If You Don't Have a Smile

NOTE!: Thanks to Kaikai PANTS for pointing this out! In order to understand what's happening in this prologue, and probably the next chapter, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING THE ONE-SHOT "TO SMILE THROUGH!" Though it's not completely necessary, especially since that one shot probably contains quite a few spoilers, it really will help with understanding what's going on. If you feel intimidated by the seemingly random loads of crap flying around in the first few chapters, just check out my profile to find that story, and things will probably be cleared up, somewhat.

Warnings: Alternate universe. General confusion at the moment. Shortness because it's a prologue.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters found here in. They belong to their rightful owners. I am merely a humble Clouffie servant, trying to spread the unconventional love.

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PROLOGUE

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I never thought about it back then.

I was young, inexperienced; my heart locked away from the world like an oyster's pearl.

And you. I wonder about you. Even now, when you're…well. I don't want to think about it.

A life for a life.

You never told me what those words meant.

A flash of light. Mottled gray and gunmetal fire burst and in their wake there is but the notion of empty space, all vast precipices and silent vacuums.

You breathed in me the notion that life goes on.

The stolen bullet chambered in a stolen gun seems strangely insignificant in comparison to the rest of the firearm fitted snuggly into his hand. But, it feels so heavy; his grip slips on the trigger while fumbling for the hammer.

You taught me that. So, why aren't you here with me? Was I not good enough?

She smiles. The luminous twist of lips is almost feral. She pulls at the nails embedded in her hands, as if they'll come out like pegs from a board.

And yet…

The gun, a black hole in its weight, falls and it doesn't break the silence so much as it shatters the last vestiges of reality smeared upon the blank canvas of his mind.

A life for a life.

A hole bleeds into existence where it once was not, centered on a smooth forehead; some falls in her eye and she tosses her head about to lighten the stream before it sidles into the cracks of her chapped lips.

Back then, everything was easy. Like pulling a trigger, or the nails from your hands.

The rose, in full bloom and white as clouds and love and the innards of her smiles, rests idly in the palm of his hand, open and abundant in its pearly plumage. No matter how he tears at it, the petals heavy in his hands and littering the floor, it always grows again. He wishes it could bleed, like her and he; something to fall back upon in the wake of stolen familiarity.

A life for a life.

She's rotting from the inside, falling apart at the seams. The stitching skittering across the expanse of her fingers is fraying and she's not quite sure what to do. She looks to him, as if he'll know.

Because he's supposed to, right?

"I'm dying."

"I'm dying."

I wish that, as easily and well oiled as those words fell from your lips, you could have asked me to save you. Instead, you picked at a stray thread and smiled at me.

A flash of light; the mottled gunmetal gray spreads around her like a halo, the rot falling away as the ghost in the machine turns to ash.

The sight of a rose left behind in the fallout is empty and hollow.

I wonder if I could have.

A life for a life.

She smiles. The world is alight and why has he never noticed that the left side is slightly crooked? But that doesn't matter right now, she's here she's here. The rain has never felt better as he reaches for her hands.

Everything used to be so easy. What happened?

The chain tightens around his throat as she tugs mercilessly, screaming and keening like an animal in its dying throes. Something's breaking and he doesn't know who.

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It all began when you said, "Hello."

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Here's something fast. More to come whenever I have the time.

This is obviously about Cloud and Yuffie. Totally. If you're not sure what's going on (neither totally am I) reference back to my other fic, "To Smile Through," from which this story is very heavily based. Also take note of the fact that events that weren't in italics, didn't necessarily happen in order. There are about three different story points cobbled together in this prologue. The real beginning comes next time.

Thanks for reading, and hope you guys enjoy this mini-series! :)