While Cloud's shy and kinda quiet and generally adorable in CC canon, he still had his moments of dry humor, and I just can't ever be convinced by the...ah, more stereotypically 'uke' version I often see, whether in canonfic or AU. His relative maturity in this fic has background - young lone kid taking care of an ill single mother, working at age sixteen, etc - so I think it works? Well, I'll figure it out.

Of course, Zack would ensure anyone else in close proximity matured, if only in self-defense. :D