Didn't really stick to the prompt... but the story came out cute, so... yeah. I kept it.

This story is set in the 'Understanding' universe.

Depression

In his early years Sephiroth hadn't often though about Cloud leaving his side. The blonde had saved him, taken him in, and cared for him. The silver haired boy didn't think anything of his guardian's single status until Shera had said something.

"He always seems so lonely… must be depressing for him…" she had said one day while watching Cloud through the kitchen window. The man was sitting in the grass next to Fenrir, looking up at the sky; presumably daydreaming about something or another. Sephiroth had been sitting at the kitchen table, swinging his feet back and further, and eating breakfast; when he had heard her talking about his guardian.

The boy's feet stopped moving and his attention was drawn to Shera. "Why would he be lonely, he has me… and you, and Cid…" he added the last bit as an after thought. As far as he was concerned he was all Cloud needed, because Cloud was all that he needed. The blonde was his everything…

Shera looked back at him, a strange expression on her face. "Sephiroth, sometimes people need company that they can relate to… people their own age. Cid and I are a fair bit older than Cloud, and you're much younger than he is…" she explained as her eyes trailed back out the kitchen window to the blonde. "He really should settle down… he's certainly handsome, and sweet, enough to attract a nice girl…" she sighed, watching Cloud a moment longer before turning her attention back to Sephiroth; only to find that the boy was gone.

The silver haired boy's feet couldn't carry him fast enough as he made his way outside. Cloud, being taken away by some woman… he knew that the man would never forget about him, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't give him less attention… He didn't bother calling out as he ran out the back door, toward the man that had taken him under his wing; his guardian and protector. He bulled the blonde over when he tackled him to the ground from his upright position.

Cloud grunted as he was forced to the ground. He didn't seem angry, just surprised, by the boy's actions. The blonde didn't lash out, or throw him off; he simply sat back up, and looked down at his charge. "Sephiroth… what're you doing?" he asked softly, placing a hand on the boy's head. He didn't receive an answer, only dampness on his chest, soaking into the material of his knit top. "Hey, Sephiroth, why're you crying? What happened?" he asked as he gently pulled the boy away to look at him.

He looked like a healthy eight year old should, aside from the short silver hair and cat-like eyes. The blonde tilted the boy's chin up so that he could see his face better, and was met with watery green eyes staring up at him; longing, sad, scared, and concerned.

"You aren't going to run off with some woman, are you?" Sephiroth asked, worry evident in his voice as he spoke to the only man on the planet that he truly trusted. Small hands moved up and gripped the larger, leather clad, hand that was under his chin.

"Is that what this is all about?" The blonde asked, almost chuckling. Sephiroth had been territorial over him since he had taken him from Shin-Ra. The boy often clung to him when he would speak to women, old or young; it didn't matter to Sephiroth, a woman was a woman. "No, I'm not going to run off with some woman," he told the boy as he began wiping the tears from his face. A soft smile worked it's way across his face when his charge stopped crying, "You're stuck with me, kiddo."