Shit, I forgot to bring the pills... Cloud thought, wiping the sweat off his forehead. He felt the familiar sensation coiling from the pit of his stomach.

"Are you okay, Cloud?" Tifa asked, stopping her hands from dusting her knees after the combat they had been wrapped in. "You look pale." Presumably, flushed at the same time due to the natural, hormonal, and pheromonal reasons, whatever Fate let this paradox happen for.

"I'm fine," Cloud replied dismissively, sheathing his sword. Anyway, there was nothing Tifa could help, or Barret, who was booming with adrenaline, or Yuffie, who was jumping at the newly obtained materia. Given its colour, it must be a basic cure materia, but what do I know? Cloud shook his head in mild amusement mingled with disbelief at his ragtag team of oddballs.

Fortunately—or was it unfortunate?—Cloud wasn't inherited with typical features of Omega. First of all, his weak scent. It was almost fatal with his relationships. It's not that he was actively pursuing one, but sometimes he couldn't help but imagine himself in one of many parallel worlds branched out from this one where he was doomed to be like this. He would have founded a half-decent Alpha; he would have spent time with them during his heat period or their rut period together; he would never have had migraines about carrying pills into the battlefield in case the adrenaline pumping in his veins due to the heated battles might cause the premature heat; he might not have been too obsessed with the missions and a handful of gils since there was something—someone—else to distract him from the nightmares.

Or the useless what-ifs, he chastised himself inwardly, rather disgusted by his usual sentimental phase that haunted him during the pre-heat and the post-heat, though this time it was the former and stronger.

"Cloud. Vincent and Cid announced that they will need more time to fix the aircraft," informed Nanaki formally, his paws pitter-pattering against the ground beside Cloud's heavy-booted feet. This fluffy, red comrade was the best companion when the only Omega amongst the Avalanche was clouded with pre-heat glooms and glums because his sensitive nose already noticed something awry swirling around the infamous mercenary of Midgar, Cloud Strife. "Therefore, I suggest that you retire to the inn, whilst we take care of the rest of the mission. Regardless, we just need to hand out the spoils to Chadley."

Good, I don't need to deal with that kid stalker, thought Cloud. "Thanks, Nanaki," said he, handing the devices connected to the way too talkative AI kid. Of course, Nanaki couldn't take it, so Yuffie did, who was just as childish as Chadley. "Let's go! I'm expecting super strong materias from him with all these spoils!" she chirped, jumping in the air.

Aerith and Tifa giggled to themselves behind everyone, idly leading the Chocobos with them.

"Would you like to ride one, Cloud?" Aerith jogged up to Cloud who was inwardly distressed and outwardly not interested. "Tifa and I can share one together." It was such a kind offer, but the mere thought of riding this cute, fluffy Chocobo on the unruly roads made him want to throw up.

"It's okay," Cloud declined not unkindly. "I don't think I can handle the rocky ride... Go ahead with the others. I'll be in the inn. I'm sure I'll be knocked out cold on the bed when you guys come back."

Aerith nodded with a smile. "Just call us if you need something, okay?" She patted Cloud's shoulder with a sweet "Rest up, Cloud!" before jogging back to the others, who were walking in the opposite direction. Tifa greeted her back and looked at Cloud over her shoulder. Cloud nodded at her to reassure her, and Tifa nodded back with her usual kind smile before looking at the road ahead.

"Now, it's the time to just take the pills and pass out," he muttered under his breath, watching his friends' backs reduce to dots. He turned on his heels and cruised into the town. There's the inn right there. How convenient. He opened the door and was greeted by the empty reception desk. He rang the bell.