
When it is time for her to leave, she throws a pile of cash on the table as if it is nothing to her.
“I want both of you to walk me out!” She says with a big grin as she heads towards the door of the VIP room.
Cloud catches Sephiroth rolling his eyes as he takes two long strides to beat her to the door and open it for her. Just like when a customer comes, the hosts call out when a customer is leaving as well.
“Customer leaving,” Sephiroth calls out, his voice loud but smooth and Cloud can't help but wonder how he does everything so perfectly.
They all head towards the door. Yuffie gives a quick wave to both of them and slips into the elevators saying, “See you next time, Chocobo!”
Cloud chuckles in spite of himself, before remembering that Sephiroth is still standing next to him and does his best to disguise it as clearing his throat. A few seconds pass and all that Cloud can hear is the booming of the bass coming from the club.
Finally, Sephiroth speaks.
“Don’t get used to it. The VIP room, or my customers. Being cute will only get you so far.”
Cloud opens his mouth to protest but Sephiroth turns on his heel and glides back into the club.
Did he just call Cloud cute?