"Is he okay?" Cloud asked, poking his head inside Firion's dark tent. Firion shook his head as he helped Cloud limp inside. Tidus sat in the corner, facing the wall of the tent, his knees tucked up close against his chest.

"He hasn't said a word since I brought him in here," Firion replied, letting go of Cloud once he was sure the man was able to stand on his own. "How are the others?"

"They're all a little shaken up. Squall bandaged up Bartz's wrist, though, so I think Bartz is feeling a little better," Cloud told his companion.

"And you?" Firion asked.

Cloud shrugged. He hadn't really thought about his own state until now, despite his still aching body. Everything had been so chaotic. Cloud was only focused on Bartz's fracture, Cecil's demise, and the mental state of his weary comrades.

"I'll be okay. I've been through worse," he replied. His eyes flickered toward the young man in the corner, and his brows creased in concern. Tidus. Surely, he was hurting most of all.

"You can try and talk to him if you want. I don't know how much good it'll do," Firion said, with a quiet sigh, before Cloud could even inquire. Cloud nodded, and prepared himself, finding his inner calm.

"Tidus?" he asked.

The young man didn't move. Cloud watched him, his heart aching as he analyzed his posture. He just looked so wrong all curled up like that, so scared and silent. Seeing him like that frightened Cloud to the core, though he would never admit it to anyone but himself. Cloud never said anything, but he relied on Tidus' smile; it helped him press on when the world seemed too daunting, but death had a way of changing people.

It had changed Cloud, made him lose his direction and his eagerness for whatever came his way. It had damaged his heart and shaken his faith. If losing Cecil caused those things to happen to Tidus, as well, then Cloud didn't know who he would turn to. He needed to help Tidus through this; the young Zanarkand boy just didn't belong in that kind of darkness.

Cloud pushed his worries aside, and proceeded toward Tidus with careful steps.

"Tidus, you're shaking," Cloud observed, voice soft, eyeing Tidus' shoulders which seemed to rise and fall far more frequently than with each mere breath. Tidus was slow to respond, and even when he did, his gaze didn't budge; he continued to stare straight ahead at the tent's pine-green canvas.

"It's weird, isn't it? He's gone," Tidus said, sounding almost trance-like. "It could have been me. I just keep thinking it could have been me."

Cloud crouched down beside him and stared at him side-on, though Tidus still didn't attempt to meet his eyes. Cloud could feel his stomach swirling uncomfortably, but he stuck to his guns; he was going to comfort his friend, somehow.

"Tidus," he murmured. If Firion hadn't been watching, Cloud wouldn't have been able to stop himself from reaching out and brushing a comforting hand through Tidus' soft hair. He wasn't quite sure how he managed to refrain.

"It should have been me. I was the one who wasn't paying attention. Cecil didn't have to... He didn't have to do that," Tidus went on, his voice weaker than Cloud had ever heard it. Cloud put a hand on Tidus' shoulder, hoping it would soothe him, even if only a little.

"I know it's hard to accept, and it's even harder to understand. Death always is. You just have to remember that it was Cecil's choice."

"To save me?" Tidus asked.

"Yes. To save you. Just like it was your choice to step in and try to save Bartz," Cloud explained, the memory flashing in his mind— the Emperor heading for Bartz, Tidus rushing to his aid, Golbez stepping in and sending magic toward the young blitzer, and finally, Cecil jumping in to take the fatal blow. Tidus didn't reply, and Cloud wasn't sure if he was reflecting on his words, or if they had even sunk in at all.

"Cloud?" Firion interjected. Cloud turned his head, and Firion motioned toward the tent door.

"Right," Cloud nodded, before turning his attention back to Tidus. "I know you feel like things are falling apart, but we all need you to be strong. We don't have time to mourn right now," Cloud said.

Finally, Tidus' head snapped around, and he gave Cloud a mighty scowl. It was the most emotion Cloud had seen him display since he'd entered the tent—not the emotion he'd been hoping for, but still...

"Oh, that's rich, coming from you," Tidus muttered, his eyes boring into Cloud's like steel.

Cloud recoiled a little as Tidus' point hit home. How awful it must have sounded, for Cloud to tell him he wasn't allowed to mourn, when all Cloud had done for months was that exact thing.

"Tidus, it's not like that. We need to get out of here before we get attacked again. You deserve time to grieve for Cecil. You know I believe that, but that time isn't now. We aren't safe here," Cloud clarified, needing Tidus to understand that he was on his side.

Tidus' expression softened, like he regretted his harsh words. Thankfully, Cloud wouldn't hold it against him; he knew the poor boy was hurting.

Cloud was glad Tidus was responding to him now, but Tidus still didn't seem eager to move. His body was still curled up tight, his lips pressed together to hold back his emotions. Cloud could feel Firion's eyes on him, encouraging him to speed things up, and get Tidus on his feet, but Cloud wasn't about to make Tidus feel pressured; it wouldn't help anything. Cloud took a breath, and gave Tidus' shoulder a gentle squeeze, ready to give it one last go.

"Cecil was brave, and he was our friend. I don't like seeing him gone any more than you do, but he knew what he was doing when he took that hit for you."

"What does that mean?" Tidus asked, looking away when he felt tears start to sting his eyes.

It was too soon to be talking like this. What had it been? Twenty minutes? And already, Cloud was talking like Cecil had been gone for months? Twenty minutes, and he expected Tidus to be okay about it? Tidus gulped back a sob. He didn't want to cry. Not in front of his friends.

"Firion, would you mind giving us a minute?" Cloud asked, hoping it wouldn't sound like too strange a request.

"Of course," Firion replied, with a courteous nod, before excusing himself from the tent. Tidus eyed Cloud only for a moment before his gaze returned to the wall of the tent.

"Tidus, do you remember what you told me about Zack?" Cloud breathed, watching Tidus' face intently for any change in expression, but he saw none. Tidus shook his head. Cloud stared at him, his own expression saddening as he watched Tidus' trembling bottom lip.

"You told me that Zack must have died for me... because he thought I was worth saving," Cloud explained, causing Tidus to meet his eyes again, only this time his gaze lingered.

"Don't you think the same must be true of Cecil? He must have thought you were worth saving, don't you think?" Cloud asked, swallowing hard as he thought of Zack.

It had taken him a long time to realize that, to accept that Zack had had a reason for what he had done, but knowing it made things so much easier. Cloud had honestly come to believe that Zack had made his choice to fight, and it was all thanks to what Tidus had said. He just hoped that that same bit of reasoning would help Tidus in his time of despair. It was the last straw at which Cloud knew to grasp.

Tidus' gaze remained on Cloud. Cloud could see the tears in his eyes, but he didn't let on.

"I think I know now," Tidus sniffed.

"Know what?" Cloud asked, softly, absentmindedly rubbing small circles on Tidus' shoulder with his thumb. Tidus closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the feel of the contact, momentarily forgetting the frustrations he felt toward the man comforting him.

"How you felt when Zack gave his life for you." Those words took Cloud by surprise—his heart felt like it had fallen into his gut—but he tried not to show it.

"Oh," he replied.

"It's awful. I feel so guilty," Tidus whimpered. Cloud nodded, his expression turning to that of sympathy and understanding.

"I know," Cloud whispered. "I know."

Tidus closed his eyes, and stifled a few sobs. Cloud simply watched him, keeping his hand on his shoulder for support, only wishing he could do more, but knew it wouldn't be wise when Tidus was so vulnerable. If they were going to get back together, Cloud wanted it to happen because they both wanted it, but he knew it might never happen. Tidus wasn't opening up to him now because he loved him; he was opening up to him because he knew Cloud understood the pain he was going through. That wasn't enough to rebuild a relationship, even one as brief as they had had.

"Tidus, I don't want to push you too hard, but the others are really hoping to get a move on. We don't think it's a good idea to stay here when Chaos knows where we are," Cloud reminded him.

"Yeah, you're right. We should go," Tidus nodded, rapidly brushing his tears away with his forearm.

"Tidus," Cloud cooed. Tidus met his gaze, cautiously and curiously, as Cloud trailed a courageous hand through his hair.

Tidus couldn't help but lean into the contact. He breathed ever so quietly, though each breath was ragged and uneven. He closed his eyes, and tilted his head so his cheek fell into place against Cloud's palm.

"Tidus, take care, okay?" Cloud whispered, his eyes tracing over each line of distress that presented itself between Tidus' brows.

"Huh? Why are you saying that? You're not leaving the group, are you?" Tidus asked, panic written across his face. Cloud shook his head, gently.

"Not unless you want me to."

"I don't," Tidus whispered, his gaze falling away from Cloud's.

"Then I won't," Cloud assured him, unable to keep an ounce of satisfaction from rising within him. Tidus wanted him nearby right now, and regardless of what the reason might be, Cloud wanted to give him some peace of mind and stay by his side.

"Come on," Cloud coaxed, giving Tidus a small smile as he stood up and offered him a hand.

Cloud thought he might have seen the tiniest flicker of contentment as Tidus accepted his hand and was pulled to his feet, but that sign of happiness quickly vanished. They stood facing each other now, but Tidus' gaze rested on the floor.

"Are you sure you're okay to go?" Cloud asked, cocking his head to the side in hopes of catching Tidus' eye.

"Nothing would change if I said I wasn't," Tidus answered, voice low.

"Like I said, just take it easy, alright? Let the others handle the fighting if we run into trouble," Cloud told him, giving him a quick pat on the shoulder before heading for the exit of the tent.

There was suddenly so much Tidus wanted to say, but his frayed nerves wouldn't let him open his mouth. Perhaps it was for the better. There was no sense in mending something if it was just going to fall apart again.

"You okay, Cloud?" Zidane asked, glancing behind him when he heard his companion's footsteps stop. Cloud was bent over, hands resting on his knees. He looked up at Zidane, his expression apologetic.

"Sorry. I'm still sore from the Emperor's attack," Cloud told him.

"Do you need a rest, Cloud?" Firion asked, turning to meet Cloud and Zidane at the back of the line.

"Just a little breather. I'll be fine in a minute," Cloud assured his friends.

Firion gave him a wave and returned to the front of the line with Squall, where they began discussing their destination. Zidane's gaze rested on the obviously exhausted Cloud for a moment before he placed a hand on his friend's back.

"You gonna be okay, buddy?" Zidane asked. Cloud momentarily glanced up at him, his brow popping up in confusion, then he chuckled a little.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Thanks for your concern," Cloud replied, amused by Zidane's sudden friendliness toward him. He assumed Zidane's close friendship with Tidus had something to do with it. He could hardly remember the last time he and Zidane had even had a conversation.

"I gotta say, Tidus isn't looking so good himself right now," Zidane spoke up again, glancing at Tidus who was ahead with the rest of the group. "He's pretty upset about Cecil, huh?"

"Yeah, he is," Cloud agreed. "Losing an ally is never easy."

"I hate this. Chaos troops showin' up out of nowhere, and causin' hell for all of us?" Zidane huffed, voice nearly at shouting volume, but it dwindled with his next sentence. "We should have fought harder. Why weren't we strong enough?"

"I don't know," Cloud admitted, a sigh escaping his lips.

He felt his nerves tangle up into one big knot—a knot that he had been trying to ignore since they'd met up with Zidane again. There was a question he'd been dying to ask, and although he'd planned to discuss it with Tidus, the timing didn't seem right. He and Tidus were at loose ends, and Tidus himself was falling apart at the seams. Zidane probably knew more about the matter than Tidus did, anyway; he just couldn't give Cloud the consolation he'd desire if the answer wasn't one he wanted to hear.

"Zidane?" Cloud asked, pushing himself to stand up straight.

"Yeah?" the genome asked, perking his head up.

"Your crystal. Do you think it made you stronger?" Cloud asked, voice cautious.

"Hard to tell, so far," Zidane answered, raising his palms up with a shrug. "Why?"

"Cosmos said they would make us stronger, right? So, we probably need them for the final battle. So far, most of us seem to be useless against Chaos' attacks."

"Yeah..." Zidane frowned, folding his arms across his chest. "Not sure I'm following."

"Zidane, when you fought Kuja, you immediately obtained your crystal, correct? But, when I fought Sephiroth... Nothing," Cloud explained, his voice dropping to a whisper with his final word. His stomach felt tight as that fear of his was set free, yet he forced himself to remain calm as he awaited Zidane's response.

"Well," Zidane started, as one of his hands travelled up to rest on his chin. "We don't know for sure that defeating our—let's say, nemeses—is the key to getting the crystals. How many of us have actually gotten our crystals so far?"

"Just you, I think," Cloud replied.

"So, not enough to make an assumption. Don't start fretting yet, okay?"

"Okay," Cloud agreed, hiding his hesitance.

His mind certainly wasn't at ease, but Zidane's advice did make sense. Perhaps there were other ways to obtain the crystals that they just hadn't discovered yet. Trying to imagine those possibilities, however, seemed too grand a task at the moment, and Cloud found himself feeling weary again. His hands fell back down to his knees, and he took in a few more long breaths, trying to prepare himself for the continuing journey ahead.

"Listen, about T—" Zidane started, catching Cloud's attention. "I'm worried about him. I think you should talk to him. Make him feel better about Cecil," Zidane suggested, giving Cloud an encouraging pat on the back. Cloud shook his head.

"Why don't you talk to him? I think I've bothered him enough for one day."

"You mean, you've already talked to him?"

"Yeah. I mean, I tried to comfort him a little. I don't know how much good it did," Cloud answered, sounding dejected. With a deep breath, he gathered his strength and pushed himself to stand straight again. Zidane kept his hand on Cloud's back to make sure he was steady.

"Why don't you run on ahead? Let the others know I'm okay to keep going," Cloud said. Zidane remained where he stood, eyeing Cloud, looking like he was biting his tongue to keep from talking. Finally, the words escaped.

"Keep trying, okay?"

"What are you talking about?" Cloud asked, frowning a little.

"With Tidus. I know he's pretty pissed at you, but, honestly? You're all he thinks about lately," Zidane announced. Cloud lowered his head slightly as his cheeks warmed up. So, Zidane does know, he concluded.

"Keep trying, and I think he'd give you another chance," Zidane said, his normally playful face so serious in that moment. Cloud stared at him for a long time, then he released a heavy breath.

"Zidane, I don't know if it's that simple," Cloud practically groaned, not feeling too keen on discussing his love life with someone as nosy and blabbermouthed as Zidane.

"It is that simple. I know Tidus. You don't need some grand gesture to make things right. Just let him know that you care. You do care, don't you?" Zidane asked, with a frown. Cloud swallowed hard, his heart telling him the answer to that question with each pounding beat.

"Of course, I care," he replied.

"Good. Then do what you can to fix this," Zidane told him, his voice and face still so stern that it took Cloud by surprise. Cloud managed a nod, and Zidane looked like he was finally satisfied with his lecture.

"Thanks, Zidane," Cloud said, forcing a small smile.

"I do what I can," Zidane said, turning his palms up, innocently.

With a small smirk, he took off at a jog toward the warriors at the front of the line, the two glowing materia strapped to his side lighting the way as he ran. Cloud took another deep breath and let it out, then walked to catch up with Bartz and Tidus who were at the middle of the line.

"What are they discussing?" Cloud asked, when he reached them.

"Squall thinks we've probably travelled far enough tonight. We're probably out of the danger zone," Bartz answered.

"Might not be a bad idea to catch at least a few hours' sleep. We're all tired," Cloud agreed, casting a quick glance in Tidus' direction, but making sure he didn't let his gaze linger.

He didn't need to. He could see even from that brief glance at his grief-stricken face that Tidus was exhausted. His eyes were empty and emotionless, and the dark circles below them only emphasized his fatigue. Even the blackness of the night couldn't disguise it.

"I'll go see if they've reached a verdict," Bartz said, rubbing his bandaged wrist with his good hand before walking off to meet the others. Cloud and Tidus stood in silence, a silence that was much more awkward than it should have been.

"How are you holding up?" Cloud tried, his gaze darting toward Tidus' tired, yet charming, face.

He looked away again before Tidus could make eye contact with him. He didn't know why he was so nervous, but he could tell Tidus felt the same way. Perhaps it was because they knew the others were probably watching, particularly Bartz and Zidane. Or perhaps they knew they were falling back into old habits, looking out for one another.

"I've been better," Tidus replied, with a shrug.

"I know. It's been a hard night," Cloud said, giving him a look of sympathy.

"Okay, guys. I guess we're gonna set up the tents," Zidane called, from up ahead.

"Okay, we'll be right there," Cloud replied, but he was distracted by the frown that had appeared on Tidus' face.

"Cloud?" Tidus asked.

"Yeah?"

"Does the ground feel... kinda shaky to you?"

Cloud frowned along with him as he became aware of the slight vibration beneath his feet. His eyes travelled down to his boots, and he could just make out the faint glow of some sort of white pentagram in the grass. The magics within it seemed to be building up, and Cloud felt a spark of adrenaline take over him.

"Tidus, move!" he shouted, launching himself toward Tidus in an attempt to push him out of the way.

Their bodies collided, and they fell to the ground, but Tidus could feel Cloud's arm still wrapped protectively around his waist. They rolled onto their sides, facing each other, their bodies still and relaxed, despite the circumstances. Their eyes met and locked as they found themselves in the midst of a rather intimate moment.

"You okay?" Cloud asked, gently, staring into Tidus' startled eyes, but there was no time for an answer.

"Guys, get over here, quick!" Bartz shouted.

His call was followed by several similar ones from the rest of their companions, but neither Tidus nor Cloud had enough time to react before the land began to tremble even more violently. They could feel the ground crumbling beneath them, but could do nothing to stop it.

"It's a trap! Get them out!" Firion hollered, but even those on solid land had no chance of saving the two others. They watched while Tidus and Cloud fell helplessly with the crumbling ground around them as a wide, circular mouth opened up in the earth.

Tidus was the first to hit the water below, and he gasped as he surfaced. It was pitch black. He couldn't see a thing, but when he heard splashing in the water nearby, he knew he wouldn't have to rely on vision to find his companion.

"Ti—" Tidus had heard Cloud's voice only for a moment before it had been swallowed; the water had probably gone over Cloud's head.

"I'm here!" Tidus called out to reassure him, but he wasn't sure whether or not Cloud would hear him if he was indeed underwater.

Tidus followed the sound of gurgling bubbles and quiet splashing before diving under. Relief washed over him when his arm bumped into Cloud's sinking form. He quickly pulled Cloud in against him and swam to the surface once more. Cloud coughed and gasped for air, and Tidus tried to fight the emotions he felt for Cloud when the man let his head fall limply on his shoulder. Tidus continued to swim, searching desperately for land.

"Are you guys okay?!" Bartz shouted from above.

"We'll let you know in a minute!" Tidus called back, trying to keep his voice as calm as he could for Cloud's sake. He bobbed in the water for a moment, keeping himself afloat with his legs and his one free arm, but he knew he was going to tire quickly if he had to keep this up for long.

"Hang on to me, okay? I don't want you slipping back in," Tidus told Cloud, gently.

"Okay," Cloud whispered back.

Tidus felt Cloud's arms weave around his neck, making his struggle to stay afloat a little easier since he didn't have to hold onto him so tightly. Tidus swam in a different direction, and was thankful when his feet hit the ground below him. Cloud groaned a little as pain set in.

"Tidus, I think I'm bleeding," he said, weakly.

"Oh, okay, just hang on a minute, alright? I think we reached land," Tidus whispered, still trying his best not to panic.

He proceeded up what he discovered was a slight incline, and waded his way out of the water. He kept one of Cloud's arms around his neck, while the other one rested on his waist. Carefully, he helped Cloud walk onto the shore. Once Tidus felt they were a safe distance from the water, he lay Cloud down on the grass. He wished he could see better through the darkness; he could just barely make out Cloud's form.

"Guys, we need healing!" Tidus called up to the others, the fear in his voice starting to show through. "And some light would be good, too!" he added.

"In my bag," Cloud spoke up. "There's fire materia in my bag."

"Okay," Tidus replied.

He reached out, and Cloud took his hands in his own, guiding him to the straps of his knapsack that were still securely around his shoulders. Tidus gently slipped the straps off of Cloud's arms and lifted him up just enough to remove the bag from beneath his back. Tidus didn't waste any time in digging through Cloud's knapsack, and he quickly retrieved the materia from within it.

"Fira!" he uttered, casting a hand out to the side, and causing a small fire to ignite a few feet away from them, giving them enough light to see each other.

"And... potions. In my pocket," Cloud instructed. Tidus was a little hesitant, but he carefully slipped a hand into Cloud's front pocket, only to pull out two cracked bottles. Tidus held them up to his eye, but the blue vials were empty.

"'Fraid not," Tidus said, biting his lip, nervously. Cloud lay his head back in defeat, and pressed a hand against his paining abdomen.

"Tidus, I'm dropping down a healing materia, okay?" Firion shouted from above.

"'Kay!" Tidus shouted back. After a second or two, he heard a plop in the water and he plunged himself into its depths once more to retrieve the item. He surfaced a moment later, and rushed back to Cloud's side.

"Tidus... Hurry. I don't know how badly I'm bleeding here," Cloud whimpered, his hand still on his abdomen. Tidus' eyes went straight to the blood seeping from under Cloud's fingers. He took a deep breath to prepare himself for the work that needed to be done.

"I know. I'm ready," Tidus assured him.

He reached out with one hand and gently removed Cloud's trembling fingers from the wound while he pressed the green materia to it with the other. Cloud's head lolled to the side, his eyes closing as he waited for the pain to subside. Tidus knew he wasn't the best healer, but he could tell by Cloud's face he was doing well enough to ease the discomfort at least a little.

"What's going on? Is everything alright?" Zidane called down.

"Cloud's a little hurt, but he's going to be fine. We'll both be fine," Tidus hollered back.

He let his eyes fall closed as he concentrated on sending all of his energy to his fingertips, hoping to give Cloud the best dose of healing he could. When he felt Cloud's hands move to rest on his own, he knew Cloud appreciated it.

"You okay?" Tidus asked, softly.

"Mm-hmm," Cloud murmured.

"What happened?"

"I think I hit rock when I fell."

"But it feels better?" Tidus asked again, just to make sure.

"Yeah. Just... don't stop yet," Cloud whispered, his eyes still closed. Tidus felt Cloud's hands tighten around his own, and he couldn't stop the warmth that invaded his heart.

The bleeding stopped within a few minutes, but knowing Cloud was still sore from the injury motivated Tidus to keep up his gentle healing, much to Cloud's contentment. Closed eyes and linked hands continued to give the men solace as the healing continued, and only when the others called down to them again was the blissful silence broken.

"We don't know if we can get you guys out tonight. It's too dark to see," Squall told them.

"Are you okay to stay here 'til then?" Tidus asked Cloud, gently.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," Cloud replied, but his voice was still weak. Tidus believed it might be for the best not to move him so soon, anyway.

"We can make it 'til morning," Tidus called back.

"Do you have your supplies with you?" Firion asked.

"Our supplies is pretty wet, but it's here. And our weapons..." Tidus trailed off, glancing around until he saw their handles protruding from the water a few feet away.

"Oh, well, they're here, too. I might have to dig them out of the sand, though," he sighed.

"But you're sure you're okay? If you need us to, we'll do our best to get you out right now!" Zidane shouted. Tidus glanced at Cloud for an answer, but Cloud just shook his head.

"We'll be fine. It'll be easier in the morning when we can see again," Tidus assured his friends. He looked up, hoping he would see them, but it was much too dark. Judging by the sound of their voices, though, he and Cloud were probably at least twelve feet below.

"Okay. If you need anything, just holler!" Bartz called.

"Will do," Tidus agreed. When he heard no more responses from his friends, he brought his attention back to Cloud.

"How does it feel now?" Tidus asked.

"Much better," Cloud answered.

"Can I take a look?"

Cloud was hesitant at first, but he eventually let his hands fall from Tidus' and allowed Tidus to put aside the materia and examine the injury. There was a tear in Cloud's shirt, but only a barely visible red mark remained on Cloud's pale skin.

"Looks okay," Tidus told him.

"Feels okay," Cloud added.

"Then it must be okay," Tidus said, with a small smile. Their eyes met in a long stare, and Tidus was eventually the one to break it. He cleared his throat and got to his feet before heading for the water again.

"I should get our weapons back. Yours'll get pretty rusty if it stays in there," Tidus said, forcing a chuckle as he waded into the pool.

Cloud carefully sat up to watch him, his hand falling upon his recent injury. His eyes crinkled a little from the discomfort, but the pain was small enough to handle.

"Do you want me to set up a tent?" Cloud asked.

"Nah, that's alright. I think it would be too soaked anyway," Tidus replied, shaking his head.

He began to tug at the handle of the Buster Sword; it took a few pulls before it came loose from the sand. Tidus dragged the weapon back onto the land before returning to the water to retrieve his own blade. He pulled it from the sand with only one swift tug, and gave a triumphant grin. Cloud spoke up as he returned to shore.

"That's a nice blade. It's a lot more practical to be carrying something so light," Cloud said, eyeing the blue sword as Tidus lay it down beside the large Buster Sword. Tidus chuckled, looking in Cloud's direction.

"Yeah, my friend, Wakka, gave it to me. It belonged to his brothe— Wait, seriously? We're talking 'bout weapons?"

"Sorry. I was just trying to make conversation," Cloud replied, feeling a little embarrassed that Tidus had recognized he was dodging the subject they usually discussed.

Things quickly became awkward again, and he wished they could go back to how they were moments before. They had been so close, and so at peace with each other. Cloud hoped he wasn't the only one who still felt something between them; he just wished he had felt it so much sooner.

"It's okay," Tidus said, with another small burst of laughter as he sat down beside Cloud, legs sprawled out in front of him. "I was just teasing."

Silence struck again as they gazed out over the bit of water they could see. The glow of the fire was growing dimmer, making it harder to see things in the distance. They could still hardly make out where they were. The only surroundings they were aware of was the water before them and the grass they were sitting on. Tidus' mind wandered back to moments before as he stared out over the glistening ripples.

"Your shirt... Want me to—?" Tidus tried, nervously, his gaze returning to Cloud. Cloud glanced down at the bloodied and torn material. His attire was quite a mess, and he wasn't sure he felt well enough to tackle mending it himself.

"Would you mind?" Cloud asked, just as anxiously.

"No, not at all," Tidus half-smiled.

Cloud nodded, and slowly, carefully removed his shirt before handing it over to Tidus. Tidus took it with gentle hands, eyes low towards the ground—he didn't want to make Cloud feel like he was on display—and scooted forward to kneel at the water's edge. He lay the fabric down in the cool water, and watched through the dim light as the blood began to rise up from the material, and swirl in the ripples. Both sets of eyes focused on Tidus' hands as they began to scrub the shirt clean.

Luckily, having tended to it right away, the stain came out effortlessly, and Tidus withdrew the cloth from the water. He wrung it out with strong hands, and watched as the excess water dribbled back down to where it belonged. Next, Tidus removed his own backpack, and dug through it to find a needle and thread that he kept in a small kit.

"Thank goodness for moogles, huh?" Tidus grinned, peeking at Cloud out of the corner of his eye.

"Yes, they definitely keep us stocked up," Cloud agreed, forcing a small smile as he watched Tidus begin to mend the small rip.

He looked so focused, and he took his time—something that was unusual for him when he performed most tasks—but Cloud recognized that look. He wore that look whenever he was deep in thought, usually right before he posed a difficult question that would uncover something about Cloud. Cloud used to resent that look, as it meant Tidus was about to intrude, to ask him something he probably didn't want to answer, but Cloud realized that it had only been because Tidus had cared. Now, he missed the way Tidus cared.

Cloud was so focused on watching Tidus that he hadn't realized how much time had passed. He was shocked to see Tidus sewing the last stitch, and pulling the last of the tear together again.

"Good as new," Tidus announced, snapping off the excess string with his teeth, then he handed the shirt over to Cloud.

"Thank you."

Cloud held the mended, wet fabric on his lap, his fingers mindlessly tracing over the spots where Tidus' had been just seconds before. It was still too damp to wear, but it still managed to be of comfort to him—it was a symbol of Tidus' kindness, after all.

Cloud wanted to speak, to say something that might bring them closer, but he refrained. Thankfully, Tidus broke the silence for him.

"Cloud, I'm not ready to talk about... the battle tonight," Tidus started, making a point of leaving out Cecil's name. "But, thanks for what you said in the tent. It... did help."

Cloud looked up, hoping to meet Tidus' gaze, but Tidus' eyes were pointed toward the ground.

"Oh. Well, I'm glad."

Tidus opened his mouth again, but pressed it closed just as quickly. He thought about what Bartz had said, when he'd told Tidus that he might have to make the first move when patching things up with Cloud. Maybe Cloud was still nervous to bring up the topic of their situation, but Tidus still wasn't sure if he was ready to make things right. After all, would they ever really be right? What had changed between them that would make the relationship go differently this time around?

When Tidus said nothing more in response, Cloud let out a sigh, knowing they needed another distraction.

"I guess we should get some sleep," Cloud suggested.

"Yeah, I guess so." Tidus lay back in the grass, staring up into the blackness above him. Cloud sighed.

"I suppose this is it. No blankets, no tent," he said, pulling his damp shirt over his head.

"Hey, it's better than that bed of rocks, though. Do you remember that?" Tidus asked, as Cloud lay down beside him, easing himself to the ground so as not to hurt himself further.

"In that canyon? Yeah, I remember," Cloud replied, with a tiny smile, glancing over at his friend. Tidus smiled back before returning his gaze to the ebony sky.

"We gotta stop falling into holes and almost drowning," Tidus teased.

"I agree."

Cloud heard Tidus breathe in a couple of times, like he was opening his mouth to speak again, then stopping himself. Eventually, he gained enough courage to open up. Maybe he wasn't ready to risk fixing things, but he at least wanted to understand what had gone wrong.

"Cloud, why did you leave that night?" Tidus watched as Cloud's expression turned to an unsettled one, filled with both shock and guilt. It took him a minute to recover.

"I told you. I dreamt about some stuff. I got scared," Cloud replied, simply, feeling Tidus' eyes on him.

"Scared of what? Whatever it was, I could have helped you," Tidus told him, and Cloud was thankful that Tidus' tone was gentle, not fierce like he'd been expecting.

"Scared of disappointing Zack. Scared of hurting you. It doesn't really matter anymore, does it?" Cloud asked, softly, giving Tidus the opportunity to object; he hoped Tidus would take that chance, and tell him that it did matter, that it was time they made amends, but the boy did no such thing.

"Yeah, maybe not," Tidus replied, with a sigh, but his heart was suddenly screaming at him not to dismiss the matter. If there was any hope of ever repairing what they'd had, then he needed Cloud to be honest with him. Tidus needed to know Cloud's concerns before he could work on taking them away.

"Is there anything I could have done to help you?" Tidus tried.

"No," Cloud answered, quickly, shaking his head. "You were as supportive as you could be. The problem was with me. It was all along."

"I'm sure I was part of the problem, too. It takes two people to make a relationship work," Tidus tried to convince him, giving him a small smile of reassurance. Cloud stared at him a moment, before a sigh and a half-smile broke free.

"You're too kind, Tidus," he whispered.

They were quiet again, silently soaking up the night air. The fire was growing dimmer by the minute, but Tidus wasn't going to bother lighting it again when they were going to sleep anyway. Tidus listened to Cloud's soft breathing beside him, and he wished he didn't feel so comforted by it. His lingering feelings for Cloud only made it that much harder to let go. He felt he should let go, but his heart begged him not to. He still cared for Cloud. Maybe he still even loved Cloud, but was that enough?

"Tidus?" Cloud spoke up.

"Yeah?"

"The night I left... It wasn't because I didn't care about you."

"I know. You've said that before," Tidus replied, glancing in his companion's direction.

"Well, you should know I never wanted to hurt you. And... I'm sorry for letting you down like that," Cloud said, meeting Tidus' gaze. Cloud was surprised when Tidus' reaction was first shocked, then serious.

"That's the first time you actually apologized for it," Tidus replied, catching Cloud off guard.

"Really?" Cloud ogled.

"Yeah." Silence again.

"Hmm. Maybe I thought apologizing wouldn't help," Cloud said, drawing his eyes back to the black sky above him. He heard Tidus give a light chuckle.

"Sorry can go a long way with me," he smiled. Cloud wasn't sure how to reply, so he decided to keep his mouth shut. He felt Tidus shiver beside him, and he turned his head to look at him once again.

"You cold?" he asked.

"Yeah, aren't you?"

"I guess I wasn't in the water as much as you were."

"That's true," Tidus nodded, his words accompanied by another shiver. Cloud somehow gathered the courage to open his mouth again.

"I don't mind if you— I mean, if you're cold, you can... I'm here, okay?" Cloud fumbled. Tidus managed a quiet laugh before scooting in a little closer and rolling onto his side, his face pressing up against Cloud's chest.

"Wow, you're really good at this flirting thing," he smirked.

"I-I'm not flirting," Cloud stuttered.

Tidus snorted a laugh as he settled in close to Cloud, a few more mild shivers going through him before they began to die down, thanks to Cloud's body heat. Cloud felt Tidus' hand move to his chest, his fingers gently curling to clutch the material of his shirt. He sensed the tension return to Tidus' body, and he knew his mind was on Cecil again.

Cloud wanted so badly to fix things, to take away the pain. Tidus deserved all the comfort in the world, but Cloud just didn't know how to give it. Eventually, he went with the only words that came to mind, the ones that hadn't left his mind in days.

"I've missed you," Cloud breathed, causing Tidus to immediately look up at him.

The sincerity in Cloud's voice, in his eyes—it was enough to make Tidus want to surrender, to let go of all the pain Cloud had put him through, and just start over. Tidus stared into Cloud's vibrant eyes, their gazes locking. All they wanted to do now was drown in each other.

Cloud raised a hand and delicately ghosted his fingers down Tidus' face. Tidus remained motionless, too shocked by the event to even react. Cloud remembered what Zidane had said: just let him know you care. It took all of Cloud's courage to make his next move, but he was thankful he did. He moved his face in a little closer to Tidus', his breath so warm on Tidus' lips that it caused the younger man to tremble. Cloud felt Tidus' free hand move to his waist, and he took that as a sign of consent.

In an instant, he captured Tidus' soft lips. Those lips returned his own sweet caresses, and Cloud couldn't deny he loved every second he spent in contact with them. It tore him apart when after only a few seconds, he felt Tidus pushing him away. Tidus sat up, a hand rushing up to cover his mouth. Cloud sat back in the grass, dumbfounded. He didn't move, didn't speak.

"What are we doing, Cloud?" Tidus asked, with a sigh, letting his hand fall to his side. Cloud swallowed.

"What do you mean?" he asked, though his voice was dreadfully weak.

"Is this ever going to work?" Tidus' brows were furrowed in concern, and Cloud suddenly felt like he had been kicked in the gut.

Perhaps he had underestimated the hell he had put Tidus through, but just moments ago, Tidus had seemed to accept his apology. All the mixed signals were beginning to give him a headache, but he knew he needed to sort them out now while they had the chance. They were alone together; that didn't happen too often anymore.

"I don't know. I'm trying," Cloud promised, voice low. "I don't know if I can heal as much as you want me to, but I'm doing the best I can." Tidus paused, frowning.

"As much asI want you to?" he questioned. Cloud nodded.

"Cloud, I never wanted to change you. I wanted to help you heal because I thought that's what you wanted," Tidus told him, his face full of concern. It disturbed him that Cloud had thought that was his intention all along.

"You did?" Cloud asked.

"Yeah, I knew you were sad, and I thought you wanted to get over it. I thought you might just need a little help," Tidus said, his brows still creased with worry. Cloud was quiet for a minute, his gaze wandering to the ground.

"You weren't wrong. I was sad, and sometimes, I did want to get over it. I still do, but... there are still so many things that make it hard for me to do that."

"Like Zack?" Tidus bravely asked. Cloud nodded.

"Like Zack," he softly agreed, but for once, the hurt tone in his voice was gone.

The only times the hurt seemed to lessen were the times when he was with Tidus; Cloud realized that now. There were moments when letting Tidus in was painful, too—no doubt about it—but Tidus soothed Cloud; it was as simple as that. It hadn't always been that simple, but right now, that was all Cloud could see.

"The night I left, and so many times before that, I thought that being with you would only cause hurt. But ever since that night, I don't know..." Cloud trailed off, attempting to collect his thoughts. Tidus watched him so very carefully.

"I think I realized I was only hurting because you were healing me. The things you said about Zack, they made sense, and I think I was coming to terms with those things without even realizing it. You are changing me, but I think it's for the better," Cloud explained, his eyes staring deep into Tidus', his brows curved into some sort of sad, yet honest, expression. "So, please, don't give up."

Cloud looked so helpless in that moment, defeated, like some part of him was dying, and Tidus hated to think he was the cause of it. Tidus opened his mouth again, but didn't say anything for the longest time. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to feel. All he knew was that he longed for that damaged look to disappear from Cloud's face, hopefully forever. That was all he'd wanted for months, and apparently, that goal hadn't changed.

"I want to help, Cloud," Tidus started, the words escaping him before he'd hardly thought them. "But only if you think it's possible to let me in."

"I want to let you in," Cloud assured him. The quiet solemness took over once more, gazes flitting in every direction, but finally, Cloud found the words he really wanted to say.

"I have no idea if I can be everything you need, Tidus, but I know that I... I want to at least try," Cloud trailed off, hoping he didn't sound too sappy.

The road to healing would be a long one, he was sure, and he didn't want to travel it with anyone but Tidus, but he didn't want to ask Tidus to take on a burden so great if he wasn't ready for the journey.

"I'm just scared that we'll end up like we did before. I can't take losing you over and over," Tidus admitted, his face twisted up into so much despair.

"One more chance. That's all I ask," Cloud requested, his eyes pleading with his companion to take him back. Tidus eyed him for a long moment. Cloud twitched under his unrelenting gaze. Those sea blue eyes that Cloud had adored for so long now held so much sadness, and so much doubt.

In that moment, Cloud knew that Tidus really was heartbroken. When he'd walked away that night, he'd known he had to. He had feared it, but now he knew it. He had broken Tidus' heart, every piece of it. He could still remember the day Tidus had taken Yuna into the woods to break off the relationship once and for all, and hoping that whatever happened between them would not cause Tidus any heartache. Now, Cloud had done that very thing, had caused Tidus the same pain that Cloud experienced every day. That was the pain he'd never wanted Tidus to suffer, and he would have to put every ounce he had into making Tidus trust him again.

"Let me sleep on it, okay?" Tidus asked, lying back down on the ground. When he felt Cloud trying to meet his gaze for what seemed like the millionth time, he let his eyes fall softly closed. Cloud swallowed hard and watched him for a minute before joining him in his position on his back.

"Okay," Cloud whispered, recognizing their conversation was over.

He knew Tidus was conflicted, probably dealing with about a hundred emotions at once. Cloud suppressed a sigh and rolled onto his side, silently damning himself. He was so close to getting Tidus back, but part of him feared he never would. Cloud realized the saying was true: sometimes it just wasn't possible to see a good thing until it was gone. How many times had Tidus made Cloud feel he was worth something, and Cloud hadn't even noticed?

Cloud's thoughts were interrupted when he felt Tidus roll in against his back, his familiar hands gripping the back of his shirt. He didn't question it, didn't comment or react. Maybe Tidus still needed the comfort for losing Cecil, maybe he was lonely for Cloud—or for anyone, really—but Cloud didn't need an explanation. Knowing he was there for Tidus, regardless of why, was more than enough.

"Goodnight, Cloud," Tidus whispered. Relieved, Cloud felt an upward tug at the corners of his lips.

"Goodnight, Tidus."

Several silent minutes passed before Cloud heard quiet snores from the man behind him. Who knew what the morning would bring. Cloud simply focused on the way Tidus was curled in against him, and hoped it was a good sign of things to come.