Cloud was used to coming home injured after a patrol. His roommate, however, was having a difficult time adjusting to this fact.

Ever since Cloud had been bitten by a Mako-infused spider, he’d had powers unlike anyone before him. He knew that Mako did a number on a person by itself—hell, he’d experienced it—but the Mako he was subjected to was tainted in some way. And now, here he was, web-slinging his way home through the dark alleys of the sector 7 slums.

Tifa had found out about his powers, because he couldn’t lie to that woman to save his life. She had recruited him into Avalanche, recognizing the potential in him. Since then, he’s been Spiderman, another hero of the slums. Even with the beatdowns he endured on occasion, like tonight, he wouldn’t choose any other path.

He came in through the back door, pulling off his mask and letting out a long-suffering sigh at the sight of his roommate. They waited up for him, as they’ve begun to do now that they know of his secret double life as Spiderman. There was a busted up first aid kit upon the table, already open and ready for him.

“I’m fine,” Cloud grunted, much to the vexation of his roommate. They urged him to take the chair next to him, which he reluctantly agreed to. He’d already tried declining their help several times, but they were so persistent that he found it easier to just let them.

He had an accelerated healing factor, but it was nowhere near Zack or Tifa’s. Zack was practically immortal, and Tifa could heal a broken bone in an hour at most. But Cloud? His healing wasn’t nearly as strong as theirs. He needed time to recover.

For all his griping and groaning about his roommate on him, he found it strangely comforting to be cared for in such a way. It wasn’t a feeling he was ready to admit to himself or to them, so he pushed it down where it couldn’t resurface in his mind.

“You don’t have to do this, you know.” Cloud huffed, wincing slightly as they disinfected one of the cuts along his forearm.