Cloud hated this. Hated every single part of it.

Dressing up as a woman for some ridiculous plan was bad enough. And despite all the makeup caked onto his face, his features were still too sharp, too distinctly him. There was no way Corneo would choose him.

And yet…

Here he was.

Standing inside the Honeybee Inn, squeezed into a lilac dress that collected every scrap of dust and litter off the floor. Two clip-on braids had been stuffed into his hair, and his face had been thoroughly done with makeup he never wanted to see again.

As he stalked past one of the tables, wearing a scowl—

He froze.

A hand had settled against the side of his waist.

Cloud whirled around instantly, eyes narrowing into a glare as he found the culprit.

You.

Sitting alone with a drink in hand, looking up at him with an expression that made it seem like you had mistaken him for some woman looking for company for the evening.

His expression darkened immediately.

“Get off me,” he growled, glaring down at you beneath his thick lashes and far too much mascara. His voice was as sharp; making no attempt whatsoever to sound like the lovely woman he was meant to be.