#cloud headcanons

ft. leon kennedy, cloud strife, zack fair, simon “ghost” riley

How he react when you kiss/lick/nibble his earlobe/neck/jaw.

Leon Kennedy -

The hardened former rookie cop would freeze completely still at the first intimate swipe of your tongue along the wiry tendon of his neck. Eyes fluttering shut, Leon would fight back a full-body shudder, teeth gritting as that rugged jaw twitches with mounting restraint.

As your nibbles and caresses increased against the sensitive flesh behind his ear, his calloused palms would clench into white-knuckled fists. Battling the ingrained instinct to defensively seize and subdue like with any other threat. Until, at last, Leon can resist no longer.

A strangled rumble erupts from his broad chest as he twists with feline grace to back you against the nearest solid surface. Pupils blown wide with smoldering hunger, he braces one strong forearm by your head as the other hand cups your nape with surprising tenderness despite the desperation ravening behind each fevered caress of his lips along your jawline. The first of many tremors to rack your entire frame that night.

Cloud Strife -

The stalwart AVALANCHE mercenary lurches as if jolted by a live current when the first pass of your tongue grazes that sensitive spot below his jaw. Spiky blond brows knit sharply over those blazing mako-tinged eyes squeezing shut on a guttural groan torn straight from his diaphragm.

Though his initial fists clench at his sides instinctively, Cloud permits no further retaliation - whether physical or to extract himself from your wandering affections. Quite the opposite, in fact. His head lolls aside, granting you ample access to continue feathering scorching kisses and teasing flicks of your tongue along the sensitive column of his throat.

Only once your relentless sensual torment threatens to buckle those powerful thighs entirely does Cloud shudder and haul you flush against him with dizzying abruptness. Equal parts possessive and reverent, he claims your parted lips in a soul-searing kiss, broad palms framing your face like a precious treasure as he savors every ardent swirl of your twined tongues.

Zack Fair -

That blinding, boyish smile wouldn't dim one iota as your teasing ministrations first make contact. At least, not outwardly. Inside, however, Zack's breath would leave him in a harsh gust as electricity lances up his spine from the languid glide of your mouth torturing that sensitive zone.

Far from the fierce, untamed passion of some of his counterparts, Zack would be endearingly awestruck and bashful at the outpouring of tenderness behind such a simple act. His fingers would splay tenderly through your hair, those sparkling blue eyes crinkling at the corners with unbridled adoration as you eagerly bestow your affections over every inch of accessible flesh.

Inevitably, he'd succumb to the smoldering fog of arousal steadily consuming every rational thought. Zack's doting caresses would roam freely along the sculpted planes of your body, lavishing you in turn with a breathless reverence and earnestness reserved for only you until the lines blurred completely between worshiper and revered.

Ghost -

One glimpse of that icy blue glare, and you'd know the elite marksman's mind was already whirring through a dozen calculated scenarios and counterattacks as soon as your lips made contact. Every toned muscle would go rigid, coiled like a cobra ready to strike or retreat at the first suspicious provocation.

Until, of course, realization trickles through that predatory hyper-alertness - this tantalizing torment stems from no external threat whatsoever, only the exquisite onslaught of pleasure steadily unravelling his razor-sharp restraint. As your roving mouth brands a searing path along Ghost's neck and jaw, his broad shoulders would slump minutely, permitting the faintest hitch of an indrawn breath to escape those chapped lips.

“Cloud Strife may be physically lacking but he’s smart as hell.”

Or even,

“Cloud strife is kind of average at everything.”

Because it creates interest in his narrative for me.

I want, a fic where Cloud can’t really lift a sword above his head without adrenaline, but he once finished Commander Rhapsodos’ recitation for him.

I want, Cloud strife gets out of the army after being unable to promote and gets by in the slums selling flowers and scrap metal with the girl who’s dating the guy he’s crushing on.

I want, Cloud strife makes his name in the canine unit because he understands dogs better than people.

I want, Cloud Strife is an avid reader and maybe good at art too.

I want, Cloud Strife has limited reading skills but is good mathematically.

I want, Cloud Strife who is better with a sniper Riffle than he is with a sword.

⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒

of course! spoiler alert i paired you with the blondes i swear to god it wasn't on purpose LMAO

⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒

⚠️𝕋𝕎⚠️ : NSFW under the cut

⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒ ⭒

Thank you so much! We’ll be finishing the requests as fast as possible!

“And here I thought you were a cat person.” Tifa laughs as golden-haired puppies surround an extremely confused Cloud. 

“I’ve got stuff I need to get done,” Cloud gets up to leave, only for Tifa to push him back down, setting a puppy in his lap. 

“You can do all that later, after all, you wouldn’t want to leave these balls of fluff, now would you?” 

The stoic team leader who doesn't trust the main character at first

You often feel like you need to take responsability for those around you and to protect them. You struggle to show your love through other means, so you take that task seriously. Your friends know they can always count on you no matter what. However that leads you to be mistrustful of others' actions before getting to know them, usually asuming the worst of them. On the exterior you might seem cold, calculating and distant. But those close to you know that's far from the truth, you just have a particular way of demostrating it. When it comes to love, you'll probably try to deny it at first, bury it before it grows more than it should. Mostly because you're so accustomed to being the strong one, that allowing yourself to be vulnerable for once scares you. But it's exhausting to constantly keep that guard up, sometimes you need to take a rest and allow yourself to be the one being taken care of. Don't forget that.

Tagged by: @the-blackest-spider​

Plot: You mimic your boyfriend’s mannerisms.

The first few times you copied the way his brows furrowed into a scowling vee or how he pursed those sculpted lips in a tight, thin line after getting flustered, Cloud didn't seem to take much notice.

Figured you were just being your typical bubbly, mischievous self poking fun.

But when he unleashed a bristling torrent of gravelly curses after mashing his thumb with the Buster Sword's pommel, only for you to parrot the same salty tirade with startling accuracy right down to his gruff intonation? He stopped dead in his tracks, penetrating mako eyes widening a fraction.

Wheeling around, Cloud didn't bother smothering his bemused chuckle at catching you standing there doing your best imitation - brows knit fiercely, plush lips twisted into a scowl even as you tried stifling your own giggles behind your palm.

You simply flashed those doe eyes up at him, the picture of faux innocence.

"Think that's funny, do you?"

Despite the stern words, you could hear the begrudging warmth rumbling in his baritone as Cloud closed the distance between you two. Before you could squirm away, one of those sinewy arms looped low around your waist, reeling your squirming form flush against his chiseled torso.

"Go ahead and laugh it up while you can," he husked against the crown of your hair, sounding almost...proud?

"Reckon you've got me down pat. Just don't go picking up any other bad habits from your dumb boyfriend."

After that, it became your favorite game - randomly spouting off one of Cloud's trademark gruff remarks or emulating his rigid posture and flinty-eyed glower out of nowhere.

Each time, you'd be rewarded with a lopsided smirk and a shake of that spiky blond head accompanied by a fond eyeroll.

That unbreakable composure he ordinarily maintains only seems to genuinely fracture whenever you mimic the few exceedingly rare glimpses of vulnerability Cloud permits to slip past his sky-high defenses.

So the first time you caught him in the shower fresh from another night terror, haunted mako-infused gaze glassy and dull...and decided to parrot the hollowed-out, deadened murmurs of broken fragments like "don't...wake...not real..." barely above a whimper?

You swear you saw his heroic facade shatter for an instant.

In a blink, Cloud closed the distance between you two, stout fingers cupping your jaw with surprising tenderness. Peering down at you with those luminous eyes swimming in sorrow and self-recrimination, he rasped your name with tangible pain lacing every syllable.

"Fuck, don't...don't ever do that again." Just like that, any lingering threads of mirth dissipated entirely.

"Please?"

He exhaled shakily, thumb caressing your cheekbone.

After snagging a searing yet chaste kiss, Cloud tugged you into the circle of his embrace, chin nestled atop your crown.

"You wanna mimic your dumb jackass mercenary? Fine, copy the stupid stuff. But not..." Another tremor wracked his powerful frame. "Not that. Not the darkest parts of this mess inside me. Those can stay buried."

Burrowing closer into his soothing warmth, you simply nodded wordlessly against the broad expanse of his chest.

Because as adept as you've become at perfectly emulating every facet of Cloud Strife, you know better than to pry deeper into the darkest recesses of his haunted psyche.

Some wounds are better off left unexhumed and undisturbed - cauterized with unspoken tenderness.

So you vowed to keep the mimicry lighthearted and silly, restoring those flashes of pure contentment and boyish grins his mercenary persona suppresses as penance for more sins than any one man should bear.

ft. leon kennedy, cloud strife

Leon Kennedy would never dare admit it openly, but the stoic, badass exterior melted away ever so slightly at the sight of you tenderly comforting a lost child.

That time in the ransacked village, when the haunting wails of a youngster pierced the air amidst the carnage - Leon instinctively tensed, jaw setting grimly as his grip tightened on his rifle.

But then he spotted you already racing ahead unhesitatingly. Dropping to one knee, arms outstretched in a gentle beckoning posture as the little one startled then sprinted straight into your protective embrace.

Your soothing tones murmured comforting assurances while cradling their trembling form close against you. Fingers carding soothingly through tangled hair with the utmost tender care.

And Leon couldn't tear his widened eyes away from the tenderhearted display. Throat constricting over the unexpected lump suddenly materializing there.

That million-watt smile radiating from your features as you rocked them patiently until whimpering quieted was like the first vibrant blossom peeking through the ash after a nuclear winter.

An oasis of affectionate nurturing shining through the oppressive bleakness suffocating them both for far too painfully long.

Leon found his calloused finger-pads unconsciously drifting up to caress his own chapped lips as if wishing to physically absorb the tranquil serenity you effortlessly exuded.

Eyelids momentarily fluttering closed while permitting himself to just bask in the warmth emanating from your very presence like a soothing balm against all the harrowing darkness poisoning them both.

A tremulous sigh escaped between those parted lips as the barest ghost of a smile tugged at their corners for the first time in...Christ, had it really been years since he last felt anything even remotely resembling that fleeting glimmer of unguarded optimism blossoming in his chest?

The peaceful tableau you presented with the now-placid child tucked securely in your arms struck Leon deeper than any physical combat wound ever could.

Worming past every steel-plated layer of defenses, countermeasures and failsafes, straight down into the most vulnerable core of his humanity he'd sworn died an agonizing death ages ago.

It terrified yet entranced him in equal measure just drinking in the serene display. Eventually those narrowed steel-blue irises regained some of their piercing guardedness while surreptitiously cataloging every nuance etched upon your expressions and ministrations.

As if desperately searing the moment into his consciousness to be revisited and clung onto later through whatever hell awaited them next.

Thank Christ for your influence and the inexplicable balm it provided against the miasma of torment clouding Leon's withered soul more with every passing abyss they navigated together...

The uncompromising mask remained solidly affixed in place by the time you finally lifted your eyes to meet his guarded gaze, the child nestled peacefully into the crook of your neck.

Not a single flicker of that momentary softness penetrated the hauntingly chiseled granite of his features now.

Yet behind that shuttered and fortified thousand-yard stare, the barest ember pulsed with renewed tenacity suffusing Leon's frigid disposition with almost undetectable glimmers of warmth.

All because of your natural radiance and selfless compassion reminding him why they fought on through each grueling gauntlet.

Sure he'd never verbalize sentiments that unbearably raw and guileless aloud. But that infinitesimal spark continuing to miraculously smolder despite all efforts to smother it was enough to propel them onward through any escalating onslaught yet to come.

This time with a renewed fervor steeling Leon's adamantine determination from the inside out.

The desolate, mako-tainted wastes proved no place for a child's cries. Yet the haunting echoes still pierced straight through Cloud's calloused defenses when tiny lungs unleashed their heartrending wails upon the barren landscape.

His gloved grip instinctively clenched tighter around the battered Buster Sword's hilt, jaw tensing as those predatory ice-blue irises immediately snapped towards the source of the disturbance.

Fully prepared for whatever fresh horror emerged after the merc caught fleeting movement through his peripherals.

But the cautious sweep revealed only your slender form already hastening ahead. Moving with fluid grace directly towards the sobbing bundle tucked against a crumbling wall.

His firm chapped lips tightened into a grim line witnessing you unhesitatingly drop to one knee before the distressed child without any apparent armaments at the ready.

From this distance, Cloud glimpsed your gentle features soften with bottomless compassion wholly separate from the usual battlefield ferocity.

Small hands unfurled in placating gestures exuding profound warmth and sincerity instantly easing some of the fractures riddling his own battered soul simply by proximity.

While you deftly coaxed the tiny thing into your embrace with susurrant tones and infinitely patient ministrations, Cloud suddenly found himself robbed of breath altogether.

Those glacial spheres wide and stunned at the exquisitely tender vision you presented cradling their fragility so reverently. A profound ache lodged behind his breastbone at the maternal aura emanating from your whole being.

He swallowed convulsively over the sandpaper abrasions rasping along his windpipe.

Gloved fingers betraying the slightest tremor disturbing his usual uncompromising stoicism while still drinking in every indelible detail of the intimate scene unraveling.

From the tender flickering caresses smoothed across tangled russet locks to your honeyed vocals humming soothing melodies of consolation.

All suffusing the stale, mako-saturated atmosphere with vibrant healing essences Cloud found himself instinctively gravitating closer towards.

Feather-light brushes scritched lovingly along the whimpering child's back forming hypnotic ellipses mirroring your unguarded smile radiating all-encompassing warmth across those cherubic cheeks now drenched in tear tracks.

Until finally after an eternity, the miniature form stilled in your arms. Body unlocking from its terrified rigor mortis into the very picture of youthful tranquility tucked securely against your heartbeat.

Cloud hadn't even realized he'd been holding his own respiration captive until the soft sigh expelled in a shuddering rush between lax lips.

A full-bodied flinch rattled his broad shoulders at its sudden harsh volume intruding upon the sacred tableau before him.

But thankfully, your features remained beautifully serene, wholly undisturbed while continuing to rock the now-quieted bundle in gentle rhythms.

Only then did molten sapphire pools drift up to lock with his widened stare burning with intensity across the slender lacuna separating you. A tremor not wholly attributable to anxiety skittered down his whip-cord musculature watching your radiant smile intensify directed solely towards Cloud.

As if silently communicating your infinite gratitude for him bearing witness to such an intimate and precious moment blossoming in this scorched hellscape...

Whatever parched recesses comprising the haunted mercenary's core still retained the capacity for absorbing nurturing warmth - it suddenly flooded within the confines of his barrel chest when those infinitely compassionate irises shone their benediction upon him.

Unknotting every rigid sinew and ligament hardened into a battle-tempered carapace purely through the power of your tender, life-affirming essence.

Almost imperceptibly, Cloud's chapped lips softened around the faintest half-curved suggestions budding there.

Posture unconsciously opening to welcome your pure light into his long-shadowed world while holding your loving gaze in mesmerized thrall.

As if determined to thoroughly archive this oasis of serenity and unconditional love in his consciousness so it may fortify whatever grueling battles destiny demanded they wage next.

Then in a single blink and a slight dip of your chin, the spell abruptly dissolved back into hyper-vigilance.

Yet even with the mercenary's legendary ice reformed across those exquisite Nordic features, perpetually braced for the next onslaught - a spark continued flickering in the hooded caverns of his stare.

A faint ember of something intangible yet transcendent now eternally kindled behind his armored exterior.

Plot: A comforting moment between Cloud and you after an exhausting mission.

The hazy tendrils of weariness tugged heavily at your eyelids as you finally allowed yourself to relax into the threadbare mattress.

Joints still thrumming with a dull ache from the day's grueling mission, you exhaled a deep, contented sigh nonetheless.

Here, nestled amidst the modest shelter of your shared quarters, the chaos of battle faded into a distant memory - at least temporarily.

At your side, the solid warmth of Cloud's form radiated pure comfort and solace. He lay on his side facing you, those vivid blue eyes you adored already slipped shut in the first blissful throes of much-needed slumber.

One arm draped possessively over your waist, palm splaying against the dip of your back as he instinctively tucked himself closer.

His tousled spikeswayed with each slow, even exhale fanning across your collarbone.

It always amazed you how someone as formidable as Cloud Strife - AVALANCHE's most elite mercenary who routinely stared down bioengineered horrors without flinching - could appear so disarmingly boyish and vulnerable when he surrendered to sleep's embrace.

The harsh lines etched into his features by years of combat and deprivation eased, leaving his expression bizarrely serene and youthful.

Unable to resist indulging that private fixation, you lightly trailed your fingertips along the stark angles of his jaw, mapping each rugged contour.

From the aquiline slope of his nose to the faint cleft carving that perpetually intense look between his brows. Every stroke drank in the textures of taut, weathered skin over finely sculpted bone and sinew as intimately familiar yet endlessly captivating.

You traced higher along his hairline, earning a sleepy mumble from Cloud as the gentle caresses ghosted over the sensitive nape before coasting up into his mess of sunny spikes.

A barely audible rumble, deep and masculine, vibrated against your chest - not quite a purr, but certainly contented nonetheless.

One azure eye cracked open to regard you through thick lashes, radiating equal parts drowsy indulgence and curiosity.

"Sorry," you whispered without stilling your ministrations, the hint of a smile tugging at your lips.

The last thing you wanted was to rouse Cloud if he'd managed to find that elusive serenity amidst the violence and turmoil constantly shadowing you both.

"Go back to sleep. I didn't mean to wake you."

With impressive effort, he mustered a lethargic shake of his head, still resting heavily atop your sternum.

"It's alright..." Cloud rasped, voice roughened by fatigue and thickly slurred as he nuzzled closer to your touch. "Keep goin'..."

A helpless swell of pure affection flooded your chest as you studied the man in your arms with ardent tenderness.

So powerful and courageous, commanding entire squads of dedicated warriors into hellish combat zones without ever batting an eye.

Yet it was these fleeting, unguarded moments stripped bare of his usual frosty stoicism that truly captivated you.

This was the real Cloud Strife - not the unflinching legend or ruthless juggernaut lauded and feared across the ranks of AVALANCHE.

Just a man baring his soul and all its myriad flaws and vulnerability for your eyes alone away from the puppeteering manipulations of Shinra and its cronies.

Even if he didn't vocalize those delicate emotions often, allowing you to soothe and shelter him in the sanctuary of your battered sanctuary spoke volumes.

The man you loved. Scars, shattered past, and all.

With a quiet hum of indulgence, you resumed languidly raking your nails along his sculpted scalp in lazy, soothing patterns.

Cloud melted bonelessly at your side with a ragged sigh, eyes slipping shut once more as the tension seeped from his muscles.

Plush lips parted on a final exhale before his breathing evened out, easing him back into the tranquil depths of slumber without conscious thought.

Admiring the finally serene picture he painted, you allowed yourself to savor the simple delight of observing your warrior finally at peace.

Who knew how many more reprieves like this lurked on the ever-darkening horizon before the next onslaught of nightmares and demons came howling?

No, right now you would cherish this quiet intimacy and the wholly trusting soul beside you.

With a last, lingering caress ghosting through those wild blond spikes, you settled more fully into the coverlet's tattered embrace and willed your own eyes to drift shut.