Drabble #52: Protection
Summary: There was something out there, protecting him...or was it someone?
Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot. Characters and places belong to SquareEnix
Cloud felt his whole body go light, as if it were floating. He tried to open his eyes but every time he did, he was met with a blinding white light.
'Am I...dead?' he wondered faintly in the back of his mind before he felt a hand touch his head lightly. A soft, caring touch.
"Mother?" he asked softly, still keeping his eyes closed. He heard a faint giggle, one that he recognised all too well.
"Again? Why is everyone calling me their mother nowadays?" the soft feminine voice asked and a male chuckled.
"It must be because they're fond of you."
Cloud listened, his brain immediately conjuring pictures of the two people in his mind. She was still as beautiful as the day he had last seen her and the man was still wearing his trademark grin.
"I'm fond of this one too," the female sighed, letting her hand play with the soft blonde locks. If Cloud had been alive, he was sure he would have blushed. "But he doesn't belong here."
Cloud felt his heart sink and he wanted nothing more than to scream out the words 'I want to be here!' but he couldn't.
"Tough luck friend," the male voice said cheerfully. "Looks like you don't have a place here."
And then, Cloud felt the life returning to his body but he was sure that something wet was surrounding him. Slowly, he opened his eyes and found himself staring at the hole in the roof of Aerith's Church, narrowing his eyes against the stream of sunlight.
"It's just like she said," a girl whispered beside him. "Wait here and Cloud will come back to you."
Cloud nodded towards her in acknowledgement, a small smile tugging at his lips. Maybe there was something out there protecting him after all.
Or...someone.