Okay, so I just posted the first chapter of this today. I have four days off of school and I still have muse, so oh well. Besides, I like stories with more than one chapter – they make me happy inside, and I figure they might make some of you happy, too. Before I forget, sorry about the general crappiness of it all - I can't do accents, and half the characters will probably end up being way too OOC, but I'll try my best.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, as much as I wish I did.
Groaning, Cloud opened his eyes, raising one hand to his head. He was dimly aware of someone moving around the room, of hands taking his own, and of that calm, gentle voice that belonged in his false memories. "It's all right. Sleep now, Cloud."
"How… how do you know…?"
"Cid told me." Of course. Cid had told her. "I'll come and check on you later, okay Cloud? My name is Aerith, by the way."
All Cloud could do was nod as he drifted off to sleep.
"Cloud."
He was inside a church, surrounded by flowers, sunlight filtering down from the hole in the roof. He shifted, surprised by the lack of pain – he had fallen so far, and yet it seemed as though he was barely harmed.
"Cloud."
Sitting up, the blond looked around, bright blue eyes searching for the one who spoke to him. He looked over to the door, where a bright light shone. In the light, he could just barely make out the form of Aerith. She was smiling sadly, holding a basket filled with flowers as she looked at him. Behind her, he could make out the form of a man with spiky black hair.
"You found me again. This time, you're the one who needs protecting. There's someone coming to see you. Take care, okay Cloud?"
"What? Who? Who's coming to see me?"
Aerith only smiled, turning to leave with the black-haired man. "Your light."
"Cloud! You're awake! And walking without falling over this time!" Bouncing around the room, the black-haired girl gave him a hug before grabbing his hand. "Come on! Everyone's waiting for you, and it's up to me, the Great Ninja Yuffie, to get you down there in top shape!"
Cloud followed obediently, too weak to argue with the hyperactive girl who was currently jabbering on about something, settling instead for tuning her out. He frowned, wondering if she was always like this or if she got some sort of sick pleasure out of seeing him in pain, when he remembered the voices from the first day. She had definitely been there, and though that didn't reassure him, it comforted him slightly.
"Ta-da! Here he is, guys! Our own little fallen angel!"
"Yuffie!" Sounding exasperated, Aerith came over, smiling as she peeked up into Cloud's face. "How are you feeling?"
"I… uhm, fine."
"That was quite a fall, young man. Are you quite certain you're all right?" An elderly man dressed in blue robes was watching him through his glasses, but Cid quickly cut off any reply Cloud could have given.
"Of course he's all right, Merlin, what with Aerith and Yuffie fussin' over him and that healing magic o' yours an' Aerith's." Looking over at him, the older blond frowned, clenching the toothpick between his teeth. "You are okay, ain't ya?"
Cloud nodded, looking around at the people in the room. Aerith, Yuffie, Cid, Merlin, and… him. The brunet had yet to speak, choosing instead to look at him with stormy gray eyes and nod instead, but Cloud somehow knew that this had been the third voice from that night. Noticing his stare, the other man turned away, grabbing a jacket from behind a chair.
"I'm going to the Bailey." With that, he left, letting the door swing shut behind him. Sighing, Aerith smiled at him, only her eyes revealing that she wasn't pleased.
"Sorry about that, Cloud. Leon… well, Leon is Leon. He's glad to know that you're all right, though."
"Yeah! Leon though you were a goner for sure. So did the rest of us, actually, but you must be tough, Cloudster!" Yuffie butted in, ignoring the strange look that Cloud shot her. Cloudster?
"It was a long fall. I thought I was dead, too." He surprised himself, twitching slightly when he realized what he had said before relaxing. These were nice enough people; no need to worry them over his problems, no need to add that he wished he was dead instead of standing here in the middle of a crowded kitchen.
"Do you live around here?" Aerith's voice brought him back to the present, and he shook his head. Better to let them think that… he wasn't going back, alive or not. "Stay with us, then, at least until you're fully recovered. Besides, the Restoration Committee could use another pair of hands – if you're up for it, of course."
Cloud only nodded. What else was there for him to do?
