[Cloud's not so sure about that; seems more to him like his life is a rinse-and-repeat cycle of him falling down and being lifted up by someone else, but he can't argue that he's alive because of it.
He just leans forward to wrap his arms around Aerith again, a hand against the back of her head to hold her against his shoulder. How long had he wanted to do this back home after Sephiroth had taken her from them? How many times had he beaten himself up for not doing it more often? Maybe it hadn't been right or good, maybe they never really started anything because they both knew it wasn't the time, but all he could think about for days was how much time he wasted being unsure.
And now...now he's going to do it again. Zack being here, he. It complicates things.]
I don't want to leave, [Cloud admits, because he can at least talk about that.] I'm afraid if I look away, you'll just vanish again.
[ There's a soft place in her heart for him, and it's been there from the moment he tumbled down into her church, reacting to her and protecting her in an instant. She might have been able to outrun the Turks a thousand and one times, but having a bodyguard? It didn't hurt. It became so much more than that, though, didn't it? Her and Cloud, protecting the Planet... He had been with her the entire time, standing at her side, waiting for her, just like she waited for him.
It's what makes it so easy to lean against his shoulder, to let him hold her, to bask in it. She knows that Zack is here, too, but she thinks that of all people he would understand. He'd understand why she can't let go of Cloud and why she reaches for him, too, these two boys that changed her life a thousand times over.
Lifting her hand, she presses her palm flat over his eyes. ]
[She covers his eyes and Cloud starts.] Aerith, what- [Wait for it, she says, and then beams up at him in that way she has, like the smile of a person seeing the sun for the first time in days.
Even with all his convoluted feelings each scrambling for his attention, Cloud can't help but smile and cock his head to the side.] Just that easy, huh? I just need to wait a little bit?
[ It's so easy to cheer Cloud up, sometimes, she thinks to herself. Everyone thinks that he's always Mr. Grumpy Pants but, really, it's the opposite. You just have to give him something good - something to hold onto. She's always found that particularly easy. ]
Just like that. All you have to do is call my name, wait a bit and then I'll be there. Okay?
Goooood this is embarrassing, and he really should stop this...] It just sounds so...fairytale. You can't actually hear me from anywhere just if I say your name.
Well I'm gonna test that, y'know. I'll dial the Aerith hotline at three AM. [He's actually probably gonna panic and do just that hahahahahahahah hahaha hah]
[Rubs the back of his neck...] Aerith... [...nope. Can't confront that just yet.] You know, you can transfer ships. I'll look into how to do it. ...not that it honestly really matters, but like, bunk space and all that business depends on who is where, so.
Strategically speaking, that'd be best. [Also he's so goddamn lonely, please don't make him be alone.] I'm on the Bloodsport. Zack was on the Caprine when I went to go see him. If we're gonna all switch to the same ship, we should decide which one is best.
Yeah, I...haven't exactly gotten out much. [Though now that he's thinking about it...] Probably not the Caprine. I uh, it's not a good choice. [he kidnapped somebody from there once]
Get ready for this: Lunafreya Nox Fleuret. [Raises eyebrows significantly. FANCY, RIGHT??? he feels like he should be eating caviar and drinking fifty-year-old wine while saying it]
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He just leans forward to wrap his arms around Aerith again, a hand against the back of her head to hold her against his shoulder. How long had he wanted to do this back home after Sephiroth had taken her from them? How many times had he beaten himself up for not doing it more often? Maybe it hadn't been right or good, maybe they never really started anything because they both knew it wasn't the time, but all he could think about for days was how much time he wasted being unsure.
And now...now he's going to do it again. Zack being here, he. It complicates things.]
I don't want to leave, [Cloud admits, because he can at least talk about that.] I'm afraid if I look away, you'll just vanish again.
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[ There's a soft place in her heart for him, and it's been there from the moment he tumbled down into her church, reacting to her and protecting her in an instant. She might have been able to outrun the Turks a thousand and one times, but having a bodyguard? It didn't hurt. It became so much more than that, though, didn't it? Her and Cloud, protecting the Planet... He had been with her the entire time, standing at her side, waiting for her, just like she waited for him.
It's what makes it so easy to lean against his shoulder, to let him hold her, to bask in it. She knows that Zack is here, too, but she thinks that of all people he would understand. He'd understand why she can't let go of Cloud and why she reaches for him, too, these two boys that changed her life a thousand times over.
Lifting her hand, she presses her palm flat over his eyes. ]
Wait for it...
[ And then she drops her hand away. ]
See! Still here.
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Even with all his convoluted feelings each scrambling for his attention, Cloud can't help but smile and cock his head to the side.] Just that easy, huh? I just need to wait a little bit?
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Just like that. All you have to do is call my name, wait a bit and then I'll be there. Okay?
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[ And she puts her hand on his chest, over his heart. ]
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Cloud chews on his lip, unconsciously scrubbing his hand through his hair in a very Zack gesture.] I don't know if you're being sappy or serious.
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[ She gives him a sliiiightly dirty look. ]
I mean it, Cloud!
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Goooood this is embarrassing, and he really should stop this...] It just sounds so...fairytale. You can't actually hear me from anywhere just if I say your name.
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She just grins, leaning back finally. ]
I could before! Why wouldn't it be the same now?
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You have to make friends too! It can't just be me and Zack - I want to see you smiling with lots of different people!
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I have friends! ...a friend, I think. [she's like blonde you]
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that is true but how dare you] I'm not sure how far I believe that, but I did wanna introduce you two. I think you'd really like her.
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