#turk!cloud

This one's just fun.

1. Elena. Elena knows Cloud well enough that he really prefers to be left alone to do his job. He never works with a partner. The one time she had to carry him was during her training. She thought it was going awful. It was going much worse after Cloud got pushed off a catwalk by the people he was tailing. Elena panicked until she heard Cloud shout at her to finish the damn job. She ran up, threw a bomb that knocked out the gang and looked for Cloud. He was limping pretty bad. The reinforcements were coming in. Elena didn't ask, but just scooped Cloud up and ran. Neither one ever talked about it again except for Cloud telling Elena she was a fine turk.

2. Reno. Reno picked Cloud up often. Mostly because he's taller than Cloud and it really pisses him off. Reno only did the bridal style carry once. He scooped Cloud up and called him "darlin'". He'd never seen Cloud that angry before (since). He also never carried Cloud like that ever again. Cloud punched him square in the face and damn near knocked him out. Tseng didn't even reprimand Cloud or make him apologize.

3. Tseng. That one was an accident. Tseng was supposed to be watching Aerith. Aerith was not in the church, at least it didn't look like she was. Something fell from the roof and Tseng held out his hands in reflex. Cloud fell into them. Cloud was also in a very nicely fitting dress. Before Tseng could ask, Cloud jumped up.

"If you kept even half as good an eye on Aerith as you said you did this would have a perfectly plausible explanation," Cloud said.

"Where did you even find that outfit?" Tseng asked.

"That's for me and Aerith to know and you to find out," Cloud said. Tseng has not and will not tell anyone this story. Otherwise he'd have to admit he lost Aerith a lot more than he admitted he did.

4. Rude. All Turks have been carried by Rude at least once in their careers. No one has told him, but it is a very pleasant experience. Cloud has been carried twice. Once in the initial brawl with Reno that got Cloud hired, and once after Cloud was hit with Confusion. He was very delirious and Cloud allowed himself to be carried for once.

"You know," Cloud said, looking up at the sky, "if you tried carrying the girls you like like this, you might have a better shot."

"You think so?" Rude said. He didn't ever say it, but he did take that advice to heart a bit.

5. Rufus. Cloud hates Rufus. Desperately hates Rufus. Rufus feels the same. The only reason they tolerate each other is because they know the other is good at their jobs...and because DarkStar loves both of them equally. Rufus only ever carried Cloud once. Cloud was on guard duty after Rufus was "grounded" and also had several death threats. The threats were real. Cloud got into a scuffle and got a nasty cut for his troubles. DarkStar was not happy to see Cloud hurt and joined in the fray. Cloud sat on one of Rufus's couches to patch himself up (and inform DarkStar that she was the best girl. yes she was). Rufus glared at Cloud, waited for him to finish his bandaging. Then lifted him off his couch and dumped him in a chair, with a lot of swearing and wriggling from Cloud.

There has been a lot of talk over on Twitter about Turk! Cloud and Zack, so of course @davejolina and I had to take that idea and RUN with it.

Where he failed to get SOLDIER, but showed great promise with his physical strength. It was enough to catch the eyes of the Turks, and end up with them recruiting him into their group. Maybe Cloud still had undergone Mako-treatments.

Imagine all of that underlying guilt, tho, if he ever met up with Tifa again.

Couldn’t make it to SOLDIER, and ended up being slotted in with a very shady bunch, still under the large corporate umbrella of ShinRa.

where before cloud failed his soldier exams zack introduced him to his bfs, ASG cloud beign the awkward fuck he is he greets them briefly and they chat or whatever, time skip he fails his exams and cuts tie with zack showing up as turk 3-4 months later.....

ooohhhhh my gaaaawwwd I've been having Turk!Cloud vibes for a while and spent some time daydreaming about this...

1. Cloud really tried hard on his exams. It was his dream and he wasn't going to throw it away by being stupid. He studied, he practiced, a good few months of his life was spent soley on making sure he made it to Soldier. Zack boosted him up even more because Cloud was working so hard he stood out. Zack took a big shine to him, really wanted him to succeed. He saw a very less optimistic version of himself in Cloud and wanted to nurture it. Of course Zack introduced him to his boyfriends. If Cloud was going to be his mentee, Cloud had to know them. Cloud bumbled and blushed his way through every meeting. The bfs said he was, frankly, adorable, and they hoped he made it, but otherwise Cloud didn't make a much bigger impression on them. More so after Cloud didn't make it.

2. Mako absorption was what stopped Cloud's dream in its tracks. Cloud couldn't handle much more mako in his system, much less what it took to make a Soldier. It would kill him. He was rejected despite his otherwise fine scores. Cloud pushed Zack away and locked himself in the infantry barracks, ready to surrender himself to a life of depression and military servitude. The next day his would-be CO said a message had shown up for him, along with a key card "upstairs" Cloud wasn't sure what it was for, but followed orders. He found himself in the Investigation Sector of General Affairs. The Turks. Veld smiled at his punctuality, offered him a seat and a cup of tea and expressed his condolences that Cloud was found unsuitable for Soldier. Then quickly stated that Cloud had a lot of markers for a great Turk. He understood it could be painful to find other Soldier candidates, but he needed a good infiltrator and fighter, not just a search man. And Cloud's Soldier test scores were quite good...

3. Cloud took the offered job, not because of Veld's sweet talk, but for the paycheck. It was far more than what he would get in Infantry, even more than he'd get as a Soldier. It was more than enough to send to Mom. He was quickly assigned to work under Tseng for his 3 month probationary period. He bumbled and blushed his way through, until Tseng finally revealed he was actually pretty good friends with one Zack Fair. Cloud felt relieved and finally relaxed. He was good as a Turk, Tseng told him, very good, potential for 2nd in command one day if he wanted it and the probation period would be a breeze. But for now...Zack was pretty sad that he hadn't seen Cloud in three weeks.

4. Zack was ecstatic to see Cloud again, even more happy to hear Cloud was "being taken care of" by one of his friends. "Tseng is a sneaky bastard, but he won't turn you wrong," Zack said. "

"I know," is all Cloud replied with. Zack didn't like that Cloud was getting more secretive, but he was also getting more confident in himself and his abilities, so he figured that was the trade off. Zack was informally invited to Cloud's induction ceremony, really just a handshake and a formal job assignment. But Zack did formally invite Cloud and the few turks he had befriended so far for drinks and that was a lot more fun. Cloud was officially assigned to infiltrate areas in the slums for potential terrorist activity. Cloud figures out fast it's basically monster hunting, but without a showy Soldier. He picks up a bat as his main weapon, mostly because it's fast and very satisfying when he hits something. Veld doesn't stop him either. He works a lot more with Urban Development, than Public Safety, making sure the city can run and making sure those "terrorist groups" don't need to step up. He's one of the few that knows about the Robot Cat. It's a shock to him when he finds out most Turks don't know about it.

5. Cloud spends most of his time off in the slums picking off smaller bits, when he discovers the main nest clogging his works, as he's come to think of them 6 months later. It's big, too big for one turk. He finally calls it in. Veld reaches out to Public Safety and it's directed to Soldier. The sheer number means the best Soldiers are getting sent in. Sephiroth, Genesis Rhapsodos, and Angeal Hewley get sent in on a rare mission together. One Turk seems to know everything in there.

6. Cloud is a lot more cool and confident at this meeting than at any other time he met them. They can't place where they know him because of it. Cloud lists out all the creatures he saw and lets them fight over who kills what. He has spent months picking off the little things to find this thing, he's kind of over it now. He guides them through train tunnels, over the plate catwalks, and through a section of stairs that seem to come from nowhere before Cloud says they're here.

"Have fun," Cloud says, "I'll cover the back end and get the stragglers." It takes a good several hours before it's all clear. They come back to find Cloud and a pile of very dead monsters. They're very impressed.

"I'm shocked you didn't get into Soldier," Angeal tells him.

"Mako problems," Cloud says. Genesis is much more direct.

"Do you have plans for dinner?" he asks.

"Shouldn't you check and make sure your last boyfriend is okay with that?" Cloud said. Angeal and Genesis freak out about how Cloud "knows" when Sephiroth finally figures out who Cloud is.

"You're Zack's friend," Sephiroth said, "the one he had high hopes for. A shame the mako threw everything off. At least you seem to have found your niche." Cloud blushes at that.

1. Aerith called Tseng on Cloud's phone. That's how he knew it was serious. She was panicked and scared and told him he needed to get to the church. Now. Aerith had never once asked for the Turks to come. Not even Cloud. That's how he knew it was bad. When they did get there it was worse than they thought. Aerith had gotten Cloud to a seat, but he was bloody and still bleeding. He insisted he was fine Aerith was absolutely fraught. Tseng would figure out later that Cloud completely forbid Aerith from using her Healing Wind on him. Even near death he would not be the reason Aerith exposed herself. That's how he knew she really was his best friend. Rude carried Cloud after Cloud couldn't get up. Looking at his back, Tseng figured Cloud had been shot and stabbed multiple times. They didn't get an answer for who did this before Cloud passed out.

2. Cloud was returned to the tower as fast as Reno could get him there. Even Rude felt a little sick. His speed was warranted. Cloud injuries were severe, but he was brought back quickly enough for them to be treated. He would make a full recovery, but it was going to take a while. Tseng arrived and started scheduling the shifts. Whomever tried to kill Cloud make come back to try and finish it and it may have been someone within or with close ties to the company. Nearly all the Turks volunteered. For all that Cloud usually worked alone...he did help everyone out at least once before. He was a prickly bastard, but not a heartless one. They all knew if they were in the hospital ward Cloud would have volunteered to guard them. Rude gets the first shift while the rest divide and start to figure this out. Tseng calls Zack to go be with Aerith. She was still near hysterics when they left and she may also be a witness. Later, he found out the incident happened near the church and Aerith found him.

3. It becomes clear this was a slum hit, and not a professional one just based on Cloud injuries alone. He faced multiple people alone and without help. No professional weapons, but whatever the perps scrounged up. But this is Cloud. Odds are very good he gave as good as he got and someone out there had the crap beaten out of them. Turks focus in on that and look at anyone with obvious injuries on them, or any talk about beatings. Slum people are tight lipped in the best of times, but someone had to say something soon. Their first informant was a sad one. Leaf House kid. He was well hidden in their clubhouse. Cloud came to talk to him got the answers and was walking him home. Then the men appeared. Cloud told him to come here and not come out until Cloud came for him. Cissnei brings out all her charm. She's Cloud's friend, he was hurt very badly and she just wants to help. What did he tell Cloud. Even with Cissnei...the kids lips are sealed. He's brought back to the house. Elena and Cissnei keep an eye on him.

4. Next on shift is Reno. Reno never does well sitting still, but by Cloud's side he his. Just very chatty. Talking big game about how much Cloud owes him. Cloud sleeps through most of it, but wakes up once. "Shut the fuck up Reno," Cloud says. Reno sighs and nods. Cloud will be fine.

The other Turks are sniffing along the trail. What did the kid say that made Cloud try and protect him. They find out this isn't actual Turk work, but something Cloud was doing on his own. Something the Leaf House kids asked him for help. They pick up the trail anyway because no one takes out one of their own. Two Guns even asks some old friends in Wall Market if they've heard anything. Nada, though Andrea Rhodea sends Cloud a bouquet when he hears what happened. Finally a little girl breaks. Men have been coming around asking for kids to do some work for them. None took the job, even with the money promised. None of them want to go underground in the sewer tunnels.

5. It breaks open fast after that. It's an underground black market chain. The thugs were looking to use kids as couriers beneath the slums to avoid ShinRa and the Don's attention. As well as any creatures that were lurking there. They had grabbed the first kid before he got away and the first person he found was Cloud. Cloud stood up for him...and then the found out Cloud was a Turk...

The ring doesn't survive the rest of the day. The original gang is taken into custody, while the stragglers fade away to live another day.

Cloud demands all these gifts get returned or sent back to someone who actually wants it. He's very cranky until his Mom shows up.

"Who called her!?" he demands, "I was fine!" Claudia Strife can tame her son. She doens't outright embarrass him, but people do get a (gasp!) genuine thank you out of Cloud. It's rare, but they knew he was grateful.

1. Elena is the only Turk who has just passing knowledge that the dress exists. This is because Turk Shotgun is her sister and Turk Shotgun was there when Cloud got and wore the dress. It was for a ShinRa mission, but no mention or proof of the dress exists. Shotgun swore herself to secrecy...at least so far as the ShinRa side of her life goes. Elena heard about it, but didn't see any proof of it, just that Cloud looked drop dead gorgeous and it wasn't fair. Elena figured Cloud wouldn't want to talk about it. She learned, in a moment of shock, that Cloud fully accepted her as a member of the turks when he pulled out his phone and offered to show her "the dress". She didn't realize it was that dress until she saw Cloud in those photos. Her sister was right, Cloud looked astounding and it wasn't fair.

"Tell anyone those exist and you won't for much longer," Cloud said.

Elena was too honored to even think of saying a word.

2. As mentioned in another post, Tseng saw the dress on Cloud on accident when he lost Aerith. Again. Cloud blackmailed him into silence because Cloud had ample proof that he simply could not keep up with Aerith. Only Cloud could and Cloud straight up refused to do on the clock. He was curious though and scoured through mission reports and found no proof that the damn dress should exist. He called in Shotgun and Gun and asked what they knew. They didn't say a damn thing.

"Cloud did what needed to be done," Shotgun said, "that's all there is to it."

"He finished the mission and saved us," Gun confirmed, "that's all you need to know."

Tseng is also the only one who reached out to Andrea Rhodea...but even he was oddly tight lipped about that damn dress.

He'll never know.

3. Reno and Rude have seen the dress in person as well. Cloud dragged it out for one more mission. Both were also grateful and agreed to keep quiet about it. Reno was the more obnoxious about it. He kept "flirting" with Cloud as they were heading in until Cloud had enough.

"You're jealous because you know you could never pull this off." Reno is struck silent for the first time.

"Fuck you're right," Reno finally admitted. Cloud was smug about that and turned back into Miss Cloud for their distraction.

4. Rude was dead silent, not because of Reno...but because Cloud was just damn beautiful. He felt really weird thinking that about someone he respected and trusted as a coworker and he did not like it. He told Cloud he really didn't want to see him in that dress again.

"I don't want you to ever see me in that dress again," Cloud told him, "but I'm happy you think I look good."

5. Aerith knows about the dress. Of course she knows. She's also seen it. In the flesh. With Cloud in it. She was not present for the mission it appeared on...but she was there for the aftermath. She helped put Cloud back together as himself, dusted off all the makeup, and soothed his ego. She also is the keeper of "the dress" until it comes out again. It is a powerful item and she is honored to hold it for her dearest friend.

She's also really happy to have him wear it for her various chaotic schemes.

"Miss Cloud isn't something to be wasted here," Aerith tells him, "she's a divine sight." She never asks for Miss Cloud often, but only in the direst of circumstances.

Turk Cloud is an interesting concept. I have a few other headcanons for this too!

Turk Cloud 1

Turk Cloud 2

Turk Cloud 3

But, for a new one...

Cloud failed the SOLDIER exam. Twice. Failing once hurt. The second time crushed part of him. He didn’t remember most of the night, but he remembered getting into a fight with a redhead. He didn’t remember why they were fighting. He remembered a bald man with glasses breaking it up by lifting both him and the redhead over his shoulders and carried them off. He also very vividly remembered sitting in front of the head of the Department of Administrative Research. The redhead was there and they both had ice packs. Cloud felt frozen until Tseng of the Turks finally offered him a job. It wasn’t what he was expecting. 

Many of the things that made Cloud unsuitable for SOLDIER, made him more ideal as a Turk. He was short and slightly scrawny, but years of trying to push himself made him much stronger than he seemed. He was also quiet, able to make himself invisible. He knew more things about ShinRa as a company than he should, just because he happened to appear invisible to people with loose lips. Cloud was immediately good as a Turk, and he quickly fit in with them. Reno didn’t even hold a grudge...although Reno also couldn’t remember what they were brawling about. 

Although it took a few months before Cloud fully trusted his fellow Turks, Cloud allowed himself to be sort of mentored by them. He knew how to move people like pieces as well as Tseng did. And he learned fast under Reno and Rude how to fight more effectively. He’s a picture of some mockery after he chooses a Nail Bat as a weapon, but damn if he can’t use it well. Cloud doesn’t dare touch Reno’s position as second in command, but he’s the go-to man for a solo mission. It’s not often you can find a rogue-like brawler, Cloud is just a rarity. 

There’s really one person Cloud doesn’t like: Rufus ShinRa. He despises Rufus and Rufus isn’t very keen on Cloud either...but Cloud is useful. So he learns to live with the snark Cloud can’t stop from coming out of his mouth. It doesn’t help that Darkstar (Dark Nation) adores Cloud. The guard hound perks up for Cloud in a way he just will not for anyone else. The closest Darkstar comes to a puppy is when Cloud is close by. And Rufus had Cloud checked for treats. And Cloud loves Darkstar back. “If you let that dog get hurt, I will shove my bat up your ass,” Cloud once told him, and Rufus thinks Cloud is pretty damn serious about it.

Yes to both. Cloud signature “uniform” is his leather jacket. He usually just wears that all over. But there are exactly two people he will change it for: Aerith and his mom. 

Aerith’s are easy to understand, the girl is a walking bag of chaos and Cloud is usually somewhere in her wake when off duty. He’s worn dresses and suits and all things in between if Aerith asks him nicely. If she uses her hard earned flower money on him you bet your buns Cloud is showing that off. The most popular was the bright pink tank that just had the word “Bitch” in neat cursive. Reno was quite jealous of it. 

His mom is his soft spot, always. He cannot deny her anything. The most famous incident was Cloud’s first Winter as a Turk. He complained about the cold off duty and she offered to knit him up a sweater, like when he was a kid. He did not resist. He mostly kept it at home, but then it was bitterly cold and he wore it to work and forgot to take it off. 

He was mocked, he blushed horribly, but Cloud does not stand for people mocking his mother and said something along the lines of the other Turks being jealous because they didn’t have a sweater like his, soft and warm and made with love. 

Cloud was right. There was some touching of the sweater and the consensus was unanimous, Cloud’s mom made a damn nice sweater, they were sorry...did she have more. 

Claudia Strife did. 

Veld walked in one day to see all of his Turks out of uniform, but nicely color coded with sweaters. Even Tseng had one. He felt left out, but Cloud had made sure to save him one.