Don't own Final Fantasy, no matter how many times I wish. But such is life.

Yeah. No idea where this came from or why or anything like that. Not even sure I like it. But hey, I wrote it, so here it is. If you have any advice, it'd be welcome, though flames are not. I get the feeling this could be good if I can get the two of them in proper character, cause I don't think I have 'em quite right. Lemme know, yeah? Thanks.

SSS

Back when everything was normal, before the world started falling apart, Cissnei slept better. Back then she had something to keep the nightmares away.

sss

"Hmm?" Cissnei roused as the arm wrapped around her waist withdrew.

"I have to go." The arm's owner murmured the words beside her ear, his fingers skimming in a light caress over her hipbone before he drew away completely. The bed shifted as he sat up, settling his feet on the floor, and reached for his clothes. Cissnei rolled onto her other side, nestling into the warmth he'd left behind. The first rays of the morning sun crept through the blinds to dance across his hair and dapple his skin, glinting off his earring, and her gaze traced over the pale scars scattered over the fair skin of his back and shoulders as he jerked on his boots. Cissnei shifted, propping herself on an elbow as he stood, pulling on his coat and shrugging his shoulders to adjust the fit before reaching for his sabre.

"Don't get yourself killed." She murmured in a slightly teasing tone. He turned to look down at her, a smirk tugging at his lips. His response was cool and confident.

"I'll survive." He bent and ghosted a kiss against her shoulder, then her lips. "Go back to sleep."

She reached up as he pulled back, letting her fingers slide through the strands of his dark auburn hair as he straightened. He left without another word, sweeping out of the room in a swirl of red. Cissnei watched him go before rolling over and burying her face in his pillow.

sss

In the week it took Genesis to return from his mission, Cissnei slept badly. The night he returned, he woke her from the throes of a nightmare, pulling her out of the dark, bloody dream with a fierce kiss. There were no ghost kisses that night, no barely-there caresses; and the rest of the night she spent in a deep, dreamless sleep.

She didn't wake when he left the next morning, didn't hear the words he recited when he paused in the doorway. She didn't wake until the sun was streaming brightly through the blinds. She sat up slowly, brushing her hair out of her face, not surprised to find him gone, and stretched languidly, inhaling the scent of leather and mako clinging to the sheets. Then, sighing softly, she rose to dress for work.

When Cissnei reached the ShinRa building later that morning, the whole place was alive with news.

Genesis Rhapsodos, SOLDIER first class, had defected. He had never returned from his last mission.

The nightmare Cissnei had that night, and many nights after, was the worst she'd had in many weeks; and for the first time in a long time, she suffered through every one of them alone.

SSS

Bleh. Anyway, review please. No flames. Thanks so much. ~Seeker