Author's Note: I have recontinued work on this fic. Surprisingly, it's probably my best known semi-serious FFVII fic, but it's in need of a serious revamping. So for your viewing pleasure, the completely reworked first chapter of Alone. The second revision should be up soon as well, g'day.
Setting: A few days before the final encounter, Cosmo Canyon
.The sky looked the same, the sand felt the same. Cosmo Canyon was as he left it, the epitome of nature, his perfect home. But something was the same too…
It felt like a pain in his heart. It was there as soon as they reached his home; he could only think of grandpa. Because grandpa was his real parent, his real companion, his only friend. Red had to see Bugenhagen, because of that pain. He had to see grandpa, before grandpa left him alone, like everyone else.
That night Cloud and Tifa sat next to the fire on their own side, quietly holding hands. Nobody noticed, but everyone noticed. Aeris was gone, and it troubled Cloud, it troubled him a lot, but now he was with someone. Someone he really cared about. Over on the other side, Barret was talking about Marlene. How she had shown him her first drawing. How she read an entire book to him. How she could scrawl out "I love you daddy" on a piece of paper and give it to him. How much he loved her, how much he would die for her.
Everyone nodded, as if they understood. But Red didn't understand; how could he? No one loved him, and well, he could love no one. How could he die for someone, when no one would die for him? No one could care about him like that; he was eternally lonely.
"That is your fate, Nanaki. You are who you are; you cannot change that." Grandpa told him as soon as he came back. But Fate was just a name you gave to a bunch of events. Fate was bullshit; loneliness was real. That was the pain; that was worse then anything else.
To be forgotten is worse then death; to be alone is like death itself
Oh how he was so dead inside.
The fire still burned; it would never stop. (The pain still hurt, it would never stop) Barret kept talking to Cait; perhaps since he was only a doll, he would only have to pretend to pay attention? Vincent sat by himself in a corner, brooding as well, and Cid lit his cigarette in the fire, getting a little too close and singing his face. Classic. And Yuffie, she was asleep.
If Red had to pick a close friend, it would be Cid. The usually gruff pilot was surprisingly sensitive and caring. Cid referred to Nanaki and himself as the "two old timers". A slap on the back, a pat on the head, Cid was the master of a subtle friendship.
But if Red had to pick someone he'd date, someone he'd be with, he'd pick Yuffie. She was really his age, she was who Red wish he could be. She was so free, she was so spirited; she wasn't alone. Maybe Red really did like her, or, quite possibly he was just envious. But it didn't matter. All his thoughts were gone the next morning.
Same sky, same sand. Same hurt.
Alone.