Disclaimer: I do not own FFVII!
As he sat staring into the bonfire, Cloud sensed that something was off. A look to his right confirmed his initial discomfort. Aeris looked sad. This must be the problem because Aeris was never sad. Here was a girl who had been chased by Shinra her whole life, and he had never seen her look seriously upset before. Seeing Aeris upset was somehow deeply unsettling to him now. He turned to her, an inquisitive look in his eyes.
She looked up at that moment, saving him the discomfort of having to ask what was wrong. However, an instant later, emerald eyes shadowed over with misery, she lowered her head again. At that instant, Cloud felt his chest tighten painfully, a feeling he did not quite understand.
"I learned a lot," she began softly, looking up once again. "The elders taught me many things. About the Cetra... And the Promised Land..."
Again, she looked down: " I'm... alone... I'm all alone now..."
Now that's just wrong, he thought, as a new wave of pain coursed over him. "But I'm... we're here for you, right?" He mentally cursed himself for that slip, wondering why he had slipped.
Aeris shook her head, curls flying about her face. "I know. I know, but... I am the only...Cetra."
Cloud bristled at the rejection he felt. "Does that mean we can't help?" He realized that at this point, he was actually angry and stood up sharply. He would not deal with this girl who was wallowing in misery when so many people around her cared for her.
Later Cloud would realize why he cared so much, why one flower girl's mood would so affect his own, but at this point, he simply put all these thoughts and feelings out of his mind and went to speak with his other companions.
~Fin~
A/N: I haven't written in a while so this must really suck . Please Read&Review so that I can become a better writer. Thanks!