Another day at the pool, another chance for secrets to meet the spotlight . . .

~*'.~*.'~

Among his entrance to the pool room, Cloud felt something was off.

It wasn't anything about the deep sea pool lighting, or even how Leon and Tidus pointlessly bickered behind him. But more like a dark, twisted type of intimacy, as strange as it felt for Cloud to think that. It made his blood churn in places that were scarred over, automatic, exclusive.

"I'm telling you," Tidus argued, and the loudness brought Cloud out of himself. "You can't have sweet pickles without the dill. Obviously the sweet ones came later because some people just can't handle the fancy bitter life."

Leon scoffed. A blue over light had his face in a perfect circle, highlighting his brow lift. "No way. Dill pickles came after sweet because people were sick of sugar-coating things and wanted some goddamn kick for once. Spice revolves from bland--not the other way around. Tell 'em, babe."

A low eyed Rinoa was at Leon's side. She only had time to cut her gaze to the ceiling and shake her head before Tidus blew up in his swim trunks.

"Dude, this about sour and sweet, not spice and bland! You're changing the conversation!"

"Those are two completely different topics," Yuna sheepishly agreed, falling behind Tidus. She was probably trying to bring the squabble to a close, but only ended up fanning the flames.

"Uh--no, they're not," Leon droned.

"Are too!" Tidus flung an arm.

"No, they're--"

"Can you guys go ten minutes without turning on your stupid-switches?" Claire, walking beside her sister, finally lost all patience. With a wicked snap in her voice, she went on to scold them for such a useless argument that could be easily solved by the internet.

Tugging Terra a bit closer to his side, Cloud audibly sighed. One thing's for sure, coming to this pool never gets boring.

At that, he cracked a smirk.

After the quirky bunch dialed down a notch, they all found a chair to lounge on. Minus Tidus; he was more comfortable floating in the pool's ripples, trying to splash Yuna or pull her in.

Terra giggled from the chair next to Cloud's, the sound like warm caramel on his tongue. He wanted so badly to just sit there--to get lost in her blonde hair tickling her cheeks. But his senses were still a boiling mess. And when he finally glanced around to get a better scan of the place, he found the source of his unconscious nerves. Over at the bar were long, silver strings, tied in an impossibly neat ponytail, complimented by a sharp suit.

Seph.

As if he'd responded to Cloud's thought waves, Sephiroth Crescent spun around in his barstool so he could turn in Cloud's direction. Even from the distance they sat, Seph's green eyes pierced straight lines through Cloud's comfort.

He hated to do this, but someone had to keep that jerk in check. "Terra," Cloud touched his wife's shoulder. "Tell the others I'll be right back."

There was a dull yet irritated expression on Cloud's face as he approached the menacing man. Not fazed by a long shot, Sephiroth sat crossed-legged. A smirk twitched at his mouth. Eeriness did a slow dance around his frame.

"Well, hello . . . Cloud."

Cloud wasn't in the mood for faulty pleasantries. He'd had enough of those when he used to work for this guy--at his stupid enterprise, One-Wing Co. "What are you doing here, Seph?"

Sephiroth took a moment to swirl the wine in his glass, to on purposely poke at Cloud's suspense. "Oh . . . I just thought I would see this place for myself," he said with a slow, amused bite. "Before I rip it out from underneath you."

🎶 ᴺᵃʰ⁻ⁿᵃʰ⁻ⁿᵃʰ🎶

"Um . . . Hey, Claire?"

Pulling her attention away from Tidus's impressive butterfly strokes, Claire blinked at her sister. "Hm? What's up?"

"The sky," Serah blurted, then laughed when Claire mastered a dramatic eyeroll. "Actually, in all seriousness, I was hoping I could get a word alone with you today. Is it okay if we sit over there for a sec?"

Tiny nerves popped in Claire's core. What could Serah have to talk about that couldn't be said right here? The others were in earshot, but they weren't paying them any special attention at the moment. She wasn't really sure what to prepare herself for, but Claire didn't question it.

"Uh, sure," she said, and off they went to their own little coversation bubble.

Nice and settled in their new seats, Claire brightened her face in wonder to prod Serah's hesitant lips.

"So, it's about yesterday . . ." Serah started. There were a few agonizing seconds of thumb-twiddling before she briskly shook her head. She tried to get herself together, or maybe chase away her second thoughts. "I know I said I was really happy for you and Kain. And that your ring was super shiny, and that Kain was the luckiest guy in the whole wide world--"

"To the point, Serah," Claire said dryly. A concerned lump began forming in her throat.

"It's just--" Serah laid her hands on the table, slowly moved them into fists. "Are you sure it was a good idea to say yes to Kain's proposal?"

In some tiny corner of her gut, Claire felt glass shatter. "Well, what the hell was I supposed to do? Smash his heart with a metal mallet in front of everyone?"

At this, Serah had an inappropriate level of surprised interest. "Wait. Does that mean you actually wanted to say no? Did you just say yes because Kain put you on the spot?"

"No, that's not what I--" Claire stopped herself, thinking for a minute and puffing a breath. "Look. I know I said I was nervous about marriage for the longest time, but I'm ready now, okay? Sorry I didn't update you sooner."

"Hey." Serah's tone changed to a softer, mature nature. Although she was the younger sister, she knew exactly when to shift into a higher gear. Becoming a mother probably had a lot to do with that. "I need you to really dig hard for a second and ask yourself something--before you get waist deep into this." She breathed steadily inward so her words came clear but low. "Are you absolutely, positively sure things are said and done between you and Setro?"

🎶 ᴺᵃʰ⁻ⁿᵃʰ⁻ⁿᵃʰ🎶

Cloud's face became a confused scrunch. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Sephiroth chuckled the sick way he always did. A sound born deep within his throat, smothered in a thick layer of evil. "Well, you see, two of my men were here yesterday. And they told me this fine establishment would be the perfect spot for my new casino."

Now Cloud's eyes got wide. Those two mood-sucking goons that were here yesterday . . . They were here on Sephiroth's behalf? And for a damn casino, no less. I should've known Seph was behind that.

"You wouldn't," Cloud snarled.

Sephiroth downed the rest of his blood-colored wine. When he let his glass meet the table again, the clink was as sharp as his grin. "Oh, don't despair," Seph mused. "You and your friends are more than welcome to visit once it's up and running."

"Yeah. In your fricking dreams." Cloud's glare slit Sephiroth from the forehead down. This pool was too family-friendly--too nostalgic--to be used as a cruel man's pocket-filler. "You're not gonna get away with this, Seph. Not if I have anything to say about it."

Cloud stormed away to punctuate his growl--so he was back with his friends--back to his slightly concerned wife. While his mind was already heating up its burners to cook up a plan, he felt Sephiroth's stare latch onto his back. A stare of unbelieving, cocky mirth.

🎶 ᴺᵃʰ⁻ⁿᵃʰ⁻ⁿᵃʰ🎶

"That ship has sailed, Serah." Claire's tone was even and smooth. "How many times have I told you that?"

Serah hardly looked impressed. She crossed her arms, hugging blonde waves to her chest. "Only because you never look me in the eyes when you do."

A bone snapped somewhere in Claire's skull. She'd accepted Kain's proposal in broad daylight for everyone to witness. What more proof did she need?

Claire lifted herself from her seat so she leaned heavily on the table. She put her nose just a few inches from Serah's and didn't dare slip a blink. She wanted some eye contact? Bon Appetit.

"That. Ship. Has. Sailed." Claire spit the words out one by one before leaning back again, flashing an arm-cross of her own. "Satisfied?"

"Not exactly. Your voice cracked."

"No, it did not, and you know it." Claire almost wanted to just sit there and grit her teeth, but she didn't want to get in some petty fight like Leon and Tidus had a knack for. Her sight went to her lap as she absently picked at her swim shorts. "Besides . . . It looks like Setro's moving on fine. So, la dee dah, everybody's happy."

Serah's expression almost turned sad. "You really believe he's going out with Prishe, huh?"

"Well yeah," Claire chirped, though she ached a bit when she said it. Damn. Get a frickin' grip, Farron. "I mean, didn't you notice how cozy they were at the party yesterday?"

"Huh." Serah tipped her head. "Funny how you'd pay such close attention to that, considering the ship has sailed." She twirled hair around her finger, glanced around in a big circle. "Or maybe the ship never even left the dock to begin with."

Now Claire was just flat-out irritated. All she could muster was her tongue sliding across her teeth--a desperate attempt to seal her emotions shut.

Setro and I are fine. We're fine.

Question was . . . Was fine all they'd ever be?

"Listen," said Serah, soft again. "I'm not trying to upset you. I'm being hard on you because I love you, and frankly, I'm a little worried about Setro. So please just double check with where you guys stand, okay? Just to be safe before your big day."

Claire almost hated to admit it, but Serah had a point there. Just because the ship sailed for Claire, doesn't necessarily mean it sailed for Setro.

Dammit. Can't relax, can I?

~*'.~*.'~

🎶 ᴺᵃʰ⁻ⁿᵃʰ⁻ⁿᵃʰ, ⁱⁿ ᵐʸ ʰᵉᵃᵈ
ᴺᵃʰ⁻ⁿᵃʰ⁻ⁿᵃʰ, ⁱⁿ ᵐʸ ᵇᵉᵈ
ᴺᵃʰ⁻ⁿᵃʰ⁻ⁿᵃʰ . . .
ᴹᵃᵏⁱⁿ' ᵇᵉᵃᵘᵗⁱᶠᵘˡ ᵐⁱˢᵗᵃᵏᵉˢ 🎶