2 Hugs And Hand Stuff

Kalm's street lanterns turned on, one of them casting a triangle of yellow light right over our heads.

I let my lower lip fall, starring endlessly at Aerith like she had just spoken a different language. For a long time, we said nothing, the rain spattering harder until it turned into a downpour. I watched the drops collect at the edge of her hood, dripping slow and gentle before her glowing green eyes, unsure how to reply to her glass shattering words. Her look pleaded with me to speak up, to say something, anything to show how right she was.

Stop pretending you aren't in love with him

My chest ached, my heart reacting to her words for me, pounding away its answer, but I refused.

I began to shake my head, about to say how wrong it all was, but then we heard Tifa's voice carry through the rain, "hey, you two. What's taking so long?" Aerith and I both turned our heads to see Tifa's poked out of the inn's heavy wood door with iron hinges, her smile crooked.

Aerith waved with a "kay", uplifting but false, and then began to move, not looking at me.

"Aerith?" I didn't want it to just end there, not without telling her she was wrong.

She stopped, her white hood like a big white blob in the rain, though it appeared yellow under the street lamp while she was awaiting my words. I licked my lips, tasting the rain, and finally told her, "that's not true."

Aerith's shoulders sagged, her hood shaking back and forth slowly.

"When are you going to stop lying to yourself?"

This was the most serious I've ever seen her, startling me. I watched her turn her head a little, the hood hiding her eyes, but saw her little nose and the moving of her lips when she continued, "accept it. Embrace it. You don't have to tell him. I just want you to stop torturing yourself. Haven't you been through enough, already?"

I couldn't say anything, too absorbed into Aerith's words as I let them sink in deeply, hitting a place I rarely exposed to the world. Aerith turned away again, and her boots stepped through puddles as she approached the inn. I thought my legs turned to stone, and then the heaviness of it spread up further, till my chest was encased in it, almost unable to breathe.

Why would she just say something like that? I couldn't be in love with Cloud. Sure, I was pretty fond of him, but not like that.

Right?

I suddenly wanted to be alone.

Aerith came to the door, opening it a little, and orange light poured out onto the wet street like a long fire rod. She looked over her shoulder at me and blinked.

"Aren't you coming? What's wrong?" She let go of the door and turned completely around, watching me wrap my new cloak around myself tightly like a blanket while I stared at the ripples around us.

"I would like to be alone right now. I need to think," I confessed. The stone feeling made its way into my stomach, solidifying it till I began to feel heavy, and then it began to creep up into my lungs.

Aerith was quiet, her look a mix of sympathy and annoyance.

"What is there to think about? It's true. You've felt that way for a long time," she concluded.

I tossed her a strong look.

"How do you know that?" I argued.

"Aqua, you know how you try to search me? How you try to dive into my soul and I keep myself locked up?"

I blushed, amazed she was actually aware that I've made a few attempts, though I still couldn't figure out how I could do it.

"Well, you leave yourself wide open. I can read everything about you. I know you without you having to tell me a thing, and that's just what we as Ancients are capable of doing. Diving into people's souls, it's all just really energy borrowed from the planet. We can read it, sometimes even manipulate it," she explained.

I gasped, pulled back to the first time Cloud had his migraine attack in Tifa's bar.

I had accidentally dove into his soul, and what laid at its center, dwelled himself as a small boy. Little cloud, whimpering and feeling all alone. His big blue eyes staring up at me, like he actually saw me, and asked for help. How could I forget?

Was that what that was all about?

My eyes lifted to Aerith, pained.

"Why won't you let me see what's in yours?"

Aerith reeled back a little, her head down, hiding her eyes behind her hood again.

She put a hand to her heart, rain tapping loudly as I strained to hear her soft voice.

"I'm not ready to yet. It's all…..personal."

I felt offended, or maybe I was just upset at how right she was about my feelings all along, and yet I couldn't muster the courage to accept or even challenge them. So instead, immaturely, I challenged Aerith.

"Personal? What about me? Aren't my feelings personal, too? Do you think I want you to know every little detail about my inner conflicts?"

Aerith narrowed her eyes.

"I try, but Aqua….."

"Aerith….."

We both couldn't decide whether we wanted to hug or turn our backs to each other.

Aerith threw her hands down, groaning to herself, as she was very uncomfortable in conflict.

"I had to say something. It just hurt to keep seeing you suffer," she confessed, unable to look at me.

Those words unexpectedly warmed up my insides, that stone slowly burning into liquid, and then my glowering slowly turned into a smile at Aerith. For a minute, I had almost forgotten how much she's cared for me. Aerith looked after me, got me clothes, held my hand every time I was scared or seeking a connection. She was even willing to look out for my feelings, since I apparently neglected them.

"I'm sorry, Aerith." I said warmly, and the stone inside of me had finally withered away. Aerith lifted her wide eyes up at me, but then she quickly reflected my look, hers maybe even brighter when I continued with, "You're right. And thank you for looking out for me."

It then felt right to hold each other when we made up our minds. Her wet hood smudged up into my face, but I didn't care. My arms tightened around her cloaked body, smiling quietly.

When we parted, she gave me an uneasy look as she asked, "you still want to be alone?

I held her shoulders softly, and turned serious.

"I need time to think. So much has happened. I would be better if I could process alone for a bit," I stated. When Aerith made a face, I quickly corrected, "just for a little time. I can't just go in there and drop this. I want to think for a few minutes. Tell them I will join shortly."

She hovered a moment, starring, and then even tried to dive in again to search for me, but I closed off, pretending that I was shutting a door that was there inside. It seemed to work, because Aerith took a step back and waved at me.

"Be back soon, or else I'm going to send someone to come get you," she teased, her eyes determined with a smirk.

"I will," I promised, and turned away from the Inn. I could hear Aerith open the door with a loud creak, and then it went shut. I made for a quick turn around, noticing her presence gone, and then I focused back to the high stone walls.

There were narrow steps that led anyone up the walls protecting Kalm.

I carefully climbed them, the rain beating down on me. When I got to the top of the wall, probably three stories up, the first thing I saw was the distant lights of Midgar. I let my eyes open at the sight, the green lit city a bit blurry though the sheets of rain, but it was there, far away like in another world. If only my world was just as reachable to even see it.

The world outside Kalm was dark, almost pitch black. There were a few scattered lights, though only clustered enough to appear like a distant home or lonesome lamp somewhere in the expansive field. Midgar stuck out easily, its mass like a glowing green ship in a sea of darkness. I stared at it for a while, easily spotting the humongous white lights displayed at the center of its plate, under Shinra's headquarters like some kind of colony spaceship.

Seeing the city, the nightmare that I've escaped, something unexpectedly wanted to pull me back to it.

Isaac was back there.

I pulled my hood back, letting the rain tap atop of my head. I didn't want to hide from it, but rather, take it all in, letting the water remind me that I was alive, even when I trembled a little to its chill.

I looked up to the black sky, accepting its drops fall on my face, the taste a bit acidic when some snuck into my lips like a wet kiss. And then I closed my eyes, thoughts on what to do.

Should I just give up on Isaac? A part of me wanted to.

He was an adult, he knew what he was doing. He chose his path, and I've chosen mine. But what about the guilt? Will that always be there for as long as he hated me? Would there ever be closure? Would I ever even see him again?

I dropped my head a little and chuckled sadly to myself, hands across the stone barrier.

Did I even want to see him again?

And then there was what Aerith said, about my feelings for Cloud.

My fingers curled a little over the bumps of the uneven hard stones, smooth and wet like riverbed rocks.

Was I in love with him?

I let myself dive back to all the memories we shared, searching for that moment that may possibly reveal when it may have started. A bit of a flicker may have always been there, but somehow, it just blossomed uncontrollably way back when we first met President Shinra. Cloud was protecting me as he refused to hand me over to the ex-President, and that somehow awoken the wings of affection inside of me.

I still remembered the new feeling when it came suddenly, how it put fluttering wings inside my chest, not uncomfortable like anxiety, but warm and almost ticklish. There was no stopping it once it was there.

Of course I was in love with Cloud.

The realization only depressed me. I didn't feel that way about Isaac. We had a different kind of love. He and I were just around each other a lot, talked, enjoyed each other's company, and let it developed from there when we decided to be a couple. After that, we just followed the steps: Like each other, let it fall into compatible love, move in together, get proposed. And then, if I hadn't stumbled into this world, he and I would've fallen into marriage, a house, children, etc. I would've had to work a lot less, while Isaac continued up the ladder of his career, nothing stopping him, while the pressure of family care and feminine responsibilities sank me almost back to the bottom of the tier.

I sank my face into my cold hands, not telling if I was in tears or if it was rain. Maybe both.

I loved Isaac too.

How foolish was I? A part of me wanted to "fix" us, the diagnostic and problem-solving physician in me wanting to step up to the plate and get him back. The other part just wanted to slap her, reminding her that this wasn't a diagnosis.

My hands fell away, and Midgar beckoned me with its hazy light pollution again.

Drops slithered down my face, tears and rain, and I sucked in a shaky breath, heart flapping like a wild child in a field. I couldn't make it stop even if i wanted to.

I stood out in the rain, processing the week that had become a crazy ride. Despite being troubled with my feelings for Cloud, I felt a little more clarity, though I was still upset because it wasn't going to change anything. I liked where he and I were, just as friends. Simpler.

"Hey!"

I whirled my head to the right with a gasp, heart pounding. Of all people….

Cloud emerged from the steps, hands relaxed at his sides. His hair drooped from rain, the spikes of it soft and leaking drops like blond icicles. He stopped just after the last step to take a good look at me, crossing his arms and eyes soft.

I looked away quickly, back to Midgar, and found Cloud joining me, stepping in closer to take a look at our view.

I hated how the closer he got, the more my body warmed up.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him, blinking away the rain drops in my eyes.

"You've been gone a while, and dinner just got to the table. Aerith was going to come get you, but I wanted to make sure you were okay," he replied casually. I tried not to find anything behind his words, his behavior. Don't over think it.

"I'm okay. I just wanted to think," I admitted.

"About?" I could feel his stare, and I avoided it, pretending to be distracted by tiny looking Midgar. I wasn't sure if I was capable of talking to him, and I took a deep breath, holding myself back from telling him how I truly felt and decided to mention the other matters instead.

"Like, all that's happened. How I've lost two days. About Isaac. Everything. I wasn't in the mood to socialize without having the time to process it all. To empty my mind. Understand?" I eyed him to find he put a hand to his chin, eyes off to the dark sky.

"Yeah, I do understand. Everything has been moving so fast. It's okay to take a step back for a minute, take a look at the whole picture."

We let the rain splatter loudly in between our silence moments, comfortable in each other's company while we thought of what to say next.

I then heard Cloud tell me, "these last two days have been nothing but me thinking, taking time away from the others, blowing off steam, that sort of thing. I guess it's only fair you get your own time in too."

I looked up at him, watching rain drops fall across his cheekbones, his face darkened by the night, so it was challenging to read his expression.

"Really? What-" I clamped shut, about to blurt a question that has been nagging me today, but decided not to. It didn't matter.

"What? You may as well tell me," he pried, eying me. I glanced at his eyes and thought they glowed in the dark. I cleared my throat.

"Did you and Tifa made up? There was some tension between you two for a while."

I wanted to smack myself. Who cared if they did or didn't.

Cloud just stared, and then muttered something else entirely off topic, "why aren't you wearing your hood?"

I had to blink to register his shift of conversation, and then looked away from him again, to focus on my cold and wet, pale hands.

"I missed feeling the rain," I answered lamely.

When silence fell, I almost thought that was the end of that, possibly our conversation over. But then Cloud cleared his throat, and he spoke softly. I couldn't hear him through the rain and stepped in closer, my head almost touching his shoulder

"Sorry, difficult to hear in this rain," I grumbled, not really paying attention to his expression.

Cloud cleared his throat again, and ran his hand across his face to wipe away the rain.

"I've hardly talked to anyone," he was saying.

I gawked at him, his expression glum.

"What?! Why? It's been a nice break here, hasn't it? Kalm doesn't appear to be too stressful," I reasoned. Cloud scoffed as he uncrossed his arms, and then he turned his body entirely to glare at me, his uniform drenched.

"It was stressful when you wouldn't wake up," he put strongly.

I didn't know why I didn't consider that would bother him so much. Maybe I was hoping it didn't, and even more flushed when I just found out that it did.

I dropped my gaze when I whimpered, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to slow you guys down or worry you."

Cloud made a long sigh and pressed his thumb and finger into his eyes, like he was fighting a migraine.

"It's fine. You woke up, that's all that matters. Just make sure you don't use Materia again," he groaned.

I jabbed a finger to his wet shirt.

"You're the one who gave me that Lightning Materia," I teased.

Cloud put both hands to his face and groaned into them.

"Please don't try to guilt trip me," he muffled.

I finally smiled, pleased to see Cloud acting as himself, and chuckled with, "I'm not. No," and finished off telling him, "thank you."

This puzzled him, and his hands fell, eying me with a lifted brow.

"Huh?"

I smiled up at him, hands behind my back.

"Thank you for caring," I clarified. Cloud grunted, like he was offended, a hand to his hip.

"Of course I do, geez," he muttered, not looking at me. I turned my attention back to Midgar, feeling warm despite the rain, and asked him, "do you miss it?"

Cloud straightened and stared at it.

"You mean, Midgar? No. It wasn't my home," he put it bluntly.

"Where is your home?" I challenged shyly.

Cloud hesitated, and instead of pondering on the question, he lazily gave up and replied with, "I got none."

I suppose I could relate, though I decided to help him reconsider when I said, "I thought that too. Not having a home." He watched me carefully while I continued.

"But then I met you and Aerith. And now we have Tifa, Barret and Red. A home doesn't have to be a settled place. It's with the people around you too. So I guess what I'm trying to say, you guys are my home now. So I'll go where you go from here."

It was true, and I didn't even realize it till now as I said it.

"What about your New York?" Cloud asked when I was too quiet. I looked up at him, surprised at how he stared, eyes almost child-like.

Yes, what about New York? I didn't know how to get home, but without Isaac, and only a job waiting back for me, there was really no home to go back to. He was my home back in Manhattan. My adopted family were still in Iceland.

I've lost focus. My desperation to head back to New York in the beginning has faded to all the events that had taken place here in this world. I was in so deep, it was starting to feel uncomfortable to think of going back.

"I don't know if I want to go back now," I confessed uneasily. "Besides, I want to stay with you and Aerith, know more about the Ancients, and figure out how to use my magic."

I then dropped my voice with my eyes when Isaac came to mind.

"Isaac chose where he wanted to be. His situation is unfortunate, but…" I pictured him with his robotic limbs intertwined with Scarlet's, pleasing her like a sex doll.

I shut my eyes tight at the image, my chest and stomach twisting sharply inside like someone took a mechanical mixer and rammed it into my core, clumping everything painfully. Given as much Mako as he needed to stay alive, and a beautiful woman to give him company, I think Isaac was pleased with himself.

I suddenly spilled in front of Cloud, broken into pieces as I pictured myself shattered, my parts mixed into the rain.

"It's so hard to just let him go. I know, I know he was awful to me. And I know, he's on Shinra's side. And I know he tried to kill you…" I began to shake, breathing increased till I started to wheeze, my hand to my chest to push my heart down as it tried to leap out. My tears were hot compared to the rain, warming my face up till the raindrops washed it all down, masking it.

"He was a part of my life for a long time. (wheeze) And now he blames me for being here. (wheeze). And hates me for it. It's just so hard to let it all go," I finished, my breathing quickening till I thought I was going to pass out.

"I'm so sorry," I gasped in between sobs, feeling like a fool. I swiped the back of my hand over my eyes to wipe away some of the drops, feeling like a little girl.

Cloud was so quiet, I had almost forgotten he was there, watching me crumble away, exposing my distressing thoughts and feelings to him.

If Aerith were here, she would hold me tight, put on my hood and tell me it's okay to feel this way. Let it out and then take care of myself. As my friend, what would Cloud do?

I heard his boots take two steps, and then warm arms pushed me into him. My eyes snapped open, crying suddenly to a halt as I felt his wet shirt pressed against my cheek, his chin resting on my head. He felt stiffened, awkward even when he tried to figure out where to put his hands, but they finally relaxed, one on my shoulder and the other along the curve of my back. His breathing quickened, and I could hear his hear beating excitedly in my ear while he sucked in a shaky breath, grunting like it was almost painful to hold someone.

I let my hands wither away from his chest, and slipped them under his arms, to hold onto his back tight like they've done before when he caught me falling from the tank. I then relaxed, closing my eyes and breathing into him, his warmth a place I've wanted to be in since seeing him again after a long sleep.

Cloud sighed, his chin feeling heavier on my head, and he stiffened less till he finally relaxed.

"I know…" he started, voice weak. "I know it's hard, but I'm glad you could share what's bothering you. It's okay. Just let it out. You can do that with me." I pictured him embarrassed, face warm and starring up into space, still uncomfortable, but willing to do it just to make me feel better.

I smiled into his fabric, his heart calming down.

And then he said, "thank you for saving us, even if it almost cost you your life, you goof." His arms tightened, and then I could feel him quietly lose himself in the embrace, sinking his head into my shoulder like he wanted to bury his face and cry as well.

A part of me wanted to tell him, about how I felt. But I was so afraid. I didn't want to shatter what we had, Cloud and I. Even if he felt the same way, he needed a friend, not some girlfriend, a lover, nor a fling. I wasn't ready to share what I've almost denied, and that was okay, for now. There was this apprehension of waiting too long, living in this unstable world with dangers lurking around every corner that would easily make up one's mind. But I liked what we had. As Aerith mentioned, I didn't have to tell him. I just needed to accept it.

Cloud lifted his head, and pulled his arms back some until his hands gripped my shoulders.

"Don't use Materia again, okay? Or anything else that stupid? You got it?"

I nodded under his chin.

"Okay, I promise," and then I went one step further and pulled myself back, to look up at him, and let go, just so that I can lift up my pinky.

"I pinky promise I won't use Materia again!"

Cloud released my shoulders, starring at my pinky up to his confused face, like I've asked him to eat it.

"What?"

You've never done a pinky promise before? Oh my gosh, Cloud! You don't know how to play anything do you?" I squawked.

Cloud narrowed his eyes and snapped, "I know how to play," and he gestured to his sword with his thumb pointing to it behind his back. Did he mean fighting?

I cackled, and corrected, "that doesn't count!"

"Oh sorry, forgive me for not having a string of girlfriends to teach me how to play god damn thumb war and catching sun rays. It's all REALLY important," he muttered sarcastically, smirking.

We laughed. Well, I cackled, and Cloud just chuckled lightly, but it was enough.

I tried again, and took one of his hands.

"Let me show you," I began, and he sighed irritably. I glared at him, both our cheeks warm.

"Just bare with me," I threatened, and he rolled his eyes.

"What's with you knowing hand games?" he muttered.

"Just stick out your pinky up in the air, like this," I demanded, and rain patted on mine gently when I showed him. He did the same, though with a face.

"Good. So now, when one makes a promise, they do this," and I hooked my pinky around his larger one until they locked securely.

"I pinky swear I won't use Materia again!" I beamed. Cloud blinked when I pulled back, and he replied, "so that's it? I have your word going by some pinky shake thing?" He looked down to his own lonesome pinky with disappointment.

I laughed and replied seriously, "it's mostly a kids thing. But they take it to heart. You break a pinky promise, then it's done. That's like a stab in the back, and they won't talk to you again!"

Cloud took a step back and ran his hands through his hair to wipe away the excess rain.

"Well, you better not be breaking it then. Or else I won't be talking to you anymore," he grumbled. I sure hope he was sarcastic. It was difficult to tell sometimes.

"Thank you, Cloud. I feel a lot better," I told him. I watched him look away quickly, to take one last glance at Midgar while rubbing the back of his neck and muttering, "whatever. Just a hug. No big deal. A quick hug and hand stuff. I can do that. Just don't expect anything more."

I cracked up, laughing, arms over my stomach and head bent forward kind of laughing till my face turned red. He had no idea how that sounded, and I couldn't help myself, cackling like a hyena while he grunted at me.

"What?!" he snapped.

I wiped the tears and rain in my eyes, and struggled, "nothing. Nothing." And then laughed some more.

"Okay, I get it!" Cloud grumbled, his face beet red.

I calmed down, taking deep breaths to try and relax enough to look up at him, my face in a dorky grin.

"Good. Because it sounded ridiculous!"

Cloud rolled his eyes and turned his back to me.

"Come on, let's go. I don't want you catching a cold," he grunted, waiting. I followed behind him when he took the steps down towards the gates, our feet meeting puddles in cobblestone again.

"What's the plan now?" I asked as we walked together towards the Inn.

Cloud took the door and opened it some, thinking. He then opened it wider and walked inside first as he replied, "that's what we are all going to talk about."

I let the door close behind me, and we stood awkwardly in the partially empty tavern, drenched. Six round tables laid over the place, but only a few were full. Candles flickered a gentle glow, but not compared to the roaring fire, making music with its crackling sounds and popping wood. I stared at it inside the lengthy fireplace to the end of one wall, with Red settled on the floor by it, his head relaxed over his paws.

The rest of the crew took to a round table, food and drinks already partially enjoyed. Tifa jumped from her chair when she saw us and gasped, "what took you two? You're both soaked!"

I passed the table and reached to the sizable fire to squat by Red, its heat welcoming.

Cloud quietly put his sword up against a wall, took a chair closest to the fire, and sighed when he sat down, face up to the ceiling with closed eyes.

"It's just rain, no big deal," he replied. He was soaking in the heat of the fire, letting it dry him. Aerith and Barret gaped at him, and then flashed eyes at Tifa to see what she would do next, her posture signifying she was going to punch someone. But instead, she chuckled, her usual smile there, and sat back down, suppressing.

"We've been waiting a while. What took so long?" she asked, and she threw her eyes across the table at me, pulling me into the trap.

I looked away, pretending to be entranced by the fire while slipping off my cloak. My bare shoulders warmed up quickly as I hung the cloak up at the back of an empty chair.

"I wanted time to think. Cloud went to get me-!"

"Yeah Yeah, I don't care what you love birds do out in the rain! I want to start talking about this Sephiroth guy!" Barret interrupted. I stared at him and suddenly wanted to stand up and hug him. He may not have intentionally interrupted for my sake, more because he was inpatient, but I was so glad that he did. Tifa bit her lower lip as she eyed him, and then took a swig of her beer.

"Right," she gulped. She flickered her angry eyes to Cloud, his still shut like he was resting.

I smirked back to the flames and added casually, "what? it's just hugs and hand stuff."

Barret spat ale out his lips, very vocally. The beverage sprayed across the table, all while Cloud groaned into his hands like he wanted to just die. I laughed harder than I'd expected, rocking back as the fire warmed my anterior, lighting me in half in bright orange.

"Aqua!" Aerith gasped.

"What?!" Tifa flared, and her hands slapped on the table.

Red rolled his eyes, unmoved by the whole thing as though he knew what I actually meant.

But the reaction from the others got me laughing so hard, I almost fell back on the rug. People were starring, and I knew I've gone too far, but it was so nice to laugh until my belly ached.

I calmed down as I tried to reassure with, "I'm joking. I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself."

Cloud dropped his hands across his face, dragging his cheeks and chin with it only to toss me a glare so hateful, I thought he was going to turn me to ash with that look. I paled and pressed my lips together.

An awkward silence lingered over our heads, inviting someone to speak up. I was tempted, but I put myself in time out. I kept my mouth shut while Tifa's eyes threw daggers at me.

"That wasn't funny," she threatened, sinking back into her seat. Cloud was still abashed, elbow propped on the table and his hand to his forehead to hide his eyes from everyone.

"Okay, enough," he grumbled. "Obviously, Aqua is back to her old self," and he gave me another glare. He then dropped his hand and bravely looked back to the group, cheeks still flushed as leftovers from my joke.

"We need to talk about the plan."

Tifa relaxed, and intertwined her fingers under her chin, eying Cloud with remnants of fury.

"Cloud, what is the plan?" she asked.

Aerith chewed quietly, but she smiled at me when we locked eyes. It was a smile of knowing, and I smiled back before averting my eyes away, blushing.

I collected a plate of food: chicken leg, steamed potatoes, a hunk of bread with butter, and sat back down on the floor by Red, munching away. I was so hungry, I had to remind myself to take it slow or else I would be sickly full.

Cloud opened his eyes and straightened himself in his chair, eying the group.

"We need to go after Sephiroth. It's been two days. He could be at the next continent by now. Who knows. So we leave at dawn tomorrow."

Everyone was quiet, processing this.

"But who is Sephiroth exactly, and why is he a crisis for the planet?" Barret asked. Everyone wanted to know. Cloud rubbed his hands through his hair to shake out the rain, drops flying everywhere as he groaned, "it's a long story."

"Tell us!" Aerith squealed.

Barret banged his only hand on the table and cried out, "yeah, tell us about him. How you know him and all?!"

Red perked his head up from Barret's pounding, looking rather annoyed before settling his head back down.

Tifa remained quiet. Instead of encouraging the story telling, she reached for a half filled pitcher of pale ale and poured herself a full glass. She took a generous drink.

The fireplace cast a glow to Cloud's face, his eyes green when I watched them fall to me uneasily, a brief flash of guilt into them. But then they closed, as though fighting with his thoughts. He opened his eyes again, serious but distant, like a new person emerged, ready to tell his story.

"I used to want to be like Sephiroth…." he began. "So I joined SOLDIER. After working on several missions with him, we became friends."

A flashback of Sephiroth's face took hold, drowning me with his cold aqua eyes, and how he stared at Cloud like a cat did a mouse. The same man whom cut off Isaac's arm, and murdered Shinra's President used to be Cloud's friend?

"He was your friend?" I asked, a bit surprised, and eyed Cloud gently.

He nervously ran his hands behind his head, not looking at me.

"Well, he was friendly in the beginning. We were war buddies, and he was very private, so he just listened to a lot of us guys talking about life, our dreams, family. We all just trusted each other like that, becoming close friends, sharing secrets. Until one day…"

Cloud shared his story while the rest of us leaned in. Aerith and Barret had their shoulders over the table, while Tifa sat back in her chair, watching Cloud carefully with a hint of trouble in her eyes. I remained by the fire, and Red laid his head over my lap so that I could run my fingers through his fur.

The food got cold, the candles burned down their wax. The small tavern quieted, with only a couple regulars, drinking and muttering softly at their own tables or up at the bar.

Cloud continued…

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